Chapter 1: The Lost bounty

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It began like many things do in peaceful times, with the cool early morning sea breeze lightly ruffling the sails of the many large ships docked along the pier. The ship known as The Ocean's Bounty was almost ready to set sail with its cargo of goods destined for Stormwatch Point. The importers there had placed a hurried order for some food and spices that would hopefully sustain them through the harsh snowy season known as Sol Sleep.

At the bustling port of Seabreeze the golems were busy loading a great many crates onto the lifts, which hoisted them onto the ship to be stowed away by the crews on board. These slow, lumbering creatures were created by dwarves and imbued with magic crystals that enabled them to perform a variety of simple tasks. They were the primary workforce on the human continent, leaving the more complex jobs to be carried out by people with the skills needed to do thoes tasks. This meant however that golems were incapable of sailing the large ships owned by the Seabreeze Merchant Guild. This task was reserved for the sailors who called the seas their home. Most spent months at a time out at sea, running the shipping routes multiple times before setting foot on land again.

While many would hesitate to spend such an extended period away from home, for the people of Arvania, sailing was second nature. Although the small island nation was not known for much, its Merchants Guild was legendary. It controlled all of the shipping routes through the vast Sea of Seven Nations that divided the human continent roughly in two.

The sound of pulleys squeaking and wood creaking filled the air as the last of the cargo was loaded onto the ship known as The Oceans Bounty. Among the last minute preperations a falcon was seen flying off to the north, carrying with it a letter notifying Stormwatch Point that the ship was about to depart. Meanwhile, the sailors made their way to the ship to perform some last-minute preparations before setting sail. As it was mid Sol Dusk, and the leaves had already started falling from the trees, extra precautions were needed for a voyage out past the eastern passageway and into the northern oceans. Great storms battered the coast during this time of year, making the northern sailing routes perilous for all but the most experienced sailors.

However, The Ocean's Bounty was a sturdy ship with an even sturdier crew. The vessel had weathered many winters, as had the sailors who called her home. When the ship finally began to disembark, the sky was aglow on the western horizon, and the winds were full into the sails, propelling it slowly past the other ships still docked. It sailed past the last of the docks, past the break wall, and even further past the lighthouse. From the dock, the ship could be seen slowly shrinking in the distance, and after an hour or so, it had completely vanished over the horizon.

As the golems cleared the remaining empty bins and the ropes were coiled, the dock became empty once again, awaiting the next ship to be filled.

Nestled in the far north of the eastern coast stood a formidable city that commanded attention, Stormwatch Point. The city perched on the edge of a long peninsula, towering over the Turbulent sea below. The buildings, tall and spire-like, were encrusted with ice and snow, adding to the imposing grandeur of the city. A large magical barrier enveloped the entire city, erected by the combined power of a great number of mages who called Stormwatch Point their home. The shield was designed to safeguard the city from the most ferocious storms that might strike the coast during the stormy seasons.

The city was an unparalleled hub of magical power, home to a multitude of mages with diverse backgrounds and experiences. They came to the city to learn, to hone their skills and knowledge, and to share their insights and wisdom with others. Magic was a way of life in Stormwatch Point, and the mages there were eager to teach anyone who was willing to learn. It was no wonder that the city was a popular destination for many of the great mages of the human continent, who would often visit to exchange knowledge and collaborate on magical research.

It had been several weeks since the arrival of a falcon carrying a letter informing them of the supply ships departure, yet there was still no sign of the expected ship. As the Sol Sleep drew near, the fishing industry was slowing down, making it harder to sustain the city's supplies. In this time of need, they relied heavily on goods shipped from the south during the snowy month. However, this year had proven to be harsher than usual, with early storms threatening to put an early end to the fishing season. As a result, the inhabitants were anxiously waiting for the overdue shipment of food, upon which they depended heavily.

The delay had caused a lot of concern among the local leaders, who were now worried about the shortage of supplies in the city. To address this, they had sent a return letter back to Seabreeze, informing their merchants' guild there of the delay. While the round trip for the falcon took only a few days, it was the quickest means of communication available, given the absence of magic. Nevertheless, there was still a glimmer of hope that the ship would arrive before the ocean began to freeze, making the letter unnecessary.

3.

It was a balmy day in Seabreeze, the salty breeze intermingled with the commotion of a thriving port. The vibrant red clay roofs and sand-colored buildings stretched out in front of the merchants guild warehouse all the way to the vast expanse of the sea. As the hustle and bustle continued, a falcon arrived, causing a stir in the busy harbor.

