<h1>Family Matters Ch. 17</h1><p><br></p><p>The fight opens in chaos: Shanks fires a concussive shot at the cleric as Galahad and Arguile are stunned, and the barbarian hounds Zechs with smite-infused strikes. The monk shadow-steps to Shanks, stunning him, while Salix restrains the necromancer, only for him to immediately hurl a fireball into the group. Galahad answers with Channel Divinity, dropping the cleric, and Glad heals him with her circlet before attempting to finish her off, but a blight from the necromancer weakens Glad’s blows. The barbarian lands a reckless hit on Galahad, Arguile critically wounds the cleric, and Turk summons a spirit of death to pressure the monk, though its necrotic damage is resisted. Stuns continue to fly as undead thralls join the fray; Turk counters a blight aimed at a stunned Galahad, Glad restrains the necromancer with her wand, accidentally sticking Salix to him, and Shanks trades shots with the monk. Arguile ultimately delivers the killing blow to the cleric.</p><br><p>Momentum shifts again as Zechs’ lightning arrow misfires, clipping the stunned Galahad, and Turk’s eldritch blasts are blunted by shields tied to the Elrin light. The monk keeps Galahad locked down with repeated stuns and even drops Turk briefly, while the necromancer’s thralls batter Salix back into their true form and hammer Galahad to the brink. A devastating fireball drops Galahad and Lorainne outright; as Galahad fades, he reaches out to Bahamut, is met by a golden sparrow, and affirms his faith. Empowered by Bahamut’s blessing, rage beyond death, he rises again, eyes glowing azure as seven golden sparrows circle him.</p><br><p>With Galahad back in the fight, Shanks outplays the monk, baiting reactions before landing the decisive double shots; Arguile and Zechs finish him moments later, and Zechs clears the remaining skeletons. The barbarian turns her fury on Turk as Salix’s psychic lance is counterspelled and the necromancer’s zombies miss. Then the necromancer locks eyes with Shanks and utters Power Word Kill. The battlefield falls silent as Shanks collapses dead...</p><br><p>There's so much happening, and that's where we pick up…</p><br><p>Find out what happens next in this episode of the Medusa’s Cascade: Collateral Damage!&nbsp;</p><p>Theme Music is written and performed by <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@winterwisteria365" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Efflorescence</a></p><p>Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III</p><p>Title Card by Pierce Graphics&nbsp;</p><p>Check out the show at themedusascascade.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>