Drake finished his ale and the hearty meal, feeling much more like himself. The brawl had been a decent warm-up, and the purloined coin purse was a nice bonus. Now, with a full stomach and a slightly lighter conscience (or lack thereof), he turned his attention back to the Sunstone and the Grimgut goblins.
He approached the bartender again, who was now polishing mugs with a practiced hand. "Excuse me," Drake said, leaning against the bar. "You mentioned that guy who came in talking about the Sunstone. Anything else you remember?"
The bartender scratched his beard, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Hmm… let me see. He said the goblins were guarding it like it was their own little sun. Said it was their most prized possession. And… something about a ritual. Some kind of ceremony they were planning."
"A ritual?" Drake raised an eyebrow. "Any idea what kind?"
The bartender shrugged. "No clue. Just said it was important to them. Something about… strengthening their tribe, maybe? Or maybe it was about summoning a giant badger. You know how those goblin stories go."
"Giant badgers? Now that's a story I'd like to hear," Drake muttered. "But seriously, did this guy mention anything about what the Sunstone actually *does*?"
"Well," the bartender said, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "He said it could… heal. Mend wounds, cure diseases. But he also said it had a darker side. That it could be used for… well, let's just say not-so-nice things."
"Not-so-nice things," Drake repeated, a grin spreading across his face. "Excellent." He thanked the bartender and headed towards the back of the tavern, where a notice board was plastered with various announcements and requests. He scanned the board, his eyes widening at some of the more… archaic notices.
"Lost sheep? Reward: One silver piece and a hearty stew?" Drake muttered, shaking his head in amusement. "Guess they haven't discovered reward posters with full-color photos yet."
He found the poster he was looking for:
*WANTED: Skilled adventurers to investigate disturbances in the Whispering Caves. Goblins suspected. Generous reward offered by the Oakhaven Merchant's Guild.*
Below the poster was a crudely drawn map, marking the location of the Whispering Caves. "Well, that's convenient," Drake said. He memorized the location and decided to visit the Merchant's Guild in the morning.
He left the Crooked Tankard and ventured into the streets of Oakhaven. He was immediately struck by the sheer… medieval-ness of everything. Cobblestone streets, wooden carts pulled by horses, people dressed in tunics and breeches. It was like stepping into a history textbook.
"No cars, no smartphones, no Wi-Fi," Drake muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "How did people even survive?"
He passed a blacksmith hammering away at a piece of metal, sparks flying. "Hey, buddy," Drake called out. "You wouldn't happen to have any laser swords, would you? Or maybe a plasma rifle? This whole hammer-and-anvil thing seems a bit… outdated."
The blacksmith glared at him, grunting something unintelligible before returning to his work.
Drake chuckled and continued his stroll, passing a group of women washing clothes in the river. "You know," he said to one of them, "they have these things called washing machines now. They do all the work for you. It's like magic, but with electricity."
The woman gave him a bewildered look and hurried away.
He stopped at a stall selling potions and elixirs. The vendor, a wizened old woman with a pointy hat, eyed him suspiciously. "Interested in a potion, young man?" she asked in a raspy voice. "Perhaps something to cure your… odd behavior?"
"Nah," Drake replied. "I'm good. But do you have anything that can turn lead into gold? Or maybe a time machine? I'd love to go back and tell my past self not to tell that joke."
The old woman shook her head and turned away, muttering something about impertinent youths.
As the sun began to set, Drake decided to head back to the Crooked Tankard. He had gathered some useful information, annoyed a few locals, and thoroughly enjoyed the sheer absurdity of his new surroundings. He needed a place to sleep, and the tavern seemed as good a place as any. He also planned to visit the Merchant's Guild in the morning.