Drift’s only response to the Calimshite Knight is to realise the eyes she is drawing after a moment and to hold tightly to his coin-purse, looking warily for an accomplice pickpocket.
Early he retires to the room the night to discuss things as said before.
—-
In the morning, awaiting payment, you find Drift in the common room, amongst the earliest risers. He tinkers with a small brass device with little wings fastened to each side. At his hip hangs a straight and scored wand of wood, flaked with small bits of dried blood and tied around with a helix of common twine. It looks … rough, like handling it might give you splinters, and yet it seems more real than everything around it. An odd depth to it in some dimension that isn’t the usual three.
(Drift now has a wand of the war mage and a flying wonder, with a long rest he can swap one out for an alchemy jug or a fourth item that I’ve not quite decided on yet.)
Marva wakes from unsettling dreams and seeks out Ophelia at the breakfast table. “Good morning, I hope. I know other people’s dreams are of little interest generally, but I wonder if you would be willing to listen to mine. At first, I was overjoyed to find myself back in my library, looking through various books and scrolls. But before long a harsh wind blew through the room, scattering papers and scrolls into chaos. I turned and saw that through the door walked three ghoulish figures. I have never seen the victims, but I was sure it was them, and not just because they walked toward me with a dagger of ice in each one’s heart. It nearly froze my own when I saw Dannika Graysteel behind them with her own dagger piercing her chest! I stood, clasping my snowflake amulet and the one book I was able to keep hold of. I held them out before me. A great light burst from them and the victims quickly turned and moved from the room. Except Dannika who fell to the floor. I rushed over to try to help her, but then I woke. I wouldn’t normally put a lot of stock in dreams, but the events we have seen makes me wonder. I do hope that nothing has happened to Ms. Graysteel!” She listens to any response Ophelia or anyone else may give her.
Ophelia looks up and listens raptly to the bookish dragonborn's recounting of her dream, her lavender eyes half-focused in the middle distance somewhere past Marva. The she-elf's voice itself sounds dreamy, as if her soft chanted words are someone else's, coming to her from far away.
"Aye, to sleep, as we elves cannot, perchance to dream, yet there's the rub: For in that sleep, or elven trance, what dreams of wintry death may come."
She appears to return to herself with a slight shake and meets Marva's eyes directly. "Dreams and visions by the score have I witnessed, yet never understood, not truly. Only have I found that their cold prophesies are ever an icy blade without a hilt, offering no safe way to grasp."
===== =====
(Once Zuleikha's gambit and good health are revealed): Ophelia yelps and falls backwards onto her slender rump in surprise.
"She lives. She rises! Daughter of the sands, so distant from her airy home, bearing her blades to this far frozen finger of the world."
Only after taking time to process what Dvu had said and what Marva tells her afterwards does it finally dawn on Ophelia that Zuleikha has not died and then been resurrected, but instead was putting on a performance. Rather than being embarrassed, the she-elf claps her hands in child-like delight.
By contrast, her reaction when Dannika enters and addresses the party is more muted. Relief at the other, more scholarly, elf's safety, but foreboding that what Marva witnessed may still have been a Foretelling, only one of a doom that has not yet come to pass.
Ophelia whispers to the silver dragonborn: "I fear if the Chwinga does indeed hold a clue to unlocking the Frostmaiden's icy grip, the cult of Auril may target her next. Yet I know not whether there is aught we can do now to prevent such a fate. Even warning her may be to no avail."
Zuleikha topples into Marva's arms, and looks up in surprise. "Plucked from the brink of an untimely demise. The gods smile upon me this morning. My thanks, gallant saviour." She offers a bashful grin, abruptly aware that her capering with the young stable-hand have stirred more attention than expected.
When Ophelia sinks by her side, invested in the deep tragedy of the moment, the Calishite woman gives the lavender-eyed stranger a somewhat bewildered look. Prompted by Ellora and Marva to provide some measure of reassurance to the seemingly addled elf, she inclines her head in slow concession.
"Ah, of course... my dear, it was merely a jest. My little friend and I were merely playing. Isn't that right, boy?" She slides out of Marva's hands with a grateful smile, then ruffles the hair of the boy fondly. She presses a silver coin into the stable-hand's palm for sweets, and sends him scampering on his way. Turning back to the gathered onlookers, she tilts her turbaned head to one side, studying Ophelia with renewed curiosity. "It may be that she peers further along the loom of time than most... In Almraiven, my home city, there are some such as she - star-gazers and ash-readers - whose vision strays beyond the present moment."
To reassure the elf, Zuleikha rests a hand lightly against her own belly, demonstrating her uninjured state one final time. "Yes, resurrected, perhaps. Restored thanks to your prayers and kindness, beautiful stranger."
