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Ep. 30 What Goblin Army? - Bellum Draconis
106 Plays2 years ago
After what feels like an age, the crew are back together this week.
Follow us on our Twitters - @FellowshipTable
Intro written and produced by Joseph McDade
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Transcript
The army disbands post-Blight
00:00:00
Speaker
That army is disbanded long ago after the destruction of the Blight, the Colonel with it. Anyway. Now I want some chicken food.
Welcome to Aerith: D&D live play introduction
00:00:41
Speaker
Hello everyone and welcome to this week's episode of the Fellowship of the Tabletop Bellum Draconis. We are a live play 5e D&D podcast set in the magical home-brewed world of Aerith in the Kingdom of Sleekguard.
Meet the characters
00:00:50
Speaker
My name is Mark and I am the Dungeon Master and also with us for this week's episode we have everyone. We've got Callum who plays the Warforged Artificer Alpha. Hello ID. Will who plays the Human Cleric M1. Have you tried turning it on and off again? Darren who plays the High Elf Artificer Rainshadow.
00:01:09
Speaker
Hello, good to be back. I'm Danny who plays the half-orc monk. It's a broken tusk. Bonjour! And Ian who plays the Tiefling warlock, Nyx Carell. Help me. It's been a while.
Technical glitches and alternate storylines
00:01:21
Speaker
It's been a while. I'm not going to lie. Listen, we've had an evening, we've had a bit of time and some technical difficulties and that's putting it lightly. Some swear words have been said, some sweat has been shed, some tears and blood have been lost. Yet we're here.
00:01:35
Speaker
every fucking week. And it were every other one. But enough about us. More about what's happened over the last couple of weeks. And hey, not the last couple of weeks because we've had a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a... Wait, where are we? A segue. We haven't even had a segue.
00:01:53
Speaker
We've had two alternating storylines that have developed. But now we're finally managing to bring both halves of the party back after our adventures with the goblins over the last couple of episodes.
Off-screen adventures
00:02:07
Speaker
We have got Darren and Will back with us after their little cavort around Goldview, which we didn't record, but they've got some things they might be sharing with us at some point. And it has been a while since we've heard them on the podcast. So Mark, you normally come up with some little
00:02:22
Speaker
synopsis of what they've done. What do you think Will and Darren have been up to over the last few weeks together? I've been available just, you know, you've been doing your shit. Well, the big thing, I mean, aside from the bowls tournament they both took part in, which we also know that Darren is the captain of. King of the bowls. They've both been working hard on their wood carving. That's what I've heard. Wood carving, but very specifically, old medieval phallic wood carving.
00:02:51
Speaker
There's a whole niche for it, I think. To which they do it in that scene like Ghost with each other. It's just one shaft of wood and four hands. And one piece of magic. It sells, so, you know... Was that the webcam viewings or the actual... In today's economy, we've got to do what we can for the money and, you know... I'll have you know it's paper mache, not wood. Thanks. Sorry, I got it confused. My OnlyFans connection was a bit dodgy when I signed up, so...
00:03:21
Speaker
I'll have you know that Darren and I won that bowls tournament fair and square and you know we're quite happy about it. Well Mildred and Gertrude had something to say on Twitter later on that year. Well Mildred and Gertrude were dirty cheats and they need to get over it. That's my grandma you're talking about.
00:03:38
Speaker
No, it's difficult. I've missed you
Recap of Runk Claw Clan Goblins
00:03:39
Speaker
guys. Right. So anyway, for a quick recap and what happened with our main group of artists that we recorded, we're going to pass over to Danny in just a second, but please may ask, just because you wouldn't have heard this yet, could you two, Ian, not Ian, I need you, Ian, I need you, bro. Could Will and Darren, could you take your headphones off, please? Yeah, and then type into chat when you want us back. Will do, baby.
00:04:09
Speaker
Now, we have to take the word for it that they're gone here, but Danny, as our, I'm going to call you rules consultant, I'm so used to saying rules consultant. No. But what was the word we had for you? Chronicler. Chronicler. You always say cartographer, yeah. And it's because then I think about the old company. Kelsan. Kelsan, bless him. All right, so as our chronicler, Danny, would you like to give us a recap on what happened on last week's episode of the Fellowship of the Table Drop? I'll try.
00:04:35
Speaker
In the last few pages of our adventure, our not-yet-heroes defeated the Clan Chief of the Runk Claw Clan Goblins and imposed a new ruler, Alpha. Now renamed the Goblins of the Alpha Clan, our heroes parted ways with Old Gel, now that his crystal ball had been recovered.
00:04:54
Speaker
Oldgill thanked the party for the help and offered them food and lodgings should they visit his soon to be opened curiosity shop near Goldport Keep. Now the sub party of Marota, Nix and Alpha reunite with Emron and Rains fresh from a jaunt to Goldview. We are going to start just with Emron and Rains as everyone's kind of returning back to Goldport Keep separate for now and soon to be joined forces together.
00:05:22
Speaker
It's late
Return from Goldview: Reflections and plans
00:05:23
Speaker
afternoon. There's a red sun in the sky, low wispy clouds, and a breath of wind that flies over the road to Goldport Keep. You look over the more like lands that surround the area, emeron and rains, on your returning journey from Goldview. The journey's been long. It's been tiring but quick. And as you round the corner to the unwalled, unfinished, unkept,
00:05:51
Speaker
keep, that is gold port keep, you see Aula stood outside leaning against a wall and smoking what looks like some rudimentary form of a cigarette. You're still about half a mile out, we're a little bit less than that, a quarter of a mile out at this point, so she doesn't see you on your approach as you start to make your way closer and closer. Is there anything you want to talk about or do before you engage in conversation with her?
00:06:21
Speaker
Well, here we are. Aye, that time in Goldview did seem to pass by quite quick. You know, I've got a tan and everything. I actually think it was a very productive trip.
00:06:36
Speaker
I we did find out some good information about them job as we got tips towards for before we set off. So that's at least on it so we can go back to the group. Hopefully, Alpha and the other two haven't gotten too much trouble and have done some scouting for them goblins. So we can go and deal with that as a group as well.
00:06:55
Speaker
And we were able to pay off our debt to our good friend Millbury, which was much, much due after he gave us all those fine things. We didn't. I feel like we've sort of earned ourselves a good bit of favour there as well. So hopefully if we need further stuff from him, he'll be able to cut us a good deal again. It sure is fun to mix roleplay with exposition from time to time. I know. And then you know what? I was quite reassured by the fact that we managed to see Sir Tanner Barry again.
00:07:25
Speaker
Oh, what a good man. What a good man. Very helpful. He seems to have healed up quite well. Oh, look. We're back. Go book it. Ah, hello, Alla. How are you doing? That was really contrived. I heard every word of it. No. She looks up at you and you can see there's some, a rise again, a bloodshot and red, red around the edges. She kind of stubs out the cigarette and turns to you both.
00:07:54
Speaker
Hello, are the rest of you back or is it just the two of you? I don't know. It feels like we've been gone a while though. What have we been gone? Two days now? Yep. They've been gone two days too. Right. You're the first I've seen of them since, well, since they left and you left on that same day. Everyone looks to rain and goes, you know, I know we
00:08:22
Speaker
told them to just scout out the area and get a layer of the land. Do you think Nick and Marauder have dragged Alpha into some deeper troll? She looks directly at you, deep into your eyes. 100%, yes. They've been set at the minute you left. Now, you must have been on the road to come in. Do you want a drink? Aye,
Orla's financial woes and a debt to Vardan Vorsden
00:08:47
Speaker
and yeah, it'd be good to wash the dust that ruled out of the mouth.
00:08:53
Speaker
Fuck's sake. How many days was it after us? Because we left before then, how many, probably not days, how many hours was it until they still left themselves? It was literally half an hour after you left. They decided on what they were going to do and they went. What was it they said they were going to do? Well, they did say they'd go and scout. They did say that. But it doesn't take two days to scout. Especially that you managed to make it to Goldview and back.
00:09:24
Speaker
Let's wash some water down and we'll drop off the things we picked up in Goldview and then we'll start heading that way and see what we can find out because I'll be boogied if I'm leaving Alpha with them for too much longer. No, that makes sense. Now come on in and she leads you towards the hole where you first entered.
00:09:48
Speaker
What you remember from this whole previously was that there was one table that had been used. It's set up for six large tables, six tables of six people. Half the hall was in use, half the hall was kind of sub-kitchen and just a storage area. Most of Goldport Keep, if you remember, was unused, empty, or just in disrepair. No wall around the outside, say for the cemetery area where all this family were buried, are buried.
