Into the Drakelands

The party asked for a conference with Commander Pharamol regarding help in getting into the Drakelands.  Bescaylie returned quickly and the party headed to the conference chamber once again.

"Can you help us getting to the glacier in the Drakelands?" Casia requested. "Maybe dragonkin could fly us to the glacier?"

"I cannot risk the dragonkin in the Drakelands so spuriously.  They are needed here to fight the battles that we have with the remaining forces.  You realize our situation as you have seen the information from General Malesinder." 

"Perhaps Efrixes, Shatha and Nevra can transport them out of the mountains to the plains?" Bescaylie offered.

"If you, and the others, are willing to take this risky venture then I would approve given the great aid this party has provided to Spurhorn." the Commander said.

"We are willing. I have spoken with Shatha and Nevra," Bescaylie assured him.

"Then be ready to leave tomorrow morning," the Commander ordered.

"We will be ready," Casia assured him.

In the morning the dragonkin transported the party out of the Parapet Mountains to the plains at the confluence of the North and South Aos Rivers. Fanara informed Bescaylie that the party might send a Raven when they were ready to return.  If the dragonkin could help bring them back to Spurhorn the party would appreciate it.

Before hand study indicated that there was still about 6 days travel to IvoryGlass on foot. Santrel suggested using Phantom Steed to cut the travel to about 2 days. The Phantom Steed was used and the party began hopping across the snow covered landscape. Late in the day as the party was touching down to camp for the night they came upon a wolflike humanoid creature under attack by a pair of giant furred insects. Outnumbered and overwhelmed, it seems only a matter of time before the wolf is devoured by the giant insects.

The heroes decided that the humanoid wolf was worthy of helping and began to enter the battle.  One insect, an Ursikka, approached and spit a line of saliva toward Amadeo and Milos.  The spittle was freezing cold and Milos became entangled in ice. Jorgen began skirting some rocks to try and gain flanking. The others started to advance but one Ursikka continued to strike the wolf.

Santrel used fire to attack the insects and they took full damage.  The rest of the party set upon the two as quick as possible and the battle did not last long even though the Ursikka appeared to fight after they were dying. 

At the death of the Ursikka the wolflike creature came forward cautiously toward the heroes.

"Hail the destined ones!" the creature spoke in Triaxan. "I am Baknala, an adlet shaman.  I thank you greatly for saving my life!"

"Why do you considered us the destined ones?" Casia inquired, "Destined for what?"

"The stars have spoken about the coming of ones from beyond the sky who will give my people back their lands. Since you are clearly not of Triaxus you are the chosen ones."

"Your lands? This is the Drakelands as far as we know." Santrel interjected.

Baknarla went on to explain that the adlets inhabit the frozen wastes near the Vahara Glacier, but the tyrannical dragon warlord Yrax has harshly oppressed the adlet people and driven them out of their traditional tribal grounds. Baknarla believes that the party, as aliens to Triaxus, are destined to defeat Yrax, allowing the adlets to reclaim their ancestral domain.

"Why are you out here in the snowy wastes by yourself?" Fanara asked.

"Most of the other shamans in our tribe do not share my beliefs, consequently the  tribe has shunned me, so I am seeking "the destined ones" on my own." Baknarla replied, "And now I have found them!"

"Great, we again have attracted attention," Casia mumbled.

Baknarla offered a plan that could both help the heroes defeat Yrax and help her own people. One of her people's most holy sites is a place called the Rimekeening Crevasse, located in lands that the dragon has driven the adlets from and forbidden them from returning. Although it is taboo for outsiders to set foot in the crevasse, Baknarla was willing to guide the heroes there, hoping they will help her find the last resting place of a legendary adlet hero named Sarnok. Sarnok was a mighty warrior-shaman who lived long ago and slew more than one dragon with his magic spear. He was also renowned for his wisdom, bringing about peace treaties between the adlet tribes and several Drakelands realms. The old tales say that one day Sarnok set out to explore the depths of the Rimekeening Crevasse and was never seen again, but that he will return some day to guide his people to glory once more.

If Baknarla and the adventurers can locate Sarnok's grave, the adlet hoped to find a holy relic of the hero that she can bring back to her people to restore their hope and her own position in the tribe. At the same time, Baknarla believed they will find Samok's legendary spear, which the heroes can use to slay Yrax. Furthermore, Baknarla believed there was a hidden way from the crevasse into Ivoryglass. 

