I said my goodbyes to Edvar and Hilda this morning. There was not much to say that had not already been said. I boarded the carriage heading for Caer-Dineval.
The driver introduced himself as Sephek Kaltro. The ride to Caer-Dineval was rather uneventful, my fellow travellers did not have much to say.
. . .Caer-Dineval was the first proper town I have seen since arriving in this world. I split from the group to procure winter gear. My robes are sufficient but crampons and snowshoes are a practical necessity I should have addressed weeks ago.
I found a general store called the “Player’s Handbook”. A strange name for a store, but perhaps that is how they name things here. The shopkeeper was visibly pleased when I spent gold. I thank the heavens that the currency I had from Arborea was converted. Even though it was just what I had on hand during the incident .
I made my way to The Uphill Climb, the only tavern operating in town. The fellow travellers from the carriage were already there. They are a rowdy lot. The noise was not unwelcome.
I spoke with one of them. He introduced himself as Corren Frostscript, and said he was a firbolg. I did not know what a firbolg was. And yet something about him made me wonder if they are related to giants. He told me they are an adventuring party moving through Icewind Dale. I told him I was a cleric looking to travel. We did not say much more than that.
My travelling companions, noted for the record:
- Corren Frostscript, a firbolg wizard.
- A giant turtle. I understand they are also a wizard.
- An Orc ranger.
- An Aasimar paladin. I felt a sort of divine spark within them, like I do myself. Am I considered an Aasimar in this world?
- A red, lizard-looking fighter. There is some resemblance to the Aman I knew from Arborea.
I will have to research more on numbers 2 and 5.
We travelled to Caer-Konig after. The inn there is called the Northern Light, kept by two sisters. The younger, Allie, greeted us warmly. The older, Cori, was less kind. Apparently things had been going missing around town, and she wanted us to help look into it. We accepted and began our investigation.
Near the inn I noticed footprints in the snow. The party began following them toward what the locals call Kelvin’s Cairn. As we followed, a heavier trail branched off toward the same location.
The ranger went ahead to scout. It turned out to be an outpost of sorts, with a fortress further up. The party spent a considerable amount of time discussing what to do before deciding that stealth was the answer.
As a 400 pound stone person, I felt staying behind was the more tactically correct option.
The creatures in the outpost were grey and small. I did not recognise them.
The ranger summoned a swarm of insects as the turtle began to sing. Before the turtle and I could reach the party, the paladin pushed open the door, revealing what had made the heavier trail. An ogre, zombified.
The party handled it decently enough though.
The party entered the outpost, clearing it room by room. The commander had been hiding with a trap set, though the insect swarm found and devoured him regardless. There was a letter among his effects. The word chardalyn appeared in it. I do not know what chardalyn is. More to research.
We returned to town and handed back what had been taken. The Shorard sisters seemed relieved.
We took our rest at the Northern Light.
What a long day it has been.