A Gathering Storm

[Toliudar]

Verglas

Verglas watched from a distance. She was relieved that the man seemed to actually be a man, and one who seemed (more or less) able to survive on his own in this frozen waste. Perhaps one who knew the dangers of the immediate vicinity.

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" Njal nodded in satisfaction as the healing belt took hold, watching a little in surprise as it has been rebuffed the first time. “Good as new eh me lad? How come you be exiled from the Hold?” he asks bluntly. A hand still holding the tiger skull club carefully. “Can ye point us towards Last Breath Pass? At the words ‘exile’ he will share a meaningful glance with Verglas and Roland and wave Roland forward to put himself between the albino and Lyssa

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 4, Init -5, HP 32/32, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 7, Ref 2, Will 7, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club (Lesser Crystal of Fiery Assault) +7 (1d8+3 [+1d6 FIRE], x4)
Quaterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +4 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate , Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition None



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
29 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 21 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +2 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: Leather barding

[Saintheart]

Mid-afternoon, Day 7

Complication Dice: 6 of 6

The albino nodded. "Yes, Almeza's certainly tougher than one might expect on first inspection." His red eyes focused back on Lyssa again. "The 'lady' here I take it is Lyssa Hardwalker, is it not?"
"That's not your affair," said Roland before the others could reply.
The albino spread his hands. "Affairs are traditionally concealed, not advertised. She's wearing a Hardwalker sigil at her shoulder, where no other man is permitted to wear it. And, even with no house sigils, you're all clustered around her like icicles on a branch. I might be somewhat out of the way here, but it's well-known Lord Hardwalker has only the one daughter. And you've said you're escorting her home. It doesn't take much to put it together."
"Exactly who are you?" asked Lyssa.
"Yes, I did forget my manners. My name is Benydict Truegust. Raised of Tor Bayard, now of the Valley of the Spear."
"You're living out here?" Lyssa frowned. "Why?"
Benydict smiled sadly. "As I said, I am an exile. Domobezh. Why here specifically? The Illumians south of the Pass offer reasonable rates for copper ore. There's ... enough, in the Spear, enough to get by."
"You're a miner?" Lyssa frowned.
"I was. Until a bulette smelled my digging. And collapsed my tunnel which was also my home, just up there, with me about ten feet ahead of it. Hence why I wasn't watching my footing, and hence why I was at the base of that tree," he concluded, nodding at the ice-clad pine. He gave a sudden cough, wiped at his lips. The white fingers came away with a spot of red on them.
"What were you exiled for?" asked Roland.
Benydict hesitated, then shrugged. "My crime was divorce. Aggravated by having snow for skin," he said.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Sense Motive check doesn't indicate anything that seems untruthful.

The thing with the Healing Belts I rationalise as the fact that magic doesn't operate perfectly and therefore doesn't reliably heal people all the time. Hence the somewhat 'temperamental' Healing Belt.

[Novabomb]

Ramiro Sanda does not react even marginally to Benydict indicating he is an exile.
Are you good to walk? We really ought to continue this conversation on the move.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Ramiro is assuming that Benydict will accompany us, and that the others will not object.
(Feel free to burst his bubble)

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" Njal relaxes as the man speaks before stowing the tiger skull. “Had you a good vein of the ore? Been a while since I mine for it.” Then at Ramiro’s comment he nods. “Aye, ye walk? If so get yerself up and come with us. We don’t have much but we’ll get you back to your mine in the Pass.” If he can’t stand he’ll offer the man a seat behind him on Stormrir. As the man sorts himself out he’ll glance at Lysaa and the man, “What a man do with divorce to be an exile?” The question one of genuine curiosity as Njal has spent comparatively little time around humans

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 4, Init -5, HP 32/32, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 7, Ref 2, Will 7, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club (Lesser Crystal of Fiery Assault) +7 (1d8+3 [+1d6 FIRE], x4)
Quaterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +4 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate , Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition None



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
29 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 21 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +2 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: Leather barding

[Saintheart]

