Icewind Dale

Kravek thinks on the groups best path before remembering how he has seen animals travel in the cold regions. 

We need to form a line! He shouts back before turning and walking in the front taking the lead again. Trying to keep a steady pace with the wind coming from the front Kraveks large body should give some shelter from the wind to those close behind him as well as making a path as he steps through the snow. 

Gilgin gets behind Kravek, “St...st....stay or go... lets just get on with it, I’m freezing!”

"GGGggg good idea, GGGGGilgin.  Here, take this rope, pass it up to Kravek.  Press on!  We can make it through!"  We will keep an eye out for anything that could be a temporary shelter from the storm, but likely try to move as fast as possible along the road to reach Lonelywood and shelter.

James shakes his head, a smile on his concealed face.

James directs his dogs to push forward past Kravek.

"Follow the sled, it will make a better path than even your large frame can muster."

James gets in front and continues following the tree line towards their destination, leaving a somewhat flatter path behind him, for the others to walk in.

"If it gets too much colder, I'm going to stop. The dog have good natural cold weather resistance, but even they have their limits."

"Lets see if we can make to Lonelywood."

Gilgin makes his way through the path, crouching behind the sled for safety from the wind.

You keep on stomping through the snow, taking turns in facing the brunt of the storm. Hifu knows the way and safely guides you towards your destination and after a little over an hour, you see nearby, the first few houses behind the trees.

“Oh by the fires of Dumathoin! We’ve made it! Is this it Hifu? Home sweet home eh?”

Gilgin has his eye out for a Tavern where he can warm himself and keep the cold from getting him too sober.

The dogs, seeing the town, get a surge of energy and start pulling the sled with more vigour.

"'Almost there, I can imagine the warm fires already!"

Hifu shouts above the wind, "We are almost there!  Speaker Nimsy Huddle lives near the end of this road, toward the docks, off on the right.  We can head to the tavern (for something warm!) but she can also put us up for the night I think.  The inn here has shut down."  

Nyx says from somewhere deep in a bundle, "Are we there yet?"

Seeing the houses some joy comes to Kravek as he slows for a moment to turn to watch the others. In case they had not seen and to make sure everyone was still doing ok. 

If all look like they are doing ok Kravek will continue his march. Just a little further!

Lonelywood is a small village, just over 100 people live here. You see a few buildings completely covered in snow, but most look inhabited and well maintained. 
Several of the bigger and older buildings are decorated with carvings of lions, goats and dragons, but all those creatures pay deference to a coat of arms featuring a chimera. 

"Hey guys, don't ah... dig too far or in depth about anyone here unless we really need to.  Some folks here... have a little bit of a shady past, if you take my meaning.  So let's keep the talk light, ok?"  Hifu stops and looks at them.  "This doesn't include me, of course.  I said that I grew up _near_ Lonelywood.  We loggers tried to be straight up with each other.  This is just something we all knew, and that you may not."

”Thanks Hifu, I’ll try te behave.” Gilgin chuckles “To the Tavern!” 

He shuffles as fast as his little legs can carry him toward whatever building looks like a tavern. Slamming the door open and announcing, “I’ll have 5 tankards of your finest mulled beer!”

Gilgin, you start to run ahead, into the first building that you think may be the tavern: roll me a perception or an insigh check please.

Insight 24

You spot a big house with with a double door and a stable next to it. The windows are shuttered against the storm but you see light coming out through the gaps in the wood. You slam the door open and demand your mulled beer. But all you see is a bizarlly dressed human with a strange beard and haircut. He sits behind a counter with a a cup of hot liquid in his hands. He spills some of it over his hands when you slam the door open and starts to swear in pain as the liquid burns his hands :”What the &#€*& do you think your doing! Did the blizard freeze what little was left of your brain? Does this look like a Bar to you ? Stop gaping like a mule in spring and close that bloody door or i swear by Helm to use your skin to insulate my roof!”

With your first surprise gone, you take a look around, there are maps of Icewind-dale and the Ten Towns. Behind the men is a cupboard separated into many small shelfs. 

Gilgin turns and closes the door, muttering to himself “So much for a warm welcome....”

He approaches the counter, rubbing himself to keep warm “Aye, the blizzard amongst other things have done quite the number on me. Blessings to ye sir, we just made it in to town. I’m Gilgin, and you? What kind of goodies Do you sell here?” He coughs a dry cough “Do you mind, I’m parched...” He nods towards the mans drink, reaching out for it. 

6 The man stabs a dagger into the table, right between your thumb and index fingers as you were trying to reach for his cup. In a cold voice he says: “ My name is Niclas and this here is my Postal service if you want to call it that in this freaking winter. My coffee isn’t for sale and if you look for a place where your wet shit can drip all over the place, i can recommend you the real tavern, out of this door” he pulls his dagger free and points past your hear behind you, “ and the fifth building to the right.”

Gilgin shrugs, ”Then why’s it on the counter? That’s very misleading! You gonna come join us then since you say you got no mail? I’ll get you something harder than that there coffee. You shouldn’t poison your body with that anyway, it puts you on edge, terrible stuff.” 

He walks off without waiting for an answer and opens the door, yelling out to his companions, “Pals, I got the wrong place! The tavern is five doors to the right.”