The Hidden Cloak
After the team find Rukk's cousin dead, the Shadar-Kai knife with Hope's family crest on it and Arne's notes rifled through, they need to follow-up. The details seem to point to a conspiracy by the Shadar-Kai trying to find a fabled magical cloak, the Cloak of Darkest Night.
Plot points/Scenes
The team are still reeling from finding thier home entered and parts disturbed. The body is dealt with if not already, the knife is fully examined and revealed to be of Shadar-Kai origin, and why would they be looking for this cloak? Maybe they have one thing in common, Hope's father.
When they ask for help they find that because a temporary portal has been opened to the Shadowfell by the house tree, another can be oopened safely within 24 hours. After this it will be harder after the magic fades.
They will be warned that it is dangerous and that nothing is to be fully trusted. When they get in they will be in a dark smokey / misty realm similar to Eschbach but with little living vegetation, and no animals. Outside they will see that everything is permanently in a twilight state, and with long shadows.
Outside what would be the town square they will chance upon what looks like a group of Kenku playing knuckle bones. If approached in a friendly mannor they may warn that to the north where there is a fort to the Raven Queen's people (the Shadat-Kai it is quite well guarded but there are a few people like them in the tavern to the east.
Also, they seen one of the Shadar-Kai enter the house and leave, making her way to the tavern. She was in a hurry and nearly collided with the Kenku. Also, she carried a sheet with writing on it. They had seen her talk to a High Elf male earlier that day when in the tavern which they refer to as The Blade and Pouch. Neither will be in the tavern when the team arrives but left in a hurry recently moving quickly, especially after they seen the local Shadar-Kai guards making their way down to the tavern.
Asking around the High Elf had gave the Shadar-Kai female his knife telling her to use it. Also, they were arguing over an old city in an actual mountain range used by Black Elves before it was overrun by white Kobolds & an ancient white dragon centuries ago. She told him his father shouldn't have had the deal with the Wnter Storm as the latter took most of the treasure there. The Cloak of Darkest Night is mentioned and believed to still be there in the ruins.
She also comments that the Kenku are angry too, as she could smell "The Northern People" of the notes she took down, and it was the same dragon that attacked the region on & off since being awoke those centuries ago. He may want to avenge his grandsires after they suffered at his hands.
If they travel north they will find the Shadar-Kai lying dying on the road with her thoat cut ear to ear. If helped she will point that they can travel back and try to get up north before the High Elf can. Both Hope & Arne are the ones they were arguing about.
At alltimes here they may be attacked by Shadar-Kai and they will find the Bladed Pouch is a break away group from the main Shadar-Kai currently out of favour with the Raven Queen for constantly wasting resources. Anyone who does them some damage the better. If one or more are encountered and killed...
And Hope's father has employed them temporarily to make sure he gets where he is going. If the locals can be persuaded they may also help them get up north especially if any of the Bladed Pouch are killed.
There is a chance that they find a lair belonging to the High Elf. In it they find a journal that he is planning on taking over a large swathe of northern Europe and to control the trade in the area. Different parts are to be placed under the control of his 'riends & allies'. It would take in parts of Scandinavea, Saxony, Frankia, and Anglo-Saxon Britain.
They can find a temporary portal near Arne's old village and tracks leading past it. At the same time thry may get some help here after the village has been bothered recently by white Kobolds coming from somewhere in the northern Scandes.
There is a map showing where the treasury room is in the central palace of the old Black Elf city. Buried by rubble, ice, and originally hidden to begin with. There appears to be a trap. It is set off by one of the wrong tiles on the floor. The tiles all appear as if damaged, malformed, and out of place. There are three such tiles spread evenly over the middle of the tiles. All have a slight pale blue (almost ice white) discolouration. If not found then a blast of ice will come out of the walls & the roof dealing 3d8 cold damage halved if dodged. Ther eis a mark saying that these can be avoided by it saying to avoid the cold central area.
Inside the room is 10000 silver, 150 pearls, 5 silver ornaments worth 100 gold each, and the Cloak of Darkest Night. It is a cloak that makes the wearer have either Invisibility OR a Shadow effect that adds +2 to AC, and +2 to Stealth rolls. It needs attuned and the effect last for a half hour.
They will find the remainder of the other treasury rooms here and all have been looted. White Kobolds regularly paatrol & live in the area.
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