As the brave and daring Iconics congratulate themselves over the big, scary, mean, and not the least bit harmless spider they just squashed, a sound reaches their ears. Could it be...bells?
Jingle bells?
The sound comes clearly now through the cold air, and soon in the distance a moving shape catches their eye. It's heading their way, following the path they made through the snow from the bridge.
Yes, the sound is the ringing of jingle bells, and the shape appears to be a dog sled. The driver is waving cheerily at them.
The sled is almost upon them now. Eight large white dogs pull it, each wearing a gold harness festooned with bells. Upon each dog's chest is a golden disk carved with the image of the god Pelor.
The sled swooshes to a halt, pelting the Iconics with ice crystals. The driver claps white furred mittens together and grins.
"By Pelor's Blazing Warmth, it is a good thing dwarves move so slowly through snow!" Jozan pulls back his hood, revealing a broad smile that is almost blinding in the sunlight. "Sorry I'm late. That message you sent to the Temple got mislaid somehow, I'm sure. Of course you wouldn't think of facing down evil and nastiness without Pelor's Own Iconic at your side. Would you?"
He reaches into his furs and pulls out a scrap of parchment. "Oh, and somebody dropped this back at the shack." It's a bit of the map...just enough of it to lead Jozan here. "You really should remember to clean up after yourselves." He sniffs the air and blinks at Krusk. "Especially you, my dear barbarian. The map really became unnecessary one I realized you were strewing the trail with your...leftovers."
The Cleric removes his mittens, then rubs his hands together and walks toward the recent kill. "Now, what have we here, Hmm?"
