You finally arrive in Verum, scarred and weary from your journey through an unforgiving Deepwood. It was a long trek, but you have returned with the Mendicants you were sent for. As you enter the city, horns blow and cheers go up from crowds gathered to see the 'Heroes of Bastone' return along with their salvation from the plague. It seems the cryers have been earning their iron of late, planting hope in your mission. You note, even in their jubilation, members of the crowd try to keep their distance from one another.

Upon your arrival you are met by a group of officials who quickly usher away the Mendicants, no doubt to be put straight to work as the city can spare no time for rest. Without stopping, you break free from the crowd and head deeper into the city. The shadow of this plague seems to have grown since you left. The few people in the streets scuttle from one door to another and everyone has scarves or handkerchiefs drawn tightly across their noses and mouths. You feel the temptation to quicken your steps, but resist. To give into fear is to lose the battle, whether here or in the Deepwood. Your wariness doesn't ease until you see the sign of The Broken Oak swaying in the breeze.

You have only been its owners for a few months and actually lived in it for less than half that time, but with the ministrations of Greycane and Bram it has started to feel like home. A few days of rest and some hearty meals see your injuries healing.

An official from the Crown visits the inn during this time and dumps a sack of iron on the table for your 'aid to the city'. By the size of the sack, it seems Verum may not be worth very much, but the man expresses regret that the King's coffers are currently strained by the plague. He also reminds you the contract to retrieve the Mendicants had been 'in obligatum' - so it could not have been refused. A danger of the job, all Free Companies are required to accept such contracts when they are issued from The Raven Spire or the Crown itself. Refusal would have meant death at the hands of another two or three Free Companies sent to hunt you down.

The days continue to pass, one into the next.