Something is killing people in Palebank Village, and if the characters don’t stop it, they might be next. “Frozen Sick” is an adventure that takes characters from 1st to 3rd level and introduces them to the continent’s Biting North region—the bleak arctic realms of the Greying Wildlands and Eiselcross.
If your players are using the heroic chronicle to create their characters (see chapter 4), work with them to decide how they made their way to Palebank Village. Are they citizens of Uthodurn now aiding in the surface expansion of their civilization? Have they come north to seek freedom from the wars of other lands? Any number of options can help tie characters to this frigid region and the mysteries it holds.
Story Overview
Urgon Wenth, a dwarf explorer, recently returned home to Palebank Village after exploring the icy wastes of Eiselcross for a year. The dwarf brought home several items plundered from ruins on Foren, the largest of Eiselcross’s islands. Among these treasures were two beautiful blue glass vials, which Urgon sold to an elf collector named Verla Pelc. The vials were then stolen, given to a fence out of Shadycreek Run, and sold again to an unsuspecting merchant.
In truth, the vials' beautiful blue color is the result of deadly blue spores that cling to the interior of the glass. Faint cracks in both the vials have exposed each person who handled them to frigid woe, a deadly disease that can’t be cured by conventional means. The disease has already killed Urgon and Verla, turning them into ice statues. Details on frigid woe are found in the “Eiselcross” section of chapter 3.
Adventure Summary
While the characters are in Palebank Village, community leader Elro Aldataur asks for their help figuring out who or what has killed Urgon Wenth. An explorer recently returned from Eiselcross, Urgon was afflicted by a strange malady that turned him into an ice statue, and which has since shown up in another of the village’s residents. The characters investigate the mystery while contending with the forces of the Uttolots, one of the criminal families that control Shadycreek Run. More infected locals are discovered, including one more already dead, before the characters clear Uttolot thugs out of a local cavern complex called Croaker Cave. In the end, the vials of frigid woe are reclaimed, but merchant Irven Liel and his family are infected and will be the next to die without a cure. Moreover, the characters might well be infected with the disease themselves.
Elro asks the characters to travel to Eiselcross to seek a cure for frigid woe. The characters take a boat to Syrinlya, the Uthodurnian outpost on Foren, and retrace Urgon Wenth’s path to the ruin of Salsvault. This magic laboratory was once a part of Aeor, an ancient flying city-state that crashed into Eiselcross during the Calamity. Only by braving Salsvault’s defenses and deadly guardians can the adventurers find the antidote they need.
Setup and Starting Points
Work with the players to establish why their characters are in Palebank Village. You can provide information regarding the village and its surrounding lands, all of which are described in chapter 3.
Before the adventure begins is also the time to figure out if the characters already know each other or if this adventure is the first time they’ve met.
Mystery in Palebank Village
The adventure begins in Palebank Village, with the characters drawn immediately into the drama of death in an isolated settlement. Once the players are ready to begin, read or paraphrase the following to set the scene:
Snow gently falls from the sky and wind bites your cheeks as you stand in the graveyard of Palebank Village, a fishing outpost of Uthodurn that is home to several hundred dwarves and elves. The sun is low in the sky, sinking behind the fresh grave of Urgon Wenth, an old dwarf who caught a curse or disease that turned him into an ice statue. The folk of the village have gathered to pay their final respects to Urgon’s frozen remains.
As part of their characters' backstories, the players can decide whether any of them knew Urgon or whether they’ve come to the funeral simply to show respect to the folk of the community. Either way, continue by reading the following:
A gruff voice speaks softly from behind you. “Thank you for attending Urgon’s service.” You turn and meet the gaze of Elro Aldataur, a weathered elf, retired ranger, and the leader of the village. “I’m sorry to speak of dark tidings under such circumstances, but I believe that Palebank Village might be in danger, and I’m hoping you can help us.”
Whether the characters are known in the village as neophyte adventurers or simply look the part, Elro (a neutral good, male wood elf veteran) hopes that they’re the sort of people not afraid to step up to help folks in need. Use the following points to help guide the conversation as he explains his concerns to the characters:
- Two months ago, Urgon Wenth returned home after exploring Eiselcross for a year. He had been back for only for a few days when he came down with a strange affliction, which made the dwarf move slowly and caused blue veins to appear all over his body.
- The village’s priests of Moradin and Corellon used every spell they could muster to attempt to heal Urgon, but nothing they tried could stop the bizarre malady. Urgon battled the affliction for weeks, until his ever-slowing body eventually turned to ice.
- Until yesterday, Elro and the rest of the community believed that Urgon’s sad fate was an isolated incident, most likely caused by something the dwarf came into contact with while exploring Eiselcross. Then Elro noticed Tulgi Lutan, a dwarf trapper, showing signs of the same illness.
- Alarmed, Elro tried to talk to Tulgi about it, but she pushed him away, asking that he let her die in peace.
Elro’s Request
If the characters are willing, Elro wants them to find out what caused Urgon and Tulgi’s affliction. He’s worried that it could spread, but Tulgi refuses to talk to him, and the Glassblades in the village are better known for their combat skills than their ability to glean the truth in a complicated situation. Moreover, Tulgi is extremely distrustful of the authorities.
Elro thinks a group of adventurers might have better luck convincing Tulgi to talk. If the characters agree to help find the cause of Urgon and Tulgi’s affliction, Elro offers to pay them 100 gp. He suggests that the characters start by searching Urgon’s home or talking to Tulgi at her cabin.
Urgon’s Cabin
Urgon Wenth lived in a one-story, one-room log cabin at the edge of town. A good-natured Glassblade rookie named Mila Teno (a lawful good, female wood elf scout) stands guard outside the front door. If the characters explain why they’ve come, she allows them to enter the house and look around. When the characters enter the cabin, read:
This cramped, dark cabin might have been a cozy place when its owner was alive. Now an unmade bed stands near a cold fireplace, its mantle hung with the head of some snarling white beast with gray horns. On the other side of the room, a small table strewn with dirty dishes and set with a dwarf-sized chair stands before two empty shelves whose contents are scattered across the floor: kitchen utensils, dried foodstuffs, adventuring gear, and a few books.
