Afterwards, our heroes find themselves lost in flux without a reliable Wayfinder. Unit 01 has absconded with the Prince - deep, deep into the flux. The rest of the party debate precisely how to return home. Eventually, it is decided upon that Karlos will use a Manipulation ritual to convince their captive Wayfinder that they are a Guild taskforce, and that it is urgent they are brought back to the city in order to make their report. Upon arrival, said captive Wayfinder is summarily killed and eaten.

Meanwhile, Pig encounters a mysterious figure in the flux. She introduces herself as Mina Hatcher. She asks for the Prince's help in ensuring that news of what the Wayfinders' Guild did to him is made public. When he gives his assent, she agrees to take the Prince back home in the Wildeaves first - and once again, they set off through the flux.

Hugh Marsh wakes up in a cave. Here, the Abnegator sits by the fire. He tells Marsh that he is an irregularity, and they discuss the circumstances of Hugh Branch's seeming resurrection. Marsh maintains that all this Branch business must be coincidence; the Abnegator informs him that certainly one of them must have been resurrected. He asks if he has been in any danger recently, and Hugh replies that he doesn't think so. The Abnegator points out that both he and Branch have exactly the same claim to existence.

In the end, Hugh leaves to report back to the Guild - and the Abnegator tells him to focus on what makes him feel alive. To hold on.

The Abnegator also sends a shadowy figure to find out where precisely Hugh Branch left his boat.

Meanwhile, the main party go back to speak with Elias and collect their payment, taking them up to 150R in pocket. Darius and Paradai then leave. Karlos, Batts and Not Glassinger hit one of Acryn's taverns to celebrate. Meanwhile, Jemiker reports back to Jimmy Hoskins.

Pig and the Prince return to the Wildeaves, and the Prince reunites with all his friends at the castle - who, naturally, like all flux creatures, have reverted to their original state, with no memories of previous events. Pig asks Mina if she can help with this, and she replies that she will consider it. She also gives Pig an extra 9R, on top of the 150R that it has received total.

Marsh has managed to locate Branch's boat in the harbour. With the combined force of the Wayfinder's Guild and a small chunk of the Watch, he manages to clear the boat of all pirates - including Millicent the Apprentice, who takes her life in her hands and opts to swim away. The rest of the crew put up markedly more of a fight, but eventually the ship falls to Marsh's control.

Back at the tavern, Karlos and Batts use Sleep of Death on Not Glassinger, and loot his possessions. Karlos takes hold of the Carleon Orb - which seems to seize hold of Bats when he peers into it.

There is a rumbling. He hears a voice observing that he isn't its servant. Or… is he?

Batts trembles.

The voice of Carleon confirms that Batts is one of his creations - and Batts suggests that maybe they… can talk?

That's not how it works, says the voice. Submit.

Batts thinks, for a fraction of a second. Then: “I'm Bats Marbeq, and I only submit to people willingly! You can't change that! Dominate - leave me alone!”

There is a pause. Then, the voice replies: I can't change that, did you say…?

Batts is released.

Karlos and Batts have a rather frantic discussion about what to do with the orb - which Karlos has correctly identified as being draconic. After significant debate, they conclude that the best possible hiding place is probably in a hole in the wall in Karlos' room at the People's College.

Karlos then does a Wounding ritual to cut Hugh's personality out of Not Glassinger. Hugh's personality is subsequently placed in a smallish lump of meat.

Meanwhile, once the sun sets, Batts discovers that the starlight surrounding him no longer takes a form quite so pleasing to his vanity. Instead, he appears to be wearing starlit manacles. Sampling these via Taste of Knowledge proves to be… painful.

More shenanigans ensue - eventually resulting in Not Glassinger gaining hold of Hugh's meat-personality.

Paradia reports back to the True Council, putting word out that Hugh Branch is dead and that Pig has the body. This more or less makes up or the fact that he didn't find the information they were actually after.

Darius goes on a Tuireann recruitment drive - which proves to be oddly successful at the point where he stumbles upon a waterlogged Millicent the Apprentice, who is looking for a place to stay.

Karlos Sleep-of-Deaths Batts, but Not Glassinger manages to prevent him from cutting the fae out of him - leaving Batts dumped in a sewer somewere with an explanatory note.

Karlos tastes Not Glassinger's blood. The vision he receives is not… wholly reassuring.

Pig takes Hugh's corpse to the Tender Church. They are predictably unable to resurrect him. It also analyses the fairy dust from the villagers in order to replicate it.

Marsh reports back to the Wayfinders' Guild.

Meanwhile, the Prince tells his story to Acryn. A week later, everyone across the city shares a common dream. They dream that they are a guard in a secure facility, and see the brutal torture and vivisection perpetrated against creatures of flux. Officials within the city begin publically condemning the Guild, as the Prince goes public with his experiences. The outrage this provokes is amplified by a sudden burst of printed pamphlets crying out against the Guild's cruelty - author unknown. More or less.

Public opinion is well and truly against the Guild. In light of this, the Council begins to debate the possible implementation of the Cargan-Graves-Everett Bill of Rights, which would limit the Wayfinders' Guild's sovereignity over Wayfinders and flux creatures. Jimmy Hoskins does all he can to stall this process, whilst Armand Cargan-Graves works with equal assiduity to campaign for it to be passed into law. It becomes clear that all four Cargan Councillors, four Guild representatives and the Union representatives are unswerving in their support - but others still remain undecided, and results of the debate are as yet inconclusive. Nonetheless, support for the Bill is substantially stronger than it was before.

In the wake of all this, more anonymous graffiti is showing up in favour of clockwork golem rights…