Zack staggers away from the creature and makes one final attempt to put it down.
Zachary's arrow strikes true and he takes down the red-faced ogre mage!
Aura moderate necromancy; CL 9th
Slot none; Price 18, 540 gp; Weight 20 lbs
This Large +1 tetsubo is banded in corroded iron bearing brass studs that are embossed with wicked Tien characters of punishment and pain. Once per day, the wielder can bestow a blood geas upon a willing subject who swears an oath to the wielder (the wielder and the subject must agree on the exact nature of the oat). The blood geas functions as a mark of justice that activates if the subject of the blood geas breaks his oath, dealing 12d6 + 9 points of damage to the subject. If the subject survives, the blood geas is removed, though the subject can swear a new oath and receive a new blood geas at a time. A blood geas is permanent uless removed by the wielder.
There are two silver braziers in the room (worth 75 gp each) but nothing else in the room is overly valuable.
"Well done!" a voice calls out. It takes you a moment to recognize the voice as emanating from the sword Suishen. "Kimandatsu will hunt us no longer! Not only was Kimandatsu the leader of the Frozen Shadows, the guild of ninja and assassins in Kalsgard, but she also took the guise of Thorborg Silverskorr-as you may have deduced-who held much power and sway throught he Rimerunners Guild front"
"But those are not the true evils of Kimandatsu!" Suishen continues. "For Kimandatsu, first and foremost, is a member of the Five Storms, a powerful group of oni in far-off Minkai. She served as their chief hunter, chasing down any enemies that the oni marked as targets. I assure you that Kimandatsu would have stopped at nothing to prevent Ameiko Kaijitsu from returning to Minkai, for that is the Five Storms' ultimate purpose-to prevent the rightful heir and leader of the country from taking over and thus removing the oni's powerful grip on Minkai."
Other than the gear on the fallen foes, nothing is found in the room; it seems all of the valuables were stored in the vault Jennix broke into earlier.
A hallway leads out of this room. A low growl can be heard from the door to the east, whereas the door to the west is silent. Both doors are locked (but luckily you have the oni's keyring).
Terflynn drinks a healing potion. "I suppose we should finish our examination of the premises, once everyone is feeling a little more alive."
Jennix casts his last healing spell on himself.
Shrugging, he quaffs the last potion.
Zack begins drinking potions as well.
Miso tries using the blue beam of light that came from his hand before, interchanging between his comrade and himself.
His eyes grow wide, then wider as he cannot summon more of the healing energy.
"I like your new tricks, Miso. Just try not to over-extend yourself. Whatever is happening to you, I would advise caution in the use of your new powers. We can't be certain what other changes may manifest, so it might be best to avoid accelerating the process." Terflynn says as he sorts through empty vials in his pack, looking for more healing potions tucked away somewhere.
Jennix nods in thanks to Miso. "Very nice, thank you!"
Heading to the first door on the east, the party is able to unlock the room. Crouching within and squinting at the light is a bear-sized wolf with white fur and a rime of frost around its muzzle. "You're not the normal chick. . . what do you want?" it growls. "Unless you mean to break me out of here, be on your way. . . . "
"We might be induced to free you. Who are you and what are you doing here?" Jennix asks.
Miso listens to Jennix's smooth words and simply nods , while studying the wolf for any flicker of reaction.
"Skygni is what I call myself. Damn foreigners took me prisoner."
"What purpose could they have with you?" Terflynn wonders aloud.
The wolf scoffs, "That dumb b+@%# of an oni thought she could train me like some wild animal. I left her with a few bite marks to show that I wasn't so easily tamed when treated in such a fashion. . . . "
"So you're clearly not on her side. What will you do with me then?"
I do not see any purpose to keeping this creature locked up to starve like a flame inside a jar, the Kellid says, looking at his companions. Freedom does not belong solely to the free, after all.
"Good!" the worg agrees. "I'll just show myself out then...."
If no one stops him, he will push past you and run for the exit.
