[Dream sequence/flashback]
H: HOLD! This land is under the occupation of the Northern Alliance…access to Daya is controlled by the Vashek Inaia…. State your business…
Lessee: Is that how you address a god, mortal?
H: Who the fuck are y- Aaaaaaaaaaaghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Tran: He’s a fuckin’ caster! Drop him drop him!!
[bolts fly]
Lessee: Do you really think mortal tools can harm me?!
H: AGHHHHHHHHHHHH! Make it STOP!
Tran: He’s shielded! Switch to Guthracite tips!
[bolts fly]
Tran: What the hell!? Why aren’t they working!?
Lessee: SUBMIT!
H: AGHHHHHHHHH! [Herrand tears in two]
Tran: HERRAND!!!!! NO!!!!
[Pulse bodies thrown everywhere slow footsteps]
---
Mystical transition: Very short dream sequence which merges into Vacship scene.
Gnilfeit: So… what is it going to be? [mystical dream like sequence/H’s memory]
----
[Fades to H and Co on a Vac ship]
Herrand and the remaining Vashek Inaia are on board a vacship heading toward Li-25-Central to take control of it before the explosion. The plan is to convince min to disable the defences in Anderkant before they move up and loot the site. Herrand shows his uncertainty.
Tran: So what’s it gonna be?
H: What?
Tran: Loud or quiet? What’s it gonna be?
H: Gimmie a minute…
Tran: You alright?
H: I’m fine…
Tran: Look… I know we have spent a lot of time with these guys…even I like some of them…
H: Tran…I’m fine…we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do.
---
Dream sequence/Flashback
Tran: HERRAND!!!!! NO!!!!
[Pulse bodies thrown everywhere slow footsteps]
Lessee: I see your comrade means much to you… do you wish him to return to life?
Tran: [Panting] Kill me and be done with it…I am Vashek Inaia…I do not fear death!
Lessee: Good…I can use that…submit and I will return your comrade to you…
Tran: You spilt him in two…there isn’t a caster on the plate who can undo that…
Lessee: A caster? You think me a conjurer? A magician? One who steals from the divine source? I AM THE SOURCE!
---
Mystical transition: Dream sequence
Gnilfeit: A god? Is that what he told you? Well then… I guess I am a god too… Call me Ilkea… [Echoey dream/H’s memory]
---
Back on the Vacship Herrand lays out the plan
H: Right boys… we’ll be in visual range in just a tick…Torriq is alone in the comms tower which means if we are quick and quiet we can take the place without anyone sending up the alarm.
Billy: Aren’t they gonna get funny about seeing a bunch of magical airships tied together and floating their way? Won’t that give us away?
H: Billy…what the fuck does it say right along the fucking side of the Vacship?
Billy: Ummm….
H: In big fucking gold letters mate….right along the side…
Billy: Ummmm…
Tran: He can’t read H…
H: It says ‘The Anderkant Project’…it’s one of their Vac ships…It’ll be odd but it won’t exactly blow their minds to see it.
Billy: How many guards are we expecting H?
Tran: This isn’t gonna be like when we took Terrqas mate… just civvies. No guards, no sentries, I’d be amazed if anyone was armed with more than a pick or a shovel. There are only 10 working the site. Plus me and the boss have been working here for nearly a year…these guys trust us…
H: Right… when we land move fast and stop anyone making it to the comms tower…Once we’ve taken the site, I’ll go in and deal with Torriq, okay? He knows me so it’ll be easy to get close. Once we’ve taken the comms we can get the fuckin’ coolie to knock out the defences in Anderkant. Then we move to phase 3. Right?
---
Dream sequence/Flashback
Lessee: PEOPLE OF DAYA! YOUR DELIVERANCE IS AT HAND! OPEN UP YOUR GATES AND WELCOME IN YOUR SALVATION!
Daya wall guard: LOOSE!
[ballista battery]
Lessee: Hmmmm… This is how you greet your god!?
[Sweeps away bolts with ease]
H: Dark Father if we just….
[Pulse of power wall crashes down…people scream]
H: Dark Father…. No!
Lesse: YOU! [Pulse of Power]
H: ngggggggggggggggggggggh
Lessee: You and your men will take this city…in my name….the streets will run red with blood…spare none…not even a babe…
----
Mystical transition: Dream sequence
Another short memory of Herrand speaking to Gnilfeit and beginning to open up to her more as she feeds his doubts about Nomed.
Gnilfeit: Do you have any idea what he is planning?
----
[sounds of people being killed quietly and bodies dropping]
Tran: That’s all of them
H: Yeah…he’s inside…Wish me luck.
