The Snows of Summer: Part I - An Early Frost

[Eilandor]

Eoghan tosses Vrixx into the dark basement then closes the hatch and moves a table over it should the diminutive sprite try an escape. Well after midnight this act has only seemed to anger Vrixx, for he has not stopped verbally slaying the Ulfen for one second! Little does the group know that while he does hold a level of vitriol towards them, he doesn't want them to forget he's down here when they leave.

Morning arrives and you find the fire well stoked as Landa had taken the final watch and made it a point to keep the logs burning. "I suppose we should make something to eat, then begin escorting the Lady back to Heldren."

Muffled tones make their way through the floor boards, "Still there? Hey, filthy Ulfen, you've been far to quiet! Hello!"

[Vardaen]

The table makes a terrible noise as the Ulfen ranger pushes it off the door. He draws his blade, and takes up a burning brand in the other from the fireplace and whistles for Grip to join him, "Hold here boy, if its out of its cage you eat it!" He then bangs on the door, "Try anything stupid Vrixx and I'll cut your down, understand?!" He then lifts the hatch.

Looking down into the dark basement Eoghan gives his eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness down there. Waving the brand about he spies the cage at the bottom of the ladder, with the imp still in it. So he climbs down and grabs up the cage carries it back out. Half way up the ladder he just tosses the cage up to the first floor causing the imp inside to bounce all around. "Enjoy your rest Vrixx? Behave or next time it will be even worse." With the broom stick back in hand he attaches the cage to it once more, and slings it over his shoulder like some bizarre hobo. "I'm ready to set out."

OOC

I'll carry it like a classic hobo stick & bag back to town. Loving the RP with this thing.

[Trogdor]

Kolya shakes his head when he sees Eoghan carrying the imp. "You going to keep him as a pet?" the winter warlock asks. "I"m not sure he'd be as good as your dog in taking commands."

[Vardaen]

With a shrug Eoghan replies to Kolya, "I don't really know yet. We can't just let him go, he will run off and spoil things for us. I don't have a problem killing the thing if he get's out of hand...." he says and makes sure Vrixx hears it, "...but for now I'll just hold on to him, too keep him out of trouble."

[Shurijo]

Zym gives Eoghan a strange look, but says nothing. The Varisian agrees with keeping an eye on the sprite, while he's not one to support cold murder, if the being got out of hand, then a justified death wouldn't be inappropriate.

[Eilandor]

Vrixx simply crosses his arms and flutters his wings such that he hovers in the center of the cage as it moves and bounces around. The readies the remaining horses with all the gear they can handle. To no surprise it is frigid and snowing heavily. With one last look at the wind twisted icy bridge, they turn and begin the several day journey back to Heldren. Your goal is to make the ice cave and reside their until the next morning. The initial travel is swift and with positive outlook. Several miles in the snow is nearly a foot high along the trail and the groups demeanor is waning. Howling wolves can be heard in the distance but no harm comes to you. Then when you are about to resort to petty bickering and complaining, Boreas communicates to Kolya he has spotted the icy cave!

The group gets some much needed rest and heads out first thing in the morning. You can tell you are closer to your destination as the temperature is not what it was at the lodge. Mid-morning arrives and you exit the Border Wood. Winter turns to Summer, albeit a brisk one and you welcome a dry road. A few hours into the afternoon you arrive in Heldren.

The group stands before The Silver Stoat when quiet up until now, Vrixx breaks his silence, "We're stopping here? Ugh, you should have left me in the basement! Look at this backwater town!"

XP

600 XP awarded for successfully escorting Lady Argentea back to Heldren!

It is time for you to level up! Character Advancement Chatter

Map of Heldren

Map Legend

1: Armory - A dirt path winds its way up a low hill west of town to the single door of this square stone tower. The tower is 30 feet high, with battlements on its roof and arrow slits along its walls. It is completely open on the inside, with no interior floors—just a wooden staircase running along the walls to the roof. The tower serves as Heldren's armory and a place of refuge for the villagers in case the village is ever attacked.

2: Isker's Smithy - Although he spends most of his time shoeing horses and repairing farm tools, Heldren's blacksmith, Isker Euphram, has taken it upon himself to oversee the training of the village's militia.

3: General Store - Heldren's general store carries everything a villager needs, as well as most gear an adventurer requires. Heldren sits on the road to Zimar, so plenty of trade passes through the village. The store's proprietor, Vivialla Steranus, takes advantage of this brisk trade to stock her shelves.

4: Town Hall - Rather grand for a village of this size, Heldren's town hall boasts a clock tower overlooking the town square. Its clockworks were imported from Qadira some time ago, and are kept in working order by Orillus Davigen, who can usually be found up in the tower tinkering with the machinery. The clock tower's bells ring every hour from 6 am to 6 pm (the villagers prefer to keep things quiet at night), and can be used to sound the alarm if there's a fire or to muster the militia in case of attack.

5: Willowbark Apothecary - A well-tended garden sits in front of this equally neat house, the home of Tessaraea Willowbark, Heldren's resident apothecary.

6: Barber - An artist with razors and scissors, Argus Goldtooth offers shaves, haircuts, and dentistry, as well as “leechery and other surgical proceedings.”