When Ellora proposes that they join forces, she mulls it over. "Ah, I have my own reasons for journeying to these Ten-Towns. An old friend of mine - a man as dear to me as shade in noonday heat - has absconded with something most precious to my people. I followed him north as a hawk follows the shimmer of a fleeing hare across the dunes. Yet since my arrival in this Icewind Dale, his trail has scattered like sand cast into the winds."
She bows slightly towards Ellora once the matter is settled in her mind. "I accept. In aiding your search for these lost ones, perhaps I too shall chance upon the one I seek. Let one seeker be joined to others, and see what fate makes of it."
"We'd be honoured by your company Zuleikha." The young white-haired says with a polite bow, making an effort to pronounce the calishite knight's name correctly. "And yes, trails go cold quickly up here, but rest assured, we will help you find your old friend." She adds with a reassuring smile. Ellora had briefly contemplated what the calishite had mentioned about the peculiar elf's ramblings possibly being predictions. She knew it could be so, but in her experience predictions like these were far too vague to be practically useful to act upon. Still, they would probably need any advantage they could get if they were indeed trying to end the endless winter brought on by the frostmaiden.
"Yes, well, the stupendous bard had some other business to attend to." Ellora explains to their client as she helps herself to her reward. "So who is your patron then? Someone who dares work against the cult of the frostmaiden I assume." She asks the scholarly half-elf with a curious smile.
Dvu accompanies Ellora, Ophelia and Zuleikha back to the table, and as introductions he says “I am Dvu Doulas, a guide around these parts. We have started some journeys around ten towns and we will look for your friend and the item he’s carrying as we go - - but it would help to know more about this man and the item that he absconded with. It is easy to vanish in these lands, either with intention, or accidentally. I think that we can help one another. Our next leg of the journey is to Kelvin’s Cairn, but you are welcome to join us in our travels. Ah, here is Dannika…”.
When Dannika mentions the sixth portion of reward for the Chwinga, Dvu says “Well, he just stepped away in Targos, we can give him his share, I’m sure we will see him there after we accomplish our task at Kelvin’s Cairn. Thank you for this, ma’am.” And he holds out his big Goliath hand to collect his portion and the one for Olif to hold for the group.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
The tall, rather lanky silver dragonborn gives a little bow saying, “Greetings, Dame Zuleikha--if that be the correct honorific. I am Marva Stormavendrien, formerly of the great library of Neverwinter, currently a soldier of fortune, I suppose. With this group you see before you, we have some interest in assisting the folk of Ten Towns. We successfully retrieved an elemental spirit for the scholar Dannika Graysteel, although we seem to have made enemies of the people of Targos who are quick to open hostilities. We hope to repair that rift by finding their guide Garret who traveled with adventurers to Kelvin’s Cairn and has not returned.
“We are also interested in finding clues to who has murdered three citizens of three towns, all found with a dagger of ice in their heart. And if we can do anything to lessen Auril’s hold on this land, I think we will try, though throwing ourselves against the might of the Frost Maiden may be a futile endeavor. A more practical goal of mine is to acquire enough gold to purchase a trained axebeak or team of dogs to ease our travel in this harsh land. Any and all of these ventures may put us in the way of your friend. We would be glad of your company.”
Marva turns to Drift, “Do you still hold your book? I cannot remember if you kept it or if Ellora borrowed it to read more. Perhaps Ms. Graysteel can find useful information in it for our trip to Kelvin’s Cairn. Although that would be a tradeoff with getting an early start.”
To Dvu, she says, “Do you think it best to go the long way past Caer Dineval and Caer Konig? Or is it more direct to retrace our steps once more to Targos and Termalaine? I believe someone said it was about six hours to Termalaine from here. I’m not sure what kind of welcome we might find there, as Targos sent a guard that way as well. I fully defer to your expertise.”
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Marva Stormavendrien - Level 1 Cleric - Rime of the Frostmaiden
Zuleikha, Scramsax's eyes nearly pop out of his head when he sees you give a silver piece to the boy for play fighting. "Eh, ye, Scamp, yeah, ye," he calls to the boy. "Get ye to the stables where youse belong." After explaining your reason to be in Ten-Towns, you agree to join the group. Members then introduce themselves and their recent past and immediate future plans to you.
Marva, Scramsax comes up to you. "The potatoes for youse. Err, one silver," he adds after quickly considering how much to inflate the price for such mundane products for such obviously well-off customers.
Ellora, Dannika responds to your question by saying, "My patron prefers to remain anonymous." Please roll Insight. You spent some time reading the book, Freezing Flora and Frigid Fauna of the Great North: A Frosty Forager’s Guide, two nights ago when you all first met, but do not recall anything about Kelvin's Cairn. Of course, at that time, you did not know that would be your next destination.
Dvu, reaches for Olif's portion of the reward. Please roll Persuasion.
All, Noone has produced the book for Dannika although Marva has pointed out the tradeoff between knowledge and speed. She also asks Dvu for his thoughts on the direction they would take to get to Kelvin's Cairn.
