Wardens of Heroes Gate

The Cliff Caves of Xover

] You are in Tentowns with your hired guide, Shent, for the annual Frozenfar Fray Games which will begin in two tendays (Uktar 20). Earlier in the day you discovered that, not only are there other people like yourself in Icewind Dale, but you received information that your own mother lives here and has spent many years looking for you. You agreed to deliver a package to your mother, since you would be going there anyway, from a merchant named Nim Bragos. You will pick up the package and directions to where your mother now lives – a old lair of Frost Giants named Alzvar.

] Shent discovered that the death of his fathers friend,Hlin Trollbane, is connected to 4 other deaths in the Tentowns and that at least two of the victims were slotted to be judges in the Fray Games. Hlin had a suspicion that they serial killer might be traveling between towns with a caravan of merchants. After alerting Speaker Duvessa to the concerns, she was able to provide two militia men of Bryn Shandor – Melthor & Harbert. Melthor is a young human who is eager to help track down and stop the serial killer. Harbert, on the other hand, is a few years older and a lot unhappy about being assigned this detail. He seems to believe it is his role to point out all the reasons why the journey is unnecessary and all the ways it is doomed to fail.

]  The four of you have mounts (Axebeaks) prepped and you have gathered whatever gear you believe will be helpful. Samsam found you as you passed by Geldenstag’s Rest where Myrtle, her “Grangran”, is the owner and keep. She was sad to let you know she had to stay behind. There were chores to be in done at the inn. You offer farewells and depart by the East Gate.

] You make good time given that the Eastway is covered in more than a foot of fresh snow. The wind picked up about an hour into your travel and, although the skies overhead are clear, visibility is limited as you travel the white tundra landscape. Another hour of frozen snowflakes blasting your face goes by, and then another half-hour when you reach the crossroads of the Eastway and the road between Redwaters and Caer Dineval. Here you find a temporary shelter made of stacked stones around a natural outcropping of rocks. There is an oft-used firepit and a large stack of wood left behind by someone.

] Shent “Rest is warranted. We have just over an hour still to Easthaven – maybe a bit longer if this wind keeps up. I wil start us a small fire so we can warm a bit and melt some snow for water.”

Dawndra] “Not that it is my business, but how is your father? Was he okay that we left Hlin behind his house?”

] Shent “He is heartbroken. I think he and Hlin had become more than just friends. And of course he would rather be the one to honor her with a burial rites so we were right to leave her body where we did. Not too many years ago, he would have been bursting with fire to join us and avenge Hlin, but I assured him that the task of vengeance was in good hands and that he could carry the charge of mourning.”

] Melthor “It is justice we pursue, but I see no reason why justice and vengeance cannot sometimes be friends. The only justice for a serial killer should be a shallow grave.”

] Harbert “Where do you think you are Melthor? Baldurs Gate? Waterdeep? Out here in Tentowns, you are probably drinking ales nightly alongside serial killers and worse. Justice will find its own way in Icewind Dale. Shent and Thaarnik have the rights, and while I would rather be sipping rot gut at Ogdens at this moment – I’ll be glad to help cut down killer just to call it done.

Shent] “Right and wrong don’t often factor into anguish, do they friends? But there is more at stake than vengeance… The Fray Games may be compromised and this serial killer may just be a cheat – a daring one, but a cheat still.”

Dawndra] “Cheaters!? Let the Yeti’s have ’em!” I say, remembering the phrase from Saarvins daughter Roller.

] Melthor, leaping to his feet and drawing his sword “Yeti’s!?” is looks around wild-eyed.

] Shent “Relax friend. It was just a phrase. Not a common one, but a clever one.” He says with a chuckle. “And yes, I agree cheaters can be fed to the yetis.”

Dawndra] “The way I see things, you can either compete or you can cheat – you cannot do both.”

] Harbert “Hellspit… them damn games are a nuisance! I still can’t believe Dougans Hole are allowing them mucksucking barbarians into their town. Easthaven I get.. But Redriver folk must be getting a payday.”

] Melthor “All of Tentowns is getting a payday Harbert – in the form of peace with the tribes. Not to mention all the gold brought in by visitors.”

] Harbert “Gah… peace brings its own cursings don’t it.”

] Shent “My father fought in many of the wars to defend Tentowns from the tribes, and he carried an iron hatred for the barbarians for many years, but even he is glad that no more sons or daughters are being lost to conflict between us and them. The Fray Games have helped Tentowns in his view.”

] Harbert “We all heard plenty the stories of Thaarnik the hero of Tentowns… don’t need to hear ’em again do we. And I’ll shut my yapper about it all… Let’s just go kill a serial killer… shall we?”

