Lending a Helping Hand

In the lands of the Icewind Dale, winter's night has been around for many years without respite. The

residents of Ten Towns have been pushed to their limits just to survive. To that end Sheriff Markham Southwell has put out a call for any hardy souls to lend a hand helping to keep the peace in Ten Towns. Our story begins with you answering this summons. 

The first to arrive at the Sheriff's behest are the two goliath brothers Peski and Gulkom. Having known Sheriff Southwell for a little while they were eager to help out where they could. After a few minutes of chat the door opens to reveal another set of brothers - Jamekas and Thorburn. Sheriff Southwell makes his way over to greet them, offering up some mead and jerky to the newcomers. While they are talking the door opens to admit another soul as a dwarf quietly walks in and makes a beeline for the mead. 

Once everyone has met, Sheriff Southwell gets down to business. The Bryn Shander lawkeepers are stretched to the limit and the towns are encountering things that they can't handle on their own. What he is looking for is some willing volunteers to step in and lend a hand where needed. The pay won't be good, the hours are probably awful, but we're all in this together. As everyone nods in agreement he delivers the party's first task: head to Bremen to talk to the Speaker, Dorbulgruf Shalescar. He's been acting odder than normal, and people are starting to talk. 

 

As what little daylight the Dale sees these days starts to fade, the party gets on the road. A few hours, some blowing snow, and one polar bear(?) sighting later the party arrives in Bremen. As it's getting late they decide to head to the town's inn, the Buried Treasure. The inn is filled with chatter about recent murders (a halfling trapper in Easthaven, a human shipbuilder in Targos, and, three days ago, a dwarf glassblower in Bryn Shander), with everyone seeming a little on edge. 

After sorting out drinks and rooms, the party notices a grizzled old dwarf eyeing them. Making their way over, the party meets Hiln Trollbane. She explains to the party that she believes she has solved the mystery of the murders and knows who is behind it. Sephek Kaltro, a hired bodyguard for the small traveling merchant company called Torg’s, is who she believes is behind the murders. She offers the part 125 gold to find Sephek and "ascertain his guilt". They get the feeling that she doesn't care what happens to him as long as justice is served. 

As they wrap up another old dwarf walks into the inn, straight up to the bar, and plops down. This is Speaker Shalescar. He quickly downs several shots of fire whiskey, and the party approaches him. Looking noticeably bothered, Speaker Shalescar seems relieved to learn that they were sent by Sheriff Southwell. He explains that between the recent murders, and the odd behavior of his friend Grynsk Berylbore, he's at his wit's end. He asks the party to look into Grynsk to make sure he's not in over his head with something. 

The Speaker leaves, tailed by a stealthy Jamekas, and heads to his house. 

What will tomorrow bring?? Well, we'll find out in September!