Wine Cellars: The Never Ending Winter part 2

 The Never Ending Winter part 2: Secret of the Frost Hold

Our party for the second leg of the adventure are:

Selina K.: Tobuscus "Ole' Tobi" Barrackbomb

Joe P.: Leonard the Wise & Hagar the Barbarian

Steven: Leonards' Retainers - Kolloc & Brywood, a Man-at-arms and a Cook

Steve F.: Rook - Thief

Joshua V.: Sliish - Magic-User/archaeologist & Mable the mule

Sal C.: Jack Quick the Slacker

Kelsey: Madame Estelle the Herbalist

The group are gathered at the Dog-n-Bone tavern, while eating a hearty meal they prepare themselves for the journey to the Frost-Hold! This place is supposed to be the lair of at least one Frost giant who is league with the Fae Lord responsible for the Never Ending Winter.

Rook leans in wiping beer foam from his lip. "So Ole' Tobi, Sliish and I will be leading this expedition. Icirus is preparing a fast travel spell for us from the information we gained from the Druids." 

Sliish then continues as Rook takes a spoonful of stew, "Schkrog shuffered a broken leg at the hands of the Hill giants and can't join us. We need shome more fighting shtrength and shpell ability as well." 

Leonard and Hagar look at each other then back to Rook and the others. "I will add my magical skill to this endeavor, and Hagar his blades and skill in battle. Also my retainers Kolloc and Brywood will come as well." The bearded mage sips a mug of ale and continues, "But know this, Frost giants are larger and more terrifying than those hill types you messed with."

"Indeed, our people have had direct dealings with their kind over the years." said Kolloc, a northman by his look and dress. "They do not take kindly to visitors or thieves to their homes. We might want to think about approaching them openly."

Just then a young man, who had gone previously unnoticed spoke up. "Though I've not had prior encounters with giant's, I am skilled in array of diplomatic etiquette and dabble in the arena of blades. I will throw my lot in with you and offer the abilities of my companion as well." He motioned to a cloaked woman beside him.

"Who the heck are you two?" asked Ole' Tobi looking up from his now empty beer mug. Motioning for a re-fill the old dwarf winked at the pair of new-comers and made room for them to sit at the table. "Tell us more about yer'selves."

The young man smiled broadly and places his hands on his hips, "Why I'm Jack, Jack Quick! I've adventured with the one you know as Icirus and he can vouch for my ability. We defeated the dreaded Axe-Man, a minion of the Duke himself!"

This was impressive as Icirus had indeed relayed the tale of this adventure, and now they had a face to put with the name of the wily Jack Quick.

The young man continued, "As for my companion, I'll allow her to speak for herself."

The woman removed a thick woolen hat to reveal dark hair plaited in a pair of long braids. She had a broom with her that seemed to move of its own accord. "Good evening to all gentle beings." Her speech was soft in tone and had the accent of the southern kingdoms. "You may call me Madame Estelle, an herbalist and purveyor of charms, elixirs, & enchantments." She sat and picked a few choice grapes from a bowl on the table. "I am newly arrived here in the Duchy, but feel that it would be rude to not offer my skills in your quest to stop this dreadful winter from imperiling us all."

Tobi finished his newly filled mug off in one swallow, smacked it on the table and said, "I like your gumption there Madame." The old dwarf winked at the young woman. "If Jack's a friend of the Owl, then he's good by me. What do the rest of ya's say?"

A round of quick discussion decided that the party was now formed and this group would take on the task of finding out the secrets of the Frost Hold.

Equipment and cold weather gear was handed out amongst the group. They then took up position within a magical circle prepared by Icirus. The Owl-man then spoke to the assembled team.

"This is very new magic to me, and also my first attempt. I will create a doorway that should open quite near if not next to the Frost Hold. Know that you have limited time to accomplish your task! I would say twelve hours at the most before my energies dwindle and the portal closes! Are you ready?"

With an affirmative nod, Icirus begins the spell to open a doorway to the snow covered peaks of the Blackcrag mountains.

