"The spirits tell Chorro that his pack needs watching over, so he and Snow will again do so."
The shifter swivels his head to where the aforementioned spirit rests, by the hearth, head on massive paws. "Snow tells Chorro he will do his best to keep you safe."
Chorro nods to himself, satisfied that things are as they should be, and drinks his mug of beer in one long pull.
"The spirits tell Chorro that his pack needs watching over, so he and Snow will again do so."
The shifter swivels his head to where the aforementioned spirit rests, by the hearth, head on massive paws. "Snow tells Chorro he will do his best to keep you safe."
Chorro nods to himself, satisfied that things are as they should be, and drinks his mug of beer in one long pull.
"I have further honed my skills to invoke the will of Avandra as I strike with my full blade to disorient our enemies and help strengthen all of you. The abilities that she has graced me with ensure that I can keep you all alive."
Esmeralda returns from the kitchen, her clothes smell of the burnt food.
"Sorry about that Alasandro. You wanted a description of the man right? He was a tall man, about six feet, lean and muscular. He had long black tied in a pony tail. Streaks of grey can be seen at his temples. He had a moustache and beard, both well trimmed. He had a hawk-like nose, pale complexion."
"His eyes though were the most peculiar feature of his face, they were a very clear blue like that of a cloudless summer sky. I got the impression that he could see right through me. Never felt so exposed."
Insight Roll, DC 25
Theren sighs and stands up. "Where have you seen him before?"
Esmeralda tries to cover her surprise, "He had stayed at the inn a few time before. He says he's a merchant."
Chorro stands, stretches his rangy limbs as if to relieve the aches of long travel and walks past Esmerelda to the hearth, there crouching down to scratch behind Snow's ears. His movements are languid, free of cares. His eyes are neither.
Undying One:
Immeral watches as Esmeralda explains about the letter's delivery and about the man who bought it, the wizard asks "When was the last you saw of this man? Is he in here frequent?" When Esmeralda begins to speak Immeral studies her demeanor and body language to she if she may hiding something
Insight (1d20+19=21)
"Has he ever asked you to deliver anything for before?" asks Alasandro gently, noting his companion's reactions and Esmeralda's own slight unease.
Genryu sits quietly drinking his beverage.
Chorro stands, stretches his rangy limbs as if to relieve the aches of long travel and walks past Esmerelda to the hearth, there crouching down to scratch behind Snow's ears. His movements are languid, free of cares. His eyes are neither.
Undying One: ** spoiler omitted **
For Old Chorro
Immeral watches as Esmeralda explains about the letter's delivery and about the man who bought it, the wizard asks "When was the last you saw of this man? Is he in here frequent?" When Esmeralda begins to speak Immeral studies her demeanor and body language to she if she may hiding something
Insight (1d20+19=21)
Esmeralda tries to remember the answer to all of Immeral's questions.
"The last time he was here was when he delivered that message."
"He's been going here about once a month."
"Has he ever asked you to deliver anything for before?" asks Alasandro gently, noting his companion's reactions and Esmeralda's own slight unease.
"No that message was the first time he asked for a favor."
Esmeralda seems to wither under the scrutiny of such legendary figures.
Theren sighs and stands up. "Where have you seen him before?"
"You mean outside the inn? No, here's where I met him."
"Has he ever asked you to deliver anything for before?" asks Alasandro gently, noting his companion's reactions and Esmeralda's own slight unease.
"No that message was the first time he asked for a favor."
Esmeralda seems to wither under the scrutiny of such legendary figures.
"Nobody blames you Esmeralda. If we seem rough and intrusive, forgive us. We have grown accustomed to needing fast answers - but that is no excuse for frightening an old friend." Alasandro keeps his voice gentle, hoping to sooth the girl.
Genryu lifts his mug and takes a drink.
"It seems are constant barrage of questions are sending the poor girls mind spinning. I say we enjoy our time here and leave to the Keep tomorrow."
Esmeralda nods her thanks at Genryuu.
The night proved uneventful but the biting cold made sleeping difficult. Your dreams, if you can all them that, were mostly of a eldritch pale blue skinned woman with a maniacal laughter wielding a menacing sword. "Your soul is mine!" she shouts and stabs you. You are jolted awake and you find yourself in your rented room at the inn.
You suit up and head for the common room.
You leave Winterhaven behind and head for the Keep. The sun refuses to light your way as it hides behind dark storm clouds. The occasional bird and animal stop to watch you pass but for the most part the road to the Keep is deserted.
After a couple of hours of hard riding, the Keep can be seen over the horizon like a dessicated corpse hand clawing its way out of the earth.
