Ashton talks to his companions.  "I only have 9 gp as well.  But I do think we should get the gear we need.  I see no reason we couldn't either find a way to make a couple coins here real quick, or go back to Palebank and ask Erlo.  I personally would rather us make our own here doing an odd job or 2."

It takes a minute or two for Carina to realize the obvious (which everyone but her had apparently already figured out).  She smacks her forehead.

Unlike her, the others don't have Cold Weather Clothing so they'll need to buy it.  Which will be quite a bit of gold.  Since she already has Cold Weather Clothing, she had assumed they were just here for the snowshoes and crampons which collectively, they would have enough for (though she might have to sell her dagger).  But to buy the other four warm clothes, they'd need much more.  More than they have.  Fair enough.

"Thank you Burrold," she says fondly.  "We hope to be back."  She turns to her companions:  "Shall we go see Elro first as Burrold suggests so we can buy the Cold Weather Clothing you all need along with snowshoes and crampons for all of us?"

Burrold turns to Carina once more, saying:

"Ah, let me see your dagger girl! I almost forgot you showed it to me."

He inspects the dagger and after a short moment he looks at Carina and says:

"Aye, this is used but it looks like it can be used a thousand times more before one could complain about it. I usually import unused daggers from Uthodurn and then sell them for 6g in my shop. Hmm. What about. 35 silver for this one?"

He asks Carina.

Then something seems to hit his mind and he talks to the group again.

"Ya know what? How many bandits did you catch last night? The thing is: those bastards surely were not naked right? If they had cloth and weapons and if you left any pieces of them intact, the glassblades will soon bring all that is left here to me. I will then sell them and the full profit will go into the coffers of Palebank Village. But hear me out: It was a nasty blizzard last night. Took me almost an entire hour before I had cleared a path to my store this morning... well, what I want to say is: Those bandits must have come here somehow, right? So they must have used some gear as well! If nothing else, Elro will surely give you their equipment to help you out."

"35 silver is more than fair for this," Carina admits, handing over her dagger, "seeing as I seldom use it."

She turns to the others.  "So we each just pay 5 gold and 5 silver each for the snowshoes and crampons and then go to Elro and ask to use the bandits' Cold Weather Clothing.  Might even help us pass as the bandits returning to Croakers' Cave from a distance."

She herself hands over two gold pieces to Old Burrold as the difference in trade to buy the snowshoes and crampons after having sold the dagger.

"Sounds good to me."  Ashton says and gives Burrold the 5gp and 5sp.

Quote from Nontyper >>

"Sounds good to me."  Ashton says and gives Burrold the 5gp and 5sp.

 (I managed the inventory for you, gave you the shoes and crampons and removed the 5g 5s)

Elmira forks over the gold as well. [I can manage this in a moment!]

Pandora rubs her arms. It annoys her a little that she has to spend half her fortune on equipment just to do something good. But then she thinks about Urgon and what he did for her. So she hands Burrold the 5g and 5sp without saying a word. 

(Already removed the coins)

"So lets head back to Palebank to see Elro and figure out our equipment issues.  Maybe make some money on the way."

Quote from Nontyper >>

"So lets head back to Palebank to see Elro and figure out our equipment issues.  Maybe make some money on the way."

 

 (You are still in Palebank Village, just in Burrolds store near the villages docks ;)  -  If Xerim has bought something here, we can write that later, and it will be okay. I'm progressing a bit here now.)

You all say your goodbyes to Burrold who is waving at you all as you leave his shop and step out into the cold morning again. You hear the noises from the docks and even the scream of a sea bird, that apparently is the only one, that was keen enough to fly some yards. His feathered companions are clucking to each other at the top of a short wooden wall, looking greedily at the empty nets and boxes, that the fishermen throw into their boats before they row out into the icy sea. Some are walking around at the pier but those are soon scared away by the feet of some men, loading cargo onto a bigger ship. Glassblades are on the deck of the ship and patrolling the pier and all kinds of workers are busy as you can hear fragments of their shouts and the dark bumping of their feet at the wooden planks. All in all it is quite a lot activity on the docks this morning.

