Hitu, the dog didn’t react to Balto, but he did react to something you said the first time you saw him.

Hifu says “Hey boy, where are you from?  Where are you leading me?  Sit......   down.......”. Trying to determine what he responded to.  He allows himself to be led by the dog and walks along with him.

Nyx mentions while outside the earshot of guards, "They have this human sacrifice thing here and it starts tomorrow. We might want to leave as super early as possible."

Hifu, when you call the dog boy, he barks as if replying, before he keeps leading you west. After a few blocks, he approaches a modest building and starts scratching and barking at the door. After a short moment a middle aged men opens the door with a smile: “Hey Boy wh...” You can see his smile fade when he sees the four of you and the broken harness of the dog: “Where is Keegan, what happened?”

At Nyx' reminder about human sacrifice, a very dark mood settles on James. As they are giving their names to the gate guard, James does not look kindly on the guard.

"The name is James Dekker, that's D, E, double K, E, R. I wouldn't want you to get me confused with anyone else."

James almost spits at the guard with his last words, before directing the dogs through into the town proper. James follows along with everyone, as the strange dog leads them to the house. When the middle aged man opens the doors and asks about someone named Keegan, James remains angrily silent.

“What happened to Keegan? Well.... funny you should mention that.....” Gilgin scratches his beard nervously. “Basically.... he’s probably dead. But never fear, with a little prayer I can probably bring him back, I just need a little more faith, and some liquor, do you have any? And maybe a week or two if we can preserve the body, which we will need to find so it will probably be too late but.... The good news is, we found your dog! Just running through the Tundra, mile after mile, harness was snapped when we found him. So laddy, you gonna invite us in for a drink?”

The men just looks at you in disbelief for a moment before he starts : „I..., no i don‘t believe,... did you see him? He is the best guide here, he made that climb several dozen of times, i don‘t believe you. Where did you find Boy?“

Hifu puts his hand on Boy and says "He was running for us outside of the gate, we have just travelled here, he was running loose.  He reacted to me and led us here....  Where was Keegan headed?  I assume he had a sled team, was anyone else with him?"

„Ahm, a, sorry, where are my manors, let‘s get out of the cold first...“ the men steps aside and absentmindedly pats Boy while inviting you inside. The first room is very dark, the windows barricaded against the cold. You see snow shoes and a thick leather cloak hanging at one of the walls. A small candle giving a miserable small aura of light.

As you get inside, he spots James sled: „Just wait over there for a moment, i‘ll open the stable in a second...“ He waves everyone inside before closing the door, leaving James and the dogs outside.

„You can warm up in there while i let your friend in through the dog pens. Name is Gareth by the way.“ The men points you towards a door and leaves into the opposite direction.

James, a moment later, a gate opens a few meters down the road and the men waves to you to bring the sled in. He closes the gate behind you and you see a stable, but all the stalls are much smaller then normal, dogsized. You see harnesses and several other materials that you recognice, that are used to care for dogs or maintain a dog sled. The men removes the broken harness from Boy and fills several bowls with what looks like lukewarm water. Once all the dogs are taken care of, he brings you into the main part of the house, where everyone else is already waiting. With all the people it is a little crowded, but a fire is warming the room and an oil lamp is giving a little bit more light here.

“Keegan is my partner, he works as a wilderness guid. I was born in Ten-Towns, but my husband comes from a wealthy family in Neverwinter. Keegan doesn‘t care for city life. When I met him, he was working as a guide. He loves the outdoors, and he lives to climb mountains.“ the men explains.

“A few days ago, Keegan was hired by some adventurers to lead them up the slopes of Kelvin’s Cairn. Keegan‘s plan was to take the adventurers to Caer-Konig, the town at the foot of Kelvin’s Cairn. After they acquired some climbing gear from the outfitter there, he was to lead them up the mountain. Keegan took our six dogs and a sled with him. Boy, here, was Keegans favorite. Raised him from a pup. Boy would never leave Keegans side unless something terrible had happened.”

Nyx says, "They left a few days ago or they left this morning? How far approximately is it from here, time-wise?"

Hifu takes this in, and says "We should go and find Keegan, answer what happened with this.  Can Boy come with us, to perhaps lead us to him?"

While James dark mood doesn't lift, his attitude towards their host softens, with their hospitality and the likely sad fate of their partner.

"Rumour is your town has been murdering people to try and stop this unending winter, is this true?"

Gilgin stamps his foot on James’s as he interrupts. “Sorry, our friend here is still getting used to the.... traditions of the ten towns. He means no offence. Thank you for your hospitality. Any idea what these adventurers were up to?” He winks at James, as if to suggest they would discuss this later.

James growls in his throat,

"If this rumour is true, I most certainly do mean offence, and any traditions be damned. Only cowards sacrifice another to solve their own troubles. If the sacrifice of a life would somehow solve this cursed winter, they should step up and put their own life on the line."

James looks to the side for a moment before nodding and looking back at their host, waiting for an answer.

„I know it is bad, but somehow we need to appease Auril. Every village is making a sacrifice. Do you think starving or freezing is better? The other villages also risk death, but where we keep it to one, they may loose several because of starvation or frost. We protect our young, old and vulnerable, unlike them. Everywhere it is a „lottery“, but we here limit it to one and a volunteer at that.“

“Keegan and the adventures went to Caer-Konig first, where they were supposed to get supplies at the Frozenfar Expidition. From there they would have made their way up Kelvins Cairn. Keegan left 5 days ago in the morning, but he knows what he is doing. I am sure he managed to hold out whatever happened. It’s a lot to ask, but could I persuade you to go up there and find Keegan and his companions? I don’t have money, but the proprietor of the Luskan Arms is a friend of mine. I could get you some free rooms at the inn whenever you are in town. I’m also a scrimshander by trade and can give you some of my artwork. It’s not worth much, I confess. I can give you one of Keegans shirts, Boy will understand what it means when you let him smell it.“

“I’ve never understood yer gods. The Dwarven gods don’t ask for such things. But you’ve got to look after the many, not the few, shame that it be. James, give this man a break, he just lives here, he don’t make the policy. Nyx and I have been here before, the Speaker lives at the Luskan if you wanna take it up with him. I’m all for watching the powerful squirm ” Gilgin claps his hands together, seemingly earnest. “Now fella, we’ll take Boy out at first light, retrace yer man’s steps. The rooms would help greatly, and I gotta see my pally here confront your Speaker.”

As the Dwarf stands up, he pauses. “Say, as a local... what’ the best brew at the Luskan?”

Hifu agrees with Gilgin, "Yes, first light let's head out to find Keegan.  Hopefully Boy can lead us, can I have that shirt of his?  I don't want to be around for your flesh lottery, thank you, but no.  We will be on our way before then."  He turns and looks at James, "Maybe you can talk them into another way..."  He falls into line headed toward the Luskan.

Nyx just sighs and follows the others. "I hate this. It's too familiar - the constant danger, people disappearing, sacrifices, etc. Should have stayed in Neverwinter.."

James doesn't look completely convinced by their hosts words, a look of suspicion still floating behind his eyes, but he does let up and stops giving them an angry look.

"Gilgin's right, I'm sorry to have come on so strongly. If what you claim is true and that participation it is always voluntary, then my only concern is that your town seems to be throwing away your lives to no effect. The curse doesn't seem to be lifting and if Auril is the cause, perhaps beseeching another god, one who cares more for the lives of their followers, would be a more effective use of your efforts."

James nods agreement with the others about taking the job to find and hopefully return Keegan and any adventurers that may be found.

James looks at Gilgin, reaching out with his mind.

James looks down, considering for a moment,