Episode 2

Content Warning
Due to the nature of the improvisation, the content displayed within may be considered uncomfortable or triggering to some viewers. This includes: gore, body horror, themes of depression, dissociation, and anxiety.

Recap
''Shadowy tendrils, heartfelt moments, and daring heists! On horse and wagon, the sweeping plains outside of Goldstead are seemingly peaceful, but how will our heroes fare when confronted with an immense danger… and one who is set to face it head on?''

Part 1
Our party travels across the sweeping plains of the Painted Valley, which fade into thick canopied forests and mountain peaks on the horizon. After realizing that no one could drive a cart, they recruit Bonnie to join them on the journey. Bonnie is happy to oblige when she realizes that this is a ripe opportunity to bag another O'Donogan Gang member or two for the bounty.

Bonnie fills everyone in on Gang as they drive. They are not honorable criminals, and just take what they want. They've been terrorizing this part of the Painted Valley for some time, and at this point, Denton O'Donogan will take just about anyone who can swing a sword of wield a gun. Although they can be quite cowardly and fighting is not their strong suit, the Gang's strength is in their numbers - as soon as you squash some, more spring up. There are about thirty at the main camp, but there are many more throughout the valley.

As they ride, they discuss plans for infiltrating the camp, with a brief digression onto the topic of terrible names - who names a child Denton? Or Floon, for that matter? During this conversation, however, Lidara notices the ground moving - the beast that Doc Berry warned them about.

Bonnie whips the horses, pushing them to top speed, but the thud of their hooves against the ground only makes the creature approach them faster. The others are intent on fleeing, but Azzurum - who had felt his whip react to the creature's presence - insists that they need to fight it. An argument breaks out between Azzurum and Lidara, resulting in Azzurum leaping off the back of the wagon on his own. Lidara jumps after him.

Vincent implores Bonnie to stop the wagon, and although Bonnie complains that they didn't sign up for this, they reign in the horses.... just in time for the creature to burst from the ground. It is a massive beast with a thick shelled hide and a powerful jaw with jagged edges, almost resembling a giant snapping turtle. Liquid shadow drips and flows off of it, swirling in unnatural patterns.

The fight commences, and both Renaer and Azzurum are hurt in the initial fray. The beast then erupts from the ground in a mighty leap, and lands on Renaer and Azzurum, knocking Azzurum unconscious. Vincent is able to bring him back up (with a slap as the somatic component), but the creature grabs Renaer in its mouth and begins to burrow back underground.

Azzurum, consciousness restored, runs after it and casts a powerful Witch Bolt, snapping his whip as silver lightning pulses through the tunnel. The creature cries out in pain before it collapses. With the creature now dead, the static from Azzurum's whip settles - the contract is fulfilled, even if it wasn't in the cleanest fashion.

Battle over, Lidara chases after the wagon (the horses had, understandably, bolted) while the rest of the party rests. Azzurum refuses to reveal any more information about why he chose to fight the creature, and they resume their journey in awkward silence.

Part 2
The party continues to ride through sunset until the stars begin to come out. Bonnie asks for the reason the group is traveling, and they tell them that they are here for Azzurum, who is looking for someone. Vincent plays the group a song on the violin as they travel - "something light," as requested by Lidara.

Meanwhile, Azzurum plays with a stone around his neck, remembering his last night in Ciniath with Davil. It had been a tough decision to leave Ciniath - Azzurum had a place there with Davil, if he wanted to stay - but he knew he couldn't stay in the city forever, and a strong wind was blowing east. The pair lay together, with Davil running his hands through Azzurum's hair as they discuss the future, and how they will miss one another. Davil reveals a pair of gem-like necklaces on leather cords, gifting one to Azzurum. He tells Azzurum that when he wants to hear from him, he has only to focus on the necklace and he will hear him.

At last, Bonnie pulls up the wagon as they approach their destination - Hannigan's Bluff - the location of the O'Donogan Gang camp. They decide as a group that Lidara will go in first to gather information, and she is able to easily make her way through the forest. She notices several traps set up in the woods - bear traps, trip wires, sound traps - but avoids them, and even taking a few bear traps for her own.

At last, she reaches the edge of the trees to see the camp proper, set up on a stone cliff overhanging the road below. She listens for a bit to some scouts patrolling before the camp leader emerges from the large tent behind the campfire. He gives a rousing pep talk to his gang to rev them up for attacking a stage coach from Wheldon that is scheduled to arrive the next day, then busts open a keg for all to enjoy.

Lidara, seeing the loot in the large tent and thinking about how reckless Azzurum has been lately, decides that rather than just gathering information, she will take the bag while she is here. She sneaks around the side of the tent and attempts to slice the side so she can slip through, but the knife makes a loud noise in the hide. Instead, she skirts along the narrow cliff edge to enter the tent from the rear with the help of her Rope of Climbing, although the footing is treacherous and she knows a few stones loose - another noise that risks alerting the camp.

Slipping inside, she sees the camp leader sitting at a table, examining the contents of Doc Berry's bag. Luckily, at that moment, a scout comes in to report that several bear traps are missing, and O'Donogan follows the scout out. Lidara grabs the bag and bolts out the back of the tent, leaping onto the the suspended Rope of Climbing and skidding down the cliff face, descent slowed only by the scrape of her claws on the stone.

O'Donogan returns to the tent, and a voice rings out in the night - "Where the fuck is my bag?" The camp is now on high alert, and Lidara runs back to her party. Bonnie and the rest of the party jump onto the wagon to run at full speed, but they can hear gunshots behind them...

The Strings of Fate

 * Azzurum Esen-Carr
 * Lidara Mormaer
 * Vincent Obra
 * Renaer Neverember

Returning

 * Bonnie O'Donogan

Debut

 * Davil Starsong
 * Half-giant camp leader

Mentions

 * Doc Berry
 * Denton O'Donogan