Kira had listened to the story, her eyes wide with hardly a blink.  At least until the part when Dal spoke of not wanting to leave Grim and having to make the choice of going on or staying behind.  Her eyes had filled with tears and she looked away, knowing her choice would have been quite the opposite because the only one she had ever loved and loved her in return had died so long ago.

She found she couldn't speak then and was rather glad when Thane and Hengar spoke for them.  Normally she would have given them the story much like Dal had but exhaustion and internal pain kept her rooted and silent, fingering the ivory pendant.  She had nodded with a grateful look to Hengar when Thane told of their being honored as honorary members of the Elk Tribe though it still didn't give her that sense of belonging she searched for in every nook and cranny.

Over the days they were hunkered down from the winter storm, she did a lot of resting and eating to get herself ready for whatever their next adventure would be though when the tales began to circulate she could wish that it was something less horrible.  She looked to Grim and Dal, knowing that it had to gnaw at their hearts that those of their race were not resting in peace as they should and the look she gave them said more than words could, that she would help them.

"Zombies? From the Dwarven Valley?" Morgrim mutters. "Marthammor save us, and mother forgive us."

"Helda will be heading right into that mess if she's not there already," he warned. "We ought to do something!"

Winters in the far North can be difficult, and Arnan was admittedly enjoying shelter and readily-available food that Bryn Shander provided. He was rather surprised to hear the tales that told of Dwarven zombies.

"Sounds like ill news, indeed," he muttered. "I admit that I have never heard of zombies among the Stout Folk. But then again, I know little of such creatures."

Turning to Dalgura and Morgrim, he continued. "Does the lore of your people tell of such things having happened in the past? And how do such . . . creatures rise and walk, any way -- how are they . . . created, if that is even the right word? And how does one fight them -- are silvered weapons necessary to do hurt to them?"

Arnan had no experience with what were sometimes called "the undead", but he thought that Dalgura and Morgrim might know something of them, given their respective callings in life.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:22, Mon 07 Aug 2017.

Morgrim turned a wry glance towards the huntsman. "Well its certainly not a normal part of the dwarven life cycle," he said after a moment. "I think I'd remember something like that."

"As for weapons... well I don't rightly know but I know where to find some silvered weapons. We should speak with Mithann."

Kira shifted uneasily in her seat but gave a small shrug.  "Like the dragon skeleton, if you can take out the mage or the vessel making it move then the dead should drop again.  Doubt we'd be able to find the mage or it's meat puppet with so many walkers though.  Still, just like something alive ... if it moves, you cut off the parts that make it move and then burn it so it can't rise again.  Just gotta hope you can live long enough to do all that."  It was a grim view but one she figured worked the best.

Thane, like the others, showed alarm at the news.  He shot a look at Hengar (assuming the man is present).  "How close is the Dwarven Valley?  How long will it take to get there?"  The intent behind his questions was obvious.  One look was all that was needed to see that Thane was ready for more battle.

"I haven't met anything yet, living or dead, that a flail can't smash into bits.  The zombies don't concern me near's much as the person makin' them walk again," he pronounced, perhaps a bit ignorantly.  It was true enough that Thane had seen a lot of battle in his years, but against what kinds of foes...that was a worthy question.

Both Hengar and Arnan know the entrance to the Dwarven Valley lies about 10 miles north of Bryn Shander. Covering that distance is largely dependent on weather conditions. With the recent squall, it could take a day or more of hard, dangerous travel.

"Well, until we learn the answer to the question about silvered weapons, I'd prefer that we all have one," Arnan replied to Morgrim. "And speaking for myself, I'd love to get my hands on some silver-tipped arrows as well as a blade, if any are available."

The scout overheard Thane asking about the Dwarven valley, and volunteered what he knew about it. "The entrance to the valley is roughly ten miles north of town. You've been in the area long enough now to know that's at least one day's hard slog -- or mayhaps more, depending upon the weather. Probably be lots of new, fresh snow on the ground just now."

Morgrim stood up and wrapped his cloak tight about his shoulders. "Lets go speak with Mithann. You can have your arrows, and perhaps she can implore Amaunator to break Auril's embrace long enough for us to reach the Valley."

"Sounds fine to me," Thane agreed, then stuffed one last hunk of meat in his mouth.  He too stood up and made ready to leave.

The party pays Mithann a visit at the Shrine of Amaunator. Upon arriving, they find the olive-skinned priestess cheerfuly cleaning her shrine and she greets each warmly in turn. Presumably, the party asks her whether she has heard or knows anything about the recent sightings of dwarven zombies along the trail leading to the Dwarven Valley. Like most in the village, she has heard the rumors but does not have first-hand knowledge of it.

She seems hopeful that the party's recent actions will quell some of the discontent that has been sowed through Bryn Shander, though she is concerned Vaelish's schemes might spread to other towns now that he has been rooted out of the city. Obviously, tales of these dwarven zombies have her wondering whether the Waterdhavian wizard may be involved.

"Some wizards concentrate their studies on the necromantic arts," she suggests.

Dal had been quiet when the mention of Dwarven Zombies came up.  She shivered and slunk closer to Grim.  She couldn't help but think how awful it was.  She tuned back into the conversation when Grim mentioned going to Mithann and see what is up.

