GM Notes: This chapter of the story takes place on August 10. The chapter begins with Jacob Torgue running down the mountain carrying Rose’s baby along with the Gravedigger known as Eve as they’re being pursued by gargoyles. Eve uses her entropy magic to contact Wesley Smith and warns him of the danger. The story then flashes back to August 9, 2000, when Jacob and Eve returned to the Snake Range Chantry. There at the Chantry Jacob meets up with the other members of the Gravediggers and is updated on the situation dealing with the half vampire baby. He learns more about the mage-vampire war between the Order of Hermes and Tremere, the fate of Rose, and the worries that the vampires are attempting to breed a new species of day walking vampires.

Pass midnight, August 10, Jacob wakes up to the sounds of a disturbance within the Chantry. He investigates the strange sounds and discovers that the gargoyles have murdered Madam Hydra! The mage immediately obtains the baby and attempts to find a way out, evading gargoyle pursuers, escaped vampires, and the defensive fire elementals attacking intruders. Along the way he meets a number of the Gravedigger survivors, Damon and Eve. Damon stays behind to buy the pair time to escape out of the mountain.

Meanwhile Wes and Julian struggle to come up with an idea on how to help the Gravediggers from all the way from Las Vegas. Po suggests tapping into the Snake Range’s ranger station phone lines as a method to get closer to the chantry. Wesley uses his magic to project his spirit and convert it into light while Julian uses his technomancy to project a hard light hologram, rerouting the pair and Isis through the digital web and into the ranger station. Po calls in a favor from Charlotte. The Spider Queen grants the request by calling in help from the Jinn, Aziz. Aziz uses his magic and transport Po to the entrance of the Snake Range Chantry.

Outside the mountain Eve and Jacob is fleeing from the gargoyles. As they are running away, Eve breaks away from Jacob to split the number of pursuers. Just as Jacob was close to escaping, he runs across Jesse Hooker and his band of vampires. The Malkavians demand Jacob to hand over the baby in return for them sparing his life. That is when Julian and Wes arrive as the cavalry. The mages are able to rally together and force the vampires to flee, destroying the leader of the Malkavians in the process.

Inside the mountain Po finds many of the dead Gravediggers. He also finds Rose Popplewell and rescues her. As he is leaving he encounters Damon, half mad from his injuries with the fire elementals. Damon blames Po for destroying the Gravediggers and attacks. Po is able to knock out Damon and rescue the mage, escaping the inferno of the Snake Range Chantry.

All of the mages meet up with one another and escape the mountain. Isis takes the baby, who she names Horus, and leaves to hide the child for his protection. Jacob realizes that this entire incident was his mistake, that he warned the vampires of the whereabouts of Rose and that they will always be hunting after her as long as they have a psychic on her trail. The cabal then decides to put aside their differences and hunt the surviving vampires.

After killing the last of the vampire nest, placing a deadly affliction on Mae, and avenging Jessica Arcade, the cabal returns to Las Vegas to figure out what to do next. Wesley mourns the fact that his life is ruined. The Las Vegas authorities have evidence that Po and Wesley are responsible for the death and arson of the Raven Estate. With the law after him and the Black Pyramid Chantry’s membership either in jail or gone, he feels truly alone. Julian worries over the increasing hostile attitude of Po and attempts to contact with Lee Roy. Jacob receives a message from Butch Levi, suggesting that Butch has discovered the identity of the saboteur. And Po learns that Charlotte took Jessica Arcade.

Things are not going well. The group shares their notes with one another, and is able to capture a spy, an E-Demon, a type of spectre that haunts electronics. With a number of possible leads the group decides to follow Jacob’s suggestion and hunt down Butch Levi. Their investigation takes them to Ralph Cannon’s trailer outside of Boulder City. As they’re about to investigate the trailer, they’re attacked by a Bane spirit.

Is Ralph Cannon the traitor or another victim?