"Good point," Amyria agrees.

She helps with helping preparing to tow captured enemies.  The last remaining enemy spies on the heroes till Kyle's crossbow shots eventually convince him to flee as well.  The ice wall broken through and the enemies secured to a tow line, the boat continues on toward Nefelus.

  Kyle starts digging through dust collecting low level rituals for the comprehend language.  "So do we want to bother listening to them not tell us anything useful with, or without translation?"

May says, "Well... we could save money and see if someone at the city speaks giantish."

Raichel says, "After all the paranoia thrown around around about this city, I'd expect someone who actually knew the language to be in league with the giants and mistranslate on purpose."

Timothius says, "Raichel's got a point. We can use the ritual. Thanks, Kyle. Though once you find it, we'll hold off using it till we are on land and well inside civilization."

Mits nods.  "And we should have Timothius be our interrogator.  Seems he scares them, and he's been good with persuasion.  I know there's other important questions to be answered, but, what I really want to know is why they were acting so different from the usual suicidal evil we always come across."

Amyria seems lost in thought and keeps her eyes fixed on Nefelus as the boat draws closer.

Stuff meant to be offered earlier:

Arcana or Religion DC 25: Chillreaver is a powerful, two-headed white dragon legendary in the north.
He is also particularly blessed by Tiamat, who gave
him his second head, and serves as one of her exarchs.

Nefelus’s History
A character knows the following information with a
successful History check.
DC 11: Nefelus is an island nation ruled by a council
of deva mages called the Thraxinium. Nefelus has one of
the largest known contingents of devas in the world; some
say that almost the entire island is sacred ground and most
devas reincarnate here. All citizens of prominence are devas.
The Nefelese have remained isolationist for at least the last
two centuries, having little contact with the mainland.

DC 18: The Nefelese believe that knowledge and
magical prowess are the two greatest attributes an
individual can possess. Their ancient and massive Great
Library, which also serves as their governmental seat,
university, and temple to Corellon and Ioun, is said to
contain secrets long lost to the rest of the world.

DC 23: The Nefelese have lived on this island for as
long as anyone can remember, and in times past, they
used to trade and relate to the other nations of the world.
However, a threat from the Elemental Chaos more than
two centuries ago almost destroyed their idyllic culture.
They blamed the other civilizations for their ignorance, and
after ensnaring the threat and locking it away in the world,
withdrew almost all ties to the mainland.

  "I'd make a blind assumption about ancestral land disputes if not for the fact this was hardly the climate for them until recently."  Why couldn't it be an invasion of the forces of magical cookie making from the Feywild or something?  No it's always the elemental chaos, underdark, eco terrorist minded Feywild, angry barbarians, etc.

  Kyle is only surprised to hear of a white dragon Exarch of Tiamat in the sense white dragons are always the ones with the least reputation.  So it must be a rather successful one to be given so much as the time of day, let alone made an Exarch.

   He is less surprised, at 'Elemental Chaos started ****'.

Timothius looks at Mittens. "Not sure why they were so scared of me. But I... suspect they aren't specifically loyal to whoever is causing this mess. Just circumstancial bad guys who thought it would be fun to harass any incoming ships for a few coin from the enemy? But yeah... only way to find out is to ask."

Raichel shrugs. "I will admit to a curiosity about their unusual behavior, but I'd rather know their involvement in this mess and why they attacked us."

May shrugs. "Probably no more complicated than their being evil."

Timothius looks at Amyria. "Penny for your thoughts, Amyria."

Mits shrugs.  "Guess we'll see."

Amyria answers, "I'm feeling much better about myself haven proven to myself that I can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the legendary Heroes of the Elsir Vale.  And now I feel more confident to speak to my own kind about you all.  I have a greater sense that should they reject our proposal to join The Coalition, it will have less to do with my own failings, and more to do with their blindness."

Once the ship is docked, you leave the mundane tasks to
the crew.

The prisoners are dragged onto the dock, many citizens looking on in surprise.  The Nefelese devas are apparently a great deal more expressive than Amyria, and one even takes off into the city at a full sprint.

"Heroes have arrived from afar!" he shouts as he runs.

