A's Shades of Ice Part 3 (Inactive)

Game Master Angie H

Take 2...

Skagni has been rescued, and after something to eat and drink, he comes to his senses. He explains what he learned of the Shadow Lodge's plot. To the east, in the Realm of the Mammoth Lords, is a place known as the Keep of the Huscarl King. Somewhere within is a weapon of great power. Melkorka Skur and over a dozen Shadow Lodge agents have gone to retrieve it. "You must stop her! If the Shadow Lodge retrieves that weapon, it could spell the end of the Pathfinder Society in the north for good, and bring great suffering upon the people of these northern countries."

Petronia crossed her arms and leaned against the wall as they nursed Skagni back to coherence. "Does that mean you're coming with us? Because our orders were to rescue you and take you home."

The brawler was all for going up against the Shadow Lodge but she also knew the consequences of going rogue when the Pathfinder Society was concerned.

Shocked, Skagni looked up at the fierce-faced brawler. "Your orders? From whom? Who even knew I was missing? The last correspondence I had with the Pathfinders was months ago, requesting documents."

Shaking his head, he said, "There's no way I can go with you. I will need to recover my strength, and time is of the essence. I have been researching the Keep for years, and I can draw you a map. It's a more direct route than the road that Melkorka Skur probably used, and it should help you gain time on her."

Oksana was thoughtful for a long moment, then said, "I will stay with Mister Skagni, and the Blood Ram tribe. I know a place we can stay a few days, as they gain their strength. I will then escort them back across the border. It will help pay the moral debt that Irrisen owes them."

Remembering details had never been Petronia's strong suit. She reshaped reality in order to fit her narrative. "Well, actually our orders were to deliver your documents to you and of course we had to rescue you in order to give you the documents. Unfortunately your documents are in an icy crevasse thanks to some frost giants."

She nodded at Oksana as she volunteered to take charge of the former slaves. "Maybe they can still be salvaged on the way back. I believe Oksana made note of where they were misplaced."

"What is this weapon, and how are we to stop these fellows from getting it? Are we to claim it for ourselves then? For if people have come this close to unearthing it - whatever it is - its likely to be found again in short order if we simply stop your captors from laying their hands on it," Matheus asked, worried that they were getting far out of their depth here. A simple courier assignment had already turned into a hostage rescue, and now it was morphing yet again, and beginning to sound suspiciously like the stuff of legends skalds sang about.

"We are not exactly great warriors - barring Petronia, perhaps," the druid added, nodding his head at the mighty brawler. "If we are to try something like this, at the very least we need all the information you can give us about its nature and powers and where it is hidden - and by whose hand."

"Assuming we even make it out of this blasted city alive, that is. And secure provisions and transportation for another long journey to yet another hostile location," he murmured.

To Petronia's admission, Skagni leapt to his feet? "You're the ones who brought the documents I requested? And dropped them in a crevasse? Those are irreplacible! We must get them back!"

To Matheus, Skagni shook his head, hands upraised helplessly. "I have spent years tracking down rumours and tales of this weapon, but I can be sure of very little, other than its location. It's said to be a greataxe, though one source called it a spear. Apparently it's buried at the keep somewhere, probably by the hand of the Huscarl King himself. I wish I could give you more information than that."

Thinking a moment, he said, "As for what to do with it...bring it back for the Pathfinders. We can lock it away in Absalom, where it will be safe and not find its way into the wrong hands. Barring that, try to destroy it."

Oksana volunteered, "I can help get you out of the city, with enough food to survive. But I think you'll need to walk. I don't think we can trust any transportation coming from Irrissen. And I doubt there will be much heading towards the Realm of the Mammoth Lords. The clans there aren't rich enough to have much worth trading. Only hunters and idiots go east."

Oksana volunteered, "I can help get you out of the city, with enough food to survive. But I think you'll need to walk. I don't think we can trust any transportation coming from Irrissen. And I doubt there will be much heading towards the Realm of the Mammoth Lords. The clans there aren't rich enough to have much worth trading. Only hunters and idiots go east."

"And we sure aren't hunters," Matheus murmured, although he was heartened at the news that at least escaping the city with their native friend's aid would be manageable - he'd far rather take his chances with the wilds. There, at least, his skills and spells would be of most use.

Everybody was saying a lot of things, things like: 'icy crevasse', something about 'the blood ram tribe', and Petronia being 'exactly a great warrior'. That last part he understood although he thought it seemed pretty obvious. He got a bit confused when Skagni talked about hunter-idiots and wondered if Skagni was referring to him. Then the Matheus man said they 'sure weren't hunters'. Does that mean they were just stupid ... and Ner thought of himself as an ok tracker. Ner really didn't know if he should be angry or not and he was usually wrong about what other people meant so he stayed quiet about the whole thing. Suddenly the beats-and-carrots song came to his head and he forgot what he was getting mad about.

He scrounged some of the food to make a few days rations for everyone. He would quietly pack them away into his friends packs latter. It all sounded like they were going on a trip again.

In the library, you're able to find a map of the lands to the east, and Skagni marks a route for you to the Keep of the Huscarl King. Looking at it, Oksana realizes it passes quite close to the ravine where the chest was lost.

"It will be many days, if not more than a week, before these people are ready to travel," the witch said, "and they won't be able to fight giants. Perhaps you can check the ravine, and if it's clear, pull the chest up, perhaps hide it. I can send my familiar with you, and he can bring word back to me. Then we can collect it in relative safety when we go."

