Episode 2 - Ship Up or Shut Up

Opening Song - "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" by Dropkick Murphys

Starting Location - Within Everlong (continued from Episode 1)

The group heads back to the Cool Spot to further "interview" some of the mercenaries that Mr. E introduced to them.

• They argue on how they're going to distract John "Warthog" Keyes (who seems to be very engrossed with his data pad, seemingly searching for something). As they all shout "John!", John asks Qaplowski "Can I help you?"

• Qaplowski shares her new Arc Glove for him to inspect, and then after a quick thought asks to "borrow her and her glove" privately

• He checks his datapad and uses her glove and finds "nothing"

• John whispers something to Qaplowski in confidence. Before leaving, Qaplowski asks if he wants help; he agrees, giving her a communication device saying he'll contact her when he decides where he's heading to

They then confront Chris Thornfall, who drunkenly dismisses the group and tells them to talk to Hitomi since he's already had to deal with her

The group then heads to Marcy's Playground to get some "background" on Hitomi, who happily shares. She's then asked to join the group where she promptly agrees to, saying that an opportunity like this seems too big and important to dismiss

The group then takes superUber (low profile) to Tragic Kingdom

When arriving, they decide to split; Terofin and Orbod head to Imperator Tu-Ton while Qaplowski, Earl, and Hitomi try the "local" scene.

Qaplowski, Earl, and Hitomi arrive to a bar filled with all large, brutish Krogoths. They sit at the bar while Lob, the bartender, serves them VERY large mugs of ale.

Terofin and Orbod make way through the kingdom trying to get to Tu-Ton. Local soldiers aren't happy to see the King of Stellarvania walking around but oblige anyway. Terofin notices that everyone is carrying on business as usual. They get to Tu-Ton who is resting in the main "throne" room, drinking a large ale. Terofin starts explaining about the murders happening across all the kingdoms of the Superunknown. Tu-Ton nonchalantly tells him "We're all good here". He further explains that they've been expecting this "Angle of Death" and have been ready, but what should have happened by now, hasn't. He thinks "they" either stopped or found what they were looking for.

Hitomi is feeling it after one large drink. Qaplowski asks about the murders; Lob asks if she means about the cockroaches in the back. Earl presses, Lob says they haven't seen it. Tu-Ton told them to "Watch Out". So they're watching out. He suggests that they should go somewhere more "upscale"; they leave.

Terofin and Orbod discuess amongst themselves about how nothing happened might mean it's imminent or if the murders stopped, what did they get that would make it stop

Qaplowski, Earl, and Hitomi arrive at a more "well-traveled, well-diverse" bar. Hitomi gets a water to sober up while Qaplowski and Earl get more beers from Cabugabu. They ask Cabugabu if he's seen or heard anything the murders; he says no, Tu-Ton said to "Watch Out" so they watched out. He recommends they go to the docks and talk to Zephyr - "Into The Ocean" by Blue October

Before leaving, Terofin asks Tu-Ton if there's any "underground" types that they can speak to. He says they don't do much of that in Tragic Kingdom, but those that do, are fine/still shady. Tu-Ton says to talk to Nurbag just outside the main kingdom area and cheers them to be on their way.

Qaplowski, Earl, and Hitomi get to the docks and find Zephyr who's doing normal dock and ship work. With all smiles, he greets them. After some exchange, Hitomi mentions about something going missing, and Zephyr mentions he did hear of something going missing near the main castle in Everlong and that some "people" were brought in because of it.

Terofin and Orbod arrive to the more "shady" area and are approached by Nurbag. He offers to make a deal with them and suggests they come to his area of business; down a dark stairwell in what appears to be an old abandoned house.

Hitomi thinks and asks Zephyr if he likes puzzles (which he does); she shows him the notes from the group (Chris Thornfall's interpretation of it) and he see's "Gothel's Tower". He then asks them if they need to go there. He doesn't go that way himself, but he knows of someone who does; Nathan - "Murmaider" by Dethklok

Terofin and Orbod speak with Nurbag in his "private" quarters asking if they want "the good stuff"; it turns out he deals with rare and collectible cats (porcelain, gold, etc). Recognizing that Terofin and Orbod are not there to buy, he suggests they can talk to Gunag who's not too far from there.

Qaplowski, Earl, and Hitomi find Nathan and Earl asks if they can secure transportation to Gothel's Tower. Hitomi asks for the price and he says 500 IBU's (which she thinks is reasonable). They agree and he says to get on, they're leaving soon. They ask to wait, which he agrees to for 200 IBU's. Earl asks if he knows Zephyr, which he says "Yes, too nice. You know him?" Earl says he does; Nathan agrees to wait for free.

Terofin and Orbod find Gunag, who appears to be very skittish. The conversation goes no where as Gunag is "watching out" everywhere. He is someone who runs jobs for Nurbag (stealing the cat statues).

They all regroup (with the appropriate gear) and set sail for Gothel's Tower

It's a quiet voyage, as Nathan and his crew are not the talking type. Upon arriving, Nathan asks if they need him to wait which he agrees to. He's going to Fritz's Corner after this. They're the only boat at the docks (which is very minimal) and there's nothing of note other than the snow and mountains.

