The Merchant is an NPC that spawns in the tavern of your stating city. He remains for a few days, offering a quest to save a relation of his from whatever minor faction is nearby. The quest can be declined, but it does provide an opportunity to get familiar with Pendor and provides some denars and experience.
The merchant will have different names depending on your starting city. For example, if you started at Ravenstern, he will be called "Merchant of Ravenstern."
The quest may be difficult if attempted with just the bare minimum amount of fresh recruits, due to you having to take down a leader in the kidnapper party, and up to 3 at the base.
The Arc
- Gather 5 Troops
- The Merchant will tell you his plight, and request you gather at least 5 troops to assist you in the rescue attempt
- Return to the starting city's tavern and confirm you're ready
- Hunt the bandits
- A party of 4 bandits (including one higher-level leader) appropriate to the region with spawn outside of the city.
- Upon defeating them, the leader begs for his life in exchange for the location of their hideout
- Rescue the Merchant's relative
- The hideout will spawn somewhere relatively close to the city; you will have to defeat all the bandits. Even at the lowest levels, one or more of the enemies that spawn within will be higher level (examples include Heretic Invoker, Rogue Blackheart Knight, Mystmountain Shaman, and Singalian Temptress). Regrettably, like other hideouts,the higher level you become to take it on, the more enemies the hideout will contain.
- Upon killing all the bandits, the Merchant's relative will run up to you to be taken home
- You will also loot the ill-gotten gains within the hideout
- Taking the relative home will complete the quest