Arc 8: The King is Dead

Official illustration for Arc 8 Episode 1

Arc 8 is a high politics arc set in Tyle, the capital of Hyranor, in the year 163 Age of Eirik. This is a split-level arc, with characters ranging from level 4 to level 10, and DMed by Gus. The arc focuses on the members of the Minor Council (the Arc 8 party) confirming or denying King Alaric's successor Sybilla Eirik as the new monarch after his life and oppressive reign come to a close.

The arc is connected to previous arcs through the city of Tyle and the events of Arc 3, which also dealt with politics and set a foundation for the events of this Arc. Some of the characters have appeared on the podcast before as NPCs, some were mentioned, some are closely connected to previously existing characters and families. Because of its high politics genre, this arc also influences all arcs that canonically happen afterwards.

Each character got a magic item that was submitted by fans via Patreon, and in addition to those magic items the players were allowed to pick any magic item they wanted, since the characters are powerful enough to just have whatever they need, with the single prerequisite that the players had to ask Gus, first. Because the characters sometimes have opposing goals, a rule introduced specifically for this arc was that at any point, a player can ask another player to take off their headphones, so that they don't hear something their character is not allowed to know.

## Arc 8 Characters and Players

Characters and Players in order of introduction in Episode 0:

**DM** - (Gus - He/Him)

**Nephila Mori** (She/They) (played by Bri - She/Her) is a Human and the adopted daughter of Bombyx Mori. She is a Level 6 College of Eloquence Bard and sits on the Minor Council because of her relationship with one of the famous adventurers who saved the world, but also her work advocating for the common people of Hyranor. Together with her organisation, The Sisters of Silk, she has organised various projects from community kitchens to schools all throughout the kingdom.

**Sir Up Ton** (He/Him) (played by Moose - He/Him) is a Half-Elf/Bugbear and the head of the King's Guard, as well as the leader of the royal armies. He is a Level 10 Hexblade Warlock with the Pact of the Blade. He got his seat on the Minor Council as he became the head of the King's Guard around 40 years ago.

**Helga Hatebad** (She/Her) (played by Sam - She/They) is a Mountain Dwarf and the firstborn and future head of the Hatebad Family. She is a Level 8 Forge Domain Cleric and sits in the Minor Council because of her mother Beryl Hatebad, who wants to make sure that the power of the Lovejoy Family is kept in check. Additionally, the aging Beryl started to transfer her power as the matriarch of the Hatebad Family to Helga.

**Penny Lovejoy** (She/Her) (played by Reed - They/Any) is a High Elf and the current head of the Lovejoy Family. She is a Level 4 School of Abjuration Wizard and sits on the Minor Council since she took her mother's place. She took over when Gem Lovejoy was arrested for making deals with devils to expand the city of Glaceria, and in turn her family's power.

**Sybilla Eirik** (She/Her) (played by Haley - She/Any) is a Human and the daughter and successor of King Alaric Eirik. She is a Level 4 Oath of Redemption Paladin of Selûne. She sits on the Minor Council despite being the successor herself because none of her siblings had an interest in politics, but it would be weird for an Eirik not to be on the Minor Council.

The icebreaker question for this arc is: What rule or law in DnD would you like to add, remove or amend?

* Gus: Separate skill proficiencies and proficiency bonuses from your class and levels.
* Haley: Every player character should have at least one expertise.
* Reed: The monetary component of resurrection spells (e.g. *Revivify*) should be replaced by something that is important to the character.
* Bri: Remove attunement slots for magic items.
* Moose: Anyone should be able to cast a spell, weather they have access to it or not in their class, if they have the spell scroll for it.
* Sam: For Nat 20 saves you should quarter the damage.

## Arc 8 Plot (Full Arc Spoilers)

### Episode 1

The Episode begins with Sybilla waking up next to her husband Jim on the day of the death ceremony of King Alaric. Jim tries to offer her a bit of comfort on this difficult day, then leaves as Sybilla gets ready with her personal assistant Kansas.

