A Strange Beginning

Miscellaneous

A mysterious mishap sends the group over the edge of a cliff and right into a heap of trouble.

Kithu the Goliath, Orpheus the Half-Elf, and Ravos the Human had hired a covered wagon to take them down to Stonehill Keep when their driver was snatched from his seat by an unseen creature. With horse and cart careening through the swamp the team tried to take back control of the cart but were not able to do so in time enough to save the cart from falling into a deep ravine. After nursing some wounds the group began to take a look around. They discovered a pool at their end of the ravine with three unkempt men pacing back and forth mindlessly in front of it. From within the pool a creature spoke to them. It declared that they were trespassing in its sanctuary and wanted to know why the were there. After they explained it was a simple accident, the creature gave them information on how to escape the ravine. As they made their way away from the pool the caught glimpse of the creature and Kithu and Ravos knew it to be an Aboleth.

The ravine was treacherous but the team battled frogs and twig blights before finally coming to a small abandoned hut at the end. Inside they found the remains of a Hag as well as some magic items which they distributed. Emerging from the ravine they found themselves in the middle of the swamp with no idea on how to get out. As luck would have it they came across an old friend of theirs, Wilphose the Kenku, who was using the tall trees and soft ground of the swamp in his attempts to fly. Kithu had knowledge of a nearby village and together they traveled towards it.

The group arrived in Basin just as darkness was settling around them. They were approached by the village elder, Emir, who offers them the barn to stay in for the night as well as hot food for a bit of coin. Without anywhere else to stay the group agrees. Emir's daughter Maria brings them food and drink and tells them that about a month ago the water they used for drinking turned sour and they've been having to collect rainwater to survive. She also informs them of three missing people; two hunters, and a woman named Mayda. After some deliberation the group decides to investigate the issue plaguing the town while also keeping an eye out for the missing people. Maria points them in the direction of a cave upriver of the pool they used to drink from and they decided to head out in the morning.