In the city, they first visit the superiors of the Cathedral of Hallowed Tolnan, of which Kalimat is a member. The �tonist officials heal the Company and are able to resurrect Orongorg. The Company discuss the situation in the Banevault with the officials, including Brother Phabitor. They all seemed distressed that someone is trying to break into the Banevault and ask the Company to do all they can to prevent anyone from getting inside. One of the church members produces a scroll which he believes will help the Company discover the secrets of opening the door.
In the late evening, the Company encounter Sura Naraj at a local tavern and also fill her in on the day's events. She requests that the Company provide her with more information, specifically the name of the group or groups who are trying to infiltrate the Banevault. She promises that the Order of the Blue Eclipse will recompense them handsomely.
On their way back to their inn, the Company are approached by a man bearing a message from the local insane asylum. It seems that one of the inmates has asked for them specifically, and the man has been searching for them for hours.
At the asylum, the Company see the poor elf noble they saw the day before out on the streets who had clearly gone insane. He screams nonsensicals at the Company but seems intent on telling them that they "must find the key. The key that is a hand and the staff that is a knife." With that, he falls silent and the Company are left to ponder the meaning of the babblings of an obvious madman.
The Company meet to discuss the events that have transpired thus far, specifically recalling information given to them by the sage Ishara (that an ancient key said to be able to open the Banevault is in the possession of House Bhindum). They learn of House Bhindum's dire reputation in the community from Ishara, and of a warrior named Thanali who is part of the warrior caste (Sepoy Kpeshiya) of Bima Hara. Ishara explains that Thanali has a special vendetta against House Bhindum and might prove a strong ally in obtaining the key through stealth.
Later in the morning, the Company head back down into the breached section of the Banewarrens and talk with Kalimat, who still guards the sealed door. Uso uses the special scroll given to them by Brother Heth at the Cathedral of Hallowed Tolnan the day before. The arcane magick stored in the scroll spills forth, revealing to Uso that the seal on the door is more powerful than any current magick known to exist. Even the most powerful of spells, a wish, can only unseal the door for a brief moment. The only way to open the door permanently is through the use of a special key located somewhere in the city above. The scroll confirms their theory that House Bhindum is in possession of the key, and may not even know of its existence.
Returning to the Ghostly Minstrel tavern, the Company meet again with Sura Naraj of the Order of the Blue Eclipse. They fill her in on their progress, and mention that House Bhindum may have a way to unlock the door. Sura's main concern is discovering the identity of the other groups trying to get inside the Banevault and is not sure why the Company would need to go further inside to find out. Nevertheless, she shares her opinion on House Bhindum, which is unfavorable, and encourages the Company to continue working to find out the players involved in the breach of the Banewarrens. It is odd that the Banevault remained hidden for millennia, and were only recently discovered and have already been broken into.
After Sura Naraj leaves, the Company are startled by the unexpected appearance of Jeremi's companion, Estacio, who picked up the Company's trail and tracked them all the way to Bima Hara. He brings news from the West, which the Company find disturbing:
* War is upon the West. Troops are massing on the border of Esor�a and Courriseux and several minor skirmishes have already happened. The Rinjb�sch Republic is rumoured to be supplying Courriseux with weapons. Additionally, the Tharr� Imperia from the Imperial Theocracy are vowing to enter the war on the side of Courriseux to avenge their fallen dwarf comrades who were slaughtered by Illumination troops from Esor�a. The entire situation is very volatile and could shape the political future of the Buchlayne for the next several decades.
* The Crucible of Hallowed Laessal, which the Company returned safely to Shandril, is now missing again. A mysterious large man, dressed in black and wielding an evil mace broke into the small temple and stole the Crucible. He was accompanied by several unidentified humanoids.
* A few Junior Illuminators have been missing and two others from died of natural causes. These major changes are compounded by the fact that the Grand Illuminator is near retirement and the Senior Illuminator is much too old to take over for him.
