Welcome to the Galena Mountain Range
Wind, snow, ice, and difficult terrain greeted our group as we continue our trek to the summit of the twin peaks in the Galena Mountain Range. Movement was slow as we traversed deep snow, rivers and streams, and continued to battle the elements. The constant wind, snow, low clouds and fog cut our visual and audio cues down as we were humbled by Mother Nature. To minimize getting separated members of the party were tied to one another to help provide support. Stryfe utilized his innate survival skills to find minimal shelter in these harsh conditions.
Sharky was our eyes and ears, Zebith provided key arcane powers, and Thomas provided divine warmth with the help of his deity. The elf eagle riders we encountered at lower elevations continued to monitor our progress on the mountain from a distance. Their numbers increased to as many as a dozen or more. We encountered the occasion attack from the eagle riders in the form of a quick hit and run dive skirmish to a general release of a dozen arrows that rained down on us. These attacks would happen on occasion with each side trading blows and then the eagle riders would break off the attack.
At one point the team lost their footing and slide down several hundred feet. We took some physical and fatigue damage on that fall. We quickly learned not to push our travel times in these harsh elements as Zebith became fatigued during a forced march.
As we closed in on the tower peak we discovered 2 or 3 distinct paths to the summit. These paths provided extra handholds set in the mountain to allow for more confident climbing. Just as our spirits were beginning to rise we were introduced to a new threat.
With limited visibility the eagle riders engaged our group from a distance with a series of arrow volleys as well as some arcane magic – a sonic lance incantation provided a tremendous boom that echoed off the mountain and set an avalanche in motion. With quick thinking and great timing as the avalanched formed, Zebith used his dimension door spell to move him and 2 other members out of the snows path. Thomas grabbed Sharky and flew him high enough to allow the liquefying snow to pass safely below us. It was while we were flying that the arcane eagle rider fired off several cold spells at Thomas and Sharky and then broke off the attack. Sharky was able to notice a rider on an invisible mount.
As we closed in to within 500’ or so of the summit a female eagle rider landed near our location and approached our group. Clearing his head in the thinning air Thomas was able to recall that he prepared a specific spell which he hoped would allow him to understand the strange sylvan language and converse with the eagle riders.
Guys, perhaps you can fill in some of the Q/A comments here as my notes are at home
During the conversation we were asked the following –
What are you doing here? Gravel Beard an acquaintance of ours pointed us in this direction.
What do you seek? After some stalling we indicated that “our group was interested in Rubies in the mountains mentioned by Gravel Beard”.
We asked do you know Gravel Beard. No
Tell us about you and your people? I prefer not to speak of my people.
Is there something we can help with? One of our leaders is taking our people in the wrong direction
We discussed that one of the elf riders we encountered early on was a hot head and very impulsive.