] After a short rest, you continue on your way to Easthaven. Just as Lac Dinneshere is starting to come into view, Shent halts everyone.

] Shent “Trouble just ahead… Off the road… this way.” He leads you around a raised mound of snow and pulls his mount into a low squat beside him. “Giants… and heading towards us.” he whispers.

] Just as Melthor is about to explain how he saw nothing, three large men, each nine foot tall or more, appear walking towards you on the Eastway. They all carry spears and one has a large keg hoisted to his shoulder. The other two drag a large wagon sled behind them by its dogless tackle.

] Shent “If we are lucky, they will pass by and not notice our fresh tracks in the snow. They seem to have good spoils so they probably won’t care to fight us for meager pickings.”

] They continue their travel, the wind-whipped snow quickly covering your tracks and obscuring their view of the ground beneath them. Suddenly from behind you, you hear a high-pitched yell, like a little girl practicing a war cry. You see an large female charging on an Axebeak  – her brilliant red hair wild in the wind. She draws a long blade for attack.

Dawndra] “Samsam!”

] Shent “Senseless girly! She’s gonna get herself dead!” He jumps up and draws his axes.

Dawndra] I extend my hair pin and run into range for a throw

] Your Ice Pike flies true in the severe wind and strikes the giant carrying the large keg. With surprising speed, he turns and without even dropping the burden on his shoulder, he chucks a spear back at you [()] and hits you for 10 hp.

] Harbert “Bad idea this, but whats to do?”

] He charges one of the other giants (verbeeg2). His longsword finds giant flesh before he leaps around the wagon. Shent confronts the keg-carrier [()] slicing at his legs with both axes. The third giant (Verbeeg3) hurls a spear at the charging Samsam [()] but misses (critically) and his spear sinks somewhere into deep snow.

] Samsam leaps from her running axebeak and flies through the air with a shining blade leading the way in her attack against the keg carrier [()] but she completely misjudges the effort involved and falls to the ground beside Shent. Melthor flanks the lead (Verbeeg1) and thrusts an attack [()] with critical success into the side of the giant.

Dawndra] I retrieve my weapon from the back flank of the ugly man and attack

] You pound away at the bleeing giant. He yells in frustrated anger and raises the keg high overhead. He slams it down on [()] the prone Samsam [()] successfully, nearly crushing her rib cage. Another (Verbeeg2) turns chases after Harbert [()] but his spear attack misses as Harbert dodges to the other side of the wagon. He pops up in front of the wagon and, seeing the backside of the giant who has taken the most blows, he tries another stab and run manuever [()] with success  before he swiftly runs back around to find cover with the wagon.

] Shent yells “He can’t take much more surely!” as he slashes [()]

] The giant is bleeding excessively and does appear about finished as the third (Verbeeg3) steps in, placing himself between the severely injured giant and your attacks. He kicks at [()] Shent [()] successfully, his large foot catching Shent directly in the chest. Samsam manages to get to her feet and with another ear-piercing yell, attacks the giant (Verbeeg3). Surprisingly, she scores a critical hit, her sword ripping into the belly of the maruader. Melthor is insistent on dropping the one most hurt [()]. He slips around the defence and plunges his blade directly up into the throat of the giant. Melthor is suddenly sprayed with a shower of blood as the giant falls to its knees and finally face-first in the snow. The other giant lets out an anguished cry and says something in a language you cannot understand yet somehow seems familiar to you.

Dawndra] “One down!” I yell as I attack (verbeeg3)

] Your attacks are relentless and faultless against the giant.

Dawndra] “We don’t need to kill you. Run and we won’t strike again!”

] The giant circling the wagon appears to consider your statement [()] but he does not run. He turns back again to Harbert and stabs at him [()] missing. He lets out angry words as Harbert expertly dodges and closes distance to make is own attack [()] successfully.

] Shent “The lady means it, run and we won’t follow.” he says as he launches his attack [()] cutting open the side of the giant with two well-targeted swipes.

] The bleeding fellow looks to his fallen friend lying face down and [()] says out loud in Common “Relent! Relent! I will run!” and he starts off northward into the snow. Shent does not take the opportunity attack.

] Samsam “Five against one now! Let’s get him!” she charges in with her blade [()] striking the giant for a fair amount of damage

] Melthor is suddenly behind the giant in attack form [()] but he loses footing in the deep snow and fails.

Dawndra] I square off with the remaining giant – my ice pike trained on his chest. Taking the Dodge action I say “Relent now or die badly.”

] The giant man again considers [()] this time he drops the spear raises both hands. “Okay! Relenting!” He slowly backs away and once confident you will keep your word, turns and runs toward the other retreating giant.

