Danger Rangers! - Chapter Five

> "*Ya know, some of my generation look at you and see nothing more than preening gardeners and dandified zookeepers. But that's not what I see.*"
> ― Grand Imperitor Baneus
>
>

**Danger Rangers! - Chapter Five: "Mask for Masked"** is the sixty-third episode of Queens of Adventure. In it, the novice Glamazon rangers begin the next phase of training while holding in the secret of their last mission.

## Summary

In Glamalala, the windows are dark except for a candle in the tower home of an elder Glamazon, sleeping in a chair while holding a pot of honey, waiting for her son Jort to come home.

He is, at that time, to the Southeast at the Ranger Cabin atop Cliffhanger Crest as he, Irene Dubois, and Bosco finish their preparation and depart the station to head further up the Frosted Tip. They find there a pair of standing stones, one of the Panfrost stations. Possible destinations are listed in draglish, including Radiant Rise, Cinched Waists, The Three Quarter Falls, and the Port Authority, and Glamalala. Irene suggests they go to the Cinched Waists, but they realize they only have a couple hours to make it back.

Jort tries to show he knows how to use the panfrost, but fails. The queens convince him to name an incorrect destination to trick the bridge to take him where he wants to go. He says 'Cinched Waists' and vanishes in a rainbow burst of light. The queens, enjoying the freedom from Jort, activate the panfrost saying 'Glamalala'. As they head to the northwest, Bosco's wig falls off, but she has a sensible bob wig on underneath.

They arrive in Glamalala's station, and are greeted by an attendant, Sensible Bob. Irene tries to intimidate him when he asks them where they came from, but fails. Bosco explains they came back from a ranger mission. Bob tells them how to get to the Ranger Lodge, but they can't persuade him to join them. Irene muses that everyone in this town is lame.

On the way to the lodge, Bosco sees a figure in a gold mask watching from an alleyway before they vanish. She tells Irene, who doesn't believe her. They search the alley and find nothing.

Arriving at the Ranger Lodge, they learn they have been assigned different roommates, and split up. They find their roommates just waking up as it hits dawn. Bosco meets Lewis, a tabaxi bard who lost a leg and uses their extra long recorder as a false leg. Instantly the two bond. Irene, however, learns her housemate Jaaaaaaake is immaculately organized and has divided the room with tape. He is a wearboar with patchy, curly hair. Irene wonders if he made the roommate list and he says he is on the organization committee, and insists she keep her side of the room tidy, before departing.

An hour later, a bus drawn by six capybara arrives to take the novices to orientation. Jaaaaaaake snorts at Irene but they end up sitting together as Bosco chooses to sit with Lewis. As the bus heads through the streets, Bosco catches sight of a golden mask again before there is a flap of black fabric and it is gone. She asks Lewis, who sees nothing. Bosco instead flashes a message with a mirror to Irene. Jaaaaaaake warns Irene that he will report any shenanigans.

They arrive at the pearlescent bubble of the Glamadrome. The class files into the bleachers as mist in the middle of the room becomes a podium. A senior ranger approaches and identifies himself as Resplendent Ranger Ryan and introduces Sarah Fim, who leads them in their national anthem. After, Ryan introduces special speaker: Grand Imperitor Baneus. A tall figure in vantablack robes that obscure all features steps out of the mist. He speaks of how the rangers come from a long line of warriors, and encourages their new generation to be vigilant against outsiders. As leaves the stage, Ryan introduces Inquirer Rigo Caylis.

Irene hears a creak and sees a glint of a mask a few rows behind her before it vanishes. Finally realizing Bosco had seen it, she does a glamabird call to alert Bosco. Jaaaaaaake takes notes on this.

Rigo addresses the audience, mentioning the recent passing of Grand Inquirer Ariola, and the importance to follow the laws, and the role of the Rangers to protect the island and the wildlife. They ensure the island will flourish as they wait for the day when a new great house will arise and claim the power they guard in the sacred Ziggurat. With him speaking, Bosco decides it couldn't be him following them. Irene grows suspicious that someone knows what the queens did yesterday.

With the speeches done, Ranger Ryan outlines the program, including a final test from which only some of them will pass into full Junior Ranger status. Those who don't pass will find new roles in society.

The two friends confer, with Bosco downplaying Irene's theory that Melissa betrayed them. They decide to talk to Rigo, approaching him near the podium. Irene explains they completed the mission he gave them, as Rigo was investigating a missing Glamabird.. Rigo asks what happened to Jort, and they say he took a vacation. He also already seems to know the full details of their mission. Bosco asks if he knows why Inquirers might be following them, but Baneus appears, interrupting them. Irene covers, saying they were looking for her lost tail. Baneus explains that while his people give orders, the Inquirers are just snooping. He then asks if either of them had considered becoming Butch Queen warriors. They say they will keep it in mind. Rigo finally gets a chance to answer, and says he is unaware of anyone investigating the two novices.

The novices rejoin Lewis as they look over the electives. Irene considers 'H.O.G. Wrangling', which isn't Lewis's speed. He likes the 'Tuck and Roll', which Bosco mentioned. Irene decides on 'Bumblicious Beekeeping', and 'Care and Feeding of Glama Birds'. Bosco will take the later with Irene and also decides on 'Stealthing'.

