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Bundling up for the winter...
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Some of you are only recent arrivals to the Taldan village of Heldren, while most of you have been here awhile. And while all of you carry different reasons as to your migration to the town, you all can safely say that the town has been experiencing an unnatural cold as of late.
Despite the fact that it's the height of summer, heavy snowfall has blanketed the village and the surrounding forests. Investigations into the frozen woods have come up with no answer as to the onslaught of cold, and only bring whispers of an unnatural presence and new, dangerous predators.
But in any event, life goes on for the townsfolk, with the only noticeable differences being the hunters and loggers that bundle up for long shifts in the snow, and the whispering rumors that drift through the streets.
So this begs the question: where are you?
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Arriving at the towns inn.
Rorgar dusts the snow off his clothing. Ale and a bit good food innkeep
Ember has been living in Heldren for a couple of years with her family, and thus may or may not know anyone else who lives here. Since the cold has arisen, she has been trying to keep indoors as much as she possibly can, trying to avoid the cold at every opportunity. If she's been caught outdoors, talking to another villager, she's been incessantly complaining about how horrible the cold is and how she hopes it will pass soon.
Evelina had hoped to be in Heldren and looking for work by early afternoon, however the sudden cold weather had slowed her travel. Instead she found herself arriving late in the evening, thoroughly exhausted and thinking of little more than a hot meal and a warm bed.
As Evelina collapses on the bed face first she thinks, Tomorrow... I'll definitely be up early and looking for work... She contemplates he tiredness for a moment and reconsiders. Tomorrow...I will hopefully be up sort of early and looking for work.
[ooc]Edit: Forgot to reply the skype question. I'm fine with using it for IM. Using it for voice would be more difficult, depending on the time.
Hilda remains at the bar in the inn, a little less raucous than she's used to, but her vacation is one in the pursuit of silence, so she's rather appreciative of the calm. She keeps the air of a brutish Ulfen warrior about her for the sake of keeping the quiet; armed, threatening travelers wandering into small towns rarely seemed particularly endearing. When one did try to talk with her, or the innkeep made some passing remark about the cold, her small talk was to say, "It reminds me of home," in her heavy accent. It lacks all the warmth the statement usually has, as if resenting the cold for those memories. She remains most of her days by the fire, ordering hearty meals and when evening comes strong drinks. As the stories of strange new predators come in, she struggles more and more with the impulse to seek out town officials and offer to sell her services in scouting out and perhaps dealing with the rumoured monsters, but it can wait until she's fully decompressed.
Having been in Heldren for about a fortnight, Uruk was gradually settling into the slow paced life of the hamlet. He picked up the odd job as they sporadically came up, offering his brawn for any laborious task that needed to be accomplished. Uruk had figured he might stay awhile, or even settle down in the peaceful village.
When not working, Uruk liked to throw back a few pints at the Inn. Talk about the bar was mostly about the strange weather, and stories of strange predators of late. Glancing about, Uruk noticed some new faces had appeared at the Inn, a dwarf and an Ulfen woman. Setting his mug down, his brow raises as the Ulfen woman speaks of her home. Normally such talk would never draw his attention, but the north had been his home once as well. Uncharacteristically, the massive Kellid interjects and adds in an equally thick but different accent "The cold reminds me of home as well... though I can't say that is good a good thing." Taking another swig of ale, Uruk raises one brow towards Hilda and nods.
Looking at both the large human, and the Ulfin women,
The cold, I did not notice it being overly cold
As Rorgar takes a deep drink of his ale.
"You too?" she asks with a small grin, giving her pint a small raise in the Kellid's direction. The accent and appearance certainly said he was not a native of Heldren, but she kept to herself too much to know if he was a permanent fixture or not. "Running from something back home, or just hoping to find a place where your shirtless lifestyle isn't ruined by the weather? Because it would seem Heldren was surprisingly bad choice for a warm retreat."
After the sun has set, Ember finds herself at the inn as well, wrapped tightly in furs and shivering even despite that. She finds the closest empty seat to the fire, keeps the furs around her, and holds her hands out towards the radiating heat. Her forehead is furrowed, her face a little contorted almost as if she were about to cry. She seems lost deep in thought, not paying much attention to her surroundings, at least not yet. Perhaps after she has thawed a little bit first.
