The Yutak are more than willing to take the mithril off your hands. It will make good, strong spearheads.
Finally, the Frosthamar arrives at the ice-choked entrance to the River Taiga. Here, Kargeld proves himself a worthy captain as he nimbly sails the heavily-laden craft through fields of floating jagged ice. After several nerve-wracking hours of delicate maneuvering and countless near-misses, you clear the ice field and officially travel off the map. You've entered the Frozen North, and it's nothing like you were led to believe. Instead of a desolate frozen wasteland, you find yourselves sailing past beautiful forests of pine frosted with freshly-fallen snow. After miles of this, you sail through a great rift in a mountain chain that looks as if some impossibly-huge primordial giant smashed a pass through the gray slate.
You're heading south now, but it's still bitterly cold. You're heading to the great inner sea of Talingarde - Lake Tarik. To the south of that lake sits the Watch Wall. On the northern bank, in a wide wooded valley, is the camp of Sakkarot Fire-Axe. When you arrive at your destination, thousands of bugbears are assembled in a mighty army, but that's not all you see. Polar bears lumber untended around the camp, fur-clad goblins scamper around, and there are even a few hill giants gathering at the camp's fringes. There's only one place to dock the Frosthamar: a crudely-made pier that juts into the river. Standing guard are four hulking bugbears who look bored and hungry. As they catch sight of the three of you, one of them starts licking its lips.
"Marvin, would you be so kind as to put a little fear into them? No need to hurt them, I think, but I'd like our positions to be clear from the start." Celestine said. They were here to deliver weapons to monsters, but it wouldn't hurt if the creatures clearly understood the hierarchy here - and that generally meant having someone bigger and stronger than they were. First impressions were important that way.
"Agreed- start the relationship with these humanoids out in our favor and them knowing that. if not the leader then the rank and file."
"My pleasure..." Marvin said. A grin split his face as familiar red scales spread across his skin and his body swelled to a more impressive size.
The immense dragon glowered down at the bugbear trio from the deck of the ship and called out,
The fact that at least one of you can transform into a terrifying monster is sufficient to keep the bugbear guards a respectable distance away. After a long, tense minute, a massive black-furred bugbear wielding a flaming axe pushes through the crowd of monsters. Pointing his axe in your direction, he growls in unaccented Common, "Who sent you?"
"Put that down." Celestine said flatly as he raised his weapon. "If we were enemies, we'd simply have taken your head already. Thorn has made good on his promise, and we have the munitions. Now let's get them unloaded, shall we?" She had exactly no intention of allowing any of the Cardinal's forces to seem weak or subservient. Many of the more bestial beings in the world only respected strength - so that was how she behaved.
Ignoring the threat, Sakkarot smoothly continues moving his axe in a sweeping motion as he points it at each one of you before continuing the sweep to indicate the massed bugbears. To all but the extremely perceptive, it almost-certainly appeared to have been his intent all along. As he roars an order to his army, his axe ends its journey in the fastening of the nearest crate. It flies open to reveal finely-made axes. He tosses one to a nearby warrior to a terrifying chorus of growls and cheers.
As the bugbear lieutenants surge forward to unload the boat, Sakkarot quietly speaks to Celestine. "You seem to have mistaken me for an uncivilized brute. Perhaps you should extend a modicum of trust to our master. My troops have certain expectations, but once they've been attended to, we will discuss what is to come. Until then, choose your words carefully lest I be forced to make an example of you. It would displease the Cardinal, but I'd prefer that to one of my troops seeing my authority disrespected without repercussion and begin getting ideas."
Over the next few hours, you see the camp visibly transform. Where there were once thousands of bugbear savages, there are now thousands of bugbear warriors bearing weapons and shields adorned with the emblem of the fire-axe.
In honor of the shipment, Sakkarot hosts a grand feast. This is a brutal, savage affair with bugbears fighting each other, and all manner of monsters in attendance. The highlight is when a great shaggy dire boar weighing close to one thousand pounds is dragged in. Sakkarot beheads the animal with one mighty stroke of his axe, and it's promptly spitted and roasted in a great open pit.
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Erick rests his arm on Sakkarot's shoulder. "She didn't mean any disrespect big guy. Just delivering the message is all." Erick's eyes turn to one of alarm as he strokes the bugbear's furry arm. "It is so soft! What do you clean this with to give it such a shine and fullness?" He follows the bugbear Captain continuing to berate the creature with endless questions of meaningless curiosity.
As soon as they are away from the boat he turns to the others for a brief moment. "Say weren't we supposed to take care of the crew once the weapons were delivered?"
"Not until after they take us back across the lake. Unless you would rather swim..."
Celestine glared at Erick slightly as he ran his mouth - and she didn't apologize for her earlier words. Nobody had ever said exactly what relationship Sakkarot had with the Cardinal, and information was power - she didn't even want to let others know of Cardinal Thorn's presence unless they absolutely to. After all, it was harder to plan against a threat you didn't know existed.