Any character who examines the mess in the cabin realizes that someone recently trashed the place while searching it. A successful DC 12 Intelligence (
Adventuring Equipment
Urgon’s adventuring equipment consists of a silvered maul; a suit of splint armor sized for a dwarf; bulky, fur-lined clothing sized for a dwarf; a grappling hook; and a hooded lantern.
Mounted Head
A character who succeeds on a DC 15 Intelligence (
Strange Receipt
A character who searches through the books on the shelf and succeeds on a DC 10 Intelligence (
Characters who are residents of Palebank Village or have been there for a while know of Pelc’s Curiosities—and also know that the shop was robbed and vandalized two months ago.
Development
After searching the cabin, the characters can continue their investigation by going to Tulgi’s cabin or by stopping at Pelc’s Curiosities (assuming they found the receipt).
Tulgi’s Cabin
When the characters approach Tulgi’s cabin, read:
This snow-covered cabin looks peaceful and quiet from the outside. Its windows are shuttered, and a steady stream of smoke piping out of the chimney indicates a roaring fire within.
Tulgi Lutan’s home is a one-story, one-room log cabin. Because she isn’t keen on letting the characters in, the following features might be important:
- The roof of the cabin is 12 feet high. Climbing up the outside walls requires a successful DC 10 Strength (
Athletics ) check. - The wooden door to the cabin is locked and has AC 15, 18 hit points, and immunity to poison and psychic damage. The lock can be picked with a successful DC 12 Dexterity check using thieves' tools, or the door can be forced open with a successful DC 15 Strength (
Athletics ) check. Tulgi carries the key that unlocks the door. - Each of the cabin’s four walls has one window, which is shuttered and latched from the inside. A window can be unlatched from outside with a successful DC 12 Dexterity check using thieves' tools.
- The inside of the cabin is brightly lit by fires in a brazier and a fireplace, though the smoky haze given off by both makes the interior lightly obscured.
If the characters knock on the door, Tulgi Lutan (a neutral evil, female mountain dwarf thug with a walking speed of 10 feet) calls from the other side, telling them to go away. A character who shouts back through the door and succeeds on a DC 12 Charisma (
If the characters aren’t invited inside, they’ll have to decide what other means they’re willing to use to enter. Regardless of how they do so, when the characters enter the cabin, read:
The heat in this small cabin hits like a hammer blow. A table set with neatly stacked dishes, tools, and utensils stands at the center of the room. The smell of a simmering soup comes from a pot hanging inside a roaring fireplace. Another fire burns in an iron brazier at the opposite end of the room, filling the cabin with a smoky haze. Shivering at the end of a bed near the brazier is a dwarf wrapped in blankets. Bulging blue veins streak her face, neck, and hands.
If the characters broke into the cabin, Tulgi attacks as soon as she sees them, fighting until reduced to 10 hit points, then surrendering. She has two pet Wolf, Iro and Jira, that hide beneath her bed. If a fight breaks out, the wolves join the fray to defend her.
Fire Hazards
Any creature that comes into contact with the brazier or the fireplace for the first time on its turn, or that starts its turn there, takes 2 (
What Tulgi Knows
Tulgi is gruff and to the point, and tries to compensate for her illness with bluster. If the characters entered the cabin with her permission or if she surrenders to them, she tells them only that she has the same affliction that killed Urgon, and that she’s looking for a cure.
A character who succeeds on a DC 12 Charisma (
- Tulgi came to Palebank Village a few years back from Shadycreek Run with her sister, Hulil Lutan. Both work for the Uttolot family.
- The Uttolots sent the sisters and a few others to the village to keep an eye on treasures coming back from Eiselcross—with the intent of stealing them. When such artifacts come through the small settlement, they are often unusual goods that treasure hunters are trying to keep away from Uthodurn or the Dwendalian Empire.
- When Urgon Wenth returned to Palebank Village with treasures from Eiselcross, Tulgi saw her chance. She waited for Urgon to sell his finds to Pelc’s Curiosities, then stole them all.
- Tulgi gave most of Urgon’s relics to Hulil, but kept one for herself—an ornate dagger. She grudgingly gives this weapon to the characters if asked (see “Treasure” below). Hulil has the other items in a site north of the village known as Croaker Cave.
- Tulgi was the one who searched Urgon’s cabin, convinced that the dead dwarf must have had magic or other secrets stored away there.
Treasure
If Tulgi doesn’t offer her dagger to the characters, any character with a passive Wisdom (
Development
The characters have no trouble finding either Croaker Cave or Pelc’s Curiosities if either of those locations is their next destination. If things went bad with Tulgi and she died before revealing any information, the characters might find notes or instructions from Hulil revealing some of the information above.
Pelc’s Curiosities
Pelc’s Curiosities is an antique shop run by an introverted elf named Verla Pelc. Verla keeps to herself, opening her shop only when the mood strikes her. She trades any and all objects that interest her, shipping them across Wildemount. Characters who are residents of Palebank Village or have been there for a while know of Pelc’s Curiosities—and also know that the shop was robbed and vandalized two months ago. If the characters are recent arrivals to the village, anyone they ask about the shop mentions the robbery.
Pelc’s Curiosities is a one-story, two-room log cabin. The windows are shuttered and locked from inside, leaving the interior dark. The only entrance is the front door, but characters can force open one of the shutters around the back with a successful DC 12 Strength (
When the characters approach the cabin, read:
The dark cabin before you has a sign over its door which reads, “Pelc’s Curiosities,” with the image of a curving dragon used to make the letter P. Though the shop appears closed, the front door is slightly ajar.
Any character with a passive Wisdom (
Front Shop Area
The antique shop occupies the large front room of the cabin. When the characters can see into this area, read:
Five cloaked elves appear to have ransacked the shop and are searching through the broken debris on the floor. The furniture, shelves, and front counter have been smashed, and the shop’s wares now litter the floor.
This area is difficult terrain thanks to the debris covering it. The five elves are Bandit with
The bandits attack as soon as they notice the characters, fighting until only one remains. That survivor then surrenders. If a captive bandit is questioned, a character who succeeds on a DC 10 Charisma (
- The bandits work for Hulil Lutan, a dwarf priestess of Tiamat. Hulil works for the Uttolot family of Shadycreek Run.
- Hulil’s sister, Tulgi, robbed Pelc’s Curiosities two months ago.
