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C1 Ep. 88 The Road Below Chapter Two
309 Plays6 years ago
The Borrowed Time is headed to a foreign land, and our heroes are still searching for answers to painful questions. How will they fair in an unknown city?
This episode is brought to you by the generous donations of our amazing Show Sponsors: Laura Pickrahn, Jessica Smith, Irene Viorritto, Ryan Royce, Darrin Katzska, Darrell DeLaney, Jon Cary, Charles Compton, Nikko Batson, Matt Lewis, The Kamm Family, and David Scrams.
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Transcript
Acknowledgements and Introductions
00:00:01
Speaker
This show is brought to you by the generous donations of our show sponsors, Matt Lewis, Laura Pickron, Irene Villarito, Darryl Delaney, Nico Batson, Darren Katska, Ryan Royce, John Kerry, Jessica Smith, The Cam Family, Charles Compton, and David Scrams, as well as all of our generous patrons.
00:00:31
Speaker
D20 radio, your gamer's role.
Campaign Setting and Player Updates
00:00:48
Speaker
Hello and welcome to Ever On Your New to D&D 5th edition actual play podcast set in the Ever On campaign setting. I'm your dungeon master, Eric. I'm Phillip. I'm Jeff. And unfortunately, once again, Randy is not with us. He is feeling ill. Hasn't gotten better in the last hour. Yeah. So anyway, gentlemen, what happened last time? Go for it.
00:01:09
Speaker
What a fun voice for some really heavy. Next NPC, that's gonna be their voice. Hey guys, gotta help me. I'm inspired to take it over my house. Okay, we get it. We get it, home star. Okay, so what was the question? Don't you dare. What happened last time?
Failed Resurrection Attempt
00:01:34
Speaker
Last time, we...
00:01:38
Speaker
Okay. So Beric took Paola to Graham. Did she just whisper Paola? Oh, I could have heard you go, I know her name. Let's start. Beric took Paola to Graham. Graham tried a, what I assume very high level spell to resurrect her. Did not work. It brought her body back to its true form, but she is still dead.
00:02:06
Speaker
Graham got angry that she did not win and said, she's going to flame keep.
Strategic Decision: Split the Group
00:02:12
Speaker
We, we Dex convinced her, let us take you to flame keep. But then we were like, Oh, but Bala, it's like, Oh, right. We also have to save her. So now we decided to split the, the greater party.
00:02:25
Speaker
infections two of them some of us are going to flame keep some of us are going to uh some of them are going to row it to try to rescue commander bala um and there was a very long conversation
00:02:42
Speaker
There are several of them. One of them was between Graham and Rick here. I'm kidding. I mean, there was, it was, it was just
Emotional Fallout and Banter
00:02:52
Speaker
off air. No, there was a conversation between Orianna and Beric. Um, both of them dealing with the death of lady Omeran and it is going, I'm sure to be a long road of anger and sadness and ultimately reconciliation. Or Orianna turns into Arya Stark.
00:03:13
Speaker
Or that. And Beric turns into Darth Vader. Ned? Ned Stark? No, doesn't work. Beric's done enough turning for a while. Let's let Beric be Beric for a minute. That's fair. We tried. Yeah, we gave her a shot. Somebody had to go and start a fight. Yep.
00:03:41
Speaker
Anyway. I'm gonna get in trouble. I'm gonna start a fight. Fight! That's your one pink reference. Wait, did you get one? No, you get a new metal reference. Philip gets a pink reference. This is the dumbest show. I know. It's late. I'm starting to feel it. We may not get to three episodes tonight.
00:04:08
Speaker
apologize in advance for whatever happens. So, um, in between last episode and this episode, I guess the ROAT team departed.
Journey to Flame Keep
00:04:18
Speaker
Dropping off at the nearest lightning rail station. That would be close to, I mean, we have to go past some cities so we could probably drop them. And you're right above one because remember they built a lightning rail station in Miss Marsh. Remember because we took it. I just didn't know if it had a direct line to ROAT. Yes, actually you have to go through ROAT to get shark. I looked at a map. Very good.
