Episode 21 - The Clone Wars

## **Episode Synopsis**

### **Recap**

The team rode on the train form of Leslie and battled Auto. But, no matter how much damage they did, Auto repaired himself using time gems. Dariun did the ultimate sacrifice, sending his switch blade at Auto to reverse time. This caused a large time energy blast which would have wiped them all out. Dariun used his bubble cloak to protect him, Peterson Zippy and Lara, at Leslie's request. When the energy from Auto dissipated, the other Greeder's and Leslie where gone and the mechanos beings changed back to their original forms expect now younger that before. Auto came back as a scorpion and the team had one last battle with Dariun plunging his long sword in Auto, dimming the light.

### **Episode Summary**

Dariun is hunched over his blade, panting from the combat that just ensued. Zippy goes up and checks on Dariun who is a bit overwhelmed by everything that has happened. Dariun tells Zippy about how his father Caspin worked with Auto causing the mechanos to wreak havoc on the Feywild plane. Dariun suspects that when he was in the Feywild under Auto's orders, Auto tried to open a portal using Dariun but he was able to stop it. He reflects on what his father did and wonders if he should love or hate his father for teaming up with the mechanos. Dariun suspects Caspin was so hard on him to prepare his son for the mechanos that were coming back. Peterson suggests that Caspin was potentially tricked into helping the mechanos like Dariun was and wonders if Dariun should be quick to judge. Dariun takes that on idea and pledges to go forwards, shrug off the past and journey to find what does define him.

Peterson looks out to the crowd and notices that not all the mechanos are there and he assumes that some were time warped back too far to a time they didn’t exist. He also notices that it is difficult to count how many there are as he sees some people who look the same. Peterson remembers what he saw in the mechanos area that one soul would make ten gems and he assumes that when they went back, they didn’t form one body again. He can also see with his mask that the souls of the former mechanos are not as bright as a normal being. Dariun suggests they need to get down the mountain but there is a very now obvious problem.

Lara comes over and pulls them into a hug, celebrating that they did it. They all then deliberate about what they need to do. Zippy takes the lead and Peterson and Dariun follow, ready to address the crowd of clones. Peterson uses mold earth and creates a platform for them to stand on and speak to the crowd. Zippy calls out, expressing his confusion and begins to speak on the ethics of cloning. One Manasnow resident calls out that he just wants to go home and Dariun goes to yell out that they will try to get them all home but Zippy quickly stops him. Zippy tells Dariun not to make any promises and they need to play this right or it's going to be a kill or be killed scenario. Zippy sees the absolutey terrible issue that lies in front of them.

Green tries to climb up and address the crowd but Zippy kicks Green off and continues to talk. As Zippy talks, all the Green clones make a tower and on Green clone talks about how the world has changed. Peterson also calls out, continuing on Green's point about this unprecedented magical event and the life they once had may not be available. However, they can live their life anew and travel Ome. Some people seem interested but there is a large majority who are not keen for this and want to go back to Manasnow.

They see some of the clones are with other clones who were partners before becoming mechanos. These people went up to the mountain together and became mechanos together. There are some people who do not have any clones so Dariun asks them to move to the side. Zippy gets nervous and asks Dariun to chill out on acting like god. Peterson recalls soul magic was very rare and no soul merging information was available to him in his history.

Zippy gets back up and asks a Manasnow person what they reckon will happen when then go home. That Manasnow resident reckons it'll be all okay but as Zippy continues, some Manasnow people see an issue with all going back. One resident proposes they take turns going to Manasnow but the team very quickly poke holes in this plan.

Zippy decides to casts illusionary plane to create a Manasnow town square in the bowl. Some are excited and others are not so Zippy says anyone who doesn't want to go back to Manasnow can leave. When they leave, others get mad and decide they want to leave the bowl and go back to Manasnow. Dariun suggests they should get them down the mountain back to Manasnow and for them to deal with the situation as it's not a problem they can solve.

Green goes to Lara and asks what they should do. Lara says she's going to stay in Storm's Edge. Some clones that didn't want to go to Manasnow also decide to stay with Lara. Lara pledges to make the teleporters work again and go to the Mechanos plane to get Leslie back. She asks Peterson for the time gems so he gives her all but one. He wishes Lara luck and Zippy asks for any information on Felix. Lara doesn't have any idea where Felix went to after Storm's Edge. She does tell them that Felix doesn't carry anything but the clothes on his back and his Greeder cloak, not even a weapon. Lara also tells them that the top ten Greeders, apart from Felix, aren't even associated with the guild.

