Winterwolf and Rimepelt Question

[Damiancrr]

So the rimepelt says that winterwolves can turn into humans. But looking at least at the online entry for winter wolves I dont see that ability or description anywhere. What kind of winter wolf has this ability or am I looking in the wrong place.

[ryschwith]

It's not an ability that winter wolves have in general; it's something that Baba Yaga granted to them while they're in the Howlings in Whitethrone. So whenever they're within the confines of the Howlings, they can turn into humans, but the moment they set foot outside (even to go somewhere else in Whitethrone) they revert to wolves.

[Joey Virtue]

So my question about the Rimepelt is where can the PCs acquire one?

[Darrell Impey UK]

Spoiler:

When they're attacked by a winterwolf and his falcon wielding troops a couple of days before they reach Whitethrone.

[Deadly secret]

Spoiler:

So basically in the Land of Irrisen Baba Yaga created an enchantment/spell that allows Winter Wolves (Worgs) to take human form in the Howlings within Whitethrone and Redtooth in Irrisen. They can choose to be Human or Wolf form while here.

If a player were to kill and skin a Worg with mismatched eyes (keep this as rare), they could acquire the Rimepelt. It is commone people skin Winter Wolves for their pelts and wear them as coats. It's considered high fashion in Irrisen.

Players will encounter Falconers and Norgrimm. Norgrimm just happens to have mismatched eyes. The adventure encourages Nadya to help the players identify this as possible and helps skin it if the players don't have high survival. If Nadya is not with them they can detect magic on it and notice a magical aura on the wolf immediately after death.

[Black_Cat]

My players acquired the pelt but I knew it wasn't going to be something they were really interested in keeping. I'd already tweaked Greta in the hope they'd use her more, so I also changed the pelt so that it could also change winter wolves into humans. Greta is still wearing it and we're one session from the end of the AP.

[Dragonchess Player]

^
I get that you changed it; however, by the description and pricing, the rimepelt is a one use item ("When the wearer returns to his normal form, or after 2 hours have elapsed, the rimepelt becomes a mundane winter wolf pelt."). The market price for a 1/day item (with a duration of 11 min per use) would be 11,880 gp (!); see the winter wolf headband (which grants additional abilities) for a similar item.

I put a bit of thought into how to integrate Greta into the party, as well as her goal of being able to spend more time in human form, and decided on the following custom magic item (possibly available for sale in Vurnirn):

Collar of Human Form
Aura faint transmutation; CL 5
Slot neck; Price 12,600 gp; Weight -

This plain leather collar allows a magical beast to transform into a human analog of itself, as if using the alter self spell. Each creature has a single human appearance; they cannot assume different human forms or appear as another humanoid race. The wearer can assume or dismiss their analog form at will. The collar has no effect if worn by a creature other than a magical beast.

Construction Requirements
Cost 6,300 gp; Craft Wondrous Item, alter self

[Black_Cat]

Sorry I should have said - there was a whole additional side quest that I added in where they found someone to develop the pelt. I also made it clear if they changed it they couldn't change it back (and it essentially became useless to them). It became a nice quest for the character who has now become her partner in-game, plus the Investigator to work with the higer-level character I'd introduced for him to talk to/work with (imagine Sherlock Holmes talking to a higher level version of himself - it was very entertaining).

Really - I liked Greta, I thought by developing her background and making her a more rounded character that she would be an interesting addition to the group and I've been proven right. I made sure they worked to get her and to keep her human more frequently, but I fudged it a little to give them the option to take her along.