What follows is a (very very very heavily edited) log of events which took place on 16 Ivastaen. A group of Vornavian armigers launched an attack on a smuggler's cache on Glatoph, which intelligence suggested may have been part of the Rooks' supply chain. Participants were Bristenn, Aydan, Mynon, Shannivar, and Aiska (POV), with a special cameo appearance by the lovely Farsia.
(No GMs participated in this event. Any ambient messaging that does not occur in regular gameplay for the area was supplied by yours truly via OOC whispers.)
TL;DR EDITION: Imperials attack some bad guys on the mountain, find a secret hideout in a cave, and blow it up. The status of these supposed Rooks, not to mention the origin and destination of their ill-gotten goods, is called into question when the haul isn't quite what they expected.
[Upper Trollfang, Glatoph - 2574]
Two side paths branch off of the main trail here, running east and west around the mountain. The north-south path is steeper, but is wider and more deeply worn even so. A cold wind blows in from the east, and you see signs of snow glimmering in the moonlight on the eastern slopes. The western face seems a bit warmer -- the deeper shadows in that direction might be grass. You also see a huge imperial wagon with a glowing blue-white pylon on it.
Also here: Shannivar, Sir Bristenn, Mynon, Sir Aydan
Obvious paths: east, west, up, down
The surroundings are blurred with a downpour of obscuring rain.
Speaking to you, Aydan asks, "We know this is where they're coming from?"
You survey the area.
Shannivar gives a sidelong glance at Bristenn.
Bristenn adjusts the position of a steel-bound leather scabbard on his leather swordbelt.
You reply, "Scouts tracked a fence t'a caravan chain somewhere off th' main traderoad."
Bristenn mentions, "The Landing's heroes did escort Lady DeArchon to Icemule Trace. I don't find it surprising they would be procuring supplies from that city."
Aydan says, "Well then, let's put on a good show of it. If they hate the Empire so much already, let's give them more reason to do so."
The voice of Farsia quietly notes, "Juramis procured some from Icemule as well."
The party advances deeper into the glacier.
[Glatoph, Icy Passage - 2549]
The passage opens up into a large cavernous area with the stream running through the middle. Icy stalactites hang all around you as you carefully walk through this forest of ice.
Also here: Shannivar, Sir Bristenn, Mynon, Sir Aydan
Obvious exits: north, south
A human robber suddenly jumps out of the shadows!
An elven thug suddenly jumps out of the shadows!
A giantman robber suddenly jumps out of the shadows!
Bristenn drops all defense as he moves into a battle-ready stance.
Bristenn feints to the left, the giantman robber buys the ruse and twists awkwardly to block the blow that never came!
Aydan swings a kelyn-hilted white ora battlesword at a human robber!
A hit!
The human robber is stunned!
As Aydan lands his blow, the flames surrounding the white ora battlesword begin to swirl and burn and set the human robber alight! It drops to the floor and begin to roll!
Superheated arc of plasma traces blackened path across the human robber's belly!
Mynon looks determined and focused.
In a breathtaking display of agility and combat mastery, Mynon whirls in a fury of unrelenting strikes and ripostes!
Mynon swings an ancient white ritual warblade at a giantman robber!
A hit!
Mynon's white ritual warblade flares with a burst of flame!
Nasty burns to right arm. Gonna need lots of butter.
Mynon swings an ancient white ritual warblade at an elven thug!
A hit!
Mynon swings an ancient white ritual warblade at a human robber!
A hit!
The human robber falls to the ground and dies.
You swing a humongous steel roa'ter axe at a giantman robber!
Quick slash to the giantman robber's upper right arm!
Just a nick.
The giantman robber falls to the ground and dies.
Mynon glances at an elven thug.
Aydan says, "Now, then."
Aydan gestures at an elven thug.
An elven thug is enraged by Aydan's attack!
Cloudy wisps swirl about an elven thug.
Warding failed!
The wisps solidify into thick strands of webbing that tighten about his body!
Shannivar says, "I'll be surprised if he can even talk, he took a good hit to the head."
Shannivar frowns at an elven thug.
An elven thug struggles fruitlessly in the webbing.
Farsia quietly says, "He will be lucky to remember his name."
An elven thug shouts, "Die, ya maggot-pie!"
