Sages in Silverymoon agreed to work on the book, and funds had to be sought. Danilo, Relg and the Brig went to the Greaypeak Mountains, south east of the High Forest and there met a Ki-Rin, whom they helped and earned treasure. Akordia, Sable and Relg travelled afar and encountered a mage creating flesh golems from bits of Ogres. On defeating him, they gained further finances to cover the huge costs being incurred to translate the book.
While travelling, Akordia heard some rumours about Drow priestesses dancing under the moon in a forest called The Moonwood, north of Silverymoon. This prompted her to investigate, taking just Kira and Jason with her. They cautiously explored the Moonwood and came upon a ruined temple dedicated to Sehanine Moonbow. The next night, Akordia hears singing and is drawn onward through the forest to reach a clearing where they witness half a dozen nude Drow females dancing in the moonlight. They are ambushed by guards and one of them, Iljrene, recognizes Akordia. Akordia's lost memory begins to return - she knew these people before. Akordia joins the dance - The Dance of the Dark Maiden and the clearing is blessed by the image of Elistraee appearing on a hillock nearby, watching over the proceedings.
After the Dance, other priestesses talk to Akordia as if they knew her, but she cannot remember them. Iljrene explains that Akordia had been touched by Elistraee and her memory would only be restored by returning to the Promenade of Elistraee without their aid. At this, the priestesses bid farewell and pass between two large trees and disappear. Akordia, Jason and Kira returned to Stanzfeld Mansion. Akordia remembers that the Promenade is a Temple beneath Waterdeep, on the third level of Undermountain, near a town called Skullport.
Jason said he knew Skullport - he had visited there in his youth. Joined by Harmer a fighter recently joined, they travelled to Waterdeep and bought passage by boat to Skullport. This took them down to the depths via the Great Hoist. Their passage through Skullport was one of the most unpleasant experiences. A den of corruption, cruelty and evil, they had to stay their impulses as the powerful denizens could destroy them utterly if they transgressed the laws of this evil place. They finally met Iljrene, but suddenly, a poisoned crossbow bolt flew out of the darkness and hit Akordia. Iljrene hurriedly guided them the last couple of miles through narrow, almost impassable tunnels until they reached the impressive caverns which formed the temple. Akordia was healed of the rare underdark poison and when well again, taken to meet the High Priestess of the Promenade. On entering her study, Akordia recognizes the High Priestess to be Qilue, and the shock brings her memory flooding back.
Akordia had lived in the temple until two years previously, but had left to help found an Elistraeean settlement in the High Forest. Her party had been attacked and she had been captured by a Tribe of Barbarians, who had tortured and abused her, until they were attacked by Vampires and she was taken prisoner by the vampire who had lived in Stanzfeld Mansion.
Qilue reveals to the party that she suspects the attack on Akordia was not accidental, but was an attempt on Akordia's cousin, who bore a strong resemblance. Karsel'lyn, her cousin, was due back from a diplomatic mission to Evermeet and they suspected that Drow assassins had been sent to kill her.
Akordia and the party volunteered to go to intercept the ship bringing Karsel'lyn and help escort her back to the Promenade. This they did, taking a boat back down the River Sargauth to Skullport docks, where they find a Northman Longship whose captain agrees to take them out. After nearly a day they saw the ship, an Elven ship called The leaping Dolphin, Hailing and transferring, Akordia was united with her cousin, Karsel'lyn. They explained about the assassination attempt, and the Dolphin's captain agrees that they should take the lesser risk and take the ship down the River Sargauth to the Promenade rather than dock at Skullport.
They negotiated the Hoist and bypassed Skullport, but as the ship was rowed past an old rotting hulk, a crash and sound of wood splintering on rock heralded that the ship had run aground. Then the mast of the rotting hulk collapsed onto the rigging of the Dolphin and a hole was punched though the stern, letting in tons of water, killing the ship's Druid. Dozens of Drow attacked the ship at once, driving the survivors into a tunnel. A stray crossbow bolt hit Karsel'lyn and she collapsed. Jason's quick thinking saved her though as he grabbed her and cast a teleport spell, taking them both back to Stanzfeld Mansion.
In the meantime, the survivors from the ship were engaged in a running battle through the tunnels and caverns as they tried to get to the Promenade, even tough they were on the wrong side of the river. They were on the run from Drow, but had to deal with Ropers, a Blue Dragon and a huge metallic scorpion which absorbed Magic Missiles to heal itself! They finally made it to a cavern opposite an entrance to the Promenade and were able to summon help to get across the river and to safety. Jason had brought Karsel'lyn to the Promenade using a scroll of Teleport without Error and she was being treated. before leaving to return to Fallow's Cross, Akordia was given a token which allowed her to use the gateway in the Moonwood to get to the Promenade whenever she needed.