Tests and Trials Game Thread

Kroshav, having done what he can for Lurn's remains for the moment, heads back up, Ealu joining him. He surveys the broad wash they are in the middle of, the rougher mountains to the east and the slightly gentler slopes to the west. He'll set out in that direction for wood, looking to drop some saplings a few inches in diameter to be able to build a sled for hauling back smaller kindling and the sort for burning. He'll be making trips out and back to bring back more substantial firewood as well.

Kroshav sets off to the west to begin gathering wood. He notices an extra pair of golems up top and that the yetis have been laid out a short distance off for indeterminate purpose.

The going to the trees is a trudge, but it keeps Ealu and Kroshav warm. The initial trip there is the hardest, breaking ground through the snow. The way back is easier, even burdened with wood. Ealu sensing Kroshav's mood keeps silent, Sword doesn't.

When Kroshav returns he finds the five yeti corpses gone and a third golem stands with what might be the same pair from before, given the small drifts of snow against their legs.

((Perception check with disadvantage if Kroshav wouldn't really bother looking closely.))

Kroshav sighs and places a hand on Sword. "I'm sorry you got left. I don't intend to die, but neither did Lurn. He was happy reading, but we asked him to come to make light."

Back at the hole, he looks around.

Perception: 20

"Where are the bodies? I had a use for them."

Taking a long, deep breath, Jaq tries to figure out how to start explaining about Lurn's death.

He decides to start at the beginning and just explain it all.  He will pause if there are any questions and try to answer as truthfully as he can without getting into any gory details.

At the end he adds, "Kroshav is taking it really hard.  I think he feels responsible, though in no way is it because of him.  I was down in that damn basement when this started, I'm not even sure at this point where the damn yetis came from.  I think they are just really good at hiding in the snow.  We need to figure out a proper burial for him or something.  I'm sure if we don't know what his religion does for their priests, we can find it here in a book.  But we'll have to do it right."

 The trio of golems remain silent for several seconds before the 'new' one turns to face Kroshav and the trio say in a toneless choir,

"Excuse me?"

Kroshav can see disappearing drag furrows in the snow and that the new golem's hands and arms have a dark brownish color.

"You want the corpses?"

Joe just gapes in horror at the story, anger to sadness. She snorts and wipes a tear away.

"Lurn wasa good lad! Dinna deserve to b'anyones snack!"

Mikram, after getting the story in Dwarven, is far less emotional.

"Aye didn't know him long but he was a surface liver worth respecting. Aye would probably be dead without him. Aye'll help with his grave. Take meh to the lizard."

The last part is addressed to the golem beside him. The golem doesn't move and says, tonelessly,

"Kroshav is away. You can be carried to the corpse if you would like?"

The dwarf pauses and then shakes his head and starts moving himself to the junk room.

The golem remains motionless but says,

"Regarding the basement, do you believe one of my golems would fit down there?"

"Don't know if there are more out there. Mean to let them know not to come around here if there are."

"They have been separated into more easily transportable pieces. I am beginning to spread them out so as to not attract additional attention from predators here. Would you like me to bring them back?"

After getting Jaq more comfortable and warm Cladmir would go to pay respect to Lurn and witness what Kroshav has already done.  While he has not know this companion (or any of his new companions) all that long, he knows that they are the reason he is still alive and he felt deep respect for them.  Not being a man of words he would just stand there in silent for a moment before moving on and see where Kroshav is by asking the nearest golem.

(( With Lurn fallen Cladmir is now even going to be more obsessed with keeping the Dragonborn safe.  Like it or not Kroshav is going to have a semi-bodyguard following him around going forward. ))

Kroshav considers.

"Just the heads please."

"Thank you, avoiding predators is wise."

While he knows they won't last the spring thaw, he will build a series of bonfires around the entrance to the Library that can be lit relatively quickly should another yeti incursion happen.

Farther out, he'll mount stakes in the ground, topping them with yeti heads in a grim deterrent. Part of him wants to scare off any remaining yeti, and part of him wants to eradicate their species from the area.