The vessel in question was the Oceans Bounty, which was slated to arrive on the 15th. However, it had not yet arrived, and this was a matter of grave concern for Uliandar Elmar, who was responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the guild. Noting that the ship was almost a week late from its anticipated arrival, he immediately sought out the deputy guildmaster to inform him of the situation. Arriving at his office he entered with out a knock and approached his desk.

"We have encountered a problem with one of our shipments destined for Stormwatch," Uliandar expressed concern. "Despite the expected delivery date passing, the goods have not arrived yet. This delay could create a significant setback since winter is fast approaching."

Otho Cleave, a quick thinker, proposed a solution, "Let's issue a bulletin to all of our ships and ports along the intended route, notifying them of the situation. This way, we might get some leads on what's going on."

Uliander still seemed worried, "What if the ship has fallen prey to pirates or adverse weather conditions, causing it to run aground? What if it never makes it to Stormwatch at all?"

Otho paused for a moment, considering the possibilities, "We can only prepare for the worst and hope for the best. At this point, let's put out the bulletin and see if anyone has any information. We'll tackle any challenges as they arise."

Concerns still lingered in the air, "Do you think it's possible that saltwater could be involved in this delay?"

Otho reassured, "I highly doubt that even the most audacious of pirates would dare to disrupt our shipping routes. Let's focus on the bulletin and keep our fingers crossed for a positive outcome."

In order to gather information quickly and efficiently, a bulletin was dispatched along the usual route in the hopes that someone would have relevant knowledge to report back. Given the time-sensitive nature of the situation, waiting for a response was not an option. If another shipment were to be sent via the usual route, there was a significant risk of losing another vessel to treacherous ice and storms. On the other hand, sending the shipment by land would entail navigating through the tricky waters of dealing with the Saltwater Traders, as well as enduring a journey of nearly a month. For years, Seabreeze and Saltwater had been embroiled in trade disputes, each vying for control over shipping lanes and ports along the coast. Despite these ongoing tensions, there was an unspoken agreement between the two factions that piracy was strictly prohibited, and that interfering with shipments directly would only serve to worsen an already fraught situation.

It was a tranquil day in Lake Lorraine. For the few ships that passed by, it served as the final destination before entering the vast eastern ocean, and also functioned as an inspection port for the local authorities. The town was a mid sized port town, nearly built on the lake itself with stilts that held the buildings and boardwalks above water during high tides. The docks made up a majority of these structures, extending down to the water where many ships were currently docked.

Less than a week had elapsed since the Oceans Bounty had embarked on its journey from Seabreeze, and it was making good progress as it neared the port town. As the vessel approached the passage, a small boat was observed departing from the docks, and it slowly made its way towards the much larger ship. The small boat was manned by only three men who began to wave a large, glowing gem in the direction of the ship.

Observing this, the captain of the Oceans Bounty walked over to the side of his ship and watched as the smaller boat pulled up alongside his vessel. The ladder was lowered for them, and one of the men climbed up. Once on board, he informed the captain that they would need to dock and undergo an inspection before they could continue their journey.

Agreeing with the demand, the captain ordered his crew to raise the sail and be prepared to dock the ship. Responding promptly to the captain's orders, the crew sprang into action, raising the sails, readying the ropes, and turning the ship into port. As the ship approached the dock, it came to a halt, guided by a boy waving two large gems. The ropes were thrown down, and the ship was secured to the dock.

The man from the smaller boat still on board handed to the captain A letter that had been dispatched from Saltwater Traders, stating that their vessel had been flagged for inspection. Consequently, the ship was subjected to a thorough inventory check. A large number of dock workers boarded the ship and began sifting through crates and barrels in search of any items that were not listed on the ship's packing list. They spent a significant portion of the day going through everything, interviewing the crew, but ultimately nothing suspicious was uncovered.

Feeling thoroughly inconvenienced, the captain was in a bad mood and exchanged no pleasantries with the dock workers or the customs officer in charge of the inspection. Without a word, the crew knew the process for undocking and made quick work of it.

Before long, the ship was sailing out past the docks and heading towards the eastern passage. A full day had been wasted in Lake Lorraine, and they were now behind schedule at a time when every day mattered, as it could mean no return voyage. As the captain watched the storm clouds on the horizon, he wondered if they would make it through the narrow strait before it reached them, but he was unfazed. They had seen worse many times before.

