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Lulari still looks shaken by her experience with the haunt, but is willing to try sleeping it off.
Very early the next morning, she looks...better than the night before, but still haunted by the experience. She asks for a large mug of tea and something simple for breakfast, offering a slightly fixed smile to the servers.
"Given our experience last night, I'm inclined to give the families a wider berth until we explore what's out in the wilderness. I'd rather have concrete information of some flavor before trying to convince one side or the other that they are wrong. Did we get details of where these visions have appeared?"
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"Did we get details of where these visions have appeared?"
"I guess we got two or three spots we can check. The place where they killed her, the place where the witch effigy disappeared... and the place where she supposedly killed the King."
Elena will ask the bartender about those exact locations just to confirm. She wonders if the area where they faced the haunt was the place she was killed.
Ifan bids you good morning and welcomes you all to another hearty breakfast at The Linnorm's Tale Inn to start your day.
"I guess we got two or three spots we can check. The place where they killed her, the place where the witch effigy disappeared... and the place where she supposedly killed the King."
He scratches his head for a moment as he thinks about Elena's statement.
"Well, from what I know an' heard, they killed her somewhere in town. Not sure where, though. As for the effigy an' where she killed the king, they're both in the same place. Out in the Snow Elk Wilds, a couple miles east of here. Just follow the hunters' trails that way and you should come across it."
All right then..we have a plan...now...let's get this done...before feling get hurt by us snooping about. Ifan, can I get a mug of that tea to go? That's some good stuff there...
Ifan smiles as he sets a small sack on the bar.
"Already ahead of you, my friend. I wouldn't want you to go out into the Snow Elk Wilds without some Ulfen tea. It's made with birch bark, wild berries, and spruce tips. And a bit of valerian root to calm the nerves." he winks."There's about a dozen satchels in here."
He says while patting the sack.
"One satchel is good for a large pot of water."
"Whenever you're ready to set out, we'll get your horses and sleigh ready to go."
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Lulari still looks shaken by her experience with the haunt, but is willing to try sleeping it off.
Very early the next morning, she looks...better than the night before, but still haunted by the experience. She asks for a large mug of tea and something simple for breakfast, offering a slightly fixed smile to the servers.
"Given our experience last night, I'm inclined to give the families a wider berth until we explore what's out in the wilderness. I'd rather have concrete information of some flavor before trying to convince one side or the other that they are wrong. Did we get details of where these visions have appeared?"
"Hey, Lulari!" Pai flies over to pull out a chair for her. "How're you doing today? Don't worry. We got this! It's gonna be fine!" She gives the samsaran a bright-eyed grin with both thumbs up.
Pai is totally on board with getting out into the wilds where she doesn't have to watch what she says. "I mean, I can do it, but it's so tiresome to have to constantly be thinking about what'll happen if the wrong person hears me. You know? I'm glad this group is so chill, 'cause if I had to be all straight-laced around you..." She keeps babbling about nonsense as she preps to leave.
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"Oh thanks, but I bought this handy dandy little potion just for that. I'll chug it once I start to feel cold. Thanks though, you're a sweetheart!" Pai's convinced that she won't need it for a while yet, but she's smart enough to drink the potion before suffering any ill effects. "Let's goooo peopoooohl!" And with that she zips off, this time in the right direction.
~INTO THE SNOW ELK WILDS~
As the sun tries to shine through the cloudy sky, your teeth chatter from the cold wind as you make the final preparations on the horses and sleigh. You realize it might be a good idea to take Lulari up on her offer of endure elements before heading out into the frigid wilderness.
Elena snaps the horses' reins and Shidou leads the way on his great owlbear steed as you head east out of Frostbreach...
Generations of logging and subsistence farming have cleared most of the trees within several miles of Frostbreach, but beyond to the east lies an expanse of sparse boreal forest and low hills known locally as the Snow Elk Wilds.
Flakes of snow blows from the trees as you follow the hunters' footpaths into the wilderness. From time to time you need to stop to clear the way for the sleigh to get through where deep snowdrifts cover the ground and obscures the trails in the deep snow. Somewhere in the distance, a pack of wolves howl, making the horses nervous.
Perception DC 25/30:
When you reach the treeline, you can't shake the feeling that something or someone is following you. You sense a presence and catch a glimpse of something out of the corner of your eye, but every time you turn to get a proper look it is gone.
Once you reach the treeline, you sense that you are being followed. Every so often when you turn around, you catch a glimpse of a magnificent elk with a pristine white coat and antlers sharpened to bloody red points. Whenever you try to get a good look at the creature, though, it seems to vanish, blending in with the surroundings.