[door opens]
Torriq: Li-5-Li this is 0A your SOFS are still active. Over.
Min: Oh…I know…out [click]
Torriq: What an asshole…first you set us back half a fuckin’ day and now you’re…
[footsteps]
Torriq: [Turning around] Hey H! what in the hells are you doing here?! I thought you’d be back at The Rear enjoying some damned R&R.
H: Alright Torriq…what was that about a delay?
Torriq: The fuckin’ new guy… can’t get the motherfucker to move with anything short of a red hot poker, I swear to the silent gods…they will let anyone in here these days. I tried to have this asshole removed four times but the boss keeps putting him back on rotation!
H: [worried] He’s in Anderkant though, right?
Torriq: No. Motherfucker is still in Li-5-Li…been prancing around all morning recordi-
H: What?! What the fuck do you mean he hasn’t left?
Torriq: You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost?
H: Torriq, get him fuckin’ moving now!
Torriq: Slow down there hoss… he’s turned off the SOFS…he’s the only one out there…unless you wanna walk 20 li through the tunnels to hurry his ass…we just gonna have to.
[Explosion]
Torriq: What in the- [stands up and is forced down] What in the Sam-hell- eugh
H: [draws sword] Sorry, Torriq…this just got very fuckin’ complicated
---
Dream sequence/memory
H: [heavy breathing…spell begins to wear off] What…what happened… so much blood…
Lessee: Hmmmm…not nearly enough I am afraid… cities used to be so much richer in blood…I will require more…
----
Mystical transition: Dream sequence
Gnilfeit: Is that, right? You think my brother is going to save you? After what you’ve seen him do? After what he made you do in Daya…Reach…Top… Ansa?
---
Tran is worried about what is taking so long and comes to check on Herrand. Herrand explains that there is a problem and they try to figure out what to do. Herrand’s real identity is indicated to Torriq, who recognises the name of the infamous bandit king responsible for many heinous crimes.
[door bursts open]
Tran: [worried] Everything good in here, Herrand?
Torriq: What the fuck is… Herrand?!
Tran: Why is he still breathing, H?
H: Plans fucked cuz…the fuckin’ coolie is still at his site…
Tran: He didn’t leave?
H: No.
Tran: Shit…
Torriq: Why did he just call you Herrand?
H: Shut the fuck up Torriq, I’m trying to think…
Torriq: Like…THE Herrand?! The Bandit Kin-
[H hits Torriq with the pommel of his blade]
H: I said shut the fuck up! And I’m not a fucking bandit!
Torriq: Ow! Fuck!
[Blade shings/Torriq winces]
H: I haven’t got the time or the patience to get you up to speed… so….unless you want to end up chopped into little bits and buried in one of those tunnels… you’d better get that fuckin’ coolie on the SOFS…quickly…
Torriq: Okay…okay…this is not how I saw today going…alright…gimmie a minute to process…
Tran: NOW!
Torriq: Li-5-Li this is 0A…are you receiving?...Li-5-Li this is 0A…
H: Why isn’t he responding?!
Torriq: I don’t know!
H: Speculate!
Torriq: Maybe he hasn’t turned his SOFS back on….maybe there is something causing interference….maybe he is dead…
Tran: If he’s dead…
H: I fuckin’ know…Tran…that’s not helping… what would cause interference?
Torriq: Guthracite…the Darkland are covered in it… you know that right? That’s why we have to keep coming up above ground and walking half the fuckin’ time…the LUDENs won’t work near the stuff..
H: I’m not a fuckin’ idiot Torriq. There is no Guthrecite at Li-5-Li.
Torriq: Between the sites…that explosion….it could have easily kicked up a cloud.
H: Right…so what are you going to do about it? How do we get through?
Torriq: He’s probably dead! I don’t understand what…
H: Torriq…tell me how we can get comms round the Guthrecite cloud. Before I gut you…
Torriq: We….we can boost the signal… send it through the PR tower…it’ll cut out a bunch and-
H: Excellent. Get on that right now!
Torriq: Are you gonna…are you gonna kill me?
Tran: Why don’t you worry about that bridge when we get there, eh?
----
Gnil: Brother…you have been away for a long time…you do not understand the rules of this new world.
Lessee: Rules? Who are you and what have you done with my sister?
Gnil: You don’t understand… they no longer govern this realm…not in the way they once did…this world is fragile…it could break with only the smallest of pressure.
Lessee: So we break it…
Gnil: Before your vengeance [correcting] our vengeance is complete… don’t you want to find them? Punish them? Make them all suffer for what they did to us?
Lessee: You have a plan?
