ooc: I'm going to be working under the assumption that Bryon is coming too. If for some reason I'm wrong feel free to speak up and I'll edit it later.

It is a day later and finally Raina is ready to start the journey. You are able to find some caves to take shelter in and Althol, Halek (who has finally returned) and Loden will be staying behind to watch over your bodies. The boy dares not go with you for fear he will attract too much attention, whatever that means.

Raina has you all lie in a circle on your backs after drinking a truly awful liquid she has been brewing for some six hours or so. Tanzy's body is laid next to you in a similar position and then Raina's velvety voice starts to drone on in a strange, beautiful little tune that she hums over and over again. She bids you close your eyes and let yourselves drift off in the sound, which seems to carry on for hours and hours though in truth it is only a few minutes. Your bodies start to feel heavy, as though weighed down with bricks, getting heavier and heavier until you find you cannot move a muscle. It is very disconcerting and you feel trapped within your own bodies without the ability to even blink. You fight the feeling of panic but Halek murmurs that it's alright and the humming takes over again, relaxing you further and further until at last you sink into blackness. This is all very different for Raknesh, who came to the underworld a different way the first time, but as you all open your eyes again you find yourselves standing in a forest of leafless trees, a cold snowy ground at your feet. You are all completely naked and without weapons. The buzz of the strange little song still sounds in your ears distantly but Raina is next to you, shaking her head apologetically. Sorry, it is difficult to bring so many at once. I didn't have the strength to bring our things with us she sighs. The cold ground feels quite real beneath your feet and you wonder if it's possible to freeze to death here. Prizzard, you're surprised to find your missing hand is once more intact.ooc: Roll a listen please

Tanzy: pm
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:52, Mon 19 Feb 2018.

Prizzard is mostly unabashed by the sudden nudity, though not entirely oblivious to social standards either. For the second moment though, he seems more interested in his arm, flexing it like it was only sore all this time. "Makes a certain amount of sense." He was sure to keep his eyes on the womens faces when necessary, and on the scenery any other time.

rolled 15 using 1d20-2.  Listen
This message was last edited by the player at 05:14, Tue 20 Feb 2018.

Raknesh had tried to prepare his mind for the transfer, pointlessly as the travel was completely different from the first time.  And he wasn't sure which way he hated most...

"This is... unexpected..." he said as they ended up naked.
His rigorous training didn't include how to keep one's composure in such situation, but as Prizzard looked barely affected, he did his best to look as composed as he should... but avoided looking too much in Raina and Bryon's direction.

Again he felt the strange feeling of missing part of himself as he is cut of Rocky.

All this troubled him and he tried to materialize his weapon, hoping to regain his focus by concentrating on the blade.

Pm

ooc: I rolled Bryon's listen for her just for time's sake.

Raina, sensing Raknesh's discomfort, tries her best to cover herself with her hair and arms, looking slightly amused as she does so. I forget how nudity affects you humans she chuckles. Don't worry. We'll be clothed again soon. Follow me. She proceeds to walk, the snow coming up past her feet, and yours too. It's quite uncomfortable and you all find yourselves shivering though Raina seems unaffected by the cold.

Raknesh, you are able to materialize your mind blade with minimal effort, though you have a feeling it won't always be this easy. For now though, it is quite a comfort to have it at your disposal. Poor Prizzard though, has absolutely nothing.

Bryon hears nothing, but the rest of you notice an odd little whistling sound in the distance. There's something slightly eerie about it and Raina immediately takes notice, her face paling. We need to move. Now. I know someone who will help us but if the whistler catches us...Run! She takes her own advice, all attempts at modesty gone as she tears off up the snowy hill in front of you. The whistling grows nearer, a high pitched yet almost musical sound, trilling this way and that, seemingly coming from everywhere and nowhere at once. Not a single other sound is heard and by now Bryon finally notices it too. Goosebumps rise on your naked flesh as the sound grows closer but Raina drives you on with shouts and instruction to hurry. The fear in her eyes is almost as disconcerting as the whistling itself and it's difficult to run without slipping but you speed on anyway.

At last there is a house in the distance, a small stone cottage with a snow covered roof and a smoking chimney puffing merrily into the winter air. There! We need to go there! Raina pants.

ooc: Roll a general constitution check to see how well you run/evade this thing. You see absolutely nothing though so it's hard to know what you're running from.

Tanzy: pm

The strange, eerie and increasingly disturbing sound didn't help Raknesh to focus on Raina's instruction. He really missed Rocky's ability to guide him even in complete darkness.

constitution check 12.  I have a bad feeling about this

Something about running from a predator in a cold, dark place energizes Prizzard. He keeps quiet and keeps his usual speed down to remain following.

rolled 21 using 1d20+3.  Constitution
This message was last edited by the player at 22:15, Thu 22 Feb 2018.

Pm

Can you please make rolls for me? I am on Kindle only at this point.

Raknesh is clearly the lagger, and though it's tempting to leave him, such is the fear the whistling instills, you stay round your friend. You never did ask Raina what happens if you die here, but you have a feeling it's bad.

