With 100gp more in your purses, and Sephek Kaltro finally dead, the next priority on the list is to secure the Speakership of Good Mead. And even that seemed in the bag, until a band of thugs stormed the Mead Hall. Luckily, Shandar was there to scare them away, but something didn't seem right. Turns out the men were hired to make Shandar look good. But by who?
Torrga's accusation led to more than a simple confession. In fact, after a powerful battle, Sephek Kaltro all but admitted his guilt in the string of murders around Ten Towns. He was apprehended and taken to Bryn Shander by the party, where he awaits his transfer to Hlin Trollbane. But first, some much needed rest. Except for Grizzly, of course. And this time, Taran, who was kept up by a strange and immense pain in his head...
Beaten, bloodied, and freezing, you hobble back to Easthaven for a rest. The next day you awaken, seeking out a priest to remove Grizzly's curse, only to find that the cost is too high. In an effort to bring it down, you searched for a scribe for a scroll, only to be surprised by the scribe's absence. Someone had killed him and disposed of his body near the lake. You take your findings to the Captain of the Easthaven Militia, who confirms your best lead is to confront the prime suspect: Torrga Icevein, who just so happens to be leaving town soon.
Both verbeeg's now lay dead in their own lair, and the stolen honey mead is returned to Good Mead. And helping your standing as a candidate for the new town speaker, you are heroes to the town! Heroes to all but your running mate: Shandar Froth, who boldly accused you of having no interest in Good Mead's future before storming away. You ventured off to Easthaven for the New Moon Sacrifice, only to find the lottery "winner" had already been cast out into the tundra. When you found him outside of town, around midnight, his frozen corpse animated and attacked you, nearly killing you all. Whatever happened, you feel that it likely didn't sit well with Auril...
Torg's Caravan has set up shop outside Easthaven the day before the New Moon Sacrifice. Her and a strange man with bright blue eyes man the shop while you peruse for goods and information. Her rumors send you southwest to Good Mead where you embark on a quest to retrieve several casks of the town's stolen Honey Mead. You track it all the way to a cave inhabited by giants. But it turns out there was one more giant on the way back to the cave...
The promise of power, knowledge, and aid was apparently not enough to strike a bargain between Maud Chiselbone and your party, so you returned back to Easthaven to inform Captain Imdra Arlagath of the ill-fated fishermen, killed by a "Dire Wolf". Now in search of a place to restock from your adventures, you caught wind that the travelling merchant, Torrga Icevein, is in Easthaven. You set out to meet her, and find her shop set up outside of town.
Having found refuge from the cold and the creatures, you delve deeper into the cave system alongside the shoreline of Lac Dinneshere. Just up the frozen river sits an abandoned boat, possibly belonging to the missing fishermen you were sent to find. An old, decrepit woman who calls herself Maud greets you and invites you to join her. She's cooking something over a cauldron, and she's acting kind, but there's something off about this place. Then you see what she's cooking...
The crackling flames of the bonfire in front of you warm your skin while the disturbing scent of burning human flesh fills the air. A wizard was just burned at the stake during your first few minutes in Easthaven, and already you have a quest: 4 fishermen have gone missing recently, and the captain of the Easthaven militia wants them found. In exchange for their rescue, she offers a scroll and a magic item, but only one or the other.