|
Kiddrik eyes the two guards nervously, but tries to keep it from showing, instead putting on a friendly front.
”You two look like you have to put up with us foreigners a lot.” He doesn’t hide his shivering as he continues, ”Forgive my ignorance, but I’d be happy to pick up a round for you two if you could point me to the best place in town to get a warm drink. Maybe some entertainment while I thaw?”
The guard considers you with a bored look for all of two seconds before waving you through the gate. "Go on then."
Beyond the gates, the grey stone buildings of Dalun stand huddled together, as if the stonework was attempting to withstand the cold. Snowy cobblestone streets lead to a tall white spire in the center of town, its sharp point piercing the blue sky; an icy sheen covers the surface, glistening in the muted sunlight.
Colorfully dressed merchants stand out against the blue, grey and white clothing worn by the citizens of Irrisen, who trot through the white cobblestone streets with immediacy. The occasional ice troll lumbers along, giving non-Jadwiga humans a disdainful snarl.
Haltani gives you the names of several prominent Jadwiga merchants with whom you can trade.
|
|
Kiddrik stamps his feet as he watches a particularly large ice troll saunter by. He pitches his voice low. ”So I’m assuming we basically need to gear up, gain as much information as we can about Naldak, Naldak’s Point, and the dangers of the area around it, and then get out of town.” He looks over at the team as he tries to catch his warm breath in his cupped, frozen hands, ”I don’t think we gain much by spending unnecessary time in Dalun.”
He cocks his head to the side, hoping for any insights into what they face, as he waits to see if anyone has any additional ideas.
Kiddrik begins making his way around the taverns, markets, and traders; looking to uncover any information that might help them succeed safely and quickly. All the while—and only if pressed—he tries to suggest that he's an outlander treasure hunter looking for a quick score.
Asking around Dalyn about Naldak's point does not provide any additional information about the place, though you get the strong impression that outsiders should probably get permission before poking around local ruins.
With Haltani's help you find a merchant named Alexei Kartov, and with a bit of teamwork, you get him to accept a fair trade for the goods. Alexei is also able to provide a gem that Hskoro finds particularly interesting - an Irrisen ice diamond.
After business Haltani advises you to speak with Baroness Nadya, the ruler of Dalun, to gain permission to travel farther north, but begs off joining you on that task.
"I have other business to attend to while in Dalun but tell the Baroness that 'Haltani sends her regards.'
"Gaining an audience with her should not be difficult. She has a garden and I'm told she is often found there." Haltani says.
***
You easily locate Baroness Nadya outside her palace, seated in a garden whose "foliage" is intricately sculpted out of ice. A group of guards stands by and although they eye you with suspicion, they grant you leave to speak with her after you lay down your weapons.
|
|
Kiddrik walks into the garden, giving the guards a grin that withers a bit under their suspicious stares. "Friendly folk," he mutters to the team. "Let's just see if we can get out of here with our skins intact."
Kiddrik is quick to comply in laying down his weapons, and approaches the Baronness with a slow caution, once again trying his best to look friendly, nonthreatening, and like the lost outlander.
"Greetings, Baroness Nadya. I hope we're not interrupting. We don't want to take up much of your time, but I understand you're the woman to talk to for .." he pauses, shrugs, and smiles, "... well, pretty much anything in Dalun. May we have a few moments of your time, please?"
The Baroness nods to your group and gestures to her guards to stand down.
"What is is that brings you to me?" She asks.
|
|
”We’ve heard we need the permission of local authority—your authority—to head inland, and we’d like to continue on an archaeological trail we’ve been following. Well, we were sent to follow, really. Some son of a noble supposedly made his way this direction generations ago. We’re supposed to see if there’s any truth to it. I don't believe we have far to go from Dalun, but then I really don't know the area. Explore and report, you know.”
He looks at her, his features ernest, ”Are there papers we need to sign or something? It’s the first time I’ve done this.”
The Baroness listens to your request, looking over the group curiously, tilting her head to examine those who remain silent. Eventually she nods. "Yes, the site you are after is not far from Dalun and I can grant you leave to go there. The land is a hostile place, so I hope you have come prepared for it."
