Anator nods, and adds his own thoughts:
"Alternatively, I would be interested in asking questions anywhere the adventurers might have gathered to spend any non-curs'd lucre they obtained - I would rather talk to the adventurers first hand - although the source of the curs'd coins seems to be dwarven, locating where the adventurers found them might turn up something valuable - information-wise - Is there a watering hole where they might gather or have gathered in this cold-forsaken village? Are the adventurers yet here?"
To Camas:
"Though we found you dead in a cave, you've proven very resourceful. Well done lad. Though I guess we are all of us...dead. To a certain degree...."
Raznarr agrees with Anator, "I believe finding the adventurers or the former resting place of the coins is our priority, and though the dwarfs may know legend and lore about the coins, it's the physical location in vhich ve should be interested."
Perhaps splitting up is a prudent decision? It seems both of them are time sensitive, Kestra poses to the group while pulling her cloak tighter against the cold.
"That sounds like a solid plan but where do we find the them? It might be better if we start with the town guard and ask them for directions on where to find the merchants."
"We know they left town recently, but it's true we don't know which direction. This i a good place to start."
Raznarr agrees with Anator, "I believe finding the adventurers or the former resting place of the coins is our priority, and though the dwarfs may know legend and lore about the coins, it's the physical location in vhich ve should be interested."
"Three points."
"First, I believe one may lead to the other. Most legends give at least a hint of a location."
"Second, knowing the location without knowing what sort of hazard awaits us is dangerous, to say the least."
"And finally, we are laboring under the shadow of a ticking clock right now. The adventurers left WEEKS ago. I am doubtful we can catch up to them, unless they are dead not far out of town, in which case questioning them is impossible, or they have been transformed into the creatures wandering out, which makes finding them moot for the same reason."
Anator nods thoughtfully at Aizu's points. He smiles.
"I'm no barfly...let us do as you say my brother..."
"You're right, they're either long gone, or long dead. Ve should go in search of the dwarven merchant."
Travel to the eastern and western gate houses is rather easy so long as you travel with the large crowds heading out of town. Breaking out of the crowd so you can stay and talk to the guards, not so much. You manage to break free of the current of pedestrians and are walk up to the guards on duty. After a gruff exchange of 'Get back in line!' and introductions asking to inquire about various issues the guards point you. A door off to the side. Through the doorway is a small guard room and up the stairs you find an office with a sour looking middle aged ulfen with one eye patched over. The man, the current captain of the eastern gate, doesn't seem overly interested in chatting or discussion but with enough encouragement opens up and tells you what he knows.
The dwarves' caravan did exit through this gate and headed roughly north east yesterday.
The dwarves, twelve in all, were travelling with a pair of heavy carts pulled by oxen so the distance they can travel in a day is pretty small. They claimed to be travelling through several towns and hamlets on the way to... Somewhere.
Their next stop was supposed to be a farmstead north of here, past a semi frozen river, owned by Sven Svarggt. They said they would stay one day there before continuing onwards.
The captain remembers seeing the adventurers, that everyone keeps talking about, leave town and head south east towards Loc Merren. Loaded down with spelunking gear, lanterns and a nearly empty cart. That was eight or nine days ago.
The banner hanging on the wall behind the captain belongs to the house of Weiylin. The Weiylin family is famous for piracy and raiding the southern peoples.
The Weiylin family was almost wiped out almost century ago by bad fortunes and worse luck forcing the proud family to swear service to the local Jarl to survive.
Raznarr lightens his pockets to learn that twelve dwarves in caravan went northeast from this gate yesterday with two heavy ox-pulled carts. They said they were making several stops on their way to a farmstead owned by Sven Svarggt to the north past a frozen river. They plan on staying there a day.
The guard also remembers seeing the adventurers leave southeast toward Loc Merren in spelunking gear, pulling an empty cart over a week ago.
Aizu raises an eyebrow at the banner, but says nothing.
"It seems that we would have a better time catching the dwarves than the adventures. At least we know their destination."
"Indeed," Raznarr nods to Camas. Turning back to the Ulfen guard, he thanks him for his time.
Aizu has the good grace not to say "I told you so". Barely.
"So, when should we get started?"
"Raznarr, are there any additional preparations we should take before leaving? I am unfamiliar in this setting."
"The sooner in the day, the better. It doesn't get varm here, but it certainly does get very cold at night. And I think ve're vell enough equipped, except if ve are to go off-road at any point, I don't think snow-shoes vould be a poor investment."
"Well, why don't we go to the general store and purchase some snow shoes? While we're there we can see if the shop owner knows anything more."
After leaving the guard house you ask around for a bit until you find a trader that deals with travel supplies and or more accurately trappers supplies and gear who stocks cleats, skis and snowshoes for 5g per set. Looking about the man establishment you can see dozens of various traps as well as unusual sleds suspended from the ceiling. "Greetings travellers, can I interest you in some of my fine furs or fur clothing? The wilderness can be a dangerous and cold place beyond the town walls and my gear will keep you snug and warm despite the worst weather... And turn away wolf teeth as well."
