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(Following Shipwreck, Spirits and Scion / See lead-in: pursuit of quest Auril's Abode)
Quest for the Frostmaiden's Tome
Zaknalimar returned from the Dark Duchess shipwreck to approach the Kalteswetteruntergrund through Agaric, assembling a task force to find the Codicil of White from the Isle of Solstice. This isle was said to be the chosen home of Auril herself, and such a quest truly bold beyond imagining. However, the scholars of the Kalteswetteruntergrund insist with the right timing, her absence could be assured.
It was crucial to make certain this caper coincided with the Frostmaiden's journeys afar on Iskra, the Coldlight Roc on which she flew across the Frozenfar. For years this had been a nightly and predictable route - and this had been carefully tracked by the Kalteswetteruntergrund's observers and instruments. But upon the recent completion of phase one of her ritual, Auril-and-Iskra had been traveling to corners of her realm, for longer deeds on which they could only speculate. What was fortunate for this mission was they could communicate timing and hope to find an extended window allowing the team to search for the tome without threat of the cruel Goddess of Winter.
The Isle of Solstice had been a legendary location for centuries - shaped as a snowflake and floating upon the Sea of Moving Ice, it eluded maps and became a setting for fanciful fireside tales of adventure. The ghostly Unknown Jarls implied it would also be a seat of power of their kind (see Jarlmoot: Circle of Thrones). So stealth would be key regardless - and a team was assembled for the deed.
Aelar was enlisted to arrange transport via his friend, the Awakened whale Angajuk (with the boat-in-bubble - see: Dungeon & Dragon). A dwarven warlock-warrior named Zigzastromanth Ziggastromarch ("just call me Ziggy") insistently joins the team. He is a member of an order of knights out of Caer Dineval working with the Kalteswetteruntergrund to put an end to the Everlasting Winter.
During the journey, coaxed by a fine rum in Angajuk's stores, Ziggy shared some information on this knightly order, which was probably an otherwise secretive group. (See: Knights of the Black Sword) His story, like all of the knights, tells of being spared in a time of desperation by the Patron of the Order. This patron is not given a name, only in offering survival in trade for their loyal service and pledge toward escape from this prison of ice. He even shares that another Adversary, one other than the Frostmaiden, has led to preparations back at Caer Dineval for war with Caer Konig.
The quest calls for this team to obtain knowledge held within the ancient book called the Codicil of White. This tome was said to be written by Auril herself and contain lore essential to her following in the Children of Auril including rites and rituals and enchantments. Whether it could be taken or if merely reading would be sufficient was unknown. But this was now the greatest hope of the Kalteswetteruntergrund to unravel the Rime of the Frostmaiden enchantment that barred the return of Spring to these lands. This holy book would be safely secured somewhere on the Isle of Solstice, most likely within the great castle at the center of the island.
Castle of the Frost Giants
Guided by the whale's expert knowledge of this seam the party circled the snowflake-shaped iceberg. From the ship tethered to the back of Angajuk, the party carefully sought out places to land and explored a couple sunken ships of its coast. Finally, high above the great white bird was seen parting the island and a Sending from the Kalteswetteruntergrund confirmed their prediction this would be an extended trip, according to their patterns.
Pulling up alongside the identified docks, the party found everything to be equipped for giant-sized inhabitants (specifically, Frost Giants).
Peculiar Guide
A patiently expectant Ice Mephit greeted them at the dock, almost as if dutifully awaiting their arrival. The creature called itself "Sopo", and offered to guide the group in whatever tasks they might have on the Isle of Solstice. The party decided to simply make straight for the front door of the skull-shaped Castle Grimskalle at the isle's center, which required a difficult climb of the winding giant-sized steps on the approach.
Along the way, while offering (modestly) helpful information, Sopo exhibited clear indifference to the party's well-being - even suggesting it had been profoundly bored until noticing their arrival, and eagerly anticipated how entertaining it would be to watch their horrific deaths.
The group found the castle to be profoundly quiet, first passing the enormous door of the castle's warden, an elderly and (after the group took great effort to be sneaky) deaf (inconveniently belatedly reported by Sopo) Frost Giant named Ertgard.
