Chilling Adventures in the North

Arogna's boots crunch in the snow. "Glad we got a hot breakfast. 'S nice out here when it ain't snowing right now. I think them dogs like it." 

After preparing yourselves and getting the dogs ready, you head further north along the road to Hunelstone, now guided by Alvan. As you go Alvan talks to you about his life in the north. He describes in details how he sets traps around his home to catch animals for food. He explains that hunting in the north can be dangerous as you could get lost in a sudden blizzard, and you may never know what is lying under the blanket of snow covering the ground. However, he also explains that his own true passion is blacksmithing, and in particular, the artistry that goes into making a truly exceptional tool or blade.

After travelling for an hour, you arrive in Hundelstone. The homes of those that live here are single story with steeply pitched rooves. Alvan explains that many of the building are forges or smithies. The one building that stands out from the rest is the grand longhouse, which Alvan points out as you pass by and explains that it belongs to the town's elder. Eventually, Alvan leads you all to his parent's smith where you find his adoptive father Falstaff Shorthelm working away.

Qinfaren looks around at everything with his usual curiosity.

"The druids of my circle tend to avoid metal and do no forging or smithwork," Qinfaren begins. "But it is wonderful to see people so engaged and passionate about their work."

Qinfaren offers a big hand to Falstaff.

"I'm Qinfaren, this is Bjorn, Arogna, and Muharg," Qinfaren says. "Your son was a very generous host last night and provided us shelter from the storm. He also told us about giants and other creatures on the move."

He looks around the smithy a moment longer.

"You must get every traveler who comes through Hundelstone stopping here. Have you heard anything else about what is happening further north?"

Shad listens as Alvan describes living this far north. He is especially interested in the descriptions of the hazards and the ways the weather can be dangerous. In town, he stares at the houses and follows the others into Falstaff's shop. The smells of hot iron and the sounds of clanging hammers are actually comforting to him, better than the silence or howling wind on the tundra. Also, he doubts wolves and yeti make their way this far into town. 

"How much," he asks, "are your daggers? The finest, sharpest one?"

Bjorn crosses his chest with his left arm and bows slightly in greeting to Falstaff, "May the ancestors grant you blessings this day."

He then straightens and listens attentively to what the dwarf may have to say in respons to Qinfaren's question.

Arogna nods a greeting to the blacksmith, and examines any weapons that are on display. She has made sure the dogs are tied up securely outside, and keeps half an eye out for any noise from that direction.

"Red banners," Shad says, "must be a symbol of your town." He looks farther up the valley beyond the town. "Is that a dam?" he says, "or a wall?" He tries to figure out which way is north and wonders if the wall is meant to protect the town from threats in that direction. "Does it offer protection from south bound enemies?"

Muharg adjusts his belt and offers a hand to Falstaff. "Greetings! It is nice to be back in a dwarven smith, brings memories of home." Nods with a smile.  "You raised a good lad here" pats Alvan on the back "he managed to keep a couple of Yetis at bay and gave us shelter for the night; gotta be proud of him."

Turns at Qinfaren "Do we still have any of those adamantine bars?"

Qinfaren looks up when Muharg asks about the adamantine.

"Oh yes,' Qinfaren says and then elaborates for Falstaff. "We had some adamantine bars we received from an unusual and rather self-centered smith named Griggle Duskloch. Another smith turned some of them into that shiny armor you see on Bjorn."

He then looks over at Bjorn. "Bjorn, do we have any left?"

Quote from marbosp >>

(OOC: Sorry for the lack of posting these couple of days, had some family time for holidays.)

 Me too

Falstaff first addresses Qinfaren's questions about stories from the north, "Aye, I've heard strange tales coming out of Icewind Dale. There are rumours of eerie aurora and an eternal night.

Alvan shakes his head, "Those are just stories... just talk. People are always gossiping about Icewind Dale." He then turns to you all. "There's always rumours about Icewind Dale, none of which are ever of real concern."

Falstaff pats Alvan on the back with his hand, "Well you can never be too careful that's for sure." Then he steps over to Shad to talk about business. "If you are after daggers, I have five simple daggers that are currently available. Nothing to fancy mind. Two gold pieces each." He then turns around and grabs them off a nearby table and holds them up for Shad. Whilst showing off each dagger he continues talking to Shad. "Yes, the red banners are a symbol of Hundelstone. It keeps everyone feeling like they belong together here, but it is a wall. It was built so that nothing coming down from the mountains could surprise in the night.

