What happened next after Ralis passed out underwater? First, there was darkness. Only darkness. nothing but darkness. Ralis couldn't hear anything either. How much time has passed since he got pulled under the ocean's rough currents? That remains a mystery. All Ralis knew is that he has been surrounded by darkness for what felt like many minutes, or maybe an hour or two. There is no way to find out how much time has passed. He couldn't see anything or even hear anything, all his barely conscious mind could register is that he has been surrounded by darkness for a mysteriously long amount of time. Not long afterwards, the first sound began to creep into his ears. It sounded like running water. Water running through a river or something. Yes, that could be it! The next thing he heard was the sound of what could be wet footsteps nearby. He heard many wet *plop, plop, plop* noises around his ears. Then suddenly, Ralis felt his lungs begin to burn. Is he still underwater? How long has he been underwater deprived of air, holding his breath while unconscious? How much time does he have to swim back to the surface before he drowns?! Ralis had no time to act, no time to make a desperate attempt to swim for the surface, wherever it may be, his lungs screamed for air so desperately that he gasped loudly, snapping his eyes open and he somehow took in a mouthful of air, and the air he inhaled cooled his aching lungs, and at that moment he snapped his eyes open in time to see that he is looking up at the bright cyan colored ceiling high above that seemed to glisten and shimmer as if it is made of both stone and cascading water, and a split second before he was dropped, he also noticed that two sahuagin were dragging him by pulling his arms, one sahuagin held his right arm, the other held his left, but as soon as he woke up they released their wet grip on his arms, but Ralis made sure to hold his head up so that the rear end of his skull won't hit the floor after his back and give him a painful headache.

Then he heard someone whispering nearby in a language he has never heard of as he noticed Imoen come toward him, standing over him, and she stretched out her right hand down at him, offering to help him up on his feet. While Ralis took her hand and she helped him up, he heard someone with a feminine voice exclaim:

"Ta'risslysa, ss'uri! Ssivilis y russyla!"

As soon as Ralis got up on his feet, he noticed that he and Imoen aren't the only people who survived. Dorn, Althir, Neera, Rasaad, Hexxat, Viconia, Minsc and Boo, Valygar, Aerie, Tashia, Korgan, Nalia, Abdel, Jaheira, Anomen, Cernd, Edwin, Jan, and Mazzy are with them, wet, but awake and healthy. While Ralis checked his person to see if he still had his weapons, items and the box containing Yoshimo's heart, the captain of the sahuagin warriors who rescued Ralis and his group replied to the priestess.

"Vass, ss'uri! Vass! Illuryssallya mer temas vur pasynar ssaraii!" The sahuagin captain replied in an excited, impatient manner, standing in front of everyone near the small stairs leading up to the shrine the priestess is standing near.

Ralis felt his heart jump in fear when he discovered that he no longer has the box containing the ice that keeps Yoshimo's heart fresh strapped around his body, even the bag strapped to his belt containing the few useful items he has obtained in the past is gone, including his longbow and two bastard swords Kondar and Albruin. Were they swept away in the ocean currents, or were they confiscated by the sahuagin? Ralis hoped for the latter. If it is the latter, it makes sense that the sahuagin warriors would confiscate their belongings and weapons. Then he took notice of his surroundings and the sahuagin around him and his group. They are on a stone pathway made of dark brown stone wide enough for all 34 people to stand on, Ralis, his party and the thirteen sahuagin warriors armed with spears and tridents around them, and the pathway is surrounded by water, and it seems that to the right, the water drops down a steep slope to other parts of the sahuagin settlement. The priestess up ahead, standing in front of what looks like a small shrine is in thin purple sleeveless fabric robes with a spiked conch shell attached to her left shoulder, but her long tail can be visibly seen slowly wagging back and forth across the floor, but unlike the rest of her skin, her tail is almost completely yellow colored with very green left for reasons Ralis and Viconia could not figure out. What they don't know is that the tails of sahuagin females gradually turn more and more yellow as they grow older. The more yellow their tails appear, the less fertile they have become. This means Royal High Priestess Senityili is almost too old to be considered an ideal mate.

Priestess Senityili seemed to frown for a moment, considering what Captain Feerlattiys told her.

"Shur'e..." She said in a low, calm tone.

Ralis noticed Viconia close by him and Imoen, when he heard her voice whisper to him.

"I know of these creatures from the Underdark. Sahuagin. Shark-men. My home city did not have much contact with them, however, so I do not know their language," Viconia whispered to Ralis and Imoen since they are closest to her.

Perfect. I seriously need a translator here... I wish I knew what they are talking about... Ralis rolled his eyes while Priestess Senityili continued her conversation with Captain Feerlattiys.

"Es ss'uri net rylliaren. A'sook, Feerlattiys," Senityili said, narrowing her silvery black eyes at the sahuagin captain.

Ralis had a feeling that the priestess must not be pleased with the captain, whatever he did, judging by the mildly scolding tone of her voice. Or maybe she doubted his request...?

"Vass mae'nyarlu, sya ss'uri muss rylliaren!" Feerlattiys exclaimed defensively, pointing back at Ralis and his party without taking his eyes off of the priestess.

Ralis and Imoen noticed the webbing on the back of Senityili's forearms twitch for a moment, then she nodded.

"A'sook, a'sook..." She said, seemingly conceding defeat to whatever defensive argument the captain had.

