Sigrun deals some damage to the bandit, choosing the correct copy to hit. Horn manages to score one hit on the half orc. everyone else misses as luck seems to be against them.
the bandit scowls at Sigrun, then stabs at her with his own sword
Sigrun takes a cut on the arm, and feels the harsh heat of a poison spreading from the wound, which is the last thing she feels as unconsciousness claims her.
meanwhile inside:
the half orc swings again at the bear, hitting this time.
the bear slumps, the pain of its wounds getting to it. seeing the bear fall, the woman moves towards the back of the lodge, putting distance between herself and the group
The party may act
Global Condition: None |
Global Condition:
Garran HP: 4/10 - AC: 16/11/15 Status:
Glim HP: -5/8 - AC: 19/16/14 Status: stable
Linge: HP: 9/9 - AC: 15/13/12 Status:
Horn: HP: -1/17 - AC: 17/15/13 Status: dying
Paldo HP: 7/7 - AC: 14/14/11 Status:
Sigrun HP: -1/10 - AC: 17/11/16 Status: dyingNPCS:
purple skeleton: HP: -9 | AC: ?? | dead
red Skeleton : HP: -8 | AC 16 | dead
Half orc: HP: -5 | AC: 15 |
Bandit leader: HP: -8 | AC: ?? |
Horn manages to slash the half orc once, but misses his other attacks. Sigrun hits the leader with her shield, doing some damage.
Linge, Garran and Paldo all miss their attacks
the bandit scowls at Sigrun, then stabs at her with his own sword
Sigrun takes a cut on the arm, and feels the harsh heat of a poison spreading from the wound but her body is able to fight it off, however it is the last thing she feels as unconsciousness claims her.
meanwhile inside:
the half orc swings again at the bear, hitting this time.
as the bear is hit he can no longer keep to his feet after several wounds and he slumps down. the half-orc moves away, heading to the back of the lodge.
The whole party may act
Global Condition: None |
Global Condition:
Garran HP: 4/10 - AC: 16/11/15 Status:
Glim HP: -5/8 - AC: 19/16/14 Status: stable
Linge: HP: 9/9 - AC: 15/13/12 Status:
Horn: HP: -1/17 - AC: 17/15/13 Status: dying
Paldo HP: 7/7 - AC: 14/14/11 Status:
Sigrun HP: -2/10 - AC: 17/11/16 Status: dyingNPCS:
purple skeleton: HP: -9 | AC: ?? | dead
red Skeleton : HP: -8 | AC 16 | dead
Half orc: HP: -5 | AC: 15 |
Bandit leader: HP: -8 | AC: ?? |
"Iomedae!" Garran shouts the name of his goddess as a battle cry, as he slashes out with his blade.
;
Linge hesitates, torn between helping Horn and helping to take the bandit leader down.
Sigrun slumps to the ground bleeding once again. But, it could have been much worse...
Paldo fires another shot from his staff sling at the bandit leader.
Paldo fires off another sling bullet, which hits one of the two copies of the bandit leader, causing it to shatter into motes of light!
now having a clear target, Garran swings with a powerful blow, yelling the name of his goddess as he does. the strike hits the real bandit, who bleeds from a deep wound in his side.
facing down Garran's sword and the two spellcasters still up, the bandit steps back, putting his hands in the air.
Please! have mercy! this is not my fault! the fey put me up to it. please, spare me and I'll tell you everything
as he backs away, you spot the man stuffing something inside his robe, but don't quite get a good look at what it was
Seeing the leader surrender, the half-orc moves into a side room and shuts the door.
Global Condition: None |
Global Condition:
Garran HP: 4/10 - AC: 16/11/15 Status:
Glim HP: -5/8 - AC: 19/16/14 Status: stable
Linge: HP: 9/9 - AC: 15/13/12 Status:
Horn: HP: -1/17 - AC: 17/15/13 Status: dying
Paldo HP: 7/7 - AC: 14/14/11 Status:
Sigrun HP: -2/10 - AC: 17/11/16 Status: stableNPCS:
purple skeleton: HP: -9 | AC: ?? | dead
red Skeleton : HP: -8 | AC 16 | dead
Half orc: HP: -5 | AC: 15 |
Bandit leader: HP: -16 | AC: ?? |
"Drop your weapons and empty your pockets on the ground," Linge says in a tone as intimidating as she can, grabbing the halt of her scimitar. "All of them. Slowly, including what you just hid in your robe. If you or your henchmen try something, Garran will cut your throat."
