"I too never heard of artic bees, I wonder if they are actual bees or some kind of enchantment. I hope they are not another creation of the Frostmaiden." replies Krom as Rhogar mentions the bees. 
As Chill stops to look at the chultian art, the dwarf says "Those creatures look ferocious indeed. When this eternal winter's business is over, I would not mind to visit Chult myself to see them in person."
Krom pauses a moment "You asked why such art is here, maybe a chultian artist lives in this town." He pats the tabaxi on a shoulder "I'm sure that we will find answers to that question soon enough."

"I would not mind either. I believe that my body agrees better with warmer weather. I just hope that Oli here doesn't mind the heat though." Says Kazri, thinking that if it wasn't for her boots, she would not be very comfortable here. "As for the art, I have never seen such creatures." Kazri looks a little closer to the Chultian art.

Walking into Good Mead, Kazri looks closer at the art.  She sees creatures she has never seen before and Chill can explain to her that they are dinosaurs, ferocious lizard like creatures.

As you get closer to the Mead Hall, the only 2 story building, the sound of bees gets louder.  Standing at the entrance you find that this doesn't appear to be what you expected. It looks ot be constructed from the hulls of reused fishing ships. The structure’s solid construction remains in good shape and sealed with resin to protect against the cold. Its thick walls are adorned with images of wyverns dancing in the skies over flowering fields full of swirling bees, and large windows recall a time when the bright sun would have illuminated its interior. The wall facing the forest contains several small holes though for what reason you can't see at this time.

There is a set of double doors but when you try them they are locked.  You see no stables, or kennels, nothing like you would expect an inn or tavern to have.

As you stand there pondering the situation you hear a voice behind you as a tabaxi walks up.

"Outsiders are not allowed inside the building."  

"What brings you to Good Mead strangers?" she asks

Krom turns around at the sound of the voice,  "Greetings. I am Krom Firebeard, Smith of Moradin, Keeper of Axelholm and member of the Fellowship of the White Cloaks" replies the dwarf "We are adventurers, we travel the dales trying to helping as much as we can the people of the Ten Towns." Continues Krom "We are looking for a place to rest and warm up before continuing our journey."
The dwarf scratches his beard "We heard rumors of an attack from a nine-foot giant to this city, it is said that your Speaker has been killed and the mead stolen. Do you know anything about it?"
As he speaks, Krom tries to read the tabaxi's intentions. (Insight 17) 

Chill pulled his sled up and set the brake.  The dogs immediately laid down in the snow and he went over to check on them and provide some food.  As they checked out the building to find that it was locked and did not seem to be a tavern or inn at all he pondered what that might mean.

"Are they closed for the night?  This seems odd to me." he said to the others.

At the sound of the approach of someone behind them his ears pricked up at the voice of a female tabaxi.  Turning and seeing the tabaxi he pulled his hood off of his head.

"Greetings." he said "My name is Chill and myself and my companions, we are the Fellowship of the White Cloaks.  We are passing through your town and heard there may be trouble. We are willing to help.  We had hoped to stop at the tavern for a warm meal and a drink. We hear the mead is excellent.  But it seems to be closed.  Where can we find lodging for the night?"

Kazri is very interested in Chill's description of the dinosaurs, and she tries to imagine what would be to meet a live creature like that. When she sees that the apparent entrance to the Mead Hall is locked, she start to get concerned about the dogs. She hopes that they will have a place to rest for the night. Her apprehension is interrupted by another female voice, and she is a little surprised to see that it came from another Tabaxi. That would explain the decoration around the establishment. She looks at the new face, and let Krom and Chill find out what is going on in this town.

"Indeed. Mayhaps there was something to Master Krom's earlier concern. Though if so..." Rhogar trailed off from there seeming lost in thought until her heard the voice of the tabaxi. Relief almost immediately bloomed seeing at least one possible member of the town alive and well. But concern returned in due time in a glance once more at the group's surroundings. 

"Hmn... Sorry, uhm... The Name is Rhogar of clan Nimbatuul, Sworn Brother of Vixix and -- as Chill here has attested to, member of the Fellowship that stands here before you." Gorrah peeks out of his hood at that point, and unison bowed her head briefly alongside her dragonborn companion. And with the introduction out of the way, he soon turned his attention towards absently petting his axe beak while keep at least an ear on the ongoing conversation. 