] Shent “Foolish child!” he says to Samsam. “You could be dead now! We could all be dead now! What were you thinking?”

] Samsam “I saw you getting ready to ambush the marauders -I was thinking that I was helping.”

Dawndra] “We were hiding, hoping they would walk by without noticing us.”

] Samsam “Why would you do that? You are heroes! They were Verbeeg bandits! ”

] Shent “We are not heroes but we are smart enough not to pick dumb fights.”

] Melthor “I’m with the ravishing Red here, in fact – we should have put them all down – justice would demand it. And just when it looked like we had our victory, you offer them reprieve?”

Dawndra] “Forgive me. I am an outsider here. Where I am from, justice and murder are not so easily confused. I had no reason to kill them unless they gave me one. And if you can look outside your own perspective for a moment… we were the ones who attacked them – I was the one to draw first blood.”

] Melthor “They were obviously bandits stealing this wagon – we had rights to stop them.

Shent] “Possibly so… and thank you Melthor for changing the subject. Where did this wagon come from?” He climbs into the back.

] Harbert “This keg… its label says its full of Flamebeards Firebrandy! Help me out here Melthor. It would be a shame to let it all go to waste.” He props up the keg. “Anyone got a cup?”

] Shent, stepping back out of the wagon… “This appears to be a merchant wagon. I’d say there’s a strong chance it’s from the merchant caravan we are chasing. We should hurry and follow the tracks before this wind blows them away.”

] You follow the sled tracks along the Eastway for a short while. Soon you come upon three other sled wagons. They all have had their contents torn apart and they lie scattered in the snow. You also see the bodies of twenty sled dogs. Five lay scattered while the other remain tied into their tackle and are mostly covered in snow.

] Samsam “Oh! The poor dogs! They killed them all!” she breaks down in the snow weeping over the loss.

] Shent “I don’t think the Verbeeg killed them. It looks as though they were all frozen to death long before the wagons were raided. It seems quite certain we found the merchant caravan which left Bryn Shander yesterday… but why would they abandon their dog teams like this? We are only an hour away from Easthaven… they must have met with trouble other than the storm.”

] The wailing cries of Samsam become louder than wind around you.

Dawndra] “It is a tragic loss. You must love these creatures very much.”

] Samsam whimpers “Yes… yes I do. They all just died all tied together with no chance to save themselves. Its just cruel.”

Dawndra] “We don’t know exactly what happened here but it is a sad thing to witness.”

] Melthor “So are we thinking the serial killer did all this? Killed the entire caravan? Where are their bodies?”

] Shent “Where indeed. If they were simply seeking shelter from the strengthening storm – they would have taken their dogs with them. If they were attacked by Yeti or cragcats, we would find pieces of them – and a layer of blood under the snow. Maybe a dragon swooped them all away… one by one… but it seems doubtful. No… they walked away from their wagons and their dog teams as if they were spelled to.”

Dawndra] I look around “But where would they go?”

] You can see the flat expanse of Lac Dinneshere to the East from where you stand. Along the Western edge, wrapping around the Northern corner of the lake are large cliffs. To your South there is only miles of rolling snow mounds and the Spine of the World looming large in the background.

] Shent “The Cliff Caves of Xover. If I had to find shelter… desperately… Like really desperately… I would go to the Cliff Caves of Xover.” he says pointing towards the edge of the lake.

Dawndra] “Xover? Who or what is that?”

] Harbert “A Frost Giant. Or so the stories say. Some kind of Shaman with a crazy cult of Frost Giants bent to his every word. Rather than fighting dragons like every good Frost Giant should, they started worshiping them.”

] Shent “No one goes near the Cliff Caves… they are supposed to be haunted. You will hear why once we get closer. It would take a strong man with iron balls to walk willingly into these caves. No offense to those without balls… of course.”

Dawndra] “It sounds like we are going to find out just how hard our balls are then. What do you think Samsam… want to prove we’ve the spirit of Iron Balls – if not the dangly things themselves?”

] Samsam straightening up says “My balls are the ironest!” She unsheathes her sword and holds it high in the air, letting out a yipping war cry.

] Shent “I believe you! I believe you both… but Samsam… I think you need to spend more time training to use that sword before leaving the town walls. Seriously… I don’t think it is safe for you.”

Dawndra] “What can we do? Its not safe to just send her back either. A lone traveler is easy prey.”

] Shent “I will grant you that.”

] Melthor “I will protect you Samsam.”

Dawndra] “Samsam… if you stay with us, you must listen and follow our lead. No more charging attacks, no more war cries (as impressive as they are). You are young and lack the training to keep yourself alive out here. I can teach you starting now but only if you agree to be my student. What do you think?”

] Samsam “You will be my teacher? Oh yes oh yes! I will do as you say and follow where you lead!”

