"Please come along with Thane and me, and any of the others who wish to meet with Hengar," Arnan replied to Kira.

"I feel certain that he will remember your earlier kindness, and will be happy to see you. Plus, a pretty face does much to warm a man's heart on a cold evening."

"As to . . . ah, protecting Hengar . . . I do not dispute the wisdom of your decision, given the way that the locals feel about him. But his pride might not allow such a thing, if we were to speak directly to him about it . . . mayhaps . . . mayhaps 'twould be best if we simply took rooms near to his in the same inn. That way we could listen out for trouble, and Hengar need not be any the wiser."

Having come to a consensus about helping Hengar's people in their fight against the Ice Witch, the adventurers decide to take their leave of festivities at Kelvin's Comfort, their bellies and spirit full of warm food and good drink. Helda seems to have disappeared from the tavern, perhaps having retired for the evening. Afterall, it has been a long day, most of it spent out in the elements driving a caravan across the tundra leading into Bryn Shander: Gateway to Ten Towns.

Still, this newly formed adventuring party has a few bits of business to attend to before turning in themselves. Dalgura, Ellie and Morgrimm would like to pay the cleric, Mithann, a visit and Arnan, Kira and Thane have decided to deliver their message to Hengar at the Hooked Knucklehead. Fortunately both locations are relatively close to another and the party departs together toward their destinations. Both are located along the northeast perimeter of the Market Square.

Darkness has fallen over Bryn Shander, the mud and ice choked streets illuminated by an occasional lantern post and flickering light behind soot-covered windows. The Market Square stalls are now abandoned, the mongerers and merchants departed for home and the wooden penance post unoccupied. A few locals shift through the streets, but the bustle of earlier today is no longer in evidence.

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

The shrine of Amaunator is a converted house and serves as a modest gathering place for worshippers of the god of sun, Considering that the sun vanishes for two months at a time every winter in Icewind Dale, it's a wonder that the god has any adherents at all!

Knocking at the front door, the party is warmly received by a dark-haired woman in maroon vestments. She introduces herself as Mithann, Radian Servant of the Morninglord, and invites the adventurers into the converted parlor that now houses the shrine of the sun god.  Stepping into the antechamber, the adventurers are immediately comforted by the warmth of the shrine. An altar occupies the far wall, consisting of a bronze disk situated atop a stone dais. A stylized face appears on a solar disk, etched into the bronze. Four braziers sit at each of the dais' corners, casting the room in rich, golden hues. Several prayer mats are placed on the floor in front of the altar and a few benches are located near the rear of the shrine, a benefit for those unable to kneel due to malady or failing knees.

Once the adventurers have entered, Mithann draws her hands in front of her humbly and says, "Well met and welcome to Bryn Shander and our humble shrine. I am so pleased to meet you. You are more than welcome to pay your devotions here, but something about your appearance tells me you have come for other purposes. Please, have a seat if you wish. How may I help you this evening?"

Mithann seems genuinely interested in hearing the adventurers out.

The Hooked Knucklehead
PCs present: Arnan, Kira and Thane

Just northeast of the Market Square stands the modest inn known as The Hooked Knucklehead. It is a simple two-story building, the first floor occupied by a small dining hall, a large heart, a kitchen, a spacious common room and and few private chambers beyond; while the second floor consists of a storage loft.

Entering the dimly lit inn, the adventurers are greeting to a subdued atmosphere in relation to the raucous energy of Kelvin's Comfort. Here, a few tradesfolk and scrimshanders are seated at long tables eating the last of their dinners, their tables not littered with empty flagons and mugs and the room completely devoid of the frolicking and gaiety found at the Comfort. This is a no frills inn and the sparse decor, consisting of a few uncarved pieces of scrimshaw and a couple of mounted trout, clearly expresses this point.

The adventurers are promptly met by the inn's proprietor, a middle-aged man with wisps of salt-and-pepper flecked hair on either side of his crown, wire-frame spectacles and a glorious spectacle of a handlebar mustache. The man introduces himself simply as Barton and hastily says, "A bit late for supper. But I can have Meg serve you up something in a hurry if you're lookin' to get fed." He then suggests the inn's doors will be closing soon, but he has space in the common room if they looking for a "place to crash for the night. Nothin' fancy, but clean and you won't get cold at night, that much is sure as can be." Otherwise, he suggests he has a few private rooms, but he leans in and says, "bit drafty in there though, not much to be done 'bout that." Barton's mannerisms are casual and unpretentious.

Glancing about the assembled diners, the adventurers see no sign of Hengar in the dining hall.

