At Bostarg's request, the captain considers for a moment, when two of the sailors can be overheard, talking louder than they realize. "Could always feed him to a bear if we have to." This delivers a snicker form a fellow crewman until Odnekirk quiets them both with a gaze, giving Morthos a glance before turning back. "If you want, I don't care. But my men aren't responsible for your life."
There seems to be a deception amongst his words, a desire for more than just water.
And you will join us on this hunt, Captain Odenkirk? Alazandaru asked him quietly.
Tatya's expression evinces a distinct lack of enthusiasm at the thought of hunting dumb beasts.
Morthos looks at the captain curiously. "I do not hunt, Captain. Nor do I care anything about these beasts you speak of. But if any of the others wish to partake, I shall come along as well. Mainly because I feel there is more to this 'hunt' than what you are letting be known, Captain. I do not like that feeling." He states solemnly as he eyes the captain directly. "Nevertheless, as I said, if any of the others wish to go, I shall as well. And as Alazandaru has asked, you will be joining us, correct?"
Aedorn eyes the captain curiously. "I'm game for a hunt. Might give me some much needed practice with my bow, if nothing else." He's up to something. Better come along just in case.
And you will join us on this hunt, Captain Odenkirk? Alazandaru asked him quietly.
"Of course, they need me hunting seals, not gathering water."
"Do you hunt seals on land or from a boat?" Tatya asks curiously. "And what good is seal fur? They don't look furry; they look ... rubbery. Surely no one makes a tippet out of seals." Her imagination is thoroughly not up to an elegant woman in a smooth, spongy stole.
Morthos looks at the captain curiously. "I do not hunt, Captain. Nor do I care anything about these beasts you speak of. But if any of the others wish to partake, I shall come along as well. Mainly because I feel there is more to this 'hunt' than what you are letting be known, Captain. I do not like that feeling." He states solemnly as he eyes the captain directly. "Nevertheless, as I said, if any of the others wish to go, I shall as well. And as Alazandaru has asked, you will be joining us, correct?"
"What more could there be to a hunt? Simply gold to be made." He looks over his men "Lief, I think you need to do some labor. You're in charge of the water. Don't worry, the gnome will keep you company, it seems."
"Finn, you're in charge of the Frosthammer until I get back. The rest of you are with me." He turns to Morthos. "Figure out how your men are going, we leave in 10 minutes." With that, his men set about pulling out smaller four man boats used when the longship is too large to traverse.
"Do you hunt seals on land or from a boat?" Tatya asks curiously. "And what good is seal fur? They don't look furry; they look ... rubbery. Surely no one makes a tippet out of seals." Her imagination is thoroughly not up to an elegant woman in a smooth, spongy stole.
"I don't care if they wear the pelts on their heads and dance naked, as long as they trade for it. Near enough the Yutak lands, the fools trade good ivory for seal pelts. If we encounter one of 'em, you can ask them."
"Of course." Morthos nods and then takes his leave of the captain, moving with the others until they're out of earshot of him. "Alright, Aedorn and myself are going with the captain. Now Tatya, I would gather you are to travel with Bostarg and you Alazandaru will come with us?" He looks at them both, awaiting an answer.
He turns to Morthos. "Figure out how your men are going, we leave in 10 minutes." With that, his men set about pulling out smaller four man boats used when the longship is too large to traverse.
"'Your men?" Tatya repeats, glaring at the captain's back as he walks away. It's not clear if she's more offended by his assumption that she is under Morthos's authority or by being referred to as "men."
"Of course." Morthos nods and then takes his leave of the captain, moving with the others until they're out of earshot of him. "Alright, Aedorn and myself are going with the captain. Now Tatya, I would gather you are to travel with Bostarg and you Alazandaru will come with us?" He looks at them both, awaiting an answer.
Tatya looks less than enthusiastic, but shrugs, acceding with ill grace. "It's preferable to remaining alone on the ship with these barbarians. Watch Odenkirk carefully. I would not put it past him to try to leave some or all of us behind on the land and keep the Cardinal's cargo and payment alike."
"Nor would I, dear Tatya, nor would I. Your distrust of this man mimics my own." He glances over at Odenkirk through narrowed eyes for a moment then turns back to the others. "Remain wary," he simply advises.
I shall accompany the hunt, then Alazandaru decided. After sharpening his knives he set out with a loaded crossbow in hand- keeping a wary eye on the ships captain.
"'Your men?" Tatya repeats, glaring at the captain's back as he walks away. It's not clear if she's more offended by his assumption that she is under Morthos's authority or by being referred to as "men."
The Captain stares at Tatya for a moment, then gives a grunt. "You clansmen then."
