At the end of a small, winding mountain pass, about midway up the shortest peak of the Stellarian Mountain range, sat the fabled Winter Witch Lodge. Shrouded with intrigue, mystery, and normally a blustering snowstorm, both the Winter Witch and her lodge had been the subject of endless gossip. Much of this gossip was fueled by the long string of disappearances seemingly originating from and around her mountain home, but she assured all of her visitors that these disappearances were merely a coincidence. As long as her guests follow her short, simple list of rules, no harm will come to them at the lodge or its grounds.
But fools will be fools, and every year, Wendy saw more than her fair share stopping on their way to some doomed quest or another. Whether it be treasure hunters seeking the Lost City of Krieldorn or regular hunters seeking their treasure in the form of rare plants and animal parts found only on the mountain slopes, Wendy hosts about a dozen travelers each year that will never be seen again: poor fools who believed that they could conquer the Stellarians and live to tell the tale.
In years past, these deaths only added a certain dangerous mystique to the tourist hotspot. The Lodge itself wasn’t dangerous – it was rumored in the village of Direcliff to be the safest place in 100 miles thanks to the mystical enchantments placed on the cottage by its mysterious owner – but the mountains could be as ruthless as they were beautiful, and the Lodge signified the end of civilization and the beginning of nature in its rawest form.
Unfortunately, this year has proven to be the exception. The area Wendy feels that she can adequately protect around her home is shrinking. The roads are no longer safe, with travelers and entire caravans going missing at once. Even at the base of the mountain in Direcliff, the city has reported disappearances of people and livestock.
If this keeps up, it could be very bad for business.