
What Has Come Before In the winter of 1484, Hedrun Arnsfirth was cast out ofthe Tribe ofthe Elk after the accidental death of her suitor, OlafTormhaalt, son ofthe tribe’s shaman. What follows is a summary ofthe key events that have transpired, leading up to the start ofthe adven ture on Eleint 25, 1485. These villains’ plots have spread and intermingled over the course ofa month before the adventure begins, building to a climax that pulls the player characters into their midst. Spreading the influ ence ofthe black ice remnants ofthe Crystal Shard, he hopes to weaken Icewind 1)ale with infighting, giving himselfa clear pathway to domination. As ifthese two villainous forces weren’t enough, the undead Akar Kessell, freed from a century of impris onment in the snow and ice, has also returned to haunt Icewind 1)ale, seeking to finish his conquest and visit vengeance on all who opposed him. and his agents are spreading throughout Ten-Towns to solidify his hold. Aided by the ruffians and scoundrels ofLuskan’s Ship Rethnor, Gant has established a protection racket in Bryn Shander, the trading hub ofthe region. At the same time, Vaelish Gant-a member of the newly revived Arcane Brotherhood-has insinuated himselfinto the trade network ofTen-Towns with the aim of gaining a stranglehold on the entire region. Left unchecked, she will help her mistress cast all oflcewind Dale into an eternal winter. With the beasts and the snows at her command, this outcast has become the Ice Witch, visiting her fury upon the barbarian tribes and Ten-Towns. The adventure allows players to explore the breadth of Faerftn’s frozen north and face old foes as well as new threats to the people oflcewind 1)ale.īACKGROUND As the memories ofAkar Kessell and his Crystal Shard fade into legend, a young barbarian outcast named Hedrun Arnsfirth has accepted the mantle of Auril’s Chosen and pledged to bring the people oflcewind 1)ale to the worship ofthe Frostmaiden. Leqacy ofthe Crystal ShardTM is an adventure for lowlevel characters and can be run either as a stand-alone adventure or as a sequel to Murder in Baldur’s GateTM. And on the slopes of Kelvin’s Cairn, an old enemy awakens to finish the conquest he started over one hundred years ago. To the north, the Reghed tribes whisper stories ofthe Frostmaiden, manifested in the world to punish those who have strayed from her worship. Beyond the walls, wolves and yetis prowl the wilds, and few travelers brave enough to venture there ever return. The people of Ten-Towns are on edge with food and supplies scarce, each town looks jealously to its own survival. TM LEGACY OF THE CRYSTAL SHARD ADVENTURE FOR CHARACTERS OFĬ ONTENTS INTRODUCTION Background What Has Come Before Preparing the Adventure Adventure Synopsis ComingEvents (laracter hooks PRELUDE: ARRIVAL IN BRYN SHANDER Yetis at the Gate The Aftermath ACT 1: THE DRAWING DOWN Arcane Brotherhood Getting Ilere Confronting Slim Talking to Mithann Aarun’s Weapons Ilelping Aglonell The Wizard’s Gambit Tribe ofthe Elk Getting Here Hengar’s Crime Freeing Ilengar Crossing the Tundra The Elk Tribe Camp Key to Evermelt halls ofBlack Ice The Situation in the Valley Getting Here Key to the Dwarven Valley INTERLUDE: A SUDDEN SQUALL Fall ofBryn Shander Howls from the North The Black Ice Spreads ACT 2: DEEPWINTER Pirates ofLac I)inneshere Getting Here Easthaven Caer-Konig and Caer-Dineval Lac Dinneshere Confronting Vaelish Gant Fangs ofthe Frostmaiden Getting Here Nine Knuckles Missing Persons The Wild Man The Verbeeg Lair ACT 3: THE CLAW OF WINTER Getting Here Sea ofMoving Ice Tower ofthe Ice Witch Audience Ilall (Level 1) Temple ofthe Storm (Level 2) The Witch’s Sanctum (Level 3) POSTLUDE: THE MEIJING
