Hirsi nods at Muir begrudgingly accepting her mission, she then, hearing Sam's request places a hand on both Elthana and Sam (Sam heals 8hp, Elthana heals 6hp) she then produces ten juicy looking berries in her hands and gives Sam and elthana five each, "that's all I can do for now... Sorry."
Next Thunberg approaches Sam and Elthana after overhearing then she mumbles something in her language, unknown to either of them, she reaches a branched finger towards the necklace of the obsidian deer statuette, a thin vine threading itself through the two small broken chain linkages, once they are brought together, they glow for a second before Thunbergs vine retreats once more leaving a fully mended necklace. Looking between the both of them, Thunberg says a few words with a stern tone, then leaves, rejoining the main body of the group of townspeople.
Muir translates for Sam and Elthana "Thunberg has provided you with a gift. It is a symbol of the Deer Guardian. This means you are now a part of the ebb and flow of nature, although not Druids, you are friends of the Druids. She expects you to aid the Druids in exchange for the gifts starting with aiding me in ridding this world of the bad fey and helping the good fey."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As Sam is caught trying to take something from Elthana Vin is a bit confused what that was about but doesn't say anything. Instead it seems like he is going around and talking to the various survivors before they head off checking to see if they are okay as well as asking if any of them are a member of the splinters. The group of adventurers from before. It wasn't likely but Vin was going to be through and it would leave they were either dead or ran away. Vin also takes the time to assure the villagers here that many folks escaped and that they are not alone anymore. He'll explain they not only found a group of people that managed to hide within the town but also a group of people that escaped the town and are nearby. He doesn't know if it is anyone important to the folks but there were enough people that he is hopeful at least someone they know survived and they can take solace they are not alone now.
Vin wishes there was more time but Thunberg doesn't seem like the kind to give a warning for no reason. They may have cut of their supply of blood but from how their fey allies looked earlier the one's doing this might not need anymore. They might be working on the last stages now. "If Hisri and Thunberg can handle the people here and get them to the safe house then we should get going. From what I've seen, Thunberg can handle any small group of the redcaps that wonder back and if you avoid the blood pools you all should make it. If we don't hurry and stop what they are doing it might get a lot worse." With that, if it seems there isn't time for a short rest Vin is going to apply some magical healing salve to Nef and anyone else that wants it. He will apply twice to Neferox healing 17. Vin still has plenty left. If his allies don't need any her might use a small amount on the most injured of villagers but then save the rest for later as he has a limited supply.
He hears Muir mention that Sam and Elthana are being recognized for their efforts and recognized as friends of the druids. Vin isn't surprised he's not. He's been used to it most his life. Be quiet and stay out of trouble. Don't get noticed. This was a mantra he heard a lot when growing up a street urchin. He wants to be noticed, wants to be known. He's just not good enough. The only thing he can do is slink into the shadows and blast magic at bad guys... not really a person to be noticed at all. Neferox seems to pick up on this line of thought and pushes her snout into his side. He looks down and despite him frowning without knowing it he forces another smile and pets Nef. At least one person always notices him. He isn't going to let his gloom take away from his friend's fortune though. Vin forces another smile and tries to hide his dismay "That's awesome Sam, Elthana. Friends of the druids. Lets not let them down. We should get going. If either of you need healing I have this ointment that works well."
“Hey now! What now? Woah now!” Sam says with hands raised and taking a step back from Muir. “I mean I’m friends with everyone, right? But it’s Elthana’s necklace! I barely even touched the thing!” His words are defensive because even though the words seem harmless enough, something tells him there’s strings of some kind attached.
“Obviously I’m helping you and all, I want all the Fey back where they came from like before and all.. Just… you know… it’s Elthana’s thing. Yea?”
There are times being large and in charge can be a real burden. Times like now where he wishes he could just step back into the scenery and be lost and insignificant. How’s Jimmy do it, he wonders? How does one seek out the spotlight at all times and thrive in it? Is it possibly even Jimmy has doubts and times he just wants to be left out of all the craziness in the world?
