The year 641, shortly before EL's first trip to the Dread Dimensions.
The party are Equestrian journalists and their escorts (mercenaries or explorers) following rumours from a traveler that a unicorn wizard is brutalizing the indigenous population far upriver, and the press wonders if this is true and to what end.
A month ago, you landed in Port Hoofcourt after a long sea voyage from Equestria.
Angel Gaze, a journalist, a pegasus mare
Muddy Boots, an earth pony mare
Grappler
Pop Gunner, an older unicorn stallion
Cuddleford, a unicorn mare
Buzz Ard, a colonial farming scion, an earth pony stallion