Harlan stands near the fire, opening his winter clothes to allow the heat in faster.
"That was certainly interesting Maeve, I didn't think we were going to make it for a while there."
Malnival takes off his wet clothes and changes quickly into his spair set. "That was not something I would want to do again soon."
Ulf shrugs to Maeve's question. "If all goes well, we should see a few storms along the way, but hopefully in better places. A little snow I can handle; I was more concerned we would get caught in the high pass. Now, we shouldn't have to cross any mountains until we reach the Wall of Heaven."
"Uh, what's the Wall of Heaven Ulf?"
Don't like the sound of that.
"Uh, what's the Wall of Heaven Ulf?"
"Another mountain range on the far side of the Crown. It will be the last significant terrain we need to cross to get to Tian Xia."
"Damned mountains. Not enough air up here." Parity grumbles.
The storm abates during the night, and in the morning you are greeted to an amazing view of a white-washed world. Beyond the foothills to the north, you see a wide expanse, largely featureless even without the snowy blanket. It is so vast and flat, it looks like the sea, but the waves of wind-swept snow are still.
Ulf gathers the group around the morning campfire. "We have our first decision before us. These hills are the Giant-Downs of Urjuk, an ancestral land for the giant-folk. Most left centuries ago for southern climes, but there are still a few hermits and the like. We should be cautious."
"Once we leave the hills, we can choose one of two routes. Normally, the Path runs to the northwest, through the Erutaki lands of Hasanaliat, skirting the Bearleg Lakes and Gaarjuk Hills, then through Hoarwell March to reach the town of Unaimo, the last major trading village this side of the High Ice."
"Now, this route is easier and generally faster, but its also more populated. Caravans along the Path aren't common, and we'll get even more notice because it's off-season. Understanding your 'situation', there could be unfriendly eyes to see us."
"The other option is to go off the primary route and through the Gaarjuk Hills. It cuts off a wide bend to the west, and we'd avoid 'civilized' areas, but the terrain is more rugged, and we won't reach resupply until Iqaliat, a town on the far side."
"What do you think?"
"We're low on supplies and need to repair some damage from that last attack. I say we take the popular route. We may draw attention but the whole idea is our enemies aren't looking here right now. We'll be across the Wall of Heaven before they notice us."
"We're low on supplies ...
I'm thinking the road less travelled?
Maeve frowns thoughtfully, looking down at her feet. "Neither of them seems like a great choice. On the other hand, if supplies really are short we need to make this trip as fast as possible to the nearest center of civilization - or what passes for it up here. There's no guarantee anything but the largest settlements will have anything to spare at this time of year."
"Did we lose supplies in the blizzard? I'm no math whiz, but we should be able to make it to this Iqaliat, correct? And the whole idea of coming across here now is to gain strategic surprise, which all goes for naught if we run across one Jade Emperor scout on that path. We shouldn't take the risk for the sake of a bit of food."
Harlan taps his stomach thoughtfully.
"Well...how far is it to Iqaliat? We can make it a little over 600 miles, about 2 weeks worth of food."
Ulf thinks for a moment. "You've outfitted this caravan nicely for speed. With the alternate route, we could reach Iqualiat in twelve, thirteen days, assuming no major delays. The main route in twenty."
"Great! We'll cut through the wilderness then!" Maeve practically bounces on her feet in a way that would be impossible without her magical boots on this snow.
Malnival shrugs. "You seen one human village you seen them all."
Dates: 2-8 Neth 4711
Route: Crown of the World (Rimethirst Mountains -> Gaarjuk Hills)
Distance: 275 miles (Total: ~1115 miles)
Weather: Intermittent snow
Special Events: Rough Terrain, Giant Guardian, Wrecked Caravan
*
Dates: 2-4 Neth 4711
As you set out from the mountain cul-de-sac, the accumulated snow proves to be a minor obstacle. With expert trailblazing and a little effort, you minimize the lost time, but it still takes three days to clear the deepest drifts.
Once you are away from the mountains, the snow disperses into windblown drifts, with enough open space between to easily bypass. The hard, tundra ground is rocky but flat, and you resume a good pace. Throughout the week, passing snowstorms continue, but none close to the strength of the blizzard. The air is cold, but moderately so, only made worse by the constant cutting wind, blowing unimpeded across the tundra plains.
The other noticable change, as you drive further north, is the dramatic shortening of daylight. So close to the pole, and with the onset of winter, the sun reaches its zenith about a quarter the way into the sky. To make time, Ulf starts the caravan each day in the pre-dawn twilight, and goes until well after sundown.
*
Dates: 2 Neth 4711
As you descend out of the mountain pass and into the tundra, you begin to notice that the low hills around you are uncannily symmetrical and ordered.
"There are no straight lines in nature," Ulf comments. "They are giant barrows of old Urjuk. Stay close to the path."
Around mid-day, Shalelu points out a tall figure hiding in the shadow of one barrow. It stands stock still, and at this distance, you cannot tell if it is living or dead. By comparison to the barrow, you guess it is well over two humans in height.
*
Dates: 8 Neth 4711
Among the desolate Gaarjuk Hills, you find an abandoned, broken-down caravan, consisting of three wagons. Nearby are the long-since dead remains of its former drivers or passengers.
Malnival's eyes shine and a slight grin crosses his face as he looks at the hills. "Giant barrows of old Urjuk? Really you don't say."
Malnival searches the caravan attempting to figure out what killed them.