Ner continued opening crates and examining the contents - he was able to put together enough rations for everybody for several weeks of travel.

It's now evening, and dark outside. Do you want to stay the night, or head out now? Also, if you have any magic items, or other supplies you want to purchase, speak now before you leave. We'll assume that either you can find what you want here, or Oksana can go out and get them for you.

Petronia was beginning to feel her wounds. As much as leaving under the cover of night may be wiser in the long run, she needed to rest. And from what she could gather, this would be the safest place in the city to sleep and recuperate. "It's getting late and a group traveling through the streets at night may draw unwanted attention. I say we hunker down here tonight. It may be the best sleep we'll have in awhile."

She turned to Oksana, "Would you be willing to go out tomorrow morning and get us some supplies? Thanks to Ner, we have enough rations but we will probably need a few other things. How long is the journey to this place?"

She turned to Oksana, "Would you be willing to go out tomorrow morning and get us some supplies? Thanks to Ner, we have enough rations but we will probably need a few other things. How long is the journey to this place?"

Ner morned all of his lost equipment, "Like a climber's bag??? A really good one? But for goblin sized ... smaller than normal. Oh, and a wilderness pack?" Ner tried to count out coins and he gave up, handing over approximately 150gp. It felt weird paying for stuff.

marking off 150gp - climbing kits are 80gp and masterwork survival kits are 50 but might be more expensive here

Pointing to the map, Skagni said, "If you stick strictly to the map, it should take about ten days. The ravine is roughly here," he pointed to the first X on the map, "After you fetch the chest, cut north and be sure to cross the river here; there is an abandoned bridge that's mostly been forgotten about. It should be the safest crossing. Then, stick close to the northern bank to avoid the territory of a particularly vicious local tribe of ice warriors. After that, it's pretty much a straight trek to the Tusk Mountains - if you stay on track, you'll find the best pass through the foothills." He then put his finger on the terminal X - the location of the Keep.

Pausing, he then said, "I am relatively sure that the Shadow Lodge agents went directly east, and will then follow the foothills north. This will triple their river crossings, and take them through some very rough territory. Despite their headstart, you should be able to beat them there, if you don't tarry on the way."

Oksana carefully left the Lodge with the money, and purchased what was needed. Fortunately, in a city like Whitethrone, those in the know can always find an open shop, at any hour. No extra cost - in fact, 10% discount since you have a witch haggling for you. (Mundane items only)

Early the next morning, the Pathfinders prepared to leave. Oksana said, "It should be much easier to leave than to enter. Keep your hoods up and heads down. Petronia, if you lead, with your wolf face on, they should barely notice you."

Last chance - what is being purchased or found? Don't just put it in your character sheet, I want to know here.

While scrounging for the rations Ner dug out a long-ish chestnut case, the lockset long eroded by salty fish oil. When he opened it he found some items that appeared goblin made. One was a snakeskin shirt of dark green with silver flecks. Beside it was an unstrung goblin shortbow, burnt black as a popular goblin finishing technique, and a full quiver of arrows with a little flame etched on each shaft. He took his armour off and slipped the tunic on underneath. He left his old bow and arrows in the crate. A perfect trade He stowed the box back where it came from.

Petronia was hurt and she needed rest. Ner spent some time helping the Matheus man look after her. Afterwards, he waited for everyone to be ready to go to bed. While sitting against the wall he noticed a loose stone there and pulled it free. Coins poured out.

First, hoping Matheus will provide continuous care for which Ner will assist
heal: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Just enough to earn a little helpful halfling +4 to Matheus roll so that Petronia's overnight healing will double

Petronia looked at the map that Skagni kept referring to and hoped that she'd remember or better yet, someone less directionally challenged, would remember. "We'll do our best to recover the chest but I am not hauling that thing over all creation again. We'll leave it hidden for you to pick up on your way back through. Hopefully the colony of frost giants have moved on."

Before Oksana left, Petronia gave her some coin and a list. "I need to replace my gear that was lost."

Looking to replace her Fighter's kit and her sling. She doesn't have an overabundance of coin after purchasing her Boots of the Winterlands before :)

Good catch, Ner. Long-term care from Heal skill - I get to use it so rarely I forgot all about it ;^)

Long term medical care for 6 people, DC 15: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

That's 2HP / level natural healing, which is enough for Ner, and Petronia gets the last prepped CLWs as well. If that's too much might as well cast the last on someone else in need of help.

CLW spells for Petronia: 3d8 + 15 ⇒ (7, 1, 3) + 15 = 26

Swapping spell set to travel oriented one, forgive me if it'll take until tomorrow to finish picking up all the utilities we might need.

You had taken turns keeping guard during the night, but it would seem that the escaped goblin was more interested in preserving his own life than looking for reinforcements. The night passed uneventfully.

The morning dawned bright and clear and bitterly windy. The rescued slaves were doing much better with food, water, and medical care. Skagni's fingers had lost that sickly sweet smell of infection, and were looking less purple.

Cautiously, the Pathfinders head outside. The icy wind kicked up snow from the rooftops, stinging eyes and cheeks. Fortunately, this helped prevent you from being noticed, as everybody had their heads down.

