The Sins of the Father
Session Ten of Blood and Water Campaign

Caladay, 11 Baretwig 204

Dawn on the island of Inoch. The fires of Varosh are still burning on the horizon and for the surviving members of the party it is the beginning of a difficult time. Of the thirty slaves they rescued from Varosh, two were killed when the tidal-wave struck this island. Captain Montague and her crew are well, and ready to begin repairs on The Lady. Of their own number, Fallor is dead and Jessica and Drasha have been petrified. Powerful magic will be required to restore them to the flesh, magic that can only be found on the mainland. In Sorostrae.

The path is now clear. Captian Montague is confidant that the ship can be seaworthy in six days (with a little help from Jonus and Lokan). Two days later they can make land in Sorostrae. The captain advises heading for the port of Palidines. Although large enough to sport temples to all the major faiths, it is not so large that news of the death of Barakar Santuro will have filtered through the local branch of the Arcanum Incognita. Elias has visited Palidines once before, several seasons ago when he was working for a Gnomish trading house. He remembers it as being something of a rough, crime-ridden hole. He hopes this has changed.

The days are mostly filled with aiding in the repairs to the ship. A strange feeling of well-being has settled on the group as a whole. Not even Little Bobby Proudfoot has a bad word to say. It has been mentioned on several occassions that a 'presence' can be felt on Inoch, and some of the slaves complain that they are being watched by an unseen presence. Both Elias and Jonus, scouring the island with divination magicks can discern nothing unusual, but there is still a nagging something about this island. Something they cannot quite put their finger on.

Lokan seems determined to pay back the party for helping him escape the Potentates and throws himself into his work. Lokan is a strong man in his middle years with a nearly clipped red beard. Ravenna has fallen very quiet since her adventures on Varosh. She talks with her father and with Misgon, but seems to keep herself distant from Elias and the others. Between Ravenna's unsubtle overtures and Drasha's current state, Misgon doesn't really know where to put himself. Eventually he settles down with Torr to crack open the spell-book taken from Barakar Santuro and see what it contains. The loss of Narramac's staff is keenly felt by the youth, and he has to have spells at his finger tips.

Sunday, 14 Baretwig 204

Elias notices that Thork Tannesh has been spending quite a lot of time away from the camp. He has missed several meals, and Elias becomes concerned. On the evening of this day, he traces Thorik's tracks up onto the only slight rise on the entire atoll. There, in the clearing that Elias, Ravenna and Jonus first notices something amiss about Inoch more than a week ago, he finds Thorik.

Ravenna's father is sitting cross-legged on the grass, and appears to be in deep meditation. Elias sits down besides him. Thorik comes out of his reverie and greets Elias. Elias notices a change has come over Thorik in these past few days - a change for the better. When he first met the man Thorik was rocking himself backward and forwards and seemed to have given up. Now he seems cheerful, optimistic and incredibly calm. Never having known Thorik before his abduction by the Potentates Elias does not know if he was always like this.

"Tell me about Ravenna," Thorik asks Elias. "You have been with her through almost every day in the past two seasons. She has changed very much from the girl I left behind. She has grown harder." - "She is much changed," Elias agrees, "but there are many things that haven't changed. Her force of will, for example. She is as stubborn as a mule. But she is also inciteful. Ravenna is full of life, and eager to learn about anything." Thorik nods. "She gets that from her mother. I suppose she gets everything from her mother."

Elias tells Thorik all of Ravenna's history from his first meeting with her at Mount Korvast twelve months ago to her escape from Varosh. It is a long tale, and if Thorik has heard any of it before he does not show it. It is the events in Uris that stimulate Thorik the most. He warns Elias against further dealings with the devious Edoran Galchen and listens intently to the tale of Thorangrim's arrest, and the subsequent bankruptcy of Jhasik.

"All those creditors?" Thorik asks. "I'm not surprised. Jhasik always did like to live in as opulent a manner as he could. A house in Chapel Lane? He did go up in the world, at least for a time. I suppose I should be upset that the business is gone. Half of it was mine, you know. But it just doesn't seem important any more." Thorik gazes down to the beech where Ravenna is easily visible.

