Valerius, Mot, Friar Sidrach, Mendelor, and St. James leave Upchurch for Heremac, where Valerius has important business. At the Friar's urging, the group first makes a side trek to the Hagges' Cave, to see how the converted Rucks of the Ebon Quill have been faring.

While still several miles away, our heroes spot many trails of smoke rising from around the entrance of the Cave. Fearing that the Rucks of the Quill have been attacked by Busirane, the group advances cautiously—only to discover that the converted rucks are alive and well. In fact, their ranks are swollen with dozens of new recruits, and they now number over a hundred in all. The rucks have kept busy, raiding Busirane and industriously fortifying their positions.

The visiting consortes are greeted with great deference by the rucks, who are particularly awed by the sight of Noxumbra. Mark and Luke welcome their old friends warmly, and relate all of their recent exploits against Busirane. Friar Sidrach seizes upon the opportunity to preach to the converted rucks, who in turn eagerly absorb his sermons.

After staying with the rucks for one night, the group continues on to Heremac, slipping quietly into town. That first night, Valerius visits the Vavasor and is surprised to find that his master's house is clean and orderly, and the master himself is both alert and composed. The strangely amiable Vavasor assures his pupil that certain 'mutual acquaintances' were not offended by Valerius's refusal to accept their help back at Gwynnon. The Vavasor also invites Valerius to stay the night, but the lanky magician senses something amiss and moves on. Upon returning the next day, Valerius finds the house a shambles and mysteriously, the Vavasor has again been reduced to a wretched and confused state.

The group visits Roger, and learns that his business ventures have suffered an inexplicable series of reversals in recent weeks. Valerius charges Roger with finding the location of Rud and Bartle—though the magician cautions his fellows to be wary of what they tell Roger in the future, fearing that he is somehow compromised.

Valerius begins his important research in earnest, and discovers the wondrous properties of the enchanted items won at the Hagges' Cave. The black candle, when lit, casts inky darkness instead of light—but whoever holds the candle can see perfectly well in spite of the murk. The elfin arrow causes those it strikes to fall into a deep sleep. The wine grants the drinker the gift of fine speech—even Mot! The unguent allows the wearer to fly in the air like a bird. And the sparkling dust creates the illusion of whatever the user imagines to appear in the air. Only the nature of the blessed incense remains unknown.

Meanwhile, Mendelor and Friar Sidrach pay a visit to the Bergenian Abbey at the Shrine of St. Marius, where they are given an audience with Abbot Peter. They explain St. James' s recent, peculiar behavior, and voice their suspicion that the young man is laboring under a curse acquired while combating pagan magic at the Priory of St. Auratien. The Abbot agrees to help the young man, and suggests that maybe St. James could enter the monastery for a few days, during which time the brothers would attempt to discover what ails him and effect a cure.

Mendelor then visits Lady Isabelle of Derwich, to see if she has heard anything from Sir Reginald since he left on his quest to restore the maimed Sir Charles of the Axe. While Isabelle has had no word from the knight, she has the strong sense that Sir Reginald is alive and well, wherever he is.

Against all counsel, St. James attempts to meet once more with Maggie. Only after much persuasion and no small amount of deceit does the hapless thief agree to enter the monastery. However, once within the hallowed walls he creates such disorder that after only two days the distraught brothers gladly release him back into the care of his friends, his curse seemingly gripping him even more strongly than ever.

Roger reports that Rud and Bartle are staying in a small house not far from the Seeker's citadel. St. James scouts out the place, and discovers that Rud and Bartle rarely leave their home. At one point St. James steals inside the house, but finds little of interest. The consortes debate what to do with the rogues, with Friar Sidrach arguing passionately against further violence, while Valerius demands that vengeance be extracted.

In the meantime, St. James finds it harder and harder to resist the siren song of Maggie: clearly, his love will not be suppressed for long. Desperate, our heroes dispatch Mendelor to the Seeker's Citadel, in the hope that he will find a Brother-Knight who will cure the thief of his exasperating curse. Mendelor is granted a secret audience with no less a figure than Brother Gregory the Risen. A stern and imposing man, Gregory was once given important information by our heroes, who used only a mysterious black feather to identify themselves. Gregory agrees to help, and sends Mendelor back to retrieve his friends, escorted by two Seeker bodyguards.