- Hulil is sick or cursed with some affliction that causes her to move slowly and is turning her veins blue.
- Hulil ordered the bandits to trash Pelc’s Curiosities in search of potions, scrolls, or other items that might help cure her. Despite their thorough search, the bandits found nothing useful. Hulil is hiding out with more bandits in Croaker Cave.
Verla’s Quarters
Verla’s quarters are at the back of the cabin. When the characters gain access to this area, read:
What appears to be an ice statue of an elf is bundled beneath the blankets of a bed along the east wall of the room. A small table loaded with dirty teacups and a kettle stands next to the bed.
The figure in the bed is the unfortunate Verla Pelc, who was infected with frigid woe by Urgon Wenth’s Aeorian relics. Her symptoms appeared a few weeks after the shop was robbed, but the reclusive elf never told anyone about them.
Development
Questioning any of the bandits can turn up solid leads that can take the characters to Croaker Cave, or back to Tulgi’s cabin if there are other questions the dwarf has yet to answer. If they were unable to question the bandits, you can have one of the bandits carrying orders from Hulil that point toward the Croaker Cave hideout.
Croaker Cave
Characters local to Palebank Village or who have spent some time there know Croaker Cave. If all the characters are new arrivals to the village, any of the villagers can tell them about the cave and how to get there.
Croaker Cave gets its name from its resident giant ice frogs. Its entrance is on the shores of the Frigid Depths, due north of Palebank Village. As the characters draw close to the cave entrance, they see frequent signs of tracks where bandits have been coming and going. However, there are no signs of patrols or guards. A plume of smoke rises from the ground beyond the cave entrance, venting through a narrow natural chimney from area C6. The chimney is too small to be climbed, however, and the main cave entrance is the only entry point.
Knowing that the residents of Palebank Village avoid the cave and its dangerous frogs, Hulil Lutan has made the place her base of operations. She and the Uttolot bandits she commands have domesticated the giant ice frogs that make the cave their home, using them as guard animals.
Giant Ice Frogs
With the exception of Old Croaker (see area C5), giant ice frogs are Giant Frog with immunity to cold damage.
The blue-skinned frogs attack any creatures in the cave complex not escorted by bandits they recognize. Each fights until reduced to half its hit points or fewer, then flees. A character who succeeds on a DC 15 Wisdom (
The frogs spend much of their time resting in pools of murky, frigid water in Croaker Cave. A character who succeeds on a Wisdom (
Uttolot Bandits
The bandits sent out with Hulil by the Uttolot family are all dwarves and elves. Up to ten bandits normally occupy Croaker Cave, but only three are currently present (in area C2). They use the bandit stat block and have
Uttolot bandits attack any intruders on sight. Each fights until reduced to half its hit points or fewer, then flees the caves. If the characters capture an Uttolot bandit, they can learn the following information with a successful DC 10 Charisma (
- Hulil is sick with the same malady that killed Urgon Wenth.
- She plans on setting out for Shadycreek Run soon, hoping that trading the items her sister Tulgi stole from Pelc’s Curiosities allows her to pay for healing that will cure her.
Croaker Cave Features
The caverns and tunnels of the Croaker Cave complex are shown on map 5.9. Unless otherwise noted in an area’s description, the following features are common throughout all areas of Croaker Cave.
Ceilings
Cavern ceilings are 10 feet high, with only 8 feet of clearance beneath stalactites.
Walls
Climbing the rough walls of a cavern requires a successful DC 12 Strength (
Light
The caverns contain no light sources, except inarea C6, as the inhabitants of Croaker Cave rely on
Frigid Pools
Pools of murky, frigid water within the caverns are created by melting snow on the rocky ground above dripping down through the ceiling. Each pool is 10 feet deep. A creature completely submerged in a pool must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or gain one level of
C1. Entrance Pool
This area of the cave is close enough to the entrance that it is dimly lit by day and on clear moonlit nights. When the characters can see into this area, read:
The slow dripping of water sounds out where it falls from stalactites down into a murky pool that fills the rough tunnel ahead. Every few moments, a loud croaking sounds out from somewhere in the darkness beyond.
With
Two giant ice frogs hide in the murky pool. If combat breaks out in this area, the bandits in area C2 quickly come to investigate.
C2. Training Pool
The slow dripping of water from the ceiling flows to a pool in the southwest corner of this cavern. A large wooden bucket with a lid sits near the edge of the pool.
Three Uttolot bandits and two giant ice frogs normally occupy this cavern. If the bandits have not yet been alerted to disturbances, they are training the frogs. Add the following:
A dwarf and two elves bundled in layers of winter clothing are throwing dead bats into the air. Two giant blue-skinned frogs leap up to snatch the bats in midair, seemingly as part of some sort of training session.
If the bandits went to investigate disturbances in adjacent areas, the frogs are hiding in the pool.
Bucket
The bucket holds six dead bats used as training treats. A character who offers a dead bat to a frog has advantage on their next Wisdom (
C3. Bat Cavern
This cavern reeks, and its floor is covered in bat guano.
A swarm of bats sleeps among the stalactites in this cavern. If anything disturbs the bats (including a light source or a loud noise in the cavern), the swarm attacks the source of the disturbance. The swarm fights until reduced to half its hit points or fewer, then flees out of the cave complex. If combat breaks out in this area, the bandits in area C2 come to investigate.
Treacherous Floor
The floor of this area is covered in slippery bat guano. Whenever a creature standing on the floor takes damage, it must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity (
C4. Bandit Camp
Ten empty bedrolls are arranged in a circle around a cold fire pit at the center of this cavern. Chicken bones, empty wine and spirits bottles, and other food waste litters the floor.
One of the bedrolls covers the opening of a 10-foot-deep pit trap. The trap can be spotted with a DC 10 Wisdom (
Treasure
Searching all the bedrolls reveals that one contains an unopened bottle of Bald Dwarf Whisky (worth 25 gp), an alcohol made by elves in Uthodurn.
C5. Old Croaker’s Pool
Water dripping down from stalactites in the ceiling fills a dark pool that completely covers the floor of this cavern.
Croaker Cave’s largest denizen—named Old Croaker by the Uttolot bandits—has claimed this pool. It hides in the water and attacks as other giant ice frogs. Old Croaker is a giant toad with immunity to cold damage.