7: The Silver Stoat - Heldren's only tavern, the Silver Stoat, stands right on the town square across from the town hall. A fixture of village life, the tavern fills up with patrons in the evening as they gather to share gossip, hear news, and reward themselves for a hard day's work. Anything that's worth knowing in Heldren gets talked about here, and if asked where he got a particularly juicy bit of gossip or information, a villager will likely say, “I heard it from the Stoat.” Husband and wife Menander and Kale Garimos run the Silver Stoat as if it were their family kitchen—there's always a seat at the table or a space by the hearth for a guest, or a warm bowl of Menander's hearty stew for an empty belly. Menander works in the kitchen, cooking up his famous venison flank steak and numble pie. Kale tends bar, serving up the tavern's signature brew, Three Devil Ale, which she brews in-house using imported Chelish hops. Heldren doesn't get many visitors, so there is no true inn in the village, but travellers are welcome to a spot on the floor of the Stoat next to the fireplace for a night, as long as they're up early and on their way. Those who linger risk a rude awakening from Menander's wet mop in their faces.

8: Livery Stable - At the stable next door to the Silver Stoat, Sophia Imirras offers horses (and a single pony) for hire or sale, as well as stabling and grooming. Royal couriers on their way to or from Demgazi or Zimar often change horses here. None of Sophia's horses are combat trained. Sophia also has two carts, a wagon, and a carriage for hire.

9: Town Square - The most notable feature of Heldren's town square is the large statue of a beautiful woman right in the center of the town. Usually just called “the Lady,” the statue has been here for as long as anyone can remember, and no one knows who it actually represents. On any given day, a few entrepreneurs selling goods or produce can be found on the square, and a market is held on the last Fireday of every month. Elder Natharen Safander also hosts the annual Harvest Feast in the town square, during which the people of Heldren erect a giant bonfire in the square and bedeck the Lady in garlands of flowers.

10: Ionnia Teppen's House - The leader of Heldren's village council, Ionnia Teppen, lives in this simple two story house just off the town square. Ionnia's family has had a place in Heldren's politics for generations, and her membership on the town council was all but assured. She is by far the most inf luential member of the council, and most villagers consider her the de facto mayor of Heldren.

11: Temple of Erastil - Although Elder Natharen Safander is a cleric of Erastil, he tends to all of the village's flock regardless of their faith. Though most of the villagers follow the teachings of Old Deadeye, the temple also contains shrines to Abadar, Gozreh, Pharasma, and even Sarenrae. Natharen doesn't much care for the Taldan government's intolerant stance on the faith of the Dawnflower, and believes that in a village like Heldren the sun goddess is as important as the god of agriculture. Natharen's wife, Zaarida, is a Qadiran transplant and faithful worshiper of Sarenrae, and assists him during services and with the temple's upkeep.

12: Carpenter - Heldren's foremost woodworker is Tengezil Frimbocket, a gnome with a wild shock of electric blue hair.

13: Heldren Sawmill - Heldren's sawmill stays busy day and night cutting timber harvested by the village's woodcutters into planks for shipment to Zimar and other cities, and stacks of lumber are always heaped outside. Partners Alexius Demetri and Lycio Vallant oversee the sawmill's operation, which makes them two of Heldren's wealthiest residents. Their large house on the north side of town is easily Heldren's largest private home, nicknamed “Sawmill Manor” by the town.

14: The Butcher of Jalrune - The name of this butcher shop refers to the supposed nickname of its proprietor, Perkin Tarimm, who claims to be a retired Zimar corsair.

15: Old Mother Theodora's - Every village has its resident wise woman, and Heldren is no exception. No one in the village is sure just how ancient Old Mother Theodora (as everyone calls her) is, but she's been around as long as anyone in town can remember. Old Mother Theodora is Heldren's most skilled midwife, and she helped deliver just about everyone currently living in the village.

[Vardaen]

Eoghan helps the lady through the cold terrain, putting his skills as a ranger to use as best he can. In the cave he makes sure the fire is going and that folks are taking care of their feet. He leaves Vrixx out in the cold, buried under a mound of snow with just a small tube for air into the little snow pile.

When they reach the edge of the magical winter he immediately removes half his winter gear in the 'hot southern sun' and is glad for the easier stride along solid ground not a foot or more deep snow. By the time they reach Helren is bare chested and sweating in the heat. "Wait till I post you at the town stocks for everyone to some and gawk at you. Maybe they will throw rotten vegetables at you so you'll having something to eat. I'm sure they will have an unending barrage of stupid questions about you, all in that southern hill billy drawl of theirs. You'll love it Vrixx!" He smiles, and the winks at Kolya so the imp can't see him do it.

During the return trip he has Grip out sneaking, ranging form the camp, and stalking poor Vrixx at times.

OOC

I'll let a local decide where we go first and follow them.

Start training Grip to Sneak on the way back.

[Trogdor]

Kolya helps as much as he can on the trip back, using Boreas to scout, and offering to do the jobs that require being out in the cold. He also cooks the group dinner, apologizing that he has to take one of the coveted positions near the fire to do so.

"First things first," Kolya says when they get to town. "We should report what we have found to the councilwoman and bring our guest to tell what happened to her."

[Vardaen]

The Ulfen nods to Kolya, "A good idea, what do you say Landa?" He defers to the woman who lives in this town first, but making for the councilwoman who sent them out on the task sounds like a good idea, "...then to the tavern."

[Shurijo]

Zym nods at Eoghan's suggestion. The man says, "She is most likely in the town's hall. It's this way." He says as he begins to walk towards the town hall.