The next day the group gathers a bit later than is customary.  Their first foray into the tundra has left everyone feeling a bit stronger than they previously were.  Scrimsax is no where to be seen and Poppy is running the common room by herself.  When asked she mentions that he's just sleeping during the day and she will during the afternoon.

Hlin left word with Poppy that if you have any questions she can come grab him out of his room.

Poppy again has the bagged meals of dried meat and cheese ready for all.

OOC: I assume you will take the road out through Targos and Termaline to Lonelywood.  Let me know if that's accurate.  Also let me know if you are stopping in any town rather than just walking trhough it.  If you do roll through without stopping it's about 8 hours of total travel.  Snow shoes have no impact on the roads - which in game terms is their main benefit.

Artim started his day with a moment of quiet prayer and reflection. He mentally prepared what he thought would be magic they'd need for this quest, but one could never really know what fate had in store. He got dressed in his armor and vestments and went to eat some breakfast before departure.

He met the others with one his usual greetings. In this case, "May the embers of your hearth never be fully extinguished."

Before they left, he went to one of the nearby shops and procured some more clothing. His draconic heritage protected him greatly against the cold, but if they were caught in another blizzard (or an even worse one), it was better to be prepared for extremes. In any case, he was soon ready to go.

I suggest we stop in the towns we pass and ask for news, as one does.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:14, Wed 26 Apr 2023.

Jerris starts his days as usual.  He cleans up, then spends an amazing amount of time in the tavern eating breakfast.  Some of the bread and cheese make it into his.pockets, ostensibly for later.
After gathering with the 9thers, he sets himself near the head of the formation, using his hiking staff to probe the snow ahead for who knows what.  Maybe ice, maybe traps.  Quietly he trudges with the others,speaking only to make little course corrections here and there.  Though the changes are minor, he does not explain the reason for them.

After a good night sleep, Uriah is ready (if somewhat reluctantly) to face the cold roads once more. Before leaving, he takes 10 minutes to cast the floating disk once more, to carry whatever equipment needs to be carried.

As the party gathers and begin their travels, a quick two hour walk along well-traveled roads leads them to Targos.

Targos, like Bryn Shander, has a wooden wall wrapped around the city.  The road the party is on splits around a thousand feet before the entry gate with the northeasterly branch leading on to Termalaine, the road back to Bryn Shander running to the east, and the northwestern branch leading directly into the Targos gate.

Unlike Bryn Shander, Targos sits on a lake named the Maer Dualdon and you've heard Ten-Town locals mention that Targos has the largest fishing fleet of any of the towns.  The wall extends into the lake and creates a safe harbor for the town boats.

Flagpoles are spaced along the wall bearing the single-sailed, black ship on a light blue field that is Targo's symbol.  Once you knew where you were going Poppy told you that there is an inn in Targos (The Luskan Arms) and a tavern (Three Flags Sailing) rather than an establishment that does both.

Does the party venture into the town or turn at the intersection? Artim mentioned you may check for rumors.  If so, let me know who you are looking to talk to.  Also, just a reminder that there are maps of all towns in the maps thread.  I've left the names on those maps to make it easier on us all rather than use the anonymized player maps.

"Let us go and get something warm in our bellies at the Three Flags Sailing tavern. We can find out what is going on in the area." Silas said.

I am not having any luck opening the maps

I like the sound o' that, the halfling growls in agreement.  Then another night in a bed rather than a bedroll in a snow shelter.

Artim agreed wholeheartedly to the suggestions. A warm meal and drink and a warm bed would be very welcome. He had a feeling this quest would put them face to face with the cold elements soon enough. He shook the snow off his body and kicked ice off his shoes before entering the establishment, and started by inquiring about their specials.

Eofric did agree on the brief stop for a warm meal but he was not really fabourably disposed for a stay over night.
"Pah, it's barely noon!"
"I would prefer to continue but it really depends on whether we could reach Termalaine before temperatures drop too low."

Eofric greeted a guardsman at the gate.
"Greetings friend. Can you tell me how long it takes to reach Termalaine by foot^1.?"

Once that was settled Eofric shrugged.
"If we would rather pick up rumours, maybe inquire about our person, I am not insisting on carrying on."