Sir Up Ton wakes up, gets ready together with his talking sword, that affirmed him that he looks like a king. He visits Sybilla, makes sure she is alright, and gives her a ring for good luck, then he goes to meet the king as planned. Sir Up, the king, and Sybilla then meet up again at the entrance of the castle to greet the Major Council upon their arrival. Nephila and Laz, City Baron of Solaris, talk about what is coming before they arrive at the Ember Keep together, Penny appears in a Teleportation Circle in an empty apartment and is lead to the castle, and finally, Helga Hatebad arrives on a hellhound.

After the greeting, the Major Council has a few hours of free time. Sir Up offers Penny help with whatever she wants, and, thanking him, she says that she first needs to talk to Sybilla. Nephila introduces Helga and Crigley Jigglesphere, city baron of Hasmo, and tries to pressure Crigley into financially supporting the Sisters of Silk, which fails, and he leaves. Helga and Nephila talk a bit about politics in private, and Nephila tells Helga that she should vote how she thinks is best for the kingdom.

Sybilla is approached by Penny, and the two of them have a talk in private, in a separate room. The princess offers Penny that Gem can come home if she becomes the next monarch, and Penny demands to have a contract assuring this. While setting up the contract, Penny casts *Illusory Script* on it, so that it seems to be about Gem coming home, when in fact it is about Glaceria becoming independent and under Lovejoy control. Looking at the contract, Sybilla tries to cast *Detect Magic*, but Penny stops her by casting *Arcanist's Magic Aura* herself. When Sybilla confronts her about it, Penny refuses to give information, and demands that she signs it. Sybilla, thinking that any spell Penny might have put on the contract would be an effect happening if she doesn't follow the contract, signs it, since she has no intention to violate it.

### Episode 2

Nephila pulls Laz aside and half-informs her about their plan to murder Crigley Jigglesphere, a plan in which Laz is supposed to play a major role. Laz feels used by Nephila, who isn't willing to reveal everything and in her jealousy makes a hurtful comment about her sex life, so she storms out. Sir Up, in the meantime, informs Penelope Grayshield about Crigley's plans, and urges her to reinforce security. After that, Sybilla takes him to the side to inform him that Penny Lovejoy probably plays a game, but might be on what Sybilla thinks is their side. Crigley approaches Helga to convince her of his plan, then makes her forget that it was him talking to her, but without forgetting the ideas he gave her.

The Major Council has their last meeting with King Alaric as the monarch, during which they debate about a few last laws. Before it can start, though, Queen Lilliana, who was supposed to join the meeting as a guest, is pulled aside by one of the royal researchers and leaves. After the council voted on a law regarding the transparency about the usage of Zone of Truth in official meetings, Princess Sybilla is pulled aside as well, and asked to meet her mother.

Queen Lilliana awaits Sybilla together with her sister, Princess Isadora. First, the queen asks Sybilla whether she feels she and Jim are ready for their new responsibilities, then, she confronts her with what the researchers found out: Sybilla is ineligible to become a monarch, because of the spell Diarmad had cast on her to regrow her arm when she was 17. Instead, Isadora is named successor by her father as they are speaking. Sybilla, upset about the content and delivery of the reveal, walks out to find her husband and informs him about what happened.

In the meantime, Penny talks to Nephila, telling her that they have a common goal: the end of the kingdom. Nephila should just name her prize, and the two could be allies. Sybilla comes back, together with Jim, and approaches Nephila, and together the three of them visit the Prime Lord Wizard, who tells them that there is something Sybilla can do about her situation, but that she might not like it.

