Rime of the Frostmaiden - Adventure

Month: Hammer, Day: IX, Time: 1000

Ellora, every now and then, the lantern turns a light green. Once, it turns bright green, but you are unable to see one of the tricky chwingas. Ophelia and others in the party do no spot anything and the flickering green light casts odd shadows during the walk. Ellora, you perceive one or more elementals are running circles around the party, as if it were a game to see how green they can turn the lantern without being spotted. At least no ice mephits throw snowballs or worse at you.

Dvu, despite feeling exhausted, you continue to lead the group. When the wind and clouds cooperate, you get a better sense of how long it would take to get to Kelvin's Cairn once the group departs the road - you estimate 4 to 6 hours to get to the base. You estimate its height to be around 1,000 feet (300 meters) of uneven boulders and ice.

You arrive at the outskirts of Caer-Konig, which consists of terraced rows of houses that recede from the shore of Lac Dinneshere like the tiers of an amphitheater. The harbor is frozen, its docks skewed and broken by the shifting ice. Buried under the snow on the slopes above the last row of houses are the ruins of the Caer that gave the town its name—a reminder to the people of Caer-Konig that nothing lasts in this corner of the world. What passes for sun is out, allowing for shadows to shrink and some brightness to refresh your faces.

Do you head into town for comfort and supplies (potatoes?) or immediately strike out to Kelvin's Cairn (to potentially save Garret)? 

“A hot meal and a roaring fire might do us good before we move on. And there’s always the chance that Garret and his group passed through here, unlikely as it is. I don’t know if I’ll even ask for potatoes, though. This place looks even more destitute than Caer Dineval.”

"Unless a hot meal and a roaring fire would better prepare us for what awaits us at Kelvin's Cairn I would prefer pressing on. That being said I would leave that decision with our Goliath guide." The white-haired young woman says. "If we enter town there is also a risk we get held up, and as before, time is likely of the essence here."

Dvu shivers for a moment, stretching his back.  “I would recommend that we have a meal and look in the inn before we tackle the Cairn.  Perhaps we can get some helpful information as well.  I know that we all want to move quickly on the Cairn, but it pays to be prepared.  I can’t wait to get a better night of sleep soon… I want to see what this town holds before we start climbing.  They may know of the best approach.  And I’ve never been to this town… I’ve got to admit that I’m curious.”  Dvu looks for confirmation from everyone, if agreed, he starts marching toward the town.  

Ophelia says nothing as to the decision of where to go first, though her body language seems to lean towards briefly inquiring at Caer Konig before pressing on.  Her lavender eyes remain unfocused and lips slightly parted as she gazes up at Kelvin's Cairn when the wind and weather allow a glimpse.

"Far flung on high the rocky rise
A miracle of rare device
The Cairn forebodes before our eyes
As death awaits in caves of ice..."

“I’d rather tackle it in the morning too,” offers Drift, “when all of us are at our best. It’ll be sore if we get there and wonder if things might’ve been better if we’d set out today, but they’ve already been lost many days, and I think the last thing we want is for two parties to be lost out there and to ensnare a third.”

Marva listens to each argument, and adds, “Argh! Now I’m torn. It’s hard to think of taking comfort in a hot meal when someone else is needing help out in the freezing wilderness. Ellora is right that we don’t know what town intrigues might catch us up. And we have four hours of daylight--such as it is here--that might get us to the Cairn. But Drift makes a good point: they’ve been out there for some time already. Will preparation and a few hours or a night of rest help us be a more effective rescue party? For me, I am ready to go on, but I can see that others could use that rest. If we sleep in the inn tonight, we could travel to the Cairn in the poorly lit morning and then make our search of the place in the best light tomorrow.”

Month: Hammer, Day: IX, Time: 1015

Dvu leads the way into town, passing the ruined castle and the Speaker's house, and quickly find the tavern, the Hook, Line and Sinker. There is indeed a nice fire in the common room and a handful of people in the tavern enjoying their morning ale and looking sadly at yet another plate of knucklehead trout. The barkeep, Glen, cheerfully gives each person a half-pint of ale, saying "On t'house!" He continues, "What's the news from the rest of Ten-Towns? Or have they started to call it Nine-Towns since they no longer care about us way out here." While being friendly to you, it is clear from the nodding heads of the other patrons that the citizens of Caer-Konig feel abandoned by the rest of Ten-Towns. 

