It is over a year since the world had lived in fear of the thing known as the Death Plague. Over a year since hero's had faced down Acerak on his own turf, infused with the force of gods, somehow driving the Liche away and destroying the Soul Monger, that powerful artifact that had been devouring the souls of the dead for months to feed some twisted baby god thing. It seems too crazy now to think back to it....

The group had then returned to Waterdeep, hero's of practically the whole land. Their names were already well known, they received medals and awards directly from Laerel Silverhand, the open Lord of Waterdeep. They'd been gifted a sea side villa with servants, were invited to all the best clubs, parties, and balls. They were treated like royalty, or...perhaps better. Gifts were showered upon them by the rich and powerful who'd previously died and had been wasting away, only to be saved by the group. It was a strange, wonderful, bright musical life.

But...the things that kept them together....the threat of constant death, the leagues of jungle isolating them...these things were gone. And not all folk were good house mates.

Sickle was the first to leave. The half-orc druid seemed broken somehow. He could not be near Mal....near the ring of ice, and was not made for the city. His departure was bitter sweet, but not surprising. Next had come Badger. The powerful little gnome was making good on his promise to turn Acerak's home into his own personal base. The others were sure he'd eventually get incinerated by the return of the Liche, but....he didn't seem too concerned. 

Grenk had re-established his order in the city and was training a group. But more, his son had come to see him, having heard of his dad's success, and heroism. It was pleasant to see the two together. 

A year passed all too quickly however. 

It was a warm summer evening in Waterdeep when Mal and Grenk, along with his son Kurik, found themselves in Laeral Silverhand's office. The sun sparkled off the waves of the ocean out beyond the castle. Her tower had an open deck facing west looking high out across the ocean. The call of gulls far below the castle could be heard. The wind blew in ruffling papers on her cluttered heavy stained mahogany desk. In the sky out beyond the tower they could see a sparkle of one of the 'torn threads' that had been plaguing the world the last couple of months. Pops of magic threads that would draw casters and people with magic items to them, to draw out their power and repair themselves, vanishing back into the weave.  Maybe that was why they were here. Laeral looked serious. Tired. And serious.

"How long have you known that you possess the Ring of Winter?"  

Ahhh, it was going to be one of THOSE conversations.

Kari sat before Laeral Silverhand, her voice droning on, "....and therefore I'd like to choose you to be my representative to go with them. They've already agreed to one of my people going with them. I believe that you would be the right fit. The gnome has a forceful will, I need someone who won't take his guff. It's not too much to say the fate of the world depends on this. If the Frost Giants get a hold of the ring, we're all doomed."  

Laeral was amazing. She was honest, honorable, polite, and kind, while still being a strong woman, the most powerful in Waterdeep, and a force to be reckoned with. But...she could also really drone on when she wanted.  It was ok, Kari put up with it.  Being an agent for Laeral had been rewarding, and what she did for her felt important. It also put her in a bit of a good spot for her lifelong search. Unfortunately she'd heard of, and seen these hero's before around the city, at parties and knew this Badger fellow was not the gnome she was looking for. But, all the same, a journey up the coast meant more cities, more chances. She'd keep her eyes open as they went.

Mal sat cross legged in the camp. The crackle of a nearby fire, the cold wind gently blowing through the trees, the occasionally whiny of the horses nearby, and the constant chirp of the crickets sooth her mind, though she finds herself unwilling to go to sleep. Grenk sits with his back to a tree, his face an orange-green in the fire glow, his eyes cool as he looks about, his eyes infrequently skimming across her. Ug, Grenk's SON. They looked so much alike, that in this firelight she could almost think she was seeing Grenk. Suspicion lingered on his face and the fires shadows cast an evil look about him. She would need to watch him, he was probably considering how to murder her. A subtle nudge of emotion within her agreed, yes….deceit, lies….he could not be trusted. The thoughts were alien, but so merged with her own that she was having troubles telling the difference. The snoring of the gnome from within the fancy tent broke the spell. She rubbed her face. Grenk’s son's face of potential murder was replaced with a look of concern for his travel companion. She was too tired. But…with sleep…with sleep came the dreams. The dreams of ice. 