Our heroes trick St. James into following them to the Citadel, where they are brought in through a secret entrance. Once inside, Brother Gregory invokes a mighty prayer to the Five that washes the curse of Cythenus away from St. James. Friar Sidrach asks Gregory to treat the Rucks of the Quill with mercy, but the zealous Seeker only agrees to delay their slaughter. Gregory then announces that he has repaid his debt, but that he has occasional use for men such as the consortes—and that he may well call on our heroes for assistance in the future.

While Valerius continues to labor away on his research, Tim approaches the rest of our group in the Bristling Boar. Still acting his smarmy self, he tries to learn the nature of our heroes' mission to Heremac. After being rebuffed, Tim 'gives' the consortes permission to do whatever they wish to Rud and Bartle—clearly, an invitation to a trap.

Once Valerius completes his work, the group decides to temporarily forgo pursing Rud and Bartle. Instead, the group hatches a plan to further frustrate the rucks—by disrupting the popular lottery held by Prince Briareus. Our heroes rally the Rucks of the Ebon Quill and then drive deep into the territory occupied by Briareus. After a few days of scouting, this rag-tag army locates the Black-blade troops that are charged with moving from outpost to outpost, collecting treasure and chits for their Prince's infernal lottery.

The Rucks of the Quill prepare an ambush and Briareus's troops walk straight into the trap. Valerius uses the enchanted dust to create the semblance of Prince Busirane, while the Rucks of the Quill pretend to be his own bodyguard. As the converted rucks emerge from hiding, Mark and Luke shout loudly, "Prince Busirane demands his tribute!"

At this, Briareus's guards—said to be hand-picked from his most trusted troops—stop dead in their tracks, weapons drawn. As one, they all drop their weapons and flee the scene as fast as their legs can carry them, leaving behind all of their prince's loot. The gleeful Rucks of the Quill delight in such easy pickings, though a few lament the deplorable lack of bloodshed.

Hoping that this action will cause great upheaval in Briareus's ranks—and not wishing to remain to see the aftermath—our heroes turn south toward Canglen, intending to head from there for the Blackwell. Along the way they attempt to establish Roger as a sort of broker to the Rucks of the Quill—someone who could exchange any treasure looted from Busirane for needed weapons and supplies.

Once in Canglen, Friar Sidrach attempts to secure an audience with Bishop Martin, in hope of getting the Pentian Rucks of the Quill formally recognized by his Grace and the Church. However, Vandoren's father Dunstan is unable to arrange for a meeting. Meanwhile, St. James tries to stir up trouble and Valerius pursues rumors of other magicians in Canglen.

Valerius hears scattered stories of two figures who resemble the mysterious pair encountered at Owl Island. A man known as Thorus and a silent companion were said to dwell in an old, dingy house on the outskirts of Canglen. Our heroes investigate and find the place abandoned. However, a thorough search uncovers a hidden trap door, which only Valerius can open. The door leads to a secret cellar with magical writing on the floors and some beds against the wall. Mendelor believes that people have been down in the cellar since the episode at Owl Island—though no one appears to have visited within the last few months. While searching the cellar, St. James finds a hidden compartment in the wall. Inside is a small silver ring with the image of a tower, a couple of beakers, and a scroll of parchment with arcane writing.

Valerius takes up the scroll and scans its contents. However, he accidentally triggers a sorcerous trap, causing the scroll to explode. Everyone in the cellar is badly hurt, but Valerius lies stricken on the floor, dying. Friar Sidrach is able to save the magician, and the group decides to stay in the house until Valerius has recovered sufficiently to travel.

All values are given as 3E experience points. Dirk and Vandoren's RP awards are from responses to PBM 60, while Valerius's Other award is from a stupendous experience point project: painting dozens of ruck miniatures to create a small army of Black-blades.