Dorean wakes up in Invicta's bed alone. Dorean's armor has been cleaned and placed by one of the doors. The furniture is expensive and the bed large and comfy, which she observes as she is putting her armor back on. She finds Invicta preparing breakfast, and the two sit down to eat. Invicta questions how long Dorean will still be in town. She knew a lot of people had good things to say about the party, especially since they had done more than necessary in some cases. She appreciates how much care they have shown compared to other adventuring groups. She has been inspired to be more intrepid and dig a little deeper. She also expresses interest in seeing Dorean again; they agree to try to keep in contact. Invicta offers to walk Dorean back to the airship.

There is a crowd surrounding the airship, looking at an axe-wielding half-ogre flanked by two armadillo creatures facing off against some of the crew and the rest of the party. The half-ogre introduces himself as Tub, leader of the Thumpers. He observes that there is a bounty out for Talthis' head, but he did a great service the night before in protecting the townsfolk. In exchange for not taking him, he exiles Talthis from ever entering Moghra again. Vera notes that he has been forced to relay this information, but would very much like to have a good fight with the powerful paladin. He recommends they leave. Luna and Vera spot two goblins in the crowd sharing a single facial scar.

Based on the damage of the ship, Talthis gives the crew three days to make repairs to the ship before they leave. Hobbs and Vinter arrive, and Hobbs somewhat reluctantly apologizes for attacking Talthis the previous night. Talthis says that he is still welcome to join them on the trip to Kitheroc. The three part on decent terms. Invicta observes that Hobbs and Vinter are known heroes around the area, then requests that they escort her home. Invicta kisses the back of Dorean's knuckles and says that perhaps Dorean can return it some day. Dorean short-circuits.

Ward suggests to Dorean that if she's willing to bring Vera in on the mystery potion, Vera is able to prepare Locate Object, which could be useful for finding the rest of the shipment. Dorean agrees to talk to Vera about it, as not using that resource seems like a waste.

Luna gathers Mira, Ward, and Cecily to discuss the situation with Elliard and the mystery organization. Ward tells her about the meeting with Elliard and that the organization is involved and that there is now a shard in the area. He expresses concern about the organization perhaps coming into the area and and doing something suspicious with the mutagenic extraterrestrial corpse. Cecily agrees to set a watch of sorts, but also observes that she would be surprised for them to come somewhere so close to a town. Because of the size of it, she says she will look into the viability of burning the corpse to prevent future looters. While she has the three there, she tells them to sit down while she explains what they're doing in the area. The Fourth Act has been assisting the Shard Research League with looking into the Incident. It is suspected that one of the higher-ups in the Organization is headquartered in the area. The vault in Kitheroc is supposed to have plans and documents that are related to that. She isn't willing to give him more details for security reasons beyond that the entity in question is nobility in Kitheroc. Ward, Luna, and Mira agree to tell Eck, Dorean, and Vera the bare minimum information about the Incident as something happening without any knowledge is worse than sharing some of it.

Ward casts Mending and repairs the back of Luna's outfit. He questions Luna about her torn clothes and if she needs pants. Luna does not give a satisfying answer.

Vera and Eck are basking in the glow of the gay. Eck and Vera discuss the meeting Cecily had the night before. After some questions, Vera identifies the witch and confirms that it was a good thing she wasn't there. The witch they had met had helped curse her to not be able to take her dragon form, but she has been without the form for so long that she forgets to ask powerful mages she meets if they can help. Eck promises to help her remember in the future because they both deserve to be dragons together.

Ward, Luna, and Mira explain to the rest of the party that there is an organization that they encountered that has beef with them and that they have beef with. Ward intends to actively cause them problems, which is cause for the others to know just in case. Dorean produces one of the vials for the group and explains they know about it. They suspect that perhaps the vials are related to the Shady Motherfuckers, though that is mostly just a hunch. They request that Vera use Locate Object the next day to try to locate the rest of the vials of strange potions. They also decide to try to commission a snowglobe for Talthis the next day.

Mira is alone in a balmy tropical climate in preparation for a training regimen. While she is stretching, the ground beneath her errputs as a large hand made of concentrated ki attempts to grab her. She successfully dodges, and her master, a tortle, applauds her. He then scolds her for not being alert enough to dodge his other hand and grabs her with another ki-hand and flings her skyward. He observes that she is an accomplished fighter, but she isn't in tune with herself, she lacks certainty. She is not willing to make her own path. He sets her on another task in hopes that she will come out stronger on the other side. He swiftly touches her forehead, and her consciousness falls away into a formless black void. In the distance she can see ruins and dying flames, and suddenly she appears in front of herself, hands bloody, hair torn and jet black. "How could you let this happen?" The other Mira charges her, and Mira wakes up. She tastes blood in her mouth.

The group eats breakfast and goes into town to begin their plans. Dorean is not enthused by the shenanigans about the ensue so goes off to do some errands for the Fourth Act with Mira. While Ward and Vera are unable to find a glassblower, one person is able to sell them a lamp cover which they can use and gives them directions to a shop where they might be able to find someone who can help them with the figures they want to put in it. Upon arrival, they find a building designed for a small race with an overgrown yard and a perfectly circlar archway. The archways has small mushrooms painted on it. A squat, pale-skinned, grayed red curly hair in a long knit cap. When told about the snowglobe, he asks if they have permission from the Prince of Winter to make their snowglobe. Eck suggests glitter or confetti, which the man finds agreeable. He and Ward discuss and decide on freezedried pixiedust. Walter puts his glasses on, is surprised to find that Eck is not a tall person, observes that Luna is a weird elf, and that Vera is a cursed tiefling. When he sees Ward, he panicks and calls Ward his excellency and several other titles. Ward walks out, Eck following in shock. Walter panics because he needed to give him a gift before he left. He decides to make the snowglobe his gift, Vera and Luna representing him. He makes a snowglobe with six gophers of appropriate sizes to represent the party.

Ward requests that Eck wait until Vera and Luna come back. Once they do, Ward explains that the full title is Marquis de Cailleamhan, Warden of the Fur, Lord of the Autumn Court, and several more because there are so many. He doesn't have access to any of the powers afforded his position because of the Shattering also breaking his connection with the land. He says that Dorean and Mira should probably be told because it would be awkward if they found out later. He requests that they otherwise completely forget anything about it. Vera hands over the snowglobe with an explanation of Walter's obeying of the rules, then races Eck back to Dorean and Mira. Everything is explained in shorthand, Luna explains that she is exceptionally proportioned for people from her reality as well as this one, and Vera remembers that she's supposed to be looking for more mysterious potions.

Introduced

• Gilly - big-pigtailed, goggled gnome woman, ship engineer
• Twin rogue goblins
• Edger - Mira's master, seen in a dream
• Walter - toymaker from the court of winter

Returning

• Invicta
• Talthis Vim
• Cecily Cardew

Mentioned

• Kiono
• Kitano

• Pants (Luna, from the costume department)
• Street lamp cover (Ward, 6 silver)
• 10gp (Vera, from Luna for her hoard)