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Ep. 16 The Journey to Bleakmore – De Profundis
103 Plays5 years ago
Follow us on our Twitters - @FellowshipTable
Check out the Initiative Trackers used in the show - CraftsByClaude
Intro written and produced by Joseph McDade - https://josephmcdade.com/
The Fellowship Party Twitter Pages:
- The DM/Mark - @HastilyRolledDM
- Drago/Ian - @IRolledA1
- Folly/Callum - @TheD20Gamer
- Elthir/Will - @Natural20Will
- Robin/Darren - @DarrenPage06
- Claude/Danny - @totalpartythrlz
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Transcript
00:00:00
Speaker
fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck
Introduction and New Year Greetings
00:00:28
Speaker
And now welcome to this week's episode of The Fellowship of the Tabletop. Bienvenue. I think that's French. It sounded more Spanish. Bienvenue. Is that what you're trying to say? Bienvenue. I think in the middle of Amy. It's actually Spanish. Anyway.
00:00:44
Speaker
Hello, thank you for joining us. My name's Mark, I'm the DM for the Fellowship of the Tabletop. Thank you so much for joining us on this, our 16th episode. I hope you're having a happy New Year. We have a full complement of players around the table ready for your ear holes to enjoy. Firstly, we've got Ian, who plays Drago. Happy New Year, guys! We've got Darren, who plays Robin. Come in that chair, 2020 style.
00:01:05
Speaker
We've got Danny who plays Claude. Willkommen, our table top. Oldlandzein everyone. For all those German listeners out there. Nice. Hashtag Germany.
00:01:20
Speaker
I feel bullied. And we also have Callum, who plays Folly Fizzle Bang the 9th. Greetings, Revellous! I'm gonna call you a full name every single time because it should be said in its full entirety. It should be, yeah. I think so. Right, so thank you everyone for joining us, because we all sit around the same table and play D&D together. Fucking love it, it's great fun. Thank you also to joining us.
00:01:41
Speaker
here on the podcast on this new year episode. I hope you've got some new year's resolutions and I hope they all involve either playing D&D or talking about D&D or getting involved with our D&D sessions as well or telling more people about it because it's awesome and we have so much fun here. Enough drinking from the Kool-Aid, let's
Game Recap: Collapsed Building and Moonrise
00:01:57
Speaker
get on with the game.
00:01:57
Speaker
okay here we go we all woke up some of us at different times but we all woke up we went downstairs to the tavern we looked outside because there was a commotion there was a building that was burning upon leaving the tavern to go outside we found that the building was not burning in fact the building had collapsed
00:02:18
Speaker
Killing the soul occupant in there the soul occupant whose name I can't remember But Elfie did try and dropkick him down the well that seems to be what was his name? Joseph and Kessel Joseph and Kessel beautiful beautiful name rummaging through the wreckage was a brand new compatriot
00:02:39
Speaker
Folly fossil fizzle bang foley fizzle bang fizzle bang foley fossil though sounds pretty good after I make sure you get the night after his introduction he set about
00:02:57
Speaker
being awesome. Good character work there by Callum. Awesome work. I'm filling in this time as my mind tries to quickly remember the details. That's it. You came one on one against Drago and won. And yeah, so you were introduced. Claude went over and manipulated the dead body.
00:03:16
Speaker
He's not that kind of guy. We don't know that. All we've seen is you play with dead bodies. And Elphir, Robin and Drago were confused as to what should be done next and where they should go upon finding out about
00:03:32
Speaker
I'm fondly about the Hellstorm Academy and its relation to the mysterious place called Moonrise, which Robin was told about in his escapades in the book. Is escapade the right word? Yes, it is. Escapade works. That seemed to give us a heading. So the group rallied together. Fossil Folly joined us on the Merry Adventure and we were prepared to head out there. And Claude rounded up the episode by telling us
Character Dynamics and Life Discussions
00:04:00
Speaker
that he told us nothing actually, he just gave Captain Dol Jualanes the dabbard of the fallen Hailstorm Surge member who had stripped it off in like three episodes ago. And he gave that to Captain Jualanes for the town to present to show that there was always someone out there fighting the dead.
