The journey north hugged the coastline. A mixture of sail and the rigors of back-breaking work upon the oar alternated in the voyage. The longships did not fly any colors and the temperature began to drop gradually until the landscape changed to deep forests and cold 'Salt' tides. Here settlements began to thin out and life became more difficult.

The settlement they found was far beyond the comforts of Arx. The barbarians expected the longships it seems and the group is welcomed. Provisions were given and exchanged; liquor, food, and practical items of survival are unloaded at the sight where the tents are pitch. They were a quiet and friendly group; a small whaling village that survived by the thinnest margins. Life here was hard..

The longship cast out with four Crovane whalers. The grizzled teeth-missing lot were bundled in seal-skin boots, pants, and coats. As they ventured into the quiet cold waters before the light of a new day large broken pieces of glaciers drift pass. It is so very cold and bitter.

Smaller whaling boats are tied and secured to longships and have been prepared.

Kahlana was amongst the Corvane that showed up, though this woman looked to have all her teeth, the viscountess enjoys the expidation as the sea water sprays her features. Her eyes close a moment and she looks amongst those that are there. Perhaps she should had invested in learning something more then small weapons! She was mainly there for support right? Her presence making the northern crew work a little harder.

Not a sailor, a hunter, nor a warrior, one might question why it is that Nicia came on this trip in the first place. The Pravus woman looks like the veritable fish out of water, even more so when the longship casts off to actually go whaling than even prior. She looks cold, frozen, miserable even, but determined to make it to the end of this trip in good spirits.

Katarina checked dexterity + sailing at difficulty 15, rolling 49 higher.

    Nothing could have prepared Katarina for a voyage into the frigid cold of the North, yet she does not complain as they venture forward into the quiet cold waters before the light of new day. She stares out over the arctic waters as islands of massive ice float past, her eyes bright with silent wonderment.

The eldest of the whalers sheds a grin as all eyes are cast to the Salt in search of the beasts. The harpoons are stowed in the small boats secured to the longship. The other two longships (one carrying Prince Abbas Thrax) that came on the journey have set out in different directions for increased chances of success. The aged Crovane whalers rumbles out, "When I was a boy the elders poke of beasts." He motions out to the horizon. "Large things with tentacles that would wrap around the great whales and drag them down to never be seen again. I have not seen them yet -- but two villages down. An old man who died last winter had. He said it had tried to take his boat. He was piss drunk all the time." The longship breaks through a small patch of ice. One can feel the impact in the vibration and groan of the wood.

Nicia checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 20 higher.

Kahlana checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 16 higher.

Nicia listens, somewhat attentively, to the story the older man tells, a hand lifting up to rub at her cheek. After a moment she lets her eyes and mind wander a bit, scanning the surface of the icy water before she stiffens, "Look!" She exclaims, pointing off in the distance, "I saw them!"

Kahlana looks to the crew and the whaler gets her attention, "do not curse us with storys of tenticaled monsters..." she says guesturing "there is something out there... behind the ice.."

    Katarina slowly turns herself away from the portside, occasionally filling the quiet of the air with soft shouts to the men to direct them through the maze of glacial pieces floating along the calm waters. When one of the men speaks up, her gaze idly follows the point of his hand out toward the horizon. "Interesting story," she pipes up toward the aged whaler, pulling her fur-lined hood tighter around her head. "He say how he avoided imminent death? Or just tall tale?" She startles, turning her head to look out toward where Kahlana and Nicia point. "Saw what? Whale?"

Kahlana offers helplessly "Movement at the very least... not sure if it was a Whale..." she looks to the others before she eyes the captian.

The longship creaks and groans but Katarina has saved them from a very unfortunate disaster early in the voyage; a large piece when the others distracted was avoided at the last moment. As the whales are spotted they go away. "They can stay under a long time if it is whales.." The old Crovane whaler informs them. "My eyes are poor. Steer us closer!" The other two men set about the small boats and prepare to launch them if needed. The men under the command of Katarina row and put to the oars on this hunt. The horizon has a sheet of white ice for now and calm waters. The frigis crew is on edge and wary. The old man answers, "He was drunk, no one believes him. The elders prayed though. They left a share of their food and oils to burn for safety."

Katarina checked dexterity + sailing at difficulty 15, rolling 25 higher.

Katarina checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 19 higher.

Kahlana checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 19 higher.

Nicia checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 2 higher.

