Hexcrawl 25 - Westward to the Dungeon of the Hark

Barriq leads Jhank, Parrik, and Fjori westward, following new all-star NPC Conrad toward a mysterious settlement of mysterious inhabitants that everyone knows are wererats. On the way, there is trouble with a mad hermit and his cat, a trail is blazed through a peat bog and a hidden glen of hardwoods, a dragon graveyard is discovered, and many new hexes are sighted and explored. Bariq is attacked on watch several times, and almost dragged into the Underdark by some troglodytes. Arriving at the Dungeon of the Hark, there is some disagreement about quarantine, what's meant by disease or affliction, and the wererats finally reveal themselves. Bariq wants to slaughter them, Jhank wants to befriend them, and Parrik and Fjori mainly just want to avoid getting lycanthropy. The party decides to remain there over the next several weeks to get to know their new neighbors better.