Flicker glanced up from the flame in their hands, their face somewhere between a frown and an expression of surprise. "Erm... yes?" they said, closing their hands to extinguish the fire.

"Perfect!HereYouGo." The messenger said before handing Flicker a scroll that bore the seal of their old hermit order. "HailHermes!" With that last exclamation, the aarakocra flapped his wings and sped off into the sky.

"You're welcome. You seem to need the extra warmth more than me. This cold does remind me much of home, and if someone is not used to it the cold feels worse." Jørmund did notice Cascade's cheeks darken in color as she was accepting the cloak. He did not really think much about it, thinking it was more from the cold. He went back to where he was at the front of the cart leading the horses to the village.

"Fortunately Flicker it is not to much further. You can see the village just up..." He paused at the sound coming from above, looking up to see who was above them. Before he realized it the aarakocra had landed and was speaking faster than he had time to comprehend to Flicker. The letter exchange happened and the aarakocra took off just as quick as they had appeared. "What was that all about? Were you expecting someone to send something?"

Flicker took the package somewhat incredulously. "I mean I did send a letter to my Order a little while ago," they responded to Jørmund. "In all honesty, I kind of forgot about it. Didn't expect anything special back either, just wanted some advice." For a moment, they grimaced as they recalled some recent events, including the dream they had just had. It occurred to them it was quite coincidence that the Order should get back to them right after that. A feeling of apprehension crept over them. With a loud sigh, they carefully started to open the package.

Aura had been unusually quiet, staring off in a similar way that would make most of her party assume she was looking through Hawk's senses. But the familiar hadn't moved out of her cloak since they entered the coldness so that wasn't exactly possible. It wasn't like the air genasi to remain silent for long periods of time. Living like talking was her breathing. When she came to, blinking away whatever glaze had been over her eyes she simply watched her group. Earth, Fire, Water, Air all four representations to the elements and the genie kind, all four working toward a common goal. What did that mean for the conflict going on below their noses? She wasn't sure, but she was sure somehow, they would get sucked into it more than they already were, and she didn't particularly like that idea.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the interaction between Jormund and Cascade a small thing she would note for later, followed by Flicker receiving a letter. Her jaw would tighten slightly but she would quickly shake off whatever tension was in her body. "What could you possibly need advice for?" A small jest as she entered Flicker's personal space. Partially to be nosey, and partially because the biting breeze was starting to sink into her skin and she knew the Fire Genasi was generally warmer.

If Flicker noticed the jest in Aura's voice or her invading their personal space, they made no sign of it in their response. "If I recall correctly," they said as they unwrapped the package. "It was after we encountered that night hag. I was asking if they knew what we should do with the strange items we got from her. They... know some things about magic." It occurred to them that this was probably the first time they'd mentioned their Order in Cascade's presence, and while they didn't know if she cared that much, they felt it was necessary to keep her in the loop. "They, err, trained me how to better use my fire abilities," they said, raising their eyes to look in the water genasi's direction. "I wasn't always, err, very good at keeping them in check." They suddenly felt they were being, perhaps, a little too vulnerable right now and quickly averted their gaze back to the package. "Let's see what this is."

The scroll opens easily enough. Its contents are quickly revealed to be a letter written in the Ignan dialect of Primordial.

Flicker,

I trust this missive finds you well, it is good to hear from you again. You asked that I delve into the nature and designs of the night hag Nanna May Midnight and the curious gifts she bestowed upon your party. After many long watches by candle and lantern in my quiet hermitage, I submit the fruits of my labors.

Nanna May Midnight and the Soul Trade:
Nanna May has earned a notorious reputation throughout the Lower Planes as a broker of souls. Her cruelty is matched only by her cunning, for she derives delight from perverting the very virtues of those she ensnares—turning mercy into wrath, temperance to gluttony, hope into despair. Beware, then, that any spark of goodness she touches may slowly twist into its darkest opposite.

Abandoned Towers and False Rewards:
She presides over a scattered network of desolate spires—much like the ruined tower you and your companions cleansed—each serving as a silent stronghold for the tiny, fanatical cults she cultivates. When valiant adventurers like yourselves shatter these fledgling sects, she appears—ever gracious—and pours forth lavish gifts, seeds of overreliance sown with a smile. Yet know this: such generosity is no kindness, but the first whispered promise that will bind you ever tighter to her will.

