A Grim Night's Rest

Season 1, Episode 1

"**A Grim Night's Rest**" is the first episode of the first season of RDS's *King's Crossing*. It is the first episode of the series overall. It premiered on April 5, 2023. It was written and directed by Rath.

## Plot

Torvekek arrives in Arwin's Rest where he meets Grunkle and together they agree to search for the rumored treasure troves buried here. During their first night, they both endure some restless dreams that carry the weight of a seer's vision.

## Synopsis

A shrouded figure in a hooded cloak makes his way down a dwindling patchwork road. What was once cobblestone has long since worn away to dirt, now made mud. The trek is not easy, his boots tell the story of his trudging. The snow of Mount Starlight glistens in the crisp night air as the only guiding sigil to bring him to his destination.

He begins to pass the ruins of some people long past. An unsavory blend of marble columns and grand archways to stone huts and thatch roofs. No lights burn here, the area is hushed and cold. On he presses and there, ahead, lies Arwin’s Rest.

Deep in the ruins of this swamp, torches burn as the watchman leans against a cobblestone wall. He warms his hands, breath fogging up around him as if fresh tobacco smoke. He hasn’t spotted the weary traveler, manflesh, must be. No surprise there.

The road warn figure approaches and is greeted by the watchman. After some hushed brief informal interview, and upon clearly seeing this figure is no beast nor monster, the watchman points to the only building showing any sign of life further down the road. What looks to be a grand wagon turned into a building, Hobb’s Lodge is written across the side in the same paint from when this was once a traveling carriage. This man enters to the sound of hushed murmurs and a sole solemn tune being played on a harmonica in the far corner.

There is a warm fire burning in a pit at the center of the room. This tavern proving to be quite spacious and cozy once accustomed. There are assorted grizzled and equally dirty locals occupying the large common room. He can tell, and smell, these people must work the river that’s supposed to run nearby. Fish or something similar permeates his nostrils. At the bar, sat alone is a large man…larger than any he’d ever seen. The hulking brute sits on a barrel, the debris of two broken barstools lay nearby. The barkeep moves away from his conversation with the brute and nods a greeting to the hooded man at the door.

A young boy runs into the room from the same door, squeezing past the cloaked figure, a woman smiles as she carries a platter of drinks, “You feel free to sit anywhere, hun. You can warm yourself by the fire if you like.” The heat from the firepit instantly kills the brisk chill of the night and the light brightens the hooded face. The strong jawed traveler, the burly vagabond, the veteran of the deep, Torkevek breathes a sigh of relief. He can finally rest.

Torvekek moves to the counter and takes a seat at the bar. The barkeep, Griff, approaches and asks what he'd like. Torvekek asks for a menu to which Griff rattles off the house specials. Torvekek orders a shot of red drop vodka and Griff procures him one. They trade currency for drink and Griff asks what brings him in.

Torvekek shares he is touring and trying to find all the ales in the land and test every one. Griff puzzles as Arwin's Rest is not known for tourism but Torvekek puts his mind at rest, ensuring he is willing to go the distance to try all the ales of the land. With this, the two formally introduce themselves to each other and Griff invites the traveler to stay in the common room. Torvekek agrees to this but only after he gets some more drinks in him first.

At this, Grunkle, sat at the bar next to Torvekek, has been pounding down the House Malt and is maintaining a happy buzz. After challenging the barkeep to a food eating competition, where if he was able to win, then he would get more drinks. So with that, Grunkle finishes off a vat of Scallop Broth and burps, proving his victory. He then turns to Torvekek to ask, "You are Dwarf?"

Grunkle wants to ask Torvekek some questions but doesn't want to offend him. Torvekek responds stating he can ask but if it's rude then he will cut off his head. To which Griff asks that they take any hostilities outside. They assure the barkeep they will not be fighting any time soon. So Grunkle is allowed to ask his question which is, are Dwarves better drinkers than Ogres.

Torvekek is curious to know how the Ogre made it here without being killed by the people along the road but agrees to share a drink with Grunkle, who had finished his last drink while talking. This was actually quite the feat and so Griff buys them both a drink on the house. After their drink, Torvekek wants to know about any events going on in the town. Grunkle mentions there are dungeons, treasures, and even a hag witch.

Griff mentions he is somewhat familiar with Grunkle's people as a legion came and left some time ago, not bothering to stay in the Freelands. Then confirms Grunkle's stories, there are plenty of rumors of dungeons and treasures out there but the chance of finding them is slim to none. But he invites them to try as long as they don't interfere with the work of the locals including the salt mine or river.

