Ana looks into the carriage, and sees a small jewelry box under the seat, apparently discarded in haste. Inside, you find a signet ring, a pair of earrings, a set of pearl-inlaid bracelets, assorted gold and silver necklaces, and a sapphire pendant.
Deep gouges show on the wooden interior of the carriage, where the poor undead women were trying to escape.
Helping Garland to her feet, You okay? Had us worried for a moment there.
Arsiel pops his head into the wrecked carriage looking around and checking on Ana. If we get into another fight let’s try not to have anyone fall down. Nice job Ques, Grey.
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"That was... Horrible. I have heard stories like that but I never thought I would meet an actual zombie. They were zombies, weren't they? Wow. I thought I should warn you all - I'm not very good at this spell thing and I don't think I will be able to do that healing thing again for a while. I'll just have to do my best with what I got, and Grey, of course, will help out. Grey, you were pretty good in there. I've never seen you fight like that before. Dark alley or not, I'm glad you're on my side."
Do you think the jewelry is valuable? I bet its all real, her being royalty and all. We better make sure it doesn't get lost or stolen. I hear royalty can be nasty about things like that."
Ques is quite sure that these items are worth thousands of gold each, and perhaps Fame for their discovery as well
"So whoever took lady high-up wasn't interested in her gold or jewels. And managed to turn her handladys into...weird old bags."
Ana looks at a few lifetimes worth of fortune with undisguised loathing.
"I'm not sure I could handle looking after that stuff. I'd be far too tempted to "lose" a small item. Or four. But sure, give it back to the rightful owner. If we can find her. Ques, can Grey track who- or whatever did this? Garland, Arsiel - you guys have any magicks to put us on the trail?"
Arsiel grins at Ana's honesty, and shakes his head in the negative at the last, 'I can carry the box, I'm already carrying this spare armor and sword as well. Hopefully we can find who they belong to quickly and get them back. But I have no magic to track with, just my own skills and knowledge."
Looking around the ruined clearing, "But I'd say its a safe bet they went that way, with the snow and all the like there." Arsiel says pointing deeper into the woods along the snowy path.
Looking at the haul that was found in the carriage, Garland says, "Not really my cup of tea, but let me take a look."
"Like Arsiel, I don't have any magicks to help find those that did this. I think we can only follow that trail, at this point."
Grey seems in a resting state, if not actually "seated" he is in a pose that indicates he's pretty happy with the job he's done so far. He shakes his head slowly. I'm quite sorry, young Ques, but that is not something that I'm accustomed to. I can certainly see that opening in the bushes over there, but have no idea if anyone has gone through there. He points to the opening just to the south of the frozen captain.
Arsiel is able to determine the worth of some of the items.
Though Grey claims not to see it, its obvious he's not even trying, for you can easily see crushed snow from many boots and hooves. You can easily piece together that the large group that hit this caravan went through there, and you can of course surmise that Lady Argentea was with them.
To the south and along this trail, the visibility looks pretty poor, and the snow is definitely heavier, should you proceed.
pearl inlaid bracelets - 95 GP
assorted necklaces - 65 GP
sapphire - 52 GP
Smirking at Grey’s feigned ignorance, Arsiel indicates the track ahead, Is everyone okay with proceeding? If so we should put on our heavier clothes and head south here. We need to be very careful moving forward.
Arsiel digs out his heavy cloak and wraps it about his shoulders, further obscuring his form.
Garland raises her cowl and obscures her hands again. "The sooner we get the lady back, the sooner we get to head home...to safety."
Looking around the group Arsiel draws his longbow, securing the ransuer over his shoulder. “I was always taught to never ask someone to do something you won’t do first. I’ll lead the way unless someone has a greater desire.
Nocking an arrow Arsiel will defer if anyone chooses to go first otherwise he’ll start down the track, securing his snowshoes once the snow gets above ankle deep.
Ana makes many faces as she dons the heavy winter clothing and straps the cumbersome snowshoes to her feet.
"There! Now I'm ready! To fall ass over hat. Lead on, brave venturers." she ends without a hint of enthusiasm.
As you approach the opening into the Border Woods, the air grows quite a bit colder, dropping to freezing temperatures. Snow falls regularly, often blown in gusts about that make it quite difficult to see. By the time you enter through the opening, nearly six inches of snow blankets the ground.
As it enters the full expanse of the Border Wood, the trail passes through a small clearing among the taller trees before continuing uphill and out of sight. A large chest lies half-buried in the snow, apparently dropped or discarded by those who hastily passed this way.