### Episode 3

The Prime Lord Wizard explains to Sybilla that he can magically turn her into the version of herself that she would have become if Diarmad had never healed her. Everyone else's realities would stay the same, including their memories of Sybilla being healed, but she would change. However, he cannot know what exactly would change for her, apart from her body not being touched by regenerating magic, and cannot even be certain that she would survive the ritual. After making sure that neither Jim nor her daughters would be affected by the ritual, Sybilla agrees nonetheless, and the two decide to meet again at night. For the last part of the conversation, Jim and Nephila left the room. There, Nephila warns him that Sybilla might want the power of being monarch a bit too much, and invokes Bombyx and their teachings to him. He is angry that she would try to turn him against his wife, and as Jim and Sybilla go back to their room together, he tells her about the whole conversation.

Meanwhile, Penny tries to approach Isadora to find out more about the new successor, but is quickly brushed off by the princess. Sir Up Ton gets ready for the ceremony, and talks to his sword, which says that it cannot wait to be king again.

Nephila approaches Kansas, who was asked by Sybilla to give her and Jim space for five minutes before Sybilla has to get dressed, too. Claiming to be a seamstress, Nephila asks Kansas to get her Sybilla's dress for a last minute alteration, and when Kansas announces them into the room, Nephila tries to shut her up with magic as well as intimidation, which leaves the young woman in tears. Sybilla opens the door to find out what happened, and Nephila gives her an embroidered patch, claiming that it is a gift from Bombyx and them. Jim does not trust her, and after Nephila is gone, he asks Sybilla to check the patch, but her Detect Magic does not notice anything.

In the hallway, Nephila is approached by Laz, who wants the Eye of Spies back after Nephila broke her trust. They give it back to her together with an apology, and then tell her everything that is happening, and also about the ritual the Prime Lord Wizard and Sybilla plan to do.

Afterwards, the Major Council and their guests go into the high courtyard for the death ceremony. There, Queen Lilliana asks the Minor Council to the side for a bit so that she can formerly introduce Isadora to them and put in a good word for her. Despite her speech and her attempts to stop them, the Minor Council, lead by Penny, start questioning Isadora, who is not prepared to speak to them at all. Helga, in the meantime, gets told by her earrings that Isadora has a dark secret that could ruin her life.

Sir Up Ton uses the ceremony to cast *Enemies Abound* as a Subtle Spell on Crigley Jigglesphere, who thus, while attempting to talk to Isadora, starts attacking Queen Lilliana, and is promptly restrained and escorted away by the Kingsguard. With the help of her fan, Penny spreads the rumour that he tried to kill the whole Major Council, making sure that he is ruined for ever.

Then, the main part of the ceremony happens. In a peaceful magical ritual prepared by the Prime Lord Wizard, King Alaric Eirik dies and is buried in the high courtyard.

### Episode 4

After being approached by her, Sybilla convinces Penny that she has a plan to become the successor again in the morning, and then goes to Helga, who is trying to advertise for Hatebad weapons. They go into a private room to talk, and Sybilla informs Helga about the fact that once she becomes monarch, she will release Gem Lovejoy from prison, hinting at the fact that she is willing to give Helga the information when and where exactly Gem would surface again, and that Gem's security would no longer be the kingdom's concern. In turn, Helga tells Sybilla that her earrings told her about a dark secret Isadora is hiding, and the two of them decide to visit Isadora together.

In the meantime, Yondo tries to convince Penny again to make their relationship official and marry him. Because he doesn't approach the conversation very well, Penny first gets angry, and then ultimately drops the topic on an "I will think about it". Sybilla and Helga get to Isadora's bedroom, convince a guard to let them knock, and begrudgingly, Isadora sends out Bixlebong before letting the two of them into her bedroom, since Sybilla has the authority.

Sybilla tries to find out why Isadora wants to become Queen all of a sudden, and at first, Isadora pretends that she just thinks Sybilla would just continue their father's unjust reign. Sybilla realises that something is off with her sister, and finally makes her tell her that she touched the Two of Spades from a Deck of Many Things during her adventures, and now wants to get power no matter what. Isadora is scared that she might try to kill Sybilla if Sybilla were to become Queen. Helga and Sybilla convince her that she can still do good, even without the throne, and Sybilla promises her a seat on the minor council should she want it even after the effect would hopefully be removed from her by the Prime Lord Wizard later.