Days go by with them taking classes, with very little freetime. RAs monitor things so they can't really sneak out. Bosco gets flirted with, while Irene told someone a lie to impress someone.

The first elective day comes and they head out to a copse of trees for their Care and Feeding of Glama Birds class. Lewis joins them, and tells them a rumor that no one has seen Jort in days. Lewis composes a song to commemorate Jort, to Bosco's delight and Irene's displeasure.

The instructor begins, and Irene offers to make a glamabird call to summon them. A number of birds arrive. Bosco is able to identify their favored food, hummus, before they are tasked with feeding the birds. Bosco's bird seems to recognize her and cries out, so she tries to vogue to calm it down. The instructor comes over and sends Bosco to join Irene, as it lays an egg.

At the edge of the clearing Jaaaaaaake is watching them and taking notes. Irene confesses to Bosco that she told her roommate about their adventure, but lied and said they reported the prisoners to officials in Glamalala. The friends fight a little over this. A rage builds in Irene and she calms it by eating Glamabird feathers. The instructor panics and dismisses the class.

A few days later they return to the Glamadrome where Resplendent Ranger Ryan prepares them to take their first mission. They will pair up and help a Glamazon who lives outside the city who has submitted a request for help. Irene and Bosco are paired up together and look over their options: Helping a farmer, fisherman, or miner. They choose to help Fisherman Flando, who needs fishing supplies.

Heading out, Bosco drives the cart for a few hours until they find a shack and a yellow slick coat wearing dwarf. As they load the supplies into the shack, Flando tells them his enchanted fishing net and other supplies have gone missing. He suspects the H.O.G.s from the other side of the island. Irene doesn't seem interested in helping, despite their ranger charge to help people, while Bosco agrees to help (hoping to climb the ranks).

Irene leaves with the cart, and she sees a shape moving parallel to her three hundred feet away.

Flando explains to Bosco about mysterious scratch marks he has seen to the south. Bosco follows the track, and finds about sixteen tracks that lead her to a small cave.

Irene hears a squeal as something injures one of the capybara. She tries to help the animal, but rolls a natural one.

### Characters

#### Party

* Bosco - shadar-kai fighter
* Irene Dubois - lizardfolk barbarian

#### NPCs

* Jort's Mother
* Junior Ranger Jort
* Sensible Bob (debut)
* Figure in Gold Mask
* Ranger Novice Lewis (debut)
* Ranger Novice Jaaaaaaake (debut)
* Resplendant Ranger Ryan (debut)
* Sarah Fim
* Inquirer Rigo
* Imperetor Baneus (debut)
* Ranger Instructor
* Fisherman Flando (debut)

## Episode Notes

### Lore

* The Glamazon National Anthem sounds very similar to the Ancient Drow Song
* Glamazon Government is led by a Beautificent Council that make laws. Under them are Inquirers who investigate violations and interpret laws, and Imperitors who enforce laws.

### Inspiration Earned

* Irene - for incorporating her random event table result, lying to make her look better, into the story

### Memorable Quotes

* "This makes me want to come out of the closet." - "Again! I would go back into the closet just so I could come out again for this." - Irene Dubois and Bosco
* "I don't think I've ever enjoyed watching someone blast off that much." - Irene Dubois
* "Yes I've been doing a mission for 24 hours with another wig on underneath." - Bosco
* "I'm more of an exotic verse." - Irene Dubois
* "I think we've mined this one as deep as it goes. Oh! There's another one." - Irene Dubois
* "There are requests from a farmer, a fisherman, and a miner." - "Like someone who's under 18?" - DM James and Bosco
* "Girl, I don't know how to drive. I'm not a capybara." - Irene Dubois.

### References

* Team Rocket's Blasting Off Again
* Game of Thrones - Team Lanister
* Dementers - Harry Potter
* Bebe Zahara Benet's "Rakatikititata" call from Drag Race All Stars 3.
* Courtney Love's band "Hole"
* "Holes" by Louis Sachar
* Venmo

### Name That Tune

* 100% Pure Love - Crystal Waters
* Game of Thrones theme song
* Lord of the Rings theme
* May It Be - Enya
* Can't Get You Out of My Head - Kylie Minogue
* "Head in a Hole" - Nine Inch Nails
* "We are the World"

## Behind the Queens

* Bosco records the "Previously on" for the first time.
* Ranger novice Lewis was inspired by a cat that Bosco once lived with.
* In the outro, DM James makes an extended pitch for the twitch channels of Arson, Fraya, and Londyn (links on their pages), and the recent Q&A session they participated in.

**Greetings From Fire Island**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - **The Show Must Go On**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - Ch4
**Operation Watersport**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - Ch4 - Ch5 - Ch6 - Ch7 - **Trials**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - Ch4
**Ghosts of the Coast**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - **The Devil's Due**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - Ch4
**Special**: The Story So Far
**The Beautiful Place**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - Ch4 - Ch5 - Ch6 - **A Dance in the Dark**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - Ch4
**Drama in the Deep**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - Ch4 - Ch5 - Ch6 - **Whispers From the Heart**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - Ch4 - Ch5 - Ch6
**Danger Rangers!**: Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - Ch4 - **Ch5** - Ch6
**Mist Connections**: Ch1 - Ch2
**Unreleased**
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