"Dougan's Hole is the closest, but they're also probably the most stubborn. We'll have to see if that human we found in the gnoll tent can help us. Do you remember his name, Khitt? Uh.. Junt? Jutt? Well, something like that anyway. I'm sure he'll be glad to see us again."
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You pack up and trek the short hour trudge across the snow-covered shore of the Redwaters. The lake is frozen through, with he howling winds sweeping across, making little snow-devils dance across its surface.
As you approach the small town of Dougan's Hole, you see one of the villagers spot you approach and immediately heads back into town.
Khitt looks over to Umikh ”Im sure they are off to fetch the welcoming committee.”
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As you get closer to town, you can see people peeking out from behind curtains and shutters, but no one greets you... at least until one door opens, and a few of you recognize Judd, the man you all rescued from the gnolls a mere tenday, or so, ago.
The man steps out to meet you, Well, never expected to see you all again. I guess now is as good a time as any, the speaker might want to see you, in light of recent goings on...
Rodalas, in his drills, harkens back to his days watching the Elvish armies in the faewilde, their greatest strength was in their coordination. In those five days, the noble Eladrin focuses their striking on timing and precision... while dismissing any thought of the Dwarven steel tipping their spears...
Hooray!
"It's good to see you again. Glad you have not been dragged off for some strange ritual again." Rodney pats the man on the back laughing at his joke.
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Judd leads you to a small cabin at the edge of the small settlement and knocks on the door. While waiting for a response, you see a variety of furs hanging along some wooden dowels. Less than a minute later, an older woman decked out in a variety of furs answers the door, Tsh, I figured we'd have visitors sooner or later. Timing is fortuitous...
She walks back into the cabin, leaving the door open in an unspoken invitation, Judd, you can go. See to your own.
As you all shuffle in, Judd gives you a nod and heads back out into the cold. The woman pours each of you some hot liquid in a mug of beaten brass, Drink fast, it won't keep its heat long... The name is Durmoot, Edgra Durmoot, I am the Speaker for Dougan's Hole. I expect that you are here about that...
The woman gestures to an open letter on the table, that you can clearly see is from Captain Arlaggath, It came a handful of days previous, and I had no intent to do anything but look after our own, until yesterday... Come with me.
Edgra Durmoot leads you out back to what you assume is a meat locker to store food for the winter and throws open the door and gestures to a frozen body in the center of the floor, We don't usually trouble the druids that pass through the Hole, but one of the fishers found this one on the lake yesterday. Find out what happened to him and we'll throw in with you lot.
Not being familiar with Dougan's Hole like some of the rest of the group is, Lumen follows along and lets the others take the lead.
At the sight of the frozen druid, he seems concerned and moves forward to look for any clues as to what happened.
"Hmm, you would think that a druid should be able to care for themselves in these environments. Perhaps this is not due to natural causes," he says as he looks for any noticeable wounds.
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Umikh would ask the others if they think these people understand the gravity of the situation? And then shrug it off and try to figure out what happened to this dead druid.
Having no medical or arcane skills, he just observes the remains, perhaps digging around in pockets and examining the clothing for clues.
"Well someone told him to chill out and he took it a little to much to hart I see."
Rodney starts to look at the body seeing if perhaps the hands are holding on to something and/or what could cause a druid to falter in the wild.
or a +6 to Perception.
"So you say he was on the lake, and not in it. Is the lake frozen over at parts or was he in a boat? And is he known to you, that is why you know that he is a druid?" looking up to Edgra Durmoot.
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It is difficult to see through the rime, but Rodney thinks that he can see the shape of white fingers around the druid's neck, as if the druid was strangled and left a pale white mark... At first, the bard thought that it might be his imagination, but as he looks at it from different angles he becomes more and more sure that is what it is...
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Edgra smirks, You may've noticed that the Redwaters have frozen over completely. He was on top of the lake, rest assured. The fisher was heading to his favorite spot to cut a hole when he stumbled this poor fellow...
EDIT: Druids pass through town on occasion and are always treated well, as they have much of use to trade... I had seen this one here and there, but didn't know him by name.
"Lookie here, are these finger marks on his throat? Yes, yes they are. This poor sap was choked to death. and the fingers left white finger marks on him.
Do you know any one that has white fingers all the time? like a baker or a lime miner?" He asks.
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She shakes her head, Not likely, the baker is too small to leave marks like that... Ain't a lick of lime anywhere in the whole Dale, as far as I know.
