Storm Island Expedition

The Slayer Masters

"Hail! Who goes there?" shouted a young man with a halberd.
"Just a lost explorer on a simple quest; I wasn't expecting to see anyone else out here."
"Well, wait, what sort of quest?" another young man asked.
"Exploring the Island, on behalf of the Legend's Guild.  What brings all of you out here?"
The two young men were a little reluctant to answer; fortunately their third companion stepped in. Their third companion was interestingly a gnome.   "We are apprentices to a trio of Slayer Masters.  Our masters had just recently been appointed to their positions.  When word of the Island spread, they were assigned, like you, to explore.  In our case, to see what challenges would await us and add to the rosters of potential tasks.  If needed, learn how to slay any new creatures.  Eventually, try to create a complete bestiary of this Isle."
"Ah, I see.  To seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no slayer has gone before."
"Correct.  But, our masters have yet to return."
"How long has it been?"
"Nearly five days now since we last saw them.  Our instructions were to wait here, but ... "
"But?"
"But our only instructions were to stay.  Nothing more.  We took the opportunity to scout some parts of the swamp and river, but found nothing challenging to slay.  These three travelers came on their own, and have been loitering about, but they haven't caused us any problems.   Without any new instructions, we have few options on what to do."
"What about the enchanted gems the masters tend to have?"
"Something about this Island is making it difficult for the gems to work more than a mile or two."
I finally took a minute to look about the camp.   Ten tents, several for sleeping, several setup for storage.

The Slayer party seemed more than ready for any type of creature they could encounter.   From their stockpile, I recognized every known piece of Slayer equipment.   Even silver weapons, rune pouches with all kinds of runes, multiple sets of all styles of combat gear, potions.
One disheveled man in the camp passed himself off as an amateur geologist and botanist wanting to examine anything of interest, but hadn't made it any further into the swamps due to losing his companions and gear.  I doubted he was going to be able to go any further on his own.   He did admit he was just resting up before he could gather what was left of his nerve to head back to the port.
A woman in the camp seemed more intent on making it her home.  A few signs around a storage tent, she seemed to think this would be the best spot to set up a trading post.   I wasn't in the mood to question her sanity, especially when I had doubts about my own.
The third stranger in camp was not very talkative.  But he had all the look of a hunter.  He was merely roasting some snake meat on the campfire.
"Well, I wish I could help, but all I can tell you is that I didn't see anyone else as I was coming from the south.   I have a few companions spread out; also intent on exploring the Isle, but none would be this close."
One of the young men with a halberd opened up, "None of our masters went south.   One went east into the swamp, towards a dense bog.  One headed north to the hills.   The third towards the mountain range."
"Well, it is a bit of a challenge to get around here.   No roads.  Hardly anything that would pass as a trail.  Sometimes you are lucky to make one or two miles in a day.   If you like ... since part of my job is to explore the Isle, I can check up on your masters. Two of them are along my route anyways."

The trio seemed to perk up at my offer.  "Oh yes!" as they started to leap for joy, but I could see they took a moment to calm themselves.  "Yes.  Please do keep an eye for them adventurer."
Before I left, we exchanged any notes we had on the local creatures.  But even the Slayer party had yet to encounter anything that I hadn't already seen.  They were kind enough to pass some runes and a basic Slayer Kit, just in case I had some difficulties.
In the mean time, the apprentices and the trader seemed to get into a lengthy discussion about her selling the excess Slayer equipment, for a commission.