I usually get me contracts from the work board at The Hunters’ Guild here in Harrow’s End. But this mornin’? There was a scroll, stuffed under a rock at me door. No idea who this Thimius fella is, but by me beard, it’s been too long since I’ve had a real adventure. And if the ship’s already paid for? Aye, that’s enough to set me boots movin’!

Made me way to the port o’ Propylaeon, only to have some guards get all nosey about why I was in town. Odd lot, but they let me through soon enough and pointed me toward one of the taverns—The Eel & Raven. Now, a proper dwarf knows a good tavern’s worth, so I made me way there straightaway.

The barkeep’s a simple sort—an orc by the name o’ Ordif. Doesn’t waste words, but he makes himself clear enough. As I’m sittin’ down to a well-earned ale, in walks an old huntin’ mate o’ mine—Gerhard Cindermark. Been too long since we last tracked somethin’ worth our steel. Aye, this trip might be one to remember!

As more adventurers trickle in, a woman stands up from the corner—Captain Silvia Oardorn, of the ship Caldea. Says she doesn’t know much about our task, only that she’s been paid to ferry us across to the island o’ Nesathew. We set sail in the morn, but first, we’ve gotta pay some dock hand a silver piece for ship access. A small price for adventure, I say.

With time to kill, I head to the town’s blacksmith—runnin’ a proper forge, as it turns out, by an old dwarf. Been hammerin’ steel since before most these young whelps were born, an’ I’ll be damned if I’ve ever seen anyone put a finer edge on me axe. With me steel honed, I make a quick stop at the market to grab a cask o’ ale for the journey ahead—can’t be leavin’ home unprepared, now can I? Then it’s back to The Eel & Raven for a hot meal an’ another drink.

Gerhard, on the other hand, decides to poke his nose into the local temple. Some group o’ Sisters run the place, but I let him do the talkin’ while I keep near the door. Not much worth hearin’—until one line catches me ear: “Avoid the plains, for death does not die there.” Now that sounds like a proper warning, aye? Must be about that damned island we’re headin’ to. We’ll find out soon enough.

Apparently, there’s an old temple on Nesathew with strange runes. The Sisters want ‘em brought back for studyin’. There’s a temple at each point o’ the compass, but they don’t know which one holds the runes. Sounds like a good reason to do some proper explorin’!

The evenin’ passes without much fuss, an’ I get me head down at the tavern. When I wake, the smell o’ bacon an’ sausages fills the air—now that’s a fine way to start the day! I gear up an’ head down for breakfast, but before I can dig in, a goliath bursts through the doors in a hurry, shoutin’ for the captain. Seems we’ve gotta set sail now.

We rush out an’ board the ship, just in time to see the goliath tyin’ a rope ‘round a tiefling an’ chuckin’ him into the water. They fish out the body of a small lad—Jack, the captain’s shipmate. Poor soul. They hand ‘im off to the town guard, an’ without another word, Captain Oardorn orders us to depart immediately.

I can feel it in me bones—this is gonna be one strange journey.