The sun was beginning to rise, as the twins and Mara ran from the guards "Stop! Get back here!" the guard yelled he and the others were not far behind, running and ducking in the alleyways on their way to Gilmore's, Vax ran out into the next alley, quickly stopping and pushing the others back.  "Where'd they go?"

The two heard one guard as they hid around the corner, "You see them?" The trio bolted, but guards and turned around at that time to see just in time to see the end of vax's cloak.  "Over here! Come on!" They ran to where they had seen the group but as they rounded the corner, once the turned it, there was no sight of them.  

They three made their way to Gilmore's which was closed, so they stopped at the side, They jumped down into the draining well next to the shop that had a barred window, Keyleth, who was being hiding in Vex's fur shoulder piece as a chipmunk jumped down and through the bars and into the shop, She transformed back as she grabbed the bars from the inside.   "Eyes open, lads! Quickly, men! They went this way!" The guards were almost found them,

However once they arrived, they found nothing, not seeing the small barred window pulled back into place.  "Come on. They can't be far." With them out of sight, the guards moved on from the shop. After the guards passed, they entered the darkened shop, without a soul around other than them  "Oh, man, being bad is so exciting," Keyleh giggled as they began looking for supplies.

However, just then a purple shape enclosed around them, trapping them as they were lifted into the air, the lights in the shop suddenly turned on as they heard someone clear their throat to get their attention, They looked to find Gilmore standing there, caught red-handed.  "Ooh, crime doesn't pay, but it is entertaining," he said with a smug while the group gave some awkward smiles amid and nervous looks back at him.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Gilmore walked down the stairs then snapped his fingers causing the trap to disappear as well as them falling to the ground, pulling on one another  "Uh, we weren't breaking in or anything," Keyleth stood up quickly to explain, "Just, you know, sort of on the run," she awkwardly laughed it off while the rest of them stood back up.  "A quick stop at your store on our way out of town," Vax added.

"While it was closed. I assume you were going to leave an IOU?" Gilmore deadpanned.   "Uh... Hmm," they all murmured, no good way of explaining themselves out of this one.  "Of course, darling. You know us," Vex reassured as they all walked to find their needed supplies.   "All too well," he chuckled at their failed attempt.

Vex and Keyleth grabbed a bunch of arrows and camp supplies while Vax looked at Gilmore's daggers ":dagger...dagger...dagger....wooden stake! Perfect!" And picks it up  "I'll take these enchanted arrows," Vex said as she plopped them all on the table.  "And as much garlic as you can spare," Keyleth added

  "Ugh. I don't want to know," Gilmore turned around, shuddering but quickly turned back to them excitedly. "No, that's a lie. I absolutely want to know. What's this all about?" 

"We kind of pissed off a vampire," Keyleth answered. " who's working with my enemy" Mara groaned  "And our healer's out of commission," Vex added.

"May I suggest the addition of something special?" With a swirl of magic, a bottle appeared before them.  "Holy Water. One of the only things truly known to stop a vampire. Well, that and direct sunlight." 

"We will take all the holy water you've got," Vex moved close to him.  "You're looking at it," he said as he held it up between them.  "I'll need to grab a few more things, then," Vex sighed as she went off to another part of the store with Keyleth and Mara exploring the shop for other things. A spirit came by Gilmore, offering him a cup of tea.  "Oh! Thank you, Rodrigo. You're a gem." Satisfying its duties, the spirit flew off. "One must have a bit of company while handsome half-elves are off thwarting evil," Gimore flirted, who chuckles.  "I'll bet you say that to all the fugitives," Vax remarked, "You mentioned direct sunlight though?" In the background, while kelyleth searches, she noticed an object that looked like a toy with two snake heads at both ends, but as she puts them on her fingers, she struggles to get it off

"Oh yes! But you need more sunlight than summer in Marquet."  Gilmore states

"Well, that seems unlikely." Vax says in thought, the turned back to Gilmore "By the way, I don't think I have to mention that we were never here?"

