Stormheart stepped back from the entrance when Rhydd returned. He at first started to smile but then quickly frowned as the other spoke on. "Hmm. A Peryton outside, possibly a Frost Salamander inside, and a sleeping owlbear as well. This is not the best situation." He scratched his chin. "The Peryton may not come in, which would be good, but we need to make certain that the Frost Salamander is no longer in here as well."

He thought about it and asked, "Did you search the entire cave? Were there any areas you hadn't gotten in to, any place the salamander could be hiding?"

In reply to Stormheart (msg # 77):

Rhydd stroked his chin-whiskers thoughtfully as he considered Stormheart's question.

After a moment he shook his head and replied  "I did not explore every single corridor. After seeing the Owlbear, I made my way back here to report my findings."

"The Frost Salamander might well be hidden away down one of the other tunnels."

Stormheart frowned a moment longer and let out a small sigh. "We have to make sure. Getting attack from within and without at the same time would be disastrous, plus...the owlbear."

Then he turned to Farwalker. "Cousin, would you be willing to watch the cave entrance for the peryton? I don't want a frost salamander to sneak up on us, or attack the sleeping owlbear." From the way he asked, they could tell it was important to him.

"That I can do," Farwalker said and took a step back from the mouth of the cave. That way she could peek the Peryton overhead. She hadn't ever fought one, but she knew of them and she knew they were quite fearsome creatures. Frost Salamanders, on the other hand, she had never heard of.

The tunnel yet to be explored led to a small chamber. Rhydd, Stormheart, Khulekani all noticed something before they entered it properly — tracks. They had been obscured nearer the entrance, probably trodden over or whisked out by reaching winds, but here the faint, undisturbed snow had preserved them as soft, rounded imprints. The one who likely made them was slouched against a rock, motionless. Beside them was a large rucksack, a pair of ice axes, some dry twigs, and a piece of flint.

---

Battlemap.
Survival check DC 13 for more information on the tracks.

Stormheart flashed a smile and nod to Farwalker. "Gratitude."

He followed Rhydd back to where they had not entered and looked around in. He didn't immediately go towards the motionless figure just yet. He paused and frowned as he spied some tracks, then began to examine them to see what he could find. He wanted more information before potentially entering a trap or lair.

17:45, Today: Stormheart rolled 25 using 1d20+7. Survival.

---

Stormheart's Survival into the tracks [25]: There were three sets of tracks; two leading in and one leading out. From the shape and size, they appeared to belong to someone sized Human. The wind would eventually erase them as they had already been near the entrance, but with the way the jagged terrain broke the wind, it could take a while in the absence of a strong gale. Stormheart therefore figured them to be two or three Tendays old.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:48, Mon 29 Jan.

Without a word, Khulekani slid from her saddle and rushed over to the slumped over figure. This frozen place seemed to invite death, but if there was even the slightest chance to save an innocent life, she was duty-bound to try. Dropping to her knees, she removed her thick gloves and began checking the person for signs of life.

OOC Mechanics
21:53, Today: Khulekani Kumalo rolled 21,4 using d20+6,d20. Perception, Medicine.

As Khulekani pulled back the stiff hood and the scarf down, she was met with a face white and blue. This, a Human in who appeared to be in his early thirties, was dead, and had likely been dead for several days.

---

Khulekani's Medicine into the state of the person [4]: Khulekani was left unsure of what the person had actually succumbed to. They did not appear to bear any obvious injuries.

Khulekani's Perception on the dead person [21]: His rucksack appears to have been hastily opened, a mess kit hanging from its harness and partially strewn on ground alongside a piece of rolled up parchment. Firmly in his gloved hand was a steel striker. A more thorough search could reveal any other belongings and valuables.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:00, Tue 30 Jan.

Khulekani's heart fell as the death of this stranger became an irreversible reality. She did not know this man, but even if he was an evil person, no one deserved to die cold and alone, far from any loved ones. Normally she might lay this person into a pose of repose, but even she knew his body was likely frozen through if he was dead. So instead she stayed on her knees and gave the deceased last rites.