00:10:15
Speaker
However, upon entering this town, you see a very different site. The room is a huge room, but almost completely dark. Every candle snuffed by one or two that have been lit near the front. Tables have been flipped. Barrels smashed. The piano that sits midway through the room has been pushed back onto its side. The keys ripped off. Pictures ripped off the walls. The place has been ransacked, saved for one table.
00:10:46
Speaker
that Orla moves towards and calmly starts pouring out some drinks of water into the cups around the table. Orla? You're gonna have to explain the words. What the fuck happened? She pours two drinks and hands one to each side of her at the head of the table and then she sits down.
00:11:17
Speaker
Would you sit down for a minute? No, no. What happened? This has nothing to do with your friends. This is me. What do you mean? This is something I... No, this wasn't me, but this is to do with me. This happened after everyone left. This has nothing to do with the goblins, nothing to do with any of them. Right, and M1 then eases himself down into the chair or bench. It's to do with my family and...
00:11:49
Speaker
The, look, I'm dealing with it. And she's very stern about that. I'm dealing with it, but I will tell you too in confidence. Now please do not let the others know about this, but I've been in horrific debt. This place is expensive to keep and to maintain. And I'm failing at that. I thought
Monster hunting quest for Orla's debt
00:12:09
Speaker
the monster hunting guild idea would pick up quicker than it has. And to be honest, it's failing miserably. Roofs needs repairing, the walls are crumbling.
00:12:20
Speaker
And then she pauses for a second. And then I lapsed on a payment. And so they took it out on the room. A payment to who? Who do you owe? Listen, it's something I'm dealing with. I don't want you guys having been brought into this, okay? All of that. We're already brought into it. You know, you've
00:12:45
Speaker
you've offered this place as a home for us. And if this is being trashed, then, you know, we're probably part of it. So let us help. It's a man called Vardan Vorsden. He's a drunk,
00:13:09
Speaker
I think, I don't know half the time, incredibly powerful and incredibly rich. He let me go and speak with him.
00:13:23
Speaker
just once before and if that doesn't work I will take you up on your offer but you already as a group have done way too much for me and I have done nothing really for you apart from letting you stay in a crumbling ransacked space that isn't fit for me let alone as she looks around the space let alone anyone else
00:13:41
Speaker
Let me go and speak to him. I've got something for you that's more to do with, you know, the business we were going to set up. I can send you on a monster hunting quest. I do have, I have a request and there is some money in it. We did also follow up on them leads you add towards Goldview as well. So yeah. Oh, fantastic. Well, let, like I said, let me speak to him.
00:14:06
Speaker
his folks that came round, they won't be there. Let me speak to him. If we can go out and get a few quests under our belt, get a few hunts done, then we can start bringing in some income and this pace, I can then sort out my payment to him and we can square things away.
00:14:26
Speaker
And we can move on. Trust me. Trust me. I'm fine. This is nothing I can't deal with. Okay. Okay. As long as when you decide to go to see him, you tell us where you're going and you tell us when. So if you don't come back, we can at least know where you've gone so we can try and follow you. Agreed. Does that sound right to you, Rains? I mean, this man's powerful and he's a drunk.
00:14:54
Speaker
yet going to get any money from you from from from kidnapping you are supposed to happen how comfortable do you feel divulging where you need to go what you need to do uh... i'm i'm all of the opinion that your business is your business if that's what you're asking of us it is and i know i didn't give the best impression of my my combat ability down in the basement a few days ago but
00:15:23
Speaker
I'm more than capable of handling myself. Don't you worry about that. And I suppose as much as you can share with what I just said in mind, which I do respect by the way, is it purely money that these people will accept for payments so there ain't a lot of sense in, I don't know, kidnapping you or something like that? No, they want the money. Listen, I've known him for a while now.
00:15:52
Speaker
he worked with my father years ago now and there's a there's a there's yeah I can sort it I can sort it he just wasn't here he just sent some dicks to trash the place and I couldn't speak to them they're thugs they don't understand sense and
00:16:12
Speaker
I knocked two of them clean out. It's just the other four that... Anyway, let me go and speak to him. I should be able to clear it up. And if not, like I said, I'll bring you and all your friends full force. We'll smash the bugger up. It's your business, but you want us to help. Fair enough. You've been kind to us. Well, you've been kind to me. You've saved my life already once. And listen, if we can get this place and this idea up and running, then
00:16:39
Speaker
We'll be flying. We'll be rich in no time once word gets out. That's why we need to focus on. I can deal with my problems. This is personal. Let's stick to business. Okay. I appreciate it. Oh, you're respected in Goldview, or at least you have circuits where people who can hold themselves in a fight know what to
00:17:03
Speaker
You seem like a person who knows the score is what I'm saying. When we were in Goldview, I couldn't help but hear when we were working in that Smith shop, paying off our debt, that people were talking about the pits and how it's a good chance to get in front of an audience and make some coin.
00:17:18
Speaker
I don't know, I guess from what you're just saying, I'm putting some things together with what I'd like to do and some things that could be useful for you. I'm thinking what about us entering the pits and we get in front of an audience and we're able to drum up some appetizing by showing how good we are and we also make some coin hitting things. It's a stupid idea, but I thought rather before saying it to the others, I'd ask you if that sounds feasible. Well, what you've just said,
00:17:46
Speaker
could make that a doubly beneficial thing. She takes a small hip flask off the side of her hip and downs the incontents of it before slamming it down on the table. That sounds like a fucking brilliant idea. It's good and old. That might just be the kind of, especially if we win, especially if you win that, that, that, that.
00:18:15
Speaker
is a hell of an idea. I don't know much about the pits per se. I know that you can make a little bit of coin and it's all about word of mouth, but the audiences are big.
00:18:26
Speaker
And I can send some feelers out. I can ask about the other teams that might commit because there's the single combat and there's also the team fighting as well. So I can put out some feelers. If we get this thing rolling, I'm sure that we can start to put out and then we get more contracts and the bigger contracts near the Blightlands. And then that's where we start really making coin.
00:18:45
Speaker
Before you get too excited, we haven't had a chance to... I haven't even mentioned it. This is the first time I mentioned it to Imran. It's just what you were saying, and I was just stood in that blacksmith with that forge, and there are people who came in and were just... There's a buzz about those things, you know? And I don't know, I just struck me as something that we might be able to do that could be, well, good for us, because we'll make some coin, and good for the venture and business for you, because we'll appetize them and such.
00:19:13
Speaker
It's a, it's a good idea. You know, I've, I've got my feelings about the pits. I've been in a couple in my time. So, you know, I've got my feelings about them, but I'm happy to do what we need to do for business as long as we're not fighting to the death because I don't do blood bouts.
00:19:33
Speaker
No, I don't believe they do. I mean, there are some quite less official bouts that take place after hours that might do that, but no, I wouldn't recommend that. The audiences are smaller, the coin is high, but if the audience is what we're after, then it's not worth it. So you
Kraken attack near Goldview: A new threat?
00:19:53
Speaker
were mentioning you had some job leads then. I do, and I was really hoping to talk to everyone about this before
00:20:01
Speaker
And then just as she's halfway through that, bang, the front door of the large hall slam open. And there are three figures stood walking slowly through the kind of warm red sun behind their backs, silhouetting these three figures as they walk through as a tired jovial and battle weary trio of Marota
00:20:27
Speaker
Um, I forgot my names, Maratha, Nix, and Alpha step through into the space. And as I previously described, Ransack to the entire space, thrown about, everything is broken and smashed and thrown around, save one table with all the stuff at the hilt of it. Now with feet crossed, legs up on the table, smiling with a drink in our hand and Emrom and Alpha, sorry, no, Emrom and Rains sat either side of her as the three of you enter.
00:20:58
Speaker
What did you guys do? Are you redecorating or? What's there a party? Did we miss a party? I feel like we missed a good party. I believe this is a normal aftermath of one of Emrun's shindigs. This isn't the first time you've seen this. I have seen a few instances of this kind of debacle. All are here before you start divulging too many secrets, Alfred, is having some problems with money lenders.
00:21:29
Speaker
And how may we help? But no, and she stands up. No, no, sorry, Emon, you go. Things are in, things are in hand. Orla's gonna deal with it. If she needs us to get involved, we will. But it'll be sorted. Anyway. Orla, do you mind if I ask which one? She sighs and kind of rubs her eyes with her hand before saying, it's Vorestan. Of course it's Vorestan.
00:21:59
Speaker
I'm sorry to hear that. It's fine. He's an old family friend, she puts in inverted commas. He knew my dad, and it's a whole mess. Its family meets business meets this place falling apart as she looks around the dilapidated area. And our business not hitting its right stride. But I've been speaking to Emron and Raines and, well,
00:22:25
Speaker
Well, anyway, I'll let you guys come in first. Can I get you a drink? I have no liquor or booze, but I've got water.
