Their new owners represented the rulers of the Western Empire and the Land of the South Winds. These two nations were to forge an alliance in which the bargain would be sealed by the marriage of the Prince of the Land of the South Winds to the daughter of the Emperor of the Western Empire.

However the emperor’s daughter had been abducted by the pirate federation of the Floenry chain to preserve itself from the combined forces of the two states.

The new slaves were to be given gold and their freedom in exchange for freeing the future empress. They infiltrated the pirate base and were assigned to various ships:

• On Chaisane’s expedition, she and Mithis Valicar found a child (Peril) orphaned by a serpent that had been plundering ships. This child’s presence alone causes evil and bickering in those around her (and the group was not exempt). When Peril sleeps she appears to have shadowy fire creeping across her flesh)
• On Emalf’s voyage he met a man he was to live in fear of all of his life: the pirate captain Borgul Somon with his manner of reckless, ruthless, vengeful abandon (and his sword of lightning).

Failing to find a better way to free the princess, they broke in to the federation building and were captured. The prisoners were made to fight in ‘the pit’ (an arena). ‘The pit’ was a very popular spectacle where Bloody Val (owner of the only tavern on the pirate isles) was the undisputed master of the arena. Then one of the pit personnel (Aurar, whom had an obvious interest in Emalf) freed them all and helped to orchestrate a dockside burning and ship stealing mission to distract attention from the federation building whilst the Emperor’s daughter was freed.