Meanwhile, below the city, Farid awoke in another cold, wet place. He was lost in the darkness, with no sense of where he or his companions were. As he began to search, he found a small stream that was flowing across the uneve floor. Suddenly, he realized that the stream was flowing uphill and away from him. Following it, he found that the stream was leading him through a dark maze of fallen stone and partially collapsed tunnels. Soon, the stream flowed beneath a heavy, reinforced door. Behind the door, locked away in a dark prison, was Trebaine's sister, Leylia.

Farid worked, and managed to get the door opeend. Just as Leylia was released, off to the side a blue glow appeared. It was Ekel, holding the reliquary aloft like a lantern. Quickly, Leylia told them that a trap had been set for Leif. They left the prison, and proceeded upwards in search of the ranger. Turning a corner, they found themselves in a room full of undead warriors; with no escape, they rose their swords in defense.

Leif, meanwhile, continued to debate his past sins with the mysterious robed accuser. As visions of the half-elf's "victims" lashed out at him, Leif tried to deny his responsibility. Angry, he lashed out with Darkfire at his zombie-like attackers, cutting through them with furious abandon. Too late he realised that the image of Ekel before him was not an illusion, but the old Seeker himself. Despite Farid's ministrations, Ekel died as the black sword's fire burned at his soul. Lashing out at the accuser, they discovered that the face beneath the robes was Ian's, and that an elaborate trap had been set up to imprison Leif within Ravenloft while a portal was opened to Leif's homeworld, through which the force inhabiting Ian could escape. However, as the Mists closed in around Leif, Farid shattered the reliquary, expelling Selena from it's protection. The Mists chose the priestess, instead, and Leif and Farid escaped to the Necrolith.

Meanwhile, Thomasin, Endeleban, Yoshi, and Ash were recovering from the goblin attack and their sudden rescue by Brightwing. While discussing their next move, it was revelead that Brightwing knew the location of Dragoth'Gor. Reluctantly, the dragon offered to take them there. The next morning, Thomasin, Endelban, and Yoshi climbed aboard the dragon's back and took off for the mountain far to the west. After a surreal flight, they arrived at the mouth of massive cave, high above northern Cormyr. Investigating, they discovered a ominous door, sealing off the back of the cave. On the portal was an inscription in ancient elven:

"…and looking high, He saw the hoardes of darkness spilling forth from the beast's maw, ravaging the lands below. So it was that Al'draven took up his spear and harp and shot straight into the gullet of the beast, into the foul heart that spawned the darkness. And as the onslaught surged forward, towards the light and sweat breath of his motherlands, Al'draven sang the song of sealing behind him, closing off the path so that it would never be opened from without again. And so the seal stands in its vigil, until the Time of Chaos when the Pattern is sundered and the Sun has left the sky."

As Thomasin read these words, a terrible rumbling shook the cave. From a huge pit in the center darkness erupted upon the heores...

Atop the Necrolith, Leif and Farid found Ghrym, partially turned to stone. He told of the need to find the Ba'alstones and rekindle the Darkforge. With the last of his strength, the dwarven cleric released his grip on the first Ba'alstone, passing it onto Leif to bear. The two then left the dwarf upon his cairn and turned their attention towards the final leg of their escape...