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

Dalgura was interested in the small shrine.  One day she hoped to have one set up for Sharindlar so she was interested in how it was set up.  Once the Priestess approached them, Dalgura smiled.  "Well met Mithann.  I am Dalgura, Priestess of Sharindlar, and heard that you have recently set up a shrine.  I hope to set one up one day but for now Sharindlar has told me to be elsewhere.  Might I say that your shrine is lovely.  The warmth is most welcoming."

In reply to DM Shard (msg # 184):

Arnan was accustomed to spending a good deal of his time alone, and as a result he wasn't usually nearly as talkative as he had been thus far this evening.

Hells, I prob'ly yammered more tonight than I have in the whole last week -- and that was with me being with  the caravan an' other people, too. I s'pose that it might be 'cause I felt strongly 'bout what we should be doing, an' I didn't want the chance to slip away. Well, any way . . . enough's enough. Time to let somebody else take over. She's prettier'n me any way, an' that'll oft-times make things to easier when talking to a man.

Arnan silently nudged Kira forward with his elbow. Clearly, he wanted her to take the lead in conversing with the fellow who looked to be the inn-keeper.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 16:03, Sat 21 Jan 2017.

Kira was looking around and not too surprised she didn't see Hengar in the dining area, given he'd been tied up to a pole outside by these townsfolk.  The nudge from Arnan made her take that last step so she was right up to the bar and she placed her hands on it in an unconscious gesture of showing she had nothing to hide.

"Thank you, Sir, but we've already eaten and I'm sure Meg deserves her rest," she stated respectfully then turned to Arnan and Thane.  "You guys want a private room or hunker down here near the fire?" she asked of them and once they made their decision she turned back to the innkeeper with a curious expression.

"I was lookin' for that big fella that'd been tied up outside," she stated softly, concern creeping into her expression.  "Did he get one of the rooms?" she asked with a look like a child who'd lost a toy, hopeful it'd been found but fearing it was still missing.  The skin full of stew at least was keeping her tummy warm.

Barton loops his fingers in the suspenders of his overalls and responds, "Suit yourself. No trouble at all though." Whether this is the case or not, he pursues the issue no further.



"Look, we don't want no trouble here," he pleads. "The Sheriff saw fit to set him free," he adds in, a tone of surety in his voice. Sensing the adventurers mean Hengar no harm he leans and whispers, "He's already turned in and is sawin' logs in the common. He'll be off before first light."

He further explains he has some relations up in Targos with Reghed blood and he holds no ill will toward those people. "They have as much right as the next, perhaps more in these parts."

"If you keep these braziers burning I just might move in!" Morgrim said with a laugh as he took a seat on one of the prayer mats and gladly warmed his hands. "Its nice to meet another warm blooded southerner such as yourself!"

"Morgrim Ironhammer. Dalgura's minder. This here is Ellie," he said, hooking his thumb towards the last member of their immediate trio.

Mithann humbly accepts Dalgura's praise and smiles upon hearing Morgrim's jest, "Well met Priestess Dalgura, Minder Morgrim and Ellie. It is wonderful to meet you all."

On the subject of her shrine, she says she been in Icewind Dale for four years and came here from the Kingdom of Cormyr after retiring from adventuring. She came here with the specific purpose of establishing a shrine, a life-long pursuit made possible from her adventuring exploits. She specifically came to Icewind Dale because she wanted to bring a message of hope and rebirth to a people who endure much in an icy land.

"I suspect you have not come for tips on how to set up your own though," she admits.

At the Shrine:

"On the contrary, I am indeed interested in some of the problems you encountered in setting up your shrine.  The High Priests always say go forth and spread the word and perhaps one day you too shall have your temple.  I know that they usually start with shrines but the Priests also have a tendency to leave out the details of how does one actually go about setting one up.  Of course that might not be the ONLY reason I stopped.  I heard that you were an adventurer once yourself and since we shall be going out on an adventure in the morrow, wondered if you could tell us a bit about this area.  Things like have you or the town have any run ins with the Ice Maiden, Yeti's or the Tribe of the Elk since you have been here?"

Knowing that there wasn't any Shrine to her own Goddess near, Dal took out a couple of her gold pieces she had been given and put them in the box kept for donations to the shrine.  She admired this Priestess for setting up a Shrine in this frozen city.

"When I heard that you were fighting against the cold and wanted to bring light to this area I knew I wanted to contribute.  It is indeed a worthy goal.  If for no other reason than that I would have looked you up."

