Solste
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by Solste on Feb 16, 2022 0:56:49 GMT
Solste pays no mind to the peddler as she moves to her Axebeak. She whistles having the axebeak descend to the ground to allow her to load the meat rations. She withdraws a small knuckle of bone and tosses it to the ground in front of the axe beak allowing it to nibble the morsel. The brief moment of distraction allows her to hop on the bird and ready it for travel. She whistles once more directing the large bird to join her other party members.
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Post by Thorfin on Feb 16, 2022 9:52:58 GMT
Combining agility and strength, Thorfin jumps on the back of his axebeak, ready to start the journey.
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Eirian
Junior Member
Posts: 48
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Post by Eirian on Feb 18, 2022 15:45:55 GMT
Eirian nods toward Solste, "glad to have you do the talking, I sucks at bargaining." He pets the animal for a bit before swinging himself as gently as he can onto in. Ready for the next leg of their journey.
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Post by RotFm Dungeon Master on Mar 20, 2022 0:12:25 GMT
Everyone
The merchant pays you no more mind as everyone begins saddling their axebeak mounts, ready to begin the next step of the journey towards Targos. With a few whistles from each rider, the axebeaks begin galloping across the snow-ridden floor of Bryn Shander and towards the southwest gate that leads out of town and onto the well travelled path to Targos.
A light snow begins to fall from the sky as you all ride together in the cold weather. The regular bite of the everlasting winter is surely felt through all of you, your warm clothing offering as much resistance to the cold but still allowing some chill to lick across the skin. About half an hour through your journey to Targos, the darkness that continues to hang over Icewind Dale begins to lighten ever so slightly, signalling the four hour twilight that everyone is so used to rolling in and offering a dim light upon the road, although Solste's lit clothes offer as a beacon of light and allowing the road to be seen easily.
Another half hour of travel along the road finally brings you all to your chosen destination of another member of Ten-Towns: Targos. Liker Bryn Shander, Targos is surrounded by a wooden wall, which helps protect the town from orcs and other threats from the wilderness. The wall extends out into the lake, creating a safe harbour for the town's boats, but now Auril's long winter has frozen the water in the harbour and many of Targos's boats are trapped in the ice. Fishermen can be seen dragging their smaller vessels across the ice to get to the unfrozen part of the lake beyond the harbour walls.
Almost all of the towns in Icewind Dale make their living off of the lakes, but nowhere is that fact more evident than in Targos, with the towns large fishing fleet of boats in the frozen harbour that were used to haul knucklehead trout out of lake Maer Dualdon.
With a population of around a thousand within Targos, it is a little surprising that the town only holds a tavern, inn, and a general store.
You all come to a halt on your axebeaks just outside the open gate at the south of the wall. Remaining mounted upon his axebeak, Ragnov calls out to everyone. "So what is the plan for here? Shall we begin searching for the little elementals that Dannika has sent us to look for?" He shouts over the small wind that is whipping agaisnt the wooden wall of Targos.
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Solste
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by Solste on Mar 20, 2022 20:14:42 GMT
Solste head tilts as she scrutinizes the wood walls of Targos.
"We should talk to the gate guards, all strange goings on should pass through there ears. If not the local authority may have information."
Solste continues to ride, her hand firmly presses up against its neck as a reassurance.
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Post by Thorfin on Mar 20, 2022 20:44:43 GMT
Thorfin eyes stays still on the fishermen: "Those are lots of knuckleheads, blind Goddess of Fortune bless my search". He relays on his axebeak to follow the others, too distracted to answer to Ragnov or Solste.
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Eirian
Junior Member
Posts: 48
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Post by Eirian on Mar 22, 2022 2:02:22 GMT
Eirian begins to head toward the gate guards at Solste's suggestion, "Good days fellas, how is it going? My companions and I are looking for some elemental entities called Chwingas, I was wondering if you may have any information on the subject."