The remains have been worked over by scavengers, so there's little more than skeletons left. A couple are severely mangled, however, and look like they were mauled by something large... with claws.
"I'm sure we should follow Ulf's advice and leave them alone. We've little time as it is. That fellow there doesn't look like he'd want us to go digging through them anyway."
"Well, some of these supplies we can sell in the next town, that'll make for a nice profit and we have the space."
"Not sure what happened here, but these wagons aren't in good shape."
"Probably killed by a giant guardian" Parity replies sarcastically.
"Do we want to ensure that it doesn't follow us to our next campsite?"
"If we just ignore it, it will go away," Ameiko suggests. "I'd hate to cause certain trouble in the hope to avoid possible trouble."
Maeve gives Ameiko a slightly weird look, but doesn't protest with more than a shrug. "Okay,"
Maeve gives Ameiko a slightly weird look, but doesn't protest with more than a shrug. "Okay,"
Ameiko raises an eyebrow, giving Maeve an amused grin. "What is it?"
"...nothing, I guess you guys are right. I just kind of wanted to see it up close, is all." Maeve shrugs again. Well, at least she didn't go running off...
|
Heng stares at the towering form for a long while. "Ogres are bad enough. I do not think that all giants are evil, but now is not the time to test that theory," he notes to Maeve.
Perception
Heal
Heng replies to Parity, "I think a giant would have pounded them flat. They were ripped by claws though I cannot say by what."
Parity's demeanor gets serious, "Claws, eh? Predators may still be in the area, and may again be hungry ... let's be wary."
Malnival shakes his head, but his eyes sparkle. "I thought you were all adventurers. Who knows what magic may be beneath those hills. What magic we may find. We will need to be strong and prepaired when we assist our friend Ameiko retake her family throne."
Malnival shrugs, Well, dosen't seem to be much we can do here. Did anyone find anything that may identify them?
Malnival shrugs, Well, dosen't seem to be much we can do here. Did anyone find anything that may identify them?
Ulf spends a few minutes looking over the wreckage and skeletons, ultimately shaking his head in the negative. "The only thing I can say for sure is they were part of a larger caravan. The rest probably fled for safety."
"Difficult to say... If there are, they left. This wreckage has been here several weeks or months."
"Nothing we can do now it would seem. We are waisting daylight.
"I told you, stay on the road," Ulf glowers. "Trouble will find us, we don't need to go looking for it."
Route: Crown of the World (Gaarjuk Hills)
Distance: 308 miles (Total: ~1423 miles)
Weather: Cold and calm
Special Events: Lost Lake, Ambush, Tribal Camp
Into the second month of the journey, the mystery of the open road has certainly worn off. Now, well over a week since you last saw a village of any sort, you feel truly isolated in the vast wilderness. The weather stays cold but clear, with the deep, cerulean sky seemingly closer and closer. The days continue to grow noticably shorter, though the twilight at dawn and dusk lengthens.
Your companions take the long days of travel differently. Shalelu seems in her element, as comfortable amidst the deep wilds as if she were born here. Ulf, too, because he knows the route. Ameiko has said very little in general since you left Kalsgard, though she consistently practices her samisen to liven the boring hours. Sandru seems determined, but makes fewer jokes and quips than usual. Lastly, Koya seems enlivened, as if the road has shed ten years from her life. She is often the first to wake, ever busy with the chores, and her eyes shine at any mention of the way ahead.
Ulf's lead takes you through the Gaarjuk Hills, rolling scrub hills sparsely covered with copses of short pines. You see no people, but pass herds of elk, caribou, and reindeer. On the fourth day in the hills, you crest a ridge to find a massive lake in the valley ahead. The water is crystal clear and smooth as glass, the edges frozen to smooth ice. Your path circles around its western shore, then following a tributary river on the north corner.
*
Date: 10 Neth 4711
Ulf mentions a small Erutaki village called Rimakak, which lies not far off the planned route. Though only a few dozen souls, he thinks you may be able to pick up some supplies and news. You find Rimakak at the foot of a waterfall from a northern river flowing into the lake. As you near, however, it becomes quickly apparent that the place is deserted. As you get closer, you can see several of the huts are ruined - burned out or collapsed. Nothing moves but for a wind-blown animal skin, flapping in a tanning rack.
"One of those huts is occupied, I believe. Something is banging around in it. En garde."
"Alright, let's check it out. Keep your eyes open for supplies while we move in, without this village we're going to be hard pressed to survive out here."
"It is about time we decided to be adventurers, though I doubt anything of use can be found here."
"What would you call that business in Kalsgrad?" Maeve asks Mal as she springs into action.
"Survival my dear, survival." Malnival draws his scimitar as he moves towards the hut.
You move into the ruined village, following Parity's lead towards the sounds. As you approach the huts along the shoreline, the rest of you begin to hear the noises. From a hut just ahead, you hear a clatter and crash, as if an animal is thrashing about. When you are about fifty feet away, however, the noise abruptly stops. Then, through a hole in the roof, a large hideous head pokes through to peer at you. This giant has pale green, scaled skin and bulging pale eyes. On either side of its neck are slotted gills.
The thing breaks and flees, running out the side of the house and for the water. As it comes into view, you can see it stands near twelve feet tall, and has webbed hands and feet. It moves quickly, with its long legs, and is halfway to the water before you react.
"Let's get 'em ... too long since I killed something, and he doesn't look friendly."