Arben And Eorl Magic Mirror Some Old Buddies
Eorl and Arben get up early to continue their checking in on old friends. Next on the list, they cast their Magic Mirror towards Ferminus. He and the rest of the Circus De Jerkus are performing in a city in Italy. They're still on the hunt for the Patriarch, and now are under the impression that he was kidnapped by Papists. Arben tells him that Chow-Han is a Doppelganger and is reading his mind right now and if he thinks about it then Chow-Han will probably kill him and take his place. Ferminus does not sound happy to know this. He tells Arben that if the Danger Gang is still heading to Kochelmic, then Anderoctonia has a message for him. They thank him for his time and tell him if they head up Rome way to keep an eye out for the Danger Gang.
Arben takes the opportunity to shoot an invite over to Norwit, see how he's doing.
After another rest, they check on Big K himself, Kodmelos. This guy, this guy is doing great. He's being fanned by topless black women as people parade tributes before him (including a four-armed Slaad skeleton). Arben asks him what's up, and he says he's just hanging out with these humans, called the Shining Ones. He's only been eating criminals as far as sentient beings are concerned, them and people that have started something with him. He says that the Slaad have started beef with him and Arben explains that he hates them too. They ask about this village he's staying at, and he says he's the third great visitor they've had in history. The first is the witch-woman Ikulu, who subsequently died there, and the second was Qabar Hadra. This makes this sound like a town full of awesome history that these dudes would want to visit. Unfortunately, it's all the way in West Africa somewheres. They tell Big K to keep on keeping on and maybe they'll be out there some time.
Norwit arrives that evening, and Arben brags about how great he's been doing, other than loosing a leg. Norwit tries not to shit his pants with fear, but he holds it together and says he hasn't been up to much lately. They bid him adieu. Eorl asks Harashef (who was squirreled away in the corner of the room) what Norwit was thinking about. He says that he knows that the Djinn that Bardas Phocas is employing is named The Slayer Of Men and dates back to the time of Solomon. He also claims that Lugurix is a spy for Norwit. They take this last piece with a grain of salt, but decide they probably should kill Lugurix anyway. No, he's alright.
They track down Solevei and ask him if he can help them track down this underwater dungeon that Eorl wants to hack. He says he's in, but sooner or later he should join up with the navy again; can't go running around like a loose cannon.
