The consortes barely have time to digest the terrible news from Upchurch before they begin to prepare for an expedition against the two remaining wives of Argus, Naome and Renah. Meanwhile, Kirke musters all of his armies for an all-out assault on Wolfgare and Prince Argus.

The consortes seek out the sole Pentian survivor of the ambush near the Shaithim’s Steps. The wretch tells how his patrol was surprised and swiftly overwhelmed by a formidable band of Argusaries led by Naome and Renah. The survivor believes that the wives have established a camp near the Steps; the nearest village to this location is named Dundren.

After lengthy counsel, the group decides to send some men to Dundren to find the wives and harry them long enough for Kirke to effect his attack on Wolfgare. Hamral, Mendelor, Marcus Atwater, Sidrach Landry, Vandoren, and Valerius all volunteer for the mission, while the rest of the group agree to stay behind with Kirke to assist at Wolfgare.

In order to vex any potential spies, Jacob and Pyers are dispatched to travel through Kirke’s ranks, spreading misinformation about the consortes’ mission. Later, under the cover of night, the group quietly slips out of Kirke’s camps and makes for Dundren.

The village is only a few days march from the camps, situated upon the banks of the Tyrn River, which marks the Harpish border. Dundren proves but a tiny settlement, and the locals are wary and hostile at the approach of strangers—that is, until they realize that Marcus the Lamarite is among the visitors. Their trust bolstered by this revelation, the villagers reveal that they are taking great precautions because they had fallen victim to raiding Argusaries only several days earlier. The bandits had swept into town, wrecked much havoc, and made off with three young boys, none of whom have been seen since. The villages confirm that Naome and Renah are still in the vicinity, and have recently been spotted nearby. Further, the villagers reveal that the witches are camped near the haunts of Jenny Shellycoat, a legendary monster that dwells in the river and is said to have a taste for small children.

The next day the consortes head for the river and quickly locate the enemy camp and there encounter a formidable band of Argusaries The battle that follows is hard, brutal, and bloody, with all of the Argusaries fighting to the death. While the fight rages, the two wives and a handful of their bodyguards slip across the Tyrn into Harplan and freedom. In the camp the three missing boys from Dundren are recovered. The boys can shed little light on the mystery of what Naome and Renah were doing with Jenny Shellycoat, though the wives had evidently threatened on several occasions to feed the boys to the monster. The boys also tell how the wives had quarreled that very morning, after learning that Wolfgare was under attack and Argus was fighting for his life. But while Renah wanted to rush back to Wolfgare and assist her husband, Naome insisted that they were too late and their only recourse was flight.

The villagers of Dundren are overjoyed to be reunited with their missing boys. The consortes decide against pursing the wives into Harplan, but instead rush off to Wolfgare. When they arrive there, they find that the battle is long over—the castle utterly destroyed, the rucks defeated, and Prince Argus himself a captive, bound for King Wenric’s castle in Seycorte.

All values are given as 3E experience points. The Roleplaying Award (RP) includes PBM responses as well as participation in the live session.