What has gone before
Baldar met up with the group, obviously under the weather from one of his infamous "nights out" (in fact, he looked like he hadn't slept in a week). He was wearing a new sword, obviously of good quality. He also brought news of a Nonar Ferickan, a Hcetlac Cleric organizing a architectural expedition to Tawhiem. Several others had noticed placards posted around town offering employment for a mere group to accompany the same expedition. Everyone decided it was a good idea and headed down to see Nonar. The initial meeting resulted in Nonar making an offer. The expedition was to set sail in four days accompanied by the KLW Haffer.
The rest of the afternoon was spent at a local bar, sucking down "Bythe's Best", a nice local brew. It was well known that Tawhiem Beer smelled and tasted like armpit juice. A small, dark, well dressed stranger approached the group and asked if they had per chance come across a dagger with a strange symbol on the hilt in the course of their journey to Hediro, and suggested a 10 gold piece reward would be in order if they could produce it. The offer was politely declined with any knowledge of a dagger disclaimed.

The group headed back later that evening to get a tour of the Free Trader Backburner that would be carrying the expedition to Tawhiem. A tough looking mere named Bearclaw was talking with Nonar, suggesting that Nonar was hiring a spud crew to hide the importance of the mission, and that he should reconsider since it was known all over the waterfront that he had spent the last week with Vanderhoven, the Hcetlac Temple Archpriest. Nonar declined to comment, but told the group after Bearclaw left that they would leave the next morning without military escort (chancing the occasional pirates). The group went to gather the bare necessities, only to find their various accommodations had been ransacked that afternoon. Nothing was apparently stolen, and everyone returned to the Backburner that evening. During the night, two large lobster like creatures attacked the boat. They were repelled with some injury, but no real damage to boat or personnel. The sailors were greatly afraid, however, having never seen anything like it before. Several sailors concluded that similar creatures might have had something to do with the light merchant that sank at dock a few nights before.

The ship got underway the next morning without incident. Ziwa had a unusually vivid and pleasant dream during the first night out, but could not remember what had caused it. A day and half out a storm blew up unexpectedly, and the ship was forced to run for the ring islands, taking shelter in the channel to the inner lagoon. During the night, a storm battered pirate ship was spotted heading for the channel. While the crew watched, a black ship twice the size of a Kethem Heavy Warship closed on a collision course at a unbelievable speed. The ship left a glowing wake behind it. The pirate ship lashed out with Firebolts that appeared to be as large or larger than any that had been seen in Kethem before. The black ship appeared to be unaffected, however, and cut the pirate vessel in two about a quarter mile outside the channel. Nonar had retrieved a silver bowl from his carefully guarded carrying case, filled it with water, and was staring into it. He reported that the black ship turned south after ramming the pirate and continued on that course until he lost it two miles out. He also stated that it carried roughly twice the crew of a KHW and was traveling at about thirty knots (the Backburner averages about 6) . Boffin, the overweight Naval Intel representative, slept through the entire encounter but took careful notes from everyone afterward.

The Backburner pulled into Nol, the Tawhiem trading grounds, without further incident. A elvish ship was noted to be in port, with its graceful, catlike lines and apparently miniature mast. Nonar immediately set off to barter with the Ibisi, the native tribe that maintained a careful neutrality that made them one of the few tribes welcome throughout Tawhiem. The Ibisi leader, Arab Rellet, had somewhat hostile words with Nonar about some incident that occurred at a place called Nostrilia. Nonar replied that this trip was to Smaegen, not Nostrilia, and had been set up long before the Nostrilia incident had happened. Arab Rellet relented, but doubled the normal price (which was in the vicinity of 150 gold pieces worth). Nonar finally offered a Quality sword as the difference, to which the Chief agreed readily. The lead guide was Arab Mycain, who became very friendly after listening to Guide's song of Arab Myina's bravery in killing fifty seven Urakia with his bare hands.

Nonar and the group set out for the Backburner to get things ready for the departure. On the way, however, a group of elves intercepted the party. The Seniormost, Hotherial, appeared to know Nonar by the name Fra Rentec. The youngest, Brogart, a young and oddly stocky (in comparison to the other four) elf, obviously knew Fra as well. The entire group was invited to the Theninesselian, the Elvish ship noted in port, for lunch. Fra graciously accepted despite Brogart's occasionally rude familiarity. Hotherial, Brogart, and the other three elves (Wife Salsedia, Salvronee ["understudy"] Forthuen, and friend Besancalthien) appeared to know Ziwa as well, Brogart showing an emotion somewhere between fear and loathing. Hotherial promised Ziwa a present after lunch. Hotherial also recognized "the infamous Guido" and suggested that he and Baldar play for him sometime.

