Act Two, Chapter sixteen "insert chicken pun" (21-08-2021)

As Ezra splits in to three people the group steady themselves for his sparing match, not quite knowing what to expect from the ensuing fight. They do their best to put up a good fight but it seems for a while that only Cade's summoned badger seems to be able to damage Ezra, whilst our heroes do manage to get a few hits in it isn't before Ezra send Kel and Sailing ship to the ethereal plane, turns Elric and the badger in to chickens and sends Orchid to the land of nod for a while that Ezra calls an end to the match. Seeming quite impressed at the fight they gave and realising he may have forgotten to pull one or two punches he is happy to answer some of the groups questions.

Ezra explains that Vi used to be a student of his, and is very powerful.  He hasn't seen or heard from Vi in some time but warned to be wary of her power, Cade showed Ezra the letter found in Vi's study.

Elric asked if Ezra may have heard about the book on Tulli island given how powerful and sought after it is.  Ezra thinks it is most likely to be the Black Grimoire. He also looks at Elric's crossbow, Shaddow strike, and muses that it was likely made by champions of the Lunar Sisters; Iya & Oya.

The group also benefits from Ezra's advice on fighting dragons and suggests it is likely that there will be other hostile creatures on the island so the group should manage their resources carefully. He also suggests the group may wish to consider the spell 'earth bound'.

Lastly Ezra looks at Cade's staff of healing that was previously damaged and said that it would need 2,500-3,000 gp worth of amber exhaltium to repair.

To gain further trust Ezra tasks the group with returning to Sierrona to pick up an item from Raz'iel, the group mustn't look at the item but just return it straight to Ezra and he provides them with magical means to teleport to Sierrona and back.

Back on the boat the group pay Craz for another two weeks retention and discuss their future. Sailing Ship still has some questions as to where his allegiance lies, focused on how the group betrayed Dolosius and turned on him. As much as the others try to explain that Dol had lied to them for a very long time and it was they who were betrayed by him it is hard for Ship to come to terms with. It reminds him of a time in his past where his own loyalties were tested; a previous crew he had sailed with perished when he chose not to warn them of an impending disaster and even though they may not have been kind to him he feels the weight of his inaction. Ship isn't ready to share this story with the group at this stage and he knows it's going to take time to reflect on his feelings.

Before heading back to Ezra to be transported to Sierrrona, Elric asks Craz about the locked room in the lower decks, after Craz's expected "fuck off" Elric notices there's a couple of guards posted outside the room.

The group row back to Ezra who is casually fishing off the beach, he explains that at the bottom of the ocean are the remains of Aeonean ruins and whilst there's many wonders and treasures to be found there are also untold dangers.

The group hear Ezra shout "you might want to...." as they haphazardly land in Sierrona (Cade face first in the dirt) teleported under Ezra's power. Lotty rushes to her father's shop dragging the group along to inroduce the new comers and Frug shuts up shop and offers to cook a meal for the group. They head of to see Raz'iel to find out about the item they need to take to Ezra and supplies they may need.

Elric enquires with Frug and Raz'iel about Maga and find out she has been out of town the last few weeks. Neither know much about her beyond she is a little off and Raz'iel mentions that Maga arrived in town before she did ten years ago and whilst she doesn't her very well she has noticed that Maga tends to avoid Raz'iel which is something of a red flag in itself.

As the group find their land-legs back in Sierrona for a couple of weeks Sailing Ship notices the absence of slavery in the town, where there were once a market place used to trade slaves like cattle there is an ornate garden and seeing the vast difference from the last time he was here he does gain a small amount of appreciate for his new found allies.

Act Two, Chapter Fifteen (14-08-2021)

• Start in Bordai
• Sailing Ship digs up a hidden cache with a spell scroll
• Find a wrecked ship with one survivor
• Rescue Orchid - 7' tall half elf, crimson red hair, fighter
• Orchid thinks she was taken by the Breakers who killed her mother but doesn't remember how she got on the ship that wrecked
• Attacked on The Booty Taker by air elementals cracking the mast
• Group repair the mast working together
• Work together to take one of Sailing Ship's weapons and turn it in to a hooked blade
• Sail to Ezra's island and find him casually fishing on the beach, a young half elf
• Ezra asks the group for a sparring match to test their mettle

Act Two, chapter Fourteen “things are gonna do things” (07-07-21)

Captain Craz mentions to the group that they have picked up a new passenger in Portas who introduces himself as Kel, a lean human male with a very keen love of books. He is looking to travel and venture out in to the world having lived a more sheltered life with his family in Sierrona and now looking for adventure.

As The Booty Taker continues on it's journey the air becomes still and foggy, Craz explains that they are sailing through the site of a great naval battle in the Divine Cataclysm and at the bottom of the sea is likely hundreds of fallen infantrymen and well as sunken ships. As the air grows colder and darker ghostly spectres start to appear, accompanied by banshees the group have to fight for their survival once more. The group dispatches with these phantoms and discover their new arrival, Kel, seems to have some quite powerful magic up his sleeve.

Elric takes some time to himself and whilst in his cabin he feels drawn to the mirror in his room; taking a look at himself he notices writing on his skin, disrobing he finds the contents on the Demononicon seems to be tattooed (at least to his eyes) across his body. He hears a voice say "I wouldn't abandon you" thinking he's lost the real copy of the book with the rest of his belongings in Portas Elric is relieved to see the text again and asks the voice if he has earnt his name. The voice reveals he is the Azreal the breaker of wills and Elric will be his champion.