Amyria begins asking locals for directions and they seem eager to provide them.  When interrogated, the giants are surprisingly cooperative in exchange for their lives.  They were members of one of the scouting teams tasked with ensuring no Nefalese escape the island and no outsiders lend aid.  Chillreaver's lair is a huge iceberg called Icehome.  Inside there are about 3 levels.  The lowest belongs to the Sahuagin, a behir, and a beholder.  The second belongs to the giants and houses Chillreaver's experiments- creatures gifted with resistance to cold by the Seed.  The third belongs to Chillreaver.

frost giANt eNclAve
The temporary home of the frost giant clan that has
allied with Chillreaver, the frost giants here are led
by Nara of the Wastes, a sacred ice shaper second in
power only to the jarl of her tribe. Chillreaver has
long been an ally of these frost giants when they both
lived in the frozen lands north of the Winterbole
Forest, beyond Nentir Vale.
Chillreaver initially came to the frost giant jarl
after receiving the Seed of Winter and in the early
stages of his plans to destroy Nefelus. After some
negotiation the jarl
agreed to send a contingent with the dragon once Icehome was formed well enough to sustain occupants.
Nara was chosen to lead the frost giants in Icehome,
and she has created a portal back to their realm
should they have need of supplies, servitors, or additional warriors. Indeed, Chillreaver has requested
Nara send back hunters periodically to bring back
creatures he thought important to subject to the
influences of the Seed of Winter for use in the coming
assault on Nefelus.
Now, Nara commands about fifteen frost giants in
Icehome. Most are out on patrols around the recently
created ice ring blockade, keeping the Nefelese from
attempting any type of escape, but a few remain here
as her personal retinue.

It is clear to Timothius that the frost giants do not revere Chillreaver or Tiamat, and that their only reason for allying with the dragon is to expand the strength of their own tribe.  They have no personal grudges against the Nefelese.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:36, Sun 27 Dec 2015.

  Kyle would be happier at their reputation finally having payoff these days, if not for the fact it needed basically everything trying to turbo murder these people to be that happy to see others.  Could do without the threats to life and limb just to get a smile out of people.

  "Most reasonable invaders we've ever dealt with, at least.  Even if we still have to hit them until they go away."  Kyle thinks he's heard of the 'Seed Of Winter' before, but his Player would rather wait for confrimation on it even being something you can lore check against.

OOC: I know what the Seed of Winter is, I just didn't notice it was a SoW artifact all the times I ran across the item itself and compared it and other frozen Feywild stuff to Cookie Feywild stuff.

Timothius thanks the giants for their cooperation and informs whoever keeps prisoners of the arrangement; these giants are to be kept alive due to cooperation and giving information. "They even gave us information about people inside Chillreaver's lair that will save innocent lives; people who are nothing more than tortured 'experiments'."

May nods and just follows Amyria's lead. She nudges Amyria with her fist. "Toldya you're totally sweet and capable. I'm happy to hear you finally realize this."

Raichel nods. "My kind of paladin..." she smiles brightly.

The town also seems to impress the twins due to their excitement to help the heroes.

Guards are summoned to take the prisoners.

meetiNg BejAm
Roleplaying encounter

Running this Encounter
The PCs disembark at the port, and they are led up
the cliffside walkways and through the crowded city
streets to the Great Library, where they are given
the opportunity to rest and then meet with Bejam, a
member of the Thraxinium.
Play up the sights of Nefelus. This is a city unlike
others the PCs have likely visited. The Nefelese are
powerful mages and use their knowledge to enhance
their city in many ways. The closest comparison is
Sayre, in the PCs’ experience, but even that city of
sages and artists pales in comparison to Nefelus

you depart with Amyria into the wondrous city of
Nefelus. Scaling up the sides of a verdant cliff dotted with
buildings that smell like fish and the salty spray of the sea,
you reach the top and are nearly lost in the crowded, busied
masses of people moving about. Even in the midday sun,
the crowds move rapidly this way and that, but they always
appear to be aware of your presence and never bump or
brush up against you.

You continue to make your way through the wooded
streets, rife with the sounds of conversation, the chatter of
tropical birds, and the constant whispering of the breeze
through the exotic trees. After navigating through this
urban maze for well over two hours, the entrance to the
Great Library is before you. All you need do now is climb
the hundreds of stairs to the domed complex’s yawning gate.

Mits has been enjoying the whole trip, pointing at any nifty magical thing she notices to the rest of the group.

