"Thank you Orvo." Fro tells him, then turns to Cyro. "You can have the extra 5 my friend, I already had 10, so I have plenty now. I'll carry the hook, you carry the axe, we can split the weight."
Fro looks at Faloniir.. "Interesting indeed. No, I have never been this far north of Palebank either"
Orvo comes back with some roasted elk meat and root vegetables, and settles in to discuss the journey. He explains:
It's less than 100 miles to the Salsvault, more or less due north across a frozen tundra. Average speed travel would be about 10 miles per day. Faster and slower travel is also feasible, the one sacrificing standard precautions for speed, the other giving up good time for an abundance of caution, which some opt for as there are many threats in the area, the main one being remorhazes. They are enormous insect-like monsters that lurk underground and burst forth in ambush to eat their prey. To run afoul of one would spell near certain death. But there is a trick to avoiding them. Elk and caribou in the region have a knack for somehow sensing and avoiding them, so the first order of business will be to capture one and bring it along as a warning system. If the animal alerts to a remorhaz, then it can usually be avoided by making a very wide berth of the area.
Other dangers include yetis and inclement weather such as blizzards, which can be so thick that you could get lost if you tried to press on in one.
After about 60 miles the remorhaz the party will reach an area called the Thin Sheets. The risk of remorhazes diminishes but the party will run the risk of breaking through thin ice into frigid water. The going will be slower at this phase. With luck in terms of remorhaz distribution and weather patterns, the party could reach the Salsvault within 2 weeks.
"That's the spirit, tackle one problem at a time, put one foot in front of the other, so to speak. We'll set out come first light and look for one. I'm afraid the camp doesn't keep a reserve of the animals. Seems like the more domesticated they are, the less potent they are at finding remorhazes. Learned that the hard way, we have."
DAY ELEVEN since being exposed to the powder in Hulil's thrown vial
You spent a chilly but not unbearable night in the yurt. Next day dawns with the sun rising up into a cold clear sky. People in the camp are starting fires and getting breakfast going. The goliaths Icewalker and Wolfhunter have indeed found employment guarding the camp and protecting those who make short excursions into the wilderness to chop firewood, hunt, etc.
Orvo gathers you up and, after a quick breakfast, you're outfitted with snowshoes and extra cold weather gear before you head out of camp, to the north. Ahead is a snowy highland with hills and sparse copses of evergreens. Orvo is confident that, with some luck, you'll be able to find a herd of elk or caribou within the first day or two of travel. The risk of remorhazes increases significantly after the first 15 or so miles of travel.
Please decide on the pace you'd like to set: slow (5 miles/day), medium (10 miles/day), or fast (15 miles/day). Orvo is your guide and would recommend slow on the first day while looking for caribou or elk. After that he will recommend medium speed but will defer to the group.
Cyro follows the advice of Orvo. I will check if I get advantage in it because I presume this is arctic terrain. If not, Survival: 15 and I will see if my favoured terrain gives me advantage. Of course this is up to the DM, but I want to make sure.
Largely due to Cyro’s expertise in this northern climate, you’re able to make reasonably good time while also putting in good work seeking signs of elk or caribou. At the end of the day, at dusk, you are rewarded. Cyro was able to determine tracks of a small herd of caribou which did not lead you too far out of your way, and now you find yourself in a small copse of trees on top of a hill, looking down on a small group of caribou as it moves from one grouping of trees to another. They’re about 100 feet ahead of you, moving slowly to your left. There are 4 adults and 4 younglings.
Orvo gets out several lengths of rope and explains,
“Here’s what we’re gonna do. Teo of you come with me, down the back of this hill so the caribou don’t see us, and we’ll run over to that copse of trees they’re making for and get there before them. One of you will stay here and, on my signal, you’ll run out and scare the caribou. They should run straight towards the rest of us. Then we gotta lasso them with these ropes and hold on! We only need one. Questions? Now who’s with me and who’s staying behind? The signal will be three owl calls.”
In anticipation of what probably comes next, Cyro and Faloniir, give me a stealth check, and an animal handling or athletics check, your choice. And just for fun, Fro, give me an intimidation check with advantage.
Orvo says,
“Good, get some rest, talk amongst yourselves. I’ll take care of some errands and bring you dinner later on and we’ll discuss the trip.”
He’ll leave you be for now.
"Thank you Orvo." Fro tells him, then turns to Cyro. "You can have the extra 5 my friend, I already had 10, so I have plenty now. I'll carry the hook, you carry the axe, we can split the weight."
Fro looks at Faloniir.. "Interesting indeed. No, I have never been this far north of Palebank either"
Cyro takes the gear they agreed he should take and begins to practice his archery with regular arrows. He collects them after each time he fires.
