The session began with the party—Edwin, the halfling ranger, and his wolf Fidaeleus; Festerkin, the grimy gnome druid; and Solwyn, the disciplined monk—navigating the treacherous passes of the Troll Mountains. The relative quiet was a ruse, for as they entered a narrow pass, they were ambushed by a band of goblin archers perched on a high ledge.
The first volley was brutal. Edwin's loyal companion, Fidaeleus, was struck and fell unconscious before the battle had truly begun. Festerkin reacted instantly, his druidic magic lashing out as a Thornwhip tore the nearest goblin from its perch, sending it plummeting to the road below. Solwyn, a blur of motion, scaled the embankment to take the fight to the enemy, though his initial strikes missed their mark.
Edwin, seeing his wolf down, engaged the goblin Festerkin had downed, wounding it further. The battle on the ledge was a chaotic dance. The goblin leader's javelin was expertly caught and deflected by Solwyn, while another goblin's shot struck the monk for minor damage. Festerkin's magic proved decisive again; a second Thornwhip ripped another goblin from the cliff face, sending it crashing to the ground. Seeing two of their own so easily dispatched, the remaining goblins broke and fled into the mountains.
In the aftermath, Festerkin quickly summoned a handful of Goodberries. Edwin fed them to his faithful wolf, but something was wrong. The magical berries, usually so potent, seemed to struggle against an unseen influence. Fidaeleus stirred and rose, but the healing was only half as effective as it should have been—a worrying omen of the strange magic that permeated the valley.
Pressing on, the party finally arrived at the gloomy, mist-shrouded village of Barrow's Deep. Their first stop was the Elder's Knuckle, the massive, fist-shaped tree stump in the center of the square. As they took in the solemn landmark, their attention was drawn to the sound of a commotion—raised, angry voices coming from the direction of the Town Hearth, the communal heart of the village.