D&D 5E [IC] THE CURSE OF AMBERSTAR

Atir remains silent in the back, taking only a mild interest in the arrivals. Dvalin, on the other hand, becomes deeply agitated by their arrival, moaning and trying to call attention to himself and his sorry state. A glance from Prosper and he reconsiders his actions.

No, they do not know these two. Not in the sense suggested by Harfik's concerns, at least.

Portis continues to gather materials. The way the servant looks around is quiet and calculated, a strange attitude for one so young. Still, the servant attempts to stay away from any unwanted attention, and seeks deliberately to remain far away from the newcomer's sight. Meanwhile, Caliban brings the beasts to the fore, offering them to the heroes. "Want to take them? We have no need of spares, specially with oxen around." - he says, considering it wouldn't be necessary. If the sounds are precise, the next plateau is just a walk away.

As the heroes linger around and introduce themselves to their new companion, a sudden shadow falls over the camp. As they look up, they realize the sun has been suddenly blocked out by a passing cloud. At first, it seems like a natural happenstance, but the small cloud is followed by a second one, and then a third, and in a few minutes the entire area darkens considerably. The temperature decreases as well, turning from a cool breeze to a cold wind, one that begins to howl and becomes stronger every second. Sounds of thunder crown the scenario, as if the climate will just continue to change without remedy.

"This isn't good..." - Prosper says. "Up there this wind might become troublesome, slippery paths and all..." - he glances up, finding it strange. Portis continues to build small hunter traps all around, as if to ensure the camp's protection. Caliban leaves the beasts near the heroes and moves towards the tents, trying to keep them from dismantling as the wind gets stronger.
[MENTION=23298]industrygothica[/MENTION] [MENTION=4936]Shayuri[/MENTION] [MENTION=6776182]JustinCase[/MENTION] [MENTION=6855102]Greenmtn[/MENTION] [MENTION=8858]hafrogman[/MENTION] [MENTION=5044]Charwoman Gene[/MENTION] [MENTION=24380]Neurotic[/MENTION]

New arrival looks frightened of the events. But still curiously looks from under the metal beast.

"This must be 'a storm' the books talk about. How long does it last? Will we see natural lightning? What happens if it hits metal? Or stone? How do you adapt to such phenomena?"

Aanzu looks up at the sky, quietly, watching the storm develop. As if he is waiting for something to happen, waiting for lightning to strike. That would be a sign from the spirit of the Blue Dragon.

With the superior vision granted him by the great spirits, the dragonborn peers into the clouds, seeing if something or someone might be causing the sudden change in the weather.

Harfik Human Monk

"We should try to get to these ruins before the path gets to dangerous." Harfik looks to the newcomers.

"You should come with us. Our friends here have their hands full and surely the Duke will be happier to see you should you help us." There is still a hint of distrust in his tone. It's not out of line to think that this offer is meant to keep Thulwar close enough that he can keep an eye on him, or to keep him away from the the servants.

Kethra nods to Harfik, "Yes I think we should get on with it."

AANZU

As the prince invokes his powers, the gathering storm falls under his scrutiny. This is no accident, no contingency. In the distance, an electric storm begins to form, unlike any other he has seen before. As the black clouds amass, he becomes sure of it: someone is controlling this climate, probably through magic, potentially through other mysterious means. He can't define the origins of such control, though. He only knows that the climate turns around the mountain, a few miles up and down the slope they climb.

It becomes clear as well that the effects of such conflagration will be quite destructive. As the others, Aanzu has heard about the potent thunder storms that course through the cursed lands, tainting whatever they touch and burning those unlucky to be caught in them. Considering the unusual nature of the changing weather, it might that one such storm comes their way. Shelter will be needed. Soon.

In the distance, Aanzu also glimpses the presence of a flock of flying beasts in disarray, as if the storm has set them at a state of alert.

EVERYONE


The steps that follow aren't as hard a climb as they've faced thus far. Still, it is not a simple walk in the hills either. As the heroes move upwards they discover that the trail turns into a stone pavement, broken on all parts and shaped quite like a giant stair, each step rising at least five feet up. Formations like these are not uncommon far up the mountain, it is said. As the legend goes, the arrival of the first star made the terrain like this - one of the first gifts of the Teraphim, apparently, was isolation. Clear, almost white slabs form columns that go up towards the ruins, making for dangerous, sinuous paths among the massive steps. The party can walk up, but any mounts might have trouble going up. Also, as the heroes soon discover, the climb needs to be made slowly to be completed in a safe way. This would delay the party even more as the weather gets worse and worse, though. To climb with haste, one would need to be specially agile.

Oddly enough, something seems to shine through the fissures amidst the rocks as the heroes make the climb. It is almost as if something is housed among the square-like boulders, or maybe underneath them...



[If the heroes decide for normal pacing, the climb will take around ten more minutes; other ways are possible. Simply hasting might cut this short to a third, but there's risk of falling down if the hero fails a dexterity/acrobatics test; there might be other ways out of it, of course, such as tracking easier trails among the rocks with proper tests, or... Well, I'll leave the rest to you. ]
[MENTION=5044]Charwoman Gene[/MENTION] [MENTION=23298]industrygothica[/MENTION] [MENTION=6776182]JustinCase[/MENTION] [MENTION=8858]hafrogman[/MENTION] [MENTION=6855102]Greenmtn[/MENTION] [MENTION=4936]Shayuri[/MENTION] [MENTION=24380]Neurotic[/MENTION]

Yttrian leans into the steps as the group ascends towards the sanctuary. Being just a little faster than the others, he finds himself pulling ahead and waiting for them to catch up every so often. While he waits, he keeps one wary eye on the encroaching storm, and one on the newcomer Icosa returned with. Still, this Thulwar radiated none of the suspicious behavior that the Fairwalkers did. Perhaps he was an honest traveler, perhaps he was just better at lying. Time would tell.

He wraps his cloak tightly around his pack and gear, the winds were picking up and tugging at it as he tried to climb. This storm would be trouble.

Harfik Human Monk

When they come to the first of these steps Harfik simply jumps up to the next level not thinking about it very much, when he lands he feels one foot slide slightly, it seems more caution is needed and it isn't a time to show off. Turning to warn the others that it is slick he sees his shorter companions and realizes that they will likely have a hard time getting up the steps.

Knowing that he can easily help the others and still keep up Harfik assists them in getting up the large steps.

Kethra clicks her heels together and her boots start to glow, then hum. With a rush of wind, she effortlessly flies up to the top of the stair, her keen eyes seeking out anything unusual along the way.

"Takes too long," Aanzu mutters as the group slowly moves up the difficult terrain.

"Kethra, Yttrian, shelter is needed. Strange magic makes this storm. Can you find a cave?"

The powerful dragonborn stays close to the group, helping those he feels are too weak or stiff to climb easily.