Adventure Summaries Sessions 25 to 34

The adventurers arrive at Alabanda mid-morning, and start making their way to the mansion of Magister Piroska, as Magister Federigo has instructed Luxian to go there in his dreams. Jack is recognised by Manuel, an acrobat who was a member of Jack's performance troupe when he was last in Alabanda a little over year ago. Manuel guides the adventurers through the city to Magister Piroska's mansion, and encourages Jack to meet up with him that evening and catch up over drinks.

The adventurers meet Magister Piroska and Luxian's fellow apprentice, Imilia Fuscone, who was escorted to Alabanda by Zeno's uncle, Phocas of Elea. Fierce takes a liking to Magister Piroska, who is heavily pregnant but doesn't seem to have a husband or partner living at her residence. Imilia has a letter with the seal of the Kingdom of Elmet, and enchanted wax tablets for Luxian from Magister Federigo. There is a matching set of wax tablets at Kaxos with Federigo, and each can see on the right-hand tablet what the other writes on the left-hand tablet. Imilia tells Luxian that Federigo intends to prepare Luxian for the exams he will sit when the journey has finished to become a journeyman of the Tirynian Circle. Imilia asks Luxian if he has anything for her to take back to Federigo, and Luxian hands her the candles made by Edarad Prinn.

Hermione, Luxian and Theresa stay at Magister Piroska's mansion while Amaryllos, Jack and Zeno go to the markets, as Jack has been convinced to sell his musket and Zeno wishes to repair his chain mail so he can stop wearing the magic chain mail that has reduced his height by a foot and is transforming him into a dwarf. They plan to then continue to the Company of Elea so Zeno can catch up with his uncle Phocas. At the markets, Amaryllos spots Stavros, a fellow Prilisteenean monk who he hasn't seen since leaving the Monastery of Priene three years ago. Stavros is startled and flees, pursued by Amaryllos, who catches up to him in an alleyway. Stavros is pleased to see Amaryllos again, as he didn't expect to ever see him again when Amaryllos didn't return as promptly as Stavros and the other fundamentalists had hoped. Stavros explains that the traditionalists who lead the Sacred Administration have been cracking down on the fundamentalists ever since Amaryllos left, and several fundamentalists have slipped out with the help of Doorman Aliki to continue the search for the truth.

Zeno helps Jack sell his unused musket, bullets and gunpowder for three-quarters of the price he paid in Cerradyn, and Zeno holds onto the money for safekeeping, as Theresa requested. Shortly after finishing the sale, and before Zeno can put his armour in for repair, Jack and Zeno hear people shouting and searching for Jack. Jack hides in a barrel to avoid the servants of Olybrius Bardanes, who wants to geld Jack like he gelds his horses in revenge for how Jack ruined his daughter's engagement party by announcing his undying love for her and pushing over her fiance, Sabbatius Bringas. Olybrius is accompanied by both Sabbatius and his household knight, Andronikos of Elea. Zeno tries to negotiate with Andronikos on Jack's behalf, and while Andronikos is pleased to meet his cousin for the first time since they were children, he isn't concerned about Jack's punishment. Instead, Andronikos encourages Zeno to use his holy powers to quench the bleeding after Jack is castrated and ensure he survives the experience.

Meanwhile, a burly Hudristanian man picks up Jack's barrel and carries it over next to an alleyway. After putting it down, the man quietly tells Jack he can escape by following his friend in the alleyway, then leaves. Jack spies a person, hidden under a cloak and hood, in a doorway in the alleyway. The hooded figure beckons Jack over, and he goes with him through several buildings to an apartment where a Hudristanian woman lets them in. Jack thanks the hooded figure for their help, and discovers it is Roberta Mazzarro, who ran away from her family's country estate to find Jack. Roberta went to Kaxos, as she knew Jack was being employed by Magister Federigo, and travelled from there to Alabanda with Imilia and Phocas of Elea. Roberta ran away again from the Company of Elea when she overheard Phocas talking with Olybrius Bardanes about Jack's imminent arrival at Alabanda, and set out to rescue Jack from Olybrius with the help of two Hudristanian pilgrims, Besart and Agnesa. Roberta still wants to marry Jack, and knows a monk who she met through Besart and Agnesa who will visit that afternoon.

Olybrius and his servants are frustrated in their search for Jack, who is nowhere to be found in the marketplace, and depart to continue their hunt elsewhere. Amaryllos returns with Stavros and introduces him to Zeno. Zeno goes to the Company of Elea in the hope that Jack has made his way there, while Amaryllos goes with Stavros to share information with each other about what they have learned in their travels outside the confines of the Monastery. Manuel joins Amaryllos and Stavros while they are on their way to Stavros' accommodation, and seems concerned when Amaryllos tells him that Jack is missing and being hunted by Olybrius Bardanes. Manuel tells Amaryllos to send him word at the tavern he and Jack planned to meet at that evening, and parkours away to search for his friend.

Phocas is concerned by Zeno's diminished stature, and is reassured when Zeno explains the cause. Phocas asks Zeno for help in locating Roberta Mazzarro, who has gone missing while in the care of the Company of Elea and may have been kidnapped by enemies of her family. Zeno asks Phocas if Roberta had any distinctive possessions, and Phocas gives him a detailed description of her mother's wedding ring, which Roberta was wearing on a chain around her neck. Maximos of Elea, his great-uncle and Phocas' father, arrives on horseback. As he leaves, Zeno sees Phocas and Maximos talking while they watch him go.

Roberta sends Besart to Magister Piroska's mansion to let Jack's travelling companions know where they are and guide them back to the apartment. Before they leave, Theresa sends a messenger with a note for Zeno to the Company of Elea to give him the address.

Meanwhile, Zeno calls on the power of the True God to guide him through the city to Roberta's mother's wedding ring. As he gets close to the apartment building, Zeno finds himself walking beside a monk, who introduces himself as Gorgos. Zeno and Gorgos arrive shortly after Hermione, Luxian and Theresa. The other adventurers convince Jack to tell Roberta the truth, and Jack reveals to Roberta, Gorgos, Besart and Agnesa that he is suffering under a curse. Roberta is deeply sympathetic to Jack's plight, and completely understands that they can't get married until Jack is free of the curse and can fall in love with her again. Before he leaves, Gorgos encourages Roberta and Jack to go to the Basilica tomorrow with Besart and Agnesa and seek the Pontiff's blessing.

