dot, Baerlie would you prefer the cleric Wulfgar Ivarson or the fighter Usawoti or should I ask what does the party need?
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The hull of the Grinning Pixie creaks and groans in the freezing waters of Kalsgard, at the mouth of the Rimeflow River. Venture-Captain Calisro Benarry, the half-orc captain of the vessel, shivers as she strides in to her well-furnished cabin and out of the bitter winds. A Varki woman clad in leathers and a snow leopard fur coat is already seated inside the cabin. "Welcome to the Linnorm Kingdoms," says Venture-Captain Calisro Benarry. She takes a long drag from a hip flask before continuing. "The North is no place for a free captain, but here we are. Oh, Kalsgard is fine — they’ve got stiff drink here — but you’ve got to head inland, where it’s even colder." She pulls her mammoth-fur coat tighter across her body as she continues.
"I hope you all weren’t planning to freeze to death and packed for the weather. You’ve all heard of Jormurdun? Well, that dwarven sky citadel contained an artifact called the Sky Key. King Gutheran broke it into five pieces and gave four of them to his heirs as they fled the invasion, keeping the fifth for himself. One of Gutheran’s heirs, Naldak, traveled into what is now southwestern Irrisen and established a small town called Naldak’s Point. That’s where the trail goes cold. Most likely, Baba Yaga wiped them out when she invaded. The piece of the Sky Key and the ruins of Naldak’s Point are probably buried under a millennium of ice and snow, just waiting for someone — you — to go dig them out. I’ve packed you ten blocks of blackfire clay to make the task more manageable," the venture-captain says, handing over a backpack stuffed with black bricks.
"Don’t forget to take these with you. You’re heading east, up the Rimeflow and Thundering Rivers, past the Grungir Forest, and into Irrisen. Desna smiles — the site is about half a day’s hike north of Dalun, a small trade city on the Irrisen border. Take a small river boat packed with supplies and a letter of trade, make nice with the city officials, and see if you can get permission to travel inland. Head to the site and find our missing Sky Key piece. You’ll know you’re on the right track if you recover signs that the royal family settled there. Watch yourselves in Irrisen. Antagonizing the locals is like poking a sleeping ice bear in the eye, except it won’t kill you as quickly. The Society is not especially welcome in Irrisen, so try to keep what friends we have, and if you can, make new ones. With that it mind, I’ve hired a local to bring you safely to Dalun." Venture-Captain Benarry gestures toward the Varki woman. "This is Haltani, and she will guide you into and out of Irrisen alive."
The Varki woman springs to her feet gracefully and addresses you. "It is always a pleasure to meet travelers from faraway lands. It is true that Irrisen is a harsher land than most. Keep your wits about you, and your journey should be profitable."
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Salouris gives off another involuntary shiver as the Venture-Captain's entrance exposes the room to one more frigid blast. His embarrassment is lessened however, when he sees several of his fellows, and Ms. Benarry herself, do the same.
As the Varki, Haltani, steps forwards, Brother Salouris nods his scaled head low in greetings. "A pleasure Miss Haltani. I am Brother Salouris. We are thankful for your guidance through these lands."
The armored reptilian straightens back up, careful not to let the shield or blade slung on his back smash against the wooden sides of the cabin. "As you may have likely guessed," he says with a slight smile, "I am far from a native to this region. Tell me: this Irrisen, it is the home of the witches, yes? How poor is the esteem in which the Society is held there? Can we move openly at all, or must we obscure our affiliation?"
As he waits for a response, Salouris takes the proffered bag from Captain Bennary and stares down inside at the black clay within. "I have also never seen devices such as this before. It is meant to help us pierce the snow above the ruins?" he asks.
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Wulfgar, as he approached the vessel, is an imposing figure; 6’ 5” in a breasplate, wearing a spangenhelm with a full face mask and carrying a great sword. As he climbs the gang plank and draws near, you notice the grime in the nooks and crannies of his armor and the smell; the odor of sweat, liquor, vomit and urine. When he removes his helm his long black greasy stringy hair mats around his face clinging to his three day shadow; when he smiles you notice missing teeth. But his most disconcerting feature are his eyes; both grey, the left eye normal in every way. The right eye; floats and twitches sporadically, the iris grey, but in the shape of a mountain and the pupil the silhouette of a great sword. It is not an evil eye, it is a reflection of his deities holy symbol, Gorum.
