Escapades of Betrayal

*Snake Eyes*

"**Escapades of Betrayal**" is the 4th episode of *Snake Eyes* Campaign One. It premiered on June 26th, 2021 on the Check Republic's Twitch channel and on YouTube on June 28th, and features the characters Jaculus and Pae'dor.

## Summary

Jaculus makes a daring escape from captivity with the harpy Pidge, but the two abductees find themselves in an unknown land. Elsewhere, Pae'dor learns about their true nature, and must once again fend for themself.

## Synopsis

### Part I: Jaculus

Jaculus remains caged in a warehouse in a region of Obeddore unknown to him, alongside a fellow prisoner, the young harpy Hester (aka Pidge, the beloved missing sister whom Lavi has been seeking). Jaculus, sampling the meager food provided to him over the three days of his captivity, agrees with Pidge's suspicion that it has been spiked with an unknown additive.

Jaculus and Pidge bond as they share details of their homelands and early lives. Jaculus explains that in his hometown of Hacisi, he was considered a bringer of good fortune, owing (at least in part) to the rarity of his race. Pidge in turn confesses that she left Saerrica after recognizing the high amount of community prejudice against her due to her unpopular breed – prejudice from which Lavi had always shielded her. Pidge's desire to unburden her elder sister of that responsibility prompted her to run away. Jaculus assures Pidge that nothing is wrong with her, and reassures her that they will escape their predicament.

Using a quill provided by Pidge from her own tail feathers, Jaculus is able to masterfully disable the locks of their respective cages, freeing them both. Despite his inner uncertainty about how to proceed, Jaculus promises to keep Pidge safe. The escapees move as stealthily as they can through the warehouse, observing several strangely-dressed guards as they search for an exit. Using his vastly superior weight and the element of surprise, Jaculus disables one of the guards, loots his pockets, and (in a final humiliation) strips him naked.

Entering an unlocked storage room, the escapees recover Jaculus's weapons and gear, along with Pidge's clothing. Jaculus also discovers a stash of the harpy eggs produced by Pidge under the effects of the altered food, which he smashes. Jaculus attempts to pick the locks to two adjacent doors, but without success. As he opens the door back to the main part of the warehouse, Jaculus draws the attention of two more guards, who have discovered the unconscious body of one of their comrades and are rousing him. Jaculus closes the door and readies his weapons.

Jaculus and the lead guard exchange a few words, but when it becomes clear that the serpentes has no intention of surrendering, he begins bashing down the door. Jaculus allows him to burst through and effortlessly cuts him down. Seeing the man turned into sushi, the stripped-down guard flees, leaving only one guard, who attacks Jaculus with a club. Jaculus brings him down in another flash of swordplay.

After looting the bodies of the guards, Jaculus and Pidge make their way outside into an unfamiliar settlement – one with cold, hard-packed ground that is quite different from the familiar desert environment of Sejun). They quickly draw the attention of the downtrodden-looking locals, who react to Jaculus with astonishment and reverence, speaking in a language that Jaculus does not know. Jaculus and Pidge, thoroughly disoriented from their ordeal, attempt to get their bearings as they finally get to the outskirts of the city, where they see farmland stretching all around. Pidge belatedly reveals that she understood the locals, whom she explains were speaking a dialect of Vilish (and calling Jaculus "pretty"). They are still unable to identify the city, but can see that it is large and heavily-populated, with a particularly sprawling section of slums and bustling trade activity. There is also a waterfront, and the presence of ships.

At a loss and with no knowledge of geography, Jaculus invites Pidge (whose knowledge is only slightly superior) to take the lead, vowing again to protect her wherever they go. The two head back into town to seek more information and a good meal.

### Part II: Pae'dor

#### Celebrations and Goals

In Fylion in the Emerald Forest, Pae'dor is waiting for their guardian/older brother/surrogate father figure, Ferrith. Ferrith soon appears with the bounty from their successful bandit hunt, and the two celebrate their victory in the town's tavern, The Goodberry, with a large and sumptuous meal. Over their feast, Ferrith explains the basic concepts of trade and commerce, along with the related concepts of theft, and their roles in wider society. Pae'dor samples alcohol for the first time, choosing one of the two beverages offered them that have the least odor.

Ferrith asks Pae'dor what they want in life; Pae'dor expresses a desire for additional pelts (owing to their wolf nature), but also for a deeper sense of "belonging". Ferrith emphasizes that Pae'dor is welcome to stay in Fylion for as long as they like. Pae'dor turns the question around, and Ferrith explains that he wants to become the best hunter in Fylion, and to eventually find love and start a family. Pae'dor innocently inquires about what it's like to want to be with another person; Ferrith attempts to explain, but leaves Pae'dor more confused than ever.

Ferrith reveals that there are other villages outside of Fylion, which excites Pae'dor, and fills them with a desire to see those settlements for themself. Ferrith further explains that High Elves, such as those who live in the city of Orineska, may not particularly like individuals such as himself and Pae'dor, describing them as "less friendly" than wood elves; he elaborates on the differences between the two related Elven races, at least as he (in his biased fashion) perceives them.

