ooc: we head back the way we came, to the Ixian, asap.

Gundrabu lifts the lantern—which hopefully has not been upset in the melee. Then he guides Kondor, carrying Igrest, back the way Gundrabu now knows.

[If the lantern is spent or shattered, Gundrabu lights a torch.]

Kondor will keep going until we reach the cemetery and the place where we camped, with the dogs and the Ixian.
"Make haste, Kraken-worshipper. We've let foes live, after giving them reason for revenge. If they fire arrows from the roof, we'll be at their mercy."

Iron Ranger wrote:

They trudge slowly through the thick, fresh snowfall, keeping to the wall. Kondor pressing forward, the sorcerer's dead weight making him pant, Gundrabu with the lantern behind. 

Finally they round the cemetery's wrought iron fence and make it to the gate, where they  immediately notice fresh paw prints and sled tracks through the gate opening.

Kondor looks at the tracks, as he's a very experienced hunter. The sled tracks should have animal prints. My experience with seeing dogsleds includes the riders pushing the sled with their foot on occasion, so it's possible there would also be the prints of their driver.
1) Is the driver wearing boots or are they one of the beastmen?
2) If these are fresh, do we still hear the yip of the dogs?
3) Is there blood, ie: the Ixian might have saved the dogs by fleeing but she's wounded; or got off a shot before beast-men took the sled (which seems less likely, as perhaps the dogs would fight them?), or something?

I'm rolling d6's but I don't know if that is the correct thing to do.
2
3
C... which I've just discovered is opposite the 1, meaning it's a 6. Heh. Does that change anything? I honestly had no idea. I'm pretty sure I've only used it for initiative, but I don't remember if higher or lower is better (and I've been trying to avoid learning so I just report the numbers).

There are only dog prints. One indeed is missing a small toenail imprint, though the slicing off the misaligned sled blades makes that deduction somewhat less certain as the right divot seems to cut through most on that side.

Their direction is away from the cemetery west - off toward the woods leading to Shankshill Mtn.

You hear nothing at all but your own labored breathing. 

The lantern sputters.


 

Last edited by Iron Ranger (2/16/2020 11:37 pm)

Eirvit wrote:

Gundrabu sighs in resignation. “How much of any ally would you name Tetranna, Kondor? I’m afraid she has left us here, taking my dog and sleds and all my belongings.”

If this is true, in his mind, Gundrabu is impressed with Tetranna. How did she bend the dogs to her will? Gundrabu feels slightly betrayed by them. That woman certainly demonstrates witchy powers!

“Keep going to somewhere to camp. For all we know the beast men could have attacked and she led them away, perhaps with the help of her magic. Or taken off as you suggest. We need to help Egrest whatever the problem is. I’m not sure if we can stay here with them nearby. How soon can you heal the sorcerer?”

Eirvit wrote:

fireinthedust wrote:

Eirvit wrote:

Gundrabu sighs in resignation. “How much of any ally would you name Tetranna, Kondor? I’m afraid she has left us here, taking my dog and sleds and all my belongings.”

If this is true, in his mind, Gundrabu is impressed with Tetranna. How did she bend the dogs to her will? Gundrabu feels slightly betrayed by them. That woman certainly demonstrates witchy powers!

“Keep going to somewhere to camp. For all we know the beast men could have attacked and she led them away, perhaps with the help of her magic. Or taken off as you suggest. We need to help Egrest whatever the problem is. I’m not sure if we can stay here with them nearby. How soon can you heal the sorcerer?”

“I require a night of rest to be able to focus on the Mysteries of Khalk-xu. Only after that time can I be of any aid to Igrest. Your trust in Tetranna lightens my heart. I had forgot the cries of my dogs. You’re right; perhaps the camp was attacked, as well.”

Gundrabu thoughtfully studies the prints.

“You’re right, friend Kondor. We need warmth and shelter. Unless there is another place here safe to us, I suggest we follow these tracks.”

Gundrabu is secretly pleased with a reason to pursue his dogs.

Kondor agrees, and follows the tracks.

“Hold a moment, friend Kondor. I have a torch in my pack.”

Gundrabu kneels in the snow beside the track, takes from his bag a torch, and spends a moment striking a flame to it.

And the weight of the Sorcerer presses.

Gundrabu easily follows the trail of his sleigh through the blanket of snow. The barbarian shifts the dead weight of Igrest to his other shoulder and follows.

The tracks lead past the frozen lump of the half eaten carcass of the stranger. It seems a lifetime ago that the three met exactly here...

Gundrabu sees that his dogs paused here very briefly. Several print move out of line then quickly straighten out west. His torch lights the trail west. The path narrows and twists through the thick curtain of evergreen needles, shaken free of snow.