Chapter 13: Guild Business

Drake woke the next morning to the sounds of Oakhaven stirring to life. Sunlight streamed through the tavern's grimy windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. He stretched, feeling surprisingly refreshed despite the previous night's activities. He quickly checked his Codex. No new notifications or quests. Good.

He headed downstairs, finding the tavern much quieter than the night before. A few patrons nursed their hangovers at the bar, while the bartender cleaned up the remnants of the previous night's revelry.

"Morning," Drake said, taking a seat at the bar. "Any chance of some breakfast?"

The bartender grunted in acknowledgment and slid a plate of bread, cheese, and some cured meat across the counter. Drake ate quickly, eager to get on with his business.

After finishing his breakfast, he paid the bartender and headed out into the city. He consulted the map he had memorized from the notice board and made his way towards the Oakhaven Merchant's Guild.

The guildhall was a large, imposing building made of stone, with a large wooden door emblazoned with the guild's symbol: a crossed sword and quill. Drake pushed open the door and stepped inside.

The interior was spacious and well-lit, with several clerks sitting at desks, attending to various matters. Merchants and traders bustled about, discussing deals and examining goods. The air was thick with the smell of parchment, ink, and various exotic spices.

Drake approached one of the clerks, a young woman with neatly tied-back hair and a pair of spectacles perched on her nose. "Excuse me," he said. "I'm here about the notice regarding the disturbances in the Whispering Caves."

The clerk looked up, her eyes widening slightly as she took in Drake's appearance. He was still wearing the same clothes he had arrived in, which were now slightly singed and torn from the Pyrowolf encounter.

"Ah, yes," she said, adjusting her spectacles. "You're an… adventurer, I presume?"

"You could say that," Drake replied with a grin. "I'm interested in taking on the job."

The clerk nodded and led him to a nearby office. Inside, a portly man with a neatly trimmed beard sat behind a large desk, surrounded by stacks of paperwork.

"Ah, you must be the adventurer," the man said, rising to greet Drake. "I am Master Elmsworth, head of the Oakhaven Merchant's Guild. Please, have a seat."

Drake sat down in a chair opposite Elmsworth's desk. "So," he said. "Tell me about these disturbances in the Whispering Caves."

Elmsworth sighed. "We've been having trouble with the local goblin tribe, the Grimguts. They've been raiding our caravans, stealing supplies and causing all sorts of trouble. We suspect they've found something in the caves that's emboldened them."

"Something like… a shiny rock, perhaps?" Drake asked, raising an eyebrow.

Elmsworth looked surprised. "You've heard about the Sunstone?"

"Just some rumors," Drake replied casually. "So, what exactly do you need me to do?"

"We need you to investigate the caves, find out what the goblins are up to, and retrieve any stolen goods," Elmsworth said. "If you can recover the Sunstone, the reward will be significantly higher."

"And what's the reward?" Drake asked.

"For investigating the disturbances, we're offering 500 gold coins," Elmsworth said. "If you recover the Sunstone, we'll double it."

"1000 gold coins?" Drake whistled. "Now that's what I call a generous reward. Consider it done."