Vs the Steel Company

 
As the tension grew, we spoke together as a group. Some called to run, but Luce responded only with, "It's too late now. Blame Rohrouk."
 
 
 
A sign from Bahamut! Avrios smote the leader of the dwarves Urist with a single blow and nearly did the same to another (with a crit)
 
Cass saved Luce AGAIN from a nat 20
 
One dwarf cast inflict wounds on me, destroying most of my form
 
Luce was caught up in Eragon's hypnotic pattern, and through his rage and the effect of the spell was caught up in a crazed dance -- until Rohrouk shook him to his senses.
 
With the help of Cass' cause fear, Luce terrified the dwarven cleric he had cornered against a tree. Eragon was the one to knock him to the ground with a magic missile.
 
It wasn't until a dwarf sneakily hit Luce that Cass turned to damage another creature -- the dwarf, with toll the dead.
 
Once the fight was over, Lord Rohrouk scrawled a note and affixed it to the dead leader, via a dagger in the back. "You don't want to pull a dick move like that, unless you're assured of victory" -- Lord Rohrouk.
 

"It's my job to stay up."

 

Back onboard the Shortreef

 
Once everyone has settled, Rohrouk went to fetch Luce, to talk with Cass. Luce denied his request, calling out Rohrouk for being self-centered. Rohrouk tried Cass (sans Luce), but got equally not-as-far.
 
In turn, Cass found Luce drinking and shared good humor about their interactions with Rohrouk -- "Luce, did you hear: Rohrouk asked me if I felt bad for your pain...?" *both burst into laughter* "That I didn't save you at all."
 
The next day, we grouped to consider our next steps. Eragon shared with us the words of Deltavros (which we had been heeding: head to Himaeus):
 
"I depart now, and leave this record as my testament. I shall first sail southward, to the crags of Himaeus, where my eldest friend owes me yet a favor. Then northward, to the frost-gripped isle and the peculiar mansion, where I will parley for a weapon to slay the beast."
 
Cass pulled Eragon aside to speak, as Luce get Avrios to help him belowdecks with work (while telling stories about Avrios' pet whale).
 
One night before bed, Cass pulled Luce aside. "There's something I need to ask of you -- I need you to stop treating me as a little sister." It isn't until the next morning that Luce has a response:
"I can promise to stop fighting for you. But Cass, promise me this: will you fight with me?"
 

More travel across the sea

We continued first northward to Patronia and Petronia for supplies (before we would turn south for Hermaeus). We picked Petronia because the crew and quartermaster picked Petronia.
 

Magic!

At the behest of the wizards and an excited Luce, we headed for a wizard's shop, a "magic" shop called The First Wizard's Shoppe. There, Cass begged me to buy her faerie fire and clairvoyance (rather, the opportunities to copy them).
 
As she and Eragon copied new spells I set out for a little shopping of my own. I couldn't find tools for a thieves' kit, but I did finally replace my squeezebox.
 

More news

While on shore for the small time we were in Petronia, the crew heard that the Champion of the Sister Isles were found defeated, dead, on the shores of a small island -- a deserted island -- off the coast of Forcalish. Crucified, in the method of the Karaketai.
 
The Hunters were last seen in Mikelonia, where they "bought a shop out of all potions of waterbreathing".
 

While at sea

Cassandra -- through unknown means -- asked her cards a question, and the cards finally answered:
 
Cass saw her father at the helm of a ship upon the Deltavarian Sea. The ship is barely afloat -- tattered sails, rotting boards -- with a shambling crew that don't seem quite alive. He's pale and crying, muttering only, "Cassandra". This vision fades, only to show a glimpse of floating in an ink-black sea, in a sky with no moon.
 
All of us aboard felt the pulse of arcane energy that rippled across the sea as Cassandra drew her fate from the deck.