Blackberry's ears perk up with surprise at hearing the normally taciturn Aubin utter a lengthy passage of verse. He actually feels rather inspired, and puffs out his chest a bit.
Mishann sternly says, "Where exactly do you think you are going? You are exhausted, wounded, and worried about your friend. Unless lives are hanging in the balance, you are going to stay here and get a good night's sleep and whatever you need to do can wait until tomorrow. Now come in the other room and get some stew." She turns and leaves the room, headed for the kitchen.
Everyone else:
As you approach the camp, all is quiet. As Sabetha, Greth'g'karee, and Aubinscout around the perimeter, it doesn't take much to realize that the dogs and their sleds are gone. However, they have left a trail that you could follow easily enough and, interestingly, it doesn't appear to go toward the others of the Ten Towns. Instead, the trail disappears into the forested hills to the southeast of the camp and Dougan's Hole.
Sabethanotes that, in addition to the tracks of the dogs and the sleds, there appear to be the prints of two gigantic wolves. It appears that they all traveled away from the camp together.
Having received inspiration from an unexpected source in Aubin, Sabetha returns after her furtive circuit of the camp area.
"As you have seen, they are gone, bound southeast. There are the tracks of two giant wolves going in the same direction. Either accompanying them or perhaps just behind or ahead of them. If the wolves are their allies, it could be a tough fight. So..."
She looks at all of them, especially Mallifyr. "We follow them, agreed? Is there any reason we would need to go into Dougan's Hole first?"
Sabetha brushes a lock of hair from her face, its natural red color clearly showing through the dark brown coloring by now. It is startling just how young she is. Though that puts her on a level with many of her current companions, in truth She finds herself wishing that Naraeld was here to provide a counterpoint to her and others' ideas, having found that she has come to rely on, if not always agree with, the older Icewind Dale man.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Lets follow as there is nothing here, but an empty camp" says Aubin. He yearns to be out of this biting cold, but those they track takes precedence. Barring any objections he will follow the tracks.
Naraeld turns back to face Mishann about to argue, looking at her face full of concern his protestation at her mother-hen attitude halted on his lips. He sighs loudly, "I guess you're right... though I do need to get word to Markham of goings on, and I'm expecting . Is Copper about? I'll get him to run a note over to the sheriff. He'll likely not have time to read it before the morrow but he can't berate me so much if he hasn't read his mail."
Taking up a piece of parchment he scribbles down the key events of the last few days, focussing on those aspects that are pertinent to Bryn Shander - the tales of the verbeeg, the change of leadership within Good Mead, and news of Torgga's band. His handwriting is a weary scrawl, heavily slanted and written in a hefty hand, it just about passes as legible but Markham has had to deal with his reports before so it concerns Naraeld little. He finds the lodging gnome and hands over a sealed envelope, asking the gnome for the favour.
Her eyes downcast in shame, Mallifyr responds to Sabetha, "In fact, it would be best to avoid Dougan's Hole."
Sabetha glances over to Mallifyr as the younger girl answers, feeling an unexpected (and unwanted) tinge of sympathy creep into her heart.
She nods slightly, her voice soft. "Aye, just as it would be best for me to avoid Good Mead now." Sabetha leaves it at that and does not harp on it.
She shakes her head and quickly straightens up, back to business, pointing at the tracks. "See there. Dog and sled tracks overlay the giant wolf ones. I had thought at first that the wolves were stalking behind, but now if I had to guess, they were together. Or perhaps the giant wolves were in the lead."
Sabetha looks back at her companions. "Anyone see any other clues regarding our quarry? Mallifyr, do you know if there have been any sightings of very large wolves near Dougan's Hole recently?"
When you run into Copper, he scowls. "I'm not an errand boy, boy. I'm too old to go off parading around town on another's whim." He starts to get up, but then seems to think of something.
"Actually, I'll do this favor for you, if you'll do one for me as well. I have a friend who I haven't heard from in too long. I'm worried about him. When you have a chance, could you go have a look and make sure that he is all right? Promise that you'll do that for me, and I'll deliver your letter tonight."
