The HILT tried to ask Laerth for a blood donation. He was, however, reluctant to donate for the cause. Fighting Laerth was challenging, nearly fatal for several members of the HILT, but ultimately successful. He was slain, his blood was drained, and his remains were laid to rest.

Muse wandered off deeper into the cave system, in a very Musish fashion and discovered a magical object at the bottom of a subterranean ravine. The smaller representatives of the group climbed down to fetch it, and a collection of coins, from among piles of bodies created by Laerth.

The object appeared to be a geode containing a divine liquid of some kind. There was also a cryptic old mad in the ravine, who claimed the area was a shrine to Keres, goddess of joy and the hunt.  It was also observed by many in the HILT that the geode would make a killer bong, with a bit of work.

The caraveneers returned to Isard just in time to help complete the ritual. 

They brought the blood bucket to the Alef chamber where Professor Robin had collected all of those afflicted with the ethereal venom. They were all unconscious, but chanting in unison.

Robin used the tuning fork crafted by Davion and anointed with the blood of Laerth to begin the ritual. Then she ran outside and slammed the door behind her.

The ritual summoned the thing that was generating the snakes. It was a protrusion of something much greater into the material plane. The snakes poured off, filling the room and snapping at the now trapped heroes.  The battle was fierce, but the snake spewing ethereal alter was eventually rendered inert. The final blow left Dragon Bane, Gene's gleaming long sword, irrevocably fused with the remains.

The victims recovered, and the HILT were hailed as heroes.