You gather your equipment and then check some shops about winter clothing. After making your purchases, you make your way to the docks where your transport awaits.
High tide is late in the day so you have no trouble boarding before the ship leaves.
It takes a few weeks to get to Iceferry. You have to travel out of the Inner Sea to the Arcadian Ocean. From there you travel north past Magnimar and Xin-Edasseril to Iceferry in the Land of the Linnorm Kings.
You make your way to the lodge and are met by Venture Captain Bjersig Torrsen, his friendly dog Mahki, and the gnomish Pathfinder Lirall. Bjersig offers you a place by the fire as he removes his thick gloves. Lirall sits beside Bjersig as Mahki turns happily through the group before settling in front of the hearth, ears still perked and tail wagging across the rug.
Venture-Captain Bjersig Torrsen sits upright in his chair, waiting until he is certain he has the attention of everyone in attendance. “Thank you all for coming.” he signs, his words interpreted as necessary through Lirall, the gnome sitting beside him. “I expect your travel 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.”
“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.”
“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.
He stands and places a sealed envelope and a small purse on the table. “There you'll find your entry letter accompanied by my letter of introduction for you. The purse contains a few coins to help you purchase some gear. Once the race is over, you'll also be compensated by the Society for your efforts. Expect a hefty bonus if you actually manage to win! There is a sleigh carrying the other teams to the starting area. It will stop here in Iceferry to pick you up in an hour, don't be late.”
“To be allowed to compete is a great honor, so please remember that you represent the best qualities of the Pathfinder Society at all times. Take notes, learn whatever you can from the other teams. The Balgirdtrek is supposed to be a friendly competition after all. If you have any questions, make them quick, otherwise good luck to you all. I don't expect you to win, but I hope you'll at least make a good show of it.”
Venture-Captain Torrsen smiles widely at Ami’s attempt to communicate with sign language. “I am pleased to see one of you can sign.”
“As for the Balgirdtrek, it is a 200 mile race honoring the deeds of Balgird Bluetongue when he slew a tarn linnorm centuries ago.”
“The winner gains the honor of having competed and bested their opponents, a place at the head of the post-trek feast table, and a token from the officials.”
“The token is particularly special. Most winners redeem their token with their king in place of land taxes for the year, but it entitles the winner to a number of things such as preferential rooms at inns across the Saga Lands and preferential treatment at Ulfen trading posts. It would be a nice thing for a Pathfinder agent to have, but our real goal here is to observe and document the Balgirdtrek.”
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Bee steps inside the lodge and warms himself up a bit. "Not kidding about it being cold over here."
He listens to the briefing. "Well, I have no problem competing in pretty much anything. No guarantees that I will win, but I am glad that I don't have to try and not win. Trying to not win is hard. And in my old line of work, often rather painful. Not sure why anyone would want to do that."
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Signing is rather useful underwater Venture Captain sir Ami replies, both in voice and sign once she realises that the Torrsen is mute but not deaf.
Which reminds me ... is swimming involved or is this just a foot race sir
She also signs over to Lirell Would you be interested in going out with me after this? I am hoping to observe the Northern Lights That is not spoken aloud.
“You'll have to cross the Whitegold River about halfway through the race. I do not recommend swimming. ” The VC makes exaggerated gestures of shivering as the gnome translates it as cold.
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Galvaka looks around excited as she enjoys the bit of cold weather. "Oh this is going to be exciting! Maybe even without any fighting and we race? I haven't run really far, but I can do my best."
She looks at the Venture-Captain as she stops for a moment to think, "I haven't been this far north, I think at least. Who are the Varki?"
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"It's nice to meet you, Ami. I know it feels weird that I'm uncomfortable with being the subject of a story. I just worry that..." Bitty bites her lip, "live up to people's expectations!"
Bitty is excited about the whole racing aspect. "I'm pretty fast. Though... I don't know how fast I can run in all this winter gear!" Bitty is dressed in a locally made fur coat, tightly knit woolens, and boots. "I don't know why the locals insisted that Bee, Amiri and I all get matching red conical hats though... Is this normal winter gear up here?"
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Ami was a little miffed that Lirell hadn't replied yet but she figured that the gnome was too busy relaying the VC's speech.
I have no idea. Maybe Lirell would know. And as for conical hats ... she rummages in her backpack and pulls out a bright blue one that matches her hair. I am still not sure that Janira wasn't ... erm .... pulling my leg when she suggested I get this.
And it's not worth worrying about that. Story tellers tend to embellish and exaggerate anyway.
