The players arrived in a small village in the Northern part of the Holy Roman Empire, near Poland. The village though quaint was quite out of the way, no main roads led to it, and only an occasional boat would sail by on the nearby river.
They soon learned that strange things have been happening in this village recently. It began with a few missing chickens one day, then a missing pig. Many of the townsfolk believed that it was wolves, or perhaps some other wild animal that was causing the ruckus. This despite there being no evidence of wild animals (no destruction of chicken coops, no paw prints, no carcasses found later on).
The players soon were made aware that the village founder (Junker Sven) had gone missing as well. Junker Sven was an old, retired knight, a hero of the 4th Crusade, and co-founder of the village. He and his friend Karl (the owner of the Huntsman Inn, and fellow crusader) founded the village 2 years ago in an effort to find solitude and to live in peace and pennance for their deeds in the 4th Crusade.
(the 4th Crusade ~1202 to 1204~ was Western Christians against Eastern Orthodox Christians, and many felt it was a mistake on the part of the Church, or on the crusaders)
The players learned of Sven's dissappearance thanks to a young girl named Anna, a hyper 9 year old who ran through the village telling of the Junkers disappearance. Upon going to the inn, the pc's met Karl the owner and as mentioned the co-founder of the village, and a fellow crusader companion of Sven. They also met Jutta, a young bar maid, who is a great source of information and quite friendly.
The pc's soon learned that Sven was not the first villager to disappear.
The first was Corbin; a young man, aged 14 who vanished one month ago while fetching water.
The second was Stieka; a woman, 32 years of age, who vanished 9 days before the players arrival.
Then Sven.
Upon Anna's fears the pc's, along with Karl went to Svens modest home to investigate. The home was well kept, modestly furnished, and nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. They found two locked chests in the bed room, they contained 254 gold coins, and quite a bit of silver as well, as well as a receipt from an Italian stone mason for work done, totaling 500 gold.
Also in the bed room was a suit of chain armor, with a helm and shield, as well as Sven's long sword, a flail, and a small hand axe. There were several pairs of clothing, and placed upon the night stand, next to the bed was a book, written in a language that none in the party could translate; though Father Conrad was able to discern that it was an ancient text.
In the kitchen area of Sven's home sat a table, pots and pans, a cleaver, two sharp knives, four sets of bowls and plates, and two wooden goblets.
There was also 1 pound of flour, and ½ dozen eggs, and some salted beef hanging on the wall.
The dining room was plain, there is a large round table and one chair, in the corner of the room sets a bow and a quiver of arrows
There was no evidence of foul play in Junker Sven’s home.
The group returned to the inn and a town meeting was called. Many speculated that the disappearances were the result of a curse that was supposidly put upon Sven, Karl, and all who come to make the village their home.
Karl would eventually re-tell the tale.
When he and Sven founded the village, they were unaware that an old witch lived in a nearby cave. She was angered that the men had chosen her "area" to found a village, and she began to use her magic to hamper their efforts. Karl related how the old hag had caused their wood to warp, and then a fire, and so eventually he and Sven were forced to call upon the Church; which promptly sent two inquisitors to the village.
The two men entered the cave and drug the witch out, kicking and screaming, but before she was taken away she pronounced a curse upon the two men, and the village, that all who came to dwell there would die horrible deaths.
Just before the meeting broke apart a distraught woman entered the inn, claiming that her husband and her 12 year old son Traffas were among the missing. Suddenly, a young man named Ulf claimed that he did not trust the group, and that he would find out the answers to the missing townsfolk. The young man stormed out of the inn into the night.
The group, thinking that the witch story was their only clue, decided to investigate the old cave in which she dwealt.
They found that the cave was inhabited by bats, blind toads, and in one particular room there was an ancient alter.
The alter was spotted with blood stains but the stains were old, even older than the two years it had been since the witch had been taken away. The alter itself was made of solid stone, which the pc's discovered when they toppled it.
The only other interesting thing of note in the cave was a strange carving upon the Eastern wall in the alter room. The carving was described by the Celts in the group as what appeared to be a Celtic Cross. It was roughly the size of a mans thumb, and carved with fine detail. Though it was disfigured by Tarnin as he investigated it with his knife.