Finally arrived in Tzizitztan, the group took in the devastation. Buildings in ruin, once thriving streets reduced to little more than dust and bricks. The group pitched in and helped with some relief efforts, but their focus remained on Grotfel activity. They learned the Grotfels had set up inside the temple which, though badly damaged, remained partially navigable.

Just as they were ready to infiltrate the operations, the Tashir’anun arrived, once again complicating the situation. Their arrival did, however, give Xoria an opportunity to sneak into the camp and carry out some espionage. She discovered that there are divisions among the Tashir’anun, specifically that The Forge and Drovan, who they learned is known as The Hand, aren’t exactly close. The Forge dislikes Drovan and doesn’t care much for his temporal magic. Drovan seems to look down on The Forge and his “simpler” ways.

Critically, Xoria learned that the Tashir’anun did not trust the Grotfels and vice versa. Whatever alliance they had, seemed to have fallen through after the death of Brukelion. The Tashir’anun were bringing their forces to bear on the Grotfels to secure a stronger position and, if necessary, change the leadership of the family.

After hearing Xoria’s report, groups decided to strike right then and take advantage of the brewing conflict. They donned disguises and dressed themselves like the Grotfel soldiers, then simply walked into their camp. Along the way, they sowed discord and found unlikely allies who were displeased at their treatment by the Grotfel family. They organized a worker rebellion and planted explosives to collapse the underground caverns the Grotfels were extracting the mercury from.

Midnight Brunch, Sol’ath, and the Serpentous Six reached the end of the caverns where they found a massive lake of mercury. Alongside it, they found Glinvie and The Forge, both with guards a plenty, trading barbs with one another. Soon after arriving in this chamber, the tensions broke open and a massive fight ensued between all the parties. By the end, Midnight Brunch and their allies emerged victorious, but it wasn’t exactly a clean win.

Glinvie was apparently dead, but her body was whisked away by the dreadful scientist behind the mercurial abominations the group had come to fear. The Forge had fallen as well, but he too was taken away by his ally. The Hand used his powerful temporal magic to freeze time and disappear with the body of The Forge, but leaving behind the Hammer of Ilntaro.

Needing to escape, the remaining combatants fled back through the tunnels where fighting between the Grotfels and Tashir’anun continued. They discovered that some Tashir’anun soldiers and Grotfel guards were fighting together against the scientist and his alchemical abominations. Xoria took an opportunity to shoot the scientist and, though she hit him, whether he was alive or dead remained unclear as he teleported away once again.

In the last moments before complete collapse of the caves and tunnels, the group used teleportation scrolls to rescue themselves and many other Grotfel and Tashir’anun alike. They brought everyone to the surface, just outside the temple, and watched as the ground around it collapsed.

Grotfel forces undone, Tashir’anun weakened, and the immediate threat removed, the party had completed its mission. They returned to Drogmara shortly after, leaving the rebuilding and recovery to the professionals.