Dvu persuasion : 18. He gives her a big smile as he holds out his big hand, fingers twitching and waiting to receive the pouch.
Dvu is considering pathways, asking for the map again on the table to review it. “You see, we could go this alternate route since we have been banned from Targos and riders sent to Termalaine. Normally I would go that way. We could go straight across and up the dwarven valley, it would be hard on snowshoes, but if we could use this coin to purchase dogs and a sled, that would be the most direct route. Roads are generally safer to stay on however, so that’s why I was looking at this complete other way, east, and then north.” He’s scratching his chin and looking at the map, considering.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
With calligrapher tools from his map case, Drift draws distances and measures the height and incline of the proposed routes off-road. Ultimately, however, his own preference is one of safety and convenience.
“On the road we’ll move quick and keep our bearings better, we’ll encounter danger, yes, but that’ll be other people we can talk to and maybe reason with. Maybe. The tundra, well, that’s a different icehole of fish.”
Marva pays the silver coin to Scramsax saying, “Fair price for my favorite inn of the Ten Towns! At least you haven’t kicked us out after paying.” She takes the spuds, and adds, “Also, take care, these hot potatoes have eyes! Ha!” (In reference to his earlier comment about “Spuddies”.) She points awkwardly to her group, her eyes, and the room in general. Then she sheepishly hands the potatoes out to her companions. Marva is ready to follow Drift and Dvu, although she isn’t sure if Drift is talking about the road to Targos and Termalaine or the road to Caer Dineval and Caer Konig.
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Marva Stormavendrien - Level 1 Cleric - Rime of the Frostmaiden
Drift taps at the road east from Bryn Shander, the one felt to be about two days travel, to the two Caers, rather than the quicker over-land untrod tundra.
“Short cuts make for long journeys,” says the cartographer. “Old halfling professor of mine used to say that before setting some gods-awful problem for us.”
Assuming Ellora still has Freezing Flora and Frigid Fauna of the Great North: A Frosty Forager’s Guide in her possession, she would nod and pick the book out of her backpack and place it on the breakfast table. "The book belongs to Drift so I suppose it's his call, but as far as I'm concerned, feel free to see if you can find anything there that might be helpful to us, particularly if it pertains to Kelvin's Cairn as that is our next destination." The young white-haired woman explains to the scholarly half-elf.
Insight regarding the dodgy response to the patron question: 19
Dvu looks up at Drift and fist bumps him. “Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about. That would be my vote as well. What’s this book about? Maybe it has a suggestion about approach..”. He opens it daintily and starts to read.
Dvu starts to read and says “Look, in the margin someone started to write a story… “Five frozen nights at Frostbottoms with Frigid Freddy…”. Huh. This guy likes a little alliteration..”
Ophelia meanders slowly back to the table, still grinning at Zuleikha as a youngster might at a traveling bard who has just put on a dazzling show.
"I am Ophelia," she murmurs simply as way of introduction as she absent mindedly gathers her twenty-five gold piece share from Dannika, her smile fading as she considers the scholar's grisly demise as possibly portended by Marva's dream.
She hugs herself tightly and starts humming softly, words becoming barely audible at Dvu's mention of "Five frozen nights" scribbled in the margin.
"I lay down for a while and I woke out on the glacier Floating flakes swirling down from a glowing sky all alight It was silent and still except the pounding of my heart Willing me back to warmth from five frozen nights..."
Zuleikha receives the cordial introductions warmly, offering courtly bows in return. To Ellora, she smiles: "To recover my companion and the sacred text he carries is the north star of my journey. All other roads bend toward it. Yet if in walking beside you, I may serve cause close to your heart as well as my own, then speak without hesitation."
To Dvu, she adds: "Avarikos bears the blood of the djinni in his veins, the marks of which are visible in his countenance. His skin bears the hue of a summer sky, his hair drifts pale as cloud, and his step is as light as the wind. He possesses an artifact known as the Qorrashi Palimpsest - a manuscript said to hold dominion over the ice-genies whispered to dwell in the reaches of the Frigid North. It may be that they are connected to the terrible winter that has befallen this dale."
To Ophelia, she leans over and whispers: "Such wondrous rhymes should not be left to fade like dying embers! Commit them to paper, so that those who come after you may know the name Ophelia, and the world knows the verse you have sung."
To Marva: "My saviour and a learned scholar too? On the trail of a serial killer? How intriguing. If coin is required for hounds and harness, I am happy to contribute, but I know not what you mean by these 'axebeaks'... Are they birds that carry axes or axes that sprout feathers?"
Finally to Scramsax, the warmth in her voice grows cool, carrying the tenor of a warning, if not a full threat: "There is no need to bark at the boy as if he were a stray mule. A child in your employ should be nurtured with kindness, not struck with hard words. Let he would raise a rod against the innocent, beware the scourge at their own back. I may be a foreigner in this land, but if I hear of him being mistreated, you shall become very familiar with me. I hope... I hope we understand one another."
