Episode 24: The Call of The Wild

Grom produced a map and spread it out across the table. Each of our heroes looked at the map with an intense interest as Grom ran his thick Dwarven finger across it tracing the route as he explained. "We will head West from Bryn Shandar across the frozen tundra until we meet the frozen river, here at this bend. From here we will head Northwards to the Sea of Moving Ice. This should bring us to the whaling station. Grom here we follow the coast West until we find this ship frozen in the ice".

Aldrick nodded in acceptance of Grom's plan. "And how long will this take?" Aldrick enquired. "Three or four days to reach the whaling station", remarked Grom. "It will be slow going in the wilderness without the roads, but if the weather stays fair we should be alright', said Grom stroking his beard as he thought hard on the plan he had put forward. "I suggest we head out and get supplies. We will need shelter, tents, oil and lamps and plenty of food for the dogs!"

Our heroes gathered their supplies and set about loading the sleds. If everything went to plan they would be back in Ten Towns in a ten day. While they searched for the Dark Duchess Captain Imdra Arlaggath of Easthaven would lead a scouting mission towards the Spine of the World seeking to uncover any information on Xardorok Sunblight and the impending Dueragar invasion.

And what about the Gnolls? Would our heroes run into them. If they did Speaker Trovus had offered 10GP for every head claimed. Better not to think about it. There were enough dangers in the wilderness as it was. 

Sleds loaded it was time to head out. The call of the wild beckoned to them. It was late morning. The first couple of hours of travel passed without incident. By the third hour of travel the weather was starting to turn. By the fifth hour snow was falling in steady flurries. By the sixth hour our heroes were pushing on in blizzard conditions eager to get to the bend in the frozen river. Snow continued to fall asleep the party set up camp. The dogs huddled together. Aldrick, not wanting to take any chances cast "Alarm" to protect the campsite. Grom set his hunting traps 

During the night the darkness subsided as dancing lights flickered across the sky, the sign the Auril had cast her nightly Rime. The glow of the aurora bathing the whole of Icewindale in an eerie dim light. Aldrick's sleep was disturbed by voices in his dreams. Suddenly the alarm bells started ringing. The dogs barking madly. Grom and Shayde quickest to react. Luckily it was no monster or creature intent on killing but rather the campsite had been infiltrated by a Chwinga. After a few moments the small mischievous elemental departed. 

The following morning came and the party felt the cold despite their winter clothing and all members having resistance. While the dogs were fed the others scouted the surrounding area for and firewood they could find. With some good survival rolls they managed to find enough for a decent fire and loaded it onto the sleds. They set off heading North. Without the sun rising the grey light made travel treacherous but our heroes got to midday without incident. During the midpoint rest out heroes had an unusual encounter. 

An adult Owlbear was stalking the wilderness in search of food. The party alerted to its presence readied themselves. Tor told the others to hold. She grabbed a days worth of the dogs food and walked slowly toward the approaching creatures. Stopping 30ft from her companions Tor made herself as big as possible and with outstretched arms stepped forward. The Owlbear growled/screached as it took edged closer to Tor Aware that there were others and dogs nearby the Owlbear was not being aggressive towards Tor. Tor moved closer, speaking Goliath in soothing. Then Tor threw some of the meat to the Owlbear. Tor have more food to the hungry creature in all half s days worth of food for the dogs, four portions, and with a successful animal handling check was able to calm the Owlbear enough to placate it such that it acted friendly towards Tor. 

The rest of the party had looked on I'm astonishment. Tor returned. The dogs calmed down too. "Let's go!" Tor said. He will be no trouble to us now. And so the party continued their journey. The Owlbear was following behind at a distance eager for more food. 

Once the team had reached the end of the days travel Aldrick, slightly unnerved by the proximity of the Owlbear despite it's apparently friendly intentions decided he would take no chances this evening and cast "Leomund's Tiny Hut" cresting a dome of force for the 4 of them to shelter in. Tor gave the Owlbear another half days ration of the dogs and whispered to "Clawfeather" to go and forage. The night passed uneventfully and the party enjoyed the comfort Aldrick's spell provided. 

The third day of travel proceeded well for around 5 hours until another blizzard swept in suddenly from nowhere. Not wanting to risk themselves or the dogs it was decided best course of action would be to sit this one out. Aldrick tried to cast Leomund's Tiny Hut but the buffeting of the wind and heavy snow made it almost impossible. So they positioned the sleds as a barrier to the wind and huddled down with the dogs to wait it out. 

Finally as the blizzard started to subside they noticed a shape in the snow. Lookout flew over to enable a closer look. It was a corpse sitting in the snow. Strange as it was this wouldn't be the first frozen remains the party had encountered. Grom went to have a closer look. Investigation unveiled that the corpse was in fact strapped into a saddle. It was dressed in tattered robes, identifying it as that of an arcanist. Very strange. As Grom cleared more snow to try and see if the saddle was attached to anything he felt the ground heave and the snow about started to shift. Grom scrambling hurriedly to get away made it make as a great white wing emerged from the snow followed by a colossal body and neck.

This was the unmistakable form of a great ancient white dragon. Known to Ten-Towners as the White Wyrm, Arveiaturace. At one time, Arveiaturace served a wizard named Meltharond, whose frozen corpse remains strapped to a saddle on the dragon’s back.

The great Dragon seemed to ignore those around it. Instead conversing with the corpse on its back. It beat it's great wings as it took to the air. The rushing air knocking Shayde prone and Grom and Shayde visibly showing fear being so close to such a beast. 

Rather than push on the party made camp for the day. They would teach the whaling station the next day! 

The following day the party continued north. They managed to hunt a couple of reindeer, leaving one for the Owlbear and taking the haunches of the other. The weather was fine after the blizzards and as the party came within sight of the whaling station they could perceive smoke rising from a chimney. They would teach the station in a couple of hours. And who or what would await them?

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