Naww, not Jimmy. Sam looks about, trying to find anything to focus on but the events right here and now. He spots Hirsi and tosses her a smile and a nod of thanks for the healing. He’d of liked more but the kid did what she could. Besides, the refugees will need her help too…
He spits vin moving around the freed ones, checking on them, trying to encourage them besides all that’s happened. That one’ll ge another Jimmy, Sam thinks to himself. One day.
If Neferox allows it…
And finally there’s just the here and now to focus on. Damnit.
“So yeah, umm, glad your necklace is fixed and all,” Sam says while looking at Elthana’s shoes. He gives a little shrug and hopes that ends it all…?
Vin looks at Sam and is a bit surprised at him being cautious of friendship. Vin doesn't understand but one thing Sam said makes him feel better. "I'm friends with everyone, right?" Vin says "I like to think so... if that's okay. I'm happy to be your friend Sam. Of which... uhh... you're not looking to good. We are going towards the enemy shouldn't we all be at our best? I can apply this healing ointment to you to help with some of those nastier wounds." Vin offers up to Sam unsure what he'll say. Vin knows Nef hates looking weak and she is eyeing Sam to see how he replies. There is defiantly some kind of judgement in those canine eyes based on how he replies.
After healing is accepted or denied Vin will say to Hirsi "Thanks for helping... you're pretty incredible you know. I wish I could heal more freely like that. That's a gift. You take care getting them back." Vin will then be ready to go unless anyone wants to talk with him further.
“Of course we’re friends,” Sam says with a slight chuckle and a pat if Vin’s shoulder. “What’s more, the way we’re helping each other, watching out for each other and all, we’re family!”
“Not that the two are always the same…” Sam says, thoughts wandering away from him for a bit. “But either and both, Vin! That’s us, eh?”
When asked about the ointment Sam gives Vin a big grin and a shake of his head. “Appreciate it, but not yet. I’m good enough for now. We’ve limited resources and don’t know what’s coming. I’ve a potion myself on me, just don’t want to waste it and have us find nothing but rocks, eh? So let’s hang tough for now and wait til we really need it, eh?”
Vin tries his hardest to hide it but he can't fully hide how happy Sam's words make him. He blushes a bit as he realizes and replies "R-Right! Family..." The words clearly mean a lot more to Vin then most probably realize. Neferox seems suddenly confused. Whatever feelings Vin is having the hound always seems in tune with him and this one has her acting a bit oddly as she looks back and forth between Sam and Vin. When Sam refuses the healing ointment Vin doesn't press anymore and nods. "Okay. You're probably right. I got... I think three applications left for this ointment and a couple healing potions myself. We can tough it out. We better get going though. Maybe I'm just imagining it but I feel something really bad is going to happen if we don't hurry." When Sam looks to Nef the hound nods to him then goes to shadow in Vin's foot steps once more. The pair of them seeming antsy and hurried. One gets the sense that both of them have a similar feeling of dread.
Elthana watches in silence as the Thurnberg mends the necklace and hands it back to her. She looks to Muir as he translates.."So what does it do? I mean," she turns back to Thurnberg, "Thank you, and yes we were planning on doing all that anyways, but does this necklace actually do anything?" She holds it up and looks at it curiously. Finally, she puts it on, and secures it under her clothes. She turns and watches Sam as he makes a production on how it was Elthana's necklace and had nothing to do with him. She just shakes her head and thanks Hirsi for the healing and goodberries.
She acquiesces to the groups desire to press on to the mountain. A bit nervous that she only has 1 remaining ki point left and hearing Vin talk about how we should be at our best, discourages her. She is also about to speak up and take the healing from Vin, though Hirsi's healing did help, but at Sam's refusal - and reasoning, she stays quiet. She doesn't have another way to help herself, other than these berries now, but well, they have made a good team so far, we'll see how things fare in the mountain.
She looks over the villagers once more, making sure they all seem to be able to make the rest of the trek, and then turns to Vin. "You want to scout ahead with me again? Or shall we go as one big group? What do you think?"
