DM Deevor
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The warmer waters around Absalom have given way to the colder and more deadly waters of the north. The members of the glorious Pathfinder Society that you are, maybe even glorious members yourselves?-- are on board the Wandering Hearth as it slowly edges towards the Lands of the Linnorm Kings.
Your masters in Absalom have promised that this will be a pleasant trip, hoping you enjoy what they said will be a holiday as reward for all your hard work. All you need do is report to Venture-captain Bjersig Torrsen when you arrive in the small town district of Iceferry. Hopefully it will be as much fun as the country's biggest city, Karlsgard, which is just across the large Rimeflow River, on the other bank.
You stand on the wooden deck looking out, as a cold wind fills the sails. A crew of mainly humans and half-orcs man the sails and climb the rigging when needed. A smell of boiled cabbage rises up from the galley, dinner will not be long. A weak sun shines through dark clouds, maybe a storm is coming.
Only a couple of days more, and you will be at your destination ....
Introductory Role Play .....
Grabshanks Moneymaker
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Standing on the deck of a ship, looking out, a Goblin is conferring with his like-minded fellow goblins. He looks like a standard Goblin, if a standard goblin wore a canvas business suit and have a massive metal bracer strapped to one arm.
"Can you believe that they went back to using the Delta-5 form of the TCP reports? After that month of training for the Gamma-7 forms? And of course no one told me that they switched back . . . Now they say the lost time is coming out of my pay, as if it's my fault I did what I was told. Abdar preserve us . . ."
Grabshanks shivers a bit as the cold blows over him. He acts odd for a Goblin, mostly very orderly and is fairly well mannered and behaved. He doesn't even seem all that enamored with fire, not even once sneaking into the kitchen to watch the stove fire.
"Bit chilly isn't it? What exactly did they say this corporate retreat will be?"
Bit of role-play for his terrible profession check I made earlier.
Jord "Frogface" Moneymaker
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Another goblin standing with the first looks considerably more like what one might expect from a goblin. What looks like it might have once resembled the canvas business suit of his associates has been patched with animal hides.
His mouth is especially wide even for a goblin.
"Hmm, you were still using Delta-5's. Bah, no wonder they sent us away."
Jord then seems to ponder their current situation.
"I hope I get the chance to try something new and interesting." Jord then licks his lips with an abnormally long tongue.
Lewdvik Moneymaker
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Lewdvik Moneymaker, is a Goblin that also wears the tailored full suit (with bow tie) made out of canvas as well as leather. Atop his bald head rests a deerstalker and a crosssbow on his back.
Lewdvik rubs his ear smartly while nodding at Grabshanks. As he does so he squints and looks around. "The memo said some sort of race," he shivers. "I suspect it is a two bugs with one swing situation. The wording implied that the the Pathfinder Society was in on this as swell."
Grabshanks Moneymaker
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"No, I was using the Gamma-sevens. They went BACK to using the Delta fives without telling me. I'm told it cost them eight days of work. Bah. Let's talk about something else. Wonder what exercises they have planned at this retreat."
Iglith "Iggy" Moneymaker
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What looks like a bundle of furs near the other 3 goblins wriggles and a gloved hand moves one away from her eyes. "Well, the other clerks knew about the switch?" . . . Then her eyes widen even further, "Oh, my goodness, you didn't read the memo? What did you do with yours? I mean, obviously I ate mine, but I did read it first, of course."
Iggy sighs now that she's thinking about food. "I do want new flavors and stuff. I'm sure there will be many we haven't tasted yet. Oh, yeah, hey, guys, last time I was up here, I was told we couldn't eat the dogs, no matter what. No, no, no! So make sure we grab snackies, all the snackies as we race along."
Lewdvik Moneymaker
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Lewdvik mumbles to himself concernedly while rubbing his ear, "...dogs?..."
