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Gaelin is grateful for the warmth of the soup. He takes the opportunity to learn more about this place from their gracious host. ”From afar, one always hears of Irrisen as land of eternal winter. Is that not so? When would the snows normally have stopped?”
Gaelin is grateful for a good night’s sleep, and accompanies the hunters to Waldsby with a bit more energy. He finds a suitable opportunity to speak to Nadya. ”We are grateful for your hospitality and your words of warning. From here, I believe our journey will lead to Whitethrone. Is the place nearby?”
Gaelin resigns himself to a less-than-full belly for the night. Once Mierul has gone, he turns to Nadya. ”You protected us - at no small peril to yourself, I am sure. For that, I thank you. But I also have to wonder - why? And what would be the repercussion had she learned we were not truly visiting kin?” There is no suspicion or accusation in his tone. Indeed, he is sincerely grateful and trying to learn what he can of this strange land.
Gaelin finds it odd that Nadya would lie to this newcomer. He does not correct her, though, curious to see how this plays out. ”Gaelin,” he offers by way of introduction. ”Well met.” He bows his head slightly in greeting.
With a faint shiver, Gaelin looks relieved to have Ecaterina’s healing magic. ”Thank you,” he says sincerely. When the folk start setting up camp, Gaelin is eager to help however he can, setting stakes and helping with tents. The ordeals of the day may have left him weary, but he is not one to rest while others are working.
Gaelin moans miserably before hauling himself to his feet with a grateful smile to Alikai. He looks uncharacteristically haggard as he shakes out a sore shoulder. ”Thank you, Jeydavu, but I will be fine. It is not as bad as it looks.” It is not easy discern how much of that statement is bravado, but he does seem to be managing. ”Was anybody seriously injured?” he asks, as if his injuries weren’t serious. ”Well met, Nadya Petska,” he adds politely. ”I believe we would welcome shelter.”
Gaelin, grabbed by the giant mantis, tries in vain to struggle free.
”Cut it down!” he bellows, seeking aid from his companions.
Gaelin girls himself at the giant insect.
Gaelin draws his greatsword and rushes heedlessly toward the fray.
Gaelin bows his head and quietly offers a few words to the fallen rider. He turns and follows Alikai through the portal.
”It seems unwise to tarry here, as much as I agree that he deserves a proper rite. We stand beside a portal, and we do not know what else may pass through,” Gaelin suggests to Alikai. ”Perhaps one of us can say a few words?”
+2 to an ability score? As if Gaelin’s power attacks weren’t devastating enough. Watch out!
Gaelin looks grimly upon the scene. ”The quest to stop this unnatural blight may take more lives before this is through. He sacrificed himself nobly, so that others may live.” He draws back his shoulders and declares, ”This, I believe, is the quest I have been training for. I will see it done.”
Gaelin looks thoughtfully to his companions. ”Baba Yaga may be as evil as the stories say, but now someone has brought the grasp of winter to Taldor. Elvanna must be stopped if this is her doing. What follows, we may have to decide later.” He turns back to the dying man. ”What will we see on the other side of the portal? Is it guarded? Will there be aid to those seeking to thwart Elvanna?”
”Where did you come from? Where does this portal go?” Gaelin asks with some urgency.
Gaelin gapes at the sudden appearance of the black-clad rider and looks to make sure nothing is following him through the portal.
Gaelin nods to Jeydavu. "I will go with you. We do not know what we may find as we get closer." He adjusts his furs to make sure he is well insulated from the biting wind. Greatsword in hand, he trudges toward the monoliths alongside Jeydavu and Sahsara.
Gaelin nods at Malden. "The creatures of winter are strange beasts without question, but I feel no closer to understanding why they are here. I believe we should continue. Perhaps the source may yet reveal itself."
Gaelin pauses his search momentarily and looks at Alikai. "The rabbits must be very different where you come from."
"And these beings don't seem like the sort to build houses," Gaelin says, indicating the igloos. Sword drawn, he joins in investigating the structures.
Gaelin rushes to where Esme fell. "Oh gods, no!" he cries. His sword in hand, he rushes into the snow looking for the perpetrator. "Where are you?!" he calls out.
Gaelin swings his sword at the incoming creature.
Gaelin keeps his sword at the ready, unconvinced that the threat has ended.
"Show yourself!" he calls out to whatever may be skulking in the shadows.
The wound from the troll seems to set Gaelin into a frenzy. With a roar, the refined warrior becomes wild and aggressive in his stance he retaliates for the blow with his greatsword.
Esme Esme closes in on the combat and conjures a long vine from her arm, which tries to ensnare the troll. Tanglevine vs CMD
"Then you leave me no choice!" Gaelin exclaims, with a flair for the melodramatic. He charges at the creature.
So much for a stealthy approach, Gaelin muses to himself. His sword at the ready, he calls out to the charging spear-carrier, "Halt! Lower your weapon and identify yourself!" He is quickly beginning to wonder whether hailing these strange creatures will ever be fruitful.
"Perhaps we ought to send a scout to investigate whether anyone has been sheltering in those huts. If so we need to be careful about announcing ourselves," Gaelin suggests.
"I've sustained worse injuries in childhood games of 'capture the flag'," Gaelin says with a boyish grin. "We should move on."
Dodging the blast of cold air, Gaelin quickly retaliates with another swing of his sword.
Gaelin manages to avoid the full brunt of the cold air.
Gaelin unsheathes his greatsword and charges at the attacker.
The brawny warrior looks rueful as the group investigates Ecaterina's disappearance. "I noticed nothing out of the ordinary, but perhaps I should have. We shared a watch, and when it had ended she excused herself to attend to nature's call. I must confess, when I woke the others I slipped quickly into sleep. I do not know if she returned." Guilt falls across his face. "I should have made sure she returned safely. I thought she was just beyond the tree." He turns to the newcomer, "I am Gaelin Northvein, hailing from the village here, and eager to discern the cause of this wintry blight."
Gaelin attempts to help with lean-to, faring slightly better than Alikai, although possibly not as well as he would have liked.
Gaelin sheaths his sword and goes to look at the ermine. "This must be the beast the hunter was tracking. But can we tell how it was wounded? That might give us an idea what we are up against."
Seeing the giant creature latch onto Ecaterina, Gaelin rushes to the fore with his blade drawn.
Gaelin watches Malden to observe any ill effects. If there are none, he proceeds as well.
Gaelin stops abruptly with Malden's warning. "In that case, I stand corrected." He looks warily at the crude lettering.
Gaelin looks about the signs to discern who might have made them or perhaps any clues about when they were made.
"They have these wards in the wrong order. Anyone who wasn't scared off by the creepy doll isn't going to turn back because of a sign," Gaelin muses, while he waits for one of the magic-users to examine the writing.
"With those supports, it's almost as if I expect this hut to follow us. It would not be the strangest thing we've seen in these woods, at any rate." Gaelin accompanies this dry remark with a final appraisal of the hut's interior. "This architecture is clearly not native to these woods, so I would say we are on the right track. Let us move on and see what else we may find."
Gaelin looks with alarm at the arrow moving of its own accord. He calls out to anyone who might hear. "Enough of the parlor tricks! Show yourself, whoever you are!" He holds his sword ready, hoping that the situation is more mundane than it appears.
With a quiet determination, Gaelin resolves not to allow himself to be so shaken in the future. As they pass through the gate he adjusts his grip on his sword. He warily approaches the stoop to see who occupies it.
Looking uncharacteristically shaken, Gaelin mutters, "She has the right of it. I don't trust this place! Gods save us!" He makes for the edge of the menhirs and some open space to catch his breath.
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