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After an afternoon of investigating Thorborg Silverskorr - as well as a gruelling evening charming and placating a low-level functionary from the Rimerunner's guild - the group has identified the most likely location of Ulf Gormundr as well as the heirloom weapon, Suishen; Ravenscraeg.

Ravenscraeg was the hall of the Mad Reaver Snorri Stone-Eye. It is called Ravenscraeg because it lies high among the rocky crags south of Kalsgard, accessible only to the eponymous ravens that roost atop its ridgepole, save for a perilous stair that climbs the cliff face to the hall above. Nobody in his right mind went to Ravenscraeg while the Mad Reaver inhabited it, but according to rumor, it has been purchased by a mysterious new owner.

Ravenscraeg lies 2 days' walk south of Kalsgard in the craggy hills near the Grungir Forest. The journey to Ravenscraeg can be made in 1 day on horseback or 2 days on foot. The trail passes through boggy terrain south of Kalsgard dotted with small copses and shale hillocks. The gray line of craggy hills is visible to the south and beyond them the green forest.

The decision is made to journey out to the remote hall on the morrow.

Starday, 25nd of Sarenith, 4711 AR (day 40)

After a day's travel following a narrow trail that reportedly leads to the hall, you find a likely spot to camp for the night. At this rate of travel you'll reach your destination late tomorrow afternoon.

As you're relaxing around the quickly constructed campfire, there's a flash of sharp steel as a deadly spinning star just misses Orchid.

In the flickering shadows behind Flori and Cailyn is a slender figure dressed all in black! The shadows seem to wrap around the silent opponent as it reaches for more shuriken.

Combat Begins!
Round 1

Everyone is up!

The tiny winged celestial looks from Vigny to Helgarval and then back again before extending her hand in greeting.

"Hello, Mr. Helgarval," she declares ... and waits. A moment passes and then another moment.

Is this some sort of prank? Helgarval's voice rebounds among all your minds. Spivey pulls her hand back and grimaces.

"We're sorry, Mr. Angel," she says, her voice filled with angst. "We don't really know the proper greeting for someone of your ... rank." She pulls back and whispers to Cailyn.

She then holds her hands out as wide apart as she's capable and giggles.

The decision having been made to meet up in small groups the next day, the evening passes without too much more strife between Spivey and Vigny's helmet

Fireday, 24nd of Sarenith, 4711 AR (day 39)

As Vigny explains the finer points of debt-repayment, Spivey looks between the blonde woman and Sandru. Realization dawns on her face as Sandru's apparent discomfort grows.

"Wait just an eyeblink," she pipes up. "Sandru, you owe Vigny something, don't you?" She looks between the pair once more. "Clearly not coin, but perhaps ... Ooooooo" She trails off with a groan of pleasure as Cailyn neatly distracts her by rubbing her feet. "That ... that is a-amazing. Don't stop."

Seemingly glad for the distraction, Sandru shifts topics. "'She'," he says simply. "Goti Runecaster is a woman and she's good friends with Thorborg Silverskorr who heads the Rimerunners guild." At the look of surprise around the table, Sandru shrugs. "I have done business in Kalsgard before. You don't do that here without having to deal with the guild and knowing who the power-players are."

He considers things for a moment.

"If you're looking for more information about them, I could get you a meeting with one of the lower-level clerks," he says after a moment. "You might be able to sweet-talk more information from them." He shrugs his shoulders. "A small bribe might not be out of place."

"The earliest I could arrange a meeting would be early tomorrow evening. Coincidentally, that would leave tomorrow afternoon free if anyone had other plans," he adds, sparing a meaningful glance towards Vigny. "Although, I imagine a more formal invitation for said plans would need to be offered ... and should probably be expected."

Wearing me is fine and the easiest means of allowing me to avoid attracting undue attention, Helgarval replies to Vigny's query.

Following Cailyn's lead, the group moves to a nearby tavern where food is acquired and drink is imbibed. The occultist's queries are met with nervous glances, but produces vague responses.

The Frozen Shadows thieves' guild has come to prominence in Kalsgard in recent years. Its members are rumored to have almost supernatural abilities in stealth and assassination and often leave a large black feather as a calling card.

As far as the Rimerunners guild goes, Cailyn's inquiries reveal that they specialize in trade with Tian Xia over the Crown of the World as well as along the rivers of the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, the guild is extremely influential in and around Kalsgard, with many local merchants and their retainers and much of the local economy beholden to it.

A merchant of high repute named Thorborg Silverskorr leads the guild, but she is rarely seen in public, and has numerous connections with the wealthy and powerful of Kalsgard, including Linnorm King Sveinn Blood-Eagle himself. The guildhall is located on the waterfront in the Jade Quarter, and is staff by dozens of well-armed guards, both day and night.