"It'll be our little secret." Gilmore assured, A loud crash drew their attention away as Keyleth had fallen down with the toy still stuck to her fingers.  "Need some help, love?" Gilmore asked.   "I'm fine. Thanks," Keyleth nervously chuckled, "I... It's okay. I'll just stay this way. For forever," her expression saddened.  "Press the tooth of each snake at the same time dear." Mara moved towards the ashari up, helping her onto her feet, then pressed the teeth at the same time, freeing kelyleth's fingers  "Oh cool, thanks Mara!" Keyleth said holding up the toy before putting it back in its original spot " no problem" she smiled

meanwhile neither notice Vax stared off at the girl's her caring gesture, before turning away and acting like he was looking for something "wonder what we have..." Gilmore couldn't help but notice Vax's attention toward her, and the smiling ashari with the red cheeks who looked away surprised by herself   "Speaking of secrets" Before Gilmore could say anything else, Vex slammed her hands on the table.  "Sir Gilmore. For your friends, how much is this going to run us?" 

"Hmm," Gilmore smirked. 

Time skip

After collecting their supplies, they caught up with Scanlan, Grog, and Percy who were in a beat-up cart.  "Oi! Slow asses! Check it out. We got a good deal on the cart. Practically, literally a steal. How'd you do?" Scanlan asked as they all jumped in the cart with Vex in the front with Percy as Mara leaned near the front "Let's just say I'd hate to see what Gilmore charges his enemies," Vex grudgingly said" and your lucky I'm best friends with Gilmore, he didn't give you a bad deal" Mara says taking her bag off her shoulders and putting it beside her, the female elf shrugged. " true" she agreed as she sat next to her

"Hyah!" Percy yelled as he whipped the reins to speed up as they left Emon, They traveled for the entirety of the day as the sun began to to set, As they road along, Mara kept looking at Percy with the bored expression on her face, vex held in her snickers, she knew she was trying to get the man to lighten up, for his healths sake, Percy pushed his glasses up as he speaks "Please stop that. I'm trying to concentrate."

"Oh, is that what you're doing?" Mara raised an eyebrow "I thought you were practicing your resting bitch face." She smirked, makes vex snort which turned into laughter "Excuse me. My bitch face?" He inquired with a unamused look "You're heading home." Vex states, calming herself down from laughing and joining the conversation "Figured you'd look happier."

"This isn't a homecoming." Percy exclaimed, then looked forward again "This is a suicide mission to topple the necromantic murders of my family." Before saying while looking over slightly "And for the record, I have a magnificent bitch face."

" Do you, now?" Vex laughs as Mara is crying in laughter at what he said "Yes, I do." He chuckled "Lots of practice."In the back, Scanlan was trying to translate the book to figure out what possible Delilah and Syl as we're plotting "Any luck translating?" Kelyleth asked  "Uh, totally." The gnome says nervously "Uh, some." Before giving in "Okay, yeah, most of it's impossible. But, I mean, look at this." He moved the book to show her "This is some messed-up shit. I-I mean...all I can make out is one word of Delilah's craptastic scribble. Something called...
a "zippertwat."

Kelyleth's eyes furrows before looking at the book "Uh, okay, yeah, actually, I think it's a ziggurat." She corrected "Oh. Thank God." He sighed "Cause what I was picturing was, like... -whoa." He said putting am hand out "They spent hours teaching me stuff like this for my Aramenté." Kelyleth smiled while pointing at the picture that kinda looked like a temple almost "Ziggurats were ancient structures used for contacting gods." She explained

"Huh." Scanlan said in thought

"Wish I could help more, but I fell asleep a lot in Ancient Abyssal class." Kelyleth said slightly embarrassed "Hmm. Then we're hopelessly f*cked." He sighed leaning against the cart "We definitely are." She sighs slouching

Vax chuckles at what he heard while examining the holy water and the supplies, when he hears Grog groaning in the back of the cart.  "Oh, please tell me you're not shitting in another cart," Vax commented as got up to check on him.  "It's not working, it's too hard," Grog cried.  "Grog, are you crying?" Vax asked as he sat down next to him.  "No," he sniffled wiping away the evidence, "Pike said I can talk to her even if she's not here and I'd feel her. But it doesn't work."

  "Hey. Hey, hey, hey. Pike is going to be fine," Vax assured.

