In the morning, with their spirits dampened by the day's previous events, the Company reluctantly decide to continue exploring through the Banevault. They have yet to encounter any more creatures wearing bone rings, nor have they had sight of Thanali, who presumedly must have entered the Banevault and opened the sealed door with the key.
Continuing their exploration, the Company find several more traps which prove extremely dangerous. Kris is frozen near to death, and the only means the Company can find to revive him is to burn him, which does thaw the scout but does significant skin damage from the flames. Fortunately, Jeremi is able to heal him back to full strength.
At length, the Company come upon a room full of iron drums in disarray. Buried underneath is a human-sized metal creature with a mangled leg and missing eye. He turns to the Company and speaks with them. He reveals that he is Gerasimos, a guardian actually built by Danar thousands of years ago. He was damaged when powerful earthquakes rocked the area, and he became trapped underneath the iron drums. He mentions that a dark-skinned woman and two silver-colored dog creatures visited him earlier and promised to help him, but then left him here. He has an intense desire to "fix" the Banevault to make sure that the banes are never taken away from it. Through slow, deliberate conversation, the Company find out the following information:
* The Sealed Doors can be opened only by Danar's own touch
* The Banevault is divided into the Outer Vault, Inner Vault, and the Heart
* Danar fell to evil and became the Dread One. When this happened, the Inner Vaults and Heart were corrupted. The Outer Vaults are not in and of themselves evil, but there are long-term residual effects from the banes placed inside that give the whole area a taint of evil.
* Danar the Good had several allies, including a pegasus, a nymph, an "angel" with four wings, and his wife.
* The Dread One had several evil companions and cohorts, including the prison warden, a "blackguard", and a fallen angle.
* There is a sealing rod in the Heart that is the only thing that can reseal a Sealed Door.
* The Dread One was killed in a battle against powerful heroes in a fortress at the top of the Banevault's spire.
* Terrible geological upheavels have ruined many sections of the Banevault, which had to be rebuilt over the centuries.
* There is a specific order to activate the levels in the circular room, which he actually remembers.
* Gerasimos is surprised that the Banevault is visible to the outside world. Danar seemed to have had access to some kind of magic that sealed the entire structure away from the outside, making it not only invisible but also somehow incorporeal, as if it were not even there.
Gerasimos mentions that he would gladly help the Company fight their enemies, who seem to be trying to actually get into the rest of the Banevault. He does not condone any further exploration, and desires to return to work to make sure all of the defenses are properly in order. He also has difficult moving with his mangled leg. The Company decide to help him and begin to formulate a plan to help him. They are left to wonder, however, if Gerasimos will be a help or a hindrance.
The Company discusses their options regarding Gerasimos. They opt to have him repaired so that he can return to his duty of guarding the Banevault. However, they are at odds over whom they should approach for help. Jeremi surprises a few members of the Company by stating that he does not trust the local �tonist leadership with such a task, as he believes that they would rather destroy such a construct rather than repair it. After much discussion, they
decide to seek out the help of Sura Naraj of the Order of the Blue Eclipse for help in repairing Gerasimos.
It takes great effort to assist Gerasimos up to the surface. The Company take some much needed rest and refreshment at the Ghostly Minstrel tavern while awaiting dusk and the arrival of Sura Naraj. She seems surprised to see the Company again so quickly and asks how she can be of service. She comments that the members of the Company do not seem to stay down in the Banevault for very long stretches of time, and seems concerned that they are no nearer their goal of finding out who is trying to break into the vault. She mentions the name of a master craftsman, Iqbanepal, who is skilled in dealing with magical and mechanical devices. She believes the he should have the necessary skills to repair the guardian construct. She reminds the Company that she is paying them to do a job, and politely but firmly instructs them to quickly do it. With that, she takes her leave.
The Company seek out Iqbanepal in the Guildsmen District of town, but his shop is closed since it is after 9pm. Jeremi is determined to return to the Banevault, so the Company move across town to the library of Ishara Jagruti.
