The Bards find work with a previous acquaintance to learn more about the Grey Ascent. Traveling into the sewers of Taullis, they run into more than one type of vermin. They discover a kidnapped victim in peril before a dire event becomes much more pressing to investigate. Olgrim continues his trend to get down and dirty. Puck finds new and old ways to confound those that have spurned him. Elmon finally figures out a knack for persuasion, and Avius proves how useful he is with manual labor.