  "I know that. She's stronger than all of us. I'm more worried about us without her."  Grog said, which caused vax to nervously smile and look forward "Me too, Grog. Me too," Vax sighed.

Time skip

Along the ride, fog started to roll in, Kelyleth along with Mara, who used her bag as a pillow had fallen asleep in the cart while Scanlan continue his best effort to translate the book.  "The Whispered One," he read. The cart suddenly rumbled as they went over some bumps causing Kelyleth to wake up, Mara gets woken up and yawns as Kelyleth crawled to the front to find Percy still driving the cart.  "Percy, you need a break."

"Absolutely not," he sighed, shaking his head "We need to keep moving. The Briarwoods are probably back in Whitestone by now." As they continued driving, Vex noticed movement in the treeline out of the corner of her eye.  "Percy, stop." 

"I'm not that tired."  He denied as she sees something moving at the side hiding behind the trees "No, I mean stop the damn cart. Something's tracking us."

" woah "Percy immediately pulled the reins on the horses, forcing them to a halt, A twig snapped in the distance, causing them to draw their weapons out.  "Uh, what was that?" Scanlan asked clutching the book. Vax, Mara, and Grog stepped out from the cart as the brushes around them began to rustle, An outline of a dog appeared in front of them as it began to whine.  "Oh, poor little puppers," Keyleth exclaimed as she stepped down from the cart and more towards it. "Are you hurt little, guy?" she asked.

However, as it comes, out, it revealed a mutated dog moving forward with blood dripping down its mouths causing her to scream, falling back towards Mara pulling her back to the carriage as vax and grog held up they're weapons, Two more emerged from the forest, and began growling at them.  "What the fuck are those?" Grog asked.   "A gift from Lady Briarwood," Percy noted.

Two more dogs appeared in front of the cart causing his and Vex's attention to be drawn to it, Its mouth split into three parts as it released a loud scream.   "What the fu-" Vex exclaimed as a long tongue shot out of it and wrapped around Scanlan and Mara pulling them out. All the dogs ran away with them screaming as Percy and Vex shot at them.  "Scanlan! Mara!" They all quickly got back in the cart to chase after them, Percy manages to weave through the trees to keep up with the dogs to save they're comrades, they jumping over a gap in the road thankfully Kelyleth used her powers to make a vine bridge, allowing them to cross without falling

the chase is continued into the mountains along the cliffs edge, the two kidnapped struggled, the one holding Scanlan got silent by the tip of the tongue entering his mouth, at first he struggled until he seemed to enjoy it, instead Mara had her mouth covered, wrapped around her mouth, still screaming while gagged

( this was so cringy to write 😬😖😣😢)

"Scanlan, Mara hang on!" Keyleth yelled, Vex fired an arrow that missed.  "Come on, Percy! Faster! Hyah!"

"This thing was not built for speed! And did you just "hyah" me?!" He yelled and whipped the reins to force the horses to run as fast as they could, Vex fired an arrow that hit the dog but did nothing to slow them down.  "That's just not fair," she commented.

Two of the dogs appeared behind the cart chasing after them.  "I'll take the big one!" Grog yelled.  "I'll take the other big one," Vax said.

the two dogs jumped into the cart knocking them down, grog arm going down it's throat, vax however was struggling against the mutant dog, and stabbed it in the side, pushing him to the side which he could potentially fall out, and biting his arm, causing him to cry out "Ahhh!!"

"Vax!" Keyleth yelled, she knocked the dog off of him. Her eyes glowed green as she let out a roar, intimidating the dog. It let out a small whimper of fear before, grog exploded the dog that tried to swallow him, the. Punched the dog, knocking it off the cart

"That's for Pike! And me, and mar" he cried as fell to the ground "And maybe Scanlan 'cause he probably won't survive!" 

