The Legend Starts Here
It's a fresh Spring day in the town of Fallcrest, central trading town of the Nentir Vale. The sun is shining properly for the first time in months, the clouds have finally cleared away, and for once even the market traders seem at ease with the world.
In and amongst the bustle and crush of market day, a diminutive figure wends his way across the square. More than one person absentmindedly goes to walk into him, but with a swift side-step (and occasionally a bit of a poke in the ribs) they are dissuaded of this notion. For this is Aran Thule, Halfling Ranger, and one look at the fact he carries a scimitar and a dagger, not to mention the bow on his back, shows that despite his size he is to be taken seriously.
Aran is making his way to the Blueflame Orb, a local Inn, to meet his good friend Cass Breenan. Cass, a burly human woman, is the daughter of the innkeeper and the two are firm friends. She also has a yearning to leave Fallcrest and strike out on her own, exploring the world and seeking to find her twin brother, who has gone missing. Aran thinks he finally has a way for this to happen.
Pushing open the door, Aran scans the room, quickly spotting Cass sitting at the bar. He smiles to see her, her Greataxe slung across her back, looking every inch the warrior-woman. Next to her sits a man, and they both turn to face Aran as he enters.
"Ah, you're here!" exclaims the man. "Excellent! Happily, I have met your companion, and she has agreed to accompany you to Winterhaven."
"Cass - you're really going to do this with me?" asks Aran. "I mean, it's not like either of us are particularly good with maps or anything."
"Aran!" she retorts. "How hard can it be? We go up North - finally getting out of Fallcrest - map this old Keep and come back. You get a chance to wander in the wilds in the way that you love, I get a chance to ask around after Jon, and when we get back we get paid. How much more simple and doable could it be?"
"Then let's do it!" cries Aran. "A drink to seal the bargain!"
The three drink together, and the deal is struck. Aran and Cass will bring a map of the Keep back to Fallcrest, and when they do, payment will be made.
Meanwhile, across town, a more disturbing figure is also receiving a task of his own. He is dressed in dirty white rags, his face all but obscured by lank black hair that reaches almost to the ground, but his eyes blaze with intelligence and he radiates a sense of power. His name is Sabbat Fau, and he has come out of the east bearing tidings of plague and famine. The townspeople do their best to avoid him, but take his gold readily enough.
The Wizard Theron accompanies him to the house of Douven Staul. Both Sabbat and Theron undertook some of their training with Douven - in fact it was during his time with him that Theron's skin began to take on the mild blue-ish tinge that it now has. Gullible villagers claim that it marks Theron as cursed, but he has shrugged off this theory.
They are at the house of their old mentor as he is missing. His wife explains that he travelled North some months ago now towards the town of Winterhaven, believing that he had uncovered the site of a Dragon Tomb in that area. "Where there's a tomb, there's treasure!" he had said, and set off alone to investigate. Sadly, this was the last anyone in Fallcrest heard of him, and with the Northern Road known to be dangerous, his wife has asked Sabbat and Theron to head north themselves and look for him. A monetary reward is promised upon his safe return.
Lastly on this day, this day that might one day be recording in history as the fateful day in which the adventurers that shook the world first came together, a meeting of three people of three races laid the seeds of change.
The Tiefling Cleric Des, a large and hairty creature of calm temprement and deep wisdom, together with the hardy Dwarf Rangrim Stoneborn and the Eladrin Elwanen, all met in the Temple of Fallcrest. The Priestess tells them she has heard word of Death Cultists working in the North near the village of Winterhaven, and bids them investigate. The leader of these cultists is said to be a man called Kalarel - although nothing more is known of him.
After a short discussion and some choice Dwarven curses upon the heads of those that seek the destruction of others, the three agree to the quest, promising to go North with all haste to investigate and put a stop to whatever is going on. A monetary reward is again offered.
Handily for all concerned, news has gone round the town that a trading caravan will be leaving from the Blueflame Orb later that day heading to Winterhaven. With the spring having arrived, the road North has cleared and Winterhaven will be looking to receive goods to replenish itself after a long winter. Salvana Wrafton, the innkeeper at Wrafton's Inn, will be happy to take the goods and make payment for the money to be returned to Fallcrest.
The seven adventurers, each with their own skills and experiences, agree that it would make great sense for them to take the caravan north. They can offer protection for the goods, and with a Cleric and two Paladins riding along, no-one doubts their honesty.
Within a few days, they reach the tiny village of Linden Field, a small farming community. The Inn there is called The Dragon's Tale, and they stay the night in comfort. Cass finds it reminiscent of home - but it also makes her think of how glad she is to get out! Aran enjoys himself, sampling a new beer that you can't get in Fallcrest, and Rangrim and Elwanen begin what is the first of many friendly drinking contests. It's a pleasent evening for all.
However, early next morning there is a great commotion from outside. Hammering on the door of the Inn, a man's voice is heard shouting "My sons! My sons! They're gone! Help! My sons!"
The almost incoherent man is Quinn Stasi, local silversmith. Eventually, as he calms down, he manages to gasp out that his two sons, Steven and Ricard, have disappeared in the night. He offers a reward to the hastily dressed group, pleading with them to hurry out and bring his sons back to him. He is afraid that they have been kidnapped.
Asking around the town, Aran spots Old Thom the beggar. Thom, a crafty old drunken sot, claims he saw three people heading towards the Shadowhaunt Mausoleum. The Mausoleum marks the final resting place of the Warlords of the Kaius Dynasty who used to rule the local area before their fall around sixty years ago. Whilst Thom is obviously unreliable, it's the only clue the group can find, and so the decision is taken to go in that direction.
Next update: The party arrives at the Shadowhaunt Mausoleum.
