The evening that your companions, Slick Vinny, Tibag, Gnarly, Skwanky and Maudlin took it upon themselves to delve beneath the ruined tower of Zenopus on their own, the city of Caladan was attacked from the sea by an alliance of Pirates and soldiers from the southern Empire.
The city of Caladan quickly fell to these marauders. The Merchant Guild was disbanded, a new lord was put in their place.
Six months have passed since the invasion and things in Caladan have somewhat returned to normal. However, the nearby lands around the port city have changed as dark things have begun to lurk around the forests and roads and the townsfolk are fearful of traveling at night for rumors of a mysterious woman who haunts the streets of Caladan and the surrounding woods.