Faced with a grim decision, the party resolved to stop the sacrifice, though Eeyore remained indifferent to their choice. As they confronted Aesiri, the leader of the Howling Hatred recognized them instantly, calling them out by name and questioning their loyalty to the cult. The heroes played along, confirming their allegiance—only for Aesiri to command them to carry out the ritual sacrifice themselves.
Isaac, thinking quickly, volunteered to be the sacrifice, stepping forward in a deceptive maneuver. At the last second, the heroes launched their attack, catching their foes by surprise. However, Isaac suffered a painful shock upon touching the altar, the energies within striking him before the battle could unfold. Despite the initial setback, the heroes overpowered their enemies, striking down Aesiri—who dissipated into a swirling wisp of air, leaving behind her spear as the only trace of her existence.
Among the aftermath, they found Darreth, the original intended sacrifice, who gratefully joined their ranks.
As the group regrouped with Eeyore, tensions flared. Upon revealing his true form, Darreth grew suspicious, having encountered similar beings among the cultists. When Eeyore refused to deny any ties to them, Darreth readied an attack only for Yurian to strike him down, igniting a fierce dispute among the group. The disagreement led Eeyore to leave on his own, separating from the rest of the party.
Seeking refuge, the heroes returned to Riverguard Keep, choosing to rest before facing their next challenge. In the dead of night, an undead figure appeared, Xeiros being the first to witness its arrival. The creature assured them it meant no harm, stating that it was Darreth and had newfound strength to fight against the forces of evil.
Morning brought yet another unsettling discovery—Isaac was now covered in barnacles, a strange affliction reminiscent of Eeyore’s previous condition. The heroes, rejoined by Eeyore, chose to set off for supplies, making their way toward civilization.
During their travels, merchants spoke of a devastating explosion in Womford, claiming that it occurred shortly after priest-like figures arrived carrying an ominous box marked with strange symbols. The heroes pushed onward, reaching Beliard, only to witness a familiar sight—another procession of people carrying a similar marked box, marching through the town with unknown intentions.