The date is 4713 AR on Oathday, 17th Earstus at 12:00 pm - current moon cycle: new moon
The location is Heldren - The Silver Stout
The sleepy village of Heldren has rarely seen so much excitement or concern. Hunters from the nearby Border Wood speak of unnaturally cold weather at the height of summer that descended on the forest just days ago. Heavy snow followed, and those who returned spoke of an uneasy presence in the woods, as well as new, dangerous predators. No one knows what this event means, but the town’s soothsayer, Old Mother Theodora, claims dark times lie ahead.
As if in proof of that dire prophecy, a badly wounded mercenary arrived in town yesterday, claiming to be a bodyguard of Lady Argentea Malassene. He told the village council that the noblewoman’s escort came under attack by bandits and strange, wintery creatures near the edge of the Border Wood. He alone escaped, and Lady Argentea was dragged away into the forest. Now the townsfolk cast fearful eyes toward the snowy forest, worried what else might emerge to threaten their peaceful village.
Diplomacy
Ragnar Lothveld -
Andrei Kovacs -
Creed Baguette -
Knowledge (Local)
Hargo -
Lore Each Character Gathered:
as well as...
A farmer's son took ill a few days ago after falling through the ice over Wishbone Creek. The boy said he spotted a white stag in the forest-and heard it talking-then tried to follow it.
as well as...
A group of rangers in the Border Wood called the High Sentinels usually keep bandit activity curbed. They're doing a poor job if brigands could attack a well-armed caravan and abduct Lady Argentea.
as well as...
Locals say a hunter named Dryden Kepp claimed he saw a giant white weasel on the High Ridge in the forest. No one believed him so he went back to trap it and prove them wrong.
Once again, Kovacs wished he were someplace warm. By all rights, he should be someplace warm. This was Southern Taldor, after all. And while Kilava might enjoy the colder weather, he most certainly did not. But, here he was, and so, he may as well get something to eat for lunch, and maybe learn something about what was going on in this place while he was at it. He headed down to the common room of the tavern which he’d spent the night at.
”Hello, I’ll have whatever you’re cooking for lunch, please,” Kovacs said with a friendly smile to whoever was behind the counter at the moment.
”Bloody strange weather you’ve been having, eh?” he commented.
The location is Heldren - The Silver Stout
Kale greets you, "We have a hearty stew ready to go if you'd like that. Perhaps some bread and drink to go along with it." She begins to prepare your food. "The weather is very strange, I can't remember the last time it was even cold in this area. It's only mid-summer, something weird is going on." She puts a bowl of stew up onto the counter with some bread and a drink of your preference (ale or water).
"My thanks," Kovacs said, as he dug in, "Any idea what might be causing all this? I hear there's been plenty of strangeness going on around the Woods," he said, sounding a little worried. Whatever it was, it was probably going to be a pain for travelers such as himself.
Just finishing his stew, Ragnar pushes his bowl away from him and asks for another drink. He turns to the half-elf a couple seats to the right and smiles, "It seems it's not just the weather that's strange. Besides the ice, which reminds me a little of home, I heard about thieves, strange illness, and kidnappings. Pretty exciting place for such a small town."
He then thanks Kale for the ale and takes a large gulp. A bit of foam and liquid lingering on his beard.
Hargo looked miserably bored as he arrived in town by the northern path. Earlier that morning he had quarreled with his mother, begging to be allowed to go out with father as he hunted both bandits and animals. Instead he was forced to go into town to buy some warmer clothing for his family, as they feared the cold would only get worse.
As he walked down the path, he pulled his furs tighter, as he was not used to the cold in summer. Shortly he arrived at the general store and started to look around. "Anyone here?", he announced, scanning the shelves for anything useful.
Hargo stares with interest at the arrow magnet. "Arrow magnet... What is this? he asks, intrigued, though he knows he can't afford it.
"Not today. My pouch, it is not heavy." He gives his coin pouch a little shake and continues on. "Mother sent me to find warmer cloth and furs. She is afraid it will get colder. We need four, one smaller for Taltia. Also, Borgo wants me to tell you that he'll have many furs within tenday."
Just finishing his stew, Ragnar pushes his bowl away from him and asks for another drink. He turns to the half-elf a couple seats to the right and smiles, "It seems it's not just the weather that's strange. Besides the ice, which reminds me a little of home, I heard about thieves, strange illness, and kidnappings. Pretty exciting place for such a small town."
He then thanks Kale for the ale and takes a large gulp. A bit of foam and liquid lingering on his beard.
"Indeed, the kidnapping of a Noblewoman, no less... Though I can't say the illness seems particularly strange. Falling through ice is a good way to catch a cold. Where's home for you?" Kovacs asked curiously.
"It is cold, is it not? It snowed in the wood, and mother, she believes it will get colder. Besides, if I do not get these, she will not let me hunt today. Here is the gold. He reaches in his belt pouch for 20 gold coins, then hands them over to her. As he does so, a noticeable rumble can be heard coming from his stomach.
