Date: 3 Marpenoth (October)
Location: Bryn Shander

Arnan, Hengar, Kira and Thane march toward the walls of Bryn Shander late on the 3rd of Marpenoth, three days after the High Harvestide festival and public hearing, uncertain how the situation in the town might have changed since they were last here. Fortunately, the quartet arrive in town ahead of a major squall that is set to sweep through Icewindale later in the evening, thanks largely to Hengar's insistence on a forced march that last day to ensure they arrive in shelter before the storm hits. And they do.

Once in town, the party seeks out accommodations, perhaps inquiring after Dalgura and Morgrim at their last known residence. Both are easy enough to find and yes, both still alive!
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:19, Sun 23 July 2017.

Arnan had a pretty fair nose for weather himself, and he fully agreed that the group needed to push hard in order to reach Bryn Shander before the incoming storm reached them. Traveling in the far North was difficult enough during this time of year -- Arnan knew that they would probably have had to find such shelter as they could and ride out the storm if they had not made it to town just as the snow flurries were starting to worsen.

The scout was proud of both Kira and Thane for being able to maintain the grueling pace that Hengar set. Luckily they had the big barbarian to guide them. Once they were a little closer to Ten Towns Arnan could have done it, but he was the first to admit that he did not have Hengar's physical strength, which came in handy when the party needed to push forward through areas where there was already a build-up of new snow.

Hengar did attract some glances, especially from the men who were standing guard at the gate, but Arnan simply told them "He's with us," and pushed on ahead, into the town. "We'll have to keep an eye on things until we make certain that nobody is looking to cause trouble over a barbarian walking free inside the walls," the scout muttered under his breath as the party moved ahead.

Arnan led the way to Geldenstag's Rest, the inn which he, Kira and Thane had stayed after their arrival with Master Hugglesward's caravan. "Why don't we rent some rooms here," Arnan suggested as he came to a halt outside the inn's front door.

"Kira, do you mind asking after Dalgura and Morgrim once we get inside? A pretty face goes a long way towards making folks want to set aside what they are doing and spend some time talking to you."

"You aren't so bad lookin' yerself, Arnan," Morgrim announced with a grin, coming up behind the archer on his way back from the Speaker's palace with Dalgura in tow. "You've come back in one piece I see! All four of you. I hope that portends good news?"

The soaks in the hot springs had been wonderful and being accepted even more so, but it was true the young woman wasn't used to lounging around for long periods of time so even though it was brutally cold and they pushed on because of a storm chasing their heels, she felt a bit better once they were inside the gates.

"Room, yes, meal absolutely," she got out and was about blow a raspberry at Arnan when the ones they were seeking popped up behind them, Morgrim's tease making her laugh.  "One piece after being patched up a bit and not so sure the news is good but tales are best with a mug by a nice fire," she said, beaming at the siblings.

In reply to Morgrim Ironhammer (msg # 3):

Dal, who was still a little grumpy from lack of sleep (or her brother's snoring), wasn't watching where she was walking and didn't see that Grim had stopped.  She, of course, realized it after she had bumped into Grim.

"Hey!  Give warning when you stop next time will ya?"   Dal looked around Grim to see who he was talking to and then grinned.  "HEY! Where's the others?  Have you eaten yet?  Grim was just saying how he wished we had everybody back together so he could hear stories over some food and ale."

Dal grinned at Grim when she said it because she knew that he hadn't said anything.  Dal, however, knew from many years with her brother that he was too shy to say it and he would really WANT to do that so she would be nice and say it for him.

"Oh I was, was I?" he said, with a grin for Dalgura. "Well come on in out of the cold then," he continued, pushing the door aside. "First rounds on me. Maybe the second too if the stories are good."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:53, Mon 24 July 2017.

In reply to Morgrim Ironhammer (msg # 6):

Dal grinned and nodded in approval at her brother.  "Yes, yes.  Stories.  Nothing like perking up the day with food and drink.  Good to see you Kira.  We've got a couple of stories to tell too.  *I* almost died!  Of course Grim almost dies in every battle because he is stubborn and forgets to duck but that's ok.  We both made it and THAT, praises to the Goddesses, is the important thing."

"In every battle, do I?" Morgim scoffs. "Our ancestors must be keeping a seat warm for me in Valhalla. I'm sure it seems practically rude how long I've kept them, but ye wont get rid of me that easily 'Gura!"

In reply to Morgrim Ironhammer (msg # 8):

Dal grinned at Morgrim knowing that he wasn't upset when he called her Gura, his nickname for her.  She gave him a big hug and nodded.  "Oh eye, they are keeping a seat warm for you and me too.  I'm not in a hurry to join them.  I have to stick around you and keep you out of trouble."

