In a nutshell...
Start in the Wailing Hound Tavern with the nasty-looking man
Rewards:
150,000 experience and the ruby-eyed skull ring.
Now, for the details...
greet nasty
The nasty-looking man glances up at your approach, and peers at you with his one good eye. After a moment, he spits on the ground, gives you a nasty leer, and whispers:
"Would ye perhaps be lookin' for a bit o' nasty adventure, me hearty? If this be the case, perhaps we can come to some sort o' arrangement, as I fer sure have somethin' that would be profitable to ye."
ask nasty adventure
The nasty-looking man grins a rotten, stink-toothed grin, and whispers:
"I knew that ye would be the sort who'd be in for a bit o' rough-and-tumble.
If ye're interested, I have a bit 'o information to sell, for the pitiful price o' one hundred gold crowns. I assure ye, that 'tis worth it, and ye'll not find a tip-off like this one for any cheaper."
{Game note: Do not ask him about GOLD unless you are certain of embarking upon this quest. You will not be able to participate in either of the Good or Neutral quests if you choose the path of Darkness, so choose wisely.}
ask nasty gold
"Now let us see if ye have the cash, me hearty," he says.
"Excellent," he says, sweeping your gold into a pouch and carefully stowing it away. "Now, to get down to business-- I hear that there is a man named Balthazar, a man of no small power and influence, and that he searches for likely candidates to do some dirty work for 'im. Specifically, he's lookin' to knock someone off, someone who's no small task to kill, and that's why he's having the trouble. I don't know the full details, but I can set you up with 'im, and he'll tell ye the rest. Oh yeah, before I forget, ye can find him in Rhudaur. Ye DO know how to get there, don't ye?"
He snickers quietly, and goes back to nursing his drink.
ask balthazar sent
As you tell him about the nasty man in the Wailing Hound, Balthazar laughs and waves his hand dismissively.
"Ah, THAT pathetic fool," he says, "I do not even remember his name. The only reason he now cowers in Silvermere is that he fears my wrath for his failures in his past dealings with me. As if hiding in that wretched town would protect him from my hand."
He laughs softly, and looks you in the eye once more.
"He did, however, get one thing right," he continues, "I am indeed looking for someone to complete a task for me. Specifically, to return to me the head of Commander Markus of the Western Garrison and any other personal effects he may have on him. He is no real threat to me, but even a tiny buzzing gnat deserves a swat once in a while. You will be rewarded upon completion of this mission, and I will give you no aid in completing it. You are on your own.
Tell me now whether or not you wish to accept my offer, and if you do not, then get out of my sight before I become annoyed."
ask balthazar accept
Balthazar smiles, exposing long, sharp, white fangs.
"Excellent," he says, "your initiative pleases me. Once again, return the head of Commander Markus to me, as well as any items he may have upon his person. He can be found to the northwest, in an Outpost of the Royal Garrison. Aside from this, I can give you no other information. When you have completed this task, return to me, and I shall reward you well. Do NOT return unless you succeed. Go now."
ask balthazar reward
Balthazar growls, "If you have not returned with what I asked, there will be Hell to pay."
Balthazar waves his hand idly, and you are surrounded in a red glow! The severed head of Commander Markus and the locked Darkwood box float out of your possession, and into his hands.
"It is rare to find an adventurer of your reliability and lack of scruples. I am pleased you succeeded in obtaining these for me. However, I have no further use for this... offal," he says, shaking the head, "and you deserve a reward."
With that, he begins to weave an intricate spell, and the severed head rises into the air. It begins to spin rapidly, the flesh and hair drying up and disintegrating as a black wispy smoke surrounds it! After a few moments, a soft screeching sound can be heard, and the now-bare skull begins to darken and shrink until it is no larger that the end of your thumb!
"What you have just witnessed," he says, "was the capture and confinement of the soul of Commander Markus within his very own skull. By my power, his life essense now will fuel your own, and he will remain trapped and in agony for eternity within."
With a snap of his fingers, Balthazar summons a glittering black ring forth from the ether. It floats over to the still-spinning shrunken skull, and they merge to form a ring! With a small wave of his hand, the eyes in the skull begin to burn with an unholy red light. The ring then floats over to you, and you take it gingerly in your hand.
"While you wear this ring, his life force will be tapped, and will aid your wounds in healing. It is but a simple bauble, but greater rewards may be given for greater tasks. Perhaps in the future, I shall have more work for you. But now out business is concluded. I am a busy man, and I have no more time for you."
Balthazar lazily waves you out, picks up a book, and begins to read.
