Meifinas winced slightly as he felt her fingers digging into his hands but forced a small smile. "He's right, you're in good hands." He pauses for a moment and looked to the others for a moment. "Warm up first, it'll be difficult to help if we don't know where we're going. I don't know about the others but I'll help you however I can."

Havel nods in agreement "Yes lass tell us more about what happened out there that you would practically drag yourself here. Was there some beast chasing after you?" asks Havel. I know she should get some rest but any tactical information we can get will help us deal with whatever is out there. 

Faune tries to soothe her.

“It’s ok, we’re here. What happened to you? You are certainly a mess.”

She is a bit overwhelmed from everything going on, and all the travelers surrounding her, but she stays anyway. “What amazing magic you have” she smiles at meifinas. “Perhaps you could teach me sometime”

As the danger over the gnome has been lifted, the patrons begin to ease back into their conversations. Laughter and chatter fill the air once more, signalling the return to normalcy now that the gnome is visibly on the path to recovery.

Struggling to steady her breath, the gnome turns to you all, her grip on Meifinas' hands loosening slightly. "Please," she implores, her voice still trembling but gaining a hint of resolve. "I need your help. It's... it's Kringle."

Taking a tentative sip from the tankard of mulled wine offered to her, she visibly relaxes, the warmth of the drink providing a semblance of comfort. "Thank you," she murmurs gratefully, her voice steadier now as she gathers her thoughts.

"I'm Holly, one of Kringle's helpers" she introduces herself, her gaze scanning your faces. "The most dreadful enemy of Kringle has returned. All the others have been captured, and Kringle himself is enslaved in his own workshop. I managed to run away, I had to find help! You need to stop him, otherwise Iceville will be covered in darkness yet again. Forever..." she shudders as if a gust of freezing wind has passed through her small body. "And the worst part is we only have until tomorrow to save Kringle"

To discern more about this malevolent force threatening Kringle and the town, you can roll a History check

Meifinas nods slightly in response to Faune. "It's not that amazing but thank you. My mother taught it to me and I'd be happy to teach it to you sometime." He said before turning his attention back to the Gnome.

"Holly, it is a good thing that you managed to get away then. Being covered in darkness forever... that sounds like a horrible fate.I... I'm sure that we'll be able to stop him and save Kringle." His voice betrayed him with it's uncertain tone.

14

8 rolled in game log

Havel 

History Check

10

History Check: 21

Havel and Rothgar, from everything you've heard about Iceville before heading out here, and all stories and songs you've heard since your arrival, you figure out that almost 500 years ago, Kringle defeated a demon that had enslaved the people of Iceville and put the town under a spell of eternal darkness, allowing the demon to feed off the fear and sadness of the people.

Meifinas  figures out that the mysterious Kringle from the song of the bard and the stories he's heard must be the one that Holly is talking about, the hero that brought light to Iceville and banished the darkness forever. 

Faune still isn't very sure that the Kringle from the bard song and the Kringle Holly is talking about are the same person, but she is aware of Kringle the hero as well. 

Rothgar reflects on the history as a northman would, which makes sense if Kringle defeated a demon, and now darkness is threatening again, then perhaps another demon is after Kringle. "Holly, this dreadful enemy coming back after Kringle, do you recall if it was a demon, or could you describe what happened or what you saw?" Then he looks to the gathered people around him. "Havel, and the rest of you, I see where we are needed. Shall we join forces and go seek out this foe, and save Kringle?"

Meifinas nods his head as he turns his gaze towards Rothgar. "Yes, that seems like the best course of action. I'll happily lend my skills to the cause."

Is the demon back he wonders. Havel then he looks to Rothgar "Of course I will help where I can as Iceville is to be my new home and I rather not live under a perpetual darkness." He then gathers his rucksack and makes ready to leave. "Holly, can you tell us how to get to Kringle's workshop?" 

Rothgar is going to gather his weapons and gear, and be ready to follow holly

"I-I... I wish I could say for certain. It was all so sudden, and the darkness, it was suffocating," Holly stammers, her voice trembling with intense fear and uncertainty. She closes her eyes, recalling the haunting memory, a visible shiver running through her small frame. "I was in the workshop, working on the toys with the other helpers. Then, an overwhelming feeling of dread washed over me, like a chilling presence lurking in the shadows. I-I couldn't see anything, but I could sense... something sinister... I'm sorry," she chokes back a sob, her hands trembling. "It's all so blurry after that. Kringle, he tried to protect us, but..." Her voice trails off, a haunted look crossing her face, a silent plea for understanding in her wide, frightened eyes.

The gnome gulps audibly and looks up at Havel, her eyes filled with a mixture of terror and desperation. "I... I can lead you t-there... Or draw you a map?" Her voice shakes with fear as she offers her assistance, her body tensed with anxiety.

Meifinas is going to check his pack and prepare himself to leave with the others.

"A map will do as I rather not endanger your life anymore Holly." says Havel. He then askes the barkeeper for some parchment paper and ink. Once he has the requested items he hands to them to Holly. 

Rothgar nods, "Aye, the lass has been through enough already, with a map we should be able to find this place."

Under Havel and Rothgar's reassuring encouragement, Holly takes a deep breath, visibly trying to steady her trembling hands. With the offered parchment and ink, her hands, still shaking, trace erratic lines across the paper, drawing a shaky map that traces a route north of Iceville, through a dense forest, and finally, to a discreet location within the woods. 

With trembling strokes, she marks key landmarks and twists of the trail, the lines jittery and the handwriting almost illegible. The map indicates a hidden path veering away from the main forest trail, leading deeper into the wooded area.

"Th-this is it," she stammers, handing the shaky map to Havel. The map is crude and hastily drawn, the lines wavering and the landmarks unclear, yet, despite its roughness, it offers a rough guide for the adventurers to navigate their way towards the hidden warehouse within the forest north of Iceville.

Rothgar nods, "I'm ready when you are," he states to the group. He slings his bow over his shoulder, but keeps his great axe in his hand.  

Havel takes the map and heads out of the Tavern "So am I and let us see what has happened to Kringle" He will light his torch once more and heads down the trail laid out by Holly.