The portal

The party stepped through the magical portal and onto the snow covered mountainside. The chill wind biting through their garments. Ole' Tobi and Sliish along with Mable took the lead and guided the group along a path worked into the cliff side. After about fifteen minutes they topped a rise and in the distance could see what could only be the destination they sought. The lair of the giants called Frost Hold!

Frost Hold

They pushed on and made good time heading towards their target. Soon the group came into a secluded grotto and discovered the remains of a campsite, and the remnants of a battle. A shredded tent, smashed gear and a broken flail that could only be used by one of gigantic proportions. A fine silver dagger is discovered by Jack, and a pouch full of red berries is picked up by the retainer Brywood.  Not wanting to linger long the group heads off towards the lair of the Frost giants. 

Arriving finally at the Hold the party is overcome by the sheer enormity of the structure! The bridge spanning the chasm from the cliff to the tower base is itself estimated to be twenty strides wide and at least eighty feet in length. The Hold easily topping ninety to a hundred feet!! After a short discussion, the group send Rook first using his snow-cat cloak to hide his approach from any watchers. Then just behind the Thief, Sliish, Mable and Jack approach with a plan to gain entry by claiming to be here for the census.

an Ogre!

Rook scampers across the length of the bridge and upon reaching the base of the tower. He decides to climb the exterior and make an attempt to gain entry through a large arrow slit / window. Nimble as a mountain goat the thief is able to climb up and pull himself through the two foot wide, five foot high window. The sound of gruff laughter and a grunting speech assails Rooks ears. Peering in the man can make out three large creatures sat about a crude table. They are drinking and playing what might be a game. The monsters are smaller than the Hill giants he has encountered before, but aren't large enough to be Frost Giants for sure! He also spies a set of stairs that descend to the first level and also go up higher into the tower. Deciding to share this info, he climbs back down in time to stop Sliish and Jack before they knock on the door.

As the rest of the party gather outside the large entry door to the Hold, Rook describes what he saw through the window. 

Leonard is sure he knows what the creatures are. "Hmm, Ogres I'd wager from your description Rook. And we're not sure how many Frost Giants are inside. It would seem stealth may be our greatest assest here."

"I don't think all of us combined could take those three upstairs without surprise on our side." Says Hagar.

Just then one of the doors to the hold swings silently inwards! The party are stunned to see Sliish standing at the doorway his hands extended. Looking over his shoulder to the group he whispers. "I jusht thought I'd give it a push to shee if it wash locked!!"

Taking advantage of their good luck the party scoots inside as the door swings closed behind them. Standing in a large hall they see an open doorway that leads down, a set of large steps going up and the sounds of the ogres from there as well. However, to their dismay is the rythmic sound of breathing coming from the very large white wolf sleeping in this very chamber not twenty feet away from them!!!

The really big wolf!

The striking blue eyes flick open, and the beast raises its head taking in the party with a long look.

It is Madame Estelle who quickly steps to the forefront and calmly approaches the beast. She murmurs a rhyme so softly that only the keen senses of the wolf pick it up. The woman stops a mere few feet from the muzzle of the beast and bows.

"We apologize for disturbing your slumber, most grand wolf, and I beg of thee to know the whereabouts of your master."  

The large wolf replied to the Herbalist, "My Master is out with my kin, while his kin and the stinky ones lair above." His nostrils widened at the scent of the mule. "I don't think you belong here, and I'm hungry!"

"Now there's no need to get mean, besides I have something for you." Estelle motioned to Brywood, and the man revealed the bag of red berries. She winked at Icirus and the Owl cast a spell upon the treats and slipped a handful into her palm. "See sweet treats for the good boy."

The wolf stood up and his full height threw a wave of fear over the group. "No, meat is better!" His lips peeled back revealing dagger sized fangs! He lunged to snap up the woman, but her broom was quicker! With a flick she tossed the berries into the mouth of the wolf and rode her broom to safety. The wolf gulped down the berries, looked at the party and barked once before collapsing in a magical slumber!

