Talance Soultear was born in Wildemoor to poor parents who could ill-afford another mouth to feed. Realizing at an early age that he had great potential as a scholar, they turned him over to the care of the local Temple of Evista where he was raised by the priestesses and trained as a priest. Evista is a goddess of life and nature who has a limited presence in Calentide and who was brought to the land from the north by a man named Falanar Litton - founder of Wildemoor.
Wildemoor is in the midst of dire times. The last free city on the peninsula south of the Maermoor Mountains, it has been pressured by Calentide to join a chartered empire under the rule of the city of Calen for many years. Wildemoor has resisted, believing itself protected by the sea and by the large Great Southern Bog to the east. Recently however there are the stirrings of invasion and evidence that Calentide is on the move to build a fleet to destroy Wildemoor once and for all. The call has gone out for all able bodied men who value their freedom. Brave adventurers have been seen about looking for an advantage for Wildemoor in the upcoming war.
One such group of these adventurers recently passed through and sought help at the temple of Evista. Talance Soultear looked on as the high priestess, Mililani turned them away without help. After they left she seemed despondant. After the evening meal that night, Talance approached her and inquired about the adventurers.
"They are bearing and artifact of great power - one that was entrusted to our Evistan brothers in Litton to the east. I have encouraged them to destroy it, but I must say that I do not fully trust them. I find it hard to believe that Father Grantz merely handed it over to them. It is called the Fickle Finger of Fate - the bony remnants of the finger of Loki, a chaotic god whom Evista confronted millenia ago." She sighs and pauses for a moment.
"They asked for help from the temple, but I would not give it to them for this mistrust. Now I fear I have done wrong. I wish for you to follow them to the North into the Maermoors and find them. One of their number - a renegade Drow elf may still be in the city here. He did not leave with them. I suggest that you find him and travel to the north to find the party."
She looked at Talance harshly. "When you find them, you must make CERTAIN that they destroy the finger. They left for the north searching for the reagents to do so, and I only hope that the Finger has not retaliated against them in some way to prevent its own demise." With that she looks down at her lap and back at Talance. "You will leave on the morrow. Good luck to you, Evista be with you. Find the Drow in the tavern - it seems to be where he can be found most often."