The Next Frost Barrier - The Wintervale Saga - Episode 42
12Last time, our party had finished negotiating with the Jarl of the Frost Giants, learning that they are merely being used for the Archbishop's gain. And the idea that the Jarl lost in battle to the Archbishop by means of an outside influence didn't sit right with him either, so he not only released Mi'itrik and her party, but even sent his own son, originally locked up for treason, to act as an Ambassador to the resistance.
Upon arriving, the resistance had already moved their headquarters to the new location at the bridges, and with new hightened morale, they were banning together and planning an attack on the Frist Giants as well as investigating the remains of the crystalized ice left behind.
Once the Mayor and Felbryn, the Jarl's son, met each other and the situation was explained, the Mayor realized his worst fears were true and that the Archbishop now, without a doubt, is the mastermind behind the entirety of everything and that the Frost Giants were being used.
The remaining crystalized ice that the Mayor was investigating was found to be made of living Dragon soul, crystalized as Ice. And seeing as how it was a remnant of the huge monolith of Ice the party destroyed, the party is beginning to suspect that the White Dragon that was mentioned numerous times before is certainly a huge part of what is happening to the Island.
More revelations came to light as it was found out that Castar is a member of the Grayson family, though has since personally disowned them for their activities in Zidoria as human traffickers. Being given Warlock powers from the Archfey Rumplestiltzkin, he was able to survive for as long as he did, though now he has chosen to set his rivalry aside with Ren, at least temporarily, to assist the rebellion.
Returning back to the original HQ, the Pirates remained dock there, using it as their own HQ now of sorts. Upon boarding the ship, it was revealed that Nehiri was finally successful in curing the petrification of the shining star brigade. All of them. And after a few stern, loving words from a very calm and collected Anoran, they explain their story of what happened at the Beholder's lair, as well as Zaggee's true motivations.
Everything seems to be tied to the town of Zidoria and the human trafficking ring that seems to be developing therein. Once Evelyn name-dropped the Rose Thorn family name, the normally mute Knives seemed to have a memory that was once locked away raer it's horrible head, causing her to scream herself unconscious. Anoran took it upon himself to absorb her sadness into his own, catching fleeting moments of her memories of how she was treated, allowing her to rest at Anoran's expense.
Ryudo, having seen this happen, locked himself away in his room. Kayli reached out to him only for the two to have a serious conversation more about Ryudo's true motivations, which was reflected in the words of Grimms and Thornik in their talk with Skylert. During this time, Evelyn finally steps up to Chase and reveales her relationship to the Rose Thorn family, afraid how he might react, only for him to fully accept her for who she was, lovingly and willingly. Elsewhere, Bell's inner rage finally emerges for a brief moment as he lets his frustration out on the now-emptied house Mi'itrik once used, leaving half of it destroyed in the process.
As Vhyx and Nami elected to guard the door to the guest quarters to allow the Brigade their time with Knives, everyone began to find their resolve to finish what they started. Not just here in Wintervale, but in Zidoria as well. Especially considering the fact that Lord Baikas really was involved from the start, manipulating the Archbishop and effectively being the first domino to fall that placed this island into the frozen hellscape it is.
And that is where we begin...