Things have been pretty lax over the last century or so, with numerous barely-related families of heirs occupying the manor, but things are going to change soon. Normally we are forbidden from collaring fellow free-born heirs, but those rules no longer apply. A period of contested inheritance is like pruning the family tree cutting off the undeserving and ensuring that their useless blood never gets another shot at Witherborn’s legacy. Though I am the only free heir on the island, it wasn’t always this way before. In my early childhood, there were other families here, several distant-off shot from what I believe was my great-great-grandfather. Since an heir has always been named, those men and women were protected from the ritual.

The boat comes into view, and I see her standing on its deck. She’s tall and wears decent clothes—nothing that would reveal her as an heir of Witherborn except for the longing look in her eyes. She wants this island’s wealth for her own, but she can’t have it.

She looks like she could break my arms, but no matter. I know the island in ways none of my rivals will. The secret passages, maze-like halls, everything else that comes from growing up on the sprawling family estate, all tools to be used to my advantage. It wouldn’t be hard to drug her and drag her into some forgotten corner of the dungeons, leaving her to rot as the ritual slowly ticks towards completion.

The woman isn’t packing much but a nice rack, it seems. There’s no chance she has anywhere near the number of weapons and poisons that I have in my stash. And what can I say? From her looks, I think I shall rather enjoy using them on her. I can see it now, this poser to my wealth kneeling beside my bed, stripped completely naked except for the collar around her neck and chains that bind her body.

I am there waiting on the dock for her as she steps off, and I greet her. “My name is Michael Witherborn, and Gregory was my grandfather. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss…” I await her response, hoping to keep our introduction brief and lead her back towards the manor with few questions asked of the inevitable game.

OOC: While we will return to the manor together, and I hint at the upcoming opening dinner, that won’t actually take place until more people decide to play; I hope we see many more arrivals over the next few days.