Shannivar blinks at an elven thug.
You shake your head at an elven thug and cluck your tongue.
Shannivar says, "That isn't helpful."
Bristenn brightly observes, "Ah, he can speak."
Aydan says, "Not feeling inclined to spare this one."
Mynon tilts his white ritual warblade side to side, making the light play off it.
Bristenn attempts to kick an elven thug!
A hit!
The elven thug rolls over and dies.
Bristenn dusts himself off.
Bristenn scoffs.
Aydan yells, "For anyone else that is part of this group, I offer you this last chance to surrender. Present yourselves, and tell us what we wish to know, and be spared. Resist us, and I promise you I will exercise the authority given to me by the Baron Malwind of Vornavis, and by extant His Majesty the Emperor Aurmont Anodheles. And you will be brought to justice!"
Aydan's only response is an arrow. It zips dangerously close to his left ear and bites into a tree.
Aydan ducks his head.
You think to yourself "Holy--!"
You flinch.
Aydan yells, "That was ungentlemanly of you! I'll have your bows for that!"
Speaking exasperatedly to Aydan, Shannivar says, "Helmet."
Bristenn surveys the area.
Aydan flatly says, "Yes."
Aydan pushes the hood of his heavy wool cloak onto his shoulders, glancing about his surroundings.
Grasping it with both hands, Aydan places his rolaren greathelm on his head and adjusts it until it sits just right.
The party follows their prey into the titans' cave. Farsia departs along the way.
[Deep Freeze, Cave of Ice - 3475]
Overhead, a wide fissure in the high ceiling of this cavern admits the screeching wind and spitting snow and appears to extend beyond the yawning gap in the southern wall of the chamber. The falling snow threatens to obliterate the huge footprints that cover the ground. You also see an arctic titan, a reinforced shield, some cuirbouilli leather and a handaxe.
Also here: Shannivar, Sir Bristenn, Mynon, Sir Aydan
Obvious exits: north, east, west
Shadows stretch long and lean here, in these icy corridors. Too often you find yourself second-guessing what you see, as the shimmering forms of cold guardians and ice titans are caught up in the tricky reflected light from the frozen walls. Are there two ahead? Ten? You can't tell. It's a veritable house of mirrors.
Shannivar slowly asks, "Did we check through that gap in the cave wall?"
Mynon glances around the room.
You nervously wonder, "Are we followin' them, 'r are they followin' us?"
Speaking to you, Shannivar says, "I can't even tell. There's so many titans in here, I can't figure out where they're coming from."
Shannivar points south.
Shannivar says, "I think it was that way."
Sir Aydan's group just went into a yawning gap.
[Deep Freeze, Cave of Ice - 3475]
Overhead, a wide fissure in the high ceiling of this cavern admits the screeching wind and spitting snow and appears to extend beyond the yawning gap in the southern wall of the chamber. The falling snow threatens to obliterate the huge footprints that cover the ground. You also see a reinforced shield, a handaxe, a reinforced shield, some cuirbouilli leather, an aquamarine gem, a reinforced shield, some cuirbouilli leather, a handaxe, a reinforced shield and a handaxe.
Also here: Shannivar, Sir Bristenn, Mynon, Sir Aydan
Obvious exits: north, east, west
Suddenly, you hear a soft whoosh of air as you notice Shannivar step on a carefully concealed inflated pouch!
Your surroundings begin to spin as you collapse in a heap, sick to your stomach!
Bristenn collapses in a heap, visibly sickened!
A human outlaw suddenly jumps out of the shadows!
A giantman brigand suddenly jumps out of the shadows!
You quickly roll backward, then spring to your feet, ready again for action!
Bristenn rolls forward, then springs to his feet, ready again for action!
Aydan swings a kelyn-hilted white ora battlesword at a giantman brigand!
A hit!
The giantman brigand falls to the ground and dies.
Shannivar gestures at a human outlaw.
Shannivar hurls a roaring ball of fire at a human outlaw!
A hit!
The human outlaw is stunned!
The roaring ball of fire strikes a human outlaw, blossoming into a much larger sphere of flame upon impact.
Minor burns to left leg. That hurts a bit.
Bristenn picks an opening, attempts to disarm a human outlaw's ball and chain barehanded and connects!