00:04:39
Speaker
In my experience, it's a terrible trip. That is true. So yeah, they would be able to take a skiff down. You'd be losing a skiff. They'd have to park it in Miss March unless one of you went down and then brought the skiff back. Okay, where's the fox? And where's the crane?
00:05:01
Speaker
I mean, I think we can send somebody down to bring this gift back. Yeah, I go down with them and I bring the gift back up. Um, so yeah, they, you leave them, uh, in front of the sheriff's office, which is attached to the lightning rail station. Um, yeah. So you all take off for flame keep. Yup. Um, any other conversations you want to have on the trip? You got a few days.
Conversations with Erebus
00:05:30
Speaker
I mean, I'd like this to be somewhat brief, but Beric takes out Erebus. I would also like it to be somewhat brief. Because it feels like there's twice as much Erebus as there was before, so it feels like there might need to be a check-in. And sets it on the boards in front of him.
00:06:02
Speaker
Hello. Eric. How are you feeling? Do you have feelings? Is that a thing? Yes, I do have feelings. A lot is
00:06:31
Speaker
A lot has changed. Yes. Um, so I'm, I, what's going on? Lost someone in the fight.
00:07:04
Speaker
I'm sorry about that. Try to resurrect her and it didn't work. Going to try to find out what's going on. We're on our way to flame keep source of the silver flame.
00:07:29
Speaker
my own private pet theory is that it's the same force as the conflagration. Let's see what we can learn there. Um, well, as you know, I'm somewhat familiar with the conflagration and growing more and more knowledgeable.
Exploring the Silver Flame
00:07:56
Speaker
Anything you knew you want to share?
00:08:00
Speaker
I don't have all of it, obviously, but based on what I know of the silver flame during the time that we shared everything, I see what you're saying with your theory. It's just the,
00:08:33
Speaker
the law of it all. The timeline doesn't line up. Well, as I understand it, the silver flame zone that I know is one manifestation of something that existed before Tyr of Iron.
00:09:01
Speaker
So I suppose I don't mean they're the same, but perhaps they're both manifestations of the same force. Force that surrounds us, planes all things together. It was just for you. I know. It was for no one but you.
00:09:33
Speaker
I need more time to think on it. I'm still processing everything that I've learned since combining with the packs that Lucan possessed. Do you learn things that he knew? No, it's
00:09:58
Speaker
Shane. Yes, I well, honestly, if if somebody were to gain the packs that you've gained, we have had a closer relationship than any other pack holder has had. So I possess your knowledge. It seems to me that the packs that he had did not possess his knowledge, if that makes sense. Let me ask you.
Implications of the Pacts
00:10:28
Speaker
When we get to the end of this, it'll be possible for me to disperse the pact. It seems that this all gathering all the packs into one person, something of an emergency measure. But it might not be wise to be the permanent state of the pact. It could be so easily lost.
00:10:58
Speaker
It's true. I'm beginning to get a better picture, but I could not even conceive what a single creature wielding all of the packs together would be capable of. It'd be venturing on godhood. Not interested in godhood. Well, we still haven't talked about
00:11:27
Speaker
her much. No. I don't know what there is to say. I can't communicate with her. I can't either, but I can feel her. And she's not idle.
00:11:59
Speaker
I still mean to finish the job.
00:12:03
Speaker
The pacts are solely with a purpose. You fulfill the purpose, which it seems to me is something to do with the dream thieves and their destruction, elimination, isolation, who knows? You take care of that and the pact is filled and maybe I disperse willingly back into the ether.
00:12:34
Speaker
But there was a being, there was a power before the pact with whom they made the pact as it ceased to be. I think I'm it.
00:13:05
Speaker
I was splintered and fractured when the pact was made, but we've known that I've been growing more whole as you collected packs. Or else I'd still talk like this. So I think once you've collected all the packs, I will be made whole again.
