As dawn arrived a stranger sat in the adventurer's camp, cooking a meal over a low fire. He had traveled from the Ghost Ice, along the same path they had, pushing with a furious pace even in the dark of night to arrive in the morning. Tired but happy to have tracked and reached his goal he attempted to ease into an introduction the best way possible, with a warm meal. Garak and Beliefes Deadman awoke warmly but were immediately on the defensive when it was clear that Myra and Sam were not the ones cooking. Garak bluntly demanded to know who dared trespass on the camp, swatting away the offering of food. Taken aback at the brutish behavior the stranger slowly picked up the refused food and introduced himself as Wheaties and explained that he too had been sent from the Ghost Ice. He was seeking another member of Shattered Storm that would help him uncover his personal aspirations and find his path, he had been told that the adventurers in this camp were seeking the same goals. While he saw the camp was set up for four adventurers he was just as surprised as Garak and Beliefes that only two remained. A quick search commenced and a hastily written note from Myra, oddly on Sam's behalf, explained that they had seen a rare type of animal run by camp and Sam wished to expand on his research by tracking it and observing it. Myra agreed to join him and they would return to camp at some point, but the timeframe was unknown. They were confident they could regroup at the destination village if Garak and Beliefes wanted to scout ahead. With the matter of the missing party members cleared up, Wheaties was cautiously invited to join in their absence. Breakfast was eaten, camp broken down, and the journey to the north began again.
Traveling through the woods was swift and it did not take long to reach their edge, where the trees opened up to a large quickly moving river. While the river would be quite treacherous to ford, it appeared that not far in the distance spanned a bridge, with four humanoid figures at its base. As the group surveyed this scene, Beliefes suddenly yelled out, "AHHHHHH!", and began sprinting toward the water. The cause of her yell became apparent as the swarming buzz of stinging wasps enveloped the group, and the other adventurers joined her sprint toward the river bank.
The sight of three more adventurers sprinting and screaming toward the bridge stopped the argument as the river guards readied themselves. However, it became apparent they were not being attacked when the first of the crazed newcomers dove into the river near the bridge. Springtime wasps are always the most aggressive, he humorously thought to himself, but they may still be aligned with these two, best to quickly get something out of this. "So you argue about needing to pass long enough for your friends here to come out and attack us! Is that the plan? We'll you've failed miserably. We should ban you from crossing here at all!"
Ever looking for the best angle Edler the Peddler quickly changed tactics. "Goods, of course, come and go but you two look like those who enjoy the finer things. My renown musician friend, Graylon Whitetlane, could perform one of his timeless songs for our passage."
"It has been a while since we've had a good song, please play for us."
Graylon stepped in front of the guards and performed horribly, Edler jumped in with some subpar lyrics toward the end resulting in a final performance that could truly be described as ranging from awful to poor. The guards clearly not impressed, but now outnumbered 5 to 2 counter-offered. "Look just give us something, better than that, for your whole group and you may pass. We'll ignore the specifics because of your wonderful singing..." The arrangement was made and Edler and Graylon cross the bridge and wave the others to join them. On the far northern side of the bridge, they introduce themselves as traders and travelers making their way across the Forlorn North, their current destination the nearby Knife's Tooth village just north of here. The group explains they too are headed to Knife's Tooth and safety in numbers is almost always the best course of action for traversing the wild permafrost. They agree to travel together and just as evening falls a small plume of smoke is seen in the distance that must be the destination village. It is decided to set up a camp on the outskirts and make an approach in the morning.
As the camp is set up, some food is hunted and fished for, all while Garak sleeps in preparation for his night watch. As the hours of light pass the twin moons, both near full, illuminate the nearby hills. This is where Garak sees two dark shadowy figures who approach the camp. He makes it known that their element of surprise is gone by raising his axe high above to catch the glint of the moonlight. The shapes stop, unmoving for several moments, before retreating back the direction they came, toward the small village. Garak is pleased with his intimidating show of force and the rest of the night passes without anything more eventful than a few distant wolf calls and the occasional song of an owl.
