"Oh! A mystery!" Amaryllis calls in response, clearly excited, as if she had agreed to the offer long ago. "We get to have fun AND we're getting paid for it? What do you think happened? Did they get stuck in a blizzard? Eaten by monsters? Robbed by bandits? Kidnapped by a disappreciated old wizard who needed experimental laboratory 'volunteers'?" She raises a few other options, though each is even more unreasonable than the other. She didn't really expect any of that to happen, but she let her imagination run wild for a bit.
Stumbling in covered in snow and adjusting his boot, a young human man, approaches, standing near Rinn and Ianorris. He lowers his hood, revealing a clean-shaven blue-eyes pale face topped by close-cropped flame red hair. "Sorry I got delayed, fell in another drift. Brother Thaddeus," he says, waving to all.
Rinn raises her drink to Thaddeus as a gesture of welcome, before returning her gaze to the pair of dwarves.
“Missing caravan? Pretty straightforward. And I enjoy a good hunt.” She makes no acknowledgment of the enthusiastic babbling of the red-haired gnome. “Are we to set out in the morning? Will you be provisioning us?”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(Intelligence check: 4)
Annique listens to the two dwarves, then smiles a bit as she hears Amaryllis' litany of calamities. She tries to fit in her question amongst the others being thrown out. "I am curious why you need us to help rather than getting your clan involved. Surely you must have done some investigation during the three weeks since you expected them."
She pauses a moment, looking around at the others - both known to her and not. She then adds, to no one in particular. "I am of course more than willing to help."
“Long history short, it is a city for people like me, who decided to leave the Underdark.”Thael said to Rinn. Her words a reminder that not everyone shared what was a somewhat common knowledge for his kind. “Any race is welcome and those willing to travel and see the world are allowed to adventure.”
The last words he said pointing to himself with the right index finger. Seeing as Rinn was herself so far up in the north she was likely to understand how someone could thirst for new sights. Martha arrived shortly after, two dwarves with her. The two dwarves. The older one, Kavin, introduced both him and his companion before explaining the reason behind their call. Part of it, at least. Questions were made and another wandered appeared. This time a human.
Amaryllis pointed out that it was strange that men of Battlehammer sought help outside of the clan. Thael thought about the rumors of Brynn Shander turning on foreigners, but this was all the reason it would make little sense to call a group of strangers. Lest of all a group of strangers with a Drow, but that was a thought he would rather keep to himself. He wanted the gold and point this fact wouldn’t exactly help him to get it.
“You mentioned a bonus for information on what happened to the cargo or for retrieving it.”He points looking at the dwarves. “I’m curious, how much this ‘more’ would be?”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Hadi chimes in after Amaryllis with a nod, saying, "I'd think a king would have rather large coffers. And I do have some furs that need fixing. Perhaps they could bump up that finder's fee?" ((persuasion 15)) He then adds, "Also, what's so special about this caravan? This isn't the first group to go missing in the cold dark up here."
After quickly explaining what was said to Thaddeus Kalvin looks at the others.
"You have a lot of questions and I understand," Drean says taking the lead. "The clan has its own problems." He gives a quick look at Thael but everyone can see it. He nods at the drow.
For Thael:
There is no ill will for you from the clan. They know you are not like the other drows. They have appreciated all the council you gave them. (If you did ) You are probably the only one who knows who's who in the Clan.
Kalvin speaks into the silence.
"The caravan was coming from the Silver Marshes. A long road but they had a map we need to help Ten Towns. That is why we are paying so much for the search. " He looks at Hadi as if trying to make a point.
Drean puts a hand on his arm before taking the lead.
" So. The Clan will give you 5 gold pieces to go out there and find what happened to the caravan. You will also have the help of the Clan if you succeed. For a bonus, we would like you to either find the map or any documents that the caravan had. Or better yet, find the people and the whole damn thing." as he speaks, you can all feel the anger in his voice rising. This time Kalvin, the grizzled veteran puts his hand on the other dwarf's shoulder.
Insight roll 14 Read if succeeded.
Seems that Drean has a more personal interest in the caravan and the bonus will probably come from his pockets. It might also explain why he came in person.
