ISSI
The front door swings open, and your father spends almost a minute just standing there, looking at you from the doorway. He looks a bit less put together than usual, and there are dark circles around his eyes, suggesting that he hasn't slept. Silently, he sweeps you up in his arms and hugs you tightly, then sets you down inside the house.
"Where have you been?" he asks, trying to keep a stoic face.
HENYAN
Your father cracks a wide smile and slaps you hard on the shoulder.
"That's m'boy!" he says with a chuckle, before catching himself and giving your mother a guilty look. She sighs and rolls her eyes.
"You're not a boy anymore, Henyan. Next time leave a note; I've been wasting good food for the past three days cooking meals you don't eat. Your dad's put on 10 pounds, I reckon."
RAGGNOR
Your mother begins preparing your favorite nettle porridge while you regale her with tales of your adventures in the woods, and the recent awakening of your connection with nature. By the time the porridge is ready, you can see her beaming with pride.
"My son, I'm so proud of the man that you are becoming, even as my heart breaks to know that you must leave this place behind. This unnatural winter must end, and the Green has blessed you with the gifts needed to end it."
She reaches into a pouch that she has worn around her neck for a s long as you can remember, and pulls out a old, worn wolf's fang. She wraps it with a leather cord, and then places it around your neck.
"This belonged to your great-grandfather. He shared your gift, your connection with the beasts of the land. Take it with you and remember where you've come from, no matter how far away the Green takes you."
DONOVAN
Your dad continues chopping wood as you explain what has happened. He never breaks stride, hardly seems to react, and you almost wonder if he's listening. When you finish, he begins to speak again.
"Well, that surely does sound like a real mess, son. You do look the part of a hero, I'll admit, with that armor on. But if you killed the troll, what's the problem?"
"The troll wern't nothing Pa, the faerie said that the Queen Elvanna will have this world, we need to find the tower, and disrupted the ritual. or it will be endless winter."
As he is saying this he is also removing his armor and gear, and moving to help with the wood cutting.
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With tears in his eyes Raggnor gives his mother a long hug.Thank you mum i will keep it close to my heart. He says tucking the tooth under his shirt, he then wipes the tears from his eyes and starts to eat the fresh bowl of porridge in front of him hoping that he'll be able to see his father before he leave.
"He must be hiding it under his beard then." Henyan says with a grin at his father. "I will be leavin' a note them ma, we have more work ta do though, something be strange in the woods that we hafta take care of." Henyan says before sitting down to eat for the night.
Horvan:
When you arrive at home you find your family seated around the table enjoying breakfast. They pause as you enter, and your brother gives you a look that says he's a little peeved at your disappearing with his stuff for a few days. Your mother is the first to break the silence:"Well, look who decided to join us for a meal again. First things first, go take a bath before you sit down. You smell like the woods.
Yes, ma. he says and obeys. But he looks near to bursting with the desire to tell them all about his adventures. After cleaning up and around mouth fulls of home cooked food he does tell about the adventures endign with So, you see, we gotta go back and 'vestigate that gate what all the cold is commin in from.
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ISSI
The front door swings open, and your father spends almost a minute just standing there, looking at you from the doorway. He looks a bit less put together than usual, and there are dark circles around his eyes, suggesting that he hasn't slept. Silently, he sweeps you up in his arms and hugs you tightly, then sets you down inside the house."Where have you been?" he asks, trying to keep a stoic face.
Issi however does not have her father's composure and leaps in to hug him, tears rolling down her face almost at once. The mingling of fear, relief and guilt is immensely strong and it takes nearly an hour for the hiccuping to stop and for her father to gradually extract the story in something like order.
"And then I burnt the troll and the boys stabbed it until it stopped moving." She finishes. "But there's a big hole in the woods and all the snow comes out of it. The mean blue fairy said it can't be closed and the whole world is going to be covered in snow."
After a long pause as she watches her father for a cue Issi plucks up her courage. "Should we try and close it Dada? It's what the people in mums stories do..."
RAGGNOR
After you have finished your breakfast, your mother gives you a hug and sends you back into the woods.
"Your father shouldn't be too far; surely you can find him on your own now, right?"
HORVAN
By the time you finish your story, the whole family is sitting around you with rapt attention. Your brother is the first to speak:
"I still want my armor back."
Your mother smacks him on the shoulder.
"That's not funny, and neither is this business you're getting up to in the woods, Horvan. If half of that tall tale is true, you're lucky to be alive, and I don't think I want you to go back out there. Trolls are dangerous - what if that little magic girl hadn't been there to burn him?"
HENYAN
"Well then, that's better." your mom says, her warm smile returning. "Eat up and get some rest if you plan to be tussling with any more trolls tomorrow. And remember to take some fire and acid with you; always comes in handy."
ISSI
Your father sighs deeply. "I really don't know, Sunshine. I want to tell you to stay here and be safe, but you're getting older now, and you seem different somehow. I want to believe that you'll be alright out there, and that you're doing something good in the world."
After a few hours of chopping and stacking wood in silence Donovan finally gets up enough nerve. "I know it will put a burden on you guys, but I have to keep doing this, my friends need me. I really think you and Ma should go stay in town." He never stops stacking or evel looks at his father.
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Issi finds herself torn between pride at her father's vote of confidence and fear and contents herself with jumping into her father's arms again before lighting the fire with a snap of her fingers and a very self-satisfied look.
The next morning finds Issi seemingly fully recovered of her adventurous spirit. "So," She says to her companions after bounding around town in an attempt to gather them up. "What are we going to do about the scary hole in the sky? Should we take the grown-ups so they can close it?"