Nephila tries to convince Laz that they should call together the rest of the Major Council and stop the ritual from happening, but Laz convinces them to only talk to Sir Up Ton for now, scared of the Prime Lord Wizard's power, and hoping that they could use Sybilla's determination against her in the vote. They get to Sir Up Ton, and he tells them that his guards are at the ready, there to make sure the transfer of power will go peacefully no matter what.

Sybilla and Jim go to the Prime Lord Wizard, who, after assuring himself again that Sybilla wants this, starts the ritual. When she opens her eyes again, her arm is gone, she has additional memories of being in a two year coma after the attack, and Jim is by her side, thankful that she is alright. She is again eligible to become the successor.

### Episode 5

Still in the evening, Helga casts *Stone Shape* to seal shut the door to Penny's hut, and then creates a beautiful piece of armor for Sybilla and a compass for Isadora as presents using the spell *Fabricate*. Sir Up asks Nephila to come back for a moment, underlines again that he just wants a peaceful transition, and tells them that if they just cause a bit of a distraction, he could get the guard to arrest people for just long enough to assure this peace, and then create a new system of government together with them. After that, Nephila stays up all night to make final revisions to their proposal of a new constitution, and makes sure every member of the Major Council finds a copy of it as they wake up.

In the morning, there are three situations in which people can have final meetings before the vote. After Penny has climbed out of her hut through the window, she is approached by Sir Up, and he tells her about the ritual, and that he is no longer sure they know the Sybilla they are going to vote on. He tells her about his plan to become king, and offers her a new position as second in command, should he manage to get the crown. Penny makes him sign a contract about it, again with the same hidden message as the contract she made with Sybilla , but this time, the hidden message also contains her becoming the second in command.

Sybilla and Helga look for Isadora, and find her in the process of climbing out of her room. They convince her to get back, and Helga gives them the presents she made. After that, Sybilla starts casting the *Ceremony* spell, trying to fix her alignment shift, thus giving up her chance to talk to anyone else before the vote.

Nephila takes Jim to the side and tells him that Sir Up might be pursuing the throne, and that he should make sure the children are safe. In case anything happens to her, she gives him her last will and testament.

Next, Jim finds Sybilla in Isadora's room and informs her about what he learned about Sir Up. She tells him about the plan that she always had, that if something were to go wrong, he, Isadora, and the children should go to Solaris through a teleportation circle, get a cart and flee to Diarmad's enclave, and they decide that they will do so already as soon as Sybilla is done with the ritual, even before the vote.

Penny sends a message to Gem asking for advice on Yondo's proposal, before she is approached by Nephila. Nephila proposes their constitution to her, tells her about the new positions of power planned, and offers them to her as a challenge. Penny tells them that she can find other ways to gain power, maybe even under Sir Up as a new monarch. After that, Penny receives an answer from Gem, saying that while Gem could have found a more loving marriage, Jack is what she needed.

Helga and Sybilla discuss the plan about Gem and the Hatebads a bit more, figuring out a time frame and a way to get Helga's family to Tyle in time, where Gem would be released.

Sir Up calls Penelope Grayshield to his office, makes sure again that the army is ready, and informs her about his plan to seal off the Ember Keep from the outside if necessary. She is fully on his side.

Nephila finds Sybilla and the others in Isadora's room, and proposes to Sybilla to vote her in, if she is willing to change the current government in favour of the system proposed in Nephila's constitution. Sybilla says that she is technically willing to do so and thankful for their help in changing the kingdom, but that it cannot happen all at once, and that she is a bit afraid.

Sir Up talks to the Prime Lord Wizard, who assures him that the ritual he conducted was very safe. In turn, Sir Up expresses his appreciation for the work the Prime Lord Wizard does and assures him that he will keep his position no matter what happens.