A human outlaw's ball and chain is knocked to the ground!
You swing a humongous steel roa'ter axe at a human outlaw!
Blow leaves an imprint on the human outlaw's chest!
The human outlaw rolls over and dies.
The outlaw's paralyzed body slackens in the grip of death.
You breathe rapidly, your nostrils flaring.
Aydan notes, "Clever. They set a trap."
Four small yierka-drawn wagons form a circle here, tucked away in a craggy recess. A fire - too bright and steady to be anything but magical in origin - glows in a shallow, rock-ringed pit at their center.
Bristenn surveys the area.
Shannivar squints.
Mynon kneels down.
Bristenn briskly notes, "Yonder."
(Mynon crawls forward carefully.)
Aydan glances east.
Mynon just came crawling in.
Mynon quietly says, "Just a handful, really."
Mynon stands up.
Mynon says, "Unless it's another trap."
Shannivar quietly asks, "Okay, plan?"
Aydan says, "Okay. If we weren't in a confined space, I'd suggest fire spirits."
Speaking to Aydan, Shannivar says, "I don't think I can aim one without melting the cavern wall."
Aydan says, "Barring that."
Aydan glances at a kelyn-hilted white ora battlesword in his hand.
You listen carefully to Aydan.
Aydan notes, "I have a flaming sword of fire."
Bristenn quietly murmurs, ".. let me see if I have anything that might help, actually."
Bristenn rummages through an old leather medical kit with a frantic look of loss.
Bristenn offhandedly mumbles, "I should have -someth-"
Bristenn suddenly remarks, "I've got it."
Bristenn quickly reasons, "Why fire, honestly."
Aydan says, "So. My plan, while open to suggestions, is that we go and introduce ourselves to any possible guards. One introductions are out of the way, we politely ask for leave to inspect their goods, as we have a concern that they might be smuggling goods into the Empire."
Shannivar raises her hand.
Shannivar asks, "Can I politely suggest she clean off her blade first?"
Shannivar glances at you.
Aydan reasonably says, "Obviously if they are doing so, we have to destroy those goods."
You begin to lose touch with your internal sources of strength.
You frown at Shannivar.
You remove a dirty towel from in your field pack.
You clean off your steel roa'ter axe with your dirty towel, removing the blood and ectoplasm.
You tilt your steel roa'ter axe side to side, making the light play off it.
Bristenn agrees, "And, we can collapse the cavern on tem."
You glance inquiringly at Shannivar.
Speaking to you, Shannivar says, "Much better."
Mynon glances over at Bristenn and winces.
Aydan asks, "Sound plan?"
Speaking to Bristenn, Shannivar asks, "Can we not, since we're in the cavern too?"
Aydan glances around the room.
Bristenn rubs his chin thoughtfully.
Bristenn slowly reasons, ".. we either beat a hasty withdrawal, or we simply teleport out."
Aydan simply says, "We eat the squire."
Speaking to Aydan, Shannivar says, "We do not eat the squire."
Aydan says, "Right."
Aydan asks, "Any questions?"
Shannivar shakes her head.
You slowly and deliberately empty your filled lungs.
You shake your head.
(Aiska rolls her shoulders once, then squares them.)
Sir Aydan's group just went east.
[Deep Freeze, Cave of Ice - 3480]
Something very heavy has trampled through the area, packing snow into the icy ground and making it very slippery. If it weren't for the feeling of imminent danger, you might actually enjoy spending more time exploring -- as it is, you dare not linger too long. You also see an arctic titan, a cold guardian, a cold guardian, an arctic titan and a cold guardian.
Also here: Shannivar, Sir Bristenn, Mynon, Sir Aydan
Obvious exits: north, south, west
A human rogue suddenly jumps out of the shadows!
A human thief suddenly jumps out of the shadows!
A human rogue suddenly jumps out of the shadows!
A human rogue darts behind Shannivar and tries to hamstring her with his bastard sword!
With a vicious strike the human rogue slashes at Shannivar's right hamstring!
Shannivar yells, "Ow!"
Aydan looks determined and focused.
In a breathtaking display of agility and combat mastery, Aydan whirls in a fury of unrelenting strikes and ripostes!
Aydan swings a kelyn-hilted white ora battlesword at a human rogue!
A hit!