"Morgrim! Dalgura!" Arnan was finally able to sputter, after staring at the two Dwarves for a moment in open-mouthed surprise. He  caught up Morgrim in a bear-hug and lifted the stout Dwarf several inches up off the ground, then set him down in order to bend over and give Dalgura a kiss on her cheek.

"You two are a sight for sore eyes -- literally and figuratively, in this instance -- wind-driven snow, you know. And aye -- drinks, tales, and food are definitely in order," the archer agreed, flashing a broad grin.

"Oh, and that order sounds just about right," he added with a chuckle, "meaning, ale first! Do we want to do all that here, or head over to Kelvin's Comfort once we have rented rooms and dropped off our gear?"

In reply to Arnan Aldwynne (msg # 10):

Dal blushed but anybody could see that she was pleased by her greeting from Arnan.

"Aye.  Ale is a good start.  You guys are suppose to be in charge.  Go pick a place.  The closer the better I say.  Dwarves don't march on empty stomachs."

Dal then elbowed her brother and gave him a look that clearly meant "what are you waiting for...get us ale!"  The other ones might not interrupt it right but any Dwarf would know that look.

Mogrim gingerly rubbed his side where he'd received the not so gentle elbow. "Alright, alright, Dal, I'm goin'!"

In reply to Morgrim Ironhammer (msg # 12):

Dal looked over at Arnan and Kira.  In a whisper, although she knew that Grim could hear, she chuckled and confessed.  "I remember, before mother died, telling me if I was to get a good Dwarven male to pay attention to what I say, jab him in the ribs.  I don't know a better Dwarf so I do it to Morgrim.  It seems to work quite well, don't you think?"

Thane bustled through the side door of the common room, allowing a swirl of snowy crystals through the portal, with Hengar in tow.  "All privy's are the same, Hengar, too small, too smelly, too hot, or too cold.  Better than squattin' over a scratch in the dirt, though," he said with a laugh.

Then he spotted the pair of familiar dwarves and his face brightened up a bit more than it already was.  "Why, if it isn't my dwarven tutors!" he exclaimed brightly.  "Haven't had a chance to work on that much lately.  Been too busy trudgin' and fightin' and tryin' not to freeze my tenders off!"

Kira watched the dwarven siblings banter back and forth, a sparkle in her eyes as she found it quite endearing.  "Yup, really missed you two," she said and finally gave in and hugged both of them.  She turned upon hearing Thane explaining privy's to Hengar and snickered a little.  "Okay, we're all together so let's drink," she said and followed to wherever they were getting drinks and food.



OOC: Sorry for short post but on phone and won't be home until late tonight.

"I'll get some rooms for us whilst Morgrim is tending to the important stuff and seeing to the ale," Arnan said with a smile.

"Once we get settled in, be sure and have Kira tell you about how she had the Ice Witch's number. Oh, and Dalgura, I want to hear all about what you two have been up to. You were staying here in town to deal with a gang, as best I recall."

"Right! Lets have a round of ales," Mogrim announced, striding up to the bar and slapping down a palm full of coins.

"And then we may as well have another. In fact ye may wish to get the next cask ready to spike. We could be here a while."

In reply to Morgrim Ironhammer (msg # 17):

"Absolutely!" Thane agreed with Morgrim about the round of ales.  Thane plunked heavily down on the bench at the table and motioned for Hengar to do the same.

"So, what did become of the thugs in town, eh Dalgura?  Were they Luskans after all?  And were they, you know, odd in any way?" he inquired, hinting at the rumor that the extorting bandits were lycanthropes from Luskan.

In reply to Thane Harkensen (msg # 18):

Dal nodded as she took a long pull on her drink.  After she wiped off the foam from around her lips she looked at the other group and nodded more enthusiastically again.  "Yeah they were.  They had some wererats in the group!  But let me start at the beginning."

Dal took another sip before starting off again.  "So we went to Dunavan's warehouse since one of his warehouses burned to the ground overnight.  The secon of his building was still intact and was located just across the street from the charred ruins of the first.  Mighty convenient we thought.  We found Dunavan, whose waistline is larger than Morgrims and he could use more baths too!  Anyway, he was concerned for Aarun and since he hadn't seen him since the caravan arrived he was REALLY worried.  He paid us to stand guard over his warehouse that night.  He was hoping Aarun would arrive to take the crates of silvered weapons off his hands but he didn't.

