In Antace, the consortes debate the best next course of action. St. James’s proposed expedition to the Blackwell is considered and rejected. A few men suggest volunteering to return the King’s body to Seycorte. Valerius proffers creating a distraction that will allow the army at Antace to escape, perhaps by launching a raid to destroy Prince Busirane’s beloved stable of war-horses. Mendelor suggests attacking Derwich, Busirane’s seat of power. Friar Sidrach wants to first find Sir Ervin, the brave knight who had been transformed into an owl by Hecatesseus, Busirane’s wizard. Although St. James protests that “this philanthropy buggers me,” the rest agree to first find Sir Ervin.

To this end Noxumbra is dispatched, and she soon finds some local crows who know of an odd owl that sleeps by night and flies by day. The crows’ directions allow the Friar to find Sir Ervin, and by calling upon the blessings of the Five, the Gerardian restores to transformed knight to his natural form. Valerius approaches the knight, and promises to help Sir Ervin find his revenge against the Master Wizard, Hecatesseus.

Vandoren and Sir Hamral approach Lord Charles about escorting King Weremach’s body beyond the enemy lines. Charles consults with the King’s Marshall, Sir Fulk of Sutherland, and the two men accept this proposal. Given the distance to Seycorte, all agree that Heremac is a better destination. In preparation, Vandoren scouts out the enemy and finds two potential openings whereby the consortes might be able to sneak through, using invisibility.

After some discussion, the group decides to leave Antace by a different route altogether: Lorn Pond. Two boats are requisitioned and King Weremach’s body is placed aboard. Valerius summons up Sushool the water elemental, who swiftly carries the boats to the pond’s northern outlet. The boats then move downstream, toward Eredy—where the ruck-men have built a small fort ringed by watch-towers.

The boats are abandoned, and the group sneaks around the towers. Valerius summons up another water elemental, Whorloon, who holds back the flow of Eredy Stream long enough for the entire group to cross over to the north side. The group carries the king’s body into Wimm Copse, bound for the old ogre cave.

The group soon runs into a small patrol of Black-blades, who sound an alarm. After a quick fight the consortes reach the cave and spend a relatively peaceful night. The next day they continue overland and reach Heremac.

Once within the city walls they head straight for the Seeker’s Citadel, where they are given an audience with the Grand Master of the Order, Alan of Belfort. The Seeker gladly receives the king’s body, and upon hearing about the grave plight of the Pentian forces at Anatace, declares a major offensive against Prince Busirane. The Seeker force will be led by none other than the Brother-Knight, Gregory the Risen.

While Gregory raises his army, the consortes head back to Antace. They decide to waylay the rucks at Eredy, hoping to distract and confuse Busirane. Valerius conjures up a series of sorcerous horrors: sticky webs, deadly vapors, and terrifying monsters. Meanwhile the archers practice their deadly craft upon the rucks on the ramparts, and within minutes the entire garrison is in retreat, leaving behind a burning fort and scores of dead ruck-men.

Continuing on, the consortes arrive at Antace just as a terrible battle unfolds between Busirane’s army and the defenders of Antace. While the ruckish legions drive hard against the Pentian soldiers, Hecatesseus flies above the battle, periodically swooping down to launch a bolt of lightning or cast a cone of cold. The consortes watch as Baron Huon of Gower is badly wounded, and Lord Charles orders a retreat. The Pentian armies withdraw behind the great gates of Antace Castle. However, Hecatesseus soars down and casts a mighty spell that transmutes the gates to dust. The rucks surge forward into the breach.

The consortes debate what to do, but most agree that the raid on Eredy has sapped their strength, and the armies of Busirane are too vast to attempt to directly intervene in the fighting. Instead, the group steals over to the Prince’s camp, to see what trouble they might cause there. The consortes find that Busirane has left a moderate guard over his camp, and before anything more can be learned Busirane, frustrated by his inability to capture the outer ward of the castle, withdraws from the battlefield.

The consortes use this opportunity to reenter Antace castle with news of the coming Seeker army.

The Roleplaying Award (RP) includes PBM responses as well as participation in the live session. The Other Award was for a couple of cool XP Projects: Curt painted up miniatures for Nod, Hecatesseus, Marcus, and King Tereus, while Tom wrote an extensive background for his character.