Ever since they tried to captured Ripley by splitting up, the guards are now taking cautions of the Vox Machina since they've been causing too much trouble thanks to Ripley. Right now they're avoiding the guards as Keyleth speaks.

Keyleth: This whole trip is a disaster. I knew we shouldn't have listened to Raishan.

YN: Keyleth, enough with the excuses about Raishan. You've been thinking about distrust Raishan more than the vestige.

Vax: We had to try for the vestige.

Pike: Wait, a vestige. If Percy is near the place, maybe Mythcarver can see him?

Gilmore: (Sigh.) Scanlan's run off to some bar.

Vex: And he took my broom. How will we find Percy? This place is bigger than Emon.

Vax: The burglar. Whoever shot at us fled in a hurry. Maybe they left something behind.

YN: Shot...I know how to track them.

Everyone including Gilmore look at him surprised before Keyleth speaks.

Keyleth: You do?

YN: I'm a witcher. We have heightened sense of smell and hearing to track. At least for the wolves. I can track their burning black powder they've used or at least find Percy.

Vex: Well, start sniffing, wolf.

YN: First, I'm gonna ignore that and fuck off. Second, I just need to find something to pick up the tracks.

Pike: What about the archives?

YN: Its a start.

They go back to the archives but then notice there are more guards.

Gilmore: They're already searching for us. Well, for you.

Grog: (Scoff.) I can take them.

Grog cracks his knuckles but Gilmore stops him.

Gilmore: Those are the hand of Ord. You do not want to cross them, nor their master.

Vex: (Smirk.) Think they'd take kindly to a coquettish wink?

Gilmore: (Chuckles.) Believe me, I've tried.

Vax: Eh, come on, Shaun. I know you carry more than just cologne in those robes. (Smirk.) Surely you have some glorious distraction.

Gilmore: I did not come back to Ank'Harel to get arrested.

YN: Okay. Are you three gonna keep yapping until you get a room or are we actually gonna go find Percy and the vestige? (Snap fingers.) We got dragon business here!

Gilmore: (Sigh.) Fine. Before I change my mind.

Gilmore uses his magical fan to disguise himself as a guard before he meets the others to draw them away from the archives.

Gilmore: Let's make it quick in there.

The witcher and the twins enters the building to see its still a same mess.

They look for anything to either track Percy or Ripley until Vax found black powder on one of the pillars.

Vax: Powder residue. No mistake, it was a pepperbox.

YN: Whoever has it, they used it to kill anybody to get what they want.

Vex: How do you know?

YN glance at her until she realize what he means.

Vex: Oh, right. Sorry.

YN: Vax, let me see that black powder.

Vax hands the small black powder to YN for tracking and he does that by sniffing it. Afterwards, he sniffs around while the twins search for more clues and manage to find something from the window.

Vex: Anything?

YN: (Sniff.) ....I got them. Follow me.

Just when they were about to leave, Gilmore aims his magic at the door until he realize its them.

Vax: (Whispers.) Balls! No, it's us, it's us.

Gilmore: (Sigh in relief.) Oh, this homecoming will be the death of me. Please tell me you got something.

YN: I do.

Vax: There's more. Hope you've got some tour guide left in you. Where might a girl go for rare, elemental acid?

YN: I thought we're tracking the burglar or Percy.

Vax: Unfortunately this doesn't seem like an ordinary burglar. They're smart and we need to know who we're dealing with.

YN: Sounds reasonable if this isn't ordinary burglar.

Gilmore: I know the place, unfortunately. Come on.

They leave the area and regroup with the other party. From there, Gilmore shows them the place they're seeking.

Keyleth: Shubad's Sensational Sundries?

Gilmore: (Groans.) Asshole even ripped off my front. I'll see what he knows.

Gilmore was about to enter, but the witcher stops him by placing his hand on Gilmores chest.

YN: I smell blood and black powder...

They all got surprise and enters with caution before they saw the dead owner.

Gilmore: Well that's bad. For shubad.

Vax picks up a journal and opens it.

Vax: The sales ledger has pages torn out.

Keyleth: Looks like most of his inventory is gone, too.

YN: They try to cover their tracks so no one would follow.

Vex: Can you still track them?

YN: Yes.

Vex: Then do it. Percy could be in danger as we know it.

Vex said in a small desperate tone before Vax comfort his sister.

Vax: We will find him, sister.

Vex: I know. Its just if we lose him, I...

YN: Enough. Worrying isn't gonna get save Percy. Neither letting Raishan getting in our heads. Right now, I don't care what you guys are thinking in your heads. But we have to focus on getting the vestige and save Percy. Now let's go.

YN head outside while the others were a bit concern on how careless he recently act. Soon they follow the witcher who's tracking them.

Vex: You sure this is the right way?

YN: My senses makes no mistake. I just don't know where's it leading.

Gilmore: The old basilica. Northwest district. Past the temple of Onyx. Ten minutes away.

Suddenly they were cut off by magic witch reveal the guards of hand of Ord.

Guard: Halt!

Gilmore: Maybe 15.

The guards aim their magic staff at the party.

Guard: You were observe at the scene of Mistress Asharru's murder. Surrender or be taken by force.

Pike: (Steps in.) Easy, fellas. I know it seems bad, but we're not here to cause trouble.

Grog: Uh, we're not? That don't sound like us.

Guard: You were warned.

They prepare their magic to arrest them by force.

YN: Anybody up for running?

Pike: You know, there are time to talk and time to fight, but sometimes you just got to...

Pike immediately uses her shield against the magic.

Pike: Run!

The magic Blast Pike a few feet before Keyleth uses her vines to trap the guards. But the guards armor easily destroyed the plants.

