Cask Alder
Role: Fen Guide & River Pathfinder
Region: The Greymere Fens and surrounding wetlands
Reputation: Finds paths others drown in
Cask Alder was a lean, weather-beaten man with skin darkened by wind and marsh sun.
He smelled faintly of peat smoke, river water, and crushed reeds.
His boots were always wet.
First Impressions
Cask spoke little at first.
- His eyes tracked the ground more than faces
- He listened longer than most people expected
- When he finally spoke, it was usually important
He moved like someone who knew where the land would give way before it did.
As a Guide
Cask knew the fens by feel as much as sight.
- Could read water depth by plant growth
- Knew which trails existed only at certain tides
- Understood where the ground “floated” and where it swallowed
He insisted on traveling at specific times of day and refused routes he believed were unsafe.
What He Knew
Cask shared knowledge gradually:
- Which lights meant travelers—and which did not
- Where stone ruins sank a little more each year
- Which paths were safe only in silence
He would not guide anyone who carried open hatred for elves, druids, or the dead.
The Bayou Ambush
While guiding the Blades of Strangeways toward the The Drowned Observatory, Cask led the party deep into the Greymere Fens. There, they were ambushed by bandits who moved through the swamp with unnatural ease.
During the attack, Cask panicked and attempted to flee—behavior at odds with his reputation.
Evidence recovered after the skirmish revealed the party had been specifically targeted, their appearances crudely documented in advance.
Betrayal and Death
Following the trail of fleeing bandits, the party discovered a second camp where Cask Alder was confronted.
He was found arguing with the attackers over promised payment.
It became clear Cask was the leader of the bandits.
Cask Alder was killed during the ensuing fight.
He died in the mud and reeds of the fens he once claimed to know better than anyone.
Legacy
Cask Alder’s name is still spoken quietly among fenfolk.
Some remember him as a skilled guide who saved lives by knowing when not to walk forward.
Others remember him as a cautionary tale:
The swamp forgives ignorance.
It does not forgive betrayal.