Dunavan sent us to talk to Terestia the laundress and seamstress, she looked very talented Kira so we should keep her in mind.  Terestia said that Dunavan never showed up to pick up his stuff and showed us where it was.  He had left the usual things like what some people call an explorer's pack but he also had stuff like fake mustaches wigs and dyes and stuff.  I think that disguises were his thing.

THEN we found a folded up note to Aarun from Mithann.  It said that Problems had arisen and he was to meet her at the Northlook to discuss things at the soonest possibility.  Here's the thing though...<pause>...Mithann said she didn't write that note.  The only letter SHE wrote was the one asking him to meet with Algonell."

Dalgura would tell more but she needed to empty her ale mug first.

Morgrim plopped down in the seat alongside Arnan once the ales had been sorted, and elbowed the huntsman in the ribs with a grin.

"See what happens when she gets goin?" he said beneath his breath. "You cannae get a word in edgewise with a pickaxe."

In reply to Morgrim Ironhammer (msg # 20):

Dal stuck out her tongue at grim but smiled.  "Warhammer dear brother.  If you are going to use something as a wedge, use a warhammer.  Chopping for pickaxes but warhammers for wedges.  AND if you don't like how I tell the story, I'll drink your ale and YOU tell it from there."

Kira settled down with her own mug and absently sipped at the ale while she listened quite intently, looking much like a child listening to an old granther's stories.  It was clear she was thinking about that situation and how things seemed off to her though at one point she looked down at her clothes with a little frown then shrugged it off.  "Puttin' fancy stuff on me's kinda like puttin' a dress on a cat," she quipped.

When Dal paused to take a drink and the banter started between the siblings, she giggled for a moment but then waved her hand in a circular motion.  "Either one … keep goin'," she said, definitely wanting to hear the tale to the end as now her curiosity was piqued.  "Did you ever find Aarun?"  If not, she fully intended to start nosing around herself because this was a mystery begging to be solved.

Morgrim chuckled but immediately turned more serious at Kira's line of questioning. "We never did find Aarun," he said quietly, sipping at his ale. "I fear at this point we've got to suspect the worst."

"But go on, Dal. I'm just ribbin' ye."

In reply to Kira (msg # 22):

Dal grinned at Kira.  "You don't need to get more pretty than you already are.  I'm just saying that all clothes get ripped sometimes and then they need to get fixed.  Now Brother, where's my refill?  Tell this story is thirsty business.  Mind you everybody that we hadn't been to sleep yet and it didn't look like we were going to get sleep for a long time to come yet."

Dal had drained her mug so she just reached over to take whatever was left in Grims.  "We figured that the bad guys would try for the silvered weapons again but with just us there <accusatory look at their comrades who had split to go on THEIR adventure> we figured we might need to hire another person.  So we remembered this guy from the fight at the gate and we hired him.  So we go to Dunavan's warehouse again and get set up where we want to be.  Grim had already asked if it was ok to ummm destroy some of the warehouse or door.  I was surprised that he didn't seem to care too much.  But then he was loosing more than just one door etc so I'm sure he thought it would be good in the long run.  I would have used my mend on it if it was only a little damaged though.

We didn't really even get a chance to rest before we heard whispering outside the door.  I mean really?  You announce what you are going to do so loud that we can hear it?  By now I'm sure that you know what is coming.  Yep, that's right.  A fight.  They came in the door.  Not breaking it in mind you but calmly like opening it up.  Then it was one.  Grim announced himself since he is kind of hard to hide.  Ellie on the other hand hid really good.  I didn't see her until she stepped out and threw this spell or whatever at one of the thugs.  Oh boy, that guy just DISAPPEARED in dust!  I didn't do so well but I hung in there.  These thugs finally figured out there were spellcasters.  I think they were a little slow on that but it could have been partly my fault because I missed with a couple of spells.  Anyway their boss said to eliminate the spellcasters.  REALLY?  Isn't that just the most rudest thing you ever heard?

So Grim had cast something that entangled the thugs but not all were entangled.  Just when we thought we could take care of them all and even have one who might tell us stuff, this other voice pipes in.  Now this was the 5th thug.  This 5th guy was so arrogant.  I'm not sure why since his first arrow was off the mark when he tried to hit Grim.  It was a good thing that he didn't.  I'd really get pissed then! It turns out that the 5th guy was a Hobgoblin named Marek.  He even left his trapped guy there.  It wasn't a total loss for us.  I mean we got paid and then we found out there is this other guy named Slim.  Slim and Marek got a camp about 2 -3 hours north of town.  Sort of like a cave in the shadow of Kelvin's Cairn.  At this time though we didn't know who was in charge over whom but Slim seemed really intent on Marek getting those weapons and the thug that was telling us stuff thought that Slim wasn't going to be happy at all that they didn't get it.  AND that all happened around the first 24 hours."