The adventurers talk with Roberta about why she is in Alabanda. Roberta explains why she doesn't trust Phocas, which Zeno finds puzzling as he's sure there's a good reason for what Phocas is doing. Luxian opens the letter from the King of Elmet, which explains that in response to the allegations of kinslaying against him, Baron Darien has pledged to go on Crusade. Baron Darien has also pledged to refurbish the church at Ereworn where his brother and his brother's family are buried. Zeno gives Theresa the money from the sale of Jack's musket.

Hermione pauses in peering out the window to let everyone know that there's people milling suspiciously outside the building. Zeno identifies them as some of Olybrius Bardane's servants, who have somehow figured out which building Jack is hiding in. Theresa and Zeno go outside to talk with the servants while Roberta and Jack slip away through the sewers.

The servants direct Theresa and Zeno to their master, and two of the servants escort them down the road to where Olybrius is supervising the search for Jack, accompanied by Andronikos of Elea, Sabbatius Bringas, and his daughter Theophano, whose anger towards Jack is even stronger than her father's. Zeno explains to Theophano that he wants to talk with her in private, so Andronikos takes Sabbatius, Theophano, Theresa and Zeno in a carriage to the Company of Elea. Theresa shares the secret of Jack's curse, which delights Theophano, as it's much worse than what she and her father had planned for Jack.

Meanwhile, Amaryllos and Stavros have talked for so long that they are hungry, and go to join the others for dinner at the tavern with Manuel. However, apart from Manuel the only people there are Philomena and her bodyguard Ector. Philomena's arcane arts make Amaryllos believe she is his friend, and they sit together to talk while they eat. Philomena questions Amaryllos about Theresa and why she dislikes her so much, but Amaryllos hasn't paid enough attention to give cogent answers, and instead suggests that Theresa may be jealous of Philomena's curves. Philomena makes both Amaryllos and Stavros forget that she and Ector were there, and leaves them to eat with Manuel. When they're done, Amaryllos and Stavros leave Manuel at the tavern and go their separate ways, planning to meet up again tomorrow for breakfast.

With the threat to Jack assuaged, Theresa and Zeno return to Magister Piroska's mansion. Theresa: "Didn't that go well? I mean, I'm sure he won't be happy to be gossiped about, but it's better than being gelded. I thought we would have to agree to have him tarred and feathered and whipped through the streets ..."

Luxian and Hermione also make their way to the mansion after Luxian disguises himself with magic as a Hudristanian labourer and leaves the apartment building with Hermione. Jack and Roberta sneak out of the sewers back go to the mansion through the back streets, where they are briefly joined by Manuel, who has gone looking for them after dining with Amaryllos and Stavros. Manuel gives Jack a bottle of expensive wine that he bought for their reunion, and leaves him to sneak back to his lodgings with his "newfound lover" for the night. Amaryllos is the last to arrive back at Magister Piroska's house.

Roberta is reunited with Imilia, who grumbles at her for running away and hiding from Phocas of Elea. Magister Piroska comes to check on what's happening, and Jack falls in love with her at first sight, which she finds intriguing. Roberta stoically endures the pain of watching Jack be infatuated with another woman. Theresa distracts Jack by using a spell to suggest to him that he should spend the night studying tomes of arcane lore in the Magister's library so he can impress her in the morning with his new-found knowledge, and Jack stays up all night reading the books Theresa and Luxian find on the shelves for him. Theresa also has Jack give her the expensive wine so he can't use it as a gift.

At breakfast, Imilia asks Luxian if he checked the wax tablets last night. Luxian checks them immediately and finds an irate message from Magister Federigo. Luxian writes an apology, and Federigo reminds him to be ready to study that evening.

The adventurers persuade Jack to take a break from waiting on Magister Piroska hand and foot and go to the Basilica with Roberta as he agreed to the day before. Amaryllos decides that it's more important to keep an eye on Jack than to keep his breakfast meeting with Stavros, and goes with Theresa, Zeno, Roberta and Jack to the Basilica. They meet up with Roberta's friends Besart and Agnesa, and are guided to one of the front pews that are set aside for pilgrims who have travelled far to celebrate Jubilee. Theophano and her friends sit in a nearby pew, and talk quietly with each other while watching Jack and his companions.

Pontiff Gorgos, who they thought was just a monk, arrives to celebrate mass. Afterwards, the Pontiff makes his way along the pews to talk with the pilgrims, including the adventurers and Roberta. Pontiff Gorgos encourages Jack to treat his upcoming journey to Selentium as a pilgrimage, and seek repentance with a contrite heart in the hope that his curse will be lifted. Theresa has the Pontiff bless a cross she bought for the occasion. After Gorgos has moved along, a couple with a baby approach Jack, as they're also cursed and on a pilgrimage to Selentium with the hope of redemption and salvation. Hubert and Joan ask if they and their baby Eleanor can travel to Selentium with them, and the adventurers agree to meet them on the outskirts of Alabanda in one hour to begin the next leg of their journey.

The adventurers return to Magister Piroska's mansion and prepare to leave, except for Jack. Luxian asks Magister Piroska if she could tell Jack to go with them, but she refuses, telling Luxian that it's his problem to solve. Luxian uses magic to disguise himself as Piroska, then tells Jack that she's going to accompany the others on their journey. Jack agrees with alacrity to accompany her. Theresa tells Roberta that they're leaving, and she accompanies the adventurers without hesitation. Zeno packs both suits of chain mail on Paketos, as his mundane armour is still damaged and he no longer wants to wear the magic armour.

The adventurers (less Luxian, not that Jack notices), "Magister Piroska", and Roberta walk through the city to meet the other pilgrims. Phocas of Elea observes them from some distance on horseback but doesn't approach. Zeno happily waves at his uncle, who grudgingly returns the gesture. The adventurers meet up with the pilgrims as planned, and the enlarged group starts their journey to Selentium. Roberta is not used to walking for long distances, and rides Paketos in the afternoon to keep pace with the others.

Luxian sustains his magical disguise until the evening, when Jack falls out of love with Magister Piroska. Jack is distraught to learn that he was tricked, and that the woman he loved didn't want him to stay with her. Theresa tells Jack that he owes her and Luxian the expensive wine as compensation for all the spells they've had to cast to keep him safe. In his misery, Jack willingly agrees to her demand.

After dinner, Theresa and Luxian go outside and share Jack's expensive wine before Luxian goes to his room to study with Federigo using the wax tablets. Amaryllos uses his druidic magic to repair Zeno's mundane chain mail so he can wear it tomorrow. That night, Theresa starts sharing a room with Roberta, rather than sharing with Luxian (and Hermione) as she usually does.

