Into Myrid
Cy 4850 Jultar 13th – 21st
The Rosenna is without a mast and without a crew, all drowned – along with the horses in the hold – by Malethrax. The ship sits on the water elemental that he had summoned the day before. Hujal binds the elemental permanently to Grayhawk; again creating a force that will remain long after he or Malethrax leave.
The elemental – under Malethrax’s guidance – steers the ship north under the shelter of the massive Olshay peaks, the dangerous reefs and razor-sharp rocks no deterrent as the elemental steers itself around the dangers. Many other ships are further out to sea, not wishing to risk the dangerous waters, and as such the Rosenna (or what is left of it) is able to move quickly and unhindered up the coast. Malethrax begins to suspect that his familiar – Breeze – has been influenced by someone / something. The hawk’s behaviour and sudden use of telepathy would suggest this.
As night falls Malethrax casts a fire elemental into a candle flame, allowing Zavien the ability to heat up liquids for brewing, the Elementalist also summons an earth elemental into a diamond, which he then gives to Hujal who binds it once more using a power word.
The next morning Zavien creates another lethal concoction, a poison he calls Scourge of Hujal – after the tribesman. Suddenly Malethrax grips his chest tightly as an enormous pain brings him to his knees. Instinctively he knows that Breeze is dead. Moments later the bird falls lifeless to the deck with a large arrow skewering it neatly. Raven examines it. A Marraq arrow.
Malethrax uses his spirit sense discover that the author of the arrow is their old friend, Veldus.
The Elementalist takes the Rosenna into a secluded cove on the 15th day of Jultar – the Festival of Rakshasa. He constructs (with the aid of elementals) a cave with a pool and begins to summon fire into it. The party watch his spectacular display – Malethrax is like a conductor and the fire is his music…they are treated to a concert unrivalled in all of Drenai.
The party are not the only spectators. The conflagration attracts a number of
other watchers, notably a huge ogre called Volgul, who Malethrax beckons down
into the camp. 
The party suspect his band (collective noun for ogres?) is close
by, hidden eyes in the hills. Volgul brings a cow as an offering of friendship
and the party and the ogre enjoy the festival together. From Volgul they learn
much about the difficulties of the Olshay Range and consider a journey across
the peaks and into Myrid. The idea is quickly discounted.
The next morning the Rosenna moves into the Jandraki once more. One notable absentee is Raven, the dark beauty is nowhere to be seen as the sun rises…Malethrax steers the ship regardless.
The Rosenna is quicker than any ship afloat. The need for wind and sail is gone, the water elemental moves like the strongest tide north. The party stand on deck and – while they discuss the disappearance of Raven – Hujal notices something odd. He reacts instantly as he detects the telltale thunderclap of a Marraq arrow by yelling at Malethrax. The Elementalist turns a fraction too late, even his agile body swerve is not enough to avoid the arrow and he waits for the pain. Astonishingly Zavien plucks the arrow in mid-flight with a dexterous flick of the hand, the shaft halted instantly by his incredible reactions.
But Malethrax does not stop to thank his friend; instead he draws the ship down into the deep water of the Jandraki, enveloping it in a globe of water elemental. With a few adjustments he is able to maintain the airflow with clever use of air / water elementals. The Rosenna continues north a few hundred feet below the water.
Veldus possesses the naturally telepathic mind of the Marraq and although the party are safe from his arrows he can still reach them with his mind. He taunts Hujal constantly but the Nadir sorcerer ignores the elf, instead he turns his formidable mind to the proble above ground…and the seed of an idea germinates into something dangerous.
In one corner of the submerged ship Hujal puts his plan into effect. He creates (using a power word) a pistol crossbow darkbow. He then binds an air elemental around Malethrax with the hope of slowing / deflecting any future arrows. During their underwater journey Malethrax writes a Fox’s Cunning spell, which Hujal gratefully absorbs into his repertoire.
The party decide to head for the surface and take the fight to Veldus. Malethrax casts ESP on himself and Hujal. The intention is to trap Veldus – Marraqs use the victim’s mind as a target – the two sorcerers then hope to get a shot at him. Remarkably the trap works well.
Veldus does indeed seek the mind of Malethrax who feels the telltale brush of
the elf’s mind on his. 
Hujal uses the ESP to
aim into the mind of his opponent and he fires the crossbow pistol at that mind.
Veldus realises what is happening but is too slow to react. His left eye
explodes as the bolt punctures his brain and exits from the back of his skull.
Even then the Marraq howls in disgust at the irony of such a death…it is the
last thought his mind ever makes…
The sharp peaks of the Olshay Range end as quickly as they begun. The vast rolling plainlands of Myrid stretch as far as the eye can see, all the way to the mighty Elenoria Forest in the north. When the party close to Van Roten Malethrax sinks the ship and uses the rowing boat to reach the busy, bustling seaport.
In Van Roten Malethrax secures seven good riding horses for the journey west, most of the party are skilled with horses / horsemanship and the trader gives up trying to fleece them. "I know when I am beat," he smiles at Malethrax, "take the horses and leave my dignity intact."
Zavien begins to read the small signs once more. The minutiae that gives him the whole picture…he announces to the party (when they are on the road west) that they are being followed once again. The road is part of a network that join onto the main arterial that leads to the capital, Van Myrid, where Malethrax has been quested by King Rufus IV of Drenai to take a letter.
On the road they pass a Malakar priest on a donkey. After a brief exchange of words the party decide to take the priest’s life but their initial attacks fail. It is only when Zavien somersaults onto the back of the donkey and rams a knife into the priest’s side that they move on once more.
At night the elemental bunker of Malethrax, a perfect place to safely rest and recover, envelops them. Wolf howls are heard. Malethrax realises these are not real and they sense a group of bandits nearby who have become curious about the sounds and smells coming from the bunker. When two of them can be felt by Malethrax (as they step onto the earth elemental) Zavien slips out and takes one of them (paralysis poison). After a brief interrogation they let the frightened bandit go in the hope that he will scare off his companions.
Next morning Hujal uses the compass he created (using power words) to discover that Raven is directly behind them.
Malethrax returns to the bunker and creates a mud bath…as a sign to the young woman. As he catches up with his companions the image returns to him and Malethrax grins as they ride west towards Van Myrid…