Episode 29: The Dark Duchess

With their bruises healing and the day ahead of them our intrepid adventurers set out from Jarlmoot heading back toward the coast. This diversion had cost Aldrick and his companions a whole day and he was eager to get to the ship frozen in the ice to try and find what clues he could about Dzaan, the arcane brotherhood and the lost spire. 

Their new allies had decided they too would travel with them. After all, there is safety in numbers out in the frozen tundra. Ueko had also decided to come along. Now in possession of this magical artifact, she didn't seem quite so sure where she should be heading. Their hadn't been much in the way of conversation. She was still a little uneasy around these outsiders. After all. This was the land of her people. 

Grom had lit the Lantern of Tracking to help guide them in the dark but also as a way of warning against possible elemental threats. By late morning the twighlight of the unrisen sun bathed the wilderness in it's dim glow. It was enough for the sled dogs and they pushed harder. By earlier afternoon their destination became visible in the horizon. 2 masts sticking up from the jagged icy shore where the Sea of Moving Ice then stretched out as far as anyone good see.

It was Aldrick that noticed the two figures heading along the coast. 2 riders on Axebeaks. "Now who could this be?" He missed to himself, remembering vividly their arrival at the Whaling Station. Aldrick let his companions know what he'd spotted and they all agreed that with their party of seven who ever this was would be outnumbered I they turned out to be hostile. They pushed on wanting to teach the Dark Duchess before the early afternoon light faded back to darkness. 

As the sleds drew nearer, the two approaching riderade themselves known. It was Halfdan and Nemeia. Aldrick, Shayde, Grom and Tor were surprised to see these two characters again after having left them in Bryn Shandar five days previous. Halfdan advised they had come with news from the Dwarven Valley for Grom. Nemeia had also been informed by a contact of hers in town that Aldrick could be in danger. Aldrick looked at them both trying to downplay what they had been told. "When are we not in danger in this icy wilderness?", " But it is good to see you again my friends!". 

Halfdan and Nemeia were introduced to Talden, Dishani and Ueko. The party had swelled to nine. It would be interesting to see how these different personalities would get along. 

As they stood there looking at the ship, it's central mast broken. Part sticking out from the main deck and another jutting out of the snow. The deck some twenty-five feet or so above the snow. How would they get onboard. Was there anybody of anything alive on the ship. There were no visible signs. No flickering lights, no discernable voices. So Aldrick sent Lookout to scout the top deck. What lookout saw was that a large hole in the centre of the main deck right where the central mast had been collapsed. What was more unnerving to those standing and looking were the large gauges in the side of the hull. What appeared to be huge claw marks about a foot wide. Dragon sized claw marks. And in this part of the world that meant only one thing.........Arveiaturace the White Wyrm.

 As the discussion continued, Grom had clearly had enough of talking and he grabbed his rope and matched towards the centre of the ship where the broken mast overhung. Tor went with him. They would try to pull the mast down to create a ladder of sorts to climb up. Halfdan had a plan of his own and he quickly followed Grom and Tor towards the ship. Then he cast misty step and suddenly appeared on the deck of the ship. "Throw me the rope!" He called down to Grom. "I'll tie it off, and we can climb up ". So with ropes tied the whole party ascended to the upper deck. Well almost. Nemeia failed her athletics check plunging into the frigid icy water below before Halfdan and Grom managed to pull her up to safety. With spare cold weather gear on the sleds Tor grabbed a set and made her way up the rope. Despite getting dry Nemeia still suffered exhaustion from the cold.

With the party assembled on the upper deck it became clear that there were strange sounds emanating from below. Not wasting anytime Aldrick and Shayde hurried towards the large double door that lead to the captain's cabin at the rear of the ship. The door was locked. Shayde took out her set of thieves tools and inserted them into the lock, after a few seconds came the satisfying "Click" as the door unlocked. Shayde pushed open the door and rushed into the room followed by Aldrick and indomitable form of Ueko.

Inside the captain's cabin Aldrick, Shayde and Ueko came face to face with a small group of Icewindale Kobolds. Not wanting to immediately turn to violence Aldrick tried to converse with them. Explaining that they were here looking for clues left behind by the Red Wizard Dzaan. Using both Common and Draconic Aldrick tried to temper the agitated Kobolds but to no avail. And so Aldrick began to search the table in front of him that was covered in charts and maps and to the parafernalia of navigation. The kobolds were clearly distressed. Shayde and Ueko kept them at bay as they tried to push and coax out heroes out of the cabin. But as they became more aggressive it meant only one thing and Ueko swung her great axe cleaving through two of the Kobolds with a single blow. Shayde felled another by which time Halfdan had also arrived moving into position to fell another. 