"Well handle it, thank you!" Hirsi gives an affirming nod to Vin, before disappearing back into the crown of towns people.
Thunberg pokes Muir in the chest a little and grumbles something with a playfully judgemental tone, before she also returns to the towns people, waving her branches hands toward the group in a half farewell, half shoo, kinda gesture.
As the party leave and head northward the silence resumes, the biting cold creeps in, the relief of the warmth of the bonfire is short lived as they pass through the marketsquare once more, choosing whether to spill the cauldrons or not, either way it is quickly and easily done and the party moves further northward.
The tracks from the frequent back and forth of the Redcaps observed the day before make finding the way out of town rather easy, once out of the town proper, the light of the fire behind them, the mountain pass looks ominous, dark, and foreboding. Soon enough the group is fighting an incline, into an out cropping of trees, after around 15 minutes the tracks thin, the majority heading towards a cave entrance which looks to have been recently made wider with some force, rocks litter the surrounding area. Just above this cave entrance, sits a lonely ramshackle house.
On the walk up Muir talks to Elthana about the necklace but loud enough for the others to hear "That necklace is rare. It is given by a Guardian of the Land who are spiritual beings that watch over the various lands. I believed they were mythical and used to teach lessons and inspire care for nature and its creatures. Goodall has spoken of them before as if they were mythical guardian spirits of the land, great white beasts, but I've never heard them referred to directly until I spoke to and healed those bears running from Hokum. It is a great honor to wear this. Thunberg said this symbol recognizes the person as a protector of the land and thus the land will do the same for that person. I could tell you more about what the pendent does but I would have to spend time with it. Tell me what was the Druid's name who gave this to you or did you meet one of these great white spirits to be granted this pendent? What an honor...."
"We should have brought a couple of trees with us is what we should have done," Sam grumbles during the hike. "I could be napping up in their branches right now and letting them do all the walking..."
Sam is his typical self during the walk - Mostly quiet except for some easily ignored grumbling and complaining about nothing and everything. He's open to talk to anyone but isn't really looking to start conversation himself. He does cock an ear Elthana's way after hearing Muir ask her straight out about the pendant. Sam thinks he remembers where it is from but even he knows half the things he knows aren't really true.
"I definitely should have brought Molly with us. Could have rode atop her all this way. Goats are good in mountains, right?" He's asking himself as much as anyone but mostly his is missing all of his menagerie and his hand repeatedly goes to his rust colored pouch, wishing he could just draw them forth again...
"Oh cheer up," Gewyn says, nudging Sam's arm playfully. "I don't know about you, but if I take a nap during the day, I am useless for like an hour afterwards. Mind you, I'm normally sleeping off a hangover. But hey, we'll arrive fresh and relatively warm. Speaking of..."
He starts humming a tune and waving his fingers back and forth as if conducting a band. Then, 1-2-3, on the beat, he taps his left shoe, right shoe, and finally the fur lining of his armour. A little bit of heat distortion ripples through the air around his clothes for a moment as he magically warms them. "Oh that's much better."
Upon reaching the cave, Gewyn's eyes go immediately to the house, grimly. "Who wants to bet that's where that Favian fellow lives? I say we at least check it out before heading into the thick of it. A survivalist like him may have something useful kicking about. I volunteer to go if anyone else wants to come with while the others keep an eye on the cave. What think you?"
"You want to scout ahead with me again? Or shall we go as one big group? What do you think?"
Vin shakes his head."I think for expediency we move as a group this time. However, it might be good for you and me to scout ahead in the cave once we get there." he seems to think a bit more about this and shakes his head again. He smiles to Elthana and says "We got this." It almost sounds like he's trying to convince himself more then a general statement of confidence.
"...I volunteer to go if anyone else wants to come with while the others keep an eye on the cave. What think you?"
Vin raises his hand but quickly puts it down and says "I'll join you. I'll sneak up first to peek in. Then you can follow right behind. I really want to findout what this Favian did to the kids." he nods to Gweyn. Then if there is no objection Vin will cloak himself in shadows while Neferox watches. Once invisiable the hound turns their attention to spotting anything that might disrupt of threaten Vin.
