Episode 14: Armaster, Part 7

Milla excitedly tells the party she has completed her weapon, but is halted by their depressed expressions as they return to the Spider.

The party decides to have Ridley gain entry to Kurt's mansion as Bartholomew again, with Fan and Kika as members of his Ring team, as Kurt now knows them as the Canaries. Kika sends a message to Pango Pikari, a druid at the druid encampment in Gladeston, seeking his help with a memorial for the victims at the forest clearing. Milla offers to help in any way possible, and they decide to take Radovan with them – wearing Ridley's Canaries mask – to pose as Ridley, and to have Milla guard Athene with her new weapon instead.

Milla fires her weapon – a ray gun made using components scavenged from the metal sphere – for the first time in the basement of the Slice of Life, at Kika's insistence. “Recognise that?” says Kika, to Athene. “Then you know what that does to a person.”

The party leaves Milla with Athene and Radovan's colleagues, and Radovan puts on Ridley's mask. Ridley puts on the stilts for the last time. They head to Kurt's mansion, and “Bartholomew” and his team are welcomed inside. They are summoned to Kurt's private quarters on the top floor of his home, where he dispels Ridley's disguise immediately: he knows the Canaries are investigating him and the disappearances, and he knows “Bartholomew” is not who he seems. “Huh,” says Kurt at the sight of a Halfling on stilts. “I was not expecting that.” Ridley flips the release switch on the stilts.

Kurt attacks, throwing powerful fireballs at the party and setting the room ablaze. Kika picks up a Goldways bow. Kurt recognises Ridley, and seems confused by the fact the other noble is not using his magical abilities to further his name and acquire more riches. “I want to help people,” responds Ridley. Kurt angrily unleashes another fireball on the halfling and the nearby Radovan, and both are knocked out. Ridley's mask is knocked from Radovan's face.

Fan picks up Ridley and Radovan and flees, fearing for their lives. Kika remains in an attempt to capture Kurt, but Kurt Dimension Doors away. The party regroups outside, and Ridley and Radovan are revived. A crowd watches the smoke rise from Kurt's mansion over Armaster.