Talsune, the copper dragonkin on the council, speaks up. "We'll get you past the foothills, so most of your travel will be over rolling tundra," he states. "Near Ivoryglass you'll hit some hills again, but it shouldn't be anything that takes ropes."
"I will make certain a map is ready for you before you depart, and that the patrols are informed of your appearance before you leave." Commander Pharamol adds. "If your spellcasters cannot cast a message spell you can take a scroll from our stores. Mundane supplies we can share easily with you."
He nods at Nevra, and she says, "As seneschal I can show you our stores when you are preparing to leave."
At this moment a ryphorian carrying a cage with a large, two-headed eagle comes up the stairs. "Here he is," Commander Pharamol comments. "He's become something of a mascot here, but after all you've done for us you're quite welcome to him. That said, he's going to be a bit awkward to transport. Since you're returning this way, perhaps it would be easier to leave him here and pick him up when you come back?"
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Fin rises and bows to their hosts. ”Your assistance is greatly appreciated. And yes, seeing the key, I think it would be better to pick it up on our way back. When should we be ready to depart for Ivoryglass?”
Looking to Quasit, Fin asks, ”Q, do you think we should visit the hut on the way to Ivoryglass? Didn’t know if there’s anything we might need from that interstellar merchant we met…or if we should just wait to see what loot we might find from Ivoryglass and do it all then?”
She scooted closer to Fin and held his arm. When he turned to look at her, she looked up at him, into his deep eyes, and smiled. "I'm a little scared about facing that dragon but I'm sure it will be fine. But maybe you might not want too much of that awful drink they keep giving you."
Fin looks down, trying to give a reassuring smile. ”Anyone not scared of an old white isn’t playing with a full deck…but we’ll figure it out, Hlao-roo, no worries…it’s what we do…
“But that awful drink is growing on me…just gonna take one wineskin of it…for medicinal purposes only…”
"That's the key?!" Kalchine says as he sees the eagle that has been a part of the scenery so long here at the keep he doesn't even note it's odd appearance or presence, any longer.
"I can help with the cold and the trek," Kalchine says then pause.
"That is, if I may continue to act as liaison for our off world visitors, Commander?" he asks. "I believe that their mission is still important to our own success and that it is more likely to be successful with a native to guide them.
"Assuming, of course, that they want Chest Thumper and me to go with them," he says, looking to the "group" (though really just one member) for confirmation.
In either case, he looks into the chest of goods. "You should take the armor, Bulvi. Though it wouldn't interfere with my magics, it would with my movements.
[b]"And you should consider taking Rimeblade, as well. I'm honored to carry it, but you can likely put it to better use than I can."
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"Yes, I agree, the key will be safe enough here for now. We trust you."
”Q, do you think we should visit the hut on the way to Ivoryglass? Didn’t know if there’s anything we might need from that interstellar merchant we met…or if we should just wait to see what loot we might find from Ivoryglass and do it all then?”
Quasit seems hesitant. "Well... if there's something specific someone wanted to acquire. I guess it would depend how out of the way we'd have to go. Personally I don't think we need to. Unless... you don't suppose that fella carries dragon slaying arrows, do ya?"
"Assuming, of course, that they want Chest Thumper and me to go with them,"
Once she understands what Kalchine has asked, Quasit concurs immediately. "Absolutely. His skills will be an enormous help. It's like he and Chest Thumper are part of the team already."
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"Assuming, of course, that they want Chest Thumper and me to go with them," he says, looking to the "group" (though really just one member) for confirmation.
Fin smiles warmly as he gives the Triaxian a hearty slap on the back. ”Aye, my friend, Q is right; it’s like you and Chest Thumper are already a part of us…”
Quasit seems hesitant. "Well... if there's something specific someone wanted to acquire. I guess it would depend how out of the way we'd have to go. Personally I don't think we need to. Unless... you don't suppose that fella carries dragon slaying arrows, do ya?"
