You know that there are Giants on the island...

The mekillot drawn slave wagon rocked from side to side on it’s rough bone spoked wheels. In the depths of the wagon, out of the gaze of the burning sun, were the slave pens. Packed with those snatched from the small village beside the muddy oasis, those that survived the attack. In one of those pens sat the old ashik, his calm demeanour permeated through the other slaves, and all sat silently listening to his tale.

As soon as the Company of the Cloaked Inix are out of sight of the walls of Altaruk, Ferulah strips naked and hands her clothes to Kank. She then transforms into a giant mountain lioness, stretches out her long feline back, and bounds forwards with Kank jogging along beside her as they pull ahead of the others and scout forwards in the hope of avoiding being ambushed once again. The day passes uneventfully, but very wet as the unusual rains still fall from the sky, and by the end of the day Balboa finds a small cave in the rough terrain, big enough for the Company to use as shelter for the night.

During the first watch, Ferulah and Scar spot a Weezer flying westwards towards the distant mountain range. Scar pulls out her lodestone and confirms the exact direction and makes sure that she pinpoints the Company’s position for future reference. The night passes and dawn still sees the rain pouring from the sky. The Company pull the hoods of their cloaks tight and trudge onwards along the road. Towards the end of the day they see the shape of a blocky stone structure jutting outwards from a steep rocky outcrop. Ferulah resumes her Human guise and dresses while they await the others to catch up. When the rest arrive Kank points at the distant structure;

I guess that’s Grak’s Pool!

The guard at the gate of Grak’s Pool shouts a greeting and Balboa steps forwards saying that they are travellers seeking lodging for the night. The guard shouts back;

Stick the kank in one of the rear enclosures and then come back round. The gates close at dusk and it is not far off!

They discover that Grak’s Pool offers basic food and lodging, but at a much cheaper rate than Altaruk during the Muscle Festival. Scar also discovers that they offer hot baths for a price, and she can’t resist. Ferulah follows her in and they both enjoy the experience. When she is finished, Ferulah transforms back into a mountain lioness and shakes all of the water from her fur, much to Scar’s amusement. In the morning, after a basic breakfast, they set out again along the edge of the Silt Sea. In the distance, hovering above the Silt Sea, they can see some strange looking birds but even with Arthur’s telescope they cannot make out much detail.

Again their night passes quietly and as they continue their journey the following day they spot two mekillot drawn wagons slowly moving towards them along the road from the south. As the wagons draw closer the Company can see that they are flatbed wagons, each with a complement of Dwarves riding on the back of them. Balboa hails the lead wagoneer and is greeted in turn, he discovers that they are travelling to a quarry near the mountains to get stone, when the inquisitive Mul asks what the stone is for the wagoneer replies;

For the bridge of course! We are building it again.

Balboa nods sagely, though he doesn’t really know what the wagoneer is talking about, he asks if the road ahead to South Ledopolus is clear and is told that it is. He also asks for advice about the best inn, and is told that there is only one and it is called the Bearded Dwarf. It is run by a one legged Dwarf by the name of Dogured. Balboa thanks the Dwarves and wishes them well. That night, as the Company made camp, the rains finally stopped.

Two and a bit days later, South Ledopolus comes into view. The small town is larger than Kled with probably about two thousand souls in residence, and along one side the Company can see wooden docks running along the edge of the Silt Sea. And moored at those docks are curious looking vessels that Arthur suggests must be silt skimmers. They head straight to the Bearded Dwarf, easily identifiable by its Dwarven headed sign sporting an enormous Giant’s hair beard. They are greeted by a one legged Dwarf and Balboa negotiates food and lodging. Dogured asks if the Company are travelling anywhere in particular, Balboa says that they are travelling to Ledo and his response is greeted with a bark of laughter!

The island? Why would you want to go there? You know that there are Giants on the island right?

Balboa politely dodges the questions and asks if the sand skimmers are for hire, and is told that they are not and that if you wanted one you would have to buy one. At this point, Arthur almost collapses from shock. Balboa also asks Dogured about the archaeologist Sabertine and the one legged Dwarf points to a female Dwarf propping up the end of the bar.

Arthur walks over to Sabertine and as she notices him approaching she asks if he has come to help build the bridge? He replies;

No! We have come to pick your brains.

