Chronicles of Forgotten Paths

Cap.2 - The assignment

Upon entering the palace, the contrast with the rest of the village is striking: gold dominates everywhere, an excessive luxury, almost baroque in style. The light from a few scattered torches emits a faint glow, reflecting off the ornate decorations and amplifying their brilliance. However, the atmosphere is not joyful but melancholic, as if a veil of sadness covers these halls.

At the far end of the room, a few steps lead to a grand, lavishly decorated throne. Seated upon it is an elderly man, his face buried in his hands, mumbling indistinct words.

"So, what do you have to tell us? And how much is there to gain?" Tordek's voice breaks the silence. The man composes himself, his age evident in the lines of his face and the emptiness of his expression. "Are these the adventurers you spoke of?" he asks the elderly elf, who nods silently before withdrawing.

"Very well. I summoned you because I have a task: someone dear to me is missing, and I need you to bring her back... my daughter. We've searched for days with no success. I hope you have better fortune. Bring her back to me, and you will be rewarded." With a wave of his hand, the two dwarves in his escort place a richly adorned chest at his feet.

Tordek immediately interjects, "What's inside? Show us the contents." Altherion adds, "I'm more interested in justice than coin. Could she have been kidnapped? Perhaps by a rival or a disgruntled citizen?"

The Jarl furrows his brow. "I have many enemies. Many of my own villagers bear me no goodwill, and in neighboring settlements, my reputation fares no better. But not her—everyone loves her." Fixing his gaze on Tordek, he continues, "The contents will only be revealed upon her return. She holds the key."

Athos, who had remained silent, steps closer and asks, "How long has she been missing? Did anything unusual happen in recent days? Anything strange, perhaps?"

"About five days," the Jarl replies. "But no, nothing out of the ordinary... One more thing: for the duration of your stay, I will cover your expenses for food and lodging at the tavern."

Tordek, Altherion, and Athos exchange a knowing glance. Driven by different motivations, they agree to take on the task. "This will cost you dearly," Tordek declares smugly, adding with an intimidating tone, "And there'd better be something valuable in that chest!"

Unfazed, the Jarl resumes his position from when the adventurers arrived. As they head for the exit, he dismisses them with a broken voice, "She is my only daughter. I've already lost my wife... please, bring her back to me."

The adventurers return to the tavern, now nearly empty due to the late hour. Only a couple of drunken villagers remain seated at the tables. Tordek indulges in one last tankard before bed, and the innkeeper, informed of his new guests, prepares their rooms, albeit reluctantly.

Meanwhile, Altherion approaches Athos. "I wanted to properly introduce myself and ask you a few questions." The half-elf continues, "What brought you to Valdora?" The young druid, his expression sorrowful, replies, "I came here by chance. I woke up to find my village destroyed, its people dead... there's nothing left. Only Pika," he says, stroking the badger. "So I wandered until I ended up here."

Altherion, sympathetic, responds, "I'm sorry, my friend. I understand your pain. I've faced a similar fate. Many years ago, when I was just a boy, my village thrived, with different races living harmoniously together. But one night, Bardak, a powerful cleric, attacked us, repulsed by the idea of such coexistence. I lost everything—family, friends, home. I never found any other survivors... It was this loss that led me to become a paladin."

A moment of silence falls between them, broken only by the drunken villagers muttering insults and threats against the Jarl. For a brief moment, the adventurers take note, but upon listening closer, they realize it's just drunken ramblings, irrelevant to their mission.