As the snow starts, Garland reluctantly puts on her newly acquired snowshoes before continuing on. As they come to the chest, she remarks, "Curious to find this here. I wonder if this belongs to those we just left or to those we have yet to find." She bends down to examine the chest, before attempting to open it.
Looking aside from the rough trail and the driving snow Arsiel watches Garland attempt to open the chest.
Perhaps it was too heavy for them to continue with in this driving snow? I can't say I'd want to be carrying it all this way myself. I feel like this snow is very unnatural for this place and time of year, what could be causing that?
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"Probably true. But it may be a trap. Are you sure it's safe?"
Ques looks over at Grey as he steps away from the chest, tripping over the snowshoes which were definitely not made for walking backward. Fortunately the snow cushions his fall - actually making the tumble rather fun. He really doesn't understand what the fuss is over this thing called cold. Not for the first time he wishes Grey had hands, because then he could have the creature open the chest and everyone would be safe. Quest gets the sense that as he grows into this whole summoner thing he could actually somehow mold the form that Grey takes within limits. Perhaps he could will something with hands to manifest?
Garland, seemingly completely convinced of the safety of this chest, moves forward to open it. As she steps in front of it, she catches her foot on a thin but strong rope buried under the snow. The rope grows taught with a "twang", and a creaking can be heard from behind the group.
Suddenly, a massive, spiked log on the other end of the rope drops down and swings through, slamming into anyone in front of the chest or on the trail.
As Garland hits the trip wire, she looks up just in time to see a log smash into her body and face. Staggered and reeling from the impact, she gingerly touches one of her wounds as power flows through her. Her eyes completely blacken and a nimbus of dark particles surrounds her hand. In the next moment, these particles begin to fill the open wounds on Garland's bloodied face and broken body. They begin to stitch the wounds together. And before she even knows what is going on, her body no longer shows her run in with either this log or the zombies from earlier. "What is this? Ques...is this dark power yours again?"
Snow. Cold, snow. Who knew it could get so...bleak?!?. Ana couldn't hardly see, her toes snd fingers were numb. This...absolutely sucked. And if that wasn't bad enough, they were heading further into the snowstrom. Maelstorm. Whatever. Now what was Gar loo....
[*****]{Cruuunch}[*****]
(***)......(***)......(***)
Ana moans. Her body feels sore...everywhere.
"Wuh...wuh happened? Who hit me?"
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Ques gasps when the trap is sprung, though a bit smug that he was the only one with enough common sense to move away. Grey is not as fortunate and takes a glancing shot from the swinging log.
"ooohhh! Oh my. That must've hurt."
Ques watches Grey closely to see his reaction, wondering if it can actually feel pain like it said. When Garlan heals up and she asks him aout his dark powers he responds, a teensie bit miffed,
"Hmph. Hardly DARK powers, more like shadowy or shady powers. But no. Not me. Like I said, I'm out for the day. I can still do some summoning, but no more healing from me today."
Ducking under the swinging log, Okay how did I not think to check for traps! think next time! Arsiel hears the sickening crunch behind him of the party being mauled by the trap.
Keeping his eyes scanning while nocking an arrow to his bow, Is everyone okay? This is a nasty surprise someone left us...
Sighing to himself, You got them into this, you better be able to get them back out.
After her wounds heal up, Garland looks around to take account of the others. Something inside her tells her that Ques is right, this power came from her. She looks from her hands to the wounds of the others, and wonders if she could do the same thing to them. "Feel free to blame me for this mess. I think I might be able to do something about those wounds. Who needs some help?"
Grey lets out an animated curse in Aklo, and it comes out as a guttural, barking sound. He turns to look at Ques, and nods. His words come out a bit strangled as he leans a bit more to one side than the other. Your wisdom is surprising young Ques...perhaps next time you can advise the rest of us to move away as well. He does, indeed, seem to be feeling the pain.
Grey looks aside at Garland as her powers manifest. He communicates privately with Ques by through. This is the power of a...midwife, as you called her? Impressive.
The trapped and hated chest, oblivious to your accusing glares, stands still closed. You feel as if it's gloating.
Indeed, young one...you have proven that you are more than just a young man afraid of...shadows. You get a sense that was sent with a tinge of amusement. I felt that, yes...and assure you that I am quite real, though part of me seems tethered to...somewhere else. I do not...though I sense there's more beyond a barrier in my mind. I will have to think on this more, when we are not being assaulted by mindless abominations or large swinging trees.
Glancing over his shoulder, Arsiel looks at the chest again. Well, I suppose we paid the price and may as well see that it is empty.