00:04:26
Speaker
and that was a beautiful way to end the episode. He did also leave it on the cliffhanger about Shader. Yeah. Oh yes. You know I've noticed that Ian gets other people to fill in the detail on his recap. It's like a book where there's like fill in the gaps and yeah it's like a picture book where you just colour in some bits. It's a clothes exercise.
00:04:49
Speaker
Yes, of course, there was a cliffhanger at the end as well, wasn't there, Ian? There was. Do you remember what it was? Yeah, it was... Shader. The Masters looking after Shader and everyone went, what? Yes, that's exactly what we did, actually. Cool, thank you very much for that recap. It's succinct. A little bunny ears. Thanks everyone for that recap, that was great. Teamwork, team effort.
00:05:11
Speaker
So we find ourselves on the edge of this and I believe probably from that passing counter we would have started to have walked in the path towards where we are aiming for next but the question then is to the party entirely erases this after a step in a couple of steps. Wait, where are we going? The party stops and they all seem to look at each other. We're going to the hailstorm academy. Would you like to go to the academy? Yes, our gnome print here is going to guide us.
00:05:43
Speaker
from the academy. I'm Claude, I believe. I hate to bring this up, but you were talking about our daily departed friends. I'd quite like you to finish that fault. You said the master was taking care of Shader. Yes. What did you mean by that? That. Because taking care can be compounded as something quite violent or something quite nice. The master is not violent. Those people are dead. Then what did you mean? The master will look after Shader.
00:06:13
Speaker
until we get you back to the Sword Coast and then you can take him to your, or his, god's. But Shaga's dead. Yes. But you're talking about him as if he's alive and someone's taking care of him. No, he is not with us anymore. But the master looks after... I mustn't say. Looks after what? When we die, Drago, that's not the end. There is a world beyond this world. You know that, right? I don't believe in that. Come on. I've died. I'm here.
Journey Planning to Hailstorm Academy
00:06:42
Speaker
I'm sorry, you died? That are our realms. Hold on. You died. I've said this before. I wasn't saying anymore. You have not said this to me? No. Call me. I haven't had enough, we have not shared enough milk for me to get into that conversation. Talia kind of looks, oh, fucking milk again. And she turns, turns away. Just to confirm one thing, though, Claude, I'm pretty sure I asked it before, but I need to reiterate
00:07:18
Speaker
it hurts. Okay. That just tells us you're awake. Or that you can just feel pain. I'm pretty sure that thing we fought with Shader, that could feel pain, but I don't think that was alive. I don't understand more than that. I bleed, I hurt,
00:07:43
Speaker
I cry. I drink and I eat things to survive. I have emotions. I like pyjamas. Okay, I'm willing to accept that you're alive. Thank you.
00:08:00
Speaker
royal silk pajamas so you could get us into the Academy well yes I'll point out my tabard I'm from the Academy that's wonderful can we make I also promised the master that I would help you and I will help you how did the master know about us the master is very powerful he knows lots of things we not
00:08:25
Speaker
Long arrived on this island. How does he already know? We're not on an island anymore, Dribb Dibb. Drago, the master's a god. Drago, the master's a god. Drago, the master's clearly a god. The master's clearly a god. That broke me.
00:08:55
Speaker
The masters of God. Clearly. Jago looks to Claude. I don't know that. But he shepherds people when they leave this world. He does in shepherd sheep. I say people, not sheep. He does in shepherd people. Then what does he do? He rules his... I cannot say, because you can't know who the master is. He rules his realm, I believe. I feel like we need to get you drunk one night, Claude. I cannot say I will lose my head.
