Declaration

*Declaration* is the title of the seventh episode of the seventh season of S.H.A.D.O.W. and the seventy ninth session of the entire game.

This session was played on July 5th, 2020

## Declaration

### Writer

Jonny Christie, Matt Christie, Rob Christie, Richie Maynard

## Plot

With Vargas missing, S.H.A.D.O.W. is left to pick up the pieces of Aethel.

## Synopsis

Aethel has won. Aurora and Hezekiah rush over to Vargas and Pragaras to find only a deceased Tiefling, no king. Hezekiah cuts the demon’s head off while Aurora gathers the pieces of the rifle. The only question she has is, “Where is he?”. Aragi rushes to the barracks to check on the others and Lara confirms the dragon is dead. She needs to find the King but he’s nowhere in sight. Hezekiah decides to head back to the Silver Throne while the others discuss who will address the people. Phylyco has arrived in Stoneclaw and immediately begins setting up the plan surrounding the lumber they now have free reign to take. Winter informs him that he’s getting more memories back. He believes he is from Aethel. Phylyco takes this opportunity to place him in charge of the lumber collection, keeping him in familiar territory and having them meet in Bertiona in a few days. Lara is the one to address the city. She steps up as leader and one very vocal civilian continues to interrupt. Bjorn offers him a place on the new council and he agrees as long as they include other civilians. He introduces himself as Aelwin and They also recruit Blaktar the Blacksmith and Elzu the Bartender.

Phylyco is summoned by Wroth and the man informs the Saint the Declaration has been sent as well as updating him on much of the current state of S.W.A.R.M. in Aethel. Wroth doesn’t care, his focus is Pentropolis. Aragi and Sarya arrive in Eastmaer under the command of the new Lady Lara as her Hand and his assistant. They arrive at the FORGE and request as many students as possible to help rebuild. They convince a bunch of them with the promise of free booze they probably don’t have. Lara calls a meeting of the new Archons at the Bloodjaw. Aurora and Aelwin are immediately at each other’s throats about how Vargas ruled and Aurora is convinced that Vargas is still alive. Aelwin being the odd man out also has the most understanding of the people. They wait for the Hand and the Merchant King to discuss further. Hezekiah arrives home and speaks with Butler about his “plans”. Butler attempts to turn down every idea but Hezekiah doesn’t understand his silence and assumes he’s agreeing with it all and heads out. Phylyco approaches Jenella and tells her she has to go speak with Elbije in Pentropolis. The elf is expectedly stubborn about it so he brings her to Wroth. He has her pull a card and all it does is strip her of magical items and they send her away. Wroth warns Phylyco that not everyone is going to do what he asks but he still needs to figure it out without relying on the Saint every time someone says no. Aragi and Sarya return to the Capitol and are approached by Aurora who asks for his help in finding Vargas. He doesn’t deem it important right now but she persuades him to at least help her dig out the castle.

Hezekiah is having a conversation with a shadowy figure about a helmet. The being sold it to a soldier from Stoneclaw so Hezekiah heads that way to retrieve it. Aragi and Aurora get into the ruins and underground hoping to at least find a clue to where Vargas could have gone. Instead they find a barely conscious Tadal who they bring to Maeurt where S.H.A.D.O.W. has someone who can help. Hezekiah arrives at Radis and speaks with Phylyco about his helmet and the man informs him where his commander is and agrees to go get it from him. Aragi and Aurora arrive with Tadal to Maeurt and bring him to the shaman, a Treant named Abrus. Abrus is very concerned about the forest and how quiet it is getting so quickly. Faster than even Sachayoj’s carnage. Aragi promises this will be solved and Abrus begins his healing of Tadal. Aurora helps Bjorn and his family pack for the Capitol while Aragi finds Lara to catch her up on his task in Eastmaer. She is not focused on that however. She shows him the Declaration she received from S.W.A.R.M. calling for war. Phylyco has officially gone sour. Aragi is not surprised, he knew this was coming but isn’t convinced he doesn’t have a hidden agenda. Lara lays out the reasons including using the bulettes to “help” fight the dragons but instead just caused more damage, making the city vulnerable. Claiming trade with Vargas but getting far more than is acceptable to dry them of resources. She even goes as far as to suggest that Pragaras may have been allied with S.W.A.R.M. the entire time. It’s all because of Phylyco. Aragi lets her vent but it stuck in his ways that if everyone had just listened to him from the beginning it wouldn’t have gotten as bad as it did and there’s no point in discussing it anymore. Lara accuses Aragi of being a falsifier for always claiming to want to help but never actually works with the people that have been helping him this whole time, comparing him to Phylyco directly. This sets something off in him and he leaves, heading directly to the source, Stoneclaw.

He is stopped by Aurora who tries to convince him to not do what he’s thinking but his sparks ripple and he teleports away. Phylyco and Hezekiah arrive in Bertiona to speak with Onyx about this elusive helmet and Winter immediately gives it to them, claiming he found it in the rubble of the city and liked the look of it. Hezekiah takes it and is thrilled to have it. Phylyco updates the Commander on his mission and promotes Hezekiah to his inquisitor, revealing Hezekiah was working for him the entire time. Aragi arrives in Cradle and instantly heads farther inland towards the Saint. He is sidetracked by an army moving East.

## Cast

### Main

* Aragi Maxul
* Phylyco Brokenwhisper
* Lara Youngheart
* Sirobe
* Zinonna Murium
* Onyx Winter
* Hezekiah Silvergleam
* Pragaras

### Supporting

* Singula
* Gris Soulspark
* Elbije
* Amarel Jenella
* Saint Wroth
* Tadal
* Aurora Lightblade
* Bjorn Urregard
* Sarya Nameless
* Butler
* Blaktar
* Aelwin Hauntcalling
* Abrus

### Guest

* Thoren
* Thane
* Skoti Urregard
* Fyria Snowden
* Elzu Glintingeye
* Pagos
* Vom Bolem
* Shaid
* Kouje Urregard
* Ljos Urregard

## Trivia

* Eric Rios did not attend this session.
* This session reveals that Hezekiah has been working for S.W.A.R.M. the entire time, proving that anyone could be a spy.