There is Strength in Sweetness is the first episode of season 5, A Crown of Candy.
The cast introduces their new characters for the season. Princesses Jet and Ruby escape from their lessons on their 18th birthday, and Sir Theobald and Chancellor Lapin chase after them. The queen expresses her displeasure at her daughters' immature behavior, as well as with her husband's roll as an enabler. It is revealed that they've been summoned to Comida as the Concordant Emperor's health declines, as it's likely he intend to name King Amethar his successor. They assemble a caravan and leave the next morning.
Introduction[]
"Behold, Calorum. Many years past, the Ravening War raged across the six kingdoms. The war ended 20 years ago with the creation of the Concord, an empire that would see power passed amongst the six kingdoms. Ever since has peace reigned, tended to by the great powers of the realm, the Bulbian Church, and the Concordant Emperor. But our story does not begin in the holy city of Brightgarden. Nor does it begin in the Great Pyramid of Food, in Comida. Our story begins in a land of sugar, and of sorrow, of sweetness, and of strength. Our story begins with A Crown of Candy."
Synopsis[]
Our story begins in the realm of Calorum, in the kingdom of Candia. Sir Theobald Gumbar strides down a corridor of Castle Candy on the morning of Princesses Jet and Ruby's 18th Saint's Day. Sir Toby approaches and greets him. Despite every other day that they've spent teaching the twins, they agree that now that they're grown women, today is going to be different. So very very different.
Sir Toby delivers a report on some brigands, as well as rumors of an ogre in Dulcington. He reports that Sir Amanda Maillard, the Queen's Champion, has been sent out to deal with it, and Theobald suggests sending some of their men as well, since they really need a win right now. This is emphasized as they spot two members of the Tartguard tickling each other with their dulled swords, and Theobald scolds them. When he orders them to get new, sharp swords, they throw them out the window.
The royal herald, Poncival Pishpuff appears and asks if Theobald is ready to escort the princesses to the ceremonies festivities of the day. He agrees, but when the Herald calls for them, no one appears. He calls again, and still no one answers. Theobald and his forces (very loudly) take the knee in preparation for them being there, but once again, the princesses do not arrive. The Herald suggests that they could still be tied up in lessons with Chancellor Lapin Cadbury, as he tends to ramble, and Theobald agrees.
In the tallest tower in Castle Candy, Chancellor Lapin Cadbury drones on about the history of House Rocks. Theobald enters the room and immediately starts bickering with Lapin about how much they don't like each other. This goes on for several minutes until Sir Toby draws their attention to the fact that the princesses aren't actually in the room anymore. In their place are two scarecrows stuffed with sugar-grass. The three of them rush to the window to search for them.
Running away from Castle Candy into the town of Dulcington are Princess Jet and Princess Ruby. They arrive to meet Cirinda, an Imperial courier, who has something for each of them. For Ruby, a flyer for the Traveling Swirler Sisters, a circus act that's due to arrive in town soon, and for Jet, a letter from Thad, the sexy avocado in Fructera she met when they were eight. Among the flowery language of the letter complimenting Jet's supposed beauty and longing to see her again, he mentions a close opportunity for them to meet once again: he's heard news that there's going to be travel soon from Castle Candy to the capital of Comida.
Theobald, Lapin, and Sir Toby soon arrive on the scene. Jet and Ruby attempt to butter Theobald up in order to glean more information about the caravan or envoy leaving for Comida, but he sees through their sweet talk. Sir Toby suggests bringing the girls before Queen Caramelinda, and knowing they'd be fucked if they were, the girls begin to stall. Jumping off Lapin's comment about their hour and a half of missed lecture they'd need to make up, Ruby asks about the nobility, and Jet sits on the ground, as she can't walk and study at the same time. Theobald picks her up and carries her back to the castle himself.
In the chapel in Castle Candy, King Amethar stands before four statues of his late sisters. He speaks to them about his daughters' Saint's Day, and that he misses them very much. The King's right hand man, Lord Calroy Cruller, walks in as he does. Calroy reports that Queen Caramelinda wasn't thrilled to hear about her daughters' escape into Dulcington that morning, but Amethar cheers for their shenanigans. Calroy takes note of the two boxes sitting beside the King, and Amethar explains that they're gifts for his daughters.
Lord Calroy then explains that they received from the Concordant Emperor and Amethar's close personal friend, Gustavo Uvano. He tells Amethar that the Queen has already read it, then comments on what he overheard the King saying to his sisters' statues. Calroy wholeheartedly reassures Amethar that he is a good king, and helps him move the boxes out of the chapel as they head to the Queen's quarters.
