The IRA follows the hurt slime enemy through the underground caves north of Zeantis. Tracking, hunting, and in the end defeating the creature that some have encountered for the third time. When the last blow is delivered, Jeff finally regains his stolen memories of his past life.
Nearby villagers help the exhausted adventurers up to the surface. It seems that most of the gathered citizens of Zeantis chose to return to the city or remain in a safe distance to the coming Iron Army. But some still remain, convinced that they can claim the Iron Army as their slaves.
After a long and necessary rest, the group sneaks out of the camp site to advance further towards the army still a good day ahead. On their way, some risk taking commoners had the same idea. They get out of the way of the IRA, but stay in a distance, not intending to go back.
When close enough, the magical chalk from Abraxas dagger is used to command the army to stop, which they all do. It is discovered that each of the ~5000 iron soldiers carry a gift bag containing 2 gold coins, some dried food and a message from Abraxas that reads: "The Lorekeeper is lying. You will perish by his choices. Enemies will come. Bring the war to them."
A debate starts on what to do with the army now, what to command them and how to not make it seem like the citizens of Zeantis were robbed by the IRA and Abraxas is somehow the good guy. Experiments with the commanding chalk begin to test out the nature of the commands. Meanwhile, word spreads and the curious campers come closer. This fact causes the IRA to command the army to destroy the messages from Abraxas.
When the commoners reach the army, chaos breaks out where many shout to the army to listen to their commands - which does not happen. Gawrth attacks a particularly annoying commoner. But before a bigger conflict breaks out, General Reilgar and Archmage Khelem teleport into the situation and can condemn it at least a little bit. With the help of the Zeantis guards, the commoners are forcefully removed from the vicinity.
Another round of command experiments starts, which reveals the army to be self conscious, wanting to be free. Unit#4735 is set free and wanders into the wilderness, but the rest is kept under command. In the end, the IRA is able to overwrite some hidden commands in the army that tells them to go to the island Avalon when winter ends. A series of commands is established to buy time for the IRA to figure out what to do, and to make sure Abraxas cannot use the army anymore:
Don't fight, but preserve yourselves. Run away from conflict. Don't destroy yourself. Follow the following chain of commands: 1) Disperse safely. 2) Stay away from settlements. 3) Return to this place. 19 days later. 4) Wait one day. 5) Go back to Step 1
Khelem and General Reilgar take the gift bags of the army with them and teleport back to Zeantis, where Reilgar has to prepare a raid on the Triones HQ while the IRA wanders back on their own.