Lucienne guides Ashen Cabaret through The Aeon’s domain, but the group notices something is a bit off with the God of Death and Reincarnation. He’s missing his black hole crown. Arriving in Asuras, they regroup with Liliana just outside the city gates and she and Olaf quickly hit it off again.
Inside the city, they meet up with Evalyn, the vampire from before. She tells them how excited Vesk will be that they came, and directs them towards the temple to get more information about the ritual he’s occupied with. Her and Henry flirt a little, and she’s very excited to see Shade again. Olaf sneaks off with some of Yore’s patented time stopping pills to have a fun night.
At the temple, Father Jovial and his monks test Ashen Cabaret to ensure they are worthy to meet with Vesk. They prove more than capable, and the mad priest takes a liking to Shade. Juno swipes a crystalline heart that gives her an unsettling vision of being buried alive, as well as a map of vampires in Hadea. The priest sings them a song about Vesk’s ritual, revealing that he intends to consume the sun, Amau, with The Aeon’s black hole to plunge the world into eternal night.
Overnight, the team is plagued with threatening visions of Annie’s journals that detail her distrust towards the group and the desire to take them out.
Vesk meets up with Ashen Cabaret at the tavern in town and tries to tempt them with promises of power in exchange for betraying Lucienne. Most of them ignore him, except for Shade and Henry who quickly head to his castle to acquire the bone dragon he promised. Juno gives an uneasy Jadeth a necklace as she keeps her eyes from looking directly at the vampire. Yore and Lucienne sneak out to enjoy the hot springs. Olaf takes Liliana to his room. Slender humors Vesk’s offers, but ultimately is unable to swindle the ancient vampire out of some free power.
In the morning they make it up to Vesk’s palace and navigate through the halls. They smash Vesk’s coffin and cover a haunted mirror, and Yore identifies some shattered Godshard crystals and a letter from a woman that calls herself The Eclipse Queen. They also find a museum-like room full of artifacts, but are unable to swipe any of great value. As they head up the stairs, they find a horrible scene: Liliana laying dead on the floor being consumed by a huge monster.
Not-Liliana sighs that the mess was supposed to be cleaned up already and shapeshifts back into her true changeling form, revealing herself as the vampire, Nil Aternox. She turns the monster on Ashen Cabaret, but escapes before they’re able to take her out.
After the threat is handled, Lucienne, Olaf, and Yore grieve over the loss of their friend. Yore protects Liliana’s body, and Lucienne requests the map of Hadea from Juno. She runs forward to try to charge through the strange portal to Vesk’s demiplane, but it knocks her backwards. They discover that it’s warded against The Aeon’s interference, so Jadeth and Lucienne have to stay behind. Lucienne sorrowfully tells Yore to stay safe. Jadeth gives Yore her revivify scroll and begs him to keep “Dr. Graves” safe. She then goes to Juno and the two of them exchange their first kiss. After that, Ashen Cabaret goes into the demiplane to deal with Vesk once and for all.