The Burning Plague

Planting 10, 585 CY

Duvik's Pass is a small town nestled within one of the many valleys that cut through the Flinty Hills. It has long been a way stops for travelers and adventurers seeking to rest aching limbs and drown painful memories within her gates. Moreover, it has also gained attention recently as a potential power in the area's commerce, due to a discovery of substantial silver deposits buried in the mountains nearby. Over the past three years, the men of Duvik's Pass have burrowed into the ground seeking the wealth therein. Able-bodied folk from neighboring villages flocked to the town, hoping to lend their strength within the mines and garner some share of the prize.
Hope and industry turned to despair and potential ruin with the advent of the Burning Plague four months ago. It began quietly enough, with the miners returning home from their work at nightfall complaining of blistering sores and an unbearable thirst. Shortly thereafter, the town's livestock was decimated by an unknown illness and her crops began to wither. The elders of Duvik's Pass declared that the well water had been soured by an unknown disease, but by then the Burning Plague had already begun claiming the young and the sickly. To make matters worse, the last few men still strong enough to plumb the wealth of the mine fell prey to an unknown threat just over half a month past. The Foothill Watchmen assigned this task to your party, and report back with hopeful good news by Flocktime 1, 585 CY.