Her Coven and Allies:
Nanna May does not toil alone. She communes in secret with two sister hags: a bheur hag of the frozen Northlands, whose breath chills the heart, and an annis hag lurking near the canals of Acquascura, whose malice flows as swiftly as the city’s tide. Alas, my inquiries into their schemes have only scratched the surface. We must remain vigilant, for this triumvirate is certain to weave darker plots yet unseen.

Your new trinkets and baubles, though beguiling, bear no immediate curse—rather, they may prove of genuine use in your travels. Yet take heed: it is precisely this perception of harmless utility that lures one deeper into dependency. Let not your comrades grow overfond of these gifts, lest the day come when Nanna May’s subtle strings compel you to dark deeds you would never otherwise countenance.

May the ancient stars guide your path, may your heart remain unbowed, and may the master of our world find amusement in your success.

In solitude and service,
Bharahem
Hermit of the Order of Di’Twinnis

Flicker started reading the letter with confusion, which quickly turned to curiosity before slowly (and darkly) twisting into a grimace. To no one's surprise, Nana May was bad news, and apparently she wasn't the only one.

Still, there was something mildly comforting about the warning, because any guilt or worry Flicker may have felt about not taking the deal with the imp earlier went out light a candle in the wind. While accepting the help may have aided them in helping Cascade's village now, it could lead to far worse consequences later.

The final words of the letter felt quite uncomfortable after the dream Flicker had just had, though, and they quickly folded the letter up before turning to their companions. "So Nana May is bad news, but we already knew that," they said. "However, her trinkets that we found are not cursed and can be used safely. But we should probably not rely on them, use them sparingly and only in the most dire circumstances. Don't want to get reliant on that old witch's magic." They leaned back, trying to look relaxed. It wasn't very convincing. "You know, if I had known earlier that we heading to help a village, I could have asked the order for aid. Alas, it's a little too late for that now."

Aura, kind of reading over Flicker's shoulder but not really due to the differences in Primordial dialect frowns. "I just don't understand how we," she motions to the four of them, "have ended up not only in the middle of hags, and demons or devils or whatever, but also I think we are going to experience more trouble from this whole Genie war that's going on." Aura would turn to look at Cascade specifically. "I can't explain how but I think my father and your mother might be allies in that conflict. And I think we will be hearing from one or both of them very soon."

Aura wasn't exacly sure how to explain the conversation she had in her daydream, and wasn't even really sure what it all meant but after some careful consideration it seemed like the logical conclusion. She also had a feeling everything was more tied together than they realized but maybe that was just her paranoia kicking in so she wasn't going to burden the rest of the group with her worries.

Jørmund grunted when Aura asked how the fourth of them ended up in the middle of devils and hags bargaining, and a war between the lead denizens of the elemental planes. He half turns while walking next to the horses to look at Aura "Poor luck some would call it Aura, and I'm starting to wonder if that is the case myself. Regardless we are in it and I'm not that concerned with the 'why us'. If there is trouble from this Genie war there will be trouble from it. We can deal with that when it comes up."

The cleric turns to look at Flicker. "Glad to know out suspicion of Nana May was correct. If you all want we can dispose of our break the baubles she gave us. I'm sure a few good hammer blows and some time in a furnace would render then harmless. If not we can find a more permanent place away from us for them later."

He fishes through his pouch and pulls the platinum rings out. "While I'm thinking of preparing, which of you could use a bit more help in shrugging off some hits? I've got some magic that may help with that. Just cannot get to far away from me. It may not be much but it should help some when we get into a fight." He slipped the larger of the rings onto his right index finger. Jørmund turns his head enough to look to which of his companions offer to take the aid.

Flicker glanced over at Aura when she brought up the genie war, a grimace forming over their face as they remembered that. With the Nanna May stuff and their dream, they'd almost forgotten about it. They made a mental note that their next letter to the Order should be if they'd heard anything about that. They hadn't been the only genasi in the Order, after all. Someone must have some intel that could be helpful.

When Jørmund mentioned destroying the items they had gotten from Nana May, they nodded. "That would probably be the best solution," they said. "Just get rid of the temptation immediately." They then pointed with their thumb to Aura. "But, considering they're in Aura's lamp, they're pretty out of the way already. We can't get to them without her, and I trust her to stop us from doing anything stupid." They look at Aura. "So it's your call really. I mean... how much space do you have in your lamp? Are they, I dunno, taking up too much room? If not, we can keep them in there and it probably would be fine."

