Men Stomp Where Elves Fear to Tred

Two sell-swords, Bronn and Assaad find themselves in a public house in Rath and unemployed. Their waitress brings their latest round of drinks along with a notice from a person unknown.

Men-at-Arms Wanted

for a task most dangerous.

Rewards commensurate.

Inquire of Mr. Hobbes, 

at Penn Oyal's Inn

The two men finish their drinks and head to the Inn only to find a half dozen men waiting. Penn, the innkeeper, will not allow any of those standing wait to do so in his lobby, so the prospects are milling around outside. As the two wait, one by one the adventuring types emerge from the inn mumbling things like, "Too Dangerous," and "Too Cheap." The two are not put off, though, and finally enter as the last prospects available.

Their employer is a man calling himself Mr. Hobbes. He is an elf and a wizard who would like to hire a party to enter a part of the forest and deliver a letter to a mysterious woman, then bring him the reply. He would also like to know the whereabouts of two half elves he sent previously. The two sell-swords agree but manage to quadruple the asking price -- all which will be payable upon their return.

The wizard remarks that he will be in town for two weeks. He has marked the trail into the Mistwood, but it will only be visible by night. He mentions that the two men should avoid eye contact with the mysterious woman and that they should beware of trolls.

Thus armed with information, Bronn and Assaad travel to the forest and find the trailhead glowing by night. No sooner do they enter the forest, then they are set upon by a charging Troll. In minutes, both men lay dead. The trolls will eat well tonight.