Oksana accompanied you to the gates, but you ran into no trouble. The guards barely glanced up as head out of Whitethrone, and into the frozen lands of Irrisen. Wishing you good luck, Oksana summoned her little snowy friend, who trundled along with you on your long walk.

The day is long and cold. After days of travelling by sledge, then a day of hard fighting, none of you are physically ready for the full day of slogging through the snow and the cold. The snowshoes take some getting used to, and the sun is bright and the wind cold. However, it's better to keep moving, for as soon as you stop for a break, your sweaty underlayer begins to cool.

The little snowman must have had a better sense of direction than your old musher, because you reach the crevasse just before nightfall. Approaching cautiously, you don't see any signs of giants. However, the crevasse is clearly visible, not hidden with a layer of ice and snow like it had been for you.

As you carefully approach, you hear the see movement near to the ambush sight. What looks like several animals are having some sort of altercation, but it's hard to see exactly what's happening.

Apologies for pushing us along, but there isn't really anything interesting left in Whitethrone, and I want to get moving.

Petronia was feeling as good as new the next morning. She grabbed Matheus with one hand and Ner with the other to bring them close and then gave them both a slap on the back, "Thanks for nursing me back to health."

The strut had returned to her gait as she moved through the streets although some of that may have had to do with the fact that she was wearing her wolf's face.

Even though she was moving with confidence, she didn't feel like she could breathe freely until they stepped through the gate and back into the wilderness of Irrisen. Even though they were embarking on the icy wasteland for days on end, it felt like a weight had lifted.

The brawler may not have had to struggle with snowshoes thanks to her boots, slogging through the snow in the bitter cold made Petronia miserable. By the time they reached the crevasse, she was in a sour mood. Part of her had hoped for at least one frost giant that she could punch until she felt better but most of her was relieved to see no sign of the fearsome creatures.

Her ears perked at the sounds of some sort of scuffle and she began to move towards the animals to see what was happening. Maybe she'd get to punch something after all.

perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

Petronia was feeling as good as new the next morning. She grabbed Matheus with one hand and Ner with the other to bring them close and then gave them both a slap on the back, "Thanks for nursing me back to health."

Matheus winced at the sudden hearty slap, surprised by the sudden intimacy. "Pleasure was all mine, I assure you," he said, grinning. "Besides, least I could do for the one taking all the blows for us."

It had been a fairly eventful evening and night for the druid, the only real healer available to tend to the many needs of the malnourished and mistreated prisoners. He had treated their wounds, provided fresh water for them to drink and wash awat some of the grime of their imprisonment from their bodies, admonished them to ignore the urge to gorge themselves with the suddenly bountiful food - a long enforced fasting and preserved foods did most definitely not go well together, even if the well-rounded druid wasn't the most convincing man to tell people to take it easy with the feasting.

He had also spent a few moments laying his misguided druidic brother to rest, and make a pair of discoveries he had missed in the earlier haste - an enchanted pearl of the sort he was very familiar with, albeit one larger and purer of color than the ones he possessed, and an oak rod, carved with images of wild beasts that dwarfed the humanoids they ran with, the heavy wood almost solid as iron in his hands as he marveled at it. This, too, he recognized, having once found its like and coveted to possess it, but he had then lacked anything to trade for it. But now, the fates had seen fit to place its twin in his hands.

Overjoyed with his prizes, he pitched in generously when Oksana left to acquire them provisions, giving her most of the content of his purse. It couldn't be easy to get all of the prisoners to safety after all, in these hostile lands full of suspicious people, but happily, gold spoke a language all of its own, and often got people to listen to it, no matter their allegiances.

***

Getting out of the city unaccosted was a great relief, as was the fact that his buried Wayfinder remained where he had left it. From the tracks, some small creature of the wilds had paid some attention to the spot where his scent had lingered, but it had soon lost interest as it failed to smell anything edible under the snow. Feeling more cheerful than he had for some days, the druid hummed a variety of bawdy taproom songs as they followed their unerring guide back to the crevasse, walking over the loose snow as easily as if he strode on a city's streets, using his spells to ease the travel of his two companions as he could, leading them to the firmest footing to be found and washing away their exhaustion with a invigorating breeze conjured with another quick invocation.

As they approached their target and heard the sounds of the wild at war with itself, the druid by all means allowed Petronia to take the lead, following at some distance, curiosity and caution warring in his mind.

So... we have provisions in the form of food. Matheus will ask for a simple dagger for himself (more a tool than a weapon), some rope (basic 50' set), a cooking kit. 6G total. Perhaps some spices, honey and perishables to go with the trail rations just to spice things up a bit - Matheus CAN cook, after all.

Once they hit the wild Ner was struggling no matter how hard he tried to hide it. After a while he looked to Petronia and noticed that, beside a set of tools, she was carrying no pack. He stopped, threw off his own, and pulled a great old battered parasol out of the main pouch of his strange haversack. He had diligently repacked this morning but an idea came suddenly to him. He burried the parasol in the snow.

He ran after the other two as they had gained some ground while managed his gear. He tried to match pace with Petronia for a bit and he held up his pack for her to take.

assuming she takes it

Once Petronia took it off his hands, noticing its' light weight of barely five pounds, he climbed up the side of her. He was heavy, about 45lbs, and it was awkward. He put his foot onto the back of her knee, grabbed her elbow, grabbed her belt with his other toe, shimmied around her shoulder ... then climbed in the pack with just his head sticking out. His hands were on his shortbow and he watched the land disappear behind them ... 'Sneak up on us now I dare you!' he thought.

trying this out while they traveled ... DM???