Marva explains to Zuleikha, “We purchased snowshoes and crampons from the local blacksmith, but if we could get animals to carry us, we would move much faster. Unfortunately, they are quite expensive. For a dogsled and three trained dogs, we would need to pay 330 gold. The sled carries two passengers and a pilot or driver.
“The axebeaks are spirited beasts! Large, rather grouchy birds that don’t fly, but rather run quickly on two strong legs. Their beaks are shaped like axes, thus the name. Apparently, they are good mounts, if you can get them to cooperate. The trained ones are 80gp each. Dvu is able to talk to them, which would be helpful, I expect. But again, I don’t think any of us have the coin…yet. So if we are off to Kelvin’s Cairn, we must go on foot.
“Oh, and here are your two baked potatoes. Put them in your pockets to keep your hands warm. I know it’s a little strange, but I took up the practice as a child and it does help a little.”
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Marva Stormavendrien - Level 1 Cleric - Rime of the Frostmaiden
Dvu and Drift make plans for the group to go by Ten-Towns road from Bryn Shander to Caer Dineval and Caer Konig and then to Kelvin's Cairn. Your knowledge of Caer Dineval is limited because itself is limited. It is a small hamlet of around 100 people that is a 10-11 hour walk away. Fortunately, it does not have a wall or organized watch so you will not have to worry about getting locked out of the town. Unfortunately, it also does not have an inn or market so there is no obvious place to stay or buy provisions. At least it has a tavern with lots of trout caught from under the frozen ice of Lac Dinneshere but few other products. Such are the difficulties during this long winter.
Marva and Ophelia both interact with Scramsax, although with opposite tones. Marva distributes the "hot potatoes" to the "Spuddies." Scramsax just shakes his head and mumbles something about it being too early in the day for such emotional extremes.
Ellora produces the book and for the first time reflects on the druid half-elf. Upon reflection, she determines that Dannika is embarrassed by having to say that her patron prefers anonymity since Dannika herself does not know her patron at all much less the patron's motives. Dannika, like most researchers, is more interested in the size and openness of her patron's purse and has been thoroughly pleased on that front so has not pressed the issue. Ellora also sense that Dannika hopes the group does do not ask about the chwinga since the little element is not with her.
Dannika hands the pouch to Dvu with a smile and nod and then looks over his broad shoulders to read some of the chapter titles of the book. Arctic hare, no. Knucklehead trout, why bother. Crag cats, well those are interesting since they are fabulous predators that prefer to eat humans. I would advise you to watch out for them, but they are masters at hiding so that warning will do you little good.
Ah, here is something interesting, particularly for those new to the area. Near Caer Dineval and scattered throughout Icewind Dale is a substance called Chardalyn. It is a dark-colored crystal that is as strong as metal but is connected to demonic magic. The Reghed nomads who use chardalyn for weapons travel in the cold without winter gear, believing the voices in their heads from the crystal will protect them from the cold. It does for a time, but at the cost of their sanity. Beware of the crystal, those that seek it, and those that bear it.
Dannika stands to leave and concludes, You should be relatively safe from attacks while on the roads between here and Caer Konig, although there are no guarantees these days and you should always be prepared for the bad weather to worsen. You are brave adventurers. May you avoid killing arctic animals and may the gods protect you.
To Ophelia, [Zuleikha] leans over and whispers: "Such wondrous rhymes should not be left to fade like dying embers! Commit them to paper, so that those who come after you may know the name Ophelia, and the world knows the verse you have sung."
Ophelia looks a little haunted at this suggestion. "The words are not mine to claim," she manages weakly. "They find me as their vessel, not I them."
Nevertheless, she produces a small notebook from her pack, along with a small pen and appears to scribble a few notes.
Ah, here is something interesting, particularly for those new to the area. Near Caer Dineval and scattered throughout Icewind Dale is a substance called Chardalyn. It is a dark-colored crystal that is as strong as metal but is connected to demonic magic. The Reghed nomads who use chardalyn for weapons travel in the cold without winter gear, believing the voices in their heads from the crystal will protect them from the cold. It does for a time, but at the cost of their sanity. Beware of the crystal, those that seek it, and those that bear it.
At Dannika's mention of Chardalyn, Ophelia's head snaps around to look directly at the elven scholar. "Beneath the ice, the bitter stone," she whispers.
Shaken into lucidity, she herself stands and begins clasping her cold weather clothing tight, ready to depart whichever way Dvu and Drift have decided.
Ophelia briefly clasps Dannika's hand before parting. "Please be vigilant and take precautions. In Targos, I was attacked by a cultist of Auril and then we were all falsely accused of murder and nominated for sacrifice to the Frostmaiden by lottery after I defended myself, even while my assailant still lived. The cultist spoke of Auril asking him to slay us, perhaps because we seek the source of endless winter. Since you do as well, you too may be a target of theirs. It seems possible the cultists are behind the ice blade murders there, here and in Easthaven that the authorities seem so loath to investigate."