"Greetings to each of you and welcome to Good Mead.  My name is Sky Full of Light, but you may call me Sky. We have no inns. Our village is small and we get few visitors.  I have heard of your group though.  I have room for you at my place if you wish.  I can kennel your dogs though I think the owlbear will need to stay outside.  It seems to draw attention, or fear.  Most of the town has hid inside when they saw it walk into town.  But I saw you in Bryn Shander a few weeks ago so I had an idea who you were."

She gestures towards her home which is near the Mead Hall.

"People have been hiding inside as well.  Many days ago a giant emerged from the forest and stole three casks of mead that were being loaded onto a dogsled for transport to Bryn Shander. Kendrick Rielsbarrow, the town speaker and a giant of a man in his own right, stood his ground against the creature and didn’t fare well. After skewering Kendrick with its spear, the giant grabbed the casks and disappeared whence he came. The other residents of Good Mead tried to save Kendrick, to no avail; his body lies in a local shrine. Five members of the militia went after the creature several days ago but haven’t returned. No more shipments of mead have left town since the attacks as people are fearful and do not wish to be the next victim."

She turns her attention to Chill,

"There are several Tabaxi that live in Good Mead but other than that our people are few and far between.  Is Chill your full name?  What is your clan name?"

"Thank you for your hospitality Sky." replies Krom "We will not stay long as there are urgent matters in the south that require our attention. Duergar marauders are planning a vicious attack on this dale and it's our intention to stop them."
The dwarf rests his right hand on the hammer's head as he continues "Still, I do not like that a giant is on the loose in this forest. Which direction did he go after taking the mead?"
Krom pauses a moment before adding "How many days have passed since the attack on the speaker? If it is less than a ten-days, tomorrow morning, I could attempt a ritual to restore his spirit. However, the catalyst for that hymn is a very pure diamond worth of a few hundred gold. Unfortunately and I do not posses such item. I could also attempt to speak with his spirit in order to find out a little bit more about the giant." 

Chill smiled. "It's Darkened Chill though I only go by Chill these days. My clan was Cliffs of Mist in Chult. Do you come from Chult? I see the artwork and it reminds me of home. Is this the tabaxi influence in the local culture or is there more to that story?"

Leading the dogs, who pull the sled freely, Chill walks beside Sky chatting with her about the art.

"The owlbear is harmless, well, I mean it is an owlbear so I guess not harmless. His name is Oli.  He has bonded in someway to Kazri there.  He isn't a pet, but they have some sort of trust.  He's growing up quickly but he isn't wild and won't attack people.  It's hard to understand, Kazri may be able to explain it better.  As for the problem with the giant, we can likely help.  I am an excellent tracker and we are a capable group.  We will see what we can do."

After seeming lost in thought for some time, Rhogar comes to looking about ready to say something, but politely held his piece until seeing a moment to interject. "I presume the same would go for my axe beak as well. The staying outside that is. And if so, fair enough. I'd just need to know where best to leave her." He requests. "Also! On the subject this giant business, might it be possible to speak with these militia men sent out originally as well?"

Kazri nods after Chill's introduction. "Greetings. I understand your concern, and I shall not impose upon your hospitality. Oli here will not trouble you, or anyone in this village. If needed, I will find accommodations outside, for I rather stay with him." Kazri pets Oli. "Perhaps we can be of service regarding the Giant incident."

"It has been at least a tenday since the speaker died.  But I can tell you what the giant looked like.  It came right into town and was seen by several people, myself included.  It looked like an oversized human with gangly limbs and an elongated face. It had a fearsome aspect and several spears. I can show you which way it went out of town tomorrow.  As for the militia members, they have never returned."

As you walk the short distance she points out a single story cabin with a large fenced area in the back.  "The dogs and the, err Oli was it? Can stay back there.  I can tether the axe beak in a small shed on the other side of the house.  If you really can help us the town can't offer any payment.  I can offer you food and lodging for a time though."

"As to your questions Chill, Good Mead was founded by immigrants from Chult and the Vilhon Reach long ago.  There are clans of tabaxi that still live here as well as others from there.  The artwork is old, but the culture lives on."

As the night gets older you settle you get your animals settled for the night with food and shelter enough. Above you in the sky the clouds have cleared and you get a good look at the shimmering curtain of light—a beautiful aurora that illuminates the night sky and fades before dawn.   Auril's powerful magic prevents the next day’s sun from rising above the horizon, turning midday into twilight and trapping Icewind Dale in winter’s dark embrace, with no sunlight or warmth to melt the snow and ice.

