Ember of Invention

After the first three hours of walking, it was clear that the other adventurers weren't sharing Lindle's enthusiasm.

Sure they had started the journey full of energy from a long night's rest and confidence borne from their experience. All of them had Journeyman classes, so at the bare minimum that meant they were over level 20, at most twice that number. They weren't strangers to combat or long traveling, but it was clear none of them had done so in the Glacial Reach before, most likely they came to Glacerhine through the Wolven Caravan instead of on foot.

The Reach was equally beautiful and hostile. Perpetually covered in thicker snow than anywhere else in the continent, it would be fairly easy to sink an entire person Lindles size down into the freezing mush from a wrong step. Large spires of dark blue crystal covered in a layer of ice dotted the landscape down in the plains, Lindle steered the group clear of those.

Even from the impressive distance Lindle kept between them, everyone could see one of the massive Apex beasts crossing the plains, standing out clearly against the white. Only during a migration protected by the highest leveled people in Glacerhine would it have been safe to cross through one of their territories.

The wood wasn’t entirely to easy to travel through either, with tall black trees with branches that blocked out most of the moonlight and they would need to traverse winding hills instead of flat ground. But the steamheart trees kept the snow from being too deep and none of the monsters inside were big or powerful enough to overpower a Journeyman party.

The path Lindle led them down wasn't along any of the migration routes, but he still had been a part of every migration and countless smaller trips through the Reach since he was seven. He knew how to identify the best paths across snow supported by roots and ledges over the larger rock formations. Like every Glacian, Lindle had been trained to use [Trek] since he was a child, cycling his Aura points through his legs to preserve his stamina.

A testament to their much higher physical stats, the adventurers kept pace, but no one foreign to the Reach traveled without a local for a reason. Lindle tried to keep this in mind as Dorothea grumbled under their breath, both kitsunes picking themselves up after stumbling down a hill for the umpteenth time.

Rosato was a lot more stoic about it, but his expression held some obvious exhaustion and frustration. Rosato's heavy armor wasn't doing him any favors, and Dorothea simply had much less stamina than her companions despite her much lighter load.

He looked at Chip, the halfling the epitome of patience as walked alongside him, and Lindle tried to copy his attitude. but their slower-than-expected progress grated on him a little. He knew it was unfair to compare given their minimal experience and his lifetime of it, and no one had actually complained aloud either. He had known going into this how tedious traveling with Soarians would be. Pushing away the uncharitable thoughts with a mental sigh, he pointed out the nearest steamheart tree. "Let's take a quick break there."

Dorothea gave a loud sigh of relief as Lindle said the word break.

Rosato looked up to the pillar of steam flowing from the top of the tree and disappearing into the sky. “We passed by a couple of those, what are they?” He asked.

“Steamheart trees,” Lindle answered. “They suck up snow and boil it in the trunk until it comes out the top as steam. They keep the forest from freezing over and make for good stopping points.”

Lindle led them stumbling to sit down among the tangle of roots reaching over the snow. Everyone sighed in appreciation and surprise as they felt the heat emanating from the tree wash over them.

Sliding off his pack, he distributed rations for everyone. Handing Rosato the dried fruit who then passed it along. Everyone mumbled out thanks as they started eating.

An unfamiliar voice joined them. "Thank you boy." Lindle had to stifle a bit of surprise as he looked up from his food and saw Theodore with his mask slightly up, mouth exposed. Not only had this been the first time the man had spoken to him, but if Lindle was honest he had forgotten the man was with them. Lindle looked at the snow around the rogue's feet. No prints...

Lindle looked at Theodore again. His voice was a lot more melodic than he expected. Beneath the mask, he could see a bit of stubble and pale skin, but nothing distinctive. "You're welcome." He answered.

Lindle felt slightly embarrassed as he nursed his meal, trying to enjoy his dried muskox as the party descended into conversation. A guide who forgot about one of his employers couldn't really be called a very good guide. The man apparently was just too quiet compared to the others, which Lindle guessed was part of his job, but he didn't want to leave him behind to freeze if he disappeared into a snowbank just because Lindle didn't pay attention.

Tuning back in, it seemed like the adventurers were in a much better mood now that they weren’t trudging through the snow.

"Come on Rose, you know I wouldn't drag you all the way out here if I didn't know this was a good pick," Dorothea said.

"And I'm just saying this isn't the first time a place you were sure was elven turned out to be a bust," Rosato responded, giving his cousin a teasing grin.

