Listening to the boom and crash of waves on the ship's hull next to him bunk, Reuben frowned: the rank stench of the bilges, of too many folk and too little air, it assailed his nostrils, churning his stomach.

He shivered beneath his sleeping furs, rubbing grubby hands together, muttering half to himself, "How many more moons must Flow be preeminent?"

The large white furred Wolfkin hunched in the shadows he wasnt happy at being on a boat let alone inside one but he would endure it if it meant finally he would be in the cold north at last.

Every day he felt the air change the temperature drop ever so slightly and he smiled to himself

He looked over at the one who had spoken "I cannot say but I hope it is not too many more. If Wolfkin were meant to be in water we would have been given flippers not claws" he said in a gravelly voice

Naran barks out a short laugh from where he crouched next to his bunk, trying to work out the kinks that seemed to be determined to settle in his limbs.

His right hand scratches idly at some of the small scars that crisscross his snout, idly working his fingers through his light gray fur.

Naran replies, "I agree that ships are not feel comfortable, but they can be useful in getting from here to there. I haven't made this journey before, so don't know how long this will be."

There are others in on the ship, having bought passage north, but they keep to themselves, barely even grunting acknowledgment throughout the journey. The crew of the ship are similarly talkative, though one or two joke about your chances of survival once you reach Northfall, the only permanent settlement in the Bitter Reach, and the port to which you sail.

You have all learned a few things however, the ship having made this journey several times before. Treasures and coin are regularly shipped back to the south by this and other ships, through the trader Ingmarg, the most powerful (or perhaps only) merchant to deal with the lands outside of the icy Reach.

Expeditions are sent to the ice and snow to the west of Northfall, though many never return. Of those that do, some return only with stories of extreme hardship, blizzards and attacks by ice dragons, hostile orc clans and worse. Some however, return with riches beyond reckoning and wondrous artefacts buried in the ice for centuries.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:06, Tue 23 Mar 2021.

Clutching his furs closer about him, Reuben shifted himself towards the garrulous wolfkin, weaselling past the other passage-seekers, "But a worthwhile journey, I'm told"

He chuckled to himself a little, his own reasons for making the journey more one of a push than a pull

Naran looks down at Reuben and replies, "I hope so. This is my first journey to the far north. Have you been before?"

He glances from Reuben over to Arken, looking to see if the other wolfkin is interested in joining the conversation.

Forcing his smile to remain in place, Reuben shuddered as the ship rode a bigger swell, "Not me; I'm not made for the ice and snow"

the big white wolfkin looked over at the others " I have never been north but the land calls to me and I have answered that call" with that he placed his hand on the damp hull of the boat next to him and the water on the surface of the timber turned to a sheen of ice

He looked from it to the others " as I said the north calls to me"

"If you can keep it at bay as well", suggested Reuben, huddled in warmth, "Now, that would be very useful."

"What is known of our destination?", he continued, his voice lowering a little

From your sparse conversations with the crew of the Maelstrom's Mistress, you have pieced together some legends about the port of Northfall:

Legends say that Northfall was built on top of the remains of one of the winter elves’ foremost harbours. Millennia ago, Ferenblaud’s (a legendary winter elf king from what you can deduce) armies gathered here to leave Rodenvale (the name of the ancient elven lands, now known as the Bitter Reach) on immense warships, to conquer new realms for the Winter King.

Ghosts of winter elven shipwrights are still seen wandering the streets of Northfall, looking for parts to repair their lost ships. At night, the elven lighthouse outside of Northfall spreads an eerie light, sending a message to the ghost ships of the winter elves, the sails of which can still be seen
on the ocean.

Naran shrugs and says, "I don't know much. Sounds like the shadow of the winter elves lays heavy on the region. Do you have plans when you arrive?"

"It's not a venture I'm making of choice", remarked the half-elf ruefully; there was an edge of anger inn his voice, but it was old anger, directed elsewhere, "So I will see what the lands beyond Northfall holds. Someplace where Clay's hands hold more sway than that of men or the ghosts of elves"

" I go north to find my tribe. I was taken as a pup and know nothing of my ancestors so wish to find them and myself. All I know is the cold and north has always called to me" replied the wolfkin

"Perhaps I might accompany you", ventured the druid somewhat gruffly, "Whilst I don't believe any of my own ancestors were of these elf-kin, I would prefer not to stay i the settlement overlong"

Arken studied his travelling companion for a moment " your company would be welcome and interesting to have along" a slight smile creased the corners of his muzzle for a second or two

Naran nods to Reuben and replies, "I have to say it is also not my first choice to journey north, but a change of scenery was most necessary. I don't have any solid plans upon arrival. Do you know where your tribe might be?"

Your conversation is cut short by a call from above deck, "Land Ho!"

The crew that had been resting in the relative comfort of the ships hold are called up and you hear footsteps crossing back and forth on the deck above as the sailors prepare the ship for port.

With little to his name, Reuben needed no time to pull his furs tighter around. His ears pricked at the noise from the deck, and the waves slapping against the hull as they moved closer - it would still be some time before they docked, he suspected, and they were disembarked

Naran chuckles deep in his throat, something that comes out like a happy growl. He speaks quickly as he moves to gather the few things he has brought with him, "Well, it sounds like it's time to see what the Reach has to offer us. I've heard it's a very demanding place, full of dangers."

"Aye, I heard that, too; that it was full of men, despoiling the land" offered Reuben with a chuckle, "Other things, as well. Ice and snow, blizzards and storms, fearful creatures in the long night and the haunts of ages gone by"

Arken stood he wasn't a broad built but he was tall and athletic he had to duck as he moved to the stairs and up onto the deck. " snow and ice and blizzards will be a blessing and a relief to the hot sun and dry lands I travel from. The environment holds no fear for me as for the creatures I'm sure I can handle most of what we come across and if not I only have to out run you two" he said with a gruff chuckle

“That is the way of it”, laughed Reuben

“Watch your step, tenderfoots! What you see before you is Northfall, a backwater populated by scum and bandits. But it’s still the beating heart of the Bitter Reach, this is where you find warmth and friends – ‘cause outside Northfall everything is worse than you can imagine.”

It’s the captain of the ship that has carried you to the cold north who’s talking. He’s leaning against the gunwale and his breath forms small clouds of frost in the cold air. “What will you do now? Hunt Pikebeast? Gather silver eggs from the waddlerbirds? Mine the elves’ riches from the dirt? One thing is sure though… your noblest parts will freeze like they’ve never frozen before!”

Dukat’s boisterous laugh follows you as you disembark the ship that has carried you all the way from the south. The locals barely throw you a glance, they have seen others like you arrive, and they have seen them leave Northfall hunting for treasure, never to return.

The captain calls after you one last time. “Go to Ogrin the Tailor, make sure you get yourself some proper garments, so you don’t freeze to death the very first night! You can find lodging with Cuss and Dang – if you can stand their company! Wyrm be with you!”

Northfall and the Bitter Reach lie open before you.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:47, Wed 07 Apr 2021.

Naran looks at his companions and says, "Getting prepared and finding a place to get out of the cold for a bit seems smart. Of course, I wander if things might end up with me wanting to repay the favor to our good captain in time."

Reuben nodded, shivering already. Frost rimed his lashes, salty from the spray as they had docked. He took in the port town, the Captain's recommendations, the frozen fog of his breath, continued to nod, "Damn its cold. Someplace warm, something warm, perhaps something that ain't hard tack and over-salted"