The party awoke at the Verbatim camp; none had returned during the night. The party then set out in search of any survivors from the raid on the Verbatim camp. Neither Gerba nor Marissa could pick up the trail, and after four hours of fruitless searching, the party returned to the encampment to find that a number of strange automata were razing the empty tents there, and then they started attacking the party. The automata proved to be stubborn opponents, but they were destroyed nonetheless.

The post-battle search of the encampment produced the discovery of a Verbatim, who fell afoul, almost fatally, of Gerba's nervous hair trigger finger. After some healing, apologies, and reassurances, the sect member turned out to be quite helpful, giving the party more insight into the Followers of the Key, including being willing to guide the party to the Followers' leader, Garmundi.

An unproductive discussion over what to do next was cut short when Terrick the Grey abruptly went through the portal to the demiplane that served as the Followers' hideout. Marissa quickly followed Terrick, and then so did the rest of the party, along with their Follower guide. A flurry of shapechanging by Terrick lifted the party out of the cold sea they found themselves in, and onto the rocky island where the Followers' Shadow Castle was.

Once in the castle, the party found Garmundi, who was ranting didactically to an attentive yugoloth, called Jewelled Eye. A series of discussions then took place between party members and Garmundi, party members and Jewelled Eye, and among the party members themselves, while Daft explored the Shadow Castle.

Just as a course of action was being decided upon, Daft was attacked by a quartet of cat-like shadow creatures he somehow aroused. The party swung into action, but soon found itself outmatched. Daft and Terrick tried to stay out of the creatures' reach. Gerba ran to appeal to Jewelled Eye for aid. Chloe was downed. Two mezzoloths appeared. Marissa went to Chloe's aid, but found herself alone with the creatures when one mezzoloth teleported away with Chloe. Then the other mezzoloth 'ported away with Marissa. That left Grundel alone, as he had waded back into the fight. Fortunately for him, though, the ceatures suddenly faded away.