Hal begins to chase the creature but stops himself, That would be a fool's errand.
"You see Percival sometimes the vulgar direct approach to magic is effective!" Hal grins from ear to ear.
Marcus watches the warriors battle, an arrow on the string in case it is needed.
Sir Percival casts a glance at Hal, his eyes narrow at the insult to his magic. "You may be right.", he replies, without humour or emotion. He turns away a scowl across his face, bitterly he says, "But first we must finish the fight to rid ourselves of these slaves to the night." Sir Percival says behind the fighters, "Well Hal, it seems you can have the honour to finish off, with your more direct magic then." he smiles, but there is no humour behind the facade.
The final werewolf begins to whimper, still easily restrained by the black tentacles.
Venester and Hoyre share a look, then shrug their shoulders, waiting for the spell to end or the lycanthrope to escape.
Sir Percival speaks to the trapped were-beast, "You, can you speak? Do you want to be spared? You know we have the power over you, tell me more of your pack and how you came to be, and maybe you will be spared? Are there more in your pack than were in this grassy dip? Is there a pack leader we should know about? We seek nothing but to make this a safer passage, you what do you seek?"
Before the creature can speak Halstadt casts a spell. "Angradd reveal the truth of this beasts words to me!"
"Know that if ye lie beast, I will know!" Hal states with conviction.
He whimpers for a few moments, before barking out in a mouth not designed for human speech.
'I can speak. Spare me,' the voice becomes pitiful.
'We were just hungry. Nothing personal.'
Marcus keeps his eyes to the surroundings, not wanting to be caught unaware.
"Then tell us what we need to know, how many packs are there? and how many of you beasts are in each pack?, is there a leader and where is he? And what other dangers do you face in these woods, what or who do you run from? " Turning to Edrukk, Sir Percival says, "Lets get this over and done quickly, we need to get back onto the path and on our way." He calls, "Mouse, search the bodies for anything that identifies them, "
Hal whispers to Percival. "Slaying enemies in combat is one thing, murdering them in cold blood is another. We should either bring it with us or let it loose".
Marcus momentarily bristles at Percy's apparent order, but then checks the bodies of the fallen creatures.
The lycanthrope refuses to give up details on other werewolves, though wide-eyed with fear, a new emotion for the predator, his loyalty is unwavering. 'The woods are full of ghosts and ogres and Lamashtan's, and that is just near the edges. If you free me I will spread word of your power, no pack is willing to lose members in the madness of Ashwood.' He keeps his head miserably lowered to the ground.
Marcus looks to the others. "My vote is to release him." He turns back to the wolf. "But know this. . .if you or any of your pack face us again, there will be no quarter given." Marcus emphasizes his words by waving the silver-tipped arrow about.
"I agree Marcus. Let's release him and be on our way".
Sir Percival looks intently the werewolf, "Be good to your word, or you will suffer the same fate as your friends. Now GO!" With that Sir Percival dispels the tentacles holding him in place and the wolf is free to go. "Lets clear up this mess and be on our way." Sir Percival starts to build a pyre with wood and dry grasses from around, to burn the remaining corpses. He also looks through the site for any objects of interest.
Perception
The bodies are quickly disposed off and Hoyre and Venester find the trail again. Soon the party is moving rapidly through the woods once more, and while they still get phantom feelings of being watched, the feelings are timid now. Easily dispelled by light and sound.
It begins to snow a day before they leave the woods and they find themselves scant miles across the frigid ground from the town of Turtleback Ferry when finally reach open land.
"Where is this fort we are supposed to find friends?"
"Somewhere near here, but first I suggest we go into town and refresh ourselves in the Inn there. I could do with a comfortable bed for a change. I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about the area there. Though the town does look quiet, could be the cold though."
Perception
The town upriver looks to be inhabited, you can't see many figure at this distance, but smoke streams from a few chimneys in the grey light. At it's heart is a ferry wharf, docked at which appears to be a large shell with a platform on top.
Marcus pulls his cloak tighter as he shivers. "Yes, the warmth of dry clothes is greatly missed."
"Come let us get some warmth as soon as we can, not point standing around here in the cold. Hmmm, what's that by the wharf." As Sir Percival, mimics the actions of Marcus, pulling his cloak tighter. He digs his heels into his mounts side, to spur him forward towards the town.
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"On the morrow I will pray for spells to warm our bones. Lead on Sir Percival you are correct, we will not solve any mysteries standing about freezing our toes off!"
You soon arrive in the modest hamlet, the only building that seems open is an inn called the Unfortunate Unicorn.
Inside a lanky man with a bald head smiles at you from behind the bar, he's missing his front teeth, but otherwise seems pleasant. A few locals sit about the room sharing hushed conversations.
Marcus walks to the bar. "Something warm to drink for me and my companions, my good Sir," Marcus says as he shakes out his cloak.
