Episode 02 - Lake Monsters and Mountain Perils.

Following their unexpected meeting with the fun loving elemental Chwingas, our party set off on route to the town of Bremen to follow up on the rumour of some less than savoury mages had been interfering in local business. With Grom acting as guide the road from Bryn Shander to Targos was mainly uneventful. As our party reach the Gate just outside town they met with a traveling merchant company called Torg’s, owned and operated by a shady dwarf named Torrga Icevein and her mysterious bodyguard Sephek Kaltro, who seemed unaffected by the extreme cold dressed only in a vest, trousers and boots, similar in style to those worn by mariners south of the Sword Coast. After exchanging a few unpleasantries we learned that Torg's was heading to Bryn Shander.

Grom informed the rest of the group that the rest of the way to Bremen would be across the frozen tundra as there was no proper road past Targos. With this information it was decided to venture into Targos for refreshments and supplies for the journey ahead. On entering the town we were met by a Dwarf named Garret Velryn, a wilderness guide who was setting out with a small expedition to Kelvin’s Cairn. A brief catch up between Grom and Garrett, for what seemed like banter of old friends or colleagues it is as unveiled that there had also been a recent murder in Targos.

Our 4 adventurers headed to the Luskan Arms, the oldest public house in Ten-Towns, established nearly two hundred years ago. Whilst enjoying some Knucklehead trout chowder it was easy to pick up on the conversations of the other patrons, namely that of the spare of recent murders. Three now in total. Targos, Bryn Shander and Easthaven. At this point our would be heroes found themselves in conversation with a ageing female Dwarf named Hiln Trollbane who imparts that each of the 3 victims were found with a dagger of ice in the heart and that so far they all hailed from towns that made life sacrifices to Auril The Frost Maiden. Hiln's own investigation have lead her to suspect Saphek Kaltro is the murder, and that his strange immunity to the cold is a "Kiss of the Frost Maiden". Hiln offers 100 GP as a reward to "Deal" with Kaltro to which our party agreed they would look into it on their return from Bremen.

After a quick visit to Triglio to purchase snowshoes and crampons the four set out for Bremen across the snow. Arriving around 3 hours later they headed for "Buried Treasures" to speak with Cora. She explains that her son Huarwar, used to help with the chores until two months ago when he joined a search party to find the town Speaker who went missing during a blizzard. The speaker was brought back safe and sound, but Huarwar got separated from the others and didn’t find his way home until the following morning. He had frostbite and could barely walk.

Over the next few days, Huarwar was uncharacteristically mean toward his mother who found what looked like a shard of black ice. The next day, two tieflings came by the inn and offered o take Huarwar to their sanctuary in a castle. All Cora could remember about the tieflings is that they wore amulets that looked like they were made from the same "Black Ice" as the shard she found in Huarwar's room. Armed with this new information our party endeavoured to search out these Teiflings and try to convince Huarwar to return home to his mother. 

Upon leaving the "Buried Treasures", our party where once again intercepted by a local Dwarven fisher named  Grynsk Berylbore who explained that his crews were too scared to go out onto the lake. Whilst debating the merits of knucklehead trout fishing and trying to ascertain the nature of his workers fear a half elf named Tali, a researcher who was in town studying the strange climate and it's affects on the local wildlife began to argue with Grynsk that his fishing crews had reported seeing a "Monster" out on the lake and intact on the last occasion had been attacked by it. 

Intrigued by what this "Monster" could be and a desire to help the local inhabitants our group agreed albeit with Grynsk in tow, to take one of the fishing boats out onto the lake. Whilst navigating the dangerous ice flows on the lake the boat was suddenly hit by something from underneath. Unable to see what lurked in the icy depths they carried on. A second, and third ramming soon lead to Aldrick through desperation as much as anything casting message through the frigid rippling surface waters calling out to whoever or whatever is there and what they wanted!!?? Much to everyone's surprise a long reptilian neck emerged from the icy blackness and spoke in common before sinking back down into the depths. Following this surreal experience on the lake our party headed back to shore. 

Back on dry land Aldrick passed this information back to Tali who rewarded them with 5GP and a spell scroll of animal friendship. Parting ways the group took in the sights of Bremen namely the taverns before heading back to "Buried Treasures" for an evenings long rest and a quick level up having completed their first quest and reaching level 2. 

Heading out after an early breakfast the party set their sights on a return to Bryn Shander and then a search for the "Castle" where Huarwar maybe found. However, upon teaching the town of Targos the group where accosted by a familiar face. That of Garrett's dog Lucky! With it's constant barking it was clearly agitated and wanted to be followed! Diverting away from their original destination, our party now found themselves heading Northwards towards the singular peak of Kelvin's Cairn. 

After some time travelling they finally arrived at a camp at the base of the mountain. A couple of tents met the party along with a number of sled dogs. A quick search of the camp revealed that apart from the remaining supplies, half of which had clearly eaten by the hungry dogs there was nothing or no one to be found. Scouting for the trail Grom managed to identify tracks heading up the mountain. Unused to this kind of environment Aldrick and Shayde decided it would be safer to utilise one of the teams ropes to tie themselves together, don't their crampons and head as one up the trail. 

Passing some bleating mountain goats the team ignored them and continued their ascent. The initial trail opened up onto a wide plateau. At around the halfway point traversing the plateau there came rumblings from above, then all of a sudden the ground around our 4 intrepid explorers began to shake and a massive of snow and I've started to slip downwards towards the plateau. Avalanche!!! As hastily as possible our group set off across the plateau but it became clear that the rope that held them together was now causing problems (we were in initiative order). Trying to utilise dash actions but not making enough progress Shayde pulled out a dagger and get the rope freeing herself from both Grom and Aldrick and using her rogue cunning action managed to bonus action dash across the plateau to safety. At this point the rest of the group were about 3/4 of the way across the plateau when they were engulfed by the snow and ice from above. 

Grom managed to dig himself free and with Shayde's assistant was then able to help dig both Aldrick and Tor free from the deep snow. Now free of the avalanche our adventurers pressed onwards. Not long after they came across an injured Garrett. A use of Tor's healing kit and Garrett was back up on his feet and was able to recount his groups run in with a Yeti. While he managed to lead the Yeti away back down the mountain he was unaware of the fate of his charges - Mokingo Growling Bear Akannathi, a male goliath warrior determined to find Oyaminartok and test his mettle against her, Perilou Fishfinger, a female lightfoot halfling follower of Yondalla (halfling god of fertility and protection) and Mokingo’s stalwart companion and Astrix, a female tiefling. 

During his recount our party were unaware that they were in fact being stalked by 2 ferocious Crag Cats. The Crag Cats pounced and violence erupted. 

Our heroes fought bravely managing to overcome the two Crag Cats but not without taking damage themselves. The final blow coming from a transformed Druid in the shape of a brown bear.

Here ended our second session and we're looking forward to episode 03 and where it may lead for Aldrick, Shayde, Grom and Tor as they continue to search for Garrett's missing company.