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 saying there have people going missing  when they refused to be sacrifices and, I believe, a few others as well.  The first was in Targos and news of that put me on edge.I’ve made my coin by solving crimes and collecting bounties so I went to take a look for myself.  I found a body outside of town that was too mutilated by the Frostmaiden’s children to be sure – but I think this was the one who went missin.”

“While I was in Targos, the second person went missing. A halfling trapper named Annabelle.  I never found her but I did find a similar body outside of Bryn Shander that I believe dates back to when human sacrifices were practiced there too.”

He scans the adventurers before him.  He nodded to himself before continuing, “In my travels I noticed a band of merchants known as Torg’s owned and operated by a shady dwarf named Torrga Icevein.  I followed Torg’s for a ten-day on little more than a hunch.  They are a devious little enterprise, but that’s not my concern.  One bloke did stick out to me – Sephik Kaltro.  He was surprisingly comfortable in this weather.  No coat, no scarf, no gloves.  It was like the cold couldn’t touch him.  Kissed by the Frostmaiden.  He’s charming, makes friends easily.  He’s also Torgga’s bodyguard so I’m guessing he’s good with a blade.”

“I’ll pay you three hundred gold pieces to apprehend Sephek Kaltro, ascertain his guilt, and deal with him without involving the authorities.  When the job is done, return to me to collect your money.”

Artim sat down on one of the chairs and listened while Hlin talked. Only when he finished, did Artim voice the first of his questions. "Why not bring in the authorities? I must admit my faith in the authorities of my own little town is limited, but I'm curious to know why the law here in Bryn Shander or Targos shouldn't be involved?"

Hlin mentioned the Frostmaiden’s children, are those someone or something we locals would have heard of?

OOC: Locals would know that "Frostmaiden's Children" is a local term that refers to any of the aggressive monstrous beasts of the cold.  All towns sacrifice something once a month with the new moon.  The largest towns (except Bryn Shander) sacrifice people, most sacrifice food that they tie out in the dale for the Frostmaiden's children and a few sacrifice heat - turning off all lamps and fires for the night.  It's a pretty divisive topic but there is firm belief amoung the average Ten-Towner that these sacrifices have prevented even worse consequences.

Only the work of the Morninglord's clergy has moved Bryn Shander away from human sacrifice.

"Hope this doesn't offend you Hlin, but your conjecture seems awfully weak. If I didn't misunderstand you, then it seems that pretty much anyone in the Ten Towns is a likely suspect of hunting those that avoided the selection. It is even likely that the different victims were hunted by different people, unrelated to one another. I am interested in your job, since his apparent resistance to the cold is rather interesting to me. In my studies, I haven't come across any spells that would grant such a boon, so it is possible Sephek Kaltro is somehow connected to The Frostmaiden. But I encourage you to search further leads, perhaps of more humble reasonings than a big conspiracy. Maybe relatives of those that got selected as sacrifices in replacement for those that refused? Someone that would blame them for the death of a loved one? Sounds like a good place to start"

Shesha listens attently, nodding along with Uriah. "This Sephik Kaltro..." she says, "what leads you to suspect them? You haven't said anything firmer than they seem shady."

Artim was waiting for a response to his previous question, about the authorities, but added an argument in favor of the theory that the perpetrators could belong to the Torg's owned merchant band. "If there has been disappearances in multiple towns, merchants traveling without suspicion across the region could be a reasonable thing to look into."

Bisa takes a seat and listened intently as the older dwarf speaks.  She took in all that was said and found herself puzzled at all of it.

"Tha' whole ordeal is terribly unsettlin'  Ta' think folk are willing ta' kill ther' own for some evil goddess. Not even knowin' if its doin' anythin'."

The Paladin shook her head in anger at the thought.

"Sephik  seems an odditiy fa' sure, with no need for cold attire.  Ive lived in this cold me whole life.  Thats very odd."

Hlin addresses the questions in turn.

He starts with Artim, "The authorities would want to sweep this away.  What's the best case?  A murderer in the midst of towns already beaten down by two years of winter?  The worst is that he actually works for the Frostmaiden.  Besides they, like your friend here"  He motions to Uriah, "Would want the proof before they pursue it.  As a long term bounty hunter I'll tell you that won't work here.

Then he turns to Uriah and Shesha, "No, I don't have proof yet but this is by far the most reasonable explanation of the leads I tracked down.  The timeline of the merchant's travels, his immunity to the cold all tell a compelling story even if it is conjecture.  I'm not asking you to deal with him on my word alone.  I'm asking you to investigate him, find proof, and then deal with him - quietly."

With a knowing glance at Bisa, "Aye.  Very unsettling - the townspeople are nearing a breaking point."

OOC: Clarification - I typed it poorly above as I retyped the post a few times. Bryn Shander used to have human sacrifices.  Targos and Easthaven still do.

"Understood." Artim saw the wisdom in not involving town leaderships at this time. "Do we know where the merchants are now? Are they here in Bryn Shander?"

The priest looked around at the other ones present, seeing if any of the others had additional questions or comments.

"Deal with him quietly - if we find proof," Shesha says with a nod, "I can do that."

In reply to Artim Adoxxilo (msg # 9):

"Last I heard they were in Termalaine and headed to Lonelywood next - but they do move around a lot."

The dwarven paladin stood up and looked around at the gathered group.

"Well  seems as good as place as any ta be startin'  We may want ta make haste and git goin'"

Bisa Nodded her head at Hlin.

"As unless I misunderstand we are on tha' clock here."

Artim gave the dwarf a nod. "They may already have left Termalaine, but we'll pass through there on our way to Lonelywood." He looked at the others in the room. "There were a few more travelers in the common room. I think we should bring everyone we can. Anyone capable, that is."

Unless there were objections, the priest did exactly that. He moved about the common room, telling several of the people he had seen that they were assembling an expedition, that they were leaving shortly, and that they would get an equal share of the promised gold.

Having entered the private room with the others, Halgotin had been quiet, listening to the dwarf and trying to keep up with what those who were interacting with him were saying.

"Artim," one of the few others in the room who Halgotin had briefly met before heading to the private room, "I can head back to the common room with you, if you like? I can imagine Silas may be willing. Did you notice any others?"

Uriah nodded in agreement. "Very well. Push comes to shove, I don't have qualms with vigilantism when the law is inefficient, but I must ask that any death sentence on Kaltro is delayed until after we get him to share his secrets with us."

After that, Uriah followed Artim back out into the entrance hall.

--> to the hall

In reply to Bisa Battlehammer (msg # 12):

Hlin speaks up to answer Bisa as the group turns to leave, "You probably have a few days.  The next new moon isn't for a tenday"

OOC: The sacrifices all happen on the new moon. I think I mentioned it earlier - but just in case.