You are sitting at the bar when the local centurion, a likable fellow, comes up to you. He buys you and him a mead to go, and tells you that he has been ordered to take you to the lord of the shire that the Main Hall is in. As you and the centurion get your horses he briefs you on the situation:
The lord's middle daughter has come down with a rare and possibly deadly fever. The local medics have tried all their potions and cures, but to no avail. There is one known cure: the leaves of a certain tree in the fabled Paradise, whose medicinal properties are legend. The Lord of the Shire needs someone to get the leaves, and since you are now the best adventurer in the Guild, the duty of the quest falls to you.
To get to Paradise, one must venture into the World of Light and Darkness; the entrance is at the edge of the shire. Recon patrols that made it back have given conflicting reports that sound like the ancient writings. Your best bet is to follow the way of light, and your best ally is your basic judgement.
When you reach the castle, you are taken before the Lord of the Shire who mentions what awaits you if you succeed in your quest: his middle daughter's hand in marriage, 3000 hectares of land with a castle, 500,000 sheckels of gold, and be exempt from shire taxes for seven lifetimes.
You are led back to your horse, given some provisions and a map, and sent on your way.
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