Episode 17 - Dariun D-Day

## **Episode Synopsis**

### **Recap**

With the party split up, Zippy used mouse Peterson to distract some guards to get down to deeper levels in an attempt to find Dariun. Dariun, after being roasted by Dracken, met with Auto and is now being sent to the Feywild. Zippy fought his way through mechanos in an aim to find Dariun's gear and Paterson is underground, runing into a hostile artic ground squirrel.

### **Episode Summary**

Zippy finds himself with his flame sword surrounded by three spurs, one of which he has just hit with his blade. Two spurs attempt to hit Zippy but they both miss as he flips out of the way. Lara tells Zippy they need to take out the spurs quickly or they will alert the other mechanos as she attacks and connects with a spur. Zippy swings his flame sword but misses horribly, singing some of Lara's hair off. The third spur sucker punches Lara in the gut, knocking the wind out of her. Another spur comes over and hits Zippy in the jaw. Lara jump kicks the spur that hit her as Zippy thinks about the best option for this sticky situation. Zippy uses ice storm and the ice erupts from him, killing two of the spurs. He gives Lara some encouragement as he gets hit in the face. Lara decides to sit out the battle and the spur locks onto Zippy to fight one on one. Zippy pulls out his quarter staff but misses his attack on the final spur. The spur laughs and his arm transforms into a quarter staff and as it is about to hit Zippy, they hear the familiar voice of Leslie. Leslie yells out to the spur to deactivate and it's orb changes to blue and it falls to the floor.

Lara dives into the room with Zippy, closes the door and is hyperventilating over Leslie. Leslie gets in the room and their eyes meet. Leslie backs out and closes the door and now he is freaking out. Zippy is caught in a very awkward situation. Leslie and Lara break out into a song and Zippy tries to get them to stop cause they need to move on. Zippy is over the situation and ends up marrying them on the spot to move on. Zippy tells Leslie he needs to explain why he left them and why he can control the mechanos. Leslie explains he is a mechanos person and the reason he left is because he was tasked with bringing people to the tower and if he brought enough, Auto would let him see Lara. He continues to explain he is a Crown like Auto but is kind of a reject. Leslie wants to leave now that he has Lara. When Zippy tells them they need to get Dariun and Peterson, Leslie is not so keen to do. Zippy grabs Dariun's bag of holding and the switch sword, taking the bone dagger out of the bag of holding for himself. He has a moment and remembers the tinder soul. Zippy takes it and puts it on his waist out in the open. Leslie explains he does not know where Peterson is but knows Dariun is heading to the Feywild. Zippy is instantly worried as he knows Dariun is not meant to go there. They decide to find Peterson first so Leslie suggests they head to the control room and use the surveillance in there to find him.

Peterson is still in mouse form, face to face with an arctic ground squirrel. The squirrel digs his claws in his ground and bolts towards Peterson. Peterson tries to believe in himself but can't seem to get into the right mind. The squirrel hits and scratches Peterson. His mouse form is lost and his body transforms back into his goblin form. He bursts through the roof and lands in the middle of the table the Greeders were sitting around. Peterson immediately grabs the squirrel's tail and mauls it in front of the Greeders. Peterson stands up and introduces himself as he eats the squirrel. The tall human with the pumpkin on his head stands up and slow claps his incredible entrance. Peterson tells them he was sent by Lara as she is in danger. Lockden, the goblin, tells Peterson he is from a lesser tribe of goblins and they butt heads. The pumpkin head man splits them up and introduces himself as Prince Brisbam, the minitour as Cork and the goblin as Lockden.

Prince Brisbam tells Peterson it's his day off and does not want to help so he won't even give Peterson any directions as he leaves the room into sleeping quarters. Peterson turns to Lockden and tries to restart their rocky relationship, telling him about the unfortunate end of the Eastern Spear Goblin tribe. Peterson asks where Lockden is from to which he informs Peterson he is from the Northern tribe, a more posh group. Lockden tells Peterson he is respected as he is tall. Peterson looks Lockden up and down and knows they are the same height but decides against bringing it up. Peterson tries to convince Lockden to help him build a new tribe but Lockden is quick to refuse. Peterson convinces Lockden that his Northern goblin tribe is no longer there and they are all dead. Lockden is upset and he asks Peterson to leave him to be in his sorrow.

