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Skødir struggles to find anything on his own and rather than finding any drinking supplies, starts an argument with a lone Yeti seemingly carrying a caribou to market. The two can be heard arguing for blocks as Skødir insists he the Yeti should be able to help, and the Yeti contesting in broken common that, "You mother sleep ugly human."
The rest of the party wander the streets with Haltani leading the way. After roughly an ten minutes of asking around, Haltani speaking to a half-crazy old crone, and a towering Ice Troll, the group finds themselves in front of the Golden Furs, a local gambling den. Inside, Haltani points across the way to an elderly man playing a game of cards with a rather wealthy looking group of humans. She says quietly, "That is Alexi Kartov, he is likely your best bet at finding somebody to take the letter of credit. You will need to work out the deal with him though, and he is a shrewd negotiator."
***Pretends to be a tree***
***Realizes it IS a tree, and tries to be MORE tree-like... and still***
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Rose looks around and then moves close to the group. "We should keep our real mission and our affiliation quiet. I don't know how people will feel if they know we're here to get you know what from you know where for the you know who."
"We should be as honest as possible about the letter of credit. There's no reason we can't get the best deal possible for our employer." Rose murmurs.
"I'll assist you with negotiations Lenora."
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Untir nods in reply. "I agree. Our mission needs to be kept a secret. Who knows who else has interest in ... that thing that we have interest in. But Rose is right. There is no reason to still get as a deal as possible." He says the last part with a gleam in his eye.
He then approaches Kartov. "Good day, trader. I can see you are a busy man so I would cut straight to the chase. My merchant party wishes to acquire some trade goods from your fine city of Dalun, and with our trusty mule, make our way inland. Now, we have been pointed your way, as one of the most respected merchant in this town." He gestures towards the letter of credit in his hand.
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After finishing his hand, the older gentleman looks up from the table as the dealer starts tossing out the next round of cards. He frowns a little at the interruption but immediately perks up at the sound of money, "Trade certificate you say? I could be persuaded to do some trading with your employers." Looking at the other players he nods, "Gentlemen, please give me a moment."
He stands from the table and moves the party to a quieter corner where Untir, Rose, and Lenora begin negotiating a deal. Untir quickly discovers that the merchant's focus is on ice diamonds and he is the primary distributor of that trade good out of Dalun. He listens intently for awhile and eventually agrees to a semi-regular shipment of Irrisen ice diamonds and ice-diamond jewelry downriver, with the current certificate as a down payment. He even provides the party a sample with the commentary, "If you're asked about the adequacy of my goods, I assume somebody will want a sample, please take this as part of our first trade."
After their business is complete, he smiles, "A real pleasure doing business with you. I guess all coming from the south aren't the barbarians we keep hearing about. Filthy animals they all are. You asked about heading further north. For outsiders like you, that may be your deaths. For the sake of our deal I'd personally suggest you head back home first." He provides a slight smile and bow before returning to his card game.
Haltani walks up after the conversation is over, "You should go speak with Barness Nadya now. You'll likely find her in or near the palace in the center of town. I have other business to attend to in Dallun, but just let her know that Haltani sends her regards. You should be treated well." She turns to leave but stops a moment, "I heard a loud argument a few moments ago coming from the street and the locals were talking of an Ulfen causing trouble in the square, has anybody seen Skødir?"
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Lenora's pleased that their conversation and trade with the merchant has gone so well - finally, something goes smoothly! Of course, that's when they realize that Skødir has simply... vanished. And, naturally, they realize he's in a loud argument just a ways away.
Jogging to catch up with Rose, Lenora recalls that the yeti are considered citizens and, frankly, they probably shouldn't be drawing attention to themselves by tangling with one.
"Yes, let's go and look for her," Lenora says to the Ulfen man. To the yeti, she bows apologetically and says, "I apologize for our companion. It's been a long day for all of us."
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Untir smiles warmly back at Kartov as he receives the sample. "This is deeply appreciated, Master Kartov. You clearly are a most trustworthy and admirable trader with the foresight to allay our employers concern. This sample would do most finely." He drops the ice diamond into his pouch as he is saying this. "And thank you for your warning about the north. I fear though that our employers might have our heads should we disobey. Sigh, our fates are not always in our hands. Nonetheless, I thank you." Untir gives the merchant a gracious bow as he retreats away, although Kartov seems to be all engrossed in his game by now.
Untir follows behind the party, just as he hears the commotion. He briskly walks over to Skodir's side, laying a calming hand on his upper arm. He says through a strained smile, "Come, come, my dear comrade. Remember our ... directive." Then quickly turning to the yeti, he quickly gives a bow of apology as he attempts to drag Skodir away.
