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C3 Episode 84 Something Wicked Chapter Four
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Kaz gets a tip
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Transcript
Introduction to 'EverOn Renewed' Podcast
00:00:14
Speaker
da
00:00:22
Speaker
and welcome to EverOn Renewed, an actual play podcast at the EverOn Campaign setting. I am your Game Master, Eric. I am Mia. I'm Phillip. I'm Madison. I'm Jess.
00:00:33
Speaker
Welcome to another episode. Folks, what happened
Recap of Previous Episode
00:00:36
Speaker
last time? I made a new friend. You did. We were victims of terrible customer service.
00:00:45
Speaker
Also true. but stupid I didn't think the waiter was that bad. look A ticket is a contract, and it says it was going to take us all the way to Yarp. Sure, sure.
00:00:56
Speaker
Yeah, the train got stopped by a giant vine, and there's the dire squirrels in the ah jungle eyeballing the poor train boys.
Discussion with Dahlah at the Tavern
00:01:09
Speaker
So they're probably going eaten. And then we went to a tavern where we're getting food, and we're going to talk the lovely Dahl. Dahlah. Top Dahlah. So Dahlah sits down at the table. Thank you, Jeff.
00:01:24
Speaker
All right. So how can I help? I mean, we'd love to hear your perspective on what has been going on around here, but also what we could really use is an introduction to someone through whom we might be able to work more officially.
00:01:38
Speaker
Maybe kind of explain our whole thing, like what the lighthouse is and what we do and yeah. Most of our track record. Okay. resume yeah I noticed you didn't do any jobs the last two months.
00:01:52
Speaker
like That is correct. We were working on us. Well, there are a few people. I would say probably Captain Allyra would probably be if you're looking for like an official contact.
00:02:05
Speaker
The Chiron military has a outpost or a post here um that they would use the Dancing Forest for... and getting wood and things like that for specifically wand making for wand slingers in the military and some wandsmiths have vanished recently and so captain lyra is uh concerned about that and so he'll see for an official path forward. So yeah, the, uh, the onesmiths going missing is the current primary concern of the town of Sene from a logistical standpoint.
00:02:42
Speaker
Lots of other people gone missing from the area, but if you're looking for an official path and right of work, that would be something that the Chiron military would probably be willing to hire you to do.
00:02:53
Speaker
I know that, uh, the captain sent a scout. out to go try and track down the one Smiths and that scout did return. But the rumor mill has it that he came back in a bad state.
00:03:09
Speaker
Okay. Send him out to find the what I didn't just the one Smiths that went that went missing. Okay. got it And cast kind of desks. And I mean, how is the kind of gesturing at the plants and maybe the foods are at any point to this giant cherry tomato? He's like, has this been a significant detriment to quality of life around here, this part of it, or?
00:03:34
Speaker
i mean, it's annoying and it's getting worse. So up to this point, it's just been a minor annoyance. um And we all just like, those of us that know enough to know enough, just figured, oh, we're coterminous right now. Plants are growing a lot more rapidly, yada, yada, yada, but it'll surely pass.
00:03:51
Speaker
But I think we're reaching a tipping point where the town might be consumed by
Visiting the Chiron Military Post and Workshop
00:03:57
Speaker
the forest. Right, like we're coming close on getting choked out and like... Yeah, yeah understood.
00:04:03
Speaker
And, I mean, Tobin is kind of loving it because the ingredients go a lot further now that everything's giant. When you have a rabbit the size of a direwolf, then you can get a lot of rabbit meat, but...
00:04:16
Speaker
I think up to a certain point, it's great until it's not. I mean, you could also, if you're, if you're wanting to pull on this thread of investigation, the ones miss the workshop, they, they all went missing. So their workshop is empty right now. So some kind of clue about where they were headed in the forest might be there.
00:04:33
Speaker
That also wouldn't be a terrible place to, to look around. I don't know. what State of Lyra's scout is in now, whether he can talk about what he saw or what happened.
00:04:44
Speaker
But those would be kind of the two places that I would point in the direction of. So it's known where they were headed when they disappeared? that what you're saying? The Wandsmiths...
00:04:57
Speaker
I know that they had a plan. i don't know where they were headed. Okay. Okay. But they were going into the forest specifically to get like supplies for wand making, like they weren't going out on a mission or anything. And then what about the second requests? Do you know who we might be able to introduce ourselves to, or might you be able to make an introduction to someone that we can work with or through? We've re we've hit roadblocks before being kind of, well, outsiders to any given town or extra governmental.
00:05:29
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. that I was saying that Captain Elyra might be a good point because she's the Chiron military. I mean, there is also a magistrate here in town that works for the Chiron government, but it's he's got a really heavily warded, very protected house that he doesn't really come out of that often, so i wouldn't go go to him for any kind of help.
00:05:54
Speaker
Yeah. But he does exist. He's not two dire squirrels in a trench coat. By reputation, if not visual sight, yes, he does exist. Wild. But yeah, that's, I would head to the military post and the once miss workshop would be the two places I would go check out first. Okay. And then Captain Lyra could be a good point of contact for working under the auspices of official request. And money.
00:06:19
Speaker
Yeah, great. And money. Yeah. So.
