Recap / Songs Of War S 1 E 03 Episode 3

I've got a bad feeling about this.

Release Date: 21st December 2019

Synopsis: The adventures of Ardonia continue. Lucan enters the deep dark caves where undead zombies lurk, Abbigail recovers the mysterious Dragon Stone, and Thalleous reveals the reason for his journey.

Lucan, still unhappy with being assigned to mining duty, arrives at the Basalt Mines, where he meets his (drunk) guard Eddy, and they walk down into the mines. Lucan hears strange noises on their way down, but Eddy assures him that he hears them all the time, though Lucan is still nervous about what might happen. As they go to where they are supposed to be mining, a robed figure throws a Wither Skeleton Skull into the mines, which Lucan catches. Suddenly, hordes of Zombies, Skeletons and Creepers storm the mines with armour and weapons. Eddy tries to fend off some zombies, but he soon falls to his doom, leaving Lucan surrounded by zombies trying to fight his way out.

In Underwood, the girl and her dog take the Dragon Egg back to their farm in the middle of the forest, where it's revealed that the girl's name is Abbigail by her elderly neighbour, Mr Finch. Mr Finch inquires Abbigail as what she was doing in the forest, and later urges her to harvest some of the crops that are now in season. As she walks back to her house, Mr Finch asks about the Dragon Egg she was hauling.

Mr Finch: And w-what's this you were rolling up to the house?

Abbigail: Oh that? Nothing much. It was just a big... purple stone.

Mr Finch: Nothing much?! This is a Dragon Stone Abbigail.

Mr Finch takes it back to his house, stating that things like that are beyond Abbigail. Back in the house, Abbigail and Sam tuck into some food that Sam just stole from Mr Finch.

In Sendaria, Osivian bids goodbye to Thalleous and Senn as they go on their journey, with Senn promising to do better the next time he sees Osivian. The two ride on Timber (Thalleous' horse) towards the South, passing by numerous settlements along the way. That night, while they make camp, Senn inquires Thalleous as to the reason he came back to Sendaria, and he reveals that he came for Mobilium Prime Song. After the Great War, the Prime Songs were deemed to dangerous to be kept with the masters, and they were passed on to prominent families within the respective clans, Osivian's family making sure to keep the Mobilium Prime Song secure since then.

Senn: So where are we taking it?

Thalleous: I have.. reason to believe that the Voltaris clan will return, and when they do... they will hunt down the Prime Songs, and destroy everything in their path. I cannot let that happen, not to the Ardoni... not to you. I'm moving the Song to a safer place. Get some sleep Senn, our destination is close now.

We then catch up with Lucan, who has managed to escape the undead from the mines and arrive in Riverstead with two arrows in his back, is being questionned by Felden officials in the captial city, Felora. After describing in detail what happened, the officials consider the possibility that the rumoured Necromancers are behind the attacks. Since he still owes service to the kingdom of Felden, he is tasked with investigating the Necromancers.

Lucan: What? Me?! I can't, I'm not... I just got lucky... you want me to fight Necromancers now?

Male Official: Investigate. You will report back to us with your findings.

Not having much of a choice, Lucan looks at the Wither Skeleton Skull he caught before contemplating what he's about to do.

Abbigail spends much of the day harvesting the wheat crops on her farm, with Sam assisting her wherever he can. She succeeds in turning the wheat into several hay bales, and replants the wheat soon after. That evening, when looking at the path out of the forest, a horse rider from Etherea arrives looking for Jalkar and Grim.

Horse Rider: (to Mr Finch) Excuse me sir! We're on the lookout for two thieves, last reported heading this way.

Mr Finch: Haven't seen no one in these parts but yourself. What did they steal?

Horse Rider: A relic from Etherea: the dragon stone, one of the few remaining in all of Ardonia.

Mr Finch feigns that he hasn't seen it, while Abbigail rushes into Mr Finch's house, towards the egg. After taking a moment to admire the egg, Abbigail is confronted by Mr Finch, who states that he intends to sell the egg for a lot more than what Etherea would offer for it. He then demands Abbigail to hand the egg back, she reluctantly complies but accidentally drops it before Mr Finch can grab (though it doesn't teleport this time).

Mr Finch: (angrily) Abbigail! Careful with that! Everything was fine until you came in here and messed with it. You know, it was through reckless actions like this that your parents got themselves killed!

Abbigail angrily storms out of his house and returns to her own, sitting in front of her fireplace. As Mr Finch places the egg back on his table, it glows purple and pulses, calling for someone, or something.

To Be Continued

Tropes:

• Animal Reaction Shot: Timber provides one when Thalleous reveals that he was carrying the Mobilium Prime Song.
• Continuity Nod: Senn mentions that the Prime Songs were originally held by the masters of the clans during The Great War.
  Thalleous: After the masters were targeted by the Deathsinger before The Great War, it was decided the Songs were too dangerous to remain with the masters. Osivian's family had kept the Mobilium Prime secure... ever since.
• Curb Stomp Cushion: While Eddy does manage to decapitate a zombie, he falls to his death via another zombie almost immediately after.
• Dramatic Irony: Mr Finch lies about not having the Dragon Stone to the horse rider from Etherea.
• Dual Wielding: As the undead close in on Lucan in the Basalt Mines, he grabs his pickaxe and Eddy's sword in order to fight his way out. He lost both of these after he exited the mines, heavily injured.
• Early-Bird Cameo: A Necromancer is very briefly seen throwing the Wither Skeleton Skull into the Basalt Mines, one that will be properly introduced in Episode 5.
• Foreshadowing: Towards the end of the episode, Abbigail gazes at the path that leads out of Underwood.
• Gut Feeling: As per the image quote above, Lucan feels something's awry when heading down into the mines, which becomes true only moments later, when the undead attack in swarms.
• Hard-Work Montage: There's a long stretch Abbigail is seen harvesting and baling the wheat crops on her farm, something that she works on for hours until dusk.
• Insistent Terminology: The Felden officials state that Lucan is being tasked with investigating the Necromancers, not fighting them.
• Kick the Dog: Mr Finch rather rudely states that Abbigail's parents killed from their own reckless actions, something Abbigail takes great offense to.
• Macguffin Escort Mission: Thalleous reveals that he's moving the Mobilium Prime Song somewhere else, where it will hopefully be safer from the Voltaris.
• Made of Iron: Lucan manages to fight his way out of the Basalt Mines, losing his weapons (see Dual Wielding above), gets two arrows in his back, and walks all the way back to Riverstead before collapsing.
• Near-Death Experience: Lucan was very lucky to have survived the undead attack on the Basalt Mines (as he himself states), having come very close to death.
• Offscreen Moment of Awesome: Lucan, from deep within the Basalt Mines, fought his way through the undead forces, and lived to tell the tale. His status as the Sole Survivor is part of the reason why the officials of Felden wanted him to investigate the Necromancers (the other part was to work off his sentence).
• Reassignment Backfire: Lucan being assigned to mining duty nearly resulted in his death, and his survival (albeit barely), means he's now reassigned to investigating the possible Necromancer threat in Felden.
• Red Shirt: Eddy is unfortunately killed off very quickly in this episode, with the viewers having barely gotten to know him.
• Travel Montage: We get one with Thalleous and Senn travelling from Sendaria and through Conchord to take the Mobilium Prime Song elsewhere.
• The Voiceless: Ria, despite waving Senn and Thalleous off on their journey, doesn't speak a single line in this episode.