Orvo comes back with some roasted elk meat and root vegetables, and settles in to discuss the journey. He explains:
It's less than 100 miles to the Salsvault, more or less due north across a frozen tundra. Average speed travel would be about 10 miles per day. Faster and slower travel is also feasible, the one sacrificing standard precautions for speed, the other giving up good time for an abundance of caution, which some opt for as there are many threats in the area, the main one being remorhazes. They are enormous insect-like monsters that lurk underground and burst forth in ambush to eat their prey. To run afoul of one would spell near certain death. But there is a trick to avoiding them. Elk and caribou in the region have a knack for somehow sensing and avoiding them, so the first order of business will be to capture one and bring it along as a warning system. If the animal alerts to a remorhaz, then it can usually be avoided by making a very wide berth of the area.
Other dangers include yetis and inclement weather such as blizzards, which can be so thick that you could get lost if you tried to press on in one.
After about 60 miles the remorhaz the party will reach an area called the Thin Sheets. The risk of remorhazes diminishes but the party will run the risk of breaking through thin ice into frigid water. The going will be slower at this phase. With luck in terms of remorhaz distribution and weather patterns, the party could reach the Salsvault within 2 weeks.
Faloniir will offer a low whistle that turns into a sigh and stare look to each of his companions before he says, "Well... Where can we find an elk?"
Orvo rubs his hands together eagerly and says,
"That's the spirit, tackle one problem at a time, put one foot in front of the other, so to speak. We'll set out come first light and look for one. I'm afraid the camp doesn't keep a reserve of the animals. Seems like the more domesticated they are, the less potent they are at finding remorhazes. Learned that the hard way, we have."
Cyro continues practicing his archery, with the axe in his bag.
DAY ELEVEN since being exposed to the powder in Hulil's thrown vial
You spent a chilly but not unbearable night in the yurt. Next day dawns with the sun rising up into a cold clear sky. People in the camp are starting fires and getting breakfast going. The goliaths Icewalker and Wolfhunter have indeed found employment guarding the camp and protecting those who make short excursions into the wilderness to chop firewood, hunt, etc.
Orvo gathers you up and, after a quick breakfast, you're outfitted with snowshoes and extra cold weather gear before you head out of camp, to the north. Ahead is a snowy highland with hills and sparse copses of evergreens. Orvo is confident that, with some luck, you'll be able to find a herd of elk or caribou within the first day or two of travel. The risk of remorhazes increases significantly after the first 15 or so miles of travel.
Please decide on the pace you'd like to set: slow (5 miles/day), medium (10 miles/day), or fast (15 miles/day). Orvo is your guide and would recommend slow on the first day while looking for caribou or elk. After that he will recommend medium speed but will defer to the group.
Then everyone needs to make a survival check.
Faloniir votes for a medium pace.
Survival: 9
Orvo is the expert, let's do what he says.
Survival for Fro : 3.
Man these rolls are killing me.. lol literally. I kill at battle, I suck at these saving throws.. lol
Cyro follows the advice of Orvo. I will check if I get advantage in it because I presume this is arctic terrain. If not, Survival: 15 and I will see if my favoured terrain gives me advantage. Of course this is up to the DM, but I want to make sure.
It just doubles my proficiency bonus. If that can be applied here: 16
Largely due to Cyro’s expertise in this northern climate, you’re able to make reasonably good time while also putting in good work seeking signs of elk or caribou. At the end of the day, at dusk, you are rewarded. Cyro was able to determine tracks of a small herd of caribou which did not lead you too far out of your way, and now you find yourself in a small copse of trees on top of a hill, looking down on a small group of caribou as it moves from one grouping of trees to another. They’re about 100 feet ahead of you, moving slowly to your left. There are 4 adults and 4 younglings.
Orvo gets out several lengths of rope and explains,
“Here’s what we’re gonna do. Teo of you come with me, down the back of this hill so the caribou don’t see us, and we’ll run over to that copse of trees they’re making for and get there before them. One of you will stay here and, on my signal, you’ll run out and scare the caribou. They should run straight towards the rest of us. Then we gotta lasso them with these ropes and hold on! We only need one. Questions? Now who’s with me and who’s staying behind? The signal will be three owl calls.”
"I'll jump out and scare them on your signal" Fro says
(I refuse to be NPC’d)
Faloniir will go with Orvo, looking forward to wrangling some caribou.
“I’m with you, Orvo.”
Once all are in position, Orvo gives the signal.
In anticipation of what probably comes next, Cyro and Faloniir, give me a stealth check, and an animal handling or athletics check, your choice. And just for fun, Fro, give me an intimidation check with advantage.
Fro intimidation w/adv: 10... I can scare them, but not overly... lol
Stealth: 21