As the evening grows later, Orchid catches a familiar scent as two cloaked and hooded figures enter the tavern. Noting your group they move near the table and one of the figures draws his hood back slightly revealing Sandru's friendly smile.

"We'd heard that there was some trouble and thought we'd check in," he says with a warm glance at Vigny. The other figure takes a seat lifting their hood just a bit. "Don't let his casual air fool you," Ameiko says with a smirk. "Sandru was worried. He's determined that this is all going to end in tragedy."

"Don't exagerate," Sandru argues. "I was just checking in to see when it would be a good time for a debt to be paid." He eyes Vigny meaningfully.

"Debts should always be paid," a tiny voice adds and Spivey appears from within Ameiko's cloak, fluttering up to stand on the table. "Bad things happen to those who ignore them."

"Hey!" a voice calls out from near the bar, "No feet on the tables!"

The tiny celestial throws the man a glare before fluttering over to sit on Cailyn's shoulder. "It's not like our feet are dirty," she grouses.

"So what have you discovered so far?" Amieko questions.

Hello, everyone, a voice speaks directly into all your minds. My name is Helgarval and I mean you no harm. I am a servant of a celestial power and I have deemed that our goals align for the near future. I have no wish to repeat what I've told Vigny Einarsdottir. You may question her regarding my motives and discoveries at your leisure. I would simply suggest at this time that the source of malevolence that beseiges you comes from the Frozen Shadows thieves' guild through the front of the Rimerunners Guild.

Seeking out more information on them would further both your goals and mine.

Assuming Vigny wishes to relay the information, see the previous Vigny-addressed spoiler a few posts back.

There is certainly a unique scent associated with the large black feather and Orchid can easily detect it in the cellar and follow it back to the door and up the steps to the alley. Once she reaches the main road, however, the trail is lost amongst the cacophony of odors that fill the city street.

"I have no enemies that I'm aware of," Yin-Po replies. "Usually even the vilest villain gives wide birth to the Eternal Rose." He shakes his head in confusion.

Joining up with Flori and Cailyn as they finish tending to Yngvor, the young Ulfen girl shows clear relief at the appearance of the priest. "Ah, Father Yin-Po!" she exclaims in heavily-accented Taldane. "The baby is coming and Mama called for you. She's in much pain."

The man nods. "I thank you for your assistance," he says, turning to Shunsen and clasping her hand in a warm gesture. "But I must take my leave. Life has its own demands."

As he helps Yngvor to her feet, you present to him the clay tablet that Uksahkka had given to you. His eyes widen in surprise. "Ah yes, you must be her friends." He glances around before leaning in closer and speaking quietly. "Take that side street there," he says with a gesture towards an alley between two merchant stalls. "Go around behind the stall selling baskets and you'll find a set of stairs leading to a cellar. Your friend waits for you there. Now I must go."

Following the priest's instructions, you find the narrow stairs. But they lead down to a heavy wooden door that's been battered down. Through the ruin of the door, you find a low-ceilinged cellar with a small table and a number of cots behind a thin curtain.

There's no one here.