"We will provide rations and we will pay for your night here if you need. We would like for you to go and do this as quickly as possible. We know that this is short notice but we care for these people so you have to understand. " Kalvin says, " but that is why you are being paid more."
He takes a deep breath and adds; " Once you get to Bryn Shander go to the Twin Hammer. My daughters will set you up and help you on your way. Don't stay too long there they know why you have been commissioned."
"Now let's see how you hold your ale."
For all
The two dwarves are going to enjoy the night buying beers to the locals until the two kegs they brought are done. They will sleep on the floor then.
On the morning, around 6 AM Marta wakes the group up with a full breakfast.
Rinn nods curtly after a momentary pause. “I will find answers.” She glances to the rest of the group, eyes lingering at last on Thael. “Along with anyone here who should choose my company.”
For the remainder of the evening, Rinn imbibes only watered-down ale, to awake fresh come dawn.
Amaryllis is slightly disappointed that they will only leave after the night, rather than immediately, but it doesn't get her down for long. She stays with everyone through the night, getting to know whoever stays. Once people start to leave or when she becomes too tired, she'll retire back to her room. This whole time, though, not a single drop of alcohol touches her lips. If inquired about it, she'll reply: "Why would I voluntariely envenom myself?"
Hadi stifles a bit of a chuckle at the thought of the king being sooo generous by offering five whole gold to help, but is happy to have something to do, though he can’t help himself from mumbling, “why the hell do we have to leave so early… Can’t we get a reasonable start around noon when the world is moving? Even without sun light here waking so early is just wrong.”
Being young, and on his own for the first time in his life, he does have a few drinks. He’s is a bit tough to wake the next morning, and doesn’t really talk much until after breakfast and some coffee is in him.
He was no stranger to Clan Battlehammer and they were no strangers to him either. When he first arrived at the Ten Towns it were the dwarfs that first accepted him, gave him work. Some were open enough to offer shelter from the cold winds and food to warm his belly. A kindness that came in no small part from the histories of the Companions of the Hall, but also from the very nature of that stout people. Thael would never forget what they did for him and when Drean nodded to him in recognition he knew that would be wrong to turn away from his call.
He answered with nod of his own, determined to help even if there was no pay to be given. A fact that he though best kept to himself. Gold is always good and his companions would be less than happy if he caused them to lost some coin. Of that much he was certain - he would feel the same in their places.
“I’m sorry to say, my friends, that I don’t indulge in too much drink while on a job.” He said smiling to those that were now, officially, his patrons. “You have deal and Marta, bring me some food.”
Thael had a dinner and two rounds of ale. He usually preferred wine, but Hard Stomp was better to fight the cold and he did acquired a taste for the thing during his days in Mithral Hall. As soon as he felt satisfied, he retreated to a room, where silently the Drow polished his blade and shield, checked the state of his tools and took inventory of everything else he carried. Then he delved into his Trance, waking before Marta called.
The smell of the breakfast reached him before the sight, and he started eating in silence. By the end of the meal, he looks at the others.
Rinn, fully conscious well before her non-elven companions, sits amid the quiet snores of those who spent the night passed out in the tavern, silently repacking and securing her belongings in and around her backpack. She stands up when Thael enters, having been called to breakfast.
“Thael…” She pauses a moment, mulling over her Elvish words. “Please accept my apologies for my unkind reaction to our introduction. From where I hail, there is a certain… Prejudice. I would do well to leave such ideas behind, and I cry your pardon for whatever discomfort my indiscretion may have caused.”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Insight: 9
Annique listens to what the two dwarves have to say. At the end she nods in agreement, "I will certainly help your Clan and look forward to working with all of you." She raises her glass of Hard Stomp, taking a small drink.
Throughout the evening she manages to make the one glass last, hanging on to it so that she always has drink in hand, but only tasting small sips now and then. She does get a bit of amusement at Hadi's indulgence in the alcohol and does laughingly encourage him to get another drink a couple of times. Otherwise she engages in idle conversation with the others at the table. And a few times she gets up to greet other acquaintances amongst the locals. As the crowd starts to thin and the others grow quieter, Annique would inquire about a room for the night. Before heading to her lodgings, she slips outside for a moment. Any that are still in a state to notice would see her return with longbow, shield, and warhammer before she slips off.
