Danger Rangers! - Chapter Four

> "*It takes every muscle in my body to utter this and I almost vomit saying it: You can do it Jort!*"
> ― Irene Dubois
>
>

**Danger Rangers! - Chapter Four: "The Permission Mission"** is the sixty second episode of Queens of Adventure. In it, the novice rangers arrive at the outpost with their prisoners and face a moral dilemma.

## Summary

After several wildlife encounters, novice rangers Irene and Bosco continue to head up the eastern island. They find an old disused fire pit to stop and rest for a bit. Their prisoner Komodo says it wasn't his fire pit. Bosco decides to tie Komodo up again. Jort thinks they should let Komodo keep watch while they sleep. Irene, still under the effect of toad rush, suggests freeing the dwarves. Finally Bosco decides to tie up Jort with Komodo, explaining it will allow the junior ranger to get more info out of Komodo (but really to keep him out of trouble.

Bosco stays watch for the hour the group rests, watching Irene's egg as she sleeps off the toad rush. After the hour, clear headed, Irene does not recognize the egg.

They continue on for another half hour over the frosty peak until they reach a crest. A sheer cliff with five dangling boulders, rises over them: Cliffhanger Crest. As they walk, Jort and Bosco slip on ice and slid down the southern slope, Jort dragging the prisoners with him.

Irene smashes her great axe into the ice to hopefully form some cracks they can grab onto, but the ice is too thick and only causes the others to bounce. Bosco ties her whip to an arrow and fires it upwards. It lands in the ice, but her grip isn't enough to pull herself up. Jort and the prisoners bounce a little more, slowing their slide. Irene claws into the ice to climb down to Bosco. The two debate this might be a way to deal with the prisoners, but instead encourage Jort. He starts yodeling to cause a snow avalanche to save them. Snow back does collapse, covering all of them but Bosco, but does stop them slide. The novices dig the others out.

As they recover the trail, they see a crane arm with rope and bucket dangling from the cliff, but no way to make it come down. Neither Irene or Bosco can scale it. Bosco plays her triangle as Jort yodels to try and get the attention of the ranger station, and after a couple minutes, the basket creaks and lowers. The bucket isn't big enough for all of them, but enough for the prisoners and Jort (tightly) on the first trip, and the novices on the second.

At the top, they see the crane is twin treadmill powered. The prisoners appear from one wheel, and from the other comes a figure in yellow and black, round goggles, and a tall wig. They also have a beard of bees. On their belt they carry a wand and a purple smoke emitting canister. They introduce themselves as resplendent Ranger Melissa, and does a small dance that causes the bees to return to her wig (beehive).

The novices explain that they were on a training mission when they encountered poachers and were instructed to deliver them here by Rigo. With a sigh, Melissa leads them through a field of bright flowers. Heat from the group seems to melt the snow before it can reach the ground. There is a ring of standing stones nearby with glowing runes near a dome shaped building that Melissa leads them into.

Orange glow comes from pipes in the walls, and in the center is a pool of water. Through the back is another room with animal pens that they put the prisoners in, although they untie Jort.

With a wave of Melissa's wand, a wall of force traps the prisoners. They assign Jort to watch the prisoners before taking the novices to the kitchen.

Once alone, they discuss Jort's demeanor and lack of helpfulness, before the Ranger asks what Rigo said. The novices explain the risk of starting a war with the mainland if the poachers were revealed. As this is their first day of training, it felt overwhelming and they didn't want to go against their superior. They admit that other than the poaching, Komodo was helping, although Irene suspects it is an act.

Melissa apologies that this all happened to them and asks if they had been through rebeautification. After explaining what it is (community service and education) they mention the process includes examining people's motivation via truth tea. While those who drink it are not compelled to talk, they cannot willingly lie. Melissa has some and drinks it, offering to answer the pair's questions.

They ask about the ranger station location. Melissa explains this site is an arcane power station that powers the city. It can only be built where large amounts of magma and water can mix. It's remote location is why Melissa chose it: To be alone as they don't agree with all going on in Glamalala, specifically the factions who want to return to the era of constantly being at war with the outside world. They are of the camp that wants to open things up to the outside world, and thinks Rigo may be as well. Melissa knows they probably don't want the responsibility, but as the new generation, Irene and Bosco's choices will shape things.

Melissa suggests some options. One, take the panfrost bridge at the top of the Frosty Ridge, and take the prisoners back, but risk creating a war. Two, they could kill them, which would be in line with the law which punishes trespassers with death.

Bosco recalls their backstory, but the two can't remember all the details. They recall they were broke, but recognize releasing them may not be justice for their poaching, and they may come back. They decide to investigate them more.

They head to the animal pens and send Jort to the kitchen. Melissa lowers the wall of force, ungags the prisoners, and offers the truth tea. Each drink.

They test the tea by asking if Komodo liked watching Irene and the wyvern. He says he was, surprisingly, but says the wyvern egg could fetch a lot of funds. This segues into asking him about his town. He explains he comes from the town of Fistula in the Valley of the Fist. Months ago, raiders destroyed the crops and looted. Now they need to make the annual payment to the Lord of the Land, Knucklebottom who lives in Elbowdeep.

