Iron Ranger wrote:

No reply.
Without the torchlight Kondor cannot make out any blood in the snow.
The stone structure is a well, 3 ft high 4 ft wide diameter circle. Its frayed rope descends into the depths.

The footprints lead to the well and that's it? And are they her footprints, or perhaps... something carrying her?

"Bring the torchlight, hurry!"  Kondor looks at the rope to see if it is still taught.

[Crossed posts, Kondor. Gundrabu comes with a torch, leaving Igrest with one and the fire. Gundrabu inspects the ground for sign as he approaches.]

Eirvit wrote:

Iron Ranger wrote:

No reply.
Without the torchlight Kondor cannot make out any blood in the snow.
The stone structure is a well, 3 ft high 4 ft wide diameter circle. Its frayed rope descends into the depths.

“What is it, Kondor?”

Gundrabu uses the torch to start a fire with a bundle of wood from the sleigh [if wood is still in there. If Kondor communicates] Gundrabu unshoulders his pack and hands him another torch from the fire. “Perhaps we should explore the structure. It might save us from the elements, if it safe.”

Gundrabu peers suspiciously at the silent sorcerer. “You don’t feel the cold?” Gundrabu rememberers something his god once whispered to him. “What manner of creature are you? If Kondor and I explore the well, can you fend for yourself? And tend these flames?”

Unfortunately, in all the excitement, Gundrabu missed the bit about the Sleigh's compartment being bare....
So the only fire is the feeble flickering of his torch.

fireinthedust wrote:

"It is a well. Given the cold, the water may have frozen. We might have some shelter for the night in this hole. We need to toss a brand down, see what we're dealing with. If the villagers just used a cave's pool, we might have a safe ledge to camp upon. Those wounds are strange, like something tore out the dogs' hearts with fire. Still, unless there's a shelter here, we cannot stay above ground."

If there's a brand Kondor can toss down, like a nearly-used up torch, he tosses it down the well to see how far the drop goes, and if he can see Tetranna or where she could have gone.

Upon inspecting the frayed rope, Kondor learns it sways easily and carries only its own weight.

[Kondor roll d12.]

 

Gundrabu mentally calculates: another 2 hours of torchlight, 3 if he douses one that's lit, maybe another 50 minutes of survival in these temperatures. But the sorcerer is unfazed, and in those thin silk robes only...

Kondor: d12 = 1

D6- 1 🤷‍♀️

Iron Ranger wrote:

Eirvit wrote:

D6- 1 🤷‍♀️

The esquimeaux smells something fetid drifting from the wood.

Just as Kondor is about to grasp Gundrabu’s proffered, lit torch, the Esquimaux strides past the barbarian a step or two, peering into the wood. “A stench, my friend. You smell it? What can reek like that, in this cold, unless it is very... fresh. I say we inspect this before exploring the deeps.”

The only prints end at the well.
The thick snow laden branches press on fro all directions. This is the end of the path.

A low growl rumbles from your left.

So the footprints go into the well?

GROWLING: Kondor has his sword in hand, ready to fight whatever attacks them.

ooc: hoping it's not one of the dogs, but I doubt it.