The adventurers, Roberta, Hubert, Joan and Eleanor have an early breakfast, then head out to make their way through the crowds to the Basilica of Saint Miltiades, the church where pilgrims who are afflicted with curses register their petitions for the Pontiff's consideration. At Roberta's suggestion, Jack wears a blindfold so he won't be distracted by falling in love with a stranger. It takes until mid-morning to arrive at the Basilica, where they are directed to a cloistered courtyard to make their petitions.

There is already a woman waiting at the courtyard, restrained by a man holding a chain attached to a collar around her neck. When she sees Luxian, the woman starts babbling in an unfamiliar language, and frantically points at Luxian with one hand while holding up the other hand to show all five digits. Enide's guardian, Sir Heret, apologises for her behaviour, and explains that she has been cursed with prophetic visions and can only speak in a strange language that nobody recognises. Enide can still write, but cannot use the Classic script, and only draws strange pictures. Sir Heret shows the adventures an example of Enide's writing, which they recognise as Qemor hieroglyphs.

Zeno, Theresa and Luxian are discussing looking for a dictionary at the Pontifical Library when the group is joined by a friar, Brother Vavouli, who has come to receive their petitions. Brother Vavouli and Amaryllos recognise each other, as Vavouli is also from the Monastery of Priene. Father Therapon comes to take over receiving the petitions so Vavouli can take a short break and continue his reunion with Amaryllos in the cloisters. Roberta and Jack stay with Hubert, Joan and Eleanor while the others accompany Amaryllos and Vavouli to the cloisters, where Vavouli explains he has converted to the True Faith. Vavouli is pleased that Amaryllos is learning about the True Faith from Zeno, and when Amaryllos talks about going back to the Monastery of Priene, encourages him to share the True Faith with them. When asked, Vavouli also doesn't know what the "Great Secret" is, and is dismissive about its importance when compared to the True Faith.

Brother Vavouli takes the adventurers back to the courtyard at the end of his break. Father Therapon has accepted all three petitions for the Pontiff's consideration after tomorrow's mass, though he seems less sympathetic towards Jack than the others. The adventurers get directions from Sir Heret to the hostel where he and Enide are staying so they can visit them if they succeed in finding a dictionary for Qemor hieroglyphs. Roberta and Jack leave for their lodgings with Hubert, Joan and Eleanor, while the others make their way to the Pontifical Library.

When they eventually arrive at the Pontifical Library, the adventurers discover that it is a private library, and they need a letter of introduction from a reputable university to be allowed to view the collection. Fortunately, the adventurers spot Yara, who they know can read Qemor hieroglyphs, leaving the Library escorted by a burly, unarmed man. Yara is pleasantly surprised to meet them again, and agrees to talk with Enide after she and her companion Ganymede deliver their report to Taliriana on what Marcus has learned in his research so far that day. Yara explains that Taliriana couldn't go with them to the Pontifical Library because she's an elf and can't walk on holy ground.

The adventurers accompany Yara and Ganymede to a luxurious private home on one of the hills within the outer walls, where Taliriana is cleaning her gun. Ganymede collects a large two-handed sword from another room while Yara does introductions. Theresa is very polite and formal when talking with Taliriana, who is more interested in her gun and Yara's news than the newcomers. Taliriana finishes cleaning her gun, then takes out a small toy cannon from a box, enlarges it with magic, and starts cleaning it as well.

Yara asks the adventurers to wait outside the room so they can update Taliriana in private, and they notice the room is unnaturally quiet and they cannot hear anything through the door while they're waiting outside. When they're allowed back in, Taliriana is loading the cannon. The adventurers comment on the secrecy, and are told by Yara and Ganymede that the situation is dangerous and it's safer if they don't know more about what's going on. Taliriana chirps happily, "It's dragons!" before using magic to shrink the loaded cannon, then put it back in the box. Ganymede assures Yara it should be safe enough for them to go talk with Enide, so long as they get back before dark.

Meanwhile, at the hostel, Jack (still blindfolded) and Roberta are sitting outside, watching the bustle of the street, when they are joined by Philomena and Ector. Philomena's arcane arts make Jack and Roberta believe she is their friend, and they answer her questions about Theresa and why she dislikes her so much. Jack reports that Theresa described Philomena as a slaver for the elves. When Philomena asks why Theresa would think such a thing, Jack describes Theresa as well informed about elves, and Roberta adds that Theresa was raised by them. Upset and crying, Philomena makes both Jack and Roberta forget that she and Ector were there, and leaves them as they were.

The adventurers set out for Sir Heret's hostel, accompanied by Yara and Ganymede, now carrying the two-handed sword and scanning the afternoon sky. It is mid-afternoon when they arrive at the hostel. Sir Heret is surprised and pleased that they have found an elf who talks Qemor that very day, even though it seems like remarkably coincidental good fortune. Yara talks with Enide in Qemor, translating for the others when she can. Yara relays that the "haunter of dreams" can tell them more about "the five", and that "the old gods" walk the land once more and have come to claim "the baby". Zeno: "The baby!"

The adventurers hastily depart for their hostel, leaving Yara and Ganymede with Sir Heret and Enide, and rush across the city as quickly as they can through the ever-present crowds of pilgrims. It is twilight when they reach the hostel at last and find Jack (still blindfolded) and Roberta still sitting outside. Inside, Hubert is carrying a platter, laden with dinner for himself and Joan, back to his room. Inside, they find Joan unconscious on the floor, Eleanor missing, and the window forced inwards. Hermione finds a clump of badger fur in the broken window frame.

Zeno revives Joan with his healing touch, and she wakes up in a panic that three men with animal heads broke in, took Eleanor from her arms, and struck her down. None of the animal-men match the description of any of the Kaikuhuran Gods: one had a badger's head, explaining the fur Hermione found, while the others had the heads of a stag and a boar.

Zeno prays for assistance in finding Eleanor, and is guided by divine insight towards the nearby tunnels. Zeno collects his shield and spear while the others quickly don their armour, then leads the way into the tunnels. Eleanor disappears from Zeno's senses, and the adventurers hustle forward until they find two animal-men, a stag and a badger, picking up polished sticks arranged in a pattern on the floor in front of an archway filled by a solid black shadow. The adventurers attack the animal-men before they can remove more of the sticks, and quickly fell the badger-man. Theresa goes ahead through the archway, which transports her through the World of Spirits to a dank, earthy tunnel. The others follow, leaving the stag-man with Amaryllos. Stag-man: "You serve the prey." Amaryllos: "The world will not end the way you want it to." Amaryllos uses his staff to kill the both animal-men, including the unconscious badger-man, before following the others through the archway.

