333: Less Than Kind

## Summary

The *Messaging* voice claims to be Trofast, someone close to Batthwack, and says they'll wait for them in the library, but Will fears this is bait to lure Batthwack into a trap, so he wastes no time in whisking the dragonborn away to an empty shop for safety. While the others decide to head across the river to try and return the stolen goods, Batthwack and Will quickly get on each other's nerves as old trust issues resurface and Batthwack gets increasingly angry and frustrated with Will's evasiveness. Batthwack explains that he had thought his family dead, so it's a very big deal when Trofast's codeword is revealed to be authentic, but Will has to convince the dragonborn to tread carefully.

## Synopsis

Will doesn't trust the *Message* voice claiming to be Batthwack's wife's valet. They could be an enemy or dark power, trying to lure Batthwack into a trap. The voice says, *"I mean him no harm. I've been trying to find him on her behalf."* The voice reminds Will of the code word *"Renaissance"*, gives his name as Trofast and says that he'll be waiting for them at the library. Then he's gone. Will doesn't waste a second before *Messaging* Batthwack to tell him to get inside somewhere safe. When Batthwack doesn't seem to pick up on the urgency in Will's voice, Will deftly ducks and weaves his way quickly through the crowd to reach the others. He tugs at Batthwack, who jumps down off Steed, gives him a quick pat on the head and dispels him. Will casts *Dimension Door* into a nearby florist's shop and takes Batthwack through. The shop seems quiet and unattended.

Raphina, Rosco and the others are left standing in the street. Rosco knows that Will and Batthwack might be gone a while, so suggests they be productive while they wait. He approaches someone in the crowd, Jake, who's sobbing profusely. He learns that *Millings Goods & Sundry* is situated across the river, but that the bridge is closed during the procession, so the ferry is the only way to get across at the moment. Mrs Bleeker is pleased to hear they they'll be heading to meet her husband soon. Raphina is briefly intrigued by the similarity between Rosco's Fairy Queen and the apparently well-beloved "Ferret Queen", Chloe. Rosco can remember many Chloe's in his life, but none that were especially ferret-like. The gang (including Mo, Sheemie and the dogs, Bernard, Oscar and cat, Pippa) set off for the river, making their way through some back streets to avoid the town square where the procession is still going on.

In the florist's shop, Will explains to Batthwack what happened. *"There is somebody in this town that knows who you are, and may have your wife somewhere here,"* he says. Batthwack looks a mixture of confused and surprised as Will tells him about the *Messages* from someone named Trofast. Batthwack knows who that is. Can it really be him? Will tells him that Trofast gave a code word, but is initially reluctant to share the actual word and have Batthwack do something rash. Batthwack is also hesitant to say anything; this could be one of Will's cons. Will is clearly offended by this, and even tries to make a bold statement of how much he now trusts Batthwack, ripping up his letter from a couple of weeks ago, in which he'd requested his associates do some digging on Batthwack and his background..

The only way they can move forward is by agreeing to say the codeword together at the same time, with Will even suggesting Batthwack cast *Zone of Truth* so that he knows he's not lying, an idea he immediately regrets. However, Batthwack casts it anyway, even carefully placing the zone so that he leaves himself out of its effect. This is only revealed when they count down and say their words, Will giving the genuine codeword, *"Renaissance,"* and Batthwack giving an obviously fake one, *"Pompion."* Batthwack's stunned. That's the real codeword, so it must be the real Trofast. Will is furious at Batthwack's betrayal and tries to leave, but the door is locked.

There's an urgency in Batthwack's voice when he says, *"Will! Did Trofast say that?"* Will's completely pissed off now and refuses to speak while trapped in the *Zone of Truth* so Batthwack dispels it. Will's so mad that any inclination to be cooperative has gone. Batthwack tries to explain why this is such a big deal, revealing that after he and his wife and daughter were exiled from their clan, they got separated from each other while fleeing their home in Gully's End with minimal supplies. Despite a tireless search, he never found them and ultimately gave in to his worst fears: that they must be dead. It was during this time that he'd found himself stuck in Barovia and met Will. There's a moment as Will has a sudden flashback to all the times he wound up Batthwack by changing his appearance into a mockery of Batthwack's daughter. Batthwack tells Will that Zantras had said his family were alive, but that he hadn't really believed him. Now it seems it might actually be true.

