24 - Reunion beneath the full moon

Night has fallen by the time we reach the lake shore. We reclaimed whatever we could from the caravan, and we notice that the horses, Mother Arlene and a few pilgrims didn't survive the Skin Walkers attack.
It's also the first evening the temperatures reaches below 0°F (around -18°C).

Once we wake up and gather our belonging, one of the survivors approach us.

As these people are not adventurers, they're going to slow us down, and from what've seen they're not going to make it. He heads back after warning us they're talking, leaving us with our next move as well.

Willum suggests that we should leave them behind.
Persy thinks it's not their pilgrimage, and would try to stop them to keep going.
Nesvalyn thinks it would be better for everybody if they head back.
The agreement of the group seems to not bring them with us. We get back to them to see what they plan.

Persy shares the vision from Mother Arlene to the party only. After deliberating, we're trying to get more informations from the Pilgrim. He sighs after hearing it.

A few more Pilgrims raise their concerns, each of them explaining they won't turn back, because it's the journey of their life. As also they're just as dead if they turn back now.
[Insight - Pass ✔] It appears they ran out of hard supplies, they've been surviving from forage. They really have nothing remaining. It's fairly easy to understand that leaving these people behind would condemn them.

It's also fairly easy to see they're desperate and they assume we're staying with them.
We're getting back between ourselves, as we discuss what to do with them. Willum and Loyal share the idea it's what they deserved for not being prepared, whereas Nesvalyn and Persy think we should convince them to go back.
In the meantime, Reylynn gives them Goodberries and the thermal cube.

Nesvalyn and Persy will try a single attempt to talk some sense into them, trying to make them go back.
[Persuasion] They'll think about it, and pray to the Wonder of Heavens to know more.

As the duo gets back, an idea appears, it would be the perfect opportunity to leave, as they're focused to commune with their deity. The majority to the group agrees to leave, even stealthily, which Nesvalyn that if we leave, let's be honest, we're better than that.
Willum goes to warn them, and they start to curse us and throw rocks.
Balnorin uses [Thaumaturgy] to amplify his voice to make them flee.
We're starting our second attempt to cross the frozen lake.

This time, it's warmer than the night, but we're still in single digit (Fahrenheit) temperatures.
After a few hours, we're reaching the spot of yesterday's battle. It's like the ice split even more since yesterday. We can jump across or take a small detour.
Reylynn gets closer.
[Survival - Pass ✔] The ice sheet should've reformed with that temperature.
[Detect Evil and Good] Nothing is detected.
[Perception - Pass ✔] Balnorin, Loyal and Willum notices in between the sheets of ice some white elements, with the closest one being 15ft away.
[Divine Sense] Nothing is sensed.
Willum calls Ebrietas to go investigate it, revealing a horse skull.
[Investigation - Fail ❌] Definitively a skull, there's still some organic matter on it, but Willum is unsure of the source.
We break formation and we keep going.
[Perception - Pass ✔] Nesvalyn and Persy suddenly hear a deep sound like a whale call.
We suggest to be more cautious and lowkey.
[Stealth] Loyal, Nesvalyn and Reylynn are managing to be stealthy. Balnorin, Persy and Willum have much a harder time with their armors.
Then we hear a deep sonic bellow, being much closer. As we look down, it's a bit hard to see through, but after checking a bit, we see the head of a massive whale head. It surges out of the ice, and it disappears from our sight.
Suddenly, we hear that sound from above. We see a huge creature with four large fins and a large tail, it's 18ft long and more a barracuda head. It's twisting around and puts themselves a dive, going after Balnorin.
↪[DEX Save - Fail ❌] Balnorin doesn't manage to get away and takes 21 piercing dmg.
↪[Contested Grapple check - Pass ✔] Balnorin manages to escape the grab and is in the water.

Willum keeps attacking the dead creature into the water and they both sink further into the abyss.
[CON Save - Fail ❌] Willum takes 10 5 cold dmg and 17 8 piercing dmg from the piranhas.
[WIS Save - Fail ❌] Willum is still raging, and uses a second level spell slot to smite the corpse.
[CON Save - Fail ❌] Willum takes 4 2 cold dmg and 14 7 piercing dmg from the piranhas.
[WIS Save - Pass ✔] Willum breaks from his rage, and gets out of the water, and emerges after a while.

Persy casts [Cure Wounds] on Willum, healing him for 7 HP,

And Willum returns the favor, using [Lay on Hands] to restore 20 HP to Persy.

We still take a short rest, as we could meet more of these marine creatures. After a while, we resume the crossing. The night falls before we manage to reach the far shore. It's a full moon night, we the Alderakh standing near it.
[Perception - Pass ✔] Nesvalyn and Willum spots a lone figure near the shore.
It's a person standing still, around 100ft away from us. We're unsure if they face us or facing away. We manage to see it only due to the shadow.