Fin nods. ”Aye, that’d be nice…but Yrax is an old white…I think the older dragons have much sturdier protections against magic like that opposed to the younger ones…I’d hate to pay that much for one when it might not work…
“Perhaps we could just send him a wish list now for any items we might to purchase when we get back from Ivoryglass…that way, perhaps when we summoned him, he’d already have the items as we travel to our next destination…”
"Well we aren't that far from Cluckers. We could haul all the stuff back."
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Fin shrugs. ”I’m gonna use that figurine and send a wish list of some items I want, depending on how much additional loot we get at Ivoryglass…”
He sends Zilvasa…whatever his name is…a wishlist of the following items:
Trade-in his magical bow for one like it but with the Adaptive and Impervious qualities (a 4,000 gp difference I think) added
Trade in his Belt of Dexterity for a Belt of Physical Might (+2 DEX/+2 STR) a 6,000 gp difference)
An amulet of natural armor +1 (2,000 gp)
Vest of Escape (5,200 gp)
Quick Runners’s Shirt (1,000 gp)
"That is, if I may continue to act as liaison for our off world visitors, Commander?" he asks. "I believe that their mission is still important to our own success and that it is more likely to be successful with a native to guide them.
"You have my permission, Kalchine," Commander Pharamol replies. "It will be wise to have you with them. Though it will require a solution to the issue of carrying your companion. I would suggest spending today resting and preparing supplies, and by the morrow we should have something for Chest Thumper."
Indeed, the next morning a leatherworker presents a sling of sorts that could be used to carry the big ape, with the aid of four dragonkin. Assuming Chest Thumper can be convinced to endure using such a contraption, nothing keeps you from flying out of Spurhorn via dragonkin now.
"I have a solution for that," Kalchine answers before the leatherworkers and dragonkin get to work.
The next day, he shows up, apparently by himself and Chest Thumper is nowhere to be seen.
If anyone asks about him, Kalchine pulls out a tiny stone figure that fits in his palm. It appears to be made out of ivory and looks very much like a sitting frost ape.
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Quasit will drag Kalchine along to the provisioners, bag of holding in hand. "OK, language lessons begin today. I want to start learning some words in Triaxian. I think I'm starting to pick up a few words just listening to the back and forth between you and the others here. But you can help me learn the names of things as we stock up on them."
Kalchine doesn't mind being drug along or giving lessons. He points out objects along the way and translates them for Quasit. He also gives some instruction on how the grammar is different telling what he thinks is an amusing anecdote regarding the differences in the past perfect tenses between the two languages.
"It's always good to have supplies, but as long as everyone stays close to Chest Thumper, you don't have to worry about the cold, too much," he says as they get gear.
"Of course, this is a war and...the worst could always happen and we might need to deal with the cold without him."
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Fin relaxes the rest of the day, spending it in the baths and with Sakitu, drinking the swill as he ponders their upcoming journey to Ivoryglass…and how they might overcome an old white dragon, not to mention its minions…
The next morning, he awakens very early after his two hours sleep, goes through his monk forms, takes target practice, and then washes off with a very quick soak in the baths…
Feeling refreshed he heads back to their quarters, gathers his gear while awaiting his friends to awake…and then reports with them for their flight, after filling his wineskin with the fermented lichen…
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Kalchine doesn't mind being drug along or giving lessons. He points out objects along the way and translates them for Quasit. He also gives some instruction on how the grammar is different telling what he thinks is an amusing anecdote regarding the differences in the past perfect tenses between the two languages.
Grammar jokes falls a bit short on Quasit, but she smiles politely at alien humor and gives a forced chuckle when appropriate. The young rogue for the most part has a pretty good memory for the proper nouns, but has a harder time with nuances like single vs plural and the tenses of verbs. Like many new language speakers as well, she's able to make good guesses at what some conversations around her are about, but is more hesitant at formulating her own statements or questions.
Still, she seems to be enjoying the process, and has her own bits of silly humor when the sounds of words strike her as funny or remind her of a word from her home language.
"It's always good to have supplies, but as long as everyone stays close to Chest Thumper, you don't have to worry about the cold, too much," he says as they get gear.
