Ep 3. Departure

Tears to Tiara season 1 episode 3, titled "Departure," follows the aftermath of the previous episode's events. The episode begins with the newly formed group of rebels preparing to leave their home in the forest and embark on a journey to find allies in their fight against the Holy Empire. The group consists of the main characters; Arawn, Riannon, Arthur, Ogam, and Rathy.

Before departure, the group is briefed on the mission by Ogam, who reveals that they will be travelling to a town called Taliesin, where they hope to convince the leader, Drwc, to join their cause. Ogam emphasizes the importance of their mission, as they are facing strong opposition from the Holy Empire, which seeks to eradicate all non-humans from the land.

As the group sets out, they are faced with various struggles and obstacles along the way. They encounter a group of bandits who attempt to extort them for goods and money. Arawn steps in and uses his strength to defeat the bandits, impressing the others with his combat skills. They continue through the forest, and Arthur suggests taking a short cut through a dangerous mountain pass, which causes Riannon, who harbors feelings for Arthur, to become worried about the group's safety.

Once they arrive in Taliesin, the group find that the town is in a state of disarray. Drwc, the town's leader, is nowhere to be found, and the townspeople are suffering from a lack of food and resources. The group splits up to investigate the town, with Arawn and Riannon heading to the market square to gather supplies. During their time there, they run into a group of Holy Knights who are searching for the rebels. Arawn successfully distracts the knights, giving Riannon enough time to gather the supplies and escape.

Meanwhile, Arthur and Ogam are on a mission to find Drwc, but they too face challenges as they are confronted by a group of sentinels who are guarding Drwc's hideout. Arawn and the others come to their aid, and they all work together to defeat the sentinels and rescue Drwc.

As the group prepares to depart from Taliesin, they are faced with another obstacle. Drwc reveals that he cannot join their cause as he doesn't have the manpower to fight against the Holy Empire. Riannon, who shares her dream of creating a world where humans and non-humans can coexist, persuades Drwc to lend them a few soldiers.

The episode ends with the group continuing their journey, now with several new allies. They are shown walking towards the horizon, with Riannon and Arthur leading the way while Arawn follows closely behind.

In this episode, the show further establishes the dynamics between the main characters, introducing more about their individual strengths and weaknesses. The group's struggles on their journey to Taliesin provide a backdrop for the larger conflict between the rebels and the Holy Empire. The episode ends on a hopeful note, with the group gaining new allies and continuing on their quest to create a world that accepts all races.