The streets of the village are empty in comparison. Just a few people and a Glassblade are on their way. One of them shoveling snow out of the way.

By now, you know your way around a bit and so you have no trouble, finding the way back to Elro's hut. As you knock at the door you hear Elro's voice, asking you to come in.

As you open the door you see that Elro is not alone. A dwarf is sitting at his long table, looking at you all with an raised eyebrow as you enter. From the cloth he is wearing, he seems to be no glass blade. Also sitting at the table, is the captured elven thief from last night. He was eating a bit of bread and turnips as it seems, but he stopped as he saw you and now just stares at you with a still open mouth and eyes that look at you in fear. Two Glassblades are leaning near the roaring fireplace and stop talking to each other as you all enter. One of the Glassblades is Mila Tenno, the wood elf girl, you met at Urgons cabin, yesterday. The other is unknown to you.

Elro is just taking away some dishes into his kitchen and welcomes you again on his way back.

"Come in my friends! Have a seat if you like. I fear you just missed breakfast, but I trust that you had a good start into the day in the Frozen Elk."

He walks over at the short side of the table, towards the fireplace and introduces you to the people in the room.

"You already know Mila. The man next to her is Galven Icefoot..."

Mila smiles in your direction while Galven only nods to you. Meanwhile, Elro walks over and puts his hand onto the shoulder of the sitting dwarf.

"... and this is my friend Tromnir Halfmantle. He came all the way from Uthodurn and arrived this morning to bring me some good news."

The dwarf smiles at Elro and then nods in your direction as well.

"Nice to meet you all. And how good my news are, remains to be seen, Elro."

Elro smiles a bit as he looks at the dwarf and then his face turns serious again, as he looks at the captured elf.

"Unfortunately, this man over here is not willing to share his name with us, but I already informed him that you are about to give him a choice today. Maybe he will be more open to you, once you are all on your way."

As she and her companions are passing the docs, Carina tries to ask unobtrusively what ship that is (the big one).  Bound from and to which ports.  As if just a gawker trying to sate their own curiosity at the sight (which is partly true anyway).  Flashing a friendly smile.

Within Elro's abode, she thanks the man for his hospitality thus far, giving Mila a wink and returning Galven's nod.  She moves forward in to clasp Tromnir Halfmantle's hand and arm in the dwarven style (leaning in to her half-dwarven heritage).  "Well met, Tromnir.  I am Carina Ravenscale.  My companions and I could use some good news given what we found yesterday.  Is it best told in private?"

She glances the captive elf.

Pandora stands behind Carina and watches her doing. She smiles back to Mila and gives Galven a nod. What's going on here? Why does the elf still has his hands and who is Tromnir?

"Good morning Elro. Nice to see you again. I wish the circumstances were different, but we need something from you. Can we talk in more private surroundings?" she asks with her look straight in Elro's eyes. He shall feel the importance of the question. 

Ashton gives greetings all around the room.  "Before we discuss what we need, what is this good news you have?"

Quote from Tybard >>

As she and her companions are passing the docs, Carina tries to ask unobtrusively what ship that is (the big one).  Bound from and to which ports.  As if just a gawker trying to sate their own curiosity at the sight (which is partly true anyway).  Flashing a friendly smile.

( Who is Carina asking?)

Taken aback by the question about the news from strangers, Tromnir turns around to Elro with an eyebrow raised again. But Elro just nods to him.

"You might inform this party as well, my friend. They are helping me in some urgent matter connected to the thieves that have been found yesterday."

With that he looks sharply at each of you, signaling, that you better should not talk about your real task at hand or any details, as long as all these people are around.

Tromnir just shrugs and tells you ...

