Astre watched, hunkered down amid the piles of snow and tree roots, as the Falcon continued off on its own then-futile pursuit.  For a good while he did the one thing cats were most exceptional at and sat silent, still, and steady as a stone statue.  The Falcon could quickly close the gap on him if he was spotted again so he had to wait first and ensure there was plenty of space between them first before he set off once again.

---

Once the Falcon is no longer within sight, Astre will continue at half speed back to the Party in order to remain Hidden.

Astre and the Falcon lost each other in the vastness of the forest, and after while Astre emerged from the treetops and onto the Eastway.

Throughout Astre's absence Mallory had busied herself with keeping a sharp eye out on their surroundings.  As best she could in the gloom of perpetual twilight with her lantern dimmed down, at least.  The last thing they needed was to advertise their presence to any and everything that might've been skulking about in the snow; she still hadn't gotten over how readily that Dragon had appeared out of the empty sky.  But her focus shifted as she suddenly flinched and gripped at her shoulder as if taken by a phantom pain, then looked swiftly over to where Astre returned into view and range of their supernatural connection.

"Astre!  My poor darling, you're hurt!  What happened?" she held her arms out for her beloved Familiar to fly into; an invitation promptly accepted by the battered Tressym.  All that fleeing through boughs and brush had his fur in quite a state of disarray, to say nothing of the gash down his shoulder where he still "bled" wisps of energy into the air.

Mallory's eyes once more shifted black as experiences not her own took her.  The bond she and Astre shared was more than just a conversation between each others' minds; telepathy shared an array of sights, sensations, and feelings beyond conscious thought.  So fresh was the pain of being clawed by the Falcon that, while she was wholly unharmed, she felt Astre's wound as if she'd been struck herself.

"Rrrrwwl?" Astre purred as he rested himself into Mallory's chest and shoulder.

"You did wonderfully.  Thank you so much, Astre."

"Mmrm."

"Yes, I'm sure it would be quite an intimidating scar someday.  Just rest now, please.  You need to keep up your strength." she urged as, with a little hoist, she eased Astre to wind his way into her hood to rest about her shoulders as usual.  Once he was settled in with his chin rested over his folded paws, she turned her attention to her companions once more.

"Poor thing was attacked by some bird of prey on his way to and from the camp.  Apparently the Reghedmen saw the bird but didn't do anything about it, so either its their own hunting bird or they're not so starving as to grab at any possible source of meat that comes in their reach." Mallory explained with a sigh.  Which meant their turn to cannibalism might've been a case of corruption rather than necessity... even worse, by her measure.  At least being on the barest threads of survival could demand such a horrible choice to be made.  "There's definitely Lycanthropes among the Reghedmen's number though.  At least three or four; it was difficult to make out.

More to the point, however; they've removed the Halfling captive from his cage and led him by tether away.  They gave him a rope, trap, and a smaller cage to carry; it might be they're forcing him to labor for them rather than just saving him for the stew pot.  Which means they might be moving away from the camp itself; we could have an opportunity to get the better of a smaller group rather than contend with the camp."

"Ilmater's mercy..." Khulekani cursed upon hearing Mallory's words.

"Even if they have broken off from the main group, those innocents that remain must still be saved. If we dawdle too much, we might lose more to the pot!" the Squired cried, clearly agitated.

"I know that snow lies heavy on this land, but tell me...can frozen trees burn?" she asked, turning to ask Rhydd, some small idea beginning to take root.

Mallory couldn't help but grimace a little as she shared a look with Astre.  The scent of Humanoid flesh set to cook still lingered fresh in both their shared memories; it left her with a significantly less optimistic feeling about their chances of saving others.  She was uncertain there were any to be saved in the first place.

"Before we go do anything hasty--" she interjected at the first mention of setting something on fire, which would be all too telling an action one way or another "-- there's no certainty there even are any other innocents left alive, and the camp holds too many Reghedmen to dare challenge.  Even before counting in the Lycanthropes.  We'd be vastly outnumbered and end up in cages ourselves.

