Our story takes place in the rich and fertile<a class="link link--external" href="https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/forgottenrealms/images/6/65/Dessarin_Valley-5e.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20180903151049" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Dessarin</a>River Valley, home to many an honest farmer and merchant but precious few lords and ladies.  Yartar is the principle city of the valley and home to its regional ruler, the Waterbaron.  Numerous<a class="link link--external" href="https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Yartar" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">printed guides</a>can help you explore this historic city much better than your humble narrator, however, of particular interest to the start of our story will be the Inn called<a class="link link--external" href="https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/One_Foot_in_the_Boat" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">One Foot in the Boat</a>, often frequented by adventurers for its modest prices and minimal dress code.  Sometimes avoided by the locals due to the frequent bouts of violence that tended to break out with the often well armed clientele.  Occasionally it might attract one or two of the fine citizens of the valley, especially if they had a problem that required some amount of violence, courage, or foolhardiness to solve.<br/><br/>At the time of our story, the valley has at least one such problem.  A growing menace once thought merely rumor, bad luck, or the protests of deserted husbands who forgot (if they ever knew) how to keep their wives happy.  As the number of missing maids and matrons increased over the summer growing season, it became more difficult to explain it all away.  But until lately, the victims (if they were indeed victims), were the wives and daughters of peasants and craftsmen, easy enough for a busy Waterbaron to ignore.  But now a lady of some breeding, with just enough royal blood in her veins to raise some embarrassing questions from the royal court has gone missing.<br/><br/>The Lelisque Estate, has reported the abduction of one Ciara Lelisque and dispatched a fast rider with the news of her abduction and the passing of her father the next day.  Her betrothed,<b>Lionel Archambault</b>a seemingly successful merchant has already petitioned the Waterbaron to send out the<a class="link link--external" href="https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Shields_of_Yartar" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Shields of Yartar</a>for an all out search for his soon to be blushing (in his mind) bride.  The only problem is, no one knows quite where she has been taken.  He has promised a tidy sum of gold as a reward for Ciara's safe return.  The steward of the Lelisque Estate,<b>Jarvis Dorset</b>is also rumored to be traveling north to the city, with plans to hire his own mercenaries to search for the missing heiress.  The father's untimely demise, no doubt triggered by the trauma of his only child being dragged away from his sick bed, has created both threat and opportunity respectively for the would be suitor and the once faithful steward.  While Ciara's claim to the throne is near non-existent, the value and revenue of her properties would allow a man to spend his days without want of coin or comfort.<br/><br/>Word of coin and adventure had already spread and three teams of would be rescuers have gathered at the<i>One Foot in the Boat</i>Inn prior to your arrival.  A trio of dwarves with a halfling squaring the table in one corner, a handful of human males that look fresh off the farm with ancient weapons that probably belonged to their grandfather's during the orc wars in another, and finally a couple of big and dumb looking half orcs with a slender hooded figure who looks like some sort of caster.  Each group keeping to themselves but eyeing the others suspiciously.  A dainty looking elf bard played a lute  and sang of tales of adventure, with a tin cup containing a few stray coppers was in the corner.  A burly human bartender is behind the bar, serving drinks and swapping stories from his own adventuring days.<br/><br/>It is early evening, the sun setting in the west as you enter the story.  The betrothed merchant may well return and the steward is expected in the morning.  For now, this seems the place to either join an existing group or find kindred souls you think you can trust.