It is a long, cold journey from the City at the Center of the World to Iceferry. Across the river lies Kalsgard, the largest settlement in the Land of the Linnorm Kings. At the knock on the door to the local Lodge, a junior agent opens the door and smiles at the Pathfinders. "Oh, you're here!" he says grinning cheerfully. "Come inside and warm your bones by the fire. I'll go grab some hot rum - best way to ward off the chill." As he leaves, he adds, "The Venture Captain is finishing up another meeting, but he'll be with you shortly!"
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Noke is a small Wayang woman with shadowy long hair that almost darkens her surroundings. She has a crossbow in one hand, a mithral buckler in the other hand and wears a custom-fit Haramaki suit that looks like it has been recently oiled.
Resting on top of her chest, an amulet showing the holy symbol of Chaldira Zuzaristan is visible.
Noke is sitting on a military saddle on top of a riding dog that looks like a mixture of a black wolfhound and a mastiff. It is clear that this dog can fight while carrying a rider and Noke is not really fully in control.
On Noke's shoulder you see a tiny horned lizard that has dark black scales which in some areas have a red coloring that curiously forms the holy symbol of Chaldira and glows.
Noke, her riding dog 'Happu' and her tiny horned lizard familiar 'Divune' enter the lodge together with the group and you see that Noke is somehow almost out of breath.
Noke's eyes turn white when she sits gets down from her riding dog and she looks at you.
"Divune, Happu and I are here to support you and bring luck into your lives ... if destiny allows!" Noke says to the team with a strange smile.
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Hamish is a rather stern looking muscular half elf. His clothing is simple, with a black cloak and dark britches covering most of his body. His chest is clad in a bright silver breastplate that contrasts with the dull wrought iron Symbol of Pharasma hanging from his neck. Slung over his shoulders is a tightly packed backpack with a set of small war drums hanging below them. Clipped to his belt on one side is a black whip and the other side has a dangerous looking flail.
He looks at everyone through red tinted spectacles and introduces himself, "hello allies, my name is Hamish and I am pleased to meet you all. I do not believe I have had the pleasure to work with any of you before, but hopefully I can lift your spirits as we get on with this job. I've seen a lot of things, but also taken a few blows to the head so who knows what I'll remember if we encounter the strange."
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A halfling woman bounces into the room, clearly full of hope. She wears no armor. Her long robes cover her arms, but occasionally when she gets excited and moves quickly, her wrists display old manacle scars.
She smiles at the offer of hot rum, and closes her eyes in prayer for a minute before she sips.
"Hi, I'm Narika, natural student of the arcane arts."
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A young woman rushes inside and rubs her arms and face, both reddened by the cold. ”Oh my goodness...so cold....”
Much like her shawl/obi, the young woman herself is a mixture of Tien and Varisian features. Her fair skin and the folds on her eyes favor far Tian-Xia, while her ash brown hair and sharp features favor Varisia. Each of her eyes has a different color: the left is clear blue and the right is deep green.
The young woman turns and sees the others gathered, then suddenly jumps as she remembers something.
”My sincerest apologies! I have forgotten to introduce myself.”
She steps back, then gives a deep bow of practiced formality, holding her staff horizontal at her waist as she does.
”Greetings. I am most honored to meet all of you. My name is Kiku. I am an onmyoji, like my mother before me. I am on a pilgrimage to help the lost and wayward spirits of the dead pass on to the Boneyard. I also wish to learn more about Thassilon so that I can protect my people from its Sin magic.”
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Another figure enters after Kiku, albeit far less rushed, and through the wall. He doesn’t seem to notice the cold. He wears drooping robes over the lamellar armor of a samurai, a katana and wakizashi hanging at his side. A fierce mask and a broad-brimmed jingasa cover his head. All of the wispy, ectoplasmic form of the figure is made of reds flowing into oranges, then yellows, then back again.
”I am Yojimbo. I will require compensation from my summoner before undertaking any task, as per the terms of our contract. Once compensated, I will perform to the utmost of my abilities.”
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Noke hops off her riding dog Happu and eyes Yojimbo.
”You are a very peculiar being... “ she says and touches her horned lizard.
She then looks at the group.
”Dangers and threats are to be overcome but only if we know each other’s strengths. I can create the need for deep sleep in any person’s heart and can bend probability so that luck is on our side ... additionally I can speed you to unknown levels ... what are your capabilities!?“ she asks expectantly.