Penny uses her final meeting time to get Yondo out of her hut, since nobody else did it before.

Sybilla successfully finalises the ritual, and Isadora gets back her old alignment, goals, and personality. She stays, but Jim and the children leave through a teleportation circle to get to safety.

Helga uses *Augury* to find out if voting for Sybilla would have good or bad consequences, and gets strong signals for both.

After that, everyone convenes at the meeting hall to vote.

### Episode 6

The minor council enters the meeting hall. Penny prepares *Mage Armour*, Helga sends off a *Sending* Spell, and Nephila, who enters before Helga and Sybilla, nods at Sir Up and Penny while making eye contact. Queen Lilliana and the Prime Lord Wizard await all of them already, and Lilliana announces that Sybilla is the successor again, apologising for the chaos. Because it was the Prime Lord Wizard who cast a powerful spell on Sybilla, Lilliana has decided to call a neutral party for the assessment, and Annie Wintersummer comes in and, together with Sybilla, goes into one of the Prime Lord Wizard's offices to conduct the assessment, during which she analyses her magic items as well as Sybilla herself, and reads her thoughts while asking a few questions. Before they go back to the others, Sybilla informs Annie about the possible threat of a coup, and Annie decides to stay in the castle to assure everyone's safety.

As they come back, Helga and Penny are in the middle of a Wand of Smiles / Wand of Scrowls battle, which is ignored by everyone else. Annie announces the results of her assessment: Sybilla has a frightening desire to become monarch, but understands and accepts the responsibility that comes with that position and has put in the work to fulfill it. She also holds the good of the people close to her heart, and is no longer affected by any kind of magic. Annie then leaves and waits outside the room together with Isadora.

Before the votes are cast, everyone has another chance to say something, in order of majority on the council. Sir Up admits that he is no longer sure he can trust Sybilla, and how far she will go. Penny says that she and her family have seen the aftermath of what happens when people want something more than anything else in the world. Sybilla understands the scepticism, but has never felt more like herself, and will do what is best for the kingdom. Helga says Sybilla will show the same dedication to the people that she shows to gaining the throne. Nephila pleas that whoever becomes next monarch shall make a change for the people. Then, the Minor Council votes, and approximately with the same justifications, Sir Up votes Nay, Penny votes Nay, Sybilla votes Yea, Helga votes Yea, and Nephila votes Yea, Thus, Sybilla is elected as the new monarch of Hyranor.

While Lilliana and the remainder of the Minor Council, followed by Annie and Isadora, go to the balcony atop Keep's Canyon to announce the election to the people, Sybilla and the Prime Lord Wizard go back into his office so that she can officially sign the piece of paper that will make her the next monarch. While doing so, the Prime Lord Wizard asks her what she will do, and as she mentions some restructuring, he immediately casts *Detect Thoughts* on her and sees that she thinks about enacting the constitution proposed by Nephila. Angered, he insists that she must serve for life and not give away her power, because that would hurt his position.

On the balcony, Lilliana announces Sybilla as the new Queen, which already riles up the crowd a bit, since Sybilla is not too popular. Then, Sir Up turns around, winks at Penny, gives Penelope a sign by holding up his sword, stumbles into Nephila and uses *Dimension Door* to teleport away, making it look like Nephila cast something. Havoc starts breaking out, and while Isadora, and Penny and Yondo run back, Helga warns Sybilla with a *Sending* Spell, which the Prime Lord Wizard, still in her head, also hears. The Prime Lord Wizard demands that Sybilla be Queen for life and not give away her power, or he will join forces with Sir Up Ton, who he knows would not change the structure in this way; he threatens to not only kill her, but everyone she loves. Atop Keep's Canyon, Nephila tells Annie Wintersummer to go help Sybilla, and then gets ready to give the speech of their life.