When Dannika arrives Drift notices the absence of the chwinga. “Where’s Gourmet? I thought he’d be riding around on your shoulder all proud.” Drift sniffs at the others’ looks. ”Well, he needed a name, and he looked like a Patriarch at lunch when we saw him with his cutlery.” He rubs his nose gruffly. “Forget it.”
Dvu smiles, “Gourmet. Hah! I like it. Now, shall we press on? Before we go, Zuleikha, do you have cold weather gear, everything you need for this journey? Marva is in the right. I wish we had mounts for this trip, but we need more gold to be able to do so. Anything else we need before we go?”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
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Drift’s only response to the Calimshite Knight is to realise the eyes she is drawing after a moment and to hold tightly to his coin-purse, looking warily for an accomplice pickpocket.
Early he retires to the room the night to discuss things as said before.
—-
In the morning, awaiting payment, you find Drift in the common room, amongst the earliest risers. He tinkers with a small brass device with little wings fastened to each side. At his hip hangs a straight and scored wand of wood, flaked with small bits of dried blood and tied around with a helix of common twine. It looks … rough, like handling it might give you splinters, and yet it seems more real than everything around it. An odd depth to it in some dimension that isn’t the usual three.
(Drift now has a wand of the war mage and a flying wonder, with a long rest he can swap one out for an alchemy jug or a fourth item that I’ve not quite decided on yet.)
Ophelia looks up and listens raptly to the bookish dragonborn's recounting of her dream, her lavender eyes half-focused in the middle distance somewhere past Marva. The she-elf's voice itself sounds dreamy, as if her soft chanted words are someone else's, coming to her from far away.
"Aye, to sleep, as we elves cannot,
perchance to dream, yet there's the rub:
For in that sleep, or elven trance,
what dreams of wintry death may come."
She appears to return to herself with a slight shake and meets Marva's eyes directly. "Dreams and visions by the score have I witnessed, yet never understood, not truly. Only have I found that their cold prophesies are ever an icy blade without a hilt, offering no safe way to grasp."
===== =====
(Once Zuleikha's gambit and good health are revealed): Ophelia yelps and falls backwards onto her slender rump in surprise.
"She lives. She rises! Daughter of the sands, so distant from her airy home, bearing her blades to this far frozen finger of the world."
Only after taking time to process what Dvu had said and what Marva tells her afterwards does it finally dawn on Ophelia that Zuleikha has not died and then been resurrected, but instead was putting on a performance. Rather than being embarrassed, the she-elf claps her hands in child-like delight.
By contrast, her reaction when Dannika enters and addresses the party is more muted. Relief at the other, more scholarly, elf's safety, but foreboding that what Marva witnessed may still have been a Foretelling, only one of a doom that has not yet come to pass.
Ophelia whispers to the silver dragonborn: "I fear if the Chwinga does indeed hold a clue to unlocking the Frostmaiden's icy grip, the cult of Auril may target her next. Yet I know not whether there is aught we can do now to prevent such a fate. Even warning her may be to no avail."
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
Zuleikha topples into Marva's arms, and looks up in surprise. "Plucked from the brink of an untimely demise. The gods smile upon me this morning. My thanks, gallant saviour." She offers a bashful grin, abruptly aware that her capering with the young stable-hand have stirred more attention than expected.
When Ophelia sinks by her side, invested in the deep tragedy of the moment, the Calishite woman gives the lavender-eyed stranger a somewhat bewildered look. Prompted by Ellora and Marva to provide some measure of reassurance to the seemingly addled elf, she inclines her head in slow concession.
"Ah, of course... my dear, it was merely a jest. My little friend and I were merely playing. Isn't that right, boy?" She slides out of Marva's hands with a grateful smile, then ruffles the hair of the boy fondly. She presses a silver coin into the stable-hand's palm for sweets, and sends him scampering on his way. Turning back to the gathered onlookers, she tilts her turbaned head to one side, studying Ophelia with renewed curiosity. "It may be that she peers further along the loom of time than most... In Almraiven, my home city, there are some such as she - star-gazers and ash-readers - whose vision strays beyond the present moment."
To reassure the elf, Zuleikha rests a hand lightly against her own belly, demonstrating her uninjured state one final time. "Yes, resurrected, perhaps. Restored thanks to your prayers and kindness, beautiful stranger."
When Ellora proposes that they join forces, she mulls it over. "Ah, I have my own reasons for journeying to these Ten-Towns. An old friend of mine - a man as dear to me as shade in noonday heat - has absconded with something most precious to my people. I followed him north as a hawk follows the shimmer of a fleeing hare across the dunes. Yet since my arrival in this Icewind Dale, his trail has scattered like sand cast into the winds."
