<div class="floatleft">(http://www.elizabethi.org/contents/essays/roberts/interiorsmall.jpg)</div>It is a cold and rainy day in the port city of Augustana in the country of Andoran. The legends of Taldor, which once held rule of this region, range far and wide, of valiant knights that leave home and hearth to defeat great evils, of righteous quests where depravities are halted and the land is saved from some unfortunate calamity. However, it is also an empire in decline; Qadira invading threw the country into a tumult from which it had barely recovered  only for Cheliax to revolt and declare its independence under the banner of Aspex the Even-Tongued. Andoran, Galt, and Isger fell beneath his rule before the empire recognized Cheliax as independent. This was decades ago, and the empire continues to remain almost in ruins.<br/><br/>Taldor, for its part, had since declared its own independence from the fledgling new empire of Cheliax, abolishing all forms of slavery and declaring that each and every member was not only free, but also equal. This created a tumult within the country as various former members of the mobility raged in internal struggles for power while at the same time attempting to maintain all appearances of following the new laws. Since then the conflicts have died down to less volatile levels, but there are still a few who mutter behind closed doors that things were better under the rule of Cheliax when slaves were traded like commodities, but for the most part the commoners are happy, able to hold open discussions regarding the direction in which their country is going.<br/><br/>You can be found in a small alehouse named the Tattered Flag. Word has spread of your recent conquest of Nadexamir's crypt where a fell necromancer was set to unleash a wave of shadows upon the country in order to turn all of Andoran, and then the world, into his faithful servitors. It was only through great teamwork and your individual abilities that you were able to turn the tide, beating your way down to his very doorstep before defeating the evil wizard. Your deeds have garnered great acclaim after you brought back proof of the necromancy at work, and every alehouse you enter greets you with a cheer and a round of drinks on the house, as well as warm beds for your services.<br/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/oA0vHYy.png)</div>Within the Tattered Flag, voices are raised as various countrymen and citizens argue with one-another for one policy or another, the rain having driven most of them inside to the warm comfort of hearth-fires, lamps, and ale or cider. Mud has been tracked within, but the barkeep assures guests that as soon as it becomes warm once more he will set his maids to clean the place as it would do little good with more patrons trickling in and leaving their tracks on the floor.<br/><br/>Those near the door grumble as the door opens once more, letting a draft sweep into the warmth before the door is hurriedly closed; a young boy, little more than a decade in years, enters the tavern and quickly moves towards the bartender, though sight of him is occluded due to the bodies that block view. He trades a few words with the bartender who nods and points with an empty cup he cleans at your table. Bowing and thanking the bartender, the young boy moves just as quickly towards you, and pulls off his rain-drenched cloak and hat. He nervously approaches, producing a sealed letter from within one pocket, only slightly damp from the pelting rain outside.<br/><br/><strong>"Beg your pardon, Sirs, and Ma'ams,"</strong>he greets you shyly,<strong>"I've this letter for you. Been told to deliver it to this very place today, and that was more than a week ago. Didn't realize until the other day that it was addressed to heroes,"</strong>he swallows, still nervous at the chance to speak to such great figures of legend, and proffers the wax-sealed envelope for your perusal.