Dawndra] “Precisely? Without faulter or fail?”

] Samsam “Pre-cy-sleey! To my very best ability.”

] Shent “Ok, just remember, I am a guide, not a guard – and especially not a babysitter. ”

Dawndra] “Noted Shent. Guide away to these spooky caves.”

] The five of you mount and ride your Axebeaks downhill around the southern side of the cliffs. As you reach the bottom, the ground becomes slick ice where the lake has frozen over. Towering over you is 100+ feet of rock wall. Icicles the size of Frost Giants hang from the upper reaches of the cliffs. In the rock face – which extends nearly a mile along the lake shore and wraps around the north western corner – you see many cave openings, some just 20 or 30 feet up from the lake shore, others much higher. The lower ones are huge, reaching up 15 to 20 feet at the opening. From the moment you stepped around to the front of the caves, you began to hear the most bone-chilling, soul-shrinking wails and moans coming from deep inside the caves. They sound unnatural, ethereal – otherworldly. You see the faces of Samsam, Melthor and Harbert all freeze over with fright.

] Shent “Trust me – it is truly just the wind. It sounds very different with only a light breeze about but today’s heavy gails are putting on quite a show for us. Look for any signs the merchants walked through here.”

Dawndra] “I trust you Shent… but if you don’t mind… I’m readying my weapon. You know… just in case…” I extend my pike to full length and begin looking, cautiously, along the edges where there is safe walkway.

] About 100 feet to the north you find a small pack dropped to the ground and left behind. Inside are a few personal items and a small locked chest. There are some rations and a full wineskin frozen over.

Dawndra] “Here! Someone left this behind… but it makes no sense why.” I look up to see if maybe it fell while someone was climbing.

] There is a large cave opening 30 feet above where you stand. You see a brief flash of movement as if something ducked back inside the cave as you looked up.

Dawndra] I point at the cave “There! I think I saw something in that opening.”

] Shent “I see nothing now… but let us move quickly beyond range.”

Dawndra] I carry the pack with me and continue to search forward with increased pace.

] After some distance, just before the cliff wall begins to curve around the lake, you find a large ground level cave with a thick stream flowing out of it – most of its edges are frozen over but you can still see the water flowing. There are slick ice-covered walkways on either side of the stream entering into the cliff face. The size of the tunnel is impressive reaching 20 to 25 feet high and at least 20 feet wide.  You notice that you can see a long distance into the tunnel, as though there are internal sources of light.

Dawndra] “I suppose we enter here yes? What might we find do you think?”

] Shent “I cannot more than guess. Yeti’s and Ice Trolls love places like this. I doubt Frost Giants would return here – but I say we run hard and fast if we encounter one. We are no match…. Certainly. Beasts like Cragcats and Direwolves make these caves home as well, and they can be trouble if they outnumber us. Beyond that… anything is possible.”

Dawndra] “Comforting… at least we know we cannot expect to know. Samsam… stay right behind me. Keep quiet and watch each step closely.” I enter the caves.

] The walk way is extremely slick and it feels like you are sledding rather than walking. As you skate deeper you realize that no only is it not getting darker, it is getting oddly… bluer. The ice itself seems to almost glow with a blue light. You catch a slight whiff of burning firewood and cooking meat from deeper in the caves. The scent quickly grows stronger.

Dawndra] “Smell that? Someone is cooking meat. ”

] Shent “You are right – might be a good sign. Perhaps the merchants we seek have holed up in here for some reason.”

] As you wind around a wide corner in the tunnelway, you see a pedestal holding a large wedge of ice. Inside the ice you see a dancing blue flame – the light of which  seems to leap to all of the surrounding ice.

Dawndra] “This is interesting.” I risk a quick touch.

] The ice wedge containing the blue flame is exceeding cold and burns your finger. (1HP)

Dawndra] “Ouch! It is so cold it burns. I guess we won’t be carrying it around with us. Ever seen anything like this before?”

] Harbert “Can’t say I have. It is obviously a magical flame.”

] Melthor “Obviously!” he says with a snark.

] Samsam “Sure is a pretty flame isn’t it. I think it would look just lovely in the Rest. Grangran would like that.”

] Shent “With no wizard among us to confirm, we should assume it is far more dangerous than it looks. These things usually are. Let’s get moving… that smell of cooking is making me hungry… hopefully there is plenty for sharing with us.”

