Episode 30: Plotting Before Blotting

**Episode 30: Plotting Before Blotting** (C1E30) is the thirtieth episode of the first campaign of The Table is Yours: A Role-playing Adventure Show. The Faded Fates mull over the upcoming fight with Balthazar di Marte...

## Synopsis

### Regrets & Romance

Codex watches as One contemplates using the ring to bring back her brother. One explains her brother Ezra died and her sibling Axel was injured in the same event when they were younger, and she’s always wished Ezra could be there, alive. Codex tells One she wouldn’t hesitate if it was her own brother but asks One if she thinks Ezra would want to be brought back. One explains it was her fault Ezra died; One brought Ezra (and Axel) to look for something where they shouldn’t have been, and Ezra expressed he didn’t want to be there and then died. Codex gives One the space to talk more about her siblings, and she shares that Axel was unhinged and Ezra was younger, smarter, and was always more level-headed. Maude walks into the bathhouse as One finishes talking about her siblings, and Codex and One direct her to where she wants to be.

Wash finds Codex in her room and confesses he has feelings for her. Codex asks him why, and Wash responds to her saying he feels comfortable around her, and he doesn’t feel like he needs to be on guard when with her. Codex tells Wash she thinks he is “cool”, and she explains she has never been in a relationship before. Wash relays to her what happened while they were both in the temple with the Lady of Want, and Codex reveals she’s never been kissed before. Wash tells her they don’t need to count that kiss, and as nervous as Codex is, she kisses Wash’s cheek as they agree to take things slow and figure it out as they go along.

### Plan A & Plan B

Meanwhile, Fiara, Cazamir, Shae, and Isa sit together in the bar. Fiara starts explaining she and Cazamir are “high risk” in the impending battle because Balthazar can expose them as vampires or, at worst, kill them. She continues saying Balthazar has nothing to lose and no ties to influence his decisions. Shae asks what the Faded Fates can do for the di Martes when they go up against Balthazar. Fiara tells Isa and Shae that Balthazar likes to monologue, and making him think he already won after blotting out the sun will be helpful in their plan.

Fiara begins explaining the plan in detail this time; Fiara pulls out the Tome of Berengar, which Isa clocks as a religious artifact containing information regarding the Fair Father’s rise to power and texts consistent with the current theocracy of Zobraria. Fiara tells Isa and Shae that she and Cazamir reworked a passage to nullify instead of eradicate the undead, which will bind Balthazar when he is weakened. Fiara tells Isa if the nullification spell doesn’t work, she and the Faded Fates have the ‘okay’ to kill Balthazar. Fiara mentions, to end the conversation, she and Cazamir have a backup plan to self-destruct and destroy all undead. Cazamir and Isa remain silent for the duration of the discussion.

### Ring Around the Rose-colored Glasses

One meets up with Fiara in the dining room of the keep and tells her she is thinking of using the diamond to bring back her brother, Ezra. Fiara tells One it is ultimately her choice with what to wish for with the diamond; Fiara talks about what she lost and focuses on the utopia of Ponteugh, her whole home and village was destroyed for not being worshippers of the Fair Father. Ponteugh remained as ruins. Fiara says she’d simply wish for it all back if it were that easy, but it isn’t. The wish itself doesn’t have a catch; life does. She makes it clear she believes if the root of the problem isn’t eradicated that it isn’t worth making a wish to bring back what she’d lost because she can’t risk the same thing happening again. Fiara asks One, “Is the root of your problem gone? Will he (Ezra) be safe when he’s back?”.

One tells Fiara that she dragged her brother with her to the Prothonotary of the Neremont Society to investigate Lady Serafima. One wanted to understand and learn what Lady Serafima was doing in the Wilds and knew that her taxes didn’t line up the way they should. Ezra died while they were investigating, and One tells Fiara she’s the one to be blamed. Ezra never wanted to be there. Fiara apologizes on the behalf of the society and tells One she should focus on the Onyx Obscurity for information like that. One thanks her for being so honest and understanding, and she decides to save the diamond for its intended purpose, un-blotting the sun, and wait for the next diamond to potentially wish back Ezra. One tells Fiara that it is possible to find pleasure in the chaos, which makes Fiara smile. Fiara asks One about v2, and they stay in the dining room enjoying each other’s company.

### Healing & Hypocrites

Isa asks the Faded Fates what they need from the market, tells them it is on her dime, and forces Cazamir to accompany her on the shopping trip. She wants to know if she can heal him before they fight Balthazar together. Cazamir looks at the sun, shrugs, and reminds her he is a different kind of vampire/undead, but he isn’t sure. He rolls up his sleeve and allows Isa to nick him on the arm with a dagger. She tries to use her Lay on Hands ability, and it is successful. Cazamir smirks and says he “really didn’t think that would work”. Isa rolls her eyes and is satisfied, but then they start discussing the earlier conversation between Fiara and Shae.

Isa asks, “so it’s fine for you to not value your life, but I can’t be willing to give my own?”. Cazamir essentially says yes. Isa tells Cazamir it makes her sad he is going into the fight ready to die, and Cazamir responds by saying the exact same thing to her.  He understands why she feels that way, and Isa tells him she understands why he feels that way, but that he is important. Cazamir tells Isa he didn’t say he wasn’t important, he just said the mission needed to be a success. Cazamir says Balthazar is just trying to be bigger and scarier than the problem in Zobraria, which won’t fix it. Cazamir continues that he trusts the Faded Fates will do whatever it takes to get the job done even if he and Fiara die, but he genuinely hopes it doesn’t come to that. He finishes his mini-rant and tells Isa if they “win” the battle, the Faded Fates will be safer from Orathia because of their popularity, and they may even be recognized by the King! Isa does not care much about that, but she tells Cazamir she hopes he wins. Cazamir tells her he hopes they will win.

### Final Preparations

Meanwhile, Shae visits the Dark Turn to collect the gauntlets she ordered. A man there named Harrison produces the order, and Shae mentions she knows a Rousseau. When Harrison realizes Shae is talking about Connie, he asks Shae to pass on a message: “It’s your fault”. He continues and warns Shae that Connie “loves cracking other people”.

Back at the keep, Terrance is working on propagating various mushrooms from Murkside. Codex knocks on his door and abruptly asks for dating advice, which greatly surprises Terrance. She tells Terrance Wash confessed his feelings for her, and she kind of wants to go on a date with him. Terrance agrees to give her advice, and later, asks Wash if he needed dating advice, too. Wash declines.

The Faded Fates gather in the dining room with the di Martes as they rehash the information about the Tome and the plan they already told Shae and Isa earlier in the day. Codex says Balthazar invited everyone to the location of the Summit graduation, and she tells the party she wants to go alone. Everyone disagrees, and they decide they will accompany her but let her go speak with him first. They know Balthazar wants to put on a show, and they vow to give him one. They disperse from the table, and everyone rests. In the morning, they make sure they are on the same page about when and how to use the diamond to wish for the sun back after Balthazar carries out his plan. Fiara advises to wait until Balthazar is injured before making the wish. Everyone agrees, and they all start in the direction of Summit.