In Upchurch, Valerius suddenly finds himself free of Lady Geraldine's powerful enchantment. The magician in black, his mind now clear, cunningly persuades Vandoren to play his song of freedom on the rest of the enspelled consortes, releasing each man in turn from the Lady's fell influence. However, Vandoren cannot or will not use the song on himself, and thus the minstrel himself remains ensorcelled.

Meanwhile St. James attempts to rid himself of his strange green sword, but he finds that despite his best intentions he just cannot will himself to part with the weapon.

The group meets in the manor house to debate what to do next: some propose another raid on Hecatesseus, while others suggest heading to Antace to battle Orestes and Busirane, and others suggest visiting the Anchoress of Abberlane. Valerius, perhaps influenced by his recent dream, strongly urges his fellows against opposing Hecatesseus at this juncture.

In the end the majority elects to head for Abberlane to determine what mischief King Tereus has in store for the saintly Anchoress there. Led by Mendelor, Sir Hamral, Vandoren, Owen, Purer, St. James, and Valerius steal into the occupied lands. Noxumbra and Mendelor both report that the area is heavily patrolled by ruck-men, and soon enough a large scouting party begins tracking down the intruders.

The group meets the ruckish patrol head-on and makes quick work of the ruckish conscripts. Soon after the battle is won Friar Sidrach arrives, apologizing for his lateness.

The next day the expedition reaches the outskirts of Abberlane, which is still populated by about eighty Pentians and a small garrison of Black-Blades, who are bivouacked in the old church. St. James and Owen sneak into town and scout around. They note that about twenty ruck troopers occupy the village, and that guards are posted around the small stone shrine where the Anchoress dwells.

St. James and Owen accost a villager they find on the street, who warns the strangers to be careful or else the wrath of Busirane will be brought down on the peasants of Abberlane. The skittish villager also notes that the garrison is under the command of a Black-Blade captain named Mog. When St. James and Owen notice this same villager heading straight for the ruckish headquarters, they catch back up with the man, take him into an empty barn, and subdue him—leaving the poor fellow hog-tied in the hay loft.

Back on the street, Owen and St. James are finally spotted by a Black-Blade watch and ordered to halt. Instead, the two rogues use some flasks of ruckish fire to set fire to the church, and then the two men flee Abberlane, screaming their heads off with a sizable band of Black-Blades in hot pursuit.

Owen and St. James lead their pursuers right into the arms of the other consortes, and a tough fight follows. These ruck-men soon prove themselves to be tough veterans and not raw conscripts. Friar Sidrach calls down the wrath of the Five to smite many of the ruck-men, while Valerius conjures up a monstrous elephant made of earth as well as a poisonous cloud. Vandoren blasts several troopers with a burst of screeching sound while his dog Achrach stalks the edges of the battle, pulling down and mauling stray rucks. Mendelor, St. James, and Owen wade into bloody hand-to-hand fighting while Sir Hamral, mounted on Fiasco, charges in and out of the battle. And Purer waits attentively with healing miracles to bolster any of his friends who appear seriously wounded.

Once these Black-Blades are dispatched, the entire expedition moves into the village, where the streets have completely emptied. Near the shrine of the Anchoress, five elite Black-Blades calmly wait the arrival of the expedition.

Mendelor immediately charges, but the Black-Blades coolly cut him down. The woodsman is spared an ignominious death only because Owen plunges into the fray and hauls his fallen comrade out of harm's way. Although the Black-Blades fight fiercely, they are soon worn down by the relentless assault and are all slain.

Once everyone has regained their breath, the members of the expedition move forward to speak with the Anchoress, who reveals that the ruck-men have treated her fairly well during the occupation. Although King Tereus has ordered that no ruck is allowed to speak with her, and no Pentian is allowed to approach her shrine, the Black-Blades have continued to provide her with food and water. Friar Sidrach, sensing that there may be some great, hidden significance in this curious command, asks the Anchoress how might the war between the Pentians and the ruck-men be ended. She answers, "Even the fallen may be redeemed." As a token of his gratitude, Friar Sidrach leaves a box of miraculous incense behind with her.

The Anchoress is clearly a woman of great faith and no little power. While near her shrine Vandoren finds that his faerie psaltery Plucksome refuses to play nicely; the minstrel also finds himself free of Geraldine's spell. Similarly, St. James finds that he is able to leave the green sword behind without any ill effects.

The Roleplaying Award (RP) includes PBM responses as well as participation in the live session.