Amid a desperate retreat through Ors Themar, the party is scattered and under relentless pressure. A draegloth pins down Arguile, Shanks teeters on the brink of death, Galahad draws constant enemy fire, and Yurik struggles to regroup with the others. Through quick thinking, Zechs, Salix, Duo, and the rest manage to extract Arguile, rescue Shanks, free Galahad, Turk, and Glad from a magical binding, and reunite the party. They are then led to safety by Enich, Yurik's son and Arguile's half-brother, who provides refuge, shares what he knows of Ors Themar, and helps them recover before guiding them toward an escape route. After narrowly escaping the city, the party reflects on what they've witnessed during camp while Arguile's mysterious stone rapidly counts down. Shanks discovers a copper coin and a raven's feather, and growing signs point to Arioch's manipulation. Racing back into the city after the stone reaches zero, they find Dorna missing, identify Yurik's sword as Tempest's Edge, and rush to answer Shepard Miles' summons.
At the cemetery, Arioch reveals the devastating truth: Yurik is Arguile's biological father, having sacrificed his own heart to save his son at the cost of everyone's memories. Later reunited with Dorna through Arioch's cruel amusement, the two unknowingly had Enich together. Arioch forces father and son to duel for the right to become his general, threatening to endlessly kill and resurrect Dorna until they comply while infecting Enich with the same deadly illness that once plagued Arguile. Though the party aids from the sidelines, they are powerless to stop him. Yurik ultimately chooses to go willingly with Arioch after an emotional farewell, leaving the party to battle Shepard Miles' forces. The ensuing fight quickly becomes a brutal uphill struggle as a necromancer raises undead, a monk repeatedly stuns Galahad and Turk, and the enemy relentlessly presses its advantage. Galahad receives Bahamut's blessing after falling in battle, rising with divine power. At the same time, Arguile slays the cleric, Shanks, Arguile, and Zechs eliminate the monk, and the remaining undead are slowly cleared. The battle reaches its darkest moment when the necromancer casts Power Word Kill, instantly killing Shanks before later dropping Turk with Cone of Cold, while Zechs also falls unconscious.
As each fallen hero enters the Veil, they receive life-changing encounters: Shanks speaks with The Hunter, fully awakening Mind's Eye, and later receives the Matron of Ravens' blessing to oppose the Constable; Turk confronts Kas the Bloody-Handed, who strips him of his warlock powers after he refuses to serve him further; and Zechs finds peace with Tumra, the Snow Leopard, awakening with her white handprint upon him. Salix ultimately revives Shanks, the party defeats the remaining enemies, and the family reunites before returning to the city. Though shaken, they recover what spoils they can, spend an evening mourning and celebrating with matching tattoos, share their divine experiences, and help Galahad acquire a Belt of Giant Strength. With new equipment, plans to retrieve Glad's boon, and a long-overdue trip to the Ren Faire ahead, the party finally earns a brief respite after one of the most harrowing chapters of their journey.
There’s so much happening, and we pick up with arc 30, “The Blooming Court”. 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.com
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