Adventure Summaries Sessions 101 to 113

The adventurers, their travelling companions and the other pilgrims resume their journey to Selentium. Zeno walks and exchanges stories about his travels with a pilgrim knight who has served many lords in many lands during his career. When the knight mentions that he served a pagan king among the Petkenaks, Zeno calls over Hermione and Wesley, who talks at length with the knight about their travels among the Petkenaks studying their kingstones. Sijam has less congenial conversations, arguing with a pilgrim physician about medical treatments and theories.

At dinner, Sijam shows a pilgrim abbess his letter, A Plea for the Wellbeing of All, and she encourages him to present his letter to the Pontiff at Selentium.

After breakfast, Luxian stays at the estate with Feodora to tutor her in High Bachhile, Spyridon goes to the Company of Elea to check that Phocas is still there while the others accompany Sir Melissenos to the Basilica of Saint Miltiades, the church where pilgrims who are afflicted with curses register their petitions for the Pontiff's consideration. When they arrive, Brother Vavouli is speaking in the cloister with a red-robed monk that Zeno recognises as Amaryllos' friend and co-religionist Stavros. Stavros withdraws further into the cloister garden at their approach, and Sijam pursues him when he runs up and flees over the garden wall. In his absence, the other adventurers introduce Sir Melissenos to Brother Vavouli, who brings Father Therapon to receive their petition on Melissenos' behalf. When asked, Brother Vavouli tells the adventurers that Stavros was asking for his help as Amaryllos and their other co-religionists who left the Monastery are missing.

Sijam searches for Stavros across the rooftops of Selentium and spies a woman in eastern clothing surveying the city from the roof of another basicila. Sijam has a shouted conversation with Meiling, who noticed Stavros leave the garden but didn't track him through the streets, as she was more interested in looking out over "the centre of the True Faith". Theresa dispatches Lanta to find Sijam, who invites Meiling to come and meet his friends, which she does. Meiling is pleased to meet fellow pilgrims, as she has travelled across Arda from Linshung Province in Khitai to learn more about the True Faith, which is currently being persecuted by the Emperor of Khitai at the order of the Celestial Emperor.

Meiling accompanies the adventurers to the Basilica of Saint Galwain, where Sijam and Theresa finish their short pilgrimage. Zeno accompanies Sijam and Martina accompanies Theresa to ritually bathe in the baths attached to the Basilica, while Hermione waits outside with Sir Melissenos and Meiling. Meiling asks Hermione about her draconic eye, and is deeply concerned when Hermione tells her about her association with Fierce, as the water-dragons are the secret police of the Celestial Emperor. The others return, clean and blessed, and invite Meiling to lunch.

Spyridon joins the others for lunch, as do Luxian and Feodora. During lunch, Sijam shows Meiling the drawing from My Journey to the West, and she identifies three of the six statues as the gods Nachigai, Vochang and Singuii-Matu. Spyridon advises Zeno and Martina that Phocas and Prokopios are both at the Company of Elea.

After lunch, Sijam escorts Sir Melissenos and Meiling back to the Doukainas estate while the other adventurers and Spyridon visit the Company of Elea and meet with Phocas, Prokopios and Zeno's nephew Orestis. Martina is surprisingly quiet throughout the meeting, given her previous plans to confront Phocas in person. Phocas comments on the situation in Duneld Across the Water, where Hermione's father is organising a military campaign to reclaim Old Duneld using funds borrowed from the Company of Elea, provoking Hermione into loses her self-control. Hermione criticises Phocas and the Company for profitting from the situation in her homeland, excuses herself and leaves, accompanied by Feodora. They wait down the street from the Company of Elea at a table outside a tavern for the others to finish their meeting.

When the adventurers leave the Company of Elea, Martina quietly shares that she felt unable to challenge Phocas as she had planned. The adventurers start to discuss whether this is because Prokopios found a relic called the Lamb and the Lion at Ibrahim and brought it to Phocas, then notice the suspicious man watching Hermione and Feodora. The suspicious man immediately leaves, pursued by Hermione and Feodora through alleyways and side streets. Hermione catches up to the man in a courtyard, waiting for her with half a dozen street toughs, summons Fierce and uses her arcane sorcery to ensnare them all in weeds and vines. They start to raise a hue and cry, and Hermione take the suspicious man's hat and leaves.

Hermione and Feodora rejoin the others, and Hermione gives Theresa the man's hat so she can search for him using her crystal ball that evening. Before they return to the Doukainas estate, Theresa lodges her petition to speak with the Pontiff and dispatches a messenger to let Medeia and Iphianassa know they are at Selentium. Back at the estate, Theresa uses her sorcery to search for the suspicious man, and observes him speaking with a hooded monk in a red robe.

That evening, the adventurers have dinner with Meiling and Rogelio the poet, who Theresa asks to investigate and learn more about the four adventurers who stole the page from My Journey to the West at the Pontifical Library. After dinner, Theresa, Luxian, Zeno and Martina discuss Theresa's quest, and Luxian asks Martina why she's so concerned about Theresa's master treating Theresa poorly. Theresa: "Oh, that's because he flayed her in her dreams." Martina: "How do you know that? Zeno!" Martina glares at Zeno and leaves, ignoring Zeno as he trails after her apologising.

While Luxian sleeps, he has a shared dream with Tikaru under Dormita's tutelage. In the dream they are both children on top of a very high mountain: Tikaru is concerned that he has been left behind and the cloud has departed without him. Luxian tries to talk with Tikaru, who recognises him as one of the others who were killed long ago. Tikaru accuses Luxian of haunting him, and hurls him away with great gusts of wind. Luxian startles awake when he falls from the mountain top in the dream, rousing Sijam from his sleep. Sijam asks Luxian what's bothering him, and is perturbed when Dormita speaks up from the corner and joins the conversation. Dormita only stays a short while before stepping back into the shadowy corner and fading from view.

The adventurers gather at breakfast to discuss their plans for the day. A messenger returns from the Abbey of Fossa Nuova with an invitation from Medeia for the adventurers to visit her and Iphianassa. Feodora is accompanying Meiling on her tour of the churches of Selentium, while the others plan to go to the University in the morning, then split up and go to the Pontifical Library and the Order of Saint Cornelius in the afternoon. Luxian reports to the group about his dream, and his suspicion that Tikaru is travelling with giants on a cloud castle somewhere over Arda. Luxian feels confident he could travel through the World of Spirits to the location in the Mountains Under Heaven he viewed in the dream.

Armand, Hermione, Luxian, Martina, Sijam, Spyridon, Theresa, Wesley and Zeno go to the University and call on Professor Alfonso Carrillo, who is teaching a class on anatomy by dissecting a cadaver when they arrive. Theresa: "The liver cooks well. It gets fatty if you eat too much grain or wine." Following the class, the Professor meets privately with the adventurers and asks Sijam about his learning experiences on their journeys. Sijam explains that several of his friends need letters of introduction for the Pontifical Library so they can research the pagan gods of the Khanates and Khitai, and the Professor provides letters of introduction for Luxian, Spyridon and Theresa. He also recommends that they ask at the Library for the assistance of Sister Denari, a librarian with encyclopedic knowledge of that subject. The Professor invites Sijam to return for dinner.

Zeno asks if there's someone with similar expertise in holy relics, and the Professor advises them to meet with Father Redgrave, who is visiting the University. The Professor commandeers a student to lead the adventurers across campus to Father Redgrave's accommodation. Father Redgrave is the father of Yara's friend Professor Redgrave, and well informed about the Holy Land, having been there when the Caliphate captured Ibrahim in 1396 AUC. Father Redgrave has seen the relic of the Lamb and the Lion, a famous icon that belonged for centuries to a monastery near Ibrahim that was stolen before the monastery was abandoned during the flight from the Caliphate's army. Zeno starts planning to recover the relic and deliver it to the Pontiff so that it can be returned to its rightful owner, whoever that may be.

The adventurers split into three groups for the afternoon. Armand and Hermione accompany Wesley to basilicas that contain Kaikuhuran statues that date back to the Selentine Empire so Wesley can see if any are made of the same material as the obelisks at Navyn and the Hermitage. Martina accompanies Zeno to the Order of Saint Cornelius to consult with the Master of their Order, Ursinos of Elea. Luxian, Sijam, Spyridon and Theresa go to the Pontifical Library to search for information about Ambardyr and the pagan gods from My Journey to the West with the assistance of Sister Denari.