Zeno is first through the archway after Theresa, who turns invisible and goes ahead after telling Zeno, "You won't see me, but I'll be with you. Like God!" Theresa is immediately struck down for her hubris, as she falls through a trap-door hidden on the ground under the moss and twigs and lands heavily at the foot of a flight of stairs. Theresa plaintively and loudly apologises to the True God for her presumption and arrogance, and calls on the others to come and join her before something comes along the corridor and kills her. The others tie a rope to one of the pillars in the room, then climb down to join Theresa.

While Zeno soothes Theresa's bruises with his healing touch, they hear wolves snuffling about in the room above. The adventurers take the stairs back up to the room, where they battle a pack of fey wolves. Hermione's arrow strikes the final blow, and the wolves decompose into a grey-green miasmal vapour, leaving behind a glittering green jewel on a silver chain wrapped around Hermione's arrow. Hermione picks up the arrow and takes it over to Luxian to store the jewel and chain in the sack he regularly uses for arcane objects. On the way, she passes the pool, and sees her reflection in the water appear to walk over and slam the bronze doors on the far side of the room closed. The doors are still open, however, and as Zeno sensed that Eleanor was beyond the door, the adventurers prepare to pass through them.

Beyond the doors, the adventurers find a pair of chests on either side of the corridor, filled with various purses, pouches, and loose coins. The corridor leads to a small vestibule, with a newel stairway leading down and another corridor continuing on the far side. Ignoring the stairs, the adventurers continue on, quickly disposing of a giant spider that lairs above the archway off the vestibule. The next room contains the desiccated bodies of half a dozen stag-headed beastmen in alcoves on either side that come to life when they enter, and the adventurers quickly dash through the closing doors ahead of them so they aren't trapped in the room with the revenants. Continuing on, they are attacked at an intersection by a tumbling, rolling column of damp soil, twigs and leaves. After destroying the plant elemental, the adventurers press ahead, ignoring the side corridors.

The main corridor begins to slope downwards, becoming a steep decline covered with moss and twigs. While climbing down the slope, using the many stout roots as handholds, a monster bursts out among the adventurers from within the bank. The monster has the body of a slug and a manlike head with a mouth of fangs and a slug's probing horns in place of eyes. The adventurers quickly kill the Man-Slug, which calls out "Father!" when Jack skewers it with his rapier. At the foot of the slope is a large circular chamber, lit by late afternoon light from a crevice in the ceiling above a large grey sarcophagus in the centre of the chamber. A large boar-man, armed with an axe and wearing full plate, climbs out of the sarcophagus to confront the adventurers.

Garambar the Boar-King demands that the adventurers leave: he has kidnapped baby Eleanor so she is in his power before the True God ends his curse on her family tomorrow, and plans to rear her until the day before her first birthday, when she will be the final victim of his curse. Garambar: "My brother's death demands vengeance! Seventeen deaths are not sufficient!" Theresa turns invisible, and Garambar battles the other adventurers while she sneaks into the sarcophagus, where Garambar's shadow is rocking Eleanor in a makeshift crib. Garambar summons fey animals to fight beside him by blowing on his horn, and the loud noise alerts the beast-folk elsewhere in his underground halls. Theresa snatches Eleanor from under the nose of Garambar's shadow, slips back through the World of Spirits to the others, and starts to flee with Eleanor.

Zeno holds Garambar back with the reliquary of Saint Merel as the adventurers all retreat. Theresa's fey presence frightens the fey stag at the top of the slope, and it charges away down the corridor, crashing through the doors of the room with the mummified revenants. The adventurers go back the way they came, pursued by Garambar's beast-folk servants, and ignore the revenants and the unlooted chests in their headlong rush. The adventurers go through the solid black shadow back to the tunnels at Selentium, where they scatter the polished sticks on the ground as soon as Zeno steps through.

The adventurers leave the tunnels and go back to the street, where the locals have taken up a hue and cry to look for the kidnappers of the missing baby. Hubert and Joan are overjoyed at Eleanor's safe return, and the adventurers share the location of the two dead beast-folk in the tunnels so their remains can be handled appropriately.

The adventurers go with Hubert, Joan and Eleanor to the Pontiff's basilica to attend mass and have the Pontiff respond to their petitions. Jack (wearing a blindfold) and Roberta go with Hubert, Joan and Eleanor to the petitioners' pew, where they are joined by Sir Heret and Enide. Enide calls out to Luxian and gestures at him, pointing with one hand while holding up the other with all five fingers spread wide. Enide gets more frantic as the mass progresses, and her petition is heard first by the Pontiff.

Pontiff Paola's blessing frees Enide from both her curse and the collar around her neck, which breaks and falls off at the same time Enide stops shouting to Luxian in Qemor. Enide is grateful and relieved to be able to speak to other people again, and willingly goes to a side chapel with Sir Heret and a deacon while the Pontiff prepares for the next petitioners. Hubert, Joan and Eleanor are next, and the Pontiff frees their family from Garambar's curse. They also go to the side chapel with a deacon, leaving Jack as the last petitioner before the Pontiff.

Before she blesses Jack, Pontiff Paola declares that if he is truly repentant for his past sins and has changed his ways, the True God will free him from his curse. After giving her blessing the Pontiff has Jack remove his blindfold, and Jack falls in love with her at first sight. Jack starts trying to organise a lunch date with the Pontiff for after mass, and is escorted to the side chapel by four burly deacons, including Brother Vavouli, so the Pontiff can finish the mass without interruptions.

After mass, the rest of the adventurers go to the side chapel and join the others. Enide doesn't remember anything of what she knew when she was cursed, but remembers that she knew something she thought was very important for Luxian to know. Sir Heret invites the adventurers to accompany him and Enide to their lodgings for a celebratory meal, and Jack is persuaded to go along because the Pontiff is busy right now but may join them later. Before they leave, Brother Vavouli once again encourages Amaryllos to preach to the other monks about the True Faith when he visits the Monastery. Amaryllos: "I’ll tell them everything I know."

During the meal, Amaryllos asks Sir Heret questions about what other Kattar are like, as he has travelled to the southern kingdoms of the Peninsula of Minj. Hubert and Joan say their farewells and prepare to begin the long journey back to Birland: Theresa gives them letters to deliver along their way. After lunch, the adventurers say their farewells and go to the Company of Elea to cash their last letter obligatory. While there, Roberta draws on her family's account with the Company of Elea for funds to cover her upcoming travel costs.