"The heads? I will bring those back."

The trio declares. One of the old golems turns and lopes off along a furrow track.

Cladmir finds out the Kroshav has departed but the Librarian agrees to let Cladmir know when he returns.

A golem starts Cladmir as it speaks suddenly several hours later.

"Kroshav has returned." Then after about half a minute, "he wants the heads of the yetis. I am unsure of his mental health."

Jaq looks confused for a minute with the question, but then he nods towards the golem/librarian, "Yes, a golem would fit through the hole, but its just a drop into a room filled with water.  But it does lead to a corridor with other doors.  I'm assuming the whole thing will be flooded, but that should not be a problem for a granite golum."

He just sighs and stays sitting for a while, thinking while he is warming up to the point that he will be useful again.

After a couple of hours, which seems maybe a bit long, five separate golems return at different intervals and deposit yeti heads before Kroshav. They look to have been very, very roughly separated from the body, like Kroshav would imagine would happen if a number golems all grabbed and pulled in different directions.

The golem nearest Jaq considers the answer and responds,

"Very well. Risking a golem is likely worth the gained knowledge. You will need to lower it down. Let me know when you would be able to do so."

Jaq nods.   "Well, we will need Eula's help lowering it down properly, so I will talk to Kroshav and get that sorted out."

When Cladmir first heard the golem's proclamation about the Yeti's head he was a bit worried, have witnessed many mental-breakdowns post battle across the various conflicts, but when he finally located Kroshav, who was moving about purposefully setting up defenses, his worried was quickly dispelled.  Seeing what Kroshav is trying to do Cladmir will discreetly assist however he can while trying to give the Dragonborn distance and space he may need to grief -- although he himself is not quite sure hoe Kroshav feels at the moment.

Insight roll to see if Cladmir can divine Kroshav's mental state:  15

Intelligent roll to see if Cladmir can correctly anticipate what Kroshav is doing without actually talking to him -- or will he just sort of mess things up:  13

While waiting for the golems to return, Kroshav has trimmed five of the saplings and put a point on either end. He's chopped and laid a series of campfires around the entrance to the Library, where if lit, would provide a deterrent to any yetis.

Also, when Kroshav looks over at Cladmir he will try his best (which has historically been not-so-good) to project empathy for what Kroshav is going through.

Charisma:  14

(( Wow the dice gods are favoring me for some reason! ))

Cladmir's Insight on Kroshav's mental state: Turbulent, angry, sad, guilty, but for the moment, channeling those raw emotions into action. Perhaps not heading down the most healthy or safe direction, but would likely be more worrying if he was NOT doing something as an outlet. Given what Kroshav had shared about his background as a blacksmith and his physicality, may guess/suspect that the big dragonborn would rather be smashing hot metal to deal with Lurn's death, but given the lack of a forge, is making due.

Intelligence Roll on helping: Imagine he'd at least be able to recognize laying kindling and progressively larger wood to be able to build a fire. There's a second axe, if Cladmir wanted to join in splitting and chopping, Kroshav would give him a terse nod as the fighter projects his quiet empathy. Cladmir would see a small measure of tension leave the dragonborn's shoulders.

((I think Clad's empathetic look has smoothed over any objections Kroshav would have, and he'd be welcoming of the company, as long as Cladmir doesn't insist on talking about things. Which from his earlier insight and Kroshav's continued demeanor I'd imagine he's able to pick up on fairly readily.))

Not being a bit talker himself, Cladmir would continue to work with Kroshav in silent until it is time to retire for the day.

The golems just act like the statues they resemble as both Kroshav and Cladmir work. Not long after the heads are returned the sun starts to drop behind the mountains casting them in rapidly darkening shadows.

Below, Jaq feels like he is finally getting warm again. Joe has shut herself in her room and Mikram has claimed a piece of paper and is sketching something out with some charcoal. He has also gathered a mismatched pile of what looks to be stone working tools.

((Day is coming to a close, anything anyone wants to do during the night? Plans for tomorrow?))