North by Northwest, Chapter 3: The Winter of Our Discontent

[Thanee]

Zeegra

“Nasty beasts,” Zeegra comments the now dead spiders. “You don't look too well, you think we can still make it to the top?”

Hopefully there aren't more of those around... the canis kobold doesn't speak her last thought aloud, while probably the others also think the same, she doesn't want to unsettle them.

 

[Fenris]

Ghur Fort Save (1d20+2=8) ]Wearily, Ghur reaches down to grab the warhammer to toss it back up the stair to Herev.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Cellan, Ghur: You feel your muscles seize up and freeze. You are unable to move at all.[sblock=OOC for Everyone]You're maybe three-fifths up the side of the mountain, and it is evening, just around dusk.[/sblock]

 

[Scotley]

Cian Dark Elf Bard

"A most unfortunate situation we find ourselves in. We can try to continue in the dark with our poisoned companions, try to rest on the stairs, or go back down even further. If it is at all posible I'd say we try to keep moving."

 

[Thanee]

Zeegra

“Most unfortunate, indeed. But we need to carry on. Resting here would be futile, and not very refreshing either. Can we carry them?”

 

[Bloodweaver1]

Cole Braddock

Placing his sword back into its sheath, Cole sizes up his frozen compaigns with a weary eye and says, "I might be able to carry Ghur, but I will need help with the gear. Two other people should be able to carry Cellan.?"

 

[Starman]

Cellan feels a moment of panic come over him as he realizes that he cannot move. He tries to steady his breathing and is able to calm down. Unable to do anything else, he tries to meditate on nature and life as his companions decide what to do for the night.

 

[Fenris]

Ghur is not as placid as Cellan, flowing his body into meditation. No a dwarf fights and resists to his last ounce of effort. So Ghur lay there, sticken on the stone, yet he fought to move a muscle, any muscle, too stupid or stubborn to give up, yet not doing anything to prevent to help his friends to what ever they wished besides utter a few choked off grunts.

 

[Scotley]

Cian Dark Elf Bard

"I can carry a little gear and Keita even more. We should wrap them carefully, they will generate little warmth when not moving."

 

[Old Fezziwig]

As you deliberate, you find that the spider's poison wears off of Ghur and Cellan and they're able to move again, although they and Cole are still a bit more sluggish than usual.

Climbing up the mountain stairs takes the rest of the night and a good chunk of the morning, and you manage to avoid any more predators as you climb — or, rather, you might have moved well out of their hunting range. The higher you get on the mountain, the quieter things are. Finally, just as the sun reaches the half-way point of its daily ascent, you reach the plateau at the top of the mountain.

Snow covers the ground around you, and a few blasted stumps break the monotony of the immediate area. Set a little back on the plateau is a giant, ornate tower with a round, wide base that narrows into a minaret with an onion-shaped crown and beacon atop of it. Outside the door of the tower, you can see two bulky svirfneblin with halberds; they make no special movement or any indication that they've seen you.