The Ironlander village of Frostmoor was beset with a horrible disease, leading to the outer islands being quarantined and many of its residents horribly disfigured and handicapped by its ravages. After arriving and learning of the palsy, Arn Kalapunki volunteers to find a cure for it before the settlement is faced with starvation.
He discovers that Vigo, a druidioc witch who resides a day or so north of Frostmoor, was responsible for the disease. After a falling out between himself and Overseer Lago, in which Vigo felt Lago had broken his word, a curse from the spirits of the forest themselves was cast upon the settlement, resulting in the hideous plague.
Only by convincing Lago to supplicate the forest spirits, who appeared incarnated as a great wolf, an animated tree, and a stone elemental, was Arn able to have Vigo’s curse lifted. This saved the settlement of Frostmoor and its residents, and formed a lasting bond between them and Arn.