Frustrated, Kurik heads down to breakfast.  Only once every one is there will he grab their attention and have them lean in.  "Last night I had a disturbing dream.  One of men holding me down and dropping a slug into my mouth which made its way to my stomach.  While what I thought was a dream may have been partially true, caution is always wise.  I've checked for foreign thoughts and there is something dark residing there.  Something excluding my other...friends.  I have tried a spell to purge it from me bit it did not work.  I fear that if it is not dealt with, it may grow to be a bigger problem."

Her eyes slowly open as she wakes to another morning in this cold landscape, I miss the heat of the jungle though I have to say this cold landscape is eerily beautiful.....****, get out of my damn head ring, I am in control not you!!

Begrudgingly Mal gets out of bed and makes her way downstairs for breakfast is it, early dinner, she can't keep it straight anymore. As much as she hates this decision no more alcohol for her, she needs to keep her mind focused on the task ahead so "thoughts" can not invade her dreams at night.

When she shes everyone she orders food and says morning and then heavily sits down after muttering out, "Morning?"

Not hearing anything from inside Badger's room, Kari heads to the common room. She listens to Kurik's story and seems troubled. I had a dream of my own last night, I was going to ask Badger if he knows about dreams but that will have to wait until he comes down. I did want to ask that woman from last night about something though,, excuse me while I go look for her. Looking around for Marta she goes over to the bar (or wherever Marta or anyone else is). What a cozy night it was last night, those extra furs certainly did the trick. I slept so good that I had a dream about something I heard mentioned somewhere, a lady in a nice red cloak. I didn't hear the whole story though, do you know it?

Marta's eyes glance up a bit in surprise, and then she frowns.  "Well.....yes, I suppose most people know the story. It was a long long time ago. I wasn't even alive, my parents were in their teens. Maybe fifty years ago?  Well, one night, a mysterious woman in a fur-lined red cloak stopped at the Eastside on her way to Lonelywood. She was was alone and frightened, my grandparents were the innkeepers at the time—they built this place, they were a pair of retired adventurers. Anyway, they tried to console this woman. The woman gave them a ring as payment for their hospitality. Unfortunately, not long afterward, a howling wind burst into the inn and tossed the woman about like a rag doll. My grandparents intervened, giving the woman time to escape. The evil wind battered my grandparents unconscious before resuming its hunt. That was the last anyone saw of the woman."   She pulls out a chain. On the end of it is an old wood carved ring with two white marmots in a ying-yang style pattern on top. The inside of the ring is lined in thin fur.  "This is the ring she gave them." 

How does a wind do that, it must not have been natural, what do you think it could have been? I've never seen a ring like that either, you must have some sentiment around it for it to have been passed down in the family.

"Yeah, I suppose I do have sentiment for it. It reminds me of my grand parents, and their generosity towards others....despite their own safety...giving despite themselves."  She smiles thoughtfully. 

They sound like the best kind of folks. Very much like someone my mom knew, though I never met him. Kari pauses for a moment or two, then continues. Do you believe in fate? I believe in guidance, from those who have gone before us. I hope I don't offend you, but would you be willing to part with the ring? For a price or a favor? I have this feeling, from the dream maybe or perhaps I'm being guided, just a feeling about that ring.

She frowns and wraps the ring within a fist and glances at Kari. "I just told you it was sentimental. But more than that, I feel like.....I feel like it should be passed on to someone..worthy...who was the same as my grandparents. Willing to help a total stranger, put themselves in harms way, not for greed or pride, but because it's the right thing to do."  She glances at Kari, "I'm sorry, I don't think you're the right person. Or at least, not the right person at this moment. Does that make sense?"

Of course, I apologize for asking. Thank you for sharing the story with me. I only have one last question, if you'll forgive me for prying a bit more. When the wind attacked your grandparents, was there anything that seemed to affect it, make it pause or hurt it if that's possible.

She shakes her head, "I'm sorry. My grandparents were beaten senseless by the thing. But...to hear my mom tell it, the wind was some sort of evil force of nature that could not be stopped....but, you know what they say about mom's tales." 

Yes, maybe that's all it was. I hope I don't find out for myself. With that said, she gives a bit of a nod as a way of taking her leave and heads back to the table with the others. Something strange is going on here. I'll be glad when we can leave all of this behind.

In addition to the conversation, Kari also gets the location of the mine from Marta, as it seems the group intends to spend a short time there investigating. "Um, the way to the mine is well marked, it's about a half-hour walk east of town."

Aside from getting a warm meal which includes an egg on toast and a bowl of oatmeal with a bit of sugar on it....does anyone do anything else?  Heading to the mine next? 

Badger arrives late to breakfast, having missed all the preceding conversation. But having had a most wonderful dream and restful sleep, he seems unusually cheerful, and hums as he collects a bowl of oatmeal. Well, this light and heat curfew might not be such a bad idea, he chortles. At least there were no late-night tavern festivities to rob sleep from the weary. I've not rested so well since I left my dungeon! Everyone ready for another frosty day in the Dale? And the gnome beams up at each of his three companions with a wide smile beneath his dishevelled beard.

Kurik sighs, "Badger...  you got any magic for parasites?  Had a dream about someone shoving one down my throat.  Used some magic and there's one in my gut.  My magic can't get it out.  Do have anything thst would?"

Mal looks up at Badgers words and pays particular attention to his words and mannerism.

I do not like happy fun time Badger, something is wrong. She thinks.

Parasites? asks Badger curiously. I'd have thought you'd be used to them by now. He stops and thinks for a moment before responding. No. I don't think I do. Unless shape-changing you into something small would rid you of it somehow, but your father never liked that kind of magic.... Oh! What if we killed you! He pauses for a moment as the conversation goes silent. I mean, perhaps the parasite would abandon your body if it thinks you are dead. I have a spell that does that... makes you appear dead.

Badger flips open his spellbook, searching for the Feign Death spell.

Appear dead? How does that work. What would happen if you got hurt while playing dead, would you actually die then? Kari looks like the wheels are turning in her head as she scrapes at the bottom of her bowl.

"Appearing dead and being dead are two different things.  I don't think appearing dead would do it.  Now if I died... that would probably do it.  Maybe five, ten minutes.  That should be long enough for the thing squirm out."  He looks up at the others.  "Can anyone bring me back?"

Badger shrugs. It's a pretty good likeness of death. Enough to fool just about anything or anyone. But I have nothing to raise you if you actually die. Unless you want to be raised as a zombie.

 I could ask my ancestors to watch over you in the afterlife. Maybe they would let you join them, and you could help guide me sometimes? That seems much better than becoming a zombie!