00:06:24
Speaker
she why
00:06:28
Speaker
Do you all need anything else for me? Just one thing. Consider stew in a hollowed out potato. Yes. Here. While supplies last.
00:06:41
Speaker
Which we're going to do our best to make not very long for you. I guess even if once the potatoes go back to normal size, you could do like two potatoes side by side and still like do the stew in them that way. That's why you're the boss.
00:06:55
Speaker
Potentially. Yeah. Interesting. don't like the way Nix was shaking her head during all that. Okay. take There's more than one way to help a town, Nix. Ridiculous. Ridiculous.
00:07:09
Speaker
right, well, if you don't need anything else from me, then going to go back to checking on customers.
00:07:18
Speaker
I will let you all know that the town is a little bit on edge with everything going on, but so if you get any kind of pushback, just don't hold it against folks.
00:07:31
Speaker
A lot of folks are scared and confused about what's happening. Not many of them know why the plants are growing like this all of a sudden. they don't know enough. So yeah. All right.
00:07:44
Speaker
Understood. Yes. All righty. Well, good luck. Thank you. Okay. You too. Thank you for coming in.
00:07:54
Speaker
Give it long enough. House Vitalis will be here trying to make this situation permanent so that they can market giant fruit. Oh, yeah. Well, we'd better ruin that opportunity for them.
00:08:07
Speaker
I don't really care about them. i just want this to stop for the people because, you know, Where I'm from, we have this plant called Kudzu. and It's just the worst. It'll ruin your day and your children's days and your children's children's days. So like, do we want to go to the military post? I mean, obviously, we need to eat.
00:08:27
Speaker
But do we want to go to the military post first? That feels like a good place to start. I suppose we could randomly. It's our only lead unless we're going to just take off down the road toward Valinor's Dance.
00:08:40
Speaker
Right. I still think it would be worth visiting the Ron Smith's workshop, but it might be better to give the old government's permission before we start poking around places that they probably have roped off.
00:08:57
Speaker
Yeah, i mean, regardless, we'd be we'd be in you know just breaking and entering, if not also crossing some sort of investigative... barriers. Before you all leave, as like the music's picking up a little bit, people are paying attention to their own conversations, Dala comes over your table to check in on you all again.
00:09:17
Speaker
But she pulls up a seat and sits down. and says before you all take off and she started it a little bit quieter this time um i'm not sure if alondra mentioned my connections to the congress but i did want to give you all a bit of a note that there's a group within the congress that is a bit more interested in you and she gestures at Kaz and they're starting to gain a bit more power so just be mindful and be careful it's a group called the vigils um but yeah just professional courtesy at the
00:10:01
Speaker
What, uh, I mean, can you elaborate a bit on what you mean they're interested in, in me? So there's, there's been
Mission from Captain Elyra
00:10:09
Speaker
an existing organization within the Congress and Arcanics University. That's like the department of mystical affairs and relations that has been like,
00:10:18
Speaker
more about observation and like checking in to make sure there's no inherent dangers or anything like that going on. They keep tabs on people. The vigils are much more inclined to want to take a more militant role in making sure that people are in a danger.
00:10:34
Speaker
And so as they are continuing to grow in power, they're gaining more influence. And the Department of Mystic Affairs and Relations is they're trying to push them aside.
00:10:44
Speaker
So, yeah, there's, there's a little mini war going on within the the Congress. And unfortunately, people that have been marked as people of note are those that are kind of the center of it, even if they don't know it.
00:10:58
Speaker
Should have let me kill him. who So they want to they want to abduct me. Jail me. and The Vigilists do. Yeah, right. The others only want to spy on you.
00:11:09
Speaker
Under the auspices of determining whether or not I am safe to have out, which I'm sure I would be determined not to be. Cool. You're an interesting specimen.
00:11:21
Speaker
You're cranky. Do you need a nap? You were under observation by the Congress before, right? i was I was once kidnapped by the Congress and managed to get away, if that's what you mean.
00:11:33
Speaker
I don't think he says that to a member of the Congress. In a sense, I guess. i mean If they had you and thought that you were in danger, they wouldn't have let you go. Well, they wouldn't have, but these vigils.
00:11:45
Speaker
Seems like they might have a different MO. Correct. Yes. Thank you for the tip. Yeah. it's very good information to have. You're welcome. Hey, well, if y'all don't have any other questions, then I'll leave it alone.
00:12:00
Speaker
Have a good day. deal i think that's the sort of information that might allow me a bit of crankiness. Valk, thank you. Well, i wasn't saying you were cranky. I was saying the cranky one was cranky. The one who's been giving side comments.
00:12:14
Speaker
Oh, I was the one who was upset. So I thought you were, and also the whole child nap thing you guys like to kick around. I thought you were talking to me. So my apologies for being short. give him some Not that short.
00:12:29
Speaker
I'm just saying would have been a solution. but Nope. It's fine. i presume that Dala might find herself on the wrong side of some people for sharing that information with me. So I... I was saying you should have let me kill her. No, no, I'm saying I think Kaz has found someone that he trusts around here now, like he will listen to.
