Sephek's Sacrifice
Braving the Cold
Skywatcher awakens in his cell with no one else around. He notices that the bars are completely covered in frost and if tested, give way with a DC 8 Strength check. There is no sign of Otran or the Sheriff, with the exception of Otran's bedroll and backpack still on the floor outside of his cell.
The other characters wake up early in the morning to a bloodcurdling scream outside their windows. If they rush outside they will see a horrific scene of six victims which have been brutally murdered and arranged in a distinctive shape. There is a crude outline around their corpses drawn in blood of a six-pointed snowflake.
The victims are:
- Otran, who was killed as a message to the party to stop snooping around
- Sheriff Markham, who was killed for keeping the peace
- Chevy Hundelfink, the owner of the bookstore Bandits and Basilisks and seller of the Auril book
- A grandmother named Salcha, who refused to make sacrifices to Auril and held parties instead
- Ogden Flamebeard, proprietor of Kelvin's Comfort tavern and who made spiced whiskey that warmed people.
- Mishann, the priest of Amaunatur who gave information to Faith before she left for Termalaine
The victims have been disemboweled with their eyes removed and a six-pointed snowflake carved into their foreheads.
With a DC 10 Investigation check the players notice that the wounds are all cauterized by frost and there is much less blood than one would expect.
Sephek's tracks have been covered with an illusion spell, which can be removed with Dispel Magic. This reveals boot prints that have faint blue frost surrounding them, which can be detected with a DC 20 Perception check. If the players follow these prints, they lead right out of town and into the tundra.
The characters notice that none of the townspeople will leave their homes, and Scramsax confirms this by telling the players, "These are truly the end times. No way I'm heading out there."
The players notify Augrek of the situation, and she promises them that their friend Otran will receive a proper funeral pyre, along with the rest of the victims.
Stalked on the Tundra
Exploration Music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raCTmTP071s
Ambience Music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4yp3l0EZPQ&list=PLqcyNXV_bvbnUCnxqZXG1nAn-uDr0m5Ym&index=6&t=38s
Heading 4 miles southeast of Bryn Shander, the players happen upon a boreal/snow forest consisting of larch, pine, spruce, and fir trees. The ground cover consists of lichen, moss, and scraggly grass. Around the entrance to the forest the party loses the trail as the soft snow gives way to hard permafrost and flora.
Soon after, two massive awakened
winter wolves, Koran and Kanan emerge from the dense trees. They stand 8 feet high at the shoulder and leave tracks two feet across. Koran feigns a limp and Kanan has a torn ear.
They circle the adventures as they speak:
"Hey... Little adventurers lost in the woods? You wouldn't happen to be looking for anyone, would you? Perhaps a man that ran through here... a man as cold as ice. Perhaps we could help you... that is if you help us. An evil druid stalks these woods and aims to kills us even through we haven't done a thing... She has attacked us once already. Perhaps you could get rid of her for us? Then we would be more than happy to help you find your man." A DC 15 Insight check reveals the wolves are lying. The wolves cannot be intimidated.
Battle Music:
Norsu the Awakened
If the party decides to follow the wolves, they are led to Yrsa's location and combat begins. Yrsa will insist that the wolves are lying and trying to trick the party. The wolves will then become aggressive to the party.
If the party will not go with the wolves, they will become aggressive and say, "Fine, if you want to do things the hard way, we can do them the hard way. Too bad you'll never find your man... He had many interesting things to say." Yrsa during the second round of combat and will aid the players.
Either way, the the wolves will retreat quickly and run straight for Garagai's lodge, laughing "Better be quick if you want to catch your man! Perhaps we will carry him away first so you'll never find him."
