Characters: Zak Trueblood (Rel Vobud) - Pat[0], Mena Timaly (Time Renald) - Denise[0], Lorraine Jace (Lori) - Marie[0], Jethro (Tom) - Dean[0], Kesh (Tes Larya) - Kim[0], Andre () - Gene[0],
The party has a race against time to get back to Gimel before LeBlank can kill the Duke. LeBlank has a 5 day lead on them but does not know they are coming. They also can travel both day and night if the horses last. They meet Sean on their way to Jordan.
Sean has learned that LeBlank was seen heading east toward Tussic two nights before! Seems he stayed in town for a few days after the party left. He left for the east early the morning before last. Sean followed the party for a few miles till he was sure that LeBlank was heading for Tussic. He returned and took the mountain road west from Jordan to try and find the party. He meets them on the his second day.
The party makes good time but has trouble with their cargo. They are stopped by a group, led by a man named Benson. He is from Tussic and claims that someone was killed by a vampire shortly after a wagon meeting their description traveled through town about two weeks ago. They demand the right to search the cargo. They do not have any official permission to search but are willing to fight to get access to the crates. Zak tries to calm them by telling them the truth about how they are trying to save the vampire, but the group will not listen. As soon as they learn that the vampire is on the cart, they charge. A sleep spell hits two of them and they fall, another is hit and killed by a bow show and the wagon is driven quickly through them and on to the north.
Afterwards, Zak tells Lena of the event and asks if she did kill someone there. She admits that she was overcome by hunger and killed a drunk on the road. Zak has great feelings of conflict over the entire mission and spends a great time in prayer. He now feels a strong drive to learn more about the Temple in Kovel.
LeBlank does not know what happened to his ninjas but fears the worst. He feels that the party would be easily kept at bay by his guard at the castle. He plans to kill the Duke before the party could return and get help.
The party will get to Gimel in time to warn the Duke but must find LeBlank in town. The Duke sends out a search party looking for LeBlank but they discover nothing.
LeBlank learns from the search parties that the party survived. He now plans to kill each of the party and the Duke. He does not know about the vampire.
They entered the town and asked O'Rorke if she would let them stay and store something in your warehouse. She agrees and the party put Lena in the warehouse. They disguise the coffin as several boxes and store it in the back of the warehouse.
They take Lena out for a 'hunting' trip one evening where she kills a large dear and feeds. The party has venison to eat the next day.
After exhausting their normal channels for information, they decide to check out the bar, town square, etc. for information. Cassandra discovers someone who seems to be picking pockets near the Temple and follows him to a small building next to the Glass shop. He seems to change clothes and return for more 'hunting' on the temple grounds. He is almost caught by a person that Cassandra later learns is an administration official in the guard.
Several others try to check out the bar. Mena leaves for the bathroom but never comes back.
Mena sees someone who looks like Jim. She follows him afraid that if she goes back to tell the party, she will lose him. After following him for some time, She is hit with a sleep spell and is captured. She has been taken by the thievs guild who fear she may be a member of the black glove. They question her using force to get the 'truth' out of her. Once they see that she knows nothing, they leave her for dead in a back alley.
The party is concerned since both Cassandra and Mena both missing. They return to the warehouse to discuss and tell Lena that folks are missing. As they are talking, the door slams open and in walks Cassandra. She has been in disguise and had seen Mena leave but did not know where she was. She had searched but had not found any evidence.