Grabshanks Moneymaker
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"Turns out I never got the memo. When they handed it out I was in Casomir opening up that branch of our bank, y'know because of the reconstruction after the civil war in Taldor. Also while I was there, as per our agreement with the pathfinders, I helped with some gentrification of part of the city. Anyway, never received the memo. And my inbox had been lit on fire AGAIN before I got back. I suspect Urg from HR. Why we ever hired a flame oracle to work in a bank is beyond me."
Grabshanks throws his hands in the air as if to rid himself of the matter.
Lewdvik Moneymaker
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Snapped out of his worry, Lewdvik replies to Grabshanks, "Not Urg this time. I remember that fire, I suspected Glurp from costodial. The fire had traces of splash, Urg's fires are spontinnous. Glurp has been known to clean with exposive checmicals."
Grabshanks Moneymaker
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"Ugh, Glurp. Always forget about that guy. Anyway, yeah, now that I think about it, there was some talk of doing the Pathfinders a favor for letting us set up a bank in Skyreach. But the bank billed it as a 'trust building exercise.' You're probably right, it's a 'lighting two fires with one tindertwig' situation. Still, wish we didn't have to go so far north. We aren't snow goblins for crying out loud, we're from Katapesh."
DM Deevor
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As the ship nears the jetty, Eynilla Vriggdahl, the a middle-aged Ulfen woman-captain looks down from the quarter deck, her forearms resting on the plain wooden balustrade. Below her gathering on the poop deck are an assembled group of Pathfinders, strangely all goblins, getting ready to disembark. "Ahoy there matey's remember to have your form GD11 dash 3 ready for when you leave. The harbour master is gonna be getting angry if he's gotta wait for you to fill 'em all in." She smiles a wide smile as she turns back to her crew upon the deck. Many of whom also turn away and find their shoulders shaking up and down.
The ship slides quickly and carefully next to the jetty where the gangplank is lowered and a muscular half-orc pats each of the Moneymaker clan on the head, and in a deep voice booms, "Enjoy your stay!" and can't quite stop himself from laughing as you step down onto dry, well snowy but solid ground. Onto the quay and you join the bustle of a small crowded town.
There are actually more Ulfen here today than usual, amongst the usual Gnome population.
There are a lot of people actually, something must be going on.
Time to find and meet Venture-captain Bjersig Torrsen, who will no doubt have details of your relaxing holiday in the north. Despite the crowds and seemingly pent up excitement of the townspeople, you walk with determination to the Lodge and knock on the nicely carved wooden-door of a the fine Ulfen lodge. The door is opened by --
--a pale-blue skinned Goblin, with eyes as clear as ice water.
"Oh southern brothers, you lost! You ain't dressed right neither."
With that the 'northern brother' slams the door shut in your face.
little bit more role play?
Iglith "Iggy" Moneymaker
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Iggy pouts for a moment and then shrugs, glancing over at Grabshanks, "Do you have our forms ready for us? I don't have one and don't remember getting one. I know I'd remember eating that." She sighs, thinking again about food and how long it might take to deal with the form and find yum-yumms.
Grabshanks Moneymaker
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Grabshanks rolls his eyes and checks to see if he has the proper forms. As he does he absently kicks the door loud enough to knock but. It really attacking it.
”Hello! Moneymaker Clan! We’re here to see venture-Captain Bjersig Torrsen! -dang, where is form 27c-3.- Listen, we are also affiliated with Pathfinders! Let us in!”
Lewdvik Moneymaker
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Lewdvik tugs at his ear with a ponderous look at the door. "You filed it under 'P' for 'Pathfinder documentation'," he adds absently to Grabshanks.
DM Deevor
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With the commotion at the door, you all hear a loud bark, that gets louder and a lot of goblin shouting......
"We let them in!! ... Not the dog!!!" and suddenly the door opens and the small blue face of a snow goblin shouts at you "Come in!, Come in!" He points down the hall to another shut door. "Pathfinders .. You go! ... You go!!"
From around the corner of another corridor a second snow goblin emerges, a little breathless "Go straight in! .... Coming soon! ... You invited!" as she too points at the door at the end of the corridor.
You hear a another loud bark, a dog sounds to be getting closer ...