"Aye, Dalgura has the right of it," Morgrim confided. "We didn't only disturb your evening to speak about your good works at the ends of the earth."

"We've been in your town less than a half-day and already we've seen no shortage of trouble. Monsters beat upon your gates, mercenaries from Luskan have evidently taken to turning out the townsfolks' pockets, the Reghed tribes beg for assistance in the face of an implacable foe, and neighbors turn upon neighbors. To put it bluntly, Mithann, its hard to know whom to trust. But you, you I trust, having just met ye' no less."

Morgrim winked.

"Sleeping here near the hearth will be fine for me," Thane agreed.  He wasn't sure if Master Hagglesward had bought a room for him or not, but if so Thane would seek him out in the morning to clarify the situation and let the caravan master know that he would be departing for a while to go visit the Tribe of the Elk.

"I'd like to lay eyes on this elksman before I start to settle in for the evening," he announced.  "Where did you say the man was sleeping?" he asked the innkeeper.

Kira shook her head when the man said he didn't want trouble and waited until Thane said his peace.  "I promise we aren't looking for trouble.  We're actually here to tell him we want to help him and will be leaving in the morning with him," she said quietly.  "I know he's sleeping but he asked us to let him know as soon as possible."

Leaning in a little closer, she whispered something to the barkeep.  [Private to GM: "I was also hoping to pass the night with him ... you know ... it's a bit drafty and he was already out in the cold too long ..."]

When she leaned back, she smiled sweetly.  "So instead of me going door to door and disturbing folks, maybe just tell which one and we can let him know the good news?"

Ellie bowed when she was introduced. She remained silent however, not having any actual business here but rather simply taking in the experience. Like Dalgura, Ellie likewise pulled out a pair of her own gold coins and dropped them in the offering.

In reply to Kira (msg # 194):

Arnan was more than a little surprised to hear someone in Bryn Shander admit that they held no ill will towards those of Reghed blood.

He held up his hands, palms facing the innkeeper, and nodded towards Kira, saying, "Aye, what she said -- no trouble."

He thought for a moment, then reached into his belt-pouch and pulled out a golder. He palmed it so that no one other than the innkeeper, Kira, and Thane could see it, then put it down on the counter underneath his hand.

"For doin' the right thing by that man, when no one else in this piss-ant town would."

Arnan showed the innkeeper a tight, thin-lipped expression -- some might have construed it as a smile, and some not.

---

OOC: One golder to the innkeeper.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:26, Sun 22 Jan 2017.

The Hooked Knucklehead
PCs present: Arnan, Kira and Thane

Barton nods in understanding and jabs his stubby thumb toward a door at the rear of the dining hall. "Common room's through there. Just mind your manners. A few folk, like the tribesman, are already asleep."



Barton nods more vigorously now, a mischievous smile forming. "Ah yes. I suspect he'll be wanting to see you straight-away."



"Right through that way. In with the others that is." A common room being little more than a large open dormitory with a few cots for the early arrivers and a spot on the floor before the hearth for those turning in later.



"Think nothin' of it. Every man deserves a fair shake. All be damned if the world isn't already out to get you as it is!"

"But much obliged good man. Much obliged," Barton says while pocketing the coin.

Having paid Barton, the party passes through the dining hall into the common room. Opening the door reveals a spacious room dominated by a large hearth. The room is cast in the orangish glow provided from the hearth's coals, faintly illuminating a few cots along the wall and several bedrolls and sleeping mats cast in front of the hearth. A few are already occupied by guests in various states of sleep, their stuff either haphazardedly cast at their side or zealously guarded beneath their mats and bedrolls. A few patrons stir as the door is thrown open, but none take undue notice of the three adventurers.

Hengar is laid out in front of the hearth, a bear's pelt thrown over his sleeping form. By all accounts he is fast asleep.

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


Mithann relays she simply saved the proceeds from her adventures and let Amaunator dictate when it was time for her to establish a permanent shrine. She spent some time wandering before finally coming to Icewind Dale, on a divine mission to bring warmth and hope where it was needed most. "You will know when it is time," she adds reassuringly.



Mithann says she was once a member of two separate adventuring companies, The Knights of the Unicorn and The Mantle of Dawn. Most of her former companions are either retired, or sadly, deceased. Upon saying these words, she offers blessings to each.

On the second point, she tells you she knows nothing of the Ice Witch, though she seems genuinely concerned if/when the adventurers relate what they know so far. She has heard of no ill relations with any of the tribes and there have been no yeti attacks against any of the towns, though she says it is not unknown for beast attacks to occur away from the towns.

