Lucklesshero's:Shades of Ice III - Keep of the Huscarl King (recruitment closed) (Inactive)

Game Master lucklesshero

Torvald is quiet throughout the briefing, deep in thought as Skagni reveals what he knows about this weapon sought by the Shadow Lodge. As the meeting breaks up he nods absently at Craggark's pledge of new sheets and goes to gather his equipment.

As the little party sets out, the dwarf finally pipes up. "So one thing has been troubling me," the alchemist states abruptly, adjusting the magical pack-cords slung over his shoulders. "This Jarek's Shard certainly has a thrilling history, and an axe wreathed in fire is certainly flashy...but it's not a weapon that can bring down the Pathfinder Society, outside of killing a few field agents like ourselves. Do you think perhaps the weapon has other properties? From what we know now, the Shadow Lodge's efforts seem a tad disproportionate. A flame-touched axe could be purchased at any city of size, and likely cost them fewer resources than they've already lost on this project."

The axe also has the power to smash atoms..did Skagni fail to mention that? #mostmcguffinssuck..

"Torvald, my skeptical friend, why would Skagni hold back on us? Why, I am sure he was a forthright and fulsome in his description of our mission as..." -- Jamir thinks for a moment to come up with an example -- "as one of our own Venture Captains!"

Jamir marches cheerfully alongside the iced-over river, taking long, exaggerated steps due to his snowshoes (or ice cleats? Whichever is appropriate), whistling quietly.

"Cheer up, my friends! We may just be leaving one northern country for another, and the rest of our mission may be spent trudging through snow and ice like the last few have been. But at least it won't be bewitched, magically, bitterly cold snow and ice! It will only be normal snow and ice! It will seem like summer by comparison! We are practically going on vacation!"

I'm going to ride a mammoth! I'm going to ride a mammoth!

"Craggark, have you ever tried fermented aurochs milk? I never have, but I've heard it produces strange and prophetic dreams. Also, that if you drink to much of it, you'll piss blood for a week. Just a word to the wise!"

Jamir winks at Lia to let her in on the joke before she tells Craggark that he is just blowing smoke - everyone knows fermented aurochs milk doesn't give you strange and prophetic dreams.

I'm going to ride a mammoth! I'm going to ride a mammoth!

"Jawhar, how long until we get there?"

"Soon enough, my friend. I can't wait for the chance to smell free air once again.

For now, let's keep an eye out for the Dancing Huts."

... and stop trying to dampem my excitement for getting out of this cursed country

Jawhar will spend time studying the map, trying to figure out the easiest path to the keep.

"I have tried fermented aurochs milk once, and it is most definitely an aphrodisiac." Craggark gives Lia a comic leer. "I guess some might consider them to be prophetic dreams of a sort."

"Ow! Why are you hitting me?"

This type of antic carries on for many a leg of the trip, leaving Craggark stumbling around on his snowshoes.

Craggark is in his full winter gear.

(if you own winter gear it's assumed you all have it on.) We'll not do fort saves to resist cold until we start the game proper. If you intend to spam endure elements nominate one of you to track charges. The donkey will have to make a daily fort check as well. And if not brought into a real shelter..(ie. a cave, or barn, not just a temporary survival shelter) it will have to make fort. saves once an hr through the nights. (although a survive check will increase it's modifier)

The tent will be enough + your cold weather gear to be considered shelter for you guys unless I roll an extreme temperature drop or the tent is blown away in a blizzard ect..snow shoes are appropriate right now..but if you walk on the river Ice cleats..btw...river seems completely frozen over here. This will be my last post in game play thread until we get going again.

I will track charges on my Endure Elements wand

Won't a temporary shelter and a fire be sufficient for the donkey? Whomever is on guard will be maintaing the fire throughout the night

No a fire made out of regular wood is not sufficient when the temp drops bellow 0 deg. Fahrenheit. Remember in under the ice u needed the Blackfire clay to warm like a shelter? both the temp shelter and the fire bonus do stack for fort saves though.

Fair enough. I did say in the SOP that I would be spamming SIX charges if weather turned bad. The sixth being the donkey. Doesn't hurt to state that explicitly, though.

"I have tried fermented aurochs milk once, and it is most definitely an aphrodisiac." Craggark gives Lia a comic leer. "I guess some might consider them to be prophetic dreams of a sort."

Lia begins to respond, "It is has only mildly intoxicating qualities and is actually a wonderful laxative..." when she suddenly realizes what Craggark was saying.

"Ow! Why are you hitting me?"