With a sigh she stood up, brushed off her butt, and moved into her own tent. They had magic to huddle within if they’d really wanted to, but she preferred the wind and clean air to the stuffy little magical sphere. Besides, they were on the kings road along the sword coast. It was well patrolled and as safe as any other place.  She climbed into the tent and lay down on her sleeping mat, pulling her zip up blanket over her and closing her eyes. Dreams of ice and destruction came quickly as the darkness pulled her into sleep. 

Grenk's son sat with is back to the tree and watched with concern as Mal climbed into her tent and fell into a fitful sleep. The glove over her hand concealed the ring…but Mal’s icy blue eyes, the puff of cold breath from Mal’s mouth, and the frost that sheathed her glove were tells. No matter what they did, the damnable ring made itself be known. His father's grand plans to re-start his order had gone well…for a while. Though the city of Waterdeep didn’t seem like the idea place for it, his father's resources and fame there gave him many advantages. Training space, respect, a comfortable bed in a massive sea-side home. He’d found very little word of mouth was required before new recruits began flooding to him. He’d acquired a warehouse which had been converted into a training space and after six months his recruits were coming along well. Word had even reached his old clan and his son, and some Goliaths had come to the city to answer the call. To be reunited with his Father, who had succeeded so greatly, was an honor for him, even if he didn't feel the same pull to the Order that his father did. Either way, thanks to his Father, the order was back on its feet. Undead undoubtedly could feel the chill of impending doom on their bony necks. But then the damnable ring. Laerel, the open lord of Waterdeep had brought it to their attention first. It was all about the damned frost giants. The same ones they’d avoided in Chult. They were seeking this ring, and somehow their spies had learned of its presence in Waterdeep. Someone had noticed one of the tells, or seen Mal without her glove. Or who knows, maybe just magic. Either way, Laerel had told them, they had to find a way to destroy the ring. She didn’t know how, neither did any of the inner circle whom knew of it did, but she’d heard a rumor. In the north, in a place called ten towns, in a land locked in perpetual winter, there was a man researching something called ‘The Summer Stone’.  It was an item that was anathema to winter. And the man himself had spent all his time researching magic that countered cold. If anyone could find a way, it was this man. Perhaps even his summer stone could do it.  It was pure foolishness. Taking the ring north, towards the very giants that sought it, into a land locked in ice and winter. But Mal had refused to leave it behind. Refused to ‘burden’ Laerel with protection of the ring. He hadn't realized Mal was so duty bound? Sometimes, when he caught her looking at him, the looks he saw frightened him. Was she always in control?  Was it the ring speaking sometimes?  Who could say. 

Thank goodness they’d been able to contact the gnome. For all his eccentricity, he knew them, and his magic was powerful. The gnome had done good on his promise, turning Acerak’s own temple to his own needs. He’d been there for months, doing who knows what. Mal, and Grenk, and the others had really expected the Liche to return, incinerate the gnome, and that they’d never hear from him again, except when the Liche arrived to snuff their life as well. It had not happened. There was no knowing why.  Well, somehow they’d convinced the wizard to leave his little home and come with them. The boy smiled a small smile, perhaps the gnome even missed the adventure a bit. He was still as insufferable as his father had described though. 

A deep breath issued from him as he scanned the dark quiet woods. Four days out of Port Llast. They’d be in Luskan tomorrow. It was a long way to Ten Towns, and they’d opted against ships. There were frost giants roaming the seas and they’d have the advantage there. Besides, a little travel time to re-bond with his friends may make the difference. He needed to know how much sway that ring really had before they had a real fight on their hands. 

Lastly he glanced over at the half-orc woman laying in the open on her bedroll. Laeral had insisted on "a representative."  Laeral was to be trusted, and she seemed to really trust this Kari woman. And so far, Kari had proven professional and carried herself with a confidence that he'd only really witnessed in his father.  He figured she'd probably be a good companion, though judgement may have to wait until they hit their first spot of trouble. 

The morning arrived, as it so often does. The sky is grey after yesterday's light rains. The cookfire was crackling as the sun was still finding its way over the horizon. Bacon and bits of potato sizzled in a frying pan, while some water struggled to boil in a small kettle.  Mal, her eyes, icy blue was the last to wake from her fitful dreams as the group began the morning routine of breaking their fasts, and then their camp. 

You are about six days North of Neverwinter. You stopped in Port Llast on the way about four days ago and figure you should be riding into Luskan in the early afternoon today. 

