Episode 35

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## Plot Summary

The gates slam shut behind the party.  Nitsuj is distressed because his heartbeast, Halestorm, has been captured by the trolls.  He casts Dimension Door and teleports outside the city to rescue him.  The others cannot follow, but Andre can see Nitsuj approaching the forest.  Ora asks Parn Ellos if he thinks the walls will hold. He thinks they will, but he’s never seen this many trolls attack at once.  They usually only approach the city when they follow travelers due to hunger.  Bubo suggests putting prisoners outside for them to eat, but that idea is quickly shot down.

Andre notices the trolls look mesmerized, so casts dispel magic on one.  It regains its senses as it was about to attack the gate.  Bernig the human sorcerer arrives to save everyone (character drop).  He jumps off the wall and attacks the nearest troll.  The second troll, still mesmerized, attacks the first troll.  The party attacks the second troll, but both trolls heal from the attacks.  Andre dispels the second troll as well.  The dwarves fire off their cannons to scare the trolls off.  The first troll leaves but the second continues to attack the gate.  Bernig tries to cast fireball, but blows his own arm off.  The troll uses a tree to scrap a hole in the gate, but Ora is able to kill it.

Morthos the bard emerges from a pocket of the dead troll.  He is controlling the trolls and orders two more to attack.  He wanted to rule Copperforge but since it is destroyed, he wants to take Gilborn instead.  The two new trolls kill and eat Bernig.  The party attacks the trolls, but Morthos calls his backup band who heals them.  Starheart, still in her werewolf form, uses her new blunderbuss to shoot the trolls.  Andre casts dispel magic on Morthos’ loot which frees all the trolls and they turn on the bards.  Morthos teleports up to Bubo on the wall, abandoning his band mates to be slaughtered by the trolls and cannons.

Free from the Mortho’s influence, the trolls begin to leave.  Morthos surrenders and offers to sing songs of the great heroes.  He pulls out his backup instrument, a harmonica.  Andre refuses and kills him.  One troll remains outside the gate.  Starheart dives off the wall and into the troll’s armpit, but it easily picks her up.  Bubo slays the troll and Starheart is able to fall gently to the ground.  Ora dishonors Morthos by removing his horns.  Bubo loots his body and takes his harmonica, an ancient rapier, a potion, and two spell scrolls.

Bubo and Parn greet again.  A large round dwarf, Biffin Mantle, greets the party and invites them to his inn, the Rassure.  He also offers to buy Dumeril but is rebuffed.  He also tells them of another, more fancy inn, run by Phineas Quartz.  Andre dispels Starheart’s werewolf form so she can communicate with everyone again, although she doesn’t realize it at first.  Andre also scrys on Nitsuj, who has found Halestorm and is heading east into the forest.  Bubo knows the head of the guard of Gilborn is Captain Stem Barrow.  As the party heads toward the gardens, Ora looks for clues that might point her toward Captain Ashford’s hidden cache.

The garden is mostly empty.  Starheart leads them to the pumpkins, looking for Hortiel.  As they debate the next course of action, Hortiel arrives!  They go to the Quarts for a round of drinks, which Andre offers to pay for.  The inn is bustling and Phineas greets them as they enter.  Starheart gets a strawberry cordial, Ora has a house ale, Bubo and Andre get the bitter brown ale, and Hortiel has a mineral water.  Hortiel has no hard feelings about the destruction of Copperforge and thanks Ora for saving the gnomes.

Ora explains that they need to recapture Kelrek.  His escape worries Hortiel and he is happy to help them.  The tree for the paper they need to rebind Kelrek is found on top of the mountain.  It is tall and blankets the top of the mountain.  It has bark like iron that doesn’t krinkle.  They will need an entire tree, but the dwarves will not appreciate anyone cutting down their trees.  Bubo agrees to talk to Parn and Captain Barrow about it.  They decide to rest at the Quarts for the night, but are surprised by the 150g per night price tag.  Starheart wants to sign for their lodging, but Andre quickly agrees to pay for it.  They all enjoy their time at the hot springs before turning into their luxurious rooms for the night.

In the morning, Bubo awakens in a panic to find that Dumeril is missing.

## Fun Moments

Art doesn’t play the intro at first, which annoys Danny. Then he plays it over Danny when he starts talking, prompting Danny to say “Art’s a bitch.”

New tavern set!

The first few minutes are chaotic as Art walks right in front of the shot, Ryan takes a call from Deva on air, and they have to scramble to make room for her when she arrives late.

One of the troll minis is actually a bobblehead wampa that Andrew enjoys poking.

Various names are discussed for Morthos’ boy band including Backstreet Bards, Boys to Bards, and the Beastie Bards.

Hayley breaks Deva by calling her Starbark.