The devil's in the details... and by details I mean orb.

All the sailors eyeballed Valdrys when he boarded the ship to work his spell. The captain asked us several times if we were sure we could trust him, as the shaman gathered together a small zoo of insects and other animals. After calling the spirits for about 20 minutes, he told us it was done. If a demon came out, it would be very confused. There wasn't any daylight, but it would be enough for us to get the drop on it.

He told us enchanting our weapons would be very quick if we waited a few days for the full moon. We agreed, and after another somewhat unsettling ritual, our weapons were ready. The shaman bid us farewell.

We entered open water, and arrived at S'Oritan after 2 weeks with no more demonic attacks. The captain switched out the crew again. When we asked, the captain told us we were entering magical waters. Some of the sailors simply wouldn't go, so we took on new ones that were a willing to take a little more pay.

The new crew was a bit strange. Everything about the way they ran the ship was a little different; it was driving the captain crazy, even though everything was done well. We sailed for 10 days without any demons.

On the 11th day, the Captain announced we were crossing into the magical zone. We were warned to be especially careful; strange things tended to happen out here. On the 12th day, with Brennen watching the orb, something different did happen.

The man in the crow's nest with the orb suddenly screamed and clambered down the mast. Brennen had his bow ready, watching for anything. The area around the orb was getting darker. I came on deck to assess the situation. The darkness grew to a 10 foot inky radiance. Everyone was pretty creeped out. All the sailors were performing little rituals to hopefully protect themselves.

I arrived on deck. I conjured daylight on the tip of one of Brennen's arrows. He fired at the mast, pegging it in above the bag with the orb. We saw feathery black wings unfold as the darkness dissipated. A black humanoid in full plate stood in the crow's nest, with a big, black bow. It was an Erinyes, a powerful devil. Its bow & arrows burst into flame as it searched the deck for a target.

Acting quickly, I grabbed as many of Brennen's arrows, including the Sunforged ones, and made them good. Brennen fired 3 arrows, hitting with 2 (1 critically) for a total of 40. The image of the devil blurred, turning into 9 images covering the sky. Shatain fired at one with a normal arrow, and one of the images disappeared. He called to the crew to fire at the devils. The crew didn't have any projectile weapons, but the guards ran below decks to get their crossbows.

Shatain fired another regular arrow, but missed. Brennen fired 3 arrows, killing 2 images. The last arrow missed, flying far off into the sky. I smote the demon with a burst of holy energy, hitting it for 27 though none of the images were dispelled. It was also blinded, as it failed to resist my power. The devil returned the favor with an unholy burst, well enough to hit us despite its blindness. Brennen & I resisted the damage, only taking 11. Shatain took the full 22 and was sickened for a round.

I struck the devil again with more holy energy, hitting it for 23. It was still blinded. The devil attempted to summon allies, but failed. Brennen fired his bow again, destroying 2 of the images and hitting the devil for 8. Shatain fired an arrow and dispelled another image.

Only 3 devils were in the sky now. Shatain fired again, but missed. The devil vanished. 2 of the crew looked up - the demon had teleported high up into the sky.

I took the opportunity to heal us all. Brennen raised his agility, and I blessed us all.

The devil reappeared, and hit me with 2 arrows for a total of 24.

Brennen fired his bow, dispelling 1 of the images and hitting the devil for 9. The devil died, and sank into the sea. It was about 120 feet from the boat, and none of the sailors would go after it. We had hoped to salvage the bow, and possibly some of the Sunforged arrows.

We hauled down the orb and inspected it. The crack was more distinct. We decided to take the orb down to the hold. We rested, and thankfully nothing else came out that day.

The night was different. The room got frosty, and a shadowy demon appeared. It was confused. Shatain attacked with her short sword, but missed. I brought up a spiritual warhammer, but it failed against the demon's magical resistance and disappeared. Brennen hit the demon with his axe, hitting for 28. The new weapons were quite good.

Shatain attacked again, hitting with her short sword for 28. Brennen struck with his axe for 12. The demon died, staining the floor of the hold black.

The next 3 days and 2 nights passed quietly. The last night however, another demon decided to try its luck. The room went frosty, and a demon appeared.

We got the drop on this one. I struck it with my warhammer for 8. Shatain hit with her short sword for 27. The demon broke out of the confusion, and started avoiding the light. It dropped through the floor. As it started to run, we all struck with attacks of opportunity. I hit for 24, Brennen hit for 13, and Shatain hit for 19. The demon died before it could disappear into the sea.

The next morning, we arrived in a port, and had to swap our crew again. We landed in A'aloss - the warrior elves. This would be a hard recruitment. I offered to go out to find crew. I polished my breastplate, and made sure all my weapons were hung, battle ready. I was half A'aloss; I fit in pretty well though I wasn't trying to be one of them. Brennen & Shatain stayed back with the orb.

We noticed a large Ku'Rog boat in port next to us. Our crew ran to it, seeking passage out.

