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Slaydium Games with Tavern Talks Podcast! Pt 02
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🎙️ A New Adventure Continues in the Slaydium – Welcome to Tavern Talks!
Get ready for chaos, comedy, and combat in the latest episode of Narrative Feats, the action-packed actual play anthology! Special guests Adam and Zach return to the Maze of the Minotaur—a deadly labyrinth where every turn could mean triumph or total disaster.
They're halfway to reaching the damsel Fither, before she meets a grisly fate. But in true Slaydium style, survival isn’t guaranteed—and every obstacle is shaped by the players' choices. Enjoy brutal battles bristling with brilliant banter!
🎲 Narrative Feats: Season 2 features Slaydium Games, an original homebrew D&D 5e setting packed with:
- Immersive soundscapes
- Cinematic combat
- Ruthless arenas
- And unforgettable stories you won’t hear anywhere else.
Whether you’re a Dungeons & Dragons veteran or new to actual plays, there’s something here for every fantasy fan
👉 Subscribe now so you never miss an episode, and don’t forget to check out our interview series, The Joy of GMing, where we spotlight the brilliant minds behind the dice.
💬 Connect with the Narrative Feats crew:
- Follow us on social media for episode drops and behind-the-scenes content
- Join our Discord to chat with fellow fans and the creators
- Support our guests from Tavern Talks—follow them for updates, artwork, and more!
🌿 Enter the Slaydium. Embrace the chaos. Play for your life.
🎵 Music by Tabletop Audio
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Transcript
Introduction and Collaboration
00:00:00
Speaker
Hello, and welcome to Sladium Games, an exciting collaboration with fine people of the Tavern Talks podcast. Hi, Adam. Hi, Zach. Howdy. Hello.
00:00:11
Speaker
These are Narrative Feats, a thrilling anthology of tabletop tales brought to you by yours truly, Casey Jones, creator and host of Anywhere But Now and the Joy of GMing.
Entering the Labyrinth
00:00:24
Speaker
As we dive into bold adventures in fantastic worlds, what better way to continue our sophomore season of Tales than with bloody, glorious combat.
00:00:36
Speaker
Our heroes have entered the stadium and fight their way towards the center of this deadly labyrinth where waits the Minotaur. There is but one path to freedom and countless ways to die.
Meet Tavern Talks
00:00:52
Speaker
Hello guys, this is Adam and Zach from Tavern Talks Podcast. We are a new DM guide podcast for you all to listen to. For any new or veteran DMs out there that are wanting to get some advice or how to run sessions, we cover everything over any general topic over D&D in a 30,000 foot view. And then as we go on, our plan is just to get dive deeper into it.
00:01:18
Speaker
So if you're looking for some self-help, Check us out on Apple Podcasts, sam Amazon Music, or Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast ears on. We're also kind of funny. yeah Just a little. Yeah. Our funny stuff is on TikTok, so follow us on TikTok, and underscore, at Tavern Talks. Appreciate you guys.
00:01:38
Speaker
I am Casey, your dungeon maestro, and together we will make sweet music.
00:01:55
Speaker
Last time in the Sladium games, our heroes, Halfkiles and Rook, awoke in a cell with strange tattoos and stranger work ahead of them.
00:02:09
Speaker
They have hacked and slashed and blasted their way through the first half of a deadly maze. And now we rejoin them in part two of Sladium Games.
00:02:21
Speaker
The Tavern Talks Edition.
Combat with the Gladiator
00:02:23
Speaker
All right, gentlemen, where we were, half-killes had just gone, which brings us to the start of a new action round. Rook, you are up and the gladiator is after you. Rook's gonna punch.
00:02:35
Speaker
Yeah, he is. And he's going to be crappy about it. But the second one hits. The second one definitely hits.
00:02:46
Speaker
Ten points of bludgeoning. Love to see it. He is going to disengage again and walk backwards this way. Really? Yeah, really. Oh, God. Okay. I just wanted to see what this was. yeah no Amazing.
00:03:05
Speaker
Great. The gladiator is next. He is entirely incensed with you. and he is going to come up right before you.
00:03:16
Speaker
So his helmet features a faceplate mask. You cannot see the expression on his face, but give me a insight check. Insight... 14?
00:03:29
Speaker
He is enjoying himself.
00:03:32
Speaker
It's like he's trying to get you in position. So he is going to jab with his spear and smack with his shield. Both are going to hit, unfortunately. You take 11 points of piercing damage from the spear as he... Okay.
00:03:48
Speaker
slides it between your ribs and pulls it back and then is going to hit you with his shield for a crit which is going to be 11 points of bludgeoning damage all told can you please give us a strength saving throw and since it was a nat 20 please make that saving throw at disadvantage When he tries to hit me with my shield, can I use my key point to dodge?
00:04:14
Speaker
Yes. I want to take this piercing damage for a reason, but I want to make sure that he's he's running with his shield because I'm assuming he's trying to push me back. Yes, he is trying to slam Okay, so I'll use my key to to dodge.
00:04:28
Speaker
It is a shame to waste a nat 20, but that's the break. You're trying to kill us. I'm trying to survive. We we got to do what we got to
00:04:39
Speaker
Bully, okay, so you have dodged the shield. Whatcha doing, friend? I think I'm just going to shadow step behind him, like this way. That way I'm on the offensive for the next time and end my turn there.
00:04:53
Speaker
Beautiful. Lugwald is going to go one, two, three, four, five. And he's going to do-si-do with you. So what Lugwald is going to do is give you a firm slap on the back and says, I've gulked your bank, and is going to give you the help action. Okay.
00:05:12
Speaker
Okay, the bugbear is meat. Half-Kiles, you are up, sir. What is the newly recharged with some HP and five rounds of heroism? You want to go here? Up two.
00:05:26
Speaker
I want to see, is there any way I can get behind the gladiator without provoking opportunity? As long as you stay that close to him, no, you will not trigger an opportunity attack. Okay, that's what I want to do. I want to get behind him like that.
00:05:40
Speaker
Instead of going top over with the swing, I want to go bottom up with the swing from the greataxe. Okay. Oh, that's a hit.
00:05:51
Speaker
Eight. Eight are still in range. And then since technically we're still in combat from last time, I'm going to swing again the same exact way like Paul Bunyan lumberjack style. yeah You have advantage. That is not going to hit.