Goblin truce eases tensions
00:22:32
Speaker
That sounds great. Sit down. I'll bring over some bread and stuff. I kept her back and she wanted to start the game. Goblins. What did you find out? Nicks and Alpha.
00:22:47
Speaker
Marotta, we're not goblins. No, but you went, you were going to go scout out the goblin thing. Oh, we did. That was our original intention, yes. Right, so what then happened if that was your original intention? They're no longer a problem, so... Yeah, we sorted it. Hi. Indeed. I'd like to... So, how have you sorted it?
00:23:16
Speaker
Well, it's just sorted. Yeah, there was a problem and now there's not a problem. There's a truce that has been negotiated. Aye, yeah, a truce. And what's this truce going to cost us an alpha? Well, nothing. Is it alpha? It will cost them nothing, yes. What I love about it is this is annoying Emron as well as annoying Will. Will, yeah.
00:23:46
Speaker
Because M1 doesn't believe that Alpha will lie, but he also knows that Nyx is full of bullshit. So, you know, it's difficult. Will believes that Callum won't lie, but also he is. I'd like to insight check Nyx, please. Okay. I mean, yeah. You haven't misled him. No, no, no. So hit me. Oh, okay.
00:24:16
Speaker
I assume it's a performance check on my side. It's a persuasion if you're telling the truth, deception and lie. But you don't tell us which one you're choosing, obviously. Well, thanks, Dan. I didn't actually know the... Yeah, persuasion, truth, deception, lie.
00:24:32
Speaker
Just 10. Yeah. Beat smart. Well, we can see it in D&D. The whole thing is all about because some people have better deception to performance and persuasion. Right. Cool. I take your word. Fine. Do you want to explain what happened? No, you don't sound like you did. To the listeners. Maybe they want to know what happened. These hand checks were difficult too. Hold on. Right. So you're saying it's all sorted. That's what we're saying, right?
00:25:01
Speaker
The goblins will no longer be an issue. Wonderful. Terrific. Good work.
00:25:07
Speaker
Would anyone like some tea? I've told NC to do it at the top end, so it's not like he's peering into your cup anymore. I will still pass. Yeah, the flavour's not right yet. So, we popped in to see Sir Tanavari. He's doing well. We've told him we're here, and he's going to keep his sort of ears out for any trouble that might come our way, just in case, you know, there's any follow-up from us rescuing Marota. That is most excellent news.
00:25:39
Speaker
Most excellent. What else? That took you two days? No, we had to spend at least, well, we spent the best part of one of the days just working off the debt that we owed to the blacksmith who gave us a great deal. Why is everyone getting debt? I'm on to the point, what were you doing there? Because I, everyone I assume, very handy.
00:26:01
Speaker
Oh, I know how to sniff to a certain day. I didn't know this. I do. My mom's told me I spent enough years in his company. I mean, he's all right. I mean, you know, you do try hard, which is good. You know, I can do it. I can do an apprentice's job. Sure. Well, that's still better than I can do. I mean, we followed up stuff at Clay P call and
00:26:29
Speaker
that kind of stuff tried to run down some of the leads that we were given. But the good one eventful, any any good news, any gossip, anything going on in the town that we should be aware of? How's the boat? How's the harbour? Anything new on the on the seas? Any news from the boats coming in? DM, can we get any information from the boats coming in that we should know about? Absolutely. What information have you been asking them? And I will fill you in. Well, we'll
00:26:57
Speaker
Uh, Rains, Rains wouldn't have gone to the docks at all. He would give zero shit. Everyone would have been keeping his ears out for any shipments from Dralak and any silks and anything that may have been stolen. You hear...
00:27:09
Speaker
As you go down to the docks, you hear over the lines and some of the barrel passes on the dock fronts of a ship that has been dashed against the Goldview, the Bronze Storm Sea, just off Goldview, a Kraken had attacked and absolutely decimated a boat, destroying it and its two follow-up vessels along with it, and a cargo full of very expensive silks along with it.
00:27:37
Speaker
And there is now a bounty out that you came across, primarily for the Navy of Goldview and Sleetguard to find and kill this Kraken that had randomly appeared. Never been seen since, never been seen before.
00:27:54
Speaker
find and kill this kraken. A lot of boats are diverting away or very tentatively coasting along the coast of Dralak, which is dangerous, in order to avoid where they think this kraken might be, but reports are sporadic. Okay. Well, the ship into Goldview has taken a bit of a hit. Apparently there's some kind of kraken out in the seas near the city that's never been seen before. Well, that's good news, isn't it?
00:28:24
Speaker
What about the Esmeralda? Any news on that? Apparently, well, there's very few ships leaving. Any ships that are leaving have been a bit cautious, otherwise everything's really stuck into docks now, and any ships that are coming in are being a bit tentative. A lot of them are having to take the coastal route via Dralak, which is dangerous in itself, apparently. Was it just the one ship? There were apparently three ships that were sunk, and in a little convoy together, apparently, and all the cargo lost.
00:28:53
Speaker
But no news on the Esmeralda. No, it's still there, apparently. Oh, you may start with that when we're talking about ships. Well, there's no more no more dragon attacks. Well, the consolation was that the Esmeralda seems okay. So you know what? I'm a happy guy. Hey, hey, what about the Nutcracker? Any any chance of a good drink on that? Oh, yeah, you can have it. Well, he does too. He does too. Oh, I suppose I could get him. You know what? It's
00:29:19
Speaker
It's been two days, I've missed your tea rain, so let's have a cup of tea. Okay, okay, you're gonna like this, particularly being Salim, bless. NC, NC, do the statue at the Sept of Salim, and NC is going to flop onto the table. He's going to put two hands into the air and balance on one leg, and then lift his head up like a performing statue, and he's just going to just try and spit the tea into the cup by arcing it.
00:29:47
Speaker
I like how Reigns talks to NC like I speak to my Alexa. Does it work? Well, you tell me. Does it work? Give me a performance check. Performance check? Yeah. Does he have a modifier for that? Yeah, zero. Fourteen. Yeah, it works. He spits it into a cup.
00:30:14
Speaker
Look at that. It's like a little performing statue, you know, with water fountain ones. Yeah, he's getting a little bit around the side, but most of that's in the cup. There you go. We did also, I did also bring some bottles of mead and
00:30:30
Speaker
What the fuck? And then Nick throws down the cup of tea. Where's the meat? Where's the bottles? My performative squirrel meant a great effort for that for you. You take it spit juice. I just want the beer. I will take it spit juice. Thank you very much. I'm going to start drinking the tea. That's terrible. The bag of supplies that they brought from the city and he will sort of open up one of the bottles of meat. Here we are. I thought we might need some supplies for place and where we brought some back with us.
00:31:02
Speaker
So it's just mead? Well I've got some mead, I've got ale and wine because I figured we had a water source here for fresh water anyway and we also got some a few more traveling rations just in case we were going on some of our adventures and yeah just some bits and bobs you know just in case we needed it.
00:31:23
Speaker
You know, it's funny when ships started to disappear outside of Haddows Bay. My daddy used to try and put out the word that it was Kraken's that were doing that, weren't Kraken's. Pirates.
00:31:41
Speaker
Kraken singular. I don't think there are more than one. Kraken. I don't think it's pronounced Kraken. I would be surprised if there was one. Normally what it is is, as I just said, the same thing that bothers ships in the depths of D'Artona. Pirates. It's a lot of places I've never heard of. What he's trying to say is, Reins thinks the Kraken story is a load of bullshit and it's probably pirates.
00:32:09
Speaker
You know, not that anyone is a pirate. And everyone will look to Nick's. I mean, quite clearly, I'm a pirate. He's a pirate. He's possibly the worst pirate anyone's ever encountered. Yeah, but you have heard of me. You'd be glad if Nick... Plagiarism. Plagiarism. Yeah, pirate. Absolutely. Anyway... Sorry, Nick's is a pirate. Yeah, do you not know this?
00:32:38
Speaker
No, I was making a general observation about things that happened in Chatham, man. He's not a very threatening one. No, I agree with that. Like a trainee, you could say. Were you wanting any of the liquids we brought back from Goldview? Yes, but please don't call them the liquids you brought back from Goldview. Right, so mead, ale, wine. What do your fans say? I'll have the lot. No, no, it's been for a while.