He turns opening the chest with a sigh.
The chest is half-buried in the snow, as if someone took an effort to actually dig it in there, not that it was just laid on the snow. Once Arsiel opens up the lid he does, indeed, find it to be empty.
Garland looks rather disapprovingly at the empty chest. "It looks like we are dealing with some evil tricksters. Better keep an eye and ear out for more of these tricks."
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Ques wants nothing to do with the chest now that it has been proven a trap.
"We will need to assume that there will more traps if they set this one. Obviously they assumed someone would be pursuing them. Best to have someone with a good eye lead the way."
Grey, you up for it?
After their latest conversation Ques feels a little uncomfortable ordering Grey around.
Ana groans, deciding that lying in the snow beats being....beaten by a log.
Seeing Ana writhing in pain, Garland hurries over to her. She looks at her hands, takes a deep breathe to steady herself and then applies her hands to her wounded compatriot. As before, dark motes of energy surround her hands as her eyes completely darken. When she presses her hands against Ana, the motes of energy start to fill her wounds as they begin to stitch up.
Garland notices that while some of the damage seems to have been healed, not all of Ana's wounds are sealed. She removes her hands and press them against Ana again, but nothing happenes. "I'm sorry that I can't do more. I still don't understand this."
Grey's shadowy form turns towards the continuing trail, which leads on to the south. I will do my best, young Ques. He heads on into the blowing snow, not taking much note of the discomfort.
The snow becomes increasingly deep in this part of the forest, where a windswept gully carves a path through a tree-covered ridge. A soft cascade of snow falls from an overhead branch, hissing softly as it strikes the ground.
Grey looks back expectantly. Shall I proceed?
Ana stands shakily, leaning on Garland for support.
”Thanks Gar. What happened? Why is there a chest there?”
Regardless of the answers, Ana nods along, cursing herself for entering this boreal rime.
Grey continues into the snow filled gully, scanning as best as he can through the falling snow as he goes.
As you advance through the piles of snow, Grey tracks slightly ahead. When the shadowy form passes one of the larger trees, a creature cleverly hidden under a drift of snow at the base of the tree leaps out! Fully six feet long, this sinuous reptile appears as a small dragon with yellow eyes, and a green vapor trailing from its open maw.
The reptile jumps at Grey, it's mouth open to bite! The creature clamps down its huge jaws on Grey, it begins to pull the eidolon, who seems staggered, away.
Arsiel drops his longbow, and shuffles toward the creature withdrawing his ranseur. 'What is this thing!?! Poor Grey. I'll try to get it to focus on me..."
He advances tentatively on his snowshoes launching a mighty thrust at the dragon-like creature.
However Arsiel misses horribly, put off-balance by his snowshoes.
Garland sees the creature attack Grey and watches him break into shadow and disappear. "NO! GREY! What did you do!?!" With the last shout, the creature begins to writhe in pain. She pulls her spear from her back as she watched the reptile struggle.
Ana moves to intercede, but the snowdrifts are too deep and the cumbersome shoes slow her down. She forces some of the snow up and toward the reptile.
Move Action: Move 15 feet to end up two squares to the east of Grey/the square adhjacent south of Ques]
Standard Action: Kinetic Blast
[+2 Dex, +1 Weapon Focus, -4 weather]
Arsiel moves into place and swings, but the darting reptile is too intent upon moving away with its meal, and the strike misses.
Garland emits her sonic wail, and it washes over the creature in a wave. Though it seems to damage it slightly, the beast shakes off any lasting effects.
When Ques releases Grey from this plane, the shadowy form disappears in a puff of black. The reptile looks down in confusion, then looks around, seeking out its lost prey.
As it searches about, Ana's blast fires out, but misses its mark. With another roar, the reptile moves back in with another bite, this time trying to make a meal of Arsiel. He misses the dodging humanoid, and lets out a loud exhale in obvious anger...or hunger.
Garland
Ques
Ana
Creature
Arsiel focuses on his target, thrusting the ranseur back at the lizardy thing.
Garland pushes through the deep snow with her spear in hand and thrusts out at the reptile.
Ana tramps through the driftsnow and places both her hands right near the creature in an attempt to blast it out of existence.
Move Action: Move from square south of Ques to square south of Garland - 3 squares/difficult terrain/30 ft.
Arsiel's ranseur flashes in and skewers the beast, which immediately starts wriggling and howling. It seems to twist into a particularly accurate thrust from Garland, and more holes punch into its white, scaly skin.