"This is all connected."
Realizing that Claudia plans to release Aaravos, Zubeia brings the team to the mountain of Umber Tor, in hopes of gaining help from her fellow archdragon, Rex Igneous, only to discover that the direct way to him has been blocked.
As that adventure is underway, Amaya and Janai must deal with the recent Culture Clash which threatens to disrupt the harmony between their peoples.
Viren, Claudia, and Terry, struggle with understanding their new guide, but eventually grasp where it is that they are being led.
Tropes:
- Campfire Character Exploration: At the night's campfire, Callum opens up to his brother over his mixed emotions regarding Rayla.
- Clue, Evidence, and a Smoking Gun: Soren points out why he thinks Claudia is behind the plot to free Aaravos: their father's plans, her power, her state of mind... and her bracelet, that she left where Ibis was killed.
- Comically Missing the Point: Claudia thinks she should name their guide "Sparklepuff". When Viren says that no being deserves such an undignified name, she then suggests Sir Sparklepuff.
- Dramatic Irony: The heroes correctly deduce that with Viren's death, Aaravos will have turned to Claudia as his new pawn to enact his plans, unaware that Viren has actually been resurrected and put back into action by Claudia only a day or so prior, albeit his experiences have left him reluctant to pick up where he left off, and it's still Claudia motivating them to push forward on their journey.
- Due to the Dead: Ibis gets a proper burial ceremony by the heroes.
- Everyone Has Standards: Played for Laughs. Viren openly describes Aaravos' herald as a slimy, disgusting creature, but in the same breath says it does not deserve a name as undignified as "Sparklepuff".
- Exactly What It Says on the Tin: When Callum asks if the guards have a map to the secret entrance to Umber Tor hidden in the 'uncharted forest', they respond it's called uncharted for a reason.
- Fat and Skinny: The gates to Umber Tor are manned by two earth Golems. One is tall and covered in vegetation while the other is rotund and adorned with crystals.
- Good Feels Good: Soren remarks how it's nice to be one of the good guys this time around.
- Internal Reveal: After learning that the mirror was a means of communication/spying on Aaravos inside his prison, Soren finally realizes why his father spent so much time in front of it, and furthermore deduces that with him gone, Aaravos will have turned his manipulations towards his susceptible sister to enact his plans now. There's also the fact that her bracelet was left behind at the murder scene.
- Mighty Roar: Fed up with the Golem's bickering, Zubeia declares her authority as the Dragon Queen and lets out an impressive roar, threatening to reduce them both to pebbles if they don't let them in to see Rex Igneous.
- Moment Killer: Soren interrupts a heartful moment between Rayla and Callum at the top of the Stormspire after Ibis's funeral. He then lampshaded that this might have happened before.
- Never My Fault: Amaya confronts Lucia, the human architect that had a "disagreement" with the Sunfire elf about his mourning fire, who insists that she did nothing wrong and was burned for no reason. Worried about the tension the incident brought about, Amaya decides that Janai should determine the best course of action.
- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Ignoring Rayla's wishes to leave well enough alone, Soren rescues a young dragon from an abusive drakerider. As a result, he is captured and separated from the group.
- "No. Just… No" Reaction: When Soren attempts to broach the topic of the tense atmosphere between her and Callum, Rayla's reply is a stern, and immediate, "Nope! We're not talking about this."
- Pick on Someone Your Own Size: Parodied with Soren accusing Warlon of bullying a baby dragon. The elf rightfully retorts that the baby dragon is still much bigger than him.
- Shaped Like Itself: As the Golem's make clear when asked, no, there is no map of the uncharted forest.
- Strange Minds Think Alike: Claudia and Terry both think that Aaravos' herald is miming a 'lizard in a hat', and come to the same conclusion when he draws on the ground.
- Those Two Guys: Chert and Terbium have this dynamic, exchanging banter even as they're trying to turn away the Dragang.
- Threshold Guardians: Chert and Terbium.
- Vomit Indiscretion Shot: At one point, the Chrysalis Child vomits green goo onto Viren, Claudia and Terry.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Soren calls out Rayla for being willing to ignore Warlon attacking a dragon, despite her position as one of the Dragon Guard.
- Withholding the Big Good: Queen Zubeia with her game-breaking power departs from the gang because she is unable to get into Umber Tor due to her large size.