Kari rises early, used to a military schedule. She quietly takes care of her morning hygiene and moves a bit away from camp to perform her morning martial forms with her glaive. It's always nice to get the blood pumping in the morning! Her red hair is pulled back in a French braid, leaving only small wisps to stick to her skin. Her hazel eyes are focused on an inner strength as she moves, while her greenish skin clearly shows her bloodline. Her clothes are simple and sturdy in plain colors, but she has a few decorations on her body. There's a tattoo of a dragon in flight between her shoulder blades, and a cuff of musical staff and notes around her right bicep. One blue and one red feather are made into earrings and one hangs from each ear, and a strip of yellow cloth is wrapped around each of her hands and wrists underneath bracers, the only sign of armor that she wears. When she finishes her exercises she bends her tall, 6" 1' frame to pick up a dark cloak that she had set aside and fasten it around her shoulders. That done, she heads back to her tent and starts packing it up in preparation for their daily travels.

Standing there, staring towards the dawn light, Kurik tried to relax himself.  Though despite standing still as stone, there was always movement.  His armor, a bizarre thing to behold, constantly pulsed and shifted ever so slightly.  The thick, black plates of his armor had various scar marks across it and between the joints looked as though it was raw red muscles.  During times of hostilities, bits of those black plates formed over Kuriks head and face as if to protect it's possession.  Kurik rarely spoke of it, but he confirmed that it was infact alive and that he kept it alive just as much as it kept him alive.  While alone, he wore it openly but among others, he wore a black cloak with silver trim, the crest of his father's newly reformed order stitched over the heart.  Then, at his side, familiar to the others, the flaming longsword that Grenk and the others had liberated from the Yuan-ti snake people in Chult.  

In that moment, Kurik was thinking about what had lead him hear down this path.  His memory flashed back to his family.  His mother and father, how Grenk was rarely there as he left on one mission or another in the fight against undead.  How when Grenk was present, he was present and spent that quality time.  How when he was tested to join the order, his physical chemistry was not compatible and he was crushed.  How he left, angerly, to find his own path and returned later after his father had restarted the order.  He shook his head, dispelling his thoughts and made on with the morning.

Mal cracks open an eye noticing that yes the sun has risen on another day and she still breathes, So far so good I am still breathing and my mind is still my own, she thinks. Lying there awake she waits for a brief moment relishing in the quiet of the morning, then the whispers start anew. **** and another day starts, this adventure can't end soon enough.

She crawls out of the tent and stretches, the cracking of her back shattering the quiet of the morning. Noticing the others waking as well she starts preparing the morning meal, such that it is on the side of the road. "Morning all, we ready for another day of travel. I have a feeling we will miss this hot weather the farther we travel north but at least it is not the heat from that cursed jungle right?" nodding in Badger's direction.

When breakfast is done she goes and packs up her stuff and prepares to leave when the others are ready. Absently using her left thumb and rubbing it on the ring twirling it around her finger.

Badger rolled over again, pulling his ragged blanket higher over his head. That cursed half-orc had gotten up at the butt-crack of dawn, and hadn't stopped going in and out of the dome all morning. How did they expect a wizard to get the rest he needed with all this disruption? And if the barbarian's early rising wasn't bad enough... the red-headed brute was even denser than Sickle had been! Badger had had more enlightening conversations with his own zombies! Ugh, the gnome was almost willing to skip breakfast to lay in just a little longer, if only Kari would give him some peace.

Then there was the goliath. So like Grenk and yet so unlike - just as ignorant as the half-orc, but with an intensity that was so unnerving! And that revolting armor of his! It reminded Badger of the tomb guardians they had encountered, except... inside out! The goliath was all fleshy on the outside but as hard as iron within.

And finally there was Mal. The deceiver! It had been weeks - no months! - after returning to Waterdeep before Badger realised that Mal had somehow kept the ring. How they had fooled him into thinking that Acererak had taken it. All of them! It was that revelation that had first soured things for Badger and got him thinking about returning to the tomb. He'd considered taking the ring with him, to keep it safely hidden away in his underground lair in the depths of the Chultan jungle... but that Mal was uncanny! He could swear she slept with her eyes open!

