The Five Knots had already survived the Dwarven Airship level often enough to know where the first attack should appear.
That knowledge did not help when every creature in the attack was five levels stronger and carried an elite designation.
The option had appeared when Tessa selected the harder version of the challenge.
[Elite Ascension]
[All hostile creatures will be increased by five levels.]
[All hostile creatures will be upgraded to elite variants.]
[Rewards and achievement opportunities will increase accordingly.]
They had discussed the modifier before accepting it. The ordinary version no longer tested their best skills. They had won the Grand Race, purchased their own airship, and spent enough time flying over Corathen that returning to the standard challenge would have offered practice without much uncertainty.
The Sixth Knot remained in Corathen. Level Three supplied its own dwarven airship, its own crew, and whatever damage the challenge intended them to endure.