As Petronia slowed down he tried to leap out Its' a move action to recover something from the bag??? and did a little roll in the snow. He broke left and used his white fur cloak to try to hide against the snow. He stalked in slowly.

Thirty feet to the left of Petronia trying to match her but with stealth - if there is any snowcover
stealth: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19
OOOooooo - Nat 1
edited

Petronia's sharp eyes quickly take in the scene. Two enormous wolves are harrying something right near the cliff. They are completely engrossed and don't notice the three humanoids approaching.

Taking a few steps closer, Petronia notices that the creature that they're harassing is a....badger? A large, four-foot long badger, and it's snarling and lunging at the wolves, clearly trying to defend its little piece of territory. However, it's clearly out-classed, and is a few moments from being forced backwards over the cliff and into the crevasse.

Well, I don't think if a druid should really meddle with what seems to be part of the natural order of things, beasts preying on one another, but I feel like posting and this seems like a fun time to try out my new toy!

Petronia's pointed finger drew the druid's attention to the play of the hunter and the hunter taking place right where they were heading to. Matheus was torn - on one hand, this seemed completely natural, a violent part of the cycle of life that didn't make the act any less necessary, as every thing that lived required nourishment, but on the other, they needed some peace and quiet here if they were to try and recover their lost cargo, and if the wolves were making a claim on the territory, they'd have to be scared off anyway, sooner or later.

Besides, the druid thought, grinning like a preschooler with a brand new toy, he was itching to try out his new plaything!

So... burning Gozreh's Trident to cast SNA2, going for a single wolf, applying all the usual jazz in the form of Augmented bonuses and the Harrows cards, and then adding in one daily charge from Matheus's new rod, to add the Simple Giant template on the wolf.

Harrowed Summoning, suit: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Harrowed Summoning, card: 1d9 ⇒ 9 The Demon's Lantern
Harrowed Summoning, suite: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Harrowed Summoning, card: 1d9 ⇒ 2 The Keep

Motioning for the other two to stay their ground and let him see if he could defuse the situation peacefully, the druid began his invocation of summoning, drawing out two cards from his beloved deck of Harrow cards.

"First card, the Demon's Lantern," he murmured, not looking at the card in his hands but nevertheless knowing without doubt which one he had picked. "The will-o'-the-wisps that led the mortal astray. Sleight of the hand, sleight of the mind, traps both real and imagined... but here, misaligned, and thus a portent of a guiding hand arriving when last expected but most needed."

"And the second, the Keep, he went on, caught in the throes of his prophetic summoning. "Strength, of the quiet sort, not the boisterous. The Keep stands steady, not shaken by any force. A fitting match for what I intended."

A few yards in front of the druid, the shadows on snow were suddenly twisting upon themselves, roiling, boiling, lifting up from the ground to take the form of a wolf the likes of which few mortals had ever seem. Large as a bull aurochs, fur the shade of the tundra's night sky, eyes burning with the light that lured the unwary traveler from the beaten path to drown in the swamp, like portrayed in the first card the druid's hand had picked. Yet under that shifting, night-black coat of fur there was solid mass of muscle, blessed as the beast was by the touch of the unassailable Keep.

The massive wolf let loose a mournful wail that echoed across the snow plains, catching the attention of the hunting pair.

So... here's one SERIOUSLY freaking huge wolf for the two natural beasts to take note of. Matheus hopes the sudden appearance of a real alpha male will scare those two off in a way that they aren't going to return in a hurry, and we can finish our business at peace. On the plus side, if there are animals around like this, perhaps the giants have decided to move over somewhere else ;^)

Ner rushed forward in the snow. His bow was out and an as-yet-unignighted arrow lay across it. He waited 50' from the wolves following the Matheus man's request for patience.

holding his action. If Matheus plan doesn't work ner will fire

Hi Everyone! I'm really excited to join your game! I also promise that my posts won't always be this long :) Just needed to bring Tivli to you...

Tivli stands on the ice ledge, staring up up up into the darkening sky. Slowly she drops her gaze, first over the 100 foot wall of ice she just descend, and then down down down into the bottomless blackness below.

She takes a moment to revel in the beauty and awesome power of the earth.

“Thank you, Desna, for sharing another of your immense secrets.”

Finally, she turns her attention to the ice ledge itself. The thick shards of ice, tangle of shredded harnesses, and broken bodies of dog and man tell a hard story with a gruesome end.

Still, Tivli can’t help but feel a flicker of excitement. For she is certain this was the site of a Frost Giant trap. Horrible for the victims surely. But Tivli had been raised on stories of Giants, told by clansmen who worshipped them almost more than Desna herself. Who would have bonded to them if possible. “If they could see me now,” Tivli thinks with a grin, already crafting the tale of the time she stood on a Frost Giant’s trap, and stole their precious treasure. If she ever returns home, that is.

Tivli shakes the last thought away, and kneels to examine the chest. Solid oak reenforced with iron bands, about 3 feet by 4 feet by 2 feet. The thick heavy lock is far beyond her ability to pick. The chest is heavy, far too heavy for her to carry up the ice cliff. She’s good, but not that good.

