eS Harper, a sylvan from Lage, traveled to Migdar in search of a life a little more exciting. Darius, a human from Migdar, finished his training at the Migdarian Academy. The Army of Gid was recruiting for the continued wars raging in the Southern region of that kingdom. Harper and Darius each decided to go to Gid to find out more about what the Army of Gid offered. As fate would have it, Harper and Darius, who were strangers, decided to join the same caravan bound from Migdar to Gid. The caravan consisted of two guards, a wagon master, and the two adventurers.

The caravan traveled without incident for four days. On the fourth night, they were staying at a small inn. The inn was not crowded. Aside from the caravan there was only the innkeeper, his wife, and his two servants staying at the inn that night. One of the caravan guards held a small velvet box to his chest the entire night. While Harper and Darius were quietly discussing what may be in the box, the innkeeper was talking to his wife about the unusual absence of his two servants. The servants seemed to have disappeared.

A knock on the door startled the innkeeper. It was uncommon for someone to knock, but it was dark out already. The innkeeper opened the door and was greeted with a slash from a short sword. Two goblins rushed in. Harper magically moved the innkeeper to the back wall and safety. Seconds afterward, the two back windows were smashed and a goblin climbed in through each. The two goblins from the door ran toward the hearth and the guard holding the velvet box. Darius drew a pair of wide-bladed daggers and defended the guard and his velvet box. Harper used magic to throw the goblins by the windows back outside, but not before one of them injured the innkeeper. The innkeeper lost consciousness, and his wife cowered behind the check-in counter. The wagon master bolted across the room and joined the cowering woman.

The guard holding the velvet box was struck down. Harper began casting healing spells on his injured allies. The goblins were too powerful for the caravan guards, but Darius was far superior to the goblins. Once Harper revived the guard holding the velvet box, the guard began to flee up the stairs to the second floor of the inn. Harper rallied the guard enough to cower on the staircase.

As Darius finished off the two goblins by the hearth, the two goblins who had been thrown outside returned with buckets. Harper and Darius only had a moment to puzzle over what was in the buckets. The goblins hurled the buckets across the room and into the hearth. The buckets contained water. The fire in the hearth was nearly extinguished. Harper paused only an instant as he searched the room for the means to create a new fire. Harper suspected there were grendels waiting outside, and unless there was a fire burning in the inn, the grendels would not stay outside. Darius quickly engaged the two remaining goblins. Harper used magic to fling a lantern onto a table near the door. The lantern shattered and covered the top of the table in small flames. Harper continued healing his allies. Darius and a caravan guard defeated the goblins as the flames on the table grew into a bonfire. Harper magically threw the table across the room and into the hearth, before the fire spread to the floor or ceiling.

With their enemies vanquished, Harper and Darius wanted to know more about this mysterious velvet box. The guard who held the box refused to divulge any details. Harper magically cast his sight into the box and discovered a magical ring inside. Harper used this knowledge, and a reminder about the events of the evening, to persuade the guard into revealing more information. The Ring of Argoc was a secret gift for the Emperor of Rilfen. The delivery's secrecy was supposed to be aided by traveling in such a small caravan. The caravan guards had not expected to be attacked. Darius asked to try the ring on, but the guard flatly refused. Harper and Darius agreed to continue to travel with the guards.

As the adventurers prepared to sleep, Harper quietly contemplated the mysteries of the ring.

Outline:
Vic travels to Rilport from Tordin and meets Swift Arrow.
Vic and Swift Arrow travel to Migdar from Rilport.
Vic and Swift Arrow stop at the inn where Harper and Darius are.
The four join together and head east toward Gid.
The night is divided into three watches.
On the first watch, an invisible goblin attacks.
The goblin is slain.
On the second watch, an invisible dark sylvan attacks.
The dark sylvan escapes.
On the third watch, an invisible grendel attacks.
The grendel escapes.
The velvet box is nearly stolen, but is recovered by Darius.

Outline:
Blaufalke, a Nortman, sets out from his village on a vision quest.
The adventurers travel back to the inn, but Harper and Darius slip away from the group.
At the inn, Vic and Swift Arrow meet Blaufalke.
An injured man enters the inn, asking for help. Vic, Swift Arrow, and Blaufalke agree to help.
The man's home was burned to the ground by goblins.
The three adventurers escort the man safely to Montaigne.
Swift Arrow participates in an archery contest, and places third. She is awarded a magical bow.
They travel back to what they think is the goblin's lair.
Once inside, they defeat three frogmen.
Going down the left branch of the tunnel, they meet a grendel with a powerful staff. The grendel tells them to leave.
Swift Arrow and Blaufalke run toward the exit. Vic runs down the right branch of the tunnel.
The grendel chases Vic. Vic enters the goblins' great hall. "Oops, wrong door."
Vic faces the grendel. Blaufalke and Swift Arrow return to help Vic.
Blaufalke and Vic steal the grendel's staff.
The party escapes the goblins' lair and returns to the inn.