The Town of WinterHearth

[Fenric]

(( WinterHearth is based on the city of IceRazer, in the Frostburn campaign book. It is not on an iceberg, but otherwise uses the same map. ))

Far to the north of town, a city in the frozen arctic has been given new life. Werefox settlers from the Temple of Inari have claimed the ruins and are re-building the city to house their growing population.
The dark evil of the Blood Palace is no more: instead, the new Temple of Inari rises to greet the sun. While the gardens are more subdued than the temple in Town, such arctic life as can be nurtured thrives on the temple grounds.
The Town Hall is cleaned and reopened, and already business progresses. Zak-Ziril NorZilliar, better known as Zak, has come to be the regent of the city.
The Razerwing Guards still patrol the sky. These Abishai of every color, bound by powerful contracts, help defend the city.
The former towers of the axe lords now house the city guards. Some were temple guards in Town, some were militia in Balnaroth. Others have travelled from around the planes, hearing of a new homeland for fox-kind.
Five miles east of the town gates, the dwarven blue-ice mines provide a critical source of trade and income. The magically adept foxes take the blue ice and craft it into weapons, armor, and other items for sale. Ships are already beginning to once again dock as a routine stop on their trade routes.

All is not happy, though. The crumbled, haunted ruins of WinterHearth palace still stand on a hill outside of the city: a temptation and a snare for adventurers.

[Fen3]

Amidst the general bustle of moving in, a sizeable party of white-furred foxes with pale blue eyes enters through the southwestern gates. Heavily dressed in the pelts of Winter Wolves, these ice foxes walk carefully but confidently to the Town Hall and speak with a very surprised Zak.

Distant cousins originating on the Plane of Ice, they come to help establish this city of foxes. Zak is thrilled both by this previously unknown strain of fox, and by the assistance of such knowledgable helpers.
For their part, the Ice Foxes revel in the opportunity to leave their tiny frozen villages in the arctic wilderness. They are also overcome with emotion to learn of Inari. That there even was a goddess for their people was unknown to them. In gratitude, they use their ice magic to help raise the temple in record time.

The flood of people from the Town is continually augmented by a steady trickle of villagers from the tundra, and refugees from other lands who arrive by any means they can. With the help of the ice foxes, buildings are repaired rapidly, hunting is more successful, and the merchants are forced to haggle and deal with a far more knowledgeable population than they had hoped.

One young ice fox finds his way through the portal...

[Fenric]

Far away to the north the foxes celebrate the first full-moon festival in the new city.

[Deadly]

Arden flies in through the portal and looks around at the new surroundings with interrest

[Fenric]

The city proper is well underway, and the new temple is built. City patrols are regular, and the razorwing guards fly overhead keeping watch. Routine patrols go out from the city to keep dangerous monsters from encroaching, and to keep the trade routes open.

[Deadly]

Arden smiles and flies into the temple.

[Fenric]

The ice-fox priests are somewhat surprised to see a dragon fly in, but the foxes from Town reassure them. The acting head priest comes up with a smile.

Greetings. Your pardon that we can't recall your name. How fares your father?

[Deadly]

Arden bows his head slightly I'm Arden. And he's doing fine as far as I know of. he looks around I thought I would come here and see if I could help out with something.

[Fenric]

The priest considers

Governor Zak would know better than I do. I know that construction and rebuilding continues to occupy the time of a great many people. Training the RazorWings is also a full time task. There are monster-hunting patrols that leave the city every other hour, and of course something has to be done about the old ruins, someday...

[Deadly]

Sounds like there's plenty to do then. Perhaps I should see this Zak. Can you tell me where to find him?

[Fenric]

The priest nods

He is in the Town Hall, a bit north and east of here. Go out and turn right - you can't miss it.

[Deadly]

Arden smiles and nods Thank you for your help, I'll go there. he says and flies out, making his way to the Town Hall.

[Fenric]

(( All of my personalities say hello. ))

At the town hall, Arden is escorted into a large room where a werefox who looks strikingly similar to Fenric is seated at a table. The herald speaks to the man to anounce Arden, and it is only when Zak-Ziril stands that his difference in height and build is noticeable, and the fact that the tip of his tail is black rather than the white that Arden is used to.

[Deadly]

Arden blinks a bit but smiles Greetings, I have come to see if I can help out with something in this place.

[Fenric]

Zak smiles and looks at Arden with an appraising eye

That rather depends on what you are good at, young man. What is it you do?

[Deadly]

Hunting, defence, guarding and keeping an eye on things, but I could help with more mundane work as well, like rebuilding. But I have come here in the hope of getting some more practical experience with combat.

[Fenric]

Zak chuckles

Combat, is it? The monster sweeps are always looking for fresh volunteers. Go to the old Axelord barracks across the street from the temple: they'll assign you to a group with a... vacancy.

Zak's smile is somewhat grim, and he returns to his desk.

[Deadly]

Thank you, I shall do so. he bows slightly and leaves again, going to the barracks.

[Fen3]

In the main barracks of the town guard, Karl is relaxing after a long day. Without warning, his brother steps out of the shadows behind the heavy tapestries that line the room.


You miserable cretin! Renrik is in the temple trying to kill Mikhail!

Karl groans

Oh no... he came back?

Kazuki glares every manner of destructive implement, spell, and evil curse there is at his brother.

YOU WERE JUST HOPING HE'D STAY AWAY?! Regardless of which one you were hoping would stay out of our lives, get over there and stop Renrik!

Karl stands up and runs out to the temple.

[Fenric]

Karl comes back from a grueling day of hunting monsters in the cold wastes outside of town.

Perhaps it's not a war, but it's honest work...

[AmberVael]

Fenix runs through the portal and gasps as he feels the weather. Flames blaze up around him, along with his wings, and he grits his teeth.
Ignoring his extreme discomfort, he looks around.

[Fenric]

The ice-fox priests look at Fenix in some surprise

{ ice-vulpine } Can we help you, sir?

[AmberVael]

Fenix curses, not having ANY idea what language they were speaking.
I need to find a druidess!

[Fenric]

The priests chatter with each other, finally one comes forward

There druid here, ha. No vixen-druid, nahi. Brother ki Fenric naam Thonar. Ja door.

The priest points at a door.

[AmberVael]

Fenix lets out a few more curses and goes to the door, hoping the druid would know of another druid.

[phoenixineohp]

((The Vodka is cheap, and makes you warmer. ;) Just saying if you go for that option it's okay too. Either is fine.))

[Fenric]

Fenix walks into the room, and sees what he would swear is Fenric... Sitting in a brown robe in meditation, in what looks like a beautiful aspen grove. The air is warm (75 F) and moist, and fragrant with moss, grass, and spring flowers.

[AmberVael]

((I might do that, but Fenix would much rather find a druidess))

Fenix goes in and winces at the moisture, but goes over to the druid.
Sir? I'm in desperate need of help, but I'm not sure where to look. I need to find a druidess.

[Fenric]

Thonar looks up, and speaks with the quiet confidence that Fenric tries so hard to imitate.

I'm afraid that there are relatively few women who follow such pursuits. The Mayoress of Town is one that I know of.

Thonar stands up, and transforms into a human(!) (( Not an elf... And now some of the schism in the NorZilliar family comes to light ))

I am quite capable of druidic assistance, I assure you.

[AmberVael]

Fenix sighs.
I don't know where Gwen is. And I don't know why, but I need a druidess, not a druid.