00:12:58
Speaker
it That's the wrong conclusion to draw. Yeah, she didn't seem aware that you weren't let go so i tried we bothered by that conversation before spying at the very least she she disagrees with the people who want the worst for me and felt like she didn't have to tell me that's true you're an extremely generous person gaz Anyway, where's my food?
00:13:29
Speaker
Your food has been Yeah. Okay. You're eating. Eating these ribs. Sorry, what I meant to say was, these this venison is good. but this swoop oh by the way, during at some point, I i rolled some recoveries. so Because I was not looking good.
00:13:47
Speaker
So you all are headed to the outpost first? Yeah. Yes. You all head to near the center of town and it's not difficult to find the military outpost that is there.
00:14:03
Speaker
next It's... a small fortified keep near the center of town. The, you see some training dummies in the yard, but once again, vines have reached up and like are pulling them off to one side.
00:14:19
Speaker
Um, and you see a few soldiers out training. There is uh, woman in armor and a officer's uniform standing there observing them and she is holding a cup of calf that she is sipping on as she is watching them she sees you all approaching and walks can i help you find it i'm sorry are you but forgive me are you are you are you captain elira yes i am okay i assume cas might recognize enough it's sign you to know a captain when he sees one
00:14:57
Speaker
Hi, my name is Casimir Panarius and these are my colleagues. We're with an organization called the lighthouse. And we were told you were the person to talk to about what we might be able to to to offer to help you guys with.
00:15:11
Speaker
And I want to get explain what it is that we do. and And I specifically mentioned the things that happened. Oh goodness. I can't ever remember that town, you know, where the tree was and there were other creatures that are beyond understanding like burrowing lions. Whispering's Veil is the garden that Alondra worked.
00:15:31
Speaker
I got Deep Root. I got... Ashdown Hollow. Ashdown Hollow. She listens and says, well, nice to make your acquaintance. Haven't heard of the lighthouse before, but if you're willing to come help with the business and she gestures vaguely at the vegetation that is growing up and around everywhere. Giant mosquito.
00:15:55
Speaker
Run! Yeah, I'm out. Yes, if you How are you looking to help? we tend We try to suss out root causes. And if they are, i mean, extraplanar, interplanar in nature, then we try to close those loopholes. I know that sounds ridiculously vague, but it's because that's my level of understanding of it, Jeff Forsey says. We'll try to figure out what's going on and put a stop to it if it can be.
00:16:30
Speaker
We would like to help with the Wandsmiths, and because it's likely all tied together, that might be the same source, magical source, that's causing the overgrowth that's going to essentially choke out the city.
00:16:44
Speaker
Fair enough. I cannot spare any more soldiers to go hunt after them, so your assistance would be greatly appreciated. And she, and i pulls out a small piece of parchment and unfurls it.
00:16:57
Speaker
And it is a rough map of the dancing forest. And she points to a place Just south of the center of the forest, as they were headed here, the whispering cops trying to find some... oh cops. They all got secrets, whispering like they do. They were trying to find some mean distinct reagent that they thought they could find given the influences of the forest's current undergoing.
00:17:28
Speaker
They promised would be great ah arcane benefits to any wands that they created these tentacles. And like fools, they all went out there together, didn't leave anyone behind. So they're all missing now and we don't have anyone left in town. And what about the this mo scout?
00:17:45
Speaker
You've heard, is he doing all this? Yes, Kaylin. If you head to the infirmary, you can talk to Kaylin. I don't know what you're going to be able to get out of him. um he He just mutters and rants now that he's back.
00:18:03
Speaker
And it looks like something had physically happened to him also. His armor was dented and torn by the time he got back into town. But his mind doesn't seem to be well enough to communicate anything meaningfully.
00:18:16
Speaker
Perhaps we could fix that. i don't know your skill sets, but... Been there, done that. of Great. I'd also recommend going over to the work station.
00:18:28
Speaker
have not had time to go investigate if there was anything notable in their notes about what they're going be trying to do do.
Challenges with the Town Magistrate and Kaylin's Experience
00:18:35
Speaker
you have anything we think you could get in writing really quick just to show that we're...
00:18:40
Speaker
Good to be navigating these spaces. Yes, that you're working on behalf of me and the Chiron military, Showa. And she walks over to the small work table, ah scribbles with a writing implement on a piece of parchment, hands it to you. This shows that you have officially been hired as freelancers to solve a problem for the Chiron military. The standard rate of...
00:19:05
Speaker
We pay freelancers is 50 gold pieces upon completion of the job. ah given nature of this job and the inherent danger, there's an additional 100 gold piece bonus on top of that. Should you make it back alive? If you don't make it back alive, if you want to leave next of kin, the 50 gold pieces will be sent out. Amazing.
00:19:25
Speaker
Great. All right. Is there anything else of a note that you just, like, share anything different happening in the town now or behaviors that are being weird, persons of interest?
00:19:37
Speaker
The plants are growing everywhere. The animals are bigger. I mean, honestly, outside of that, there is currently and thankfully no inherent danger in the town if people are smart enough to stay here.
00:19:52
Speaker
But it does seem like the forest is growing closer and closer and closer. Has the Magistry come out and say anything concerning?
