Arn Kalapunki swears an Oath upon the sky-iron of Ulvetann to find the Lair of Thaugolos.

As he looks at the distant peaks, he sees a lone peak that stands above the others separated by a great chasm. He is able to just make out through the blowing snow what appears to be the broken and ruined crenelated battlements of an ancient tower atop the peak. Arn is convinced that this is the most likely place for Thaugolos’ lair.

Arn Kalapunki finds a small cave within across the narrow valley he is in and moves towards it to shelter from the winter weather that has set in. It is dry and warm within, protected from the weather by winding tunnels that lead to a safe room.

He emerges as the wind dies down into the night air, with the light of a full moon reflecting off of the newly laid snow to see by. The night sky is clear, with the stars shining above him.

Arn Kalapunki begins his journey towards the distant mountain he suspects the lair he seeks is hidden. As he travels down the narrow defile, he comes to an area that is abundant with well-sheltered caves, allowing him to travel in safety and even some comfort.

As he nears the end of the valley which he was certain would lead towards his destination, rather than a clear exit he finds a dead end … it is a box canyon! He realizes he must backtrack and find another way out. The walls of the valley, unfortunately, are steep and icy. This slows him significantly, costing him days of travel time as well as supplies.

He does eventually manage to climb out using his trekking and climbing gear … only to find himself blocked by the scree of a recent landslide. This delay costs him even more supplies and causes him to lose spirit, becoming unprepared due to lack of supplies while on the hard rocky faces of these winter mountains.

Facing a shortage of food, Arn Kalapunki takes a few days to hunt and resupply. He is successful in doing so, managing to track and bring down a bighorn sheep. He uses the fur and skin to make repairs on his gear, and harvest all the flesh from the animal for the remaining journey.

Navigating the long way around, Arn Kalapunki is able to pick his way around the various obstacles in his way. In doing so, he comes across an Ironlander mine, which he identifies by the runes around the entrance. Not currently being worked, it is empty. Going inside, he finds supplies: the mine is still active, and this points to the existence of an Ironlander settlement somewhere in the region.

After a few days of search, he comes across the settlement of Bleak Hall, a mining camp run by Thorhilder.

Arriving at Bleak Hall, he is confronted by the camp’s guards. They are on edge, even more than usual, as they recently lost a caravan to a raiding party who slaughtered the guards, took the supplies it was bringing, and captured the overseer’s own son who was travelling with the caravan.

Due this situation, when Arn Kalapunki hails them, they immediately fire a warning arrow into the ground at his feet and tell him that he will not be given entrance. They instruct him that if he wishes to talk to anyone, it will be from outside the walls. Arn notes that the weather is closing in, and the guards fetch the overseer Thorhilder to the wall.

Thorhilder approaches the wall in her armor, with the guards in the towers on the wall still training their bows on Arn Kalapunki. She asks what his business is, at first suggesting that he is with the raiders. Arn explains that he is simply looking for temporary lodging before heading further North, a statement with surprises Thorhilder who inquires why he is going North in winter.

Arn tells her that he will share his reasons and plans if they allow him entrance to the camp and to share their fire. Thorhilder calls him a madman for taking on such a journey, and notes that it is bad luck to turn away a madman to his certain death. Accepting that he is not with the raiders, Thorhilder grants him entrance if he will relinquish his weapons.

Arn agrees .. but finds it hard to part with the spear Ulvetann, and asks her to allow him to retain it. Thorhilder recognizes the spear from a story her father told her of a man who came through the area hunting a dragon. That man was Vestlidi, and Thorhilder deduces that Arn is searching for Thaugolos. Confirming this, they agree to discuss this further over the fire.

After eating a simple meal provided by the residents of the camp, they speak further of Thaugolos and Arn asks if they know where the lair is .. which Thornhilder does! It is indeed in the fortifications atop the mountain he had spied some days earlier.

Thornhilder recounts how after nursing the wounds that Vestlidi gave it, Thaugolos eventually emerged. The beast has since hunted her and her family.

Concluding their talks, Arn set his bedroll by the fire. As he does so, Thornhilder tells him of the caravan they lost.

At Thorhilder‘s aggressive and unrelenting request, Arn Kalapunki takes on the oath to find the missing caravan.