New characters:
- Zaspear – the mage guarding the teleportation circle in Mirrabar (disguised as a stable keep)
- Sizzneak – the innkeeper at the Forge of the Storm Hammer
- Floralisa and Nermosa – townsfolk looking for the “Weevil”
Current Quests:
- Find the Weevil – Xantharl’s Keep
- Decode runes on adamantine – Mirrabar library
- Finding Harshnagg – Bryn Shander
They head south along the road. After leaving the forest, the light gives way to an overcast day. It is now Actar and the rotting has begun. It is not time be heading to the Frozen North. Thoradin knows that only the most intrepid travellers would head up at this time of year. To get around from town to town will soon be almost impossible. None of them are from there. This journey gives them all a little pause. It will soon be the feast of the moon, the drawing down will begin.
Winds are cold, blowing down. There are vast stone cliffs on one side – it all seems a little more foreboding. They travel with their mounts. Leshanna is cold and not sure this was the best idea. Londer pats her shoulder and offers to buy her a jacket. There are many travellers on the road.
Londer calls out to one, “You there! What brings you out in these perilous cold!” They exchange pleasantries. Londer tries to explain that they are heroes of many places. The man explains that he is fleeing from Balyard where tall, grey giants had attacked. Once almost all the buildings were gone, they left as quickly as they started. Everlund has been through a lot of damage too. Londer gives him 50g to help him along the way. They learn that giants have been attacking everywhere.
Miss Moss asks a Lords Alliance guard where he is heading – on patrol. He tells them that Everlund has been smashed with boulders by the giants, they are rebuilding.
It is a long journey. When they arrive back in Everlund they are greeted with the aftermath of the devastation. Buildings are lying in rubble. Rebuilding has begun. Some of the faces are grim and resolute, but there is also the sound of song from the workforce. The town is changed.
High above the town, soaring into the clouds, Moonglean tower seems unscathed. They wander through the streets, nodding greetings to the people in the street. They head to Danivar’s place. The place is still filled with diverse characters – they are welcomed back by Dral, the half-orc inn-keeper. He pours some shots, they all drink. They settle in, eat, drink and stay the night. They learn of an enormous battle against the giants with mages, guards from the tower.
In the morning they ask for passage from Dral and are transported to the familiar room in the giant tree. When they look up they see the black tressym above. It is serene. A few people glance over and then Kowan arrives. She suspects that the giants on clouds were actually stone giants. She reminds them, if they need help from the Harpers, they are pretty much everywhere.
They travel through the tower and make their way to the teleportation area. She bids them the best with their travels. The mage ushers them inside, the doors open by themselves. Inside the dome room, there is a sigil on the floor. Their horses will be cared for, there are other horses at their destination that are better suited for a warm climate.
The sigil begins glowing a magenta light that turns into a fire. Miss Moss steps into the shape, there is a blink – a flash of light and she disappears. Inside she sees a prismatic field of colour flying around. There is a kaleidoscope of sounds as well. Everything goes dark, she starts to panic slightly. There is the scent of grass and she emerges from a stack of hay. She gracefully spins around and notices a leather-clad dwarf next to her. He starts to sweep away the hay and asks Miss Moss to help. One by one, the others all arrive through the teleport and the dwarf introduces himself as Zaspar, he is a stable-keep. He is clearly masquerading, he is a mage. He explains that he’s keeping the circle here. He reminds them to keep it secret. He asks them to leave in 15 minute intervals and gives them the name of the Forge of the Storm Hammer inn where a room has been made up for them.
Mirrabar is the greatest mining centre of the north. It is perched at the side of the cliff with steep drops around the side. There is very little embellishment, but this is the richest city in the sword coast, controlling vast amounts of resources. The city is just the surface- underneath are dwarven mines, still operating and providing the area with minerals. There is a powerful army, spies and it’s a city state.
They arrive at the Forge of the Storm Hammer. Inside it is very warm, bear skin rugs on the floor, candles everywhere. The innkeeper’s name is Sizzeak – he tells them about the best shops to buy supplies, warm gear and mounts from. He lowers his voice and lets them know he’s a Harper by suggesting they speak with Zaspar for a mount.
They head to the wilderness store, a bearded woman dwarf greets them. She brings out coats, hats, scarves and attire.
Miss Moss wants to look like the Snow Queen out of a Disney film – with a big collar. She has gone for very nice – it’s very fancy and practical at the same time. Stylish leathers with a big fluffy wool collar. They all try on many bear skin and similar outfits. They buy enough warm gear for the journey.
They return to Zaspar and select mounts for the journey.
Londer and Miss Moss have matching horses, black and white. Magnificent (Maggie for short), Sylvester the horse is white. Leshanna’s black horse named Nero. Thoradin has a ram, MacGloyan.
They emerge, hardly feeling the frozen air. They get back to the inn to gather their things. They are met by a man with one arm and a woman – both have armour under their robes.The woman speaks “My name is Floralisa – I have a question.” The man is Nermosa. “We work for the Mirrabar Axe – we’re on the lookout for someone – it’s worth good money.” She pulls out a sketch of a dwarven face with a grin and a glint in the eye. They ask them to deliver the Weevil to them. Leshanna asks “What happened to your arm?” and they all sidle away awkwardly.