00:06:06
Speaker
Do I have advantage? But you do have advantage. Roll again. Yeah, because you have him in ah a pincer. Flanked. That is a hit. We'll go 23. Eight again.
00:06:17
Speaker
He does not appreciate that one No, probably not. Rook, you are up. What doing, friend? Swing. Punch. Punch time. Time for punch. Ooh.
00:06:30
Speaker
That's a hit. And another match a double hit. Nice. And for my bonus action, actually, I'm going to take a wholeness of body for a bonus action, and that gives me eight hit points back.
00:06:43
Speaker
Lovely. I can heal myself. Physician, heal thyself. All right, that is Rook. The gladiator is up. Stand by. And he has disadvantage? Yeah, because he's flanked.
00:06:55
Speaker
Let's see what you're doing, man. It's all about the strategy. All about that strategy. Snow, what I call it. You just hit things, that's fine.
00:07:07
Speaker
And people like it. I just punch things, you hit things, where we make a good team. Alright, so he is going to bash half-killes with his shield. Okay. And miss.
00:07:18
Speaker
And miss. And he is going to at...
00:07:23
Speaker
Rook with his spear. Ooh, that is a hit. As you take 11 points of piercing, yeah he does not appreciate what you are trying to do at all. Well, he can go punch it.
00:07:36
Speaker
food Punch up zone. You can make him. Lugwald is going to lance him with his spear. We have him on the ropes. 13 does not hit.
00:07:48
Speaker
That hits, though. Okay, beautiful. The second strike does 15 to the gladiator. Cries out in agony as the poison burns in his ribs.
00:08:00
Speaker
Half-Kiles, you are up, my friend, and Rook is after you. All right, so... I'm try something a little bit different. Straight up swing. i'm gonna I'm gonna use the butt of the axe and go for his eyes.
00:08:15
Speaker
So, still gonna be a great axe throw. You're throwing it at his face? No, no, no, no. Like, using the butt of the axe, I'd imagine it has a hilt. Gotcha, you're jabbing him? kind of blinding him if I can. Well, he's got a helmet on. Well, he's got a helmet, but you know.
00:08:31
Speaker
Dented enough to doesn't mean a conscious. You gotta give him a concussion. Yeah, let's do it looking guys Let's go for I love the specificity and the creativity. Let's keep it up 24 Okay, yeah at advantage you hit him with a 24. I'm gonna try to break his helmet six plus three is nine I would say that as battered as he is Like, you swing hard enough and his helmet cracks. Like, there's just this scream of metal being split in two as his helmet falls from his crown as broken, rent, useless bits of metal on the ground.
00:09:10
Speaker
He blinks and stands his ground because it's still, it's not his turn yet, but amazing work. Are you doing anything else? No, not at all. brookok Rook is fine. He just put he just punches things.
00:09:25
Speaker
13 is a miss. How about 18? 18 would be a hit. He deflects it with his shield. That is his reaction. How dare he?
00:09:36
Speaker
What's going through Rook's head as you fight foot to foot with this flagging villain? You know, Rook's just kind of sitting there. in In his mind, he's like in a peaceful meadow meditating. and just like He just sees an image in his brain of what's going on in the outside world.
00:09:54
Speaker
And imagine like there's like a force ghost of the... of the gladiator in front of him and he's looking for weaknesses inside of him as he as he's punching. Punch, punch, punch. We'll just do hold us a body as a bonus action for myself. Just keep healing myself.
00:10:11
Speaker
Great. can use that twice. Might as well. Might as well. The gladiator rolled a wisdom check and failed. He does not want to die for no point there and he races off.
00:10:27
Speaker
The crowd does not like this at all. You hear a loud booing as runs for his life like a coward.
00:10:39
Speaker
He gets so far before a hand simply presses its way out of the slat from the nearest tower and there is a as the gladiator vanishes and a spineless worm slithers slowly away. Oh wow.
00:11:04
Speaker
Okay.
Labyrinth Challenges
00:11:05
Speaker
Which wouldn't be that worm. Okay.
00:11:10
Speaker
No. As the crowd laughs at the gladiator's misfortune, like just this wave of laughter goes around. Hylevox materializes, peering down at it.
00:11:24
Speaker
That's what you get for being spineless, little man. And vanishes. Moments later, a crow flies down, lands in front of the worm, grabs it in its beak, and flies away.
00:11:39
Speaker
Hathkeleus, I got a question for you. would Would you still love me if I was a worm? No. I'll lock you now. So, Halfcules, hey buddy, how you doing? Oh, I'm doing all right, I guess.
00:11:54
Speaker
Would you be so kind as to give me a wisdom saving throw? Yeah, let's go for it. I don't think I'm very wise. Oh no. A six. Okay.
00:12:06
Speaker
Halfcules, as the din fades and your heart stops pounding quite so loud in... Your chest. Your eye lands on this table.
00:12:20
Speaker
And on that table is a tankard. There's just this nice little head of foam on the top. And it is quite literally irresistible.
00:12:32
Speaker
You are compelled to go to the table and take a sip. Okay. You taste the ale and it is delicious. It is the tastiest ale you have ever had.
00:12:45
Speaker
As the mug grows heavier and heavier in your hand, can you please give me a strength check, please? Okay. For one terrible moment, Half-Kiles, you feel like the tankard is grabbing you, and it takes a great amount of strength to pull your hand away, take a step back from the table.
00:13:09
Speaker
Something's wrong with this. ah I don't know what it is yet. Hapkules have told you don't take random of people's drinks on the table. No, something's wrong with this table right here.
00:13:20
Speaker
but You see, Hapkules, if you just don't run off... Alright. You come here. Rook's going to approach cautiously and looks at the table.
00:13:33
Speaker
Okay. Give me a wisdom second. I'm wise. are you talking about? Your turn, buddy My high stats wisdom. Let me see what it is. Plus on that. plus two on but Oh, yeah, it's great.
00:13:48
Speaker
You look in amazement as the tankard refills up to full and you have an irresistible pull to taste ah the most delicious beer you've had in years. Like, this is why people start drinking beer. This kind of just you ah amazing.
00:14:07
Speaker
Give me a strength check, please. That's plus three. This is athletics. Athletics. It takes every iota of your strength to pull away from this mug, which gets heavier and heavier and heavier like it on the table.