Dalgura took a couple of breaths and drank her ale.  She'd talk more, Clerics never had a problem with talking, but she needed more drink before she could continue.

Finding his own mug in Dalgura's hands, Morgrim signalled the servers for another round. He was quietly quite enjoying his sister's recollection of events.

Don't have time for more than quick posts tonight so I don't know that I could do the story justice the way you are ;) carry on!

In reply to Morgrim Ironhammer (msg # 25):

Dalgura grinned as she saw that Morgrim had ordered more ale.  That meant that she could continue her story.  "Soooooo, we met up with Algonell the next day and tried to convince him to not just tell us where bandit's camp was but to actually take us there.  Grim tried first but he wasn't very convincing so I had to put the baby sister/Priestess "please can you help us" eyes upon him and it must have worked because he escorted us there."  Dal battered her eyelashes as she told the story and put her hands underneath her chin like she had when trying to convince Algonell to help them.  "He said that they had a large cave on the southwestern slope of Kelvin's Cairn.  It wasn't that far from town. Just a couple of hours walk if it was good weather.  Of course it would take longer in THIS weather.  It actually took us about 3 hours before Algonell stopped behind a bunch of trees and pointed into the distance.

At first all we saw was a lump of hills at the edge of Maer Dualdon.  That's that azure lake that is in the shadow of Kelvin's Cairn.  To the west of those hills, you know on the other side of the lake, was a number of buildings and a few docks at the western end of the lake.  He said that was Bremen.  Just saying that in case you have to find those places later or something.  And there's a walled town about 3 miles east of the hills which he said was Targo?  No it was Targos.  Yeah that sounds right.  Targos."  Thinking that her brain was getting parched and that was why she couldn't immediately remember it was Targos and not Targo, Dalgura took another swig of her ale.

Dalgura let out a little, for her, burp and smiled as she wiped her mouth off with a napkin.  "Well the next thing that I suppose you'd like to hear is the battle of the outhouse.  Yep, you heard it right.  By the time we got up to that cave, we saw that it had an outhouse located about 30 feet to the left of it's entrance.  Always a good thing to know....Check out where outhouses are in case you need to use it.  We were about to advance up when we saw this guy who was dressed in heavy furs stumble out of the cave and head toward the outhouse, open it up and noisily bang it shut.  I'm sure that when he sat down to take care of business, he never thought he'd be attacked.  Morgrim is known for  coming up for battle tactics at the last minute and sure enough, big brother decided that we should surprise the guy while he was still inside.  I mean if we surprised him enough, he was already in position to umm.  well you know.  It would keep his pants clean at least."

Dal looked over at Grim like he was some genius coming up with that plan.  "So there was Grim holding up his fingers to silently count down."  Dal held up three fingers and closed them up as she verbally counted out loud.  "Three....Two...One!  Grim opened the door  and struck without warning.  I think he did a punch with his basket hilt of his blade so he would only subdue the guy and not kill him.  Just in case though Ellie slid a dagger from the sheath at her hip and followed behind Grim with a stab at the man's nonvital area."  Dal had to stop for she was chuckling too much to continue for a bit.  Finally she got it together and continued.

"The man immediately held up his hands and said "Don't kill me.  At least not like this."  I would have rather he hadn't held up his hands and instead cover up his privates because they didn't look very good to me.  I think he saw my face because then he realized that because he asked Grim if he could cover himself up considering there were a couple of ladies there.  Grim did the right thing and let him do it (Dal hugged Grim for that) and in return the guy decided to rat out the others.  He said that Marek came through early in the morning but didn't stay long.  He had headed eastwards toward's Kelvin's Cairn. Yeah everything is headed to Kelvin's it seems.  He wasn't too bright because he couldn't even count up as high as a dozen.  I was in favor of waiting for all of them to make privy checks and then capture them.  Before I could go and state that there somebody whistled.  Thinking it was a signal Grim threatened our ugly thug to give him the proper return signal or that he would indeed die where he was."

Dal then looked at Grim and continued.  She started her imitation of Grim and in his gruff voice (a very fair imitation of it) she said "Stay close and keep your wits about you."  "You'd think that by now Ellie and I knew to stay close and keep our wits about us?  Every time we start out he will say to me "stay close".  At least this time Ellie got it too!  Anyway, all of us snuck into the cavern or, to be more precise, the tunnel that eventually would open up into a much larger cavern.  Remember how the guy said about a dozen thugs?  We saw at least TWO dozen sleeping pallets.  They had a bed of glowing coals in a large firepit in the center so we had a little bit light, not that it bothered us much. they had an assortment of cloaks and stuff .  It would have been good to sneak in closer but Grim bellowed "In the name of Sheriff Markham, lay down your arms!"  They really did object to that and didn't pay attention at all.  You can imagine what happened next."

