During a recent clear out of some dusty old storerooms to make room for their Chosens' new gym (the previous one having been lost to a a bout of excessive enthusiasm), the Order of the Rod have uncovered an ancient map leading to something called the Forge of Champions.

Despite the high likelihood that this Forge has long been picked clean by scavengers or fallen into utter ruin, Grandmaster Grandwick has declared that anything with such an awesome name is worth a shufty and has sponsored a small group to go and have a poke about

• Sergeant Myron of Telemere
• Countess Catarina Romaia

The party make it safely back to Rastaban and decide that it's for the best to keep the order of the Rod from further investigating the Forge. They inform the paladins that the Forge is nothing more than an old obstacle course; good for training up the feeble perhaps but of little interest to Rastaban's greatest warriors. Their employer is disappointed by their findings but happy enough to part with the promised Favour for their report.

They then split the Dreamer's skulls between them and part ways, each going to report to their respective houses. House Telemere is predictably thrilled about news of an army for the taking, though disappointed that they'll need to negotiate with Rom to obtain the other half of the skulls to reopen the route. Myron happily takes the favour he is offered by his Exarch and parts with a warning that the situation may not be quite as favourable as his superiors seem inclined to take it. Isabella of Rom on the other hand is relatively indifferent to the Forge itself but fascinated by news that there are still some Contenders abroad within the planes. She is rather disappointed that her niece has ended up aligning herself to Conflict, but not so upset that she doesn't willingly part with considerable Favour for the skulls and information.

Myron catches up with Catarina later, and asks if she has any objection to him taking care of Duchess on a more permanent basis. Catarina is pleased that her old partner has not been left alone by her change of circumstances and happily agrees, noting that the familiar is now in possession of all her memories of a top notch education in Connection Weaving. Under Duchess' tutelage Myron finds that he has quite an aptitude for weaving himself.

Catarina hits up her usual haunts, spreading word of the Conspiracy, now including the terrible fact that Rastaban's inhabitants are just tools for some inhuman entity's plan to convert humanity into its alien brood. This Truth doesn't gain much traction however as it appears that Sinister Forces (TM) are moving to discredit her findings.

• 1 Favour from the Rod
• 2 Favour from Telemere
• Is now a Connection Weaver
• Has been adopted by Duchess
• 1 Death
• Access to the Forged for War epic tree

• 1 Favour from the Rod
• 3 Favour from Rom
• Is now a Conflict Weaver
• Is under a Conflict Ritual that will pitch her into psychic battle with the first newly born Dreamer
• 4 Deaths
• Blessing Removed
• Access to the Forged for War epic tree