Stepping into the carved maw, the group entered a small circular chamber with rough-hewn rock walls adorned with intricate carvings. About three-quarters of the floor was covered by an inscribed stone circle divided in half, surrounded by a five-foot dirt floor littered with broken stone seats, fractured urns, and several damaged statues. An ornate stone door set in the far wall appeared to be the only exit. Sooty, black smoke rose from the etched stone circle, accompanied by palpable waves of heat. The group carefully avoided the circle, investigating it from a distance. They deciphered the glyphs on the wall as prayers common to elemental worship, primarily dedicated to the forces of air and fire. These prayers described harmonious natural scenes where these elements were prominent, such as the sky or a volcano. 

The stone floor opened beneath them, releasing a wave of blistering heat as they tumbled 30 feet into the chamber below. They landed in a nearly circular hall dominated by a bubbling pool of magma, which illuminated the entire chamber from below, casting an ominous glow. Irregular columns of obsidian jutted out of the floor, and a thick layer of fine ash coated the area. As they landed, the ash was thrown into the air, quickly filling the hall with a choking cloud that obscured everything beyond a few feet.

The magma pool occasionally erupted in bubbles, sending hot magma splashing dangerously close to those nearby. Shank, making his way forward, was greeted by a hulking salt golem. The creature's bludgeoning appendages made him weak, but Shank quickly recognized the threat and, with a fierce determination, went all out on the elemental creature, ultimately dropping it.

Meanwhile, Khthag heard a voice in his head pleading to be freed, promising vital information in return. Morhen called upon the winds to clear the area of smoke, revealing a soot-covered defiler and five cinder zombies. Khthag psionically blessed some of the group, and after a short but brutal battle, all their enemies were defeated. The chamber fell silent, save for the occasional pop and sizzle of the magma pool.

Seeking assistance from House Tomblador, the adventurers encounter Farrazer, a grizzled and irritable old man overseeing damaged ships. Despite the chaos around him, Farrazer is focused on repairing his fleet, which was recently attacked by giants. Uninterested in the adventurers' tales, he begrudgingly accepts their offer to help with the repairs and promptly puts them to work. In exchange for their assistance, he provides them with access to better equipment, cautioning them to return it intact or face consequences from the praetorian. 

Following Federoth's instructions, they discreetly drop a ceramic piece in a cracked urn near the docks to contact Kinteros in Balic. Waiting by the open-air exchange, they are surprised by a soft female voice behind them, revealing knowledge of Federoth's disappearance outside Altaruk. Despite initial reluctance, they convince Kinteros to assist, securing additional equipment for 1000 GP. 

After being directed to the tavern, they find Captain Davn enjoying a drink with Two-Bit Grisk. Upon introduction, she greets them warmly, amused by their arrival. Impressed by their association with Graddoth, she quickly warms up to them, appreciating their boldness. They negotiate for the help of her crew for 1000 GP, which she agrees to. With a final gulp of her drink, Captain Davn boasts about the prowess of her crew compared to Two-Bit Grisk's, emphasizing their superiority in sailing skills.