Shock and disgust track Vox Machina's faces as they stare at the bodies hanging from the tree. Isona's eyes are focused on the one dressed as her. The poor girl looked a few years younger than her,her blonde hair was crudely chopped to Isona's length. What really caught her attention,was on the side of the girls head was a rose with leafs,poorly painted silver and stabbed into the girls head,blood was tangled in her hair. Isona reached up and touched the silver clip on the side of her head.

"The Brairwoods know we're here." Percy says,breaking the silence.

"We should cut them down." Keyleth says shakily.

"No." Percy answers,turning and walking away. "The Sun Tree's obviously being watched." The group slowly starts to follow him,Isona is frozen in place. Vax moves to block her view and gently urges her to follow. She does,her hand never leaving his.

***

The group runs down the streets. Percy stops when he sees a woman ushering two children to hide. She yells at them to hide as the ground starts to shake.

"We gotta move." Grog grunts. They run into an ally,following the woman,Isona gets behind Vex,Vax behind her,his hands on her shoulders. The shaking gets harder as a giant walks past them,the creature snarling. 

"Grog,you're part giant. Can you vouch for us?" Scanlan whispers.

"Oh what,cause we all fucking know each other?" Grog harshly whispers back.

"Well,I mean,yeah,kinda." Isona relaxes slightly as the shaking fades. The woman lets out a gasp and clutches Percy's coat.

"Why do you wear this?" She demands,pointing to his family crest. "Are you a part of resistance?"

"Sorry,I-I don't follow." Percy stutters.

"The de Rolo crest. Maybe the resistance is using it." Isona points out.

"We're not with them,but we do share an enemy." Vax says,his hand moves to Isona's lower back. She silently relishes the physical contact.

"Whitestone is worse off than I expected." Percy says.

"Briarwoods are dicks." Grog nods. Percy turns back to the woman.

"Perhaps we can be of use to each other. Tell me,is Keeper Yennen still alive?"

"Why do you want to know?" She asks harshly. Percy takes a step closer,making her take a step back.

"If you want change here, Yennen is the only one who can help bring it." She stares at Percy,thinking.

***

Night had fallen on Whitestone. Vox Machina walk the dimly lit streets,finding Keeper Yennen walking away from one of her speeches. Yennen,having heard their footsteps,stops and turns to them,not being able to see their faces in the dark street,even with the lantern in her hand.

"Greeting strangers. We don't see many new faces these days."  

"Keeper Yennen,tell me,what do the Briarwoods think of your sermons?" Percy asks her.

"They don't attend my services. But their Pale Guard tolerate me,for now."

"You truly believe the Dawnfather will send a sign?" Yennen quickly looks around.

"Shh. That name is forbidden." She walks closer,her lantern lighting Percy's face. She gasps. "It's you. Oh,but you're not the same. Little Percival,what have you become." She steps closer and puts her hand on Percy's cheek. He removes her hand.

"I am what they made me."

"What matters is that you're back."

"I'm not back." He turns away from Yennen. "I'm only here for one thing."

"Then you want what the people want. A trusted de Rolo can lead them to freedom. They'll listen to the rightful heir." Percy turns back to her.

"What I need to do requires discretion. Groups can be messy." Isona quietly scoffs.

"But you're leading this group." Grog lets out a louder scoff.

"No offence,Percy,but you're a teeny bit too wittle to lead."

"Wait,we have a height requirement?" Scanlan questions while frowning up at Grog.

"Uh,obviously."

"Well,I thought we were all sort of co-leaders." Keyleth speaks up. The group all begin to argue over each other. Keeper Yennen just chuckles.

"Follow me." She leads them down the streets,sneaking around the giants. She takes them to an abandon tavern,she opens a secret door and leads them down to a cellar. Scanlan complains how bad the place looks.   

"An old resistance hideout. We can speak freely here." Yennen tells them as they look around. Grog excitedly runs to a keg,only to find it empty,along with all the kegs.

"What is this hell?"

"Thanks to the Briarwoods,our resources are dwindling. Including ale."

"I'll fucking murder everyone!" Grog yells,throwing a keg against the wall. The crash makes Isona flinch.

"You preach pacifism while associating with rebels."Percy says to Yennen. Isona leans back against a shelf,the twins lean next to her.

"Trust me,I want the Briarwoods out as much as you do. But I've seen uprising fail,and if you charge up to the castle,you'll be slaughtered. No. The only way to win is if the resistance is strong enough."

"And the resistance isn't strong enough because?" Vex questions.

"Their leader has been captured."

"Ah,there it is." Vax says.

"He's set to be hanged tomorrow. Percy,it's Archibald Desnay." Percy gives Yennen a shocked look.

"Archie? But how? We grew up together. His father worked in the kitchen. We'd raise hell all over the castle." Percy starts to reminisce,Isona notices Keyleth walk over to a wall. She tilts her head and sees large roots protruding from the wall,she assumes those are the Sun Tree's roots.

"You're telling me that hellion is a resistance leader?" Percy's voice makes her turn back to the conversation. 

"You're not the only who has changed,Percival. You can't take the Briarwoods alone. Free Archie and the resistance will follow." Yennen says while clutching Percy's hand.

"You're playing with my emotions. And I can't say I blame you."

"We'd be starting an uprising." Vex states.

"And this town could use some hope." Vax agrees with his sister.

"I've always wanted to break into a prison." Isona says while shaking her fists excitedly.

"It's certainly not the worst idea we've had." Percy agrees. Grog let's out a sound of happiness and grabs Keyleth and holds her.

"Yeah! For the ale!"

"Scanlan the Revolutionary has a nice ring to it. Oh! I could get a beret!"

"We'd need a lot of luck." Percy says to Yennen.

"What you need is faith."

"At the moment our holy person is...elsewhere."

"Is this a bad time to tell her I'm not particularly religious?" Isona whispers to Vax,who merely shrugs at her.

***

Vox Machina gathers at a small table with Yennen and members of the resistance,a map of the prison on the table. Isona stands in between Percy and Vax.

"Yennen's sources tell us Archie is...um.." Vex looks around the table,then her eyes land on Grog,who goes to eat a cork that is being used to represent Archie. "Grog,give me that!" She swipes it and places it on the map. "Is being held here."

"Okay." Keyleth leaps in front of Vex. "So here's my idea on how to bust Archie out. I'll speak to the local animals. They'll fetch the jailers keys and free our freinds."

"Eh,not so fast fair maiden." Scanlan interrupts her. "This is a job for Scanlan the Revolutionary. My pitch: I infiltrate the prison with all these potions I found. I don't know what they do yet,but let's assume they make me a...one man army."

"You think too much." Grog laughs. "All we got to do is kill everyone and leave."

"Uh,what about Archie?" Vax asks.

"Right. Yeah,we kill him too."  Everyone lets out a sigh.

"Grog,we're rescuing Archie,not killing him." Isona tells him.

"Really? This whole time?" He responds with a confused look. Isona buries her face in her hands with a groan.

"Those were bad ideas and you should all feel bad." Vax says. Isona removes her hands and puts them back on her hips.

"I don't know,Scanlan's solo mission sounds interesting. His failure would be spectacular." Percy says while smirking.

"Keyleth's idea was kinda cute." Isona says,shrugging when Vax gives her a look.

"Okay,no elaborate plans." Vex speaks up. "Get in. Get out. Strike like a well thrown dagger."

"I can get behind that." Vax agrees.

"But if we're going to get Archie out of that prison,we need to know exactly where they're holding him."

"I may have something that can assist." Percy speaks up.