Eva speaks: "Although I suspect we shall live to regret (if I can say 'live' in our case?) not having those dogs and those sleds, we should leave the decision to the others. All I know is that the closer we get to Targos and Lonelywood, the happier I shall be."

Blackberry remains silent on the matter, not really sure what the best answer is.

Confused by the indecision, Greth'g'karee offers, "If you wish, I can carry our injured comrade as far as you like. Or, you can tie a travois to me. They are slender of build, and would pose no burden at all."

"Whether snake or rat its out of our hands. Now back to the present. Greth grab Elk Running and lets leave. We have been here too damn long." says Aubin as he is losing his patience.

Sabetha has been waiting for Naraeld to speak.  The armored Icewind Dale man with the quarterstaff had seemed the most insistent on returning Elk Running to his mother Mishann in Bryn Shander.  And thereby keeping the Eladrin from the Frostmaiden's clutches, mind and body.

Unless Naraeld speaks to contrary, she conditionally acquiesces to the plan to head south before north.

"Greth'g'karee, if you can carry Elk Running, or better yet, if we can buy one sled from the townsfolk here and we can take turns pulling it, then perhaps it is based to first depart for Dougan's Hole.  Hoping that we can find multiple sleds that we can then use to traverse back to Bryn Shander more quickly.  I do not like gambling with Elk Running's health and spirit, but it may be the best bet if both Mallifyr and the Prisoner recall multiple sleds waiting there."

If all are in agreement, Sabetha asks townsfolk about the purchase of a single sled to bear Elk Running to Dougan's Hole for now so that party-members do not need to physically carry the Eladrin the entire way.  Failing that, she asks to buy extra rope to tie a makeshift harness, making Elk Running easier to carry.  If no townsfolk are willing to offer anything, she offers her own rope to help create the harness.

As soon as the arrangements are done Aubin will depart from this place for Dougen's Hole. If that is what the party wants.

Approaching the hall, Naraeld sighs mournfully at the body on display. His muttered words are spoken to himself, "I had not intended for this. He was to be questioned, not some warding trophy. This town turns more feral by the hour." The self-reprisal leaves a mixed taste of sadness and anger on his tongue and his mood towards the folk of Good Mead darkens slightly.

Naraeld listends to the tales of Eva, Mallifyr, and Greth'g'karee. His mouth cracks into a smile and he extends his hand to Mallifyr, "A strange tale indeed. Still, it gladdens me to know that you are still with us Eva. That it is in spirit and not body strikes me as an appropriate irony, though I am sure your current state does nothing to help you solve the mysteries of death." Considering his own experiences, he adds "Perhaps, more questions are all that partiicular topic will ever hold."

As the discussion move towards the next point of call for the group, Naraeld weighs in leaving no ambiguity in the minds of his comrades. "I shall broker no further delays. Even a small diversion to Dougan's Hole will cost us hours. I must return Elk Running to Bryn Shander, and get her to Mishann and the safety of her care behind the stoutest walls in the Dale." He looks to each, "We have other reasons to return to Bryn Shander, and some of you have purpose beyond that. Aid me in this task and I shall return the favour to each of you, once I am assured of Elk Running's safety so that she is no longer at risk of the Frostmaiden."

As for the slain prisoner, Sabetha simply observes:  "Shander wanted the prisoner dead and displayed so.  It was done before any of us returned to Mead Hall.  Shander also wanted to take our living prisoner into 'custody' as soon as Greth'g'karee and Mallifyr (Eva) returned as well.  To me, the reasons that Shander would want captured raiders to become dead trophies rather than talking prisoners are obvious, though I know not all agree with me."

She shakes her head.  "But I will let that go now.  Since you are committed to it Naraeld, I believe all of us are willing to help return Elk Running to Bryn Shander.  That will allow us to conclude other business there as well."  (Sabetha is referring to the goal of reporting back to Hlin Trollbane and Sheriff Markham Southwell regarding Sephek Kaltro, in case transporting Elk Running to relative safety is not enough of an incentive for everyone).

"Even with Greth'g'karee and Eva's returning the kidnapped children, the town will sell but not give us a sled (we cannot afford dogs).  My fault, I know.  Also, the gold from Jotann and Zara's chest is rightfully theirs.  Still, if we pool our own gold, we have enough to buy an empty sled from them on which we could place Elk Running's body.  We could then take turns pulling it along the path, particularly with a goliath among us."

Sabetha counts out just over 14 gold pieces worth of coins (everything she has) and offers it towards the purchase of a sled.

Aubin adds 6 gp for the empty sled. Once done he helps load the useless Elk Running on the sled and leaves this god forsaken town.

Blackberry has some gold saved up from working at the tavern, and can contribute 50 gp, but thinks we shouldn't pay full price for a broken sled.

Mallifeva has an empty pouch (more or less...).

Greth has a bag of small game bones and teeth...

