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With some rather awkward first introductions out of the way, The Lands Trio were told to meet the Chieftain at The Blue Sailor. It is a favorite stop amongst the Outriders, hence the name. An abundance of laughter, cheer, and chatter can be heard even from beyond its doors. Friends, family, and strangers alike may all congregate at one of G’eelm Outpost’s many bars to bond over food, drink, and small talk. A favorite pastime shared by many an Outrider is the art of storytelling. Throughout their years of seafaring, they are bound to have picked up many bizarre and interesting stories stemming from the mysterious waters of the Cobalt Sea. And, well, Chieftain Xander is certainly guilty as charged. He is somewhat known for often hyperbolizing his wild stories at sea when reenacting them to those back home, or even to his fellow sailors that shared the experience. Alas, each story is deeply rooted in reality, just enhanced with a bit of Xander’s bombastic flair to make the thrill of the story have a greater impact on those listening in.

Likewise, the Chieftain had quite the story to tell The Lands Trio upon their arrival at The Blue Sailor. Zenchi, Ithaca, and Roseland all sat around the table with Xander, curious as to what he had to say. Zenchi recalled back to something he said at the shipyard, poking for any further clarification, “So, you knew we were coming, but how?” As it turned out, Xander knew of this day’s meeting far ahead of time. The mature buffalo explained, “Aye, 'twas an ol' buddy o' mine that sent ye. I didn't expect there to be three o' ya, but it'll be a big 'elp. Now...we might 'ave a chance...” Some months ago, while Zenchi was traveling through various towns completing tasks and quests as a mercenary, she stumbled upon an older fellow of particular interest. He was a retired sailor, claiming to be from G’eelm Outpost, which was on the complete opposite side of Evercrest. How he ended up so far from home, well, she would learn the unfortunate truth of. He bore concerning scars across his body, clearly indicating some form of battle damage. When Zenchi asked the old fellow what happened to him, he seemed to be avoiding answering the question directly, simply telling her that some scars run deep enough to change a man. He was a former Outrider, there was no doubt about that, but what could have been so traumatizing as to force him to leave his life as a sailor behind? He was vague but told Zenchi just enough for her to know that something was clearly amiss at G’eelm Outpost. From there, he told her to meet with the Chieftain of the Outriders to learn more. It was a tall ask, beckoning her to travel across the entire country to uncover the answers she was so keen on. Needless to say, the Hero Of The Lands took the old sailor up on his request, promising him that she would get to the bottom of this dilemma. Of course, it was by pure chance that, during her travels, she had recruited her childhood best friend and a foreign bounty hunter along the way. Bringing things back up to the here and now, Xander knew all along that Zenchi would show up, thanks to her widespread reputation and the direct invitation through his retired sailor comrade. Of course, Ithaca and Roseland were surprise additions, but immensely welcome, nonetheless. However, Ithaca noted something that Xander said in his clarification, “A chance? For what?” The all-powerful Chieftain appeared to be deep in thought, closing his eyes and looking down at his mug. And then, a request, “Ya see lassies, the Outriders need yer help. *I* need yer help.” He paused for a brief second, before revealing the grand issue at hand, “There's...a monster out there.” The Cobalt Sea was no safe haven, hence the Outriders’ battle-hardened nature. Roseland began to piece things together, but she still required further information before making a final judgment, “Hmm...elaborate.” The trio’s adventure across Evercrest was all leading up to this encounter. The only thing they could do now was listen to the Chieftain’s story. But this story would be no hyperbole, no exaggeration. It would be the pure, unfiltered truth of the Cobalt Sea and the Outriders’ true purpose.