It was early morning sometime in the middle of Paleswelt, and the fog was rising from the salt marshes surrounding the harbor of Starport. Overlooking the city, Flamewarden Keep's walls stood stark and gray against the rose of dawn coloring the sky to the east. The once-proud castle had fallen into disrepair in recent years, the soldiers for the most part deserted, the surrounding lands permitted to lay fallow. Lord Flamewarden, it was rumored, had turned to seeking salvation in strong drink following a jousting accident that left his only son paralyzed; his wife had fallen ill and died soon thereafter. This morning, a lone rider departed the keep, heading towards Starport. This rider was Lorraine Flamewarden, daughter of the house, a tall figure, clad in armor instead of a proper dress and sitting astride her horse like a warrior, rather than adopting a highborn lady's pose. With the family fortunes as low as they were, the young lady had decided to seek her fortune on the roads - there must be something to do for a blade-for-hire. Solamnia wasn't known for being a peaceful nation, and failing that, there were always the border conflicts - with Nightlund to the northeast, with Throt and Taman Busuk south of that... and failing that, maybe on shipboard. Or maybe in other ways and places...