[]b]"Right, will halfta stop and buy me a few flasks o' fire and acid."[/b Henyan says before finishing his meal and heading to bed.
RAGGNOR
You spend a couple of hours looking for your father, but perhaps the knowledge that this could be the last time you see him makes it difficult to concentrate. And so, it is quite a surprise when he grabs you from behind and tosses you to the ground.
"Daydreaming is a dangerous hobby in these woods, boy." he says simply. "What are you doing out here?"
DONOVAN
"I'll think about it." your father says simply. The rest of the morning passes in silence as you haul the wood back to the furnace. You return home for lunch, and are greeted by your mother.
"Well? Are you two all settled now? Care to tell your mother where you've been for the past few days...?" she asks/
"I'll explain it later, dear. The boy will be heading back out tomorrow, it seems. Can't be helped." replies your father.
Ma, ya gotta think 'bout the village. Heck, ya gotta think 'bout the whole world. Someone's gotta do somethin and I think its gotta be me. Somethin happened ta me out there ma. I don't rightly understand it all but I feel like our ancestors are guiding me or somethin. I think I am being called ta help with this. And I just can't say no. He looks worried and his gaze begs please understand.
HORVAN
Your mother sighs. "You're gonna do what you want no matter what I say, so why ask? Just be careful out there, and bring yourself back in one piece."
"Issi, we are the ones that need to do this, We have to travel through the portal, get to the white tower and stop the Ritual."
He sets down his bag and opens it so others can see the contents, "We should all gear up like it is the deepest of winters, snowshoes, snow goggles and heavy winter gear.
"Ye could bath ye know, then ye wouldn't be so smelly." Henyan says as he rides up to meet his friends. "So the lady be safe now we halfta to shut that portal" Henyan gets off his mount, taking the reins and walking him closer to everyone
'course I will. Horvan responds as he sits and eats with his family and tries to have a normal evening. But you can't really go back to being what you were after you change...
The next day Horvan joins the others. So, what's the plan?
"Aye ye will all need something ta ride so we can get back there quicker" Henyan says Patting his shaggy pony
"I aint never ridden anything other then a cart. Pa needs the only horse we own."
He sholders his pack, pauses a moment and grabs Issi's pack as well before heading in the direction of the portal.
Some time later, your families escort you to the portal to see you all off. You are all given winter clothes, sufficient tents and bedrolls for the four of you, enough food for one week, and a single mule to carry it all.
On the other side of the portal, you find yourselves in a snow-covered wilderness, on the edge of a forested hillside. Looking down into the distance, you can see the warm lights of a small village about the same size as Heldren.
Somewhat closer, within about 100 feet or so, you can see a small group of travelers fighting with a giant (that is, grizzly bear-sized) Praying Mantis, which has one of the travelers in its jaws.
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After Raggnor emerges from the portal he notices the small group of travelers in trouble and without thinking he shifts into his minor fey Aspect. Giving him DR 1/cold iron and concealment. And moves closer pulling out his +1 boar spear.
If he gets close a Nuff to attack he tries to plunges his +1 boar spear into the Mantis
Donovan charges forward, yelling to draw attention. He moves forward behind his shield his flail held low. "Do not worry help has arrived!"
Horvan tries out his new bow, firing an arrow at the insectoid threat.
After he fires at the creature he moves forward waving his arms to get its attention.
Henyan mounts his Shaggy pony, pulling out his lance as he goes. "As he said, help be here." Henyan spurs his mount on.
ROUND ONE
Issi scurries through the snow; unfortunately, due to the depth of the snow, she is slowed to half speed, and moves only 30 feet this round. (so she is 70 feet from the Mantis)
The Mantis attacks one of the travelers
The traveler appears mortally wounded by the claw and falls in a heap.
Raggnor also moves forward through the snow, and is 70 feet away from the Mantis.
Horvan fires an arrow that strikes the Mantis for 12 points of damage!
Henyan rides his pony through the thick snow. It is slowed, like the others, but moves a bit faster, taking him 40 feet (to 60 feet from the Mantis) this around.
Donovan also moves forward through the snow, and is 70 feet away from the Mantis.
Donovan moves forward to engage the Mantis.
Horvan moves and fires again.
Donovan continues to trudge through the snow at the bug.
ROUND 2
Issi scurries through the snow in her snow shoes, and is now 10 feet from the giant mantis.
The Giant Mantis lashes out at another traveler
The nimble traveler moves out of the way, narrowly avoiding death at the claws of this creature.
Raggnor, without the benefit of Snowshoes, continues to move forward, and is now 40 feet from the Mantis.
Horvan, slowly creeping forward (70 feet from the Mantis) fires another arrow, but the winds blow it wide, and he misses.
Henyan's pony takes him within 20 feet of the Mantis
Donovan, also wearing snowshoes, moves to 20 feet from the Mantis, next to Henyan.
Henyan continues forward urging his Shaggy Pony into a charge so that he can bring his lance to bear.
Until his party are in his line of fire Horvan continues to close and fire.
ROUND 3
Issi: TBA
The Giant Mantis, taking note of Issi's approach, moves close to her and attacks!
Issi takes 10 points of slashing damage from the Giant Mantis!
Raggnor thrusts his spear deep into the Mantis' body, finding a sweet spot between the plates of its chitinous armor, dealing 11 points of damage.
Horvan's arrow is again blown wide by the cold winds of the north.
Henyan charges the creature, but his lance glances off of the hardened exoskeleton of the beast
Donovan: TBA
After seeing the creature slash Issi, Donovan moves to the Mantis and smashes it with his fathers flail.
With his friends engaged, Horvan drops his newly acquired bow and double moves towards the bug, pulling his long sword as he moves.