A stranger in our midst

TheAs we approach the sledge -we see signs of a struggle and and see that there is fresh blood and drag marks in the snow. We see one set of adult tracks in the area and another set of tracks that vanish undereunder the snow. AAethlwynn suggests we follow the tracks, and we follow the obviuoslyobviously recetnrecent onesset that seem to vanish. We start to hear a weak cough in the forest silence seemingwhich seems to come from under the sled. We sseesee a man half covered by the sled,sled; he'she looks very cold. One hand grips an axe, his clothes are ripped and he looks veryalmost cold.hypothermic. Guru puts his cloak over him. Heand he thanks usus. and says he was sent last noght to search then there were lights, then dark. Guru helps him up. Hisand sees his shoulder is bleeding and badly injured. While Salus tries to stopstops the bleeding,bleedong. and succeeds. AAethlwynn asks him his name - Riteable is the answer. He used to be in the army and knows his way around his sword. Guru asks where he is headed, RRiteable saysreplies that he was sent out to look for Tala last night as folk know he was in the army and now sells his sword. THEN there were blue lights, the earth shook and he lost his footing. Thought he saw something, next thing he knows he sees us. We agree we have  the same goal.

AAethlwynn points out the other footprints and ask if Riteable knows who the footprints belong to, he thinks he saw Tala but heard her screaming a name like "arlan".  AThen suggeststhere itwere couldblue belights, Harlan.the Sebearth shook and he lost his footing. He thought he saw something but  passed out and the next thing he knows is seeing us. We agree we have  the same goal and Sebastian suggests we follow the footprints. RRiteable asks if we should back go totto hethe village Abut sayswe aagree Littleto Girlpress on as little girl is lost we should press on.. The other footprints seem to vanish, but seem to be wearing some short of shoes. Salus  realises the blood is recent  and can see that they were dragged under ground seemingly alive, but can't be seen. The other prints leading away look like a small barefoot child. AAethlwynn wants to try to help,help who or whatever was dragged underground but we can't see othera holesway butunderground. thereThere are roots which look like a mix of tree roots and the corrupted black roots. We can't see the blue lights but therecan issense a generlgeneral pulse. AAethlwynn says to the forest - you"You have one of ours if you let him go there is no need to set fire.a fire". There is no response.response, Afterbut asoon few moments we hearafter the birds arefall silent and the wind has dropped.drops Seems It feels as though like somethinsomething is listening. The forest doesndoes not feel hostile,hostile notor kindkind, and it doesn't feel like the forest itself doing it.the Alistening. asloAethlwynn feelsalso has  a strange sense of smoke within the general forest scents. SeemsAs the scent seems to be comongcoming from the direction of Tala's footprints.footprints Wewe follow Tala's footprints. them.

We head north til  we see  one of the old camps. There is no smoke rising not voice in the distance. The watch tower has collapsed, and we can make out light blue pulses from the ground

Guru is leading so is scouting. Aeths notices faint ripples beneath the snow, he thinks there are potentially weak areas. He thinks he can see faint movement in the hut. Thinks the safesst way in is through the fence. He sees a small fire and lanterns outside the huts which the roots seem to avoid. Salus notices barefoot prints leading into the shed, seem to be drag marks and blood in the main courtyard. She can see frozen black sap in the snow. A sees the roots seem to be ffedin on the warmth in the areaa and the nearby plant growth seem to be corrupted. Aeths thinks the watch tower collapse is recent and caused by the roots. Aeth saw a long stick with a metalic blade leading agsint the shed. He's happy

R gets to the shed and kicks the door in. The door collapses and hear a gasp , but he can't see anyone. R lights a torch and looks in the shed. It looks full of old dusty items, there's an overturned cot in the corner where the gasp came from. R moves the cot and sees a panicing youg girl. She looks in severe shock and points outside muttering roots are moving. Harlan told her to keep running - then shae says something under the camp was talking. Aeth asks what it sounded like, but she can't get her words out. She says she can't here the voices atm. She tries to explain a blue light came from under the tower Harlan told her to saty in the shed. He tried to set them on fire - then he was gone. Seb asks if he is dead

A suggests we investigate the tower, Salus suggests we leave TAla in the shed. The Aeths hear a voice from under the snow saying "Tala". The blue glow starts to intesify, the groun vibrates and the lantern start to dim and sglow blue. Seb and Aeth realise roots are now responding. Aeths sense something under the groung is coordinating the roots. The camp floor collapses as roots astar coming for us.

COmbat starts

Root glide ability - we can't see what

Beneath snow to vanish under ground

Haunting hymm destabilises the tendrils - both take full sonic damage

 

 

As combat ends the last of the tendrils convulses violently, the roots then collapse and turn in on themselves. Somewhere neatby the collapsed watchtower a mnalies - bloood is on his chest and the roots are round him It' s Harlan still holding on.