2328

## Episodes

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## **STRANGE BEDFELLOWS**

* **MEETING WITH MANAGEMENT**
	+ The group is waiting for RODRICK to arrive to get them access back into the CITADEL
	+ In the meantime, CU has left them at the door
	+ CLAYMONT, due to RODRICK’s caution, is concerned that GROVER may be THREDUIN who they apparently cannot trust now
		- SKITTER makes a strong case as to how GROVER timeline does not match up with THREDUIN’s at all
	+ SKITTER then steps away from the group to contact GAGDRINKIN
		- He attempts to use his BONFIRE spell, but fire magic still eludes him since he was killed by THE WINTER QUEEN
		- He uses a ladder from his ROBE OF USEFUL ITEMS as a source of wood and good old fashion flint & steel
		- GAGDRINIKIN arrives in the provided vessel of smoke and fire, surprised to see SKITTER alive
		- SKITTER shares that they were trapped in the FEYWILD
		- The fiend shares that his hand was forced to seek others to help in collecting the MALIGNANT SIX, but does not share details
	+ SKITTER shares that they were successful in capturing EDIN
		- GAGDRINKIN demands to see the trap
		- CLAYMONT is hesitant to come close enough when SKITTER asks him to show the CREEL
		- Eventually CLAYMONT places it on the ground nearby and GAGDRINKIN responds with a rare moment of glee
		- He instructs SKITTER to see that EDIN is deposited into the CONTAINMENT UNIT immediately
		- With that, he reluctantly thanks SKITTER and quickly disappears, extinguishing the fire
	+ GORIN shares that he suspects the RELENTLESS were called in to help, but others do not see how that could be if they were in the FEYWILD as well

* **NEW TEAMS & PROCEDURES**
	+ The group settles in for the night with a fire and BEHLEN offers to hold most of the watch
		- BEHLEN does sense creatures watching from above the canyon
		- Luckily, he does not notice any sign that they are finding a way down to them
		- Eventually he hears the sound of an approaching sleds with no animal sounds and wakes the group
	+ RODRICK has arrived with 3 dogless sleds along with 3 others
		- GORIN asks about his group, and RODRICK explains they are the “B TEAM”
		- BARNUS, a larger looking DWARF armed with an axe with a look similar to SNARBOLI’s crew
		- JARDROG, a smaller DWARF who is adorned with tools and pockets all over his cold weather outfit
		- NORMSTRA, a bookish looking Human with a sack overflowing with scrolls
	+ RODRICK directs NORMSTRA to evaluate GROVER who then shares that there is no signs of magical deception present
	+ RODRICK then asks to speak with the PCs privately
		- He explains that after he exploded, he awoke on the LAC DINNESHERE with THREDUIN
		- It was the place he remembers taking on the abominations RAVING RUIN sent after they acquired the CAULDRON
		- THREDUIN seemed “different” to him
		- When he brought up SKITTER and the imprisonment they had been freed of, THREDUIN tried to kill him
		- He seemed to be more powerful then he had ever let on before
		- RODRICK feels strongly that THREDUIN has been manipulating them since the beginning
	+ Eager to get out of the cold, they make their way to walk and talk as they get into the CITADEL
* **SITE MANAGER FEEDBACK**
	+ CU arrives to evaluate everyone before they enter
	+ RODRICK leads them through the CITADEL but prioritizes a visit to the LIEGE LORD FLINTLOCK
	+ His GREAT HALL is filled with dwarves including DWOZZOC and UDUT
	+ Again, they are confirmed to not be concealing their identities by DWOZZOC and are free to approach the throne
	+ They are welcomed back, all relieved to know they are alive, but are cautioned
		- The CITDEL has tightened security due to the challenges of the past year
		- He refers to ZEX’s infiltration combined with persistent raid attempts by the DRUIDS OF THE ACCORD
		- Exceptions to enter the CITADEL will not be made lightly
* **REVIEWING CORE COMPETENCIES**
	+ They are then led back to the CONTAINMENT UNIT with RODRICK, DWOZZOC & UDUT
	+ The team sees that LUNMID and LOTHAR still guard the room
	+ Within, CU is there to great them, standing in front of a glowing CONTAINMENT UNIT
		- CLAYMONT takes the lead in uploading EDIN
	+ RODRICK reveals more about what has happened regarding ZEX and FOGAH
		- Some of the dwarves, led by a woman named JAKHALDA, with eyes on control of the CONTAINMENT UNIT
		- The plot was discovered before they could act on it, but JAKHALDA fled
		- After all the witnesses’ facts were put together, they concluded they had their first run in with ZEX
		- Shortly after, FOGAH went AWOL, leading the team to believe he was manipulated by ZEX
	+ RODRICK then moves back to THREDUIN
		- He asks if any of them remember how they met THREDUIN
		- He shares that he can’t place why he was with them or why they didn’t question his incompetence
		- When they had gain consciousness on the ice of LAC DINNESHERE, something seemed off about him
		- RODRICK realized after the encounter what he had picked up on
		- He was seeing a menacing expression on THREDUIN’s face, one he’d never seen before, but fit the lines of his face
		- RODRICK then points to the scar on his face, a reminder of being left for dead on the lake