An entomologist from the People's College has gone missing whilst studying the megafauna of the Strossbourgian hinterlands. Concerned that he may have fallen prey to Valyddian raiders since the deepening of hostilities, the mayor's office have offered 50R for the negotiation of his safe return or else for the repatriation of his remains.
Hyon the Bugbreaker thanks the party for their assistance and they part on good terms, the godling planning to return home and begin to rebuild his insectoid menagerie that he might protect his people and continue on his Path.
The party escort the rescued prisoners out of Spindelgrotta and return them to their homes in Litendol and Kleinsdorf. The grateful villagers do their best to repay them, offering a humble banquet in the adventurer's honour.
They swiftly return to Acryn, passing on word in Strossbourg that the Valyddi may be using giant insects in their future raids in the valley. Reporting in at the mayor's office, they turn over the rambling Dr Cooper and are rewarded with a healthy 68R a head by a very pleased Mayor Hoskins.
Colin heads off to have a serious talk with his child about an alleged murder.
Xavi goes to report in at the guild and then pressures them to explain exactly what happened to Leaf. The answers he receives are unsatisfying, the guild members emphasising that Leaf is definitely dead and that there's only Howard now. However it is implied that Howard somehow arose from Leaf's 'death' and Xavi is unwilling to give up on his lost friend.
Howard is persuaded to visit the Tender church and Xavi's connections in the council allows him to secure a meeting with the elderly Councilman White who is very bemused by the whole affair, but is eventually persuaded that Howard is suffering from amnesia and seeks the Tender's help to recover. The Councillor persuades Mr Branch to make a generous donation to charity and subsequently a service is held in one of the larger churches to beseech the Tender's aid. However when the healing embrace of the Tender begins to make Howard whole again he spurns this contradiction to his divine nature and lashes out at the Goddess. Following an extremely public divine rejection he is escorted back out of the church.
Xavi speaks with the elderly priest a final time about what happened and draws the conclusion that he should seek to restore Leaf irrelevant of what Howard wants. He begins to put out word amongst less savoury elements that he is seeking a priest willing to force an intervention upon the wayfinder…