Mid-afternoon, Day 7

Complication Dice: 6 of 6

"Oh, my home wasn't in the Pass," said the albino. He pointed up the incline he'd apparently fallen down. "It was up there. The mine was my home. I used it as my shelter too. And when the bulette came through, it collapsed the entire mine and everything I owned. Except for what I was able to grab before it came down around my ears." His lips turned up in a weak smile. "And that didn't include anything but my pick, a couple of rocks, a waterskin, and this pack. No food, sadly. I can walk. And if you're saying a gravewind is coming, well, I'd be glad of the company getting south to the Illumians' trading post. That would do me just fine. Lastbreath Pass is that way," he said, nodding to the east. He frowned. "Didn't you come from there? It's the only way over the Spear into the southern half of the Valley."

[Novabomb]

Ramiro Sanda
We got turned about in the hills. But should be fine now.

[Saintheart]

Mid-afternoon, Day 7

Complication Dice: 6 of 6

Benydict frowned. "The lady Hardwalker came over Lastbreath Pass alone? A courageous crossing, if so. Or a lucky one, to have made it thus far."
"What 'the lady Hardwalker' did or didn't do isn't for you to concern yourself with, domobezh," snapped Lyssa. Her eyes had a hard glint to them. "I doubt you'll be welcome in my father's Hall."
The albino's gaze had shifted to the sad, wry grin he wore earlier. "I didn't plan on seeking hospitality there, lady Hardwalker. I only ask passage to the Illumians' outpost. I've enough copper to pay for lodging enough to see out the Gravewind there."
"I hope so. We don't care much for oathbreakers at Hardwalker Hall."
"I broke an oath sworn at Kindling, that's true," said the albino, evenly. "Not all oaths are meant to be intact. Not when the woman who swore the same oath before the fire chose me out of stories told about albinos, and then abandoned me for the arms of another when she found the stories were incorrect."

Roland sighed, murmuring an aside to Njal: "The act of divorce itself is enough to earn exile in most human holds of these lands. Some are a little more lenient about it than others. The oath of matrimony is taken early, and for life, when sworn at a Kindling. I don't think it's rigidly-enforced at Hardwalker Hall, but it certainly seems to be law at Tor Bayard. I seem to remember the dwarven rule of hospitality in the tunnels is something similar. Faithless is an even harder title to bear than domobezh."

Spoiler: Everyone

Show

Verglas through her schooling and Ramiro through his life experience would be aware of this strong tradition in Horizon holds. It issues out of the days of humanit's slavery and the horrible days after the elves withdrew and the world went cold. Marriages were had relatively early, and, in ceremonies called the Kindling, women chose their husbands before the bonfire, in secret. The oath of marriage is meant for life, and divorce is, as you'd see, very heavily frowned upon and in most cases met with exile for the party who claims divorce. It's a harsh rule, but it's also life in Horizon, designed primarily to stop women from being abandoned by their husbands (also being a rationale for the rule why it's women who choose men). (Gnomish tradition is likely different, and martial adepts trained in the art of Shadow and Flame at White Hand Monasteries - as Ramiro is - don't traditionally marry anyway). As a reminder, Lyssa had fled her Kindling to go and meet the now-deceased Iohn Darkstone. She wouldn't have been termed faithless since she'd not sworn the oath before the bonfire, but there would have been other cultural considerations at least if she'd managed to go through with marrying Darkstone elsewhere, if at all.

As said, Njal's from the dwarven tradition which is likely very different around the subject of marriage, but a comparator for dwarves is the ironclad law of hospitality: if a visitor is caught outside shelter and comes to your door begging leave to stay, you have to take him into your home, even if he's your worst enemy, and in turn he owes you the obligation of peace while he's under your roof. This rule is near-holy writ in dwarven communities; no one will consider breaking it, on pain of exile from tunnel and clan, if not prompt a dwarf to end his own life out of shame.