Ursinos is pleased to see Zeno, praises him for being the embodiment of the purpose of the Order, and awards him the banner of a Knight-Bachelor. In return, Zeno gives Ursinos the 10 pounds gifted to him by Hermione in Old Duneld for the use of the Order. Zeno and Martina are introduced to the pages in training at the Order, including Zeno's nephew Orestis, and Zeno finds and gives the book of great deeds that he read when he was a page in training to Orestis.

After hours of researching at the Pontifical Library with Sister Denari, the adventurers have learned much more about Ambardyr, Land of the Snow Demons, including that

• Ambardyr is supernaturally cold, even colder than the lands south of the mountains of Mercania
• Some nomads visit Ambardyr for specific ritual purposes, but do not live there
• The arcane powers of Ambardyr are not part of the Heavenly Court of the Celestial Empire of the Jade Emperor of the West
• They may be connected to the ancient giants who were the enemies of the gods and the elves and driven away from the lands of the humans millenia ago

The adventurers tell Sister Denari about Meiling, and Theresa invites Sister Denari to dinner to meet her. Sister Denari is so delighted at the opportunity to meet someone from Khitai that she hugs Theresa in gratitude.

Sister Denari accompanies the adventurers from the Pontifical Library to the Doukainas estate, where everyone except Sijam is reunited for dinner. Feodora is fatigued after keeping up with Meiling while she visited every church in Selentium, even the closed and disused ones that were locked. Wesley is disappointed that the statues his group examined weren't what he was looking for, but perks up at Feodora's news that one of the locked churches had statues that may be worth examining. Wesley is keen to go straightaway, and has to be reminded that they are at dinner.

Rogelio the poet regales Theresa with the identities of two of the people she described to him at dinner last night. Rogelio has identified the man with the eyepatch as Sir Francis of Auvillar, a Peronnian rumoured to be a ruthless master spy for Vittoria Brunelleschi of the Council of Ten of Navyn. He has also identified the man with the sooty mark on the palm of his left hand as Brother Jerome, a Tralline monk from Dirkholme who is rumoured to now serve dark powers.

In repayment, Rogelio takes advantage of Zeno's willingness to talk about his adventures to learn more about their activities, drawing in Theresa as she makes sure that Zeno doesn't mention her arcane sorcery at any point in his stories, leaving awkward plot holes at times. Zeno (whispering to Theresa): "But you were critical to the story, how else can I describe what you did?" Theresa (whispering back): "I don't know - play up my archery?" Zeno looks doubtfully at Theresa's unmuscled arms, but bravely presses on and glosses over the details.

After dinner at the University, Sijam returns to the Doukainas Estate on his own. He notices two groups trailing him through the streets of Selentium: when one of the groups notices the other and pursues them instead of Sijam, he continues on his way and leaves the city unharmed.

Luxian tells the others before breakfast that Master Federigo has summoned him back to Kaxos, says his goodbyes, and departs through the World of Spirits. After breakfast, Feodora and Meiling take Hermione and Wesley to the locked church with the Kaikuhuran statues while Martina, Spyridon, Sijam, Theresa and Zeno go to the Abbey of Fossa Nuova and visit Medeia and Iphianassa.

Feodora and Meiling climb up to the rooftop, break into the locked church through the loose top storey window they found yesterday, and open a second storey window so Wesley can climb inside with Hermione's assistance. It's immediately obvious that the basilica is being used as a storehouse, and isn't a disused church. The adventurers make their way through the clutter to the Kaikuhuran statue, which is made of the same stone as the obelisks and has a flat black covered in Qemor hieroglyphs. Wesley performs an arcane ritual so he can touch the hieroglyphs to understand their meaning, but the statue animates when touched and attacks Wesley. Hermione and Meiling each take one of Wesley's arms and hustle him back to the window faster than the statue can pursue them. Meiling stays behind to hold off the statue when Hermione and Wesley clamber out the window and drop to the ground, meditating and praying as it approaches, but the statue loses interest and returns to its place. Meiling closes the second storey window and leaves through the top storey window to the rooftop where Feodora is waiting for her. They climb down to the street to Hermione and Wesley, then return to the Doukainas Esttate.

Iphianassa comes to meet the others after they arrive at the Abbey of Fossa Nuova and greets them hesitantly in accented Low Bacchile. Iphianassa take the adventurers to see Medeia, who speaks fluently and effortlessly as she has used her sorcery to prepare for their visit. Medeia and the adventurers talk and catch up while Iphianassa serves them. Medeia checks the veracity of the reports she has received about King Roland's coronation oath to marry within a year with Theresa, and congratulates Zeno when told he's just become a Knight-Bachelor. Medeia is regularly visited by people sent by the Pontiff to ask her about the curse on the village of Volikos, but hasn't yet someone saintly enough to lift Potaidaon's curse. The adventurers have lunch with Medeia, then return to the Doukainas Estate.

When they return, the others fill them in on what happened at the locked basilica. Wesley is still keen to translate the Qemor hieroglyphs on the statue's back, and Sijam agrees to copy the hieroglyphs by hand for him. Feodora, Theresa and Zeno accompany Sijam while Hermione stays at the Doukainas Estate to guard Wesley and Martina goes to the Company of Elea to look for the icon of the Lamb and the Lion. The locked basilica is guarded by the retainers of a local lord, and Theresa talks with them while Feodora and Sijam sneak in through the loose top storey window. The guards are present because locals reported someone climbing in and out of the building earlier that day, and their lord was asked to keep the building secure overnight before it is thoroughly searched tomorrow. They spot Zeno lurking in an alleyway, and willingly accept Theresa's breezy claim that he's a family retainer who's supposed to keep an eye on her and keep her out of trouble. Inside the basilica, Feodora keeps Sijam company as he sqeezes in behind the statue without touching it and copies the hieroglyphs.

Wesley is delighted when they return, and goes to his room with the copied hieroglyphs to repeat the arcane ritual and translate them. Martina returns from the Company of Elea and reports that while she was there she saw Philomena's bodyguard Ector standing with Prokopios outside Phocas' room, presumably because Philomena was inside meeting Phocas. Theresa isn't particularly interested in whatever her mother may be up to, and they don't investigate further.

Wesley happily reports back to the others that the message was part of the life story of the vizier of an ancient pharaoh, and hopes to learn more when they visit Opalar, potentially by exploring the vizier's tomb.

The adventurers accompany Theresa, Sijam and Meiling for their interviews with Pontiff Paola. Sijam gives the Pontiff a copy of his letter, A Plea for the Wellbeing of All, for her consideration. Theresa tells the Pontiff about her plan to be baptised after she finishes her final task for Ardreth, and the Pontiff encourages her to consider being baptised straightaway and to seek freedom in the True Faith. Meiling tells the Pontiff about the persecution of believers in Khitai, and she promises to send priests to minister to the faithful.

The adventurers accompany Sir Melissenos to the Pontiff's basilica to attend mass and have the Pontiff respond to his petition. Pontiff Paola's blessing ends Adralestor's curse, restoring Sir Melissenos' voice and allowing him to communicate clearly once more. Sir Melissenos is grateful to the adventurers for all their help, and plans to go on pilgrimage to Ibrahim in gratitude to the True God for hearing his prayers.

After spending the day in Selentium, the adventurers return to the Doukainas Estate and prepare to travel through the World of Spirits to the Principality of Moneghetti. Spyridon pointedly warns Zeno that the Prince of Moneghetti may take Theresa hostage if she goes there openly, and when Zeno raises the possibility with Theresa she immediately plans to travel in as "Mary the bard". The adventurers farewell Meiling, Spyridon and their servants, then retire to Hermione and Wesley's room. Armand stands guard outside in the corridor while Master Eddas has each of them cut themselves, smear some of their blood on their left hand, then place their hands on his skull.

