"I want to check upstairs. That is where Rohkar supposedly stayed," Casia emphasized once again.
Milos was standing next to a door on the lower level and opened it exposing a bedroom. The bed was completely rumpled, no blanket was there and the sheets were yanked around. There was a chest in the room along with a door to the east.
"Let me check for traps before we open any more doors," Jorgen said confidently as he strode into the room and up to the door.
Amadeo was standing by another door but he waited before opening it.
Jorgen found no trap on the door so he opened it. A sturdy bed heaped with blankets sat near the only window, and a large maple chest occupied the southwest corner. Two additional doors led to the south and east. Jorgen moved to the south door and finding no traps, opened it to Amadeo's grinning face. The east door was checked and it was not trapped and led to another chamber. A bed and chest sat across from one another in the small room . Another door led south, and a window looked out on the north side of the lodge.
The chests in both rooms had sturdy locks but no traps. A key found on Rohkar opened the maple chest. Inside were several items apparently taken by Rohkar and his Raiders, a gold ingot, sliver dagger, ring, boots and a leather portfolio that held four scrolls.
The other chest was opened by the key taken from Ten-Penny. That chest held a healer's kit, a belt pouch with 25 sp and a potion. Casia inquired of Ten-Penny about the potion. Her response was that it was of lesser Restoration. The larger room to the south had soiled linens on the beds. Jorgen examined a chest and found clothes and linens, not soiled but nothing of interest. This must have been the room of the sick Raiders. The final room on the lower level was dark and silent. There was a bed and a wardrobe which contained linens, a washboard, and nothing else of interest.
Casia fired her pistol at one of the skeletons which drew Milos attention, he was still looking out the double doors to the east. Amadeo strode in and attacked as did Fanara. It was colder around the skeletons as if they were surrounded by a cold aura. Milos headed to the stairs as Jorgen leapt up on the table to attack as Santrel tried an Acid Splash which failed to hit. The skeletons then attacked with claws and the party felt cold damage in addition to the claw. Amadeo, Jorgen and Fanara all took cold damage whereupon Amadeo backup up to try and retreat Casia lit a torch and passed it to Fanara who used it as a club and attacked. The skeleton took even more damage from the fire as it hit. Unfortunately the skeleton then exploded in a burst of frost damaging Fanara and Jorgen. Milos was just trying to get closer to the fight as Jorgen missed and Santrel Acid splash was again ineffective. The remaining skeleton moved forward and again Amadeo took cold damage and fell to the floor when Fanara hit again with the torch and the skeleton exploded.
Milos hurried into the chamber to heal Amadeo and called for anyone who was damaged to join him and he again channeled positive energy. The party then began examining the room. There was a map over the fireplace which showed a town near a woods. The woods was apparently covered by snow in a circle around a central point. It was clear to the group that the town was Heldren and the Border Wood was becoming covered in snow. They found the rope bridge and therefore the Lodge. The massacre site was just outside the circle of snow.
Jorgen went to the only other door in the room and finding no traps or lock opened it revealing a small storeroom. Dozens of small boxes, bottles, and papers filled the musty storeroom. A small iron cage sat on the top shelf, emanating a flickering light like that of a candle. The party noted that this looked much like that of the fey sprites they had fought in the woods. As Jorgen moved the cage down to the main shelf a small sprite appeared. It began to make high-pitched noises that Santrel and Fanara realized was Sylvan.
"Let me out of this cage!" it said.
"Why should we do that?" Fanara asked.
"Rohkar was torturing me. I need to get back and report him to the leaders."
"Who are the leader?" Santrel asked piping into the conversation.
"Those who will inflict tremendous agony upon you warmies. You will be sorry you ever entered their new domain."
Meanwhile the party was searching a lockbox where they found some coins, a gem that Santrel realized was an "ice diamond" from Irrisen.
"That is mine give me that gem. It is mine." the sprite interjected.
"Why would we believe that," Fanara responded.
Searching further the group found three scrolls as well as two more vials of green viscous oil, like Rohkar had, three magic oil vials and 10 flasks of alchemist's fire. The group was distrustful of the sprite and took it along as they moved down to the main floor with their loot. They began to make plans to spend a night here in the lodge and get an early start to head back to Heldren. Lady Argentea was having a hard time with the soup. The taste of the meat was offputting and she just spat it out.
Fanara and Milos headed out to check the stable and outhouse. In the stable was one horse and the carcasses of two others that had been carved up to remove the biggest pieces of meat. A rack of riding gear was hung on the east wall, and a cast-iron tub sat empty in the corner. Fanara made sure the tub was filled with water from melted snow and she also found some feed for the living horse. She was sure that lady would only ride the horse, not walk, back to Heldren.
Moving to the outhouse she found the door frozen shut. A small hammer hung by a rope from its upper eaves to chip away the ice and provide access. She declined to enter as the stench of its recent use was somewhat overpowering.
Santrel was busy identifying the magic items. The cloak was of the Yeti which provided warmth in the cold like endure elements. There was an Elixir of Hiding and a potion of Pass Without Trace along with three oils of Magic Weapon. The scrolls were Animate Dead, three of Lesser Animate Dead, Magic Weapon, Unseen Servant and Endure Elements
Ten-Penny negotiated for some of her gear and let the party have her potion. She said she would makes grits for the morning and then went to sleep in her room. The party set watches and tended the fire as the night passed with no interruption.
Before sunrise the party arose, ate their grits, memorized spells and prepared to return to Heldren. The return trip was much easier but as the party neared the massacre site they noted that the snow had moved to almost cover the entire site. The circle of winter weather was likely growing.
"This is not good. The crops will die and the people will starve if this continues," Casia said with a concerned look on her face.
"We survived in Irrisen. There are crops or food that can be available even in the snow," Fanara interjected.
"But we don't have that now. If the weather area continues to grow it will kill this years crop!"
The party then headed back to Heldren as night fell. Ionnia Teppen met the group as they rode into town. After thanking the group for their help she took Lady Argentea to the Apothecary to meet with Yuln and recover. She then assembled the council to hear the story of the party. The group related their story abiding the questions. Casia related the concern about the winter weather and soon thereafter Ionnia again asked the party to find the source of the cold and to stop it.
They learned that the lodge had been used by a organization of Taldan rangers call the High Sentinels. It had been build at the top of Red Run Gorge in the Border Wood, to guard the forest against Qadiran aggression, lest Taldor's ancient enemy use the wood to hide another invasion force. Over time, however, the continued lack of hostility with Qadira dulled the sharpness of the Sentinels, and most of the unit's decorated veterans either retired or moved on to other posts. It had been thought abandoned, the rope bridge the only known access across the gorge.
The next day the party began to try and find new items they might need to make this foray into the Border Wood once again. A reward of 500 gp from Lady Argentea was a welcome addition to their resources. The council was pushing the group to act hurriedly since the snow would soon be a major issue.
DM's Notes: The party earned 167 XP for the night and are on the verge of second level.
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