Five months after the events at Scardale, the heroes have gone their separate ways, only to be drawn back together by the approaching anniversary of their fallen friend, Aundru Lansmere.

Zera completed her paladin training and spent time in Elventree with her cousin Lunea, where she met a druid named Saltair searching for his lost sheep. When they traveled to Aundru’s grave together, they encountered Tangrin, a mushroom hunter who spoke highly of a mysterious new bard named Zera.

Emmit continued his search for a way to resurrect his family, but to no avail. As his body continued to wither, Emmit resigned himself to his fate, traveling to Aundru's grave to be with his friends one last time.

Mr. Jingles and Galadrathrill tracked Pony to Essembra. Mr. Jingles worked for Pony's owner to regain his trust in hopes of freeing Pony legally. Galadrathrill indulged in hedonistic pursuits, continuing his quest to understand the human condition.

The party convened outside Essembra, minus Jasper who left word with Zera that he was tracking down remnants of Iyachtu Xvim. At Aundru's grave, they found it desecrated by shadowy, glassy figures led by a manipulative Fey known as the Lady of Dread Omens. She was seen extracting a strange ore from Aundru's corpse. Emmit requested the Lady's aid, despite Zera's objections. The heroes paid their respects to Aundru, then were tested in battle by the Lady, who then agreed to help by teleporting Aundru's corpse and the group to Elven Court.

There, they met Cairn, a witchdoctor kenku who performed Speak with Dead. The party learned that Aundru had made a deal with an unknown Fey, had been killed by a Fey weapon, and that the ore growing through his body–chlorophyte–is used to create portals. For a life transferal ritual, Emmit chose vessels for his wife and child. The combined energies of the party were added to the ritual just as they were ambushed by a displacer beast.