Batthwack demands to know where Trofast is, but Will wants to make sure that the dragonborn doesn't run off and do something stupid, so he refuses to tell him. Batthwack's getting angry now. He casts *Command* and says, *"Tell!"* Will is compelled to obey, but what comes out is something else that's on his mind. *"I can't be mad at you, because I did the same kind of thing to you, and you didn't even realise it!"* shouts Will, before clapping his hands over his mouth and desparately rattling the locked door again in vain. Batthwack says that he can't let this opportunity go, but Will insists that he mustn't be impulsive. He understands the urgency to help those he cares about, but they have to think carefully about how to approach it, in case it's all an elaborate trap. Batthwack's initial urge is just go right through Will by whatever means necessary, but the feeling suddenly reminds him of what it was like when he was under the influence of Zantras' gift, and unable to contain his compulsions. The feeling subsides and he backs away. Will can read Batthwack's body language and can tell how conflicted he's feeling right now.

Will's very nervous about what Batthwack's capable of doing and how on edge the powerful dragonborn is, but tries to act casual, nonchalantly putting a flower in his buttonhole. He insists he actually has Batthwack's interests at heart and Batthwack does seem to be calmer now. Batthwack apologizes for losing his temper and suggests they try to act differently with each other. Will oddly finds himself playing the optimist for a change and suggesting that there is hope for Batthwack, but they've got to act carefully; there's always the possibility that Zantras is behind all this. Whoever spoke to Will, must have been able to see them, so they were in the crowd or watching from nearby. Looking out at the square, they can see it's pretty empty now that the procession has moved off, and there's no sign of the rest of the party. It looks like Will and Batthwack are on their own for this meeting with Trofast. Will wonders to himself... what's the play?

## Quotes

* Add your favourite quotes from the episode here!

## Trivia

* The episode title quotes Will/KT. Will has revealed to Batthwack that he's just had a conversation with Batthwack's wife's valet. Will's slipperiness makes Batthwack distrustful and stubborn, and their old trust issues resurface, making the conversation very tense. Finally Batthwack tries to explain why this news regarding his wife and daughter is such a big deal, saying, *"This is real, Will. They're out there. I don't understand it, but we can find them."* Will: *"And do what?"* Batthwack: *"I've been looking for them this whole time. I mean, I thought they were dead."* Will: *"You did?!"* Batthwack: *"Yeah."* Will (suddenly remembering the multiple occasions on which he wound up Batthwack by mockingly impersonating his daughter): *"Holy shit. I did not know that. Wow, some of my actions in the past have been... less than kind."*

## Gallery

*Main article: The Art of Pork Fried Dice*

## References

1. ↑ See episode 194: Pineapples and Foreign Policy
2. ↑ See episodes 261: I Popped SO MANY Water Balloons!, 268: Basement, Casement, Familiar Facement, and 302: So Profound, and Yet So Unhelpful,
3. ↑ When Zantras first approached Batthwack after leaving Barovia, he'd asked Zantras, *"Do you know anything about my family? Where they are?"* Zantras had replied, *"Your family? They're home."* Batthwack then immediately decided to accept Zantras' gift. See episode 187: We Have a Lot To Discover About Raphina's Digestive System
4. ↑ This wiki editor had initially misheard KT's conversation with Eric at 45 mins into the episode, and thought they were referring to the time Will tried to cast *Charm Person* on Batthwack, but it rebounded and affected Will instead. See episode 177: You're The Best Turtle I Know. In fact, it was NOT that, but rather something that hasn't yet been revealed on the show. In a post on the PFD Discord, KT explained that Eric is the only one who knows what it was that Will tried to do to Batthwack. It was done completely in secret and none of the other players even know it happened!