Noting that only a single crewman has been assigned to water gathering, Bostarg frowns "Good Captain, are you sure that but a single sailor will suffice for water? You said that we run low and need re-supply... and well the arms of we two" hand sweeping over Tatya and himself "are hardly thick enough to lug barrels... and Leif will hardly manage them alone. Surely should there not be a brace or trio of sailors put to watering?... I mean, that is the reason for the delay is it not?"
The Captain shakes his head, then orders one more man to help with the water. "If you have no other concerns, we shoud be off."
"After you, Captain." He waits for him to take the lead.
Hunting Group
Two small boats prepared, each can seat four people. "We'll use these to get about. Should be able to find some good grounds around to the east." As the boats break away from the ship, Kargeld turns to Morthos for a moment, calling out to the other boat with a rare grin on his face. "Perhaps a bit of friendly entertainment on this little trip in the form of a wager? Whichever boat gets the most skins gets both lots? What you say, not afraid to show what your clan can do? Especially since we've got to wait a while anyway."
To keep things simple, if you choose to hunt it will be resolved by Survival checks. Choose one person to lead, the other two can assist. Navigating the boat is a simple matter, not requiring a check. Be forewarned, a really bad result could have 'unforeseen consequences, even from an aid roll.
Water Gathering Group
As the boats pull away, Leif checks the four water barrels and proceeds to bring one to the edge where Varin helps him bring it over the side. Meanwhile, Finn maintains a lookout position, apparently taking his guarding duties quite seriously. "The stream isn't too far from here, should only take about an hour there and back."
Morthos look at the man through narrowed eyes, as if pondering the decision. Finally, "Normally, I do not wager, but in this case, very well."
Alazandaru kept his loaded crossbow in his hands, scowling openly at the Captain.
Aedorn keeps his bow ready, eyes sharp looking for prey as they row.
Water Gathering Group
Leif and Finn are mostly quiet during the trip, responding with brief answers as they walk. It seems they've been with Kargeld for more than a few years. Both were born in Kalsgard, but Odenkirk had brought them to Talingarde a few years back seeking fortune. As to their favorite food, it's a quick to respond answer. "Hákarl. Can't find any good Hákarl in this land, it seems."
Hunting Group
A few hours pass as the two boats sail along the coast. The first seal belongs to Odenkirk who gives Morthos a grin across the way. The next is taken by the villain's group, then a second by them. But at the end of the day Odenkirk's boat is filled with four seal pelts while the PCs only have the two.
Alazandaru
Morthos
Odenkirk's group
"Oh dear, it appears we lost." He states without a hint of emotion. "Are we done here? I hope so, we need to continue on. We've lost enough time as is."
"Oh dear, it appears we lost." He states without a hint of emotion. "Are we done here? I hope so, we need to continue on. We've lost enough time as is."
The mild joy Kargeld felt seems to fade form his face, expecting a different reaction from Morthos. Yet a smirk still stays on his face as both groups return back to the Frosthammer.
Leaving Seal Isle and continuing on their journey, the next three days are met with heavy rainfall. The sailors prove to be skilled in handling the craft in the storms, able to continue pushing forward with little time lost to the elements. As the rain lifts on the third day, the sun shining overhead, four watercraft are spotted. Three small one man kayaks as well as a seal-skin umiak, four men in the craft. The boats, having seen you as well, turn in your direction.
Kargeld takes notice of the craft. "Yutak. Probably wanting to trade. Won't be difficult to avoid them, but this is their waters. I'd advise meeting with them."
Kargeld has some ulterior motive with wanting to meet with these men, probably to do with the seal pelts acquired earlier as he eyes them for a moment.
The Yutak are a rather primitive people living on a large island northeast of Talingarde. They speak their own tongue, though an exceptional few speak common. Most of their weaponry consists of seal and whale leathers and bone weaponry.
The Yutak have strong family loyalties and are well known to follow vendettas to great ends. They have little interest in the 'metal-men' of Talingarde though they do value their metal weapons.
The Yutak place little value on gold, finding it weak and soft, making poor spear heads. Mithril ranks high on the Yutak's list of metals.
Aedorn snorts. "Imagine you probably just want to offload your seal pelts and make a bit of extra coin. We really don't have time for this, but if avoiding them would be more difficult than it's worth..."
Tatya waits until the captain moves out of earshot and then murmurs quietly to Aedorn in the Gnomish tongue. "Better he sells them now, as we are tasked with murdering him and taking all he has anyway. It's one less chore we'll have to deal with later. I'd rather carry off a pouch full of coin than a stack of seal pelts."
Aedorn shrugs and nods at Tatya.
You speak their tongue then, Kargeld? Alazandaru asked pointedly. I thought they were more interested in buying steel than seal he stated. He turned to Morthos and the others, his next comment clearly addressed to them rather than Kargeld. Primitive and superstitious people. Perhaps in the future we could find a way to make use of them.
"The ivory they sell is worth more than the steel, and seal pelts are still valuable to them. But yes, they do value steel." Odenkirk moves off to make sure his men follow his direction.