They then looked over at Jørmund. "Considering I'm going to be on the front lines, I probably need a little extra help." They turned their gaze over to Cascade. "Unless you think you might need it."

Jørmund nods and tosses the ring to Flinker. "Hopefully we have some time to prepare. If not try not to rush into anything before I'm able to use my magic" he said before turning back around to keep his eyes on the path. The cleric makes a mental note that he should probably craft more of those rings for that spell. It might be useful for each of the others to have one incase he needed to support them with that spell instead of another. It would tax his own reserves for using magic, however keeping the others alive does out weigh that.

Cascade was surprised to see the messenger and she watched as Flicker received the message and read it quietly. She listened as Flicker told them what he learned from the letter. Cascade didn't really react about the talk about the trinkets from Nanna May's items. If anything, she was uncomfortably silent. That kind of talk was too familiar to her...

She agreed with getting rid of the temptation immediately, but....what she heard from the vision...

She looks to Aura when Flicker mentions that the items in question are in her lamp, so it was her call. She blinks out of her thoughts and in surprise when Aura mentions that her father and Cascade's mother are allies in this war, and her eyes go wide. "Oh? Oh!"

Cascade thought to herself, "That's right...! Mom can help! I'm sure everyone in Zephyr asked her for help by now as well!"

Before she could say anything else, Jormund already spoke up, saying that it was bad luck and that he wasn't concerned with why they were involved in it. The conversation then switched over to a spell of Jormund's that could provide protection and who should get it. When Flicker addressed her, Cascade answered them, "Oh, I'm good, Flickah. You should have it,"

After the ring was tossed to Flicker, Cascade speaks, "Well, we should continue on. Once everyone sees that I'm with you, they should have no issues with you being there. I'll help introduce you to everyone! I can't wait!"

Cascade tried to lift her own spirits with the thought of her new friends becoming friends with her Ohana in Zephyr!

As they continue on, a thought strikes Cascade, "Wait a minute...."

She looks to Aura and she asks, "If your Father and my Mother are now allies...does that make us Half-Sisters now?" She began to look starry eyed at the thought of her new friend being a sibling too!

Aura thinks for a moment when having mostly forgotten about the items in the little space. "I mean. I honestly forgot they were even in there. We could attempt to destroy them but who knows if the hag enchanted them to make them harder to destroy. They aren't really harming anyone in my bottle, they are more a danger to me than anyone else at this point. Ill see if I can destroy them tonight and if I can't Ill pull them out and ask people stronger than me if they can do it." She looks at the rest of the group, all of which she was sure were stronger physically than she was. "And if not we can just keep them in the bottle. I have a decent amount of space in there. A few little things aren't going to kill me. Plus they might be fun things to accidentally let our enemy's have." She shrugged knowing that could go good or bad for them in all honesty she just liked messing with people.

She tunes out momentarily while the others talk about who gets the ring Jørmund was offering knowing she generally stayed too far away from fights to benefit from whatever the spell he wanted to use. But her attention is quickly pulled back again by Cascade asking if they were sisters now. "Uh, that's not really how all of that works Cascade." She opens her mouth to keep explaining but shakes her head decidining not to burst her bubble. "But hey, I view everyone in this party as family so we can be sisters in that reguard if you like." She had never told Jørmund or Flicker exactly how she felt about them so it was unclear if she was lying for the sake of Cascade or telling the truth, finally.

Cascade looked more perplexed and thoughtful than hurt at all after Aura gave her answer. The water genasi couldn't help but wonder if she used the wrong word for what was thinking. She snapped out of the reverie when Aura stated that she views everyone in the party as family. Her expression immediately brightened, with a wide smile, and she answers happily, "Auwe! I'd love that, Aura!"

The possibility that Aura could be lying never crossed Cascade's mind. She instead looks to Flicker and Jormund, as she adds, "Flickah, Jormund, you guys are part of my Ohana too!"

She then adds, "I can't wait to introduce you to everyone in Zephyr!" For now, the threat of the invaders and the demon's words were gone from her mind.

Flicker took the ring from Jørmund, holding it up for a moment to inspect it before putting it on. They turned their attention back to the rest of the group just as Aura stated she considered the rest of the group family, a statement that made Flicker pause. Considering they'd had a lot of quarrels over their time together, particularly of recent given the prospect of a genie war, they had not expected it. They glanced over at Aura, and were in the process of studying her facial expression for any hints that might have been some kind of joke when Cascade, who they had known for far less time, voiced a similar sentiment, as well as her excitement to introduce the party to her village.

