Tiann takes the early morning watch, which I think is 6-8AM, yes? This means she gets the +4 for being inside. Further, if the hides give the +5 for cold weather gear, this and the group's survival bonus of +4 in addition to her base +4 means she's looking at +17 before a die roll, and can augment that even further with Guidance, bringing her save to +18 before a die roll. Funny that the young lady from the desert is also pretty good at dealing with the cold. But I'll roll in case I miscalculated something.
Looks good guys. At this level, non-lethal heals at 1pt/hour, so Jake's feeling better by 6, and Tal will be recovered by 10am if he doesn't receive any outside aid.
Tiann will set a funeral pyre for the deceased after trying to find any identifying items or equipment so the deceased' survivors can get some kind of closure.
Being explorers, they were keeping journals and notes. You can piece together enough information to return their few possessions and the news of their demise to their people after your mission.
Jory will try to put some more wood in with the stove so it can be a unofficial haven for travelers. He will write up some common rules on a piece of parchment for those sheltering here- replace the firewood, clean up after yourself, don't take the wagon, don't take the stove, etc.
"This wagon was a shelter for us, may it shelter others."
After Tiann says some words for the dead, we will head out.
As the pass winds around a large mountain, you spot a light glinting from a ledge some 50 feet above your location. There is a an icy rock face leading up to it. It is not so steep as to look dangerous, but steep enough that you'll have to use the climb skill if you want to go up.
Tiann...there is some sort of shrine up here...a statue of a small woman with an offering plate among other things. It's a fairly easy climb; might be worth taking a look at.
While Tal waits for Tiann to ascend he stares at the statue for a few moments, considering the features of the woman it depicts. Sadly Tal knows very little about history or religion; but the coins and gems in the offering bowl are certainly a testament to how highly her followers must think of her.
Tal removes a gold piece from his belt pouch and flips it in the air. OK Jory...heads she keeps her treasure, tails its ours!
Heads = 1, Tails = 2
1d2 ⇒ 1
Tal catches the coin in mid air, slaps it onto the back of his hand and shows it to Jory. With a shrug Tal flips his coin into the offering dish.
With a nod, Tiann ties the rope as described. Just so long as someone keeps a watch down here. I don't want to be surprised while looking at this statue.
And, to save time: Knowledge religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 ... of course.
Jory donates a gold piece as it is the right thing to do.
Hopefully someone will come and do something nice with it -- either way, if someone takes it out of this bowl, they probably need it badly. Ready to move on.
Tal is moved that Jory also decided to donate a gold piece to the shrine. Although Tal was a bit tongue in cheek with his coin flip in all likelihood he probably wouldn't have been able to bring himself to rob the shrine.
Karzak grunts at Jake and puts his ham-sized mail fists on his hips as he casts his glare upwards, his impatience plain for any to see. Are ye' quite done up there?
Tal and Jory offer to help Tiann down although, while undignified, the slide down isn't all that dangerous. Tal takes one last look at the scene and then climbs down himself.
I made a Knowledge: Religion roll to try to identify the statue. I figured the 10 meant "no clue" as usual. If I can't identify who it is I'll shrug and descend.
OK! Everybody descends, and you make your way to the edge of the mountain range, where it quickly turns to bog almost as quickly as it warms up. Night is falling just as you reach the edge, and you can set up camp here before you get into the 6 mile section of bog (which will slow you down again).
Tal and Jory:
You feel a surge of warmth in your body, helping ward off the cold. You feel lucky. You get a +1 luck bonus on saving throws to resist the effects of a dragon's breath weapon up to three times in the future.
Once the group finds a suitable spot Tal drops his pack and begins to set up camp. He finishes off his daily trail rations and offers to take the first watch.
Karzak nods to Tal as the group sets up for the evening. He stays in his armor until it's time to rest, then dons it again for his watch....he offers to take the second shift.
Another uneventful night. You set off the next morning into the bog, and the going is very slow...
Thick blobs of fog dance in between large thickets as the foul stench of swamp gas pollutes the air. Several exotic species of vines twist along the vapor-shrouded path, creating an ethereal seeming tangle. At random intervals, a splash of fetid water sounds in the distance, signaling the presence of frogs or other bog creatures.
A thick fog coats the ground and marsh waters to a height of 1 foot. The fog does not affect visibility, other than at ground level. Because of the thick muck and the many snags and shallow pools hidden by the fog, you face a hazardous journey.
Hour 1, everybody make an acrobatics check please. :)
Karzak curses the fog and the pools every step of the way, his heavy, armor-fronted boots and greaves getting stuck in the mire and making loud slurping sounds with each step.
Joining Karzak in swears (though in her native dialect rather than what she suspects is Dwarven), Tiann stumbles every (quite) often and does a much worse job than Karzak at keeping her footing.
"Tiann, I am told lots of healing agents come from swamps. Hopefully that stuff you swallowed is good for you." Jory comments hopefully.
Jory also spends time making sure the escortee is doing ok too. Tiann still remains Jory's primary concern, and he rushes to help her up and point out possible slippery places ahead. Hoping to give her +2 for seeing it successfully done.
Tiann chokes and unwillingly gulps down some of the swamp miasma. When she stumbles to her feet, she notices there are leeches attached to her. She lets out a scream and tries to get them off.
Karzak snorts at the sight, then clamps his mouth shut with a gulp, realizing that he was only barely more nimble than Tiann in an environment like this. He uses as much care as a heavily armored, thickly muscled dwarf can muster.