The Misfortunates fended off Matthias' dark side as he experienced his first change as a werewolf during their travels. As a wolf, the young man was far more powerful than any lycanthrope they'd ever seen--and the group barely scraped by with their lives. He carried no memory of that moonstruck night, perhaps so much the better.
Arriving at Shadowgrange, the group found its outskirts in ruins. Every thatched roof aflame. A plague doctor exited one, geistflame projector in hand--and claimed a deadly disease was sweeping the country. He saw Loren looking ill, and warned his companions to stand back--as he locked and loaded the flamethrower.