Get back to it tomorrow!
Oh, Gods.
Herd, bleed 'em!
- Should be fixed by... - Huh?
Marauders! Run!
Get him!
Fine work, boy.
You do the Herd proud.
Take what you want,
and teach 'em to fear the name Grog Strongjaw.
No guards. No movement.
Uh, you sure this was the place you saw in that vision?
Hundred percent.
I've played dozens of gigs in Westruun.
Lousy tippers, but they really appreciate the classics.
Oh, my big closer was always "When the Bald Man Cr..."
- Scanlan. Focus. - Oh, right.
Mythcarver showed me the city overrun
by half-giants like Grog.
W-Well, normal Grog.
And one super beefy dude wore these stone gauntlets
that were, like, glowing.
The vestiges.
Well, looks like those guys moved on.
We should get back to Wilhand, you know,
before he starts wondering where we are.
Hey, these people could use our help.
Please.
Let me go.
I swear, I gave all I had.
There's nothing left.
Well, my small friend,
if you ain't got nothing for the offering,
that makes you worthless, don't it?
Yes. Yes.
I'm worthless.
Then get out of my sight.
- And hope your luck turns around. - Thank you.
Thank you.
Boulder, parchment, shears.
Don't.
What? There's only two. We can take 'em easy.
No, if they're with the Herd, they ain't easy.
Nice toss, Suda.
Guess his luck didn't turn around.
Kevdak is in there.
Uh, who's Kevdak again?
Their leader. My uncle.
Me and Kevdak, we got...
bad blood.
And he's got an actual vestige.
Yeah, but I didn't know that's what they were.
He just called them his Titanstone Knuckles.
He's always wearing 'em.
And they make him, like, ha, crazy strong.
Uh-huh.
Exactly how many Herd members we talking here?
I don't know, no one really kept a list.
Oh, I did heard someone say "hundreds" before.
Um...
- Is that a lot? - Okay,
so if we want those bad boys, we got to fight through
a bunch of regular-sized Grogs,
then somehow rip 'em off jumbo-Grog's arms.
We should do some recon.
No! I mean, um...
I'm not sure I want the Herd seeing me like this, right?
I mean, maybe we should just wait for our friends, hmm?
Ah, right. What do we do with you?
But come on, you can still hold an axe, can't you?
Wouldn't count on it.
All right, uh, how about you, Scanlan?
You're pretty slippery when you want to be.
Maybe you should take lead on this one.
Actually, Pike, would you be impressed
if I single-handedly infiltrated Westruun
and retrieved said vestige?
Well, it would be the bravest thing I've ever seen you do.
Then it shall be done.
If Scanlan the Revolutionary is not back within the hour,
promise you'll try to love again.
I will do my best.
Nevosh nevon, klu mehon ♪
I never knew your old Herd made you this nervous.
Not nervous.
Ashamed.
Before you took me in, my life was...
Well, Wilhand
kind of knew not to ask about it.
Y-You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to,
but it might make you feel better.
When I was with the Herd,
I did things.
Real bad things.
Come on!
I don't think you would've liked me too much.
Violence was all that mattered to us.
I took anything I wanted without a second thought.
Nothing and no one could stop me.
Until the day
I met him.
Oh.
No. Take whatever you want.
Please.
Spare me.
I-I have a family.
Grandpa Wilhand?
Ugh. That dragon really cock-whipped this place.
No sign of Umbrasyl, though.
Loot's run dry.
It'll be our heads if we don't find more to offer up.
I didn't sign up to take orders from a bloody dragon.
What say you, Zanror?
I say
someone needs to stand up to my father
and take this Herd back.
Huh?
Huh. Just a rat.
Ocupado?
- Who the f... - Shh. Are you one of them?
I'm about four feet too short to be one of them.
Who are you people?
Just unlucky.
Farmers. Shopkeepers.
When the dragon attacked, we all hunkered down
and waited for it to pass.
