Errr.. We could follow the giant tracks perhaps.
Jetro tries to get a sense of direction by studying the stars and moss on the trees.
Helgash shares his opinion with Jetro.
"That might be a good idea, albeit dangerous" - he nods.
The tracks head west after Jetro determines which direction North is. With the amount of snow in the area the tracks are decently easy to follow for now. Should it snow again or start blowing things will get harder. The good news is that Jetro with Helgash's support determine that the weather should remain clear for the next 4 days.
On the way out, Venja tries to comfort Ratibor a bit. "Worry not, good protector, we will do our best to find this book you speak of and return with it. Be well until our return." Then she follows the others into the ice and snow.
As they depart, D'lara watches Ratibor warily, but offers, "Your servitude is not right. We will do what we can to remove it."
Ratibor grunts and waves you away as he picks up his axe. waiting to see if you return so quickly again.
Moving outside and picking up the trail of the giants you are surprised to see that one of the giants has a large sack affixed to his belt. Opening it up you find some coins and also a pecuiliar snow glode with leafless trees inside.
This is a Globe of Blizzards. Once shaken to mix the snow inside it can then be shattered as a standard action to create a true blizzard in a 2 mile radius that lasts for 1 hour. Value: 4550gp
Moving onward you follow the path left by the giants into the woods. The wood is dense, comprising tall trees with long needle-like leaves clustered into spiral arrangements. High above, their branches lock together, blotting out the sunlight creating a sensation of perpetual twilight (dim light). Below the canopy, the tree branches are thin, losing their foliage from lack of sunlight, and jutting out from the vast maze of peeling trunks like skeletal arms. A blanket of fallen needles covers the ground. Locked in the gloom and cold, the forest floor seems nearly barren, except for patches of lichen and moss that cling to the rocky soil and the lower trunks of the towering trees.
After traveling for about 30 minutes a gruff and unfriendly voice hails you from deeper in the woods.
Jetro doesn't understand but is wary.
Venja casts detect magic and examines the globe...
"This globe is quite unique and special... Shake it and break it and it will create a 4-mile wide blizzard centered on the user. Could come in very handy in a pinch, and if not, is valuable if we find someplace to sell such things."
Not understanding the speaker, Venja tries replying first in Skald, then in Hallit, "Hello? please show yourself... we are strangers to this land but mean no harm here."
Sounds kinda risky to set that off. We'd be buried in our own blizzard
"Yes, but in an emergency, it might be the only way to avoid a worse danger... Just a thought, but perhaps not a good one... who's to say?"
The voice in the woods alters slightly as you can tell that a different language or two is being tried.
Who are you that enters the Hoofwood and why are you here?
The voice remains in the shadows hidden from you as it responds again in sylvan. Yes I see the tracks and know them well, but that does not answer either question I asked.
The voice continues probing for information speaking in Sylvan. And what is this key Yu seek and what is it purpose? I do not know of this Artrosa.
"I sense no deception, but no intention to help us either. Perhaps if we can convince it we are trustworthy, it will provide aid in return."
"We seek a key to free an unfortunate fellow from his captivity at a place called Artosa, where three huge statues are carved into a cliff... the statues depict the maiden, the mother and the crone... Do you know of this place by its description if not its name?"
Tribal legend speaks of such a place as you describe. My elder would know more about what you speak. Bind your weapons and follow my voice and I will lead you to him. Y can discuss more with him.
Venja puts her dagger in her quarrel and ties a scarf around the exposed bolts. "Will that do? Nothing I can do to bind a staff, but would you deprive a woman of her walking stick?"
Duardlara produces a bit of string to peace-knot her sword to its sheath.
"When we meet your elder, how should we address him? We do not wish to offend anyone through our ignorance."
I will tell you how to conduct yourselves once we reach him. Until that time though do not unfasten your weapons unless told. Your walking stick is accessible until later. Then you must drop it on the ground. What about the rest of you?
"That is fine. I will relinquish it when directed to do so."
Jetro secures his weapons.
"Absolutely." Duardlara is a bit of a walking armory, but she ties off the other weapons, stashes the daggers in her backpack, and unstrings her bow. "I will lay my bow down with her staff when directed."
"Very well" - Helgash nods as he secures his weapons, while Greta does the same with a grunt.
"Thank you for offering to assist us - you will find we have no ill intentions toward you or your tribe" - he adds - "I am Helgash"
Having received word that you will disarm yourselves fully at the appropriate time and already bound your weapons the owner of the voice finally appears thanks to Helgash's calming tone. In front of you is a magnificent centaur specimen armed with a spear and composite longbow. Studded leather armor adorns his chest as 2 iron bands encircle each bicep. He points the spear through the trees, Head that direction. I will be behind you and tell you when to turn to stay on course.
