"Whatev'r you've got dat's warm ta eat for me please" Brocc sets himself down near the bar.

When the half-elf returns with his food, Brocc will enquire about the happenings in Palebark, especially what the tavern keeper knows about the disease causing the villagers to freeze.

Sten sits down looks around a moment. Uh, do you have a stew. Ill have a stew and some bread please. 

He rubs his hands together to warm them up a bit. 

So.. he says looking at the others in the group. Where did you lot come from? Im from Bazzoxan myself.. well near there anyway. Thats in Eastern Wynandir.

He then stops speaking and waits on replies or his food, whichever comes first. 

(btw our missing player is post/playing in other campaigns so not sure if hes interested in this one)

"Ah, me name's Brocc," he replies to Sten while they await their warm food, "I'm a blacksmith from Hupperdook. Wasn't meant ta be comin' dis way origin'lly, but missed da road ta Uthodurn."

Sten leans in making sure he hears him right, still getting used to the gnomes accent. 

Oh right he says, My name is Sten. Hupperdook, yes, my caravan travelled through the Crispvale thicket, thats near Hupperdook i believe. 

So your travelling back to Uthodurn on the next caravan then?

"I don't rightly know when I'll be gettin' to Uthodurn now. From what I've heard, once da cold winter sets in, dere's no gettin' through da pass."

The fiery orange haired man looks briefly to the previously agitated member of their little group and considers his words.
"I'm from... Well, from all over. I'm trying to see the world and what it's worth. I hate the cold, so I figured best to get it out of the way early, heh."

(@DM, we have been waiting almost 2 weeks now for the 5th character that is playing in other games dialy.. can you tell us why your still waiting to start this campaign or how long you still want to wait?)

(@acoolnamehere, he may be entering into the game at a planned point, which is fine. But @dm, it's been 3 days since a post, can we get some direction or momentum back in the game?)

Brocc turns the tavern keeper. "What can ya tell us of dis unnatural cold dat seems to killin' the townsfolk? I've heard of many a disease, but literally freezin' ta death seems a well outside da laws o' nature an' de way of tings."

“Well, from what I’ve heard.” He lowers his voice to a whisper. “Some say there’s magic of the Eiselcross at work.”

"What's de..." Brocc starts off at a normal volume before catching himself, leaning in and lowering his voice to a whisper to match the tavern keeper. "What's de Eiselcross?"

(I’d say Brocc would probably know what the Eiselcross is, but I’ll have the barkeep explain it, just for exposition’s sake)

”The Eiselcross is a chain of islands to the north of even here. Not much is known about them, but there’s said to be strange magical happenings afoot there.” He drops his voice so quietly you have to lean in to hear him. “Some say there’s something so terrible there that during the Calamity, the Prime and Betrayer Deities allied themselves just to get rid of whatever it was.”

"Ah of course. But den how do dey t'ink dat Eiselcross magic has reached ya here in Palebank from across da waters?"

Brocc gestures to the others adventurers that have joined at the tavern, and that stand out from the locals. "P'haps we motley crew of advent'rers might offer our assistance to rid ya of yer woes?"

Sten frowns thinking of the Eiselcross. Takes a sip of his stew. 

Has the deceased been travelling to the Eiselcross or could its magic have crossed the sea?

Then continues biting a chunk of bread as he awaits the barkeepers response while filling his belly. 

Ash drinks his whiskey, listening intently.

Upon hearing the name Eiselcross, memories flashed through his head. He thought he now knew where he actually was from but chose not to talk about it. Whenever he heard somebody say Eiselcross, he had vivid hallucinations, but always passed out as soon as it began.

"Ah, the Eiselcross. Always was told never to go there as a kid, ever. There was something magical about it, I could tell. I had the hallucin- ugh, I'm starting to tell a personal story again. Sorry."

He seemed to forget what Sten originally said, but remembered suddenly.

"Ah right, me. I'm Sorlech, and I grew up here, in Palebank. I also served with Dwendalia for a time in the army."

"Well, wheder someone has brought de magic of Eiselcross here, or it's travelled on its own, dere must be a reason for such ill will to de townsfolk. How long ago did dis all start? Maybe we can work out why dis all began an' p'haps do somet'ing about it." Brocc says as he eats some of his meal. "I'm not really an investigator, but I do love ta tinker wit' t'ings."

“If you want to ‘elp out, your best bet is to see the watchmaster.”

"An' where might we find dis watchmaster dis time o' day?"