By now Dal had stood up on the bench and was getting into the story.  "Entangling vines (arms come and she wiggled her fingers) but they didn't catch them all.  Ellie and her eldritch blast (more arm waving as if tossing the blast towards the enemies) and I, of course, trying to hit the moving objects with sacred flame (Dal holding up her holy symbol).  Well that was just for starters.  Ellie then some more blasts (more hand waving) but she got them good this time (falls down on bench)."

Suddenly Dal was back up on the bench.  "There we were.  Ellie doing her blasts and Morgrim and I staring down irate bandits (Dal gives her pissed off stare look to the others).  Before we know it, we were locked into melee and struggling to ward off the enemies."  It was time for Dal to take another sip of ale as she leaned on Grim's shoulder as she stood and took another breath to continue.  "Ahhh.  You'd think, wouldn't you, that it would have been enough, but NOOOOoo.  Before we knew it there was scratching sounds.  Didn't know at that point in time what kind of beast was going to come out but we knew it wasn't going to be friendly to us!

Morgrim yelled out something about getting away from me but he is always saying that (another hug to Morgrim) just like I'm telling people to get away from him.  It was nice that Ellie helped to dispatch the bandit that Grim had just wounded.  It's REALLY impressive when she just turns them into dust you know.  All I remember at that point was that I got stabbed and Damn it hurt.  Still had to stay awake a bit longer because they injured GRIM!  I can't let them do that too many times you know.  He's stubborn but he's my only family now and family has to do what they have to do in order to keep them alive."  Dal was quiet for a bit as she relived the next part.

"I knew that I couldn't stay in the battle for much longer but before I left the battle, I wanted to ask Shalindar to heal Grim.  If I was to go meet Shalindar, then I'd go in peace knowing I had done my best to keep Grim alive.  The last thing, at that point, that I remember was falling down but seeing that Grim could carry on in battle."

<to be continued>

Dal leaned against Morgrim as if for support as she told her next part of the tale as she remembered it.

"Have any of you wondered what goes through your mind when you are right on the cusp of taking that final breath?  YOU know you're not dead yet but even though YOU might know it, you still question yourself.  I am telling you my perspective from this part of the story in case it helps alleviate any anxiety or pain if you find yourself in the same situation.

As my eyes closed, I saw Grim fight and scream something but couldn't hear him.  I knew he was shouting because his mouth was so far open I could see his teeth.  He only opens his mouth up that wide when he shouts or is eating ribs with a really messy sauce on them.  Time, for me, came to a stop.  Perhaps my Goddess was trying to decide if I have been worthy of meeting her in person and/or staying with her forever.  Perhaps she was having a conversation with Morgrim's Goddess about should he be taken too or what.

Not knowing for sure, I decided it would be a good time to have a chat with Shalindar.  I could always talk to her much to my Mother's dismay since she thought I wasn't respectful enough towards our Goddess.  Still Shalindar didn't seem to take offense or at least I didn't think so but that was one of the first questions I did ask.  I didn't get any negative feedback so I figured I was safe on that.  THEN I asked if Grim was still alive.  Still no negative feedback which made me feel REALLY happy.  I am ashamed to admit that I didn't think of asking about Ellie.  All I could think of was Grim."

Dal looked down at the table and then gave a prayer of thanks for Ellie for helping keep Grim alive also.

Then Dal brightened up a bit and snagged Grim's full ale mug and tool a long pull from it.  She winked at Grim, knowing he didn't really mind and continued.

"Suddenly I felt this pull.  It was as if my body wanted to go up to my Goddess but my heart wanted to stay there and be with Grim.  It was the worst feeling ever.  How does one choose?  If you're a Priest or a devotee of your God/Goddess you always think you'll earn your reward one day and be by their side.  Yet on the other hand, Grim was my only family I had left.  How do I EVER want to leave him?  Who would look after the lug!  I can tell you that I haven't met the female dwarf yet that could do the job properly.  Although I don't think I've introduced you to....well that's another story.  Perhaps you can see my dilemma.  I guess it was a dilemma too for Sharindlar since that tug and pull felt like it took forever.  I wanted to scream Please!  Make up my mind for me.  I love you both!  But those words were just in my mind.  Then....peace.

