The village elders called a meeting due to the high number of weird plagues that Wankum has been experiencing. The town’s best heroes were sent out and never returned so, you’ll have to do. The elder’s tasked you with visiting the witch’s hut to find out what’s going on. They sent you out with their “best” gear, a domestic owlbear, mouldy bread, and some “fresh” water.
Along the way, you ran into a giant, Gerald, who was chasing after his best friend, a boulder that crossed your path. Gerald asked where his boulder went and Xennith pointed him in the opposite direction. The giant ran off without thinking twice.
When you reached the forest where the witch lives, three bears greeted you. Mamma, Pappa, and Baby Bear had gained intelligence due to a recent plague. They had fashioned crude wooden armor for themselves and would have agreed to let you pass if you gave up the owlbear. Despite merely wanting to free their cousin, you decided to antagonize them by insulting their family and insinuating that their relatives fucked owls. A battle ensued, but Stratos determined that the best way to end unnecessary violence and freed the owlbear, keeping the inventory that it was carrying…for some reason. The bears ran off into the woods after the owlbear and you continued on to the witch’s hut.
You met Daffodil, the witch, who is perpetually annoyed by the villagers showing up with all of their dumb problems. She had no idea where these plagues were coming from and directed you to visit her older sister, Violet, who lives in the large town of Tubbercurry to the east. When asked about the first party that the Wankum elders had sent out, Daffodil admitted that she had not had any visitors to her hut in weeks and she had no idea who you were talking about. She allowed you to stay overnight, but you had to leave first thing the next morning.
While making your way to Tubbercurry, during camp one night you were attacked by a wraith. It was a tough battle, but you won. Ni-Do inspected the wraith’s ashes and found an opalescent gem as a trophy, which when equipped, gave her +10 hp. While FierceWanderer and Ni-Do rested, due to taking the brunt of the wraith’s damage, Xennith and Stratos wandered the woods to the north and happened upon ancient Elven ruins. They could sense a faint feeling of magic within, and located a hidden door behind ivy. The door had elven writing on it, but sadly, no one in your party speaks Elven so they marked the location on their map and headed to the city.
You easily found Violet’s rowhouse in the city. Her servant, Hagatha, greeted you at the door. Violet wanted to help you get to the bottom of these plagues, but unfortunately her seeing stone had been stolen. You agreed to locate it. After rummaging around her bedroom, you discovered small ratfolk prints on her windowsill, which led down the side of her house and turned into small rat footprints. You followed these footprints to the haberdasher nearby, who informed you that there were reports of ratfolk stealing recently. He let you know that they tend to hold up in Beggar’s Corner, which is located towards the north of the city.
Beggar’s corner is crowded with all manner of poor folk and thieves. After an unsuccessful attempt to persuade a local panhandler, Stratos corners who he thinks is a small child (but is actually a middle aged Gnome named Gmatt) and offers them a coin for directions to the ratfolk den. Failing on that, Ni-Do tries her luck and Gmatt becomes instantly enamored with the dwarf, letting you know that the den is in the sewers, and a little rat skull and bones is carved next to the entrance.
You locate the sewer with the rat den symbol and all peer into the small sewer opening, wondering how all of you will manage to fit…