[Toliudar]

Verglas

Verglas' face remained impassive as the conversation bounced back and forth. The passions of these human folk, the desire to bind up their lives with one individual, was perhaps understandable given the solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short aspects of those lives. Misery loves company, as it were. Verglas was fortunate to feel free to have significantly greater freedom in the range and duration of her affairs. Assuming, that is, that she ever found anyone that she could stand to be with for any length of time.

She trotted Horse back on the way she thought that they were supposed to be travelling, eastward, the better to spur the others forward. Time enough for stories later.

"We're burning daylight gentlemen As Ramiro said it's more than time that we were on our way."

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" Njal nods to Roland, "ah I see. Well that being said, we needs to get you safe place and the Illumian trading post can fit the bill nice eh." He looks at the man, "Show us the way to the trading post eh? We can put up some gold to see you safe fer a couple of nights in exchange fer some info on the pass and whats been occuring while we been North." He looks to Roland, Ramniro and verglas, ignoring the pouting of the spoiled girl who has caused all the trouble. "A night in the trade post be good eh? Can resupply with feed for the ride down to the Hold and hand you back to yer father lass." He adds the last looking at Lyssa.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 4, Init -5, HP 32/32, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 7, Ref 2, Will 7, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club (Lesser Crystal of Fiery Assault) +7 (1d8+3 [+1d6 FIRE], x4)
Quaterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +4 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate , Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition None



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
29 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 21 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +2 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: Leather barding

[Saintheart]

Dusk, Day 7

Complication Dice: 1 of 6

The next few hours were uneventful, or as uneventful as they could be out here. Benedyct seemed to know his way in this part of the world, and the Icethorn Forest revealed itself at the prow of the last hill, a forest of claw-shaped trunks with black leaves atop them. And eventually what seemed to be Lastbreath Pass appeared: a trail that led southward up into the mountains, a wide draw of snow that seemed to narrow into a trail further up.

What was more eventful was the conversation over those hours. Something in Benedyct's combination of his crime of divorce together with his polite responses seemed to be getting right up Lyssa's teenaged nose. As the day crept towards nightfall, her annoyance and frequency of cutting remarks were slowly creeping upward, while the albino maintained an aura of unflappability that seemed just to become more settled as the time wore on. But she also became less and less talkative, too, her face turning to a morose sort of scowl.

As Njal started forward up the draw, Benedyct stopped in his tracks, looking curiously at the dwarf and at the rest of the group. "My pardons, sir dwarf, but you're ... not planning to spend the night up in the Pass, are you?"
"Why?" snapped Lyssa. "What's up there--" And she immediately shut her mouth, looking away.
Benedyct had turned his red eyes on her. Whatever else he was, the hermit-miner wasn't stupid. "Didn't you say to me that you came through there?"
"I told you, it's not your business where I've been!" she snapped. Her voice had risen to a near-shout.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Uh oh. What now?

Oh, and it's nightfall, so are you guys planning to press on up into the Pass after dark?

[Toliudar]

Verglas

Verglas, sharing Horse with Lyssa, leans back into the girl and lays a hand on her leg, trying to both physically and emotionally steady the coltish noble.

"Any wisdom you could provide about what we should expect up on the pass would be much appreciated Benedyct I doubt that the illumian traders will be of much use if we're all in the belly of some hungry frostfolk."

[Novabomb]

Ramiro Sanda
We risked a fair bit on the way here. I would rather not press our luck on the way back with our current company.

[Saintheart]

Dusk, Day 7

Complication Dice: 1 of 6

"But that's my concern," said Benydict, turning from Lyssa to Ramiro and Verglas. "I don't understand why you're asking me about what's in the Pass if you already came that way. But it's … well, you're here north of the Spear, and the Lady's home is south of the Spear. And you said you were returning her to her home. How did you come into this part of the Vale, if not over Lastbreath Pass?"

