As twilight started to fall over the water, the rosy sunset grew pale and cold. Ahead, Faith saw a beam of light in the distance. It was just a narrow column of yellow light, but it was strong and seemed to reach to the very stars. She leaned slightly over the side of the ship, letting the salty sea wind blow her dark hair back while she studied the column. As she watched, just to the left of the beam every so often a horizontal beam of light would swing from left to right appearing to intersect with the beam near the bottom then it would disappear before reappearing again where it started.

"That's Stormreach, we're almost there," Twila said with excitement. "You are going to love it. That light there, the one going up? That's the Emperor. It's an enormous statue of a giant wearing robes and holding a bowl of light. It's bigger than a real giant, even. The light goes straight up out of it. The smaller light going around, that's the lighthouse. Both of them have been operating ever since this was a giant city, thousands and thousands of years ago."

The lights grew in size as the Sojourn swiftly approached the coast, a brisk wind filling its sails as it made the familiar journey. The Sojourn made the round trip between Stormreach and Korthos Island every week, ferrying passengers back and forth to the island which was both a popular vacation spot and a training school for the Adventurer's Union. The crew was in high spirits since they no longer had to worry about the dragon of Korthos Island sinking them; Faith and her friends had freed the young dragon who had flown back to her home. Many of the passengers were gathering on the deck as the ship drew closer to land.

One of the crew called out, "Is'kel, how 'bout playing a song for us?"

An elven bard Faith recognized from the Adventurer's school pulled out a lute and started to play a song. The crew and many of the passengers sang along; the bouncy tune was a familiar one.

So you're headed off to find your fame,
Life in Xen'drik is no game,
There's too many dangers to relate,
A quick death could be your fate.

Fame and fortune you will know,
Or to Dolurrh your soul will go,
Stormreach, Stormreach ho!
Oh, Stormreach, Stormreach ho!

Ancient secrets hide in ruins far,
Finding them could leave a scar,
If the Traveler should play a joke,
Your way home goes up in smoke.

And when you do find your treasures rare,
Bring them back to Stormreach there,
You will owe a tax to the Coin Lord,
They control the city ward.

Fame and fortune you will know,
Or to Dolurrh your soul will go,
Stormreach, Stormreach ho!
Oh, Stormreach, Stormreach ho!

As the song finished with a cheer, the Sojourn started to make the turn into the harbor. Faith was mesmerized by all the city lights. In addition to the lighthouse and the emperor's beam, she could see a tall tower where an airship with a purple elemental ring was docked. As she watched, the airship pulled away, flying quietly over the harbor.

The harbor looked, at first glance, like any other harbor with wooden piers and ships tied up for the night. But as they drew closer, Faith noticed that a few of the docks as well as a large square building were actually hovering in midair. The pylons holding them aloft were inscribed with glowing yellow runes and rings of light spun around them, falling downward and disappearing like so many rings of smoke. A crane, lined with lights, was busy on the edge of the action, loading and unloading crates. The crane's claw appeared to be suspended by a string of light.

What was most odd to Faith were floating stone towers that were scattered high in the air above the docks. They had the same runes and rings as the pylons supporting the buildings and they spun slowly around, fixed in a spot high over the harbor as if anchored there. Faith could hear people shouting to each other and whistles blowing as the Sojourn pulled into the first slip, right next to the floating building. Even at night, Stormreach harbor was bustling with activity.

"May I have your attention," the captain called out from atop the roof of the main cabin. "I have some announcements.

If you are a new adventurer and do not yet have a place to stay, you may sleep on the Sojourn tonight and get your assigned Union housing when the Office opens tomorrow morning. If you are not staying on the ship tonight, please take all of your belongings with you. We are not responsible for anything left on the ship.

Mind yourself in Stormreach, especially at night. While the Coin Lords have cleaned up much of the crime and placed many wards against offensive magic in public places, there are several gangs in Stormreach that love to see tourists and newcomers getting off the ships. Secure your valuables and stay out of dark alleys.

If you do get into trouble, expect to get yourself out of it. The Stormreach City Guard serves at the pleasure of the Coin Lords.

The Sojourn ships out at daybreak tomorrow so don't get too comfortable if you are sleeping here."

"As if it were possible to get comfortable sleeping on the Sojourn," muttered Twila. "Not that I'll be here, I have to go home and check in with the family."

She glanced at Faith, worried.

