"The Dagger's Sheath

The Cottage
"As you venture the path back from the Dwarven ruins it begins raining again. Cold, unrelenting rain... About a quarter mile up the trail you can see lantern lights and the outline of a small cottage..."


 * LISTEN DC30 from 300', -1 every 10' you get closer... You hear a woman's scream from the cottage followed by a man's voice shouting.

''"The tiny cobblestone and Oak cabin looks mighty cozey being out here in the rain. The smell of cedar smoke fills the air, pouring from the stone chimney. SUDDENLY THE DOOR BURSTS OPEN! SHIRAK, from the Grinning Goblin, comes dashing from the dimly lit cottage coverd in blood... "THEY KILLED HER! HELP ME! OH THANK THE GODS YOU ARE HERE!!! ROLL INITIATIVE"''




 * Hot on Shirak's heels are 4 Direrats. Inside the cottage, the Ratkin will line up a light crossbow shot through the open door. The Ratkin and the Daggerfolk will use their turn to escape into the mists.

AFTER BATTLE

''"Shirak stumbles back into the cottage and falls by his woman's side. Her abdomen has been completely eviscerated, her innards spilling from her ribcage onto the wood floor. Shirak sobs uncontrollably... "They-they came for a scroll. Some old scroll of her grandfathers. She wouldn't let them take it... She kept repeating 'STAY OUT OF WINTERTOMB!'... I don't understand! WHYYYY!"''


 * Shirak is very broken but a successful GATHER INFO DC 12 will reveal: "Wintertomb is an ancient tomb outside of Nirewin. It is the tomb of both ancient and recent warriors that fell to the vile ones.... I don't know what the scroll and Wintertomb have to do with eachother though..."
 * "Find LT. Malwort, at the stablery, he was a custodian that oversaw the last burials there..."

INSERT RANDOM WILDERNESS ENCOUNTER HERE!!!!

Back in town
"Worn out and tired you push yourself to the brink and trudge through the gates. A Towngard stops you and asks for your papers... You show him the Argarrd's heads... They escort you to The Hold...

MALWORT'S CONCERN
"You all rush over to The Stables Malwort is outside, locking the doors..."


 * Malwort drops his keys in horror... "My god... The BLACKHAND ! Theyre back. The only reason anyone would break that seal is to retrieve a part of the key to the Acropolis of Gorm. The last known location of Elgotha's sheild. Something the Order has been searching for for a long time. If they are going to Wintertomb they know well not to open it's gate during the full moons... THE MORROW... You must go and stop them! This could be the difference between life and death, I will explain everything when you return... you must get rest and ride out in the morn... I will lend you horses... and steel!