Save or Die: Outcasts: Episode 05

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==Synopsis==
The party meet back up at Autumn's Tower and exchange what they did while they were apart. Garp decides to team up with Arachis until he is strong enough to magically turn him back into a human. The others decides to go along. Arachis has a lead on a 200 year old shadow mage who lived in the southern end of the swamp, but needs to research it more in Valesbrook. Ren also finds out that the Magistrate of Valesbrook also wants to meet with him again.
The party arrive in Valesbrook. Arachis discovers he needs 100 gold to gain access to the library for a year. Ren gets an appointment to meet with the magistrate after sunset.
==Recap==
===Return to Serenity Tower===
The party return to Serenity Tower in the Devouring Marsh. Before they enter they meet with Renatus who is waiting outside. The party bring Ren up to speed of the events of the past 2 weeks (the events of the past 2 episode). This includes the fight the party had with the town guard of Swampside, as well as the Lamplight undercover agent, Forest, who has infiltrated the town guard. Frost had also told the party about an Autumn who was behind the burning of I' Yaara Oryn the deaths of many elves there.
While being left at the tower for 2 weeks Ren has been kept to the guest parts of the tower as usual, and not allowed to go upstairs. He noticed that Autumn's pet dog, Leafy, doing singular barks when upstairs in the tower, but not barking at all while outside and downstairs.
The party talk about how to handle the situation. Grau is against any further violence, and is overwhelmed with everyone he knows being a killer, and goes back to bear form. Arachis knows the party isn't strong enough to confront Autumn, so just be circumspect with her.
The party head into the tower. Arachis explains that the Mystique's magic shop had been burnt down just before they got to town. Also talks about Forest the undercover Firefly, but doesn't include what he said about Autumn. Autumn would like to talk to Grau about this in more detail when he isn't a bear.
Arachis asks about local libraries and Autumn explains the only one nearby is the Temple of Mathis & Safia in Valesbrook. Autumn allows no access to her own private library.
Garp then speaks with Autumn in private. He asks about being turned back into a human. A human called Willow turned Garp into a Bullywug out of retribution towards his father. Willow is part of the Voraci Empire. It occurred in the city of Vantis, north at the edge of the frost plain, 3 years ago. Autumn says it will take three months for her to find out more about what happened.
Renatus is called over by Garp to fill in what he knows about Willow. He knows they wore black robes and wore the symbol of Voraci. Autumn says if they want her help to come faster, they need to learn more about Willow. Ren asks about her dog Leafy's unusual barking pattern. Autumn claims that Leafy is the emotional support animal. Autumn calls Renatus "Lord Renatus" but nothing more is elaborated on.
Garp and Arachis talk. Garp admits that he used to be human and wants to be magically turned back. Arachis says he isn't powerful enough yet to do it, but given times and adventures could grow stronger. Garp agrees to adventure with Arachis until this point.
Garp and Renatus talk. He feels finding a magical solution will bypass whatever moral lesson Garp is meant to learn as a bullywug. Garp just wants to go home and be welcomed back by his father, and insists they will do it this way. 
The party and Autumn share dinner together.
==Onward to Adventure==
The next morning, over breakfast, Arachis talks of his plans. Back at the wizard academy Arachis had been studying a wizard named Sigris Shadowhand who was believed to have lived near the Devouring Marsh around 300 years ago. It was said his wizard tower is in the Devouring Marsh itself, near the town of Wikish to the south. Arachis wants to find records of where the tower is in the library in Valesbrook.
The party don't fully agree to the plan, but will head to Keygate for now as Autumn isn't hosting any guests for any more days.
In the swamp Ren slips into a deep patch, but Garp saves him. The party is slowed down from the shifting of the Devouring Marsh. They end up making camp at the end of the day on an island in the marsh.
==Return to Keygate==
The party make it all the way to Keygate. After the removal of swamp gremlins, the party are granted access though the town gates.
The party head directly to an inn where they get accommodations where they will rest for the next 3 days. Arachis works on learning , but eventually fails.
During the 3 days Ren busks for coins with his pet ferret, Abigael. One of the people who watch him again is the Young Daughter of the Town's Baron, Lord Brick of the Imperialist Faction who didn't give him a tip last time (Episode 1). Ren does his performance and the noble girl ends up catching Abigael from the air. The girl squeezes Abigael too tightly and gets bitten. Ren forcefully takes back Abigael, upsetting the girl and her bodyguard (Sigmund). Sigmund warns Ren that if he touches Lady Brick one more time, it'll be his life.
The party convene in the tavern. While in the tavern a a bounty hunter, Pod, comes over to the table. The bounty hunter claims that Lady Brick wants Ren for questioning, and that Garp is wanted by the town guard of Swampside. Renatus is also wanted by Magistrate Zerrah. Pod is conflicted what bounty to go after, and decides that Zerrah's bounty is of the most importance. Arachis says they were heading to Valebrook anyway. He also explains that Garp can answer for his crimes in Swampside in Valebrook to Zerrah as well. Pod holds Arachis responsible for getting the group to Magistrate Zerrah, then leaves.
Grau tells the party to try to stop doing crimes while they are in town. He is sick of them being in constant trouble. 
As the party is in town for 3 days, Garp teaches Grau about how to handle money properly so he isn't ripped off by the meat pie shop again. Renatus spies for a new lead to steal, and finds that the temple temple deliveries money alone to the local Voraci outpost. Renatus questions a townguard and finds out the taxes are collected and is told the taxman comes to town one a month, and they have a Orc escort. Renatus acts friendly towards the guard, then pickpockets him.
==Back on the Road==
As the party go to leave Keygate to travel to Valebrook, they see a Funeral Procession also heading south of of town. The procession is escorted by clerics and priests. The heraldry is from one of the local families. Renatus knows there is money to be stolen in a nobles funeral and from graverobbing.
Grau is curious about the funeral, and the party explain about the afterlife and Felumbra recycling souls to be used in new bodies. Grau wonders if he died and ended up this way.
Renatus decides to leave the dead alone, being against the desecration of the deceased.
The party travels southward to Valebrook.
==Return to Valebrook==
26 October 1521 (Age of Iron), the party arrive at the gates of Valebrook. The whole party are given entry, but are forced to give up their armor and weapons at the gate.
At the gate Grau runs into Susie the Gnome. Susie is interested in going on another date with Grau. After a lot of fast talk, the gnome is rejected, and she runs away crying.
The party, except Arachis, then head to Magistrate Zerrah's office, which is a small fort in town near Horn Castle. Arachis instead heads to the library of Mathis & Safia.
The Voraci Headquarters gate is guarded by 2 humans and 4 orcs. The party has to wait for half an hour before being told to come after sundown. Ren will return at sunset, and the party return to the tavern.
At the library, Arachis finds that he needs to get a 1-year library card, which requires a fee of 100 gold. Arachis is short by 3 silver and leaves back to the tavern. On the way Arachis looks at the adventure notice board. One of the jobs is to help Swampside hunt a Bullywug. Another listing is to deal with a infestation at the village of Gilmheld to the north. The adventurers guild tells Arachis that the village bounty is 10 gp per Ankheg head (2 gp for child Ankheg heads). The bullywug job pays 85 gold to capture the bullywug alive.
Arachis meets the others at the tavern. It is a tavern filled with a number of non-human town guard. He talks about the Ankheg job. The party decide the job is too dangerous, and they just pool their money to Arachis to get the library card.
It is almost sunset and Ren has to go meet with the Magistrate.
==Experience==
No experience given this episode.
Category:Save Or Die: Outcasts Episodes
Category:Save Or Die Episodes
Category:Save Or Die: Outcasts