08 - 1/17/24 : Scientific Method

"That's how it is out here. Get used to it."
Ragna Íssbur

The fishing on the Mirrored Reservoir dragged on for several more hours. Dahlia was able to deftly catch several knucklehead trout, demonstrating her survival skills, while Ragna was attacked by an emerging trout while rowing the boat back to shore. With the night spent, the party returned to the Buried Treasures Inn to sleep for the night. There they ran into Tali, the half-elven researcher they had met at the docks. Hearing the party's frustrations with pursuing the beast, Tali offered some guidance, pointing out the pattern of attacks that had been witnessed and attributed to the monster. Melfina bonded with Tali at this time as well, finding a fellow academic soul in the hellish Taiga at long last. When Tali asked where Melfina was educated, the elusive wizard answered simply; "The Underdark". Tali correctly guessed that Melfina was educated in one of the arcane academies of the dark elves, but when they realized the topic made Melfina uncomfortable, it was quickly dropped. Soon everyone retired for the night, rising early in the dark morning to try the Mirrored Reservoir once again with Tali's instruction in mind. Merely an hour into his new expedition, the boat was attacked by a large creature; the lake monster that they had been seeking. As the party fought to keep their boat from rocking, they realized that the creature they were dealing with was a plesiosaurus, and an intelligent one at that. Ragna guessed aloud that the creature had been awakened via druidic magic much like the Thing in the Woods. Melfina guided the party with a strategy of her own to trick the creature ashore, hoping to parley with and study it as Tali requested instead of outright slaying it. While Alith rowed the boat back towards the shoreline, Dahlia kept the beast corralled by strategically firing near-misses with her bow to guide its path. Just as the creature made a final lunge, Ragna dazed it with a powerful swing of his hammer, causing the creature to ram into an ice patch where it was stuck. As the party approached the creature, it spoke to them in perfect common; Ragna's theory that the beast had been awakened was correct. The party learned that the firbolg druid Orizana, whom they had encountered previously in the Hartwick Thicket, was responsible for the beast's awakening (notably into a far less monstrous creature than the White Moose of Hartwick). The plesiosaurus enjoyed its new sentience, and was afraid that Orizana would follow through on a threat she made to take this sentience away if it stopped attacking the fishers of Icemeet. Melfina's arcane knowledge made it clear that this was an empty threat, however; the awaken spell was a permanent one that could not be revoked so easily. Convinced by the party that its sentience was permanent, the plesiosaurus agreed to cease attacking the fishers of Icemeet if it in turn could be left alone as well. Although Ragna regretted letting a potentially prestigious kill get away, the party overall agreed to this and freed the plesiosaurus from its imprisonment. Melfina also bestowed a name upon the creature; 'The Great Sizzan'. Sizzan returned to the waters, leaving the party victorious. They returned to the docks, where they reported their findings to a thrilled Tali and sold a portion of their catch to Grynsk Berylbore. The sullen dwarf insulted the party as he paid them and walked off, prompting Ragna to insult his mother back in dwarven. This set Grynsk off, and he rushed Ragna and started a brawl. As the party looked on at the ensuing scuffle with amusement (and Tali with horror), the militia came around, broke it up, and demanded to know what had started the fight. After an explanation, the militia hauled Grynsk off, as it had seemingly not been his first incident. The party also informed the town speaker, Dorbulgruf Shalescar, that the lake monster matter had been attended to. Although they wished to stay and converse with Sizzan, Tali requested that the party take them along on the journey to the next town, since they had been cooped up in Icemeet for a while and wanted to observe the fauna elsewhere in the region. The party agreed to let Tali tag along, and set off to Mirlake along the way to the third lake-town of Three Streams. Along the route, the party encountered a herd of reindeer that were led by an injured male of the species that was carrying a shred of red cloth in its mouth. Seeing it as easy prey for supplies, the party had Dahlia shoot the animal, which she did with ease. As the herd scattered and the party approached the slain reindeer, Ragna recovered the red cloth it held in its mouth. She observed that it was a scrap of cloth from an article of clothing worn by a Broken Blade barbarian, based on its pattern. Dahlia removed the deer's antlers and had Ragna carry the carcass to be cleaned and butchered once they reached Mirlake, a scant few hours away. Once there, they stopped in at the Velryn house to process the reindeer and ask for directions to a general store; Garret pointed them towards Triglio, a curiously named shop. The place, owned by an ex-fisherman named Jestin Hunrae, was named after a traditional fisherman's shanty;

Trig-lee-oh, lads, an' 'oist upon the line. Trig-lee-oh, lads, an' brinq yon fishers in.