From the docks, the customs officer watched as the ship sailed out past the point and disappeared around a long outcropping of rock. After an unsuccessful search, he was rather annoyed and decided to dispatch letters to both Saltwater Crossing and Sea Breeze, outlining the circumstances and the results of their search. Typically, rival guilds were hesitant to request an inspection unless they were confident that their conduct was legitimate. Therefore, when false accusations were made, it had the potential to escalate tensions among all the guilds operating in the area.

In the coastal town of Seabreeze, a gathering of the heads of the merchant guild had been convened, and Amaryllis Wellan, the guildmaster, sat at the head of a long and intricately designed table, one of her family may gifts to the guild. In the following minutes, the other guildmasters arrived and took their seats, their expressions a mixture of anger and confusion.

"This is outrageous!" exclaimed the trade master, his voice rising. "We must demand that they cease their hostile actions against our ships and issue an apology immediately."

"I agree with Master Alaric. There was no justification for their search, other than to slander our reputation," replied Uliandar. "What does our Master of Defence think?"

Leonard stroked his beard thoughtfully before speaking. "As they have not directly attacked any of our ships, our options are limited. We must not act hastily and retaliate until we have a better understanding of what happened. I suggest we send a message to our council member in Port Royalia."

"Agreed. Notifying Finnian is a good idea. He will be able to speak with the Midridden representative about this matter," nodded Amaryllis. "I also agree with Master Alaric. We must demand a public apology at the very least. Uliander, I need you to draft a letter to be sent to Saltwater, conveying our views on the situation."

"I'll have the letter ready by tomorrow at the latest," Uliander assured her. "Do you really think they are responsible for the disappearance of our ship?"

"The last time the ship was seen was at Lake Lorraine. They ordered the inspection knowing very well that there was nothing illegal about the shipment," grumbled Leonard.

And so the meeting continued, debating what should be included in the formal notice. After a while, one by one, the members left the room, leaving the guildmaster alone to ponder what lay ahead.

It took no more than a few hours to draft the letter, which was a scathing indictment of Saltwater Traders for their underhanded tactics, accusing them of being involved in the disappearance of the ship. Seabreeze had two demands: First, that they issue a public apology on behalf of their guild, and second, that they assist in the search for the missing ship. Failure to comply would be regarded as a hostile action and dealt with accordingly.

After the guild master gave the letter its final approval, it was sealed with the guild seal and sent to the messenger office for dispatch. Uliander attached the letter to a small backpack on the back of a hawk and watched as the bird stretched its wings and flew off towards Saltwater Crossing.

Far across the bay lay the sprawling city of Saltwater Crossing, situated on the edge of a great salt lake. The city stood out among the flatness of the surrounding land, which was covered in large dunes. A great road stretched into the distance, leading to and from the city.

As a hawk glided to its roost, it ruffled its wings in anticipation of landing. A young man approached, and the bird appeared to acknowledge him. The man carefully removed the letter that was attached to the hawk's back and examined it closely. Seeing the official seal, he realized the urgency of its contents. He quickly left the room taking the letter with him, and descending the spiral stairs that led to the street below.

The home of the Saltwater Traders was not too far away, so the young man rushed over to their main headquarters. He delivered the letter at the main desk and then left, leaving the guildmaster to read it in private.

Randor read the letter carefully, pausing several times to fully understand what was written. As he finished, anger grew inside him, and he slammed his desk with a fist in frustration. After a moment, he exhaled and folded the letter neatly on his desk. He stood up and looked out of the window behind him, staring at the great salt lake that stretched out as far as he could see beyond the city walls. As he stared out the window, he wondered why Seabreeze would level such accusations against his guild.

Randor strode down the hall to the next room where his master of operations, Marcellus, was holding a meeting. As he entered, he noticed several unfamiliar men in attendance.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, gentlemen, but I have important business with Marcellus," Randor said, addressing the room.

Marcellus nodded in agreement, turning to the men. "If you'll excuse us for a moment, we'll continue shortly. Please wait outside the door."

The men grumbled as they stood and filed out of the room, irritated at being interrupted. Randor walked up to Marcellus's desk and threw the letter down in front of him.

"What is the meaning of this?" Randor questioned sharply. "Why is Seabreeze accusing us of being involved in the disappearance of one of their ships?"

Marcellus looked bewildered. "What are they doing exactly? I haven't been informed of anything like this."

