Having traveled the swamp and fought a bullywug slaving raid, the party finds itself in the lawless freehold of Lake Gloomy. They spend a few days training, shopping, and suffering the bad food available in the local inn. Farthingdale the Cheese merchant pays for their in room during their stay. The bard at the inn, Ecthelion the Bard, is... horrible. His tips amount to barely enough copper to afford a day's food and beer. The party meet and dismiss the local bookie, a human with a pair of half-ogre bruiser bodyguards. They head out on the road to the Duchy of Ten when seven humans appear on the road. They ask for sanctuary from the LizardFolk raiders they claim assaulted them and stole their foodstuff-filled cart. Sure enough, a score of LizardFolk appear, pursuing them. Trista called to the LizardFolk in Draconic, and established a parlay. The LizardFolk wanted the seven humans for extradition; they were "ver-mish!" (slurred "vermin"). The humans transformed ...