It was much colder in the mountains, and with the open-air tent providing little warmth, the group had found themselves a little closer to one another. The villagers had piled blankets onto them before they slept, so it hadn't been too terrible. If the villagers hadn't given them so many blankets, Adam would have been forced to cast his spell.
They had gathered around in the morning, double checking their equipment. The villagers were not ones to allow them to leave without a goodbye, however, as the village elder approached them with a giant bundle within his arms. The giant bundle was made of fur, light grey in colour, and had been piled awkwardly.
“You are swift to come into our lives and swift in leaving,” the elder said, a wide smile on his face. “Although we have little to offer in our trying times, we cannot allow you to leave without easing our minds of the situation.” The elder raised the bundle towards the group. Redboulder shambled his way to the bundle and accepted it from the elder. “The north is cold, and so I hope the cloaks offer you some protection against it’s harsh touch.”
“Aye, thank ya,” Redboulder said as he brought the bundle back to the group.
Yet it wasn’t just the elder who had come to meet with the party, for the children had also surrounded them too. A young boy and girl had walked up towards Adam, who dropped down to a knee to meet them on their level.
“You’re an adventurer,” the boy said. He then brought up a small bundle of fur, which had been tied together with some rope.
“What’s this?” Adam asked, taking the bundle from the boy.
“Payment,” the girl said, “for going to help us. It’s all of our treasures.”
“All of your treasures?” Adam asked, looking out to all the children nearby. Last night there had been a little girl who had offered him her treasure, and now he was being commissioned by all the rest. “Alright, I’ll do my best to make sure help is sent your way.” Adam placed the bundle inside his backpack, which was much heavier now.
Jon and his family had come to see them off, thanking them again and wishing them the best of luck. With the grey cloak wrapped around him, and the children’s expectations glaring at him through it, the group continued along their way through the mountains.
The world had become cold and harsher as they travelled through the mountains. The princess had grown quiet during their adventure, sleeping most of the day away. Sometimes her cries would fill the air, only to be stifled quickly by Redboulder, who would play with her and feed her whenever she was hungry. They would stop often to tend to her, but the mountain yaks were eager to continue onwards and make up for lost time.
“We appreciate that you are so willing to cast your spells for us,” Rojer said. “I know that it takes a lot out of you, even if you are someone out of the ordinary.”
“It’s a pleasure to assist you,” Adam replied. “I like having a hot bath after a long journey in the cold.” Adam looked around to the grey and white which surrounded them. Though the snow had grown thick, the mountain yaks had yet to slow down. “Plus, I’m getting paid quite a bit.”
“Speaking of your payment,” Rojer said, reaching into his pouch. He withdrew a small ring, silver in colour. “Here.”
“What is it?” Adam asked, accepting the ring.
“Your payment.”
“Now?” Adam asked. “We aren’t yet with the frost giants.”
“No, but the path will only grow more dangerous. There may come a time where I might need to cast a Fireball on you again, and it would give me greater piece of mind that you are able to resist it easier.”
“If only I had some protection against fire, then I wouldn’t have to worry about it.”
Rojer looked down to the snow, shaking his head. “We were offered such a ring, but we had declined.”
“You should have asked Mistress Fate if you needed it.”
Rojer smiled. “Indeed, we should have.”
The wind whipped against the group as they continued on their way. Adam’s ring did little to protect him against the cold, which set into his bones. He wrapped the cloak tighter around himself as he followed Ylra, who no longer left to scout ahead, but rather led the party with her keen half-elven eyes.
Bandlor no longer flew ahead, instead nestling himself within Adam’s chest, taking comfort within his various layers of clothings. He was oddly quiet too, keeping to himself.
Each day grew colder than the last and brought heavier snow and winds. No longer could they see to the horizon, the falling snow and wailing winds obscuring their vision.
No one spoke to one another during the travels, save for some comments by Ylra when the wind would give them a moment of respite. It was in the morning and the evenings when the journey didn’t feel so lonely. The two castings of the spells were the loneliest to Adam, but the time after certainly made up for it.