"They want us to apologize for an inspection that was made on one of their ships, which has since gone missing. Furthermore, they want us to assist in the search for their lost vessel in Lake Lorraine."

"That's preposterous. We have no business in Lake Lorraine. Who authorized the inspection?" Marcellus asked.

"It doesn't say," Randor replied, picking up the letter and stuffing it into his pocket. "But we need to investigate. If they're going to accuse us, we need to ensure we had no involvement. Here's what I need you to do: send a reply denying all allegations and dispatch an investigator to Lake Lorraine."

Marcellus nodded gravely. "I'll take care of it immediately. This is a serious matter, Randor. We need to get to the bottom of it as soon as possible."

After their discussion, Randor left the room, leaving Marcellus to deal with the new situation. Marcellus sat at his desk, deep in thought, considering what to write in the response to Seabreeze. After a few minutes of contemplation, he settled on a firm but polite letter, requesting that Seabreeze refrain from slandering their company and explaining that it was the authorities in Lake Lorraine who authorized the search. He sealed the letter and brought it down to the lady at the front desk, instructing her to send it to Seabreeze. With that done, he left the office and headed out through the front doors.

As he walked along the brick street, Marcellus observed the hustle and bustle of the city. Pedestrians rushed by, while golem-drawn carriages rumbled down the street, carrying cargo to destinations unknown. The scent of saltwater mixed with the aroma of freshly cooked fish, creating a distinct and memorable atmosphere. Marcellus navigated through the shops and stalls until he arrived at the guardhouse a few blocks away. Before entering, he glanced around briefly to ensure that he was not being followed. Upon entering the building, the officer at the main desk nodded in greeting as Marcellus approached him.

"May I help you with something?" the officer inquired.

"I need to hire an investigator to go to Lake Lorraine. There has been some turmoil, and we are being slandered," Marcellus stated formally. "We would like to clear our name and are willing to send the best to sort things out."

"Understood. We can have someone out there by the end of the week if you have the necessary payment."

"I believe this should be more than enough," Marcellus claimed, placing a bag of small gems on the desk in front of him. "The sooner we can resolve this matter, the better."

"Sure thing. We will send someone as soon as we can, and they will inform you upon their arrival," the officer said as he picked up the bag and stored it below.

After completing his second task, Marcellus walked back to the main office. As he passed the main desk, he asked the lady to inform the other masters that a meeting had been scheduled for the end of the day. She waved in agreement as Marcellus climbed the stairs, leaving the main lobby behind. Upon reaching his office, he noticed the two anxious men he had met with earlier. He shook his head, apologized for the delay, and invited them to follow him into the room. Once inside, he sat at his desk and leaned back, looking at the two men.

"Now, where were we?" he asked.

At dawn, the middle-aged man from the Mages Watch embarked on the ship. The water was calm and translucent, with only a light breeze threatening to disturb the surface. Apart from the gentle swaying of the vessel, it was a promising day for the journey ahead. The man sat on a crate beside some barrels and readied himself for the day's expedition to Lake Lorraine. He jotted down his thoughts in a small journal that he kept in his sizable satchel. Using the collar of his surcoat, he shielded his eyes from the early morning sun as he wrote down the first steps he would take when he arrived. He needed to interview those who had received the letter and those who had authorized the search. Once he had finished, he closed the book and stowed it away. Tilting his head back, he gazed at the clear blue sky and pondered who would be audacious enough to accuse the Saltwater Traders of resorting to piracy.

As the ship departed from the port, it joined two more vessels that were also headed to the eastern passage at Lake Lorraine. Together, they would sail northeast on one of the final journeys of the season along the shores of the Coast Lands to the north. Eddis observed as they passed by several islands and inlets along the coast before reaching the bay and entering the vast inland sea that ran across the width of the continent. The three ships maintained a tight formation as they approached the territorial waters of the Seabreeze Merchant Guild, with an uneasy balance between them. The Saltwater Traders were permitted to operate in the Sea of Seven Nations, but only to a limited extent and solely for travel to the eastern and western routes.

As the fleet of ships sailed further into open waters, the sun climbed higher into the sky. The Island nation of Arvania was barely visible on the western horizon as they made their turn towards the east, marking the halfway point of their journey. Eddis took advantage of this and dozed off on the crate, assured that Seabreeze would not be a problem. With not much to do until they arrived, he savored the chance to unwind. Once they reached their destination, Eddis knew it would be time to get to work. For now, the journey was smooth sailing on the open seas, and with the wind in their sails, they were making good time. They would reach Lake Lorraine by nightfall, well ahead of schedule.