Especially considering she doesn’t have any of her gear with her. Tivli buried her pack, quiver and bow in the snow, under the watchful guard of her faithful companion. Just in case anyone passed by and assumed the belongings were up for grabs. She’d only brought three items into the ravine with her. Her axe, a perfect climbing aide on an ice wall. Her rope.

And a ratty folded cloth, tucked in the front of her vest.

Tivli looks back up to the thin sliver of sky above, and smiles.

She weaves the rope around the crate, creating a sort of harness on top where she can slip her legs through, effectively lashing herself to it.

She carefully unfolds the cloth, revealing a silver, glittering feather.

“Ursion, I sure hope you were right about this.”

Tivli tucks the feather securely in between the crate and the rope.

There’s a loud crack and then a groan, like wood being twisted.

Two large silver wings unfurl from either side of the crate. They give themselves a shake, causing the crate to buck. Tivli grasps at the ropes.

“Up!”

The wings obey, beating slowly. Then faster. The crate lifts into the air. Tivli laughs as she bobs from side to side, marvelling at the crate awkwardly flying itself out of the ravine.

It’s almost at the top when a sound final cuts through her laughter.

Her faithful companion. Growling. Trying to sound ferocious, but Tivli can sense her terror.

The crate finally flies out of the ravine. About 20 yards away she sees her magnificent Badger being forced towards the cliff’s edge by three wolves. They're all viscous, though the one at the back looks impossibly large and menacing.

Tivli barely registers the presence of some other travellers behind the snarling animals. She points towards the Badger and the flying crate complies, lurching forward.

“Bubbles! I’m coming!”

What a fantastic image! Welcome to the game!!!

Welcome Tivli! Between the flying chest and the giant alpha wolf, the two regular wolves will run with tails firmly tucked. Anybody can write that up if you want, then get on to introductions. Everybody make sure you write a physical description to go with your introduction.

I was behind the eight ball in levelling up and picking my new items so I'm not going to back track that far. A little too late to respond to Ner's post as well but Petronia will gladly carry him even with her in a bad mood

Welcome Tivli :) Bubbles...love it!

It took all of what little will Petronia had to not advance on the animals at Matheus' behest. She growled low in her throat to show her displeasure at not being able to use the new gauntlet she had found to punch something.

When the ginormous wolf materialized, she looked at Matheus accusingly, "Couldn't you have done that to me? I think a giant me would be much more terrifying than just a regular giant wolf."

She can't even begin to process what happened next. Their chest flew out of the crevasse with a human riding it and it was flying towards the animals. The only thing she chose to focus on was that that human was in possession of their chest. There was no way she was going to let the chest disappear again. She looked at Matheus and Ner, "We need to get that chest back."

How far away is the chest from Petronia? Can she grapple the chest?

Introductions will come after the chest is once again obtained :)

... Between the flying chest and the giant alpha wolf, the two regular wolves will run with tails firmly tucked. Anybody can write that up if you want ...

It was all too much for Ner. The badger was way too big! Weren't they usually about half his size??? And this one was his height plus another half-Ner on top. The two wolves were working on the badger's peripheral, making it turn its' head slightly to watch one approach, giving the other an opportunity to move. The badger seemed like it was getting ready to fly into a rage. Ner didn't like it! He didn't like it at all! He was terrible with animals and didn't want to get too close but these wolves were bullies.

He snuck forward watching Petronia advance. They knew pack tactics to. He readied to pounce when the Matheus man signaled 'hold'. Ner could see Petronia straining to pounce, she didn't like holding it in. If she went Ner would go. She knew that. But they'd seen what this verbose druid was capable of, so they held.

AND WOW! A third wolf came out of nowheres!!! But this wolf was huge as a horse, more even, and it was on the go and at the other two in no-time. The two regular-sized wolves ducked at the sight of it and scattered like someone was throwing torches at them.

That's when the really cool thing happened! What looked like the very crate they were come to get flew out of the crevasse, it had like swans wings coming out of it, a rope was tied around. As it flew over the big-big wolf's height and into Ner's line of sight he could see the rope taking weight ... and out of the pit trap flew a human! With all of that the two wolves were gone! Their supper spoiled.
___________________________
Though difficult to see at first, Ner could be clearly heard giggling. It was a child's giggle. He was mostly under a thick pile sheep wool-n-hide cloak. His ruddy face poked out of the top and was lit up like he was at the circus. As he moved, struggling in the tundra, his legs poked out from the cloak and exposed goblin-made ox-blood studded leather. In his left hand he held the cutest little shortbow. He looked scrawny and snot-covered and ridiculously happy - even as the harsh cold wind whipped at his face.

He looked over at the Matheus man and they caught each-other's eye for a second. He thought the Matheus man looked happy to. Everything had been so serious all-the-time. But now he had his wand out and was smiling proudly. If this was a circus then Matheus was the ringmaster.

"We need to get that chest back."

Ner snapped to, 'Oh-oh, Petronia's been denied a real scrap. She's not happy ... more-not-happy than usual. Better get to work.' Ner looked up at the wondrous flying spectacle and wasn't sure what he could do. He shouldered his shortbow and ran forward. He extended his arms as if to catch the hundreds of pounds of flying matter like it had to obey gravity sooner-or later.

Welcome! The party can always use more nature lovers ;^)

Anyway... it was getting late, right? Does poor Matheus with his vanilla human eyes even see Tivli in the gloom from this distance? Although even if he could, I assume the flying chest sort of draws the eye right now...