Late in the afternoon, the adventurers and Roberta arrive at the walled village of Portara, the closest settlement to the isolated pagan Monastery of Priene. They are allowed to enter by Isaias the gatekeeper, even though Amaryllos is with them. Inside, they go to call on the village headman, Gregoras Tagaris, who is hosting a visiting knight, Sir Makarios Doukas. Makarios has come to Portara with his squire, Selentos Gabras, and his groom, Arion, to attempt to defeat the Devil's Bull, an enormous bull that rampages around the nearby countryside at will and has killed or injured several other knights who have sought to win glory and renown by battling the beast. Theresa and Arion are delighted to meet again, as they haven't seen each other since he left the service of her master, but keep their shared history secret from Makarios and Selentos.

The adventurers split into small groups and lodge with different villagers, as Portara doesn't have an inn. Zeno stays at Gregoras' house with Makarios, Selentos and Arion, while Hermione and Luxian stay with Petros the cow herder, Jack and Amaryllos stay with Isaias the gatekeeper, and Theresa and Roberta stay with the married couple Gabriel and Maria. Theresa asks Maria about the Monastery, which the villagers consider a pagan den of iniquity, and learns about the shipwreck that washed Amaryllos onto the nearby beach when he was a toddler. Maria explains that the villagers decided to leave the strange child outside the door to the monastery, and that Gabriel was the brave youth who carried the basket up the stairs and knocked on the door before fleeing back to safety with the others.

Makarios and Selentos ride out to seek out the Devil's Bull while the adventurers and Roberta make their way on foot through the forest hills to the Monastery of Priene. The Monastery is built on the side of a mountain, looking out across the valley to the cliffs overlooking the coastline. The trail winds up the mountain, and as they walk the adventurers spot a youth, dressed in green and wearing a wreath of leaves around his head, running through the forest below. The trail eventually levels off, and in the final stage runs alongside a disused aqueduct to a steep flight of stairs with a decaying stone pavilion to one side.

Amaryllos leads the others up the stairs and knocks on the stone door, which is opened by Doorman Aliki. Aliki is delighted to see his adopted son again, as he did not expect they would meet again in this lifetime. Their reunion is shortlived, as Iviron, Primos of the Monastery, and several other monks arrive to see who has disturbed the Doorman. Iviron tells Amaryllos that they have a new tradition, which is that nobody who leaves the Monastery is allowed to return, and directs Aliki to close the door. Aliki sadly farewells Amaryllos and obediently closes the door.

The adventurers go down the stairs to the pavilion, where Hermione sees the tell-tale signs that someone slept there last night. Amaryllos transforms into a rat and sneaks into the Monastery through the disused aqueduct while the others wait outside and talk about the Devil's Bull as Theresa cooks lunch. Inside the Monastery, Amaryllos doesn't see anything obviously out of the ordinary, and visits his father so they can talk in private. While they talk, a young woman comes to the pavilion, drawn back to last night's resting-place by the smell of Theresa's cooking. Zoe is trying to rescue her cousin Nikolaos, who was bewitched by an Elf girl a week ago and ran off into the woods with her. Zoe has been searching for him ever since, equipped with an iron axe, salt, and a holy wafer that her village priest gave her to feed to Nikolaos and free him from the enchantment. The wafer has also been sustaining Zoe, as she has been eating it every night and waking to find it back in her pouch the next morning. When he finishes talking with Aliki, Amaryllos transforms into a black cat, and his father puts him outside the door the Monastery. Amaryllos returns to the others and is introduced to Zoe over lunch.

The adventurers set out to help Zoe find Nikolaos, and Hermione guides them through the woods. The tracks lead them to a cliffside meadow covered with lush red flowers, many of which have been grazed and eaten by some animal. The meadow is full of the tracks of a very large bull, as well as the older tracks of a herd of cows. The red flowers spread out from a caged grave, and while the lettering on the gravestone is too faded to read, Zeno can sense the holiness of the cage. They are joined by a man who introduces himself as Father Biordo Michelotti, a Peronnian mystic who has travelled across the Coradian Sea after receiving a vision from the True God. Biordo tells the adventurers about the man who is buried in the grave, Gerasimos Vouvali, a rapist, torturer and murderer who called himself "the Devil's Nephew" and was buried in unconsecrated ground after his execution.

The adventurers deduce that Petros must have brought his herd here occasionally to fatten them up on the red flowers, but the Devil's Bull got away from the herd and continued to eat the flowers, explaining its monstrous size. They set out with Zoe for the village, planning to confront Petros, but are distracted when they come across Nikolaos in the woods. Nikolaos is no longer enchanted, as his playmate left him to go off and play with her new friend, a knight in shining armour, but Zoe has him eat the holy wafer regardless. As they continue on to Portara, Selentos rides up to them. Selentos is concerned about Makarios, who abandoned his plan and his horse and went off into the forest while Selentos was far away trying to distract the Devil's Bull in readiness for Makarios to charge it with his lance. They all return to the village, where the village priest takes Nikolaos away to confess his sins while the others plan what to do next. Petros steadfastly refuses to answer questions about whether he has a missing bull from his herd.

The adventurers plan to track Makarios into the woods while Selentos and Arion recover his stray horse. Concerned that he would have to wear a blindfold or risk falling in love with the Elf girl, Jack and Roberta stay at Portara and ask the older villagers about the shipwreck that stranded Amaryllos at the Monastery.

Hermione guides the others through the countryside after Makarios. They find his armour and weapons, abandoned in a pile near the woods, and take it with them for safe-keeping. The sun sets while they make their way through the woods, and it is well after dark when they find Makarios, now dressed in a green robe wearing a wreath of leaves around his head, sitting in a clearing with a small pile of berries and nuts before him and regaling a small assembly of foxes, squirrels, and birds with stories of his adventures. Makarios is delighted to see Zeno and the others, and invites them to join the feast and sit at "the Lady's table in her great hall".

The adventurers and Makarios are joined a red-haired Elf girl, carrying a fox in her arms. The girl's name is Teumessa, and she is not pleased to find the adventurers trying to persuade her new playmate to leave. Hermione berates Teumessa, who forces Hermione to apologise to her and leave by dominating her will. Makarios grows concerned at Teumessa's behaviour, and breaks free of her illusions and enchantments. Zeno tries to hold Teumessa back with the reliquary of Saint Merel, and Teumessa angrily curses Zeno, telling him that his hair will fall out and his eyes will weep with pus. Makarios leaves with the adventurers while Teumessa stomps her foot and goes off to sulk. As they make their way back to Portara, they see torchlight ahead, and meet up with Selentos, who has come into the woods to find them while Arion takes the horses back to the village.

