Arnan nudged Thane in the ribs as he watched Kira -- very cautiously -- working to awaken Hengar.

""Now there's a good use for a 10-foot pole that I've never yet heard mentioned by  a shop-keeper who was counting off all the many uses of one, and explaining why I was a complete lack-wit if I did not buy one before I left the shop -- carefully waking a sleeping barbarian, I mean."

Once he heard Hengar speak, Arnan added, "He doesn't sound too good, to my ear. I'm thinking that your coming along was a good idea, Thane, given your training as a saw-bones -- or herbalist, or whatever it is -- that you use to deal with the ailments that bedevil folks."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:59, Sun 22 Jan 2017.

Thane listened with a critical ear when Kira conversed with Hengar.  The girl seemed to have a sweet way with her words.  Thane responded to Arnan, mild concern creeping into his voice.  "He sure sounds like the chill has got inside 'im," he admitted.  Thane set down his pack and fished out a small, cloth-wrapped package.  He spoke to Hengar while he unwrapped the bundle and searched through the contents in the firelight.

"Hengar, my name is Thane.  I am a healer among my people," he introduced himself quietly.  "I heard how you spent your day and thought you might need something to help fight off the chill of bein' exposed like that," he continued.  He held up a small pouch made of cheesecloth.   "Dried elderberry, cone flower, rose hips, and ginger root.  No magic, just the things that the gods, or nature herself, provides us.  I use it when I get the winter sniffles or hacking cough and it always helps."

Thane gestured back towards the bar area.  "If you're willing to take it, I'll fetch hot water and a mug and make it ready for you.  By morning you ought to be feeling a bit better."

[Private to GM: I'd like to make a small change to Thane's tool proficiency.  He gained proficiency with a Gaming Set as a Soldier, but given his role as a healer, I'd rather take proficiency with Herbalist Tools instead.  Unless one of the other PCs happens to have that Tool profiency, then we can RP through anything that as a Medic Thane would want from an Herbalist.  Thoughts?]
This message was last edited by the player at 02:02, Mon 23 Jan 2017.

Hengar nods in agreement and whispers, "Thank you. Yes. Fetch the hot water. I will drink."

[Private to Thane Harkensen: Go ahead and switch the proficiency if you'd like.]

Kira slipped off her pack and set it down at the foot of Hengar's sleeping space while Arnan and Thane spoke to Hengar, then plopped down on the hearth close by so she could keep her voice down.  "While he's getting the water, the answer to your request is yes we will help you.  We're just a small group but we were successful against the yeti that attacked when we arrived with the caravan."

She was heartened to see him take in part of the stew and then pulled out the chunk of bread from the small sack to give to him.  "You might want to keep some of that to chase down the medicine.  Dunno about you, but most of the herbal stuff I've had tasted awful," she said with a scrunching of her nose.

Mithann bows her head solemnly and waits in silence for a moment and them comments, "Trust in the gods. They will guide your actions, if you listen for their voice. May The Dawnbringer provide light to you as you contemplate your call."

She then adds she is happy to have met the three adventurers and says they are welcome to pray at the shrine anytime.

Location: Hooked Knucklehead Inn
PCs present: Kira, Thane and Arnan

Thane steeps some herbs in a bowl of hot water and offers the medicinal tea to Hengar, which he gratefully accepts with a simple thanks. The barbarian then lies back down, content to have gained some companions for his return trek home. His mission had not been a complete failure and he would have good news for his people. Perhaps these adventurers might help turn the tide in their struggles against the Ice Witch's machinations.

The barbarian drifts back to sleep shortly thereafter, saying they should all get some rest because, "morning will come soon and we will need all the vigor we can muster."

***

Location: The Shrine of Amaunator
PCs present: Dalgura, Ellie and Morgrim

Unless the adventurers have any other questions for Mithann, she thanks them for paying a visit and invites them to stay at the shrine as long as needed, claiming "the shrine is open to all of good heart." She then excuses herself to prepare to turn in for the evening herself.

***

At some point later that evening, the adventurers meet up briefly in the shelter of an awning along Market Square to relate what they have learned. Having each secured accommodations for the evening, the party relocates to Kelvin's Comfort to discuss their plans.

***

Location: Kelvin's Comfort
PCs present: Perhaps all (?)