The first goblin shuts the door, as the last of you enter, as both the goblins run off through a side corridor.
Grabshanks Moneymaker
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”Your common could use work!” Grabshanks says as the snow goblins leave. ”Honestly, gives the rest of us a bad name. Like we can’t learn another language properly.”
Grabshanks looks around trying to find out where they are inside this lodge.
Jord "Frogface" Moneymaker
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"Not sure why you are mad. They were perfectly understandable."
Jord starts at the loud bark. Then licks his lips.
"If they bite, I bite back." He grins broadly.
Looking around, "Hmm, where is the venture captain?"
DM Deevor
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You enter a pleasant room, containing a table, a few chairs around the perimeter of the room. A plate of golden brown cakes, with dried fruit and a pitcher of cool water stand on the table. Obviously a reception or waiting room. There is a second door to the side, behind which you hear a loud scratching sound and a few more barks.
A few seconds later, Venture Captain Bjersig Torrsen, his friendly dog Mahki, and the gnomish Pathfinder Lirall enter the entrance hall. VC Picture in Slides
Bjersig Torrsen greets you with his hand gestures, waving you to follow him back to his office.
There, he offers you all a place by the fire as he removes his thick gloves.
Lirall hands out some glasses of hot spicy wine.
"My cousin makes this. You can purchase some bottles with him and--"
--Bjersig gestures her to be quiet.
Lirall sits beside Bjersig as Mahki turns happily through the group, licking Hopper's hands like crazy, before settling in front of the hearth, ears still perked and tail wagging across the rug.
You all know Bjersig is a self-assured half-orc.
Here, dressed in a thick wool tunic, hide pants and furred boots, he will start to "talk" to you.
He speaks occasionally but primarily signs, punctuating some words with particular expression in his face and emphasis with his hands.
Lirall, the gnome, steps in to interpret the signs for you.
As you now know, Bjersig has worked exhaustively to develop a variant of Pathfinder sign language that communicates more information than the basic commands of the existing system and has incorporated a number of new signs, as well as a distinct grammatical structure and syntax borrowed from a lingua franca spoken between some early Varki and Ulfen traders, creating a sort of pidgin.
You gather Bjersig prefers this method of communication and has helped some of his neighbors learn the particulars of it, but Lirall remains on hand for those unfamiliar with it.
Venture-Captain Bjersig Torrsen sits upright in his chair, waiting until he is certain he has the attention of everyone in attendance.
When I update slides, I tend to put the new slide as slide 2, so that it makes it easier to find, it stays near the beginning of the slides, Just to let you know.
Iglith "Iggy" Moneymaker
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Iggy also drinks the spiced wine and sits where she can see both Bjersig and Lirall. She watches him intently since she doesn't understand any of the new signs that he uses and is curious about them, listening to Lirall to try to learn.
Jord "Frogface" Moneymaker
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Jord is quite distracted by the food and drink at first.
After gorging himself a bit, he looks more closely at the venture captain.
"Strange hand movement. I can do that too!"
Jord attempts to mimic the hand signs, clearly showing that he does not in fact know them.
DM Deevor
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At first Venture-Captain Bjersig Torrsen stops and watches Jord make signs back, but his face becomes confused and tries once more to sign replies to Jord, but his face contorts some more before he shrugs his shoulders and continues.
“Thank you all for coming.” he signs, his words interpreted as necessary through Lirall, the Gnome lass sitting beside him.
“I expect your travel back to Iceferry was safe, if a bit cold.
I am very excited to have you all here for the upcoming event.
I expect that you will find it an excellent test of your capabilities, and not one many Pathfinders will be able to boast of.”
Bjersig draws a small bundle of scrolls and a journal from his bag and lays them on the table, allowing the contents to unfurl and spread across the tabletop.
“This handful of documents is all the information the Society has collected on the Balgirdtrek up to this point.
I doubt it’s something you’ve heard of unless you’re from the area.
It is an overland race some 200 miles long, from Frostgarten in Icemark to Kalsgard, just over the river.