Amyria looks to you and says, “Here we are. We’re
to meet one of their council in the entry hall. His name’s
Bejam. Let’s go upstairs and see if we can ask around for
him.”
When the PCs head up the stairs and go inside
the great Library, read:
A great entry hall stretches on for what seems like hundreds
of feet. Each direction is dotted with multiple hallways and
doors leading farther into the complex. Above, you can see
the beautiful blue sky streaming through the glass dome,
but you’re certain that from the outside, the dome looked
like it was crafted out of wood. In the center of the hall, a
hundred-foot-high orrery depicting the planes and the world
gleams in the sun. The surfaces in the orrery’s universe shift
and move, as though alive with activity.

Just as you come to the realization that the stifling,
humid air has abated, a male deva dressed in a shimmering
blue-violet robe with small platinum wings adorning his
back approaches you. He smiles at your retinue and says,
“Welcome to Nefelus, our most honored guests. I am
Bejam, Sixth Thraxus and Keeper of the Mirrors. It is good
to see that you arrived without much delay. Amyria, I will
take you before the Thraxinium to discuss the specifics of
our situation. As for your retinue, I will have an attendant
escort them to a waiting room where they can rest. I am
certain we will have need of their expertise soon enough.”

https://wrathofzombie.files.wo...m/2015/01/deva-4.jpg

"So we're her retinue?" Mits says in a little surprise.

Amyria remains stoic and bows to Bejam.  "Thank you for the welcome.  I will come with you as you say."

  "While I'm hazy on all of the details, the Seed of Winter is a sentient artifact.  Imagine Telecanthus with the voice of an Eladrin woman, only obsessed with Ice instead of Glass. That's the Seed Of Winter."

  Kyle does wish they were here under more pleasant circumstances, and gets the feeling the chance to just take in the sights and tomes of lore in a leisurely matter will have maybe one, possibly two days, before they have to go prevent the next world altering calamity.

  "Still a more respectful treatment than most of our arrivals, Mittens."  Though he's hesitant to leave Amyria alone for all of the past shenanigans the party, including Amyria, has had to deal with.

Timothius may be referencing more books lately, but not to improve his vocabulary. "What's a retinue, Mitts?"

May tisks. "Thank you for the hospitality, Bejam. But if it is all the same to you, we'll be attending that too. Seeing as we'll be in the thick of whatever it is."

Raichel says, "Don't really need rest at the moment..."

Timothius is guessing this was a very polite way of saying they don't want to discuss certain details with the non-devas present, but he decides to keep quiet on his thoughts for the time being.

Mits smirked.  "An insufferable, arrogant, talking magic item?  Sounds like fun to torment the thing.  'What's that?  You want to be put in the window sill where the warm summer sun can comfort you?  Sure thing!'"

She shrugs at the hospitality comment.  "True 'nuff.  But these guys aren't Slaad worshipers either, so my expectations are comparatively high."

To Timo she answers, "Butlers and such for an important person.  It's a nice term for 'stooges.'"

Amyria is already showing signs of irritation with Bejam.

"These are the Heroes of the Elsir Vale.  The same who have freed me from a magic item, defeated countless powerful evils, and broken through your island's icy prison, here to risk their lives for you."

Bejam bows.  "No disrespect was intended, honored guests.  The Thraxinium is aware of the heroes' exploits on our behalf and is grateful.  We are also aware of your work as the founder of The Coalition.  Per protocol, we must speak with you alone first.  Then it will be for you to decide if we are worthy of asking your good friends for their help."

"God of Justice grant me patience," Amyria prays, "Very well.  Lead the way."

 After his initial introduction, Bejam motions to
another deva in the chamber, and exits with Amyria,
leaving the PCs to be escorted to a well-appointed sitting room where they can rest. They are told by the
attendant that it will be some time, and they should
rest if they can (the PCs can take an extended rest
here if they so desire).

Mits flops on a pile of pillows on one of the posh couches.  "This place is kinda nice if you can get past the bureaucratic vibe I was picking up from 'The Thraxinium.'  Something tells me Amyria's going to have a hard time getting them to skip debating exactly how many claps they'll thank us with.  'In the Elemental Crisis, the team of legendary heroes was given 42 claps.  But that was after sealing away the great evil.  All these heroes have done so far is bring in two giants.  Two claps!  Do I hear a second?'"

The deva attendant remains stoic.

  "When you have this much in the way of archival content, being accustomed to more formal means is likely as much to prevent losing an important tome for centuries as it is the day to day workings of the island."  Sorry, Heroes.  But it turns out the ancient text for how to defeat the Drake Titan was lost to the depths of the autobiography section decades ago.

