Chapter 1: Into the Mists
The lot of you are no strangers, having met through some strange turn of events and coming to rely on each other's talents time and time again. And you're not the only ones -- in the time you've spent in the small northern Sword Coast town of Daggerford, just a bit under a day's travel from the sprawling city of Waterdeep, you've made a bit of a name for yourselves protecting its people from the various perils of the wilderness. So it isn’t much of a surprise that when the Duchess Morwen is having guests over for dinner, you all are invited. You consider her quite the friend considering how much you have served her duchy over the course of your stay, and the benefits from such a friendship are quite nice indeed.
The night is brisk, the full moon ominously bright as you maneuver your way through the nearly vacant cobblestone streets. Even though the walled settlement isn’t the largest, it is normally much more lively - but the people's superstitions must be getting the better of them. Tugging on your collar you push the thoughts to the back of your mind, making haste towards your destination. Best not make the Duchess wait any longer than need be.
As you arrive and are lead into the dining hall, the scents of various dishes begin to overwhelm your senses. Eagerly you find an empty seat, noticing as a few others file in after you -- though the table is not nearly filled to capacity, as it would in the event of some grand political showcase or similar. As usual the Duchess is seated at the head of the table, flashing a warm smile with every arrival and extending a hand in well-rehearsed greeting. There was a natural charm about her, and within her domain it was easy to forget about or conveniently push aside the dreadful gloom outside the walls of the manse.
You all eat and discuss recent happenings in the town, keeping up the typical pleasantries of small talk for the majority of the evening. But as the dinner begins to come to a close with the arrival of the main course, Morwen clears her throat to catch your attention and bring silence around the table. For, as you had learned over time, it was not a proper dinner around her table unless there was business to attend to.
“I don’t mean to interrupt this fine night we've been having...” she begins hesitantly, “...but we do have some important business to discuss. The reason I invited you all here tonight was because I have some concerns about a group of wayward travelers that are camped outside of Daggerford’s walls. I first assumed they were harmless, but then I had heard rumors from the townsfolk -- of them practicing witchcraft and other savage rituals. Of threatening to curse any who crossed their path.”
Taking a moment to reach for a glass of wine before her, she would take a generous sip before setting the drink back down and continuing. “At this point I'm not sure who or what to believe, but I'm wary of exotic magicks -- and quite frankly, we can't afford to have any more unknown factors after the events of the previous few nights.” Her gaze flickers downward. "... You're probably aware of the rumors of werewolves."
She sighs, shaking her head. “But I digress. For now, I simply ask for you to go down there tonight and investigate things for me, while I'm held up with other concerns. And in the case that they are as wicked as I've heard... tell them they have until dawn to move out of my territory, or I will see them out by force."
The lot of you are no strangers, having met through some strange turn of events and coming to rely on each other's talents time and time again. And you're not the only ones -- in the time you've spent in the small northern Sword Coast town of Daggerford, just a bit under a day's travel from the sprawling city of Waterdeep, you've made a bit of a name for yourselves protecting its people from the various perils of the wilderness. So it isn’t much of a surprise that when the Duchess Morwen is having guests over for dinner, you all are invited. You consider her quite the friend considering how much you have served her duchy over the course of your stay, and the benefits from such a friendship are quite nice indeed.
The night is brisk, the full moon ominously bright as you maneuver your way through the nearly vacant cobblestone streets. Even though the walled settlement isn’t the largest, it is normally much more lively - but the people's superstitions must be getting the better of them. Tugging on your collar you push the thoughts to the back of your mind, making haste towards your destination. Best not make the Duchess wait any longer than need be.
As you arrive and are lead into the dining hall, the scents of various dishes begin to overwhelm your senses. Eagerly you find an empty seat, noticing as a few others file in after you -- though the table is not nearly filled to capacity, as it would in the event of some grand political showcase or similar. As usual the Duchess is seated at the head of the table, flashing a warm smile with every arrival and extending a hand in well-rehearsed greeting. There was a natural charm about her, and within her domain it was easy to forget about or conveniently push aside the dreadful gloom outside the walls of the manse.
You all eat and discuss recent happenings in the town, keeping up the typical pleasantries of small talk for the majority of the evening. But as the dinner begins to come to a close with the arrival of the main course, Morwen clears her throat to catch your attention and bring silence around the table. For, as you had learned over time, it was not a proper dinner around her table unless there was business to attend to.
“I don’t mean to interrupt this fine night we've been having...” she begins hesitantly, “...but we do have some important business to discuss. The reason I invited you all here tonight was because I have some concerns about a group of wayward travelers that are camped outside of Daggerford’s walls. I first assumed they were harmless, but then I had heard rumors from the townsfolk -- of them practicing witchcraft and other savage rituals. Of threatening to curse any who crossed their path.”
Taking a moment to reach for a glass of wine before her, she would take a generous sip before setting the drink back down and continuing. “At this point I'm not sure who or what to believe, but I'm wary of exotic magicks -- and quite frankly, we can't afford to have any more unknown factors after the events of the previous few nights.” Her gaze flickers downward. "... You're probably aware of the rumors of werewolves."
She sighs, shaking her head. “But I digress. For now, I simply ask for you to go down there tonight and investigate things for me, while I'm held up with other concerns. And in the case that they are as wicked as I've heard... tell them they have until dawn to move out of my territory, or I will see them out by force."