Episode 120 - Piece Talks

## Synopsis

Laud and his Grung army had brought the imprisoned Melan in a cage to the Loft of Elders. WIM discussed whether to leave the Loft of Elders, making Ferdinand worry they were going to sell her out. Integrity Idleberry insisted they were just going to try to achieve the best results for everybody, but Ferdinand was not convinced and demanded to be untied, shouting “I’ll die. I’ll die! This is the end for Ferdinand.” Integrity promised not to put up a fight should Ferdinand try anything funny. Winsler Wallaby and Mira Marchand took the elevator down to the bottom of the Loft and exited, seeing Laud pacing deep tracks in the thick layer of snow. Laud demanded they bring Ferdinand, and would not be patient, promising to kill his prisoners if they took too long. His fury was so great that the Grung even stopped shivering from the cold whenever he turned around to inspect them.

After having cooled off, Serinepth Sinderman saw the telltale aquamarine glow of the Pitter lake and heard a wet squelching rubber sound from another room. She walked down the stairs and saw Seltie’s hut rising through a pool of water. The hut was bent out of shape from being compressed in the small room, and it was filled with potion splatter. Seltie ordered Serinepth to hand Ferdinand over, while asking her to carry a silver tea tray with tea cups and lemony scones. Carrying a tray for the first time in her life, Serinepth led the way while Seltie scampered after her with a teapot. Serinepth warned her not to commit any violence, but the Woods Witch just winked and lied that she had no ill intentions. She did admit that she was angry, though, saying “you just wanna CHOKE HER the moment you speak with her!” Serinepth related how she had yelled at her earlier, and Seltie approved, saying “Such a manipulator! All the scheming! Like, stop!!” Bonding on their mutual dislike of Ferdinand, the two met up with Serinepth’s friends.

Meanwhile, Laud was grilling Mira and Winsler on the way up to the Loft, asking what school they went to. Winsler tried to lie, saying they went to a school called “Rapidslope”, but Laud was unconvinced, promising to visit unless they found a “very, very agreeable agreement.” Winsler nervously agreed, winking. Upon meeting Seltie both Winsler and the witch asked if the other was angry, trying to play it cool, both insisting they weren’t bothered. Seltie offered the other guests a pastry, but Mira refused to take one from Seltie in particular.

While everyone found a seat in the Elders’ meeting room Laud paced angrily, his large feet making a distinct slapping sound on the floor. Seltie offered everyone a cup of tea, chiding them for being rude if they did not accept. All refused, so Serinepth only poured a cup for Ferdinand. Everyone spaced out a bit while Seltie slurped her tea, declaring it to be delicious and “very not poisoned”. After some discussion about whether they could start without the Ivory-Masked Woman, Serinepth summarized the situation, detailing who wanted to hurt Ferdinand and which SWIM member had promised to help which assassin.

Winsler protested, saying he had no idea his deal with Seltie was going to be this dangerous. Seltie retorted that she had not known she would have had to actually steal an angel’s tear so Winsler and Kurt Orlaine could build their golem, Yog, but that she was not mad, since everyone wanted Ferdinand dead.

Mira asked Laud if they couldn’t just give him a powder keg from Wildcliff so that he could kill a Death Slaad himself, suggesting that Ferdinand was unimportant to his end goal. Laud admitted that his desire to kill her was a matter of pride ("I prefer to keep people dead when I kill them”), before accusing Mira of betraying her deal with him. Serinepth argued that Mira was not to blame, being under the influence of a charm spell cast by Ferdinand. Integrity pointed out that Mira was unable to lie because of the truth spell which had been cast on her. Laud told the assembled group that he wanted to be immortal, and demanded to be shown Neska’s body, after SWIM explained its significance to him. Mira explained how Neska had given her powder to eat, claiming it would make her immortal, but that even if it didn’t work for her, it might work for Laud. She offered this powder along with the gunpowder. Winsler piped in, saying he had found a book about becoming a Lich. Laud agreed to not harm SWIM or his hostages if they would give him all of this, promising to forget his “intense hatred and grudge for the four of [them],” but reiterating his desire to rekill Ferdinand at the Marble Steps.

Seltie protested that she wanted to use Ferdinand for her own purposes before anyone else could kill her. Mira tried to dissuade her, but Seltie explained that Ferdinand’s death was secondary to the stealing of her powers, and that seeing as she had already waited 70 years she could wait a bit longer, as long as Mira could guarantee beyond the shadow of a doubt that Ferdinand would die soon, and demanding collateral from SWIM.

Integrity rubbed the IMW’s mark on Ferdinand’s ankle, using her Awakened Mind ability to contact the IMW, asking her to come bargain. The IMW immediately dropped from the branches above the conference table, bragging that her position as the agent of a greater force of nature should take precedence over “a Slaad and a witch.”
Mira explained the current state of bargain, urging the three parties to meet halfway. Laud reneged, saying that killing Ferdinand was more urgent than working with SWIM to achieve his goals. Mira said that if it was just a matter of emotions, Laud could kill Ferdinand, who would then be resurrected by Mira, after which the IMW and Seltie could rekill her. Ferdinand yelled for Integrity to untie her, but was rejected. She then promptly untied herself and reached into her robes. As Integrity pointed this out, Laud told Mira “deal,” and leapt over the table, swinging his greatsword at Ferdinand.