Bad Reunions

With the key from Roysin's tree in hand, we left the gigantic oak to stand on the isle in the middle water. As we headed back, we heard boots marching -- always in the distance -- and saw signs of large Karakedai forces moving through Tier Shannigray.
 

Sincerely, Sully

 
Upon reaching the river they had crossed earlier, Cassandra pulled at fate, at the forces calling Brom back to the realms of the dead. They pulled him downstream, along the edge of the river and slightly to the east.
 
As we alked, Rohrouk heard (magically) from the Hunters; they attacked the Karakedai in a raid and all went well (as well as it could have).
 
On the way, Cassandra began to muse, from conversations with Eragon, that the Karakedai fight as a one. That their cohesion may be a magical connection and something to do with the Ashen Wolf; that it may even go so far that the Karakedai are "not themselves" and something else is to blame.When Rohrouk spoke, the Hollow Spirit struck Brom with a vision of Rohrouk, twisted and broken as a tree grows through him, destroying the lizardman from the inside out.
 
We made our way to the shore, to recoup with the Shortreef. Before we broke the treeline, we heard voices up ahead and saw lights, so we took cover. Cassandra cast clairvoyance to investigate: seven figures, five standing and two kneeling. The two kneeling Cassandra recognize as a half-orc woman and dragonbron man -- Capt. Geratz and 1st Mate Gerald. The others were recognizable as well. One human male dressed in a black flowing robe stands out from the others, a giant tattoo covering half of his face and one eye. Another male human is fully armored with a black hood covering his face. A female woman and half-orc man (dressed elegantly) round out the group. Cassandra, though, recognize the dark-skinned, black-haired, shark-tattooed mage Cofsa.
 
The Children of Loscipulus have taken the crew of the Shortreef hostage. And with the raise of a torch, they seem to know that we (or at least something) was nearby.
 

"The Children of Fucking Loscipulus"

 
As we approached the Children, they switched from whatever language they were speaking to Common, in greeting. Cofsa took lead for her group, Rohrouk for ours. And, despite Cassandra's stern warning, proceeded to spill far too much information. Still, Cofsa seemed unassuaged: "give up two of your treasures, instead of three".
 
"Two days ago, you told the Hunters you had two keys in your possession". Brom then jumped in, blathering about how the Karakedai attacked once more, "taking the keys from the group and narrowly killing the bast --". Rohrouk chimed in, and Cosfa accepted the bait (at least for now).
 
"I preferred Luce, but like you too Rohrouk." With a snap of her fingers, Cofsa disguised one of her fellow Loscipulans to look like the splitting image of Luce. "It's your fault I died, Cassandra" it told her. "It's not true" Brom echoed, just as Cofsa slit Captain Geratz' throat.
 

Against Shadows

 
1st Mate Renald, once freed, grappled one of the attacking mages as we strove to take our enemies on.
 
Slowed, Brom stood up to protect Eragon and the captain. The mage attacking Brom shifted his for, from Luce to a perfect impersonation of Paladin Ianthe in her shining breastplate. "Guard up Brom!" she/he taunted, as he stabbed Brom.
 
"Cassandra is going to run by, high five the tree, then..."
 
The Children of Loscipulus taunted us the entire fight with the monikers, the words of our fallen friends.
 

Afterward

 
One of the Children fled, though we let him. We took the fourth and last key from Cofsa (we have them all now).
 
Once the fighting was over, we pulled the bodies from the shore and ransacked their things: a stone carving with the symbol of a bow and arrow, and a wooden carved rod (of the pact keeper). Capt. Geratz told us of the attack: how the Children snuck aboard the ship, imprisoned everyone with the help of strange fish-creatures. Something happened to the navigator, something magically inclined.
 
When we arrived on deck, things were tense: darkness, silence, blood on the deck. When Cassandra sent a message towards hushed voices, we were relieved to find the crew (somewhat) intact and having killed their captors to freed themselves. The living were mostly in good shape, save for Sarcassass -- Cofsa had addled her mind, destroyed it with magic. Cassandra tried to tend to her, though from her own words "I can't do more until we reach Teregos". We still, too, have questions for Cofsa.