The party sold off the bits of reindeer they didn't need, and Melfina discovered a rarity in the Ten Towns; a pair of spell scrolls that had long been hidden in Jestin's cellar. She purchased one of them, a scroll of protection from evil and good, to be scribed into her spellbook later. After resting in Mirlake (for free, thanks to Keegan Velryn's influence), the Lonesome Few continued on the road to Three Streams. Along the way, they encountered a figure slumped against a tree, who seemed to still be breathing. Alith insisted on stopping and helping, even though Ragna called it a wasted effort on someone who was likely already dying. Alith's close inspection revealed that the figure was indeed a dying human man; one who was succumbing to advanced frostbite. A disheartened Alith put an end to the man's misery after asking his permission, earning the approval of her party members but sickening a somewhat coddled Tali. A short time after, the party arrived in Three Streams, an old boom-town that honored its founding by a band of thieves by declaring pickpocketing legal. They followed their usual routine; visiting the tavern first. The Wet Trout was owned by Nymetra Myskyn, a white dragonborn woman who was a vocal and unrepentant worshiper of La Saia. The party kept their adversarial relationship with the Frostmaiden's servants on the hush. They then asked Nymetra about the missing people in the area, but she had little information beyond decrying those who couldn't stand the Frostmaiden's winterly wrath. The party put their orders in with Nymetra, who stepped away to prepare them. As Nymetra busied herself in the kitchen, a tiefling man named Scython approached the party. After being made to show his hands to prove he had no thieving intention (which Scython did with grace and humor), Scython said that he overheard the party talking about the missing people. He informed them that the town speaker and the captain of the militia were looking into the matter, and would be good people to speak to on the matter. When asked what it was he did for a living, Scython revealed that he was the town's ferry operator until the lake froze over. Ever since the winter stuck around, he moved on to running through his nest egg and occasionally going on fishing trips with the town's fishermen. After Nymetra returned, the party regaled her with the tale of their encounter with a white dragon. She revealed that the dragon they encountered was an ancient white wyrm named Arveiaturace, and that she and her rider likely once fought in King Macobert's wars to unite the region of Akados some 700-odd years ago. The party decided to seek shelter at the White Lady Inn before an incoming blizzard stranded them elsewhere. Once safe inside, they met a halfling claiming to be a medium capable of conducting a seance with a local ghost; the White Lady, the local inn's namesake. The halfling, named Rinaldo, claimed that the White Lady knew of the location of her rich husband's lost treasure, and that such a chance to speak with this spirit would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. However, the party strongly doubted his story, and simply paid the innkeeper Bartaban for their accommodations. Dahlia pulled Melfina aside and informed her that Torrga Icevein, an older dwarven woman who was a caravaneer and her father's boss, lived in town. She wished to see her and ask questions about Sephek's passing, to which Melfina agreed. Once morning came and the brief blizzard had passed, the Lonesome Few made their way to Three Streams' town hall. After registering their visit with the secretary, an excitable halfling named Prudence Tarkwold, the party soon met the town speaker and the militia captain. The town speaker, a scruffy but friendly human man named Danneth Waylen, greeted the party warmly. However, Captain Indra Arlaggath, a raven-haired and sharp-eyed half-elven woman, regarded them coldly and with doubt to their abilities. Speaker Waylen informed the party that the missing folk of Three Streams weren't just fishers as was the case in Icemeet; people who merely walked near the water's edge also seemed to have gone missing as well. To make matters worse, humanoid bones had begun to wash up in the ice floes. Melfina posited that the bones could give them clues on the identity of the attacker; Speaker Waylen suggested they visit Scython's abandoned ferry house on the docks to get a good look at the floes and possibly find some of the remains left behind. With a plan set, the party departed from the town hall.

Portraits

THE LONESOME FEW

Ragna Íssbur - A brusque, uncompromising human barbarian who is quick to anger and who is always eager to put an axe in the face of any problems. Capable of transforming parts of their body to ice, Ragna is unaffected by the excruciating cold that holds all of Frostgale Taiga in its grasp, and is thus the perfect warrior to stand against the horrors that thrive in the ice and snow. Ragna was once of the Broken Blade tribe, but after being made a botched sacrifice to La Saia, Ragna has become estranged from their people.

Alithkav - A githyanki artificer and 'daughter' of the githyanki god-queen, the lich Vlaakiith. Alith was an engineer aboard the pirate spelljammer, Zerthimon's Arrow, before it crashed after being trapped in La Saia's domain. Stranded in the Snowdrift Flatlands in what might be the worst time to be so in Lloegyr's history, Alith now must put her might and mind to surviving the winter; all while looking over her shoulder for enemies seeking her demise.

Melfina Eres - A mysterious drow wizard who draws magic from the air like paint across a canvas. Melfina has been stranded in Frostgale Taiga ever since the Everlasting Rime has begun, and seeks any trace of her missing mentor who disappeared soon before it began. Inquisitive and well-read, her arcane knowledge may be key in ending the winter.

Dahlia Kaltro - A huntress from the town of Whiteridge. She has taken it upon herself to solve a series of murders that have targeted people who have fled the fate of being sacrificed to La Saia, the Frostmaiden. She is a follower of Silvanath the Oak Father, and is an expert tracker and survivalist. She seeks her father, Sephek Kaltro, who has somehow come to serve La Saia the Frostmaiden.