AS Wulfgar removes his spangenhelm , his right eye twitching and rolling up in his head and introduces himself he follows the venture-captain into the cabin.
”Bwa ha ha, I am Wulfgar Ivarson, priest of Gorum! Wodka is soundink good to me, da. Headink inland, cold is not beink a problem ha ha ha“
Trying to stand in the corner, his head slightly bowed due to the low rafters, placing the tip of his great-sword’s into the deck he leans on the cross-guard, he listens to the instructions carefully, his right eye twitching, he nods to the Varki woman as she is introduced and then to the reptilian creature who introduced himself as Brother Salouris.
I wonder how our cold blooded friend will do in the cold
Listening carefully to brother Salouris’ question he laughs and slaps the Nagaji on the back.
”Bwa ha ha Do not be worryink Brother Salouris, we are not lookink like normal pathfinders.ha ha ha I am beink glad you are familiar with bricks, so we are not burnink ourselves down da, ha ha ha”
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Nimjagi listened intently to the Venture Captain's briefing and her introduction. He stands and raises the hood of his cloak, revealing his green scales and large stature. Dressed in cold weather gear and wearing lammelar horn armor he presents a imposing figure. Looking around at the group of adventurers around him.
"I am Nimgaji of the Thorned Path, myself and young Genki here look forward to completing our task with much haste. This weather disagrees with us but, the gifts of the wild will keep us strong. Is good to meet you Haltani of the north."
Nimgaji pets his reptilian companion while considering the task at hand.
"Brother Salouris poses some very intriguing questions."
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well we are multicultural and multicolored group aren't we
Wulfgar reaches to shake Hironaki's hand
"Ha ha ha, the pleasurink is all ours, comrade,"
seeing Hironaki's cloak, Wulfgar points out
" you may wantink to be gettink heavier cloak, comrade, very cold it will be gettink, da"
Wulfgar looks around the cabin and adds
"that is goink for all of you comrades, we cannot be leavink frozen pathfinders on the journey, da"
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Brother Salouris' cracked what-passes-for-lips curl up slightly.
"Yes, if there are any strudy garments in this trade package of yours Miss Haltani, I would appreciate pruchasing it before we dock. Preferably one that runs a bit tall."] he says, looking sheepishly down at his nearly 7-foot tall form.
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"Baba Yaga, a powerful with, is the head of the Jadwiga. Although she doesn’t rule Irrisen directly, I wouldn’t say anything negative about her once you get to Dalun. Legend has it, she only shows up every 100 years to put a new daughter on the throne, but she’s still pretty important to them. The Jadwiga is Irrisen's ruling class, they are all descendants of Baba Yaga. I think you can move openly, but maybe it's better to hide any Society or Faction related symbols." Haltani answers.
"Use the clay to produce heat, it melts ice. If you are really freezing, you can also use it to protect your skin from the cold." Venture-Captain Benarry answers. "If you need to purchase any gear, the Grinning Pixie’s quartermaster can sell you nearly any mundane or alchemical gear in addition to magic items worth 2,500 gp or less."
question the insular culture and closed borders of Irrisen.
They seek to learn about peoples outside of Irrisen, the
more “exotic” the better. The White Witches have dubbed
them the stilyagi, or “culture crows,” as they disregard the
culture of Irrisen and mimic the cultures of other foreign
lands. However, because they rarely have the opportunity
to interact with foreigners, their depictions are often wildly
outdated, stereotypical, and even downright offensive.
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Such a sad land, Slouris thinks to himself as Hironaki tells them about Irrisen's fall to monsters. May the Inheritor one day give us the oppotunity to free its people.
"I too could activate such a device, though I do not yet posess the means to cast such a ward myself."
"And Miss Haltani, may I ask what has called you to aid our society in this? If this land is as dangerous as you say, I would not wish for you to come to harm."
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this little one is very knowledgeable, he's good to have around
Wulfgar listens carefully and nods his head as Fuzzfoot explains the ins and outs of Irrisen history and culture, Wulfgar's left eye stays clearly focused, his right eye twitches and spins. As Fuzzfoot finishes his lecture. Wulfgar points out the obvious.
"comrades, if we are needink to buy more equipment, we should be doink it before we leave, da?"
Turning to there guide, Haltani, and asks
"How soon shall we be leavink?"