With narrowed eyes and an almost hungry grin, Lia says, "Just wait till we set up our tent." She then turns back to the others with the most innocent of expressions firmly in place.

One morning, the rest of the party rises to find that Jamir has already awakened and rekindled the fire. A stack of griddle cakes is piled on a flat rock next to the fire to keep warm as the halfling checks the pan full of sizzling sausages, hanging just over the flames. He's singing to himself, and - although it's hard to be sure - he might be dancing as he moved around the campsite.

If asked what the occasion is, he responds with a smile and a wink, "Oh, no special reason."

"Look," Craggark whispers to Lia, "look at his broad face and his little round belly that shakes when he laughs like a bowl of jelly..."

In our Last episode of Keep of the Huscarl King

After the briefing in the warehouse, the next couple of days are a whirlwind. Rognvald is sent somewhere south, in secret with Ake. Uliyara is busy planing a trade caravan, to smuggle you all out of Whitethrone and then Irrisen. You spend your days arranging your equipment and making sure everything is arranged. Last minute supplies are delivered and before you know it you're saying a somewhat bittersweet goodbye to Uliyara.

Uliyara has made good plans. Her people keep you secure and unseen in several sleds with hidden compartments lined with fur when traveling through populated areas. When in the wilderness, you are all allowed to travel with and sit topside on the sleds although, the chill wind and frigid temperatures, often cause you to run back to the shelter of the compartments.

After a few days travel, you arrive in the border town of Bosorka, on the north bank of the Frozen road. The sleds are parked in a barn and you are all told to remain in your compartments until, someone comes to retrieve you. Sometime very early in the morning, before sunrise, a couple of Uliyara's retainers come and wake you. They usher you out of the barn and after some coin is exchanged with a guardsmen, the merchant's gate is opened for you.

The servant hands you the reigns of a donkey packed with supplies. Follow the frozen River east. In about one league you'll cross the border. *edit*The guards have been paid off including the night boarder patrol but, don't dally the morning shift hasn't been bribed. Also, don't wander too close to the Walking huts, they don't bother those leaving Irrisen..only those entering. Once you cross the boarder..there's no turning back! Good luck! You see the other servant, wave to the one speaking to you, in an effort to get her to hurry. The one you spoke to hurries away and the guard pointed looks the other way, as he shuts the gate and locks you out of the city of Bosorka.

With little choice now; you begin to trudge through the snow and follow the banks of the frozen river known as The Frozen Road.

After several hours of slogging through the snow and following the Frozen road river, the sun begins to rise. In the distance you see the tale-tale sign of sleds leaving a cloud of snow in their wake as, they are carried through the snow. It seems the night border patrol is returning to barracks..soon the day patrol will be out. You double your efforts to make your way toward the boarder, slogging on in the thick snow drifts. Only 200 meters in the distance, you see one of Irrisen's famous walking huts meander through the frozen tundra..it turns towards your group for a moment, then moves on, apparently ignoring those that come from Irrisen. Your group breathes a collective sigh of relief, as you trudge on-ward.

It isn't long before the silhouettes of the huts disappear. Not long after that, you begin to see more evidence of foliage and other life. A
small Caribou heard can be seen in the distance and several snow rabbit tracks are evident. There's even a few bushes that are covered by snow, evident among the scattered evergreen trees. It even feels warmer. You begin to relax a little, confident you've crossed the boarder but, not out of danger.

About mid-day, on your first day of hiking up the banks of the Frozen road, you notice a peculiar structure made of ice, about 50 yards in the distance.

Perception checks for everybody

Craggark peers out from under his winter furs into the distance.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Shaking the snow from the tops of his snowshoes, he wonders about taking them off an using his cleats instead now that the weather seems to be warming.

Snowshoes? Cleats? Nothing? Craggark switches shoes if possible to whichever seems most useful at the moment.

"Hey Torvald? Could you hold this for me?" The half-orc hands Torvald his wand of healing.

Torvald, I'll hand you my wand of CLW. It has 18 charges left, I believe.

Snowshoes? Cleats? Nothing? Craggark switches shoes if possible to whichever seems most useful at the moment.

Snowshoes are what everyone would be wearing right now

Craggark strains to see look at the camp up ahead but spots no movement just yet.

The Elf known as Myth senses a change...and looks up from his ice-fishing hole to see a small group of travelers approaching...

He rises, thinking to himself, Could these be the people? He nods to Krom, his Kellid guide, alerting him to the incoming travelers. Krom has been invaluable in building shelter and teaching him the finer arts of ice-fishing and caribou hunting these past couple of days. Myth senses their time together is coming to an end...and perhaps a new adventure awaits...

