After an inspection of Ward's rapier, she determines that it is unique, lacking the typical markings of a crafted magical weapon. It demands her name, though she is unsure whether she actually hears it.

Vera goes to what it known as the new fountain to meet Thorn. The fountain has a statue of a dancing woman, newly added ribbons holding wishes tied to her arms. Thorn arrives at nightfall. They answer Vera's questions from their letter, stating that they are from a hometown near Vera's, their name is Thorn, and they are here to stop Vera from destroying the world. They lead Vera to the realization that pursuing their father would only lead to their friends choosing to use their blood to create the portals needed to restore their loved ones from the shards. Vera thinks that's mean to their friends, and that that wouldn't happen. Thorn, unable to change Vera's mind, states that they will stay out of Vera's hair in the future. The two bond over the coolness of their wild shapes—Thorn shows off a deep crow, a form they learned in the Deep Reaches of the Underdark.

Mira's yellow box has an incoming message, which Mira accepts. An image of Greyson is projected, some sort of log he was keeping. He had arrived at the coordinates Mira had last been known, finding nothing at all at that location. He laments that he has to find something, or else Logir will commit new atrocities. He further laments that he has nothing good to say to Mira, as his mission is to turn her over to her "fucked up dad." He decides it's probably best to just lie to her—once he finds her. He soon after locates one of the shards, realizing that she was probably taken by it. He mocks the idea of waiting for another incursion which would take him to the same shard as Mira. Then another incursion does indeed happen. The next recording is of him in a cave, declaring that he is pretty sure he's in hell. He leaves a message for whoever finds the box, asking them to tell Mira to keep running. He explains that he had hoped he could protect even one person from Logir by not openly defying him, hoping to keep him even remotely in check. A third recording, in which Greyson has been trapped in "hell" for an extended time, rambling about whatever happens to come to mind. He tells Mira that he hopes she's living a good life. He says that his own father had attempted to kill him, so they have that in common. Meeting Mira's moms changed his life; he tells Mira to pick her family, because that's who matters. A final recording plays, Greyson on the stage of the ship pre-fire. Logir had contacted him; Greyson hopes to play along long enough to sabotage him. He tells Mira that he is proud of her, and that her moms would be as well. He tells her to be kinder to herself, as what is happening is not her fault or her responsibility. She can choose to shoulder that burden, but she needs to forgive herself. Logir calls, causing him to rush the rest of his message. Casey is alive, and he should find her if she's ever back home, except she shouldn't be home.

As everyone is getting started for the day, Dorean finds a letter written in crayon to her.

Dear Dorean,
Hi, it's Merely. I have to leave. I'll be fine. Okay. Love you, bye.
[A drawing of Merely waving.]

Dorean writes a letter in return, telling her to take care of herself. After discussion with the party, adds a note requesting an estimate on how long she thinks she'll be gone. Ward and Leonora decide to work together to work on the project she had been working on with Merely, starting at square one to make up for Merely's vibes-based methods.

Abernathy determines that the temple that has been sharded was the resting place of Schvarok

Vera pesters Beck about Giermund, eventually backed up by Cici who declares that Giermund is smitten with her. After a brief argument, Beck retreats to her room with a bottle of whiskey.

Vera also bothers Alibi about her and Sapphire. Things have been too chaotic of late for them to have really had the chance to discuss anything. Alibi requests that Vera leave things alone.

Mira tries to get a response from the yellow box, asking why it chose then to give her Greyson's messages but is otherwise not responding to her; it does not respond. Edger arrives, comments how the past has a way of catching up to one in the dark, then offers another round of training. She realizes that the darkness of the temple has been replaced by stars, viewed through a viewport on her mother's flagship. She looks down at a planet in obvious conflict, battles visible from space. Shadow Mira appears next to her and says that he won't stop, and can't be stopped. They aren't strong enough, will never be strong enough. Mira refuses to give up, nonetheless. When she wakes, Edger observes that she has progressed as far as she likely would at this location, but that she did do better than he did. He teleports her back to the edge of town and departs. Mira, concerned about the presence of the Eternal Horizon and general chaos in town, returns to the airship.

Ward and Vera ask Cecily about Belxari—how she's missing when the gods are supposed to be gone, primarily. Cecily says that Belxari and Xelbari are playing by their own rules, and have been the entire time. Belxari in particular is essentially holding down the fort in the absence of the gods. She is unlikely to request anything of him, and is generally cool and would not directly harm him. She is goddess of Bonds, meaning both the bonds between friends and enemies, as well as the duty you owe to them. She then points out that because the Fourth Act is going to lie low for a while, the party can choose where they're going next. Vera and Ward suggest Oceanside, as Luna has business with the Phantom Eyes there. Cecily does not like that, but realizes that the crew would flay Ward alive if they found out they weren't invited to go to Oceanside.

Once Vera and Ward leave, Mira arrives back at the airship. She tells Cecily that her dad is looking for her, and that he's worse than Fulkin. Cecily lets her know vaguely what happened while she was gone.

Returning

• Ashley - played by Mia
• Thorn
• Cecily Cardew
• Alibi
• Abernathy
• Edger

Mentioned

• Wengir
• Sapphire
• Talthis Vim
• Suspicious as heck raven
• Belxari
• Xelbari