Episode 14: The Queen's Deceit - Part 1

General Summary

Taela has begun cultivating Mycete’s Amber Decay spores in a secluded corner of her garden, intending to study their growth and potential use.

She also provides the party with a selection of hallucinogenic mushrooms before the next mission.

Gundar finds a pair of used panties mysteriously placed in front of his door, he dutifully donates them to the Ashaya's Redemption, where his ex-wife Mercedes rewards him with 10 potions of healing.

Guildmaster Raithara Stoneshield expresses frustration at the loss of bond income following the Returners' defeat of the Grave Order. The guild is under pressure to meet its quota.

Captain Sable, Gundar’s 4th ex-wife, is plotting a raid on House Goldmaster’s Vault—a notorious black-market dwarven treasurehold beneath the Tangled Hollows.

Her first mate, Gurak the Minotaur Pirate, has grown uneasy with her increasingly reckless plans—particularly her intent to unleash golems on civilians during the heist. He seeks outside help to stage a mutiny.

The Rumor Mill

Heard among scavengers near the Cloaca of the Tortoise, Hour 14

"So, did you hear about the brawl down at Millie’s?"

"Nay, which would-be suitors were fightin’ over her today?"

"Oy, it’d be news if they weren’t knockin’ themselves over for her."

"Which is what I’m trying to tell you. Bunch of pirates came in, zap guns ablazin’, right in the middle of the day."

"What pirates?"

"Captain Sable and the Squallbringers."

"Who in the Pit are they?"

"Pirates, like she said, from Zabar. Must’ve got themselves a skyship to come all the way out here. Wonder what for."

"Prolly brawlin’, stealin’, and backstabbin’ o’ the usual kind."

"Naw, they don’t cause that kinda trouble here or the Triple B’s would be catching them for Bilog."

"Smugglin’, then."

"Mm-hmm."

"Well, what’s all the fightin’ about then?"

"Turns out the first mate, some cowman named Gurak, was trying to hire mercenaries to kill his captain and take over the crew."

"Sounds like the ole backstabbin’ to me."

"Yeah, and the captain musta heard about it, ’cause a bunch o’ them pirates showed up to stop Gurak’s mutiny."

"So where’d they get strung up? Dead pirates always good for a chuckle."

"They didn’t. Whole crew got beat and surrendered."

"By one minotaur?!"

"No, I hear he’s got a mean metal arm, but it was the mercs that did most of the work."

"Which mercs?"

"Jackie Daytona and the Returners."

"Gundar’s mercs?! Oh, of course they didn’t stand a chance. He prolly beat them with just his beard."

"Gundar?! He could beat me with his beard any night he wants. He’s so dwarfly. I heard he regularly drops off a bucket full of panties from all his sexual conquests in front of his ex-wife at the Temple of Ashaya."

"What fool dwarfess would leave that delicious dwarf for some goddess beyond the Gate?"

"One dumb enough to be regularly humiliated by her ex with a bucket of panties and still say thank you."

"More to the point, the Returners took down the pirates with Gundar’s fists and Jackie’s sax. I heard they’re headed for that pirate captain now."