"You are right.  According to my studies, Zombies are mostly created.  They also have to be ordered to do something.  So if these zombies are a reality, then somebody has to be controlling them. If given weapons they will use them but they don't have the brains any longer to know to pick up a weapon if falls."

Dal looked at the others.  "Yes we need to investigate this.  To see if our brethren are being turned into these monstrosities.  They need to be laid to rest."

Kira had traipsed along quietly, having already decided to do whatever Dal and Grim decided and knowing Thane and Arnan would help as well.  She simply took one day at a time and tried not to get too upset about what the next might bring, but she did give a nod to Dal's wish to make sure the dead were at peace.

"Could be Valish is to blame, could be he isn't, though it seems awful quick if ye ask me. Whatever the case may be though we have to look into it."

"Do you still have the crate we left, Mithann? I'd feel better if we were all carrying silver weapons before heading out into the cold, just in case Slim is connected to this somehow."

"Count me in -- of course," Arnan said.

"It sounds as if dark magicks are at work here. First the Ice Witch, and now this . . . ill-intentioned magickers are causing all sorts of trouble hereabouts, it seems."

Mithann says Aarun has still not surfaced and she truly fears the worst has befallen him. She then leads the party to a parlor deeper within the temple. Once there, she opens a large armoire and allows them to peruse the silver weapons within.

"Take what you need. May they serve you well," she says.

Within the armoire the party finds a decent selection of silvered weapons. Generally speaking, each party member is able to find a silver equivalent of their primary weapon. All the usual weapons are represented: swords, daggers, maces, hammers, axes, spears, javelins, arrows and bolts.

Kira actually stumbled a couple of steps, her jaw dropping as she slowly turned in a circle to take it all in.  "I think I just died," she breathed and bounded over to the thinner blades and plucked one off the rack.

She tested it for balance and quickness, finding it much to her liking.  Taking a sheath for it, it was added to her belt so she now had two rapiers.  There would be much practicing, when time permitted.

Taking out the daggers she had, she replaced them with the silvered versions and then she moved over to the arrows.  "Absolutely beautiful," she continued in that breathy voice, holding one up for Arnan to admire.

"Does everyone have what they need now?" Morgrim asked, looking around at the others. "We should be ready to set out just as soon as there's a break in the weather!"

Dal was looking at the warhammer and the mace with a happy grin on her face.  Not being able to decide which to take, she took them both and then walked over to Mithann.  "Your generosity is appreciated.  Please take this little offering towards your good work here.  I know how hard it can be to start up a place of worship and to help those in need."

Dal took Mithann's hand in hers and said a quick prayer but when she withdrew her hand, 10 GP were left in Mithann's hand.

"May our Gods shine upon us and favor us with their grace today and always."

Dal then turned to Grim.  "I'll be ready as soon as I make a stop at the shrine to Sharindlar.  I can do that on the way out.  It won't take long."

Arnan whistled softly when Kira held up a silver-tipped arrow for him to see. "*Very* nice," he replied, agreeing with her assessment of the weapons.

He watched closely and saw that some of the others picked up two weapons -- or sets of weapons, if you considered the arrow. He would have made do with just the arrows if necessary, but he felt better about also having a silvered rapier, too -- just in case.

"Thank you for these," he said to Mithann. "I almost hope that we will not need them -- but if we do, they may well mean the difference between life and death for us."

He nodded to Morgrim when the Dwarf spoke of heading out when good weather -- relatively speaking, given the time of year -- looked to be in the offing. "Hengar and I will study the clouds and the wind, and see if we can predict what the weather is likely to do. 'Tis not a sure thing -- well, other than the cold, of course -- but we can at least make the effort. You are welcome to work with us, and put your own knowledge of the weather to good use, if you are so inclined."

---

OOC:

11:18, Today: Arnan Aldwynne rolled 12 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 8. Meteorology, Forgotten Realms Style (Survival).

Note: I rolled a Survival (instead of a Nature) check for Arnan, since the PHB (p. 178) lists predicting the weather as one of the uses of this skill.

Morgrim nodded. "Perhaps Amaunator will bless us as well and clear the storm clouds," he added, with a hopeful look for Mithann.

"Who's this Valish person you talk of?" Thane asked while he perused the impressive collection of silvered weapons.  He'd heard that silvered weapons were deadly to certain kinds of creatures, but he had no personal experience to back up the fact. His companions didn't hold back so neither did he.  "I'll take this flail and that case of bolts, priestess," he indicated, likening this experience with his frequent trips to the militia armory to get outfitted before undertaking a mission.  "I'll be sure to use them well!"

Maybe she had been greedy taking so many items but she was doing this in the area's defense so she didn't feel guilty.  Still, she approached the priestess and bowed respectfully.  "Thank you for your generosity," she said and when the others seemed ready to go, she would give a friendly little wave in parting.

A break in the weather should come tomorrow, though the the trail leading into Dwarven Valley is likely to be heavily covered in drifts of snow. The winter is here in earnest and conditions are not likely to improve until the thaw, still several months away. Thane believes the trek into Dwarven Valley will be arduous, moreso than their trip into the trackless tundra, as they will be climbing into higher elevation throughout their journey.

Not impossible, just difficult.

Office day today so I have a chance to post.

"Well a break in the weather will have to be enough. We'll not help anyone waiting for the spring thaw."