00:14:25
Speaker
And like you, you didn't realize you were white knuckling the tank. Hey, that beer is pretty good. But man, that thing was heavy. Say I told you.
00:14:36
Speaker
No, don't don't drink the beer.
00:14:41
Speaker
Lou holds his hand up and blocks the entire top of the table from view and says, oh no, not the damned cursed beer thing. No, you didn't drink it. It was it was pretty good.
00:14:56
Speaker
it was It was the best damn beer ever had. Don't look at it. Oh, not anymore, of course. Yeah, what are you talking about? Yeah, beautiful.
00:15:08
Speaker
Lugwad has his hand in front of his face. Brook is standing where he's standing. So, Lugrod takes a step to the left, and that is when he falls into a pit that, unfortunately, he did not notice because his hand was in front of his face.
00:15:31
Speaker
Yeah. Lou falls into a pit of spikes and takes 12 points of piercing damage plus three from the fall itself for a total of 15. Oof, buddy. And he cries out in pain i don't know as he is quite bloodied. He's bloodied. Oh, no!
00:15:52
Speaker
dear God! We have two potions, so we can give him one. I can cure wounds again. As he lies impaled in the pit, which by the way, I watched you guys move your tokens. If you had moved them in like a, literally a square to the left, you would have had to do dexterity saves.
00:16:11
Speaker
But you you went straight beeline. Good job on both of you. Lugwad is going to make an athletics check to try and prime himself free and Lugwad rolls painfully.
00:16:24
Speaker
onto the ground before the pit and says, did not enjoy that so much. but Well, Lou, you fell into a pit of spikes. What do you expect to feel good?
00:16:39
Speaker
Getting out felt okay. Well, we're glad you're out. Here, take this, and he hands over the poro potion of greater healing. Oh, damn, dude. Since you are not in combat, he is using...
00:16:52
Speaker
and the the equivalent of an action to take the entire potion and regain the entire amount. He is no longer bloodied. That is bloody awesome. Give us a performance check.
00:17:04
Speaker
star Yes! The audience boos as you help another human being. As Luquod holds up an arm, do you help him to his feet?
00:17:18
Speaker
Oh, yeah, yeah. Definitely help him up. And I look to the crowd, and I give a wonderful hand gesture to the crowd. It's a sign of peace in my and in my plane of existence.
00:17:32
Speaker
Give me another performance gesture. One of these has got to land. Ha ha ha!
00:17:40
Speaker
It's so good. It's wonderful. I don't care. Yeah. They boo louder. You come down here you bunch of scrawnies.
00:17:52
Speaker
I'm going to cast Cure Wounds on myself to give myself some heals back. 13. There is a quiet in the air. It's quiet. A little too quiet.
00:18:04
Speaker
Hapkules, can you give us a tune? Hum a little tune for us. No. I'm not going to do that. Well, you think we all dwarves seem. I mean... That's a little far fish, don't you think?
00:18:17
Speaker
and No, no, no. You know, you save your breath. Keep moving. ah You're you're gonna hear you're you're gonna hear rooks are going start going, Hi-ho.
00:18:29
Speaker
Hi-ho. It's off to work we go. Let's pick something that Disney won't sue us. Let's pick something not sue-able. It's my own parody of it. song that isn't. Ho-hai. Ho-hai.
00:18:44
Speaker
Off the way we rise. Oh, look. See, that ba the dwarf actually sings. All right. So which way do you go, friends? I think we're just going to pop out. You want me to you want me to shadow step out?
00:18:57
Speaker
what character I'm talking to both of you. do you want me to shadow step out and then shadow step back in and see what's going on? No, I say you go for the next entrance. Over here? That's all we got there.
00:19:11
Speaker
Over here. No, there. Here? Yep. There's something here. I don't care. Technically, I should technically see that, right? It is caused to give an investigation check. I'll give an investigation check from this from this point of view. Oh, going full method acting. I appreciate Adam.
00:19:30
Speaker
Set you don't know the same fact you lease did you come here? I'll investigate it. Actually, this is gonna slap an investor. got a zero to all right guess what we're all 18. I got 20. No, that's what are you better?
00:19:46
Speaker
He's got king saying. Oh, yeah. So, Half-Kiles... I love that name. Half-Kiles. You get within line of sight of it and ah spot that there is a net just under the gravel that, had you been unawares, it could have seriously tripped you up.
00:20:10
Speaker
And you notice that there are bells around the edges of the net and none of them ring. because you find the net trap and are able to toss it aside quietly. Okay.
00:20:26
Speaker
Wonderful. So we're over here now. If you want to be. And I will peek around the corner. oh You're going first? I'm going first. You rolled a seven. what did it listen Listen, my thought process is I can teleport back at any time because I can disengage. You are a little louder than most.
00:20:47
Speaker
And more successful. I mean, success is not determined by what we roll. It's determined by how we play. Amazing. You teleport around the corner and spot a rather large black ooze rising up off of the ground.
Battle with the Black Pudding
00:21:07
Speaker
Hey, Hathkeleys, your mother's there. What'd she say about my mother? She's dead. You know, she turned into oil. Would you guys be so kind as to rejoin the initiative? Yeah. Of course.
00:21:19
Speaker
Black pudding. 16. Oh, no, good. Okay. Because he gets advantage. about And then mine going to 14. Lugwald does not notice the black pudding yet since you're both kind of both in the way, but he does approach with his spear out when he sees Rook.
00:21:41
Speaker
body language wise get on the offensive and is going to give Rook the help action on his turn. Okay. Rook is going to attack.
00:21:53
Speaker
What can I do? What can I do? What can I do? Six. Five. Yeah. Actually, i'm just going to go back this way and stay afar and end my turn.
00:22:06
Speaker
Give me a perception check. Yeah. Your line of sight across the blob, you do spot that that there is a cage on the far side. Half-Kiles, you are up and the pudding is next. What you doing? Half-Kiles. What are you going to do?
00:22:24
Speaker
going to go right here. Well, here's what I'm gonna do. it yeah I'm gonna try to Eldritch Blast him. The Black Ooze. See if I can move it. See if it has any ability to be one. A 15 hits. Okay.
00:22:39
Speaker
Is this a repelling blast that you're doing? Correct. So you fire this blast and repel the black ooze ten feet as it takes two points of force damage and we're gonna say another three from colliding with the fence behind it.
00:23:03
Speaker
Scorch it right mate? Let's see if that black Pudding is there. I've got 40 movement feet. That's 5, 10, 15, 20.
