Of Dice and Men: Episode 20

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== Synopsis ==
The "Various Operations Agency" (VOA) travels through the devastated Northgrove Forest and scorched plains to reach the heavily damaged city of Rwalwikk, which is under heavy guard due to a recent attack by Scoria. After being granted temporary lodging by Lt. Sam Ferrid, the party navigates the city’s ruins and encounters a suspicious wizard. They discover that the Stack House, their target, is heavily guarded. Toki befriends Janice, a cleric of Voraci, who invites her to a ritualistic party, revealing a possible lead. Meanwhile, Nevets spies on Janice and learns she is involved with a mysterious temple. Toki, disguised as a kitten, sneaks into the Stack House and overhears plans to recruit Lord Umbridge and access his wealth. The party regroup to plan their next move.
==Recap==
===27th June 1512*===
"Various Operations Agency" (VOA) have just searched the Temple in Kel Poochi's village of Relish and found letters that reveal his location being in the Stack House in Rwalwikk.
===28th June 1512*===
VOA head north towards Rwalwikk directly through the Northgrove Forrest. During the trip, they meet a centaur named Caboose. Caboose is concerned that Nevets is the prisoner of the rest of the party. Nevets explains they are his friends, and not with him for his feet.
===29th June 1512*===
VOA come to a section of forest that is badly burned. An intense and fierce forest fire had recently swept though this section. As VOA move further northwards, they see the fire has destroyed the edge of the forest, and it has become ashlands. The party see some regrowth has started as the walk though the ashes. The party camp at the edge of the real Plains.
During the night while camping, Nevets hears distant gnolls, who don't approach.
===30th June 1512*===
VOA leave the burnt forest and enter the plains, but they are scorched as well. 
:The burned fields to not end. You walk miles and miles though the debris until as the evening sets you begin to see flags in the distance. Tall bright banners snapping in the wind. Not so bright anymore as ash as blown upon them. There look to be huge camps out here. Dozens and dozens of large camps. The smoke from the fires fill the sky and looks to be 5000 to 20,000 people out here.
VOA arrive in Rwalwikk, which is closed for the night. Rwalwikk has been damaged heavily. As VOA approach the camps of the Drekissin Army, a group of solders, lead by a knight, comes over to greet the party. The knight, Lt. Sam Ferrid, asks the party why there are in the area. Toki uses her Noble title to get past any questions. Lt. Ferrid gives the party a place to rest in a camp since the gates are shut. The Lieutenant explains Scoria attacked a month ago and damaged the city. The city has added ballista since her last visit, which should prevent Scoria from raiding unless she is accompanied by ground forces.
===1st July 1512===
The party approach the city gates. In the daylight, they can see the walls of the city are melted in places from dragon fire. The corner of the keep has been melted as well. The gates are heavily guarded. Other people in queue tell Nevets where the Stack House is located. The party are questioned before being allowed in.
However, as the party enter the gates, their minds a read by a wizard on the wall who hears Toki reveal she was lying at the gates. The wizard tells some officers who ask to speak with Toki on the side. Toki stumbles though some lies and manages to be allowed to go free, but is under suspicion.
On the way though the streets, the party pass some beggars. Toki gives them 1 gold coin each.
The party go to a medium quality tavern and inn. Nevets sneaks out to spy on Stack House, disguised as a beggar. Lennie hangs out with some halflings. Daff tries to talk with the stage but is ignored, so he gets drunk on wine. Toki eats a meal.
Nevets camps outside the Stack House for a few hours. After talking with a half-elf beggar for a while, he overhears some officers discuss inviting a cleric named Janice who is staying at the Hamilton to a new moon party the next day.
Nevets goes back to the party and sees this Janice as a way for Toki to be invited inside and get some reconnaissance done. The party head to Hamilton and see Janice, cleric of Voraci, speaking with a captain. The party takes a table and Toki goes over to talk with Janice. Daff is hired as a violin teacher by a Lord Umbridge for their child.
When Toki shows interest in Voraci, Janice gives Toki a recruitment spiel about joining her group that she shepherds in these ends times. Joining the group also will cost something plus a traditional tithe of 10%, and is highly exclusive. Toki shows interest into joining, and admits to being a druid. Janice asks Toki to tell her the story of how a noble became a druid. Toki doesn't explain how she became a druid, but does explain how becoming a druid made her the black sheep of the family. Janice invites Toki to the party tomorrow night where she will "take the oath", then "take the rite of passage", then be "born again under the goddess of Voraci".
Toki talks with the rest of VOA and is reluctant to join a death cult since it means swearing an oath to Voraci. The party discuss the situation with one-another. Toki decides to scout out Stack House while transformed.
Janice leaves in a cart. Nevets goes after the cart to investigate. The cart heads to a temple on the south end of town, and Janice heads into the temple. Nevets goes into the temple and sees Janice going into a rear room of the temple. Nevets waits in the temple and Janice doesn't leave.
Toki enters the Stack House as a Kitten and looks around. Toki sneaks past a hound dog to get to the second floor. She overhears some people talk about recruiting Lord Umbridge to their cause, getting access to his wealth, and the noble being "reborn". Toki sneaks out of the building, returns to the party, and reports in.
The party begin to plan their next actions.
==Experience==
No exp given out this episode.
: * Dates are extrapolated from a previous mention of an exact date.
Category:Of Dice and Men Episodes