But, ever cautious, Myth keeps his bow close by, just in case they are not the ones...he patiently awaits their approach...

Walking as fast as her little strides allow, Lia seems oblivious to the trudgery of the group’s traveling. With eyes wide with wonder, she takes in every sight with eager curiosity.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

She absentmindedly fiddles with her amulet, a simple red gold and silver piece made to resemble a dragon curled upon itself. Hearing Craggark offer his wand to Torvald, she perks up and excitedly fumbles for her own healing wand. ”Here Torvald, she blurts ”take mine as well. I mean it’s not like have been able to get it to work!”

She quickly turns, her attention once again filled with the trip ahead...

After a moment, the party sees some movement in the camp. A man comes out of the shelter and disappears behind it for a few moments. A minute or so later another tall figure with a bow in hand appears. Neither figure has raised their weapons. They seem to be waiting for the party to approach.

"Are we expecting someone...?" Craggark says, slowing his stride to close rank with his beloved Lia.

Craggark, you posted as Dink. 15 minutes left to change it if you're online.

Seeing Craggark and Lia pass over their wands, Jamir slows down to let Jawhar catch up to him, then pulls out his new healing wand and hands it to the cleric.

"Here, my friend, I managed to acquire this new wand during our extended vacation with the winter witches. Let us save charges on Craggark's wand if possible - it has been sorely overused in our previous adventures."

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

A gust of wind blows snow out of a tree into Jamir's eyes just as the ice structure comes into view. The halfling manages to wipe his eyes clear in time to see the second figure emerge from the shelter. He increases his pace to get to the front with Craggark, and rests a hand on the pommel of his rapier.

"Greetings, fellow travelers! Is this the right direction to find a mammoth?"

Oops!

Craggark snorts as Jamir hands over his own wand as well. "Man, we are paranoid that we're going to need to use them soon, eh?"

The moment that the group crosses the border, Jawhar realizes it.

He can feel the oppressive weight of evil lift off of him. The sun seems brighter, the air fresher, and maybe it is imagination, but he thinks he can hear the sound of songbirds in the distance.

He falls to his knees and kisses the ground, getting snow and rocks stuck in his beard, but not caring in the slightest.

"Blessed Sarenrae! Thank you for delivering us from the clutches of evil."

Rising, he rushes to catch up with the others. "Please tell me we are not going to return to the Land of the Linorm Kings through Irrisen. I think I'd prefer to go through Razmiran or Ustalav just from something different."

It is then that he notices the ice structure.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Myth cannot suppress a grin, which quickly turns to a chuckle, at the halfling's greeting. "Mammoths, my friend? I think not..."

More at ease now, the Elf puts away his bow and bows. "Mythryndyr, at your service. My friend here is Krom. You wouldn't, mayhap, be Pathfinders by chance, would you?"

”People get killed this close to Irrisen suggesting such a thing. One shouldn’t stray too much from the Open Road, I find,” the burly half-orc suggests.

Bluff (to imply secret message): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Craggark appears obtuse.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Torvald accepts the wands from Craggark and Analia with a small and a small bow, tucking Analia's wand into his spring-loaded wrist sheathe, before moving to follow the group. It doesn't take long for him to regret buying the Muleback Cords--they chafe something fierce, and in his grumbling and fidgeting with the straps he doesn't pay sufficient attention to his surroundings.

A little more introduction between you all would be appropriate ..Also it appears this person(s) were waiting for you...what's up with that?

I was waiting to see if I learned anything from my Perception roll

Jamir looks around for unwanted listeners, then gives their new acquaintance a conspiratorial wink.

"Pathfinders? Let's see, we have a priest, a bruiser, a mad bomber, a mage, and the most dashing swordsman to come out of Taldor in a generation. Why, my mysterious new friend, would you think we might be Pathfinders? Is it so hard to believe we are random travelers who happened to meet on the road?"

Myth smiles. "Mayhap because the few travelers we've seen the past couple of days have been indigenous to the area...you're obviously not...and since I was sent here to meet Pathfinders that would be currently heading this way, I think the odds are good that you just might be them..."

”’Sent’, you say,” the half-orc grunts, unconvinced, ”and just who ‘sent’ you, if you don’t mind me asking?”

He adds sullenly under his breath: ”I do a lot more than just ‘bruising’.”

Picking up on the tone of Craggark's suspicion, Jawhar begins to edge slowly to the side, attempting to fan out.

"Yes, I wonder exactly who knew we would be travelling this road, in this direction, at this time.

Certainly the owners of the facility we just came from would, don't you think, Jamir?"