It is performed each year, honoring the deeds of Balgird Bluetongue when he slew a tarn linnorm centuries ago, but this year’s race promises to be quite unique.”
Bjersig looks around, to see if these names are familiar with you.
Then--
DM Deevor
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“As you may know, the Varki have been the source of quite the commotion among the Ulfen lately, largely in positive ways.
Their ranger, Nankou, slew a linnorm some time ago and has been officially recognized as a linnorm king.
A new linnorm king is always newsworthy, but a Varki linnorm king is unprecedented.
In recognition of Nankou and his diplomatic efforts between the Ulfen and Varki peoples, the officials have decided that the Balgirdtrek will be held in reverse this year.
The Varki have always bristled a bit at some of the ideas inherent in the Balgirdtrek. Ulfen have often discussed it as a race from the ‘savage wilderness’ back into the arms of civilization, not something that has promoted constructive relationships between the two.
It’s good that the officials seem to have broadened their horizons.”
Again, a glance to see if you are following and know about Varki and Ulfen.
Then--
DM Deevor
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“What’s more, there are two new teams joining the race this year.
First, Nankou has hand-picked a group of Varki to compete.
This is the first time Varki have competed in the race and from what I’ve heard, the Ulfen participants are excited to see what they bring to the competition.
If you haven’t guessed by now--
--you all are... the second new team!
I’ve managed to secure your entry with the approval of the race officials. You can thank me later.”
Bjersig smiles broadly.
"What better way to enjoy your vacation, than in a worthwhile challenge!"
he finishes and releases a deep breath, his eyes twinkle in the light from the fire.
His smile remains as broad as ever.
In addition to any questions you may have, you can roll secret recall knowledge rolls using either Ulfen Lore or Society if you desire. (see discussion thread first).
Grabshanks Moneymaker
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”So our team building exercise is a 200 mile sled race? Urg must be laughing is flaming keister off back at HQ. Oh well, we did agree to it.” Grabshanks then turns to the venture captain and his assistant, not sure who to direct his attention towards, he keeps switching back and forth who he’s talking to.
”Pardon, but three questions. 1), What, or who, are Varki? Two, why is it extra-newsworthy that one of them became a Linorum king? And three” he pauses as if exasperated. ”Where can we find some goblin-sized cold weather gear?”
Lewdvik Moneymaker
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Iglith "Iggy" Moneymaker
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No roll for Iggy either.
Iggy pipes up, "I got my furs when I was up here before, but not in this town, so only 3 of us need them. Oh, and we had doggies who pulled me on a sled," looking over at Mahki hopefully.
DM Deevor
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Perhaps Grabshanks should have paid more attention and read the dossier back at HQ, instead of sleeping it off in the old apple barrel.
In preparation back at HQ, Urq gave you some documents which mentioned details about the Balgirdtrek, mentioning several teams that have competed in the past. Somewhere in the back of your mind you remember that last year a team called 'Two Houses' competed in the race. The team is made up of two Ulfen couples; Steen and his wife Unn, and Leif and his husband Oluf . The two couples undertook the Balgirdtrek as a joint anniversary celebration. In you minds eye you see a scribbled note, that they talk up each other's achievements, in fact they may have entered the race of the last few years. The team's achievement from last year appears to have been making good progress and crossing the line in the early hours of the third day. However they went and slept a local inn, had breakfast that morning before walking back to the finish line and notifying the officials. One of the couple partners seems to be an apothecary, whilst the other couple consists of a ranger and bounty hunter. The race is a celebration, a trail to overcome as far as they are concerned.
Venture-Captain Bjersig Torrsen answers Grabshanks' questions as best he can, but has trouble making out the inquiry as the goblin keeps looking at Lirral. The gnome, however continues to interpret Bjersig's signing, "Varki? You mean you don't know of these people. The Varki are a human ethnic group who live in this area, around the region of the Lands of the Linnorm Kings known as Icemark. They are on the whole semi-nomadic fishers, furriers, and reindeer herders, used to living in this tough region. Many of them are druids, hunters, rangers, and shamans, whose skills complement their strong links to nature." Lirall watches the fast hand movements of the half-orc, before continuing.
