The party made it to the next island in short order. Tantus used a wind spell to push the makeshift craft along at a good clip. When Deacon looked back at him, he seemed to be worried about something. After beaching the craft, Ralph and Amanda went to scout the immediate area while Deacon helped Tantus pack up his emergency conveyance. Deacon hoped he’d be able to get the young mage to tell him what was wrong.

“Great work on this raft. I don’t think I had a solution for water.” Deacon said.

“Are we sure that’s water? There isn’t any salt in it and I’m sure that’s what the ocean should be made of.” Tantus replied.

“Well the message about this place said her power sustains this place. Maybe she doesn’t like salt water.” Deacon said.

“Doesn’t that bother you? We are essentially in her place of power. We don’t even know what kind of creature Sumna is.” Tantus said.

“Not really. I never know what anything is in this crazy world. But you do seem distressed. Anything wrong?” Deacon asked.

“Besides being locked in a demi-gods prison and forced to fight for the fate of the world?” Tantus shot back.

“Yes, besides that.” Deacon said.

“Yes, yes. To be honest my air spells are performing significantly greater than they used to. In the fight with the shark guys I was only supposed to separate Ralph from his attacker but instead he was launched into the sky. Something is wrong with my magic.” Tantus said.

“Didn’t Verus say something about you being all air aligned now?” Deacon asked.

“It has been centuries. All the myths talk about great mages but not why.” Tantus responded.

“Well, can you use summoners items?” Deacon asked.

“I have a skill that allows me to use any magic items across class lines. It is part of my crafters tree. Why?” Tantus asked.

“I have a Summoners Necklace of the Four Winds. It has two charges left. I think you should have it.” Deacon said as he handed the necklace to Tantus who gaped at it in awe.

“Do you understand what you have here? A summoner made a pact with each of the four winds to make this, that’s a trip around the world. Where did you get this?” Tantus asked.

“Not important. I have a feeling I’m supposed to give that to you. Not much of a gift half used and all. I originally wanted to surprise Old Pai in a training session with it but that seems like a waste now.” Deacon replied getting a chastising look from Tantus.

“You giving out presents now?” Ralph asked as he and Amanda returned.

“Actually yes. Amanda this potion is for you, it only lasts ten minutes so pick the right time to use it.” Deacon said handing it to her.

“Ralph, all I have left is an additional healing potion. It should come in handy at some point.” Deacon said handing it over.

“Do you think we still need these poison resistance rings?” Asked Ralph.

“Better hold on to them. Don’t need a jelly fish golem attacking from the water and stop the fight fumbling around to find the ring. That’d be embarrassing. Find anything?” Deacon asked.

“Yea but we don’t know what to make of it. Better if we show you.” Ralph replied.

The four of them began heading further inland. As they passed some of the palm trees, coconuts began falling to the ground. One cracked open near Deacon revealing a spherical diamond. He immediately called a halt and had Tantus inspect the gem. It turns out they were magically aligned to earth but how they gestated within the coconut was anyone’s guess. Deacon immediately collected as many as possible while they traveled.

“It’s like you’re a damn money magnet.” Amanda scoffed.

“Never look a gift horse in the mouth. This usually means we’re in for a beating or something else equally horrible. Deacon’s good fortune is a double-edged sword. Did I tell you about the time he had his ass kicked by a soldier as we tried to escape the Hidden Circle?” Ralph replied.

“I would very much like to hear this tale.” Said Tantus.

“This isn’t story time. We’re here.” Amanda said spinning a blade in her hand.

They were brought to a clearing with one wooden thatch roofed structure on stilts standing in what looked like an inlet from the ocean. There were dead bodies strewn around the path toward the hut. Mostly weather beaten and some had been scavenged on. The bodies had a mix of loose clothing and simple one-handed swords. As they approached the walkway the bodies began to stir. Moans of air escaping flesh could be heard along the one-hundred-foot wooden path leading across the water.

“Ralph, you think I can use Infernal power this time? Not much to burn here.” Deacon asked.

“Didn’t you say you were short on soul energy?” Tantus asked.

“Crap you’re right.” Deacon said as he quickly looked at his soul bar. He was sitting at a pathetic fifty out of three hundred percent. Then he had an idea, back in the storage room under the Nicklelash estate he was able to pull soul energy from those corpses, but it required contact.

“Ok I have a plan.” Deacon said receiving a groan from Amanda. Five minutes later the first fifteen corpses were crumbling to dust on the walkway as Deacon drained their soul energy. There were maybe another twenty stumbling down the planks in their direction. Tantus was holding a shield up int front of him sweeping what remains off of the path and into the water acting like a crumbling husk snowplow. These are all basic souls, so Deacons soul energy bar has already raised up to one hundred and twenty five percent. If his math is right, he should make it to two hundred twenty five percent after finishing the rest off. Another few minutes later and they were at the entrance to the hut. Inside was a small totem. It looked like one of those dashboard mounted hula dancers but made of stone. Deacon went to pick it up off the plinth but was stopped by Amanda’s hand around his wrist.

“What killed all those men?” Amanda asked looking Deacon in the eye. Deacon pulled his hand back immediately.

