RuleShaven (episode)

*On the lamb, and deep in trouble, the gang races the very dawn itself through alleys and across those cobbled stones to reach Danikatown, the lawless City-in-a-City in the heart of Ruleshaven. Could aid possibly come from within this forsaken enclave? Could escape and solace FINALLY be at hand? Will our heroes at last "get out of this one"? Oh, you sweet summer child. No.*

This is the episode following Ruleshaven (episode). They are spelled the same, but the Ruleshaven that the party visits in the episode is pronounced differently.

## Summary

The party darts through the streets of Ruleshaven as the sun rises, seeking sanctuary in Danica Town. They reach the gates that open as they approach, revealing a man who insists on leaving the subdivision’s borders. He screams in pain and dies within a few steps outside Danica Town.

The party enters the lawless sanctuary, finding that they are free to break any of Ruleshaven’s laws within its walls. They briefly rest in the Cafe Vegetaball ordering drinks and regrouping. Albee mentions to Bellow that Hot Roddy has been overstaying his welcome, and Bellow agrees to go their separate ways when they escape their present danger.

A man covered in fur enters the café, taking his regular black coffee at the counter. Stirfry asks if he knows Little Pile, the contact they were given by Ulcer Anatomies. The man barks in reply, revealing himself as a very tall dog named Mungo. Bellow and Cordelia convince him to help them find Little Pile, who he suspects is drinking at The Reverse Cuckold.

The party enters the tavern and after sorting through Little Pile’s brothers (Medium Pile and Big Pile, a normal-sized man). He offers them their few options out of Ruleshaven undetected: via catapult (which would surely kill them), to die and have their souls leave the plane, or to ring the bell over Ruleshaven. The bell acts as the focal point for the legal magic of the area, and ringing it would void these rules. Bellow begins to formulate a plan to launch them out of the catapult to ring the bell instead of leaving the city. Stirfry quickly becomes drunk and attempts to tell Frederick his feelings, but de Bonesby refuses to listen to him while intoxicated. He writes Stirfry a reminder to speak to him when he sobers up. Cordelia collects herself in the bathroom where Cordelia Junior appears to inquire if she trusts Cheddar. Albee checks in on her and the two console each other while reflecting that Hot Roddy has been insufferable lately. The dwarf overhears this and turns back from the bathroom before the girls meet up to share Bellow’s plan.

Frederick proposes using magic to increase their odds of success, but he isn’t powerful enough to use such spells. Little Pile refers them to the wizard Ramona Didi waiting nearby. She casually agrees to help them out of the whole town’s desire to destroy the bell. They were unable to destroy it themselves because anyone who remains in the town for a few hours become official citizens and cannot leave.

The party hurries to race the clock, crossing the town and reaching the public-use catapult. Albee takes aim while Frederick and Ramona enchant them with additional armor, Featherfall to make them lighter, and True Strike to enhance Albee’s aim. Realizing this would leave someone behind, Hot Roddy offers to pull the lever. The party is launched into the air flying towards the bell tower.

The tone of a bell sounds as the episode ends.

## Trivia

* The episode’s music includes the original song Ding Dong.
* Several of the bar scenes are set to an accordion rendition of Chumbawamba's Tubthumping.

## Link

https://rudetalesofmagic.simplecast.com/episodes/ruleshaven-hfp-asks