Phineas nods, packing up his stuff. "Well enough," he says. "Methinks Dougan's Hole might be our best bet to start. It's closest and the only one in that direction. What'd ya'll think?"

Fintan looked up and tilted her head, folding her map with a quick snap. ''Yes, I do believe that is the same occurrence I came to. Shall we split up or enter as a group? It might be best to, ah, divide and conquer the towns even if  Dougan's Hole is the closest though I would prefer to venture there.'' She inquired before standing and tugging her cloak closer around her shoulders. '' I guess I shall introduce myself. My name is Fintan and as for my answer to you, the Kenku, I traded for mine from a deckhand near Red Waters. You could find one near there or mayhaps someone here has an extra cloak.''

Catching the eye of the barkeep, Kilmus nods towards the door indicating he's stepping out into the cold to check something.  Wrapping himself tightly in his fur cloak and pulling up the warm hood, he braces himself for the assault of cold that always hits him when he steps out into the unchecked elements.  It wasn't always this way.  He grew up here, in a small village outside of the Ten Towns.  It had never been warm, but the cold had grown harsher, almost malevolent.  

Pulling the inner door tight behind him, Kilmus waited a beat in the alcove between the two sets of doors.  He loosened the blade at his hip in it's scabbard and tighten his grip on his halberd before pushing open the outer doors.  The cold struck him like a physical force, sucking the air from his lungs and biting into his exposed skin.

Shutting the door behind him quickly he turned to look for the figure he had seen lurking outside.  'I can't imagine why they would linger out here any longer than they need to, she must be in trouble of some sort.  Be careful, but be kind'. his mother again, this time in the chiding tone she reserved for when he needed to be coaxed into doing the right thing.

'Hello? Is there someone out here?' Kilmus' voice called out loud and clear as he looked about.

OUTSIDE

A young human woman clumsily steps out from the side of the building, falling, and getting up. She laughs awkwardly, brushing off snow from her coat.

“Oh! Uh, hello! I’m Dannika Graysteel! I was uh..I was wondering if you and your friends could help me? I’m a scholar who thinks that wee elemental spirits known as chwingas might be the key to improving Icewind Dale’s climate. Since chwingas are known to inhabit Ten-Towns and have some ability to alter their natural surroundings, I believe I can learn a lot by studying one up close. I’d like to hire you and your friends - I can offer twenty five gp per person as well as a lantern of tracking that can help locate these little buggers. So, uh..please? Can you help me? I’ve been looking all over town and haven’t found any of them. Maybe in one of the other settlements? I could continue the search myself, but i’m nervous about venturing out into the extreme cold and have other research-related chores to attend to. Do we have a deal? Please?”

Kilmus reaches out to steady her as she stumbles, deftly switching his polearm to his offhand he does.  Listening to the young scholar's plea, Kilmus finds himself both confused by the chatter and worried for her mental health

'chwingas? elemental spirits? M'lady perhaps you've been outside too long in the cold.  Come into the Hall, let me get you a warm drink. There's a crew of folks who I can introduce you to who just might be willing to help'

The bouncer guides her into the Hall and introduces her to the growing group of adventurers.  'Mistress Graysteel here also is in need of some assistance and is willing to pay without the need to murder anyone.'  He gives the dwarven shield mistress a hard look as he says this last bit.

Fintan squints at Phineas and switches to the new occurrence while awaiting their reply. She turns her sharp green gaze to Kilmus and the young scholar, quickly taking in their snow dusted looks and asking, ''Why, did you folks get caught up into a drift. What seems to be the adventurous issue here? There's no problem with taking two jobs at once if that may be the reason you are causing a disturbance. Shall I hear you out little lady?''. She pushes the dark pelted cloak back, letting it hit her narrow shoulders with a thump, her offhand nonchalantly dangling near her double-bladed scimitar, seemingly remaining casually sprawled in the sticky bar chair. ''It may be best not to say that so loud, the murder part you know.'' Fintan said with a drawl, dramatically gesturing at the sharp gazes turning to their group.

"Oh! I, uh..!?" Says the young lady as she's escorted into the Inn by Kilmus

"HEY." says the innkeeper among the droning of the bees, pointing at her. "She's not allowed in here! Go outside, missy!"

"Sorry!" she says out loud, shrinking in embarrassment. She turns to you all. "I'm sorry, i'm not allowed in here. I'm too young to drink!" she admits with a nervous laugh. "I'll uh..i'll be outside! Please let me pay you for the job? I need a chwinga."

She turns to go back outside, like a punished child.

Fintan watched the girl venture back out into the vicious cold, intrigue worming its way into her. ''Well, I for one am interested in hearing what she has to say even if I am more interested in this murder business. She may have information we need, after all the young listen more then we do''. She turned to the group after saying this, eyes hard, ''If you all scatter into the wind after I go talk to that young maiden, I'll rightly hunt you down for it.''  Fintan pulled her hood back down, the blade of her scimitar flashing in the dim light as she slid it back into the scabbard. Straightening her back, she walked towards the thick door amongst the tables, sidestepping the frazzled bar maidens as she slammed her shoulder into the stubborn door. It swung open with the whine that only frozen hinges have, raising a dark leathered arm to her face against the biting frost.''Mayhaps we could discuss this in the between space of the buildings!'' She shouted, fighting to be heard over the wind as she made her way between the walls of the buildings. ''Now, what was this you said about chwingas? I've heard talk of those mischievous spirits on my travels here.''' Fintan questioned, voice less stolen by the wind as harsh cold as it slid its way under the many pelts that warmed her making her more blunt then usual.

The girl looks at you, elated someone came outside.

