TL;DR Episode 6 - Don't Praise the Day Before the Evening

**Short Summary:**

Tatyana checks in with Desmond and tells him she met Soth again in the Mists. Desmond used to think Soth killed Nika, but now he’s not so sure. Armand was covered in blood that night…

As they prepare to leave Morfenzi, Tatyana befriends a soldier named Freyja, who says Falkovnia is losing the war. She tells them no one would say so on pain of death, but not everyone agrees with Vladeska’s strategy, and Uriah might want to speak with other factions in Leskar. Tatyana and Freyja have to pretend to be at odds so as not to give Freyja away. Nahara disappears suddenly to have a secret meeting with Azalin Rex. When she returns, she tells Uriah she made a bargain with his king.

Tregrum tells Valentine they made a deal to ensure her safety. Also someone is watching her. Valentine attacks and threatens the watcher until he reveals that he’s a Keeper of the Feather, a wereraven who is watching over the party because they’re important. He sneaks Uriah the Symbol of Ravenkind and tells the party they must return to the House of Lament to save the Weathermay-Foxgrove twins.

As they ride to Leskar, Horstman talks with Desmond about his experiments on lycans, and comes to the conclusion that Fen is such an experiment from Darkon. Valentine and Uriah become concerned as the party gets more and more hostile toward Horstman the more he talks. He doesn’t see that Falkovnia is losing the battle against the undead. He also reveals that all those who refuse to fight for Falkovnia are impaled on the city walls of Leskar. The party doesn’t understand how that helps them win the war.

When they enter Leskar, they do not see the Carnival scouts among those impaled on the walls. Desmond tries to sell Horstman on an alternate deterrent method for deserters. When he says the undead cannot be reasoned with, Nahara reveals that she is undead, but the party manages to play it off. While Desmond, Tatyana and Valentine follow Horstman and Freyja to the palace, Fen, Nahara, and Uriah meet a little girl named Hildi, who got a ticket to the Carnival from the missing scouts. She tells Fen they were taken to perform for Vladeska earlier that day. Fen gives Hildi a golden ticket to the Carnival and Hildi promises to survive the siege so she can go.

Desmond, Tatyana, and Valentine manage to con their way past the guards of the inner sanctum so that they can talk with Freyja. Fen, Nahara, and Uriah are escorted to the diplomat quarters, where they are left unguarded.

**Notables this episode:**

This is likely the most graphic gore episode thanks to descriptions of the bodies impaled on the walls of Leskar.

Tatyana makes another special friend.

Nahara is concerned how Uriah sees her, and entered into a bargain with Azalin because he reminded her of Uriah.

Noura’s cat Saja makes a spectacular audio debut during the scene where Nahara tells Uriah about her pact with Azalin. And B. Dave makes it part of the story.

Tregrum and Valentine discover their wereraven guardian angel, Voron, and introduce him to the group.

Nahara receives the Symbol of Ravenkind, one of the three key treasures in Curse of Strahd.

We see just how good Fen is with children.

**Firsts:**

Uriah’s first telepathic conversation with Valentine.

The first time Tatyana can also see Cat-Tregrum.

The first time nearly the entire party wants to kill a non-aggressive NPC within an hour of meeting him.

We meet Hildi, a party favourite NPC.

**Crit Count:** 2 successes, 1 failure (Hildi when she tried to show off her slingshot for Fen)

**Memorable Lines:**

Tatyana: Okay, maybe just small pillow…

Fen: No, you gave it up, Tatyana. You made your choice.

Tatyana: Okay, okay.

Uriah: I don’t mind–I just–

Fen: No, no, Uriah. She made a choice.

Uriah: Well, I do appreciate it. I have a very bony bottom.

Tatyana: I noticed.

Uriah: Wait, am I hearing you in my head? No, I was also speaking in my head. This is very odd!

Valentine: Sorry, didn’t realize it was your first time. …Wow, the inside of your head is…loud and anxious, and…

Uriah: Sorry. I’m…sorry?

Saige: I’m gonna go ahead and pop on out of that!

Tatyana: If you see Freyja, please tell her… (growls and bites)

Nahara: Did you get that?

Fen: I got it, but is that meant in more of a “I’ll fight you later?” or “I’ll *see* you later”?

Tatyana: Freyja knows.

Valentine: It’s usually both.

**Previous TL;DR:** Episode 5 - Weapons of Last Resort