With a little bit of calming effort from Cailyn and Flori, the girl - who they discover is named Yngvor - conveys that she was seeking out the priest from the now ravaged temple of Shelyn to come to her mother's aid. Her mother is currently in the throes of labor and in distress. When the elemental appeared, she turned and ran. She then felt a searing pain in her back and everything went black.

~~~~~

While bruised and battered, the priest seems mostly intact. He thanks Shunsen for her timely intervention and introduces himself as Yin-Po. He relates that the elemental suddenly appeared and attacked his shrine only moments before your group arrived. He was caught off guard and could not stop the devastation. Yin-Po mentions that he saw a large raven with a blood-red feather across the street just before the attack and notes that such a creature is considered a powerful omen among his people, but he did not see where it went.

The girl moans in pain when the bolt is removed and blood flows freely from the wound, but stops almost immediately when Cailyn bathes the girl in positive healing energy. Pale eyelids snap open to reveal confusion in the girl's ice-blue eyes.

"Hvað? Hvað gerðist?" she questions, What? What happened? One hand moves to her back and when it comes away covered in blood, panic fills her eyes. "Er ég að deyja? Ég vil ekki deyja!" Am I dying? I don't want to die!

She attempts to struggle to her feet as tears fill her eyes, but slips in the pool of blood.

"Ég get ekki dáið! Ég verð að bjarga mömmu!" I can't die! I have to save Mama!

Cailyn quickly reaches the cloaked figure, noting the spreading dark stain on the back of the tattered cloak. Turning the surprisingly slight figure over reveals a tangle of blond braids attached to a waifishly thin girl of no more than fourteen or fifteen summers. She groans in pain at the movement, but her eyes remain closed. While Ulfens are traditionally pale-skinned, this girl's face is even paler than most.

The half-elf also notices that her hands are now slick with blood from the girl's cloak, resulting from the fletched quarrel that's still protruding from the girl's back.

Shunsen slashes, Vigny stabs, and Orchid snaps, finally bringing the elemental creature crashing to the ground, sending stone and earth scattering across the broken cobblestones.

Round 4

A fleeing cloaked figure attracks Cailyn's attention and she looses a crossbow bolt towards it. The bolt strikes true and the figure crumples to the roadway as onlookers pull back in panic.

With no targets left for her magic, Flori withholds her spell.

Combat Ends!

Vigny slams her weapon into the elemental as it stands and then again as it turns to face her, pieces of rock and stone chipping away from the summoned creature. Orchid, on the other hand, can't seem to get a good bite on the large creature.

Shunsen joins the fray, adding more damage to the beast of earth and stone, but receives a stone backhand in exchange that leaves her ears ringing.

Round 3

Cailyn manages to spy a cloaked figure hastily making an escape from the area. Flori moves to an advantageous position.

As if in retribution for her insolence in striking it, the other-worldly creature slams both fists into Vigny, leaving her bruised and bleeding.

Shunsen takes 10 points of bludgeoning damage. Vigny takes 28 points of bludgeoning damage.
Orchid, Vigny, and Shunsen are up. Then Cailyn and Flori for round 4.

Orchid moves in in an attempt to bite the summoned creature and gets a heavy fist for her troubles, but fails to catch it in her jaws.

Unfortunately, the large elemental has a 10' reach and will get an AoO on folks that have to move to within 5' for melee attacks.

As the beastie is occupied by the sharp-toothed shifter, Vigny moves in and slashes at it with her magically-enhanced blade. Shunsen carries the injured priest to a safe distance.

Round 2

Cailyn sinks a crossbow bolt into what would have been a vulnerable spot ... if the elemental actually had any vulnerable spots.

Flori's summoned grease seems to catch the large creature on the wrong ... foot? ... and it teeters for just a moment before coming crashing to the cobblestone street with a resounding crash!.

The elemental manages to struggle back to its feet before flailing ineffectively at Vigny.

Orchid takes 12 points of bludgeoning damage.
Orchid and Vigny may take an AoO at the elemental as it stands.
Orchid, Vigny, and Shunsen are up. Then Cailyn and Flori for round 3.

Cailyn's summoned mini-me version of the elemental punches at the original, attracking its attention. Flori casts a quick spell on Orchid.

The large composite of earth and stone swings two huge fists. The miniature version manages to dodge the first one only to get caught with a brutal backhand from the second.

Cailyn's summoned elemental takes 19 points of bludgeoning damage.
Orchid, Vigny, and Shunsen are up. Then Cailyn and Flori for round 2.

The decision made to deliver the clay token to the Shelynite temple having been made the group retires to rest up for the next day.

Oathday, 23nd of Sarenith, 4711 AR (day 38)

A quick breakfast and the group heads out to the Fire Quarter for the temple of Shelyn. A few silver coins quickly gains you directions to the temple of the goddess of love, beauty, and art.

As you approach your destination, the sounds of screams and the crashing of tumbling masonry roll down the street over the normal noises of the crowd. Ahead, above the press, the shrine of Shelyn slowly sways and then collapses into the street, dumping its facade of stone and mortared brick on those unfortunates below, resulting in another wave of screams of pain and fear.

Closing the distance quickly, you see a large earth elemental pounding away at the building, quickly reducing it to rubble. An elderly Tian priest lies injured on the street nearby.

As if hearing some command, the elemental turns its attention to you as you draw closer.

Combat Begins!

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Round 1

No map for this one.
The elemental is approximately 50' from you.
Cailyn and Flori are up!

Vigny's blade quickly cuts through one of the attackers and she moves forward. Cailyn's magically enhanced crossbow eliminates another one.

With both figures next to Vigny having been handled, the only visible enemy is the sole figure attacking Wolf-Orchid. Unfortunately, the rising flames between Shunsen and the black-clad attacker cause her arrow to fly far off target.

Flori's magical acid splashes harmlessly on the deck of the boat, the sizzling sound of acid-eating-wood lost amidst the crackling of flames.

Wolf-Orchid makes quick work of the single remaining enemy, leaving no one between you and the two canoes.

Combat Ends!

With the funeral boat quickly succumbing to flames, there's no time to examine the mystery attackers and the group quickly makes for the only way off of the burning vessel.

~~~

A half-hour later finds you making your way back into the city, a little worse for the wear and no sword or rescued guide to show for the effort.

I'm Assuming you return to your rented rooms. What would you like to do next and are you doing that now or waiting until the next morning?

Potential Elements of Investigation:
* Dig further into the Rimerunners Guild - the group that was said to have hired Asvig.
* Follow Uksahkka's instructions and deliver the clay token to the priest at the temple of Shelyn in the Fire Quarter in spite of not having found Ulf Gormundr.
* Something else?

Botting Shunsen.