] The tunnel winds again and the sound of a falling water grows louder. Just ahead, the tunnel ends and opens up into much larger cavern. At the opening is a short scarp of about ten feet high. Standing on either side of the flowing stream at the base of the waterfall are two humanoids. They are oddly still – as if frozen in a guard stance. If they see you, there is no indication. They each wear some minimal armor and a rounded helmet and pauldrons that seem to absorb the blue light. Draped down their torsos are blue designless tunics. Although in size and shape, they appear human, you notice that their skin is the blue-green color of a frozen corpse. They have both hands in front  and wrapped around the hilts of sleek greatswords with points at the icy ground.

Dawndra] I find a ready stance – as much as possible on the slick ice. “Samsam. Hold the back.”

] Samsam “Covering!” she says loudly – raising her fathers longsword towards the tunnel entrance. “Nothing will pass!”

] The confident exuberance in her voice echoes throughout the tunnel and, almost as if an enchantment swept through your group, you all feel emboldened. [Inspiration]

] Melthor “They are frozen! Long dead and frozen!” He approaches the left guard somewhat cavalierly, and points his sword at the chest of the frozen guard.

] “You don’t want to do that.” you hear a bleak voice say. Suddenly at the top of the waterfall, standing in the center of the flowing stream, you see another humanoid. This one also has corpse-colored skin but he is wearing only draping robes of blue, and he is not still. His hands pull together  and he looks over your party.

[()]

] Melthor “No I don’t” He backs away

] Shent “He’s a mind worm!” He hurls his off-hand axe at the bluish man atop the waterfall. [()]

] The axe hits and you see a splash of silver metal like blood spray from the creature standing over you all. Samsam fights the urge to charge unbridled, but takes the Dodge action instead. “Covering!”

Dawndra] I jump into the flowing stream where my footing will be better than on ice and I attack one of the blue swordsmen. (1)

] Both of the frozen men spring into apparent life as you begin your attack. Your target attempts to block your ice pike but fails. You see it also bleed silver metal.

Dawndra] “What bleeds metal?!”

] “You want to protect us. Guard us.” The icy voice says [Wisdom Save]

Dawndra]

] You feel an uncontrollable need to defend these bluish men from your own party. You turn your back to the creatures to face Shent and the others, holding your pike like a quarterstaff, ready to repel any attack. Melthor joins you, facing Harbert and Shent and Samsam in a defense posture.

] Shent “Troll spit! What a pizzle-pinch! Pull back! Plug your ears and pull back to the lake!”

] The two guards return to their standing position, swordpoints in the ice and faces frozen like the dead. Harbert heeds Shents words, sticking his fingers in his ears and backing away from the waterfall.

] Samsam “What’s happening!?! We can’t just leave them! Dawndra! Dawndra snap out of it!” She throws down her sword and begins to run towards you.

[()]

] Loosing her footing, she falls hard into the icy stream, splashing both you and Melthor with a wave of water. [()] The shock of the frigid water in your face awakens you from the charm enchantment. [()] but Melthor continues to stand guard with the icemen.

Dawndra] “Samsam!” I pull her up out of the water. “Shent is right, we pull back.” Helping Samsam, we back away from the waterfall.

] As you are backing away, you hear the voice of the robed one say “You are hungry! Join us for a hot meal by a warm fire.” [Wisdom Saving Throw]

Dawndra]

[()]

] Samsam “Lick my knickers! You… you… vilemouthed kacksy! ” she makes some obscene gestures as well but picks up her sword and continues backing up with you.

] Once outside the tunnel you regroup and discuss your options.

Dawndra] “We can’t just leave Melthor behind. ”

] Harbert “Meh. He’s probably having a nice hot meal by a warm fire.”

Dawndra] “You believed the mind worm? Then why did you not join him?”

] Shent “No… we need to rescue Melthor… and my axe. I can’t believe I just threw it like that!”

] Samsam “A warm fire would be nice.” she says visibly shaking from the cold – her clothes still heavy and dripping.

] “Up here!” you hear a voice say. In one of cave openings above – where you found the abandoned pack earlier, you see a young half-elf waving you up. “There is a fire pit here and some wood.”

Dawndra] I walk closer “Who are you?”

Jynelor] “My name is Jyn. I am a holdling of Bastlo Boonlin.”

Dawndra] “A holdling? What is…”

] Shent quietly interupts you “A slave… a holdling is a purchased person.”

Dawndra] “Thank you Jyn. We will join you. Is this pack I found yours?”

Jynelor] “Yes, I dropped it while climbing up and was afraid to go back for it.”

Dawndra] I pull a rope from my own pack. “I will climb up first and help the rest of you.” [Athletics Check]

] You skillfully climb the 20 feet up to the cave entrance where Jyne is waiting. You use your rope to help the others up and minutes later are you all huddled around a stone pit in the back of the cave watching Shent make fire. The howling moans of the wind are much louder inside this cave. You notice there are a dozen or more round bore holes in the rock walls and ceiling.

