"So  staying out of the town was a good idea and it sounds like we might have friends or at least not necessarily enemies up north as well with this Brotherhood. Shall we head out now, or make camp for the rest of the night and head out early in the morning?" Mal says.

Kurik stood still, watching as Kari returned.  Then he watched, slowly stroking his chin as Kari talked.  "Looking for us?" he said and then nodded towards Mal and Badger, "Or them?  Though... I suppose I close enough resemble my father."  He dropped his hand from his chin to the hilt of his sword.  He absentmindedly popped it an inch clear of the scabbard and then letting it drop a few times.  Then more to himself than others, he said, "Never fought a dragon... bet I'd look good in white scale."  Almost immediately after he had said then, did make a slight jerking motion as his armor seemed to visibly quiver for an instance. 

I heard what was spoken, says Badger with a touch of self-importance. This Brotherhood sounds like they don't do much unless there's something in it for themselves. But treasure? In a backwater place like that? More likely they want to discover the source of power that caused the forever winter, and acquire it. Even more justification for keeping the ring away from their grasp. Good thing you took my advice and stayed out here. But we will have to be careful not to run into this Brotherhood as we conduct our own search.

Its only late afternoon at this point. Being summer, the sun will be up for a couple more hours yet, and the group could easily spend that time to skirt the town if they desire. Though...traveling cross country instead of on the Northern Means could be challenging. That said, you're powerful adventurers, challenge is what drives you!  But, you still need to pick a route..do you just follow the Northern means, but inland further by a mile or two, or take some other path? 

You all consider your options as you drink a beer out of a wooden mug that has a wood lid pressed over it to keep it fresh while it 'travelled'...and munch on partially warm shepherds pie style meat pies that are quite tasty, half-filled with warm gravy that may have been even better when fresh. 

Kari glances at they sky as she brushes the last crumbs off of her pants. There's still time to walk off supper, we may as well make the most of it, eh? Noticing Kurik's slight jerk she asks him Have you got the hiccups? You can hold your breath and do 10 jumping jacks. That always cures me. Turning to include Mal and Badger again she says If you two are the ones they want then you should pick how we travel. Miles are miles, be they road or not road.

Badger sets his travel mug aside, pulls a small book and a set of coins from a pouch, and squats down on the ground. Throwing the coins onto the ground, he stares at them for a few moments, muttering to himself, then flicks through the book. Hmm. Water over Thunder. Trouble at the beginning. To weave order out of confusion, the first move is the most important. But the first line changes. Water over Earth. Holding Together. Hope remains if the company stays united.

Looking up at the others, Badger announces his interpretation. The oracles have spoken. It says that the worst is over, and we have avoided conflict. From here onwards, we should have little difficulty, as long as we remain united. Then looking down he also adds: That is, provided that the group follow the guidance of one of strong mind and will who complements all others. Clearly this refers to myself.

He pauses briefly to allow the import of this last prediction to sink in, which clearly it has by the looks on the faces of his companions. Already they are speechless, clearly lacking any original thought and in need of wise guidance. And so he continues: The oracles however are silent on which direction is best. Mirabar is no doubt the safer route, but requires a more arduous mountain crossing. The coastal route keeps us closer to the giants, but may prove to be the quicker. Perhaps one more augury will determine which is best.

Badger picks up one of the coins and flips it in the air, catching it and slapping it onto the back of his other hand. As he slowly reveals it he says: Heads we take the coast road. Tails we go inland.

Heads=1, Tails=2
1

Sighing at the words from Badger, I think I kind of missed the wee little ones talking, what is wrong with me?

