As Turren leaves the ice house he finds Deise sitting cross legged and staring at the distance as if meditating. When the knight moves close Deise turns and gives a brief smile, "You know Turren, when the wind dies down and the clouds part there is a stillness here that is almost beautiful, if otherworldly. Is it wrong of me to say that in this most evil of places. The dogs of night have circled and are watching. They know we arrive, too late for stealth I fear.

Deise jumps upwards and stretches before heading back to the companions. He takes a rib of meat and savours the taste. No matter the state of the animal. The rich taste is food fit for a king as far as Deise is concerned. With the companions in  various states of sleep he sits back, content for the moment that all is right. Food, friends, shelter and a mission to put right the sins of the past. What more does a man need. In the morning he rouses those still sleeping.
"Osric, I was wrong. That venison was worth the effort and a damn sight better than rations. Thank you kindly, Im in your debt. Leaf I dont know what to say, your house of ice is one of the strangest and yet most joy of structures that I have slept beneath.
Caith, did you see the wolves. Watching is all night long. Stealth wont save us as we head to the city, so lets not waste time trying. Our road should be the safest way even if it is visible. I fear that what awaits us is watching, maybe through the eyes of beasts.

"You are right, Caith. It is a Selentine term - or rather you are correct, for 'Sinister' was the Selentine term for left." Even Brannon does not seem impressed by this weak joke, but he is glad of anything that diverts from the city ahead of them. "He is a very helpful shade. As you say, there are few reasons for him to lie to us - but if he died in the city, in this Black Star room, how comes his shade to be out here, so far from where he died? Perhaps his attachment to the standard drew him back?"

The next morning, Brannon rises stiffly, and makes his devotions facing towards the City of Nem, for this is where he believes the Hearthfire to be. He is thorough in his prayers this morning, asking the Hearthmother's blessing and guidance, and her light and warmth upon them in this forsaken place. It does not make the place any warmer, but Brannon, at least, always seems renewed by his devotions.

He joins the others in discussing their route, and agrees with Osric and Caith. "Around the edge is the way, I think. One lone Selentine might have made it across rapidly. We are considerably heavier, and one crack could wipe us all out in a moment."

In reply to Deise (msg # 933):

Leaf smiles in response to Deise's praise, but then asks in reference to his suggestion of going across the frozen lake "Are you sure it's worth it? That 'being' last night talked of "two great whirlwinds of ice and snow"... perhaps we might avoid something like that by going around?"

Osric regards Deise, sure the slight man is full of dangerous tricks.

“If we are observed then I’d still rather fight them in the foothills than with some slick ice under foot. If we go through the ice out there, so far from shore we’re all done for.”

He pauses before continuing “We will need your skills now more than ever I feel Deise.  I wonder if you and Aphail should perhaps scout ahead in secret or perhaps tail us from hiding and then seek to ambush whatever may be waiting to ambush the main group. What do you think? You’re right that there’s no way that me an the Knights will be able to approach quietly. So maybe whilst we’re knocking on their front door you and Aphail can sneak in the side entrance or at least pounce on whatever pounces on us?”

This message was deleted by the player at 08:12, Tue 08 Sept 2020.

In reply to Leofwyn (msg # 935):

"Do you think its possible that a powerful sorcerer could send a whirlwind our way, Leaf? Given the power what I've witnessed to weave fire and move stone that you and the Chief wield then it must be possible, eh?

Not sure we should head on the lake, the ghost met the whirlwinds there, but I see no point in stealth. Balance safety and speed and lets get out of this valley. We are simply targets out here.

Osric, I'm sorry big man and ye can call me coward to me face but tis foolish to split up now. Everytime we've parted we've suffered. To come this far we are stonger staying together. I go off out there scouting then I'll not make it back to warn ye. If we are to die then lets do this as one band of brothers and sisters. We've come too far for heroics. Lets get and get the flame and hopefully the King. Thats my counsel for what tis worth.

Osric nods, accepting Deise’s position. “Well I’ll not expect you to do something I can’t do me self. It’d be a coin toss whether they saw me first or heard me first eh?”

In reply to Osric Grim (msg # 939):

Doron came out of a huddle with Colm and Aphail, " As you say Deise, we've no idea what we will face.  Better together than not at all."

In reply to GM (msg # 940):

The companions gathered their gear and set off around the vast frozen lake, it was rough going over the rocky shore and a few hours in Aphail and Deise called a halt as among the snow flurries and wind whipped ice over the lake they saw a large whirlwind of sleet and frost form and begin roaring across the ice toward them at speed.....
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:30, Wed 09 Sept 2020.

“To arms! This is no mortal wind! I see some ghastly beast inside...it’s a hideous horned skull in white fire with a long body like a snake! And I’ve not had a drop to drink I swear it!” Osric shouts taking up a defensive stance his glittering silver jilted sword held in high guard, his Combat instincts primed to try to anticipate an attack from their uncanny foe.