Hoping his point got across, Jawhar waits for an answer.

When Jamir gestures to him concurrent with the words "mad bomber" Torvald opens to mouth to object, then visibly reconsiders and shrugs, offering the stranger a friendly smile instead.

Elbowing Craggark to remind him to be nice, the dwarf speaks up. "I'm Torvald of Clan Stonecask, originally hailing from Janderhoff. What brings you to such a miserable land for camping?"

Myth eyes the half-Orc. "Aye, I imagine you do a lot more than bruising...and I do a lot more than just openly awaiting your approach. Had I wished you harm, I could've easily shot you from cover...you make so much noise, I could hit you in the dark..."

Myth takes a breath as he notices the cleric maneuvering for a potential fight. "As for who sent me, that's a long story, so I'll sum up. I was stationed at the lodge in Lastwall under Venture Captain Zongnoss; he sent me to escort a supply train to Red Zarroka in Hillcross. While there, Red received a message from a Varki merchant named Haltani informing him of some fellow Pathfinders that might need aid...since Red was too busy with an important excavation, he requested I go in his stead...so here I am. My friend Krom here can confirm my story...I also have the note from Haltani."

Myth nods and smiles towards the Dwarf. He hands the note to the Halfling so the travelers can read it for themselves.

He gives them time to read the note and then continues. "While my name is Mythryndyr, you may call me Myth if you please. I'm a fair shot and have experience in moving quietly and unseen, as well as picking locks and disabling traps. I'll be more than happy to travel by your side," he glances from the half-Orc to the cleric and back, "however, if Haltani erred in her judgment, I'll head back to Hillcross and report such to Red..."

Keep going guys..you don't need me for this! *Har* Haltani and her secretes always got something going on that you guys don't know about!

Krom nods at everything Mythryndyr says. He adds, What your comrade says is true. My boss sent him here and had me guide him. I am to return now that, you have met with him. As if to emphasize his last statement, Krom begins to gather his belongings and starts stuffing his pack. It's just after mid-day. I can make 3 leagues if I start now. Krom gathers his things and grasp Mythryndyr's hand, in the traditional Kellid manor. Good luck to you and your friends. You should stay near the river as long as you can. It's easy to get lost on the Tundra. He pauses for a moment taking you all in with his eyes. I don't know where you go or, what you do..but, I look at you, and know there will be bloodshed...beware of spilling blood of the clans...we of the realms, have long memories. Krom turns and walks off to the south.

Myth eyes the half-Orc. "Aye, I imagine you do a lot more than bruising"

As the half-elf responds to Craggark's comment, with one eyebrow raised and a small smile upon her lips, Lia's mind drifts wistfully for a moment...

...and I do a lot more than just openly awaiting your approach. Had I wished you harm, I could've easily shot you from cover...you make so much noise, I could hit you in the dark..."[/b]

...but then her overly large silver eyes take on a slightly red cast and narrow dramatically...

Stealth/using Craggark as cover/concealment: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

She moves around Craggark and due to her incredibly white appearance and small stature, she is barely noticed, if she is even noticed at all, as she approaches the half-elf. She reaches up as if to poke him with a delicate finger, but stops just short and points...

"And I could have incinerated you where you stand, but like you, we have refined courtesies when dealing with strangers on the road."

Her fiery glare suddenly vanishes, as if it never existed in the first place, and she tilts her head to the side looking on the new pathfinder quizzically.

He gives them time to read the note and then continues. "While my name is Mythryndyr, you may call me Myth...

Her next words come at a pace that is almost hard to follow, "We could be kin but your skin is far too dark to be from the northern families... Mythryndyr is such an interesting name... My name is Lia, Twilight Speaker from Ice Gate and kin of Shadow-who-walks-through-ice and this beautiful blue man behind me is Craggark... Itissonicetomeetanotherpathfinderespeciallysince..." and the rest of her words comes out so fast that even she is not likely to know what she said.

She stands smiling, her pointing finger having long since turned to a friendly hand of greeting.

That's when Myth realizes something. Not once since he first noticed her have her eyes ever blinked...

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Myth smiles, accepts her hand, and bows to the lady, not letting on he was aware of her surprisingly stealthy approach...though he's a bit unnerved at her unblinking glare...

"Tis a pleasure to meet you, m'lady. I see you too can move silently and unseen. Myth, at your service..."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Jawhar takes the note and skims its contents.

"Hmmm.... She would know where we would be and it is umlikely anyone else would know her name and affiliations.

It looks like her handwriting, but I wouldn't know a forgery from a camel's backside."