"May the The Crying God have made your passing a merciful one, may The Loyal Fury have seen your duties all completed, and may The Maimed God have deemed your ending a just one. May your rest be an easy one. May your soul find its final place. We mark your passing with grief, and celebrate the life that you lived. So be it," Khulekani recited sadly.

"He's dead," she said simply to her companions, rising to her feet and putting her gloves back on.

Stormheart stood up once he was done examining the tracks for the moment. He waited patiently and quietly respectful as Khulekani examined and prayed over the fallen person. As a cleric himself, he was definitely good with that. it might not be his religion or follow his beliefs, but that was okay. After she finished, he murmured a quick and quiet prayer for the soul as well, just in case.

"I think their tracks are the ones I found. Unless there are more human-sized beings inside as well."

He paused. "Can Frost Salamanders travel through snow and ice, or stone?" He seemed to be musing as much as asking.

He began heading towards the owlbear.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:09, Thu 01 Feb.

---

Rhydd's Survival into the behavior of Frost Salamanders [21]: Frost Salamanders were adequate tunnelers, but they were no Bulettes. If they dug, it typically wasn't deep.

In reply to Stormheart (msg # 86):


"They -- Frost Salamanders, that is -- can hollow out niches or small caves for themselves, but they aren't likely . . . at least, based upon what I have heard of them -- to actually build tunnels," Rhydd replied to Stormheart.

If discovering the corpse had rattled the outdoorsman, it did not show. He moved into the cave with a purpose, and soon positioned himself ahead of Stormheart.

"I'm not really a scout, but I'm probably more likely to be able to sneak about than you . . . no offense," he said to the hulking Goliath.

---

OOC:

Rhydd's previous Stealth Check upon first heading into caves: 9 (see Msg# 72, above).

13:00, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 8 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 1.  New Stealth Check (If Needed).

Comments: Rhydd will have to eat his words. Stormheart probably *would* have been a better scout. Sheesh.

Stormheart wasn't being particularly sneaky, at first. If there was a frost salamander about that might be a threat to the owlbear, he WANTED it to know he was here. He wanted it to come after them instead of the owlbear.

He strode effortlessly down the passageway, only slowing and becoming stealthy as he neared the owlbear, not wanting to wake them or spook them in to a fight. But he wanted to make sure there was no danger to them and also to inspect them and see what might need to be done. He copied Rhydd's movements, thinking the ranger would know best how to approach the owlbear quietly, but it seemed like they were not being that quiet.

09:34, Today: Stormheart rolled 7 using 1d20.  Stealth.

Faint cracks in what had to be ice, or shifting stone, rang through the tunnels in that characteristic underground way. It did little to mask the crunch of their boots against the cold surface, which Rhydd, Stormheart, and Khulekani all tried in vain to muffle. If there was a Salamander here, it was highly likely it could hear them, Rhydd and Stormheart both knew. But deeper in, it wasn't the Salamander who met them.

As they rounded the corner and peered upon the frozen pool on which the Owlbear hibernated, they found him roused. With slow movement and heavy claws it mustered itself up, its head turned to see who disturbed it. A low grumble sounded as a less than friendly greeting, accompanied by angry eyes glaring like daggers. If not downright hostile, it was most certainly irritated.

---

Battlemap.
We won't initiate combat just yet.

Stormheart paused and made himself look a bit more non-threatening - which, as a hulking Goliath, wasn't always the easiest thing to do! But he quickly cast a spell and then, assuming he wasn't attacked, he would cast another. "Please wait. Don't attack. We're friendly."

OOC: So the plan is to cast Animal Friendship on the Owlbear. IF that works, then he would cast Speak with Animals so things might go a bit smoother. Obviously, if the first spell doesn't work, well it won't likely matter anyway then, lol.

The Owlbear was drowsy and lethargic, so he posed little immediate threat. When Stormheart cast his spell, his eyes were glued to the morsel of food that was spent. Though it was difficult to tell because of an Owlbear's dense coat of feathers and fur, one who had been around Owblears before could tell this one was emaciated. "Hungry..." it growled.

