Find out more about this threat

If this Lord of the Underdark is as bad of a threat as he sounds, you certainly won't be able to do this on your own. At the very least, it would be of benefit to see if anyone else knows about this and if it's a real thing or if this is some incredibly clever ruse. You take the paper you find off the Goblin and tuck into a pocket, and slowly make your way back to town.

The Painted Lady is small and lacking, even for a hamlet as small as this. The few farming families here haven't been able to produce as much, and as such, don't buy as many things. With few travelers through the area, the owner seems to struggle to just keep the doors open, let alone make it a prominent location on anyone's journey. Still, when it's time for people to finish with the labors of the day, it's either here, or go back home, so there's a chance you can get something out of it. Unfortunately, most of the men are out working, so your stuck with just talking to the owner. You put on your best talking face as you enter.

"Excuse me sir, but I was hoping I could ask a small favor from you. Some information, specifically."

"Ahhh, you don't say? Informations a little scarce 'round these parts miss Elf, ma'am, and what there is will cost you"

You resist the eyeroll. You recognize these folks are struggling, and you have the coin to spare. "How much?"

"Two pints of beer. One for you, and one for your new friend. Whatever I know I'll tellya, till our drinks are over."

"Sounds fine" You surrender the coin easily enough, and he produces two full pints. In good spirits, you take a drink immediately. It tastes a little old and bitter, but you'll manage. Everything tastes a little horrid compared to elven fare. Your first gulp down, you take out your paper from the Goblin's corpse.

"I was hoping you could tell me if you've seen or heard about anything like this recently. Came off of a dead goblin."

"Lil' runts are nuttin but trouble, they are, but I can't say I've seen anything like this. 'Fraid I can't read either."

Typical, you think. "It's a veiled threat, from someone calling themselves the Lord of the Underdark. Does that ring a bell?"

"Sure sure, miss Elf. That, I wouldn't put much stock into."

"Why's that?"

"Lord of the Underdark is nothing but a story. The kind you tell wee children when they misbehave. You do something wrong and da mean old Lord o' da Underdark gonna come and snatcha in your sleep and feed you to the monsters."

"Any counts of missing children?" You ask quickly as your new friend is finishing his drink rather fast

"Not recently no. 'ere was a young lad who got all twisted in the head when a travelling Bard came through the town and ran off to join her adventures, but that was a few years back."

"Anyone else you think might know anything more?"

"Imagine almost anyone knows more than me my sweet" the barkeep says with a chuckle. "There's a few of them academic types in the city up the ways. Weeks journey for most. No guarantee that they have what you're looking for, but better chances than here."

You thank the barkeep and make your way outside, with a pleasant surprise. Your wolf companion was waiting outside by the door, laying patiently on all fours. More surprising, there was a second wolf, this one in pure white, contrasted with your companions dark gray. You're surprised nobody tried to scare either of them away, or shoot them.

"Well look at that. You found a friend" You kneel down to say hello, but pull away quickly. The white wolf changes immediately before your eyes, into another elf. Scantily clad, hair wild, a druid that seems to have been away from the civilized world a bit too long.

"Is this how you greet everyone, or just me?" You say with a surprise.

"Your wolf here was worried about you. He asked me for help finding and protecting you. We followed you here. Wasn't difficult. Not many elves carry the scent of goblin with them."

"Oh, that would be this" you show her the parchment "Something about a Lord of the UnderDark. I was looking for information. Do you know anything about it?"

"I can't say that I do, but I have noticed something foul in the woods of late. I don't imagine any of these humans know anything about this either."

"Well, what would you suggest?"

"We consult with others who live in the mountains, or with others who fight the monsters who come out of them..."