When Goron awoke the next day, Norman had already begun to clear up his bedroll.

  "Today, we are heading south. Are there any places we should watch out for?"

  Goron asked, chewing on one of the sticks they gathered the day before to get the weird morning taste out of his mouth. Normally he would just eat a handful of snow, but as they had recently entered a warmer climate, snow had become rarer, with a complete lack of it developing only now.

  Norman looked over, a thoughtful expression forming as theypacked up.

  "How will you live once we reach Furchenstein? It will be warm for me, but you will probably be cooked once we reach that place. Our next target is a small community in Mittellande, a beautiful place back then, with a good pub. We can probably just pass through there, given that most have forgotten who we are.

  Maybe we can even rest there, drinking for the old times we spend in the Leeching Lute, they had the great bear there. Though the people it belongs to have probably changed during those times."

  He explained, Indicating places that Goron quickly projected in a system interface, further drawing the map of the world to the best of his ability.

  "So, we got the frozen wastes and the plateau in the north, with Northbridge beneath it. On a straight line south from there, we find Mittellande, followed by furchenstein. In these area the climate grows warmer, before we get to the Dreadrock mountains. That right so far?"

  Goron asked, indicating the respective area with his fingers as their wandering led them further south.

  After an hour of passing by groves of trees and the occasional frozen ground, even the last remnants of snow stopped and the forest thinned out to reveal whide grasslands.

  "We reached the plains of Mittellande, the village should be in that direction."

  Norman indicated, pointing towards a column of smoke on the horizon.

  "I guess that means we will reach it today, make a longer stop there to learn a bit about the locals and earn some coins before we attempt the final part of our journey and find a place to build our headquarters. Any questions about the plan?"

  Goron asked. He had done what he did best on their journey, planning and thinking about the options each path might offer as he completely disregarded his surroundings and blindly followed Norman and Frostbite, who each did their best to guide him along the safe paths where he wouldn't run against the closest tree because he was lost in his thoughts.

  As they approached the source of the smoke, it quickly occured to them that the village had grown since Normans last visit. The paved roads and traveling merchants they encountered a typical indicator for a larger city.

  "I'm sorry." Goron interrupted one man on his carriage, jogging as he had to keep up with the horse.

  "I was looking for a village around here but only found this town, may I know its name?"

  The old mans eyes furrowed.

  "Haven't you heard of our capital, Neustadt? It has been that way for generations, though some say that it used to be the place heroes came to dine. We even have a temple around here, worshipping all gods equally to honor the heroes that drove back the demons of the north. Your accent sounds heavily like the one from Northbridge, few that are not born of Ice live there, and with the Empires attack on the eastern shores, most capable warriors have been drafted there. And, considering how traditional that area is, I suspect your knowledge of the world to be mostly based on myths and legeds.come with me, I didn't have someone to talk to in a long time."

  The man encouraged them, slowing his horse to better accomodate the Njords speed.

  "We lived quite isolated for many years, which might be the source of our unusual looks. We would love to know the history of the place we are about to visit, especially now that we heard it has a shrine inside."

  Goron said, the backstory he and Norman and worked out on their way now put to the test, successfully, by the look on the old mans face.

  "After the heroes defeated the demons, they build the shrine to make sure that no evil influences could taint their home again. At first, the temple attracted monks, priests and the people who worked on it, attracting merchants like me that transported goods to it, which then resulted in some merchants settling there and farmers expanding theirnfields. And finally, the cities status as the heroes residence, as well as the ever increasing size made it the provinces capital."

  During the explanation, Norman had trouble holding himself back from cursing while Goron was engrossed in the story.

  "That's impressive, sounds like a pretty interesting place. Any areas you recommend or would warn us from?"

  They asked and the old man pondered for a while.

  "A pretty common recommendation, really. Don't go in the slums, crown Street and generally stick to the areas with people of your social standing. That's about everything I can recommend."

  On their way they chatted a little more about mundane topics, the general weather in Mittelande and the kinds of goods the Merchant transported, none of which Goron paid attention to, as he somewhat focussed on Norman to help him stay calm and not kill their new friend.

  Frostbite ranbetween Normans legs, seemingly enjoying the hurdle walk as she didn’t stop until he waited a few seconds for her to pass.

  When they arrived, the first thing they saw where walls of granite and towers of marble protruding behind them, the line to be let in much longer than any of the Njord would have liked, though neither would dare to skip their spot, the guards positioned at the gates keeping order among the mostly exhausted visitors.

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