As I dig the corpse in the snow, I say a little prayer under my breath. Once I finished, I see that my companions stepping out. I look behind me not noticing the Glassblades. 

Upon hearing Carina's request, I nod to her and go back inside without hesitation. "Good to know they are better with words than I am." I say to myself.

I go to the backroom and check if this statue is Pelc. I tap my pendant as I look closer. Guidance

(History: 17 (with +2) for my memory of Pelc. Investigation: 12 (with +4) for looking at the statue)

Xerim identifies the ice statue als Verla Pelc, the owner of the shop. He knows her from a few occasions and there is no doubt, that she suffered the same fate as Urgon. 

I once again take a moment to pray. "So many deaths already." I sigh with unease. 

I come back out to the others. I put my hand on Carina's shoulder. And I nod. "It's Pelc." I say with a somber tone.

"So curious... a disease that turns one into an ice statue." Elmira murmurs. She goes in to see it with her own eyes. She hadn't looked upon the old dwarf's body and merely took Elro at his word. However, seeing it in person was disconcerting. 

When offered the dagger, Elmira tilts her head. "Maybe it isn't cursed with this ice statue thing, but I can't say I'm too keen to take it. I'll hold it for you, if you'd like Ashton. I doubt anyone really wants much to do this this thing."

Ashton looks at Elmira.  "Well, I already have it in my hand, if no one wants it, I'll keep it."   he drops it back in its sheath and says to the rest of the group.  "Should we head to this cave to see what is going on there?"

Carina nods at Xerim when he tells her that the ice statue is Verla Pelc, her face flat.

Death is but the most interesting stage of life, chimes the ever-present voice in her heart brightly.  She pushes the thought down.

Briefly, she plays a single low tone on her black harmonica, like a dirge for those that this disease has taken too early in life from this frigid land.

"I think we should wait for Elro Aldataur, who I believe the glassblades are fetching.  Or if not, go to his cabin to report before we head off.  I could also use a short rest."  And a nice warm drink by the fire wouldn't be so bad either...

Turning to the captive burglar, she asks:  "Can you tell us about the defenses that Hulil and the others have set up at Croakers' Cave?"

"A little rest would probably do us all some good, I know I could use a break from the cold for a few moments."  Ashton looks at Carina.  "Good question."

As Carina questions the elf about the defenses of the cave, the now prisoner does not give an answer anymore. He just begs the Glassblades to let him go as he is sure to be doomed to a certain dead. It seems like he is completely broken by the prospect of being handed over to Elro now.

Meanwhile the Glassblade that went off to speak to Elro is back and verifies your story.

"Elro has confirmed, that you are working for him. So it seems you've done the village a great deed in fighting against, and capturing some of these thieves."

With this he briefly bows down towards the group, before he runs back out to help his collegues transporting the dead elves.

"Can we take this one with us now?" asks a dwarf near the tied up elf.

After confirming with Carina, I go back inside and grab my spear I threw. Once I obtain it, I head back out.

Are we ready to go to back to Elro?" As I prepare my hood again to walk in the snow.

I look at the elf, tap on my pendant, and suggest, "If you help us, Elro might be a lot lenient. If you guide us there, I think it will help your case."

(Persuasion: 16 (with +1) )

(OOC: I will edit lol. To match the convo. Great minds think alike)

"Not yet, but can you keep an eye on him for a moment while my friends and I go back inside to investigate the building?"

He motions for everyone to meet him back inside Pelc's.  "I feel like we like to this guy, we told him if he talked to us that we would not turn him in and now we are."  "He was very forthcoming about what he knew, and I think he would be again if we get him away from the guards."  "I don't know that I am big on killing him for breaking in here trying to find a cure, I may have done the same thing."  

EDIT:  Was typing same time as Angiro... Can we talk it out before we let the guards take him?

