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Beau and Caleb continue to mistrust each other.

Trent is arrested. Then wriggles his way out of it.

Fjord nearly dies.

Then nearly leaves without the rest of The Mighty Nein.

Yasha scares me.

Yasha scares everyone.

Damn. Well, that was an episode. One I could enjoy way more without the triggering fire like last weeks. Thank goodness.

Overall, this episode is really good.

We meet The Gentleman and The Mighty Nein offer him ‘many gifts’ after almost dying upstairs because Molly nearly forgot the password. He finds their gifts rather dull apparently.

Except Jester’s.

Jester brings him a book, Tusk Love. Which while The Gentleman has clearly already read it, he excitedly talks about it with Jester. He decrees at least one of them has taste.

And I find the entire interaction awesome.

Because I don’t think anyone was expecting this badass dude of an elite criminal underworld to find something in common with Jester of all people in the group. However, if you watched the campaign. You know why.

If you haven’t, I’m not spoiling it for you. Just watch the show. It’s awesome.

The Gentleman offers them a terrifying job.

Which nearly kills Nott several times.

Which I love as well. Not because I want Nott to die, but early in the campaign Sam could not roll to find traps to save his life. It once resulted in an eye going right through Nott’s hand. One she did not mention to the healer of the group, because she didn’t want to bother her. Despite Nott’s thumb hanging off.

One of the few times where Jester offered up healing when someone pointed out that Nott was hurt.

They embark on this crazy journey while Beau and Caleb bicker back and forth. Caleb had followed Beau to see her meet with someone and wants to know who it is.

Oddly enough, despite this tension between them, Beau somewhat defended Caleb. Despite the warnings of her mentor, she didn’t at first appear to think there was anything malicious about Caleb.

She later questions this when he decides to question her in the middle of journey across several invisible stones so she must answer of he could let her die.

Not exactly boasting trust there either.

However, he does safely help her across and join her once she answers, keeping his word. Proving he is nothing like the other Volstruckers anymore.

At least to Beau.

Which is nice, because I do love the Empire Kids bond, they had in the campaign, and I can’t wait to see it play out here.

Although, I do not think his choice of method was great. He could have easily scared Beau off or made her do something insane instead of answering his question. But I think Beau acted on her first instinct about Caleb. That he’s not that person he described anymore.

Which is a lovely thing to see them coming together. Because they do make an excellent team.

Meanwhile, Fjord jumps into the water because of a yellow glowing light. He swims and swims and swims and nearly dies trying to retrieve the item. Until, his patron god gives him a little boost in power – allowing him to breath underwater.

Though – while he is doing this – Jester is freaking out at the top of the water.

Firmly believing that he may have drowned or killed himself for who knows what reason.

Fjord does manage to grab the yellow ball, which no one should trust. He tries to take it and leave the rest of The Mighty Nein who have been captured, but he finds Jester’s sketchbook. Realizing that she sees the same thing in him that his former captain saw, he returns to their aide.

Waking the large sentries again.

The ones The Mighty Nein had just calmed down.

Which is so on brand for them to make a plan and then throw it away four seconds later to choose mayhem and wanton destruction instead because… they can.

The Mighty Nein escape, bounty in tow, and complete their mission successfully. They share their loot together and find some joy in spending time together in their wagon as they revel in their victory.

However, while all this was going on, things were getting worse in the world around them.

For example, the Cobalt Soul successfully captured and held Trent for questioning.

They undercut this success by giving Trent what he wanted which was to see the King, who he convinced that he could change the tide of the war by using the stolen Beacon. That Trent was somehow not the bad guy here and he was just trying to win the war he started.

Isn’t that lovely?

The king is a complete moron to believe this.

The Cobalt Soul is dumb for bringing the king there.

And we feel this stupidity largely when hundreds of people are murdered by their own Beacon. While Essek barely manages to escape with Verrat to watch the carnage unfold.

I think the only thing that brings a modicum of comfort during this horrific scene in which Trent and the King are enjoying far too much, is that the souls are brought into the Beacon as they are meant to be. Those who died in that battle, may have a chance to live again as the Dynasty believes.

Which is a bright side to the horrors committed here.

Hopefully.

However, now Essek sees that Trent never truly meant to help him or his mother. He only wanted power. Power to destroy.

Essek has also revealed in saving his friend that he is the reason the Beacon was lost in the first place. I cannot imagine how that is going to play out.

It’s also interesting because Essek appears aloof in the campaign, almost as though he has no one who cares for him or that he cares for no one. Which is what makes The Mighty Nein so special to him, because they offer him his first real taste of kindness and friendship he has never really had before.

Which compels him to be better. To atone for his mistakes.

It’s interesting to see more of the world he comes from and what turned him into that cold, calculating man The Mighty Nein will meet.

Lastly, we have Yasha.

She arrived somewhere at the beginning of the episode and murdered everyone she came across. Apparently, vultures signal here arrival which is terrifying. I also would not stick around if I saw the hint of a vulture then, but that’s just me.

We get a brief glimpse into her life as a woman begs for her life.

It reminds Yasha of another time. Another life of hers when she loved someone. But the sigil on the back of her neck forces her to follow through on the carnage.

Something Yasha clearly doesn’t really want a part in but cannot escape at the moment. She surfaces briefly before being shoved down by a voice who reminds her that she wanted this. Apparently..? We’ll find out. Hopefully.

With everyone utterly destroyed, the vultures descend as Yasha moves on. Cold, careful, a predator searching for its prey.

Then we see Yasha once more arriving at the gates of Zadash and she sees The Mighty Nein for the first time.

Definitely not enough Yasha. I for sure need her to interact with them in the next episode. Please! Backstory! Something! Please!

Oh, and one more thing. Astrid used scry on Caleb or Bren after the note appeared to her with his name on it. She discovers he has returned to Zadash. Where she is currently.

I’m sure nothing terrible will come of that. Right? Right?!

Eh, I’m not so sure.

Clearly her and Eadwulf are still deep within the thralls of Trent and I’m not sure how the show versions will differ from the campaign. But I am excited to see it, nonetheless!

I loved this episode as the world fleshes out and The Mighty Nein get caught up in things that go way deeper and more sinister than they realize.

What do you guys think? Drop me a comment and tell me your thoughts. I could chat about The Mighty Nein all day!

Thanks for reading! Spread the love and read on!