A rocky clearing opens between the snow-laden trees, the oldest of which bear weathered slash marks and gashes as if they were scars from a terrible battle long ago. A frozen footpath winds in a circle around a rock outcropping about 50 feet across, with a single, snowy tree residing on top. Atop the center outcropping, a magnificent elk with a pristine white coat and sharpened, red-tinged antlers grazes on moss.
It's the same white elk that has been following you. Somehow it's gotten ahead of you.
If you inspect the trees:
The marks on the trees are heavily aged. If you spent a few minutes scraping away at some of the uneven growth you could make a count of the tree rings that have formed since the trees started healing the damage and estimate the age with reasonable accuracy.
You also find several old, distinctive arrowheads lodged in the trunks, trapped by hardened sap and years of growth over the wounds.
To the southeast is a much smaller clearing, at the center of which stands a charred wooden stake about 8 feet tall driven into the ground. The ground around it is black and barren, as if the snow refuses to fall there. Just a few feet to the east stands a 4-foot-tall carved stone post that bears several inscriptions written in Ulfen.
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[smaller]"Uh, guys? Those sharpened tips... Are they stained with blood? And who sharpened them?" Pai is tempted to fly up high to get eyes on the whole area, but doesn't want to attract the elk's attention. Instead, she stays with the group, swiveling her head this way and that to try to catch any other beings in the area.
A layer of ice covering the tree trunks makes it difficult for Elena and Mykel to gain any useful information.
Every once in a while when you look up at the top of the rocky outcropping, the great elk lifts its head and glares at you warily before going back to graze on patches of moss on the rocky outcropping.
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"Nope! Shucks. Maybe we should've hired someone to join us. But then we would've had to hire someone associated with the other family to come too, so neither would get 'peeved' at us. And then those two might be bickering the whole time or something. So maybe not. OH!! But we can write it down and ask someone back in town to translate it for us!" Pai whips out a sheet of parchment and a stick of charcoal to do just that.
As Pai and Mykel investigate around the effigy site, Pai gets something caught around her foot in the snow. Looking down, around her foot is a leather strap with two tiny charms -one ivory, the other silver- dangling from it. The charms look very old.
Detect magic reveals one to glow with faint abjuration and the other to glow with moderate conjuration magic.
You can wear up to 3 charms around your neck.
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Smart idea, Pai...that's why we brought you along... Mykel says with a chuckle.
Hmm...I'm pretty sure most animals would have run off after seeing people... he says as he watches the elk chomp on some greenery.
Can't hurt to try to at least show we aren't a threat...I suppose... he says as he waves to the elk.
Ho there! We mean no harm.... he says, then realizes he looks like an idiot talking to an elk.
Ho there! We mean no harm.... he says, then realizes he looks like an idiot talking to an elk.
The elk looks at Mykel like he's an idiot and snorts. It continues to keep a watchful eye on the Pathfinders as it munches on moss.
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Lulari also nods acknowledgement to the "elk," whatever it actually is.
She walks over to the trees and scrapes away at the marks on the bark. The samsaran leans closer, nose practically to the slash, trying to estimate how long it's been since the slashes were made. With a little more digging, she manages to pry out an old arrowhead, cleaning it off on the bark, before wandering back towards the group.
The flash of magic catches her attention and she hurries over to Pai and Elena. "Oh, now that looks interesting." Her fingers twitch a little as if she wants to grab them, restraining herself, she merely casts detect magic again.
"These appear to be magical talismans, frequently used by the Ulfen tribes. This one is to prevent fear and the other death," gesturing at the ivory and silver charms respectively.
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"Oooh! Talismans, huh? Which one do you want to carry, Lulari?" Maybe the fear one for her. Unless what she fears more is death.
Now that more of the group is trying to chat up the elk, Pai can't help but giggle at them. "Heheheh. Guys. Seriously. Elk don't speak Common. If you really want to talk to him, let me." She hides her shudder at the thought of addressing the bloody-sharpened-pronged elk. Well, I've fought worse and survived. What's a scary elk?
Flying to where it can see her, but she's not particularly close to it (so hopefully she has time to fly up out of its reach if it charges her), she addresses the elk in Sylvan:
Lady Luck sure is smiling down on Lulari in the Snow Elk Wilds today.
Scraping one of the healed wounds on the tree, Lulari suspects the battle that happened here was about 200 years ago; about the same time that Kolvi killed King Alvard. The distinctive barbed arrowheads are Ulfen in craftsmanship.
Getting a good look at the elk, Lulari remembers stories of fey creatures that disguise themselves as majestic elk.
Those who lock gazes with ijiraqs see the world around them begin to swim, seeming unreal to the extent that even a skilled forester might be unable to determine which way is north, and a life-long native of a place might become lost within sight of home. This is their Disorienting Gaze ability.
Elena explains what they learned of the ritual and if there are no complaints, she will try to follow the instructions to the best of her ability.
