The party is teleported into a shallow pit at a glowing rune. The only sound is the steady dripping of water. They move from this cavern into a secondary cavern with water and several doors. One door does not open, one opens into further watery caverns, and the third opens to a watery cavern with low muttering. They enter the room with the muttering, further water and columns holding up the ceiling, ornate patterning in the floor. A curious black metal object is in the middle of the room—perhaps a meteorite—and the muttering stops. An entity steps out from behind the rock and demands they not step closer and for their identities. Vera introduces themself and explains that they're looking for the Heart of Fear; the entity is looking for a relic for their master, K'ysuelikoch, but does not know what that relic is. They are trying to determine whether the strange rock—which Mira recognizes as crystaline rock that has traveled through the atmostphere—is the relic they were sent for. They request that the party meet their master, waiting through the southern doors of the room. Mira wants to first check the northern set of doors—there is a diagram on the floor of the room and spiggots of water pouring into pools on the sides of the room. Unable to continue further north, they return to the entity in the meteorite room. They explain that to the north are many enemies, while south is a complex which is being explored by its siblings. Not wanting to fight unknown numbers of hoards of enemies, the party agrees to meet with its master. It leads them the "safer route," cautioning silence as they pass through one of the rooms.

They are led to a large, fish-like creature who also speaks with telepathy. Their empire was shattered long ago, pieces of it ending up scattered across the many planes. It is aware of Dihada's Heart, and offers to help if they help it find the Singing Orb they are seeking. It explains that the doors respond to songs, but finding the correct one is difficult. The orb is sequestered in a hidden location, but it can be used to navigate the doors. They agree to help potentially locate the orb if they can. K'ysuelikoch fares them each farewell using their full names and titles where applicable, mildly alarming most people. As they leave, a low moan echoes through the cavern, which frightens Ward, but otherwise nothing happens. Matching the pale blue stone is a pale blue creatures on the ceiling, its wings folded around itself to blend in with the stalagtites. Vera acknowledges it, and it flees. A few moments later, another creature attempts to yoink Eck from the water, but it is unable to and also flees. As they pass through the Sleeping One's room from before, Ward notices an inscription on the sarcofagus: "Do not disturb wha tlies within. Do not call the booming death."

They find the spawn from previously, seemingly crushed by the meteorite in an attempt to move it. Mira's yellow box emerges of its own volition, grabbing the box, and returning to Mira's pocket. Luna unlocks the southern door, activating a trap in the process. She is teleported into the room and ends up severely injurred. They are able to dispell the magic affecting her before she is killed outright, though it does prompt the group to take a breather to allow her to recover. They realize that the room they are in, a small study, is entirely dry, the moisture in the air repelled by a glowing orb in the wall. Ward inspects a book on the desk, finding on the first page the inscription, "From the Unparalleled Mind of the archwizard Votuum."

"While not the heart I originally sought, this singing sphere is [neat. It repells water.] Handy for drying your laundry. That is a secondary property. It also serves to open the many doors in this spire; almost a master key, one might say. The doors will open if you match the tones exactly or close enoughly, bt it will nevertheless open anything. This lends further proof to my theory that this spire is not native to this realm, but was brought here for some purpose. The fears that dwell within ar enot using this place to its fullest potential. Such a waste. Regradless, this sphere proves a worthy object of my study and I will continue to [study for my purposes, but I have errands, I've made my room invisible to the fiends above, and have ensourceled the door.] Let's just say that they will have a lot of fun before they die abruptly. Hahahah!"

"I have determined that the orb is a central mechanism. It is not merely a key, but it serves as part of the apartatus that his tower is. I think I can turn this ineed to my purposes. unlock the veil and use them for my ends. Doorway to other realities, or once was. The tower seems broken or incomplete."

There are also many pages of notes, sketches and observations of the orb, also the spire as a spiral with notes about things being missing or broken. While they rest, Dorean hears K'ysuelikoch in her head, asking the party to join them so they can leave. They do so, using the orb to open the door to one of the rooms which contains a large chest. Some of K'ysuelikoch's spawn retrieve it for departure. K'ysuelikoch provides the group with directions to the Heart—north through the grove, at the doors continue north—and gives Dorean a diamond sphere, which they explain can be used to call upon K'ysuelikoch for help. It cuts a tear in the air, and they leave, a pressure on their minds releasing.

As they begin their trek north, the sharkman they saw earlier questions if they are prey. Two large fish emerge from the crevase in the room pursued by a very large frog, and combat ensues among them. The party avoids joining the fight, moving north to the mentioned grove. The grove is filled with glowing coral and flumphs, who are getting high off of the corals and invite the party to join. While inspecting the coral, Vera gazes into it, seeing a vision of a barbarian performing a cool attack, killing a white dragon in one hit. They come away with a temporary level in barbarian. Ward also gazes into the coral, but finds only the understanding that the coral is likely part of the creation of the Juice. They group continues northward, reaching a crossroads. Despite being told to go north, Vera veers right out of curiosity, finding a chest which they group is able to disable and unlock. On a bed of platinum: purple gem in the shape of an eye, a jade knife, and a folded piece of pitch black cloth with a silver border.

Opening the northern door, they find a round room with a central dais. A figure, speared through the chest, ruby-like crystal embedded in its chest, sits upon the dais. Its lower extremities are tentacles, a stone pillar pinning each limb in place, its face an expression of anguish and torment. In front of the dais on the floor is a young woman, white simple shift, firey orange red hair, sobbing, hands and feet dirty. Cecily, different from the one they know, eagerly turns to them, exclaiming, "Renn, you came!" She is disappointed to find that it was not, in fact, Renn.

Introduced

• K'ysuelikoch's spawn
• K'ysuelikoch

Returning

• Cecily Cardew?

Mentioned

• Dihada
• Casitus Jerrick
• Votuum