Pandora is still kneeling over the chest. Her eyes stay on the sales books. I will checkt that. Maybe someone else bought some relics before Tulgi stole them!  (Investigation: 21)

She hears the trouble from the other room. When she hears that the last elf is to be taken away and Asthon wants to intervene, she stands up and walks towards Ashton. "I agree with Ashton. We should not hand him over before he can answers us some more questions. Are we also sure that he is telling the truth about Hulil? That she is sick too?" she says. 

Pandora is looking through the two big tomes full of numbers. She looks back 2 months until she finally finds, what must be the receipt for Urgon's trade.

One of the Glassblades chimes in as you try to persuade the elf:

"Oh! I would not count on that. A thief is a thief and Elro will not let a single one allow to walk alive. He's quite a hardliner at that. And right so. Hah!"

He grabs his belt while laughing at this. By this, the elf looses all color from his face and you won't be able to get more out of him after that, as it seems.

"We will need this thief if we want to get into the thieves' den." Elmira says coolly and not at all because she senses her companions would rather the thief not be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

(deception: 12)

(sorry I want to add:)

"Would you let us take this guy with us? We can round the whole lot of them up, probably."

Ashton will back up Elmiras line of thought.  "We may actually have to take him."  Ashton looks at the guard in as confident and commanding pose as possible. "Please let Elro know that we have taken him with us to the cave."

Perception; 8

Persuasion: 2 Nat 1 (Hope he doesn't attack us.. lol)

"Maybe we have some luck this time. I've found the bill from Pelc to Elro for his stuff. Looks like we now have an inventory list. We already found the dagger and it seems like it is not  not the reason for the disease. I bet it is the jade statuette or the content from the blue glass vials!" Pandora says a little bit happy and challenging. 

"Psssst hey Guys. I have a stupid idea. But maybe it works. It seems like we are not very convincing to the Glassblades. Okay here is the plan. I will do some dramatic performance in the backroom. Something like i touched the ice and feel very sick and need help. I will scream very loud to distract as much Glassblades i can. You catch the elf and run as fast as you can. The windows are not locked, so i will escape from trough one of them and hide in the woods. i'm very good in this." she says with a wink and some sparkle in her eyes. "Do you agree? we have no time for this shit here. I think Elro will understand it. If we waste more time, more people will die." (Performance: 24 (Nat 20))

Ashton listens to Pandora, then looks at the guards.  "I don't know Pandora.  Those horns they blew earlier brought a lot of guards last time.  I would be afraid that they would be too many for us, and cause hostility that we don't want.  If we can not convince them to let us have the thief, then we give him to them.

(OOC: Pandora nor Elmira mention the small chest made of pale material, or I missed it, can I do a perception check to see if I see it as well?)

Carina is both very impressed by and appreciative of Pandora's discovery of the receipt for Urgon's relics from Eiselcross AND also very reluctant to try to outrun the glassblades in this frozen terrain where she, at least, does not feel at home, potentially making an enemy of Elro Aldataur.

"Brilliant work, that, Pandora!  Finding the receipt.  I agree, the cause of the sickness must be one of these other items besides the dagger.  But..."

Carina takes a deep breath and tries to make eye contact with all of her companions to convince them that evading the law is a poor plan.

"We need allies.  Fleeing from the glassblades, taking their confessed prisoner with us makes us complicit in their burglary.  We cannot be running away through this icy wilderness and then expect to come back and be believed if and when we say we have found the cause or the cure for the disease."

"I suggest we go to Elro ourselves.  Show him our progress.  Make a plea for mercy towards the burglars in exchange for their help locating Croakers' Cave.  And telling us how Hulil's people have set up defenses or other hazards there.  And perhaps take a quick rest by Elro's fire first..."

Quote from Nontyper >>

Ashton listens to Pandora, then looks at the guards.  "I don't know Pandora.  Those horns they blew earlier brought a lot of guards last time.  I would be afraid that they would be too many for us, and cause hostility that we don't want.  If we can not convince them to let us have the thief, then we give him to them.

(OOC: Pandora nor Elmira mention the small chest made of pale material, or I missed it, can I do a perception check to see if I see it as well?)

 If you enter the room as well you should be able to see it right away. No check needed. ;)