[No big loss on their part — the monster’s corpse is already starting to smell by the time Stephen comes close enough to start setting up the device (only once he’s free from Yennefer’s assessment, of course), which has only become more pungent by the time Yennefer returns minutes later. The thaumametor’s already spinning diligently by then, and he wrinkles his nose as the sea breeze wafts the smell in his direction.

Yeah, not appealing at all. He’s happy to leave its meat on the shoreline.]

Oh, I’m sure if there are, we’ll know about it sooner rather than later. [That seems to be their luck; are they a monster magnet? Better not linger and find out.

Stephen double-checks the readings on the watch, which appear to be steady. He stands, but not without scooping up a wayward pearl that had landed close to him, still shining with slime, and tosses it idly at Thancred. The man’s got a collection going, after all.]

Thaumametor’s all set to go, so let’s not wait around and see. Do you think one of those pearls is worth a round of drinks or two back at Borrel? A nice, warm bed?