00:13:35
Speaker
Then once the dream things are done and dusted, I hopefully can go on my way. I'm not sure we can destroy them. If the combined force of the Giants and the Cavalry couldn't do it, we could only sever their impact.
00:14:04
Speaker
But the Cabal Reen were never united. They all had their own ideas and motivations on how the pact should be fulfilled, how the dream theme should be dealt with. That's why some lent their powers to the giants and some didn't. Lucan did not. But one being wielding the entire power of the configuration in one direction. But that's not the choice.
00:14:36
Speaker
that you made when you created this pact. You didn't make it with one person. Is it wise? If they'd all been able to be united, if they'd all been allied on the same side wielding the power together, would that not be better?
00:15:03
Speaker
I unfortunately do not know what my reasoning was for the 13 packs. Because I know what her reasoning is for wanting me to collect them all. And it's not to do with what I can do with the packs. It's to do with what she can do. She is a packed wielder though with
00:15:27
Speaker
her own voice in her head, which is also me, but I... Right. Yes, it's complicated. It's very complicated. But she may be working towards the same end, just with her own way. And the way that this has been set up, now each of you wield the full power of the packs that have been collected.
00:15:51
Speaker
There may, it may come to a head, I don't know. All I can tell you is that from where I sit now, more power seems like the right path. And frankly, we don't have a choice. We don't know if you can split up the packs and redistribute them to people if you even wanted to.
00:16:17
Speaker
Um, once I'm made whole and have all of my knowledge again, perhaps I will know how I did it the first time around and we can imbue 12 other individuals. Well, 11 other individuals with the power of the packs if need be, but
00:16:39
Speaker
I'll keep thinking on it. I still have a lot to what? 12 other. Well, I initially said 12 and then went back. But aren't there 13? Yes, but you and her. I see. But
00:16:55
Speaker
I got it now. You're packed and home packed are kind of locked in. Um, so I will continue to unpack everything that I'm still sorting through. And if I need you, I'll be in contact. Far enough. I'm sorry. It's there's, there's a lot to unpack. I don't fully understand yet. Um, I just got five
00:17:24
Speaker
13th of my brain back, so. Yes. What's your next step? Where are you headed? Flame keeper. We're going to see the keeper of the flame. I explained this at the beginning of our conversation.
Orianna's Isolation and Group Dynamics
00:17:40
Speaker
You did. Sorry, lots unpack. All right, well, I'll be in contact.
00:18:00
Speaker
I don't know what you guys are looking at me for. I won't talk to anybody. No. Honestly, I would talk to Booyah, but that seems like a dumb thing to do right now. What's Orianna doing? We have a three day ride. Orianna's in her room. Is she eating? Give me a perception check.
00:18:30
Speaker
Well, this perception check is based on Barrick asking people because Barrick has been in the hold. Oh, fair enough. Um, the same person that is bringing you food is also providing Charlie is bringing a plate down to you and, and she's eating.
00:18:54
Speaker
Either that or she has a pile of rotting food in the corner of her room. The plates are empty when I retrieve them. Charlie kind of stops for a moment, hesitates, and I was fond of Lady Paolo. I'm sorry for your loss.
00:19:25
Speaker
I know that Orianna locking herself away can't help, but I think she's going to be okay. We're gonna get her back. Give me an insight check. Natural 20.
00:19:51
Speaker
What a role to use it on. Charlie. I like to declare that we do get her back. Charlie nods at you and you can tell that it's a very pitiful kind of it's nice that that comforts you kind of feeling and then he walks away.
00:20:14
Speaker
make Charlie stop condescending to me. He wasn't mean condescending that you like it wasn't like you went oh mm hmm all right uh Dex what are you doing Dex is uh remember how uh we decided that Graham could stay in crafts room during this sure yeah so he was knocked on that door who is it it's Dex ma'am oh hold on
00:20:52
Speaker
Oh, yes. What can I do for you? Hey, you got a second? Oh, yes. Come in. Come in. Thanks. All right. We offer you tea, but I don't have... I brought her some tea. I was just about to say. Well, thank you. Yes. All right. I don't make it very often. I hope it's okay. I put extra salt in it for you.