Wolf-Orchid tears into one of the black-clad figures, bearing it to the deck. Vigny's blade does enough damage that a single tearing bite from Cailyn's summoned owl is enough to finish her foe off. The owl then rends the other nearby attacker with one of her razor-sharp talons.

Flori's summoned rain of stones and debris finishes off both Wolf-Orchid's downed opponent as well as Cleo. Shunsen advances to join Vigny.

Two of the remaining figures move to engage Vigny with no success, while the third bravely (foolishly?) splits off to threaten Wolf-Orchid.

The fire continues to spread.

Any figure moving into a burning square takes 1d6 fire damage and must make a DC 12 Reflex Save to avoid catching fire themselves.

Round 2

Everyone is up!

With a flash of positive energy and the gnashing of Wolf-Orchid's jaws the creature that was Snorri Stone-eye comes to a putrid end.

Combat Ends!

As the ladies blink away the spots in their eyes, the mist slowly dissipates, leaving them standing hunched over amidst the glimmer and glitter of Snorri's funeral treasures.

The boat creaks and tips this way and that as you check the arrayed valuables for a very particular sword - which is nowhere to be found among the largesse. Also not to be found is any sign of the guide, Ulf Gormundr.

Flori does detect two items of magical note; under the leather patch covering one of Snorri's eyes is a gray stone (nacreous gray sphere ioun stone), and a beautiful Ulfen helmet with gold inlays and backswept wings on its sides (Unknown enchantment).

The boat creaks again and there's a whoomph! from up on the deck. The flickering light of flames slips between the slats forming the make-do deck above you. Shunsen frowns, distinctly remembering tossing the sack of burning coals over the side and into the water.

Whether she misremembers or some other element is at play is not significant at this point, though, as you realize that you'll have only moments before the boat will fulfill its intended purpose as a floating pyre - with you on it.

Each character can make an Appraise check and quickly gather 10x that check worth of wealth from the arrayed valuables.

Filling bags with the most portable of the valuables, you scramble back up on to the deck. The wooden bier has become fully alight and burns brightly at midship. Beyond it in the water you can see the qayaqs that brought you here cut loose and drifting out of reach. Tied off at the stern of the ship are two canoes, into which a group of black-clad, masked figures are quickly clambering.

Combat Begins!

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Round 1

The dark figures turn from their escape and ready weapons, quickly moving to put themselves between you and the canoes.

Everyone is up! The orange circles on the map represent the spreading flames.

Both Wolf-Orchid and Flori's summoned pupper tear into the undead threat, leaving a stumbling - but still dangerous - undead figure that just manages to keep its feet in the enclosed space.

Cailyn and Shunsen each send missiles into the mist, but neither manages to strike the creature. Vigny prepares offensive magic and readies herself to join the fray.

The deadly axe swings at the summoned canid newcomer and sinks deep into its extra-worldly flesh.

Summoned wolf takes 18 points of slashing damage and one negative level.

Round 4

Everyone is up!

Botting Vigny.

Cailyn's crossbow bolt gives a resounding thunk as it sinks into one of the wooden slats forming the hull of the boat.

Wolf-Orchid's teeth sink into the putrid flesh and rip a chunk away, enraging the vicious undead creature, but it manages to avoid her attempt at bringing it to the sloping floor.

Shunsen's arrow flies harmlessly through the magical mist.

Following Shunsen's advice, Vigny invokes a divine favor from the drinking god and then steps back out of the msit and readies her sling. Unfortunately, her shot vanishes into the mist.

The creature's greataxe catches Wolf-Orchid in the side and in addition to the searing pain, she feels as if a leaden weight is now dragging down her soul.

Orchid takes 15 points of slashing damage and is now suffering from 1 negative level.

Everyone is up for round 2!

Botting Vigny for now.

Orchid shifts her form and she and Vigny move through the low-ceilinged space towards the dripping undead figure.

Cailyn casts a spell on her crossbow and her and Flori descend into the lit space below. Shunsen does so as well after noting the there appears to be no movement from the figures on the shore.

The figure snarls again and moves forward to engage with Wolf-Orchid and Vigny as a thick mist begins to fill the space in the center of the boat, obscuring the melee from Shunsen, Cailyn, and Flori.

obscuring mist The mist effects all sight, including darkvision. At 5' distance attacks have concealment (20% miss chance). Attacks at a range farther than that have total concealment (50% miss chance).

Round 2

Everyone is up!

Flori's warning comes just as Orchid catches the stench of something ... putrid.

The figure turns and the magical light reveals its face. The flesh is blue-tinged as that of a drowned man and water drips from the stringy hair that dangles on either side of his face. One eye is covered with a leather patch and the lips part to display sharp, broken teeth as it snarls.

"Arrgghh!!!"

It leaps forward from its crouching position, the manacles on his ankles providing only a minor restraint as the bolts rip from the wooden planks.