She bows slightly towards Ellora once the matter is settled in her mind. "I accept. In aiding your search for these lost ones, perhaps I too shall chance upon the one I seek. Let one seeker be joined to others, and see what fate makes of it."
"We'd be honoured by your company Zuleikha." The young white-haired says with a polite bow, making an effort to pronounce the calishite knight's name correctly. "And yes, trails go cold quickly up here, but rest assured, we will help you find your old friend." She adds with a reassuring smile. Ellora had briefly contemplated what the calishite had mentioned about the peculiar elf's ramblings possibly being predictions. She knew it could be so, but in her experience predictions like these were far too vague to be practically useful to act upon. Still, they would probably need any advantage they could get if they were indeed trying to end the endless winter brought on by the frostmaiden.
"Yes, well, the stupendous bard had some other business to attend to." Ellora explains to their client as she helps herself to her reward. "So who is your patron then? Someone who dares work against the cult of the frostmaiden I assume." She asks the scholarly half-elf with a curious smile.
Dvu accompanies Ellora, Ophelia and Zuleikha back to the table, and as introductions he says “I am Dvu Doulas, a guide around these parts. We have started some journeys around ten towns and we will look for your friend and the item he’s carrying as we go - - but it would help to know more about this man and the item that he absconded with. It is easy to vanish in these lands, either with intention, or accidentally. I think that we can help one another. Our next leg of the journey is to Kelvin’s Cairn, but you are welcome to join us in our travels. Ah, here is Dannika…”.
When Dannika mentions the sixth portion of reward for the Chwinga, Dvu says “Well, he just stepped away in Targos, we can give him his share, I’m sure we will see him there after we accomplish our task at Kelvin’s Cairn. Thank you for this, ma’am.” And he holds out his big Goliath hand to collect his portion and the one for Olif to hold for the group.
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
The tall, rather lanky silver dragonborn gives a little bow saying, “Greetings, Dame Zuleikha--if that be the correct honorific. I am Marva Stormavendrien, formerly of the great library of Neverwinter, currently a soldier of fortune, I suppose. With this group you see before you, we have some interest in assisting the folk of Ten Towns. We successfully retrieved an elemental spirit for the scholar Dannika Graysteel, although we seem to have made enemies of the people of Targos who are quick to open hostilities. We hope to repair that rift by finding their guide Garret who traveled with adventurers to Kelvin’s Cairn and has not returned.
“We are also interested in finding clues to who has murdered three citizens of three towns, all found with a dagger of ice in their heart. And if we can do anything to lessen Auril’s hold on this land, I think we will try, though throwing ourselves against the might of the Frost Maiden may be a futile endeavor. A more practical goal of mine is to acquire enough gold to purchase a trained axebeak or team of dogs to ease our travel in this harsh land. Any and all of these ventures may put us in the way of your friend. We would be glad of your company.”
Marva turns to Drift, “Do you still hold your book? I cannot remember if you kept it or if Ellora borrowed it to read more. Perhaps Ms. Graysteel can find useful information in it for our trip to Kelvin’s Cairn. Although that would be a tradeoff with getting an early start.”
To Dvu, she says, “Do you think it best to go the long way past Caer Dineval and Caer Konig? Or is it more direct to retrace our steps once more to Targos and Termalaine? I believe someone said it was about six hours to Termalaine from here. I’m not sure what kind of welcome we might find there, as Targos sent a guard that way as well. I fully defer to your expertise.”
Marva Stormavendrien - Level 1 Cleric - Rime of the Frostmaiden
(Librarian/Gamer/Knitter)
Month: Hammer, Day: VIII, Time: 0830
Zuleikha, Scramsax's eyes nearly pop out of his head when he sees you give a silver piece to the boy for play fighting. "Eh, ye, Scamp, yeah, ye," he calls to the boy. "Get ye to the stables where youse belong." After explaining your reason to be in Ten-Towns, you agree to join the group. Members then introduce themselves and their recent past and immediate future plans to you.
Marva, Scramsax comes up to you. "The potatoes for youse. Err, one silver," he adds after quickly considering how much to inflate the price for such mundane products for such obviously well-off customers.
Ellora, Dannika responds to your question by saying, "My patron prefers to remain anonymous." Please roll Insight. You spent some time reading the book, Freezing Flora and Frigid Fauna of the Great North: A Frosty Forager’s Guide, two nights ago when you all first met, but do not recall anything about Kelvin's Cairn. Of course, at that time, you did not know that would be your next destination.
Dvu, reaches for Olif's portion of the reward. Please roll Persuasion.
All, Noone has produced the book for Dannika although Marva has pointed out the tradeoff between knowledge and speed. She also asks Dvu for his thoughts on the direction they would take to get to Kelvin's Cairn.
Dvu persuasion : 18. He gives her a big smile as he holds out his big hand, fingers twitching and waiting to receive the pouch.