His return to Omu had been rewarding... at first. The library was still faithfully guarded by Mr Fox, who had not objected to him reading and copying all the secrets contained within. He had unlocked almost all the mysteries of the tomb, although some of its more powerful denizens remained out of his ability to vanquish - for now. And the solitude! The peace and tranquility! It made the tomb seem like his own personal paradise.

But gradually things had started to unravel - literally! The tears in the fabric of magic had begun to appear, always in the places where Badger had cast a new spell. And they had stubbornly resisted his efforts to eradicate them, instead absorbing the very magic he cast to counter them. And so when the message had come from Waterdeep, that they needed his help to destroy the ring, well... Perhaps this was the opportunity to solve two problems at once.

And so Badger had come, but as the sunlight continued to stream through the holes in his blanket, he wondered whether he had made the right choice. He missed his lair. At least his wonderful new crystal ball made it easier to check up on things. Civvi wasn't the most reliable custodian, and still refused to go near the room with the mirror... but mad help was better than no help at all.

Finally he can take no more of Kari's shuffling, and the grumpy gnome rises and stomps out of the dome with a huff, just as Mal asks her question. Bad timing! The 'cursed jungle' is seeming pretty attractive right now. With only an indistinct grumble in response, Badger goes to help himself to what's left of breakfast, all the while sneaking a few furtive glances at Mal's gloved hand.

Kari helps herself to a bowl full of breakfast and washes it down with water. "It's good, thanks. The cold won't be so bad." She uses her short conversation as an excuse to examine Mal, not seemingly changed from the previous day. You can't be too careful with magic though. She generally ignores Badger as he stomps around. Maybe he's not a morning person? What a shame.

The coastal road between Neverwinter and Luskan had fallen into disrepair for many years while Neverwinter was rebuilding from the destruction of the city. However in the past few years the Neverwinter crews have updated it, creating a modern, new road, well maintained with troops of Neverwinter soldiers patrol past regularly. That said, you've not seen nor heard a peep about Luskan patrols. As you approach the city, you can tell why. The place looks like a pirate's cove, but grown out of control. The farms that spot the land around the city are not well maintained and their crops look less successful than others you've seen. The walls have markings painted all across them in numerous colors and styles. Structures hang off the top of the walls and inside the city. It’s a dirty dive with filthy streets, squat buildings, ramshackle docks, creaky old longships, and crass pirates thinly disguised as sea traders. Rising above the fog and the stench is the Hosttower of the Arcane, home of a league of greedy, power-hungry wizards called the Arcane Brotherhood. Their ghastly tower branches into multiple thinner spires at the top. From a distance, the Hosttower might be mistaken for a giant, leafless tree. To those who have the misfortune of seeing it up close, it looks like a clawed hand bursting out of the ground, each of its fingers a tower with many peering windows.

The city sits upon a dip in the land, as the high cliffs that border the ocean along the High Road delve downwards to meet the vast River Mirar that flows through the center of the city and into the Sea of Swords. From here, your maps show that the main northern road turns inland, following the River Mirar north east towards Mirabar. Only the rough trail known as "The Northern Means" continues true north towards the mountain range known as the Spine of the World. The trail follows the ocean, and cuts just between the edge of the mountains and the ocean. The Spine of the World otherwise sweeps across the northern edge of the land for hundreds of miles, a vast range of unpassable mountains. Somewhere on their far side sits Icewind Dale and ten towns. Locked in a forever winter. Your destination. 

As you approach the city, you can look down from the high hills that look down to the city a mile away. You see a thick black cloud of smoke rising from the harbor. As you look, you see that smoke billows out of a frost giant greatship.  It appears that the greatship must have rammed several other ships in port, sinking them, but now the ship is ablaze.  The battle appears over and the port is a swarm of people watching the ships burn.  Even from this distance, you can see several charred frost giant corpses floating facedown in the frigid water around the burning wreck, the greatship’s deck is strewn with other dead giants.

Seeing the frost giants, Badger glances at Mal and sighs. As I predicted, he mutters. The giants have found us even before we cross the mountains. This quest is doomed to fail.

Badger avidly avoids meeting the looks of his companions, just staring out at the harbor. Then with a sage-like air he says: It would be better if we passed through Luskan without notice. And yet... I wonder if the city's defenders took any prisoners.