"They have had an uneasy relationship with the Ulfen, full of tension, but when the Varki hunter Nankou slew a linnorm and claimed the title of Linnorm King of Icemark, the tensions were relived somewhat. Many Ulfen were confused by Nankou's claim, but also impressed by the Varki's feat, as I said before. But the traditions of the Ulfen are changed this year with the inclusion of the Varki team and reversing the course, so there may be more tension than in most years." The Venture-Captain thinks a moment before continuing.
"The Balgirdtrek is competitive, but this is a race, not a blood sport. It isn’t unusual for some of the teams to rib one another and there is some history of minor brawls between rivals, but that is not activity befitting the Society’s first team and I expect you to remain above such behavior. Evidently there are some that objected to our entrance into the race this year, though I’m not sure if there is any reason for it beyond misplaced pride. Whether there is more reason for trouble this year due to the change in tradition, the Varki and ourselves entering the race I cannot say, but the Society expects you to race with honor and within the rules. "
As Bjersig sees Grabshank's look back to him, the Venture-Captain puts his hand up, in a sudden gesture for the goblin to stop shaking his head. Then begins to answer the last question, as Lirall relays, "You will find the Balgirdtrek market close to the start line of the race. They have goods of many different types and for all races, so unless you have more questions, now is a good time to keep with your appointment at the start of the race. Are you ready?"
Lewdvik Society 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Lewdvik Moneymaker
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"Hmm...yes...The team to beat is the Two Houses. Records show that they won last year by a significant margin..." Lewdvik mumbles as he rubs his ear.
Ready
Grabshanks Moneymaker
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| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
As the goblins walk towards the area they have been directed, Grabshanks Grumbles. In Goblin. "Honestly! Why was he so surprised I don't know about these 'Varki' people. I barely even know what Ulfen are. WE'RE FROM KATAPESH. I tell you, A goblin doesn't know the difference between human tribes and we're stupid, but you try to explain different Goblin tribes to them and they're just like 'a goblin is a goblin, right?"
As he says that he reaches the marketplace and switches to common. "Ah, we must be able to buy winter clothing here. Remember to get earmuffs. Don't want to end up like cousin Raknar who lost both his ears to frostbite."
According to AoN, Winter Clothing costs 4sp and negates the damage from severe environmental cold (and presumably less severe cold) and reduces the damage from extreme cold down to severe.
DM Deevor
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"Well, if there are no more questions, I will not delay you from your pleasure!"
Bjersig pulls some fur on, and, with Lirall and the dog in tow, he accompanies you out of the lodge, towards the edge of town, where sleighs are waiting for you.
You see two bright, open-topped sleighs wait along the side of the street, adorned with ribbons and cedar boughs.
The driver of the second sleigh hops down, waving your group over.
He instructs your team to move to the rear of the cart and assists with boarding.
Inside, two groups sit, anxious for the sleighs to get moving.
At the far end of the cart, several Ulfen rangers and a cleric glower, sighing before mumbling to one another.
• you may slot your Boons for the adventure (if you have not already done so).
• if you have the boon Legacy of the Gorget from Pathfinder Society Quest #3: Grehunde’s Gorget you should slot that boon.
• you each have 1 Hero Point available now (and if someone has a Glyph, please tell me who is getting your point or points)
• you can collect your school's item as you leave the lodge.
DM Deevor
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Lirall wishes you luck as you make your way to the second sled. "Good luck, be sure to visit the market at the race start, you should have time before the race gets under way." she says with a cheerful wave, blowing a kiss of luck to each of you.
As Iggy pulls around his furs and gets in the second cart, the one with room for you, you see that you are to take place at one end of the cart, with one group in the middle.
The group in the middle must be run by an aging woman, slide 5, whose name all call out from the crowd: "Faergim! Faergim! Faergim Axebinder!"
She seems to be a well liked person.
She is traveling with three people.