Elthana listens to what Muir has to say about the necklace, but when he asks which druid she received it from or if it was a great white spirit, she catches herself before she laughs outlound. But Muir can see the mirth all over her face.
"So... not exactly how this amulet found its way into my possession. There was this bag I purchased from a shop in Trundlesten. It's a very strange bag that appears empty but whenever you put your hand in it, you pull something random out. And at one point, that is what I pulled out. I guess I would call it luck?"
As Gewyn plays his tune and the warmth spreads over the team, she shudders by the temperature change, but smiles at him in thanks.
Elthana walks with Vin as they head up to the house. As Gewyn and Vin talk about heading up to the house, Elthana starts looking around the perimeter.
With Vin cloaked in darkness with Elthana and Gewyn following they begin to check out the house. Around the house everything looks calm, no immediate threats, though the house itself looks less than healthy. It's dark, with no noise coming from inside.
As Elthana checks the perimeter she spots a hole in the roof that is letting in the drifting snow, the wall to the rear of the house has had some kind of impact that has weakened it's structural integrity, round the back there are also rows ploughed into the ground ready for the hardy winter tubers, but everything has been trampled beyond recognition.
Around the front of the house the first thing Vin and Gewyn notice is that the door is gone, by the looks of the damage to the wall surrounding it, likely with a lot of force, some furs that looked to have been hung up outside are cast about the on the ground collecting snow and look to have been since the snowfall started a few days ago.
Neferox keeps akeen eye on the house from the cave entrance, casting a quick glance back to the two bulkier members of the party still waiting with her.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Vin goes into the house keeping a keen eye out for any signs of movement or life inside the building. The smashed down door makes him think it's abandoned but there is a good chance that there is some critical information here. He's going to search the house but be careful and methodical about it. He will first sweep the room quickly for signs of enemies or people hiding then he will move onto searching in more earnest. The fruits belonged to Favian was one thing they learned. Why was he growing them in the cave? What do they do? Why does no one seem to know what they are? Hopefully Vin finds some clues to this.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Gewyn walks behind Vin, knife drawn in preparation. "What sort of effect..." he whispers to Elthana, "...do think it might have on someone, being this deep in corrupted territory for so long? What if Favian's been... changed? Redcaps and Notdeer are one thing. I don't know if I've got it in me to fight a person." He pauses and looks at Elthana. "Our sparring bouts excluded of course," he jokes.
Upon entering the house, Gewyn looks around, his eyes falling on Vin who is already rummaging around, and then on the floor. He starts looking around for blood or any kind of hidden hatch or door in the floor, even going so far as to check under the furs out front.
The shack itself consists of two small rooms, one with a stone fireplace and bed, the other some kind of storage with a table and work space. The rooms themselves are chaos, every piece of furniture is either upended or completely destroyed, the floors strewn with homely debris, spoiled food, linens and furs, the odd arrow, papers, cutlery, a broken lantern. A single splatter of blood is dried to the ceiling, though not enough to be a fatal wound, the lack of blood on the floor seems to indicate that whatever was attacked here was extracted quickly there after.
Gewyn watches as Vin's footprints enter, and he begins looking through the mess, invisibly finding a whole bunch of nothing. Elthana can be seen through cracks in the back of the storage room, she moves around to the front to join the others. Gewyn is more thorough with his check, looking around the cold empty fireplace, lifting everything, loose floorboards under where the bed was reveals a bag which rattles with a familiar clink of coin. To Vin and Elthana it appears that Gewyn is well versed in the art of hiding things and therefore finding the places one would not think to look comes second nature to the tiefling.
Gewyn is just a pair of legs sticking out from under the bed at the moment. He sticks a hand back down by his legs, shaking the bag in plain view. "Some good stuff in here," he says. "I think there might be more under here. I'm assuming from the state of the place that Favian was taken before he had time to retrieve anything valuable."His voice is partially muffled. Elthana, how old is that bloodstain on the roof?"
