Quest 001: The Saltrunner's Debt

Contract Summary

Benefactor: Torvak Sandstrider, Caravan Master
Compensation: Fair (150 ceramic pieces + recovered goods percentage)
Stated Danger: Dangerous (skirmishes expected)
Location: Salt Flats east of Tyr, toward the ruins of Kalidnay

Mission Briefing

The Job

Torvak Sandstrider, a respected caravan master operating the Tyr-to-Balic salt routes, seeks the capture and return of a former employee named Kessen Vole. Vole served as a route scout for three years before absconding two weeks ago with a significant portion of the caravan's operating funds and—critically—a set of detailed route maps marking hidden water caches.

Target Profile

• Name: Kessen Vole
• Race: Human male, early 30s
• Description: Lean build, sun-weathered skin, missing left ear (old injury), distinctive scar across throat
• Skills: Expert tracker, desert survival specialist, knows the eastern wastes intimately
• Last Known Location: Spotted heading toward the abandoned settlement of Dustwall, three days east

Objectives

1. Primary: Capture Kessen Vole alive and return him to Tyr
2. Secondary: Recover the stolen route maps
3. Tertiary: Recover any remaining stolen funds

Client Terms

• Vole must be alive and capable of questioning
• Use of lethal force only in self-defense
• Maps are priority over funds if recovery is partial
• Discretion preferred—Torvak does not want competitors knowing his routes were compromised

Known Complications

• The Salt Flats are notoriously treacherous; silt pockets can swallow a man in seconds
• Dustwall is known to harbor outcasts, escaped slaves, and worse
• Vole has a significant head start and knows every hiding spot

Guild Assessment

Recommended Team Size: 3-4 members
Required Skills: Tracking, desert survival, non-lethal combat
Estimated Duration: 5-8 days