After a little more smoother sailing they arrive in Bordai and row to shore.  The island is a former defence post, now turned in to a trading post with it's residents consisting mostly of refugees and their descendants from the Divine Cataclysm.

As the ships crew take on new supplies the group manage to get stocked up with some basic supplies.

Lotty tried her best to raise morale with a bonfire on the beach and a gift of herbs and spices for Sailing Ship but it doesn't seem to have the desired effect.

Elric has better luck and manages to dig up a metal box on the beach, inside is a glowing purple gem that is identified as an exhaltium catalyst with the potential to amplify a spell to great effect, albeit using the gem will destroy it and take a considerable toll on the spell caster. 

Act Two, Chapter Thirteen "sunken treasure" (31/07/2021)

As Cade, Elric, Sailing Ship and Lotty are lead back to "The Booty Taker" feeling mixtures of shame, anger, grief and upset they are surrounded by Kharis, Kolemos and a number of guards; something Craz doesn't seem to be completely comfortable with.

Sailing Ship quickly heads below deck as soon as he is able, with Elric following in short order.  As Cade & Lotty express their shame and regret to Kharis and Kolemos once more there seems to be something of an understanding, particularly from Kolemos who had experienced Dolosis' most serve form of manipulation. Kharis hands Cade an amber necklace and explains that once the Booty Taker is a safe distance from Portas she will speak a command word and the amber will shatter to reveal Cade’s & Lotty's possessions. The escort party leave with an much amicability as can be expected; asking our heroes to go on to do better and leave each place  in the world better than they find it. Kharis is true to her word and after heading out to sea the necklace breaks and their belongings scatter on to the deck, as Cade & Lotty reequip their gear they notice that Elric's bow, Shadow Strike, and Sailing's gourd have also been returned to the group with notes attached to say "do good". The group's bag of holding is missing but in it’s place is a closed box.

Lotty & Cade spend some time reflecting on the events of the last few days, the feelings of loss and betrayal from a good friend, of being torn over the right thing to do and having some serious trust issues. With trust issues at the forefront of their mind they return Shadow Strike to Elric and have him check the box hasn’t been rigged to explode, unsurprisingly it was not trapped. Leaving Elric to brood after he tossed the note aside Lotty & Cade discover the box is an anti-magic crate; Kharis had used it to protect the bag of holding whilst it was in the amber necklace to avoid any extra dimensional planer mishaps. Conversation turns to Elric and the effects of the book he's been reading, with Dol's recent duplicity stuck in their minds Lotty & Cade can't help but wonder if Elric might also betray them; especially under the influence of the Demononicon. They discuss if they should attempt to destroy the book and if they did, should they discuss it with Elric first. The decide to place the Demononicon in the anti-magic crate and put it inside the bag of holding to try and keep it safe for now.

They find Sailing Ship storming around the lower deck of the ship, obviously angry and disappointed with the group. Cade explains to Sailing the reason the group acted like they did, the perfidy Dol showed and how much it hurt them. The three friends were at odds, Sailing Ship feeling like he made a commitment to Dol, regardless of the moral implications, but the group did not follow through on the commitment and instead turned their back on Dol, he explains that he is concerned the group are not loyal friends and questions if they would they turn on him eventually.  Lotty & Sailing continue to talk it out and come to an understanding that everyone in the group was doing what they thought was the right thing in the heat of the moment even if their motives weren't aligned at the time.

There is a day or two of solemn sailing as the group lick their wounds and take comfort in their work. Cade spends some time writing out a spell scroll whilst Lotty & Sailing Ship help out with repairs and maintenance around the ship for a while. On the second day Cade joins in the help around the ship with Sailing whilst Lotty sets about setting up a makeshift workshop in a lower deck; she takes her old armour and Singe's armour along with some scraps of old leather armour and does her best to stretch and reshape some studded leather armour to fit Elric & Sailing Ship. She's proud of her work but the recipients don't seem quite so impressed with the awkward and tight fitting garments. Elric keeps himself tucked away in his cabin for the most part - the group isn’t sure if it is Elric being his usual broody self or if the toll of taking a killing blow against Dol or losing the fight is getting to him.

As the journey to Bordai continues, in what must have been a one in a hundred chance, Sailing Ship spots a ship wreck nearby. As they decide to investigate Sailing makes a shrewd deal with Craz for 40% of anything found in exchange for the loan of a spear (the group all note to exclude Sailing Ship from future negotiations). Lotty, Cade & Sailing Ship head down whilst Elric stays on board to look out and cover a retreat if needed. Cade summons a shark and wild shapes in to one himself, Lotty casts alter self to allow herself to breath underwater and Sailing fashions a rope harness and takes a very deep breath to grab a hold of the shark harness.

They swim over and find a ship wreck; a small merchant vessel that looks like it's fallen foul of ballista fire. As the group investigates Lotty & Sailing stay on the afloat part of the ship and find a set of keys in the captain's quarters with reference to a vault at the front of the boat, Cade and his shark have found the vault underwater but before they can meet up and plan further, the rear of the ship that Sailing & Lotty were standing suddenly creaks and descends under water and the trio find themselves surrounded by underwater beasties.

After fighting off Merrow and Deep Scion they find the key fits the vault and inside they discover a chest. Deciding it safer to get Elric to take a look than open it underwater they haul the chest back up to the surface and eventually manage to get the chest back on board along with a few harpoons and the spoils of their defeated foes (including a merrow carcass Sailing insists he can cook). After giving Craz his 40% the group share out the remaining gold and silver and Lotty pockets a wand Cade found in the chest.