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Chamius smiles. "Here, maybe I could get a gig as one of those wise teachers." He shakes his head, still smiling. "No, the wisest thing my music teachers told me was to beware of spontaneous human combustion. Said it was a leading cause of death among drummers. Right up there with choking on someone else's vomit." He stops smiling. "Don't ask."
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"Why not? If he had choked on someone else's vomit, then he would be dead. So he obviously hasn't done that - so how would he know not to do it? And how did he always say all this stuff? If you say one thing, you can't say another. Well, not with the same mouth anyway." The leshy pauses, considering the options. "Is your master one of those mouth eyeball blob creatures that never stops talking? He sounds like he might have a lot in common with one."
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The Ulfen have a saying: “No blade is as sharp, no demon as cruel as the winds that walk their way down the Icestair.” At the border of Irrisen and the untamed wilds of the Realm of the Mammoth Lords, the meaning of those words becomes clear as the barren, snow-covered plains stretch to the horizon.
Four days’ travel now lies between the eastern edge of Irrisen and the shattered remains of the Huscarl King’s keep. To the east, sinuous snow drifts give way to rocky foothills from which pines and scrub brushes claw for life. In the distance, the massive creatures that give this land its name shuffle along at a ponderous speed, still impossibly huge even from far away. Skagni’s map marks a clear and straightforward path, but the snow makes for slow travel. The Shadow Lodge agents have a head start, but persistence through the harsh environment and adherence to the strict map may yet make it possible to catch them before they reach the Keep of the Huscarl King and gain access to the mighty weapon held within.
The denizens of the Realm of the Mammoth lords are Kellids, considered primitive by many in the Inner Sea, but respected for their hardiness.
Your route goes through the domain of a Kellid tribe called the Snowmask Clan. Unlike many of the other migratory Kellid tribes, this clan has never abandoned its territory.
The Kellids of the Snowmask Clan are cunning warriors, favoring ambush whenever possible. Their familiarity with the region allows them to use terrain and natural features to their advantage.
Among the Kellid tribes of the Realm of the Mammoth Lords, the Snowmask Clan is known for members’ appreciation of great stories. One of their hospitality rituals is sharing tales with any who would be their guests. Failing to participate in this custom is a grave offense. Additionally, they rely on cave paintings to record the history of their tribe.
Additionally, you have learned where you can buy a scroll for 5gp that provides translations to many of the Snowmask Clan's sigils and other markings.
An Ulfen warrior once carved out a small “kingdom” for himself in the western regions of the Realm of the Mammoth Lords, earning loyalty from local Kellid tribes.
The Ulfen warrior Ranulf was known as the Huscarl King, as he had once served as one of the Emperor of Taldor’s personal guards. After he established his keep, it was attacked by a powerful white dragon who the Huscarl defeated in a battle so fierce that legends claim Ranulf’s beard was frozen during the fight. Despite ruling for almost 30 years after the battle, Ranulf died with no heir.
Ranulf was known for his flaming greataxe, Jedrek’s Shard. Rumors persist that it was buried with him at his death when his Kellid followers caused an avalanche to cover the keep under a mountain of ice, rock, and snow, but the retreat of a glacier has now made the tomb accessible again for those brave enough to venture through Snowmask territory.
While most assume that Ranulf’s decision to collapse the keep atop his grave was an egotistical plan to keep his fabled weapon out of the hands of others, some sages whisper that Ranulf’s reign was also a vigil. The great Ulfen’s keep was meant to protect not only his land, but all of the north from something that once dwelt deep beneath his castle; the avalanche that buried him and Jedrek’s Shard was also meant to stop others from exploring what lies beneath.
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You make their 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 stay away from your path, not causing any trouble.
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.
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"I happen to know a bit about this area. We'll be traveling through the territory held by the Kellids of the Snowmask Clan. They're supposed to be very good at ambushes and the like, so we'd best take care--unlike most of the other Kellid clans, they've never been pushed out of their territory. Perhaps we should consider talking before fighting, or figuring out how to arrange for safe passage, hey?
