As you step out of the tower you look around for signs of trouble.  You initially see none and start making your way south towards the ice bridge you encounter trouble.  From the east, out of the area where the stadium is and from the west where some of the city ruins are step 10 cultists.  5 from each side and they are bout 50 feet ahead of you and 30 feet to each side. 

One of the raises his arm for you to stop.

Krom twirls his hammer and raises his shield as the two groups of cultists emerge. His gaze sweeps over the area before he nods to himself. "How do we proceed from here? Do we stop? They don't strike me as the talkative types." Krom whispers in a low tone. "Looks like they’re trying to box us in and attack from both flanks." The dwarf glances at his companions and adds, "I still have the strength to conjure a large wall of fire. It could help us focus on one group at the time."

Rhogar's grip tighten on his staff at the sight of the cultists, but any response to Krom is slowed in favor of rousing Gorrah to consciousness with a few urgent thoughts. "You speak true. And with but a breath, I could weaken if not destroy a fair number of them as well." He conveys quietly before risking a glance to the others. "Yet, I find myself disturbingly... curious. It could be our timing was such that they couldn't set a proper ambush. But even then, this desire to parlay rather than flee or fight... hmm... I say we entertain the notion. For now."

Chill gripped his crossbow and tried to watch both sides at the same time.

"They didn't attack.   Since they are likely the same cultists with that the woman, Ava something,  I say we hear what they have to say."

Kazri has Oli move south of Krom, so he's between the two boulders south of the group, and Kazri moves just in front of Chill. She has sword and shield at the ready, but will just keep a defensive posture.

Between Chill's words and Kazri's actions, Rhogar takes them as the cue to at least begin parley, if only to buy time. So after clearing his throat, powerful draconic lungs are put to full use in his bellowing out, "If its parlay you seek, let your representative step forth and we shall hear them out. Otherwise waste not our time or impede our path, or you shall all pay in blood and steel. What say you!?"

((I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas Season.  Parties aren't done for me yet, plus work.))

One of the men steps forward, his hands raised in a gesture of peace, his movements deliberate and unthreatening. His voice cuts through the tension, calm but carrying the weight of authority.

"We wish to parlay," he announces, his words measured and precise, his eyes scanning each member of your group for a response.

Behind him, the other cultists remain still, their faces obscured by the shadows of their hoods. Their silence is unnerving, a stark contrast to the intensity of the situation, but none of them make a move to follow. The lone man continues his approach, his footsteps crunching softly against the gravel, the only sound in the uneasy stillness.

As he stops a few paces away, he lowers his hands and speaks again, his tone devoid of malice but carrying an undeniable undercurrent of purpose. "The Lady Avarice wishes to speak with you," he says, his voice steady, though there's something unreadable in his gaze. "Will you meet with her?"

The question hangs in the air, laden with possibilities both ominous and intriguing. The cultists behind him remain eerily patient, their stillness an unspoken reminder of the fragile balance of the moment.

Though both Rhogar and Gorrah shared some measure of disappointed looks at the initial response, their curiosity had yet been all the more piqued at the same time. Yet even as some of tension in the former's shoulder eased, the latter kept a vigilant eye on at least one of the group and stayed subtly poised to spring to the air at any moment.

"So, she's finally arrived then? Such... intriguing news." The bronze-scaled dragonborn said, his own voice calm, but the growing scent of ozone that released with the final two words bespoke of... other feelings in the moment. "Our shared history aside... why don't we accept this invitation, my friends? Better to clear the air now, rather than, ehh, having another spear of variables hanging over our collective heads."

Krom nods "I agree. Let's hear what she has to say." The dwarf lowers his hammer but remains vigilant, his eyes narrowing as he studies the cultist. "We might be walking into a trap," Krom mutters in a low tone, "but if it's that the case, she'll regret it." The dwarf glances at his companions "We should ask her to meet us here. It would put us in a better position."

Insight 15

Chill looks back at the others to gauge their thoughts. 

"I agree.  Let's hear what she has to say."

"So we finally meet the one that caused Runa's downfall." Kazri says with scorn. "I share no sympathy for this Lady Avarice, but let us hear what she has to offer. If she gives me a good excuse, I can end her life very quickly." Kazri calls on Oli to stay next to her.

The man gives Kazri a sharp look as he hears her comment of ending Avarice's life, but lets it go for the moment.