With the key Kobolds dispatched Shayde made a thorough search of the cabin uncovering a secret stash of hidden loot behind a loose panel that  included two black pearls and a letter written by the ships captain, one Captain Blue moon.

As well as the hidden stash Aldrick rifled through the captain's desk. Amongst the surviving documents were a number relating to the captain's travels and cargo manifests. The desk contained a locked drawer. Ueko grinned at Aldrick, "I have a key', as she swung her axe with a wide grin on her face. "Maybe a bit more finesse is required", smiled Shayde, "We want to recover what ever is inside no". Click, clack, click. And the lock was disengaged. Pausing Shayde ran her fingers around the drawer checking for traps. No mechanical contraptions were discovered. So Shayde teased the drawer open.

The drawer slid open followed by the sharp steady hissing sound of gas being released under pressure. Shayde grabbed the book contained within but the cloud of noxious vapers caught everyone in the cabin by surprise as it rolled across the room. Aldrick, Shayde, Halfdan and Ueko rushed out of the cabin into the cold fresh air and up the stairs to the main deck. A "Cloud Kill" spell trap. 

Aldrick and Shayde, coughing and spluttering climbed the stairs to the upper deck. Shayde tossed the book to Aldrick. A book of recipes. A lot of trouble to go to to protect a book of recipes thought Aldrick, rembering that Dzaan had hidden his spell book with an illusion to disguise it as a book of poetry. Aldrick cast detect magic. Just as he thought, the recipe book was indeed being concealed by an "Illusory Script" spell. 

Outside on the deck Nemeia, Talden and Dishani had moved into positions keeping a close watch on both the cabin and the hole in the centre of the main deck. Tor and Grom had moved towards the Bow of the ship. Grom complaining about wanting to be back on dry land and not liking being aboard a sea going vessel. Typical Dwarf. Tor fixed her gaze on the Sea of Moving Ice, watching as the skies above became darker and darker, storm clouds rolling closer and closer. If this ship is a lair of Arveiaturace the White Wyrm is she out there watching. 

Ghhgrrrrrr..........Srape, schloop, creak! 

Two grotesque forms had climbed up from the hull of the ship. Long limbs, clawed fingers, shaggy hair, pointed hooked nose and am aura of icy cold. Some sort of ice troll. Evil and hungry! To arms! 

Halfdan surged forward. The downed mast creating an obstacle he had to negotiate in order to reach his target. Attacking with his long sword. "Tyr lord of Justice lend me your strength so that I may smite this evil abomination" came through cry as the Paladin crashed I to his enemy. 

Seeing the Paladin leading the charge th rest of the party turned their attention to these Ice Trolls. Fire bolts, Eldritch blasts, a well placed arrow from a rogues bow. The thumping slicing of a barbarians axe. Despite the heavy damage the troll still stood. Ueko and Halfdan took a blast of cold damage from the Ice Trolls "Cold Aura".

Tor looked to the sky. The storm clouds were gathering. She closed her eyes, raised her talisman towards the heavens and invoked the will of Theleya the Earth Mother. The storm clouds darkened. Thunder rumbled above the Dark Duchess and lightning crackled. Tor eyes flickered with electrical energy. She slammed her staff onto the deck of the ship and a single surge of lightning flashed instantly striking the Ice Troll. 

Grom moved forward to attack the second Ice Troll, casting Hunters Mark and he moved in to engage. Axe swung biting deep. Nemeia unleashed a wave of Sacred Flame. Aldrick sent Lookout to deliver a Shocking Grasp. Halfdan repositioned himself to get a tactical advantage by flanking. The first Ice Troll fell. No regeneration. 

The second Ice Troll struck at Grom. Missed. Struck again. Hit. Grom swung with his "Giant Killer" reaction but he disadvantage caused by falling his CON save against the Ice Trolls Cold damage meant he missed. Talden and Dishani sent further ranged spells attacks against the Troll. Bloodied and reeling from the onslaught the Ice Troll looked vulnerable. Shayde stepped sideways. Nocked an arrow. Loose. Critical hit. Sneak attack damage. The troll crumpled to the ground. It was down but it's regenerative trait meant that another round of attacks were needed to ensure it sustained fire damage and wouldn't raise up and rejoin the fight. 

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