The ships had sailed smoothly without any incidents for the past few hours as they neared their destination. The sun had already set, and in the distance, one could see the lights of the houses with windows aglow. As the ships approached the port, Eddis was awakened by the commotion of the crew who had started to raise the sails. As he stood up and stretched his back, he looked out towards the docks they were slowly approaching. Eddis spotted a man who was directing them towards the dock, waving glowing crystals to indicate where they should moor the ship.

As the ship gradually came to a stop, ropes were tossed to the dock below, and the vessel was securely tied up. The captain emerged from the wheelhouse and approached the dock hand who had directed them in, exchanging pleasantries and arranging for the ship to stay for the night. Once the details were sorted, the captain made his way back to the wheelhouse to oversee the rest of the docking procedures.

As Eddis disembarked from the ship, he still felt the lingering sway of the ocean waves in his step, a reminder of the long boat ride. He strolled down the quiet boardwalk, the sound of his footsteps echoing on the wooden planks. Passing by shops and stalls, many of which had already closed for the day, he searched for a place to spend the night.

Upon entering the town square, he noticed a large board with a local map and town bulletins. There were a few accommodations he could choose from, but one caught his attention – a local inn that also served meals. With his stomach growling at the thought of a good meal, he wandered off towards the longer street that led back towards the docks, eventually arriving outside a lively and noisy building that was the inn.

As Eddis entered the local inn, he noticed that it was quite crowded. Sailors from all over the place had gathered around tables, seemingly paying no mind to the other tables around them. The back of the inn was occupied by a nearly full bar, with only a few spots left. He made his way across the room and sat down on a stool, pulling out his trusty notebook to jot down his thoughts about the uneventful trip and the lack of anything suspicious in the town.

Just then, a barmaid approached him, and Eddis closed his notebook to attend to her.

"Excuse me, what can I get fer you?" the barmaid asked cautiously, noticing Eddis's mage uniform.

"I'll have a pint and whatever hot dish you have," he replied. "Also, I have a few questions if you don't mind."

"Sure thing," she replied, glancing nervously around the room before disappearing into the back.

Eddis sat, listening to the chatter in the bar, trying to pick up any information that could help him find the Oceans Bounty. The patrons seemed content to be on land and were exchanging lighthearted banter.

When the barmaid returned with a bowl in hand, she said, "This one's on the house. We don't be want'n any trouble. What did ya need to know?"

"Thank you," Eddis said with a smile. "Have you seen anyone suspicious around here lately?"

"Not that I can think of," she pondered. "There was a ship that docked ere about a week ago, and they searched it, but other than that, it's been real quiet."

"Did anyone from Saltwater stay here around that time?" Eddis asked, leaning back on his stool.

"I'm not in the habit of askin folks where they're from," she said.

"If that's all you can tell me that will have to do," he assured her as he grabbed the bowl of stew.

The bar maid returned to her duties as Eddis quietly ate his his soup listening to the chatter once again. He took his time enjoying the warm meal and good drink, it wasn't enough to get drunk but just enough to ease his tension of the day.

After finishing the stew, Eddis stood up and thanked the barmaid, leaving three small gemstones as payment for the questions she had answered. He then walked over to the innkeeper and requested a room for the night. The innkeeper obliged and gave Eddis a room key before sending him on his way. Upon entering the room, Eddis noticed it was small and rustic with a bed made of slightly worn hay bales in a wooden frame. He removed his surcoat and hung it on the chair next to the desk before throwing himself onto the bed. Despite the relatively quiet day, he felt strangely tired. As he drifted off to sleep, he thought about the coming days and whether he would be able to uncover anything about the missing ship.

As Eddis departed from the Inn, the sun was just beginning to rise above the horizon, and the sounds of seagulls echoed in his ears. The bright red hues of the morning sun momentarily blinded him. He had a clear plan in his mind that morning - he believed that if anyone had ordered the search of the ship, it must have come from the local port authorities. No one else in the region had the power to give such orders, so that was the logical starting point for his investigation.

As Eddis made his way towards the port, he couldn't help but notice the bustling activity of the town. Fishmongers were hawking their wares, merchants were setting up their stalls, and sailors were loading and unloading cargo from various ships.

Upon reaching the port, Eddis began his search for any officials who may have ordered the search of the Oceans Bounty. He approached a group of port authority officers who were discussing a shipment of spices from the far east.