Inside Sky's cabin you find that it is a bit cramped with your 5 extra people as you are introduced to Sky's husband, Dancer and their daughter Snow.  You are well fed and the comfort of home is shared with you. 

Day 7, Month of Alturiak ("The Claw of Winter" or "The Claws of the Cold")

The following day dawns clear, clearer than it has been in some time, though still dark, and still cold.  The pale lights of Auril's magic fade once again and the sun again does not rise.

"Do you still wish to see the speaker's body, he is in the Shrine of Tempus or I can show you where the giant was last seen." Sky asks

Kazri visit's Sky's cabin for supper, and her account of the village's Chultian heritage. When everyone is ready to retire, she excuses herself, and she will setup a tent outside, so she can stay with Oli. She gets herself ready the next day to help investigate this giant that came into town.

"In that case I'm afraid that his spirit has already reached the Beyond and we will not be able to gather further information from his body." says Krom as Sky informs the group that the speaker has been dead for more than ten days.
The dwarf introduces himself to Sky's family and after dinner he spends some time to craft for Snow two small, but very detailed metal miniatures: a tabaxi warrior wearing a cloak made of dragonscales holding a loaded crossbow and a dragon with its gaping maw opened, ready to breath cold.
"For you little Snow, Chill the Dragon Slayer and Cryovain the doom of Icespear Peak."

As the group wakes up in the morning, before heading out, Krom says to Chill "As promised, today is your turn my friend. Sit down as I prepare the ritual." As soon as the tabaxi sits down, the dwarf takes out from one of his pouches some diamond dust and uses it to write a dwarven rune of healing on the ground. Krom then starts chanting an hymn of abjuration (Greater restoration) causing the rune to sparkle. As soon as the dwarf finishes his hymn, the rune vanishes and briefly appears on the tabaxi's forehead. "Here you go."

"I would like to see the speaker's body, but first, if you do not mind, I would like to check where the giant was last seen. Chill's eyes may find some hidden clues or tracks." replies to Sky.

After seeing to his dogs Chill enters Sky's home.  He settles quickly into the warm hospitality of the tabaxi family and as Krom crafted the small figures for Snow he told the story or the battle against the white dragon and the exploits of the Fellowship.

The following day he eagerly submits to the ritual that frees him from the curse.

"Blessed Master Krom, may your beard grow ever longer!  You have cured me of the giggles and I am forever in your debt. Thank you! " He exclaimed as it was finished.

When the check the area where the giant was last seen he looks around the area with the help of Kazri who is learned in survival and tracking.

Survival 30

Whatever hope or eagerness was there in Rhogar's expression dimmed at the news of the militia's misfortune. From then on, his attention on the ongoing conversation somewhat wavered as more troubled thoughts left him looking ponderous, but at least absent-mindedly following after the others with Duchess in tow until it was time to part ways for the evening.

Later on, Gorrah winds up largely bearing the brunt of interactions on the Dragonborn's behalf by way of being more animate they usual, and freely sending in greetings to the family warm feelings and an image of a smiling Dragonborn. She'd even play with Snow, if the daughter seemed particularly fascinated by the dragon.

Come the next day Rhogar appears to have shaken off the malaise of the evening prior and happily rejoined the others for breakfast should any be provided. "Truly, Master Krom?" He asked. "Er, I mean.. *ahem*.. Perhaps it would better to start with the body, as I presume the giants last known whereabouts would be beyond town." The dragonborn then turns to Sky. "Correct?"

Snow is delighted by the stories and the figures and her parents seem pleased that they have offered you their hospitality. A warm fire and welcoming home allows the night to pass with delight and peace.

The following day Sky shows you where the attack occurred and then also leads you to the edge of the evergreen forest that sits to the northwest of the small village.  She points. "It went in there."

Chill looks around the area but it has been so long since the attack there is nothing left to be seen.  Perhaps further into the woods some tracks or other evidence could be found.  For now there is no evidence to go on.

Kazri helps Chill find any sign of a giant in the forest, and at the same time she watches his back. She makes sure that if anything comes out from the woods, she will put herself in between whatever threat comes out. (Perception: 4)

"It seems the trail has run cold here.  Unless we venture further into the forest there isn't anything to see." Chill says of his findings.

"Krom wished to see the shrine.  Let us go there and then we can venture further into the forest."