About About Episode 4, Segment 1: “Holy Legends, Unholy Men”

Discordia confronts the High Priest of Set, Harry Bangor, and tries to convince him that Robin’s traitorous brother Darin is, in fact, an outlaw priest of Ra. Harry utterly disbelieves her, however, so in a fit of anger, Discordia magically disappears, leaving behind a certain enemy in the High Priest. Meanwhile, Robin and Apophis discover the secret of the blue-crystal wand from their shared vision: it is the Wand of Khopesh-Ra, an artifact that will allow its possessor to speak directly with the god Ra.

About About Episode 4, Segment 2: “Indiscretions and Intrigue”

Sir Alistair Howard, the court seneschal, summons Alyce to a private meeting. His goals seem twofold: first, he tells Alyce he knows of Alyce’s trysts with Lord Elliott and so he offers the services of Duchess Evaine’s butler, Reginald Frye, to help them keep their affair more discreet. Second, he encourages Alyce to use his influence over Lord Elliott to convince the lord to form a council of advisors that might supplant Duchess Evaine’s influence…with Alistair as one of those advisors.

About About Episode 4, Segment 3: “Hef & Oddo & Elliott & Alyce”

When Hef is given the opportunity to invest in a new brewery venture by pubmistress Ninka Stout, he turns to Oddo Goldsmith—“the Mayor of Shadyside”—for a quick loan. In exchange for a bit of coin and a bit more discretion, Oddo asks Hef to arrange noble support for one of Oddo’s own venture, a brothel facing stiff competition from another supported by Lord Montague, second son of the duke. So, Hef approaches his friend Alyce for influence, Alyce convinces his lover Lord Elliott to visit Oddo’s brothel Poppy’s, and everyone gets what they want.

About About Episode 4, Segment 4: “Harrows, Hearts, and Souls”

A meeting between Discordia and Duchess Evaine becomes a summit of revelations. Discordia announces to Evaine and her battlemaiden Thessa that a dangerous harrow spies on Evaine. Evaine defends Darin’s intended goals in Gaunt and Discordia reiterates her lie that Darin is a priest of Ra. Both women pledge their support to one another in learning the truth about Darin’s actions, Evaine going so far as to promise that Discordia can kill Darin if he has, in fact, committed treason. To further their bond, the two share secrets— Evaine’s that her parents traded Discordia to the duke for her father’s senate seat, and Discordia’s that her parents wish to force her to marry. This leads the pair to consider Discordia marrying one of the duchess’s sons—possibly Robin—and finally, Evaine pledges to help Discordia recover her soul from the gem where the duke keeps it.

About About Episode 4, Segment 5: “Missing Bodies”

Hef’s thief mentor, Casandra, offers him a mission: bodies and the treasure entombed with them have begun to disappear from the catacombs outside York. Before officials conclude that Casandra’s people are involved, she wants Hef to determine who’s truly responsible and to stop them if he can. When she takes him down into the catacombs to show him the empty crypt of the merchant Edwin Boylin, the latest corpse to go missing, they hear armed men approaching and are forced to flee.

About About Episode 4, Segment 6: “Crypt Creeping”

As the party descends into the catacombs to investigate the mystery of the missing bodies, they are confronted by a wizard who attempts to keep them from exploring the darkness beyond, claiming a special bond to the undead within. In the pitched battle that follows, the wizard Zoltan and his evil cronies are slain. Featuring special guest GM Stefan Pokorny.

About About Episode 4, Segment 7: “Grim Greeting Ghosts”

After driving off a harrow that hovers over the dead body of Zoltan, the party moves farther into the catacombs, first discovering Zoltan’s living quarters before unexpectedly meeting Tavish Mallory. He claims to be a prisoner here, but he’s disoriented and seems confused, warning the party away from an entombed sarcophagus they discover. The party takes him prisoner themselves just as they are set upon by undead guarding the sarcophagus. When the battle ends, Tavish Mallory has vanished…and harrows hover over the sarcophagus.

About About Episode 4, Segment 8: “Mummy Fearest”

Deep in the catacombs, the party approaches the sarcophagus marked with Symbols of Set, only to find themselves set upon by the sarcophagus’s occupant: an animated mummy, buried with a noteworthy amount of magical treasure, including an unusual hourglass. In the aftermath of the battle, they learn from Zoltan’s journal more about this mummy, a necromancer named Tristus whom the harrows used as a material anchor and whom Zoltan animated back to a fearful semblance of life.

