Above & Below

"In fact I haven't.  Which is a good thing, because food always tastes better when shared," Effort says.  Seeing the others, she gestures to them to join her with Akrus.

"Seconds you will want, friends.  It is the tiefling way to commemorate the passing of others.  Rather than to do so with sorrow, we remind ourselves of the necessity to live, and look back upon the lives they had with fulfillment.  Sharing food amongst ourselves is a way to both celebrate and reaffirm our own lives."  She grins at Kurama.  "Though you do not have to gorge yourself.  A mere tasting will be enough to show your respect."

Effort pointedly ignores Euphoria's greetings until she has shared her food with Freedom, Akrus, and the others.  Only when she's taken her time, does she move towards Euphoria and scowl at him.  "Glad to be of some use to you," she says.  "But now, will you be of some use to me as well?"

He grins back, addressing your scowl. "Careful, girl. Don't forget where you are," he says, gesturing to the room's occupants. "Now, as for our agreement...I'm a man of my word. When I feel the need to be, anyway. I have no use for your little friend anymore, so you can have at him. You ever hear of Whitehold? Old, ostentatious castle built into the side of the White Wind Mountains, abandoned ages ago? Well, that's where the little go-getter went. Before he left, he was constantly talking about the place. About something he needed to find there. Anyway, I don't think he found it. Actually, fool is probably frozen to death in some ditch halfway up the mountain. But that's all I know. Head to Whitehold, and you'll find Promise. Or you won't. Doesn't make any difference to me."

Euphoria stares at you for a moment before his eyes dart over to a couple of tieflings drinking spirits. "Hey, bring me some of that swill, will ya?"

Everyone, roll me a history check to see what you might know about Whitehold and the surrounding area.

Effort: History: 11 + Guidance: 1

Brask's extensive knowledge of History 18

Maybe he met someone who'd been there?  Because Brask has never read a history book in his life.

Taking Effort's words to heart, he'll respond with "Ah, thank you for the new truth." as he pulls out a notebook and begins to jot down some notes, "I'll be sure to observe this custom.  Can you describe the origin of..."  he continues before he's interrupted by Euphoria.  Hearing Whitehold, Kurama does his best to recall what he can about the place.

History check: 12

(Looks like Kurama has been slacking on his studies lol)

Kurama, you can't recall anything you've read or learned about Whitehold...although you're sure you've at least heard then name before. With your former monastery being in the White Wind Mountains, perhaps Ryuu had mentioned it.

Brask, you also haven't read anything about Whitehold, but you know someone who has been there before. Well, at least someone who claims to have been there before. Kazagan, a goliath, was one of your former gladiator companions. He's still fighting, as far as you know. He did some unsavory things in his younger days, including tomb robbing and pilfering anything he could. His little outfit, he claims, traveled to Whitehold. It took every bit of their ability just to get into the ruins. They never made it far, but you remember him saying that his mind could barely comprehend the place. Massive walls with a castle built into the side of a towering mountain. Seemed impossible to construct. 

Effort, you've heard the most of all. Jacob had read extensively about Whitehold, and occasionally discussions would end up with him telling you about the mysterious place. It had been built before written history - at least the written history of this part of the world. Some say an ancient Fey king had come over to settle another plane. Some say the first alliance between elves and dwarves established the castle. Regardless, it had fallen into ruin long ago, with no real reason known. The prevailing research, however, kept telling of a connection to other places. Literally, through tunnels and deep caverns within the mountain, and...connections of other types. Connections to other planes and other beings. Those that made it out of Whitehold to tell their tales and write their books never found the ends of anything, however. They never reached the deepest depths. They never found the culmination of whatever magic or otherworldly presence lurked there. Many, of course, never returned at all.

Big castle, says Brask between bites.

"Hmm strange I can't seem to recall anything about this Whitehold," he comments to the group.  Turning to Euphoria, "Do you know in what part of the mountain range the castle is located?" 

Euphoria leans forward for a moment and smiles. "No idea."

As she continues to remember her time with Jacob, however, Effort recalls him saying that the castle was built into the side of one of the tallest peaks. It's here in the northern part of Oshait, although not quite the northernmost point of the range. They become more impressive just a bit south. Overland would be the most direct route, although it's a long hike. A boat could also take you up and around the northeast part of the continent. Then one of the larger rivers there cuts inland and arrives at the base of the mountains.

So, are we going or what?  Brask adds, finally full and content with his breakfast.

"I have never forgotten where I am, or why I am there," Effort replies coldly to Euphoria.  She isn't interested in trading insults with her former leader, however, and instead falls into silent contemplation, reviewing what she knows of Whitehold.

Ignoring Euphoria, she tells the others, "I have heard of this place before.  It is ancient... a castle built before time itself was recorded, in any way other than through oral tradition.  Some say it is the seat of an ancient Fey king.  Others say it was the first alliance between the dwarven and elvish peoples.  Whatever the truth may be, it is a castle of secrets, where the vale of our world is rumored to grown thin and contaminated with the taint of others.  We can find it on the tallest peak of the mountains, in Osthait.  Traveling over land is the most direct, though it may be easier to use the river to reach the base of the mountains."

She thinks.  "Which way would the rest of you prefer?  I am not adverse to more hiking, even if the path is difficult.  It will be faster, and I feel speed is of the essence here."

