Episode 2: The Bronze Age

You have spent a month in the desert helping the goblins manage their camp. In that time, you've become quite fluent in the Goblin language, which only strengthens your relationships with the small creatures. The boisterous halfling and his companions move on less than a week after your arrival, and later a different group of adventurers arrive with orders to take the lone half-elf with them. Thereafter, you are the only non-goblins in this camp.

Communication between yourselves and Rhiann Vequaniel is sparse, and the few times she does contact one of you directly via Sending is to congratulate you on the successful job, make yourselves useful to Caraw-Chuwk, and to be ready for the next assignment whenever it comes. However, evidently she seems to communicate with Caraw-Chuwk more frequently, and he passes along her words whenever they apply to you: keep up the good work, make yourselves useful, be ready.

During a mid-morning cleaning session, Caraw-Chuwk interrupts. "My friends, Rhiann has informed me that something in the distant town of Barad Sari has occurred, and your talents might prove worthwhile in resolving the situation.

"Rumors have come to our attention that a metallic dragonborn has been sighted in the vicinity. We don't have much else to go on, but we think the promise of the existence of such a rare individual warrants investigation. Rhiann would like you to travel to Barad Sari and determine whether or not the rumors are true, and if they are, to find the dragonborn and secure their safety before Caer Tan does.

"Will you undertake this task?"

Trackless Barren and Barad Sari

"I don't think anyone has, not for a very long time," says Caraw-Chuwk. "The metallic dragons and their kin are practically myth and legend for most people.

"Do you have any questions? Is there anything you might need from us before you leave?"

Caraw-Chuwk nods. "You may return here, or travel to Eglar and see Rhiann. I do not know if there is a safehouse in or near Barad Sari, but we will find out all that we can and contact you if we receive any news."

Caraw-Chuwk considers the question. He answers with gravitas, "Rumors are like the wind; they span far and wide, and ours are not the only faces to feel them. If the Pale has heard about the possibility of a dragonborn, I would reason that Caer Tan has, too."

Caraw-Chuwk nods. "The two horses you recovered from the dog-men's lair are yours to take. If you wish to take the wagon, you may. I believe your mule is also ready to go."

You ready for departure, and most of the goblins gather to see you off. When the previous visitors left, it was with little fanfare, but it seems you have made quite an impression on the village. You are given many provisions to last you the journey, and tiny gifts are pressed into your hands or stuffed into your packs.

Setting off into the desert, you plot your journey to the distant town of Barad Sari.

Gyges awkwardly thanks his hosts for their generosity despite not really knowing what they're offering him. "Its much appreciated, and I hope I can repay your kindness," he says doing his best to be diplomatic and polite. As the group preps itself to leave, Gyges can't help but be intrigued by symbols quickly scratched into the dirt by some goblin sages. They appear to be hotly debating, but Gyges, in fear of stepping into something that is not his place, Gyges feels a strong compulsion to understand the discussion. "Its like the Rare Books at the library, but far more ephemeral," he thinks to himself as creeps closer. "Even if its nothing, how they understand this could mean so much for understanding everything about his settlement." He looks over their shoulders to get a better look at the sigils inspiring the discussion...

At first, Gyges can make no sense of the symbols. However, listening to the goblins talk, he begins to understand that what he sees is not magical in nature, but philosophical. It seems that a few of the elder goblins are transcribing thoughts and observations into symbols with the intent to share with the younger and reinforce the teachings of Caraw-Chuwk. Much of the argument seems to center around a conflict between documenting the teachings for posterity, and the flexibility of transitive thought and adaptation. One side posits that Caraw-Chuwk would stress the need for oral teachings adapted to the contexts the goblins find themselves in, while the other reasons that goblins tend to be visual creatures and the symbols would help solidify the ideas in their minds for their own guidance.

Neither side is gaining ground, so Gyges focuses on the symbols themselves and the snippets from the sages' words. He gathers that Caraw-Chuwk spreads a strange philosophy of personal insight and the blending of the subjective with the objective. There is the recognition of differences and independence, yet an acknowledgement of a universal commonality that intimates a merging of everything into one. It is as if each thing has its own intrinsic value, yet in relation to everything else they must return to a sameness.

As complicated as it sounds, it seems to result in a goblin commune dedicated to peaceful co-existence with the world.