"I used to admire Jhasik you know," Thorik says. "Really?" exclaims Elias with genuine surprise. "Oh yes. He is my younger brother, you know. Two seasons my junior. I was the eldest, I was the one who had all the responsibilities. We were raised in Alhaven. Six days north of Uris - you've probably passed through it quite a few times. My father was a free man, and owned a farm of moderate size. It was my duty to take over that farm when he died. My obligation. Jhasik was having none of that. When he was sixteen seasons of age he ran away to Uris. He left in the night with a travelling merchant called Fane. How I envied him! He escaped the back water of Alhaven for the bright lights of the capital. Fane was the one who taught Jhasik the jeweller's trade. I would have done anything to go south with him, but I had my commitments. Well, I hope I will get to see Jhasik again some day soon."

Thorik stands, and the pair begin to walk back to camp. "Are you joining us on the trip to Tibrai?" Elias asks. Thorik nods. "Yes, I would not think to leave Ravenna now. Let me tell you something, Elias. You can travel from one end of this world to the other, and see ten thousand miraculous things, but there is nothing as incredibly nor important as family. My family is everything to me. Ravenna, Alhanna….. I have a heavy talent for losing my family. Do not do the same. Surround yourself with people who love you. Build a family, Elias. Now," Thorik adds with a twinkle in his eye, "tell me about my future son-in-law. What sort of man is this Misgon?"

Zephday, 17 Baretwig 204

It is the first day of the full moon of Zephyre that the ship finally sails for Palidines. Jonus is delighted that his power is so great. Power that continues to grow as he approaches Sorostrae. The mystery of the peacefulness and paranoia engendered by the island of Inoch remains a mystery.

Now they are on the move, the problem of what to go with the twenty-eight slaves on the ship must be addressed. Also, where are they going to raise the money to pay one of the churches to de-petrify Drasha and Jessica? Elias believes they have no choice but to sell Usslüs and Drasha's magical longsword. Ravenna, who has been silent for the much of the journey speaks up.

"We may need them Elias. Misgon and Torr have not finished with the spell-book yet so that cannot be sold. In fact there is only one item in our possession that will fetch a great deal of money, and we definitely do not want to keep." Ravenna speaks of the Nether Gem. Since her brush with damnation she is anxious to dispense with anything innately evil.

Elias is not sure. Who can they sell it to? "Not to the Arcanum Incognita," says Ravenna. "Any of the churches of Earth can return Drasha and Jessica to the flesh, but the Justicians aren't likely to pay us for an evil gem." Lokan suggests the Agiostic Church. They can cash the gem in with them and then spend the money in the city. As a member of the allied Odyssian Faith he is certainly willing to speak with the clergy of the Agiostic Church.

"How much is it likely to fetch?" asks Jonus. Ravenna shrugs. "The gem itself is worth 5000 crowns. It is difficult to price magical items Especially when we do not know what they can do." Jonus volunteers to use has full moon-augmented powers discern exactly what the gem can go.

He discovers that the gem is vampiric. A blood sacrifice will allow the owner and several others cross into the ethereal plane. In addition it automatcially grants the holder the abilty to see ethereal spirits (which is why Ravenna could see The Painted Lady), and to animate two corpses as servants. It is a powerful item. Based on these powers Torr and Misgon suspect it could be worth several hundred thousand crowns. However, finding someone willing to pay that for it is unlikely - and the fact that the gem is inherently evil is bound to work against the market value.

Elias suggests that whatever money is gained from the sale of the gem should be used to set the rescued slaves up with a new life. There is general agreement to this. He also says that whatever share is divvied up should be equally shared with Lokan Kalharn. If not for him then Elias would be dead. Lokan is grateful for Elias's generosity and happy to accept.

Sharday, 19 Baretwig 204

At noon, on a biting autumn day The Lady arrives in the port of Palidines. Sorostraen architecture seems characterised with high rounded towers. Almost every building seems to sport a tower. The natural harbour is wide and extremely deep allowing even the largest ocean-going vessels to berth at the dockside. There are still some repairs to be done to the vessel, and Simian Black heads into the city to find the necessary craftsmen.

Elias, Ravenna, Misgon, Lokan, Jonus and Torr make ready to head to the nearest Agisostic temple. Before they can go, Elias is stopped by four of the slaves they rescued from Varosh. All are enormous, wide-shouldered, burly thugs with almost no neck between them. "Begging your pardon, Baron Elias," says the spokesperson of the four in a thick Gutterhive accent, reminiscent of Nicos, "but me and the boys was wondering if we could have a word."

