Mica waves off Fintan's remarks. He'd survived long enough using the methods he is currently employing. "I'll be fine," he says in the voice of a young man, remembering his visit to an apothecary that doubled as a medical ward in Neverwinter. He then looks at the lantern the party was given, half-expecting it to change blue like his own flames had, given the coincidence of the fox and the traveler. 

Seeing the figure leap out of nowhere, Mica simply stands still and gets out of the way. Kenku were frightening, especially one covered in the light of a purple flame, and there was no reason for him to help whoever that was. They'll make it inside some building just fine, but he was still curious about whatever 'ambush' they were on about. Someone else could talk to them.

I also found a decent portrayal of my character. 

The trapper, quite relived someone spoke up, rushes over you to, out of breath.

"I was out in the woods nearby the outskirts of town, ya see, checkin' me traps just now when I came upon a grisly scene - I did! Five members of Good Mead’s militia, their skulls and chests smashed in! I think it's the verbeeg that's been killin' our men and stealin' our mead! I came straight home, here, to alert the town. I need some help! I know how to get to the trail!"

The spooked fox hangs limp, it seems to be in much distress, but it's not moving or resisting.

Animal Handling: 15

 Fintan squints, eyeing the small fox in the trap, noting the crazed look in its eyes. Perhaps she could try and calm it down, get the true intentions on what went on. With a slightly shaky hand, whether it be from the icy-cold or a the ale from earlier, she pokes her fingers below the limp animals nose through the cage, some of the sticky ale from earlier still residing on her glove. With gentle shudder the fox livened itself licking the tips of her glove.'' Verbeeg? In this area? Can you tell us anymore? How can we be sure you weren't in the likened company of who you think done it. And perhaps it would be a good idea to let this wee fox fellow out from this balmy cage.''

"What is a furbag? Is that frozen town slang for a bear or something" Rak would ask while shaking his head. "And don't let the fox go, maybe we can ask it to lead us to the crazy girls imaginary elemental friends. Didn't she say one was riding a fox, maybe they fox knows where the chewbacca are!" The gith would suggest in a tone dripping with sarcasm. He would then turn his attention back to the trapper. "What do we get if we kill the furbag? Coin? The belongings of the dead guards? I am a very reasonable elf so make your offer " The green skinned hooded figure would day with a grin.

Phineas shakes his head, letting a frustrated sigh at Rak. “Not everything is about coin, elfling,” he mutters, looking to the direction the trapper came from While giving Fintan an appreciative nod for efforts to comfort the wounded fox. “That way? About how far?”

Only half listening to the answer, the strongheart readies his bow and begins backtracking the path. 

Survival: 19

"Wot? I'm not in league with the verbeeg!" he says, a bit shocked. He takes a step back. "Do I look like I could smash in five men? Oi, stop touching my dinner. Caught him fair and square when I noticed the bodies. Will you guys help or not - Good Mead would be grateful for it's mead back - Mead Hall might even get ya free drinks and food if ya help out. You guys look like you could use some food, too. Whaddya say?"

Mica slowly trails behind Phineas. He’s glad that the fox is out of the restraint; the claustrophobic interiors of rooms sometimes scared him, and he couldn’t imagine what being locked inside an actual cage would feel like. He wasn’t sure what a Varbeeg was, but it sounded dangerous, and he was pretty terrified. Alas, Mica had no choice other than to follow the primary hope for coin in this wasteland, and coin meant survival. He’d definitely been in some scrimmages before, but an actual fight to the death still scared him. He waits to see what the traveler says about coin, but will attempt to mimic Phineas’ footsteps through the cold, providing him aid with any flash of purplish light that could illuminate the area. He stumbles more than once; Halflings travel through snow differently, but he eventually finds a technique to walk through the slush.

Edit - latest post was posted as I was typing. Mica will simply reply with a nod to his head, content that copying the words of whatever traveler they met would suffice as proof of their deeds to whatever tavern they want their payment from. Food is what Mica would prioritize anyhow.

"I can show you where they died." the trapper says to Phineas. "It's not far, just on the outskirts of town."

Phineas pauses and nods. “Please do, kind sir. Those men deserve a better burial than the eternal frigid embrace of Auril.” He allows the trapper to lead, nodding to Mica who follows. “Be ready for anything. The Dale be a dangerous place.”

Kilmus had been listening as the newly formed party debated it's next steps and how to best chase down chupacabras and commit a cold-blooded murder at the same time.  He had been debating with himself - and the voices of his family - as to whether he should join them in either or both of their quests when the Trapper appeared and told his tale of the slaughter of the militia.  The caved heads and needless slaughter.  That ended any internal debate and silenced the voices.

'A Verbeeg you say? Here? Where? Lead the way.'  Kilmus steps toward the trapper, falling in behind the halfling tracker, ready to move out into the cold and meet the threat to the relative peace of his corner of the Ten Towns.

GAME UPDATE

QUEST: COLD-HEARTED KILLER (GOODMEAD) - INCOMPLETE
Task: Search the Ten-Towns for Sephek Kaltro and deal with him
Contact: Hlin Trollbane
Reward: 500g
Hint: "His victims come from the only three towns that sacrifice people to the Frostmaiden.." Bremen, Dougan's Hole, or Lonelywood

QUEST: NATURE SPIRITS (GOODMEAD) - INCOMPLETE
Task: Using the lantern, search the Ten-Towns for a live Chwinga
Contact: Dannika Graysteel
Reward: 25g per person
Hint: Use the lantern when you arrive in any Ten-Towns town.

