The giant cat charges at Guido!
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Splax misses the cat as it charges toward Guido; who instinctively pummels the beast as it tries to latch onto his arm. A well timed blow from Kaz puts the beast down.
The group becomes alert as the sound of hooves precede Urdel Thunderhoof galloping into the forest clearing flanked by his companions.. Brave travelers...you have done well. Our forest is no longer threatened by this monstrosity, and for that you have my thanks. He nods to the centaur on his right who fires an arrow into the beast's head...ending its life.
After a brief examination and conference with his hunters Urdel speaks once again. "This beast is called a krenshar, a magical creature that normally stalks herd animals but will hunt humanoids when food is scarce."
"Please accept these fur pelts in exchange for your deed. You may need them as the high areas of the Kortos Mounts can still be very cold this time of year; especially at night." Looking at Guido he reaches into his belt pouch. "It appears as though the krenshar may have gotten the better of you before you took it down. These should help speed your recovery."
The group hunkers down for the rest of the night...with the threat of the Krenshar out of the way the time until dawn proves uneventful. After a day's travel you spy a covered wagon half buried in the snow. Investigation of the wagon uncovers three frozen humans who have obviously succumbed to cold exposure. These explorers foolishly attempted to cross the mountain pass during the cold season and paid with their lives. Fortunately the weather is not as cold now, but you remember the centaur chief's warning about cold nights this time of year and are thankful for the fur pelts he gifted to you. With nightfall coming soon you may not find a better place to make camp before the temperature begins to drop.
As Guido continues to enjoy his good berries, the group predicts that the temperature could drop to somewhat dangerous levels between midnight and the pre-dawn hours. Your inspection of the wagon reveals that, assuming you move out the corpses, five humans could fit quite comfortably. The wagon has a wood-burning stove that appears functional with just enough wood to burn throughout the night. Additionally if one is not squeamish about such things the corpses each wear a serviceable cold weather outfit.
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Being that the two halflings only take up half the space of a human, all of them could easily fit into the wagon that has a extremely convenient heater. Fosco dismisses Splax after first watch and snuggles in for a good nap. Unfortunately, his rather comfortable lifestyle and association with the fires of infernal nature have left him unused to the cold, and he awakens, nearly frozen solid. Through chattering teeth in the morning, he casts a spell to give himself a warmth to rival the fires of hell, and he ended up feeling a lot better.
Nester
Everyone wakes in the morning a little chilly but none worse for the wear...with the exception of Fosco who must have been sleeping in a particularly drafty section of the wagon. As the sun rises up over the mountain and you start to break camp the temperature becomes warmer and much more pleasant.
You decide to put the mountain pass far behind you before night falls again, so you set out for another day's travel. As the pass winds around a large mountain, you spot a light glinting from a ledge some 50 feet above. The rock face appears to be a relatively easy climb should you choose to investigate.
A small statue of a woman complete with a nearby shrine rests on the ledge. The glinting light seen from the path is the sun's reflection off a number of coins and gems in the shrine's offering bowl.
The figure in the statue as Lady Kayle, a Taldan adventurer who sacrificed herself so her comrades could defeat the great dragon Maejerex, who terrorized the Isle of Kortos until 4592 ar.
Guido feels a surge of warmth after placing a coin in the offering bowl.
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"I'm glad for you. Blessings don't do that well for me in my kind of work, especially indiscriminate ones. Since I don't have my guidebook on me, I'll have to decline. If the rest of you want to slap a statues hindquarters, I'll wait for you here."
Fosco folded his arms skeptically. He really wished he could have paid more attention in his aura categorization class.
Kazmere looks at the climb but isn't sure he'll make it up and passes on the shrine.
Chak-Chak climbs up and also makes an offering to the shrine and experiences a similar feeling of warmth. He refrains from goosing the statue. Guido and Chak Chak return to the others and continue the journey.
In contrast to the cold from the night before the air becomes almost tropical as you continue your descent. Thick blobs of fog dance in between large tickets as the foul stench of swamp gas pollutes the air. Several exotic species of vines twist along the vapor-shrouded path, creating an ethereal seeming tangle. At random intervals, a splash of fetid water sounds in the distance, signaling the presence of frogs or other bog creatures.
A large log rests across a dirt path, standing five feet tall. A moldering wood door covers one of the hollow ends of the log, and a makeshift mud chimney emits a thin wisp of blue smoke. From behind the crude house come the sound of someone humming an off-key tune.
Sorry...forgot to put up the map.
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"Hopefully they speak common." The halfling said with reluctance. He hadn't studied much except common and infernal and he doubted infernal would be of too much use.
Fosco shouted toward the house. "Hello there! We are looking to pass on by, and we don't want any trouble!" If there isn't any response, he will repeat the message in Infernal just in case.
Upon closer inspection your would-be adversary is an older female kobold who tenses up at Fosco's approach but, although it is clear she doesn't understand what he is saying, she is put at ease by his soft approach. She begins to chortle in some strange language as she excitedly motions to the plants growing in pots behind her.
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Fosco, not understanding a whit of what she says, nods politely and smiles appreciatively of her plants. "Those are some nice plants you have there. I don't think we can understand each other's words, but it is nice to know that you aren't here just waylaying innocent travelers. Now my friends and I have to get on our way. We will walk around your property and we wish you much success in your horticultural endeavors." He motions with his hands to emphasize his points making sure to over exaggerate a bit, hoping it would more easily convey meaning.
The kobold woman looks confused once again as Fosco begins to speak, but she begins jumping up and down and waving her hands around; perhaps in an effort to mimic his motions.