The noise had roused the Ogres attention and soon one of them came down the stairs to admonish the canine. The party had moved into the descending stairwell and hid from view. Well, almost all of the party. Sliish and Mable had attempted to hunker down behind the sleeping wolf to escape being seen. The Ogre being quite the dim-wit didn't see the pair, but he did smell Mable who at that moment let out an enormous fart!! The scent made the Ogre gag and almost vomit into the half empty keg of dwarf-beer he carried. The Ogre bellowed and retreated back upstairs. With the room clear, Siish and Mable joined the others and they went down stairs to search below while they had the chance.

The lower chamber was searched and found to be dungeon. The body of a man was discovered and presumed to have been a member of the encampment the group had found outside. Suddenly the sound of doors swinging open, a rush of cold wind, and a bellowing call of "Ho Ho, what's this? Why does my wolf slumber so!"

After a bit of commotion upstairs, they hear a giant command the Ogre's to check the tower for intruders from bottom to top! With no time to spare the group scatters about the room, but there is really no good place to hide!! Rook scampers up a wall and sticks himself between the ceiling beams. As the sounds of heavy footsteps echo down the stairs it is Madame Estelle who weaves a rhyme.

"We've not much time and no place to hide, still your knees for time I'll bide. Hush your mouth make no sighs, I'll keep us safe from prying eyes! "

The group all held their collective breath, as they were all (except for Jack, who hid behind the corpse and Rook in the rafter.) visible spread out around the room. A white haired giant, and an ogre stopped at the bottom of the steps just inside the room. They looked around and seemed to peer directly at the party yet somehow didn't notice they were there! 

"See, I told ja. Nobody got past us, we was watchin' real expert like." said the ogre with an overbite.

The giant looked around the room a second time and then smacked the ogre who had spoken, "Hmmm, well I think something happened Horsetooth. And when I figure out what, you'll be the first one I beat!"

The pair ascended the steps back to the tower entry where an argument began between the Giant's and Ogre's about what had befell the wolf, whom could not be roused from its slumber. The group then heard the lead Giant command the ogre guards to clean the dungeon and there was much lamenting by the ogres!

With moments to spare, Ole' Tobi took the lead. "Sliish, I need ten feet o' strong rope!" The mage quickly grabbed this from the rack on Mable the Mule. "Hagar, gimmie two o' yur iron spikes." The Barbarian complied with the elderly dwarf. "Aaaannd that guys rib cage!" Tobi pointed to the corpse of the dead adventurer in the corner of the room. Rook ran over and pulled the asked for torso from the skeleton inadvertently revealing the hiding Jack!

 The Dwarf just finished the hastily constructed trap and dove under some old hay in the corner of the room as the trio of ogre's entered the chamber. The first stepped right over the rope trip wire without even noticing it and sauntered to the center of the chamber, the second ogre at the last second hopped into the room from the second to last step and spun to face the last ogre. Now this fellow was not as lucky as the first two, nor was he very agile! He  tripped over the rope and fell right into the second ogre that had turned to face him and the pair went down in a tangle of limbs and curses!

The first Ogre turned to yell at his companions when he spotted the trip-trap and then realized there were other's here with them! He was about to yell for help when Tobi sprang up and fired a red-berry right into his mouth from his slingshot! The Ogre gulped and fell right to sleep. The other two stopped fighting as they realized they were being ambushed, "Hey what the heck!" was all that was said before the party overwhelmed the pair with spell and berries!

From above a giant inquired as to the progress of cleaning the dungeon, and Leonard responded with a magic spell to answer in the voice of an Ogre! 

The party looted the slumbering fools, and to their surprise they found a halfling bound and beaten inside the belt pouch of the one called Horsetooth! 

Revealed as the lone survivor of the mountain encampment the halfling joined Estelle as a loyal henchman and asked to be called Cherry!