Dawndra] “We came here Jyn, looking for everyone from the merchant caravan. I assume you were among them? Tell us what happened?”

Jynelor] “Yes. We were returning to Easthaven when the storm struck. We almost made it… we would have made… except for this strange blue-skinned man that appeared suddenly in front of us. I swear he was a ghost or some spector from the dead. He offered us shelter, well not exactly… he suggested we wanted to find shelter. Suddenly everyone in our caravan were just blindly following this bald corpse creature here to the caves. I followed Lord Boonlin without a word because that is all I am allowed but I knew they were all under some spell. Why it did not get me too, I can’t say.”

] Shent “It’s the elvish in your blood lad. Them mind worms have a hard time charming elves.”

Jynelor] “Oh? Well I suppose these odd ears had to have some benefit to me. The rest of my story you probably figured out – I climbed up here as the rest of the mindlessly followed into the cave you all just came out of. I don’t suppose you saw any of them alive?”

Dawndra] “No, at least, not yet. We also encountered the bald blue man – three of them actually. They have charmed one of our number and we have to retrieve him.”

] Shent “And my axe!” he grumbles out the side of his mouth.

Dawndra] “We need an alternate plan of attack. We can’t let them turn us against each other. Plus they hold the high ground – getting up the sides of that waterfall would be tenious so we would have to take out the two below first – or keep them busy long enough to climb up and take out the ‘mind worm’ as Shent calls it.”

] Shent “I call it what it is. You are right however, we need a different plan. There at the waterfall is the worst possible footing to fight. I don’t know that we could draw them out into the open – I got a hunch they wouldn’t fall for it.”

] Samsam “Then we sneak up behind them! Pown! Zang!” she makes sweeping combat motions and then hunches back down and stares into the fire. “I hope Melthor is okay…”

Dawndra] “I have to admit, I like Samsam’s plan the best. Maybe one of these other caves connects to the larger cave we saw? Maybe even this one?” I get up and start pushing at the cave walls to find a weakness.

] Samsam “You called this man “Lord” Jyn… if we find the merchants at all, would you rather we found this Boonlin dead? I’m only curious of course.”

] Jyn “I think I see your question… Lord Boonlin is not a warm man, but neither is he a cruel master. He originally bought me out of Luskan as a servant to care for his infant daughter. Her mother died in birth and Lord Boonlin, well, he did not have within himself to take her place. It has been my joy to be keeper to Thabitha these twenty years. She is a wonderful lady and I would hate to have to inform her of her fathers death… and certainly I would never want leave the Boonlin house.”

] Shent “The life of a holdling is not always bad. Often is… but not always.” He stands and walks towards you Dawndra. “Perhaps you need to push a little lower my dearest giant.”

] The two of you begin pushing together in the same area and eventually you find a spot with some give to it directly north of the firepit.

] Shent “Here! Lets put our shoulders to it!”

] With a couple of combined slams, the rock gives way to another large tunnel. Daylight fills the tunnel from the east and it grows darker towards the west.

Dawndra] “Let us hope it connects and we have a chance to sneak up behind your mind worm. If we enounter more swordsman… I say we swarm them fast – one and then another. If you remember, the bald one did not appear right away… it is my guess that they called him. But if we see him, he must be our first target else any of us be turned again. ”

] Shent “Got it! Samsam… do you want to stay here and protect Jyn from any incoming dangers?”

Dawndra] “I owe you my life Samsam. Although it did not go as you planned… still it was your heart that saved me. But Shent is right, Jyn may need you and we will need to be highly tactical in our approach.”

] Samsam draws her sword “You are safe with me Jynjyn!”

] Shent “Wish us good luck!”

Dawndra] “Luck!?” I suddenly remember my coin of Tymora and pull it out. “Let us ask Tymora herself for some… yeh?” I flip it

Dawndra] “The Lady blesses us!”

] As soon as the words leave your mouth, you feel a mighty rumble throughout the caverns and you hear what sounds like a massive collapse of snow and rock somewhere nearby.

] Shent “What the dretch!?!”

] Harbert “Sounds like a collapse. I think you got yourself a backwards coin, or Tymora got herself cross at us… for some reason.”

Dawndra] “I don’t know what to make of it honestly… but the Elders say the Gods ain’t called Gods for no reason.” We follow the tunnel East.

] After about 50 feet the tunnel opens and you have before you a natural rock bridge crossing over a stream that travels North to South. The bridge leads to another smaller tunnel. From the North, you billows of dust and snowflake and rightly assume the collapse happened in that direction. To the South the stream winds a bit and pours into a much larger cavern. You see another of the strange pedestals holding a chunk of ice with the blue dancing flame trapped within.

