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they dont even seem to notice you.
After finding out that Ringeirr was recently arrested, your attention is drawn to the piers. A group of local men carrying ogre hooks, looking like thugs, have encircled a local fisherman. You hear them knock the fisherman to the ground, pleading "please, i can't afford to pay!" The fisherman that you were talking to, Giacomo, points them out "That's them now, they're part of the Fishcamp Guards. Same ones who dragged Ringeirr off a few days ago."
An initial round of asking around at the docks produces a slew of blank stares and shrugging shoulders. sense motive DC 15:
they seem to be hesitant to speak, almost aftraid.
If you succeed at this check the DC of the diplomacy or intimidate check is 15 instead of 20 If you want you can try and win them over:
diplomacy DC 20:
you charm them and convince them to talk to you. An old man by the dock admits he knows of Ringeirr, who was recently “arrested” for “disturbing the peace” by the Fishcamp Guards, a group of thugs who extort money from the village for their so-called “protection.” Or be a bit more of a bully:
intimidate DC 20: you drag an old man face to face and demand an answer. He snivvels and says, aye, Ringeirr. He was arrested by the guards. And points off in the direction of one of the larger huts in the fish camps.
Small groups of fisherfolk congregate on the piers or around shacks, engaged in whispered conversations, but with watchful eyes on what transpires around them. An occasional child can also be seen, toiling to repair nets or performing some other chore.
Arctic gulls fill the overcast sky with their cries over this small shantytown. Ramshackle huts are erected on the cold ground, hard packed and barren from generations of foot traffic. Dories and other small fishing boats are moored to dilapidated piers nearby or pulled ashore on the gray pebbled beach of Glacier Lake. The pervasive smell of fish is everywhere, sometimes fresh, but often with the underlying stench of centuries of decay.
They back off and allow you to pass.
Once you have crossed the troll bridge, you soon enter a forest of leaf less birch trees, and after half a day of travel, the city of Whitethrone comes into sight. Nadya turns aside at this point, guiding you toward the shantytowns east of the city called the Fishcamps, where her late husband’s uncle Ringeirr lives. You ditch the sleigh, keeping the horses to see if you can sell them.
giant: "Two dogs would also be great, if they won't give horse."
"Horse. Tax." giant: "We can take Horse as tax. You go then. "
k. local DC 13:
Merrow, quatic cousins to ogres. they're Large humanoids of the aquatic, giant subtypes. they're amphibious, but not very bright. k. local DC 18: no special attacks or defenses, just reach and power attack. and they usually only speak Giant.
As your motley crew moseys up to the bridge, deciding whether the sleigh can handle it or to just ditch the sleigh now in the river, three ugly things emerge from the water. >> it came from the frigid waters << They're clearly some kind of giants by their enormous stature, each looking 12 ft. tall and close to 500 lbs. These giants have pale green, scaled skin and large, webbed hands and feet. On either side of its neck are slotted gills. They block the western side of the bridge, and say loudly in broken Common, "Papers please"
A small river cuts across the path, heading south toward the cliffs that overlook Glacier Lake. A stone bridge crosses the river, seemingly constructed with horse, wagon, and caravan traffic in mind. The bridge is well maintained, and the snow has been cleared from its span. Four-foot-high stone railings run along both sides of the bridge, topped at either end by iron spikes upon which clean and meticulously polished skulls have been carefully impaled and turned as if to observe the traffic. A white-painted signpost greets travelers approaching from the east. (as you are) The sign has three boards, written in Common, and repeated in Hallit, and Skald. Foreign merchant licenses are required to do business in Whitethrone. You may be stopped for inspection without any cause. Those seeking licenses should apply at the city gates.
Seems like they're harmless now. It would be a bit evil to just kill them in cold blood now, having surrendered and posing no threat. You can't sell their gear anywhere, they're pretty worthless to you. May as well just take what you want and let them fend for themselves out here. The wilderness might kill them anyway.
