|
Dana, transformed into an uncontrollable predator, has just mortally wounded Ethan
and fled into the forest. The Groosalugg immediately sets off in pursuit, leaving Lauren to do
what she can to help Ethan. Not sure if Ethan's "immortality" still works in Pylea (given
what just happened to Dana when she tried to change into her werewolf form), Lauren does her
best to bandage up the chest wound and rushes Ethan back to the castle.
Back in Los Angeles, Jalen returns to find Lorne at the house. He explains where the
others went and offers to open a portal for Jalen to follow. When Lorne explains that Pylea is
a medieval world, Jalen decides to take his motorbike with him. Lorne opens the portal and sends
Jalen on his way.
When she reaches the castle, Lauren leaves Ethan in the makeshift hospital he himself had
set up earlier, in the care of the women he'd recruited as triage nurses. Lauren then heads in the
castle to find new clothes to replace her now blood-soaked outfit. Elsewhere, Groo has
found Dana, human again but catatonic, naked and covered in blood next the carcass of a recently
slaughtered, and partially eaten, animal. Covering her in his cloak, Groo takes Dana back to the castle.
By the time they arrive Dana has somewhat recovered and is well enough to wash up and get a change of
clothes.
Arriving in Pylea near a group of refugees Jalen is able to get directions to the castle
where he meets up with Dana and Lauren and learns what has happened, including Dana's suspicion that
whatever is happening in Pylea is tied to the death of the Hart. Dana wonders if it might be possible
to create a replacement for the Hart and Jalen suggests finding another demon that they might be able to
"promote" to the position. Jalen heads to the library to talk to the remaining priests about
his idea. The priests ignore Jalen's requests for information, telling him that their masters will
reward them for their faith before vanishing in front of his very eyes.
Without the priests to provide information the group starts working on a backup plan.
They wonder if they can somehow elevate Groo by declaring him a God-King, with the worship of the
people as a source of magic power. Dana begins reading through the remaining books in the library,
looking for prophecies that might describe the events that are unfolding. Unfortunately nothing seems
to match. In desperation Lauren tries to contact the Powers That Be to see if they can help but she is
shocked when she seems to sense their presence somewhere on Pylea: the Powers are already here! When Dana
tells her to try and find them, Lauren uses her abilities to home in on the Powers That Be only to
discover that the Powers are the mysterious force that is laying waste to Pylea!
Faced with the thought of trying to combat the Powers That Be, the group wonders if
they should just cut and run. The Groosalugg is not happy with this idea and will not abandon his world
and people. Dana figures that there is no way to stop the Powers and starts working on a way to hold
open a portal to Earth long enough to get as many refugees as they can through. She reluctantly tries to
wake the badly-wounded Ethan, knowing they need his powers to locate a mystic "hot-spot" they
can use to open the portal. Jalen meanwhile wants to see if he can get a look at the Powers' army and
heads out on his bike. When he gets close Jalen gets off the bike and enters the Shadow Realm and finds
that it, too, seems different in Pylea; in the Shadows here he feels more powerful. Using the Shadows to
stealthily approach the cloud surrounding the approaching forces Jalen is still unable to see within it.
Finally he decides to use the Shadow Realm to get within the masking cloud. Emerging within the cloud
Jalen finds himself surrounded by light and can barely make out many marching, armored figures.
Surrounded by the bright lights Jalen is unable to flee until one of the figures, a huge winged humanoid,
turns to face him, casting a brief shadow for a fleeting moment, barely enough time for him to escape.
At the castle Dana is working on the enchantment to widen the portal, but realizes they
will only be able to transport a few dozen refugees at most. She and Lauren begin to prioritize the
refugees, mainly focusing on the women and children. A loud scream heralds Jalen's return. He is unsure
of why people are frightened until he sees his reflection in the rear-view mirror of his bike and sees
that his skin has taken on a blue tint and his eyes are glowing red. Jalen realizes that something is causing
him to turn into a Shadow Demon. After getting over the initial shock, Dana explains that they have to go.
Gathering about two dozen refugees she, along with Lauren, Jalen, and the wounded Ethan, prepare to open
the portal. As they pass through they wish Groo and his soldiers luck but know it will not matter.
It is not long after the others have left that the Powers' army reaches the castle. As
the light envelops them the soldiers of Pylea fight a desperate but futile battle. One by one they fall
until the Groosalugg is the only one left standing. With a mighty blow he knocks the helmet from the head of
his opponent, only to be struck down moments later. As Groo lies dying his killer picks up the fallen helmet
to replace it and his face is seen: the soldier in the Powers' army that killed Groo is Patrick!
|
