Episode 27 - The Vault

## Episode Synopsis

### Recap

The crew started their battle against Bubba under the castle. Bubba was able to summon and control hundreds of arcane eyes as a security system. The team hatched a plan and were able to kill Bubba and continue on their heist. After some sneaking and trap triggering, they reached the large statue of Veroulias. Zippy activated the symbol on the statue and they were sucked into a black void. They landed on an island with a cottage, solved a puzzle and found information and journal entries from Veroulias about the black bunny. They learn their name is Sars Gong before they left and used a wand to create an earth bridge leading to a large gated area full of grand treasure clues, the vault.

### Episode Summary

The large construct stands before them and on closer inspection, they see four glowing eyes and a wide mouth. They all recognise this resembles a Wesnian. Dariun notices a small stone tablet in its hands as Zippy points out that it's eyes seem to be looking at him. Zippy walks to the left and Dariun to the right. The two bottom eyes move and follow Zippy and Dariun while the other two eyes watch Norman. Norman creates a minor illusion of a crow and it lands on the construct. It slowly blinks but does not otherwise react. Dariun tries to communicate to the construct but it doesn't respond. Zippy holds up his hand with the symbol and all four of the construct's eyes blink. Dariun inspects the tablet and sees it says; Remember Veroulias, the price of greed is something no one person can pay. Zippy kicks it and the metal clangs but it doesn't move.

Norman looks around an spots the piano key within a beam barrier atop one of the ziggurats. The team move on to get it and Norman thinks about all the Greeders lives who have gone to waste looking for grand treasure clues when they've been locked away here. He also speculates that many grand treasures have been found and that people keep that power hidden. Dariun wonders how that would be possible, if powers of that magnitude could possibly be kept hidden away. Dariun checks for the first piano key in his bag as they walk to the tall staircase.

During their walk, Dariun hears the rockie walkie at his hips. Robin communicates in saying she believes she might have seen Sauriel. Dariun asks where they were going but she does not know. Zippy notices Dariun's grip has tightened on the rockie walkie and asks him to calm down. Dariun tells her to keep in contact before hanging up. He puts the rockie walkie back and feels on edge. The space seems off. He rests his hand on the katana. Dariun feels a warm breath behind him and when he turns he feels pain in his arm as something has bitten down. Dariun shakes this creature as he flings his invisible dog like creature away. Dariun draws the katana as Zippy starts ascending the stairs and he also feels a warm breath. He darts back and the invisible creature brushes past him.

Dariun swings his blade at the creature and blood spurts out from thin air. Norman feels the warm air behind him and he spins, grabbing the creature and holding it to the ground. He starts to suffocate it as the invisibility starts to fade and they see three wargs. They hear footsteps behind them and see a half masked individual, Peterson. They tower over and the cloak and armour they wear is singed and burned from his encounter with Norman. They see another figure holding onto Peterson, a chameleon with a pulsating blue flower on their head. The chameleon falls to their knees and the flower stops pulsating, they recognise the same person they met at Tikul, Wells the chameleon.

Zippy tries to talk to Peterson who ignores him and continues to walk. Their neck cracks and they stand tall. Behind the mask, they hear Lou Blonger's voice. He greets them all, explaining how it was simple to follow them to get to the grand treasure clues. Dariun tells him he has no right to use Peterson that way and Lou tells them Peterson would be dead if it weren't for him. Norman reminds Lou that every time they faced off, they sent him packing. Lou remembers this however notes that these encounters have often led to a positive for himself. Tikul has now embraced the Ammow pill to fight off the insectoids who have also all taken the pill. He also thanks them for dealing with Sauriel, allowing him to use the Gazer symbols for distribution of the pills around Ome.

Lou explains he took them all much to lightly before and will not be making the same mistake again. Zippy tells him he can't agree with his views or those of his ancestors. Lou laughs before Dariun asks Wells why he is doing this. Wells tells them he is weak and the Ammow company saved his life. He scolds the team for helping Apophis and Norman reminds him they saved his life. Wells just shakes his head and Lou tells them they have misunderstood his goals. He only provides the tools, never forces anyone to take it. Soon everyone will want this for themselves of their own will. Lou reminds them of Jadus issues and evils and Dariun tells him how he doesn't agree with what Jadu has done but that does not condone his actions or plans.

