Year's End

Early in the year 1373

So began the fourth year in the saga of the Heroes of Harrowhoff. It came with much change. Filip was laid low, Vortigen dwelt silently in his swamp, and word came that Kronstadt had been sacked, the Temple of Law dismantled, and Sava’s bones hung from the city walls.

The tigress Sikana, sent by Brieberus, brought ill tidings to the heroes. She claimed that thousands of Northmen had landed north of the Shadow Mountains and burned their ships—an ill omen. Nevertheless, the heroes had pressing matters below and resolved to confront, once and for all, the Serpent-Eyed Sorceress of Demogorgon.

Through the mirror the heroes went, with a charmed beholder and phase spider in tow. The battle was fierce and terrible, but the heroes prevailed—killing five of the sorcerers and driving one away. The power of Demogorgon was dealt a righteous blow, and perhaps this marked a turning of the tide.

Disturbing rumors about the Northmen continued—it was said that smoke rose from Hal’s Hill. The heroes went to investigate and found Northmen there, harassing some surviving hobbits. These men served the warlord Volkar the Boar. It seemed he and two others, the warlords Karst and Torsten, were to marry Mora, Carat, and even Morcarat herself. It was the power of the Ice Witch that had brought this great host across the sea.

The heroes traveled to the hill fort south of the Shadow Mountains to treat with Karst the Bear. This warlord was missing his betrothed, Carat—whom the heroes had helped escape her pursuers. Enraged, he was easy to manipulate. He agreed to march on Rilm, if his brother Torsten would join him.

To the great fortress above the gorge the heroes went. They infiltrated the keep and found Mora a more willing companion to her new betrothed—the young and strong Torsten. The heroes charmed Torsten, rendered Mora a babbling fool, and, through the power of the Dragon’s Eye, trapped her. It was now Lyral who inhabited the body of Mora, daughter of the Ice Witch.

Dolyra the Drow charmed the warlord, and he agreed to march with his brother’s host to Rilm. They were to make war against the mighty Volkar. It seemed that a confrontation between the Heroes of Harrowhoff and the dread Morcarat was near.