QUEST: THE MEAD MUST FLOW (GOODMEAD) - IN PROGRESS
Task: Find the Verbeeg
Contact: None
Reward: Possible free mead and board
Hint: Follow the trail found by the man with the fox

THE MEAD MUST FLOW

You all follow Fef the Trader out of Good Mead and into the woods. Deep in the woods, amid the snow-covered pines, you discover the remains of the five militia members, who look like they were clubbed to death. New-fallen snow has already begun to settle on their corpses. Around the area are tracks:

DC 12 Wisdom (Survival) check: ?????? 
(Roll a d20 and your Survival bonus or penalty to get a result. If it's 12 or higher, i'll reveal what you find.)

Phineas, quite accustomed to tracking in the Arctic lands of the Dale, looks for tracks. 
Survival:
19

Phineas, the tracks belong to what appears to be a large giant. The tracks are obvious and lead northward deeper into the forest.

"What in Bane's name happened here." Rak would mutter to himself as he quietly cast guidance on himself before examining the area (7 plus 3)

 Seeing the corpses, The Githyanki would pay no mind to much else... quickly moving to the bodies and searching them for any "clues" or useful items that might help them in their quest. "hey Mica! Why don't you put on this guards cloak. He won't need it anymore and it might help you to look more like a raven and less like a blue jay. If your quick about it it might even still be a bit warm from the previous owner" Rak would add as he moved to remove any weapons and valuables from them. 

(OOC: What kind of armor are they wearing?) 

Survival: 16

Fintan, slightly aggravated by the way the trapper brushed her question about the fox off, gritted her teeth. ''Well, I'll do it if you atleast let the animal out of the poor gnarly cage, that would be a fine reward.'' She grumbled, slowly trudging behind the group.

Phineas studies the tracks briefly, letting out a slow sigh and turning to the others and saying quietly. "Some sort of giant. The tracks lead this way." He looks to the trapper. "We'll follow these tracks. You find some to help with the slain. Their kin be deserving a chance to bid farewell..." and with a pointed look at Rak. "..and a chance to retrieve their loved ones belongings."

Phineas will then begin following the tracks, moving so low to the ground he appears less a heavily clothed halfling and more a large ambling fur-skinned animal. He moves as quietly as possible, but seems unfettered by the snow drifts and icy conditions.

Stealth: 14

"I would imagine the families of the slain would be more than happy to provide a few simple tools that might aid us in getting revenge for their loved ones" Rak would reply with a grin. "But I guess if you would rather see the the possessions freeze to theses corpses and be burned along with the bodies I guess that is up to you. There is no way anyone is being buried anywhere within miles of here. This soil is frozen solid. If anything is to be recovered from these bodies, now is the time to do it." The Githyanki would reply with a shrug. "And without any kind of warm clothing, I fear poor Mica here may end up frozen to the ground before long as well... Frankly I am shocked that you would rather waste these perfectly good sets of clothing than allow our new friend to bundle up and keep the icy wind from freezing his feathers." The Githyanki would add as he pulls a an amulet from under his armor and clutches it tightly in his hand while making a big performance. "OH Bane, please guide these poor unfortunate souls on to their eternal reward!" He would shout as his free hand slides across the corpse in the hope of taking anything of value.

Slight of hand? 19

Religion: 24

Fintan shook her head at Rak, grip tightening on her blade. ''Well, you with the wee thieving tongue, you should be respect to the dead. Who knows what sort of spirits are lingering around these parts. After all, Chwingas do reside here, if small ones do what about the big ones. I wouldn't be doing that if I was, ah, you. Though I wouldn't want to be. It does no good stealin from the dead for I fear the Golden One would be a comin for you for that.''  Pulling a red powder from one of her cloak pockets, she dipped her fingers into it, making three lines on the foreheads of the deceased. ''May the Golden One,Angharradh, carry you on your way.''  She murmured, before dusting off her hands and straightening, turning to the tracker.''So I suppose we be, ah following those tracks. I bet anything that fox of yours has a good nose. Mayhaps they could sniff the convicted out for us. I'd be sure to keep an eye on 'em.''

The Trapper sighs at the fox comments. "Dinner. Remember? I'm hungry." The fox gives Fintan a sad pathetic look with it's eyes. "Oi, i'll head back to town then, good idea. Thanks for looking into this for me, and the town! Right-o!" And he leaves, the fox giving you a terrible look of hopelessness.

The bodies appear to have been crushed by a very large two handed weapon, like a massive club, their heads and/or torsos have been completely bashed in, but they aren't wearing anything more than hide armor, anything metal might get frozen or stuck with frost.

The tracks lead to a cave. This is what you see:

As you peer at the scene from a distance, something unexpected happens. 

A snowball hits Phineas right in the noodle. Following the trajectory of the toss about 10 feet away, a very small elemental creature that looks like a black stick figure wearing a tribal mask and furs "laughs" on top of a fallen log, pointing at you all and rolling on the floor. It's not making any sounds, but it's "laughing". Finally, it gets up and begins to dance. It's not bad.

Phineas shakes his head, at first angry at being hit by the snowball, but that fury quickly fades as he offers whimsical smile. "Fey-kin," he mutters, shaking his head. "Is that what we're needing for the young lass?" He moves at first slowly before pouncing like a snow leopard toward the laughing stick in an attempt to grapple it.

Phineas Pounce: 21