"I can give you what you need," the smith begins, "but I must ask a task of you in return."
"There is a great sow, a giant boar, that has plagued these lands for many months. She is far more cunning than a beast ought to be and possesses malice such as I have never seen. My kin have hunted her many times, but she is wise to our ways and lies low whenever we have sought her in the hunt."
"The ruin to our crops would be ill enough, but she has taken to attacking lone travelers, even children. A fortnight past she would have slain my brother's youngest boy as he walked up the path to his father's house from the well. His hounds Coll and Beth laid down their lives to buy him time to escape the beast."
"It is my hope that one man and a dog may succeed where many have failed. Slay the beast and bring me her hide and I shall give my utmost to your task."
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"There is a great sow, a giant boar, that has plagued these lands for many months. She is far more cunning than a beast ought to be and possesses malice such as I have never seen. My kin have hunted her many times, but she is wise to our ways and lies low whenever we have sought her in the hunt."
"The ruin to our crops would be ill enough, but she has taken to attacking lone travelers, even children. A fortnight past she would have slain my brother's youngest boy as he walked up the path to his father's house from the well. His hounds Coll and Beth laid down their lives to buy him time to escape the beast."
"It is my hope that one man and a dog may succeed where many have failed. Slay the beast and bring me her hide and I shall give my utmost to your task."