When last we left our heroes... Sneaking out of the Busty Baroness disguised as workers of that fine establishment, the companions managed to elude their pursuers, infiltrate Tengelbur's family mansion, and rescue Talarja, getting the entire guard staff (and Tengelbur) extremely high in the process. Headed back to the city, they tried to break it gently to the staff of the Busty Baroness that they would most likely be wanted for questioning (or worse) by the Governor after what they had been tricked into helping the companions do. Horrified, the chief of the wagon drivers began to shout for the authorities, which the companions took as their cue to make like a tree and leaf, heading to the docks to set off (some time after midnight) in the Venture Capitalism.
There, they met a young priestess by the name of Feiala, who for her own reasons was looking to take passage from the isle. She convinced Tengelbur and the rest to let her hitch a ride on the Venture Capitalism, and they set sale for the isle which they had originally come in search of, and which they hoped would lead them to a means of healing and redemption for Anaris, as well as possibly cluing them in to the location of the Anvil of Lanenomen and/or the so-called "Son of Midnight," the former of which they hoped would explain why the so-called "Sons of Orusen" were hunting them.
Regarding the so-called "Son of Midnight" or "Prince of Midnight," Thoranrai finally answered some of their questions, cluing them into a bit of local history: The legendary founder of civilization in the Leopard Isles, Anerkanera, slew the previous ruler of the isle, a great black panther known as the Son of Midnight. According to obscure local legends, the hame of the great beast has been preserved and passed down from father to son in a secret lineage that claims to predate the line of Sencan, and which claims rule over the Isle. In the present day, the followers of the current bearer of the cloak have formed something of a cult, to which Thoranrai once belonged, which resulted in her bearing a son to the cult's charismatic and mysterious leader. Wanting to protect her son from his influence, Thoranrai found the Scarlet Sisterhood, who agreed to keep her son safe and protected in return for Thoranrai's service as a spy.
After sailing for a little more than three days, the companions finally came within sight of the island they sought--just in time for their ship to be assailed by a number of Sea Leopards, who I swear you guys, are very very scary.