Gnil: I have an intention brother… and now I have one of my siblings…let us take our time…with subtlety…with guile…and why not enjoy ourselves a little…
Mystical transition: Dream sequence
GNIL:: Are you really so concerned with trite notions of good and evil? Even when your very survival is at stake? Oh…I’ve done my fair share…but I’m not a nihilist like my brother…there are…[sultry] so many pleasures in this world… [serious] too many to wish away…
----
Herrand and Tran begin to panic that Nomed is going to kill them for their failure and speculate about what their options are…Tran shows his doubts about Nomed and indicates that he knows about Gnilfeit/Ilkea and that she might be an option. Herrand gets him back on mission
[Door closes]
Tran: This is bad…
H: Very bad…
Tran: He’s going to kill us…
H: We don’t know that…It’s not our fault…this wasn’t our part…
Tran: Has that ever stopped him?...What if we strike first?
H: With what?! He’s a fucking…[whisper] he’s a god Tran…
Tran: A god? Do you honestly still believe that? After everything we’ve seen?
H: God or no…he’s too powerful… much more powerful than us…
Tran: What about the other one? Maybe she can help us? You said she was…
H: She’s powerful…but I don’t know her from An mate…I don’t know if we can trust her…
Tran: But she’s one of them… you said she’s like him…we could join her…ask her…
H: You are spiralling mate. Calm it down…you’ll spook the other lads…get your shit together and keep your eye on Torriq. Alright….plans not totally fucked yet. Alright? Are you good?
Tran: Yeah...Yeah…Thanks
Herrand: That’s alright…we all have our moments…You keep me focused…I’ll keep you focused…we’re gonna get through all this…alright?
Tran: Yeah… We’ll get through this
-------
Dream sequence/memory
Herrand: The Lernians?! What are we doing?!
Lessee: [maniacal laughter] I’ve done nothing…just as I promised my deceitful sister…I am merely letting them destroy themselves…
H: Why?! Why Dark Father!? You said you came to save us…
Lessee: I am not in the habit of explaining myself to mortals Herrand…we’re going to seize the Terrq’n capitol… I give it to you…as a gift…
----
Mystical transition: Dream sequence
GNIL: You must know what he is by now…what he truly seeks…and you must know that no one can stop him…well…no one else…I should say…
----
More of Herrand’s character and reputation is revealed. Timeline indication from Mins message.
*Mins speech to his mum*
H: I can hear him…why can’t he hear me?
Torriq: I told you the cloud is…
Tran: At least he’s alive…that’s something, right?
Torriq: What are you guys even trying to pull? It’ll only be a matter of time until someone comes to check on us…and then what?
H: Are you fuckin’ soft son? Who do you think is coming to get you?
Torriq: Look…The explosion…someone will have heard it…
H: No… let me enlighten you as to the present situation…that sound you heard was the entire tunnel system collapsing…trapping, burying and killing everyone you know and love. Noone is coming. Best put that thought right out of your mind.
Torriq: What!?...but…that…that would be…
H: Yes, Torriq. Around 300 people. Lots of our friends.
Torriq: How….how could you…you MONSTER!
H: Come on Torriq…you’ve figured out who I am…you know…what I’ve done…what is a measly 300 more on my scorecard at this point?
Torriq: [Lunging at Herrand] I’ll kill you!
[Tran intercepts Torriq struggles chokes and whimpers]
Tran: No you won’t. You’ll thrash about…then you’ll tire out…then…I’ll let you go…and you’ll cry impotently…
[Torriq drops to ground weeping]
Torriq: Why!? Why?! Would you do this?! …we are trying to help people… we are trying to save the damned world here… why!?
H: You wouldn’t believe me….even if I told you…get him on the comms…time is running out for you to make yourself useful.
----
Dream Sequence/Memory
Herrand: Ilkea…
Gnilfeit: Ah! It’s my brother’s little pet… I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon…I thought today was a busy busy day?
Herrand: It…[pause]
Gnilfeit: Let me guess….things aren’t going to plan?
----
Short conversation with Billy in which Herrand tries to keep a stiff upper lip. This demonstrates that he is keeping everyone but Tran in the dark about his doubts. This is to keep them safe.
[opens door]
Billy: What’s the hold up boss? Shouldn’t we be saddling up for the final push?