Combat Begins!

----------------------------------
Round 1

Everyone is up!

Vigny's magical light reveals what Orchid catch a glimpse of in the darkness under the improvised hold. At the aft end of the boat, bound in iron manacles, is a dark figure, hunched over under the low ceiling. It grumbles and moans and seems to crouch down even further under the magical illumination.

As Orchid and Vigny tear back the nailed-down hatch, Cailyn magically pulls back the shroud covering the body resting on the pyre. Instead of the expected deceased form of Snorri Stone-Eye, the occultist reveals a simple wooden manikin.

Dropping down into the low hold of the longboat, Orchid and Vigny gaze into the heavy shadows filling the lower portion of the vessel. It's a cramped space with a low, 4-foot-high ceiling, occupied by rowing benches and stacked funerary treasures. They hear more clearly the sound of chains rattling from the aft portion of the hold, hidden in darkness.

Demonstrating that they're quick studies (or have done this before), the group moves out onto the water with nary an issue.

It doesn't take much effort to catch up to the slowly moving funeral ship. With a minimum of fuss and bother you tie off the qayaqs to the larger vessel and pull yourselves up onto the deck.

The deck of the longship has been built up with planks over the old rowing benches, creating a space belowdecks. It appears that the funerary treasures have been placed in this hold, as the deck is empty save for a silent, shrouded form resting atop a bier in front of the mast, surrounded by stacked wood. A leather sack sits atop small pile of sand at the base of the bier, the glow of flame and wisps of smoke escaping from it.

The bier is composed of stacked firewood and smells heavily of the oil that it's been soaked in. The body resting on top of the wood is covered in a burial shroud.

There's a makeshift hatch at the bow of the ship that leads beneath the planks, but it appears to be nailed shut.

With the group in agreement, Uksahkka relies a little more information on where to meet her tomorrow evening, finishes her drink, and then takes her leave. The events of the day slowly begin to take their toll on you and before long everyone heads off to bed.

Wealday, 22nd of Sarenith, 4711 AR (day 37)

The guide's words hold true as there is a heavy fog that rolls in before dawn and even makes navigation in the city troublesome. You fill the day with simple tasks to occupy your time before the scheduled meeting near Spear-shaker's Point.

As the sun eventually sinks low in the sky, you arrive at the remote location to be greeted by the Varki woman. She leads you to a secluded bay where three narrow, hide-covered boats rest. Each is easily fifteen feet long, but less than two foot wide, with space for only two people each.

With Uksahkka's guidence you quickly learn the basics of paddling and maneuvering the narrow qayaqs. A half hour later and she pronounces you adequate enough mariners to make it out to the pyre ship and back without too high a chance of someone drowning. She presses a clay token into Cailyn's hand. It's stamped with the image of a songbird.

"Once you've rescued Ulf and made your escape, present this to the priest at the shrine to Shelyn in the Fire Quarter," she says. "He'll show you the safehouse I've readied for myself and Ulf." She gestures out at the lake and the slowly dissapating fog. "You should get ready. They'll be launching the ship any moment now."

The dark-haired woman then vanishes into the thin trees and dimming light.

Stowing your gear in the qayaqs, you notice a low boat floating past the point in the thinning fog. There's a small glow on the deck that indicates the beginning of the funeral pyre that will soon consume the craft. Now's your chance and time is limited.

Please designate who is pairing up with whom in the boats. A single successful DC 10 Profession (Sailor) or Wisdom check is needed from each pair. If both fail then the qayaq flips over and a DC 15 Strength check is required to right the craft.

"That wouldn't happen to be the pyre ship for Snorri Stone-Eye, would it?" Uksahkka question, her eyes narrowing and a smile slowly curling her lips. "That was supposed to be launched tomorrow at dawn. As luck may have it, they don't know it yet, but there's going to be a thick fog that's going to roll in just before dawn. It won't clear until the after nightfall and I have no doubt that they'll wait for it to clear before they launch the boat - fog's a bad omen for a funeral."

She considers for another moment or two before leaning in close.

"I don't suppose any of you know how to paddle a qayaq?" she questions. "If you don't then I can show you. I know where the boat will be launched just off of Spear-shaker's Point. Meet me there an hour before nightfall tomorrow and I'll give you a quick lesson. Then we can paddle out quietly and meet the boat as it passes the point. We rescue Ulf and return to the point before anyone knows what's going on."

"Ulf has a tendency to ... rub people in the wrong way," she replies with an apologetic shrug. "The little social lies that people tell each other every day to avoid hurt feelings are something that he feels are unneeded. Consequently, it doesn't take long to find his personality is one that takes some getting used to and most people don't bother."

Her eyes move away and she takes another sip from her tankard.

"I've gotten used to him and I would hate to see something happen to him."

