|
As my friends said we're our own group. We follow some men who had been causing us some troubles. He gives them some time to ask, or at least wonder what kind of troubles, if that's the same group who had attacked you're friends, then we can be allies in this chase.
Will you let us to help you against them?
The man seems skeptical of your claims, but hesitates. He confers with his team in their language, then turns back to you. "I not decide this. Chief decide. You go for now.. we find you later.. if you lie now, we find later." the man says this last with an anticipatory and predatory grin leaving no doubt at all of the consequences lying outlanders face in this country. The natives fade off into the snow along the trail behind you, frequently turning back to watch you over their shoulders.
The rest of the afternoon fades quickly as the miles pass by, eventually bringing you to a comfortable cave Skagni marked on the map for you. The team camps here, resting weary feet and preparing for another day of chase in the morning.
The next day dawns grey under lowering cloud cover as you break camp and set out.
Rolvark notices the weather looming ahead, and the team responds to his warnings with wisdom and speed. Throughout the day, the clouds become darker and lower, and the wind picks up to near gale force towards the afternoon. As the day drags on you make great time, but at a price. As darkness descends upon you, the storm is whipping into grand form and crashing down upon you like a herd of mammoths! Through the blinding snow and driving wind, you are just barely able to make out the mouth of a cave ahead.. you turn for it, trusting this to be your destination, and without any other options for surviving the night.
|
Malik braces for an extended march, putting all unnecessary equipment on the sleigh before departing. During the process, he suggests others do the same: "Maybe you guys should disrobe that cumbersome armour and store it on the sleigh? We would probably move faster. If we want to outrun a storm, it might be handy."
|
|
Malik watches as the winter affects Shilak'ho and approaches him with some herbs from his pouch.
"No shame in tucking up under blankets on the sleigh, Shilak'ho. You are cold-blooded after all. Eat these. It should get you back on your feet... Soon enough."
As Malik passes the herbs to the Nagaji, he pats his shoulder and works his magics.
Malik loses some of the colour in his cheeks as this happens but he doesn't seem overly concerned over it.
|
|
Seeing Dean's blue lips and colourless fingers, Malik does the same to the "Pirate King".
"I imagined you'd be hardened from all the sea-faring. Happens to the best of us, I suppose..."
He checks his pouch afterwards, quietly sighing after a short while. he addresses all of the pathfinders:
"These herbs don't grow in snow, however. Grab a blanket or something if you're cold. I'm running low on supplies."
Ten feet into this dark granite cave, a large cavern opens up, its ceiling rising as high as thirty feet. Warm, humid air fills the chamber, and colorful fungi cover the floor and walls. Beneath a layer of iridescent algae, the faint images of cave paintings can be seen on all the cavern’s walls. Signs of a rockslide block what may once have been a passage farther into the cave.
As the full might and fury of the storm falls upon the companions, they heal themselves from the days ordeals before setting to making camp for the night.
As the team begins there preparations though, three little creatures dart out from the fungi growths and attack the party. These tiny creatures sport a snake-like neck and head, a bird-like body with strong legs for running, and a whip-like tail.
Guinfa
Rolvark
Pazacku
Shilak'ho
Dean
Lizard things
Bold May Post
Malik
Guinfa
Dean
Lizard things
~Red
~Blue
~Green
Pazacku
Rolvark
Shilak'ho
|
|
Forced March
I've seen hostile lizards back in the jungle, I know how to scare them. But I'm don't know if I look scaring enough. Let's see Guinfa states to his companions before getting the attention of the greener wizard and emit a long and high-pitched hissing.
But, what I really dopesn't know is what are some lizards doing in so a cold place. I was said they live in warm places
|
|
In a moment of weakness and humility, Dean does something out of the ordinary, he thanks Malik without causing a scene. "Thanks Malik, I needed that."
As they rush into the cave, Dean takes a look around, thinking how odd this place looks. At the sight of the creatures he exclaims, "Oh! What hideous beings! What are they? They don't look like lizards!"
|
Rolvark, spending all his energy guiding his companions and worrying about the storm, slumps to the ground when they reach the cave exhausted. He tiredly digs out his wand and taps himself once and breaths a sigh as the magical energies wash over him and renew his energy.
When the lizard creatures appear, Rolvark is just as surprised and tries to recall what they are...
[spoiler=Rolvark]The compsognathus is a small dinosaur that moves in swift, darting motions. Its bite injects a venom that causes numbness and weakness, a trait that the animal uses to bring down larger prey. A compsognathus measures 3 feet long and weighs 15 pounds. No weaknesses or resistances, the poison is the only thing to worry about.[/ooc]
Guinfa confidently lets loose with a terrifying hiss, bringing the greener lizard to a halt.