As the craft pulls up, Kargeld begins to speak with the man who appears to be the leader of their vessel, communicating the the Yutak tongue. Kargeld allows some of the Yutak to board the Frosthammer.
As the discussions continue on, one who appears to not be a warrior but rather a shamn approaches you all, seemingly not interested in the mercantile talk. He speaks in an accented common. "Greetings travelers. I am Joseph Calls-Fire-From-Water. You not seem same as Chief of Boat. Perhaps tale have you to share?"
"Tales of what brings this far north? Boat not laden for long travels and you not interested in trade as your Chief of Boat is."
Joseph ponders your words for a moment before continuing. "You speak in swirls, but if no quarrel with the Yutak, then Yutak have no quarrel with metal men. We come south looking for hunt. Spirits with us last hunt, make good catch. See now as White Tusk show your Chief of Boat."
As you watch the muscular Yutak retrieves an 8 foot ivory horn. "Horn from narwhal, great beast. Spirits say horn great treasure, possess mighty magics within."
Even as you look, the horn does indeed seem to have a power about it, though a closer examination would be required to determine this. Odenkirk and White Tusk seem to be getting into a serious discussion regarding the horn itself. "Seems Chief of Boats impressed. But does not understand value of horn."
Curious as to what the horn does, "What are these 'mighty magics' you speak of?"
"Narwhal from which slain great beast, possess great power. Power rests within horn. If one draws out power, it can be great aid to he who does so."
Tatya arches a skeptical eyebrow at Bostarg. Almost certainly the empty superstition of a primitive people ... and yet it is undeniable that bits and pieces of natural and magical beasts can power spells and potions. She tries to remember if she read anything in the Cardinal's library about narwhal horn.
Aedorn snickers and turns away quickly to avoid offending the guests.
"I read about narwhal-horn weapons in the Cardinal's library," Tatya murmurs to the others. "They are favored among the seafaring tribes in place of a wooden quarterstaff. Their true value lies in the fact that they absorb arcane enhancement eagerly; the time and coin involved in enchanting a narwhal horn, either as a weapon or as a wand, rod, or staff, are lessened." She shrugs. "As far as I know, none of us are gifted in such craft, however."
"Hm." Morthos ponders what use an item might have amongst the group. Making his way towards Odenkirk, "Captain, what does this one want for the horn? It appears you wish it but cannot come to some form of agreement."
Heaving a sigh he turns to Morthos, his current contempt for the yutak overriding that for Morthos. "The fool won't take gold for his little prize there. I'd wager it'd fetch a fair price in the markets too. Wants to trade for weapons, but there's not enough among my men to spare what he desires. A few bits of ivory is all I'll be taking away." It's obvious the Captain has concluded his own business and is ready to depart.
"Ah, I see. There's always next time, Captain." Morthos tells him flatly as he takes his leave, making his way towards the boat in preparing to leave.
The business concluded with the Yutak, the boat pushes away and continues on. The next day passes uneventful until arrival at the entrance to the River Taiga. This part of the journey proves why Kargeld was the one chosen to lead this journey, almost a shame for Thorn's final orders. Kargeld directs his crew down the ice-choked river, the ship nimbly dodging the floating jagged ice. He barks his orders and time after time the sailors scramble to follow his orders, the boat turning at just the right moment to pass between the broken shards calved from ancient glaciers.
Finally, after nerve-wracking hours of this, the boat pushes through the dangerous headwaters of the Taiga into the clear water of this almost uncharted mighty river. Beyond the headwaters is a land of savage wonders. The Taiga winds through a great northern forest that to the best of anyone’s knowledge has no name.
After miles and miles of picturesque pine trees frosted with new fallen snow, the ship comes to a great mountain range. This river flows through a great rift in the mountains that looks as if some impossible huge primordial giant smashed a pass through the grey slate.
Finally, you come upon the great interior sea of Talingarde, Lake Tarik. To the south lies the Watch Wall as well as your target, the fortress Balentyne. But to the northern bank you now head, to a wide wooded valley that holds the camp of Sakkarot Fire-Axe.
Thousands of bugbears have already gathered, savage humanoids with worse seen in between. Fur-clad goblins are seen wandering about and even a few hill giants are spied, given room for them to move. Even several polar bears can be observed.
As the boat approaches, only one place is found to dock the ship, a crude pier that juts into the river. Sitting on the pier are four bugbears, their primitive weapons in hand. Kargeld leads the boat to the pier, but his own hands are nearly to his axe, a grim look on his face. He whispers to Morthos, "Your friends, they don't look too happy to see us."
"While I don't know what has angered them," Tatya murmurs to her companions, "the beasts do seem ready to attack. They will show no patience for extended negotiations; however we appeal to them, we must be successful the first time or not at all."