Old Croaker has been trained to ferry Hulil and visitors to her cavern (area C6) across the pool. A character who succeeds on a DC 15 Wisdom (
C6. Hulil’s Cavern
When the characters can see into this area, read:
A warm rush of heat comes from a massive fire burning in the center of this cavern, its smoke venting up through a narrow stone chimney. The flames illuminate a rough painting of a five-headed dragon that dominates the north wall. A bedroll is spread out beneath the mural. Near the crackling blaze, a dwarf bundled in a heavy cloak sits on a stone chest beside an elf whose face is covered in dragon tattoos. The dwarf’s face is streaked with pulsing blue veins.
Hulil Lutan (a neutral evil, female mountain dwarf cult fanatic with a walking speed of 15 feet,
Hulil is so desperate for a cure for the ailment that is slowly killing her that she doesn’t attack the characters when she first sees them, as long as she isn’t attacked first. Instead, she orders them to stand down and demands to know why they came to the cave. A quick-thinking character can claim to have come to help Hulil (at the direction of her sister, after receiving a message from Tiamat, or with another appropriate rationale). With a successful Charisma (
Campfire
Any creature that enters the area of the fire for the first time on its turn, or that starts its turn there, takes 3 (
What Hulil Knows
If the characters convince Hulil Lutan that they are her allies, or if they capture her or Raegrin and succeed on a DC 14 Charisma (
- Hulil believes she has a disease called frigid woe. Though she doesn’t know any more about the disease than its symptoms, she’s heard rumors that explorers in Eiselcross sometimes succumb to it.
- Hulil has guessed that her affliction was caused by one of the blue vials Tulgi stole from Pelc’s Curiosities, originally sold by Urgon Wenth. The vial was cracked, revealing that its lovely color was the result of a dark blue dust clinging to the interior.
- She is desperate to get to Shadycreek Run before the malady runs its course, hoping that she can trade the goods stolen by Tulgi for a cure.
Hulil used one of the vials to trap the chest containing the other stolen items (see “Stone Chest” below). Needing quick cash for the trip, she sold the other vial to Irven Liel, a human merchant staying at the Jolly Dwarf inn in Palebank Village while traveling with his family to Uthodurn.
Stone Chest
The stone chest’s outer lid is carved with the face of a dragon. A character who examines the chest and succeeds on a DC 12 Wisdom (
A
Treasure
The chest contains the rest of the treasure found by Urgon Wenth—a gilded scroll case covered in a cosmological map of the multiverse (worth 15 gp), a jade statuette of a storm giant (25 gp), a quiver containing six
Development
When the characters are done exploring Croaker Cave, they should know the blue glass vials found by Urgon Wenth are the source of the strange malady that is turning people into ice statues, and that Irven Liel has one of those vials. If the characters don’t have a chance to question Hulil Lutan or Raegrin Mau, you can have the chest also contain a journal or notes that provide the information they need and point them toward the Jolly Dwarf inn.
Jolly Dwarf
The Jolly Dwarf is a cozy, two-story inn run by a retired adventurer named Arl Bortock. When the characters enter the inn, read:
The downstairs of this inn features a large taproom. A gray-haired dwarf behind the bar greets you cheerfully as you enter. Two male humans and two tiefling children laugh among themselves as they enjoy a meal together.
Arl Bortock (a neutral good, male, mountain dwarf veteran) works behind the bar. If the characters ask for Irven Liel, the dwarf points them toward the laughing family.
Irven Liel, his husband Fenton Tethwick (both neutral good, male Dwendalian human Commoner), and their adopted daughters Honor and Magic (both tiefling noncombatants) are friendly and invite the characters to join them. Irven and Fenton are traveling booksellers. If asked about the vial, Irven explains that they met Hulil Lutan on the road to Palebank Village. She said she was moving and needed to shed some possessions, so she offered him a chance to buy the Aeorian relic at a great price. He plans to sell the item for a profit in Uthodurn.
If the characters tell Irven the truth about the vial, he panics, saying that everyone in his family has touched the object. Fenton gives the vial to the characters, handing it to them wrapped up in a cloth. Any character who touches the vial directly must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or contract frigid woe.
Development
Once the characters have the cracked vial, they can report back to Elro Aldataur. He pays them 100 gp as promised but asks the characters to stay in town. He is quite certain he’ll have need of their services again soon.
The next morning, Elro comes to the characters with somber news. Irven, Fenton, Honor, and Magic are all afflicted with frigid woe. Seeing the blue powder in the vial has allowed Elro to consult old lore and learn a few things about the disease. (If the characters didn’t learn the name of the affliction from Hulil, Elro is the source of that name as well.)
Elro knows that frigid woe is said to have only one cure—a milky liquid the Aeorians stored in gold vials. He hopes that the cure might be found in the same place Urgon found the vials of frigid woe in Eiselcross. The retired ranger asks the characters to travel to the islands of Eiselcross and retrace Urgon’s path, hoping they can find the cure. He offers the party 200 gp for the task, and reminds them that time is of the essence for Irven and his family—not to mention for any characters infected with frigid woe. If the characters accept, Elro gives them a day to prepare and tells them to find him at the village docks when they’re ready to set sail.
Vials of Frigid Woe
As an action, a creature can throw a vial of frigid woe up to 20 feet, shattering it on impact and releasing its contents as a cloud of spores. Each creature within 5 feet of the vial when it shatters must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or contract frigid woe (see the “Eiselcross” section of chapter 3).
If a character has contracted frigid woe, track the number of days that have passed so you can inform the player when their character’s symptoms appear and when they need to make Constitution saving throws.
Character Advancement
The characters advance to 2nd level before traveling to Eiselcross.
Traveling to Eiselcross
When the characters are ready to leave for Eiselcross, Elro Aldataur provides them with the following information:
- Elro has arranged passage to Eiselcross for the characters on the Remorhaz, a sailing ship owned and operated by the Glassblades.
- The characters will be taken to Syrinlya, an Uthodurnian outpost on Foren, Eiselcross’s largest island. Once there, they should talk to a dwarf named Orvo Mustave, who has gone on numerous expeditions into the wilds of Eiselcross with Urgon Wenth.
- Once the characters have found the cure, they should use whatever they need for themselves, then give the rest to an elf in Syrinlya who goes by the name “the Buyer.” They can tell the Buyer to teleport the cure to Elro in Palebank Village.
