DM NomadSage's Jade Regent - The Hungry Storm (Inactive)

Game Master nomadicc

Maeve pauses at that, again, then just bounces over to help get the last of the ale out.

Malnival nods his head in thanks to Firinthal as he looks at the spindle.
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

Refresh my memory on Skygni?

"Well...that's very nice of you to say, but don't you have family? Also, and I don't want to seem rude here, but are you really a talking wolf? Because that's amazing!"

He's the wolf you released/healed from the Ravenscraeg dungeons.

"Yes, I can speak. I am not an animal," the wolf sighs. "I have no pack. Kimandatsu killed my pack three years ago, when she abducted me. I was a pup, and now I've got the stink of humankind about me. None would take me in."

Found it. Almost a year ago. Nice doggy don't bite me.

"Well, you're welcome to come with us. Maybe you can teach Mal to hunt, we haven't had fresh goat in a long time. We can be your new family."

Maybe I could...no, it's rude to ride friends.

Maeve returns with what is left of the alcohol. "Well, I don't know about Mal's hunting skills, but we'll certainly welcome anyone who doesn't mind ending up seeing the rest of the world, or however much of it you care to experience coming with us."

"I must admit, fighting alongside a companion such as you is a first. Different, but quite effective. A toast to you, comrade." Parity raises his mug.

The elf frowns at the halfling and shakes his head. "I have been trained by one of the finest hunters in Crying Leaf, I will have you know. But it is always good to learn other techniques."

Maeve shakes her head and stage-whispers to Mal. "Think we should tell him about what happened to all the goats?"

Skygni blinks again, "That would please me." He lies down by Harlan's feet.

"Well then, that's decided!"

Harlan busies himself cleaning up camp. When morning comes he will cook up a warm meal for everybody before healing any remaining wounds.

"Let's be off then, yes?"

Not sure if there's more elven conversation to be had but I figured we can always work that in flex while we travel yes?

You leave behind the dome the next day. A few hours later, you start a rapid descent down from the glacier, and by the time you make camp, you are finally off the High Ice. The high walls of ice still surround you on all sides, but you are sheltered in the valley of Ruun Uvas, a massive basin cut away by sub-glacial hot springs.

The travel is trouble free and just the minor difference in view, after the weeks atop the featureless glacier, makes a huge difference in morale. At the end of the week, you reach the village of Ul-Angorn, the first stop from the High Ice along the Path of Aganhei. It rests on the shores of the Saltsea Lake, a wide expanse of unfrozen water.

*

New Year
Date: 1 Abadius 4712

As you start to break camp, Ameiko looks up from her journal. "Hey everybody... happy new year!" She gives the night sky an ironic glance.

Hoped to get this a few weeks ago, but close enough! =)

Approaching Ul-Angorn

"Some of the wagons are hanging on by twine and boards," Sandru mentions. "This might be a good place to hold up for a while to rest and repair... and resupply."

"Damn straight we're stopping here ... hot bath and restocking of booze is in order."

Heng smiles faintly at Parity's remark, "Yes, it will be good to be back among the living."

Ul-Angorn is an Erutaki village of over six-hundred souls, about five times bigger than Iqaliat and more accommodating to caravans along the route. Although it is off-season, they have an inn of sorts, two taverns, and a general supply store. Fish from the lake is the primary (only) food source this time of year.

Maeve giggles. "At this point, I don't care. Time to get drunk as hell and forget everything, right?" Then she sighs. "....right, tonight. Gotta fix the wagons and make sure we're in good shape today."

Malnival grins at the others comments. "When is the last time we stayed somewhere besides a tent? Really I can't remember."

"I think it'll be good to rest here a few days, this crossing hasn't exactly been easy and the wagons are going to need a break. I'll want to acquire more food and we'll see if they want to buy any of our excess knick knacks."

"Right. Let's just take the rest of the day off then."

No major events planned, so chime in if there's anything you want to do in town.

Parity wants to sleep in a bed for like 3 days. Take several baths and generally enjoy some semblance of civilization.

When was the last gold split?

"I have few needs." Heng states as the caravan enters the village. "What yet lies ahead, Ulf? Anything specific we might provision to facilitate the remainder of our journey?"

The quiet monk surveys the local market and smiles slightly. "Do you know many fish recipes, Harlan?"

Well, Maeve is pretty much getting drumk, putting on performances every night, and basically running as wild as a small-time town like this will allow.

"What yet lies ahead, Ulf? Anything specific we might provision to facilitate the remainder of our journey?"

Ulf shakes his head, "Nothing new, anyway. We will pass a few villages in the Erutaki lands, like Jaagiin here, and more as we head south. Supplies should not be a problem." Ulf takes a moment to mark out points ahead on the map.

"With the High Ice behind us, the worst is over with. But we still have five-hundred miles of winter tundra and the Wall of Heaven mountains to cross. Normally we would use Altan Zuud Pass to do that, but I cannot say what the conditions will be there this time of year." He shrugs. "We were lucky getting across the Rimethirsts before winter set in, but we might be trapped this side until the spring thaw."

EDIT: Updated CotW map sent.

Maeve frowns a bit at that news. "Don't suppose there's a foot-pass that might be more traversible this time of year? I know we'd have to abandon the wagons, but we might think about doing that in Ordu-Aganhei anyway."

Bear in mind, Maeve's an acrobat of amazing skill and her boots mean she doesn't have to worry about much of the 'difficult terrain.' Her idea of 'passable' isn't likely to match those of the rest of the party. Or anyone who isn't Batman, for that matter.

