Introduction

Backstory

Elias De'costa was a successful smuggler operating from Port Llast. His success was granted to him by a rare artifact he held in his possession, named the Leviathan's Tear. This artifact allowed Elias to navigate a region of dangerous shoals and reefs, otherwise considered too dangerous. His daughter, Elara, was born with a weak heart which was widely considered couldn't be fixed by either magical or natural means. However, Elias managed to find an artificer who constructed a device that could be placed in Elara's chest, next to her heart, causing it to beat reliably from that point forward (think a D&D pacemaker). This device required an item of considerable magical power to keep running throughout Elara's entire life, and so Elias gave the only thing he could, the Leviathan's Tear.

Although he still managed to operate as a successful smuggler thereafter - capitalizing on the reputation he had built for himself and the skills he had gained - he was never quite the same, and the risk seemed to great, so it wasn't long thereafter that he "partially" retired. Having earnt quite a great deal of wealth he was able to purchase a home for his wife and daughter. He still takes the occasional legitimate job, whenever the call of the ocean becomes too loud to be ignored, but for the most part he derives joy from seeing the good young woman his daughter is growing up to become.

Elsewhere in Port Llast is Silas Thorne. Silas runs an organisation of criminals (without a known name) that runs a protection racket on the ports, essentially all vessels docking at Port Llast must pay a protection fee to Silas and his organisation, which will see their vessel and its goods well cared for, but if the fee is not paid, then the vessel can just about guarantee that some ill fate will befall it. Silas built this organisation through sheer determination and hard work, he is shrewd, pragmatic and - all in all - quite fair. He doesn't charge exorbitant protection fees, and is generally quite fair and reasonable, and it is for this reason that the captains and various trading companies passing through Port Llast don't dispute his protection fees - as they are likely much better than an unknown alternative that would undoubtedly arise in the power vacuum that would arise if he were to be removed.

Silas's son is named Darius. He is 27 years old and lacks much of the intelligence, wisdom and charisma of his father. Although he will never admit it, he feels a great pressure to live up to his father's legacy and earn the respect that he sees others pay to his father. However, he has been over-eager to make his mark, which has caused him to act brashly and build a reputation for himself as an entitled, foolish boy. Darius learned of the Leviathan's Tear, and believes that if he can retrieve it from Elias, he can establish a new smuggling operation for himself, adding a branch to his father's operation which is under his control, and proving to his father, himself and the people of Port Llast that he is capable of building something for himself, and is worthy of inheriting his father's empire (one day).

The characters are a part of an adventuring party which has been hired to protect a trading ship known as the Beckoning Horizon. They arrive in Port Llast and witness Darius Thorne and some of his associates accosting Elias in an attempt to force him to give up the Leviathan's Tear. However, as it is keeping his daughter alive, Elias simply cannot give up the artifact, nor can he reveal its location.

The Party

Level

Players should create characters of Level 5.

Alignment

The party should be good-aligned characters, who would be prepared to help a defenseless man if they witnessed him being set upon by bullies.

Equipment

Each member of the party can start the game with the following magic items:

2 Common Items,
3 Uncommon Items,
1 Rare Item.

In addition, they may each have 1000 gold pieces, which they may spend on non-magical items or equipment as they see fit (any money they don't spend they can keep as their personal wealth).

Timeline guide