Episode 10.5: Risky Business

"“I’m Sylnan fuckin’ Vengolor, bitch.” -Condifiction, as Sylnan Vengolor."

Episode Events
The episode starts as Sylnan comes to consciousness bound to an armchair with a burlap sack over his head. He starts to fight against the binds, but nothing works. He begins to hear voices whispering to each other in the distance. The sack is pulled off of his head, a half-elf man with light green eyes and blonde hair pulled back stands in front of him.

Sylnan feels an extreme familiarity with the half-elf but cannot figure out why, he only puts together that he knows the half-elf in some way.

The half elf rambles on about how the party has been causing trouble, and even claimed to have trusted Sylnan before motioning over to a still unconscious Mountain, where Sylnan finally sees him. Sylnan shows great concern for Mountains life, but is relieved to notice that the dwarf is breathing.

Sylnan looks around, putting together that they are in the sewers. He also notices that four other people are in the room. A tall blue orc stands at the door with his arms crossed, tattoos covering his arms. A large axe is strapped to his back.

Two hooded figures stand on either side of the blue orc, to block any entrance or exit to the doorway. Jaquot is the fourth person in the room, very obviously avoiding eye contact with Sylnan.

The half-elf explains that the boys and the rest of their party have been causing too much trouble. When Sylnan is asked who he thinks he is by double crossing him, Sylnan replies with "I'm Sylnan fuckin' Vengolor, bitch." Brendan begins to make remarks about Sylnans family, even bringing up his mother, which agitates Sylnan.

The half-elf walks away and silently orders his guards to wake up Mountain, splashing cold water on his face.

Mountain, confused, asks where he is. The half-elf does not give him a proper answer, but makes a comment about how Mountain can trust him more than Sylnan, and ask how well Mountain actually knows him. Mountain gets defensive and the half-elf asks Sylnan if he ever told Mountain about the incident having to do with a noble child. Sylnan quickly denies having to do anything with it, but the half-elf, and Mountain, see through his lie. After a very upset Mountain demands to know what he's talking about, Sylnan explains himself, explaining how he was hired by the half-elf, now announced as Brendan, to befriend and kidnap a noble child for ransom that, unknowingly to Sylnan, resulted in the fatalities of both the child and his father.

Brendan points out that Sylnan cannot keep eye contact with Mountain, and is ashamed. Mountain wonders how Sylnan could bring himself to take part in something like that.

Brendan goes on to insult Br'aad, calling him a disgrace, which upsets Sylnan more. Mountain interjects, demanding to know why he's here. Brendan explains why, stating that his entire operation is falling apart because the party killed his men, searching for information on the finfolk. He continues on, explaining how he doesn't care about the finfolk because they do not oppose him. Sylnan interjects, telling him that the finfolk plan to rise up from the ocean and flood the wharf. Brendan seems unmoved, stating he can take on a few fish.

Mountain is still confused about what trouble his party actually caused. Brendan explains that they killed, interrogated, and stole from his men. However, Mountain denies it, claiming if they were really killing his men, he would know about it. Brendan assures Mountain that he does know about it, bringing up the two men that were found dead in the back alley. Sylnan and Mountain both deny having anything to do with it, claiming they just fell from the second story.

Brendan refutes this, pointing out the forest spider bites found on the body that could be connected to Taxi, since he's the only druid in the entire town that is capable of turning into a giant forest spider.

After a long moment of silence, Mountain still claims that he had nothing to do with the situation. Brendan knows that he didn't, and does not hold him accountable, but he was accompanying the group. He continues by saying that it would have been perfect if he also got Br'aad, but he pulled a disappearing act.

Mountain explains how he will probably cut ties with the group after what he's heard about his companion, which leaves Sylnan feeling betrayed.

Brendan claims that he must take from them because they've taken from him, and before Mountain has time to protest, Brendan cuts off Sylnans left pinkie finger.

Mountain quickly tries to claim that he was the one that really ran the group, but Brendan sees through his lies and states that Mountain is not intelligent enough to run such an operation. Mountain insults Brendan, which leads to Brendan wondering what he should take from Mountain. Mountain spits in Brendans face, telling him to do his worst.

Brendan plants his foot in the center of Mountains chest and kicks him over, causing him to land on his side. Mountain shows no weakness, saying he could do it all day. Brendan, tired of dealing with him, orders him to be gagged before returning to Sylnan. He claims he still cares about Sylnan, and to consider the removal of his finger as a sign of forgiveness. However, he threatens to boil Br'aad alive and make him watch if him or his party tried to cross him again.

Sylnan is knocked out by a blunt object striking the back of his head. In his last moments of consciousness, he finally figures out that Brendan looks a lot like Br'aad. Mountain is knocked out in the same way a few moments later.

Sylnan and Mountain wake up on the cold floor of the abandoned factory, still stained with the blood of the deceased Rat King. After a quick exchange of words, Mountain searches his person to make sure nothing was taken from him, he discovers his locket is missing. He insists to be taken back, but Sylnan refuses, telling him he has no idea where Brendan is. Mountain still insists, explaining that he cant lose the locket, because it is all he has left of "her."

Sylnan tries to stand up, and after feeling pretty dizzy after getting struck, briefly remembers a moment where he had awoken in the back of a cart, the burlap sack over his head. The voice of Brendan can be heard saying he takes after his mother, as he felt someone stroke his cheek.

Being brought back to reality, Sylnan and Mountain look around and decide they need to go find the others.