Nadya was a small woman only 5-1/2 feet tall. She wore her vibrant red hair in three braids, two short braids framing her pale face, and a third, longer braid hanging down her back. She was clad in armor for protection, along with a white fur cloak and matching hat which made her less visible in the snow. Her quiver was full, and in addition to her bow she carried a handaxe and pick.
As the mushers set up the camp the heroes engaged Nadya in a discussion.
"Where are you from? You indicated the south but about where?" she began.
"Far south, Taldor in fact. It is normally much warmer there but it seems some cold is began pushed into our realm," Fanara offered.
"You said you were from Waldsby. Is it nearby?" Santrel inquired.
"Yes, it is just a few miles further." Nadya replied.
"Where is it in relation to Whitethrone?"
"Waldsby is around 200 miles southeast of the capital. We do not often travel there."
"Tell us about yourself," Casia asked.
Only 26 years old, Nadya had already experienced a lifetime's worth of tragedy and hardship. Widowed 2 years ago when her husband Hjalnek fell to a greedy ice troll in the Hoarwood Forest, Nadya harbors a grudge against the White Witches of lrrisen and their monstrous allies . Since her husband's death, she has struggled to care for their three children-a 7-year- old daughter, Thora, and twin 5-year- old sons, Orm and Mjoli. Nadya took up his trade as a food merchant and importer for the eastern reaches of the Hoarwood, including her home village of Waldsby. Hjalnek had taught her many things about survival and travel in the wilds, allowing her to carry on his work and succeed despite the challenges that she faces. As a result, many people in Hoarwood rely on her business, including the local aristocracy, who use Nadya's provisions to supplement the food they import for themselves from
Whitethrone and outside Irrisen.
About a year ago, Nadya established peaceful contact with a friendly tribe of Kellids near Irrisen's border with the Realm of the Mammoth Lords, trading with them for grain, raw meat, livestock, leather goods, and furs. Nadya's dogsleds make frequent, multi-week runs through the forest and the tundra of eastern Hoarwood so she can barter with the Kellids and restock the village storehouses. Because of her boldness and the invaluable service she provides, Nadya has become a trusted name in Waldsby. Unfortunately, she still struggles to win influence with the White Witch Nazhena Vasilliovna, who rules the region from her Pale Tower. Nadya supplies the Pale Tower in addition to Waldsby, but the witch's guards routinely commandeer Nadya's shipments rather than pay a fair price for them. In exchange, the peasants of Waldsby receive a little less harassment when the soldiers visit the village. Although she resents Nazhena's sense of entitlement, Nadya has come to view this arrangement as a necessary food "tax" -- one that earns her the continued freedom to look after the well-being of her friends and family.
Unfortunately, another tragedy had recently befallen Nadya. While she was away on a trade run, Nazhena and her guards visited Waldsby. Nadya's daughter, Thora, encountered Nazhena and inadvertently insulted the witch. In a fit of pique, Nazhena had the girl hauled off to the Pale Tower to punish her for her insolence. When Nadya returned and learned ofher daughter's capture, she hurried to the tower to plead for the girl's return. Nazhena agreed to release Thora only if Nadya could provide her with a new shipment of food, Nadya hastened to fulfill this bargain, trading almost everything she had to secure enough food from the Mammoth Lords to meet Nazhena's price. She is on her return to Waldsby from that run now.
Fanara inquired about the ice troll. Nadya indicated that these were under the control of White Witches. The back and forth continued with the heroes divulging some of their purpose, to save Heldren. They also told Nadya that the Giant Mantis were likely from Taldor, obviously people and animals are making their way through the portal in both directions. As they continued talking a voice in Skald called from beyond the light of the fire.
"Hello, do have extra food to share with a fellow traveler?" came a voice.
A humanoid with a hairless body, bare goat legs, and a horned head came into view. Nadya was somewhat startled and nervous when the creature arrived, but she acceded to allow her to join the group.
