It is approaching the central hour of the night on the island of Kinja. It is the time, on a normal day, that all the residents would have been abed for several hours and peacefully dreaming of their secret hopes and desires. But today has not been a normal day. Today is the annual Story Night in the Mermaid's Tale tavern, and this night is even more special than any of those from years past. Tonight, the island's favorite rawun is singing of the true history of Ren and Thirteen Treasures of Rul.

"...and thus, with a mighty thrust from his enchanted trident, did the fierce Srgt. Triangle defeat the last of the corrupted genies. With the villains slain, the brave crew of the Reef Runner was then able to obtain the book which held the secrets to finding the locations of the remaining lost Treasures of Rul."

With the ending of the bard's fourth song, enlightenment washes over the gathered crowd along with the fading notes. At last they understand where the old storyteller has been leading them. It is this odd crew of this odd ship that was responsible - at least in part - for the final defeat of the Dark Dweller. While it is not yet clear exactly what role they played beyond that of scouts and messengers, it is something of a shock to learn that it was not via the sole efforts of King Ren, Hirophant Tula, Admiral Ioz, and Niddler that freed their world from the threat of the evil being and its Dark Water. The very world of Mer has changed as they listened, and the change is a very important one indeed.

The island's children, on the other hand, are not so concerned with the ocean-churning importance of tonight's tales. Rather, they simply view the stories for what they are - stories - and seek to understand the events told within for their own sake. Their chatter of questions briefly puts the recent rain to shame.

"How'd the genies get corrupted in the first place?"
"What does 'piledriver' mean?"
"Who wrote the book and the map?"
"Did Krick get more than seven years of bad luck 'cause the mirror was so big?"
"Which Treasure did they find first?"
"I didn't know that lizardmen could grovel."
"Did they have to fight the Dark Dweller?"

Even though the rawun has come to expect the outburst questions after each of her tales, she is still surprised by the insight that the children occasionally show in their search for answers. "Perhaps Shanda holds these tadpoles in her palm this night," the old woman thinks to herself. "Each time, one of them asks precisely what I need them to." Having lived as long as she had, and seen what she has, the rawun is not one to pause and question her good fortune. Best to surge ahead while the current still flows in her favor.

"You need not worry about Captain Yamalla and his crew, younglings. They did not yet have to fight the Dark Dweller - but they did attract his attention for they had stolen a great weapon against him out from under his very nose. This act, while needed, would be the root of many of the dangers they had left to face. However, at this time, our heroes were faced with a very important decision. What should they do now? For while the had indeed recovered a book which all but told them in which box the remaining Treasures were hidden, there were seven of the artifacts and only one Reef Runner. As you have asked, which Treasure should they recover first? Also, they were faced many other choices. Should they return the book to Ren and then find the Treasures with his help? Or should they perhaps try and find one or two artifacts on their way back to Octopon? Which point on the compass should they follow? All will be revealed soon enough."

"Sit back and listen now to my words as I sing of the voyages of the Reef Runner and her crew..."