Entering Kelvin's Comfort later that night, most of Hugglesward's company has retired for the evening and only a few of the hardest drinking folk nurse warm mugs while engaging in the sort of talk only possible through the lens of drunkenness. There are still a decent number of folk present, but the tavern is much quieter now and the party secures a secluded table off to the side to discuss their plans.

Much is happening in Icewind Dale and the newly formed party is seemingly being pulled into incongruent paths by the whims of fate.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:38, Mon 23 Jan 2017.

"So that's what we learned..." Morgrim said, coming to a close.

"Lycanthropes in Bryn Shander. You'd think the weather would keep anything but polar bears away! Suppose it explains the silver arrows however." The dwarf paused and picked at a deep scar in the table.

"Well? What shall we do then? Stick to the plan and hope for the best? Split off the group? Or do we help the townsfolk here and now and follow Hengar in another day or so?"

Ellie chewed her lip for a moment. "There is certainly a lot of need around here. I'm incline to help with the townsfolk, but Hengar came here for magic and that is the one thing I can supply."

"I suppose the question also arises, 'could we follow behind if we wished'?" Morgrim asked. "I don't pretend to know my way around these parts, but Arnan, you seem to have some sense of things. If we gave Hengar a head-start could we still find the camp a couple of days hence?"

Kira had been reluctant to leave Hengar but given the barkeep was favorable for him, she had to trust that the Elk man would be okay.  Trudging along with her pack over one shoulder, she was starting to feel the effects of travel and battle and then the adrenaline was finally gone from trying to help save an innocent life.  "I'm thinking I shoulda stayed there by that fire," she muttered to Arnan and Thane, a hand coming up to cover a yawn.

Once they were sitting with the others, she listened to what had gone on with the priestess and her expression grew more and more like she'd swallowed a bitter tea.  "As much as I don't like the sounds of things going on here, I've already told Hengar we'd help him," she stated.  "I gave him our word and even going a day or two later it's sorta like going back on that word," she pointed out a tad bluntly then took a sip of the warm cider.

Thane went back to Kelvin's Rest with his two companions, in an amiable enough mood.  His belly was full, he had the promise of a night's sleep near a warm indoor fire, and there seemed to be promise of adventures ahead that would chase away any notion of spending a long and boring winter in Bryn Shander.

Thus he listened closely to the news from the dwarven siblings and Ellie and waited for a good moment to speak his thoughts.  Which was now.

"I'm inclined to agree with her," he said, tipping his head towards Kira.  "But not just because of the promise she made to help Hengar.  I may not be the brightest candle in the room, but seems to me that matters of life and death should count more than matters of stolen coin and hurt feelings," he pronounced almost as bluntly as Kira's statement.

Seeing that some of his companions were perhaps a bit confused, he attempted to lay out his logic.  "You say that Slim's gang is thought to be were-beasts?  Does anyone have any proof?  Has Slim's gang killed anyone?  I'd think that'd be a stupid thing for a protection racketeer to do.  They'd rather leave their herd alive so that they can continue to harvest from them.  From my view, this is still something for the townies to handle.  I just don't think the Elk Tribe can wait.  And I am not sure Hengar will make it back alone.  He's taken sick and I doubt he'd do well against a pack of yeti by himself."

Thane shrugged and rolled his shoulders, which were a bit sore from bearing his pack all day for days on end.  "Maybe I'm just a simple mind, but the situation seems clear to me.  Help Hengar and his people, which are under direct and mortal threat, and then see what can be done in town later."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:29, Mon 23 Jan 2017.

"That is indeed a dilemma.  I say that we are already obligated to Hengar.  By now he would have gotten word that we would accompany him.  One shouldn't just back out of commitments like that.  And who is to say that they all aren't related some how?"

Morgrim nodded along as he listened but refrained from offering further counsel until the others had a chance to speak. He looked to Arnan next, that last to voice an opinion.

"I think that you have hit upon a good point, Dalgura," Arnan replied to the Dwarven cleric. "We should not forget what Ellie told us earlier -- that she observed that the wagon that was targeted during the attack on the caravan was the one that was carrying crates of silvered weapons."

"And if the woman whom Kira glimpsed during the attack was the Ice-Witch herself, or even one of her minions . . . well, these may well be deep waters, indeed."