On their way into the castle, Jet finds a note scratched on a piece of bark, written by Liam Wilhelmina, the King's ward, explaining his absence to Theobald. Jet stuffs it away as part of her plan to use Liam's trip to distract from their own imminent punishment.
Out in the peppermint forests outside Castle Candy, Liam and his animal companion piglet, Peppermint Preston, wander through the trees in search of interesting seeds. They're interrupted by Whoppins and Paz, two urchins from Dulcington with whom Liam is all too familiar. They deliver a note from one of Liam's older brothers, Grash, which not-so-subtly threatens Liam if he doesn't complete the mission his family, House Jawbreaker, sent him to Castle Candy for: killing King Amethar.
As Whoppins and Paz question Liam about his life in the castle, the very put-upon squire Limon Longhalls tumbles down a hill into the glade where they're standing. He's apparently out looking for the princesses, unaware that they'd already been recovered, and asks Liam if he's seen them. He tells Liam about all the preemptive punishments he inflicts on himself, which Liam thinks is pretty dark. He excuses himself to walk up the castle, initially inviting Limon along with him before taking it back. Limon's just too loud. Of course, Limon takes this way to personally and throws himself down a hill.
Preston, asleep in Liam's arms as they head back to Castle Candy, begins to dream, and they come across an Old Glade of the Sweetening Path in the woods. In trying to investigate the scene, he shatters a tea cup sitting in the glade, and he runs away back to the castle.
All six of our players gather for the first time as the three groups return to Castle Candy. Theobald and Lapin compete to see who can bow the lowest, while King Amethar talks excitedly with Jet and Ruby about the trick they pulled on Lapin, one that he'd taught them. When the matter of punishment is brought up, Jet suggests what she "thinks" is a just penance: a diplomatic mission to Comida, now that they're responsible adults. When Lapin advises Amethar that letting them do so would be a bad idea, the girls begin to cry, and Amethar worries he's gonna cave. He worries about giving into their desires again as the girls begin talking about how beneficial it would be for them to move to a three-bedroom apartment in Dulcington and to live among the people to better rule them.
Queen Caramelinda soon joins the group. Ruby casts Prestidigitation to clean up herself and Jet to hide how dirty they became when they ran away. Caramelinda notices and chides them for skipping out on their lessons. Jet insists that she would prefer to learn the history of kingdom and the Ravening War through her father who was in the war, rather than Lapin. Caramelinda scolds her daughters for their childishness and petulance, tells them they will miss the first ninety minutes of their saints day feast while they are making up their missed lesson with Lapin. She tells Amethar to give them a lesson on the Ravening War, and then meet her upstairs. Caramelinda asks Liam to join her on a walk.After the Queen and Liam have left, Amethar says he will give the twins a lesson. Calroy Cruller jokes there are more of them than the queen, and if they get in trouble they can have a coup and overthrow her, then creates a tongue twister joke that "that if the king and queen were in cahoots over a coup, than that coup could happen against the king." Amethar says they'll leave the nature of a coup to Calroy, Theobald, and Lapin, while he gives his lesson to Jet and Ruby. Amethar takes Jet and Ruby to the training field and archery range. Jet shows off her sword skills with a candy cane, which Amethar destroys and gives her a "proper sword": the Twizzling Blade which had belonged to Amethar's sister, General Rococoa. To Ruby, Amethar notes that he sees her doing a lot of magic and it reminds him of his sister Archmage Lazuli, so he gives Ruby her shortbow Sour Scratch.
Amethar joins Caramelinda in her chambers, and they argue about Amethar's habit of teaching the twins new tricks, and Caramelinda reminds Amethar that they have enemies. Caramelinda gives the imperial letter from Gustavo that had been delivered earlier that day to Amethar, which says that Gustavo is sick. Caramelinda reminds Amethar that Gustavo must name an heir, and it cannot be his daughter or anyone of the kingdom of Fructera. Gustavo has asked Amethar personally to be in attendance for the grand tournaments and events, and Caramelinda explains that Gustavo must want to name Amethar as his heir because the law demands that the successor be there in person to hear themselves be named. Amethar asks if he can refuse, and Caramelinda forces him to see reason and attend. Amethar decides to bring Jet and Ruby with him, and Caramelinda forces him to bring Lapin with as well.
At the Saints Day Feast for Jet and Ruby, Caramelinda tells Liam to go as he is a ward of the king and she believes it only right for the ward of the king to go with the king. Caramelinda orders Theobald to keep the princesses in his sights day and night, and Lapin to instruct them during their travels on the Faith of the Bulb.