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Post by RotFm Dungeon Master on Mar 27, 2022 18:06:21 GMT
Everyone With Eirian taking the lead for the group, you all move towards the single gate that leads into the wooden palisade that circles the town and hails two guards, identified by the insignia of Targos on their shields that depicts a single-sailed black ship on a light blue field, dressed in heavy sets of winter clothing that are standing guard to the entrance of the town. One of the guards grunts in response as he eyes everyone up from under his hood, while the other one pulls down his winter scarf under his hood to speak clearly. "Chingas? Not really sure what they are, but if you lot are mercenaries, sorry to presume, then you might have better luck up in Termalaine. Heard word of their mine being infested with monsters, so maybe you'll find your Chingas there? However, if you's needing to conduct any business of sorts then you're welcome to Targos, as long as you're not causing any trouble." The guard nods his head gently before pulling up his scarf over his mouth to fend off the frostbite from his lips. "Be aware that our monthly sacrifice to Auril is coming up, and the lottery can be stopped to throw criminals into the cold should it be needed." The other guard, slightly muffled, calls out from under his winter clothes.
All of you are aware that every person within Ten-Towns are desperate and wish to appease the Auril so that summer can return to Icewind Dale. To do this appeasing every town makes sacrifices to the Frostmaiden on nights of the new moon. Some towns sacrifice the warmth for an entire night, ensuring no fires are lit between dusk and dawn, forcing locals to share body heat for warmth through the night. Other towns choose to give up food instead, stringing up a day's worth of Knucklehead trout on wooden racks a mile or so outside town to be claimed by the wilderness that embodies Auril's wrath. On the extreme end of the spectrum, there are three towns, Bryn-Shander, Easthaven, and Targos, that hold lotteries the afternoon before the new moon. The unlucky soul whose name is drawn is stripped bare and either tied to a post or sent into the tundra to die. This is a new practice for all of the towns that started a little over a year ago when it became clear that Auril was angry and that summer would not be returning anytime soon. The town speakers have unanimously agreed to honour these practices, which they consider necessary evils, but many speculate they would end in a heartbeat should Auril's endless winter be stopped.
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Solste
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by Solste on Mar 28, 2022 17:30:10 GMT
Solste's breath gets hot as she perceives a potential threat. She looks over to her associate's an obvious frown upon her face. "I do not wish to be part of this lottery, maybe Termalaine should be our destination."
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Post by Thorfin on Apr 10, 2022 6:48:50 GMT
"When is the exact date of this lottery. It would be a good idea to rest and make worth of the time here before departing" Thorfin doesn't clearly like the cold climate and even if he doesn't openly complain about it, when given the choices he leans for the warmer option.
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Eirian
Junior Member
Posts: 48
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Post by Eirian on Apr 13, 2022 14:16:53 GMT
"Thank you for your suggestions kind folks," Eirian says to the townguards then turns back toward the group, "I agree with Solste here. Termalaine sounds like the better place to be." With a bit of pondering, Eirian turns toward the guardmen again, "What about you lads? I don't reckon you want you or your families having their life taken be the luck of the draw?"
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Post by RotFm Dungeon Master on May 2, 2022 21:44:59 GMT
Everyone "The new moon should be arriving in three nights from today." One of thr guards responds towards Thorfin's aloud question of when the lottery will be. Upon having Eirian ask about the luck of the draw that looms over the guards who reside within Targos, one of the guards pulls down his scarf and spits onto the snowy floor. "Already lost my wife four moons back. You ask me, I'd be happy to join her and get off this shit duty of standing guard and listening to prattling visitors." He raises his scarf back up over his mouth before rubbing his hands to bring some heat of friction to them. The other guard stands silently, glaring towards Eirian, waiting for any further questions.
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Post by Thorfin on May 5, 2022 10:44:33 GMT
"Shit man, that's rough. I hope you soon will comfort, but not in death" Thorfin genuinely empathizes with the guard and goes silent to no further disturb, ready to depart if they decideto head for Termalaine.
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Solste
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by Solste on May 24, 2022 16:03:45 GMT
At the sound of the impending lottery, Solste pulls her axebeak away from the gate waiting for the others to begin the trek to their next destination
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