Dirtying the Water

*Dirtying the Water* is the title of the ninth episode of the fourth season of S.H.A.D.O.W. and the forty fifth session of the entire game.

This session was played on February 10th, 2019

## Dirtying the Water

### Writer

Jonny Christie, Matt Christie, Richie Maynard, Eric Rios, Corey Sexton

## Plot

Team Phylyco takes a trip to the Paladin's Guild.

## Synopsis

Ravela is peering over a sleeping Vida cradling baby Gris. She gives an evil smirk. Darrow and Locus are talking nonsense about the night before just as the sun is rising. The daily courier arrives with a letter for Darrow. It is from the blacksmith apprentice Zinnona. It lays out that she cannot help with the armor because she’s just too inexperienced but suggests he visits the blacksmiths at the Paladin’s Guild in Maeurt if he is inclined. Darrow asks if Locus wants to do something crazy, Locus doesn’t understand the reference. Phylyco awakens indifferent about Aragi’s exile. He visits Mort about what he asked him to do and the Gnome admits he hasn’t started yet with everything going wrong. Phylyco shakes the little man out of his pockets to retrieve his down payment and heads to the Saint. He passes his squads tent and overhears their plan to go to Maeurt. He decides why not and just to confirm, gets a target at the guild for his own enjoyment. Darrow and Locus grab Amelia and head out, saving her from the conversation between Mal and Sirobe. They grab some supplies and head north towards the Gladelake. Aguero is visibly upset, with reason. He takes a deep breath and retrieves his team, Sirobe and Pachosis. They then go to Hylophagous and requests he be allowed to leave for a few days. The Saint allows him but as Aguero is leaving he stresses the word Exile to him one last time. They leave the city. Team Phylyco are camping for the night and on his watch, Darrow hears something being viciously killed. He keeps his guard up but they are not pursued that evening. As they depart for their next day however, Darrow notices a clearing with a strange statue in the center. It is very alluring and Amelia approaches it. The rest are hesitant but Locus is the one to realize it is in fact alive. It does not attack however. Instead, it looks at them with child-like wonderment.

Team Aguero are tracking Aragi. Shocker. Aguero tells the boys what his plan is and they don’t particularly agree but they go along with it because, He’s the boss. Team Phylyco are face-to-stone with this golem. It is not hostile. Phylyco realizes exactly what this rock can do and informs it that it works for the Circus now. He carves the emblem into the dirt in front of it so it knows who it can help. He has Amelia mark its location on a map and they continue on and eventually make it to the Gladelake. Amelia immediately realizes the lake is acting weird so Darrow tests it and feels that it is trying to pull him into its depths but he is not easily moved. They move away from the water’s edge and Darrow calls the lake evil which causes an argument between him and Phyl. The man mentions not everything against them is evil and Darrow then calls Phylyco out on his bad deeds so he retorts by asking if the Emberstorm is evil for his actions and that shuts him up for the night. The next morning, they arrive in Maeurt. They immediately head to the Paladin’s guild.

Pachosis catches a scent and leads team Aguero to a clearing where a man is passing through. Aguero apologizes to him for failing to win the trial and admits that he was right the whole time. Aragi never turns around but tells his friend to find his actual brother, there was no body. He also mentions that he believes War may be there already. It explains all the infighting. Pachosis demands they go back immediately and the half-elves say goodbye. Team Aguero heads home and Aragi moves towards the border, unsure of where he is going. Amelia and Darrow enter the guild house as Phylyco and Locus stay back. Darrow asks to speak with Arcos Emberstorm, his eldest brother. The receptionist allows them through as Phylyco and Locus enter for a different task. They are both immediately recognized for different reasons and both wish to speak with other people. They head to Locus’ old mentor, Donavir Greyheart. He is not happy to see the halfling. Locus asks for his help finding a specific anvil from Emberstorm’s notes. He denies him so Phylyco steps up to try and convince him but the old soldier is not phased and tells him to go to their contact if they want any help from the Paladins. They make eye contact and the two leave the old man to his drinking. Meanwhile, Amelia questions why Darrow never mentioned his brother the Paladin. They briefly talk about the eldest Emberstorm before locating him. Arcos turns to his brother and they both are ecstatic to see each other and head butt. Amelia relaxes a bit and Darrow asks his brother if he has any information on a specific metal the Paladins use for their armor. He tells them of the mine nearby and they head back to the lobby to await their allies. Phylyco and Locus head to the mess hall and right away spot their contact. Grekkus. A man who helped Di-Syl with a target many months prior. They ask for his help in retrieving the anvil but they also need to find Vin Dulog, another Paladin who is “in need of protection from some worse people”. He agrees and he heads up the tower, Locus right behind.

Phylyco seeks out Vin while Darrow and Amelia decide to head to the mines without them. Grekkus arrives at the forge and attempts to take the anvil but the blacksmiths are not having it and a fight ensues. With little help from Locus, Grekkus decimates the men and once again attempts to grab the anvil, but it is far too heavy for one man. Good thing Phylyco is on the hunt. He runs into the other two and joins them at the mines since apparently Vin is returning from that direction anyway. Darrow and Amelia begin gathering the metal as Phylyco oversees but he doesn’t anticipate anything INSIDE the mine and a panther attacks Amelia. Luckily, Darrow is a great bodyguard and she is saved, again. They start to head back to the guild and run into Vin. Phylyco plays the part of “protecting” the man and they all head back, metal in tow. They immediately head upstairs to meet up with Locus and Grekkus. They meet up and head even farther up to the roof where the Paladin’s best asset resides, The Kanons. Large birds that they ride for easy transportation. Darrow and Amelia meet back up with Arcos to say good bye but as they do, Phylyco sets his assassination in motion. As Grekkus and Vin get the anvil onto the Kanon, Locus ties the target’s foot to the beast. They say goodbye and take-off, dragging the man behind. Unfortunately, Arcos witnesses this from his quarter’s window and immediately asks his brother what they just caused.

## Cast

### Main

* Aragi Maxul
* Phylyco Brokenwhisper
* Aguero Cryhawk
* Mal Bloodjaw
* Ravela
* Sirobe
* Locus Fochuckl
* Darrow Emberstorm
* Amelia Retter
* Saint Hylophagous

### Supporting

* Pachosis
* Mort Soulspark
* Vida Soulspark
* Echo
* Gris Soulspark
* Zia
* Arcos Emberstorm
* Grekkus Raisir

### Guest

* Donavir Greyheart
* Vin Dulog

## Trivia

* Final episode of Aragi Maxul before his exile, bumping Phylyco up to top billing.
* This session reintroduces Grekkus Raisir, who had cameoed in season 1.
* first apperance of Kanons.