"Hah, you lazy old gnome. At your age I'd wager that you'd seize up if you didn't have reasons to move, you should thanks me for the opportunity!" The words are said in jest, in the manner of lang-standing banter between friends, "Though a favour for a favour seems fair - should hey be of at least reasonably equal effort. Tell me where your friend is, as I have no intention of trekking down to Baldurs Gate any time soon. Anywhere around the towns is likely fair game, should I continue on my present path."
You hear Mallifyr's voice: "Sabetha—that's her name, right?"
Mallifeva nod to themselves. "Yes, she is Sabetha," Eva's voice replies, "a good friend."
Mallifyr continues: "Yes, we have wolves: an outbreak, you could call it, of winter wolves."
(Strangely, the union of Mallifyr, who like most Holers was never bright, and Eva has somehow enhanced the former's intelligence at the expense of the latter's in a kind of intellectual compromise.)
"Why do you think Speaker Edgra approved the raid? Dougan's Hole is dead broke and cannot afford to pay the ransom for the return of our own—two teenagers like me, although we are all 'adults' in the Hole. The wolves are sure to devour them now. But what do outsiders care? The do-gooders of Good Mead know of our plight. As usual, they do nothing to help us—on the contrary. They talk their big moralistic talk about ten-town unity and equality while plying their mead and lining their pockets. Hypocrites."
Sabetha's face becomes hard for a moment as she walks. "Speaker Edgra of Dougan's Hole approved the raid," she repeats flatly.
She listens to the remainder of Mallifyr's tirade and her expression softens. "Wait, are you saying these Winter Wolves are kidnapping youths from Dougan's Hole and holding them ransom? They are intelligent, then?" (Mostly rhetorical questions since that is indeed what was said and implied).
"Whatever you may think of Good Mead, they are right not to help you with the ransom. Because if you were to pay it, the Wolves would doubtless abduct others and repeat the proven gold-earning process. These Wolves are your enemies, not Good Mead. I wish all of your fellow 'Holer' townsfolk had signed up to fight the Winter Wolves, even as cannon fodder, rather than allowing yourselves to be manipulated by thugs like Zara and Jotann for what? To act as cannon fodder in a likely Zhentarim scheme to install Shander as Speaker of Good Mead. An outcome you care nothing about."
Sabetha sighs and her voice becomes very soft. "And I too wish I had acted differently in the heat of the moment. But I can no more change that than you can. So we will fight these Winter Wolves and do what we can to return the kidnapped children. Or at least I will. Just as Greth'g'karee and... you... did for the children you had kidnapped earlier from Good Mead. To transform weakness into strength. To be the hand that stops the tyrant, feeds the oppressed, and asks for nothing in return..." She trails off uncertainly, as if she has forgotten something.
In her mind's eye, a scrimshaw doll glares at her, ever disapproving. I am sorry, father. Shaking herself, Sabetha resumes tracking Wolves and Sleds and watching for threats. Relieved that they had not decided to bring Elk Running here.
Greth'g'karee looks around carefully to see if there are any other clues he can contribute to what lays ahead (Perception 14). As he does, he also considers the best spot for shelter for the night (Investigation 19). "Only hunters unaffected by the night hunt at that time. This is the hour of the wolf and beast, and a wise hunter knows to pick the place and time of the hunt. Not to allow themselves to become the hunted. I suggest we camp, and make effort to mask our presence through the night, lest these wolves make a meal of us."
Frustrated, Mallifyr kicks chunks of packed, icy snow, no longer making any attempt at concealment. "Calm yourself, child," Eva's voice chides. "The goliath is correct: Our current course is precipitous and foolhardy."
Sabetha nods in assent. "Aye, if the wolves are a long term problem, then there's no point rushing in unprepared."
She works with Greth'g'karee and Mallifyr (or anyone else) to identify a hidden spot, sheltered from the wind, in which the party can camp for a long rest. Trying also to obfuscate the trail so it is not clear that a set of tracks deviated from the path the wolves, sleds and dogs had left.
Blackberry will assist with setting up camp and covering tracks. He listens in fascination to the dialogue between the two spirits inhabiting the body of Mallifyr. He also continues to study his glove, and try to discover the extent of its power to help the party.
