The Cold Case

Before Ashfall

 
We collected our thoughts before Althalos, asking more about the coming Ashfall and the heart of Ma'ar we seek.
 
The Heart of Ma'ar is lost to us; legend holds the literal heart of Saldar was broken into pieces when Saldar trapped His brother Vikaz (the antithesis of light, the Shadow God), destroying Saldar but returning the god as well to the material plane (ma'ar is the celestial word for "life"). We believe the heart is in five pieces.
 
Althalos mentioned that the Krellen people have also been negatively effected by the foretold Ashfall (and magical fallout). Also, there is the mysterious group (we caught wind of at the cursed shack) that seems to be "racing" us to the heart of Ma'ar. The seer directed us towards an "all-knowing eye", an object that allows scrying while ignoring the prerequisites needed, e.g. a piece of what one is searching for.
 
"The order has been infiltrated," Althalos adds. The monastery has been such a mix of people and cultures for so long that several groups that would destroy the heart of Ma'ar or wish Saldar to stay dead have power now in the order.
 
The seer's last note to us was our acceptance into the order: with a wave of his hand our order robes turned purple, signaling our inclusion into the House of Truth.
 
 

What Comes To Pass

 
Seeing our questions finished, Althalos proceeded to give us two black candles of invocation that are linked to a teleportation spell, "that will lead you to your heart's content". Jarek offered a prayer to the rediscovered Lord of Light, and with the heart of Ma'ar and the "all-knowing eye" in his mind, lit the candle.
 
The world vanished in a flash of light and dark. and as the magic pulled at each of us, the world revealed itself once more in a familiar sight: two mountains, with a valley between. The Yorne Pass, that we travelled so many months ago.
 
"Where are we?"
 
Bee, with a strike of Saldar's inspiration, cast a readied locate object and led us up into the mountains. From our previous travels, everyone but Milo had prepared for the cold weather; Sera handed off her heatstone to Milo to keep him warm in the journey.
 
As we hiked, we discussed until we came across another living creature -- an old man travelling the pass as well. When we tried to help him, Jarek with a faerie fire to allow the group to see in worsening weather conditions, the man vanished. And as he did, animal sounds growled from outside our vision. We readied ourselves.
 
One creature almost took out Milo in an unforseen attack. Twisted and gnarled almost-humans, the enemies disappeared as they appeared; the snow worsened and we were stuck in this blizzard, in the mountains, surrounded by unforseen enemies. Sera ran after one -- the creatures were bizzare mixtures of human and animals, with beast claws and teeth on a bipedal body.
 
Jarek ran to Sera and Bee as they engaged the enemies, summoning guardians of the Lord of Light to protect the group. From behind Tiberius laid hands on Milo before scooping him up and hurrying to the rest of the squad.
 
As we regrouped, the creature seemed to shimmer and change, its skin losing all color to become white and its size doubling to hulk above us. Horns sprouted from its forehead, and it let forth an unearthly roar of freezing ice as its demonic form became clear to us.
 
The demon leapt down, swinging at Sera as it did. But Saldar be praised! One of the dragon guardians stepped in from Jarek's spell, blocking the attack before returning a slash at the demon. We continued to fight, and with a spell of sunfire from Jarek and a shot from Sera, we felled the snow demon.
 
The numbing cold threw Jarek to his feet, and the blistering frost got into his mouth and nose, destroying all sense of taste and smell.
 

Ohana Means Family

 
Bee called back her spell of locate object, and we continued the journey. After a while, though her spell did not change direction, Tired of the Long Road seemed to smell something. "Family" was all Bee could understand before the large canine bolted off into the mountains. "He is safe, and he will return," she shared. We, meanwhile, found shelter from the weather in a nearby cave. A fire and a short rest was very needed.