Gaia's Vein the native's called it. A long river punched through the eastern coast and snaked deep into the inlands, though a mountain range, a little bit of forest, and a lot of the adventuring bits. But, it's a river so people had an instinct to traverse it, to see where it lead, to Pioneer's Pier.<br/><br/>Another morning rose above the lush mountains wrapped in a blanket of forest still awakening to the spring. A small sailing boat approached the piers across the wide shallow lake, the first of many in the unexplored lake lands. Who knows what the ship might bring? New adventurers from the Old World, maybe navy soldiers defecting from the war, or friendly merchants looking to swindle you of the contents of your pockets? Either case, they usually bring something exciting.<br/><br/>Munching your breakfast on top one of the one of stone ruins which peek here and there between the shacks and hovels of the village, you see a group gather to receive the boat. There's one golden figure down there and a bunch of eager - a dragon born paladin: Aladdin. He's sort of acting sheriff in the town, and judge, but doesn't really like executions or any harsh punishments. So far your little party of four has helped him once to clear rats from Mrs. Daggerwand's basement. As a reward you still have some of her baked goods left and they're rather tasty.<br/><br/>It's nice, but baked goods and rats are not exactly the reason you or anyone else would've come to Pioneer's Pier. There's real adventure to be had. Basically any direction you walk out towards there are ancient ruins, hidden temples, and creatures with untold treasures hidden in their lairs. But that's the thing. There's huge ancient monsters out there. Though somewhat competent, you've kinda gotten the feel off of each other that your party is sorta new to this. Well, apart from Grunkar of course...<br/><br/>Not that you've had too much time to ask about him yet, or really get to know each other at all.<br/><br/>The reason you're gathered right now (besides Mrs. Daggerwand's baked breakfast goods) is job offer Aladdin gave you. Yesterday someone had broken into the inn after closing hour (which is pretty damn late), crashed half the liquor, and made a ruckus. They escaped before innkeeper could catch them, but left behind a gift: A two store tall paining in blood - an ominous hieroglyph.<br/><br/>You were allowed to inspect it before cleaning. Scripture in an odd language circled a seemingly monstrous being, some sort of woman growing from the head of a slug-creature with tendrils and squid-sails on its sides.<br/><br/>In addition Aladdin gave you his best replica drawing of the horrible scene, just in case you could help.<br/><br/><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/1qWDaNd.png)</div><br/>Now it's up to you what to do. You're pretty well set up to adventure. You could look around the town and see if there's anything going on, or perhaps the newest ship has brought something interesting along?<strong>What do you do?</strong>