After resting from the fight last episode, the pod finds another chamber in the cave. It appears that the pokpo inside are conducting a ritual with powdered quartz and polished lapis. Anastia figures it's supposed to be some sort of warding ritual but if it's completed there will be a massive explosion. Ato figure that it's connected to a behemoth as the conductor of the ritual appears to have a Wer Stone. The one thing Ato can't figure out is what behemoth the stone is connected to, a prospect which he finds quite frightening. The pod decides to fight the pokpo to stop the ritual. During the fight, Anastia poisons some of the crystals with some of the stingers she had collected earlier. Anastia is then knocked out by on of the pokpo spellcasters. Chisel and Ato manage to kill the rest of the pokpo and revive Anastia the pod then sets up camp. During their rest Chisel notices a fleshy ribbon rise from the Abyss and attach itself to one of the dead pokpo and begins dragging it into the abyss. Anastia is jolted awake, her remnant weapon reacting to the presence of this being. She is filled with fear and swims as far away from the creature as possible. Chisel then wakes up Ato and informs him of the situation. The pod eventually regroups and they decide to get what they can from the cave and leave in the morning, much to Anastia's discomfort. After moving Gamgams from the entrance the pod travels for several weeks until they hit a crevice which Gamgams cannot cross. Unable to get the giant crab across it or brave the dangers in it the pod the lets Gamgams go on her way. Anastia decides to give her the friendship bracelet she had gotten from the kids of Remalyn earlier and promptly falls unconscious. When she comes to, she discovers that she can track Gamgams mentally. Out of character she has gained Gamgams as her animal companion and can unlock more benefits from her later. After another weeks travel, the pod finally makes it to Sycophorum. The city is a giant jellyfish, as all cities are corpses of the behemoths. various people live in it's tentacles and inside of it's bell with buildings of various shapes and colors floating inside of it. Upon entering the city the pod goes to a clothing shop, mostly due to Anastia's urging. They trade some of the jelly quartz for Anastia's new dress and a tunic for Chisel. They then go to an inn that was recommended by Chisel's master and discover that they have anemone beds and, after some trepidation, find them very comfy. In the morning Chisel begins training and pays forward her Oathtaker partner's stay. When the other two members of the pod get up they decide to go to an armor shop. A worker at the inn reccommends a shop called "The Red Bell". At the shop they meet a one armed cnindaran woman who the pod negotiates with to get some scale mail and plate armor. Chisel ends up offering two weeks of labor and to beat her in a fight to get her armor. Meanwhile Anastia gives up some more jelly quartz in order to to get her scale breast plate. Ato is just fine with some junk he found in her shop. After leaving the Red Bell the pod go to the Purple Sphere, a Formulist college, to get that tome they found looked at. They are directed to a cnindaran woman with a large hood to help identify it. When negotiating prices a cube behind the Formulist begins to glow causing her to panic. She tells the pod that the cube is set to tack one of her friends and that if it's glowing that means they are in trouble. Chisel volunteers to go save their friend and asks the Formulist to tell her employer that she will be out for a few days. The pod then heads off following the map given to them by the Formulist.
Tropes
- Absurdly Cool City: Sycophorum is incredibly cool sounding.
- Battle Ballgown: Anastia attempts to armor her outfit.
- Blindfolded Vision: Cnindaran have blind sense so some where blindfolds or eyepatches as fashion statements.
- Clothing Appendage: Cnindaran "hoods" are part of their body.
- Impractically Fancy Outfit: Anastia's dress is this, being made from jelly fish flesh and fishbones. It's incredibly likely to get damaged. Thankfully she has armor to wear over it. The pod also sees several examples traveling around the city.
- Limited Wardrobe: Apparently Ato only has one pair of cloths.
- No Name Given: Kyle avoids giving the Cnindaran's names as he's still figuring out the naming conventions.
