Avantom's Clan

Not long after entering Driftwood Drag you come upon a natural clearing, surely formed by the disused dam which now holds back only vines and brush. A tent and cooking-fire pit abut said dam, looking as if pushed aside to allow for four large earth-driven posts, linked with chalk lines to cordon off the center of the area.
At the sound of your approach the tent's flaps fly open and a man emerges, dressed plainly save for a cloth mask over his head which reveals only his wide grin. Odd as the sight may be, he seems welcoming enough as he invites you to join him for tea and flicks a Firestarter into the fire pit. Without awaiting a reply, the masked man sets himself to preparing the tea while you join him at the fire.
As the light improves you can see that the mask is adorned with cat's ears and amateurish decorative embroidery. Clearly glad to have a guest, he introduces himself as ‘Tom and inquires about your story, your destination and your goals. However it soon becomes clear that he is itching to share something and as you ask about what it is, he immediately launches into an explanation…