Please read In Recent Years: Introduction before reading this post.
Year 1481
In Eastpoint, an independent city state on the edge of East Radregar, the East Storm Company works for hire by the highest bidder. From their veritable castle, the Storm Fort, the mercenaries of the Company ply their trade locally and abroad, in the form of ships, swords, and sorcery. Their reach can be felt in a number of ways, among them…
Tirak—or Tirakaquel, by his birthname—is a new recruit, though he’s hardly a fresh mercenary. Upon joining up, he demonstrates his skill honed from a history he alludes to as previous mercenary work, and he is promptly assigned to the squad of a mercenary named Adrix. Tirak is assigned to shadow Ralist until he is officially recruited to the East Storm. The team is tasked with beating up a city Councillor’s lackey, to help another Councillor earn more sway. He easily demonstrates his skill to the team as they disguise their mission with a tavern brawl.
Mavri works as a blacksmith for the Company, currently assigned to a large contingent of mercenaries that has been dispatched to deal with a rebellious village—Velend’s Grove. She grows a little suspicious when Kelren, the chief magician among the Company’s ranks, comes to her to borrow tools capable of determining the integrity of a gemstone, but Kelren has never acted against the Company’s interests. If anything, he is just another enigmatic wizard. Mavri and the contingent receives news from Eastpoint that a hurricane will make landfall soon, so they prepare an attack of opportunity against Velend’s Grove. As the torrential rains pour down, Mavri and the mercenaries seize the town itself, isolating most of the rebels in the surrounding hills during the severe storm.
Relatively far from Eastpoint, Talina of Warim sails on the Boundless Star, an East Storm galley providing protection to the ship of a Councillor from Eastpoint. When the hurricane of 1481 approaches the coast nearby, the Boundless Star puts in to shore for shelter, along with their protected vessel. Tali and her shipmates discover substantial damage after the worst of the storm has passed—they are forced to beach the vessel and begin repairs. Their charge, the Crown Traveller, is forced to wait on anchor while the crew sets to work.
Kelren Bellar, senior mage for the East Storm Company, worries about the Isle of Dusk, the neutral meeting place for all magicians. For the last couple months, his spell charm has been dim, indicating that someone at the Isle has signaled that it is not safe. After checking for inconsistencies, Kelren dispatches his subordinates to investigate, while he is stuck carrying out his primary duties for the Company. Sergeant Cardan dispatches Kelren and a troop of veterans to force some of the rebels of Velend’s Grove out of the caves, when the hurricane bears down on the region.