"Once you have the spear, you can then approach Ivoryglass through the crevasse, thereby avoiding the soldiers that patrol the glacier surrounding the palace." Baknarla finished.

 The possibility of help from a magic weapon was enough to convince the group to accept Baknarla's offer.  It was time for the evening so the party and Baknarla settled down for a sleep after healing was down for everyone.  The night was uneventful and in the morning the Phantom Steed was cast again to facilitate movement.  Again the day was uneventful and the party started to settle for another evening.

Just as the party was eating, they spied several strange creatures on the running toward the camp. Stout white birds standing upon two long, taloned legs, but it is their axe-shaped beaks that looks the most ferocious. The group extended themselves in a line as five or so runners made their way toward the party.  The enemy were identified as Ice Runners who were vulnerable to fire but immune to cold. Santrel immediately let go a fire ball that killed two of the the runners. The other birds charged and tried to trip their foe. Only Jorgen hit the snow covered ground. The party attacked back, although Casia's musket misfired.

Then three additional Ice Runners inserted themselves in the battle.  Amadeo, Jorgen, Fanara and Milos were on the front line, soon joined by Casia. Santrel used a sculpted fireball to drop four more of the enemy. This was basically the end for the Ice Runners as the party easily dispatched the final two.

The party ended the day by moving closer to the glacier as directed by Baknarla.  She suggested that they would need to climb the glacier to find the opening to the crevasse. 

In the morning Baknarla guided the heroes to the edge of a vast fracture in the glacier, which stretched off into the distance in both directions. The rift was about 500 feet wide at this point, but it narrowed sharply as it descended into the glacier. Freezing winds whistled through the crevasse, producing an eerie wailing that at times seems to sound like the lonely cry of a grieving woman.

The crevasse dropped almost 200 feet below the surface of the glacier. The walls into the rift varied from areas of rough outcropping with adequate handholds to sheer cliff faces. Many areas also appeared slippery with ice or snow. The group decided to use Spider Climb, communally shared, to make the climb easier.

The bottom of the crevasse was narrow and cluttered with sharp rocks and jumbled, snow-covered boulders. Several hundred feet along the crevasse was the jagged maw of an ice cave in the cliff wall.
Casia, Fanara and Santrel noticed an ancient pictogram carved above the cave entrance. According to Baknarla, the pictogram was the personal sigil of Sarnok, and it was a sign that he went this way. Inside
the cave, the sound of the howling wind quickly died down. The roughly circular passage was just over 50 feet in diameter. It sloped downward at a steep angle to the west, and all surfaces inside the cave were rimed with icy frost.

After traveling for some time the party saw an opening to the south.  It was 20 feet above the floor of the tunnel.  Jorgen used the rope of climbing to scale the ice wall and peer over the top into the passageway. He saw two slithering, multilegged bluish white reptiles with a fearsome head crowned with two large, curling horns. Seeing the creatures Jorgen scrambled down the rope and the party moved back from the ledge to await an attack. Santrel determined that these creatures were some kind of variant behir.  Obviously adapted to the cold of Triaxus.

Soon both of the creatures clambered down the wall and attacked the party with electric breath weapons and claw rakes. The party fought back with melee attacks and Santrel's fireballs.  The creatures then used a bit attack to grab Amadeo and Milos. Later both heroes were swallowed whole and found themselves pinned within the creature. Hacking their way out was successful. The other members were at work on the creatures even though they were hit by bites and rakes of claws. Eventually the party downed the creatures and looked to Milos for healing.

Fanara climbed up the rope again to search the passage. It extended south for some distance before narrowing to a sliver she could not navigate. She found a nest with a very large egg, which no one wanted for breakfast, so she just broke it open where it lay.

The party then continued marching down the tunnel, exploring side passages as they came upon them and sometimes ignoring other passageways. The tunnel would narrow and widen at random times other times it seemed to open into larger chambers.  The floor and walls were still slippery and the passage continued sloping downward. 

As the party was crossing one of the larger chambers, they heard ice cracking and breaking and saw an  immense white worm with a single circular eye in the center of its head break though the ice. Wisps of icy fog wafted up from between its mandibles. Opening its mouth it breathed frigidly cold breath at the party.