Wouldn't you know it, the day after he flies away,
those fucking marauders show up.
Damn. How long?
A week. Maybe two.
We've been waiting for an opening to escape, but...
How'd you wind up in this hell?
Oh, well, I'm sort of an adventurer.
Rebel leader. Musician.
Some would say philosopher. Name's Scanlan.
As in Scanlan Shorthalt?
I could've killed him.
But when your great-great-great-great-great...
Just two greats.
...uh, grandpa looked at me,
I... [sighs] I don't know.
Everything changed.
What do we have here, Grog?
Find yourself a pet?
Zanror, wait. He's not a fighter.
He's just an old fella.
Hey, hey. Don't let my father
catch you getting soft with these bugs.
He does love killing the geezers.
Says he's doing them a favor.
What the...
Sorry, cousin.
- Hey, come on. - Huh?
Before they see.
Thank you, big boy.
I hope I can repay your kindness someday.
Strongjaw!
You would betray my son,
your own cousin, for that?!
Bring me that gnome's head
or I will take yours.
No.
Grog!
Traitor.
You both disgrace us with your weakness.
I should've known
you weren't strong enough to raid with us.
You have no spine,
like your father before you.
The arrogance.
You will never be half the warrior I am.
Grog Strongjaw,
you are hereby banished from the Herd of Storms.
Leave him for the scavengers.
I should have died that day.
Quickly.
Try to heal him.
Everlight, please.
Thank you for saving my grandfather.
What you did was very brave.
Yeah.
Brave. That's me.
Come on, big boy.
Let's get you someplace warm.
All these years, I-I never knew.
We killed. Sometimes for no reason.
And I was too weak to stop it.
Grog, we can't dwell on the past.
You're not like that anymore. You're...
You're different.
You're my best buddies.
Yeah, I am.
But that don't matter to the little folk I let die.
Why is he here?
Is he following us?
Wait. Where the fuck is Scanlon?
So, you're saying
you've, uh, heard of me?
Indeed, I have.
Actually, Kaylie here is part of my band.
Dr. Dranzel's Traveling Troupe.
At your service.
We're not even from here.
Just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
But, aye, we've heard of you.
Tales of Scanlan Shorthalt's
magical music have traveled far and wide.
Whoa, whoa.
Hold up. I'm famous?
No one wants your damn autograph.
These people have no food
and are running out of water.
The Herd's been going door-to-door,
demanding allegiance and gold.
Anyone who comes up short is slaughtered.
- And the dragon? - Is working with them.
You need to get us out of here immediately.
Wh... Oh, oh. Hold up.
I-I'm just scouting this place, okay?
I-I don't even have my lute.
I-If I could reach my friends,
- maybe they could... - Your friends?
Your friends aren't here. You are.
One thing I learned in this life,
no one comes back to save you.
So, Scanlan Shorthalt...
What are you prepared to do?
Meet at the square.
It's back! It's come back!
Show yourself, Kevdak.
Your tithe is due.
Mythcarver.
Is it just me,
or do these offerings keep getting smaller?
Of course, everything pales
compared to the might of a vestige.
I swear, I know that voice.
Remind me why you're simply not relieving him of his.
These scavengers still have use.
You waste my time with scraps when you wear what I covet.
Our deal stands.
This city yields less each day,
but we'll find the gold for your precious conclave.
Even if it means expanding our efforts.
See that you do.
The Hope Devourer does not give you Westruun for free.
I am displeased.
I return in three days' time, Kevdak.
If you do not bring me Thordak's gold,
I take your arms as payment.
Enough of your cowering.
I want search parties assembled
and every ounce of wealth milked from this city.
Leave no stone unturned,
or a dragon will be the least of your worries.
How long must we endure this, Father?
We're reduced to servants.
Hold your tongue.
This alliance affords us a city to rule.
- Our survival de... - This is not survival!
We should be hunting these dragons,
teaching them to fear us.
Instead, your weakness has us groveling like...