But we do know the Halfling fellow yet lives and is being moved out of the camp with a smaller number of Reghedmen.  If we're to make a difference and save anyone, I feel it would be best to focus on him first.  He would be able to tell us more of the camp and any others captured as well."

Certainly a more cautious approach even if it did involve potentially challenging a small band of barbarian hunters.  But their odds of success were better against a small group than a giant camp.  Mallory's perpetually-tired gaze bounced among her companions to gauge their feelings before it settled on their dour huntsman.  "What do you think, Rhydd?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:37, Sat 18 June 2022.

"Don't we need silvered weapons to inflict harm on lycanthropes?" Rhydd asked. "If so, I have nothing that will hurt them."

"Between that and the large number of barbarians, I believe that our only reasonable chance at success is attempting to free the Halfling, as Lady Mallory suggests," he said, nodding his head at the wizardess.

"If we can accomplish that, then mayhap we can learn more. If he -- or she -- is the only survivor of the hunting party, that is one thing. If there are others . . ." his voice trailed off.

Rhydd shrugged his shoulders. "Let us turn our efforts to first freeing the Halfling. We can make no further plans beyond that, at this point."

"Don't we need silvered weapons to inflict harm on lycanthropes?  If so, I have nothing that will hurt them."

"Indeed.  Mundane arms won't harm them in the slightest, though magicked weapons and spells will do just fine.  That overpriced bow would be rather handy right now." Mallory muttered.  There were plenty of stories of an entire town being ravaged by a single Lycanthrope who'd gone on a frenzy, entirely due to nobody being properly armed to fend it off before sunrise.  A terrifying notion.  Though it did raise a curiosity as to why the Reghedmen beastmen hadn't felt a need to overwhelm the nearby towns...

"I actually have a spell that could imbue you with magic for a short time.  It's a bit shaky, but it has a hell of a kick to it.  Better than being defenseless in the face of beasts.  Let's consider that as a last resort though."

"As part of our studies in battling dark creatures, we learn much of the vulnerabilities of those cursed with Lycanthropy. Silver, or full magical weapons, or Wolf's-Bane are all useful weapons to have in one's arsenal. I am blessed enough to be in possession of a weapon that can harm Lycanthropes, so you need not fear for my safety should we come to blows with these Reghedmen. Isiliva has always been a faithful companion..." Khulekani said solemnly, but patting the hilt of her sword with old familiarity.

"Seizing the opportunity of freeing the Halfling is all well and good, but we do not know the fate of his companions! We cannot assume that all of them have been stewed. It would be an unforgivable act to leave them to such an act of savagery should they live! That is why even if we are discovered in battle with the party around the Halfling, we still need to find a way to rescue any others if they live, agree?" the Squire said, eyes burning with that passionate fervor once again.

There was a reason this young woman had chosen to walk this path, after all.

"Nobody is saying we leave anyone to an ill-fate, Squire.  This is merely a case of 'he who chases two rabbits catches neither' at the moment." The trio of would-be do-gooders covered quite the spectrum of approaches: Khulekani with her impassioned righteousness, Rhydd with utilitarian common sense, and Mallory herself with raw pragmatism.  All hoped for the same goal, but getting on the same wavelength was the hard part.  "Let us focus ourselves on what we can more assuredly accomplish first: helping this Halfling fellow from his predicament.  Once we've done that, then we can figure out what we can do about any others still in need of help."

There was, unfortunately, precious little time to devise any coherent plans to handle the situation at large.  With no sure way of knowing what the Halfling was being set to do outside his cage and the risk of wandering patrols catching wind of the Party, playing things by ear was a necessity.  If all else failed, at least they had mounts and sleds to be able to outrun any pursuers with...

