"Thank ye' for ye'r hospitality,"  Strix says.  "My name is Strix Frostbeard.  My companions are Harbeck, Kelsin, and Morbruk.  What may we call ye'?  I'd like to let my superiors know of ye're offer to occupy and maintain Hemsedal Keep until such time as it may be needed.  I canna speak for them but I will inquire about the possibility of compensating ye' for ye're service to the dwarven kingdom."

*Morbrukk eyes the food* "Yes thanks for the hospitality. Your spread of food looks quite delicious if I do say so."

"I suppose it is good your here it keep this place from disrepar" says Kelsin

"There, see?" The black bearded leader of the group looks around at all those seated by him as he speaks. "I told you there was no need for worry. We're not stealing anything from the dwarves by living here. When the dwarves need Hemsedal again, they'll have it, eh?" He then motions again for everyone to take a seat at the table. "Come sit. As to our names, mine is Bregnoul Bonlam, the young lass there is Vali and across from her is her sister Igdi. That burly chap is Gunurd, and next to him is Stervan." At that point the vociferous leader points over at the chained up ogrillon near the fireplace, and says, "and that hefty no good sack of meat is Urzad. Hey! Urzad! Opening the doors let a chill in here, you put some more logs on that fire now, and be quick!"

The sullen and browbeaten demeanor of the chained up half-ogre as it goes about adding more logs into the hearth and stoking the fire, makes it quite obvious that the creature is enslaved against its will. The scars and fresh stripes across his back make it clear that whippings must be part of how they keep him obedient. It is also clear, by the ease with which Urzad picks up giant hunks of log, that he has a mighty strength.

"That's better now, yes?" Bregnoul says. "Come now, eat, and drink. Tomorrow, by the light of day, you can give Hemsedal a thorough inspection and write your report to your superiors, eh?"

Kelsin stays standing and furrows her brow as she looks at the half-ogre "Can you explain what it going on with the half-ogre. I personally enjoy my freedom, so I have a distaste for slavery. It also seems like you enjoy tormenting the creature with cracks of a whip"

"I don't blame them. They out smarted the beasts. The cunning and strong have won their right to so what they want."

"I would rather meet my end then live like this. Yes that creature has lost to them, but at least put it out of its misery" says Keslin.

Bregnoul gives Kelsin a sideglance with quirked brows. "Urzad is little more than a beast. We're lucky he understands Common enough to follow simple instructions. He's good for lifting heavy things, and not half bad in a skirmish, but he's also got an unruly temper, and sometimes needs to be reminded who's in charge. If his presents offends, I can have him go back down into the dungeons to his pen?" Bregnoul doesn't wait for an answer he nods his head barely perceptibly at Stervan, and the stocky man gets up from his food to unlock Urzad's chains from the wall and lead him out the door to the right. "There now, much better, eh. I guess, since Urzad's gone though, we'll be needing someone else to feed and stoke the fire when it dwindles." The look Bregnoul gives Kelsin seems to indicate that he thinks it's going to be her job to do that, since it was her voice that got Urzad taken away.

"Are your arms broken or too lazy to tend to your own fire. I have camped among the snow. A dwindling fire does not bother me" says Kelsin.

"Easy Kelsin," Strix says calmly.  "We may not agree with they're treatment of Urzad, and while this is a dwarven keep, we're still Bregnoul's guests for the night.  Perhaps ye' could negotiate with Mr. Bonlam for Urzad's freedom if ye've concern for his condition.  We could always use someone to help with heavy lifting."

Kelsin grumbles, but gives in. "Alright I'll do as you say Strix"

"Yes I would hate be a bad guest here and besides it's nice being somewhere warm."

After dinner, drinks, and some lively games of dice and cards. Bregnoul's group started to head off into the keep to find their bed chambers. Before he left Bregnoul invited the party to set up their bedrolls here in the great room. "Feel free to sleep here in the great room. Keep the fire stoked as high as you'd like. In the morning you can do your rounds and write your reports on Hemsedal's status. Good night my new friends! May the Light keep you till it dawns again."

Kelsin sits down against a wall with her hand on the hilt of her dagger. She falls uneasily into slumber occasionally tossing and turn, though comforted by her dagger.

*Morbrukk yawns and finds a spot close to the fire and closes his eyes and falls asleep*

“Harbeck, I’m not sure we should totally relax our vigilance. I’ll take first watch.”

Strix will also use the sending stone to report their current status and occupation of the keep.

Strix message to Gryld through her Sending Stone is returned with a rather gruff and upset sounding tone of voice. "Occupied?! Dark! Make sure they haven't found the secret storage room in the dungeons!"

Kelsin wipes the sleep from her eyes. "That is news. A dungeon down here. Strix do you know where the hidden entrance can be found?"

"I don't know the location of this hidden room, just that it's somewhere in the Dungeon.  I would assume it's magically protected with a password much like the one we found at Furuflaten.  I think it's less important to know it's location than to ensure that its location, and its very existence, remains unknown to the current occupants."