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"Alas, Jangafzaar, I too am a reinforcement. My friend, Ser Beric Dondarrion was on the original team that began this investigation. He was captured during it and sold into slavery. I seek to put paid to the dogs responsible for that and find out where they sold him so I can try to rescue him if he is still alive. He is a dwarf like you, so we both know that dwarves make poor slaves. I fear he is already dead because he would never bend a knee to an oppressor."
Snorri shakes his head mournfully.
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"Alas, Jangafzaar, I too am a reinforcement. My friend, Ser Beric Dondarrion was on the original team that began this investigation. He was captured during it and sold into slavery. I seek to put paid to the dogs responsible for that and find out where they sold him so I can try to rescue him if he is still alive. He is a dwarf like you, so we both know that dwarves make poor slaves. I fear he is already dead because he would never bend a knee to an oppressor."
Snorri shakes his head mournfully.
"Yes, love is lost and sadness remains!" Jangafzaar says and nods.
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You make your way across foothills and open swaths of tundra for the early part of the first day’s journey. The megafauna that give this land its name—giant sloths, massive elk, and woolly mammoths—do not approach your trail closely enough to cause any harm.
Just after noon, the trail leads through a patch of dense evergreens that end atop a low hill. On the ground below, the evidence of battle is immediately apparent.
The thick cluster of pine trees ends abruptly at the top of a low hill. At the bottom, the snow is littered with the aftermath of battle. Broken shields and spears jut from the snow like fractured bones, and blood colors the ground around a sprawl of bodies, many still seemingly locked in combat.
The corpses number 10 in all, and are of two distinct groups. Five are native Kellids who carried axes and wooden shields. The lower half of each Kellid warrior’s face is painted white in a haphazard sprawl of color from the upper lip to just above the larynx.
reveals these warriors to be members of the Snowmask Clan, a fearsome group of barbarians known for protecting this region of the Realm of the Mammoth Lords from all outsiders.
The other combatants wear more “civilized” clothes, including heavy winter coats. These non-Kellid dead have been stripped of their weapons and any other valuables, leaving them in only their clothes and padded armor.
reveals that one of the Kellids is still alive, but barely (he’s stabilized at –9 hit points and has a Constitution score of 12).
locates a series of boot-shod footprints leading off in the same direction you are headed, followed by the more crudely-shod prints of another set of humanoids that followed shortly there after.
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Jang' casts 'comprehend languages' to understand what the man says.
Jang looks at the man and shakes his head.
He points at the 'civilized' people and with his hands tries to indicate that they do not belong to him and his companions.
He shows the sign of the open road to the man and tries to make clear that the Pathfinders want to aid him.
Jang also wants to know from him where the remaining shadow lodge agents went to.
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Jangafzaar manages to communicate that they are not part of the group of Shadow Lodge agents.
"Thanks for closing my wounds then, I'll head back to my people. I've no idea where they are going. By the looks of it, this battle was over a day ago and since we brought more than five warriors, it looks like we won, although there were more than five of the 'defilers' as well..."
He says as he begins his long walk back to his people, which is the opposite direction your map says you should head in.
As he walks away, a pure white, stocky, muscular mammal the size of a badger, with snarling lips that reveal a mouth full of yellow teeth attempts to sneak up on you, drawn by the scent of the blood of the fallen. The creature sees you and begins to charge.
Initiative Order, Bold May Go!
Map slide
Jangafzaar
Snorri
Rewyn
Koruda
Ethelinda
Enemy Creature
Chrolo
Wolverines are territorial, especially when it comes to food, and have been known to defend their kills against much larger predators, such as black bears. They are fearsome opponents, launching into a frenzy when wounded. They tend to give off a very strong, unpleasant musk smell when angry.
Armed with powerful jaws, strong legs, and a thick hide, wolverines are remarkably strong for their size. They are reckless in battle and throw themselves at their foes, clawing and biting furious.
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The wolverine comes racing down the snow and leaps over the fallen tree before trying to bite Koruda.
but sees the kinship between itself and Koruda at the last minute, making it falter in its attack.
Initiative Order, Bold May Go!
Map slide
Jangafzaar
Snorri
Rewyn
Koruda
Ethelinda
Enemy Creature
Chrolo
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Between Jangafzaar's crossbow bolt and Rewyn's blast of earth, the creature is significantly wounded, but this causes it only to get angry!
Not wanting to be flanked, the creature lashes out wildly at Snorri.
Initiative Order, Bold May Go!
Map slide
Jangafzaar
Snorri, -16hp
Rewyn
Koruda
Ethelinda
Enemy Creature, -14hp
Chrolo
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Chorlo seeing Snorri on the ground produces a wand quickly touching the wounded man.
"Is that better? Chorlo asks
HP 15/15
Inspiration 4/4 (+1d6 to trained skill or ability check. Use 2 points, to add to attack or save)
Investigator (Lamplighter) Extracts Prepared (CL 2nd; concentration +5)
1st—adhesive spittle ACG (DC 14), blurred movement ACG, shield
Burn an Infusion to cast - continual flame (alchemical illumination, 24 hr duration) , light (alchemical illumination)
Alchemist Fire x 2
Holy Water x2
Oil x 3
Arrows X 20
Blunt Arrows x 20
Wand of CLW 49/50
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If any of you care about the gear on the dead, you're welcome to loot it. Each of the five Shadow Lodge agents has a set of padded armor and a cold-weather outfit. Each of the, now four, Snowmask Clan warriors has a battleaxe, 3 javelins, leather armor, a heavy wooden shield.
You also find coin pouches left behind on the dead Shadow Lodge agents totaling 100g
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An unprotected character in cold weather (below 40° F) must make a Fortitude save each hour (DC 15, +1 per previous check) or take 1d6 points of nonlethal damage. A character who has the Survival skill may receive a bonus on this saving throw and might be able to apply this bonus to other characters as well (see the skill description).
A character who takes any nonlethal damage from cold or exposure is beset by frostbite or hypothermia (treat her as fatigued). These penalties end when the character recovers the nonlethal damage she took from the cold and exposure.
You continue on your journey across the snowy tundra. It is about midday.
Roughly an hour after you continue, you hear the booming sound of a horn to the south of your route
You hear a horn from the northeast, the direction you are headed.
You continue until near dusk.
The gradual shift into rockier terrain is now more apparent than ever. Large, round stones evoke cobblestones as they form a layer of ground, although the hard-packed snow is still visible between. Ahead, an ancient ring of boulders juts from the ground to form a ring. The wind’s erratic path around the massive rocks has blown the snow into large, haphazard drifts.
Your map directs you to a small cave that will shelter you from the elements for the night. This route leads you through an area with several large snow drifts.
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Jang looks at you and then at the cave ... then back at you.
"Ethelinda is right. I hear it too. But we should not concern ourselves with that now. The wolverine died for us to live and tell the story to our loved one ... " he then looks down to the earth and continues "... well at least you can tell the story to your loved ones. Let us camp here!"[/b] Jang proposes.