Bryn Shander is unlike the other villages in the Ten Towns. Its proud flag flies high on the top of the central hills of the tundra between three lakes, south of Dwarf Vale. Not a single boat on the lake flies its flag.
, it does not have a dock on any lake, but it is indisputably the geographical center of the area and the hub of activity.
This was where the main caravans from Luskan stayed, the dwarves who came to trade, and most of the artisans, craft makers, and appraisers. Bryn Sander was only surpassed by the amount of fish he caught.
No other town. Tamaran and Targos on the south shore of Lake Duerden, as well as Kaiconi and Cadineva on the west shore of Lake Dinisha are the overlords on the lake.
High walls surround Bryn Sander, blocking the cold wind and preventing the invasion of goblins and barbarians. The buildings inside are very similar to those in other villages and towns in this area: low wooden buildings. They are just cloth
The houses in Lyn Sander are close together, and there are usually several families crowded into the same small house. Although it is crowded, there is still a certain degree of comfort and safety in the city, which is in the middle of nowhere.
The largest civilized place within a hundred miles.
After Imric returned to the demiplane from Inkanistayum, he went alone through the teleportation device to the location of the locator dropped by the black dragon. This is one of the ten towns of Icewind Dale [Brin·
Shande], a prosperous trade center in a bitter cold land.
Imrik was walking on the street wearing a black wizard robe, but the fishermen and caravans coming and going were used to it. In this small town near [Luskan], the figure of the mysterious wizard would always appear in people's sights.
In sight.
He walked around various vendors and shops with great interest, and opened a room in the tavern. He wanted to stay for a few more days to appreciate the unique ice and snow scenery and humanistic customs in this northern town.
At the same time, a heated meeting was taking place in the mayor's mansion of [Bryn Shander].
"Fellow speakers,"
A short halfling stood on a podium in a gorgeous hall and said to many well-dressed leaders in the audience.
"While I respect the importance of the debate between Kedineva and Keikoni's spokesman, I believe we have more urgent issues to discuss."
Before he took the stage, two representatives, Dolin Luga, a skinny man with dark skin, and Jasin Brandt, a younger blond man, were arguing fiercely about territorial disputes between them.
At this time, under the interruption of the short halfling, the two of them turned blue, but everyone else looked at the halfling curiously.
"This is a good start," halfling Regis thought, "I have attracted everyone's attention."
He cleared his throat, trying to steady his voice and make it more impressive: "I know without a doubt that the barbarian tribes will jointly attack the ten towns!"
Although he tried to make the announcement sound more dramatic, Regis found himself facing an indifferent and confused crowd.
"Unless we form an alliance," Regis continued in an anxious tone, "that group of people will break through our towns and kill anyone who dares to resist them!"
"Indeed, Regis spokesperson of Lonely Forest Town." Cassios said in a deliberately calm voice, but in fact he was mocking Regis. "We have been attacked by barbarians before. There is no need to be here.
…”
"This time is different!" Regis shouted.
"All the tribes have united. Previous attacks were one tribe against one city, and we usually handled it well. But how could Tamaran or Kaikoni, or even Bryn Shander, possibly fight against all the barbarians in Icewind Dale?"
Union Army?”
Some of the speakers sat back in their chairs and pondered what the halfling had said; others began to whisper privately, some worried, others angry and disbelieving. Finally Cassios banged his gavel again, silencing the entire chamber.
Then Kemp of Targos slowly rose from his chair with his familiar bravado. "May I speak, friendly Cassios?" he asked with unnecessary politeness. "Perhaps I
It allows everyone to view this important announcement from a more appropriate perspective."
Targos is the largest and most powerful of the nine fishing towns, and its fleet size is exactly twice that of Tamaran, the second largest.
"Members of the Council," Kemp began, leaning forward to make himself appear larger to the others. "Let us learn more about the halfling's story before we worry.
"We have fought off barbarian invaders too many times to believe that the defenses of even our smallest towns are adequate."
