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| When last we joined the crew of the Weatherlight, the ship had emerged from the Death Pits and docked at Volrath's Stronghold. They faced the daunting prospect of recovering all that Rath has taken from them: the Weatherlight's former captain, Sisay, and Starke's daughter, Takara; their captured companions Tahngarth and Karn; and the stolen pieces of the Legacy. Gerrard, Starke, Mirri, and Crovax begin their search of the stronghold while Hanna and the others stay with the ship. |
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| Back at the portal, Ertai strikes a bargain with Lyna, the Soltari emissary. The Soltari will help the young wizard open the portal so the Weatherlight can escape; in return, he will hold it open long enough for them to also escape; in return, he will hold it open long enough for them to also escape Rath and the half-life they endure |
| there. Lyna goes to tell the Weatherlight's crew what is happening. |
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| Just as Lyna delivers her urgent message, Tahngarth, fresh from captivity, returns with the wounded Crovax and Mirri and delivers them to the ship's healer below decks. The minotaur quickly informs Hanna of the search party's new plan to rendezvous with the Weatherlight in Volrath's Gardens, then races back to rejoin them. Karn also returns, bearing the lost pieces of |
| the Legacy that the Sliver Queen restored to him. Among them is the Skyshaper, a powerful device that can boost the ship's Thran engine. |
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| The Weatherlight immediately sets sail for the Gardens, only to be attacked by the Predator. It tethers the Weatherlight with harpoon lines, but Hanna uses this against it, swerving into a series of daring turns to smash the larger ship |
| against the stronghold's supports. Greven il-Vec orders the lines released, the Weatherlight surges forward, free. However, Greven dispatches two ornithopters to carry the ship. Below decks, Karn busily attempts to fit the Skyshaper into the Weatherlight's engine. |