When Murat and MacDonald had left Port de la Montagne on the Inconstant to find a cure for the aging disease (see Legend of Opal) they traveled north. After several weeks at sea the Inconstant docked at a coast with an icy environment.
The land was populated by the Snow Elves, an ancient people who had lived here for thousands of years.
When MacDonald formed a crew to go deeper inland, the first Elf showed up to observe the remarkable vehicle floating on the water.
When the first observer left, some time later a second one came, looking more specifically for people or other creatures. But since the crew that stayed on board was hiding from the cold, they were not noticed.
More inland the Snow Elves were exchanging their info and decided on actions to take.
In the mean time the expedition team was struggling against the elements.
And then out of nowhere they were stopped by women on the back of polar bears.
MacDonald approached them and explained their mission. When the women heard about the aging disease, their reaction was blunt and short. When he got back to Murat, he asked what they said. MacDonald answered: "We kill men with beards."