H: Slight hiccough mate…don’t fret…we’ll be back on schedule in a bit…
Billy: We’re so damned close I can taste it! Just think…we’re gonna be damned heroes! You think people will tell stories about us? Think we’ll get our own saga? The men who saved the gods…
H: Aye Billy…they’ll be singing about us for a thousand years…and it’ll all have been worth it…everything we done…it’ll be washed clean… just sit tight… we might be here a bit longer yet…get the lads to check their weapons and give the spare Vacships a once over… but don’t be fucking about with cargo…alright…that’s a special surprise for the boss…we’ll need to get back too remember…
-----
H: I need reassurances…
Gnil: Awwww…how frustrating for you…[soft laugh] sometimes all it takes…is a leap of faith…
-----
Door opens and closes
Sounds of min telling story to his kid getting clearer
Torriq: Try it now…
Tran: How we gonna do this cuz?
H: We can’t have him trying to come back… if he tries to dig his way out…his atmodome will vent and he’ll die… we need to keep him calm…and convince him to get out there…
Tran: That’s gonna be a hard sell…
H: Yep… well… I can’t just jump into it… I need him to trust me…fuck…wish me luck…
H: This is 0A…can you hear me? I can hear you. Can you hear me?
[repeat of conversation from ep 2]
[when Torriq hears H say that he is dead]
Torriq: You aren’t gonna kill me…right? I did what you asked…
H: Tran…
Tran: Alright…
[draws blade and runs Torriq through]
Torriq: Eugh!
Tran: We should probably let him know…
H: Yeah…at least we have some better news…
---
Min & H play a game and he encourages Min to leave for Anderkant
H turns of SOFS.
H: Fuck…why did you have to be a good one…
---
The Leps attack Li-25-Central. Linking in to Ep 4 where Herrand saw them too. Indicates that the Leps are indeed hostile and raises the question of why they aren’t attacking Min.
Tran and Billy hear sounds of movement.
Billy: Did you hear that?
Tran: Yep…
Billy: So I didn’t just imagine it?
Tran: Nope…
Billy: and we killed everybody…right?
Tran: Yep…
Billy: Lads! Tool up! Incoming!
[sounds of rushing soldiers]
Tran: Light Torches! Back to Back…guard the comms tower…anything here that moves…kill it!
[sounds off to left]
Billy: Movement Left….
[Sounds to right]
Tran: and right…
Billy: See anything?
Soldier 1: What the hell is…
Tran: Loose!
[sound of creature charging and being taken down by bolts]
---
[door opens Tran breathless in doorway]
H: Fuck! What is it?!
Tran: H… you’ve got to see this…
Walking over to squealing monster
H: What…in the fuck is that?!
Tran: they just turned up…out of nowhere…came from outside the dome…
H: They’re not supposed to come this far out….
Tran: Maybe the explosion?!
H: Maybe…I need to speak to HIM…
---
Lessee indicates that he knows Herrand is not faithful but that he doesn’t care so long as he is obedient. This will link to next episode when Nomed has Tran and Billy kill Herrand. Tran has been informing on Herrand the whole time.
Lessee: What?!
H: We just come under attack from a couple of them…
Lessee: and?
H: If they are round us…they’ll be round him… do you want us to move up?
Lessee: No.
H: Dark Father… if they kill him…the plan…
Lessee: Are you questioning the wisdom of your god, Herrand? Don’t move up until the defences are down. When will he depart?
H: he’s…still hesitant Dark Father…but…but…tomorrow…I reckon…I can convince him…
Lessee: Make sure that you do…
H: Yes, Dark Father…
Lessee: One more thing Herrand… Is there anything you’d like to tell me?... I can be a forgiving god… to those who seek my mercy freely… You haven’t been speaking to anyone…
Gnilfeit’s voice: that you shouldn’t have…
Lessee’s voice: Have you?
[pause]
H: No Dark Father.
[Pause]
Lessee: [Sly] Hmmm… do you know why I keep you around Herrand?
H: Because I am a faithful servant to my god…Dark Father…
Lessee: [Laugh] I can read your soul Herrand, I know your faith is as fickle as your friendship… I keep you around because I enjoy to watch… to watch as you follow my every command…no matter how wicked or brutal…when in your heart there is no faith at all…it’s cowardly really…watching you save your own skin day after day…at almost limitless cost…You remind me why this world needs….[long pause]…saving…
H: I am loyal dark father…
Lessee: To yourself Herrand…but that is all I need from you…it is most reliable…
---
Dream sequence/memory
H: I told you…I told you what you wanted to know…can you get us out?... can you protect us … I can’t do this anymore…
Gnilfeit: But you’re proving to be such a valuable little spy…but don’t worry…I won’t let my mean brother pick on you…so long as you stay loyal…to me
H: I just want out…please…
Gnilfeit: In time Herrand…in time.
----
Min: Woah… that is so… what in the hells is [monster attack SOFS drop out]
H: MIN! MIN! MIN! FUCK! SHIT!....
{Door opens]
Tran: What’s going on?!
