Theric leaned against the banister of the Wave Skimmer as it pulled steadily into the Stormcrest Port. He had been a passenger aboard the ship for the last two weeks and had regretted every second of it. Phelom’s ocean may have looked closer to Dragon Realm Stratus on the world map, but it might have as well been on the other side of the world to Theric.

Theric adjusted his wind goggles over his dirty blonde hair and moved his red scarf over his mouth. His armor still bore the insignia of a Guardian of the Frost, but he was now far from that title. He gestured for his dragon whelp to follow him as both stepped off the ship.

“Scion, this Uzufrey said we would be meeting her in the Dirty Goat tavern,” he said to his familiar. He expected no response from the whelpling as he often spoke to her, and as usually, it just shrieked a response.

Theric scrunched his nose from the sharp smell of chopped fish and squid basking in the sun. An old fishmonger wiped away a layer of guts with a rag as the Guardian hailed him, “You, fishmonger, where might I find the Dirty Goat Tavern?”

The Old Man pointed to a row of run down fishing shacks. “Two streets down and to the left, you’ll find the Leaky Goat Tavern.”

“You mean the Dirty Goat?” asked Theric, hoping to confirm the location of where he needed to go.

“Storm’s coming in soon, you’ll see why we call it the Leaky Goat.” the fishmonger chuckled.

Theric looked up to the sky, dark clouds rolled into the bay and rumbled over head. “We better get moving, Scion” muttered Theric.

***

The tavern was true to both names. The filth of mud tracked in by patrons caked the rotting floor planks of the establishment and rain dripped from holes in the ceiling. A goose waddled in the corner honking and preening its feathers.

Theric walked up to the bar and slapped the counter with a copper coin. “Mead,” he said.

The bartender slid over a wooden stein tipping froth over its rim. Theric took a sip and frowned, it had a bitter, salty taste like the sweat of a smelly sock.

“Your beer tastes like it's your socks soaking in the keg,” gagged Theric.

The bartender shrugged. “Where else am I supposed to clean my laundry?”

Theric glanced at his mead and raised a brow. “Point taken.” He settled the stein back on the counter. He turned and saw only two others sitting at a round table. One was an elven maiden. She wore a silver long coat with a large claymore strapped to her back. The sword shimmered with intricate runes. Her eyes glowed with a faint pink light from her irises. Across from her sat a young man, in his twenties— slightly younger than himself. He was clad in black and forest green leather, a wide dark scaled hood veiled part of his face. His fingers fiddled with a knife of a translucent blue aura around it.

The elf looked up at Theric and gestured to him to sit down. “Take a seat, friend, we are still waiting for the old Draconian.”

“You await Uzufrey too?” asked Theric as he took a seat besides the sword wielding maiden.

“We were all chosen by her,” she said, “Each one of us was approached by her to accept a quest in exchange for our greatest desire.”

Theric nodded. “Uzufrey promised me my honor back.”

“Honor?” scoffed the hooded figure.

“It’s a long story…” Theric trailed off.

“We all have long stories. Long, pathetic stories,” sneered the hooded man. “It’s how we were hand picked.” he turned to the elf. “Aeslin is a Silver Mage in the Long Whisper’s Magical Investigation Corps. Tell him, girl.”

Aeslin nodded. “My unit was sent to Phelom to study a magical anomaly, a rift in time and space. It leaked…a strange wolf-like creature. We were attacked and it was strong. He pulled my friends into the portal. I-I never saw them again— lost in the aether.”

“Uzufrey promised her that she could bring her people back,” finished the hooded man.

“And you?” asked Theric.

The man pulled back his hood, revealing his ghostly, white face and dark golden eyes. He gave a thin smile, only slight enough to show off his fangs.

“A vampire!?” exclaimed Theric.

“Yes, half vampire. My mother fell in love with a charming vampiric man named Athari. He decided not to turn her, but she died in childbirth all the same. He took me into his court, and raised me to take pity on the mortals, but his court had other plans.” he took a long breath and grazed his cheek with a slender finger. “The court was of the Wintertide. They wished to bring forth their insane god, Dahlemar, back into this world and cause havok like they had in the past. My father and I fled, but they eventually found us and killed him, leaving me for dead.”

Theric shook his head. “You wish to have your vengeance?”

“No, there are other vampires that are too afraid to speak out against the leader of the court. I want Uzufrey’s influence to raise an army to free them.”

“Xaveon has a noble wish, but what of you, stranger?” Aeslin asked Theric.

Theric looked at his white dragon whelp, as if asking her permission to tell his story. “I am not ready to tell you all yet, just know that I was once a Guardian of the Frost, but since then have been banished. I want to go back into the Guard.”

“And your name?” asked Xaveon.

“Theric, Theric Kelv, and this my familiar, Scion.”

Scion squawked a delighted chirp.

“Now that you are all acquainted, perhaps it is time I tell you why I have brought you to Phelom?” a gravely, aging voice croaked from behind the three. Shuffling into the tavern came an old dragon person. Her wings were ragged with holes and missing scales. Her horns twisted from her crest and she hobbled with a long gnarled staff. A medicine pouch hung loosely from the crook. Like her wings, she wore brown and gray shredded robes. One eye was crusted over and blind.

“Uzufrey, you made it.” Xaveon rose from his chair. “Rest, ancient one.”

The old dragon shook her head and playfully tickled Scion’s chin. “There is much to discuss, so allow me to begin.” She waited for the three of them to give her their full attention before continuing. “Long before the Guardians of the Frost protected Stratus, my great grandfather served as a knight in the Dragonborne army. For his long tenure as a captain, he was given a lance called the Irethorn. It was a beautifully crafted ceremonial lance that my family kept for centuries. However, in that time, my family entered a civil war, and many of our artifacts were lost, including the lance.”

“I was promised my family’s fortune if I gathered the artifacts. I have found them all, save for the Irethorn,” sighed Uzufrey.

“But the Irethorn is on this island?” asked Aeslin.

“Yes, somewhere on the island of Phelom is a dungeon where the Irethorn is kept. I have learned of a key to unlock this dungeon, but the key is too, lost somewhere on this island.” She lowered her head. “I mean you no harm, but this will be a dangerous quest, for Phelom is a treacherous place.”

“If we find the Irethorn and bring it back to you…” Theric started.

“Then I shall use my fortune to grant you your wishes,” finished Uzufrey.

“I have been to Phelom for my studies, but I know little of its lore,” said Aelisn, “Where can we start?”

“Phelom is a large island, but not without its secrets and paths to follow.” Uzufrey unraveled a large parchment. “I give this map, and I shall point where you may choose to start.”

The Capital is New Star City to the east. It is as good as any place to find information about Phelom's history.

The Misty Monastery to the far northwest is an old building, they may have a library to do research.

Gypsies are known to have tall tales of lores and legends. Their camp is near here, to the west. Surely they know where an ancient Lance is kept.

The Oakenhiem Fortress to the north gets many travelers, so they would be a crossroads for rumors and lore.

The Druids of Oakenhiem know these lands like no other, they are in the northeast.

“Beware of the dangerous beasts and traps of this place. Most wilds are filled to the brim with malevolent creatures— Aeslin can attest to,” finished Uzufrey.

They had their map, their party, and their quest. However, only you can decide where they will go next!

Leave a comment with your choice!