Kurn is at the rear of the group in the tunnel now and he can hear the words echoing back towards him and the two clouds that still hover above him quiescent.
"I am crackling sob, I am alone, just a guard, a guardian, on a mission, not worth a name jsut with orders to stop the servant of Krakis, just with my luck that Scharnfors sent shivers that shattered the ice and broke us away even as my brother there died by the stormcaster."
The ice giant points with one of its lower arms across the chamber and there indeed is a twin statue, only this one is not moving.
"Stefnir, are you a stormcaster? You must not touch his things for they are evil and base and not for the likes of us. Will you all stay in my shrine and keep us company?"
Chilly are the last few words of the ice gargoyle.
Out of interest there is a small chest closed on the ground near the creature and there is an open trapdoor in the decking beside it.
"I do not think I am a stormcaster. I am simply unfettered, and serve the forces of nature".
"We cannot stay here, for we have much to accomplish, however why don't you start from the beginning of your story, and tell it, and we will see if we can help you before we leave".
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Taggrik is busy at the mast despite the storm he seems to be removing ropes and the like from the main boom. The one that landed on Drago. A couple of the men who aren't huddled in cover are helping him.
"It will take all of us to free the ship, probably need to use the boom as a lever to get the Albatross free too. She is stuck fast."
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......
"I do not think I am a stormcaster. I am simply unfettered, and serve the forces of nature".
"We cannot stay here, for we have much to accomplish, however why don't you start from the beginning of your story, and tell it, and we will see if we can help you before we leave".
The pearl eyes roll and start. A long rambling discussion begins which takes awhile but in the stuttering story a few nuggets can be pieced together.
"It's my masters staff, there in the wall, that's the reason for my fight. The caster was a thief. he stole from us. He took the secrets and Staff of the Eye. He deserved to die as do all who steal from Scharnfors, the Ice Palace to the north. My brother and I did this. But the ice broke and I became stuck here, stuck with the criminal, and that was many years ago. But the laws and duties still hold."
The mannerisms and aggressive slashing of clawed hands makes the story all the more crazed and difficult to follow. Jorgen can see that the creature is only a couple of steps short of actual violence.
"Ok Taggrik I see. That's not so good. I'd better go back and see how they are getting on". Kurn turns back toward the cave entrance.
Ragnar sticks close to Stefnir, staring in something like horror or awe at the great ice gargoyle. As the prisoner starts to grow agitated with its story, he gestures to Helga (if she's near) and speaks to her in a low tone.
"Hull-guh: duh 'ou 'uhve uh suhng thuht mught cuhmm hum duhn?"
Ragnar-Speak-
Helga thinks of what might calm an angry, lonely guardian long abandoned.
Knowledge (history):
Then she clears her throat and starts to sing:
Perform (sing):
"Thank you," Helga approaches the others. "You must have been very lonely here for a long time. Who was your Jotun?"
As she once again witnesses the amazing power of her sisters voice, Anya is suddenly hit with the realization that this woman before her is not anymore the little girl she once knew.
Knowing this new change in her thinking will take some...getting used to, she nevertheless looks at her younger sibling with the beginnings of something akin to respect in her eyes...
Kurn will make his way carefully back down the tunnel, but will stop immediately if/when he sees the clouds.
Ari shakes himself, he has been standing in the same spot for what seems like an eternity. His legs and feet are going to sleep so he must move to keep the circulation going.
He moves Stealthily from H14 to F13
will wait to see if anyone notices, if no one does he will move again F13 to E11
Jorgen raises an eyebrow, impressed with the breadth of Helga's amazing talent. He stands quietly, allowing those more skilled at diplomacy to deal with the mosnster. Should things go poorly,, well then it would be time for his particular skills.
"Where was your home? This burg is adrift and bearing slowly to the south. As all ice, it must one day melt in these seas, and then this broken ship shall sink beneath the waves and be gone."