"And some warm broth and bread if you have it. The journey has been long and cold."
'I'll be more than happy to provide good sirs, pardon me askin', but how did you get here? I thought the roads were all piled with snow from here to Magnimar for over a week.'
"Ingenuity of course. So tell me as we are just arriving how are things in the area any trouble brewing? Speaking of brewing I will take some ale to go along with that broth", says Hal.
Unhappy that the barman is asking questions of how they got here, Sir Percival curty says, "Do you ask all your patrons how they come to your Inn? is it not enough we are here and would like to eat and drink, it's been too long without some proper food, if its within your kitchen's staff ability to make it." Under his breath, he continues "This is so provincial, even for one such as me. I only hope we made the right choice coming here."
The barman's eyebrows raise and he replies, 'Very well, my lord, if you'll be seated your food and drink will arrive promptly, will your party be wanting rooms?'
"Yes, please." Marcus answers the barman with a smile then moves to a table.
Hal stays up at the bar. "Do not mind him, we had a rough trip of it my friend. So how are things?"
Diplomacy -
'The village is queit, in truth. We haven't heard anything from the fort in weeks now, and the road was to difficult when we sent a messenger.'
Food is soon served, simple warm adn filling fare.
Hal turns to his companions. "I guess we should head up there ourselves. It looks like the village has not heard from the fort either. I am not too crazy about the idea of approaching it with no clue as to the toubles but I guess there can be no help for it. Though if we can wait until morning I may be able to cast a divination that could help".
Seeing no lovely ladies to pass the evening with, Marcus retreats to his room for the night.
Sir Percival eats the broth, which at least fills his stomach, with relatively tasty food, such is life on the road. He continues to be uneasy. Over dinner he speaks, "Hal, you get on with the barman, you asked him about the fort yet?" As Hal replies, he thinks , "You know Hal, something don't seem quite right, whatever happened to that messenger? you'd thought they'd be more concerned? do you think they may be showing fealty to another. We'd best be on our guard tonight. When it comes to bed, uo the rope I think?"
"Maybe they are not concerned because they do not think anything is wrong. Of course that is assuming they do not know anything is wrong. I agree using the rope is a good idea. We will have to wake up Mouse and let him know. I am ready for bed when you are Percival, Hoyre and Venester".
The night pass peacefully, and if a watch out of the rope trick was set, they did not see anyone enter the room the party purchased.
In the morning the inn provides a warm porridge to the travellers.
After the meal, Hoyre asks 'So, how do you want to do this, should we head to the fort to investigate?'
"I take it that resting comfortably in the inn until spring is out of the question." Marcus says, not looking forward to returning to the cold winter air.
"Don't worry I have prayed for spells to handle that. Probably approaching the fort is our only option, unless you want to snoop around Mouse and see if anyone knows something they are not telling".
Sir Percival wakes and stretches, glad to be warm at least. Feeling rested, he dresses for the day, goes down for his breakfast. "Morning, another cold one out there, any idea what the forecast is today?", he addresses the innkeeper as he brings Sir Percival's breakfast. "My good man, do we have far to go to get to the fort? You couldn't provide us all with some nourishment on the way up there could you, some cold pie or something? Bet you get a lot of custom from up there? Mny people pass through at the moment?" his discourses as coldly as the day is outside.
'The fort usually stocks up before winter really hits, it's easier than trying to haul supplies in the ice and snow. So I haven't seen to many folk come down from the Storval, and that ain't to odd in itself. I can get ya some supplies no problem, let me see what I can rustle up.'
The innkeeper quickly gathers up provisions for the trip, and Hoyre pays the man for the inn stay and provisions. He also pays the innkeeper to keep your horses safe as you go on to the fort on foot.
Sir Percival addresses mouse, "Mouse, the quicker we get there, the quicker we'll be back. maybe we'll be back in time so we don't have the worst of the winter out on the road. If we wait too long, then its gonna just get colder and feel worse when we do venture out. So get your warmest clothes on, a good hot drink and food inside you and we'll be back in no time."
After eating his meal, Marcus gathers his gear and waits for the others.
"Do not worry my friends. I have enough spells for all of us to move comfortably in the cold. Let's get a move on Percival is right, the sooner we go the sooner we can get back. Before we leave though I would like to seek divine aid to determine the nature of the danger before us".
Hal casts Divination, "what is the nature of the danger that has afflicted the Fort we must journey to".
-
Hal elects to walk as he is not too keen on falling off of a horse.
Acrobatics -
"If any of you feel too cold let me know. I have taken spells which will aid in resisting the cold. I have divined the possibility of danger and Angraad has of course responded cryptically. 'Mishappen hand and rusted hook, beyond disaster you must look'. I am not yet sure what it means but I can only imagine that this will not be a pleasant journey".