Torvekek is curious about any connections they have with the mountain nearby, Mount Starlight. Griff isn't sure there is anyone left at the mountain, dwarves or otherwise. So Torvekek offers to bring his dwarven family to the town to enjoy his ale, Griff appreciates the sentiment. Its at this point Torvekek turns to Grunkle and compares him to the Dwarves and even goes as far as to say his people are really just large dwarves.

They begin to discuss the Rok'Kar Empire and we learn that the emperor has made "every mountain bow and every forest fall" signifying the power of the Empire. Grunkle rebuttals to learn more about the dwarves, do they build underwater? They could be under the swamp but Torvekek states they are not under a swamp.

Grunkle relates to the Goblins, whom he hates, due to the wars they went through when conquering the goblin lands. Even mentions their troubles with the Elves they'd conquered from the Empires Lands. Grunkle does admit that Torvekek seems intelligent and mentions they could team up and use their strengths. Grunkle even shares a wide smile that raises the alertness of everyone around him as he could devour any of them easily. Torvekek even goes as far as to call him out for eating people.

Grunkle proceeds to change the subject by flirting with Torvekek, trying to convince him to become his traveling companion. Torvekek agrees to stay in Hobb's Lodge and pays for his cot down in the common room. Grunkle attempts to also secure himself a cot but he doesn't have the money for it. Torvekek decides to pay for Grunkle, securing their partnership going forward.

The duo make their way down to the common room, breaking a rung on the ladder as Grunkle descends. He then ignites his lantern, illuminating the common room around them. A larger open room lined with cots where a mess of people are sleeping, from fishermen, to miners, to families. Torvekek collapses onto a cot and falls fast asleep, while Grunkle sets his belongings next to him and cuddles up to sleep.

During the night, the two of them both have dreams, featuring unique storylines. Torvekek hears the sounds of the common room slowly turn to the creaks and a wind like push and pull with an audible moaning accompanying each push and pull. He begins to feel weak, stumbling with the push and pull of the wind, still hearing the creaking of wood shifting. He tries to scream but is breathless, he turns and a shadow stands over him. And he awakes.

Grunkle shares in hearing the same melodic hum of snoring or sounds of the lodge. Unintelligible whispers begin to attack his senses, fading in and out before being broken by a loud female screech. Silence follows but then more screams, men and women, firelight flickers across his face, he sweats as the heat rises. Grunkle turns around frantically before seeing a young girl, looking at him with pleading eyes. She turns and runs, fading into the dream as Grunkle awakes.

Torvekek shoots up with a gasp, shivering and sees Grunkle's eyes snap open as he is sweating profusely. They try and discuss, accusing Grunkle of foul play. Interrupted by a voice calling out for them to shush. Torvekek decides to rise and head back upstairs into the Lodge. Grunkle follows him up. They notice that the room is covered in significantly more mud and branches and vines across the floor.

Grunkle wants to pressure the locals for information on where to find treasure, mentioning Torvekek should help as it would help draw his kin to the town. Torvekek still isn't sure he can trust Grunkle, fearing being eaten. Their conversation is broken by an ongoing meeting happening on the main floor of the lodge. They walk into a conversation where a man in a beaver hat seems to be assigning the townsfolk to some duties.

Torvekek and Grunkle return to their conversation discussing whether or not Grunkle eats Dwarves. They finish and notice the man in the beaver hat is watching them as the townsfolk head out. He asks if they are new here. Torvekek admits he is new and Grunkle says he camps a lot but is here to help the people. So the man leading the townsfolk accepts his offer and asks them to help clear out the debris that has piled up over night, focusing on the southern road from the gate to the town square. They agree and make formal introductions, meeting Kylar, the hunt captain of Arwin's Rest

Torvekek takes to this chore and puts forth his best effort, wanting to go above and beyond Grunkle does his best but finds himself bored quickly. Torvekek asks that Grunkle help because Dwarves take a lot of pride in their work. Grunkle has some backing from his time in the legion building defensive positions and such and so they set out and get to work.

Torvekek gets to work on the mud, clearing it off the road. Grunkle follows him, cutting away the tree roots and branches. When Torvekek tries to shore up the sides of the road and ensure the debris doesnt creep back over the road, he is not having much progress until Grunkle stomps down all the mud and compacts it.

It isn't long till Grunkle gets distracted, noticing a large purple bulbous plant located near the wall. Torvekek leaves him be as he notices a woman walking down the path from the Town Square, a red headed woman with a very noticeable out of place gown featuring orange colors. Torvekek engages with the woman, sharing names and talking about the task they're performing. She is curious about Grunkle and is curious what a Dwarf and Ogre are doing here. She even shares that she knows more about the world history and politics, inquiring if the Legion and the Dwarven Alliance are allied.