Then she prepared to cast some kind of spell. Ralis and his group prepared themselves, not understanding or knowing the nature of the spell the priestess is beginning to cast upon them. The captain and his soldiers turned to watch whatever the magic spell will do to the surfacers they rescued. Everyone looked up and saw what looks like blue and gold powder sprinkling down towards them, like glitter falling down toward them, covering them and then disappearing into thin air. As far as Ralis and his group could tell, nothing bad happened to them. In fact, nothing seemed to happen at all.

"Uh... um... what was that?" Neera asked.

"No idea. At least we know they aren't trying to kill us," Tashia commented.

Then the sahuagin captain turned to the priestess to speak to her, and this time, Ralis and his party heard Feerlattiys' voice somehow speaking in Common instead of the Sahuagin language, and that surprised them.

"So they can understand me now, High Priestess? They must be able to understand! The king awaits!" Feerlattiys said impatiently.

Whoa! Did I just hear him say all that in Common? Imoen thought in surprise.

King? I had no idea sahuagin are as civilized as we are, Anomen thought in amusement.

"I heard you the first time, Feerlattiys," Priestess Senityili said, holding her webbed right hand up at her chest level to tell Feerlattiys to calm down. "And yes, I have called on Sekolah to grant these beings the ability to understand our tongue," she added.

Sekolah is the patron god of the sahuagin race. His avatar is a gigantic great white shark. Legends say that a very long time ago, Sekolah discovered the sahuagin race after he defeated his greatest enemy in the seas of Toril. Sekolah was singing a victory song which echoed off a great rift in the sea floor. A seashell arose from the rift and Sekolah found it full of sahuagin. In his joy, he adopted the race as his own and scattered them throughout the seas so they could spread their population.

The captain seemed to calm down a little, his breathing slowed gradually. He could barely believe that Sekolah himself gave these creatures the ability to hear what sahuagin say in a language more common to the land dwelling civilizations. He wasn't aware that such a spell existed.

"So... they understand us now, High Priestess? Are... are they dangerous to us? Shall we be forced to collar them?" He asked apprehensively.

The High Priestess shook her head doubtfully.

"The surface beings are varied in their ways, Feerlattiys, but they are quite intelligent. You can, I am sure, speak to the creatures directly," she said.

"Then you can start by addressing us now, tadpole-thing. How did we get here?" Edwin spoke aloud, but under his breath, he said: "(If it can speak at all. such creatures are known more for the taste of their legs...)"

At that, Feerlattiys, turned to face Ralis and his group, and before he could say anything, Minsc blurted out:

"No! No collar! I will not be collared by the smelly fish men! My warrior spirit will not bear such a thing!"

Feerlattiys gasped then glanced over at the High Priestess, wondering what her reaction to Minsc's outburst is. She took his outburst in a humble manner, much to Feerlattiys' confusion, she didn't flinch or bristle in outrage. Ralis stepped forward and spoke up.

"I Apologize for their sudden outbursts. We will not be collared as if we are like feral animals. As you have told your captain, we are intelligent, and we are also reasonable. We are no danger to you if you are no danger to us," Ralis told the High Priestess.

Senityili nodded to show that she understood.

"My apologies, soft one," she said, beginning to slowly descend down the stairs, then pass by Feerlattiys who stepped aside, every step her webbed feet made could be heard among the noise of the trickling water around them. "Captain Feerlattiys performs well as protector of our Shark-Father's temple, but has little experience with your kind," she continued as she casually approached Ralis and stopped five feet away from him.

Ralis saw that despite the High Priestess' fearsome feral appearance as a sahuagin, her eyes black and short but serrated teeth lining her gums, she acts very civil, an uncharacteristic attitude for a sahuagin. Ralis also found that she, the captain and the sahuagin around them all smell like raw tuna, and Ralis dislikes their pungent body odor, but he mustered all the mental discipline he had to ignore the scent.

"I am sure this must come as a shock to you after your recent harrowing experience," Senityili said, noticing the change of expressions on Ralis' face.

"You have no idea. I thought my journey would come to an end in a way I never expected," Ralis said.

Senityili nodded. "You must brace yourselves, soft ones, for your journey gets no easier."

Ralis frowned in concern, and the moment he opened his mouth, Feerlattiys spoke up abruptly, interrupting him.

"High Priestess, we must take the surface beings before the king! He commands it!" He exclaimed impatiently.

While the High Priestess replied to his sudden request, Valygar, Jaheira and Mazzy eyed the impatient captain suspiciously, wondering why the sahuagin king wants to meet them.

"In good time, Feerlattiys. Allow them to gain their bearings and discover why we have brought them here. Otherwise, they may resort to hostilities," she said like a calm parent reasoning with a jumpy child.

Feerlattiys blinked his dark eyes three times in surprise, then he shook his head in denial while taking a few steps towards the High Priestess.

"No... no, that must not be allowed..." He protested softly.

"Indeed. Sekolah has spoken of these ones to us, so let us treat them not as prisoners for the banquet table. Let us instead make them welcome," Senityili replied.

Feerlattiys could not stop his eyes from widening in surprise. It is extremely rare for Sekolah to demand that they treat a group of land creatures with care. Normally Sekolah is uncaring and stand-offish, especially towards his followers. The only follower that he openly respected was the wereshark who attacked Baldur's Gate two years ago, Iakhovas, known to the sahuagin as "He Who Swims With Sekolah". These land dwellers must be very special for Sekolah to tell his followers to be hospitable to a group of land dwellers with the utmost care.