00:09:28
Speaker
You're welcome. I don't wish, I don't wish decapitation upon any of you. Thank you. Especially you. You have many headaches anyway. Point taken, Folly. Yes. I guess, as you're joining us. And I look pointingly down at your size. Will you be able to keep up? As Drago points down, Folly looks
00:09:59
Speaker
Substantially in a drago. He goes, I don't think I'll have a problem Mr. Foley. Yes, I have met nine people taller than me and I don't like any of them. I Like everyone I've met that's smaller than me So I will make sure no one hurts you. Thank you Robin at this point. Also, would you like to borrow this and I hand you a broken hourglass? I
00:10:28
Speaker
Yes very also and the sand in there is from many places. Which places are we talking about? Do you know or is it just something you've found? I've found it but I like to collect sand so I may build a castle. Try and go to some light sand. That is absolutely fantastic. What was your name again sir? Claude. Formerly the Royal Executioner of
00:11:01
Speaker
God formally the royal execution of a sleep card whole heart. Thank you very much. Well done. That's all right. I had to try and get that right. You just kicked it out of there. That was brilliant. Comic release meets comic release. This is great. So we're still walking at this point. And Talia has been taking a listen. Wait. You've kinda glinted over my question, guys.
00:11:28
Speaker
Where are we going? Would you like to go to where the Hailstorm Academy bases on this side of the Blight? Yeah, I kind of thought that's what you were talking about. Because we've been walking for quite some time now. Let me see your map then and I will point to my... That's a very small map. And what are you looking at?
00:11:52
Speaker
It's normally required, yeah. I pull out the map we were given. This map is a map of the sleep guard area. Where is the rest of the country? This is off the bit we were given. Where did you get this map? Found it. On a stone? Where did you find this map? I just found it. That's not been correct for hundreds of years. I can't remember. Where did I find it?
00:12:15
Speaker
You're the DM. I must find it in Aricast's dungeon, probably. Claude. Surely you know where we're going anyway. Why don't we just follow you? Alright. I can't read maps anyway. Okay. Talia, to answer your question, we're following Claude. I can read words. We're going to Bleakmore. So we're not along the coast then? That is where the Hailstorm Academy headquarters is on this side of the Blunt. And we're going to find...
00:12:45
Speaker
Gilear Arch-Arts, who is apparently incredible. Close enough. Gilda Archward. Gilda Archward. We're going to find... You want to find the Master Archward? Yes. That's who we want to find. Oh. Apparently she has a lot of information about this place. Yeah, but she won't talk to just anyone. She's very important. We're not just anybody. You're not from Sleekard. You're not from any of the kingdoms. Exactly, so we're not just anybody. We're special.
00:13:11
Speaker
She's very important. So are we. You don't disturb her. It's very important. We're not going to disturb her. Dragon might. Well, a dragon might, but I was kind of hoping that you would as a member of this academy. I've only enlisted recently. I'm only a member of the academy. She is the head of the academy on this side of the Blight. OK, Folly, I take a cracked diamond out of a bag of holding. It's a cracked garnet, rather, not a diamond. Would you like this?
00:13:40
Speaker
Yes. Would you be willing to disturb someone who's very important in exchange for it? Yes. Wonderful. Thank you. Problem solved. Totally. I don't even know if you'll get in. We're following. You might have to join the Academy. Tell me, Claude, who would get an audience with this person? Well, a member of the Hailstorm Surge.
Arrival and Exploration of Bleakmore
00:14:04
Speaker
No, I'm not joined the ranks of the Surge yet. I'm only an Academy
00:14:13
Speaker
blight but they'll be fighting and they don't want to come back to talk hmm Tyler to answer your question fully we're gonna follow Claude we're going to the Hellstorm Academy we're gonna
00:14:33
Speaker
Island where we are maybe how to get home in exchange I dare say we'll offer our services to take on the blight It's a bit of a long-term contract if you offer your services to the Academy We've got no better plan right now Claude. We are still strangers to this place We don't know how to get home if we can get home information we can find out
00:15:01
Speaker
We have our swords. We can help. We can clear the undead. We can help with the Blight. But we need information. I believe you will be able to help with the Blight. When you say a long term contract, how long? Well... I have a few centuries. I'm glad.
