Many years later, stranded on a forsaken island plagued by sleet and snow, a cadre of adventurers would remember the story of an imprisoned prince and realise its true meaning.

It began, innocently enough, with the Goddess Pandora officiating the first Pandoran Trials, an inter-city competition nominally created to determine superiority in a series of games. Two months of competition led to Hashan's triumphant victory, largely thanks to Krizal Nyxillum's savant-like riddle abilities, Farrah Roualt's military leadership, and Lenn Le'Yuet's impressive mastery of her Scrappers.

Celebrations of triumph were not given a chance to run their course before many adventurers received a curious kaleidoscopic letter. Within were words of congratulations and invitation: those who had performed admirably in Her games were initiated into an invite-only adventuring society.

For their first meeting, the Adventurous Adventuring Society (name temporary) heard a story from Pandora Herself. It was a story about a prince from another world, captured and imprisoned by his youngest sibling long ago. Their mission, then, was to free this incarcerated prince, and they would do so by constructing a magical harp to lull his guardian to sleep.

Their second meeting led them to Nur, where they were to gather the magical song wood of the choreal palms. Mezghar Al'Jafri was the one that suggested the palms upon hearing for the need of musical materials, and Jarrod Dracrotalus was joined by Dalran in a violent attempt at chopping down one of the mystical trees. This angered the servitors and Exarchs alike, and the adventurers were soon violently expelled.

Undeterred, they returned. Inspired by Truax Valeth's earlier success at singing to the tree, they decided to ask nicely, instead, in both speech and song. Eventually, it gifted them with a bundle of its own wood by choice.

Next came the harp's strings. For this, they hunted the king of the prairie on the distant Tash'la homeworld. A gruelling task, but through the leadership of Atalkez and the strategies of Farrah Roualt and Mezghar Al'Jafri, it was completed in under a day.

Their next task was bloodless, but much more convoluted. A magical gem was required to house the enchantment that would keep the magical harp playing eternally. With 'Loramere' as their only clue, they set off to meet an eccentric merchant that promised to hold just what they needed. Namino Silverwing, the Society's mortal leader, expressed much skepticism, but the ragtag band of adventurers did largely as they pleased. The merchant demanded a black diamond in return for the gem, a precious stone so rare that even the mhun of Moghedu called it a legend.

Ozmatiah Black was the first to find a credible lead. Crazed Jade in Inbhir Ness promised to give up her black treasure in exchange for a beard comb (but only if it were bejewelled). Aleth Thornrage convinced Constantine in Tasur'ke to part with one in exchange for callipers, which the group found with Ulthor of Creville. The coroner wished for the freshest, purest air in exchange, and so Taryius Lichlord stole some from the Elemental Plane of Air itself, branding himself an enemy to the Coterie of Clouds.

Before long, the adventurers with patience and sanity remaining returned to the merchant with a black diamond, rewarded for their efforts with a puzzle box. Jarrod Dracrotalus proved his wit by quickly deciphering its mechanisms, and the group soon stared upon the Bloodstone of Velithar.

The next month, they convinced Shaylee, Lady of the Waves in Annwyn, to enchant said Bloodstone. To earn her favour, Stheno Aristata led a lullaby's performance with siren's song, assisted by the illusory magics of Messa Ikarian and the trilling nightingale's voice of Myna Vorondil.

Finally, they were ready.

Penned by My hand on the 12th of Glacian, in the year 816 AF.