Blurb

After Alan and Jugo’s crystal experiments went disastrously wrong, they joined Harry, Ringo and BlasTed on a pub crawl that led them through a property dispute, the horrifying discovery of a weeper-infected Elara in a tool shed, and ultimately to information about a mountain-dwelling alchemist.

Synopsis

The cold autumn rain drummed against the Iron Anchor Tavern 's windows as Alan and Jugo nursed their drinks, still smarting from their latest crystal experiments gone wrong. What had started as promising research — creating new alloys and achieving brief levitation — had devolved into catastrophic explosions.

Over drinks with Harry, they discussed the city's problems: New Dawn agents making deals and the worsening rat plague. Ringo shared his tale of encountering a plague-infected weeper and being cured by the head Overseer, though he'd actually stolen the cure. When Agnis Moonshaw arrived asking about their crystal progress, she insisted their work was vital beyond just dealing with rats. Harry mentioned rumours from the Harvest Moon Tavern, prompting a pub crawl through the rain.

At the Harvest Moon, the locals greeted Harry warmly — he'd won a bloody fight there the previous month. George the barkeep knew of "Crystal Beth", an old alchemist who'd left town, but first they'd need to help settle a crop boundary dispute. Since the involved party wasn't present, George offered lodging for the night.

In the cool of the morning they were brought to disputed paddocks once owned by Gareth's late wife Elara. Gareth claimed fifteen years of working the fields gave him rights, while Elara's sister Mila argued blood inheritance trumped marriage. As they negotiated, BlasTed complicated matters by invoking a powerful illusion making one paddock appear to burn, sending everyone into a panic before he dropped the spell.

Through questioning, they learned Mila was single and that the father had died years prior, with Elara's death being recent. When BlasTed asked George to describe Elara in detail, something mysterious occurred that only he and Ringo could notice. Afterward, BlasTed insisted they examine the property's tool sheds. Despite resistance from Gareth and Mila's skepticism, they pressed forward. In the dilapidated shed, they discovered a horrifying sight: rats and a grotesque weeper among the farming tools.

The fight erupted immediately. When challenged, Gareth rushed to embrace the weeper — it was Elara, not quite dead but nearly so. They dragged both outside, where Harry's knife brutally ended Elara's suffering as Gareth grieved. Mila set the barn ablaze with a torch and everyone sought strong drinks at the bar. BlasTed forged a connection with Mila and began haunting Gareth with weeper visions, urging him to abandon his property claim.

Finally, Mila provided what they'd been seeking: information about Kaela Bethan, located somewhere in the mountains within sight of the Beast. "And don't call her Crystal Beth!"