Episode 22: Cabin Fever

The Sunstar continued to blast a beam of pure Radiant energy in to the sky. The veil of darkness was receding. The Rime was retreating and blue sky was spreading and our adventurers felt the warmth of the sun. For Grom and Tor this was the first time in nearly two years that they felt it's warmth. Then Tor saw it. A dark thick rolling impenetrable fog moving at speed rolling towards them. This was Auril's doing and the unnatural fog was bringing her vengeance. 

Aldrick sensed the presence again that had been with them in the Cabin. Macreadus' spirit, bound to the Ethereal Plane. But this time there was a sense of happiness, or achievement in that they had been able to complete his work on the Sunstar. The four heroes present at the cabin felt a surge of life affirming energy as they all received the "Blessing of Lathandar", gaining each of them 10 temporary hit points.

Where were Nemeia and Halfdan? That had arranged to meet at the cabin but so far no sight of them. Aldrick, Shayde, Grom and Tor readied themselves for battle. Tor and Grom donned their shields. Grom and Shayde headed down from the cabin and took up positions at ground level. Aldrick cast "Mirror Image". 

As the fog rolled in through the trees the heroes could make out flashes of blue light in the denseness. Then suddenly from out of the fog appeared a sled. Halfdan and Nemeia had arrived, and not a moment too soon! Aldrick retreated inside the cabin while Lookout perched on the edge of the walkway and Aldrick used his familiar to perceive what was coming. 

Humanoid shapes started to appear at the edge of the fog. Six figures approaching the edge of the tree line followed by six more creatures flying 30ft above them. What had Auril sent to Black Cabin to oppose out heroes?

Tor reached into her Grey back of tricks and threw one of the small furry balls down to the ground. It transformed into a panther which landed with the thump in the now slushy ground at the base of the stairs. The panther stalked forward towards the trees and hid. 

Halfdan and Nemeia leapt from their sled, grabbing their weapons. "What's happening here?" Shouted Halfdan. "Ahh, lovely of you to join us!" Remarked Grom mockingly. "Just how much praying did you need to do!? Grom smirked as he drew his axe and steeled himself for combat. "Appears we arrived just in time", remarked Halfdan. 

The shapes in the fog moved closer becoming more visible. The humanoid shapes were clothed like townsfolk from the ten towns but they were faceless and a bright light appeared to emit from them. The flying creatures seemed to be made of Ice. A bright green glow eminating from the sleds had the dogs whimpering. One of these creatures was an elemental.

Shayde took cover behind the stairs concealing herself from the approaching monsters. Tor went to find Aldrick.

Shayde nocked an arrow on her bow and stepped out from her hiding place and loosed the arrow straight at one of the approaching creatures. It struck true and Shayde was able to add her "Sneak attack" damage. 

Aldrick used his familiar Lookout to deliver a "Shocking Grasp" Halfdan strode across the slushy ground to get a better look at what they now faced donning his shield. Nemeia followed sticking close to Halfdan. Grom moved to take cover behind a nearby tree. The figures moved forward in a line like an advancing army. 

The walkers, now fully visible, their faceless heads locked on the cabin fired beams of bright white cold energy at the stilts supporting the cabin. The wood splintered and creaked. The next turn these monsters would be at the cabin. The damage inflicted so far had not deterred or slowed them. 

Shayde repeated her previous attack, darting out from the shadows behind the stairs to fire her short bow. Another hit. Aldrick moved through Tor to see with his own eyes what was coming for them and launched a "Chromatic Orb" of fire at one of the approaching walkers. Grom moved from his position to engage in melee fixing the target with his hunters mark but failed to land his blow. Tor made for the stair giving the panther the order to attack the closest monster. Taking hold of her totem she invoked her magic and conjured forth a "Flaming Sphere" which she rammed into one of the approaching walkers.

The walkers reached the underneath of the cabin, crossing the frozen water and made slam attacks into the stilts causing further groaning from the damaged structure as it lurched from the impacts. A lone walker engaged in melee fought back. Nemeia invoked her "Spiritual Weapon" and used it to attack the nearest walker. Halfdan had now drawn his sword and entered the fray too landing multiple hits with added damage from his "Divine Smite" to drop the walker where it stood. 

The flying elemental ice monsters made for the Sunstar and started to attack it with their claws. Between the faceless walkers slam attacking the supports of the cabin and the flying monsters directly attacking the Sunstar it had become clear to our party that Auril had sent them here to destroy the contraption and stop anyone from ending her Rime. 

Shayde turned her attention to the flying ice monsters and let fly with another arrow hitting the mark again and adding her sneak attack damage. Aldrick unleashed a "Scorching Ray" sending each of the threes rays at separate ice monsters attacking the Sunstar. 