The group at the far end of the sleigh from you, the ones mumbling, are made up of two male and one female Ulfen rangers. The man is powerfully built, in his early fifties, and the young man and young woman seem to obey him sharply - maybe they are related?
The fourth is some sort of religious person.
There is a lot of noise going on right now, what with all chanting Faergim!
So nothing that the far group is saying can be overheard...
Looking forward at the first sledge there look to be three other teams, one made up of three Ulfen men and a woman, Lewdvik takes a long hard look at that team. Might they be?!?!?
Then you see another group of three Ulfen men and a woman, Lewdvik blinks his eyes, or could it be them?!?!
A third team on the other sled, talks very excitedly as you all get set to move off.
An older Ulfen ranger calls back: "I've never seen one of those pale little goblin-like folks before, have you Olef?" Another strong Ulfen man replies, "The way they look, we'll pick their frozen bodies up next year!" Olef replies.
And he laughs, his group chuckling with him.
Grabshanks Moneymaker
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”What can you recommend to avoid such a fate?” Grabshanks asks trying to sound jovial at the ribbing. He then finishes putting on the rest of his winter clothes. ”Lessie, Do we have enough dog chow? Food for ourselves? Some spare parts for repair? Hmmm, Dogs. Not a problem for me, do the rest of you guys have an issue?”. Grabshanks asks his team mates as he checks to make sure that the Pathfinder sled is packed with the stuff they might need.
Iglith "Iggy" Moneymaker
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Iggy hums to herself as she gets onto the sled, gathering her furs close, watching the other team in the sled, wondering what god the religious-looking person worships. She wants to ask about it as soon as the noise either dies down or the sled moves away from it. Then she mutters to her friends, "No eating doggies up here! They help us through all this snow, too! It seems we'll be able to get more snackies when we get to the other site, and good furs for you guys."
Iggy will pick up a scroll of Magic Weapon for her school item.
Lewdvik Moneymaker
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Lewdvik scratches his bundled body nervously at the mention of dogs. "Ummm...no...dogs are...fine.." His eyes dart around to all of the faces, seemingly logging them away for memory. He then mumbles once more "Lief and Oluf.."
DM Deevor
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Just remembered we have a portrait of Faergim Axebinder in the slides
The front sled starts to pull off just as Grabshanks makes his jovial reply, it almost causes the Ulfen in the first sled to fall out, as they burst into uncontrollable laughter. The reaction from the back of the second sled is different, as the Ulfen with the religious symbol hisses
"Ignorant false bloods dilute the purity of the race.!"
And when Iggy starts to talk about dogs and helping in the race, he says
Lewdvik observes this group of three Ulfen rangers and their cleric companion. He feels that there is a lot at stake for them here-- what, you do not know, but they are hoping for something in this race.
The second sleigh, the one you are in, takes off after the first one.
You move out of town, in your bright, open-topped sleighs, moving down the street, adorned with ribbons and cedar boughs.
.....................
DM Deevor
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And you head off, all three teams in the sleigh, towards the race's starting area, as you hear the teams behind you converse.
The companions of Faergrim Axebinder, look around to the team at the back, a bard speaks to the cleric and you hear the cleric, who gives his name as Gruen Storval, boast that his family is known for having a large number of its members “blessed” with lycanthropy - specifically that a werebear exists in his family tree -, but states that he is not so fortunate.
The bard in Faergim's team write down, the members of Without Trace or Fail - the name of their team - have trained relentlessly for the race ahead, adopting a strict diet of mostly foraged hard grasses and berries, dried fish, and a lightly fermented mead-- and are quick to talk about the benefits of it for their stamina and mental fortitude.
It is quite obvious they are unfriendly toward you, fearing that the storied tradition of the race is threatened by the presence of outsiders.
They say to the bards that your participation is a sign that the noble days of the Balgirdtrek are gone and fear that it may become nothing more than a curiosity to entice visitors.
