The Journey Begins
It started with a dark dream, a repeated nightmare plaguing Rowan Hale's sleep: A woman screaming as a man close to her was killed. Through study, Rowan came to believe the woman was a forgotten river goddess, whose temple was in the mountains.
The young paladin, son of many paladins before him, sought the help of outsiders when his own town leaders refused to investigate the mounting evidence: sickened animals, rotting trees, and a weak-flowing river.
The party set off inland, following the slope of the coast toward the river's source. They passed through ruins of a long-lost elvish kingdom, where they met a strange peddler: a golden-eyed halfling selling unlabeled potions he claimed were from "the purest source". The halfling sold them a single healing potion, asking for rumors of suffering as payment.
Further on, the travelers found a tranquil glade where deer were grazing, but the herd's muzzles were bloody from feasting on dead wolves. Torinn the fighter and Rowan slew several deer, while Raist the wizard enchanted the lone mighty stag to sleep. Ivellios the druid attempted to cure the deer, but they were too far gone, cursed by river blight. The stag awoke and nearly killed the druid and the fighter, but with the healing potion and some luck everyone made it out alive.
However, upon healing from the potion, Torinn got the distinct impression that the golden-eyed halfling was somehow aware it'd been used. Meanwhile, the party found it odd that though the animals and plants were sick, the river itself didn't look poisoned, just shallow.
They spent the night close to some cliffs, puzzled to find recent evidence of dragonborn footprints, and kobold vandalism at a river shrine. Both were concerning because draconic activity is extremely uncommon on this continent. The party cleaned up the goddess' shrine and felt her blessing with them afterward.
In the morning the team discovered why the river's flow was so weak: a great dam had recently been constructed at the mouth of a waterfall. They scaled the cliff and saw the other side of the dam was hosting a strange celebration. Farmers, rangers, and other folk of the land were entranced by otherworldly music, dancing while completely ignoring the heroes. Only Torinn felt drawn to the music as well, but he resisted its effect for now.
It was a bizarre sight, but worst of all the river water here was putrid: black sludge filled with dead fish. And seated on the other side, lording over the dancers and the stinking river, was a certain golden-eyed halfling, smiling on a makeshift throne.