Dorothea pouted. "This time I got a really good source on this. You were with me Chip, back me up!"

The halfing chuckled playfully. "I'm not sure, Dorothea, considering your track record..." Dorothea turned her glare on him. Chip raised his hands in surrender. "Yes yes, I was there and they were a trustworthy resource."

Dorothea gave Rosato a smile of satisfaction. "See? "

"Fine. But if this turns out to be another bust I'm reserving the right to veto any more expeditions like this for the foreseeable future." Rosato said.

‘Look on the bright side, you would have a lot more time to ‘research’ with that cute librarian boy between quests if we stuck close to the city.” Chip chimed in.

Lindle didn’t really know what a librarian was, but he supposed they had to be attractive, based on the way Dorothea blushed before hitting Chip on the shoulder.

Lindle watched the byplay for the next few minutes until everyone finished. Abandoning the warmth of the steamheart, the group in much higher spirits now they continued on their trek.

This time Lindle tried to keep a closer eye on Theodore. Paying attention now, he saw that he definitely left no footprints or made any sound walking in the snow. If whatever let him do that meant his weight didn't press into the snow as well, Lindle figured he would actually be the least at risk of dropping into a snowbank.

They continued trudging through the snow, Lindle leading the group through the forest. Even the common black pine trees grew to towering heights and size, but they left plenty of space to navigate through. After another hour Lindle stopped the group, noticing something as they walked into a small clearing of snow, moonlight streaming brightly down along the black pines.

He approached one of the pines. He could see the damage marring the bark, part of it chipped away and pushed in as if something big and sharp had rammed it from the side, it looked recent.

"Wooly Razorbacks." He informed the group. Lindle recognized the way they marked their stomping grounds.

The party looked between themselves, their expressions turning serious. Rosato spoke up. "Monsters?"

Lindle nodded as he responded. "They're giant boars. About my height, shaggy fur, but very sharp to the touch. They travel in packs and are extremely aggressive, it looks like one recently expanded their territory and we're in it."

"Threat level, any magic?" Dorothea asked.

Lindle thought about the times he had seen a Razorback on hunts. "A single one can be dealt with by a warrior with an apprentice class, but they can still gore someone with their tusks with a good hit. They rely purely on physical stats and don’t have any real magical abilities, but they are resistant to blunt force. An entire pack is a lot more dangerous, but a party of people at least level 15 can take them if they're smart about it."

Rosato contemplated for a moment, which Lindle was glad to see. Even if everyone in his party were a full tier above apprentice, rushing into a fight was never a good idea in the Reach. He had heard stories from Humphrey about parties who went after any monster they could find for more XP. “Theodore, do you think you can check to see if they're ahead of us?"

"I can, "Theodore affirmed, his melodic voice slightly muffled by his mask. Making no further noise, the man leaped off the ground before Lindle could react up onto one of the branches of the pines. He leaped again and disappeared up into the trees.

Lindle and the rest of the group waited in tense silence, their eyes scanning the snowy forest around them for any sign of movement. Minutes crept by, the only sound being the gentle rustling of the wind through the trees.

Finally, Theodore reappeared, landing gracefully in front of them. Lindle couldn't help but feel a twinge of surprise as he once again noted the absence of footprints in the snow beneath where Theodore had landed. He also couldn't tell from which direction he appeared.

"There is a pack of Wooly Razorbacks approaching us from the west," Theodore reported calmly, his voice carrying a soothing quality despite the gravity of his words. Lindle saw Dorothea and Rosato exchange worried glances while Chip's brow furrowed in concern.

"How many are we talking about?" Rosato asked, his hand going to the hilt of his sword and bringing out his shield.

Theodore responded immediately, "More than two dozen, less than three. We have less than a minute."

Lindle heard a noise and looked west as the noise of dozens of loud hooves crunching in the snow got louder and louder.

"Godsdammit, looks like we aren't avoiding a fight. Everyone get ready." Rosato rallied everyone as Theodore drew a pair of daggers and Dorothea brandished a wand at the approaching pack.

Chip spread his hands and spoke in a language Lindle didn't understand, but recognized from some of the other Soarian holy men in Glacerhine. Warm golden light spread over Rosato and Theodore.

As he watched the adventurers get ready, putting themselves between him and the coming danger, Lindle heard something from his left. Spinning rapidly he looked in time to see several Razorbacks emerge from around the wide base of a tree that had concealed their approach with violent squeals into the clearing. One of them heading straight for him.