In Upchurch, Purer Grundy attempts to scry on the enemy. While he is unable to establish a vision of Hecatesseus, he is able to see a vision of Prince Busirane moving among the ruckish camps outside Heremac. As Purer watches, Busirane passes through the ranks of the Cataphracts and enters a great, sumptuously decorated tent. Inside, on an ornate throne sits an imposing figure in purple robes, his face hidden beneath an iron mask fashioned like the terrible visage of a hawk. The masked face seems to turn toward Purer and the vision abruptly ends. Valerius, watching nearby, speculates that Purer may have glimpsed King Tereus himself, a figure that none of the consortes have yet beheld.

Sir Hamral, Valerius, Vandoren, Mendelor, Dominic, and Purer travel to the Shrine of the Ebon Quill, where Purer finally meets the converted rucks who dwell at the Shrine. Vandoren stands before the great stone pentifix and sings of the saintly martyrs Luke and Mark. Prince Nestor arrives shortly, and Sir Hamral presents a gift of cattle to the appreciative rucks.

The consortes meet privately with Nestor, offering him the sword Narthanc, taken from Orestes. Nestor recognize the sword, as it was once wielded by his brother Briareus and by ancient ruckish kings before him. Nestor politely declines the gift, prefering his humble oaken club. Purer asks if the hawk-headed figure he saw in his vision was King Tereus, a suspicion Nestor confirms, noting that no ruck has ever been known to see Tereus unmasked. The consortes ask if Nestor would be willing to lead some of his converted rucks into battle to help deliver Heremac, and Nestor accepts this request. Sir Hamral suggests that Nestor lead a chosen band of rucks and take up position at the Hagges Cave, a little south of Heremac.

At Sir Hamral's request, Vandoren composes a letter to Count Durrell, informing him of Nestor's force. Hamral also warns his liege of Lady Geraldine and the corruption at Langdale Hall. Valerius sends a separate letter to Hecatesseus, offering asylum if the magician should forsake King Tereus.

Valerius withdraws from the Shrine and sets up the black pavilion, where he begins preparation for a dangerous summoning. In seclusion, the magician in black calls up the Lord of the Thirty-First Smithy, a fiery spirit of terrible aspect. Valerius bargains with the Lord, offering the spirit the sword Narthanc in exchange for two magicked talismans that would assist in combating enchanted constructs like the Mighty Servant of Hecatesseus. The spirit agrees to this bargain, taking the sword and leaving behind the talismans.

That night Valerius receives, in his dreams, an answer to his offer of asylum. A haughty Hecatesseus rejects the proposal, claiming that once his colossus is completed, the magician will conquer the Frounter and rule over man and ruck alike.

In light of all this, the consortes decide to scout out the defenses around Derwich. In a heavy snowstorm Mendelor loses his bearings, taking the band several miles off course. Meanwhile one of Hecatesseus's bronze eagles spies the scouts. Valerius conjures up some air elementals to give chase, but the eagle flies away, presumably to report on the scout's position.

As darkness falls over the wilderness, and with Derwich still several hours off, Valerius uses his magic to call up a magnificent shelter for the entire group. The next morning, the group awakes to discover two bronze lions waiting outside the shelter. The consortes prepare for the coming strife. Valerius conjures up several aeolean sharks and sends them out against the lions. The rest of the group follows shortly after.

The lions prove to be just as formidable as ever, though this time the consortes are better equipped to fend off razor-sharp claws and fangs of bronze. In the end, both lions are destroyed, but Mendelor, Dominic, Vandoren, and Purer are all turned to stone, leaving only Valerius and Hamral still standing whole.

Valerius conjures up a magicked steed and races off to Upchurch, where he finds Friar Sidrach. After a brief discussion the two men then hustle back to the scene of battle, where the Friar's earnest prayers to the Five break the enchantment and return his friends to flesh.

While the entire group debates the next course of action, a band of Cataphracts—probably dispatched from Derwich—surrounds the scouts and launches an ambush. The soldiers hurl their javelins and then rush in with ruckblades drawn.

Dominic and Valerius use magic to escape from the assault, bringing Purer and Vandoren with them. Mendelor and Hamral are left behind to receive the brunt of Cataphracts' charge. While the two fighters stand their ground with axe and sword against the onslaught, the rest of the group circles back to lay on spellwork, conjuring air elementals, fireballs, lightning bolts, and mesmerizing patterns of colors.

The Cataphracts prove worthy of their fearsome reputation, but Hamral and Mendelor hold the line. In the end, all of the ruck-men lie dead, save for two enchanted by one of Vandoren's potent charms.

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