Senityili turned her back on the sahuagin captain to refocus her attention back to Ralis.

"I shall introduce myself to you. I am Senityili, royal high priestess of Sekolah. And you are in the City-of-Caverns, one of our most ancient places."

"Well met, High Priestess. I am Ralis, I lead this group of surface-dwellers you see before you," Ralis replied courteously, and gesturing his right arm to all of his companions behind him.

Imoen, Abdel and the others did not feel inclined to introduce themselves, and the truth is, they didn't need to,

"You are fortunate, surface-dwellers. In the normal course of things, creatures captured from the sun lands would be dinner for our plate," Senityili said, making no secret of how lucky Ralis and his group are that they are to be treated as guests instead of food.

Ralis swallowed slowly, silently thanking Tymora that they were saved from drowning not because the sahuagin are hungry for surface dweller meat, even Abdel, Imoen, Mazzy and Tashia made their own silent prayer to The Lady Who Smiles.

"This once, however, is different," Senityili said, holding up one raised finger briefly. "Sekolah has told of your coming in an ancient prophecy, and I have scried that you are whom the Shark-Father speaks of," Senityili said, pointing a finger at Ralis' chest, but her finger never touched his chest, only coming three inches close to touching the chest plate of his ankheg hide armor.

Ralis could hardly believe it. It's not very often that you'd learn that you are mentioned in a prophecy. Of the billions of people walking this world, even before he was born, Ralis was mentioned in an ancient prophecy. That is almost too much for him to believe.

"Everywhere we go, it seems, this happens to ye, Ralis," Korgan grunted. "Well, that's just fine. but if we be herded near one pot or kitchen, I'll start flingin' me axe, just so ye be warned," he continued.

"Warning noted, Korgan," Ralis responded while looking at Senityili even though he wasn't talking to her.

"The most exalted king Ixilthetocal calls for the presence of the prophesied ones now, but there is time for you to ask questions if you have the desire," Senityili said.

"Thank you. What is this prophecy that you speak of?" Ralis asked after giving a single courteous nod in approval of the High Priestess allowing him to ask questions.

She smiled, showing her serrated teeth, and as she spoke, she raised her right arm up towards her chest and her right hand gently clasped around the clerical amulet hanging around her neck for a few seconds.

"Ah, yes, the prophecy. Sekolah visited the City-of-Caverns long ago..." Senityili began, beginning to reach down to the singing bundle tied to her waist, then she stopped, remembering that Ralis and his surface dweller companions will not understand how singing bundles work- they are not meant to be read with eyes, but heard instead, for when the singing bundle was shaken or jerked, the knotted bits and pieces would click together in a series of sounds that sound similar to the words of the sahuagin language.

Singing bundles are basically sahuagin books, bits of stone and shell stringed together with knots of sinew or on rings of bone. Since sahuagin don't use paper books, and they don't use magic to protect paper from water because they fear magic, they use a type of book that is meant to be heard, not read, so Senityili decided to verbally explain everything to Ralis and his companions.

"... all raised their arms in rejoicing as the Great Shark's song filled our hearts. Sekolah told me of a time when the City-of-Caverns would be no more. He also told of signs that would precede the arrival of surface-dwellers in the depths. Sekolah said these surface-dwellers would be all that stood between the City-of-Caverns and destruction, and we would do well to watch for them."

Ralis looked around then responded after Senityili paused.

"So Sekolah told you that some malevolent force seeks to destroy this place, and to watch for us because we we will help you stand against whoever wishes to destroy you? I should have known. I've been tasked to do things like this more times than I can count, to be honest. I should earn a merit badge for all the good deeds I've done around Faerun," Ralis said sarcastically.

Senityili nodded in agreement, ignoring the sarcastic details in Ralis' remark, though. "We... sahuagin, as you call us, have watched and waited from our temples here in the city. The signs have come, surface man, and now you are here."

"Yep, here I am, the man of the hour here to save the day once again!" Ralis said and chuckled nervously, looking around, and then felt foolish when he noticed no one was at least chuckling with him, not even his companions cracked a smile. "I guess you sahuagin don't know what sarcasm is. Never mind... *sigh*..." Ralis rubbed his forehead.

"... We are very fortunate to have found you, surface-dweller, you and your assortment of allies," Senityili continued, choosing to hide how confused she is at Ralis' sarcastic remarks. "The City-of-Caverns does, indeed, stand on the brink of destruction. You will save us, as Sekolah has promised."

"Where is this City-of-Caverns? where am I, exactly," Ralis asked.

"You are in a great cavern of air, far beneath the surface of the sea. This is where we have made our city and where we have ruled for countless generations. There is no escape, surface-dweller. The only exits from the City-of-Caverns lie up through the depths in which you cannot live... or down into the Underdark."

Aerie shuddered nervously. When the time comes to leave this place, they will have no choice but to venture into the Underdark, a place she grew up fearing upon hearing the stories of the drow, beholders and other horrors that wander there.

Then Feerlattiys approached the high priestess and said: "Most sacred Senityili, the most exalted one will wait no longer! We must bring the surface beings to him quickly lest we be punished!"

Then it became clear to Ralis why the sahuagin warrior captain is so eager to bring them to his king, he is afraid of being flogged, or worse, put to death.

"The most honored Ixilthetocal will not punish us, good Feerlattiys. But... we must hurry lest Tlyysixxous convince the king of her views in my absence," Senityili reasoned with the captain, then she turned her silvery black eyes back to Ralis.