She is quickly up in the morning and sits down for her breakfast. She greets those that are there and eats slowly, waiting for the others to awaken or arrive. Upon finally seeing Hadi, she would greet him loudly, "Enjoying this fine morning are you?" After a moment of good-natured ribbing though his silence leads her to back off and she lets him recover in peace.
Having finished her own meal and with most of the others gathered, Annique replies to Thael. "I have a few days supplies in my pack. I am ready to go."
Amaryllis is up early, having trouble to stay in bed knowing she's just a night away from going on a quest to solve a mystery. Despite that, it takes her time before she's out of her room. She must prepare her stuff for travel. She doesn't take everything she has, only things that are needed for travelling. Her books, for example, she leaves behind. No point in allowing them to be ruined by the snow. She also needs to get dressed. No longer in simple warm clothes, but actually a fur coat, fur-lined boots, goggles and a fur-lined hat, with a white rectrix feather sticking out of it. The feather is not big - pretty small, actually, only about ten centimetres long - and part of it is inserted into the hat anyway. Out in the snow, it's barely visible. Under all that, a simple leather armour. The backpack she carries actually weights more than she does. Before leaving, she also stretches the string on her bow. Hopefully, she won't use it, but she can't be complacent. Who knows who she might encounter? Not every one wished for her well being.
When she's finally down, she finds those who had gathered already. "So am I," she chims in after Annique. She doesn't really want to eat, but seeing Hadi is going to take his time anyway, she orders a small meal, and eats only part of it, too excited to eat a lot.
“You don’t need to worry about that.”He says with genuine causality as the others attested to be ready for their journey. “From each dozen of elves like me you find outside of Rymanthiin at least eleven will be set at killing you. The particularly smart and or vicious ones will torture you first and if you’re unlucky enough to find the eleven at once slavery waits.”
That much he knew all too well. He had seen first-hand how the Drow worked in the Underdark. Emotions such as compassion and friendship were deemed weakness. Betrayal was expected and encouraged, cruelty was a habit. Everywhere, every time, kill or be killed. It was almost impossible to persuade even a single one otherwise. Almost.
“I don’t know where you came from, but there is wisdom in distrusting my, well, kind.”As it was distrusting any stranger. Especially in the Frozen North, where everyone seemed to know their way around in a fight. “I would only hold it against you if you had been rude. Or jumped at me with blade in hand. But mostly been rude.” He tried to joke about the situation, bring some levity to it. In the end Rinn didn’t really offend. “The way I see it you made nothing wrong.”
Thael then looked around. No sign of the dwarves.
“Marta, did those fine gentleman leave something for us?”He asked without much hope, before turning to the group. “I would like to have some potions, but I’m too light on gold right now so… Ready to go as well.”
With a bit luck someone in the party would have the coin for a healing potion. Maybe even some of their own. If not, Thael suspected that the “borther” in Borther Thaddeus’ name signified his status as a cleric and he would take a healer over a potion anytime.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
In the morning Hadi needs an extra nudge or two to wake up, and gives Annique an 'I hate you' grin. Though after breakfast and coffee he's looking more or less normal, though still just really tired. Being a younger elf his recovery for alcohol is still pretty strong, but waking up early is rough. ((I miss being in my early 20s :P ))
As the other's talk of being ready he says, "I've got most of what I need I believe... I left a sword back in the cabin, but brought my whip at least to keep the creepies away."
((no sword actually in the cabin, I don't have enough starting gold to buy a rapier :P Maybe soon~))
Laza:
As soon as he's outside with the group on their way he puts a hand to his mouth and lets out a loud calling whistle. No more than a minute passes as the group walks when suddenly a medium sized snowy owl lands in a nearby tree, shaking the snow down, and finishes swallowing a small rodent. Hadi says, "Done with your hunting Laza? We're off to find a caravan!"The owl silently looks at the group and flaps back into the sky, keeping an eye out as the group moves. ((Laza perception 17))
" The dwarves left rations but that is all they left." She chuckles. " You might need to prove yourself before they open their arms to you, my friend. Now, eat up."
The weather is cold, about minus 45 degrees when you leave the inn. Although you know it is coming it still strikes you. The dim light is also something you are used to. It is almost like constant dusk until the sun sets then the night becomes pitch black.