00:20:05
Speaker
not Not their problem, kind of? Not their problem. it's Understood. They did bring House Kondrak in to do some warding on their homes so that the vegetation, suspiciously, is not growing within their walls, but... Oh, understood.
00:20:19
Speaker
That's like an insurance thing. No, there is... The Magistry has not done anything, not left his home as since all of this started. And is that just like a normal sense this started or like it's kind of weird that now he's just completely gone since this started in your personal opinion?
00:20:39
Speaker
He was never very involved in the town, i would say, but it has gotten worse. He would at least occasionally come out to, if nothing else, show off his wealth with his fancy clothes or dignitaries visiting job to show off.
00:20:56
Speaker
His excellent administration of our military assets. But that is start. What's the origin of his words? War profiteering.
00:21:06
Speaker
They don't have any class. Any particular industry? I mean, he From a technical standpoint, the goods and services produced in Job attributed to him and he gets his cut. So, um, wandsmithing, weaponsmithing, I think he came from a wealthy family and so he had money to invest in... Well, so... Done they all. And is there any...
00:21:36
Speaker
Noteworthy druidic presence in this area. There is one druid I know of that lives on the outskirts of town. Vaisen. Vashen, sorry. Lives in a hut. Maybe it's still standing. Classic. I don't know.
00:21:51
Speaker
He is not pleasant to speak to. I will just let you know before you go talk to If you are hoping for a granola chilled out druid that's one with the earth, and they're not going find out with Vashen.
00:22:04
Speaker
One of those hut guys. That is an out-of-date stereotype. Yeah, modernize your stereotypes. Man-life druid. That's the new stereotype. Alright, well that's everything I need.
00:22:16
Speaker
Yeah. I think so. Alright, well, need anything, feel free to come back. We have limited resources, but we can assist. If you need any healing or anything, we have some war clerics that patch you up, but... Okay.
00:22:33
Speaker
Appreciate it. You're welcome. Please fix this. I'm eager say you've got it. All right. Noted.
00:22:45
Speaker
do we want to try to talk to Galen? I think we should. expertise. I'm smile on your face. I think you really do want to try to talk to Galen.
00:22:57
Speaker
he That might just be the alcohol. All right. It seems worth trying, even if it doesn't work.
00:23:08
Speaker
Let's i go to the infirmary. Okay. so you walk inside of the outpost and you immediately are hit with some strong scents.
00:23:22
Speaker
Uh, the sting of medic medicinal alcohol, ah fills the air. There's some sickly sweet smells floating around as well. The interior of this room has Ivy growing up the sides of it.
00:23:36
Speaker
And you also notice as like light comes in through the gaps in the wall and the windows, you see pollen floating around in the air. Oh, good. You see a number of cots, quite a few people are resting on them. Some of them are being tended to, but near the back, you see a half elf kind of curled up in the corner facing the wall ah on his cot. And seems like anytime there's a sound from outside, like leaves rustling and things like that, he flinches and like looks over his shoulder before going back to being held up in the corner.
00:24:15
Speaker
He is heavily bandaged up and you see armor setting beside his cot. That is, ah like it's chain and leather armor. Uh, the leather is dented in, in places and some of the chains have been completely torn asunder. So nobody else seems to be having as strong reactions to their environment around them. So logically you kind of peg this as being Kaylin.
00:24:40
Speaker
You do see a couple of healers walking around. One of them looks up at you all and is like, Are you looking for anyone in particular? We're going to check in with Kaylin to see if we can kind of... The theme's going on.
00:24:56
Speaker
All right. um Be gentle patient. And if you don't get anything, don't get frustrated.
00:25:09
Speaker
Is he a little jumpy in a sense of not so much jumpy in fear, but potentially if he's startled, he might be quick to violence and yeah be aware to call you with anything.
00:25:23
Speaker
No indication of that. um Seems to be mostly the sounds of nature and any kind of solves that we've tried to make within his line of sight that involve any any kind of herbs or...
00:25:37
Speaker
he has a very strong vision to that. Alright. Thank you. We'll see what he can do. Alright.
00:25:48
Speaker
I think Zalp will slowly approach Cailin. And I think as he's approaching, just continue to talk and just be like, let just introduce himself. Like, hello, my name is Valk.
00:26:02
Speaker
I'm approaching you from behind. I just want to make sure you're aware. i would like to talk to you if that's okay. Give me only a rhythm-based check, Vina.
00:26:15
Speaker
you think and I will take a relevant background if you have one. so I would ask for paranormal, but that might either paranormal or if there's any sort of just past connection of Zouk having been in a similar at one point.
00:26:29
Speaker
I'll allow, like, you you probably have had to talk to people who have seen very horrifying things and navigate that conversation, so I'll allow paranormal investigator
00:26:42
Speaker
28. Yeah. yeah Nice. he looks over his shoulder at you as you're talking with her eyebrows and when you're first approaching you can tell like he was kind of on the verge of hyperventilating and he yes was kind of just nods his head at your words and that's an says i don't know what happened.
00:27:09
Speaker
The It seemed like the canopy swallowed the sky. couldn't anything.
