Kazri doesn't like the numb feeling that she experienced at the camp."That was not what I expected, but at the very least we were able to complete the test, and we are all back." Kazri looks around to make sure everyone is back.

Chill grinned the biggest, widest, grin any of you had ever seen from the tabaxi.  "Ha, that was quite entertaining, wasn't it?" he laughed.  "Just wanted a rest and look, back in the grim castle of the queen of the north!" he laughed again.  

"How long have we been gone anyways?  I'm hungry."

Chill seemed disoriented and confused over the passage of time.  And the seriousness of the situtation just seemed to make him laugh, which was very odd and Chill was generally pretty non-expressive regarding his emotions and pretty even-keeled.

As the group returns to Auril's fortress, Krom looks around for a while then shrugs and sits down. The dwarf takes out his smithing tools stares at them for a long moment before putting them back in his pack.

Thoroughly embarassed more than anything else, Rhogar's underlying vehemence for the tiger tribe had been nowhere to be seen upon returning to the camp. Rather the Dragonborn had erred on the side of the demurer as Gorrah, despite the trouble that led their impromptu rescue, merely chittered and exuded feelings of amusement from the shoulder of the dragonborn.

Only with their sudden return to the castle did Rhogar breathe a sigh of relief. But as he took in the others state, his eyes narrowed and a frown lingered at the edge of his maw. "Back, but not fully intact it seems, Lady Kazri. I cannot speak for the others, but... if they too spent time being harassed by a sudden storm, then I suspect there was more going on there than what met the eye." He said, trying in vain in hindsight to fish out some rations from his person, only to growl in frustration upon coming up empty handed.

"Fraid you are, uh... Out of luck, Chill. Perhaps Lady Kazri can provide." He suggest, prior to then heading over to kneel before Krom and look him over, believing the more placid state of his fellow warrior might make for an easier time studying the aftermath. Gorrah meanwhile kept an eye on Chill and Rekuberk, waving her tail behind her as if contemplating making use of it soon...

(@DM: Not sure if this would be Arcana or Medicine check, so rolling a flat d20 + guidance for now. If a medicine check would be appropriate, then roll stays as-is. If arcana might work, add another +5. The goal either way being to see if Krom and perhaps by extension the others are under some magical effect or other malady)

Examination Roll: 22. 

"I am not very sure Chill. Maybe we were there for days?" Kazri replies to Chill. "I agree Master Nimbatuul. It did felt like magic was dulling our senses." She pauses for a moment. "It felt like the time that I was wandering aimlessly, until I met the druid. I just hope that we are done with all the tests." She goes outside to check on Oli, and see if there is change in the main room. "Greetings Mr. Ukuma, do you know how long were we gone this time?" She asks the walrus, if it is awake. "Would you say longer than the last time?"

Rhogar spends a few minutes examining Krom, his actions and mood seemed odd, wrong.  After inspecting him Rhogar gets back to his feet.

Rhogar is able to determine that some sort of madness has come up on him.  Chill likely also, his demeanor has changed as well. Rekuburk additionally doesn't act like he normally does.  You've known and traveled with all three long enough that you can tell that things are off.  Rhogar's naturally attuned magical sense also alert him.  It would take stronger magic to remove the effects.  Something like Greater Restoration would remove madness if it was indefinite in nature. You could wait to see if it passes in a shorter period of time, but if it were indefinite then only a greater restoration spell would remove the madness.

Meanwhile Kazri consults with Ukuma who informs her they were gone many days as they slept many times while away.  They were able to hunt for food and were in no distress.  Oli had missed Kazri but was overall in good health and spirits.

"I believe that we might be safe staying here for the moment. I would like to suggest that we take a good rest (long rest) to recover." Kazri says to everyone, but more to Rhogar.

(Is there a change to the northern and southern doors?)

"Mn. Honestly, I had half-expected the source of that roar we heard last to have come down here at some point. But seeing how long its been...." He trailed off there shaking his head, only to jump a bit at a thought. "Son of a Sharkback!" He exclaimed as if cursing. "We should've warned our whale friend after the first time the trial took more time than expected. By now I worry they think us dead at this point. Master Krom-...." He turned to the dwarf once more.

But as he once sees the state the dwarf's in, he grimaces and sighs, then looks back to Kazri and Chill, seeing them as the most stable, all things considered. For he had not said a word to Rekuberk just yet. Only looked and seemed all the more leery of the Half-Orc upon remembering the Queen's comment about his heightened paranoia. "... Ugh... Let's just set up near the stairs. Much as I would like to make use of the rooms, I'd rather not risk becoming trapped in them, should the tests reset themselves with us inside." He suggest, and if there's no objections from Chill and Kazri(though mostly the latter), he'd see to gently guiding Krom on over and through the motions of setting up a makeshift camp site. Though likely minus any campfires, or so he would have no part in making one from what few supplies they may yet have on their person.