Peterson heads to the door and sees one helacole standing guard outside of the door. He takes a small step back and gives himself a pep talk to try to believe in himself to summon Diesel his dire weasel but can't seem to quite get it. Cork approaches Peterson and asks about Lara. Peterson explains that Leslie needed help and Lara could not do it on her own so sent him to find the other Greeders. Cork is surprised that Leslie real and Peterson confirms this and creates a minor illusion of a better version of Leslie. Cork tells Peterson he will do what he can for Lara as he owes her his life. Cork believes Prince Brisbam may be able to help so they begin to brainstorm escape plans.

Dariun has just left Auto's chambers and is moving up the elevator used not long ago by Zippy. Trisha leads him past the map room and he can see the large orb swirling as the mechanical cogs are being adjusted. Dariun is lead up to the locker room and he sees a helacole that tells him to put on a black suit. Dariun asks if he is able to get some medical assistance as he had some heavy hits earlier. A spur gets a healing potion and he drinks it and feels much better, although his hands remain scarred and numb. The helacole places a mechanical dial on his chest and slots in a blue gem stone. He hands Dariun a white helmet with a red eye in the center. The helacole instructs Dariun to wear the helmet to ensure he completes his mission. He is lead into a wide open room with no mechanos pieces but can see the material the room is made of is ancient. There is rainbow stained glass encircling the room and the flat stone floor has a spot for him to stand in the center. The helacole explains he needs to touch the gem to create a magical clone of himself that will allow him to return within thirty minutes.

Dariun touches the gem and he is immediately drained, like his body is being absorbed by the gem. Blue magic arcs of his skin and a blue clone appears next to him, lifeless. Dariun steps to the center of the room, outside of the stain glass windows, he can see the towers move then stop. Beams of light shine through the window and he is surrounded by a kaleidoscope of colours. He feels it charging up and the energy building. Reality shatters and Dariun is falling trough a pit of colours and glass shards fall with him. He sees himself in the reflections then he can see all different lands and environments fly by. One location stands out to him, the vibrant and beautiful land of the Fey Wild comes closer into view. Suddenly, Dariun has transported across planes and is in the Feywild. He looks around and feels the familiar cool breeze. The tempest alps in the distance and the changing colours of the trees confirm that he is in the Autumn court of the Feywild.

Dariun is in the Autumn court and can see the giant cog in the Tempest alps. He can se clearly that the landscape has been ravaged by the mechanos war. Dariun takes the helmet off and takes a deep breath, inhaling in the familiar air of the Fey wild, realising how much he missed home. After looking around for a minute, he remembers his mission and puts the helment back on to search for the gate Auto has requested him to find. Dariun scrurries up a tree and can see a lake south of him and can tell there are smoke stacks. He can tell there is a flag that resembles the Restorationists, a group of refuges from the Autumn court that left after the mechanos war who were coming back to Autumn court to restore it. Dariun feels a little sick to his stomash when he sees this but heads that way cautiously yet quickly. Along the way, he can see a lot of scrap mechanos metal and moss covered spur bodies on the floor.

He spots restorationists including some eladrin, satyrs and faries all getting to work to restore the court. Dariun looks and recognises a few faces of people from Holven but none that he knows personally. After feeling slightly relaxed, he hears the crunch of leaves then a shakey voice asking who he is and to leave. Hearing the voice, Dariun's rage builds and all his nerves fire as he recognises it as Beans, his childhood rival and betrayer. With that sudden influx of emotion, Dariun remembers back to his past.