00:27:19
Speaker
And then the trees came to life. That's understandably upsetting. I don't think it... Your mind naturally is protecting yourself, so I would... thought I thought... You're not being blamed or anything for not being able to recall or being able...
00:27:41
Speaker
You know, kind of being a little freaked out right now. Yeah. Is there anything outside without having to delve further into your own mind just before things kind of went dark?
00:28:02
Speaker
Do you know where you were going if heard your sensations, things like that? So I remember... I'm not sure if this is just my mind playing tricks or what, but I thought I saw the Wandsmiths right before things went wrong in the Whispering Cops and they were carrying like, I couldn't see exactly what it was, but it looked like a glowing wooden orb but of some kind. I think one of them might've noticed me and then just
00:28:35
Speaker
Nothing. And then the next thing I remember is just sprinting as fast as I could. But the tree's reaching out and grabbing me. Yeah. Does he look like fully healed? It's just like a KTSC kind of thing or is he still looking kind of beat up?
00:28:55
Speaker
It looks like he he is well on his way to being fully mented physically. Like yes it's the mental hurdles that he's having to overcome. well You're not like, what are you trying to do?
00:29:09
Speaker
I'm trying to decide if it's worth it to try to do the same thing that's out with Kaz.
00:29:21
Speaker
Or if it is... a buttson It doesn't seem like it would be worth it enough. And then maybe you just try to, like, kind of alter, like, Fortune's smile. So just try and give him, like, a little bit of a an ease to whatever hypothetical fail he would have experienced.
00:29:43
Speaker
And sorry, I made Kaylin's voice too close to my own. That was Kaylin asking about what you were planning to do. But... Well, I could just ask him that. Yeah. you know I could try and peer in to see what he has lost, but it might trigger something that if you're not comfortable with that, then we don't even need to attempt that.
00:30:04
Speaker
I would really... If I have to, I will, but I don't want You don't have to. That's fine. Then could I? add don't know. Fortune smiles in combat.
00:30:17
Speaker
If a nearby ally fails a save, I could try to give him just like a a little bonus with my modifier. Would that be able to turn into like something to give him some sort of like mental use?
00:30:31
Speaker
Yeah, I'll let you use that to to do that. Oh. Then I'll just explain, like, that this isn't going to make you permanently feel better, but it will least give you a couple hours of of rest if you are okay with that.
00:30:48
Speaker
Yeah, i appreciate that. I think Vox is like, cover his ears, or Caitlin's ears, and then just, like, kind of give him a little bit of silence against all of the nature noises that are bugging him.
00:31:02
Speaker
Are you all going to try and find them? that's Yes, that's the plan. but We're going to get as much information as possible. Hold on. it He kind of forces himself to half sit up and he points at his bag that's by his armor for wanting you to hand it to him.
00:31:22
Speaker
Nyx fetches it. He reaches in and says, i that panicked and so reaches in and pulls out a small tin and holds it out.
00:31:34
Speaker
Um, this is some iron ball, iron bark salve. Take it with you. It'll help if something tries to jump out and get you mechanically.
00:31:47
Speaker
For if he ever wants to hold onto it, take it.
00:31:51
Speaker
It grants you. Basically the first attack that hits you has resist damage 12 plus. So it has to be a natural roll of 12 or higher to or it deals half damage.
00:32:08
Speaker
Well, it's appreciated. You should be able at least get a couple hours of rest without that sort of paranoia. I know as it's not great, but now I appreciate it.
00:32:26
Speaker
I wish I could go help you more, but I, yeah, I don't know what they were carrying.
00:32:38
Speaker
i also, the only other thing that I noticed is they were carrying... Wandsmiths aren't fighters.
00:32:51
Speaker
They aren't even loggers. They aren't lumberjacks. They go out and collect ingredients, but they mostly outsource their wood.
00:33:03
Speaker
but most of them were carrying hatchets on them, which was odd. And there was markings on them. they They exuded something foul from them, so. Would you be able to to draw those markings?
00:33:23
Speaker
Presently describe them as an equivalent, lady if I can use the paper. I can try if you give me something to i draw with. give him so journal and just have an empty page. With your life, my pen and all that.
00:33:43
Speaker
Yeah, he draws his vague recollection of what was on the hatchets.
00:33:51
Speaker
They do... you have markings on them that, well, give me, everyone gave me our, uh, intelligence check to recognize arcane markings. So a background that would be relevant to that. Paranormal?
00:34:09
Speaker
Sure. I got a 13. thirteen twenty i got it I got a 26. 30 if Fae Touched can come into play, but if not, 26.
00:34:20
Speaker
Okay. I'm under 10 no matter what. Okay. Valk and Kaz, you all recognize these markings as being, based based on the research that's been going on the Lighthouse, some of the markings and stuff that Aurora has done, um and Hendrick, you recognize as being coterminous with Mabar.
00:34:43
Speaker
Oh. Thank you very much. he You've done a lot more than you think. symbol Please. Glad. well i Well, that's going to take a step back.
00:34:58
Speaker
Yeah. That answers understanding of this. Kaz probably does a visible recoil when he sees the markings.
Investigation at the Wandsmiths' Workshop
00:35:05
Speaker
He doesn't say anything because he's better than that. He's like, no.
