So I have finally got around to writing up my sessions with my group. I´ll post each session as I edit them. Obviously this is full of spoilers so for GM eyes only, or those who have completed the first book. Information about classes and backgrounds of the PCs is sometimes purposefully vague because the players don´t know everything about each other yet. So here goes:
Session 1: Frosty Introductions
Just as the norn had foretold, it was an unseasonably cold summer´s day that the five unlikely companions crossed paths within the rural village of Heldren, in southern Taldor.
Keane, the half-orc inquisitor of Sarenrae, had already passed the better half of a month in the sleepy hamlet serving under the village priest, Elder Natharen Safander. Sent there in penance for some perceived slight against the more conservative side of the church he was, to put it bluntly, bored out of his damn mind. The arrival of two mysterious strangers in town but a week earlier had stirred the pot somewhat, but they hadn´t been seen much since they shacked up with Old Mother Theodora. Elsa, a half elven winter witch of Irrisen and Icethorn, an enigmatic cold caster elf from The Crown of the World, trailed by a polar bear (of all things) names Shoggi. Who knows what business a witch of Irrisen and arctic druid could have within such an unassuming village as Heldren. Perhaps there was some connection between their arrival and the strange cold weather, which was blighting the locals´ crops.
A few nights later a third stranger had arrived with the setting sun. A tiefling with skin the colour of chalk and serpentine red eyes of origin and ability unknown. He had passed the night on the floor of the Silver Stout after partaking of the owner Kale Gander’s ale to numb the pain of his tumultuous past. As such he was oblivious to the disturbance throughout the night that was to spark the beginning of his destiny.
With the coming dawn Elder Safander urged the troubled inquisitor to seek out Councillor Ionnia Teppin in the village square, for she had an urgent mission for him. Meanwhile at the other side of Heldren, old mother Theodroa woke Elsa and Icethorn and tasked them to deliver one of her potions with discretion to the self-proclaimed, and aptly named, village barber/hairdresser/surgeon, Argus Goldtooth. The tiefling, Kariric, awoke to Kale´s broom and exited the Silver Stoat perturbed, hungover and with an empty stomach. Moreover, it was just at this moment that a fifth and final stranger arrived from the north, an aging paladin of old deadeye named Paytur. He encountered a bunch of irate village militia who inquired about this business in Heldren and informed him that there had been a disturbance in the night and he too should seek out Councillor Ionnia Teppin. As such, the prophecy began course when all five companions descended upon the village square where Ionnia waited patiently beneath Heldren´s centrepiece statue of a fey-like woman – whose origin story had long been lost in the mists of time.
The Head Councellor called out to the group of adventurers and told how in the night a warrior of Ulfen descent had staggered into town suffering from severe wounds and frostbite. Before being given over to the care of the village alchemist, Teressa Willowbark, he had described how he was part of the caravan of Lady Argentea on route from Zimar to Opera returning from a failed courting attempt. Under the eaves of the Border Wood they were beset upon by bandits. It had seemed the bandits were little match for the guards when suddenly frosty fey had joined the fray and attacked the caravan with icy magic. It was all the Ulfen warrior could do to stay alive and retreat to the nearest safe heaven, Heldren. However, during his escape he noticed a large creature dragging off poor Lady Argentea into the Border Woods. Ionnia Teppen told of how she could not spare the militia to investigate and beseeched the gathered group to do so in their stead. For a healthy reward of course. She pointed them in the direction of Terresa´s alchemist shop should they wish to further question the Ulfen caravan guard.
Before that however, some frosty introductions were in order if these strangers were to work together. And frosty they were as it seemed the paladin had no love of witches, nor the tiefling of humans, nor the snowcaster elf of well…anyone. Finally, however, they begrudgingly saw the sense in strength of numbers and went together to the alchemist´s. The stuttering half elf woman let them in and took them to her Ulfen charge, Yuln Oerstag. He reiterated Councillor Ionnia´s story from his bed. He also told them what he knew of the cruel cold fey from the north and their weakness to both fire and cold iron, giving Paytur his very own cold iron long sword. It was only then that through his pain he finally got a good look at Elsa and, noting what she was, warned the others to pick their companions more wisely because, as sure as winter frost, the winter witches were behind this attack. Elsa denied all knowledge and claimed to be just as curious as to the reason for cold fey so far south as the others.
Before leaving town various tasks were completed. Elsa and Icethorn delivered Mother Theodora´s potion next door to the rather rambunctious dwarf barber in exchange for a pouch of gold coins, not before identifying it as a love potion though. Just what was the crazy old bat up to? Returning the pouch to the old wise woman she was rewarded with a small portion for herself, but told rather cryptically to ´let things take their true course´ when she quizzed Mother Theodora about the errand. She also told Elsa and Icethorn to keep an eye out for her adopted granddaughter and infamous hunter in the region ´Red´, who had ventured south into the border wood hunting a giant weasel she allegedly saw. Meanwhile, Paytur, Keane and Kairic appealed to Elder Natharen Safander to lend them a wand of cure light wounds he had in his possession, and promised to donate to the church of Erastil later. Due to Paytur being a paladin of old deadeye himself, and working within the best interests of the village, Natharen agreed.
Finally, the group gathered at the edge of town and headed south to the site of the ambush, as marked by Yuln. The arrived onto a scene of utter devastation. A frozen staute that must have once been a guard stood amongst various human bodies and between one overturned carriage and another sealed by a battle-worn spear. Paytur warned the group he sensed evil from within the sealed carriage, but curiosity got the better of the group and when Keane pulled forth the spear, a zombie burst out to attack. Much to their horror two more bodies stood up from by the forest edge and lumbered forward to join the fray. A brutal first battle was fought and poor Elsa was caught off guard and beat unconscious between two zombies. The three undead were soon dispatched mostly thanks to some handy sword work by Kairic and Paytur, and blasts of Disrupt Undead from Keane. As the rest of the group made prudent use of Elder Nathan´s cure light wounds wand, the enigmatic tiefling carved odd runes into the corpses of the undead.
The group found little more clues around the ambush site except noting that the guards seemed to have been killed by a mixture of sword, ice magic and tiny arrows, but they did manage to thaw out the unfortunate statue´s masterwork blade for themselves. They then turned their attention to a trail leading into the Border Wood, most puzzlingly blanketed in snow that should not exist during a Taldoran summer….