The party decides to attend the lizardfolk feast, where they eat their fill of freshly killed rhino beast. After the feats, Arthas and Yolotmassi aren't feeling well, so they retire to a quiet part of the caves to recover. Lor is feeling conflicted about the party's relationship with Ssik'Silith, so he retreats into the jungle to commune with Daimu. Elaryan, Eovan, and Malak go to sleep in the caves. In the middle of the night, Elaryan transforms into a bear. Panicked by the unfamiliar surroundings and smell of lizardfolk, the bear attacks the sleeping Malak and Elaryan. Elaryan courageously retreats, while Malak transforms into his own hybrid form, lashing out with claws and fiery breath. In the end, dragon defeats bear; the unconscious Elaryan reverts back to human form. Meanwhile, Eovan finds Lor in the jungle, and explains the predicament. Using his superior knowledge of nature, Lor diagnoses Elaryan with lycanthropy, and prepares an herbal remedy that he claims will cure the affliction. They return to the caves, and as Lor is tending to their friend, Malak attacks the already-wounded Eovan, knocking the half-elf unconscious. Lor calms everyone down, and heals the party's wounds, but his lycanthropy cure is unsuccessful. The heroes decide to use the Bird Token to summon help. Elaryan is forced to spend the next three nights in the jungle, so that he won't accidentally harm anyone. The first night that the elf is back with the party, Malak waits until he is asleep, and steals his Wax Doll, a powerful artifact that contains a piece of Elaryan's soul, and therefor allows the wielder to control hiss every action. In the morning, Elaryan realizaes that the Doll is missing, and immediately suspects Malak. He begins to cast a spell, but before he can complete it, Malak throws the Doll to the ground. Unfortunatley, the young sorcerer misjudges his own strength, and destroys the doll. Elaryan spends the next 24 hours grieviously ill. Lor reveals that Daimu has granted him a collapsible keep, so at least the party does not have to spend another night in Ssik'Silith's lair. The halfling erects the keep in a clearing the jungle, and the party rests there. The next morning, they are (finally) greeted by four senior members of the Inverted Pyramid: Moynath Autumnsong, the shoal elf who sent them to the valley; Aranthas el'Turiel, the elven ambassador to Anestral (and the father or Eovan and Yolotomassi); Jevicca Nor, a mysterious woman with a red glass arm; and Iniah Croesh, a powerful wizardess who is permanently invisible. The heroes bring the Pyramid Masters up to speed, and learn in return that more than a year has passed while they have been in the valley. The war is not going well for Anestral, and Lord Rail has sworn to root out any arcane magic in his capital. His clerics are also working to erect an anti-arcane barrier over the city, which will cause the Inverted Pyramid to fall from the sky. The Masters are divided regarding next steps: should they work with the Uldivai princes to return the city to flight (possibly providing Anestral with a powerful weapon against Talism)? Or should they focus on finding a way to move the Pyramid to a safer location? They decide to retreat to the safety of the guild to discuss their options. Everyone who plays gains 500 XP. As payment for their work in the valley, Moynath gives each hero a handy haversack . ⇚ Excape from Hell The Strange Tale of... ⇛