In the beginning there was nothing. There was darkness and the gods. They existed in nothing, and nothing existed in them. These gods, who existed before the worlds were the Elder Gods; Kidmos, Asdur, Ecasis, Aesis, and Yrus. But they soon grew bored of the emptyness, so they brought their powers together to form the other gods, who then in turn helped them form the worlds. They created the mainland, and all its inhabitants. They dusted the deserts into existence, pulled the mountains up into creation, and froze the land to create the tundra. But the designing of the world and its inhabitants drained the gods, and without a physical form, there was no way for them to regain their strength. They could only watch, performing small miracles to let their creations know of their presence. They watched the races grow, building civilizations and growing in knowledge. Many of the gods tried to bring themselves into the physically world using their followers, but all attempts failed. However, these attempts left a residing energy. This energy became known as mana, and it introduced the arcane into the world. Thus ended the age of steel, and began the age of magic.

Few were gifted with these powers, and all were revered by their peers. As the number of gifted increased, new discoveries were made. It was these discoveries that lead to the formation of Eysein, the city of magical discovery. New cures, farming techniques, and weapons were all found within the city of Eysein. This age seemed to be thriving, and it seemed as if it would stay that way forever. But the age of magic was cut short when Eysein went silent. Thus the age of magic ended, and the age of adventure began. It has been 100 years since the silence that tore through Tocor and civilizations are thriving as always. The world is a slightly darker place than it was before, but people have adapted. People like the ones sitting in the Third Lute Tavern, and this is where their adventure began.

---

A Satyr leaned against the wall of the dimly lit tavern, quietly playing a soft tune on his pipes. It was nice to have a chance to stop walking, his legs burning as if begging him to stop for the night. Sparrow simply gave smiles to those who looked his way, knowing that he was most likely a strange sight. He did mind the stares he sometimes got. He would rather be stared at rather than be forgotten. He smirked as he heard the small woman at the bar finishing a joke to the barkeep, who let out a hearty laugh. She was a small creature, human by the looks of it. She also appeared to be somewhat wealthy. Sparrow liked the idea that no matter who you were, no matter where you came from, a roadside tavern could offer you shelter and bring people together. He laughed quietly to himself before returning to his song.

Narral kicked open the door to tavern in her polite way of declaring her presence. While few of those within did turn around in curiosity most simply sat minding their own business but the barkeep simply rolled his eyes with a smile peeking out under his beard. Narral liked this Tavern and always made sure to stop by often on her travels as it was friendly, cleaner than most places, warm and the barkeep was always full of useful tips and advice. She just wished his latest piece of advice from this morning hadn’t been right. Closing the door against the raging rain and wind outside Narral made her way towards the bar around the outside of the cluster of tables and chair leaving large puddles behind her.

“Pardon me Nipples.” She pushed past the Satyr leaving moist hand print on his chest.

“I told you you wouldn’t make it.” The barkeep said as Narral drew near. “I said the storm would be here before you were halfway to the next town.”
“Shut up Ted.” She plonked herself onto one of the chairs before taking a handful of her hair and wringing it over the bar. She smiled triumphantly up at Ted.

Adelaide decided to visit a small road-side tavern. Not only could she sell her catch to the tavern, but to the customers as well. As long as she had the barkeep's approval. She entered the tavern, barely escaping the rain. Maximus always hated the rain. Adelaide sat down on a bar stool and looked at the barkeep.

"Hello, sir. Care to buy some meat? Fresh from this morning!" Adelaide said. He looked slightly interested. "How much?" He asked, eying her. "Cheapest in the mainland!" She replied. "So how many pounds?" The barkeep chuckled. "You have to let me see it first. For all I know, it's already spoiled."
Adelaide grabbed her backpack and grabbed fresh duck meat. The barkeep looked satisfied. "Deal," He said, handing her a few coins. She exchanged the meat from her backpack and put the coins in a small pouch on her belt. A fat bearded man approached Adelaide.

"Is that meat ya got there?" He asked. "Why, yes. Yes it is. And it can be yours if you like." Adelaide looked at the barkeep, and he shrugged, as if saying 'Why not?'. The man pulled out some coins, and Adelaide gave him some meat in return. After the man left, a Halfling came by and sat down beside her. "I told you you wouldn't make it," The barkeep told her. "I said the storm would be here before you were halfway to the next town."

"Shut up, Ted." The Halfling told him. She then began wringing her hair out over the bar. The storm must've hit already. Adelaide handed Maximus a few steaks wrapped up in paper, and he flew off to find customers. He did that all the time for Adelaide, bringing customers meat and bringing the coins back to her. They had a good business going.

Adele turned to the girl beside her."Hello," She told the girl, extending her hand. "My name is Adelaide. You wouldn't want to buy some meat by any chance?" Adelaide knew she probably wouldn't, but it was worth a shot.