The party ascended back up the stairs to the entry room where they spied a single giant petting the large wolf they had put to sleep. There were now a pair of slightly smaller, but still large white wolves lounging in a bed across the room from the door. They waited until the giant left and went upstairs before the group cast magic on the two new canines.  The group debated how to handle the giants as they knew there were three and that would be a tough fight! 

A plan was hatched, a potion of Clairvoyance was used along with Ventriloquism and soon in the chaos the three giants were tricked into running down into the dungeon, where they were trapped by use of Hold Portal magic!!!

The party had discovered the secret hideaway containing not only a Magic compass, but a goodly portion of treasure too, and a great quantity of Dwarf Beer! (This was seen by Estelle, when she used her potion to look through the eyes of the giant Chief!) After interrogating their captives the group bid the angry giants a fond farewell and then stole their flying longboat that was kept on the roof of the tower!!

The Flying Longboat!

The victorious adventurers returned home just before sunset of the same day they had set out. Having learned that Lord Never-be-borrowed was at a location called the Cloud Castle. This place could only be located with the compass they had retrieved from the Frost Giants treasure hoard. With the Compass and the Flying longboat the final leg of the battle to stop the Never Ending Winter should be a breeze!!

Stay tuned for part 3!!

 

Wine Cellars: The Never Ending Winter part 1

 The Never Ending Winter part 1: Eye of the Forest Oracle

Our tale begins in the Dog-N-Bone tavern, where a collection of adventurers have gathered with the locals to discover why winter, which should have receded some two to three weeks prior has only worsened! Rumors of the Cold Prince have been rampant, and if the conditions remain as they are past the spring equinox things could become quite grim for the town and those who dwell here.

a frozen town in trouble

Our Party for the first leg of our tale consists of the following players:

Selina - Tobuscus "Ole' Tobi" Barrackbomb - Dwarf Fighter/Linguist

James W. - Skrog the Skald - Dwarf Fighter/Poet

Steve F. - Rook - Thief

Joshua V. - Sliish - Magic-User/archaeologist & Mable the mule

Joe P. - Icirus - Owl-man Magic-User 

Bryan W. - Brulan Cobyr - Elf Conjuror/Swordmaster

On the 8th day of Symswald the group heads south to the Druids-wood. They intend to locate any surviving remnants of the druidic order that was hunted and exterminated by the Duke's minions years ago. All anyone knows for sure, is that if there are any of them left they should be found at the Moon Tower. The trick however, is that without express permission from the druids the wood itself will resist attempts to traverse it. The group knows they have their work cut out for them.

It takes a full days travel on foot heading south following the Black Crag river to reach the Druids-wood. The weather was clear and cold but did not hinder them. A camp is made and they warmed the chill from their bones, the night was uneventful.

The group awakes to a freezing rain and breaks camp. The march is slow and everyone is miserable, the cold seems to bite right through their winter cloaks. After a few hours wandering aimlessly not sure which way they are headed they begin to wonder if the Druids even exist any more. 

Just as the party is about to break for lunch, they come to the edge of a clearing and see a cave mouth in the side of a hill. There is a terrible stench of body odor and rotting meat. Mable seems uncomfortable so Sliish stays at the edge of the tree line while the others scout out the cave and ridge.

The cave

Brulan and Ole' Tobi spy what they believe to be the top of a tower further uphill beyond the cave. While Rook, Skrog and Icirus note the well trod path from the cave that heads off to the left along the ridgeline. Icirus marks the stone with chalk and turns to the group. "I'm going to try something. Stay wary." mutters the Owl man as he weaves a spell and slowly rises from the ground into the air. Floating upwards until he can get a better view of what the elf and dwarf spotted. Sure enough, there is a slim stone tower a few miles further up the hillside. Icirus also spies a stone bridge spanning a fast flowing creek a few miles to the west of the tower. Once back on the ground the party elects to head for what they hope is Moon tower as quickly as possible. 

