The heroes awake in the ruins of the Temple District, returned to human form. They discover that several days have past, of which they have no memories. Yet each has been changed in some way by their exposure to the energy of the wardstone fragment. They make their way back across the lower city to the Inn of the Defender's Heart, where Irabeth Tirabade is waiting for them. Irabeth reveals that their transformation was seen by everyone in the city, and that word of the heroes-- whom the locals refer to as the Dragon, the Demon, the Angel, and the Beast-- has increased morale and restrengthened the convictions of the capital's defenders. Furthermore, Dierna Hillerchaun, the Commander of the Knights of the Pale, has requested an audience with the party. Hillerchaun's headquarters is a manor named Bladechapel in Oldtown, so the group makes their way to that section of the city. Oldtown is in better shape than those sections of the city closer to the Hellmouth, since it stands perched upon the city's lower plateau, above the worst of the Abyssal effects. The City Watch has erected a barricade between the lower ruins and the upper city, but they are glad to let Irabeth and her famous companions through. At Bladechapel, Commander Hillerchaun grants the heroes honorary membership into the Knights. She also shares a vision that she had from Iomedae, that sheds some light on recent events. Millennia ago, before Iomedae ascended into godhood, she was a paladin who fought in humanity's first wars against Hell. Her forces were victorious, and erected a series of mystical barriers-- the wardstones-- to prevent extraplanar forces from ever again entering the Prime Material Plane in large numbers. It was one of those stones that Baphomet and destroyed at the time of the Great Cataclysm. While destroying a single wardstone was not enough to open the floodgates to the Outer Planes, it was enough to allow the forces of the Abyss, particularly Baphomet and Deskari, to send agents among Anestral's population, forming the various chaos cults and building the Mrathrach machine. The Mrathrach, once activated from the Prime Material side, opened up the Hellmouth. The forces of the Abyss seek to expand its influence, but so far have been thwarted. Hillerchaun also reveals that it was Iomedae who granted the city-wide vision to the people of Anestral City. The goddess has spoke to her paladins, acknowledging that none of the heroes are perfect... and that some of them make unlikely champions in the battle between Good and Evil. But she is certain that the fate of humanity lies in the hands of these four mythic avengers. After a brief induction ceremony, Hillerchaun asks the party to follow her to the Noble's Quarter, as Lord Rail-- now King Rail-- wishes to thank them personally. The companions follow the Commander past Dalengard's walls, onto the the city's upper plateau, and into the Royal Palace. On the way, they receive quite a shock, for the ancient city of Ulduvai is now perched on the cliffs above the city. Once inside the palace, their shock grows, because Ulduvai's sorcerer-kings-- Banderak, Yakmar, and Yithdul-- are there, serving as advisers to King Rail. The sorcerer kings have offered to join the battle against the Abyssal forces, using their vast magic, their powerful dragon ally, and an infernal army that they claim to lead. Rail is suspicious of their intentions, of course, but is close to accepting their offer... until the companions convince him to let the party have a chance first. King rail agrees to stall the forces of Ulduvai, while the heroes try to close the Hellmouth. However, he warns that time is short. The Hellmouth demons grow bolder every day, the sorcerer-kings are impatient, and the forces of Talism are still a threat. Regarding the last, the king reveals that the Talismi capital has itself come under attack recently from sinister forces; an ancient Abyssal god named Ydersius has been raised from the dead, and his serpentfolk forces have overrun Talism. Rail actually seems relieved that his ancient foe has problems of their own. Leaving the palace, the party discusses strategy with Commander Hillerchaun. Malak is eager to march straight down the throat of the Hellmouth. Arthas suggetss sending a message to Talism, to see if they can be rallied around a common foe. And Hillerchaun tells of an ancient artifact, a banner known as the Sword of Valor, that Iomedae used in the First Crusade to banish the forces of evil and create the wardstones. That banner was displayed in the Gray Citadel, along with Radiance... and has probably been captured by the Hellmouth's agents. The party decides to regroup and explore some of the leads they uncovered while fighting the cultists, perhaps sending a message to Talism in the interim. They make their way to Bladechapel, where they rest for the night. Everyone who played gains 5,000 XP.