The islands of Eiselcross are covered in ice and snow, and are always well below freezing. Characters who don’t already have cold weather gear will want to purchase it, or they will be subject to extreme cold (see chapter 5 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide).
NPCs Infected with Frozen Woe
The characters are in a race against time to cure Irven and his family (and possibly Hulil and Tulgi Lutan, if the characters are feeling merciful toward those two hardened criminals). Irven and his family have at least sixty days before any of them might die, Hulil has at least thirty days, and Tulgi has at least twenty days. You can make saving throws for these NPCs against the disease every ten days, or you can just decide their final fates.
Voyage of the Remorhaz
It takes the Remorhaz nine days to get to Syrinlya. This trip could be uneventful, or you could populate the ship with interesting NPCs and have the characters encounter ocean monsters, Revelry pirates, or severe weather.
When the ship reaches Syrinlya, read:
The temperature has steadily dropped since you left Palebank Village, yet it seems to grow colder still as you step off the ramp of the Remorhaz onto Foren. Through windy snow, you can see fur-lined tents and yurts arranged in a large camp. Campfires are whipped by the wind, with dwarves and elves huddled close to the flames.
“Don’t worry! It’ll cool down here eventually!” a joking voice bellows over the snow. A female dwarf with a shaggy mane of unkempt hair bows to you. “Morgo Delwur at your service. Welcome to Eiselcross!”
Morgo Delwur (a neutral good, female mountain dwarf werebear) has lived in Syrinlya for years. She can show the characters around and answer any questions they have about the settlement, providing any of the details found in chapter 3. If the characters ask about Orvo Mustave or the Buyer, Morgo points out where both live. Though Morgo never adventured with Urgon Wenth and wasn’t a close friend, she is sad to hear of the dwarf’s passing.
Morgo and the other explorers in Syrinlya know about frigid woe and the disease’s terrible effects. If the characters have any unanswered questions about the disease, the explorers share what they know.
Syrinlya
As Morgo leads the characters through Syrinlya, read:
Morgo gestures to the groups of dwarves and elves huddled and chatting around campfires. “They’re planning expeditions to find Aeor’s lost treasures,” she says. “That’s what this whole place is about. If you ain’t exploring, you ain’t banking gold.”
The dwarf stops in front of a large fur-lined yurt. “You can stay here. Belonged to a fool rich elf named Bertron who came here looking for adventure. He found the inside of a saber-toothed tiger instead. Should be some food and the like in there. It’s yours now.”
Bertron’s Yurt
The characters are welcome to this yurt during their time in Syrinlya. When they first enter, read:
The sound of wind and the biting cold die down as you enter the yurt. A cold fire pit marks the center of the hide-covered floor. An open crate containing packaged rations and a few other items stands next to the door.
Once the characters are settled, Morgo wishes them luck and leaves to prepare for an expedition of her own (see the “Can You Help Us?” sidebar). The crate contains 50 days of rations, a 50-foot silk rope, a blanket, a grappling hook, a miner’s pick, and a book titled Adventure Sexy: Impress Potential Lovers with Great Deeds by Scanlan Shorthalt.
Can You Help Us?
If the characters feel as though they need help traveling the wilds of Foren, they can try to convince other explorers in Syrinlya to travel with them to recover the cure. Although most of Syrinlya’s explorers are willing to help others in need, those explorers already have an important mission. An expedition led by Professor Gulrim Shalebrow (see “The Diarchy of Uthodurn” in chapter 2) went to search for the origin of the strange magic in the region of Mutalos months ago and has not returned. The explorers at the camp are preparing a search and rescue mission to bring back Gulrim’s party. If the characters survive their quest into Salsvault, this story could serve as a hook for another adventure.
The Buyer
Morgo Delwur or any other resident of Syrinlya can point out the Buyer’s hut to the characters. It is Syrinlya’s largest yurt. When the characters enter, read:
The pungent scent of incense fills this yurt, whose walls are painted with glowing arcane runes. A brass brazier burns brightly at the center of the floor, around which are set a few plush chairs, a bed, and a large stone chest. On one of those chairs sits an elf reading a book. A small dragon with green butterfly wings is curled in the elf’s lap.
The Buyer (lawful neutral, nonbinary, high elf mage) is a mysterious elf who purchases Aeorian relics in Syrinlya for the Uthodurnian government. See the “Syrinlya” section of chapter 3 for more information about the Buyer and their business. The green Faerie Dragon (Violet) is Dew, the elf’s familiar.
The Buyer has been in Syrinlya since the day the outpost was founded. They can answer any questions the characters might have about the outpost’s history, the island of Foren, or frigid woe. If the characters want to confirm that the Buyer is able to quickly send the cure for frigid woe to Palebank Village, the elf tells them that the stone chest in the yurt has the magical capability to teleport objects on command.
In addition to the aid they provide in getting the cure back to Palebank Village, the Buyer offers to purchase any Aeorian relics the characters want to sell.
Stone Chest
A
Orvo Mustave
Morgo Delwur or any other resident of Syrinlya can point out Orvo Mustave’s tent to the characters. When the characters approach the tent, read:
A campfire burns in front of this small tent, whose flaps are open. Inside the tent sits a young dwarf whose face is scarred as though scratched by a large claw. A shortsword is casually laid across his lap as he warms his outstretched hands.
Orvo Mustave (a chaotic good, male mountain dwarf scout) is a curious and soft-spoken explorer. He enjoys uncovering the secrets of Eiselcross as much as he does uncovering the region’s treasures. He is genuinely interested in the characters' lives, and asks them lots of questions after inviting them to share his fire.
Orvo’s Story
Orvo is grief-stricken to hear about the demise of his friend Urgon Wenth. If the characters ask Orvo about the blue vials that brought disease to Palebank Village, Orvo shares the following information:
- Orvo and Urgon found the blue vials in Salsvault, an Aeorian ruin partially submerged in water in a region of Foren where the glacial ice is thin. Explorers call this region Thin Sheets. Orvo believes the ruin is as well preserved as it is because the structure was reinforced with magic, as were many of Aeor’s buildings that housed hazardous materials or secret projects.