Mallory pointed southward with a gesture of her lantern rod.  "The Reghedmen were showing the Halfling gentleman in that direction when they loosed him from his cage.  He was quite literally being kept on a short leash, so they're presumably taking him outside the camp."  With a quick snap of her gloved fingers her vibrant red coat shimmered and turned snowy white as a form of impromptu camouflage, just as she'd done prior when fleeing the White Dragon by the lakeside.  "I'm reluctant to send Astre out scouting again when he's wounded, so let's do what we can to track these Reghedmen ourselves.  If we're fortunate, we may be able to spirit their captive away right out from under their noses.  If not, well..." her gaze shifted to Khulekani's sword with a dour look.  Violence was very much not her forte nor desire, but sometimes it couldn't be avoided.

---

Prestidigitation to change the color of Mallory's cloak.  I know there's no mechanical benefit to doing so, but it just makes sense to not be standing out more than she already does.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:22, Tue 21 June 2022.

"I'm pleased to hear that you have a wepon that can harm Lycanthropes, Squire Khulekani," Rhydd replied, "although I hope that you do not have to employ it for that purpose . . . not here and now, I mean to say."

Glancing at Mallory, he said "I am in full agreement that we should not put Astre at risk again, so soon after he suffered his wounds."

Rising to his feet, he brushed off some loose snow that had gathered on his clothing. "I see no reason to delay,"</blue> he said.

"Let us be off."

"Aye. Let us be off. Time is of the essence..." the squire agreed.

Rhydd knew these woods better than she, and it was Mallory's Familiar that had done the initial scouting, so she was more than happy to follow them. Closely of course. Any sudden battle, and she would be the most equipped one to deal with it. She was sure the woodsman could handle himself in a scrape, but it was clear he preferred to keep his distance.

And while she tried to adopt the quiet manner in which the others made their way through the trees,  Khulekani had to admit that she might as well have ridden on her steed clanging a dinner bell. She was not trained for stealthy movements. Indeed, quite the opposite. She was supposed to be an open and honest beacon of virtue, dragging wickedness into the light. She was not what you would call a lithe person. She was all muscle and heavy weaponry. The links of her chain-mail didn't help either. If there was ever an armor that rivaled full plate for noisiest protection, it would be the chain.

Still, if she couldn't be stealthy, at least she could keep her eyes open, ready for any trouble that might befall their little rescue party.


OOC Mechanics
10:45, Today: Khulekani Kumalo rolled 2 using 2d20, dropping the highest dice only.  Stealth with Disadvantage.
10:49, Today: Khulekani Kumalo rolled 26 using 1d20+6.  Perception.

Back in the forest, the Falcon was first to spot the group. The Tressym had brought his friends with him, and that was too much to contend with for the lonesome bird. It shrieked for a while before it gave up and let the invaders be.

Sneaking as a larger group was more difficult, especially considering many of its members were unfamiliar with the intricacies of forest terrain. Despite his best efforts to lead, Rhydd was slowed down and hampered. Roots, rocks, rattling armors, poor utilization of the cover provided by the trees and hills, and general unneeded noisiness all contributed to making it much clumsier affair than he was used to. In truth it was only Astre who managed to move around with enough discretion to not draw unwanted attention. Save for the Falcon.

Nearing the camp, several tracks began cropping up. Many old, and some inhuman. Rounding the camp in search for traces of the captive, fresher tracks close to a frozen river on the west-northwestern side appeared. Four sets, three belonging to humans and one belonging to the Halfling. They weren't yet hardened and brittle so couldn't be more than an hour old, and at certain intervals a long rope had grazed the snow.

In the distance, perched upon a snow-laden rock, one of the monstrous sentries was second to spot the group. It remained for but a moment, staring intently with yellow, slit eyes, then jumped down and disappeared in the direction of the Reghed camp.

---

Group Check to avoid detection by the Reghed Patrols (DC 14, because that is what I rolled for their Perception Check) [Rhydd; 21, Mallory; 10, Khulekani; 2, Farwalker; 6, Astre; 14]: Fail.