About About Episode 3, Segment 1: “Court Appearance”

Upon returning to York the party goes before the noble court, now ruled by Robin’s oldest brother Lord Elliott in the duke’s absence, to report the rebellion in Gaunt. Though most are shocked to hear this news, Count Philip Maitland’s lack of surprise raises Hef’s suspicions. Robin’s mother, Duchess Evaine, disbelieves his announcement that his younger brother Darin is behind both the rebellion and a plot to assassinate their family. But when Hef eavesdrops on Evaine and Elliott’s private instructions to Sir Michel Bosseur, he hears the duchess angrily demand that Sir Michel bring Darin to York for questioning, along with Baron Argyle and his sister Lily.

About About Episode 3, Segment 2: “Workout with Thessa “

After a preliminary bout of sparring, Alyce resumes a romantic relationship with Thessa, Duchess Evaine’s battlemaiden. Yet Thessa warns him that she knows of his amorous pursuits with Lord Elliott as well. Though she wishes to continue with their affair, she does not wish to risk Lord Elliott’s wrath by doing so, especially now that he is the acting duke. Undeterred, Alyce promises not to arouse suspicion, just Lord Elliott, and assures her that they will not be found out.

About About Episode 3, Segment 3: “Meeting with Philip “

When Hef meets with Count Philip Maitland, the halfling learns of even more dubious activity happening in Gaunt: Sir Ben Celt is involved in the slave trade there. The count feels that by sharing this information Hef should share secrets as well. The halfling shares little of what happened in Gaunt, however, beyond confirming the reports Robin and Discordia gave at court. He also makes a point of smearing Centurion Quintus Atilius by calling him craven and witless.

About About Episode 3, Segment 4: “Marriage & Promises “

Alyce resumes yet another romance, a riskier one with the duke’s ruling son, Lord Elliott, who is eager to strengthen their bond. When Elliott produces a ring as a token of their promise to marry someday, Alyce hesitates; he doesn’t wish to risk the duke’s wrath should their illicit relationship be discovered. In the end, however, he relents, accepting the ring but wearing it only privately. Meanwhile, a messenger from Discordia’s mother, Duchess Drusilla of Arrundal, brings distressing news: Discordia’s parents want to see Discordia married to Prince Olivier, whose circumstances are being manipulated to place him on the throne of all of Perrin. Displeased with the sudden interest of a mother who once abandoned her, Discordia agrees only to speak with Drusilla when she comes to York to visit…

About About Episode 3, Segment 5: “Apophis & Rover”

The High Priest of Set is closing in on Apophis. So says Jack Rover, the duke’s reeve, who tells Apophis that after the massacre at the Ra worship service, Rover learned High Priest Harry Bangor was getting information from multiple sources, including an unknown halfling spy. Rover has already killed one of Harry’s spies, a scribe named Tavish Mallory. Should the halfling in Apophis’s party prove to be the other spy, Rover says he will be dealt with similarly. Rover also alerts Apophis that one of the members of his congregation, a shoemaker named Simon Cobb, was severely wounded in the attack and may die without Apophis’s clerical intervention. But Cobb’s house is under surveillance by the High Priest of Set’s thugs, so Apophis could risk everything by approaching.

About About Episode 3, Segment 6: “Setting Up the Priest”

The High Priest of Set, Harry Bangor, summons Hef to a secret meeting, where he tells the halfling how Hef’s previous reports led to the attack on the illegal Ra worship service and how close Harry came to capturing its heretic priest. Though he was able to speak with him, Harry was unable to unmask the priest, who escaped. Fortunately, Harry says, his followers tracked an injured parishioner in need of the priest of Ra’s healing skills. Harry has his men shadowing the injured man’s home to await the priest of Ra. But he’d like to replace them with a less obvious spy: Hef.

About About Episode 3, Segment 7: “The Priest Trap—Part 1″

Hef’s confession to Apophis about his work for the High Priest of Set results in a heated exchange—literally, as the priest holds the halfling over a fire, demanding full disclosure. Hef ultimately notes that Apophis’s own secret religious affiliation contributed to this situation; had Hef known Apophis was the heretic, he wouldn’t have helped the High Priest find him.

About About Episode 3, Segment 8: “The Priest Trap—Part 2″

Apophis, Hef, and Discordia put their plan into action. First, they go to the home of Simon Cobb, the shoemaker critically injured during the attack on the Ra worship service. Then, as Apophis heals him and escorts the shoemaker and his family to safety, Hef and Discordia stage the aftermath of a fight by trashing the house. Then the halfling rushes to summon the High Priest of Set’s guards, telling them of the wizard who attacked the occupants. When the guards arrive, Discordia stares them down with wizard moves, demanding an audience with their master, High Priest Harry Bangor.

