Edge of Empire

At its western extremity, the Orothonian ocean comes to an end in a confusing maze of channels and low tidal pools amidst a tangled expanse of rocks which are never less than ten kilometers wide and which stretch for over five hundred kilometers to the north and south without ever managing to rise above partial submersion at high tide. This treacherous reef is known as False Land to mariners of the empire and it has been the ruin of many ships. Beyond False Land is the Great Escarpment; a knife sharp cut of unnatural origin where the world plunges over a thousand meters into the Dark Domains and the writ of empire runs no more... It is to this bleak limit that Pannelle has come, seeking and finding a shallow channel that leads almost all the way to the Great Escarpment, until at last she must abandon even her kayak and proceed on foot, for the rocks crowd too closely. It is the time of the Super Conjunction, an astronomical event that happens but once in a hundred years. Only at this time, are the tides of the Orothonian ocean high enough to permit such a passage. It is said that a Super Conjunction tide can even spill the sea over the edge of False Land and into the Dark Domains. Reaching one of the ancient gate markers left by the Hylacon Peoples, Pannelle knows she is on the right track. She can see and hear for herself that the divided waters of the ocean are indeed pouring over the lip of the abruptly close geometric horizon and she can see something else... One of the denizens of the Dark Domains is sporting in the air over the Escarpment; a mature fire wyrm! Pannelle can only hope that it will take no interest in her for she is dreadfully exposed on this salty plateau, should it chose to sport with her... She keeps still, watching and thinking too of the road ahead. According to the stories, close to this Hylacon gate, the entrance to the Long Staircase may be found which will lead a bold traveler all the way down to the Dark Domains. When she has found that entrance, Pannelle will return to her kyack, take her backpack and continue the dangerous journey. Assuming, of course, that she doesn't have to deal with this wyrm first...