Merrel feeds the fish to his owl whole, "Well, you have the wrong taste buds, that's why. But that was the most snow resistant form I could coax out of the spell. If you want them to taste good, we'll have to try cat or rat. Not ideal for the local weather. Maybe we'll get lucky and our room will have mice. You know, crab might work, too. As a form I mean, not a snack. Many species live in freezing water. Freezing air won't be any worse, I wouldn't think. I think I can tease a crab out of the spell. But we'll need certain herbs that I'm sure aren't growing locally at present."

The Paladin listened to the stories being told around her.  She gripped onto her mug far to tightly as she heard of Auril.  That deity was an affront to the balance of nature itself.  Something Bisa could not stand, though there was little she felt she could do.  The whole situation seemed so hopeless.  The knowledge that the otherwise goodly folk of the Ten-Towns were is some cases sacrificing people to Auril was disgusting.

Scrimsax came back with more to drink and said what he had to say, and it took all she had not to slam her drink down on the bar.  Bisa stood up and walked over to Hlin and the gathering group.

"Sorry fa' interruptin' but its soundin' like this is an issue that need adressin'"

The dwarf nodded respectfully at the elder telling the tale.

"If'n someones taking lives in name o' tha' Frostmaiden than sumthin' needs ta' be done about it!"

Uriah rubbed his chin, thinking.

"I'm... highly skeptical about the townfolk's reasoning. If my hypothesis is correct, then Auril is powerful, but not divine in origin. I do not know the purpose of her curse, nor does any scholar I've read, but I can't imagine sacrifices will do anything. It does sound interesting (and worrying), thank you for the information. If possible, I'd like to look into this matter. Maybe you can point me in the direction of someone that knew some of these missing people? A relative, or close friend?"

When Bisa approached, Uriah nodded in agreement. "I'd be more than happy to tag along if you plan to investigate this. Ignorance is a disease, and a deadly blight in rough times such as these. If not eradicate it, maybe we can at least alleviate it's symptoms"

Eofric watched as the female dwarf also left the bar to close in on the elder dwarf.
Clearly she had better hearing, or better attention span, than he for Eofric had barely listened to what the dwarf told the gnome.
Coming to think of it, everyone in the inn seemed to have incredible hearing because quite a few people were amassing at the dwarf's table.
First the gnome, then the elf, then the scaly humanoid had taken an interest and now the female dwarf. Surely the man-mountain, who had previously talked with the dragonborn before talking with the owl-feeding fellow, would soon follow.

Eofric raised an eyebrow at Scramsax.
"Looks to me, your view on the matter is more interesting than the dwarf's."
"Why do you say that those people should already be dead before they went missing? Did they have some disease or something? Did they offend some powerful faction hereabouts and were marked for death? Did they perhaps mess with the Thieves Guild? If you even have such in this small town where a whole guild probably would not even prosper. Or maybe a religious thing? Angered a powerful priest? Or a wizard?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:57, Thu 02 Mar 2023.

In reply to Eofric (msg # 43):

Scramsax shook his head, "No, no - nothing like that.  Those to be sacrificied are selected by drawing tokens.  If someone must be given to the Frostmaiden it's as fair a way as any to pick them.  As far as I'm concerned when their chit comes up they are dead whether they admit it or not."

Eofric recognizes the indifference he's seen in other old soldiers in his travels.

"Sacrifices to the Frostmaiden and the victims are drawn randomly."
"And those chosen did not agree with that choice, tried to evade their fate."
"And someone does not agree with that evasion and corrects the victims' fate."
"Interesting."
"For one thing: who is then sacrificed if the original victim has gone away? And why does the one who intervenes not bring the victim back for the sacrifice but  makes them disappear? Or do you think the chosen ones left for the south never to be seen again."
"Looks to me, old dwarf there does not have a mystery to tell after all."

Scramsax smiled, "The town picks another to take their place.  They don't want to anger the maiden."

"As to the missing - well Hlin claims to know what happened to them but I haven't found anyone else to confirm his tale."

---

Hlin smiles at Bisa and Uriah's response.  Glancing around he says, "Perhaps it's time to take this to one of the private rooms."

He flags down Poppy and asks for a key to one of the inn's two private rooms.  She pulls it from her pocket and Hlin motions for the others to follow as he walks into one of the doors off the common room.  As he stands it is easy to see that his leg has recently been injured and he walks with a hobble.

"And what is the claim Hlin makes?"
Eofric thought he did not care but sacrifices unsettled him, especially since it seemed like it was not some ritual of a priesthood but rather an uneducated appeasement of the populace in general. And that smacked of tyrany.

Uriah follows the old warrior without adding anything. Hopefully he is just being careful and there isn't anyone that would pose danger listening in on them.