Elias gives his assent, and the man smiles a crooked, toothless grin. "My name is Bronsk; and this here is Lalmon and Penner. The ugly one is Garth." Elias looks quickly down the line. There is nothing to distinguish Garth as significantly more ugly than the others. Bronsk has lost most of his teeth in innumerable brawls, and his left ear has been partially chewed off. Lalmon seems to have a bit of orc in him, as he sports a impressive sloping forehead. Penner is possibly the hairiest man Elias has ever seen; hair that has not been washed since the turn of the century. But Garth does have the sort of face that makes babies cry; his gigantic cranium looks more like an ape's than a man's, and the way his right eye is a good inch lower than his left is particularly disconcerting. Yes, on second thoughts, Garth is the ugliest. Although it was a close run thing.

Bronsk continues, "We used to work for Dellan Gant. And it occurred to us that we're a long way from home here, and well, with all respect Baron Elias, we owe you. Without you and Honour, we'd all be dead by now. Honour's gone, and we can't thank her, but we can do our best by you." Elias has a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach that he knows what is coming next. "We want to pledge you our allegience, isn't that right boys?" - "Allegience, yeah," says Penner. Elias looks them up and down for a minute. They certainly look tough, but they are obviously as crooked as they come and he is a paladin. However, if he is going to Tibrai then he certainly needs help.

"Do you know what you're letting yourselves in for?" he asks them. "No Sir," Bronsk admits, "but we've seen more than our fair share of freaky shit in the past season, begging your pardon madam. We'll stand by you if you'll have us." Elias curses the fact that he is such an inspirational leader of men. He agrees to take Bronsk, Lalmon, Penner and Garth on as his personal guard - although personal thugs, or brute squad might be a better description.

Leaving Bronsk in charge of guarding the ship, the six head into town and go quickly to the Agiostic Church. It is not really a church. The 'temple' is actually a market square with dozens upon dozens of stalls selling all manner of wares. Lokan speaks to a priest, and shows him the Nether Gem. The group is quickly taken to a plush chest-laden tent at the far end of the market, where they meet with the high priets: a gnome called Nerkin Scrubbins.

Scrubbins is sitting behind a high desk, and places a pair of pince-nez on his nose when he gazes at the gem. After casting a few minor divinations he says that he needs to look at the gem more intently before making a decision. He asks them to leave the gem with him and return two hours after dusk. After a short discussion the party agree. Jonus hands over the boots of devouring he took from Barakar Santuro. Scrivvings says he will take the boots off their hands, in return for a better payment on the gem, but he will not pay anything for cursed items.

The party leave, and plan to return later. Elias thanks Lokan for his help. Lokan says that he feels he must pay Elias and the others back for his freedom. If they will allow it, he wants to accompany Elias to Tibrai and help in any way he can. "Let me tell you what you're letting yourself in for," Elias says and explains to him a bit about his history and the dragon that currently rules Jotan's Point. "Do the others know this?" Lokan asks. "Ravenna does," says Elias. "I must get around to telling the others."

Two hours after dusk, the party return to Nerkin Scrubbins. The gnome and his minders are in the same tent, and do not keep the party waiting. "I have spoken to some experts," says Scrubbins, "placing the gem in the desk in front of him. This is truly a potent item. But it is cursed with evil. It has the potential to corrupt any one who carries it. However, there is still power within it, and I may know where I can find a buyer." Elias isn't sure he likes the sound of that, but his paladin-side turns a blind eye to it. The gnome continues, "The gem itself, is worth 5000 crowns. The church is willing to pay you ten times that amount. This is a generous offer. And before you are tempted to haggle bear in mind that this is not Arcanus, this is Palidines. We are a small port, and I have limited resources. You will get no better offer in this city."

50,000 crowns is a great deal of money. The group takes it and thanks Nerkin Scrubbins. Now the time has come to try and restore Jessica and Drasha. The statues are unloaded from the boat and taken to the largest Justician church in the city. There the party meet with Lord Mohanus, a high ranking member of the Justician clergy. It is obvious what they want.

"Your companions can be restored," Mohanus says. "But it is not without risk. Are they of strong constitution?" Elias says that Drasha is, but Jessica is a bit of an eight stone weakling. Looking at her Mohanus is forced to agree. Torr, Lokan, Ravenna and Jonus all have spells that can help Jessica to overcome the side effects of restoration (i.e. death) but it is not certain. Mohanus suggests employing a friend of his from the Church of Life. The Vítean priests have means to alter probability in favour of Jessica and of Drasha. Elias agrees and soon a hobbit priest named Mungo has arrived at the Justician temple.