00:33:09
Speaker
Oh, I'll take a wine, please. It's a very fruity bouquet. And everyone is going to rip off every single popular culture film we can. What else are we here for? And everyone will pour her a glass and he'll look for Orla. Hopefully Orla will come back and give us some tips on some work she thinks she's got us to do. I can hear you. I was just giving you some space.
00:33:38
Speaker
Ah, sorry, I couldn't see you. It's so dark in here. We need to light some lamps. No, sorry, they snapped to the candles. Anyway, you look fine to me. What? Alpha, do you need anything? You're just there again. How do you think of this, Alpha? I do not... I forget, does he drink? Do you drink? I do not require any liquids from Goldview. No, but it's a good way to get him to engage in the situation when you ask him.
00:34:07
Speaker
I'm sorry, I have been cleaning up the mess. What mess? It's decent of you. All these tables that have been turned over. You've just been sweeping that one area over and over again. I've seen you. But it keeps getting messy.
00:34:22
Speaker
I sweep. You keep walking through the pile of dust you've made. Yeah, walk around. No, no, walk around it. Walk around. No, you're still walking through it. Around what? I'm very confused. You're making a dust pile and you're done it again. Just leave it. Just leave it. Just leave it. Just walk away. Alpha. Alpha. Alpha. I'm determined to clean. I want to clean this spot. Alpha.
00:34:43
Speaker
Alpha. Yes, yes, yes. Just leave it. I am sorry. Just sit down. I believe I have made the situation worse. No, it's just exactly the same. Now, Alpha, you lovely man.
00:35:01
Speaker
person thing. I went out for the goblin. Are we going out to kill these bastards or what? What's the deal? The goblins will no longer prove to be any problem to you. They have been taken care of. So we killed them? Fantastic. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. So they're not dead and they'll come back? No, they will not come back to your keeper. Ever.
00:35:31
Speaker
Yes. Well, if they do, they'll come back to help. She looks very confused and then looks to Emron and Reigns. I don't understand. Alpha says it's been sorted, so I'm inclined to believe what Alpha says. We have boarded a peace treaty with the goblins that were bothering you. I mean...
00:35:58
Speaker
How can I put this delicately? Ever since we've met Nix, he's done enough things for us to leave him somewhere, yet we keep bringing him back, so he's got a power of persuasion. Whoa, whoa, whoa, why? Why the shots? Well, I mean, I kind of feel like it's a fair observation, but anyway, we keep bringing him back. Stick your observation up your ass! We keep bringing him back, so he has a method of persuasion, I'm sure if they say the goblins are
00:36:24
Speaker
I'm gonna behave themselves, that's what's gonna happen. I bet you were shit in that forge. I bet everyone had to cover up everything you did. If I may have, but... Nix was most helpful during our escapade towards the goblins. Yeah, thanks, Alpha. As a matter of fact, he even gave me a hug on our journey. I did, and taught you some things, you taught me some things. You checked your pockets afterwards, Alpha. Please do. Why would I check my pockets?
00:36:54
Speaker
Because Nix has a tendency to get his hands on stuff that doesn't belong to him. Or try to. I'm just a bit familiar and friendly. There's no way to treat your babysitter. He's as good as new. Like, you guys take a look at your friend, all right? I dare say that you both had misforgivings about letting Alpha come on a journey with me and Marota. But as you can see, Alpha looks probably better than ever. How are you feeling, Alpha?
00:37:21
Speaker
I feel I'm operating at 100% efficiency. I mean... 100% efficiency? I mean, I had no... I mean, yeah. I had no worries about leaving Alpha with Marotta. It was just Unix that I had problems with. And he's operating at 100% everyone, so... I just suck it. And oh... Interesting. Suck what?
00:37:48
Speaker
In this instance, Alpha, I'm talking about my dick. Oh, is that an insult that I cannot use, then? Because I do not have one. No, you can use it. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't use it. We've talked about this. Oh, right. We're still trying to practice that stuff. Your patron told you to practice. Yeah. Remind me what we're practicing. You know, being a bit more like me.
00:38:19
Speaker
I mean, he's alive? I'm not one to defend Nick's openly because I quite like watching him squirm when you put him under such scrutiny, Emron. But he acted very much as you would over the last 48 hours. Okay, thank you, Marauder. That's all I wanted to hear. Cheers. Are we all done now, dick waving?
00:38:42
Speaker
Alpha can't dick wave. Whoa, you don't tell Alpha what he can and can't do? Well, you can antenna wave. Is that an antenna that you got somewhere? I don't know. You designed me. I thought you would know. I did the magic part. Emron did the actual smithy work. I don't know what he put. Everyone can have a subjective dick, Reigns. Okay, enough about the penises, for God's sake. Listen, and she slams her hands down to the table. Everyone can have a... Oh, hello. I'm still talking.
00:39:10
Speaker
Right. Look around. No one looks around. This place is shit. This isn't working, and I bloody need it to work, and I need your help, guys. Honestly. This place is yours as much as it is mine now, except I earn the deeds and rights to it, etc. and pay all debts, etc. But metaphorically, like Reigns with a dick thing, it's yours. This is going to be your home too, if you want it.
00:39:39
Speaker
It's shit. And there's so much work that needs being done and we need to make this business work. Now I've got
Investigating mysterious livestock deaths
00:39:46
Speaker
a job, but it needs all of you guys to work together and go and kill some things. I don't know what they are. Chickens, I think. I think they're chickens. Listen, you got to work as a team. The Colonel? No, that army is disbanded long ago after the destruction of the Blight, the Colonel with it. Anyway.
00:40:10
Speaker
Now I want some chicken food. It's finger-licking. Listen, you boneless bunch. You're just having a right zinger. That was corn. I'll look it up now. Before we start popping corn. No, that was bad. This popcorn chicken needs to move on. Well, there you go.
00:40:41
Speaker
I can't listen. If I send you right into the wilds of the world as part of all the gold ports, monster hunters limited. Check, I can't even say the bloody name yet. All the gold ports, monster hunters.
00:40:59
Speaker
all the gold ports, monster hunters limited. I said it that time, she points her hands up like she's writing them on the wall of something. All the gold ports, monster hunters limited. If I send you out as the key owner and runners of that monster hunting company, you guys are going to have to work together and have a bit of professionalism. Now, what do you reckon?
00:41:24
Speaker
Stop beating around the bush and just tell us the fucking job. I got a letter the other day. It's from Bernadette. She's a late widow of Alfred. What was their surname? Alfred. She rocks her brains for a second. I should have written this down. Butler. No. Alfred Redstone. Alfred Redstone. They own a farm to the south of here.
00:41:50
Speaker
And he died. And she's pretty certain. Well, we heard it was death by chickens that he collapsed a heart attack of the chickens they own and pecked his corpse. Wasn't this the place that you said that there's something near the lake eating livestock? Yes. So it started off as livestock and then separately
00:42:12
Speaker
Alfred just buckles over and dies and the chickens eat him. Now, I haven't been down to see Bernadette. I don't know, but she is certain that something killed the livestock and that killed Alfred is the same thing. Now, I have a couple of things in mind. It might just be luck. It might be something like a parrot ton. I don't know yet, but you guys have got to go down and figure it out. We weren't joking about the chickens. That wasn't a joke.
00:42:38
Speaker
No, that's the rumor that he died by chicken. And, you know, I know, Benedict, she's a good woman and Alfred was a good man too. And to have that memory sullied by death by chicken, imagine having that on your tombstone. We need to rectify it. We need to see truly if it was, or if it wasn't that. And hey, we figure it out. She pays well. They own a big swathe of land out there and she's sitting on money now that she can't spend and won't spend. And so there's some decent cash in it for all of us.
00:43:08
Speaker
How much? Uh, what has she said? Um, 500 gold. Yeah, we can deal with chickens. Yeah. I'm down for chickens.
00:43:20
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, could we go in the morning or are these chickens likely to, you know, be swarming us? She's staying in the house now and she doesn't seem to have been attacked by anything in the house. Most of the livestock have been killed now or died off. She's not much for farming. Alpha did all the farming. So there's no rush on it. That's why I knew about it the other day and did mention it because I wanted you guys to settle in a little first. And I see she looks directly at Nyx. You've done some settling in already, it seems.
00:43:51
Speaker
I'd just like to make myself comfortable. Well, not just you. I was kind of trying to look at all three of you, but I don't have three eyes. So something with a goblin. There are four of us. Just to throw that out there. Yeah, not you. You went to Golgi with Emeron. I am. There's five of us. There are five. There's five of us. Professor. There's five. I'm up. Alpha is a person too, you know. Time to start recognizing him. Are we saying that we should, could we, how far away is this farm we got to go to?
