Episode 10 - The Trial of Team 8

## **Episode Synopsis**

### **Recap**

The team were in the moon town known as Glimpse. Now reunited with Krit, they decided to help him figure out who their imposter was after the town was attacked by the Flock. The Flock are a religious group who have a distaste for Hollows which Glimpse is a safe haven for and is protected by Sariel, a Gazer. The Gazers are either staring in the heavens, people or themselves and their bandana colour showed this. The team went around to Garrygoo and Shabam to investigate but while they were at Shabam's place, they became suspicious of him and found vials labeled with half-hollows. Norman opened one of these vials and Shabam became possessed. Sariel went looking for them and the team submitted to her and were arrested, magically nullified with cuffs and agreed to be in a zone of truth.

### **Episode Summary**

Before them, they see the tall, angelic figure of a high elf woman in white clothes, white cloak and a white bandana covering her eyes. She thanks them for coming so easily but she is not convinced this conversation will clear them. She asks if they are all willing to submit and they say they will but Norman asks for her to keep an open mind. Sariel refuses and says they need to concise in their answers and she will punish them on the spot if they do not cooperate.

Sariel walks up to the barrier and it disperses. She walks in and closes the barrier again and outstretches a hand, palm to the floor. She casts zone of truth and her palm lights up. Dariun submits. Norman follows. Zippy tells Sariel that by Bramble Patch law, he can only submit to the king of Black Bunny Castle. She tells him she will punish him on the spot and gives him 10 seconds. Norman gives him a look and after 9 seconds, Zippy submits to the zone of truth.

She calibrates the zone by asking them each their names. They each say their name and Zippy doesn't miss the opportunity to tell Sariel how he is really feeling about this situation and how he feels about her. Sariel asks them if they're with the Flock to which they all tell her no. Sariel looks to Dariun and asks him to not fight back on her. He gets confused and says no again but she tells him it's a lie. She tells him to stop holding back and answer again. Dariun explains he is not part of the Flock and has not worked alongside anyone that is.

Sariel asks why they are all here in Glimpse. Norman explains they are treasure hunters and their clues lead them here. She asks Dariun specifically and he reiterates what Norman has said. She asks what he is chasing within the grand treasure and he replies power. Dariun seeks power to break through the shadows of those around him and to protect those closest to him. Sariel asks the same of Zippy and he gives a very strange analogy about burritos and Sariel knows this as the truth. She asks Norman and he says one part is to have a legacy and the other is he fears what would happen if others got the grand treasure instead of them.

Sariel asks why they work together considering their differing goals and Norman explains it was fateful circumstances brought them together. They ended up saving each other's lives and made emotional bonds. This allowed them to work together to achieve what they wanted individually together. Sariel asks what their relationship is with Krit and before Zippy tries to answer, Norman pipes in and explains that Krit saved his life after leaving the Calm Cloud Monastery and ending up at Sanguine. Krit found Norman performing in Sanguine, could tell he was a hollow and talked to him. While they talked, they were attacked by members of the Flock and Krit saved him.

Sariel explains that Krit had mentioned Norman in passing but asks is he really is a hollow. Norman tells her he was made a hollow. Sariel knows there is something lurking behind his eyes. Norman says that he, like other hollows, are shells and it is not only gods that seek refuge within people like him. He goes on and says that he has a piece of Royce inside of him who was previously the tether of Lennux, god of death. Sariel seems taken aback and tells him he is filled with dark energy and is a corrupted hollow. She asks if this is why Krit wanted him and asks why they were working with him.

Norman explains he was helping Krit as he feared someone in Glimpse was working for the flock. Sariel becomes angry as she looked into everyone on Glimpse and knew no one was guilty. Norman goes to explain the vial they found and Sariel says this is a secret of the people here. She says that this is a potential protection for them and Norman explains he thought that the vials were possibly incriminating against Shabam. Sariel asks Zippy why they were targeting the vials and Zippy admits that he has not really been paying attention but it seemed pretty cool. She asks Dariun why they were targeting the vials and he says they never were but she sees this as a lie.

