Burden of Proof Part 5

## Episode 18 - The FeyWild West

Seline and Talia question Rohrich Fasthand who admits Constance Melody ordered him to check on the "orcs," but also that he's expected back in the morning. One of the other prisoners volunteers to go in Rohrich's place and tell Melody that everything went according to plan. Seline convinces prisoner number three (Holdren) said if he betrays them, he'll die a slow death and be tortured in the afterlife. With that, they send Holdren on his way. In her dreams, Seline enters the Glade and then slowly rises above it. So now, she can see the Glade is a courtyard. Beyond the trees of the Glade is a castle. The castle is impossibly tall spiralling upwards built in a way that would be impossible in the real world without magic. The moon just as large as it was before illuminates the crumbling Towers in the cracking walkways. In the tallest tower, the Broker stands and asks Seline again, “Why do you leave? Why do you come back when you can stay?” Seline claims that she doesn't want to. The Broker responds the fey don't lie and Seline wakes. Seline tries to convince herself she doesn't want to go back to the feywilds, when Talia wakes. They discussed Seline’s dream and Talia provides some reassurance. After breakfast Lawrence arrives with Captain Wilde. While preparing to leave they bring James up to speed on what's going on. Captain Wilde says he brought 10 DMP with him, there are 10 townsfolk who joined the sheriff and 20 more possible if the mayor exposes the 42nd to town. Lawrence said he saw a 42nd return to the Miner’s Respite last night but nothing changed in the 42nds behavior. James says about the district, about Blackwater no one's heard from them in 2 weeks and every DMP member that's gone down there hasn't returned. A single scout said they saw Blackwater from a distance of 3 miles with telescope. Although the town was still there, the river has dried up and there was no one moving around. From Duskdown in the north, all their children have disappeared. Down south in District 3, small settlements have been swallowed in the sand and something about tombs being uncovered. Even though DMP is primarily based out of District 1 but James has eyes and ears in other districts. Seline draws two of cups inverted (disharmony in relationships), the fool inverted (naivety, restlessness, and foolishness), lovers inverted (similar to the two of Cups inverted). She interprets this as things are out of balance and if they try to do more than what they are able the imbalance will continue on the road they have made for themselves. They arrive in Crankshaft in the afternoon. As they ride through the street the mayor calls out to the townsfolk to gather in the Square. When a 42nd patrol spots them, the patrol quickly turns about and briskly moves back the way they came. Seline sends Cortez in pursuit. Cortez trails them to the Gold Strike Inn. Cortez eavesdrops at the window hearing Melody tell her troops get ready for a battle.

> [The cart eventually pulls into town square to the auctioning platform and podium and the mayor hops off the cart onto the stage and immediately goes over to the podium and addresses the crowd that has gathered around.]**Mayor Finch Whendlewood**Citizens of Crankshaft! I have disturbing news. I made an expedition out to get my own personal view on this orc threat that threatens our town. What I found out there is most disturbing. I discovered that not only have we lost friends and family but we had been deceived. The members of the 42nd Mercenary Troop set up a ruse! There have never been any Orcs outside of our Township. This entire time, it was a detachment of 42nd waylaying and the murdering our friends, our families, destroying our business all in an effort to prop themselves up as our saviors! I hereby declare that any member of the 42nd present during these horrible events are guilty of murder and accessory to such! Those who do not come quietly, they are to be brought in dead or alive!**DM Molly**And with those words, there's a loud crack and suddenly the platform is painted red. The mayor falls to the ground, dead.

## Characters

### Players

* Seline Argent-Grey
* Talia Argent-Grey

### NPCs

* Mayor Finch Whendlewood
* Lawrence
* Rohrich Fasthand
* The Broker
* Captain James Wilde