~ " Well met, Uric, Son of Aslog," Koldan returned the greeting, finally sheathing his weapons and letting his shoulders relax for the first time. With leather-gloved hands, he pulled back the hood of his shoulder-cape, revealing a man towards his late thirties, complete with touches of silver along the outskirts of his hair and the fine layer of stubble upon his cheeks and chin. He held out a hand to the younger swordsman.
" Koldan," he identified himself, " Of Easthaven, from the Dale."
He listened to the conversation between Uric and the Half-Elf woman, smiling tightly as he realized that these people thought they were coming with him. The Ranger was about to (politely) let them down on such a notion, but stayed his tongue. Had they not handled themselves against fire giants? Was not Triboar in massive debt to them as well?
The emotion was clear on his face; though admiring these adventurers, Koldan was not entirely sure what to make of them, especially on the road. By himself, he knew he could move swiftly as needed and could protect himself. Adding others ...
" Ironslag would have even more Fire Giants and their ilk," he finally added to the dialog, " It would be beyond dangerous. We don't rightly know what this 'Weapon' really is, only that we kept a piece of it out of their hands."
He sighed. He was going to break a rule of his, and he didn't want to. Koldan regarded Uric and the red-haired fey-touched woman and closed his eyes tight, sliding them back open with a sense of clarity.
" The girl is right. We don't know what we're dealing with, and I'm not about to march off alone against a possible army of these creatures," he declared, emphasizing his point by tapping his boot against the outstretched arm of the dead giant.
" Messenger birds can be intercepted, and Triboar does not strike me as the place with a cabal of mages to pay and send a message such a distance. Maybe Yartar, possibly, but overland would be guaranteed; the Waterdhavians could help support this area better than we could by waltzing up into the mountains and being crushed, or worse."
Koldan stroked at his facial hair.
" The giants in Ironslag would be waiting for more pieces of this 'Vonindod' as it were - we have time. And speaking of we, I assume the interest means I'm not headed to Waterdeep alone."
He rolled his gaze over to Ilshana, wondering if this was truly worth it. At least she wanted to help - Uric too. Possibly the others. A regular old 'adventuring party' as he had come across so often in Icewind Dale.
" What is your name, Mage ..?" ~