Master Eddas travels through the World of Spirits with the adventurers and Wesley. During the brief journey, Master Eddas is a smouldering skeletal figure shackled in chains, and each of them is chained to him by a manacle around their left wrist. They appear in the gardens of the Castle of Moneghetti, surprising Timon of Elea while he waits to meet with someone. Timon: "Aunt Martina?!?" Martina distracts Timon by introducing him to his Uncle Zeno while Wesley gets Master Eddas back in his reliquary, and learns that he is now the local representative for the Company of Elea as his mother died at the beginning of Harvest-Month from the same pestilence that killed the Prince's wife.

Timon leaves to make arrangements for them to stay at the castle. While the adventurers are waiting for him to return, Lord Tasufin ibn Nuzha comes across them in the garden. Lord Tasufin politely talks with the adventurers, who learn that he is currently held prisoner while waiting to be ransomed by his mother, the Amira of Zumini.

Timon returns and escorts the adventurers to the great hall, where the Prince's daughter, Lady Isabella Murall, welcomes back Sijam and greets his companions Lord Wesley Orlamond, Lady Hermione Ristol, Sir Martina of Elea and Sir Zeno of Elea. Lady Isbella assumes Feodora and "Mary" are servants and nobody corrects her. The Great Hall is crowded with other guests, including Baron Grisaille from Birland, who is Timon's uncle, and the crusader Wulfstan, who they fought against in the tournament at Crescentium. Hermione is introduced to Sir Roderick of Pellard, who is recruiting crusaders on behalf of her father to assist in the liberation of Old Duneld from the Goblins of Krarth.

The royal anthem of Kevland plays to announce the entrance of "the True King of Kevland", Prince Petros Murall. The Prince is accompanied by his new wife, Princess Jiulia Capharleth, his son Kyriakos, her brother Prince Benigno Capharleth, his advisor Guillaume Nogent, Bernabe the Steward, and Chancellor Hassan al-Rashid. As a Kevish noble, Wesley (accompanied by Hermione) is called forward to talk to the "King" in front of the court about the reason for his visit. Wesley's passion for studying unusual rocks quickly derails the conversation away from any awkward questions about his loyalties.

Lady Isabella escorts Wesley and Hermione to their seats, while her cousin Lady Adela dances before escorting Zeno to sit with them. Feodora is nowhere to be soon, so "Mary" pretends to be Hermione's servant, attends to them while listening to Isabella and Adela question the others about King Roland and his "beautiful mistress", then argue about which of them should get to marry Roland and unite the rival claims to the throne of Kevland. Zeno shares that he is "close" to Roland's mistress, accidentally giving both women the impression that he is her true beloved. While the others talk, Hermione notices a woman at the far end of the great hall, dressed as a common pilgrim, who matches Theresa's sorcerous images of Lady Newbury.

"Mary" goes to their rooms and checks that Master Eddas' reliquary is secured and safely hidden. While returning to the Great Hall, "Mary" is intercepted by Blessed Father Dositheus, who asks after the reliquary as he wishes to see it. "Mary" dissembles and prevaricates, and is blessed by Dositheus before he continues on his way.

After the feast, Prince Petros retires to the solar while his new wife Giulia presides over the revelry. Sijam is summoned by Chancellor Hassan al-Rashid to meet with Prince Petros and his advisors, including Blessed Father Dositheus. Sijam delivers King Roland's letter to Prince Petros, who is surprised by its contents and passes the letter to Guillaume, who is equally surprised. Prince Petros tells Sijam that King Roland has offered to make him Count of Legnano if he acknowledges him as the King of Kevland, and questions him about Roland's character and about his relationship with Terence Dorion, the current Count of Legnano. Sijam feels out of his depth answering the questions and suggests Zeno could assist, which results in Zeno being brought to the solar. When questioned, Zeno recommends asking Martina, who is in turn brought to the solar. Satisfied with Martina's answers, Prince Petros also asks about King Roland's "mistress" Theresa Dekanos, and Martina assures him that Roland holds Theresa close in his heart.

Hermione notices a woman who resembles the images Theresa showed the others of Lady Newbury, dressed in common clothes and mingling among the soldiers and servants at the far end of the great hall. She quietly points her out to Theresa while Wesley has Isabell and Adela distracted.

When they return to the great hall, Kyriakos takes Sijam aside. Kyriakos asks Sijam to examine cloths stained with his mother's blood and phlegm from her final illness and determine if she died of a disease or was poisoned. Sijam leaves the great hall with Kyriakos straightaway, and they are ambushed by a wild-eyed man in black robes while they walk through the corridors.

The wild-eyed man ignores Kyriakos and attacks Sijam with two scimitars, dancing while he fights. It becomes clear to everyone from what is said during the attack that the wild-eyed man has mistaken Sijam for Hassan al-Rashid, but that doesn't dissuade him from continuing to press the attack until Sijam passes out from his many wounds. Hearing the shouts and sounds of battle, Feodora runs towards the fight, and hearing the sound of approaching footsteps the wild-eyed man flees.

Feodora leaves to fetch Hermione while Kyriakos stays with Sijam, tending to his wounds and staunching the bleeding. Hermione returns with Feodora and revives Sijam by applying her poultices. Once again conscious, Sijam heals himself with his hands of healing while describing in the circumstances of the attack to Hermione and Feodora. They return to the Great Hall, and Feodora is dispatched inside to summon the others back to their suite to discuss the development.

When they arrive at their suite, Wesley has already retired to their bedroom to study with Master Eddas. Sijam recounts the attack in detail, as well as Kyriakos' concerns about his mother's death. Martina is strongly opposed to Kyriakos' suggestion to Sijam that he exhume and examine her cousin's body, and the general consensus is that it would be better to examine Kyriakos' mother's body instead. While the others are talking with Sijam, Hermione asks Feodora why she's more surly than usual until Feodora loudly replies that she met a man named Burgold and doesn't want him to die because of her. Feodora explains that Burgold knew her father and asked after her godfather Otho and her relatives in Vestad, and talking with him has made her realise she doesn't like being back in the lands of the Crusades because it doesn't feel like home anymore.

While Sijam prepares to examine the stained cloths provided by Kyriakos, Martina and Theresa discover a plate with five cakes left on the pillow of the bed in their room. Martina is unsure why she's now the target of Marijah assassins, as they should have easily deduced it wasn't Zeno's room from her and Theresa's belongings. Theresa feels the assassin is threatening her, even though as far as anyone at the castle knows "Mary" is Hermione and Wesley's servant and would usually stay in their room.

The adventurers discuss this development before retiring to their rooms. Theresa uses sorcery to set an alarm on the window to their room and blocks the door with an empty chamber pot while Martina takes the side of the bed that's closer to both the door and the window and sets her sword on the floor beside the bed. Feodora shares Zeno's room, and they stay up chatting. Zeno asks Feodora if she's interested in anyone, and she replies "Nobody would be interested in someone like me" before flying into a panic and insisting that she's not fishing for a proposal.

Hermione stays up with Sijam as he examines the stained cloths, waiting for Wesley to let her know he's finished studying with Master Eddas. That hasn't happened when Sijam finishes his tests, which are consistent with death by disease. Hermione checks on Wesley, who has gone to bed and is soundly asleep, and retires to join him for the remainder of the night. Sijam remains awake and on watch in case the wild-eyed assassin returns, but the night passes without further incident.

At breakfast, the adventurers discuss their plans for the day before scatting into four separate groups.

"Mary" and Feodora go to the kitchens, where they confirm that the cakes were from a large batch cooked for last night's feast at the Great Hall. "Mary" joins in cooking, baking her own cake and gossiping with the kitchen staff while Feodora lurks nearby.

Lady Isabella Murall seeks out Hermione and Wesley and talks with them about King Roland and conditions in Kevland, as she has learned about the contents of the King's letter to the Prince of Moneghetti and wishes to know more about the King before possibly travelling to Kevland to see if he wishes to marry her and end the Kevish Civil War by uniting their dynasties.

Zeno and Martina meet with their nephew Timon in the gardens, and are joined by Timon's uncle, Baron Grisaille Wincaster, on his way back from visiting his sister-in-law's grave.

Sijam meets with Kyriakos to return the stained cloths and report that there was insufficient evidence to be confident of any foul play. Kyriakos promises to make sure nobody is in the graveyard that night and provide spades for their use in exhuming Timon of Elea's mother.