As you gather the necessary items to perform the summoning ritual, and wonder if you even have the items —a candle, a piece of ice carved into a dragon tooth, and salt— those that are trained in the arcane arts feel that something's not quite right. A missing item perhaps? The proper incantations? Do you hold hands in a circle? Hmm...
The tip of one of the many icicles hanging from branches would be perfect to fashion into a dragon's tooth. Just licking the end to give it a fine point would work.
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Elena happily waves the icicle. "Ok, mark the dragon tooth off the list. Maybe we can make a small fire instead of the candle? I should have some salt from my rations..."
Unless stated otherwise, she will put together 'the ritual' to see if it works. If it doesn't she will suggest to go back and get candles and salt proper. Maybe some extra incense.
Pai soars into the air to address the elk but keeps a safe distance. The elk, seemingly annoyed, bleats out a warning then suddenly disappears.
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"Pai, stop bothering the creature. If they wanted to talk to us, they would. Those antlers are sharp for a reason. I think they're a fey of the icy wilderness and want to make sure we don't cause any problems," Lulari comments offhandedly as she continues thinking about the ritual. Something is definitely off...
As she searches her bag for one of the more esoteric ingredients, she stops cold as a thought strikes her. "You know, these don't seem to go together for a summoning ritual. I would expect clover for healing, and why would you shred a string? That doesn't make any sense. Given how the townspeople reacted to Kolvi's name, is it possible that this is a cause and effect issue? Like thunder causing sour milk or black cats causing bad luck. 'When I did this random thing, this weird magic-ish thing happened.' You know?"
Lulari plops down in the snow and pulls out a notebook, diagramming the ritual to see if it works the way it should.
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"So what are we supposed to be doing here? I presume our elk friend won't tell us, and if this ritual is wrong, who knows just how wrong it could be..."
Shidou has Tobikumaa sniff around for anything the humanoids may not have noticed, though time and precipitation have probably cleansed all trails.
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Her mind obviously on her work, Lulari mentions, "Oh, and the trees have big slashes through the bark that are from about the same time as Kolvi. Arrowhead is Ulfen design." The samsaran continues diagramming, getting more complicated as she goes. She holds out the book, turning it this way and that, frowning. "Anything interesting over there, Shidou?"
Suddenly reappearing on the outcropping in the same place before it disappeared, the great elk stomps its front hooves and blurts out a terrifying honking noise. It bobs its head frantically and bugles and snorts towards the center of the clearing.
A strong, cold wind begins to blow from all directions creating a whirlwind in the center of the clearing. It blows embers from the fire that Mykel started only for them to be extinguished in the snow. The whirlwind strengthens into a great blizzard, causing a blinding storm of sleet and snow. You shield your faces from the stinging slivers of ice, but then the blizzard subsides almost as quickly as it whipped up. Uncovering your eyes, you look towards the center of the clearing. Standing there is a beautiful, red haired Ulfen woman with a scowl on her face.
"STOP RIGHT THERE!!!" she shouts, pointing at Lulari and Elena as they contemplate on performing the summoning ritual.
"Do you have any idea what you're doing!?! Are you trying to banish me, the all-powerful Jarlsblood Witch, to the realm of the undead!?!"
Putting her hands on her hips, she continues to scowl.
"What do you want, outlanders?"
She purses her lips, waiting for an explanation.
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Elena drops what she's doing and shows her hands up.
"Apologies, we meant no harm. My name is Elena Endari and we are Pathfinders. We were told this was the way to call you. One of your descendants wishes for us to clear your name. You were blamed for the king's death and winter witch craft. Can you tell us what truly happened back then? And... Is there something we can do to help you move on?" She explains in a polite way the reason of their presence here.
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Pai was just about to tell everyone that the elk was still there, but then it reappeared and crazy stuff happened. Instinctively, she threw up her Water Shroud to protect herself.
Then she was all ready for whatever-it-was to come out swinging, but instead the lady asked questions and *is waiting for an answer*. Thankfully Elena has some presence of mind, but Pai's so fired-up-ready-to-go that she blurts: "You're Kolvi, right?" She immediately regrets saying anything, as the Jarlsblood Witch's gaze turns her way. Pai scrunches behind her water shield, wishing it wasn't transparent.
"Of course I am Kolvi! Who else were you expecting!?!"
"Put me to rest? Oh, no, no, no,"
She wags a finger at Elena.
"I do not need to be put to rest. The only way to appease me, however, is to set fire to Frostbreach. That's right! Burn it to the ground!!!"
She cackles evilly,
"Hahahahaha!!!"
Her face turns to a serious expression,
"Will you do that for me?"
She asks kindly.
The elk bobs its head and snorts.
"And you, little one."
She addresses Pai.
"There's no need for you to cower up there in the air. Come down and talk like a normal person."
Perception