Hendra is stunned by the man's cheerful disposition in spite of knowing her family and their history. "Can't say that I was expecting that..."
Giving the man a polite quarter bow, she almost smiles (though it wouldn't show through the scarf even if she did let one slip onto her lips).
"Thank you. Will live up to our reputation."
Proceeding past the man, she takes the stairs two at a time on her way up. "No sense in forgetting footwork. Especially when I am on the job, as it were. Mother will be pleased that our reputation is spreading positively. Well, as pleased as she ever is with such things."
Finally getting to the top, she scans the landing to find the correct direction to go.
Lanyssa gives Grievous a long look, as if assessing what to think of her. "No, sorry, I meant a male half-orc. Or, at least, that's what I've heard. Sometimes people mess things up in their minds, I'm so used to be taken for other things as well." Trying to be a bit polite, she adds "But in any case, one should be very blind to take you for an orc, I give you that."
Then when she hears what Faethara says, some light shines in his mind. "Ohhh... so it's snowing here but nowhere else? That's why the people are so chatty commenting it... I guess I should go have a look later. Mmmh... could you tell me if you've seen anything else that sort of strange?"
When hearing about the trident's story, Lanyssa is completely intrigued about Grievous' origins.
Hearing the woman's voice, she walks into the open room.
"No. Hendra Krammier, House Krammier. Was told you were expecting me. Here to look into local witch problem. Need specifics and contract."
Setting the butt of her scythe down into the floor as she speaks, she closes the door behind her.
"Also need authority to operate and parameters of desired outcome. More specific, better," she says with a polite smile as she lowers her scarf and pulls back her hood.
"Boo."
Faethara squints at the barkeep. "I shall keep that in mind. I suppose it is wise to be skeptical of what you hear." While I suppose druidcraft isn't outside the realm of possibility, I get the feeling that this gentleman dismisses most everything he cannot hope to understand. She takes a long draft and rests an elbow on the bar.
As they enter the inn, he keeps his eyes open for any sign of snow.
Heldren - the Silver Stoat
As Grievous announces just what she is, the man at the bar steps back, "Whoa!" The barkeep regards Grievous darkly but says nothing further. The barmaid stares at Grievous shocked.
The man at the bar shakes his head and shrugs, "Ah hell. I'm lettin' my own pre-conceived notions of yer folk get in my way! I'm Lance, let me buy you a drink. Hell if we get on well enough I could put you up for the night".
Before anyone can talk further, four new figures enter the bar. One grabs Lanyssa's attention right away, a male half-orc. Two grab Faethera's attention right away as they are clearly northerners, from quite far north.
The newcomers see a human male and a hobgoblin female conversing at the bar. At a table near the side window are seated a half-orc and an elven female.
Behind the bar is another human male and walking about the room is a human female. Both are middle aged but seem spry.
The barkeep exclaims, "I have had some interesting clientele before but I don't think Absolom could boast such a diverse array of characters!"
=======
One is a half-orc with tribal tattoos visible on his arms. He carries himself like one who knows how to handle himself. On his shoulder sits a white owl.
The other local is a human, she clearly hails from the north with her pale skin contrasted with her long dark hair. She dresses in simple fair.
The human male is tall, and reasonably well built. He does possess the obvious traits of one of the Jadwiga, with pale skin, blonde hair so light it's nearly white, and icy blue eyes. His clothes manage to be eminently practical while also being of exceptional quality. He does look worse for the wear.
The female also Jadwiga has long pale blond hair with pale white skin. The cheeks still keep a bit of rosy warmth in them and her eyes are violet.
Clearly a young female elf her coloring matches her home environment, dark coloring like the deep forest.
This is a hobgoblin female. Quite attractive for hr race. She wears dark clothing and a wicked looking trident hangs at her waist.
Is a young female half-orc, she wears chainmail and leaning on the table next to her is a large blade, a falchion.
=======
She stands and offers her hand, a customary human greeting, "Well met Hendra. I must admit, I have my reservations about hiring you but the Council out-voted me on the matter".
Whether you take her hand or not she sits down and begins to speak, "About two weeks ago the weather began to turn cold. Unseasonably cold. A few local rangers and trappers began speaking of perhaps an early winter.
Until a few days ago, we believed the story rubbish though I will admit that a cold front is quite unusual for this time of year. Then one of my fellow Councilors saw with his own eyes snow covered ground to the south of here in the Border Wood. We have yet to alert the townsfolk of the issue as to not create unnecessary consternation. However, it seems the secret is not too secret anymore..." she sighs.
