the scouting group starts their trek in the lush green city of virulum, not because they were told to but because of one of the members, vea, vehemently insisted they start there. she suggested it mainly for the safety of her younger brother andrew (a singer that lives in the city) and her clear memory of the bloodshed she witnessed on the night of heretics. when they get there she's thrilled to see he's ok but something's off: his music agent, ron miller, seems to be acting weird... and is a lot taller than normal.