00:44:19
Speaker
Um, like here's, here's the note that she, she's been advertising with. I know upon the note, it just says fearless warriors desperately needed. Please come to redstone farm out on the union pass past the burning field and turn left for the farm. Ask for Bernadette.
00:44:36
Speaker
It's near the Golden Lakes, just to the southwest of Goldview, to the east of the largest lake. So, thank you for showing us that order, but being as you're from around here, how long will it take us to get there? Because none of that meant nothing to me. A day's travel. Great. A day's travel south if you don't hit the roads and you just cross over wildlands. So we could set off now, camp, and then get there in the evening of tomorrow. Yes.
00:45:07
Speaker
All he needs to do is head south till you find the large lakes to the south west of Golgi. They're quite obvious. Reet then. So to steal another quote, but what we waiting for? I do not know. It's not just what you want here, Emron, and Marota's just going to pull her glove up a little bit more and cover her gaping wound on her wrist, so it's not visible.
00:45:36
Speaker
I could quite do with just catching my breath today. It's fair. We slept in beds every night, Emran. These guys probably haven't slept in the beds since they left here. I think giving them a day's rest is fair. Okay, okay. That's fine. And we haven't really sat down and talked about this other opportunity to the south. Oh, you mean the dragon one? Aye.
00:46:04
Speaker
I'm not really sleepy. Just, uh, Nick's is just, sorry, Murray's just going to kick Nick's in the shin. I'm very sleepy. I'm so sleepy. Well, I, well, I suppose we could, we could take, what do you want to take the day and then we'll go day after tomorrow. Well, what time is it? This evening. Did you not just come in?
00:46:28
Speaker
Just go in the morning. Why can't we rest a night and go in the morning? Sounds like a plan. I love that plan. Okay. Shall I show you to the sleeping quarters then? Nick was yawning as any of us died, so he probably won't score an event. So badly. I'll just show you where they are. I can get out of your hair and you can do what you like and I'm going to go tend to the cemetery for a bit.
00:46:55
Speaker
I could talk to you a bit about the lands around here as well. Just kind of give you a quick tour of the place. That sounds great. Okay. They're not all as bad as this place. They're tidier, I promise. Okay. Are we going now?
00:47:15
Speaker
She walks you out the two main doors and in front you see a kind of a bronzy coloured ash tree sat in the middle of between four other buildings. She points to the one on the left, a small kind of standalone room.
00:47:29
Speaker
Toilet for ablutions, et cetera. It's a big shape with the windows. Around the tree or another. What did you just say? A toilet. There's a toilet. Somewhere you go to the toilet. Yeah, but to do what? Abolutions. Abolutions. You know, shit, piss, fart, you know. Ah, yeah. Okay, got you. Just listen. Not for me, for everyone in the group. I understood. Okay, of course. Alpha is only a year old, so. Right. I do not produce any waste, however. Oh, God. She walked off.
00:48:00
Speaker
Between two buildings now, she walked between two buildings. These buildings all kind of slot into each other like almost Tetris buildings, primarily giving you like a 10 or 15 foot wide kind of pathway between these buildings. There are five buildings, six including the cemetery area.
00:48:17
Speaker
and they all kind of slot into each other. The largest one at the bottom left corner of the map, if you want to be looking along with this guys on roll 20, I've moved you guys to that map so you can see it as well. Bottom left corner in a kind of inverted L shape as you walk in through a large dark oak door is a large L shaped room with loads of stacked kind of bunk beds, double single bunk beds. There's two, four, six, eight, 10.
00:48:42
Speaker
10 beds and then two kind of hammock style beds against the back wall as well. The space is clean.
00:48:49
Speaker
But again, you notice the bottom furthest north of the beds is the only one that's been kind of slept in. The others all have almost a perfect military style tuck down done to every single one of them that have been kept carefully clean. As you count them up, you realize that five of these beds have that tuck down exactly. And then one of the beds is kind of disheveled and unused. I took the liberty of just preparing a couple of
00:49:16
Speaker
couple of them for you, but if you want to move them around or anything, this space is yours as well. No, no, we appreciate it. Thank you. I'll just show you the other two.
00:49:26
Speaker
Three places really. Four, if you would be so kind as to oblige me. She walks out the doors to the sleeping quarters and almost directly opposite is another room. Another L-shaped room, this way switched, flipped again. This is a large empty room. This used to be my, well, was supposed to be part of my parents' sleeping quarters, but I've emptied it of all their stuff, ow.
00:49:49
Speaker
We didn't need it here, I didn't need the memory of it here. Anyway, this could be a room for anything further down the line. Training, study, I don't know, it could be anything. Possibilities are endless once we get this place off the road.
00:50:02
Speaker
She steps out and takes the door to the right, so to the north into a smaller checkered floor building. This has a large room and it's totally dark, save the light from the sun coming in through the windows. And this shaft of light shine in on rack after rack after empty rack of where weapons once would stand. Rack after rack on the wall where shield stands are, where suits of armor should be. It's been totally emptied, but all the kind of accoutrement of an armory
00:50:32
Speaker
is there save all the armor and weapons. Just a quick question Mark, armory and forge or like is there like a cold hearth or is it just armory? This is just the storage of weaponry. She sees however your eyes kind of half light up then half dim again though reigns and says um come with me.
00:50:54
Speaker
She leads you around the outside to the north of all the buildings, out into the cold afternoon sun. The open ground to the north seems almost overwhelming as you step out. She takes you to the east away from the buildings, and you come across a series of statues, broken statues sat around, large, 20, 30 foot tall, with fingers and hands missing. It shows a depiction of a man and a woman standing or missing conversation.
00:51:23
Speaker
She looks up kindly at them, and as she walks past, paces a hand on the hand of the female figure and continues walking. You see a building, an outbuilding, sat probably 50, 60 feet away from the main set of buildings. It's a large square building. She turns to Emeron and Reigns. Okay, 115 feet, thank you very much, whoever that was on Roll20. You see, of course it's Roll. She turns to Emeron and Reigns and just says, I think you're gonna like this.
00:51:53
Speaker
Pushing open the large double doors, you see a large hearth, set of bellows, butts of water, broken woods, a bed, work benches, fire pits and corners that are all obviously gone out, and a series of tools along the wall. My father loved blacksmithing. He was shit at it, but he loved the idea of it and had this built and commissioned and spent most of his time in here.
00:52:21
Speaker
Most of it won't work anymore, but if anyone can get it working, it's you two. Feel free to spend as much time in. You are absolutely right. I am absolutely loving this, and rest assured, much like your daddy. I am also shit-smithing, but also happen to love it. But don't worry, that's why Emran's here.
00:52:40
Speaker
Is it all run down and sort of like ram shackles you need clearing to be used, Mark? Yeah. Yeah. There's loads of kind of, she's obviously shoved a load of broken stuff in here from her parents' room and she's kind of used it as storage along the right hand side. The left side with the bellows and the furnace looking good. They need a bit of a clean and just kind of setting up. But aside from that, the furnace looks expensive. It looks like it was imported from somewhere else. The stonework is not from around here. So he spent a bit of dollar on it.
00:53:10
Speaker
tables and workbenches are all kind of, it almost looks like the project of a kind of a morning star mace head has been left unfinished on the workbench in the centre of the room. That was his last project and all that has another heart to move in. I certainly reckon we can get this place up and running again and be able to be quite self-sufficient. That's reassuring. I was worried we were going to have to keep going back and forth to
00:53:37
Speaker
gold view, but if we've got ourselves here, we need to get fuel and that kind of stuff to get the forage going, that might cost. But I reckon we'll be able to do right here. And with you here, maybe that could be a side business that we sell arms or armory or something and find a nice sigil of us and spread the word that way.
00:54:02
Speaker
if we get, let's say, get Forge going and get ourselves on some iron ore and the like to make stuff out of it or melt down stuff with, if we come across stuff that people either have discarded or whatever, we can always recycle it. So I reckon we can do that as well. Also, we are low on cash.
00:54:23
Speaker
We could always head over west to the mines, the ones that are abandoned over in the spine of the world, just to the west. We could head over there and see if we can just find some ourselves. Anyway, something else from another conversation maybe. Indeed.
00:54:42
Speaker
She nods and walks back out in party following. There's just one more place I'd like to show you really. It holds no real significance to you, but it might be a nice area for you to visit sometimes. And she walks south.
00:54:55
Speaker
far south and takes a kind of a westerly turn away to it and you walk along a well-worn path which splits from the main path south and heads towards a lake. This lake sits backed by a number of large moss-covered stones.
00:55:13
Speaker
There's a large open area that sits to the west of it and a large fern that sits in front of the lake itself. This is a serene spot as the low red sun glances off the water. Its thin meniscus gives the impression of glass. It's untouched, save for the small flies and bugs that seem to skip like Fred Astaire across the surface. It's serene. The tree line behind you, thick.
