Prologue: Background

The island territory of Avalon stands alone, the tide of elvish empire having receded over a century ago.  The Empire was besieged from without by all manner of barbarians, while waging a war with rebels from within, and the strain was just too great to hold on to their far-flung territories off the mainland.  So they retreated to their continental core territories, and left Avalon to fend for itself.

Since then, the elves' hybrid progeny with the native humans, called "half-elves," have grown to dominate most of the south and central island, in occasional league with full humans.  Above an imperial wall dwell the barbarian goblins, and the coasts are beset by sea-faring orcish reavers.  There are a number of small halfling kingdoms as well, and scattered throughout the realm are a few dwarves integrated into other societies.  A pure-blood elf has not been sighted on the island for 125 years.

Dramatis Personae:

Vanestra Half-Elven, a precocious wyrdgrrl

Halfling Thief

Human Warrior

Half-Elven Ranger

Initiate Umbra, a half-elven fighting monk