Hunting Party

In search of Colonel Eriksson of the Iron Tide, the travellers rode in to Tarenii in Arunisiir in their air raft but didn't arrive til after dark and had a concerning encounter with an aslan in an officer's uniform riding in an armoured car with autocannons who cheerily introduced himself as Captain Hiiraol Eakhau and after asking their business bid them welcome to their humble city. After searching through the shanty towns the travellers eventually found a hotel, the Rolling Barrel, and after a brief encounter with Trudzir, a guard at the front they managed to secure safety for their air raft and lodgings for themselves with the owner of the hotel, Stuz "Frag" Fragidnadzish.

The next morning they went around the local slums and talked to an old lady chopping up fish, Kaffe Poldaro, who agreed to make an introduction to the Waterfront Syndicate if they came back the next day. Also Halfnir met a war veteran, Inador Sashufrazi who agreed to find them the Iron Tide. Satisfied they'd made enough progress for the day, they went hunting in the swamp.

Tying up some meat as bait, the group hid to see what would come along, and soon a trio of swamphounds came stalking through the waters. One of the creatures grabbed the meat and ran before anyone could react, but another found Zhil in a bush and tried to grab him, but was stunned unconcscious for his efforts, while a second one was held off. Drogo leapt from a nearby tree at the huge creature but was grabbed and taken into the water! Halfnir leapt to the rescure and cleaved into the attacker with his axe and Drogo managed to break free and throat it.

Tying the creatures to the bonnet of their air raft, they returned to the hotel where the creatures were gutted and butchered. Inador soon came calling with news that the Iron Tide could be found at a bar further down the street called the Veteran's Rest and tucked into a reward of steak and a beer.

As they relaxed after the trip, discussions fell to their future plans and talk of captaincy, at which a vote was agreed and after a secret ballot Ernie was elected as the new captain of the Black Swan, with beers all round.