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Hirsi nods at Muir begrudgingly accepting her mission, she then, hearing Sam's request places a hand on both Elthana and Sam (Sam heals 8hp, Elthana heals 6hp) she then produces ten juicy looking berries in her hands and gives Sam and elthana five each, "that's all I can do for now... Sorry."
Next Thunberg approaches Sam and Elthana after overhearing then she mumbles something in her language, unknown to either of them, she reaches a branched finger towards the necklace of the obsidian deer statuette, a thin vine threading itself through the two small broken chain linkages, once they are brought together, they glow for a second before Thunbergs vine retreats once more leaving a fully mended necklace. Looking between the both of them, Thunberg says a few words with a stern tone, then leaves, rejoining the main body of the group of townspeople.
Muir translates for Sam and Elthana "Thunberg has provided you with a gift. It is a symbol of the Deer Guardian. This means you are now a part of the ebb and flow of nature, although not Druids, you are friends of the Druids. She expects you to aid the Druids in exchange for the gifts starting with aiding me in ridding this world of the bad fey and helping the good fey."
As Sam is caught trying to take something from Elthana Vin is a bit confused what that was about but doesn't say anything. Instead it seems like he is going around and talking to the various survivors before they head off checking to see if they are okay as well as asking if any of them are a member of the splinters. The group of adventurers from before. It wasn't likely but Vin was going to be through and it would leave they were either dead or ran away. Vin also takes the time to assure the villagers here that many folks escaped and that they are not alone anymore. He'll explain they not only found a group of people that managed to hide within the town but also a group of people that escaped the town and are nearby. He doesn't know if it is anyone important to the folks but there were enough people that he is hopeful at least someone they know survived and they can take solace they are not alone now.
Vin wishes there was more time but Thunberg doesn't seem like the kind to give a warning for no reason. They may have cut of their supply of blood but from how their fey allies looked earlier the one's doing this might not need anymore. They might be working on the last stages now. "If Hisri and Thunberg can handle the people here and get them to the safe house then we should get going. From what I've seen, Thunberg can handle any small group of the redcaps that wonder back and if you avoid the blood pools you all should make it. If we don't hurry and stop what they are doing it might get a lot worse." With that, if it seems there isn't time for a short rest Vin is going to apply some magical healing salve to Nef and anyone else that wants it. He will apply twice to Neferox healing 17. Vin still has plenty left. If his allies don't need any her might use a small amount on the most injured of villagers but then save the rest for later as he has a limited supply.
He hears Muir mention that Sam and Elthana are being recognized for their efforts and recognized as friends of the druids. Vin isn't surprised he's not. He's been used to it most his life. Be quiet and stay out of trouble. Don't get noticed. This was a mantra he heard a lot when growing up a street urchin. He wants to be noticed, wants to be known. He's just not good enough. The only thing he can do is slink into the shadows and blast magic at bad guys... not really a person to be noticed at all. Neferox seems to pick up on this line of thought and pushes her snout into his side. He looks down and despite him frowning without knowing it he forces another smile and pets Nef. At least one person always notices him. He isn't going to let his gloom take away from his friend's fortune though. Vin forces another smile and tries to hide his dismay "That's awesome Sam, Elthana. Friends of the druids. Lets not let them down. We should get going. If either of you need healing I have this ointment that works well."
“Hey now! What now? Woah now!” Sam says with hands raised and taking a step back from Muir.
“I mean I’m friends with everyone, right? But it’s Elthana’s necklace! I barely even touched the thing!” His words are defensive because even though the words seem harmless enough, something tells him there’s strings of some kind attached.
“Obviously I’m helping you and all, I want all the Fey back where they came from like before and all.. Just… you know… it’s Elthana’s thing. Yea?”
There are times being large and in charge can be a real burden. Times like now where he wishes he could just step back into the scenery and be lost and insignificant. How’s Jimmy do it, he wonders? How does one seek out the spotlight at all times and thrive in it? Is it possibly even Jimmy has doubts and times he just wants to be left out of all the craziness in the world?
Naww, not Jimmy.