The two return to Ferrith's house. Pae'dor, intoxicated for the first time, is alarmed to see the door hanging open, and they prepare for battle; however, they soon discover that nothing is amiss, and that Ferrith has in fact had a new full-size bed delivered for them, along with a brand new, high-quality compound hunting bow. The two happily fall asleep.

#### A New Bounty

The following day, Ferrith announces that he and Pae'dor will be pursuing a new and highly-lucrative bounty that has just been posted. Owing to the mission's dangers, Ferrith suggests that they bring along additional adventurers for support; despite still being uncomfortable with the other villagers, Pae'dor agrees in order to ensure Ferrith's safety. Ferrith quickly enlists the services of Kyrenic, the healer who had tended to Pae'dor's wounds when they first arrived in town, and the three of them head south out of town.

#### Ruined Places

Ferrith outlines the bounty: a group of six or seven bandits has taken up residence in a set of old ruins nearby, and the bounty mission is to either kill the bandit leader or drive the group away. After several hours, the adventurers arrive at the abandoned site: a whole town's worth of stone buildings that appear to have been toppled over. Ferrith identifies their location as Odorell, a settlement that has been gone since long before he was born. Approaching stealthily, they overhear several of the bandits discussing an unknown device with which the bandits are seeking an equally unclear quarry.

Pae'dor takes aim at one of the two bandits, but their shot goes wide, alerting the bandits to the presence of Pae'dor and their companions. Battle commences; the first two bandits both have terrible luck with their attacks, but their companions quickly rush to defend them. Ferrith engages with his bow, and Kyrenic, after casting a helpful spell on Pae'dor, enters the fray with his scimitar. The bandit leader spots Pae'dor and shouts that they are "one of" an unspecified "them", establishing that Pae'dor (or someone somehow like them) is the target of the bandits' hunt.

#### Ruined Bonds

The bandit leader holds up his hand, upon which is the aforementioned device – a ring, glowing white with magical energy. He points towards Pae'dor, again excitedly declaring that the once-feral hunter is "one of them". Pae'dor is understandably confused. As the battle continues, Ferrith is heavily wounded; Pae'dor retaliates by slaying Ferrith's primary attacker. The bandit leader attempts to stop the fight, offering to pay for Pae'dor, who, mindful of the larger bounty for the bandit's head, fights on. Another bandit is killed, causing the leader to fling away the ring and try to flee; Ferrith cuts him down with a well-shot arrow, ending the fight. Pae'dor and Ferrith celebrate their victory, while Kyrenic recovers the ring.

As Pae'dor approaches in curiosity, they feel their skin begin to itch, as if they're having an allergic reaction. Ferrith and Kyrenic both watch in shock as Pae'dor's skin turns a milky, pale white and their fingernails vanish. Pae'dor, scared, begs Ferrith for help, but Ferrith only steps away in fear, as Kyrenic drops a bombshell: "It's a Changeling."

#### Alone Again

Kyrenic expresses disbelief that Pae'dor exists, noting that Odorell, a Changeling settlement, had been destroyed precisely to eradicate that race. Pae'dor turns to Ferrith for help, but Ferrith simply throws a few meager ration packs at the feet of the person he had declared to be family, explaining in cowardly fashion that if anyone in the village were to discover Pae'dor's true nature, both Pae'dor and Ferrith would be killed. As Pae'dor begs the two elves not to abandon them, Kyrenic and Ferrith slouch away, leaving the innocent creature once again scared, alone, fending for themself. As they scrounge for supplies from the dead human bandits, their appearance shifts to that of a human.

## Key Points

### Plot & Lore

* The warehouse guards are repeatedly described as wearing odd- or strange-looking clothes, specifically ones embroidered with an unknown symbol: an oval burst symbol with lines coming out of the bottom.
* The warehouse guards refer to Jaculus as a "catalyst".
* The dispersal of different temperatures and climates across the Southern Continent is notably bizarre, not following the natural patterns one might expect.
* Ferrith knows of the existence and location of Prae'si'dium, suggesting that its secrecy, once so vital to ensuring the Protectorship, has degraded since events of the Rending.
* Wood Elves, or at least Ferrith, consider High Elves "prickly and standoffish", "not very fun", and "overly formal", in contrast to Wood Elves, who (at least by their own opinions) are closer to nature and possess greater physical abilities.
* The nature and origin of the device that allowed the bandit leader to correctly identify Pae'dor's true nature is unclear.

### Character

#### Jaculus

* Jaculus is able to "flip four birds at once". Quite a superpower.
* Despite his self-centered nature, Jaculus quickly develops deep protective instincts towards Pidge.
* Jaculus speaks five languages (Sejunese, Elven, Infernal, Serpentes, and Sylvan).
* Jaculus continues to grow closer to Pidge, responding to her affection and again promising to shield her from harm.