Group Check to find the Halfling (DC 12, because that is what I decided on) [Rhydd; 25!, Mallory; 27!, Farwalker; 19, Khulekani; 26!]: Success.

While Mallory did her best, she wasn't well-accustomed to rough travel with the purposeful intent of being covert.  Had they been skulking about the indoors, certainly!  But to crunch her way through snow with care given for every step, while her focus was more set on keeping a sharp eye out for their quarry and potential foes alike?  It felt like spinning plates.  Along with all the din that came of those even more encumbered by their belongings, it felt like an inevitability that they'd be--



"Aaaaaa-nd we've been rumbled." Mallory grimaced flatly as the Reghedmen turned to leap down from their perch.  All at once she drew in a deep, frigid breath that began to sparkle with flickering motes of light as it passed her lips.  "Spirits of the Slumbering Realm, dancing amid moonlit shade.  Steal away the furtive worries of mortal hearts and lay with me, perchance to dream."

Incantations spilled to the air as readily as those gleaming sparkles of stardust as Mallory arched forward and blew out a long, billowed stream of breath.  It coursed and swirled like a serpent in pursuit of the Reghedmen with startling swiftness - a rapid slipstream that followed them over the ridge, out of sight, and burst into a flurry of gently sparkling flickers that blinked out peacefully one by one.

---

Mallory upcasts "Sleep" at 2nd level in the general vicinity of the Reghedmen scout.  It has a 90' range and a 20' area of effect on top of that, so she should presumably be able to catch the scout in its reach.

Sleep HP
Mallory Bonheur rolled 32 using 7d8
If the Reghedmen is in the AOE and has 32 HP or less, they instantly fall asleep for the next minute.  If they have more than 32 they're unaffected.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:04, Fri 24 June 2022.

Rhydd moved back through the snowy woods in his accustomed manner, however he could not help but notice that his companions were much noisier than he was.

~~Not their fault. They have not the woodscraft nor the long practice in such things that I do. We shall simply have to make the best of it.~~

The outdoorsman moved with an arrow nocked in the longbow that he held in his left hand, and he brought it up into a shooting position in a smooth, quick motion as soon as he spotted the barbarian scout. He held his shot however, as he heard Mallory begin her magicks-making just behind him.

He hissed, expelling a fog of warm breath, when their target dropped from sight. He lowered his bow slightly, so that the nocked arrow was now pointing down towards the snow-covered ground.

"We need to see if Lady Mallory's magicks dropped him, or whether he shrugged them off and kept going," he muttered.

He had heard the wizardess speaking words, but he was unsure of their import. Turning to her, he asked "What effects would your magicks have had, if they worked as intended? Will I find a dead barbarian . . . or something else?"

"Fast asleep in the snow, like those wolves that attacked the wagon train days ago.  But only for a short time.  We need to be quick."  Mallory explained even as she was already in the midst of picking up her heels to high-step hustle her way through the snow toward where the scout had vanished.  If they were slumped and snoozing on the other side of the ridge, they'd only have a short time to tie them up before the spell faded.  If they weren't there... then the group would have to make all due haste after the Halfling, as their window of opportunity would be very much narrowed.

"If The Lord on the Rack is merciful, they will be asleep. If not, more bloody means will be required. Please stay behind me, Lady Bonheur..." Khulekani said softly, but firmly.

The squire raised her shield, and drew Isiliva with a practiced ease. She then proceeded to hurry as fast as she was able to where the scout had disappeared. She prayed that they were in a deep slumber. Because it sounded to her ears that these people weren't so much inherently evil as desperate. And considering how much of that was going around Icewind Dale at the moment, the young woman had to admit she felt some small pang of sympathy for them. But it would not stop her from doing her duty, or trying to rescue others from the pot.

The scout was not in a deep slumber. It was instead nowhere to be seen. In its wake were tracks, leading back in the direction of the Reghed encampment.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:06, Sat 25 June 2022.