"So, surface man. You have heard me tell of the prophecy and your role in it. Will you see the king of the sahuagin to hear more? Or will you struggle?"

"What's the point in struggling? I will go voluntarily for now," Ralis conceded with a shrug.

Senityili nodded in approval. "Good." Then she turned to look at the captain next to her. "Captain Feerlattiys, we shall now proceed to the royal chambers. Lead us."

"At once, most sacred one!" Feerlattiys nodded gratefully and respectfully. "I shall also bring the equipment collected from the sunken ship. If they pass the test, they may have any of the things that I've found," he said.

Ralis' eyes lit up with hope. They have our equipment and weapons! He thought while smiling to himself.

Feerlattiys, his warriors led Ralis and his companions down the stairs behind them with Senityili walking behind the captain, and the other half of the sahuagin warriors trailed behind them, to make sure no one tries to sneak away. Not that anyone in Ralis' group had the intention of sneaking away. Ralis took in his surroundings as he followed the sahuagin ahead of him. The architecture of the sahuagin houses and buildings were unlike anything he has ever seen before.


They journeyed through many passageways, tunnels and various residential sections of the sahuagin city to get to their destination, the palace of their king. The journey to the palace from Senityili's shrine felt like two or three hours, it is hard to tell time when you are deep in an underwater cavern. But as Ralis expected, the palace of the sahuagin king is apparently bigger than the other buildings in the section of the underwater cave it is located in, or any other part of the City-of-Caverns, for that matter. Ralis heard Abdel whistle in admiration. As they headed for the palace, many sahuagin citizens paused to look at more than a dozen warriors, their captain and the royal high priestess escorting 21 surface dwellers to the palace, and some started whispering among themselves.

Only Abdel, Minsc, Valygar, Viconia, Edwin, Dorn, Hexxat and Jaheira glanced at the sahuagin citizens watching them. Everyone else focused on the destination 400 meters ahead of them.

"How long did it take you lot to build that huge palace?" He asked either of the sahuagin willing to answer.

Feerlattiys looked over his right shoulder and noticed that Abdel and Minsc are the tallest of the surface-dwellers of the group, and though he felt unsure of who spoke to him, he replied to the question.

"A long time, surface dweller. A very long time," he said proudly, smiling to show his sharp teeth.

"I take it you are proud of your work?" Mazzy asked curiously.

Feerlattiys did a double take in surprise.

"What? That's not my work. None of it is. I only command the city's best fighters. The palace of our exalted king was built long before I was sired," Feerlattiys corrected Mazzy, though he couldn't see her among her tall companions, and had to focus his eyes forward while walking up the stairs.

"I think what the diminutive surface dweller meant to ask is are you proud to serve a king as great and exalted as Ixilthetocal," Senityili said to Feerlatiys after they reached the top of the stairs to continue walking forward across wide open flat pavement towards the next flight of stairs 200 meters ahead.

Feerlattiys looked at the high priestess with confusion. "What? Of course I am proud to serve our king! Why would a surfacer question my loyalty to my king?"

"I meant no offense," Mazzy interjected, unable to squeeze between Imoen, Abdel, Jaheira and Aerie's legs. "I can clearly see that you are a proud, noble warrior of your king, I just wanted to know how much of an honor it is to serve as the captain of the sahuagin warriors."

"Oh..." Feerlattiys said offhandedly, feeling a little awkward for misunderstanding the surface-dweller. "If you must know, it is a great honor to serve the most exalted one. He respects our undying loyalty to him, and we keep the palace clean at all times."

"Sounds like he is a fair and just king," Anomen commented.

"Agreed," Feerlattiys said.

At this point Ralis could clearly see the front doors of the palace ahead after the next flight of stairs, and he saw two palace guards on both sides of the door, both of them holding silver tridents as weapons, standing at attention like any other soldier guarding the entrance of a royal palace.

"By the way," Imoen blurted out. "Where do you guys use the bathroom?"

Everyone stopped walking, and Feerlattiys and Senityili slowly looked back at them.

"Bath room? What is this "bath room" you speak of?" Senityili asked.

Imoen frowned incredulously. "Seriously? You know, don't you? A room in a home or building where you can clean yourself so you don't smell bad, and uh... how should I say this...?"

Feerlattiys and and Senityili still looked confused, including the sahuagin warriors around them, and before Imoen could continue speaking, Neera stepped in front of her.

"Oh, for the love of Adoy, let me handle this," Neera grumbled as she stepped in front of Imoen. "What she is trying to say is she needs to find the room where you go to expel of the digested remains of the food and water you've consumed. Get it?"

Feerlattiys blinked once, shocked at Neera's bluntness, including Senityili.

"Oh. I understand now..."

"There are rooms in the palace where you can... relieve yourself. But first we must gain entry into the palace," Senityili said.

"Whew... I was beginning to think that bathrooms weren't a thing in this place..." Imoen sighed in relief them moment everyone resumed walking towards the palace.

They climbed up the flight of stairs which is slightly higher than the previous steps they climbed, then they headed for the palace doors. The two guards opened the doors and allowed them entry into the palace. Once inside, Senityili guided Imoen to the sahuagin bathroom, and everyone had to wait while Imoen handled her business, and when she came back, two minutes later, everyone proceeded to make their way to the king's throne room.

