Chilling Adventures in the North

Checking the remaining packages, you realise that one package is destined for Ten-Towns, which  you will arrive at before Reghed Glacier.

"Well, we're rested," Qinfaren says. "We've filled our stomachs. The dogs look ready."

He sticks his head outside and looks up the street towards the wall.

"And we know there may be things that might want to take a nibble out of our backsides on the other side of that wall. But there's still some daylight so it seems like as good a time as any to get going."

Qinfaren hitches his pack up, nods to Falstaff and Alvan.

"Thank you for your hospitality," Qinfaren says. "We've a couple of deliveries to make and they're taking us up the road to the Ten Towns, but hopefully we'll be back soon and we can tell you whether any of these rumors are correct or not."

Shad thanks Falstaff and Alvan, then gathers what little heat he can from the furnace, closes his coats tightly, and ducks out into the cold. As the others join him, he will start walking toward the wall. "Anything we ought to buy before we go?"

Muharg shakes hands with both "I hope we meet again so we can share ideas and experiences regarding blacksmithing." he then nods and goes outside along with his companions.

"Off we go, then. We have food, warm clothes, some shelter... I think we're good Shad." Says with a smile.  

Arogna slaps her hands together, unties the dogs, and starts them off. "Yeah, I got all I need. An' it's too early for goin' to the tavern. Maybe."

"Agreed. Let's be off." Bjorn would make sure his things are well stowed as he prepares for their journey ahead.

Shad moves with the others towards the wall. Despite the cold, he tries to enjoy the sights within the town, the snowball battles, the ice sculptures, the cascades of icicles (though he does think of dangling tentacles), and smoke and steam rising from houses and cups and bowls. Some of the curves of the drifts of snow remind him of the warm sand dunes he as seen in his travels. "There is a beauty to this place, I suppose," he says. "If only there were warmth as well. But, perhaps it gets even colder here, though I can't imagine how."

As you near the wall at the back of Hundelstone you see that wall is well built and stretches to cover the width of the gorge in The Spine of the World. On top of the two watch towers you can see archers keep watch for anything coming down from the mountains.

Qinfaren looks up at the towers and spots the archers. He waves up at them.

"Must be a heck of a view from up there," Qinfaren shouts. "We're going up that way. Do you see anything we should know about?"

He continues along through the gate, if there is one.

"Bundle up my friend, Shad," Qinfaren says. "I think it's only going to get colder as we go."

Arogna walks beside the dogs, and looks up and out to the mountains beyond. She was raised among the foothills of a mountain range, and the sight of them against the sky gives her a moment's nostalgia for her home and tribe. "' 'S nice here," she comments, and scans what she can see of the route beyond the wall to see whether it will cause them any difficulty.

Qinfaren looks for a gate but can't find one, but does find a door in the tower.

"You want to go up into The Spine?" shouts an archer

"Why would you want to do that?" shouts another.

"We sure do," Qinfaren shouts back. "More of a responsibility than a want though."

He turns and gestures at everyone plus the packages on the sled.

"We have deliveries to make."

Qinfaren looks over at the door in the tower.

"Do we go through there?" he calls up to the archers.

Shad shivers and then taps his forehead. "By the Cat Lord, why didn't I think of this earlier! Qinfaren! Arogna! A hot ember! inside, a, like a, salt shaker, or a hollow metal sphere! And then inside my coat! The pocket closest to my cold belly." He looks up at the archers. "Do you have coals? Coals and salt?"

"Deliveries to make in the Spine?" says the first archer. "Who is in the Spine? I think you might be lost."

The other archer replies, "We've got some coal for the fire pit, but no salt. If you want to come up you'll have to climb the stairs through that door."

“Ahoy there! Our deliveries are bound to Ten Towns and the glacier beyond that. Isn’t this the right path?” Asks Muharg at the guards.

He pauses for a moment and adjusts his belt before continuing “We’ve also heard word about stranger than usual things going on up there, and we’re curious enough to investigate that and” gives a look at his friends to make sure they are all on the same boat “help if we can.”

Arogna is busy grinning at Shad's idea. "I had drinks before that they said oughta put fire in your belly, but I ain't heard of no-one tryin' it like that. I got a tinderbox made outa metal, maybe that'd work."

She nods to Muharg, but waits to hear if they are going the right way for the next delivery. "We gotta job to do, Muharg. Nobody's payin' us to go round helpin'."

"Ten towns?" comes the first voice. "Heavens no! You want to leave the way you came, you head west out of the town find Ten Trail and follow that north east. This way will be a lot more difficult. You might lose that packages if you go this way."

"Or worse, get yourselves killed," says the other

"Oh, all right then, back we go! Thank you for your help!" Says Muharg to the archers above. He then turns to the others "What a bunch of top-notch couriers we are, not even being able to choose the right gate to exit town!" says with a laugh, then shrugs and adds "I guess those mysteries will have to wait. I agree with you, Arogna, we have job to do, but helping those in need is something one can always do if the situation allows, regardless of the payment involved. I guess we'll find more of those stray creatures on our way to Ten Towns according to what Alvan said, so that will also be a chance for us to help to keep people out of danger."

"Oh sure, if you're goin' past anyways. An' fightin's fun," Arogna agrees. "But I ain't here to save people. I'm here to be a Deliverer." The half-orc straightens her shoulders to display her uniform jacket, with a look of such pride that it's clear she didn't mean to contradict herself.

“And that is indeed a noble endeavour. People need good couriers, and you’re proving to be a hell of a one! And moreover, a Deliverer !” Replies Muharg with a smile as he pats the half-orc on the back.