" coming up on Mara!" Vex announced trying to shoot the mutant dog that dodged her shot "grog! Vax!" The giant got up, as the cart was close to the creature, once it was close enough grog managed to grab it, lifting it up as vax cut the tongue restraining the girl, the giant then ripped the mutant in half yelling  " you okay?!" Vax asked as she pants from shock " I...hate...this!... I never want to speak about what just happened....again" she said with a angry expression, while he looked at her wide eyed, nodding nervously by her anger

There were only two dogs left in the front, one of them carrying Scanlan, Vex grabbed one of the enchanted arrows as notched in place.  "This better be worth it." She released the arrow as it soared through the air hitting the second one and causing an explosion, killing it instantly. Grog let out a loud laugh as Scanlan was covered in its guts.  "Thanks, Gilmore." She smirked

Their excitement soon ended as they began to approach the end of a section of the road and heading straight to the cliff's edge.  "Um, are they going over the cliff?" Keyleth asked nervously "They're not the only ones!" Vax yelled.   "It's got Scanlan. We have no choice!" Percy countered.  "I am not dying to save that gnome. Get me closer!" Vex ordered.

The tongue began to retract, trying to grab the book but Scanlan held on to it.  "Shoot for its head! Neck! Dick! Come on, Vex! No one breaks balls better than you!"  

"He's not wrong," she smirked as she release an arrow with a roped tied to it.   "You missed?!" Scanlan yelled as the dog jumped off the cliff.  "Let go of the book you dumbass!" she yelled back. Scanlan grabbed the rope as he fell past their field of vision.   "Off the cart!" Vex, as she grabbed Percy and the rope while Grog pushed everyone out of the side.

The cart fell off the cliff as they all landed on the ground. Vex and Percy got up as they ran forward pulling the rope. However, as they got to the end, it had snapped leaving only unfilled rope ends.   "No," Vex gasped as she sat on the ground.   "Scanlan," Keyleth cried as Vax punched the ground.  "He didn't make it." Grog sniffled while Mara covers her mouth in shock while tears began to escape   "Rise!" the group suddenly looked at the sound of music playing as Scanlan rose on the magic purple hand,  "Mighty Scanlan, Rise!" he sang out.

Everyone felt a great sense of relief as the hand lowered with him laying on it proudly.  "Yeah, when I die, it'll be the way the gods intended... choked to death by a disgruntled p­imp," he laughed.  "Careful what you wish for," Vax chuckled as he went to Scanlan, fist-bumping him.

  "We lost everything," Vex said with a sad expression

"Well, I mean, at least we still have our holy water-er-er-er...," Scanlan said as they all turned to find the bag of stuff they grabbed from Gilmore's tip over the edge of the cliff.   "No!" they all shouted but it was too late as they helplessly watch the bag fall and heard the holy water bottle break at the bottom. They all released a groan as they watch some of their best weapons to defeat the Briarwoods destroyed.   "Perfect," Vax sighed.  

In the distance, they could see half of the demon dog break off from the rock that impaled it, grabbed the book before running off.   "She got what she wanted. Again," Percy growled as he set off back on the road.

Time skip

Back in Whitestone, as the mutant dog returned, Delilah and Sylas were currently speaking with two others with mercer gazing out the window "Well, do you have an update for us?" She questioned the man wearing glasses "My Lady, the refinement of the Whitestone shale is on track and will be ready at your request." He replied as the creature walked towards her, earning a pat on the head as it revealed her book "Excellent. We have a schedule to keep, but the residuum needs to be pure." She said dusting her book "Do not forget that, Professor Anders." He said as the man bowed "Understood, My Lady."

"Everything for the ritual must be in place before the... " someone cleared they're throat catching everyone's attention to the one at the door "Lord and Lady, the dinner guests you requested." He revealed the people he escorted in, peasant folk who were confused to why they were summoned "Ah, splendid." Sylas grinned as he and his wife walked down the stairs "Welcome, friends. Supper first, then you'll need to change into more formal attire." He said gesturing to they're clothing, intriguing them as they head for the dinner hall, the little girl with blond hair grew curious and stopped with her father

"Excuse me, did we win a prize?" She asked curiously

"Yes, little one." Delilah smiled "You've been chosen for a very special event." She said placing a wooden replica of pike's everlight necklace around her neck, the little girl cutely giggles, moving along with her father waving goodbye, none of those people aware of the fate they'd be facing

