In Antace, the consortes spread the joyous news about the expected Seeker reinforcements, led by Brother Gregory the Risen. St. James and Renton head off to Heremac while the rest of the group meet with Sir Charles of the Axe. The Castellan relates that his current plan is to break through the ruckish siege line and make for Heremac, abandoning the castle.

The next day Prince Busirane’s army attacks, and a long, hard assault follows. Many casualties are taken on both sides, but the ruck-men have a distinct advantage over the outmatched defenders. Just when it appears that the Pentian lines are about to collapse, Gregory arrives on the field with his band of Seekers. Busirane immediately charges the new arrivals, and he and Gregory are soon battling one-on-one. Gregory then delivers a blow of such force that it unhorses the Ruckish Prince, who tumbles into the earth, stunned. On seeing their leader brought down, the rucks—now led by the Cataphract captains—promptly pull back from Antace.

That night Antace is filled with much celebration. Sir Garnfellow, who had ridden with Sir Galen from Upchurch, seeks out his old friends and fills them in on recent happenings to the north.

Later in the evening the consortes launch a raid on Busirane’s camp. Under a cloak of invisibility they infiltrate the ruckish forces, heading for the stables. Once there Valerius conjures up fatal vapors that destroy a third of Busirane’s prized war-horses and send the entire camp into confusion. While the invisible group steals back out they pass Hecatesseus, responding to the furious alarms. The consortes resist the temptation to press their luck and instead continue on their way.

The consortes give a full accounting of their raid to Gregory, who agrees to pass the information on to Sir Fulk and Sir Charles. The next day, Gregory reveals, the Pentian army will attempt to break free of Busirane’s iron clasp.

The consortes decide to head straight for Tymgram, where they hope they will best be able to aid the fleeing army. However, as the day wears on there is no sign of Sir Charles or his men. Noxumbra reports that the battle had gone disastrously for the Pentians, who remain hemmed in at Antace.

Prince Busirane, it seems, was in a such a terrible fury that he led the ruckish assault personally, ripping through the Pentian lines. Hecatesseus created a strange magicked wave that tore through the defenders; Orestes avenged his dead brother Enceladus by slaying Cuthred of Stowcross. And Busirane killed Sir Fulk, the King’s Marshall—forcing the Pentians to withdraw.

Desperate to help, Vandoren employs some magic to send a taunting message to Busirane, in the hope that the Prince will become so enraged that he abandons the siege to pursue the consortes.

The message says, “Sorry to have missed you, old friend. Too bad you won’t be able to catch up with us, now that you’re on foot. First Eredy, what next?”

That night the group heads for the Hagges’ Cave in Wimm Copse. At midnight, the weather takes a sudden turn for the worse: black clouds smother the stars while a fierce wind rages from the north. Blinding cascades of heavy snow begin to fall.

By dawn the snow is almost a foot deep, visibility is severely limited, and the winds have toppled many great trees nearby. Mendelor has never seen such a storm, and Valerius suspects it is of unnatural origin. The consortes hunker down in the cave.

Shortly after dawn the storm ends, just as abruptly as it had began. Noxumbra reports in with stunning news from Antace: the Pentian armies had attacked in the midst of the storm, utterly surprising the rucks. Led by Sir Charles of the Axe, the Pentians broke through the siege lines and continued on to destroy Busirane’s camp, driving the Prince’s shattered armies before them like dogs. The Ruckish Prince refused to quit the field, and had to be dragged away screaming by the Cataphracts.

The Roleplaying Award (RP) includes PBM responses as well as participation in the live session. Valerius’s Other Award was for a series of Seeker miniatures that Curt painted.