The HILT finally departed Malkara and returned to their regular route, bringing them next to Isard.

The helpful bus Carried three passengers on the trek. Their previous acquaintance and caravan guard Sarah and a youthful but savvy member of the Tong. They boarded in Malkara.

The second passenger was Inquisitor Marques, a capable and experienced hunter of the monstrous and occult. He strode in out of the night halfway to Isard, and imposed himself upon the Caravan in a manner that seemed ill-advised to refuse. Olive found that the impression was probably correct, in that he carried a case full of branded hands and some faces, none of which appeared to have been removed with their prior owner's consent.

The journey ended at Isard with the passengers paying their fare and moving on their way, while the HILT found an INN and began plying their varied trades in the city.

JEFF, moving incognito as GEFF, had no trade to ply, so instead wandered off to make out with some college students in the nearby ethereal planes. The encounter was brief and unfulfilling, and GEFF wandered off in the night to find something more interesting. 

Instead, something interesting found him and he was assaulted by a tree full of ethereal snakes.

It is unclear how GEFF made it back to Isard, but he was found, dying from ethereal venom and chanting softly.