Krom follows Rhogar as he guides him towards the stairs. The dwarf turns towards the dragonborn, his gaze is cloudy, unfocused.
As he sits down Krom shakes his head, his gaze seems to focus for a few moments, "My mind is clouded, Rhogar, an icy fog poisons it, it's hard to concentrate, hard to care for anything. I'll do my best, but I feel that I'm getting too old for this my friend." The dwarf then takes with both hands Mordadin's holy symbol and stares at it in silent, his gaze unfocused as before.

Rhogar smiled softly and pats Krom on the shoulder. "I'd lie to you and say it is whatever magical malaise that has befallen you. But that is not my way. Odds are that even if this should pass, the memory is not something that will just fade into the background of our lives and mind. Even so, my friend, we have to persevere. We have not come this far not to see at least this journey through." The Bronze plays a reassuring hand the dwarf's shoulder, and with his own inherit magic, would transfer what he could of it into Krom to help the dwarf hold on to some measure of focus.

Chill laughs again.  "Creepy thing that howled?  Maybe it won't come into the creepy castle."  He chuckled and then screwed his face up and made a sour look.  

"I don't know what's come over me.  I can't stop laughing at things that should be serious."  He wiggles his fingers and flexes for a moment.  "Everything else seems to work.  This isnt me.  What did that test do to me?"  He laughs again.  "Maybe a nap, a good rest.  But I kinda wanna just get this codical thing and get going. We passed the tests right?  Let's get going!"

Kazri helps Rhogar with Krom, and she also makes sure that the others are following. “I agree with your plan, Master Nimbatuul. There isn’t much that we can do at this point if the tests have been reset. We all need some rest, and we go from there.” If Rhogar is able to help Krom, Kazri scouts ahead, to make sure the way is clear.

Kazri Perception: 10

You set up near the stairs for a rest.  Though you spent 7 days in the last test you still don't seem to be yourselves and feel a good rest will make a difference.  The night passes without incident though at one point during Chill's watch he busts out laughing as a howl is heard outside the castle.  Faint but close, the sound only muffled by the thick walls of ice.

The following day you find that whatever has overcome Rekuburk, Chill and Krom it has not gone away.  

((You can all hit Long Rest))

Krom wakes up and mindlessly goes through his morning rituals managing to commune with Moradin even in his current condition.  As the rest of the group awakes, Krom keeps polishing his armour and weapons. "We should check the door for the Codicil." says suddenly the dwarf.

    Chill laughed about the howling that night as he told the others what he heard. "That things has got to be close!" He chuckled.   "So, now to the room right? Let's get this done." Chill goes down to the room that leads to the vault and checks the doors again.   14         perception

Kazri was a little bit in and out of sleep, for she was concerned about her companions. She woke up, and almost bolted towards Chill when he laughed in the middle of the night. When she realized that he was fine, and waited for sometime to make sure there was nothing approaching, she went back to sleep. The next day, she checks on the others, and they seem to be fine with the long rest. By the time she got up, Krom was already taking care of his equipment. She opens the door of the castle, just enough for her to poke her head, and she checks if there are any threats outside that are visible.

Perception: 3

Though a bit out of it himself, the knowledge that their immediate goal might be swiftly seen to light a fire under Rhogar. As both he and Gorrah eagerly broke camp and devoured whatever portions are afforded them from the others. But as it soon became apparent that the others were yet befouled, that fire from before soon became mere embers of enthusiasm.

In this renewed grim state, unless Kazri drew attention to herself or request they join her upstairs to check things out by the door, the Bronze followed quietly along after Chill and whoever else went with him.

The Tabaxi's laugh seems to briefly snap Krom out from his madness. "Let's go". The dwarf, shield and war hammer at the ready, follows Chill as he approaches the vault's doors.

Day 4, Month of Alturiak ("The Claw of Winter" or "The Claws of the Cold")

Chill moves into the southern room to see if he can gain access to the Chamber of the Codicil. The passage leads to an anvil-shaped room with a door set into the far wall. Flanking the door are bas-reliefs of two male frost giants that have been defaced, their features chipped away. Newer carvings above the door depict the glowering heads of an owl, a wolf, and a goat. A disembodied voice says, “This way is shut to all but those who pass the tests of cruelty, endurance, isolation, and preservation.”

Checking the door he finds that it is still locked.  Krom and Rhogar soon join him, but Rekuburk has been silent and watchful.

Kazri, however, has gone up the stairs. She heads down the hallway and goes past where the body of the withered old frost giant still lies, now frozen stiff.

She reaches the door and she opens the door of the castle, just enough for her to poke her head, and she checks if there are any threats outside that are visible.

As she does the door is wrenched open violently and before her stands a huge Yeti!  Far larger and fiercer than any yeti they had faced thus far!

Initiative 

Kazri 6 Yeti 7

Everyone but Kazri make a DC18 Perception roll to see if you hear the sound of fighting upstairs.  

Rhogar Perception(DC 18): 19. 

Gorrah Perception(DC 18): 10.