From the Ashes

*From the Ashes* is the title of the second episode of the fifth season of S.H.A.D.O.W. and the fiftieth session of the entire game.

This session was played on April 28th, 2019

## From the Ashes

### Writer

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

## Plot

Darrow returns home while Team Phylyco goes after Aguero.

## Synopsis

Mort is sitting on his bed, starring at the crib across the room. He gets up and walks over to get a better look at his daughter. He says to himself that he can’t do it alone. Grekkus and Mal trying to catch up to Phylyco and Locus as the Paladin stops in his tracks as he sees what’s left of the guild house. Mal attempts to get him to keep running but Grekkus realizes it’s too late for them as he grabs the orc and they jump into the rubble to hide from the growing carnage in the city. Phylyco arrives at the STG and notices that they lost the tanks. He believes they will be alright and enters, strapping Aguero to the Bulette and taking it back towards the capitol. Darrow is being led by his young brother to the lord of the Crimson Keep, his father, Marfalcon. He gets on a knee to greet the lord. Marfalcon excuses Ike so he may speak with his fifth born. They discuss where Darrow has been. It is clear that Darrow relies on his rage as he gets worked up talking about his travels. Marfalcon suggests his son stop blaming others for the mistakes of their family. Darrow goes on a tangent about Hylophagous being a demon and evil but Marfalcon defends the Saint, claiming that he would not be here if it weren’t for that Tiefling. Darrow excuses himself and walks past Ike who nods at him and they go to the courtyard. They use edgeless blades and duel. Meanwhile, Grekkus and Mal are in the thick of it. Grekkus plans to go out in a blaze out in the city but Mal suggests they go up instead.

Aguero wakes up and calls out Phylyco’s name. The beast stops and the man responds to him, checking to see if it’s really him. He confirms it and they briefly chat before deciding to let Aguero tell his story to the circus once they return. Darrow has won the duel. The brothers headbutt on a good fight and Darrow mentions he is leaving in the morning. Ike suggests he meet him in the crypts that night, the young Emberstorm has something important to show him before he goes. Grekkus and Mal are ascending the ruins, attempting to get to the top and hopefully find a Kanon. They are on the clock as they continue to pass dead bodies and black-thorned vines. The plants are growing at an alarming pace so they double time it. Phylyco, Aguero, and Locus arrive back at Aethel and immediately go to their allies but inside all they hear is screaming. Phylyco walks in non-cholent expecting the worst but they enter to the crowd playing a dice game. Aguero is not impressed. The Saint sits up and the room goes silent. Aguero begins to chastise the group for playing a game and Locus begins to shift the dice around as the blind man explains just how much danger they are truly in. Hylophagous suggests they finish the game first and it has been altered to show a battle plan. Good job, Locus. The Saint begins to discuss his plan. Including that they need to speak with the lady of Pentropolis. Darrow arrives at the crypts. Ike arrives with a book containing the heritage of their family. They both come to the immediate realization that Marfalcon is the first named Emberstorm in the lineage. The rest of their ancestors are… different. Ike mentions he received a letter from their brother, Cain and Darrow slams his brother in the face, telling him they do not speak of him. Ike tells him that Cain is in Stoneclaw and that he was able to track down their people, their real people. Darrow sets off but as he leaves Ike gives him a cloak that belonged to their mother to help with the rage.

Aguero continues to shoot down most of their plans. Nothing will work. Hylophagous suggests maybe the key to solving this is the last Horseman, Ravela. Unfortunately, they have no way of contacting her and even if they did, she is too far gone into her insanity. Aguero mentions that there is something Sachayoj was after at the center of the Gladelake but Hylophagous mentions that what he seeks has been moved and he knows this because he’s the one that moved it. Aguero asks where but the Saint tells him they need numbers before they can look go for that item. The bottom line is as long as the connection between Aguero and Sachayoj is severed, they have time. Grekkus and Mal continue to climb. They hear commotion on the roof and rush up to it to find Cae fighting a few corrupted Kanon. They prepare to help the large bird and take out the corrupted but Cae is mortally wounded and infected. The bird gives out one more cry as two other Kanon appear to help them escape the city before He jumps off the platform and dives down below the clouds to defend his city to his last breath.

Hylophagous has requested that Phylyco speak with Elbije on his behalf so he grabs Locus and they prepare to leave but they are stopped by Aguero. He stresses to them that they need that item or else the demon will never be ceased for good. As they are talking, Mal and Grekkus arrive. Elsewhere, Cae is on the ground basically dead. The corrupted Arcos steps up and places his hand on Cae’s neck, corrupting him. Aguero wants to actively find the item but Phylyco agrees with Hylophagous that they need numbers first. A surprise to the others. Mal and Grekkus appear and Mal explains what they witnessed. While they are also being caught up, Grekkus begins to agree with Aguero that Aethel is lost and they need to take the fight to Sachayoj as soon as possible. Hylophagous takes this time to call one last meeting and lays the law down that they will not risk anymore of their lives. They are building an army to defend the rest of Eris. Phylyco and Locus will speak to Elbije while Mal, Aguero, and Grekkus will attempt to recruit House Rose. Lara is sent to retrieve Mort as the others leave. She hears Gris crying and enters the room to berate Mort but what she finds is the gnome hanging by his neck. She runs over to the baby and picks her up. She begins to cry.

## Cast

### Main

* Phylyco Brokenwhisper
* Lara Youngheart
* Aguero Cryhawk
* Mal Bloodjaw
* Sirobe
* Locus Fochuckl
* Darrow Emberstorm
* Grekkus Raisir
* Saint Hylophagous

### Supporting

* Mort Soulspark
* Gris Soulspark
* Gregory
* Arcos Emberstorm
* Ike Emberstorm

### Guest

* Marfalcon Emberstorm
* Cae
* Gruf
* Shoko

## Trivia

* Fiftieth session of the series.
* This is the first time that Aguero Cryhawk is not the soul vessel of The Demon Sachayoj.