Episode 33: Hot On Your Heals

Episode Events
As the party continues up through the exit given to them by The Storyteller, they feel a sensation of vengeance for their lost companion. As they reach the surface and exit the tunnel, it sinks into the ground and disappears, leaving the party on solid, flat ground. Taxi quietly begins to cast Locate Object to find Velrisas necklace. Mountain, in a state of shock about Velrisa, wonders why the Queen sent them. Sylnan insists that the reason why doesn't matter, and they just need to find Velrisa as soon as possible. Taxi finishes casting Locate Object, but cannot find her necklace.

While the party regathers themselves and discuss what to do next, Taxi is contacted by Ander through a sending spell. Ander, furious that Taxi allowed Velrisa to be taken, tells him to get back to the city and meet him in the town square by nightfall. Taxi relays this message to the party, which gives the party hope that Ander can help them find Velrisa. However, Mountain shows guilt for Velrisa being taken, blaming himself.

Sylnan questions if the city is safe, or if they'll be wanted men when they return. Mountain suggests to just be cautious until they know more. He also suggests they do something with the artifact in the meantime, which prompts Br'aad to summon Liveclock. They get Liveclock to consume the hammer with minimal issues.

The party begins to question what the plan is if the King set them up. Mountain, fully convinced his father set them up, determines they need to play it smart despite what he truly wants to do. Hilltree asks if they're going to go get their wagon back from the army at the entrance of the cave, but Mountain says they shouldn't, since they no longer side with the army. Sylnan and Br'aad suggest feigning ignorance to the king, in order to travel to the city safely. Taxi suggests they take the captain back to the dwarves, but Mountain advises against it. After a bit of convincing, the party finally decides to just play dumb and take the captain back to the army camp.

As the party tries to wake up the captain, they begin to hear loud, quick footfalls. They turn to look, seeing Chirp barreling toward them, his eyes red, with the doctor on Chirps back. The Doctor, after collecting himself, explains he was looking for the party to offer to be their field doctor. Br'aad explains that a position is open and asks if he can fix the captain. Chirp asks where Velrisa is, because he cannot pick up her location. Mountain, trying to follow the "playing dumb" plan, tries to convince Chirp that Velrisa had left with her uncle. However, Chirp sees through his lies and asks again.

Br'aad casts prestidigitation and shows two mini figures in his hands, one of the automaton that chained Velrisa, and the other of the cloaked dwarves. He asks if Chirp had ever seen either of the figures before. He only points out that the automaton is a bigger version of him, but he hadn't seen one in 43 years since the end of a battle between the drwarves and the elves, and they were used to collect the corpses. He knows nothing about the cloaked figures, only taking note that they look very scary.

Sylnan asks him what he knows about the Queen. He only comments that the Queen overthrows the kings power in all regards. He describes her as diplomatic, heavy-handed, and even goes as far as to say she's a bitch. Taxi asks if she was also Queen 43 years ago, which Chirp confirms by stating that both Queen Mira and King Ragrim have both been in power for over 115 years.

Br'aad asks where the Queen is, since she is on a diplomatic mission. Chirp, taking a moment to think, claims he cannot remember the name of the continent but describes it as a desert with lots of jungles. Br'aad suggests that the queen might not actually be on the diplomatic mission. The doctor says that the captain has potential to recover in time. They request that he wakes him up, despite the pain the captain might be in when he becomes conscious.

During the process of waking up the captain, Taxi asks which direction the continent is in. Chirp replies with West. He asks why she would be there, and Chirp tells him that she was going there to speak with the Elven Elders, but he doesn't know what they were going to speak about since he doesn't care. Br'aad suggests that either the Queen is really there, and the elves are in on it, or the Queen is faking the diplomatic mission. Chirp pipes up, explaining that the Queen has been gone for months and has not contacted the King at all, and that their relationship is probably in shambles.

When the Captain awakens, Mountain steps forward to ask him what he knows about the other dwarves in the cave. The captain claims he doesn't know, and that he had never heard of them before. Mountain threatens to kill the Captain if he is lying. The captain asks where Mountains pride is as a dwarf, and why he would fight against something he was working for. Mountain says he is going to kill him, but the captain doesn't protest death, as his body no longer works. Sylnan, passively, can tell that the captain was genuine. Mountain picks up on the same thing shortly after. Mountain asks what he knows of the Queen. The captain only tells them that she is powerful and he wouldn't advise fighting her. Mountain, convinced the captain is telling the truth, offers to do the best he can to help the captain recover.

Taxi asks if he knows of what the Queen is doing. The captain claims that the Queen is in Sudai, discussing trade routes with the elves. However, she kept most of the details to herself. Sylnan wonders why Taxi is so curious about where the Queen is located. Taxi reveals that he was born in Sudai, and is very upset and it's getting harder to contain his anger.

Br'aad asks the Captain if he knows anything about the King wanting Velrisa's blood. The captain explains that the Queen has a research team currently studying how non-human blood to see any correlation between them and creatures like Ungaroh. Mountain tells the captain that he had probably been lied to, and the captain insists if he is being lied to, the queen is behind it. The captain also insists that they tell the King immediately, which Mountain protests immediately. He continues, saying that the King has had no contact with the Queen and it's been tearing him apart. Mountain asks where his allegiance will lie, but the captain assures him that the king has a heart of gold, unlike Mira.

Sylnan suggests they should talk to the king, and bring the Captain back to camp. Taxi asks the Captain if he'd prefer to be left at camp or taken to the city. The captain tells them not to leave him at camp, as they will just kill him. He also apologizes for Velrisa and swears that he will help them find her.

With Mountain carrying the Captain and Chirp carrying the doctor, the party makes their way back to the wagon near to the cavern entrance. On their way there, they notice that the army has dispersed after a battle. Ten corpses lay around the cavern entrance, one of which being one of the hooded dwarven figures. Sylnan, investigating the hooded corpse, assumes that the battle happened an hour ago, around the same time that the party got ambushed. As he pulls back the hood, he spots a purple eye tattooed on his forehead, and his eyes are pure white. Sylnan calls the party over and Br'aad cannot sense any magical presence, despite assuming the eyes mean possession. None of the party can recognize the tattoo and decide to leave immediately.

Taxi, casting Speak with Animals, asks the horses what they saw. The horses describe people coming from lights, and fighting began. Taxi returns to the party, and they leave in great haste.

During the travels, Sylnan apologizes for going off on Mountain about his father and thanks the party for helping him (quite literally) fight his demons. Mountain understands his thinking and forgives him, as Sylnan explains his complicated history with nobles.