Meanwhile, Arogna sees a number of different pieces of armour and weaponry lying around the smithy. Most of which are build form and function choosing practicality over any fancy designs.

Whilst still dealing with Shad, Falstaff overhears Muharg's remarks about being back in a dwarven smithy again. "So you hail from a blacksmith family, do you? But yes Alvan is good like that. He may be built like an orc but he has the soul of an Aasimar."

"Adamantine bars?" Alvan questions when Muharg beings them up. "You have adamantine bars? Imagine working on those!"

Shad looks for a dagger that is unique to this place, one that Falstaff or Alvan made. "I'd like to remember the shelter you provided from the blizzard," he explains. If any of the daggers looks especially Hundelstonian, he'll buy that dagger.

Arogna tries to make herself look a bit smaller and less threatening when Falstaff mentions orcs, though she is well used to this kind of remark. She looks at the daggers admiringly over Shad's shoulder. "Real nice work".

"They are nice," Shad says. He holds up one with a thin, narrow blade. It is very clean, reflecting light, almost a mirror. The handle, Shad thinks, is made of wolf hide leather. Snowflake patterns have been stamped into the pommel. "Are you thinking about getting one, Arogna?"

He puts the dagger and sheath on his belt and pays Falstaff 2 gp. "Is the town worried about the rumors from Iceland Dale? What's the last thing that came down from the mountains on the other side of the wall? Is that where the glacier is?"

"Aye, I do." Replies Muharg with a proud nod. "Nothing fancy, mind you, just stuff meant to be used and abused. But my fellows' weapons and tools are sharper and will last longer than any other." Adds while adjusting his belt, before ending with a smile: "And I can see you put the same passion into yours."

He then switches to a more serious tone "But please tell us what you know about these threats from the Dale."

"I just might," Arogna says to Shad. Some corner of her brain is reminding her that she does not have a lot of money, but a larger part is yelling at it about how impressed her future drinking companions will be when she shows off the finely made dagger in the tavern. Hopefully in the course of a conversation rather than of a disagreement, but of course a dagger is handy for either. This happy mental picture puts a big grin on her face, and sends her hand reaching into her coin pouch to pay for a dagger for herself. She admires it while she at least half-listens to the talk about Icewind Dale.

"Sorry friend, But we no longer have the adamantine. I traded it away to get this armour made," Bjorn says apologetically indicating the armour that he is wearing, "I wonder if you could tell us more about these rumours of the dale? Nothern lights are a common thing, but what of this eternal night?"

"That is a shame," Alvan remarks to Bjorn. "Still that armour does look pretty good. You look like you made a good deal there."

After finishing business, Falstaff continues, "If you're talking about Reghed Glacier, I'm afraid you're not close to there yet. No behind the wall is the Spine of the World, and the glacier is north of that. But yes, the wall does keep most things out of the town that might decide to climb down from the Spine. We have archers that keep watch, they rotate shifts.

There is a general sense of concern around Hundelstone regarding the rumours, but we are more preoccupied with the increasing sightings of creature from the Spine. As for the exact nature of the threat, I do not know." Falstaff shrugs his shoulders as he picks up a mallet.

"As for the eternal night, the rumour is that they haven't had any daylight for some time. Though whether that is because of the weather or not I do not know."

"Is the best delivery to make next the one on the glacier?" Shad says. "Is there something else we ought to do first? If we go to the glacier, that means more travel over tundra. A guide--" he looks at Alvan "--would be very helpful. Perhaps, along the way, we can prevent a few creatures from making their way to town, Cat Lord willing."

Shad has begun holding the Luckstone, or at least touching it, when he speaks of the Cat Lord.

"I'd like ta get rid of that cursed dagger, that's for sure," Arogna says. "But I dunno if we got anythin' for closer." She looks around the Deliverers hopefully, hampered by her absence when the other packages were collected, and her inability to read the directions now on them.

Bjorn nods in agreement,  "It looks to be the case. Like it or not we are going to have to head to the glacier soon or later and i rather we be done with it sooner."