Creed's not sure why she is still at this place, she normally comes in for the night and moved on for small towns like these. But this marks her third night sleeping in an alley and wandering the town in the morning
The silver stout door opens and closes as in walks a fairly attractive female gnome,a bit on the tall side. She walks up to the bar and struggles a bit as she attempts to make a smooth hop into the stool, but instead almost trips on one of the rungs and had to climb up. She looks at the teo men and says "I'll have what these two are having" she sits for a few seconds and says to Andy and Ragnar "don't mind me" and gives a friendly smile, trying to hide her frustration that her smooth entrance did not go as well as she'd planned
"Will do. Thank you Vivi. Now I must fill my belly. Mother didn't even let me eat breakfast!" He makes makes a sort of half smile, pats his stomach, then stuffs the outfits on top everything else in his pack and leaves.
As Hargo makes his way to the Stoat, he ignores any merchants hawking their wares around the lady, and instead rushes hurriedly to the door. As he enters he roars boorishly, "Menander! I want pie!" and makes his way to a table.
"Indeed, the kidnapping of a Noblewoman, no less... Though I can't say the illness seems particularly strange. Falling through ice is a good way to catch a cold. Where's home for you?" Kovacs asked curiously.
"It seems there's more to the story than just the kidnapping of a noble woman though. Either she insulted the wrong people or disappeared herself."
Ragnar pauses as the gnome walks up to the bar, and watches as she stumbles her way up the stool. Ragnar gives a small chuckle and turns back to the Half-elf, "By the way, name's Ragnar. I hail from Kalsgard. You from around here?"
You're certainly a long way from home," Kovacs remarked, "I suppose that makes two of us. Andrei, from Varisia," he said, "And this here is Kilava from... someplace up north, I assume, she is not the most talkative," he added with a chuckle, gesturing to his furry white animal companion.
"Well, I suppose the only one who knows for certain what happened would be the good Lady herself... Though, didn't one of her bodyguards turn up recently?"
Before she can stop herself she pipes up "I heard she was unhappy with her marriage, left, and caused a bloody scandal" and then scoots closer to them, apparently deciding she wants to be part of the conversation now
"Oh, really now? Well, I suppose under any normal circumstances, that would explain it. Still, doesn't really explain any of the other strange things going on around here..." Andrei said, turning to the gnome with a friendly smile, "Name's Andrei, by the way, and you are?"
"The names Creed Baguette. A silly name I know, but given by drunk people who did not care so..."
"It's an interesting name, alright. I'm sure I've heard worse, if that's any consolation. Whatever brings you folks to this rather chilly place?" Andrei inquired of the other two, "I certainly hope you did not come south from Kalsgard looking for warmer weather," he added with a chuckle.
Ragnar lets out a laugh, "I don't think I've ever met a gnome who didn't have an 'interesting' name. Creed and Andrei, it's a pleasure meeting the two of you."
Looking back toward Adrei, "Indeed, I'm a long way from home. You see my mother is Taldan, and my father, who just passed, wanted to be buried next to her. I came to Taldor to honor my father's wish. What brings you from Varisia?"
"Truth be told, I haven't been in Varisia since I was a child. Spent most of my life in the road. I'm just passing through here, though, from the looks of things, it will be a more interesting journey than I expected," Kovacs said.
"good point. I'm from a little nameless hammer Hamlet, and have been on the road for awhile now."
The location is Heldren - The Silver Stout
Kale looks at Hargo, "Oh, Hargo. We only have a slice left from last night. Dansby ate up most of the pie last night while drinking heavily." She hands over the last slice.
"Dansby? The farmer next to the woods who got his crops stolen? He ever find out who took them?" Kovacs inquired, mildly curious as to whether it might have been a certain group of bandits and strange wintery creatures.
The location is Heldren - The Silver Stout
"That's what he kept going on and on about. It does have us a little concerned, we do buy from his crops." Kale shakes here head. "I just don't know enough."
Ragnar listens to Kale as she joins the conversation then asks, "This Dansby fellow isn't the same farmer whose son fell through ice while following a talking deer, is it?"
The location is Heldren - The Silver Stout
Kale responds, "No, Dansby don't have any children. The child is with his mother. She's a smart woman and loves him very much, I'm sure he'll be ok."
The location is Heldren - The Silver Stout
"That's what he kept going on and on about. It does have us a little concerned, we do buy from his crops." Kale shakes here head. "I just don't know enough."
"Well, surely someone must know what's going on," Kovacs mused to himself, "Didn't one of Lady Argentea's guards make it back from the woods? Any idea what happened to him?" Kovacs asked curiously.