Dvu is considering pathways, asking for the map again on the table to review it. “You see, we could go this alternate route since we have been banned from Targos and riders sent to Termalaine. Normally I would go that way. We could go straight across and up the dwarven valley, it would be hard on snowshoes, but if we could use this coin to purchase dogs and a sled, that would be the most direct route. Roads are generally safer to stay on however, so that’s why I was looking at this complete other way, east, and then north.” He’s scratching his chin and looking at the map, considering.
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
With calligrapher tools from his map case, Drift draws distances and measures the height and incline of the proposed routes off-road. Ultimately, however, his own preference is one of safety and convenience.
“On the road we’ll move quick and keep our bearings better, we’ll encounter danger, yes, but that’ll be other people we can talk to and maybe reason with. Maybe. The tundra, well, that’s a different icehole of fish.”
Marva pays the silver coin to Scramsax saying, “Fair price for my favorite inn of the Ten Towns! At least you haven’t kicked us out after paying.” She takes the spuds, and adds, “Also, take care, these hot potatoes have eyes! Ha!” (In reference to his earlier comment about “Spuddies”.) She points awkwardly to her group, her eyes, and the room in general. Then she sheepishly hands the potatoes out to her companions. Marva is ready to follow Drift and Dvu, although she isn’t sure if Drift is talking about the road to Targos and Termalaine or the road to Caer Dineval and Caer Konig.
Marva Stormavendrien - Level 1 Cleric - Rime of the Frostmaiden
(Librarian/Gamer/Knitter)
Drift taps at the road east from Bryn Shander, the one felt to be about two days travel, to the two Caers, rather than the quicker over-land untrod tundra.
“Short cuts make for long journeys,” says the cartographer. “Old halfling professor of mine used to say that before setting some gods-awful problem for us.”
Assuming Ellora still has Freezing Flora and Frigid Fauna of the Great North: A Frosty Forager’s Guide in her possession, she would nod and pick the book out of her backpack and place it on the breakfast table. "The book belongs to Drift so I suppose it's his call, but as far as I'm concerned, feel free to see if you can find anything there that might be helpful to us, particularly if it pertains to Kelvin's Cairn as that is our next destination." The young white-haired woman explains to the scholarly half-elf.
Insight regarding the dodgy response to the patron question: 19
Dvu looks up at Drift and fist bumps him. “Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about. That would be my vote as well. What’s this book about? Maybe it has a suggestion about approach..”. He opens it daintily and starts to read.
Dvu starts to read and says “Look, in the margin someone started to write a story… “Five frozen nights at Frostbottoms with Frigid Freddy…”. Huh. This guy likes a little alliteration..”
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Ophelia meanders slowly back to the table, still grinning at Zuleikha as a youngster might at a traveling bard who has just put on a dazzling show.
"I am Ophelia," she murmurs simply as way of introduction as she absent mindedly gathers her twenty-five gold piece share from Dannika, her smile fading as she considers the scholar's grisly demise as possibly portended by Marva's dream.
She hugs herself tightly and starts humming softly, words becoming barely audible at Dvu's mention of "Five frozen nights" scribbled in the margin.
"I lay down for a while and I woke out on the glacier
Floating flakes swirling down from a glowing sky all alight
It was silent and still except the pounding of my heart
Willing me back to warmth from five frozen nights..."
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
Zuleikha receives the cordial introductions warmly, offering courtly bows in return. To Ellora, she smiles: "To recover my companion and the sacred text he carries is the north star of my journey. All other roads bend toward it. Yet if in walking beside you, I may serve cause close to your heart as well as my own, then speak without hesitation."
To Dvu, she adds: "Avarikos bears the blood of the djinni in his veins, the marks of which are visible in his countenance. His skin bears the hue of a summer sky, his hair drifts pale as cloud, and his step is as light as the wind. He possesses an artifact known as the Qorrashi Palimpsest - a manuscript said to hold dominion over the ice-genies whispered to dwell in the reaches of the Frigid North. It may be that they are connected to the terrible winter that has befallen this dale."
To Ophelia, she leans over and whispers: "Such wondrous rhymes should not be left to fade like dying embers! Commit them to paper, so that those who come after you may know the name Ophelia, and the world knows the verse you have sung."
To Marva: "My saviour and a learned scholar too? On the trail of a serial killer? How intriguing. If coin is required for hounds and harness, I am happy to contribute, but I know not what you mean by these 'axebeaks'... Are they birds that carry axes or axes that sprout feathers?"
Finally to Scramsax, the warmth in her voice grows cool, carrying the tenor of a warning, if not a full threat: "There is no need to bark at the boy as if he were a stray mule. A child in your employ should be nurtured with kindness, not struck with hard words. Let he would raise a rod against the innocent, beware the scourge at their own back. I may be a foreigner in this land, but if I hear of him being mistreated, you shall become very familiar with me. I hope... I hope we understand one another."