"Well I guess our direction is decided, hugging the coast it will be, at least if we see any boats we just move farther inland to avoid them. We should get moving so we cna put this town behind us before we make camp for the night." Mal says,

Deciding to follow the Northern Means, the group attempts to travel overland. However, it quickly becomes apparent attempting to avoid the road entirely will be a massive waste of time as you try to pick your way around the terrain. The road at least, has cut a path. Though, whoever called the road north from Luskan a road, was a damned liar. It’s a rough shod trail that runs across the open rolling hills of the northern tundra. Tall grass grows amidst a nearly treeless expanse. It’s wide open with hardly any shelter. With such open sites, there's really no value in traveling off road. That and, you spot no sign of giants, the road seems open and deserted. Your horses make good time over the rocky trail, up hills strewn with rocks and across broad open land. Creeks cross the trail every half-mile…all small and filled with ice cold water still draining down off the snow capped mountains that reach into the sky before you.  Directly north is what can only be described as a wall of mountains. The trail slowly works its way to the north west, as if hoping to avoid the mountains, while inexorably getting closer and closer. Soon the land becomes more up and down than flat, and the trail skirts along the bottom of vast steep hills and mountainsides, dotted with goats that pick their way along the steep inclines.  Beyond the mountains, you see only more mountains…more white than dark the further you can see, even during the summer.

This trail leads north for 120 miles, and at the rate you’re going, you’ll like be on the road for a full 5 days before reaching the road to ten towns. 

It’s the fourth day along the trail, just past noon, when you see something, far up in the sky that must be quite large.  As you focus on it, you see the tiny shape of a dragon hundreds of feet in the air.  You can’t tell it’s color from this distance, but it flies over. It doesn't seem to stop, pause, or circle overhead, but just continues west. 

Out on the open coastal plains, Badger has little use for daily memorising the Arcane Eye spell, and instead memorises Galder's Tower. At the end of each day, he uses his highest remaining spell slot to create a tall tower for the group to stay in rather than remaining in their tents. At its maximum height, the tower has a floor for each member of the group, including a bed, chairs, chest, and magical fireplace, as well as the ground floor being a dining space with a table, chairs, magical fireplace, containers, and cooking utensils.

Badger watches the dragon carefully as it passes overhead. He fingers the rod in his pouch absently.

Crouching down in the grasses after seeing the dragon in the sky, Mal follows its path in the sky. "When we do encounter one of those I surely hope we are not out in an open filed such as this. That is a fight that will not go well for us. We might want to start being cautious and the next camp we make find one very defensible and then start traveling at night. I can not see very well at night at all, but I believe the rest of you can and I will just make do with what light the stars and moon give off."

Kari tries to see if the dragon has a rider as it flies by. She sees Mal crouching and follows suit. We may need to camp soon then, if we want to switch to night travel. With this terrain, will we be able to find camps where we aren't seen during the day? I'm pretty good at finding places, assuming there are any.

As Kari squints into the sky, she thinks she spots a band around the dragons stomach for a large saddle...and perhaps something on its back.

The terrain is certainly varied enough to find good hidden campsites. You're entering mountainous territory. Though of course using the gnome's tower which is very impressive, well appointed, and comfortable....but also very obvious, isn't a great way to keep a low profile.  After spotting the dragon, the group decides to find a hidden camp for the remainder of the day, and start traveling at night. 

The rest of the day passes uneventfully as you sit in camp, on the lee side of a stone outcropping. Kari figures that the party should be almost invisible from the sky thanks to the shadows, and you've got full cover from any road travellers. You have trouble sleeping so early though, and it's with a bit of weariness that the group trudges on after darkness falls. The sky tonight is relatively clear and the moon is out, lending the group good vision. Mal is able to avoid most of the nasty rocks and holes on the road as they walk. 

The group passes by three camp fires on the sides of the roads as they go. Two are larger camps of caravans which you've noted on the road as you've traveled. The third is a smaller group traveling by horse. 

Kari, can you roll a survival check for me.  

Can everyone roll a stealth check for me for passing by camps unnoticed? 

Does anyone want to do anything about any of these camps, or are you just slipping by in the night? 

Mal Stealth: 17

"Unless we are desperate for supplies, we should probably avoid anyone traveling on the road." Mal says.

Stealth: 9 (with advantage if its rocky terrain: 5)

Badger agrees that if the giants have spies about (which they apparently do), then they should probably avoid having anyone being aware of their presence that might pass on the information.

Kari wondered out loud as she watched the dragon fly past What would it be like to fly? Do you think the giants get too hot up there, so close to the sun? Then she focuses on finding a safe camp sight. She is restless that night, but soon adjusts to the night marches and finding safe camp sites, ignoring the camp fires during the night. She misses the tower, but is no stranger to a tent.