"Yeah, like maybe three, maybe two?" Nicia replies, pointing in the direction that she saw them in, "I just caught sight of them breaking the surface, but they didn't exactly stay for long." She glances around at the faces of those in the boat, then shrugs, "That's all I saw."

Kahlana nods after a while, she was watching with Nicia, "yes... a pod of them - Sperm Whales..." she says softly pointing in the direction of the other

    There is a subtle dip of her chin at Nicia and Kahlana respectively. "Very lucky. Have not seen yet," she breathes a soft sigh, golden eyes bright with wonder as her attention is turned to the task of directing the crew. "Steady men," she calls over a shoulder. Excitement pulses through the young Eurusi, rocking forward with care to lean over the edge and into the glacial-sheeted waters to catch sight of the great, magnificent beasts circling about their ship. "Hmm," she exhales in quiet contemplation of the old man's response, yet says nothing more on it.

The expert sailing of Katarina brings the longship right amongst the majestic sperm whales. There are three altogether that have broken the cold surface of the cruel drink. One is to the left of the longship and goes under. The one on the right is a monster of a whale almost thirty-four feet in length. When its tail falls down and it goes under cold icy water sprays and showers the entire ship. One of the Crovane exclaims at the size of the beast and the whalers start to undo the small boats. They splash in the water. "To the boats!" The NPC's and two crewmembers get in one. The boat on the right is for Kahlana, the old Crovave, Nicia, and Katarina. Four harpoons fastened to rungs on the rickety rowboat with rope are tossed within. "We must spear the large one and hang on it when it comes back up!" He cries with joy. Water drips from his face and freezes in his grey beard.

Nicia has rolled a critical success!
Nicia checked dexterity + sailing at difficulty 10, rolling 17 higher.

Kahlana hops into a boat with the female crew, she smiles as she reaches out to help Nicia in if she wants to come, "lets go!" she cries just as excited

    "Great Gods," comes the soft exaltation of Katarina as she stares with wide eyes toward the monster of a whale rising on her right. Carefully, she fits herself into the smaller of the boats with the others, tucking in beside the old Crovane and the girls. "Someone is eager to get blubber," she quips in soft humor at Kahlana.

Katarina checked dexterity + sailing at difficulty 10, rolling 24 higher.

There might just be a moment where Nicia is questioning her choices, a glance cast behind her, then around before getting to her feet and starting to move towards the smaller boat with the harpoons. "Thank you." She murmurs to Kahlana as she accepts the help over, not moving with the same speed the others are moving.

Kahlana laughs to Kat, "never been whaleing before... cant wait to see how fast the beast takes the boat..." she looks to Nicia, "dont fall off now.." she grins as she slides up to the female captin "fucken fun isn't it."

With both boats in the water the longship rows in reverse and they are alone in the cold salt. The size of the beasts makes one feel tiny and fragile in the old wooden boats. So small compared to the beasts. The old man offers the harpoons as he quickly fastens them to the rungs. "Spear him behind the head, tail, and one at the side to keep it unsteady."

"I'll do my very best." Nicia assures Kahlana, a brow quirking upwards just a moment before she eases towards the harpoons, giving that a much more trepidatious look than anything else that has occured up till now. However, she picks it up and adjusts her hands on it until the feel is just right, then she gets to her feet, bracing herself before she launches the harpoon. She holds her breath as she watches it sail through the air, the sharp point sinking into the thick skin and blubber behind the beasts head.

Quiet, a Valardin champion have been dismissed.

Kahlana checked dexterity + sailing at difficulty 10, rolling 6 higher.

The other boat goes after the smaller of the beasts when it comes out of the water. With a brilliant splash the longship rocks behind them as a whale comes up next to it. There is a gasp of fear but that third whale quickly goes back under. The second is harpooned by one of the younger Crovane in the other boat. The barbed metal bites and with a twist the beast seeks to go under. Suddenly the small boat is jerked forward violently. The whole compliment of people falls to their asses. One cuts his hand on his harpoon and cries in pain. It is dangerous work as they scramble for the harpoons. The whale starts to go under and the Crovane cry, "Cut rope! Cut rope!" Frantic. Only one harpoon in they are in danger of being taken under utterly nearby. The men work hard and fast to try and cut lines. Whaling was very dangerous in these icy waters.

Kahlana lobs her harpoon into the whale and the line goes taunt, and the boat begins to sail fast through the water. "Oooooiiiiiii!" she calls as the boat lurches and she tries to hold on... her eyes watch as the other boat struggles and she calls out to them, "Dont Die!" she says wanting to help but she could do nothing to aid them

Abbas has rolled a critical success!
Abbas checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 18 higher.