The sound of tinkling laughter is the only warning before the group is stung with small icicle darts! A swarm of frost pixies zoom down from the treetops and begin to harass the group. Their sodden and frosted garments already barely keeping the icy cold at bay is now useless against the piercing attacks of the tiny creatures! Skrog starts cursing and waving his axe around threateningly, as Rook, Brulan and Sliish try to use the trees as cover from the icy assault. Icirus prepares to cast a spell, when Ole' Tobi throws back his hood and in a high pitched tone he speaks to the pixies!!  

"Hey now you little varmits, why you stitchin' our hides with your icicles?"

Frost Pixies

Amazed and a bit dumbfounded that they are actually being spoken too, and in their own language no less, the swarm ceases attacking. "What's this, what's this!? It speaks to us in our tongue!" 

Ole Tobi brushes the frost from his short curly beard and motions to the pixies that he wishes to parley. "If''n you'd be so kind. My compatriots do not reckon your fancy tongue. Might I be so bold as to request we speak in the mortal slang so we all might converse together?"

The swarm tinkles in a peal of laughter, swirls around the party and drifts in closer to parley. "Because you're so polite, we shall do as you ask." the pixies respond in unison and in common. "Why are you trespassing in our woods?"

"We are lost and seek a safe path out of the woods, do you know one?" asks Icirus.

"Ashk them if they know about the Cold Prinsh." suggests Sliish as he shakes a layer of frozen rain off his cloak. 

"How close are we to the Moon Tower?" inquires Brulan.

"Moon tower, Cold Prince, lots of things lost travelers know." the pixies spike up in hoar frost.

"Hold your britches there, this don't need to go sour now." Ole Tobi says as he slowly reaches for his trusty slingshot.

At that moment cries of "Liars!", "Trespassers!" are screeched out by the pixies and a battle begins! Brulan uses an empty sack to great effect to catch a few pixies, as Skrog spits a cloud of dwarf whiskey and ignites with his flint to instantly vaporize a pair of the tiny terrors! A group of pixies curse Ole' Tobi and much to his surprise every hair from head to toe removes itself from his body! A second curse is placed on the Elf of "Liar, liar pants on fire!" and the slim warrior finds himself shoveling snow onto himself to douse the faerie flames!  After a few minutes of utter chaos a handful of pixies retreat into the woods and the party find a single survivor in Brulan's sack. They take this lone pixie hostage and imprison it within a lantern that Icirus keeps a watchful eye on.

 With only a few hours till sunset the party finally arrive at the Moon Tower. The place has been ransacked and looks as though a fight took place as well. The group figures it has been a few weeks

Moon Tower

since whatever took place happened. Ole' Tobi is lamenting the loss of his beard to the pixies as they search the tower for survivors. A root cellar full of supplies is discovered, and Slish is able to bring Mable in to the ground floor stables and get her out of the freezing rain. From the tower roof Skrog spies a large item stuck in the snow that seems to have been thrown into the woods close by.

The group go to retrieve the item in the trees, while Sliish stays behind with Mable in the tower. The Magic-user decides to weave a beard from straw in the hope it will lift the spirits of his dwarf companion. Meanwhile the rest of the group find the item in the trees. It is a coffin sized wooden armoire with intricate knot-work carvings on it. They pry it from the frozen ground and use a Floating disc spell to get it back to the tower.

The armoire is brought to the second floor of the tower where a fire is started so everyone can get warm. Sliish presents the woven beard to Tobuscus and the old dwarf thanks him whilst quickly donning it and claiming it worthy of a dwarf.

Inside the armoire the group discover the corpse of a frozen maiden. By her garb and jewelry they determine she was a druid. Rook touches her to see if she is truly dead or perchance in a magic slumber. As skin brushes skin the Thief is overcome with a vision!

"What was that!" exclaims Icirus.

"I saw her death." says Rook, "A huge ugly woman cast a blast of freezing death upon her, and said something about the giant's rising again."

Rook reached out a second time to grasp the dead girls hand. This time he communed with her spirit and learned that she was murdered by her supposed friend, a Hill giant woman called Vistra. He also discovered that there were 3 more druids, a young girl, a middle aged man and an old man. "I think the giant either killed them, or hopefully has taken them prisoner."

