The group emerges from the tower the next morning and sets to work. The first order of business is protecting the boat and its crew, and it is decided Marble and Moon will lead a group back to the boat and have them move over to Whistler’s Island where they will be protected from the shipwrecked men and the island’s other nasty inhabitants. A signal fire lit at the mouth of the river will be the signal for the boat to return to its current position and pick the party up. Moon and Marble set off with their henchmen, Thin Boots, and Switches towards the boat.

Leaving the boat and its crew on the southwestern corner of the island, the party of ten (Brand and Switches come with the group) follow the coast south and then turn east, keeping the water just to their right. While this is a scouting mission, the party really wants to get a closer look at the tower they spotted from Whistler’s Island.

After finishing up their personal business in the Library at Howling, the party returns to Tail with Switches and discovers some new faces in Emerald’s posse. Emerald has not only hired new muscle to guard his merchant trips to Red Fern, but four new adventurers have found their way into Emerald’s care.

After the party joins Red and Moon at the cliff above the palisade, Bill instructs the group to form a defensive position in case they are attacked by the mysterious swamp creatures. The rat man (Two Nail) becomes terrified when he realizes the swamp creatures are after him. Moon tries to question Two Nail about the creatures, but he loses all rational thought because of his fear. Eagle spots movement coming up the mountain along the tree line. Before long, Bill can see them as well, but then the creatures go further into the trees and all sight of them is lost.

After acquiring the surrender of all of the bandits, the party searches the caves to find a large food store hidden off of the remaining tunnel. Moonchaser proceeds to interrogate the rat men and discovers many useful facts, such as the purpose behind some of their magical items. He reveals that the skull Bill holds is a powerful device used to boost magical power, but is convinced that the party has no one of skill to use the item. Bill proceeds to use the skull to try to bend the emotions of the rat man, but the rat man proves stronger in magical prowess despite the use of the skull, and Bill is forced to back down. The rat man also reveals Red Earth’s necklace is for the storing of energies.

The party attempts to wrap up affairs at the church and questions the bandit leader some more, and he reveals a hidden tunnel to another room in the catacombs. Faster, one of Bear’s Rage’s guards, is elected to slide down the tight hole into the hidden room and find the other exit out. Billhook meets Faster outside the Church, and Faster leads the group to the hidden entrance to the catacombs in a muddy ravine.