Sylvester Archipelago

I had to search for that message. The Pirates went east. The Temple is in the northeast. We landed in the west. In the northwest - ?. There is nothing in the south. The camp is probably somewhere in the center.

Sky definitely didn't write about the base in the Temple. He didn't write about the location of the base at all. The Pirates were heading east, towards the coast. Perhaps towards a ship, not a base. Then the question is, where did they come from? They don't go to the Elves, they are afraid of the volcano. So, they came from the base / from the Temple / from a hunt.

A group of mercenaries moved along the path north and reached a fork. A small path led west.

If the path is small, it means it is rarely used. All paths lead from the Elven settlement. Apparently, there is something not too ordinary for the Elves on this path.

And there should be no path at all from the settlement to the ruins!

- The volcano forbade us from approaching them... They are cursed!

My vote is for a side quest, for a small path, if anything.