I tire of your whining.
You think you could lead this Herd, boy?
I know I could.
No way we're getting those vestiges off him.
Any of you lot agree with my son?
No, Thunderlord.
I rule this Herd,
and we rule Westruun.
Now go.
Kill the locals and take all they have.
- Spread out. - This is gonna be fun.
Like I said, we have to go.
Immediately.
Scanlan could be in trouble. Come on.
What, are you nuts?
Look at me. I'm all shriveled up.
I don't even have Craven Edge anymore.
I mean, what if Kevdak...
Okay, okay. Then we'll sneak in,
get our boy and sneak out.
How? Your armor's not exactly the quietest.
And they'll spot me a mile away.
Then we better go in with a mighty fine offering.
Boulder, parchment, shears.
Fuck it.
Ugh, yep. This gnome turd
stole from Kevdak.
Had to run her down meself.
Do I know you, slim?
Oh, you better.
I'm Kevdak's kin.
And he don't like waiting, mustache.
Hmm.
Nice plan, Pikey.
Hey, what's with calling me a turd?
Oh, sorry.
That was, like, you know, acting.
I'm kidding, I'm kidding. You did great, buddies.
Now, let's find Scanlan before I pass out
from hanging upside down. Ow!
Oh! Shit, that's on me.
Got pig blood in my eye.
The streets are crawling out there.
Listen, I'll go alone and bring back a rescue party.
Hey. Hey. Don't worry about me, little lady.
I got tricks.
I'm not worried about you, you cock.
From what I've heard, it figures you'd run.
Fine, everyone can come.
But it'll be dangerous.
And if I'm gonna pull this off,
I'm gonna need a little something from you.
Your flute.
- Hurry. - Right.
More for the pile.
Come on.
- What the fuck is that? - After it!
Stay close.
Well, fuck me. You do have tricks.
I'm just getting warmed up.
Scanlan!
We have been worried sick.
Hey, that bear hug actually hurt.
- Ooh. - Eh, kind of. Nice, buddy.
Oh. Huh.
Oh, happy to see me, huh?
I mean, no.
Sorry to interrupt.
Oh! Oh, uh, right.
Don't worry, everyone.
This murderous half-giant is actually on our side.
Wonderful. Suppose you couldn't have found a beefier one, hmm?
Oh. Uh, that hurt.
Hey, don't mind her, buddy.
She's just freaked out that your uncle's Herd
- is teamed up with the dragon. - They what?
Oi, can we get the fuck out of here?
Back the way we came.
Kevdak is gathering the Herd.
- Meet at the Margrave's. - Come on!
Good. Then now's our chance.
Follow Grog, okay?
Once he gets you through the gate,
make for the tree line.
Come on.
Uh, okay, then.
We'll go first.
Grog, you can take up the rear.
I'm not going.
What do you mean?
Is he serious? We're home free.
Kaylie, just take them. We'll catch up.
I promise.
Grog, I love you, but what are you doing?
They're afraid of me,
afraid of my kind.
And that's not gonna change
unless someone takes down the Herd.
Unless I take down Kevdak.
Kevdak? Uh, like that?
Your belt looks like it's wearing you.
Buddies, we got to stick together.
Not this time.
I have to do this on my own.
Grog, listen to me.
This is suicide. Is that what you want?
You said I'm different now.
But if I leave, I'm as weak as he always said I was.
No. Hitting hard and being big
don't make you strong.
It's standing up for the little folk.
That's what makes me different from them.
But...
What if I need you?
The Herd of Storms lives by the code.
Survival through strength,
strength through power.
If that power is challenged...
...the challenge must be answered.
Even from my own son.
He tells me there are some among you
who would return to the wilds.
I say to you, all are free to go.
But questioning my leadership
is something I cannot abide.
If anyone here thinks they are fit
to lead better than I, step forward.
Now.
Are there none who would challenge the Thunderlord?
I thought not.
Kevdak!
Remember me?
Chirp.