“Dragons are also not simple... it could be doing so simply because it can, and it enjoys it.” Rush suggests, packing up.

Sael almost chuckles.  "There could be a number of reasons," she says nodding.  "Even if Andrømeda doesn't respond, it's probably best to head that way.  If you get tired, let me know."

Quote from kevtr0n >>

"Well rested to start." Kwisatz replies, as they walk "Though now we must move with some haste to catch up. I do home Andromeda will reply soon so we can learn their location." Taking a minute to think he adds "If the dragon is attacking larger settlements now it must either be very hungry, and unable to find what it needs elsewhere, or searching for something else. I'm curious to arrive in town to learn about the attacks themselves. Dragons are not mindless beasts that simply will attack a settlement with no reason; less so one defended."

Kwiz remembers after sending his reply message that the stones are only good for one message per day, so he knows that he won't get a reply today. 

((Feel free to RP your trek between each other. Let me know when you're ready to progress.))

Alright. So, we're going to fast-forward to get everybody back in sync and on the same page:

The main party: You all make your way back towards Phandalin. You started fresh at Conyberry after getting a long rest and, especially due to Kwisatz's short legs. you didn't make it quite as far on the first day of travel as Andromeda and Feyd did. So, it took you a full two days and two nights to get back. On the third day, after the second night of rest, you make it back to Phandalin. 

Even though Andromeda had warned you, you weren't really ready to see it. Many buildings are damage, some are destroyed. Some of the homes that were properly in the town area are damaged/destroyed. Obviously, some people became homeless. There isn't a whole lot left in terms of ice as it melted over the course of the last couple of days. The town, itself, is busy. The people that are left in town are busy running supplies back and forth, rebuilding structures, etc. The innkeeper, Mr. Stonehill, is walking around with a backpack full of loaves of bread, and a bucket full of grilled meats and baked potatoes and he's passing food out to everyone as they try to fix Cryovain's destruction.

Andromeda: You spend your time until the rest of the crew catches up helping Barthen who is organizing the reconstruction efforts. Darrin is still not back, yet, from taking the last group of refugees to Gnomengarde, but you gather that he's safe enough. He did check in with Townmaster Harbin through whatever channels they use when he got to the gnome's domain. 

When the party strolls into town via the N-S road that leads to/from Triboar Trail and right past Barthen's, you your almost-giant human barbarian friend helping out at what's left of the general store. 

Andrømeda turns from where she'd finished clearing a section of what was left of the store, dusting her hands off and grinning at a job well done. As she does, her smile grows to a full blown smile as she see's her friends coming up the road. "Friends!" She exclaims, her long legs propelling her to them with speed. She grabs both Rush and Sael by the shoulder pulling them into an enthusiastic hug, then releases them to kneel down and give one to Kwisatz as well. "Den does my hjerte good to see du all vell. Am take it du vere successful in dun task, vhatever it may ha been?"

“It was actually a rather disappointing search...” Kwisatz replies “But, that can wait. What happened here? Were you here during the attack?”

Kwisatz then immediately pulls out his book and pen, starts taking notes of what he sees, and will spend the rest of the day talking to people in his investigation to get as many details of what happened as possible ((15 - if anyone helps adv here: 26)). Looking for things like: was it just attacking? did it seem to target any people or types of buildings in particular? Did it take anything? From which direction did it come? And where it it go? How long was the attack? ... Really anything to learn what’s going on, as this city likely has more witnesses than anywhere else they’d been.

Rush will help Kwis. He isn’t sure what else to do with himself.

"It's time to figure out what this dragon is up to," says Sael.  Looking at Andrømeda she asks "Is there anything more that needs to be done or we can do?  We should probably also investigate the area.  Try to find anything that gives clue to where this beast is staying or headed.  We need to end its reign."

“De headmann has some tasks for us. Am vas helping around town until dun return.“ Andrømeda says, pointing with her thumb toward the town hall. “Am arrived too late for de slag Am’m afraid. T’vould seem frequent enough to be a curse, ja?” She says, somewhat self-deprecating.

Quote from kevtr0n >>

“It was actually a rather disappointing search...” Kwisatz replies “But, that can wait. What happened here? Were you here during the attack?”

Kwisatz then immediately pulls out his book and pen, starts taking notes of what he sees, and will spend the rest of the day talking to people in his investigation to get as many details of what happened as possible ((13 - if anyone helps adv here: 17)). Looking for things like: was it just attacking? did it seem to target any people or types of buildings in particular? Did it take anything? From which direction did it come? And where it it go? How long was the attack? ... Really anything to learn what’s going on, as this city likely has more witnesses than anywhere else they’d been.

Asking around, even though folks are super busy trying to get their lives back together, they all know who each of you are for the things you've already helped to do in the town, so they know that you're only trying to help. 