The group arrives at Gothel's Tower. The only entrance is completely blocked off by debris. Using Essence, Terofin asks in a booming voice if anyone in the tower; at the top of the tower a window is now brightly lit

Hitomi suggests that instead of clearing the rubble or trying to scale the tower, that maybe they could use Essence to find another way in. Terofin uses his Divinely Essence to predict how they get in and what awaits them inside.

• He sees three ways inside; clearing the rubble, scaling the tower, or using a secret doorway (the easiest way in)

• He senses a lot evil but some good (that is trapped). A third thing, grayish in feeling is in the tower as well.

• The bottom of the tower is dark and scary, but more towards the top of the tower is mixed (good, gray, bad).

• Two outcomes of going through the tower; if they take their time they will "get more", quicker will yield less.

Orbod uses Essence to find the hidden door, including the lock and it's intricacies. Earl picks the lock on the secret entrance

Earl is able to silently enter, peering through to see what is on the main floor. A hulking monstrosity is lumbering in the middle of the floor; Big Daddy Jack - "Bodies" by Drowning Pool

• Apparitions of little creepy dead girls are sitting in the dark corners of the room

The group decides to sneak past; they manage to get past (Qaplowski almost flubbed it but managed to recoup but stumbled into a dark area, going unnoticed)

At the stairwell, Terofin invokes his Essence to help guide their efforts searching the tower

• He sees that there's something worth on every other floor (alternating)

• Four important images come to him. First thing is a bag. Second is something that feels very familiar. Third is a lot of blood, with anger behind the blood and behind that, something very shiny. Lastly, something very bright and glowing that gives off very high positivity.

They find a locked door that appears to be more decorated than the others. Earl picks the lock; they find a bag with the stitching "Jones" on top of a desk. Nothing else of note within the room.

Next they find a cell door; they discover it's Blocus. Earl is unable to pick the lock. He yells to his friends to find the old hag, she's got the key.

The group goes to the next floor of interest, only to find a trail of ashes, as if someone was here very recently.

Moving up the tower, the group sees a shadowy figure locking a large door. Qaplowski approaches them; the figure turns around, startled, but then starts to laugh. Her name is Monerva - "Thoughtless" by Korn

She teases Qaplowski with the key she's holding, all while holding her other hand that starts to quickly glow with very strong Essence. The rest of the group prepares for battle, and before anyone can strike first an invisible figure steps forward from the wall nearby, visibly appears and spreading mechanical wings, grabs Monerva and quickly slits her throat, almost decapitating her, spraying blood all over Qaplowski

The person pockets a ring off of the body and asks the group who they are, unwavered by their presence. The group, confused by who this is, "remembers" that only Kanterriss has met this person. She introduces herself a Yelyah Rose, or recently known as "V for Vermillion" - "Playing God" Paramore

She presses the group on how they knew how to get to the tower. They vaguely say some friends have guided them there based on some recently perilous events. Yelyah hands over Turok's notes, recapping quickly what's happened (since there is probably not a lot of time)

• She fought a losing battle in Cypress Hill to the AOC

  • Lost someone dear to her, who was working on researching the Black Soul Artifacts. She took his work, looking to finish it and avenge him along the way

  • She had tech stashed away, which she grabbed and went underground starting to look for more information

  • While working on her intel, she took out the "seedy" types along the way

  • She got desperate since she didn't feel like she was making any progress, so she went to Phaethe Falls in hopes to become an Essence user; she survived.

  • Going to Stellarvania, she found about Terofin, Turok, and their research. So she made her way to Everlong, stealing his notes to help figure out the next steps, figuring out to go to Gothel's Tower

• She takes the ring back out that she just took, reads the ring, then tosses it to Terofin. This is the next step and asks the group if "they're in".

• The group agrees to be in; as in to figure out what the ring means and go there next. She goes to wait for them downstairs while they investigate the rest of the tower

Yelyah hands them the key that was on Monerva. Hitomi goes to free Blocus; then they use the key to open the master room, which reveals riches and a unique looking shield. When Blocus joins up, he tells the group they need to save someone here that saved his life (from the end of last season).

The group proceeds upstairs and unlocks a really large cell door, revealing Ellinor Moore - "The Rock Show" by Blink-182

Ellinor, excited to see everyone, agrees to leave with the group. They head down to the bottom floor of the tower to meet up with Yelyah; Big Daddy Jack is lurched over, appears dead and the apparitions have disappeared. The group exits out the secret door.

As the entire party looks to go back to the docks, they are approached by a mysterious figure covered in blowing snow and the ground becomes very wet

The figure looks like Nathan, but bigger and more murdery; Murmaider - "Murmaider II: The Water God" by Dethklok

• He tells the group "Eonlypse" demands the ring

• They refuse and battle commences

Immediately at the start of the encounter, Yelyah yells that they shouldn't be here and quickly looks to conjure a portal. She tells Ellinor to help ("Think of a door!").

The group battles Murmaider and his giant tentacles protruding through the now broken icy ground, trying to drag them to their watery deaths. Orbod and Terofin retreat back to help with forming the portal.

With the portal finally formed, Hitomi, Blocus, and Orbod jump through. Overwhelmed, Earl and Qaplowski fall back and manage to jump through the portal. Eventually Terofin is able to get through, but as he starts to pass through he sees Murmaider blasts the portal with Essence, closing it behind him and leaving Yelyah and Ellinor behind.

Closing Song - "Certain Tragedy" by Saves The Day