00:15:23
Speaker
term contract will nobody who's joined the academy or the surge yet has left unless they died. Wonderful. That seems like a long time. Do you know when you sort this out when we get there? Let's get there first. I mean, we are travelling there, so. Well, let's get a move on. Oh, and Folly? Yes. I wasn't jesting. If you had means of getting us and expediating our way into this person's presence, we would appreciate it.
00:15:50
Speaker
Well, I can certainly see what I can do when I get there. Wonderful. And with that, you see these tiny legs of this gnome start to kind of pick up pace and blur slightly as he manages not only to keep pace for the rest of you, but starts to actually pull in front of me slightly as he seems to skidaddle down the path. And kind of leading the way along those lines.
00:16:10
Speaker
I'm not pulling in any of your bibbies, you little birch. Okay, I'll try and keep up with you. As the day starts to build, clouds start to roll over and a light amount of rain, sleet, some might say, starts to fall across, sleep guard.
00:16:32
Speaker
As we continue to travel down the coast, we see much of the same from what we expected when we came over from the Osborne Islands. We see the clay, sodden cliff faces of the edge of Sleet Guard, the slowly changing to more metallics and whites of colour as we work further down the coast.
00:16:48
Speaker
You also see to the right of you, the path you're actually on isn't very well travelled, this doesn't seem to be the most well used path, but both of your Aerith-born counterparts seem to, both agree it's the quickest route to Bleakmore. As you continue to move down the path, you slowly come across down more and more of the
00:17:09
Speaker
hand side. The path that leads you along the coast and away from the forest, there's a gap between the forest and the cliff edge. What you start to notice is that the trees start to slowly shift and change in colour. Elphir and Claude, I think, what's your perception again? Claude, quite high. What's yours also, um, folly? Um, not very good. I feel, Claude, for some reason, I feel like yours is quite high.
00:17:36
Speaker
Yeah, okay, maybe not done. Maybe just else. Yeah, the colour of the trees start to tinge. They go from quite a nice vibrant green. Very slightly, the colour start to brown slightly. Not just of the leaves, the same types of trees, but the actual, if you just scan up and down the coast, you can see a very light gradient change from green to slightly more brown. Almost like autumn is happening here, but not further up the coast. Is it a little bit like we saw when we're going into the swamps with the corruption?
00:18:06
Speaker
No, it doesn't seem to match that. It's more autumnal. Yeah, but also it seems to be more all-encompassing than the blight that you saw in the swamp as that was more kind of controlled in certain areas. As the day continues to progress, you make good progress through this area of the of the island as you start to approach, you start to move, you look
00:18:31
Speaker
You move away from the coast for a series amount of time and you see this barren open ground, very similar to that of the Osran Islands, patches of grass, bushels, small creatures as the day continues to approach. We're probably around midday at this point. As your journey continues, you catch up again on the coast as you start to skirt along the eastern coast of Sleet Guard. You start to make your way again past the thicker part of the forest and here everyone notices that the colour of the trees has adjusted slightly, the tint is slightly darker.
00:19:00
Speaker
the forest continues to brown more and more this is a bit more noticeable now but again the trees don't look like they're dying they just look slightly browned the same types of trees you've previously seen on your journey probably both of your Aerith counterparts would have talked about the forest slightly talked about um
00:19:17
Speaker
It's deep, deep, rich history. The way it kind of curves around so much of Sleepguard, it starts over at Ford, through and just below Clay Peak. It circles near Bleakmore, around Evershire, near Highhaven, before meeting up with the peaks of the mountains, before actually the sandy areas that surround Goldview, down to the south as well. So it's this kind of big horseshoe shape of a forest that seems to
00:19:42
Speaker
encapsulate the mountains that sit in the very centre of Sligard, these deep, dark, rich mountains that have been mined for many centuries in the centre of Sligard. As you continue to walk down the path the rain starts to pick up and it is now relatively heavy rain but nothing you're not used to travelling through. Upon your journeys you don't seem to encounter much in terms of life or in terms of other people. The path that's been picked, as I've mentioned, is one that isn't well trodden and doesn't seem
00:20:17
Speaker
seems to prove this is the only way this path really leads to, which tells you something about the size of this establishment and what is really useful. The day continues to wear on.