Pretty much everyone agrees that there didn't seem to be a whole lot of rhyme or reason to it. Cryovain came from the mountains, but no one is really sure from which direction. The attack felt like it took forever (but, you're not sure if that's just the way they remember it, or if the onslaught lasted a while), but no one was taken. They don't know if Cryovain was looking for a specific person, at all. Nothing but a few cows were taken. When it flew off, it flew east northeast towards the coast. Most of the people were running and hiding. So, they can't say much with any certainty. What they do remember in detail is the drop in the temperature. It went from a normal, comfortable warm day, to feeling like it was winter outside. That was before the attack even started. A minute later the wyrm descended on the town from the clouds, ice breath projecting from its mouth, freezing whatever it could in a mad arc. 

Lots of panic. Lots of fear. But, the townspeople are also very sturdy and determined. They are far from feeling lost or hopeless.

“The dragon seems to be attacking with little focus, or goal...” Kwisatz ponders to the group after listening to the stories of the town’s folk. “I’m honestly at a loss... dragons are said to be quite intelligent creatures. They would rarely risk themselves attacking a settlement for a few cows. Livestock is easy enough to come by out in the farmlands. Our more recent forays have taken us around the area, but we are losing focus; the dragon is what needs looking into. I would like to see where else it has been of late, to see if there are any connections that can be drawn.”

((Who is Kwiz speaking to, specifically? Or is he just talking to himself?))

Andrømeda tilts her head at Kwiz’s words, then nods. “De more vi know de better vhen vi face de Wyrm.”

(I could’ve sworn I responded to this)

Rush shakes his head at Kwis. “Intelligent, yes. But hateful, to the point of madness. A will to dominate all creatures. This attack spreads its fear. If you are wanting to investigate, and see if we are capable of fighting this monster: I am with you.”

OoC: are there magical supplies to be had anywhere? I’m curious about components for augury. 

“Though some dragons may be hateful and evil, I do not believe that is true for all.” Kwisatz replies, thinking back to his reading ((history 15)), continuing “Andromeda, you said that there were more jobs to be had? Perhaps we can try to find one that will take us to a city with a proper library for me to do more research. I’ll see if there is anything in town, but it likely wouldn’t have more than cursory information about frost dragons... For attacking,” looking to Rush “I’d like to learn more of it’s motivations before simply assuming that it is malicious. Though it may be harmful, there may well be motivations behind these attacks we cannot yet understand without more information.”

"I'm always in the market for better weapons," says Sael.  "We could also pick up some new supplies.  Kwis, if you want to attempt to figure out it's motivations, that's fine.  But where can we start?  So far this thing has attacked town after town, killed whatever was in its path, whether Orc, human, or otherwise.  Clearly it's some kind of ice dragon.  Do they even belong in this area?" she asks.

Quote from nschrock >>

(I could’ve sworn I responded to this)

Rush shakes his head at Kwis. “Intelligent, yes. But hateful, to the point of madness. A will to dominate all creatures. This attack spreads its fear. If you are wanting to investigate, and see if we are capable of fighting this monster: I am with you.”

OoC: are there magical supplies to be had anywhere? I’m curious about components for augury. 

For supplies, you are more than welcome to check with Barthen.

Same goes for Kwiz about his paper, ink, etc.

Quote from kevtr0n >>

“Though some dragons may be hateful and evil, I do not believe that is true for all.” Kwisatz replies, thinking back to his reading ((history 18)), continuing “Andromeda, you said that there were more jobs to be had? Perhaps we can try to find one that will take us to a city with a proper library for me to do more research. I’ll see if there is anything in town, but it likely wouldn’t have more than cursory information about frost dragons... For attacking,” looking to Rush “I’d like to learn more of it’s motivations before simply assuming that it is malicious. Though it may be harmful, there may well be motivations behind these attacks we cannot yet understand without more information.”

With History 18, Kwiz does remember that some dragons are more...chaotic...and some more evil than others. Kwiz thinks he remembers white dragons being more on the chaotic evil spectrum than not. 

Quote from Dipstick10 >>

"I'm always in the market for better weapons," says Sael.  "We could also pick up some new supplies.  Kwis, if you want to attempt to figure out it's motivations, that's fine.  But where can we start?  So far this thing has attacked town after town, killed whatever was in its path, whether Orc, human, or otherwise.  Clearly it's some kind of ice dragon.  Do they even belong in this area?" she asks.

With Kiwz's 18 history, even though he isn't an expert on dragons, by any means, he would have read that white dragons do prefer mountain environments. 

“De town is in poor shape, vi may be better off going elsewhere. Nevervinter, maybe?” Andrømeda says in response to the questions about the market, then answering Kwisatz, “Den vas vhen Am først arrived(I think two days ago?) so Am don’t recall. Best vi speak to de headmann, ja?”

Kwisatz blinks as Andromeda slips into her native tongue, reaches into his pouch and pulls out some soot and salt to cast Comprehend Languages. He then nods and agrees that they should see if the town master has any leads for them. They can hit the shops any time ((fancy paper and spell scrolls?)).