Let's take today and do stuff round the city, says Brask, not keen to leave civilisation yet.  I got things I want to do.  But yeah, castle tomorrow.  Is it far?

You're traveling back inland. From Gorta, it's a solid few days hike at a good pace to the area Effort is fairly certain the mountain is in - kind of near the "TAI" of "MOUNTAINS" That's where the really high peaks of the range are - the tallest on the entire continent. 

"Hmm... I think starting our voyage via boat would be best.  Coming down the mountain was treacherous enough and my home was not near one of the mountain peaks.  Any  way to increase our speed and make our hike easier seems like the most prudent solution."  Kurama chimes in.  Turning to Brask, he continues with, "And I would also like to spend a day in the city before departing.  I'd like to visit one the libraries if possible to see if there might be any texts related to what happened to my home."

Effort sighs impatiently at Brask, but relents.  "We can discuss the manner and method of travel later.  But even I agree that we will need a day to prepare.  Plus, you wanted to train with Pip, and that is a worthwhile use of the time."  She pauses, and glances over at Freedom.  "Besides, I also require time to catch up with old friends," she adds. 

Hearing Kurama's plan, she tells him "You may have some luck gaining access to the libraries here from the Temple of Oghma.  Look for a man named Brother Jacob, and inform him that you are a friend of Emilia, his former student.  Tell him... that she is in good health, but wrapped up in this hunt for the cultists, and could not travel to the city with you.  And if for some reason he does not believe you, know this: his favorite tea is apple and rose, with a hint of honey, but he always pretends it is a strong grey in company because he feels the former is too flowery for a man of his position.  Emilia knew this because she always prepared his tea, and ribbed him about it.  So it may buy you some credibility."

(Effort will spend the day shopping for a few supplies - caltrops, summoning ingredients.  If she can afford it she'd like to upgrade to studded leather armor.  I doubt she can afford it though.  Still, if she wants to sell her leather armor and buy a studded leather, how much would that cost?  Could she also sell her scroll of Poison Spray?

After she's finished shopping, she'd spend the rest of her time hanging out with Freedom if she had the chance.  I the player feel no particular need to roleplay this out in great detail unless Freedom wants to come with us XD, but I feel Effort would spend some time with her friend before leaving again in any case.)

Effort, if you'd like, you can make 35gp selling both your leather armor and your spell scroll. You find a surprisingly well made studded leather piece for 45gp.

While chatting with Freedom, you discuss the possibility of her coming with you and getting the hell out of Gorta. She seems flattered and offers a gentle smile, but she has to stay. There are too many young tieflings here that would be completely lost were it not for a few of the elders in the gang. It might not be the life she wished for, but it's her responsibility now to watch after them. Maybe one day they'll all be free of Gorta's grasp. She does mention that when Promise left, he had been sure to save up enough to purchase winter gear for the journey. Fur, anything you might need to make a fire, and so on.

Kurama, assuming you take Effort's advice, you would be able to find Jacob fairly easily:

 Brask, you spend quite a bit of time training with Pip. You focus mostly on his bow skills, and while you're no expert, you know the basics. You also go over general tactical strategy during a fight. 

Here's how training will work. You will roll a persuasion check, and depending on your total, you'll be able to increase certain stats. 10-14, increase 1 stat. 15-19, increase 2 stats. 20+, increase 3 stats. You'll be able to do this occasionally as long as you take time to train with Pip when you have the downtime. Here are your options (you can choose the same option more than once if you roll high enough):

• Add 1d6 to Pip's total hit points (currently 7)
• Add 1 to any of his ability scores (currently STR 8, DEX 14, CON 10, INT 10,  WIS 8, CHA 8)
• Add 1 to his proficiency bonus (which will make his attacks +5 to hit, currently +4) 

Yikes, that is one squishy little goblin. Brask will spend a fair amount of time on the bow, but the rest on endurance training, try to bulk that body up.  Brask will join Pip on his runs through the city, enjoying the exercise and the chance to intimidate random passers-by pretending to charge them.

Persuasion 5

I'll take 6 to his HP and +1 to his CON (assuming this also increases his HP?)

Brask will also look for a smith about the plate armour.

Yup, CON increases his HP as well every time his modifier increases.

You find a smithy who, after some haggling, agrees to work on the plate armor for 75gp. He says you're lucky it's already a similar size or he'd charge 150. 

It doesn't take long, and it's done by the time you and Pip get back from your run. The goblin kept up remarkably well, only starting to really tire out toward the end. He's panting but smiling.

Kurama would spend the majority of the day digging through the library trying to learn as many different myths and legends as possible hoping to find any that are similar to what had happened to his home.  He'd then end his day buying heavier winter cloths as even he would have issues with the cold in the upper peaks of the mountains.

AFAIK Heavy Winter Clothes cost 4gp, for everyone's info... at least in the 2 winter campaigns I did so far, it was a standardized price XD

Effort would share the information about the mountains being cold (obviously).  Problematic here:  Effort can physically not carry a tent.  I'm not sure how many we have or how many we need, a 2 person tent only costs 2gp but weighs something like 20lbs.

Effort's Purchase List:
selling: leather armor, scroll of poison spray

purchasing:
- studded leather
- 3x caltrops
- 2x familiar summoning components
- 1x winter clothing
- 2x waterproof sacks