Ch. 1 - It Was Supposed To Be A Simple Job

"I'll instruct my guards to send your group straight to me - even if it is the dead of night," Padraig replies with a fine of urgency and worry.
"Seek out an elf by the name of Raethorn as well. He seems to have an inkling of where the cult may be hiding.
He came to my guards after supposedly spotting a large number of kobolds bringing back supplies to an abandoned fort a bit of the way to the east."

As Saer and Sokolov hear this, it suddenly seems possible that their original task, to map out an abandoned fort, may very well be the same place. The hulking minotaur nods towards the half-elf about it.

The party heads out to find the scout that spotted a kobold party heading into the fort. Albus and Sokolov decide to make things quicker and split off to go to the nearest temple.
Raethorn, as he is called, has a small home somewhere in the eastern part of the settlement. It's nothing to really notice if you were simply passing by - the party passed it themselves after asking for directions from the locals. His door is adorned with a dried wreath with a sprig of holly and olive branch looking fresher than others.

Who knocks?

The dwarf is met with the door creaking open as peering eyes look he and his party up and down. The door opens all the way a moment later as an elf steps out. Raethorn looks fairly lithe and nimble, if not a bit cautious.

"Is... There something I can help you with?" he asks, his head cocked a bit.

"I am he," they reply, suddenly a little more understanding.
"If I had to guess, you're hear about what I reported, aren't you?"

He looks back inside, back at the party, at the minotaur, and cocks his head, as if try to do the math as to whether or not Sokolov might break his doorway.
"If you don't mind," he speaks to the minotaur, "would you mind waiting outside? I don't believe my home is large enough to hold you."

Sokolov huffs and nods. Albus volunteers to remain outside to keep him company.

" We'll go over everything soon enough, you two go on in."

After that, the elf motions to the Saer and Torban to enter.

Stepping inside, the two can see that while the home isn't greatly decorated, furs and hides of various animals and creatures line the walls, floor, and furniture. The elf sits down in a large chair. Upon closer inspection, it's likely owlbear. He offers seats of wood and possibly deer pelt.

"Well, to begin, I was out for a bit to the southeast of Winterhaven. Perhaps a day or two out, I make it so much I rarely notice anymore.
I had just bagged a couple of rabbits when I heard a scream. When I crept to see what it was, I saw what looked like the lord's daughter being carried by a host of kobolds. They entered an old fort covered in ivy and moss. It didn't look like they had and sentries posted outside, but that might mean there are traps or plenty inside to not worry about it."

"Of course," Raethorn replies, picking up some parchment and a quill not too far away from his seat.
After jotting down the directions, he walks over and hands it to Torbran.

"I'd advise you lot be careful. You're essentially walking into a proverbial lion's den. And with kobolds walking under broad daylight, that's worrying indeed. Theria just is not a safe place to inhabit, and I feel the gods just toy with us."

He pulls out a bottle of wine and pours a glass to steady himself.
"Care for some? It's not the best, but berry wine is quite tasty no matter what."

"If they can," the elf sighs. "This place is only a budding seed. It started off as a fort and grew into what you see now. The guard force we have now really doesn't have the number you think it does."
He takes a drink, smacking his lips and savoring the flavor.

"A lion's den it is, and one holding the lord's daughter.
If I had to guess, they likely have a dungeon. Try to start there."