Agent Bee

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==Blurb (Short Episode Description)==
Nugh, Bill, and Sadie try to save the town of Hardingwood using the mechanics from the official Alien movie franchise's roleplaying game. 
==Non Player Characters==
* Nusi: Did not have Mead for a thirsty guest because the shipment from Hardingwood never arrived. 
* Nulisag: Alerted the FBK to a new quest posting sponsored by the Bank of Guaso 
* Mx Helfer: Sought the help of the FBK in routing the invading Swarm that was laying siege to the town. 
* Alec Brome: Hired by the Bank of Guaso and operating in the Hardingwood region as Agent B, Brome is seeking to recover the "bank's assets." This is latter inferred to be the dimensional artifact that is in the possession of Mx. Helfer. Brome claims that the Bank of Guaso has used its leverage to clear his name of all charges and that he is currently operating within the constraints of the law. 
* Lady Elizabeth Featherbottom: mayor of Hardingwood; offers thanks to the FBK for their efforts in saving the town. 
* Edward Hardingwood: protector of Hardingwood through powerful arcane magics. During the siege by the Swarm, Hardingwood greatly depleted himself by maintaining multiple enchantments to help preserve the people of Hardingwood. Grateful and proud of what his son Bill has achieved, both for the town of Hardingwood, and in his pursuit of learning to be a hero. 
* Speaker Brigitte : Elder of the Beekeeper's Guild who has forgone their vow of silence. Offers thanks to the FBK for their efforts in saving the town. 
*
==Plot Summary==
Bill, Nugh, and Anne are in the Firebreathing Kittens Guild Hall, with Nugh and Bill playing DDR, when Nugh notices a small bee apparently joining in the dance. When Nugh interacts with it, the bee dance-flies over to a corner, where Mx. Helfer is lurking, with his case of magical documents still in hand. Helfer explains that there's a threat to Hardingwood that needs to be dealt with, and would Bill et al be willing to help out? Bill, of course, is in. Nugh is very suspicious-- the last encounter with Helfer didn't go terribly well, and he doubts Helfer's motives.
Meanwhile, Nulisag has posted a new quest on the job board, for the Bank of Guaso, to connect with an "Agent B" in Hardingwood and help him out, for a very princely reward. Nugh hands the quest flyer to Anne for safekeeping-- it will glow when in proximity of Agent B so they'll know them when they encounter them.
They travel to Hardingwood on foot, while Helfer, horrified by Anne's cavalier use of interdimensional magic, explains that such magic weakens the curtain between dimensions, and this is the source of Hardingwood's woes. The town, apparently, has an interdimensial bee race coexisting with it, and has had for hundreds of years. The bees came here as refugees from a conflict with "The Swarm," a species of hornet-like beings. The thinning veil means the Swarm has come through and is attacking Hardingwood's bee-person population.
The group makes it to the outskirts of town, and Helfer suggests they approach through the forest, so they are less likely to be seen by any members of the Swarm. There's a bit of bickering, but they agree, even though that takes them away from Hardingwood. Helfer admits subtly to Bill that they're a bee-person.
In the woods, the party is attacked by two large hornet-like Swarm members. They take down one of them, but the other escapes into a large cave-like entrance to the Swarm's underground nest. Anne opens a portal between the molten core of the planet and the cave, pouring lava into the opening-- this is assuredly terrible for the Swarm. Sadie makes an appearance during this fight, and Anne encourages her to be brave!
As the ground begins to heat up, and the old-growth forest around Hardingwood burns from the roots up, Anne shuts the portal and stops the lava flow. The group leaves the area, heading for Hardingwood proper, both to inform the town and to see about making contact with Agent B. Helfer is surprised that the party has a second agenda, and queries about it, but Nugh shrugs them off, convincing them it's not something they need to worry about, and securing some trust from Mx. Helfer.
They reach Hardingwood, which is covered in some kind of protective dome and filled with an obscuring smoke to protect the town from the Swarm. As Anne looks at the quest flyer, she sees that "Agent B" is approaching. It's none other than Alex Brome! Bill is incensed and moves to pummel Brome into paste, but Nugh reminds him that he's a hero, murder isn't justice, and he will have to live with whatever choice he makes today. Bill spares Brome's life, for now.
Just as they are discussing the situation, they hear the beating of angry wings. The queen hornet is flying towards them! A fight ensues, with Nugh standing off against the queen and one of the large hornets, Bill pumping them with lead, and Anne throwing a blue-ringed octopus at the enemies, biting viciously and poisoning them with every bite.
Due to Nugh's trust-building with Helfer, the bee-person runs off and summons help from the main hive. The dome around Hardingwood opens and bees pour out, surrounding one of the hornets and cooking it to death with the heat of their wings. 
Bill pulls out an explosive and, ducking close while Nugh holds off the queen, slams it into the queen's mouth. It explodes, and hornet viscera rains down on the trio. They make short work of mopping up the surviving Swarm members and apprehending Brome, who tries to get away.
In the end, Bill turns Brome over to Hardingwood and insists on being called as a witness at the man's trial, since whatever "justice" was previously dealt was insufficient. Bill and Edward have a tender moment, and Bill realizes that Hardingwood will always be his home, but it is time for him to be a hero in the greater world. There are other people who are hurting and need his help, after all. 
Bill and Nugh have a calm moment of friendship. Anne and Sadie share a congratulatory drink.
Category:Episodes Category:Season 2024