After a long and dangerous battle with Etali, the Primal Storm, the group emerges victorious and are able to free the women and children that had been locked in the cages. The give the expected story of having been attacked by bandits and dragged away as the fighting occurred at the caravan, then Etali attacked the camp. After searching the camp for information, they find only a lockbox. They then deal with the bodies at the camp and take a short rest before heading back to town with the people they rescued. During their rest, Luna apologizes to Dorean for having used the Cloak of the Rat Bastard to make Dorean take an attack for her. Dorean says it was fine, confused by her needing to apologize for it since they had previously agreed it would be okay.

Ward also talks to Edwin, asking if the blood spells he used were why he was called the Red Prince, which Edwin partially confirms, though doesn't explain any other factors. When asked, he does explain that the place he grew up was peculiar, and he learned magic from a blood witch. Being able to use his own vitality as well as the shed blood of his enemies is useful when in his line of work. He observes that the adventure was a novel experience and quite different than what he is used to. He also laments that the sort of friends he has, compared to Ward, are of a much different sort due to why they were together. Prompted, Edwin explains that Chosen Faron wanted extra security because of the increased bandit activity. Both observe that there are more guards in the city and fewer patrols outside it, defeating the purpose to an extent. Also he had helped his sister, a wizard named Almandine, move.

Returning to Kitheroc, Edwin offers to help the freed captives using his government connections. The group returns to the airship and conveys what information they gleaned about the Red Prince and his crew.

They meet up with Edwin the next morning at the Adventurer Guild to turn in their quest. Kinomine explains that Etali's hunting grounds are usually farther east, so it is strange that he had moved so close to the city. She provides the group with the reward for the quest. She says the group will likely be ablke to be promoted to the next rank since they dealt with a higher rank quest than they are.

Ward Sends Modrod a request to find any weaknesses that he might exploit when fighting the Duke. He also Sends to Xelbari, telling him that several parties are concerned about his absence, and inquiring whether he needs assistance; a firey portal appears beneath him, dragging him in. Luna follows through. The pair are deposited on a stone floor, surrounded by carnage and blood, the bodies of demons and angels alike scattered everywhere. The room is black marble streaked with gold, the sky perpetual lightning. Atop a black marble throne is a haggard tiefling, staring down at them. Xelbari explains that he has been busy, and that Ward does not want to know—he desires to know, sure, but would not enjoy the consequences. He instructs Ward to tell Alan that the store is his, as he will likely not be needing it any time soon. As more enemies begin to approach, he sends them back home along with a stale bagel, which Ward immediately eats. Home again, Luna scolds Ward for engaging in dangerous activities, though he admittedly only cast the Sending spell, which doesn't have these sorts of results most of the time.

And then it's Luna's birthday. At the Adventurer Guild, the bounty for the Under Jarl goes up, causing some commotion. The Fourth Act and her friends give Luna birthday gifts. Cecily follows this up with assigning the group their task for the job. The main crew has food poisoning, so the backup crew is taking their job, which means the party will be acting as a distraction. She hands them their scripts as half the party panicks about having lines.

Returning

• Edwin - the Red Prince
• Adze
• Rukker
• Kinomine
• Xelbari

Mentioned

• Chosen Faron
• Almandine - Edwin's sister/wizard
• Alan
• Sapphire
• Alibi

• Dinosaur leather (30 lbs)
• Dinosaur teeth (8m by Eck)
• Pristine Etali fang (1, by Eck)
• 48gp 6s (found by Luna, given to Eck)
• Lockbox (by Ward)
• pouch of gold (849gp 57sp; distributed evenly to the party)
• note - information about the caravan
• Magic inks (50gp, by Ward to copy Sleep)
• 180pp (for the quest, divided 6 ways between the party)
• Purple butterfly hairclip (Luna, from Dorean)
• Braided Etali leather necklace (Luna, from Eck)
• Fancy dagger (Luna, from Cecily)
• Silver and amethyst hair clip (Luna, from Talthis)
• Absurdly elaborate dress (Luna, from the costume dept)
• Bracelet (Luna, from Mira)
• Sexy kitty 'outfit' (Luna, from Vera)
• Sheet music (Luna, from Ward)

• The bagel Xelbari gave Ward increased his charisma by 4 points, then decreased it by 1.