She takes your likely empty cups by now, I'll leave you lot to it. We have our own to look after. If there is someone murderin', get to the bottom of it, and we will lend folk to your defense.
And she is gone, back to her cabin.
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Rodney checks the body to find any other clues of what happened.
Umikh will wait to see what Rodney's sharp senses spot, , before suggesting this might be the work of that evil druid, yes? White fingers for some magical nature nutter! Maybe he's already here! We should go take a look where he was found. With a bit o' caution of course.
Stretching up to look at the druid, Baldrick raises his eyebrows: [b]"Well. no black ice in this one, but I'm starting to wonder if humans ever die normally..."
Rocking back on his heels, Baldrick frowns for a moment in concentration:
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If he had over a twenty inch neck like a dwarf it's hard to wrap your hands around and we are used to fighting big folk. Still he's frozen solid now and none to able to help us find who kilt him. We might find something out in the snow. I am not the best with convincing someone to talk but don't feel like splitting us up with danger close by. Where to first then?
Baldrick's eyes suddenly widen: "Nekromans! Rodney - that human was killed by one of those soul-suckers. You know, uh, the not-dead! Oh, I wish Emmett were here - he would know more about this."
After grinding his teeth for a bit: "Maybe we should start by asking Judd? I don't think anyone else here is going to want to talk to us."
Nodding his head "Sounds like a good start. But we should also talk with the one who found him to get the location where the body was found . So we can that a look at where the murder was, incase that poor sap stumbled across something he was not supposed to have seen."
Rodney gets up and goes with the others to find Judd.
"Hey there - you look better than the last time we saw you! You told us people here didn't much like outsiders, so we were wondering if you could help us meet people or look around? Did you hear about the dead druid? It looks like some undead creature killed him - any trouble with that around here?"
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@Netzer: It is difficult to glean much from this information. It looks like it came from the druid's left, but that is about it. The rictus of the scream does not seem to be indicating any acknowledgement of that attack, however...
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At the mention of the undead, the man recoils reflexively, Yeah, old Barriston found the body. I'll take you to him.
The walk is short, around a few small cabins and to one a mere 100 feet from the lakeshore. Judd bangs on the door, Barriston! These folk are getting to the bottom of the dead forestwalker! They need to know where ya found the body!
After a few tense moments, Judd looks back at you all and shrugs, Sorry.
A second later, the door opens a crack, Ain't no way, I'm going out that way a'gin. Heard a deathly scream last night, carried on the wind... sent chills up me spine, it did. They want to go, let 'em. It's a mere 15 minutes that way, about 50 feet in. Ice's slippery though... best have crampons, lest ya slip 'n' slide! Best o' luck to ya, I ain't goin' out there... I ain't goin' out there...
Judd seems to give the man a sympathetic look, and seems to make up his mind about something, I'll take you. I know where he means...
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Judd swings by his house and grabs his snow shoes and crampons, then leads you about 15 minutes around the East shore of the Redwaters. The wind howls as it blows across the tundra, blowing the snows across the frozen laketop...
The eladrin will busy himself with whatever support is needed.
Once outside of town, Khitt whistles sharply and before long emerging from the dim distance, Khat comes padding along. Looking to Judd, ”Nothin to worry about. Khat is on our side of things.”
As the ice becomes more treacherous, the goblin reluctantly puts on the crampons. ”These things are the worst. Bulky and uncomfortable but oh well.[“
Lumen also puts his crampons on once they reach the ice. Not being used to the cold, snow, and ice, he does his best to stay upright. The cold wind and snow makes his eyes water and he can't see much out on the lake.
Rodney seeing Judd putting on crampons and snowshoes, Rodney fallows suit.
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Outfitted like the others and just as careful, Umikh follows after the team.
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The howling wind on the ice of the lake ruins any means of communicating between you, forcing you to shout at short range or find some other means of communication...
Rodney spots it first, then Khitt, obscured by the snows dancing across the icy surface, one swirl becomes more intense, then forms into a feminine apparition, then another!
Baldrick
Khitt
Lumen
Netzer
Rodalas
Rodney
Umikh
Badguys
Initiative - Round 1
Spectral Forms -> Khitt -> Lumen -> Rodney -> Rodalas / Netzer -> Umikh -> Baldrick
The two spectral forms coalesce from the swirling snows on the frozen lake surface, one looks like an elven woman and the other a roguish man... The woman opens her mouth to scream!
The other form chuckles...