00:23:14
Speaker
Can I move here? Give me an insight check, please. All right, let's go for it. Nothing. Nothing can go wrong. Oh, no, it horribly went wrong.
00:23:27
Speaker
Half-Kiles. Half-Kiles. This is not great for you. The fact that your friend got up to it like, nope, nope, nope, and backed away informed you a bit and you had the right impression with to repel it with the Eldritch Blast.
00:23:45
Speaker
um And you have pushed you have shoved it into a corner very resourcefully, but at all the same, you realize, you recognize that this is not good because when you come to a stop, that's when you hear the growl and jos love the of the cage about 30 feet to your right.
00:24:06
Speaker
one You have slammed the blank pudding back against not one but two surfaces. So fun fact, the pudding can spider climb.
00:24:18
Speaker
So the pudding rises up blob like slams down on the far side once again in front of half-kele's.
00:24:30
Speaker
And like, there's just little bits of corrosion hissing off of the wall as it burns its sticky way down way.
00:24:42
Speaker
And half-killes, this whole thing is rather shapeless. It is the most pissed off comma you have ever seen. And a whole appendage, like a wing, like it just tapers to a point. There's no fluidity of it. It's just... And it comes out and is going to try and sticky you. You take six points of bludgeoning damage from the slam and 16 of acid from the burn.
00:25:13
Speaker
are And you're not wearing any armor, so... Are you wearing armor? He's got mage armor. I got mage armor. 14. So, yeah. Yeah, your mage armor sparkles and hisses. Like, it's not damaged, but it is doing a job keeping the acidic burn to a minimum on you. It does not have you grappled. just...
00:25:37
Speaker
Lugrod limps along, he's not bloodied but he's bruised as hell, and he waves his arms back and forth towards the black pudding and says, Hey, ugly hoop, come and get me, you nasty piece of punctuation!
00:25:55
Speaker
is super hesitant to stick his his his javelin into something like this because it is acidic as hell. And rather than attack, he's going to give Rook the help action provided Rook gets closer.
00:26:09
Speaker
i'm gonna punch I'm gonna punch it. I have magical fists, so it can it can do damage. 23. twenty three Okay, both of those hit for a total of 19 points of damage. I'm going to use a key do fury, but I'm going to do the knockback fury ah blows. Let me see here.
00:26:31
Speaker
Okay, for both of those hits, your hands burn, yeah and you take three and three for a total of six points of acid damage. That's fine.
00:26:41
Speaker
All right, I'm going just go to use the shove action on that. The target is going to be pushed. You got to succeed on a dex, a strength or a dex saving throw. Yeah, you're trying to beat a 15.
00:26:52
Speaker
fifteen No. yeah So it moved five feet and you have prone. I don't know if that affects or you can do it. five Yeah. oh Oh, sorry. It's that there is no prone for this. Yeah. And with the shove, you take another two points of acid damage.
00:27:11
Speaker
and with the shove you take another two points of acid damage Okay, that will be that and let me see about my bonus action if I want It was 14 excuse me. It was a because I use fury of blows as my push action on that It says when you hit a creature with an attack granted by fury of blows the target must succeed a DC 14 strength so you can do strength instead decks and see Right right conancy Yeah I mean, I don't love its chances, but... Oh, dang. All So 15 feet back puts it on top of the cage.
00:27:50
Speaker
that is That is really damn resourceful. You push this thing back, and it like... boom but boomo ba boom ba boo it's just wrong top The big comma rolls into into a period.
00:28:03
Speaker
we call this a run on sentence
00:28:10
Speaker
Three points across. Amazing. The black pudding comes to a stop atop the cage. And that is when you notice that the trail it left up the cage eats and corrodes at the bars of the cage.
00:28:29
Speaker
as a saber-toothed tiger bursts its way out of the now weakened bars. said as I'm sure it takes damage. It tries to burst out and run into the big period.
00:28:44
Speaker
Well, the period is currently on top of the cage. That's where it's that's where it landed. It's kind leveling. It jumps out of the cage, taking four points of D4's points.
00:28:58
Speaker
Let's see here. just keep That's the game plan. That's the game plan. Bully. So yeah, the tiger takes two points of acid damage, smashing its way out of the acid weakened cage.
00:29:10
Speaker
It looks in confusion at Rook and Half-Killes and does this little dart darting thing that gets a little closer and tries to scratch at you. Hang on. I can actually turn him into an ally, I think.
00:29:28
Speaker
Yeah, it ah tries to claw at you and accidentally breaks off a claw on a rock on the ground, taking a point of piercing damage because that one's hurt at the GM too. Rook, you are up and half kill this. Okay. All right. I'm going to cast Beast Bond if this is considered a beast.
00:29:48
Speaker
It is a beast. Okay. It is a large beast. All right. I'm going cast Beast Bond so I have a telepathic link with the beast. with While I have line of sight and the beast has advantage on the attacks, the creature can see.
00:30:01
Speaker
Oh, wow. So I flipped it on. me i control Does the tiger need to take like a wisdom save or anything like that? No, not that I see. It's just this...
00:30:12
Speaker
telepathic link with one beast you touch that is friendly to you or charmed by you. The spell fails if the beast's intelligence score is four or higher. Is it four higher?
Allies and Retreats
00:30:24
Speaker
The intelligence is three. Okay. But the creature has already tried to attack you, so guide I don't care how to describe it as friendly. Okay, so then never mind. Retcon that then. Excuse me. i only had like a short shortened thing of that ah spell.
00:30:37
Speaker
Excuse me. Hey, no, you're fine. This is why we check. then Then let me do animal friendships first. The spell that you convinced that for a higher wisdom saving throw, please.
00:30:49
Speaker
Oh, that's a nat one. Yeah. Okay. Cool. You my best friend.
00:30:55
Speaker
Describe for me the the mental approach. Like, do you appear in the tiger's mind? Yeah, so so what happens is Rook is still meditating in his meadow.
00:31:08
Speaker
And in front of him is a force ghost of the saber-toothed tiger. Comes out of his little forest, approaches him, tries to claw at him. And then he does like a whole avatar like Aang at the end with Ozai. This is not sued. kind No, he just he just touches him on the head with his fingers. it's like, I mean, you know how.
