Rurik enters Stone's Gate with no small measure of pride, relief and happiness. His companions have held up well under the journey, and though it is not over yet, the past couple of days have proven to be a good test of his party's mettle under fire, a test they've passed with flying colors.
As the party assembles next to the default tavern, Rurik takes the opportunity to stable his new horse. Flipping 5 gold to the stablehand with the instruction to "do 'e best ye can for 'im," Rurik grabs his pack and sets off in search of his third cousin Brannam, who at last report was still operating out of here.
With the helpful aid of the townsfolk, Rurik indeed finds his cousin easily. Stepping through the door of Brannam's office, he directs his familial greeting in Dwarven to the man behind the counter.
"You look like you could use an ale or seven, my cousin."
[I leave tonight for a trip - I'll be back home next Wednesday, the 18th. In the meantime, I'll have occasional access to the web and therefore the boards; but if you don't hear from me for a while, that's probably why.]