The tiefling paused in thought for a moment. If Kendra could communicate with these things through magic, that was at least one better way of communication than what he could currently perform. He could only go so far with gestures, grunts, and facial expressions just to communicate a simple idea; he imagined he would have even less luck with more complex ideas such as theft and protection. With a shrug, he nodded towards the path he had seen the chwingas take. "Yeah, if you've got magic that can talk to these things, I bet that's going to make this whole ordeal much simpler for all parties involved," he said, turning back to watch the trail. "If we're gonna deliver that one to Dannika, I'd like for us to at least make sure his friends know where he's off to. Maybe even see if we can talk them into keeping an eye on him for us, yeah?"

With that, the tiefling poked his head out from behind the thicket. The chwingas had crept into the woods, a symbol of the natural world in its most bountiful, and a bastion for the wildlife to take solace. "Theodorick, Jitter," Kythor said, turning his head in their direction. "You two are staying here to keep our new friend company? In that case, keep your ears open. Don't figure we'll run into trouble from here to there, but it's always better to be safe than sorry." Unless there was anything else that needed to be discussed, the tiefling would once again begin to follow the trail the chwingas left, waving for Kendra to follow.

Kythor and Kendra track the other two chwingas to several rocks. Their trail ends at a rather large rock near the base of an evergreen tree. Kythor would remember at this point, from tails passed down from others in his clan, that sometimes the beings known as chwingas would disappear into the environment.

The chwinga on Jitter sits as best it can while still trying to see what Kythor is doing.

The party proceeds back to Good Mead with the Chwinga alternating between Kendra and Jitter. During the four and a half hour treck the happen upon two travelers heading towards Easthaven. Their cloths are well worn but they seem to being trying to hold their cloaks tightly to keep their warmth in. When they see the group of adventurers they pause briefly.

"Pardon, is this the way to Easthaven?"

Kendra really hoped this woman's research could come to something useful, this cold was unrelenting and brutal. She wrapped herself as tightly at those that they came across on the road, but reached up to pull her hood away a little so she could see them more clearly.

"You've got it, just a few more hours at most and you're there. You come from Good Mead? We're on our way back there."

"Yeah... uh... just passed through there. Thanks for lettingus know the is the right path. Farewell." The two continue on their path towards Easthaven one on the left is leaning a bit to the left. The other mutters something to them and the left one straightens up some

The tiefling warily eyes the two strangers as they pass. More travelers set for Easthaven. He wondered what business they had there. Adjusting his backpack to rest more comfortably on his shoulder, he grunted and looked back at the strangers. "Take care, travelers," he called back. "We arrived there just in time to see a man burned at the stake for murder earlier t'day."

"see ya'round" Theodorick said as he waved them off. Wondering what reason they had for traveling around in this weather was intriguing to him but they had more important matters to attend to.

Although he had started to turn to leave without acting upon his curiosity, Kythor noticed something that made him change his mind. These travelers, they had left behind a most unusual set of footprints. Or, to be more accurate, they had left behind a rather unusual set of tracks. Claw-like tracks, with a line leading right down the center. The tiefling narrowed his eyes and looked back to the two travelers as they began to depart. These were kobolds that they had just encountered. Suddenly, Kythor had a much more pressing reason to wonder why they were traveling to Easthaven.

Kythor cleared his throat before loudly addressing the two before they could leave earshot. "Quite a number of curiosities we've uncovered today," he said, turning around to face them. "First we enter town just in time to see someone burned at the stake for murder, then we find a real strange book covered up with some sort 'a magic, have ourselves a little conversation with a group of chwingas... and now, we've come across two kobolds heading for Easthaven." The tiefling paused, crossing his arms. "What has you two set over there, anyways? I can't imagine you'll receive a particularly warm reception there."

A series of curses utter from the travelers as they turn around to face Kythor.
"We are looking for a place to get a warm meal and maybe be of some use to someone. Some of our cousins have found work in one of the other settlements and we thought we could to." Two heads poke out of the middle of the coat of the one speaking. The snout from the one on top becomes more visible through the hood and scarf of both figures. "If Easthaven won't have us in sure another settlement might."

For a moment, the tiefling stood there as he watched the kobolds explain what brought them to Easthaven. He held their words with great scrutiny. For all he knew, these kobolds could be heading to Easthaven to bring even more chaos to the town than what it had endured thus far. Yet, as he listened to their story in silence, he could tell that there was an air of legitimacy among them. Their snouts didn't tremble out of uncertainty of their own words, nor did their voices falter or squeak as they struggled to form a story on the spot, in fact nothing seemed to betray any sort of sign of deception they may have had. To his surprise, as far as he could tell, these kobolds seemed to be telling the truth - they were actually in pursuit of an honest life and sanctuary within a settlement.

"Hmm." Kythor grunted. "I see. Easthaven's definitely got a few opportunities for you and your friends," he said, addressing the kobold that was speaking. "Quite a few of 'em are risky opportunities, mind, but they're still opportunities. Ask around some, see what the people of the town might need done for 'em."