Abbas checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 4 higher.

Abbas checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 3 higher.

Abbas checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 16 higher.

With two harpoons in the monster next to their boat the beast splashes. Katarina's harpoon is sailed true and hooks where the old man had told them. Speared in the side, behind the head, and just at the base of its tail the beast twists and tries to go under. The lines go rigid tight and at once the boat jolts forward. The wood groans and with the size of the beast a few planks splinter and buckle. Nothing life endangering just yet; the old Crovane takes his harpoon and he leans precariously over the edge of the boat and he starts to jab it over and over at an angle into its fat blubber. Blood spills into the Salt and the majestic beast struggles. The third whale surfaces in the distance and goes back under.

The second whale goes under the Salt and frantically the whalers and crewmembers do their jobs to sever the lines. The boat is free and quickly they grab the oars while the wounded man wraps his hand and staunches the blood loss. They row to help with the massive beast

Nicia checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 5 higher.

The call of cut rope catches Nicia's attention, but it's not their boat. As much she would like to care, and she does, the fact their own boat shudders and jerks a moment later is a whole lot more distracting for her. She doesn't scream, but she does almost go crashing down when the boat jerks, which is enough to clue her into the fact she should sit down, and she does, heavily.

Kahlana checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 1 lower.

Kahlana feels the boat jolt, and she is knocked onto her but she umphs and she cries out as she lands "aww fucken shit." she says as the boat begins to lurch through the waters.. well least she did not fall over!.. she smiles a little "you alright?" she asks her crew

The other boat comes closer and there are three spare harpoons. The men lob them into the beast. One misses as the massive creature turns and his solid eye stares as it starts to weaken. Lines go taught and with five harpoons trapping it in place the second whale emerges in the horizon. The beasts continue beyond range as the longboat comes behind them slowly. The harpoon that missed is realed in as the man frantically stabs away. As the boats are drawn right in near the beast; the whalers get to work. It takes a long time. Too long as the whale struggles until finally it rolls and goes limp in the water. Massive. Blood rolls into the ocean and the men begin to hoot and give thanks. For them this whale is life for months. "We must drag it on the longship. And haul it back. There will be a great feast tonight!" The old Crovane rumbles, "A big beast! Massive!" He gives them a nearly toothless grin and shakes his aged scarred fist in celebration. Off in the distance under the water the sorrowed songs of whales bellows for hours unbeknownst to them. "Good." The crew retorts from the other boat to Kahlana's question.

"That..." Nicia starts, but then stops when it's not over yet. She just looks around, then begins to crawl in the direction of the longship when the old man says they have to drag it from the bigger boat. She climbs over onto it, and looks around, waiting for some instruction on what part to help out with next.

Kahlana laughs a little as she stands back up.. she heads back in the direction of the longship.. she stays with Nicia and the others before she hugs her Crovane cousins and she smiles softly "well done! No one died." she says "We fear no Storm!" she calls the battle cry before she grins to Nicia "you ok Lass? Sea sick?"

The men do most of the work. The longship was fully crewed with sailors. Ropes are tied off and the beast is secured to be dragged back. The longship dips its oars in the water and the sail is lowered. It is a slow journey back and a streak of thin crimson and natural secreted oils trails behind them...

Nicia's brows lift upwards at Kahlana, blinking momentarily at her in a bit of surprise at the question, "Sea sick?" She seems uncertain about how best to answer that for a moment, then she shakes her head, "Uh, no. I'm not sea sick...thank you." She replies, getting settled back into the longship, helping if needed, otherwise she just stays out of peoples way.

Kahlana nods her head as she gets back onto the longship, she helps and is helped from the boat, her eyes on the red waves, and for a moment the Northern woman says a prayer, for those recently lost. Perhaps the red tide had her thinking of Max, she lowers her eyes and issues a little prayer to the spirits as they continue to wait for the whale to tire itself out and then die ..

When they return to the small whaling and fishing village. The children run out and the people cheer and praise the returned 'heroes'. Life on the margins meant they knew they could survive another few months. They would have oil to barter for furs and seal skin. They were already drinking and celebrating in high spirits by the time the other longships returned. All but one; the longship that Prince Abbas Thrax was on never returns. That sometimes happened the older Crovane explains. Once it got too cold he told them around the fire. A ship would stop and make fire to get through the night. Especially if they landed a whale. Still there was some skepticism. Because that was not always the case either.