Dean readies his weapon, sharpened edge glittering with awaiting death.
Malik holds his position for now, not being able to get a shot off at the dino's around the large mushrooms.
Starving and crazed for food, the dino's dart straight in on the team, teeth flashing. The first one to jump at Pazacku is deflected by his armor, but the second manages to get sharp little teeth into a joint. The single creature attacking Rolvark is also easily rebuffed!
Bold May Post
Malik
Guinfa
Dean
Lizard things
~Red
~Blue
~Green- Shaken x2
Pazacku- 1dmg AOO, Fort save
Rolvark- AOO
Shilak'ho
|
|
As the small lizard jumps at Rolvark, he barely has time to draw his dagger in the small confines of the cave and swat the small lizard
"Watch out for these little critters, they have a nasty bite that saps your strength. Although they seem to be a little out of place here..."
He turns to his side to see two of these critter on Pazacku. Rolvark attempts as best he can to remove them off Pazacku....
With one savage strike, Rolvark kills one dino in mid air as it leaps through the air at him, then turns and absolutely destroys one of the creatures attacking Pazacku.
Bold May Post
Malik
Guinfa
Dean
Lizard things
~Blue
Pazacku- 1dmg AOO, Fort save
Rolvark-
Shilak'ho
Dean swipes again at the last remaining dinosaur, but misses the mark.
Bold May Post
Malik
Guinfa
Dean
Lizard things
~Green
Pazacku- 1dmg AOO, Fort save
Rolvark-
Shilak'ho
-Posted with Wayfinder
Pazacku bashes the dinosaur as it lunges for him, and instead of getting a tasty morsel, it gets a face full of combat sheath that knocks it out cold.
The echoes of the brief combat fade within the cave, but the sounds of the storm only increase. At this rate, you may be looking at getting snowed in for a while!
|
|
After the surprise attack, Dean recollects himself, brushing off any dirt that may have gotten on to him. He sheaths his sword and follows behind Rolvark, but not before creating light onto his sword.
"So, see anything interesting? Hmm. These drawings seem interesting, maybe we should explore down this blocked passage. Who knows, we might find treasure!"
The cavern’s tall walls are covered with cave paintings under a thin layer of faintly glowing algae. The paintings depict a castle at the base of a mountain. Outside the castle, a large creature with wings and a longneck lies on the ground before a figure lifting a huge red axe over its head to strike. Other humanoid figures cluster around the scene. The mural is then interrupted by a repeated design: two mammoths with a smaller one in tow marching east. This motif is repeated over and over in an orderly line from the top wall of the cave to the bottom. There are 30 copies of this design. The next scene shows the wielder of the red axe lying on a raised mound within the castle, his weapon clutched to his chest. Other figures leave the castle carrying large bags on their shoulders. The drawings continue on the other side of the cave, showing an avalanche cascading down to cover the tower. The last drawing shows more of the humanoid figures standing over the edge overlooking the castle’s previous location, while four drawings of the moon in various states arc above the scene. In this last picture, all of the humanoid figures have a smear of white color around their lower faces.
|
|
Pazacku, can you take heal me, that forced march left me if a worse condition that I'd like says Guinfa as he offers his wand of CLW to the paladin. You have my thanks
There's something interesting Dean, yes.
I can see The axe-wielding figure in the first scene is different from the other humanoids depicted, as he is shown with a white beard, a feature uncommon among the Kellid peoples. The painting of the three mammoths symbolizes migration, and each painting of three mammoths stands for the passage of a single year. The moon in its various stages symbolizes eternity or a period of time that cannot be depicted with the migration symbol, usually meaning hundreds of years.
So here we have paintged some of their history; the protagonist fight against a monster, killed it an stay in his castle for about 30 years, he died and everybody leave the castle. Since that hundreds of years had passed.
What I'm not sure is about the humanoid with white painting in their lowers faces, they look similar toi the paintings of some of the dead kellids we saw before, but I have no idead why the people leaving the castle didn't wear that white painting and hundreds of years later they wear it.
All the time he was talking he has been trying to not look at the dead lizards, trying to remember he's fasting.
|
|
Dean squints his eyes as he takes a closer look while Guinfa explains it to him. "Why yes, yes, I can see what you mean." He pauses for a moment, and whips around unexpectedly to face the group. "Aren't we looking for an axe wielded by a bearded man? Could we have stumbled in the right place? Boy, my luck has really turned here!" Dean dashes straight for the rubble and attempts to remove it.