Copper says, "About six months ago, my friend Macreadus, a follower of Lathander, got it into his head that he had figured out how to end the endless winter. Something called the Summer Star. He was staying at the Black Cabin, up to the north of Maer Dualdon. He and I talk a couple of times a week and discuss his progress. The old fool said he'd made a breakthrough and was going to test it this ten day. I haven't heard from him since and I'm worried about him. I can run to the Speaker's home for you, but heading past Lonelywood would be too much for my old bones. If you could check on him, you'd be doing an old gnome a great favor."
Everyone else:
(I'm assuming that you decided to camp. If not, ignore the following and I'll write up what happens if you went on)
You set up camp and make a small dry fire to provide a little warmth and a way to cook a little food. The tents are still perfectly usable and, not seeing a reason to avoid it, you decide to sleep in the tents, keeping a bit of the weather and the chill off of you. You maintain a watch and, just after Auril has cast her spell for the evening and the sky is aglow with the shimmering evidence of her passing, you hear a group of creatures rushing toward your camp.
"Lonelywood you say? I think we were likely to head up that way on our next outing, so a deal we have. I shall check in on your friend for you Copper. If you have any correspondence you'd like me to take then let me have it tomorrow." Naraeld nods happily that he can help the surly gnome. "What is this Summer Star supposed to be? An artefact that can help end this winter isn't something that should be kept secret."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Blackberry's ears perk up with surprise at hearing the normally taciturn Aubin utter a lengthy passage of verse. He actually feels rather inspired, and puffs out his chest a bit.
Naraeld:
Mishann sternly says, "Where exactly do you think you are going? You are exhausted, wounded, and worried about your friend. Unless lives are hanging in the balance, you are going to stay here and get a good night's sleep and whatever you need to do can wait until tomorrow. Now come in the other room and get some stew." She turns and leaves the room, headed for the kitchen.
Everyone else:
As you approach the camp, all is quiet. As Sabetha, Greth'g'karee, and Aubin scout around the perimeter, it doesn't take much to realize that the dogs and their sleds are gone. However, they have left a trail that you could follow easily enough and, interestingly, it doesn't appear to go toward the others of the Ten Towns. Instead, the trail disappears into the forested hills to the southeast of the camp and Dougan's Hole.
Sabetha notes that, in addition to the tracks of the dogs and the sleds, there appear to be the prints of two gigantic wolves. It appears that they all traveled away from the camp together.
Tamryn - lvl 4 Wood Elf Rogue - Circle of Light Campaign || Drusilla - lvl 1 Half-Elf Ranger - Sleeping Gods || Grrzark - lvl 1 Goblin Barbarian - Danger at Darkshelf Quarry || DM - LTG - Curse of Strahd
Having received inspiration from an unexpected source in Aubin, Sabetha returns after her furtive circuit of the camp area.
"As you have seen, they are gone, bound southeast. There are the tracks of two giant wolves going in the same direction. Either accompanying them or perhaps just behind or ahead of them. If the wolves are their allies, it could be a tough fight. So..."
She looks at all of them, especially Mallifyr. "We follow them, agreed? Is there any reason we would need to go into Dougan's Hole first?"
Sabetha brushes a lock of hair from her face, its natural red color clearly showing through the dark brown coloring by now. It is startling just how young she is. Though that puts her on a level with many of her current companions, in truth She finds herself wishing that Naraeld was here to provide a counterpoint to her and others' ideas, having found that she has come to rely on, if not always agree with, the older Icewind Dale man.
He has his own path to walk...
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
"Lets follow as there is nothing here, but an empty camp" says Aubin. He yearns to be out of this biting cold, but those they track takes precedence. Barring any objections he will follow the tracks.
He is wary of encountering any wolves.
Perception
10
Stealth
18
@DM
Naraeld turns back to face Mishann about to argue, looking at her face full of concern his protestation at her mother-hen attitude halted on his lips. He sighs loudly, "I guess you're right... though I do need to get word to Markham of goings on, and I'm expecting . Is Copper about? I'll get him to run a note over to the sheriff. He'll likely not have time to read it before the morrow but he can't berate me so much if he hasn't read his mail."
Taking up a piece of parchment he scribbles down the key events of the last few days, focussing on those aspects that are pertinent to Bryn Shander - the tales of the verbeeg, the change of leadership within Good Mead, and news of Torgga's band. His handwriting is a weary scrawl, heavily slanted and written in a hefty hand, it just about passes as legible but Markham has had to deal with his reports before so it concerns Naraeld little. He finds the lodging gnome and hands over a sealed envelope, asking the gnome for the favour.
