Latest Report

It has been some time since I was last able to send in a report, nor am I sure which of my dispatches have reached your noble eyes, so I will endeavor to elucidate what I have discovered this past year succinctly. In consideration for the back of the poor soul who will need to carry this dispatch, I will refrain from my normal illustrations and witty commentary. I know you will be heartbroken, so I will include a small packet of the most delightful elven tea that I discovered on an island with dinosaurs. I will not blame you one bit if you were to pause to make some of the tea. Allow it to steep until it becomes dark and serve with a healthy dollop of honey. This will allow the hibiscus to really sing.

A year ago at midnight, I stumbled through a barely operational gateway that led from the outskirts of Coopersvale to a seemingly island Paradise. This place had it all. White sandy beaches, clear turquoise seas, drinks with little umbrellas served by some of the most attractive men and women I have ever laid eyes on. So well tanned, but this paradise was teetering precariously on the edge of pit. Filled with razors, acid, snakes, and door-to-door salesmen.

The Endless Isles was the name of the place I found myself, Star City to be specific. The government is nearly nonexistent, with the power balanced between three main groups: The Golden Scales, the elves, and the Commonwealth of Waves. The Golden Scales is ruled by merchant princes who weigh every decision by how greatly it will line their individual pockets. The elves are a shadow of a once great, if despotic, elven empire. They control some of the most talented craftsmen, as is evident by the tea I sent and this amazing silk shirt I am wearing. It is a creamy blue color that makes me feel as if I were wrapped in the sky itself. You will just have to run your hands all over it to appreciate the craftsmanship, which brings me to the Commonwealth. Those louts you will never catch wearing silks. These are your farmers and the more coarse laborers that are always needed to make society function, but smell is atrocious. The most populous group by a large margin only seems to have a seat at the table due to their overwhelming numbers and food production. Interesting note about the Commonwealth is that they have laws limiting the age of their elected officials to under 50. Something about a war with the old elves. Neat law if limiting; most dwarves do not get interesting until their 8th decade.

There are two more groups that are not officially part of the political landscape but have great sway over every facet of life on the islands. The Pirates and the Mystics. The Pirates are a loose confederacy of cutthroat opportunists who both work for and prey on each of the other groups. They hold significant military might when compared to the Golden Scale or the Commonwealth, but they are too busy trying to stab each other in the back to leverage it. The Mystics are odd, and I am having trouble determining if they would be a threat to your interest or not. They seem to be comprised of altruistic mages who are capable of feats of magic not replicable via formal. It requires great effort on their part, with mystics in the dozens needing hours of chanting to even identify an item. It was the mystics, led by a man named Baelin, who opened the gateway to Cerroneth in the first place. I have personally witnessed several of their numbers die during one of their longer rituals, so I do not doubt their dedication. I just do not trust their lack of clear motivation.