Arcos (Session 1 Reflections)

I've seen it so many times. So, so many times. It's a part of life and it's something we all must experience at one point or another. Most claim that the more you experience certain events and emotions, you can prepare yourself for what is to come. It's like when someone tells a joke you've heard multiple times before. It can be the most hilarious joke you have heard the first time you hear it. Another person tells the same joke, you laugh, it's still funny but you knew what was coming. Yet another person, and another and another....eventually you become numb to the humor of the joke. But you hear a different one, and you're reaction can be different. Each new joke, offers a new experience and reaction.
 
There are those who have told me, I've seen more than my fair share of death in my life time. Whether it be the first, or the thousandth, each loss hit different. It feels different and effects you differently. A father, a mother, a close friend.....a lost love....even your beloved pet companion; each relationship is different and effects you differently. Arcos, while we weren't casual friends whom would spend time together outside of the tavern, was someone I'd consider a dear friend of mine. A familiar face I'd see every morning in the tavern....I should have known there was something wrong when I didn't see him this morning. He was a good, sweet and kind old man. We never talked much about our personal lives, just idle chat about some of his travels and how he was doing that day.....He didn't deserve go like this.
 
As unnerving as it was to go with this group of strangers....I was glad for their company. I don't know if I would have been able to handle seeing him like that had I been alone. These people, they seem like good and decent folk. I've heard of the one named Evelyn? I think that was her name.... but I do remember hearing talk of her from patrons in the tavern a couple times. And the young man, Verrick.... I thought his name sounded familiar at first, then I remembered. He was the babe whom I helped his mother deliver that one night years ago. I hadn't seen them since. It's good to see he's grown into, what I can assume, is a fine young gentleman. Rhodri seems very skillful...and apparently popular? I must admit...apparently he and the woman named Myalee have history? Something over a coat? I'm not sure...most of the events after we'd fought; what ever that shade was; is a blur.... All I could think about what the fate of dear Arcos.
 
....The ice didn't react to heat, if anything it expanded. Then the ice cocoon that surrounded Arcos' body; I'm sure its similar to the magical spells that the "Winterborne" Eladrin back home use to create weapons and armor in defense of the vale. I vaguely remember mother telling me this when I was a child. But the Winterbornes, while aggressive, were never violent or malicious. They were more or less like soldiers. I do remember being told that if you were hurt by a winterborne created or enchanted weapon to make sure the wound is healed, less it become similar to a slow infection. A sheen of ice would crawl out from the wound and freeze your body... but it was easily cured by drinking something warm or healing the wound. Though it's not out of the realm of possibility that the spell could be strengthened to kill the intended target I'm sure.
 
Whoever or whatever did this to Arcos... they were able to cast this ability or spell multitudes higher than anything I had ever seen casted by any Winterborne...