When the ginormous wolf materialized, she looked at Matheus accusingly, "Couldn't you have done that to me? I think a giant me would be much more terrifying than just a regular giant wolf."

"Well, for one, I have yet to learn the trick of summoning people instead of beasts," Matheus said, smiling as he walked over to pet the terrifying wolf, congratulating it of a job very well done. "And for another, I only just got this little toy from the poor misguided soul who went all catty on you."

"I can do several things to help you in combat, but if it's growing 10' tall you want, you'll have to grow a bit more fur and drop on all fours, I'm afraid," he went on, shooting Petronia an innocent grin. "Either that, or we need to scout ourselves a wizard," he added, then stared at the badger, frowning in thought. It hadn't fled like the wolves had. Now, he well knew badgers could be stubborn sort, but he'd have assumed anything scary enough to drive away a pair of wolves would have had the critter running for dear life, particularly since his wolf hadn't advanced and thus going still seemed to be good. Perhaps it had been hurt and had its back against the wall, figuratively as well as literally, teetering at the edge of the crevasse as it was.

She can't even begin to process what happened next. Their chest flew out of the crevasse with a human riding it and it was flying towards the animals. The only thing she chose to focus on was that that human was in possession of their chest. There was no way she was going to let the chest disappear again. She looked at Matheus and Ner, "We need to get that chest back."

"Well, that's not something you see every day," the druid breathed as he stared at the surprising sight. He strained his eyes in the failing light, trying to spot the reason for the little surprise - it seemed unlikely the chest had become so starved of company that it'd have sprouted wings on its own to come fly back to them.

BTW... about the chest. Angie, I know we the characters didn't spot it, but I could have sworn you wrote that some kind of critter creeping out of it one night, way back during the first adventure... would love to eventually get to hear what THAT was all about ;^)

Tivli's sitting on a crate with secret critters inside??? <shudder>

As Tivli steers the flying crate towards Bubbles she wishes desperately for her bow. Mostly to protect Bubbles. But also, how often does one have the chance to literally swoop in from above and rain arrows down on a foe like a God?

Hardly ever.

Her lack of arrows doesn't matter. The mighty Badger is proving herself a worthy adversary - having sent two of the wolves fleeing. Tivli never doubted her.

"Well done, Bubbles!"

Only the giant wolf remains, though even this magnificent beast is keeping its distance, afraid to engage. As it should be.

Controlled by Tivli's will alone, the crate swooshes to Bubbles and lands beside her. It must be a bizarre sight. This oak crate with giant silver wings still spread and twitching. Not to mention the young woman sitting on top, grinning wildly. What a ride!

Her face is windburned, her hair a matted mix of brown and white, mud and ice. She wears a tattered patchwork of furs and leather. It's hard to tell where her clothes end and her armour begins. She looks exhilarated - this is her kind of adventure and she's loving every second of it.

Still lashed to the crate, Tivli faces the giant wolf.

"Hold steady, Bubbles, let's bring in some reinforcements."

Bubbles snarls in reply, attention flicking back and forth between the Wolf and the strange winged beast. The overly large Badger is donned in a similar mess of furs and leather. There's something very unsettling about seeing an animal wearing coast made out of other animals...

Tivli strokes a small charm attached to her wrist, mutters under her breath. Those paying close attention may notice that she's also twitching her nose.

Summon Natures Ally: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

If that works, she's Summoned a Dire Rat to join her line and stare down the Wolf.

It was hard to see details in the gloom, but Matheus could have sworn someone was riding the flying chest... and the way a large rodent suddenly appeared next to the badger - who seemed singularly unimpressed by the marvel of the flying travel accessory - seemed awfully familiar.

"Umm... hello there?!" the rotund druid tried, raising his booming voice. "Whoever you are, you are in possession of something entrusted to our care. Now, obviously you just went to some trouble and half to retrieve the chest stolen from us by a band of giants, so you have earned our gratitude. I assure you, though, however impressive it may look, its contents are of little interest to anyone but a historian. But nevertheless, it is important to us."

The speaker was a large man – 6’6” tall, wide of shoulder, thicker of waist. His light brown hair was wild and free, reaching down to his shoulders, with half a dozen thin braids decorated with raven’s feathers and weighted down by rune-stone charms. His full beard hid a mouth almost permanently fixed in a merry smile, and green eyes twinkle under bushy eyebrows. His taste in clothes was inspired by a youth spent among the Ulfen clans – wool and leathers and furs, a rabbit fur kilt worn over heavy trousers, a wide leather belt straining against his bulging stomach, soft fur-lined boots and a fox fur sash over his shoulders, over his hooded cloak. His torso was left bare to the elements despite the frigid temperatures, his pale skin covered by shamanistic tattoos in blue and black ink.

@Tivli, you don't need to roll for to cast a spell. If casting it combat, it would be a full round spell, so the summoned animal wouldn't appear until the beginning of the next round. Doesn't matter in this situation, though. You only need to roll to see if an attack spell hits or not, or for damage.

BTW, great entrance!

With Tivli's last nose twitch a large rat materializes out of the shadows beside her. It stares at her, blinking in confusion.

"Bubbles, Scrappers, keep that beast at bay while I...uh..." Tivli grasps at the ropes holding her legs tight against the chest. How did this work again? It doesn't help that the crate keeps bucking as the wings flap idly.