"No thank you sir, I believe we're covered in that regard."
"I would like to buy a pair of snowshoes though."
Aizu pretends to think for a moment as he looks over the rack, and picks a pair that looks like it wil fit.
Conversationally, he says.
"So I heard some adventurers came through recently. Is that a normal occurrence around here?"
Anator smacks his hands together, and looks at his sensibly clothed companions.
"Gods this place is cold. Alright. Fur clothing for the obstinate. One outfit of your finest please. And yes, also snowshoes. Steady feet and alacrity be damned..."
"Adventurers? Yeah they came by a week ago and almost cleaned me out of my mountaineering section. Plus a couple dozen heavy sacks... Lanterns, chains, long poles and even had me get them some iron bars and a giant metal bear cage. I remember them well, they had gold this time. Before that they tried to buy on credit. Ha. As if I'd be dumb enough to give credit to a travelling band of adventurers. Aside from those, hmm, I think it's been quite a while. We do get some local youngsters that get the idea to make it rich travelling the land looting monster lairs but southerners don't come up here to often, too cold for their delicate skin. He he he."
The furs he is referring to are padded, leather, studded leather and hide armours that incorporate cold weather gear. Just add the prices together if you want them,
Raznarr drops 10 gp on cleats and snowshoes.
"They paid with gold? I heard they had some weird platinum coins they were giving out. Probably just rumors I guess."
"I'll have what he is having.", Camas says while he picks out a pair of snowshoes and a pair or cleats. "Raznarr you are going to have to show me how to put these on and walk in them."
Looking thru the other gear he spots another item that peaks his interest.
"I would also like these snow googles"
After being dead all this light is hurting my head.
Raznarr's hearty laugh echoes from inside his helmet, "Ha! Camas! The trick is to only wear them when you need them. Snowshoes for snow, cleats for ice. As for putting them on, you're on your own, haha!"
"Of course they paid in gold and silver, they tried to use those weird coins they found but I wouldn't take them. Heard they exchanged them at a money lender, Svarrgt I think."
The man happily trades your gold coins, after checking them, for the various gear you ask for.
---------
A little while later as you exit the town and step back into the harsh wilderness beyond the walls the cold wind hits you and tries to work its way into your clothing to steal your warmth. You can see a faint trail or path, no one would call a road, heading roughly north with deep wagon ruts and and sled marks cutting through the shallow snow and ice drifts.
To the south you can see in the distance a small mountainous, rocky region roughly half a days travel over frozen fields.
Raznarr breathes deeply from his nostrils, or so you assume from the sound, and lets out a happy sigh before saying, "Northvard! Let's track down those dwarves!"
"I'll take a pair of those snow shoes, as well. Thank you."
Ealianne lays 5gp on the counter.
Hustling after the dwarves for the remainder of the day is a long and tiring affair but your perseverance pays off as an hour or so after dark you find yourselves on the outskirts of another farmstead with several low buildings and a high dirt wall around it. Off to the side, along the curve of the road is a caravan of wagons and tents tucked away between the wall and the road. You count two dim fires and three moving bodies there and twice as many moving within the wall itself as the figures walk the perimeter.
"Well, I think we've found them. Shall we make contact?"
"Unless they have had hard dealings with the adventurers, and mistake us for more of the same, I think so. Let us make sure to be peaceable..."
"Does anybody speak Dwarf? It might make for a smoother encounter."
It doesn't take long before you are noticed as you walk up to the caravan. While you are still a distance away you hear the unmistakeable click of a crossbow being primed before one of the forms calls out. "Who's out there? Did you think you could use the dark to sneak up on dwarves?"
Aizu holds up his hands.
"No sneaking intended good dwarves! We are investigators, and we just want to ask you gentlemen some questions."
The dwarf pauses and looks Aizubike and the rest of you over for a minute before relaxing a bit. The crossbow is still armed and ready but at least it's not pointed at anyone anymore. "What are you investigating that brings you out here, and after U.S.?"
"There have been strange happenings in the town you left recently since a group of adventurers came through with some platinum coins. They have some Dwarven runes engraved on them: The Clefthammer sign on one side, and 'Blood-Coin' on the other. We were wondering if you knew where they might have come from, and if they are cursed somehow?"
Anator stomps his feet against the cold. He is visibly agitated. Cupping his hands to throw his voice he shouts:
"Also, it is gods-damned cold out here. Might we continue this discussion somewhere warm, perhaps near a fire, and with cups of tea or other hot beverages."
Camas nods in agreement and whispers to Ealianne.
"Tea would be nice but I fine elvish wine would bring the heat back a little faster."
"Oh, yes,yes come on over and warm yourselves by our fire."
He waves you all over and kicks/nudges another dwarf who startles awake.
"Nurrin, these people have some questions for us. Your sister's married to a Clefthammer right?"
"Huh? Yeah, I mean no. She married a Heavyshield. They're kin and clan but not born Clefthammer. Why?"
After explaining what you know about the coins you hand one over to let Nurin examine it.