- Salsvault is two hundred miles northwest of Syrinlya. Ice mephits are drawn to the magic of something at that location. Orvo and Urgon found the ruin after following one of the creatures.
- Salsvault appears to have been an Aeorian lab. Orvo and Urgon explored only three of its chambers before being chased away by animated suits of armor.
- The dwarves didn’t know what the vials contained.
- Orvo sold his share of the treasure from Salsvault to the Buyer. Urgon decided to hang onto his share until he returned home to Palebank Village.
Into the Wilds
After speaking with Orvo, the characters can make whatever preparations they need before heading into the wilds of Eiselcross. If they wish to obtain more supplies before setting out, there are no shops in Syrinlya, but many of the explorers at the camp are willing to trade goods and equipment.
Overland Travel
The characters must travel two hundred miles over ice and snow to reach Salsvault, the ruin where Urgon Wenth found the vials of frigid woe. It’s up to the characters whether they want to move at a fast, medium, or slow pace (see “Movement” in chapter 8 of the Player’s Handbook). If any character has a walking speed of less than 25 feet because of a frigid woe infection, use the Reduced Travel Speeds table to determine how far the party can travel in a day.
Reduced Travel Speeds
| Slowest Character Speed | Slow Pace | Medium Pace | Fast Pace |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15–20 ft. | 12 miles | 18 miles | 24 miles |
| 5–10 ft. | 6 miles | 12 miles | 18 miles |
As the characters travel, use the “Encounters in Eiselcross” section in chapter 3 to generate random encounters. After traveling forty miles, the characters enter Thin Sheets. This region is known for its large patches of thin ice over deep, frigid water (see the rules for frigid water and thin ice in chapter 5 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide).
Finding Salsvault
When the characters have traveled two hundred miles, one character who acts as a scout for the group should make a DC 15 Wisdom (
Salsvault
Salsvault was once a laboratory in the city of Aeor, where mages who specialized in necromancy and transmutation magic crafted constructs and diseases to be weaponized against their enemies. Many of the laboratory’s creations remain active, still guarding the diseases and treasures within.
Approaching Salsvault
As the characters approach Salsvault, read:
Through wind-whipped snow and biting cold, you notice a half-submerged, dark-blue stone building poking up through the ice. A gray stone door is carved to look like a face with a half-exposed skull. Scribed above the door is the word “SALSVAULT.”
Ziro and Glacies, two Ice Mephit, hide near the entrance to Salsvault, waiting for someone to open the door. A character with a passive Wisdom (
Sealed Entrance
The entrance to Salsvault is frozen shut. The characters can force the door open with a successful DC 15 Strength check or by dealing 10 bludgeoning or fire damage to the ice that seals the door. Unsealing the door with bludgeoning damage draws the attention of three suits of animated armor in areaS3, which gather in area S1 and attack the characters as soon as they enter.
Salsvault Features
The locations in Salsvault are detailed on map 5.10. Unless otherwise noted in an area’s description, the following features are common throughout all areas of Salsvault.
Ceilings
The ceilings in Salsvault’s rooms are 10 feet high, with 8-foot-high doorways connecting them.
Chests
Stone chests two feet on each side are built into the floors in several areas. A
If an area’s description notes a locked chest, the chest’s lock can be picked with a successful DC 15 Dexterity check using thieves' tools or forced open with a successful DC 18 Strength check. Ferol Sal (see area S17) carries a master key that locks or unlocks all chests in Salsvault.
Doors and Walls
Salsvault’s heavy doors are made of black stone, and its walls are made of blue stone. A
If an area’s description notes a locked door, the lock can be picked with a successful DC 15 Dexterity check using thieves' tools, or the door can be forced open with a successful DC 18 Strength check. Ferol Sal (see area S17) carries a master key that locks or unlocks all the doors in Salsvault.
Aeorian Robes
The undead in the complex wear archaic-looking robes. With a successful DC 12 Intelligence (
Eastern Slope
Salsvault is tilted in the ice, with its east side lower than its west side. Every area within the complex features a gentle slope downward to the east.
Light
Unless otherwise noted, wall sconces with
Temperature
Though Salsvault’s interior is guarded from wind and snow, the temperatures within the structure are still well below freezing.
Water
Some areas of Salsvault are partially filled with seawater flowing in from beneath the ice of Thin Sheets. A creature that starts its turn in the frigid water must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or gain one level of
Denizens of Salsvault
Many of the creatures the characters can encounter in Salsvault have similar characteristics and tactics.
Beasts
Several sea creatures haunt the submerged areas of the complex. These beasts attack characters who enter the water, fighting until reduced to half their hit points or fewer before fleeing.
Constructs
When Salsvault crashed into Foren, a number of its construct guardians survived. Those constructs continue to guard the complex, fighting intruders until they flee Salsvault. The constructs won’t leave the complex willingly and won’t pursue characters who do so. The constructs don’t attack the undead of Salsvault, understanding on some level that those undead are the remains of the people who created them.
Undead
The humanoids working in Salsvault died when it crashed into Foren. Just before impact, Ferol Sal, the necromancer in charge of Salsvault, released an experimental disease that caused any humanoids who died in the complex to return as undead. Most of those affected returned as zombies that attack intruders on sight and fight to the death. Ferol returned as a wight and has continued to work obsessively in his personal lab (area S17) ever since. Because of the cold here, all the undead are relatively well preserved.
S1. Entrance Chamber
The heavy stone walls of this room dampen the cold and the howling wind outside. An inscription in what looks like Draconic runes is carved into the east wall.
The inscription is in an archaic version of Draconic that was spoken in ancient Aeor. It can be read by any character who can read Draconic with a few minutes of study, or by anyone with access to a
If the characters make any noise louder than a whisper in this chamber, the suits of animated armor in area S3 come to investigate.
Locked Door
The door that leads to area S4 is locked (see “Salsvault Features,” at the beginning of this section).
Open Door
The door that leads to area S2 is slightly ajar. A character who examines the door and succeeds on a DC 10 Intelligence (
S2. Ransacked Frigid Woe Laboratory
Stone tables lie in pieces on the floor at the east end of the room. Two open stone chests stand against the west wall. A layer of fine sand coats the inside of the chests and the floor around them.
If the characters make any noise louder than a whisper in this chamber, the suits of animated armor in area S3 investigate the noise.