Quasit chuckles. "Speak for yourself. I'm not fuzzy like you guys. Look at me in this arctic get-up--wrapped up tight as an Ascension Day goose and I still feel like that wind is ripping through me."
"Of course, this is a war and...the worst could always happen and we might need to deal with the cold without him."
Quasit's eyes narrow a little. "Yeah, I suppose." she answers vaguely. She quickly changes the subject. "You know, it's funny. I suppose I should be terrified about wandering off to break into the ice fortress of an ancient white dragon, but I'm honestly dreading the walk there and the camping in the cold a lot more. I suppose it's because with Maka and Findurel around, nothing seems impossible, and we've already faced down a lot of horrible stuff. I'll tell you this though, I'm pretty excited to see what a Triaxian dragon keeps in his secret hoard!"
"No, no, I mean it literally. Chest Thumper is special. I'm sure everyone says that about their friends and siblings but my mentor and I performed a ritual on him when he and I were young. It was partially a training exercise to help me see the nature of winter and what cold truly means," Kalchine says.
"You do have to stay close, 15 feet or so, but as long as you do, you'll be as comfortable in the cold as I am," he continues.
He frowns thoughtfully, his ears drooping. "You know, I just realized, she might have done it to make herself comfortable in the cold since it didn't really help me."
He shakes the thought off but still has a somber look on his face. "I'm sure it will be the best of all the treasures he's plundered from his domain and victories."
The dragonkin are grateful to not have to carry Chest Thumper.
The Dragon Legion dragonkin take you two days' flight out from Spurhorn before they tell you that there are Drakelanders watching ahead and have to turn back, to leave you to travel on foot. The terrain here is most made up of hardy grasses that poke up through the omnipresent thin layer of snow, with strange tree-like plants growing in small clumps here and there. The elevation rolls gently, with the occasional stream that manages to flow in spite of the cold in the lower areas.
After another day of marching, you see something off in the distance. A small figure, chased by a couple of larger creatures. As they draw closer, you can see the larger creatures are some sort of vaguely insectoid monsters.
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Once they hit land, Fin brushes his lips against Sakitu’s, casts blend, and then does his scout thing, roughly 30’ ahead of his friends…he repeats this each day that are traveling…
Upon hearing Quasit’s query on the second day, he quietly awaits her approach and answers, although he keeps his eyes on the chase. ”Those insect creatures are chasing a furry humanoid with a long snout that I’m not familiar with…maybe it’s canine or lupine? Perhaps Kalchine knows. Looking at the combatants, I’m inclined to help the furry creature…your call, Q…”
Kalchine thanks the Dragonkin that bore him and waves as the flight takes off. Before they start to march, he removes the tiny Chest Thumper figurine from the thong he was wearing around his neck, places it in the snow then touches it and concentrates.
The figure grows and animates and the scowl on the frost ape's face indicates how much he enjoyed the experience. As does the way he pushes Kalchine into the snow and stalks off.
It takes a couple minutes for the triaxian to talk him down and get him going in the right direction.
But, his words to Quasit prove true. So long as the members of the group stay within 15' of Chest Thumper, their cold weather gear is unnecessary and they feel as warm as if they were covered in Kalchine's natural fur. Additionally, if they look behind them while they walk, they find that their tracks in the snow disappear as quickly as they are made.
Kalchine studies the horizon where Fin is pointing.
Then, tries to remember what the insectile creatures are and what they can do.
Kalchine thinks that the creatures are Ursikkas--massive, vaguely insectoid creatures with freezing-cold saliva. They're quite dangerous, and hunters that manage to bring one down are often regarded as highly skilled.
The person running from them is most likely an Adlet, one of the other native humanoid species of Triaxus. They're a fairly insular people for the most part, distrustful of the rhyphorians and too stubbornly independant to bow the knee to dragon warlords. From what his old friend told him, they look rather like humanoid winter wolves to natives of Golarion, and they thrive in the coldest parts of Triaxus.
Fin's arrow seems to strike home, but given that the adlet is running roughly towards the party, there's not a lot of difference between the ursikkas chasing the adlet and charging Fin.