At lunch, it was noted that several unfriendly Tawhiemers were the servants on the Theninesselian. They turned out to be members of the Kirander tribe. During lunch, Hotherial told Fra a story about a powerful magic sword called Changeling. The story told of the original owner, Gensiadia, who became one of the most powerful individuals after the fall of the High Council. She was killed by her lover, however, who kept the sword for himself until he in turn was killed in ambush. The sword passed from hand to hand in violent fashion until Morgaine, a daughter of Gensiadia, claimed the sword and promised to carry it to the end of the world and destroy it. She and a group of faithful servants and friends set out three hundred years ago and had never been heard of since. This caused Fra some trepidation, and he replied with a story seemingly unrelated to Hotherial's, concerning Kethem's continually growing isolation from its neighbors. Hotherial read something into this, obviously, for he wished Fra luck despite their "disagreement".

A few other things happened at lunch. Baldar and Guido played for Hotherial very, very badly. Hotherial complemented Fra on a ring he wore, and many in the group noticed for the first time that it was the exact same kind of ring they had seen on Lord Holder Montor's finger the day of the assassination attempt. Guido suggested to Hotherial that Baldar was strangely taken with some woman he had met in Bythe and believed he might be charmed. Hotherial spoke with Baldar, asking him to examine a large black pearl, and seemed unpleasantly surprised when Baldar was apparently unaffected by holding it. Finally, as the group was about to leave, Hotherial gave his present to Ziwa. It was an elvish sword named Facinalethvree ["Travelers Path"]. Fra was stunned; later, he explained that the rumor was that an elf died for each elvish sword in existence, and that less than a half dozen of the swords had ever been seen by non elves.

As the party was returning from the Elvish vessel, Fra suggested that despite Hotherial's pleasant demeanor, he was not necessarily operating in Kethem's best interest. He told a story about Pedwar Pythaen, who had killed Myya Zerhundia, the Kirander Chief Myya Zerhun's son, when the son attempted to return from his manhood rites with three Moratyr heads instead of the four he had promised. This saved the Kirander Chief's honor, and put him in debt to Pedwar. Kethem Naval Intelligence saw an opening into the tribe with the tightest ties to the Elves and attempted to establish friendly relations through Pedwar. A young member of the Kethem party, Tallow Sprathen, went to see a Salsenahain (a wandering oracle) named lant Uial ["twilight bridge"], who told the young man that his wife was cheating on him with Pedwar. Tallow attempted to kill Pedwar but was stopped, and Naval Intel decided that lant Uial might have been attempting to cause trouble in the negotiations. They had lant kidnaped by a sleazy Tawhiem tribe called the Tuga, who accidentally killed the old man in the attempt. Unfortunately, lant Uial was Myya Zerhia, Myya Zerhuns father, before he joined the Salsenahain. Myya Zerhun declared bloodfeud against Kethem as a result.

As the party departed Nol, they noted two men fighting. A member of the Tuga (wolverine) tribe and the Kodor tribe were in a stylized ring fighting with traditional spear and shield. The fight was caused by the young Tuga declaring that he would take a Kavar head for his manhood rights when the Tuga and Kavar did not have a bloodfeud. The Kodor suggested that he take a Moratyr head instead. The Tuga said the bias against the Moratyr was antiquated and foolish. This was enough to result in the duel. The Kodor won the fight. As the party was leaving, however, it was noticed that one of the spectators that had bet on the Tuga was following. Later in the day Guido and a Ibisi hid along the great ring road the group was traveling down long enough to discover seven Tuga warriors on horseback following the party. A council was held, and the party decided to head north earlier than they originally planned to shake the tail. During that evening, Boffin, the Naval Intel Rep, died during an attack by some Kodor lizards, although no marks could be found on the body.
The party buried Boffin after picking his magically protected money belt, which contained documents that Fra would not let anyone else look at.

The party ran into the Vulf tribesmen with their Bear familiars. The Vulf were upset because the Kirander, who bordered them along a set of low foothills, had attempted several penetrations during the day. They felt intuitively that this had something to do with the party from Kethem. Arab Mycain convinced them that the group had done nothing wrong. The Vulf escorted the party to a gap in the foothills leading into Kodor lands. The way was paved with very old walls and almost completely destroyed ruins that had been left behind by the dreaded Chen-Kunda five hundred years before. Mr. Magoo noted a secret door in one wall, and the group decided to investigate.