"Lord and Lady Rimestone, the protectors of Kravaraad will visit Palebank Village next month. As to what Elro said earlier, I have no idea, why they would come down from their Volcano to visit the last civilized outpost here in the Greying Wildlands, but Elro seems to think this means good news."

"Indeed it is good news, my friend" - He says. - "But this is not the time to discuss these matters, now. Tromnir, it was a pleasure as always and please do not think bad of me but I am sure you want to unpack some of your chests, as you will stay for ... two weeks you said?"

"Yes, a fortnight."

"Very well. Mila! Please see that Tromnir finds his way safely. We are still clearing the ways through the village after the blizzard last night. And Galven, please take out our guest now. You will not have to wait for too long outside."

Mila salutes shortly and as Tromnir dons his coat and says his farewells to everyone she leaves the room together with him. Shortly after, the captured elf dons a coat as well and walks outside, followed by the Glassblade. The thief never looks into your eyes the whole time.

As the door is shut, Elro gestures you to take a seat.

"Now, tell me. What are your plans? And how I can I help you?"

Quote from Rubikow >>

Quote from Tybard >>

As she and her companions are passing the docs, Carina tries to ask unobtrusively what ship that is (the big one).  Bound from and to which ports.  As if just a gawker trying to sate their own curiosity at the sight (which is partly true anyway).  Flashing a friendly smile.

( Who is Carina asking?)

(Probably one of the glassblades patrolling the pier.  If none of them would have talked, then one of the dockworkers).

On their way to Elro, Carina had gathered some information about the ship at the docks. The ship is a barque under the name of "Remorhaz". A reference to the huge, worm-like arctic predators that burry into the ice and snow to wait for their pray. Usually ice bears or elks. The barque is one of two ships in the private fleet of Palebank Village's Glassblades. It's current destination will be Eiselcross. The group of frozen Islands north-west of the Greying Wilds, that were home to Urgon Wenth ever so often, when he was exploring the vast and cold islands, hoping to explore and find unbelievable artifacts of the legendary city of Aeor, that crashed into Foren, the biggest island, eons ago. The ship is currently maintained and loaded with goods, preparing to cast off within the next week.

Prior to arriving at Elro's cabin, Carina would have passed the above information on the ship to the others.

"Interesting.  The Remorhaz.  Bound for Eiselcross to search for Aeorian artifacts and relics.  The kind of of ship maybe our... gnome friends from the Frozen Elk might have been interested in.  Ring any bells perhaps?" (glancing at Pandora and Elmira oh so innocently).

If one of the artifacts is the cause of this disease, then another artifact may be the cure, and we may need to be on that ship before it departs this week.

(This all happens before the party reaches Elro's cabin).

Remorhaz. Remorhaz. Remorhaz! It clicks in Pandoras mind and she looks at Carina. "Actually i can tell you something about it. We overheard the two dwarven friends of the gnome. Here what i heard that night in the tavern. They loading a machine on a ship called Remorhaz. One of the dwarves will oversee it by himself. This machine should be of utter importance for the people in Syrinlya. It will help them do dangerous work and might even save their lifes. They need some last things for the journey. The dwarv called Broghoun will buy it at the shop on the decks tomorrow. The ship will arrive in Eiselcross. The other dwarv is called Barbuk. And obvious they have a lot of gold with them. Broghoun mentioned that they could buy a second ship with all the gold." sigh "It didn't sound like anything bad to me. I thought maybe they could be our ride to Eiselcross. What do you think about it?" regretfully, she looks at Carina.

(Again, back before Elro's cabin).

Carina listens intently to Pandora.  She smiles and seems to look inward for a moment.

"Our ride to Eiselcross, indeed.  If and when we make it back from Croakers' Cave, where we expect to find the cause of the disease - one of the Aeorian artifacts Tulgi stole.  But the cause is not the cure.  If we don't find the cure there as well, then Eiselcross may be the place to search.  Nice work."

((Ok to shift back to Elro's cabin now.))