May ponders. "Hmmm... seed of winter... guess we'll find out when or if we get our hands on it."

Raichel looks annoyed when Mitts gives her definition of retinue. But then gets relieved when Amyria stands up for her friends.

Timothius nods to Amyria. "We are with you in spirit, Amyria. Just as the Platinum Dragon is."

After the group is escorted...

Timothius says, "As well-informed as these people are, I imagine they know a bit more of our deeds than just the giants we bested."

Raichel says, "Honestly, I don't expect claps. Doesn't stop the fact I'd like us to get respect, regardless. So far, so good."

May grins at the attendant. "Thank you for showing us to this comfy room, sir. My name's May. If you have any interest whatsoever in weapons, I'm the girl to go to about the topic! If you want to talk religion, Mittens and Timothius are your go-to kitties for that. If you wanna talk martial arts, Raichel here is your gal. Anything with alchemy, Kyle likely has your answers. May I ask your name?"

Mits smiles at Kyle.  "Nice spin!  Let's go with that theory."

She gets in her extended rest during the wait.  The attendant isn't very interesting.

After a long wait and numerous inquiries as to your food
and beverage preferences by the attendant, Amyria and
Bejam arrive in your sitting room.

She looks exhausted.

Amyria speaks. “After long discourse and debate, I
have talked on behalf of the Coalition and we’ve entered an
arrangement with the Thraxinium. If you assist Nefelus in
shedding its problem, they have agreed to at least support
the Coalition with material and knowledge. My friends, I
must ask you to once again imperil yourselves for the good
of our cause. I will let Bejam give you the details that have
recently become known to me.” Amyria nods at Bejam and
exits the room as the Thraxus begins to brief you.

Mits waves nini to her as she exits.

Bejam:

Through the Thraxinium’s research, the heart of this
problem appears to bear the mark of an artifact known as
the Seed of Winter. When properly harnessed by a creature
attuned to it, the artifact can cause drastic localized climate
changes and can even alter creatures that come in contact
with it or are near it. However, we think what’s happening
to Nefelus goes beyond the normal power of the artifact;
someone or something must be augmenting it in some way.
The Seed of Winter was thought lost to the Feywild
centuries ago, but it has apparently made its way back into
the world.

The Thraxinium knows through divinations and other
more mundane observations that the iceberg that appeared
out in the sea is the source of the emanations.
Just before the ice ring completely blockaded our ships,
we sent out three ships to investigate the iceberg and
attempt to deal with the problem. We monitored their
progress, and two of the three ships were attacked and
destroyed by sahuagin with ice-blue skin. They appeared
tougher than normal sahuagin and had an affinity for the
cold. The last ship limped to the shore of the iceberg and
was under assault by frost giants there; we saw only one
survivor make it away from the vessel—a githzerai mentalist
named Uarion. We have not heard from him since.
Uarion has been with us for several decades; he is the
only githzerai in the city, but he proves his worth to Nefelus
time and time again through his mastery of the powers
of the mind. He soaks up knowledge like a sponge, and he
is probably the most accomplished nondeva ritualist in
Nefelus. It would be a shame if he was lost to the power of
the Seed.
(Bejam gives the PCs a description of Uarion.)

Mits huhs.  "Zero claps.  I wonder how that vote went.  'We do not want them to get the wrong idea that they will be rewarded before defeating Tiamat's Exarch.'"

  "They are offering at all, that alone is a step up."  Offering payment in return for services rendered without having to twist their arms, legs, and then make them grow extra limbs just to twist thosw too. Kyle was starting to think such a thing didn't exist anymore.

  He is more concerned with another matter.  "What circumstances have prevented any aid being put forth to recover Uarion already?  Have attacks on the city been more frequent before our arrival?"  He's super important and we really respect him you guys-what, help him ourselves? You'd be out of a sidequest if we did that!

The twin kittens and alligator/kobold/dragon/weredrake (yes she can be all that at once) all sleep when Mitts turns in for the night. When time comes for info dump, the twins are sure to give Amyria a hug goodnight. May whispers to Amyria, "Way to go, Amyria. You totally kicked bureaucracy's butt."

Raichel says, "Mitts... you're the only one who said there were ever going to be any claps."

Timothius speculates to Kyle's question, "Probably the fact they lost him before the ice ring was complete and now that it is, they simply can't get to him without suffering heavy loss."

May says, "But if there is more to it than that, we'd like to know how to deal with it."