Once she's sure that Garran and Paldo are having the bandit under control and won't let him make any funny move, Linge hurries inside to bandage Horn's wounds.
"Your surrender is accepted." Garran tells the skull and bones man. "We'll chat with you in a bit." He menaces the fellow with the sharp tip of his sword. "Never mind what she said. For now, lie on the ground, face down, and cross your wrists behind your back. And don't go reaching into any pockets."
the man looks back and forth between the two people giving him orders, but quickly decides to obey the one with the sword at his neck. he lays down with his hands clearly visible.
Please, let's go inside where we can talk. Izoze could be watching us right now! I promise to tell you everything
Linge is able to stabilize horn, but he is so hurt that he is still not opening his eyes. the bleeding has stopped though, and he is breathing normally.
Linge gently strokes Horn's fur, feeling his regular heartbeat under her fingers. The cuts are not too deep, and with his wounds bandaged, his life is no longer in danger.
"Jeg er så stolt av deg, min lille krigeren," she whispers. Though Horn doesn't open his eyes, the cub's ear twitches.
Since all danger seems to be eliminated, Linge judges preferable to let Horn have some rest, and walks outside to kneel next to Sigrun, delicately removing her the leather armband to reveal her wound. Some blood has seeped through the armour and onto the snow, but not enough to indicate that the femoral or radial arteries were sectioned. The haemorrhage is already stopping by the time Linge reaches Sigrun, and there isn't much to do apart from cleaning the wound and bandaging it.
"She'll be okay. Shall we move the wounded inside the house? How many henchmen are still inside?" Linge directs her question at the bandit leader.
Garran ties the man’s hands behind his back. With Linge returned to watch the prisoner, he moves over to Glim. ”Iomedae please grant me your healing might.” He converts the last of his holy energy into a healing prayer, then touches Glim.
Paldo’s heart raced as he thought the bandits might gain the upper hand. He surprised himself as his small pellet connected with the false image causing it to explode. His practice shooting rabbits had paid off. Paldo waited to emerge from cover till it was safe. He knew his small stature would not add to the efforts to intimidate the bandit to surrender. He found himself remembering his ogre of an older brother, he would have had their foe quivering in his boots Paldo thought to himself. Once the bandit was secured Paldo approached the cottage keeping an eye out for the orc that had retreated into the cottage as his companions tended to the wounded.
Garran heals Glim a bit, but the alchemist remains unconscious.
the group moves inside, bringing all of the wounded with them.
the bandit replies to Linge "there are 3 or 4 men in the southern room. they all came down with some sort of sickness and are weakened. I told the men to quarantine them in there. there is also the half-orc who fled in my moment of need... he spits to the side.
None of this went according to plan... why can't things just go simply?
"What type of illness? Are they under lock and key?" Linge watches the man's face closely, in case he might be lying about his henchmen. Though his story is coherent, they cannot afford to blindly trust him.
”Yes, the half-orc.” Garran is wondering what her next move might be. He waits for the leader to answer Linge’s question. Only adding: ”It would help if we had a name to call you by...”
Ah yes, how rude of me. I suppose I forgot my manners in the heat of the moment. my name is Rohkar, a practitioner of the arcane arts. what are your names, if I might be so bold as to ask?
I do not know what the illness is, I am not healer. our belief is that is was caused by exposure to the cold. the men are weakened and constantly shivering. they can barely stand, much less hold a sword. they are not locked up, they are no threat to anyone
"Are you the one they called Two-Penny?" Linge asks. She doesn't dare answering his question, thinking that Garran would have a better idea of whether giving him their names was safe or not.
Instead, the druidess tiptoes to the room in which the half-orc has fled, listening closely and trying to determine if the warrior is still in the room or if she has fled.