"I am sure you have the best and safest path planned for us Ulf. Now, about this town, is there a local shaman or wizard of any note here that my have supplies more to our licking?"

Maeve frowns a bit at that news. "Don't suppose there's a foot-pass that might be more traversible this time of year? I know we'd have to abandon the wagons, but we might think about doing that in Ordu-Aganhei anyway"

"I hear we have a blind man some where in this caravan. Walking down a treacherous foot path probably isn't the best option for him. Let's stick to the big routes."

"Oh sure, there's grilled, saute', poaching, baking, broiling, smoking, fish stew, fish chowder, or some people eat it raw. What kind of fish did you want?"

Maybe I could make a black bean fish chili?

"Cooked is good. Who eats raw fish? That sounds barbaric."

"Well, actually in Minkai there are a few delicacies served with raw fish."

"Grill it please ... I love the smell."

Skygni emits a low growl. "Raw."

Maeve chuckles at Skygni's request. "Personally, I'll pass on the food. No sense being more of a strain on the town's stores than need be."

Koya clears her throat gently and speaks to the group. "I may have an alternate way for us to cross the mountains. While studying the history of Desna's worship, I recall the mention of a necropolis built by a northern clan. They called Desna the 'Queen of the North Star', and excavated a passage through the Wall of Heaven, that their souls could follow her into the afterlife."

"A tunnel dedicated to Desna. I vote we pass. I have zero desire to tempt Lady Luck again."

"Well Maeve I've got a little money so I'll buy some fresh meat and we'll prepare a feast to celebrate our survival."

The slight smile that has graced the monk's face since reaching the village fades. "Necropolis? No offense to Desna or yourself, Koya. But I think we have had enough of the dead. Let us take the pass if it is possible."

"The tunnels." Maeve says quietly. "I have no desire to bring this caravan through a Five Storms death-trap, if the pass is even remotely usable."

I have spent enough time dead already, I do not need to spend time in a necropolis."

Koya shrugs, but seems taken aback by the negative responses. "Just a suggestion, if the passes are snowed in."

"Do not take offense, Tata. I am certain Desna watches over her followers' remains in the tunnel, but I thought I heard the ghost of the demon-spawn from the strange tower driving the frozen dead to attack us. If she still haunts us, I would not have her profane the passage to the Queen of the North Star."

*******

Later.

Heng helps with stocking the caravan and makes sure to ask if anyone in the village was tools or weapons to ward away evil spirits.

Maeve stops cold, staring at everyone around her with a completely horrified expression.

"Maeve? What's the matter?"

"...nothing. I just sort of thought I was the crazy one, and right now I'm seriously wondering if maybe I had that backwards the whole time."

"Nope, you got it right the first time."

"Care to elaborate?"

Harlan whistles as he moves through the village, picking out fish and asking after various methods of cooking it to his companions varied specifications.

"That one, and that one, and that one. What do you call that one? And it's supposed to be that color? Ok, we'll take two. How does this one taste raw? Well it smells horrible. No, my friend won't eat smelly fish, she's very particular."

"Care to elaborate?"

Maeve actually looks like she's seriously considering not after Parity's comment, but calms down. Mostly. She speaks in short, clipped words. "The pass is a death trap. Since we opened the box and didn't bother to cover our tracks earlier, the Five Storms know we're coming. Because they were watching, they almost certainly caught the effects of that little stunt Katiyana was trying to pull off. More to the point, if they were trying to watch the High Ice they can't possibly have missed the climax with all that magical energy being expended."

"They know where we were two months ago, and they know something big happened where we were a month ago. They're going to put two and two together and reason that even if the answer is actually five, betting on four is safer. So they know exactly how fast we can move, and have had more than enough time to get ready. They think we have to use the pass. Which is outside of Hon-la's borders. It's their last chance to intercept us openly before we're somewhere they have to be much more subtle."

"If the pass is open, it's going to be absolutely crawling with oni. More than we're ready for. If it's not, going there is at best a waste of time and at worst still potentially puts us close enough to the Five Storms, at a time of year when no one else is traveling mind, that they can physically identify our presence. There is absolutely no scenario where trying to take the pass makes the least bit of sense."

Losing a touch of his snarkiness, Parity actually listens to Maeve for a bit before he starts shaking his head, "If the oni can only see us when the box is open and don't have the requisite power to scry on us afterwards, why would we assume they could scry the entire northern ice shelf to catch one use of magic? While you may feel it was 'huge', in the grand scheme of worldwide events, it could easily go unnoticed by ... oh yeah ... everyone. If they do have the level of power to scry on us while the box is closed, it doesn't matter what decision we make now as they'll know. I find this unlikely and expect they have to rely on more mundane methods of tracking us. Maybe we send the wolf out behind us and see if there is anyone following." He ponders for a moment and then nods his head, satisfied.

"As for the necropolis, I have no problem with fighting the dead, myself. I even welcome it, since Pharasma would be pleased for us to end more of the abominations ... and I'm fairly certain no one will run to cry to mom if I kill her favorite one." Parity lets that linger for a moment, "More importantly, Queen Fickle has never once allowed her divine smile to shine on me. I'd rather not have the first time she does be at the moment when she realizes I won't make it to middle age, but regardless I'll follow the party wherever our paths take us."

By the way, I find extreme situational humor in the combination of Parity's blindness and Maeve's very demonstrative non-verbal cues. I can just envision how oblivious he would be to a lot of things