The icy breeze rustled dead branches in the distance, it reminded Darick to stay alert...

'What is it I am doing here?' he thought, his mind still cloudy. Darick was shaking slightly, his nerves getting the better of him in anticipation of what awaited.

You see, Darick had found himself at the edge of The Thorn with his eyes fixated straight at what was ahead of him...the outer gates of Goblin Town.

After escaping from the Atheneum and retreating to the Battle Mage Mountains for many years of training, Darick decided to finally visit the Capital and see it for himself. He spent a few days there, but the grandeur of it all was starting to fade and Darick decided to spend an afternoon at one of the Capital's many Taverns. Well, what was just an afternoon pitstop turned into all night affair. He'd ran into quite the crowd! First was the Huntress with her serpentine familiar, she'd just been back from an adventure of sorts chasing down and capturing a very obscure creature within Frog Master Marsh. He couldn't remember what it was, but he could remember the 5 or so Kobold Koolaids they had together...then things got a bit fuzzy

He remembers singing a few songs with a trio of Swashbucklers, he didn't know any of the words or anything just kinda swayed and sang as best he could......and he drank, oh yes, he drank more. Those guys can really drink, let me tell you...

Then there was the Hue Master who told some awfully funny stories, so funny infact, that Darick fell off the stool more than once while laughing uncontrollably. Then he drank more...

That's the last he remembers of the night.

The next morning, just before the Sun rose above the Capital, while the air was still cold and the sky, a dull blue, Darick reluctantly opened one eye, groaned then thought to himself 'I should have gotten that Huntress' digits'. He sat up and took note of the exceptionally filthy alley he had apparently spent the night.

As Darick stood up, he realized that he was holding a small stone tablet. When he dusted it off, a mist of magic began to tingle his in his fingertips. The mist sparkled like technicolor dust in the air - it formed a sort of magical hologram. Appearing from the mist was a Red Hat, one he had never seen before.

"Darick, my name is...well, my name is not of consequence. What is of consequence is that my underlings have been searching the Capital for a wizard who fits a certain profile........for a job that must be completed before the Sun rises tomorrow. Although, I have been made aware of your indulgent night, I trust it will not keep you from accepting my proposal. 'What is my proposal', you ask? That is the most important question, no doubt. First, let me tell you what I offer to complete your quest. If the quest is completed by the rising of the next Sun - you, Darick of Atheneum, will receive a plot of land of my choosing. In addition, you will receive 60 barrels of Kobold Koolaid and your choice of any of my extensively trained field dogs from my hunting estate. But......you must do this for me now: I need you to find a certain goblin who is quite well-known; a trader of various exotic and enchanted items. Most of these items he has received by means of thievery and his murderous ways. The goblin has taken something from me. Something of significant consequence. What it is - I cannot say to you, but the item is within a jewel-shaped box chiseled from a rare purple crystal."

Darick rubs his eyes and shakes his head bit to clear the cobwebs

"This box will not be easy to recover, mind you" says the Red Hat "...it is currently within the grime-filed walls of Goblin Town. But it seems the Goblin merchant has found a buyer for this item and they are to rendezvous somewhere within the Vampyre Mist tomorrow morning. I have my thoughts as to what treacherous creature has attempted to gain my property - but that is not your concern. Although, I warn you, you do not want to meet this "Buyer" of my property, if you do it will be the last anyone hears of you."

Darick, confused, says out loud "Why the hell do you need me?"

The Redhat continues "You may be asking yourself 'Why the hell do you need me?' - I will tell you. You are a trained as a Battle Mage taught in the old ways deep within the Mountains to not only have stealth and wizardly skill but also the physical prowness, should it be needed. Unfortunately I cannot simply send legions of Wizards or Warriors to recover this item. Were I to do so the legion would be detected immediately - no doubt the Goblin Merchant and the Purple-jeweled box along with it, woild then retreat behind the walls of Goblin Town. So use your stealth and talents, recover the box and be handsomely rewarded!!!!!!!! Now, turn over this tablet and you will see the details of who you are to gain the box from. Move with haste and good luck!"

The magical mist dissipated and Darick turned over the tablet.

"Crap" Darick muttered.

The face he saw was one he knew very well. He'd never met him but the face belonged to Goblin Merchant Hinn of the Void. His face has been plastered on wanted posters all throughout the land for various misdeeds but had yet to be caught. Hinn untrusting of other Goblins (do you blame him?). So the good news: no other goblins to deal with. The bad news: he's always accompanied by an insidious shadow-entity known to always be by his side in some capacity.

---

Back at The Thorn - it is still dark out, Darick snaps back and remembers what was told to him and the prize for this undertaking. He closes his eyes.

focus Darick, focuuuus...

As he does this the gates of Goblin Town suddenly creep open. The opening was just large enough for one to pass and an entity slipped through. Darick casts the Spell of Magnification and peered through - it was Hinn...but no sign of the shadow...yet.

Under his breath Darick faintly says to himself "I hate goddamn goblins..."

Entered by: 0x10f9…8B43 and preserved on chain (see transaction)