Chilling Adventures in the North

" The Frostmaiden!" Shad's jaw drops. "I had not thought of that. But I do need sleep and prayer," Shad says.

"I thought this would be simple. How far do we need to go to find a safe place? Could we anchor the boat in the bay over night? Sleep on it?"

Qinfaren adjusts his pack, looks around to make sure he has everything. He looks at Shad with a big smile and nods.

"We'll find somewhere," Qinfaren says. "Really probably doesn't need to be too far as long as we take turns keeping watch."

If the others are ready, Qinfaren will make his way back to the boat, looking out the cave entrance, up and down the shore to see if he can make out a beach or cove they could tie up in for the night.

"I still say we oughta go back to town," Arogna says as she follows after. "Ain't you afraid of nothin', Qinfaren? What if she is the Frostmaiden? This whole place's afraid of her. She look like a frost-maiden? D'you reckon the Cat Lord can fight the Frostmaiden, Shad? I'd like ta see that, mind you." She still seems quite convinced by the theory Qinfaren presented in the town hall.

Bjorn turns to Arogna, "We could go back and spend the night at the inn. It would be safer. However, going back and forth between the caves and town would take far too much time."

Shad will follow Qinfaren. "I am sure the Cat Lord would destroy the Frostmaiden, Arogna . . . but they do wander. They are fickle." He seems lost in thought for a moment. "You know there are some cats who actually live in the cold. They can't enjoy it, however." He'll frown slightly. "It might be foolish, but I'm hoping she's an old lady with too much fish."

"What spot looks best, Bjorn?"

Arogna lets out a laugh. "If she's an ol' lady with too much fish, the Cat Lord's gonna bless her, an' bring all his friends an' all. Here's hopin'."

Shad licks his lips. "Mmm, fish," he says. He rubs his belly. 

Unless he hears otherwise, he'll find a good spot and take a long rest with the others, curling up to pray and meditate. 

Assuming the group managed to get the boat down the shore a little ways to a beach or bay, Qinfaren is happy to take first watch.

Perception for watch if needed: 15  

You climb back down the frozen waterfall, carefully going so as not to destroy any more of the ice so that you may return that way. You then head back out of the caves and find the skipper. However, you realise that without Muharg you don't know how to sail the boat, and with the angler's boat now gone, you are stuck.

Qinfaren looks at the boat and then at the others. He then looks up the rock face to the other cave entrances.

"I think for now we might not have much choice but to try one of these other caves," Qinfaren says. "At least one that's up from the water shouldn't be as icy as this one. Be nice not to sleep on ice."

He nods at the closest one (the one 20' up).

"Should we give it a try?"

He looks at the rock, putting his hands on what appear to be the best hand holds and starts climbing.

(Athletics if needed: 21  )

"I agree about sleeping on ice. Rather not," Shad says. He will go to the closest cave as well.

Shad takes a deep breath at the base of the cave. He looks up, swallows and starts climbing: Athletics 8

"I sure do hope none of those remains belong to the anglers. Without them, are we going to have to walk out of here? Could be a long trip."

Arogna waits at the foot of the cliff until everyone has finished climbing, and she will attempt to catch, or at least get underneath, anyone who falls. (Dex 4)

When everyone has made it up safely, she will climb up after. (Athletics 8)

(OOC: Thanks, Arogna! Shad's probably going to be more cautious in the future.)

There are plenty plenty of handholds and footholds on the cliffs, and so ascending the cliffs is easy. You climb up to the first cave which is only twenty feet above the frozen lake. Up here the floor of the cave is dry and provides warmer ground. However, this cave smells of urine and the floor of the cave is strewn with animal and humanoid bones.

From somewhere within the darkness, you hear a low growl.

At the sound of the growl, Qinfaren swings his shield off his shoulder and holds his staff in his hand.

”Sounds like we might have found someone home,” Qinfaren says.

Then he smiles.

”Ooh. Maybe it’s a bear. I like bears.”

He moves his one hand along the mistletoe wrapped staff until a small ball of flame appears. He gently lobs it into one corner, trying to shed some light on who they share the cave with.

Casts Produce Flame  

"The other cave was too wet, and this one is too crowded. I hope we can find a cave that is just right," Shad says. He draws his crossbow and looks for a warm place to hide: Stealth 12

(OOC: Hmm. It says "Unable to parse dice roll." Here's another attempt: 15)

The light from Qinfaren's flame lights up the cave as it flies through the air before landing in the corner. Before the flame extinguishes, you make out the sight of a dire wolf at the back of the cave.

Shad attempts to find a space to hide in the cave and manages to hide himself behind a part of the cave wall.

Qinfaren smiles when he sees the direwolf. 

“You’re a pretty big wolf, aren’t you? We’re friends just looking for a place to rest our heads. You can share, can’t you.”

Uses Speech of Beast and Leaf to try and calm the wolf.

Persuasion: 9  

Arogna stays very still and does not look the wolf in the eyes. She waits tensely to see if Qinfaren's attempt to make friends with the wolf works.

Shad also realizes Qinfaren is communicating with the wolf, especially when he sees Arogna stay still. He will ready his crossbow, without pointing it at the wolf, but not act unless it attacks Qinfaren.