Luckily the group had Resistance from Cold from Santrel and they took minimal damage. The party began to arrange themselves for battle when another monster came crashing up through the ice. These creatures looked fearsome and the breath was very cold.

The monsters were identified as Frost Worms and Santrel opened with a fireball which they seemed to be vulnerable to its effects. As Amadeo approached, the creature's bite was devastating. Baknarla moved forward to attack with her spear, Casia fired her repaired Musket and Fanara cast enlarge on herself and moved into battle. Jorgen was attacking from distance but as Baknarla moved to given him flanking he moved toward the worm and took heavy damage from the bite.  Amadeo was hurting but continued to fight. Casia shot her bow several times and Fanara's hammer was effective.  A sculpted fireball and a Flame Strike from Milo's singed the monster pretty good.

Seeing Jorgen in trouble Santrel stepped to him and then cast Dimension Door to move the two away to a safer zone. Fanara let loose a terrific strike and the Ice Worm exploded in jagged pieces of ice and cold. Milos hurriedly Channeled Healing just as Baknarla hit the other worm which also exploded in a mass of jagged icicles.  Santrel hit the floor and Amadeo seemed to be on his way down as Fanara used her Medium ability to improve his save against the effect.  Amadeo was standing, shakily as the battle ended.

Jorgen pulled out his last healing potion and poured it down Santrel's throat bringing him out of unconsciousness.

"I sure am glad I didn't fireball both those worms on my last turn," Santrel sputtered, "We could have taken that explosive damage from both at the same time."

Now extensive healing was required before the party would head forth again. After Milos work was done the party continued exploring.  Another passage led toward the northwest but it seemed to go on forever.  Thinking that this was the path to IvoryGlass the group turned around to explore areas that they had bypassed.

Heading south the group entered a frozen grotto riddled with cracks and fissures. Sharp icicles hung from the uneven ceiling and thick ice covered much of the walls. A vertical sheet of ice filled the western end of the cavern, and the frozen remains of several creatures were visible within the ice, sealed within the frozen wall, a macabre display case of trophies. The group cautiously entered the chamber skirting the ice rubble on the floor and trying not to step under icicles.

Casia peered into the ice to identify what creatures were encased. She saw a copper dragonkin, an elf, four Triaxians (including one lacking the winter fur), and an adlet. 

"That certainly should be Sarnok," Baknarla exclaimed.

Fanara checked for magic and found four items encased with the figures, a spear, a belt, a chestplate all with the adlet and hide armor on the furless Triaxian. As the group was studying the wall and the items six thin, sticky strands furtively extended from the ceiling, one grabbed hold of each of the heroes. All but Casia were lifted 5 feet into the air and some felt strength sapped from their body.

Looking up closely, Casia saw a huge eye opened in a conical creature’s front, just above a toothy mouth. Long strands of fibrous material whip from its sides down to each of her party. 

The first order of business was to sever the strands holding each party member. This seemed a simple enough task for all except Santrel who tried a magic missile on the strand.  All the others fell 5 feet, some landing on their feet and others falling prone. Baknarla threw her spear and it stuck in the creature. Santrel determined this was related to the roper in Golarion. The group fired ranged weapons at the monster and it pulled Santrel up another 5 feet. Fanara cast fly and then moved to protect her brother. Baknarla had no way to reach the creature, so it was left to the party at this point.  Fire again was determined to cause more damage but at least one spell of Santrel fizzled as he cast it.

The roper then dropped its whole body down on Amadeo, it weighed at least a ton. Damage was extensive but this allowed others to administer melee attacks.  Between the whole party the creature soon succumbed. Free of the monster and with no other magic seen on or in the ceiling Casia began to hammer away at the ice with her Adamantine War Hammer.

Completing the job allowed the party access to the magic items and some cash and jewels.  Baknarla claimed the chestplate as the holy relic she needed to return to her tribe. She offered Sarnok's spear and belt to the party to aid them in defeating Yrax. With that she departed wishing the party luck in their endeavors and headed back out of the crevasse. The heroes in need of replenishment retired to an earlier chamber to identify the magic and take a rest to recover. 

DM's Notes: The party earned 30,933 XP for the trip to Ivory Glass and are closing in on 12th level.