Arthur explains what it is that the Company of the Cloaked Inix are doing and she says that she is aware of a tomb on the island of Ledo that may well be Hrothgurtun’s, it is on the eastern side of the island and away from the main group of Giants. As soon as she mentions the Giants, it becomes obvious to Arthur that the eminent archaeologist is a long way into an all day drinking session. Sabertine begins to rant about an imminent attack from the Giants;

They always attack when we are just over a mile out! But nobody believes me when I say that we need to prepare for an attack!

Arthur steers the conversation back to Hrothgurtun, and his hammer Earth Shaker, Sabertine says that Hrothgurtun’s tomb will be deep and will be difficult to enter.

You will need an Earth Priest to enter the tomb! They will need to call upon the Gnomes of the earth to gain entry.

Arthur beckons over Balboa and introduces him to Sabertine, within moments the Dwarven archaeologist realises that the Mul is an acolyte and does not have access to the required powers. Balboa suggests seeking a priest at the earth temple to help, Sabertine tells him that he will need to speak to Grovac. With that she pulls a map out of a leather scroll tube tied at her waist and points to the rough area where the tombs are located. Sabertine says that she will give the Company details once they have done something for her, Balboa asks her what she wishes done and she replies;

If the attack comes we will need Weezer honey for we do not have enough priests to heal all of the injured. That will be the price of my information.

Arthur and Balboa just nod, so pleased with herself, Sabertine suggests that the group will also need to speak to the Wharfmaster Volt in order to secure a silt skimmer to get to the island.

While Kank escorts Balboa to the earth temple for some reflection and to seek Grovac, Arthur heads to the market and is able to sell the gold torque and both gems for sixty five gold coins. After paying their respects at the temple, the pair of Muls seek out the earth priest Grovac and introduce themselves, Balboa tells Grovac about the Company’s mission and it is clear that the Dwarven earth priest is fascinated by the mention of Gnoriath the Earth mother and horrified by talk of Nurkel-Malia mistress of Disease.

It becomes very apparent that Grovac will not accompany the Company to the island, he is fixated on the completion of the bridge, and he is also the only one who is able to cast the spell spoken of by Sabertine. But Grovac suggests that it may be possible to gain entrance without the spell. Balboa also mentions that Sabertine has asked for Weezer honey as a price for her information, and Grovac agrees that it may well be wise to have some. He also says;

You know that there are Giants on the island right?

The Company meet back at the Bearded Dwarf and agree to seek out Volt at the wharf. Volt turns out to be another one legged Dwarf, and he is South Ledopolous’ wharf master. Arthur approaches him and asks about purchasing a silt skimmer, Volt asks the stoic Dwarf where they are heading and Arthur replies that they wish to get to the island of Ledo. Volt laughs out loud and says;

Why would you want to go there? You know that there are Giants on the island right?

Arthur nods and says that it had been mentioned once or twice before. The wharf master says that the Company will need one of the large silt skimmers to reach Ledo, and that the journey will be about a day and a half to travel just over five miles to the island. The skimmer will need a crew of six, and they had better be experienced if they are to get to the island in one piece. Volt suggests that Arthur speaks to Hrodin Gart and his crew, he intimates that they are more adventurous than most, and a little unhinged.

Arthur thanks him and asks if Volt has a silt skimmer available for purchase, Volt nods his head and points at a large vessel moored further down the wharf. He says;

That there is the Tattered Gull. And she is yours for just two hundred and eighty gold coins!

Every member of the Company of the Cloaked Inix was surprised that Arthur didn’t faint on the spot. In fact the Dwarf remained very calm and just thanked Volt and said that they would see each other again.

Back in the Bearded Dwarf, Balboa asks after Hrodin and is pointed to a table of six rowdy Dwarves who are deep into their cups. Arthur and Balboa approach the table and order another round of drinks for the skimmer crew. Balboa says that the Company is looking to hire a reliable crew, Hrodin asks where the destination is and Balboa replies;

The island! Yes, that island!

Hrodin laughs out loud and says;

Why would you want to go there? You know that there are Giants on the island right?

Balboa gives Hrodin an outline of what the Company is doing and Hrodin says that it will cost fourteen gold per day to hire his full crew. While Arthur and Balboa are negotiating with Hrodin, Kank speaks to another skimmer crew to find out what they think of Hrodin. He is told that the Dwarf is a ‘by the book’ kind of guy but that he makes a good living.