] Shent “Unless my directions are broke – there is cavern we saw atop the waterfall earlier.”

] Harbert “Should we cross the bridge and see what is over there first? Or drop down and follow the stream?”

Dawndra] “Best not leave the unknown at our backs.”

] Shent “Agreed – it might be exactly where we were going to end up anyway. Let’s cross one by one… just in case the bridge is not as strong as it looks.”

] The three of you slowly cross over the ice-covered stone bridge. [()] Shent goes first and navigates it successfully. [()] Harbert crosses confidently. [Acrobatics Check]

Dawndra]

] You all enter the tunnel on the far side of the bridge which proceeds east 30 feet before opening up into a large cave much like the previous. There is a long-cold firepit in the center and three packs stacked against the far wall. You notice the ghostly sound of a wailing woman is much quieter in this chamber. Shent has found a dagger of blackened metal near the firepit and he pulls it from its sheath to admire it.

] Shent “Dwarven made… I daresay this is an Ironmaster blade! Made of adamantine no less. What a treasure!”

Dawndra] “Nice find.” I go over and inspect the packs.

] They each include some standard items along with aged rations. In one of them, however, you find a stack of papers bound together with twine. The writing within appears to be dwarven.

Dawndra] “Hey Shent, can you read this?”

] Shent “This page reads ‘These caves are sacred to Frost Giants. The carvings on the wall suggest they would come here to sacrifice themselves to the dragon Winter Fang.’ and here they found a deep pool with a mirror bed. Within the pool are a dozen or more corpses of frost giants.”

Dawndra] “A ‘mirror bed’? What is that?”

] Shent “No idea. This page says ‘The wind is truly frightening… sounds just like a wailing woman… but becomes even more terrifying during a storm.’ We pretty much knew that already… but listen to this… ‘Hunger is playing tricks on us all. We smell the aroma of a hearty stew cooking somewhere in the complex of caves.’ The last entry reads ‘The wailing wind transformed to singing tonight. I heard what sounded like a granny crooning a lecherous tune. The song ended with shrill laugh – utter dread sunk its spiny teeth into my bones. Ye gods! That horrible cackle! We leave at first light whether the storm has passed or not.'”

Dawndra] “Either they left their packs behind… or they never left.”

] Harbert “Its worse than that… the smell of cooking stew… and a horrible cackle! That can only mean… ”

] Both Shent and Harbert say it at the same time… “a hag!”

] Shent “Of course this means… that smell of meat cooking earlier… ugh!”

Dawndra] “You are saying… the meat smell *was* the merchants we are looking for?”

] Harbert “Precisely. We best hurry to kill a hag if don’t want to be smelling Melthor’s bones soon.”

] Shent “I fought a hag once. Near Raven Rock. Barely survived that expedition didn’t I. Don’t trust your eyes, or your ears… and never make a deal. They always want to make a deal. I don’t how how such ugly mouths can produce such pretty talk… but don’t be swayed… hags are all evil and always… and no deal is worth letting it live.”

Dawndra] We go back to the bridge. I use my rope to let Shent and Harbert down to the cavern floor and then climb down myself. We make our way East towards the larger cavern.

] The stream flows into an expansive cavern where it spreads out into a thin covering over sheets of ice. The ceiling is a spectacular sight – huge upside down spires of ice hang down, all of them glowing blue from the nearby pedestal with the ice flame. The eastern wall has a large opening leading to a tunnel. You spot, on the far south east side, the top of the waterfall where you previously met the blue skinned men. You so not see anyone from where you are currently.

Dawndra] I point to the tunnel and whisper. “That must be where we are going.” We cross the frozen cavern to the tunnel.

] The tunnel floor much less slick than the wide pool you just navigated successfully. It is narrow but over 20 feet tall. It winds further eastward until it opens into another large cavern. The ground suddenly drops 20 feet down into a large pit of icy rock. Down inside the pit you see Melthor and 6 others. They are all huddled on the west side of the pit directly across from the remains of a frost giant sat down with its back against the east wall of the pit – as if it were watching them. The frost giant is largely bones but there are still chunks of ancient leathery skin hanging from it. It wears a shiny metal helmet that looks like it is fresh from the smiths polishing. You notice one eye socket is completely empty but the other is not. There is a large unmoving eye trained on the captives. In the hand of the frost giant is an immense war axe – rusted and hoary.

] Harbert whispers down into the pit “Melthor! You live!”

] All of the captives of the pit look up at you and then panic – looking back at the dead giant. They point as if to warn you about it. It remains still however.

Dawndra] I drop a rope down into the pit. “Hurry!” I say just loudly enough.

] It takes several minutes, but all of the merchants and Melthor make it safely to the tunnel.