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A draft of cold air from the outside heralds the entry of another visitor, this one appearing to be a tengu man dressed in sky blue tunic; all covered under a heavy traveling cloak. The tengu quickly steps to the side to free up the doorway, and begins swiftly drying/wiping the snow off of himself in a practiced fashion until immaculately clean. Pulling back his hood from the cloak reveals alert beady yellow eyes on his feathered face, the eyes which quickly dart around to take in the room's other occupants.
"Greetings, you all must be the other agents on the mission," the tengu says in a voice that is an awkward blend of cawing lisps and a heavy backwater Tien accent. "My name is Shirogane, and I-" the tengu cuts off as it abruptly notices Yojimbo; the tengu's head rotating quickly at an uncomfortable angle to focus on the spirit, its eyes dilating slightly as his head bobs and tilts several times while Shiro caws softly. He shakes out of his distraction after a brief moment, coughing into his clawed hand. "Err...yes. Shiro for short. I am a student of..." the tengu trails off as his head snaps to focus on a reflective glint off of Hamish's very shiny breastplate from a nearby by fireplace. Another head-bobbing-and-soft-cawing routine passes quickly, and the tengu returns back to reality.
"Umm...yes. Monk. Punch good. Excuse me," Shiro finishes lamely; stepping to the side of the room to avoid any further embarrassment, only to become distracted again by a shiny buckle on Noke's dog saddle.
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Kiku smiles at Noke and giggles at Shirogane’s discomfort.
”I am skilled in healing and strengthening magics. I also carry a great deal of consumable healing items for various contingencies.”
She places a hand on Yojimbo’s arm. ”Yojimbo does not inflict a great deal of harm, but his presence is empowering, and he is able to move through solid objects. He is an excellent bodyguard, as per his name. Especially against incorporeal creatures.”
She gives Shirogane her warmest smile. ”Do not worry. He is kind, despite his fearsome appearance.”
The junior agent returns with a tray full of steaming cups, but holds the door open and beckons the Pathfinders to follow him. After leading them to a more secluded office, he passes out cups of hot buttered rum as the agents file in and shuts the door behind them.
A keen-eyed half-orc man rises from his desk with a broad smile, and a large husky leaps up and bounds across the room. “Welcome to Iceferry, Pathfinders! I am Venture-Captain Bjersig Torrsen, head of this Lodge. This is Mahki.” He indicates the husky that is circulating around the room, sniffing and nuzzling those present.
“I’ll come right to the point,” Bjersig begins, his eyes flitting back and forth around the room constantly. “I’ve received a concerning report from one of my agents up on the Whitefang Peninsula. Svala Ice-rider is a meticulous researcher who has been combing the Lodge’s records for the last year. She stumbled upon an old myth recorded by an Ulfen explorer in contact with the Erutaki clans around Whitefang Bay. Few people seem to devote any time to studying the Erutaki culture, but Svala’s mother is of Varki descent and so she has a personal connection. She’s become my expert on Varki and Erutaki culture.
“Svala found an ancient loresong that had been translated and recorded by Ulfen traders, which spoke of a glacier on the Whitefang Peninsula which protected the lands from the coming of the dark of winter. It sounded like a typical local legend, but Svala came to believe that something had been lost in the translation. And she was correct.” He shakes his head in amazement.
“The Erutaki often tell their stories through oral histories passed down within a tribe or village, and the oral languages of the Crown of the World have so many local variations and tonal nuances, not to mention culturally specific similes and metaphors, that direct translation is often flawed. The Ulfens who recorded the story probably used magical aid to understand it, but many of the Erutaki oral histories use allegory and cultural keystones to quickly convey complex concepts that can be easily misunderstood when literally translated. This find was hidden in plain sight for hundreds of years, just waiting for someone who could comprehend it.”
Bjersig moves to a large map of northern Avistan on the wall, gesturing to illustrate his words. “Svala’s expedition left three months ago. They sailed to the edge of the ice pack and then went inland by dogsled. It’s a hard trip in the winter, but any excavation is best done while the permafrost is still frozen. In spring, the entire region turns into a muddy swamp, and any dig sites would run the risk of collapsing.” He pulls a velvet cord beside his desk, and a wizened gnome quickly appears at the door. “Please send in Kuokei.” The gnome nods and disappears down the hallway.
“Svala has been sending regular reports by messenger, but her last report indicates things have taken an ominous turn. She and her team have uncovered a large ice structure buried under the snow, as well as signs of an Erutaki village, but the site is contaminated with blackfrost, a toxic and corrosive substance that blows down from strange ruins at the north pole. What’s worse, there seem to be a number of unusual undead creatures also buried in the snow, of a kind never before seen. Svala is worried that perhaps there were more translation errors, ones she missed, that might shed light on what this site is and how it should be handled.”