She was, however, amused by the festivities - although she wasn't sure how long such huge creatures took to cook. Surely more than a few minutes...? Regardless, she accepted her portion and ate quite cheerfully, pleased by the blood. She knew better than to simply indulge in every vice because she could, but that didn't mean she wouldn't enjoy watching others do it...
As the festivities progressed, Marvin spoke little, preferring to observe the newly armed horde. He was quite amused when he received a number of fearful glances from bugbears that had surely heard of his more primal nature. Still, a terrifying reputation only works on those wise enough to recognize danger, and he had to discourage a few would be challengers in rather humiliating fashion. Marvin took care not to do any permanent physical damage, since these soldiers would be needed soon, but it turns out that bugbears abhor being bent over and spanked in front of their peers.
Eventually, the raucous bestial festivities die down. Sakkarot summons you into his private chambers, dismissing his guards with a deep growl. What you're about to discuss is meant only for those meant to know. The bugbear warlord opens with a question. "You are traitors to your own kind. You must know that. When Balentyne falls and my horde pours through its shattered gates, we will slaughter the Talireans by the thousands. Yet, I see no regret in your eyes. Tell me, how can this be?"
"And who, pray tell, is my kind?" Celestine answered. "Lazy, self-righteous fools who seek to impose their wills upon us? Tell me, Warlord, would you bow down just because another told you to follow him? The people there are not my kind, and truthfully, I don't really care what happens to them. As far as I'm concerned, you're welcome to slaughter them as freely as you wish. That said, I am no traitor - they never had my allegiance to begin with, pretended or otherwise. I am loyal to my god, to Cardinal Thorn, and to my companions here - in that order. There are no others." That was an important point to her. Asmodeus generally had Opinions about contracts, loyalties, and agreements - and while he smiled upon cleverly wording contracts to give yourself an advantage, a deal was not to be outright violated so easily.
"I was content once. Just keep my head down and live my life quietly. When the Talirean guard knocked in my door searching for a heretic witch any illusion that they were 'my people' shattered. My short sighted plan to have revenge upon the man who ordered my wife's execution resulted in this," Marvin explained as he revealed the brand he had received in prison. "If it weren't for our mutual benefactor, I would have surely died there soon after. Fortunately, the cardinal was able to open my eyes to the fact that the Mitran zealots have gone too far, and it is time for Asmodeus to reclaim his proper place with a tide of fire and blood. Who better to bring that tide than you and your horde?"
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Erick attempts to go into the meeting but he is quickly and rather violently shoved back outside as the door is rudely shut in his face. Hurt and Angry he leaps forward and begins to furiously pound on the door. "Hey ya big bad wolf. Let me in! Let me in!"
Before he is able to finish one of the bug bear guards grabs him and shoves him back. Rubbing his shoulder his eyes gleam.
"One to wrestle huh?" Excitedly he leaps at the bug bear guard as they tussle and slam into the door of the meeting multiple times. WHAM! WHAM! CRACK!"
Though within moments a second bugbear guard arrives and pulls the two apart, Erick's hands wrapped firmly around the bugbears throat, as Erick has a smile from ear to ear. The two bugbears hurl him to the ground and detain him for a short bit before he concedes, raising his hands up and laughs. "I just wanted to talk ya uptight kittens! I'll play nice." He looks around and grabs a barrel, flipping it over on its end. Sitting down on the barrel he faces the bugbear guards, crosses his arms and waits, bruised, bloody and slightly battered as his clothes are caked in dirt and filth.
"Those you intend to slaughter tried to slaughter me and killed my kin...I have no ill feelings as to whether you kill them soon when you attack, or I do it in the future if I have the power. I just want the deed be done." Zyxtyvia says in a tone that is almost bored with everything indicating she is not too overly impressed with his displays of power and strength.
Seeing Marvin's brand, Sakkarot pulls aside his breastplate to reveal the Asmodean symbol burned into his chest. "We all have our scars." He pauses for a brief moment of quiet reflection before continuing. "What do you think of Thorne's plan? Will it work?"
"We wouldn't have agreed to follow him otherwise." Celestine said, somewhat mollified by his Asmodean brand. She liked other followers of her lord. "To put it another way... I have no intention of dying in a glorious but ultimately futile crusade to upend the order of this wretched kingdom. I much prefer success, and while there are sure to be bumps-" i.e. Erick, "-along the way, we shall overcome them."
"As long as your warband is ready when we open the gates, it should work well enough. I'm more curious what you plan to do after you take the city."
"We will slaughter its inhabitants and burn it to the ground. That will satiate my horde's bestial urges for a time. More importantly, it will draw the attention of the Talirean army - although for what purpose, I do not know."
"Excellent. I'm certain that if you perform your task well, the Cardinal will have more for you to pillage and burn in the future."
