Location: Heldren, Taldor

Summer was in full swing in the small farming village of Heldren. Nestled by the Border Wood in southern Taldor, this hamlet of farmers, woodcutters and herders is a quiet place. An unimportant and relatively hidden village, with only a crossroad for a footprint, it was a perfect spot for a simple life of peace in a fair-weather clime. The villagers themselves were happy with their lot, as the intrigues of Taldor never reached their town, nor the politics of Qadira to the south, and only the occasional drunkard from The Silver Stoat as the worst to plague the town. The Midsummer festival this year was one of the hottest on record, though the farmers enjoyed the omen of a grand growing season.

Thus, when the freezing snows and biting winds descended upon the Border Wood, the town was confused and afraid. The trappers and lumberjacks report aggressive white animals that shouldn't exist this far south, while the villagers feared magic must be involved. A badly wounded mercenary arrived in town yesterday, claiming to be a bodyguard of Lady Argentea Malassene. He told the village council that the noblewoman’s escort came under attack by bandits and strange, wintry creatures near the edge of the Border Wood. He alone escaped, and Lady Argentea was dragged away into the forest. Now the townsfolk cast fearful eyes toward the snowy forest, worried what else might emerge to threaten their peaceful village.

A messenger from the town's head councilwoman, Ionnia Teppen, has asked you to come to her house at midday to help her address these issues. Perhaps she questioned new arrivals having something to do with recent occurrences, or perhaps she sought out what capable few there were in town among the residents. Currently a bright morning, you have a few hours before the clock strikes it's noontide toll to summon you to the councilwoman's house. Though the heat of the sun is almost unbearable, the chill wind from the Border Wood keeps the town feeling cool.


Spoiler: Heldren Gazetteer
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1. Armory 2. Isker's Smithy 3. General Store 4. Town Hall 5. Willowbark Apothecary
6. Barber 7. The Silver Stoat 8. Livery Stable 9. Town Square 10. Ionnia Teppen's House
11. Temple of Erastil 12. Carpenter 13. Heldren Sawmill 14. The Butcher of Jalrune 15. Old Mother Theodora's

1. Armory: A dirt path winds its way up a low hill west of town to the single door of this square stone tower. A selection of simple arms and armor for the town militia is found inside, though scarcely used.
2. Isker's Smithy: An old veteran of Taldan wars, Isker Euphram trains the militia when not shoeing horses.
3. General Store: Though the town is small, the proprietor Vivialla Steranus uses the town's position on the Border Wood as a passing trade post to keep her store stocked with everything a traveler needs.
4. Town Hall: Rather grand for a village this size, a clocktower stands over the town. Though the council rarely has much to discuss at their meetings, this hall is still sees often use in community festivals.
5. Willowbark Apothecary: A well tended garden sits in front of an equally neat house, home of the elf Tessaraea Willowbark. Though somber and little morose, she can usually be found amongst her flora.
6. Barber: Describing himself as an artist with razors and scissors, Argus Goldtooth also offers surgical and dentistry work with a golden smile.
7. The Silver Stoat: The only tavern in town, this forms the center of life in Heldren when it's not at work. Husband and wife Menander and Kale Garimos run the place like a family kitchen. Though there are no extra rooms, Menander promises a warm hearth should you spend the night on the floor
8. Livery Stable: Sophia Imirras keeps a stock of horses for sale, as well as a carriage and a few wagons. The carriage has a royal look to it, a reward from a noble when Sophia calmed a newly broken stallion of his.
9. Town Square: A tall statue of a beautiful woman stands in the middle of town. Known only as "The Lady", the theories of her identity vary from person to person, but no identification of any kind has been found.
10. Ionnia Teppen's house: The leader of the village council lives in a simple two-storey wooden house. A mainstay of the community, the villagers treat Ionnia as the mayor of town.
11. Temple of Erastil: Though Erastil is the deity of serving cleric Natharen Safander, shrines to many deities such as Abadar, Gozreh, Sarenrae, and others dot the inside of Old Deadeye's temple.
12. Carpenter: Heldren's foremost woodworker, Tengezil Frimbocket is a blue-haired gnome who has mastered a delicate and elaborate trim he refers to as "Gingerbread".
13. Heldren Sawmill: Despite Heldren's relative isolation, the sawmill is constantly busy with work. Partners Alexius Demetri and Lycio Vallant would be the richest in town, if they weren't the town's biggest philanthropists.
14. The Butcher of Jalrune: The butcher in Heldren has a fancy name Perkin Tarimm claims is from his corsair days, though most of the town knows he couldn't butcher anything scarier than a pig.
15. Old Mother Theodora: Every town has a "wise woman", and Heldren is no different. No one is sure how ancient she is, but having delivered nearly human in town as a newborn, this old woman has seen quite a few seasons.