Adventure Log
8 Eleasis 1492 DR
From Saralas's Journal:
Morning with Nimsy
We spent the night in Nimsy's house in Lonelywood, in the attic. When we started the day on the 8th, with the waning moon, I noticed the gnome from the tavern had found her way into the attic. She claims to have been with us the whole time, but I am certain that isn't the case. I decided not to press the matter, but I think I will have to keep an eye on her.
The fighter also worries me. He could be as daft as he appears but that would take some effort. I will need to remain wary of my new companions, though I still hope they can help unravel the mystery of this winter.
When I came out of meditation there was already plenty of activity downstairs. I packed my gear and joined the others. It was about 8 in the morning but still pitch black outside. There is not much light up here this time of year. Nimsy was preparing breakfast, for which I am thankful. He seemed nervous about the strangers in his house, but also determined to be a good host. Unfortunately we were about to support his fears, which I will come to soon.
We asked some more questions about the White Moose. Nimsy said the moose started its rampage about 2 months ago, and it has killed 6 loggers so far. It typically attacks loggers near their camps, though he says it has been seen on the edge of town a few times as well. Though the town has a sheriff and militia, they have been unable to solve the problem of the moose. Clearly this is a bigger job than we thought last night when the giant offered to do this for a night's lodging. Though I have little need for money, we need to maintain our gear and supplies, and I feel we could have negotiated a reasonable rate for this work. The roguish gnome, Min, I think her name was, clearly agrees.
She asked if there are new people or suspicious people in town, but Nimsy explained that there weren't, and that was itself unusual. Right now there are very few new people and Lonelywood doesn't get much in the way of visitors, not how it was before this winter and the Moose. The town can still sell lumber and scrimshaw but things have taken a turn for the worse. Supply caravans come infrequently, and mishaps occur along the road, and trade suffers for it. The loggers are reluctant to log because they keep getting attacked.
Threats of Violence
It as this point that the gnome, Min, asks about payment. A reasonable position with what we have learned, but Nimsy remembers the Cleric saying "A night's rest seems more than fair." Though I disagree I also know we already said yes. We may be able to negotiate something but perhaps we should start our investigation first and come back to him with a solid reason for changing our mind. New information, new deal, that sort of thing.
Unfortunately before I can suggest this Min starts threatening Nimsy's children in exchange for payment. Oh, not direct threats, but certainly not neighborly. I am frustrated, she wasn't even here last night and now she's making our prospects in this town worse. The quiet wizard tried but failed to persuade him to pay, and things felt like they were about to get violent.
We left Nimsy's house before anything worse happened, with Nimsy shouting through the door to not come back without the White Moose's head. I hoped my companions might help solve this mystery of winter. This moose aligns with the rumors I heard back in the mountains before I came here. But I worry the others may not have my noble goals in mind.
Starting our Search
We left the house at 9 am, sky still black, with auroras in all colors, green, blue, purple, red, and shifting. I set out to look for signs of the moose in the woods on the edge of town. I take the giant, Korag he says, and the Tiefling, Rudra, with me. The wood-elf follows, though he seems confused by the sky. The wizard and murderous gnome headed off to the tavern to ask questions. The fighter wandered off towards the old inn. We agree to meet at the tavern in an hour.
On the edge of town we don't find the moose but we do find a logging camp, with about a dozen loggers sitting idle around a campfire. They seem surprised to see a giant, but somewhat friendly. One logger had a giant as a friend in childhood and is sad that Korag doesn't know his childhood friend.
The logger tells us that Nimsy sent three 10-man parties of hunters after the moose, and only 4 hunters came back. It seems Nimsy was afraid to tell us the real truth. Yes, six loggers have been killed, but 26 additional fighting men have also been lost. A lie of omission, it seems. Apparently the last adventuring crew turned the job down even for 250 gold and the deed to the inn because of the danger. Unfortunate we didn't know this before, it's possible we could set up a base camp at the inn as we try to unravel this winter.
I ask if anyone has seen the white moose, or just the aftermath. We meet an old logger who saw it, and had one arm mauled by the moose. The two other men he was with were killed in the attack. He tells us that those who look for the moose do not find it. It usually attacks remote camps, with three or four men. The loggers responded by sending larger more armed groups, and the moose started attacking at night, though it still seems to prefer smaller groups of people.
