We woke up early at the monastery, determined to do something about Fran, but Millhouse told us there was nothing we could do and that we should just leave the island. Of course, he also told us that we couldn't leave unless Fran let us. Helpful, huh?

With nothing better to do, we decided to go investigate Prihelm's ruins in the hopes that there might be something useful there. So we went back up the river, and then started across the countryside, when all of a sudden, we encountered a Broken One! Only we recognized her! It was Agar, the witch who'd been tormenting the poor cat! And now she was paying for it by having become one with said cat! If it weren't so horrid, I'd find a certain grim justice in that.

Well, she lived just long enough to tell us that it was the doctor's fault (as if we didn't already know that), and we were left with the problem of what to do with her. People somehow seemed determined to give her a funeral of state or something, even though this time yesterday, Leighla and I, at least, would have happily danced on her grave... Humans confuse me so much!

Eventually, after Liss had suggested that we build her a raft and set her floating on down to the sea, I pointed out that what really mattered wasn't spending a day or two burying her (or worse yet, as seemed to be threatening to happen, a day or two arguing about HOW to bury her), and it was rapidly decided to build a cairn for her instead. I think this was doing her too much honor, so I refused to help except by singing a funeral dirge for her , but fortunately, the others appreciate my talents (especially Leighla).

So we'd not gone far out of sight of Agar's cairn when we were surrounded by a bunch of Broken Ones! I really hate those things!

These, apparently, were the friendlier ones, led by Akanga (have I mentioned him? Markov dropped his name in an effort to scare us). We were taken in front of this lion-man (my, how original! A lion-man in charge! These natives have no imagination!), and after some tense negotiations, it was eventually decided that we would help Akanga and his natives defeat Markov. Prihelm wanted to wait a day, but Akanga would have none of it (and they call me stubborn?!?), so off we went.

Well, we got to his manor just in time to watch Felix backstab Orson and let our horde of lion-men in to face Markov's own little army. Our side won handily, though the battle was rather stressful for a time. Leighla, of course, was the big heroine, while the rest of us all helped some and Al ran around trying to make sure that none of us died (he was actually successful, although Dogboy did come pretty close...).

Having defeated Markov's personal guard, we went charging after Akanga to the lab, just in time to see lion-boy get his clock cleaned by Orson, who then conveniently collapsed from the poison on Felix's dagger. This left us to save the day, but before we could do anything, Fran pulled some crazy stunt and sent a bunch of body parts after us!

Fortunately, having already had to deal with Alisanda, I was used to this, so while Leighla covered me with arrow fire and taunted Markov (the woman has a surprisingly sharp tongue - it must be her human blood peaking through), I crept up behind him and unleashed the blow of a lifetime; my long sword pierced his foul heart and my other blade emerged through his throat, and that was pretty much that for the "Bringer of Pain." He wasn't dead yet (apparently, as he rules Markovia, killing him is next to impossible), but he was out of commission long enough for Akanga and his cohorts to strap the man to a table and start vivisecting him! Alamon rushed out, but the rest of us were still to stunned by my incredibly mighty prowess to really be paying attention to Markov until Haley considerately drew our attention that direction... She then fainted dead away from horror, and Leighla and I rushed out of there, carrying the poor girl as best we could.

Of course, now she's talking about how much she admires Akanga's surgical skill and so forth; it's even more annoying than when Leighla and Prihelm were fixated on that platter! I love Haley like a sister, but, well, I'm about ready to gag her just so she'll stop asking me if I'm as good with my swords as Akanga is with his scalpel! What an insulting question! He's only a walking lion, in the name of the gods, while I am an elven warrior! Of course I'm many times better! But she won't believe me until I demonstrate on someone, and no one seems to be volunteering... But I digress...

We stopped just long enough to get Delphi out from her room by telling her that Prihelm was here to save her, and it's a good thing we did, too! She knew of a boathouse where Markov kept a boat (strangely enough), thus giving us a means of escape! So we ran to it, pausing long enough to beat off a few more Broken Ones (Prihelm was singularly ineffective as Delphi's brave protector, but somehow, she didn't seem to care...) before making our way out to sea.

It was here that something truly bizarre happened. Delphi gasped, gave her love to Prihelm, and then suddenly turned into a dolphin and swam away! The poor man looked heartbroken; I hope he doesn't take this too hard and that he knows that we're still his friends and he can come to us if he needs help dealing with his loss, but he's a stubborn and independent warrior, and I don't anticipate this happening any time soon. I hope he's going to be alright!

We are now sailing the seas of fate, hoping to get somewhere before we run out of food and water, and wondering why those dang mists are back again... Hopefully, something good will come of this for once!!