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" Njal looks at the young lass and hisses in frustration, "Quiet lass. You've dragged us up here and its no been easy. Hold yer tongue if you cannae' be civil." Then looks back to the miner. "Aye, we came through a smaller pass in the high mountains. Wasn't easy. You think we can reach the Illumian's holding by nightfall? If not we can make camp soon and bed down in the shadows o' some rocks" He looks about seeking a likely place to camp in the near vicinity if Benydict's confirmes they are far from the Illumian trading post.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Survival (1d20+11)[15]

Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 4, Init -5, HP 32/32, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 7, Ref 2, Will 7, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club (Lesser Crystal of Fiery Assault) +7 (1d8+3 [+1d6 FIRE], x4)
Quaterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +4 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate , Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition None



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
29 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 21 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +2 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: Leather barding

[Saintheart]

Nightfall, Day 7

Complication Dice: 1 of 6

Njal was focused on Benydict and so didn't see the hurt expression that crossed Lyssa's face.

The miner pursed his pale lips as the last red in the sky faded to the blue of twilight. He didn't look completely convinced by Njal's explanation. But he nodded and sighed. "Well, you wouldn't reach the trading post tonight even if you were going up there now. The post is a good day's travel from the southern end of the Pass. And as for hazards? The biggest hazard of Lastbreath Pass at this time of day is because it's night time. I'd rather dance with Frost Folk than venture up there after sunset. And I've never seen any going through there myself. The cold's a lot harder up there, even in the daytime. Winds can be strong. Sometimes there's avalanches, but I've never seen one that blocked the Pass for more than two days at a time, which is even stranger. But then the whole Spear's strange."
"How so?" Roland took a moment away from lifting a saddle off Ember.
"The fact I've managed to mine copper where I did, for a start. The fact you can find copper up there is against all the knowledge I've gathered about looking for the soft metal. Shattered Chains, the fact there's a wedge-thin line of mountains just standing across a valley like a wall is odd as flowers in ice. It's like it wasn't put there by the Mother, like it was raised to be there." He shrugged. "Not that it makes it any nicer a place to die. Or to leave your corpse."
"Corpses?"
"There are a few. Up there," said Benydict, gesturing in the direction of the Pass. "Seen some at the base of cliffs and gorges, nobody's really had time to go and bring them back for proper burials. And that's when the bodies don't move."
Lyssa frowned, and then paled in realisation. Roland had the look on his face of a wagoner who had just discovered he had a broken axle. "You mean Forsaken."
"Is that as men of the Firekeeper call them? In Tor Bayard they name them the un-dead. I've not seen one. Not moving. But I know I've travelled that Pass enough times to mark the same bodies when I come through, and I'm certain as the taskmasters' cruelty that I've not seen them lying in the same places when I come back. I don't stop to look and it might be that moving fast up there discourages them, but I know one thing: if there's un-dead up there, cold and avalanches certainly won't bother them."

Spoiler: OOC

Show

I'll leave it another 24 hours before advancing things, but in the meantime: Njal finds a decent-looking spot for a shelter. No chance of it being hit by an avalanche, and it isn't in an obvious spot.

I had it that you guys were at normal pace today, so the horses do manage to scratch enough food from foraging to sustain them, i.e. no need to mark off a feed bag for them. Gromrir is sustaining himself. As for yourselves, the starvation and hunger counters were reset from yesterday's tasty meal of Spider Drumsticks, so let's do the foraging rolls at DC 15, being Survival at a -4 because it's at normal pace...

Verglas: (1d20-5)[8]
Njal: (1d20+7)[25]
Ramiro: (1d20-1)[13]
Roland: (1d20-2)[15]

So Njal and Roland gather enough to make a salad of reindeer moss, licorice fern, and lovage, with withered-looking mulberries and dock seeds for dessert. Roland donates his portion to Lyssa, so he, Verglas and Ramiro start going hungry again.