The helpful magicks of Mungo are cast (for a fee) and then Lord Mohanus goes to work. First he turns his hand to Jessica. Calling upon the power of Terranor he transmutes the stone back into the flesh of the young girl. Jessica slumps forward and is caught by Torr. She is incredibly weak having been in a petrified state for more than a week. She is also disorientated. The last thing she remembers is the cave and the medusae. Torr quickly fills her in, and introduces Lokan to her.

Next Mohanus turns to Drasha. Elias is anxious. The chance of losing Drasha this way is very slim, but a chance exists nonetheless. Mohanus comforts him. "She is one of the faithful," he says, indicating the Justician symbol around Drasha's neck, "Terranor will not forsake her." And he is proved quite right. It is a living Drasha that collapses into Elias's arms and embraces her husband. Misgon rushes over and hugs her. Drasha is also brought up to speed on everything that has happened since she fell. She is glad that Ravenna is safe, but worried that Morketh escaped. After thanking Mohanus (and making a donation of 1500 crowns to the Justician coffers) the party returns to The Lady.

Morday, 20 Baretwig 204

Now the shopping can begin in earnest. The ship will take about a week to repair. In that time, the party have the freedom to do almost whatever they want. Elias gives each of the slaves 100 crowns and sends them on their way to a new life. Drasha is introduced to Bronsk, Lalmon, Penner and Garth. "Well, you did promise your uncle you would return with an army," she says. Elias cannot detect the sarcasm. Drasha points out the irony of a paladin having his own brute squad, but Elias says that he hopes they can be improved. He then goes shopping for them for weapons and armour. "We don't likes swords," says Bronsk. "Get us some clubs, sir. We likes clubs. Nice big ones with pointy bits on, right lads?" - "Pointy bits, yeah."

With the grateful slaves given enough money to start a new life, and Captain Montague given enough to outfit and repair the ship, each member of the party (including Lokan) finds their pockets swollen by 5000 crowns. As Lokan currently has no possessions, he immediately heads to the markets. Torr and Misgon purchase new spell books and begin to copy the necessary spells from the stolen spell book into them. This is a process that will take days.

Now that Drasha is unpetrified, so is the curvy black blade that was taken from the High Invigilants on Varosh. Using his augmented powers, Jonus identifies it. It is one of the three Blades of Blood, wielded by a powerful creature long ago. The sword has a wounding enchantment placed upon it. No wound it makes will heal naturally. Also any creature slain by this blade is utterly consumed, leaving no trace at all. Drasha feels this sword is not for her and, with her own sword returned to her, she has no need for it. She gives the sword to Jessica. "Remember you must only use it for Good," she says. Jessica nods, wondering if Elias's gullibility is rubbing off on his wife.

Jonus now heads to the Arcanum Incognita. He thought about going to the Scriveners and find out more about Vargus, but dismissed the idea in favour of personal aggrandisement. 5000 crowns will buy him a laboratory for a week and a scroll with the spell <I>permanency</I> written upon it. He intends to create a permanent <I>protection from evil</I> effect around him. This will take all the time before the ship sails.

Drasha is keen to get off the ship and suggests that she and Elias take a room in a good inn for a few days. Elias is happy with the idea, and is thrilled that after everything that has happened he and Drasha are growing closer and closer. His affection for her grows by the day, and he is beginning to suspect that she might be starting to return his regard for her. Elias orders Bronsk and the others to remain on board the ship, but they secretly follow Elias anyway and stand guard outside the inn. Elias is touched that they take his well-being so seriously. Although they do have a little time off standing outside the inn in the rain. From their window, Elias and Drasha see Lalmon having sex with a prostitute in an alleyway.

Sunday, 21 Baretwig 204

The revived Jessica tries to make use of Lokan's Odyssian contacts to get her some poison, but the cleric refuses. Having bought as much of everything as she wants, she takes 3000 crowns to the largest Church of Fire in the city. She speaks with First Flame Meredith, and asks him to put the money to good use in helping the poor. The Church of Fire is a well-known humanitarian organisation, and Jessica feels she can trust Meredith with the money.

Vítday, 22 Barewtwig 204

After two very enjoyable days with his wife, in which time they have drawn closer and closer, Elias makes a decision. He journeys (alone) to the largest Church of Life in the city. Using his title and his wealth to get an interview with High Priest, Sellemus Ottö he lays before him Drasha's most private problem. He explains that a duelling accident has made his wife barren, and that he desperately wants to mend this affliction. Is it possible? Can the Church of Life do it?