00:31:30
Speaker
and then And then the tiger's eyes like glow a little bit. And it's like, boom. Yeah, the tiger just gives you a friendly head shake. Like, its shoulders relax just a little bit. Like, it's not shaking off the enchantment. I look over Hathcules and Lou and go, do not harm the tiger.
00:31:54
Speaker
dot Do not harm it. If anything, just don't don't touch it. Amazing. Hathcules, you are up. What are you doing for him?
00:32:05
Speaker
I think the first thing I'm going to do is du do do do do you come all the way down down here. I'm going to use Magical Cunning, which is one once per long rest, I can perform an esoteric rite for one minute, gaining up to one expended pact magic spell slot.
00:32:26
Speaker
So basically regain a spell slot. If I'm understanding correctly. got spell slot, mate. And then the second thing I'm going to do is I don't like this thing. It's acid. It hurts us when we touch it. I'm going to shocker Eldritch blast thing one more time, uh, right off the back of the cage.
00:32:50
Speaker
I love it. Oh, no, it's not going to happen. That is not going to happen. Yeah, you reach out your hands to blast this thing and your fingertips spark as you take one point of your own Eldritch damage on a nat 1.
00:33:08
Speaker
I am sorry. You're all good. That's what happens. Okay. If I'm not mistaken, taking the potion is a full action, correct? Yes, it is a full action to get the full result. yeah You can use an object interaction instead and roll the dice.
00:33:25
Speaker
No, I'll pass on that. We're just going to hold. Okay, smart. The pudding is on top of this cage. As the bars have been smashed through, there is a hiss and a clink.
00:33:43
Speaker
And all of a sudden the pudding falls through a hole eaten by its own acidity, corrosion, into the cage.
00:33:53
Speaker
And it sits there and it just...
00:34:00
Speaker
Inflates to fill the cage, which proceeds to burn around it. It did not appreciate landing on spiky bits of metal because it is eating the cage that it landed on.
00:34:15
Speaker
Like, it has little bits of melting sharp metal just sort of wilting out of it like sagging petals on some terrible flower. is it Is it stuck there?
00:34:28
Speaker
Well, that's the thing. I know it's eating it, but I don't know if it's it's if it's able to like roll out again and become a comma.
00:34:36
Speaker
It can because the tiger smashed the cage open. okay So there is an opening in the cage. It rolled a wisdom save and passed so it's not leaving.
00:34:47
Speaker
It rolls like five feet out of it and the tiger growls at it.
00:35:00
Speaker
I sacrifice my kitty cat, I will. No! Give me an arcana check, friend. Okay. You watch with growing understanding as the black pudding hesitates as the tiger is in its way.
00:35:14
Speaker
And for just a moment, you see the glisten of a rune somewhere on this thing that has been magically commanded who and what to go after. and the tiger's not on the list. And it's like confused now because the tiger is in the way and gonna give us another wisdom save.
00:35:32
Speaker
Should I use it as like a runaround? Yeah. To get out? It climbs up the wall of this slop, still covered in bits of cage, rolls to a splat on the far side and even over the wall,
00:35:52
Speaker
You can see the little bits of metal sinking into it as they continue to corrode. So that was flipping interesting.
00:36:02
Speaker
I know, I was worried about that. I was like, we've got the blob over here. I was worried about it because we don't have any, like, reach of anything. We're all up close. That's all we got. That's all you got. I was like, I've got to sacrifice some hand stuff if I can. All right, well...
00:36:21
Speaker
Rook, give me, please, a performance check. Here we go. ah I give the people what they want. Do you know what you did, Rook?
00:36:34
Speaker
You befriended a big cat. And there's a big cat up on the dais that really, really liked that. I look up at the tabaxi, and I just go, two fingers, and...
00:36:46
Speaker
Big old kiss up to her. She has been crocheting this entire time. wonderful. Just like my wife, she can And she crocheted she finishes crocheting this little woven together ladybug.
00:37:05
Speaker
And it flaps out of her hands and comes to you. It lands in your hands. And...
00:37:15
Speaker
It unravels and opens up and there's this little card that says, I've decided I like you. Let's be friends. yeah And there's the signature is just a little paw print with a P in it.
00:37:30
Speaker
Number one, you regain 15 HP and because of the nat 20 that you got on the animal friendship, The cat is going to be added damage to staying on your friendly side okay for the remainder. Also, as the card evaporates, underneath it is a flower petal that is the darkest phantablack you have ever laid eyes on.
00:37:57
Speaker
Look, I got a pretty flower. When Lugwad spots the flower petal in your hand, he gives a low whistle of like, Those are precious. You want to hang on to that. That's good stuff. Could you tell me what they do, Lou?
00:38:13
Speaker
He says, well, if you're dying, you put it in your mouth and helps you not die so much. Consuming the petal of the death lotus will give you an automatic pass on one death save, oh basically. get it If you go down for the count, this gives you one automatic pass.
00:38:32
Speaker
They think I'm going to die, Hefkules. It's cause you are, brother. Fair enough, fair enough. You get the siren. I get an honorable death. Sirens, make it plural. Oh, oh, yeah. hu bo Yeah, You remember them. Yeah, yeah, all right. We're going to approach cautiously. That's probably smart.
00:38:57
Speaker
Morgan's going love this, man. He's going like, yeah, that's right on par. I'm going to go this way so I have Linus' side of this chest. Give me a perception check.
00:39:09
Speaker
Actually, make it an investigation check. Come on. You your one good word, buddy. You narrow your eyes on the chest and there is a glimt right on the lock.
00:39:25
Speaker
There is a slip of metal that is just the wrong shade to match the rest of the latch and the metal fittings around the entire chest. There is a poison pin trap on the lid of that chest. Would thieves tools get rid of it Hmm, I wonder. Time to try, buddy boy. Time to try. All right. I'm going to, I'm going before I walk in, I'm going to peek and try to see what's this way. oh buddy.
00:39:51
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. It is quiet. Okay. It is too quiet. no. You here Over some walls, it is some distance away, but you hear screams Fither starts reaching at the top of lungs.
00:40:14
Speaker
Okay. Um, and overhead there is a flash and a complex illusion of an hourglass materializes and the sand at the top starts to fall into the open, empty bell of the bottom half.
00:40:31
Speaker
At this point you have half an hour at most before, the damsel is doomed. Hey, I don't see anything this way. Nothing in this area. You actually see just the edges of shadows slipping away that direction. Things are leaving the area.