No longer could the party remain outside, the winds too strong and the snow too cold. The princess came alive within the towers, often times babbling and reaching out to Rojer and Redboulder, who had been the pair who looked after her the most. Adam decided to keep himself distant from her, for it was not his place to become closer with the child.
“We are in the most darkest phase of our journey,” Elowen said. “We have been fortunate that we have rarely faced any beasts, but as we continue to travel there will be greater dangers along the mountain path.”
“The mountain may be our greatest foe yet, though we are fortunate to have our mountain yaks,” Ylra said.
“It will grow colder, and soon we may not be able to see those ahead of us. Take great care from now on.”
“Should we tie some rope against one another?” Adam asked. “That way we could tug on it if something is wrong, and if you feel a tug, you should know to stop and check it out?”
“That may be a good idea, though the rope may become frozen.” Elowen thought for a short while. “We should move beside one other from now on. Myself, Rojer, and Redboulder for one group, and yourself and Ylra for the other.”
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The next day was indeed colder and harsher than the last. The wind was now an enemy they had to face as they continued along their path, though the mountain path had also grown awkward. The path wound around, and sometimes they had found themselves unable to move on due to some fallen rocks or debris. Their mountain yaks, though great at manoeuvring the path, could not do so easily with company on their backs.
Nothing had yet appeared on their journey. There were no wyverns, wolves, bears, nothing. A growing sense of unease began to accompany the group. Several days had passed since they had left the small village, and yet it felt as though they had journeyed into another world. The pure white snow which surrounded them, the wailing winds, the frigid cold. It was as though they were making no progress at all.
There was no wind on this day. The snow fell silently as the ground continued. Adam kept his eyes either planted ahead or at the tracks which Ylra’s yak lay as they moved. It had grown harder to breathe, though not by much. The cold was the worst though, as Adam would find himself unable to feel any part of his body. The hot bath, which awaited for him later, was something he was no longer looking forward to, as it would feel like a thousand knives striking him.
Adam looked behind him to see Redboulder, whose beard was filled with snow. They nodded towards one another, and Redboulder sped up his yak so he was besides Adam.
“I’m losing my mind, Redboulder,” Adam said. “It’s quiet, too quiet.”
“Aye, it is.” Redboulder nodded. “Expected something by now…”
“I’m glad we haven’t faced anything, but…”
“Aye,” Redboulder whispered, nodding his head.
There was a dark thought which had taken to the party. What was the reason as to why nothing had come to delay them? Adam shuddered, though not from the cold.
“We’re roughly half way there now,” Ylra said, eating some of the soup Redboulder had cooked. She was leaning back against the tower wall, peering out the window, keeping an eye out for any threats. Everyone else had a window too, though each were fairly lax about it, since Bandlor and the summoned mountain yak were also keeping an eye out. Summoned creatures could keep watch for a long while without much effort.
Adam had stopped tracking the days. It hadn’t been that long, apparently seven days since they had left the village, but it had been mentally taxing on his mind. He had often found himself daydreaming along the journey, only to come back to his senses when he realised that the mountain path could be potentially fatal.
He wanted to complain about the journey, but he kept his mouth shut. The magical ring on his finger was something which was more than worth this journey, and if they were already half way to the village, then he could swallow his frustration.
Ylra straightened up as she looked through her window, and Adam peered over. Her eyes were narrowed, as though trying to see something in the horizon. Adam looked through the window to see the expanse of blank whiteness and the grey of the mountains, something his eyes had become accustomed to.
Perception
D20 + 5 = 18 (13)
The grey and the white was so stark against one another, and yet they seemed to melt together. Adam squinted his eyes a little more, for there was a little flicker deep in the distance.
“There’s something,” Ylra whispered, as they stifled the torches and then each took the windows.
There was a shout which carried over to them, though the words were lost. The shout came again, a little while later, and Ylra kept her eyes focused on the horizon.
Perception
D20 + 5 = 14 (9)
Adam couldn’t make out the shout, for it bounced around the walls like nonsense. Ylra’s eyes then snapped to Adam, her brows furrowed.
“What?” Adam whispered, keeping a hand on the hilt of his blade. Again the shout came, though Adam could barely make it out.
“They’re calling your name,” Elowen said, her ears twitching.