Once they got there, Ralis saw that the king's throne room looks almost like an aquarium, but with air. The walls are made of stone but with a shade of bright ocean blue, the four pillars around the king's throne are old but still sturdy, and the king's throne is made of carved reef. The king Ixilthetocal himself sat in his throne, wearing a blue robe around his torso and a blue cloth around his waist that only exposes his legs, flanked by his six bodyguards.

After stopping 13 feet away from the king's throne, Feerlattiys, Senityili and the sahuagin warriors who escorted Ralis and his group dropped to one knee and bowed.

"We are here, most honorable Ixilthetocal... at your command," Senityili said.

Ralis saw a smirk play across king Ixilthetocal's face just seconds before he stood up out of his throne, reveling himself to be six feet and four inches tall.

"And these..." He paused to chuckle after taking two steps forward. "... these are the strange creatures from the surface?" He chuckled again, then stepped closer. "These are the ones you claim the mighty Sekolah has promised us?"

Now Feerlattiys, Senityili and the sahuagin escorts stood up straight on both legs, and Feerlattiys and his soldiers stood aside, but Senityili remained standing next to Ralis.

"They are, most honorable one. The leader amongst them," she pointed at Ralis. "here, is what I believe they refer to as a human."

Ralis smiled sheepishly at Ixilthetocal for a couple of seconds because he was trying to fight the urge to fidget under the scrutinizing gaze of the tall sahuagin king. Ixilthetocal eyeballed Ralis in open curiosity, examining every part of his body. Ixilthetocal has never met a creature that has no scales before, and he noticed Ralis' teeth when he smiled.

"It seems most... most strange! It has no scales! Look how small and puny its teeth are!" Ixilthetocal exclaimed, as expected from someone who has never seen a human before.

"Boo too has small teeth compared to fish-men. But they hurt just the same when they latch onto the eyes, yes sir!" Minsc commented proudly.

Then another sahuagin spoke up nearby. When everyone turned their heads to the right slightly, they saw another sahuagin around the same height as Ixilthetocal, but sporting four arms instead of two and wearing no clothing around his torso, revealing his scaly, muscular chest and abs, but wearing a long green crotch concealing cloth. This is the sahuagin baron Thelokassyil.

"You must kill them, most exalted one! They should not have remained alive! You must kill them, sacrifice them to the Shark-Father!" Thelokassyil urgently urged his king.

Ralis thought he heard someone gasp softly, and he doubted he imagined it, but it sounded like it came from Senityili. He looked over at her and noticed that she is looking at the baron with an expression he couldn't clearly see since he is not standing in front of her, while the king replied to the baron's sudden request.

Ixilthetocal regarded the baron calmly and said: "So you keep telling me, Baron Thelokassyil. Shall we turn away a gift from Sekolah, do you think, then?"

Ralis and his companions heard footsteps approaching from behind them, and they turned around to see another high priestess approaching them. High Priestess Tlyysixxous is many decades younger than Senityili, her long tail having only several yellow specks, but her tail is mostly green, which shows that she is still fit for mating. Tlyysixxous regarded Senityili with a cold stare then turned to face the king.

"The surface creatures are not sent by Sekolah, most exalted Ixilthetocal," Tlyysixxous said while bowing respectfully before her king. "They are not the ones spoken of in the Shark-Father's prophecy. They are nothing more than spurious beasts that fell into our lap. We should sacrifice them and feast upon their meat!" She bared her teeth excitedly.

King Ixilthetocal crossed his arms. "Oh?" He asked. If he had eyebrows, he would arch one up in amusement.

"No!" Senityili jumped forward, standing close to Tlyysixxous and pleading to the king. "Most honorable Ixilthetocal, the signs were clearly seen! All has come to pass just as Sekolah foretold!"

"Not ALL the signs have come, Senityili," Tlyysixxous hissed spitefully, and Senityili hissed back.

"I do not see what I wish to see, Tlyysixxous. I see only what Sekolah has shown me, and these ARE the saviors of the City-of-Caverns!" Senityili pointed the finger of her left hand back at Ralis and his group.

King Ixilthetocal started to laugh, which confused everyone in the room.

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...! Hee hee! This is very amusing. This is most unprecedented. I find it interesting that we have a disagreement here in our midst. I never expected the high priestess and consort of my Baron Thelokassyll to contest with the belief of my own high priestess."

So the high priestess who is friendly to us is the king's high priestess, and the one who is trying to prove we have nothing to do with the prophecy is not only the baron's high priestess, but also his consort? Makes sense, but what do the baron and his consort hope to gain by stopping us if we are the prophesied ones?... Rasaad thought while stroking his chin.

"I do, most honorable one," Tlyysixxous nodded respectfully.

"She does," Baron Thelokassyil interjected. "It is as we have been trying to tell you, Ixilthetocal... these creatures are no more worthy than a meat crab, meant for consumption and nothing more!"

Ralis and his group did not like the way this debate is turning, and neither did Senityili.

"No, Ixilthetocal! do not listen to them! They are sent by Sekolah, I swear! To refuse them is to pledge the City-of-Caverns to its destruction!" She pleaded.

Ixilthetocal smiled at her. He has known Senityili for many years, and she is definitely not a liar, but that doesn't mean he doesn't trust the baron and his own high priestess. He needed a way to find out who is being honest, and he had an idea to solve this dilemma.

"Oh, I shall be the judge of that, good Senityili. Oh, yes, I most surely shall!" He said and grinned.

