Brask glances over at Kurama, who does his best to conceal the chill. It seems to work - or at least the minotaur doesn't seem to care either way.

The dwarves make quick work of the mammoth, butchering it as expertly as one would expect with a bunch of axes and daggers out in the middle of nowhere. The red-bearded dwarf approaches with four massive pieces of hide and fur. "Here ya are. Good work on that thing - not many folks could survive a tussle with them head-on." He picks up his pack and reattaches his warhammer to his back. "Old man is Dalmyr. I'm Hardan.  First round of ales when we get back to Frost Shore are on me." The other dwarves shout in celebration, a few slapping him on the back as they make their way to their own belongings and start to pack up.

You start to trek along with the dwarves. They have a pair of teams that take turns hauling the sled, letting Brask and the rest of your party only do your fair share. "Strange way to get to the frozen shores," Dalmyr walks alongside you. "Where in giant's hell were you all coming from, anyway?"

"My name is Kurama. And my these are my companions Effort, Brask and Pip.  It's a pleasure to meet you." Kurama began politely in reply.  "As for where we came from and how we arrived here, well, that is a more complex matter..."  Pausing for a bit to consider how much to share, he eventually continued.  "Not too long ago, while on an important mission, we were inadvertently transported to another realm similar to our own.  It took us a while, but we eventually determined a way to return here to our home.  Unfortunately, while we managed to return, we were not given the opportunity to decide exactly where we would return.  I suppose I am glad that we did not find ourselves falling out of the sky or stranded in the middle of the sea, again."   After another quick pause and before anyone else could add to the conversation, Kurama added, "What exactly was the creature we fought?  Is it common to this region?  It's certainly the biggest creature I've ever seen in person." 

Dalmyr listens intently, only slightly turning up an eyebrow when you mention travel to another realm. "Huh. Sounds like a hell of a journey," he responds. "That big son of a ***** was what most folks call a mammoth. In old dwarven tongue it's stjora djor. The great beast. There's a few hundred, probably, that wander the great northern plains on this side of the White Winds. They're built for the cold, so most of the southern peoples have never seen them. Usually you can find a few dozen at a time, and they're fiercely protective of one another. Tough to hunt. That's why we were tracking this one. Taking down one is at least possible, though still plenty dangerous."

He thinks on your story for a moment. "So you aren't headed to Frost Shore for the festival, eh? You're in for a surprise then. It's the biggest bash you'll find north of Lovilra. Food and drink for days. Gladiator fights, magical spectacles, anything you could ask for. Last chance for all that, really, before the winter arrives in full force. Then those merchants and travelers get the hell south as fast as they can."

Yeah, I dunno. We really need to tell everyone we meet about all the whacky magicky crap that happens to us? They might think we're crazy, and try to rob us. Although, that would lead to a fight, so yeah, keep telling 'em.

Possible? Yeah, I'd say so. Easy kill, really. Now, eating one, that's a challenge. A whole one... hmmm, you'd need to plan it carefully. Can't do it in one sitting, so have to preserve the flesh for a few days. And prepare well; get the stomach nice and big.

Brask wanders along his own train of thought before mention of food and drink and fights brings him back to the present. Oh, hells yeah. That's where we're headed, right enough.

Quote from SteveThaiBinh >>

Yeah, I dunno. We really need to tell everyone we meet about all the whacky magicky crap that happens to us? They might think we're crazy, and try to rob us. Although, that would lead to a fight, so yeah, keep telling 'em.

 “Deception isn’t my forte nor do I think I am imaginative enough to come up with a valid excuse for appearing out of the blue in a Tundra. If you have any suggestions for a future cover story, I would be interested in hearing it.” Kurama whispered back quietly out of earshot of the dwarves.

Quote from Billtacular >>

Dalmyr listens intently, only slightly turning up an eyebrow when you mention travel to another realm. "Huh. Sounds like a hell of a journey," he responds. "That big son of a ***** was what most folks call a mammoth. In old dwarven tongue it's stjora djor. The great beast. There's a few hundred, probably, that wander the great northern plains on this side of the White Winds. They're built for the cold, so most of the southern peoples have never seen them. Usually you can find a few dozen at a time, and they're fiercely protective of one another. Tough to hunt. That's why we were tracking this one. Taking down one is at least possible, though still plenty dangerous."

He thinks on your story for a moment. "So you aren't headed to Frost Shore for the festival, eh? You're in for a surprise then. It's the biggest bash you'll find north of Lovilra. Food and drink for days. Gladiator fights, magical spectacles, anything you could ask for. Last chance for all that, really, before the winter arrives in full force. Then those merchants and travelers get the hell south as fast as they can."

