{Combat over, 533XP each. Congratulations. How did not even one of you get eaten?}<br/><br/>The great sea-creature slips from the deck and slides beneath the waves. Unencumbered, the<span style="font-style: italic">Swiftwind</span>rights herself, answering the helm under Lion's expert control. You get a bit wet, as water washes the deck, but you make it safely across the crest of the wave.<br/><br/>“This flesh we commit to the maw of the Devourer,” Ulrik mutters, “that we may be spared.” Knowledge (religion) DC5<div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">The Devourer is the god with most direct dominion over the sea, having no counterpart in the Sovreign Host, save for his sister Arawai's ladyship of weather, and their brother Boldrei's stewardship of hunting and animal life. Most sailors quietly pay some respect or small offering to the Devourer, in addition to Kol Korran to bless their journey and the trades at its ending, and Ollandra, to bring them luck and plenty. Ulrik's words may be a blasphemy against the Host, but a mild one at most.</div></div></div><br/><br/>“Thank the Host that's over,” Surkil says, breath heaving as the creature's blood seeps into his clothes. “Anybody injured.”<br/><br/>“No,” Lion replies, “Ollandra was kind. No thanks to-” she cuts herself off. “Thank you for keeping the lads safe belowdecks, and for your assistance<span style="font-style: italic">once the monster was slain.</span>”<br/><br/>Surkil nonetheless catches the meaning. “I am neither seaman nor adventurer,” he points out, “I helped as I was able, and I hope my aid was in some small way useful. You expected no more of these young members of your crew, and nor would I have expected you to.”<br/><br/>Lion nods, curtly, acknowledging his words. “My thanks,” she says, turning to the rest of you. “If ever I or the<span style="font-style: italic">Swiftwind</span>can be of service, you may count upon our aid. She grins. “Besides, kinda fun, huh! Really gets the blood pumping.”<br/><br/>Only her two youngest crewmen, barely more than boys, seem to agree with these words.<br/><br/>“Can you bring us safely into Adderport?” Surkil asks.<br/><br/>Lion nods. “Easily enough, with minor repairs,” she says. “Nothing of concern, now that the storm is passing. Provided creatures blown from Xen'drik's shores trouble us no further.”<br/><br/>“Adderport?” Alizome breaks in. “Can we not make Newthrone, as we are bound?”<br/><br/>Surkil pauses, and it seems a slight color comes to his cheeks – the closest he's come to shedding blood in the battle so far.<br/><br/>“My friends,” Surkil says, “I'm afraid I have intentionally misled you. The Temple of Kha'shazul does not lie north of Newthrone, up the river, but rather to the east of Adderport. The march overland will be likely four or five days, as I have said.  I trust you understand why I spoke this lie, whilst there was still chance to be overheard.” Or, you note, whilst you could've passed the information to some other party concerned for your wellbeing. “After docking in Adderport – which these damages will well explain – the<span style="font-style: italic">Swiftwind</span>will proceed north to Newthrone and thence shortly upriver. I have some business that may be conducted there, and the move will cover your destination's true location with misdirection. This map,” he hands you a roll of vellum,” will ensure your journey is not so misdirected. You may contact me,” he says, “using this-” the item he hands you, you note, is clearly a<span style="font-style: italic">sending stone</span>an item of no small value. One of a pair, each allows the transmission of short messages to the other, scrawled upon the stone's flat surface. “Please inform me of your success,” he pauses, “but do not also be afraid to turn back, should the situation warrant. Information and experience that supports a later attempt is also of value.” He pauses, clearly weighing something in his mind.<br/><br/>“One warning,” he continues. “It is likely you have heard rumors of the Citadel of Haka'torvhak. I tell you now that it is real, embedded within the volcano as the legends say. The Temple of of Kha'shazul lies to its south-east, and the far sight of its peak will help steer you to your destination. Despite its treasures, I strongly advise you not to visit Haka'torvhak, for theirin lie ancient demons cast down by the might of dragons, bound within the volcano, and guarded by the half-fiend black dragon Rhashaak. The duty binds him as heavily as his guardianship does his prisoners, as it has ever done, and I doubt the ages will not have improved his mood.”<br/><br/>You'll be aware that Haka'torvhak is known to exist – as a volcano. Knowledge (religion or history) DC10<div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">The one reputable expedition that reached Haka'torvhak reported only a volcano, albeit one located in an unusually dangerous area of Q'barran jungle. Quicksand that burned like acid, and similarly blazing hot guysers of acidic fluids join with creatures more fearsome than those normally found. The expedition returned far smaller than it had set out – which only fuelled rumors of treasures concealed and murder most foul, amongst those who listen and give credance to such stories.</div></div></div><br/><br/>“I suspect the Temple of Kha'shazul may sit upon the tomb of some lesser demon killed in that mighty clash,” Surkil continues. “If any half-dragon guards Kha'shazul, it will be the spawn or descendant of Rhashaak, feral or commanded. Or the temple may lie beneath such notice. Lizardfolk, however, revere any draconic site, and jungle creatures will seek any refuge. You will likely have to negotiate or fight – but not with such mighty enemies as Rhashaak. Knowledge (religion or history) DC10<div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">You're well aware that, although it is his business to know such things, the information he's just given you might not be available outside the restricted stacks of some of Khorvaire's pre-eminent libraries, known only to a few dusty scholars or equally bold adventurers – any of whom would have reasons of their own to keep these secrets.</div></div></div><br/><br/>{If no-one wants to do anything else, I'll skip ahead to Adderport. In the lea of the Valenar peninsula, the Swiftwind's progress is slower but the sea far calmer. The trip takes till the dawn of the next day - but you have no trouble sleeping through the smooth sailing}.