TV REVIEW: Fantasy High Junior Year – Episode 8: Fracas at the Frostyfaire Folk Festival

Title: Fantasy High: Junior Year
GM: Brennan Lee Mulligan
Players: Emily Axford (she/her) as Fig Faeth (she/her). Zac Oyama (he/him) as Gorgug Thistlespring (he/him). Siobhan Thompson (she/her) as Adaine Abernant (she/her). Lou Wilson (he/him) as Fabian Seacaster (he/him). Ally Beardsley (they/them) as Kristen Applebees (she/her). Brian Murphy (he/him) as Riz Gukgak (he/him).
Streaming Service: Dropout

If you missed it, catch our review of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh episodes!

^{Brennan Lee Mulligan (Image Credit: Dimension 20)}

We dive back into our Intrepid Heroes’ junior year, taking disadvantages for every level of stress achieved in the prior episode. While reviewing the materials that Lydia gave them at the end of the last episode, our players discover that Cassandra was previously married, having been recorded as receiving a gift from another deity. Additionally, Adaine discovers that other gods cannot remind mortals of dead or forgotten gods per the law of oblivati mori. From there, gods cannot helping another by dividing their flocks or working together without the mortals deciding to do so first. It is a law, and laws have loopholes.

Seeing this, Kristen takes a risk, reaching out to her parents as well as Tracker in hopes that her ex-girlfriend’s goddess can shed some light as Galicaea was present and undoubtedly knew her sibling’s partner. Meanwhile, Fig dedicates herself to Cassandra, praying for the first time as a paladin. Kristen joins her. In this shared moment of doubt and worship, Kristen regains a spell slot.

^{Principal Grix (Image Credit: Dimension 20)}

The group heads out to the Frostyfaire Folk Festival, running into a disguised Ruben who then takes the stage, but this is short-lived. A storm brews, and Principal Grix attacks. Despite suspicions that the Rat Grinders had a hand in the interim principal’s designs, he attacks Ruben first.

^{Frostyfaire Folk Festival (Image Credit: Dimension 20)}

With Gorgug’s parents swept into machines summoned from around their own home, the Bad Kids kick it up a notch. Our Intrepid Heroes dove into action when the principal targeted Ruben, but with their own on the line, they amp up their efforts. In a single turn, Fabian saves Digby. Riz does the same for Wilma.

Kristen quickly recruits folks from the nudist tent. Without her normal spell slots, the cleric has few actions she can take. However, her actions draw the attention of Principal Grix, who sweeps away the tent. He also sends a massive forklift after her, but Riz saves Kristen from a critical hit.

^{Gorgug versus Grix (Image Credit: Dimension 20)}

With Fig’s help, Gorgug hits Grix. The war-forged strikes back, striking the barbarian artificer with lightning. Principal Grix flies higher, moving out of range of Adaine’s counter spell, and he attacks the whole Frostyfaire Folk Festival. The tide quickly turns, worsening with multiple unfortunate rolls.

^{Lou Wilson, Ally Beardsley, and Brian Murphy (Image Credit: Dimension 20)}

In a moment of pure chaos and possible insanity, Kristen reaches out to doubt and uncertainty, approaching a normal vulture, and of course, knowing his players well, Brennan has a gag ready to go, transporting the Bad Kids to the Vulture Dimension.

^{Emily Axford, Zac Oyama, and Siobhan Thompson (Image Credit: Dimension 20)}

And that’s where they leave us. Is the Vulture Dimension a gag? Has Kristen actually connected to Cassandra who is still a bit pissed off? Guess we’ll find out next week.

Highlights

Emily Axford is a masterclass in hitting hard while never betraying her character. Fig’s chaos rises into such a wonderful frenzy. She has repeatedly stated that Fig’s greatest focus is her friends, and Emily sticks to this through thick and thin. Again and again, Emily’s quick wit and capacity to maximize even the smallest action lifts not just the storytelling but the mood of the table.

^{Emily Axford (Image Credit: Dimension 20)}

For those who have seen the prior seasons of Fantasy High, the earlier episodes felt frustratingly like a backslide, but in the last few episodes, Emily brought it all together, elevating Fig’s struggle and coming to the catharsis of paladin and warlock. At her core, Fig is a contrary character, but Emily has shown she knows just how to make the chaos work.

Final Score (4.5 out of 5 Stars)

The Bad Kids killed it this episode. From the opening, our Intrepid Heroes worked at the top of their game, figuring out vital bits of information and emotionally preparing themselves to take risks and face the benefits of doubt. Though combat is almost always a high point in Fantasy High, the multiple bits going all at once from the return of Wanda to Gorgug’s rage hit the Festival Fight out of the park.

Did you see the Vulture Dimension coming? How do you believe next week will go once there? Let us know what you think in the comments below or go over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.

Featured Image: Dimension 20

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