Evelina sleeps for about an hour, but soon finds herself restless. She had been so focused on getting to a warm bed, she hadn't spent much time reflecting on the unnaturalness of this weather situation. Now, thinking about it was keeping her awake. With a yawn, she makes herself look presentable and heads back down to the tavern area. Maybe a drink and a change of scenery will calm my mind...
Evelina settles at the bar and orders a drink, while observing the new occupants. Having a weakness for eavesdropping, she starts listening in on the conversation that the northerners are having. However, she gets distracted when she noticed another woman, sitting alone, who looks about ready to cry.
She gets up and walks over to the fire. Tapping the woman on the shoulder, she asks "Hey, are you alright? You look cold...you should get a drink...or eat something..." She takes a gulp of ale and leans back into a nearby chair, with a sleepy sigh.
Rorgar moves over and takes a table near the fire, Ladies inclining his head in a polite nod.
So do either of you know how long has the snow and apparently the cold has been here?
"Too long", Ember mutters under her breath at Rorgar's comment, not aimed at him in particular but just musing out loud to herself. When Evelina taps her on the shoulder, she gives a wistful smile at the woman, and a hesitant nod in answer. "I'll be all right...as soon as this accursed cold lifts. It's never been like this as long as I've lived here." There's a little pause, and with a shudder of a breath, she seems to relax a little bit, though she still appears mostly tense. "I don't recall your face...passing through?"
Just arrived actually. Been travelling around seeing the sights, yourself ?
"I've...lived here a while. Was hoping to get away from the cold. No such luck, evidently", the pale woman says with a little bite to her tone, venom aimed not at the dwarf, but at the weather itself.
it seems a bit early in the season for the cold and snow to arrive does it not
As you nurse your drinks and talk amongst yourselves, you can hear a rather noisy commotion just outside of the tavern. Curiosity piqued, a few of the patrons start to tumble out of the tavern, leaving uneaten food and half-full tankards of cider behind.
Through the windows, you can see that a large crowd has gathered around the center of the town, clustered around an individual collapsed on the ground.
Rorgar, not getting a look through the windows, walks outside to see what is going on.
He then tries to make his way to the person collapsed on the ground.
"In fact, master dwarf, we shouldn't be getting cold *at all* -- not to *this* degree..." Ember starts, but then is interrupted by the commotion outside. She's not one of the first to stand, staying in her seat for a few moments, still numbed by the cold and not having been indoors long enough to warm up. After several others have gone outside, though, Ember finally manages to shudder and force herself back to her feet, slowly walking to the tavern's door and peeking outside -- while still firmly keeping her feet indoors. "What's going on?" she calls out.
Listening to the others, Uruk takes a swig of ale and scowls at the discussion of the weather "You're right, this cold... it's unnatural." Uruk's deep voice growls as he utters the last word, as though to emphasize the point.
As the commotion outside begins to reach a fever pitch, the massive Kellid lifts himself from his chair and lumbers outside to see what was the matter. Seeing Rorgar make his way through the crowd, Uruk realizes that the dwarf might actually have some ability to help the man. In order to facilitate Rorgar more quickly getting to his charge, Uruk helps to attempts to clear the path while bellowing "Get out his way! Move!"
Ending up in a barroom conversation wasn't quite what Hilda intened, but it had already begun and she saw little chance of squeezing out of it, so she nursed her drink and nodded along. "Cold is one thing; what about these rumours of strange beasts in the wilderness? If there is any truth to them, then this may be more than some freak chill."
Hilda is quick to respond to the commotion, instinctively reflexive in times of panic. "Clear the way!" she calls after Uruk, having no chance of matching his intimidating bellow as she runs toward the body, through the crowd if need be. Upon finding it she immediately begins looking the person over for any signs of illness or injury.
"Ugh...this weather is just dreadful isn't it?" Evelina responds to the woman. "Just arrived this evening. That's probably why I seem unfamiliar. Name's Evelina Silverblade", she says with an outstretched hand and a friendly smile.
Hearing the dwarf she turns to give him a shrug. "No clue. Just got here myself...sorry," she says apologetically.
