You see a blonde-haired man with a tan skin color and a full beard. He seems to be in his forties and has a quite friendly impression on you, at least from the first glance.

As you approach him, he greets you: "Welcome in our modest house, stranger. My name is Andulf. Andulf Istherin." He points to his wife. "And this is Meghrin, my wife."

Artimidor "Greetings to you as well, Andulf! I am Artimidor."

Blonde-bearded Man "Nice to meet you, Artimidor."

Artimidor "How are things? How is work?"

Andulf Istherin Andulf eyes you. "Well, the work is fine. Evoor catches are in order. A bit of bad weather lately, but that's about it. The pearls are gone, though, but that's nothing new." He sighs. "The Goddess Baveras is helping, kind and caring, but her will can change."

Artimidor "What exactly is an evoor?"

Andulf Istherin "A fish of course. What did you think? A chimney, stranger?" Andulf laughs heartily. "Some call him blackdah. Grows up to half a ped. We fish him quite a lot here in Nepris. Has quite a large head. He's dark blue-green on its back, you know, so dark it appears black, and lightens down the sides to white at the belly. There is always a black spot behind the head and a number of smaller reddish spots on his upper sides. - But most important is: There are a lot of them evoors, and they taste good. If you want to try one, my wife can sell you some. But don't eat them raw!"

Artimidor "You used to dive for pearls here at the coast?"

Andulf Istherin "Yup, pearls. Had a lot of pearldivers once here. But the pearls are all gone now. The dwarves don't like that. And me neither. Not good for the trade."

Artimidor "Can you tell me something about the Goddess Baveras?"

Andulf Istherin "Baveras is the Mistress of the Sea and the Water and each day we pray for her for a good catch. She gives us our life and we are thankful for that. We would be naught without her kindness. She's also playful when she pleases and likes to entertain. Baveras has many faces. But she can also be wild and untamed at times, yes, even cold and deadly. She has bereft many Manthrian sailors of their lives in the last century. But everything has its purpose."

Artimidor "Can you tell me something about the dwarves?"

Andulf Istherin "The dwarves? Well, they live in the Mithral, up north. Call themselves the Mitharim. Fond of all things precious, they are, but then again, that's just how we Avennorians are as well." He laughs, stroking his beard. "Well, unfortunately I can't say that we've made a big fortune here in Nepris... - Anyway, Artimidor, if you want to know more about this Mitharim folk, better check out Dhren Rockfaith. He's one of these dwarven priests and lives with us in the village."

Artimidor "Where can I find Dhren Rockfaith?"

Andulf Istherin "You might find him in the Saltwillow Tavern at the northern end of the village. It's the last big house to the right side of the main road. Can't miss it."

Artimidor "Tell me something about the people here in Nepris, please!"

Andulf Istherin "Well, what is there to say? We're all a big family somehow here in Nepris. Everyone shares the work when it comes to the daily catches. The sea is our life, and our life is the sea, it's as simple as that. Mossy Rocks Cove is rich on fishes, you have to know. And we're lucky that Baveras holds her guiding hand over us. Life's not always easy, however. The summers are hot and there are heavy thunderstorms occasionally, and the winter is cold and moist. But being a fisherman is a privilege granted by the Goddess, and you'll seldom hear people complain."

Artimidor "What can you tell me about your village?"

Andulf Istherin "Nepris? Uhmmm... Not much. What exactly do you want to know? Something about the people? Some old sailor's tales?" Andulf grins. "Oh, I sure could tell you some of those..."

Artimidor "How about telling me some sailor's stories?"

Andulf Istherin "Sure, Artimidor!" Andulf's face lightens up. "Which tale would you like to hear? - The story of the unfortunate captain Thomgeir and his Ghostship, the one of the Two Brothers, or the one with the stranded Vynnolf and the Wyrm?"

Artimidor "Let's hear Thomgeir and the Ghostship."

Andulf Istherin Andulf clears his throat. "Thomgeir was a captain a long, long time ago, even before King Santhros united the realms to form the Kingdom of Santharia, back when the lands we live in now bore the name Avennoria. Thomgeir travelled often and far, from Marcogg to Strata and even far to the south to the deserts of Aeruillin. He was a well-known trader and proud of it, renowned in all those lands and he brought the most exotic goods from afar to the shores of Sarvonia.

One day he sailed in a ship known as the 'Varteran' from Marcogg to the Isle of Doranthakar, which now harbours the small Kingdom of Dorania, when something unexpected happened...

Another ship approached, which soon turned out to belong to ruthless pirates. Thomgeir's ship was only a small one, a vandrek, not the big barek he was used to commanding, and small was his crew and also the treasure.

The pirates caught up and finally boarded the ship by force. Thomgeir's crew tried to fend the intruders off, but it was to no avail. The little treasure there was they transfered to the other ship, and seeing that the vandrek was already severely damaged during the fight and in danger of sinking, the pirates offered to take the whole crew as prisoners avoard their vessel and release them as soon as they reached land.

Indeed, the men accepted, but Thomgeir refused to leave his ship as he still thought he could make it to safety if given a free hand. The pirate captain disagreed, but Thomgeir kept insisting."

Andulf takes a sip from the glass standing near his table.

"Indeed as it turned out, the pirate captain had no patience with Thomgeir and his love for his ship. And so he finally gave the gruesome order to leave the captain on his ship, tied to the mast, leaving him to the waves. But if that were not enough, one of the pirates even took a hammer and a large nail and drove it right through the forehead of the doomed captain to keep him quiet once and for all. And though, so the story goes, this didn't happen: It is said that Thomgeir was still alive when the pirate's ship left him on the open sea, toy of the tides.

The members of his crew who had survived the raid later told the tale, and they also claim that he was shouting at the pirates when they left him, cursing them. Yes, he did so, though nailed to the mast he was."

Andulf takes another sip.

"And so ends the story of Thomgeir. Though everyone here at Mossy Rocks Cove will confirm that the vandrek of Thomgeir, the 'Varteran', is still out there somewhere on the ocean. Throughout generations people have reported to have seen this small ship, crewless, and some say as well that they have watched the rotten corpse of Thomgeir nailed to the mast, passing them by and then disappearing in the fog again.

None can say if this appearance is Thomgeir's spirit, which still hasn't come to rest and seeks revenge at the pirates' descendants or if he only wants to warn others of the dangers he faced."

Artimidor "Thanks, enough of storytelling for now."

Andulf Istherin "As you wish." Andulf nods.

Artimidor "Bye!"

Andulf Istherin Andulfs nods. "May Baveras watch your steps!"