00:35:10
Speaker
I think Valc would wait until like they're outside, outside, just so it doesn't disturb him to learn what he's seen and interacted with. yeah But as they're outside, first, Valc seem to be like, I think it would be smart if Nyx has the iron bark, Sal, as the one who tends to run into things and hit things.
00:35:37
Speaker
That sounds fine to me. Yeah, that sounds good. and then Vauk's gonna talk about, or just kind of show the drawings of the markings and be like, this is my bar.
00:35:51
Speaker
and They are not, they've done something bad. So we need to get to the the workshop and see what happens. great. Yeah.
00:36:05
Speaker
We have to doubly watch on you. yeah What's the duration of Ironbark, Sav, Eric? um it's It's just if you apply it, it's the first attack that hits you. So, yeah. come So you can apply it now if you want. so Okay, where to now, Gain?
00:36:22
Speaker
Counterpoint. Nyx already resists melee 12. no Oh. Well, then you don't need it. So... Oh, well, is it any hit? it's It's all damage, so it's slightly broader.
00:36:36
Speaker
ah well, then give it to Selena. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I'll take it. Okay. So, I'm almost... We're probably heading to the workshop.
00:36:48
Speaker
One smooth workshop? Yeah, probably a good idea since we're carrying something weird now. Yeah. Yeah.
00:36:57
Speaker
So I wonder if the Wandsmith's gone in with Mabar and now it's the forest protecting itself against them is a similar thing as the first time and now it's just both influences have gone too far. It's out of control.
00:37:17
Speaker
It seems likely at least a reasonable hypothesis. They took some heart of the jungle forest again.
00:37:28
Speaker
you can't leave nature alone. and And you said these wandsmiths... The wandsmiths are military contracted, right? Yes.
00:37:41
Speaker
So this is another example of also pillaging for the war effort. And like the forest fighting back against that generally... and And the magistrate is aware of probably what he's caused. Seems likely. they Did we get the magistrate's name?
00:38:03
Speaker
Just making sure it's not Jim. i didn't say it I didn't say it out loud, but she would have said it. Magistrate Vaughn.
00:38:14
Speaker
V-O-W-N. Unrelated. Okay. Yeah, totally different name. 100% with you. Is this just a confluence of a past adventures?
00:38:25
Speaker
It's our greatest hits fight. oh realize what Yeah, I mean, I suppose we are walking to the Wandsmith's Guild shop.
00:38:37
Speaker
so You get to...
00:38:41
Speaker
The one's missed workshop. It is the door is propped open because of some vines and roots that have like grown in forcing the door open.
00:38:52
Speaker
The air inside is thick and humid. You smell wood shavings. Jasmine is a really prominent smell in here. Also that pollen that was floating through the air is also floating around here.
00:39:06
Speaker
Are there? Jasmine vines growing in here or was there jasmine scent apart from that? Um, you get the sense that probably jasmine is a component they use in their craft.
00:39:22
Speaker
You don't see jasmine vines. Can I assess out the yeah this pollen, this floating pollen? Is that just like a result of the overgrown plants? Or is that like the weird yellow cloud of nastiness in the Yeah, are we breathing in terrible spores? Both things can be true. no it's It's like the the flowers and everything have gotten bigger because of what's going on. So the pollen is like thicker. pollen's bigger.
00:39:48
Speaker
Man, you just see walk around sneezing their brains out. It's the pollen index is literally off the charts. But the drugs are amazing. He's looking for anything with these symbols, I guess. Yeah.
00:39:59
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, well, when you first walk in, you spot a central workbench kind of at the center of the room. There's like a side desk tucked away. So the... Also a usable wand. if I see one.
00:40:12
Speaker
We have a magic user or two or three. Mm-hmm. There are several half carved wands laying, but you'll need to investigate. We'll collect one when we find the wandsmiths. Yeah.
00:40:24
Speaker
yeah Yeah. Just a search of the place, I guess. In general. Looking for the... Are there... from where as as a As a smuggler, looking for the place where you tucked away your secret project that you don't want to have any oversight from the...
00:40:44
Speaker
the Lieutenant or the captain when she comes by using your relevant background. Philip, give me a wisdom check to invest risk. Okay.
00:40:55
Speaker
That's let's see. All right. Uh, 17.
00:41:01
Speaker
17, you're able to spot walking along the walls. There's a section of the wall that is untouched by the vines. And you see a heavy iron drawer built into the wall that has a lock on the front of it.
00:41:15
Speaker
So that seems like a likely spot to put stuff that you don't want just laying around. Okay. I'm going to work on the lock.
00:41:26
Speaker
Okay. What's everyone else? I think I'm making looking through less conspicuous drawers under workbenches. Like if Nyx is visiting herself with the hard one, I'm just going to be like kind of ransacking, you know. Okay. yeah I assume they have like, you know, maybe maybe even just file folder style or not file, file drawer style schematics and things. just see Yeah. Especially anything that might have been scrawled on top of recently with more Mabarin.
00:41:52
Speaker
Good junk. Since we've established, I recognize it on site. Yeah. I know what it is because of how it is. Give me a... this reading?