Suddenly a large and majestic snow-white owl flies into the room, landing to perch on the back of the venture-captain’s chair. “Ah, here is Kuokei,” the venture-captain proclaims, indicating the owl. “She arrived last night with a missive from Svala, requesting assistance. And so, we finally come to the details of your assignment.” He slides a large bundle of papers and journals across the desk.
“This packet contains copies of Svala’s notes and the original Ulfen translation of the myth. Svala thinks that she may have missed more of the story, or that the rest of the Ulfen translation may also be faulty. I need you to take these notes to Aaminiut, the largest Erutaki village in the Crown of the World. Speak with the elders there and see what their oral histories reveal about the site that the Ulfen translations don’t. Send the information with Kuokei off to Svala at once, and then follow at best speed yourself to offer Svala what help you can before the thaw comes. I’ve got a longship ready to sail with the tide, with enough food and supplies to get you to Aaminiut. Resupply there, meet with the elders, and arrange some local land transportation and supplies to get you to the site. Now, any questions?”
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Hamish eyes the ghostly apparition very warily, though he trusts the indicator on his new spectacles and that the creature appears to be under control of an ally. As she clarifies her purpose he nods in agreement, "ah yes, I also align myself with that goal. I can certainly see the value in having an ally with similar traits to the spirits we seek to usher towards their final judgement. Well met!"
Hamish holds his hand out to let the big puppy get a sniff and then apologizes with a whisper, "no bones here to chew buddy, those all end up buried properly when I'm around."
He listens intently to the briefing, frowning a bit as he thinks about their task. "Well, I'd rather head straight there to start ushering those ghastly beings along, but gathering some information before may prevent us from joining their ranks."
He shivers briefly, then takes a sip of the rum to warm himself a bit. "Do we have any resources to work with and what kind of weather effects will we need to prepare for?"
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She gives Shirogane her warmest smile. ”Do not worry. He is kind, despite his fearsome appearance.”
"Your companion looked very similar to the demons spoken of in the tales from where I come from," the tengu says as he relaxes slightly. "It is good to hear that it is on our side for now." He then immediately becomes distracted by a random knick-knack on a nearby lintel and loses track of the conversation.
The junior agent returns with a tray full of steaming cups, but holds the door open and beckons the Pathfinders to follow him.
Shiro politely passes on the alcohol, but will gladly have some water if available.
Suddenly a large and majestic snow-white owl flies into the room, landing to perch on the back of the venture-captain’s chair.
The tengu is very startled by the arrival of the large owl, and takes pretty much the rest of the venture-captain's briefing to recollect his wits.
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Kiku's face takes on a grave expression as she hears speak of undead.
"As a follower of Ashava, dealing with undead is my specialty. I wish I could say the same for translating Ulfen, though. Do you have any ideas of what powers these undead may have?"
She rests her hand on her chin, then looks to her companions.
"Hmm...do any of you speak Ulfen? I was thinking I may need to go purchase some scrolls of Communal Share Language and it would simplify things if one of us already speaks it."
Bjersig nods in response to Hamish's question. " As far as the weather..." he ponders. "Well, it’s three weeks to Aaminiut, and between the sea spray and the wind, it’ll be bitter cold. Inside the ship you’ll be fine, but out on the land you’ll freeze within a few days without proper gear. Magical protection is best, but thick furs and a hardy constitution’s the next best thing. From Aaminiut north, it gets really cold—metal gets so cold you’ll freeze your fingers onto your sword. There’s a reason the Erutaki use wooden-hafted weapons and tools!" He chuckles, then adds, "Oh, and I hope you like dogs... because they’ll be pulling you all the way to the Whitefang Peninsula."
As Kiku speaks, Mahki nudges Bjersig and he turns quickly. "Svala’s team has only seen a couple," he replies, "but they seem to be some kind of undead particularly well-adapted to the ice and cold, perhaps frozen victims of the snowstorms that covered this site. Svala’s report says their touch ‘freezes the skin and the soul.’ While Svala can wax poetic, I believe her description is intended to be quite literal."
"Do you have any other questions?" Bjersig asks, eyes dancing around the room. "You should be able to find whatever supplies you might need here before you depart."
