Chilling Adventures in the North

(@ Shad, sorry, that wasn't clear! Muharg's suggestion was that Beldora stays in Arogna's room at the inn tonight, and then give her some money to get a tent. So Arogna isn't intending to leave the inn tonight.)

(Yeah but I was assuming it was late in the evening and it might not be the case...)

At Shad’s suggestion Muharg is not sure they’ll find an open store at this time “Hey Ogden, do you think we’ll find any open store now to purchase a tent, or should we better wait for the morrow?”

Muharg senses nothing close at hand that is celestial, fiend, or undead. Neither does he read any body language from Beldora that might indicate any dishonesty. Meanwhile, Qinfaren also tries to determine any new true intent behind her words or actions. However, he is less skilled that Muharg and he too fails to detect any dishonesty.

Beldora reaches a hand out to Shad, "Could you help a poor old woman up?"

Inside the Kelvin's Comfort, Odgen shouts back, "Your best bet is to wait until the morrow."

Shad takes Beldora's hand. "Of course," he says. "We can get the tent tomorrow. Arogna will keep you very save. But you mentioned something else, I think?"

Qinfaren sighs as they all get back in the inn and closer to the warmth from the fire. He shakes his head and shrugs to himself. He really doesn't know much about people. If they do good things their good. If they don't, they're not. As Beldora really hasn't done anything one way or the other, he just gives her the benefit of the doubt.

Though for some reason he's still careful not to turn his back to Beldora.

"One last drink before turning in?" he suggests to the others.

"Sounds good. Nothin' like a nightcap," says Arogna, who has made sure that her budget stretches to five mugs of ale. She gets up from the hearthrug and heads to the bar, returning not long after with a tray of warming spiced ale, for everyone including Beldora. 

"I'll drink to that!" Bjorn says with a grin as he joins the rest of the party. He lifts up his mug and says, "To more successful and less eventful deliveries ahead!"

As Shad helps Beldora to stand up, she collapses into him, before standing up right again, "Thank you for the assistance."

Muharg grabs his mug and raises it "Thank you, Arogna!" Nods at the half-orc. "Cheers to that, Bjorn!"

Later in the night, once in his room, Muharg takes off his belt, places it on the ground, and sits on his heels before it. He then rests his axe on his lap and places his relaxed hands on it, palms facing upwards. Closing his eyes he starts to talk under his breath.

"I here bind my word to my honor and make my honor my life.
I shall not hesitate in times of need,
for those who can not fight for themselves
I shall protect with my life."

Shad will raise his drink to toast along with the others. He will stay up later and later talking to Beldora. When he and Beldora are alone, or when the only inhabitants of the room are the two of them and his companions, he will whisper back to her, "I think we're alone now, or with those I trust. How fares your harp playing in this cold town?"

Qinfaren enjoys the company of what he has come to think of as his friends. But, as the night stretches on, he gets the impression that Shad would like some privacy with Beldora and he makes his way up to the rooms, humming a tune he used to hum when he watched honey bees back home. 

"Hmm, maybe too much spiced ale tonight," he says with a laugh to himself.

Finding a bed he's quickly asleep.

Arogna waited politely for Beldora to indicate she was ready to leave the bar, but after one particularly big yawn, she had to make a move. "Imma take the dogs outside for a minute like, then turn in. 'S upstairs second on the left," she says to the woman. "You take the bed. I gotta bedroll an' these two. That oughta be plenty warm enough." 

The half-orc leads the dogs outside, then after a few minutes, heads back in and up the stairs. When Beldora does come up, she will find Arogna snoring in her bedroll on the floor, with the sled dogs curled up on each side of her. She looks very comfortable.

"On my way North," Shad says before Beldora goes up to Arogna's room, "I spent some time in Waterdeep. The Harpers there, when I told them the Cat Lord was bringing me this way, suggested I check in with a woman named Beldora in Bryn Shander. I don't know when I'll turn South again, but they do send greetings. You have not been forgotten, out in the cold. Do you have news? What can I do here or close by to promote good, preserve history, and balance civilization and nature?"

Later that night, Bjorn quietly slips out of his room not wanting to disturb his roommates. Quietly he exits the tavern and steps into the cold night air. Still he does not stop his steps which eventually lead him past the gates of Bryn Shander, down the hill and into the surrounding wilderness. He takes a deep of the fresh north air, before continuing with a determined almost possessed air deeper into the snowy forests. 

The spirit of his ancestors were close this night and they led Bjorn almost in a trance deep into the wilderness of the north until, eventually he arrives in a clearing. It is at this point that Bjorn comes to his senses. Unlike the areas that surrounded it, this clearing was warm and free of snow. In the center of the clearing, nestled on a bed of what looked like coals was a large egg. This egg he knew, was why the ancestors had led him here. Gingerly he approaches the egg and studies it. Bjorn prided himself on his knowledge of creatures of the north but he had never seen nor even heard of such an egg. 

Just as he was pondering what kind of animal would have produced it, a large crack appears on the shell, followed by another and then another. With trepidation Bjorn watches the egg hatch only to have his eyes grow wide when a blue scaled reptilian head emerges. The goliath rubs his eyes in disbelief. A winged drake, something he had only ever heard about in legends. While the goliath was still in shock, the drake had finally broken free of its shell. With its wings too small to support its own weight, the small drake waddles unsteadily over to Bjorn, who reaches out carefully to pet it. It was at this moment that Bjorn knew that they had bonded and this drake would ever be his companion. Smiling he says, "I'm not very good with names, but I guess I'll just call you Blue."

With that Bjorn touches his forehead to Blue's sealing their bond. It would be almost daybreak before Bjorn slips back into the tavern and into his room.

A look crosses Beldora's face as Shad plainly explains to the others about his dealings with the Harpers, but it fades almost as quickly as it appears, "The business of the Harpers is usually kept to those who are members. Still, at times like this, formalities will probably have to be dropped. You will all have to keep your knowledge a secret from those who live in Ten-Towns, but you may all be needed to protect the citizens living here.

Both the Arcane Brotherhood and the Zhentarim are on the move again. These two organisations, in particular, have posed threats to Ten-Towns before. There is a great concern that they will cause trouble in the coming tendays.

Unfortunately, at this time I do not have much in the way of information as to their plans. I will continue acting as a homeless lady in Bryn Shander, as it has proved useful learning rumours from the people here.

However, I must ask have you been in contact with anyone who is affiliated with either the Arcane Brotherhood or the Zhentarim?"

(OOC: I wrote down on my notes that Maccath the Crimson —the one who sent the lockbox with the dragon skull to Raggamel—is a member of the arcane brotherhood, not sure if our characters know that, but I guess they do if I got that info).

(OOC: I think it's just Shad talking with Beldora - everyone else ended up heading to sleep. Qinfaren has a hard enough time keeping the names of everyone they've met straight. He wouldn't remember if they knew about any Arcane Brotherhood even if they had been told).

(OOC: Correct, at this point it’s  just Shad and Beldora, I was just mentioning it in case Shad needed a reminder :P)

(OOC: Thanks, marbosp!)

"The only ones I can think of," Shad says, "are Maccath the Crimson and Raggamel, both of the brotherhood. If we have met Zents, I do not remember them." He ponders for a moment. "I believe the deliveries we have left are to Artus Cimber, Jarlaxle Baenre, and someone named Vanifer at Reghed Glacier. Do any of those names have meaning for you?" He will glance at her plate. "Are you going to finish that fish?" he says. "Also, do you think their activities are centered around this town or the ten towns more generally?"

(OOC: Hey TheBritGeek! Is everything all right? Hope you’re doing well!)