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The Yeti grumbles as Skødir is drug off by his colleagues, but he sticks in one last barb, "You run like child!"
The party begins heading to the larger "palace" in the middle of town. A palace in a very modest sense, it is the largest and most opulent building in all of Dalun, but it is still not much larger than a manor house in Absalom. While looking for the main entrance, the party wanders past a large garden whose "foliage" is intricately sculpted out of ice. A solitary woman, dressed in finery is sitting on a bench in the center, her garb identifying her as a Jadwiga, a Winter Witch. A group of guards stands near an open gate, eyeing all with what is clearly open suspicion.
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I've never seen one of the Winter Witches before. Are they like other witches and not very nice?
Rose moves through the garden with the group. She looks at the "foliage" in amazement. She bows polity to the woman when they get in front of her seat.
"Good day to you. You are Baroness Nadya? We've come to meet with her. This is Lenora, Untir, Skodir, Amhranai, and Crann." She introduces everyone in turn. "I am Rose."
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As Rose tries to pass through the gate into the garden, an enormous ice troll guard steps into her way, blocking progress. She almost runs into him and has to take a quick step back to avoid a collision. With halberd in hand, it glowers at the Halfling, "Foreigners would DARE enter the gardens of the Baroness Nadya uninvited? Lay down all weapons immediately, stand back, and provide your invitation immediately." He glares at Rose, waiting for her reaction.
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Untir once against turns out his brightest smile. He quickly withdraws his spear and lays it on the ground, before holding his empty hands up non-threateningly. "Oh no, we definitely have no intention to show any disrespect. It is with the greatest deference that we come to pay our respect to the Baroness. As my companion Lady Rose has said, Haltani guided us to this visit. I hope we have not caused any offence." While he addresses the troll, his voice is loud enough to carry to the woman, presumably the Baroness herself.
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As words are thrown about to the guards, they stoically stand without even the slightest interest in changing their demeanor. It is as if words bounce off some silent armor. It's not until Rose speaks Haltani that the woman in the center of the "garden" raises her head slightly. She raises her hand slightly and makes a very brief motion with her hand.
Both guards stand down and move out of the way, "It appears the Lady would speak with you," one grumbles.
Walking towards the center among the icy statues, she looks up, a beautiful woman of the north. She does not at all uncomfortable in the freezing temperatures, and although what she wears is modest and opulent, it should not provide her any warmth. "And why would Haltani send you to me?" she queries.
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Seeing as they've not got an understanding on to whom they're speaking, Lenora nervously answers, as polite as she knows to be, "Haltani asked us to pass along her regards," she says, giving a slight bow. "I am Lenora and these are my companions, as you might've heard Rose saying. We're in town for trade and we're, uh, hoping to travel further inland." She stumbles over her words just the slightest bit.
Blushing slightly, she apologizes, "Please pardon my speech - I'm not so used to speaking with anyone so refined or as beautiful as you."
She's not 100% sure she's on the right track, but as she remembered it, they'd been told to look further inland once they'd docked so they could look for the key, right? So this was the person they needed to ask permission from... Or so she thought, anyways.
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Rose walks up next to Lenora. Maybe this time I won't stumble so badly.
"Madam we are here on a trade mission, and as Lenora said want to go further inland to seek trade good. Are you the esteemed personage who we need to get permission from for this trip? Esteemed personage that sounds fancy. It should help./
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The woman stands to her full six-foot height and smiles coyly, "Trade you say? And where inland do you wish to trade?" She emphasizes the last word as if she is in on an untold joke. She looks at Lenora, "This one here simply wants to travel further inland after trading here." She follows up with Rose and Untir, "And you two want to trade inland, where this not anything for miles and miles except my sister's city of Saarbotten. Perhaps you wish to amend this story?"
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Untir looks back and forth from Rose to Lenora, his anxiety betrayed by the slight crease between his brows. He takes a deep sigh, then smiles coyly back at the Baroness. "Seems that we are dealing with a ruler with sharper wits that the usual run-of-the-mill ones. So perhaps let us be more upfront. Haltani is our guide, and we have some business inland from your city. Not far, just half a day's journey. We would like to seek your permission, for it is only right to accord the respect to a formidable ruler such as yourself. Oh, yes the trade. I'll admit that it is not our primary concern. But certainly, it would be beneficial for your citizens. And also for the party we represent as well."
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The Baroness sits quietly and listens to Untir's explanation, "Well we are making progress. Half a truth is better than no truth, but yet is still only half of what I would have expected outsiders to provide when making a request of me. Since it's not trade, I believe the point of this discussion is clear." The emphasis on the word makes it very clear that she knows exactly what you are looking for. She continues, "Yet Haltani has seen fit to trust you, and so for now, I shall too. You have my permission to enter Irrisen no further than five miles from Dalun. That should be just sufficient for you to find what you're looking for."