---

1. Kindly edit the Travel Times thread accordingly

rolled 0 using 1d20-1 with rolls of 1.  CHA.
Checking for rumours/news
This message was last edited by the player at 10:43, Thu 04 May 2023.

The halfling finds a table, and a server.  Being the scintillating and engaging conversationalist that he is, he order food and ale with grunts and gestures.  A few moments later, he curtly adds, Please.
Are we really sure he's a halfling, not  just some very short beardless dwarf?

The group had only been traveling a few hours when they stopped for a meal.  They have no trouble entering the town and find themselves at The Luskan Arms.  Those who are well traveled may recognize the architecture since it resembles the buildings in Luskans.  A few inquiries reveal that the building is two centuries old and named for the Luskan traders that made up the bulk of those arriving in Targos at the time.

The walls are strong and feature tapestries with heraldry from the old High Captains of Luskan and a large vellum map on the wall above the hearth.  The floor shows signs of rot and drafts come up through the floor boards.  Unlike the Northlook, there is no fire in the fireplace.  Instead, oil lamps sit on each table and give off some heat.  Locals know that outside of Bryn Shandar wood is hard to find given the never-ending winter and it is preserved for cooking.

There is a bar on one side of the room with laborers eating their lunch. There are also tables around the room with around half of them full.

A older woman approaches the group and straightens her fingerless gloves as she speaks, "Welcome, welcome.  Lunch is knucklehead stew with some bread.  We've got beer, ale, and wine.  Two silver each for the stew and drink.  What'll you have?"

OOC: If anyone wants to try to find rumors - or anything else - let me know what you are trying to do and roll any appropriate skill checks.  I've also updated the travel time and map threads (please let me know if anyone has trouble seeing the maps) to help as I think the journey between towns was shorter than some believe.  Even with your late start it's only around noon.

Silas knocked off the snow from his snowshoes before taking them off and leaving them by the entrance, the skillet sized webbing would be hard press to be anyone else's.

"Stew and ale is fine, mulled cider would be better." he said, as he looked for a sturdy spot yo avoid making the draft from the floorboards any larger. "This looks like a good spot." he added before siting down.

As he waited for his meal, the Cleric kept his ears and eyes open for any news.

Eofric immediately felt at ease as he walked through the streets of the town that so very much reminded him of his own hometown. The familiar sights were unexpected but welcome.

Even so, Eofric was not really happy to stay here since they could at least have reached Termalaine if they continued onwards.

In the end in was the offer of a warm meal that made him relent his urging and with a sigh he sat down and next to the large cleric.
"Yes, yes, a stew and and ale if you please. Do you also have some stronger beverage. Seems my flask may need a refill."
It did not at this point, he had not really found the time to indulge but since he was utterly miserable at learning news and rumours he might as well sit down and enjoy the wait.

Two orders of stew and ale, the halfling orders gruffly.  Please, is added more politely.

Silas is able to locate a good spot to sit and, despite more creaking, there is no movement in the floor.

After everyone orders, the older woman nods and leaves, returning shortly with the food and
ale.  "We're out of cider till another shipment makes it up from the south.  It goes fast.  For liquor, you'll want to go over to the Three Flags Sailing"

After a quick taste, you suspect that water they've added to the ale helps too.  The fish stew is filling if not exactly appetizing.  It's clear they waste no part of the trout as an eye ball can be seen staring back at you as it floats in the bowl.  There are also bits of potato and the broth has been thickened with flour.  It's been surprisingly well seasonsed.

As the woman turns to leave she stops and talks to one of the other patrons a few tables away and takes his order.

Artim ate quickly and then spent an hour in the area around The Luskan Arms, Three Flags Sailing, as well as talking with the local fisherman and people around the shops in town. He asked generally about news, and specifically about disappearances or strange people moving about. Although religion had an important place among common people, and Artim was a man of the cloth, he was usually not the best at small-talk. Nevertheless, he tried approaching people like a fellow ten-townian.

Charisma (Persuasion?) 19.

Artim's inquiries yield some tidbits - but it's can be difficult to sort truth from gossip.

Silas frowned that there was no mulled cider/

"Excuse me, what was that about a flying snake? I have never heard of anything like that. What can you remember about it?" Silas asked as the tale from the other table catching his attention