Lady Whipperly and Lord Finnegan Swirlie approach King Amethar to ask about the envoy to Comida, and Calroy advises Amethar that all of the lords and ladies would want to accompany the envoy as it is literally a once-in-a-lifetime event to attend. Amethar tells Calroy he does not want to emperor but he will do it if asked, and Calroy says that it might not be a bad thing to have an emperor who does what he thinks he is supposed to and subjects himself to a lifetime of misery. Calroy warns Amethar that if they have an envoy of more than 30 people, they will need a heavily armed guard to accompany them on the Sucrosi Road. Amethar agrees to invite Lord Swirlie and Licorina Loghead. Calroy says he is happy to go if Amethar is worried about not remembering names, but that he's also happy to stay behind and be a friendly face at court. Amethar tells Calroy to come, and Calroy says that he will bring his good pants and join the envoy.
Lapin hears the chiming of wind and feels that something vital has broken. He pretends to circle around the party, but exits to see the Sugar Plum Stones where he expects The Sugar-Plum Fairy will be. Jet, Liam, and Preston notice Lapin leaving the party and follow him unseen. Lapin tries to mend Liam's broken teacup, mending it slightly with a piece of sugar. The Sugar-Plum Fairy appears before him, and Lapin bows to her obligatorily. She tells Lapin she took the opportunity of the broken cup to see Lapin, as he is about to travel to a place that does not keep her Standing Stones. Lapin promises to be careful while absent from her. Liam and Jet speculate they are exes. The Sugar-Plum Fairy remarks that Lapin is heading into a place where only the Bulbian Church holds sway, and that at least they consider him a member of their church. Lapin says that he technically is a member of the church. She cautions there are dark forces, and boldness and caution alike will be required in the days ahead. Lapin asks if she is asking him to do anything, and the Sugar-Plum Fairy says she is not asking for her third wish. She says that she would not have used her second wish to bring Lapin to the House of Rocks if she did not believe they were important. She kisses Lapin on the cheek, says that she knows he doesn't like her much, but that he has been a very good rabbit. She leaves, and Lapin walks back to the castle.
Jet and Liam return to the castle, and Jet tells Ruby that she thinks Lapin is a mole. Ruby and Liam know that the Sugar-Plum Fairy is a powerful spirit of The Sweetening Path, an animistic religion native to Candia. The legends of the Sugar-Plum Fairy indicate she is protective, and not evil. Jet strongly believes that either way, Lapin might be evil.
The next day, Sir Toby stays behind and does not join the envoy so that he and the Knights of North Gumbia can solve the matter in the West Cake. Sir Toby warns them to keep an eye out for wanted posters, and Commander Costano Grissini will be waiting to escort them past the border of Candia.
The envoy travels with Meeps, and The Taste Buds travel inside carriages. Amethar and Liam ride in the front carriage, while Lapin, Theobald, Jet, and Ruby ride in the second carriage. Ruby stands on top of their carriage, with Theobald and Ruby holding onto her leg to support her while Jet is keeping an eye on Lapin. Jet asks Lapin if she has ever heard of The Sugar Plum Fairy, and Jet looks inside the carriage while upside down to listen. Lapin says he has heard of it, and Sir Theobald shuts down the conversation. Lapin warns that not all people outside of Candia, especially in Fructera, will be fond of the idea of other religions.
The envoy is stopped by a felled tree in the road. When the carriage is stopped, Ruby is shot by arrows and collapses.
Locations[]
Featured Characters[]
The Taste Buds[]
- Sir Theobald Gumbar
- Chancellor Lapin Cadbury
- Princess Jet Rocks
- Princess Ruby Rocks
- King Amethar
- Liam Wilhelmina
New[]
Mentioned[]
Quotes[]
- Lapin: "Do you want me to rush the education of these princesses? Do you want them to be stupid as they go about the world--"
- Calroy: "I was with you, in the muck, in the tents, in the trenches. We've seen each other piss and shit in pots, in dark fields under torchlight. We fought and bled together. I am saying this as your friend, you are a good king."
- Caramelinda: "It would be my fondest wish to behold two women grown! I have yet to behold such a thing. What I see are petulant, rude, obnoxious, ill-behaved children."
- Amethar: " Enough of this, the coup'ing and the who'ing."
- Caramelinda: "Why are all of Jet's underpants tear-away?"
Trivia[]
- The tartguard have blunted their swords so that they can engage in tickle fights safely.
- This is the first Dimension 20 season to begin a character introduction with a stealth roll.
- Queen Caramelinda doesn't approve of Amethar teaching their daughters tricks.
- A squire (probably Limon) shattered every window in the main spiral stair in the tall tower by hurling himself down the steps
- Meeps are giant marshmallow legless birds