Meanwhile, Raina shrieks and urges you on, about ready to drag Raknesh herself but it would do very little good. At last, seeing there's nothing else for it, she stops, legs wide and knees slightly bent, facing where the whistling is coming from. She looks ready to brace herself against something, her violet glow of power appearing in both hands. Run to the house and don't look back! You understand me?! There's nothing any of you can do to help me. Now, go. NOW!!! Her voice is a mixture of fear and command and her face is so set that you almost feel intimidated yourself looking at her. She doesn't look back at you, just waits for whatever is coming. The whistling grows louder, ever louder until it's all you can do not to collapse in the snow and cover your ears. She meets the noise with a scream of her own, a primal, challenging sound as the snow swirls about her. Even should you try to help her, you'll find yourselves unable to. A wall of invisible force blocks your way. Even through all of this, you still do not see the whistler but Raina must see something for her rage and braveness melt away into pure, abject terror. Desperately, she lets loose bolt after bolt of violet lightning but it does no good. The whistling is deafening, all encompassing. There is nothing but the noise and the snow spraying everywhere as some unseen thing crashes down in front of the woman. And then, as soon as you blink, she's suddenly and completely gone. The whistling is no more, and there is no sign of Raina.

Tanzy: pm

As the fear is so strong, Prizzard would slow for a moment and pick up Raknesh, if he feels healthy enough here. His encumbered speed will be 30, so keeping up shouldn't be a problem. I don't know if this changes your outcome, but it would be my response had I had time.

Up to 266lbs: Medium Encumberance, no change in DEX, -3 Armor Check penalty where applicable.

Raknesh struggled to keep his usual pace in the cold and was thankful for Prizzard's help, especially after their last predicament.

"I hope she managed to escape" he said, panting, as they moved closer and closer to the house.
"Because I have no idea how we are supposed to go back without her..."

PM

You make it to the cottage. The whistler is gone thankfully, but your stress is heightened thanks to Raina's disappearance. The cottage before you beckons invitingly. If Raina wanted you to come here, hopefully that meant it was safe...

Before you can even knock, the door opens and a tiny old lady, hunched with age and frailty, stands in the doorway, looking at you with glittering beady black eyes. You stink of life she makes a face. Give me one good reason I shouldn't rectify your smell right now? A snap of my fingers would make you as dead as the rest of this place you know. And it's rude to walk around naked in someone else's yard by the way she eyes all of you with an arched brow.

Tanzy:

"It's not our first choice. Raina had trouble bringing us here and now she's dealing with some whistling monster." Prizzard attempted to act casual, but he clearly doesn't have an affinity for people skills. It sounds like a hasty summary rather than any attempt at diplomacy or real conversation.

Raknesh still had trouble getting his second wind and, for the moment, was happy to let Prizzard do the talking. He was, however, ready to intervene should the situation turn bad, as it often did...

Her eyes go wide at mention of Raina and the monster and she immediately looks at the yard frantically. Seeing nothing she ushers you inside. Raina you say!? What happened? Did she escape?! The worry on her face is evident and as she leads you inside she opens a large creaky chest in the parlor and starts rummaging through a pile of worn clothes, tossing them in a heap on the floor. We must stay inside until it goes away. But tell me you naked fools, did she escape or not!? Who are you!? She gestures a bony hand to the pile, indicating you should put them on. Meanwhile, you get a good look at the house. It has stone walls and floors with cozy overstuffed furniture that is in good condition despite obviously being old. A cauldron of something that smells wonderful burns in the fireplace and there are herbs drying on strings across the mantle.

"We are friends of Raina" started Raknesh.
"I am Raknesh and this is Prizzard"

He shivered while getting inside the clothes.

"I have no idea if she managed to escape, nor do we know anything about the thing she faced.  We are not used to this world, but had to enter to save a friend.

I just hope we didn't lose one to, maybe, get the other..."

Prizzard nods and dresses, looking around the odd house, clearly curious.

PM

The witch listens with an impatient frown. Well, did you see her get ripped to itty bitty pieces? Because if not, she may be alive. You'd know it if the whistler got her. They'd be finding parts for miles... she shudders. And I suppose I'll have to take you at your word. Raina always had a soft heart, never knew where she got it, certainly not from me or my son she makes a face. Soft or not, she is my granddaughter and I won't be pleased if you got her killed. Not pleased at all. Now, let's sit a spell and have some tea and then we'll go out and check for her. If I can't find any evidence of her death, I may let you live. Or whatever you want to call this. Otherwise...well I've found my meat for my cookpot tonight! She breaks into a wide, chilling smile. You notice now that her teeth are alarmingly sharp.

Tanzy: PM

The temporary truce and darker nature of the woman sink in before the implications of this family tree. Curiosity shines in his eyes, but his thoughts fail to generate words for a few moments. Of course, a piece of his mind tries to dredge up any memories related to this mother of Death. He seems on the verge of a question and will ask if nobody else does..

rolled 8,27 using d20-2,d20+16.  Wisdom, Arcana

Pm

While getting clothed, Raknesh wondered once more what kind of strange family that was, and how in the hell they got tangled in this family reunion.

At least, this time, it was not someone intend on killing them...yet...

Bryon continued to just watch from the sidelines, this was not her show and she did not intend to steal it.