Adventurers Raine Sen, Huski (Huskir), Zee and Greycoat (Shier'Tal) have been exterminating a Swamp-rat infestation for Thorin and Zari, a Dwarf couple and owners of the Slovenly Snail Inn in Swamp Bottom. The couple pass on a note addressed to Greycoat and the adventurers from 'M'; which turns out to be an invitation to the Goblin Markets:
"Brother with queer brother, Signalling each other -
Brother with sly brother; Come buy, come buy...'
Grey wants the others to accompany him to the markets, as he believes this is a direct command from his patron Mab, queen of the Winter Court of the Feywild, whom he serves as a @Knight of Winter (a pact he made for protection from the zealous followers of The Raven Queen). Thorin & Zari tell the adventurers they've only heard about Goblin Markets as a local myth, something that may be related to The Wych Elm in Hagley Wood... where a local girl Bella was murdered (by decapitation), her body placed within the hollow tree.
The others investigate more, out of a sense of duty for Huski and Raine, and curiosity on Zee's part. Once they find the Wych Elm without Bella inside it, and strange altars filled with animal bones and trinkets within, they step inside and somehow activate a Tree Portal, finding themselves in The Feywild.
We see what looks to be a Goblin procession, its members blowing pan flutes and banging drums, and echoing the words of the note from Mab. We follow the strange music at a distance through the forest, until we come to a clearing with a veritable village of tents and stalls and busybodies of all races and sizes - the Goblin Markets.
We head to an inn, the Marquet's Delight, manned by Strife the Gold Tiefling, and Cirdre Fenbairn, a large teal-coloured Firbolg.
Passing a salve stall, we witness a Gith slaver, Kazim, with a small and frail Elf girl mystically restrained and on sale; Grey is reminded of Redcloak, and Huski angered both by the slaver and a nearby Halfling fur trader, Yassam, who is selling Tabaxi pelts and has some disparaging comments about their quality. Fired up, the party go about rescuing the enslaved girl, whom they call B (Bahaa Luna) for 'Backpack', as she falls unconscious after removal from the enchanted slaver's pen and must be carried on Grey's back.
Walking further into the market, the party stumbles across the Market's End Hag; she accuses Raine Sen of being a part of Bella's murder; at some point during this exchange, Raine loses her staff.
The Hag does, however, give the party access into The Winter Court to speak with Mab and Valantyne; Mab, cunning and eerie, calls on Grey to retrieve the Heart of a Fallen Star, which will solidify her claim to the Winter throne or enhance her power in some way. To this end she gives the group a Planar Coin that allows them to travel to and from the Feywild.
The party return to the Marquet's Delight to plan their next move; once there, Grey tells the rest of the party about his time and plans with Mab, convincing them to retrieve the Heart by claiming:
"I want to stop this corruption. I am the true King of the The Winter Court and I promise you, if you help me reclaim my throne, I will end slavery in the Feywild..." - Greycoat