Marva explains to Zuleikha, “We purchased snowshoes and crampons from the local blacksmith, but if we could get animals to carry us, we would move much faster. Unfortunately, they are quite expensive. For a dogsled and three trained dogs, we would need to pay 330 gold. The sled carries two passengers and a pilot or driver.
“The axebeaks are spirited beasts! Large, rather grouchy birds that don’t fly, but rather run quickly on two strong legs. Their beaks are shaped like axes, thus the name. Apparently, they are good mounts, if you can get them to cooperate. The trained ones are 80gp each. Dvu is able to talk to them, which would be helpful, I expect. But again, I don’t think any of us have the coin…yet. So if we are off to Kelvin’s Cairn, we must go on foot.
“Oh, and here are your two baked potatoes. Put them in your pockets to keep your hands warm. I know it’s a little strange, but I took up the practice as a child and it does help a little.”
Marva Stormavendrien - Level 1 Cleric - Rime of the Frostmaiden
(Librarian/Gamer/Knitter)
Dvu and Drift make plans for the group to go by Ten-Towns road from Bryn Shander to Caer Dineval and Caer Konig and then to Kelvin's Cairn. Your knowledge of Caer Dineval is limited because itself is limited. It is a small hamlet of around 100 people that is a 10-11 hour walk away. Fortunately, it does not have a wall or organized watch so you will not have to worry about getting locked out of the town. Unfortunately, it also does not have an inn or market so there is no obvious place to stay or buy provisions. At least it has a tavern with lots of trout caught from under the frozen ice of Lac Dinneshere but few other products. Such are the difficulties during this long winter.
Marva and Ophelia both interact with Scramsax, although with opposite tones. Marva distributes the "hot potatoes" to the "Spuddies." Scramsax just shakes his head and mumbles something about it being too early in the day for such emotional extremes.
Ellora produces the book and for the first time reflects on the druid half-elf. Upon reflection, she determines that Dannika is embarrassed by having to say that her patron prefers anonymity since Dannika herself does not know her patron at all much less the patron's motives. Dannika, like most researchers, is more interested in the size and openness of her patron's purse and has been thoroughly pleased on that front so has not pressed the issue. Ellora also sense that Dannika hopes the group does do not ask about the chwinga since the little element is not with her.
Dannika hands the pouch to Dvu with a smile and nod and then looks over his broad shoulders to read some of the chapter titles of the book. Arctic hare, no. Knucklehead trout, why bother. Crag cats, well those are interesting since they are fabulous predators that prefer to eat humans. I would advise you to watch out for them, but they are masters at hiding so that warning will do you little good.
Ah, here is something interesting, particularly for those new to the area. Near Caer Dineval and scattered throughout Icewind Dale is a substance called Chardalyn. It is a dark-colored crystal that is as strong as metal but is connected to demonic magic. The Reghed nomads who use chardalyn for weapons travel in the cold without winter gear, believing the voices in their heads from the crystal will protect them from the cold. It does for a time, but at the cost of their sanity. Beware of the crystal, those that seek it, and those that bear it.
Dannika stands to leave and concludes, You should be relatively safe from attacks while on the roads between here and Caer Konig, although there are no guarantees these days and you should always be prepared for the bad weather to worsen. You are brave adventurers. May you avoid killing arctic animals and may the gods protect you.
Ophelia looks a little haunted at this suggestion. "The words are not mine to claim," she manages weakly. "They find me as their vessel, not I them."
Nevertheless, she produces a small notebook from her pack, along with a small pen and appears to scribble a few notes.
At Dannika's mention of Chardalyn, Ophelia's head snaps around to look directly at the elven scholar. "Beneath the ice, the bitter stone," she whispers.
Shaken into lucidity, she herself stands and begins clasping her cold weather clothing tight, ready to depart whichever way Dvu and Drift have decided.
Ophelia briefly clasps Dannika's hand before parting. "Please be vigilant and take precautions. In Targos, I was attacked by a cultist of Auril and then we were all falsely accused of murder and nominated for sacrifice to the Frostmaiden by lottery after I defended myself, even while my assailant still lived. The cultist spoke of Auril asking him to slay us, perhaps because we seek the source of endless winter. Since you do as well, you too may be a target of theirs. It seems possible the cultists are behind the ice blade murders there, here and in Easthaven that the authorities seem so loath to investigate."
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
When Dannika arrives Drift notices the absence of the chwinga. “Where’s Gourmet? I thought he’d be riding around on your shoulder all proud.” Drift sniffs at the others’ looks. ”Well, he needed a name, and he looked like a Patriarch at lunch when we saw him with his cutlery.” He rubs his nose gruffly. “Forget it.”
Dvu smiles, “Gourmet. Hah! I like it. Now, shall we press on? Before we go, Zuleikha, do you have cold weather gear, everything you need for this journey? Marva is in the right. I wish we had mounts for this trip, but we need more gold to be able to do so. Anything else we need before we go?”
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.