Caith giggles, surprised at the jest from so serious a scholar, but delighted by it nonetheless.

"So he mean 'the left way' then? That might be useful later." she says, when she recovers her dignity.



"If that were his personal standard, like a knight's own shield markings, nay the legion's one, then aye, I suppose so." Caith answers but offers in return another theory "Perhaps it is only here, away from the temple he says he died in that he can overcome the evil that killed him enough to manifest?"



"Aye, ye may be right about that, but I'll nay sacrifice the wolves and the snowcats for the crimes of men as we did the hawks. The big lads will most likely nay get across the lake without running the risk of drowning in a crackup, so we're walking the shore, nay skimming the lake in a wolf drawn sleigh straight to the temple steps." Caith says quietly.

"If they ken us coming, then all we can do is hope we see them first afore they close in to battle." she concludes with a worried sigh.

The hedgewitch offers one small suggestion beyond the practicalities of staying warm in a frozen land as she speaks a little lore of her own "If these whirlwinds be some kin of the water loving washerwomen that mourn and warn of death in doing so, then I am told that if ye can nay hear them, then their cursesong can nay harm ye. Mayhap blocking our ears might be useful if we encounter them?"

She gestures at the stolen deerskin rubbed with ashes to rough cure it overnight and muses "I made a lotion of deer fat and herbs to protect the skin from ice and wind's bite for us all, but it would also do as an alternative to beeswax for blocking sound from yer ears."

Caith then looks to Deise and Osric as she puts a finger to her temple and says "But if it's a whirlwind beast, like a water gyre or a dustcircler, nay a wailer at the ford, then mayhap it's more  like the wind up the mountains, and we'll need to keep roped together as we did on the trail? That would come in handy if we stray too far onto the frozen lake surface by mistake too. Snow hides many obstacles from the eye, but nay the foot."

She makes no farewells, for fate is easy to tempt and death never far away, but the kiss she gives Alphail this morning is perhaps a little longer than a mere peck on the lips.

OOC: Sorry for taking my time, but I'd had an idea before that I meant to get back to IC, and now I have.

Is Caith's plan of staying roped together on the shore hike, and handing out deer fat to protect skin and stick in ears in a pinch a fair plan based on her reasoning above?

Usopi and Gat moved toward Doron as the whirlwind creature appeared over the ice. With Caith's suggestion, he offered one end of his rope to Doron, securing the line around Gat's waist. However, he did not tie the rope around himself. Hopefully, the wind beast would be vulnerable to his mundane mace, but if he found the need to draw Moralltach it would be dangerous to attach anyone to him directly.

"Drajanus did not mention the creatures of the lake having any sort of song or call." he said, "Do you know if those whirlwind beasts will be invulnerable to our weapons?" he added as he drew his mace and shield and placed himself between Doron and the shore of the lake.

Brannon watches the approaching whirlwind uneasily. "Perhaps an arrow would find out... Aphail?"

He does not unsling his own bow, but instead lifts his holy symbol of Brigantia, and as the creature nears, cries: "In the name of Brigantia and the Hearthfire, I rebuke you! Back to the icey pit from which you came!"

OOC: 07:49, Today: Brannon Darrow rolled 15 using 1d20+6.  Exorcism attempt (d20+rank) on frost creature.

No idea if it's a Demon, but worth a try... though that wasn't a great roll, so even if it is it may not do the trick...

The whirlwind swept in aiming for Osric, then Brannons voice rang out the vortex roared then was gone in an instant....

OOC:

16:58, Today: GM, for the NPC Sufiriad, rolled 2 using 1d20. 2+ 10= 12.

In reply to Osric Grim (msg # 942):

Deise points out the whirlwind, relieved that his paranoid scanning spotted the unnatural windstorm early. A sick feeling in his bowels grumbles as Osric shouts a warning. Grimacing he knocks an arrow and readies for a fight.

"Oh Brannon, thank your god. You saved us, brother. Saved us.

Osric bless your eyes big man, I only saw the windstorm, nothing else.
Thought it me be like one o'dem storms that the chief or Leaf call down. Dark unholy magic.

Deise rests on his bow staff, panting as the terror abates. Sweating inspite of the intense cold.

"Nay blizzard nor beast I know of looks like that..." Caith mutters in shock, fingers already reaching for her pot of ointment to stop her ears with.



Caith shrugs and begins to twist her her fingers and tongue to the task of calling flame and fang instead of blocking her ears with deer fat.



"If I kenned that, I would have already told ye." is all Caith offers on the matter, gazing at the approaching force of nature turned to a malevolence all too personal for nature's fury.



The Hunter is already notching an arrow to the bow, but Caith worries how one can to aim for a whirlwind's constantly shifting center as her hands lift towards the swirling in the snow to attempt the impossible...



And it does.

Caith says in whispered astonishment "I nay ken what that was, nor how to communicate with one, but I reckon ye just told it off regardless, Hearthwarden Darrow."

