What Reeks and Burns
The crew of the Grandcypher stops at the Kingdom of Montbix to investigate the black mist covering the area, suspecting it to be the same type that affected Petra's village. After arriving, they are accused of espionage by Prince Pituca and later border patrol, with justifiable reasons.A parade celebrating Gallivan's achievements was happening at the same time, which the knight captain immediately figures out the crew is falsely accused and lets them go. Shortly after, a bow-wielding assassin attempts to kill the king, causing the parade to turn into chaos.
Tropes
- The Atoner: Unable to stop Montbix's industralization, Pituca secretly raises silkworms to preserve the kingdom's past silk tradition.
- Back from the Dead:
- While the rumors are correct in that Eruel was killed, the earth spirit gives him a second lease of life to enact his revenge.
- After Eruel kills Gallivan, Andras revives the latter by simply exiting and returning into his body. Gallivan takes Andras back and sacrifices himself so he can stop Andras from causing more chaos.
- Chekhov's Gun: The story makes note of Gallivan and Bonnie being attached to the marigold perfume they wear to keep them calm. It's later used against him and for him when he's outed as the real killer and to exorcise the possessed Eruel respectively.
- A Form You Are Comfortable With: Andras takes on the guise of the person closest to their host to corrupt them. For Gallivan's case, it's Bonnie. For Eruel, it's Fran.
- He Knows Too Much: Eruel and Fran stumbled across the bodies of Gallivan's murders, leading to Eruel's false accusation and Fran's own murder.
- Heroic Sacrifice:
- Layla evacuates the entire lecture hall as it's set ablaze and leaves herself inside it, which is later subverted once it's revealed Gallivan hid her in a safer place.
- Gallivan himself later takes control of Andras back from Eruel and chooses to throw himself off to kill it. When Elmott tries to disuade him from doing it, Gallivan notes that he's already living on borrowed time and has a past criminal record.
- Man Behind the Man: The true villain of the event is the evil spirit Andras, who spent much of the time taking control of Gallivan.
- My God, What Have I Done?: After learning about what happened in this event, the King of Montbix becomes distraught that the industralization push he's going for caused a lot more trouble than he anticipated.
- Taking the Bullet: Gallivan stops Eruel's assassination by using himself as a shield. While the wound isn't that major, the fact that it's done during the middle of a parade would naturally cause chaos.
- Tempting Fate: Pituca expresses his own incompetence when he states that he can't use swords and doesn't like studying. Shortly after, Eruel makes his appearance trying to assassinate the king.
- Villain with Good Publicity: On the surface, Gallivan is a well-respected knigh captain shaping the kingdom. Deep down, Gallivan is a Knight Templar corrupted by Andras that has already shed innocent blood. While it's clear Gallivan doesn't wanted to be treated as a hero after his death, the crew and the kindgom chooses to not expose his crimes due to the potential mass hysteria it could cause.
- We Used to Be Friends: Pituca and Eruel were friends until the latter was framed as a serial killer. The two repaired their friendship after the truth comes out and the kingdom reforms as a result.