Meanwhile

"That's far enough for today." Vex announced as the group came to a halt as the sun began to set "Let's make camp." Percy went and sat alone, grog and Scanlan going through some stuff the group had left Keyleth kneeled down brushing some sticks together, putting her hand over it and casting a spell, making fire blaze up, which was too much "Oops! Little too much." "Ah!" She saw Mara freaking out about the fire on her as she and vax patted it out "Oh, my gosh. Oh, sorry! Sorry, sorry, sorry!" She apologised profusely "You're fine. You're fine. No worries." Mara assured "Yeah, no worries." Vex said as she passed  "You'll probably get your shit together eventually" she muttered Kelyleth laughs awkwardly, Vex takes a seat against a rock where Scanlan and grog were, Scanlan taking back his bag and emptying it "Huh, see here. Ah." And picks up a scroll that he had picked up from the Dragons layer "Okay, let's see what this baby can do." He smirked

"You got a baby in that thing?" Grog asked confused

"What? N-No. Grog, it's the scroll I picked up  from Brimscythe's cave. Just got to figure out how to make it work." Scanlan said opening it "Okay." He cleared his throat "Nevosh, nevonn, klu, mehon." Suddenly some magic chimes and Scanlan transformed from gnome to a frog, Grog gasps as Scanlan croaks, and starts to laugh "It made you handsomer! Oh, I like it!" Scanlan grunts as grog pokes his head "Nevosh, nevonn, klu, mehon."The magic chimes again  and this time, Scanlan transforms from frog, to a giant version of a unicorn, much bigger than grog, who was underneath being sat on "Whoa-ho-ho! I like that even more!" The giant laughs

Annoyed Scanlan tries one more time "Nevosh, nevonn, klu, mehon!" For the third time, when grog sees he gasps "Whoa. Yup.
Now I'm confused and aroused." He goes to poke a certain...area, until Scanlan smacked his hand away. "Dah-dah-dah-dah-dah-dah-dah.
Hands off. What the...? How the f*ck... " until he noticed he looked tall and more woman shaped "do I look this good?" He chuckles

He whoops then began checking himself out "Hmm?"

Kelyleth treats vax's wounds from the mutant dogs with Mara's assistance, she looks up as. Owl flies over, hooting "This forest reminds me
of home a little." She says tying the rest of the small vines that form a small flower "Your home must be nice." Mara smiled "It's beautiful. And big." Kelyleth smiled fondly at the memory of her home "And filled with Ashari I'm supposed to lead someday." She says while frowning nervously then sighs "Vex is right. Maybe I'll never get my shit together."

"Don't listen to my sister." Vax said gaining attention from them both "I don't know your people, or rituals or what you think
you're running from. But I know you. I know you care about others. That's what makes a great leader." He sighs "Kiki, I believe in you."

"So do I" Mara adds, kelyleth laughs a little "Thanks...friends..." Mara began looking into her book she'd pulled from her bag to find any spells that would be of use to the group, What they didn't notice the flush expressions turning away, or the look vex was giving, while she was notching her bowstring

Meanwhile

Pike had arrived to an temple of the everlight, knocking on the door, which opened to reveal and elder in white robes "Yes? How may I be of service?" She asked, pike raised her hand to her necklace before putting it down "I... I need the Everlight, but... " pike says hesitantly

"Are you all right, my child?" the woman asked concerned noticing something amiss "I guess... " pike sighs "Well, the thing is... I was helping my friends battle a-a dark mage, and she cracked my holy symbol, and I haven't been able to connect or-or heal or do anything, and now I think I'm cursed." Pike said quickly while the woman looks at her in shock "I know. I sound crazy." Pike said hiding her face with her hand "A curse, you say?" The woman murmured in thought"Help me. Please?" Pike pleaded, the woman kneeled down to her level,"Whatever has happened to you, child, the Everlight accepts you as you are." The woman guided her in, closing the doors behind

Back with the group

As darkness set upon them, they all huddled around the campfire as Scanlan sang songs "♪ She was a holy, holy gnome ♪!" The group laugh applauding " Oh, God. How about,:what's the strangest creature you've ever k*ll?" Grog suggested

"Oh, that's easy." Vax smirked

Vax's story, he fought against a humanoid tiger man "I will return, and I will find you!-" however was cut off by vax throwing his at his dagger at his head, then falling back and crashing through the window, vax summing his dagger back into his hand "Uh-huh. Heard that before." The half elf said unimpressed, The group laughs, Scanlan cheering him on "Oh!"