Garran looks at Paldo, wondering if the halfling is going to back up Linge, or stand watch over Rohkar. In the short delay, he tries to figure out if the arcane practitioner's skull and bones motif has any religious significance.
No, I am not ten-penny. that is the half orc. she didn't give her real name when she joined up, just the nickname
Garran looks over the symbols. they appear to be the robes of a necromancer, but seem a little overly decorative for a wizard. they do not seem to match anything for a specific religion.
Linge waits for a dozen seconds in case Ten-Penny betrays herself, but she eventually turns towards her teammates with a shake of the head.
"It's silent. You said you're working for the fey," she asks Rohkar. "What did they instruct you to do?"
Paldo looked around the room marveling at the hunting trophies on the walls. As his gaze wandered he suddenly noticed Garran looking at him bringing him back to the current situation. Noticing Garran was nodding towards Linge, Paldo upstarted and then began to tread lightly behind her. The idea of being left alone with some stranger did not interest Paldo at all.
Sigrun continues to be unconscious. :(
”Fine, you guard him.” Garran tells Linge. He moves over to the door where Ten-Penny had gone. Once there he swings the door open, and dodges to the side,with the expectation of a crossbow bolt to fly out.
Garran attempts to open the door, but it is locked. he puts some umph into it, breaking the door open, but the room beyond is empty, the window open.
Rohkar replies to Linge
"It started when the frost first came to the woods. it started small, much deeper in the wood where most people wouldn't notice. my band and I were living near where they came in. this big troll and a flying blue fey seemed to be in charge. I cut a deal with them. they let me and my crew live in return for working for them.
They asked us to capture a woman, this fancy lady who was travelling through. they didn't tell me what they wanted her for, only that she must be kept alive. I am guessing they want her for a ransom or something. so my men and I ambushed her caravan and took her back here to wait for more orders.
he is definitely not telling the whole story. you get the feeling he was more willing to help with the capture of the Lady than he wants you to know
Paldo perked up at the mention of Lady Thurdanhelm. "Is the lady still here? Where is she? When do you expect to receive 'more orders?'" The flurry of questions burst out of Paldo's mouth.
"A big troll and a flying blue fey? Do you know where they came from? Have you heard the name 'Izoze?"
Garran goes over and closes the window. He looks outside for tracks in the snow as he does so. Which direction has Penny gone?
After closing the window, Garran returns to where Linge, and Paldo are.
Yes, she is still here. she is in the cellar. here, take this key. the trapdoor is under the big bear rug
They came from a portal deep in the woods. there is a map upstairs i can show you. i think they are here from Irrisen. yes, Izoze is the blue flying one.
Garran looks for tracks. he sees where the half orc landed outside the window and some footprints leading into the woods towards Heldren, but loses the track quickly.
"Let's free the Lady first, and then we'll take a look at this map."
”Looks like the half-orc woman ran off.” Garran says, having rejoined Linge and Paldo.
”Are there any medical supplies here?” Garran asks Rohkar.
Not sure if he should trust this bandit, Paldo waits for Linge to head down the stairs to free the lady before following her.
Glim, lying half on the porch, half in the snow, does nothing.
Linge takes the key and opens the trapdoor. inside is a cellar with barely enough room for a person to stand up. inside is a woman in a tattered dress, her skin dirty and scraped, but otherwise in good health.
"Hello? who are you?" she asks when she sees you are not one of her captors.
"Lady Thundanhelm?" Linge asks. She urgently beckons Garran to come and take a look. "We're from Heldren. Are you wounded?"
Then she spots the weird-looking rug on the porch ever so slightly stirring. If you squinted your eyes and looked very closely, it almost seemed like it was two-toned, with a few paler hair on top.
"Please excuse me", the druidess suddenly slips away, shoving the key in Paldo's hand. "I'll be back in just a moment."
She then rushes to the door to help poor Glim inside, lying down the cold-skinned svirfneblin next to the fireplace.
"I'm so sorry," Linge quietly apologizes, brushing the snow away from his cloak as best as she can. "We'll make you some tea when you wake up."