Inside a building within a large city, a muffled scream emitted and a fire was started inside. A man covered by a cloak exited the building and stepped onto the balcony, climbing down and jumping to the ground when he was low enough. Donning his hood, Markus fled the area, using the rain to his advantage. He ran down a specific street and looked for his help. His contact had indeed held up their end. Markus strode up to the horse that seemed randomly tied to an inn, but he knew it was intended for him. Hearing the shouts behind him, Markus quickly untied the horse and jumped onto it, kicking it to have it start galloping.

After almost a full day of travelling, Markus dismounted his horse and led it to the stable where he swiftly tied it to a post. When he was finished, Markus entered the tavern and pulled off his hood. It was obvious he had been in the rain for a while as his clothes were completely soaked but Markus didn't see anyone that could be a threat to him. Satisfied, he sat down at a table near the fire and put his feet up on the top. Markus set his head down, closing his eyes and acted like he fell asleep when in reality he listened in on the conversations nearby just in case.

While Narral's kick to the door had merely been a jolly way to announce her presence, Seathan's was just how he handled doors when in a good mood. It was exactly like how he handled doors when in a bad mood as well, except that he didn't actually mean to break anything, things were just too frail to handle him. The poor door practically exploded from its hinges as a massive foot clad in bone-like plate blasted it open, creating a massive dent on one of its sides. All things considered it had fared quite well. Everyone, save perhaps for a few select people, turned to look at the owner of the foot, an equally massive man completely clad in bone-like plate and carrying an intimidating bludgeon, as he entered the inn bellowing with laughter. He was soaking wet, dripping all over the floor, but the smudges of blood on his club and armor had not been completely washed away by the storm. He carried a decently sized bag tied to his waist, and if that hadn't made his good fortune obvious, then his announcement did. "BARKEEP!" he practically howled, his voice booming in the now shocked quiet tavern, "THE NEXT ROUNDS ARE ON ME!". As if remembering something, he gave a quick glance to the demolished door. "A NEW DOOR AS WELL!" he finished, ripping the bag of gold from his waist and shaking it wildly in the air to allow the enticing sound of clinking metal to fill the room.

“Maybe some other time.” Narral replied, firmly gripping Adelaide’s hand and shaking it roughly. “Name’s Narral and I currently don’t have any copper to my name, I’d offer you a song but ol' nipples over there.” She released Adelaide’s hand to jab a thumb to the Satyr behind them. “is playing at the moment.”

It was an unspoken law between bards not to interrupt another during a performance and any bard who dared to break that law wasn’t even worth the dirt the stood on. She was about to continue talking to the elf when something large and heavy landed on her head. She froze, feeling talons dig slowly into her scalp. It was a bird, definitely a bird of some kind. What the hell was a bird doing in here? Who the hell had brought a bird in here!? Animals and birds hated her and she hated them in return. Apart from ravens because they’re cool.

“Get it off.” She murmured quietly. It was best not to disturb the vicious animal. Any loud noise could set it off.

Suddenly the door exploded allowing a shouty man to bumble in with money and the promise of free drinks, as well as a new door but Narral didn’t care about that. She would’ve cheered along with the others had whatever bird resting upon her skill not have dug its sharp talons deeper in.

“Get this damn bird off me.” She pleaded to Adelaide. “Kill it if you must just get the damn thing off!”

Sparrow roles his eyes, stopping for a moment to wipe the water off his chest. He ignored the nickname and continued to quietly play the tune he had learned in his hometown. He wasn't a very good player, but the sounds weren't awful. Suddenly the door literally burst open and a man in what appeared to be rock-armor entered the small tavern. Apparently he was buying drinks for everyone, which Sparrow was more than happy to do. After a few moments more of playing he approached a nearby table and sat down, glancing around the tavern.

---

Eli got up from the bar, making room for the newcomers, some still dripping with rain. She went to sit near the sleeping man, as she assumed his unconscious body wouldn't mind her company. She sat down, glancing at the Satyr who was being mocked. His horns had a certain appeal to them, but she wouldn't want those on her head. She couldn't tell if the woman was making those comments in jest or if she was purposely trying to offend people. Eli glanced towards the door as a scrawny man in brown robes entered, but she paid him no mind. He sat down at the table with Satyr, and began a quiet but friendly conversation with the Fey creature.

Markus heard someone get up and sit next to him but didn't seem like the person was doing anything to threaten him, but with just his hearing he wasn't sure. Markus opened up his eyes slightly and glanced over at the girl while she was staring at the other people in the bar. The girl didn't seem to pose a threat, and she may actually help conceal him should there be any followers from before. Laying back to his original spot Markus closed his eyes again but continued to listen to all the conversations.

Adelaide laughed at Narral's nickname for the Satyr. "Aye." She replied. She always loved good music; almost enough to become a bard herself. She had never learned any instruments besides one, so that wouldn't be a possibility.

Maximus came back from his meat sales trip, landing on Narral's head, a bag of coins in his head. "Get it off," She said quietly. "Get this damn bird off me. Kill it if you must, just get the damn thing off!" Apparently, Narral wasn't fond of birds. Adelaide laughed. "That's just Maximus. Come 'ere, boy." Adelaide held out her elbow, and Maximus departed from Narral and landed where his master wanted him. "Don't worry. He wouldn't hurt a fly unless he needed to." Adelaide reassured her.