"Aye, this is Clefthammer minted Dyweriklh, uh blood coin. These aren't something you wanna be showing off to dwarves, especially any clansmen of the Clefthammers. It's an old tradition that's dying out. The coins symbolized bad money, ur, I'll gotten coins. Say some human kidnaps your kin for ransom? A dwarves clan would mint coins like this to pay it. But anyone who tried to use these coins with allied clans and such would find themselves... Unwelcome. It didn't happen very often though. Too much hassle and it took time. Hey! What was that story? You know the one about the king's ransom."
"oh yeah, I know that one. Well most of it." he settles down and takes a long swing of a flask before starting. "A long time ago, probably a dozen or more human generations, there was this human bandit who saw himself as King. Now this bandit king terrorized and ruled the lands and the human clans for miles around but the humans were all poor. There were no varissian merchants to rob or wealthy jarls or thanes, only poor farmers, trappers and hunters. Now this bandit was smart, he had heard about the wealthy dwarves and knew the stories about the gold and silver but he also knew that the dwarves, in their mountain, had a mine of the purest platinum so he set his sights on them and rallying his own bandits and other groups nearby set traps for the dwarves caravans. But they never came. No wagons, no carts, not even a pack mule. So this bandit King is getting desperate because he knows his own men are gonna turn on him soon. Thats what you humans always seem to do. Now all this time he's watched dwarves come and go so he gets the idea to take the next group that leaves and sell them back. So he gets his men ready and ambushes the next group. Now this group was well defended, a dozen longbearded shield guard and hammer bearers protected a young pair of dwarves, but they were out numbered four or five to one. Eventually the bandit won out and took the two young dwarves captive and sends one of his men to tell the dwarves his price. Now I dont remember the next part but either the two dwarves got sick and died or were killed by the bandit despite him getting the coin. So he traded the dwarves two dead girls for the coins and when the dwarves realized this they all prayed to Torag for vengeance and to punish the bandits. Now the story says that Torag couldn't ignore the combined pleas of an entire clan so he cursed the bandits to never know peace and to covet their blood money for all eternity."
"That's very helpful! Thank you. This gives us a much better idea of what might be going on. Torag cursed them all to walk the earth as undead, and they came after the adventurers who stole their gold, most likely."
"Do you happen to remember where this bandit king's fort was said to be?"
Ealianne turns to Camas, "A little elven wine is always welcome, but I doubt these dwarves carry any such libations. But a good stout ale will warm the belly just the same."
Listening to the dwarves tale of the Bandit King, Ealianne grins to herself. cursed gold and undead... nasty combination... likely we'll need to return the gold to the dwarves... well, maybe not all of it.
Interesting. My family was part of a long dead clan, so I never knew such stories. Appears the bastard humans got what they deserved. She pauses for a moment before adding Uh, no offense to the humans in present company. How long ago was this ill-fated ransom supposed to have happened? she asks the other dwarves while she huddles close to the fire, furs nearly smoking with the proximity.
the dwarf pauses and thinks real hard. "I can't rightly remember but I think it was on a major river. But the story is generations old, more than five hundred years I'd wager."
"An old fort on the river? You don't think the stories about the old Cragger point do you?"
"Cragger point? Isn't that that rock the locals won't go near. They say it's haunted or or cursed or something"
It appears that may be our next lead, Kestra mumbles to her comrades before turning back to the dwarves, How far off is this "Cragger Point?" It sounds like the place may be our next best lead.
Raznarr nods at Kestra's deduction.
"With those shoes Cragger's point is about a four or five hour hike south of Vlogten, that town, but it south of the river. It's frozen at this point but the river runs fast so the ice can be very thin in places. Can't miss it."
Do you stay the night or risk the trek back in darkness, lit by the occasion ray of moonlight or star light that breaks through an overcast sky?
"Would you mind if we stayed the night her with you? I don't fancy a trek up to a potentially undead infested place in this cold in the dark."
Anator looks to his own snowshoes, and remembers his clumsy efforts.
How I miss Mwangi
"Yes. The snow is...less forgiving to some of us."
A good night's rest sounds great to me, especially near a fire in some very thick blankets, Kestra says, feeling the burn of the flame on her face, making it feel stretched over her skull. Slightly uncomfortable, but she knows turning away will only return her face to the frozen cold.
"It has been a long time since I have sat around a fire and told tales of glory and conquest. What say you friend dwarf? Can we share your fire for the night?"
Raznarr, not opposed to either course of action, awaits the dwarves' answer.
After a cold night under the stars you rise to the sounds of the dwarves gathering up around you and preparing to move on. You go over what they know again before heading out.
The first few hours of travel pass uneventfully but somewhere around nine find yourselves confronted by a gristly scene. The snow is a dark red and you can see amongst the mess shattered bones and the tracks of wolves. The snow is still wet and the tracks fresh. Whoever this was, they were attacked and died last night.
Another couple of hours finds you in sight of a rocky formation that matches the descriptions given by the dwarves.
In the distance a jagged spur of rock stands out in comparison to the low and rounded rocks nearby. One side of the rocky outcrop seems pitted and rough overhanging a section of river broken by sharp rocks and icy water crashing against it.