00:21:03
Speaker
As we get into a conversation, the voice is entirely normal, but whenever she says who isn't...
00:21:17
Speaker
I always the visual I had was her taking a sip as you said that safe and then just falling back out of her mouth I mean I always see you getting salt on that spoon and putting it in your teeth um no all right so uh Dex has a rudimentary understanding of how tea works um so uh all right lady uh nope nope nope
Dex's Confessions and Religious Guidance
00:21:41
Speaker
So you like prefer being called Graham now, right? That's right. Yes. Like I understand barracks deference thing. I understand and appreciate it though. If you would call me Graham, I would much appreciate it. You got it, Graham. Uh, so here's the thing. I didn't think we'd be going back to, uh, going to three, uh,
00:22:03
Speaker
this quickly. Something you probably don't know about me is that I lived in Thrain for a handful of years doing some less than honorable things. I didn't kill anybody. I started doing that after I got honorable.
00:22:27
Speaker
You know, I was, I was a con man, did some burgled, did some burgled. I done burgled some burgs, a con, some, some, some marks. I, uh, Larson's some Vicks. Matthews. Larson's some victims. Anyhoozle. Um, I never put much stock in the faith. Uh,
00:22:58
Speaker
I don't know how to act in this situation. And this is too important for me to go in there like I normally do and just decide that people are gonna get along with how I do it or they're not. It's important to Barrick and me that if there's something that can be done for Lady Omeran that I don't screw it up.
00:23:24
Speaker
by saying the wrong thing or acting the wrong way. And it's important to me that these stones get the imbuing that they require. They didn't remember you. I mean, you were the one that told us about that back in the back in the way back. Oh, I, that was a theory that I had, but I understand what you're saying. Right. We're going to chase it now that we had the opportunity to do. Um, but, uh,
00:23:51
Speaker
Are we gonna be talking to the keeper or is that just a you thing? All I can say is I will do my best. I know that Beric being a man of the faith would, for lack of a better way to put it, relish the opportunity to meet the keeper even under better circumstances, ideally.
00:24:19
Speaker
Um, you know, uh, Rickards followers. Well, I know I I've spoken with Rick. It it's complicated. He's it's a anyway. Well, I can assure you this. I would not understand if you try to explain it. That's why I said it. Um, how you need to conduct yourself. Um, there are going to be Cardinals around in the cathedral that you would do well to
00:24:50
Speaker
let whatever they say wash of you and then wash off of you and leave it alone. Are they like purposefully insulting or something? Condescending would be the word that I would say. I have nearly grown a full-body callous to condescension at this point.
00:25:11
Speaker
They have an immense amount of power with the people, and many of them relish it. Not saying that all of them do, but the Council of Cardinals, they can be a touchy bunch with uppity people. Some people get too uppity and they get burned. Like literally, because flame? Those are radicals, but...
00:25:42
Speaker
In terms of the Keeper herself, Jayala. Which I would not call her. Keeper would be fine. Right, right, right. She will insist that you call her by her given name, but Keeper would be best. She's 11 years old, and she conducts herself as such.
00:26:08
Speaker
Um, wait, so this might go better than I thought. Um, she, she does have a guardian. He used to be my guardian. Um, Dex thinks, well, we must be old. Um, his, his name is, uh, Scott, go for it. Scott of ocean.
00:26:32
Speaker
I'm sorry. Scott of ocean. He's got a dragon hound. Yikes.
00:26:43
Speaker
He will not attack unnecessarily, though. But if he perceives a threat, he will kill him. Yeah, great.
Past Anxieties and War Struggles
00:26:51
Speaker
What does he like to look at most? Because I can do that. Yourself will be fine. I don't even remember what that is anymore.
00:27:04
Speaker
Well, that's deep. Yeah, I know. All I can say is, and I would say the same thing to Vedic, to Booyah, to anybody else that will be accompanying us potentially, keep your head down both figuratively and literally. Don't make eye contact. Don't draw attention. With any of them. Once we are in the room with Jayale, perhaps we can be a bit more relaxed, but. I mean, my plan is to let you do the talking.