### Episode 7

For Episodes 7 and 8, Owen and James join to play Annie and Isadora.

Nephila gives their speech from the balcony above Keep's Canyon, in which she tries to rally the crowd against the guards so that they stop the coup and support Sybilla, promising them that Sybilla will enact a new and just government system. During that speech, she also tells them the location of the Hatebad weapons stockpile in Tyle, which Helga gave her, so some of the commoners go there to get armed. This speech starts a minigame, in which Nephila can use their action to make a Persuasion check to grant the commoners an exploding Bardic Inspiration Die which they can use in their fight against the guards. If the guards win three contested Athletics checks, they stomp down the revolution, if the commoners win, they storm the castle.

Sir Up, after teleporting away, appears somewhere else in the castle, and soon realises that he is not far from the Meeting Hall and the office into which Sybilla and the Prime Lord Wizard have gone. He casts Banishing Smite on his sword in preparation. Penny, who knows about Sir Up Ton's plan, tries to run back the way she came to the Meeting Hall, Yondo behind her. Isadora knows a shorter way and leads Helga and Annie down four storeys of stairs to where she knows a teleportation circle is.

In the meantime, Sybilla stands in the office of the Prime Lord Wizard, hearing the tumult outside. Out of options, she tries to stall for time. The Prime Lord Wizard makes his demands a last time, and then vanishes after promising her that he is watching the action as well as her family and will return to talk again when he hears about a strong Queen Sybilla of Hyranor.

Annie, Isa and Helga get to the teleportation circle, but the guards, following Sir Up Ton's orders, have shut it off. They refuse to give them the key to turn it on again, so Annie and Helga kill them and take the keys themselves to activate the circle and step through. Penny is still running through the hallways, and on her way commands a guard to seize Nephila.

Sybilla hears Sir Up coming towards the office, grabs a random and throwable-looking potion bottle from the Prime Lord Wizard's things, and readies herself. Sir Up enters and finds her, but first tries to convince her to go into exile with her family, despite his sword, which contains the soul of the old king Lucius Pinn, urging him to kill her. She refuses to leave, and he attacks her. With the potion, she manages to shrink him as he does so, but still, his attack knocks her unconscious and at the same time banishes her into a demiplane.

As the fight between the commoners and the guards seems to be balanced out, Nephila and former Queen Lilliana intend to run through the castle to get to the commoners and help them, but are met with five guards running towards them instead. Nephila retreats onto the balcony, casts Message to tell Lilliana that she should say to Laz that they love them, and are sorry. Then, the guards attack them, and shove Nephila over the balcony. Instead of trying to grab the bannister, Nephila performs an act of martyrdom, and as she hits the ground and falls unconscious, the commoners, inspired by her actions, manage to overwhelm the guards and storm the castle.

### Episode 8

Penny and Yondo continue running through the castle, Sybilla and Nephila are making death saves, and Annie, Helga and Isadora step through the teleportation circle and show up in a similar room, which is connected by a door to the Meeting Hall.

Sir Up, knowing that the others cannot be far away, casts Disguise Self to make himself look as much like Sybilla as possible while still being small and having two arms. He positions himself behind the desk in a kneeling position, with his arm out of sight from the door, acting distressed. While he is doing so, he speaks into the room, hoping that Loroy is listening, and offers him that they could work together. Additionally, with the help of Minor Illusion, he creates the image of his own upper body behind hidden under the desk as is he had been killed.

Annie enters the room, seeing the strange scene. As she asks "Sybilla" what happened, Sir Up Ton uses his Actor feat to sound like Sybilla and pretends to hyperventilate to avoid questions. As Annie tries to find clues about Loroy in the room, she teleports behind the desk, notices the disguise, and Power Word Stuns Sir Up Ton. Because of this, he looses concentration, and the real and unconscious Sybilla appears back in the office. As Helga enters, she heals Sybilla, who comes back to consciousness. Isadora and Penny also go into the office, and Penny pretends that she does not understand anything of what happens.

