"Yes, my friends, we stand on uncharted ground, with the frontier spreading before us, and all of — ooh, I bet that'd be worth a bundle back home..."

Hallomak Stromm was a world-striding explorer, sailor, adventurer, tomb-robber, ambassador, treasure-seeker, scoundrel, and merchant. There are few places he couldn't have at least convincingly claimed to have been.

His homestead just outside the village of Traipsepfennig burned to the ground. A charred skeleton was found inside. Malineus Bleak executed Stromm's will and invited the Five Friends to the village. In the middle of the final reading, the town square was attacked. Malineus was killed and there were other casualties before the attackers were put down.