The fever broke early this morning, and it was well that it did. I woke to an insistent tugging upon my shoulder and found one of the many students who reside in the boarding house anxiously intent on waking me. The news she carried was somewhat grim, and for the second time in ten days I found myself rushing out the door. Damaria had fallen.

As far back as the original Elf and Human wars and beyond, the island of M'riss has been a source of mystery to those who dare settle its unforgiving shores. Mer'kresh is only a recent addition to the harsh landscape of the islands. Built...I should say here instead, half-built...upon platforms in the middle of the Bay of M'riss, the populace gains some protection from the fickle fires and gasses of the island's slumbering volcanoes. There is some trade-off, however; those portions of the city yet incomplete are occupied by sea-going lizards known as the Celpeze.

Barricades and large stone blocks have been placed where the city's concentric circles overlap the areas where the Celpeze hold sway. For the most part, these lizards are content to make a meal of the plentiful sea-life about the bay. Do not grow complacent, though, for the beasts have been known to regularly forage into the Rissian section of town for a bit hardier meals. The citizens of the city keep one eye open for the appearance of the mottled-skinned beasts, and a thriving group of entrepreneurs make a living in hunting down those lizards with a taste for the living races.

Visitors unfamiliar with the city can quickly find themselves swarmed by the voracious Celpeze. This is what had happened to Damaria who, in her explorations while I recovered, stumbled literally into the wrong side of town. I met with those who had sent the messenger, Quassia and the Black Knight. They had attempted to drag the Healer to safety but were stymied by the same barricades that keep the Celpeze somewhat contained. We would have to see her healed and tended where she lay.

Two brave clerics were on their way from Ratha, and the Black Knight went to gather them at the Jolas Dock. Quassia continued to heal herself in preparation, for Damaria's wounds were terrible. I climbed the block and went in search of my Muse's body and a location of good mana for the business at hand. I reached where it was the corpse should have been, but I found it distressingly empty. A quick search revealed the truth, however, though it was no less distressing: The Celpeze are quite fond of carrion. They will swarm a body and play tug-o-war with its limbs, worrying it with the occasional munch.

I weighted down Damaria's body as well I could and surveyed the holy mana of the ring I occupied. The lines were thin and at best dimly flickering things. Without being able to hoist Damaria over the necessary obstacles, we would be in difficult straits. I returned from my reconnoiter and met with everybody. The clerics, Tazzon and Iyrris, had arrived, as well as Glimmerglass.

Our options were somewhat limited. The Black Knight, Glimmerglass (under the protection of a Refractive Field) and I would work at dragging Damaria to the easternmost barricade. It was our hope that this would be an easier obstacle to surmount than the stone blocks previously attempted. Quassia would stay on the "safe" side of the borders with the two clerics ready to sanctify inside the danger zone if Damaria's body could not be tossed over to safety. This was deemed our best bet at success.

Of course, the Celpeze did not quite cooperate. They scented both the cold and warm bodies in their hunting area, and they swiftly swarmed to our location. The barricade was effectively stymied our plans, so we moved to the alternative course. The sea lizards began to climb over themselves to get to Damaria and ourselves.

During all this, Glimmerglass took a wrong turn and found herself in an even worse situation. She had somehow fallen into the canal that encircles the central part of the city. The water flows counter-clockwise, and she swiftly tired out swimming against the strong sea currents. The Seer has always been cool in a crisis, and she found a location to rest before finding a ramp to the city. I later learned that just as she was in the process of joining us, the Celpeze poured over the blocks. Within seconds, we had lost Glimmerglass to their teeth.

The rest of the rescue party was faring little better. We found a local Rissian by the name of Holbroke who promised to attempt to pull Damaria's body over the barricade. This turned to be harder than he thought, and we were forced to leave her body while recouping. Tazzon and Iyris followed my lead, and we took up positions around Damaria in hopes of raising the miserable amount of holy mana around us.

Holbroke was the next to fall, as four lizards managed to slip past his defenses. Their hunger compelled them forward, and if their gnashing teeth did not do in their target, it would be their stinger-tipped tail. The Black Knight did his best to keep Damaria in front of us, and I tried to keep the priests safe. Every time the Celpeze slipped to polearm range on either, I would have to flee the room with the cleric in tow. It was my hope to lure the creatures away.

Once again, it was when we scattered from one another that trouble arose. Tazzon fell as he tried to light the incense, and Iyrris managed to thwap the snout of the lizard with her incense stick. The beast blinked once in surprise, and then she fell beside her husband.

Things would surely have gone even worse if it were not for the kindness of the native Rissians, Xiaa, Allarsk, Vibrato, and Ipex, and I'm sure several others whose names I am shamed to say I cannot recall. Even with these fine people's help, Xiaa died nobly in a berserker's fury after dispatching several of the beasts. Her effort allowed Vibrato the time to drag all the fallen across the barricade. His strength and skill surpassed the task.

To rescue one, five had fallen. This alone is not the amazing thing, the fact is not one of those who fell begrudged the reason. They were ALL selfless in their actions. Not one would take a token of appreciation or reward. Of all the wondrous things I have seen over the Quest, this tendency for kindness is the most precious.

The Rissians would not accept gifts, but they would eventually succumb to outright bribery when I offered a round of refreshments. We gathered at the Lanternside Inn, crowding into a comfortably plush booth. The fellowship was warm and the brandy as fiery strong as the chocolate ice was cold. We toasted to the future, the present, and to the past.

Vibrato graciously answered the questions we out-of-towners heaped upon him. He told us of the strong sense of community within the Rissians, and this I could believe. Everybody had heard of the bravery the rebels had shown during the Red Sash occupation of the town, and this was evident in the pride Vibrato showed for his city. The citizenship is diverse, with a majority of souls belonging to the Barbarian Guild. Empaths and clerics are well cared for, as the foes within the city and across the bay are deadly, indeed. I had the feeling that as we questioned Vibrato, he also judged our potential value to the closely-knit society.

The history of M'riss shows that the island has a precedence of independence and self-reliance. I could understand Vibrato's and the other Rissians' wish to keep this sense of uniqueness. I am glad, however, that they have fostered no xenophobia or isolationism in the process. They are open to accepting those of like mind who share the same inner kindness. For those who do not fit, there is always the prison island or the simple act of being shunned.

In the next few weeks, I hope to explore the other side of the bay. There the great volcano that gave the island birth rises into the clouds. The danger does not come from the volcano itself, but the dangerous and deadly creatures that dwell in its shadows.

May your kindness be a beacon...