The party had split up, Rig and Kyver going with Robin Lynxley to rob the Western Branch of the Drakewood Travels. Robin served as a distraction, picking a fight with the outside guards while Rig and Kyver headed in, disguised as a shorter Shanks and a stocky Zechs. While inside, they happened to run into an older Tabaxi gentleman named Rinde, whom they had fooled into thinking they were from an official branch checking for the possible spread of sickness through money. After getting into the vault, Rinde looked to Kyver, confusing him for his son, Zechs, leading to an assortment of trouble where they knocked him out and cast invisibility on him, before trying to make a getaway. 

What that then led to was an unexpected encounter with some people from Kyver’s past:  Agatha Vitalis, the sister of Abraxis, Kyver’s sworn enemy, and Alma, her retainer, the person Kyver loved. Although the exchange was brief, the impact it had on Kyver’s mental state was more than noticeable for Rig. Having the space around them fold back in on itself and returning to the vault, the Rig and Kyver quickly made a break for it before any security could find them. 

Meanwhile, Cereius and We'aqha made their way into the lower areas of the arena, where fighters and sponsors could head in before their matches. There, We'aqha headed into the fray and faced off against a tabaxi named Ligven, who was being drugged with a substance similar to the toxin found in the cookies that Kyver had consumed previously, but in a higher concentration. While under the influence of the substance, Ligven went mad and charged in with his animalistic instincts. We'aqha, in an impressive upset, turned into a dire wolf after jumping into the air and coming down with a powerful bite, striking his opponent down. 

As We'aqha emerged victorious, Cereius came in to treat Ligven, as his previous sponsor seemed to show no regard for him, even brutally beating him further. To save him, We'aqha bought off Ligven from his sponsor for some gold. And despite the urging from Cereius to leave, Ligven chose to stay to find his son. A callous remark from Ligven asking if Cereius even knew what it was like to lose a loved one made Cereius snap hard, as he thought back on his years-long journey to revive his wife, Valencia. 

By this time, Kyver and Rig were making their way to the arena in the vineyard as they saw 4 strange figures walking ahead of them. What was really eerie, however, was how, despite seeing 4 figures, they only heard the footsteps of 3 people walking in front of them. Having met the guard at the door into the vineyard as they waited a bit, Rig received a note left behind by the party ahead of them- the words “Found you, Rig” in this strange note. As they contemplated who could have left such a strange message, they came into the special viewing seats for the nobles in the arena. 

We'aqha, at this time, faced off against a huge loxodon with a broken tusk and battle scars as the crowd and Cereius chanted- “Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles.”

Theme music written and composed by ⁠Efflorescence⁠

Edited & Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III

Check out the show on themedusascascade.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.