Session 40

General Summary

Abyssal Ascension

Gathering themselves, the party began to move up the mountain once more. Coming upon markers with small draconic carvings depicting symbols not unlike those found in Argenvostholt, Kasimir relayed that they used to use them to mark the path towards the mountain folk settlement. Following where the dragons were facing, they found themselves moving through a thick forest. Seemingly getting turned around and lost momentarily, the party began to hear ghostly whispers on the wind which followed them even after they returned to the path. Upon finding the next marker, many icy looking spirits materialized to assault the party. Gio remarked to Kaldur if they always get attacked by spirits when walking around outside. He spoke only that spirits emerge from these woods and eat people's souls, or so he thought based on stories he was told when he was younger.
Getting back on track, the party managed to find the remaining markers until they came to a massive set of runes with a giant icy waterfall. Gio climbed up to get a better vantage point while Ahrieya examined a set of statues depicting four feminine figures. While the rest of the party contemplated their next move, Gio could see a massive figure baring red skin with many open maws creeping towards the group. Booking it down a slope to warn them, the group engagued the enraged creature. Though, something else stalked them as well. The massive, pale-looking wolf with a stinger tail emerged from invisibility and began to assault Ariadne. Leaving Nova to solo the humanoid creature, the rest of the party turned on the wolf and managed to dispatch it, only to eventually help Nova finish the other creature off. Kasimir let the group know that beneath the frozen waterfall was the entrance to the mountain folk settlement, and began to move towards it.
Eventually, they found themselves in a tunnel beneath the waterfall, and when they approached the round stone door, Kasimir began to speak, and it opened, revealing many bulky figures draped in hides and pelts who welcomed the group in after learning who each of them are. The party informed them that they managed to slay the beast that was tormenting them for some time, and that they also managed to find the chief's son and return him, both giving the group merit enough to be welcomed as kin into the settlement. One of the guards moved outside to gather the remains of the beast that was slain.

Hope High in the Mountains

Brought inside, the group saw many glowing crystals and bioluminescent fungi lighting the interior of the large cavern. Many tents made of hide were strewn about the place fashioned together with bone and sinew. Each tent had an animal skull fashioned above the entrance, with a particularly large one baring a bear skull, and the one the party was brought were baring a raven skull. Interestingly, however, Idris and Nova noticed other tieflings and gnomes present here. The group broke off to investigate as Ariadne and Ahrieya went with Kasimir to their lodgings. Surprisingly, the folk here seemed quite happy, surprisingly so compared to the folk down below in the valley of Barovia.
Idris approached some of the tieflings, and though they bore red skin, were still intrigued by Idris' presence. They remarked on how the tribe believes it to be a gift of Ursor in order to protect the tribe better, while some regard it as a curse brought about by the pale wolf that haunts the settlement. Every now and then, someone will be born with tiefling-like gifts. Idris wandered a bit more until he found people playing some music, and he easily joined in.
Nova approached the gnomes; a few adults monitoring some of the children playing. Whats up with the bear skull. Oh, thats the chief's tent, the skull is meant to venerage the bear god Ursor. You don't say. Though, he hasn't seemed to answer our prayers in quite some time. Nova took this information in before she briefly joined the children in play. Eventually she made her way over to where the music was playing, running into Idris, and consuming some meat that was prepared for everyone.
Gio asked around, seeing if anyone had seen people matching the description of the Battlehands. A warrior seemed to remeber seeing them pass through, looking for a scout. They brought gifts to the chief in order to help them gain safe passage further up the mountain towards a temple. When asked what they had brought as tribute, he said you can ask the chief herself.
Ariadne flopped on the bed as Ahrieya began to peruse some of the books that Kasimir held in this tent. This was where he stayed the last time he trekked up here, some time ago. Getting rid of some of the dust, the party ended up returning to the tent. Ariadne demanded that Idris prepare some soup as Ahriya began to feel cold. Suddenly, a massive wave of frost covered half of her body. Then, many piercings, cuts, and scrapes began to form over her body. Frustratingly, She sent to Ayduin, who told her that he was being harried by few people in his way. Gio immediately identified some of the marks and locations of wounds as typical precision marks his family would use to take down prey. Sending then to Vankirk since hes definitely the more level-headed one, Ahrieya told him to back off of her brother, to which she heard a grunting yell back to tell him to fuck off of them, as Zarah stopped responding to them. Idris checked in on his mystery ping once again, and then got a bit of panic, frustration, and rage.
After some time, the wound stopped showing up, and seemingly things turned back to normal. Now, the party means to question the chief before continuing their trek up the mountain, finally arriving at the Amber Temple.

Report Date

09 Sep 2023