"You said you knew that someone was about to invade," Kemp's sharp eyes stared at the halfling. "How did you get this valuable and hard-to-obtain information?"
Regis found that his temples were sweating. He knew where Kemp's question would lead, but he had no way to avoid this fact. "I learned it from a friend who often travels on the tundra." He confessed.
to answer.
"The dark elf?" Kemp asked.
With Regis's neck bent upward and Kemp looking down at him, Regis soon found himself on the defensive. The halfling's father had warned him when he faced humans.
They are often at a disadvantage because humans physically have to lower their heads to talk to halflings, just like talking to their own children. Under such circumstances, his father's words felt heartbreaking and true to Regis. He wiped his upper lip
A drop of sweat on my face.
His friend, oh, that kind and brave dark elf, Drizzt Do'Urden, may the gods punish the pedantic who would discriminate against him because of his appearance.
"I can't speak for the rest of you," Kemp continued, then laughed, looking at the halfling's angry eyes with a ridiculous look, "but I have too many more important things to do.
Do it instead of running away and hiding in the city because of what the dark elf said!" The burly spokesman laughed again, and this time he was not the only one laughing.
Agovar of Tamaran offered some unexpected help to the halfling's failed intentions. "Perhaps we should let the spokesman for Lonewood continue. If what he says is true..."
"His words are nothing but echoes of the Dark Elf's lies!" Kemp roared. "Ignore him, we have fought off barbarians before, and..."
But then Kemp suddenly stopped, because Regis jumped on the conference table. The halfling couldn't take it anymore, and he had to resort to some dirty tricks to save Ten-Towns. He secretly removed a ruby pendant from
The inside of his vest shone brightly on his chest as he walked up and down, using the table as his stage.
"What do you know that you can laugh at the dark elves like this?" he asked the others, especially Kemp.
"Can any of you name the person he harmed? No! You punished him for the sins of his people, but not one of you thought about Drizzt Do'Urden coming to us
The reason is because he refuses to accept the way of life of his own people?"
The silence in the chamber led Regis to believe that he had either impressed these people or been considered nonsense. In any case, he was not arrogant or stupid enough to think that his little speech could accomplish his task.
He walked over to face Kemp. This time he looked down, but the Targos spokesman seemed on the verge of bursting into laughter at the halfling's remarks.
Regis had to act quickly. He bent slightly, raised his hand to his cheek, pretending to scratch it, but really trying to get the pendant to start spinning, tapping it with his arm as it swung by, and then patiently
There was silence for a moment. Ten seconds passed, and Kemp's eyes did not blink.
"You must understand the wisdom of guarding against this attack," Regis suggested calmly. Then he added in a whisper that only Kemp could hear: "These people look to you for guidance, Great Kemp.
Military alliances will only increase your status and influence."
The effect is astonishing.
"Perhaps there is more to the halfling's words than we initially believed." Kemp said mechanically, his eyes never leaving the ruby.
Regis was dazed for a moment, then stood up straight and hid the gem back behind his vest. Kemp shook his head, as if clearing a confusing dream from his mind, and rubbed his dry eyes. The tower
The spokesman for Ergos seemed unable to recall the last moments, but the halfling's advice had been deeply implanted in his mind. Kemp himself was surprised to find that his attitude had changed.
"We should listen to Regis," he declared loudly. "Because forming such an alliance will not make the situation worse, but the consequences of doing nothing could be really serious!"
Jasin Brandt seized this good opportunity and jumped up from his chair. "The Kemp spokesman was very wise," he said. "We, the town of Cadineva, are included in the battle that will repel the enemy."
In the army!”
The rest of the speakers lined up behind Kemp as Drizzt expected, and Dorin Lugar once again showed an even more exaggerated show of loyalty than Brandt.
When Regis left the Council later that day, he felt quite proud that his hope for the survival of Ten-Towns had returned. But the halfling found that his mind was filled with thoughts about the power of the gems that Drizzt had given him. He
I want to find the least likely way to fail and turn this newly discovered power of persuading others to cooperate into benefits and pleasure.