High Peaks of the Untu

Creigal and company travel through the High Peaks of the Untu.

Traveling in Untu lands. Elpis tells them about the people. Toar complains to Elpis about the powder in his eye. He tells the guide to see Krumpus about it, and then we see the shaman treating the vision of both Toar and Elpis.

Which wasn’t far from how it happened. By the time they reached the city, there were several thousand men and women that trailed them, all self-sufficient and strong. Not only was Creigal rather surprised by the number of men and how quickly they had assembled, but they had a look of quality about them.

In one of the villages of the Untu, a wise man confronts the duke and asked to see the one that was coerced to join them. At first, Creigal is unsure just who the man is speaking of, since all are there of their own accord—but Toar reminds him of Maligno, the naga that’s been left to Toar’s care. This wise man buys the captive off Creigal and releases him, then askes the beast to join them.

As they are traveling, Toar complains to Elpis that he can barely see out of his right eye—then turns to Elpis and remembers that one of his eyes is constantly staring off in another direction. He askes Elpis if he can see straight out of both his eyes. Elpis says no. That although he sees out of both eyes, one is inevitably staring off at some strange angle. He tells Toar that this has ruined his focus and tends to give him headaches—but as time goes on, the headaches are less frequent and less severe. Krumpus attends both of them with hopes of healing them. Elpis gets better. Toar does not.

In Melmorahn, the distress has gotten worse, despite the medicine Krumpus sent. Krumpus realizes the waters coming out of the blight are causing the sickness. Scurra is still giving speeches, and during one of the speeches, Krumpus interrupts her and has her pass his words onto the multitudes. He gives a rousing speech—but at the end of it, he has a seizure. The people take it as a bad sign. The next day, when he comes to, Krumpus realizes that more than half the warriors that joined them have returned from where they came.

Krumpus wards off the mandingoes. Then comes the battle with the elementals. After that, he duels the walker-and-talker.

What purpose does Maligno serve?

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