The sudden commotion makes Evelina jump, as she instinctively puts her hand on her rapier. She quickly follows the dwarf out the tavern, jumping a little as the large man shouts.
Please to meet you Evelina, my names Rorgar.
Seing the big man's yell, clearing the way, Rorgar tries to see the injuries.
Uruk's bellow for them to move to the side causes the crowd to part ways, swiftly backpedaling at the sight of the large barbarian. Now that a pathway's been cleared, you all have a straight shot towards the injured man.
While his injuries are numerous and in varying degrees of severity, it looks like that a few days' rest and a few prayers to a good-aligned god would put some color back into his skin.
But it looks like someone or something thoroughly had its way with him. His armor is riddled with scuff marks, and his tattered cloak is drenched in blood. A nasty gash to the side of his head sends a river of blood pouring down his face.
His armor appears to have been recently subjected to a volley of arrows, but without an arrowhead or actual shaft, you are unable to tell as to what kind of make caused the damage.
Judging from the way hoarforst unnaturally clings to both his clothing and his skin, there is some winter magic here at work, but while you can tell that a sword inflicted these injuries, you are unsure as to the origins of the magic itself.
As Rorgar and Hilda start to fuss over his wounds, his eyes open and he grasps onto Rorgar's hand with a grip as cold as ice.
"The forests..." he hisses with a strangled tone of voice, a noise that shushes the crowd instantly. "Aren't safe...anymore...it was so...damn...cold..."
Having appeared to have spent the last vestiges of his strength, the man collapses into unconsciousness. A worried undertone suddenly grabs hold of the small crowd, with a wide majority of them looking to the forests the man stumbled from with no small amount of fear and anxiety.
"What's going on here?" A sharp voice of authority rings out. Descending from the steps of the village's temple to Erastil, a half-elf dressed in Old Deadeye's colors makes his way towards the crowd, and the injured man. With a look of concern coming across his face, he asks the crowd, "What happened to this man?"
For now, Ember stays just inside the doorway of the inn, not setting foot outdoors, but intently watches the situation. She feels that those who arrived on location first, or have examined the injured man or in any manner interacted with him, will probably be able to better explain things. She does however keep a sharp ear out, for any pieces of information that she could pick up.
We were just trying to find that out. But we are going to have to get him inside where it is warm. In order for him to recover
Once we get him moving,
It looks like he was attacked by both blade and bow, but there is no trace of the weapons beyond the injuries.
I wonder what has caused the hoarfrost to stay on him.
Evelina runs and kneels next to Rorgar.
"I'm no healer, but I can help you carry him...if you show me where I can lift without hurting him..." she says as she moves to support the man on the other side.
As they move towards the tavern and away from the crowd, she responds to the priest. "Not exactly sure what happened, but he muttered out something about the forests...the cold...and it not being safe anymore...What that means? Anyone's guess is as good as mine..."
Hilda lets out a curse in Ulfen as she helps lift the injured man and haul him into the inn, away from the cold. "Give him my place, by the fire," she says, trying to guide their efforts toward her drawn-out fireside seat, the warmest place to get him. Much louder, she asks generally to the amassed crowd, the fellow taverngoers she'd been drinking with in the loosest sense possible, and even to the cleric emering from the church, "Is there anybody in town who could provide a trustworthy account of whatever strange beasts have accompanied this cold to the forest?" She felt like adding that her services were for hire, but she didn't want to seem like too much of a profit-seeking glory hound until she was at least face-to-face with the right people and she could impress upon them personally her fitness for the job of clearing the woods out.
You can tell that the weapons that were used to inflict these wounds were too small to be properly wielded by medium-sized hands. They were most likely caused by fey aligned with the winter season.
Cutscene
As you guide the injured man to the fire, the Erastilian priest, Elder Natharen, lays his hands on him and whispers a prayer to Old Dead eye. His hands glow with positive energy, and the blessing of his god fills the man. As wounds slowly close and skin becomes pinker, the injured man's breathing eases up. He's out of the woods for now (no pun intended), but he's still a long way from recovering. It's best to leave him be and let him rest.
"Thank you for your aid," Elder Natharen says, looking at you all with grateful eyes. "These are troubling times, what with the sudden winter season come down from the forest. I fear that this recent turn of events foreshadows even more to come..."