Dariun says it again, that they were not. Instead, they were looking for evidence for Flock involvement and the vials, not knowing anything about them at the time, seemed suspicious. She see this as the truth and asks Dariun to stop flip-flopping. Sariel says Krit has betrayed her, after she had basically raised him. Zippy suggests that they just talk it out and Dariun asks if fear lead choices make him guilty and explains Krit just wants is for the hollows to be safe. Sariel tells him this is a lie. Dariun is taken aback and tells her it's the truth. Sariel believes this is also a lie.

Sariel asks if Dariun has ever harmed a hollow being. Dariun goes to explain he has not but Norman interrupts telling him how May and Cornelius are both hollows and he fought them when they attacked Norman. Sariel asks if he would hurt another hollow or gazer or the world and Dariun tells her it depends. He would protect those he loves just as she is doing now. Sariel asks if he puts those around him first and he admits not often enough and she tells him they are not the same. Norman pipes up and admits her intentions are true but he believes holding everyone to the perfect standard is impossible.

Sariel explains it was not just herself here before and the gazers now live in the Feywild, afraid as they were slain and murdered in the past. Now the Flock is trying to the same with Hollows. She tells them despite their intentions, they are trespassing on their land. Whether or not they are with the Flock, they are still a danger top Glimpse. Norman asks if the Flock are using Hollows to attack gazers and she says hollows can be used and they are more prevalent than they think. Norman tells her they have narrowly dodged the Flock once before. He asks if there is a way they could mutually benefit each other and she doubts that.

She asks for quick answers for her following questions. The first is if they mean the people here any harm. Norman says no, as well as Zippy and Dariun but she sees Dariun lies. Sariel asks if they want to destroy Glimpse. They all reply no again and she sees Dariun lying again. She gives him one more chance. Sairel asks if they are going to kill her and destroy Glimpse. Once again, they all say no, with Norman taking a half step towards Dariun. After Dariun replies no, she tells him that is a lie. She zips forwards, grabbing him by the throat and raises him above the ground.

Dariun tells her the only lies come from her and he has not lied once. She tells him his intent is reeking as Norman pleas for her to put him down and Zippy starts kicking her. Dariun tells her his intent is not to kill her but she is really making him want to. Dracken speaks up from his hip. Sariel looks down to the hip and Dracken tells her the lie energy is probably coming from him. Sariel looks to Dariun and he tries to explain how he is a travelling fish companion and is rather powerful. Dracken tells her he isn't going to submit to the zone of truth and Dariun is his apprentice.

Sariel asks Dariun his name and Dracken tells her to put him down before he spits in her eye. She does not put Dariun down and Norman pipes up and says it's best if they separate Dariun and the fish. Norman takes Dracken away as he tells Sariel he knows about the gazers and how they are all hot air and knows the secret behind her eyes. He asks her again to put Dariun down but her grip tightens. Dracken tells her they are all his apprentices and she better let them go but she does not budge.

Dracken says the name Sariel sounds familiar. Her lip quivers, whether it's in anger or fear they cannot tell. Dracken recalls it from Wesnian days and tells her he was the one who blew it up. She drops Dariun, her attention set on Dracken. He tells her each of these guys has his level of power as he is Dracken Gragest. Her face becomes flushed. He tells her he will let her live if he lets them leave. She shakes. Dracken counts down and Dariun steps to Norman who also steps back and tells Sariel there is a peaceful way to resolve this. Zippy also goes over to Norman and Dariun. Sariel asks Dariun if this is actually Dracken Gragest and he tells her yes, she backs up and guards herself. He gets to 1, and nothing happens. Dracken scolds them all for not doing anything.

Norman asks if this is over and if they can leave. Norman starts to walk towards Sariel to leave and sees, behind her guard, is glowing from the bandana. She comes out of her block, enraged, shoots a blast from her eyes aiming for Dracken in Norman's arm. Zippy gets knocked against the barrier and Norman is pined against the barrier by Sariel. Just before she attacked Norman, Dariun was able to grab Dracken's bowl. She turns her head to Dariun and lunges at him. Zippy shoves his anti-magic cuffs at the barrier and it seems to take away at the barrier a little. Dariun doges Sariel and she goes slamming into the barrier.

