Drift buys Snowshoes and crampons to replace those from his last expedition, now threadbare from frequent repair. He haggles them down to 5gp and 6sp, as this is not the first time he’s visited, then he steps back to watch Dvu work. He has his own tent, though it sleep only one, and too little gold to afford much else.

As always he curses the expenses of his artificers magic in his head, but in the chill says nothing, to avoid the cold air in his lungs. 

To Olfin, the proprietors say they do not rent the animals or vehicles to adventurers. Too many lost in the wilds! Poor investment. Of course, we hope the best for you. 

Ophelia, you hear the traders disparage each other's personal hygiene, parentage, and town with the most crude and colorful vocabulary. However, you also learn that three people have been murdered in the past month: a halfling trapper in Easthaven, a human shipbuilder in Targos, and, just three days ago, a dwarf glassblower in Bryn Shander. Each victim was found with a dagger of ice through the heart. Speaker Shane is dismissive of the concerns of those gathered around the forge, but the discussions about the murders continue, if for no other reason than it is something different from the usual talk about the endless winter.

Dvu, the two women are pleased by you and your love of animals but are also disinclined to accept a lower rate for the animals they raised, cared for, and trained. Come back, safe and sound so you can play some more with our lovies. 

Soon enough, Garn and Elza say, It's time to close up for the night. Gotta get some rest before slinging iron to make my customers happy and proud to wield my goods! Despite the guffaws that follow, the crowd breaks up and moves out. 

As the blacksmith shop shuts down, Marva turns to the group. “Shall we do as Drift suggested earlier? Walk around the town with the lantern a bit before calling it a night? I plan to stay at Northlook Inn. I’ve already spent some time in my tent on the way to Bryn Shander, and I’d rather avoid using it again until I have to. Then we could head out toward Targos in the morning. I know it won’t really lighten up until 10:00, but I feel like we should start before that. I don’t mind the dark so much, since I can still see. Unless our guides recommend we wait…”

The rumors swirling by the forge, like snowflakes swirling upwards in a wild winter wind, tease at the memories of Ophelia's addled mind, until...

Murders three they speak of... all different species, with different callings, in different towns... all slain by cold blade... an icy dagger through the heart.  What was it that Hlin had warned of so ominously at the tavern?  An immediate effect on life and death.  A murder mystery...

When Blackiron Blades closes, Ophelia finds her companions, and for once, she has something direct to say.  Or at least as direct as she can be.

"I... I would join you on your lantern-lit walking vigil, Marva, before returning to the Northlook.  You and Drift and whoever else... which should be all of us.  For when the cold winds howl, the lone wolf dies, yet the pack survives.  The townfolk speak of three killings with a dagger to the heart.  A dagger of ice.  In three different towns, with Bryn Shander the most recent, Targos before that, and Easthaven first.  Halfling, human and dwarf, all different occupations, yet all slain with a weapon of winter.  We are not safe from Winter's abiding wrath, even along these lamplit streets."

She pauses for a moment, then confides in the others.  "The watchful dwarven woman at the Northlook.  Hlin.  She spoke gruffly of someone and something dark and deadly.  To seek her out when we are done with the chwingas and ready to solve a murder mystery..."

Yet the moment of lucidity passes.  Ophelia's eyes turn slightly upward once more, gazing into the middle distance as she follows the group, singing softly.

"Lover, lover let's pretend
We are born as innocents
Cast into the storm with apple eyes

To chase, chase as cold ascends
Through the snows and bitter end
With ice in hand to watch the fallen die"

The young white-haired woman comes along to the Blackiron Blades. At first she is dismayed by the outrageous prices but decides she still needs some of the quite expensive gear to stay safe when they eventually leave Bryn Shander for the harsh tundra. "Thanks for the offer Dvu but I think I will have a tent of my own for now, perhaps once I'm sure you don't snore." She answers the goliath with a teasing smile. As the scholarly dragonborn suggests looking for chwingas, Ellora nods and uses some oil for the lamp she brought along, magically lighting it once out in the street. She shudders as the peculair elf mentions the murders. "Well, lets stay together then." She says, instinctively stepping closer to the massive goliath. "A walk round town then?" She says, holding up the lantern and hoping to see the flame turning bright green.

As the group begins a circuit of the town, Marva takes up a position near the back of the troop. With the talk of murder, it occurs to her that she doesn’t know anyone in this group well at all. They all seem friendly enough, but it doesn’t hurt to be cautious. She also keeps a lookout all around them for any suspicious characters as she begins to familiarize herself with the layout of the town. She notes any interesting businesses or any shady-looking alleys. (Perception: 13)

Meanwhile, she makes quiet conversation, saying, “The cold doesn’t really bother me too much. I’ve always preferred winter to summer. And there’s nothing like a good storm. My parents always said it was because I was born in a blizzard. What about you, Olfin? I don’t want to make assumptions just because we’re both dragonborn. Do you like the cold? What’s your story, anyway, if you don’t mind my asking? I think we’ll work together better if we know each other. How did you end up in Bryn Shander?”

You are familiar enough with the streets and allies of Bryn Shander. The main streets are not clear of snow but have defined paths worn into them. In a few places where there is a lot of traffic, you can see grey cobblestone with ice frozen between them. In the alleyways, there may be only a single lane carved through the snow. You learn the art of deciding who has right-of-way and who has he unfortunate responsibility to stand in the snow. 

There are piles of snow lining the sides of the streets and buttressing the structures. In a few places, the snow is sufficiently tall and solid enough so as to form arches over your head. It is possible the snow provides some insulation to the houses but outside it is bitter cold. Intersections are the worst since the wind can come from any direction. When the endless winter first arrived, people enjoyed watching others be blown down a street due to the wind and ice, but that entertainment has gotten old as it has happened to everyone at some point. 