00:40:50
Speaker
right All right, I'm going get half-keles over, and I'm like, all right, give me two seconds to get this chest open with my thieves' tools, and you just watch my back with Lou.
00:41:02
Speaker
All right, I think I can do that. Okay. All right. So we're going to step in into this area. They can all just step in behind, and I'm going to use my thieves' tools to open up the chest. Give us a sleight of hand check. Yep.
00:41:16
Speaker
Sleight of hand's plus seven, so I'm going to roll Okay, 15. Unfortunately, with a 15, you miss the mark. Can you give me, please, a constitution saving throw?
00:41:30
Speaker
10 so you are attempting to pick the lock and your hands are sweating like you still like your skin still burns from the acid and one of your hands slips and that is when three inch long needle swings out and scratches the back of your hand you take one point of piercing for the needle and 11 of poison for the coating on said needle, and you have the poisoned condition for the next half hour. Okay.
00:42:04
Speaker
Which means you have disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks. It does not affect your ability to heal. Would a potion of greater healing take that away? There are spells that can do that, but not.
00:42:15
Speaker
It can at most restore 20 points of health, but it does not relieve any symptoms, any conditions. Okay. All right. Do I get it open, though? In the chest is a potion of heroism, the great axe that Half-Kiles last had on his person, like the great axe that is actually of importance to you.
00:42:35
Speaker
There is also green bubbling potion and half plate armor. There's half plate armor for you. Half plate, say less. Equip that shit.
00:42:45
Speaker
Do we know what the green liquid is or do I need to ask Lou what it is? You can give me an arcana check. 13. Not bad. and You know that it is good for magic users. It does not affect health.
00:42:58
Speaker
Lukewad scratches his jaw and he says, you know, I don't do the magic hockesy-pockesy stuff, but I've seen wizards drink it and feel better. He explains that the potion replenishes a second level spell slot. All right.
00:43:13
Speaker
I'm going to take the potion. Alright, we're going here. yeah Okay, so we're gonna go over. Yeah, we're gonna, I'm gonna move myself over this way and then try to get a line down this way, probably to like here to see what's going on.
00:43:28
Speaker
You don't see it yet, but you hear it. Okay. Rook. Yes. You shadow step to this spot. You know what? Give us a perception check.
00:43:40
Speaker
Okay. At disadvantage because you have been poisoned. Fifteen. You hear heavy hoof steps. You smell bovine and muscle and sweat and blood and hear...
00:43:57
Speaker
the screams of Deerfeather's screams. You can just make out horns, spear sharp, and stained alight brown from numerous, numerous offensives.
The Minotaur's Threat
00:44:13
Speaker
The Minotaur makes his presence known. Okay. There is a low rise. as he steps away from the heart of the maze and steps into the exterior.
00:44:30
Speaker
right, so I'm going to take my potion of greater healing, and then I'm going to do a bonus action right now so I can do my healing that I can. We're going to put the tiger on the initiative. Yeah. Yeah.
00:44:45
Speaker
Big cat. Big cat's got to eat. Who do they even name him? We'll call Big Cat. What about like, uh, Malgoly? Malgoly. A real ironic writer. no, no, no, no. I'm gonna call him Fievel. Stop.
00:45:00
Speaker
I'm gonna call Fievel. Yep, that's his name name. That's not how that works. That's how it works. Because it's my cat, not yours. Yeah, I'm gonna say, uh, yeah, i'm gonna step right out in front of it.
00:45:12
Speaker
Just on purpose. Okay. Full bravado. I need you guys on the initiative. yeah let's go Alright, 18 for half, Gilles, 6 for Rook. Yeah.
00:45:26
Speaker
And then I guess Lou and the tiger are there too. Alright, so you're just stepping out. Alright, I'll step out with you behind. And then Lou can come to the left of us and then the tiger can come to the right of me, like here. And then Lou can be like here. They walk out and they just kind of like stroll out and then we kind of like give each other glances like, good luck out there.
00:45:50
Speaker
Yeah, I guess you too, brother. I don't know you want me to say right now. No, I'm going to fight this thing. Okay. All right. Yeah.
00:46:01
Speaker
What do you want the tiger to do? It can bite and claw. It has movement of 40 feet. Okay. Bite and claw. So I'm going to use his pounce ability. Okay. And bum rush the Minotaur. Okay. And he's going to, is it claw that he has to do? Yeah. Yeah, claw attack.
00:46:21
Speaker
Plus six to hit on that. All right. So the tiger comes up, swings a claw at it, and the Minotaur looks down at it with utter contempt.
00:46:33
Speaker
And the tiger just, like, is down on its low haunches. You can't tell from here if it's Intimidator or if it's leap if it's Coiling to Leap. Okay. Half kill easy, you are up and Luke Rod is after you.
00:46:44
Speaker
Yeah, I'm gonna Eldritch blast it for the first attack. 12 does not hit. I'm gonna rage again for my bonus action and that is that. All right, let's check it out.
00:46:56
Speaker
Lugward has to steal himself. Like, his hands are shaking, gripping the spear as he's like, we can do this for together. I've seen it happen.
00:47:07
Speaker
And he's going to run forward and try with the spear as a hit. The Minotaur cries out in pain.
00:47:19
Speaker
It is going to... plow through the two of them coming for killies misses. The tiger can claw and hit. He scratches minotaur's back as it charges.
00:47:40
Speaker
This thing is bigger than you expected it to be. The smell is incredibly unpleasant. You've been to nicer smelling zoos.
00:47:53
Speaker
The ground shakes as it pounds up ground, hoofing for you and is going to try and gore you with its horn. 14 points of piercing damage and this is a charge so there's going to be an additional 2d8. In the meantime, can you give me a strength saving throw, please? For an additional 5 of piercing as its horn enters.
00:48:19
Speaker
Oof. That's not good. You are pushed back ten feet by the force of the blow and hit the wall behind you and land prone. Good with that. All right, Rook, you are up, and the tiger is next.
00:48:32
Speaker
Cool, cool, cool. right, I'm going to run up to him and punch. Seventeen. 17 will hit. Okay. And then do it again. Okay, the second blow misses.
00:48:44
Speaker
The third hits. And then my bonus action. Yeah, I'm going to do a step away and then take the dash action to go back. Okay. And that doesn't trigger an attack of opportunity, correct?
