As the Pack went to visit the Burgomaster, awkwardness abounded: Shakti clearly did not yet trust Atlas, who's arrival seemed suspiciously fortuitous. Along the way, however, the new cleric proved his value: with his eyes that pierced darkness, he noticed a young child being carted off from his home by an old woman. The boy was tied by the neck as Bella Sunbane pushed along her cart; Atlas ran up and tried to rip the leash out of her hands, but she held it with surprising strength. The hag identified the boy as "Freek" and that he was her legal property in Vallaki.
As she walked away, the sight of the distraught boy caused Atlas to remember his teenage daughter Joana Atruvian crying out to him as cultists invaded and burned his parish of Thestus. She had fallen into a cult dedicated to Ixhis and lead their forces into the church, but seemed confused and frightened by her own actions. Atlas could neither condemn or support his daughter, freezing in place before she was hit by a falling beam and his vision was consumed in fire.
He could not let Freek be taken in front of him, so the group followed the hag with stealth; then, at the worst moment, Ghalwin comically tumbled down a hill. With their location and intention given away, she hurried to the guard station. The officer there clearly recognized her and permitted her leave, and she pointed at the party as interlopers. Ghalwin tried to chase after her, but the guard rebuffed him at the border, citing that they could not leave "by order of the burgomaster". Despite this obvious lie, the paladin did not want to get on the bad side of the town, and turned his back as he let Freek get away.
Ashamed, they went to speak with Freek's parents, the Varzaru's, but their knocking was met with silence. They spoke to their neighbours instead, who sorrowfully affirmed that the dream pies were basically drugs, and that those addicted were willing to sell anything to sleep restfully again. The Varzaru's had sold their boy for Dream Pastry, unaware that he would be served back to them in a matter of days.
The Pack continued on to the Vallaki Burgomaster's Mansion, where a massive cadre of guards had been gathered. They were invited in by the Baroness Lydia Petrovna, who showed them around the mansion, apparently quite excited to meet the heroes of the village. As she went to the upper floor, Ghalwin attempted a divine sense to see if he could locate anything sinister in Izek's locked room. Though he found nothing there, an concentrated and extremely powerful undead presence was stationed on the second floor, unmoving.
They did not get the chance to investigate, however, before Lydia led them to the library where the Baron Vargas was waiting, accompanied by two vicious Mastiffs. The Burgomaster turned out to be obviously insane, but despite many potential provocations, the party managed to stay on his good side. As part of the conversation, they tenuously agreed to find out more about Lady Fiona Wachter, who the Burgomaster was suspicious of, and sold him the necklace. Finally, The Pack had a bit of cash to spend. With the fallout of the vampire spawn wrapped up, they carried Jarmo's petrified body to the Church of Saint Andral's, and kept him hidden along with her bones below the altar.
As day turned to evening, The Pack again found themselves at Arasek Stockyard, this time with coin in hand. Ghalwin apologized for his previous actions, getting on better terms with Gunther, and successfully persuaded him to take van Richten's wagon with the saber-toothed tiger. Yelena agreed to attempt to make Lancelot some armor (150 gp, 5-7 days labour), and the party purchased all manner of useful mundane items, as well as the spare additional wagon in the stockyard and two Draft Horses. They finally felt prepared to leave Vallaki, but had one last loose end to tie up: Fiona Wachter.