With Artur dead, and the heroes seemingly trapped by the mad water elemental, the party fell to discussing their next course of action. Resources were low–the party had been exploring and fighting for hours–and so a long recuperative rest was called for. Luckily, the rest was uneventful and the party awoke the next day refreshed and ready for new challenges and adventures.

First, though, the party tried something new: diplomacy. Realising it was probably suicide to fight the elemental in its native environment the heroes nominated Colzo to go and talk to it–as he could give himself the ability to speak its language. Heroically, wearing a cap of water breathing just in case things went wrong, he descend the stone steps into the cave's placid water.

The elemental immediately noticed the adventurer and surged forward. Calling out that he was a friend, Colzo entreated the creature to talk. Amazingly, his desperate attempts at friendship bore limited fruit and the creature did not immediately attack. However, it quickly became evident the elemental was mad, and Colzo could make no headway in securing the party's escape. Disappointed, but unharmed, he returned to his friends.

It was then Luther and Colzo had an important realisation. The elemental had only attacked when the rowboats got close to the stone jetty. Quickly checking the fates of the other wrecks, they confirmed all the wrecks lay close to the jetty. Excited, they set about a plan.

Caiden quickly built a makeshift raft. Once it was complete, the party carried it along the rickety wooden walkway to the north. At the end of the dock, they dropped it into the water, and waited. The elemental did not attack. Dragging it slowly back toward the dock using cleverly attached ropes they attempted to ascertain when the lurking aquatic horror would attack.

Eventually, the powerful elemental surged forth and destroyed the raft. At this time, it was barely 25 feet from the stone dock. It seemed, the party had discovered a potential means of escape! They only had to carry their one remaining rowboat, and the large raft Caiden now fell to building, all the way along the dock to the cove's mouth.

While Caiden set to the task, the rest of the party explored the passages and chambers to the west. They found little of interest: a guardroom, complete with another victim of the intellect devourer, a store room with little of interest except four sturdy barrels Caiden claimed as buoyancy aids for the raft and a collapsed passageway that looked dangerously unstable.

Returning the main dock, the party headed east, and quick discovered what looked like a dormitory or common room. Blankets, personal possessions and the detritus of life covered the floor. At least one corpse lay among the ruin...