NOCAL

*NOCAL* is the title of the first episode of the third season of S.H.A.D.O.W. and the twenty fifth session of the entire game.

This session was played on April 22nd, 2018

## NOCAL

### Writer

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

## Plot

The war with Opia begins and a new cult appears in Aethel.

## Synopsis

A very young Hylophagous is being bullied by two older Tieflings. They are burned to cinder as a young Opia comes over to her baby brother and promises that no one will ever harm his pets again. It fades to the current aged Saint as he is a mix of anger and sadness looking at where Mathite was killed and he rushes off. The War has begun. Foni’Kokkalo is being chased down by something. He trips and comes face to face with Phylyco, decked out in a new S.H.A.D.O.W. uniform. He tells him he’ll regret this but the man curb stomps the dragon, killing him. The Ebonscar twins and Rava emerge from the shadows and follow him back to the Circus. As they return, Rava heads to Rathisi’s tent where they embrace in a passion. Phylyco and Ela head to the Saint’s tent and give him the proof. He tells them to prepare for the next one. Lara is reading a book, overseeing the daily circus stuff. Aragi and Boris walk up to her and the half-elf kisses her. They talk for a second until Phylyco walks up and asks for the next mission. Lara tells him he needs to rest but he refuses. Lara tells Aragi to go check on the hermit and gives Phylyco a lesser job so he can take it slow. Aguero is resting by Mathite’s grave. He’s disheveled and defeated. Aragi approaches and has Boris lead the way but they get no response. Aragi begins to physically and verbally assault Aguero to get a response but still gets nothing. He has Boris turn into a tiger and he slings the archer over him so they can take him to Ximer for evaluation. Rathisi and Rava are sitting in bed after. They talk about how Rathisi doesn’t go on missions anymore but Rava thinks he should. He doesn’t agree so she leaves. Phylyco takes Ela with him to find out information on this “new religion” that’s popped up in town in recent weeks. They’re called the Bizealots. They take a flier from one of the street urchins and ask to see the place of prayer. They are led to the edge of town where a monument of Bizzy is standing. They are introduced to Brother Cypress; the de-facto leader and he shares with them his parish. How They will take down House Rose and control Aethel in the name of the Martyr Bizzy. The two thank the Brother for his time and return to the circus with their new information. Aragi arrives at Ximer’s tent with Aguero. The Doc checks his vitals and determines that this is emotional damage and no medicine can cure him. He mentions to just bring him a new dragonborn lady and that might work. He also states that a Mistis woman was spotted in town recently. This perks Aragi’s interest so he ditches Aguero and heads into town. Phylyco tells the Saint about the Bizealots so he tells him to destroy the statue tonight and take Mal with him. He goes to find the Orc at what used to be Copperbeard’s. The Bloodjaw.

Rathisi meditates and reads on anyway to return magic. Rava returns and asks if he wants to join her at The Bloodjaw. He agrees. Cal is not really allowed anywhere in Aethel anymore so he’s just roaming the streets. He decides to go to the Blacksmith since he can. However, He’s Cal so he ends up getting kicked out and a NOCAL sign is put up in the window. He heads to the bar because he assumes he’s cool now. He is stopped by the Bizealots and given a pamphlet. He’s intrigued and follows them. Aragi passes by this transaction and decides to follow them. He spots the statue of his old companion and is not impressed. Cal is offered a drink by Brother Cypress but Aragi is not a fan so he fires his Yaka at the glass, shattering it. Some people look for the cause but come up short. Cypress leads the dark elf into the mausoleum to show him something. Aragi spots this but doesn’t risk coming out of hiding to investigate. He instead decides to deceive the people into thinking he was also attacked so they bring him into the mausoleum. Cal is shown Bizzy’s bones and he question’s their motives. Brother Cypress mentions that he knows very well who Cal is and suggests he joins them on their crusade so he isn’t destroyed with the rest of this city. Cal splashes the leader and leaves and Aragi shortly follows. They head to The Bloodjaw to find this Mistis. Aragi is not a fan of the “new” bar but he asks Mal if he’s seen the Mistis and he points her out.  Aragi attempts to flirt, poorly and determines that it is in fact Itia’Mistis, the alleged killer of Sera. She ignores him and goes for Cal. Phylyco, Ela, and Mal leave the bar to enact their vandalism. They succeed. It isn’t quiet. Rava and Rathisi arrive and Itia immediately drops Cal to flirt with Rathisi. Rava is not okay with this. She invites the dragonborn to the back room. Aragi follows them and witnesses Rava stabbing Itia repeatedly. Killing her. He leaves knowing Sera has been avenged.