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"Even though I hail from Whistledown and grew accostumed to the cold of the nearby mountains, I must admit I have never been somewhere this extreme."
Ashun finds it amusing that the three gnomes had been given conical hats
"Well, they do fit your style. I would say that given the heavy snow, it is probably a way to not lose the small people in a snowstorm. You know, with the bright colours making it easier to see them in the white background."
He is clearly making stuff up.
“The Varki are a semi-nomadic group that inhabit the extreme north, primarily Icemark to the west and north of here. Primarily fishers, furriers, and reindeer herders.”
“The Ulfen live along the coastlines of the Land of the Linnorm kings. They are sailors with their longboats. Tall with blonde hair and a reputation as warriors. Until recently it was only Ulfen who were Linnorm Kings.”
He allows the group to discuss hat styles amongst themselves, only agreeing with Ashun that the hats fit your style.
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"Well, they do fit your style. I would say that given the heavy snow, it is probably a way to not lose the small people in a snowstorm. You know, with the bright colours making it easier to see them in the white background."
Bee pokes at the bright red hat on his head. "Yup. Because we obviously don't have bright enough hair normally." You notice that his hair is now a very striking orange color that clashes horribly with the hat.
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"I suppose it is tradition!" Bitty puts on her conical hat, though her hair keeps blowing out of it in every direction. "Though if Ami already had a blue one, this leaves us with an extra hat. Gavalka, you're short too. Do you want the extra hat? That way none of us get lost in the snow."
"Venture Captain, where do we sign up for the trek? Are we leaving right away?"
The VC signs to Ashun “Hopefully any plans include catching the sleigh to Kalsgard in a little under an hour.”
He then turns to Bitty and signs “The envelope I gave you has your entry letter.”
To the group, he asks “Do you have any more questions?”
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"Well I would love the hat. I'm getting lots of new clothes for this trip so I would want to see about this new hat too!" She does pause her enthusiasm for just a moment as she gestures toward the air saying, "I don't think I'm short though, just so many others are really tall."
"Oh buying stuff!" The thought reminds Galvaka of a question that she turns to the Venture-Captain. "Is there any gear you recommend us get? Should we get sled wolves if we are going to go on a long race?"
Shaking his head, the VC signs “This is meant to be a foot race. There are sled races, but this isn’t one of them.”
He hands each of you a list of useful items for winter survival.
winter clothes, tent, hatchet, rations, healer's kit, 100 feet of hemp rope, repair kit
“Now some of these things you only need one of in the group, such as the repair kit.”
Bitty has heard that the Wyrding Wayfinders is a team led by Faergim Axebinder. Faergim is an elderly human champion of Cayden Cailean. This will be the thirty fourth Balgirdtrek she has competed in. She is accompanied by her squires Thosse (a female halfling) and Rikkun (a male human) as well as Sassa Ringbreaker, a female human skald currently writing an epic about the life and deeds of Faergim. Last year, Faergim carried Rikkun on her shoulders as she crossed the finish line.
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"Foot race works for me." Bee follows Ashun to go and get their necessary supplies.
He looks through his traveling pack and checks to see what he is missing. "I think my rope is only 50 feet. And I don't have a tent. Or a hatchet." He steps out of the lodge door and immediately starts shivering in the cold. "Or the winter clothes. This standard pack really isn't suited for this type of weather, is it?"
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"Could we tie our ropes together to make it a hundred feet? Or is it safer for it to be a single one? And even if my specialty is alchemy focused, I may be able to use a repair kit for other stuff. After that, is the only missing item the axe?"
He takes notes on what were suggested, what they are need and what they have.
Ashun's Equipment
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"I don't think I need as much winter clothes, but I think I can get a discount for only half winter clothes. So I'll get a full set." Galvaka looks at her own clothing before appraising gear. "I'll let you pull around the tents, but I'll make sure to get some tasty food and medicine to bring along. I don't think I need to much more unless it takes us a very long time to race this race."
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Ami purchases another pup tent although she was thinking of bunking with Bitty, if Bitty allows it - but it's always good to have a spare. She also adds a weeks worth of rations, a repair kit, another 50ft of rope, and a spare hatchet. She even buys snow shoes.
What sort of fun Ashun? she asks curiously.
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"Oh! Just some trinkets, gadgets, baubbles..."
His usually slow and calm cadence slowly turns into an excited nerdy rant
"Although I am not as good with mechanicals, some tinkering can be very fun. I have met a gnome in the past that had a fully mechanical wagon, and also a fun fidget cube of some sorts. I have also heard about some traps can be even simulate spells, like a firework snare or something. There is also those springs that you can click on your boots and make you run faster. And even a flying cauldro—..."