Lou speculates that Zippy has been talking a lot, poisoning their minds. He offers an invitation to Norman and Dariun, all Dariun needs to take off his anklet, giving him more power than the others combined. Wells asks to leave to finish what he needs to do. Lou grants his leave and Wells starts to cloak and leaves. Dariun radios to the team, telling them to watch out for Apophis. Lou tells the three of them if they don't make the right decision, they will all die here. He offers them the chance to leave but they don't take it.

Zippy casts hold person and Lou tells them they will give them back their friend for now. Lou gives Norman and Dariun 30 minutes. Norman starts to run up the stairs when Peterson starts to struggle. Dariun runs forwards to hit, Zippy holds his hands out, holding Peterson in the spell and the wargs start to move. Norman goes up the first 20 steps to a plateau. Suddenly everything around them goes black. All but the stair case. Flickering lights come around in the blackness, making the area around them look like a stary night sky. They hear a sound, a voice in the distance.

*In the beginning, this reality was empty. Then out of that emptiness two gods were formed, Domy and Nobus. Together they weaved together the astral plane and constructed the foundation of all worlds within it. However, after creating the cosmos they decided to form life. From this, the first living beings were made and christened as the beasts of creation. Domy and Nobus were pleased with their work, but Nobus grew curious. Nobus approached Domy with a simple question. What if we could create more beings like us? Both were fascinated with the idea and attempted to generate another god. But not even they could perform such a feat. Nobus spent a millennia thinking of ways to create divine beings, but could not find an answer. Domy then came to Nobus with a new thought; if we cannot create other gods, let us become them. And the first division occurred…*

The voice trails off and further up the stairwell looking down at Norman is the construct. The scene around them changes and they see a familiar sight. The breathing chasm. They see themselves, Blackjack and Yogurt, all fighting to get the golden passes for Aurum so long ago. Only the staircase of the ziggurat and the construct remain of the vault in the scene they see around them. Even with the scene change, the combat continues. Dariun swings his fists at Peterson, hitting him three times. Norman turns to the others, asking if they'll be okay without him. Zippy tells Norman to keep going and he also sends out his magic carpet to Norman. Norman sings a song to Dariun, giving him a bardic inspiration. Norman hops on the flying carpet and continues up. Zippy sees the three wargs and behind, he sees the past version of himself and his team running around.

Zippy sees a flash and hears the moment he was charmed by Norman in the breathing chasm. He looks over and sees Norman charming his past self and starts to feel a little out of it. He can't hold it off and he is charmed. Two wargs run up the stairs after Norman as another runs and chomps down on his leg, causing him to drop hold person. Peterson stands tall and he looks pissed. Peterson tries to tackle Dariun but he dodges to the side. Peterson continues their momentum and they see thorns starting to grow on his skin up their arm and they shoot out towards Norman. Norman turns, furls his cloak and the thorns go into his void cloak.

Dariun tackles Peterson down to the ground as he tries to run up the stairs. Dariun punches Peterson then tries to pull off the mask from Peterson's face which seems to be stuck. Norman is flying up, over top of the construct and the scene around them shifts again. The scene goes black. They hear Norman speaking to Dawson in the music shop, Zippy speaking to the queen of Aurum, the team talking to Turi about getting Colm. Norman searching for Yogi in the castle, Dariun torturing Berryl. Zippy meeting Colm after being captured, speaking to Odin and Kendula as they are given a scale and finally Zippy seeing the strange glowing grapes in a crate. The darkness fades away and they are on the streets of Aurum. The hustle and bustle goes on but no one notices them. Norman is back at the bottom of the staircase and the construct is further up the staircase. Norman tries again, giving Zippy an inspiration as he flies up again.

Zippy breaks out of the charm but he notices that his carrot peeler dagger is pressed up against his neck with his own hand. He puts both of his hands on the ground and Zippy transmutes the rock of the ground to mud. The wargs start sinking into the mud and even the ones chasing Norman are tripping. Dariun continues to restrain Peterson down and he hears behind him, some doors open and the eyes of the construct flash. Dariun hears himself, drinking his troubles away in the bar. He feels like he is becoming drunk in the present and he suddenly feels completely intoxicated. His grip loosens and Peterson slips out. Dariun sways up, runs at Peterson and drunkenly swings the pummel of his blade, hitting him twice. After hitting him, Peterson looks noticeably bloodied. Dariun slips and falls into the mud, face first.