The human rogue is stunned!
Aydan swings a kelyn-hilted white ora battlesword at a human thief!
A hit!
The human thief is knocked to the ground!
The human thief is stunned!
Aydan swings a kelyn-hilted white ora battlesword at a human rogue!
A hit!
The human rogue falls to the ground and dies.
You swing a humongous steel roa'ter axe at a human thief!
Blast to hand reduces it to pulp!
The human thief rolls over and dies.
Shannivar hurls a roaring ball of fire at a human rogue!
A hit!
The human rogue rolls over and dies.
The roaring ball of fire strikes a human rogue, blossoming into a much larger sphere of flame upon impact.
Shannivar says, "Honestly.."
You wheeze, "Great talk."
Mynon observes, "We are men and women of action."
Aydan appears to be trying hard not to grin.
Bristenn gives his head a gentle toss, causing his short-cropped hair to lift up and away from his eyes.
(Aydan glances around and makes sure nothing is lurking in obvious sight. Given the surroundings, that wouldn't be too difficult. He approaches one of the wagons and eyes it carefully, looking for possible booby traps.)
Aydan spots a bear trap just in time. Just as he steps around it, however, he trips a wire and is drenched in naphtha.
Aydan suddenly stumbles for no apparent reason.
Aydan falls over.
Aydan loudly asks, "Oh, what the hell?"
Shannivar tilts her head down.
Shannivar looks at Aydan blankly, at a loss to express herself.
(Aydan murmurs a quiet word toward his blade, extinguishing the flame. Just in case.)
Mynon asks, "Is this stuff flammable?"
Aydan flatly says, "I think I'm one big torch waiting to ignite."
You joke, "Be glad we didn't bring th' Mag'ster."
Aydan mutters, "Oh, she'd enjoy that."
Speaking to you, Shannivar mumbles, "I feel about her the way Bristenn does about Rekarth."
(Bristenn saunters around the wagons, eyeing them up and down- scanning less the actual visible contents, but the hallmarks of construction.)
You frown at Shannivar.
(Shannivar calls up a light spell, keeping it small and around her hand. She holds it up so Aydan can see better.)
(Aydan flops his cloak around, trying to knock off the oil. Fortunately, most of it was caught by the enveloping cloak.)
Speaking to you, Shannivar says, "I'm used to that disbelieving look, yes. But this isn't the place."
(Aiska sets the topic aside, then, and climbs up onto a wagon. She raises her axe high, obviously intent on smashing things open with no regard to sanity or safety.)
Aydan faces you and lets loose a mighty shout!
Speaking to you, Aydan exclaims, "NO!"
You glance sharply at Aydan.
(Aiska freezes.)
Speaking to you, Aydan says, "Back away. Slowly."
You take a few steps back.
(Aydan steps over to the wagon, then lays his hand on a particular keg near the top of the goods piled on it.)
Speaking to you, Aydan says, "Black powder."
You protest, "Well 'ow in Kai's knickers 're we s'posed ta--"
Your face goes blank.
You simply say, "Oh."
Shannivar tensely says, "Whatever we're going to do, we should do it soon - they're bound to have either seen Aiska up there or heard that shout."
Aydan snaps his fingers.
Aydan says, "New plan."
Aydan removes an ornate studded mithril spike from in his steel gauntlets.
(Aydan carves a small hole in the keg and then lifts it out of the wagon. He carries the keg toward the other wagons, making a trail of powder that would easily send fire to each from a safer distance.)
Aydan asks, "We can't haul all of this out of here, and we can't afford to let them keep what they've got here, right?"
Your face lights up with joy.
You delightedly crow, "We blow it UP!"
You nod fervently!
Mynon frowns.
Shannivar says, "That's going to bring every one of them running here from miles away to see what happened."
Aydan simply says, "Yes."
Aiska smiles fiercely. "Let th' muckers bloody come! 'ear it fer MILES, wot!"
Bristenn takes a few steps back.
Bristenn folds his hands behind his back.
Shannivar takes a few graceful steps backward.
(Aydan glances at Bristenn, then carries the keg around the cavern in an odd manner. The fact that the powder fell to depict the shape of a rather dubious, tubular creature could not have been more coincidental at all. Not one bit.)
