Whisper from Beyond

About the adventure

Buzzing atmosphere of Baldur's Gate has become even more vivid with return of the "Golden Crane" trade ship. It came back from Chult bringing most wondrous stories about Jungle Lords, some mysterious group recently encountered by settlers from Fort Belisarius. They poses powers beyond mortal's reach and are capable of unimaginable craft. Thing that heated up every faction in Baldur's Gate is new metal which, according to captain Bartholomew Crane, commander of the "Golden Crane", is capable to cat through everything. As a proof to his words, captain presented an Axe made of this unknown alloy. Early tests of said metal proved it's supernaturally sturdy and sharp. It can cut through adamant with single blow and not even magic can damage it. What is more interesting, said metal resists any form of inspection, both natural or magical. Sages from Candlekeep after 3 weeks of intense studies eventually gave up on the task, announcing that there is no known meaning that would allow to identify or study the nature of said metal. House Irlentree, who owns "Golden Crane", sent envoys with announcement, that anyone capable of identifying said alloy will receive 10000 gold pieces of reward and status of honorable member of their family. What happened next is easy to imagine. City was flooded by all kinds of charlatans, vagabonds, lunatics and bums, all claiming to be capable of solving the problem (with no effect whatsoever). And then things went crazy... Ships of other companies that ventured to Fort Beluarian in Chult never returned. At first there was a suspicion that weather may be a cause of a delay but with passing weeks it has become more and more obvious that the ships are gone for good. In most part attempts of divination have failed but were able to establish few very disturbing facts. Fort Beluarian has been deserted and it's entire personnel is gone. Chult has become very hostile, from common tribes to smallest of animals and plants, it turned against every outsider. There is an unknown structure within the jungle, that seams to be made of same metal as the axe of captain Crane. The Chult Peninsula is surrounded by heavy storms that makes it almost impossible to safely reach the land beyond them. There was also another detail that was overlooked by most. Captain Crane who was very proud, loud and always on sight, suddenly disappeared from the public view. The exact reason is unknown, some of the more informed ones claim that he is simply afraid of the Guild, which is targeting him to get his wondrous axe. Others, less numerous, say that he came back sick and is currently on his last legs, which is carefully covered by proud Irlentree clan. There is one more rumor whispered among the most drunk and insane among the lunatics who ventured to Baldur's Gate after the voyage of "Golden Crane". According to this rumor it is not captain Bartholomew Crane who came back from Chult, but something much, much different... But who would listen to them...