Blade in the Crowd

*Blade in the Crowd* is the title of the sixth episode of the fourth season of S.H.A.D.O.W. and the forty second session of the entire game.

This session was played on December 30th, 2018

## Blade in the Crowd

### Writer

Jonny Christie, Matt Christie, Richie Maynard, Eric Rios, Corey Sexton

## Synopsis

Aragi has freed Sirobe and is trying his hardest to figure out what happened to the Tabaxi. He has some suspicions and heads back to the circus, friend in tow. Aguero is alive. He recognizes the voice to be Rava but she quickly abandons that name. She is Ravela now. His senses are not fully in tact so his arcana is off. His eyes adjust to Echo’s and the sheer joy between the two is intense. Ravela tells the man that this is not a safe place to speak and they should find a safer location. He agrees. The Maxul brothers are attempting to get Sirobe to the Saint and are intercepted by Phylyco. The man is convinced Sirobe needs to go to the infirmary and stabs both brothers to “save” the cat. They both lay in the dirt, hurt but not down. They need to have a serious discussion about Phylyco with the Saint in the near future. Phylyco brings him to Ximer and calls Hylophagous to the med tent. The Maxul’s appear also to get the stab wounds fixed. Aragi lays out his suspicions that whoever has the energy of the Twins is a shapeshifter of some sort. The Saint calls a small meeting. Everyone in the med tent currently is not this False agent. Meanwhile, Team Phylyco (minus Phylyco) is returning from their bonding expedition. Darrow and Locus head into the city while Amelia returns to the infirmary. As she enters, she is thrown against the wall by Hylophagous. He looks for confirmation from Pachosis who announces she’s clear. The Saint decides to send her back out with Pachosis to test every member and send them to the med tent if they pass the test since she’s the least suspicious person in his circus.

Darrow and Locus approach a Bounty Board and just browse the bounties. Darrow reads the “Creatures” Section and Locus reads the “Tasks” Section. Darrow has a bunch of options but his hands land on a Sabretooth Tiger. Locus is more particular to a minor courier mission. While they are deciding which to do Phylyco appears with a purpose. He grabs a random sheet from the “People” and attempts to leave, completely oblivious to his team standing there. Darrow doesn’t accept this blatant ignorance of his presence and grabs the man, requesting he join them on the hunt they apparently decided to go on. Poor Locus. Phylyco agrees to OBSERVE the mission to see how they handle it. He stashes his bounty and follows. Hylophagous places Artiss at the door with a code word for everyone who is cleared to enter the tent. It’s going to get crowded quick. Aragi questions Sirobe on how whoever it is got the jump on him. It was quick and he never got details other than a familiar yet unique feminine voice. Amelia and Pachosis begin their task. It doesn’t help that neither of them actually knows anyone aside from the big players. Darrow and Locus begin their bounty by visiting the person who placed said bounty. It is a one-armed halfling. Locus becomes his latest persona, Sir Reginald the huntmaster. He is persuasive enough to get half of the payment up front. The halfling requests that if they can retrieve his arm from the beast he will pay extra. They head out. While they are out in the forest, Phylyco is actually the one that is pounced and quickly evades the situation. His squad joins the fight and they swiftly extinguish the cat. Darrow retrieves the head and Sir Reginald scoops up a pile of bones he can “suggest” is the halfling’s arm. Phylyco isn’t impressed but he is beginning to see the potential in his unit.

Amelia and Pachosis enter the Bloodjaw to test Mal. The Half-Orc forces northbled on the cleric and she champions it. The bar is ecstatic. The petite nurse can out drink the drunks. Mal realizes the severity of the situation and closes shop to comply. At this pint the only people Amelia and Pachosis haven’t tested are Team Phylyco. Mal arrives at the PACKED tent and a Medical party begins. This is definitely not good for the newborn in the back room. Aragi takes a second to sit in the back with Lara to talk. They haven’t really had a chance to just sit since they returned to Aethel. Lara is jokingly upset that He’s been spending so much time with Artiss but Aragi is a wet napkin and takes it as literal anger and decides the best thing to do is to go speak with Artiss because he’s…Aragi. They talk about their mothers. Artiss reveals his mother died young so he was raised by their father. This answers the age-old question as to why Aranor abandoned Aragi. He begins to understand and it’s a nice brotherly moment. Aragi takes a breath then decides to leave like, completely. This makes Artiss very nervous since they haven’t been given the okay to leave the tent. Darrow and Sir Reginald return to the city for their payment. Phylyco on the other hand hunts his target. He finds the Gnoll, named Atam Bloodstalker, and discovers he is waiting for a certain package. He swiftly takes down the man but leaves him alive for questioning. Not exactly a Phylyco situation. He stalks into the shadows to await the package. As he is however, he spots Echo following a hooded figure. He approaches and the man turns to confront him. It is of course, Aguero. Phylyco isn’t showing any signs of shock. His voice is calm as he asks how this is possible.

Sir Reginald attempts to get the extra money for the “arm” and only receives a portion because, it’s not the arm but it’s the thought that counts. He recedes back to Locus and takes a chance to go on the courier job. Aguero explains his situation to Phylyco. Ravela brought the blind man to a secluded location and offered him a chance to become the new Horseman of Death since he has been to the Vale, be it briefly. He contemplates his options and declines the offer. She then requests to speak with Sachayoj. She tells the demon that He needs to keep this pawn in check. The spriggan considers her offer but remembers he’s all powerful and returns to the Vale. Aguero then tells Phyl that he hasn’t seen her since. Ravela in the meantime, arrives at the med tent and kills Artiss, taking his place. Aragi watches on from a distance, unsure of what to do.

## Cast

### Main

* Aragi Maxul
* Phylyco Brokenwhisper
* Lara Youngheart
* Aguero Cryhawk
* Mal Bloodjaw
* Ravela
* Sirobe
* Locus Fochuckl
* Artiss Maxul
* Darrow Emberstorm
* Amelia Retter
* Saint Hylophagous

### Supporting

* Pachosis
* Hayvard Ximer
* Mort Soulspark
* Vida Soulspark
* Echo
* Gris Soulspark
* The Demon Sachayoj

### Guest

* Wordy Heathforce
* Atam Bloodstalker

## Trivia

* Final session of 2018.
* This session marks the return of The Demon Sachayoj.