"That is my problem though. Your problem, and Orillus believes you can help us, is locating Winter Witch behind these magics and stopping her. At least we surmise it is a Winter Witch though no one has seen any Winter Witch. But, what other sort of being would it be right?
We do not believe her to be in the town but out in the Border Woods...? She pauses losing her train of thought, "Gracious, what a terrible host, can I offer you something to drink?!"
"Good morning," Freyr says, nodding to the bartender and trying to sound casual. "Can we get something warm to drink and a place to sit? We've walked a long way and it's a little cool this morning." He doesn't seem phased in the slightest by the somewhat odd collection of characters gathering in the bar.
"Well, this is preoccupantly odd. A sudden descent of the temperatures in a very restricted zone which causes a weird snowing in a place where it shouldn't, and five or six foraigners in a village like this, at the same time, all of them out of the ordinary and seemingly able to put on a fight."
Lanyssa can't help thinking that this must be some kind of sign, and that she's here for a reason. She must talk to all these folks, but she doesn't want to appear unpolite. She turns to Faethera.
"Oh, see, that one should be the half-orc I was talking about before. And a whole bunch of people as well." She turns her head to the barman for a second. "Is this place usually so frequented?"
Back to Faethera and Grievous, she adds: "Doesn't it seem strange, all these people here at the same time, and this weird snow?"
Hendra briefly grasps the Councilman's hand in a firm grip before releasing it. "Human customs. So easy would it be to stab her from that close... I suppose that is the point of the gesture, but in the Darklands it would get you killed more times than not from the stories I have been told. Hell, even from what I have seen during guard duty."
Taking a seat, she rests her scythe on the ground beside her. She frowns as the woman before her lays out the scenario.
"Brandy if you have. Black coffee or water if not." Hendra's face is steady and serious as she ponders the contract as lain out.
"Witch of Winter is possible. Not many this far from Irrisen, but not impossible. Also explainable by sorcerer. Water elemental, silver dragon, white dragon blood abilities, all affect temperature in cold manner." Hendra smiles, though it is mirthless. "Like that whelp on my last assignment. Not my fault her grandfather stole some dragon's trinket. Not my fault that her father was so vague."
"Assume it is magical and cause is winter witch. What specifically do you wish done to practitioner? What proof do you require of link to weather? What steps am permitted with regards to townsfolk to acquire information or if discovered to be involved?"
"Freyr! Is this a tavern? Or an inn?" Fryja asked as she looked around. "I've only ever been to the coco house in the capitol..." She reminds her brother as she begins to go about looking around. Though she does her best not to get into anyone's way, it is still and odd sight.
Snowtear, the little arctic white fox, sits before Lurruk and looks up to his shoulder at the owl, giving a small yip of hello to the creature.
"Oh, I think the spirit of discovery draws all types," Faethara says to Lanyssa. She's trying to not stare, fascinated, at Frjya and Freyr, to a middling degree of success.
Faethara leans forward toward the newcomers. "Greetings, I am Faethara Aelrun, student of the varied arts. Your bearing and appearance suggests that you, too, are travellers; tell me, have any of you seen this strange unseasonable snow that has caused so many rumors to spread?"
Grievous gives the bartender a look down, before once again turning to the man who offered her a drink.
I'm afraid I didn't quite catch that... are you offering me a free room? She smiles. Never in all the layers of hell did I imagine a man like you would warm up to me so fast! she laughs boisterously.
She glances at the others entering and snorts. The elements draw me north. Winter witches probably have the awnsers for why it's snowing, I never seen it other than in books, it hurts more than the books let on... If course I should know that, given my method of attack. As for those who come, I find this not a strange gathering, after all, to me all of you are supposted to be up here, I'm the only one out of place...
Tne owl flaps its wings and digs its claws into the half-orc's shoulder when the fox appears. Taking her in his arms, Lurruk pets Beauty somewhat jealously. "Shhh, I know baby. You can't eat the fox today. I told you I would bring you home to your favorite treats. Just a bit more patience, little one." He smiles knowingly at Freya. "They are just like little kids sometimes right?"
He lights up at the elf woman's question. "My little Beauty found snow this morning, but she won't tell me where! Have you seen it too?"
Meanwhile, he tries to find a way to begin a conversation with the half-orc lass. "Nice sword," he begins clumsily.