Month: Hammer, Day: IX, Time: 1015

Dvu leads the way into town, passing the ruined castle and the Speaker's house, and quickly find the tavern, the Hook, Line and Sinker. There is indeed a nice fire in the common room and a handful of people in the tavern enjoying their morning ale and looking sadly at yet another plate of knucklehead trout. The barkeep, Glen, cheerfully gives each person a half-pint of ale, saying "On t'house!" He continues, "What's the news from the rest of Ten-Towns? Or have they started to call it Nine-Towns since they no longer care about us way out here." While being friendly to you, it is clear from the nodding heads of the other patrons that the citizens of Caer-Konig feel abandoned by the rest of Ten-Towns. 

Somewhat reluctantly following the others into the tavern, the white-haired young woman takes a seat at a free table with the others and accepts the free ale with a grateful nod. "Most of us are fairly new to the dale so there's not much for us to report I'm afraid. We're merely having a rest here before heading on to Kelvin's Cairn for a rescue mission. You don't recall a group coming through here within a tenday or so, led by a guide called Garret who's from Targos, that we're heading for the cairn? They are supposedly lost there. And can you tell us anything about the cairn, and how things are up here in your town, perhaps we can help you with any problems you might have as soon as we've been to Kelvin's Cairn of course." She says to Glen and the other patrons of the  Hook, Line and Sinker.

History to know stuff about Caer Konig: 22
Persuasion to get some answers: 23 

Pleased with the welcome, Marva responds, “Well, you are much more friendly than some places in Ten Towns, Glen. Thank you for the ale. After nothing but cold rations for a day, I’d love some of the trout! We just spent a cold night in Caer Dineval. We didn’t get a chance to explore the place much, although we heard that their Speaker is ill. I don’t suppose you know much about what is going on there.”

Marva also shares some information to grease the wheels of gossip, saying, “I’m afraid the news from other places isn’t good. There have been some mysterious deaths in the towns where they make sacrifices to the Frostmaiden. Three victims, each with a dagger of ice to their heart. Our companion here had a dangerous run-in with a follower of Auril. When she defended herself, Targos turned on us, calling our friend a murderer, though she merely knocked the attacker out. It was quite unjust! Now we’re out here trying to clear our name, looking for the party that Miss Ellora mentions. We just came from Caer Dineval, We’re headed out soon or perhaps tomorrow morning. I’m not sure what we’ve decided, to be honest.”

Dvu smiles at Glen, echoing “Thank you!  This will ease the ache to my cold bones.  Do you have a room for us?  We’d like to rest up before tackling the Cairn.. that’d be my thought.  And I’d like to hear if you have any suggestions of how to approach it.  From what side, which is the best way to hike up?  Anything to watch out for?  Preciate you Glen..”. The big Goliath sits down at the table, getting comfortable, occasionally massaging his muscles, his biceps, trapezius, calves…

Some distant part of Ophelia's mind is gratified that her companions are asking and answering what she might want to ask or answer.

It is clear from the she-elf's body language that she had been expecting to continue onward today to Kelvin's Cairn in search of Garret after a brief conversation here to get the lay of the land.  However, she has no plans to go anywhere on her own without the guide, and she lays a small hand on Dvu's broad shoulder, wishing she could help the goliath (and the desert paladin) recover more quickly from their cold-induced exhaustion.

As she nibbles on her portion of knucklehead trout and sips on the ale on offer at the Hook, Line and Sinker, she reflects sadly on Glen's words.  On how the other towns seem to huddle inward and neglect each other, particularly the furthest flung ones such as Caer Konig.  In a break between her friends' responses, her melancholy lavender eyes meet the barkeep's, and she softly sings the same foreboding, frustrated verse she had when leaving Targos.

"Ten Towns like ten fingers, each frozen alone
Each living in fear of the Frostmaiden's wrath
Yet sealing their fate by not striving together
Not seeking in concert a clear common path
To free them from Winter's implacable tether
Til blizzard and ice strip their flesh from the bone"

As if to accompany her refrain, Ophelia closes her eyes and gently splays her fingers, whispering a word in Elvish.  This time, rather than the image of northern lights, the sound of wind sweeping over a barren, lonely snowfield below Kelvin's Cairn whispers through the tavern (Druidcraft).

Glen says, "I 'member then. Came through on the first of this ten-days. (OOC - If you do not already know, a ten-day is the same concept of a week, except with 10 instead of 7 days. There are three ten-days in a month. Today is the ninth of the second ten-day of the first month of the year. ) A human, a goliath, a halfling, and a tiefling. Not many groups like that 'round here. The human seemed most at ease outside. All looked a bit like ye'selves, ready for an adventure but a wee tired from getting here. I'se no idea why they's be goin' to Kelvin's Cairn but can say they's not be back to here yet."

