[Regin Hardhammer]

"Captain Marreth, Captain Marreth, you told me to wake you now sir," a young crewmember said as he tapped the captain on the shoulder.

"Thank you mate," said Marreth, still half sleeping. "Now go get ready to leave. We have a day's jouneying ahead of us. Opening his eyes, Marreth sensed a dim light washing over his head. The dawn sun had not yet peaked its head over the horizon. Marreth rose and began loading his camping pack with coats, blankets, food, and any other materials he might need for the short journey. Although he was quite tired, Marreth packed with zeal, because he was eager to have another opportunity to eliminate the intruders. After a few minutes, the Captain finished packing and, after a small breakfast of bread and salted pork, walked onto the deck.

The day was clear and cold, but not so frigid as some of the recent ones had been. In a booming proclamation, Marreth declared that the time had come to depart from the ship. After the plank was lowered and all the crew got off, the trek to the north began. The trip proved to be unexpectedly tame, with only occasional slips on patches of snow covered ice. There were no encounters with the enemy, and the most vicious animal that anyone spotted was a lone snow rabbit and a distant herd of caribou. The men traded quips with each other, boasting of the rich rewards they would reap back home in Umbar, if only they could find the lost treasure Stones.

The Corsairs had reached the spot by early evening. It was very desolate, and Marreth never would have thought to look in this remote region if the strange Lossoth had not told him about the Elves' plans to search it.

"This is the place," said Marreth, glancing down at the map that the stranger had drawn for him. "Make camp here and we'll begin drilling the holes in the morning. It's to dark to begin now." With a grin he observed, "Some of you dandies might fall in, freeze, and then sink to the bottom like an anchor. We want to reserve such a special welcome for our Elvish friends. "

Marreth went out by himself and took a look at the snowy bluffs along the shore and the wide expanse of ice that spread out for a long ways into the water. He observed that, underneath the sheets of ice, the water was swift and deep. Anyone who went through would have a hard time surviving, he noted with satisfaction.

Then he swang back to the campsire and began building his own hut by digging a hole in the ground and mounding snow bricks on the sides and across part of the top. He did just as the stranger had suggested. Each of the men followed his lead. After he finished constructing the shelter, he spread a blanket across the bottom and laid down to sleep. This infernal land was so much colder than his home in Umbar. And the snowpit was not nearly as snug as his bed on the ship, but Marreth paid little heed to the cold and the snow that was coming down again for he had his vengence to warm him.