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
Her eyes downcast in shame, Mallifyr responds to Sabetha, "In fact, it would be best to avoid Dougan's Hole."
She follows Aubin as furtively and as carefully as possible, for the darkness is a double-edged sword: all but blinding others as well as her.
[Dexterity (Stealth) check: 21]
Sabetha glances over to Mallifyr as the younger girl answers, feeling an unexpected (and unwanted) tinge of sympathy creep into her heart.
She nods slightly, her voice soft. "Aye, just as it would be best for me to avoid Good Mead now." Sabetha leaves it at that and does not harp on it.
She shakes her head and quickly straightens up, back to business, pointing at the tracks. "See there. Dog and sled tracks overlay the giant wolf ones. I had thought at first that the wolves were stalking behind, but now if I had to guess, they were together. Or perhaps the giant wolves were in the lead."
Sabetha looks back at her companions. "Anyone see any other clues regarding our quarry? Mallifyr, do you know if there have been any sightings of very large wolves near Dougan's Hole recently?"
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Naraeld:
When you run into Copper, he scowls. "I'm not an errand boy, boy. I'm too old to go off parading around town on another's whim." He starts to get up, but then seems to think of something.
"Actually, I'll do this favor for you, if you'll do one for me as well. I have a friend who I haven't heard from in too long. I'm worried about him. When you have a chance, could you go have a look and make sure that he is all right? Promise that you'll do that for me, and I'll deliver your letter tonight."
Tamryn - lvl 4 Wood Elf Rogue - Circle of Light Campaign || Drusilla - lvl 1 Half-Elf Ranger - Sleeping Gods || Grrzark - lvl 1 Goblin Barbarian - Danger at Darkshelf Quarry || DM - LTG - Curse of Strahd
@DM
"Hah, you lazy old gnome. At your age I'd wager that you'd seize up if you didn't have reasons to move, you should thanks me for the opportunity!" The words are said in jest, in the manner of lang-standing banter between friends, "Though a favour for a favour seems fair - should hey be of at least reasonably equal effort. Tell me where your friend is, as I have no intention of trekking down to Baldurs Gate any time soon. Anywhere around the towns is likely fair game, should I continue on my present path."
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
You hear Mallifyr's voice: "Sabetha—that's her name, right?"
Mallifeva nod to themselves. "Yes, she is Sabetha," Eva's voice replies, "a good friend."
Mallifyr continues: "Yes, we have wolves: an outbreak, you could call it, of winter wolves."
(Strangely, the union of Mallifyr, who like most Holers was never bright, and Eva has somehow enhanced the former's intelligence at the expense of the latter's in a kind of intellectual compromise.)
"Why do you think Speaker Edgra approved the raid? Dougan's Hole is dead broke and cannot afford to pay the ransom for the return of our own—two teenagers like me, although we are all 'adults' in the Hole. The wolves are sure to devour them now. But what do outsiders care? The do-gooders of Good Mead know of our plight. As usual, they do nothing to help us—on the contrary. They talk their big moralistic talk about ten-town unity and equality while plying their mead and lining their pockets. Hypocrites."
Mallifeva scowl. "Let's get moving."
Sabetha's face becomes hard for a moment as she walks. "Speaker Edgra of Dougan's Hole approved the raid," she repeats flatly.
She listens to the remainder of Mallifyr's tirade and her expression softens. "Wait, are you saying these Winter Wolves are kidnapping youths from Dougan's Hole and holding them ransom? They are intelligent, then?" (Mostly rhetorical questions since that is indeed what was said and implied).
"Whatever you may think of Good Mead, they are right not to help you with the ransom. Because if you were to pay it, the Wolves would doubtless abduct others and repeat the proven gold-earning process. These Wolves are your enemies, not Good Mead. I wish all of your fellow 'Holer' townsfolk had signed up to fight the Winter Wolves, even as cannon fodder, rather than allowing yourselves to be manipulated by thugs like Zara and Jotann for what? To act as cannon fodder in a likely Zhentarim scheme to install Shander as Speaker of Good Mead. An outcome you care nothing about."
