Storm King's Thunder

// During his stay at the forge, Flint modifies his shield with a bracket for his immovable rod. The rod sits firmly, horizontal across the back of the shield above the arm straps. //

Con Check: 9
Con Check: 19
Con Check: 5
Con Check: 7

After nearly a week of searching, Marav is holding up pretty well but starting to feel worn down by the extreme cold. It’s the blizzard and thick cloud cover on the 7th day that does it—leaving Marav covered in snow and soaked through. Shivering in the thin and freezing air, Marav happens upon a cave high up in the spine of the world, a shelter from the snow and wind.

Marav suffers one level exhaustion, and needs to warm up before he can recover from the exhaustion. 

Meanwhile, in Yartar, the mage Kolbaz sits down with Ink. “It’s like this. I was promised certain services from a member of the Hand of Yartar. Pawned my staff for payment. But she didn’t hold up her end of the deal. I could go and make things right, but they know me, and would see me coming. I need someone to go and talk to them, someone they don’t know yet, and then figure out where they put my staff and get it back for me. If you can do that, I’ll teach you the spell!”

Marav takes out his pack and pulls out some torches, using his druidic matches he ignites them and builds a small camp fire. He searches the cave looking for any signs of habitation or things that could be used to keep his fire going.

Survival: 20

The cave that Mara found in the mountains goes deep, at least 100 feet or more (judging by Marav’s range of vision). The sides of the cave are rough stone and ice, and stand about 20 feet apart, while the ceiling is about the same height from the floor.

Marav sees tracks leading further into the cave, tracks in the ice, though they are somewhat old and obscured by snow buildup.

Marav will head into the cave following the tracks.

As you progress further into the cave, the light from the outside and the campfire dwindles to effectively nothing. It is still freezing in the cave. Marav can see now that these tracks that mar the stone and ice are made by something large, probably reptilian. 

Marav pulls his cloak around him and continues inside the cave wondering if this is what he came here for. What he felt compelled toward. 

Quote from Awaypturwpn >>

"...If you can do that, I’ll teach you the spell!”

"The Hand of Yartar, eh? Hey, Rip - did we keep that letter from Tamalin Zoar? I know her brother had initially kept it, but I swore I saw it on you after that," Ink calls out to Rip as he and his kids are leaving the building.

"I think I might be able to cash in a favor with it here."

//  I'm assuming that the convo with Kolbaz before Rip left  given it was when they first ran into him... So yea there's some timey wimey stuff going on. "This letter can win you a powerful friend in Everlund if you show it to the half-orc innkeeper at Danivarr’s House, or it can be given to a member of the Hand of Yartar in exchange for a special favor." //

Marav continues until he hears ragged, raspy breathing. This breathing causes him to look up reflexively, where he sees—in an alcove partially hidden from view—a dragon! Young, very light of scale (though what color is impossible to tell in the dark), it rests sound asleep, a mere 50 feet from where Marav stands.

Marav kneels down, lightly clears his throat, "I am sorry to disturb your slumber, but I believe I am here because of you."

"oh, I thought i already gave it to you... here" Rip hands Ink the letter "good luck, don't die....if you find some sending stones let me know"

Quote from Gimpster >>

"oh, I thought i already gave it to you... here" Rip hands Ink the letter "good luck, don't die....if you find some sending stones let me know"

 "Thanks, Rip! Kids - I need to help my friend Kolbaz here with something. You kids mind your dad and hug your mom tight when you see her. I'll see you both soon enough," Ink says to Rip and the kids. 

He turns to Kolbaz, "So, Hand of Yartar, eh? Where can I get an audience?"

Ink places the letter into the bag of holding. 

“Yes. I am also pleased with the armor you have provided. It would appear that dwarven-touched adamantine compliments my basic design quite well. My weak points are largely covered now. You both are very impressive.”

The “armor” is more akin to supplementary shielding. The adamantine seems to be gilded to the edges of his arms and shins. However, what is most impressive is the fact that there are portions of adamantine that slide along the gaps in his armor. In effect, Crownsguard is now immune to critical hits because these portions of adamantine can slide reactively to protect his joints.

Also, we have two weeks of downtime, correct? May I attempt to Work? If so, here is Athletics: 25

Quote from Hardcopi >>

Marav kneels down, lightly clears his throat, "I am sorry to disturb your slumber, but I believe I am here because of you."

 The dragon wakes with a snort and rolls down to the ground, gracefully landing on its four clawed feet. You see a giant gash across the young dragon's face, a wound that hasn't quite healed yet. There is something familiar about this one.

"So...my meals come to me now?" The young white dragon chortles, its voice thin and wispy. "Good of you to present yourself properly...orcling. I look forward to tasting your flesh." The dragon paces towards you, slowly, making circles but always maintaining eye contact. Its head remains low to the ground.

Marav looks up and grins... "Not who I was expecting. This will be interesting. Claws vs fangs."

Marav shifts forms into a Dire Wolf and attacks. Steele screechs and attacks as well.

Attack: 15 Damage: 12
DC 13 Strength Check or Knocked Prone

Steele's  Attack: 22 Damage: 5

Quote from jr_el_leon >>

 "Thanks, Rip! Kids - I need to help my friend Kolbaz here with something. You kids mind your dad and hug your mom tight when you see her. I'll see you both soon enough," Ink says to Rip and the kids. 

He turns to Kolbaz, "So, Hand of Yartar, eh? Where can I get an audience?"

 "By friend Ink!" says Kara, giggling. Rooney looks very resolute as he leaves, and gives Ink a serious-looking nod. 

 Kolbaz smiles again. "They're as common as rats. Just have to know where to look. Go to the Wink and Kiss, just at the top of the road and turn left. Slip a server there some gold, and they'll get you a meeting. The more gold, the quicker the meeting, if you catch my meaning." Kolbaz nods and makes his way to the back garden. "Now if you'll excuse me, I must go tend to my garden. Ha!!" 

In the mountain cave, the dragon roars in surprise, but the quickly unleashes its fury on Marav, ignoring Steele for the moment, ripping into the wolf shape with its claw and fangs. 

Bite Attack: 17 Damage: 14 piercing plus 1 cold

Claw Attack: 14 Damage: 14 slashing

Claw Attack: 21 Damage: 12 slashing

Marav's form drops. He stands before the dragon looking unfazed.

"Is that the best you can do wyrm? You do your kind a disservice, working for barbarians, hiding in caves. You are supposed to be better than this." Marav crosses his arms and stares.

"I'm not here to finish the job the giant started earlier. Unless you force my hand. You shouldn't have threatened me."

//If the dragon comes toward to attack Marav will cast Thunderwave at level 3.

Damage: 18