It will take you about 6 hours to get to Bryn Shander and with the hard cold outside, it is not an easy walk. Snow accumulates on the path and hinders your movements.
For all:
Extreme Cold
A creature exposed to the cold must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw at the end of each hour or gain one level of exhaustion. Creatures with resistance or immunity to cold damage automatically succeed on the saving throw, as do creatures wearing cold-weather clothing (thick coats, gloves, and the like) and creatures naturally adapted to cold climates, such as reindeer and snowy owlbears.
Temperatures. During Auril’s everlasting winter, the average temperature in Icewind Dale is −49 degrees Fahrenheit (−45 degrees Celsius). Wind chill can lower these temperatures by as much as 80 degrees.
Illumination
So long as the Everlasting Rime lasts, natural light in Icewind Dale is never brighter than dim. In normal (non-blizzard) conditions, twilight extends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Icewind Dale is otherwise dark until Auril’s aurora or the full moon appears in the night sky.
Brother Thaddeus ate and drank lightly the previous evening, and went to bed early. He awoke early, attempting his dawn prayers outdooors (bundled up) as close to what natural dawn would be as he could tell. He greeted his new companions as he reentered the inn. "Lathander's grace be upon you, may today be the return of the dawn"
Casting light on his shield, Thaddeus spends time during the march trying to aid anyone having difficulty. He offers prayers of guidance for any challenges we face.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Liarin: Against the Cult of the Reptile God Adewild: Shadows and Light 2 Brother Thaddeus: Rime of the Frostmaiden.
After a quiet breakfast, Rinn takes the time to bundle up in her thick furs, straps on her crampons, and makes sure her snowshoes are tied to the outside of her pack before stepping out into the blustering dark with her companions.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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“How many in the caravan? What’re they shipping?”
Paladin - warforged - orange
"Oh! A mystery!" Amaryllis calls in response, clearly excited, as if she had agreed to the offer long ago. "We get to have fun AND we're getting paid for it? What do you think happened? Did they get stuck in a blizzard? Eaten by monsters? Robbed by bandits? Kidnapped by a disappreciated old wizard who needed experimental laboratory 'volunteers'?" She raises a few other options, though each is even more unreasonable than the other. She didn't really expect any of that to happen, but she let her imagination run wild for a bit.
Varielky | Emma
Stumbling in covered in snow and adjusting his boot, a young human man, approaches, standing near Rinn and Ianorris. He lowers his hood, revealing a clean-shaven blue-eyes pale face topped by close-cropped flame red hair. "Sorry I got delayed, fell in another drift. Brother Thaddeus," he says, waving to all.
Liarin: Against the Cult of the Reptile God
Adewild: Shadows and Light 2
Brother Thaddeus: Rime of the Frostmaiden.
Rinn raises her drink to Thaddeus as a gesture of welcome, before returning her gaze to the pair of dwarves.
“Missing caravan? Pretty straightforward. And I enjoy a good hunt.” She makes no acknowledgment of the enthusiastic babbling of the red-haired gnome. “Are we to set out in the morning? Will you be provisioning us?”
(Intelligence check: 4)
Annique listens to the two dwarves, then smiles a bit as she hears Amaryllis' litany of calamities. She tries to fit in her question amongst the others being thrown out. "I am curious why you need us to help rather than getting your clan involved. Surely you must have done some investigation during the three weeks since you expected them."
She pauses a moment, looking around at the others - both known to her and not. She then adds, to no one in particular. "I am of course more than willing to help."
Rabbit Sebrica | Skarai | Katryl Brightfury | Rylia Lionrage | Roxana Raincrest | Janek Whitmor | Lokilia Vaelphin
“Long history short, it is a city for people like me, who decided to leave the Underdark.” Thael said to Rinn. Her words a reminder that not everyone shared what was a somewhat common knowledge for his kind. “Any race is welcome and those willing to travel and see the world are allowed to adventure.”
The last words he said pointing to himself with the right index finger. Seeing as Rinn was herself so far up in the north she was likely to understand how someone could thirst for new sights. Martha arrived shortly after, two dwarves with her. The two dwarves. The older one, Kavin, introduced both him and his companion before explaining the reason behind their call. Part of it, at least. Questions were made and another wandered appeared. This time a human.