"Thank you for the advice." The kobold that seems to be the leader of this small group reaches out a hand to Kythor. "For the information you gave and for not immediately thinking we are like some of our other brethren."

There is a slight metalic glint of light reflecting from the items the kobold is holding.

The party gains four silver from the kobolds and finishes the treck to Good Mead, arriving just before what would normally be the start of sunset (about se1900, 7:00pm).

Jitter makes his way to the mead hall to see if Dannika Greysteel was there already.

Kythor

Although Kythor had his suspicions about the kobolds when they had first met, he saw no harm in hearing them out at the very least before engaging in hostilities. He was quite pleased he had; these kobolds in a way reminded him of his tribe, even though they were seeking the warmth and comfort of a life within a settlement. Although many people dismissed kobolds as little more than nasty creatures, Kythor viewed them the same way he viewed all living creatures: with a careful degree of scrutiny and wariness, while also recognizing that he shares many needs with them. These needs may fuel their actions - barbarians, thieves, and murderers are typically driven to act in such manner when they are deprived of one such need - and it was important to understand the why of a creature's actions before reacting. Quietly, he hoped the kobolds found the peace they were seeking. They seemed honest enough, if a bit presumptuous in his eyes.

Once the kobolds had provided him with a parting gift, he wished them safe travels as they went their separate ways. With a faint smile hidden behind his scarf, he passed one of the silver coins to each other member of his traveling group and, once they were ready, continued to travel on the road leading to Good Mead. The rest of the journey was spent in mostly silence, though Kythor did ensure that the chwinga was still with them through occasional glances. When their journey was complete, Kythor quietly sighed in relief. This job had been relatively easy for them so far. All that was left to do was to talk their small stowaway into allowing Dannika to study it. Watching Jitter enter the Mead Hall, Kythor went to follow after him, but paused before fully entering.

"Quite a bit 'a luck we've been blessed with on this trip," Kythor called back from behind his shoulder. "Here's to hoping it hasn't left us yet..." Kythor added, a bit more quietly. With that, he stepped into the Mead Hall to see if Dannika might be found there.

"If it has we'll make our own" Theodorick responds to Kythor with an optimistic expression across his face. Mathews was more than happy to have gotten one job down in such short time. The next thought on his mind, after their compensation, was who to help next on their journey. Regardless, he followed Kythor into the hall.

Dannika is sitting at the same table she was at yesterday and sees the four as they enter the hall. She waves them over and can barely hide her excited expression as she looks over the chwinga.

You found one and you managed to get it to cone with you without trapping it! Was it difficult to capture? Was it with other chwingas? What did you do to get it to follow you? She tries to keep herself calm and composed while examining the chwinga on Jitters shoulder.

The tiefling approached the table and took a seat, pulling back his hood and unfurling his scarf. Setting it aside, Kythor pressed his hands together and sighed before replying. "Seems it, andits friends wanted to play tea with us for a spell," Kythor mused, knocking out a few of Dannika's question in one go. "Once we did, it decided to stick around. I'm not sure myself what it wants or really why it's decided to stick around, but as they say, never look a gift horse in the mouth. It just likes us, I guess."

"I bet if we hadn't played with it we might've had a much harder time trying to capture it let alone get it to come with us." Kythor added, rubbing his hands to warm them. "Chwingas are fascinated with people, and from the way it and its friends were acting, I'd be willin' to wager it's taken a keen interest in not only us, but the poor woman in Easthaven who'd had her cutlery and dishes pilfered by the little rascals," he chuckled. Kythor paused, watching the chwinga briefly. Dannika's enthusiasm around having a chwinga to study had certainly kindled an interest in studying the chwingas himself. He'd probably have to wait until after he was ready to return to the wilds, though. The group he'd found himself acquainted with had a few jobs that still needed doing, and while gaining knowledge is normally a worthwhile exploit, the need for warmth and to reestablish his camp held a much higher priority.

Speaking of research, there was one last little bit of business they had to get past before everybody was happy sending the chwinga into Dannika's care. "Now, we're not sure how much control we have in whether or not this guy decides to go with you," Kythor began, "and in fact we've had trouble really communicating with it much beyond simple words. Only one of us - Kendra, over there," Kythor said, nodding towards Kendra, "has really had any success in 'talking' to it. I dunno how she does it, but just to seal the deal and to make sure we're not planning on wasting each other's times, we think it might be a good idea for you to introduce yourself to it. Maybe give it a run-down on what sorts of experiments you're planning on runnin' on it. Once we're sure both you and the chwinga are okay with sticking together, I think from there we can talk about payment, yeah?"

He decided to leave out the fact that he would be silently judging their interactions. He imagined the others would likely also be listening in, and once Dannika had finished explaining the nature of her experiments, they could decide what to do from there. Dannika seemed thrilled to be close to having a chwinga to aid her in her research, but as Kythor knew from personal experience, sheer excitement alone does not dictate the manner of one's intent.

