Chapter 2 - Winterhaven and surroundings (Keep on the Shadowfell - Part 1)

Following rumors of goblinoid armies and misterious undead harrassing the village of Winterhaven, our heroes scout ahead, as the Company completes their contract in Fallcrest.

Once in Winterhaven, the group meets Lord Padraig, ruler of Winterhaven, who indicates to them the location of a possible kobold lair.

At the lair, the group faces several scores of kobolds, led by a powerful goblin by the name of Irontooth. They find a note addressed to Irontooth, signed by "Kalarel". The messages talks about a "spy" in Winterhaven, but most important about the imminent opening of a "rift", and the undead armies that will spring from it, led by Lord Orcus the Demon Prince of Undeath and his servants. As further proof, on the body of a kobold priest they find a holy symbol of Tiamat, inscribed with the goat-skull rune of Orcus.

Back to Winterhaven, the Heroes report to Lord Padraig, who suggests to contact the local sage, Valthrun. Valthrun suggests to check a nearby Dragon Burial site, since lately an explorer by the name of Douven Staul had some interest in it, apparently looking for relics.

Before leaving for the burial site, the group asks Lord Pagraid to keep the elf Ninaran in town, suspecting she is the spy that the message of Kalarel was talking about.

Our Heroes reach the burial site, where they find some human rabble led by a Gnome, who kidnapped Douven and are now looking for relics at the site. The party takes care of the Gnome and his rabble, and frees Douven. At the site, they also find a rune-encrusted mirror, apparently something Kalarel needed to complete a ritual.

Back to Winterhaven, the heroes realize that Ninaran has escaped. They report back to Valthrun, who has dire news. He has researched his library, and reveals to the Heroes that a nearby Keep, Shadowfell Keep, may be the real point of interest of this new cult of Orcus.

He explains them that the keep was build to guard a rift on the Shadowfell, a Plane of Darkness and Evil, in proximity with an unholy site dedicated to Orcus. He believes the cultists wish to re-open the rift, and let Orcus and his legions come through.

Armed with this knowledge, the Heroes make their way to the Keep.