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" The portable shelter is pitched in a crevice between two rocks, and the dwarf spends some more time in the frigid evening making a half circle of crude ice bricks to form a rough corall for the horses, one that he can saddle blankets across from the roof of the portable shelter for a tent for their 4 legged friends as well. Rubbing the horses down he hums (badly) to himself, humming ancient dwarven mining chants under his breath as he looks up at the stars in the pass. "Aye, you be a swine, trying to turn me round. I'll sort you right out soon enough mind. Be illuminan trade post tomorrow eh..." he speaks to the horses and the wolf before heading back into the portable shelter and mass of blankets on the floor clustered around the central fire pit. "So then, who be taking the first watch. I'll tale middle o' the night, but watch frae the outside, make sure none of these walking dead folk try and eat the horses. " Looking at their new friend and the young girl he shakes his head. "Some cross words today. It's been a tough fer you both. But lets try and be civil tomorrow. There is no space for trouble between us on the mountains o' the pass."

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 4, Init -5, HP 32/32, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 7, Ref 2, Will 7, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club (Lesser Crystal of Fiery Assault) +7 (1d8+3 [+1d6 FIRE], x4)
Quaterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +4 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate , Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition None



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
29 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 21 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +2 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: Leather barding

[Toliudar]

Verglas

"I can take the early watch I suppose My assumption is that this is a relatively straightforward proposition You stand or sit and glance nervously around jumping at every slightest movement or noise then?"

Verglas lays out her bedroll in the snow, preparing for a simplest of breaks.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

If nothing happens before she turns in, Verglas will cast her remaining Endure Elements on Lyssa. Ultimately she's trying to get into a rhythm of using the spells at the end of her day instead of the beginning.

I'm assuming long nights and short days, so it's not a problem for her to take one of 4(?) watches, and still get 8 hours' sleep.

[Novabomb]

Ramiro Sanda
I prefer to do katas, and the occasional circuit, but that works as well.
I will take the second watch.

[Saintheart]

Midmorning, Day 8

Complication Dice: 4 of 6

The night, for once, blessedly, passed without incident. The space was somewhat cramped since they were now six rather than four, but Benydict in particular seemed to take the cold and the hard surroundings with equanimity, lying on his back and hardly rousing the whole night. Lyssa, it seemed, was having nightmares. She moaned in her sleep and heartbreaking expressions crossed her face, even with her eyes closed. But she didn't rouse either; she might have been a noble, but neither did she seem soft. And she didn't mention the subject of her dreams when she woke the next morning.

They got the tent broken down and stowed early enough, and set off up the trail into the Spear.

The cold was as Benydict had said. The party had worn a taste of the Spear's edge the preceding days, and now the wind screamed back full force in their direction, sending icy needles through the entire party as the weather raged.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

That is, the temperature's dropped to Extreme Cold again now you're up in the mountains. Lyssa has Endure Elements on her, Njal with his gear on has enough protection to not need it, but Verglas, Benydict, Ramiro, Roland, your furry goodboi Gromrir and the two horses all need castings of the spell or else they'll start having to make Fort saves. Please let me know how these are being handled out of your spell slots and/or wands.

The mountains pondered the group's presence like grim, black thinkers in the snow. Lastbreath Pass was about five feet across, littered with scree and snow, abruptly cutting back and forth against rock edges and cliffsides that loomed out of the wind and sleet like lost ships. Wind thudded against them, shoved at them, as they pressed on and upward, up inclines that had to be forty degrees or greater at times.
"How many times did you say you've crossed the Pass?" shouted Roland to Benydict. The wind shrieking through gaps in rocks didn't make polite conversation much of an option, and he was half-occupied with guiding Ember's footsteps on the uncertain ground.
"Enough times to not want to do it more than I had to," Benydict shouted back. "Enjoy this while it lasts! When we turn that corner up there, the Pass really begins."

It did. Turning the edge of a promonotory, snow hit them full force and the Pass narrowed down to not much wider than a goat track, stubbornly pressing its way up and down smaller slopes along mountainsides. Even the occasional dells were filled with snow like white powder and grey rock. And here and there, visible down cliffs, and down in ravines, there were small, white, catepillar-like shapes with limbs sticking out -- the bodies of other travellers, victims of the Pass.
At least none of them moved, or none of them moved while the party was passing them.