Sijam meets with Hassan al-Rashid, who arranges to have servants search for any of Sijam's medical equipment that was not destroyed when the Prince expelled Sijam's replacement as court doctor for failing to prevent his first wife's death. Hassan also provides Sijam with the key to the crypt in the chapel where the Muralls are buried.

The adventurers send their apologies for the feast that evening, claiming that Hermione and Wesley are both suddenly unwell, Sijam needs to attend to them both, and Zeno and Martina are staying with them to avoid causing any concern among the other guests. When the coast is clear, the adventurers make their way to the chapel, arriving as the royal anthem of Kevland is playing, much to Theresa's annoyance. Sijam uses the key to unlock the gate down to the crypt on the right-hand side of the transept where the Muralls are buried, as the crypt on the left-hand side is where the remains of members of previous dynasties have been relocated.

Inside the crypt they go to a stone sarcophagus, covered with an embroided white linen cloth and decorated with wilting flowers and mostly burned out candles, as that is obviously where the Princess has been buried. After lifting off the cloth and the decorations, Zeno lifts the lid of the sarcophagus aside with Hermione and Martina's assistance, then lifts out the lead-lined coffin they find inside. The coffin lid has been sealed shut, possibly to prevent the spread of disease, and Zeno prizes up the top third of the coffin lid with great effort. Inside, they find the body of the Princess, wearing a simple white tunic and showing no signs of decay or illness. Hermione helps Sijam extract the body from the coffin for examination: Zeno and Martina look away and hold up the white linen cloth as an impromptu curtain for the others.

Feodora grows increasinly restless while they wait, and slips away to explore further into the crypts, which Sijam has told them curve around like a horseshoe and connect to those on the other side of the transept. While she is away, the others hear someone enter the chapel and douse their lights. Theresa also changes her disguise to look like the Prince's new wife, Giulia Capharleth. They listen as Blessed Father Dositheus joins Lord Tasufin ibn Nuzha and talks reassuringly with him about how he will return home in time to see his mother again.

After the two men leave the chapel, Theresa goes in search of Feodora while Sijam resumes his examination. Theresa discovers Feodora has found a cleverly hidden fissure in the rock wall because of a slight breeze that affected the smoke from her torch when she extinguished it while hiding out of sight of the chapel. Theresa cloaks them in a spell of invisibility and they explore the fissure, with Theresa helping guide Feodora as she cautiously makes her way forward. They find the fissures ends a few metres up the wall of a natural cave where over a dozen bedrolls are laid out around a smouldering fire. Suspecting that this is the base of operations of the assassins, Theresa seizes the opportunity to sneak down into the cave and place the small cake she baked that morning at the head of the bedroll at the centre of the circle around the smouldering fire.

While still invisible, Theresa changes her disguise back to Mary the bard and sends Lanta back to Hermione to alert the others to their location. Hermione leaves Sijam to conclude his work while guarded by Zeno and Martina and follows Lanta back through the fissure to the others. Hermione joins Theresa and Feodora as a group of black-robed dervishes led by the wild-eyed man return, dragging a stumbling prisoner with a black cloth over his head by the rope tied around his arms and chest. The dervishes prepare to interrogate their prisoner, who they captured on his own in the graveyard, and the wild-eyed man unmasks Timon of Elea to begin the questioning. However, the questioning is quickly cut shot when the wild-eyed man spots the assassin's cake on his bedroll, crushing it in his hand while the dervishes look around frantically for the Marijah assassin targeting their leader.

Theresa silently summons ghostly shades that swarm around everyone in the cave. Timon succumbs straightaway to the terror of their attack while the dervishes flee into the night, leaving their bedrolls and supplies behind. Theresa sends the ghostly shades back to the World of Spirits so Hermione can rush to Timon's side and save his life with sorcerous healing. Timon is alarmed at first, then greatly relieved to have been rescued by Lady Hermione and her servants from the strangers who kidnapped him while he was alone visiting his mother's grave. Feodora is sent back to fetch the others while "Mary" waits with Hermione and Timon.

Sijam has finished examining the Princess and taking samples of blood for further study back at their rooms. Sijam dresses the corpse again and places it back in the lead-lined coffin. Zeno attempts to push the bent lid back in place but uses too much force and snaps off the end. Martina helps Zeno put the coffin back in the sarcophagus before the three of them go in search of the others, planning to have Theresa use sorcery to make the broken lid as good as new. They find Feodora's extinguished torch but do not spot the hidden fissure, so they continue on around to the other side of the crypts and find the gate unlocked.

Feodora returns to the crypts and goes back to the right-hand side expectintg to find the others, but only finds the broken coffin in the open sarcophagus. The other three start making their way back around the crypts, leaving the gate unlocked, while Feodora goes to check the gate on the other side. Finding that it's still locked, Feodora unlocks the gate with her tools. She relocks the gate before leaving the chapel and returning to their suite, where she expects to find the others. Feodora is not happy to discover that Wesley is the only one there.

Back in the cave, Timon is increasingly concerned that his kidnappers may return, so Hermione sends "Mary" back to find Feodora and let her know to return to the suite while she leaves with Timon "through the way I came in". Hermione and Timon go out of the cave, which is at the base of the rocky outcrop the castle is built on, but on the far side away from the roads. They travel around the outcrop, through the graveyard and the gardens, and back into the castle. Hermoine avoids the Great Hall and takes Timon up to the suite, where Feodora is waiting with Wesley for everyone else. Hermione dispatches Feodora to fetch wine at Timon's request, and she goes to the kitchens to do so while Timon comments positively on how well Hermione and Wesley have recovered from their illness.

Theresa surprises the other three by appearing "out of the wall" while they're trying to figure out what may have happened to Feodora. They return to the sarcophagus, where Theresa repairs the broken coffin lid with her sorcery before Zeno and Martina move the sarcophagus lid back into place. The adventurers replace the linen cloth and the decorations as best they can to match how it was before, then leave the crypt to meet up with Hermione and Timon at their suite.

On the way back, Lady Adela Murall seizes the opportunity to ask Martina for a brief conversation. "Mary" stays with Martina while Sijam and Zeno continue back to the suite where Hermione and Wesley are "unwell and waiting for them to return with the additional medical supplies". Lady Adela and Martina talk in a sitting-room while "Mary" waits with the other servant by the door to make sure nobody is listening outside. Lady Adela questions Martina about the King's mistress, as she has learned about the contents of the King's letter to the Prince of Moneghetti and wishes to know more about his mistress before possibly travelling to Kevland to see if he wishes to marry her. Martina assures Lady Adela that King Roland loves his mistress and that she believes they will marry and be happy together.

Everyone is reunited at the suite, and Timon tells his aunt and uncle how grateful he is to their friend Hermione for rescuing him from bandits. Feodora liberally dispenses wine to those who take a cup, and Timon is easily persuaded to retire to his room for the night to sleep off the shock of the experience. After his departure, the adventurers question each other about what happened to their disparate groups. Theresa complains that everyone keeps calling her Roland's mistress, and when Martina asks how she wants to be described instead, settles on "the woman he's courting".

Sijam is concerned that the blessing of Blessed Father Dositheus that has removed any signs of the ravages of disease and death from the Princess' body may have also removed any signs of foul play, had any occurred. Feodora (wine cup in one hand and spade in the other): "Then we know what we're doing next, right?" (clanks spade on ground and leans on the handle)

Nobody else is enthusiastic about digging up a grave that night, so the adventurers retire to their rooms. Theresa emerges with her crystal ball, which she takes to Wesley and Hermione's room so they and Master Eddas can watch her search for the wild-eyed man. Theresa spies him in her crystal ball, still running through the night with the rest of the dervishes, apparently fleeing from the castle and the Marijah assassin hunting him. Theresa also tries looking for Lady Newbury, but isn't able to find her with her sorcery.

Sijam stays up late studying the samples he took from the Princess' body, but as he feared there is no sign of any illness, natural or unnatural, in the blood or tissue from the body. Exhausted, Sijam settles down to sleep for the night, which once again passes without further incident.

