The Sixth Step: The Climb to Aers Tomur

[Peeker]

The road ahead is finally open, and the caravan, weary of waiting, is braving the chill winds and snowy gusts to climb north. There are narrow paths, steep drops, and always more cold to contend with as our restless travelers follow in each other’s snowdusted footsteps. The spring is thawing slowly, and up in the peaks, its even slower - it'll still feel like winter, and there aren't any flowers budding yet to relieve the monotonous sheets of white.

This road is not an untraveled one – though dangerous at times, it enjoys frequent traffic and several amenities, especially The Snow Maiden, an ancient holdfast converted into an inn by an entrepreneurial half-dwarf, half-halfing, Kylo Bronzegrasp, and run by his loyal family.

This step is, however, still a mountain – packs of wolves roam, and Cald has ordered that guards walk interspersed along the train, which means there will be far less patience for shenanigans. There are snow and frost spirits already awake and active, the winter has not yet truly vanished.

Activities during the climb

Other than staying warm and safe, expect there to be a lot of tension – there’s plenty of pent-up energy being released now that we’re all on our way again, in much less flexible conditions. Disciplinary issues may come up a bit, but the main drive of this leg of the journey is covering as much ground as possible to get up to the safety of Aers Tomur in time.

When the caravan arrives at The Snow Maiden (as it will for a good portion of this leg) you can expect to spend some time there while Anton and his council gauge the weather and wait for Kylo’s advice as to when they can leave again. The inn has plenty of guests and rowdiness in a domestic setting for those who are glad to have creature comforts once more, after all that camping and shivering outside at Forgebirth.

There is of course fun to be had if you are willing to do so. Snowballs to be thrown and slopes to slide down. Build a snowman using that big spanker's helmet. I am sure there will be no consequences.

Spanking on the climb

Dwarven spankings are often sharply disciplinary in nature, as a way to show seniority, to keep order, and to make sure one's instructions are followed. There might be a lot of dwarves in the area, so mind your manners!
(A dwarven primer: http://animeotk.com/forum/showpost.p...92&postcount=1)
There always is snow around to cool of your bottom but on a narrow pass road or in the cramped camps there always seem to be witnesses around.


Adventures on the climb

-Guards might find trouble if the snow spirits are angered, or if a hungry pack of wolves approaches – stay safe, and follow their orders!

-Of course nothing says adventure like the challenge of facing nature’s fury – snowstorms, rickety bridges, and treacherous ledges all promise dire consequences which an exciting scene could be built around.

The road ahead:

-Is going to be a lot warmer! When the caravan gets to Aers Tomur there will be trading to do, supplies to buy, and a great deal of celebration now that the first major. Not to speak of seeing the lands behind the mountains for the first time.

The road before:

-Was boring! Slow and quiet and boring! Waiting at Forgebirth sucked, and everyone’s dying to get moving again

[Ellen]

With the break of dusk a cold wind started crashing against the mountains of Aers Tomur. What might be a springs storm with rain and thunder turned into a an icy hazard at this heights. Bringing one last snowfall before the thaw, freezing the poor caravaneers to the bone. Gale winds were pressing you against the rock, the path vanished under a white blanket. But after hard and exhausting travels you finally made it. You reached the Snow Maiden! The Inn on the col of the pass and are safe and warm for the night now, while outside the storm rages on.

The Inn

The Snow Maiden is an ancient building, a squat tower clinging against the stone. Six smoking chimneys showing the warmth within with their wood smoke, visible against the mountain air. Additional chambers are cut into the rock within, and the honeycombed granite has made the inside of the Maiden fairly enormous. While the sturdiest animals camp around the base of the tower, and wagons are left filling the pass, the Maiden is still crowded. There is no room left in the stables. The cavernous tavern in the base of the tower is filled with people avoiding the cold for a while and almost each table has a group sitting at it. Fires are roaring in four big fireplaces, the other two warming the innkeeper's quarters and the kitchen. The Bronzegraps are busy these days.

Overnight the caravan has to divide themselves amongst a great number of alcoves build into the massive walls of the tower. Each of them holds a bed large enough for three or more people: your neighbors will keep each other warm but also will have to share a bed. A lucky few have one wall bordering one of the chimneys, heat radiating through the stoen.

Its still a good opportunity to get to know your fellow travelers better! You can earn yourself a spanking or maybe a new group of friends overnight... or maybe even some romantic adventure.

If the snow is bad and the caravan has to stay for several days, it will be like a sleepover for the whole caravan. There might even be a curfew: there is work to do in the morning after all. You might want to take of the snow drenched clothing too, better avoid getting a cold.

Activities

-Kylo is always looking for ways to fill the cavernous space of his always-busy tavern, but his rule is law: if you can entertain or make a hard night sweeter for his guests, he’ll be happy to show you his gratitude.

-On the far side of the pass is a little ice cavern. It is very pretty, but not really worth the hike to get there unless you're seeing it for the first time: if you have cabin fever, any of the Bronzegrasps will be happy to give you directions to it.

- In the daylight hours the pass has to be freed for the wagon. Hard and exhausting shovel work, that let's you return to the Inn tired, wet and cold. Ready to fall into bed in your alcove.




If you want to settle on a grouping in one room feel free to post this distributions here. But we can also keep it fluid and move our characters around.