10-14th of Raven Queen
The party took some well deserved rest, met several times with Alura as she began to analyze Illiamarra’s Spellbook, enjoyed some deluxe accomodations (hot baths powered by elementals and cushy well appointed chambers and beds), and free reign of the ambassadorial quarters in Queen Dranser’s Castle Plancert. Eventually, after a few days, Alura was able to acquire enough rings of non-detection for the party to be protected agaisnt scrying magic.
15th of Raven Queen
The party met with Alura and learned of the Anfoor observatory of possible realities – where a mysterious guru-like gith presides over some sort of device that allows them to see any location – even some shielded by certain types of magic. This power is apparently accessible to all, provided they demonstrate some sort of spiritual journey or growth. Alura suggested that the party might be able to use the Anfoor’s observatory to ascertain the location of Illiamarra’s phylactery and proactively launch an offensive before she comes to take back her items and exact revenge.
In the richly adorned halls of Castle Plancert, General Krom stopped the party briefly to invite them to speak with him. He referred to them as “the nameless ones” or as “some were saying” “Alura’s Henchmen.” In discussion, Krom made his disdain and mistrust of Alura clear. He said that he was counciling Queen Dranser to make a proactive strike against the heart of the “Bestial Orcish Horde.” In particular, he desires an all-out attack against the horde rather than suffer the defensive posturing that has been on-going in the siege of Khriff Sri’ss. He asked the party to take on a mission for him, namely to assassinate or discover information that could be used to attack Zlog, the warchief said to be a master tactician, intellectual, charismatic uniter able to bring the clans together, and an extremely strong and powerful individual feared in battle.
After their discussions in the castle, the party decided Ari would teleport them to the Queen’s gate, north of the Glade, where they would journey to the Anfoor observatory across the world’s spine – a treacherous stretch of mountains known to house various dangerous creatures such as Yeti and a dragon fond of taking tolls from those that pass through its realm. Due to the nearby conflict, forces of the horde may also be in the area. Alura cautioned against venturing far (if at all) into the Mirkhol, which she claims holds aberrations from before the calamity.
The party, gathered warm cloths, visiting a shop called “Calistra’s strands” and air teleported them northward.
15th of Raven Queen
The party spent the evening at the Queen’s Gate in Dranseri. There they met and chatted with a soldier stationed on the wall. He warned them of dangers north of the wall and mentioned waypoints and places of refuge in the mountains – including a few villages within the Icewind dale. He also reported of Yetis in the mountains and updated the party on the attempted horde incursions at the wall.
A few in the party ventured past the gates and saw main snow-buried corpses of goblins, orcs, and other creatures – most with arrows and spears in their chests left in the cold snow after being slain by the missile weapons on the wall.
Looking for warmer times, several party members, led by Val, made there way to the small non-military “village.” In truth the village was little more than a brothel (named Warm Sheets), an inn (named The Last Refuge), a tavern (Winter’s Teat), and a few small huts a short walk south of the Queens gate. There Val picked up a soldier named Ruf at the tavern. Ruf appreciated Val’s pointedly no-nonsense style and ruggedness. The two downed a few drinks before making use of a “short term” room at the inn.
As the cold evening set-in, the clerics and druids in the party consulted with their gods, goddesses, and the land around them. Seeking the most expedient and least dangerous pathway to the Anfoor Observatory, the party decided a voyage by sea was in order via Sri’ss and its nearby port city of Erifsi. Traveling by teleportation circle to Sri’ss (using Ari’s Pansophical connections), the party made their way to a heavily guarded and fortified city in the midst of siege. A guard there inquired about their plans and updated them on the status of the siege before letting them pass and exit to spend an evening in the Misty Steed.
17th of Raven Queen
Waking in the morning, the party made their way to Erifsi, chartered a discrete, no-questions asked ship northward and began their journey.
18th-23rd of Raven Queen
As they made their way northward, the party observed large groups heading southward along the coast – presumably horde forces. The party spent time further communing and learned of potential dangers near the ancient dwarven homeland of Orshem. A “choice of fire or ice” was considered and ice was selected. Heading around a large forest-covered peninsula the party made their way to what the ship’s crew labeled the “frost’s maw” a river delta supposedly (according to their maps) that leads further inland and in the direction of the Anfoor Observatory. Amidst their journey, the party learned of other travelers with a mysterious crate bound for the same river. Letting the three individuals and their cargo go ahead, the party waited a few hours and departed themselves. The crew of the ship wished them well, sold them a boat at a steep price (where else will you get one), and then made their way southward again.
Ari, scouting ahead as a snowy-looking owl overheard the three individuals (two tieflings and a palid-looking human) talking in abyssal about their cargo’s “journey through the planes.” One said “it is about time for it to wake up and we don’t want to end up like the last transport group.” Rejoining the group, the party rowed their way to the entrance of the Frost Maw and travelled into the approaching cold night.
Strangely the river was not frozen over despite the mounds of snow on the nearby shores and the extremely cold weather (-20 to -40F). As the first watch of the night drug onward, Ari was startled by the sound of voices. Listening closer, she could hear her name. She watched as the eyes of Caedmon, Jerry, Falco, and Penthagion all began to rapidly move as if in REM sleep…. something clearly approaches.
UNOMAHA D&D 