<em>In Irrisen, Land of Eternal Winter, on the edge of the forest of Hoarwood, there was a village known as Orvinsby. There the people eked out a hard existence, but they did not complain. The world outside their village was a cruel place, ruled by witches. Father Pandolf said Erastil had blessed Orvinsby, and hidden it from the witches, and the strange creatures that prowled the forest. <br/><br/>But sometimes it was necessary to leave the village, and brave the wintry woods for food and supplies…</em><br/><br/><hr/><br/>“If you’re going into the woods, then you have to keep your wits about you,” Roga’s father said. The older blacksmith had always been a level-headed Erastilite, practical and focused on the present. His son, on the other hand, had a penchant for daydreaming and while it might be a relatively harmless habit when working the forge, the woods were full of unexpected dangers. “Hektor Reinhardt went missing in the woods a couple of days ago. I don’t want the same to happen to you.”<br/><br/>Roga’s father fell silent for a moment as he examined his son. The truth was, Roga wasn’t a boy any longer. He had to be free to make his own mistakes. Having made up his mind, with a final nod, the blacksmith turned and took an old sword down from the mantlepiece.<br/><br/>“Here, Roga,” the blacksmith said, handing his son the blade. “When you go into the forest, you take your family with you.”<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Meanwhile, atop a colourful wagon on the edge of town perched a snowy white hawk. The hawk, the wagon, and the young woman who lived inside, were all sources of rumour and superstition throughout the village. Some said the woman was a witch, and the hawk her familiar. Others said she worshipped a benevolent goddess, an ancient ally of Erastil. Whatever the case, it was well known that she was skilled in the arts of healing and even the most superstitious townsfolk might seek her out at times, when injuries or ailments seemed beyond the skill of Father Pandolf or one of his acolytes.<br/><br/>But these healing arts relied on herbs that could only be found in the forest, and of late the young woman had found herself running short…