Bubbles and Scrappers flank her, growling at the giant wolf.

"Whoever you are, you are in possession of something entrusted to our care. Now, obviously you just went to some trouble and half to retrieve the chest stolen from us by a band of giants, so you have earned our gratitude. I assure you, though, however impressive it may look, its contents are of little interest to anyone but a historian. But nevertheless, it is important to us."

Tivli looks up, surprised at the voice. She's delighted to see the large friendly man addressing her, and his two companions hovering behind. One appears to be a very happy child waving his arms around - is he impersonating her flying chest? Well done! The other, well Tivli can't quite see the other, but assumes they're also watching the marvellous crate with glee.

Tivli offers them all a friendly wave. Be normal, don't freak them out, just say hello like a regular person.

"Half a moment! Just need to deal with this," she gestures to her tangled limbs, "And with that," she gestures to the wolf, "And then I'll be at your service."

Suddenly the crate wings shudder and groan. They spread wide, lifting the crate a few inches off the ground. Crack! The wings disappear in a little shimmer of light.

The crate thumps back on the ground and Tivli thumps with it, bruising her backside. "Ooph!"

sorry for the delay everyone, I thought I was supposed to wait until everyone went, but Angie set me right :). I'll get used to it - this is my first pbp

Ner was dancing under the wandering crate getting ready to catch but it cut suddenly towards the badger and landed into the rider's arms. She was funny, all roped up. Couldn't be a bad'un. Bad'uns don't tie themselves up.

The halfling moved to Matheus side and eyed Patronia wondering what she might do. Then he suddenly made a eureka face and snapped his fingers. He whispered to himself, but within earshot of Matheus, "Tha's it. Couldn' figure out why the badger was so intrestin'. It remindes me of Petronia."

So much for asking if Petronia could grapple the flying chest and now the moment has passed.

The chest flew faster than Petronia could react to catch it as it came out of the crevasse but she was already on the move following it to where it landed. Where Matheus was all niceties and Ner all waves, she was neither of the two. She strode forward with purpose, her parka hanging open and her breath making little clouds around her face as she moved. Her 5'6" frame was all muscle and when it bore down on you with that look in her eyes, it was an imposing sight. Even though her tan had waned some since being in Irrisen, she was still distinctively Varisian with amber eyes and long disheveled dark brown hair having streaks of light brown and grey in it.

She gave the newcomer a look somewhere between annoyance and a glare. "You don't need to be dealing with anything except steppin away from our chest. It's been a long day and I'm in no mood to play nicely. So if you have any ideas about trying to lay claim to that chest then we're going to have a problem."

LOL! Soft touch Petronia making nice and making friends again.

It's so nice to have a game where I can be my true self

Oh no you were weird and now this one doesn't like you! Quick, say something endearing to make it better! No, be menacing and scare her off! No, be helpful so she'll need you! No, you don't need them, you've got Bubbles, and sometimes Scrappers, and that's enough, you don't need friends, ouch, who tied this damn rope?

Tivli keeps a nervous eye on the Varisian as she finally manages to untangle herself from the chest. She wishes desperately for her bow - her axe is more of a tool than a weapon, though she can swing it at foes if needed. She gripes it loosely, at her side but at the ready.

"This chest here? Funny place to leave it, if it's so important." She chuckles, smiling at the Varisian as if they've just shared a small private joke.

Then she turns her attention to the nice man.

"If it's yours then you've made my job so much easier. I'd only identified clever way to retrieve it. I hadn't yet solved the mystery of how to identify its proper owner."

Finally she turns to the small one, who she'd originally thought a child but now isn't so sure. Could he be one of the small folk? Giants and Halflings in one day? Such fun!

"Perhaps it's worth a trade? Do you have anything...special? Like this fair feather?" Tivli plucks the now shimmer-less feather from the tangle of ropes and works it into one of the seams of her clothing.

Bubbles and Scrappers continue to stare down the wolf, fur raised, bellies low to the ground.

What is the giant wolf doing?

The wolf is currently being petted by Matheus and awaits an order to go and savage something ;^) Although Matheus hopes it doesn’t get to that.

"If it's yours then you've made my job so much easier. I'd only identified clever way to retrieve it. I hadn't yet solved the mystery of how to identify its proper owner."

The druid sighed, casting a beseeching look at Petronia, just in case she might hold herself back a bit longer. ”That’d be a thing, but we didn’t exactly get a written order signed by anyone you are likely to know when we accepted the baggage, and while we did finally locate the fellow who we were transporting the damn thing to, well, he’s still in a place that’s not too hospitable to our continued presence – these Irriseni can be a right unhospitable lot, I’m sure you have realized if you have spent long in these parts,” he said. ”We did make arrangements to get the thing, finally, to its rightful owner, and I’m sure he can prove he knows what in it, never having laid hands on it before, so perhaps that might work as proof for you? Otherwise you’d just have to take our word for it, and it can be hard to trust absolute strangers in strange lands.”

”Although… you said you were asked to retrieve it? By whom, may I ask? And did he or she ask for the chest in particular or just whatever seemed worth the trouble, left behind by the giants once they were done with their fun,” he asked, wondering if another long hand of the Society might be in play here.