Without waiting for a response she turns and waves you off. The guards shift, and wait expectantly for you to leave.
After a thirty minutes the group makes their way back to your rendezvous with Haltani. She waits expectantly, "Did we obtain permission?"
She looks out of the north gate to the dead plains of Irrisen, "I hope you know what you're looking for. It's going to get colder than a White Dragon's teat out there. Barring any major problems finding the place, we should be able to get there and back again before it is too late. Is everybody ready?" She pulls in her thick furs and cold weather gear around her face and shoulders, waiting.
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"We did," Lenora says, still a bit shell-shocked. The relief she experienced once they were well away from noble was strangely powerful. "She said that we can enter Irrisen no further than five miles from Dalun - that it'd be sufficient for what we're looking for."
Of course, the Baroness also seemed to have a very, very good idea of what was going on, considering what she'd said, but the paladin was hardly going to hold it against her. Rather, it had been a stern but fair primer on how they ought to at least make sure they had the same story before they went sharing it.
"Are all nobles like her?" Lenora asks, curious. She'd been intimidated by the woman's evident lineage, to be sure, but it was also interesting. She was... Not a bad person. Or so the girl thought.
And... "We're supposed to be looking for signs of old royalty, I think?"
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Untir solemnly looks back at Dalun. "Perhaps you are right, Rose. I, too, get the sense that she already knows the truth. Perhaps sometimes, the truth is the best option." He shakes himself out of the reverie then turns around to stare at the plains. Heeding Haltani's advice, he withdraws a scroll and casts its protection against the elements on himself.
"I have one more scroll that grants this protection against the elements. I can use it if one of you have need."
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"Most certainly," he replies warmly. Withdrawing another scroll, he starts chanting the mystical words on it, laying a gentle hand on Lenora's shoulder. Magical warmth infuses into her as the scroll crumples into dust.
He turns and looks out across the snowy fields and mutters, "It almost reminds me of the near-bleached white sands of the deserts to the west of my tribe. But I imagine traversing it would be quite different."
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Warmth slips through her body like a heated blanket settling itself neatly against her skin. Her furs had been well enough, but this - this was rather a great deal better than simply surviving. "Thank you," she says to him, a pleased, satisfied smile easing its way onto her lips. She considers his comment and pauses to ponder it.
"The deserts, eh?" Lenora says. "You know, after all this cold, I think I'd like to visit them - they're sure to be warm, at least. Though... Tell me, is it true that the desert grows cold at night?"
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Lenora nods at his words, shuddering. "I'll have to keep that in mind." Grinning, she adds, "Mattias told me I'd see the world if I joined the Society, so here's me, hoping I'll get to see the world - though I didn't expect to be startin' somewhere so cold!"
She shores up her gear and asks the others, "Well, any last purchases before we give this a try?" She had three trail rations herself, but, well. She was hoping they'd be enough.
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Lenora's a bit surprised by the privilege, but accepts the wand, carefully stowing it in a place where she can't accidentally break it. "Thanks," she nods to Rose. Then, grinning, she says, "And I've got a flask of alchemist's fire if we absolutely can't get warm." She nods towards Rose and Untir, acknowledging their preparedness.
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Haltani starts the party on the trek through the frozen wasteland. Cold turns to colder and wind turns to windier. Amhranai seems to know a thing or two of the frozen deserts and with Haltani's assistance leads a fairly straight line in what she believes is the direction of Naldak's point.
After an hour of travel Crann's leaves begin to whither and die, leaving a trail of dead foliage behind him. The Donkey also begins to struggle, wheezing in the cold air. Amhranai, now cursing herself for only buying inexpensive furs begins to shiver more uncontrollably during the second hour; fortunately her struggle seems to invigorate the plant creature and the donkey who continue to charge through with only mild frostbite. After three hours of walking, while the tree and donkey both have seemed to stabilize their core temperatures, Amhranai's fingers are beginning to turn blue.
As the vast plains give way to rugged hills, the ground becomes hard and icy. An enormous rocky mound protrudes from the ground, covered in ice and snow. On the northeast side of the mound, thick walls of ice cascade down the side of the hill like a miniature glacier. Two shapeless stone monoliths stand near the base of the mound.
The mouth of the cave seems to lie beyond a collapsed archway. Several feet of ice have frozen over what appears to have once been a splendid foyer; looking closely reveals chiseled stonework beyond the frozen wall, and a tunnel leading into the rocky mound.