Artim was about to stand up and say a few words to them all. He had some thoughts about sacrifice and worship. Something that he hoped carried weight, with him being a man of the temple, so to speak. It was at this time the group started moving to one of the private rooms.

Artim decided to follow, assuming they'd let him. This was too important to miss. He thought it was the omen he had been waiting for. He gave the ones he hadn't met a nod in greeting and positioned himself standing near the door to the room.

When the load group and the guy following them head upstairs, Merrel holds the door open for his owl and sends it on a trip around town before resuming his seat and examining the local collection of dead animals

[Private to GM: Actually, to outside the window of the room they wind up in. Then he'll borrow it's senses.]

Seeing as Halgotin had joined Artim and Silas at their table, and now Artim seemed to be departing with a group of others to follow the older dwarf to a private space, Halgotin decided to follow the others to find out what was happening.

Bisa simply nods and gets up to follow the dwarf to one of these private rooms.  She was very interested in what else he had to say.

As she did so she saw a number of others following.  Bisa was glad to see she was not the only one concerned by what had been said so far.

[Private to Merrel: OOC: Your owl flies around and finds an appropriate perch near the window.  Make a stealth check with advantage if you want him to try to avoid notice.

The wind howls and you are only able to make out the words that fall between wind gusts.

Poppy leads the group to a room with a large oaken table and a smaller table at one end.  The long table has ten chairs spread around it and the small table has a stack of empty cups and plates.
Hlin hands her a coin and then takes a seat at one end of the table, waiting on the others to file in.  Once they do he speaks.

“As I was … there … going missing … to … and, I … The … was in … and news of that put me … edge.  I’ve … my coin … crimes … collecting bounties so … a … myself. … outside of town that … by the … children … be … think … one … missin.”
“While … in … second person went missing. … halfling … I … her … I … body … of … I believe … were practiced … too.”

He scans the adventurers before him. He nodded to himself before continuing, “In my travels I noticed … owned … operated … Torrga … for a … little … a … They are a devious little enterprise, but that’s … my … out to … Sephik … He … comfortable … weather. … scarf, … gloves. It … cold couldn’t touch him. Kissed … the … He’s … makes … easily. He’s … bodyguard … guessing he’s … with a blade.”

“I’ll … gold pieces … Kaltro, … and … him without involving the … return … me … money.”

]

Scramsax responds to Eofric, "He thinks he found some of the bodies and claims they were murdered. Didn't have proof though."  Scrimsax holds up the schnapps bottle with a questioning look.



[Private to Silas Nightwind: Let me know if you went in the room or not. ]

Eofric nodded to have another refill.
He scratched his head.
"What? Just how often do these sacrifices happen? And does this occur in all Ten Towns?", Eofric's slurred, it was a potent schnaps the inn keeper had found there in his storage.
"So them people are going to be sacrificed. But they disappear. And the dwarf says they are murdered? But... to know that he would need to find the lost people, no? That's what ypu just said: he found the bodies but cannot prove they were murdered? How can you possibly not prove a murder if you have the body? Slit throat, pretty obvious, no? I suppose he cannot prove who murdered them, no?"
He paused, was about to take another gulp, but actually stopped midway, a frown building on his brow.
"I there money to be earned from this tale? Anyone offer a bounty? Those who organize this... chit drawing, perhaps? Always looking for easy money, see?", he grinned, looked at his glass.
"This is good stuff, you know, can't tell why you have it hidden like that and no one wants some. If you keep that, you'll have at least one paying customer.", he winked and pointed at himself.

Silas joined the others surrounding Scramsax and pondered at the implications of people being offered as sacrifices.

"Let me guess, there is no problem of having strangers becoming the guest of honor?" he asked. "That will cause some serious issues any merchants that happen to be in the area." he added.

As the group adjourned to a private room, Silas slipped his shield around so it was easier to access in case it was needed.

At the mention of a bounty and such, Silas frowned. "Sometimes it is better to play the long game. If we deal with the threat to the Ten Towns, then we will have better support in the area. Merchants might be more open towards trading with us, and the townfolk will point out the less scrupulous ones that would be trying to take every coin we have. Now needless to say, any items that belong to the foe, would be compensation for our services. Maybe get with the townfolk to see who is missing and any identifying features that they might have?" Silas suggested.

Eofric looked at the huge fellow who had joined him at the bar.
"Eorfic", was all he said as introduction. And a nod.
"Well, I suppose if that chit is randomly drawn you won't find any identifying criteria. Or anything they may have in common. Unless, of course, that game is rigged."

"Good point about non-residents."
"If they present oyu with a sack, don't reach inside. You may come up with a chit.", he laughed, a single hard bark.

Eofric swirled the schnapps in the glass.
"Long run, hun? I see your point. Problem here: I am near broke."
He noticed that Scramsax raised an eye-brow.
"No worries, I still have enough to pay for your booze. I always pay what I am due."

