The Ice Reaches & Ice Folk

The party finally reaches the Ice Reaches, where they encounter minotaurs and thanio. They end up finding a polar bear being attacked by minotaurs, helping to free it and defeat the monsters. The bear, grateful for the assistance, converses with Diesa the druid and offers to help the party avoid traps and dangerous terrain. The party continues travelling, finding a wreckage of an iceboat where they find snow supplies - the party was suffering, as most of them, except Alphy and Laurana, forgot to buy winter clothes from Tarsis. A bad snowstorm was approaching too, so the party took shelter with the bear in the wreck where they had to wait for the storm to pass. Once it has, an intact iceboat ends up approaches, led by a man named Harold who ends up inviting the party back to his village after they explain what happened and why they're in the boat. The party agrees, boarding his ship and going back to their village. The party discusses their situation and Aaron emphasises to the party that they need to get the orb and give it to Council at Sancrist Isle who can use it to turn the war. Their meeting is interrupted by a commoner bursting in and letting Harald know that the Minotaurs, Thanoi and White Dragon Army have joined forces and plan to attack their village. The party decides to help the Icefolk, and are assigned with helping all non-soldiers escape to the boats. Whilst preparing, Diesa turns into a bird to survey the approaching army and discovers they're bringing an ancient white dragon to the fight. She returns and the party and icefolk prepare. When the fight finally arrives, they party successfully protects the fleeing Icefolk and helps them to escape on iceboats. The party goes with them whilst the fighters and guards of the village stay behind to fight the Highlord.