Progress

When Rekk, Anon, Tyreus and Jack cleared out the 'abandonned' keep in the Vast swamp they encountered a strange phenomenon in its grand hall;
The enormous room must once have been impressive in its grandeur. Elegant columns support the beautifully arching ceiling, except where the columns have crumbled and the ceiling has begun to collapse.
Four statues are set into alcoves around two walls, and another statue stands on a raised platform in one corner.
The most striking feature, however, is a giant orb of swirling shadow near the center of the room, which extends huge black tendrils like shadowy cyclones out almost to the walls.
The tendrils writhe and twist, but remain in more or less the same location, seeming to suck the from the air.

Not wanting to have to touch a tendril or worse, step into or touch the black orb, the four adventurers left. Pacing to keep up with the freed Lizardfolk (Sharptooth).

Back at the encampment, lizardfolk are reunited and a big feast is prepared that very night.
A few lizardfolk returned from guard duty at the edge of the Swamp, with news about several armored humans, needing to see the 4.
Leaving the others to feast, drink, eat, Tyreus ran on with them to meet up with the Purple Dragons.
From them the elf gathered more information about the religion (Shar) the false Clerics of Mystra boosted, and returned the next day with rewards from both Lord Redbeard and Tunaster.

Newly equipped the 4 investigators headed out, to try and find the monastery depicted on the looted map.
The freed former Cieftain, now demoted and not wanting to defeat the new Chief (the only cleric), asked to join them in their quest.

Accompanied by Gathan, they more easily traversed the Swamp.
When they passed the keep, Gathan suddenly charged ahead and into the grounds shouting war chants.
Not leaving him to his fate, the four followed quickly, and inside encountered minor resistance.
Apparantly Dark humanoids had been in hiding, or entered the keep last night. But before they could calm their Lizardfolk addition, Gathan again charged ahead.
This time he flung himself at the swirling black orb in the grand hall, and was swallowed whole..

Still wary of that globe, they first ventured out into the Vast Swamp.
From which they quickly returned.
The Swamp has been known as the most dangerous area of Cormyr, and encountering several Spectres solidified that knowledge for the two humans, elf and half-orc.

Having no other easy way to go forward, they tentatively stepped through the Dark Portal.

Suddenly, they found themselves in a hall like the one they just left, yet oddly different. The building seems a ruined version of the keep, and the outer doors open into black night.
Shadows gather in the corners and all colors have faded to gray.
Seen from this side, the portal through which they had just passed is a glowing white orb.

They found themselves shivering lightly, as the realization dawned that they had entered the Shadow Realm..