| Session Date | January 28, 2023 |
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| Base XP Gained | Carry Over |
| Player Notes | ZZ's Notes |
Back at the Stone Giant caves, the party had the six Dwarves go on high alert in case of attack. As they then began to heal and recover, one of the Dwarves came in followed by an owl. He reported that in insisted on coming in and the party noted it had a note attached to its leg. Jarrik went and took the letter carefully. It was apparently from Garimbyrn, the Werebear. He apologized for turning the party away previously. He wished them to know that the Ice Wizard was very stirred up now and that they were in grave danger. He was even now intensifying the Fimbulwinter in his wrath while his army scoured the area searching for them. It was only a matter of time, and very little at that, before he found them. The giant caves were a death trap and the party needed to flee immediately. For himself, he was “under siege” for supposedly aiding the party, despite the fact he told the minions of the Ice Wizard the truth.
As the party pondered the message, another Dwarf rushed in to report that an imp mounted on a blue wyvern was flying around outside calling to the giants. When there was no response, it had returned south at high speed. Knowing their location was almost certainly compromised, Hans quickly wrote a note stating that they were leaving the area but that “other, more powerful” folk would be returning to deal with him if he did not end the Fimbulwinter. There was some discussion on moving to the previous camp for the night or splitting from the Dwarves to circle back around but, given the proximity to the Ice Wizard, the party decided to simply return with the Dwarves to the Dwarf City post haste.
As they made their way overland, the party was invisible but the Dwarves were not. Thus, when they ran into a hunting party of eight Troglodytes, the foul things attacked the Dwarves. They were most surprised when even more invisible folk appeared around them! They were quickly dispatched, though one Dwarf was seriously wounded. A single Troglodyte tried to surrender but Burt’s plant squished it. They also ran into a flock of Stirges, but a fireball from Sirius and a volley of arrows sent them packing.
The party had no further trouble on their road to Kazakh, arriving there well after dark with a terrible blizzard on their heels. They spent three nights in the city to recover, during which time they spoke some with Nali on recent events. The Dwarf expressed his concern with the turn of events, clearly concerned at the impact the new weather would have on food throughout the Dwarf Kingdom and beyond. Hans also employed the crystal ball to look at the note he’d written. He found it on a table but in a strangely distorted room that was difficult to see clearly, as if viewed through a sheet of ice. Worse, a strong mental presence sensed him and tried to do some sort of mental attack back through the crystal ball! Hans managed to break contact (for reference, think of Pippin looking in the Palantir and Sauron sensing him).
When ready, the party took to the Dwarves’ underground roads to travel to Dorun, arriving in a few days. Jarrik had decided to follow them later for ‘reasons.’ From there they reemerged on the surface into an intense blizzard that simply did not stop. Fortunately, the party was prepared and, though their journey north was slow, they were able to camp safely that night in Leomund’s Tiny Hut (except ZZ who was protected in the weather). The following say they came to the southern entrance to the Valley of Fogs. All invisible, they were nonetheless sensed by a trio of Winter Wolves. Dane, having borrowed Jarrik’s ring, attempted to control them, turning visible in the process. However, the beats ignored the ring’s power and attacked him, forcing more of the party to become visible to aid him. The wolves set up a howl with distant answers.
The party, not wishing to do this all over again, rushed up the frozen river as fast as they could, using the Wizard’s own fog as cover. They soon came into the deep cleft below the Ice Wizard’s palace where ZZ was able to quickly discover the hidden cave the party had used the last time they were here. Becoming much more cautious, they entered the cave and proceeded inward…