"M'lady? Silently? Unseen? Me? How peculiar..." She says with apparent surprise.

She looks back over her shoulder to Craggark and silently mouths the words, "He called me m'lady!" and she practically beams!

Craggark grunts in response to Lia's glance at him. "I didn't know that town was called Bosorka," he says after perusing the letter held by Torvald.

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

"I do know of Red Zarroka, however, and in the Realms of the Mammoth Lords, what he says stands true." The half-orc's face takes on a good-natured look as he moves to shake hands in greeting with Myth. "Well met, Myth. I am Craggark. Why didn't you notice when I said 'Open Road' that we were Pathfinders? Was I too aloof?"

Craggark seems to be hunting for honest feedback.

Note to self: call Lia 'm'lady' a few times.

Myth grins at Craggark, heartily shaking his hand. "Well met indeed...twas pretty sure you were Pathfinders upon hearing the halfling's banter. While I'm aware of the Open Road symbol, having seen it displayed prominently at the Grand Lodge in Absalom, your bruising comment kept me on my guard..."

Craggark laughs at Myth’s words. ”Oh, I was just irked by Jamir’s description of my skill set, really.” He turns to Jamir and says with mock pendaticism: ”There are some that would say that I am a skilled diplomat.”

Jawhar is pleased for another good turn for the day.

"Well then, glad that is take care of."

Seeing that Krom is already well on his way, and feeling bad that his suspicion caused him to be less than friendly, he turns and shouts after the receeding figure.

"Thank you for guiding our brother to us, friend Krom. May the sun warm your spirit for many days to come."

Turning back to the camp, he heads over to the fire.

"Come, let us sit and get to know each other.

Mythryndyr, I am Jawhar Dhakir, pleased to meet you."

Jawhar sets about brewing some coffee and getting out a small snack for the party.

"Oh, no no no no," Craggark says with a little true concern as Jawhar begins brewing coffee. "I am not drinking that again - you remember what happened the last time I drank that?!"

He turns to Myth.

"I am Craggark of the Miusunnit. I am the proud son of Irikh Stonyfish of the Erutaki, speaker of the Miusunnit people and guardian of the Ice Peppers. I've been a Pathfinder agent for just about a year now, and I've done most of my work with these fine people." His gaze lingers on the delicate form of Lia for a few moments. "I couldn't be happier."

"Nice to meet you as well, Jawhar. We have a few fish left over, as well as a bit of caribou meat...would've had more but the Kellid group that camped with us last night was very hungry, to say the least..."

"Actually, Craggark, I don't recall the last time you had coffee.

I do recall that time in Trollheim when you had far too much ale, though."

Jawhar smiles widely, but spares Craggark a full retelling.

"I assure you, once your spirit attunes to the coffee, you won't want to drink anything else. Besides, it greases the wheels of social interaction without also removing your wits or dulling your appreciation of this splendidly warm day."

Retrieving a cup and pouring for Mythryndyr, he continues.

"So, you are good with locks and traps? Haltani does know our weakness. To date. Torvald there has been opening doors with his beard.

There was also some unpleasantness with a very nasty trap during our last mission... or did I imagine that?.... it is still a bit fuzzy"

Jawhar is now quite confused and trails off into silence as he tries to remember what actually happenned.

"You obviously don't remember that you gave me some coffee the morning that started off our last trip." Here, Craggark turns his focus to Myth to warn him of the perils of coffee. "I found myself unable to sleep or relax, poring over accounting paperwork for a business deal that I wasn't even sure I wanted to complete in front of the bar at our tavern! Me, Craggark! The barmaid wouldn't have let me live it down had I...." The half-orc suddenly grows quiet and flushes a curious purple colour. A moment later, he finishes with gusto: "...EVER. SPOKEN. to her AGAIN!"

Craggark says the last few words with his eyes clearly on Lia's.

While Lia's gaze frequently drifts back to the frostkin, it is primarily focused on the new addition to the group, Mythryndyr.

"Fish will be fine. One of my favorites is grouper with ice pepper sauce, that is when I can find it. Ice peppers are few and far between this far south."

She raises an eyebrow when the barmaid is mentioned, but other than that she simply stares into the fire. The fire seems to crackle just a little more as she watches it, with one especially notable *POP* just after the frostkin's final words.

"I think I will try the coffee again Jawhar. That is if you don't mind." she says with a demure smile. If only it was tea...

As she retrieves her plate of fish and cup of coffee, she moves to sit close to Craggark. She turns to gaze unblinkingly at the half-elf and asks, "So, about our current mission... what are your thoughts on it Myth?"