Introduction
Palebank village is one of the northernmost settlements on the continent of Wildemount. Wedged between the Crystalands Tundra and the Flotket Alps, it is the jumping off point to secure ship’s passage to Eiselcross.
This campaign discovery* adventure finds 5 strangers meeting in a tavern over pints of the local ‘fish head ale’ and stiff ‘3 salts and a dog’ drinks. They have no idea what they are about to stumble into.
Session 0
We start out in the warm interior of the Jolly Dwarf Inn...
It’s not the only tavern, but it is the most raucous of the late-night establishments in the small settlement of Palebank Village. Scattered amongst the locals and a few glassblades stationed in town, are 4 strangers.
A lean elf sits at a table alone, playing a game of Siege with themself
One of the strangers is suspiciously hangry
Xavi, Scarlette, Larkin, Chadrae, and their glassblades patron introduce each other
Sneaking away from the Inn, Scarlette heads to the outskirts of town, just beyond the palisade. Her senses pick up movement. Swiftly she catches a rabbit in the snow. Finally, her thirst is quenched as she bites down into a pure white snow hare, draining it of it’s blood.
Hidden in the shadows, Larkin waits, watching this mysterious stranger. They’re alarmed, but stay perfectly quiet so as not to be noticed. They will have to confront Scarlette at some point, but not tonight.
Eventually the five newly acquaintanced adventurers all part ways for the evening. Planning to reconvene in the morning to take on their new quest. Each individual has their own reason for taking the glassblades up on their offer of work.
The next day, they enter a stone carved elvish temple to Corellon the Arch Heart
The quest is revealed, Erlot the glassblade and authoritative figure in town requests they investigate the cause of his fellow adventurer, Urgon’s, mysterious and untimely death.
Where they expect to see the body gracefully laid to rest in the middle of the temple, instead lies a crystalline statue of solid ice in the shape of Urgon’s body.
Clues lead the group to the abode of Verla Pelk, and her shop “Pelk’s Curiosities”. But they find it’s been ransacked by cloaked elves who are able to flee the scene before the party can confront them.
They notice a bed and someone, or something, laying motionless in it. A quick investigation revealing the second frozen ice sculptured body in just as many days.
What will they do now?
Finishing thoughts
In the next session, we’ll further explore our characters and their mechanics. We had opportunities to roleplay and try things out, but we’re still figuring out just who these characters are, their backstories, how they will interact with each other and the environment. I’m looking forward to seeing what will happen next!
*campaign discovery includes 4-8 sessions of mixed combat and roleplaying where we test character concepts, try out table/group dynamics, and new settings or themes. It’s a low risk way to introduce some elements of a full D&D campaign but without committing to one in its entirety.