The adventurers make plans for the morning, then split up. Theresa goes looking for Blessed Father Dositheus to find out about the other people who died from the same disease as the old Princess, and learns that when the Blessed Father returned to the castle his prayers cleansed all traces of the disease from the bodies of the living and the dead, ending the pestilence. Martina makes discrete enquiries about who's suspicious of the new Princess, and learns that the marriage is widely considered a political arrangement intended to strength the alliance between the Prince and his closest neighbour, Prince Benigno Capharleth.

Sijam requests an audience with the Prince, and delivers a report to the Prince and his advisors about last night's assassins while leaving out everything about their exploration of the crypt and his examination of the body of the old Princess. Welsey and Hermione go to the great hall and breakfast in public, where they politely handle well-wishes and congratulations on their speedy recovery from their "illness" of the previous day. Baron Grisaille goes out of his way to thank Hermione for her part in rescuing his nephew Timon from his kidnappers. Zeno walks with Feodora in the gardens while helping her practice High Bacchile. Their conversation is interrupted by Timon, and Feodora leaves to explore the nearby cemetary while Timon talks privately with Zeno and passes him a private letter from Lady Isabella for King Roland.

The adventurers begin to regroup in their suite so they can update each other about what they have learned. "Mary" searches for Martina, and finds her answering questions from Princess Giulia about the so-called King of Kevland and "the woman he's courting". The arrival of Lord Wesley's servant gives Martina the opportunity to excuse herself and leave Princess Giulia.

After hearing from Theresa, Sijam is not sure there is anything else he can do to investigate the death of the old Princess. Theresa suggests he consult the Hermitage Bible for guidance, and fetches it from her room.

When Feodora and Zeno go to their room so he can safely stow Lady Isabella's letter among his belongings, they find that someone has left a cake on Zeno's pillow, and call for Theresa. Theresa asks Master Eddas if he noticed anything suspicious, but he was unhelpfully resting in his box. Theresa: "Only I'm allowed to leave amusing death cakes now! I'm going to scry for whoever left these cakes. And can you believe Zeno and Feodora both bellowed for 'Theresa' when they found them? I have a secret identity here!" Theresa uses her crystal ball to search for the person who left the cake, and learns that it is an unfamiliar blue-skinned fey creature currently hiding nearby in the World of Spirits.

Sijam prays for guidance and consults the Hermitage Bible, hoping to find out if the disease that afflicted the Princess was a natural occurence. The Bible opens to a passage about a terrible plague that covers the land affecting everyone regardless of status until it is ended by the prayers of a holy woman to the True God for mercy.

Sijam decides he has done everything he can to investigate the death of the Princess and it is time to report back to Kyriakos that there is no way to tell if his mother died a natural death or if she and the others were poisoned. Sijam collects the stained cloths and returns them to Kyriakos, who is disappointed but thankful to Sijam for his efforts.

The adventurers stay in their suite for lunch, waiting on guard for the fey assassin to appear from the World of Spirits and attack Zeno. Theresa gets bored after a while and uses her crystal ball to look at Princess Giulia, who is giving an audience to Lady Newbury in her disguise as a common pilgrim. Theresa's news stirs Sijam to action, and he rushes to the audience chamber, followed by the others. Sijam burts in, interrupting the audience, and accuses the "pilgrim" of being an assassin.

Sijam tries to seize Lady Newbury, forcing her to use her enchanted cloak to slip a short distance away through the World of Spirits. Sijam and the others pursue Lady Newbury, who leaves the cockatrice behind to slow them down while she escapes on her flying carpet. Without using words or gestures, "Mary" uses sorcery to force the cockatrice into the World of Spirits so it can't poison Sijam with its breath, gaze or touch. Sijam uses the last of the holy mud to restore the servants who were affected by the cockatrice from stone to flesh.

When the tumult subsides, the Prince and Princess of Moneghetti summon Sijam and his travelling companions to explain themselves. Their servants, Feodora and "Mary", accompany them.

The Prince and Princess of Moneghetti question Sijam and his travelling companions about how they knew the woman and how they knew she was meeting the Princess. Hermione evasively takes credit for both, implying but not saying she used sorcery to know about the meeting. The Prince seems disappointed that Sijam is unable to give a good reason for not warning him about the assassin at any time earlier in his visit.

Theresa tries to assist the others with her sorcery without using words or gestures, but the Prince has a ring that glows in the presence of sorcery. The Prince assumes the assassin may be searching for the Princess again, and quickly ends the audience. Sijam and his travelling companions are told to stay in their suite until they depart, and escorted back to the suite by several guards, who stay outside as sentries.

The guards aren't concerned about the servants coming and going to fetch food for their masters, so the adventurers plan for Feodora and "Mary" to pass on their farewell messages. Feodora delivers farewell messages to Hassan al-Rashid, Bernabe and Timon of Elea, while "Mary" delivers messages to Prince Petros, Lady Isabella Murall, and Blessed Father Dositheus. "Mary" discretely encourages Lady Isabella to meet Lord Thomas Steward if she travels to Kevland, while Blessed Father Dositheus wishes her well for her upcoming wedding.

Theresa returns first, telling the others that the Blessed Father seems to know her true identity. Theresa: "On the whole, I like him - I'm used to people being mysterious and annoying."

Feodora returns second, and reports that Timon is planning to meet them in the gardens with Lord Tasufin ibn Nuzha, who he hopes they will take with them so he can escape without having to pay his ransom. The adventurers are initially unsure about Timon's motives for helping Lord Tasufin, but their passionate farewell kiss succinctly explains the situation.

Timon keeps watch while Wesley releases Master Eddas from his box. Master Eddas has each of them cut themselves, smear some of their blood on their left hand, then place their hands on his skull.

Master Eddas travels through the World of Spirits with the adventurers, Wesley and Lord Tasufin. During the brief journey, Master Eddas is once again a smouldering skeletal figure shackled in chains, and each of them is chained to him by a manacle around their left wrist. This time, Zeno notices the manacle and the change in Master Eddas' appearance. They appear in the arrival hall of the palatial mansion owned by the Tirynian Circle in Amsaim, the capital of Opalar. One of the household servants, Ayyub ibn Qutaiba, comes to greet them and makes arrangements for Master Eddas, Wesley, and Theresa to have suites appropriate to their position in their Tirynian Circle, while the others are to stay in servants' quarters. Ayyub has been expecting them to arrive, and lets them know that Magister Shawar ibn Marwan has made arrangements for someone to meet with them when they visit.

Lord Tasufin quickly excuses himself and farewells his rescuers, preferring to stay elsewhere in Amsaim than in the halls of the sorcerers. Feodora leaves to go exploring while the others settle into their rooms. Martina checks with Theresa if she should continue to stay in her room but Theresa prefers to be on her own, so Martina stays in the servants' quarters, relying on the Reliquary of Saint Merel to ward her dreams.

After dropping off their belongings, Sijam takes Zeno and Martina out to see the sights and sounds of Amsaim. While they are out, Theresa takes the opportunity to search through Zeno's belongings for Lady Isabella's letter to King Roland, which she finds with another sealed document in Zeno's papers. Sensing that someone is alone near Zeno's belongings, the blue-skinned fey assassin emerges from the World of Spirits and briefly attacks Theresa before retreating back into the World of Spirits.

After seeing off the assassin, Theresa carefully cuts open both sealed documents and reads them: Lady Isabella's letter tells King Roland that she is unsure about visiting Kevland and asks him about his intentions, while the other document is Martina's will, which was made before the adventurers left Kevland for Old Duneld and witnessed by Baroness Orlamond and Zeno. In her will, Martina's property goes to Theresa as a life estate, with the remainder to her heir general on Theresa's passing. Theresa uses sorcery to mend the cuts in both documents, then places them back among Zeno's papers where she found them.

Sijam, Zeno and Martina return with delicious food for Theresa to sample. Sijama: "Theresa! I brought back some treats for you. Have you ever had Halva? And these are truly fresh dates, not those poor dried things we got back in the Crusader States. And here, some proper saffron and sumac." Theresa complains about being attacked by the fey assassin without explaining what she was doing when she was attacked. When she returns, Feodora reports back on nearby evening markets, including a black market where you can buy mechanical animals looted from tombs. As Feodora expected, Hermione is also interested in exploring that market.

