Episode 15 - Old Acquaintances

With the giant moose dead and Ravasin defeated our heroes made a thorough investigation of their bodies. A snowflake tattoo on the back of Ravasin's neck indicated a strong link to the Frost Maiden Auril. Her possessions consisted of a healing kit, a herbalism kit and her staff. Aldrick cast identity to reveal that the staff was intact a magical artifact capable to casting powerful frost magic. The final object found on Ravasin's body was as journal written in Druidic that chronicled observations of the numerous beasts that Ravasin had awakened including a giant octopus (We don't particularly like the idea of dinosaurs in DnD so we're rewriting the earlier adventure to change from a pelisiosaur to a giant octopus). All of Ravasin's belongings were handed to Tor to make use of.

The giant moose was another proposition altogether. At around 1200lbs it was decided that the only way to transport it back to town would be to skin and butcher it first. With the carcass divided up amongst the party they headed back to town retracing their steps and following their own tracks. At the place where they had encountered the wolves Tor left some of the fresh moose meat for them. 

A little further on the party came across another Chwinga. This time it was Aldrick who threw snowballs and used his mage hand to do a little dance with the cheerful little elemental spirit. In return the Chwinga bestowed a gift on Aldrick. A charm of bounty and a small frozen berry. 

Arriving back at Lonelywood our adventurers made a quick stop by Speaker Huddle to share the news that the Moose had been taken care of and to pick up their room keys for the night. Enquiring about the cost of the empty Ramshackle Inn Speaker Huddle advised a sale price of 4000GP. Collecting the 250Gp reward our heroes made for the Lucky Liar to relax, recuperate and relay the tale of how the dreaded white moose met it's end with the locals. The head and antlers and hide would be given to the Tavern to proudly be displayed above the fire place. The Meat was given to the local butcher to distribute amongst the townsfolk. 

The following morning after breakfast our heroes retrieved their sleds and set off for Targos. The journey was uneventful and they arrived around lunch time. Making for the dock area and the tavern named Three Flags Sailing. The atmosphere at the tavern was rather subdued but for the Landlady known to the locals as "Ma". Picking up some local information from Ma whilst they ate their soup out heroes learned that Town Speaker Naerth Maxildanarr keeps residence at the Luskan Arms and that the commander of the towns militia is a Teifling named Skath both of whom are relative newcomers having been in the area for a couple of years but have become well liked by the local fishers. 

This news seemed to pique Shayde's interest a great deal and after finishing lunch the group set out to the town hall to try to meet with Speaker Naerth Maxildanarr and his Captain. Unfortunately Speaker Maxildanarr was unavailable being that he was away on business but they were able to meet with Captain Skath. During the exchange lead primarily by Aldrick and Grom regarding the Duergar threat to ten towns Shayde kept to the back with her face covered. 

Skath prevented Aldrick with a letter from Speaker Maxildanarr. Skath informed the party that their deeds and exploits were well known throughout the ten towns and that the contents of the letter detailed other threats that he would like to discuss with them. Due to return in a couple of days Aldrick advised that they would continue their investigations and continue on to Good Mead and Dougan's Hole before returning to Targos in a few days. 

As the party exchanged farewell with Captain Skath Shayde hung back waiting for the others to leave before revealing her face. "So Skath, tell me, what really brings you to Icewindale? You can't tell me that captaining the town militia of some frozen backwater town is your dream!" To which Skatch wad suddenly taken aback realising that the face looking back at him was in fact his former Love. "It's been what, three years since I saw you last? You told me you were going to Luskan but you'd be back. You didn't come back, but here you are!"

Skath's face broke into a wide grin seeing Shayde stood before him. "Wow, I didn't expect to see you here!" What, how, when?" Shayde explained her connection to the Wizard Aldrick but focused more on quizzing her former lover on his current employment and the type of business that he and Spealer Naerth Maxildanarr were engaged in. 

Not wanting to keep her comrades waiting Shayde leaned in and whispered, "I'll see you around Skath, and remember, you don't want to make me your enemy!" Before kissing him and withdrawing to join her friends outside. 

The party didn't stay long in Targos, but instead readied the sleds and headed for the town of Good Mead. The journey was gladly uneventful and they made good time. Upon reaching the outskirts of the town they came upon a pair of Winter Wolves named Koran and Kanan. Pulling up sharp a few hundred paces from the two large wolves and trusting in her abilities it was Tor who approached whilst the others hung back with the sleds. Koran and Kanan seemed happy to converse with "The Bear" telling a tale of a human prisoner being held by their vicious "Snow Giant" Master and that he also beat them. Koran would move gingerly appearing to limp as if hurt. Tor however noticed that the wolf would forget which was the injured leg and so Tor determined that although they seemed to be telling the truth about a prisoner they were still trying to deceive our heroes in some way. 

Refusing to follow them at their word our Adventurers told the wolves they would push on and ask around town of any missing persons and so the wolves relented to let them pass. Good Mead is a small town so it didn't take long to find the Mead Hall that served as the centre of town life. It was here that our heroes learned that the town speaker had recently been killed by a giant. With no current speaker it is as hard to get much information other than there were two people running for election to be the next speaker, Shandar Froth a bit of dick if first impressions are to go by or Olivessa Untapoor who seemed to be reluctant candidate. 

Seeing Olivessa Untapoor as the better of the two out heroes enlisted her help in finding out what they could about the death of the late speaker Kendrick Rielsbarrow who now lies in the shrine of the flaming sword awaiting his funeral. Agreeing to do what they could for the town the trail brought them back to the two winter wolves Koran and Kanan. 

To be continued...............