Njal, for his part, wasn't that out of place. This was about as familiar country as he'd seen for a while. The weather was unkinder than in most of the Dragontooth Mountains, but the pressure in his thighs, ankles, and tendons, the lean in his hips and back as he led them up slopes and down declines ... that was as dwarven as the rasp of his beard on his face. He had to take some comfort from it. These mountains, this range, whether because of the elven monstrosity hiding below them off to the far west, or because they were untapped hills, with no dwarven tunnels in them - they weren't welcomers. These were wild old hills, untamed and worthy of wariness as men respected wild horses. The Spirits here did not count the dwarves among their friends. It put him on edge. Made him look around more carefully. The wind, in particular, was a deceiver. The Spirits shouting in the wind were deceivers, a chorus of voices designed to cover other Spirits, ones with teeth. A treble chorus, designed to overwhelm ...

... and his intution was right, because he heard it. A rumbling bass, growing from the bones of the earth, growing to surmount, supplant the treble, shrieking choir.

He snapped his gaze upward. They were on a level part of the Pass, with a wide, open swathe of white and black above them. Down that slope, a great, white wave was falling. And growing. It looked like a cloud, from here, and strange in its beauty, a massive white fall of rocks and snow bearing right down on them, with death its promise. The avalanche began to roar as it tumbled toward them, and good as his instincts had been, they had only moments in which to save themselves.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Avalanche. Coming right down on the Pass.

It's 1000 feet away. It's 200 feet wide. The party can all be taken to be 80 feet from its centre line (which is to say, its centre line is going to pass in front of the party, not behind. Avalanches move at 500 feet per round, so you've got 2 rounds to do something. Lyssa is mounted on Ember, but Benydict isn't, and he and Roland only have a movement of 20 feet or so.

What do you do?

[Toliudar]

Verglas

At breakfast:

The morning was even colder than it had been, which made Verglas begin to seriously question her desire to ever see snow again. The entire group seemed to be settling into a sullen silence in the relentless dreariness, and it was hard to maintain even the semblance of cheer.

She spent as much of her magic as she could on keeping herself and three colleagues warm, and reluctantly had to leave the rest to Njal.

--

As Verglas briefly gawps at the astonishing wall of death approaching them, a quick and brutal arithmatic settles in Verglas' mind. With only the two of them, the horse had a decent chance of making it ahead of the slide. Then she could think about shapes she could assume that would be able to dig someone out of the snow.

"FORWARD!"

Quickly, fiercely, Verglas geed the horse forward, clinging to the reins like a tick and hoping that Lyssa would have the good sense to hold on tight.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Verglas is using all of the 1st level slots (except her school slot, which has to be transmutation) for Endure Elements, so that's enough for her and 3 others. I'm hoping Njal's wand can cover off the balance.

Verglas round 1:
Move action: spurs the horse carrying her and Lyssa forward into a gallop moving forward.
Try not to fall off.

Round 2:
TBC, depending on what others do.

[Novabomb]

Ramiro Sanda heeds the command, racing the horse on top of the snow.
He remains solemn and silent realizing that half our party will not be able to cross in time. He prays to the Mother to keep them safe until we can get back to them.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Ramiro uses the run action and should be able to cover 120 ft this round

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" In the Morning In the morning over breakfast as Veglas moves between people with her endure elements Njal does the same his wand tapping animals and people alike until after the 4th person it fades away, the magic depleted and the wand turning to bark dust in his hand. Later that day The pass was wild and Njal forged, leading Stomrir on the narrow ledge rather than riding him, his eyes screwed up against the snow and magical wardings preventing him from feeling the biting cold. The rocks here were ancient and savage and knew no mercy or weakness. He envied them. As the faint shudder reaches his feet his eyes opened wide in worry, seeing himself in the middle of the party he looks behind him, 2Back ye fools, get back. Lets be away frae the danger zone..." he barks before dragging the horse backwards as the huskie bolts back down the path

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Retreat down the path 40ft over 2 rounds so should get 20ft clear


Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 4, Init -5, HP 32/32, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 7, Ref 2, Will 7, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club (Lesser Crystal of Fiery Assault) +7 (1d8+3 [+1d6 FIRE], x4)
Quaterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +4 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate , Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition None



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
29 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 21 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +2 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: Leather barding

[Saintheart]

Midmorning, Day 8

Complication Dice: 4 of 6

Ramiro and Verglas went forward, with Lyssa moaning her fear; Njal, Roland and Benydict retreated.