After confirming with Ayyub that the person they are to meet with will arrive in the morning, Feodora, Hermione, Sijam and Zeno go back out to explore the nightlife of Amsaim. Zeno takes off his knightly tabard before they leave in the hope that he attracts fewer hostile stares, which is indeed the case. They go to the black market, where an older kattar with white hair named Takander is selling finds from his most recent tomb exploration, including non-functional mechanical bees that flew out of a wall and tried to sting him. Doctor Tarazed Rukbat joins Sijam in examining the stings for traces of poison: Sijam talks with Tarazed, who is the daughter of the Sultan's doctor, while Hermione haggles with Takander. Hermione agrees to buy three mechanical bees for one pound, adding them to her collection of mechanical animals in need of repair.

The adventurers stay out all night, drinking coffee and trying different foods recommended by Sijam. At times, Feodora naps on Zeno's shoulder.

While making their way back to the mansion of the Tirynian Circle, the adventurers have to wait while a military convoy escorts Sultan Natara back to her palace. Zeno notes that the Captain of the Sultan's Guard is wearing a cloak in the livery of the Order of the Rose, which seems out of place on a Tashim noble.

The adventurers return to the mansion in time for the meeting with Degai al-Usun of the Kadikai, a centaur who has brought along his grandfather's annotated copy of My Journey to the West for the adventurers to peruse. The annotations identify all six of the pagan household deities in the drawing, including Cehlen of the Crooked Teeth, the wet nurse to Beara, Queen of Winter, who is able to palacate Beara's wrath and reduce the impact of cold weather outside her realm in the Land of the Snow Demons. Beara is noted as being one of the Fodmor, a group of gods who allegedly travelled west long ago, before the Kaikuhuran gods travelled west to Raurin when the Selentine Empire conquered the lands now known as Opalar.

With this additional information, Theresa feels confident that the other group of four adventurers are planning to steal a statue of Cehlen from Beara in Ambardyr. Theresa wants to set out immediately, but Master Eddas isn't prepared to leave Opalar until Wesley gets to explore the tomb of the vizier.

Sijam stays behind to purchase silk lanterns for tomorrow's festival while Rhiopsis the snaggle-toothed guide leads the other adventurers and Wesley to the vizier's tomb, approximately 3 hours away from Amsaim. When they arrrive, Rhiopsis points out the entrance used by the previous licenced explorers of the tomb, then settles down to wait in the shade for their hoped-for return.

The adventurers begin by following in the footsteps of the previous explorers, going through a room guarded by inactive mechanical panthers down to a chamber with two mummified warriors wearing crocodile hide armour resting on either side of the room in a simple stone sarcophagus. There are two corridors, but as the previous explorers only went up and didn't go down the adventurers take the corridor going upwards to a ransacked store room. Beyond the store room is a grand gallery which the previous explorers crossed using an unusual path. After Feodora confirms the path avoids pressure plates in the floor, the adventurers follow in their footsteps.

The exit from the grand gallery is blocked by the sphinx Hypatia, who explains how excited she was to learn they were in Opalar and she had to come and see them again. Hypatia is willing to let them past if they answer two riddles: Theresa starts negotiating, but quickly accedes when Hypatia points out that she feels she's being very reasonable in only having two riddles. When they hear the first riddle, Theresa disturbs everyone by suggesting the answer is "blood". Theresa agrees to go with the majority opinion, which is correct, but continues to feel her answer is also correct. The adventurers correctly answer the second riddle on the first attempt as well, and Hypatia leads them into the tomb at the end of the grand gallery.

Wesley is very disappointed to see that the tomb has been thoroughly looted and despoiled. Hypatia reassures him that this is the false tomb built to fool tomb robbers, as the real tomb in pyramids from this period would be illuminated by natural light in the middle of the day. The adventurers leave to search the lower corridors for the real tomb, and say their farewells to Hypatia. Zeno: "Go with God." Hypatia: "Aww, you're very sweet ... but I am forever excluded from his domain. Bye!!!"

As they make their way back through the grand gallery, Feodora notices a small opening in the wall that was obscured by a pillar on their way up to the false tomb. The opening is about 2 feet by 2 feet wide, and while it has hand and footholds most of the adventurers are too large to fit down the tunnel, so Theresa has Lanta fly down, observing through Lanta's eyes and reporting back to the others. The end of the tunnel opens out into a larger corridor: going down the corridor leads to a room with stone vases on either side of the stone door at the far end, while going up the corridor leads back to the room guarded by two mummies, who are now sitting up in their sarcophagi. Theresa has Lanta fly back to her through the tunnel rather than go into the room with the mummies.

The adventurers make their way back down the grand gallery to the storage room, where they take the smaller corridor that runs under the grand gallery. The corridor leads to a room dominated by a black stone obelisk, inscribed with Qemor hieroglyphs and made of the same material as the obelisks at Navyn and at the Hermitage. There is an other corridor going upwards from the chamber, and the others continue to explore while Martina stays behind to guard Wesley, who is using sorcery to help him translate the inscriptions. The corridor leads to a dead end, but there is another smaller tunnel partway along the corridor while Theresa has Lanta explore. This tunnel leads to another corridor: at one end is a stone door, while the other leads into a chamber with another stone door guarded by two large skeletal snake monsters. The monsters don't pursue Lanta when she flies back out of the chamber, and Lanta returns to Theresa.

Wesley finishes translating the inscriptions, which detail the life of the vizier, how he served his pharaoh in life, and how he will continue to serve him in death. Prepared to face the vizier's mummy in the final tomb beyond the two skeletal snake monsters, the adventurers return to the room with the two mummies, who are once again lying down in their sarcophagi. Unwilling to take any chances, the adventurers set both on fire, and wait until both have burned down to ashes before taking the tunnel downwards.

The tunnel leads down to the room with ten stone vases, five on each side of the stone door. The door has a single hieroglyph carved on it, which Wesley uses sorcery to translate as "Be not greedy". Hermione uses sorcery to determine that the door and the stone vases all radiate arcane magic. Four of the stone vases contain a small gold coin, while the other six are empty: the adventurers place a quarter-crown in all six empty vases, and the door opens.

The adventurers proceed to the chamber guarded by the two skeletal snake monsters and destroy them both in battle. During the struggle, Wesley uses sorcery to transform Martina's skin t be as strong as stone. The corridor beyond the next door leads to the real tomb, where the sarcophagus in the centre of the chamber is illuminated by a beam of light from the midday sun overhead. The adventurers prepare to battle the vizier's mummy before opening the lid of the sarcophagus, but there's no need to do so as his soul has long departed to the afterlife controlled by the Kaikuhuran gods, where it labours in their service.

The adventurers search through the vizier's possessions for arcane enchantments, and find one statuette that fell out of a box of similar statuettes and a trumpet with a mouthpiece shaped like a lion. They also determine that one of the talismans on the mummy is enchanted, a bracelet of lacquered stands of human hair wound around a gold key. Theresa tries to take it off the mummy's wrist, but when she touches it her soul is drawn into the bracelet and her body drops lifeless onto the mummy. Martina picks Theresa up, touching the bracelet while doing so, and her soul swaps places with Theresa. Realising what's happening, Theresa (in Martina's body) tells the others what's going on and touches the bracelet again to swap back with Martina. The others tell Martina what's going on, and she touches Theresa's hand against the bracelet, returning her soul to her body. The adventurers remove the bracelet from the mummy's hand, taking great care not to touch it in the process.

Theresa settles down and investigates the bracelet, while Hermione studies the statuette and Zeno examines the horn. The bracelet acclimatises to Theresa, allowing her to wear it without drawing her soul in. Hermione determines that the statuette would, when placed in the box with the other statuettes, create an automaton in the afterlife that would work in the Field of Reeds for a year on the vizier's behalf. Zeno discovers that it's possible to command the horn to blow thunderous blasts, but the horn is dangerously fragile and could break easily while being used.

The adventurers discuss what to take with them, as their licence requires them to pay a share of the value of anything they take. They decide to prioritise the enchanted items, including the fragile horn, and leave behind most of the decorated mundane items. On the way out, Hermione decides she wants to take one of the mechanical panthers, so Zeno carries one over his shoulders throughout the journey back to Amsaim with Rhiopsis.