"Excuse me, gentlemen," Eddis said, "I'm looking for information on a ship that was searched here about a week ago, the Oceans Bounty. Do any of you have any information on that?"

The officers looked at each other with raised eyebrows before one of them finally spoke up. "Yes, I remember that ship. We received a tip that they may have been carrying contraband, so we searched their cargo. We didn't find anything, though."

"Who gave you the tip?" Eddis pressed.

The officer hesitated for a moment before responding. "I'm not at liberty to say, mage. That information is classified."

Eddis sighed in frustration but decided not to push the matter further. He thanked the officers and continued his search for any other leads on the missing ship.

He strolled along the boardwalk, his notebook in hand as he jotted down his early morning thoughts. He pondered on who else would be willing to converse with him, given that he was now in the Coast Lands territory. Though there was no hostility between them and Saltwater, Seabreeze held sway over the shipping lanes in this area. The port was nothing more than a checkpoint with minimal facilities.

It didn't take long for Eddis to reach the office of the Lake Lorraine port authority, a large warehouse situated along the docks where ships were inspected. As he entered, he was surrounded by large tapestries depicting ships and a large lamp hanging in the middle of the room. People were coming and going, with only a few sparing a glance at the man who had just arrived. Making his way to the main desk, he approached the secretary, a woman who appeared to be in charge.

"Welcome to Lake Lorraine," greeted the woman as Eddis approached the front desk. "How can I assist you today?"

"I need to speak to someone in regards to a recent inspection," Eddis replied.

"Are you here to look into the missing ship," she asked, glancing at the emblem embroidered on his jacket. "If you could have a seat someone should be out shortly to see you shortly."

With that, he took a seat in one of the comfortable-looking chairs as the secretary got up and left the room. Looking around, a group of men was huddled over some documents on a table. They seemed to be discussing the finer points of the pricing of goods they were bringing back with them, as they pointed at whatever was written on the pages.

After a few minutes of waiting, an older man with large rimmed glasses emerged from the back. His jacket bore the crest of the Lake Lorraine port authority, and he had an air of importance about him. Walking over to Eddis, the man stood formally in front of him and held out his hand without saying a word. Eddis awkwardly stood up and shook the man's hand.

"Er, hello sir, my name is Eddis Warrens, I was wondering if i would be able to speak to you in private for a moment," he inquired.

"We can talk here," He said coldly. "We have followed all proper procedures and have the proper documentation for the search, It is outrageous that you would come here and accuse us of any wrong doing."

"I havn't accused you of anything, I'm merely here so find out what happened to the Oceans Bounty." he cautioned glancing over at the secretary who had returned to her spot behind the desk. "I will need to see the documentation for the search if you would be so kind."

"Hmhp, very well follow me," he said as he turned to walk away. "You know we have a reputation to uphold here, were just as curious about the whereabouts of that ship as you are, we cant have our good name associated with such things."

He led Eddis back to his office and offered him a seat. The room was similar to the lobby, with a few large tapestries and a large port authority crest mounted behind his desk. He rifled through one of his desk drawers until he came upon a page and pulled it out. Placing the page on the desk, he gestured for Eddis to sit down in the chair opposite the desk. Eddis sat down and grabbed the page, reading it carefully.

The notice was for the search of the Oceans Bounty, accusing the ship of stowing dangerous goods and sending them to a foreign nation. The official document authorized the search and was signed by none other than Amos DeGrade, the master of trade for Saltwater. This was something that Eddis had not expected.

"Why would Saltwater order an investigation if they were the ones who conducted the search?" Eddis wondered to himself, perplexed by the situation.

He pondered the meaning of the situation as he stared at the letter, lost in thought. Finally, he broke his silence and asked, "Do you happen to have any other correspondence from Saltwater that I could see?"

Silently the official reached into the drawer once again this time pulling out a folder with Saltwater Traders emblem on it. He slid the folder towards Eddis with a look of hesitation on his face.

"Here's the only document we've received from Saltwater recently. Feel free to take a look," the man said.

Opening the folder, it appeared to be filled with ledgers and requests from the past year. Taking out an official-looking letter, he examined it carefully, paying attention to the wording and penmanship. What caught his attention first was the official Saltwater Traders emblem stamped on the letter. These stamps were only available to the masters of the guild. Comparing it to the original inspection order, he noticed that it lacked this official seal, which gave Eddis pause.

