Splitrock Inn. A two-story building with a sign of an axe splitting a rock over the door. It was one of the biggest structures in town. Inside, a couple of fireplaces kept the heat up. It looked filled to the brim and maids were running about serving the guests. It was noisy, energetic, and cheerful. Some skald was entertaining the patrons.

Smells from the kitchen filled the inn and the woman behind the bar was large and boisterous. She seemed to be about the same size as Anders or twice as tall as Kara and about five times her weight. But still, more alcohol than food was consumed at this time of night.

The four of them had found a rectangular table in the back. There were two benches that could seat three people on each side. With their backs against the wall, Sigrun sat next to a charismatic, honest, and reliable man in his early 50s. She was in her early 30s, Varin in his early 20s, and Anders and Kara were both still in their teens. The man held his arm around Sigrun and they seemed very close. His only armor was a fine red dragon scale bracer on his left arm and a fine white dragon scale bracer on his right arm that encircled the skald. A staff with silver end caps leaned against the wall next to him. He was dressed all in black and his piercing sapphire blue eyes peered out from under his wide-brimmed hat. He introduced himself as Steward.

On the opposite side, sat a silver-scaled dragonborn dressed in white, black, and gray camouflage that would make him disappear in the snow. He wore two long knives and a bow and a snow leopard was resting at his feet. The dragonborn was clearly much larger than any of the rest of them. Even Anders seemed dwarfed next to him. But that was fairly normal for dragonborn. What wasn't normal, was his wings and his tail! And if Steward's blue eyes had been something to see, Frost's radiant blue eyes went over and above. Almost making one forget the tail and the wings. Almost. And yes, the dragonborn with frosted white-blue edges on his silver scales introduced himself as Frost. Wasn't that a little too on the nose?

When Anders sat down next to the dragonborn, it was quickly evident that he was almost a foot taller than the local and maybe as much as 100 lbs heavier. Varin sat down on Sigrun's right and was the final person on the wall side bench. One entertainer next to the other. Kara was the last to arrive and she sat down on Anders' left and facing Varin. The smallest of all of them in stature, but also the only one of them that had killed a bear recently, or ever, and had spent most of the day butchering it.

[OOC: What do you do?]

Varin observed the rest of them with open curiosity. This was good. A group that could take care of themselves. It was starting to feel less like a mistake, nordalfar aside. Now they just had to keep things discrete.

He glanced around the group again. Well. They seemed competent, at least. There was that much. Discrete might be tougher. He waited until he was certain nobody outside the group was paying attention to speak.

“So…  here’s the short version, for those of you who weren’t present. Anders and I were approached by a gentleman with an intriguing job offer. Specifically it seemed he wanted non-locals. Let’s be glad he accidentally included our friend here, since I for one don’t know my way around at all. We’d like to bring you all in on the deal - it’s smaller shares of what ought be a considerable reward but it’s hard to enjoy being rich bastards when you’re dead, yes?”

Varin steepled his hands, pausing for only a moment before continuing.

“His other demand, as you might gather from the inspecific nature of what I’ve shared, is that we are to proceed without letting our mission become known to the public. Until the caper’s finished, of course. Dare I say, when it’s all done, it should be worth a song?”

Still more than a little damp, her hair soaked almost to the point of dripping from the bath she just took Kara takes the empty seat nearest one of the big fires but doesn't seem particularly worried about the chill in a room this warm.  Making herself comfortable she waits for the presentation from one of the few people at the table she has even seen before to conclude before joining the conversation.

”That seems like a lot of trouble to go to just to keep something secret.  Are we sure there isn't some kind of local taboo about going to or doing whatever it is your gentleman wants done?”

Varin eyed Anders curiously but felt confident the young man would have spoken up if he were aware of anything.

“Yes and no. The given reasons to keep it to ourselves are to avoid competition and because it touches on a matter of inheritance. That said, the secrecy - we don’t even have our actual patron’s name - is troublesome.”

He lifted his hands theatrically.

“On the other hand - assuming our contact isn’t lying to us - it should be well worth the effort. And, while I have every intention of behaving honorably should it prove we’re being treated the same, if our patron does prove intent on misusing us I have no objection to returning the favor with interest.”

Varin’s genial smile thinned to something harsh and maybe even a little dangerous.

“No rewards without risk, of course. In this case, the client’s secrecy is one more risk of the job. Can’t say I like it either but here we are.”

"Kara! I almost didn't recognize you without all the blood over you," cries Sigrun, waving the halfling to sit with them -- though she seemed to already know the two men.

"This is the lady I was telling you about, Steward," the skald turns to the older man and snuggles against him. There's obviously been some affection between them since she and the halfling parted company several hours ago.

"And what's the secret?" she asks as the others pick up a conversation they seem to be in the middle of.

The skald is mellow and had a few drinks already. Feeling pretty pleased with herself.

Anders had a look that had started to suggest that he was born frowning, as it had started as soon as he had seen Sigrun with more...'friends'. And it hadn't abated as Varin had taken the lead and jumped right in to things. Though, he had to admit, the two other outsiders looked...capable, though appearances could be deceiving. The dragonborn was certainly large.

His arms were crossed over his chest as Varin kept talking and answering questions before Anders had a chance. His eyes shifted to glance at the other man for a moment and then away. He finally spoke up, though.

"We've been asked to find and retrieve a necklace. It is not known where it, along with the rest of the treasure it's with, is buried, however - which makes it more challenging. And I believe the treasure requires several keys to unlock, which we don't have nor know where to find yet." He gave a small shrug.