Reining in Phyllis, Alasandro looks at the Keep. "Still no more welcoming than it was all those years ago."
A wide smile creeps over his face.
"Can we possibly get into more trouble than we did that time? Oh - and just out of curiosity, did anyone else dream of a cold witch or am I alone in the pleasure?"
"Can we possibly get into more trouble than we did that time? Oh - and just out of curiosity, did anyone else dream of a cold witch or am I alone in the pleasure?"
"You are not alone, Alasandro," Lavender replies calmly.
Chorro peers over his shoulder in response to the painter's remark, nodding slightly.
Sitting easily on his old mare, he places a calming hand on the strawberry roan's shoulder. "Shhhh, little sister. Chorro says no harm shall come to you."
"Can we possibly get into more trouble than we did that time? Oh - and just out of curiosity, did anyone else dream of a cold witch or am I alone in the pleasure?"
"I did as well. It seems more and more likely I will have to lock blades with her soon."
Genryuu approaches with the others, his eyes scanning the area.
Theren continues to ride along silently.
Alasandro nods as the others confirm their dreams, nudges Phyllis with his heels and rides on.
Harsh ice has forced the landscape into a more sinister aspect and gilded it with a chill of foreboding that even the least imaginative of you cannot ignore.
For Alasandro at least, something more seems to be affecting him. Half a mile from the ancient entrance you remember so well, he pulls up and gathers his friends.
"My joy at seeing you all has clouded my mind and my judgement. You all know I was raised in the Feywild. My home was long there and I know its ways. This cold is a fey working. I feel it."
He pauses, clearly reluctant to continue.
"My friends. I cannot go with you now. The Winter Court is gathering. I have contacts there. Friends even. This unnatural winter is surely some part of the Prince of Frost's work. I will find you again."
Pulling out the picture he drew at the inn last night, he hands it to Lavender.
"You carry a thousand memories Lav. Take another and guard it."
He grins at you all. "Amos will tell me how you fared. Don't take risks I wouldn't take. That should free you nicely to create havoc."
With that, he gestures quietly and watches as a fey portal rises in front of him. "I'll find you."
The last you see of him as the portal closes behind him is a nondescript figure in a fur-lined cloak, noticeable only for his paint stained fingers.
Genryu nods as his companion leaves through the portal.
"We don not have the time bid our friend a farwell. Our duties lay ahead."
Your dreams and Alasandro's forebodings of fey plotting trigger memories. Half remembered tales of a fey of power known as the Winter Witch struggle to make themselves heard.
DC25
The Winter Witch is particularly malicious and terrible archfay also called Koliada. One of the Winter Fey, she pursues a crusade into the mortal world every century or so and that starts with a long and enduring winter. Some say her ultimate goal is to freeze the world, or to carve off frozen parts that she conquers into the Feywild.
DC30
Conjecture abounds on the true nature of Koliada the Winter Witch. Some claim she's merely one of many forms taken by the Prince of Frost: other stories tout her as his queen, his daughter, his sister. Some of the stranger tales claim more than one of these relations or all of them. Such are the ways of the Fey.
DC35
As an archfey, Koliada can be destroyed only by her nemesis. Each nemesis is particular to the archfey. Often it is an item, and sometimes it is another kind of agent of doom.
Questions, and maybe some answers revolve in your minds as your horses crunch their way through the thickly drifted snow towards the Keep.
Lavender seems lost in thought for a bit, then starts to ruminate aloud on his vast memories of the Winter Witch.
The drifting snow crunches under your horses hooves as you approach the ruined tower leading to the keep's lower works. At the sound, a skeletal knight steps out from the shadows. The rasping voice calls out to you as you come within earshot.
"Old friends. I am glad you have heeded my call. Times are dire and I find that I need your help again."
"We know you didn't write that note, Keegan. How about you tell us what's really going on here."
Father Theren
Something is very wrong here. Although you find the words convincing, the knight speaking to you does not appear to be Sir Keegan. Already suspicious due to the errors in the note you received, you are even more sure now you stand in front of him.
Not only is the bone structure different to your memory, but this figure seems to radiate an aura similar to that of a death knight.
Nor is that all. Bones are sticking out of the drifts surrounding the entrance. The snow has been falling heavily all day, stopping only in the last few minutes. By rights, these sad remains should be covered.
"Surely this is no way to treat an old friend? I seek your help to stop the un-natural winter before the whole land freezes."
"Two lessons for you. First, do not send a death knight to impersonate a just man. Second, bury your minions deeper.", says Theren as a suit of armor forms around him.