Poljen also asks how they can contact their dragon protector to ask his permission to travel these parts.  Or even if he knows anything about Maccath.  If she is dead, well, that might alter our decisions.

The old man shrugs, "He probably knows somethin', whether he'll tell you or not is a better question. As to meetin' him, wander off into the sea and he'll find you sooner or later. If'n you're wanting something more sure, just hang around here for a time. We expect him to come collect his tribute inside of the next week or two."

The woman before Perry shrugs and points to a pile of furs nearby, and then several simple garments hanging from a rack. "Let me know what you need, and what you're willin' to offer."

It does not look like she has enough clothing ready to go for the entire party at the moment, at least not just lying around.

"Well we have approximately..." Perry pauses a moment and lifts his finger into the air, looking up as if he's counting all the core Blaze members in his head, "...eight people who need some sort of protective winter coats, gloves, and boots. I for one wouldn't mind a furred hat of some sort as well. Also, perhaps something to help keep a horse warm as I was saying earlier, some sort of horse blanket. If you have a furred monk outfit, that would be helpful for one person. Anything made from a snow leopard would be nice for another. Any super tight, form-fitting furs would be nice for another. Maybe also some darker, stealthier furs for another. As for compensation, we have gold if that's amicable. How about 10 gold per clothing set?"

The woman stares at Perry, blinking occasionally.

"A blanket I have, adjusting it to stay on a horse won't be difficult. As for the rest... I make clothing, not fashion statements."

Relishing the pause in the adventure, Lawrance observes the people in the area and hears the conversations without worry. To Velon, he mentions "It may be good to wait the few weeks for the White Death to return and get the information that way. With over a year passing, she could literally be anywhere in this expanse. Our chances of finding her without special information is worse than slim. Perhaps Sune could help?"

Cratol will look at the furs and ask that a simple tunic and breeches be made that will keep him warm and still allow some movement in them if she could do that.

"Yes of course, pardon my rudeness madam. I didn't mean to offend. Anything functional that can keep us warm will do wonderfully. I would actually like a hat though if you have one," Perry replies to the offended shopkeeper. 

Velon chimes in on Perry's shopping.  "Or lightly colored for stealth, in this region.  It's hard to say where we might need such a thing."  He looks out at the vast expanse of ice and frozen wasteland as he says it.  "I'd either like some thin skins to fit under my armor, a large bearskin or something of the sort to fit over it, or both, please."  He leans in to whisper to just Perry and the shopkeep while also nodding towards Lia and Mari.  "And perhaps the least practical furs you've ever sold, for our more, ah, 'shapely' companions."

 Listening to Lawrance, Velon rubs his chin and ponders it.  "It does seem that making our tribute here and waiting is the best bet.  Anything else and this 'great white death' may mistake our intrusion into this land as a threat without even speaking with us first.  I do hate to spend so much time, though..."  He trails off for a moment and then asks the group "what does everyone think?  Is there a good way to find this Maccath as well?"

"I think that's an incredible idea, Velon! Yes, yes, we should speak to him and attempt to notify him of our intrusion politely. We can just make our tribute to the cool, calm, collected, and extremely reasonable white dragon. But we would of course need a way to get his attention unless we want to wait a week or two... Perry says, holding his chin as he contemplates a way to get the dragon's attention.

Suddenly, he makes his left hand into a fist and smacks it into his right palm, "That's it! Brilliant! We hold a parade in his honor! Everyone loves a good parade!"

Poljen shrugs.  "The scholar and the item have both waited this long.  Another week or two probably will make little difference.  But we should decide exactly what the tribute will be.  Did someone suggest we offer it Glazhael's skull?  Or do we simply wish to offer it what coin we have?"

Lia listens thoughtfully to the others.  "  I feel that it only makes sense to await his return.  It would be folly to go out on our own with no clue of where to look in this frozen land. As to a tribute... maybe some of our coins. I don't see how giving him a skull of another white dragon that we killed would improve his disposition towards us. I think also that no mention of our real reason  for travelling here should be made. " 

"We were told the skull might make a good tribute, so let's set that out for him.  Should we add anything?  If he takes it without granting us passage in the land, so be it.  It is likely little value to us otherwise.  Placing it within those walls over there as is customary here is probably our best shot at showing the proper respect.  Should we do anything else to attract him?  Light a signal fire?  Fly the castle within plain site nearby?  Have we any magic to assist?"  At that last part Velon looks to Perry and Lawrance.

