- Merklynn persuades the Spectral Knights to capture three of the wizards who escaped the Wizards' Jail after Darkstorm's betrayal - Falkama, Wizasquizar, and the possibly-good Bogavus - before one of them stumbles upon the Lost Shrine and gains extreme power. They scour the Anarchy Zone as recommended, and Ectar uses his police-officer skills to interrogate a former criminal dwarf into telling him how to find the trio. They succeed in locating each, but Reekon sees them on their return and the Darkling Lords sabotage their vehicles and attack. They release Wizasquizar since he is under a spell to always lie, guessing the Darkling Lords may capture though not find much use for him. But when he acts uncharacteristically self-defacing for a wizard, Lexor realizes who they're dealing with and they learn through him where the Lost Shrine is, and decide to take him there so they can be empowered. When the Spectral Knights go after them, they're swallowed by a liquid monster.—brainybrailler@comcast.net
- Merklynn tells the Spectral Knights that the Darkling Lords have caused three potentially dangerous wizards to escape from the Wizards' Jail. The wizards in question are Falkama (who has already caused Merklynn a great deal of trouble), Wheezasqueezar (who is cursed to always lie) and Bogavus (whom Merklynn has not known to commit evil), and they must be prevented from reaching the Lost Shrine. Feryl asks where the Lost Shrine is and Merklynn replies that the Lost Shrine could hardly be called lost if he knew its location. However, Merklynn does say that rumour has it that the Lost Shrine is in the Anarchy Zone, so the Spectral Knights must begin their search there.
Later, the Spectral Knights arrive in the Anarchy Zone, where Ectar (who was a police detective during the Age of Technology) interrogates a scheming dwarf, holding him upside down by his ankle until he admits that he has information on all three wizards. The Spectral Knights divide into teams and go in search of Falkama, Bogavus and Wheezasqueezar. Arzon and Cryotek go to the town of Deadbark where they find Wheezasqueezar (who has been arrested for selling snake oil) being pelted by the locals. Cryotek assumes his Bear form, scattering the crowd long enough for Arzon to transform into his Eagle form and fly Cryotek and Wheezasqueezar away. Meanwhile, Ectar and Witterquick trail Bogavus to an abbey, where they catch him taking a scroll which contains a map to the Lost Shrine from its hiding place. Falkama is being carried to Mount Belacost on a litter by some hired slaves when he finds Leoric, Galadria and Feryl blocking his passage. Leoric summarily frees Falkama's slaves, and Falkama tries (unsuccessfully) to fight the three Spectral Knights with his magic dust.
The Spectral Knights regroup and prepare to head back to Iron Mountain with the wizards, but Feryl and Ectar find that someone has sabotaged both the Capture Chariot and the Lancer Cycle. Moments later, the Darkling Lords attack, forcing the Spectral Knights to take cover. With their enemies keeping them pinned down, the Spectral Knights are forced to release one of the wizards as a diversion. Feryl demands that they release Falkama, whom he finds annoying, but Leoric says the Darkling Lords have no interest in him. Witterquick then says he has somehow grown fond of Bogavus, so Leoric decides Wheezasqueezar is the one they will release. Once Wheezasqueezar is freed from his bonds, Cryotek sends him on his way with a kick up the backside.
With the Darkling Lords distracted by Wheezasqueezar, Witterquick uses his Power of Speed to report back to Merklynn, who sends a giant hand to pick up the Spectral Knights, Falkama and Bogavus. At Iron Mountain, Merklynn banishes Falkama to the Wizards' Jail and questions Bogavus about his magic potential. Bogavus claims he doesn't know any real magic, only illusions, prompting Merklynn to subject him to a test. This test will cause the subject's body to erupt in flame if they are dishonest, but Bogavus comes through the test unscathed, proving (or so it appears) that he is trustworthy. Merklynn then reminds the Spectral Knights that Wheezasqueezar is still on the loose and sends them back to the Anarchy Zone to complete their mission.
Meanwhile, Lexor has realised Wheezasqueezar cannot tell the truth, and the Darkling Lords are exploiting this by asking Wheezasqueezar questions in the knowledge that the answers to these questions will be the opposite of what he tells them. So when Wheezasqueezar says they are a long way from the Lost Shrine, the Darkling Lords know it is nearby. Lexor then asks if the Lost Shrine is in a mountain and Wheezasqueezar replies that it is, even though there aren't any mountains in the vicinity. When Cindarr points this out, Lexor replies that the whole point of asking the question was that the curse on Wheezasqueezar would force him to give an untruthful answer; the Lost Shrine is not in a mountain at all. Darkstorm deduces that the Lost Shrine is underground, explaining why it was never found. Moments later, the Darkling Lords find the Lost Shrine when Reekon manipulates a branch on a nearby tree, causing an opening to appear in a large rock. The Darkling Lords, along with Wheezaqueezar, enter the Lost Shrine to find that it contains the remains of a zoo.
When the Spectral Knights return to the Anarchy Zone, Ectar sees a con artist named Benny running a crooked gambling stall and, with Feryl in tow, goes to confront him. Benny insists that Reekon set him up, to which Ectar says he is looking for Reekon and the other Darkling Lords right now. In reply, Benny says he heard Reekon mention the Lost Shrine and when Ectar demands to know where it is, says he doesn't know, adding that something is watching the Spectral Knights from a nearby building. Ectar alerts Leoric, who decides the Spectral Knights should storm the building to find out if whatever is inside knows where the Lost Shrine is. The moment they enter the building, a blob scoops the Spectral Knights up and swallows them alive. They start attacking the blob from the inside until it says it will let them go, but Leoric says it must tell them where the Lost Shrine is first. The blob reveals the Lost Shrine's location, then releases the Spectral Knights.
In the Lost Shrine, Wheezasqueezar summons several giant bipedal creatures which converge on the Darkling Lords as Wheezasqueezar makes his escape. Reekon tries to give chase after Wheezasqueezar in his Lizard form, only to be captured by the creatures and thrown into a tank. Moments later, Darkstorm (in his Mollusk form) is also captured, as is Mortdredd when he assumes his Beetle form. When the Spectral Knights enter the Lost Shrine, they find the remaining Darkling Lords fighting a losing battle with the creatures. Cryotek demands to know where Wheezasqueezar is, but Cravex refuses to divulge this information and Leoric says both factions of the Visionaries will lose out if Wheezasqueezar takes power. Lexor points the Spectral Knights in the direction Wheezasqueezar headed, and as the Darkling Lords are captured Leoric tells his followers they will have to make a dash for it and stop Wheezasqueezar before he gets to the Lost Shrine's inner sanctum. Most of the Spectral Knights assume their animal forms, only to suffer the same fate as the Darkling Lords.
Leoric, still in his human form, summons the Owl of Wisdom which advises him not to do what he would do when faced with imminent capture. Moments later, he is about to assume his Lion form when he realises that is precisely what he would do and stops himself from transforming. Pursuing Wheezasqueezar, Leoric catches up with him in the inner sanctum and knocks the Lost Shrine's Orb out of his hands, shattering it and destroying the Lost Shrine's magic. Later, Merklynn sends Wheezasqueezar to the Wizards' Jail and, having ejected the Darkling Lords, tells the Spectral Knights they will be rewarded with gold, but Leoric says benefiting from their deeds is enough. Arzon then mentions that he has concerns about Bogavus and Merklynn agrees, saying that Bogavus may have been able to evade his detection, which would make him a dangerous wizard. Meanwhile, Bogavus is sitting on a throne somewhere, a wicked smirk on his face.
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