Sellemus regards Elias long and hard for some time. He knows Elias is a paladin, which makes what he has to say all the more difficult. "I sense that you love your wife very much, Clanlord Raithborne, and I can tell that you have come here to day with nothing but the best of intentions. What you are asking is…. possible. It is a very delicate operation, requiring the combination of a number of potent spells. But there are those who have the power to do such a thing." This all seems very promising for Elias, but on the cleric's next words his heart falls.

"However, we are followers of Vítaeous here. She has mastery over all life. Motherhood is Her gift to bestow; it is Her gift to take away. We do Her will. In the case of your wife, I would have to ask why Vítaeous had seen fit to take away the gift of Motherhood. What greater purpose is served in this? For undoubtedly there is a purpose."

"What purpose?" asks Elias. He is incredulous, but keeping his temper. "There is purpose in this," Sellemus continues, "Perhaps it is a purpose that will become apparent to you in time. Perhaps not. In any event, it is not for mortal man to interfere in the plans of Vítaeous. I feel for your position, and for you wife, but you must understand that I cannot help you. I am sorry."

Elias smiles and leaves. It is not until he is outside that he lets his frustration out in a long scream. He remembers that tolerance of the beliefs of others is part of the Laws of Elyas, but it is difficult for him to understand this. A feel chance for Drasha's happiness and an incomprehensible doctrine stands in his way. He should have asked the druids, he thinks. Despondent, he returns to the inn.

Drasha senses that there is something wrong. Elias tells her of what he did today and waits for her response. Every time he has ever tried to do anything for the woman in the past it has always been the wrong thing. He has always leapt forward with both feet in the wrong direction. He senses that he has done it again. Drasha is crying. He moves forward to apologise, but he suddenly sees they are not tears of grief.

"You did that for me?" she stammers. Elias has seldom seen Drasha as vulnerable as this, and it stirs something within him. Drasha became Elias's wife almost a season ago. During all that time there has been no attempt to consumate the marriage. Events and emotions continually pushed the two apart. But now there is no such distraction. Elias and Drasha become husband and wife in every sense. It is a day Elias will always remember.

Sharday, 26 Baretwig 204

With a little help from Mungo's spells, Jonus is successful is making <I>protection from evil</I> permanent upon himself. He then has the same idea as Jessica and takes the remaining money to the Church of Fire to help poor. First Flame Meredith is delighted. This is proving to be a very good week.

Elias and Drasha return to <I>The Lady</I> in the morning. They are closer than they have ever been. For the first time, Elias is feeling the duel with Baron Leston an unequivocally good thing. Lalmon, Bronsk, Garth and Penner also return, and everythig is readiness to leave Palidines and head west.

As the ship pulls away from the port on the afternoon tide, Elias cannot help but think that this is the last leg of the journey. From here to the coast to Tibrai is just a few days. He could be standing in the great hall in Wraith Keep in just over a fortnight. It is a heady thought. After eight seasons of travelling he is finally going home.

Morday, 27 Baretwig 204

The weather is holding fine for the time of year. It is dull, overcast and cold but the sea is not too rough. Elias decides that now is the time to enlighten all his companions with what is going on. With the excpetion of Black, Dugin and Masantha everyone assembles in Captain Montague's cabin to hear what Elias has to say.

Elias tells the story of his homeland, the story of Jotan's Point. Jotan's Point was a city-state of 8000 souls at the very end of the Buttress Peninsula. Elias's father was the ruler of the city - a powerful, but evil sorcerer. For some unexplained reason he summoned dozens of dragons from the Thundercrown Mountain into Jotan's Point. They destroyed the city, and Elias's father. Most of the inhabitants were killed, the rest fled to the fortified Wraith Keep. Elias was at Wraith Keep under the keeping of his uncle Lauren at this time. The dragons chased the survivers to Wraith Keep, but they could not breech its defences. Wraith Keep was built on the ruins of one of the Temples of Io and - just like Dralcarnus's Ashardon - no dragon could enter it. Magical defences leapt into life and many dragons were slain.

Then another dragon came and settled in the ruins of Jotan's Point. It was unlike any other dragon ever seen. It fought and killed all the other dragons and declared itself master of the all the land (including Wraith Keep). Some powerful adventurers went to deal with this dragon but only one returned, and he was quite mad. Wraith Keep is on the very cliff edge on the far-westerly tip of the Butress Peninsula, the city was a few miles to the east. No-one could escape Wraith Keep without going past this dragon, and so Elias and his family and the survivors of Jotan Point's destruction were trapped.

