While getting their tattoos removed at the mages guild, Cardos is recognised as possibly having had something to do with a death of a mage about a year ago. Dee uses her feminine wiles to meet with Alfred, and uses a Charm spell to lure him back to camp. After a bout of tickle torture, he reveals the secret of the Warlord�s energy shield. He is compelled to exit the country, post haste.
While planning their raid on the castle, the party receives a ghostly visitor. It is the spirit of the General, seeking vengeance on the Warlord after he was betrayed during the battle with the Party by a useless teleport potion. He reveals that Archer�s sister has been dead for months, and holds information for Cardos and Helix (the location of Cardos�s treasure, and the location of Helix�s father.) These items are kept in a dungeon under the castle, which is highly trapped. He also reveals the location of the staff that powers the Warlord�s shield, and the numbers of soldiers in the keep.
All tactical information is shared with Tygon and Brightflame, and the group forms a plan. Cardos has doubts, and after much debate, the plan is strengthened. Cardos and Dee make separate visit to town to get supplies for the mission.
Cardos leaves to infiltrate the Warlord�s stronghold. A day or two later, the Talons gallop out of camp. The camp breaks to give pursuit.
Cardos infiltrates the stronghold, using his invisibility to gain entry. After a day of scouting around, he fomulates a plan to betray the Talons to the Warlord.
After five days of riding, the group arrives at the warlord�s stronghold with Tygon's and Brightflame's soldiers hot on their trail. After letting them through the shield, the warlord traps them between the shield and the stronghold gate, and hits a disguised Brightflame and an overprotective Dee with a bolt of lightning from the sky. Helix provides cover with his shield as Archer shoots the warlord, who retreats. Dee feeds Brightflame the last Regeneration potion. Brightflame recovers and burns down the stronghold gate. The shield goes down.
Tygon and his troops arrive. The group advances into the stronghold, an epic battle ensues. Helix�s weapon arm is disabled, but he continues to literally kick ass. Archer and Brightflame advance on the main tower. Dee drinks a red potion, collapses. Tygon�s men gain the upper hand.
An invisible Cardos ambushes the Warlord, killing him with a poisoned shortsword. The others arrive. The Warlord�s spirit leaves his body, turning it to dust, indicating Necromancy.
An investigation of the Warlord�s personal room reveals a nurse with a 9-month-old half-elven baby. After a short questioning session, Archer sharply leaves. The party moves on to the Seneschal�s room, and the official is found hiding in his closet by Dee. Cardos finds the password to the warlord�s treasury, leaves to use it.
The Seneschal shows Dee to the warlord�s library. She discovers a crystal ball and she tries to use it, but is overwhelmed by too many images. She does some research, and then searches for the dungeon vault.
Cardos opens the treasury with the password �Elon,� and promptly begins stealing jewels and an iron rod. He turns invisible and flees after being discovered. The rest of the group investigates but are too late.
Archer goes and talks with Sarah, the nurse, and takes the baby to Carmen. He reveals the child as being the son of his sister and the Warlord. He names the baby Romen, the masculine version of �Sunrise� in Elven, which was also the name of Archer�s sister. He now remembers his past.
Helix goes to see Tygon and Brightflame, and is asked about Cardos�s whereabouts. Cardos arrives, but turns invisible again before he can be apprehended. He is not seen again.
Dee leads the party to the dungeon vault, where the items the Warlord holds over the party are kept. A force shield prevents them from entering. Archer is driven into a rage by an illusion of his sister. After fetching Carmen, the party begin to try passwords. Archer tries his sister�s name, and the shield drops. Archer enters, but the shield rises again, and a gas trap is triggered. Dee deducts the real password, and Archer and the items are rescued.
The party returns to upstairs, their items and memories restored. Brightflame offers the party rooms in his newly acquired stronghold. Tygon issues a warrant for Cardos.