Norman runs in front of Dariun and Dracken and asks for them to talk this out as Dariun asks if Dracken can live in a bag of holding but he says Dariun will need his guidance. Sariel is not swayed by Norman and says she is protecting the hollows by taking them all out. She casts entanglement as Zippy is carving his way through the barrier. The ground beneath their feet burns bright and lights up. Norman and Dariun starts to feel frozen from the legs up and Sariel walks across the light floor and grabs Dariun's neck and takes the fish bowl. She hold Dracken in front of his face and tells them they were more than an enemy. Sariel tells Dracken this is for all of her brothers and sisters.

The light behind her bandana starts glowing and Dracken tells him to get to Zippy. Dariun tries but he can't move. Dracken says to Dariun they should have listened to him and they should never give themselves up. He wishes they had some more time and tell Dariun to get the power and good luck. Sariel's gaze intensifies on the fish bowl and it burns bright. The bowl shatters and Dracken disappears and the light is blinding as shards fall to the floor. Sariel turns to Dariun and hopes that he will find a better path with the gods she is sending him to.

Norman closes his eyes, asks if he can hear him. Norman feels the darkness deep down within him and whispers that he needs his friends alive if he is to get what he wants. Norman hums his song and attempts to summon Royce. His skin starts to go black but when Sauriel's white gaze comes to Norman, the skin burns and he has trouble transforming. Zippy looks to his friends, seeing all the effort they are putting in, wants to help. Zippy breaks off the barrier and back flips and lands on Sariel's shoulders and pushes the handcuffs on her throat. The light starts to flicker.

Zippy calls out to Norman to do something and asks Dariun to move. Norman's transformation continues but neither him nor Dariun can move. Sariel reaches back and breaks Zippy's cuffs and pushes him off her. They see tears streaming down her face. She lifts her bandana and the light is blinding in the room. Sariel starts to sing. Norman can't fully transform with the light. The light starts to focus to Dariun and she raises his eyelids. He feels pain and see flashes of massive statues, god like beings in a cloudy realm. Flashes of lightning and fire. A time lapse of the world being created and destroyed over and over.

Zippy stands behind watching on. He rushes to Norman and puts up a wall of stone between him and Norman and Sariel and Dariun, blocking the light. Dariun can feel himself dying, beyond this light which is warm and welcoming. As soon as the shade comes up Norman's black skin stops burning and he goes full demon mode. His skin goes black, lava cracks form and his horns grow large. Zippy shades his eyes and casts fog cloud for Norman. Norman's handcuffs break and the darkness from Norman pushes back the light. Norman stands tall, darkness building and feels in control for now. His fist goes back and he punches through the wall with fire energy and the room gets filled with black smoke.

Sariel turns her attention to Norman but the light doesn't pierce through. Norman walks to her, tells her it didn't need to be that way and he smashes her into the ground. Dariun is released. She turns to Norman, in shock and asks what is happening. Demon Norman stands before Sariel who is looking very mad. Dariun has just fallen to his knees and opens his eyes to see what is happening, all he sees is white. Dariun is blind.

Zippy stands behind Norman and Sariel stands up. Zippy uses enhance ability on Norman, enhancing his strength as Norman arcs his leg back and kicks Sariel into the barrier, shattering the blue wall. She coughs blood as she picks herself up. Norman tells Zippy to get Dariun and walks towards Sariel. Zippy goes over to Dariun and asks if he is okay. Dariun is blinking, trying to make the white light go away. He puts his hand on his face, panicking and tells Zippy he can't see. Zippy tries to help him get up but Dariun is very scared and asks for Zippy to help him get out of this area. Dariun reaches to Zippy's shoulder and he notices so he grabs his hand and puts it on his shoulder.

Dariun grips onto his shoulder tightly. Zippy conjures a Fey spirit that will take care of him and lead him out. A little Fey spirit that looks like a leaf and it sits on Dariun's shoulder. Zippy asks it to take care of Dariun and it begins to talk his ear off. Zippy goes to run over to Norman. Norman dodges her eye's beams and tries to grab her throat but she dodges and beams him up the wall and out through the roof. Sariel jumps up to meet Norman in the air. Zippy puts on his Gruppie's goggles and looks at her and disables her vision. Norman sees a bright bolt of light is coming towards him but it stops and he sees white, glazed over eyes of a gazer.

