The group explores the city both in secret and in the open. But all their efforts come up short. Before long, the sun sets and the moon hangs high into the air. The group reunites on the ship with Pepper, keeping an eye out as everyone sits inside, resting and eating.

“So, there were no clues?” Miller asks, sitting back.

Glyn sighs. “There are oddities. But it’s all circumstantial. We need something concrete before we can act.”

“We also need to locate the enemy’s base,” Sam says.

Otso sighs. “I looked all over the place. I imagine that whatever they are hiding is something super important.”

Mila nods. “Yeah! But outside of that, it seems like a nice place.”

“Nice things often hide great secrets,” Xia says, eating a large slab of meat. “If we wait for too long, then we’re going to lose any advantage we have.”

“She has a point. The longer we stay, the more our faces will be known.” Sam says.

“Should we go scouting now? Might find something more interesting at night.” Otso says.

Glyn nods. “Let’s save it for another night. We need to save our energy. We did have a long trip here, after all.”

“While I do like that idea, sadly, that does not appear to be the plan tonight.” Pepper’s voice enters everyone’s heads.

“You see something?” Mila asks.

“Yes. The people of the village appear to be gathering. It’s a rather strange sight from the looks of it. Like a ritual of some kind.”

Glyn stands. “Alright, let’s go see. Otso, Miller, with me.”

“What about us?” Mila asks.

“You, Sam, and Pepper stay here. Xia, you’re stuck here too for now.”

Xia chews on her meat and gives a thumbs up. “Don’t die.”

“I don’t plan on it,” Glyn smirks. “Now let’s go spy on some people!”

“Please don’t put it that way,” Otso says.

“I mean, that is what we’re doing,” Miller says.

The three leave the ship and sneak their way into the village. They watch as a crowd of villagers led by a man in all black dressed like a priest. He leads the group as they march in a daze, carrying torches and farm tools and making their way towards a singular house. The house is marked with an odd symbol on the door as two large men rush forward. They break down the door, running inside as a commotion comes from within.

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“What’s going on?” Miller asks.

“No idea. Might be some kind of arrest. But this certainly seems suspicious.” Glyn says.

Otso nods. “If I had a guess, I’d say it’s a cult of some kind.”

“Come on Otso. If this was a cult, then that would mean……” Glyn pauses. “They’re planning to sacrifice those people.”

“What!?” Otso and Miller yell out before covering their mouths.

After a moment, the men come outside, having restrained a small family as they struggle against their captors.

“What did we do!? We didn’t break the rules!” The father yells.

The man in black smiles. “Rejoice. Your family has been selected to worship at the foot of the Great One! This is the highest honor one of your standing can achieve.”

“We don’t want anything to do with your Great One!” the mother yells. “Everyone you take has disappeared. Please let us go.”

She stares out at the crowd. “Why are you doing this!? We’ve lived together our whole lives. We’re friends, family even so why? Why…. Why are you doing….”

“For the Great One.” A small chant begins within the crowd.

“For the Great One.”

“For the Great One!”

“For the Great One!”

“Glory to the Great One!” The crowd chants, their cries drowning out the family’s cries as the voices echo across the village.

Glyn clenches his fist. “We have to follow them.”

“Glyn.”

“We can’t just watch and let this happen. Besides, these will lead us to where the enemy base is. We can’t risk losing this chance.”

Miller nods. “Fine. But this is too risky.”

“I know. But I can’t let this happen and do nothing.”

“I understand.”

“Otso go back to the ship and bring Pepper and Mila. We’re making our assault and saving who we can.”

The group fathers and follows the crowds towards the outskirts of the village. The crowd stands in front of a cave near the beach where men in armor exit and take the family inside. Everyone sits in the shadows, watching and waiting until the crowd of villagers dissipates, returning to their homes.

At his signal, Glyn sends Miller in towards the cave, who scouts the area. He signals for the group to enter the cavern and they approach. Otso searches the area for traps as the group enters carefully, moving along as they move closer inside.

“How long does this tunnel go?” Otso asks.

Mila sniffs at the air. “I can sense an air pocket ahead. No, a breeze.”

“Meaning there’s an opening.” Glyn stops. “Everyone, be careful. We can’t let them get the drop on us.”

“Mila, come with me. We’ll take out the guards,” Miller says.

Mila nods and follows her brother as they press ahead. After a few seconds, the others follow as they enter an enormous cavern. At the top of the cavern, the light of the moon and stars shine through a large hole. Ahead of the group, a deeper hole sits with men in armor marching along the path down to the center of the pit.

“We have to be in the middle of the island,” Otso says.

“Where are the victims?” Glyn asks.

Mila walks ahead. “They’re there at the bottom.”

Everyone looks over the edge and looks down. At the center of the pit is a large cell that sits with the family sitting inside. The children cry as they cling to their mother, with the father shaking on the bars. The guards ignore them as they walk guard the area.

Mila and Miller leap down from above, landing on the guards and bringing them down as Glyn and Otso rush to the bottom. Pepper flies down after the group and returns to her regular size as she looks at the bars.

“Glyn. These bars absorb magic.”

“I also imagine they're strong enough to withstand our attacks.” Glyn touches the metal. “Maybe the guards have the keys.”

Mila goes to the guards only for an invisible force to drag them along the ground away from the group. A man dressed as a butler walks ahead with men in armor at his side and a smile on his face.

“I’m sorry Madam Morgan has said these will be sacrificed to the Great One. We can’t allow you to save them.”

“And you are?” Glyn asks.

“The Queen to Mistress Morgan. Her humble butler and loyal aide. Here to carry out her will.” He adjusts his gloves and smiles. “And you are a fellow King Candidate. So, let’s have a go, shall we?”