Everyone safely returns to Portara, and Makarios thanks them profusely for rescuing him from his fey captor. Zeno spends the night in the church praying with the village priest, while the others retire to their various lodgings to sleep. Petros does not talk with Hermione or Luxian, who ignore him in return.

When Zeno and the priest finish praying at dawn, the hair on Zeno's head has all fallen out, leaving him bald and beardless, but his eyes are only slightly itchy.

The adventurers and Roberta attend church, along with Makarios, Selentos and Arion. Makarios reminds Zeno that today is his opportunity to hunt the Devil's Bull, and offers to assist him in gratitude for last night's rescue. Zeno takes Makarios up on his offer, and the adventurers make their plans.

The adventurers, Roberta, Makarios and Selentos go to the edge of the woods, while Arion stays at the village with the horses. Amaryllos turns into a cow, and is guarded by Zeno, Makarios and Jack, while the others wait in the treeline with bows. A talking fox named Reginhard joins the adventurers in the treeline and asks after Zoe, as he had been helping her find Nikolaos but hasn't seen her for a day. Reginhard is pleased to hear the good news that both Zoe and Nikolaos are safe and sound in the village.

In time, the Devil's Bull comes to investigate, and Amaryllos surprises everyone by charging the Devil's Bull. After a fierce battle, Amaryllos (transformed back into his usual form) kills the Devil's Bull with a mighty blow between its eyes, and it drops to the ground. Word is sent back to the village, and Reginhard bids them farewell before the villagers return with horses and oxen to drag the carcass back to the village for butchering.

Father Biordo arrives at the village while the Devil's Bull is being dismembered and cooked for a great feast that evening. While the villagers work, the adventurers and Roberta return to the pavilion outside the Monastery of Priene so Amaryllos can infiltrate the Monastery for a final time before they continue on their way the next day.

Amaryllos once again turns into a rat and sneaks into the Monastery through the disused aqueduct while the others wait outside. Amaryllos notices his father Aliki leaving his post for another part of the Monastery, and covertly follows him. Aliki visits Theron, who is dying of old age, and they talk about seeing each other again tomorrow when Theron returns from the river. Aliki returns to his post with tears in his eyes, while Amaryllos looks for ways into the areas of the Monastery that were always forbidden to him and the other junior monks. He is attacked near the kitchens by one of the cats, and transforms back into his usual form before it can eat him.

Amaryllos quickly turns into a black cat, and makes his way onto the roof to hide and think about what to do next. He watches as Theron's body, hidden under a sheet, is carried from his room to the sanctuary on a wheeled cart in preparation for his journey to the river that night. Amaryllos overhears senior monks talking about collecting supplies from the storerooms for the memorial feast, and turns into a tabby cat like the one that attacked him earlier to follow them into the kitchens. The senior monks go through the kitchens and into the storerooms, where they lock the outer wooden door after the cat slips in, then unlock the stone door that leads to the deeper cellars. However, the door actually opens into a shallow stone cupboard that contains two horns hanging from hooks on the wall. The monks speak in Old Emphidian while holding the horns over empty barrels and supplies pour out, including the special mushrooms that are always the signature dish at memorial feasts.

Reminded of the mushrooms by seeing them, Amaryllos suddenly realises from his post-Monastery training as a herbalist that the mushroom's properties include clouding the mind and making people forgetful and complacent. Reflecting on past memorial feasts, it dawns on Amaryllos for the first time that the day after each memorial feast, a young and healthy monk with similar features and the same name as the dead monk would be introduced to the community as their newest member.

The monks lock away the two horns, unlock the outer door, and call for the monks in the kitchen to collect the barrels. While the door is open, Amaryllos takes the opportunity to slip through, making his way out of the Monastery and back to the others. Amaryllos shares the news of his resurgent memories about how the Monastery doesn't lose members to old age, and Theresa is excited to learn of the magic horns that can apparently create any food or drink that can be named in Old Emphidian.

The adventurers and Roberta plan to return and investigate further when they have completed their quest, and go back to Poltara for the evening feast. Makarios makes plans to leave with them the next morning, and travel with them as far as his fief, the village of Urla in eastern Emphidor. Father Biordio talks with Jack about his intentions for the future, and Jack is evasive and non-committal, as usual.

As the travellers draw closer to the village of Urla, they come across the site of a battle that took place the day before. The dead are being stripped of their arms and armour by soldiers, while villagers dig a mass grave for the decapitated corpses under the supervision of the victors. One of the knights, Sir Cosimo, recognises Makarios, and they talk. Cosimo gives Makarios the news that his lord and his lord's sons were killed in the battle, and Alexios Dekanos is now the undisputed baron and waiting for Makarios to come to the nearby castle of Sellasos and swear fealty to him or forfeit his fief. Cosimo shares that Ardalion of Elea was captured and ransomed by Dorotheos of Elea during the battle.

The group is joined by another knight, Sir Anna, who is the daughter of the new baron. Jack falls in love with Anna at first sight, and introduces Zeno and the other adventurers to both knights, except for Roberta, who has to introduce herself. Roberta explains to Anna that Jack is under a curse, and Anna is suitably cautious towards Jack. Cosimo and Anna both behave suspiciously towards Theresa, as they have been told by the baron's new advisor to expect her arrival. Anna leads the adventurers to the castle while Cosimo stays to supervise the burial of the dead by the priest so they will not rise as revenants.

At the castle, the adventurers first meet Dorotheos and Ardalion of Elea, who ask Zeno what has happened to make him shorter and bald. Griffo, the new baron's jester, delights Theresa by capering on request. Lorenza of Noratu insists that they leave their spears and bows behind before going into the great hall to see the new baron, who is accompanied by his new advisor, Philomena. Baron Alexios is pleased to meet Theresa, as Philomena has recently told him that Theresa is their daughter, taken from her by the Elves when Theresa was newly born. Theresa is cautiously pleased to meet Alexios, as she never knew who her father was, and to discover that she has younger half-brothers as well as her half-sister Anna.

The adventurers stay for the celebratory feast, while Makarios considers whether to swear fealty to the new baron. Anna takes Theresa and Anna to the family's private rooms to bathe and change into finer clothes, while the others are taken to various guest rooms to make their own preparations. The feast is going well when a towering armoured man with a green cloak enters the hall carrying a large axe. The man's face is concealed by a closed helm decorated with horns. He points at Baron Alexios and loudly declares that he is not and never will be the rightful ruler of this land.