Elias escaped with a dwarven trading caravan from the Auld Kingdom that bribed the dragon to let it pass. Elias's Uncle Lauren told Elias to go and find a means to remove the dragon. That was eight seasons ago. Elias is stressing that he isn't going to face the dragon. He wants to find and speak with Quenqurial. Quenqurial, he tells everyone, is a prismatic dragon and servant of Io. He will know what to do. Elias believes that the best chance to find Quenqurial (or a clue to his whereabouts) is in the Temple to Io that must be beneath Wraith Keep. Quenqurial would go there as it would have a portal to Io's realm.

However, the temple will have a guardian. This guardian is unlikely to be as friendly as Dralcarnus. Each of the nine temples built by the Custodians of Concordance was aligned to a facet of Io's nature. The one in Tibrai is a temple of Order and of Evil. It will be a dangerous place.

Bronsk and his men are not put off by the danger. Jessica is curious about the political situation. Elias says that he doesn't know anything about the political situation. He certainly isn't going to arrive and openly declare himself as the clan lord he is by law. Lokan volunteers to use his Sharrash-given abilities to find out as much as he can. Elias says that he looks very much like his father and he will have to stay out of sight. He hopes to gather as much information as he can clandestinely, and then head into the catacombs.

At this point the discussion is broken by a shout from outside. Simian Black urges everyone onto the deck. Flying in the sky above the ship is formation of dragons. There are twelve in total. They are so high up it is difficult to judge their size, but they can see the colours. Reds, Blues, Silvers and Golds! Good and Evil dragons flying together and heading for Tibrai. This does not bode well.

Terday, 30 Baretwig 204

Five more dragons are sighted flying west. Again they are a mixture of metallic and chromatic dragons. As the ship continues to pass the southern coast of Tibrai everyone on board begins to wildly conjecture what lies ahead.

Zephday, 31 Baretwig 204

Twenty dragons shoot past <I>The Lady</I> one hour after dawn. In the half-light it is impossible to see their colours. The captain raises a difficult point to Elias. If this unknown dragon controls Jotan's Point, how are they going to sail past Jotan's Point to get to Tibrai. Montague doesn't want to take the ship any further out to sea, but she will if Elias considers the risk worth it. This gives the paladin something to consider.

Morday, 34 Baretwig 204

In a passing conversation Lalmon reveals he is one quarter orc. He tells the story of how his grandmother was raped, but killed the orc by sticking a knitting needle up its nose, and then cutting its head off. He seems very proud of his orcish heritage and has even learned to speak Gorebash.

Zephday, 38 Baretwig 204

Dusk on the full moon of Sharrash. Lokan goes for a swin in the cold moonlit waters. Jessica accompanies him. While swimming Lokan notices a huge obstacle in the way of the vessel. It is a Dragon Turtle. Related to the dragon family, and swimming its way westward, this forty-foot long amphibian has been known to capsize ships. Before Lokan can react <I>The Lady</I> mounts the shell of the beast, and slides back into the water, almost overturning. The turtle raises its green and gold neck above the water line, craning a look onto the deck.

Elias, Drasha, the brute squad, Misgon and Ravenna are on the deck. Jonus is in the hold and Torr casts a <I>fly</I> and soars out of range. Elias runs forward. "We mean you no harm," he says in the Dracanonic tongue. "I am Elias Raithborne and we are peaceful travellers." The fishpond sized eyes of the dragon turtle blink once. "Elias Raithborne?" it hisses, "I know you."

Without warning a super-heated cone of steam leaps from the creatures mouth scalding everyone on the deck. Misgon drops down, almost dead. Elias escapes injury, although Drasha is badly burned. The brute squad are all still standing, but only barely. The very fact they are not dead makes Elias marvel. Battle is joined. Lokan summons a large shark and sends it to attack the parts of the creature that are still in the water. He also conjures a fist from water to batter the dragon turtle's head. The brute squad race into mêlée, battering the creatures head with their spiked clubs. They are surprisingly effective. But the turtle only has eyes for Elias, and attempts to rend him in two with its powerful claws and bite. Torr sends a phantasmal killer against it, Ravenna and Jonus (who has emerged from below) hurl lightning bolts. Lokan summons more sharks. Eventually it is too much for the creature that topples back into the water and is partially devoured by the sharks before they disappear.

Back on the deck, the brute squad collapse. They are in terrible pain and need healing. Magical healing is dispensed as best they can, but searching questions are asked. Whatever the answers, Elias determines not to give his name to any dragons in the future.

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