Episode 1: The Salvaged Job

There is a harsh shriek from somewhere in the distance, followed by silence.

Then, from elsewhere comes a series of yipes and hooting barks. Silence again. The cackling cries resume, but now begin to fade into the night.

No more arrows fly into your camp.

Thanks to his darkvision, Maenor finds the body of a gnoll 90 feet from the camp. A longbow is broken into two pieces by its side, and viciously-barbed arrows lie scattered around. The gnoll is clad in leather armor with a large cowl, and a horn crafted from bone is at its belt.

As Maenor briefly inspects the body, the white-haired goblin walks into his field of vision from the distance, looking none the worse for wear. "You are hurt," it says, observing Maenor. "Is everyone else all right?"

The white-haired goblin says, "I am fine." It spares a glance at the gnoll's body and seems to sigh. "It worries me that these raiders are so close to the village. But for tonight, I think they will not bother us anymore. Not after your display of strength against them. Let us see to your companions."

The goblin begins to walk back to the campsite.

For those still near the fire, the smell of the corpses is just as bad as when they were alive. The large monster, in particular, is practically swimming in stench.

Maenor finds no other bodies outside of the camp.

You settle the horses and ensure that nothing else is amiss. The gnoll carried a spear and shield, and while the gnoll archer's quiver is nearly full of barbed arrows, the longbow is unfortunately broken. Both gnolls held a total of 39 silver and 9 gold coins. A quick glance of the leucrotta shows that it had no pockets or pouches affixed to its body.

Relocating to a suitable spot away from the smell, you spend the rest of the night in peace.

The next day, rising a touch later than normal to account for your rest, you set off for the white-haired goblin's village. The sun is blisteringly hot today, distorting your vision as heat waves swirl from the baked earth. Thankfully your waterskins are full... though you don't recall ever stopping for resupply, and Maenor has not cast his Create Water spell since your journey into the desert.

Your guide navigates the terrain, finding a path for the wagon through the jagged rocks, deep-cut valleys, and rising hills of sedimentary rock pushed up into the sky. You travel down a dry riverbed to a fork, when the white-haired goblin takes the path that switches back upstream. Walking for another 30 minutes, you come to a bend and goblin points his staff ahead.

A large mesa looms above you, though it looks no different from the hundreds you've seen before. "Welcome to our home," says the goblin. "Come. Someone must have already seen our approach."

Its words ring true as you progress closer. A small figure climbs onto a rock, not a goblin, but a male halfling. He is dressed in billowy robes the color of clay, and a similarly-hued turban tops his head with cloth hanging down the back and sides. He uses a shortbow as a staff, and a thin stalk of dry desert grass is chewed between his teeth. "Mornin' gents," he says, mouth breaking into a smile. "You seem a bit lost."

The halfling cranes his neck to look you over. "Well, fancy that. The ol' geezer hisself, eh?" He looks up at the valley walls and gives a wave. "S'all right!"

Looking up, you see several figures in hidden alcoves above you, loosening their bows and removing bolts. All are concealed in rock-colored tarps patterned to blend into the cliff face. "Sorry 'bout that," says the halfling. "It's our turn on watch. Didn't want to disappoint the boss." With that, he hops off the rock and approaches your group.

The white-haired goblin says to you, "We get visitors, from time to time."

"Well, yes and no," says the white-haired goblin. As the halfling approaches, it says, "This is Matouk. He and his companions are friends, though we have not seen each other for many moons."

Matouk bows, touching a hand to his chest at the introduction. "Seems rare to find merchants with a full wagon all the way out here in the desert," he says, glancing between your party and the laden wagon. "Looking to do a bit of trade in a new market, I guess?" The halfling chuckles at his own joke.

The white-haired goblin nods. "Yes. We have arrived. Welcome."

The halfling says, "If you were expectin' more of the little gobbos, they're probably preppin' for lunch." He sticks a thumb back toward the large mesa. "Now, since you're with the boss and don' need no guide, I'll just be goin' back t' me hidey-hole." Matouk bows again and heads into the brush.

"I'm not really anyone's boss," the white-haired goblin mutters, and walks ahead to lead you further up the path.