In Parthos, Burr carries the unconscious Prince Sebazhan Dack, while Willow seeks a place to try to find shelter and lend aid. The crowd, however, seems to be acting less and less rational, becoming more animal-like … beyond mere revelry. Willow, Thorn and Burr seek refuge in the Pantheon. There, Dack recovers his consciousness … but it's soon evident that it's not really Dack that is in control, but rather Dagh, as he attacks Willow. Willow refuses to let Burr harm the Khatta, and pleads with and prays for Sebazhan to resist Dagh's influence, even as countless townspeople under Dagh's sway start to swarm the temple. Willow sends Burr away, so that he can escape with Thorn, while she faces off against Dagh. Sebazhan struggles with Dagh's control – His hands release from Willow's throat, but then go for his own, claws bared. Willow tries to stop him from ripping his own throat, and they both go tumbling back into the magical pool in the center of the Pantheon.

When they surface again, they find that they are somewhere else. Sebazhan has returned to his senses, and coughs up a few lungs-full of water. Ariel, meanwhile, the little cat goddess, is sitting there, dipping her feet in the pool. She throws a couple of towels to Willow and Sebazhan, and reveals to them that they are now far, far under Olympia and Moltpaa, in the "realm of the gods". Willow also discovers that Ariel is no wizard, but rather an artificial construct created by Tyrne Dagh long ago, and that Dagh and the other "gods" live down in this place, where magic is stronger – and more dangerous.

Ariel leads Sebazhan and Willow to the Moltpaa "subway" that Willow saw in an earlier adventure in Kroz, sending them on their way to Diamante to hopefully arrive in time for Morning-Mist's wedding. Meanwhile, Ariel is sent with a silver coin and a lock of Willow's hair to instruct Burr to meet them in Diamante.