Founded on 18 May 423, The Great Docks of Berkeso were established by Lord Arman Abeden, who forged a pact with a powerful sea spirit to ensure their prosperity. In return for an annual offering of wealth, the docks flourished as a bustling hub of trade, drawing merchants and adventurers from distant lands. This vibrant exchange fostered the growth of the city, yet an air of intrigue cloaked the docks, as locals noted unusual phenomena such as mesmerizing sunsets that painted the waters in stunning colors and ghostly whispers that seemed to float on the breeze.
As the years passed, ominous murmurs spread among sailors, whose eerie dreams hinted at a deeper connection to the realm of the sea spirit. Some speculated that the Great Docks served as a gateway to another world, where the lines between reality and enchantment blurred. This notion inevitably attracted adventurers and scholars drawn by curiosity, but many of them vanished without a trace, leaving behind hushed legends about the secrets concealed beneath the docks' enticing surface.
In March 1248, a group of weary heroes emerged from battles in the Shadowfell, having quelled goblin threats that emerged from mysterious portals. Their journey led them to Berkeso, where they intended to collect a reward and assist a man named Nicodemus in the search for a fabled tome. What began as an endeavor to solve local troubles quickly spiraled into chaos when they encountered sinister figures and a dark force that intertwined their fates with the secrets of the docks.
During their investigation, the adventurers uncovered M's Book of Knowing, an ancient text with dark powers. Tragically, when Nicodemus read from the book, he met his demise, leaving his companion Moose bound to its ominous knowledge. This incident not only deepened the enigma surrounding the docks but also reiterated the danger that looms over Berkeso, reminding all of the risks involved in seeking knowledge within a place so steeped in mystical lore. The Great Docks, while a beacon for trade, continue to be a haunting reminder of the fine line between prosperity and peril woven into the fabric of this coastal city's history.
