We will be going through the sample adventure, Tide of Retribution, from The Explorer's Guide to Wildemount. 

Trouble darkens the shores of the Vezdali Peninsula when an earthquake hits, sending part of the village of Palma Flora down into the sea. “Tide of Retribution” is an adventure that takes characters from 1st to 3rd level. It introduces them to the Menagerie Coast—a tropical region filled with monstrous abominations, mysterious curses, and ancient temples.

The village of Palma Flora is known for its vibrant green foliage, its competitive shark-hunting tournaments, and a sweet cocktail that shares the village’s name. Lurking in the Sharkfeather Abyss, an ocean trench just west of the village, is a small clan of some dozen sahuagin that has grown weary of the shark hunters of Palma Flora. Year after year, the sea devils have attacked the shark hunters in an effort to spoil the tournaments, but their small numbers have seen them consistently defeated by the hunters and the village’s hired mercenaries.

Usul stowed away with a group of fisherman coming down from Rexxingtrom. Though he is rather small, it's hard to stay hidden for that long, and was found after about a week. The travelers took pity on him, so put him to work tending the animals while they rode. Arriving in Palma Flora, he's amazed at how small of a town this is, and spends his first couple days wandering the streets, and occasionally pick-pocketing tourists ((while we wait for the rest to join)).

This adventure begins as a cool breeze drifts across Flora Isle, mingling the sweet scent of flowers with the salty tang of the Lucidian Ocean. Well-tanned locals play on the beach, while sunburned visitors sit in wicker chairs and sip cold drinks. A half-dozen nearly naked shark hunters preparing to compete in the annual tournament stand in the shallows on the south shore, armed with harpoons and their wits.

Go ahead and describe what your characters are doing. We can play out these scenes as short vignettes, with each player establishing what a normal day is like for the character before the action begins.

Here is a map for reference:

Since you all have been here for at least a couple of weeks, you would be familiar with the different areas of the map. This island is attached to the end of the Vezdali Peninsula (and Palma Flora) via the bridge (P5).

• P1: South Shore
• P2: West Shore
• P3: North Shore
• P4: East Shore
• P5: Bridge between Palma Flora's mainland and Palma Flora's island portion
• P6: Cliffs - Unlike the gentle, sloping beaches along the rest of the island, the north end of Flora Isle is a sheer cliff 10 feet high.
• P7: Farmer's Cottage (raises pigs and chickens)
• P8: Docks
• P9: Riptide Inn and Tavern - Most visitors to the island stay here. The tavern’s ground floor is open to the air and looks out at the waves.
• P10: Public Square

Feel free to use the map and references to describe what you're doing today.

((this is a REALLY small island))

Usul is a young gnome with mussed up dark hair, and different colored eyes. He has a swirl tattoo on his right hand, and wears old clothing barely held together, and sandals on his feet. When there isn't much going on, he'd be sitting under the fountain puffing on his pipe, attempting to blow the smoke into shapes, and occasionally seeming to talk to himself. He spends his days around the public square looking for tourists he can either pickpocket, or use minor illusion to entertain with simple magic to earn a few copper in tips. For a couple/few days he's been here he isn't staying in the Inn, as he isn't used to paying for a room. If the proprietors are nice, he'd ask to sleep under a table, but with the weather being ok he'd also be fine to just curl up behind a building.

Quote from kevtr0n >>

((this is a REALLY small island))

lol. The adventure only starts here. Even though this is a short adventure, it doesn't take place in just one location. And, it's also not ALL of Palma Flora. It's like...one part of town that happens to be separated by a small body of water and connected via a bridge. lol. In my home town, we have a couple of these types of things.

Darla makes her way through the public square, her curly red hair shining in the sun. She gossips a bit with some of the locals, shawm or bagpipes in her hands as she occasionally plays whatever tune comes to mind. Her skin is a soft mocha, her cool blue eyes a nice contrast as they flash with mischief. She spends her evenings around the Riptide Inn & Tavern, entertaining travelers and guests with her music and tall tales, as she has since she arrived about a month ago. She seems fairly carefree, but she keeps an eye toward the mainland, with equal parts hope and trepidation. In her off time, she stays around the tavern, sharing drinks and stories, and asking newcomers if they had seen a caravan of entertainers while on their way to the town.

While exploring the square and getting some sun, Usul sees the halfling who had been playing playing some tunes the previous evening. She had quite an audience last night, and seemed to get quite a few tips. Approaching her quietly as she looks past the fountain towards the mainland, he attempts to reach into her pocket for to grab a coin or two but sneezes just as he does so. Looking towards the halfling he sees her looking across at him and...

Hearing the sneeze and catching some movement at her periphery, Darla reaches out instinctually, grasping the wrist of the Gnome that had been sneaking up on her. Looking him in the eye, realizing he was reaching for her coin purse, the halfling lets out a bark of laughter. "A cheeky one, aren't ye?" Turning fully towards him, but not letting go of his wrist, she leans in a bit, "Dinne anyone tell ye it's polite tae take a bird out before ye go pawing at her arse?"

Stanley Yin stands at nearly six feet tall, short dark hair and dark eyes; a lean young man who doesn't burn in the sun.  He seems reserved, maybe even a little shy as he pushes his glasses back up his nose, but he can often be seen smiling in the company of a lively halfling bard who arrived some time ago.  No one knows when Stanley showed up in town.  He doesn't stand out too much.  He works day hours at the Riptide Inn & Tavern, doing whatever odd jobs the owner gives him, and in the afternoon or evenings you might catch him either scribbling things in a book, reading a book, or watching the locals and visitors.  Otherwise, he often disappears into his room where some residents have claimed they heard odd noises.