“Hey Tantus, can you see any magical traps on this idol?” Deacon asked. Tantus walked over and took an appraisers monocle from one of his bags. After several gasps and grunts he looked back up at everyone else.

“It’s clearly magical but the spells are third tier, Deific. That kind of holy or unholy arcanum, if this place is meant to contain a deposed gods offspring, isn’t something taught in a magic academy. You’d need to be part of a church to decipher it.” Tantus said with finality of tenured professor.

“Ok so don’t touch it and move on or touch it and deal with the consequences?” Deacon asked the room.

“How about we scope out the next island. That one has the busted ship on it right?” Ralph asked as Deacon turned to walk out his bag Knocked over the idol which was caught by Tantus. Suddenly they heard a rumble from beneath them and the sound of drums beating in rhythm filled the air once more. They all ran outside of the hut to see the ocean waters belching out multicolored creatures. They all had the same size and shape, but their shells were covered in different colored corral. Once one was clearly visible, Deacon could see it had the upper half of a crab, but its lower half was just four stalks on an elongated lobster like tail. He used inspect on them.

Crabtaurs- These amalgamated creatures have the upper body of a crab, but their lower portions were elongated like that of lobsters. Originally thought created to be mounts for the Sea Elves on the oceans floor, that theory has been debunked by the Sea Elves themselves. Levels 12-15/Mystical Monster

“I’m noticing a pattern here, quick Tantus, give me the idol. I’ll put it in my bag.” Deacon said and Tantus did.

“What’s the plan? Do we hunker down in the hut and funnel them through the opening or meet them in planks?” Ralph asked.

“I’ll go out on the planks. Tantus, you fortify the hut with shields then fling magic at them. Amanda and Ralph cover my flanks. Everyone got the detail from my inspect right? They are mystical so they can hurt me. I’m going to use Infernal to burn us some space. Sound good?” Deacon asked. Tantus was already fast at work using his items to erect shields. Deacon strode forward onto the planks without waiting for responses and spoke his trigger phrase.

“The soul still burns.”

Deacon's pupils turned red with power. His soul matrix making the transition between holy planes convenient. Those behind him could see a circular shape rotating counterclockwise behind him turn from pale green to reddish blue. The first crustacean to reach the planks charged at Deacon who let loose with a blisteringly hot gout of Infernal fire from his hand as he used Nether Beam. That one shrieked in pain and Deacon could hear the shell cracking as it dove off the side into the water a good fifteen feet below. The fire was not doused by the water, and it began to bubble and churn with the rest of its brethren trying to escape the one now boiling alive. Deacon hurried forward to claim more of the walkway for themselves. This gave the next in line a chance to advance. This time he created two flaming Infernal Sickles he sent after the crabs eye stalks. They hit true leaving this one floundering blind, spinning around to knock another one off back into the now boiling ocean. That gave Deacon an idea. If he could get the majority of them back in the water this problem would take care of itself. They also might have kick ass dinner too. Just as he had that thought he heard a yell from behind.

It appeared like they were climbing the stilts to escape the boiling waters. Ralph was hacking at the ones climbing on the left side as the Amanda was kicking one off the platform on the right. That moments distraction was enough for the blind Crabtaur to get a claw around Deacon. He tried to go intangible, but the mystical nature of the monster negated it. It began to squeeze, and he could feel the pressure on his bones. He flooded his aura with Infernal energy and that made the monster release him just over the side of the walkway toward the water. Deacon used Spectral dash to get back to the walkway as the eyeless one fell into the drink. He wasn’t sure if that would have worked with just nether energy as the flames helped propel him toward the boards.

Once back on solid ground he noticed the Crabtaurs were trying to flee back into the water only to be boiled alive by the infernal flames raging beneath the surface. Deacon turned back to the hut seeing the one side of it was scorched and blackened with a much larger Crabtaur laying on its back with a hole clean through it. Amanda and Ralph were just starring at Tantus whose hair was sticking straight up with his hand outstretched.

“What happened?” Deacon aske as he ran over.

“Tantus hit that monster with lightning. I’m not surprised you didn’t hear over the constant drumbeat. It’s shell just shattered out of one side, and it fell over dead.” Ralph said.

“My lightning attack has never been that strong. This is fantastic. I just hit level fourteen.” Tantus said amused.

“Use it. I think we’ll need that level of power.” Deacon said.

“Fucks sake kid, you haven’t hit fifteen yet?” Amanda asked.

“We need to get going. I don’t think this building will last long while the ocean boils below it.” Deacon said.

They all ran across the walkway toward the beach hoping to leave the inlet behind them. When they reached their initial beachhead, Deacon called a halt. They were all panting except for Deacon. He looked around to be sure they weren’t being attacked from another side of this little island. To the north was the crashed ship half. To the south was where they fought the shark skins. He switched back to Nether energy and used Sayance since he needed answers. A ghostly image of one of the zombies souls appeared.

“Why were you all going after that idol?” He asked the soul.

“The captain said we needed it.” Answered the soul.

“Was it the captain of that vessel?” Asked Deacon

“Aye, The Roaring Tempest is our pride and joy. She is shipwrecked. We should never have followed that accursed map.” Said the sailor.

“What is your captains name?” Asked Deacon.

“Captain Black Powder Pete, who else would captain the Tempest?” Answered the sailor.