He sighs deeply before standing up. "Now if you'll excuse me, I must meet with the village council to report on this latest occurrence. Please take our mutual friend to Willowbark apothecary so he may rest better for the night." With that, the priest bids you all farewell, and walks back into the cold weather.
Willowbark Apothecary sits by the western side of town, a well-to-do building where Tessaraea Willowbark mixes all kinds or remedies and potions. She tends to the injured all year round. After dropping him off, you decide to call it a night and return to your various places of lodging and rest.
=The Next Day=
You wake up, well rested and ready for whatever the day throws at you. The general demeanor of the town is that of nervousness, with the town's rumor mill working in earnest. What do you do now?
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+400 Bonus XP to all for identifying the injured man's wounds!
Hilda shares her observations with everyone while they look over and help the injured man, but doesn't linger too much. If there are indeed fey about the forests, then she'll need her wits about her and a good rest. In the morning, she's quick to don her armor and weapons, emerging from her inn room fully armed and showing no fear. She gives little thought to whether or not she would be making anyone uncomfortable with her various weapons displayed openly; as a warrior she must show that she is without fear, and in her mind, why would someone be anything but comforted to see a capable fighter in the streets?
Evelina wakes up, still a little disoriented by last night's events. She takes her time, making sure she looks her best for what will likely be a day of job hunting. She throws on her rings and lovingly attaches her silver cross-bladed brooch to her red scarf.
Where to even start looking for work, with this blasted weather... she thinks to herself, as she walks downstairs. Then there is the issue of that injured man and those fey in the forest. I'd like to help with that, but surely I am not strong enough to go alone...but if we got a group together, maybe?
Sitting down at the bar and ordering breakfast, she looks around for anyone who looked familiar from yesterday. "Last night was insane, right?" she says with a nervous laugh. Turning to the tall, Ulfen woman, she almost too eagerly remarks, "You look heavily armed this morning... You thinking about going out there?"
"Thinking about it," she says, taking her seat at the bar a few down from Evelina. "If there are fey about, keeping armed and alert at all times is a good idea. But if the coin is good, maybe I'll go clear the forests out, and for that I need to look capable and experienced, give them a reason to pay me. Being a walking armory goes a long way in looking the part." She places her order for breakfast, and gives a distant half-smile back to Evelina. "In the chaos of last night, I believe we forgot introductions. I am Hilda Týrsdottir."
Evelina chuckles a little. "Yeah, some coin would sure be nice..." she says with a sigh. "Nice to meet you Hilda...I'm Evelina Silverblade. Eve is fine, if its easier."
She contemplates for a moment and add, "Well, if this becomes a job, count me in. I'm actually in Heldren looking for work...and somehow I don't think I'd make a good woodcutter...
After his morning devotions, Rorgar comes down for breakfast dressed in his armour in time to hear the job discussion.
Morning Ladies, sorry to intrude, but I would have introduced myself last night.
However the excitement intruded the names Rorgar. I also am looking for work. You are ?
Having been up for awhile, Uruk is having a large breakfast in the morning. He too is outfitted in his hide armor, and his sturdy and massive blade lays sheathed and leaning on the chair beside him.
Looking up over at the others talking about the forest, the massive Kellid slurps down the last of his coffee and crams a slab of bacon in his mouth before lumber over towards them.
"If yer be going out there, then I'll be counting myself among you." With a quick glance outside at the improbable weather, he adds "This kind of weather I'm used to, I can be of use in this task... I'm Uruk, formerly of the Verloren Mammut tribe."
Evelina smiles at Rorgar, "I think we did meet briefly last night, just before everything got out of hand..." She turns to Uruk, "As for you, I don't think I had the pleasure...although I do remember you giving everyone quite the scare yesterday. Nice to meet you Uruk."
Ember sleeps poorly, as she has ever since snow started showing up. She twists and turns with nightmares taking her sometime during the night, and she wakes up a couple of times in cold sweat. Forcing her way back to sleep over and over again, she eventually makes it all the way to the morning. Dragging herself out of bed, she looks a bit haggard, and has to spend nearly an hour prettifying herself, before she can go out in public.
