Shayne smirks at Elderan and shrugs. “Only in emergencies...  or bored,” Shayne says.  “I prefer to earn coin with song or story but at times one must find a way to earn a bit in other ways...”

     At this point Shayne will tell a story or three about how he scammed a moneylender out of a rather hefty sum of money by convincing him his rash could be cured with just three doses of an elixir Shayne happened to have.  “Of course it was pomegranate juice in small vials but I told him it’d cure him in a week!  And my coach left in just three days...”

     Then there was the time he found his way into the weekly card game held by the castle guards in Shekland.  “I must have dropped 100 silver to those fools before I got invited to the captains game.  Made 100 gold by halfway through the night.  Would have been an even bigger haul if they hadn’t spotted my marks upon the cards and changed decks on me.”

     And of course there was that young, pure knight saving himself for the princess.  “I fed him lines while hiding in the bushes and before you knew it the princess snuck out into the night to be with him.  Well, maybe not THE princess.  Not the one he intended.  But the night was dark, he had paid me well, and she certainly was a princess of her profession!”

     The stories continued until they slept, or until someone told him to shut up!

Shayne goes on for a few hours, long past the point where the others had fallen asleep.  At the end of his final story, which had something to do with a 20-foot-tall camel and some sudden gusts of arctic wind, he notes that his new friends have gone down for the night, and he follows suit.

You all awaken in the same barn the next morning.  The day is yours.  Are we heading down the road to Good Mead?

     Shayne will teach the others a traveling song...  It's an upbeat number with memorable lyrics.  "We're off to see the wizard," Shayne will teach them...  "The wonderful wizard of..."

     Wait.  That's not right...

But yes, on the road we go!

Elderan will take up his normal position in the back of the group. Just keeping an eye out while we are traveling. He is typically a very observant person and with the recent weirdness of talking animals, strange weather and reports of druids and wizards making trouble he feels slightly on edge. Also, he is happy to let Rock lead the way since it seems to make the big guy feel good. "Rock, lead the way, I'll give a holler if I find any talking rabbits or deer." 

Rock stretches and moves out into the new day.  He grins to his new friends.  “Come, we go do this new thing...” He waves them after him as he heads on towards the next town.

Ines wakes with the rising sun. She kneels in the snow as she prayers to Lathander. When she's finished, she eats a ration for her breakfast then finds Rock ready and eager to move out. "Yes, let's go. Hopefully, this wizard might know more about this never-ending winter."

Avarice wakes up and munches on some hard tack.

"I would like to hear from another wizard on ze matter too," she says to Ines with her mouth slightly full.

As you gather your things and start on your way, you bump into a familiar stout figure holding a pair of boots.  It's Hilda, the mother of Silja and Finn.  "There you are! They told me you found a place to sleep for the night. Listen, I want to show my thanks for saving my kids.  These boots belonged to my husband before he passed away a few years ago.  I don't have much need for them, but if you're on the road to Good Mead, they would certainly be of use to one of you."

Rock gives the woman a nod of thanks.  “Good boots are always welcome.” He informs her.  He takes the boots and then glances to the others.  “Anyone need good boots?” He asks them.

     "Not the most stylish but they certainly seem crafted for this weather" Shayne will comment, taking the boots for a moment from Rock.  Shayne will examine the boots with a discerning eye and try to see if they seem special or not.  If they do, then he'll cast Identify upon them.  If they just seem like normal boots he'll suggest they go to whoever they fit.

"Oh, yes, they should be very useful indeed.  I think you'll find they make the winter a bit more bearable."

The boots are Boots of the Winterlands.  

     "Oh, these are fine boots indeed!  I fear they are too dear a token for you to part with.  Are you sure these would not serve better as an heirloom for your family?  Or even to find someone who could both value and pay their worth?" Shayne says after examining the boots, but his tight grip upon them indicating he really does not want to return them to the woman. "I understand your desire to reward those who returned your children to you, whole and alive... But are you sure this isn't too much?"

     Assuming she does not take the boots back, Shayne will thank her profusely and poetically and assure her that her gift would do much to save the lives of others.

     Once she has departed, Shayne will share what he learned about the boots with the rest of the retinue. "I am sure we all, Shayne starts but then looks at Rock and corrects himself. "Most of use are made miserable by this cold and frigid weather and all would get much relief from these boots.  But are any of us exceptionally susceptible to the crippling cold and bitter bite of this wicked winter?"

Hilda will firmly but politely refuse to take no for an answer, insisting that the party take the boots with them.  

Unless anybody else would like to do anything before, the party gathers, then begins the four-hour trek on the road to Good Mead.

"While, I am not fond of the cold I am not susceptible. How about the rest of you?"

((If nobody has a real need, Shayne would suggest perhaps we give to Ines.  He would argue it is in the group's best interest their the local cleric not be frozen solid and instead able to heal the rest of us when we are.))

Avarice shakes her head.

Elderan nods approval at Shayne's suggestion. He would prefer Boots of Frigid Sneakiness. 

“Rock definitely no need boots.” Rock says with a broad smile.  He lets the others decide who will wear them.  Once ready he leads the way out of town and onward.  “Let us go do this thing...”

"I will take them if no one else wants boots," Ines says. "It would at least I am sure make travel much easier."

     Shayne hands over the boots with a sweeping bow.
     “Though in the hours ahead we may all regret not laying claim to them,” Shayne says with a wink.