The sorrowful consortes return to Upchurch, bringing with them the bodies of poor Purer and Sidrach for burial. Father Anselm reports that Count Durrell has dispatched many messengers far and wide, each bearing an urgent summons for Sir Hamral to attend an audience in Utterbol. Hamral at once mounts Fiasco and rides for his liege lord's castle.

Once there Hamral is brought before the Count of Kirke and first learns that his wife Isabelle has given birth to a son, Errol. Sir Durrell also tells Hamral that Heremac has fallen, Grand Master Edric is a captive of the rucks, Sir Reginald slain, and Gregory driven mad with grief. The Seeker Order is said to have been shattered while defending Heremac.

While Hamral visits his wife and new son, Valerius and a selected few meet with the Lady of the Keep, who does not give over any of the wondrous items carried or worn by Hecatesseus, claiming many of them were once gifts from her. The Lady seems sad, distant, and a little more aged, claiming she can no longer foresee what it to come.

Owen and Dominic are sent on a mission into the occupied lands near Derwich. There they meet with Terwit, leader of the Derwich raiders, to tell him that young Errol, the heir to Derwich has been born. This joyous news is enough to convince the remnants of the raiders to make at once for Utterbol.

Meanwhile, the rest of the group locate and interview Brother Gregory the Risen, a man utterly broken by the Seeker's defeat at Heremac. To their horror, the consortes learn that Gregory has utterly lost his faith, and has fallen prey to the temptations of the Vavasor. Gregory demands Valerius give him the mysterious book containing the name of the Enormitie; Gregory is convinced that he might somehow use the book to destroy Tereus once and for all.

Valerius rebukes Gregory, and is soon after approached by the Vavasor himself, who also demands the book. Again Valerius refuses, even though the Vavasor threatens to bring terrible harm to Valerius's friends. Sensing that his former master now lacks the means to make good on this threat, Valerius stands firm.

Vexed, the Vavasor attacks, calling upon his infernal magic to smite the consortes. However, Valerius anticipates each of his master's moves, and successfully counters many of the Vavasor's spells, allowing the rest of the consortes to move in and surround the dark magician. The Vavasor's imp familiar offers up a fight, but in the end the ruined magician is undone and slain, and in death the Vavasor once more looks at peace.

The Vavasor bore several interesting items of power, including a sword of vile nature; the more useful things are divided up amongst the consortes. Valerius then conjures up the Lord of the Thirty-First Smithy and trades away the Vavasor's sword, a pair of protective bracers, and the ruckblade Golgath in exchange for a magic hammer for Draak.

The consortes then travel to Canglen to try to find Gregory, but he has disappeared following the fight with the Vavasor. Vandoren meets with his father Dunstan, who explains how the crusading armies have stalled out in Canglen, the great leaders paralyzed by indecision and internal squabbling in the wake of Heremac's fall. Dunstan gives his son a wand of healing from the stores of the Diocese.

Meanwhile Hamral approaches the mighty crusading lords. Although by nature a man of few words, his great anger at the other nobles inspires the Bailiff of Upchurch to make a great speech before the many noblemen, shaming the crusaders for their indolence and inciting them to battle. Hamral's stirring words are more enough to rouse the army, and straight away the invigorated crusaders break camp and begin the march for Heremac.

Halfway to Heremac, King Tereus sends an army of rucks to intercept the crusaders. The ruck-men are seasoned veterans, and the once the battle is join victory sways back and forth between the two sides. But ere the end of the day, Sir Hamral's leadership and his sword prove just enough to break the ruckish force; the ruckish survivors fly back to Heremac while the crusading army rests.

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