Traveler, in a world full of murk... we must still dare to hope.

In all the seas, in all the world, there has never been a land quite like the isle of Eroda. Shaped unmistakably like a frown, it is home to all but forgotten fishing village that has had perpetual cloud cover for as long as anyone can remember. An isle where some still believe that it's bad luck to mention a pig in a fisherman's pub, where seeing a minster in the morning, meant you should go home immediately as well as twins bring misfortune. Some fishermen still wore a single gold earring for luck, some say it's to pay to have your body buried if you die in a strange port. It was also frowned upon to be caught in whistling in the wind, in fear you might turn a gust into a gale, and if ever you leave Eroda, avoid doing so on odd numbered day-everyone was always frowning anyway, which they referred to as Resting Fish Face, but then, well, something peculiar happened, or, I mean, someone peculiar happened... You, The Grinning Boy... Not only did you grin, it would shimmer, illuminate and blind others, no one ever meant to be mean towards you, but in a town grown used to way things were, no one knew what to do with something different so they ignored you so did your godfather, Uttepin Fig. Eventually, you began to lose your smile.

Today was your 18th birthday, you've grown a little older, a little wiser... You went to Sea Rock Bakery, across they cobblestone street, where the fresh hot aroma of bread fills you with ecstasy... but as frequent, everyone ignored you.

"Clocksqwaks, it's The Grinning Boy..." The seller behind the counter greeted, his frown very visible.