The Battle of Winter's Burn Darkember 14th-29th

While the storm passes over they mingle with the crew and make it obvious they know their away around a ship. Calix's relationship with Hug has eased the crew's stance on the Minotaur save Fallen Oak. Oliver is well liked around the crew with Ciella flirting hard with him. Martel is however nervous meeting another half-elf and Lindvai knows the exact kind of man Oliver is.

Over the next week they notice that their sending stones and sending spells aren't working, meaning they've lost complete contact with the Qualinesti crew. In addition they've been stalked by a Solamnic ship trying to run them down. With Nuitari and Luitari being at their lowest, Konguq and Oliver struggle with their magic while the white robe wizard on board is keeping up.

The group having only just barely gotten rest has decided to face the ship instead, faking surrender. Calix takes to the ship telescope and is able to see the crew. He gets descriptions of the captain and the white robe wizard on board. Ace recognizes the young captain as Jeronda Oakbow. She's one of the more recent cynical knights who's honor is only lip service for others. Konguq recognizes the wizard as Arelianaos Lucasi, the Silvanesti elf that chastised the party for killing Rumblegut. As the crew prepares for their "surrender" Fallen Oak takes up his bow and plants himself on the deck. Konguq casts invisibility on the man to keep the element of surprise.

Jeronda and Arelianaos are none the wiser to the crew's plan. Jeronda makes it clear that she wants thier ship destroyed while Arelianaos wants to destroy Zim. They refuse with Ace calling Jeronda's honor into question and Arelianaos prepares a fireball to hit the ship. Calix commands Fallen Oak to take the first shot and with Arelianaos none the wiser he gets critically wounded, bleeding badly.

Ace takes a few shots with his crossbow and joins Martle on the helm to try and get the ship out of a sticky situation. Konguq creates a mass of whirlpools between the ships to make it hard for the enemy ship to advance. She then begins to lay waste to the ship itself with lightingbolt, but Arelianaos manages to catch some of her essence to use against her. As the battle grows ever more intense, Oliver begins to sing, giving his allies a boost to morale.

Calix commands Fallen Oak to shoot again and it strikes true on the Arelianaos. He then aids Fallen Oak with his bow to help him shoot faster.

Arelianaos then casts Cone of Cold on the ship, trying to take out the Konguq. While he tried to use her energy against her, he was unaware of her immunity to cold and fails to damage her at all. The knights on board fire at her and do some minor damage.

Konguq then returns the favor, laying waste to the ship with fireball. While the dual casting of such high level spells dazes her, Arelianaos is no more and Jeronda is barely holding on. Ace goes to shoot her but she calls his morals into question, asking if she's dead how will the rest of the crew make it home. He spares her for the sake of the crew and the Dandy Rose sails away with minor damage.

Fallen Oak shows his appreciation to Calix for his assistance in battle by sharing on of his bottles with him. Oliver walks to the top of the mast and plays a song to help heal Konguq of her wounds and status condition, drawing some ire from Morris.

As the crew continues to travel, Oliver asks Calix about his time with the Dragon Armies and what his rank was before being exiled. Calix admits he didn't get very far in thier ranks but tells Oliver a story about one of his battles. While very text book about the tactics Oliver takes the time to listen and take away parts to use in his performances.

The rest of the crew gathers to hear and begins swapping stories as well, including Konguq's Test of High Sorcery. She tries to leave out the part where she gave up her memories of Morris to never forget her spells, but Morris makes her own it. Oliver asks if Konguq wants the scenario be portrayed as romantic or tragic, but she can't really pick. Morris then offers up the letter Konguq sent him to see how he interprets it. Oliver reads it, and says for the Captain's sake it will be in a romantic light. Ace doesn't share much with the bard.

The party finally makes it to Valens and prepare to unload. Oliver warns the group that he owes some people money here and would be prone to being harassed once off the ship. When asked how much he tells them about 290 steel.

They are greeted by an Ogre named Kyoric who recognizes Konguq. He is happy to see her and is impressed by her black robes and status as captain. He tells her that Valens has decided to join the Dragon Armies in the war and invites her to join their side. Konguq asks if Chrysalis is still in town, and he tells her that she is. When asked who Chrysalis is, she tells them that she is an "entrepreneur" who she refused to pay protection money to. Oliver recognizes Chrysalis as the woman he owes the 290 steel to.