Ask for help at the big cluster of houses

You approach the cluster of farmhouses, and the locals point you in several directions when you mention something about "magic stone" or "strange artifact"

The Rural Tavern: A rustic place where farmers, hunters, and wanderers swap stories. But tavern talk is cheap, and there are always people ready to take advantage of you.

The Big Farm: The landowners are newly wealthy, their fields flourishing unnaturally, and strange lights have been seen in their barn at night.

The Stange House by the Lake: A manor half-sunk near the lake, people in dark cloaks or weird costumes come and go at night. The farmers avoid the place.