Eddis couldn't help but feel suspicious of the inspection order he had just examined. The lack of an official seal on the original order made him wonder if it could be a forgery. After all, it would be unusual for such an important document to be issued without the seal. He also questioned how Amos could have known about the shipment and ordered the search.

Eddis retrieved his notebook and quickly jotted down his thoughts on this new revelation, "If someone was willing to forge an official document, it could have been anyone."

Eddis pocketed the forged document as evidence and thanked the official, shaking his hand once again before quickly leaving the room. He strode briskly across the lobby, drawing the attention of the men who were still poring over their documents. He thrust open the door and left the large warehouse in a hurry.

He navigated through the busy streets of the port, weaving his way past the bustling crowds, as he made his way towards the closest Messenger office. After traversing a few more streets and taking a shortcut through a back alley, he arrived at a small shack with a frizzy haired boy that housed numerous cages, each labeled with the name of a different city. Each cage contained a hawk that was responsible for delivering messages to its designated destination. Eddis approached the boy working there and requested to send an urgent letter to Saltwater. The boy provided him with a parchment and quill without hesitation.

Eddis wrote about the forged letter and his suspicions, warning Saltwater that someone might be attempting to falsely implicate them in the missing ship case. He urged them to take great care. Once finished, he rolled up the parchment while the boy brought out a falcon, to which the letter was fastened. In one swift motion, the boy threw the bird into the air, and it flew off to the west.

Eddis expressed his gratitude to the boy and left a gem on the counter before heading back to the inn, uncertain of what would come from the letter. As he walked along the wooden boardwalk, he noticed a ship sailing out past the docks and couldn't help but wonder about the fate of the Oceans Bounty. He also pondered over Seabreeze's accusations and, more importantly, the potential consequences if things were to escalate. The mysterious letter had left him deeply concerned.

Upon arriving back at the inn, Eddis settled himself at one of the tables at the back of the room. Lost in thought, he opened his notebook and began to jot down more about his morning. He studied the forged letter again, hoping to glean some new insight, but found nothing of value. He sighed in frustration, realizing that there was much work to be done. Though he wanted to talk to the dock workers, he knew it would be best to wait for a reply from Saltwater. In the meantime, he could try to gather more information from the masters of the guild. They would surely know if Saltwater had any enemies.

It was already midday when a falcon from Lake Lorraine swooped in, crossing the flat sandstone roofs and landed on its perch at the messenger hut. The attendant quickly noticed the official seal on the parchment and removed it from the falcon. Hurrying off, he delivered the letter to its intended recipient. He handed the letter to a young boy in ragged clothes on the street, instructing him to deliver it to the Saltwater Merchants. Without a further word, the boy left, pushing his way past the crowds gathered around various shops. A man could be heard shouting about produce in the distance.

After navigating a few more streets and making a few turns, the boy arrived at the main office for the Merchants Guild. It was a large sandstone building that dominated the street, towering over the small boy. Pushing open the heavy door, he was greeted by none other than Marcellus Bast, who was on his way to a meeting for the Guild. The boy stopped and brushed off the front of his shirt before handing the letter to Marcellus.

"Um, sir, I think this might be for you," the boy said meekly.

"I see," Marcellus replied, taking the letter from the boy. "I hope this is what I think it is. Thank you."

Examining the seal, Marcellus unrolled the parchment carefully and began to read. After a few minutes of reading about the fake letter, he felt anger rise inside of him. He rolled up the note and took it over to the main desk in the lobby, where the girl behind the desk looked up at him over the top of her glasses.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Bast?" she asked.

"I'll need you to quickly gather all the masters for a meeting later this evening," he replied, handing her the rolled up parchment. "If they ask why it's so urgent, tell them I'll explain later and show them this letter."

"Sure thing, sir. Will you be back later?"

"I will be here. I have business with one of our local exporters, but I shouldn't be too long," he explained as he turned to leave.

"I will notify the other masters with haste, and they will be waiting when you return."

He nodded as he left the lobby and went on his way. His current business couldn't wait and was similarly important. They were having issues getting salt to the far north due to some local border disputes that had gone unchecked, and he was meeting with a northern merchant responsible for the northern roads to discuss it. As Marcellus went on his way, he had a bad feeling growing in the back of his mind, but he couldn't let it distract him right now.

10.