"I suggest we get out of here."
Saorise's eyes flicker to the various items in the chamber, wondering about this treasure that the creature is guarding. She only half pays attention to it's words, except when anything about the treasure is concerned, especially regarding the Staff of the Eye.
Ari will stealthily move to H7 behind the broken mast and search.
Stealth
Perception
"We understand you have a duty to guard these things," Helga says carefully, "but there may be other gear on this ship that can help us free our own vessel. May we have your permission to search it for such?"
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Ari
Those cold eyes narrow, "no one may take from this place anything that I must guard. But you may search the ship for anything else, Singer."
The stance shifts and the creature looks ready to pounce. He looks around and makes a count of those he can see, "one, two, three, four, five, six. And a servant of Krakis outside."
Ragnar nods his thanks, still awe-struck by the ice gargoyle and starts to search the frozen ship.
Perception:
As he can't see the clouds any more, Kurn moves cautiously towards the party.
Anya moves to stand between her sister and the creature. She holds her spear tightly in her two hands, ready to thrust it with all her strength should the abomination make any sudden threatening moves.
Seeing Anya standing guard over the amazing creature and Ragnar searching for anything mundane, Saorise decides to cautiously move closer to the Staff. When she is near, she whispers some arcane syllables and motions towards the frozen rod.
Stefnir inclines his head at the suggestion, "So it is", and begins to search the ship.
Perception
Helga shoulder's her bow and assists in the search.
Perception:
Jorgen watches the beast for any response to Saorise's actions.
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Saorise gets a feeling of magic off the area of the staff, the magic is powerful maybe even stronger than anything she has felt outside of the druid's home.
The ice beast steps forwards as the Ice Maiden finishes her magic, the beats is now five feet from Anya and Jorgen, it's claws are flexing a little, all four ready to tear and rend.
"Leave it. Touch it and die."
Stefnir and Helga
Helga will move as carefully as she can across the floor to the box to examine it more closely.
Jorgen tightens his grip on his spear. "Touch her, you die first."
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** spoiler omitted **
Helga and Stefnir
The ice creature stares hard at Saorise, waiting for her to act. It pays no obvious attention to Jorgen or his words.
"This looks ... useful," Helga chooses her words carefully.
She mutters a sing-song rhyme and reveals any magic present ...
Saorise turns and gives the creature back an icy stare to match its own but in the end she relents, turning and walking towards the hold to see what the others may have found.
Seeing what appears to to be going on, Kurn stands and watches the creature while the others search the wreck.
FW
Can Kurn use knowledge religion to see if he knows of this creature via the religious text/stories of Krakis?
FW
Knowledge Religion
A frown flits across Anya's face as she watches her sister decend into the hold yet she says nothing and remains guarding the creature.
When it advances, she glances quickly behind her and grudgingly backs up enough that she still has reach on the creature with her spear. As she stares at the ice beast she can feel her revulsion begin to be replaced by the warrior's fury.
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A frown flits across Anya's face as she watches her sister decend into the hold yet she says nothing and remains guarding the creat... she can feel her revulsion begin to be replaced by the warrior's fury.
The icebeast relaxes a little and moves back into its corner when Saorise leaves the staff alone.
Helga
Ari finishes his search then proceeds to stealthily move to the edge of the trapdoor and peer in to see what he can
Stealth Check
Helga tries lifting and moving the box toward the hatch.
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Helga/Stefnir/Ari
Saorise
The ice creature takes a look around to ensure no one is misbehaving and then leans down and opens the chest near him. He pulls out a sack and throws it to Anya and Jorgen, the nearest of the party. It lands with a thud and slides to stop next to Anya's foot.
"This is Ackrieg dwarf silver, he brought it as a gift to my Lord Frigga. take this and whatever is in the hold and leave. I do not want your blood staining here," pleads the ice creature.
Ragnar stands above the hold, ready to help haul the box out to the Albatross.