Act 1 — The Corrupted Heart

Act 1 takes the party from their initial arrival in the quiet town of Macridi to the dark heart of the forest. They must investigate the belligerent silence of the fey courts and the source of a blight that is poisoning the town's livelihood. The delicate equilibrium between human loggers and the fey—forged through the Blood Price and the ancient logging treaties—has shattered, and the town is on the brink of an economic collapse. The party is summoned by Guildmaster Venna, who views this crisis not as a disaster, but as a threat to her portfolio.

The scene is set with a detailed introduction to the town and its unique culture, followed by an exploration of the Court of Endless Revelry to discover that the Satyrs have been corrupted by a forbidden magic. They will learn that Fennin the Bold is terrified of the war brewing in the Court of Seasons, and that the ancient pact with the forest is being broken by forces beyond mortal greed. The party is then forced to track the source of this corruption to the blighted camp of Reiver's Right, where they will face the consequences of a broken pact with the wild—confronting the Wood Wraith and the tragic, transformed loggers who are fused with the trees.

This act allows the party to build a reputation in Macridi, gaining the trust of the Logging Guild while navigating the tense social environment of a town that hides immense wealth behind plain wooden facades. It culminates in a battle against the Blightfiend in the heart of Reiver's Right, a battle that will reveal the true nature of the threat facing the Palakar. They will uncover the first stone marker of the Pale Hand, hinting at the sinister connection between the Desolation Blade Mounts, the Pulgari Estate, and the ancient curse of the Macridi Blade culture.

Key Locations & Threats