Beginning credits: In This Moment - "In The Air Tonight" [Official Lyric Video]
Title Card: Threshold, Thaumont 1, 1000 AC
Weather: Sudden ice storm
After credits, music changes to: Dead Can Dance - chant of the paladin
(Establishing shot of Threshold under the cover of clouds, rain and sleet)
As the rain and sleet fall on the streets of Threshold, a formal procession of carriages marked with the Bell of Chardastes makes its way through the city. Leading the procession is a tall, handsome figure on horseback, his expensive armor gleaming despite the weather. The people on the street pause and pay reverence as the procession passes by. The carriages come to a stop at the Temple of Chardastes, and the knight dismounts his horse, walking to the lead carriage. He opens an umbrella and the door, extending his hand to a veiled priestess who steps out gracefully. Hand in hand, they enter the temple, followed by important-looking priests emerging from the other carriages, ringing their holy chimes in perfect synchronization.
(Cut to inside of the temple)
Clarion is praying at the healing altar. She holds the crystal she found in Mistamere in her hands. It glows slightly.
Clarion: (Speaking Celestial)
Baron Sherlaine and Lord Verdance walk into the room. The Lord seems very agitated, wringing his hands.
Verdance: "I'm telling you, my Lord. It was Bargle the Infamous. Right there in my study, as bold as brass. Rooting through my books and scrolls as though he owned the place. When I started to raise the alarm, he cast a spell on me! I woke up six hours later. It's bad enough his kobolds ruin my fields. Now this."
Clarion is now interested in this exchange, though she does not stop praying.
Sherlaine: (looking concerned as well) "What did he take?"
Vedarnce: "That's the strange part. He could have stolen anything; gold, jewels, rare wine, whatever he wanted. But all he took was a ratty old map one of my servant boys found in that old castle."
Sherlaine: "A map?"
Verdance: "It didn't even show any place recognizable. I thought it might be valuable because it was from the time of Gygar. Thought maybe a historian might be interested in it."
Sherlaine: "And this was all he took?"
Verdance: "Yes, not even any of my rutabagas that his creatures seem interested in."
They continue their discussion as they walk out of frame. Clarion starts to end her devotion so that she can go and tell the party this news, when the door opens and the handsome knight and veiled priestess walk in, with a delegation of priests behind them.
The knight bows his head slightly in greeting. He observes Clarion's raiment, an indicator of her place in the hierarchy.
Aric: "Good day, Adept. Please inform Lord Patriarch Halaran that the Celestial Lyceum has granted his petition, and that we are here. I am Knight Banneret Aric Thornshield, of the Order of the Gryphon. And I believe you already know my companion." The priestess, her face stiil hidden behind her veil, bows her head. As she pulls the veil aside, Clarion is stunned to see Aleena, the very person whose murder she has been striving to avenge alongside Fleetwood.
Clarion: (Shocked and stammering) "Aleena? How can this be?"
Aleena: (Excited and bubbly) "Clarion! It is so good to see you. The Celestial Lyceum knows secrets even my uncle doesn't."
Aric: "Sometimes even the grip of Thanatos can be broken."
Clarion: "Are you… well?"
Aleena: (Laughs) "Exactly as before."
Clarion: (relieved) "This is amazing! Fleetwood will be so thrilled."
Aleena: (confused) "Fleetwood? I don't know anyone of that name…"
Clarion: "You met him the day of your… death."
Aleena: "Oh, this is indeed a tangle. I don't remember much of that day… except… Bargle!"
Clarion: "We've been trying to bring him in, to honor your… memory? So far, he has eluded everyone's grasp."
Aric: (To Aleena) "Don't trouble yourself further about this Bargle, my love. I will take care of him for you."
Clarion: "Your… love?"
Aleena: "Yes, we met after the Lyceum… brought me back. He was assigned as my protector. So very dashing. We'd barely known each other a week when he asked me to marry him. Of course I said yes."
Aric: "Our wedding shall be the affair to remember in Threshold."
Clarion: "Oh, I am sure it will."
(Fade Out)
Background music: Large City | D&D/TTRPG Music | 1 Hour
Fade back in on Fogor Isle, where Fleetwood and Greegan are watching the Guards of the Watch haul Marla the Crimson and several of her pirates out of the Salty Harpy. The guards are obviously not popular on Fogor Isle, and many of the locals are pelting them with garbage.
Crusty old man: "Go home to Thyatis ya bastards! We don't want ya down here!"
Greegan: "Well, we've done some good, aye? Dealt a good blow to the Iron Ring!"
Fleetwood: "But Bargle still eludes us."
Greegan: "It's not healthy to get so obsessed with that blighter. You just need to blow off some steam."
Fleetwood: "What do you mean?"
Greegan: "Up for a little Harpy trip?