The thundering wave of snow, dirt, and tumbling trees went roaring past them all like a white river. The noise was incredible, and their faces were all cut by the cold wind in the wake of its passage. Clouds of snow billowed up and settled, and after three ear-splitting minutes, the wave receded. The wind seemed to lull, and there was an eerie sort of silence. The avalanche had crossed no more than a few feet between the two halves of the party. Where there had been a mountain trail, there now was a forbidding, unstable-looking frozen river of snow two hundred feet wide between Njal and Ramiro, at a good forty degree incline against the slope.

Crossing that river, however dangerous that might be, was sure to be fraught with risk of a further collapse of the snowpack. Even if they didn't set off another avalanche, missing one's footing there was a good chance of going tumbling down the snowpack and possibly off another drop further down the mountainside. Maybe passage up or down and around the path of destruction was possible, but that involved serious, proper mountaineering, since the Pass was the only immediately apparent flat path through the Spear and they'd have to consider the time and risks of going that way.

Of course, Roland thought to himself, maybe Verglas had some sort of other form that would allow her to get back to them. Whether she had the strength to carry any of them across was another matter. And no matter what form she chose, she was unlikely to be able to assume a form that could carry Stormrir's mass.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

So. Now what?

[Toliudar]

Verglas

Verglas gazes across the expanse of unstable snow at their companions, her lips pursed in sour contemplation. First things first, though. She turns to Lyssa and Ramiro.

"Are you both unhurt?"

Considering the best ways to cross the snow, Verglas could think of half a dozen forms that would allow HER to traverse it, but none that would make it easier for others to do so. She turned instead to Ramiro.

"Ramiro you can do that twist of blade thingy where you make fire spout out of your sword How hard would it be to do that several times over? Maybe you can create a path of melted snow with walls of refreezing ice, to make it safe for the others to cross."

[Novabomb]

Ramiro Sanda (Looks uncertain)
That is pretty far, but I think I can do it. I am not sure if that would create another avalanche. It might be cold enough that if we wait a bit between bursts I can tunnel through.
I will make the attempt. Let the others know what I am doing, and keep Lyssa back in case I trigger another fall.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

He will get small running starts for his Hatchling Flame (See Desert Fire feat)
And then follow that up with burning blade using his hands to try and smooth out the tunnel walls as he goes.
He will tunnel towards the deepest part (next to the cliff wall)

[Saintheart]

Midmorning, Day 8

Complication Dice: 4 of 6

Roland peered across the way at Lyssa, Verglas, and Ramiro's position. "What are they doing?"
Benydict took a step closer. "The young man seems to be ... creating fire. Is he like you - a cleric of the Firekeeper?"
"I'm no cleric," said Roland. "And he's not one either."
Benydict watched the distant flicker of flame for a second, then snapped his white fingers. "He's an adept then. An artist of the Red Hand. I've never seen men go so lightly armed into the Valley before."
"He's young and competent," said Roland.
"Well, I hope he's thorough with trying to make a passage like that," said Benydict. "I've dug enough tunnels through snowpack to know that won't be stable unless he goes over it well."

Ramiro was finding the same thing. Verglas's hypothesis was right that his abilities were burning hot enough to cut a path through the snow and the edges flash-freeze behind it, but the sheer weight of the snow and debris brought by the snow were presenting more obstacles than he'd counted on. He was having to stop and move rocks as much as burn through frozen water. It was heavy, exhausting work, before one worked in the personal, vital toll the maneuvers took on his body. And he was acutely conscious that they were in quite an exposed position, and that even rude animals knew the easiest pickings were often the dead or disabled in the path of an avalanche...

