Aotearoa - Rime of the Frostmaiden - Episode 1

Video of the session below

The story so far….

Bryn Shander

Far to the North of the Sword Coast lies the lands of Icewind Dale. Where an abnormal winter has brought hardship to the Ten Towns. The Sun no longer shines in this land of perpetual night. Rumors abound of fell forces at play, some say the Frostmaiden is the source of this scourge. For several full moons each town has made offerings and sacrifices to appease these forces but to no avail.

In Bryn Shander the Speaker of the village, Duvessa Shane, in desperation selects another tribute to sacrifice by drawing names. Luck is not in favour of local man Kray Saegor who is stripped and led from the town square, in yet another vain attempt to bring relief from the seeming winter curse. Discord(TM) and fear is brewing among the citizens unlike the ale which is just awful.

Witness to these events are Local guards Dragonborn Skarr and Dwarf Cal, a pair of druids; Malumak a Half-Orc and Shajyre a High-elf and lastly the enigmatic Tarvin a Dark-elf ranger. Intending to meet the elusive Twitch the Deep Gnome in the Northlook Tavern the mysteries deepen when they learn from Hilin Trollbane of a string of murders in the Ten Towns and a group of frostbitten dwarves of a Yeti attack on a consignment of Iron ingots and are financially induced to investigate.

Convinced that these strange occurrences are somehow linked to the predicament faced by all Icewind Dale. Calling into the Town Hall they learn of the death of local glassblower Thoradin who has been stabbed through the heart by some mysterious blade. Could this have something to do with Torrga Icevein, a somewhat shady trader and the blue eyed Sephek Kaltro, her hired protection?

The perceptive Malumak finds an unnatural icy blade possibly of magical manufacture in the alley where Thoradin died. They then visited Thoradin’s widow Bardalin. She extends her meagre hospitality and the party try to unsuccessfully enjoy the local staple diet of Knuckleheaded Trout.

Suspicions grow that not all may be fair with the sacrificial name draw and that the low temperatures are a hazard to the local underground economy. The extreme temperatures cause environmental hazards for those not careful with their bodily fluids and it is clear that Cal is not well suited to investigation

They seek out Bhumum Midam, the local guard who discovered the body and find him in the Northlook Tavern, instead of on duty at the gate. Not much information is gleaned from him and an impassioned plea from Malumak for information on the death of Thoradin falls on cold hearts. People are too wrapped up in their own struggles to survive.

Retiring for the evening at the invitation of Skarr to the house of the Morninglord (Lathander) and the hospitality of the priestess Mishan it was revealed that Tarvin is in search of medical assistance for a strange infection that has something to do with a creatre called a Red Slaad, Not even double servings of Knucklehead trout can cure him.

The party, still missing the evasive Twitch, set out, snowshoes on, to see if they can recover the Iron shipment that may have been attacked en-route to Bryn Shader. The Party is ambushed by Kobolds but prevail with a succession of powerful strikes which turn back the foe. Licking some wounds but stronger for the experience the party is ready to push on...(next week)