Mallory did indeed keep behind her companions, all the while Astre poked his head out to keep an eye on the rear of the group just in case.  Though the fact that the scout had made it through her bit of spellcraft was met with a displeased, yet unsurprised, sigh.

"It was a gamble in the first place..." she muttered dejectedly.  Certainly not the first time fortune hadn't favored her efforts, but she could only hope they would fare better in the coming moments.  "There's no chance of us catching them now, so let's make haste after the Halfling before reinforcements arrive.  I expect we'll be needing to make a hasty getaway, one way or another."

"Agreed," Rhydd replied to Lady Mallory's conclusion with a quick nod.

He turned in the direction where the Halfling's tracks had been seen. "Let us make haste. How does that saying go? 'Time is of the essence'?"

The archer huffed his amusement at the high-flown language that some people favored. "'Twould be clearer to simply say that we should hurry."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 16:13, Sat 25 June 2022.

Meanwhile, withdrawn from the action, Farwalker had found a stump to rest at. Wifni hungrily eyed the nuts and dried fruit the Goliath had taken out to munch on, but when offered some the Axe Beak had no interest in actually eating them.

---

Speeding up had its drawbacks. If the group had trouble keeping silent and unseen before, they sure had now. Fortunately, the tracks didn't continue for long, climbing with the frozen stream until they reached a small outcropping. A snare trap was set here. The rope was affixed to a branch on the nearest tree, and the noose, covered by small rocks and twigs, hung loosely with a bait in its epicenter. The trap was rigged with narrowly arranged thin branches ready to snap the second they were disturbed. It was finely made, through and through.

The tracks continued on to the next site, rounding a short cliff where the Halfling, overseen his captors, was crouched, busy tying another snare. None of the Reghedmen appeared monstrous. No, they were like any other Rhydd had encountered over his years roaming the frozen tundra. Two men and two women, clad in furs and thick hide armor and armed with spears and axes.

Perhaps it was the rattling of Khulekani's chain links, or perhaps Mallory stumbling upon a errant root, but the noisiness of the group's approach immediately alerted them. They readied their weapons, exchanged a brief few words, and assumed attentive stances.

"Show yourselves!" one of them called out.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:44, Sat 25 June 2022.

Knowing the game was up, and taking their quarry unaware was no longer on the table, Khulekani decided to act in an open and bold manner. This was more suited to her training and temperament anyway. To save an innocent life, she would try the best she was able to at the act of skulking. But absent that, being open and honest about her intentions sat much better with her conscience. So, standing to her full height and rolling her shoulders, the dark-skinned woman ceased any attempt at subterfuge and walked proudly out into the open. Slowly, deliberately, she drew her glowing arming sword and held it at the ready, so that they might see what was in store for them should it come to blows. She raised her shield up next to the blade, not only to protect her body, but to display the heraldry of her Order upon it's dented, polished face.

"Hail and well met Reghedmen, children of the glacier. I am Khulekani Kumalo of Athkatla, daughter of Ghakarhi and Thabisa, and Squire of the Radiant Heart Auxiliary. I am a knight-errant in these lands, and all innocents I am able to protect fall under my aegis. In your company you have a Halfling trapper. I would have you release him at once. We are not yet foes, and I would have it remain as such. But know that if he too is destined for your cooking pot, I will defend him with my last breath. Your numbers might see my end, but your descendants will tell terrible sagas of the southern daemon that decimated your tribe before finally succumbing. I say again release that Halfling, and let peace stand in place of a blade!" the squire called valiantly, projecting an air of supreme confidence and ability that she did not feel in her heart.

But she wasn't lying. The battle might not be so terrible as she threatened, but she had made a vow that she intended to keep, even if it cost her life itself. She only hoped in the confusion, the Halfling and her new companions could escape the bloodshed.

