<Snipped quote by Scrapula>
That would also make it take longer to get to the dungeon and get the important exposition, because it involves breaking up the journey. Presumably the opposite intention of everyone running off.
You're meant to listen to quest-givers to know what, exactly, the quest is. Even if they're coming with you. Adventuring 101: find out what the hell you're doing if you can.
As for why the post wasn't up yesterday: I was unexpectedly not at home for most of the night.
But we already know the quest: kill the evil thing at the bottom.