"I'd invite you to come stay at our place, but it's just not a good idea this time of year. My parents run two different theaters in House Phiarlan and this is the busy season. Will you be alright here?"

"Oh, I'll be fine. I don't mind one more night on the ship."

"Are you sure? I might be able to track down a friend who's got room..."

"Thanks for offering," Faith smiled at her friend. "I'll be fine here."

The deckhands tied off the many ropes anchoring the Sojourn to the dock and secured the gangplank. Passengers crowded to leave the ship. Most of them headed off to the left where a massive ramp spanned a sheer cliff. Faith sat on a crate to get out of the way.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Twila promised as she joined the crowd headed for the upper harbor. Faith waved to her as Twila glanced back from the top of the ramp, then Faith made a shooing gesture. Twila smiled and disappeared into the crowd.

Thysmac came by, carrying a large bag.

"What's all that?" Faith asked him.

"My luggage," answered a deep voice behind them.

Thysmac turned and smiled. "I'm walking Verona to her rooms,"

He held out a hand to her and she stomped up onto the gangway, then turned back to him with a sweet smile. "You are such a gentleman."

"I'll see ya, Faith," he said. "I've got to go check in with my family before I take on any new work. Good luck."

"Bye, Thys." She was sad to see him go, but glad to be out of earshot of the annoying Verona.

Rorry Malcanus trudged by, looking unhappy.

"Bye, Rorry,"

He looked up and sighed.

"I'll see you around, I guess," he said.

Malut walked up and sat heavily on the crate next to her. Ardan Stoutfield came by and held out his small hand to Malut. Malut nearly shook the halfling off his feet.

"I'll be heading to Cerulean Hills now if you be needing me, either of you. I'll be seeing if my brother needs help for a few days, then I'll be headed back to town ready for adventure. Shall I look you up then?"

"Sure, little buddy. Have fun."

He held out his hand to Faith and she took it and gave him a half-hug with her other arm. He blushed and then hurried down the docks, heading in the general direction of the lighthouse.

The ship was nearly empty now. She was about to suggest finding some dinner to Malut when they heard a yell and a splash near the back of the ship. They both made their way to the back of the ship to find Kalvenor standing there, looking up at a bunch of dwarfs on top of the floating building. As they watched, a dwarf in his underclothing of shorts and vest swam over to a nearby ladder and shook his head back and forth, like a dog. Water sprayed out from his beard.

"Yee-ha! That'll get your blood pumping," cried the dwarf.

"C'mon, you haven't been pier diving since you were knee-high to a kobold," one of the dwarves yelled to Kalvenor.

"That's because I have more sense than a kobold," Kal yelled back. The dwarf turned around and shook his rump at Kal. The others laughed raucously.

"What are you doing back anyway, you old toad? You look fresh off the turnip truck, but I know better!" shouted another scantily clad dwarf. Kal waved dismissively at him; having a chat that the whole harbor could hear wasn't a good idea. The dwarf yelled, "Blood and hornfels!" and jumped from the roof, landing in the water with a huge splash.

"An ale in the hand is worth two in the keg," Kal said to Malut and Faith, jerking his head in the direction of the tavern. "Let's go get some grub. I'll introduce you to Stormreach's filthiest, ricketiest, most disreputable tavern. Eventually the storms will take it, but not tonight."

The three of them headed for the gangplank then turned right and started up the several flights of steps that led to the floating tavern. A spinning wooden sign at the base of the steps displayed a huge wave that had a ship sinking on its crest with a geyser of water shooting up from the center of the boat.

"This is the Leaky Dingy," announced Kal. "Beloved by pirates, guards, dockworkers and sahuagin alike. Malut, they even serve Sahuagin food if you are up for it. Not made out of people, of course, but some freshly caught slimy stuff to be sure."

Malut, remembering sahuagin stew that had made him ill recently, shook his head. They reached the small deck that surrounded the Leaky Dingy and a few of the diving dwarves came over to shake Kal's hand.

"Didn't expect to see you around again, Kalvenor" a grey-haired dwarf told him while pumping his hand vigorously. "Glad to have you back."

"I didn't expect to see me back either, Glaurim," Kalvenor answered him. "But things change."

"Aye, that they do," Glaurim released his hand. "Does this mean Marcarik is back too?"

Kal made a face. "That hasn't changed. Look, it's time for grub. I'll find you later, Glaurim."

"Of course, of course." Glaurim nodded to the group of them then went back to his jumping buddies. Kal led the way into the Leaky Dingy.