Episode 4: If It Bleeds...

"'Br'aad and Sylnan scout out the theater, while Taxi, Velrisa, and Mountain head into the forest. One of these doesn't go as planned!'"

Episode Events
The party head to the theater, The Crossing Hammers, early in the morning. Br'aad tells Sylnan and Mountain about his plan to rob the theater during the play. One of the actors approaches the party, asking what they need. After explaining that Thardo had interest in the party acting in the play, the actor explains Thardo is not there at the moment, but says they need animal blood for theater blood. Sylnan and Br'aad agree to take on the task, and explain to the party what needs to be done.

Velrisa, Taxi, and Mountain go into the forest to search for animals, meanwhile Sylnan and Br'aad look around the theater.

Sylnan and Br'aad go through the halls and doors, mentally mapping the theater, ending at a locked door, which leads to the catwalk above the stage and seating. They head back, stumbling upon a smaller lounge room, of which has three dancing poles and accompanying stages. Br'aad jokingly performs an erotic dance for Sylnan, who averts his gaze, meanwhile Sylnan sneaks through past a red roped off area into an area of private lounges, which ends at a large double door with dragons engraved on it, with text going across the top. As Sylnan attempts to lock pick the door, nearly succeeding, the door swings open, and Thardo is standing there. Glancing into the room before the door quickly closes, Sylnan is able to see glass walls with a large desk in the middle. Sylnan convinces Thardo he was looking for a washroom, to which Thardo offers to guide him towards one.

Mountain, Taxi, and Velrisa split up, Mountain going alone to look for stags, while Taxi and Velrisa go in the opposite direction to do the same. Mountain notices a large, white fur creature with four arms. It appears ape like, specifically like a gorilla. Mountain throws the trident into it, sending the ape creature into an animalistic rage. Combat ensues. The ape like creature heavily harms Mountain, but Mountain attacks back, heavily hurting the creature. After a few final attacks, Mountain successfully kills the creature, but lights the creature on fire during his attacks with Flametounge. Quickly stomping out the fire, Mountain picks up the creature and brings it back to the meeting spot.

Taxi and Velrisa see a lot of smaller game, but find nothing large. They wander, ending up on a cliff. Looking off the cliff, they see a herd of Brachiosaurus walking in the valley, although they do not know what the creatures are as they've never seen one previously. Taxi talks to one of the dinosaurs, asking basic questions out of curiosity. Due to the lack of intelligence dinosaurs have, no real information was discovered. Taxi and Velrisa begin to head back to the meeting spot empty-handed.

Mountain, Taxi, and Velrisa meet back up. As Taxi goes to fill the vials, he hears a sound from the treetops. Looking at the source of the sound, he sees a vine wrapped around a tree, with a single yellow flower pointed down towards the group. The vine moves around rapidly, going behind trees and bushes, moving towards the corpse of the creature. As Taxi shoots a stone at the flower, the sky overhead begins to grey, and the vine punctures into the neck of the deceased creature. Poison as beings to fire into the area from the flower, as the creature beings to stand once more, as the vine gives it life. Combat ensues. Mountain attempts to cut off the head of the creature, missing. While the group is continually being poisoned, Mountain attempts to end the creatures life once more, not succeeding. The zombie ape attacks towards Mountain, while the vine wraps around Mountain's sword, attacking him. Taxi attacks the zombie ape, not killing it, and resorts to running away. Mountain finally ends the zombie ape, when he notices the vines dragging his sword away. The poison gas is still present, slowly spreading.

Taxi manages to retrieve two vials of blood before the poison forces him to retreat. As the group look through the trees, they can see the vines connect to the back of a humanoid figure standing in the distance. Taxi looks towards the vine, stabbed through into place but still holding Flametounge, and goes to retrieve it, not succeeding quick enough, causing the poison to knock him unconcious. Mountain, hearing Taxi fall, walks in and grabs both him and his sword. Velrisa brings Taxi back up, and the party quickly leave the forest.

After seeing the lack of vials, Taxi tries to use his own blood to fill them, but Mountain stops him. As this occurs, Hilltree walks out of the woods behind them, pulling out three vials of blood.

Br'aad and Sylnan walk out of the washroom, and Thardo is no longer there. The brothers walk over to the main stage, seeing playhands moving props with Thardo directing them around. In the room they notice the large glass windows at the top back of the room, which lead to Thardo's office. Br'aad attempts to use liveclock to look inside, but is too far, so Slynan and Br'aad go onto the stage, pretending to perform an acrobatic stacking act, allowing Br'aad to be high enough up to utilize liveclock. Inside the office, there are lots of lounge areas, wine, and another room with shelves and files. Br'aad is forced to come back to his own view as Thardo suddenly leaves. As Mountain, Taxi, and Velrisa head to the theater, the party regroups once again.