As you're finishing up your dinner meal and discussing who to question to find out about Snorri's funeral ship, a Varki woman in a thick hide cloak takes a seat at your table as if familiar with you.

At the questioning glances and raised eyebrows, the woman's lip curls up into a subtle smile. "Just a friend having drinks with her friends, right, Friend?" she comments, lifting her tankard and taking a small sip as she gives you a hidden wink. "Nothing wrong with that. My friends always have time to chat with their friend, Uksahkka." She glances around the room and seems satisfied that no one is paying any more attention to your group than to any other.

She leans in a little closer and her voice drops to a lower level, but not suspiciously so to anyone attempting to listen.

"Let me unburden my troubles to my friends. My partner - a skilled guide by the name of Ulf Gormundr - recently took a job that came out of nowhere, considering that he was on the outs with almost all the local merchant guilds. He was to develop a new trade route through the Grungir Forest for a local chieftain. He went out to the chieftain's farm nearly a week ago to get the final details and initial payment before picking me up to join him. I haven't heard from him since."

A trace of worry crosses the woman's ruddy face before she takes another drink from her tankard and glances around again. She continues.

"A few days ago I went out to the farm to find out what happened to him and was told that he never arrived. They also gave me these for my concerns ..." She gestures with a subtle finger up to her face and you notice that the right side of her face is covered with recent bruises.

"Now what, might you ask, would be your concern in all this?" She looks around at you all and smirks. "The chieftain's name was Asvig Longthews and the buzz is that he's very recently met with his own comeuppance by some skilled southerners. Now while you look like skilled southerners yourselves, I make no inference that you had anything to do with this. I'm just a curious guide that would like to know if my southerner friends have heard any rumors or had any information regarding my missing partner."

Potential Elements of Investigation:
* Locate and recover the heirloom sword, Suishen. Is that the sword that Asvig stole?
* Locate a guide to lead you over the Crown of the World. Are there other guides besides the one Asvig kidnapped?
* Pay a visit to Longthew's longhouse.
* Investigate Snorri Stone-Eye's funeral ship.

"Setting fire to the lodge would now mean that we were directly involved in what happened," Skalma replies to Vigny's suggestion. "That's not a risk I care to take. We will find anonymity in Kalsgard. We're faceless to those like Asvig or Theoin."

----

You make it back to the city by late afternoon and spend the rest of the day liquidating all the valuables into ready coin. Careful inquiries also reveal where Snorri Stone-Eye's funeral ship will be burned at dawn tomorrow morning.

You also find Shunsen waiting for you in the common room of the inn you're staying at.

Clearly skilled at handling gift horses, the older woman introduces herself as Skalma before giving instructions to the eldest of the survivors. They nod quickly and set about their assigned tasks. Some of them begin gathering foodstuffs from the kitchen while others head outside.

"You claim no desire for metfé, so I will pay for our freedom with what I know," she declares with suspicion once her orders have been given. "Asvig's cousin, Theoin, and his household will be here any time so unless you wish another battle with a foe that isn't quite so drunk or sleepy then you will take what spoils you desire and return to Kalsgard."

She explains that Theoin and his household are arriving today for a funeral feast for Asvig's own ring-giver, an old jarl and renowned Ulfen raider named Snorri Stone-Eye, who is scheduled to be burned with his funeral ship tomorrow at dawn.

As a woman that keeps her ears open, Skalma also knows that Asvig rented boats from the Rimerunners Guild and ordered the attack on your group at the behest of someone connected to the guild. There's been a number of tasks he's accomplished for them, stealing a sword and kidnapping a guide chief among them. The guide's name was Ulf Gormundr and he was here for a day before being moved somewhere else. Asvig mentioned that Ulf would soon be joining Snorri Stone-Eye, so it's probable that he's being placed on the funeral ship to be burned to death. She has no idea what became of the sword.

Asvig has no last words of defiance. No final insults. His final act is to gurgle wetly before crumpling to the straw covering the packed earth floor.

Wolf-Orchid, Cailyn's crossbow, and Flori's elemental make quick work of the remaining opposition and you're left with the silence of the lodge-house, only broken by the crackling of the flames of the central fire.

Combat Ends!

Checking the side room that Asvig emerged from reveals a comfortable bedroom furnished with a massive feather bed and a few chests filled with clothing and personal items. Beyond the bedroom is a small storage chamber with a number of chests as well as weapons and armor hanging from the rafters.

The door at the end of the lodge opens into a kitchen and it is here that the so-called non-combatents of the household have taken refuge. Judging by the knives and spears held in shaking hands, however, several of the young adults as well as some of the older children won't go down without a struggle.

The older woman that met you at the door steps forward, placing herself boldly in front of the dozen-and-a-half individuals that have retreated to this smoke-filled stuffy chamber. Her eyes glance past you to take in the carnage in the main room beyond. She looks back to you and squares her shoulders.