"Yeah. Oh, man, good one." Grog compliments

"Yeah, that's pretty crazy." Kelyleth laughs "I think maybe the strangest k*ll I've ever had would be..."

In Kelyleth's story, she was in an area next to a lake of lava, her attacker jumped oh of know where, frightening her, cussing her to shoot him with wind, she then opened her eyes as she heard screaming to see the attacker, in the lava and began panicking while he continued screaming "Oh, no, no, no. Oh, no, no, no, no. Shh! Shh! Shh, quiet." And stomped on his head to muffle the screaming
"Quiet. Go to sleep."

insects chirped in the background as the group look at her wide eyd "Pretty..dark" Scanlan says, grog  decides to go next "Okay, this one was awesome."

In grog's story, a desert plane, while battling a giant skeleton like centipedes like creature, with a giant jaw and sharp teeth, grog  "Oh, you..." he grunts, then yells as he forces the mouth open, and rips out its tongue with his mouth, getting covered in blood, but defeating his foe

The group laugh as he sits proud arms cross "Oh! That was the best." Kelyleth compliment

" Yeah"

" nice one grog" Mara claps

"Points for originality." Vex says

"Okay, I've got one." Scanlan says "Hands down, the worst monster I've ever faced."

In his story he was with a woman at a brothel and, yeah you can guess what they were doing

(And no I'm not being blunt with what they were doing the tongue thing was bad enough, I draw the line here 😠)

"So what?" Vex asked completely unfazed

"Yeah, sounds pretty normal for you." Vax says quirking an eyebrow

"No, no, no, I-I haven't gotten to the good part." Scanlan smirked crossing his arms

At the good part, the woman grew a second head at the climax of the story, vex and vax back up in shock "Aah!" "Oh!"

" oh dear gods no!" Mara exclaimed in horror covering ears"Oh, what the f*ck?!" Grog grabbed his head in horror whole kelyleth cried holding the wishes of her face "Oh, no!"

"What?"scanlan laughs completely unfazed "I still finished." He said while the group groaned "I'm gonna be sick." Vax says"I'm very consistent." Scanlan laughs while in the back Percy was loading his puffer box.  "What about you, Percy? What's the worst monster you have faced?" Vax questioned "They're in Whitestone," he sighed, "And we will be facing them soon." An awkward silence fell upon the group before Grog cleared his throat.   "Buzzkill."  

"What about you Mara?" Vax says clearing the awkwardness "You haven't shared yours, what's the strangest kill your have?" The girl began to think "Hmm..." before turning wide eyed and snickering. "oh no can't tell that one"

"What? what is it?" Scanlan asked as the group became curiously trying to get her to say it

"No!" She cried laughing shaking her head

"Tell it!" Vex demanded smirking

" I wanna hear!" Grog cheered

"I can't cause it's not just my strangest kill, Percy knows what I'm talking about!" Mara laughed wiping her tears while the white haired male looked over at her confused "What are you talking abou-" until his eyes why did the realisation before glaring at her warningly "Wait
No! Don't you dare!"

" What is it?" Kelyleth asked

"Say it!" Scanlan smirked joining in

"I have a feeling if I do I'll pay for it later! " Mara wheezed covering her mouth

"Mara you are under the oath, don't you even think about" Percy warned "What oath?!" She exclaimed "You never made an oath?!" She stated, she kept being pushed and eventually caved "Alright fine sorry Percy"

"No!"