"You killed our falcons. You took down our winter wolf commander. Believe me we rather not go back and take punishment for failure. We'll leave you alone. We just want our lives. Please, Show some mercy. "
"Took advantage? that was the plan. We spotted you with the eagles, and then he had us wait, while he circled around to attack you from behind. We would never have disobeyed Norgrimm. Are you dumb?" he motions to the winter wolf body, "That was our commander. Norgrimm." "Whitethrone is a fortress! you'll never get in! I don't know what whitethrone knows. Like we said, Norgrimm kept his commands and the details to himself. We're just members of the Winter Guard. Falconers. We hunt quarry, and we were his backup."
"We don't know anything, please, just let us go. Norgrimm was our commander. All we know is that a White Witch ordered Norgrimm to head to a tower outside the town of Waldsby and look for a suspicious group of adventurers traveling to Whitethrone from that direction. A cleric, a snowborne, and two half-orcs, and a tiefling." he nods towards the winter wolf's body. "Please we don't know anything else, Norgrimm kept the details of the dealings to himself."
This snow-white fur pelt of a winter wolf can be worn over the shoulders as a cloak. The pelt functions as furs, granting its wearer a +2 bonus on Fortitude saves to resist cold weather. The wearer can, as a standard action, transform into a Large winter wolf as if using beast shape IV. In certain special locations where winter wolves have the ability to take human form, such as the Howlings district of Whitethrone or the town of Redtooth, the wearer of a rimepelt in wolf form can take human form as winter wolves do, appearing as a whitehaired, blue-eyed human. In either wolf or human form, the wearer of a rimepelt smells like a winter wolf to other winter wolves and creatures with the scent ability. When the wearer returns to his normal form, or after 2 hours have elapsed, the rimepelt becomes a mundane winter wolf pelt.
[-round 5-]
The hunters try and stand their ground, and mostly split fire, shooting at Arwyn, Caldan, Giacomo and Nadya. One arrow does land a deep blow into caladan. though he's still kicking.
hunter rolls:
[-round 4-]
[-round 5-]
The horses, spooked by the hunters, are hard to control this round. no slowing down.
the hunters land an immaculate shot on gondork, but it barely pierces his sub-layer of armor. And Nadya takes a powerful shot that nearly knocks her off the dog-sled. its then followed up by a swoop from one of the eagles, and she collapses, falling off the sled into the snow.
rolls:
[-round 3-]
[-round 3-]
[-round 3-]
the wolf rushes up, biting at caladan
H1 whistles, and recalls E1
[-round 2-]
[-round 3-]
Gondork shouts for Arwyn to focus on the wolf, while he takes care of the eagles. Ten penny then glides the sleigh away from all three. The hunters ahead just narrowly being missed by the horses as they begin to ride right by. [-round 2-]
history: [round 2] nadya - fails drive check, move action to ready axe caladan - smacks h1 for 7 dmg. wolf - breathes cold ( gondork: 17 dmg, ten-penny: 15 dmg, caladan 3 dmg, arwyn 6 dmg ) gondork - legacy weapon on arwyn's bow, moves to balance on the sleigh ten-penny - fails drive check (standard action TBD) arwyn - <?> hunters - <?> giacomo - <?> [round 1]
the wolf rushes up again, veering in between the carts, and unleashes his icy breath on everyone in the sleigh.
The hunters take aim, and shoot at the drivers.
the hunters whistle various things, and the eagles come down, attacking giacomo and caladan.
rolls:
[-round 1-]
[-round 2-]
The Winter Wolf races along the snow, seeming to swiftly and likely magically move over the snow without it impeding it. charging Arwyn on the back of the sleigh
rolls:
initiatives
The next day, as Nadya clandestinely gathers provisions, and you head out, theres a sense of peace. Nadya no longer has to worry about her sons on the journey, they've got protection and are safe. She can focus on guiding you to her contact by Whitethrone. Restocked, you make better time travelling without having to constantly stop at the sign of game and hunt. After lunch, after travelling about five hours, Arwyn, Gondork, and Nadya notice several birds hunting through the morning. First one, then two eagles sighted as you start travelling. When a third and fourth are spotted after lunch, you realize something is up, its not possibly the same birds. You think you're being hunted, and someone is possibly on your trail, coming at you from ahead, the route from whitethrone. four humanoids on skis, armed with bows. Then you hear it. churning through snow, rushing on all fours behind you, breaking from the line of trees. at first from the distance you think its another boreal wolf. then you realize from the size of its eyes, one blue, one violet, and so clear even from the distance... its a white wolf the size of a horse. its 100 ft. behind you and closing fast. the humans ahead are perhaps 100 ft. ahead as well. Four eagles are in flight about 40 ft. up, halfway between you and the hunters. since they alert everyone, we'll skip surprise round, as you see everyone approaching, and enough of you spotted the birds to alert you to the hunter's presence. Nadya is driving her dogsled alongside your sled, driven by either ten-penny or caladan at 50 ft. per round. You'll need a handle animal or profession (driver) check DC 15 to stop suddenly, safely, or to maneuver around the hunters.