Sam looks about, trying to find anything to focus on but the events right here and now. He spots Hirsi and tosses her a smile and a nod of thanks for the healing. He’d of liked more but the kid did what she could. Besides, the refugees will need her help too…
He spits vin moving around the freed ones, checking on them, trying to encourage them besides all that’s happened. That one’ll ge another Jimmy, Sam thinks to himself. One day.
If Neferox allows it…
And finally there’s just the here and now to focus on. Damnit.
“So yeah, umm, glad your necklace is fixed and all,” Sam says while looking at Elthana’s shoes. He gives a little shrug and hopes that ends it all…?
Vin looks at Sam and is a bit surprised at him being cautious of friendship. Vin doesn't understand but one thing Sam said makes him feel better. "I'm friends with everyone, right?" Vin says "I like to think so... if that's okay. I'm happy to be your friend Sam. Of which... uhh... you're not looking to good. We are going towards the enemy shouldn't we all be at our best? I can apply this healing ointment to you to help with some of those nastier wounds." Vin offers up to Sam unsure what he'll say. Vin knows Nef hates looking weak and she is eyeing Sam to see how he replies. There is defiantly some kind of judgement in those canine eyes based on how he replies.
After healing is accepted or denied Vin will say to Hirsi "Thanks for helping... you're pretty incredible you know. I wish I could heal more freely like that. That's a gift. You take care getting them back." Vin will then be ready to go unless anyone wants to talk with him further.
“Of course we’re friends,” Sam says with a slight chuckle and a pat if Vin’s shoulder. “What’s more, the way we’re helping each other, watching out for each other and all, we’re family!”
“Not that the two are always the same…” Sam says, thoughts wandering away from him for a bit. “But either and both, Vin! That’s us, eh?”
When asked about the ointment Sam gives Vin a big grin and a shake of his head. “Appreciate it, but not yet. I’m good enough for now. We’ve limited resources and don’t know what’s coming. I’ve a potion myself on me, just don’t want to waste it and have us find nothing but rocks, eh? So let’s hang tough for now and wait til we really need it, eh?”
Vin tries his hardest to hide it but he can't fully hide how happy Sam's words make him. He blushes a bit as he realizes and replies "R-Right! Family..." The words clearly mean a lot more to Vin then most probably realize. Neferox seems suddenly confused. Whatever feelings Vin is having the hound always seems in tune with him and this one has her acting a bit oddly as she looks back and forth between Sam and Vin. When Sam refuses the healing ointment Vin doesn't press anymore and nods. "Okay. You're probably right. I got... I think three applications left for this ointment and a couple healing potions myself. We can tough it out. We better get going though. Maybe I'm just imagining it but I feel something really bad is going to happen if we don't hurry." When Sam looks to Nef the hound nods to him then goes to shadow in Vin's foot steps once more. The pair of them seeming antsy and hurried. One gets the sense that both of them have a similar feeling of dread.
Elthana watches in silence as the Thurnberg mends the necklace and hands it back to her. She looks to Muir as he translates.."So what does it do? I mean," she turns back to Thurnberg, "Thank you, and yes we were planning on doing all that anyways, but does this necklace actually do anything?" She holds it up and looks at it curiously. Finally, she puts it on, and secures it under her clothes. She turns and watches Sam as he makes a production on how it was Elthana's necklace and had nothing to do with him. She just shakes her head and thanks Hirsi for the healing and goodberries.
She acquiesces to the groups desire to press on to the mountain. A bit nervous that she only has 1 remaining ki point left and hearing Vin talk about how we should be at our best, discourages her. She is also about to speak up and take the healing from Vin, though Hirsi's healing did help, but at Sam's refusal - and reasoning, she stays quiet. She doesn't have another way to help herself, other than these berries now, but well, they have made a good team so far, we'll see how things fare in the mountain.
She looks over the villagers once more, making sure they all seem to be able to make the rest of the trek, and then turns to Vin. "You want to scout ahead with me again? Or shall we go as one big group? What do you think?"