As the cheerfully morbid guide was unhelpful in sharing the location of (or even knowledge of) the sought-after book, the party thought to try the upper rooms first (perhaps making an escape faster going down rather than up four-foot steps). Laboriously ascending a stairway from the kitchen, they emerged through a subtle side-entrance what appeared to be the bedchambers and attached throne room of the Frost Giant Queen Vassavicken, Handmaiden of Auril.
Here, they found no sign of a prominent book or even any sort of library - and then were forced to flee down the stairs at the approach of heavy footsteps descending from further above, the heavy tread dropping deadly icicles from ceiling to the floor (eliciting gleeful amusement for Sopo).
Readying Ambush
Taking positions in the enormous kitchen at the foot of the stairs back on the first floor, the party set an ambush for (presumably) the approaching queen (including Spike Growth outside Ertgard's door should he somehow be alerted). The ominous footfalls of a giant descended...
[ ONE YEAR PASSES IN THE REAL WORLD ]
From the cover of giant chairs and the tabletop, our heroes launch ranged attacks as Queen turned to the room, towering and armored. Mephits, like Sopo, in battle-stations atop her crown and on each shoulder. She radiated a cold aura as she approached, saying nothing and bringing her massive hammer down upon the plate mailed dwarf.
The sea elf's bolts fired upon the tiny minions as his spirit bird (Summon Beast) harassed from above. (His initial shots so far off the mark, Sopo helpfully pointed out where the target was, in case Aelar was somehow befuddled). The pistol shot from Zak hit its mark soundly before the wave of cold forced him to retreat for cover, where he launched a devastating Shatter spell upon the giant.
Ultimately, the conflict came to a close as Agaric unleashed a Wall of Fire upon the crowned-giant, even as her own focus fell upon smashing the dwarf's armor into more of a flat shield upon the tabletop. As the giant expired in a burst of ice shards, Sopo clapped and hooted and danced and giggled merrily. The ruckus had alerted even the deafened Ertgard at this time, who bellowed, "Gul-LOO-vick-en!" (followed by something in the language of giants that certainly sounded chiding in tone). As the party readied to face off against him, Sopo suddenly shimmered and transformed into the huge form of an adolescent woman-giant, continuing to giggle, eyes twinkling with mischief and offering Aelar a friendly hug, as she responded to Ertgard with hand signs and spoke in Common to the smaller humanoids:
Ah, no, no, dear Ertgard, these are my new friends!
They have been wonderful to me, and made such great fun!
You know I've been SO bored and lonely, we can have them be guests, yes?
In the discussions following, the young frost giant princess Geluvicken, daughter of Queen Vassavicken reveals much more than Sopo had concerning the situation on this floating iceberg-snowflake home of Auril. The Isle had been left empty when her mother left to lead an army joining the White Inquisitor and her Children of Auril against forces from Icewind Dale. Absent family and friends and playmates, Geluvicken found little interest in her delegated duties as regent (or housekeeper) between the flights of the Frostmaiden on the Coldlight Roc, weaving her enchantments across the sky of the Frozenfar. Bored and lonely, just as was Sopo, she eagerly sought out anything to break the monotony, and became delighted with the adventures following these visitors.
Sometimes Good Guys Come Out On Top
It seemed even Ertgard held some disdain for the goddess and perhaps even the girl's mother as Auril's Handmaiden - offering to prepare a (tiny) meal as Geluvicken and her new friends spoke and plotted. The princess, aware of the party's objectives through their conversations with Sopo, described there being Four Trials designated by The Frostmaiden herself to gain entry into the vault that held the Codicil of White. These would force any seeking the tome to experience the essence of being the Winter Goddess - requiring they themselves embody her cruelty, her endurance, her isolation, and her need for preservation.
However - Geluvicken then declared that she could - and would - replace two of the trials with those of her own making. First, she named the Trial of Friendship to replace Auril's Trial of Cruelty. The group had been patient, friendly and compassionate to little Sopo, despite his taunts and meddling and being so weak as to have easily been dispatched. Second, her Trial of Courage, replacing Auril's Trial of Preservation (which would reflect the obsessive sealing away of things within prisons of ice). For the group had stood against what they believed might be the Handmaiden of a Goddess herself!
But the two remaining trials would fall to the party to accomplish to complete the requirements for entry into the vault.
(Next: Trials of the Frostmaiden)