When they arrive, the adventurers truthfully declare everything that they took from the tomb. The authorities assess the value of the items and accept the adventurers' offer of the fragile horn as their share of the proceeds from the licenced exploration.

Sijam gives everyone a silk lantern for tonight's festival: green for Hermione, brown for Wesley, gold for Theresa, silver for Martina and Zeno, and yellow for himself. That evening, they join the festival in the streets of Amsaim, where they watch lanterns float down the Isis and explore markets illuminated by lanterns. They stop at a small cafe in a crowded alley and order drinks and snacks, and the serving woman drops off their drinks.

While they are waiting for their food, Theresa receives a quietly spoken message from Ayyub ibn Qutaiba, one of the household servants at the palatial mansion of the Tirynian Circle. Ayyub: "Apologies for the interruption, but our magic wards have detected someone breaking into your room and we have found no-one inside." Theresa's response: "Awww! Have they been apprehended? Do you need us to return? Is anything missing? Someone will return and check soon. I appreciate the message."

Theresa tells the others, and they stand up to leave for the mansion. Rather than let it go to waste, Feodora quickly drinks Zeno's glass of wine. Almost immediately, Feodora starts vomiting blood from the poisoned drink and collapses. While Sijam is attending to Feodora, three blue-skinned fey assassins emerge from the World of Spirits:one tries to stab Zeno while the other two trap Zeno in a gossamer net that shimmers like moonlight. Theresa bespells the leader of the assassins and asks him to explain what's going on, and while the others struggle to keep Zeno ensnared he happily explains in great detail how the Marijah Assassins have resumed hunting Zeno following his return to the north and will send every-increasing numbers until they fulfil the contract. The assassin continues to talk while Hermione helps free Zeno from the net, mentioning in passing that he attacked Theresa while she was going through Zeno's papers. Wesley uses his sorcery to compel the other two assassins to travel away as far as they can through the World of Spirits: abandoned by his companions, the last assassin also retreats into the World of Spirits. Zeno: "You're bad at your job and you should feel bad!"

Concerned that the intruder and the attack may not be a coincidence, the adventurers hurry back to the mansion, ignoring the alarmed and disapproving looks of the festival goers at Feodora's blood-drenched shirt. At the mansion, Theresa searches her room and determines that the Hermitage Bible is missing: she searches for the person who has it in her crystal ball and finds him waiting outside the front door of a nearby house. While Theresa is busy, Martina quietly checks with Zeno that he also heard what the assassin said about catching Theresa searching Zeno's papers.

The adventurers quickly make their way to confront the man, arriving while he's waiting with an older man for someone to come out. Theresa accuses the young man of taking her book, and he replies, "Oh no, what has my twin brother done now?" Naveed Hafeez explains that the book must have been taken by his wicked twin brother Azeem Hafeez, as anyone who searches for Azeem finds him instead. Awda ibn el Kharesh affirms the truth of Naveed's claim, as does his daughter Rarina when she comes out, ready at last to celebrate the festival with Naveed. The adventurers are suspicious, but their story remains the same after Zeno prays to the True God that everyone speaks truthfuly. Naveed considers it his responsibility to compensate the victims of his (slightly) younger brother's crimes and to redress them where he can, as he did when Azeem kidnapped Rarina six months ago. He suggests the adventurers search for Azeem in the disreputable markets of Amsaim, and to let him know if they don't recover the Hermitage Bible.

Feodora leads the adventurers to the markets where Hermione brought the mechanical bees from Takander the White, where a young man draws their attention from an alleyway. The young man tells them that he was compelled by some outside force to go to the mansion and steal a holy book, which he handed over to a well-armed man outside the mansion. Touching the holy book during the handover cleared his mind from the compulsion, and he discretely followed the man back to his hideout. Omar the Thief offers to guide the adventurers there by way of apologising for stealing their property, and they take up his offer.

As they draw closer to the Hermitage Bible, Zeno's prayers for guidance give him greater and greater confidence of its location. Omar points the adventurers down the right alleyway and departs, feeling his work done. The adventurers proceed down the alleyway, where the door to Azeem's hideout is guarded by two blue-skinned women, one armed with a sword, the other unarmed with with an additional pair of translucent ghostly arms beneath her physical arms. The women escort the adventurers inside the den of criminals to a private room, where Azeem Hafeez is waiting with another blue-skinned woman with small horns protruding from her forehead and gentle breezes swirling around her. The horned woman reveals that she has a message for Theresa from her master, who is not pleased she has been avoiding him and insists she allow him into her dreams.

With the message delivered, the woman asks Azeem to return the Hermitage Bible to Theresa, which he does. Zeno takes the Bible and tests its veracity by praying quietly aloud for guidance on how to help protect Theresa from her master. The Bible opens to a passage about a slave who wanted to be baptised but wasn't allowed to convert by their master, and how the the slave's freedom was purchased by the church community pooling their resources and buying their freedom.

Unhappy at Theresa's situation and Azeem's nonchalant attitude about the problems he causes Naveed, before the adventurers leave Zeno preaches at Azeem about how he should reform and turn from his wicked ways. Azeem is unswayed by Zeno's efforts, but the blue-skinned swordswoman follows the adventurers as they leave to talk with Zeno, as Zeno's preaching has impressed her. Dunyazade tells Zeno she would like to meet again and hear more from him, but Zeno has to travel south tomorrow morning with the others. Dunyazade: "Another time, then."

The adventurers return to the mansion, where Theresa sleeps with the Hermitage Bible for the first time in almost two months. Her master, Lord Ardreth, visits her dreams and directs her to meet him in the woods near the Doukainas estate tomorrow evening.

Master Eddas travels back to the Doukainas estate through the World of Spirits with the adventurers. During the brief journey, Master Eddas is once again a smouldering skeletal figure shackled in chains, and each of them is chained to him by a manacle around their left wrist. Hermione catches a brief glimpse of the genie Asu watching from the World of Spirits as they depart Amsaim.

The adventurers are reunited with their servants, Meiling and Spyridon of Elea. Hopkins is particularly pleased to see Zeno again, and his own prayers aren't sufficient to still his shakes and tremors. when asked, Meiling agrees to travel with the adventurers to the westernmost Khanates and from there to Ambardyr.

After dinner, Theresa prepares for her meeting with Lord Ardreth, then slips out late at night in her black robe while everyone else is resting. Theresa waits in the woods as directed, and hides invisibly in a tree when she hears a group approaching, singing and playing on pipes and cymbals. She watches as a procession of elves, satyrs, nymphs and centaurs arrive, drinking and revelling with three entranced people, a well-dressed young couple walking arm-in-arm with a beautiful elf and an older shepherd drinking and staggering along with a group of satyrs. Theresa recognises Molkos the satyr at the back of the procession, catching a lift on a centaur she remembers from the party at Adralestor's hill.

Theresa reveals herself and joins the group after listening to them discuss where she is and how her master will be angry with her if she doesn't arrive. Now with their guest of honour, the procession resumes wending its way through the night to a beautiful clearing where Lord Ardreth is waiting to host the revels. Theresa sits and talks with Lord Ardreth about her progress towards bringing him the statue from Ambardyr. Lord Ardreth seems underwhelmed, but does give Theresa a beating heart of ice that will protect her from the extreme cold of the Land of the Snow Demons. Theresa asks Lord Ardreth to punish her and not Martina when he's angry with her, but he refuses because Martina is disposable and she is not.

Theresa stays at the revels after Lord Ardreth finishes their conversation. She goes out of her way to catch up with Molkos and return his pan pipes. Molkos is pleased with Theresa's musical improvement and shares that he'll let Adralestor know how his favourite human's half-sister is going.

As dawn approaches, Theresa goes out of her way to dance the well-dressed young couple away from the elf who's enjoyed their attention all evening. The elf glares at Theresa before disappearing with the others at daybreak, leaving Theresa with two disoriented youths who need to hurry home before they get in trouble for being out all night and a very inebriated shepherd lying in the roadside ditch. Theresa sees them all on their way before returning to the Doukainas estate for breakfast.