Nephila, in the meantime, is stabilised by a commoner on the ground of Keep's Canyon.

After making sure that Sybilla is fine, Isadora hits the stunned Sir Up Ton unconscious, but with non-lethal attacks to make sure that he will go to prison and be held accountable for his crimes in a fair trial, instead of murdering him. Sybilla uses her Divine Sense and finds out that there is something wrong with Sir Up Ton's sword; she gives it to Annie who, with the help of Identify, realises that it holds a fraction of the soul of Lucius Pinn, and decides to keep it safe.

The crowd comes closer, chanting "Kill the guard! Save our Queen!", and as they, together with Yondo, enter the office, Sybilla speaks to them and informs them about what happened, and they tie Sir Up Ton up. Penny tells Yondo that she will marry him, and a commoner informs Sybilla that Nephila was pushed off of Keep's Canyon, so they all go down to her, where Helga can heal her. Sybilla formally offers Isadora the position as Captain of the Kingsguard, then she goes back up to the balcony to speak to the people and end the fighting. Annie decides to leave before the coronation and handle the sword, and Sybilla asks her to take and destroy the Deck of Many Things as well.

The coronation procedure takes place in the entrance hall, with attendance of the remaining City Barons, Minor Council, the former Queen Lilliana, and the commoners that watch. As Laz sees that Nephila is there, they hug them, but Nephila does not tell them the things they said to Lilliana. Additionally, Sybilla notices Loroy in the crowd. At the end of her coronation procedures, Sybilla gives her first decrees: the Law of Assistance, which banned charity, is to be reversed, as well as the Som's Claims Bill, and Gem Lovejoy is to be released from prison. She also promises again that there will be a better tomorrow for Hyranor. Isadora is sent to deliver the order to release Gem Lovejoy, and Penny and Yondo join her.

In prison, Sir Up summons his pact weapon, the sword, and then sends it to a demiplane after promising Pinn that they will talk again. He cannot escape yet, but is looking for a way to do so.

Sybilla realises that she still doesn't have her Ring of Mind Shielding back, which Loroy took from her, as he sends her a Message asking to speak with her. He walks up to her, and tells her again that she can do whatever she wants, as long as her and his power stay untouched, and then calls Nephila over so that they can talk about the constitution. Helga joins as well. When Sybilla tells them that she will enact the constitution slowly, but to a full extend, Loroy loses his patience, tells her that he will miss Hyranor, but take a present on his way out, and kills Sybilla in broad daylight with a Power Word Kill, using his reaction to steal her soul with Soul Cage. Helga and Nephila can't do more than slightly harm him as he disappears.

At the prison, Isadora, Penny and Yondo go to get Gem Lovejoy out, and for the first time in centuries, Penny and Gem hug. As they leave, crossbows descend from the buildings across the street, and five of them strike Gem in the heart, killing her. With Gem in her arms, Penny sees a hint of green light as the sun hits the eye of Beryl Hatebad.

The arc ends with the two most powerful people in Hyranor, Sybilla and Gem, dying mere moments from each other. Hyranor, again, is without a monarch, in chaos, and without a functioning Major Council, as Sybilla is dead, Sir Up and Crigley in prison, and Penny no longer a citizen of Hyranor: the contract Sybilla signed is still valid, and allows for the establishment of the independent nation of Glaceria.

## Trivia

* This arc had the biggest geographical distance between players yet, ranging from California to Sudan.
* Up until Episode 6, it was unclear how long the arc would probably be, and to give that feeling to the fans as well, this question was not even answered in the Patreon Discord after the Arc had been finished recording.
* The day before the finale, Gus informed the listeners on Twitter that some lines and scenes from the finale were recorded later, not to change the plot but to embellish it and make the storytelling better, as everyone was very tired when they finished:  Gus (@GusRachels) on Twitter: "A note on the Arc 8 finale" (2022-07-10).