#### Pae'dor

* Pae'dor's literacy has improved over their time in Fylion, as they are now able to read the tavern's sign.
* They've also adopted polite social conventions, using "please" and "thank you", attempting to sit at a table in a more Elven fashion, and using their hands to eat.
* Pae'dor worries that the behavior of their wolf pack would be considered theft, as they reframe their early life through the lens of their current growth.
* Pae'dor begins to consider their own desires in life, given that they're no longer in a purely survival-oriented mode.
* Pae'dor is learning to smile. Which is adorable.
* Despite their emotional growth, Pae'dor still possesses a child-like lack of clarity on the distinction between familial and romantic affection.
* Pae'dor learns of the existence of a world outside of Fylion and the Emerald Forest, and is immediately filled with a desire to see it for themself.
* Demonstrating their continued fear of abandonment, Pae'dor's instinctual response to the removal of their first bed is to assume that Ferrith is abandoning them. Though this is the incorrect assumption at the time, their instincts sadly soon prove prophetic.

## Running Gags & Callbacks

* A wordplay reference to the phrase "Yes, please" as "a different show".
* Vera Vespid and her love of good beetles (also known by Sol as "sprinkles") are name-checked in relation to the tavern.
* High Elves are disparaged in-universe as dull – amusing Keni, who previously memorably played Sol as an enthusiastic and relentlessly positive bard.
* Pae'dor again howls in victory, and is again joined by Ferrith, only moments before the latter's great betrayal.

## Memorable Quotes

### Part I: Jaculus

* "Honestly, I think I'd love to play Pringle more because I wanna kill that bastard." – Keni
* "Okay, I understand what you're saying: in modern-day standards, it would be considered a starch. But I assure you – I assure you – that potatoes are vegetables." – Beardy, codifying Aedronic nutritional standards.
* "Yeah, I just want him to stop breathing, I want him to stop existing, I just want everyone else to stop so I can get the fuck outa here and take revenge on them bitches who captured me, because fuck them, I'm sexier than them and they were jealous." – Keni, explaining Jaculus's motivation for crushing a guard.
* "I literally had just left my home. I had a funeral, and then I got ambushed. By bitches." – Keni, providing Jaculus's backstory in brief.
* "I want them to feel very defenseless even in death." – Keni/Jaculus, on stripping dead men.
* "I'm cool. I've killed so many things!" "Two. Two things." "It feels like a lot, okay? Let me have this." – Keni and Beardy, on Jaculus finally excelling in combat after a disappointing first encounter in his previous episode.
* "He is a model on a fucking runway right now." – Keni, on Jaculus's aloof and swaggering slither.
* "This place sucks." – Jaculus, on the unfamiliar city.
* "Thank you, Auntie YaYa." – Pidge, melting the hearts of both Jaculus and Keni.

### Part II: Pae'dor

* "Well, if I have a friend, then I'm Pae'dor." – Keni, correctly guessing their session's character and setting us up for heartbreak.
* "I am out-hunting this liquid!" – Keni/Pae'dor, on their desire to master alcohol.
* "So... be good, win everything." – Pae'dor, their soul yet uncrushed, as they try to understand how the world works.
* "I will beat it next time!" – Pae'dor, drunkenly vowing vengeance on booze.
* "This [their new bow] is the most precious thing to Pae'dor now, past their attire, and their brother's skull donned with the antlers of the elk that killed him." "It's not morbid." "It's not morbid at all! It's respecting the dead!" – Keni and Beardy, on Pae'dor's prized belongings.
* "Pae'dor has been enjoying their new life. It's a little difficult sometimes, especially with the talking portion of things, but they're slowly learning to communicate, and, well, Ferrith is a really good person...." – Keni, inadvertently tempting fate.
* "This is madness! Stop this fight! You don't even understand what you've got there. Look, we can pay you!" – The bandit leader, making a play for Pae'dor.
* "It's a Changeling. They weren't supposed to be here anymore. This whole village of them was burned down." – Kyrenic, describing acts of Elven genocide.
* "I'm sorry, Pae'dor." – Ferrith. No, you're not.
* "Why? Why angry? Why? Don't understand. Please. Help." – Pae'dor, their world shattering, again.
* "Your kind is dangerous." "But Pae'dor... am strong, but still me." – Ferrith and Pae'dor.
* "Don't make me go." – Pae'dor. Ow. My heart.
* "Come with. You're home. You're my home." – Pae'dor, begging Ferrith not to abandon them.
* "I feel so betrayed! How can you do this to me?!" – Keni, to Beardy, summing up the episode nicely.

## The Dice

 5
 Jaculus
* Reflex Save
* Attack
* Attack (x2)

* Four of Jaculus's five critical hit rolls are 19, with the fifth a Nat 20.
* There is a neat symmetry in the rolls of Jaculus and Pae'dor: the former rolled a Nat 20 for an Attack and a Nat 1 for Stealth, while Pae'dor managed the exact opposite.
* Pae'dor's first crit card, "Guarded Strike" deals double damage with a +4 AC bonus for one round. It's unclear whether a crit card was drawn for their second critical hit.

## Trivia & References

* Jaculus is established to weigh 2,400 pounds (1088.622 kilograms).
* The name of the previously-anonymous Wood Elf healer from "The Wolf that Walks and the Recluse Spider" (C1 E1) is revealed as Kyrenic.