Terflynn opens his mouth to speak, but hesitates too long. The creature rushes past him and out of sight. "You know we left a helpless man somewhere back there, and winter wolves are not known for their kindness. I hope we haven't just made a problem for ourselves." he says with concern in his voice.
If we have erred, the gods will know it was out of kindness over malice, Miso says as he watches the wolf run away. That truth will have to suffice to salve our consciences.
Jennix watches the wolf go, then shrugs. "If we have made the wrong choice, I'm sure fate will repay us. If we made the right choice, we may never know it was correct." Jennix says philosophically.
Looking around, Jennix moves to the final door and examines it for traps and listens for any noises.
Jennix hears nothing at the door and lets himself in....
Inky darkness fills the inside of this chamber, along with a stale, fishy smell mixed with the stench of unwashed bodies. The sound of dripping water and a low moan echo through the still air.
As the light filters into the room, it seems Kimandatsu held her most important prisoner here; you recognize the languishing figure of Ulf Gormundr, the missing guide and friend of Uksahkka. You can tell from the way he turns his head and unfocused eyes that he has been blinded.
Miso speaks so that the man can use the faculties he still has available. You are Ulf Gormundr, yes? Miso studies him carefully for reactions. Fear not, we are sent by a mutual friend, Uksahkka. Your captor has been vanquished. We are here to bring you home.
Ulf nods and his eyes begin to well with tears at the sound of a friendly voice but at the same time he whispers, "Watch out! The water!"
Miso instinctively steps in front of Ulf protectively and activates Arcane Strike, then flurries on Red.
for
for
for
Blindheims, Miso states. Beware the gaze. I believe our friend has already suffered its effect.
Jennix darts into the room, drawing his weapons and stabs at the southern creature.
Miso easily takes out one of the blindheims and Jennix wounds the other!
10 dmg
Terflynn moves into the doorway and, seeing the unpleasant creature, attempts to sway its mind into an untimely slumber.
The blindheim remains wide awake!
10 dmg
Zack moves into the room and looses an arrow at the creature.
Zachary finishes off the blindheim before it can move!
Ulf begins to mumble his thanks, asking who you are and how you know Uksahkka. "I can no longer see. Those foul creatures. . . . Can you help me out of here?"
"Let me take a look at your eyes. It will be much easier to get you out of here safely if you're not falling down stairs."
His blindness should go away in an hour or less, the typical duration of the blindheim's ability.
Ulf explains to you, "Kimandatsu. . . that thing. . . she was trying to extract information from me, information about the Path of Aganhei over the Crown of the World. I don't know why she wanted to know, but she mentioned keeping me away from someone known as the Amatatsu heir. Of course, I didn't know her purpose but was sure it wasn't good. I refused to cooperate."
Suishen speaks to all of you telepathically: He will be a great asset. The Path of Aganhei is long and treacherous but it is the best route to reach Minkai and over the long desolate waste we may throw off the pursuit of the oni of the Fire Storms.
to determine the man's true intentions.
You are to be commended for your refusal to aid an agent of evil, Miso says warmly.
If he believes the man to be of good character, Miso will continue. Perhaps we might be able to secure your services for a similar trip. It is our destiny to deliver this heir of Amatatsu to Minkai.
Miso finds the man genuine.
"Indeed?" Ulf says, interested in what Miso has told him. "Many times have I made the trip. It is long and tortuous but with my guidance it will go easier for you. Any friend of Uksahkka's is a friend of mine; I will gladly go with you."
Back at the caravan, you can begin making preparations for the journey. Uksahkka is thrilled to see her friend alive and well and Ameiko and the others at the caravan are thrilled to have a skilled guide to help them navigate the treacherous Crown of the World.
For your part in avenging his blood feud upon Asvig Longthews and Thorborg Silverskorr, Fynn Snaevald officially relinquishes ownership of Suisen to you as promised.