Senityili was not sure if she should be relieved to hear this, or be very afraid, especially when he chuckled in a way that sounds mischievous. Then Ixilthetocal focused his black eyes on the leader of the surface dweller group, the young human with long brown hair, mustache and short chinstrap beard wearing ankheg body armor.

"What do yooooouuu think, human?" Ixilthetocal asked Ralis.

Confused, Ralis frowned and pointed at himself.

"Yes, you. Do you think you are more worthy than a sea crab, hmmm? Do you think you are who the prophecy speaks of?" Ixilthetocal asked.

Ralis decided not to beat around the bush and be honest.

"I could be. I've had experience with prophecies before, some can be perfectly clear, some can be vague. I will help you if I can," Ralis said.

The sahuagin king grinned, and Ralis felt relieved to see that the king approved of his answer.

"Aha! Well now, that sounds promising. I wasn't aware we needed such help, but you never know when a tasty human might come in handy!" Ixilthetocal exclaimed cheerily.

Ralis glanced over at Senityili and saw her looking at him with what seemed to be an approving smile.

"I don't suppose either of the most favored priestesses will change their minds? Hee hee! Relinquish their position in this arbitration, perhaps?" Ixilthetocal looked over at Tlyysixxous and Senityili, and saw that Tlyyssixous looked much more outraged than Senityili, who appeared calm and level-headed.

"Most certainly not!" Tlyysixxous snarled.

"No, most honorable Ixilthetocal," Senityili said.

Ixilthetocal nodded after studying the reactions of the priestesses, and he is still smirking as if he has found the answer to everything, which isn't far from the truth.

"Ah, I didn't think so," he said, then stepped back a few feet then declared while raising his arms high into the air: "So be it!" Then he lowered his arms. "We shall decide this with a challenge, we will! Although... not a challenge between our dear priestesses. That would solve nothing!" He waved his hands dismissively. "We wish to see if these surface beasts are truly the ones the Shark-Father has spoken of, yes? So I offer them a chance to prove their power!"

Again, Ixilthetocal turned his attention completely on Ralis.

"Well, human? Will you take this challenge? Will you fight a creature of my choosing, a slave from the surface... and see if you survive?" He asked.

Ralis frowned. How does the sahuagin king expect them to be ready for a fight when they are not properly conditioned and equipped for a fight? Their weapons have been confiscated!

"But... my colleagues and I are in need of rest and healing. Some of us were wounded during the ship battle..." Ralis said.

Ixilthetocal scowled in disapproval.

"Sekolah demands perseverance, strength, and self-reliance!" He barked loudly, but after pausing for a moment, he realized that rule applies only for sahuagin, and besides, it is foolish not to prepare the young human for a great fight. "But not stupidity..." He conceded, his voice low with resignation. "The priestesses shall heal you before you fight, surface human. But rest you shall not get. We dislike magic here, human, and you shall have no time to study them," he said.

"But I know no spells. I am not a spell caster," Ralis said, but he couldn't help wondering if the sahuagin hate magic, how is it that he and his companions are given the ability to hear everything the sahuagin say in Common.

The truth is, only priestesses of Sekolah like Senityili are allowed to use magic. More specifically, clerical magic granted by Sekolah, and even cleric magic is regarded with fear and a necessary evil. Ixilthetocal perked up in amusement after hearing what Ralis said.

"Oh. Either way, healing should be more than sufficient," he said.

Also Ralis did not forget about their weapons and belongings. And most importantly, Yoshimo's heart.

"What about our weapons? Will we have them back?" Ralis asked on behalf of his companions.

"Oh, you'll get them back. But first, let me explain the rules. Since you are the leader, you will be the only one to fight my surface slave. No one else shall assist you."

Ralis felt his heart sink low.

"What? I can't bring at least one partner to aid me in battle?" Ralis asked.

Ixilthetocal shook his head in denial.

"This is a one-on-one fight. Besides, you have too many surface dwellers in your party, human. More than one combatant against one slave is hardly fair," he admonished Ralis.

"Okay, fair enough," Ralis conceded with a shrug.

"So, then! Do you agree, my tasty human... or... hee hee! ... do you refuse?"

The answer is a no-brainer.

"I agree," Ralis said without hesitating for three seconds.

Ixilthetocal clapped his webbed hands together in excitement.

"Excellent! Excellent! Sport for us all! Guards, take the human away, and let us see what it can do against our freakish surface slave! The rest of the surface dwellers will watch the battle commence with us!" Ixilthetocal declared.

Two sahuagin guards approached Ralis from both sides, but they did not restrain him in any way, they knew that he and his companions blatantly refused to be collared. They just requested him to follow their lead. They led Ralis out of the throne room and captain Feerlattiys, the other remaining sahuagin warriors, Ixilthetocal, Senityili, Baron Thelokassyil and Tlyysixxous and Ralis' companions followed not too close behind. The sahuagin escorting Ralis led him to the east wing of the palace, where they led him to a room where all the weapons the sahuagin warriors use are kept in storage. All of their weapons were mostly spears and tridents, much to Ralis' disappointment, because he has no experience in using a spear or trident. He asked his sahuagin escorts where are they keeping the weapons he had, and one of them said that all surface dweller belongings are held in the room where they keep everything they found in the sunken ship that was once Desharik's galleon. They also told Ralis that he cannot enter the room without Captain Feerlattyis permission. Ralis, seeing that he has no choice in the matter, selected a trident as his weapon of choice, then the sahuagin escorted him out of the weapon room.