About About Episode 2, Segment 1: “Alone at Last”

The Baron of Gaunt’s sister, Lady Lily Blackfield, comes to Alyce’s room in the middle of the night. She tells him she doesn’t agree with her brother’s plan to hold the party hostage and will help them escape from the inner keep. Alyce reminds Lily of the love they once shared back at bard school, and says he doesn’t want to escape unless she comes with him. Lily says she must stay and try to help her family, but admits that she still loves Alyce. Alyce accepts that and agrees to Lily’s escape plan.

About About Episode 2, Segment 2: “Recruiting Quintus”

Alyce tells Robin about Lily’s escape plan and sends Apophis and Hef to figure out a way to open Gaunt’s outer gate. Hef seeks help from the imperial soldiers who hang out at the Blossom, a nearby brothel. He meets their commander, but the man kicks him out of the Blossom because he’s a halfling. When Hef returns with Apophis, who is Nubian like the commander, the commander introduces himself as Quintus Atilius. Quintus isn’t interested in helping the party escape until Apophis mentions that one of the hostages is Lord Robin Swartout, the duke’s son. Then his attitude changes, and he agrees to take some of his men and hold the outer gate open so the party can escape.

About About Episode 2, Segment 3: “Escape from Gaunt: Inner Keep”

Alyce goes to tell Discordia about Lily’s escape plan and finds her unconscious and near death. Unable to wake her, he gathers her and as much of her stuff as he can and rolls them into a rug. Then he knocks over a candle, setting the room on fire, and carries Discordia out.

Robin, Alyce, and Discordia (still in the rug) make it past a bunch of indisposed guards to the door of the inner keep, where they meet Lily. Lily unlocks the door for them and begs Robin to tell his father that her brother, Baron Argyle, would never have rebelled against York without Darin Swartout’s evil influence. She says she hopes that helping them escape proves that she is a friend to the duke—and to Robin.

About About Episode 2, Segment 4: “Escape from Gaunt: Outer Keep”

Robin and Alyce (still carrying Discordia) meet Hef and Apophis in the outer keep and sprint for the wall, where Quintus and a dozen of his men are holding the gate open against some resistance. They all make it through the gate just as the sun rises, and Quintus threatens the rest of the Blackfield guards into abandoning their pursuit.

As they head back toward York, Quintus asks to speak to Robin. He tells Robin that his unit is stationed in the nearby mountains to deal with some big, dark magic going on up there. Quintus says that he’s not supposed to discuss his mission, but hints that he hopes the Duke of York would be willing to grant him a favor in return for his helping Robin escape from Gaunt.

About About Episode 2, Segment 5: “Healing Discordia”

At their first rest stop on the way back to York, the party unrolls Discordia from her rug and revives her. Discordia tells the party that Darin beat her up because she refused to go along with his plan to kill his father and brothers and take over the duchy.

The next morning Apophis sneaks out early to do his prayers and then runs back to Discordia’s tent. With Robin present and Hef eavesdropping, Apophis pulls out his ankh, reveals he is a priest of Ra, and offers to heal Discordia. Robin leaves to distract Quintus’s men while Apophis heals Discordia. (Belial, the devil Discordia bound to her book, does not enjoy this process at all.) When Discordia emerges from her tent, she tells everyone she used an alchemical potion to heal herself.

About About Episode 2, Segment 6: “Secrets”

Now that Apophis has come out to Robin and Discordia as a priest of Ra, he decides it’s time to confess his secret to Hef and Alyce as well. Hef tells Apophis that he considers himself an outlaw and an enemy of the Church of Set, so he’s just as glad to know Apophis is the same. Alyce listens respectfully.

Alyce tells Discordia that when he found her unconscious in her room, he could tell she had been performing some kind of magical ritual, and he wants to know what it was. Discordia lies, telling him that she had been trying to cast a spell to heal herself, but it failed.

About About Episode 2, Segment 7: “Hugh’s News”

On the road to York, the party encounters Sir Hugh Godwin, Robin’s tutor, who invites Robin to speak with him privately. Robin tells Hugh what happened in Gaunt, and Hugh tells Robin that the duke has been summoned to Corunel by King Laurent of Perrin. The duke left Robin’s oldest brother, Lord Elliott, in charge, but Duchess Evaine is the one pulling strings at court, and she’s surrounded herself with knights who are more loyal to her than to her husband. Hugh says that Robin should report everything that happened in Gaunt to Elliott, but not to trust anyone at court now except Sir Alistair Howard, the duke’s seneschal. Hugh himself is on his way to his fortress at Bellcastle to muster his troops, but before he goes he wants to knight Robin.