Dannika nods to Kythor. "I've heard that the do not use spoken languages. I speculation however that they can understand us.

She turns to the chwinga and uses minor illusion to show the chwinga what she intends to do while also speaking it aloud. Most of the images simply shows her watching the chwinga and making notes. Other times it is her playing with the little elemental. The last shows them parting ways, neither inhibited by the other. "Hello little one. I only mean to watch and learn from you. Once I am done, or you feel the need to, you may leave. I think through my study and interaction with you, I may be able to improve the weather here and help the locals."

The chwinga watches, seemingly enamored by the illusion before it. Once done it looks to Kythor. It approaches him and summons a small rock into its hands. It offers the stone to the tiefling.

Kythor leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms indifferently as he watched the presentation, initially keeping his focus on judging Dannika's attempt to persuade the chwinga to come with her. Much to his surprise, however, he soon found himself relaxing and his doubt seemed to fade as she explained her intentions. By the end of it, he was content enough to be back to sitting upright and resting his hands on the table before him. Dannika's intentions were good enough, it seemed, although to be honest Kythor still wasn't entire thrilled about the idea of 'improving the weather.' To him, the harsh weather was a testament to the hardiness of the people who could live here, doubly so for those who lived beyond the settlements that dotted the land. It strengthened the weak, and weeded out the truly weak... Most concerning to him, however, was the thought of everything he had learned, all of the skills he had picked up within these lands, atrophying under 'improved weather conditions.'

Still, he shoved all of that aside to give a tired smile to Dannika and the chwinga. "Well, looks like you two might get along alright after all," Kythor said, rolling around the small stone the chwinga had given him in the palm of his hand. There wasn't any sort of hidden meaning or subtle indicator that he was thinking otherwise in his voice - from the way the two had interacted, he genuinely felt like it was safe to go ahead and leave the chwinga in Dannika's care.

Kythor feels a slight bit of magic in the stone and can tell that it can create a shelter for eight hours. However there is a limited amount of uses of the stone.

The chwinga goes back to Dannika and begins to rifle through the small pack she had set on the table. The half-elven woman looks back to group and takes out a small coin purse. "Now I do remember the discussed reward was twenty-five gold. Since you brought me this one without having to trap it I'll add an extra twenty-five as a bonus." She starts to count out the gold, setting it out on the table. Omce the amount stated was on the table, she puts the coin purse away and pushes the gold across the table. "You can also keep the lantern, I now have no further use for it since you found me a chwinga. Maybe you'll have more use for it later.

Jitter promptly takes twelve coins from the pile. He informs the group that he is going to head to Bryn-Shander first thing in the morning. He says his farewells and wanders to another side of the mead hall to get dinner.

Kendra also steps forward to collect twelve coins as well. She states that she is going to Bremen tomorrow. She bids the remaining two adieu and goes to sit at another table.

All the while the adventuring party was completing their latest quest, the gentle melodious music of a zither played all around. The bard playing was a female moon elf, methodically plucking away at the drow spidersilk cords so the tune played at just the right balance of lively yet relaxing. It was a talent, knowing how to feel the room for what was needed - that and time of day. The rowdy folks in most taverns came in after working hours. But, this was not a bustling city and it was not the time of the week when everyone was ready to unwind with bawdy songs and chants.

Thus, Rinx had chosen to become his favorite persona, the delicate moon elf. Generally appealing to most, and known to be wanderers so likely to come through this town. His reasons for visiting were his own, but it never hurt to make those around him more comfortable. An elf was far more welcome than a changeling in most places, and he preferred moon elf because it was close to his own visage. Gender didn't exactly matter to him, but women got better tips in his experience. The money was always needed for good accommodations, if he was paying. Since he was staying for the time being, it seemed best to pay rather than get a reputation this early on.

So, he played, like a good bard should. The journey to the town had been inspirational, at least, and encouraged the flow of his music for the evening. As he played, he scanned the room to survey for potential targets. A moon elf could play into his favorite con, and he'd used her several times in other haunts. Or, versions of her. If things got too hot, he'd have to alter cheekbones or ear tilt, add new markings or remove some, but the elf had been on the right side of the law and thus his longest running persona. She was the infiltrator, and that was exactly what he was here to do.

Aside from the handful of fisher folk and woodsman, Rinx only notices two half-elven women, a halfling, and a two humans that appear to be potential marks. One of the half elves leaves shortly after speaking with the one of the humans carrying what looks like a small icy blue doll. She seemed rather excited to receive it for side reason.

The other half elf sits near the fire eating her meal with the halfling. Once they are done eating. The halfling leaves and the woman finds a spot in the hall to get ready to bed down for the night.

The rest of the mead hall patrons are noisily eating and talking, though some lean in to listen to the bard playing. One of the dwarfs does stand out some as he openly wears the symbol for Moradin.