Many minutes later, in a small stadium a few blocks west from Ixilthetocal's palace, the fight that the king arranged is soon about to take place. Ralis' companions, Ixilthetocal, Senityili, Baron Thelokassyil and Tlyysixxous seated themselves as close as possible to the fighting pit, which is surrounded by steel walls and the floor is made of stone with elaborate patterns drawn into it. A minute later, Ralis emerged from one of the gates, holding his trident and looking rather confused. From his point of view, it seemed strange that the only audience in the stadium is the king, his baron and the two priestesses, along with his companions who weren't allowed to assist him in the battle. Ralis slowly inhaled and exhaled, trying not to wonder what manner of creature does the king want him to fight, and how strong it may be. Soon, up ahead of him on the other end of the stadium's fighting pit, the barred gates opened slowly, and the creature he had been assigned to fight emerged. A giant wearing a loincloth made of more than a dozen wolf pelts emerged from the open gates. An ettin. The ettin had two weapons with it, a javelin in its right hand, and a morningstar in its left hand.

Surprised, Ralis turned around and looked up at the sahuagin king.

"An ettin? You want me to fight an ettin by myself?" Ralis asked in mild outrage.

"What is the matter, my little tasty human? You said that you might be chosen by Sekolah to save this city, did you not? Go, and prove yourself right! The lives of your surface dweller friends depend on it!" Ixilthetocal said.

Baron Thelokassyil and Tlyysixxous grinned and shook their heads, believing that Ralis is going to die trying to prove his worth.

Ralis huffed in disdain, then turned to face the ettin standing 60 yards away from him and slowly approached the two-headed humanoid beast.

The two heads of the ettin fixed their eyes on Ralis and bared their rotten, yellow teeth, the left head had less teeth in his mouth than the right head. Then the left head looked up at the sahuagin king watching them with three other sahuagin and 20 unknown creatures close to them.

"We no want fight!" The ettin's left head exclaimed in the goblin language. "We want home!" The right head exclaimed in the orc language.

Ralis had no idea what the ettin heads were shouting up to the king, but he knew the ettin is displeased and angry. The two heads glanced at Ralis again, then back up at the sahuagin king.

"We smash fish!" The two heads said together, this time both in the goblin tongue. Then they turned their attention on Ralis, this time with the intention of attacking him.

"We smash YOU!" The two heads snarled, then they prepared to throw the javelin at Ralis.

Ralis stopped moving towards the ettin, now being only 45 yards away, and he started to side step left and right, hoping to find an opportunity to fake out the ettin when it throws the javelin. The ettin did not immediately throw the javelin, but it tried, hoping to find the right moment to do so while Ralis is trying to find a way to dodge the throw. Ralis had no idea when the ettin will throw the javelin at him, but he had to keep moving in either direction otherwise he'd be an easy target.

Two minutes passed and the ettin grew more and more impatient in trying to find a weak spot in Ralis' movements.

"No moving! Stop!" The right head exclaimed in rage and threw the javelin the moment Ralis sidestepped to the right.

Ralis felt the javelin whoosh by where he stood a second ago and the javelin's sharp end struck the stone surface creating a small yet noticeable dent close to the white chalk line, then pinwheeled in the air, and clattered on the ground.

The left head looked at the right head in shocked outrage.

"You big idiot!" It exclaimed.

"No, you big idiot!" The right head shouted back. "I want home!"

Ralis saw this as an opportunity to charge towards the ettin and stab at them while they are busy arguing.

"We get home smashing fish, idiot! Don't be idiot!" The left head exclaimed.

"I not idiot! YOU are idiot!" The right head shot back.

"Say it again, I dare you!"

The moment Ralis got close enough to them to smell their rancid body odor, the two heads immediately stopped arguing, faced Ralis with a vengeful glare, and their left hand raised up the morningstar, preparing to swing it down!

"Damn...!" Ralis cursed then narrowly jumped out of the way in time for the morningstar to only create a dent in the stone floor where Ralis once stood.

Ralis realized at that moment the ettin heads were only arguing with each other to lead him to believe that their guard had been lowered. While watching Ralis dodge the swings form the morningstar, Baron Thelokassyil shook his head in disappointment.

"He is only delaying the inevitable. He has no chance against that thing," he said.

Senetyili silently prayed for Sekolah to offer Ralis strength, because if the ettin kills him, all her efforts to save the City-of-Caverns will be ruined.

Ralis' companions also watched the scene unfold with worry. They watched as Ralis tried a few times to stab the ettin, but couldn't find the opportunity to do so because their swings with the morningstar are very aggressive.

"Why didn't they give him his swords back?" Aerie asked.

She looked at Mazzy and she shook her head looking visibly worried.

"Maybe they wanted to test his prowess with a weapon he isn't good at using," Althir said, his arms crossed.

Neera frowned and looked over at Althir. "Well, that's not fair! Why would the sahuagin king put him at a disadvantage?"

"It's likely because the king is hoping he doesn't win," Dorn said.

Everyone looked at him in confusion, but Dorn was unfazed by all the eyes focusing on him, he just sat there nonchalantly.

"What makes you think that?" Hexxat asked the half-orc.

Dorn scowled at her. "It is a gut feeling I've learned to listen to over the years," he replied.