Norman flies up past the construct and he almost reaches the barrier then it all goes black again. They hear a strange voice speaking about the broken divine paths. Then Farren pleading to the team in Aurum after the election and then Turi showing them to the first grand treasure and the scene changes. They are on top of the cube that housed the first grand treasure. They see Mir and Turi fighting and themselves, fighting a masked Farren. Norman appears at the bottom of the stairs and the construct is further up the stairs. He gives Dariun another inspiration. Dariun's face rises, caked in mud as he thanks Norman through slurred speech.

Zippy rushes over to Dariun and casts freedom of movement on him. Dariun shakes his head and picks himself up, unsteadily bringing himself to balance. Zippy casts cure wounds on Dariun before the wargs break free out of the mud. Peterson moves himself and kicks Dariun in the face before he scrambles to his feet and throws something into the mud. Out of the ground, red mushrooms grow. Dariun goes forwards and slams Peterson with his fists twice. The mask falls off and Peterson covers his face.

Another flash, Norman sees Mir and Turi fighting besides them and a chain slams down on the group of them in the past. He feels the air in front of him slice as he pulls the breaks on the magic carpet, narrowly dodging the attack. He continues on and gets to the key. When he reaches it, everything goes black again. They hear Peterson's first introductions to the team after Norman's death, Leslie singing his love song for Lara, Zippy's spread eagle moment on the mountain, Lesob speaking with Peterson, the mechanos asking for help as they become self-aware. Day one of Dracken's training, The Red Bandit in the mushroom, Dariun using his bubble cloak in the fight with Auto then when he said farewell to Switch. The scene changes to the Auto battle scene and the construct stands as a tall in place of Auto. The chain slams down at train Leslie and the present team also must dodge.

Dariun sobers up and he, as well as Norman, dodge to the side but Zippy and Peterson are hit with the chain. The train comes around the staircase, which is much shorter than before. Zippy recalls what happened in the snow when Peterson got thrown off the train back then so he runs into the snow. Dariun sees the wargs are running, trying to find a way out of the memories. Peterson holds his face, he pulls out a totem and throws it at the mushrooms. They light up and Dariun feels the air becoming thicker and harder to breathe. Peterson them pulls out a jar with a milky white substance, Dariun recognises this a Sovren glue. Peterson throws it at Dariun but he dodges away.

Dariun dashes over and slashes his first attack at the totem. He cuts it in two and the air returns to normal. He then turns back to Peterson and swings the katana, activating planar warrior and aims at a non-vital part. Dariun sees Peterson's gaunt face and he stares at Dariun, pain in his eyes. Norman reaches out and comes to the barrier. He pushes on it and feels it's like rubber. He looks at his tattoos, willing himself to do this on his own and not with the help of Royce. He punches the barrier and it ripples. Norman takes off the bandages covering his bad arm, revealing the Level tattoo. He grabs his bad hand and pushes it into the barrier.

Zippy has stationed himself in the snow and the train comes by. Peterson flies off the train and falls next to Zippy. Zippy runs over and tries to communicate with him. Peterson looks up, asking if Zippy had been knocked off the train with him. Zippy tells him he jumped off to make sure he was okay, telling him they look after each other and will always be there for each other. Peterson looks into Zippy's eyes and then at his chest. Through furious goblin eyes, he asks who did that to him and Zippy tells him it doesn't matter. He holds out his hand and Peterson takes it, standing up. Zippy tells Peterson that no matter what happens, he can always rely on them and they will always forgive him. Zippy then casts heal. A surge of positive energy flows through Peterson.

Dariun is looking at the Peterson in the present and his cuts and wounds start to heal. His head bows and tears fall into the mud from Peterson's face. Norman feels his hand grows as the Level tattoo activates but the barrier pushes him back. The area fades away again and a new scene. Coming to Rasha, speaking to Chanzog, Zippy in the second grand treasure, Chris reading a book within the great library. Finally, the large cloaked being giving Zippy the paper boat in the deep depths of the second grand treasure. The scene has changes to a dome like area made with books. The large hand reaches out in the scene with a paper boat hat on it. Between the cracks of the walls, they see the glowing eyes of the construct. There are only ten steps to reach the barrier.