"We submit to your strength," she says in a firm, but heavily accented voice. "You have demonstrated your will over Asvig's and we recognize that."

A few small voices begin to protest, but she silences them immediately with a glance and a few sharply snapped words in their native tongue. Tension-filled silence fills the room.

"Lina. Varena. Osvar." She barks out the names and two young women and a young man step forward. One of the young woman is the one that originally opened the door to greet you.

"Please accept our offer of metfé," she states as if speaking the words to a ritual. "They are young, healthy, and strong and will serve you well as thralls. In exchange, we ask that you leave the remainder of our household unspoiled."

The young man attempts to protest once more, but she silences him with a glare and hissed words.

She turns back to you, awaiting your response as one of the infants fusses in the arms of an older girl.

Catching one of the warriors between the elemental and herself, Vigny stabs into him deeply and Wolf-Orchid finishes him off. The fist of Flori's elemental makes a sickening crunching sound as it connects with Asvig's prominant nose. Cailyn's owl nearly finishes him off with beak and talon; The man staggering under the assault. Her crossbow isn't quite as effective, though, unless assault on the longhouse's timbers was her goal.

Asvig fails to stab the elemental with his spear. One of the warriors attempts to knock Cleo off his leader to no effect. Another woman throws a hand axe, missing Vigny by a safe margin.

Round 6

Everyone is up!

Vigny finishes off her opponent as she steps back. Cleo descends on the Ulfen between her and Wolf-Orchid. And like the predator she is, she makes quick work of the prone warrior.

Wolf-Orchid doesn't manage to trip her opponent, but her vicious teeth combined with his previous injuries are more than enough to bring him to the ground as nothing but meat.

Flori's elemental batters and bashes at the partially drunk Asvig, causing him to stumble, but the tall man keeps his feet.

Asvig and the other woman that's still standing, moving to flank the elemental and Asvig manages to stab it with his spear. The elemental thunders on, though.

One of the awakened warriors approaches closer and Wolf-Orchid manages to dodge a clumsily thrown hand axe.

Round 5

Everyone is up!

Vigny finishes off her current opponent, but there are more closing in ... and even more rousing themselves.

The woman that Wolf-Orchid downed flails ineffectively at her. Another Ulfen moves up to strike at the shifter, but in trying to avoid stepping on his comrade-in-arms, doesn't even come close to hitting the shifter. Another attacker swings at Vigny, but she easily takes the blow on her shield.

As Flori is making the last gestures for her summoning spell, another warrior takes the opportunity to close in on her and savage her with her axe.

Asvig finally joins the fray; Leaping down from the upper ledge to slip his spear behind Vigny's defense and nick her shoulder.

Flore takes 16(!) points of slashing damage. Vigny takes 4 points of piercing damage.
Everyone is up for round 3!

Wolf-Orchid pulls her attacker to the ground and savages the woman's leg viciously. Cailyn's sleeping owl vanishes and reappears to exact its vengeance upon the red-haired witch who goes down, lifeless. Flori begins a summoning spell.

Vigny is up!

Vigny's blade slips in and out of the bleary-eyed warrior who clutches his bleeding belly, but remains standing. In spite of the grevious wound, he manages to slip past the woman's shield to slash her sword arm. Two others close on her, but she fends off their attacks.

A hard-faced woman presses Orchid. Not intimidated by the shift to wolfshape, she slashes the shifter with her axe. Another warrior rises from her celebration-induced slumber.

Asvig downs a potion and moves up along the north edge of the room to make his way around the magical grease.

Vigny takes 3 slashing damage. Orchid takes 4 slashing damage.

Round 2

Cailyn, Orchid, and Flori are up!

Cailyn's owl turns the woman's fair face into a horror mask of slashed flesh, blood spattering those nearby. Orchid shifts and moves up to take the front line. Flori summons a shimmering coating of magical grease that fills the central isle in front of the approaching pair.

The red-haired woman snarls and screeches in rage, turning her attention to the threatening owl. Gesturing at the creature with a clawed fingers, she snaps a hissed word. In response, the owl falls to the dirt floor, no longer moving.

Vigny is up!

"The master is sleeping and dislikes being disturbed in such a state," the woman replies, switching to heavily accented Taldane. "What do you ...?" Her eyes widen slightly and her pale skin goes even paler as she gives you a more thorough once over. "You're the southerners," she says in a resigned voice. "I'll ... I'll get him."

She steps slowly back away from the group and grabs Lina roughly by the shoulder. She leans in close and whispers something to her. The younger girl looks to you, her face showing obvious fear before dashing towards a group of older children.

The older woman heads towards the other end of the hall while Lina and the older children begin gathering the smaller ones and herding them towards and through a side door. The older woman gives you a final glance before knocking on a door in front of her. You don't hear a reply, but a moment later and she opens the door and slips through it.