"Well handle it, thank you!" Hirsi gives an affirming nod to Vin, before disappearing back into the crown of towns people.
Thunberg pokes Muir in the chest a little and grumbles something with a playfully judgemental tone, before she also returns to the towns people, waving her branches hands toward the group in a half farewell, half shoo, kinda gesture.
As the party leave and head northward the silence resumes, the biting cold creeps in, the relief of the warmth of the bonfire is short lived as they pass through the marketsquare once more, choosing whether to spill the cauldrons or not, either way it is quickly and easily done and the party moves further northward.
The tracks from the frequent back and forth of the Redcaps observed the day before make finding the way out of town rather easy, once out of the town proper, the light of the fire behind them, the mountain pass looks ominous, dark, and foreboding. Soon enough the group is fighting an incline, into an out cropping of trees, after around 15 minutes the tracks thin, the majority heading towards a cave entrance which looks to have been recently made wider with some force, rocks litter the surrounding area. Just above this cave entrance, sits a lonely ramshackle house.
On the walk up Muir talks to Elthana about the necklace but loud enough for the others to hear "That necklace is rare. It is given by a Guardian of the Land who are spiritual beings that watch over the various lands. I believed they were mythical and used to teach lessons and inspire care for nature and its creatures. Goodall has spoken of them before as if they were mythical guardian spirits of the land, great white beasts, but I've never heard them referred to directly until I spoke to and healed those bears running from Hokum. It is a great honor to wear this. Thunberg said this symbol recognizes the person as a protector of the land and thus the land will do the same for that person. I could tell you more about what the pendent does but I would have to spend time with it. Tell me what was the Druid's name who gave this to you or did you meet one of these great white spirits to be granted this pendent? What an honor...."
"We should have brought a couple of trees with us is what we should have done," Sam grumbles during the hike. "I could be napping up in their branches right now and letting them do all the walking..."
Sam is his typical self during the walk - Mostly quiet except for some easily ignored grumbling and complaining about nothing and everything. He's open to talk to anyone but isn't really looking to start conversation himself. He does cock an ear Elthana's way after hearing Muir ask her straight out about the pendant. Sam thinks he remembers where it is from but even he knows half the things he knows aren't really true.
"I definitely should have brought Molly with us. Could have rode atop her all this way. Goats are good in mountains, right?" He's asking himself as much as anyone but mostly his is missing all of his menagerie and his hand repeatedly goes to his rust colored pouch, wishing he could just draw them forth again...
"Oh cheer up," Gewyn says, nudging Sam's arm playfully. "I don't know about you, but if I take a nap during the day, I am useless for like an hour afterwards. Mind you, I'm normally sleeping off a hangover. But hey, we'll arrive fresh and relatively warm. Speaking of..."
He starts humming a tune and waving his fingers back and forth as if conducting a band. Then, 1-2-3, on the beat, he taps his left shoe, right shoe, and finally the fur lining of his armour. A little bit of heat distortion ripples through the air around his clothes for a moment as he magically warms them. "Oh that's much better."
Upon reaching the cave, Gewyn's eyes go immediately to the house, grimly. "Who wants to bet that's where that Favian fellow lives? I say we at least check it out before heading into the thick of it. A survivalist like him may have something useful kicking about. I volunteer to go if anyone else wants to come with while the others keep an eye on the cave. What think you?"
Vin shakes his head. "I think for expediency we move as a group this time. However, it might be good for you and me to scout ahead in the cave once we get there." he seems to think a bit more about this and shakes his head again. He smiles to Elthana and says "We got this." It almost sounds like he's trying to convince himself more then a general statement of confidence.
Vin raises his hand but quickly puts it down and says "I'll join you. I'll sneak up first to peek in. Then you can follow right behind. I really want to findout what this Favian did to the kids." he nods to Gweyn. Then if there is no objection Vin will cloak himself in shadows while Neferox watches. Once invisiable the hound turns their attention to spotting anything that might disrupt of threaten Vin.