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Hamish remembers quite a few tidbits, though most mirror what the VC is sharing about the cold. He adds some information he remembers from a map, "The Crown of the World is an ice-covered land that joins the continents of Avistan and Tian Xia over Golarion’s northern pole. From what I've read, even in summer, the temperature is close to freezing, and winter brings some of the coldest temperatures experienced on Golarion. In addition to the cold, we should watch out for snowstorms and ensure we all keep dry. Being wet is like lowering the temperature from cold weather to severe cold, or severe cold to extreme cold."
He suggests they purchase some cold weather gear and also cash in some of their reputation to secure magical assistance.
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”I believe that I need to buy cold weather clothing and that we need to think how we want to handle undead. I have to admit that these creatures are not my specialty!“
She turns to the Venture-Captain.
”What can you tell us about the local tribes. Especially those we need to question? Any tactic that makes sense? I could pretend that I am their grandmother and they would believe it but maybe we need another story so they feel good about supporting us?“ she asks
"I'm afraid you will have to discover that for yourself," Bjersig replies to Narika with a smile. "As for the tribes, that would be the Erutaki - the name by which most nations south of the Crown refer to the native human populations of those northernmost reaches, but they are not a single people - there are hundreds of unique clans with similar language and culture. They share some ethnic roots with the Varisians and Tian. Some of the clans are nomadic, following the caribou migration and living in tent camps; others build semi-permanent villages on rivers or near the coast. Most are willing to trade with foreigners, particularly for metal weapons or tools, which can be difficult to obtain otherwise." He claps his hands eagerly. "If that is all your questions, time could very well be of the essence! Kuokei will accompany you through the market down to the waterfront - look for the Rimedrake there, captained by Brynhild Redaxe."
The snowy owl hoots affirmatively and glides silently out of the room, waiting impatiently by the door for the Pathfinders to join her. As the party leaves the Lodge, he takes to the air and hoots urgently.
Captain Brynhild doesn't talk much, but she is a skilled sailor and the Rimedrake makes good time up the coast. As the days pass, the weather gets steadily colder and colder. The tenth day of the voyage is heralded by a yell from the captain - as her passengers come up to the deck, they are greeted with the sight of a huge mass of solid ice floating like a detached mountain in the ocean. "Early for ice this far south," Brynhild grumbles. "Looks like an early spring. Alright you lazy sailors, back to work!" she chides her crew, and the Pathfinders are soon left alone on the deck with Kuokei.
The Pathfinders take in the natural beauty of the scene as the Rimedrake passes the iceberg. Kiku notices a large school of small fish being corralled by porpoises, and Shiro watches the seagulls who fly from the iceberg to eagerly take advantage of the whales' forcing the fish to the surface. Kuokei hoots softly, then takes Kiku up on her offer of a perch, moving delicately up her arm to rest on her shoulder as he watches the scene alongside the boat.
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A few days later, the scene is nowhere near as beautiful as the Pathfinders huddle below deck next to a small brazier while a fierce snowstorm rages outside. The ship's crew take turns warming themselves next to the Pathfinders before racing outside to keep the ship safely on course. The blizzard has been raging for over 14 hours now and shows no signs of stopping. Kuokei looks outside as another sailor enters and hoots mournfully.
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Kiku spends whatever moments she can with Kuokei. She pets the bird, if allowed, and keeps quiet company. "You miss Svala, don't you? Are you worried about her?" She pulls out one of her ofuda and shows it to the bird, smiling. "Tanagaar, the Aurulent Eye, would be very proud of you. He is the empyreal lord of owls and watchfulness, you know?"
Kiku would also like to spend some time studying the notes we were sent by Svala.
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Turning to the group, a beard man smiles. A rather scrawny man, though he keeps his hair trimmed neatly to frame his face. A holy symbol hangs from his neck, proudly declaring his trust in the 'Lady of Graves'.
"Sorry weren't there with the VC but ma'names Edgar and this here bird be Allen. We've been sent to give yall a hand. Sure is a tad chilly here."
"Springs back 'ome seem a bit warmer than these parts."
Tugging his robes closer, but allowing the bird to nuzzle within, he takes a cup from the halfling. "Thanks Miss."
The Pathfinders drift off to sleep one by one, the roar of the storm and the rolling of the boat giving way to the silence of dreams. In the morning, the storm has passed - but seems to have left a chill in the air as snow lightly falls from the sky.
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After twenty one days at sea, the Rimedrake arrives off the coast of Aaminiut. Heavy bergs of pack ice clutter the quay, and as the ship sets anchor in the clear water the Pathfinders are called up to the deck.
