04/08/2026: Yeti Encounter in Stygia

The sled journey through Stygia done, the comrades stretch after the long ride. An absence of strenuous encounters in the bitterly cold environment of Stygia has left them stiff. If not exactly rested, then they are at least not exhausted. The party unpack themselves to stand at the mouth of the Cave of Lost Things. The opening gapes, dark and foul smelling. In the doorway stands a sentient Yeti guardian, easily 9 feet tall, leaning on his halberd. The helm he wears upon his head seems more pot than armor, and a handle juts over his tufted left ear.

With caution, Krasnyy opens the second scroll, sliding it from the leather case. It is sealed with a gob of red wax and carries a message directing the rogue to hand the scroll to the guardian. She places the scroll in the massive, clawed paw of the yeti, who reads it  to himself. They watch the guardian, brows knitted, read it to himself slowly and with visible effort, his lips forming each word. 

“This scroll is a retrieval order. It directs whoever carries it to find and return all contracts recently written by one Cornelius Mallard and return them to Proctor Azurath.”

So, it seems, the group has been sent to retrieve their own contracts. Curious. Cornelius, red-faced, does not meet anyone’s eyes.

The yeti continues, “My office requires all searchers to answer a riddle before entering the Cave. Which of you will answer?”

Every hand goes up, as every member of the party loves riddles. 

The yeti scans the hands, and reframes his request. “I have no scrip, but I will rewards correct riddles with a draw from my bag of found objects.

Which of you will answer, understanding that the consequence of a wrong answer is decapitation.”

Every hand drops.

”I will read it. There is no penalty to hear the riddle. Then, choose one to answer.” The yeti intones:

I am never kept, though I’m given each day.

I’m wasted by some, by others thrown away.

You can spend me, but never get me back.

Find me in memories, in clocks, in the crack

between what was and what will be.

What am I, that all things lose to me?

Every face lights up, and before he can stop himself, Lynx hollers his answer; “Time!”

The yeti’s brow drops, nearly hiding the creature’s eyes, and he snarls at Lynx, “Are you sure?”

The yeti grins, “You may enter. Choose something before you do.” From behind his back, the yeti offers a gaping bag. 

Freda says, “How about a riddle contest?”

The yeti’s eyes brighten. “Ask,” he growls. 

Freda crosses her hands in front of her and asks, “Why can’t a nose be 12 inches long?”

The yeti whoops, “Because then it would be a foot!” It laughs and offered a draw from the bag. Freda draws out a silky black Cloak of Billowing. 

 Stepping forward, Krasnyy asks, “What has 4 legs in the morning, 2 legs in the afternoon, and 3 legs in the evening?”

The yeti frowns and answer, “A humanoid’s stages of  life.” The Yeti is, of course, correct. He is so very pleased he offers Krasnyy offered a draw a from the bag.

She pulls a magical Draconic dictionary. “Sleep with it under your pillow to learn the Draconic language,” the pleased yeti exclaims.

Newt asks, “At night they come without being fetched. By day they are lost without being stolen. What are they?” The yeti frowns, and scratches his broad head. “The stars?” he guesses.

Correct again. Another draw from the bag.

The reward is a purple-black, iridescent egg. It feels warm to the touch. Freda declares that it is more reptilian than avian, but cannot identify what species it might be.

The battle of the riddles continue until one cannot be answered. The yeti’s brows lower and he does not answer. Instead, it raises its weapon.

As it does, Tick slips up behind it and tickles its ribs. The yeti emits a high pitched yip and flies into the air, as does his bag. As it comes down, there is a three-way tug of war to seize possession of the treasure-filled bag, but the yeti is able to regain the control.

“Go!” it says, “Enter the Cave of Lost Things, if you must! But don’t,” it glares at Tick, “do that again!” They leave Dog Glumbo, the still injured hellhound, with the yeti.

Cautiously, the party enter the cave. Several of the group have dark vision, allowing them to see in the gloom of the tunnel, by many of the group must stay close to Krasnyy, who carries a torch.

Nesquo uses the incantation Pass Without a Trace, allowing the group to travel undetected except by the sharpest ears. Tall Glumbo uses another spell to mark the rough stone wall so that they will be able to find their way out: getting lost is a real possibility.

As they make their way down the tunnel, a few in the party begin to hear something scuttling high over head. 

Krasnyy calls out, “Spider!” as an enormous, manta ray shaped creature tumbles off the roof of the cavern. The creature had hoped to ambush Krasnyy, but missed. 

It flips itself over and moves to attack the group. It opens its mouth to hiss rearing up like a cobra. It’s fangs are fascinatingly long.

Yeti Encounter in Stygia