Aradurk turns to Hox, a puzzled look on his face. "I do not follow. The nature of honor insists that I give them every chance to better strategize and thus, possibly avoid the fate we observed. What does their death gain us?"

Killian stands to the side while Aradurk argues with Hox. For no apparent reason, she rests her hand on the hilt of her sword, checking that it is loose in its scabbard. She does not try to hide this, but is not ostentatious about it, either. 

Hox is oblivious to the mention of honor, "So we not need stick then? If they dead, we keep stick. If they not dead, they keep stick. Hox not know if we need stick cause man we hunt has more sticks than us. Did not short man say we may need stick? " He is trying his best to remind the others of what Wes said of the staff.

Tanakir shakes his head, "If we forestall their doom in the swamp, we may lose the staff. There is a chance that they may survive to this day and deliver it to us the moment we step foot on the island, but there is no guarantee that it will simply find its way to the gullet of a more deadly monster. We cannot risk the world for their tribe."

Ooc: rolled an intelligence roll for whether Aradurk would get what Tanakir presented...

Aradurk looks sadly at his mates. “I get what you’re saying but it pains me to see these people heading into their deaths.”

Two of the centaurs toss ropes over to Maverick and get to work tying their end down. The older centaur speaks in very archaic, broken Common. "We thank...you good...nice trust."

"Tanakir is right," Wes comments, flipping madly to different sections of one of his books. "Mordenkainen doesn't speak to any people that he saw in these islands. I don't know what the ramifications of this discussion may be. If we allow them to travel to the island unwarned, then it is likely that when the past version of ourselves reach the island that things will transpire in a similar manner. If we warn them of the dangers, do they find a different island? Do they defeat the monster themselves, knowing in advance what to prepare for? Or, by doing this do we open a similar flow of time that a different version of ourselves will experience, but not actually the past versions of ourselves, and we find no repercussions ourselves? Oh, my head hurts. This is incredible!"

"We are all heading to our deaths, Aradurk, one way or another," Killian says quietly so the newcomers do not hear as they are throwing ropes and the like. "Perhaps," Killian notes to Wes, "Our meeting is what gives them their task, and did they not meet with us they would go on blissfully to some other destination."

Most of this is clearly over Gruun's head. "They will have fought their hardest but the beast was stronger. Do not worry their minds about their fate, we all meet it one day."

Hox goes to work on the ropes, attaching them to the Maverick. And when he finishes he goes to the group once more, "So Hox not tell them?" He asks.

Tanakir shakes his head, "Do not tell them, Hox. We will honor the dead by protecting the living. For now, if they are the ones from the past, staying close to them hopefully ensures that we will survive this night, at least."

Hox nods and flies up to the other ship, "Yth re ulnaus lae ir jaka."

Translation:

The lizardfolk centaurs relay their gratitude to Hox, and once the two ships are moored together upon the endless view of these dark waters, they invite him on board to share stories of travels and adventures in their native language. Whether or not he accepts, the night passes peacefully, with the chatter of other beings providing an audio backdrop for the first time since arriving at the Islands of Insanity.

The following morning, Maverick sets off in the opposite direction of the night's companions, rowers carrying it briskly toward a new island that is soon sighted on the horizon.

Similar to the previous island, a faint tinkling musical sound echoes upon the waves, the island, shrouded in mist, comes into view. This island seems larger, with a massive stone column jutting skyward from its center and disappearing into the clouds. The clouds soon part, providing fair weather and blue waters. As Maverick draws closer, there appear to be ruined, giant stone steps on a beach landing ahead, though these seem larger and more intact than the stone steps of the previous island.

OOC: Characters have gained the benefits of a long rest. Killian and Tanakir can prepare some new spells for the day if they would like.

(OOC > I just checked, but Killian's spell load out will remain the same. Thanks for the reminder.)

Aradurk wakes, does his morning calisthenics, and washes his face. He joins the group at looking at the scene coming into view. "Paradise again?"

After the boat has run aground on the beach, Killian will surface from below, arming herself and ready to go. She looks at the steps, and evaluates whether the horses will be able to make it, or if they should stay on the boat with Wes.

As Maverick lands and comes to rest, Killian examines the steps from afar. They appear to be sturdy enough for the weight of horses, as they are in better repair than the steps of the previous island.

Nearly thirty odd looking natives approach to greet you as the boat is pulled to shore. They appear mechanical in nature, two-legged with a single eyeball in the center of their spherical heads. They are unarmed and cheerful as one steps forward and says, "Great! One is finally here. I am Bolt."

Aradurk steps out and looks at the new forms, surveying the environment around. He remains a tad cautious, cocking his head to the side. "What exactly are you?"

OOC > Man, we need Wes! :)

Killian begins the process of getting the horses ready as Aradurk meets the natives.

"I am Bolt!" the creature answers Aradurk simply. "I live here. We live here. We teach cooperation to ones who come to seek a piece of the Crystal Staff."

Hox gives a peace offering of the nuts and screws from the previous island. "These shinies look like your shinies. Are they?"