SCENE 01 – At first light, the Ektus representative for the Pitch Shifters, Pinford, is ready and waiting at the pier along with his barrels of black powder.

Garu has no idea what this is about, and Jein explains the situation to the captain. The captain, however, is less than thrilled to be carrying hundreds of barrels of black powder aboard the Terrapin. They contrive a lightning rod of sorts for the incoming storm, which can now clearly be seen on the northern horizon.

SCENE 02 – The tree-river to Acorn Manor is much to small for their ship, so a small crew boards the outrigger and sets off towards the vast forest deep within the Reach.

SCENE 03 – It does not take very long before the crew knows they will be running straight into the oncoming storm, and it looks like its going to be a big one.

When the storm hits, the crew realizes how small the outrigger truly is as it is tosses about by the gale force winds. The decision is made to forge ahead at double speed and this nearly causes the outrigger to capsize.

In desperation, Rokko thrusts an oar into the outrigger’s chain engine, seizing it immediately and causing everyone to fall through the canopy of trees to the surface of the Reach below.

SCENE 04 – After making sure that everyone had made it to ground safely, the crew sets off into the dense forest on foot, quickly getting lost among the twisted growths jutting out from the mossy ground.

SCENE 05 – Seeing an area that’s less densely packed, and even has a spot of sunshine by the looks of it, the crew heads towards it. In fact, the trees seem to give way to the crew as they head deeper into the forest.

They soon come across a large clearing in forest; several pre-Verdant ruins lay within, the closest one covered with thick vines, which cover much of the ground as well, breaking up the flag stones with the slow turning of the years.

Approaching the closest ruin, its entry choked with vines, they can see the skeletons of former guards inside, their armor glinting in the dim light. The crew decides to remove the vines.

SCENE 06 – Upon being touched, Viper Vines spring to life, coalescing into a massive, fanged serpent made entirely of vines. A large gemstone in the serpent’s head glows with an eldritch light.

The Viper Vines attack the party and they are eventually able to defeat it by tearing the glowing stone out of of the serpent’s head.

The crew rests outside the ruins before deciding to go inside …