After collecting their spoils from the battle beneath Skyhorn Lighthouse, our heroes bid farewell to Lark Skyhorn, the druidic custodian of the lighthouse, as he barbequed two eelfolk prisoners. Captain Pib provided Lucky with a manual on swashbuckling. As The Annabelle Lee sailed back to Solas, Sankara was mysteriously swept away by his goddess, Vishnaiva. The party’s concerns were put to rest as a note was left behind which read, “I’ll bring him back soon” and was signed “V”. When the party brought up that they were headed for Seabreeze Village, Raj made mention that several vendors of his had returned from there over the past week. When his father, Benji sent scouts, they too hadn’t returned. But there were whispers of a ship, The Devourer, that has recently docked there. Likened to when they first heard of the crisis in the Doragaen Mining Company, the party once again feels drawn and the second Trial revealed itself. 

Once safely back at port, the party bid farewell to Captain Pib and crew and the Frogwaters, Benji and Raj. Additionally, the officially gained Captain Pib and the up-and-coming halfling merchant, Benji, as allies. 

Lucky made a beeline for the Solarum to report the goings on of Skyhorn Lighthouse to Lady Katherine, representative of the Merchant Conclave. However, he was unable to gain audience with the Solarum as the three of them have been rumored to have been locked in intense debate over the past few days in closed-door sessions. 

The party did get the name of a Mr. Thomas Briarwood– a human scout employed by Lady Katherine. Upon meeting him, they were informed that indeed a blight had set itself upon Seabreeze. A ship, The Devourer, has come into port and since then the comings and goings of the town had come to a standstill. No lights at night and no crew to be seen. Thomas spoke of rumors of the townspeople being made so ravenous as to eat anything and everything, stopping only at night to sleep when exhausted by gorging themselves. 

The party also pieced together that the Solarum has been locked in debate since the fall of Mirkarden. After bringing this up to Thomas, he revealed that the Solarum has been divided on their response to the Mirkarden invasion, namely on how they should respond and who should lead Solas. It was then revealed that Thomas Briarwood, although an employee of Lady Katherine, is also romantically involved with Nayana, leader of the AUC (Aquatic Undercity) of Solas and member of the Solarum. It is through his efforts (and potions of water breathing) that the party was able to gain an audience with Nyana. 

In their meeting with Nayana, she expressed her profound grief and distress over the Mirkarden invasion and the disappearance of her sister, Merena, who was present at the festival at the time Ileana and her cultists appeared. Nayana has heard no word from her sister since. Nayana confessed that the Solarum’s intentions are divided. She feels that in order to mount a proper military response to what has happened in the north, Solas must be a united city. However, no one wants to give up power to name one person the sole ruler of Solas. The party promised to help Nayana get her sister back, but they would need to address the problem in Seabreeze. Nayana was more than happy to provide them with the Staff of Anchoring– a weapon as old as the water elves that was used in wars past to keep enemies near the water’s surface. 

After their meeting with Nayana came to a conclusion, the party returned to Creature Couture. As they drank at the bar, in a burst of wind and divine druidic energy, Sankara returned to the party bloodied and started. “News. News from Mirkarkden” he said as he collapsed to the floor.