The session begins on the blood-stained decks of the Sloop Dogg at the Petrolina docks, as the party recovers from the previous night's bridge-gang ambush. The new crew members, a boisterous dwarf named Ormus and a shanky human wizard named Gil, arrive at the ship to find the party cleaning up corpses. Mickle Cobblelob utilizes Disguise Self to take on the appearance of a “chubby” Bludarious de'Tempoon (Curtis) to avoid being recognized following his “war ostrich” theft incident. Vladimir Vladislav takes a long rest to recover his high-level spell slots, while the rest of the party prepares to make the ship airworthy.

The party decides to sail the Sloop Dogg across the harbor to the Petrolina gantry for repairs and provisioning. Under the direction of Ormus, the party engages in an intense day of haggling and supply gathering, ultimately spending 2,100 gold pieces. This cost covers a full load of hydrogas fuel, rations, extra hull planks, balloon patches, and internal furnishings like hammocks and nets to make the vessel a self-contained unit. During this downtime, Grundel—haunted by his previous fall during the Skracken attack—insists on the development of a “parachute” or “glider” system. Mickle agrees to prototype silk-and-wire hang gliders for the crew during future multi-day journeys.

Returning to the docks, the party finally loots the brigands killed in the morning skirmish. They recover a Potion of Superior Healing, a Scroll of Animal Friendship, a hooded lantern, a longbow, and five gold pieces. The party then heads to the local Market District for personal gear. Nebish purchases a Burglar's Pack and an iron lockbox for the ship, while Khalid finds a fine tobacco pipe. Mickle, still in his “Blu” disguise, visits a toy store and buys a small wooden toy elephant for six silver pieces.

Seeking to restore their reputation and find work, the party returns to the Hedge Hall tavern. To appease the bartender, Rufus, Khalid pays 25 gold pieces to cover the damage to the tavern door from the previous night. Khalid further “sweetens the pot” by buying a 5-gold round for the house and tipping the barmaids with silver. Rufus, impressed by the party's professionalism (and coin), directs them to Marshal Yasmin Santiago, the Captain of the Guard, who has work that the regular city guard is “too squeamish” to handle.

The party is escorted through the eerily quiet Royal District to the city guard house. There, they meet Marshal Yasmin Santiago, a chiseled human woman in immaculate gold-inlaid plate armor. After Khalid name-drops Rufus and mentions their success in capturing The Baron, Yasmin offers them a contract. She tasks them with investigating the city cemetery, where reports of the “dead coming alive” have terrified her men. After negotiation, the party secures a payment of 600 gold pieces for clearing the threat.

The party travels to the outskirts of the city to the foggy, chilling cemetery. Grundel leads the way with his “Thoughts” and “Prayers” brass knuckles glowing pink and orange thanks to Mickle's tinkering. They are ambushed by a group of four zombies, including a massive Goliath zombie. * Vladimir utilizes his Channel Divinity: Turn Undead, instantly crumbling one zombie to ash and sending a corpulent zombie fleeing back toward a crypt. * Khalid unleashes his blunderbuss loaded with fifty pennies, shredding two of the undead with a hail of copper. * Grundel and Nebish methodically dismantle the remaining zombies with a combination of crescent wrench strikes and rapier thrusts.

Following the surviving zombie into a stone foyer, the party encounters a massive, handle-less marble door. Nebish and Mickle investigate and realize that all the religious symbols on the door have been desecrated or scratched out. After Vladimir fails to open the door with Bless and Sacred Flame, he realizes the seal requires an “evil” resonance to permit entry. Vladimir casts Inflict Wounds, matching the door's dark aura with necrotic power. The marble slab creaks open, releasing a cold, foul stench as the party peers into the darkness of the inner dungeon.