"We do have a way," Bejam says, "But considering three ships were destroyed and none returned there are not many willing to make the trip, fewer still who have a good chance at survival.  The Thraxinium was discussing how best to put together another team when word reached us of your arrival."

After having finished your briefing, Bejam concludes his
talk with you and says, “We need your assistance to stop the
climate change from overwhelming our island and to break
the blockade. From the estimates made by the Thraxinium,
we have about a day before our ritualists can no longer
sustain the magic holding back the freezing weather. Once
the ritual gives way, the island’s climate will be forever
altered and many creatures here will die. Nefelus will suffer
a corruption the likes of which we have not been threatened
with for hundreds of years. I implore you to journey to the
iceberg and end this assault on our way of life. If you can
bring back the Seed of Winter for study and find out the
fate of Uarion, all the better. Amyria says she has not met
any more accomplished at dangerous tasks than you. Will
you assist us?”

Mits eye-rolls.  "Yes yes of course.  Can we get to the part where we actually get started blowing up the badguys?"

Once the PCs have agreed to help Nefelus out,
Bejam escorts them out of the sitting room into the
entry hall where the PCs meet up with Amyria. He
asks the PCs if he can provide any mundane provisions for the PCs, and he offers up spiked ice shoes if
the PCs want them.

With Amyria in tow, Bejam escorts you down one of those
mysterious hallways that leads farther into the Great Library.
At the end of the hall, a spiral staircase leads down into the
darkness. As you descend down, softly glowing orbs affixed
to the walls light your way. The stairs continue for hundreds
of feet. Eventually, you come to a door with a strange series
of sigils on its face. Bejam softly intones some words and the
sigils flash. He opens the door, revealing a workshop with all
sorts of tools and arcane objects lying about on various tables.

Beyond the workshop, the cavernous room is what
looks to be a dock, but no tunnel leads out into a waterway.
Floating in the pool are three curious objects; they look like
giant silvery lobsters with glass windows where their eyes
should be. You can see seats and a number of levers through
the windows; these appear to be a sort of vehicle

https://aquerra.wikispaces.com...s%20of%20kwalish.jpg

  "Well, now this is definitely the most immediately helpful anyone we have come to aid has been.  Is it in maintained working order, or has it been in storage until it has been in need of use?"  No good if it springs a leak before it even takes damage, after all.

May SO takes Bejam up on spiked shoes. The twins figure no harm in using those... lots of treacherous terrain ahead, after all. "OHMIGOSH those are SO FRIGGIN COOL!" May exclaims.

Timothius says, "Gosh... never seen anything like it."

Raichel says, "Are those claws for show or can they be used to attack?"

Sharing her enthusiasm, Mits high-fives May and checks out the vehicles with her.

Bejam explains that those three vehicles are known
as apparatuses of Kwalish, named after the wizard that
invented them. He then continues to brief the PCs on
their mission in a conversational manner.
✦ When we realized that the first ships were
attacked and the ice ring blockaded us, we
prepared these vehicles for use. They are
submersible craft.
✦ The PCs are to pilot the apparatuses of Kwalish to
the iceberg so they arrive without much notice.
The previous attempts at traveling by ship and
the presence of the ice ring make conventional
means of getting there riskier.
✦ Each apparatus can carry two people. One of the
two needs to be piloting at all times; the other
should keep lookout and can operate the claws
if needed. The vehicles are equipped on the
lever console with a homing arrow that has been
attuned to the iceberg such that the arrow always
points toward the iceberg.
✦ It should take approximately 3 hours to reach the
iceberg from here. The vehicles are easy enough
to pilot. You need to surface the vessels after you
arrive so that the air can be replenished; there’s
only enough air in one of these to take you there.
(Bejam gives the PCs a quick course in piloting
the apparatus.)

After your piloting instructions, Bejam assembles you all
at the dock. “I have two more items for you to take with you.
I am certain that they will be of aid to you on the mission.”
He produces a small flickering prism and a scroll tube from
his robe.
“This object is called an elemental prism. We know that the
Seed of Winter grants creatures under its influence resistance
to cold attacks, and the prism allows the user to circumvent
such defenses while providing the user with protection.”
“The ritual inked on this scroll is called Solace Bole.
It will transport you to a small secluded place in a pocket
plane where you can rest and regroup. Time will pass
normally there, but when you return, only an hour will have
gone by. With the short amount of time we have before our
defenses are shattered, you might find this necessary.”