"Ah, I'm not sure about a parade Perry.  He might not be able to see it from afar.  It's, ah, worth considering though."

"Yes, let's just say we are looking for a friend and would like his permission to safely traverse this land.  We could also ask him if he has seen signs of any travelers in recent months, but probably should not give too much more away."

Looking around at the relatively barren landscape, Lawrance respond to Velon's questions "I'm sure we could find plenty of ways to attract his attention. Perhaps simply a bright orange Tiny Hut would be unusual enough to entice his curiosity? We could use it as a retreat if he attacks. And we'd all be warm. Otherwise I could summon an Elemental and create a standing tornado for a short while, when he's nearby. At least that way, if he proves hostile, we will have a head start on combat." Pausing, he adds quieter "Besides, out here he's less powerful. In his lair would be lethal."

Turning back to the Headman, Lawrance asks "Do you have anyone who can learn and cast the magic of wizards here? I have something I'd like to discuss with them."

"Ah but Velon, he won't just see the parade, he will hear it! We can get Niko down here, set up a stage, get some dancing lights, throw in some thaumaturgy, and BOOM! It'll be a beautiful, wonderful, incredible parade with music!"

Perry looks incredibly excited explaining his foolproof plan.

Velon hears Lawrance and Perry and just puts his gauntleted fists on his hips and stares at the wizard.  A few seconds into the odd silence he turns his head slightly and replies to Perry with a half hearted "sure, Perry" and then resumes staring down the wizard that tests his patience so.

The headman replies to Lawrence, "We have two shamans, but I don't know if that's the kind of magic you're looking for."

"Anyways, if you're going to stick around here and wait, there are a few empty cabins you can make use of. You can pay for their use with coin or labor, we can always use more able hands around here."

Poljen looks to Velon.  "If we stay, I will work.  Better to keep busy, eh?  Out of trouble, I hope.  But if you get a better idea let me know."

"Oh, this is so exciting! We get to vacation up here in this wonderful weather for up to two weeks! This right here is exactly why I took up the adventuring life. There's nothing quite like the thrill of camping out in new places, meeting the locals, and learning their customs! Velon, I shall go secure a cabin immediately after this still-ongoing fur transaction completes," Perry says, determined to do well on his quest.

Velon stares down the wizard for a good long while if nothing interrupts it.  He does so because the wizard tries to cram his tiny hut spell into every situation.  He does so because his first thought regarding battle is to hide in his tiny hut.  Eventually, however, he gets bored and moves on.

At mention of the group sticking around to wait Velon looks sideways at Lia and raises an eyebrow.  "Cabin or castle?" he asks with a smile.

The paladin will, of course, make sure that if this is the plan they deliver the skull and any other tribute to the proper location.  He suggests that they put up a large standard or fly the castle nearby, anything to catch the attention of this great dragon to shorten their wait.  He makes sure someone is always near the offering area to speak to the dragon when he comes, ideally sending for himself, Perry, Poljen, Lia and the rest as soon as possible.

During their down time in town, Velon asks the inhabitants if there is anything the Silver Blaze can do for them.

Time passes in the village quickly enough, it takes a few days for the furs you asked for to all be ready, but you're all given a set of heavy winter clothing, they're remarkably warm and even water resistant, they won't save you from getting soaked if you go for a dip, but water splashing over the side of a boat will slide right off the treated hides.

You get the sense that most people are content with things, more or less. Several of the younger ones in the village grumble about Old White Death and his hefty tribute, but if asked about the possibility of facing life out here without him being around, they go quiet.

Most people here are fairly standoffish, but prove reasonably friendly once they start to get to know you.

On the fifth day, a roaring sound can be heard in the distance. The townsfolk head inside and shut their doors.