Stealth from Vin: 17
Perception from Nef: 28
Elthana listens to what Muir has to say about the necklace, but when he asks which druid she received it from or if it was a great white spirit, she catches herself before she laughs outlound. But Muir can see the mirth all over her face.
"So... not exactly how this amulet found its way into my possession. There was this bag I purchased from a shop in Trundlesten. It's a very strange bag that appears empty but whenever you put your hand in it, you pull something random out. And at one point, that is what I pulled out. I guess I would call it luck?"
As Gewyn plays his tune and the warmth spreads over the team, she shudders by the temperature change, but smiles at him in thanks.
Elthana walks with Vin as they head up to the house. As Gewyn and Vin talk about heading up to the house, Elthana starts looking around the perimeter.
With Vin cloaked in darkness with Elthana and Gewyn following they begin to check out the house. Around the house everything looks calm, no immediate threats, though the house itself looks less than healthy. It's dark, with no noise coming from inside.
As Elthana checks the perimeter she spots a hole in the roof that is letting in the drifting snow, the wall to the rear of the house has had some kind of impact that has weakened it's structural integrity, round the back there are also rows ploughed into the ground ready for the hardy winter tubers, but everything has been trampled beyond recognition.
Around the front of the house the first thing Vin and Gewyn notice is that the door is gone, by the looks of the damage to the wall surrounding it, likely with a lot of force, some furs that looked to have been hung up outside are cast about the on the ground collecting snow and look to have been since the snowfall started a few days ago.
Neferox keeps akeen eye on the house from the cave entrance, casting a quick glance back to the two bulkier members of the party still waiting with her.
Vin goes into the house keeping a keen eye out for any signs of movement or life inside the building. The smashed down door makes him think it's abandoned but there is a good chance that there is some critical information here. He's going to search the house but be careful and methodical about it. He will first sweep the room quickly for signs of enemies or people hiding then he will move onto searching in more earnest. The fruits belonged to Favian was one thing they learned. Why was he growing them in the cave? What do they do? Why does no one seem to know what they are? Hopefully Vin finds some clues to this.
Perception: 10
Investigate: 9
Muir takes a seat on a rock watching and listening while the others do their thing inside the house.
Gewyn walks behind Vin, knife drawn in preparation. "What sort of effect..." he whispers to Elthana, "...do think it might have on someone, being this deep in corrupted territory for so long? What if Favian's been... changed? Redcaps and Notdeer are one thing. I don't know if I've got it in me to fight a person." He pauses and looks at Elthana. "Our sparring bouts excluded of course," he jokes.
Upon entering the house, Gewyn looks around, his eyes falling on Vin who is already rummaging around, and then on the floor. He starts looking around for blood or any kind of hidden hatch or door in the floor, even going so far as to check under the furs out front.
Investigation: 13
The shack itself consists of two small rooms, one with a stone fireplace and bed, the other some kind of storage with a table and work space. The rooms themselves are chaos, every piece of furniture is either upended or completely destroyed, the floors strewn with homely debris, spoiled food, linens and furs, the odd arrow, papers, cutlery, a broken lantern. A single splatter of blood is dried to the ceiling, though not enough to be a fatal wound, the lack of blood on the floor seems to indicate that whatever was attacked here was extracted quickly there after.
Gewyn watches as Vin's footprints enter, and he begins looking through the mess, invisibly finding a whole bunch of nothing. Elthana can be seen through cracks in the back of the storage room, she moves around to the front to join the others. Gewyn is more thorough with his check, looking around the cold empty fireplace, lifting everything, loose floorboards under where the bed was reveals a bag which rattles with a familiar clink of coin. To Vin and Elthana it appears that Gewyn is well versed in the art of hiding things and therefore finding the places one would not think to look comes second nature to the tiefling.
Gewyn is just a pair of legs sticking out from under the bed at the moment. He sticks a hand back down by his legs, shaking the bag in plain view. "Some good stuff in here," he says. "I think there might be more under here. I'm assuming from the state of the place that Favian was taken before he had time to retrieve anything valuable." His voice is partially muffled. Elthana, how old is that bloodstain on the roof?"