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”Brace yourselves they’re coming in hot…gonna be a tough fight…concentrate on one of’em if you can…Maka, light up the one I shot…”
Fin unleashes a barrage of cold iron at the one he injured before…
To Hit Mods: BAB+Dex, Magic, Weapon Focus, Deadly Aim, Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot, Point Blank Shot, Clustered Shots, Manyshot, Rapid Shot
Damage Mods: Magic, Strength, Deadly Aim
There is a war going on so Kalchine respects people with a "shoot first, identify creatures later" mentality.
He does share his knowledge of the creatures involved in the chase with the group, however.
He then casts a spell of protection on Chest Thumper, ready to take on some of the Frost Ape's suffering.
Selena melts into the snow and moves so any who run towards the group will run past her, then she makes sure she looks natural and prepares to trip any who get within reach by grabbing their feet.
In a burst of flames Maka shot forward. Leaping over Fin, she kicked a ball of flames at one of the insectoid creatures before gracefully landing in a defensive position in front of the elf.
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Sakitu's heart starts racing and she steps close to Fin while keeping her eyes on the approaching enemies. Arrows fly from Fin's bow. As always he is able to fire off so many arrows so quickly. Sakitu is amazed. As soon as a flurry is unleashed, she gets his attention. "Here, let me help." She touches the bow and imbues it with cold energy. After the spell completes, she keeps ahold of his arm.
Bulvi barrels past Fin sending snow flying as he moves up to stand beside Maka... unlike her his advance was not so much graceful as inexorable, Kalchine had been right about the armour not slowing him down once he got used to it. He found it a little more flexible.
Fin's arrows do some more damage to one of the big insect-like creatures, but they continue to close on the Adlet, who for their part seems to be redoubling their efforts to flee. In spite of that it doesn't look like they'll reach you before the monsters reach them.
Kalchine moves closer to the chase. He calms Chest Thumper, restraining him with just a hand on his arm to keep him from charging into the fight.
"Just a little closer, friends and I might be able to slow them down or perhaps stop them."
Flames shot from behind Maka as she continued to jet across the snow and ice. "Get behind me!" Maka yelled in draconic at the wolf like humanoid as she neared.
Bulvi was left in the melted snow and steam as Maka jetted off towards the enemy. Looking over towards Quasit he huffed. "If she's going to run off like that maybe we should buy some horses..."
One of the insectoid beasts staggers under Fin's barrage, though it doesn't fall in spite of the number of arrows now protruding from its chitinous hide. The adlet rushes towards you, but the uninjured ursikka lunges forward to catch her, heedless of the flames it charges through to do so.
It nips her, but she twists and avoids both the worst of its mandibles and the dripping liquid that spatters to the ground from its mouth.
Kalchine edges closer to the fight and calls upon the powers of his frozen world to cloud the mind and body of the less injured, more aggressive ursikka.
He gives a nod to Chest Thumper.
The snow around Maka's feet melted and turned to steam and she continued to shoot forward. Sliding underneath the large insectoid, Maka blasted it's underside with flames as she moved to flank the creature.
Selena continues under the snow as a puddle of snow, bringing up the rear of the forward group. Much in the rear (speed of 10, double moving)
Bulvi moves to intercept the lead enemy as it bursts through the wall of fire.
The ursikka proves surprisingly resilient against the attempts to fascinate and paralyze it, but Fin's arrows and Maka's flames injure it terribly. Bulvi fails to penetrate its chitin with his blade, but the Adlet turns and stabs upwards with her spear.
Already wavering on its many legs, the insectoid beast shrieks in pain as the spear finds joints in its organic armor. The last thrust of the spear pierces its chest, and it topples to the ground and shudders one last time before its legs curl up in death. The other ursikka, already near death, turns from the wall of flame and flees the scene.
The adlet lets out a relieved sigh, her breath frosting the air, before looking at the party. She gives you a half-bow, hands spread out at her sides (though one still holds her spear), and speaks in Triaxian
"Strangers. You have given me my life. But I must ask, what seek you here in these lands?"