"She awaits us in the spire that is the the east.  Follow me and I will lead you." He heads east around the stadium and further east. The remaining cultists move in behind you and follow for a respectful distance, but not so far they could not act if needed. Ahead you see where he is leading you. A tower more than one hundred feet tall has a rotating glass chamber hovering above its ruined summit. Four pointed pillars clutch the chamber’s walls, giving it the appearance of a colossal floating crown. Even from a distance you can see that the chamber slowly rotates clockwise. As you reach the interior of the tower you follow the man up a staircase that coils around its interior walls. The other cultists stay on the main floor and only the man leads you up the stairs. From atop the ruined roof, you see that the glass chamber actually floats about 10 feet about the roof.  It slowly comes to a stop and a short stairway hatch descends to allow access to the chamber.  As you step up and within you find that the 40-foot-diameter room made of glass offers a panoramic view of the city. 

At the far side a tiefling woman turns to consider you before she speaks.

 After a moment of consideration she speaks. "I see that you have cast off Vellynne. That is very good.  I have watched you as you make your way through the city and offer my knowledge and resources if you will partner with me and aid me in gaining access to the spire."

As much as Rhogar silently agreed with Krom's suggestion, the dragonborn yet found himself shaking his head in the negative, knowing well fell the likely futility of such a request. After that, there was little time for elaboration, so he'd settle for along behind the spokesperson while keeping a close eye on the man for any surprises. Yet with no being forthcoming by the end of their journey, he shifted gears and allowed himself a moment to look on in wonder at the glass chamber before picking up the pace and head up the newly formed stairs. 

"Hmph. An interesting proposition, and one I hadn't quite expected given our last encounter. But then again, one could hardly consider that one a proper one to begin with I suppose." Rhogar frankly admits. "You were in quite the hurry last I saw. A shame too, as we very much wanted to meet and... mmm, speak with you on a number of matters. And surely you won't begrudge such an indulgence this time around? Could go a long way in ensuring a favorable partnership, and the establishment of some farce destined only for self-destruction."

Krom, not trusting the cultists, keeps his guard up for the whole time. The dwarf admires the structure of the spire and its glass chamber as the group walks in.

His gaze locks on Avarice as she addresses the group. "Why should we partner with a cultist like you? You and your kind have caused only trouble. We are here to stop the Frostmaiden, not to help her or any other troublemakers." Krom speaks with a firm tone.    

Chill concerns himself with more practical matters as they meet with Avarice.  "How long have you been in the city then and how long have you watched us?"

Kazri looks to the others and shakes her head, indicating that she is opposed to any deal with this Avarice person.

Avarice takes a moment, her eyes narrowing as she considers your questions. Finally, she speaks, her tone calculated but steady. "I arrived in the city earlier and immediately recognized the strategic value of this location for my operations. It’s isolated, defensible, and perfectly suited for what I have planned. More importantly," she adds, her sharp gaze fixed on you, "I noticed that Vellynne is no longer with you. That suits me well—I have no intention of working with her. Now that she’s out of the picture, we can align our efforts."

She folds her arms and continues, her voice carrying a mixture of intrigue and urgency. "We both seek the same thing, I presume—access to the spire shielded by that peculiar force field. I have my own reasons for wanting to breach it, but I suspect your goals overlap with mine. Together, our chances of success improve."

After a brief pause, her expression shifts, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "I also understand you aim to end this endless winter. You should know, then, that the Frostmaiden was not far behind us when we entered the glacier. Time is not on your side. If you want to claim your prize before she interferes, you’ll need my help."

"Vellynne is just resting, she is still with us." Krom replies looking at Avarice. "Speak pleanly, if what you say about the Frostmaiden is true, you too are running out of time. What is your goal?"   

While not one to play at the game of silver tongues, even Rhogar cringed a little when Krom gave up the ghost before the party could extract a little more from Avarice about Vellynne. It wasn't as if the tiefling /had/ to be corrected on the matter. Not yet, at least.

And yet, the Bronze dragonborn find himself smiling softly even while letting out a sigh of defeat through the nose. "My compatriot raises a fair point. If what you say is true, then whatever your personal misgivings or petty rivalries you have with her should be irrelevant for the time being. Do not think you can use or toy with us like your archdevil master does with the desperate that pique his interest."

Chill contemplates what the woman has said.  "How do you know that the Frostmaiden is close?" He asks.