Sabetha sighs and her voice becomes very soft. "And I too wish I had acted differently in the heat of the moment. But I can no more change that than you can. So we will fight these Winter Wolves and do what we can to return the kidnapped children. Or at least I will. Just as Greth'g'karee and... you... did for the children you had kidnapped earlier from Good Mead. To transform weakness into strength. To be the hand that stops the tyrant, feeds the oppressed, and asks for nothing in return..." She trails off uncertainly, as if she has forgotten something.
In her mind's eye, a scrimshaw doll glares at her, ever disapproving. I am sorry, father. Shaking herself, Sabetha resumes tracking Wolves and Sleds and watching for threats. Relieved that they had not decided to bring Elk Running here.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Greth'g'karee looks around carefully to see if there are any other clues he can contribute to what lays ahead (Perception 14). As he does, he also considers the best spot for shelter for the night (Investigation 19). "Only hunters unaffected by the night hunt at that time. This is the hour of the wolf and beast, and a wise hunter knows to pick the place and time of the hunt. Not to allow themselves to become the hunted. I suggest we camp, and make effort to mask our presence through the night, lest these wolves make a meal of us."
Frustrated, Mallifyr kicks chunks of packed, icy snow, no longer making any attempt at concealment. "Calm yourself, child," Eva's voice chides. "The goliath is correct: Our current course is precipitous and foolhardy."
"Alright lets rest. It has been a very long day" says Aubin. He follows Greth to a suitable campsite
Sabetha nods in assent. "Aye, if the wolves are a long term problem, then there's no point rushing in unprepared."
She works with Greth'g'karee and Mallifyr (or anyone else) to identify a hidden spot, sheltered from the wind, in which the party can camp for a long rest. Trying also to obfuscate the trail so it is not clear that a set of tracks deviated from the path the wolves, sleds and dogs had left.
Sabetha Survival: 15
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Blackberry will assist with setting up camp and covering tracks. He listens in fascination to the dialogue between the two spirits inhabiting the body of Mallifyr. He also continues to study his glove, and try to discover the extent of its power to help the party.
Naraeld:
Copper says, "About six months ago, my friend Macreadus, a follower of Lathander, got it into his head that he had figured out how to end the endless winter. Something called the Summer Star. He was staying at the Black Cabin, up to the north of Maer Dualdon. He and I talk a couple of times a week and discuss his progress. The old fool said he'd made a breakthrough and was going to test it this ten day. I haven't heard from him since and I'm worried about him. I can run to the Speaker's home for you, but heading past Lonelywood would be too much for my old bones. If you could check on him, you'd be doing an old gnome a great favor."
Everyone else:
(I'm assuming that you decided to camp. If not, ignore the following and I'll write up what happens if you went on)
You set up camp and make a small dry fire to provide a little warmth and a way to cook a little food. The tents are still perfectly usable and, not seeing a reason to avoid it, you decide to sleep in the tents, keeping a bit of the weather and the chill off of you. You maintain a watch and, just after Auril has cast her spell for the evening and the sky is aglow with the shimmering evidence of her passing, you hear a group of creatures rushing toward your camp.
Tamryn - lvl 4 Wood Elf Rogue - Circle of Light Campaign || Drusilla - lvl 1 Half-Elf Ranger - Sleeping Gods || Grrzark - lvl 1 Goblin Barbarian - Danger at Darkshelf Quarry || DM - LTG - Curse of Strahd
Aubin groggily gets up and curses as a he feels the deep chill. He looks around to see if he cam catch a glimpse of what creatures are coming
Perception
6 in game log
Sabetha stands bolt upright, drawing her longsword. She barks at her companions. "Up, up. Quickly. Something is coming."
Perception: 19
She tries to stand ready in the direction that the creatures are rushing from, ready to intercept them before the reach the rest of the party.
It's just me now to engage with the foe directly, with Naraeld gone. I have to keep them off my companions' backs.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
@DM
"Lonelywood you say? I think we were likely to head up that way on our next outing, so a deal we have. I shall check in on your friend for you Copper. If you have any correspondence you'd like me to take then let me have it tomorrow." Naraeld nods happily that he can help the surly gnome. "What is this Summer Star supposed to be? An artefact that can help end this winter isn't something that should be kept secret."
Bring out your inner chatacter class...