It takes less than thirty seconds before you're alone in the long room with nothing but the warriors of the hall - some of whom have wakened at the disturbance and are eyeing you suspiciously.

Another minute passes before the door the woman vanished through bursts open. A tall, thick-shouldered man with long blond braids strides through it. He sways slightly as he hefts a short spear in one hand and a shield in the other. A red-haired woman follows him, a raven on her shoulder bobbing and croaking in excitement. She pulls a cloak around her shoulders to cover her nightclothes.

"Bráðin kemur til veiðimannsins! Því auðveldara fyrir okkur," the man calls out as he strides through the hall towards you. "Vaknið, þér drukknir fífl! Bardaginn er í nánd!"

Combat Begins!

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Round 1

Cailyn, Orchid, and Flori are up!

Approaching the longhouse itself, you pound a greeting on the main door. A few moments of silence later and the door is opened. A hagard-looking woman with long straw-colored hair in her late teens or early twenties looks out at you. Confusion fills her face when she sees you.

"Yes? What do you want?" she questions in Skald.

"Don't just stand there gawking, Lina!" another woman's voice calls out from inside. "Open the door and let them in."

The girl flinches, but opens the door wider to invite you in.

Stepping inside the steading, you find yourself in the main room. The long room is twenty or twenty-five feet wide and easily seventy or eighty feet long. There's a aisle lowered about three feet that runs the length of the room with a large pit in the center of it. The raised sections on either side of the aisle are filled with trestle tables, benches, and the remains of a large meal from the night before that's being cleaned and collected by about a half dozen thralls. Three other doors lead out of the main hall besides the one you entered through.

Scattered among the dogs and small children that seem to be collecting food among the detritus are at least a dozen warriors, sleeping off the effects of the previous night.

One of the thralls - an woman that looks a lot like an older version of the girl that opened the door for you - approaches with purpose.

"Wait a minute! You're not Theoin's people! Who are you? What are you doing here? Lina, what kind of idiot girl are you?" She slaps the back of the girl's head. "Go clean tables!"

She turns back to you, her watery blue eyes narrowing in suspicion. "And you! Answer my questions before I sic the dogs on you!"

The group carefully moves from shed to stable to shed, finding plenty of farming tools, about a dozen horses, and a fair amount of stored grain, but no threats other than a couple of barn cats determined not to give ground even against better armed and armored foes.

Flori recalls reading a treatise on proximity-triggered summoning spells and how it's very common to allow a means to bypass the effect. Sometimes it's done with secret runes. Examining the hastily erased markings in the dirt, she's pretty confident that this enchantment uses something similar. She scribes a rune in the dirt that seems to match the one that was erased and you pass between the totems without any hindrance or effect.

The longhouse itself has a main entrance as well as a side entrance that most likely leads to the kitchen areas. There are also a number of small outbuildings including a stable.

Toilday, 21st of Sarenith, 4711 AR (day 36)

With breakfast finished, the decision is made to head out immediately for Longthew's steading. The directions you were given are relatively easy to follow. A two hour trek leads you to an area of lightly forested and marshy hills. While the morning is cool, the insects are already out in abundance.

The trail you're following rounds a bend and there ahead of you on a small rise is the longhouse. There are a number of small outbuildings - sheds, stables, and such - but your focus is on the longhouse itself. Smoke rises from the central opening in the roof, but you see no movement outside the building.

As you approach, you note that on either side of the road, about 60' from the farmhouse, are totem posts driven into the ground. You can see that they continue in a parimeter line, completely surrounding the longhouse, spaced about every 30'. The posts are topped with fancifully carved lions heads that are obviously the work of a woodcarver who has never actually seen a lion before.

While the beds in the Golden Hall are quite fluffy, Cailyn is disappointed in the quantity of pillows provided.

Asking around regarding the armband, the occultist is rewarded with numerous raised eyebrows and suspicious glances. She's also rewarded with the fact that the lion's head armbands are the rune-sign of Asvig Longthews.

Further inquiries reveal the location of Longthews's farm and longhouse outside of the city.

Potential Elements of Investigation:
* Locate and recover the heirloom sword, Suishen.
* Locate a guide to lead you over the Crown of the World.
* Pay a visit to Longthew's longhouse.

Monday, 20th of Sarenith, 4711 AR (day 35)

The trading city of Kalsgard.

Upon arriving in the city, Sandru immediately moves the caravan into the city's Bone Quarters to camp among the others of its kind in order to avoid further attention. He suggests that the four of you to arrange your own quarters within the hustle and bustle of the city to throw off any suspicion. Ameiko agrees, suggesting that the caravan surreptitiously make preparations for the journey over the Crown of the World.

Potential Elements of Investigation:
* Locate and recover the heirloom sword, Suishen.
* Locate a guide to lead you over the Crown of the World.
* Investigate the Ulfen attackers. Perhaps the source of the gold armband with the stylized lion on it can be discovered.