[-round 1-]
k. arcana DC 15:
A winter wolf. A large magical beast of the cold subtype. Infamous in Irrisen for the Howlings, a district in White Throne where they live. Often associated with the Winter Witches, and known for their breath, said to be so cold it can freeze everything within a fifteen foot cone. . Its said that the pelt of one with Heterochromia can be skinned and turned into a magical pelt, said to allow its wearer to shapeshift into a winter wolf. Winter Wolves are immune to the cold, but vulnerable to fire damage.
k. arcana DC 20: they possess scent, darkvision, and low-light vision. but don't normally possess any other special attacks, defenses or spell like abilities. some extraordinary members of their species are said to be capable of even more damaging breath weapons, up to thirty feet.
"I'm not a very violent faun... its ok. I'm just glad to be back home. I'm just sorry I brought all of this with me. and Mom, I'm so sorry they killed Borvald. I'll move in to the barn and fix it up, and keep an eye on you all."
Maret's cottage is on the outskirts of Ellsprin, its just after dark by the time you return from the abandoned barn with Garen. Maret barely has room, but she's plenty of food, and insists you all stay the night, cooking up a great feast for you all. She explains that Ellsprin is just down the road, she's just on the outskirts, and you can resupply with food in the morning. Garen plays pipes for all the children as the meal winds down, and even Giacomo and Nadya share a dance. Ten-penny and Gondork exchange an odd 'should we?' glance, You have a chance to eat and heal up, and rest for the evening. Maret and Nadya become friends, and Maret invites Nadya to let the twins stay with her until she finishes her obligation to you all. Garen says he's going to stick around nearby to keep an eye on both families and help protect them.
So on the morning of the eight day of your travels, you reach the small village of Ellsprin on the shores of the Glacier Lake. Whitethrone is perhaps two days down the road. You have a chance to buy some more rations for your journey. Though the town is too small to have anything of interest beyond a few 1st level potions or scrolls if you want to inquire. But this close to Whitethrone, it might draw more ire, so you keep to yourselves, just getting rations and grain for the horses. Nadya explains to Orm and Mjoli, that Maret will be looking after them, like their kind neighbor did in Waldsby, as the boys are more than used to their mother needing to go on trecks to support them. They stoicly hug her and kiss, but don't say goodbye.
ten-penny deftly dodges its spear and moves into flank, her short sword deeply wounding the twigjack, but not knocking it off its feet. Arwyn's shot shatters its skull into splinters
Seeing the twigjack fall to splinters, gondork moves over by the door, readying for Zzababa to spring attack in again, and brings his battleaxe in for a deep wound as she does.
Seeing her tactics fail, but a bit invigorated by the cold, Zzababa zips in to take one final swing at ten-penny before leaving, and receives an axe to the gut, throwing off her aim horribly. she stumbles a bit, but takes off into the forrest, not looking back.
after its clear that she's gone and not coming back to the frey, Garen comes up to you and asks, "Is it true? Did, did my mother ask you to save me? Thank you, whoever you are. I'm Garen." you have some time to introduce yourselves, and pick up some things Zzababa was in too much of a rush to take with her when she left:
the faun seems conflicted, but takes out his pipes, and starts playing a melody
nadya fires a shot at the twigjack
caladan takes the charge lane down the aisle to smash at the twigjack
[ round 3 ]
zzababa zips in, taking advantage of the flank, and both she and the twigjack sneak attack ten-penny. then zzababa zips out the back door out of sight. the twigjack, having readied, can only five ft shift out of the flank.
[ round 2 ]
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