Aguero has crawled back to the grave. He is approached by Aragi yet again. Aragi is stubbornly attempting to break Aguero out of this funk. Aguero gets to his feet and hands his Oath Bow to his fellow archer. Aragi accepts it and the blind man stumbles off into the forest. Phylyco and Ela return to Hylophagous to let him know the deed is done. The Saint makes a remark about them being lovers so Phyl has Ela leave for a second. He steps up to the Saint’s desk and knocks everything off. It’s tense but comical. He leaves. He heads to Lara who once again tells him to go to sleep. He is persistent on getting more work. She gives him free reign to cross into Pentropolis and kill at his leisure. If he wants to die who is she to stop him. He thanks her and then immediately goes to his tent to sleep off his victory. Rava returns to the dance floor with Rathisi. She goes to get them drinks but Rathisi bails. She’s not happy. Aragi returns to his tent and places the dagger he found on Itia into his chest of treasures. Cal leaves the bar and gets jumped by a handful of people. He wakes up at the statue where Cypress tells him he could’ve been a friend but he betrayed their trust. The Brother takes out a machete and cuts Cal’s hand off. Ela wakes up the next day to a mysterious box in her doorway. Phylyco enters and shoves it to the side. They leave and forget about the box as they head to Bertiona. Aragi awakens and looks over the Oathbow. He decides to return it to Aguero, if he can find him. He brings Lara with him. Cal has been let go and he returns to Ximer for help. Rathisi is back to his studies. Rava returns to him as if nothing bad happened the night before and he brushes her of again. He decides to head to Hylophagous to get some information. Hylophagous gives him details on the Bizealots and Bizzy so the dragon turns into the tiefling and plans to take over the extremists.

Phylyco and Ela arrive in Bertiona. They head to the local inn and get a drink. Ela goes into the back and is spotted by the chefs who tell her to clean up the mess she made but she doesn’t. One calls her a slut and she goes on a rampage while Phylyco eats chips. She ignites the building on fire and Phylyco decides S.O.R.R.O.W. will get the message so they head back home. Elsewhere Opia tells an unshown being to handle the situation. Aragi and Lara are out searching for Aguero with not much luck. Lara tells Aragi to accept that maybe he’s gone. He doesn’t agree with that mindset but he follows her back. Rathizzy heads to the Statue and the Bizealots are awe struck. Brother Cypress however, is not convinced. He decides to bring the man up to the podium to announce that their messiah has returned to take out House Rose ahead of schedule and alone. Rathizzy decides this is a good time to kill Cypress but doesn’t finish him off. He calls him an imposter and has his people attack Rathisi. The Dragonborn escapes but is badly injured. Aguero has reached the edge of a cliff. He draws his sword and drops it over the cliff. He looks up to the sky and apologizes to everyone about his weakness. He begins to step off the cliff until he hears the whine of a small animal echo all around him. He stops and stumbles over to a deceased canine and its pups. Only one is still alive. He picks it up and decides that it will be his eyes.

## Cast

### Main

* Aragi Maxul
* Phylyco Brokenwhisper
* Lara Youngheart
* Aguero Cryhawk
* Elatherial Ebonscar
* Calapharious Ebonscar
* Mal Bloodjaw
* Rathisi'Defteros
* Ravalyssa Darksbane
* Saint Opia
* Saint Hylophagous

### Supporting

* Foni'Kokkalo
* Cypress
* Hayvard Ximer
* Blaktar
* Itia'Mistis
* Gregory

## Trivia

* season 3 premiere of S.H.A.D.O.W.
* Last appearance of Rathisi'Defteros due to the departure of Rob Christie from the series.