Today has so far been like every other.

Usul instinctively tries to pull his hand away to run, but the halfling woman was surprisingly strong for someone their size. Looking to her through his bangs, which have grown a bit long he says quickly "uh... we're sorry ma'am... we know it's wrong, but we needed coin for some dinner. Our other friend ((snurk)) is around here somewhere. We've all been trying to keep to ourselves... Please don't call the guard..."

"Ye poor dear, no need tae worry." Darla pulls the Gnome in a little closer as she says it, "Tae think, a cute scrap like yerself, goin' hungry." She reaches around with her other hand, grabbing her coin purse, "Now, I have meself a bleedin' heart, so I'll gladly see tae yer meal, Lliira forbid a poor soul be goin' empty bellied. Let's go gather up yer friend, and we can sup together, aye?"

Ashamed of his behavior, half of pick pocketing a kindly halfling, though a bit more of getting caught, Usul says "Th-thank you kindly ma'am... our friend is staying low just over this way." And he leads to way towards where he and Snurk had been keeping low the last couple nights.

Snurk is ready with his weapon. 

Two and a half feet tall, with rich, green skin, black spots and large black eyes, he’s all wiry sinew. But each movement is controlled, and his demeanor is calm even in the midst of a rage. He is above these people. Except Usul. Usul is a proven friend.

But this other? Who knows. And so it is that Snurk waits, a dart in each hand covered in poison. 
“Usul? Are you alright?”

Usul would poke around the corner so Snurk could see him first, when the halfling follows, he bows his head, again a bit ashamed of getting caught, and says "Snurk it's alright... she... she caught us. But!" he quickly interjects as he sees his new friend reach for his weapons "she has agreed to help us..." and then whispering "which is better than the guards being called. We may be able to slip out later if needed..."

Snurk will slink closer and stare at Darla, his frog bod crouched and ready to run, but unafraid in his heart.

Darla, standing just behind Usul and smirking a bit, hearing what he whispered, calls out, still having not seen his companion, "Ye both seem a mite over-cautious. I'll no be calling the guard on either o'ye." Stepping forward a bit to poke her head around the corner she finally spots Snurk, and after a moment of surprise she smiles wide, her blue eyes almost sparkling. "Well... yer an odd one now, but cute as a button. C'mon then lads, no need tae be skulking about." She moves back away from the alley, making sure her body language was relaxed despite the urge to give the(to her) adorable little frog person a hug. "Ye both seem tae be havin' a hard go o' tings, aye? The least sweet Darla can do" at her name she gives a sassy wink, "is warm yer bellies a little."

And, the day passes. Darla feeds her new found "friends" and after, they part ways back to their own business. Darla heads back to the tavern to get ready for her performance later that evening and to say hello to Stanley.

This is kind of just how life goes for everyone day in and day out, enjoying the beach lifestyle as well as a bit of anonymity. Plus there's the excitement of the upcoming shark hunting competition. As the days get closer to the tournament, the crowd grows larger. The tavern is full. There are people camping on the beach. There are boats anchored off shore as the docks are full.

Finally, after a couple of weeks of lead-up to the tournament day, it has finally arrived. The shark hunters are out on the beach with nothing but their hands and their wits (and a pair of shorts) getting ready for the horn to blow indicating it's time to start.

Darla is at the tavern, doing a mid-afternoon performance, Stanley is taking a break in his room at the inn, and Snurk and Usul are hanging out in the center of the island entertaining tourists and stealing from them when the opportunity presents itself.

It is at this moment, when the ground beneath your feet trembles and cracks. Waves a dozen feet high crash into the shore, and the sound of screaming fills the air as a stampede of beachgoers flees the sands. A chorus of shrieks add to the cacophony as shark hunters run from the water, pursued by humanoid creatures with fish-like heads and slick, rubbery skin.

What do each of you do? You all are about to feel the earthquake and your all hear the screams. Stanley doesn't see the stampede of people.

“You are offering food? Good. But watch yourself, I will tolerate no tricks.”

Snurk gives a strange pat on his pale, round belly. It’s clearly meaningful in some way, but it’s hard to say what.

((Obviously, Snurk's comment comes before my longer post, there. So, just swap the position of those posts and we'll be good.))

For reference, here is a map of where everyone is. There are a couple of things to note: this map's squares are 10' each, so I added in a faint grid to show the 5' boxes. Also note that it can be kind of tough to see your tokens because of the colors of the map. Sorry. 

If you need to be reminded what things are where on the map, please reference my second post above. :)

On the South Shore there are a number of these fish-like humanoids emerging from the water. Some shark hunters are fleeing with the masses, others seem to be intending to fight these creatures. 

So, go ahead and let me know how your characters are reacting and what they're doing. (And, I am going to go watch one or two episodes of SVU with my wife and then get to bed. I have to go into the office tomorrow.)

Darla, cut off mid verse by the rumbling begins hearing the screams and shouts coming from the beach. Running forward to see what's happening, she see's the stampede of folk running from the beach and the strange creatures that seem to be hostile. "Holy shite," She whispers to herself, before turning and yelling at the people still looking confused around the Inn, "Get yer arses movin'!" Pushing some to get them running, cursing to herself as she makes her way into the inn heading for Stanley's room, "Stanley, ye'd best nae be ****in' off, ye sweet daft man."