Save or Die: Outcasts: Episode 15

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==Synopsis==
The party get 3 new hirelings. 2 of them are laborers and one is a squire. The party then accept a quest to make the centre of the maw safe for diplomats traveling to Valesbrook for a large meeting. The party while guarding the part of the swamp encounter a young hydra.
After the hydra is slain a retinue from Renatus & Auguste's homeland, Vantis, passes by. The Vantis diplomant ends up being Renatus's wife, Fausta. Renatus follows arter the retinue to investigate and hopefully speak with Fausta in secret.
==Recap==
===New Hirelings===
The party look for hirelings. Renatus hires 2 young inexperienced people as laborers, Melvin (Human ♀, age 17, 5'7", Nadinis Worshiper, Avaricious) & Rudy (Human ♂, age 19, 6'1", Astair Worshiper). Arachis needs to go to Sigris's tomb to copy down a spell, so travel with Melvin & Rudy down south-west. Once down in wikish Arachis remembers he needs 4 people to open the secret part of the tomb so hires a local kid to help, using a blindfold to keep the secrets. Arachis learns & . 
Auguste looks for a squire, wanting to find a young person who aspires to be an knight, and finds Stacy (Human ♀, age 15, 5'9", Nadinis Worshiper, cheerful, ambidextrous). Auguste pays her family 120 gold to take her off their farm and to be his squire. Auguste wants to train under the knight's code. Stacy is enthusiastic.
: Stacy, if you're going follow me need you to know that a knight is supposed to show: Bravery, Strength, Skill, and Beauty, in battle. You must respect others; defend the weak and the poor; you must be generous to others; and loyal to me, your family, and your friends. You must behave at all times with courtesy and beauty, which means not just being polite or having good manners, but showing kindness, respect, and thinking about the feelings of others. Now some of these things I've even had trouble with in the past, but I hope that I can be a good teacher. - Auguste
Auguste asks for Renatus's help with teaching Stacy the Arming Sword. Also in mornings Auguste leads a morning prayer routine to Chis, his family's patron god.
Grau asks if Stacy is now Auguste's pet. Auguste explains what a squire is, and his objectives to rebuild is lost homeland now that his family is dead. Grau is worried about telling Stacy he is a bear. Auguste won't reveal Grau's secret to Stacy, leaves it to Grau to reveal if he is ever comfortable doing so.
Grau spends much time in the forest, depressed and feeling he doesn't belong. 
This increases the monthly costs to 69 gp total.
===Hired to protect Ambassadors in the Swamp===
2 August 1523: Arachis returns to Swampside and everyone meets up in the pub. Arachis & Grau share a table, while the others have a different table. Grau talks about his feelings of isolation.
A knight named Theo, who works for Magistrate Zerrah comes into the tavern and says he has a job for the party. A great number of diplomats from the kingdoms from all over 5th Region of the Voraci Empire will be coming to Valesbrook. The VIPs need to be escorted though the maw of the swamp to Keygate. Theo wants to hire the party to keep the middle section of the maw safe. Renatus warns about possible Fireflies attack. Theo says not to worry about the Fireflies and just keep the section safe from other threats for a week.
Auguste asks if someone from Vantis Kingdom will be in attendance, and Theo says it is likely but the Ambassadors are not to be disturbed by the party. Auguste sees this as an opportunity to find out what happened to his family. (It is revealed here that Auguste's father was the Baron of Castle Valenskar, NOT the King of Vantis).
The pay is for 35 gold, but Renatus negotiates for 70 gold for the week.
Arachis isn't happy to spend a week in a swamp and gets into an argument with Renatus & Auguste, but agrees to do it. Auguste even offers Arachis 5% of his kingdom if he ever gets it back. 
The party travel for 7 days and arrive at Keygate. The party meet with Captain Damos and talk logistics. The party is to guard a mile north and south of the central resting spot of the maw of the Devouring Marsh. 
===Guardings the Maw===
August 12. The party arrive and set up camp in the maw and start their week of guarding.
On the first day Renatus scouts of some fresh tracks from a young heading eastward. He warns the rest of the party of this. Renatus tries to follow the tracks but ends up walking in a circle.
The party talk about their plans. The party decide to be wary of the hydra appearing, but not to actively go out and hunt it.
At 10 pm the hydra comes out of the swamp towards their camp. It is a small 3-headed hydra.
As the party get ready for combat, Renatus orders the followers to ever get to safety or get fire ready. Grau goes around a corner and turns into a bear. Arachis casts but it has no effect. Renatus calls his war dogs to himself. Stacy moves Auguste's horse, Schnickelfritz II, to safety. Bear Grau joins the party. Rudy & Melvin hand torches to the party. 
Arachis casts at the Hydra. The hydra backs away from the party. Auguste fires arrows at the retreating beast.
With the fight over the followers ask the party about the bear that appeared. Auguste claims it is his magic bear. They wonder where Grau has gone. Auguste gets on his horse and says he'll go collect Grau with his magic bear.
Renatus prepares some fires to burn overnight. Auguste and Grau comes back, and Grau hides in Arachis's tent.
===Jubilee===
August 13. It is the [[Holidays#Jubilee:_August_13th_<—_High_holiday|High Holiday of Jubilee]]. The party try to celebrate despite being on edge from the hydra from last night.
The first group of delegates travel though the swamp. Auguste greets the procession, speaking in his high-born accent. The knight leading the group introduces himself as the Guardians of the Ultralights. The noble in the procession is within a litter. The party escort the group.
Arachis tries to convince the knight to help fight the hydra, but they refuse to leave their master's side.
Soon after the hydra emerges and heads towards the procession. The retinue continues to travel as the party intercept the hydra. Auguste opens fire with is bow. Arachis casts . Renatus & the dogs move into position. The hydra bites at the dogs and Renatus.
Grau casts , grabbing 1 of the heads of the hydra. Renatus disengages, but the dogs (Nacho & Cheeto) go in to attack. Arachis casts . The hydra misses its attacks against the dogs.
Grau turns into a bear. Renatus tries to throw a torch at the hydra and misses. Auguste cuts takes out one of the Hydra heads with his Glaive, then stabs it in the heart. The hydra falls over, apparently dead.
Arachis rushes over with a torch and burns the stump of where the head used to be. Auguste cuts off the other heads.
The next diplomatic envoy arrives on the road, and this one carries the flags of the Vantis Kingdom. Auguste stays dealing with the hydra and Renatus goes over to talk with the retinue.
Renatus recognises the servants but none of the nobles from Vantis. Renatus greets the man-at-arms. The man-at-arms announces that he is escorting an emissary of the new king of Vantis, King Koalp. Renatus asks news of the homeland. The man-at-arms says "the pretenders" have been laid waste, and peace restored. There were a great number of pretenders who brought shame to the kingdom with their ambitions.
Inside the Palanquin however is Renatus's Wife, Fausta. They make eye contact for a moment, but she gives the order for the procession to continue onward. Renatus stops himself from calling out Fausta's name. Renatus was exiled due to his curse, and his wife would lose face if he tries to reunite with her. Auguste calls out for his uncle, letting Fausta hear his voice as well.
Renatus explains to Auguste that inside the Palanquin is Fausta. Renatus needs to go to Valebrook and meet with Fausta in secret. Auguste says that Renatus should travel to Valebrook ahead of the party. Renatus thanks Auguste, and heads onward alone.
==Experience==
No experience given this episode.
Category:Save Or Die: Outcasts Episodes
Category:Save Or Die Episodes
Category:Save Or Die: Outcasts