The bear sniffs at Vishal's hand and lowers its head even further, snout brushing the snow as its eyes come level with you all, dark blue pools of curiosity.

Kaori trembles a bit as she looks up at the massive beast, but stands her ground beside Vishal, ready to put her shield in front of him if she has to.

After your experience with the megafauna polar bear, you move on, camping that night. The next day, Luiri tells you that you will reach the ring of storms late that afternoon.

As you set out that morning for the last day of travel, everyone give me one more Perception.

As they travel, Taran asks Luiri if there is anything they could do, other than dealing with the Storm Guardian, that he or the others could do to repay him and his people for their kindness in aiding them in their journey.

Perception: 18

In response to Taran's query, Luiri chuckles and shakes his head.

You're traveling through a bitterly cold ravine when on your right, a massive ice sheet looms, a dark, indistinct shape visible within.

Taran and Caelius:

Caelius points into the ice,

Luiri grins, the yeti having apparently picked up on enough of Caelius's question to get it. "From...other place. Other plane. Eternal ice there, traps lots of things. Sometimes they come over here. Ship's been here since I was a tyke. Like to tell stories about what it is."

 "I-Is it s-s-safe to u-use f-for sh-shelter? I-If w-we g-g-get c-c-caught out a-at n-night or i-in a storm o-on the w-way b-back?' Taran asks, only mildly curious about what may be inside the ship.

Luiri raps on the ice. "Don't know, doesn't matter. Couldn't get in. Ice is magic. Tunnel into it, it grows back. Even if you put a hand on." He pulls his hand off the ice, showing you the slight frost that developed on his knuckles even in the short period of contact. "Going in to get to ship would be a death trap."

Clarification: The ENTIRE ship is frozen solid inside the ice sheet. It's not on top of it or anything, it's literally within, like the prehistoric animals you sometimes find perfectly preserved in glaciers.

"I could try fighting it back with my own magic but I somehow think that the ice would win in the end." Vishal says with a chuckle, "Let's keep going forward."

"Ah," Taran says in understanding (Yep, I thought it was partially sticking out of the ice)

"I-I a-agree, E-Esteemed V-Vishal." Taran gives the ice a wide berth as they continue to travel.

After another few hours of walking, you arrive at a section of the mountains with a downright wall of rain. Above it is a ring of dark grey clouds, lightning arcing between them. "Say goodbye here," Luiri rumbles. "Good luck."

OOC: Once you've said your goodbyes to Luiri, please give me general marching order for going towards the cave, as well as any pre-cave preparations you would like to make.

Taran bows towards the Yeti, "Th-Thank you f-f-for y-your aid and W-Wisdom, Luiri. I h-h-hope th-that w-w-we m-may m-meet a-a-again."

Turning back to the party, Taran would triple check that everyone has their Feather Fall tokens (except Kaori who has her belt). He would then give out vials with mixed Fortifying Powder to Vishal, Kaori and Akuma giving them 2d6 temp hp (You can roll your own, but I will pre-roll them in a spoiler box in case you do not want to roll them).

He would also grab a rock, pop open his Oil of Darkness and coat the rock, before wrapping it in a sling of cloth for throwing it (will last 10 minutes as a sphere of 15 ft radius darkness)

Taran would then sneak forward into the storm wall, taking the point and trying to scout the cave before the rest of the party gets too close, planning on blowing the Horn of Silent Alarm if anything gets too dangerous before the rest of the group catches up

Stealth: 19
Perception: 13

Vishal Potential Temp HP

 
Kaori Potential Temp HP

Akume Potential Temp HP

Kaori nervously takes the vial, then holds her shield ready, making sure she's at the frint and awaiting Taran's signal to move forward.

(Took the 9 temp hp, rather than rolling myself. Thankee :> )

Vishal nods and says, "Thank you for the help, hopefully you'll see us on our return trip." With a smile he then begins the familiar spell he's been casting this whole time. Giving everyone the ability to walk on top of the snow and water without any sort of hinderance. Smiling as he finishes the spell he then puts a hand on Kaori and says, "I have a special spell for you too." Drawing a little glyph onto her armor it glows with the familiar blue light that we've all seen from the kalashtar. "There, now if some lightning hits you while you're flying or fighting it shouldn't hurt as much."

(I'll just take the Temp HP from Taran's roll. Gave the whole group Water Walk and Kaori Protection from Lightning.) 

Akuma pulls up the hood of her coat as she watches the rain and nods. "Thank you. All of you. Unless we require a way to be particularly sneakier, I am ready to press forward."

(I'll take the rolled temp hp.)

Caelius bows his head to the yeti,

"M-Mister C-Caelius s-says to s-stay s-safe," Taran translates, "an-and that he h-hopes w-we meet a-a-again under b-better times."

Taran then turns as shakes his head at Akuma, "I-I th-think y-you sh-should s-save your st-strength... we d-d-do w-want to s-speak with her f-f-first. H-Hopefully c-convince her.... n-not to b-betray us."

Luiri gives you all a smile that shows his massive fangs. "Hope to see you soon as well. Good luck with lightning-bringer." With that, he turns and lopes away, rapidly vanishing among the ice and snow.

You make your way into the ring of storms, finding that after about a mile, the storms thin somewhat to patches of dark clouds, rather than a solid band of clouds.

Taran:

Taran looks around to see if he can spot any cover, while gesturing to Esteemed Vishal for a mental contact.

Once contacted, he will tell him what he saw. (Figure he can read the spoiler)

Perception for a cave or bolt hole: 27