We pick back up with the party’s exhibition matches. While the rogues had matches that went as expected, they were not without their moments of surprise from each of them. The fight that left everyone on the edge of their seats was between The Champion of Bahamut & The Gathakanathi General. While Galahad dominated the first part of this fight, putting all the combat experience he’s had thus far to use, Tharia managed to fight back and overwhelm the paladin. With the match approaching its end, Galahad summons the power of Kanna’s Fury and secures the win for himself. Respect and admiration are given to both warriors, and they acknowledge each other’s abilities in combat. Then, the celebrations continue as Galahad does an expected but impressive display of drinking. The group are all enjoying themselves and letting loose; one person in particular is Shanks, who we find performing a remarkable bit of drinking himself later. While not what Galahad displayed, it was close and caused the crowd to erupt again in celebration. As Shanks makes his rounds, somehow Zechs gets pulled into showing off his drinking prowess and does exceedingly well, to everyone’s surprise, except for the party. Zechs even manages to outdrink Galahad by a bit, which seems to put everyone, especially Galahad, in an uproar.

In what seems to be par for the course with this group… We pick back up as the group enjoys some of Welby’s Special Blend from an Illathid skull. The group takes all the festivities in and absorbs as much of the culture as possible. Galahad is in his element, happy to walk through his ancestral home during this festive time. Arguile, Shanks, and Galahad signed up for some exhibition fights later that evening, but the rogues may have more ulterior motives than our Champion of Bahamut. Arguile and Shanks briefly discuss their “strategies” for their matches, while elsewhere, we find Zechs silently observing Galahad and doing his best to fight through what has been ailing him with some drink. The two discuss how Galahad feels about being here and what has been on his mind about upcoming events. The group is introduced to Tharia Stonekiller, the general, and there is some discussion about food, how they are enjoying the festivities, and a concerned questioning of the rogues' desire to fight the Gathakanathi warriors. A brief exchange is had between Hoshino and Pakia, during which she expresses her sympathies. While Hoshino would like to inquire further on what she meant, Pakia suggests that the discussion be had at a later time. The conversation shifts to a time some fifty-odd years prior in which incursions were occurring that she helped thwart that was not happening in the Range directly but in the surrounding areas and cities. Eventually, the main event is at hand as the three party members ready themselves for friendly matches against the Goliath warriors. It ends with tales of how the Gathakanaki clan came to be and the spymaster Nimia as she reveals information about The Bard of One Hundred Towns and more.

There's so much happening, and that's where we pick up…

Hey everyone, welcome to the thirteenth Divergent Paths cut scene. This scene originally came at the tail end of C1E154 Feast of the Matrons pt 1. It follows the Gathakinathi spymaster Nimia on a yearly visit to a strange tavern in the home territory of the clan. The party doesn't know this information, but now you do.

Written and read by Thomas Lapierre III

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

The group reconnects with Xoco, enjoying an evening of camaraderie, during which Salix seeks guidance from the void dragon, Gerviss, to deepen their connection with the Daughter of the Void. Meanwhile, Arguile learns the secrets of the Guardian’s Rapier, discovering its history and connection to Fel Mon'ri, a descendant of the soul within the blade, Ibo. Zechs gifts Hoshino the Quill of Desire, and Glad has a tense exchange with her patron, The Protector, leaving her unsettled. As tensions escalate, the party finds solace and insight in each other, building on their shared experiences and strengthening their bonds.

Theme Music is written and performed by The Floating Lighthouse

Hey everyone, welcome to the twelfth Divergent Paths cut scene. This was originally included at the end of C1E115 Down the Rabbit Hole. It took place in the same chamber where Collateral Damage found the machine in Granz City. It follows the other party working with the Journeyman, the Circle of Friends. It details the destruction of part of the machines pulling the planes together. The party doesn't know this information, but now you do.

Written and read by Thomas Lapierre III

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

After catching up, the group walks around Tradeshore, starting with a visit to Roscoe, the bard. They request his help in sending a message to Sloane, providing an update on their recent job and her location. Roscoe agrees on the condition that they share their stories with him, which they find fair. They also offer him steady work at the Witty Glaive, the tavern Thorak and Ursus now own. Grateful, Roscoe accepts. Following his recommendation, they visit The Haberdashery, a shop run by Zaria, a tiefling. After introductions, Valen inquires about enchanting his bracers but struggles with the cost. Through negotiation, the group agrees to trade and make a deposit for the enchantment.

Armed with information from Roscoe, the group heads to the Citadel Farthing and stops at an herbalist shop run by Izca. While Izca is occupied, Valen scouts the shop's upper and lower levels, discovering a locked room in the basement. He and Dona investigate, uncovering unidentified alchemical concoctions linked to the Scorching Sun group. Narrowly avoiding detection, they leave but are stopped by two city guards who recognize Thorak and Ursus. Thorak cleverly enlists the guards to surveil Izca’s shop while the group takes a break to prepare for the evening's events.

Their respite is short-lived when the surveillance team reports suspicious activity at Izca’s shop. The group hurries back, devising a stealthy plan to investigate. In the basement, they find a gruesome discovery: long dead bodies that were not there earlier. The unsettling turn of events deepens their concerns about the Scorching Sun and heightens the urgency of their mission.

There's so much happening, and that's where we pick up…

The party makes last-minute preparations for their travel, ensuring they don’t forget anything as they don’t know if and when they’ll be back in Drose. Zechs gives Hoshino a 2nd level Moonbeam scroll that he’s been holding onto for quite some time. Before long, the group is back on the Swift Hummingbird, and we find Hoshino and Arguile creating scrolls out of the spell book the party found ages ago that belonged to the Arcanoloth. The two make a great pair and manage to successfully pull quite a few scrolls before they decide not to push their good luck any further. As the last pull happens, Shanks initially bets the ship's gunner for some coin, but the gunner suggests that if Hoshino is flawless in his execution, he’ll throw in a personal recipe for plastique. Hoshino is successful, and Shanks is told he will have the recipe later that day.

We pick back up with the party as they begin planning for the day. Zechs and Galahad go shopping, and Zechs gets the party an item for communication called “The Spies Murmur.” After returning and giving the items to the group, he informs Galahad and Shanks about his current condition in fighting Malar. He asks for their help in training him to be more efficient in what he excels at and not trying to fit the parts of the group where he feels need covering. Afterward, Shanks informs Arguile that he knows what’s happening with his mom and that while he’s in no place to force him to disclose the information with the rest of the team, he ensures Arguile that he has his back. Arguile confirms the information and lets Shanks know that he has things in motion already and will present them to the group when that is all ready.

Shanks returns triumphant and looks like hell from his battle with the giant purple worm. He and Jrehg share that the tunnels left behind were used in the attempted siege of Drose. After that, they reveal the poison, which they confirm is just as valuable as deadly. After the group begins to disperse, Greyleaf is approached by Arguile regarding helping him with a huge favor. Through a sending stone, Greyleaf sets up a meeting with Arguile and his contact, who is revealed to be Rig. Before they get down to business, Rig and Greyleaf share a warm hug and show a side of both of them; Arguile nor the group indeed had seen while they all traveled together.