After some internal discussions on what to do next, the IRA and new companions leaves Zeantis a day early to meet the Iron Army that is marching towards the capital city. But learning that they are not the only one with that idea complicates things. Dozens, if not hundreds of civilians make their camp on the northern plate at the foot of the Lamberg mountain that oversees the vast prairie the army must pass to reach the gates.
It quickly becomes prominent, that a good portion of the commoners out here react hostile towards the IRA, thinking they want to take away the iron golems from the people that were most definitely a gift from Abraxas. Proof is found that the Hand of Morlin somehow spread the message of this, riling up the people to hinder the IRA on their quest to change the armies commands.
The situation goes sideways north of the camping grounds, where the cold and dry prairie is filled with cracks in the ground. Citizens throw stones, proclaim to hold off the group of antiheroes. Even one city guard joins the fray and when combat suddenly breaks out, an old enemy is revealed - the slime creature from Izlope, that the group has encountered two times already. Through mind controlling spells, it commands Florian to throw the iron-army-controlling-chalk into a rift. And while some fight the Sulfurous Impersonations of commoners and guards, others jump down the cracks. Thankfully, no "real" commoner is hurt in the chaos and the quite mortal people retreat in the face of definite danger.
Down the chasm, Flo is able to find the broken chalk again while Jeff is defending against some doggy monstrosities with tentacles coming out of their backs. But together with Drem's companion, they can do some good damage on the real body of the slimey foe. When the rest joins downwards, Jeff is on the brink of dying, but so is the enemy. Prioritizing to help Jeff, the group is able to keep him alive and kill the dog creatures, but the slimenemy can escape... for now.