] Melthor “That frost giant…. It animates. I don’t know why it is still right now but it was like a cat with a box full of mice. It grabbed one of us and lifted him to the ledge on the far side where more of those blue men took him away.”

Dawndra] “Timing is showing us favor… let us not waste the boon… hurry, this way.” We cautious look out into the cavern for threats.

] You see no one. You all slowly and quietly cross the frozen pool and return to the bridge. You are able to give most of them a leg up far enough that they can climb on the bridge at the west tunnel while Shent stands watch. You have just lifted Harbert up when Shent speaks your name and warns you to ready yourself. From the north you see the bald blue man in robes coming towards you. He almost glides across the ice of the frozen edges of the stream.

] “You want to see what I have to show you.” He says as he nears within 30 feet of you, but neither of you are affected by the magical suggestion.

Dawndra] “Suck troll titties!” I close distance and attack

] You gain momentum and then slide into your attack, spearing the chest of the threat. You then use the leverage to repeatedly kick it before swiping your ice pike away in a spray of silver mirror-like metal. Its eyes begin to glow overwhelmingly – the same silvered color [Wisdom Save]

Dawndra]

] Shent calls out “Here come the other two!”

] Melthor appears on the bridge above with a large rock over his head. He hurls it towards the blue man in robes [()] crushing his skull. The Hypnos Magen explodes in a burst of fire and smoke. In its place you see a pile of disconnected bones and a pool of silvery blood which out into the stream and travels down towards the two incoming magen – greatswords drawn.

] Shent “Let’s start with the cute one!”  [()]

] The tricky terrain under Shent’s feet causes him to miss both attacks. Meanwhile Harbert is climbing back down from the bridge above. Shent comes under attack by both of the magen. They attack viciously with their greatswords [()] but he somehow manages to allude every stroke. It is almost comical how his awkward slips and slides on the wet ice actually work in his favor.

Dawndra] “I’d say you are the only cute one here Shent…” I attack the one on the right (magen1)

] You again manage to lodge your pike into the torso of the attacker and then use the leverage against him. You slide yourself towards him and kick him off of your spear. Methor is throwing another large rock from the wall you broke through earlier. Merchants have carried several down through the tunnel to help the combat. [()] the rock splashes nearby, almost hitting you instead of the blue man.

] Shent “Shit sniffer!” he attacks again (magen1) [()] this time successfully.

] Harbert also joins the fray [()] flanking the same magen, he cuts it half-wise and it also explodes leaving behind a pile of bones coated with silvery blood. [()] The other magen targets Harbert from behind with a punishing slash.

Dawndra] I flank and attack with all I’ve got

] You masterfully assault the magen doing critical damage. The others swarm it until it also explodes.

Dawndra] “Whew! Time to go…” I help Harbert back up to the tunnel and turn to Shent. “Ready?”

] Shent “My Axe! I can’t leave my axe. Its not far… and the guards are gone. Get everyone to safety. I will meet you out in front of the caves.” he runs back into the large cavern and disappears around the bend.

Dawndra] I go to the entrance of the tunnel and start lowering folks down.

] Samsam went down first to help catch everyone. Soon everyone is on the frozen shoreline of Lac Dinneshere but there is no sign of Shent.

Dawndra] “Lead these folks back to where we found their wagon. I will go check on Shent.” I go down to the lake-level cave entrance and begin walking in towards the water fall.

] You hear a splash ahead and then running steps in the stream. From around the bend in the tunnel you see Shent attempting  quick exit.

] Shent seeing you says “Run! Giant!”

Dawndra] I turn back towards the entrance and run. [Dexterity Save]

Result Table

Dawndra]

] You successfully speed you way back to the shoreline with Shent on your heels. Behind you the thunderous footsteps of a frost giant skeleton echoes in the tunnel. As you exit the caves you see the group of others are nearing the end of the cliff face on the far south eastern side of the lake.

Dawndra] I ready my weapon and turn to face the oncoming threat.

] Shent “Keep running, we are no match!” He yells as he races past you.

] The skeleton reaches the opening of the cave and stops. The stench of rot assaults your senses and you see it still has chunks of flesh loosely attached to its animated bones. It carries a great axe so large you doubt you could even drag it. It stares you down with one empty eye socket but in its other sokcet, a colorful eye is whipping around wildly searching the area. You feel a sudden blast of cold energy [Constition Save]

Dawndra]

] You hear Shent yelling at you to run. His short legs are skating him across the ice at surprising speed.

Dawndra] I follow Shent and run.

] The frost giant skeleton does not pursue and does not exit the cavern tunnel fully. Minutes later you are reunited with the group. Hours later you arrive in Easthaven with the surviving merchants.