In mara's story, when Percy was living with them, they were fishing on the tavern dock, when all of a sudden Percy's line began to pull, he almost got pulled in if Mara hadn't caught him, Mara's adoptive father came rushing out to help when they were seen about to be yanked off the dock, mara holding into Percy while also grabbing the fence, he then yanked them forward, the creature which turned out to be a giant monster fish, was thrown into the air

as her father pulled out his sword to protect them, Mara in fright had already casted a fire spell, that completely fried the fish that landed on poor Percy

The group laughs while the de rolo looked at her unimpressed

" a giant fish monster! I think this one wins!" Scanlan says still laughing his ass off

" best one ever!" Grog cheered

" hey! We got dinner in the end! I'm so sorry Percy!" Mara laughed, crying

"I will remember this, and I will get even" he says in a serious annoyed tone

" you were almost eaten, by a f*cking fish!" Vax cried laughter as vex leaned on him for support

" it was twice the size of grog! What do you expect!" Percy exclaimed, which caused the group to laugh even harder, he sigh and smiled slightly, Mara secretly cheered, knowing her plan to get him involved and cheer him up worked

Time skip

After the hilarious moment, the twins decided to grab more firewood.   "I keep thinking about when we left Syngorn," Vex said.   "Hmm. Yeah? Screw that place. And Father. Whole thing nearly broke us," Vax recalled in disgust. 

"Nearly. But it didn't. Because we stuck together. We didn't let ourselves get distracted by pretty things," she said as they both looked back at the group, Grog was dancing to a tune that Scanlan was playing on his lute, kelyleth and Mara clapping

  "Careful, brother. Some roses have thorns" she says

Vax smiled at his sister as he placed his arm on her shoulders to comfort her.  "You are imagining things, Stubby. Nothing will come between us." Vex returned the smile as she playfully punched him before returning to the group with the wood, before leaving, he calls out "
You know, sometimes courage is knowing there could be trouble and taking the chance anyway. And don't think I haven't notice either, I've seen the way you look at her too" while her back was turned her eyes were widened by what he said

"S-So is stupidity" she says walking back to the camp while her brother watched with a saddened frown

After a while, they all turned in for the night, finding comfortable on the ground, one however remained awake, turning the barrels of the pepperbox

The next morning they set off on they're journey to Whitestone, walking along the forest path, through the fog hoping to reach it before nightfall.   "Almost home. I never thought I would see it again," Percy says

"What's Whitestone like, Percy?" Keyleth asked.  "Yes, what should we expect?" Vex asking from a more strategic view.  "It's beautiful. Lush. Orchards always in bloom, thanks to the Sun Tree. They say it was planted by the Dawnfather a thousand years ago. It's even engraved here on our family crest," he pointed to one of the buttons on his coat

"A symbol of the De Rolos' ties to the city. At least it used to be," Percy sorrowfully remembered as he continued walking. Keyleth walked in front of him to force him to listen.  "We're going to help you get it back."

"All of it," Vax added as Grog placed his hand on his shoulder.

They continued walking ahead as they saw the edge of the city.   "We're here," Percy said however he gasped at the sight of his city. The town looked vacated as fog hovered over the city. It was like a ghost town.   "What have they done."  He gasped,mThe group walked into the city and they found no one.  "Where are the guards," Mara commented.

The only sound of life was birds chirping and crowing. They quietly contained their way into the city.  "Where is everyone?" Grog asked.

They all looked over and saw the first two people, an older man and girl, they had seen since entering Whitestone. They quickly entered their home shutting their door. They observed a few others in the shadows doing the same.   "Uh, no offense, Percy, but your town's kind of creepy as shit," Scanlan noted as they continued their way toward the center of town.

   "I need to find Keeper Yennen," Percy said.  "Who?" Vax asked.  "A holy woman here. She'll know what's happened."   Percy explained

"You're sure about her?" Vex questioned.   "She can be trusted.   "If she's alive." A guard quickly came into view as they all ducked into the nearby alleyway, They all let out a sigh as the ground began to shake. They looked up to find a giant walking along the street, the earth shaking with each footstep it took.   "Uh, b-big thing there. There big thing," Scanlan stammered.  "We're not safe here. Come on," Vex urged them.

They all ran as fast as they could down the street. However, Percy stood frozen as he looked towards the Sun Tree in the town square.  

  "Percy, are you okay?" Keyleth ran to him. She look in the direction he was letting out a gasp, covering her mouth. The rest of the group walked up looking at the tree. Seven-bloody bodies swung in the wind from nooses, Each one of them was dressed in various clothing, resembling each member of Vox Machina, but for some reason minus mara, but what was worse two of all were two children amongst the bodies

"It's us."