She confesses that she has lately been preoccupied with more homespun problems in Bryn Shander, namely that she has heard whispers claiming the Ship Rethnor thugs that have recently multiplied in the town are actually lycanthropes. For this reason, a Harper contact sent word south to have silvered weapons brought north, in the event action need be taken to thwart Rethnor's influence over the region.

"I had perhaps thought you were the couriers who brought the silvered weapons, as I had heard of your actions at the wall and had assumed you were Aarun's companions." Aarun, being her Harper contact.

Finally, she says the town speaker, Duvessa Shane, is supposed to hold a public audience soon to address grievances against Luskan thugs by several prominent merchants, the delayed caravan, empty animal traps on the tundra and above all, the early winter and Auril's evident wrath. Put simply, Bryn Shander is a powderkeg right now. "I have never seen times so grim," she relates, though not in a defeatist tone.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:29, Sun 22 Jan 2017.

Morgrim listened along in grim silence. "More bad news," he muttered once Mithann had come to a close.

"We saw the silvered weapons being unloaded. I believe they've been received by someone named Dunavan. Tell me, Mithann, where can we find this Aarun individual? And when is Speaker Shane planning to hold this public audience?"

Mithann says Aarun the Harper is likely laying low somewhere within Bryn Shander working with allies, trying to gather more information on Slim and his gang, to better prepare for if and when action muct be taken.

On the second point, "Speaker Duvessa has decreed Highharvestide the date of her public audience. "Five days from tonight, at Council Hall, she will hear the public's complaints and hopefully put forth a plan for action to assuage their concerns."

Tonight is the eve of 25 Eleint. Highharvestide occurs on the day between the months of Eleint and Marpenoth. It is a special calendar day and in warmer and more moderate climes  heralds the coming of fall and the harvest. It is a feast that often continues for the length of the harvest, so that there is always food for those coming in from the fields. There is much traveling about on the heels of he feast, as merchants, court emissaries, and pilgrims make speed ere the worst of the mud arrives and the rain freezes into snow.

"I shall be hosting a feast that eve. I would be delighted if should attend," she says warmly.

"That is most gracious of you," Morgrim replied before exchanging a look of concern with his sister and Ellie. "Five days hence. The Reghed camp is two to three days away in good weather. Even if we were to leave tonight and do nothing but make the journey and return we would be hard pressed to reach Bryn Shander before the audience has closed."

"It would seem we are being pulled in three directions at once, and unless we divide our efforts we can only tackle one concern at a time. I know the intention had been to set out with Hengar in the morning, but I'm not sure the threat to Bryn Shander from lycanthropes is any less grave. Perhaps of all, Helda's concern seems the least pressing - a simple mercantile contract, although with everything else that has gone on it would not surprise me in the least if there was something more to that story as well."

Morgrim fell silent, staring at the low dancing flames within the braziers as he pondered the future.

Kira beamed at the barkeep and gave him a little wave as the three headed in to the common sleeping area, her eyes quickly falling on the large man in front of the fire.  "I'd hoped he'd get a room but can certainly understand getting the premium spot by the fire," she whispered and tread lightly to where Hengar lay.  She didn't go anywhere near his upper body but instead stretched out her leg so her booted foot could tap at Hengar's feet.  "Pssst!  Hengar ..." she said as quietly as possible, trying not to disturb those around.

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

Hengar startles when Kira nudges his leg with her foot and throws aside the bear pelt and has a short sword at the ready. Struggling to see her in the dim light he poctures himself as best he can for defense while prone.

Still he does not lurch forward for an attack, rather he squints and tries to make out detail in the shadow.

"And that's why you don't go tapping someone's shoulder," Kira whispered back to Arnana and Thane, though they likely already knew the protocol for awakening someone.  "Hengar, it's me ... Kira," she said and eased forward so he could see her better, ignoring the blade and smiling at him.  "I told you I'd come and brought a couple of friends ... and a bit more warm food if you want," she said as she eased out the full warm skin and held it out to him..

Hengar grunts his approval while acknowledging the others in the shadows. A few patrons trying to sleep nearby shift restlessly under their blankets but otherwise seem intent on ignoring the intrusion, while those still awake impassively watch and listen.

"Thank you, friend, friends" he whispers, his voice still hoarse and rattling. It sounds as though he may be falling ill from his recent exposure to the elements. He gratiously accepts Kira's offering, and makes a show of eating some out of courtesy.

"Have you had time to come to a decision?" he whispers while sliding the blade beneath the bear pelt.