Other members of Faergim's team, which you glean are called Wyrding Wayfinders start to discuss another team Bluetongue's Brawlers that won the event last year, despite completing the first day of the race naked. After the race all the members of the team were treated for frostbite. Faergim said she thought it might slow them down this time, despite having a year to heal, the scars of cold last long, even for great warriors.
.......................................
DM Deevor
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The journey is short, and you arrive at the starting area of the Balgirdtrek in Kalsgard.
It is bustling with activity.
Merchants and traders hoping to support the race have set up stalls and carts to sell supplies and equipment to the teams.
Arriving in the sleighs, you and the other competitors are greeted by cheers and applause as the sleds pull up to the starting area.
As each team disembarks from the sleigh, they are introduced to the crowd by the drivers of the sleighs.
From the first sleigh exit--
"Fangs of the Remorhaz!"
The Varki team chosen by Nankou to compete.
The team consists of twin hunters, male and female humans, an agender human, and a big half-orc.
"Bluetongue’s Brawlers!"
This team is made up of four burly Ulfen, two male and two female human warrior types.
And "Two Houses!"
This team is made up of two Ulfen couples, male & female and two males. Humans all.
You understand by the specific cheering that the two couples undertake the Balgirdtrek each year as a joint anniversary celebration.
This is their fifth year competing, and the team spends most of its time talking each other up while reliving their triumphs on the course from years previous.
Then the teams jump out of your sleigh.
First the ones who glared at you--
"Without Trace or Fail!
Then Faergim--
"Wyrding Wayfinders!"
Now it is your turn.
Your driver looks at you: "What's your team's name again?"
Religion roll to identify the cleric's religion
Grabshanks Moneymaker
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”We are the Gringotts’s Goblins!”. The goblin shouts. ”And we are here to show you that Goblins are as capable as any other race!”
He turns to the others and says in Goblin ”<<Sorry to jump in without consulting you, but I don’t thing these guys appreciate a lot of hemming and hawing. Plus, y’know, branding and free advertising. Good for the bank. Hope that’s okay with you guys.>>”
After buying winter clothes, does it look like we’ll need to buy anything else for the trek? Another Sled? Food? Blankets? Dog chow, or is all of that covered for us?”
Lewdvik Moneymaker
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Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Clan Moneymaker?
DM Deevor
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The official takes a deep breath.....
"GRINGOTTS’s GOBLINS"
The people CHEER!
As the official hears Grabshanks words about dogs, he holds up his hand and stops you before you drop down off the sled.
"There are no dogs, that's in the rules." His face turns slightly red with a little anger that this team seems ill prepared for the Balgirdtrek. His nostrils flare and he says loudly so each of you can hear. "Now listen." the official takes a scroll from his coat and reads.
"This is a trek by foot that you must complete within four days. Following the course laid out for you and the trial presented to you.
If you’re any later than that, the officials will send out parties to retrieve you and you’ll be officially disqualified.
Don’t try to bypass any of the checkpoints, they are there not only for the trials, but to make sure that you and your team are well enough to continue on.
Please do your best to avoid getting lost out there.
Don’t do anything to injure your competitors, though this should of course go without saying.
You’re welcome to advance as far as you can in a day, but the officials don’t want anyone traveling after dark.
If you find yourself at a checkpoint near sunset, they may ask you to stay. I’d heed their advice.
It’s easy enough for some of the more dangerous things that stalk the tundra to slip by the rangers patrolling the trails under the cover of darkness.”"
He rolls the scroll up and places it in his coat.
As you disembark amidst all this bluster and bustle, you are given a race pack containing:
• three minor healing potions
• a single climbing kit
• vouchers for lodging in Frostgarten
• flint and steel
• a signal whistle
• and a list of supplies they should procure before the race begins, See the slides
It is 3 hours before the race begins, plenty of time for shopping and getting to know the opposition.
Rules-wise, you have 3 x 1 hour slots, the Diplomacy to go talk to people takes 1 hour as does a shopping trip.
Lewdvik Moneymaker
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Lewdvik goes to speak to some of those designated as organizing this race.
He rubs his ear, "I don't suppo you'd tell me what we will have to do during this race?"