I thought I had drowned.  I could feel water on my face and then felt my mouth being opened and berries being put in it.  Then hands that helped me chew and stuff like that.  I finally had enough energy to look up into the scariest face I ever saw....Morgrims!  He obviously hadn't been taking care of himself.  In Shalindar's wisdom my heart won out that day.  I didn't have to leave Grim in the care of others and be doomed forever by that curse.  I am totally happy to pick up my mantle of Morgrim Ironhammer's guardian once more.

Of course I had to cry and hug him but he should be used to that by now.  I really don't know what I would do without him either.  Guess we're stuck together for a bit more.  THAT would prove to be a good thing with what was coming up next."

<to be continued>

Morgrim's second tankard sat untouched before him, save by Dal. He listened to the story with rapt attention despite knowing what came next and indeed, what had happened while Gura was wrestling with oblivion. His face was frozen with a far off look, the corners of his eyes wet and his brow creased and heavy. With a sigh he put his hand atop Dalgura's.

"Don't ye ever do that to me again, Dalgura Ironhammer," he said softly. "Mother'll kill me twice if you reach her side before I do."

In reply to Morgrim Ironhammer (msg # 28):

"I agree brother.  As much as I love my Goddess, YOU are family and I do not plan to leave ahead of you to meet our clan.  Heck, they need all the time they have to prepare enough ale for our reunion."

Dal was quiet for a little bit but then smiled and continued the story.  "I'm almost done with my tale and then I expect that Grim could fill in what I missed OR you guys can tell us what has happened to your group.

As I said before,I came to and looked up into Grim's face.  He had fed me goodberries which have some healing properties to them.  I wouldn't take any more though until he took some too.  I could see that he was still injured and I wasn't up to healing yet. Those last guys packed a big punch when the hit!  Did I say already say that we found a tunnel leading up a natural staircase?  That was after those animistic noises. SO I figured that I'd check for battle.  Weapons - check, Holy Symbol - check, Brother in front of me - check.  I know he always says to stay behind him and this time I wasn't going to argue.  We found the usual stuff around and I did volunteer to do a distraction.  I'm pretty good at sounds and stuff but Grim said we didn't need it.  They already knew we were there.  Then it happened (Dal got back up on the chair/bench).  Wouldn't you know that it was another were rat?  Really?  Regular rats are bad enough but these were worse.  It turns out that Ellie doesn't like rats any more than I do!

I yelled at Grim to burn it but I was too busy trying to do that myself to see if he was listening.  I'm not sure of I was shouting so loud that my Goddess didn't hear me, since I missed hitting it or did little damage, or that she just liked furry things.  It could be the furry thing.  I mean I like SOME furry things.  Shalindlar is used to Dwarves and many of them can be kind of furry...especially after the weekend.

We finally get the wererat down, caught between man and beast, and continued on.  Then we found Marek.  Remember him from Dunavan's warehouse?  That little red skinned hobgoblin was standing ready with his shortbow, an arrow already drawn and aimed.  Next to him was this wolf Ripper.  Ripper was making those noises that we heard.  Marek swore when he saw us and remembered us from the other night too.  His arrow missed but he set his wolf at us.  Scoot over a bit Grim.  I need more room to demonstrate this next part."

Dalgura waited for Grim to move over a little bit while she loosened up her neck before continuing.

"I've always thought Grim was talented but when he saw that wolf his shoulders broadened and before I knew it it wasn't Grim that I was looking at but a DIREWOLF!  Well Grim the Wolf just seized the smaller wolf in his jaws.  Those teeth, which were a long as knives, went into the throat of that small wolf and Grimwolf tore it out and then sent it hurtling against the stone wall of the cavern where it landed with a mighty satisfactory thud."  Dal bared her teeth to imitate Grimwolf and shook her head, her long curls flying all around her head and hitting Grim in the process.

The rest of the battle went about as quick.  I tried hitting that sneaky hobgoblin but I it was Grim's fault that I missed.  I was still worried about people trying to hit him.  Yeah, that's it.  That's the version I'm sticking too.  Ellie, on the other hand, finished Marek off, FINALLY, and we could had a chance to catch our breath.

I thought we had time to catch out breath, but no, we didn't.  It wasn't battle this time that took up our time, it was what we found in the lair.  It had bits and pieces of stuff including some green liquid, a chest, etc.  Then there was the note to Slim that caused me to lose some more sleep.  It was talking about all sorts of stuff and Duvessa and the Council of Speakers.  No signature but it did have an arcane mark.  Don't know anything about those things.  So we packed up assorted coins, the leather satchel with unidentified potions, the three dragon ante cards - I wonder if those are marked, and that letter.