Amaryllis pointed out that it was strange that men of Battlehammer sought help outside of the clan. Thael thought about the rumors of Brynn Shander turning on foreigners, but this was all the reason it would make little sense to call a group of strangers. Lest of all a group of strangers with a Drow, but that was a thought he would rather keep to himself. He wanted the gold and point this fact wouldn’t exactly help him to get it.
“You mentioned a bonus for information on what happened to the cargo or for retrieving it.” He points looking at the dwarves. “I’m curious, how much this ‘more’ would be?”
Hadi chimes in after Amaryllis with a nod, saying, "I'd think a king would have rather large coffers. And I do have some furs that need fixing. Perhaps they could bump up that finder's fee?" ((persuasion 15)) He then adds, "Also, what's so special about this caravan? This isn't the first group to go missing in the cold dark up here."
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
After quickly explaining what was said to Thaddeus Kalvin looks at the others.
"You have a lot of questions and I understand," Drean says taking the lead. "The clan has its own problems." He gives a quick look at Thael but everyone can see it. He nods at the drow.
For Thael:
There is no ill will for you from the clan. They know you are not like the other drows. They have appreciated all the council you gave them. (If you did ) You are probably the only one who knows who's who in the Clan.
Kalvin speaks into the silence.
"The caravan was coming from the Silver Marshes. A long road but they had a map we need to help Ten Towns. That is why we are paying so much for the search. " He looks at Hadi as if trying to make a point.
Drean puts a hand on his arm before taking the lead.
" So. The Clan will give you 5 gold pieces to go out there and find what happened to the caravan. You will also have the help of the Clan if you succeed. For a bonus, we would like you to either find the map or any documents that the caravan had. Or better yet, find the people and the whole damn thing." as he speaks, you can all feel the anger in his voice rising. This time Kalvin, the grizzled veteran puts his hand on the other dwarf's shoulder.
Insight roll 14 Read if succeeded.
Seems that Drean has a more personal interest in the caravan and the bonus will probably come from his pockets. It might also explain why he came in person.
"We will provide rations and we will pay for your night here if you need. We would like for you to go and do this as quickly as possible. We know that this is short notice but we care for these people so you have to understand. " Kalvin says, " but that is why you are being paid more."
He takes a deep breath and adds; " Once you get to Bryn Shander go to the Twin Hammer. My daughters will set you up and help you on your way. Don't stay too long there they know why you have been commissioned."
"Now let's see how you hold your ale."
For all
The two dwarves are going to enjoy the night buying beers to the locals until the two kegs they brought are done. They will sleep on the floor then.
On the morning, around 6 AM Marta wakes the group up with a full breakfast.
The dwarves are gone by that time.
Insight: 17
Rinn nods curtly after a momentary pause. “I will find answers.” She glances to the rest of the group, eyes lingering at last on Thael. “Along with anyone here who should choose my company.”
For the remainder of the evening, Rinn imbibes only watered-down ale, to awake fresh come dawn.
Insight: 5.
Amaryllis is slightly disappointed that they will only leave after the night, rather than immediately, but it doesn't get her down for long. She stays with everyone through the night, getting to know whoever stays. Once people start to leave or when she becomes too tired, she'll retire back to her room. This whole time, though, not a single drop of alcohol touches her lips. If inquired about it, she'll reply: "Why would I voluntariely envenom myself?"
Varielky | Emma
Hadi stifles a bit of a chuckle at the thought of the king being sooo generous by offering five whole gold to help, but is happy to have something to do, though he can’t help himself from mumbling, “why the hell do we have to leave so early… Can’t we get a reasonable start around noon when the world is moving? Even without sun light here waking so early is just wrong.”
Being young, and on his own for the first time in his life, he does have a few drinks. He’s is a bit tough to wake the next morning, and doesn’t really talk much until after breakfast and some coffee is in him.
((insight 16))
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
Insight Check: 10
He was no stranger to Clan Battlehammer and they were no strangers to him either. When he first arrived at the Ten Towns it were the dwarfs that first accepted him, gave him work. Some were open enough to offer shelter from the cold winds and food to warm his belly. A kindness that came in no small part from the histories of the Companions of the Hall, but also from the very nature of that stout people. Thael would never forget what they did for him and when Drean nodded to him in recognition he knew that would be wrong to turn away from his call.
