“Hm...” Muharg nods and taps the top of the railing “There’ll be plenty of time to share that beer I guess” Smiles at the others and heads below deck to bed.

Bjorn remains on deck enjoying the wind upon his face and the sight of the open sea. Once the sun has dipped fully beyond the horizon, he spends an hour looking at the night sky before too retreat below deck for some shut eye.

Shad dreams of dry heat. He dreams of warmth and a steady surface to stand on. Firmness beneath his feet. In his sleep, he stirs and twists in the hammock, hands tight on two of his sheathed daggers. He misses the Cat Lord and fears ever encountering him again. Fickle being. Always gone when wanted and always present when not wanted. And the only way the Cat Lord pushed him was north. Always north. It might freeze him to find out why, but he would, like it or not. 

As you sleep the Icebreaker continues to sail north towards Fireshear. The chilly air of the north makes it uncomfortable for those who remain on deck throughout the night. However, the night remains peaceful, and nothing disturbs the peace.

The following day you wake up to discover that the Icebreaker has already been moored to the docks of Fireshear as you slept. Fireshear's many houses form a crescent around the harbour, and you can see several large public houses near the whart. A dozen thin pillars of smoke rise from the far side of town, it's clear that a number of houses are burning.

"This does not look good," says Lennart as he looks at the pillars of smoke.

Then you notice a blond woman in a long green dress and wearing a grey wolf pelt around her shoulders approaching from one of the public houses. When she makes it to the dock she holds her hand aloft in greeting. When Lennart also spot the woman she waves back to her, but he gives no sign of familiarity. He then turns his attention to you.

"You've got the package from Nezznar, and it seems you have your first lead," he explains. "She seems to want to talk to us, and she probably has information about what is going on here."

Bjorn nods and descends the gangplank to the docks, "Well met," he greats the woman.

He then indicates the pillars of smoke with a gesture of his hand, "What seems to going on here? Is there a fire?"

Muharg stands by Bjorn and introduces himself reaching out to the lady for a handshake "Muharg, Muharg Sunborn". He then waits for the lady to answer Bjorn's question.

"Greetings," she smiles back. "There are many fires. A good portion of the eastern section of town has burnt down, my home included, this has resulted in a good number of us being displaced. The rest of the town remains untouched so far, but as the mephits continue to show up, I fear the destruction will spread to the rest of the town. If only we could figure out what is causing them to show up.

However, I recognised the Icebreaker and wanted to know what business brings you here, and to warn you. I wouldn't want the mesphits to target the ship next."

Arogna looks at Shad, and mutters a curse in the orc language. "I didn't mean this when I hoped for some kind of a fire for you to get warm by. Should be careful what I wish for, huh."

Muharg clenches his jaw at the lady's words "We are here to make a delivery on behalf of the Luskar Deliverers... but" Turns to the others "We have to help this people! We can't let mephits wander about destroying people's lives just like that!"

Bjorn's brows knit together in a frown, "Mephits you say? Why you mephits suddently assault your town?" He then shakes his head and gestures for the lady to lead them, "Lead the way and let us help. You can explain on the way."

"I've heard stories of Mephits," Qinfaren says as he follows along with the others. "I'm not sure they're intelligent enough to mount an attack on a town. Little guys have probably gotten lost."

As he takes in the sight of the smoke plumes ahead he remembers the letter.

"Do you by any chance know someone named Griggle Dusklock?" he asks the woman.

"Griggle Duskloch?" the woman repeats. "Yes, I know Griggle. He owns a forge in the eastern neighborhoods. Strangely, the forge seems to be mostly untouched whilst the surrounding homes have been destroyed by the mephits. No one has seen him for a while, not that unusual though. He is a bit of a recluse, that duergar, always experiementing with magic to boost his forge. Griggle is a bit eccentric like that.

If you do head over that way, becareful, that way lies danger. Of that I can be certain."

"Thank you," Qinfaren says to the woman.

As they keep walking he looks around at the others in the group.

"Do you think Griggle and his forge have anything to do with the mephits? Perhaps we can feed two birds with one scone by seeking him out?"

Hmm. A scone would be nice, Qinfaren thinks to himself. I wonder if there might be a nice bakery near Griggle's forge.

"It's rare to meet a dwarf that knows magic," Arogna says. "I bet his clan didn't like that." 

Shad will share the warning the blond woman in the long green dress gave with the crew on the boat. He thinks he might not mind if the ship burned, but worse would be trapped here.

"Yes," he says to Arogna, "this much warmth is not what I had in mind either." After introducing himself to the woman like Bjorn and Muharg, he listens to Qinfaren. "Finding the forge sounds right to me," he says. He turns toward Arogna. "Just the right amount of heat," he says. "Or closer to the right amount, anyway." He will follow the woman's directions towards Griggle.

Arogna looks around as they go to try to spot taverns and other businesses.

As you head to the east side of the town, you move past many homes which still stand. Then you turn a corner and see three red winged creatures flying around the homes. They approach the different houses along the street and then release a stream a fire from their mouths trying to set the houses a light. As they too busy with their attempts at destruction, they fail to spot you straight away.

“I say we charge” Whispers Muharg to the group while readying his axe and shield.

"D'you think they'll come down and fight us? Or just fly off?" Arogna whispers back, hefting her warhammer. "Qinfaren, do you know? You seemed kinda fond of them."

If possible, Shad will attempt to Hide behind Qinfaren: 18. 

While he wishes every one of his allies well, Shad prays The Cat Lord's grace upon Arogna, Bjorn, and Muharg by casting Bless as soon as he can.