At breakfast, Theresa tells the others about her meeting with Lord Ardreth. While she doesn't mention the beating heart of ice, Theresa does raise the need for everyone to have some supernatural protection from the extreme cold of Ambardyr. The adventurers decide the most likely source of half a dozen protective devices are the dwarves, and resolve to set out for Legnano in Asmuly straightaway to consult with the dwarf Aksel. Rogelio the Poet is sad to seem them go, as he's heard very little from them about where they've been for the past week.

That evening, Theresa tells Martina that she asked her master to punish her and not Martina when he's cross, but Lord Ardreth refused. Martina is grateful to Theresa for her efforts, and accepts when Theresa lends her the Hermitage Bible for her protection. In turn, Martina returns the Reliquary of Saint Merel to Zeno.

After breakfast, Theresa joins the others at Alexios' townhouse, and the adventurers visit Aksel the master clockmaker at his workshop. Aksel confirms that Dorrain's military stockpiles include enchanted rings that keep the wearer warm at all times, and suggests they order them from Kevland as Dorrain's preferred trading partner. Aksel asks why they're going to Mercania, and when told they aren't, asks where they're going instead. Hermione and Sijam are open to sharing more details about their destination, but Theresa is strongly opposed to doing so. Theresa: "Have you ever heard the saying, three people can keep a secret when two of them are dead?"

The adventurers return to Alexios' townhouse. Theresa searches for Sophia with her crystal ball and finds her still asleep in bed. Hermione talks privately with Armand about Wesley's finances. Hermione: "I just need to be blunt." Armand: "You're very good at that, Ma'am." Armand assures Hermione that Wesley can simply borrow money from his mother if the magic rings are very expensive.

After breakfast, the other adventurers meet up with Zeno and Meiling at the market square between the cathedral and the New Royal Palace. Lord Thomas Steward comes to see the new arrivals while they're waiting at the Palace to see the King, and is pleasantly surprised to see the adventurers, as he's come to meet travellers who have just arrived at the docks after crossing Lake Rhipe. The travellers include Lady Anna Dekanos, her page Alexios, and Jovan the Steward, who is intrigued to see that the adventurers have arrived before them despite their hasty journey along the most direct route.

Lord Thomas Steward takes the adventurers and the new arrivals to see the King, who interrupts his scheduled meeting with Eleanor the Lady Chancellor to see Theresa and the others. Zeno surprises (most of) the others by delivering a letter to the King during the meeting. Feodora: "How come you've got a letter, Zeno?"

After the meeting, Zeno walks with Theresa in the gardens so they can talk in relative privacy. Zeno questions Theresa about Master Eddas gaining power from transporting them through the World of Spirits. Zeno: "Is something bad going to happen to us if we travel wtih him too much?" Theresa; Define bad." Theresa considers it obvious that travelling with Master Eddas has a consequence. Theresa: "We've entered into an exchange - blood for transport."

Lady Ostara Hurste arrives, looking for Zeno after hearing of his return, and they walk and talk together while watched from a distance by others, including Sir Darnell Enfield. Ostara asks Zeno how they returned so quickly from their journey. Zeno: "We teleported here." Ostara: "Through a miracle?" Zeno: "No." Ostara: "... Are you consorting with dark powers?" Zeno's dalliance with the arcane doesn't lessen Ostara's affection for him.

Lady Anna and Alexios are invited to stay at Broughton Manor, while Jovan the Steward stays with Thomas the Lord Steward and Lord Thomas Steward.

Lord Thomas Steward reports that the King has approved negotiating with the dwarves for the enchanted rings as part of the trade agreement between Kevland and Dorrain, and that they will leave for the gate to Dorrain they day after tomorrow.

Martina arranges a celebration for Zeno's birthday tomorrow at Broughton Hall, and makes sure Zeno knows to attend. Zeno invites Lady Ostara, and considering inviting Renaldo of Elea. Theresa: "It's your birthday, you should invite people who bring you joy and won't try to kill you."

Theresa arranges a book club meeting with Princess Cecile for the evening. They invite Princess Arcadia and Lady Fiera, who attend with Captain Homados. Captain Homados is also interested in romantic literature, and can quote from memory passages from the chosen book for the meeting.

The adventurers attend mass at the cathedral, where Princess Arcadia sits with King Roland.

At Zeno's birthday dinner, Martina gifts him a new signet ring with his heraldry as a Knight-Bachelor that she commissioned at Selentium with Spyridon's assistance. Sijam gifts Zeno an illuminated book, while Theresa gifts him a new set of fine clothes.

When he returns to the cathedral to sleep, Zeno finds a red envelope on his bed. The envelope contains a sheet of fine parchment covered in a message in an unfamiliar script.

Zeno asks Meiling if she can read or translate the letter, as she can speak all languages. Meiling seems embarrassed and explains that she left it for Zeno as a birthday gift. The message reads, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." Meiling explains that it's one of the hidden statements of belief followers of the True Faith in Khitai share to identify each other without alerting the authorities.

When the others arrive to meet up with them and Lord Thomas Steward for the journey to Dorrain, Zeno excitedly shows Meiling's gift to everyone.

The adventurers attend a grand ball at the New Royal Palace, while Wesley stays at Broughton Hall and Feodora goes elsewhere on her own. Princess Arcadia of Ranimia is the guest of honour, and has the first dance with King Roland while Lord Thomas Steward dances with Theresa. King Roland subsequently dances with Theresa, and later with Lady Anna.

Sir Melrose Lynnfield is delighted to see Sijam again, chatting with him about his travels for the past season and introducing him to potential dance partners. Sir Melrose: "This is my friend Sijam, he's an exotic foreigner from the north and potentially a spy." Woman (intrigued): "Oh, really?"

Meiling watches the dancing with Hermoine and Martina, who explain that only unmarried people are dancing because the King is unmarried. Meiling asks if widowed people are expected to dance, and Martina clarifies, "Only if they're interested in marrying again."

At the end of the ball, the adventurers return to Broughton Hall with Princess Cecile and her other guests.

Late that night, Broughton Hall fills with mist, and everyone at Broughton Hall has terrifying nightmares. Those who wake up are afflicted with sleep paralysis: Sijam stills his mind while Theresa is freed by the blessing of Father Dositheus. Hermione is freed by Master Eddas, who orders her to get up and deal with the situation before floating back into his box. The adventurers leave their rooms and meet up in the mist-filled corridor, where shadowy dogs with glowing eyes flit through the walls.

The adventurers assume that Princess Arcadia is the target and go to her rooms, but Theresa sees through the walls that Captain Homados is awake and guarding her. They double back to check on Princess Cecile, meeting up on the way with Martina, who is carrying the Hermitage Bible. They find Princess Cecile asleep, and neither sorcery nor the Hermitage Bible can rouse her.

The adventurers continue to search for those responsible for the malaise, and find outside Lady Anna's suite a black-robed elf with an Emphidian accent, accompanied by half a dozen black dogs and two animated weeping corpses with nails in their eyes moaning from mouths in their hands. The Master of Shadows and his weeping horrors confront the adventurers while the black dogs slip away through the walls. Hermione entangles the Master of Shadows and one of the horrors in sickly weeds and vines, buying the others time to slowly hack the other weeping horror to pieces. The Master of Shadows uses sorcery to slip free and to harm the adventurers, but slips away through the World of Spirits when the adventurers press the attack against him, leaving behind the still-ensnared second weeping horro.

While the other three start hacking the second weeping horror to pieces, Theresa, throws open the door to Lady Anna's suite. Inside, she finds Anna and Alexios both struggling to breathe becuase of a black dog sitting on their chests. The black dogs look at Theresa with their tails wagging happily. Theresa manifests her fey presence and calls the black dogs to her, and they excitedly leap off their victims and bound over to her for pats and praise before slipping away through the walls when her fey presence fades.

Guided by Hermione's sorcery, the adventurers locate a hand of glory in the kitchen just inside an external door. Extinguishing the burning candle on the palm of the hand of glory ends the spell over the household, making the mist throughout Broughton Hall dissipate and the nightmares fade for the sleepers. Anna and Alexios are both grateful to Theresa for saving them from the elf assassin, and Anna plans to inform Adralestor straightaway. Hermione checks on Wesley, who doesn't remember anything about his dreams.