"Have fun with the army." Celestine added with a faint smile. "And have no doubt that there is a plan, of which you are a valuable piece indeed. Speaking of, do try to take at least a few officers as prisoners. I don't really mind whatever you decide to do with them, but I'm sure the Cardinal would appreciate any useful information you can obtain from them. Perhaps challenging your warriors to prove their skill by capturing officers would do?" Cardinal Thorn was the second of the three entities that Celestine felt loyalty towards - and that meant representing his interests.
Sakkarot gives a toothy smile. "I intend to do just that. Now, here's what you need to know: over the next week, more tribes will rally to my banner as I promise them blood and steel. Then, at last, I will be ready to march. A week after that - I will be poised to strike. I will move my horde to the valley just north of Balentyne, where we will wait for your signal." He hands you a single, carefully-wrapped signal rocket. "Fire this rocket into the air, and we will attack within the hour. Make sure the way is ready. A word of warning: idleness is not good for my horde's morale. Once we're in position, I expect to be able to hold them together for another two weeks before desertions and squabbling begin. Get your work done before then. I don't expect it to be easy, but Thorne has faith in you. If you weren't his best, he wouldn't have sent you. Do this, and your names will be legend. Now go. Hail Asmodeus!"
Marvin eyed the rocket, then took it and passed it to Celestine. "Perhaps you ought to hold on to this, instead of say... a fire breathing dragon? As for taking Balentyne, that should be more than enough time. Are you likely to encounter many scouts within an hour of the wall? How do you plan to stay obscured so you don't alert the soldiers of your presence? Or is that just something we'll have to deal with?"
After the meeting, Marvin's mind was buzzing with potential plans to sow discord among the ranks in Balentyne and he proposed a variety of ideas to his companions, including poisoning water supplies, bringing in diseased refugees, 'encouraging' a ghoul infestation, or perhaps simply framing a few higher ranking officers with high profile crimes.
Celestine took the rocket from Marvin, then gestured to open her storage space. It was a power she was happy to hide from the underlings, but Sakkarot was clearly involved enough that she didn't really mind displaying her capability. More to the point, the fact that it ought to have been totally unknown to him until that point made it a useful reminder that they had capabilities unknown to him... and he was probably smart enough to realize she wouldn't have shown it unless she'd had other abilities still hidden.
In other words... it was simply a polite reminder that they weren't to be underestimated, and also a reassurance that nothing bad was going to happen to it. She enjoyed delivering several messages with the same action.
"We'll make camp in the woods, where our shamans can keep us concealed. Still, we can only stay hidden for so long; don't be overtardy with your task."
You can't leave the bugbear camp fast enough. Captain Odenkirk hasn't left the Frosthamar since you arrived, and he's been grumbling about the amount of time you're taking. If it was up to him, you would have left hours ago.
Under cover of darkness, you sail across the mist-shrouded Lake Tarik and lay anchor on its southern shore. You're about a three hour walk from the nearest town: Aldencross .
Ah, and here they had a nice long walk ahead of them - with one other matter to take care of first. Namely, the removal of the good Captain and his crew, who had finally outlived their usefulness. With the added requirement of reclaiming the coin that had been given to him, of course - why waste the money? Unfortunately, that did mean they couldn't simply set the ship alight right away...
"He seems considerably wiser than the soldiers under him, no less fierce a warrior because of it. His people will be ready when the time comes, so long as we do our part."
When the group arrived at the south side of the lake, Marvin pulled Erick aside. "We have a bit of business to take care of, as I'm sure you recall. How many of the crew do you think you could silence without them alerting the others? I'm guessing only two, think you can prove me wrong?"
"Is it time...to continue with our mission here...?" Zyxtyvia asks the others cognizant of the Ships captain and his men being close...
Celestine just glanced at Zyxtyvia, careful to ensure none of the ship's crew was in earshot. "We have our orders." she said simply. Kill the crew, recover the money, burn the ship. Leave no survivors who could betray their plans.
Kargeld looks at Erick in irritation. "What is it now? We didn't get paid to babysit you past here, and there's seal hunting to do. Hurry up and get your stuff unloaded so we can get outta here."
This time Marvin wisely remembered to protect himself before things came to violence, and found a quiet place away from prying eyes to summon a pair of magical protections that would persist even if he took a more scaled form.
Celestine waited patiently - towards the docks, and well away from immediate danger when things inevitably got violent. She intended to see to it that the job got done, of course, but that didn't mean she was going to put herself in needless danger...
Kargeld's scowl deepens. "Just spit it out and be done with it. I've wasted enough of my time already listening to your inane pratter."
Zyxtyvia begins casting a spell to direct against the rude Kargeld once combat starts...she watches the events unfold and Kargelds rising anger as she prepares...
A smile crept across Marvin's face, slowly at first, before it widened quickly, splitting his mouth to fit his rapidly growing head. the dragon rumbled.