After her harrowing escape, Shadow Bell returned to Stone Ring Pond, seeking solace among the druids. Meanwhile, Sol’andrus and Derek awoke in a locked chamber, their bodies drained of strength. While searching for an escape, they uncovered a secret door, only to be met with eerie gibbering in the darkness. Their caution did little to save them—the nightmare revealed itself in the form of a writhing mass of flesh, eyes, and mouths. The creature attacked, overwhelming them with grotesque fervor, and in a chilling end, both fell.
Back in Otari, Shadow Bell found an unexpected ally: Lightwing, a self-proclaimed mighty dragon who had come to assist Derek. The mayor had informed him of an adventuring group—including a dragon—investigating the ruins and pointed him toward the druids. Understanding the dangers ahead, Shadow Bell knew she could not continue alone. Together, they ventured into town, where Shadow Bell met Yinyasmere, who rewarded her for saving her employees.
Their conversation was interrupted by a peculiar stranger—a bright yellow, bird-like individual named Slych. He claimed to have arrived by the swamp and expressed keen interest in delving into the ruins with them. Borrowing some gold for supplies, he quickly bestowed informal nicknames upon his new companions—SB and LW—much to Shadow Bell’s dismay.
Meanwhile, Tangletop had also fled the Gauntlight, wandering into town in search of familiar faces. When he encountered Sol’andriel, he greeted him with enthusiasm, expressing immense relief that “Sol” had survived. However, Sol’andriel was confused—he had never met Tangletop before. As the conversation unfolded, realization struck: the small creature must have been speaking about his father, Sol’andrus, who had fallen within the ruins. Understanding the truth, Sol’andriel took Tangletop under his wing, honoring his father’s memory. With this newfound connection, he soon crossed paths with the rest of the adventurers and expressed his own desire to venture into the Gauntlight.
With their newfound strength, the party returned to the vaults, cautiously navigating its treacherous halls. Shadow Bell, guiding them as best as she could, led them through skirmishes against ghouls before stumbling upon an unsettling wooden statue of Belcorra, which attacked the group. Attempts to destroy it proved futile, prompting a hasty retreat.
The battles continued, ghouls falling before the adventurers’ blades. Their journey culminated in a return to the dreaded chamber—where Shadow Bell had once fled from the priestess’s overwhelming power. Now, strengthened by new allies and hardened by past failures, the group prepared for their reckoning. The fight ahead would be brutal, but this time, they would not run.