Torvekek goes on to tell her about his history and she thanks him for his service to the town. She admits she is a priestess in her own land as she is not from here, a traveler as well. Trovekek asks about her god, turning out to be a goddess, Inebria. She explains this is a goddess of enjoying the moment, living life to the fullest, and sharing a good drink. Torvekek admits, if he wasn't of the old ways and the ancestors, he would follow Inebria too. Addisilon invites him to meet with her sometime to discuss their religions.

Meanwhile, Grunkle has moved to this purple bulbous plant and decides to investigate it further. He smells a sweet aroma from it and goes into an inner battle to whether he should eat it or not. To which he decides, he will eat it. Biting into the flower, the pod breaks open. Something jumps out, stabbing Grunkle in his nose before darting off into the swamp. The flower pod rots and withers and start permeating an atrocious stench.

The stench quickly spreads, covering Grunkle and bringing tears to the nearby Torvekek and Addisilon. Torvekek begins scolding Grunkle. Addisilon excuses herself and leaves the contaminated area. Torvekek and Grunkle argue about whether eating flowers is good or not, standing in the stench of the very action they debate. They then notice the petals of the wilted flower pod have an interior color of blues and greens rather than sharing the purplish outside.

Grunkle pulls out a bottle of Rot Gut Gin, mentioning he could drink it and breath fire which might help. They are interrupted when Kylar comes down the trail. However he stops short at the smell. Grunkle asks how he can fix this and Kylar tells him to get to the bathing spot in the river. He mentions they should find him when they are done bathing, he will be at Hobb's Lodge and needs them for watch duty.

The duo decide to go to the river to bathe instead of dousing themselves in Rot Gut Gin. We learn through some inner thoughts that Grunkle has a rudimentary understanding of reading and writing but it relates to only his native tongue and on a toddler level. Grunkle shares during their walk to the bathing spot that bathing is not seeing as a private activity. His people have common public bath houses and even here in this land, bathing is a communal activity. They see this stands true even here in the Freelands.

They make it to the bathing spot, a small offshoot in the river that feeds a little lagoon. They see the river is more of floating mud flowing East to West. At the lagoon, Grunkle moves right into the water/mud bath. Attempting to persuade Torvekek to join, Torvekek refuses and decides not to bathe. They are startled when a blonde haired female raises up out of the water. Lilliana from the Lodge, the waitress, is here bathing as well.

She engages with them and mentions the water feels wonderful today. Grunkle agrees heartedly and tells her he is new here. She asks if his culture normally bathes fully clothed. He admits he is ashamed of his weight and size being too small. They go back and forth, joking about not being elves before discussing the spots they could start digging to find treasure here.

Grunkle tells a story then of the night he ran into a man with wild hair who told him of the treasures hidden here. He is curious if she knows him and she asks him to describe the man. He says the man looked huiman but with wild hair. The man told him that there are lands beneath the lands, places of treasure. Grunkle is dedicated to find this treasure for both Torvekek's people and Grunkle as well. Lilliana smirks and asks what language the man spoke. Grunkle admitted, the man spoke Grunkle.

Lilliana goes on to tell Grunkle that she thinks the man was "one of her friends". They play a lot of tricks and have their own agenda and she couldn't say which were real and which were fake. The Fey are an unknown entity. Grunkle and Torvekek are disheartened that their quest for treasure might be a farce.

Torvekek changes the subject and asks how he could send mail faster and she admits they do not have an active postal service. So either using magic or the carrier service should work. It's at this point that Torvekek admits that magic is rare within the dwarven people. Grunkle is amazed by this because the dwarves he'd met in his land had magic capability, but proceeded to confuse himself. Lilliana finishes dressing and heads out back to Hobb's Lodge.

## Cast

* PCs
* NPCs

Grunkle

Torvekek

Addisilon

Griff

Kylar

Lilliana

## Quotes

* "Grunkle not have many coin, but Grunkle have big heart!" - Grunkle
* "Based off your knowledge, most of the people here are dirty." - Rath

## Trivia

* The first mention of Wylfer as a "hag witch" by Grunkle
* The rumor of treasure in Arwin's Rest comes from the stash Adarag keeps here
* Torvekek added his first drink to his booze cruise, the House Malt.

## External Links

* Episode One: A Grim Night's Rest
* Episode One - Under The Table