“My name?” Adam asked. He could see the lone figure in the distance, wrapped within their heavy cloak. Who was it? Was it a divine being, coming to give him a quest? Adam shook his head. It would be the worst timing if that was the case, but he wouldn’t know until he had met with them.
“Do you know who it could be?” Ylra asked.
“There are a number of people but…” Adam shrugged. He wanted to ask them if they were sure, but it felt rude to distrust an elf’s ears, even if they were only half elven. “I suppose I should go and meet with them then.”
The others seemed wary, but they nodded their heads. Adam crept out, welcoming the cold bitterly, before he wrapped his cloak around himself once more and then stepped forward. Bandlor remained behind, keeping an eye out from the tower as it was a better vantage point to see to the horizon.
Adam’s heavy steps trailed in the heavy snow, fighting against him. He stopped and looked out to the distance, watching as the figure continued to trail towards him. They were definitely humanoid, though what kind had yet to be discerned. They were wrapped in heavy furs, a light grey like himself.
They continued to approach and Adam noted they were dressed in breastplate, carrying at their side a longsword. They were tall and lean, but not like those of the Iyrmen, and the way they walked was so graceful. Along their back was a long cloak of silver, outlined in the blue-silver of mithril, as thought the metal was cooled over the hem of the cloak. They removed their helmet as they walked towards him.
Her eyes were slightly slanted, with an emerald shimmer. Her nose was thin and straight, going down like an arrow tip, and her lips were even thinner. Elongated ears jut out the side of her head straight upwards, though was pointed like a leaf. Her hair was long, like liquid copper that fell down to her shoulders. An unnatural beauty that Adam had only seen once before.
A dragon disguised as an elf.
“The stars have graced our path, oh dearest nephew of mine, whose steps twinkle on the land.” The dragon smiled towards Adam.
“Entalia?” Adam called out, frozen in shock, though the snow seeped into him to change that. “What are you doing here?”
“I noticed you were nearby and followed your scent.”
Adam cringed at the words. He didn’t smell that bad, but he supposed he had no idea how he smelled to a dragon. “It’s a pleasure to see you, but it is a surprise.”
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” she said, approaching him.
“Not entirely. We were having dinner, would you like to join us?” Adam asked, trying to be hospitable.
“If it’s no bother.” She placed an arm around Adam’s waist as she led him to the tower.
Adam was unsure of her intentions, and almost squirmed out of her grasp, but thought better of it. He didn’t want to be rude to her, for she was a mighty and powerful creature. She scared him too.
“This is Entalia,” Adam said, motioning a hand to the woman. “She’s a… friend.”
Entalia bowed her head and exchanged some elven greetings with the pair of half-elves. Her eyes then fell onto the bundle near Redboulder, though the gaze only lasted a moment before she turned to Adam.
“You have some interesting friends,” she said.
“What do you mean?” Adam asked.
Entalia just smiled, a smile that said she wasn’t going to elaborate. Entalia sat and then began to eat some of the soup that Redboulder had made.
“May I ask why you are so far north?” Entalia asked. “It’s a dangerous path.”
“Not when you have good company,” Elowen replied. “Our reasons are our own.”
“I see…” Entalia sipped on the soup. “I can only assume you’ve come to meet with Aksak and his tribe.”
“Aksak?” Adam asked.
“The frost giant.”
“You know him?” Adam asked.
“Of course I do,” she said. “We used to fight when we were younger.”
“How long ag-”
Entalia turned to look at Adam, smiling at him. Adam remained silent, recalling one of the many rules he had been taught by his mother.
“Uh, well…” Adam looked to Elowen for assistance.
“We are looking for the frost giants, but the reasons for it are our own.”
“I assume it’s because you want to reconnect with them, considering your family.”
Elowen stared at Entalia, her eyes cold. “How did you come to such a conclusion?”
Entalia merely smiled, the same smile which meant she wasn’t going to elaborate. Adam could guess it was because of her unique disposition of a dragon.
“Why don’t we go together?” Entalia asked.
Elowen looked to Adam for assistance. Adam thought about it for a moment. “It would ease my mind if you were to accompany us,” Adam finally said. With Entalia around, their journey would go much more smoothly.