Mits nods.  "Yeah.  Kyle's right.  Helpful.  Color me impressed."

OOC: There's a couple mentions of using the vehicle attacks in the module, but no actual stat blocks for them.  Oops!

using Ice Shoes: If a PC is wearing ice shoes
(either given to them by Bejam or found in Icehome),
it gives them –1 speed, but they are considered to have
ice walk.

Elemental Prism Level 16
This flickering prism focuses elemental power and converts it
to a different element, bathing you in a protective glow.
Wondrous Item 45,000 gp
Power (Encounter): Free Action. Use this power when you
make an attack that deals acid, cold, fire, lightning, poison,
or thunder damage. Change all your attack’s damage to a
different type of your choice among those above. You gain
resist 15 to your attack’s original damage type until the end
of your next turn.

Solace Bole
You transport yourself and your companions to the hollow
of an enormous tree trunk in the Feywild. While you’re
there, time passes slowly in the place you once were.
Level: 12
Category: Travel
Time: 10 minutes (see below)
Duration: 1 hour (see below)
Component Cost: 500 gp
Market Price: 2,600 gp
Key Skill: Arcana (no check)
You and up to five other creatures you designate within
10 squares of you are transported to a sealed hollow the
size of a comfortable room within a magical tree in the
Feywild. The hollow has a glowing light you can control
and is filled with sweet air. You can remain within the
bole for up to 12 hours. Thereafter, or when you will it
to be so, you and all the creatures the ritual took to the
hollow return to the exact place they left. Only 1 hour of
time has passed in the world. If you took an extended rest
within the bole, you must wait 12 hours after your return
to the world to take another one.
If you have assistance when performing this ritual,
divide the casting time by the number of participants. The
assistants all chant in a fey harmony while you perform
the ritual. Anyone you want to assist you in this way can
learn the proper harmony during an extended rest

  "Hmm, I wonder which of us will be piloting one alone then.  Though that would mean room to bring Uarion back inside."  He looks to Bejam, "Would it be safe to assume there are any circles of Teleportation in this city?" A much faster, safer, exit is always a good option.

Raichel and Timothius look at Mittens expectantly, as if waiting for her decision on seating arrangement.

May says, "It is a weapon. But piloting it sounds like so much fun too... is it possible to pilot it AND operate its weaponry?"

Bejam looks reluctant to answer Kyle's question, but hands over a teleportation scroll set for a teleportation circle.

"Last resort, please.  Those apparatuses are very expensive and we do not want you to leave the behind if at all possible."

To May he answers, "No."

Mits thinks about seating arrangements.  "A shame Amyria is too tired to join us.  I'm fine with piloting alone if you'd rather not, Kyle.  Guys in one, girls with pretty hair in another, and people with pigtails in the third.  If you'd like to have one of your own, then twins in one, girls with armor in another, and artificers in the third.

"Either way, let's get going!"

Traveling to Icehome Level 14
Skill Challenge XP 3,000
You must use the strange craft provided by the Nefelese to
traverse the depths to the iceberg, all the while attempting to
avoid detection.

Complexity
3 (requires 8 successes before 3 failures).
Primary Skills
Arcana, History, Nature, Perception

Arcana
DC 18 If the PC succeeds by 10 or more, he or she fully
understands the mechanisms for operating the claws and
receives a +2 bonus to attack rolls when using rending
claws.
The PC effectively operates the vehicle’s levers and coaxes better
performance out of the craft.

History
DC 23 The next Arcana check made in this craft receives a
+2 bonus.
The PC recalls hearing tales of Kwalish’s devices and remembers
a common quirk present in all of them that makes them easier
to operate.

Nature
DC 18 If the PC succeeds by 10 or more, and the overall
skill challenge result is victory, he or she finds a swifter
route to Icehome that all the craft take, shaving an hour off
of their time. This allows the PCs to preserve enough air in
the craft for a return journey and means they can leave the
apparatuses sealed.
The PC navigates around the ice ring and uses the current to
the vehicle’s advantage.

Perception  (Mits auto success)
DC 11 Every failure on this check means the PCs have an
encounter with three arctic sahuagin guards while in the
submersibles (see Appendix 1 for statistics). After 3 rounds
of combat, any remaining guards flee the area to return to
Icehome and warn the other sahuagin of their approach.
The PC keeps a sharp eye out for arctic sahuagin, avoiding them
where possible.