00:27:33
Speaker
And I hope that's Barrick's plan too, for the most part. I know Barrick, it's not gonna play that way. But, yeah, I just was real afraid of making a real jack wad out of myself. I mean, here's the thing, I know that I put out a pretty good vibe. But really, I'm just some dumb jamoke from Sarlona who doesn't know his butt from a hole in the ground when it comes to most things of civilized society.
00:28:01
Speaker
I've known you many years, Dex. Yes. Yeah, but you knew me at Miss Marsh. I can't care of myself at Miss Marsh. Those yokels. Hey, you know, it is good to see you again. I mean, we've been gone for so long and you were always nice coming around the station.
00:28:23
Speaker
sometimes with cookies, often with complaints. And just, you know, regaling us with stories about your nothing. We had no idea who you were. Uh, but I'm glad to see the town is still well.
00:28:41
Speaker
Yes, I mean, people keep stealing my things. Jacob was looking for a particularly nice pen that had gone missing. Oh, I hope it turns up. And that's another thing I wanted to ask you is how's Jacob acclimating? How's Tran doing?
00:29:03
Speaker
Not Trant is doing well enough, but he finds himself ill-equipped to handle Jacob. Um, it's clear that Trant was hoping for things to return to some level of normalcy. And I don't think anybody in Miss Marsh understands that nothing would be normal for Jacob again.
00:29:28
Speaker
It was Trant who insisted that Jacob tell the people in the town who he was, Jacob wished to keep a level of anonymity because he didn't want to answer any questions. But Trant thought it would be best for him to re-enter the world and he can't, he's lost, he would come to my home frequently and ask for guidance but I unfortunately
00:29:58
Speaker
his experiences are one of the few that I have no context for either. And so he's, he's finding it difficult. Yeah, it sucks. Um, all right. Graham. Thanks for your time. I hope
00:30:25
Speaker
that whatever it is that you're looking for, you find while you're here. I do wanna save this. I think it's something you probably need to know, is that if, I know you wanna get back to Ms. Marsh quick, but if we here tell that they can save Lady Omeran, but it might take a couple of days, if it's like we can run you back home and come back in time kind of thing, that's one deal, but if it's like hey,
00:30:54
Speaker
is going to take us two days to figure this out
00:30:57
Speaker
you're probably gonna want to get an Airbnb. Well, I frankly like decks. Um, frankly, I should be able to bring her back without question. So if they can provide the answers that I need and provide me with the material materials, I can bring her back immediately. But for some reason, it didn't happen. So I'm going to go find out why I'm going to have them fix it.
00:31:27
Speaker
then we'll take care of it. I got a theory but it's pretty harebrained. Can't you share? I may have recently pissed off the guardian of death. I'm not
00:31:48
Speaker
I know that you, you've just told me you've dealt with a lot of condescension over the years. So I'm going to try to navigate that knowledge. I don't know what the belief system is in Salona, but there is not. There's the keeper who in the worst case scenario will eat a soul. No, that's not her.
00:32:13
Speaker
But outside of that, there's not a guardian of debt. Well, it's a chance I got my word wrong. It was a good chance. Um, the Raven Queen, are you familiar with? Raven is the term queen, just the Raven. Oh, that's right, the Raven. Are you familiar? No. All right. Well, then maybe it's nothing. Okay, bye.
00:32:48
Speaker
I mean, yeah, she's not familiar with her. There's no reason to keep talking to her about it. So Well, then unless she can provide valuable information there's no reason to keep talking to this about that I said All right, Graham you get some rest I'm gonna get some rest it's been a really long I
00:33:07
Speaker
For a long time, it's just been really long. And so, uh, I'm gonna get some sleep. I enjoy your tea. Thank you for the tea. Got it. Now I want to talk to my life. Don't you get it? Um, okay. So, um, time passes uneventfully. No ship attacks. Um,
Preparation for Flame Keep Arrival
00:33:40
Speaker
Yeah, you all cross into three-nish airspace. And Gerald comes over the speakers and, okay, we're approaching Flame Keep, should be there in about a few hours.
