It was a particularly harsh winter that year and by the second week the adventurers had arrived, the landscape surrounding the small town was covered in a thick blanket of snow. The unusual circumstances were not lost on the townsfolk, and there was grumbling in the town of a fell voice on the wind.
However, even with the omens it wasn't until the arrival of wolves on the outskirts of town that the alarm truly began to spread. These particular wolves were a breed known only to stalk the extreme northern reaches of Ferune, beyond the great mountain range known as the Spine of the World. It was gradual at first, with initial reports speaking only of looming shadows out in the flurries at the edge of town, but when livestock began to go missing and one of the farmhouses was attacked by the fell creatures Captain Hallwinter was finally forced to call a town meeting to address the problem.
Panic and alarm ran through the ranks of the superstitious townsfolk, and the meeting confirmed their suppositions and escalated the tension. Present too at this meeting were the adventurers that had arrived earlier that fall, and together the unwieldy group of rural folk and seasoned travelers bantered on about the nature and cause of the events.
The discussion went nowhere though, and it wasn't until the intervention of a mysterious bystander that any clarity was offered. The figure was crouched low in the corner of the room and appeared to be hunched over from the onset of old age, but when he revealed himself from behind his deep hooded cloak he was seen truthfully to be a Dragonborn shrouded under the trappings of an old beggar.
The townsfolk were taken aback, many having never seen one of the exotic creatures, and there was a hush that fell over the room as the gathered group waited with anticipation for the Dragonborn's next words.
"I am Nizèl a traveling Priest and devout follower of Amaunator" the Dragonborn spoke. "I have dwelled here for some time and have sought to keep to myself until now, but I can remain silent no longer" He took a glance around the room to see if he had the crowd's sufficient attention, and satisfied, he carried on. "We are all in grave danger. My patron has declared it to me, and I believe it is my duty to reveal what is hidden here."
There were a few muffled murmurs and gasps from around the room, but Nizèl pressed onward. "The fell voice that you speak of is no mere illusion. I fear that there is indeed some being that has honed in on the town from beyond the earthly realms. Amaunator has felt the disturbance with the early passing of Autumn and has warned me of the evil machinations that close in around me. Who is perpetrating these events is yet unknown to me, but one thing is clear. They are after something..." He paused for dramatic effect, admittedly enjoying the command he now had over all of their attention, and uttered the final words with satisfaction.
"They are after the very band of adventurers that lodges with you now. The two Elfkin and the human have something or know something that has attracted the attention of someone very powerful, and I fear that this town will not see relief from this unseasonal weather and the beasts that stalk its borders until the perused have left Phandalin." With the final word spoken the crowd began to mumble and shift uncomfortably, the people clearly disturbed by the revelation, and many began to eye the band of adventurers wearily. After a few moments had passed someone called, "We'll let's be gone with them then!" Then there was a flurry of commotion with some others dissenting and an argument breaking out between several of the townsfolk.
At this last outburst, the half-elf of the group could stand silent no longer. " And who are you to level such accusations against us dragonkin!?" She said with disdain, pointedly emphasizing the last word in particular. Morrah Moonshadow, heir to the House of Moonshadow, and last in a long line of succession that had nearly died out, was especially sensitive to situations such as this one, to matters of apparent prejudice however small.
She spoke on behalf of the rest of the group. "Since we have come to this town we have done nothing but aid you people and now you threaten to throw us out right as the winter winds are at their most wicked? To leave the town now would be suicide, surely you and this shady character besides both know this." The proclamation was met with resounding approval from many within the town, especially the handful of families who had had their children returned to them after the adventurer's foray with the Nothic.
"These folks have done nothing but aid our town," one of the young mothers proclaimed. "If it weren't for them, my son may never have returned to me."
"We owe them as much to ride out this storm together," another said, adding to the sentiment.
This last round of disagreement added more fuel to the fire and before long things had become even more heated with neither side giving ground. Finally, Hallwinter had to step in or risk the whole affair breaking out into an all-out brawl. "I know your tensions are high, but we need to come together and think of solutions and not continue to draw lines in the sand" He explained, trying to gain a measure of control over the unruly crowd.
"I may have just that solution," Nizèl followed up after a momentary pause in the commotion. Eyes both curious and accusing rested on the Dragonborn once more and a knowing smile crossed his face as he explained to them his plan.
Far in the back of the room sat the other two members of the adventuring troupe, Carric and Stan, apparently less eager to weigh in on the discourse. Stan mostly just looked bored, no doubt pondering his next heroic deed and how he might benefit from it, but the wizard Carric carried a very different expression. Certainly, he was more invested in the conversation, weighing the words carefully, but if one had been paying particular attention to the elf, perhaps if his companion had not stirred up such a heated response to the Dragonborn, one may have surmised that the wizard looked perturbed, perhaps even a bit unnerved by Nizèl's comments.