Assuming you all comply after 3 hours of marching through the snowy forest he calls you to stop. hH then proceeds to pull a whistle from a thong around his neck as he gives 3 sharps blows. Please drop your weapons as you agreed to. Others will be coming that will pick them up for you and escort you to see my tribal chieftain, Korak Kaag.
Another 2 minutes go by before you see 10 fully armed and armored centaurs coming through the woods. They hail your escort in Iobarian as he responds in kind.
You can make out a few words such as Artrosaor frost giants but the rest is foreing to you. The tone is such though that you don't think your escort is referring to you as prisoners at least.
Jetro drops his stuff.
Duardlara likewise divests herself of any weapons that could not be tied off easily.
As she does, she studies the centaurs to learn what she can.
Venja lays down her few weapons and readies herself to approach their leader, checking her hair is neat and brushes her skirts free of snow and ice.
Helgash and Greta both bind their weapons, even though the woman is clearly not happy with the idea...
After divesting yourself of your weapons or binding them appropriately the other centaurs come forward and gather them up. Duardlara notes that these new centaurs are not as robust or as well equipped as the first scout as perhaps you can assume that they consider those on patrol more valuable. That and the number of centaurs now present would make it very time consuming and expensive to equip them all so nicely.
Each of you have 2 centaurs as escorts to finish the last short leg of the trip. Ahead in the distance, a thin plume of smoke drifts above the trees. Soon enough, a large clearing containing a sizable encampment appears through the trees. Broad, circular tent huts made from hides stretched over wooden frames form a crescent around a large campfire. The muddy ground is churned with numerous hoofprints.
Throughout the camp, centaurs mill about, performing mundane tasks such as carrying firewood, filling water buckets, or roasting spitted pheasants over a pit of glowing coals. As you enter the camp, these activities stop as the centaurs shift their attention to 'the outsiders'. Few of them have ever seen a human, and your presence is
enough to make centaur children gawk at you.
The centaur scouts immediately escort the you to the tent of the clan chieftain. This tent is much larger and of finer construction than the others, and stands in the middle of the crescent of tents, facing the communal fire. No guards stand outside the tent, but the escort waits just outside as you are ushered in to meet the chieftain.
Korak Kaag is a powerful centaur with broad shoulders, a full beard and long mustaches, and a dark bay coat. turning to your the first centaur that brought you he asks a few quick questions in Iobarian that are responded in kind. Satisfied with the answers Korak Kaag finally addresses you in Sylvan. My scout Kantos informs me that you were seen leaving the Hut of Baba Yaga and that you were ambushed by frost giants immediately thereafter. He kept pace with you till he hailed you. It seems you have questions for me but I have them in return for you. What purpose brings you here in the Hut and whose side are you on?
"You have us at a disadvantage, honored chieftain. What sides do you refer to? Are we discussing a war or some other conflict?"
Jetro waits
Kaag answers obliquely as he presses still for an answer. There are two sides to every situation and more often than not multiple factions. Who do you align yourselves with in coming here?
"No disrespect, but sometimes there is only one side. When one finds themselves in a hostile land trying to survive, there is only their side unless you count the challenges of nature itself to be their opposition."
"That said, we have allied with many and opposed many during our journey. Our first alliance is with the people of our homelands, where snow and ice are much less common, but where a never-ending winter of great severity is settling in. We strive to return things to normal. Some lands need four seasons so that the natural order is maintained. Many will die if our lands become encased in snow and ice - you know better than most how the harsh weather can kill the unprepared."
If that is the case then where do you come from and why are you hear with Baba Yaga's Hut? Are you allied with her or thralls escaped from her service?
"It is not easy to explain, and even for us it is not yet fully understood" - Helgash pipes in - "My name is Helgash" - the paladin takes a moment to introduce himself before continuing - "The truth of the matter is we know nothing about whatever conflict may be assailing this region. We fight for our own homes who risk being overwhelmed by eternal cold" - then stops a moment, thinking about how far they have come.
"From one of Baba Yaga's own riders we heard the tale, even as he exhaled his last breath of life - Baba Yaga has not returned from her century long absence, and it is our belief her own daughter Elvanna is responsible, and trying to overthrow her mother" - he recounts - "I am not a scholar nor a master in these matters, but the truth of it is that without Baba Yaga's return, our land risks being completely overwhelmed by unsurmounting cold, killing all and we hold dear, and laying waste to our homes - that is the side we fight on!"