About About Episode 2, Segment 8: “Robin’s Knighting”

Robin spends the night in a vigil of fasting and meditation, with Apophis as his second telling him inspirational stories of Ra. In the morning, Apophis blesses Robin. Then Robin and Apophis look up and see a vision of Ra in his Chariot of the Sun. In the vision Ra looks directly at Robin, takes a wand of blue crystal from his belt, and throws it into the wind. Greatly moved by the vision, Robin decides to believe in Ra after all.

Sir Hugh knights Robin with all due ceremony, fulfilling one of his boyhood dreams.

About Episode 1: Scene 1

Duke Elliott Swartout II of York assembles a party to travel to Gaunt and demand a missing tribute payment from Baron Argyle Blackfield. The duke’s third son, Lord Robin Swartout, will lead the party and speak as his father’s representative. Apophis Nemir Batah, a blacksmith/warrior in the duke’s service and also secretly a cleric in the outlawed Church of Ra, is assigned to serve as Robin’s bodyguard. Lady Discordia Carus, the duke’s foster daughter, has a rare talent for wizardry that Robin may find useful. Alyce Dupook, an elven bard and the duke’s chronicler, can assist Robin in diplomacy and courtly graces. Hef Twofields, a halfling rogue and the duke’s paid informant, will keep his eyes and ears open for things Robin should know.

About Episode 1: Scene 2

On the road to Gaunt, the party encounters a critically injured crazy man who attacks them. Apophis recognizes the man as Luther, a Ra worshiper who belongs to his congregation. As Luther lies dying, he recognizes Apophis and begs for last rites. The rites seem to give him peace at first, but at the moment of death Luther cries out in horror.

About Episode 1: Scene 3

Robin and his party arrive in Gaunt. Two of Baron Argyle Blackfield’s knights, Sir Angus Mowbray and Sir Ben Celt, ride out to meet them and escort them to the baron’s castle. Lady Lily Blackfield, the baron’s sister, graciously invites the highborn characters (Robin, Discordia, and Alyce) to dinner. Alyce’s heart leaps when he sees that Lily is the girl he loved and lost years ago.

About Episode 1: Scene 4

When Robin, Discordia, and Alyce sit down to dinner with the Blackfields, Robin is surprised to discover that his youngest brother, Lord Darin Swartout, is also in Gaunt. Darin insults Robin and challenges him to a duel, which Robin declines. Then the doors are shut, the men of Gaunt arm themselves, and Baron Argyle announces that Robin and his party are under house arrest. The baron, with Darin as his partner, declares Gaunt is rebelling against York. Treason! Only Apophis, who attended the dinner as Robin’s bodyguard, is allowed to leave and carry Argyle’s ransom demands back to York.

About Episode 1: Scene 5

Baron Argyle decides to smooth over the rudeness of holding his dinner guests hostage by asking Alyce to display his bardic skills for their entertainment. Alyce takes this opportunity to recite a love sonnet directly to Lily Blackfield, his long-lost love. The men of Gaunt, who would have preferred a nice drinking song, are not impressed. But Alyce is pleased to see in Lily’s eyes that she most definitely is.

About Episode 1: Scene 6

After dinner, Darin Swartout comes to visit his foster sister Discordia, who is curious about what he’s planning. Knowing that Discordia has no great love for the duke herself, Darin tells her he intends to assassinate his father and brothers and take over York. He asks Discordia to ally with him, but she refuses to be part of any plan that would harm Robin. Enraged by her rejection, Darin beats Discordia and leaves her unconscious.

About Episode 1: Scene 7

While the rest of the party dines with the Blackfields, Hef goes down to the local bar and makes the acquaintance of Dirge, a dwarven merchant who specializes in black-market wares. Hef pumps Dirge for information and learns that there is an imperial military unit stationed in the mountains nearby. Rumor also has it that Darin Swartout and Argyle Blackfield are in league with some kind of supernatural entity known only as “DL.”

About Episode 1: Scene 8

Discordia comes to after being assaulted by Darin and finds herself shaking with shock and fear. She decides the only way to protect herself is to gain as much wizardly power as she can—and fast. Using a book she stole from the duke’s library, Discordia summons a greater devil named Belial and asks him for power. He laughs at her presumption and tells her she is in more trouble than she knows: there is an invisible necromantic creature called a harrow in the room spying on her, and it was created with an artifact called the Fortis Stone, which can control wizards. Belial teaches Discordia a ritual to bind him to her book, which allows her to speak with him telepathically and draw on his teaching as long as she’s touching the book. Discordia makes it through the ritual, but the effort drains the last of her energy and she passes out again, clutching her book to her chest.