Here is my account of the return of Vagile and Yazza to us. My greatest
thanks go out to all who participated in aiding the return of these two.

____________________________

At 2 p.m. PT several gathered in town square to have Sendorian lead a
group of us to where the captives were held.

Prior to our leaving, the slime chatted merrily, bantering lightly about
how Vagile, Yazza and Althea had been so poorly treated, no, tortured.
Grrrrrr.... I was beside meself with rage, but held back in order we
should find the captives without Sendorian having grievous injury. He
cackled about how Althea was going to be so *good* for his ends on the
mainland! \action snarls deeply in the back of his throat. He even went
so far as to say she went *willingly*! I could have killed him then and
there for his lies...

With Sendorian leading the way, a group of us, including Babajaga,
Shadowfire and others set off to the docks. The mood was tense and
several of the group jostled Sendorian roughly, cursing him as we went.
It was amazing how the kind blandishments fell from his mouth. So
pleasantly he spoke of others' torment, his merry, soft-spoken words
twisting in me like sharp-edged blades. I roughly cuffed him and that
seemed to bring him to some quiet.

We all boarded skiffs and set off for Ashe Island, where he said that he
had arranged for Yazza and Vagile to be left. We kept close to him lest
he try to escape.

Mounting the island, he said that he had contacted his "associates" and
that Yazza and Vagile would be released in the horde. We suspected a
trap, but all he would do was smile at us and say that is where they
will be. We were suspicious but had no alternative. The gem, after all,
forced the truth out of him and kept him under our control.

We reached the horde, and as we might have suspected, there was a
phalanx of Darshak pirates, including several Blades. We were
immediately beset upon, and while we fought valiantly, most fell
quickly. Sendorian was also struck down, but a Darshak slashed at his
neck and in doing so loosed the gem. With a scream of "I'M FREE!"
Sendorian departed. We had lost him! I immediately departed to gain him
back, but he was nowhere in the temple. I know not where he went.

Quickly climbing down the temple steps, I gathered with me as many as I
could to mount an assault on the horde. Several very strong fighters
arrived, and soon the horde was taken.

There, amidst the fallen, were indeed Yazza and Vagile! Vagile was
extremely delusional (something to do with lizards and
excretions...yech!) and Yazza was dazed and exhausted. She at first did
not believe she was released and that her mind had gone. I assured her
that she was indeed safe with friends. I helped her up and guided her
out of the horde and eventually to Puddleby beach. The short trip was
terribly exhausting for her and she collapsed upon arrival.

After resting, she talked of her ordeal, of how horrible it was. She
said she also had heard Althea, or so she thought it was. At first
Althea was defiant and demanded to be released. But later, Althea
apparently started talking in a more friendly manner toward her captors,
and later still was joking and laughing with them. They had put the same
sort of spell on Althea as they had Lorian! How unspeakably horrible!

At this point Yazza said there was another we should watch... I can't
quite recall, Ahzan, I think it was. After we explained to her all the
circumstances surrounding her return, she left to go rest.

Vagile was in town, but was still delusional, otherwise seeming well if
not a bit thin. The whole experience had worn me to the bone and I
wandered into the library and fell into a deep but troubled sleep.

Odesseus of S'kour
Clan of the Rising Claw