Located on the northeastern shore of the Bay of Broken Tides, the Caves of Jhirkorro served as the home of the region's largest Lizardfolk tribe. For nearly five years, their ruler, the "Lizard King" Ihrtos, maintained an agreement with a secret cult known as the Fold. In exchange for access to the sea-hidden caves, the Fold supplied the tribe with mundane goods and magical treasures, providing security and protection they could not muster before. Over time, however, the growing presence of the Human and Crossborn Elf cultists within the caves began to divide the tribe.
The old shaman Aarhtikish championed closer ties with the Fold, eager to learn from the Spellcaster Volition, who had drip-fed them arcane knowledge over the years. The subchief Ertrasti opposed the arrangement just as fiercely; though his warriors had benefited from the Fold's gifts, he believed reliance on the "smooth-skins" would ultimately bring ruin to his people. Between the two stood the elder minister Sauriv, the tribe's most respected voice. He believed contact with the outside world offered opportunities, but remained deeply suspicious of the Fold's true intentions.
What began as simple deal, permission to pass through the caves and construct a Teleportation Circle within, gradually expanded into regular employment for many lizardfolk as labourers and porters. As the Fold's influence grew within the tribe and the greater Murkmire Marshlands, so did unrest. Aarhtikish began threatening those who resisted their demands, and whispers spread that she had pledged her own loyalty to the cult, but such accusations were swiftly silenced.
With tensions in the Caves of Jhirkorro reaching a boiling point, Lizard King Ihrtos was set to make a decision that would change the future of his tribe.