Off in the Great Western Sea, there sit the Tobuka Islands.  A chain of islands numbering over two thousand, sized from barely a rock to almost a continent, stretched out over a circle 15 million square miles.  The most peculiar thing about these islands, as discoverer G'ruk Chill found, was that these islands could have a wildly different climate from one to the next.  One island could have a forest, the next could have barren desert.  An island overcrowded with mushrooms could be within sight of a massive crystal.  In one case, he'd even found an active volcano and a tundra sharing the same space.  He had no idea what to make of it.<br/><br/>Except that all of it was his.<br/><br/>That was 1500 years ago.  Since then, settlers, opportunists, vagabonds, and all kinds of people have made their way to the island.  While towns have only sprouted up on about two hundred of the islands, what has sprouted up has flourished at an amazing rate.  Now, the Tobuka Federation is in an age of good feelings.  The settled islands have everything that a burgeoning colony could want: mineable ores, fertile land, clean water, everything.  The sea between the islands remains peaceful, and ships can cross without fear of being sunk or raided by pirates.  Discovery thrives, the gods are pleased, all is well.<br/><br/>Or rather, it was...<br/><br/>Earthquakes, once uncommon, have started to occur every other day.  Thankfully, they're only minor tremors, but the rest is worse.  Ships have started to go missing, just plucked from the sea.  People on land, likewise, have started to vanish.  And through it all, the islands are starting to grow, even the ones that the tide had previously been shrinking.  Action is called for.<br/><br/><**><br/>Cast:<br/><ul>Trr9896: Ter'ra Delmar, Drow Sorcerer <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1038593">http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1038593</a><!-- m --><br/>Ula: Abylus, Amalgamite(custom race) Alchemist <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1038758">http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1038758</a><!-- m --><br/>HalfTime: Aishe Selara, Tiefling Aberrent Aegis <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1001338">http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1001338</a><!-- m --><br/>ambrose_euanthe: Kawaiola Galeocerdo, Sharkperson(custom race) Cleric <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1042128">http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1042128</a><!-- m --><br/>Netjak: Taizee, Deep Sea Merfolk(custom race) Fighter <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1039113">http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1039113</a><!-- m --><br/>Voryure: Raffeal, Kopondi(custom race) Unchained Rogue <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1039452">http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1039452</a><!-- m --><br/>Anime_Chaos: Lang Tuhu-yan, Dragontaur(custom race) Paladin <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1040142">http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1040142</a><!-- m --></ul><br/><**><br/><br/>You all start in the small town of Shrikeslee-on-the-Reef, on the green island of Redscale.  It's a small fishing village set on one of the smaller islands to the east.  Though not very noteworthy, their catches include the rare Ruby Sole, a flat fish with a distinctive dark red color whose likeness is spread all over the docks.  The docks and harbor, made from dark grey stone panels (some painted Ruby Sole red), are rather extensive and extend quite a ways out into the water to try and catch all of the boats that they can.  Connecting the walkways are stalls where fish are hung up and where sailors can get a bite to eat.  The smell is suprisingly pleasant, thanks to the extensive cooking.<br/><br/>Further inland are the buildings for permanent residents.  While the beach is unsettled, up a short cobblestone path is the town itself, laid out on a massive grass field.  Most of the houses are made out of light-colored wood, topped with slate shingles, and containing shuddered windows without any glass.  However, easily visible further up at the top of the hill is the massive governor's mansion.<span style="font-style: italic">That</span>whole affair is made out of colored red brick, with glass windows tinted in various colors and a massive flagpole bearing a red flag with the picture of a black-and-white shrike: the emblem of Redscale Island and its chief town.<br/><br/>Normally, people would be out and about in the nearby forests or busy in the various buildings in town.  Today, though, a loud<span style="font-weight: bold">BONNNNNNNNG</span>can be heard every few seconds.  Thus, the people are gathering in the town square, near a stone stage at the base of a tall open tower containing a massive iron bell.  While the chief cleric, a stocky black oread in yellow robes, has arrived, (he is in fact the one ringing the bell), the governor herself has yet to make an appearance.  Thus, the people around have started to talk about this and that, the disaster, local business, all the while waiting for the important meeting to begin.<br/><br/>(The town square is attached.  If you'd like to post a picture for me to use in your tokens, that'd be quite useful.)