The Missing Apprentice

***Event Quest:** Part 1 of the Festival of Ilenia 2022*

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## Quest Data

* Normal, from level 3

* Wolf - Level 3
* Lesser Stone Golem - Level 4
1.000 GUILD

## Story

### ***Location: Guildtown***

"I told him it was just a folk tale, but the lad took off towards Croft the same day without a second thought." The craftsman sighs and runs a hand through his hair.

"At least he finished off all his work before he left. The festival is one of our busiest times of year."

Byron, a metalworker renowned for his skill in creating all kinds of jewellery and trinkets, asked The Guild to send an adventurer to investigate the whereabouts of one of his apprentices. You spotted the job on the request board and decided to accept it, The man continues:

"Normally I wouldn't be too worried, but it's been two days now - Frederick should have arrived in Croft, realised he's an idiot chasing a legend, and returned by now."

### ***Location: Guildtown***

As Byron sighs again, you glance around the room again. The workshop is bustling with activity in preparation for the Festival of Ilenia, the goddess of Fire and Love. The staff are hard at work, finishing all sorts of jewellery from the forges, setting gemstones, and you even see a woman with a set of large goggles carefully inscribing words onto the inside of a ring.

Focusing again on the man before you, you assure him you'll do your best to look for his apprentice, and you leave the workshop. Heading past the lodgings, you grab your things and supplies for the trip, and leave the city.

### ***Location: Road to Croft***

You travel north, making your way along the eastern side of the mountain Eaglesrest. The first part of the journey between Guildtown and Croft is relatively uneventful, other than the occasional dark shape of a giant eagle passing by overhead. The road winds through the rocky hills along the base of the mountain, and you're about halfway to Croft when you hear the familiar shrieking noises of a goblin from somewhere ahead. You can't see anything, so you try to sneak closer.

**Make a Speed check! (DC 30)**

Failed check

***Failed Speed check - Location: Road to Croft***

You try to sneak closer to see, but as you crouch behind a large boulder, you realise it wasn't as stable as you thought, and your weight leaning against it is enough to send it tumbling over with a thud. You hear some startled noises and from ahead, a pair of goblins appears!

One of them runs ahead of the other and leaps at you, waving its club around.

Fight a Goblin!

Passed check

***Passed Speed check - Location: Road to Croft***

You stealthily creep closer, treading lightly on the gravelly road, and sticking close to a large boulder. You peer around caustiously and see a pair of goblins sitting in a small clearing that's tucked between a group of rocks. It'd be pretty difficult to see them from the road coming from either direction until you were right on top of them. One of the goblins gets up and grabbing its club walks in the opposite direction.
It looks around the bend of the road ahead, and apparently seeing nothing turns in your direction. You pull yourself back just in time to avoid being spotted and wait. As it rounds the corner you strike it in the head, catching it by surprise!

Fight a Goblin!

### ***Location: Road to Croft***

You easily defeat the goblin, and block a blow from the second, before counterattacking!

Fight a Goblin!

### ***Location: Road to Croft***

Both goblins dealt with, you walk over to their clearing and look around. There's not much of interest other than the remains of a campfire, so you drag the bodies off the path and continue on your way. Beofre long, you begin to see a few of the small farms outside Croft, and eventually you arrive at the mining town, nestled between a few gentle hills.

You decide to stop at the small marketplace near the centre of town and buy some lunch from one of the merchants there. While at their stall, you ask if they've seen anyone matching Fredrick's description - older teenager, sandy blonde hair, medium build, was looking for information about golem treasures - and to your surprise the merchant points you towards the tavern.

### ***Location: Croft***

Entering the building, you are greeted by the barkeeper. You describe Fredrick to him, and the man nods.

"Yeah, a fellow matching that description has been staying here the other night. I think he's been camping near the mines each day. Brave kid. I warned him there's been some wolves roaming around but he didn't seem to listen."

You ask more about the wolves, and he continues. "There's a group of adventurers trying to deal with the beasts but work in the mines has halted until its safe. Larth, one of the miners, got hurt pretty badly by one of the wolves the other day. You probably should go retrieve the kid before he gets hurt out there."

### ***Location: Croft***

Thanking the barkeeper for the information, you travel to the mines which are a short distance from the town. You've been here a few times before on quests, so you know your way around the area. Wolves are fairly common in these parts, but it's surprising to hear they're so close to the town.

Sure enough, you see a large number of wolf tracks on your walk, and as you near the mines hear a faint "HELP!". You break into a run and find three wolves in what looks like an empty campsite at the entrance to the mines. You notice they're circling the base of the tree, and looking up, you see Fredrick balanced on on of the branches, holding toghtly on to the trunk. The wolves notice you as you enter and attack!

Fight a Wolf!

### ***Location: Croft Mines***

The first wolf falls, but one of the others grabs on to your travelling pack, almost causing you to lose your balance.

You smack it on the nose, causing it to let go and you attack back.

Fight a Wolf!

### ***Location: Croft Mines***

The last of the creatures seems to be sizing you up, before it turns and runs away. You hear a sigh of relief as Fredrick drops down from above.

"Thanks for that. I thought I was a goner!" He seems to be uninjured. You explain why you're there, and the apprentice looks embarrassed.

"Did Master Byron really send someone to check on me? Aw man, I'm going to be in so much trouble...I mean, I'm glad you did check on me though." Chuckling nervously, he looks at the two wolf corpses, before glancing towards the opening to the mines.

### ***Location: Croft Mines***

"I'll head back soon, but there's something I really want to check for in some of the abandoned tunnels. I haven't been able to get in though - it looks like after the miners left, some rogue golem moved in and there's one blocking the entrance." As he explains this, you take a moment to drink a health potion. Fredrick looks sheepishly at you.

"I hate to ask, but seeing you're here, do you think you could help get rif of the golem that's blocking the entrance? I promise I'll explain everything afterwards." You sigh, and agree to his request. Byron didn't exactly tell you what Fredrick was looking for, so you're admittedly curious.

### ***Location: Croft Mines***

The young man grabs some of his things and leads you away from the main entrance to the mines to a second tunnel. As you approach, you see a large, round, grey form just inside the mouth of the cave. Fredrick nods at the golem and gives you an encouraging grin, before backing away quickly. Readying yourself, you step closer and the golem emerges from the cave. It roars as it see you, a sound similar to crunching gravel, but much, much louder.

Each step thudding loudly, it moves surprisingly quickly in your direction, readying one of its massive arms to crush you.

Fight a Lesser Stone Golem!

### ***Location: Croft Mines***

With a groan and a final roar, the golem shudders and falls into rubble. Unlike manmade golems, naturally formed golems don't have control stones, so there's no risk of it reforming.

"Yes!" Fredrick cheers and starts to rush towards the entrance, but you grab the back of his shirt, stopping him. Seeing your expectant stare, his enthusiastic expression falls and he sighs. "Alright, let's head back to the campsite, and I'll explain everything."