The stranger calls himself the King of the Aurochs, and tells Baron Alexios that he gave the founder of the Vouvalopoulos family (the "children of the Auroch") permission to build their castle and rule Selassos after they "came into my hall and dared much to give me rare entertainment". He challenges Baron Alexios to send "a party of worthies to my hall, to be my guests for an evening" if he wishes to convince him to let the Dekanos family take their place, then disappears in a swirl of mist.

Baron Alexios is furious, and calls on his knights and assembled guests to step forward and take up the challenge. Anna volunteers to take up the challenge, while Theresa also agrees after checking with the others. Zeno quivers with excitement and calls on Dorotheos to go with them, which he does after Cosimo and Lorenza start making disparaging comments about his bravery and daring. Makarios apologises to Zeno, as he has still not decided whether to swear fealty to Alexios as his new lord, and thus cannot go with them.

Theresa talks with Arion, then tells the others that the King of the Aurochs is an Elf lord named Adralestor, prompting Anna to wear a cross around her neck and over her armour. Philomena tries to talk with Theresa before they leave, but is disturbed by Theresa's elf-like behaviour in offering Philomena three questions, even though they're free. Hermione: "She wants an immediate emotional connection because of your blood relationship." Theresa tells Philomena "I enjoy cooking, my favourite colours are black and green, and I hate lutes."

The adventurers, Anna and Dorotheos leave the castle and go to a nearby mound. A great pair of bronze doors are open in the side of the mound, illuminated by a half-circle of braziers on short marble pillars. The stairs inside the doors lead down to a room with the walls covered by hundreds of shields. The room contains a knight who calls himself the Knight of Shields, and requires the adventurers to hand over their shields to place on his walls or face him in combat. Dorotheos insists on taking up the challenge and defeats the Knight of Shields, killing him with the final blow. When they strip off the Knight's full plate, they find the wizened body of an incredibly old and shrivelled man inside.

The adventurers leave the room and take steps down to a slightly curved corridor that takes them counter-clockwise into the mound. Moths flutter on the walls and mist rises around their ankles and up to their knees as they advance. The adventurers come across a small herd of black fey pigs, and Hermione soothes the boar that blocks their way while the others flee. The boar runs ahead after the other pigs while the adventurers continue on until they find a side room where they can smell cooking meat. Inside the room is a Selentine centurion turning a ox on a spit and muttering to himself in High Bacchile that "It just needs to cook". The open fire seems to have no effect on the ox, which is barely singed.

Jack takes over from the centurion to impress Anna with his courage, only to discover that he can't let go of the spit and feels compelled to turn it constantly. After the others pull Jack free, the centurion returns to this task, as "It just needs to cook". The adventurers decide to try and help cook the ox, but discover that touching it compels Theresa and Zeno help turn the spit. Luxian damages the spit with a chromatic orb, only to feel compelled to also help turn the spit. Anna breaks the damaged spit with her sword, making the ox fall into the fire and breaking the enchantment on the others. The centurion is enraged, shouting "It just needed to cook!" and attacking with his gladius until he is subdued.

Grund carries the centurion when the adventurers leave the kitchen and continue to follow the slightly curved corridor. Down another flight of stairs they find a group of sobbing peasant girls who claim they came into the mound with their beaus, who decided to seek adventure and are now missing. Theresa's suspicions are confirmed when the girls try to weaken Zeno and Dorotheos with their touch, then disappear into crimson mist while laughing unkindly at the adventurers. Further along the corridor, they recover a small drinking horn from a stone plinth under a web of gossamer-like chains, then avoid falling into a pit in the centre of the corridor that is hidden by the mist over the floor.

The passage opens into a circular space centred around a plain stone font filled with a heavy, crimson liquid that smells like blood, from which a granite spout shaped like a furious ox's head trickles a steady stream into the basin before it. The adventurers stop to rest and revive the centurion before continuing further into the mound.

The adventurers find that the centurion is calm and no longer compelled to tend to the spit, though he continues to fret that "it just needed to cook". His name is Quintus Rufius Clodianus, and his contubernium was tasked with exploring the mound centuries ago, in the fifth year of the reign of the pagan emperor Traianus. The King of the Aurochs told Quintus he could leave once the ox was cooked, and he had been tending it ever since.

Quintus accompanies the adventurers as they continue along the corridor into the mound. The corridor ends at a door, beyond which a room filled with stones is guarded by another knight. The Knight of Cairns announces that they cannot pass without defeating him in combat or granting his boon, which is to carry one of his stones when they leave. Jack insists on battling the Knight to impress Anna, starting with his usually swashbuckling, dashing style until he realises she is disappointed by his "cowardly" fighting style, then stays toe-to-toe and trade blows with the Knight. While Jack is unable to overcome the Knight and is forced to yield, Anna seems to respect him more for his display of courage.

Zeno takes up the Knight's challenge next and quickly overpowers him. The Knight collapses when he is killed, and his full plate is full of sand when Zeno strips off his full plate. The adventurers continue through the chamber, leaving the cairn of stones undisturbed. Beyond the next door, they have the option of turning left and going further into the mound, or opening the huge door before them that is barred on their side by a massive oak beam. The adventurers open the barred door and take enormous steps, each five feet high, down to another barred door. Beyond the door is a chamber with a huge treasure mound, guarded by a massive black dog.

Rather than disturb the treasure mound and its guard dog, the adventurers retreat back the way they came, barring the doors behind them as they go. The corridor into the mound quickly ends in a t-junction with another slightly curved corridor. They follow a black cat to the left, down a steep flight of steps to a circular chamber with a well that echoes with the sounds of the sea. Theresa is lowered into the well on a rope, and finds that the bottom of the well is damp, rocky stone. The sound of the ocean is deafening, and seems to be coming from a dull lead box in a small nook to one side of the shaft.

Theresa opens the box and is drenched by salt water, which pours out in tremendous quantities. Luxian asks Grund to climb down and help Theresa close the box. Grund loses his grip and falls down the well, then helps Theresa close the box. Theresa is thrilled with their new acquisition: "I almost drowned!"

The adventurers pull Theresa, then Grund, up out of the well, then take the steps back up to the corridor and continue counter-clockwise around the mound. They find a series of green curtains across the corridor, each concealing a disturbing scene. They pass a bear feeding on a dead Selentine soldier, duck beneath a hawk that flies at Zeno's face, battle a frenzied centaur who is killed by Amaryllos, and find a lantern that sets their shadows against them until it is extinguished.

