The Serpent Lord's domain was too far away to reach quickly by foot. Fortunately, Memory of a Dreamt Revelation had a contact in the rail workers union. The Brass Hand arrived at Veronis' freight rail station, Memory of a Dreamt Revelation offered the foreman free labour for transport, and they were off. With two conditions: no time magic on the train, for locomotives in the world of Tempris are powered not by steam, but by time. And no character developing conversations after 9pm. The workers need to sleep!

As the train slowly pulled into the station at Cragalin, the Brass Hand spotted a crowd of people with notebooks at the ready outside. Memory of a Dreamt Revelation stood and waved to them, and that caused many to start frantically writing. Penny and Nickel explained that many decades prior, Cragalin had fought a war of secession from the city of Chronopolis. The Brass Hand had declared neutrality in the conflict, and in response, Eluran had resigned from the Brass Hand to serve in the war anyway, as a medic. The people of Cragalin viewed Eluran as a hero, and the Brass Hand as villains.

Memory of a Dreamt Revelation suggested making a formal apology for the Brass Hand's inaction in the conflict, but the other party members didn't think that was a good idea. They wanted to start their relationship with Cragalin off on a positive note. Memory of a Dreamt Revelation retorted, "Look outside, they've already formed an opinion of us. We need to do damage control." But they allowed Penny to step outside first and take the lead. Unfortunately for Penny, she couldn't say whatever she planned to say. As soon as the Brass Hand stepped onto the platform, they were swarmed with questions, the reporters shouting too loudly to get a word in edgewise-

I stopped the Director. And informed him that I have the Engrossing Monologue perk. When Memory of a Dreamt Revelation shouts, everyone within ten squares listens for one minute. His NPCs can't railroad Me. I'm railroading him!

"We come on behalf both of the Brass Hand, and of Eluran, who personally selected us as his heirs. We come to make a formal apology for the Brass Hand's past inaction, and to commend Eluran for his heroic and selfless deeds in service to Cragalin. In the spirit of that service, we bring a warning: The Serpent Lord is in danger. We will journey to the Serpent Lord's domain and defend it, for the people of Cragalin."

As they gave that speech, the mood in the crowd shifted. The tabloid writers sighed and put down their notebooks, knowing they couldn't publish any of the libel they had planned. The bystanders who didn't yet have an opinion nodded along, deciding that the Brass Hand couldn't be that bad. At the monologue's conclusion, the journalists eager to publish the scoop first rushed off. A man pushed his way to the front of a crowd and asked Penny (and only Penny) how she hoped to live up to her grandfather's legacy. She answered with humility and determination, sealing the city's approval of the new Brass Hand. And the party gave individual interviews until the foreman ordered the journalists to clear off the private property and make way for cargo.

The party decided to spend an hour in the city before heading off to the Serpent Lord's domain. Memory of a Dreamt Revelation went to a jeweller in search of obsidian lenses to repair an old heirloom. Penny, the only one who had been to the desert before, bought supplies and lots of water. Nickel and Arava saw the sights. They watched the folk hand ores to the Ant Lord's worker drones, clockwork ants the size of large dogs. And they admired the statue of Eluran at the fountain in the center of town, while Nickel reflected on the feelings of uncertainty and anxiety they had had ever since Eluran died. Penny comforted them. And then it was time to set off.

Reply if you want to hear what they found in the domain of the Serpent Lord.