H: I think they got him…
Tran: Fuck…Fuck…He can’t blame us…right? Not for this…
H: I don’t know Tran… I just don’t fucking know…
----
Dream sequence/memory
Clear indication that Herrand switched sides and is seeking Gnilfeit’s protection.
Gnilfeit: Ah…I was wondering when you would show up again… panicking again are we?
H: What do I need to do…please…tell me what you want me to do…
---
Min: They…aren’t what I imagined…they are as scary as all Avernus…dark…sharp…much…more…evil looking than I would have imagined…. But they chased me when I passed through the barrier…I ran into a cave and found fresh water… I heard the knocking in the cave and it brought me out…face to face with the things… they didn’t touch me…. They are kinda just…following me around…it’s creepy but they aren’t a threat.
H: [Silence]
Min: H?
H: So…they are really just leaving you alone?
Min: Ummm yeah…
H: [Silence]
Min: H?
H: Just processing mate…
Min: ….[cough]…So…shall…I …keep…going?
H: Abso-fuckin’-lutely
---
Nomed no longer has any real reason to remain subtle and when he is confronted by angry workers frustrated by his inaction over the collapse he loses it and kills everyone. This strands him as he has no pilot for the Vacship. His outburst is sensed by Gnilfeit, who arrives and offers to help, using this as an excuse to get in on the mission for her own ends. This will link to next episode. Nomed did this intentionally to have Gnilfeit close so he could prevent her from jumping ahead and interfering out of sight.
Lessee: Tell me…Tell me you have reestablished contact…
H: Aye … he’s about an hour out from Ankerkant…then we’ll have everything we need...
Lessee: Then I shall be with you…in but a moment…
{Door opens]
Lessee: Teressa, I am leaving. I may not be back for sometime…
Teressa: Boss….
Lessee: Yes? Terressa…
Teressa: Ummm…I didn’t want to bother you with it…you know…unless it got out of hand…but it…ummmm…it’s gotten a bit out of hand…
Lessee: What is it?
---
[Angry crowd jeering]
Man 1: SEND OUT THE VAC SHIPS!!!!
Man 2: THEY’RE DYING OUT THERE!!!!
Lessee: [sigh][walks over toward the crowd] Settle down! Settle Down!...what appears to be the problem?
Man 1: PROBLEM!? OUR FRIENDS HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT THERE TO DIE! WHERE ARE THE VACSHIPS!?
Crowd: SEND THEM OUT! SEND THEM OUT!
Lessee: Listen to me… I’m just about to…
Crowd: [continues]
Lessee: Listen to me…[high pitch inside head]…I’ve already… if you would just…[high pitch grows]…
Crowd: [continues] Man 2: IF YOU WON’T WE WILL! MAN1: UP THE WORKERS!
Lessee: I…I can’t allow that…
Man 1: There are one hundred of us!
Man 2: and one of you!
[Throwing rocks and bottles]
Lessee: ENOUGH!! [Evil monster voice and pulse]
[Silence]
Lessee: [intermittent distorted voice] INSECTS! I DO NOT NEED TO EXPLAIN MYSELF TO YOU! HOW DARE YOU TRY AND OBSTRUCT ME… HOW DARE YOU THINK YOU CAN COMPEL ME! THREATEN ME!? ATTACK ME!? I AM SICK OF ALL THE PRETENSE ALL THE…{to self} hmmm…subtlety… [sigh]
[PANICKED MURMURING]
Lessee: [calming down] Right… Well… I think you should all… just go…and… Die![heavy distortion]
[bodies drop one by one like dominoes]
Lessee: [deep sigh and collects self] Teressa… could you…oh…oh…you’re dead too… and…so are…well that is a shame…[sigh]
[Gnifeit teleports in]
Lessee: Ah… you’re here again…
Gnilfeit: …I felt that from Emedu brother… Did you lose your cool again…
Lessee: Here to gloat?
Gnilfeit: [wry] Not at all!
Lessee: Well… I…appear to have killed everyone… again
Gnilfeit: Including your own men… it would seem…
Lessee: Yes…
Gnilfeit: Do you know how to fly the ship?
Lessee: No…
Gnilfeit: Well… isn’t it lucky I am here…
Lessee: Hmmmm…[suspicious]
Gnilfeit: Come on brother…we’re on the same side after all…after the same things… surely it can’t hurt your pride too much to ask for my help?
Lessee: [sigh] Can you teleport me to my men out in the Darklands…?
Gnilfeit: I’m sorry?
Lessee: Can you take me to them… please…
Gnilfeit: Of course… and I’ll stick around in case you get into any more trouble…what are big sisters for… after all…