Episode 32

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Plot Summary
Gilbur Mudminer, in his position as mayor of Thatchweed, presents the party gifts for saving the town. Bubo is slightly disappointed that his gift is not another portrait, instead it is poison he can put on his weapons. Nitsuj’s gift is a book on the history of mooncatch ore and its uses. Andre’s gift is a set of prayer beads, each with different magical properties. Starheart is given a tankard made of glowing mooncatch ore. Ora is given a pair of tracking stones. Gilbur also gives them all one piece of charged mooncatch.

The party heads to the enchanters to pick up their items: Bubo’s fully repaired bow (now named the Devil’s Tongue), his enchanted quiver of arrow-returning, Starheart’s tiara of intimidation, Ora’s enchanted sword, and Nitsuj’s bag of holding. Starheart asks for a gun of badassitude, but Sty just asks them all to leave. Ora stays behind and asks him why he showed an interest in her sword and if he knew anything about the cultists. Sty explains that the cultists were interested in buying it but he decided it was more trouble than it was worth to steal it. In return for her leniency, Sty offers her a favor. Ora decides to cash it in later, so Sty makes a pair of gold coins that when flipped will notify Sty that she wants to cash in the favor.

At the catacombs, the party encounters Fizz Binkle practicing with his new legs. Starheart goes up to Klack Flintborne who does not look pleased about his new legs. He doesn’t think they are natural. Jerrot Valmir put some of his own blood into the concoction. Starheart sends a message to Jerrot asking him why he did that, and Jerrot just responds with “you’re welcome.”  The party convinces Klack to carry on. Starheart gives him a token from her dress.

The healed gnomes are evacuated from the catacombs. Nitsuj plans to try to resurrect the dead. There are fifteen full corpses wrapped in burlap. They identify seven that are in decent shape. Nitsuj focuses on his power and uses the mooncatch ore to amplify his magic. The seven gnomes take a simultaneous breath, but a dead dwarf who was entombed nearby also awakens. Bubo shoots an arrow at him and he turns out not to be undead. His name is Barrell and he’s been dead for about a thousand years. Starheart tries to calm the gnomes, but it doesn’t work. Ora rallies them and they join the other gnomes who are joyful at their return.

Three dwarves agree to travel north with the party with mules and carts to help ferry the wounded gnomes to the Steamfangs. The Iron Horn joins them, as does Klaxxon and the Tinytoes. Barrell stays behind in Thatchweed. Andre scryes on Copperforge and sees Kurluk and Thaul Alhoon deep in conversation on makeshift thrones. The orc army has been replenished. Andre informs Ora of this. Bubo asks if his portrait is still there. As Andre lies and says the portrait has been destroyed, a gnome named Hank arrives, bleeding and singed, carrying the portrait (character drop). He is Bubo’s biggest fan. Bubo, happy over the portraits return, offers Hank the position of official portrait bearer, which the gnome excitedly accepts. He takes the other two portraits and gets bit by the mimic. Barry, President of the Bubo's Fan Club, (character drop) also arrives to help with the paintings and admonishes Hank for leaving him behind. Hank gives the mimic to Barry.

The party departs to the north. Hurmed Leadmantle, Bamir Bonepike, and Gritt Flintjaw drive the carts. Starheart rides a mule and guides the way with her glowing dress. Klaxxon speaks to Ora about blowing up the mountain. He thinks the gnomes can rebuild, but the threat of Kurluk needs to be destroyed first. Andre and Nitsuj sit together and discuss Kloht and Kelrek. Nitsuj reveals that he can speak to Kelrek. He wonders if he can speak to other gods as well in order to find Kloht or Hortiel.

Nitsuj sends out an arcane eye to scout ahead when the caravan approaches a dangerous area. He doesn’t see anything except a frozen lake. The dwarves refuse to light any torches to keep the caravan safe. People are freezing as they pass over the lake. Starheart sends a message to Hush, asking if he knows Gelk. Hush responds that he knows him, but has not seen him in a decade. Hush can find him for her; he will meet her in the Steamfangs.

As the caravan passes over the lake, the second cart cracks the ice and the third falls into the water. Two gnomes fall into the water. Bubo throws a rope to them. One of them grabs it, but the other slips under the ice. Ora jumps into the water and swims to the gnome who is caught in the current. She is able to rescue him, but he has hypothermia. Andre and Nitsuj rush over and cast fire spells to warm the gnome, attracting the attention of a huge beast, which smashes through the ice under them. The wriggling mass, a frost salamander, slams back down into the lake.

Nitsuj gets knocked away from the others, but uses his feather fall to land gently back on the ice. The party cannot do much when the salamander is underneath the ice, but it jumps out and mauls Andre with his dagger-like teeth and six legs. Andre is able to banish the creature for one minute and yells for everyone to get off the ice. They all scramble and Startheart falls into the water. Bubo tosses a rope to Starheart and pulls her out. The party manages to make it to land, but the two carts and mules are left behind, one of which is pulled under the ice.

The entire party hurries north to get away before the beast returns. Starheart commands Andre to cuddle her. Some of the gnomes are freezing, but the nearest village is a day away. Nitsuj casts rope trick to create a room for where those who are freezing can be kept to keep warm. After a minute, the salamander returns and tracks down the party.

Fun Moments
Danny literally throws something at Ryan for making a “Let It Go” pun.

Broaden Horizons
Ryan- In his communion with Kloht, the god informs Andre of his position on Nitsuj’s mass resurrection spell. (Redeemed Episode 33)

Hayley- While at sea, Ora would hear tales of numerous enchanted items, including an orb that lets the wielder speak to those long dead.

Justin- The mooncatch stones pulse and vibrate when a member of the party dies. (Redeemed Immediately)

Deva- Starheart will find a gun. (Redeemed Episode 34)

Andrew- The Bubo Fan Club was created as a joke between a drunken Bubo and a wizard in the Tequila Mockingbird. To become a member, you had to mail away for a golden paintbrush and Bubo merchandise that can be used as weapons and armor. Hank got a hat and Barry got a belt. (Redeemed Episode 33)