He turned back to the huge man.
"Lots of people talking to the old dwarf. Except for the female dwarf, did see no warrior."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:26, Tue 07 Mar 2023.

Scramsax shrugged, "I don't know the details of what he found.  He's convinced he knows what happened and my adventuring days are done so I didn't pry too hard.  Haven't heard of a bounty but if there was one he'd likely be the one offering."

"As to outsiders with the drawing, it's the night of the new moon and only in two of the towns. Merchants and the like know to steer clear."

"The other towns hang food outside of town for the most part.  The poorest towns will cut off all heat for the night.  It's amazing they don't have more dead from that than anything else.  "

He looked at the two men, "It always seems work finds its way in here if you just wait on it."

As if on cue, the door swung open and three dwarves walk in.  They are all bundled in cold weather garb with snowshoes hung over their backs and ice picks hanging from their belts.  Two of them have thick beards covered in frost.  The three kick the snow off their boots and rub their hands together as the approach the bar.

The beardless one speaks in a raspy voice.  "Scramsax!  We need some help do you know where we can find any?"  She asks as she pulls a scarf away from her face and removes her gloves revealing a missing ear and a hand missing two fingers - both healed over.

Scramsax nods at Silas and Eofric, "The name is Hruna.  You two looking for work?  Not sure if there's enough of you but we need the help - and you do look capable."

"Which two towns?", Eofric kept squeezing Scramsax for more information.

Must grow a larger beard with so many dwarves about, Eofric thought at the sight of more members of the small but sturdy race.
He turned around to Hruna, a beardless dwarf. He checked the dwarf for any signs of clan membership.
The schnapps was already having a detrimental effect on his thought processes and it took the veteran a moment to realize that he was looking at a woman.
Damn those thick clothes, cannot see the ovbious, he thought.
"Name is Eofric, if you need a sword, I am game. What troubles you?"

Scramsax doesn't reply to Eofric's question as they had been interrupted.

Hruna replies "We're the survivors of a group of dwarves tasked with delivering a sled of iron ingot to Bryn Shander.  A yeti surprised us and killed a member of our group.  The rest of us fled as the yeti tore Oobok limb from limg.  Now we need someone to go back and get the sled for us.  I have gemstones to pay for this service and the friendship of the dwarves of Icewind Dale can be a boon in these harsh times."  Glancing at your gear she adds, "You'll want snowshoes to make the trip in good time."

[Private to Merrel: The conversation in the private room continues with no interesting details.  The group appears to be pushing for more details out of Hlin but the dwarf adds little.]

Merle raises his head from the table top, eyes blinking, "Yeti? I've never seen a yeti. Do you need a wiz...err, dru...err, spellcaster?"

"At the very least, your companion could use a proper burial, or whatever is done her since the ground feels more like rock. Count me in." Silas said to Hruna .

Eofric listened but he was not quite clear what the actual task was supposed to be. He blamed it all on the schnapps for the huge fellow seemed eager enough and must have undertood better. "Hang on there Hruna. So the three of you had to retreat from the yeti."
"And you assume that the yeti took the sled with it and we would have to fight this yeti first?"
"Whatever does a yeti do with iron?" , he asked with wonder. He had always thought yetis were non-intelligent monsters.
"Or are you saying that the help you require is to accompany you in case the yeti attacks again?"
"Or is it simply hauling the sled back here?"
"Snowshoes? How far out is the combat site? You will lead us there, right?"
"Don't get me wrong, I am certainly willing to help you but I prefer to know just what your expectations truly are.

---

What does it take to know more about yetis? Any rolls required? Which skill?
This message was last edited by the player at 05:13, Thu 09 Mar 2023.

Hruna nodded at Merrel as he joined the group and at Silas as he mentioned taking care of her friend, "Aye, we retreated.  We're miners and merchants not warriors.  The yeti may be gone, it would be more interested in meat than the iron left behind.  Other creatures out there or even other people would take an interest though and we can't just leave it."

She motions at her group which is clearly exhausted, "I can give you directions to the sled - it's about an eight hour trek with the snowshoes -  but we aren't in any condition to head back out without a good rest." She glances at Scramsax, "And some food."

OOC:  You can make a nature check to know about the Yeti.  Around here, asking would probably be a decent way to go to.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:48, Thu 09 Mar 2023.

Eofric nearly spat out the schnapps in incredulous surprise.
"Ridiculous!"
"Eight hours out and you expect us to find a sled in the wilderness with blizzards and whatnot? What chance to find this? Might as well seach for a needle in a hay stack."
"You need to lead us there."
"And supply those snow shoes."
"And show that gem to see its worth."
"Seriously, you expect a miracle."

---

rolled 19 using 1d20 with rolls of 19.  Nature (INT).