9 quatloos, 13 internets, and 666 gps in favor of the identity of The Vessel being the balor that Vaarsuvius stoned and Elan turned into Therkla's headstone. Hilarity ensues when Elan has to explain what the scar on the balor's chest means while attempting to keep it and The Artifact from turning them into Stone-Ground Adventurer Pulp, (made with Soylent Green.)