Josh had just consumed enough cheap ale to find a mild buzz when Dyne turned up looking enraged. The soldiers did not appear happy to see the demon summoner, so Josh complied with the man's request without question. Breaker, Dyne, and his female companion exited the camp on foot and trekked toward the looming city of Ettermire.

"I don't suppose they'd have let us stay the night?" Josh jested as they entered the outskirts of the city, "those chaps played a rather fun game where you had to disassemble and rebuild a musket before drinking."

"They want us all dead," Dyne said, shaking his head angrily. Breaker decided not to press the matter and fell silent.

The taciturn trio bypassed foundries, factories and technological workshops that comprised the greater part of Ettermire's economy. The streets were alive with common folk going about their days, hawkers crying their wares, and belching steam buggies that threatened to run down anyone who didn't shift quickly enough. There was an overpowering smell of technology in the air, of engine lubricant and melted metal and a cavalcade of other scents. The entire city felt like the inside of a steamshop.

They crossed the Glaith River on a metal bridge studded by square rivets and passed beneath great buildings whose spires reached for the heavens. Eventually they made their way to the harbor where boats off all manner and size bobbed on the rising tide. Josh beckoned for his companions to follow him; he knew the type of ship they wanted. The smaller vessels would not do, nor would the short-range steam ships used for ferrying goods across Alerar. They needed a stout wooden ship, one that would sail for Corone given enough coin.

They found one such ship and Josh walked out onto the deck brazenly. He was accosted in short order by a pair of pirates wearing cracked leathers and ragged bandanas.

"Hahaharrr, are ye' lost matey?" Asked the first pirate, thumbing a cruelly hooked dagger on his belt.

"Not lost," Breaker said with a calm smile that dimpled the scars on his cheeks, "looking to buy passage to Corone."

"Hoho bucko, yore outta luck." Laughed the second pirate, "we ain't bound fore Corone. So unlessin' you've got..."

He trailed off as Cronen produced a small coin pouch and gave it a shake. the sound of gold clinking on gold was unmistakable, and he poured half of the money out onto a callused palm to let the yellow metal catch the sun's rays.

"This should be enough to pay passage for the three of us," Josh reasoned, holding out the handful of gold crowns, "and I'll pay you the same when we arrive safely in Radasanth harbor."

The pirates looked impressed, stroking their beards and winking at one another.

"Righto, matey." The first corsair said, "We'll just have to take this to the captain." He turned and scuttled across the deck towards a large cabin at the aft end of the ship.