Episode 01 - Arrival in Bryn Shander

It was mid summer when Aldrick and Shayde set out on their journey from Neverwinter. The journey north to Icewindale and the Ten Towns would take all of two tendays. They had secured travel with one of the few caravans that still made the journey north.

Aldrick's mission, to investigate rumours that the Arcane Brotherhood were indeed in the region searching for a lost fallen city of ancient Netherese origin and to make sure that any arcane secrets did not fall into the wrong hands.

At the same time Aldrick would make contact with the locals of the ten towns and investigate the so called "Rime of the Frost Maiden", a never-ending winter that had enveloped the region for the last couple of years.

Aldrick made the journey north with his companion and protector, Shayde, a Skilled Tiefling bounty hunter with a somewhat shadowy past. As their caravan crossed the Spine of the World Mountains, the heat of summer was soon replaced by howling winds and plunging temperatures. Glad of their winter clothing and the protection of the wagon it was a shock nonetheless. As the caravan emerged from the mountains into the icy frozen tundra the land before a stark unforgiving wilderness cloaked in perpetual twilight.

Their destination was Bryn Shander, the largest and most cosmopolitan of the Ten Towns. Here at the Northlook Inn they were to meet a local Dwarven Ranger named Grom, of Clan Battlehammer, who will act as their guide.

The wagon came to a stop outside Black Iron blades, a local blacksmith and outfitters, the Inn just a short stroll Northwards near the North Gate. Upon arrival at the Inn, Aldrick and Shayde ordered some drinks and conversed with the bartender, a surly fellow by the name of Scramsax. Aware of their arrival he gave them the key to the room and pointed them in the direction of a table in the far corner. Following introductions with their new dwarven ally Aldrick and Shayde proceeded upstairs to their room. Aldrick spent some time casting find familiar to bring about the appearance of his snowy owl named Lookout. He immediately set Lookout off to circle the tavern and take up a position on the roof above the tavern entrance.

A hearty supper with Grom lead to a number of overheard discussions, rumours and conversations regarding the recent goings on including a murder in Easthaven, wizard trouble in Bremen and a party of Grom's clan mates off to make the next iron ore shipment from the nearby mines.

The journey from Neverwinter had been tiring and so an early night was called for. Our party of adventurers would rise early and set off for Bremen at Dawn to investigate these rumoured wizard troubles.

In the morning as the 3 were finishing breakfast and making ready to leave they were approached by a half elf named Dannika Greysteel. A fellow recent arrival in town, on an expedition to study elemental creatures called Chwingas. With a natural 20 role to recall any lore relating to these spirits it became apparent that Aldrick's many years of study had paid off and so they would be only to happy to help try to find these elusive elemental creatures having never seen any in real life. Dannika presented our heroes with a lantern of Tracking (Elementals).

Not long afterwards our trio came to learn about a number of items going missing from the tavern kitchen despite Elva's insistence that things had been put away in their proper place. The discovery of tiny footprints in the snow outside lead our adventurers to a small thicket on the outskirts of town whereby they would come face to face with the Chwingas, but would also meet a Goliath named Tor Ridgewalker. A Druid who has come seeking a way to try to end the Rime and bring nature's balance back to Icewindale.

To be continued...........