Fleetwood: "I don't think we'd better go in there."
Greegan: "Aw, don't be such a wet blanket. A little brawl will get your blood pumpin'"
Fleetwood: "This wouldn't have anything to do with you taking over Marla's card hustle, would it?"
Greegan: "I am shocked that you would say that, absolutely shocked. So do you want to go?"
Fleetwood: "I'd rather not. But a few rounds of darts at the Juggling Ogre don't sound bad."
Quick montage of Fleetwood and Greegan making an uneventful trip through Threshold. Soon, they are at the door to the Juggling Ogre.
The Juggling Ogre
The rest of the party is already here, seated around a table with an elegant decanter of port. Felonious and Silverleaf have shocked looks, suggesting that Clarion has already told them of what transpired in the Temple of Chardastes. Fleetwood and Greegan walk to the table.
Greegan: "So, what's news from the temple? I heard there were some high muckity-mucks from Specularum in town."
He and Fleetwood settle into vacant chairs. Fleetwood begins to pour himself a glass of port. Clarion looks a bit flustered.
Clarion: "I'm not sure how to begin…"
Silverleaf: (Bluntly) "Aleena is alive." Fleetwood drops his glass and spills port all over the table. Felonious snatches his robe away before it gets stained, a disgusted look on his face. Greegan gets a lap full of port.
Greegan: "Bloody hell! Who's Aleena?"
Fleetwood: "How is this possible?"
Clarion: "Chardastes has the power to take back Thanatos' prizes. I've heard of this, but I never thought I would see it."
Fleetwood: (Stammers) "This is… I…"
Clarion: "She doesn't remember you. She doesn't remember anything about that day."
Silverleaf: (Still bluntly) "And she's engaged."
Fleetwood: "Engaged?" Clarion sighs deeply. Greegan still looks confused.
Greegan: "Who's Aleena?"
Cut to the balcony of the Juggling Ogre, sunset. The weather is clearing up, giving a fantastic view of the city as the dying sun stains the clouds a fiery red. Fleetwood stands at the railing, brooding. Clarion enters the scene, and watches him for a long moment. It isn't clear if he knows that she is there. She has her hair down, different from her usual demeanor.
Clarion: "Fleetwood?" He doesn't answer. "Hawk?" After a long moment, he turns and looks at her.
"I'm sorry. I know you must have had… feelings. Everybody does, with Aleena."
Fleetwood: "You know, if you hadn't told me, I don't even know if I could believe it was true."
Clarion: "I'm sorry it's like this."
Fleetwood: "It's better if she doesn't remember." The camera moves in tight on his face, a tear escaping his eye as the scene blurs to:
Flashback
Fleetwood stands in the cave-like room. The bodies of Aleena and a goblin lie at his feet, as Bargle stands before him, his gloating laughter ringing in the warrior's ears. A look of absolute rage comes on Fleetwood's face, and he charges toward Bargle… but not before the wizard speaks a phrase in Draconic, gestures, and suddenly Fleetwood stops and lowers his sword. He looks about, confused.
Bargle: “Feeling better? You were overcome with rage for a moment there.”
Fleetwood: “Sure. I just took a couple of hits from that goblin. Nothing the old armor couldn’t handle. We should get moving, though. I saw some ghouls back there.”
Bargle: “Well, let’s just pack up the goodies and move along.” Together, they collect the treasure - a small bag from the goblin and a larger one from Aleena. Bargle also picks up a small black velvet bag. “Must have dropped this while I was fighting that goblin.”
Fleetwood: “Shouldn’t we take the cleric’s body too? She helped me out earlier.”
Bargle: “That might be nice, but we’re carrying all we can. Everybody takes their risks here in the grim wilds.”
Fleetwood: “That doesn’t seem quite right.”
Bargle: “That’s just the way the cookie crumbles, brave warrior. Now let’s see if we can find the way out.”
Quick montage of Fleetwood and Bargle searching a couple of more rooms, before they finally find a side passage out of the caves. But as soon as they find it, Bargle casts another spell on Fleetwood, and he suddenly and inexplicably falls asleep, only to wake later as the sun dips low in the afternoon sky.
As Fleetwood comes to his senses, he starts to remember what happened to him, and a look of absolute horror comes over his face. Returning to the room where he and Aleena fought Bargle, he is horrified to see her body is still there. And now hissing shapes fill the darkness beyond his lantern’s light. Ghouls are closing in - sensing an easy meal. The look on Fleetwood's face says that this has nearly broken him. Nearly, but not quite.
Present day:
Clarion: "Do you want to talk about it?"
Fleetwood: "No." She looks crestfallen and starts to walk away. "Will you stay with me?"
Clarion: (Soft smile) "Of course." She joins him at the rail, and puts an arm around his shoulder, both looking out at the spectacular sunset.