When the Dwarf archaeologist Sabertine enters the bar, Balboa approaches her with a couple of drinks. He informs her of everything that the Company has accomplished with regards to their mission in the last day and asks for more information on the location of Hrothgurten’s tomb. He reminds her that she mentioned Weezer honey, and Sabertine just nods and replies;

I will give you the information when you supply me with fifty doses of Weezer honey.

Now it is Balboa’s turn to nod and comment;

We leave tomorrow!

Most of the Company retire to their rooms, but a restless Kank wanders the streets of South Ledopolous checking on the merchant houses and making sure that there is no sign of House Söttir. He is pleased to find that there is no sign of the plague dealers, and he notes the three merchant houses present, House Amkech, House Shom, and House Tomblador.

At the end of three days' travel, during which the Company spent another night in the comfort of Grak’s Pool, the group found themselves nearing their former camp site where they had spotted the Weezer. Ferulah, who is again in her normal form, growls deep in her throat and thrusts her head towards the west. Kank looks in that direction and spots a Weezer flying towards it’s hive. Kank turns back to Ferulah;

Can you follow it to the hive? We will follow on and once you have found it you can lead us in.

The big lioness licks the big Mul’s face and then runs after the flying insect. The Company follow on and after a couple of hours they spot the mountain lioness running back towards them across the dunes. She leads them back across the sandy wastes until they can see the domed circle clearly marking the site of the Weezer hive. It is just before dusk and the last of the Weezers are climbing in through the central entrance, knowing that the hive will be full, the Company retreat and set camp a mile away.

The following morning, after they have watched all of the worker Weezer leave the hive, Scar White of the wastes selects one of the outer domes and they move in. Kank smashes a hole in the side of the dome with Bone Crusher, and they can see inside the rotting corpse of a Jarbo. Kank steps in and smashes the Weezer plug in the floor of the dome, he then drops down into the hive tunnels. Ferulah takes one look at the four foot tunnels and decides that she will not be entering, and that she will wait at the top and guard their escape route.

As before the hive is a maze of narrow tunnels forcing the Company to move in single file with Kank at the front, closely followed by Scar and then the others. Scar points Kank towards what she believes will be the centre of the hive, and as Kank moves forwards he can hear a loud buzzing sound. The big Mul pulls the hood of his cloak up and sneaks forwards, he finds a spot where the tunnel opens up into a small cavern and in the centre of the cavern is what can only be a soldier Weezer. Kank backs away and they agree to search the other tunnels first to make sure that they do not leave any Weezers to attack them from behind.

They find a crossroads of tunnels and head right, once again Kank hears a buzzing from ahead but this time it is coming from a worker Weezer and so Kank charges in and attacks it. The Weezer is quick and attempts to sting the big Mul but it misses, Kank counters with a mighty punch, the tunnels being too narrow to use his trusty Bone Crusher, and the worker Weezer slams into the opposite wall and falls to the floor dead. They push on through the space and into the tunnel beyond, which winds back towards the original tunnel. They signal the others at the crossroads, and agree to leave Arthur and Balboa to guard the crossroads.

They continue to scout the haywire of tunnels and eventually find a tunnel that ends with a hole in the floor dropping down fifteen feet into darkness. After a brief discussion, Kank and Scar agree to head back towards the centre of the hive and yet again Kank encounters a soldier Weezer. This time he decides to charge and rushes into the small cavern. He is surprised to find not one, but three soldier Weezer, and so he starts a fighting retreat. The Weezer all attack but only one of them hits, and Kank is pleased to see it bounce off of his armour.

Kank is being attacked by two Weezers simultaneously, as one approaches him on the floor and the other attacks from the ceiling. A flurry of blows later and one of the Weezer lays dead on the floor. But the space is quickly filled by the third insect. Kank manages to land a powerful punch against one of the soldier Weezer and is pleased to hear the crunching, snapping sound of the creature's thorax breaking. The insect drops to the floor and Kank puts it out of it’s pain with another punch. The third of the soldier Weezer launches an attack at Kank but misses, Kank counters with a solid hit to the Weezer’s head and the creature drops instantly dead to the floor.

Yet again Kank pushes forwards and discovers another hole dropping into the darkness, they agree that they will have to descend and so they call forward Balboa, who calls upon the power of the Gnomes to create hand holds down the narrow tunnel. Once he is done, Kank lowers himself down into the dark.