Ghalwin mournfully retrieved Kasimir's Ring of Warmth while Ezmerelda helped to gather his ashes. The Heralds gave the dusk elf a moment of respect before moving back to the annex, where Izek spread a theory that Sangzor could turn invisible. He challenged Helwa to a hunting contest, claiming the victor would earn Sangzor’s pelt and, with it, the loyalty of the hill-folk. The scout leader accepted, and with that, the group split in three.
As Helwa lead her barbarians to another fruitless hunt, Izek took Lancelot, Ajuni, and Ezmerelda into the frozen heights of Mount Ghakis, but found only cold snowdrifts and colder winds. Meanwhile, Ghalwin followed Pip's keen senses into a valley of untouched snow. They found a dead dire wolf but no tracks, and Tobias surmised that the wolf had fallen from a cliffside above. They hiked up to a wind-scoured plateau where signs of struggle told a story. Sangzor had charged a wolf pack, presumably just to be an asshole, then scaled a steep rock face where he could not be pursued.
“Operation Flying Elk” was put into motion, and Verity was enchanted to soar to a high ground marked by strange outcropping stones. As the pair made to camp, Sangzor ambushed them, having hidden among the tent rocks. Though they hadn't noticed the giant goat's charge, Ghalwin was alert, and decapitated the beast with a single Sunsword strike before Tobias even noticed. The pair fashioned crude skis, tied his massive body to their contraption, and dragged it back to the temple. Once the groups had reunited, the barbarians honored their word and recognized Izek as the new chieftain, but they had little time to celebrate.
The Heralds left Helwa's hill-folk behind and began a near-month-long journey to consecrate the three fanes. Izek ordered Helwa to accompany Ezmerelda as the Vistana traveled alone to the Wizard of Wines, while the others took a shortcut to Yester Hill midway up Tsolenka Pass. Two days later, they tore through the blights surrounding the Gulthias Tree and hacked it down. Ajuni disintegrated the stump, just as Neferon had disintegrated Kasimir, and beneath it, they uncovered festering roots and a hidden fane. The Heralds effortlessly dodged and carved at the thrashing, life-stealing tendrils until the space lay clean. They offered Sangzor’s body to the Lady of the Mountain, and The Huntress’s true spirit appeared, giving silent but ferocious approval.
The party traveled north, and regrouped with Ezmerelda and the Martikovs. Returning the two lost Gemstones of Life Growth, they received great adulation for their impossible task, and Davian promised free Champagne du le Stomp for the next season. After learning the likely motivations behind Urwin's avoidance, the Old Crow softened a bit; he was still ornery, however, and received a dressing-down from Tobias after insulting Ajuni. Ghalwin turned to more serious matters with Adrian, who did not want to expose the wereravens to a battle at Ravenloft's gates, but agreed to personally join the party at Old Bonegrinder to scout when the Ladies had taken back their power.
Having decided to conduct a precise operation rather than open war, the Heralds avoided the werewolf den and set course for Argynvostholt. After reunion with their fellows, they dug up the bodies of Shakti, Atlas, and Mormeros, then took the shortcut to Berez. Leaving Ajuni at the mansion, they traveled to the Swamp Fane, and lubed up using Jeny Greenteeth's Oil of Etherealness. They slipped into the ghostly border, and a horde of phase spiders gathered around the true spot of their Lady's murder.
The Heralds offered up the bodies of their dead, ending any possibility that they may live again through the powers of The Abbot. However, Tobias and Izek realized that merely sacrificing potential life did not produce a power great enough for consecration. To make the magic work, they and Ghalwin gave life-blood into the menhir, sacrificing their own vitality to reawaken the fane. The Weaver’s true form emerged, and she gave her ghostly blessing.
Late the next evening, the Heralds of Dawn returned to Argynvostholt, and found that Ajuni had done some consecrating of her own. Its grounds were now hallowed and protected against the likes of Strahd himself; it had become the "Fortress of Silver Dawn."