In Upchurch, Sir Hamral asks Dominic if he would assist the bailiff by overseeing the holding's finances, and Dominic accepts this offer. The consortes, after a brief debate, decide to travel to Derwich in order to investigate strange reports of an excavation there being conducted by Hecatesseus.

Sir Hamral, Vandoren, Dominic, Owen, Renton, Purer, St. James, and Valerius make for Derwich after a brief layover in Lownell. There they discover that the Count of Kirke has sent many troops to reinforce the manor against attacks from King Tereus. In an audience with Sir John, the Bastard explains that he has far fewer spies in Derwich now that Tereus has taken up residence there. Sir John also says that, for the time being, the ruck-men seem to be focusing their attention on Antace.

While on the road to Derwich, Valerius and St. James break away from the rest of the group to have a private discussion. Valerius examines St. James's new sword, which is made of a strange green metal about as heavy as steel but stronger. The baroque design of the curved weapon is also curious, unlike anything Valerius has seen before.

The magician in black confronts St. James about the weapon and the recent murders of Claudius, Bartle, and Tim. St. James admits that, while he cannot remember actually committing any of these deeds, he suspects that he is probably behind the murders. St. James also reveals that he received the sword from the long unseen Vavasor.

Aghast, Valerius rebukes his friend -- but St. James only shrugs off the reprimand, insisting that he knows perfectly well what he is doing. Valerius then demands that St. James tell everything about his dealings with the black magician. The young thief responds by calling aloud for the Vavasor, who miraculously appears out of nowhere. The Vavasor, still a wretched shadow of his former self, warmly greets Valerius, despite his old pupil's deep enmity.

The Vavasor calmly defends his arrangement with St. James and even proposes making a similar bargain with Valerius, offering up the ability to destroy Hecatesseus or drive Tereus out of the Frounter. Valerius spurns his old master's proposal and commands the Vavasor to depart -- and the black magician obeys.

A furious Valerius attempts to convince St. James of his error, but the thief is unmoved. Valerius then pulls Sir Hamral aside to apprise the Bailiff of this perilous development. Meanwhile Vandoren sings up a charm that allows him to examine St. James's memories, which appear to show that the thief actually pledged nothing in exchange for the sword -- knowledge which provides Valerius with only small comfort.

The company continues on to Derwich. On the first day out of Lownell, they spot a shipment of arms and equipment bound for Antace, but they avoid a confrontation.

The next day they come across a patrol of Black-Blades, seemingly arguing amongst themselves over the fate of a recaptured escapee. The company steals up on the ruck-men and launches an attack so precise and deadly that the entire patrol is swiftly wiped out, save for one lone ruck-man pinned down by Achrach.

The escapee is a woman named Janwyn; she had toiled as a slave at the excavation. What she reveals confirms Valerius's worst suspicion: Hecatesseus has discovered one of the Nine Colossi of the Limites, enormous magical constructs forged during the Tynan Empire. Janwyn reveals that only the lower half of the great colossus has yet been unearthed, and that even those exposed parts are in such poor condition that Hecatesseus has been laboring to repair the damaged sections.

The wizard, she reports, visits the site nearly every day and where he goes at night, no one knows. Janwyn provides directions to the excavation site and notes that there are usually between forty to a hundred human slaves toiling at the site; these wretches are housed in a nearby stockade when they are not digging. The consortes allow Janwyn to borrow Bear and give her directions back toward Lownell.

The company then interrogates the captured Black-Blade. The ruck-man confirms much of what Janwyn said, adding that the ruck-men guards are led by a commander named Glurach. The site, he claims, is only a couple of miles from Derwich and King Tereus's army.

After dispatching the captive, the company continues on, skirting wide of Derwich and moving into the Ruckish Hills, hoping to locate the secret cave of Hecatesseus. That night the expedition is attacked by two great lions made all of bronze. The monsters appear out of the darkness and one quickly leaps upon Valerius while the other lion rushes Renton.

The members of the expedition attempt to launch a counterattack, but the redoubtable lions are strong and armed with wickedly sharp claws and teeth made of bronze. And then the lions breathe magical vapors that transmute Valerius once again into unliving stone. A booming voice then calls out from the darkness and commands the consortes to throw down their weapons and cower before the might of Hecatesseus. At this, the company beats a hasty retreat. Dominic and Owen grab the petrified Valerius and flee through a magic portal, Hamral grabs Purer and rides off on Fiasco, and the rest of the group escape on foot.

Later the group regroups and heads back to Upchurch, after Vandoren sings a magical song that restores Valerius to flesh.

The Roleplaying Award (RP) includes PBM responses as well as participation in the live session. Vandoren's Other award is due to a poem he composed to honor the Lamarite.