Speaking to you, Shannivar asks, "Think you and Mynon could get one of the crates over here?"
You nod once at Shannivar.
You whistle at Mynon!
Shannivar asks, "Away from that exploding stuff?"
Speaking to Bristenn, Aydan admits, "Best I could do."
Bristenn holds up his hand and tilts it side to side in a so-so gesture.
Bristenn amusedly agrees, "It gets the point across."
(Mynon strides over to one of the wagons, drops the rear gate, and begins to pull one of the crates off.)
Aydan slides his studded mithril spike into the sheath inside his steel gauntlets.
Mynon grunts.
Speaking to you, Mynon asks, "Hand here?"
Mynon slings a pure white tower shield over his shoulder.
Aydan says, "No trade company markings on any of this, sadly. Makes it more difficult to narrow down their suppliers."
(Aiska leaps from one wagon to the next as gracefully as one can in like a million pounds of armor, and throws her back into the crate Mynon's working at.)
Shannivar says, "I wonder if the entire shipment is the same, or if every wagon has something different in it."
Speaking amusedly to you, Aydan says, "You almost didn't make it there."
You loudly argue, "I'M LIKE A SWAN."
(Shannivar offers encouraging words from the sidelines, staying far clear of the crate-moving herself.)
Aydan looks thoughtfully at Shannivar.
You break out in a sweat.
Mynon mutters under his breath.
(Aydan wanders over to one of the wagons off to the side, then glances under the tarp covering it. He then frowns.)
Aydan mutters, "Oh hell."
Speaking dubiously to you, Shannivar asks, "Have you actually seen a swan?"
Aydan says, "I know this one."
(Aiska damn near loses her balance when the crate goes over the edge, and right before it flattens poor Mynon, she CATCHES herself and reasserts her grip. Crisis averted.)
Shannivar flails her arms about.
Shannivar says, "Be careful."
Mynon offers a carefully and politely worded suggestion that is anything but.
(Aydan taps one of the crates, namely the marking on it. Cascade Shipping.)
Shannivar says, "I mean, I could resurrect him, but.. be careful."
Speaking to Aydan, Shannivar asks, "What's that say?"
Speaking to Bristenn, Aydan says, "Mires? That's Vornavian."
Speaking cautiously to you, Mynon says, "Slowly, let's set it down."
(Bristenn glances away from the crevasse from which they entered.)
Shannivar traces a sign while petitioning the spirits for cognition...
Shannivar gestures.
A bright pulse of soft energy moves away from Shannivar's hands.
A playful taiga spirit begins to take corporeal form before your eyes.
Speaking to Aydan, Bristenn ventures, "Rather."
(Shannivar shoos the spirit over towards the crate, instructing it to help them lower it.)
Bristenn continues, "You think purloined, or purchased?"
(Aiska has one speed and while it's slower, it's probably not as slow as Mynon would like. Still, a bruise or twain later, they lever the wretched thing to the floor without any undue homicides.)
Shannivar walks toward you.
Shannivar tilts her head down.
Shannivar ponders.
Mynon draws a fel-shafted etched mithril crowbill from one of the weapon loops sewn inside of his leather longcoat.
You indicate the steel roa'ter axe as a possible option.
You glance inquiringly at Shannivar.
(Shannivar runs her hands over the edge of the crate, looking for a hasp or the like holding it closed.)
(Mynon slides the narrow end of his crowbill under the top of the crate, and starts prying it open.)
(Aiska wedges the flat of her axe in the gap Mynon is widening and gets to prying. Indelicately.)
Aydan asks, "What do you think? The Rooks would probably use smugglers from the Empire even though they claim to hate it, yes?"
Bristenn slowly murmurs, "Well, they and the krolvin were raiding imperial cartage, throughout the war."
Bristenn rubs his chin thoughtfully.
Speaking to Bristenn, Aydan agrees, "I'd like to assume it's that."
(Mynon moves to a third corner, which pries up more easily.)
Bristenn noncommittally agrees, "That as well, potentially."
You loudly agree, "I BET th' ape-faced muckers 're in on this!"
You scowl.
Speaking calmly to you, Aydan says, "Let's not jump to a conclusion on that. Plenty of folk in Wehnimer's that'll do that. Most of them Ronanites."