Fryja gave a small laugh as she walked over and picked up Snowtear. "Yes, she's such a glutton. Mother use to have cubes of rabbit sent to her every day. A whole box!" She said with a smile. "Oh this is Snowtear, and I am Fryja."
"Yes, we actually passed through it..." Fryja answered as she turned to Faethara. "It is over in the forest." She explained. Though now something would strike those look at the twins. The male seems dressed for winter while the female seems dressed for early autumn at best.
"I believe this is a tavern, Fryja," Freyr says. It's remarkably similar to any of the peasant taverns in the villages that he traveled through will on duty with the military. He supposes that there's only so many ways someone can set up a taproom.
He cocks his head slightly at the elf, eyeing her suspiciously. Southern elves are such a rarity back home and the brilliant green is a sharp contrast to the pale white and blue of the Snowcasters back home. She would stand out like a sore thumb, but she is rather striking. He shakes his head to bring himself back to the moment. "Ah, yes. I'm her older brother, Freyr. And yes, the weather is coming from the forest. Not a particularly nice place right now from what I saw."
Freyr and Fryjs, while I am not a local of these parts except for very recently, I find it more than passing strange that two members of the ruling class of Irrisen have made it all the way down here as well. I had no choice to leave my homeland due to my calling and the ill favor my people hold witches in, to no little extant because of the actions of your people I might add. What makes you leave your home and travel so many hundreds of miles?
Lanyssa answers to everyone. "I'm Lanyssa. Pleased to meet you all."
Then she turns to Lurruk. "Thank you... ehh... yes, I guess. It's... a present. Nice... owl...
"Oh, come on!"
"Seems a lot of folks have been driven here by the snow..."
"Okay, you were looking for him. Now what? Sit by the fire and tell stories of how people mistreat you both? Plus, you don't even know if he's been mistreated, he seems quite confident."
Lurruk replies, "Snowtear is lovely. I'm not used to seeing white animals. I'm Lurruk and I come from a land far to the south. Beauty found her way there somehow and has led me here."
To Lanyssa, he replies, "Thanks, she chose me, you know?" He smiles, trying to read her hesitation. "So how did you come to be here?"
Before she can answer her last question, Hendra holds up her hand to stop her.
"Think before answering. Once contract outlined, may be hard to alter later. More specific instructions, more precise results. Last mission was on, imprecise instructions. Results within bounds of instructions, not desired outcome of client. Non satisfied clients not desirable to House Krammier." She smiles grimly and takes a sip of the offered drink.
"Want you satisfied with results. Any bounds set out, will follow. Can not mind read though. Ideal results left in head, hard to anticipate in field."
Freyr's eyes narrow almost imperceptibly. Are they really being that obvious? He hadn't thought that people would be so nosy. "I believe the term is black sheep of the family, correct? Or maybe white sheep in a black flock," Freyr says dryly. "We decided that we'd had enough of home and wanted to see some nicer places in the world. We're used to dealing with snow, but we'd rather not deal with it for a while if we can help it."
Greivous snorts at the others. Well, seems snow is all your motivations, I came to find a Winter witch! I heard they know alot about the magics up here, and given how strong they are, the lay lines ought tl be just as strong.
Well, you have a long way yet to walk if you want to get to the home of the winter witches. I don't suggest the trip though, the winter witches of Irrisen are usually not very nice folks.
"Winter Witches?" she hears someone say, and one part of her mind instantly searches for information.
To Lanyssa, he replies, "Thanks, she chose me, you know?" He smiles, trying to read her hesitation. "So how did you come to be here?"
"I... my..."
How to call her? Mistress? That's not really how she felt her...
"My... mother... she died not long ago, and I've been wandering about... I came here by chance." Lanyssa hates looking pitiful, so she immediatly changes the subject. "How come she chose you?"
Faethara frowns. "I think you may be a bit too far south for Winter Witches, dear," she says to Grievous. She turns to the twins. "You've clearly had a long journey; sit down, have a drink."
Freyr very pointedly doesn't look at his sister as he takes a seat. "My thanks."
Grievous laughs. I know that! You think me a fool? I'm passing through town on my way north, although I may need a guide, after all trees all begin to look the same to me, unlike the tunnels of my homeland...
"Well... I guess that statement would depend upon the Winter Witch but... no I would not call them nice no." Frjya said when the mention of Winter Witch was brought up. She moved over to sit next to her brought, setting Snowtear in her lap. "Why do you wish to learn more on Winter Witches? Is it just the power over ice they have?" She asked.
