An Arrow-Laden Arrival in Phandalin

Many months ago, I left Candlekeep, thanks to an academic pilgrimage from my late master Angmar Anoram. Before this moment I found myself begrudgingly doing many odd jobs in order to make as much distance between me and my former home as possible. I want to make something of myself in spite of my infernal heritage. I will prove wrong all who doubted me and all who saw me as inferior. No matter what it takes.
 
Pressing forth, I found myself in a small wagon on a road to the small town of Phandalin to assist an enterprising dwarf named Gundren Rockseeker. He contracted me in Neverwinter, seeking a mage to help him advance his knowledge of some relics he wished to find. Naturally, this job was made for me so I agreed. Unfortunately I did not realize this job would include being saddled with an idiotic stump of a man named Gobnak who Gundren also employed. Are they brothers? Cousins, perhaps? They are both dwarves so it may be possible. Either way, I detest the names he calls me, like "smelly lizard", but I will pay no mind to his insults as he is just one more person I will prove wrong.
 
We both traveled together whilst transporting a caravan full of provisions and supplies from Neverwinter to Phandalin. As he drove, I stayed in the back with the tools and rations. I'd rather the sound of boxes knocking against each other than brave another one of the dwarf's incessant tales. We were to meet Gundren and his brothers, Tharden and Nundro, in the small hamlet to begin the enterprise.
 
Close to the end of our journey, about a half-day's march from Phandalin, we come across a decimated wagon; the cart torn apart and the horses dead and arrow-laden upon the ground. These are clearly Gundren and his escort, Sildar Hallwinter's horses. No sign of either men, though. As Gobnak investigated the scene, I perched herself upon our own vehicle and watched from afar. The dwarven monk found Gundren's map case laying upon the ground, without it's contents.
 
Before he could return to me a sudden ambush of goblins appeared. We fought them off until they retreated into back hills. Prior to this I had not seen real battle before, but I am proud to say I held my own against the disgusting, little creatures. Unsure of what to do next, Gobnak and I took up what is left of our employer's belongings and retreated back to Phandalin. We needed to know if Gundren and Sildar had made it back safely.
 
We were met in Phandalin by Elmar Barthen, proprietor of Barthen's Provisions and old friend of Gundren Rockseeker. He is an aging, slender, human man with a bald head and calloused hands. He informed us that Gundren never make it to Phandalin, and neither did Sildar Hallwinter. Panic sets in since the goblin attacks seem wide spread in the surrounding area and very few people survive the onslaughts. Barthen begged us to look into the whereabouts of Gundren and Sildar. Gobnak and I, of course, volunteered to find them.
 
Outside, I spied a raven-haired elf leaning against the outside of the shop, eavesdropping on my conversation. He was tall and muscular despite being so slender. Long, midnight hair flowed from his head and was tied behind him. He wore leathers over his bronze skin and a bow lay strapped to his back next to a quiver of arrows. "Be more subtle when you eavesdrop on, elf" I hissed at him. Cooley, the elf replied, "I will do as I wish. Besides, you sound like you need help and I just so happen to be looking for a job". Before I could bite back Barthen interjected, suggested the elf join Opal and Gobnak since he seemed like a skilled tracker. Despite my internal objections, Barthen was right, he did seem able enough to find our missing employers. The elf introduces himself as Vogen and Barthen vows to pay each of us 10 gold each for his friend's safe return.
 
After a night of much needed rest in the local inn, Vogen assisted us in tracking the goblins back to a hideout. We took him back to the scene we came across on the road from Neverwinter. The horses were still there, slowly decaying. Around them now lay several goblin corpses and fresher pools of red blood. Vogen, who seemed to have an extreme hate for goblins in particular, was able to conclude that these goblins were from a nearby cluster called the Cragmaw Tribe. He said that from his previous exploits around Phandalin he was able to deduce that the horde lived of the ease of plundering traffic moving along the Triboar Trail or the path to Phandalin. Their leader is a bugbear named Klarg.
 
Vogen tracked the few goblins who escape our clutches to a cave. Inside we made our way in the dark, slaying goblins behind Vogen until we found Klarg. After besting him in combat he admitted he had orders from the chief of the Cragmaws to waylay the dwarf Gundren Rockseeker and anyone traveling with him. Vogen slayed him where he stood. I am disturbed by his particular lust for green-skin blood. What happened to him that he should become so brutal?
 
Eventually, we found a badly injured Sildar Hallwinter. He was a human male of about 50 years, but despite his age he looked strong and stout. Blood covered his forehead and his body had been bound still with rudimentary shackles. We broke his bonds and asked him what happened. Sildar, still able to stand despite his ordeal, told us that Gundren and his brothers discovered a famous lost mine in Phandalin and seek to restore it to it's former glory. The endeavor was lucrative but dangerous as many people would vie for what he sought. Unfortunately, Sildar knew only that Gundren and his map have been taken to somewhere called "Cragmaw Castle."
 
Knowing there was little else in this secluded camp, we took Sildar back to Phandalin and put him to rest at the Stonehill Inn, run by Toblin Stonehill. As he rested Toblin informed us that the small town of Phandalin has many more problems than we expected.