"Alright, so that's everyone but... Urrax. Fantastic. The one person who could get us out of here quickly, and he's nowhere to be found."
"Thanks, Krathok. ... Now that it doesn't hurt so much, it's damn cold up here. We've got to get down and find shelter somewhere. At least it's morning, so it should warm up a little."
Sitting up, you see that you are in the desolate, high mountains of the South. It is morning and the season is fall, so the temperature is about 25 F and you are at about 6,000ft.
Orion's wings unfurl and he lands on the ground with little effort. He grasped for his companions instinctively, but there were none within reach.
Fort save temp
Fort save Altitude
After having his wounds mended by Krathok, Kjolmar sits up stiffly, thanking the half-orc through the collective. He looks around at the landscape, trying to find a landmark to determine their new location by.
I'll see if I can find a cave or something for us to hole up in while we figure out what to do.
Perception
Survival
"There is probably a cave in the nearby ridge, but it'll take time to get there."
"I'm gonna get higher, t'see if I know where we are." With that said, Kjolmar climbs a nearby tree to get a better view.
Krathok looks to the others for guidance, he is a survivor - but gauges that the others will have more skill in discerning how best to go about it in the cold.
You set off for the highest of the nearby peaks surrounding you. After an hour of hiking, you are off of the snow in the valley and into the relatively clear and barren rock of the surrounding peaks. After another hour, you reach the crest of the ridge and can look over at the other side.
You see more of the same empty terrain that surrounds you stretching out to the high mountains on the horizon.
[ooc]Orion:
Kjolmar:
Fort - Cold: and
Fort - Alt: and
Perception:
Krathok points out the distant plume of smoke to the others.
Cold
altitude
After the first hour, Quodak seems much more tired, but pushes through nevertheless.
"We n-need a f-fire. And q-quick. We'll f-freeze to d-death out h-here if w-we don't m-make one. And a sh-shelter too."
Moredrel keeps moving, not seeming to bothered by the cold or altitude.
"We'll need something to burn. Not a lot of that up on the ridge lines. Unless Kjolmar's got a better idea where we are, we should head for the smoke. Keep moving until we find something. Try to stay down in the valleys when we can. It's easier to breathe and even the snow can be some shelter."
"We should head to the caves and quickly. "
After heading to the highest point and looking around, Kjolmar comes back to the group. "Aye, headin' to the smoke'll be our best choice fer livin', as there ain't much to burn in these parts. Hope none'a you was too fond a that warm weather." He says with a grin. "Anyhoo, I don' know where we are precisely, but we still got a job to do. We can fin' out whether tha' smoke belongs to friend or foe, but afore long we'll be needin' to set off south, to be makin' it to the dragon's kin afore his enemies do."
"Let's get to those caves Orion mentioned, eh? We can decide what to do after we get some rest."
"I don't see anything else we can do. Keep moving as long as we can. See if we can find the caves or any other shelter along the way. Maybe dig into the snow if we get desperate."
"Let's get to those caves Orion mentioned, eh? We can decide what to do after we get some rest."
"It'll take a couple of hours, but I don't see a better option."
Orion leads the way towards the ridge that probably has a cave or two in it.
You find a single cave in the rocks, which winds back a ways into the hillside. Inside the cave it is slightly warmer, but still cold, you will have to find some sort of way to warm up, magical or otherwise.
In the back of the cave, you find two old bodies essentially mummified by the dry and the cold. The first is a half-orc dressed in layers of fur and armor with a thick reddish fur cloak. He does not seem to have any weapons, but carries a large bronze object shaped like a flaming axe.
The second body lies at the opposite side of the cavern and is a dwarf clad in armor of a strange dull grey material streaked and coated with red. When touched, the armor crumbles into pieces. He too has furs and lying just outside his dead grasp is a warhammer made of the same dull grey material, and with strange designs carved on the head.
Perception:
Looking over the bodies, Krathok's immediate eyes are drawn to the furs... furs that would retain heat. Noticing the bronzed axe symbol he points and speaks "Ramlor" passing on to the collective Half-Orc was in worship.
"Something has lived here, on and off, but less lately. Hopefully, it will not return tonight. We have little choice."
"Neither his prayers nor the furs saved them. Still, maybe the furs can help us. There is magic in the cloak and the hammer. I will see what it is."
Perception
"Something lives here. We should keep watches. If it comes back we can kill it and eat it." Orion says determined
Survival
"If we don't warm up we're going to die. As harsh as it sounds we need something to burn. The landscape is desolate and the bodies are dry and mummified." Orion looks at the group waiting for them to come to the same conclusion he has.
Quodak, too will look for things to burn.
"The cloak will help whoever is suffering worst from the cold. We can pass it around as needed.
He'll also describe the rest of what he learned.
** spoiler omitted **
Orion takes the cloak and says "I'll go collect what I can find to burn. Bundle up and I'll be right back."
After removing all items from the bodies Orion puts one near the entrance so the smoke will go out of the cave instad of in and the other he sets back to keep it dry for use when the first is spent. He concentrates on the bodies a moment and snaps his fingers (spark). If they're as dry as I think they are the one by the entrance should sputter to life and begin to burn slowly (bodies are dense even when mummified).
Wearing the cloak he then walks out into the cold to gather what firewood he can.
Krathok stays in the cave, salvaging a coat of furs from the half-orc - further shielding him from the cold.
The bodies do ignite and provide a fire, albeit with a large amount of particularly foul, oily smoke. With the combination of the fire, the furs and the interior of the cave retaining heat, you are just warm enough to rest comfortably.
Presumably;
Orion returns with an armful of scraggly scrubbrush that he places in the cave to keep dry and use as fuel as needed.
SInce he's wearing the cloak Orion is unfazed by the cold. Orion survey's the room to see if anyone is is bad shape, thus could make better use of the cloak than he. With his wings Orion is not sure if a cold weather outfit will fit him or do him much good with his wings.
Kjolmar wishes he had something to eat as he hunkers down, helping to build the fire when that's being done. He eyes the warhammer often, but doesn't make a move to take it. He hasn't been trained in it's use before, and another of the group might put it to use against their enemies.
Unless someone has specific need (like they're frost bitten) Orion will hang onto the cloak. He has some mechanical issues with wearing cold weather gear due to his wings.