INTERLUDE One: Arriving in Winterhaven
Regardless of the adventure hook that brought the adven-
turers to the village, they first need to establish lodging.
The villagers point visitors to Winterhaven’s only public
house, Wrafton’s Inn.
Because Wrafton’s is a place of gathering, the PCs can
likely find any of the village’s prominent residents there
from time to time.
Winterhaven
Village, Population 977
The rutted King’s Road leads to the foot of a broad hill that holds
the walled village of Winterhaven. The village is nestled in the
southern foothills of the Cairngorm Peaks. The walls are weath-
ered stone topped by defensive palisades.
Small thatched homes stand around Winterhaven, each
fronting a small piece of farmland or pasture. Beyond the farms
to the west and south lie dark woods, and to the north, tall moun-
tain peaks.
Most residents of Winterhaven have never traveled beyond
the village vale. The majority of villagers are farmers,
though the walled heart of Winterhaven employs various
craftspeople as well. Wagons occasionally head east down
old King’s Road from Winterhaven to find trade with the
next village, which lies five days away. Sometimes wagons
come into Winterhaven, causing the villagers to excitedly
gather in the Market Square to hear news of the outside
world and to buy new and exotic goods.
Leadership: Ernest Padraig, the Lord of Winterhaven,
is descended from the noble family that ruled the area
under edict of the old empire. Folks around Winterhaven
were happy with Lord Padraig’s father’s authority, and they
have found answering to the rules of the new lord no more
arduous. On the other hand, Padraig doesn’t have absolute
power. For instance, he has been unable to raise a force
from among the villagers to deal with the kobold problem
on the road.
Padraig commands the Winterhaven Regulars, a core
group of ten soldiers who perform guard and police func-
tions in and around the walled portion of the village. The
Regulars patrol in pairs. To augment this force, Padraig
can muster a group of about fifty civilians, given a day’s
notice. However, he can only do this if the village itself is
threatened—the villagers have no desire to patrol the road
beyond the farms.
Demographics: The population of Winterhaven is
predominantly human, with a scattering of dwarf fami-
lies, and a handful of individuals of other common races,
including a couple of elves.
Economics: Winterhaven is primarily an agricultural
village based on barter and trade, though Lord Padraig
keeps a monetary system afloat with his own coin. Adven-
turers should have no trouble purchasing appropriate
items for which they have sufficient coin.
1. Outer Gate and Walls
Open by day, closed and barred at night, the outer gate is
policed by two guards regardless of the hour. They nod
amiably to locals, and point travelers (whom they assume
to be traders) to Wrafton’s Inn.
Winterhaven’s walls have a narrow parapet extend-
ing around the inside edge. If Winterhaven comes under
attack, the Regulars and what militia can be raised from
among the civilians guard the walls to stave off the threat.
2. Wrafton’s Inn
This spacious inn and tavern serves as the public house
for the region. Like alehouses everywhere, Wrafton’s
Inn offers beer, wine, and, on occasion, spirits. Meals are
served for those with the coin, and beds for travelers are
available. A crowd of villagers gathers each night to drink,
gossip, sing, and play games of chance.
In addition to village residents, any travelers passing
through Winterhaven are found here.
Anyone in Wrafton’s knows the general history of the
village and the nearby ruined keep. Only Valthrun knows
that the ruined keep was built to contain a rift into the
Shadowfell.
Salvana Wrafton: Wrafton’s owner and proprietor is a
female human named Salvana Wrafton. She employs sev-
eral waiters, waitresses, and cooks. Salvana is friendly and
open, quick with a smile and a warm welcome.
Eilian the Old: This old farmer is a regular customer
at Wrafton’s. Every night, Eilian takes a seat at a table in
the corner. He has a farm down in the valley along the
Old King’s Road. Eilian has an interest in Winterhaven’s
history. He is a good source for local information, and he
loves to talk.
Valthrun the Prescient: Valthrun is a sage and
scholar who lives in a tower within Winterhaven’s walls.
On occasion he shows up in Wrafton’s to socialize. Valth-
run is knowledgeable about the area, though he knows
nothing of death cult activity in the vicinity. He does know
about the sealed rift beneath the ruins of the old keep, but
he doesn’t discuss such things with just any adventurer,
and he never talks about it with the villagers since he
doesn’t want to cause a panic. Valthrun is a good listener,
asking just enough questions to keep whomever he speaks
with talking.
Lord Padraig: From time to time, the town’s lord (level
3 human warlord) visits Wrafton’s. All those ­present doff
their hats and call him Lord, after which he retreats to a
corner table and sips beer. He is amenable to speaking
with adventurers who approach him. He initially assumes