To make a long story shorter than I could, we gathered up stuff and my super talented brother changed again.  This time into something so he could carry us all back here.  We ended up being deputized before going to see Vaelish Gant but he slipped through our net.  We did get lots of his men.

There was also a rough map of Ten Towns and surrounding areas, with crude depictions of resources found in each area. This would be handy since it showed where the Knucklehead Trout was in which lake as well as where pelts, timber and lodes of ore in Kelvin's Cairn and The Spine of the World were.

The other thing of interest was a half completed letter to somebody named Jendrick the Blue.  Vaelish wrote about gaining a foothold in Ten Towns and things were moving along according to the plan.  Of course no specifics but it IS another name to track down if anybody wanted to.

Not much else to report except that I remember something about FINALLY eating, drinking, and Sleeping.  Not necessarily in that order.  Then we met back up with you!</blue>"

Dal slid back down on the bench, leaned against her brother and looked up at him.  "Hey, I'm hungry and thirsty.  Weren't you going to get me some food?"

"Indeed I was," Morgrim smiled, raising his hand for the serving girl's attention.

"Anyway, that's where we stand. Slim and Gant have escaped but I think we've broken the back of their organization in Bryn Shander at the least. Duvessa Shane holds onto the speakership by a thin margin, but hold it she does. Easthaven and the rest of the Ten Towns are another matter. I'd bet Gant resurfaces again, but time will tell."

"Now what of you lot? Tell us about your time with Hengar and his fellows. There's a happy outcome, I hope?"

Thane had settled down with a tankard of his favorite cold-weather drink, hot spiced cider laced with straight whiskey, and drank slowly while listening with rapt attention to Dalgura's tale.  At least he started out in rapt attention, but as her tale grew in length and required a refill of his tankard, he took on an appearance of discomfort.

It was very similar to the expressions that one would make when trying to hold out from passing gas for a long period of time.  Although he smiled and even laughed at Dalgura's storytelling antics, it was clear that the man was having trouble keeping up with the raw flow of information streaming out from the dwarven priestess' mouth.  Even a casual observer would surmise that the details of the story were slipping from Thane's mind like a handful of sand through spread-out fingers.

"Wow!" Thane exclaimed when the tale was complete, as much an outburst of relief from the mental onslaught as it was congratulatory of a story well related.  A pained look was upon his face as he continued, saying, "Remind me not to get into a tale-telling contest with you, Dalgura!  I don't have the mind for it, I think!"

He took a sip from his hot tankard and considered Dal through rueful eyes.  "And to think all we managed to do was save a dozen or so Elksmen from certain death, slay a good many Bear-men, destroy some kind of icy living statue that seemed to have been a flesh-and-blood woman, and see to the obliteration of gigantic skeletal dragon."  He sighed.  "Nothing nearly as complex or devious as what you all have been up to," he confessed, indicating Dal and Morgrim and the now absent Ellie.

---

OOC: Thane is oftentimes slow [Intelligence 8]
This message was last edited by the player at 14:12, Wed 02 Aug 2017.

Arnan sat silently and sipped his ale as first Dalgura, and then Thane spoke of the two groups' exploits.

The scout was a loner by inclination and long practice -- not to the extent of being a hermit who actively avoided contact with other people, but one who was most at ease with his own company. He greatly enjoyed the quiet majesty of the wilderness, where a man -- or woman -- could be alone with their thoughts.

That is not to say that Arnan begrudged those who had the ability to speak at length of this or that, and who oft-times lit up a room when they spoke.  In fact, it was a trait that he rather admired in others. But 'twas not him, nor his way of doing things.

And so it was that he silently nodded his approval to those who had spoken, and kept his own counsel . . .

It isn't often Dalgura is silenced but when the talk of slaying Bear-men, destroy a living statue and obliterated a gigantic skeletal dragon.....Dal just sat there with an open mouth and wide eyes.

Finally, after about 2 minutes which is an eternity for Dal to be quiet, Dal closed her mouth.  It didn't stay closed for long for she was leaning on the table and staring at Thane.

"Skeletal dragons?  Ice ladies?   Tell...  Gotta tell..."

Dal took another drink and then a bite of food while staring at Thane.  "Tell me.  Please?"

Hengar had been quietly listening to Dalgura's recounting of the dwarf siblings exploits in Bryn Shander, quietly marveling of the woman's detailed account, though in truth having difficulty following. Maybe he was just preoccupied with the harrowing experience he had just been through.

