Chapter 1

We begin our tale in the town of Red Larch. Red Larch is a little town on the Long Road, a few days' travel north of Waterdeep and south of Yartar. It's a way station for caravans coming to or from the cities of the North, with only one inn, the Swinging Sword. In the corner of the inn, in the inn's taver, there was a table filled with four interesting characters. The first of which was Flarenthalas or Flare for short. He was a wood elf who liked the bottle a little bit too much. He was a tall and lean. He had shaggy brown hair and was certainly not dressed to impress, but his riding leathers did him well. He was born and raised in the woods, and as such, it was only natural that he would take the way of the druid.

Sitting next to him was someone on the opposite end of the spectrum. This was Little Pebble, but most just called him Pebble. He was a tall, handsome half-elf. He had long, flowing brown hair and was dressed quite nicely. He wore a beautiful white shirt with a nice leather vest on top. Any woman that would pass his way would swoon. And, more importantly, he would try to swoon any woman that passed his way. To help him in his endeavors of love, he took up the ways of the bard.

Next was a shorter fellow. This was Grellik. He was a gnome, but what he lacked in size he made up for with intellect. Not only did he act smart, he looked smart as well. He wore glasses with dark, round rims, and had a long brown beard. He wore a long brown robe with a hood that he decided to wear nine times out of ten. With his studious nature, it was only natural that he took up the way of a wizard.

And last, but most certainly not least, there was Thalron. He was a wood-elf like Flare, he wasn't as tall as Flare, but it was clear that he was more fit. He sat fiddling with a gold coin. While he was not completely covered in armor, he was certainly more armed than the rest of the group. He liked fighting more than the rest of the group so he decided to wear half-plate armor over his normal clothes. Thalronhad a love of money and as such he had a past of a bounty hunter. To help him with this, he decided to take up the ways of the ranger.

While our heroes were sitting at their table and enjoying their drinks, an Illuskan woman approached them.

"Hello there. Welcome to the Swinging Sword Inn. My name is Kaylessa, the inn's manager. How are you all doing today? Are you enjoying your stay?"

Flare looked at Kaylessa and tried to speak with slurred and drunken words,

"We're having a great time, could do with some more booze though. Get me another mug woman!"

Pebble turned towards flare and slapped him.

"OW! What the hell was that for?!"

The Illuskan woman giggled at their little exchange. She was not at all fazed by Flare's remarks; after all, drunken idiots weren't exactly an uncommon thing at the inn's tavern.

"I'm glad to hear that, I'll let the bartender know that you need another drink."

As she begins to turn to walk toward the bar, she stops; there is a look of consideration and nervousness in her eye. She turns back toward the group.

"I'm sorry if I'm intruding, but are you gentlemen adventurers?"

Pebble made a full 180 degree turn toward Kaylessa trying to put all of his charm into this one conversation.

"I'm sorry, but we are simply a group of traveling friends. Why? Is there a problem? If there is, we are more than willing to help" He coyly winked at her as he made his offer.

"We are?" Thalronsaid too distracted by the thoughts of how to get their drinks at a discount.

"Of course we are!" Pebble stood and yelled quite loudly causing many of the people in the bar to turn their heads. Pebble sat back down, embarrassed at the scene he had just caused.

"Now hang on a minute Pebble," Thalronsaid trying to put some reason in pebble's head… the one on his neck at least. "Yes ma'am, we are, in fact, willing to help. However…" He paused rubbing his thumb and pointer finger, "Everything has a price"

The Illuskan woman thought for a moment. "I'll have to check the tavern's budget, but I should be able to pay you for your troubles"

"Why don't you tell us what the problem is?" Grellik said listening intently the whole time. "Then we'll discuss whether we'll do it or not"

"I suppose that's only fair" Kaylessa pulled up a chair and began telling the group her story.

"Some strange things began happening here in Red Larch a while back. I don't know if you've noticed, but the number of bandits and monsters has been increasing at an alarming rate. And the weather is becoming more and more... unseasonable. Anyway, I believe that the source of all of this is coming from a place near here. A place … called Lance Rock. Have you heard of it?"

The entire group shakes their head.

"Oh… well, no matter I'm able to point you in the right direction. I, unfortunately, have no proof that anything is actually there, but nobody is even willing to go and take a look; not even the constable. Would you please help me?"

"Obviously we will help in any way we can!" Pebble said while trying to discreetly flex

"Now hold on one-second" Grellik decided to speak up and tried to reason with Pebble. "If there truly is something strange going on here, I think it would be best if we split up. Flare and Thalron can head over in the direction of this 'Lance Rock' place, while you and I, pebble, ask around town and see if anyone else is reporting weird happenings around town"

"I suppose that makes sense," Thalron said purely for the purpose of ending this conversation and getting money.

"Thank you so much," Kaylessa said with a tone of relief. "I'll be able to pay you 50 gold pieces for your trouble."

"I suppose that will do for now," Thalron said clearly not entirely satisfied with the offer. "But if we run into any serious trouble we're going to need more money."

"I'll see what I can do," Kaylessa said with a bit of hesitation in her voice.

The group sat and finished their drinks before heading off in different directions. Thalron and Flarenthalis left the inn first heading through the Dessarin Valley in the direction of Lance Rock. Hills partitioned into fields and pastures by fieldstone fences or hedges surround Red Larch. A mile or so outside the town, cultivated areas gave way to unspoiled wilderness. Miles of hills, woods, and grassland stretched on as far as the eye can see, filled with plentiful wildlife.