As Thangar rocks Mallick's head with his hammer, Silas sends Killik to the ground encased in a thin layer of ice. Seeing his cohort fall, Mallick nervously retaliates against Thangar and opens up a nasty wound in his shoulder.
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Mallick roars in unbridled rage as the Pathfinders continue to pummel him. Raising his weapon once again at the badly injured Thanagar, glittering dust flies out of nowhere, robbing him of his vision. He continues to swing his scimitar blindly but does not find purchase.
"Mallick....stand down!" the captain's voice bellows across the deck; a grinning Snig standing behind him. Mallick drops his weapon and puts his hands behind his head. "Someone care to explain what is going on here?" the captain asks of no one in particular, but clearly expects an answer.
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Ouroboreia states in a matter-of-fact tone: "Mallick and Killik here have just admitted to have committed the crime and to pinning it on us, then attacked to silent us. Moreover, Killik attempted to frame Snig earlier. Besides, have you considered the following elements? Firstly, Sephiriel was assassinated in Mallick's quarters, a place your First Mate could most easily access. Secondly, have you considered who would benefit the most from the murder? Frankly, we don't as we wouldn't benefit from this sabotage of our budding relationship with the Mordant Spire. Your First Mate, however, may want you to take the blame. It wouldn't be far-fetched to imagine him wanting to replace you as Captain of this ship once you were out of the picture. Mallick even revelled in front of us from your "late slippings", to use his own words. Lastly, Snig told us that Mallick has the ambition of replacing you. Are you convinced yet? I can keep going all day." finishes the Varisian girl with a fierce mettle in words she didn't previously show.
The captain is clearly taken aback but the suddenly vocal Varisian. He glances at Snig who nods at the woman's words, and the captain seems satisfied with the explanation. "Mallick has been getting a little too big for his britches as of late. I guess he figured if such a high ranking official was murdered on my watch that he'd be able to use that to cause the crew to question my ability to command." He gives Mallick a tap from his boot and starts giving orders to his crew. "Tie him up and see if you can't revive the other one and tie him up as well. We'll turn them over to the authorities once we dock."
In the morning two days following the Throaty Mermaid arrives at the Mordant Spire as planned. An enormous, extravagant elven galleon meets the smugglers’ vessel a mile from the shore, sending a smaller boat between the ships as an envoy. Captain Veane explains the events of the journey since Magnimar to the small band of masked elves who come aboard. They nod solemnly, and seem unusually calm given the cold-blooded murder of one of their diplomats. As Veane ends his story, another figure climbs over the ship’s rail onto the deck...to everyone's surprise it is Sephriel.
He explains to the captain that he never leaves the Mordant Spire for human lands without ensuring that a clone awaits him in safekeeping. He thanks you for hunting down and uncovering his murderer and says that he now has a better idea of who the Mordant Spire’s enemies are and who can be trusted. After a lavish elven meal for the entire crew and the Mordant Spire envoys, Sephriel and his retinue depart for their island home, and the Throaty Mermaid sets sail for Riddleport, where the Pathfinders and Snig disembark, the latter giving a knowing nod to Thanagar and Tyraneus as he does so.
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The wizard doesn't let any emotion show as Mallick is put into custody for his crimes, only a satisfied nod that a wrong has been righted. During the end of the journey, Ouroboreia makes sure to meet the slain elf's bodyguard to offer him a gift on the Ruby Prince's behalf.
Later when they reach the Mordant Spire, she is unable to suppress her surprise to see Sphiriel alive and breathing.
The clever man... so for all our guile, he was always one step ahead of us. I must remember this and thrive to accomplish the same one day.
As the boat leaves them at Riddleport, she curteously nods to her fellow Pathfinders goodbye, and prepares to embark for her trip back to Osirion.
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Chasik, can't hide his surprised look on his face when the Elven diplomat appears over the guardrail, that was very sneaky of him, well played. Chasik is happy the man is safe and the Society was able to prevent it from happening...well sort of. He eats and drink at the lavish get together and parts eats with the others and heads back to Faldo for a family visit.
