No more is seen from the hawk, but you assume it is flying along the ravine somewhere.
Manzanita, feeling this is a bad omen, decides to start resting now to get her spells back as soon as possible. She heads down to the inn where she’s less likely to be interrupted.
Darkness falls over the land. Torches are lit around the perimeter of the caravan stop, allowing you to watch for intruders from a distance. The rest of your watch passes uneventfully, and at midnight Darien and the other guards come up to relieve you.
You head sixty feet down the stairs to the Riverfolk Brewery and Inn. The bar is empty except for Stalthas and a few of his employees, mostly dwarves. Dunathar notices that many of the dwarves, including Stalthas, look related. Stalthas gestures and some dwarves come out with some snacks and drinks. Stalthas sits down with you.
“Ey lads! I had a long talk with Darien over dinner. He told me about your run-in with the Red Claw Clan.” Stalthas pulls out a hobgoblin war banner, depicting a bloody red claw against a black field. It’s the same war banner carried by the hobgoblin patrol seen by the first members of the rear guard to join the caravan. You remember Darien’s concerns about how large and powerful the Red Claw Clan had become. And you remember the visit by Valindon, the Vizelan elf war leader, mounted on his giant eagle. The Vizelan elves suspected that the Red Claw Clan was larger and more powerful than even Darien thought, and that they may be allied with, or control, other bands of evil humanoids.
“A hobgoblin raiding party attacked Muck about a couple weeks ago, carrying this banner. Darien said you encountered your hobgoblins several days back. Looks like these hobgoblins cover a pretty large territory. Anyway they traveled on the Krin River, so we weren’t able to track them. But I have a feeling they have a hideout not to far from here. Darien says you lads are heading to Carodan. That's not so far from here. Stop by when you can, eh? Maybe you could help clear out the hobgoblins for us. We're still searching for their base, but I think we'll find 'em sooner or later.”
“These cliffs have quite a few underground tunnels in ‘em, both natural and manmade. The Jangis Empire built a vast network of tunnels along with their roads. Most of them, like the roads, have been abandoned. And among the few who know about the tunnels, most sane folk keep clear. They fear they are connected to deeper and deeper layers, and the vile creatures that lie beneath. Luckily the tunnel networks are sealed off very well. But the parts of the network I've seen are amazing! They actually had an aqueduct running through here! It runs right through the Rillathane Bridge! That’s why me father brought our family here. He was always fascinated by Jangis engineering. Legend has it that the Rillathane bridge, and the walls of Radigan, were made by the ancestors of the Keldric Hall dwarves.”
“When my father arrived a few centuries back the caravan stop was in bad repair. The well wasn’t working. He started tunneling to see what was underneath it. That's when he discovered the tunnels. He got the well working again and built the Riverfolk Brewery here. Farmers bring us their wheat and hops by both boat and wagon. We grind it at the mill, and process it underground. So, what do you think? Tasty, isn't it?
It really is. Looking at the prices on the wall, you see Stalthas' wares are on the inexpensive side, but they taste like higher grade stuff, smooth and rich in flavor and texture.