Arnan thought for a moment, then turned to Morgrim. "To answer your question, aye, 'tis possible that I could find the Tribe of the Elks' winter camp if we were to follow along behind Hengar. But I believe that Kira and Thane have the right of it, and that we should stick to the original plan of aiding Hengar -- especially since, as Dalgura has just now concluded, and based upon what Ellie saw yesterday, these events may well be linked."

Continuing to speak to Morgrim, who had related their conversation with the cleric of Amaunator, Arnan said, "You mentioned that Mithann said that the Harper and some of his allies were working behind the scenes to decide how to best deal with this Slim and his toughs -- who, admittedly, may be much more than that. What do you think of getting word to Mithann to pass along word to the Harper that we are heading out to aid Hengar and his people, but that if they can delay taking action until we return, we will aid him and his allies in their efforts?"

OOC: Sorry for the delay in posting, but our cat claimed the computer chair as his bed du jour. And in our house, the admonition not to rudely awaken sleeping dogs applies equally to the kitty-cat. :)

Morgrim nodded. "I can surely ask," the dwarf stated. "Mithann has more than likely turned in for the evening but I can pass along our intentions in the morning. It certainly sounds to me like we're committed to this course for better or for worse, and I can't argue with peoples' thinking."

"Its a right mess we've found ourselves smack in the middle of, and the winter has only just begun."

There was a very faint but definite sound of a raspberry being blown when Thane alluded that Kira, and only Kira, had promised aid to Hengar.  They had all discussed the matter and it was agreed that they would help Hengar, so she had truly been speaking for all of them.  If he looked at her, though, he would see a bright smile and no offense had actually been taken and she was nodding agreement to his arguments.

It was clear she thought it was all connected as well, which was rather irksome.  "If the woman I saw and the yeti did specifically try to prevent the silver arrows from making it here, then I'd say someone here in town is connected with her as well as someone in the caravan so she would know specifically which wagon to hit," she suggested.

She was also rather glad Morgrim hadn't taken offense to her blunt statement, knowing dwarves were sticklers about their word.  She liked these two in particular, having enjoyed their banter throughout the trip.  With a lopsided smile and shrug of a shoulder, she commiserated with him.  "Gonna be a really long winter I'm thinkin'," she sighed.

Morgrim placed his knuckles firmly against the surface of the table and pushed himself upright. "We've a long day ahead of us if we're to be traveling again tomorrow. May as well get some rest while we can."

DM, you mentioned we individually secured accommodations for the evening. Where are Morgrim and Dalugura staying (since it goes without saying that they'll be together)?

Ellie shrugged. "It it an untenable situation indeed. We did agree to help Hengar and have told him as much, but there is a potentially dark consequence to following through. We could return in a tenday hence and find lack of action against these thugs have allowed them a chance to gain a foothold to take over the town."

Ellie took a breath, hangling her face downward as she closed her eyes. When she spoke again it sounded not like herself, as if she was almost speaking from a different point of view; "Slim could kill Mithann and this Harper contract; neither are going to be profitable extortion targets and will cause only trouble. Sheriff Markhamm won't do anything because there won't be any evidence, and he won't want to find more because he'll be bribed by the gang; maybe even turned into another Rat. Odgen Flamebeard and Master Hugglesward might be part of a militia against Slim, only to find their lives or the lives of their loved ones threatened until they are forced to cowe and pay tribute to the criminals. Barton may pay his finds for some time, but if his sympathy for the Reghed Tribe is revealed and there is indeed a connection between the Wererats and the witch, he'll disappear. Duvessa Shane will acquiesce to the Wererats or be replaced in short order, perhaps the position will be absorbed by the sheriff and Bryn Shandar will be considered under martial law. With things going so poorly, Brina Alcott will likely snap under the pressure and end up killing herself or someone else in some feverish sacrifice to the god of winter. Helda Silverstream, without our help, will be forced to lower her standards and hire more unscrupulous sellswords; they may very well turn out to be plants by Slim sent to steal the new ore the dwarves of Kelvin's Cairn have found. If it truly is as valuable or powerful as they hope, it would be the last Black Ice nail in the coffin of the center of the Ten Towns."

