The Spring's Bounty reaches Little Rephidim West, a paquebot (refueling/resupply station) in the Stygian Sea. There, she meets Arkold, a rough-sounding Jupani adventurer, and his "mercat" sidekick, Raneah. At the "Blowhole Tavern," Raneah (sitting in a pool) drinks most of their beer, while Arkold brags on his adventures, and Tulani makes mention of a map she found on a sky island. Since Arkold has experience in such things (and Tulani needs help getting someone to carry a very drunk Iggy back to the ship), Tulani leads Arkold back to the Spring's Bounty, and shows him the odd map she got. As midnight draws close, though, the map grows warm, and strange lines appear on it. Strangest of all, however … is when the map starts to talk.