Any examination of the chests reveals that they are built into the floor. A character who examines the sand on the ground near the chest and succeeds on a DC 12 Wisdom (
S3. Animated Armor Laboratory
Pieces of rusty plate armor are scattered about this chamber amid the rubble of destroyed stone furniture. An anvil built into the floor stands in front of a cold furnace to the southwest. Across the room from the furnace, two humanoid feet stick out from a pile of rubble.
Two suits of animated armor normally stand guard in this chamber. If the armor didn’t leave to investigate disturbances in areas S1 or S2, both suits are here when the characters arrive, and you can add the following:
Two full suits of steel armor stand upright but empty in the middle of the chamber, their gleaming surfaces a stark contrast to the rusty pieces lying nearby.
Rescue Mission
One of the blacksmiths who worked in this chamber was crushed by a stone table that broke into rubble when Salsvault crashed into Foren. Since then, the blacksmith has been a zombie
If the characters want to help the “victim” under the rubble, one character can remove enough rubble to free the zombie in 10 minutes. Multiple characters working together can reduce the time proportionately. As soon as it is freed, the zombie attacks.
Treasure
The zombie wears an apron containing a set of damaged mithral smith’s tools (worth 50 gp).
S4. Frigid Woe Laboratory
Smashed stone tables litter the floor in this chamber. Two stone chests built into the floor stand next to each other along the far wall. A door to the west is inscribed with words in Draconic runes. A large iron lever is flipped into the up position on the wall next to the door.
The inscription in archaic Draconic reads: “Disease storage. Authorized personnel only.”
Chests
These stone chests are locked (see “Salsvault Features” at the beginning of this section) and magically trapped. When a creature makes a failed attempt to pick the chest’s lock, or attacks or attempts to force the chest open, the chest shoots a beam of cold energy at the creature. The beam is +4 to hit and deals 4 (
A character who searches the exterior of either chest and succeeds on a DC 13 Wisdom (
Each chest is packed with fine sand, within which are nestled two vials of frigid woe (see the “Vials of Frigid Woe” sidebar earlier in this adventure).
Iron Lever
A character who examines the lever notices spots of faded red paint on it with a successful DC 13 Wisdom (
Locked Doors
The doors from this area to areas S1 and S5 are locked. The door to area S5 is also trapped.
Trapped Door
A
A character who searches the door and succeeds on a DC 13 Intelligence (
S5. Disease Storage
If the iron lever in area S4 has been raised, read the following when the door to this room is opened:
A wave of heat hits you from the wall of roiling flame that fills this area, shooting down from the ceiling.
If the flames are off, read:
The only things to be seen in this room are eight chests built into the floor along the far wall.
If the flames are active, each creature that enters this area or starts its turn there must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw, taking 4 (
If the flames aren’t active, a character who succeeds on a DC 13 Wisdom (
Chests
Each chest is locked (see “Salsvault Features” at the beginning of this section), packed with fine sand, and contains three vials of frigid woe (see the “Vials of Frigid Woe” sidebar earlier in this adventure).
S6. North Hall
Three human Zombie in tattered Aeorian robes roam this hall aimlessly and attack intruders on sight.
Salsvault (areas S7-S12)
S7. Unoccupied Dorm
Four unmade beds are built into the east and west walls here, each with a footlocker tucked beneath it.
One of the footlockers holds an intact Aeorian robe (see “Salsvault Features” at the beginning of this section).
S8. Ruined Dorm
Salsvault’s crash into Foren destroyed the magic torches in this room, leaving it shrouded in darkness. When the characters can see into this area, read:
Debris from broken stone furniture covers the floor. The walls here are cracked, as if they once supported built-in shelves that have been reduced to rubble.
The floor of this chamber is covered in rubble, making it difficult terrain. A rug of smothering is hidden beneath the rubble. A character with a passive Wisdom (
A search of the rubble and a successful DC 14 Wisdom (
S9. Zombie Dorm
When the characters can see into this area, read:
Footlockers are tucked beneath four beds attached to the north and south walls. In the middle of the room, four zombies in tattered robes shuffle around, softly knocking into one another without caring.
The four Zombie attack as soon as they see intruders. The footlockers are empty.
S10. Ferol Sal’s Chamber
The door to Ferol Sal’s personal quarters is locked. When the characters can see this area, read:
This room is in immaculate condition, apparently having been cleaned up after the destruction seen elsewhere in the complex. A crisply made bed stands at the center of the west wall, with small tables off to either side. The room also contains a stone desk set with a chair, and a chest built into the floor.
Though the undead Ferol no longer sleeps here, he and the zombies tidied up his personal space after Salsvault crashed into Eiselcross.
Chest
The chest contains Ferol’s treasure (see below), along with a swarm of undead snakes that attacks any creature that opens the chest. The swarm uses the stat block for a swarm of poisonous snakes, with these changes:
- The swarm is made of Tiny undead that don’t require air, food, drink, or sleep.
- The swarm has immunity to poison damage and the
poisoned condition.
Desk
Any search of the desk turns up a bottle of dried ink, several used quills, five sheets of blank parchment, and a piece of paper with a faded message written on it in archaic Draconic. A character who understands Draconic can spend a few minutes to piece together the meaning of the note, or it can be deciphered with a
To whomever finds this:
All my people are dead: my family, my friends, and my workers. I, too, am dead. Were it not for my quick thinking and prowess with necromancy, our important work at Salsvault would be over. I continue to labor in my undead form, trying to find a sickness that can infect the gods themselves. If I have perished, I implore you to find my lab, find my notes, and finish my work. The gods must pay for Aeor’s destruction.
—Ferol Sal
Treasure
The chest contains 1,006 sp, 45 ep, and 201 gp in Aeorian coinage.
S11. Kitchen
Salsvault’s crash into Foren destroyed the magic torches in this room, leaving it shrouded in darkness. When the characters can see into this area, read:
Iron pots, pans, utensils, and frost-covered food covers the floor of this kitchen. A steel stove is built into the west wall.
When the characters enter the room, four Animated Knife fly up from the floor and attack. The knives are Flying Sword, with these changes:
- Each knife is a Tiny construct with 12 (
5d4 ) hit points and a challenge rating of 1/8 (25 XP). - Instead of a longsword attack, each knife makes a melee attack (+4 to hit) that deals 3 (
1d4 + 1 ) piercing damage on a hit.