Your new guide Ulf Gormundr promises to lead you through landscapes more desolate than any you have ever known, yet at the end you hope to realize the promise of justice for the Kaijitsu family and fortune and glory in a realm unlike any in Avistan.
Under Ulf's guidance you will be departing Kalsgard and traveling through the Thanelands of the Linnorm Kingdwoms before following the line of the Stormspear Hills to reach the taiga and tundra beyond the Stormspear Mountains.
At this point, the two Avistani ends of the Path of Aganhei (the western route from Kalsgard and the eastern route from Icestair in the Realm of the Mammoth Lords) join together to cross the Rimethirst Mountains.
This trip of about 1160 miles will take at least five weeks.
"Thank you for the assistance Ulf. I feel this will be quite the adventure." Zack comments on the journey ahead.
The caravan heads north into the Crown of the World under the guidance of Ulf Gormundr. The initial passage beyond the northern mountains of Avistan is relatively uneventful, but Ulf explains that you must now make choices about how best to proceed-should you take the easier road following the Path of Aganhei, likely much faster but perhaps more exposed to unfriendly eyes, or a more difficult shortcut through the rugged wilderness?
To obtain information about conditions on the road head, Ulf suggests a detour just before hitting the High Ice to stop in the Erutaki village of Iqaliat to obtain more information about the trail ahead. But before you get there, you have to make it through the Outer Rim and past the Hoarwell March.
Under Ulf's guidance the caravan makes good time through the wilderness, following the Path of Aganhei to the north of the Gaarjuk Hills. At this point, Ulf turns aside and takes a detour to lead you to Iqaliat. Ulf possesses a tribal talisman made of menorhaz scales that is a symbol of friendship from the hearthmistress of Iqaliat and should guarantee you safe conduct in the cliffside village. As it is the off season for travel across the Crown of the World, Ulf would like to get a better idea of the prevailing conditions from those he knows and trusts before deciding on the best path for the caravan to take.
---
The village of Iqaliat is built into the overhanding cliffs of Alasek Ridge, at the southern edge of the polar plateau known as the High Ice. During the summer melt, waterfalls by the hundreds pour down the icy cliff face for hundreds of miles to either side, but Iqaliat draws water year round through a subterranean stream that runs through cracks in the rocky schist of the cliff.
In honor of the talisman that Ulf carries, Iqaliat’s hearthmistress, Sonavut, welcomes your caravan to the village, and invites you and you companions into her home for cups of hot fermented goat’s milk. Ulf questions her about the conditions on the trail ahead, only to receive bad news: "The primary route to the east, past the village of Unaimo and through the Koumssa Gap," she explains, "is blocked by the “hungry storms,” or morozkos, which have swept down from the High Ice and blocked all travel along the Path of Aganhei. It is not the normal season for these storms-as I'm sure you know, Ulf-but the morozkos have been venturing farther and farther south than they ever have before. In addition, we have heard tales of strange black pillars, guarded by the walking frozen dead, appearing all across the Crown of the World, though what connection there may be between these mysterious monoliths and the abnormal storms none can say. Nonetheless, the presence of the morozkos on the Path of Aganhei means that way is closed to you and your caravan."
She continues, "So you are welcome to stay here with us for as long as you wish but if you are destined to travel across this waste, I encourage to take another path. Unfortunately, things are not much safer here in Iqaliat. The white dragon Vegsundvaag, who lives nearby, has never given us trouble before. However, recently he has been terrorizing the village and its surroundings, carrying off and slowly killing our meager and dwindling populace. We have sent several hunters to slay the dragon, but none have returned. Vegsundbaag continues to attack the village with impunity. There are now too few warriors left among us to risk sending more out in search of the creature. And just as the morozkos block your way in the east, your route north is cut off by the terror of the dragon."
"Dragons and storms... This is going to be a very eventful trip indeed. Which way do you all feel more suited to handle?" Zack asks the gathered group.
I do not seek to delay our journey with Ameiko any further than necessary, Miso muses, but might it not be prudent to take some time and free Iqaliat from the tyranny of this dragon?