Although the hour is late, Ishara is awake and welcome the members of the Company. They explain to her their predicament - they wish to return to the Banevault immediately, but they would like someone to start repairing Gerasimos while they continue exploring. They ask Ishara if she will deliver Gerasimos to Iqbenepal sometime the next day. An elderly woman, Ishara does not seem very interested in leaving the comfort of her library to travel across town with a slow-moving construct creature. Eventually, the Company decide to stay in town over night and replenish their supplies the next morning as well as deliver Gerasimos to Iqbanepal in person.
The 3rd of Darkel
The Company meet Iqbenapel, a polite and humble master craftsman who agrees to attempt to repair Gerasimos. He takes 300 gold pieces as a down-payment for his services and promises to contact the Company when he has more news on his progress. Gerasimos remains relatively quiet during the transaction.
After resupplying, the Company head back toward the Banevault. Along the way, a small cat runs up to Si'lara and rubs himself on her legs while purring loudly. Looking down, Si'lara spies a small note attached to the cat's collar. The note, written by a druid of the Jade Circle in the nearby Ramhati forest, is addressed to Si'lara. The druid, Ru'laija, explains that one of the local merchant houses, House Ikhtiar, has begun clearing away large sections of the ancient Ramhati forest. Ru'laija does not provide much information, but does ask Si'lara if she and her "outcast" companions can try to stop House Ikhtiar before they succeed in destroying the whole forest.
A long debate ensues with the members of the Company as to the proper course of action. Jeremi is very adamant that at least he should return to "guard" the Banevault while the rest of the Company join Si'lara on her investigation of the forest. However, the Company is all too keenly aware that one person, alone, cannot survive for long in the Banevault. Images of the multilated body of Kalimat, Holy Warrior of �ton, spring to mind. Jeremi is convinced to join the rest of the Company to help their newest member.
On the way outside of town, the Company hear an old woman yelling for help and scolding a young foppish elf. As they turn to investigate, Si'lara is shocked to see one of her childhood friends from Minh, the aristocrat Emaarisil. Si'lara leaves the Company behind and approaches Emaarisil to question him. They talk for quite a while, and Emaarisil seems shocked to see Si'lara, but also genuinely happy and charming as ever. She is guarded with her responses, and after a while Emaarisil explains that it would be best for both of them if perhaps they didn't see each other for awhile.
As Si'lara rejoins the Company, four humans wielding kora swords and darts, and wearing lacquered leather armor, spring out from the bushes to attack. Another member of their group, a giantish man-creature with a huge club also lumbers toward the Company and strikes a powerful blow to Orongorg. The men have tattoos of tiger stripes on their faces and their armor bears the symbol of a white tiger silhouetted on a black circle. The Company realizes that this is the group known as the Ivory Tigers, a "secret society" of spies affiliated with House Ikhtiar.
During the fight, a well-appointed carriage arrives in the park and a very well-dressed man steps out. He wears a red fez and very fine clothing made of silk and exotic fabrics. Even from the distance, the Company can identify the man as Thakur sher-Ikhtiar, the head of House Ikhtiar. He watches the combat from a distance.
After the carriage pulls up, an invisible creature charges the Company and attacks. It is viscious, rending with its claws and powerful bite. Sebastian draws upon his magical tattoo and is eventually able to see the creature - a ghostly, fiendish lion. He does his best to direct the Company's attacks, but the creature is invisible and seems impervious to all but their most powerful blows.
During the combat, Uso turns himself invisible and sneaks over to the carriage, hoping to plant a suggestion on Thakur sher-Ikhtiar. However, somehow the leader of the house is able to detect Uso's presence and they begin a short parlay. Eventually, Uso is overcome with a powerful desire to help his new "friend" by asking the members of the Company to stop attacking the hellish cat creature. He makes his way back over to the Company, who have taken much damage. Sebastian is rendered unconscious twice by the creature. Suddenly, the hellcat breaks away from the combat and runs off into the distance. At around the same time, Thakur sher-Ikhtiar gets back into his carriage and speeds away, leaving the Company with many unanswered questions.
Cleaning their wounds, the Company approach Emaarisil, who remained strangely unhelpful during the entire combat. They question him intensely and he eventually reveals what little information he knows.
