The land of Icewind Dale has been tainted by a mysterious substance known as Black Ice. Though it has its dangers, it also holds tremendous power, making it incredibly valuable. Two factions have risen above the rest as the most powerful groups aggressively seeking Black Ice to further their goals of wealth and power. In the upcoming Module 3: Curse of Icewind Dale expansion, we will be introducing two factions: the Ten-Towners and the Arcane Brotherhood, which players can align themselves with.

The two factions are constantly recruiting new members in order to exploit Black Ice. This is when you will cease to be an adventurer and become a mercenary.  You will be given a choice to work for either faction, as well as the opportunity to switch from one faction to another, should you grow tired of your allegiance.  Do note that these factions only hold power within Icewind Dale, and will not affect the content in other locations.

Once you select a faction to work for, you will be taking on contracts from the leaders: Bowen Brant, leader of Ten-Towners, and Anara the Cerulean, leader of the Arcane Brotherhood. These contracts, which will differ depending on which faction you are in, will send you off to Icewind Pass and Dwarven Valley to collect Black Ice, fight vicious beasts, and more. It is here where you will encounter mercenaries of the rival faction and must fend off attacks while you complete your own mission.

These battle zones allow for a more developed PvP progression path for players who are seeking an alternative to the standard PvE content in in Neverwinter. You will be offered the chance to constantly battle your rival faction over Black Ice, and be rewarded for taking out your enemy. This  type of progression will involve PvPing in an open-world environment, meaning you will have to stay alert as you complete contracts for your faction.

Will you align with the Ten-Towners who are seeking Black Ice to trade and grow their wealth? Or, will you align with the Arcane Brotherhood who seeks to unlock the mysterious powers behind the new resource and become more powerful? Let us know who you will align with on the official Neverwinter forums.  

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