The job was simple: Go to this really really super-duper old castle and rescue a dwarf treasure hunter named Gundren Rockseeker. He's been held hostage by a monstrous tribe of dastardly goblinoids: the Cragmaws. Their leader, some King Grol, has been described as a sickly giant, a humungously mountainous bulbous goblin whose breath alone is enough to kill a dwarven monk. The last party sent on this mission failed miserably, so you're being sent to do the job right, whether it be for coins, for pride, for something exciting to fill your weekend with, or because you just really hate goblins, your quest-giver don't care.
But, after three whole days of slogging through the dense ancient forests and its abundant mud and rain, you've arrived at mid-day. Lightning cracks overhead, KACHOOM! and before you can even start counting how far away the storm might be, the sky answers your question with a resounding GRRRRUMMMMMMBLE. It might suck to be so wet, but the noise of the rain and thunder might come in handy later...
Before you now in a small clearing sits the ancient Cragmaw Castle, about 50 feet or so from the edge of the treeline. A ruined castle from an age loooong past. It's easy to tell that the castle used to be so tall it might've scraped the sky, but here now only a single story stands firm. Most of the walls are still standing, but not much more than that. Long gold and purple banners with red painted letters that spell out CRAGMAW and KING GROL (not pictured above) hang on either side of the main entrance to the castle, waving sporadically due to the rainy wind.