It seemed that the Rakeskia tribe had already received visitors in the recent past. Visitors intent on their destruction. But for what purpose?

Mia employed her mental powers of post-cognition to call up visions of the past here….what had happened? A surprise attack on peacefully occupied elves and their huge pet dogs in the central cavern….the sudden appearance of a noxious cloud of green vapours that slew all that were engulfed in its clutches with deadly effectiveness….gnomes charging into the cavern wielding halberds, engaging the survivors or others who had been in side tunnels or caves who now joined the fight ….deranged-looking gnomes who magically swelled to monstrous size as they advanced into the high-roofed cavern, snarling and roaring….gnomes who bore a distinctive ‘K’ emblem in the centre of their breastplates…

The Mark Of Keraptis

The Mark Of Keraptis

It was clear now that the attackers who had slaughtered these elves were none other than servants of Keraptis! But….were the party themselves not also on a mission for Keraptis? Had the great wizard sent a second party to compete with his other servants? Much puzzlement and head-scratching ensued.

And what to do now? If the Rakeskia had been wiped out, how could the party discover the secret way to the Hanging Glacier?

Valaina stood in the centre of the hall amidst the slain, lost in thought. There was a look of sorrow on her face. Was she truly grieving for her fallen kindred? Or was she disappointed at the lost opportunity to capture more thralls for her own little toy community?

“None of these are wearing the garb of a shamaness. The secret of the glacier was always held by the ones steeped in the magical lore of the ice-spirits. Maybe they have been taken captive by these other servants of Keraptis.”

Albrigon busied himself by carrying the arrow-feathered bodies of a small handful of fallen gnomes back up out of the crevasse in order to feed them to Chillwind. It seemed that Keraptis’ servants were so lacking in civility that they could not even be bothered to bear away the bodies of their own dead.

Ugrat and Mia had meantime made a discovery. A survivor – a small wild-haired ice-elf boy with horror-haunted eyes. At first he tries to attack Ugrat assuming him to be an enemy. He is of course vastly outclassed but has decided to end his life with honour, ashamed by his earlier inaction during the attack on his tribe. He is easily overcome and rendered helpless. He mumbles his name – ‘Kaylan’. He had been hiding inside a narrow ice-chute that the children employed as a slide, digging his dagger into the side of the chute to hold himself in place. He had listened to the cries of his playmates in the chamber below. They had not been slain, however; they had been bound and carried off. He had also heard somebody shout ‘Lyrina….they’ve got Lyrina….”. Lyrina was the junior shamaness of the tribe.

Further questioning of Kaylan reveals that not all of the Rakeskia had been present in the caves during the attack. A party of ice elves led by the chieftain’s wife, Lendela, were still away visiting another tribe to arrange marriages. They would be due back any day now.

Sorrel communes with Aegir and divines that Lyrina the junior shamaness is indeed within the clutches of Keraptis’ agents but that she has not yet given them access to the Hanging Glacier. (Valaina explains that this is achieved through performance of a special magical ritual). The party’s rivals for completion of the quest are camped at the ruins of Keraptis’ old base of operations in this area which are located at the secret entryway to the glacier high on the triple-peaked mountain known as Ymir’s Fang, thirty miles south of the party’s present location.

“Hey!” says Albrigon. “We can rescue this priestess and she’ll be so grateful she’ll let US have the secret of the glacier. An’ maybe she’ll be so grateful she’ll reward some of us in other ways, too!” He gives Sorrel a salacious wink. Valaina sighs, wondering what on earth she saw in this crude human man when she chose to work her charms on him a few weeks back…..still, he was amusing for a little while….!

The party decides that they will embark with all haste towards Ymir’s Fang. However, Taarna announces that she will not be accompanying the party on the next leg of their journey. She has other ‘urgent business’ to attend to in another locale and must away.

Before leaving she spends a while in private discussion with Valaina. Then she has a few quiet words with Jarin and Ugrat.

“Listen you two….I know that the party had a few misunderstandings with Valaina earlier on during this mission. But I think that she is a useful person to have around, and may prove a useful ally in the future. Make sure no harm comes to her.”

Ugrat’s snout crinkles. Although he has a burning fondness for her daughter Uruviel, he isn’t so keen on Valaina. He exchanges glances with Jarin. Has Taarna been magically glamoured by Valaina?

Taarna bids the party farewell and then vanishes in a shimmer.

Albrigon mounts up on Chillwind along with Valaina and Mia. Sorrel chooses to employ his Wind Walk taking Ugrat, Jarin and Kaylan along with him.

Those riding on Chillwind take extra furs from the Rakeskia caves to shield themselves from the biting cold that this journey will entail, to bolster their magicks and natural hardiness. The party sets out, flying around the shoulder of the mountain and heading south above a blanket of clouds punctuated by mountaintops. Albrigon’s beard whitens with frost as Chillwind flaps his great wings and hurtles through the freezing air. Looming ahead are the three peaks of Ymir’s Fang….and the party’s final destination.

Prior installments:

Quest For The Hanging Glacier - Part 1
Quest For The Hanging Glacier - Character Sketch: Snake
Quest For The Hanging Glacier - Part 2
Quest For The Hanging Glacier - Character Sketch: Albrigon
Quest For The Hanging Glacier - Part 3