OOC Mechanics
16:12, Today: Khulekani Kumalo rolled 15 using 1d20+5. Persuasion.
17:21, Today: Khulekani Kumalo rolled 10 using 1d20+5.  Persuasion with Advantage.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:22, Sat 25 June 2022.

There was little point to bother with subtlety by then and Mallory likewise carried along as swiftly as she could; her white cloak shed its paleness back to bold red amid her strides.  No surprise at all the Reghedmen they came upon saw them coming a proverbial mile away, but she could only hope that such an open approach would serve better than skulking since that was the hand fate had dealt them.  The fact that the Reghedmen spoke out first rather than just immediately take to violence was reassuring... even though, all the same, Mallory half-hid herself behind a sturdy tree.

She poked her head out from the side, still entirely within view of the others - it was not so much a hiding place as it was a reflexive urge to seek cover.  Her dark eyes narrowed a bit as she skimmed the field for its details.  Snares?  So they were using the Halfling for labor in setting traps, though whether they hoped to capture small game or unwitting travelers was the real question.

"Indeed, there's absolutely no need for weapons here!  You're searching for food, aren't you?  It's not much, but I've at least three days worth of hard rations to spare.  They're yours in trade for your captive's freedom." the young noble piped in from her spot.  At the same time, Astre shimmied around her shoulder and up the tree she was half-hidden behind, out of sight himself as he scaled higher into the boughs for a better position.

---

Mallory has 3 Rations she can hand over, in hopes of sweetening the deal in order to give Khulekani Advantage on her Persuasion check.

Astre, meanwhile, will climb a tree to a higher vantage point above the Party, in case there's a coming need for battle map placement.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:47, Sat 25 June 2022.

Astre, atop his post, could see no traces of any pursuers.

The Reghedmen flinched, tightening their grip on their spears as Khulekani pulled her sword. One man snarled. When it became obvious she was appealing to reason instead of lunging at them, they took the time to listen. The Halfling was slow to realize the situation, but as Khulekani's words began thundering, he fell, shuffling on all fours until his back was against the cliff.

"We are the tribe of the Wolf!" the snarling man yelled his response. He was a tall, muscular specimen with a wild, red mane. "And we have laid claim to this trapper and his expertise. He is not destined to boil, but to serve. So long as he shall cull our hunger, he shall live!"

"Three rations?" one ferocious looking woman, her face scarred, said to her group. "It wouldn't remotely satiate them . . ."

"Turn back!" the other women yelled, lashing at the air with her spear in warning. She was a young one, hardly an adult. "We do not wish to fight you! Forget you saw us and turn back!" Her eyes shone in the fading twilight, and an expression most pleading befell her. ". . . or you will be flayed to bits."

The second man, him more elderly, took a step forward and thrust the base of his spear into the snow. There it remained, and then he unfastened his axe from its loop and discarded it as well.

"What are you doing?" the scarred woman nudged closer and spat through her teeth.

"The red woman is right, there is no need for weapons. We have had enough bloodshed." the aged man said. "Keep your rations!" He called out. "All we ask is that you leave us be. Please." The wildhaired man hesitated but followed his companion's lead, groaning his complaint as he jabbed his spear down and tossed aside his axe. Then the two remaining tribeswomen did the same, and then, soon, all their weapons were renounced.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:44, Sat 25 June 2022.

The tense conversation had Mallory on pins and needles as she feared the break of violence at any second.  But there was something in the Reghedmen's phrasing and bearing that prickled at her ears.  That the elder flat-out dropped his weapon all but assured her suspicion when it came to his call to simply be left be.

"The Lycanthropes - the beastmen - in your camp.  You're being held by them as much as this poor fellow, aren't you?" she chanced.  "Please, we've come in hopes of giving help.  If you yourselves are in need of it as well...?"

The young woman averted her eyes, clearly despondent.

"Pity us not," the elder responded. "We have risen from the ashes, strong once more. Now we endure the consequences of our choices. And enduring, we are."