Chilling Adventures in the North

"We encountered winter wolves on our way here too," Qinfaren says. "What other creatures have been acting strangely?"

While waiting for an answer, Qinfaren begins pouring out the mead for the everyone, taking a big sniff as he does.

"Mmm. Is this made nearby? Do bees manage to live up here?"

Bjorn takes a seat by the fire and rubs his hands together warming himself. A frown crosses his face as he hears what Alvan has to say, particularly when he gets to the part about other creatures being displaced.

"Qinfaren speaks true. Winter wolves and yetis. Pray tell friend Alvan, what else have you seen from the higher climbs? What of those who make their homes there?"

Alvan leans forward in chair, and speaks to you a hushed tone, as if believing that someone might hear him, "I've seen frost giants walking around down here. Frost giants and ice trolls."

He then leans back in his sit again.

"Now what do you make of that?"

Qinfaren looks up from his mead when Alvan mentions the frost giants and ice trolls.

"Has it been getting colder and darker here?" Qinfaren asks. "I'm no expert on frost giants but I've hard stories that they like to live where it's not too sunny."

"Frost giants and ice trolls?" Shad says. He listens to Qinfaren's question. "Yes," he says, "are they expanding their territory because the bad weather and darkness is expanding or are they being pushed or pursued." He takes a sip of his drink and settles further into the warmth of the cabin. "Perhaps bigger giants?"

For a moment he thinks of the pleasant jungles around the temple of the Cat Lord covered in ice and sleet. Some tabaxi live in the cold, or so he has heard, but he can't imagine being comfortable at the temple in those conditions. The thought makes him shiver slightly, even in the warmth.

“It’s not your blood or your manners that make you a lady, but your heart. And even if it’s a bit blunt sometimes, you’ve shown it to be kind and fair so far.” Says with a half smile at Arogna.

As the conversation progresses, Muharg’s expression grows concerned. “If this is in fact an ongoing thing and not merely punctual, the people down here might be in real danger.” He then asks Alvan directly “Have you noticed any chenge in the weather? Is it harsher than the usual? The blizzard out there was remarkably intense...”

Arogna frowns. "There's like a glacier aroun' here, right? I forget the name. 'S that where they're comin' away from?" Her mind goes to the knife outside on the sledge, and the mysterious tiefling.

"What do you think, Alvan? Are the creatures moving in from the glacier?" Shad says. "I think we need to make a delivery there. Frost giants could make that a disaster." What would it be like to live here, he wonders. So remote. That might be a good thing, he supposes. More likely not, he thinks. Not for him.

Alvan thinks for a moment, "I presume you mean Reghed? Perhaps that is where they come from. On the other hand, it could be the Spine. Either way, you'd be best be careful travelling around. Especially at night.

As for the weather, yes... It does seem to be getting worse. Darker too. There is something going on out there in the white wilderness. But I don't think anyone dares to venture too far from civilisation.

If you are planning to go to the glacier, then you must be planning to go to Hundelstone. I can accompany you there in the morning. For now we better get some rest and wait on this storm."

"Hopefully this storm blows itself out while we sleep," Qinfaren says. "It was getting a touch cold for me today."

He then tries to angle himself so his long legs aren't the way of the others and closes his eyes.

"Good night friends. Good night dogs. Good night new friend, Alvan."

"G'night Qinfaren. And thanks, Alvan. Be good to have you show us the way," Arogna says.

"D'you want any of them steaks to cook?" she adds hopefully. "We ate before, but I don't got a problem at all with eatin' again. To keep you company like."

"Yes, sleep is a good idea," Shad says. As the others begin to rest he will too, curling into his chair and under his coats, before bolting up awake. "Do we need to set a watch? I know we're not outside, but frost giants. You know," he says.

(OOC: A long rest I assume?)

“I’m not going to say no to that steak, Arogna.” Says Muharg as he gets ready to go outside to fetch the meat. “Anyone else?” He asks, so he doesn’t leave anyone without a bite.

As the evening evolves, and steaks are taking care of, he gladly chats of this and that with whoever is still awake. He also asks Alvan about his smith’s skills and methods as well as about his parents and his dwarven childhood. Once everyone is sleepeng he stays awake, in part to make sure no other perils come from outside, but also pondering about the recent events, and how these bunch of recently met individuals are gradually taking more and more room in his heart. He then gives a warm look at every one of them, smiles and goes to sleep himself.

The wind can still be heard howling throughout the night around the cabin. However, the cabin and blankets prevent you all from feeling the cold. You sleep soundly through the not in the safety of shelter, you get a good long rest.

By morning, you wake to see that blizzard has blown over and all looks peaceful outside.

Alvan is already awake and is cooking some of the meat, that Muharg had brought in , over a newly built fire.

"Morning," he says simply.

Arogna yawns, and stretches, with all the elegance of a dropped sack of rocks randomly rearranging their positions inside their bag. She sniffs appreciatively. "Ain't nothin' better to wake up to than the smell of meat fryin'."

She wanders over to the so-far uncooked meat and picks out a couple of offcuts to give to the dogs. "How far to Hundelstone?"

Stretching as well, Shad stands. If the fire has gone out or burned down to coals, he prods it back to life, listening to Arogna and Alvan.

Qinfaren awakens with a smile on his face.

"I hope everyone's feet stay warm and dry today," he says as he starts looking for some food. "Did it snow much last night?"

He makes sure all his gear is stowed properly in his pack and gets ready to continue their journey to Hundelstone. Though it takes him longer as he keeps getting distracted by the dogs, reaching out to scratch them behind the ears whenever they come close by.

"It will will only take about an hour to travel to Hundelstone," Alvan says. "And aye it definitely did snow a lot last night."

"Well, perhaps we should be going then," Qinfaren says. "Everything seems to be taking us a touch longer than planned on this trip so far. As much as I would still love to meet a polar bear, I will be happy if we see nothing more than the road the rest of the way to Hundelstone."

He picks up his pack and heads outside, calling the dogs after him.

"Feeling like pulling the sled today, or do you want to ride until we get through this snow?" he asks them.

Shad will follow the others and Alvan out the door and on to the road toward Hundelstone. He clamps the coats around himself as usual, but also watches the area around them, hoping to not see any wolves, yetis, or bears. "We are on our way, I think," he says. "Closer to another delivery."