Far to the north, lies a country eternally buried by snow and ice. Dangerous creatures that stalk the banks and tundra are not the most deadly threats when in hours a body can freeze solid. 1400 years ago, the Queen of Witches Baba Yaga fought for and claimed the land as her own and turned it into a the frozen landscape it is now. She installed the lands first Queen, her own daughter, and departed from the world. But she returns every one hundred years, selecting a new Queen and taking the previous with her to unknown places and for unknown reasons. Such is the legacy of the Winter Queen's crown.<br/><br/>In a distant country in the southern regions, stories of strange winter weather have begun circulating. Places never before to experience such climates that allow snow to form are beset by raging blizzards and icy beast, but only in small pockets and seemingly at random. Outside a small town in Taldor, the wood has been snowed in and something lurks in the piling snow.<br/><br/><em>The sleepy village of Heldren has rarely seen so much excitement or concern. Hunters from the nearby Border Wood speak of unnaturally cold weather at the height of summer that descended on the forest just days ago. Heavy snow followed, and those who returned spoke of an uneasy presence in the woods, as well as new, dangerous predators. No one knows what this event means, but the town's sooth sayer, Old Mother Theodora, claims dark times lie a head.<br/>As if in proof of that dire prophecy, 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. Healone 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.</em><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">(http://s22.postimg.org/ht8j50vb5/Heldren.jpg)<br/><br/>The town of Heldren consist of a few buildings. There are small farms outside of the town borders and most buildings are constructed of wood.<br/><br/>1. The Armory<br/>2. The Smithy<br/>3. General Store<br/>4. Town Hall<br/>5. Willow Bark Apothecary<br/>6. Barber<br/>7. The Silver Stoat Tavern<br/>8. The Livery Stables<br/>9. Town Square<br/>10. Ionnia Teppen's house<br/>11. Temple of Erastil<br/>12. The Carpenter's<br/>13. The Sawmill<br/>14. The Butcher<br/>15. Old Mother Theodora's house.<br/></div></div><br/>The townsfolk are willing to chatter about the local goings on and rumors to anyone that can get them talking (a roll of either<span class="bbc_u">Diplomacy DC:?</span>to gather information and rumors or<span class="bbc_u">Knowledge (Local) DC:?</span>(can used untrained but can not score higher than a 10) to see what your character may know or have over heard during there time in the area.) A visit to a shop in town may also turn up something useful, or not. Who really knows until the investigation is over.<br/><br/>OOC:<br/>If you want to go to a specific place on the map, just post you wish to go to that location and make your character walk there.<br/>Roles will be responded to as they are made, though once you guys become a full group, responses will come once everyone has rolled.