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On the Favoured Wind Tulip and Thava have a conversation with “Twice-Dead” Dean. Later, Laurel has a rather more pointed conversation. Dean seems to tell everything he knows about why Zeltan is so interested in Jakrin, and what he’s been doing. Dean also notes that if he doesn’t go back to Zeltan, he is as good as dead. Laurel suggests there may be worse fates. Thava encouraged Dean to think of ways to become helpful.

On The Anchorage, Bhaus attempts to recruit Wink into taking over the island and living as pirate kings. Wink firmly declines, partly because he is too busy shadowing Baz and The Big Boy’s Book of Badness, but mostly because he thinks the idea is stupid. Arynn is off on her own, angry at her teammates for messing up what should have been a simple negotiation. Baz has a lovely time with Barrett, the leader of the pirates. Jakrin continues his long, concerning sleep.

Tulip’s egg hatches! It’s an adorable little blob of… hey, what is this thing, anyway? It certainly isn’t a griffin. Laurel recognizes it as a baby mimic, and is of the opinion that it needs to be killed immediately. Tulip and Thava can’t hear her over the sound of their own cooing over the cute widdle baby blobbo, especially when it starts turning into tiny things. Laurel agrees not to smash it, as long as Tulip never lets it out of her sight while on the ship, and reports it immediately if it is ever lost. Thava is constructing blueprints in her mind for a small terrarium she will build for Morph. Yes, they name it Morph.

''“Seriously, Tulip! I mean it!” - Laurel “SOO CUTE!!!!” - Tulip''

After a few days, the Favoured Wind arrives at The Anchorage. Laurel and Barrett have a somewhat awkward reunion. Barrett’s sea wizard reports that he has confirmed that Jakrin has been enchanted, but it is beyond his ability to wake him. After some cross-examination, general opinion is that Barrett’s wizard may not be the most knowledgeable wizard around. Bhaus calls him the C wizard.

“You know, like the number C?” - Bhaus

Thava finds Jakrin’s sending stone and calls Delfan. Delfan is distinctly scattered and unhelpful, saying that he can’t come right now, but Jakrin should be fine, and to just let him sleep it off. Thava hangs up on him in frustration.

''“Fucking wizards! I’m going to put a godsdamned arrow through the throat of each and every one of them! Useless, shit-eating loads who can’t even…” -Thava, who continued on this theme for some time''

In the meantime, Barrett has a proposal. He will help Laural and the Rabid Skylarks get into Athkatla in a sneaky-type fashion, if they do one small, teeny-tiny little thing for him. He had something of value taken from him. Turns out, it was stashed in an underwater cave, and everyone he has sent in to retrieve it has not returned. After repeated prodding, he admits that it is a chest containing his heart, and he would very much like it back. The party agrees to retrieve it.

“Pact magic is just the worst.” - Jakrin, who did not actually say this at the time on account of being magically unconscious, but totally would have if he had the chance

Tulip, Bhaus, Wink, Laurel, Thava and a strangely untalkative Baz prepares to recover Barrett’s heart. Barrett casts Water Breathing on them, and they dove into the cave. Laurel and Wink lead the way - Laurel on account of her enchanted armor, and Wink because monk. Thava summons a couple giant octopi for people to use as mounts, and this seems to be solidifying as one of her signature moves for aquatic adventures. The party finds some remains of Barrett’s unfortunate pirates sent previously. However, as they descend deeper into the cave, their minds start rebelling. Laurel in particular is having great difficulty remembering why she was there, and this is causing her to lose her temper. She relies on Thava to keep her pointed in the right direction.

Finally, they encounter a squid-like monstrosity sitting on a pile of treasure, and it is time to throw down. Baz casts Eldritch Blast for the first time ever, but sadly it is deflected and hits Bhaus instead. Bhaus, Wink and Laurel get right up in its fishy face, while Thava and Tulip attack at range. After a fierce battle, the thing is slain.

There is not much time to raid the treasure hoard, as the cavern started to collapse. They quickly find the chest containing Barrett’s heart, and grab a few handfuls of treasure. Bhaus, meanwhile, finds an 8-foot long sword, and decides this was the thing he needed.

“I am now the best sword fighter, because I have the biggest sword.” - Bhaus

The party manages to exit the tunnel relatively unscathed, and Barrett is reunited with his heart, which he promises to keep in a safer place - but still not behind hs ribcage as most people do, for reasons he does not seem eager to go into.

''“Is travelling with this lot always like this?” - Laurel “Pretty much. You get used to it.” - Thava''