[Act V, Scene V] The First Bounty
It's only been a few hours since the first wave of adventurers descended into the stone foot of what had once been a mighty statue, though it may have seemed like a month underground. The fog has lifted and the stars shine in the cold night sky.
Winter Solstice is here. And even in the midst of frantic scrambling into the hostile under-realms there is sense of goodwill.
In the commonly-held Unified Faith that Brodd represents, the sun is conserving its energy during this Longest Night and planning what good tidings it will bring for the coming year.
Manaku, like most elves, celebrates in his own way through silent meditation. But he opens his eyes and stands to greet his returning companions, all gratefully climbing down from the stairway of "laces" on their own two feet, carrying heavy sacks of coin no less!
The first thing the returning adventurers notice is the mangy mastiff hound is not trotting out to greet them. Likewise, the hound's raggedy companion, the cleric of the Trails, is not there to pontificate on their good fortune. Perhaps it was the Solstice that signaled the old man to move along.
The celebration takes a tinge of bitter-sweetness.