They felt tears starting to form in the corner of their eyes and quickly ducked their head to avoid eye contact with anyone else in the wagon."Err, you guys too," Flicker said, coughing slightly as if to clear their throat.

Soon enough, the party's wagon arrived at the gates of Zephyr. Standing guard on the gatehouse roof, a water genasi man quickly spotted the approaching vehicle. And as it drew closer, the gatehouse lookout recognized two of the wagons occupants quickly enough. "Open the gate... Open the gate!" The lookout called. "Cascade is back! And she found Jørmund Hammer Fist!"

The gates swung open a moment later and the party's wagon rolled into the town, a quiet yet audible crunching sound beginning to drift up from beneath the wagon as it did. Should any party members look over the sides of the wagon, they would see that the crunching sound stemmed from the wheels rolling over a thin sheet of frost that was already beginning to form on the town's dirt road. The smell of salt and brine hung in the air, mingled with the faint smoke of hearth fires struggling against the unnatural cold. Though the sun was high in the summer sky, the air bit at each party member's skin as if it were winter. The few people outside in this cold paused a moment to watch the party's arrival. Faces lined with hardship and fear softened ever so slightly when they too recognized Cascade and Jørmund.

As the wagon rolled into the town square, they would catch sight of a gnome and a half-red dragon arguing with each other. Cascade would know the gnome as Harbormaster Gringam Oshwin Fnipperting Nackle Pearlywhite and the half-dragon as Sheriff Matches.

"With all due respect, Harbormaster, the cold will be the least of our worries once the Northmen make landfall." The half-dragon said. "We need every able body in militia training if we want a chance of surviving this."

"Morale has been at an all time low since news of the approaching raid fleet reached town." The gnome replied. "If we run out of firewood or can't rustle up enough warm clothing for the children at the very least, people may very well start pulling up stakes. We need people to go out and gather, Sheriff."

Neither the Harbormaster nor the Sheriff have noticed the party yet.

What do you do?

Soon the familiar gates leading into her hometown, Zephyr, were in sight! As soon as she could, Cascade stood up on the moving wagon, and she waved to the lookouts cheerfully, "Aloha Hoi!" In turn, she hears the water genasi calls to the others inside to open the gates, clearly identifying her and Jormund!

"Open the gate... Open the gate!" The lookout called. "Cascade is back! And she found Jørmund Hammer Fist!"

The gates open and the wagon rolls in, only for an unfamiliar sound to reach Cascade's ears: The crunch of frost, forming on the dirt road. Looking up, she takes a deep breath through her nose to take in the familiar scent of salt and brine. The cold didn't make sense, and it was so unfamiliar to Cascade. It was summer! This was the time that everyone was usually swimming, surfing, fishing, and enjoying the ocean and beach if not working on something else.

Instead, her emotions sobered as she takes in the sight of the familiar faces that once smiled now are lined with hardship and fear. She felt concern for them, but she does steel herself and give them a warm smile as she passes by, and greets them one by one.

Eventually, when the group seems to be alone for a bit, Cascade speaks to her friends again, "Okay. Now we just gotta find Sheriff Matches, and Harbormaster Gringam Oshwin Fnipperting Nackle Pearlywhite--"

She then hears a pair of familiar voices, and looking to the two familiar figures in question, she finishes her line of thinking out loud to her friends, "Ah, speak of the devils!"

She then waves to Jormund, as though telling him to come with her silently, and she raises a finger to her lips in a slightly mischievous smile. If he doesn't follow, she holds his hand and pulls him along to the other pair.

She then heads over to the pair as they speak not saying a word yet, just walking up casually like it was another ordinary day at home.

"With all due respect, Harbormaster, the cold will be the least of our worries once the Northmen make landfall." The half-dragon said. "We need every able body in militia training if we want a chance of surviving this."

"Morale has been at an all time low since news of the approaching raid fleet reached town." The gnome replied. "If we run out of firewood or can't rustle up enough warm clothing for the children at the very least, people may very well start pulling up stakes. We need people to go out and gather, Sheriff."

"You know, we could always defer to the expert in these sorts of matters..." Cascade chimes in, twirling a strand of her watery hair, as though she had been part of the conversation, remaining as cool and casual as possible, waiting for their surprised reactions.

