Chapter 3: The Eastern Trail

Chapter 3: The Eastern Trail
Dawn breaks over the skeletal remains of Myrefall, casting long, somber shadows across the snow. The air is still and frigid, the silence broken only by the whisper of the wind through the scorched timbers of the longhouse. There is a quiet consensus among the heroes, an unspoken agreement born from the grim evidence before them. Though the council in Ormskirk calls for Odin’s return, the trail leading east is a raw wound on the landscape, a path of violence that demands to be followed.

Horgurn is one of the first to stir, the biting cold a familiar companion. He sits near the dim coals of their small fire, the rhythmic scrape of a whetstone on his woodcutter’s axe a steady, grounding sound. The exhaustion still clings to his muscles, but a quiet fire now burns within him. He has already told them his story, a tale of a lonely farmstead and a sudden, brutal attack. He is a man with nothing left to lose and everything to avenge.

A somber mood settles over the group as Odin prepares for his solitary journey back to Ormskirk. He clasps arms with Johan and gives a grim nod to the others, his face set with determination. "The council must know what we've found," he states, his voice low. "Find them. Bring them home." With a final look towards the eastern trail, he turns and disappears into the western woods with Huginn perched on his shoulder, a lone messenger carrying dire news.

With their purpose set, the now-smaller group makes their final preparations. They leave the desolation of Myrefall behind, a ghost village haunting their steps. The trail to the east awaits, a path into the heart of the wilderness where the wolfmen and their monstrous master have taken the last hope of this land.

Thanks to Kish’s keen eye, the trail is brutally clear. He points out the subtle signs in the fresh snow that others might miss, revealing a dark scar gouged into the white landscape. The prints of the great... whatever it was... that led the assault are unmistakable, and the sheer number of humanoid and wolf tracks speaks to the size of the force they are pursuing. The forest is dense, the ancient pines heavy with snow, and the silence is broken only by the crunch of their own boots and the mournful sigh of the wind.

The path leads you steadily upward, into the foothills of the mountains that loom over the forest. The air grows thinner, colder. The tracks become harder to follow as the terrain changes from soft snow to wind-scoured rock and ice. It is clear that this will not be a simple pursuit.

The hunt has begun.

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The morning's efforts prove both fruitful and frustrating as the group presses deeper into the mountain foothills. Leta's practiced eye for tracking serves them well, her knowledge of the wilds allowing her to distinguish between the various tracks in the snow. She points out the deeper impressions where the captives were dragged, the lighter prints of the wolfmen scouts, and the clawed marks of whatever giant beast they had with them. Her guidance keeps them on the true path when the trail threatens to fade.

Kethra moves like a shadow through the winter landscape, her natural grace amplified by years of training. She flits from tree to tree, her movements so fluid that she barely disturbs the snow. Her scouting reveals several potential ambush points ahead, allowing the group to adjust their approach. The wolfmen's trail shows signs of regular stops, likely to rest their captives or wait for stragglers.

Johan's attempt to serve as point man, however, nearly proves disastrous. The ranger's usual sharp senses seem dulled by exhaustion or perhaps the growing altitude. He misses a patch of treacherous ice that sends him sprawling, his bow clattering against the rocks followed by a series of traveling supplies falling out of his pack and making a large ruckus. The noise echoes through the mountain pass, and for a tense moment, the group freezes, certain they've been discovered. But the wind howls on, carrying their mistake away into the wilderness.

Nelie's nimble feet prove invaluable as the terrain becomes more challenging. She finds safe paths across the slippery slopes, her acrobatic skill and light weight allowing her to test the stability of snow-covered ledges before the others follow. Her guidance helps them navigate around several dangerous sections where the trail crosses unstable ground.

Horgurn's raw strength proves invaluable when the group encounters a steep, snow-covered slope that threatens to slow their pace. The farmer's powerful frame allows him to break trail through the deep drifts, his weight and strength creating a clear path for the others to follow. His efforts prevent the group from being bogged down in the heavy snow, keeping them moving at a pace that allows them to close the gap with their quarry.

Kish's analytical mind proves as valuable as any blade. His careful examination of the tracks reveals not just the direction of travel, but the condition of the captives. He notes where they stumbled, where they were forced to rest, and most importantly, where the wolfmen's discipline began to fray. His growing understanding of tracking combines with his natural stealth to help mask their approach as they draw closer to their quarry.

Current Progress: 5 successes, 1 failure

The trail leads ever higher into the mountains, where the air grows thin and the cold bites deeper. The wolfmen's pace has slowed, suggesting their captives are struggling with the altitude and exhaustion. The heroes can sense they are closing the gap.

The wind softens as the trail levels onto a sheltered shelf of rock and pine. A shallow fire pit sits under a soot-stained overhang with its coals buried in clean snow. A couple of rough lean-tos of broken boughs sags beside scattered sled ruts and a ring of bone charms that click faintly in the cold. The place looks recently used. The main column pushed on. Did someone leave a rear element to cover their trail?

The air tastes like iron and resin. The snow holds a story: Drag marks from bound feet. Wolf pads circling the perimeter. A place to rest captives and reset lines before the ascent into steeper country, perhaps?

Horgurn
Survival 13, success

Snow settles in shallow ripples around the overhang, and the story is clear. The main column moves through in a steady line. Narrow, uneven shuffles between the sled ruts point to two captives. A smaller rear element works the edges; the tracks are fresh and tidy.

Leta
Survival 17, success

By the fire pit a bead of dark blood has a thin rim of new frost. Heel scrapes mar the packed snow where someone rose in haste. The ash smell is still sharp. Signs point to a departure within the last hour.

Kethra
Perception 22, success

Along the eastern approach a fine thread of sinew lies low between roots. Tiny ice charms rest on the line like pale seeds, ready to sing if brushed. A careful hand can slacken or wedge them for a silent pass.

OOC: Spots the audible tripline; Thieves’ Tools DC 13 (or Sleight of Hand DC 15) to disarm quietly.

Kish
Investigation 17, success

Near the drag‑sled staging, packed snow hides a faint ward anchor that hums like a held breath, a silent alarm ready to ping its caster. North of the fire pit, a thin etching glints under wind‑pressed crust, cold pooling there in a way that is not natural. It is a Glyph of Warding storing an ice‑shard spell.

OOC: Finds the inner silent alarm anchor and a Glyph of Warding (Ice Knife). Dispel Magic ends either. The glyph can be disabled with Thieves’ Tools DC 15; Arcana DC 12 to identify the stored spell.

Johan
Survival 11, failure

At the camp’s edge the trail frays into scuffed patches where drift and crust trade places. Prints cross and blur. A soft chime flickers once among the bone charms on the approach, then the grove goes still again.

Nelie
Perception 4, failure

Low to the snow, the sweep turns up broken needles and wind‑carved ripples that point in all directions at once.

The group
Group tally: 4 successes, 2 failures.

Carry forward: Party gains +2 initiative and the rear guard is reduced by one. The brief chime puts the rear guard in superior cover at start.