“Hello! I’m Dannika. I was uh..I was asking your friend a moment ago to help me. I’m a scholar, and I think that small elemental spirits known as chwingas might be the key to improving Icewind Dale’s climate. It's just a hunch, but I need to know. They have some ability to alter their natural surroundings, and I believe I can learn a lot by studying one up close. I wanted to hire you and your friends inside! I’ve been looking all over town and haven’t found any of them. Can you help me? Please?”

"That's more like it!" Rak would exclaim as he slaps the table with his green hand. "You've made me a happy elf indeed. Maybe I'll be able to afford a new nose once we've taken care of that killer." The githyanki would add as he moves to stand up and strap his greatsword across his back. "Welp I guess we better get goin then. You going to be warm enough there Mica. I don't really want to haul a frozen chicken dinner all around ten towns you know. Maybe we should pick up some provisions before we head out." A Grin would shimmer in the fire light from under the dark hood. When the woman comes in and is then quickly sent outside again, Rak would finish gathering his things and follow behind. "Yeah I'll take twenty five gold to find you a chewbacca. What do they look like?"

Mica flinches at the woman's comment of 'hunting them down'. He wasn't quite sure what he'd done, but he's interested in what the young woman had to say. The task wasn't particularly hard, and if they happened to come across a 'chwingas', he'd happily capture it and earn some nearly free coin. He turns to what's remaining of the table, and conjures up an expression some nasty patron had told him - "Let's kill two birds with one stone, shall we?" Mica practically shudders at the phrase. He's always hated it. Anyways, he gathers himself up, one arm still hanging limply, and he takes out a piece of dried tinder. Looks like he'll need to reveal what he can do outside. He follows Fintan and Kilmus outside, and as he does so, a whooshing sound can be heard, and the piece of tinder he'd been carrying becomes enveloped in a violet-colored flame, and his rather underdressed self huddles closer to it, attempting to fend off the cold. 

Phineas follows the Fintan outside, recalling his many hours spent in the libraries of Baldur's Gate devouring as much knowledge as possible. Had he heard of chwingas? (12) "Elemental spirits to help thwart an upset goddess' curse? Interesting indeed," the halfling mutters as he follows. "I don't be supposing' that it'd hurt to try?"

As he follows them to a warm spot between buildings, the cherub face of the halfling is lost in the layers upon layers of furs and pelts being reapplied. All that remains is sparkling eyes slightly above a warm scarf, buried deep inside a fur-lined hood. Despite the bone-chilling wind cutting a swath through Good Mead, the halfling seems fairly unaffected, proficiently making his way through the drifts and slush with an unexpected ease. "Where would we find such things, lass?"

Arcana: 18

Fintan crossed her arms and looked at Phineas, recalling how an elemental spirit had wrenched one of the town waterways, hearing how a Chwingas had done it after sitting around a table with reliable resources of lore. ''I do agree with what this stout fellow said, tho I do believe I've heard of these Chwingas. Had a nasty case of them tormenting a town in Cyre near the riverside. I don't suppose they'd hang around frozen rivers, as they do be fickle things.Have you heard of any sightings? Checking Red Waters for one of them elemental creatures is on the way to Dougan's Hole. We was a planing to go there I recall.'' She clapped her hands together in an intrigued manner and faced Dinnika again, ''Well I know Phineas and I here would be glad to find this and solve this wrenched cold, though that Kenku fellow, Mica I believe, would be of help. I heard stories there use to be a wee bit more of sun around here.''  After saying this, she tugged the neck of her cloak higher, using it as a facial binding to protect her face. It may have been just a slight bonus having it cover the expression she made at the purple fire he summoned. That, she knew, had been seen only once by her eyes.

Rak would lower his hood further and sinch his cloak a bit tighter. When the kenku ignites the small stick Rak would grin and mutter under his breath as he used Thaumaturgy to change the color of the flame to a bright blue before flickering out.

It's difficult for a near-black Kenku to look blue as any humanoid with skin would, but you swear the shivering Kenku turned a shade bluer. Icicles are already beginning to form on his feathers. He reignites the stick, and looks around, concerned as to why his magic wasn't working properly. 

With a nearly undetectable eye-roll, Fintan turned to the two other figures, sizing up the blue and shivering one. ''Well, I don't suppose you prepared for the cold with any hides or such. Mayhaps its time to buy some provisions and if not I suppose they or I could spare some coin or extra hide for you as I don't think we need a dead member already, yes? We have two journeys now, tho one is a bit more straightforward.''

"A chewbacca?" the young woman shakes her head. "Here. The lantern I gave you all. Use it, it'll help you. The flame inside it changes color when you're near one. Ten towners seem dismissive of the notion of elementals living among them, but once. In science camp. I heard a person seeing “a tiny figure riding a fox through town” but couldn't remember where or when the sighting occurred! They could be in any of the Towns."

She begins to walk away. "I'll be nearby when you get one! Thank you!"

As you watch the woman walk away, a figure in cold weather clothing lurches out into the freezing cold street covered in snow into plain view, running as fast as he can. Slung over his back are a pair of animal traps, one of which appears to contain a panicked fox.

"Verbeeg! Another ambush! I need help!" he cries out to anyone who would listen.

Fintan eyed the lantern and then the panicked newcomer, quietly connecting the dots with a small grin. ''A small figure and a fox, how convenient.''  She murmured before schooling her expression, she places a hand on her scimitar, making sure it is out of sight below her cloak before lunging out from the shadows. ''Ho! I see you seem panicked, whatever is the matter?' And why, is there a fox strapped to your back?!' 

"What is it NOW?!" Rak would grumble as he looked towards the paniked trapper. "Who is ambushed and how much is help worth to you?" The Gith would ask as he walks towards the figure.