Re: (OOC) Welcome to the Game!
Well, we could also coincidentally run into each other's groups, combining them that way? When we go down the mountain, or try to go back, we run into the other group? Or when we get back from fetching the flower, the other group has reached the monastery (it being the closest civilization to the booms) and are like, "Hey, those booms seem like bad news, anyone want to come with and see what's up?"
Just tossing out some ideas. :)