Janic Archon, sat silently as the wagon cart rolled slowly on it's way to Fallcrest. It had been a quiet journey thus far and the day was looking to be more of the same when a loud "thok" hit the wagon post beside his head. Just then a band of goblins burst from the underbrush surrounding the wagon. Looking for an easy snatch and grab, the goblins were lackadaisical in their attack. Not expecting resistance from a mere merchant, the goblins were caught unawares as the mage warrior lashed out with his plasma blasts taking out 2 and leaving the 3rd badly burned and wounded. Just as his last bolt struck his assailants Janic noticed a rider on a black steed off on a distant hill, clearly observing the melee. When the encounter was over, the rider reared on his horse and took off down the other side of the hill. Distracted by this mysterious rider, a 4th goblin makes off through the trees.
"Noo! They stole it!" cries Traevus the merchant, turning to Janic...
"You... you were incredible in that fight! You probably saved my life. But I need your help again. The goblins stole something from the back of my wagon, something precious. I need you to get it back.
Listening to Traevus' plea, Janic agrees to help. "What did they steal?" Janic asks.
"It's a small wooden box with a lock, but I ask you, please do not look inside if you find it" Traevus replies, blushing slightly "It's contents are very personal. I will gladly pay you a reward of 30 gold pieces. Thank you!"
Janic after checking on his new "client" and chauffeur, went over the last goblin still drawing breath. Eyes fluttering open, he sees the mage and starts to scramble away in fear. "Be at ease, I will not cause you any more harm, why did you attack us?" Janic asks... The goblin being won over by Janic easy nature stops his frantic attempts at escape and confides in him.
"We serve a human wizard named Maraleth. We live with him in an ancient, buried temple hidden in the caves to the south-west. Maraleth was the rider you saw." the goblin spills having to stop and gulp for air. "Kurrash, our troop leader, told us to raid this merchant wagon. He told us where and when the wagon would pass on the road. We were ordered to steal a small box from the back of the wagon." the goblin finishes, clearly too tired from his chatting to speak any longer. Seeing this goblin is severely wounded, Janic makes good on his promise of friendship and does what he can to heal the goblin's wounds. The goblin looks up with his renewed strength, a sparkle in his eye. "Thank you stranger. The lair you seek can be found here" the goblin says as he draws a map in the dirt.....
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