Strangers in the Town of Kenner

Honorable Priestess of Melora,

We have finally arrived at the town of Kenner. It is a small town (perhaps 200 people) of low buildings and warehouses, backed by mountains of snow. As was the case with the Lodge, the buildings are all lit with some sort of magical light, since the sun never shines in the sky.

The town sits on the edge of the water (or ice, in this case) and has a harbor for incoming ships. Three long, narrow ships sit in the harbor. They seem to be icebreakers -- ships with the magical ability the break through the ice.

We see smoke coming from the tops of the buildings but almost no one seems to be walking outside. Understandably, the climate in this Arctic region is harsh, and most would want to keep indoors, where it is warmer.

We find what appears to be a bar. Ryn, the Warlock, is the most streetwise among us and has the best chance to find our contact, Manos. He enters the bar alone, in the hopes that it will give him a better chance to get information from the town's inhabitants.

While we wait, some of the inhabitants pass us by and give us strange looks. A few ask why we're here. When we mention that we came across the tundra, they stare at us in disbelief.

After a period of time, Ryn comes out and tells us what had happened inside. From the moment he walked in to the bar, everyone drew back from him and stared. The bartender said to him, "No ships have come in for a while. How did you get here?" When Ryn explained that we walked across the tundra, the bartender shook his head in disbelief. "Why wouldn't you take a ship into port? This is very strange."

Ryn asked the bartender about Manos. "There is someone here with that name," the bartender replied, "but... are you looking for trouble?" Ryn convinced the man that he only wanted to talk to Manos, and the bartender sent a boy out to get him.

While he waited for Manos, Ryn asked for some mead or something to warm him from the chill outside. The bartender sighed and said that he only had something that tasted like vodka. (This is truly a harsh and merciless environment!)

Manos finally arrived. He was an older man in his 50s with dark hair. He actually owned this bar.

At that point, Ryn came out to get us. We followed Ryn back into the bar, and Manos leads us to a room in back.

"I hope this is important," Manos said. "You pulled me away from my work in the oil sands." I had never heard of oil sands, although our Mage Kale was familiar with them. In the North, there were large creatures of magic that once roamed the lands. At some point, many of them perished and were compressed into oil. This oil is a common ingredient used by alchemists and mages.

In Kenner, most people work in the oil sands during the cold weather. When the weather gets warmer, the inhabitants prefer to go whaling. (I had heard stories of these large, gentle sea creatures who were preyed upon by men. There is a rumor that they are just as wise and intelligent as we are.)

We told Manos that Falen sent us and that he needed to take us to the Mad Mage, but Manos demanded proof. "How do I know that you really know Falen?" Bran showed him the knot, and Manos stared in disbelief. "I never thought that this day would come."

He had only been to the Mad Mage once, 20 years ago. He helped Lakos (Garg's father) to find the Mad Mage's hideout. Then Falen and the Dragonborn (Carlagnios' father) showed up, and all hell broke loose.

Manos said that he owed Falen, so he agreed to bring us to the Mad Mage. (He did not want to tear up Kenner, his home.) He needed 2 days to take care of a few things but would let us stay in the bar while we waited. (He had some rooms in the back where we could sleep.)

Then, we needed to use the icebreakers to travel across the waters to the Mage's Den. It would cost us about 10 gold pieces to rent an icebreaker.

We agreed to his plan, replenished our supplies, and, 2 days later, found ourselves on an icebreaker, heading toward the den of the Mad Mage.

There is something that I find puzzling still. Falen, Mades, Lakos, everyone who has seen the Mad Mage and his den -- none of them remember who he was or where it is. How is it that Manos still knows the way?

Perhaps we shall learn that when we get to the Mad Mage's den. I shall write you again when we arrive.

Your faithful servant,

Aelar