Welcome to Tinholt and the Winter Festival!

The year is 1912 in the country of Eshax under the rule of Prince King Gustaaf Wooldrik. The Great Skoacian War is still fresh in the minds of many who border it, and tensions are still in the air between its Shogunates and Emperor. However, in the tiny town of Tinholt just along the Yeli River, celebrations are in order as the first sneeuwvall (literally "snowfall") happened only yesterday...   Welcome to the lively little city of Tinholt! Cheer and festivities are taking place here along the river Yeli as is customary for the Winter Fest. Sain T. Klaus is to arrive in three weeks time for the final week of Winter Fest!   Our heroes are on short notice summons to the Manor of Huibert van Vlogt, Lord of Tinholt to arrive for a meeting with him and his family to discuss some "added protections" for the festivities this season. The heroes come from miles around (some out of the country) for this meeting. The letter, sounding desperate, read as follows:   "SUMMONS TO THE HOUSE OF VAN VLOGT OF ESHAX ON URGENT NEED.   To Whom This Will Concern,    Your prescence at my home is most dire, that you attend a dinner party and meeting concerning the upcoming Winter Fest. It is to my attention that reports of creatures of myth and night stalk my town of Tinholt to cause terror and diminish my name. This summons is for a transaction of your protection of Tinholt for a surmisable fee paid to you on the day of Dag van de Gever. More information will be provided at the time of dinner. Report on the 4th of Nives Decern in Tinholt, Eshax at Brewed Awakening. You will meet an escort of mine who will ask for a passphrase, which is inscribed on the underside of the Summoning Stone that you may use to be transported to Tinholt in the case of late arrival.    Humbly requested,    Lord Huibert van Vlogt"