The Town No One Remembers

Year 1482, Month 3, Day 29

Lofrir Wyvernfeet the bearded dwarven knight, Heiris Sagewatcher the quiet firbolg rogue, Kig the flashy aarakocra ranger, and Snatt the twitchy kobold druid walk along the main road into the city of Wintervale.

The city streets were bustling with traffic as merchants hawked their wares to anyone within earshot. Horse-drawn carriages battled for space on the overcrowded roads as children darted about with their kickball.

With coin pouches nearly bursting from a successful quest the party was eager to spend their new wealth. A visit to the local tavern was amongst the first of their long spending spree.

Hog and Bertha were a married couple that ran the establishment. Together they kept the party’s mugs full and bellies stuffed.

“They seem to be a happy couple,” Heriris commented as he smiled at the row of family paintings that lined the walls.

“You should get one done of yourselves,” Bertha suggested. “There’s a wonderful painter down the road from here. Edra is his name.”

“That’s a wonderful idea!” Lofrir bellowed, “Immortalize our heroics!”

With that decided the party left to visit Edra the painter. He was more than willing to paint a group portrait and assured the group the work would be done and ready for them upon their next arrival in town.

Year 1482, Month 5, Day 7

Lofrir, Heiris, and Snatt excitedly walked into Wintervale to visit their friends from their last visit. Their first stop was the tavern to see Hog and Bertha. They quickly grabbed a table and waved to Hog who was busy cleaning the counter.

Heiris frowned as he stared at the empty walls. “The family portraits are gone.”

“Where’s your wife?” Lofrir loudly asked across the room.

“Never been married before,” Hog said as he brought several mugs of ale.

“All the portraits on the walls though. Where did they go?” Heiris asked.

“Threw em out. Don’t know who that woman was or who would have hung them in my tavern,” Hog shrugged.

“Hmmm,” Snatt leaned in and whispered as he chewed on the lip of his mug. “Something doesn’t seem right with him.

“Agreed,” Heiris said.

The trio polished off their drinks and left the tavern. The streets were quiet as a few merchants attempted to sell their wares. The occasional child darted about as the party made their way for the painter’s shop.

“Edra, we’re back lad!” Lofrir called out.

“Ah, you’re back…” Edra said nervously.

“What’s the matter? The painting didn’t turn out grand enough?” he laughed.

“Well, there’s a problem with it.”

“Out with it!”

“There’s an extra person in the painting and I don’t know how they got in there.” Edra said as he pulled the sheet off the painting.

Depicted were four valiant heroes who each were epically posed. Lofrir the dwarf with his mighty battle axe raised above his head, Heiris the firbolg crouched in the shadows with daggers drawn, Snatt the kobold caught in the middle of a shapeshift into a horse to appear centaur-like, and an aarakocra flying overhead with a bow and arrows.

“Why’d you put an ugly bird in the portrait?” Lofrir asked.

“That’s the thing. I don’t know. I didn’t paint him but yet here he is,” Edra babbled.

“He seems… familiar?” Heiris said almost like a question more than a statement.

“Snatt doesn’t like this anymore,” Snatt said as he crossed his arms.

“Perhaps we should investigate? We could split up and meet back at Hog’s tavern?”

“Aye,” Lofrir nodded.

With an agreement made the party paid Edra for his time and departed. They scattered into the quiet streets as they each began their own investigation of the curious occurrences of Wintervale.