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"Baba Yaga's army mainly consists of bears, wolves and ice trolls. And humen of course." Haltani answers to Wulfgar's question. "Some younger Jadwiga have begun to question the insular culture and closed borders of Irrisen. They seek to learn about peoples outside of Irrisen, I'm one of them. I grew up in this land, I know about the dangers and that's the reason why I'm here, to help you to survive." she says with a smile.
Venture-Captain Benarry provides you with a map of Irrisen. The rough location of Naldak’s Point is marked on the map. In addition, she gives the you a letter of trade, which you can use to trade for goods in Dalun, and the bag with 10 blocks of blackfire clay. Finally, Venture-Captain Benarry loans you the use of a small sailing boat.
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Wulfgar smiles and slaps Haltani on the back
"To be knowink how to sail, the choosink of our guide is good, da?"
then turning to Hironaki he adds
"I am able to be prayink for endurance, but I prefer prayers that are honorink Gorum. I am willink to wave wand about when not wavink greatsword, da"
turning back to the guide he asks
"Haltani, so some may finish shoppink, where is sailink boat and when are you wantink us to meet you there?"
Wulfgar, since he is ready to go, will follow Haltani to the boat and help her get it ready as best he can.
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As the party begins to move out of the cabin, Salouris makes his way down towards the quartermaster, sorting through the unfamiliar currency in his coin-purse as he does so. After purchasing a thick winter cloak and gloves from the store, he turns back and joins Wulfgar and Haltani at the minature junk.
"So Miss, how far are we now from Dalun?"
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"Our trip will take several weeks. We are going up the Rimeflow and Thundering Rivers. We travel slowly, because we have to sail against the drift." the woman answers to Solouris' question.
The wind carries the small sailing vessel upriver. On the banks, the occasional elk or deer dashes away at the sight of the ship. At night, the temperature drops dramatically while wolves howl in the distance. The trip up the Rimeflow and Thundering Rivers passes in relative safety. Most of the landscape is comprised of rocky grassland and rough hills. The Land of the Linnorm Kings is a rugged land with rugged people. Occasionally you pass fishing villages where grim people give them evaluating gazes, scowl at them, or ignore them completely.
During the trip, usually when the group camps for the night, Uliyara speaks with each of you individually. She asks you about yourself, bringing up topics such as your homelands, your religious beliefs, your role in the Pathfinder Society, the strange lands you have visited, and any unusual or noteworthy objects you possess. Her questions often show how little she knows about the rest of Golarion.
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Fuzzfoot is happy to comply, and talks about his time growing up on streets of Absalom, running with various ruffians, but always aspiring for more. He talks at length about the fashions and interests of the nobility he often tries to hob-nob with, and also discusses his most recent interests in alchemy. If she is interested, he will show her a variety of small alchemist tricks using his alchemist kit.
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As the vessel slowly makes its way up the winding river, Brother Salouris slowly learns to tolerate, if never acclimate to, the cold. He tries to help with the ship as he can, rigging sails, securing the inventory, and so on, but the Iomedaean never quite seems to get the knack of river life.
More pleasant are his conversations with Haltani. The woman seems eager to strike up conversations about the Inner Sea, and though Salouris himself is new to the region he tells his tales as best he can. The nagaji speaks of how he hails from the distant continent of Tien Xia, growing up in a small farming village. And how it was there he expected to live his life until the day their home was assaulted by a group called the 'Golden League'.
Salouris speaks of how the mercenaries were convinced the simple village was concealing a hidden treasure, and that when his people feared they would be slain when they truthfully pled ignorance. Yet in the end they were saved by a nearby group of different explorers bearing silver compasses and strange glyphs: the Pathfinder Society. These newcomer's leader, an armored woman named Seelah, took a special interest in the village, making sure that all those injured by the league were treated and giving thanks to her strange god of justice. Inspired by her, Salouris decided then and there to depart his home once he came of age, and to follow in this lady's footsteps and do his part to aid others as she had done for his people.
Brother Salouris delivers this information to Haltani proudly, but directly. Best not to proselytize quite yet. If the Light can spread it will spread. She can come to me later if she wishes to. He remains slightly sheepish about his own experience however, begrudgingly admitting that this is his first true mission afield.
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Haltani listens carefully to Fuzzfoot's story about his life and is especially interested in his alchemy tricks. "Did you learn this at school?" she asks. "Please show me how to use this kit of poweders and liquids."
