After the battle with Minos, Sir Hamral recovers from his poisoning and the group returns to Upchurch, where they hear that Sarpedon is enraged over the death of his brother. The consortes also learn some interesting news: Tim Sharpe, it appears, is selling strange goods to Prince Busirane, mysterious items smuggled in from the south lands.

Sir John provides some insight into the affairs of Utterbol. Prince Nestor, it seems, has converted to Pentianity and given up drink. Upon hearing of his drunkard son's conversion, King Tereus ordered him thrown into the dungeons of Utterbol and installed Sarpedon in his stead.

Helena and Hermia ask Valerius to divine the meaning of a disturbing vision that both girls had seen in their dreams: an axe, broken, lying in the snow. Their master has no immediate answers, though several consortes wonder if this omen bodes ill for their friend Mendelor.

Valerius, St. James, Mendelor, Vandoren, Marcus, and Owen decide to investigate Tim's latest venture with the rucks. Before leaving Upchurch, Sir Hamral ensures that Sir John will be unable to alert his old ally of their movements.

The company travels toward Heremac and sets up an ambush for Tim's next shipment to Busirane. After a few day's wait they are able to overcome Tim's guards and seize a cartload filled with sacks of strange herbs and jars of curious substances. Valerius notes that these appear to be materials used in magical research. A note from Tim, written to an unnamed recipient, notes that future shipments will be hard to procure.

Tim's captured men are named Bron and Merl, and know little about the ultimate destination or purpose of their shipment. They do reveal the location and time of their rendezvous point. The company ties up the men in the wilderness and then makes for the rendezvous.

At the appointed time and place, two rucks arrive accompanied by a gigantic figure, shrouded in a huge cloak. The consortes spring their trap, easily slaying the rucks. But the towering figure, it turns out, is some sort of bizarre automaton, made all of brass and fashioned in the form of a muscled, bull-headed man.

The construct attacks relentlessly, and its metallic body proves nearly invulnerable to weapons and magic alike. Valerius conjures up a titanic creature like an elephant made out of earth to combat the brass man. The conjuration distracts the construct long enough to allow the party to escape.

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