Shander wanders over, glaring at Sabetha. “What are you still doing here? Come to make more baseless accusations?” One of his men walks over and whispers in his ear. “Is that all?” he says, “a sled? They can have mine if they’ll leave today. I’m tired of their stench.” He motions to his lackey and the man goes running off, presumably to get a shed.

Turning back to the party, he asks Greth’g’karee if there was anything useful in the materials he brought back, asking specifically what he was donating to the town. “And these two raiders,” he asks, “do they still enjoy your protection?”

Greth'g'karee looks genuinely confused a moment, leaning in he says, "Were my words earlier not plain enough for you? Do you wish me and these others to be your enemies? If so, speak your truth now so that I may kill you before you become a nuisance to my band later. Otherwise, I have left the things your kind treasure upon the floor. Coins, gems, and metals." He speaks matter-of-factly, no menace to his tone. His version of diplomacy. 

Sabetha turns to Shander calmly, ignoring the dwarf's passive aggression.  "We will be gone soon and gladly accept your sled with our friend in danger."

She speaks quietly, but her voice projects, her scarf a deep midnight blue now instead of black.  She ticks off points on her fingers matter-of-factly.

"We know from Aubin's findings in Torrga's tent that she exchanges messages with the Zhentarim."

"We all witnessed how you and Torrga claimed the Verbeeg's livestock as your own gift to the town when it was Aubin who told you of the livestock we were forced to leave behind in the cave in our effort to return the casks of mead here after defeating the Verbeeg and his allies."

"We know from the prisoner that Jotann and Zara sometimes take on lucrative jobs from the Zhentarim and visited Targos just a day before the attack, then traveled all day and all night at breakneck pace to recruit fodder from Dougan's Hole and arrive here just in time to interrupt the celebration."

"None of these are baseless, nor even accusations, really.  They are simply the truth.  And you know it."

"Yet I ask you this, Shander.  Will you lead Good Mead solely for the betterment of its people, and not remain beholden to any outside backer, Zhentarim or otherwise?  Will you stay true to your elected role as Speaker and represent the townsfolks' interests alone, and not those of an outside network as their rabble-rousing puppet?  Will you take this opportunity to keep faith with these people you profess to lead?"

"Do all that, and you will never have anything to fear from me.  This I promise in the name of the Moonmaiden who smiles on us all from the night sky.  Good Mead deserves and desperately needs a competent yet selfless Speaker of kind and true heart.  Be one."

With that, Sabetha turns and walks out Mead Hall to wait outside, her scarf still a deep blue.  I am sorry, Olivessa.  This is the best that I can do.

Blackberry reflexively positions himself between Shander and Sabetha as the caustic dwarf stomps over, but the monk gently nudges him to the side as she confronts her accuser with the evidence of his own guilt.  Both she and the goliath seem to have the situation well in hand, leaving the harengon feeling superfluous and he looks around for something useful to do, to take his mind off his grief for Eva and Elk Running, and his self-pity.

Asking one of the others to notify him when the sled arrives, he will fish out his tinker's tools, and try to make some quick, simple repairs to the damage done to the hall from the earlier conflict and fire.

Shander stares at Sabetha. "You think you know so much, do yeh, outsider? I bet you haven't known true desperation yet, though. But the Dale will teach it to yeh. You might even survive, if you still have friends." Once Sabetha has been outside for five minutes, Shander's lackey returns on a sled with two dogs. It looks fast, although it also looks like it won't hold as much as a standard sled.

Shander, after hearing from Greth'g'karee about the goods found on the floor, calls a few of his men over to go through the materials. "Was there anything found with the thieves that might provide a clue as to who sent them?" he asks Greth'g'karee.

Blackberry goes to where the fireball hit in the mead hall and sees there an impromptu shrine to Olivessa. There are scrimshaw animals (including the strange lizards carved he has seen carved into the houses of Good Mead) as well as little baubles and gems. There is a small drawing of Olivessa, as well as some ribbons and rings. There is also a glove, lying there by the shrine. 

 Looking around quickly, no-one seems to notice except for Blackberry.

Sabetha inspects the sled, trying to judge whether it will carry Elk Running's body and the weight of whoever is controlling the dogs.

It really doesn't need to carry more than that.  She also looks for loose or frayed bindings or lines, or other damage that could give way.

Aubin impatiently paces near the sled ready to go.

Not knowing what is still happening inside Mead Hall, Sabetha peeks her head back in.  She indicates from her inspection that the sled does indeed look trustworthy and capable of carrying Elk Running along with one person to control the dogs.  Once Shander is no longer in earshot, she observes:

"I wonder if perhaps Naraeld should go ahead on his own with Elk Running on this sled to Bryn Shander so he does not have to wait for the rest of us on foot.  We others could then go mop up the raiders waiting near Dougan's Hole and catch up with the other sleds, meeting at Bryn Shander a few hours later.  It would be a riskier journey for Naraeld and Elk Running alone, but would also allow Mishann to tend to our stricken friend earlier if successful."