Okay, so here begins were we picked up Saturday morning, way back on October 30, 2010.
They party members are all celebrities in Blessings-Be. During the feast and celebration, they are approached by a representative of the Company of the Barrens. I explain to the players that this fellow tells the party about a small trading post, Ambroshea Trades, and how the Company of the Barrens are needing trustworthy individuals to aid them "investigate the late return of traders and their furs from Fort Assinaboine."
Both Ragnar1965 and Nightwing quiz me about the money being offered and after a few moments they realize that this representative can give them no real specifics. I tell them that the fact they have freed Blessings-Be from a terrible evil has persuaded him to offer them the opportunity. I tell them that the Company of the Barrens would most likely be very happy to reimburse them nicely.
So off they go, heading north to Ambroshea Trades to solve a mystery. On the way, they aid several groups of sheep-herders from something that both terrified them at night and would eat one or two sheep every week. It turned out to be a fun-loving silver dragon youth who was having a blast freaking out the peasants and truly enjoyed the sweat taste of sheep when he could sneak away from his parents.
After many days, the party arrived at Ambroshea Trades. There they met with Velka Snur, a dwarven partner in the Company of the Barrens. He, in turn, takes the party to the Great Hall and introduced them to Darston Isles, the Chief Factor in The Company of the Barrens. Isles explained that for the past six months the fur trade in the north has been "disrupted by the internecine warfare of the Elthen Heldenu Danne and the Tanen Tulwe Danne." He went on,
"Now things have gotten completely out of hand and we have reported no returns from Fort Assinaboine: worse the company partner and his crew did not come south for the summer rendezvous. I fear they are stuck at their post or worse. I would like to hire you to travel on foot to Fort Assinaboine to find out what has happened, secure the furs, and to take direction from our wintering partner, Will'o Fraser as to what can be done to improve the situation."
With that on the table, we go back and forth with their questions until they are satisfied with the deal. They understand the PCs are to travel to Fort Assinaboine, which is next door to the native village of Longwinter and make contact with Fraser. I explain the tribes of the Danne as similar to Indian tribes. I tell them the Tanen Tulwe tribe "have been afflicted with some sort of sickness that has caused them not to trade at any of our fur trade posts this year." One of the players were very interested in these tribes. I think it was JediWife since she has Indian blood in her. I also tell them that according to Isles, the Tanen Tulwe Danne blame the fur traders for the sickness and have began to worship Anguta, the "Cold Spirit," out of desperation. Anguta is a dark and evil god and Isles fears no good will come of this.
When we got down to the money aspect, Ragnar1965 always comes to the fore. His slogan is "we are a cash kind of party" and he enjoys the haggle of a very good wage. Amazingly, when Isles offered 250gp to find out what is going one and to secure the fort and the furs, a bonus of 1000gp, Ragnar1965 did not decide to haggle. Isles also added and additional 1000gp if they party can put a stop to these wars.
After that was done, Isles turns the party back to the dwarf Velka Snur to get them properly outfitted. Boy did it gall them when I made them pay for their cold weather gear!

They argued that they were working for The Company of the Barrens, so why should they have to pay the Company for gear to complete the task. I told them the dwarf said, we are a cash kind of company and don't give out hand outs.
And so they set out with a map showing them to travel along the Ambroshea River to the Heart of the Danne River and then north to the village of Longwinter.
More to come.