In the end, it was good to be in a warm room, with food and drink...and good companions. If he could only have one, it would be the latter.

When Dalgura asks a follow-up question, he breaks his silence.

"The corpse of Icingdeath, it was. In its lair beneath Evermelt. A shadow of the terror that once held the whole of Icewindale in its grasp..."

The Elk Tribe warrior proceeds to tell the dwarves how the Ice Witch, apparently an exile from his tribe, had inherited strange powers and used them to turn a rival tribe, The Bear Tribe, against his own. Spurred on by the Ice Witch, the Bear Tribe raided the Elk camp and made off with prisoners...sacrifices to the Frost Maiden.

Were it not for the intervention of Arnan, Kira and Thane he adds in, because they managed to thwart the Bear Tribe as they attempted to perform the sacrifical rite in Icingdeath's lair, at the heels of the Ice Witch...at least what they thought was the Ice Witch.

"Strange sorcery again..." he says, indicating the creature they fought and defeated crumbled to ice at the end and hinted she was only just getting started.

Having related his tale, he drains the last of his ale and slams it a little too roughly back on the table. He seems surprised by this.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:55, Thu 03 Aug 2017.

Dal thanked Hengar for his explanation even as she shivered.  "May be buy you some food and drink?  I'm glad that my friends were there to help."  Not waiting for his answer, because every Dwarf knows one can always eat and drink, Dalgura got a server to bring over food and drink for Hengar.

"Well now, that is a story," Morgrim replies, nursing his ale. "It seems we've all been busy."

"So what next, I wonder? And will you be staying with us Hengar?"

Thane welcomed the arrival of food as much as he did the interest from Dalgura and Morgim in his party's tale and Hengar's part in the telling.

"Yes, it is quite a story looking back on it!" he agreed with enthusiasm.  "We spent much time trudging at top speed through the snows, half-dead from cold and barely awake from lack of sleep," he said while gesturing affirmatively with his tankard at Arnan, Kira, and Hengar.  "The tales of the toughness of the tribesmen are true, I tell you!" he proclaimed and took a big swig from his spiked cider followed by a hearty bite-and-tear of heavy bread.

"And never once did the men of the Elk look sideways at us or have a mean word to say about being outsiders.  Honestly, I was expecting something not so nice since I am a Luskan, and Luskan's aren't well spoken of," he admitted through chewing teeth.  "Slim  and his buddies are proof enough of that," he groused.  "But that is all and well, since their Chief made us each honorary members of the Tribe of the Elk!"

Thane chased that happy fact down with more spiked cider and a hearty forkful of meat.  Then he glanced at Hengar.  "For which I am grateful, Hengar.  I'm a soldier by trade and that act by your Chief was like...like being inducted into an elite team of tough and hard men.  Very significant and of much meaning.  Maybe the longer you adventure with us, the more good things I can learn from you about the ways of the Elk."

Thane turned back to his food and drink. "But now I am happy to be warm, with good food and drink, and in a place with as many women as men," he said with a genuine twinkle in his eyes.

The reacquainted adventurers share stories over numerous tankards of ale well into the evening, their table resembling a warzone as they beg off toward their awaiting quarters, most stumbling along using the walls for support as they go. None has difficulty drifting off to sleep and many fall asleep still in the full of their clothes. Not a bad thing really, considering the chilly drafts that seem to work their way through the inn.

Morning comes all too soon, or is it late? Hard to tell after a night like the last, when one must struggle to force a coherent thought. Eventually, each emerges from their room in search of food and drink. Thus begins the cycle anew, as adventurers are wont to do with a pocket full of sparkling coins to weigh them down. This, and the fact all are still weary from the near constant pace they have kept over the preceding rides, contribute to a general desire to slow down for a bit of rest and recuperation.

The next several days are mostly spent doing exactly this, a sudden squall contributing to everyone's desire to hunker down a bit. Icewindale is blanketed with a fresh layer of nearly a foot of snow, carried on the wings of a howling wind that chills to the bone. Life slows down considerably for a few days. Eventually, this too passes and the people of Bryn Shander go about their business of surviving the winter.

Following the squall, strange tidings begin to circulate through the taverns and inns. Folk are reporting seeing large numbers of dwarven zombies shambling out of the Dwarven Valley. Additionally, a few town guardsmen claim to have seen a couple in the distance while manning the North Gate, though it was far so it's hard to be certain. In any event, if they were living dwarves, it doesn't make much sense for them to have fallen on the reindeer they way they did. "Feeding on it like animals," a wind-burned guardsman says while quaffing a mug of steaming tea.

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."