Cathayans, disgruntled by the landing of the Wellspring of Evil in their lands, and blaming the signatories to the Gathering Treaty, begin to retaliate as the nations visit Bears lands. Much of the sedition in Albion appears to have been influenced thus, and as word spreads that the Emporer of Cathay is looking to find several items of a powerful regalia left in the path of the Wellspring, the Harts and others take to the battlefield. Lives are lost when a dragon is found to be one of the more powerful weapons the Cathayans hold. Supply lines are lost and a sudden shortage of materials for powerful weapons such as finely crafted arms and scrolls of the higher magics hits all factions hard.