00:42:04
Speaker
Yeah. Give me a wisdom check. Kaz to poke around. Probably just straight up and down. I'll do my backgrounds. Maybe mischief just for noticing things, like maybe false bottom or something. Would that be... Will you allow me to add mischief?
00:42:18
Speaker
but Yeah, that's fine. Okay. Okay, cool. You said wisdom? Yes. 14.
00:42:25
Speaker
Um, you don't really find any like secret compartments. You do come across a journal that you, you see the name Elian, E L I A N near the front that indicates the owner near the back.
00:42:52
Speaker
you find like the final entry says the canopy is swallowing the sky. The paths we cut yesterday are solid walls of ironwood today.
00:43:03
Speaker
the trees are walking. Vashon was right. The forest is rejecting our reality. good client I never should have ignored the druids warnings, but the magistrates gold blinded me. So the forest is rejecting our reality. Mm-hmm.
00:43:22
Speaker
Should have listened to the druid with the magistrate's goal gold. does And he just kind of says, I know we still have to keep looking around, but looks like maybe fashion might be our next stop.
Plan to Visit Druid Vashen
00:43:31
Speaker
So prepare for crotcheting us. Falk?
00:43:35
Speaker
Selina? I think I want to walk around and see if anything catches my eye, but also like pay attention to anything that might make my pacemaker thing feel weird. Okay, Falk.
00:43:54
Speaker
i I am looking for things that are more arcane or any sort scry from the magistrate. He brought other people here to ward his own house, so I would i wouldn't put it past him to try to put something in here if he was invoiced.
00:44:15
Speaker
Gotcha. Well, they, let me not assume.
00:44:20
Speaker
got a 31. 31. thirty one Finally rolled well. But you can't tell from Vound that the... What are you saying about that? you saying about that nape?
00:44:34
Speaker
you assuming about that name? It's an evil name? That it's an... imp Oh, i was I was going with you. You were uncertain about the about the the gender identity of the... I said, what, Vound doesn't just you know automatically tell you? yeah So, as you're walking around, Slaney, you get a pretty harsh ping near a pile of implements on one of the side desks.
00:44:56
Speaker
And as you push it to the side, you find just the head up one of the hatchets. ah Okay. So many ways that could have gone. Everyone calm down. And and it it seems like the runes and everything haven't been activated on this one. You're not getting like a strong, like what Kayla was describing, ah but enough that you recognize the mark the Mabarn markings now, but you also see the stamp of house Caneth on this. alex and Of course.
00:45:30
Speaker
okay Always a around. I will show everyone else. a About... jim Did you make your wisdom check? Yes, that was a natural 18. Assuming I can use Paranormal Investigator, that would take it to 32.
00:45:45
Speaker
a few As Kaz is holding up that journal and looking at it, you see the the back leather cover has some very intricate like markings on it that, you know,
00:45:58
Speaker
Journals have decorative covers, but you spot some patterns in it that indicate that somebody marked this journal to where whatever is written in it, they can read it. Like there's another journal somewhere that when you write in it, the writing shows unfair. All right, next black marketeer, unlock this lock. All right. I'm not going to succeed in unlocking this mark. So this, this thing with my lock picking ability. So, cause I'm not. Next.
00:46:26
Speaker
Selena. And she goes over and ah ruffles around and on on a workbench until she finds a good, like, a good thick file.
00:46:38
Speaker
like a Like a metal file. Can you freeze this lock? Yeah. So I want to have s Selena freeze the lock, and then I want to jam this file into the lock and just wrench it. Just brute force it because my lock picking abilities have failed me.
00:46:52
Speaker
We also slowly hack away at the wood that it's attached to until we can just take this drawer with us. But then we just have a locked drawer. It won't stay locked long, I'm sure. Okay. So yeah, with that, that working in tandem, you can smash it open.
00:47:05
Speaker
You find two things. One, ah there, there are contracts and receipts in gear or what you spot. One is a payment to Moran's forge. M-M-O-R-R-A-N.
00:47:22
Speaker
Apostrophe Fs. F-O-R-G-E-T. And it, the, the invoice line just basically reads like specialized weaponry.
00:47:36
Speaker
Does it indicate where Moran's Forge is? In jar. Then you also find a mandate signed and sealed by a magistrate found that is telling the wandsmiths to push into the whispering cops to plant a specific asset.
00:47:56
Speaker
And that's just in the close two to- To plant a specific asset? Yes. Okay. I wrote to paint. I fixed Curious. I'm curious about if the hatchet head counts enough as a weapon for me to attempt to read it and know what it's intended to do or to attempt that.
00:48:21
Speaker
Yeah, go ahead and- It's a weapon if you're trying to get out of play, I'll tell you that. Not from experience, I'm just saying. Although apparently weapons on on it on transit in Corvair are real chill.
00:48:34
Speaker
Fair. Give me an intelligence check. Okay. That's so much better. Ever so much. 2732 if get to use Shavaroth Touch. Yeah, this would be close. So yeah, all of the Shavaroth Touch. So basically...
00:48:54
Speaker
Nick's looking, looking at the, the information that you have before you, you, you recall with your last job that did not go super well, that certain but certain planes. Certainly not with a therapist.