Lurruk chuckles. "I ask myself that every day!" He lowers his voice and moves closer to Lanyssa to speak in confidence. "The truth is, we were always meant to find each other. She just found me first."
Overhearing the conversation about winter witches, he looks up and asks Frjya, "Do you think it's possible one of these winter witches is responsible for the snow in the forest? The rumors of their power can be heard all the way south to the furthest tip of Garund. I am most interested in seeing one."
Having almost completely forgotten the man hitting on her, Grievous smiles. Well, actually yes. They have great power over Ice and such, but they also posses powerful magic items, which I would like to get my hands on. Also, I'm curious about the Lay lines. After all, connections to the spirirt world often draw out the animals that become a witch's familiar... I personally don't have a Familiar because I skipped the middleman and dive right into the powerwell! You would be amazed how strong I can get when pulling directly from the sorce!
"It... might be..." Fryja said with a slight shrug at Lurruk's question. Even though she knew the true answer.
"I feel things may just get worse..."
"Oh? Which kind?" Fryja asked as she looked to Grievous. The young woman seemed unfazed at the fact she was speaking to a hobgoblin. "Wait, you have no familiar? Truly? That is rather interesting." She stated.
"It could be within their power," Freyr admits, tuning out the magic discussion a little bit. Talk of arcane power and the secrets of magic were far more his sister's realm than his own. "It would require truly unusual circumstances for one of the Winter Witches to be this far south and creating such weather over a large area would require a great deal of skill and power, but it's possible." He's not exactly sure how far south they are, but better to play along and see how the locals are handling everything.
She begins to speak when you raise your hand for her to stop, she stops. She sits back and ponders for a bit, "Well I must say, so far I am pleased with our interactions, though your manner is a bit curt your approach to this negotiation is quite clear.
I wish for you to discover the source of the disturbance. If it is not townsfolk, you may do whatever is necessary to stop this menace from spreading.
You may question townsfolk but do not injure them to gain information, if you need assistance with a particularly troublesome resident, come to me and I will give you the aid you need to get the answers we seek.
As far as proof of a link to the weather, I shall trust your judgment on that, it is after all part of why the Council has decided to hire you. Now I suppose we must agree on a fee..."
Heldren - the Silver Stoat
Lance pipes in, "Well its some kind of magic make no mistake about that! This far south this late in the summer it should not be this cold much less should there be snow on the ground!" He then leans back over to Grievous, "So, like I said, if'n you need some place to stay.."
The Barkeep shoots back, "If there is snow on the ground! How could it just snow in one small location anyway, why the amount of magic it would take would not be possessed by anyone local that's for sure!"
Hendra sniffs the offered drink before taking a sip. "Ugh... it is like drinking alchemist's fire... how the lesser races can find this appealing is beyond me. Still, I guess I should just be grateful that they don't drink that bitter swill our 'cousins' pass off as 'wine'... leave it to those too weak to weather Earthfall to find a way to ruin grapes...."
"Fee is standard: three parts. First two non negotiable, third some room for negotiation."
Hendra holds up a finger. "Part first. Safe passage for myself and fellow members of House Krammier through town and surrounding jurisdiction. Period granted equal to duration of mission plus five years. Start date of five years day after contract concluded per instructions."
A second finger joins the first. "Part second. Operating expenses to be covered in entire. To include lodging, food costs, specialized equipment required, healing required. May choose to pay advance if practical. Will keep itemized log, settle difference at conclusion."
Finally a third finger joins the two raised. "Part third. Bounty for job completion. Suggested rate for witch investigation two hundred gold pieces. Five hundred gold pieces recommended for each hostile practitioner slain. One thousand gold pieces for each brought back alive. Hostile non practitioners captured killed related to investigation free unless live bounty previously placed on head."
Hendra smiles mirthlessly. "As said, third part negotiable. Now. After mission start... 'locked-in' as is said." Hendra lowers her hand and takes a sip of the strange burning liquid.
"House Krammier understands not all lands equally rich. If recommended rates too expensive, trade goods acceptable. As said, happy client base important. Repeat business and referrals more valuable than mere upfront coin."
"Your move now, sunshine."
"Winter Witches? I think I have heard that before, but... never got to know much... If there are witches involved, I should investigate."
Just when she is completely stuck with Lurruk, not knowing what to say, he asks one of the others about the witches as well, saving the day.
"Winter Witches? What do you mean?"