Ashun goes on and on and on about fun stuff he found in the annals and catalogs of the pathfinder society and shops in Absalom, and how he could use his new tools to fidget with them.
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"[...]— it is complicated, but the topic of energy is fascinating indeed, because using a spell-storing rune is more than just a metaphysical battery, if the ley-lines could be used as— [...]"
"[...]— because then you could try to enhance its velocity using a bit of maelstrom essence, because although Darlek's pepperbox was already very potent, perhaps making a spellcrafted rifling— [...]"
"[...]— building a magic-based adjustable support for a magnifying glass made out of gemstones, to hold it in front of a wand could change the form of its spell, because the way light tends to refracts around— [...]"
"[...]— I have read this theory that a bag of holding could theoretically create a wormhole to the ethereal plane, so if possible, you could probably alter its properties to work as a disposable way to visit other planes— [...]"
"[...]— and that brings me back to the initial topic, if a profusion of magical elements are imbued inside a mechanical parafuse, then using a volumetrical fitting and a sliding top, it is indeed possible to make an eternally perpetual motion engine for an scientifically correct orrerry for a baby crib."
and on, and on, and on...
"Breeep?"
Egg makes an inquisitive noise at Bea. What's he talking about, and why isn't he giving us snacks?
Eventually someone reminds Ashun that you have a schedule to keep and you leave the lodge to head to the sleighs. There are two sleighs with the teams split between them. The driver urges you to get into the rear sleigh so they can get going.
There are eight humans inside the sleigh. One of them immediately introduces herself as Jori of the Bluetongue’s Brawlers. There is a quick round of introductions where the rest of that team introduces themselves; Sigurd is male, Sigrun is female and Baltus is male. They are cheerful and welcoming to you.
The other four humans (three men and a woman) make no effort to speak with you.
Bitty’s comment gets hearty laughs from the four. “Bluetongue’s Brawlers. Bluetongue was a Linnorm King known for how tough he was. Went through a blizzard so cold even his tongue turned blue!”
They ask Bitty “How did you get so blue? Are you part ice?” You don’t think they meant it as a serious question.
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Bee walks along with Ashun listening mildly interested in the various contraptions and gizmos that Ashun has planned. He really doesn't understand the technical details, but the descriptions of the end result sound fascinating.
As Bitty starts spinning tales, Bee has to use every trick he knows in order to keep a straight face. "Yeah. These hats are nice. My white hair is almost all the way back to red even. Check it out." He pulls his hat up to show off his hair again.
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"Oh! Right. I am sorry, it is not very often I allow myself to drift off."
When they board the sleigh and Bitty manages to strike up a conversation, the purple changeling looks rather impressed on how the shy gnome could have grown so much in so little time.
And while the majestic gladiator and world-famous cook Corabee, and the great Bitisuru, the spider slayer and renowed actress loved by goblins, are talking to the others, Ashun sitting arches his back to get his elbows on his knees to get closer to Ami's eye level, and speaks gently and quietly.
"Are you okay, Ami? You look a bit distressed."
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"I am also big, but I am not as scary right? Or at least I try not to be.", he smiles a light grin
"Perhaps the other group is also nervous, that could be why they are quiet." and gives her a soft tap on her head, "So worry not much, we are safe with the others here."
And stealthly points to the gnomes, the goblin and the quiet girl.
"In any case feel free to talk with me, or any of us for that matter if you feel like it, you are part of the group."
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Bitty looks around to see if anyone else wants to talk to the scary other team, and then swallows her fear. What would Grandma Beryl say?
Bitty, you are the granddaughter of a dragon. Stop cowering.
She marches up to the other four humans. "Um hello. My name is Bitty, and I notice that most of the other teams around here have names. What's the name of your team?"
The eldest of them, a powerfully built man that looks to be in his fifties, answers “Without Trace or Fail.”
Looking at Bitty and her group, he then says “What will your team name be, Wolf Chew Toy?” That gets a snicker from the female on their team.
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"That is quite the cute name actually, I would not be opposed to it." Ashun answers nonchalant with a gentle smile.
"Chew toys are frequently used for its calming effects on more aggressive animals. And since wolves are often depicted as fierce, being able to discipline and control such strong creatures with such simple method and without the use of violence is a great way to show the ability to adapt to situations and rise above adversity."
Keeping his polite tone, the changeling is actually content with the name, and in no way he shows any animosity to the other party.