Dariun is in an underground, secret dirt hideout with a rusted spur mechanos on the wall. His workbench is dimly lit by a candle as he tinkers with some bolts and cogs. Dariun lifts the mechanos switch blade and is happy with his work, excited to show his friends. Dariun hears a knock on the door and Lilly, Dariun's Autumn court eladrin girlfriend, enters. Dairun shows her the mechanos blade with excitement and Lilly is proud of him. Some more of Dariun's friends come in including Mulch, a large Driad tree person. Dariun and Mulch do there secret handshake as Asher, Dariun's Satyr friend, jumps onto Mulches shoulder. Dariun swings around the switch blade for his friends and they seem impressed. Following behind Asher is a sun sprite, Daisy. She tells Dariun he should stay away from the mechanos but Dariun thinks they should not be afraid of it. Daisy agrees with him and promises that they won't tell any of the old guys who are against the mechanos. The last to enter is Beans, the short and skinny spring eladrin. He also tells Dariun he should stop messing with it but also promises not to tell anyone.

The memory fades away and transforms into another couple years down the track. He is in the dirt hideout and has now made the steam gem from the core of a mechanos. He slots it into the switch blade for the first time and the buster sword activates. He hears stomping and heavy steps coming to his base. The door is kicked open and Holven guards with green armour and golden trim have infiltrated his base. They tell Dariun he is messing with materials too dangerous and is going against the law. Dariun tries to plea to them that it is not dangerous and is a tool they should use. They ask Dariun to lower the blade. He takes a final look at the sword and Dariun releases the steam gem and drops the blade.

Dariun is now on his hands and knees in a large immaculate room with white, pearlescent floors. There are three large chairs, far above the ground one of which seating Elvie, the Sunsprite Queen and Dariuns aunt. The other chair is Caspin, his skin covered in tree branches with no skin showing, exactly how Dariun has always seen his father. There are guards all around and people on the outside of the court watching Dariun's trial. Elvie asks why Dariun would do this and again, Dariun tries to ask why they are so afraid of this material and that it can actually be useful. They can use the mechanos steel to become stronger and learn from it. Elvie is not convinced and feels the Fey people are superior to the mechanos so they do not need the material. When Elvie asks Caspin what he thinks, Caspin believes Elvie is right on this one. The entire time Caspin is speaking, Dariun is staring at the ground looking disappointed. Dariun is not surprised with Caspin's response as he has never been on his side. Elvie feels death is an appropriate sentence and Caspin agrees but will discuss with her later.

Dariun is in a Holven prison, awaiting his execution, and Lilly has come to visit him. He stands up and runs over to her and can see she is distraught. Dariun asks how they could have found out about the mechanos and Lilly informs Dariun that Beans ratted him out. Dariun is shocked and angry but keeps his composure. Lilly is frightened and runs to the bars to hold Dariun.

Dariun is now walking through the woods of the spring court with Caspin a few steps ahead. Dariun is confused why they are there considering he is meant to be being executed. Caspin explains he smoothed things over with Elvie and Dariun is to be banished but the people of the Fey wild will believe he is dead. Caspin asks where he went wrong with Dariun but Dariun doesn't believe things ever went right. Caspin knew he was harsh but it was all for Dariun's benefit, to allow him to be the next Caspin. Dariun tells him he never even asked him is he wanted to have in this life. Caspin tells Dariun that he has to come back eventually and protect Holven and the entire Feywild just like he has. Caspin tells Dariun he is sending him to the Prime material plane to grow up and mature to come back as a leader. Caspin tells Dariun he loves him and gives him his ring, instructing Dariun to always wear it. Caspin informs Dariun that his mother knows what is going on and lastly, Caspin gives Dariun the switch blade and steam gem. Caspin tells him to use it out there but don’t bring it back. Dariun says his good bye and falls into the portal to prime plane.

