You are surveying the beach from aboard a ship. People scurry along the sand like ants carrying supplies to the ship. Dull clanging can be heard from their bone-adorned clothing as they haul the boxes and sacks. You stifle a small groan of disgust, her smell appears before her visage crests over the exotic planks of the boat’s stairs. The bright white porcelain mask shudders slightly as she begins to speak, contrasting the black mold infested sails of the ship. “Elizar, after you attend your business at the academy, I need you to go to the temple outside Rosebury. We have knowledge of a powerful object at one of the counsel’s homes and I need you to oversee the operation. You will be meeting up with Bran and a small group of portal guards.”

“So I’m babysitting again?” slips from your lips.

“The object is another power source we could use to enhance our ritual to break the seals.” Astrid continues, “Each piece we acquire gets us one step closer to His release. Don’t disappoint us. I must stay here a while, She requires me. After you acquire the power source, bring it to Zaru.”

“He’s still at Triss?” you respond with a subdued gulp.

Astrid nods and glides back down the steps and off the ship. You watch as she traverses the beach and disappears into the jungle.

“I don’t know why we ally with them. This stench is unbearable.” you mutter under your breath before you turn to the crew and start barking orders.