They stood together outside the doors of the inn after Caelian had ministered to the wounded villagers.  The dead man from the church had been both the village headman and their spiritual guide, worshipping one of the harvest gods that were common among the simpler towns.  Across the square, some of the townspeople were wrapping and removing the dead bodies.

Caelian was putting away her healing salves and watching them.  “What are they going to do with the bodies?”

Marisol didn’t look back and just shook her head.  “I’ve found it best to not ask questions about that.”

Cley sighed.  He stood with his hands on his hips at the edge of the square.  “The barkeep said the ogrels were looking for you.  How long have you been here and what’s been happening?”

“I’ve been here about a month.  I’ve been tracking Shutan and his sons across the Shattered Sea, trying to get back a Sunfire Gem they stole from our temple.  I don’t know why they want it, it’s not like they can use it or even touch it.  Right now it should still be encased in an aether lock.  It’s a simple one but should be impervious to them.”  She nodded at Caelian.  “I’m sure your cleric could open it with a thought, maybe even you too.”

Marisol continued.  “When I got here, I tried to get it back but Shutan had too many followers.  So I had to hide out here and wait, looking for an opportunity.  I’d... I’d just about given up when you happened along.”

“Wait,” asked Isiah.  “How exactly did you get here?” 

“I had a sloop, not very big but it did the job.  Shutan and his sons took it from me when I attacked them the first time.  As far as I know it’s docked at the belltower of the church at the other end of the island.  The Sunfire Gem should be there as well.”

The others all looked at each other and slow grins spread across their faces.   All except Cley’s.

The paladin just nodded intently.  “So if we get that sloop back we can all get out of here.”

Miah’s smile instantly faded.  “All of the villagers?”

Cley pointed around at each of them and lowered his voice.  “No, I mean all of us.”

Miah looked disgusted and Marisol stepped in closer.  “He’s right, it’s too late to bring out anyone else and the sloop’s not that big.”

Cley started adjusting the straps and belts of his equipment.  “Tell me more about Shutan.  And what do you mean by ‘followers’?”

“He’s an eldritch ogre, and a powerful one.  He’s got a flock of minor demons, a bunch of Dromm warriors, and several undead shadows like the ones we saw here today.  I knew I could take out his sons but the whole horde is just too much.  There’s a bigger town on the other end of the island and he’s taken over the whole thing.  Rozpit and Skhopit showed up a couple weeks ago demanding people as ‘workers’.  It didn’t take long to figure out that they were probably food, not workers.”

“An eldritch ogre?” asked Kaspar.  “I’ve heard of them but don’t know much about them.”

Cley cinched down his sword belt.  “People to the south call them Dzoavit.  People to the north call them Wendigo.  Big, strong.  Innate magical abilities.  This won’t be easy, but we’ve got to head for that other town.”  He looked over at Marisol.  “You know how to get there?  What can you tell us about the layout?”

“Not much, but I know a farmer nearby whose sons worked there.  They can tell you what you need.”

Cley smiled and held out his hand.  “Lead the way.”

The group started walking down the road that the ogrels had come in on.  Most townsfolk were still inside and staring at them out their windows but it felt like their gazes were different from before.  They seemed to be looking at Marisol as they passed.  Some had slight smiles, some nodded at her reverently.  Maybe there was some hope after all.

They soon passed through the central buildings and by a large rain catchment assembly, now empty.  Throughout the Shattered Sea, and especially on the smaller islands, water was an issue.  Groundwater had mostly depleted itself from the floating islands and only the bigger islands had extensive river and lake networks.  The rain catchment system ahead of them was constructed of several wooden platforms, cupped slightly to angle rainwater towards huge cisterns.  

After that, and after passing a few stables with no horses, they were back out past the edge of town with stunted and wilted trees all around them.  Miah broke the silence.  “Cley and Marisol, the two of you both keep using phrases like ‘we’re out of time’ and ‘it’s too late’.  Too late for what?”

The paladin and the monk shared a glance before Cley answered.  “Prolonged exposure to these mists will eventually convert all these people into eldritch horrors of some kind.  It can’t be stopped and it can’t be reversed.  We’ve tried.  They’re all doomed to an agonizing death and an afterlife of eternal servitude to the Abyssal Domaine.”

Miah felt the huge weight of disappointment settling on her shoulders and she looked away.

Caelian nodded at Marisol.  “But you’ve been here for a month with no ill effects.”

“Radiant Monks can focus their inner Kii into purification methods.”

“Kii?” asked Isiah.  

“Most spellcasters use external magic from the astral aura or from a divine source,” said Marisol.  “Monks are trained to connect with and harness the inner magic that flows through all living beings.  It takes years of training.”

“Which just goes to prove, Miah,” said Cley with an unusually soft tone.  “That as much as I’d like to save everyone on this island, it just can’t be done.  But I can save all of you.”

They were quiet for a while and then Cley and Kaspar started discussing tactics, Caelian and Marisol had a quick conversation about the nature of Ayanwu and the Force of Light, and Miah and Isiah kept to their own thoughts.  Rations were shared and they drank the last of their water.  

They came to a small clearing in the woods with a rocky outcropping in the middle of it.  They paused as they realized the lichen covering the rocks looked different and moved slightly.  Miah stepped out in front and started to raise a hand.  Then about twenty or thirty blue and white butterflies took flight, leaving the rockface and fluttering up into a swirling cloud.  

Everyone stopped and watched them fly.  Miah turned, beaming a huge smile.  “Butterflies!”

With two long bounds she jumped up onto the rocks and stepped into the middle of the flight.  She held her arms out and spun slowly as the butterflies clouded around her.  She looked back at her brother with a quick giggle.

Isiah watched her for a moment, remembering the impetuous twelve-year-old that would dance with butterflies by day and fireflies by night.  

Cley cleared his throat.  “Umm, Miah, those are Postrian Dung Beetle larvae and they’re looking for a place to burrow.”

Miah’s face turned quickly to disgust and she squealed.  She started swatting at the bugs that had landed on her and her dance turned into a jerking search for a path away from them.

Everyone was stunned when Cley burst out laughing.  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.  Those are actually just butterflies.  I couldn’t resist.”

Miah stopped and looked at him with cold fury in her eyes.  Everyone else started laughing.  After a couple of seconds her fury started to melt away, replaced by the beginnings of a smile.

It was then that the mists and clouds above them parted slightly and clear sunlight came down on the rocks.  Miah was haloed with a natural glow.  She gasped and looked up, squinting in the brightness.  Slowly she stretched her arms out again and closed her eyes.

The rest of the party stopped laughing and stared.  After a few seconds, both Caelian and Marisol jumped up onto the rocks beside Miah and stood with arms raised.

The men stayed down on the path for a few more seconds before they all shared cautious looks.  Then, almost as one, they scrambled up into the sunlight until all six of them were standing on the rocks and turning their faces upwards.  Bright sun.  Blue sky.  Warmth on their cheeks chasing away the damp chill that had clung to them all morning.  They stood still, drinking it in, quest all but forgotten.  Marisol had a small tear running down her cheek.

And then the mists drifted back in and the sun shriveled into the sickened orange disc that had been above them since they crashed.

Silently, one by one, they stepped off the rocks and formed up on the trail again.