BE7s Frozen Sick (IC)

“I agree with Mister Torvil as well, we must make haste so Kitsune has the best shot at making a cure. I am ready for the most speedy approach to find this merchant and get down to the bottom of this once and for all.”

Akira removes her cloak, carefully folds and rolls it up tightly and places it in her bag. She ensures her hair is in a solid platt and is prepared for a race against the clock.

Once Akira is physically ready for the next leg of their journey she takes a few moments to meditate and mentally prepare for the journey. Eyes closed only for a brief moment, she takes one last deep breath, opens her eyes, and is ready to get a move on.

***It is currently mid-morning.  The sky remains gray, spitting the occasional flurry, but it's frigid wrath has played out.  The land is blanketed in deep, fresh snow.  Wading through it is no easy feat.***

"This snow is against us" Kitsune says, her voice catching on the biting wind as she sinks shin-deep into a drift.  "Treading in Torvil's wake might be our best option to save our strength."

***If the party is leaving, gimme a perception check from everyone.  I also need a d12 roll, but just one; first come, first served.***

Kitsune's perception check: 18

DM's requested d12 roll: 3

Torvil perception check : 21

The path back to Palebank Village was brutal.  The snow had ceased to fall, but the wind continued to howl in from the sea.  Torvil got the worst of it, acting as a dwarven plow.  His powerful legs drove forward, albeit at a reduced pace, while his shield opened up a small lane for the rest to follow in.  The return trip took significantly longer, every step a battle of dwarf vs. nature, but eventually the companions reached their destination. 

You make your way to the only other inn in town, the Jolly Dwarf.  It is still early is nearing mid-day when you pull open the sturdy door.  

Inside, warmth struck like a blessing.

The common room was spacious but intimate, with vaulted timber ceilings crossed by dark beams salvaged from old ships. Brass lanterns hung low over polished oak tables, their light reflecting in bottles of colored glass behind a long mahogany bar. Thick rugs from southern kingdoms covered the stone floors, muting footsteps and trapping the warmth from the massive hearths that burned at either end of the room.

The clientele was wealthy by frontier standards: merchant captains wrapped in deep-blue velvet cloaks trimmed with fox fur, dwarven jewel traders nursing dark stouts from crystal-rimmed mugs, naval officers in immaculate wool coats, and the occasional adventurer whose armor had clearly seen ice and storm. Conversations remained low and refined, punctuated by the occasional burst of laughter or the crackle of burning pine.

Servants moved quietly between tables carrying platters of buttered crab, smoked salmon, thick chowders rich with cream, and steaming trenchers of roasted root vegetables glazed with herbs and honey.

The air smelled of mulled wine, pipe smoke, sea salt, and and perfumed scent of upscale society.  

Two male humans and two tiefling children laugh among themselves as they enjoy a meal together in a corner table.  

Several well manicured eyebrows raise at your entrance.  Fresh out of the wilds, clothing and armor splattered with blood, you make quite the sight.  A well mannered, yet somewhat flustered, half elf ushers you to a table near the corner, mostly blocked from the entrance by the other patrons.  From your seat, you overhear the human males discussing plans for the immediate future which include seeking out trade, particularly if they can locate any relics from Eiselcross.  

Within moments a server attends to your needs.  2 GP will cover a meal and a drink for the party.  The special of the day is a steaming platter of vice-grip crab claws.  The blue shelled crustaceans are highly prized for their delicate flavor and almost comically oversized claws, well claw to be more specific.  The strange bottom dwellers had one stunted claw and one giant one.  The meal is served with a salad consisting primarily of dried sea weed.  Bits of smoky bacon, crumbled goat cheese, and a sweet dressing complimented the natural salt in the local aquatic vegetation.  

Once the party enters the Jolly Dwarf, Akira addresses Torvil, for he seems like the most worn and tattered from the journey.

To Torvil “There are no words that that can be said that equate to the thanks that we owe you for the leg of this journey. Let me buy you a meal and a drink, rest your body from the labours that you have faced on our behalf.”

Once Torvil starts to eat his meal and relax from the long journey that brought our adventurers back, Akira cannot help her instinct to roam around and re-locate all the exits and make sure they are secure. 

Investigation: 14

As Akira offers to pay, Kitsune slips into a chair, her gaze sliding back and forth from the steaming platters of delicious crab to the table of human merchants talking about Eiselcross relics.  She leans in close to her team, her voice dropping to a quiet murmur meant only for her companions.  "The merchants in the corner" she whispers, tilting her head fractionally toward the two men.  "They're talking about hunting for Eiselcross relics.  If Irven Leil is already here, those are exactly the type of buyers he’d be looking to meet."

***OoC: anything from Akira or Torvil?***

Torvil shakes off like a dog as he enters the Jolly Dwarf, sitting down like a frozen dwarf at a chair, slowly thawing after the trip.  He claps his legs and arms to warm up, watching those around the room and making observations.  He bows his head in acknowledgement to Akira, saying merely "T'was nothin, just had to snow plow our way here.  Hopefully we can stop this whole mess from getting out of hand."  He says to all of them at the table together, "We need to tell the others about this and stop any exchange of goods, spread of the disease.  Kitsune, do you want to speak to those humans over there?  I'll speak with those merchant captains; perhaps they have heard of such.  After my hands stop shaking and I've got somma this warm food in my belly, les speak to them."

Kitsune gives Torvil a single, understanding nod as she watches his hands shake from the brutal trek.  "Eat and warm yourself, Master Torvil...you've more than earned it" she says quietly, her silver eyes shifting toward the humans in the corner.  "I'll handle the relic hunters.  Let's see what they know about our traveling merchant before the ice takes root in this taproom."

Smoothing down her traveling cloak to appear a bit more presentable, she glides gracefully away from her companions and approaches the men's table with an effortless, polite smile.  "Good day, gentlemen, my name is Kitsune Narisu" she says softly, tilting her head with practiced curiosity.  "I couldn't help but overhear your interest in Eiselcross artifacts, and I was wondering if you've had the pleasure of meeting a merchant named Irven Leil today?"

The men pause, looking up at Kitsune, they both smile at her and the tiefling children both burst out in laughter in unison.  One of the men stands up, brown eyes sparkling with merriment and says, "I have indeed had the pleasure," he says with a wink to the other gentleman.  "And now you do as well!  Kitsune Narisu, please meet Irven Liel," he says with a grand, sweeping gesture to his husband.  With a laugh, he adds, "I am Fenton Tethwick.  We deal primarily with books, but Aeorian relics are always in high demand.  Anyone lucky enough to find one can turn it into a pretty pile of gold down south."

Torvil stands, his head turning round like it was being rotated with a crank.  

Perception : 14

He walks straight over to Kitsune and the table she is speaking to, all manner of coldness shaken off, he says “Irven Liel?  The luck.  Well, didn’t mean ta interrupt ya, Kitsune.  Go ahead and splain.  We have pushed through hella deep snow to get her quickly and see you.”

As soon as Torvil stands up, Akria walks over to the bar, orders another round of ale for her whole party and two extra for the folks that Kitsune and Torvil are introducing themselves to. 

Akira walks over to the table and sets down all the ales in front of her colleagues and the two new men sitting in front of her.

“Akira Atohkah” she bows, “ale for the both of you as an offering of peace and good will.”

She then looks at Kitsune and gives her a head nod as a gesture to continue the conversation.