Fairhaven

At night, Fairhaven is empty – no villager is in sight. People do not go out to the streets because of the effect of the curse.

The streets of Fairhaven are empty – cold weather and heavy snowfall are not inviting villagers to come out. As you enter the village to look for a shelter, you see a man waving at you from inside a building near the village entrance – one that looks like a tavern of some sort.

Innkeeper sees the heroes entering the town – and as the inn is one of the first buildings characters see in the village, he tries to invite them in. As soon as adventurers enter the inn, the innkeeper closes the door shut. 

The tavern is small but cozy. The fire crackles happily in the large fireplace, and the air is filled with a subtle smell of mulled beer. A man is sleeping on one of the chairs, with few empty mugs before him. Innkeeper shows you place at the table, and soon after, hot stew and beer lands before you. “Big snowstorm again today?” he says. “They got worse lately… Here, eat, it’s on the house today, we didn’t have many visitors lately”.

The Innkeeper – Larsen – welcomes adventurers and begins to prepare a meal for them. He also says that they can sleep free of charge tonight and that they should not go out at night, as lately the snowstorms have become fiercer and more dangerous. Adventures can rest safely in the inn.

The general store sells various goods – either imported from the neighboring cities or local. If players come here in the morning, they can see female Orc leaving the store, accompanied by a wolverine – they do not have enough time to take a better look.

This small building is full of different products stuffed on various shelves. Everything from food and produce to furs and simple weapons can be found here. Behind the counter sits an older, dark-skinned man whose posture reveals the fact that he has seen his share of adventuring back in his youth.

The store is run by Maret, an old, black human male who lives in the same building. He knows the following things when asked:

• Asked about zombie-like creatures: “These are the servants of The Ice Queen. Better not disturb them. If you do not bug them, they won’t take any interest in you”.
• Asked about the Queen: “Queen rules these lands, and we shall serve her”.

When interrogated further, Maret then takes out a small crystal that heats the area around him and will talk more freely, sharing the following things with the party:

• Asked why he brought out the crystal: “Do not talk openly in the snow, as snow is ears of the queen. Only heat can repel the snow and make her deaf to the things you say.”
• About the crystal: “Zhozag brought it here some time ago because she feared something would happen…”
• Asked why people seem angry: “Cold makes people grow angry and bitter lately…”
• Asked who can they trust then: “Do not trust anyone except Ulrek and Zhozag… people are not themselves right now, and Queen seems to know much.”

Store Goods

The store provides a standard assortment of basic goods, like arrows and some minor spellcasting components. There are also 3 potions of healing in the inventory, but their price is higher than normal (75 gp each).

The Guardhouse lies near the center of the town. It is home to 8 guards that station there most of the time. In front, behind the desk, sits Ulrek, Captain of the Guard. His deputy, Parena, stands nearby and monitors characters' every move.

When heroes approach him, Ulrek welcomes them to the Fairhaven. They can ask him about the city and recent events. He knows the following things when asked:

• Asked about the caravan (if players encountered it): “This is deeply disturbing. It is the first time since I become a guard that something happened on the roads here”.
• Asked about zombie-like creatures: “Do not interact with those. They answer only to the Ice Queen herself”.
• Asked about the The Ice Queen: “Queen rules these lands, and we shall serve her”.

When speaking about the Ice Queen, the observant see that Parena looks very carefully at the Captain, as if judging his answers.  Captain will also point characters to Maret, the merchant, and tell them to say he sent them.