10 - Frostbite's Fury
| Session 1 | Session 9 | Session 10 | ||
| ◀◀ | ◀ | ▲ | ▶ | ▶▶ |
| Ashira Brolin Frostbite | Ashira Brolin Frostbite | Ashira Frostbite |
and Bavlorna's Bargain
The group’s journey deep into the mist-laden swamp had grown tense after leaving Octavian behind. Frostbite’s desire to reclaim his stolen artistic gift loomed over the party like a storm cloud, driving their every step forward. His anger was palpable, and the others exchanged wary glances as the bridge ahead creaked beneath their feet.
Two huts flanked the narrow road: one to the left, the other to the right. Though they passed them without pause, a loud croak erupted from the left hut, echoing ominously. Ignoring the noise, they pressed on, only to come across a massive cauldron boiling over a roaring fire. Maeve, curious as ever, approached the cauldron but struggled to open the lid. Suddenly, the cauldron shifted itself off the fire as if alive. From the glowing coals emerged a creature offering a trade for the cauldron’s password.
Zephyr, with a wry smile, handed over a simple wooden stick, and the creature revealed the password: "Spittlespew." Zephyr spoke it aloud, and the cauldron creaked open, revealing a bubbling grey-black liquid. Against the protests of Dhanell, Frostbite, and Maeve, Zephyr ladled some of the liquid and tasted it. Meanwhile, Brolin, undeterred by caution, took a bold gulp from the cauldron, resulting in a loud croak escaping his lips. Eventually, with teamwork and no small effort, they managed to dump the foul soup into a nearby lake, much to Frostbite's relief.
The Watchtower and the Misty Lake
Further along the path, they encountered a watchtower where two lazy bullywugs lounged atop it. Brolin, ever the opportunist, scaled the tower to trade for a spyglass. With only a small cage as collateral, he managed to convince the bullywugs to part with it. From the tower, they noted the path of a fourth clothesline extending toward the center of the lake. Deciding the clothline would lead them to their next destination, they boarded two boats at the pier and began rowing through the thickening mist.
Emerging from the fog, the party beheld Bavlorna’s lair - a ramshackle wooden structure perched precariously on ten-meter stilts, with rickety stairs leading up to a trapdoor. Tying their boats to the stairs, the group ascended into the heart of the hag’s domain.
Bavlorna’s Lair
The room they entered was a chaotic mess: shelves overflowing with junk, tables strewn with food and discarded plates, and a stagnant pool at its center. A dirty mirror sat in the corner, and a single lily pad floated atop the unmoving water. Frostbite, bristling with anticipation, bellowed for Bavlorna. The silence that followed only heightened his tension.
Zephyr flitted around the room, inspecting the disarray while Frostbite opened a nearby door. The balcony beyond was filled with frogs, their croaking growing deafening as he slammed the door shut. At that moment, three lornlings - a hag’s minions - scurried down the stairs, “Thieves!” Frostbite roared in response, chasing them upstairs, the rest of the party close behind.
The upstairs hallway was narrow, lined with gilded portraits of frightened faces and anchored by a central mirror. Frostbite stormed into a room on the left - a study of sorts where two figures sat drinking tea. One was Bavlorna herself, her toadlike visage watching them with shifting, froggy eyes. Beside her sat Charm, a tall woman in black, her name the group recognized from the shop in the swamp.
Negotiations Turn to Fury
Bavlorna’s raspy voice greeted Frostbite with unsettling familiarity: “What brings you here, my darling?” Frostbite’s growl of anger cut through the air as he demanded the return of his stolen artistic talent. Bavlorna, unfazed, inquired what he would offer in exchange.
The hag’s nonchalant attitude only stoked Frostbite’s rage. As Dhanell and Maeve tried to negotiate, they noted that Bavlorna grew visibly uncomfortable when anyone walked around her counterclockwise. Despite this discovery, the conversation stalled. Bavlorna revealed her desire for a portrait of her sister Scabatha, which hung in Tither, or her Book of Bad Blood. She also offered to return Clapperclaw’s deer skull in exchange for the book.
But Frostbite’s patience had run dry. Consumed by fury, he raised his club and struck Bavlorna from behind. The hag screeched in anger, declaring their assault an abuse of her hospitality. The battle began.
The Fight with Bavlorna
Zephyr struck first, sending a bolt of lightning crackling toward the hag. Brolin followed with several heavy blows, while Ashira’s arrows and Maeve’s cutting words added to the onslaught. Despite the coordinated attack, Bavlorna proved to be a formidable foe. She grappled Frostbite with unnatural strength, opening her massive mouth to swallow him whole.
Inside Bavlorna’s stomach, Frostbite fought valiantly, unleashing a blast of icy breath that left frosty clouds escaping her mouth. Yet the acid inside burned him painfully. The rest of the party pressed on, but Bavlorna’s magic quickly incapacitated Zephyr and severely injured Ashira and Brolin. Realizing the fight was turning against them, the group pleaded for peace.
Reluctantly, Bavlorna regurgitated Frostbite, who collapsed to the floor. Dhanell, ever the diplomat, used his merchant skills to broker a tenuous truce. Bavlorna agreed to return Frostbite’s artistic gift if they retrieved the portrait of Scabatha, fixed her bath, and recovered her Book of Bad Blood. With no other choice, Brolin shook hands on the deal.
Restoring the Bath
The group descended to the bath area, where Brolin discovered a gelatinous cube clogging the well. With Frostbite’s help, he cleared the blockage, allowing fresh water to flow once more. Frostbite, still shaken, used the clean water to wash away the remnants of his time inside Bavlorna. The hag herself soon descended, slipping into the bath with a sigh of relief as her dried skin began to heal.
She revealed that Scabatha’s home, Loomlurch, was nestled within a giant tree in the forests of Tither. She also mentioned a third sister, Tasha, whose name was new to the group.
The Journey Continues
After leaving Bavlorna’s lair, the group visited Charm’s shop, where they found the black-clad trio of darklings packing up to leave. Charm, the senior member, eyed them coldly, refusing to let them linger. The group left with unease, their next objective clear: to find Clapperclaw, return his head, and prepare for their journey to Tither.
Though Frostbite was no longer consumed by rage, his silence spoke volumes. The party knew the weight of his lost gift still lingered, and as they ventured towards their next destination, they steeled themselves for the challenges yet to come.
| Session 1 | Session 9 | Session 10 | ||
| ◀◀ | ◀ | ▲ | ▶ | ▶▶ |
| Ashira Brolin Frostbite | Ashira Brolin Frostbite | Ashira Frostbite |
Updated on: 06:20
