Despite Skarrow and Sooney-Crow of No Family getting pretty banged up while fighting fire beetles, the party manages to make it back to the Thunder Folk Encampment without issue, where Burzu applies some healing and starts working on the potion to lift Shiv’s curse.

For his part, Shiv began to hear strange whispers from the The Blade of Graxus - will he listen?

Cleansing Waters was able to successfully train Piddling Streams to be a guard dog! No more surprise nighttime encounters!

Greer the Betrayer has been struggling with the knowledge that King Uldred sent them to Melek with a booby-trapped letter. He wants revenge! He wants to send a revenge note saying the Grey Guardian is coming for Crow's Keep and it’s the king’s own fault. Sooney-Crow of No Family talked some sense into him, reminding him they don’t even know if Uldred is the one who sent the booby trap.

They come to a compromise and decide to send a legit warning to Sir Garrett along with the booby-trapped note, so he knows treachery is afoot! They ask Malgur if he can spare a rider to get this warning to Crow's Keep, but Malgur demurs, saying he cannot spare anyone for folk who are not part of his tribe. He suggests formalizing the bond, either through a test of combat or a wedding.

Cleansing Waters is willing to fight as the Brotherhood’s champion, but in a twist that will live in infamy - Sooney-Crow of No Family confesses she is ready to leave the adventuring life behind and agrees to marry Malgur (RIP Sooney )!

As the tribe prepares for the wedding, Shiv quaffs the potion made by Burzu, and despite the awful taste - his curse is lifted!

That night, gathered in a circle, Burzu gives away Malgur and Shiv gives away Sooney. They pledge their wedding vows, and Sooney reveals SHE’S PREGNANT! Burzu declares them wed and the party begins! Fermented horse milk flows freely, and poor choices are made all around.

Greer eats weird meat on a dare!

Shiv falls asleep next to a fire (finally) and awakes with an adamantine dagger in his boot.

Cleansing Waters wrestles a bear to prove his strength. The bear wins.

A rider is dispatched to Crow’s Keep and Ulnuk volunteers to join the party as their quest continues…they ride north, leaving Sooney (and Cleansing Waters' hand) behind. The Brotherhood lost a powerful member, but who knows who they might find over the next hill…