00:49:10
Speaker
You know, be the worst thing imaginable um to like subsume and take over parts of the material plate. You can recall through like contact with maybe Aurora or someone in the lighthouse that one of the planes that's most notable for this is Mabar. It seems like somebody is attempting to weaponize that aspect of Mabar where if you were to strike something with one of these hatchets Mabar would have like bad idea.
00:49:43
Speaker
So they're trying so am i understanding right They are trying to artificially cause a manifest zone. Like a really small contained one.
00:49:54
Speaker
Right. Well, sure. Yeah, of course. One that won't ever get out of control. Or we could always do. In theory, if it were on a hatchet like this, when you strike a tree, you can much more effectively sell that tree if large sections of it were eaten away by the tame HLM. Yeah. By unlife. You're, you're, yeah. Okay.
00:50:12
Speaker
So when you think about it, it's smart. Sure. Sure. So these are like, un-life weapons. This is like… is like finger of death built into a hatchet.
00:50:27
Speaker
I mean, if gonna be reductive, then sure. This is a very, very bad weapon. In a moral sense. But what? In a functional sense, it's probably a very good weapon. Ain't that just the way… Are you gonna take it with see you? but Yes, I'm not gonna leave it here!
00:50:47
Speaker
i was just… If these runes were active, and you cut something with this edge, it seems like it would essentially
00:51:03
Speaker
Mabar into the damage and allow it to just dissolve? The... organic matter? Oh.
00:51:17
Speaker
it's It's like an attempt to make a shortcut for felling trees. I don't know what else it will do, but I'm certain it won't just do that. That is crazy. What an over-engineered way to cut down trees.
00:51:31
Speaker
it's What sort of a sick individual would think of something like that? Minor nuance that probably ping immediately in Selena's brain is that like when Mabar and Magick overtake something, that that thing isn't destroyed.
00:51:43
Speaker
It's transferred. So whatever you are hitting with this would be sent to Mabar. Oh, gross. worse Oh, okay. Okay.
00:51:55
Speaker
i'll I'll fill everyone in on that. Kazimier, can I have that journal, please? Sure, 100%. I think Valk's going to flip it over and be like the magistrate.
00:52:11
Speaker
was reading. right in the last page. yeah Gotcha. I see you. Come on out. So I think it would be i i mean i would assume the Mousetra knows that that person is.
00:52:29
Speaker
Magistrate probably doesn't know who's writing them, though, so you could write, I think the Magistrate is so cute. I want to kiss them. balquit If only they would come to the Wandsmith's Workshop so I could on a big ol' smooch.
00:52:43
Speaker
Maybe it'll work. Can you believe we found all this loose gold that we can't carry for reasons? At the once in this workshop, if only there was a big, strong, wise magistrate to come in. What's this? The magistrate has won a shopping spree yet. I am a prince from a far-off nation. I need to give the magistrate a lot of his own money.
00:53:07
Speaker
Let's try all those and see if any of them hit. Magistrate walks in. I'm getting rich and smooching. I'm excited. All right. So... The receipts to Morin's forge...
00:53:20
Speaker
Is there any evidence as to where the money originated for the payment? Is that coming from the magistrate? Is that coming from House Kenneth?
00:53:32
Speaker
It seems like it came from the Wandsmiths. Like they paid for... Now, whether that that was the magistrate's gold funding through them or what, yeah, but the payment originated with that.
00:53:43
Speaker
Did we determine that it was the axe head that was made of Moran's Forge? Like, was there an insignia on it? Okay, we didn't see that. I'd miss that bit. I mean, that's what I assumed, but I wanted to make sure.
00:53:56
Speaker
okay it seems like we have three germane avenues. To speak with Vashen, to speak with Morin's Forge representatives, or to call out Magistrate Vound? I think we need to go out into the forest and find out what they planted. Ah, yeah, there's also that.
00:54:17
Speaker
Can we get, I mean... We should go Vashen. That's my thought, Yeah, I think Vashen before the forest, we may... And I think, Vashen might know where. We're broke. And I think maybe we should not take that axe head into the forest in case it has some sensory property.
00:54:34
Speaker
And it seems as though we are also there to... It's not been activated yet, so I don't think it's... Okay. Okay, that's fair. I'm not carrying it.
00:54:47
Speaker
All right. We're going to Casa de Vashen. His hut on the outskirts. All right.
Episode Conclusion and Community Engagement
00:54:55
Speaker
So you all head to the outskirts of town. We'll see what happens next time.
00:55:00
Speaker
a Thank you all so much for listening. If you want to part the conversation surrounding this episode, you can head over to our Discord link, which is in the show notes. We also have YouTube channel, youtube.com. So let's keep hands down. If you want to watch the TTRT2 videos over there, fill up on YouTube and Spotify. you can find Tales from the Laughing Tree.
00:55:17
Speaker
Where we have another actual play called Blades and Banners is Pirates and Eberron. Yes, we also have a Patreon, patreon.com slash the Geek Pantheon, where you can financially support the show if you wish to do so. Thank you all so much for listening. I've been your Game Master, Eric.
00:55:33
Speaker
I'm Mia. I'm Phillip. I'm Madison. I'm Jeff. see you next time.