Pizazz's Beyond Annihilation

 Lonelywood, Isn't that suspicious lady there? The one that spoke to us in the store? If we start asking questions in that town who knows who else will know where we are going. Why don't we head back to Bryn Shander, it's a bigger town, easier to blend in, and we can go break the news to that Cooper fellow at the temple. Maybe find that Elf person that wanted to talk to this little tree guy.

Badger nods, eyeing Kari suspiciously, "Fine fine, all the way back to the big city then! Urg." 

The group dislodges the AxeBeaks from their huddle under the cabin. The birds seem alright with it given the sharp increase in temperature, and they walk around clawing at the snow and cooing. Mounting up, the group heads towards Bryn Shander. The area of warm extends no more than a couple of miles. Still, nearly four square miles of relatively warm weather could make all the difference for the people living up here and you all take note to let folks know.

The route takes you past both Lonelywood and Termalaine, but you avoid the two towns, except to allow Kari a quick soujourn into the city to 'mention' the cabin and its aura of warmth. 

Otherwise, you continue straight to the big city.  It's a six hour slog across the dark wastes to reach the town. Kari's little visitor leaps in excitement and they near the town, but is then quick to take cover within her fur lined jacket so as not to be spotted.  His masked face peers between the fur, constantly twisting and turning to look at everything. 

The guards manning the gate let you pass without trouble and shaking the ice and snow from your gear you find the stables to safely deposit your axebeaks for a time while you move about Bryn Shander.

 Well, should we find that same Inn? Do we want to ask around tonight or in the morning?

Having come from the north entrance, you are right next to the Northlook Inn. Whatever time it happens to be in this accursed dark north, it seems to be full of noise, light, and warmth.  The group wanders in and finds a busy tavern packed with people of all sorts. Heavy jackets hang from almost every chair, and gloves, scarves, and hats lay scattered about most of the tables. Wet puddles of melted ice and snow cover the filthy floor and dirt is tracked everywhere, despite it looking like they try to keep the place clean. 

You find a place to sit, Badger taking up a spot next to the wall where he begins to casually, yet not so casually, scan the crowd in the tavern silently. You suspect he's doing his mind reading thing.  Kari sees Dannika, the half-elf, who had given the group the magical lantern to detect elementals walking right up to them. She clearly noticed them the moment the entered the bar. 

With an excited look on her face, but clearly trying to contain any expectations, she says, "Hello!  You're back!  Did you...ahem...find anything out there?" 

Well, yes. Your lantern was very helpful. We found a few spirits having a picnic- well trying to. It's hard to eat pinecones and sticks you know. But they looked so set on having their picnic that I couldn't help but join in. So I made my own little picnic you know, and sat down and started eating it, and this little fella- oh that's right, here he is! I don't know if it is a he, it doesn't talk much.  She loosens her hood and scarf so the little spirit can peek out if it wants to. This fella came right on over and climbed up on me and has been following me around ever since. It's a little bit if a lucky charm too, it doesn't feel quite so cold when they are around. I wasn't sure if it would stuck around very long, but we found things to do together. Like this one time... Kari continues to talk of their adventures together, seeming to be very happy to recount every detail of the fascinating creature.

Dannika listens intently, with lots of "hmmms" and "oooohs". The chwinga seems to dislike the crowded tavern though and remains hiding. Dannika is able to get a look at it, by peeking into Kari's jacket, but it cowers in the darkness. "Not quite so cold around when he's with you?  Really?  Well....do you think he would stay with me? I'd love to learn as much as I can about him. I think his little spirit friends may hold the key to unlocking this endless winter.  Oh, didn't I promise you a fee? You've earned it....50 gold.."  

She holds the sack out to Kari waiting for her to take it. 

Mal once more having the hood of hers cloak over her head, hiding her face scans the crowd looking for anyone they might know or have seen before or anyone paying any particualr attention to them. Absentmindedly listening in on the conversation.

Perception: 9

Then signals for some food and drinks be brought to the table.

Mal sits just in the shadow of a beam, a dark form near the groups table.....scanning the sea of faces for anything of interest. 

She notices several familiar faces from last time they were in town...as well as a whole bunch of faces she doesn't. The group does seem to be garnering some attention from the locals, but nothing she'd guess is unusual. But, through the ruckus, music, and chaos of the room, someone is NOT paying any attention to them. She notices another figure on the far side of the room attempting not to be noticed.  He's wearing a dark cloak and is hunched just near a back hallway to the washroom, in an out of the way corner. He doesn't pay any attention to the group, but he does appear very focused on some other man in the middle of the room that looks like he's having a good time.  Not particularly interesting, but Mal notices something else interesting. The man's chest doesn't move. He stands totally still and isn't moving. As he shifts slightly and the hem of his hood shifts she sees icy deep blue eyes that continue to be locked on the other man. 

Badger looks to the group and says in a whispered voice, "Some other group of adventurers came through also looking for the brotherhood a few days back. They went south towards Good Mead apparently. Seems the wizards are sought after by other groups. There's at least one person here working for someone named 'Margos'....who is reporting any outsiders and their business. The guy with the nose ring and the topknot just over there. He's taken note of us but doesn't seem too interested." 

The serving girl, who you think introduced herself as Maddy, arrives with some food and drink for the table, nods with a shy smile, then rushes off to serve more people.

