Episode 1 (Recap)

We found our adventurers collected in some sort of mechanical holding cell with the sounds and smells of a ship at sea. One by one they realized their doom as air rushed over them at an alarming rate only to be dropped from the sky. As they fall, the party remembers their lives, trying to make sense of the current circumstances they now find themselves in.

Flashbacks begin as minds race to piece together the decisions that were made -

**Wilbur**, alone, stuck in his aging body, plagued by memory loss and hallucinations brought on by extended exposure to dark glass which was a large part of his life during his time with the alchemist guild and used in his research. He receives a knock at the door. A package has arrived with a piece of darkglass with a green hue. It's from his friend in Zemorah. It was sent in hopes of finding more information out on it or at the very least to help Wilbur in his efforts to cure his sick granddaughter Theresa who has been sent away to the Unity's clerics in Dillon's Forest in hopes of helping her.

It’s been years. So far, no cure. His search for a cure is never-ending.

Wilbur is summoned to the front gates for his healing prowess as someone has fainted at the gates near his home on the outskirts of the newly famed Port City of Aryas, headquarters of The Mercantiliate. He recognizes this person and administers tonics created from his time with the Alchemist's Guild in Zemorah and takes the stranger known now as "Sothe *to his home. Conversations abound, rest is had.*

**Sothe** discloses to Wilbur the horrible news of Asgalun, a small town across the river, near Aryas. Sothe tells how his noble parents were murdered and how it was overrun by soldiers wearing gold and black, that resemble the colors of Aryas and the Mercantiliate’s sanctioned city guard.  After ransacking the town, they were then followed by Scorch Paladins sent by the Unity. Nothing seems right about the exchange between the two groups from Sothe's point of view. The armor, the lazy way the scorch paladins seemed to go after the soldiers, the timing when the least amount of people in town. None of it feels right. If felt planned. But by whom? Escaping only with his anger, hate and rage inside, he will have his vengeance!

Hiding their noble identity seemed like a safe move. Seeing as the only way they made it out of Asgalun amidst all those enemies and the chaos of a fire in one piece then to Aryas in such a timely fashion, it must be the work of the shadowy figure who gifted Sothe a stone of dark glass with a violet hue upon signing a contract in exchange for powers unknown as time froze around him. The stone sometimes glows red for reasons unknown.

Together they seek out the origins of the stone and look for guild contacts Wilbur may still have, in order to find out what really happened in Asgalun. Upon reaching the Mercantiliate HQ, they are greeted by a couple of Unity officials that seem to be there on business, and a familiar face to Wilbur in the clerical understudy, Breo. She and Skye, a spunky druid type, are running things in Aryas since the elder guild masters including Head Guild Master Thulsa have left 2 days prior to Zemorah on permit business. Something to do with an event the Unity is running soon.

**Kirikal**, Paladin of Goltwane, awakes from a dream to a knock at the door. It is their Unity appointed squire “Pokkits”. They are late for a ceremony that Kirikal was meant to act as a stand-in for. Typically, these are of no importance other than keeping with the ten-year tradition & “going through the motions”. This time however, things would be different. After dressing in appropriate attire and being led to the hall of ceremony by Pokkits, Kirikal took their place along 3 other Paladins. The presenting officer noticed that some significant jewelry was missing and Pokkits gave Kirikal their home made pendant with a yellow stone polished to a high shine in it’s center. A replica of his own making. It would do nicely.

The ceremony would go on to bestow the office of Head of Serpents if the Great Tree was deemed worthy. It had not chosen one in over 200 years, why would today be any different? Order is what mattered in this, not the clout that came with the station. Four clerics for four paladins. There would be order this day in the form of a Human named Alexander. After what happened during the ceremony, one thing is certain. They would become joined through duty, bound by honor and given a missive that leads them to Aryas, far from what has felt like home to Kirikal as much as any place. It will be hard to leave, but with Pokkits & Alexander at their side, and Goltwane’s blessing upon them, the trip will not be a lonely one. Is this what is to become of a life of a newly knighted warrior of The Unity?

**Alexander**, proud cleric of order in service to the unity for many a year. Long has the taste for battle been washed from his lips, but a hunger for order, remains unsatiated. Chaos keeps him up at night and quelching it brings him joy and peace. His coronation would be but a minor inconvenience to his study work in the Monastery but he will do his duty and follow through, lest he be shown up by his lessors also chosen to represent The Great Tree in this “Head of Serpents” pep rally.

Making his own time to the ceremony, he is greeted with the praise he so deserves. A choice between the foundation and the branch is given. Choosing to kneel with the foundation of order and unity, a miraculous site is beheld in the chambers as the rod that would have been chosen by Alexander plants itself by it’s own means and snatches all of the other branches and rocks. A branch grows to point and touch Kirikal. The Great Tree has chosen him to rally the troops, serve The Unity once more in the field! It also has chosen a companion to travel with and protect and see the will of The High Arborist Russ’ell done. Upon the end of the ceremony, the stone Alexander chose to kneel by has been compressed by the branch surrounding it revealing a deep blue colored unfinished stone.

A gift of the great tree. It is to accompany him as a holy symbol.

A missive is given to them both to deliver to Aryas a message then connect with Russ’ell in Zemorah for a great festival of the Unity in celebration of The Pilgrimage, a fortnight from the message delivery to the Mercantiliate headquarters. They are also gifted a flying ship, with which to make haste a journey of many days' travel. The first of its kind, The “S.S. Wheat T” will get them close in two days time.

Upon arrival, Pokkits is left aboard the ship per instructions given by Sister Rosslin. They make camp with fellow Unitarians and head to Aryas the next morning. Making their way through the currently renovated city, taking note of those preparing for The Pilgrimage along the roads, they happen upon an empty headquarters. They are greeted by a lower-level employee named Breo who tries to assist them as best she can after clearing up the confusion that is a lack of leadership. Disorder, Chaos, and a hillside fire abound not long after delivering their message to Breo and mingling with the “common folk” who jumped ahead of them in line to be served by the Mercantiliate’s skeleton crew.