Paladyne makes the injured cleric his priority. The high priest of Samhien prays for his good god to restore the man's arm, but the prayers have no effect. The priest insists he will keep trying, but the former dark cleric's loss of faith has been so great that healing magic fails to have much effect.
The young anti-paladin, now a fighter, introduces himself to the group as Sir Hawthorne. He says that he will travel with the Maximals for now, having no where else to turn to. He stays behind at the temple, along with the clerics, Ysbeth and Caldus. The other Maximals eventually return to the ship. However, Skystrike takes particular interest in one of the temple's decorations; a huge pantheon painting depicting Samhien fighting Threshtar while each are flanked with their celestial armies. She takes some pictures of the painting to bring it back to the ship to study.
Rift helps the Emperor's guards lead the captured anti-paladins to the dungeon. Then, he returns to the ship and his crew. The other Maximals are repairing themselves and refueling from after the battle when they are interrupted by Petricus, the Emperor's assistant mage. The mage asks if there is anything that the kingdom owes the Maximals for the favor they have done. Scythe decides that since energy is a priority, all they need the most is food, and lots of it. A while later, the mage returns with a wagon of rations for the group. He mentions that he would like to speak to Rift in person about a political matter, but Rift doesn't seem at all interested in dealing with the mage (whom he distrusts). However, Petricus manages to explain the problem. The knights that came into Carriton were from Vertoss, two kingdoms to the east. That kingdom currently has an agreement with Falleen, home of the oldest order of Paladins. Falleen can't raise arms against Vertoss because Vertoss has captured a young Countess from Falleen, and is holding her hostage. Carriton also has an agreement with Falleen, so their hands are tied as to taking action against the King who sent the evil knights. Petricus asks: if the Maximals would be able to enter Vertoss and rescue the Countess, the dark kingdom would easily fall. Rift and Scythe don't seem too interested in this quest, but Shadowraith is ready to take off and go.
Night begins to fall over the temple of Samhein. The priest's fervent prayers, combined now with Paladyne's prayers to Primus, have stopped Caldus' bleeding, but done little to restore his arm. The high priest claims that he must rest. Ysbeth says she will watch over her comrade; Hawthorne follows Paladyne back to the ship. The knight falls asleep in Paladyne's quarters. One of the Emperor's guards comes to the door, and mentions that there are more people interested in speaking with the Maximals. It's getting late, and he asks if they want to meet any of the visitors or if they should be sent away. Paladyne suggests that the Maximals set up a "conference" inside the castle, and take all of the questions at once.
Many adventuring parties and other individuals have questions for the Maximals. Scythe decides that he will take a collection box, one gold piece per question, but most of the gathered refuse to participate, as Paladyne answers questions regardless. Many of the usual questions about their origins and biology are answered. When Scythe forces the collection box on a very wealthy-looking dwarf, who refuses to pay, the dwarf speaks up. He asks how the Maximals use the "blue ore," and why they have been giving it out to people. Paladyne responds that the Maximals "eat" the ore, and use it for energy. The dwarf seems somewhat aghast at the prospect of using the valuable ore up. He asks, however, if there is a business deal the Maximals want to make involving use of the ore, fearing that distributing the ore that the dwarves exclusively mine and cut might cut into his family's profits. They offer to speak with him about this matter after the conference. Following this query, several adventuring parties are interested in knowing if the Maximals plan on saving the Countess. Shadowraith ensures that, indeed, they are. Another party seems concerned about the Maximals cutting into the profits of the adventuring-based economy, a problem to which the Maximals can offer no solution.
After the conference, the Maximals meet again with the dwarf: Muldin Gemcutter. The Gemcutter family has been mining and processing energon for centuries, and Muldin doesn't like the idea that the Maximals know more about his family trade than he. The Maximals, however, are very interested in getting the dwarven wares. They offer to trade their secrets of energon cutting with the dwarves in exchange for some of their ore. The dwarf tells them he needs proof that their methods are better than the Gemcutter family's tried and true secrets. He says that he will meet with them in Wanderlust, a trading post near the mountains. Paladyne gives the dwarf a radio so that they can contact him when they are ready to discuss.
The next day, Hawthorne awakens, a bit confused and hoping that the previous day had been nothing but a dream. As it turns out, it was not. The Maximals clean him by putting him in an R-Chamber shower, then they ask the Imperial guards to provide some new clothes. Paladyne and Shadowraith take the fighter into the dungeon to speak with his old commander. Karsh is very adamant about not turning his back on Treshtar. He tells the Maximals that he can still use the power of his "god" as long as he believes. Paladyne says he is certain that the Predacon commander will want to contact the Maximals himself, and Karsh starts a prayer to discover the answer. While the Maximals wait, there is a bit of chaos in the halls upstairs. Nikki, the thief from the adventuring party they met in Essex, has broken into the castle; she says she needs to see the Maximals about something right away. They offer to visit her when they are done, and show her how to get to the hip. Fiora, who, as it turns out, is Petricus' niece, also goes back to the ship (she's still trying to make friends with Rift).
Karsh tells the Maximals he has received a message from the Dragon Lord. He will be arriving to visit the Maximals in person, in his hall in Vertoss, as soon as he can.
Back at the ship, the Maximals speak with Nikki and Kithas again about their upcoming adventure. Nikki explains that her party has just turned down an offer to rescue the Falleen Countess, and she doesn't think the Maximals should rescue her, either. As long as the Countess is in the Vertoss dungeon, the ongoing wars between Falleen and Vertoss are halted, which causes less problems for more people overall. The Maximals, however, are still certain that rescuing the kidnapped woman is the right thing to do.