00:48:55
Speaker
Should not. I'm quick with it. Yeah. What do you want the tiger to do? I want the tiger to try to do its claw bounce again. The claw pounce? Yeah. Pounce and claw.
00:49:08
Speaker
So claw first and then pounds. It is going to need to back up because it needs 20 feet to... Yeah. It has 40 feet. Fortunately, it only needed to move back 10. So that this is kosher.
00:49:20
Speaker
It is going to claw at him. Keep missing that claw. And fail. Minotaur ignores it. Half killies, you are up and Lugwad is on deck.
00:49:34
Speaker
If can Eldritch Blast, I'm in Rage, right? Eldritch Blast him first and then we'll go for a full swing if that hits. 17 to then I'm going run at him with the Great Axe and do a full jumping swing into the Minotaurs. What flavor that face right there? Hello?
00:50:02
Speaker
Yeah, okay? oh i'm the that Oh You have advantage. Oh technically there we the mother tiger tigers there the tiger is there it's it's makes little bit of shenanigans anyway, but I'll lie.
00:50:18
Speaker
Okay. You don't have to allow it if you don't want to You're the deal you're the deal It is a tiger, so yeah, he can be flanked by a tiger. tooth ti name five or we reference to His stop right, Okay, so what does the do?
00:50:38
Speaker
be twenty six to hit one d twelve which your damage plus three would be a five so seven total damage so far All right, Lugwald is up.
00:50:53
Speaker
He is going to get into position and yes, now it is definitely in a like pincer. That is a nat 20. Nice. As he does 20 points of piercing and poison also.
00:51:08
Speaker
Good god, okay, yeah, the... That's, that's... Alright. The Minotaur cries out in a fury and does a cleaving swing. Half-Kiles, can you please give me a dex saving throw?
00:51:28
Speaker
And I will give for a Ligwag.
00:51:33
Speaker
Okay.
00:51:36
Speaker
Yeah. Nobody makes it. The Minotaur swings his greataxe in a wide arc and because we are flanking him, because we are right on top of him, we each take 11 points of a slashing damage.
00:51:53
Speaker
Then it is going to look down at half killings this upstart that is half his size if that and is going to try to or attack you again with his horn and hits Once again, there's like this time it gets in the upper chest. Would that disadvantage though?
00:52:16
Speaker
That's true. That's true. Okay. Nevermind. Rook, you are up. Let's go. Let's go. Thank you, Adam. I wouldn't have caught it.
00:52:27
Speaker
All right. I'm gonna run up and do what I do best. Punch. That is punch. You're creating one punch, man. And i don't have to roll disadvantage because of it's Basically, I'm not rolling advantage. I would just just roll. He's already flanked. So you're rolling flat. Yeah, I just do a flat roll.
00:52:47
Speaker
So I get to roll twice on that. oh Good God. That's a natural 20. Oh Nice. All right, so that's the two damage. Do we want to do a key point key point do Furia blows go for it. Okay. Might as well take it. All right. got two more key points left.
00:53:07
Speaker
Got nine minutes Hurry up. I got to save this redhead Gotta i have a hero at this point 13 does not hit 20 does though So what is the grand total of the damage done this turn?
00:53:21
Speaker
32 good grief love it'susing love it He is most certainly bloody is he okay? i why do run out now Yeah, me to do another key point for another here man for This is the finale all right. I'm going for it another key point all right I don't have any keys left that's okay they're keyed out keyed out I have the gods on my side yes That hits. Another 12, so 44 damage.
00:53:52
Speaker
Total. All in total. Dang, look at that. Monks are fun, guys. Clearly. And then he's going to dash as his bonus action back.
00:54:04
Speaker
The tiger can clog in if you want. Yeah, I'm going to have a bite. A hit. Seven. I'm sorry. Eight points. Gorgeous. Half killies. You are up.
00:54:16
Speaker
god is All right. Oh, I'm Eldritch blasting him. You don't want to just smack him twice with your axe. No, going to Eldritch blast him, then smack him. Okay. That's a hit. Amazing.
00:54:28
Speaker
Now I'm going to smack him with my axe. Finish him. Yep. Right in the chest. That is a beautiful hit. Half-Kiles, would you be so kind as to paint us a picture? Of course. Let's go.
00:54:45
Speaker
Yeah. Half-Kiles is going to look behind at his friend Rolke. He's going to say, you know, it's all bullshit. And he's going to go right up to the chest of the Minotaur and just bury his axe so deep.
00:54:59
Speaker
And as he buries his axe, he reaches in and pulls out a heart. If possible. If possible. I'd say with ah with hitting with 21, and since this is the the kind of story we're telling, it's been quite visceral to begin with.
00:55:14
Speaker
Give us, please, a performance roll. yes. I hope it's an owl. Please don't. Okay. say With an 11, as you stand there drenched, dripping with blood, you suddenly realize that killing the Minotaur is not ultimately the name of the game.
00:55:39
Speaker
Rescuing the Damsel is. As you look up and see the sand continues to fall through. go joe go as the crowd cheers you on. What is going through Havkile's head in this mode? I can't stand here and take in the glory of God to save her.
00:55:57
Speaker
I think Havkile's is going to very dimwittedly charge off into trying to save the damsel. So it's just going to... immediately go okay this is not the the glory i expected boom you know flash thompson right into there so you're going in yep i'm going full full throttle okay so he gets there i'm probably like blindside looking up and seeing it. and I'm like, all right, he's running.
00:56:26
Speaker
I'm running. Time's running out. I think I would just levitate over the Minotaur just as like a little hop, skipping a jump over the Minotaur land over here. Look behind. See Lou's like, Lou, let's go. And I'm like a half step behind at this point to the short midget of his tiny little feet.
00:56:49
Speaker
Give me a perception check, my friend. Rook, as you come to a halt, sliding to a stop behind Rook, you see over him.
00:56:59
Speaker
He does not block your line of sight. He's a short king. So as you look in the space, your eye immediately lands on the slight discoloration of the sand here and here as you slide to a halt and figure that it's probably best not to step on either of those.
00:57:22
Speaker
I'm going to relay over to Half-Kiles and his half dash and it's like, don't touch the sand. It's all sand, is it not? Don't touch the left side of the sand. All right, straight line, let's go. All right, so Half-Kiles is just beelining it for the girl. And yeah, I think he's going to kneel before. anything happens here, just let us know. but That's what he's trying to do.
