Rested and relieved in the Magnificent Mansion, the group breaks into different conversations. Arguile helps Turk with his Thieves' Cant; Zechs fiddles with the multitool, prompting him to tell Shanks about the tools at his disposal and ask if any can help; and he later goes to Hoshino's room to check in on him, as he knows that he's feeling the results of weeks and months of reconnaissance with the Journeyman, after which Zechs shares his experience meeting Tumra.
Before starting the day's journey, Shanks goes out to scout and informs the group that there are more trees there than there were the previous day. After leaving the mansion, the party is contacted mentally by the Queen, displeased that the group passed their intended destination. A tense exchange occurs primarily between Hoshino and the Queen, and Hoshino convinces the Queen that the group will indeed retrieve the Song Bloom, on the way back from taking care of their other business, retrieving Glad's boon. The Queen, very obviously impatient and suspicious, tells the party to wrap up what they're doing quickly and retrieve the Song Bloom by day's end.
Slightly relieved to have the conversation over, the group looks to Glad for guidance on where to go next and what to do. Looking out over the lake, Glad meditates briefly, then informs everyone that they will have to trust her, but they will need to wait until high noon before they can go anywhere. They understand her and reassure her that they trust her. They kill some time having a bit of a beach day before Glad slowly heads into the lake, and suddenly disappears.
The group, concerned, tries to follow her in her wake and succeeds in reaching the temple entrance, where they seem to be looking at the water's surface from below their feet and can breathe normally. Once inside, Hoshino asks the group to gather for a spirit session to gather the magical energy needed for the Commune spell. Calling upon the Daughter of the Vine, he asks about their task at hand and what they should do. He gets answers, but not necessarily the ones he was at the very least expecting.
Glad and the party traverse deeper into the temple and eventually find an orb that transfers Glad away from the party. Mildly concerned, they try to follow her, but to no avail. We end with the party discussing their exit strategy and whether they will continue to be pawns in the Queen's plans or suffer the wrath of defying the Fey Queen and heeding Shankise's warning to cease what they're doing.
There's so much happening, and that's where we pick up…
Find out what happens next in this episode of 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.com
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