Mal leans into Badger and whispers into his ear, "The creature over in the corner by the hallway and then the focus of that creature's attention." As she casually describes the two, "Can you focus on those two, take a look at the one in the middle first and then the one in the corner. Something is off with that one and I think it could be extremely dangerous, not just to us."

She then goes back to casually scanning the crowd and eating the food in front of her.

Badger blusters, "I'm not your mind reading servant. If I read anyone's mind it'll because i made my mind up to do so! And I'd ALREADY made up my mind that I wanted to, so don't think you've given me any ideas."  He groans a bit and hops off his chair, "Too far away..." 

He wanders across the room trying to be casual. He eventually comes back, "The guy in the middle having a good time is full of himself. He's also apparently a glass blower and spends a LOT of time thinking about what to make out of glass, even when having fun with friends. Weirdo. The other guy over there, his thoughts are...oddly quiet. He's practically thinking nothing. Just....observing the glass blower and occasionally making judgements about when he thinks the glass blower might leave or who he might leave with." 

Kari eyes the sack thoughtfully. You know what, why don't you hang onto that for now. This crowded room seems to be scaring the little fella, why don't I find someplace more quiet. I think we were needing rooms for the night anyway? She looks at her companions who seem to be a bit occupied, then turns back to Dannika. We can do proper introductions there and see how he feels about it. She stands up and heads over to the counter to secure rooms for the four of them for the night.

Dannika smiles, "Sure!" 

Kari gets a couple rooms for the evening and heads back to the table a couple minutes later. Her companions still seem preoccupied with two other random people in the room. 

Kari gulps down the last of her drink, then nudges Kurik's arm with hers and says We are headed to the room real quick, maybe it will be quiet enough for the little spirit to come out for introductions. Come get me if there's any trouble down here. She tells him which rooms are theirs, then heads off with her pack and motions for Dannika to follow. Once in the room, she lowers her hood and tries to coax the little spirit out, offering it a drink or a picnic as enticement.

Whispering, "Glass Blower....Who cares about blowing glass, they are pretty I guess, but otherwise they are worthless, aren't they? Badger, can you think of something powerful that might need a glass blower? Also I am not sure if anyone noticed but the guy over there in the cloak has ice BLUE eyes, ya know, kind of like how mine have turned. I think I will go and join Kari in the safety of our rooms. If you need us just make something go boom and we will come running." With that she grabs one more ale and then make for the room.

Badger shrugs, "Glass blowing is a lucrative business. The artistry behind it is necessary for the crafting of many fine magic items." He shrugs indifferently, then goes back to his hot drink. 

Kurik and Badger are left alone to witness anything that happens in the tap room.

--------

Kari manages to coax the small creature out of her coat. Dannika looks over joyed. With Kari's prompting, they start a game of make believe. The spirit is into it immediately, and Dannika joins in.  Soon enough all three are comfortably playing. A door across the hall slams loudly and the spirit jumps and freezes...but then a few seconds later goes back to playing. Soon enough it's taken a seat on Dannika's hand as part of playing. When it realizes it though, it looks down, then lets its gaze follow the hand, to the arm, up the arm, to Dannika's face.  It freezes. They regard each other...then...slightly more tentatively....it looks away, and continues playing....though it does give Dannika the side eye ...or.... side mask rather...a few times.....trying to figure out if it trusts her or not. 

Well, looks like you both might get along. He seems to be warming up to you! Kari chats along to fill the time as Dannika plays with the chwinga. Isn't your research about warming things up? I'm not sure what you could learn from this little free spirit. It's really good at making me feel not so cold, but the others don't seem affected. What kind of studying did you have in mind?

Dannika shrugs, "I mean, obviously I'd like to try a couple things. Sorta....test the boundaries of what he can do. I think these nature spirits are more common than we know. Harnessing the power of all of them could make a real difference!" 

Down in the pub, things are winding down a bit.  People are taking their leave, putting hats, gloves, and jackets on and stalking off into the blowing icy air outside. Eventually Badger and Kurik note the glass blower nodding to his friends. A last failed attempt to pickup the serving girl and then he exits into the night. The dark shadowy figures leaves out the back at the same time. 

Kurik finds this peculiar.  "I'm gonna follow them...  if it sounds like trouble.  It's probably me," he says and gets up.  He tosses his hood up and makes his way out after them.

Badger looks at the very cold gust of snow coming in through the briefly opened door. "Uh...I'll keep an eye on you from my room. Yeah...way warmer, I mean...better that way." 

He shakes his head as Kurik leaves out into the darkness and heads upstairs.  Mal is awoken abruptly as her door slams open. She coulda swore she locked it. Badger pushes the slide lock closed and tosses his bag down quickly, pulling out his crystal ball.  "Kurik really needs some blown glass it seems. At this time of night I asked?"  Badger shrugs and sits cross legged on the floor and begins glaring into his crystal ball.  Mal's deep blue eyes regard him. 

Kurik is out the door quickly enough to see the glass blower a block down the street walking south past a large snow drift. A moment later, the cloaked figure emerges from the alley. He doesn't wear gloves or a scarf over his face but seems unbothered by the cold. He begins trailing the glass blower.  

Kurik, if you want to trail from afar, roll Survival to not lose them. If you want to keep closer, roll Stealth to avoid being spotted.  (your choice, only roll one of them and let me know which it is)

Kurik rolled his shoulders a little bit and got on with the task.  He was sure thst the blue eyed man was hunting the glass blower but now the hunter would be the hunted.  Using the skills from his youth, honed into adulthood, he pursued.

Survival 19