Apparently, the villain and his henchmen just stole the Widow's Satchel of Enslavement from its rightful owner and are endeavouring to fence it for a gleaming carbuncle of great value.
Any adventurous soul keen on hunting down the villain and his gang will need to set forth for the nearby Howling Temple of Smoldering Death, where a confrontation with its feared guardian, the Summoned Canyon Herald is all but a grim certainty.