00:34:02
Speaker
So might want to go ahead and start gathering up whatever you plan on taking with you down there. Yeah. Cool. Who all is going and who stay just I'm gonna turn on the two way roll call. I'm Jeff. No, okay. Well, I mean, I'm, I'm I'm planning on going. I'll
00:34:34
Speaker
The Gram will be going. Darn tootin'! Barrick, you're going. Right? Yes. Rickard? Yeah, I'm gonna go into the town. Booyah. Booyah must still be sleeping.
00:35:01
Speaker
Charlie and Cassie are staying here. Well, I, I need to go pick up some supplies. We're running a little below, but it sounds like we're all getting off. Orianna. Orianna, my beast. Hey, you know what? In fact, I get off of the calm and I go to Gerald and I say, come on in here. Uh, I can hold on.
00:35:31
Speaker
Should be off. Should be off. Volume's up now. Yeah. And I, and I go, I go, Hey, Rickard. All right. You did it. It's off. I know what I'm doing. Okay. Yeah. I know what you do, buddy. Hey, keep Orianna and Cassian on the boat, please. Do the best of your ability. I mean, I'll do what I can with, I mean, Cassian won't be a problem. I'm fairly certain that Orianna could just stab me. So.
00:36:02
Speaker
I mean, she could stab you, but like, you're Gerald, the lightning god. Okay, yeah, but I'll do what I can. I don't think she's gonna stab you to get off the boat. I got lightning power, that's not really subdue-ish. But like a lightning cage or something. Alright, fair enough. I'll do what I can.
00:36:33
Speaker
So, let me... How are you? Who's asking? Gerald. Okay. I mean, on a scale of...
00:36:55
Speaker
before this all started to the first time Beric died? No? Yeah, yeah, it's probably the worst. I'm somewhere just below Booyah Killed My Brother? I mean, here's the thing. I'm getting things done. And as long as I'm getting things done, I'm gonna be able to keep it together. When things stop getting done,
00:37:25
Speaker
Don't be nearby. Man, I'm all right. This is the first time, really, the first time since we started this, that the sense of not knowing is scary for me. It was exciting. No, it was ambivalent. And then it was exciting. Then it was angering. No, it was terrifying.
00:37:55
Speaker
compound that with the fact that my brothers want me dead. So I am staring straight ahead at the next step. And once it's done, hopefully there'll be another next step. As long as we got those, I'm gonna keep moving.
00:38:22
Speaker
And hopefully when there is no other next step, it's because this is all over in a positive way. And I can say at least some of this was worth it. And then sleep for 12 years. I guess that's the question that I've been having during all of this that I didn't wanna... When is there not a next step? Like what's the end game?
00:38:53
Speaker
We're still working that out. Cause I mean, like I talked about when I kind of lost my head a while ago, like I used to work for the Citadel and there's always somebody or something. My fight is with the quarry.
00:39:18
Speaker
And once the court, you're just done. They're the single greatest threat to the continuation of this existence. Barrick's personal journey is, is, is with the dream thieves. We're about 88.9% certain that that's the same dang thing. I will have earned my doneness. If I can stop the quarry.
00:39:48
Speaker
But I'm just, I'm just asking. Yeah, go ahead. Cause I'm genuinely curious. Sure. Yeah. I'm a lightning God, whatever. I'd never get to do anything with that, but Beric does things that defy logic and reason. Yeah. If we had some form of science that dictated the way the universe was supposed to work, I'm sure it would defy that also.
00:40:17
Speaker
Booyah with that crossbow in his hand can devastate any living thing with just about one bolt. Yeah. And your work with that ribbon weave and in 100 yard dash cannot be beaten. If there was a ribbon dancing plus sprinting event, pretty sure you would win gold every time. Yeah. And I'm tough as hell. Yes.
