The Scorpion's Sting

In the fight in the abandoned church, Rah-Cerves tries to shelter Zerude, disguising himself as Zerude to confuse the attackers using mysterious Rah-Cerves magic. The massive creature, a basilisk, corners and attacks them both as Bivouac and Tew hold off the kobolds. Aurelia assaults its mind and V slays it with a crossbow, saving Zerude. Rah-Cerves receives the gaze of the Basilisk just before it dies and is petrified, turning to stone. His statue does not appear to be the typical Rah-Cerves they just saw - his clothes are tattered, hair unkempt, lean tight facial features, and no weapon in his hand. A slip of paper magically slides out of Rah-Cerves' satchel, his new AI contract. The paper burns up, ashes raining down on his statue body. The stone melts away and he comes back to life, breathing heavily. Examining their contract, there's a clause granting one free revive from "all non-consenting death or death-like scenarios". They loot the Basilisk for parts. It appears to be from a swamp, and perhaps altered or mutated. Speaking to Zerude, Bivouac and V calm him down and he says the Church have something in the basement; people come and go, and the gold never comes out. Waukeen is supposed to grease the wheels of the merchants, kickstart commerce, support the community, but that's not happening. He says the winged cat is the familiar of the head of the Church, the Follower of the Coin. The people in the basement wear red masks, he has no clue as to their identities. The people enter the basement and disappear. The Church was probably following him since the cat was here. V offers Zarude shelter and a job as a cook at the ship. He declines, but accepts their offer to take him with them to Mod as they go there for the next mission. The party sneak back to base with him and rest, keeping watch on shifts. In the morning, Zerude is dead with three piercings on his neck and a green residue. It appears to be a venom injection from a scorpion (with three tails?), probably coming from a seam in the door or wall, perhaps not native to this climate?. V buries the body.

Meanwhile, Mama Hunsi returns and reports that she received a letter and just spent a couple days visiting 3 hags - they told her about this enchanted string that is a component in a badass magic bow, in a town just south of Grace called Bravado. Bravado isn't on the map, its just all grove south of Grace, Bravado was swallowed by the Grove ages ago. Bivuoac goes to the lumber mill and requisitions a cart and draft horse, courtesy of AI, for the journey to Mod. Meanwhile, Rah-Cerves and V go to Harps by the River to talk about the Violet Delights. Rah offers information, but nothing she doesn't know, and she sees through his deceptions. They all pile up in the cart and head out, dismissing help from the Wardens as they leave. Outside of Grace, the immensity of the Grove streches out before them and branches over the path. After a few hours, a large suit of armor blocks the path, facing away from them. V approaches and it turns around, with a writhing mass of centipedes inside the armor. It says, slowly..."Friend?".

Previous Episode: The Church and the Grove

Next Episode: V for Vendetta