"There's also supposed to be a little area hereabouts that used to be held by an Ulfen immigrant--he's dead now, but he used to call himself the Huscarl King due to his having once served Imperial Taldor as an Ulfen guard. He's said to have killed a white dragon that attacked his kingdom. Sadly, he didn't leave any heirs. Not sure what happened to his little kingdom, but the Kellids likely carved it up."
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Sunlight Under Stone digs around in the frozen ground for a few seconds before Ancient Stone Glider bursts forth, this time made of loose soil and gravel. The rock-dinosaur flies over the battlefield before returning to perch on the leshy's shoulder, chattering away in high-pitched chirps and clicks.
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Before moving to investigate the battlefield, Bon Jon asks one of his comrades to use his wand of Mage Armor on him. Then he too waits to hear the report from the flying stone dinosaur before moving to investigate himself. Softly he mutters, "Master always said 'Don't fly kites of rocks unless you like lumpy head.'"
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There are ten corpses in total. 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.
These warriors are 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.
Before you have the chance to investigate further you see a very large, very angry animal who is also "investigating" the bodies.
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Hey hey hey, Sven calls to the wolverine, doing his best to keep a calm friendly tone when speaking towards the creature, it's ok, shhh... we're all good here, calm, be calm. he gently removes his pack and digs in it for a small piece of jerky, and gingerly tosses it on the body the wolverine is snacking on. Friends, we're friends, he intones calmly, hoping his tone and offering get the point across and avoid a scuffle.
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As Sven gets close, it is clear the critter is not calming down. In fact, it bares its teeth and looks ready to attack him rather than give up its foul larder.
1
4
8
6
3
5
9
7
2
- => Bon Jon Bovi
- Wolverine
- Grunt
- Chamius
- Sunlight
- Ktasha
- Wrex
- Jordun
- Sven
U = Unconscious
S = Surprised
D = Delay
Conditions:
Bon Jon: 44/44
Chamius: 31/31
Grunt: 34/34
Jordun: 27/27
Ktasha: 37/37
Sunlight: 53/53 [-5 NL]
Sven: 30/30
Wrex: 34/34
Enemies;
Aralantryx: -69
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The wolverine is struck by Bon Jon, but it easily shrugs off his stunning blow.
It howls out in rage upon being struck and attacks its attacker.
- x Bon Jon Bovi
- x Wolverine
- => Grunt
- => Chamius
- => Sunlight
- => Ktasha
- Wrex
- Jordun
- Sven
U = Unconscious
S = Surprised
D = Delay
Conditions:
Bon Jon: 44/44
Chamius: 31/31
Grunt: 34/34
Jordun: 27/27
Ktasha: 37/37
Sunlight: 53/53 [-5 NL]
Sven: 30/30
Wrex: 34/34
Enemies;
Wolverine: -9
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In fact, the late mustelid does not stir again.
Checking over the bodies, each of the dead Kellids has a battleaxe, 3 javelins,leather armor, and a heavy wooden shield. The others have only a suit of padded armor and a cold-weather outfit, and scattered between them is 500gp in various coins.
As you are checking the corpses of the Kellid warriors, you realize that one is still alive, but only barely!
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Sunlight Under Stone finishes climbing up the boulders and looks out over the snowy landscape. After a few seconds, the frozen soil caught in the cracks of the larger rocks quivers and takes flight in the shape of a small dinosaur. The familiar chirps and begins circling the area in large lazy circles.
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Bon Jon scratches his bald head in puzzlement at Chamius' remark and spends the next half hour or so silently trying to work it out. Sacred Mountain? Which one - there are so many - but why would anyone ever pretend to be a monk of any of them? Unless... unless... perhaps Chamius IS a monk of the Sacred Mountain in disguise and he's signaling me! But what is he signaling?!? And which mountain?!? Riddles within riddles!