He answered with nod of his own, determined to help even if there was no pay to be given. A fact that he though best kept to himself. Gold is always good and his companions would be less than happy if he caused them to lost some coin. Of that much he was certain - he would feel the same in their places.
“I’m sorry to say, my friends, that I don’t indulge in too much drink while on a job.” He said smiling to those that were now, officially, his patrons. “You have deal and Marta, bring me some food.”
Thael had a dinner and two rounds of ale. He usually preferred wine, but Hard Stomp was better to fight the cold and he did acquired a taste for the thing during his days in Mithral Hall. As soon as he felt satisfied, he retreated to a room, where silently the Drow polished his blade and shield, checked the state of his tools and took inventory of everything else he carried. Then he delved into his Trance, waking before Marta called.
The smell of the breakfast reached him before the sight, and he started eating in silence. By the end of the meal, he looks at the others.
“Anyone in need of any supplies?”
Rinn, fully conscious well before her non-elven companions, sits amid the quiet snores of those who spent the night passed out in the tavern, silently repacking and securing her belongings in and around her backpack. She stands up when Thael enters, having been called to breakfast.
“Thael…” She pauses a moment, mulling over her Elvish words. “Please accept my apologies for my unkind reaction to our introduction. From where I hail, there is a certain… Prejudice. I would do well to leave such ideas behind, and I cry your pardon for whatever discomfort my indiscretion may have caused.”
Insight: 9
Annique listens to what the two dwarves have to say. At the end she nods in agreement, "I will certainly help your Clan and look forward to working with all of you." She raises her glass of Hard Stomp, taking a small drink.
Throughout the evening she manages to make the one glass last, hanging on to it so that she always has drink in hand, but only tasting small sips now and then. She does get a bit of amusement at Hadi's indulgence in the alcohol and does laughingly encourage him to get another drink a couple of times. Otherwise she engages in idle conversation with the others at the table. And a few times she gets up to greet other acquaintances amongst the locals. As the crowd starts to thin and the others grow quieter, Annique would inquire about a room for the night. Before heading to her lodgings, she slips outside for a moment. Any that are still in a state to notice would see her return with longbow, shield, and warhammer before she slips off.
She is quickly up in the morning and sits down for her breakfast. She greets those that are there and eats slowly, waiting for the others to awaken or arrive. Upon finally seeing Hadi, she would greet him loudly, "Enjoying this fine morning are you?" After a moment of good-natured ribbing though his silence leads her to back off and she lets him recover in peace.
Having finished her own meal and with most of the others gathered, Annique replies to Thael. "I have a few days supplies in my pack. I am ready to go."
Rabbit Sebrica | Skarai | Katryl Brightfury | Rylia Lionrage | Roxana Raincrest | Janek Whitmor | Lokilia Vaelphin
Amaryllis is up early, having trouble to stay in bed knowing she's just a night away from going on a quest to solve a mystery. Despite that, it takes her time before she's out of her room. She must prepare her stuff for travel. She doesn't take everything she has, only things that are needed for travelling. Her books, for example, she leaves behind. No point in allowing them to be ruined by the snow. She also needs to get dressed. No longer in simple warm clothes, but actually a fur coat, fur-lined boots, goggles and a fur-lined hat, with a white rectrix feather sticking out of it. The feather is not big - pretty small, actually, only about ten centimetres long - and part of it is inserted into the hat anyway. Out in the snow, it's barely visible. Under all that, a simple leather armour. The backpack she carries actually weights more than she does. Before leaving, she also stretches the string on her bow. Hopefully, she won't use it, but she can't be complacent. Who knows who she might encounter? Not every one wished for her well being.
When she's finally down, she finds those who had gathered already. "So am I," she chims in after Annique. She doesn't really want to eat, but seeing Hadi is going to take his time anyway, she orders a small meal, and eats only part of it, too excited to eat a lot.
Varielky | Emma
“You don’t need to worry about that.” He says with genuine causality as the others attested to be ready for their journey. “From each dozen of elves like me you find outside of Rymanthiin at least eleven will be set at killing you. The particularly smart and or vicious ones will torture you first and if you’re unlucky enough to find the eleven at once slavery waits.”