Ralis felt exhausted and his arms and legs were aching with fatigue, trying to dodge the attacks of the ettin. He had to find a way to attack the ettin, and fast. After dodging an overhead swing, he decided that the next time the ettin tries to strike him down, he will dodge and make a beeline towards the ettin's legs and stab one of them, hopefully bringing the the ettin down to its knees and making it vulnerable to be attacked. With that plan firmly in mind, ralis waited for the ettin to try to attack him again.

The ettin did not attack him straight away, the two-headed giant paused for a moment to catch its breath, swinging its morningstar 30 times got it a little winded. After catching its breath, the ettin swung at Ralis again, vertically, hoping the blunt end of the weapon will crush Ralis like a grape, but Ralis nimbly dodged the blow, ignored the bits of pebbles the mornignstar kicked up after making a dent in the stone floor, and ran for the ettin's legs. The ettin didn't expect Ralis to make a move like this, so Ralis had plenty of time to close the gap between him and the ettin and then he stabbed at the ettin's left leg, drawing blood!

The ettin heads screamed in pain and dropped to one knee, giving Ralis another opportunity to attack. This time Ralis stabbed the bloodstained three prongs up into the ettin's belly, causing it to wail in pain, especially when Ralis pulled the trident out, drawing more blood and the ettin's blood stained parts of its loincloth. King Ixilthetocal and Senityili smiled in approval while Thelokassyil and Tlyysixxous abruptly stood up out of their seats in shock and outrage as if they were going to shout out an objection to the human gaining the upper hand, but they said nothing.

"Finally, he wounded the beast!" Anomen smiled andclapped his hands.

"Not bad, half-brother, not bad at all," Abdel smiled in approval, amazed that the little kid he grew up with in Candlekeep is successfully going toe to toe with an ettin.

"Give that two-headed giant a righteous butt kicking, Ralis! Go!" Minsc cheered.

Hexxat looked over at Viconia to see how she is reacting to Ralis finally gaining the upper hand against the ettin, and noticed that a faint smile played across her lips. Hexxat saw this as a clear sign that even though Viconia plans on leaving Ralis as soon as they get back to Amn, she still loves him, she just chooses not to act on her true feelings.

Ralis jumped back a few steps then prepared to throw the trident at one of the ettin's heads, even though he knew that the trident has less balance than a spear, then he threw it at the ettin's left head... and missed! The trident flew over the left head, barely touching its hair!

"No!" Ralis cursed.

Then as if on cue, the ettin, despite its injuries, recovered somewhat to reach out and grab Ralis!

"No!" Anomen, Aerie, Mazzy, Viconia, Rasaad, Valygar, Neera, Abdel, Jaheira, Nalia and Senityili exclaimed in unison while Thelokassyil and Tlyysixxous started laughing together, but Ixilthetocal just casually sat in his seat, watching the fight intently.

Ralis struggled with the tight grip of the ettin's sour hand wrapped around his torso, but the ettin's grip is so strong, it felt almost like being in the tightening embrace of an anaconda. Ralis though that the ettin would squeeze him to death, but instead, the ettin threw ralis as if he were a little stone, and Ralis hit the stone floor and rolled a few feet away from the ettin. Ralis' entire body ached all over, and he could hardly get up. He was unsure if any of his bones have been broken, all he knew is pain tormented his body so much that he wanted to lie down and wait for the pain to fade away.

I can't rest. Not here, not now, I must win this fight...! Ralis mentally encouraged himself, but his body wanted to give out for a moment regardless of the encouraging he gave himself.

The ettin walked towards Ralis, both heads having a triumphant grin on their faces despite the pain that wracked their own body.

Senityili didn't know what to say or do. Is this the end?

Ralis struggled not to give in to despair, but as if on cue, a voice echoed in his mind.

It is that time again, child of Bhaal. Use the power that sleeps within you...

No... No...! I won't use The Slayer again! No! Ralis retorted in his thoughts.

He knew he had no other choice, being stubborn and stupid will only get him killed.

All right. One more time... I call forth The Slayer...!

With that silent command, Ralis transformed into The Slayer in less than five seconds. As The Slayer stood on its legs as if it were never injured, and faced the ettin and roared. The ettin steeped back a few steps, confused at what the little human just turned into.

"What...?!" The left head gasped.

"What be this...?!" The right head stammered in confusion.

Ixilthetocal, Senityili, Baron Thelokassyil and Tlyysixxous jumped out of their seats, standing up in confusion and awe.

"What... What just happened?!" Tlyysixxous glanced at Thelokassyil for answers, but all he did was shake his head.

"Can humans do that? Can they change forms?!" He glanced at the king for answers.

The king, however, was more amused than bewildered, though.

"Hmmm... Interesting..." He smirked.

Before the ettin could react, The Slayer snarled and charged toward it!

"No! Stay back!" The ettin's left head exclaimed.

The Slayer leaped up into the air and with its sharp claws bared and ready to strike, it started slashing up the ettin's chest in a frenzy, spraying blood in all directions. The ettin tried to shake The slayer off with the little strength it had left, but it died as soon as The Slayer ripped up the ettin's rib cage, lungs and heart, collapsing on its back. Even with the ettin dead, The Slayer continued to tear into the giant's chest for the next eight seconds, then the Slayer jumped off the giant, and as soon as it landed on the ground, the slayer transformed back into Ralis, who is exhausted and bloodstained. Ralis looked back at the ettin's dead body, then looked up at dumbfounded, awestruck Ixilthetocal, Senityili, Baron Thelokassyil and Tlyysixxous, and said five words to them:

"Have I proven myself now?"