Realms S1E39 Tough Choices

Burakubuu is found locked up with a half-orc woman, Tallulah. What can she reveal about Jaren? And did that Owlbear just speak common?

Player Characters Present
Jeidobii, Torq, Denahi, Burakubuu, Tallulah

Synopsis
The orcish threat neautralized, the party venture into what seems to be a jail and discover.... Burakubuu, with an unconscious half-orc. They free their friend but he is able to tell them little of how he got there. They wake the half-orc, who introduces herself as Tallulah, and she is unable to provide much more insight herself. For the time being, though, she joins up with our heroes and they venture out to explore the empty town.

Seemingly empty, at least. Inside a cathedral, they discover a mass collection of diseased bodies. Among them, not only the goliath Varge and others, but someone Tallulah recognizes as the attendant of her friend, Kaelun, back in Tydean. Just then, a horde of diseased rat creatures closes in. The party fends them off as they flee before ultimately Denahi sets most of the town aflame.

Outside of the fire, the party sets camp. Around the fire, Tallulah reveals that her mother is the military advisor in Tydean, but, more troubling, that Jaren is the religious advisor and wields great power there. When the others bed down, Buu and Denahi discuss their shared connection, and what will happen should they come face to face with Jaren.

In the morning, the party sets back out on the path to Tydean and as the cross the coast a group of ogres sets upon them. Trying and failing diplomacy, the party sets to slaying the aggressors. However, in the melee, Icca falls. Jeidobii, Denahi and Buu all rush to tend to their owlbear friend. It seems to have no effect, when suddenly... Icca rouses, and begins breathing, and exclaims, "What happened?!" And everyone understands him...