00:55:42
Speaker
build up of bronze colored trees, golden trees, green leafed trees, set this area in a serene location, in a calmness. And you all just kind of key into that general calm attitude that the area kind of brings. She looks out over the lake.
A serene lakeside reflection
00:56:02
Speaker
This was my mother's favorite spot. I often come here when I need to get my mind straight or just recover.
00:56:10
Speaker
She often used to say the waters were blessed, but I wouldn't really want to drink that anymore. Anyway, this spot, of course, is open to you as well if, like me, sometimes you need just to get your mind straight. No, it's a lovely spot, actually. It's good that we've got fresh water nearby as well, so, you know. Yeah. I thought it might be useful for
00:56:37
Speaker
a forge and whatnot. Now, I've wasted enough of your time this evening, so I'm... No, not at all. I was just thinking, all of this open patch of land here between the lake and the forge would make a good site for farming. Yes, I mean...
00:57:00
Speaker
Our families have never been into farming, but the lands around here are fertile. Trees wouldn't grow otherwise. Not a problem. I'm a farmer. Well, I was, so maybe leave that with me. Absolutely. We may have a hundred mouths more to feed than we were expecting a few days ago.
00:57:25
Speaker
You know, I'm not really sure what you mean by that. And I'm not going to delve into it, but yes, absolutely. You know, this look without you guys, I have to throw this, my towel in and have to leave. I can't stay here. So this is, I'm putting all my cards and chips in with you guys to make this work. So I'm in for everything. I'm in for every idea you have. Just consider me in.
00:57:50
Speaker
Oh, on that though, Marita, you're going to meet a farmer, well, the wife of a deceased farmer. She might have some more information that might be useful. I'm sure you know what you're doing, but seed, grain, and the like, I don't know if she'll have any in stores that you might be able to take and set you up. Might be an idea. I might. Now, sorry, Rains. I'm just curious, Marilla, what type of farms do they have in Drelak? And I genuinely ask, because
00:58:20
Speaker
I'm curious. Well, farming on grass and soil, it's considerably easier than the sands that I grew up in, so I'm pretty confident. For the most part, I grew exotic cactus fruits. It's all that really grows in the desert.
00:58:46
Speaker
Do they have their farms on the level? Is it on the surface?
00:58:58
Speaker
Do we have farms? No, we have them floating in mid-air. I only ask because in Shadow Men, the sandstorms in the Golden Triangle are so bad that the farms are actually under the ground. Because that's my knowledge of desert farms. I genuinely was curious as to whether they farm on the surface.
00:59:17
Speaker
No, it's just sand the further down you go. And then if you're lucky, molten lava. So, you know, your best bet is working with what you can. What about, I mean, like I know nothing about farming, so forgive me, but did you ever farm any salts? Anything called quelcherads? Oh, aye. Ah, ah. Cool. What is that?
00:59:47
Speaker
It's not something I'm familiar with. Well, and it has distinct properties. You know, it's sort of magicians like it, healers like it, poisoners like it. You know, it's just a bit of a catalyst for stuff that people want to happen. And it's also extremely hard to export out of Dralak.
01:00:17
Speaker
But I don't know anything about that. Well, if you're a pirate, you probably do... No! If I was a pirate, I'd move this around. Nah. Yeah, that's what I'd do next. Yeah. I'd probably just put this on the black market everywhere I went. I don't know what a black market is. That's because you're not a very good pirate, Nix. But you have heard of me. Hang on, I'm having a day job, are we? Read that.
01:00:48
Speaker
Well, at least we've got a nice place to stay. Thank you all. You're very welcome. I'll get out of your hair now and let you... Well, the evening's yours. Food and drinks in the hall. Feel free to do what you like. And in the morning, you know where you need to go. I won't bug you anymore. I'll put out some feelers' reigns about the pits. I'll send out for some more information, see if I can get a list of... What pits? Oh, you went with that.
01:01:18
Speaker
Yeah, we were talking about the problem with all those business here and how we're going to help her that our chance for us, our business, a good chance for us to advertise ourselves is in the pits where we'll earn some coin at the same time, garner a bit of a reputation. Which one? The ones in gold view, fighting pits, apparently. Right. Which ones? The legal ones, not the
01:01:46
Speaker
back alley ones. There's no real money in the safe ones.
01:02:02
Speaker
It's not about the money, it's about getting us the crowds and the fact that we can get a name for us as a group of adventurers to be able to drum up business. That theme would rise quicker if you went to the different kind. But I don't do blood bouts, so, you know. Maybe, maybe, maybe, given that Marotta knows more about Goldview, it would be wise to consult her and listen to what she has to say, especially if it's
01:02:31
Speaker
All about gaining fame. To be fair, Imran, there ain't... Monster hunting is going to be effectively a blood belt. We ain't going to find too many so don't involve spilling some blood. No, no, no, but don't get me wrong, Rains.
01:02:48
Speaker
I've fought in pits before, and doing spectacle bouts for showing what you can do in that lot is fine, but bouts to the death are different. I accept that adventure is different, but there's a difference when it comes to fighting to the death in a pit. I've been there, I've seen it, and I don't do it. My friend, the people who engage in those particular types of fights,
01:03:15
Speaker
You'd be doing the world a service by removing their heads. And isn't all fighting pits, doesn't that all end in death? No, there are some that don't end in death because it's not very profitable, see, because what tends to happen is you tend to lose your fires quite quickly and it tends to not make much money because they have to get more fighters in. So they've worked out that if their fighters stay alive, they're actually a bit more profitable in the long run sometimes for the owners.
01:03:46
Speaker
All I'm saying, Imran, is you'd barely be a fart in the wind, winning one of those. But rip a man's head off who's wanted for murder in eight, nine kingdoms. Aye, you get the guard on you, but you'd also get others talking too. I mean, it's not like we don't have the muscle. We have an alpha.
01:04:14
Speaker
I do not know how effective my hand-to-hand combat would be. Oh, oh, no, no, no. You have your full arsenal. I can fight by any means necessary. Any means, and I'll give Nix a knowing stare. Yeah, the objective here... and Nix gives a knowing nod. The objective here, Alpha, is to win at all costs. Morola, can I ask you a question?
01:04:43
Speaker
Sure. If there are pits where there are dangerous folk, surely there are other pits where monsters are caught and we can fight dangerous monsters, which would be a good calling card for what we're about. You want to just basically be on enslaved creatures? That's a bit fucking gross. Have a fucking heart. No. I don't know of any of those.
01:05:14
Speaker
The big weirdo. It's getting time for bed, don't you think? It's so dark and, you know, the morning will be... You're covering your eyes. It's still early evening, lad, so you and I... I've got much better vision in the dark than you do, everyone.
01:05:35
Speaker
You can just walk away, Nick. No, I'm just trying to move the conversation on from anything that could. Well, you said you guys were tired. We've walked well for today. So, you know, we'll meet up what we say, first light tomorrow morning, or do you want to lay in? I mean, we're all sleeping in the same area. Maybe a better distance, though.
01:05:59
Speaker
Unless you guys are sleeping elsewhere, which just would be strange. No, no, no, no. But, you know, I might go... We've still got a few hours left before turning in. I might go start clearing up that forge for a bit. Here, I'll give you a hand. You know? Yeah, Alpha, you want to come with us? It is quite all right. Actually, Alpha, why don't you stay with us? Oh, why don't you come with us, Alpha? Something back at school. He's like, I got picked first for the basketball team. It's our choice, Alpha. You do whatever you want to do.
01:06:34
Speaker
I'm malfunctioning now. OK. OK, stay here. That's great. Looks like we need to have a look at your... I believe I will do my own thing tonight, if that is OK. Good boy. Thank you. Right there, watch you do your own thing. Can we do our own things next to you doing your own thing?
01:07:02
Speaker
I would prefer not. Fair enough. Some people like to do their own thing on their own. Some people like to do their own thing with company though. Everyone's going to walk towards the forge. Have you ever done your own thing with company? Like full on audience watching you. I have never done my own thing. With company. With or without company.
01:07:25
Speaker
Oh, well, maybe you should just have your own thing. Yeah. Yeah. Let me know if you need some... No dads, no friends. I will let you know if any help is required. Thank you. No problem. We're going to be in the Smith if you need us. Alfred, Marauder, Nyx. I'm going to follow Enron. I don't know why he says my name right at the end there as Nyx turns to Marauder as a side look. Okay. And, um,
01:07:57
Speaker
I'm dropping things as well. It's gone. Rains and Emron walk off towards the Forge. I didn't give it a cool name, but I'll leave that to you guys. After the Forge leaving, just Morota, Alpha and Nyx stood in a huddle near the south of the Goldport Keep.