Just then, a laughing, soaking wet man kicked the door open, offering free drinks for everyone. Maximus, a bit startled, flapped his wings to regain balance. "Easy, Max." Adelaide stroked the bird in an attempt to calm him down. He settled back onto her arm, eyeing the man.

Seathan chucked the bag of coins to the barman amidst cheers from the majority of the tavern's crowd, pleased at the prospect of free drinks. The man caught the bag but resisted the urge to eye its contents, giving Seathan a harsh, cold once-over. The man was ballsy, Seathan had to admit, few would've given someone like him a look like that, at least to his face. "Now, mister, I sure hope you didn't come across this gold by dishonest means now did you? The folk might be glad they're getting free drinks but I don't serve bandits or anything of the sort. Not happy about the door either". Seathan laughed again as he rubbed the bloodstains off his soaking wet armor. The man was ballsy and honest, he liked him. Looking around the contents of his few pouches, he produced a somewhat wet but still perfectly legible piece of paper and put it up for the barkeep to see. "Says here I'm paid to mash them bandit folk to a pulp. Honest enough? The bag will cover the door".

The paper was indeed a document authorising one "Seathan of the Southlands" to act as a bounty hunter, to be paid a certain sum for every wanted man or woman he produced whether dead or alive, signed and sealed by the county sheriff. The barkeep gave the document a good read and finally opened the bag of coins and began meticulously counting its contents. From what he'd read, this was pay for a substantial number of bounties and was enough to cover multiple rounds and a very, very good new door, along with a few other renovations. Smiling at Seathan, he shrugged and went back to work. "Good enough for me. ONE ROUND COMING UP!" he shouted amidst further cheering from the crowd. Seathan laughed once more and raised his massive bludgeon up high to work the crowd even further. "AND MEAT! MEAT AND SONG TO GO WITH THE DRINKS!".

Eli watched the strange man at the bar, a smirk on her face. She let out a cheer when the bartender made the announcement, as it was the least she could do. She made a mental note to go and thank the man, but she would do it later. Eli's attention was brought elsewhere as she heard one word become audible from the quiet conversation between the Satyr and the scrawny man. Only one word, but it was a word she had only heard in history books; "Eysein?" It seemed as if the Satyr hadn't meant to say it so loud, but there was no denying that was what he said. That was then the cleric stood up, allowing his voice to be heard.

"Yes! My Goddess, Amtris, bestowed a vision onto me! Of the gates to an ancient city, with a crest only found in the darkest regions of our history books; the crest of Eysein. Then she showed me those who would be the ones to break the silence of the abandoned kingdom. It was all of you, you adventurers of the world. She led me here to lead you on your journey."

Eli spoke up, "Eysein? As in the 'Legend of Eysein'? Isn't that just a fairy tale?"

Phillip turned his gaze to her, "It is no fairy tale. There was no happy ending, there were no heroes nor villains. No, The Legend of Eysein is not a fairy tale.. It is a ghost story."

Narral eyed the vicious bird whilst she rubbed her scalp. “I hate birds an’ they hate me, so keep that beast away from me and we’ll all be right as rain.” Narral called her reply over the cheers of the others, all the while with a giant grin plastered on her face.

It wasn’t often that some old sod came in waving about a bag of coins offering everyone a round of drinks, and even less often that they were able to uphold their offer. Taking hold of the tankard that had quite politely appeared in front of Narral, she gave Ted a great big grin, she took a swig of the delicious mead savouring its taste. With a deep contented sigh Narral wiped away the dribbles of the drink that had escaped her. Turning to her new friend she had been about to ask if she had any requests, seeing as Nipples had finished to pay attention to his own drink when the place fell silent at the Clerics declaration of that place. Eysein.

“And quite a story it is too.” Narral spoke, spinning around on her stool to face the man with her grin nowhere to be found. “Not many books on the cursed Island, even less refer to it by name.” Looking over the man she couldn’t see any weapons but there was a necklace with the holy symbol of Amtris meaning he was probably a Cleric of some sort. She frowned in thought. “So who’s the poor lot that are going on this adventure of yours then?”

Seathan chugged and chugged to the cheers of a small group which had gathered around him, placing bets on whether he'd be able to down the largest tankard in the house in a single go. He finally slammed his rather massive and now devoid of mead tankard down on the bar, not hard enough to break anything but but enough to cause a resounding bang and cause other tankards and bottles placed on the bar to skip up if they were not being held. It just so happened that it coincided almost perfectly with the talk of Eysein, which caused the entire bar to go silent.

Seathan looked around with a grin on his face, somehow certain he was the cause of the sudden silence. It wasn't until Narral spoke that he realized something else had happened, but what he heard definitely piqued his interest. "Someone say adventure!?" he bellowed, pushing the crowd out of his way to stand face to face with Phillip. Well, face to chest, really. "I'll have you know you can have me killing things for you for some money, or for free if your adventure is interesting enough!". Whacking bandits and other common criminals was good money, but hardly the most exciting job for him, he'd been looking for something new and exciting with no luck and this might just be it.