Survival: 18

Stealth: 17

(Using group checks, at least 50% have to succeed, and have two already, Kurik's roll is not needed.) 

The group slips past the different groups that evening with ease. Eventually, in the moonlight with the stars sparkling overhead, the group reaches a crossroads. Not a metaphorical one...but an actual cross roads. The large hardy sign post points each of the four ways. South to Luskan (110 miles), East to Fireshear (42 miles), East then North to  Ironmaster (51 miles), and NorthWest to Hundlestone (28 miles). 

"The lady of Waterdeep did say we should head to Ten-Towns to find the person we are looking for, so Hundelstone is the direction we should go as Ten-Towns is the next town after. We can also gauge how the people are going to treat outsider in the smaller town before we get to the bigger town and listen to any rumors that are going around." Mal suggests.

Kurik simply follows along with the others as they trek along eating away at miles while moving north.  As much as he can, he tries to remain quiet while they skulk through the dark.  The fit of arm didn't lend much to his ability to quiet step, but they must have remained far enough away.  When upon the crossroads, Kurik listened to Mal's suggestion.  

"If it's the last town between here and Ten-Towns, we should expect trouble.  Maybe giant trouble... maybe not.  But if they know we need to go that direction.  Then I expect it..."

Mal seems to know the way so Kari will follow her, but all the talk of giants is starting to be like a worm in her ear. She decides that she could use a little guidance and sits down in the middle of the crossroad. She takes a leather pouch from a side pocket of her backpack and holds it in front of her, eyes closed for several seconds, then she opens it and dumps a collection of rune engraved knuckle bones onto the ground in front of her. She examines them carefully, using her fingers to count, then gives a satisfied nod. A good result, likely no giants. Why are the others so worried when there's nothing to worry about? She picks up the bones and puts them away, then stands up and moves a bit toward Mal and the road to Hudlestone. No sense wasting time, lead the way Mal.

The path to Hundlestone leads directly up into the foothills of the western edge of the Spine of the world. The going is tough, especially so at night.  Shadows move in the darkness and night predators prowl. Occasionally you hear the scream of something dying in the night. The air takes a definite dip in temperature, from cool, to chilly, as you head up into the mountain range following the wagon trail that is full of switch backs and creek crossings.  Being summer, the streams and creeks are tame and the bridges in good repair, though you do spot evidence of wash-outs from the spring. 

Kari leads the group to a spot to camp, figuring she's found you some place relatively sheltered from view. 

As daylight arrives though on the groups camp, you make note that Kari may have hid you from the immediate trail, but in the dark hadn't spotted the trail ahead that rises up the hill and has full view of their camp site. Grumbling, everyone is woken up, blurry eyed, to break camp and find a better location. Luckily this path is not well traveled and you think you've continued to go unnoticed.  Either way, you spot no sign of giants, which, in some of the muddy spots or near the creeks you figured you'd definitely see signs of them. 

The day passes uneventfully and the following evening leads you further up into the mountains. Eventually, near morning, you come up a rise in the road and look down to Hundlestone. It's at the highest elevations along Ten Trail, where only a few shrubs cling to life amid patches of moss-covered rock. It perches on the mountain slopes much like the surrounding flora. The town’s buildings are low, with most of their rooms cut out of the hard soil and rock below ground level, and their roofs steeply pitched to better shed the snows that blanket the mountains in the winter. 

For most people, Hundelstone is either the last outpost of civilization before taking the pass north to Icewind Dale or the first welcome sign of refuge after making the wearying trip back. Full of dwarves and gnomes, the population here spend their days excavating tunnels, mining ore, or smelting and smithing the local iron and tin. You've heard that the tunnels descend for miles, in some cases all the way to the Underdark. Hundelstone’s few score human residents are mostly sellswords or would-be adventurers who earn a living as caravan guards or beast hunters in the crags.

The town looks safe, intact, and trouble free in the early morning dim light.

The question is wether to stay here, or move through unseen.