The Flayed Man part 21
'Toes'.
That's the name you've got for h im, but his real name D'Orris. With a name like 'D'orris' one can imagine why he went with the war-moniker assigned to him. 'Toes' isn't much better.
In any event, you're able to talk to the folks at the keep and soon enough have confirmed that he is indeed on the frontier border bewtween Stormgard and Myrddion.
It's a whole thing. Finding this tracker, in all this countryside, is going to be easier said than done, but at least you're closer to your quarry than you've yet been, and one step closer to unraveling the mystery of the Flayed Man.
The good news is that he is not alone, and a group of armed mercenaries is not likely to be skilled at - or worry about covering - their tracks. Finding such a group may be difficult, but Seldan makes no indication that he thinks it impossible, merely preparing to follow. A frost worm being their quarry could make things sticky.
Malik is, as usual, focused on the business at hand, the wizard's jovial nature and penchant for jokes suppressed while on the hunt for their quarry. And with good reason. He still remembers the guard dissolving before his eyes, even if the others managed to miss that tiny bit of information.
Taking a moment to make nice with his horse, Lanier mounts up and sets off at a rise, in the unenviable position of tracking a company that is tracking a frost worm, which is probably tracking a company to eat. It's trackception, and Lanier is trying to unravel it all. Not too far from him is his mighty hunting companion, Spud. The dire wolf moves in and out of sight quickly enough to keep the horses nervous still.
Iskandar leads his horse along after the rest of the party. He has a shortbow held in one hand, while the other keeps a loose grasp on the reins. The truth is he trusts the horse to follow it's equine counterparts and only seems to nudge it along if it stops to nibble at passing foliage.
Your first day on the frontier has the trail as cold as cold can get. If we're honest, this is not surprising. The weather here this far north is still reasonable, and thankfully you're nowhere near the truly wintry ice wall, which is far to the northeast and, you know, on the other side of Strogmard from you. But you're still close enough to it in general that things even get a bit chill here in the summer.
Camp must be made, watches post, and a quiet night is spent under the stars.
When morning rolls around once more, you are again on the road, finding signs of an armed band that has left its impressions in the hardened mud since the last rains. Sorting them out from the various oth4er travellers is not difficult given your levels of general proficiency and experience, and you feel you're still days yet behind them. They are heading north, towards an increasingly aggravating sight: distantly rugged hills that do not look fun to climb. They are not mountains, but *slopes are annoying*.
The chill does not seem to bother Seldan in the slightest, and he offers Malik his extra blanket, rolling himself in his traveler's cloak without bothering to remove his armor. It does not seem to bother him in the slightest, but he now frowns at the rugged hills, and looks around at the others. "The road ahead is no easy task. I have climbing gear, should we need, but do all of you have the means to fly?"
The chill does seem to bother Malik, who gets even quieter than usual, though he also puts on his very best game face and just keeps his eyes on the distance. Toward the hills. Which are no less aggravating than the cold. "Chasing a man across the globe to avenge a ghost that I don't even know." He offers Seldan a wan smile. "You're starting to feel like a bad influnece," he teases the paladin, looking down at the hand that still bears that simple ring on it. "If anyone asks, I did it for the gold."
GAME: Lanier refreshes spells.
GAME: Lanier casts Endure Elements. Caster Level: 7 DC: 13
Mist wafts from Iskandar's mouth with every breath. But he doesn't bother wearing anything other than his normal (somewhat sparse) gear. "Fly? I can't fly." He seems somehow offended at the suggestion that he can. "But I'll manage." He looks at the horse he's been riding, patting its neck affectionately. "I wouldn't want to put this loyal steed st risk though. Should we proceed on foot?"
As dawn breaks and the camp begins to rouse, one can possibly catch Lanier at his most private moment. No, not that private moment. Or that. He's praying, asking Gilead and, surprisingly, Althea, for their blessings throughout the day. As he completes his morning invocations, he stands and prays over himself and Spud. With such preparations made, the cold doesn't quite bother the Ranger either. With a shake of his head to Seldan, Lanier replies, "I do not, or does Spud have the training to manage it either."
... now better prepared for an ascent into slightly chillier hills, you leave your steeds behind where necessary and ascend, once you reach them.
The tracks are growing fresher, as it happens, as well. You're still behind, but have been gaining on them. That's a good thing, right?
The slow ascent continues, and soon, you're realizing that not only are these hills... steep, but they're also something far worse.
So much worse.
They are made of mud.
Malik rides along, frowning as the way turns slippery. "We're going to lame a horse if we keep this up," he notes. Not that they can't magically produce others. Looking to Seldan, he asks, "I don't suppose your gods offer you any protection from environmental inconvenience?" A grumble. "The Frozen North seems to be something a misnomer, doesn't it."
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (3)+28: 31
Seldan's features set into a hard line as the nature of these hills becomes clear. Now they know why the others slowed down - this will slow them as well. "No, Mal. They discourage whining on the matter." The remark slips from his mouth, and he blinks, then coughs, looking rather embarrassed. "It is not yet truly frozen, not this far south, not in summer. Let us hope that it does not become so." He looks around to the others. "I have climbing gear."
As his steps start to squelch Iskandar pauses and lifts a be-sandaled foot. He wiggles the toes as much as the footwear allows. The he sighs. "We'd better catch up to our Frostmantle friends soon. If the frost worm doesn't finish them, a mudslide might."
Lanier blinks, raises an eyebrow and glances sidelong towards Seldan. He looks off in the distance towards Spud for a moment, then back towards Seldan again. He tilts his head, seems about to say something, then simply opts for, "I have climbing gear too."
GAME: Seldan rolls survival: (15)+23: 38
GAME: Lanier rolls Survival: (2)+12: 14
GAME: Malik rolls Survival: (12)+5: 17
GAME: Iskandar rolls survival: (8)+9: 17
Malik just smiles at Seldan. "I'm glad that the influence goes both ways." He even looks genuinely proud at the little quip, leaning back on his horse. "Just remember that at least one of us can fly."