Each of our heroes had very different lives, growing up in all 4 corners of creation. Strange forces compelled them though, and destiny had a hand in all their movements. So it was they found themselves, a month or so before the empress' disappearance at a party in the Imperial City. Their roots were many and circuitous, yet fate had ordained that each of them were there, for each had a role to play in what was to come.
Mnemon Iryla was there, recruiting for his latest expedition, hunting for more relics to add to his collection. Each for their own reason, whether to escape an enemy, forge a friendship or simply as hired help, was signed on to his adventure.
They were to set sail in a week, but first they required a map. They penetrated the tomb of a long dead nobleman, and within found a map leading to his ancient manse in the far east.
The voyage took them across the inner sea, past the borders of Lookshy and down the great river towards Nexus. The expedition re-supplied, and hired more hands, to provide local expertise, a little more muscle and to help them through the land portion of the expedition, though it was still far away. The ship set off once again down the great river towards the far east.
It was not smooth sailing. A great storm arose as if from nowhere a week into their voyage. The vessel suffered serious damage and more than one life was lost, including Tariq, the poor urchin child that had been taken under the wing of the group. The ship had to be turned around but moving at a much slower pace, three weeks later they pulled back in to the docks of Nexus.
After repairs, resupplying and rehiring the expedition got underway in earnest. The flow of the wind and the great lazy meander of the river continued to make the progress slow. About a month out of Nexus word reached the voyage that the Empress' had disappeared, but Iryla did not consider it important, and the voyage pressed on.
The voyage lasted another few months, as they travelled past the river province and the hundred kingdoms, past Great Forks, taking the more southern of the two rivers. They stopped occasionally to resupply but still the atmosphere was somewhat claustrophobic. And when the ship finally took anchor in the lake that was it's final destination those that were moving onward were very glad to be allowed the opportunity to disembark.
The path onward lay through the great forest, and yet again it was tough going. The party proceeded south east over the course of about a week, with only the minor barriers of the forest in their way. Once they reached the appointed area it took another day to locate the entrance to the manse, which was buried as it soon emerged the entire manse was.
The adventurers entered the manse to discover what seemed a very pleasant country retreat. With lavish bedrooms, kitchens, service quarters, training rooms, a ballroom, a library and even a small workshop. Sadly the entire place was devoid of anything valuable, apart from a few moderately useful tomes on first age matters.
Iryla directed people to search for a way down to a floor below, and though he helped them, there was clearly something a little wrong as he did not seem his usual safe. There were several false stairways and paths leading down, all of them seemed to be trapped and minor injuries were sustained. But frequent rest and the charms of Iryla prevented any major damage.
Iryla's condition seemed to be gradually worsening, a fever and lightheadedness being his major symptoms, but no cause could be discerned. The group penetrated the defenses of the manse and made it into the floor beneath.
They discovered a maze of passages and room, filled with all manner of traps and devices designed to slow down, injure and kill those exploring the manse. Once again Iryla and frequent rest prevented any major damage to the party, but Iryla became gradually more ill, and less help as time went on.
The group had been at the manse over a week when tragedy struck. One of the frequent traps finally proved too much for the weakened and distracted Iryla to cope with. Trapped behind some portcullises in a room that was heating up rapidly the rest of the group could not free him. Though a heroic effort one of the adventurers raced through the remaining obstacles but was brought up short at the last hurdle. Iryla did not make it, his body having crumbled to ash.
The dejected party left the manse, and made the journey back to the ship. Progress was easier but the morale was not improved. The stench of death and failure hung heavy about them. They returned to the boat and begun the voyage back towards the blessed isle, though none of them were quite sure what to do next.
A few days west of great forks the captain decided that the ship needed to resupply and many of the same expedition travelled a little way north into the nearest town. There they encountered the Wyld Hunt. The Wyld Hunt attacked and at they very moment the group drew the second breath and exalted. A frenetic, chaotic battle ensued, and despite taking heavy damage all the new solars managed to escape. Fleeing into the nearby hills and hiding in a cave.