YN uses Yrden to the guards, it was only enough to slow them down.

Gilmore: Go! I'll catch up!

Vox machina runs off while Gilmore tries to hold them off after freeing themselves from Yrden. Unfortunately he was then caught by the magical object that catches criminals.

Soon a guard throws another object to the air before it exploded. Signaling other guards that are close while Vox Machina are still running.

Vex: We can shake these guys on the way.

Vax pushes his sister away before another magic could hit them.

Vax: Have to shake them, too.

YN: This way!

They went through the alley and run before more of the guards appear.

Guard: (Forereign language.) 'You won't get away!'

Keyleth: Might have to rethink the whole shaking thing.

YN quickly uses Aard to knock the guards back before he caught something from his senses and sniffs.

Vax: What is it?

YN: Percy! He's close. And...

Vex: What?

YN: Someone familiar. We have to hurry-

They were then interrupted by an explosion nearby.

YN: That must be him.

Vex wasted no time but to go up ahead and she arrive before entering through the window to save Percy from Ripley.

Vex: Percy!

Vex uses her bow to shoot Ripley who easily dodges thanks to Orthax.

Vex: The plate!

Percy: Damn it! She got two vestiges!

Just when Ripley was about to escape, Grog barg through the door and swings a punch at her, but she easily dodges it with her magic cloak.

Grog: Oh, shit.

Vax: I got her!

Vax throws his knives at her but she then disappeared while Vex hugs Percy. Relieved to see him alive.

Vex: I thought I lost you.

Percy: I'm here, Vex'ahlia. I'm fine.

Pike: Where is she?

Keyleth spotted her through the smoke.

Keyleth: There!

She uses her ice magic to trap her but Ripley dodges it and aims her weapon at them.

YN: Get down!

YN tackled Keyleth from the gunshot but couldn't tackle pike since she was farther. Fortunately her armor protected her.

Pike: Ah! My tits!

She continues to shoot and Vex took the shot on her left shoulder after shielding Percy with herself as Percy is terrified.

Percy: No. No!

Grog: Where she'd go!

YN: Fuck this! Kiki!

Kiki nods and uses her light magic to light the area for everyone to see and yet Ripley isn't around as they hear her echoing.

Ripley: It doesn't have to be this way, Percy.

Ripley/Orthax: Find me when you're ready to accept.

With that, she's gone while Percy is holding injured Vex.

Percy: Pike, a little help!

Pike rush in to help Vex with her healing.

Pike: Hold her still. Stay with me, Vex.

Pike successfully got the bullet out along with healing the wound. Making Percy be at ease to know Vex will be find.

Percy: You saved me. Twice.

Vex: What would you do without me?

YN: As much as I like the reunion and know that Percy is safe, we should leave before-

Guard: 'Stop right there!'

The guard surrounded them and seal the entrances to prevent them to escape.

YN: We're fucked...

2nd guard: 'No sudden move!'

Guard: By order of their bigness J'mon Sa Ord, benevolent ruler of Ank'Harel, you are all under arrest.

The party were then arrested and being taken to the palace as they're strapped in with the magic like how they caught Gilmore while Percy felt the guilt for the party being captured.

Percy: If I hadn't caught myself captured, we wouldn't be here.

Vex: Well, to be fair, we did break a decent amount of laws finding you.

This comfort Percy until Vex head starts to ring.

Guard: Their reverence, the Emperex J'mon Sa Ord.

Soon the empress arrives with a small dragon with the size of a hawk on her shoulder as she sat down to her throne.

Gilmore steps in to try to be reasonable and explain the situation.

Gilmore: Your Imperial Grace, there has been a grave misunderstanding. If it pleases you, our testimony will-

Gilmore was then interruped by J'mon speaking.

J'mon: It has been decades since such a heinous crime has been committed at Ank'Harel. Vox Machina, you have been charged with royal theft and murder. Mistress Asharru was not only Emira of the Coast. She was my dear friend.

YN: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Now hold on. We had nothing to do with the murdering part!

Keyleth: It was Ripley.

J'mon: I beg your pardon?

Keyleth: This psychotic scientist, she killed your friend. And she might be working with the green dragon, who's actually the one who sent us here. Even though I said we probably shouldn't listen to her. And I'm not...helping. I'm not helping, am I?

YN: Nope.- ow!

Keyleth kicks YN to the knee out of disappointment before Vex speaks to J'mon.

Vex: Your highness, please, we are innocent.

J'mon: Oh? Amongst your possession were the vestige of divergence, just like the two missing from my archives. Were you not here to steal them?

Vax: Uh, technically yes, but we, uh, failed.

J'mon walk towards Percy.

J'mon: And you. Carrying a custom black powder weapon. The exact kind used in the crime. That alone is enough evidence to convict. However, if you confess, I may show linience.

Percy stayed silent while not making eye contact to anyone.

J'mon: No? Then I have no choice but to sentence all of Vox Machina to death.-

Percy: Stop!...It was me.

This shock the whole party that Percy is taking the blame.

Vex: Percy!

Percy: I did it. I take full responsibility for the murder of the Mistress Asharru.

Vex: Percy, what are you doing?

Percy: Its true, we came to rob you. But my friends took no part in the murder.

Percy went on his knees to beg for sparing his friends.

Percy: Please release them. I throw myself upon your mercy.

J'mon: Honesty is rare these days. And my people are nothing if not merciful. Very well. You are all hereby banished from Ank'Harel. Prepare him for the transformation.

The rest of the guards separate the party and Percy.

Grog: No! Let him go!

YN: Wait, we're here for a reason! But he has nothing to do