A week of pacing back and forth, my injuries too severe to do much besides the katas. I will learn the truth behind the treachery.
In the meantime, Beshm requires our assistance on the island of Culperno. As they have been allowing us to our own devices thusfar, for the most part, and nominally we are in their service for the time being, we have agreed. Culperno has a number of mining industries in the center; apparently this is where some of the rare metals needed for spellcasting are mined. I have to say the boat we took across - one can hardly call it a "ship" - was not in the best of repair. Our duty is to guard a shipment as there have been raiders lately. The mining structures are on the interior wall of a large canyon on the interior of the island; more vertical than horizontal towns. The cable cars on the way up are interesting as well.
The "boss" on the island is a lady who, by all looks of things, is stressed beyond belief. However, we did find a few others to give us a hand. Jim, one of the mechanics and drivers, and another mechanic. As we were talking, the dock was hit by raiders. With some quick maneuvering, we managed to catch up to them for a while, but lost them as they careened off on a different cable near the bottom while our damaged cart was incapable of turning right. Some fancy driving by Jim served to keep us from certain death; unfortunately the cargo was largely lost in the crash at the bottom of the canyon. More was lost when Beatrix summoned Diego away from the nurse he had been wooing. Diego lost his temper and incinerated most of what was left. We did, however, find a few more barges which Beshm could strip for parts and salvaged a few more boxes from the canyon floor. Hopefully that makes up for part of the loss.
Down below on the canyon floor, we found the raiders camp. It appears to lead to a cave. Dispatched a number of raiders, including what appears to be their leader "Red Band". Another ninja-pirate was with them - a new one named Triton. Interrogation reveals that they are expecting someone to come for the goods "soon" though an exact time is unknown. They collect them in a small cove at the other end of the tunnel through the mountain.
Went with Jim back up to report to Beshm, including the location of the remaining raiders and the barges for stripping. Then we returned to the tunnel below to see what is on the other side. Cautious, of course, since we do not know when the others may arrive. Due to Triton's presence, we suspect there is more going on than mere raiders; perhaps we will run into Gharkin or Raskin. As of our reconaissance, we find merely a few men working in a small encampment. It looks as though the camp can hold several dozen if need be; there are pallets in a cave for that many. It is a small cove, and one only accessible by going under water. For this it is claimed they have an underwater vessel, which we have designamted a "submersible". I shall be interested to see how it works. Nonetheless, we must dispatch the current men and make an effective plan for when the others arrive. If Gharkin or Raskin is with them... it will be tricky.
The men were no trouble. Jim has determined that they were making triggered bombs of noxious gas, though for what purpose we do not yet know. I have found a trail on the opposite side of the lagoon. It appears to go up into the mountains where it may have easy vantage points above the lagoon. As I travel up, it seems to be well used - but very carefully as if by those who do not wish to leave a trace. Interesting.
Ah, the forest grows denser and darker here. And I am ambushed...
The fight went well until I was enveloped in darkness. Nonetheless, I took out a number of them. They seemed to want me to wait, yet I desired only to go up and speak with their master. They need more training if I can fight them blind. One higher level came to me at the end and prevented me from going over a cliff; Lu-Xian is his name. Blinded then they lead us all, for they had captured Beatrix, Diego and Jim as well, up further. I take note of my steps.
It appears Gharkin has been here before, winding his way into the mind of the master monk here, Mardun. One of the seals is on the island, in house Laika. I can find it easily and hopefully remove it before Gharkin and Raskin arrive. Beatrix helped the old man with some magic to remove the effects of the Children of the Flame from his mind, though I gather it will encroach once again. He asks our help in ridding him of this; perhaps by removing the seal we can do something. If not, it may be that Luma knows of something to change this leakage into the master monk's mind. I begin to suspect that it is Gharkin behind this, not Varn or Raskin who are likely just pawns.
Beatrix's sister and Jim's fiancee appear to be part of this plan; both have been kidnapped by Gharkin or Varn for what purposes we have yet to know. Mardun looks into my mind and sees that the loss of the fleet is my fault. How??? I cannot bring myself to ask with the others here. To have my failures in front of them. Or is it that I cannot face the failures myself? No, I must know. Perhaps when we return.
With that we travel back to house Beshm to recover the seal. [didn't we get a map from somewhere? maybe the first set of raiders?]
Idiots! Why I travel with such people, I don't know! You would think they could manage not to destroy the one support we have by starting a bloody WAR with blame pushed onto Beshm's house!
Perhaps it is time to divest ourselves of this place and of Beshm's service. We have the seal and without Jim's daring driving we would be dead ourselves and the seal lost to Gharkin.
Beatrix and I will go talk to Mardun again; I feel that her judgement is clouded by the capture of Isobel, her sister, by these monks. Yet they did not realize at the time that it was Gharkin clouding their master's mind. She on the other hand, believes I am not "eloquent" enough to speak to the master. I will let her speak, and we shall see. At least we are in agreement with what must be asked.
The master is not here; I expected this may be the case. He moves to keep from Gharkin's plans. Lu-Xian met us and informed us that he is to watch for Gharkin. Instead, we devised a plan using the gas bombs and my ninja-pirate skills to take the submersible. It worked splendidly; we took out a number of them fairly quickly, as well as three of their ornithopters. Beatrix surprised us all with some new magic which was different from summoning, though she also summoned the bird she had called earlier. The last men were taken down by a tripwire Jim rigged for me, which flooded the dock and submersible with the gas before they realized I wasn't one of their own ninja-pirates. Fortunately the gas was easily removed from the submersible. The raiders are on shore, except for the pilot and co-pilot of the submersible. We are out to sea now, heading back to Palleron.
Gharkin. Again. Why will he not DIE. Beatrix is unconscious, we are only saved by Luma and his monks. Or rather, Luma's order of monks, as he appears to still be an apprentice. Gharkin attacked with three of the Children of Flame - the worms which escaped when the first seal was broken.
We travel now with House Ardem, which Luma says can protect the seal.
I must say, I'm concerned about Beatrix. But for her, Jim and I would be dead, and Gharkin would have had the seal before Luma arrived.