In trying to come up with money, the dwarves said, the idea of selling rare animals to the Collector might help. The dwarves thought they might look for a rumored dwarven treasure on the island, although the runes in the cave only stabbed them. The runes were only names.

Irene suggests they let the poachers go home with the wyvern egg. Komodo thinks that would earn them enough money to pay off their debt and move out of the Valley of the Fist, but Irene wants a guarantee they wont return. Komodo explains the worst he has ever done before coming here to poach was sniffing a panty, and this was only an act of desperation.

Bosco asks them for more toad rush. The dwarves supply four vials, and one gives Irene a dwarven heirloom ring that supposedly will help find the treasure. Melissa thinks they can sneak them out that night when there is fog over the ocean.

Irene isn't comfortable with a big conspiracy, but they think this might be the best way to handle the situation. Melissa 'confiscates' the egg, telling Jort they need to take it as it is unnatural. They suggest Jort might get a promotion, but only if he keeps it top secret. They also give him a pot of honey.

Turning to the novices, Melissa says they will find the path back to the city at the top of the Frosted Tip, and thinks the pair have a bright future ahead of them. Before they leave, Melissa gives them a show with the bees, and then locks them out with a wall of force spell.

Jort suggests he knows a short cut, and re-suggests taking the panfrost. The problem is that people have to have permission to access it. The group decides they all give each other permission, a Permission Mission, Jort says.

Meanwhile, Melissa leads the poachers through mountain passages to a foggy shore and a folding boat. After being adrift at sea for a while, an iron hull of another ship appears. It has silver sails and a black flag. Automotons run the ship. At the helm, a water genasi creates the dense fog.

The ship's captain approaches, wearing a blue leather duster, and a silver mask. Seeing the egg, she questions their haul, but welcomes them aboard and takes them to dry off. The ship sinks beneath the waves and vanishes.

### Characters

#### Party

* Bosco - shadar-kai fighter
* Irene Dubois - lizardfolk barbarian

#### NPCs

* Junior Ranger Jort
* Komodo with the Bright Eyes
* Dwarf Poachers
* Ranger Melissa (debut)
* Belfry du Ramshackle
* Water Genasi pirate
* Other pirate crew

## Episode Notes

### Lore

* There are stations around the island that help control the volcano. These stations require both access to the magma and to a source of water. The eastern ranger station features a large pool of water for this purpose.
* The former dwarven society of the island supposedly left behind a treasure. The previously found cave with dwarven runes are a list of names.

### Memorable Quotes

* "I vote dwarves." - "What does that mean?!" - Irene Dubois and Bosco
* "I feel like something may happen." dice rolls. "Oh no I don't. Eight." - Bosco
* "We could go back at this point, blow off that part of the plot, and finish the ranger exam!" - Bosco
* 'Oh great. The fate of all of prisoners relies on the most *competent* member of our party." - "I got it, I got it! Ooph!" - Irene and Jort
* "I like this. A little bit of exposition to keep us going." - Bosco
* "Thank god we're not in a situation where we're under a lot of pressure." - Irene Dubois
* "I want to see the Glamazons open up their gates and allow the rest of the world to see the majesty we've created. " - "I just want healthcare." - Irene Dubois and Bosco
* "I said there was a theme." - Komodo with the Bright Eyes
* "You being a dumb slut is the best thing that's ever happened to these people." - Bosco

### References

* Poppers/VCR Cleaner
* Ricolla
* Hufflepuff House from Harry Potter
* Burt's Bees
* Lone Ranger
* The Trolley Problem
* Yelp
* Miss Cleo
* Grindr

### Name That Tune

* Copacabana
* "Greatest Love" - Whitney Houston (I believe the children are our future)

## Behind the Queens

* This episode premiered over a month after the last one, as the podcast spent June 2020 to run fundraiser live streams to support the Black Lives Matter movement. They raised over $11k. Both streams can be found on the 'Memories' playlist on youtube.
* In the intro, DM James welcomes possible new listeners from Critical Role. The popular web series returned from covid-19 hiatus with their 100th episode, which included a mid episode ad break video plugging Queens of Adventure.
* In the outro, James congratulates Arson Nicki and Londyn Bradshaw, who have both become part of the Stream Queens team on twitch.com.

**Greetings From Fire Island**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - **The Show Must Go On**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - Ch4
**Operation Watersport**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - Ch4 - Ch5 - Ch6 - Ch7 - **Trials**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - Ch4
**Ghosts of the Coast**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - **The Devil's Due**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - Ch4
**Special**: The Story So Far
**The Beautiful Place**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - Ch4 - Ch5 - Ch6 - **A Dance in the Dark**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - Ch4
**Drama in the Deep**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - Ch4 - Ch5 - Ch6 - **Whispers From the Heart**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - Ch4 - Ch5 - Ch6
**Danger Rangers!**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - **Ch4** - Ch5 - Ch6
**Mist Connections**: Ch1 - Ch2
**Unreleased**
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