Ellie's voice had raised into a crescendo until the very end, when she stopped very suddenly. She was silent for a moment before she looked up, and took a steadying breath. "Of course, that is all the worst case scenario. The alternative is that Hengar's entire tribe, a historical and wonderful people, could be wiped out entirely once and for all. I am not saying towards one way or the other, only mentioning the potential consequences because we have to be prepared to live with them."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:36, Tue 24 Jan 2017.

Morgrim listens with mouth increasingly agape as Ellie describes the demise of Bryn Shander in graphic detail. When the aasimar falls quiet he stands in absolute silence trying to collect his jaw from the table.

Arnan grunted after Ellie had finished describing the horrible things that could happen. "Well, now -- aren't you just a ray of sunshine?"

"I think that you missed one, though. We could get caught in a white-out blizzard five miles outside the walls of Bryn Shander, and all die of exposure."

"They'll find our frozen bodies when the spring thaw comes, and the snow-drifts start to melt."

Arnan shrugged. "Happens to somebody every year. Might be us this time."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:35, Tue 24 Jan 2017.

Ellie actually grinned a bit at Arnan's additional prediction. "Certainly we are destined for more than that, good archer."

In reply to Ellie Dovehand (msg # 226):

Arnan kept a straight face, but a hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"That was kinda my point. Bad thing've been happenin' to folks all over for a long time -- an' last time I looked, the sky hadn't fallen quite yet."

The scout stretched his arms up above his head, and covered up a yawn with the back of his hand. "'Bout all folks of good intentions can do is make the best choice they can, an' then give it their best shot."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:45, Tue 24 Jan 2017.

Ellie nodded slowly, thoughtfully. "Father Bonaduce always said that when you doubt that your actions will have the effect you wish, there is only one thing you can do. Do good, and hope that good comes of it."

She nodded once again; "All that really leaves us with is where we think the most good we can do lies. I want to help Hengar and I think that we can, but I'm of a notion that the worst threat lies closest to where we are; we should kill the goblin in the home before we worry about the ogre terrorizing the countryside, so to say. The barbarians I think can hold out a little bit longer; they've braved and survived in the wilds of Icewind Dale for generations beyond count, after all. But Bryn Shander seems on the brink of total disaster; if we can do something now, then rush to the Elk's aid afterwards then we might be able to do the most good, and I am sure Hengar will understand that we have closer problems to worry about."

Before anyone could respond though, she held up her hand and sighed. "Of course, I could be totally wrong and Hengar's people could be closer to collapse. Which is why I am not willing to argue the point; I have simply had my say, and I will follow the group's consensus now. If we leave for the north at first light, so be it."

Dal looked over at everybody and shook her head.  "And to think that some people think that Dwarves are dour and dark.  That certainly is a bad scenario.  No matter what we do, there is the chance that bad things will happen to others.  We cannot be every where all the time. It is up to the Gods on whether we will be triumphant or not.  We see things in this time and space but the Gods see things in ALL times and Spaces.  We are but a cog in their grand scheme but it is the cogs that make things happen.  Of course, if we take after Morgrim, us cogs will be squeaky and loud but we will get results."

Dalgura chuckled and then settled down.  "In other words, there is no perfect solution.  Make your plan, stick to it, and adjust when necessary."

Thane looked like he had swallowed a slimy worm when Ellie had her speaking episode.  He looked covertly to his left and right to judge the others' reactions and held his tongue until pretty much everyone had spoken up.  When he spoke, he did so in a slow Luskan drawl.

"Girl, is there something you be wantin' to tell us about, concerning you?" he asked, suspicion or anxiety creeping into his voice.  "What you just did there was downright creepy and makes me wonder if you're not hearing strange voices or somesuch..."

His voice trailed off when he realized that nobody else was acting quite so weirded out as he had been, except perhaps for Morgrim, whose jaw had hit the table like a 5-stone hammer.

"I mean," he adjusted, "you spoke but it sure didn't seem like you, you know?" he asked hesitatingly.

[Private to GM: On the topic of Slim and were-beasts.  What would Thane likely know about the prevalence of lycanthropes among the ship houses or criminal elements of Luskan?  I don't want to poo-poo the threat of lycanthrope thugs unless Thane really doesn't know it's a 'thing' in Luskan.]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:27, Tue 24 Jan 2017.