"The Cat's Cathedral" (RT2x01) is the thirteenth episode of The Re-Slayer's Take. The Re-Slayer’s Take arrives at the legendary headquarters of their original namesake, where they come face-to-face with an ancient entity that seems to know more about everything—including themselves—than they do.
Synopsis[]
After Sweeny leaves through a portal Kashaw explains to the Re-Slayers that Heldwell is no longer a member of the Slayer's Take anymore, since they expelled him for hiding information about the resurrected monsters Timpani had fought, and Sweeny had been infiltrating his group of underlings. Timpani and Poogs are both very excited to meet Kashaw, and Timpani starts to tell him about one time they saw each other in the street, but Farah tells him to keep it cool. Frog asks Kashaw permission to draw him, and he agrees, telling her about his good side while still walking, telling the Re-Slayers about his past deeds. In turn, Timpani tells him about how their own group was formed, and when Kashaw asks if he really brought them together by lying, Heera intervenes, stating that the ends justify the means; Kash clarifies that he doesn't really care. Shortly after Osysa tells the cleric that she is ready, and the floor beneath the adventurers opens, so they fall, with Frog being the only one who lands gracefully in the dark lair.
Osysa, the sphinx that leads the Slayer's Take, introduces herself as the chosen of the Knowing Mistress, and when Frog asks her if she can draw her, she snaps at the Aeormaton, telling her to pay attention; in a similar way, when Timpani starts to talk about him not knowing anything about sphinxes, she Silenced him. Osysa starts analyzing the Re-Slayer's Take, reading Timpani and Poogs with ease, but failing to intimidate Heera and Farah at first, finding it impertinent. When the sphinx asks them if they really believe that they have defeated Putridius Farah tries to protest, but she tells the blood hunter that even if she sees herself as experienced, the chosen of the Knowing Mistress surpasses her. She tells the adventurers that after adventuring under her guild's name they have finally drawn her attention, and now must prove that they deserve it; to that Farah replies by saying that they are no longer interested in being part of the Slayer's Take, since their own group is better. When Heera nervously asks if she is interested in hiring them, Osysa finds it contradictory, knowing that they claimed to be an altruistic adventuring party, and Farah assures her that they are good people. Idrin intervenes, stuttering that they have gotten off on the wrong foot, but the sphinx ignores him, and declares that she is going to test them.
Magical darkness surrounds and isolates each member of the team. To Frog, Osysa tells her that even though her search for knowledge is admired by the Knowing Mistress, many have fallen into ruin trying to learn new things, and when the monk responds that she's not perfect but has friends to help her, Osysa reminds her there are paths that she must walk alone; she also shows her a vision of Aeor before its fall, and although Frog is very curious and takes notes, the sphinx doesn't answer to her questions. To Heera, Osysa reminds her about the dark ties of her family and how unloved she was with them, asking for the reason why she left, and when the tiefling tells her that she wants to prosper on her own and deal with things she can control affecting her friends, the sphinx states that maybe she overlooked thins she could control back with her family; Osysa also shows Heera a vision of her mother in her youth, touching a strange mask in a flaming altar, and getting chain marks in her arm, at the same time that her daughter feels the same thing, just to see her mother age, suddenly look at her, and disappear in the darkness after saying her name. To Farah, Osysa tells her that through her long life she has failed to built her own legacy, leaving broken dreams and relationships behind, but also pointing out that her legend might be just beginning; when the blood hunter states she tries to make an effort each day, the sphinx shows her a vision of herself, even older, saving some people inside a flaming castle, but letting them leave without her, to which the half-elf responds by saying that dying for her friends is a good thing. To Idrin, Osysa tells him that he is escaping from himself, ignoring that there's doom coming for his people, and that both of his parents have been lying to him, even if he doesn't want to believe it; the sphinx wonders if he will abandon his friends or his people.
When the visions finish and the darkness disappears, a portal opens between Idrin and the rest of the Re-Slayers, connecting to Xhorhas, and after some hesitance, Idrin throws his beads to Poogs and crosses the portal before his friends can reach him. Osysa tells the rest of the adventuring party that they should keep exploring and enduring in their journeys, and a new portal brings them to the outside of Timpani's home. Kashaw tells them that the Slayer's Take will provide them with a new, efficient multi-story headquarters, but Heera begins to respond with cutting sarcasm, making it clear that they are going through a difficult time and want privacy, so Kash leaves through another portal after giving Frog a tome with information about monsters defeated by his guild. The Aeormaton asks her friends if Idrin was alright when he left, and Heera says he looked hurt and conflicted, after which she and Frog hug. Poogs is uncertain about what to do with the beads, and Heera tries to cheer him up telling him that Idrin wants him to protect them, although she mentions that the goblin lacks ability, making him feel worse. Frog kneels in front of him and takes the beads, helping him put them on his wrists, and causing the moved Poogs to declare that he will do his best until they find someone worthy of the item. Again Heera tries to cheer him up by saying that he is worthy, and the goblin comments that in the past he was a thief; Frog replies that under other circumstances she could have ended up a criminal too, although she would not be as good as Poogs (making him feel bad again). Timpani enters his house and finds several letters; after Poogs confirms that it is the first of the month, the firbolg searches through his mail until he finds one from his cousin, Pumat Sol, who has sent him money. Cheerily, Timpani declares that the Re-Slayer's Take should go shopping.
Featured characters[]
Re-Slayers[]
Returning[]
- Kashaw Vesh
- Sweeny, a gnome and member of the Slayer's Take
- Osysa
New[]
Mentioned[]
- Grimm Heldwell, a member of the Slayer's Take
- Rimefang
- Ioun, the Knowing Mistress
- Putridius Festerkin
- Pumat Sol
Quotations[]
Trivia[]
References[]
Art:
- ↑ Re-Slayer's Take S2 promotional art, by Elaine Tipping (source). Used with permission.
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