The final curtain opens into a room where a man dressed in green wearing a mask in the shape of a laughing face juggles crystal balls while three Selentine soldiers watch, entranced. The juggler calls himself the Knight of Mirth, and promises to amuse the adventurers. Unhappy that Anna is distracted by the juggling Knight, Jack reclaims her attention by demonstrating his own juggling prowess with his dagger, money pouch, and a torch. Shocked by the loss of his audience, the Knight of Mirth shatters into pieces. The watching soldiers remain entranced, and collapse into dust and bones when touched.

The door from the room leads to another short corridor, which ends in another t-junction with a slightly curved corridor. Conscious that the way forward has consistently been counter-clockwise, the adventurers ignore the corridor to the left and turn right. They also ignore a side corridor that leads outwards, away from the centre of the mound, and continue along the slightly curved corridor.

The corridor ends in a door frame made of green jasper, leading to a hall of green jasper in which the mutilated bodies of knights are held up by chains. The knights have grievous wounds that should have slain them, but are somehow still alive. They raise their weapons and demand that the adventurers slay them. Zeno places the reliquary of Saint Merel on the closest knight, who is calmed by its holy presence and no longer feels pain why wearing it. While Zeno prays with Sir Cearne, Theresa sends the other knights briefly to sleep, and the adventurers disarm them before they wake up.

Sir Cearne's injuries are too great to be healed, even by the reliquary, and his chains cannot be broken by force. Sir Cearne explains that the King of the Aurochs keeps them here, in a room where nobody can die, so that they are trapped in unending torment. Sir Cearne gives up his sword and is brave enough to return the reliquary when Zeno asks for it, but is quickly overwhelmed by the pain of his mortal wounds and rejoins the other knights in clamouring for the adventurers to kill them.

The adventurers debate what to do about the situation. Theresa wants to dismember the knights in the hope that they will die once all of their body parts are removed from the room, while Zeno wants to force the King of the Aurochs to free the knights from their living deaths. Unable to reach agreement, the adventurers vote by placing a shilling or a penny in a bag. Zeno's position wins by 6 votes to 4, prompting concern over the additional vote until Amaryllos admits that he placed both of his coins in the bag as he couldn't decide which option was the better one. Theresa once again compels the knights to sleep, and the adventurers make their way through the room and continue on before they wake.

The adventurers take a large chest that they find in a side alcove, this one containing an unending flock of birds that continually fly out until they force the lid closed. Zeno almost falls in an oubliette, hidden by the mist over the floor, and a woman calls out from the oubliette for rescue. The adventurers lower a rope and pulls a red-haired woman out of the oubliette. She introduces herself as Fiametta, and explains that she was sent to Emphidor by her father to be fostered with a family friend, but was for some reason handed over to strangers at the postern gate late one night towards the end of last year. The strangers brought her here, and the King of the Aurochs had her thrown in an oubliette for reasons unknown to her.

Dorotheos takes it on himself to guard Fiametta as they continue along the slightly curved corridor, which ends in a door with an empty iron birdcage hanging overhead. The room inside is filled with birdcages, each holding a starling. The starlings speak in different voices on behalf of the Knight of Silence, who demands their voices if they wish to pass without besting him in battle. Amaryllos battles the Knight, who collapses into a pile of horse dung, rusted iron, and old feathers when killed.

The adventurers leave the silent starlings behind and continue on through another short corridor to another t-junction, where they again proceed counter-clockwise. A wave of blood washes over them from behind, leaving them drenched even as the wave subsides into nothingness. The corridor ends with a shadowy door that leads into a completely dark room. Inside, the Knight of Shadows asks them to give up their light or face him in battle. Theresa volunteers to battle the Knight, who chivalrously blindfolds himself so that it will be a fair fight, not realising Theresa's new eyes let her see through the magical darkness in the room. Theresa's magic easily defeats the Knight, who sinks into the stone floor as if he had never been.

The door leads through another short corridor to another t-junction, where the adventurers are attacked by a ferocious bull, which they quickly overcome. They go counter-clockwise around the corridor, and find a pair of extremely hot bronze doors on the inner wall opposite where they entered. The room inside is ablaze with flames, which the adventurers quench with salt water from the casket of the sea. The bronze doors at the other end of the room open into a circular chamber, decorated with tapestries and brightly lit by a great fire blazing on a heath in the middle of the room, where the King of the Aurochs is waiting for them beside a huge block of jasper that has words engraved on it.

The King of the Aurochs congratulates the adventurers for travelling through his hall and providing him with great entertainment. He asks them for their names so he can add them to his commemorative stone, where he keeps a list of the heroes who have played his games and won fairly and honourably. Theresa immediately speaks up before anyone else can do so, and tells the King they aren't noteworthy enough to be named for posterity, and did what they did on behalf of the Dekanos family. The King agrees that the Dekanos family can rule the land around his mound, on the condition that their father grant the land to one of his two daughters who came to his hall tonight. Theresa immediately encourages Anna to ask their father for the castle, as she knows Anna hopes to be granted a fief.

Zeno starts to confront the King about the maimed knights, and the King waves him off, telling Anna that she is welcome to visit him again on Mid-Winter's Eve if she wishes to petition him for such things. The smoke from the fire billows out, obscuring everything in the room.

When the smoke clears, the adventurers are out on a cold hilltop just the first rays of the sun strike out across the sky. In addition to Anna and Dorotheos, both Fiametta and Quintus Rufius Clodianus are still with them.

The adventurers return to the castle of Sellasos, and arrive in time for breakfast. Baron Alexios is delighted at their success, and willingly agrees to grant Anna the castle as part of her fief during the celebratory feast they will have that evening. He awards Dorotheos the Knight of Shield's plate armour, and Zeno the Knight of Cairns' plate armour. Baron Alexios gifts the drinking cup of the King of the Aurochs to Anna, but leaves the Casket of the Sea, the Lantern of Shadows, and the Chest of Birds with the adventurers to give to Master Federigo in thanks for his servants' assistance.

As the day passes, Jack falls out of love with Anna, leaving him dejected and dispirited. Makarios tells the adventurers that he will relinquish his fief and go on crusade, and the Baron has generously granted him a month and a day to collect his property from Urla and leave.

In the evening, Anna swears fealty to her father as his newest vassal, receiving as her fief the castle of Sellasos and several nearby villages, including Urla.