Mal looks around the area at the comment made by Badger, "Not sure about you Badger but I see no giants bearing down on us. It seems they came to the last major town on the way north knowing we would eventually have to pass through. Even one as brilliant as you can see how easy a decision that would be. However I was thinking of maybe getting a boat to sail the rest of the way north, but I do agree, we should bypass this town, mainly due to the fact that our presence might cause some souring in their mouths, especially after they have just been attacked by ones looking for us. Not to mention, that town does not seem to be the goodly town it once was." Then she moves to a tree and leans against it thinking for quite sometime, "As much as I hate saying this, we might want to avoid the road north as well and just travel over land. Which I am not looking forward to. Badger, or really any of you others,  do you have any magical means to make our travel faster or easier the farther north we go?"

Not anything that would last for long enough to be effective, nor to affect more than one of us at a time, Badger replies. Speed is not our main concern, however, but stealth. I'd prefer a spell that could shield you from magical detection, but I regret, expert as I am in this field, I have no such spell. Perhaps I could risk a visit to the Hosttower to search for something to that effect. And besides... I should like to purchase something more substantial than this this robe.

Kari thinks for a while, brow furrowed, looking back and forth at Mal and Badger. This is complicated. Sneak in, stay out, boat or land, clothes or no clothes, too many choices. What do we need now, a rest? Let's do that. She sets her pack down and sits on it, taking a drink from her waterskin. I vote for wearing clothes.

As Kari, Mal and Badger begin to discuss options, a shadow falls across them.  Kurik had stepped between them and the sunlight.  The tall goliath cast his gaze down at them.  "I do not claim to be a smart man but I have concerns.  The town was attacked by giants.  It looks like they have dealt with the problem but I cannot imagine they will look at one like myself fondly.  I'd be surprised if I wasn't attacked on sight. "

He waits a moment and pulls up his sleeve revealing a piece of his armor ever so slowly pulsating.  "This... does not come off easily.  Makes sneaking harder.  But I can can move quickly when needed.  Please take that into consideration of your plans."

"Seeing the giants boat in the water, I would consider traveling by boat out of the question. I am sure they have more than one boat and I am sure we would run aground of more of them the father north we go. I am also going to assume they are traveling the road out of town as well, patrols coming down from the north, so I would also say the road is out of the question for travel. Unless we want to have a fight every 15 minutes or so on that road till we are overwhelmed. As for the issue of detection, I can not be detected by magical means, at least the ring has one good power that benefits us...." She suddenly stops talking and looks around especially at Badger.

"Ahh, right, shit, I am sure you all know by now but yes I do have the Ring of Winter in my possession." Her right hand absentmindedly covers her left hand as she then turns to Badger and kneels down to be at his height. "I am sorry to have lied to you, well sort of sorry, anyway...but the way you were acting towards the end of that ghastly crypt we were in I did not trust you with knowledge that I had the ring and I certainly did not trust you to have the ring. I have made several attempts to destroy the ring but alas none of them have worked. Finally Laeral Silverhand approached me and then the rest of you on a rumor that someone up north might have a way to destroy the ring. And so here we are."

She reaches out and ruffs Badger's hair, "As for the town, what do you need Badger, is it worth the risk of going inside, especially with what our new big friend here has said."

Badger's bushy eyebrows raise high when Mal mentions the anti-divination quality of the ring. Well, that's one less problem, he says, although his tone suggests he doesn't like the idea of not being able to magically keep track of Mal and the ring himself. Very well, let's avoid Luskan then. Peering up at Kurik he adds: I predict we'll see more of your kind as we travel further north. Hopefully you'll be less of a novelty and will be able to blend in better. The gnome pulls his tattered blanket out of his pack and wraps it around his bony shoulders.

Oh, are you getting cold? Is that what you meant by sub... station... I guess you could use some warmer stuff. But you three don't want to be seen, right? Why don't I go in, nobody knows me. She looks at Badger. Maybe I would hear some rumors about the giants.

Badger nods with more enthusiasm. We can wait here while I keep an eye on you. Saying that, he lifts his crystal ball. Urgh, although to make the task easier... perhaps one of your hairs?