By the morning, the storm has blown itself out, and with a little work, you are able to clear the mouth of the cave and move outside. your path slopes downward as you approach a series of high, rocky cliffs on the edge of the Tusk Mountains. Near midday, Skagni’s map directs you through a narrow ravine of ice and rock. The shriek of a snowy owl dances off the high, rough walls of ice and rock inside this gorge, and the long shadows inside make it feel like evening rather than midday. Although the canyon provides a direct path through the rocky terrain of this area, the other side is almost invisible from the entrance. In the snow drenched plains leading to the gorge mouth, primeval aurochs and bison paw at the new snow to unearth scrub grass.
|
|
After pulling the sleigh into the cave and settig up a fire for warmth and some light, Malik observes the paintings for a while. He makes a few short notes as the other pathfinders interpret the message relayed on the cave walls. He starts talking, as if only thinking out loud.
"I wonder if this is what the Shadow Lodge is after,...", he states, pointing towards the depicted weapon
"... or whether if what Skagni described as a "weapon" is just an allegory for some sort of powerful tool or artifact. Dreng would probably be happy if we confirm the latter. Or maybe both. Who knows?", he shrugs, takes a sip from his waterskin and falls asleep sitting, with his back pressed against one of the cave walls. It was a long day.
As the new day dawns and the storm moves on, the half-orc leaves the cave with the sleigh in tow, and takes a look around the immediate area.
"I see some fresh tracks heading into a nearby valley, guys. Maybe we should take a look?"
|
|
Rolvark looks at the paintings in the cave and speaks softly, almost to himself as he runs his hand along the wall
"These paintings must be showing the tale of how the snowmask clan came to be here...a migration? And there's a dragon slaying hero here...a bearded warrior who was buried in honor? And the tomb has been lost to the snows.
Rolvark ponders over the murals with the Mammoth Hide scroll that he purchased back in Whitethrone and concurs with his companions observations"Mostly right Guinfa. The other people must have painted their faces white to honor the white bearded warrior...and have now become the snowmask clan as we know now. And Malik, you are right. The shadowlodge could very well be after a legendary weapon. I wish I knew what they know about it..."
|
|
The next day, Rolvark crouches down at the mouth of the gorge where Malik points out the tracks
"The tracks are humanoid in nature...but they only go a few feet into the gorge before it turns around? Curious...and over there, the partially eaten remains of a large saber-toothed tiger...Odd"
Rolvark moves over to examine the dead tiger
|
|
Dean is extremely disappointed that the cave-in hindered any further attempts to seek for the artefact down that path, but recognizing failure he soon follows the rest when the leave the cave.
And again, Dean sneaks up by Rolvark trying to take a peek of what he has seen, "Tiger? Where? I don't see anything!"
|
|
Rolvark kneels by the tiger and after a quick examination, looks up to his companions "This tiger was likely killed by a stampede. See here, the multiple abarasions and broken bones from multiple angles...I think it might be wise to avoid this gorge. We might end up like this tiger should a stampede or avalanche occur."
Creatures: At the time of the collapse, a small pack of dinosaurs from below had come up into the cave, exploring for small prey among the fungi in this cavern. The cave-in trapped them in the tunnel, where they now rest. They fear leaving the warmth of the cave, and have subsisted only on the few small animals living among the fungus before the collapse, but are now extremely hungry and do not hesitate to attack the PCs
Rolvark studies the carcass of the lion, correctly surmising the cause of death. The others gather around as he urges against using this route and begins to look for another path. Shortly thereafter, he finds a clear path along the outside of the gorge and leads the rest of the team along the way. Just where the path rounds between two steep embankments, a band of Snowmask Clan Tribesman wait for you in plain sight.
A dozen Kellid warriors with painted faces stand vigilant in the center of the route. Although they are armed with axes and round, Ulfen-styled shields, their weapons are not drawn. At the head, a tall and powerfully-built figure with piercing eyes steps forward. As he approaches, his hands are held palm up until he is close enough for words. “I am Hiryla,”] he says in broken Common, his words flowing with a strange cadence that suggests that he is speaking words that were given to him by another to say. “You come with me… We must talk.”
|
|
Guinfa let his spiked gauntlet fall to the ground before approaching the woman, unarmed and palms up.
Maybe my friend is right, and we don't have an option. But before that, we would like to know where and why. he continues talking quickly, to avoid being interrupted or answered. But first of all let me be polite and introduce myself; I'm Guinfa M'lumbi, from Mwangi Expanse. Who I had the pleasure to talk with?
Despite Guinfa efforts to make a good first impresion, her words doesn't transmit as much good will as he wou8ld like, and his body continues giving the impression he's a famelic going to fall down not much later.