The village of Aaminiut nestles on several small islands in the delta of the great Taraska River. Many clusters of long wooden houses are grouped around a central courtyard, each building resembling a traditional Ulfen longhouse except for the timbers which support each house rising several feet in the air. Every building in the village is on stilts, with rope and wooden swinging bridges connecting each islet to its neighbors, crossing the multitude of streams which are all that remains of the Taraska River in winter.
“The warmth of the houses can melt the permafrost,” Captain Redaxe says, answering the unasked question. “Keeping them on stilts means the soil underneath doesn’t thaw. Stays hard as a rock and makes a good foundation.”
Near the center of town, in front of a semi-circle of tall, carved wooden poles, villagers gather and watch the ship’s approach. Several warriors armed with spears push long dugout canoes into the water and begin to paddle towards the ship. As they arrive alongside, one hails the ship in Skald and then again in Common. "Welcome, outlanders!" she says. "We were not expecting travelers so early in the spring, but we will bring you to shore." The Rimedrake's crew let down rope ladders that reach close to the water, and a canoe swiftly positions itself underneath each to receive passengers.
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Noke smiles at the man hailing them.
”Thank you very much for your welcoming words! It took us a long time to actually arrive here and to seeing a friendly face makes all the effort really worthwhile!“
Noke will hold Divune tight to her and use her and lead Happu to climb down.
Noke will then use her flight hex and take to the air and land in the canoe with Divune, her horned lizard familiar.
Rather under-excited about his pet climbing down the ladder, Allen takes flight and swoops down to the waiting boats.
"Watch your step there Edgar. It'd be a shame if I had to find me a new pet." he advises.
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Shiro will stand by as the group descends down from the boat. He will begin to attempt to catch Edgar when the tengu thinks he might fall in, but will relax and join in the floating fun if Kiku uses feather fall to catch him. If feather fall happens, he will use his natural wingspan from his Glide racial trait to attempt a couple barrel rolls/aerial maneuvers on the way down.
As the Pathfinders make their way down to the boats - half climbing, half floating - the Erutaki warriors hide any surprise they might have at their strange guests. The one who spoke earlier turns to her passengers (Noke and Happu) and tries to hide a smile. "I am Tikasak," she says, "and you can tell me why you have come once we are on land." At her whistle, the dugout canoes depart in a small fleet towards the shore.
As the canoes paddle through the chunks of ice littering the harbor, Tikasak whistles again and points. Surprised and joyful cries fill the air as a huge black dorsal fin, then another and another rise from the water amid bursts of air from blowholes. With a resounding splash, a black and white whale leaps out of the water and crashes back, creating ripples that reach out even to the canoes in the harbor. Two of the fins suddenly turn towards the boats, their huge owners barely visible in the dark water!
These are orca whales - but they are larger and seem more powerful than usual. They can easily capsize a boat simply by pushing against it. If the ship's captain is not skilled enough, the boat tips over. Orcas bite their prey and can hold their breath underwater much longer than most mammals. It is easiest to overwhelm their minds rather than test their fortitude or reflexes.
These orcas don't seem hostile so much as playful - but a person is about the same size to them as a doll is to a person.
These are orca whales - but they are larger and seem more powerful than usual. They can easily capsize a boat simply by pushing against it. If the ship's captain is not skilled enough, the boat tips over.
These orcas don't seem hostile so much as playful - but a person is about the same size to them as a doll is to a person.
These are some sort of very large whale, but not one you recognize. You are also uncertain about their funeral rites.
Round 1! Bold may act!
Edgar
Noke
Shiro
Hamish
Narika
Black Whale
White Whale
Kiku
Round 1! Bold may act!
Edgar
Noke (Flying)
Shiro
Hamish (Delay)
Narika (Delay)
Black Whale
White Whale
Kiku
Allen shakes his head, taking flight. "Edgar, I foresee you getting wet or eaten."
As Hamish, Edgar, and Shiro paddle furiously, Noke takes to the skies. Narika studies her hosts' reactions as the whales plunge beneath the dark waters. The Erutaki are not readying any weapons or showing signs of hostility, but many are paddling with great effort towards the shoreline as well. Suddenly, large forms rock Shiro and Narika's canoe and Noke's former boat!
Happu barely manages to stay upright as the canoe rocks wildly, but the glancing blow does not capsize the vessel. Shiro and Narika, on the other hand, are not so lucky as they are dumped into the icy water along with the two Erutaki villagers!
Round 1, 2! Bold may act!
Edgar
Noke (Flying)
Shiro (Swimming)
Hamish
Black Whale
White Whale
Narika (Swimming)
Kiku