As the party journeys toward Ors Themar, they encounter more creatures of the Underdark before overhearing a tense Drow scouting group speaking about them in Undercommon. After a wary exchange, the two groups discover a shared ally in Nettie and agree to travel together. While Yuirk and Arguile pass the time with Dragonchess, the party learns of Ors Themar’s dire state and prepares for the dangers ahead, including the ominous Chasme whose droning echoes through the tunnels. Upon reaching the outskirts, they slip past the front gate and enter a ruined, silent city where danger quickly finds them. A gargoyle ambush ignites a massive battle, soon joined by scavengers, Chasme, and a charging force of Armanites as the party struggles to conserve resources and survive.
The fight intensifies as Shanks is struck by an unknown sniper’s massive arrow, prompting him to pursue the hidden threat while the others press deeper into the devastated streets in search of Enich. Arguile deciphers Thieves’ Cant that hints at possible clues, but before the party can investigate further, they are confronted by an iron golem, forcing another exhausting battle. Meanwhile, Shanks locates the sniper’s perch, sets an explosive trap, and collapses the structure, only to realize his target survived. The chaos escalates as the team fights wave after wave of enemies, the city ringing with clashing metal, buzzing wings, and thundering hooves, until Shanks’ frantic updates suddenly cut off as he’s struck down in retaliation.
With resources nearly spent and enemies still swarming, the party begins a desperate retreat. Yurik uses Dimension Door to recover Shanks, while Galahad ferries allies through the streets under heavy fire. Zechs, carried by Salix in giant eagle form, creates a massive pit with his Hole Thrower to slow their pursuers and even tosses a summoned baboon from his Bag of Tricks to add to the chaos. Bloodied, exhausted, and barely holding the line, the Collateral crew manages to regroup and flee deeper into Ors Themar, another narrowly survived chapter in their relentless fight through a city under siege.
There’s so much happening, and we pick up with arc 29, “Demon's Arithmetic”. How will the rest of this story unfold? Find out next time on the Medusa’s Cascade: Collateral Damage!
Theme Music is written and performed by Efflorescence
Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III
Title Card by Pierce Graphics
Check out the show at themedusascascade.co
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