That much he knew all too well. He had seen first-hand how the Drow worked in the Underdark. Emotions such as compassion and friendship were deemed weakness. Betrayal was expected and encouraged, cruelty was a habit. Everywhere, every time, kill or be killed. It was almost impossible to persuade even a single one otherwise. Almost.
“I don’t know where you came from, but there is wisdom in distrusting my, well, kind.” As it was distrusting any stranger. Especially in the Frozen North, where everyone seemed to know their way around in a fight. “I would only hold it against you if you had been rude. Or jumped at me with blade in hand. But mostly been rude.” He tried to joke about the situation, bring some levity to it. In the end Rinn didn’t really offend. “The way I see it you made nothing wrong.”
Thael then looked around. No sign of the dwarves.
“Marta, did those fine gentleman leave something for us?” He asked without much hope, before turning to the group. “I would like to have some potions, but I’m too light on gold right now so… Ready to go as well.”
With a bit luck someone in the party would have the coin for a healing potion. Maybe even some of their own. If not, Thael suspected that the “borther” in Borther Thaddeus’ name signified his status as a cleric and he would take a healer over a potion anytime.
In the morning Hadi needs an extra nudge or two to wake up, and gives Annique an 'I hate you' grin. Though after breakfast and coffee he's looking more or less normal, though still just really tired. Being a younger elf his recovery for alcohol is still pretty strong, but waking up early is rough. ((I miss being in my early 20s :P ))
As the other's talk of being ready he says, "I've got most of what I need I believe... I left a sword back in the cabin, but brought my whip at least to keep the creepies away."
((no sword actually in the cabin, I don't have enough starting gold to buy a rapier :P Maybe soon~))
Laza:
As soon as he's outside with the group on their way he puts a hand to his mouth and lets out a loud calling whistle. No more than a minute passes as the group walks when suddenly a medium sized snowy owl lands in a nearby tree, shaking the snow down, and finishes swallowing a small rodent. Hadi says, "Done with your hunting Laza? We're off to find a caravan!" The owl silently looks at the group and flaps back into the sky, keeping an eye out as the group moves. ((Laza perception 17))
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
Marta looks at Thael.
" The dwarves left rations but that is all they left." She chuckles. " You might need to prove yourself before they open their arms to you, my friend. Now, eat up."
The weather is cold, about minus 45 degrees when you leave the inn. Although you know it is coming it still strikes you. The dim light is also something you are used to. It is almost like constant dusk until the sun sets then the night becomes pitch black.
It will take you about 6 hours to get to Bryn Shander and with the hard cold outside, it is not an easy walk. Snow accumulates on the path and hinders your movements.
For all:
Extreme Cold
A creature exposed to the cold must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw at the end of each hour or gain one level of exhaustion. Creatures with resistance or immunity to cold damage automatically succeed on the saving throw, as do creatures wearing cold-weather clothing (thick coats, gloves, and the like) and creatures naturally adapted to cold climates, such as reindeer and snowy owlbears.
Temperatures. During Auril’s everlasting winter, the average temperature in Icewind Dale is −49 degrees Fahrenheit (−45 degrees Celsius). Wind chill can lower these temperatures by as much as 80 degrees.
Illumination
So long as the Everlasting Rime lasts, natural light in Icewind Dale is never brighter than dim. In normal (non-blizzard) conditions, twilight extends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Icewind Dale is otherwise dark until Auril’s aurora or the full moon appears in the night sky.
Brother Thaddeus ate and drank lightly the previous evening, and went to bed early. He awoke early, attempting his dawn prayers outdooors (bundled up) as close to what natural dawn would be as he could tell. He greeted his new companions as he reentered the inn. "Lathander's grace be upon you, may today be the return of the dawn"
Casting light on his shield, Thaddeus spends time during the march trying to aid anyone having difficulty. He offers prayers of guidance for any challenges we face.
Liarin: Against the Cult of the Reptile God
Adewild: Shadows and Light 2
Brother Thaddeus: Rime of the Frostmaiden.
After a quiet breakfast, Rinn takes the time to bundle up in her thick furs, straps on her crampons, and makes sure her snowshoes are tied to the outside of her pack before stepping out into the blustering dark with her companions.