5

"We can really turn this savage place around," Alexius says, and Vecla nods.

"We are not here for 'this savage place,'" Control says.

"Sometimes you have to help other people to help yourself," Alexius shoots back. "Even for a greedy, no-good metropolitan like me, that's not such a bad thing."

Chief Kothis warns you to beware the fury of his treacherous daughter. Though he cannot risk sending his hunters with you, given the threat of attack on the village, he makes sure you're well provisioned with food and incidental supplies.

Tributaries of the nameless river spread south into a vast green expanse of jungle crossed with rivers and dotted with swamps so full of fast-rotting vegetable matter they're almost too hot to approach. You are well provisioned for this journey, which is fortunate, because in the trackless jungle you feel more at danger from starvation or unclean water than the jaws of the beasts that watch you each night. Though neither Therko nor Vecla are hunters, they pool their skills well enough to keep everyone alive while you focus on making needful repairs and watching for predators.

Despite the hostile and unfamiliar environment, you encounter nothing truly dangerous. You're even able to light fires each night, which Therko advises to keep the beasts away. One night, staring into the fire, the flames seem to gutter and turn silver-gray. You realize too late that you are dreaming, but also not dreaming. The False Icon has returned.

Next