"That cave we found earlier would be my guess." chimed Brulan, "It stank of giant."

"Let us bed down for the night and search for survivors in the morning." suggested Skrog.

 As the party set to sleep, a discovery of a partial map was discovered. Of note was the fact that whoever had written the titles on it was certainly not a giant. The script reminded Brulan of elvish.

The map

"We should crossh that bridge and check the Nine Shtones. If shurvivors were hiding anywhere I bet it might be there." pointed out Sliish.

The group agreed they would start the search at the Nine Stones in the morning. The night passed uneventfully, only cries of far off wolves were heard in the forest. They never came close enough to cause undue concern.

Come dawn the group was frustrated to see that the freezing rain was still coming down. Donning their heavy cloaks the party headed west along the path towards the bridge. Much grumbling about the state of the weather was heard.

At the mid point of the bridge crossing the group spied a body half covered in snow below. It lie just at the edge of the fast flowing creek. It was decided that Rook should scout it out and he was sent over the side of the bridge with the use of a Levitation spell. He discovered a dead fur-trapper who had been stuck in a very large bear trap. After relieving the corpse of any useful gear, Rook freed the body from the trap and the party then spent the time to lay it to rest as best they could.

Eventually the path led them to a clearing where the group found the ring of stones just as the map showed. Intrigued with the aura of the area the party moved in to get a closer look, and perhaps find a clue or two.

The ring of Nine Stones

The pair of Magic-Users were very taken with the runes carved into the stones. Icirus took a charcoal rubbing of three of them whilst Sliish determined that the markings were indeed Druidish and most likely related to their in seasonal rituals etc. Skrog and Ole' Tobi stood guard and Brulan cast about the circle looking for signs of survivors. Rook felt a strange urge to enter the circle proper and started to do so when Icirus circled around a stone and was overcome with a fear so great that it made him run a few feet away from the stones.

The Owl-man pointed to the ring and said, "A strong and powerful presence resides inside the ring."

"Intriguing!" exclaimed Sliish, "There'sh tales of Druid connecshins with Shpirits of the Foreshts."

Skrog sensed the party was being watched from the treeline opposite from where they had arrived. The dwarf drew an arrow from his quiver and called out. "Haloo, in the woods! We are friends and seek the Druids."

In answer there was a loud crack of tree limbs snapping and then a large rock slammed into the earth right beside him!!!

An exchange of missile fire broke out causing Sliish and Mable to start a retreat towards the forest path, while Icirus took cover behind a stone. Brulan made a beeline for where he determined the rocks were being thrown from. In this confusion Rook found himself drawn into the circle of stones and was overcome with waves of anger that drove him to his knees.

At this point Skrog was smashed to the ground by a large stone and sorely hurt, Ole' Tobi fired back with sling stones to no avail. The old dwarf drug his cousin into cover while cursing giant's aloud! Icirus spread his wings and flew up into the air to get a better vantage on their attacker, as Sliish and Mable circled back towards the Nine stones when they saw a large shape heading to cut off their escape. Brulan was now amongst the trees and quickly caught the white-cloaked giant by surprise!!

Rook in the meantime was able to show the spirits of the circle that he and his friends meant no harm and he told them of his vision for the deceased woman. At this point Brulan was hard pressed to fight the giant single-handed and was knocked from his feet by a glancing blow from a large fist. 

The spirits of the stones let out a terrible howl and flew from the circle towards the trees where giant and elf battled! Icirus stayed aloft and watched from above as the spirit host charged the giant. Realizing he was outmatched the giant turned and ran into the woods with the angry spirits hot on his tail.

The party regrouped at the stones and awaited the return of Icirus who they watched fly off in the direction the giant fled. When the owl-man returned he had a large white furred coat he had snatched off the giant. This turned out to be a Snow-cat cloak and made the one who wore it practically invisible in the snow. Icirus relayed that he could lead the group after the giant and that by his trail had guessed he was headed back to the cave the group had seen the day before.