Morning breaks and the group is informed of the near encounter, the village is most likely aware they will soon have some visitors. Before heading there it is decided to gather a few more provisions. Beliefes and Wheaties, the two recently bound by some unknown prophesized fate, decide to test the mettle of the other by competing in who can scavenge the most berries. Graylon wants to again fish, doing so brings back reminders of the great underground lakes where he grew up. Edler suggests hunting and Garak volunteers his help. As the group begins to depart, Beliefes suggests, "Perhaps keeping a guard at camp is wise?" Garak abandons the hunt to stay and protect the camp. The hunt fails without his help, but he provides a more valuable service when the two figures from the night before return, spears and shields drawn.
"Who are you? This is now Wolfscream sacred ground. No longer are non-Wolfscream welcomed."
Garak responded as expected, infuriated at the demand, "I AM sacred." as he prepared to take one guard down swiftly so that he would no longer be outnumbered.
"You have been warned, leave this area." The spear-wielding warriors barked out as they slowly backed away and again left the camp.
The group returned, Wheaties in a far better mood having decimated Beliefes in the contest by more than a three to one margin, and cooked and prepared all the gathered supplies. At the camp around their small fire, they discussed the order to stay away from the village. Since Edler was Wolfscream he had no problem leading a group into the village, those with him could pose as Wolfscream or just his entourage. Garak had an issue with posing as Wolfscream and declared he would just sneak in on his own, Beliefes would also sneak keeping an eye on the other groups as she did so. Planning now completed, the group headed toward the village just after midday.
Knife's Tooth was a very small village, only a few small huts and one or two larger ones with a central fire. Two warriors were seen patrolling around the village with a trio of wolves, seemingly domesticated, also assisting as acting guards. Edler approached and introduced himself as a Wolfscream trader, looking to sell wares and asked about the village. The two guards were much more amicable then previously dealing with Garak and explained that a great omen had passed over this land, making it sacred ground to the clan. The great Wolf spirit Korr Tyr had manifested himself in a near cave and the villagers are waiting for it to bless them, choosing its human prophet. Chieftain Midler and many of the strongest warriors had traveled to the cave. Bono had believed he was the chosen prophet, but that claim was proven false. Edler and his retinue were granted a place to stay in the village and when the contingent of villagers returned they could further discuss business. Edler thanked the guards and they began to go where directed to set up. This is when one of the wolves began to furiously bark and howl, having detected Garak trying to sneak into the rear of the village.
"We told you to leave, heathen." Yelled the guards.
"I AM SACRED!" Garak smashed into the guards, kicking at the wolf biting near his feet. Garak's might quickly overcame one of the guards, and the rest of the group needed to quickly act as he was greatly outnumbered. Wheaties approached one of the wolves stopping it from sprinting toward Garak, and he calmly placed his hands on the animal causing it to gently sit down. Beliefes sprinted in from the edge of town seeing a melee break out, tripping and falling over the rough fence on the outskirts. Edler's arrow failed to strike anything, he whistled deciding if the adventurers somehow lost he could claim it was aimed at one of his companions and not the guards or wolves. Graylon began rapidly stabbing one of the guards, the surprise attack catching him completely unaware, greatly weakening him. The defenders ill-prepared for the entire party to become aggressive toward them were quickly overcome. Leaving both guards fatally wounded, two dead wolves, and the sole surviving animal running off away from the village. Cries from some of the other huts became apparent once the din of battle had subsided.
An elderly man came out of one of the huts arms raised to show he was unarmed. "If you are you here to kill and pillage us, then you have chosen wisely to attack now. The rest of us can pose no resistance to you." The group explained they were sent from the Ghost Ice, and the man seemed to know Many Names, but it was apparent they were not allied with his cause. He asked that the rest of the villagers be allowed to try to tend for the wounded guards and that they withhold from more violence until the Chieftain returned to town. The adventurers granted these requests and a few women villagers exited their huts and pulled the guards out of sight. The elderly man retreated with the wounded without any more words.
The group decided to butcher the wolves, Edler doing so with proper Wolfscream ritual and reverence to the animals. They had decided that building an effigy to the animals may win some respect from the returning villagers, perhaps offset the fact that the two guards could not be healed by the villagers and died shortly after they were taken from the battle. As the sun began to set ushering in twilight, Edler and Graylon were finishing the shrine near the town center, Wheaties prepared his cooked food both for the soon to be returning villagers and those he traveled with, Garak was just closing his eyes to sleep and heal his wounds from battle, and Beliefes scanned the horizon so she could prepare the group at first sight of the Chieftain Midler and her warriors...