The merfolk of the Coralwave Ocean are scattered across the sea bed, with each town or city its own kingdom. Spread so far apart, every community of merfolk must rely on their own abilities and on the friendships they can make with tritons, whales, and other friendly sea creatures. Conchhome is a typical merfolk city - well hidden among a series of coral reefs, this home to about a thousand souls survives because it is hidden from intruders. Sahuagin and other raiders might know where the kelp beds and hunting grounds favored by the people of Conchhome are, but they have yet to locate the city itself. The protectors of the city, most notably the Order of Neptune, go to great lengths to destroy any who intrude too far into Conchhome's territory.
Life in Conchhome has been relatively peaceful for many months. The great families have been at peace, and the sahuagin have kept to their domain to the south. Times have been good for merfolk of the city state, and the temple of Neptune filled with worshipers thanking Him for these many blessings.
It is a great shock, then, when the warning shell is sounded. The great Conch shell was given to the founders of the city by friendly tritons, and is only blown when a great tragedy or emergency occurs. There is chaos in the city as people take up weapons and search for the cause of the alarm. Word spreads quickly: a sahuagin attack on the temple of Neptune! Hundreds rush to the ancient church, built on the edge of the city.
The scene at the temple is devastating to merfolk eyes. Half a dozen sahuagin float dead, as well as several sharks. But the temple itself has been desecrated, its priests killed, and Neptune's Tear, the great pearl that symbolizes the love of the merfolk god, is missing.
Within the hour, the leaders of the Pearl Clan have taken charge. Their clan leader, Trinadel Whaleshadow, announces to the gathered mob what has happened and what must be done.
A sahuagin raiding party managed to remain undetected by scouts, and found the temple. They attacked, overwhelming the outnumbered guards. The high priest was taken, along with Neptune's Tear, as the band fled south, no doubt back to their city. The dark implications of Trinadel's words bring about a horrified silence. If sahuagin were here, then they know the location of Conchhome. Should the raiding party get back to their city, Conchhome will be swarmed with endless attacks. The days of peace will be at an end, and the city itself could well be doomed.
Trinadel grimly informs the citizens that they must prepare for war. All efforts will be made to stop the raiding party before it reaches sahuagin territory, but preparations must begin for siege. After concluding his words, the clan chief goes into the temple itself to meet with those who will attempt to track and destroy the raiding party.
The six of you make up the hastily assembled party. By request of the Pearl Clan, several families and groups have offered up their best.