Dariun wishes them the best and tells her to send them word if they face anything dangerous and need their help. She welcomes Dariun to use the teleporter if they actually can get it working. As the ten Greens clones, three random people from Manasnow and Lara head to the center spire, one of them turns and goes up to Dariun, giving him a flaming grey spark in a jar, the tinder soul.

Dariun decides they can't stop this train but they can at least help them get to Manasnow. Peterson and Zippy help supervise as they go back to Manasnow. Zippy is flying on his carpet and Peterson is on an eagle as Dariun is helping the people. They reunite with Tealeaf and Longface Cloppyhooves and head to Manasnow using the path they skipped on the way up. They travel through the forest and they begin to hear stomping and a roar in the distance. They can tell the yeti is coming back, pissed off. It stops and sees it is very outnumbered. It backs away but 10 clone girls run up to the yeti. She asks if the yeti remembers and she tells them she raised the yeti. They reunite and the yeti joins the clone army and team 8 to Manasnow.

Coming up on the trail they run into Shamus and another older gentlemen. Shamus is shocked and the man walking behind him see his father among the clones. The man reunites with his now 10 fathers. Peterson explains to Shamus what happened with the people and Dariun breaks the news about Leslie. Shamus slumps to his knees. As they are about to head on past, Shamus warns them that someone in town is looking for the heroes of Aurum. They decide to try to head in inconspicuously in case the people in town are not friendly.

As they get very close, the Manasnow clones start to run ahead. They start to hear cheering and yells from the town and hear pounding footsteps and see Harry the giant come to them. Harry bends down and suggests they get into his hands as he advises them to get away from town to avoid the people who are looking for them. Harry takes them to a large cave where he lives and they see the airship on the ground.

When they get in, Harry asks what they did. When Dariun starts to explain what happened to the townsfolk Harry cuts him off and asks what they did to anger the Flock and the Competition Bureau. They all seem confused and Harry explains the competition Bureau oversee of all merchants and business trade and the Flock are the ones who keep all the religions and gods in balance. Harry had overheard that the team may have stolen something from a tower on the way over. The team recall the tower they flew past and helping the man on the top. They learn the tower is called the Beroger spire. They believe it's all a miss understanding but Harry tells them that the Bureau of competition and Flock would not believe them. Dariun and Zippy try to reflect on anything they may have done to anger the gods recently but can't seem to think of anything. Harry tells the team he overheard they were not only looking for this team but also Clive Barker, the number nine Greeder. They are accused of stealing a scale that is a grand treasure clue.

Harry tells them that they need to escape as the Flock and Competition Bureau won't let them leave with their heads. Before they get out, Dariun asks if his bets on the mammoth bowl ever paid off. As he says that, the same shady mammoth bowl better comes from the sparrow and tells Dariun that Lightfoot won the mammoth bowl so he gets 2000 gold from his bet. The man goes off and Harry gives them 3000 gold each for their help to the town. The team decides they will go to the second grand treasure north.

They get into the airship and head below deck and see James, Yogurt and Pepper playing poker very poorly on a table. They all get up and ready the ship. Dariun heads below deck and fixes up a couple loose screws and knows they're ready to fly. Peterson heads into Norman's room and check him over. He can tell he is alive still but very much unconscious. The team all get ready and start flying over the open field and ice walk plane. They see the many mammoths lying on the ground tired and beaten up. They steady the ship on course to the second grand treasure in Stroom's hair desert.

Zippy uses scrying spell to try to track Felix. He sets himself up trying to find Felix but the spell is not connecting and he can tell that he is not currently on this plane. Peterson waits until the ship settles down and he heads to Dariun's room for a chat. Peterson jumps on a chair and takes off his mask and puts it on a table. He pulls out a satchel and some apple seeds come out. Peterson tells Dariun that his tribe was once nomadic and their ancestors would eat the apples they found as other food was hard to come by. The tribes would take the seeds and plant them along their migrating path so the next generation could eat. Peterson tells Dariun that he understands the loss he is feeling from his father and he feels Dariun represents the seed in his analogy that will save his people. Peterson collects the seeds and his mask and as he leaves, Dariun thanks Peterson. Dariun sits as the table for a little, thinking about what Peterson said.

