• The party did some healing and research in Heldren, met with the city council and council woman Ionia Teppen. After some discussion and viewing the party's prisoners (a winter touched sprite and atomie), it was decided that the town would pay the party 500 gold to carry on investigating the disappearance / kidnapping of Lady Argentina Malassene and the winter invasion that has hit the region.
The little sprite spewed (in between insults) that two of his leaders, Izoze and Teb Knotten would come to rescue him and lay waste to the town... baseless threat or truth, the mention of the troll pulling the party limb from limb made everyone sit up and take notice.
• After procuring a few more cold iron weapons from the blacksmith Iskar and his beautiful daughter, the party headed back out.
• The party came upon a snowman in the path about 50' in front of a small frozen river. After triggering a magic mouth spell that told them they were trespassing, the party skirted it, crossed the river and investigated a body of what appeared to be a local farmer. He had been killed by some massive blunt-force trauma, and as the party was investigating they were ambushed by two ice elementals.
• After defeating the elementals and traveling another couple hours Dalomar heard some arguing up ahead. It appeared to be a few of the bandits. They managed to hear Dalomar sneaking up on them and they went silent. A battle commenced, arrows flew, the party took damage but began closing on the bandits after setting up a smoke screen...to be continued next session.....
Diary of Zaaz Bloodfortune:
The voices are getting louder. They chant of blood and power and for months they have been telling me my time of change is coming. I hesitated to use the fortune deck for as of late it has been fogged in things I could not understand. When I shouted to the loudest of the spirits that haunts my mind and pleaded with it for more, it would only tell me to wait with patience the changing of the seasons. I know now the voices spoke of this season out of time. How can whispers be such a cacophony?
These days have been busy. Licking our wounds we returned to the town of Heldren. My magic was strong enough to heal me some, but I had not the strength to ease poor Yoska who had been gored by the stag. In town we visited the smith to dispose of what we found and spoke with Old Mother Theodora to see what she knew of the Fey we had captured. Little enough she knew it turned out. My mother knew more in her little finger than this old bat knows. Oh mother, for your wisdom now I cry. After talking with her we brought the Fey to one of the council members to let them know the threat and see how we could help each other. The councilwoman was somewhat receptive and grateful, but asked us to come back the next day.
The council woman referred us to the local priest who assisted with some additional healing and sold us some potions. His wife also made us feel right comfortable, so it is possible there is some graciousness in this town. Next ‘morn we picked and went over to the council woman again. She did agree to give us 500 gold to fight against the Fey threat and asked us to keep it quiet for now. Looks like they’ll be making preparations to defend the town, but it may be all for naught depending on the truth of what we found next. For next we interrogated one of the Fey and he did say that death would come for the whole town in three days. Mentioned a troll as well as two named Teb and Izoze. Could be he was straight, could be he was as crooked as aunt Zalda’s broom. Time will tell I am thinking. Wish they would let me feed the little bugger to Grr, but they keep talking about it being evil to kill helpless creatures. So if I have a chicken in my yard and I want to eat it, is that wrong. May have to sneak back latter and get Grr a snack. What they don’t know won’t hurt me… Musta escaped I say.. hehe… What was that? Oh spirit guide me… Oh not all at once, speak more softly.. My ears do break with this clatter.
Naught much else to do in town we hit up the priest for some more potions and set out again into the woods. Past where we had been, past the dead stag, and all the way to a river. Guarding the path was of all things a talking snowman. Fine piece of spell-work that was. Must take note of that trick. It did warn us that we was trespassing and to stay away. Warnings is warnings though and not action so we crossed the river and investigated a body we found there. Looked like a farmer had been beat to death and so of course shortly we discovered by what. Rising out of the snow came two ice elementals. Fought them we did and a short battle for me it was as a good konk to the face took me down. Lucky for me between the others they did make quick work of those icy fiends. I do be thinking though that perhaps Sadobras needs a bit more practice on those charges of his. Deadly fierce when they hit, but I thinks his cheetah was slipping and sliding his aim a bit too much.
A bit of healing and we decided to journey on. After a bit more journey, Dalomar came upon some of the bandits talking about the noble woman’s gold. Unfortunately, as quiet as Dalomar is, they still managed to hear him sneaking up of them. Talking by message we lay out a plan to draw them down past Dalomar and Sadobras so we could trap them in, but seems most of our plans lack what we need, more experience. Soon it was a dual of distance, them defending their road from cover with bows, our two in front trying to come at them through the woods off the path. Yoska and I were able to advance a bit closer when our little rattling did throw forward a smoke stick. Bursting from behind the smoke we raced forward and you wouldn’t believe what did happen next….