Later that day, all the masters had gathered in the large meeting room around a long rectangular table with Guildmaster Randor Zenith at the head of the table. Almost all the seats were filled except for the one meant for Marcellus, who had yet to arrive. The masters were talking amongst themselves with concern; it had been a while since a meeting of the masters had been called, and it was no small thing for Marcellus to call for one at such short notice. As time went on, they began to grow impatient at the lateness of their master of operations. Despite their age, they had plenty to do, and the remaining hours of the day were better spent tending to their duties.

When Marcellus finally arrived, the gathered masters collectively sighed in relief as he took his seat at the table. He began by pulling out the letter he had received earlier and silently placing it in the middle of the table.

"I suppose you're wondering why I called this meeting," Marcellus started, addressing the masters seated around him. "I wouldn't have called this meeting if it weren't of the utmost importance. I'll start by asking you, Amos."

As he heard this, Amos shifted uncomfortably in his chair; he had not expected to be the topic of discussion at such a meeting.

"As I'm sure you are aware by now, we are being accused of the disappearance of a ship from Seabreeze. They have a letter from us authorizing the search of one of their ships," Marcellus stated calmly. "This letter was signed by none other than you, Amos. Why would they have that?"

Amos nervously sat forward as he prepared to defend himself.

"I...I never sent no letter to them. Why would I? We have good relations with Seabreeze right now. Why would I ever risk trying to sabotage that?" he stated, looking around at his fellow masters.

"I'm not here to accuse anyone sitting here of anything right now," Marcellus assured them. "We have reason to believe that the letter sent was a forgery meant to lay the blame on us."

Amos relaxed in his seat as he listened to Marcellus speak.

"We have sent an investigator to Lake Lorriaine, and he was the one who brought this to our attention," Marcellus explained. "I would like to use this meeting as a means to discuss how we are to progress from here on."

Their guildmaster took this opportunity to stand up and address the table as he took the note and looked it over.

"It would seem that Seabreeze might actually have a case against us if they consider this letter to be real," he said. "In that case, we must take this matter seriously. Does anyone have any suggestions?"

The men seated around the table all took their time making suggestions and demands as they debated the proper way to proceed.

"Who would be bold enough to sabotage our peace with Seabreeze?" one of them said.

"Perhaps it is they themselves who orchestrated this ordeal," questioned Augustus, the master in charge of defense.

"There has always been friction between us," Amos said, stroking his beard. "I don't think they would jeopardize their image over something so trivial."

"I think you're right," assured their guildmaster. "Seabreeze has been a thorn in our side for a long time, but they aren't stupid. They would never endanger their own crew."

The masters spent the good part of an hour discussing the finer points of what they should be doing, debating back and forth. They settled on two major decisions, and Marcellus was the last to speak.

"So we have agreement then," he said. "We will send word to Jarek requesting his return, and also we should hire a local Mage to oversee the situation if the worst should happen."

Having Jarek return was no easy task. He spent most of his time in Port Royalia dealing with his role on the council, which mostly involved trade-related duties. The harder part would be to request a mage to oversee the conflict representing Midridden. There were a few that represented their country, and even fewer that would back a large trading guild in a trade dispute.

With the decision made, the masters left the room to retire to their homes for the night. The moon was already up when Marcellus began to make his way home. The streets were dark, save for the light coming through the windows of the houses around him. The streets were mostly empty as he made his way through the narrow streets of the housing district. Turning a corner, he nearly ran into a middle-aged man who seemed to be in quite a hurry, nearly knocking Marcellus to the ground. Stunned, the man grabbed Marcellus by the shirt to keep him from falling. Dusting himself off, Marcellus and the man apologized to each other, and the man hurried off again at a brisk pace before disappearing into the night.

Upon arriving at home, Marcellus was greeted by his wife, a lovely lady with light curls in her blonde hair. He took his belongings to his office and began to retire for the night when he noticed he no longer had the letter from Lake Lorraine. He searched his things looking for the letter but came up empty. He wondered if he had left it on the table in the meeting room, or if one of the other masters had taken it. With mild concern, he decided to leave it for tomorrow's worries and left his office.

Returning to the main room, he sat down in the reclining wooden chair, its pillows threatening to absorb him completely. His wife sat next to him as he told her of his day, sparing the more secret details of what was happening. They spoke until Marcellus began to grow tired, his eyes heavy, and his thoughts drifting off. With this, he headed to his bed and laid down. His eyes closing, he wondered what difficulties hiring a mage would bring as he drifted off to sleep.

Fall of War

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