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Which is my way of saying that doing this is going to raise the Complication Pool by two: one because this is time-consuming work to clear a path and then make it stable and safe enough to transition, and the second because hanging in the wake of an avalanche is treacherous for scavengers and predators. That said, do you guys want to continue with this?

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" Njal breathed a sigh of relief as the avalanche crashed down over the path's edge and plunged down the ravine but thankfully they were all safe. Looking ahead he bellows at the others, "Ye be all right?" then as they nod he looks at the thick piles of snow covering the bank. As he see's Ramiro's form burning bright with the power of the firekeeper he nods at Roland and Benedyct. "Spades and shovels lads, I'll soften what I can..." Focusing he summons forth a giant sphere of fire and slowly rolls it front of them burning away snow and ice, sadly its a shortlived spell and he is soon forced to summon forth flames on his hands to smooth and melt the way. Then like Roland and Benedyt he has to resort to crude mining, Snowshoes tramping down the snow and giving him better grip.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Use flaming sphere and produce flames spells to make some progress then just start digging towards Ramiro


Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 4, Init -5, HP 32/32, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 7, Ref 2, Will 7, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club (Lesser Crystal of Fiery Assault) +7 (1d8+3 [+1d6 FIRE], x4)
Quaterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +4 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate , Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition None



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
29 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 21 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +2 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: Leather barding

[Toliudar]

Verglas

Seeing the heat-based digging from both sides begin to have effect, Verglas guided Horse further up the pass and away from possible additional sliding.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Just moving about 50' up and away, to make sure we don't get in the way.

[Saintheart]

Late morning, Day 8

Complication Dice: 0 of 6

It was tiring, taxing work, to draw that much fire out of himself and maintain his body's effort so that he did not begin a round of lethal sweating in these miserable conditions. He and Njal, though, had made a decent bit of progress as the morning wore on. Njal assisted with producing flame as best he could, but after a couple of uses of the spell that wrapped fire around his hands decided it was probably better to conserve the flames.

It was cruel luck, or certainly something cruel, when the body dislodged. A small section of snow came away at Ramiro's latest use of his flame, and with it, a section of snowpack gave way, and a frozen corpse rolled out into the path they'd dug through the snow. It must have been covered somewhere far further up the mountain, and brought down in the avalanche, to emerge here.

Ramiro couldn't help but stare at it for a moment. Cold was a well-known preservative, and this humanoid body looked like it had been embalmed but then left here just yesterday. The skin was a pale sort of beige, the lips shrivelled and drawn back from the gums exposing white teeth, but his clothes - old, leather gear that seemed too light for this place, of a kind Ramiro hadn't seen worn in his lifetime - were still intact.

"What is it?" called Roland, and Ramiro turned his head to begin to answer.
He caught movement out of the corner of his eye and turned his head back again.

The body had moved. It was standing, right next to him. The black eyesockets now burned with a fierce, red fire.

The young man had barely a second to try and react before a withered, impossibly fast, impossibly strong arm lashed at him, with black nails and a snarl that came from lungs that no longer needed to draw air. The blow impacted, and a chill like he'd never experienced before blasted clean through Ramiro, as the world spun on him...

Spoiler: Tactical Map

Show

Spoiler: Tactical Notes

Show

The Icegaunt (and Njal if not Verglas know what this thing is from their experience or their studies - Njal in particular knows it because icegaunts tend towards being undead, tormented souls of druids) hits for a total of 14 damage and 4 cold, which brings Ramiro down to 1.5 hitpoints. It also does CON damage, Ramiro failed the save. CON damage = 3, which is enough to take about 4 hitpoints off him, leaving Ramiro at -3.5 and dying if his count of 19.5 hitpoints on his CS is correct.

Surprise round's over. Initiative Sequence:

Njal/Stormrir/Gromrir
Verglas
Icegaunt
Ramiro
Roland/Lyssa/Benydict

Over to you.