The location is Heldren - The Silver Stout
"I believe they took them to Tessaraea Willowbark at the Apothecary. She would be the best one to take care of that man, he didn't look so good. He might have more information for you, sorry I couldn't be that much help." She begins wiping down a table and collecting bowls and plates left from the previous patron.
Ragnar nods with a small smile at the news the boy is doing well, "Glad to hear the boy's gonna be all right. Where's this Wishbone Creek in relation to Dansby's place? These things happening next to each other?"
Ragnar finishes up his ale, and asks for another. Almost as if the last sip inspired an idea he speaks aloud almost to himself, but to the conversation as well, "I bet Lady Malassene's family would pay some pretty good coin to the ones that find out what happened to her."
"Bet they would," Kovacs agreed, finishing up his food, "Might be worth paying this guard a visit at the apothecary, see what he knows."
The location is Heldren - The Silver Stout
Kale says, "His farm is next to the border wood and wishbone creek is in the border wood."
Hargo looks delighted at the mention of a leftover slice of pie.
"Thanks Kale!", he says, and digs in. A few minutes later and the pie is completely devoured, with barely even a crumb left.
After finishing, Hargo stands up and sets his dishes on the bar, once again thanking the two. Afterwards, he announces, as though it were already decided, "That settles it! I'm going to see the guard at the apothecary. He might have a lead on these beasties, and I can track them and crack some skulls, eh?" He then starts for the door...
Kovacs shrugged and decided to follow the man to the apothecary, mildly curious to see where this lead.
Ragnar, taken a bit by surprise, watches as the ranger walks out the door announcing he's going to the apothecary, "Didn't even realize he was part of the conversation.". Not wanting to be outdone, Ragnar downs his ale, slaps a few silver on the counter, gathers his things and heads for the door. As he gets to the door he turns to Andrei and Creed, "You comin'?"
Ragnar jogs up the street and catches up with the ranger, "Slow up a bit, friend." Once he catches up, he offers his hand in greeting, "Name's Ragnar."
"hells yeah I'm coming, Hey wait up!" she hops off the stool and runs after them
The location is Heldren - Willowbark Apothecary
A well-tended garden sits in front of this equally neat house, the home of Tessaraea Willowbark (female elf), Heldren's resident apothecary. Tessaraea is a relatively new transplant to Heldren, having arrived in the village only 25 years ago after a failed adventuring career up north in the River Kingdoms.
Kovacs knocks on the door.
As Hargo is making his way, he hears Ragnar tell him to slow down. Instead, he comes to a dead stop, spins around and grins. "How goes it", he greets. "I am called Hargo, and I am greatest trapper in border woods." He then clasps his hand around Ragnar's and suggests, "Let us continue?"
The location is Heldren - Willowbark Apothecary
Tessaraea opens the door and greets you, "Good afternoon, how can I help you today?" She opens the door for you all to walk in. "I don't really have any potions made today except for a potion of resist energy for cold only. But you can order if you're looking for something more specific. I've just been so busy and haven't really stopped to think about my shop."
Ragnar smiles, "Good afternoon. We are investigating the disappearance of Lady Malassene. We were wondering if we could speak with the guard you have in your care."
The location is Heldren - Willowbark Apothecary
"He is sleeping at the moment but I think he might be healthy enough to talk. Let me check with him, one moment." Tessaraea walks past a curtain and after a few minutes returns. "His is awake and very eager to talk to someone who will help, follow me." She pushes back the curtain and steps into the back room again.
As you follow you see a man that seems to be badly frostbitten laying in bed. Yuln Oerstag He looks over at you all as you enter.
"Afternoon, Mr. Oerstag. Feeling better I hope?" Kovacs asked politely, "I hear you had quite an encounter in the woods, recently."
The location is Heldren - Willowbark Apothecary
Yuln shifts in the bed to sit up but gives up after he grunts and groans in pain. "We thought they were just bandits at first-outlaws who hide like wolves in the forest. They were no match for us. But then came the cold fey of the north. They appeared among us and the battle turned quickly. My people speak of the winter-touched all the time, but I never expected to meet them this far south.”
"Any idea what happened to Lady Argentea or the others? Where did all of this happen?" Kovacs inquired.
As Hargo ambles inside, he issues a friendly word of greeting to Tess, and glances around the shop for a moment see if there's anything interesting. Mildly disappointed, he begins to quietly listen to the conversation in a corner.
At the mention of fey, his ears perk up a bit.
"Were the fey and bandits working together?"
The location is Heldren - Willowbark Apothecary
"I believe so and I'm pretty sure the Fey creatures are those who have sworn themselves to the White Witches of Irrisen, those who stole our lands from us during the Winter War. Tiny sprites no taller than the length of a man's forearm. But don't be fooled by their small stature. Legends say they have taken a sliver of ice into their hearts, and their touch bears the harsh bite of winter.” Yuln takes a deep breath and pulls up the blanket. Tessaraea helps tuck him in more and throws another blanket on the bed.