Although it made sense to leave immediately it was decided to rest and wait until morning. The winter weather was closing in now and with the injured spear maidens we played it safe keeping off road though the return journey took twice as long as getting there. We made it back to Jozht in time for the big winter closure. The snows started and the harbour froze over meaning we had to winter over here for a few months. Wrendell made the most of it by staying at the temple of his patron Thor. Eldon stayed nearby trying to keep an eye on him for Lea but the drinking games were too much for his small sized stomach. Strom went on hunting expeditions and did some clubbing. Samba moved in with a rich widow and started a popular book club with wine tastings, late night recitations and a festival of light. It was quite a sensation amongst the sophisticated folk of Jozht and only slightly tarnished by a scandal involving Nickolai and the book of holy lust that he recovered from Castle Orzelberg. Lea was over here at the temple of Sif. She got to spend some quality time with the shield maidens and the spear maidens training as well as handcrafts like sock darning. I spent most of my time on the walls. Carrying stone and placing it by night and carving and shaping it by daylight. The rebuild is now ahead of scheduleI and I fear the shield maidens may not let me leave. I also managed to have some time in the forge. I recrafted Wrendells magic longsword into a most mighty hammer resplendent with knot-work and Runes. My own mace arm got refurbished to become even more powerful. As the winter hardened more and more boats arrived from the north with tales of canibal reaver dwarves and a deeper darkness stirring. The head of the Shield maidens summons the party one more time with dire news. "Our seers have divined the future and see a dark mystery ahead. Since the Robes of Sister Adelind have been recovered they feature in our visions. Last night one of the diviners came out of her vision quest with a horrific scream and the words Reavers Cave. She then passed out and has been feverish and muttering in bed since. We ask that you might take the Robes and go to this cave to investigate what we can only guess will be the face of evil." I was in no doubt. This was clearly connected with my own holy quest. Most of the rest of the party were interested in joining in. Only Samba was reluctant to leave Jozht but once his patron started hinting at boarding rates and cost of living he became less hesitant. "Rather the possibility of trouble than the certainty if here I remain." The high priestess has arranged our transport. A classic northern ship with a square sail and oars. The Hardy Captain cast off and his loyal crew set to work. "We'll more than likely be dead tomorrow so enjoy your time aboard. Stay out of the way unless you intend to sit behind an oar or swab the deck." The crew regaled us with rumors of flesh eating pirates, tales of Loki's treachery, and hushed whispers of Ragnarok. We were at sea for four or five days before reaching a misty fjord. "I'll not take the ship in there. Too dangerous but I'll lend you these row boats to get ashore. It's daybreak now. We'll head back out to the deep to try and catch a whale then return just after daybreak tomorrow. Odds are you'll be dead by then but if by chance you're here I hope I won't regret having lent ye my dinghies." Not exactly filled with inspiration we set off into the bay looking for Reavers Cave. As chief oarsman I set a brutal pace and practically towed the other boat. Unfortunately all the salt air had made my joints a bit squeaky and I ended up making a bit of a racquet which alerted something on the shore. We had lost the element of surprise. As we drifted out of the mist we could see dwarves standing at the beach near a fire. "I guess they know we're coming so let's get things started." Strom grabbed a handful of arrows and sent a volley inbound. Wrendell jumped into the air on his winged boots while Samba walked on the surface of the water. Eldon must have thought Samba was on ice because he jumped out of the boat and fell into the freezing water only to be rescued by Samba and Lea. I pushed hard, getting my boat to shore as quickly as I could. I didn't want to become a sitting duck there. On the beach was a group of reavers and their huge boars. A few tried to make an escape to raise the alarm. One was shot down but one did make it and alerted others in the nearby cave. Wrendell got to the cave entrance to stem the tide while the rest of us cleared the beach. Once I got a chance I rushed over to assist Wrendell at the bottleneck but the buggers knew they were beat and retreated further into the cave system. This could get ugly. I set my lights to high beam and prepared to head in.