00:40:47
Speaker
Let's say part of all this is getting my country back, Eric's country back. Yeah. You all are just once, once that's accomplished, you all are done. Like, because having been a part of the Citadel, we always need people. And I know that right now the quarry is the greatest threat that's ever been known to existence.
00:41:17
Speaker
And once they're dealt with, there will be something else. I mean, are, are you going to be able to, I, I want you to have your rest. I want you to be done and out of the game. I'm just concerned as to whether or not the three of you can. Cause I've seen people, Christ is one of them. Christ is always going to find the next fight until it kills him. It's not in him to stop.
00:41:45
Speaker
He should have stopped 10 years ago, 20 years ago. So, I hope the quarry is your end game. I mean, the answer to your question is there's no answer to your question. What are you going to be doing in 35 years? Well, hiding.
00:42:15
Speaker
I'm not really one for the spotlight anymore. So, um, I'm not, uh, a hero or a seeker of justice or a cop anymore. All right. I'm a guy who is fighting alongside a friend who needs to dare to fight who I also need to help accomplish my thing, which is to avenge my family that was torn apart.
00:42:45
Speaker
Will there be another thing in which I see a personal stake that I need to get involved? Probably. Am I gonna run looking for something next to do after this is done? Absolutely not. As soon as I think I'm out, they pull me right back in. All right, fine. Here's the thing you need to answer for yourself. I believe that you can walk away from fighting.
00:43:14
Speaker
Can you walk away from Barrick? Because I don't think he has it in him. I think that Barrick will walk away from me when this is done. That's not what I asked, though. I mean, we've all been calling you ride or die decks. When do you get off the bike? You think it's a bicycle? Such a thing as a bicycle.
00:43:43
Speaker
When do you get off the horse? Man, I don't know. It's right there in the word, ride or die. Yeah, I suppose it'd be with the death part. I don't know what's gonna happen to Berwick when this is done. I'm not speculating on where Berwick and I will be when this is over because I don't know.
00:44:13
Speaker
There's some considerations outside of my personal understanding in this question and I'm not going to entertain it further. I'm not asking you to entertain anything. I've just, I, I spend a lot of time in this little room alone and I hate to be crass about it, but the body count keeps getting higher.
00:44:39
Speaker
Doesn't sound crass, that sounds factually accurate. And I'm getting, I'm starting to sweat it. Like, at what point is it going to be me on this boat alone?
Gerald's Reflection on Purpose
00:45:03
Speaker
I can't imagine it will be.
00:45:10
Speaker
We've got a whole little crew about people. You got Cassie and we got Charlie. We got you Cassie and Charlie and Oriana deserve a different life than this. And it's unfortunate that they've been put here. The rest of us chose this and knew the consequences of that. And that includes you signing up for the Citadel.
00:45:43
Speaker
Body counts are an occupational hazard. Both on your side and the other side. I don't think any of us are proud of how many people, how many tally marks we've racked up either.
00:46:04
Speaker
But the thing that happens, and I truly believe, and I know that this is the downfall of many awful people as well, I truly believe that we're on the right side, and I will do what it takes. Kill or die for it. And I'm sorry if that makes you uncomfortable. I don't wanna die. I don't wanna kill. I just happen to be good at it.
00:46:31
Speaker
Like you said, I was in the Citadel. I've killed people in a lot less honorable ways than you probably have. But we can share war stories sometime. But I was always looking forward to the pension. I want to make sure that you are too.
00:46:54
Speaker
Well, when I tried to tell you that, you started acting like you didn't believe me. So I'm not sure where you're heading with it. Like I said, I believe you. I'm, I'm worried about Barrick and then therefore by extension, because I know that you can walk away from fighting. Barrick can handle a lot of things on his own and I've got a sending stone if he needs me. We'll still send Christmas cards or whatever we have. Okay.