Kurama itched to write down what he had heard but held strong and simply listened and nodded intently. The Sister would be so proud, he thought to himself ruefully. 

(Assuming Kurama would’ve heard/ read about this festival beforehand) “Ah, I had read about the festivities in Frost Shore! That is exciting that we will be able to partake a bit while we are there.” Kurama began as he looked around happily at his friends, seemingly forgetting for a moment the worlds-saving mission they were on. “Any recommendations on the best events or activities we should take a look at?” 

Do we have a sense of what time of year it was when we went down below? Trying to gauge if a normal amount of time has passed or if time sped up/ slowed down etc..  

You've probably heard of the winter festival in Frost Shore, Kurama. There are more run-of-the-mill traveling festivals and circuses in the other major cities, especially Lovilra, but this one is known as the most raucous. 

As for time, you actually did have someone mention the winter festival awhile back - I think it was maybe when you were all in Gorta. Judging from that, only a few weeks have passed, so time was moving at least close to normal while you were in the "below".

"Oh, something for all types," Dalmyr responds. "Gladiator fights for those who like a bit of violence. Games and drinking aplenty. Skill competitions for everything you could imagine - jousting, archery, even chopping wood."

As you walk along with the dwarven hunting party, the landscape changes little. The rocky plains stretch on, with the White Winds slowly vanishing from sight as you head further west. 

Brask will spend the journey talking to the dwarfs, who seem to have an appreciation for the finer things in life. He will go into great detail about his greatest victories in the arena, and some of the more challenging fights the group has encountered recently. He won't mention the Sisters, because they're a painful memory that his empty coin purse won't let him forget. But otherwise, he's in a good mood and even pays attention to some of the things that Kurama says from time to time.

Noted thanks!  

There's a twinkle in Kurama's eye as heard about all that there was to do and see at the Frost Shore festival.  Especially as he remembered that this one in particular was noted for its liveliness.  Hopefully he remembers some of the Sister's words to him by the time he arrives, as at the moment they are out of sight and mind. XP

You hike along with the dwarves until the sun starts to set in the distance in front of you. Hardan discusses where to set up camp with some of the other dwarves, until ol' Dalmyr calls out that he sees the river up ahead. Within another twenty or thirty minutes, everyone has arrived at the banks. The cold water flows over the rocky river bed heading northward. Thankfully, there are some nice flat areas nearby to set up camp. 

"A couple of my younger men will take first watch, if you all want to catch some shut eye," Hardan offers. "You can take the early morning shift." He smiles just a little before going to work.

(Anything odd about Hardan asking us to take the morning shift? Insight: 22)

No, he doesn't seem to be hiding anything. Just a gentle hazing to their new travel companions, assuming that most people probably like first shift best since they can just stay up a bit later rather than wake up early.

Got it   

Nodding in agreement, Kurama found a relatively flat spot near the river to laydown and rest until it was his turn to stay on watch. 

• Perception for morning shift if needed: 17  

No need for everyone to take the morning shift, Brask thinks. He stays firmly asleep through the night, and will be making no perception checks. :)

Kurama, you're awoken at some wee hour of the morning by a pair of dwarves. They simply shake your shoulder until you're awake and seemingly alert, and then head off to get some sleep. 

Roll me a straight d20 check. If it's lower than 14, roll me perception. 

• d20: 10  
• Perception: 13  

10 8 20 

Kurama, your eyes adjust to the darkness as you turn to face different directions every few minutes. A half-moon helps light some of the landscape, particularly any icy bits or larger rocks out on the plains. It's getting close to daybreak - you can just barely make out an orange glow off to the eastern horizon - when you notice one of the larger rocks is slowly moving.

It doesn't make sense at first, and then you realize it's not a rock at all. It's a big animal moving toward the camp. As you start to discern its feline shape, two massive cats come leaping into camp from the other direction. 

Everyone, roll initiative.

More cats start to move on the other side of the camp as a couple of the dwarves start to arm themselves. On your side, three of the beasts charge in, each with a pair of massive canine teeth. 

Taking too long to realize the threat in front of him, Kurama only had time to quickly shout out, "We're being attacked!" before the cats were upon him and the rest of the party.

• Initiative: 7  

Yes!!! says Brask, grabbing his weapon.

Brask's initiative: 15

Effort & Cadmael: 16

Pip: 7

Saber-toothed tigers: 16

Dice roller acting up again - go by this order:

Initiative order: Brask > Tigers > Kurama > Effort/Cad > Pip

Brask finds the nearest kitty and gets to work:

Attack: 26 Damage: 13
Attack: 18 Damage: 13

And action surge:

Attack: 11 Damage: 11
Attack: 19 Damage: 13