The recruiting station was little more than battered table under a blue banner flying in the wind. A grizzled old man missing and eye and multiple teeth stood at it with leatherbound book of names and a pen. Illaria had barely stated her name before she was pointed toward one of the command ships. “Sorry, friend, I’ve been given orders not to let you re-enlist without first talking to brass,”

“I understand. Are they expecting me?” asked Illaria

“In so much as they told me to direct you to them, yes. In so much as they are ready for you right this second, no idea,” he said with a smile. “Either way, I wish you well.”

Illaria gave a curt bow and led the group onto the ship. She and the rest of the party, minus Echo, who was forced to remain above deck due to his size, were escorted towards the captain's cabin. In the office, they found a middle-aged man with dark-tanned skin wearing dark clothing waiting for them. On the table he leaned against, a miniature monstrous cat played with a ball of yarn. Naya’s eyes lit up as she rushed right over to pet it.

“Mind the claws now.” He said, “They still pack a punch.”

“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. I didn’t get a dire wolf for nothing,” she replied as she began playing with this kitten-sized cat with massive fangs and strange shadowy appendages drifting around it.

“Do you all know who I am?” the man asked

“I’m afraid we don’t be knowing that,” Illaria said as she stepped forward.

“Then I have you at a disadvantage. Allow me to put us on more equal footing. I’m LuCol, the eyes and ears of the Blue Banner Army. Thank you for coming here and answering my call.”

“And we are...” Illaria began.

“Ah, save the trouble; I know all about you. Illaria and Bait, of the Blue Banner Army. Served several tours, each in the Coffin Flotilla, and lived to tell the tale. Both of you joined to search for your families. Alvec “Snaptail,” your messages with your grandfather have been sloppy, but I know that was your goal. Mavec, a graduate from Jai-Laeal run out of town by the actions of another wizard named Alston. I hear the town of Jai-Laeal is starting a lawsuit against him; your words at the festival sparked it. Sarbie, formerly a cleric of the church of Kushang.” He paused to wink at her. “Rumors vary about that, some say you saw an opportunity for immense wealth and leaped at it; others think a certain tiefling swept you off your feet, and you were wed in secret. The truth is that you were sent to act as an agent of the church in an unofficial capacity... and Naya from Lom-Itoti. I’ve heard strange rumors about it from those who have spoken with you, but I regret to say I have not had the time to look into these rumors myself. My attention has been on the sea, with good reason.”

“You certainly seem to be knowing a lot about us,” Illaria said, a look of discomfort crossing her face. “Should we be regarding you as friend or foe?”

“Forgive my showing off, but friend, I would hope. Tell me, how much do you know about what's happening here?” he asked.

“Crowley’s in league with devils. Got a fancy fucking sword he stole from us and has been seen teleporting around.” Mavec said.

“That's true, but there's more to it than that... I think.” LuCol said as he paced around the small room.

“What's that supposed to mean?” Naya asked.

“Before I explain myself, I’d like to ask you not to re-enlist. I have a special project in mind, one which I can’t have on the books.”

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Illaria stepped forward. “Is this the sort of mission we could accomplish in time to join the offensive against Crowley? If not, I’ll have to pass. I’m here to rescue my family or kill Crowley, ideally both.”

“Supposing I say that you should be able to make both things happen, you’d be up for hearing me out?” he asked.

“Aye, I might even be accepting,” she replied.

“Good, I think the timetable is... doable, though tight. You’d need to leave as soon as this conversation ends, but I already have a boat and a captain waiting,” LuCol said with a smirk.

“So what do you need done anyway?” Naya said absent-mindedly as she continued playing with the magically dwarfed cat.

“I recently encountered a strange substance while exploring underwater in the seas. Styxweed, a plant native to hell, is known to grow towards blood and is also very easy to shape and control with infernal magic. Specifically, I’ve noticed it growing around sunken ships. I have a concern that Crowley is behind the Styxweed and that he plans to use it to shore up the sunken ships, float them back to the surface, and crew them with an infernal legion.”

“Okay, but why not just have the devils teleport? They can do that pretty much at will, right?” Mavec asked.

“Even if Crowley is a hell of a barterer, I can’t imagine him getting anything but the lowest foot soldiers of hell to do his bidding. Most of them won’t be able to teleport, not to mention, there are wards meant to screw with infernal teleportation, and no doubt they are deployed in many areas where infernals are not wanted.” Alvec said.

“These sunken ships, where are they?” Naya asked. LuCol smiled at her.

“All up and down the coast.” LuCol replied.

“Oh, oh, that's not good,” Mavec said.

“Because currently, most of the country's armies are here, in Ac-Aziza,” Illaria said.

“If they struck the whole coast, rather than this section, there would be almost no way to respond to them fast enough. Devils would be up against town guards and the academies, who would be caught off guard.” Alvec shuddered as he spoke. “Sure, the churches would help, but it would be a blood bath.”

“That's what you want us to confirm? If this is, in fact, the plan?” Illaria asked.

“Yes, I want you to find Mangrove, a Child of Akrixi who I believe will be able to help us locate the central root of the Styxweed. If he does, you can report it back to me, and we can start sending some of the Red Banners away. To disperse them around the coast so that we can deal with the devil threat more accurately,” LuCol said.

“If we discover it, would it be possible to destroy it before it can take root?” Naya asked.

“It grows from a single root, so it is possible that destroying the piece tended here would result in the rest of the Styxweed withering, but we have no way to know for sure. We are in uncharted waters at the moment. No ploy like this was ever attempted, even during the Anarchy. I fear for the future of the Empire if this infernal threat isn’t met here with decisive force.”

“Do you think Emperor Ageneon has been informed of this?” Sarbie asked.

“More than likely, someone has advised him on this; else, why would so many of the Banners be reporting to duty here in the first place?” LuCol replied.

“Ah, alright. I wasn’t sure if he had or if we should let him know.” Naya said.

“I do believe he has people for that, Naya,” Illaria said.

“Well, no one seems to have told anyone about the intruders, so maybe he didn’t know?” Naya asked.

“Intruders?” LuCol asked.

“No, not right now. We’re here about Crowley and the devils.” Illaria stated firmly. “After we’ve dealt with all of this, we can tackle any other strange issues, understood?”

“Yes, boss,” Alvec said, shooting her a mischievous smile.

“Oh, hush you, we don’t have time for your sass,” Illaria replied.

“Do we have time for me to play with this cat for a few more minutes?” Naya asked.

“No, we don't.”

“Oh, what about eating more cheese? Bait would like to try Ack-apizzaa cheese.”

“We don’t even know who sells good cheese here, Bait? How about we ask LuCol here to gather us some recommendations, and then when we get back, we can eat some authentic Ack-Apizza cheese,” Illaria said, exasperated.

“Look, as fun as it might be to tease you. I think that maybe, just maybe, you’ve had enough. Let's get going.” Mavec said as he headed for the doors.

“You’ll be looking to meet up with a man named Turncoat. He’s a strange green man with no nose who helmed a ship called the Audacity 6... currently, Crowley has stolen it as his flagship,” LuCol informed them.