He paused and then continued, "Assuming we are successful, we hand over the necklace, but keep the rest of the treasure, and after the need for secrecy is diminished or gone. Whether you decide to join or not, you must stay quiet about it until after it is done."

Kara does seem at least interested in the topic, if not exactly thrilled by the presentation.

”Assuming we are successful sounds like you have at least some idea of where to start looking.  Perhaps even a map?

Anders shook his head at Kara. "No. Technically we don't have a starting point, except that there is a library and there are barrows that might hold some answers or direction."

He paused and the let out a sigh. "I suppose in an effort to be upfront about things, we managed to enter one of the barrows earlier tonight - Sigurd's barrow. There were...nordalf squatting in it. Too many to take on with just the two of us." It looked like it almost physically pained him to admit that, or maybe that he had had to back down from a fight.

He gave a shrug, trying to shrug away the feelings with that. "We could start there if you are all up for the fight. If not, there are other barrows or the library."

The next morning the festivities started for real. Those who had gotten a headstart last night generally woke up later than the others. But the sun didn't care and it had risen long before 6 am. But even though the food and drink would flow all day, the competitions only started late that morning.

During the day there would be reindeer racing, biathlon, and skiing. And in the evening, the inn would have competitions in at least flyting and drinking. There might be other competitions too as the patrons decided, and there would certainly be gambling with dice and cards.

And throughout the day there would be betting on who would win the various competitions.

The six of them, Anders, Kara, Sigrun, Varin, Steward, and Frost were together outside the Splitrock Inn and the boisterous din, the flavorful scents, and the more or less purposeful movement through the throng were all around them.

[OOC: Do you want to sign up for any of the athletic competitions?

* The Reindeer Race will be determined by the sum of five Dexterity checks, with proficiency bonus if sled is one of your proficiencies. If you are not familiar with reindeer, the roll will be at a disadvantage. I would say that Anders is the only one that could count as familiar.
* The biathlon will be running with or without snowshoes through deep snow and fire a bow at a target. The winner will be determined by the sum of five attack rolls with the bow and if you choose to run without snowshoes (or other means of overcoming the difficult terrain it gives) those rolls will be at a disadvantage.
* The skiing race will be cross-country skiing and the winner will be determined by the sum of five Constitution checks, with proficiency bonus if skis is one of your proficiencies.

When those lists are completed, you can bet on who you think the winner will be, if you like. To simplify, you choose what competitor you think will win, and bet as much as you'd like (though you cannot bet more than you have). And if you are correct, you will double your money. And if you lose, the money you bet is gone.

I'm assuming that Kara wants to finish up her dealings with the bear at some point.

Other than that, the day is yours.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:01, Sat 13 Apr.

Sigrun is feeling in an excellent mood. She's eaten a good breakfast, she's a little sore from last night's entertainment, and in a fine mood to watch the athletic contests this morning and then join in the intellectual ones later in the day.

"Let's go look at them fine fellows doing their stretches," she suggests with a grin.

Not having needed to make herself extra tired after the previous exhausting day Kara took full advantage of the safe and secure place to sleep, to wake rested and refreshed after a very deep sleep with the first light of dawn.  Awake instantly and ready to go she doesn't even try to slow herself down and is on her way out the door with all of her possessions packed for travel and on the way back to the butchers shop even as she passes Sigrun in the common room finishing breakfast.

”I have business to take care of first, I should be ready to travel before everything can be packed and made ready, I will return here before we are to depart."

With that she is out the door and on her way.

Sigrun went to look at the competitors signing up for the various competitions. Most of them human, most of them men. A target-rich environment. And Frost signed up for the biathlon.

"I have a question," Frost said to the woman who accepted competitors for the biathlon.

"How can I help you?"

"Can I use my own bow in the competition or do you provide bows for all competitors?"

"You can use your own bow."

"Even if it's magical?"

"There are technically no rules against it, but this is a competition to determine the best archer, not the best bow."

"Do you have a bow I can borrow then?"

"I can find something for you."

Kara went to the butchers and quickly found Grimarson.

"You kept Einar busy last night," Magnus Grimarson said. "A lot of bear to take care of."

While not one for idle chatter Kara isn't above a bit of banter when it is still on topic and at least makes an effort to meet the butcher half way.

”It would be a very odd bear indeed if there wasn't a lot of it.  Have you had the opportunity to look over the results and estimate their value to you?"

"I have looked it over and I'd say that I can buy the meat for 20 gold."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:01, Mon 15 Apr.

Sigrun raised her eyebrows as the dragon-born spoke of his bow being magical. This might be a good fellow to recruit for their quest.

"In what way is your bow magical, Frost?" she asks him directly, but not loudly.

Frost led Sigrun away from the throng so that they could speak in private. "First of all it is more accurate and secondly, its arrows are made of fire."

Kara shrugs a bit more casually than might be expected, and holds out her hand for the butcher to hand her the gold he has prepared.

”I suppose I don't have any other options, so I will take the 20gp."

Magnus Grimarson paid her for the meat.

"The pelt, claws, and skeleton are still yours. We can dispose of it for you if you like."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:26, Mon 15 Apr.

Kara looks at the pelt and bones for a moment then returns her focus to the butcher.

”I am busy today but I wouldn't want it to be wasted entirely, if you can find someone to buy any of the parts you can keep half of their value, I will return here when I am next available to see what happens."

"I can arrange that," Magnus said. "Today is a festival though, so it may take a couple of days to get things sold."

Kara confirms her deal with the butcher with a nod, and returns back to the tavern where she expects to meet the rest of her group as they rise later in the morning, killing some time as she waits she reads over the list of publicized events but clearly fails to find any that strike her interest enough to bother looking into in more detail.