00:47:25
Speaker
We're you'll get ready. We're about there about to the tower. We'll we're Embark. So you're docking right like yeah. Yeah, we'll be dark and docking. There's no there's no fanny fallback See, I knew they were called that Barrick Barrick. This is what Gerald said Okay, so you all
00:47:53
Speaker
You all feel the ship begin to lower a bit and slow as Jero brings it in to dock with the airship tower in Flame Keep. Barak, as we begin our initial descend, goes to Orianna's room, knocks. We're going down now. Do you want to come?
00:48:28
Speaker
No. All right. We'll be back. You get a few steps away from the door, and then you hear it swing open. And as you turn around, Oriana goes in for a hug. Very chris bric hates awkwardly. I'm sorry.
00:49:03
Speaker
I can't imagine for what? I know you can't. Anything else you all want to do before you disembark? I guess I would ask Keeper Tagore, should we bring her with us?
00:49:32
Speaker
Oh. I don't think so. If something can be done, we can retrieve her when need be. All right. I do stick Leliana in my belt and put my hair up in a ponytail. Okay. You know what?
00:50:02
Speaker
I can't be, I'm trying to remember if I ever said explicitly that I was Lyle in Thrain. I don't think I did. I think I said I adopted Lyle in Miss Marsh. I had asked you before, and you said that you had a different persona. Okay, so I'm gonna be Lyle. I'm gonna be a little less attention grabby. Okay. A little less, although an 11 year old might love a teal guy with purple hair. I think Ferris would dig it, but he's a little younger than that.
00:50:34
Speaker
Okay. So, um, you all go to, um, up to the deck to walk off. Um, you see Gerald, uh, standing on the edge of the ship, uh, covered head to toe talking with the port master, um, and handing over some money as you all approach. Okay. We should be good for a while.
00:51:08
Speaker
And the port master kind of nods at Gerald and says, thank you, Mr. Smith, and turns around and walks away. As he walks away, I go, ahoy. Avast. Avast. E matey. So yeah, I think we should bring the king. You say you do? I do think so. Sure. I mean, he wants to.
00:51:35
Speaker
Can we make him promise not to be a complete knucklehead and want to fight somebody who doesn't want fighting happening? He just... We shouldn't need to fight. I know, but he loves that hammer. He knows how to behave himself. I know he does. I just like to give you a hard dime. Come on, buddy. Let me get my hammer. My ceremonial hammer. Bring your formal one. My diplomacy hammer.
00:52:05
Speaker
The diplomacy hammer would be the worst nickname for a secretary of state. They call her the diplomacy hammer.
00:52:19
Speaker
Okay, so you're bringing Bornell. So it's you two, Bornell, we'll say Booyah in case we wrap up this set of episodes and Randy joins us next time. Graham. Obviously. Okay. And Rickard, right?
00:52:41
Speaker
Rickard said that he was wanting to check out the town. The city, that's right. He did say that. He's, he wants to get a feel for the place. So, yeah. And then Charlie is also going to go buy food. So left on the ship is Gerald, Cassian, and Orianna. Yes. Okay.
00:53:09
Speaker
Well, you all disembark. And you walk down and you find yourself in the midst of a city, Berwick, you are. Berwick's been a flame key, right? Only if you had an occasion to visit. So probably not. So this city, albeit with a very large population is very different from
00:53:32
Speaker
Charne. It's very stately, the architecture is very grand. And it's just not, it doesn't seem as fun. Charne. Charne's a real happening town. It's real quiet. And Graham just turns to you and says, oh, she should be this way. And we can shuffling down the street. Follow. End of episode.
00:53:58
Speaker
Thank you all so much for listening. If you'd like to be part of the conversation, you can head over to the Facebook group, The Geek Pantheon. We are also on Twitter and Instagram at The Geek Pantheon. If you'd like what we do and would like to see it done just a little bit better, consider heading on over to patreon.com slash The Geek Pantheon, where you can contribute to the shows. We would also like to thank Kevin McLeod for the use of all of his music. You can find it over at incompetent.com. Once again, I am your dungeon master, Eric. And I'm Philip. I'm Jeff. And we will see you
00:54:53
Speaker
next time. Okay, morning, DJ. Stop. On the drive at five.