You board the trade and passenger vessel Sea Drake in Thayur, the major trade hub along the eastern seaboard. Your plan: to sail from Thayur to the northern desert port city of Abad-Noir, then maybe along to Brookhaven, Port Ramall, and eventually Noxport. These cities are all major ports along the main trade roads that connect the continent’s interior.

The captain brags this is the regular trade and passenger route he has sailed safely a dozen times. Seamus Drake, the fourth generation of his family to become a sailor, is now captain of the Sea Drake. He follows in the footsteps of his forefathers. The ship has passed down from father to son to son over the decades, and much of her crew also descends from the original sailors. Loyalty runs deep on board the ship. A strong clan-bond exists among this crew.

The captain welcomes you aboard while the crew loads the last of the trade goods into the hold. As you look over the rail towards the wharf, you notice a commotion as a squad of city guards approaches the ship.

Six armored guards surround a chained, almost naked gray-green half-orc. The figure towers head and shoulders above them. He wears nothing but a leather breech-cloth, and calf high leather boots with thick fur that reach above his ankles. His long, unkempt, dark red hair falls below the middle of his back. He keeps it held behind his pointed ears with eagle feathers. Old wounds scar his arms, body, and legs. His emerald green eyes are bloodshot and wild with suppressed fury.

An officer leads the heavily muscled half-orc by a chain attached to an iron collar. More chains bind the man at wrists and ankles. Three guards bring up the rear of the procession carrying oversize gear. One man holds a huge double-edged greatsword, another an enormous crossbow and quiver of bolts. A third guard struggles with a crude leather backpack and bedroll.

You watch as the captain, followed by several burly sailors, stalks down to the gangplank to address the group.

“What’s the meaning of this?” you hear Captain Drake demand.

“Our orders, Sir,” the squad leader answers, handing a pouch of coins to the captain. “Commander Klaye bids you get him as far away as this pouch’ll take him. The commander wants him gone. And if he gives you trouble, commander says to toss him overboard.”

“But…” sputters the captain as the guards drop the man on the ground. The trailing squad drops the man’s belongings behind him.

“Commander don’t want him back in the city.” With that, the leader turns on his heel and sets his guard on the dock around the ship.

You watch the captain speak with the half-orc, but can’t hear the conversation that follows. The half-orc relaxes and looks thoughtful. He raises an eyebrow and grins, showing off his shiny tusks. The two shake hands, and wary guards remove the shackles. Crew members take the weapons and pack below decks. The Captain and half-orc then disappear into the officers’ quarters.

You notice that the anxiously muttering city guards maintain their positions at the bottom of the gangway. Apparently, to ensure their former prisoner does not return to the docks. They keep their hands on or near their weapons. A bell later, the ship casts off and you sail east toward the open ocean.