Dariun is back in reality and can hear Beans behind him. Dariun flashes to summer as he runs to Beans and grabs his throat and throws him onto a tree. Beans screams out and Dariun throws him to the ground, taking off his helmet and revealing his face. He yells at Beans, telling him he betrayed him. Beans believes Dariun is a ghost but Dariun quickly squashes that theory by running over and kicking Beans in the stomach. Dariun picks Beans up by his collar and tosses him to the side. Dariun asks why he is here and Beans explains he is here with Lilly and the other restorationists. Dariun asks where she is and if she is okay. Beans replies saying shes okay and they are actually dating now. Dariun has so many emotions flashing through his head and he can't think straight. He is supposed to scout the gate for Auto, he feels nostalgia from being in the Feywild, anger with beans and sorrow thinking about Lilly and Dariun doesn't know what to do with himself.

Beans asks what is going on and why he is here but Dariun is not wanting to answer. Beans asks if it's connected to Caspin and if he is alive too. Dariun asks what Beans is talking about, and Beans tells Dariun Caspin is dead. Beans explains after Dariun was sent away, investigation where done on Caspin and they found that he opened the gate for the mechanos and started the war. Caspin was burned alive in an execution. Dariun is in disbelief. He slumps to his knees.

Peterson is up and in the room with Cork and Prince Brisbam while Locken is sobbing in the other room. Peterson explains to Prince Brisbam what the go is with Lara and Leslie. Brisbam explains he is a great actor, the absolute greatest. He tells Peterson that the magic cancelling handcuffs inhibits his ability to use his magic but he'd not like to take them off as it may anger Felix. Brisbam suggests that Peterson just asks the helacole to help him out. Peterson heads over the helacole who recognises Peterson as Lockden. Peterson tries to convince the helacole to take him to Lara with information about locations but the helacole is not convinced. Peterson goes back into the room disappointed and Brisbam tells him it didn’t work because Peterson is a terrible actor. Peterson agrees so Brisbam offers Peterterson some acting lessons.

Zippy is sneaking with the newlyweds, Lara and Leslie. They are travelling deeper and deeper through the underground. Leslie explains they need to get the control room where they should be able to look through the eyes of all the mechanos. There are doors with two helacole mechanos outside. Leslie can deactivate one but he is not sure what to do about the other. Zippy suggests he just speaks to the mechanos and he should be able to convince them to leave. Leslie goes up and suggests they patrol other areas, name dropping Auto. The mechanos are convinced and Leslie calls over Zippy and Lara. The doors open and there is a large red orb in the wall. There is a panel coming out from the wall and all there is are four squares, each of different colours. Zippy touches the yellow button and the wall charges up and the large red orb lights up. A beat starts to play and a mechanos voice starts to say colours. Zippy hits the colours in the same order as the mechanos says. After a few rounds Zippy passes and text with a list of commands pop up; "*Deactivate cuffs, Survalience system, Mass communitcation, Other*". Zippy hits other which brings up; "*Party time, Taco fiesta, Manual overdrive, Mass production, Back*"

Zippy goes back and selects surveillance system. The red orb shows many images of what is seen through mechanos' orbs. They spot Peterson as he was tyring to persuade the helacole. They continue to look and can now see Peterson doing acting exercises with Brisbam. Leslie tells him he knows where that is and can guide him. Zippy wants to have a look more at what they can on this system and he selects mass production. He see horrible images.

## **Quotations**

* Zippy "*Dariun is like a step dad for me.*"
* Dariun "*If we always just lived by all the rules, nothing would ever get done. We'd never find new things!*"
* Caspin "*You may not believe it but I do love you and you are my son. You just don’t see it yet, what you have to do.*"
* Caspin "*The arch Fey works in mysterious ways.*"

## **Featured Characters**

### **Main Cast**

* Dariun Branch
* Zippy Westborrough
* Peterson

### **Returning Characters**

* Lara
* Leslie
* Lockden
* Trisha
* Beans
* Lilly
* Caspin
* Elvie (The Sunsprite Queen)

### **New Characters**

* Prince Brisbam
* Cork
* Mulch
* Asher

## **Locations**

* Centre Spire
* Autumn court of the Fey Wild

## **Trivia**

### **Dice Rolls**

Dariun Branch

Zippy Westborrough
 1
 12