Kay looks at you as you feel y side of the story relating why you are here and indicating a bit as to your allegiances. So you are working to return her to her rightful position but are not agents of her expansion. You are not he to make us vassals or form alliances with us or our enemies. You have not met her but one of her riders and he convinced you to save the world. It seems too strange of a telling to not be true. Nodding his head relaxes visibly. It would seem then that the sooner that you achieve your purpose here the sooner you will be gone. I will admit that will make all of us more comfortable. So, what can I do for you?
Well maybe point us in the directionwe need to go, right Helgash? Some supplies we can pay for would be nice as well.
"We seek Artrosa" - Helgash informs - "Even though we have never been there, it was described to us as a place in the northwestern part of Iobaria, with three statues carved from the mountains to resemble 3 women in varying stages of life" - he explains - "That is our goal, and any information you could offer us on how to reach it would be most useful"
After listening to Jetro, he adds - "As well as supplies, which we would obviously pay for"
Kaag nods his willingness to barter with you. I do not know what it is exactly that you may be looking for in supplies but we have salted meat, tubers and such for food and plenty of miscellaneous travel gear. This is not our home you see. This is more of a bivouac camp at the moment. You see there has been numerous sightings of frost giants traversing this area for some time now, about 4 months or so. It has made me and my people nervous so we are trying to discover what is going on in case they become even more aggressive.
The time corresponds to when Baba Yaga would have gone missing.
Kaag's eyes light up though when you mention Artrosa. That is a name that I have not heard of in many a year. And even then only in the stories passed down from story teller to the next. Legend has it that many many years ago a noble but aged centaur, Korrick, took a last long pilgrimage to the farthest regions of his lands. He was gone for almost a year before a stranger dressed in his garb and carrying his gear arrived claiming to be Korrick. He claimed to have found a strange mystical place where it seemed time travelled strangely for the inhabitants. He called the place Artrosa and said that within the labyrinth interior of the 3 mountains there was an elixir that could reverse aging. The centarus accepted him back into their society as he knew everything that Korrick would have known. A few years elapsed and Konnick stayed youthful, till one day when the elixir he found ran out. That night the years caught up to him and he died of old age. No one since has gone to Artrosa since that time. Yet I know where it should be even if I have not seen it myself.
Jetro fills up on arrows.
Easily done Jetro. they have an abundance of normal arrows and a quiver of arrows that seem narrower than usual. Asking about them the centaurs will tell you through a translator that they are flight arrows. They do less damage but travel farther.
Kaag nods his willingness to barter with you. I do not know what it is exactly that you may be looking for in supplies but we have salted meat, tubers and such for food and plenty of miscellaneous travel gear. This is not our home you see. This is more of a bivouac camp at the moment. You see there has been numerous sightings of frost giants traversing this area for some time now, about 4 months or so. It has made me and my people nervous so we are trying to discover what is going on in case they become even more aggressive.
** spoiler omitted **
"Do you have any idea where the sighted frost giants are coming from, or where they are headed?" - Helgash pursues the matter a tad further, since it may be of relevance.
Kaag's eyes light up though when you mention Artrosa. That is a name that I have not heard of in many a year. And even then only in the stories passed down from story teller to the next. Legend has it that many many years ago a noble but aged centaur, Korrick, took a last long pilgrimage to the farthest regions of his lands. He was gone for almost a year before a stranger dressed in his garb and carrying his gear arrived claiming to be Korrick. He claimed to have found a strange mystical place where it seemed time travelled strangely for the inhabitants. He called the place Artrosa and said that within the labyrinth interior of the 3 mountains there was an elixir that could reverse aging. The centarus accepted him back into their society as he knew everything that Korrick would have known. A few years elapsed and Konnick stayed youthful, till one day when the elixir he found ran out. That night the years caught up to him and he died of old age. No one since has gone to Artrosa since that time. Yet I know where it should be even if I have not seen it myself.
"That is perfect, and we will be in your debt for such assistance" - the paladin bows - "If there is anything we can do to repay you, please let us know"
"Yes, any information you can provide would be most helpful, even rumors."
The frost giants usually live in the hills and mountains farther west of here. They have been sighted before in roving bands out hunting or exploring the wider areas but not as frequently as this.
Kaag considers what you ask and ruminates quietly for a moment. I will send a guide with you as well. She will know the direction to take and I will instruct her how to proceed the rest of the way according to legend. That is the most I can do for you. Once you see Artrosa though she will not get any closer as the place is now taboo for us.
Looking at Duardlara Kaag shrugs, I do not know more than that at this time. Perhaps there is but I do not recall as the place is only in legend.