She also listens to Salouris story, she's looks a bit sad when she hears about the assault on his family. "What is the Golden League? I wish I could join the Pathfinder Society." she asks.
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When Haltani comes and asks Wulfgar about himself he scoots over from where he is sitting, with his back against a log, patting the ground beside him, he laughs and answers.
”bwa ha ha, my story is not beink very exotic, I am a Kellid, beink your neighbor to the east or possible the south dependink where your tribe is hailink from, da? Let me be tellink you the story in Hallit, my own tongue, beink from the north I am knowink you will understand, da”.
Wuflgar pauses for a moment and gets situated, as he speak his left eye takes on a faraway look while his right eye rolls up into his head, he rocks back and forth as the speaks, drawing his legs up and hugging them against his massive chest, his greasy hair laying on his shoulders and knees, the stench of him almost too much to bear but fortunately covered a little by the smoke from the wood fire.
”My father, Ivar was chief of the white tiger clan. He prayed for a sign of victory against his enemies, so when I was born with the symbol of Gorum in my eye, My father felt that it was the sign he prayed for and that he was blessed by Gorum. He lead all the warriors in an attack against our enemy, the Bear clan. It was a slaughter, none of our fighters survived. The remaining people: the very young, the very old and those with infants, were led by my mother, Selka the tribes shaman away; we fled north to join the Ice Chasm clan, very distant relatives. Few of us survived.
I grew up among the Ice Chasm tribe but never felt accepted; fighting often with other boys. I was considered bad medicine, even by my mother; she blamed me for her husband’s death and the death of the tribe. The local priest saw some potential in me and trained me in Gorum’s ways. After I passed the tribal tests for manhood and earned my tribal scars I left the great white north and the Ice Chasm people.
I traveled south, looking for enough money to spend on life’s necessities. When I am not fighting for the glory of Gorum in a war or functioning as medic for pathfinders like this trip, I make small Kellid fetishes and sell them to unwary southerners.” He stops speaking here and giggles a little looking around to see if anyone heard or understood. He then continues.”Or I will make up religious services for paying customers: the occasional wedding or funeral. Or other such blessings the weak minded desired.”
He smiles at Haltani showing his missing teeth, probably from bar fights and asks
”Is there anythink else you are wantink to know comrade?”
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Brtoher Salouris deepens his frown at the guide's query about the Golden League. "The Golden League? Bad men. They seek to control much of Tien Xia, through pressured deals and secret contracts if possible, and through more overt threats and actions if not. I hear this continent has a group called the Aspis who are much the same."
After a moment lost in thought, his scaled face then brightens as some joy returns to the paladin's face. "But the Pathfinder Society can be a noble organization, for the most part. If you truly wish to learn more and join, then I'm sure the venture captain would be delighted to hear upon our return."
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Hironaki stays relatively quiet along the journey, spending much time watching the passing landscape. [i]Such a moody, melancholy landscape, I like it. It suits me. Perhaps I'll retire here."[/b]
When Haltani questions him, Hiro describes his homeland in distant Tian Xia, and his journey to Avistan, and his joining of the Society. At the mention of objects, his solid white eyes light up. "All objects contain a remembrance of the past and resonate those remembrances. I discover and channels those resonances." He explains, then goes on to show some of the items he carries and the story that goes with then.
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Haltani listens to Nimgaji's short story as well as to Wulfgar's long one. "That's a sad story, Wulfgar. I'm really sorry life treated you like this in a very young age. I really like to see one of your fetishes one day."
She also listens to Salouris' suggestion to meet the venture captain and join the Society and answers "It's not so easy for me to leave everything behind."
The woman also listens to Hironaki's story with much interest. It seems she really want to learn about all the new things around her like a small child, impressed by the amount of information.
You occasionally see Uliyara remove a pale blue diamond necklace from under her furs and gaze longingly at it when she thinks nobody watches her.
You sail further upriver. A bend in the river and several large rocks cause white-water rapids across most of the water’s breadth; only a narrow channel with a swift current flows without obstruction near the southern bank. Tall trees grow on either shore, casting shadows with their large overhanging branches.
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Haltani blushes when Nimgaji asks her about her necklace. "These are ice diamonds. I got it as a gift."
"Yes, the boat is small enough to get through the passage." Haltani answers to Salouris' question but Hironaki thinks that there is something going on. He spots two men on the river banks who are trying to hide and a rope under the water from one shore to the other.