"Perhaps it's worth a trade? Do you have anything...special? Like this fair feather?" Tivli plucks the now shimmer-less feather from the tangle of ropes and works it into one of the seams of her clothing.

”That is a mighty useful trinket indeed,” Matheus agreed, rather hoping they’d have had something similar when they had to drag the incredibly heavy piece of trouble all over Whitethrone. ”I do have a couple trinkets of its like, I suppose, but I’m afraid we have still another task before us and a long road to get where we need to go – we might need those little advantages. I do still have some amount of gold if that’d be useful for you? I think we might not be in a position to be spending much of it for some time…”

Angie… we did set up some place (outside the accursed city, that is!) where we were to drop off the chest to Herr Skagni’s hands, right?

Ner had a thorough lack of understanding about the chest. There was really nothing in it and who cared who owned it. The trouble is who's going to carry it. When they get to where they're going then someone can own it all they liked.
Ner looked the new human up and down, then at the badger, "Yer gonna come with us", matter-of-factly. His mouth then melted across his face in a smiling kind of way.

The plan was to hide it nearby the crevasse and they would pick it up on the way back west.

The negotiations were interrupted by the appearance of small snowman. Trundling up to the chest, it completely ignored all the fleshies, humanoid and animal alike. Touching the snow at the chest's base, it created an ice slick, about 50 meters long. Giving the chest a push, it slid along the ice slick to its end, away from the crevasse. It then went to work piling snow around the chest, making a strange, rectangular, snow fort.

Ner nodded once as the snowman buried the box, 'problem managed'.

"… you said you were asked to retrieve it? By whom, may I ask?...”

"No one asked me, Tivli says. "As it's such a lovely crate and with an impressive lock, I assumed someone would be looking for it. And I was not wrong." She gestures with a smile to her audience of adventurers.

"Yer gonna come with us."

Tivli looks to the smiling Halfing, and can't help but smile back.

"Am I? Indeed? And where are we going, my small friend? Is it..."

She trails off as she sees the small snowman approaching.

"Why, hello! And who might you be? Hey!" Tivli tumbles backwards off the chest as the snowman slides it away.

"Right, then, you take care of that!" She calls after the strange creature, before turning her attention back to Matheus. "You were saying something about gold?"

Petronia rolled her eyes at Matheus, "We don't pay for what is ours." She then fixed Tivli with a hard stare, "And we don't trade for what is ours."

When Oksana's familiar appears and takes charge of the chest, Petronia throws her hands up in the air, "Finally! Someone with sense. It'll guard the chest until Oksana and Skagni can retrieve it."

She looks at the others, "So that's enough time wasted. We don't want to waste whatever ground we make up on those we're pursuing. We should keep moving or if you think it's too dark, we should make camp."

"Yer gonna come with us"

Petronia looked down at Ner and after a long moment, she shrugged. "You'll be responsible for her then. If you want her to come with us then you clean up after her and make sure she doesn't get in the way."

How late is it? Should we be looking for a place to stay the night? Or is it light enough to keep going?

It's dusk.

Petronia looked down at Ner and after a long moment, she shrugged. "You'll be responsible for her then. If you want her to come with us then you clean up after her and make sure she doesn't get in the way."

Ner nodded to Petronia like she was the venerable village elder giving a child a pet hamster for the first time. His eyes vowed to take care of it with the same absent-minded promise of a child.

"Right, then, you take care of that!" She calls after the strange creature, before turning her attention back to Matheus. "You were saying something about gold?"

Petronia rolled her eyes at Matheus, "We don't pay for what is ours." She then fixed Tivli with a hard stare, "And we don't trade for what is ours."

”Let us consider this an investment in goodwill, then,” Matheus said, rummaging in his shoulderback for his purse and threw the heavy pouch to Tivli. ”It’s mine to spend, and like I said, I doubt we have too many opportunities to spend it for a while."

That’s 117G, 6S and 3C in there, not that Matheus has bothered to count.

”Matheus Wilterglade. A pleasure to make your acquaintances,” the druid said, smiling.

If you want her to come with us then you clean up after her and make sure she doesn't get in the way.

Tivli tries to hide her offense with her politest voice, grateful for all of the exposure she's had to educated folks in her travels who taught her to talk right. "I appreciate your concern, but I'm quite practiced at cleaning up after myself. I've been searching these lands for years and have left no trace or trail behind me."

”Let us consider this an investment in goodwill, then,” Matheus said, rummaging in his shoulderback for his purse and threw the heavy pouch to Tivli. ”It’s mine to spend, and like I said, I doubt we have too many opportunities to spend it for a while."

Tivli nods politely at Matheus and tucks the pouch in a pocket.

"Delighted to meet you, Mr. Wilterglade. I am Tivli Darksnarl of the Smilodon Clan. And this is my trusted companion, Bubbles, and-"

As she's about to introduce Scrappers, the dire rat disappears with a little Pop! Tivli's face falls.

"Alas, gentle Scrappers, your time with us was, as always, too short. May Desna keep you safe in her sky menagerie until such time you are called to us again."

Bubbles continues to growl at the Wolf. Tivli, oblivious, looks around in the snow.

"Where did I...aha!" She finds a location seemingly at random and begins to dig.

"Now, what is this 'dark power weapon' your small friend mentioned and why are we retrieving it from a bad place?"

Bah... Winterglade, not Wilterglade... on well, who uses last names here anyway? ;^)