Seemingly pleased with Jeremi's success at returning the Chalice, the Jimalate promotes Jeremi within the ranks of the �tonist priesthood and immediately sends him on a mission. Long ago, a pre-�tonist prophet created a prison of sorts for ancient evil artifacts, in order to keep them safely out of the hands of evil-doers. The location of the stash has been lost, and the Jimalate seeks to find it in order to protect the artifacts from being used by evil cultists, power-hungry dictators, and other enemies of �ton. He orders Jeremi to the town of Marlona, to seek out an ancient library and discover the whereabouts of the tomb of artifacts. Once Jeremi has found the location, he is to report back to the Jimalate in Barrid in person.
The Company secure lodgings for the night for their brief stay in Barrid before they begin the journey to Marlona, far away to the east on the border of Esoria.
While at the Flying Pig Inn, Ferdinand Serrano, the bartender, delivers a message to Rafe, which reads simply "You shouldn't have come back."
The Comany travel to Marlona.
The 18th of Ebupell
The Company enter the outskirts of Marlona, a small city on the edge of the Esorian border. They see a small encampment of goblin performers and laborers living in a small shanty town on the river next to the town.
After crossing through the city gates and peace-bonding their weapons, the Company explore Marlona, which is hosting a large street fair. While wandering through town, they hear screams coming from the town center. A group of huge rats and a handful of "ratmen" are attacking the crowd. The company intervenes, driving off the ratmen and killing most of the huge rats. The town guard arrives seconds later, and allow the Company to keep their weapons unbonded for the duration of their stay in Marlona.
Moving through town later that night, the Company are surprised by the sudden appearance of two massive worm-creatures which materialize out of thin air and attack the them. After a fierce battle, the Company are victorious and defeat the worms, which disappear almost immediately afterwards. They are left wondering: Where did the worms come from, and why did they attack the company?
After much discussion, the heroes decide to go look for Alein. As they approach the shrine, they enter a supernaturally thick fog bank. Listening carefully, they hear a woman screaming and move hesistantly into the fog bank to try to find the source. Eventually they discover that two "men" (at least man-shaped) are carrying an unconscious woman in heavy armor and running away from the party. Rafe and Grumash run down the two men and effectively intimidate them into surrendering. The two men start babbling incoherent statements about "she must be out of the way for the gate to open". They then try to run from the company, but B'gokktem and Grumash subdue them with the flats of their weapons.
The party then awaken the woman, whose name is Torea. She is a junior-level paladin and assistant to Alein, whom has been kidnapped. She mentions that she recognizes one of her kidnappers, whom she saw at a bookstore and library a few days ago when "that man was killed." She promises to deliver the two men to the authorities, and the company return to their inn for some much-needed rest.
The 19th of Ebupell
After a short breakfast, the company hears the sounds of a crowd gathering outside. Investigating, they see on a raised dais a man who identifies himself as Ennito de Crusana, the "Primus �gis" (or "First Shield") of the Illumination. A cadre of Illumination soldiers dressed in black robes with red and white sashes surround him. He notes his disappointment that the town has allowed dwarven heathens to live near the city under the protection of the goblin river shanty-town. Crusana announces that he has executed the dwarves and forbids any goblins from entering the town for a month. He then explains that he will lead a group of Illumination soldiers over the border into Courriseux to try to find the encampment of the dwarves and put them to the sword. He will leave a "Shield" of the Illumination (approximately 20 troops) in Marlona to maintain the law of AEton in his absence. He also explains that he has detained the Prelate of Marlona, the elf Flin Polas, for not following
