The disturbances in the pass are a series of worrisome occurrences observed in Spine of the World during the time of the Icewind Dale game.
Location[]
The disturbances are being observed on and near the mountain pass ("Eastern Pass" / "Kuldahar Pass") that leads through the Spine of the World mountain range from North to South and goes by Kuldahar.
Description[]
The disturbances fall into three categories:
Unnatural weather[]
Storms arrive without warning and last for days.
The southern exit of the pass is snowed in much earlier in the year than usual, making it impassable.
The circle of warmth provided by the Great Oak of Kuldahar is receding.
Abductions[]
Travelers have disappeared during the night; then Kuldahar townsfolk started vanishing without trace. Those who have gone missing from Kuldahar, include:
- Sheemish (a young boy)
- Eidan (the innkeeper)
- Maegan Potts (the local midwife)
- Kaleel Potts (went to look for his wife and hasn't been heard from since)
- Mother Egenia (the head of the local temple — went to look for the others and hasn't returned)
Monster sightings[]
Goblins roam the area in unusual numbers, being drawn here by voices in their heads that they cannot resist.
Unknown tracks are discovered; Arundel has no idea what from.
Groups of giants are seen moving through the pass in relatively large groups, seemingly organized and as if on patrol. The giants cause the avalanche at Kuldahar Pass, making the northern exit of the pass impassable.
Consequences[]
With the northern exit of the pass blocked by the avalanche, and the southern exit blocked by being snowed in unusually early in the year, anyone inside that part of the Spine of the World mountain range (Kuldahar and surroundings) is now stuck there.
As for Kuldahar, the receding circle of warmth forced the villagers to abandon their outer farmlands, and the abductions from their midst are making them very worried.
Plot[]
The disturbances play a central role in the Icewind Dale game's main plot.
The party gets a taste of the disturbances first-hand during the prologue of the game, when Hrothgar's expedition, which they are part of, is hit by the avalanche at Kuldahar Pass, and the party are the only survivors.
Once the party reaches Kuldahar, in chapter 1, they learn more about the disturbances by talking to Arundel and the other townsfolk.
The rest of the game (not counting the expansions) is dedicated to discovering and confronting the source(s) of the disturbances – see the main quest.
Cause[]
The root cause of the disturbances is the campaign by the devil Belhifet to conquer the region with an army of fiends. In preparation, he set up a base in Lower Dorn's Deep, and:
- Used the artifact Crenshinibon to freeze southern part of the pass.
- Commanded his lieutenant Kreg Frostbeard to have his frost giants cause the avalanche which hits Hrothgar's expedition and blocks the northern entrance to the pass.
- ...
Belhifet's "Old Enemy", the demon Yxunomei, followed him to this region and set up her own base at the bottom of Dragon's Eye. This, in turn, causes some of the disturbances:
- Her lizard men, talonite, and yuant-ti minions capture travelers and villagers near Kuldahar as food and for evil rituals.
- ...