The wargs are dispelled and Peterson looks up at all of them and they start to speak, emotions coming through but nothing is heard. Zippy remembers in the belly of the second grand treasure, he could not hear anything. Peterson is becoming frustrated and Dariun puts his hands on Peterson's shoulders and try to recenter him. He tries to indicate to Peterson that they can't hear him because of where they are. Peterson calms down and Dariun pulls him into a hug. Peterson cries into his shoulder, shaking before he hugs him back. He pushes him back and tries to indicate they have to go. Dariun turns to Norman towards the piano key. Norman walks up the final flight of stairs as Zippy comes over to Peterson and Dariun.

Peterson turns to Dariun and Zippy, pointing towards where his blue rose curse is on his butt. Norman tries to push through the barrier but he can't get through alone. Peterson's eyes go wide and Dariun can see thorns crawling up his neck. Dariun immediately pulls off his star metal ring and slides it onto his hand. Peterson's blood shot eyes look at the ring and the thorns retract. He at Dariun and Zippy and falls forwards unconscious.

The scene changes again, Zippy emotionally talking about his sheet to Lou, Dariun crying at Peterson's dead body at Bayside and then Lou giving his speech to Zippy on the beach. The scene has changed to a familiar place, the beach at Bayside but the whole place is destroyed. Palm trees broken and flaming, waves crash violently and large craters along the sandy shore. Standing in the center of the beach is Lou Blonger, kneeling at a wounded Peterson. A giant boar lays on its side, near dead and full of holes. Lou speaks to Peterson after they had departed. Lou tells Peterson the world needs shortcuts, knowing that he understand what he is talking about, saying how Peterson has been chased by this thing forever. He asks Peterson to make sure his tribe is the last to fall corruption. He offers Peterson help rebuild what he has lost. That is the future he wants to see, asking him not to allow other people whisper in his ear. It is all about working together. Lou holds his hand to Peterson and he clasps it and the two of them go walking back into Bayside.

There are no more steps to the key, only the pedestal and barrier. Norman approaches the barrier, waiting for Dariun and Zippy. They all stand around and put a hand on it. They push and push and the barrier bend and breaks. Pushing and pushing with all of their might, time starts to slow and the piano key is so close. Every ounce of strength they have left. Out of the corner of their eye, the construct watches. Memories of their adventure starts to play in their heads. All of their past successes leading to this moment. They feel a deep inspiration in their souls and they know they can do this. The barrier breaks and the piano key is there to take.

The scene fades away and they are back atop the ziggurat. Dariun tells them there is no way they are going for another treasure and they all agree. They put them into the bag of holding and the rockie walkie goes off. Robin comes into the radio, saying it wasn't Sauriel then Randy who is saying they need to come out now. They team leave, unconscious Peterson in tow. They come out of the statue and into the main hall. Robin is gone and they see what looks like snow falling. When it gets closer, Zippy and Dariun knows that this is the same blue flower pollen Karen let off in the snail. They then see, coming from around a corner, a grey skinned genasi with a red bandana covering their eyes and nose. They invite them to have a talk before Randy comes over the radio, announcing a real dragon is here.

## Quotations

* Dariun "*Such is the nature of being a Greeder I guess.*"

* Norman "*I think many* [Grand Treasures] *have been found, I just think most people are too smart to let people know.*"

* Norman "*Gods are made every day.*"

* Zippy "*Guys, you ever think you're like the main character of the story? Well that’s why we're here! Cause we're the main characters!*"

* Dariun "*We may owe you* [Lou Blonger] *a suit, but you owe us a friend.*"

* Connor "*This is a fate of the dice moment right here!*"

* Seth "*Really makes the prep worth it when you get payoff like this!*"

* Jacob "*Bring back drunk Dariun!*"

* Zippy "*Any hurt that can come my way, especially from friends, it can all the forgiven. As long as those friends just still wanna be friends.*"

* Zippy "*No matter what situation you find yourself in and no matter what hardship come your way… You can always rely on us, and well always forgive you.*"

## Featured Characters

### Main Cast

* Norman D
* Dariun Branch
* Zippy Westborrough
* Peterson

### Returning Characters

* Robin
* Peterson
* Chameleon - Wells
* Lou Blonger
* Blackjack\*
* Yogurt\*
* Dawson\*
* Berryl\*
* Colm\*
* Odin\*
* Kendula\*
* Farren\*
* Turi\*
* Chris\*
* Chanzog\*
* Leslie\*
* Dracken\*
* The Red Bandit
* Robin
* Randy

\*Characters appearing in flash backs

## Locations

* The Vault
* Jadu