I asked the dockmaster where we could acceptably recruit for crew. He recommended the taverns, none in particular. The first tavern we went to was pretty rough. So was the next one. The third was a little better; I decided to start there.

I settled down at a large table, and bought a round of drinks for the patrons. I talked about our mission; we were going to small island off the north coast of Selvesia. No one at the table really wanted to go, but they all had nephews, sons-in-law, etc. that they thought should go. One of the elves said he would go along to shepherd the younger A'aloss. It would take a few hours to a couple days to gather everyone up however he would join us on the ship, the Fairwind, in an hour or so. His name was Saigarn.

I purchased a cask of A'aloss wine from the barkeep and made my way back to the ship. I let the captain know about our successes. Saigarn joined us a little later with his kit. We introduced ourselves. He seemed happiest to meet Brennen. His gaze over the guards was scornful; he growled to Brennen in Dwarven that they were green.

Shatain & I went down to the hold to guard the orb. Saigarn went with Brennen to find arrows. Saigarn guided him to the finest smithy he'd seen in a long time; it was set into a hillside with carefully built forges and perfect airflow. The A'aloss had learned their craft years before from the elves; they'd learned well.

The smith appeared younger, but all the A'aloss seemed young. The smith was impressed with Brennen's weapons, but disappointed that Brennen hadn't made them himself. After coming back to consult with us, Brennen bought a few Sunforged arrows, and several quivers of high quality arrows for us.

Over the course of the next 2 days, while waiting for the young A'aloss, we acquainted ourselves with Saigarn. He was happy to teach us the language, and I helped the younger A'aloss with Common. I showed Saigarn the orb, and told him about the crack. I also warned him that no one should be near the orb with gems. He took good care to ensure none of the A'aloss had anything like that.

The A'aloss worked well on the ship, and they learned Common very quickly. Learning A'aloss was different - everything was in the details. It was a very complex language. Their culture was strongly focused on war; the language was really a highly developed battle jargon. When they weren't learning language, Saigarn was keeping the kids working at a fever pitch. They were doing easily 3 times as much work as they needed to, but it kept them out of trouble.

This included a guard watch on the orb with us. On the first night, a demon appeared. The kids looked a little concerned.

This one wasn't confused, but breaking the spell took all of its effort. Shatain successfully bluffed the demon, and hit it with her short sword for 32. I hit with my warhammer for 8. Saigarn attacked with his sword, and hit. He didn't do much and stepped back. Brennen attacked, but failed critically.

The demon started to retreat, sinking through the floor. Shatain hit it with her short sword for 17. Brennen hit for 9, killing the demon.

Saigarn was a little surprised that we had no problem killing it. We told them about the properties of the demon. Shatain loaned him the moonforged, ghost touched longsword. Saigarn said he knew the sword.

Saigarn told us he'd traveled with General Isador, and was part of the company that named Galdeon Swiftblade. We told him about our conflict and fight with Galdeon. Saigarn waxed a bit philosophical, pointing out the circle of action that brought him to us.

Saigarn then told us General Isador sought the orb so that he could live eternally. Isador was feeling his age, and wanted to live to see his dreams fulfilled.

Over the next month, we slew many shadow demons. The cargo hold was mostly black, and had developed a permanent chill. The captain kind of liked it; it was a good place to store perishables. We had many conversations with Saigarn and continued learning the A'aloss language. We tried to get the younger A'aloss involved as much as possible. They rotated staying near me with a bucket of 50 arrows so I could align them quickly in the event of a more serious encounter.

One night, the hold went dark instead of cold. Another devil. Brennen swung and hit once, for 11 after its damage reduction. Shatain attempted to bluff, but failed. She also missed with the short sword. The devil hit us with a burst of unholy energy. Brennen & I made our save and took 11; Shatain failed, took 23 and was sickened. The A'aloss were mostly neutral, so they took some damage as well. I aligned the bucket of arrows.

Shatain bluffed the Erinyes, and hit with her short sword for 22. I struck with a burst of holy energy for 17. It was able to resist, so it wasn't blinded and only took 8. Brennen hit for 13. The A'aloss fired; 1 hit for 8. The Erinyes teleported to the back of the room, 20 feet away and out of melee range. The Erinyes fired at Brennen 3 times, once critically for a total of 39.

One of the A'aloss hit the Erinyes for 4. I healed Brennen for 40. It attacked Brennen again, hitting 3 times for 39 again. The devil then teleported, but we weren't sure where. Brennen told the A'aloss to go up top, warn the crew, and find the thing.

I healed Brennen twice, for a total of 60, bringing him up to full. Shatain and the A'aloss got on deck; it was dark and stormy. They couldn't see anything, but the A'aloss divided up the arrows and tethered themselves.

I heard a scream from the Captain's cabin. I conjured daylight on my holy symbol as we all charged over. Shatain was first to the cabin, bursting in to see flapping wings and the Captain poorly fending it off with a sword.

Shatain flew across the room, clearing a table and jamming his sword into the devil's neck, killing it with a blow for 31.

Everyone gathered on deck and I healed everyone with channeled energy.