Bristenn slowly notes, "..merchants and that swear fealty generally only to coin, not kith, kin or country."
(Aiska and Mynon finally open the crate. It's full of low-grade weapons and what look like field gear - rations and herbs and weather wear. The standard issue kits of a low-ranking soldier.)
Shannivar thoughtfully says, "Huh."
Mynon says, "This one kind looks like soldier's gear."
You act puzzled.
Mynon frowns.
You slowly ask, "Why would they--?"
Speaking to you, Mynon asks, "Why would they need that?"
Aydan lets out a flaming volley of invective that makes your ears burn.
Shannivar asks, "Are they actively recruiting others to their cause and have to equip them?"
Shannivar gets a blank look on her face.
Aydan says, "They could be doing that, or this was a supply train being sent to the Hendorans. That might explain Cascade Shipping crates."
You clench your jaw.
(Bristenn tilts his head away from the watch, observing this business with the crates.)
Aydan says, "Decision time, folks."
Aydan says, "We could leave it all here and report back to Sir Thadston. But that will take time, and we know he's not exactly speedy with his responses."
Aydan says, "There's a very good chance that by the time we do get word to him, they'll have taken everything away from here and that'll be used against us later."
Mynon flatly says, "Fine."
You uncomfortably wonder, "Woul'-- one 'f our own scouts really 'ave us do this--?"
Shannivar says, "If we blow it up, there won't be any evidence either.."
Aydan nods at Shannivar.
Speaking to Shannivar, Aydan says, "Exactly where I was going with this."
(Mynon walks over to one of the wagons and lifts the wooden struts from the front, clearly intending to start pulling it.)
Speaking to Mynon, Shannivar says, "Mynon, no. You'll kill yourself."
Speaking approvingly to Mynon, Aydan says, "I like your initiative, but no."
Shannivar frowns.
Mynon says, "Well."
Shannivar says, "Can we.. um."
Shannivar asks, "Break up the crate, and keep the part with the shipping sigil on it?"
Mynon says, "If we cut these off, and wrap some canvas between them, it'll make a decent dragging sled."
Aiska is immensely troubled. Either the Rooks are arming someone, or they're arming themselves, or-- or one of our scouts is a traitor.
You glance with dismay down.
Mynon says, "Axe."
Mynon just nudged you.
You nod once.
You toss your steel roa'ter axe in the air, sending it into a spiraling blur. At the perfect moment, you reach out and snatch it competently by the handle.
Aydan murmurs, "They were smart, at least."
(Aiska complies with the suggestion, swinging her weapon down in three precise arcs. The wood crunches beneath the heft of the heavy metal, sending splinters flying.)
(Shannivar moves to help Mynon, holding the canvas up so he can cut easier.)
(Aydan rummages through the wagon closes to him. "No manifests of any kind.")
Speaking to Shannivar, Mynon says, "Thank you."
Shannivar smiles at Mynon.
Shannivar wrinkles her nose.
You prompt, "So are these-- were these-- which Rooks 're these?"
Mynon grunts.
Mynon says, "Dead ones."
Aydan simply asks, "Does it matter?"
Aydan says, "We identify both factions as enemies of the Empire."
You think to yourself, "It doesn't. Stop thinking it does."
You nod reluctantly.
(Mynon ties four corners of the canvas to the rear lengths of the wooden poles.)
(Aiska bundles up the chunk bearing the trader's crest and hands it over to Aydan.)
(Aydan takes the wooden plank, makes sure the crest is clearly visible, then tucks it away safely.)
Speaking to you, Mynon asks, "Give me a hand with setting that crate on this?"
An echo reverberates down the corridor. Perhaps nearby. Perhaps klicks away.
Aydan says, "I'll see if I can't confer with the Mercantyler's Guild. See if they have any rec-"
Aydan glances west.
Shannivar gestures.
The area becomes darker.
Aydan says, "We might have to fight our way out of here."
(Mynon slides the crate into position, and lifts one end.)
(Aiska digs in the spikes of her boots for traction and heave-hos with Mynon, wrapping things up as speedily as she can.)
Bristenn quickly commands, "Walking order, then. Sir Aydan and Shannivar on point, Squire Mynon and Dame Aiska in the middle, I'll guard the rear."
You pant.
Shannivar nods at Bristenn.
