Days 11: Flamerule 16, the New Moon

The first night (of two) of the new moon is when sacrifices to Auril take place in the Ten Towns.  You've been hearing about this day since you arrived.  In Bremen, the sacrifice is only heat -- and even commitment to that is not wholehearted throughout the town, since there's no law enforcement here, and any residents showing a penchant for religious authoritarianism or mob justice are quickly run out of town.  It's nothing like the bureaucratic process you witnessed in Bryn Shander.  Of course, there, the stakes are a bit higher.

You spend the day finishing your work on the boat without the warmth of stoves, and finish her up with an hour to spare.  Naupegus congratulates you on your work and pours drinks for everyone.  He also seems to have overcome his initial hesitation about the boat.  "I'll tell you what.  I'll keep working on her a bit tonight, no charge. Just some extra touches. I don't mind, the work will keep me warm... well, that and the rest of this bottle.  She'll be spit-shined and ready for you by morning."

You wait outside on the porch of the speaker's mansion as you have been every night.  The snow is falling, alternating from light to heavy within spans of a few minutes.  Finally, what must be at least thirty minutes late, Noomsworthy rushes up the stairs, breathless and panicked.  Barely making eye contact with you, he bolts to unlock the door, he asks, “Is he here?  Let me check, out of the way.  Stay here.”

He heads inside, yelling, “Mr. Speaker - are you here? Dorbulgruf?” 

You hear his hurried footsteps up the stairs, doors opening and slamming shut. Returning, in a panic, he tells you, “He’s run off again.  I don’t know how long ago.  He was in his office, then just... I don’t know how long ago.  Please, it’s late, and with the new moon, everyone else in town is too drunk.  You need to find him.”  

You  eventually find and follow Dorbulgruf's tracks northwest from townhall.  After an hour, you look down at the bottom of a small circular valley.  There, you spot the speaker, having what looks to be a tea party with half a dozen chwingas. They treat him with great respect, which he reciprocates. They bring him mock documents of bark and leaves, and he nods sagely over them and “signs” them with a “quill” of twig.

“Yes, mmhmm.  And do we have the resolution concerning the importance of eating pastries. I’ll sign it now, yes. Uh huh, I see. And is your report done, Moldy?  I’m not saying it’s rubbish, but it is less conclusive than I had anticipated.  Avalanche, I’ll hear none of it from you!  It has already been decided.  Your input is appreciated as always, but it’s time for this body to move on from the subject of fox saddles."

The chwingas notice you first. Then the speaker glances up.  "Oh hello there!  Just in time.  I’m about to wrap up this meeting, then off to the next.  You may escort me to it if you wish, but I will not be late.  I always keep my appointments.” 

You decide to humor him and let him lead you deeper out into the wilderness.  He is at least safer with you at his side.  

In another twenty minutes, you round over a snowy hill, then down twenty feet into a shallow valley. At the center of it, is a tall natural obelisk of stone. You spot a wolf coming over the ridge, spying down on you.  Then another, then another. They are surrounding you. Six wolves now creep down from all directions, slowly closing in on you. 

The wolves now stand only five feet from you, licking their lips and growling softly but seem to be making no further advances. Then, one by one, they sit in the snow.  They seem to be focusing on Dorbulgruf. 

Shalescar speaks:  “Allow me to make quick introductions.  Ladies, these are Elva Olfandrus of Sheha Alari and Numchuki of the Long  Antler clan.  They will be behaving themselves.  And these beautiful ladies are Alyona and Ekatrina, and their various and also well-behaved associates. Very well, moving on to business. Ladies, I have considered your numbers, and they are unsustainable.  I can increase the frequency of deliveries, or the quantity, but not both.  Knucklehead is too valuable to our own people, particularly now.  So, I will concede a modest increase to 100 pounds per tenday, or 40 pounds delivered twice per.”

Ekatrina and Alyona continue to bicker quietly amongst themselves.  You overhear, Alyona:  

“For the last time, that was no yeti.  I don’t know what it was, but… " 

She addresses your group, "Eh, Mr. Speaker.  Ekatrina thinks you should know… I don’t why’s important… but Ekatrina thinks you should know… we see one of your town people getting carried off.  Big net.  Not yeti, but something like yeti carrying big net with your people in it.  Headed south, lead by dwarves, three of them... well, not dwarf but something like dwarf.   Not fat like dwarf and no beards, and grey skin.  I don’t know, this maybe 17, 18 days ago? I don’t know why the not-dwarfs want her.  She was old skinny woman, looked like tough meat.  Not my first choice for meal, but is desperate time for all. "

You confirm this matches Ditte's description and timeline of disappearance.  You contemplate this news as you head back to Bremen.

That night, you make the decision to head to Lonelywood to find Finna Bristlehead to inform her of the offer from the dwarves of the Five Center Taverns.  You'll set off in the morning. You try to find sleep while buried under all the blankets you could find.