The Summit Road Campaign Thread

“Shouldn’t I be saying that to you.” Vishal replies with a chuckle before saying, “Okay okay, how about this? You agree to be my workout partner here to make sure I keep up the regiment Daranikashtai gave me. And then when we’re back I can ask her about letting you join us in some training.” 

The Kenku coos excitedly and claps her hands together. "Training with ... friend~"

Vishal smiles and ruffles her head a little as he says, “That’s right. Now let us try and not get too bored on this boat trip. We have a dragon to slay.” 

Taran's Luck: 10

If I roll a 19 or 20, you get 4 fish, which is enough for 4 rations.

The Felix does indeed prove to be as fast as promised, although you swear you often spot Daara at the helm literally talking to the ship. Even more interestingly, sometimes the ship seems to listen. Vishal and Kaori spar on deck for the first few days, then when you've rounded the Syrk coast and are approaching Riedran waters, Captain Daara hands out Riedran clothes. "Everyone change into these. You two," she points at Vishal and Kaori, "don't have to, but you do need to stay below deck. You'd be a dead giveaway if we were stopped."

Fortunately, luck seems to be on your side, and you zip past the coast without drawing any suspicion. On the last day of your journey, the air is even colder than usual, and you make your way through a small snow flurry in the morning. By afternoon, Daara's slowed the ship to a fraction of its prior speed as icebergs begin cropping up. And that evening, you sail into an icy cave that could probably freeze meat. You disembark from the ship and head into the mountains.

OOC: You have a map to Siepha's lair. The journey will take approximately 5 days. I got super excited after reading Keith Baker's article on provinces and have a series of encounters prepared for you, most of which can happen in any order, so we'll be taking this on a day by day basis. Each day, I will roll for which encounter you find, then ask you to detail what you are doing that day, and finally give me a roll (the precise nature of which will depend on the encounter, but most of them will probably be Perception lol). So let's get started!

Day 1: 1

Everyone please post stating what you are doing on the first day of the journey (it can be just "walking", but I don't want to block anyone who wants to forage or whatever). Then, give me a Constitution save.

Vishal spends the time walking and practicing his mental exercises, constantly keeping up that mental barrier to block psionic attacks though he does wishes he had someone who could test the barrier for him. He does get distracted every once in a while at the scenery of the snow, one of his favorite things to look at. 

Constitution ST: 10

Taran makes sure to check everyone's gear as they approach the end of the journey, though he is disappointed he was unable to bolster their supplies.

Tightening and cinching up his new winter gear, Taran takes the lead into the mountains, scouting out the most accessible routes through and up the towering behemoths, while keeping an eye out for trouble that may come to them from any angle. He catches himself grinning a bit as he looks over the rugged landscape, a thrill sparking though his soul.

He never imagined he would be so far North. So far away from home. And seeing lands so similar, yet so different from the ones he was used to... he feels energized.

That can't distract him from his duty though. Without Mister Druhdaar, he is the only survivalist left in the group. He has to make sure the others make it safely to the Storm Guardians Lair. So he sets out to lead them along the safest paths he can find, saving their energy for the climbs ahead.

Con Save: 7

Caelius keeps his arms close to his chest as he walks in the middle of the group and watches the snowy mountains for threats.

Con Save: 15

Con Save: 14

Upon reaching their destination, Akuma adjusts her new winter gear and glances around them curiously. Staying towards the back of the group, she keeps an eye out around and behind them quietly while weaving a dart along her fingers absentmindedly as they begin their journey. 

Akuma's outfit:

Kaori walks alongside Vishal, chirping a happy little bird song and kicking around in the snow like an excited child. Occasionally, she breaks from her antics to look at the symbol on her sword, running one of her talons along it with a soft chirp, or surveying the land around them for any possible threats.

Con Save: 16 (Rolled in Discord)

As you walk, the air grows colder and colder. Soon, it's biting even through your clothes, and Taran's fingertips start to turn blue.

Taran takes 2 cold damage. Please keep track of how many saves you fail during this encounter.

Snow begins cutting through the air, blowing against your face, but things get really dangerous as a shear of icy wind slams into you from around the corner of a cliff, knocking you all back, dangerously close to a dropoff. You can swear that the wind seems to be directly attacking you, as if it knows you are here...and doesn't want you around. None of you have ever seen a storm this cold, violent, or intense, and it's only getting worse.

Everyone make another Con ST and an Arcana check. Yes, you may do so in Discord. Once you've rolled and I've given you your results, start figuring out a course of action.

Con Save: 23

Arcana Check: 17

Taran's first reaction to the cold is to be glad they bought the warmer clothes. Then, he begins to notice how his fingers aren't quite responding correctly, even through his gloves, and the numbness starting to spread through his face.

The stubborn part of him figures he could tough it out, but practicality instantly shuts down that stupid stubborness. This is a killer storm, and a strange one at that, so shelter has to be a priority to keep his companions safe. He looks down the path at the others, and gives a signal, hopefully not obscured by the driving snow, letting them know he is looking for shelter. Then, he keeps climbing, looking for breaks in the rock where they can huddle and he can start a fire.

Arcana: 12
Con Save: 6

 Caelius seems to fold into himself as the wind strikes them.

Con Save: 17

Arcana: 7

Akuma frowns as the wind picks up, grumbling under hear breath as they push forward. "Thel damn ialscup flepflem.  Flinm iat ee pockthoop ca sa?"

Celestial Translation:

 Con save: 9

Arcana: 18

Akuma, Caelius, and Vishal all take 2 cold damage.

The wind continues to howl around you.

"We can't ... Wait ... Manifest zone ... Primordial storm ... We must ... Trek on." Kaori raises her shield to cover her face from the biting winds, pressing onward and hoping the others follow as well.

Caelius signs widely,

“Let’s try and move out of it as much as possible!” Vishal says as he has an idea, “I’m going to try and create some heat.” He tell the group pulling out the oil of flame that Taran gave him a while ago and spreading it along his chakram so that it will alight in flames for the next hour and hopefully provide some heat as they walk. 

Taran sees Mister Caelius's signs about the same time he comes to the same conclusion, the winds are too biting, too sudden and cold. The blizzard cannot be natural, which means it could rage for years without end.

Taran scrambles back down the path to the others, pulling out the rope of mending.

"T-T-Tie off," He says, gesturing to the cliff face, "S-Should pr-prevent u-us fr-from f-falling. I-I-I'll tr-tr-try and k-keep u-us o-out of th-the w-w-wind, b-but I-I d-don't kn-know wh-what t-t-to d-d-do ex-except pr-press f-forward an-and pr-pray. Or w-w-we c-can c-circle b-back an-and tr-try to f-find a w-way ar-around, b-but n-n-n-no t-t-telling h-how m-much t-t-time th-that w-w-will t-take."

Once everyone was tied together, Taran starts leading the way again, prioritizing paths that offer some shelter from the howling winds.

Kaori continues to press on, the shield in front of her paired with Vishal's fire keeping her warm, yet the shield impairs her visuin and she doesn't see much.

Con Save: 24

Perception: 7