The group wakes up early after handing in their rewards from investigating the lost gnomes and find that the expedition is being relocated further south in fear of a strange black cloud off to the northeast.
They are allocated a guide to help them investigate the mines and manage to walk (or in Garm's case slide) to the entrance of the mines.
The group explores the mines, heading deeper and deeper until finally finding a polished stone hexagon raised off the ground with the continent of Verandin etched on it, along with a neighbouring landmass not recognised by Hallie. The symbol of Sokta lies in the middle of the desert with golden beams connecting to it from all the corners beside the top right one. Zumwarin copies the map.
Maximilian approaches a spine spider and gets stabbed, combat begins.