Leaving the Baroness you reunite with Haltani near he gates and head back into the wilds.
***
Forests of evergreens open to a vast, relatively featureless snowy plain, making navigation difficult. Traveling to the dig site requires three hours of marching through the snow.
With Haltani's assistance your small group trudges through the cold terrain. Though all of you have taken precautions to ward off the cold, Kiddrick catches a chill that just won't go away.
The plains give way to rugged hills and the ground becomes hard and icy. Ahead, 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.
|
|
Kiddrik, looking much more healthy since he stopped trying to tough it out in the cold, looks across at the ice wall. He seems at a loss.
"I'm guessing torches would be ineffective? Do we need to go through? Or can we simply look for a way over or around? And if we must go through, do you think the fire brick things would work?"
|
|
Arngrim will help Kiddrik set up the bricks.
"Well, Lets set a few up, and see how well they work before we just stack them all together. It may be that we have to tunnel a little bit before we find a way though.. "
Arngrim sets a couple up side by side the width of a doorway and looks for the groups response.
Placing the bricks together causes them to begin to heat up. The ice starts to melt away. However, the rustle of snow in a nearby mound alerts you to a visitor. Rising from the frozen landscape is the white form of a winter wolf!
"Rigory?" Haltani gasps when she spies the creature.
"Your guide is not who she claims to be." The wolf stares back at Haltani. "She hides her face behind illusion, but cannot conceal her scent. Her true name is Uliyara, and she is the daughter of Baroness Nadya, the White Witch of Dalun. Her aunt, the Baroness Urgalaena, has sent me to retrieve her." Turning its blue eyes upon your group it bears its teeth threateningly. "Interfere I will call the pack down upon you."
Haltani's face goes pale at the sight of the wolf. Turning to your group, she admits her deception. "I apologize. Rigory tells the truth. I am Uliyara, daughter of the Baroness Nadya. I apologize for deceiving you, but I meant no harm. Most outsiders distrust the Jadwiga, and even though I do not possess the talent for witchcraft, I did not want to be judged by my heritage. All I want is to help my people by learning about outsiders and hopefully establishing trade with them. I don't know why my aunt would send Rigory after me, but I don't wish to go with him."
|
|
Kiddrik gives a nervous glance between the two, suddenly very aware of their precarious situation. "You put us in a tough spot, Halta— uh ... Uliyara," he manages to say, as much to buy time as anything else. Then he looks to the white wolf, "What will Baroness Urgalaena do with her? Has she done something wrong?"
He does his best to be confident and friendly, not knowing at all if a wolf would respond well to a smile. "We don't want to be in the middle of this. Uliyara is our guide, and as my friend here says, we have Baroness Nadya's blessing on our journey. Maybe your business with Uliyara could wait until we finish our agreed-upon business here? We don't plan to take long."
|
|
Oloch steps forward, talking to the wolf, but keeping his eyes moving through the area all around them.
It seems to me that a... beneficial arrangement could be made here, if everyone keeps an open mind. We certainly wish for no feud with you and yours, Great Wolf, but we are here with the knowledge and blessings of the local government. Perhaps, we could convince you to stay at our side, allow us to finish our mission while you keep your charge close, and then we return, with your majestic escort, to the court of Baroness Urgalaena where this can be resolved way over all of our heads. You serve your patron honorably, we are able to meet our goals, and the whole legal issue is settled between those whose interests are concerned."
"What the Baroness Urgalaena wants is none of your concern, outsider. There will be no other arrangements. She comes with me. Now."
Rigory hackles rise as he begins to draw in a deep breath.
INITIATIVE
|
|
Kiddrik hustles up to the front of the group, muttering along the way. "Yah, I see it. No. What do you mean? Oh, not full-grown? Gotcha, I'll tell'em." He slides to a stop in the snow, pointing his longspear at the winter wolf as he intones a few phrases of ancient power, which sends a wave of warmth which steels the minds and hearts of the group.
Then, his voice picks up, and he seems to now be talking to everyone. "He's a young winter wolf, so his icy breath weapon might not be as strong. Also, his kind are vulnerable to fire!"