997: Alain makes an entry in his diary. Moreau picks up a quick commission for cleaning a Krinth noblewoman's dress. Lord Krinth has sided with Lord Percy Fraubard against the King, and has allowed mercenaries to stable their horses in the Church of the Cliff. The party finds that 23 churchmen are secretly being held prisoner there as well. Although unable to free them, at their request Alain rescues the relics: a sword, a sort of bag in the shape of a fish, a patchwork robe, and the Heart of Light. To his sorrow, he also learns that Belasius has been strangled. The town crier delivers the day's announcements. The party visits Savrishti's warehouse to order clothes. They meet Savrishti, and both he and Alain seem uneasy. Alain and Mariam quarrel, and Mariam stalks off. The rest change inns, leaving Ash behind at Mercy's to meet Mariam if she returns. Both Mariam and Ash are attacked separately by undead wielding poisoned daggers. Mariam escapes, but Ash is killed. Later that night, the party meets Laughing Bear while plotting their next move in the stables. He accompanies them when they go to attack Savrishti's warehouse; Llwyd/Gwen stays behind with the horses, gear, and Ash's body. After dispelling or fighting through several rooms of undead, traps, a flesh golem, and an enormous river dragon, the party is pulled through a magical gate into an unknown realm. At this time, the decoration on Alain's armor is seen to have changed from Alain fighting an ogre to the sun rising over a mountain with two peaks.