Shannivar walks toward Aydan.
Bristenn taps the blade of his hand-and-a-half sword against the ground.
Bristenn takes a few steps back.
Shannivar quietly asks, "Do we have everything we need from here?"
(Aiska grabs one end of the makeshift sled and falls into position.)
Aydan says, "It'll have to do."
Aydan glances between Mynon and yourself.
(Mynon grabs the front end of the poles and starts pulling the crate away.)
Shannivar removes some smooth crystal worry stones from in her shoulder-pinned mantle.
Shannivar says, "I'm not confident I can fog all of us AND that sled."
Shannivar asks, "Bodies, yes. Large inanimate things?"
Shannivar holds up her hand and tilts it side to side in a so-so gesture.
(Aydan walks over to the start of the black powder trail, then lowers the tip of his blade toward it until a spark catches and lights the powder ablaze.)
Aydan quickly exclaims, "Time to move!"
The powder is lit, and the party desperately tries to escape in time.
(Mynon HEAVES across the slippery ground, making fairly good time.)
Shannivar pushes on Aydan without much success.
[Snowy Plains, White Ice Lake - 2534]
The snow-packed trail has led you to where the raging river feeds into White Ice Lake. The roiling water sends huge ice chunks crashing together, some skittering and sliding across the frozen lake.
Also here: Sir Bristenn, Mynon, Shannivar, Sir Aydan
Obvious paths: southeast, northwest
(Aydan glances back toward the cave, then can't help but duck by reflex when a loud explosion echoes from that direction.)
Aydan loudly exclaims, "Damn!"
Shannivar cringes.
Shannivar covers her ears.
You duck slightly and cover your head with your arms.
(Bristenn lags somewhat behind the makeshift sled, turning back towards the cavern as it explodes.)
The cold arctic winds begin to whip around you violently!
You glance southeast.
Speaking loudly to Bristenn, Aydan exclaims, "Mires! We don't look at explosions!"
The mountain begins to shake. The woosh of cascading snow is punctuated by the terrified roars of titans.
The ground begins to shake violently, making it hard to stand.
Speaking to Mynon, Aydan exclaims, "Mush!"
The shrieking winds become suddenly violent. The temperature drops drastically, numbing your extremities in a heartbeat. You cannot see through the flying snow and ice, and it looks as though you may be in trouble!
The party escapes down the mountain and makes for the Hendoran Outpost.
[Lower Dragonsclaw, Grasslands - 445]
Growing among the warm grasses are a few scattered trees. It is hard to tell if the forest you can see to the west is encroaching upon the grasslands or if it is slowly being harvested and replaced for grazing. You also see some damaged wooden buildings, some thick half-formed stone walls and a battered wooden tower set with a crisp flag bearing the image of a blue phoenix on a field of silver.
Also here: Sir Bristenn, Mynon, Shannivar, Sir Aydan
Obvious paths: south, northwest
Aydan grabs a fringed azure silk banner blazoned with a gannet volant argent from one of the large pouches lining the inside of his heavy wool cloak.
Roaring wind rushes past you, forcing the pelting rain to sting your skin.
Aydan quickly raises his conch shell to his lips and sounds a high-pitched alarm which echoes through the surrounding area.
(Aydan waves the banner toward the sentries in the tower.)
Speaking to Mynon, Aydan says, "Pull it up to the tower."
Mynon mutters under his breath.
.
Mynon nods.
.
(Aiska reasserts her handhold on the poles and assists Mynon in the task.)
Aydan says, "At least the mud made that part easier."
(Mynon pulls towards the tower.)
Shannivar shivers.
Bristenn sets the blade of his sword into the ground and stands confidently behind it, resting both hands atop its upraised handle.
Speaking to you, Aydan says, "Okay. Do you want to make the report to Sir Thadston? We'll probably have to do some investigating on our own in Vornavis, too."
(Mynon nods to Aiska, then drops his pole.)
(Aiska's growl is an exclamation point on the long slog of misery that was getting this stupid sled down the mountain.)
The lone remaining crate from the cache is delivered to the outpost, and SCENE.
Speaking to Shannivar, Aydan says, "I guess that'll serve as an introduction. This is Dame Aiska, Bristenn's former squire and now a knight in her own right. I don't know why she barks."
