Iskaral Pust stands before his master, Shadowthrone in Shadowkeep while Cotillion looks on. Shadowthrone reluctantly agrees that Pust will be sufficient for the task he has in mind but does not reveal its nature. He dismisses Pust and leaves shortly thereafter, admitting to Cotillion that he is a little stretched. Cotillion questions them on the Elder Gods and the nature of the Crippled God. Ampelas finally reveals that the Crippled God is using the shattered warren of Emurlahn to spread poison in K'rul's blood, as it is the weakest: pricisely the information that Cotillion was looking for.