Making her way back to the inn for some breakfast, she again picks a spot as close to the fire as possible, heavily decked in thick furs. She sits down silently, and does not initiate any interactions with anyone. She does listen intently however, as the strangers to Heldren talk about going into the forest.
Maybe we should ask if the injured man is healthy enough to answer a question on what attacked him, before we go wandering into the forest.
Evelina nods, "Yes...we would need to talk to the man...as well as whoever has the authority to send us on such a mission...".
Evelina discovers that the persons responsible for dispatching an investigation team to investigate whatever strange things occur around Heldren would be the Town Council. That being said, you're able to discover that "sending out an investigation team" is easier said than done when Heldren has no standing militia or soldiers garrisoned. Thus, they rely on brave local townsfolk to do the job for them.
The town hall is not too far from your current lodgings, barely a five minute walk away.
Who here can talk to the local council Rorgar looks at the group around the fire. I would think they should know and approve of any forays into the forest.
With that, Rorgar looks at the innkeep Coffee, and a part of a ham for breakfast please.
"I would be happy to speak on your behalf", Ember's voice carries from the direction of the fire. She's still huddled in furs, and her back half turned to you, but clearly she has been listening in nonetheless. "Anything to be rid of this damned cold. If there is anyone or anything there causing this, I hope you murder them in the most painful way imaginable..." she trails off, face hardened.
I don't know about murder, but driving them off, works well enough for me and mine.
Evelina turns to smile at the woman by the fireplace, "Excellent. It would help to have someone from the town speak on our behalf." Turning to respond to Rorgar, she says with a shrug, "...and if we need someone to be persuasive...l seem to have one of those faces people trust..."
Eyes darting back and forth between Ember and Evelina, the heavy brow rests on slight human girl. With a long and drawn nod, Uruk smiles and adds "It's a good thing you have a face people trust, because I certainly don't." Uruk pauses a moment, and then emits a low grumbling snicker before adding "No, my face frightens young children and makes the elderly uncomfortable... can't imagine why though, I'm a nice fellow after all." Nodding again while crossing his arms, the bear of man resolves "Yes, I think you should speak for us Evelina."
Rorgar, looks over at the young human woman. I agree with the big lad here, having someone speak for us, would be best.
Hilda hurries to finished her breakfast when the plate arrives before her, letting everyone introduce themselves and plan before chiming in again. "Not that an intimidating visage is without its benefits, of course. By our merits combined, we make a capable, albeit strange and ragtag, hunting party. But if all goes well, what we lack in cohesion, we'll make up for in versatility."
After finishing off the last dregs of breakfast and shaking off any lingering dreams, you set off towards the town hall. But before you enter, the door opens and Ionnia Teppen, electorate of the village council, walks out of the building. She looks surprised to see you all gathered together, but recollects herself and speaks:
"I was actually looking for you, so it's quite convenient that you've shown up at the front door. I'd like to have a word with you all, if you please."
She ushers you back into the building and into one of the small conference rooms. After offering small pleasantries and offers for eggnog, the Councilwoman sits down in her chair and sighs deeply.
"I was never good at playing politics, so I must be blunt: on behalf of the village council, I would like for you to investigate the woods."
She pauses for a moment before continuing, "That man you looked after yesterday. His name is Yuln, and he told us last night that he's the last survivor of a vicious ambush deep within the winter forests. He was guarding a noblewoman, a Lady Argentea Malassene, when the entourage came under attack by bandits and, I quote, 'strange wintery creatures'. He escaped, but Lady Argentea was dragged away into the woods."
Her eyes are filled with worry. "These events of late aren't natural. We've no standing militia to investigate the woods for us. We're forced to rely on traveling adventurers and brave villagers, but everyone's scared stiff. You're our last option, and as such, you will be rewarded handsomely if you could find the cause of the disturbances."
"Best reward I could think of is being rid of this damnable cold..." Ember mumbles to herself, though not so quietly that one couldn't hear it if one tried to. After a moment, she speaks up, asking, "Is there any reason to assume a connection between the weather and these 'wintery creatures'? It seems like quite a coincidence for both to show up simultaneously."
Well, I think we should look into rescuing this noblewoman first. Does Yuln have directions that we can follow to get to where they were ambushed ?
Rorgar, then looks around a bit sheepishly at the others as if for agreement.