Second Citadel - The Perils of Pellinore (Part 1)

Arc poster by Milo Mars.

**The Perils of Pellinore (Part 1)** is an episode of Tales of the Second Citadel. It is the 1st Second Citadel episode of season 4, and the 4th overall. It premiered November 9, 2021.

## Overview

On a quiet jungle road deep in the Northern Wilds, a band of feared outlaws strikes.

### Trigger Warnings

* Violence and threats of violence
* Depictions of sexism and xenophobia
* Body horror
* Sudden loud noises
* Enclosed, claustrophobic spaces

## Episode Summary

It has been about three years since the Judgement of the Empire arc (Part 1 Part 2). Olala, now physically and emotionally a thirteen-year-old, has been traveling with Caroline, engaging in banditry and dealing with old-school knights while they look for their nemesis Sir Galahad. During this time, Angelo split off from their party periodically to earn money for the group by bounty hunting at the Southern Border. At first, he was accompanied by Ale, who eventually traded off with Quanyii, and then the witch also rejoined Caroline, and Angelo worked alone.

At the beginning of this episode, the group attacks Augustus of Ingenue and Frank, who are delivering a magical device to Sir Pellinore, a Golden Age knight they're tracking. Olala, in disguise, extracts information from Augustus about his destination and takes the device. Angelo joins the group after the fight has concluded, and they are all excited to see each other after a long separation. Angelo notices that Olala and Caroline have been experiencing some tension, and he tries to encourage Caroline that it is only that Olala is now a teenager, and going through a phase of being rude and moody. Caroline is unconvinced: she knows Olala has begun to despair that they will ever find Galahad and be able to make her a safe home. More pressingly, she has been taking more risks, pestering Caroline about exploring the East, which Caroline believes to be a deadly region, and keeping secrets, only admitting she had Augustus's cargo when pressed.

Olala and Angelo have a warm, relaxed reunion. She's embarrassed that he still talks to her Tail, telling him that she doesn't think it has a personality anymore; it was only her imaginary friend. He insists that Tail doesn't *look* imaginary. He has brought her a book with an adventure story in it, to her great excitement, and they talk about their shared enjoyment of books. Angelo taught her how to read, but he'd never read for pleasure before he knew her. She has found a different book recently which has angered her with a cruel and inaccurate description of her home, the Garden of Graves. He comforts her, and they share some stories of their separation. Olala knows that Angelo has been interested in Ale since they met, and asks whether anything has changed. He admits that Ale wanted to kill Galahad before considering any relationship, and that while they slept together once, Ale regretted it. Olala is sad, both because she cares about them and favors the relationship, and because she's tired of her guardians saying that things will happen "after we kill Galahad."

The party arrives at Sir Pellinore's lair, where he speaks to them unseen, boasting of his skill as a fighter, strategist, and, well, a boaster. Angelo laughs that Pellinore was known as the best boaster in his day, as Damien was in theirs. Pellinore taunts them with their identities, alarming Olala, and the episode closes as the confrontation is about to kick off.

## Cast

* Marge Dunn as Olala
* Leslie Drescher as Caroline
* Bob Mussett as Sir Pellinore
* M. Sutherland as Angelo
* Melissa DeJesus as Quanyii
* Anjimile as Ale
* Lydian Meloccaro as Augustus of Ingenue
* Glen Moore as Frank