Zippy starts to get ready for bed and decides it's time for something special. He casts awaken on Pepper and which means for 30 days, she will be able to speak draconic. Magic swirls around Pepper as she slightly levitates. She stands on her back legs and looks at Zippy. Peterson and Dariun hear to deep sounds of Pepper speaking draconic. Zippy tells Pepper she needs to make sure she is a good companion to Dariun and comfort him through is rough time after losing his father. Zippy explains that Dariun is like a father to Pepper. Pepper takes this on and reckon her first job is to get more treats so she flies down to Dariun's room and she starts speaking in draconic, shocking Dariun. Pepper is trying to gesture she wants food and after a bit he realises she wants some food. Dariun knows for sure who did this to Pepper. Dariun gives her a snack and confronts Zippy before they head to bed.

Zippy crawls into bed, getting cozy and eventually falls asleep. He appears in the white space and sees Paige, who is playing paddy cake with the black ball who has arms now. Zippy stares down the black ball. It jumps with excitement and points to Zippy. It points at Zippy then moves his hands to mimic rabbit ears then points at Zippy again. Zippy folds the ears down and the black ball huffs. It then points at Zippy then puts hands near its head and makes horns with his fingers. Zippy pushes those hands again. The black ball huffs again then points at the ground, at Zippy then does horns again. It grabs his hand and holds it with both of its hands. The black ball stamps in frustration as Zippy isn't getting it. It then puts it's arm up like its flexing and points to that then at Zippy.

Zippy concludes he's a strong bunny with goat horns and ears. It then spreads it's arms out like explosions then cartwheels away. When it stops, it then points at the ground then at Zippy. Zippy huffs and walks over. It points at Paige and Zippy and moves them both to a spot where they are looking at each other about five feet apart. It puts its hand in the air and counts down then shoves its hands in the ground. The ground molds around its hand and they gesture for Zippy and Paige to follow. Paige does it first and says she feels something under the ground. Zippy puts his hands down and feels what seems like an edge of a door.

The Black ball taps their foot, counting down then they pull up. Its budging slowly and they see the floor starts spreading like water and a door comes from the ground and all of a sudden Dariun is in the white space. They drop it and the door goes back in the white floor. Dariun is confused why he is there and Zippy explains that it was the black ball. The black ball walks up to Dariun and puts it's hand out. They dramatically shake hands. Dariun is trying to figure out what's going on and asks if it pulled him to the white space. The black ball shrugs.

In a distance they hear a magical sound and see Viso pops into the white space and the black ball looks runs around frantically. It runs over to Paige and hides behind her. Viso's voice deepens and goes away as Dariun is woken up by Dracken yelling at him. He wakes in up a pool of sweat and Zippy wakes to commotion on the ship of James and Yogurt yelling for everyone.

Dracken asks if Dariun's okay as he went under and as Dariun is trying to say he didn't know how it happened, he feels a sharp pain in his left knee. Peterson is in the same room in a pool of a sweat and he is also shot with searing pain in his right but cheek. No one knows what's going on and Zippy hops into the room asking what's going on. Dariun and Peterson feel something building in them and they hear a voice in their heads and they are hit with another wave of pain. Peterson is knocked unconscious and Dariun is barely holding on. Zippy uses mass cure wounds which brings Peterson back to but he is woozy. Peterson casts minor illusion to make a wooden crate around him and casts cure wounds on himself. As Dariun goes to say the name of the person he believes is causing it he gets a searing pain and falls unconscious. Peterson runs over and casts cure wounds on Dariun before he tries to go back to the crate but the pain starts to build. Dariun comes back to and Zippy hears clanging outside of the room.

He goes out of the room and sees the shoes and body of the black ball. Dariun grabs his journal and Peterson feels welling pain and a voice saying "*I need your help"*. Another pain shoots in his but cheek knocking him out again. Dariun scribbles a flower on a page but as he does another wave of pain and he is knocked out again. They are both out and the other in the room start removing their clothes as they are covered in sweat. They see on Dariun's knee is a green bud with thorn roots wrapping around his knee and there is the same thing on Peterson's but cheek. They see slowly budding flowers.

## **Quotations**

* Dariun "*It's time to shrug off the past. It's no longer what is going to define me and im going to what will define me.*"

## **Featured Characters**

### **Main Cast**

* Dariun Branch
* Zippy Westborrough
* Peterson

### **Returning Characters**

* Lara
* Green
* Tealeaf
* Longface Cloppyhooves
* Shamus
* Harry
* Shady mammoth bowl better
* James
* Yogurt
* Pepper
* Black Bunny Ball
* Paige
* Viso
* Dracken

### **New Characters**

* Clyde Barker (Mentioned - 9th Greeder/tower theif)

## **Locations**

* Storms edge
* Manasnow
* Harry's cave
* The Sparrow
* White dream space

## **Trivia**

### **Dice Rolls**

Dariun Branch

Zippy Westborrough