The druid looks at the man's arm and does what he can to heal it. A kind gesture. The logger is grateful, and though he can't pay much he offers the druid a hatchet that he made himself.
The foreman asks what it took for us to take the job knowing the fate of the other groups and that the last group walked away. The druid explains that we would do it for a night's sleep. Laughter, probably deserved. Though given how desperate Nimsy is perhaps if we can complete this quest we can come back and negotiate again. As long as we keep Min away.
The loggers have seen the moose in all different places in the forest. The foreman reckons our best bet is to go into the woods not in force and the moose will probably find us. 4 or 5 people is probably getting to be a lot. That sounds like asking to be attacked, but may be an option. He also tells us the survivors are still in town. We head back to town to meet up with the other groups by the tavern.
We meet the others at 10 am. The tavern was closed (they must not day drink here), but the others met up with an old fisherman who told them much the same tale we heard. The sun starts to rise, and we see a dull sickly glow in the sky. Maybe it's "day", but it seems magical, and I could almost hear something with it, before the normal still dull sunrise took over.
Finding Moose
We headed into the woods to search for moose tracks. We find some, which we follow into a clearing. In this clearing we find a moose, but it isn't the white moose. But perhaps it knows where to find the other. I ask if anyone can speak with animals, and after an affirmative the druid goes into a trance for a short while. He then appears to speak with the moose, who he names as Ralph. Apparently the white moose is the hero of the moose of the forest, as he avenges the deaths of moosekind. The moose blames the loggers for logging the forest and the townsfolk for killing the moose. An interesting story, and it seems to move the druid somewhat, but I believe it more likely the white moose has its own agenda and others like Ralph simply choose to interpret it this way.
We ask where we might find the white moose. Ralph points to the northeast, and says the white moose can be found in the ruins near Snow Hill. Then he bounds off.
At this point Min nearly fell out of a tree.
Some suggested heading back to town while it's still light, but if we only work in daylight here we'll never accomplish anything. I am at first confused by the suggestion that we won't make much progress in the dark; I forget sometimes that not everyone can see in poor light. Still, with such short days I felt it best to continue, and convinced people to go on.
We followed tracks to the edge of the trees, and at the edge of the trees we saw a snowy hill, with what appeared to be ruins around it. From the middle of the site, we saw a crystal at least 20 feet tall, as well as what looks to be a sarcophogas in the snow. There was also a row of marble statues atop granite pillars. Somewhat ominous, this is fairly close to town yet no one mentioned its existence. Perhaps it repells interest, or perhaps forces people to forget. I am fairly certain I can find my way back now though, after being here once.
We approach the ruins to investigate more closely. In the semicircle we see a raised platform to the west that looks like a sundial. To the east of that we see the sarcophagus and the pillars. The snow is very deep. The fighter takes the staircase up onto the platform, and calls back that the sundial is actual moon phases; a moondial. The rogue puts on snowshoes and walks up the hill to surveil the site. She notices there is a doorway leading into the hill, adjacent to the moon dial.
Written around each of the moon phase symbols the others see text in elvish. I join them to interpret. The only inscriptions that are stable are those around the full and half moon.
Full moon: gaze upon your own face, and have seven questions answered
Half moon: unlock the tombs of the half moon
There are faces on the statues but they are somewhat indistinct. Looking closely they appear to have pointy ears. With that and the elvish on the moondial I conclude these are probably elves. But what purpose do they serve. Why the sarcophagus?
The others investigate the door. It is a smooth stone door with no visible hinges, latches or other obvious signs. It is magic, we can feel it. It does not respond to friend, unlike what I heard from the tales of my youth.
The Sarcophagus, a ritual?
We investigated the sarcophagus more closely. It appears made of granite, and is surrounded by five pillars. From north to south the pillars show carvings: a twig, a pine cone, a flame, a feather, a human hand. I feel forboding.