Nemeia moved closer to the remaining walkers attacking the cabin and taking hold of the amulet that hung about her neck she invoked her deity's divine power to unleash "Destroy Undead". A wave of bright light erupted from her, but as she opened her eyes the walkers were still standing. If these creatures were undead they were beyond her current ability. 

Shayde loosed another arrow from her shortbow. Aldrick conjured flame and tossed it as a "Fire Bolt" towards the nearest flying ice creature. Grom moved his "Hunters Mark" to the next nearest walker and attacked with his axe. Tor slammed the "Flaming Sphere" into a walker. Despite the onslaught these monsters were absorbing all the damage and continued to fight back. Nemeia moved her "Spiritual Weapon" to attack. "They're trying to bring down the cabin!", Halfdan roared as he took hold of his amulet and cast "Misty Step" appearing instantly on the creaking wooden deck adjacent to the flying ice creatures attacking the Sunstar. He drew his sword and attacked twice. 

One of the walkers landed a heavy blow on Nemeia and another slammed against Grom. The remaining walkers continued their assault on the structure which was now starting to give way. Both Halfdan and Aldrick had to steady themselves as the whole cabin began to shift and sway.

Shayde loosed again hitting a walker. Aldrick fearing the collapse decided it was time to rejoin the others on the ground. He tossed another "Fire Bolt" and then leaped across the gap to the rickety staircase. Misjudging it completely, Aldrick slipped on the slushy stair and plummeted to the ground below sustaing a small amount of damage in the fall landing prone a few feet away from the hiding Shayde. Aldrick gingerly got to his feet. 

Swords swung, Axes chopped, arrows flew and "Sacred Flame" issued forth. Halfdan drew on his Diety's strength again to once again deliver a "Divine Smite" as he slashed against the Ice Elementals.

Aldrick moved to where he could see the walkers attacking the structure. Gripping his dragon headed staff tightly he traced the lines of the arcane sigils with his Wand of the War Mage and unleashed a screaming torrent of fire that exploded as a "Fireball" capturing three of the walkers in its blast. And so was the beginning of the end!. 

Part of the cabin that had been under sustained attack crashed into the frozen river, smashing through the ice. One of the walkers was swept away in the avalanche. 

Tor dropped the concentration from her "Flaming Sphere" and grasped hold of her staff. Raising her arms to the sky she invoked the Earth Mother and spoke the words in her native Goliath tongue that brought thick dark clouds rolling in above the Sunstar darkening once again the blue sky above them. Tor's eyes became solid white reflecting the flashes of lightening that flickered within the Maelstrom above. And then with a sudden pull, a single streak of pure electrical energy arced down to strike the Sunstar. The Ice creatures adjacent all absorbed the energy causing damage to them. 

The combat continued. The ice monsters attacking Halfdan flew past him to join the others attacking the Sunstar. One of the walkers dealt a slamming attack against Nemeia who went down. Seeing and hearing their comrade fall everyone faught on with increased ferocity.

Shayde left her hiding place to join her friends loosing more arrows at the flying ice monsters which exploded when reduced to zero hit points. The Cold Ice Walkers were relentless. One of them turned it's attack on Grom hitting with an attack that almost reduced him to unconscious but he survived. Aldrick threw more fire at the Ice Mephits. 

Halfdan used his "Misty Step" to teleport down the ground and apply his "Lay on Hands" to revive his fallen friend with a full 25hp worth of healing.

"What are you doing Tor?" Cried Aldrick. Tor responded, shouting, "This thing is a beacon to Auril! Wherever it is and whoever is near it will be in danger! We should not have tried to meddle in this way. The only way to Stop the Rime is to defeat Auril herself". And as she finished shouting Tor pulled down another fork of lightning, striking the Sunstar. Sparks flew and the nearby Ice Mephits exploded. Shards of Ice impacting the Sunstar which also exploded. 

At the same time two of the Cold Light Walkers had broken through the pillar supporting the cabin and another section crashed to the ground, chunks of ice exploding from the frozen river. The two walkers were swept away as they plunged into the icy water.

The two remaining Cold Light Walkers attacked. Nemeia was struck again and collapsed on the stairs unconscious. The other slammed into Tor. Luckily her resistance to Cold Damage preventing her too falling unconscious. Grom swung his axe cleaving one of them in two and Halfdan thrust his sword straight through it. Tor moved to the unconscious Nemeia and administered healing to her with a healing kit. Halfdan then raced to his fallen companion and in the quiet stillness his words came as something of a surprise to the rest of them. 

"Nemeia, my love, I never meant for you to be in harms way. I'm sorry my love".

And so in the aftermath our band of adventurers stood, looking at the devastation of the half collapsed cabin, the Sunstar destroyed and the darkness slowly returning all around them. The fading warmth of the brief sun replaced once more by the harsh sub-zero temperature of The Frost Maiden's Everlasting Rime. 

To be continued................