Glen and the townsfolks talk over each other in their rush to tell you all about Caer Konig, with a heavy emphasis on all that is currently bad about it. The number one problem is that the Lac has frozen over, which means the ferry doesn't run which means people and supplies don't come and go easily which means that everyone is feeling more than a little bit abandoned. Another problem is that there has been a few break-ins and thefts, although at least nothing too valuable has been taken. And yet another problem is that their speaker, Trovus, is a drunkard, although at least he is trying to sort out the increase in crime, albeit by looking in the bottom of any bottle. But to end on a positive note, Glen confirms he has enough ale to keep folks feeling as good as they can about the situation for a good while more. "I'se gotta connection, he says with a friendly wink. After some time kvetching, Glen suggests you visit Frozenfar Expedition since that group went there for supplies before they overnighted at the Northern Light inn. "See ye here fer supper," he concludes with a wide smile that shows off one missing front tooth.

Once at the Frozenfar Expeditions store, the proprietor tells you what little she knows, which isn't anything different from what you already heard at the tavern, and is happy to sell you what you need. (OOC - You can add to your inventory basic provisions such as rations, torches, gear, etc. at standard price plus 20%. They do not sell weapons or armor.) The owner recommends you find the base camp and then work your way up the Cairn to find the missing adventurers. She adds in a doleful tone, Donna' get ye hopes up. It takes 4-6 hours to get there and no reason to stay once ye be done, and they be gone a number of days. It may be all ye can do is bring back the bodies. The beasts be more and bigger and stronger than before. That's them yeti and crag cats and owlbears and worse. I'se think it's due to Auril. 

The Northern Light Inn is run by two sisters who bicker at each other while providing a simple but comfortable place for travelers, such as yourself. They also are willing to share what they know but can add nothing new to your knowledge since they are focused on keeping the Inn going despite the weather and apparently in spite of each other. The sisters promise to save you space for the night, so you leave the two grumps and return to the Hook, Line and Sinker for dinner. There you find Glen talking to the speaker, Torvus, a silver dragonborn, who is clutching the bar-top and a mug for stability.

Month: Hammer, 2, Day: IX, Time: 1700

Marva looks through the equipment at Frozenfar Expeditions and buys a grappling hook and a signal whistle. “I hope we don’t need a climber’s kit. It’s so expensive! What do you think, Dvu?”

Ophelia's lavender eyes gaze directly into those of Speaker Trovus, though he seems well into his cups, yet perhaps not so different than she in his state of mind.  Approaching, she nods at Glen in greeting, then lays her hand upon the Speaker's forearm with a sympathetic look, murmuring:

"Wild winter's pall does chill and freeze,
As hidden thieves roam free,
And icy things do creep and crawl
Beneath the mountain's lee."

She pauses, swallows, then continues optimistically, as if she could will it to be true with her own words.

"You, I hope, do not sacrifice your own people, nor strangers in the futile hope of gaining the Frostmaiden's cold mercy or befriending her cruel cult."

Drift will wander over to stand at Ophelia’s side, saying little but listening closely. 

Apart from still seeming a bit anxious about staying another night instead of pressing on to find the lost expedition, Ellora stays silent and spends the time reading, ready to hopefully make the last stretch to Kelvin's Cairn the next day. There seemed to be things to investigate in every town so far, Caer-Konig being no exception, but she preferred to keep the focus on their current mission before taking on others.

“Hrmph, we don’t have people to sacrifice, unlike the bigger towns. We sacrifice trout,” says Trovus in an overly loud voice. Yet still the winter goes on, he says in a quieter more melancholy tone. Unless there is a conversation you wish to have with him or Glen or anyone else in the tavern, you have dinner and go to the Northern Lights Inn for an uneventful night. Everyone gets a good sleep and recovers from Exhaustion. Morning arrives.
Month: Hammer, 2, Day: X, Time: 0700

With the reports of thefts, Marva would have taken a turn at watch during the night and suggested that others do the same. She wakes early and is eager to go. “I imagine we can pick up a quick trout breakfast to give us energy for our journey and then head out,” she says to the group. Assuming that nothing delays their departure, she takes her normal place near Dvu to offer him Guidance (Survival) at any time he seems to be making a decision about their route. When not assisting their guide, she uses the cantrip to improve her ability to watch for trouble in the form of crag cats or similar. (Perception: 14+3=17)