"And what is your name?" the creature asked looking at Nadya.
"I am Nadya Petska. Who may I ask are you?" she replied.
"I am Mierul. Your compatriots seem to be foreigners." the creature responded, "Who are you," she added looking at the heroes.
"They are my relatives visiting from Kizobran!" Nadya interrupted Fanara as she quickly replied.
"Ah, well all are welcome I suppose,"
The party determined that the creature was a Forlarren, likely winter touched. What she was doing in Irrisen they wouldn't know.
"Have you seen the black rider?" Mierul questioned Fanara.
"We may have. We encountered a man dressed all in black armor in the southern woods many miles away from here." Fanara responded.
The discussion then turned to the heroes purpose in the area. Nadya responded that they were going to help deliver the goods to the needy people around Waldsby and the Hoarwood. Mierul nodded sagely as she finished her meal.
"You must excuse me, I shall be on my way. Good luck to you on your journey." she said and moved away into the darkness.
Fanara looked at Nadya, "You seemed a little nervous with that person around."
"She was probably working for the White Witches or maybe even Queen Elvanna herself. I just wanted to protect you from her." Nadya responded.
"Thank you for that. We will do all we can to help." Casia added.
"Have you really seen the Black Rider?"
"Possibly. Someone of that general description came through the portal." Casia responded.
It was getting late and Nadya suggested heading to sleep. Before sleeping the party identified the items that they had collected. The mushers kept up a watch although Fanara and Santrel gave them a little rest. In the morning the group again went through their rituals. Fanara's hair took on a different hue today. Fanara also tried to read any psychic aura on the items the group had collected. The coins and most of the object had belonged to names he had never heard but they were Taloran names. The mirror he held and the mirror eye from the doll both belonged to a Radosek Pavril a completely unknown name.
During the night the group recalled the doll and the apparition they had encountered. She certainly was about the age of Nadya's Thora. Before the group left they told her of their encounter and Nadya gasped at the description.
"You don't think she is dead, do you?"
"We wouldn't know. The doll was some kind of construct but the girl seemed more an apparition." Santrel explained.
The party headed out on the trail once again. About mid-morning two swarms of ravens soared through
the sky.
"Everyone break out the tarps. We must hide from these birds." Nadya yelled.
The caravan guards unfurled white tarps and drew them over the dogsleds to hide the caravan and the heroes. Shortly the party could hear the swarms fly overhead but as they kept silent and still they soon heard the birds fly on past. Nadya stuck her head out from under the tarp and ordered the caravan on its way once again.
By noon time the party approached Waldsby. Once in the village, the heroes drew plenty of attention from the locals. Nadya greeted those residents concerned for her safety, but many of the villagers stared and pointed at the heroes before whispering concernedly and leading their children away. Others were intrigued, hoping that the newcomers had brought new wares from the south to trade, and not yet realizing the party aren't merchants.
The layout of Waldsby was very familiar, in fact it was almost identical to Heldren. The party saw a sign for a carpenter, Arbagazor Frimbocket and remembered that the carpenter in Heldren was also a gnome named Tengezil Frimbocket. Strange still when they reached the center of the village the arrangement of the chapel, tavern and city hall surrounded a statue of a beautiful woman in the center of Waldsby's town square. Curiously, it bore a strong resemblance to the statue in Heldren's town square-if it's not the same woman, then it was certainly crafted by the same sculptor.
"Does the statue of the woman have a name?" Casia asked.
"We do not know who the woman is. She is referred to as "the Cold Woman"," said Nadya.
Nadya lead the group past the throng, taking them to her home-a stout, unassuming cabin on the edge of town. She introduced them to her children, twin boys named Orm and Mjoli, as well as an old woman named Kashka who looks after boys during Nadya's frequent travels.
"Have a rest I will be back shortly." Nadya said as she left to store the goods in the storehouse.
DM's Notes: The party earned 233 XP for the night and now have 3203 needing just 97 additional to reach 3rd level.
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