The tide struck against the high cliffs, the clouded sky casting a shadow across the waters. It was barely past noon but a darkness remained over the land, after the storm that had raged for a week, forcing all ships to remain at port. The town of New Haven had been playing a host to festival just before the storm started, and had brought many people together within its walls for the duration of the storm. Now that it was ending, people were looking forward to going their ways.<br/><br/>The streets were still wet, with small puddles formed here and there amidst the cobblestones, the two-story buildings of stone and brick standing proudly along the main street, showing off the wealth of New Haven. There were some cheaper, wooden buildings towards the edge further from the ocean, but as a port town its wealth was concentrated around the town square and the wealth of the stores there.<br/><br/>The island had once had a name of its own, but ever since New Haven was built, the island had been refered to as New Haven as well, though most usually just called it 'the island' when at shore and speaking of wandering about. It was not a strange thing either, given that New Haven was built on the ruins of an old city, though most of those ruins had been cleared out centuries ago. The longer-lived races might recall what it was back then, but for humans, it had been a handful of generations already since then.<br/><br/>The salty breeze carried out from the shores, the large docks housing the four ships that had come to rest within for the duration of the storm.<br/><br/><em>The Valiant</em>- A Ship of the Crimson Kingdom, it was the magocracy's fine warship that had chosen New Haven for its port in the storm. The Crimson Kingdom was thought to be a rather harsh, brutal place to live for the average person, but anyone who wanted to advance within it had to learn magic and show talent with it. Word was that within Crimson Kingdom lay the best Academy for the magic-oriented people, but there were some that were unwilling to put up with the teachings, particularily those pertaining to the worship of the Ruby Goddess herself. The heavily reinforced warship was a show of power to the other nations, but also an escort to one of the other ships at the dock.<br/><br/><em>Swift Maiden</em>- Ship belonging to the Guild was a slender, swift ship, though forced to travel alongside Valiant it was moving slower than usual, but the reason was clear for the dockworkers and everyone else who had listened to the rumors about that ship. It's hold was full of magical materials brought from Crimson Kingdom to be sold elsewhere, enchanted metals intended to be taken somewhere to be forged into a shape fitting for their purpose, whether it was to serve as an armor, a weapon, or a tool, each sheet and rod of metal within was costly, already strengthened with basic magic rites. Guild didn't make bad deals, they had excellent artisans and crafts people, they were responsible for a lot of the trade going on within the major islands and archipelagos. The weakness that Guild had was its contempt for the less profitable journeys, and the almost cold stance it had for anyone at risk at sea.<br/><br/><em>The Moth</em>- A Scooner resting at the docks belonging to a woman that set sail for reasons of her own, and according to the rumors the woman herself was in town while the crew was returning to the ship while the storm had finally died out.<br/><br/>Lastly, there was<em>The Jackal</em>- Strange ship with golden figurehead of a man with the head of a jackal raised. The ship was made of dark wood, but much of its exterior was reinforced with gold and steel. It might have invited some curious people to try and rob from it, if not for the spikes adorning the sides of the hull. The vessel looked like it could cause severe harm to any other just by coming too close, and in the front of the ship a long metal ram shaped like an arrowhead pushed ahead at the waterline. Any ship in that weapon's path would be in for a quick journey to the bottom.<br/><br/>Up in the town, an old man leaned back in his chair at the<em>Lazy Dragon</em>inn, patting an old map before him and smirking, looking at the people before him with his good eye, a black patch covering the other. Dressed in fine clothing of a captain, the old man spoke seriously. "I agreed to pay for your meal today if you listened to me. So. The storm is finally giving up, and that means its a good time to set sail from here. Unfortunately, the people I hired to carry me earlier met with an unfortunate end during the storm, their ship never reaching port in time so I doubt I will be seeing them again. So, I am interested to hear what it would take to motivate you to investigate this for me."<br/><br/>Upon the map was an image of an island shaped like a crescent moon, with the long slender arms of the islands curving south with the thicker 'back' towards the north. "I tell you the location of this island, and you go there and investigate it for me. I got information from a reliable source that within this island rests a tribe of greenskins. Orcs, goblinoids and whatever slaves they have taken, and they are guarding something of value within their lair at the base of this mountain."<br/><br/>From the looks of it, the island was originally risen by an underwater earthquake, with a set of worn mountains at the heart of its curved back, with tall cliffs protecting the main body of the island from the tides, but the branching arms of the island offering sandy beaches to rise to shore on.<br/><br/>"The island is some eleven miles long, and at its thickest, its four miles wide at its 'spine'. It should be possible for you to search it for the greenskins and whatever of value they are keeping. I have a client who is very interested in both acquiring what their leader is holding to keep the Orcs and other greenskins together instead of fighting one another, and you would also be doing a service to the islands here. If those orcs get more organized still, they will soon be setting sail for raids, and I am not talking simple pirates-looting-and-runnings raids, but rape, pillage and then burn kind of raids." The old man smiled faintly, adjusting the long blue overcoat he wore, the symbol of crossed swords upon it beneath a golden shield with a 'G' upon it marked him a Guild representative. Guild hardly ever did anything without a strong financial reason.<br/><br/>"Of course, if you would rather be carrying the supplies stuck on this island to another now that the storm is fading, you are better off talking to the harbormaster. Either way, for just listening, your breakfast is on me." The old man smirked, but looked at the people, waiting.