Guardians of the Grove - Recap 07/13-09/28

 

Master No More

The Guardians are able to dispatch the purple worms and salvage a stinger and some poison for the approaching battle with the Master. When they return to Warcester, they find the town bakery wrecked and Scrum dead, or at least they believe so until it is revealed to be an expertly baked cake replica. Scrum reveals himself and the news of Dante’s hunt for the Guardians. The Guardians are surrounded by Dante’s forces, who burn the bakery with heroes inside. After an unsuccessful escape attempt, the group confronts Dante and his elite guard. As the battle intensifies, the Guardians receive a message from Oval that the Master has nearly arrived. The Guardians manage to pull off some quick shenanigans and escape toward the Master. They prepare the best they can and make their way into Oval’s Oddities through the front instead of the agreed-upon sky route.

Planned so Much; HE Planned Better

The group decides to pretend Wulf is captured and lock him up with special cuffs (red flag #1). Blood takes Atheya and Corvus into a rope trick to hide their presence (red flag #2). Eltuire stays behind to receive protection magic against the Master when he arrives (red flag# 3). Finally, the trap is set, and the Master finally makes his move in an attempt to feeblemind Eltuire. She is able to resist, and the battle begins. Blood, Atheya, and Corvus struggle to free themselves from a Forcecage spell, and Wulf frees himself and Niru from their cage. Eltuire does her best to buy some time and sacrifices Whiplash to weaken the Master for the Guardians to make their move and strike the Master down. In retaliation, the Master strikes down Corvus with a Power Word Kill spell. After a few seconds, the group reacts quickly to buy time for Atheya to revive Corvus. Meanwhile, Wulf and Niru rejoin the fight along with an old and new ally, Mira and Scrum.

A Reckoning

Finally united together, the Guardians relentlessly exchange blows with the Master. Throughout multiple shapeshifting forms, both Dragon-like and Ape-like, the Guardians weaken the Master, destroying his tendrils that protect his source. Wulf pursues the Master before he can flee and charges with all his strength. In that splitting moment, Wulf is visited by a familiar presence, a brother-in-arms, Diego. At that moment, Wulf delivers a final and devastating blow to split the Master in half, ending at least his physical form for now. Niru sends the Guardians on their way home to Gladesegde, and only one battle is one, but another battle awaits them in a literal Hell.