The Gilded Tulip

"The Gilded Tulip" is the fifth episode of Regolus: Evolution.
==Official Description==
"Erthe, Wynd, and Fyr find themselves on the plains leading towards the Dragonspine mountains. As a military blockade bars their path, will they find allies or enemies as they attempt to reach Dragonhorn?"
== Plot ==
=== Part 1 ===
* Angelo, Ignis and Terra approach the gate of the encampment of the Ignideax, the dragonkin military, that is standing in their way deeper into the mountains. In the distance above some of the mountain peaks, they can see unusual dark storm clouds with dull green lightning throughout them, which reminds them of the magic used by the Krill species on Regolus. At the gate, four individuals are discussing something, the two guards of the Dragoon 3rd class Garavestrix "Trix" Norixior and Irydeth Vastri, as well as two other individuals that will introduce themselves as Ahkki and Xerephina. As they come closer, they hear them asking why they can’t move through the gate and Terra, Ignis and Angelo offer their help as part of the Coalition. As Irydeth goes and gets their superior, the Omen Iokarex, the remaining people stay with Trix. She tells them that a few weeks ago, an event happened where these creatures, Krill, showed up out of nowhere and they are now expanding their territory so the Ignideax needs to coordinate the whole area before they can let anyone through because people have gone missing. As Irideth comes back with the Omen Iokarex, Rhagos Tarák, they try to offer their assistance but Iokarex tells them that it is their business alone. Clearly hiding something, Ignis tells the Iokarex that they will be on the other side of the blockade, whether they help or not. Feeling threatened, they answer that the status ‚Members of the Coalition‘ means nothing here so they‘d better turn around and let them do their job or they will be arrested. As for the other two individuals, it is important for them to get through because a family member of Ahkki‘s, or in this case, Icthyeus‘ (which is their old captain’s name) wants to see him for his name day so they really need to get through with their ship. Hearing that name, Iokarex tilts his head a little but needs to confirm the connection before they can do anything. Ordering them to stay put, he leaves them with only Trix at the gate. To speed things up, Angelo uses his magic to order Trix to get out of the way, leaving the rest a possibility to get through. But it is not only the group who notice the unguarded gate, all the other people waiting around also see it. Causing a commotion and hearing the sound of a horn in the distance from Trix, now herself again, Initiative starts.
* Angelo and Xerephina teleport to the flying ship, the Gilded Tulip, where the rest of the Crew, Violet, Captain Penelope and Ixen, wait and quickly make their way in the direction of the gate. While the military tries to stop people from coming through, Terra and Ignis turn invisible and are able to sneak into the camp, where Ignis steals an Arcane Hilt on the way. Ahkki runs towards the ship, in the direction where Trix is, and both of them are picked up by the crew, one of them rather involuntarily. With the help of a maneuver called the „Calanthus Surprise“ and Angelo’s power to see invisibility, they pick up Terra and Ignis before the ship takes off and flies away as fast as possible.
=== Part 2 ===
* Coming together in a No-No-Circle, better known as Zone of Truth, Xerephina reveals that the crew is looking for someone named ‚The Magpie‘, a member of a cult called ‚The Compass Blade‘, who is supposed to be up in Dragonhorn. Because Angelo, Ignis and Terra are also on a mission, but from a god, to hunt maybe the same cult, they decide to work together, at least for the moment. Ahkki and Xerephina also have a connection to the gods: Ahkki reveals that he is a direct descendant from the God Aldwyn and Xerephina met Hylan once, who made her the Scion of the Zef line (02:47:20), so they try to be better people and help others find the right path and that‘s what they want to do with The Magpie too. 
* Angelo and Penelope go downstairs to speak to the prisoner, Trix, and bring her upstairs. Xerephina sees more in her than a 3rd Class Dragoon. Trix joins the crew to find out more about the secrets that are hidden in the mountains and to make the world a better place together with them. 
* While Ahkki and Xerephina go to make some sandwiches, Angelo, Ignis and Terra talk about the consequences of their actions and that they have to be more careful, especially with impulsive decisions. As they talk about the deals they made with Halifax, they come closer and closer to the unusual dark storm cloud they saw when they arrived at the camp. As suddenly, a very thin pulse of light and energy flashes through the air and with a jolt, the lights around the ship go out and the ship begins to plummet.
==Characters and Locations==
===Player Characters===
*Angelo
*Ignis
*Terra
*Ahkki
*Xerephina
===NPCs===
* Garavestrix Norixior, Dragoon 3rd Class
* Irydeth Vastri, Dragoon 3rd class
* Rhagos Tarák, Omen Iokarex
* Ixen
* Violet Niobe
* Penelope Derrywhistle
* Kenwix
* Tanohan
* unnamed dragonkin
===Locations===
*Military blockade at Iokarix Empire border
==References==