People on the streets are few and far between outside the few hours of twilight. They are all bundled up so it is difficult to recognize one person from another. They rarely look at each other and it is impossible to determine who if anyone is carrying a weapon. 

Month: Hammer, Day: VI, Time: 2030

You are able to talk to your companions but the dry cold air does cause you to cough periodically. The hooded Lanntern of Tracking (Elementals) remains its normal color light and there are no signs of these mysterious chwingas. (The lantern light will turn bright green if there is a chwinga within 300 feel of the lantern. It does not pinpoint the location of the elemental.) Bryn Shander is not a large town so have seen just about anything there is to see after about one hour of wandering around. 

“Right. Well that’s that then. You might not mind the cold,” and here Drift turns his frosted beard in the direction of his Dragonborn companions, “but I’m off the mind to enjoy a warm common room while I can.”

Drift waits to see if others will correct him, or if something fruitful is yet to be done, but if not then he heads back to the inn. 

Olfin will also buy snowshoes 

Having no success in bartering down the price of the animals, Dvu purchases a set of crampons as well.  “Let’s use that lantern and see what we can find..”.  He is alarmed by Ophelia’s tale of the ice dagger murders, listening intently.  He then begins a walk around town, looking for any sign of the lantern’s light turning green.  

After they march around town and find no evidence of chwingas nearby, he shrugs his shoulder and nods when Drift mentions staying in a warm bed, while they can.  “Agree.  Let’s get some sleep then be on our way early tomorrow.   I can’t think of anything else on this cold night…”

"Okay, back to the inn then." The young white-haired woman says with resignation in her voice as she realizes there was none of the elusive chwingas to be found in Bryn Shander. Ellora would follow the others back to the Northlook and make it an early night, although if she is allowed to borrow the book from earlier she would use a simple ritual to stay up and read some of it, particularly what she would expect to pertain to the frozen days ahead. 

"Back to the Inn."

Marva follows the group back to the Northlook Inn where she pays Scramsax 5 sp for a mattress in a semi-private room. If she can arrange for the room to be shared with any of her companions, she’ll do so. She’d rest easier with these sort-of strangers than complete strangers. Especially if murder is afoot. (She read a mystery once that used that terminology, and it makes her giggle a little in her mind.) 

As she rolls up in her bedroll, she imagines a backstory for Olfin, since he hasn’t shared anything about his past. Perhaps he lived in one of the larger cities in the south. Until he learned that he had a twin brother that he never knew about. His only clue to the twin’s whereabouts was a postcard from Targos and a pinecone from one of the northern species of tree…zzzzz…

(LOVE IT)

Ophelia trails along at the back of the group, lavender eyes unfocused and gazing slightly upwards as they often are, somehow not toppling over from the wind and high snowdrifts.  She nods vaguely and continues following as they all trudge back to the Northlook.

(Dvu):  "Agree.  Let’s get some sleep then be on our way early tomorrow."

A brilliant smile graces Ophelia's face as she touches the goliath's arm reverently in response to his words, clearly enthusiastic about the prospect.

"Guide.  Tomorrow shall you be our vanguard into Winter's realm.... calling to us like the midnight lights across the sun-fled sky."

Once again, she gestures absently and an ephemeral Minor Illusion of the sweeping and swirling aurora glows beside her.

Ophelia's smile turns tentative as she faces the others and takes her leave back at the Northlook.  She pays Scramsax five silver for a private room (not rightly remembering whether the innkeep had offered the room for free) and ascends the stairs.  Barely, she remembers to close the door before sitting on the floor and entering into her elven trance, eyes open and still gazing upwards, surges of chaotic magic crashing like breakers on the shores of her mind.

Oh! Just before going to bed, Marva asked Scramsax if he could bake some potatoes in the morning, two for each of the members of her crew. If he asks why, she explains that they could all carry them as hand-warmers in their pockets. (She realizes that they probably wouldn't stay warm very long...)

Month: Hammer, Day: VII, Time: 0800

Morning arrives, gloomy and stormy as ever. At least the snow is blowing more down than sideways today, so it is about as it is going to get in Ten-Towns. You meet in the common room of the tavern, drink your coffee, and collect your potatoes. Scramsax just shakes his head when handing them out, muttering something about crazy adventurers, while wishing you success and fortune. 

(OOC - Any last minute preparations before heading out, such as spells? What will be your marching order when you leave Bryn and who will hold the lantern? And finally, what direction are you headed?) 

Using his Weaver’s tool, Drift has made a net during the Long Rest that he can repurpose when we rest tonight for something useful tomorrow when needs are more clear. 

Drift doesn’t need to carry the lamp in order to fuel it, so he’s happy to both be somewhere in the middle, and to let Ellora or whomever would like and can read the book hold onto it for the trip, while it’s useful. 

Direction wise, anyway but south. He’ll hold his tongue to see what the others suggest, giving particular weight to Dvu’s suggestions. 

Marva smiles as the potatoes are handed out. “I know these won’t last forever, but they’ll keep our hands warm for a little while. We used baked potatoes when I was a kid.” She gathers her supplies, tying her basket to the side of her backpack. She keeps an eye on Ophelia, making sure that the erratic elf has her cold weather gear. 

As they start to discuss their route, she offers, “I'll walk toward the front. I see pretty well in the dark, so I can keep an eye out for the chwingas and trouble. Are we heading toward Targos? That’s the closest town, according to Ms. Graysteel. Which way is that? Is there a road or trail we can follow?” She also looks at Dvu for answers.