The Colls have a storied history, one that goes as far back to when Starlight Cove was first settled. It is a tale of greed, mistakes, and atonement.

A family of fishermen and women, the Colls flocked to Starlight Cove for the abundant fish living in the nearby waters. As they had no real competition to rival them, the Colls had become reasonably wealthy from their daily catch. However, with great wealth always comes consequence and, while the Colls made off with plenty a coin, they were in turn destroying the very ecosystem they profited so freely from.

Recognizing the devastation they caused, a new generation of Coll formed from the ashes—the very ones Emma descends from. Trading their poles for education, the Colls became the stewards of Starlight Cove. United in their cause, the Colls established an aquarium on the island, with the goal to bring life back to the surrounding waters.

It is a goal that Emma still believes in now that the torch has been passed to her upon the recent passing of her father. Yet with declining visitorship, failing infrastructure and pressure from mainland competitors, Emma has begun to wonder if she is fighting a losing battle. It'd devastate Emma to give up on the place she loves, but in her heart she knows it is only a matter of time before her hand is forced to close the doors for good.

There are stories passed down in the Santorini family about their ancestor Gran-Lupo, and the magical prowess that he apparently had. Enough to grow crops in a day and a tree in a week; to divert streams, create ponds, and pile up hills. And, they say, that's how the Santorini family home came to be. Smallish, humble, made of dark gray stone, it sits atop a lakeside hill just outside of town, where Miriam lives along with her grandmother, parents, and two siblings.

Miriam doesn't quite believe in the stories of Gran-Lupo Santorini. Not really. But she still thinks that there's something like magic here.

So though the Santorini family has clearly seen better days, despite their money drying up and what prestige they had falling largely by the wayside, Miriam quite likes it here. She was always a quiet sort growing up; and even now, though she's perfectly happy socializing, she's still rather introverted, and the thought of moving to the big city that excites others her age makes her break out in hives. She's more than happy to stay here with her books and papers, devouring whole libraries and using the money that she makes by selling stories to ship yet more out to Starlight Cove. When not otherwise occupied with her books, peers, or household, she's often out in nature, rambling across the island and enjoying the island's 'magic.'

As long as she doesn't break her glasses. She's helpless without them.

Starlight Cove’s Adventurers Guild is… not in a good state. Anders is more than aware of that fact, but the red-haired young man cares little for things like sense and logic.

Or at least, not on the surface.

Anderson Louris was born on the mainland and grew up longing to be like the legendary heroes of old, the ones cemented as half fairytales and half historical figures, the type of people who looked at the world they lived in and thought “no, this isn’t good enough”. The modern day world’s adventurers guild is not what it once was, even in the expansive depths of the mainland continent, relegated to down-on-their-luck gofers with delusions of grandeur. But exploring the lost caves in the more rural parts of the world at least has a sense of adventure.

It has been years since he started his training in the essentials of an adventurer. He’s even dabbled in mining and foraging! He’s still looking for that breakthrough and he hopes Starlight Cove could be just that. If he’s wrong, well, there’s always the next job.