Kari hesitates. She thinks of her own abilities and is puzzled by the request for hair. Wouldn't an ear horn or a glass eye be more helpful? Still magic folk are an odd lot. She reaches up and gropes around for some of the wisps that are free of her braid, and yanks out a small group of 10 or 15 hairs that she offers to Badger. Alright, I hope these work. Just warm clothes and rumors then, you want me to listen at a tavern? If I do a bit of drinking and get a room tonight there's a better chance I'll hear something. She looks from Badger to Kurik and Mal, Do you folks want anything too? She picks up her pack again, getting ready to leave.

Mal thinks a moment, "Additional cold gear for the lot of you would probably be a good idea where we are going. Then potentially any climbing gear might be a good idea as well."

Badger, Mal, and Kurik move off the road, just past a rise, still up on the ocean cliffs that give them concealment from the road, while also giving them a good view of the city.  Kari, the big half-orc warrior, strides off down the road to head into Luskan. Badger settles down, sitting on a moss covered rock, and pulls out a silk wrapped package from within his bag. He unwraps it revealing a round sphere of crystal. He looks deeply into it's clear glass surface and within it he watches as Kari strides down the road towards Luskan. 

Kari, as you get closer to town the road gets busier. It's about an hour walk to the gates still and obviously numerous folk who work the farms stream in and out of town running various errands. Wagons of farm goods flow into the town, while supplies and construction material flow out. It being mid-summer, the harvest for several crops are in full swing, corn especially doing well in these northern regions. A wagon full of green husk covered corn rolls noisily along as she walks past, through the open gates. 

The walls are thick, and look well used, with towers strung along it's expanse. Moving through the gate she figures the walls must be at least twenty feet thick and sheathed in this stone. Once into town she finds herself not bothered much. It's a bustling busy place and no one takes a second glance at the tall half-orc woman in this part of the world. Market stalls seem to be setup on every corner, the smell of sizzling foods and farm animal permeates the place. The cobbled roads are interspersed with crushed rock or mucky muddy lanes, leaving everything with a good layer of dirt and dust.  

As she moves about, she finds it simple enough to shop for what she needs. Cold weather gear seems the norm, and everything is easy for her to purchase. Climbing gear also seems relatively easy to find. (You may purchase any normal gear from the PH at normal prices.) 

Finding herself within a rumor mill, aka, a tavern, she finds conversation ripe about the recent giant incursion. People chatter over each other, with different groups yelling corrections to each other. "No no no, he said that the Ice is never going to melt again!"  "Ya, the neverending winter from Ten towns is comin down across the world, that's what they were about."  "Isaac said they was lookin fer someone. They demanded we turn 'em over. Some heroes or some such."  "Well, they dunno the Brotherhood so good, those wizards did a number on 'em!"  "Those damnable giants rammed like four ships, ground em into the harbor like they was toys!"  "Mayberry said that there's giants on dragonback now, riding white dragons!"  "Nonsense, Giants and Dragon's are hated foes, everyone knows."  "Look Parm, yer a poet, and you didn't even realize!"  "Know it, know it fool!" "What?" "Mayberry swears that they seen dragons, multiple...not the same one, though who can tell the difference between a white dragon flyin 200 feet overhead!"  "They said a white dragon was out ta sea.....and watched the ship burn."  "I heard that the brotherhood gone and sent some wizards into the north, to ten towns, to make sure the ice that never melts don't come here!"  "The brotherhood doesn't do stuff like that without a rich reward, I bet there's a ton of treasure up there, part of that never-ending winter...and they're gunna go get it."  "Why else would wizards go some place, they just hunt for treasure to pay for all their evil rituals!" 

The rumors continue, but Kari starts to hear a lot of repetition and soon it's starting to sorta blur into a mess that's difficult to untangle. 

After purchasing winter clothes for ...Myself, a child, an old woman, and a great-uncle... as well as climbing gear for the same, and drinking 2 beers (maybe 4) at the tavern, she decides its time to head back. Thinking how it must be supper time when she gets back to her companions, she stops at the market to purchase some portable street food from anyone that is still open. Satisfied, she makes the long walk back to camp and distributes everything. I hope it all fits, I had to guess your sizes; looks warm enough though. I did hear a few things, the giants had four ship's that they ran aground. And maybe were riding white dragons. People are worried about the forever winter, and some people from some brotherhood went up to stop it, maybe. Or maybe they just went for treasure. It's good you didn't go in town though, I think people are keeping their eyes out for you lot. She sits on her pack and munches her cold food as she talks.