A smile does break out on her face, as she greets the both of them, "I'm back! And look who's with me!" She then gestures to Jormund with both hands, "Jormund Hammerfist!"

Aura took in the surroundings, or rather the people as they rolled into the village. She had seen more than her fair share of villages in hardship, it was part of the job, part of what she did now, but it never got any easier. Seeing the concern on the faces of those around. She watched as their faces change slightly, to one of hope, as they spotted their Earthen friend. They did look cold, and hopeless, perhaps the devil's deal would have helped to boost moral, but at what cost and for how long? She shook her head getting the thought out of it just as the group pulled up to a pair bickering.

Aura opened her mouth to hail the pair but quickly closed it and smirked when Cascade began sneaking over to the two, pulling Jormund behind her. "You know, we could always defer to the expert in these sorts of matters..." The Water Genasi chimed in as if she had never left. Though she can't hold the facade for long and quickly breaks indroducing Jormund as she does.

The Air Genasi walks over to the group, poking out cartoonishly from behind Jormund's larger frame. "And friends." She says with a smile and a wave, and then a hand motion back to Flicker. "I wouldn't call us experts but we are here to help. Aura Coolbreeze at your service." She steps out from behind Jormund and gives an exagerated bow as a greeting, knowing full well it was highly unneeded but not caring. She was one for the dramatics after all. "As long as that service doesn't require any heavy lifting I have twigs for arms see." She chuckles a little at herself making sure to keep her usual upbeat personality as on as much as possible in the face of all this worry.

Jørmund listened to the others discussing family and how they considered the others here as part of their family. As he looked back at the three in the cart, he noticed Flicker turning to face away from the others. He did look at Aura for a good moment while trying to decide if she was serious in what she meant.

He turned back to face the road and continued to plod along the cart, his mind pondering on what this group actually meant to him. The last three years of travel with them, people joining or leaving, the nearly loosing someone while trying to chase of some problem of another town or village. It had been quite the adventure since leaving home and the cold northern pine forests nestled on the low mountains.

These were his people, all five present, and all those who were not. Sure they were difficult at times, Jørmund was sure he irritated them with his antics as well, but at the end of the day they would all settle down eat meals together when they could and watch each other's backs. It was similar to how it was back home and yet different. In the north, to survive you did rely on your neighbor and hope they could help you, especially when the winter winds blew. With these people, Jørmund knew they would help him, and trusted that he would help them when the time came.

The crunch of the frost under his boots reminded him of late fall, the whispers of the approaching cold and hard times. It was strange to feel it in the middle of summer down here where the cold rarely reached. The recognition if the sentry as to who he was was almost as unsettling and surprising as the cold. Jørmund knew his story had been told, though aside from the bard he met days ago he figured that story mostly stayed up north. The expressions of the folk uplifting some as he and the others made their way to the town square. To the earth genasi it seemed as though the home here were not built to retain the heat from the hearths and keep the cold at bay. They should have moved as many people into as few structures as possible to save warmth and fuel for the fires. "Have these people never seen cold before?" he asked aloud wondering how cold it actually got here, and if the deal with the imp would have been better than he had thought.

Before getting an answer from anyone, Cascade had motioned for him to follow her, a look of mischief on her face. Jørmund wasn't sure what she was wanting to do only shrugging in return. Before he knew what was going on she had held his hand and led him over to the gnome and half dragon that were arguing nearby. He caught just enough of the argument to know that both were right to an extent. However when Cascade introduced him and said he was an expert on the matter, Jørmund couldn't help but stammer a bit flush with a bit of embarrassment.

Fortunately Aura stepped in and corrected Cascade, giving the cleric enough time to gather himself. "Aura is right in that we are hear to help. I would not call us experts either. With that being said it seems you two are at odds. Do you know where the fleet is and how much fire wood do you have in your stores? What defenses do you have around the harbor?" He asked hoping to learn more about what the village had to work with. Hopefully there were defensible positions where the raiders had to land, or could be forced to land. They would likely be using flatter bottom boats, easy to pull ashore and back into the water when needed. The raiders knew they would be vulnerable when landing and would account for that when the decided to attack.

"Do you know who is leading this fleet?" The answer to this question was one he was concerned about almost as much as the answers to his other questions. It would also let him know how daring and clever the raiding party would be.