NON-PLAYER CHARACTERS

Chwingas - Tiny elemental spirits that flock to places strongly tied to nature. They are somewhat populous in the Taiga, though still quite elusive and nervous around strangers. Melfina was able to earn one's trust, and the little spirit now travels with her.

Tali - Tali is a half-elven researcher from the southern city of Revelmoore, who was trapped in Frostgale Taiga while on a mission to study how changes in climate altered the nature of the animal wildlife. Tali presents as neither male nor female and requests to be referred to as "they" or by name in conversation. Tali speaks with a soft voice and tends to go on longwinded tangents about the fauna that live in the Snowdrift Flatlands.

Cora Mulphoon - The middle-aged human innkeeper of Buried Treasures, Icemeet's premiere inn. She is welcoming and full of warmth, and treats her guests like royalty, although she appears to have some bigoted opinions about tieflings. Her son Huarwar was goaded into joining a cult at Vrath Keep.

The Great Sizzan - An awakened pleisiosaurus who dwells in the Mirrored Reservoir. Awakened by the frost druid Orizana, this creature was made to attakc the fishers of Icemeet under threat of having its sentience removed. However, the Lonesome Few spared it and told it the truth of its permanent awakening, ending its attacks on the villagers.

Grynsk Berylbore - A gruff dwarf who owns several of the boats used to fish the waters of the Mirrored Reservoirs. He rents his boats out to enterprising fishers, and hires fishers of his own to split profits with. Grynsk is a harsh taskmaster, and can even be verbally abusive to those who work under him. He was locked up for a few fights after a brawl with Ragna.

Speaker Dorbulgruf Shalescar - The town speaker of Icemeet, this elderly dwarf is remarkably calm and composed in the face of the Everlasting Rime. However, some believe that age and the stresses of the office have addled his mind. Shalescar is honorable, straight-faced, and proudly makes his dealings in the open with any who petition him.

Garret Velryn - A human scout for Mirlake who serves as a wilderness guide. He adores the wilderness and spends much of his time there when not at home with his husband, Keegan. He was was saved by the party's timely intervention on Famrial Mountain. He has agreed to act as the party's guide to the northern expanse at a later date.

Keegan Velryn - A human man in his thirties, Keegan is a fisherman in Mirlake who lives with his husband, Garret Velryn, who works as a wilderness guide. A native of Mirlake, Keegan knows the Mirrored Reservoir like the back of his hand. He was happy to reunite with his missing husband after the party recovered him from the Famrial Mountain.

Jestin Hunrae - This charming human man owns Triglio, the general store of Mirlake. He once fished the waters of the Mirrored Reservoir until his left hand was crushed in a collision with a boat from Three Streams. He is a longtime friend of Speaker Naerth, who often meets him for drinks at the Three Flags Sailing.

Nymetra Myskyn - This muscular dragonborn woman runs the Wet Trout, the loudest and most popular tavern in Three Streams. She is an unapologetic worshipper of La Saia and believes the Eternal Winter to be a test of the Ten Towns' mettle, thusly fully supporting the ongoing sacrifices.

Scython - An outspoken and good-natured tiefling man who serves as the ferryman for the Three Streams ferry, although the Eternal Winter has put his business on hold ever since the Mirrored Reservoir froze over. He is covered in old scars and tattoos, which he makes little effort to conceal.

Rinaldo - This self-styled halfling bard stays at the White Lady Inn, where he has the honorable task of entertaining guests. He often leads seances to speak to the spirit that haunts the inn; the titular White Lady,

Bartaban - Bartaban is the straight-faced, no-nonsense owner of the White Lady Inn in Three Streams. He disliked shenanigans such as Rinaldo's seance scheme, but puts up with it since it pays the bills.

Prudence Tarkwold - Prudence, a happy-go-lucky and sprightly halfling woman, works as a clerk in the Town Hall of Three Streams. She is a consummate gossip and adores talking to visitors.

Speaker Danneth Waylen - This scruffy, rat-faced human man serves as the town speaker of Three Streams. Although his unkempt appearance suggests otherwise, Danneth is widely respected for his humility and forthrightness, and is popular among his people for his approachable nature.

Captain Indra Arlaggath - Indra, a half-elven woman with raven hair and sharp eyes, commands the militia of Three Streams and leads the town's law enforcement elements. She is a strong opponent of the human sacrifices going on in Three Streams, but follows the directives of the Council of Speakers and tries to ensure the sacrifices are limited to lawbreakers and violent offenders.

08 - 1/17/24 : Scientific Method

Portraits

THE LONESOME FEW

NON-PLAYER CHARACTERS

Comments

Find your way!

Resources

WHO WE ARE

LEGAL

Get the news

Our Shop

Development

EVENTS

REACHING OUT

A BIG THANK YOU