Gailen's Gate: Episode 36

### YouTube VOD

***Gailen's Gate* Episode 36** was streamed on Arcadum's Twitch channel on May 26, 2020, and premiered on Arcadum's YouTube channel on May 31, 2020.

## Summary

            The time finally comes for Braktor and Hackne to head to court. Braktor gives to the regent of the town both the Ironbellows family history and the information about the stolen shipments of gems. Braktor is unable to convince the court about Blackbriar murdering his family, but the presentation of the Crimerist potion does make the regent interested. He reveals himself to actually be a female Changeling, appointed as regent to keep eyes on illegal shape changing, and has Blackbriar arrested. She tells Braktor there will be difficulty in proving the grudge, but will send the documents along to the king to potentially restoring some of his family’s name.

             Ozzy quickly returns the scarf to Wallace, also informing him to not tell anyone about the robbery while insisting he tell everyone about the robbery. He then quickly runs off to get Kai to fulfill his promise to introduce him to Valloween, but Kai is busy and just says he will go later. The group then takes one final detour to Valloween to pay back Ozzy’s debt (and tell her about robbing Blackbriar), and for Gruff to give Valloween the bloodworm. Belanovan invites Valloween along, grasping the stone to demonstrate, and the group disappears back to the Shadowfell.

             Back in the Shadowfell, the Empress teleport the group to a private room to speak. Hackne informs the Empress about all the group actually knows. The Empress warns the group about the Herald and how the Seven will not be there to save the world this time. She briefly examines the scrolls, but does not read them, not wanting to be corrupted.

             She also explains the state of the world; that one is one of many, watched over by Death, those worlds destinated to fail to be cut away. However, one time, a creature which can not be named, started rotting the tree. Four times the tree was pruned to get rid of the rot, but four times the rot grew again. So, as the rot approached the trunk, Death had Seven Heroes rise, tested them time and time again, until he himself face them, and with his defeat allowed the Seven to move outside of the confines of death, and therefore face the rot on its own terms. It was then they faced the enemy and won. And therefore they won but lost, beating the enemy but trapping themselves between what is existence and what is non-existence. Many had hoped the enemy’s defeat was permanent. Unfortunately, with the arrival of the Herald, it is clear they have not.

             The warns the group that the enemy gets stronger the more people have knowledge of it, but the more knowledge a person has the better odds they have. When asking about safely reading the scrolls, the Empress mentions that there are places that, like the Seven, sit in between existence and might be safe. One of them is the Ruins of Kaza’hul. Then, as a way to keep her vows, the Empress bless the group with her shadowy powers (Level 10).

             While Gruff is talking about fishing the souls of the Seven, the Empress mentions talking to Inu, the Guardian of Life, who is at the Shattered Gates. She points the way, which looks like Belanovan’s starmap, which he figures out can direct him to the Shattered Gate. The party moves to depart, but the Empress keeps Braktor behind. She looks into his eyes, and he gains knowledge about his past lives, revealing himself to be the refracted soul of One of the Seven.