The Enemy of My Friend

"Aww, everyone's depressed" -- sad snuggle hours
 
as we all work in the morning, Cassandra briefed us all. Two teams remain:

The Karakedai

The Rust-Scale Clan, who are presumed to be at Deltavros' tomb with prepared traps.

Moving forward

 
With that in mind, our plans are now thus:
 
1. Forcalish, for more crew and perhaps spells
2. The Straits of Himaeus, to speak with the dragon Kiryntes and perhaps ask for a blessing for our next stop
3. Koboldhome, to see if we can't persuade the kobolds to give up (instead of fighting them), or at least learn more about the Rust-Scale Clan.
 
Drostosa is optional
 
Tomb of Deltavros
 
Lord Rohrouk went to inform Capt. Geratz of our plans, and help chart a course to Forcalish. Notably, his calling in life is probably not a navigator.
 
Cassandra went to Brom to speak about going forward, and basically confirmed that the Hollow Spirit investigation will be on hold for a little. As for Kofsa: "sometimes instead of questions, I get to relive their lives".
 

Kofsa, Again

 
Brom went to collect everyone -- Eragon and Fathom in conversation, Lord Rohrouk speaking with the captain -- and reconvene to speak with Kofsa.
 
Thoughts:
 
Who is the Fathom God?
What does it want?
What do you want, Kofsa?
Why do you support the Karakedai?
Where are the Karakedai?
Why did you want to win the Odyssey?
Who did you lose, Kofsa?
 
The Fathom God was fought by Deltavros
It hates Bahamut
The sahaguin are in line with the Fathom God as well.
 

Practice Aboard

 
At Cassandra's recommendation, the party (Brom) resolved to question Kofsa's spirit another time. To blow off some steam, the group moved to abovedecks to spar and train.
 
Brom convinced Rohrouk to critique the group. The lizardfolk started with him, and upon trading a few strikes began to see how Brom may not appear a fighter, but in his hands the staff is a true weapon. They held a real bout, to which Rohrouk smoked Brom in two rounds. He yielded: "I cannot best you without magic."
 

A few talks afar

 
It is a five day trip to Forcalish. During that time, we spoke to those... far away:
 
Queen of Death. Cassandra prayed to the Raven Queen, insinuating (but not outright asking) about her status as alive-but-maybe-once-dead.
 
The Kobolds and their traps. Cassandra consulted the cards, asking about the kobolds and what they have in store for us. Her vision cleared to reveal pickaxes striking and kobolds fiddling with strange metal face-devices (scuba equipment). Some were laying tripwire (with a corresponding pit), and a creature the size of a car with many legs (a basilisk). "They have been busy."
 
Kofsa's return. As Cassandra cast speak with dead, she felt Kofsa pulling her towards the land of the dead, but pulled the fates in her own way to resist it.
"Kofsa, why do you support the Karakedai?" -- "They hate the right people"
"Where are the Karakedai?" -- "Karakedum"
"Who is it that you hate, that the Karakedai hate too?" -- "Among others, you [Cassandra]"
"Why do you hate us?" -- "You fucking killed me"
"Who did you lose, Kofsa?" -- "The only person who mattered; me"
There's a moment of silence, before she leaves, as Kofsa speaks before she leaves: "Cassandra, can you read the cards?". When Cassandra was in Forcalish, a small child came to her asking for a message and a tarot reading.
 
Cassandra thinks there's a connection between him and Kofsa.


 
One night after dinner, Fathom and Cassandra spoke privately: "It's about Luce". Fathom asked:"When he talked about Luce, about bringing him back, do you think it's possible?". "I would love to have Luce back". "But it is never worth it". Fathom talked about the day he lost his brother: the two were out in a storm when the boy was swept into the river (and drowned, head split open). "I couldn't do anything; I could only just stand and watch him" (Fathom is triggered into rage by large amounts of blood).
 

Forcalish

 
Captain Geratz spoke to the crew as we disembarked; we would take a few days to restock and take crew, and to keep heart.
 

Errands

Lord Rohrouk (and Fathom) went looking for some magical items and armor, but found none to his liking ("too expensive").
 
At Brom's request Brom, Cassandra, and Eragon went to the temple of the Raven Queen. Brom asked Cassandra bring help out front ("I don't think this should be brought inside"). He asked Cass' contact Priestess Delilah what to do, and at Cassandra's behest followed the priestess' instructions ("to respect the body", as much as he did not want to). With that, as well as respects to his brothers and sisters in arms, he left to catch up with Rohrouk and Fathom.
 
He found Rohrouk reading up about Koboldhome. It is widely known (the coasts surrounding especially) as a monster graveyard, teeming with carnivorous life. "The kobold lifespan is short and the leading cause of death 'eaten'". Fathom, in his own world, was reading smut (and fantasy Kama Sutra). For Brom, there is nothing on Forcalish about the Hollow Spirit (or any equivalent).
 
While searching, he heard a faint, slightly haunting tune wafting from outside. "I'll wait outside!" while he investigated: a tree stood in a small alleyway behind the temple, with a sort of humanoid shape in its branches. Upon approach, the person revealed itself to be a copy of Brom, of himself, but with roots for eyes (and growing out the back of its head). "I see [that] you are curious about me. It is a waste of time. Ask... That is why we are here. We are one now. We are not done [until they are dead]". "Then show me where the Karekedai are, and stop slowing us down".