The Next Morning
Title Card: Thaumont 2, 1000 AC
Background: d&d Background Music -- [CITY/TOWN SQUARE - DAY]
Establishing shot of Threshold as morning dawns. The town is transformed nearly to a fairyland under the ice from the storm as trees creak and groan. The weather is overcast as the party meets in front of the Juggling Ogre, bundled up for the cold.
Fleetwood: "Before we head back to Mistamere, I want to find out more about what Bargle stole from Lord Verdance. He's a slippery character, but he doesn't do anything without purpose, even if it's only for his own sadistic enjoyment."
Greegan: "I know just where to start."
Cut to establishing shot of the Tower of the Watch, as the party enter and Fleetwood speaks to the guards.
Cell
The cell is small and austere, just large enough for a single occupant to sit and lie down comfortably. Its walls are made of sturdy stone blocks, damp and slightly frosty due to the river's proximity. A heavy iron door with a grated window secures the room, a thick lock ensuring no easy escapes. Inside, there are only basic furnishings—a simple cot with a rough blanket and straw mattress, a small stool, and a corner chamber pot. A single flickering torch in the hallway outside provides dim illumination. Shadows loom in the cell, giving it a foreboding atmosphere.
Inside the cell, Marla the Crimson sits on the cot, shorn of all her finery, but giving an angry and defiant look to anyone who meets her gaze. She doesn't look happy to see her newest visitors.
Marla: "Well, aren't I just the lucky girl today. If I knew you were coming, I'd have baked a cake."
Greegan: "Charmin' as ever, love. Would you care to toss words with us?"
Marla: "Well, what makes you lot want to toss words with little old me?"
Felonious: "Who else do you have to talk to today?"
Silverleaf: "Tell us about Bargle."
Marla: "What makes you think I know anything about him?"
Silverleaf: "You were going to sell me to him. Your men wouldn't shut up about him when they had me tied up."
Marla: "Now, I may have done some business with him in the past, now I think about it. But who says I know anything about what he's up to?"
Fleetwood: "I'm tired of beating around the bush. Why did Bargle go out of his way to steal an old map from Lord Verdance?"
Marla: "And what's in it for me if I tell you?"
Greegan: "A shiny kopeck?"
Marla: "It wasn't you I was asking."
Fleetwood: "Well, I doubt the baron will be letting you out of here, but we might talk him into giving you a more comfortable cell."
Marla: "Now we're talking. Bargle, bless his little black walnut-like heart, is, one might say, obsessed with the history of that old dump where he's been hanging his robe. He said he'd pay us extra, a lot extra, if we came across any treasure from those days."
Greegan: (Scoffs) "There's hardly anything from those days left, and most of it would have gone to rot a long time ago."
Felonious: "Bargle's never been big on historical interest. And he probably has enough treasure. He does, however, have a great interest in ancient magics, and the more powerful and dangerous the better."
Marla: "Winner, winner, chicken dinner. And I better get a big one after this."
Fleetwood: "Can you tell us what he's after?"
Marla: "Come closer, and I might." Fleetwood walks close to the door, and Marla plants a kiss on him, to Clarion's obvious displeasure. He looks a bit flabbergasted by this. "Haven't a clue. But that was fun."
As the party leaves the Tower, Fleetwood still looks vexed.
Fleetwood: "How else are we going to find out what Bargle's looking for."
Greegan: "You can't tell me you didn't enjoy that."
Fleetwood: "Fine, I won't tell you."
Felonious: "Actually, we may know someone. Should have probably asked her first, but I do admit the pirate woman was amusing. Let us return to the Juggling Ogre."
Cut to the main area of the Juggling Ogre tavern, and the bard from our earlier episode, strumming her lute.
Bard: "Well, there is one legend - I don't like to sing about it but I will for you, Felonious. If that goat Bargle wants anything, it's probably the Orb."
In shadows deep and legends old, The Orb of Gygar, a tale retold.
A crystal sphere of boundless might, Swirling stars in its heart ignite.
Forged by hands of wisdom rare, Its gleaming whispers fill the air.
Power unbridled, secrets untamed, Yet only the worthy may stake their claim.
It tests the soul, the heart, the mind, A labyrinth of fears entwined.
For those who seek with selfish gain, Only torment and curse remain.
But the pure of purpose, brave and true, May unlock its gifts and break through.
A beacon of hope, a mage's dream,Forever bound to the ancient stream.
In hidden halls it waits alone, A treasure lost, its fate unknown.
Adventurers yearn, and tyrants strive,Yet the Orb endures, forever alive."
Greegan: (Speculatively) "The orb is the key…"
Fleetwood: "The key to what?"
Felonious: "Given what it was like when I studied under Bargle, I doubt we want to give him the chance to show us. We better get that map back from him before he figures it out.
(Fade to black)