The Green Dragon Brotherhood departs the Thunder Folk Encampment, saying goodbye to Sooney-Crow of No Family and continuing their quest to uncover what lies at the end of the map retrieved from the strange visitor slain by the Grey Guardian.

Ulnuk accompanies the party northwards and promptly gets them very, very lost. While trying to get themselves re-oriented, Shiv Drinkstep and Greer the Betrayer both have the sense they are being followed, catching glimpses of rustling bushes and furtive movement out of the corners of their eyes.

That night, Skarrow, a strange fey-touched humanoid, sneaks into camp and uses his druidic influence to tell Piddling Streams to hush, he’s a friend. The party is shocked to discover him sleeping around their campfire in the morning. Shiv Drinkstep is rightly confrontational, but Greer the Betrayer remembers Skarrow from before his…transformation. They served in the Shenzu Raiders together, and in fact, Skarrow served to distract Eldric the Bald while Greer made his escape (though it appears Skarrow does not remember being used in such fashion). Speaking of the Raiders, he informs the party they too have been stalking them for miles and miles. He asks to join the group proper, and is welcomed, though not warmly.

As they travel north, Shiv Drinkstep notices a War Eagle circling high above, likely tied to the Raiders and keeping tabs on the Brotherhood. They decide to ride hard for their destination. But as they begin to climb to the Argos Plateau, their horses buck and panic, terrified. Skarrow attempts to calm them, but they are afraid of “the dead, so many dead, so many.” The party recalls the whispers that the plateau is haunted and no horse may enter. Ulnuk cannot abide what’s happening to the horses, so he takes them and rides back to the Thunder Folk, wishing the party well, somewhat half-heartedly.

The party discusses ambushing the Raiders, knowing their horses will suffer the same fate, but instead decide to move quickly on foot, believing themselves to be lighter and more nimble than the heavily armed and armored Raiders. While pushing quickly through the rocky terrain, they glimpse a strange tall tower perched atop a high stone outcropping. Further investigation reveals nothing save several bodies twisted and crumpled at the base of the tower, seemingly Serpentfolk of advanced age. Greer loots one of the bodies, but the party spies the War Eagle high above again.

Skarrow sheds his gear and with a grotesque popping of bone and sinew, transforms into a giant eagle himself and flies to engage the warbird in aerial combat. He quickly tears flesh and feather and clamps the enemy bird firmly in his talons, dragging it down into crossbow range. Greer is able to shoot the bird while Skarrow finishes the job. Cleansing Waters's sling breaks!

The party gathers the fallen bird and using Shiv’s iron spikes, nails it to the tower door, carving “Come On In” above it. They have set a trap for the Raiders and retreat to the rocks above to see if they fall for it. Of course, they do. Eldric the Bald , Osha of the Fang Clan , Borgov , Eltor Gomez and One Eyed Sally search the other corpses and find the key to the tower door. Once unlocked, Eldric kicks it in and the Raiders charge.

As the Raiders fight…something…in the tower, the Brotherhood sets their ambush. Osha, battered and bleeding, emerges first and is almost immediately struck down by Shiv, while Skarrow and Greer pepper her with bolts and arrows. The rest of the Raiders soon follow. Borgov’s great sword is repeatedly redirected by Cleansing Waters into his companions, who then rips Borgov’s heart from his chest, and soon, all are dead save Eldric, who endures sword and bow to confront Greer, who strikes the killing blow with a sneer, driving his dagger deep into Eldric’s eye.

The Shenzu Raiders are no more.

Can Greer the Betrayer finally be at peace? Will Shiv Drinkstep ever fight with such fury again? What lurks in the mysterious tower? Where does the strange map lead?