---

The Owlbear's Saving Throw against Stormheart's Animal Friendship [4]: Fail.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:06, Mon 12 Feb.

Stormheart brightened and smiled widely. "Ah! Yes!" He nodded. "I understand! I have come prepared! I have brought meat for you!"

He rummaged in his backpack and pulled out some wrapped meat. He unwrapped it quickly and tossed it to land in front of the Owlbear, careful not to throw it too hard and hit the owlbear. That would be bad.

He then stepped back slightly so the owlbear would feel free to eat.

The Owlbear watched the unwrapping of the assortment of meat with great curiosity. When the stockfish, jerky, and ribs was tossed his way, he plopped down on his butt and yawned long before patiently shuffling his way over to nibble at the food.

Now closer, Stormheart encountered another instance of the blue goop Rhydd claimed to be from a Frost Salamander. The vivid icy surface had done much to mask it, especially as it was more smeared than the blob they had stumbled upon earlier.¹

---

¹ Give me a Perception Check.

Khulekani was more than happy to confront the Owlbear in a nice, peaceful manner. As such, she allowed Stormheart to take charge of the situation. But she was still wary enough of the magnificent creature to keep one gloved hand on the silvered hilt of Isiliva. As the Goliath talked to the Owlbear, she glanced at the blue goop to investigate it, keeping one eye on the conversing pair.

OOC Mechanics
19:48, Today: Khulekani Kumalo rolled 18 using 1d20+6. Perception.

Stormheart watched with worry and wariness as he waited to see if the owlbear would accept the food or not. He wasn't moving, barely breathing, and he had to restrain himself mightily from giving a cheer when the owlbear began to nibble on the food. He bit his lower lip a bit to stay quiet but then he did smile widely as he watched.

21:52, Today: Stormheart rolled 12 using 1d20+7.  Perception.

---

Khulekani's Perception into the Goo [18]: There was a trail here, although it was difficult to spot at first – the Salamander had intentionally or accidentally obscured it, hence the smearing. But it led deeper into the chamber, then up the wall, and finally ended in a narrow shelf near the ceiling. She could see large spherical eggs with light blue shells, stuck together with the same goo they'd found elsewhere in the cave.

Stormheart's Perception [12]: Stormheart was preoccupied and thus did not notice what Khulekani had.

A nibble was all the Owlbear had. It wasn't that he hadn't an appetite for the food Stormheart had brought, he clearly did, especially for the dry and smelly fish, but he hadn't one altogether. "I sleep now," it cooed as it lumbered back to the rock it had laid against and plopped down with a thud. "You leave."

"That was well-done," Rhydd said quietly to Stormheart, favoring the big Goliath with a nod.

"And, I suppose that resolves the immediate problem. But, if the Owlbear is unable to hunt for itself, it seems as if it will recur."

The archer turned towards the corridor that led back to the outside. "We can talk as we walk," he suggested.

"Any ideas as to why the Owlbear was starving?" he asked, glancing between his two companions.

---

OOC: Bears, does Rhydd need to make a Check in order to form an opinion as to the Owlbear's difficulties? Thanks.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:16, Mon 19 Feb.

"Hold," Khulekani said softly, holding up a hand.

Pointing upwards, the armored woman indicated the shelf near the ceiling. There she pointed out the large spherical eggs with light blue shells, stuck together with the goo they had encountered earlier from the Salamander.

"Aside from being an Owlbear den, this seems to be a nesting ground," she mused, thinking about the best way to proceed.

Stormheart frowned and asked the owlbear, hoping to get an answer before it slept - and not its anger. "But why are you not hunting? Is something wrong?"

He hadn't made a move from the spot but he swiveled his head to look at Khulekani when she spoke. His eyes narrowed at the eggs she pointed out. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"I...think one of the two, either owlbear or eggs, would need to be moved. And moving the eggs might cause the...mother...to not be able to find them again." Not that he was looking forward to trying to convince an owlbear to move either.