Aozaki Aoko Case File [511] (Patreon)

“There aren’t any signs of fighting in the camp,” Jasrah reported after circling around. “The overturned sled was because those sled dogs got too hungry and, being tied up, ran into the tent looking for food. So I think Garret’s team probably went up the mountain along the northern path and just didn’t come back.”

“Jasrah, what do you suggest we do?” Edgin asked. “Do we need to take these sled dogs up the mountain with us?”

“What? Of course not!” Jasrha gave Edgin a puzzled look. “I’ll just let these poor hungry kids go free—they’ll run back to Caer-Konig’s shop on their own. But our own sled dogs, we need to leave some here at camp.”

“So we’re only taking Boy up the mountain,” Simon nodded. “Makes perfect sense.”

“I’ll put some protective wards on the tent and snow, and leave enough food,” Aoko said. “After all, you never know when a duergar might pop up from this mountain. If our sled dogs get killed by duergar, that would be a real problem.”

“Let’s do that, then. Once we rescue Garret and his group, we’ll hook their sled to the back of our snowmobile,” Edgin said. “Their dogs look so hungry they can’t pull a sled any farther. They’ll need a long time to recover.”

Everyone got busy. Jasrah unchained the starving sled dogs, who ran a circle around her, then, with her permission, dashed off toward Caer-Konig.

The wind and snow had already erased any tracks up the mountain, so there was nothing to follow. But thanks to Jasrha’s knowledge of Garret, she could still determine the conventional mountain route—the one all Kelvin's Cairn guides used.

The group set off from the base camp, bringing the remaining rations. They left all the sled dogs except Boy in a tent enchanted by Aoko, then began their climb of the Kelvin's Cairn.

Aoko had some experience with mountaineering in the past, but since magicians and wizards could always use spells to enhance their bodies and reduce difficulty, she’d never really learned what all the climbing tools were actually for.

For example, at a particularly steep rock face, Jasrah had the party tie themselves together with rope and proceed slowly and carefully.

But Aoko simply conjured a living rope, tied it to a rock above, and commanded it to pull the group up.

“Don’t worry about it,” Aoko reassured the slightly embarrassed Jasrah. “Sometimes adventure is like this—your skills and experience are the backup plan for when we lose our magic. Not every problem can be solved with spells.”

Jasrah just shrugged, packed up her climbing rope, and enjoyed the convenience of Aoko’s living rope.

Braving the howling wind, the group climbed about 200 feet up from the base. The wind and snow intensified, and many footholds were now covered in slick, nearly invisible ice.

But this didn’t bother Aoko, whose boots had a magical effect that nullified slipping.

She could walk on the slickest ice as if it were flat ground; even if a teammate slipped, she could react instantly and rescue them.

After passing the treacherous section, they found four mountain goats perched on a huge boulder that completely blocked their path upward.

“This is trouble,” Jasrah frowned. “That’s the only way up. We have to either drive these goats away or kill them.”

“We have plenty of options,” Aoko said. “Group flight spells are risky here—the wind could blow us off the mountain—but if we really need to, it’s an option.”

“Killing the goats wouldn’t be hard, as long as you don’t mind,” Holga added, pulling out her adamantine axe, eager for action.

“I’ll handle them,” Doric stepped forward. “It won’t take long.”

Doric was a pragmatic druid—not the type to oppose all changes to nature. She cared more about her family and friends than abstract ideals of nature preservation.

She slowly approached the wary goats and, using animal speech, bleated to communicate.

But the negotiation didn’t go well. The goats considered this their territory and had no intention of letting Aoko’s team pass.

Doric lost her patience. If they wouldn’t accept kindness, they’d get the stick. She roared, transformed into a massive, snow-white owlbear, and charged. With a swipe, she sent the largest goat flying, then grabbed it with her sharp beak and shook it, scaring the others into fleeing.

“I like her,” Jasrah commented. “Decisive, not like some cowards.”

Transformed into an owlbear and drenched in goat blood, Doric looked fierce and imposing.

But with the goats dealt with, Doric reverted to human form after another roar.

“You’ve got blood all over you,” Simon pointed to his face. “Want me to clean you up?”

“Thanks,” Doric muttered, a little irritated—owlbear form always affected her mood, and some druids reportedly even forgot they were human after staying in beast shape too long.

Simon used a few cantrips and finally cleaned all the blood from Doric’s clothes and face. The group continued, climbing over the boulder the goats had guarded and heading higher.

At about 500 feet up from the base, the weather suddenly worsened: thunder rumbled, and the light dimmed.

“We need to stop and find shelter!” Jasrah shouted. “This weather could trigger an ava—” But before she finished, a massive bolt of lightning struck the mountainside. The thunder triggered an avalanche, and Aoko’s group was right in its path.