The spirit tries to guide Dariun and he very frustratingly yells at the spirit who gives him very poor directions and he bumps into some walls. Norman arcs back and punches Sariel in the face, throwing her across Glimpse and through buildings. People start coming out of the houses. Norman propels himself down and takes off towards Sariel. Zippy tells Dariun they need to find Krit and Dariun asks if Zippy could please not leave him. Zippy agrees and grabs Dariun's hand leading him out.

They see Garygoo and Zippy convinces him to take the cuffs of Dariun. Zippy asks where Krit is and he directs him to where he last saw him.  Norman finds Sariel, lying in a crater after his hit. Norman uses his ring of the grammarian and casts dark nets. Dark webbing comes out of his hands and binds her. Sariel turns her head and tunnels in the ground using her laser eyes. She tunnels and comes out and attacks Norman with her laser eyes. Norman goes flying through some buildings and into the ground. He starts to feel Royce's power building but he is able to suppress it.

Zippy looks up and sees Norman get hit as he leads Dariun. He notices, coming up to the steps is Krit riding a black motorbike. He comes to Krit and reaches for a high five. Zippy puts Dariun's hand to Krit and gives him a key before riding towards Sariel. Zippy looks at the key and sees it reads '*bike #2 - garage*". Zippy asks Garrygoo where the garage is and he points it out with some long explanation. Zippy and Dariun run off to the garage.

As Norman gets himself up, he sees and hears Krit on the bike come towards them. Sariel yells at Krit. Krit yells back and tells her he is taking Robin before riding off with someone on the back of his bike. Sariel looks at Krit then back at Norman. Krit casts message and Norman hears Krit in his head. Krit apologizes that this turned out this way and tells him to get to Dariun and Zippy as he distracts Sariel. Norman decides to listen to Krit. He jumps away from her to the observatory.

Sariel sees Norman run away and Krit with Robin. She screams in fear, letting out this huge flash of light. Cut to Aurum where Paige and Marley are playing and see a flash of light above them coming from the moon. Cut back, Sariel flies after Krit. Norman catches up to Zippy and Dariun finding the garage. Norman takes a deep breath and deactivates his demon mode. Zippy shows him the key and Dariun breaks the news that he is blind. Norman wipes away the spirit and they get into the garage. Inside, they see a bike with two satchel on each side and wheels that are separate to the body and are connected by magic. It's black with red design and is large enough for all of them.

Zippy takes the lead, Dariun is held in the middle by Norman on back. Zippy turns on the bike and sees his path forwards. Pedal to the metal as they go screaming out of the garage, into the open moon.

## **Quotations**

* Norman "*It is always possible to deceive ourselves, isn't it?*"

* Zippy "*Bramble patch law says I can't submit to anyone but the king of black bunny castle.*"

* Zippy "*First off, everyone here thinks you're* [Sariel] *a b\*tch!*"

* Dariun "*I'm tired of living in the shadows of those around me and I'm tired of not being able to protect those closest to me. And so I seek power.*"

* Dariun "*I've not put my friends first often enough*."

* Dracken "*Should have listened to me kid… I tried. If only I had a bit more time to get through your thick skull but you kept making the same mistakes over and over. But you're still just a kid. I hope you find the tree of seven on your own. Sorry I couldn't of been there. Get the power. And good luck.*"

* Norman "*It feels good being back.*"

## **Featured Characters**

### **Main Cast**

* Norman D
* Dariun Branch
* Zippy Westborrough

### **Returning Characters**

* Sariel
* Dracken
* Royce
* Garygoo
* Krit
* Paige
* Marley

## **Trivia**

* Norman D Demon mode - once activated, every turn, Norman (Adam) needs to make a save that gets increasingly harder to beat. The first round is a free round then after that the rolls begin. If the roll is failed, Royce (Seth) will take over control. A d10 is rolled starting with a 2 to beat, then a 4, 6, 8 and 10 for every round after that.