Scarlatan, 524 AF:
A strange, quiet calm lies over the islands of Mysia and Ulangi. Not a
mortal voice has been heard for days, only the lapping of waves at
shore, the quiet snap of twigs as a deer passes through the underbrush,
the flutter of feathers as a stray parrot takes to wing. Every so often
an adventurer passes over the silent islands, wondering at the ruined
homes and speculating about the attackers who left such emptiness in
their wake.

Only the sharp ears of Requa Vorondil-Windsong hear the muffled sobbing
from the upper story of the Dancing Dryad Tavern in Mysia. Hidden in a
closet is the beautiful but terrified siren Trixy, whose nightmarish
tale brings only more questions to the fore. Tearfully she tells of the
black ships that descended upon Mysia, overpowered the resident pirates
with little effort, and disappeared as quickly as they had arrived.

~ ~ ~

Ero, 524 AF:
The island of Shala-Khulia, too, lies beneath a blanket of eerie
silence. The Khish have disappeared from their rainforest home, no
children play upon the city's streets, and the sacred flame burns
unattended. Only the ferrywoman Natalie remains at the tranquil cove,
describing the ships and men who, like the previous tale, swiftly came
and left with the island's inhabitants.

Concerned about the other coastal villages of Sapience, Kazu Stormwind
warns the community leaders to be on the lookout for the elusive black
ships. Lookouts are placed at New Hope, Ka'doloki, and Shastaan, among
others, but still the questions far outnumber answers.

~ ~ ~

Ero, 525 AF:
Shouts and the clashing of bladed weapons ring out from the eastern
shore of Sapience, and cries for help from the village of Shastaan bring
adventurers to its defence. Marauders, pikemen, and mounted archers
swarm the once-peaceful locale, taking heavy losses before retreating
with the majority of the village's population in tow. A single archer is
captured, wounded and defiant in the face of interrogators, who are able
to extract only the name of her homeland: Kashar.

Seeking to alleviate the archer's suffering, the priest Ovid calls upon
the elements to mend her leg. Sincere though the gesture may be, its
outcome proves fatal. With renewed strength, the archer snatches a dirk
from the hands of bystander Platonus La'Mosea, swiping the blade across
her throat and ending her own life.

~ ~ ~

Chronos, 525 AF:
Thanks to the warnings of Kazu Stormwind, an elderly fisherman standing
on the shores of New Hope is suspicious as he spies war galleys on the
horizon. Braving shark-infested waters in a small rowboat, he paddles to
the Peshwar Delta and runs to the nearby city of Shallam, where he
manages to call for help before collapsing from exhaustion.

Adventurers quickly gather at New Hope, preparing for battle while
villagers take refuge inside the monastery. Four ships take to the seas
in search of the reported threat: the Salec Mariner, the Black Sail, the
Rising Storm, and the Ghost Flame. After weakening the hull with
ballista darts, the Black Sail approaches, close enough to grapple, and
a boarding party forces their way onto the war galley.

Led by the pirate Zulah Blackheart, Shindelik, Dramden, Senel, Seraline,
Drefan, Rinzai, Priyer, Anarwaen, Faur, Milabar, Firefox, Ognog, Jesri,
Andregor, Gibbi, Valur, Inaess, and Lavinia battle the Kashari crew.
Overtaking the ship, the pirates discover a prison hold filled with
captives from the recent raid upon Shastaan. As the damaged ship takes
on more water than it can withstand, however, the pirates seek to save
their own lives, leaving the Shastaan prisoners to drown beneath the
waves of the Lemnian Sea.

~ ~ ~

Ero, 526 AF:
The Black Sail, captained again by Zulah Blackheart, engages a Kashari
war galley off the western coast of Ulangi. The pirates, including
Jiraishin, Iczamahr, Zacharai, Nijias, Kresslack, Drazik, Aktillum, and
Mosr, force their way aboard once more. This time the battle is
well-matched, continuing even as the Kashari vessel sinks below the
waves, drowning crew and attackers alike.

Meanwhile, the dragon Rinzai Da'Navi, exploring what he thinks is the
deserted isle of Ulangi, discovers a fortress upon the beach, its
entrance barred by heavy iron gates. Captain Soopay Winterhawk, sailing
upon the windcutter Mere Nature, discovers an inlet cutting into the the
west coast of the island and leading to the fortress, but is unable to
dock in the harbour. Many strategise and plot just outside the fortress;
they find it to be impenetrable, with heavily armed archers and deathly
traps waiting beyond the outer gates.

~ ~ ~

Phaestian, 526 AF:
Ship races are staged around Sapience, with Captain Maelstrom awarding
prizes in a small ceremony at Port Tasur'ke. Onlookers are wary as an
unnamed war galley docks at the harbour, but the man who disembarks is
far from threatening. Called Haidar, the Lion, he announces that he has
captured the slaving vessel and wishes to present it as a gift to the
day's clear victor, Captain Soopay Winterhawk.

Interrupting the celebration, however, is a dark ship looming on the
horizon. A second war galley glides into the harbour, drops its anchor,
and a Kashari warlord disembarks, followed by a dozen formidable men.
Quickly securing Haidar, the Warlord Kyar names him "traitor" and drags
the captive aboard his ship.

Rumours surround the identity and purpose of this Lion. Friend or foe?
Hero or traitor? The same might be asked of the Kashari...

Penned by My hand on the 22nd of Phaestian, in the year 526 AF.