[center][h1][color=007236]Troe Revinah[/color][/h1][/center] Ashley's order to kill all of the 'pirates' didn't exactly sit well with Troe. Of course, he understood it was the most pragmatic solution that had the smallest chance of backfiring...but they had already surrendered. Instead of participating or protesting, Troe made his way below deck and sat down to wait out the slaughter. Even if he couldn't find reason to disagree with the call, he wasn't going to have any part in it. The group had sustained their share of casualties and injuries that would need tending to, even as decisive as the victory had been they weren't able to come out unscathed. Several of their best fighters were down for the count and would need several days' rest to recover. Truth be told, the only thing that kept Troe from bringing up the idea of heading back to recuperate was their proximity to the island at this point. [hr] [center][h1]Another Day Later[/h1][/center] The first shouting of 'land ho!' broke out across the Stink Boat as the island finally came into sight. The mess from the battle the day before had all been swabbed and scrubbed away, other than the occasional mark on the wood of the boat it was hard to tell they had encountered any adversity along the way. Of course, below the deck was another story. Several of the main party members as well as a few of the Stink Boat's crew were completely out of commission. The coastline of Irinoth was littered by boats and wreckage. Some of the boats seemed to burn with a strange smokeless black flame as their crews attempted in vain to put the fires out. Odder still, other than the fire, there didn't seem to be any sort of hostile response from whatever had taken the island. Once the ship had neared the coastline enough for people to wade in the water Troe and a few others disembarked and waded closer to the actual shoreline to see an odd greyish mist rising from the sand. A ornately dressed woman shouted for them to not get any closer. Troe recognized her as a rather famous Gremory from the capital. Kathila, if he remembered right, was one of the most powerful magic users in the entire archipelago. "Stop! Do not touch the mist if you value your lives!" She said as she approached the group. She simply gestured to a few corpses nearby that were engulfed in the flames despite being completely submerged in the water. "This strange flame seems to capture any and all who attempt to cross the threshold of the island. Even those who launch themselves through the air or go underneath...the mist is merely an indicator of where it begins. Magic doesn't stop it, in fact it seems to burn away just like living beings." Troe paused for a moment before approaching the mist once more. He fired a small gust of wind magic that seemed to flare up in the mist before evaporating into nothingness. He took a deep breath, knowing his next move could mean death and yet...curiosity got the best of him as he touched the very border of the mist with his pinky finger. The burning that overtook it was unlike anything he had ever felt. It seemed to be burning away at the essence of his finger, not just its physical presence. With a swift motion Troe used his magic to sever his pinky and step away from it. Despite wincing with pain as he dressed the nub where his pinky finger had been he smiled with interest. [color=007236]"Perplexing..."[/color] He said. This was truly unlike anything he had ever seen. If only it were possible to obtain a sample of this fire...but seeing as it seemed to not care whether it was burning metal or glass or anything of the sort, it could very well be unobtainable. Kathila looked at Troe as though he was a fool. "Maiming yourself just to confirm what I was saying...Are you some sort of fool?" She asked, only to get a sly look from the wind mage. [color=007236]"Couldn't just go off of your findings, regardless of how brilliant you're said to be."[/color] Troe said as though it was obvious. [color=007236]"Had to confirm it, but yes as you implied...simply entering the island is suicide by all measures."[/color]