01:08:18
Speaker
I'm just curious, Mark, when we were in the Forge, was there any sort of farming tool paraphernalia, like a hose or ploughs, anything like that, kicking around? We have to either re-wreck on it or you go with them and do an investigation check on the space. It was more just like... Oh, kind of general, did anything come out? Ask Alfa, he's right next to us. Yeah, what's your passive?
01:08:49
Speaker
There's no, there wasn't anything there. The land hasn't been used for farming at all anywhere. There's no kind of sides of animal husbandry or livestock or crop control at all. So you look around, it's just kind of detritus.
01:09:05
Speaker
Yeah, I'm just going to in that case, I'm just going to sort of patrol the grounds with my dagger and I'm just going to do soil like basic soil observations, but like my own have my own time. Okay, actually walking past the small tender to cemetery area that all are kind of avoided, you do notice within there, there's a couple of small
01:09:26
Speaker
kind of gardening bits of equipment that she uses to keep the space neat and tidy and respectful. Aside from that, the soil tests you do, the land is incredibly fertile all the way around. This has been untouched for generations and this soil just seems to get kind of a clayy substance, a clayy substance is packed full of of nutrients ready to be ready to be used in farming.
01:09:54
Speaker
Cool, I'll just spend a couple hours by myself then just checking it out. Okay, brilliant, thank you.
Crafting sending stones by the lake
01:10:00
Speaker
What about then, as you wander off, Nix and Alpha, are you two still talking about masturbation or? Alpha was never talking about masturbation. Of course not. Nix absolutely was. So yeah, so do yous. So where are you going to do your own thing?
01:10:23
Speaker
I quite like the area around the bottom of the lake. I believe I will go spend some time there. What? Where we are? Yes. Quite scenic here. Because I was thinking if you were doing your own thing, but tidying up, I was going to spend time by the lake. You are more than welcome to stay here. I will not.
01:10:44
Speaker
Oh, OK, cool. I don't want to interrupt or anything like that. Or, you know, I just I'm not that tired. And so I don't know. I thought maybe I'd try out the water, to be honest, because it's been blessed, apparently. And given my current situation, a little bit more blessing probably wouldn't do me no harm. You wish to go swimming? No, no. More drinking than swimming. Ah, well, please.
01:11:14
Speaker
I will not stop you I might go swimming Does it look deep enough to swim?
01:11:23
Speaker
Is that to me or to Alpha? To mark you. Yes, 100%. It's quite a deep, as you peer in through some of the lily fronds, fronds, is that a thing? I feel like it's a frond, pond. Anyway, they're nice little circular things you see on cartoons on lakes. Those, and through some of the green kind of meniscus of the lake, through the reflection, the nice red sun reflecting off, yeah, it goes down quite deep. You can't see the bottom, so you assume it's either very deep or quite murky down there, one of the two.
01:11:52
Speaker
Ah, actually, I think swimming is a very good idea. And then Nix will just start undressing and then stand on the edge and dive in. Alf is going to go run, grab his coat and run away. What?
01:12:08
Speaker
Bollocks. I mean, are you waiting until I'm in the water? Yeah, I'm not actually doing that. I'm not actually. Oh, I was going to say, how far would I do that? How far would I do that? I just thought, ooh, opportunity. You're like, shit. Yeah, no, no, that's a very me thing to do. Yeah, there was this daughter's lovely, and it's.
01:12:26
Speaker
Yes, revitalizing, it's cool, it's crisp, it's clear, it's clean, it's drinkable. You expect the salty return in your eyes that you get from trying to open your eyes under the water in the sea that you're so used to, but this is clear as, and you imagine if this was midday, you'd see all the way down to the bottom of this gorgeous lake.
01:12:45
Speaker
So out for what you would see is just pure bliss on Nix's face, like, almost as if he was trying really hard in a social situation before, but now he's with the water in the water and he's just, he's just happy. You won't hear anything from him, he's just, he's just gonna be swimming around and then he'll spread out like a starfish so that he's boiling on the water and he's gonna do it face up so he can stare at the sky.
01:13:10
Speaker
Oh, that's nice. Beautiful. That's beautiful. L'Oreal moments. He will try the water, though.
01:13:19
Speaker
as well. Yeah, you take a big gulp of it down. It's cold. It's crisp. It's clear. It's clean. And if you're expecting any kind of anything else, no, it's just that before, Paula said that she doesn't she wouldn't drink the water. So I'm just wondering, like, why is it not drinkable? Or is it just because of her mom's, you know, the history there?
01:13:42
Speaker
So, as long as it's drinkable, that's fine. All good. Yeah, absolutely drinkable. I'm not hoping for anything or blessed or anything like that. No, no problem. Yeah, absolutely drinkable. Really nice, clean, fount of water. You do want to know where the water comes from as well. There's a crack in the rocks behind the nice kind of standing place that you were with Alpha, and you can see now water just kind of almost free flowing through the ground towards the lake as well. So, it's a replenishing source of water.
01:14:07
Speaker
Awesome. You'd see Nick's tail almost act like a rudder so that if he was getting too close to the edge, his tail would turn and just kind of move a little bit side to side so that he'd kind of swim back to the center. And that's me. Nice.
01:14:23
Speaker
Alfa, what are we up to? Are you just staring? Well, Alfa will obviously observe Nitz diving into the water just for a brief moment, and then he wants to just head to the southern end of these mossy rocks, and he's going to try and find a couple of really small, slim ones.
01:14:46
Speaker
And it's probably going to take about an hour. Just going to try and engrave his face into both of these stones, just so they're like a matching pair. I'm just letting you know for gaming reasons, Mark, I'm crafting a pair of sending stones using my infusions. And I am going to
01:15:14
Speaker
take both of them. I'm just going to put them in pocket for now. And after I have finished crafting, I want to actually try and just find Orla if possible. Okay, not a problem.
Clearing space and private goblin discussions
01:15:27
Speaker
So we'll let you have your eye on doing that. I'm just going to quickly pop over to the guys heading over to the Forge. You guys, Rains and M1, were you just tidying up or just to start getting the place in order or did you want to have a chat in the meantime?
01:15:43
Speaker
The first thing... I always wanted to chat as well. Cool, yeah, absolutely. No worries, I thought, Jack. Okay, you make your way there and you start kind of fastidiously taking out large bits of kind of wood and waste and things that just shouldn't be there that all has dumped in there as the space starts to slowly empty as you talk. This ain't bad, Imran. Don't get me wrong, you think the sister hold last see him, but this ain't bad. There's a lot of love that's gone into making this place.
01:16:12
Speaker
Ah, it'll do us fine. So, and everyone shifts some stuff as he talks, I feel like we need to have a chat with Alpha when he's not near Nyx and Marota. Why? Well, just to find out what actually happened with the goblins, because the three of them together seem to be a bit vague on the details of how they're not a problem anymore. Right, I don't know.
01:16:39
Speaker
Look, I'm going to level with you. I come from a position of immense privilege and a family who did a lot of bad things to earn their privilege. So I'm not entirely sure that morality is my strong point. And I should also say that I think it's only right that Alphys allowed to find his own path at times.
01:17:00
Speaker
But I always come to you when I have a dilemma with morality. So if you feel you need to talk to him, well, then you're going to do it regardless of what I
Massacre or peace with goblins?
01:17:09
Speaker
say. So it's not like I'm not like trying to tell him he's done wrong. What I want to know is I want to know what happened without Nixon's bullshit.
01:17:18
Speaker
I can understand that. That's fair enough. I want to know straight. They say the problem has been dealt with. What I want to know is, is there now a cave of massacred goblins that's going to be a problem? Or has something a bargain been struck that is going to
01:17:38
Speaker
you know, stabbers in the back somewhere down the line. I just don't want any surprises, if you know what I mean. Well, there was a bounty on those goblins if those three didn't do it, someone else. But well, perhaps they're telling us the truth. Perhaps they didn't do it. Either way, look, when I left Alpha with them, for me it was, look, I promised him in Goldview that I'd start letting him find his own feet and path in the world. Oh, I totally agree. I just
01:18:05
Speaker
You know, it's important that we also help him because, you know, the certain folk who will try and manipulate his innocence and get him to do things that perhaps he shouldn't be doing because he doesn't know better. Well then, Ron, I've always relied on you to be my moral compass if you feel that you need to do the same for Alfa, whom I'd stop you. Well, indeed. But yeah, no, we've got a fine place here.