Old frozen cheese, bread, meat, and produce cover the floor, all well rimed and inedible.
S12. Dining Hall
The remains of broken tables and chairs are piled along the east wall. Two human zombies in tattered robes shuffle aimlessly around each other at the center of the chamber.
The two Zombie occupying the dining hall attack any intruders. All the other features of this room have been reduced to rubble.
Salsvault (areas S13-S18)
S13. Drowned Library
Water ebbs and flows through a large opening along the east wall of this ruined library. Rotting parchments and waterlogged tomes are spread everywhere, fallen from cracked stone shelves.
The water is deeper than it appears beneath the ruined books and parchments, with the floor along the eastern side of the room having collapsed to a depth of 15 feet. A giant octopus hides here, having claimed this room as its lair. A character who succeeds on a Wisdom (
Treasure
A character with a passive Wisdom (
S14. South Hall
Three well-preserved human Zombie in tattered robes roam this hall aimlessly, attacking any intruders that catch their attention.
S15. Animated Weapon Storage
The door to this room is locked. When the characters can see into this area, read:
Broken blades, cracked hammers, frost-rotted spears, and other ruined weapons are spread out across the floor, fallen from the empty iron weapon racks that line the walls.
The mages of Salsvault stored animated weapons in this room, most of which were destroyed in the crash. Five Flying Sword lay among the debris, attacking any characters who enter.
The broken weapons on the floor make this area difficult terrain. Any creature that falls
S16. Golem Laboratory
As the characters approach this room, read:
A large red X is painted across the stone door before you. Violent banging and the sound of heavy objects being tossed around emanates from the chamber beyond.
The door is locked. If the characters open it, read:
As you open the door to this debris-filled room, a humanoid creature made of pieces of stitched-together flesh charges toward you. The monster’s body is covered in wounds, and broken pieces of bone stick through its skin at odd angles.
When Salsvault crashed into Foren, this golem servant of the mages was driven mad from the damage it took. Ferol locked the golem in this room ages ago. The Damaged Flesh Golem uses the flesh golem stat block, with these changes:
- The golem has 5 hit points remaining, and its Berserk trait is activated.
- The golem has the use of only one arm and can’t use its Multiattack. Its challenge rating is 1 (200 XP).
Debris
The golem has long since smashed all the objects in this chamber not destroyed by Salsvault’s crash. Any search of the debris turns up only bits of bone, clay, iron, stone, and paper.
S17. Ferol’s Laboratory
Six long stone tables are set with steel and glass laboratory equipment in this chamber, whose walls are lined with shelves holding all manner of strange knickknacks and tools. An armed humanoid with white skin and red eyes moves from table to table, adjusting bubbling mixtures and carefully adding reagents.
The undead Ferol Sal has worked tirelessly in the laboratory for centuries, obsessed with crafting a disease that can kill the gods. Despite having made no progress in all that time, he keeps working. Ferol is a wight with an Intelligence of 16 (+3).
Roleplaying Ferol
Ferol knows nothing of Exandria’s history since Aeor’s crash, and his memory of the distant past is almost as hazy. His transformation into a wight and the centuries of solitude since have driven him quite mad. He cares only about taking revenge on the gods—who he incorrectly assumes are still active in Exandria. As a resident of Aeor, Ferol doesn’t speak Common, though he can communicate in the archaic Draconic of Aeor, as well as an archaic form of Elven. Characters who speak Draconic or Elven can communicate with him, albeit slowly.
When Ferol notices the characters, he demands to know what they’re doing in Salsvault. Any character who claims they have come to help Ferol with his work and succeeds on a Charisma (
If Ferol trusts the characters, he tells them to stay away from the locked golem lab (area S16). If they ask about the cure for frigid woe, he tells them they can find it locked in a chest in what he calls the curative laboratory (area S18). A character who succeeds on a DC 15 Charisma (
If the characters don’t earn Ferol’s trust, the wight attacks, fighting until destroyed.
Ferol’s Keys
Ferol carries two keys: one that works all the doors in Salsvault and another that works all the chests built into the floor within the complex (see “Salsvault Features”).
Shelves
The shelves hold spell components, reagents, and laboratory supplies that are far past their prime. However, a character who spends a few minutes searching the shelves can collect enough workable tools and reagents to put together a set of alchemist’s supplies.
Tables
Each table holds a working set of alchemist’s supplies that Ferol uses to experiment with frigid woe. If a creature is forcibly moved into a table, the delicate equipment on that table breaks and the creature must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or contract frigid woe.
S18. Drowned Curative Laboratory
A cold wind howls through the collapsed east wall of this huge chamber, whose far side is completely submerged under frigid seawater. A dense bed of kelp grows up from the submerged floor, obscuring any sight of what lies below. Broken glass and the remains of shattered tables cover the floor in the dry section of the room.
Aeorian mages worked in this chamber to ensure that they could cure the diseases they created. Four Giant Crab now lair here, hiding beneath the kelp in the 5-foot-deep water and attacking any creatures that intrude. A character with a passive Wisdom (
Chest
A character with a passive Wisdom (
Kelp
The kelp counts as difficult terrain.
Treasure
The chest is packed with fine sand and contains twenty doses of frigid woe antidote (see “Eiselcross” in chapter 3) and an
Concluding the Adventure
You can roll for random encounters on the way back to Syrinlya (see “Encounters in Eiselcross” in chapter 3), or you can allow the characters an uneventful trip as reward for a job well done. When the characters arrive in Syrinlya, they can arrange for the Buyer to teleport the antidote for frigid woe to Palebank Village. After doing so, the elf pays out the 200 gp reward on behalf of Elro Aldataur.
If the characters don’t successfully recover the frigid woe antidote in time to save Irven and his family, all four family members succumb to the disease. If the characters are successful, they have the thanks of Elro Aldataur, Irven and his family, the people of Palebank Village, and the explorers of Syrinlya.
Character Advancement
At the end of this adventure, the characters reach 3rd level. This might mark the beginning of a campaign in the Biting North. In particular, the Buyer suggests that the characters could easily find their fortunes exploring Eiselcross. Alternatively, their success in this mission might inspire the characters to seek out new realms and new adventures elsewhere in Wildemount.