Swampies discover escaped prisoners

The Doctor’s successful liberation of Romana and Rohm-Dutt immediately triggers Ranquin’s wrath as the Swampies realize their ritual sacrifices have vanished from Kroll’s temple. Ranquin’s immediate suspicion falls on Varlik, exploiting their past disagreement over the ritual’s necessity to cast doubt on his loyalty. The moment escalates from a religious failure to a hunt for vengeance, with Ranquin’s demand for pursuit exposing the fragile foundation of his authority—built on fear of Kroll’s wrath and the Swampies’ unquestioning belief. Skart’s attempt to reassure him about escape routes proves meaningless as Ranquin’s genocidal fury overrides reason, propelling him into a deadly chase that will force the escaped captives to survive both the pursuit and the swamp itself.