Arriving at the cave, the group decides to attempt to lure the giant out and take him down before he can recover from the beating the spirits gave him. Brulan scouts the cave to see if he can learn anything and triggers a rock-fall trap. Unharmed the elf returns to the group letting them know that at least two giants are in pursuit! The group realizes they are dealing with a family and not just a pair of giants. 

Hill Giants!

Moments later a pair of hill giants emerge, Brulan engages one and Rook drops from above to deliver a mortal wound on it. The second giant is taken out with a Sleep spell and left alive as it posed no threat in this slumbering state. The party moved with haste to get the jump on any other giants within the cavern but are soon caught in a trap! Brulan is ensnared within a magical net, and Skrog suffers a broken leg from a hill giant's club! Surrounded and running low on magic the group fears this may be the end, when Rook (in his viper form) attacks the Vistra the leader and his venom slays her outright!

Once back outside the cave the group is confronted with a problem. The Giant they encountered at the stone circle informs them they have a pair of hostages whom they will kill unless a deal can be worked out. At this time Sliish pulls a bluff and convinces the giants they have no bargining power, as the Party may be smaller and weaker physically, but magically they could kill them all in a single stroke!

The captives are turned over to the party and turn out to be the Older man and young girl from the Moon Tower. The remaining giants swear to stop all hostilities or suffer the wrath of extermination.

After spending the night at the Moon Tower with the Druids, the group is taken to the Eye of the Forest and a ritual is cast allowing them to ask three questions.

The Eye of the Forest

With the information they needed gathered, and a small reward from the Druids the party sets out for home. 

Arriving back at the village of Marqest on the 12th of Symswald.  A meeting is called to discuss the next step in tracking down the villain responsible for the Never Ending Winter!!  A Fey Lord called Lord Never-be-borrowed. Where can he found? Well only the inhabitants the Frost-Hold know. 

What happens next? Who will face the secrets of the Frost-Hold??

Find out in The Never Ending Winter part 2. 

 

 

Wine Cellars: meanwhile back at Heck ridge Mountain....

Heck Ridge

It is a brisk morning at Heck ridge, a bit too brisk most would say. Seems winter weather is grasping tightly to the Duchy with a vice-like grip.  A sleepy-eyed dwarf conducts a bed check of the elder dwarves and makes a startling discovery!!!!

an unslept in bunk

"Ma!" the cry echoes through the stone halls,  "Ma! is Tobi in the hall with y'all?" Drem Hammerhand practically tumbles down the steps into the breakfast hall looking about and counting the heads of those already present for the morning meal.

"Lemme see, there's Irdle, Warren, Chen Chan, Bonk, me.... !!! Ma! Ole' Tobi done gone and wandered off agin'!" 

Ma Double-Chin calls out from the kitchen, "Alright you know the drill, Dren you check the baths and the poop-chutes, you know Tobi falls asleep there sometimes. "

Dren makes a sour face and gripes, "Aw Ma, I always get the chutes, can't Warmen do it!"

"I said Chutes and baths Dren, now git!!" a wooden spoon smacking the dwarf in the back of the head. "Warmen you go check the entry hall and make sure the doors are still locked, the rest of ya's spread out and cover the rest of the hold, get more short-beards if ya needs to."  Ma placed her hands on her hips and looked over the collected dwarves still seated at the table midway through their breakfasts. "I said get's to lookin' or there won't be no beer with lunch!" 

With a collected sigh and much grumbling under their beards the dwarves stomped out of the hall to seek the missing elder clan member.

A few moments later Warmen was heard calling out.  "Ma! The front door's open. Looks like it's been that way all night."

"Aww dang!" came the collected cry of the dwarves as they stopped searching the hold.

Where did Ole' Tobi wander off to? How upset will Warmen get? If you want the answer to at least one of these questions then look forward to the Tale of the Never Ending Winter!!