01:18:32
Speaker
Yeah, Mark, is there a armor stand in here? Just something that armor could be placed on?
Magic and armor: The Rubik's Cube effect
01:18:40
Speaker
Yes, there is. In the top left corner, you notice the remains of an armor stand. Rains is going to go over to it and drag it out. And then once he's done that, he's going to place one of the Rubik's cubes into the hand of that armor stand. And when he does that, he's then going to just say
01:19:00
Speaker
and defend the protocol one and the suit of armor is going to start to just come out in pieces out of the bag of holding and just attach itself to the armor stand as the Rubik's Cube starts to glow. I just want to then take a look at it because I've just been tinkering with this over the past couple of days and I'm just curious from a mechanical point because I haven't asked this thing again yet and I didn't want to note down the AC till I had
01:19:26
Speaker
In what state is this armor? Is it in the state of breastplate, halfplate or full plate? I'm guessing not full plate because it was pretty badly damaged. So just so I can take down its AC stats, what have I managed to do to this? With breastplate at the moment.
01:19:43
Speaker
I think in the forge you're currently in, with the time you might have over the next, well, in downtime or between adventures out, monster hunting, there's time to, definite time in space and the resources if M-Rump manages to come up with the fuel needed, as you mentioned earlier, to put some time and effort into this to really make it zing. As I do that, I'll then just look back at M-Rump and say,
01:20:11
Speaker
you know this actually may be worse than what I've currently got but it's an investment I knew that when I took it so so yeah I'm gonna just spend some time with this and less than anything else you want to chat about or did it will do no no you were you you you think with your armor stuff I know you've been anchoring to do that just let me know if you need any help you know I'm always here but yeah you
01:20:41
Speaker
Looks like it's not in bad, Nick. I mean, obviously, you've only got the chest there. If you wanted a full plate mail, you're talking about van braces, leg braces. You want helmets. You've got a lot more to add to it. Put it that way. Well, I think with time and understanding of what I'm doing, I can make the armor at that itself. But I've got a few calculations to figure out before that's going to be possible.
01:21:10
Speaker
You do your stuff and M1's going to try and clear a corner and he's going to set up a little Aledo shrine. Yeah, absolutely fun. Top right corner where a lot of the detritus was kind of cleared itself after you emptied it out and that corner can perfectly be used for a small shrine to Aledo, absolutely. Yeah, cool. Okay.
01:21:37
Speaker
Alfa, just passing over to you, as you walk into the
Goblins' peace offering: A gift from Alpha
01:21:40
Speaker
keep, into the main hall, you see all her sat with her head in her hands sat table, rubbing her forehead, and she looks up when you enter. Alfa, I thought you didn't eat. You can't be here for food. I am here to see you. Oh. Why? Is everything all right?
01:22:04
Speaker
Everything is perfectly fine. I have a mere favor to ask of you if that's okay. Of course, anything. Alpha's gonna take out one of the stones that is carved and hand it to... to Orla. It's very pretty. Thank you. I am quite proud of the work myself. It has a unique ability, but I wish for you to send it to somebody. I believe you get a messenger service that comes round here? Yes, I do.
01:22:35
Speaker
There is a decrepit old manor, the home of the goblins themselves. Part of our negotiation with peace is that I present them a gift as an offering. I wish to send them this. Okay. And you want me to give this to them? I wish you to give it to a particular goblin called Krystor. Krystor? Yes. If you mentioned that it is a gift from Alpha,
01:23:05
Speaker
then he will of course take it with great pleasure. If you are uncomfortable, you are more than welcome to send somebody else. I do have some silver. Don't worry, I'm heading that way anyway. I can take a short detour. I know what you mean. I know what the manner is. Sure, yeah, okay. And we're not killing them.
01:23:29
Speaker
No, no, there are to be no more deaths in regards to it. OK, I mean, that'll make it difficult being a monster hunter and not killing monsters, Alpha. But you know what? I trust you with it. Until something comes back and bites me in the ass, I'm going to go with everything. And then, you know, I'll whip you a new one if it does come back and bite us in the ass. But for your sake, I hope it doesn't. You see, I assume ripping a new one is a form of vengeance.
01:23:59
Speaker
Yes, it's a metaphor for getting my own back. But I hope it doesn't... I see that. It should not. Rest assured, Aller, I am here to help you, and I thank you very much for taking us into your home. I only wish to make it better, as per your wishes. Oh, I appreciate it.
01:24:19
Speaker
It's the least I can do for people who saved my life, and you lot seem to amaze me every time I speak to you. Your generosity, kindness, and just general goodwill, it's refreshing in these parts, in these dangerous times.
Orla's cautious advice to Alpha
01:24:35
Speaker
So I genuinely hope you do well, because my livelihood depends on it too. I have confidence in our abilities, and just as
01:24:48
Speaker
Alpha's trying to interpret a situation here. It's something really new, and he's going to kind of replicate Nix's awkward hug that he did beforehand, but it's back at the decrepit old manner, just on the basement level. He thinks that's where the situation's going, so he's just going to kind of reach in and do that and offer a little bit of comfort to Orla. And she first kind of muttering to herself awkwardly, like, what are you doing?
01:25:17
Speaker
What's happening? And then when she realizes what it is, she kind of doesn't fully hug you but kind of pats you twice from the back and then pushes you. Okay, that's enough. Thank you. Yes, I'll take this myself. I'll head out at first like tomorrow morning before you litter up. Just don't bother locking anything. There's nothing worth taking from here. So just head where you need to head and just make sure they all stay together.
01:25:48
Speaker
I will aim to do so. We are more strong. I will aim to do so. We are stronger as a group. Yeah, you are. And listen, as you started towards the door, listen,
01:26:07
Speaker
These things, they ain't no chickens. The story's bullshit. It's going to be something dangerous, so just don't be brazen. I know it won't be you, but just keep an eye out, okay? Expect the unexpected. Something's not right. I will keep a watchful eye on everybody. You'll have my word. I appreciate it. Good afternoon. Have a pleasant sleep anyway.
01:26:37
Speaker
Good evening, Paula. And Alpha, as you leave through the deepening, darkening sunset over Goldview, that's where we're going to end it for this week's episode of the Fellowship of the Tabletop.
Session reflections and gratitude
01:26:50
Speaker
Have some lovely serene images there of Nixon. Aww, interesting. Lots of lovely little, lovely little moments there, guys. We're already making it feel a bit like home. I know. Yeah, man. So when I burn it to the ground, it'd be even more brilliant. We are going to be devastated. No, not at all. Ah, lovely, guys. Lovely. There's not a single role, I think, in that. Another one, I think, for deception. Yeah, persuasion and whatnot.
01:27:15
Speaker
Just M. Ron doing his normal M. Ron thing. Well, everyone doing their normal thing, which is so lovely to have the band back together again. And speaking of doing your normal thing, thank you for tuning in and making us a part of your everyday week. We love you for it. Some interesting news out on the D&D world. Obviously, you'll be listening to this God knows when.
01:27:38
Speaker
probably October or late September, but we've just all heard about the one D&D. So the D&D world is very excited as are we with all the new stuff that's coming out from Wizards of the Coast. So yeah, stay tuned and we'll see what we can incorporate into our podcast from the new world. Look forward to it.
01:27:57
Speaker
Don't know if you heard anything mark and thought about in your mind what we can experiment with this is all so new stuff out there to be honest i haven't had loads of time to look at it but it's something i will be looking at it has just happened to be fair listeners it literally the news is just broke i need to be an artist man i've been board gaming hard so i'm.
01:28:18
Speaker
Maybe we'll branch off into that. We are fellowship at the tabletop, so there's no reason why we couldn't. Anyway, why am I making more work for us? Future? Where can we find us, chat to us about the podcast and
Social media sign-off and appreciation
01:28:30
Speaker
everything? Now that you've titillated our listeners, we can move on to the social channels. If you wanted to find us elsewhere, we have various social channels. We have a website, which is www.fellowshipatthetabletop.com. We have a Facebook, which is fellowshiptable, and we have a Twitter page, which is at fellowshiptable.
01:28:46
Speaker
And then if you wanted to go once, it feels like I haven't said this in ages. So I'm going to take a moment. If you wanted to go one step further and follow us individually. You can do so. I'm at I don't know. I was doing so well. I'm at I rolled one. Danny is at Total Party Thrills. Bowls champion Darren is at. Darren Page Six.
01:29:09
Speaker
What wheel is that? Natural 20 wheel. Callum is at the d20 gamer and our wicked awesome dm is at. Because I thought you were going bold and then chases the bold. I know I left it there. I hung on that word. You can find me a hasty little dm. You bastard. Until next time, guys.