Taking the key from Linge Paldo put it in his pocket. Although the cellar looked roomy enough for him, he could see that the lady was uncomfortable. He offered his hand in an effort to help her out of the trap door. ”I’m Paldo, Paldo Greenspan. As my companion said we are from Heldren. We’ve been sent to rescue you, and luckily for you we have been successful!” he added with a bright halfling smile. Looking at his unconscious friends Paldo added “Although it almost cost us dearly... but we are all still in one piece. Just a few scratches. How about you? Are you all right? Apparently some Fey minions are behind your capture. Any idea why?”
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Garran's emotions are in a turmoil. Alice is alive and well. This makes him glad, joyous even. But there is a cold feeling in his gut; Garran had traveled a long way to remove himself from a dangerous relationship. Now, he was sure to be entangled once again. He wonders what Lady Alice's reaction will be. She may well be enraged by his rejection of her advances so long ago. Probably not her first thought, though, given the circumstance. At any rate, she will need to be reunited with her husband.
He stands, still keeping an eye on Rohkar, and gives Lady Alice a slight bow. "It's good to see you well, Lady Alice." Garran's heart is racing in his chest as he looks at her. Even in her current disheveled state, the lady is pure beauty in his eyes.
Linge looks back and forth at Garran and the Lady, wondering if there was any chance at all that they might back to normal after what happened.
Lady Alice stops short as she sees Garran.
"Of course it would be you. of all the people who could open the door to my prison, it would be you. I am glad to see you, but how did you find me? how did you even know i needed help?
”Yuln managed to make it to the village near here. He told us about the attack. Of course, I made it my business to look into the matter.”
As Garran and Lady Alice share an intimate moment, Linge starts feeling like she is in the way. She slowly and awkwardly makes her way to the front door, and discreetly slips away, finding something to keep her busy by searching the thugs that they took down.
Yuln lives?! I had not seen him since being captured, I feared that all of my caravan had been killed. I know several were, and one of my best guards was turned into a block of ice right in front of my eyes. I thought for sure that no one would even know I had been captured until it was too late. They never even told me what they wanted me for, but they left me relatively unharmed. just some bumps and bruises. not at all as bad as I imagined being captured by bandits could have been
Linge searches the bodies of the bandits, finding very little of use. each one had leather armor, a short sword and a short bow. it does not appear that they had been particularly successful as bandits lately.
Rohkar appears ot have slightly better weapons and armor, and if anyone uses detect magic several items on his person radiate magic.
once the lodge is secured, the group prepares to bed down. they are in a more secure and comfortable spot than they have been for the past few days. the lodge is easy enough to secure, and has well built doors and locks.
Linge stores the magical items nearby, unsure of what they are but slightly hopeful that Glim, Sigrun or Paldo might identify them. She lies down on her bedroll, holding Horn close.
Paldo casts Detect Magic as he looks at the items worn by the dead bandits. He can't help but notice that a few items still on Rohkar glow.
"We should probably disarm and secure our prisoner before we rest for the night. He did after all take down our friend Sigrun. We can't entirely trust you yet, but you should be thankful we are letting you live." Looking down at poor Sigurn Paldo added "Although I cannot speak for the large Ulfen woman. Her wrath may be fierce."
Paldo attempts to make Sigurn sound more fierce than she really is:
With Paldo's nimble fingers he begins to disarm Rohkar of his weapons, anything that glows as well as his spellbook.
”There’s only three of us, it’s going to be long shifts at guard duty.” Garran remarks.
The group secures the prisoner, taking away all of his gear and putting it in a pile. Rohkar has a magical cloak, a scroll, 2 oils, and his spellbook. he also has a non-magical crossbow, short sword, thieves tools, a ring of keys, and a small pendant with a symbol of a black shield with a white star in one corner.
the group sleeps the night in the lodge, waking up in the morning feeling refreshed. Rohkar is secured but has a sour look on his face after a night sleeping tied up.
Before going to sleep Paldo takes a look at the items Rohkar possessed.
Linge is woken up by a rough tongue licking her nose. It certainly would have been cute, if you never came close to sniffing a bear's morning breath.
"You stink, Horn," she protests, squeezing the cub a little tighter, marvelling at feeling him move and try to wiggle out of her bear hug. "But I'm glad you're awake too."