That said, she still listens carefully for any howling wind that seems closer than usual for a moment.

Usopi could not help but laugh as Brannon invoked his god and the whirling creature dissipated. He untied Gat and rolled up his rope, still chuckling to himself despite the biting cold and the darkness they were all obstinately walking toward.

"Deise has the right of it. It is a heartening sign that despite the Hearthfire's absence from Gliss we have not been separated from your God's grace. Let us push on to retrieve the flame before that is no longer the case." The large knight said with jovial determination.

Turren signs himself, face pale, and proceeds with the others.

In reply to Usopi Venia (msg # 949):

"Yep Usopi, onward. Nuthin' gained freezing our asses off here when we can go there to get our heads chewed off by god knows what.
I want to reclaim my good name, an I wont do it out here."

Brannon watches for a moment as the creature dissipates, then drops to his knees in relief. "Thank you, Hearthmother! You are fierce in defence of your flame!"

It takes a moment for him to recover he nods to the others. "It was not I, but the Hearthmother. Her power is strong, even here." He wipes sweat from his brow, his shaking belying the nonchalance he attempts to affect.

"Aye, and truly grateful I am for that..." Caith says quietly in relief, then adds in fairness "...But I still thank ye, Brannon, for drawing Lady Brigantia's gaze to the matter."

"We had best be on our way, and use the gift of time we have been given wisely." the hedgewitch concludes, offering the Hearthwarden a hand up off his knees from the cold ground.

“Ye will leave us a couple of black hearted rogue to cross swords with won’t ye Father Brannon?” Osric joked.

“Mighty pleased your Goddess can still see us here at the frozen ass end of the world eh?”

In reply to Osric Grim (msg # 954):

Several more hours journey around the lake and though similar whirlwinds are seen in the distance careening across the icy surface none approach.

As you approach the northern shore of the lake you begin to make out vast stone structures beneath the ice, massive grey-black edifices drowned long ago.

The Hawks of Nem perch on the top of the grey building at the end of the lake. As you draw nearer, you see that the porticos of the temple are cracked and worn. Two twin trails of black smoke filter up into the still air from the building. Beyond this, there are no other signs of life.

Suddenly the hawks take off and swoop overhead, not attempting to attack. As their shadows pass over the party, you are filled with a sickening sense of dread, as if all hope had been quenched forever. The companions stand fast though Caith feels something grasp hold of her mind and it is only Aphails hand on her shoulder that pulls her back from the brink...

A second later, an eerie, premature twilight settles over the area and the companions are struck with an urge to flee which overwhelms them mind and body. But Caith draws on the strength of her bond and stands firm staring at the cyclopean structure before her. Looking back to her fleeing companions she sees Doron has also stood firm, his face a stony mask.

The others run, stumbling over rocks and scree, some flee onto the icy lake itself in panic...after some moments the feeling subsides a little...and they slow...though Gat out distances them all, he comes back to Usopi whining sheepishly.



OOC:

MA 12.

Aphail MacRoach Resists 15
Brannon Darrow Resists 16
Caith Cernach Resists 4
Colm Cernach Resists 16
Deise Resists 14
Giles Resists 12
Leofwyn Resists 12
Osric Grim Resists 13
Sir Turren Uvedale Resists 13
Sir Uthen of Sadley Resists 15
Usopi Venia Resists 9

MA 28

Aphail MacRoach Runs
Brannon Darrow Runs
Caith Cernach Stands
Colm Cernach Runs
Deise Runs
Giles Runs
Leofwyn Runs
Osric Grim Runs
Sir Turren Uvedale Runs
Sir Uthen of Sadley Runs
Usopi Venia Runs
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:34, Wed 09 Sept 2020.

As Leaf walks in step with the others towards large grey building, dread and fear start to seep in.

'Surely the king is already dead..'

'Brannon seems to be doing fine with his religion, even without the Hearthflame.. do we need to bring it back?'

She stops walking.

'We are a pitiful group, we should have come with an army with so much larger than twelve!'

She starts walking backwards.

'What makes me think I am capable of helping? It is none of my business!!'

'I am going to die!'

Leaf starts running away, not thinking about anyone else. She runs, aiming for the ice cave she created the night before.

She is well onto the icy lake before a different thought enters her mind.

'You made an oath.'

She slows down.

'You have come this far.'

She stops and turns around.

'We are the only ones stupid enough to even try. We are... the only hope.'


She takes three big, deep breaths, and begins taking slow steps back towards Caith and the building, ashamed of her reaction.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:24, Thu 10 Sept 2020.

Osric returns shamefaced and stands before Caith and Doron.

“Noble Prince, Herbwife Caith. I humbly beg your forgiveness. I will not blather excuses. I’ve never run from a fight before. I know not what came over me. I will do all in my power to ensure this shame never happens again. I’ll say no more but hope my deeds will prove me a brave and stalwart companion in your eyes!”