After gathering these first few clues, they travel to the site of each reported incident to uncover more details and search for more clues. For starters, they discover that the victims of the dream fever do not lie peacefully in their beds. They toss fretfully in their slumber and mumble incoherent phrases, as if trapped in some sort of nightmare. Those in the most advanced stages become thin, pale, and ever weaker, until their breath gives out a few days later.

Not in the mood to view the remains of the dismembered horses, the group's last stop is at the tavern where the dark-leafed vines sprouted. They casually ask around about the incident, and any others the patrons may have noticed. Among the patrons are a few priests of Lathander, the god of spring, dawn, and renewal. They gladly talk with the group about recent events.

The priests have taken up temporary residence here and in boarding houses around town while they attempt to rebuild their temple. The temple was destroyed in a fire 8 years ago, during the Zhent occupation. Only since the Zhents were driven out of Dagger Falls has the priesthood been free to rebuild.

Their efforts were halted a few days ago, however, when several of their priests and workers finally cleared the debris blocking the entrance to the basement area, the only part of the temple left undamaged by the fire. They attempted to enter the basement to retrieve several ceremonial items from the storage areas, but were driven out by large half-bird, half-insect creatures with hooks for hands. They lost 2 acolytes and 6 workers to the monsters' attack, and so have kept away from the basement until they can find a way to get rid of the creatures.

With no other leads to follow, the group decides to investigate the burnt temple. It is already after dark when the group arrives, and they spot a group of dwarf-sized shadows trying to sneak through the rubble of the temple. As the group watches the creatures in silence, they begin to notice things about the creatures that dispel the theory of dwarves. These creatures, though roughly the same size and shape as dwarves, are covered in dark vines full of thorns, and eyes that glow a dark violet color.

The group carefully follows the creatures through the dark alleys, until the creatures stop outside a small house, and attempt to break in. The group attacks with a barrage of missile weapons, catching the creatures completely off-guard. A quick battle follows, and Zendril is struck by one of the creatures before it dies. He reels back as a sharp pain goes through him, temporarily stunning him. The pain subsides to a dull throb, but leaves him with a large welt where the creature struck him.

When all the creatures are dead, the group has a chance to get a close look at them. Nataya spits at them in disgust, recognizing what they are. They are wood woes, also known as nightshades. They are plant-like creatures created by necromantic magic and which breed through killing other plants and animals. Their bodies are covered with a poison that causes extreme pain and is capable of rendering the victim helpless.

However, these creatures do not appear to be typical nightshades. Nataya notes that the creatures they just fought were much more powerful than they should have been. Also, one of the creatures was carrying a strange circular net made of thousands of dark silk-like threads. When checked for magic, it radiates an aura of ethereal energy. Theranion spends over an hour studying it, before correctly guessing it to be a rare item known as a Net of Dreams, which is designed to capture the life energy of a sleeping creature.

They quickly surmise that the nightshades and this Net of Dreams are the cause of the dream fever, but it does not explain the large beasts that attacked the priests of Lathander, the missing people, or the fact that these nightshades appear to have been magically enhanced. There is also the matter of who created the Net, as nightshades are not capable of crafting such items, and do not normally use magical items unless in the service of someone more powerful. If they are to find out any more, they will have to delve into the depths below the temple..