00:57:47
Speaker
So the damsel is shackled to the wall by both wrists and you barely are four feet tall. Okay. How do you propose to reach her wrists overhead?
00:58:01
Speaker
Okay, she's shackled to the wall, you said? Okay, Madame, could cut you out of there real quick, you know. Great Axe a little bit taller than me.
00:58:13
Speaker
Give a good swing. you know Probably let your arm loose. Talking about cutting the chain from the wall. and so she That's clarified so she doesn't think I'm about to de-arm her. you know This is such a risky role. going to let you do it. This is risky role. let do It's up to you, though. you know This full-on two-party system here.
00:58:38
Speaker
I won't let you do it. I had another idea, but that's fine. If you want to swing your greataxe at the shackle, you are welcome to do so. May I ask something real quick, though?
00:58:50
Speaker
Go for it. Can i provoke an arcana check? Sure. Okay. No. You know what? I am going to use it anyway, because we're at the end.
00:59:03
Speaker
yeah Can I use a scroll of Dispel Magic? Just randomly? See if it does anything? Sure. Go for it. Absolutely. You cast Dispel Magic, and over the damsel's head, there is a shimmer as a rather large invisible vessel of acid was prepared to shower her.
Rescue and Victory Celebration
00:59:30
Speaker
I was going tell you to use that, but I was just going to keep up.
00:59:35
Speaker
you suddenly see this translucent green cylinder of bubbling horribleness evaporate above her. And likewise, the shackles on both of her wrists open as she falls to her hands and knees and crawls to you and just like, thank you, thank thank you, thank thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you thank you thank thank Just screaming it over and over again, just burying your blood-soaked shoulder in her tears of genuine relief.
01:00:08
Speaker
What is going through Half-Kili's head in this moment of triumph? I think he's very prideful of like what he and his party have accomplished or the party in general.
01:00:20
Speaker
But I think his first thoughts going to be get this woman to safety. She's already been through hell. You know, let's get her out of here. We're not here to appease anybody anymore. This is at her peril.
01:00:33
Speaker
So I think he is going to little backstory lore here for you. He's going to think of his long lost wife and he's going to be like, she wouldn't want this. And he's going to want to get her out of there.
01:00:45
Speaker
Amazing. As you declare that you want to get her out of there, you turn over your shoulder as you hear a clack, clack, clack, clack. As behind you, the walls, where they are perpendicular, fooom.
01:01:01
Speaker
role to profile and form a tunnel that leads directly and safely to the entrance that you came through. Wonderful. Well, said we run.
01:01:15
Speaker
As you return alive and whole with all of your limbs intact, limping, bloodied, but alive to the armory, Lugwad gives you a sincere thumbs up as he ah puts his spear away and shuts the cabinet and limps for, not home, but where he is right now.
01:01:44
Speaker
He collapses gratefully to his knees and just splashes water on his face and just quietly sobs in gratitude for a moment. Rook, what is going through your head and your heart as you return triumphant and alive from the Sladeon?
01:02:01
Speaker
Rook is is kind of sitting there like, we did it. We did it. we He looks over at halfcules half Gilles, half his size, gives him a smile and smirk and a nod of acceptance. And we clasp our arms and our friend handshake that we have.
01:02:21
Speaker
Secret friendly yeah handshake that we have. He goes, I couldn't done it without you, brother. Couldn't have done it without you. If there was anybody by my side in that maze, ah wouldn't have anybody but you.
01:02:35
Speaker
Yeah, I'm just glad we survived.
01:02:42
Speaker
You want to join me for a drink? Of one of our finest water out of a pail. It seems now seems like we don't get transported out of here.
01:02:54
Speaker
As you're joking about food, a wide groaning silver platter is brought to the cells you woke up in. and laid down with the biggest spread mouthwatering food you have seen in ages.
01:03:12
Speaker
They put down these massive pitchers of rich smelling wine, unfortunately red, but what can you do? As Lugod gets down, and he waits for you, he's not going to eat before you do, but like he looks at you with gratitude and pride that like he made it through another day.
01:03:30
Speaker
How does Half-Kiles respond when Rook gives him the the holy handshake and all that? You both eat first. you You deserve it out of us both.
01:03:42
Speaker
Showed mighty courage today. lo you are a great asset and a wonderful friend, and I appreciate you by my side.
01:03:54
Speaker
Incredible. Rook, as you sink your teeth in, and Lugrod gives you the pat on the back, you know, Half-Kiles, there is a over your shoulder and a guard is there with a much smaller dish on his hand and a little card, tented, folded over in half with the name Half-Kiles written on it in a rather fluid scrawl.
01:04:21
Speaker
I'm definitely going to take it to see what it says. You flip it over. On it is a letter of congratulations from the Ardram sisters.
01:04:33
Speaker
And you all of a sudden, like just reading this note that ends with keep up the good work, there is a large A that is scrawled on the card and just holding it you feel better.
01:04:46
Speaker
Your health is back to full. Your clothes are mended to clean and pristine. I mean, for what you were wearing, but you have taken and held the Ardram sisters' interest, so kudos to you, my friend. What is going through the dwarf's mind?
01:05:10
Speaker
I think Hathgiles thinks to himself, well, what's the next challenge? Chef's kiss. Chef's kiss. Okay, beautiful. That is going to bring Sladium Games to a close today with our wonderful guests, Adam and Zach f from Tavern Talks Podcast.
01:05:28
Speaker
Gentlemen, you've been an absolute treat. Would you please give our listeners one more opportunity to find you? Yeah, certainly. You can find Rook, a.k.a. Adam.
01:05:39
Speaker
Hapkules aka Zach on TikTok at underscore tavern talks. Give us a follow. We make funny lip syncs and you can also find tavern talks on Apple, Amazon or Spotify wherever you get your podcasts and give us a listen. We're happy to be on and to be invited to Sladium Games with Casey.
01:05:59
Speaker
It's been quite a pleasure. Wonderful pleasure. We thank you so much. I am tickled. i am grateful. I am humbled. Thank you guys. I am Casey Jones, your dungeon maestro.
01:06:10
Speaker
Thank you for listening, and we hope you come back. This has been Sladium Games, the second anthology season of Narrative Feats, a tabletop anthology.
01:06:23
Speaker
Stories told like you were there.