About 40 ft to the north of the sarcophagus was another raised platform, and in the center of that platform there was a large brass brazier. The bowl was nearly 20 inches in diameter, and was full of snow and pine needles. It is adhered to the marble floor and cannot be budged. I cleaned it out, though there was nothing obvious about the brazier, no markings or carvings. I couldn't tell if it was connected in any way to the door. But this sounded arcane, a site for a ritual, and I am hesitant to proceed.
Not everyone is so, it seemed. As the sun is setting the Fighter added a twig and pine cone he found the forest, a feather pulled from an arrow, and lit a torch. Almost too I realized he's preparing to light his hand on fire and I shouted STOP.
End.
7 Eleasis 1492 DR
I arrived at the Lonelywood Tavern after spending much of the day in Lonelywood researching the land and communing with nature. I asked the bar keep for a pint of their finest ale (probably needs mushrooms added like always.). After getting my pint, I noticed a rather imposing figure within the Tavern, a near 8ft tall Goliath decorated in full shiny platemail who was parked in the corner of the tavern. With a figure like that, it might as well be the best place as any to start asking for help to investigate this cursed place. I haven't made much headway in learning the true nature of the curse on my own, it's time to get some help.
The Assembling of Adventurers
I introduced myself to the Goliath, he seemed friendly as he spoke. He mentioned that he was native to Icewind Dale but he has been exiled from his Clan, the Thuunlakalaga due to wanting to work together with a neighboring Goliath Clan to investigate the curse that has befallen the land. I didn't catch his name at first, but he became known as Korag Frosthelm. He also mentioned that he was a Cleric of the Helm. Very interesting. We agreed that our interests align and that we should investigate this curse together.
While discussing Icewind Dales curse, the other inn patrons drifted closer and introduced themselves. Resda Highgrove, a young fidgety looking Human sorcerer - seemingly capable but young in the ways of magic. She's traveled from Daggerford to Icewind Dale after encountering some tragedy in Daggerford. She is willing to lend her magic to aid in the journey to investigate the curse of Icewind Dale.
We also met a Gnome named Min Needle who promptly fell off her chair as she listened in on the Goliath's and Is conversation. We don't know much about her but she is interested in helping us since there may be some monetary gain from lifting the curse of Icewind Dale. She bought us all a round of drinks.
An accomplished looking High Elf Ranger by the name of Saralas Alderheart introduced himself. A family man turned Ranger hailing from Neverwinter like myself. He too has heard rumors of the curse of Icewind Dale and he has come to investigate the source of the curse.
A Tiefling named Rudra Apeksh introduced herself as well, she doesn't remember quite how she got here and all she remembers is the biting cold of Icewind Dale. She also wants to come along on our journey. More the merrier in my opinion.
A sopping wet Human man burst from the water closet and introduced himself as well, apparently he got lost in Icewind Dale and wound up in Lonelywood. He says he doesn't remember much else than getting lost. He's looking to join us until he can find his way back to another town. Why is he wet? and I honestly don't remember his name.
We asked about lodging to the bar keep, she told us rudely that she did not have any lodging here, this was a tavern, not a inn. She mentioned that our only real option was the Lonelywood Town Speakers house and she mentioned that the actual town inn - The Ramshackle Inn closed some time ago.
Suddenly, a loud voice boomed out in the tavern saying "SURRENDER!". There was no clear owner of said voice. Very confusing.
We decided on first trying the Speakers house since it would be cold at the inn, plus we would also be breaking and entering there. If the Speaker did not let us stay, then we would try the Inn.
Nimsy the Town Speaker - also a Halfling by chance
The party (minus Min Needle) braved the harsh Icewind Dale night and shambled over to the Speakers house. There we met Nimsy the speaker who invited us into his house. She offered us warm Halfling shaped cookies. They were delicious, I noticed a hint of nutmeg in them! he I asked him what was up with all of the Halfling children and if they were his or not - she looked offended. It's best not to assume things, I don't know why she was so offended!
She also said that she should be able to accommodate us for the night, she has room for us in his attic which should suit us just fine.
Nimsy also mentioned that there has been a terrifying Albino Moose that has been seeking our loggers in the Lonelywood and killing them. This seems unusual, moose are territorial but they don't typically seek out and purposely kill other creatures. We agreed to try and find the Moose.
We also inferred about the town sacrifices, Nimsy mentioned that they offer food as their town sacrifice.