The Stone of Integrity

The sound of laughter reached the ears of the travelers, but it was not the happy sort of laughter one hears when creatures are having fun. This laughter was menacing and filled with evil. All around the little fishing boat, Adaro were rising out of the water, flinging flying fish toward the vessel…and laughing!

Carling held up her arms to shield herself and looked over the side of the boat. When she saw the Adaro lifting halfway out of the water, she gasped and pulled back. Her entire body began to shake uncontrollably. The Adaro were, indeed, monsters. Their heads were shaped like human heads but they were as thin as skeletons. A single fin sprouted in the center of each Adaro’s forehead and stretched back over the top of the head until it reached the back of the neck. Their shoulders and chests were clothed in shells and seaweed. Their muscular arms were covered with slimy scales. As they laughed, their pointed tongues waggled between sharp teeth. Their large round eyes glowed with a white light.

Tibbals looked over the side as well and screamed at the sight. She screamed again as a fish became entangled in her long hair. Tandum twisted around until he was on his hooves. He struggled to remain standing as he continued swinging his sword over his head, chopping at the fish. Higson stood as well. Carling and Tibbals ducked their heads to keep away from the swinging swords.

The boat began spinning around. “I can’t control it,” shouted Kelfy. “I can’t control it! Hold on!”