00:20:28
Speaker
we can see off in the distance now, and Claude you can probably point this out, probably about two or three hours away into the distance to the east, is Blingmore. You can see the walls of this establishment, but also then the high building that stands in the centre of the town, which
00:20:55
Speaker
You're probably about two or three days out of the rains. The sun's close to setting by this point as well. We've got quite a heavy but still rain kind of coming down in me. There's no real wind. It's very quiet. Sometimes the rain is kind of not quite setting but it's letting off some really bright and vibrant colours across the coast as well. I imagine just a point of reference.
00:21:21
Speaker
When I joined into this story, I moved, I come out of Blackmore to Clay Peak to get the boat, and then rode up to the Otterin Islands. That's right, yes. Which is where, so, I made this passage recently from Leekmore to Clay Peak. Yep. Before meeting these guys. What's this whole area called again? Sleet Guard. Sleet Guard. So, Claude, is it normal for the climate to have the trees changing color like this? Well, the name is Sleet Guard. It's called?
00:21:53
Speaker
It's in the forest. Are they getting less green? Yes, less green. But they're getting less green. Also, my friend, we are approaching the biggest site of devastation in all of Eris.
00:22:06
Speaker
similar to what we saw with the swamp. I don't think that they were. It's easier for me to show you than it is for me to explain because I lack the tenacity of words to say. Clearly. Your vocabulary is so limited. I learnt tenacity recently, did I apply it in the right way? Yes. That's the first. Can I just say the tenacity of words would be an awesome like black metal album.
00:22:35
Speaker
That is our sub podcast. At some point Robin would have dropped back in next to Talia and he would have said to Talia. I don't know where I'm getting Talia from but anyway I'd drop in next to Talia and Robin would say
00:22:55
Speaker
You know, I've been thinking about what you said last evening and I've had a thought that I think might help you. Really? I know you said that you felt like you didn't feel like you could offer anything, but I'm going to impart on you some wisdom that was once imparted on me, which is we should all strive towards our strengths, our abilities to help each other as a family.
00:23:25
Speaker
It seems to me that whereas others thrive in chaos, you have the means to thrive and control. You study your spells and your book, and you're able to learn things. Well, Drago hits things really hard with his sword. Elphir is quick and can stealthily do things. I dread to think what the other two can do, but... I like to hug trees. Claude hugs trees.
00:23:50
Speaker
here. Yes, I have heard this will be a private translation, but since they're listening, it dawned on me that there are certain spells that I've been able to cast them myself. I would rubbish at spell casting, but I'm trying. There are spells that perhaps you can enlarge your allies, or you can make them quicker, or make your enemies slower. Perhaps without getting in the line of fire, they would be
00:24:18
Speaker
things that you could study. It is just a thought on what you've said anyway. I'm not trying to tell you what to do. No, no, no. And she nods. She listens to you as what you've said. I've had a look over them and my father's handwriting was never the best and his book is somewhat indecipherable at points, especially when we look at the latter end of his
00:24:39
Speaker
spell casting ability where his sight was starting to go but his ability was increasing and increasing but I've come across similar spells to that. I'll bear it in mind that perhaps maybe just my same spell isn't as effective but I'll have a think about it and the next couple of days I'll start having a look at maybe making things bigger or possibly making others smaller but not that one because he's small enough. I don't think I should make Folly any smaller like a mini mini gnome and that's
00:25:08
Speaker
That scares me a lot. And making Drago larger would be a riot, frankly. That's a great idea. May I have a look at your book? I speak languages that are not of this plane. She takes a second and pauses and thinks about her words. Claude, if I'm being honest, she pauses to really make sure she says the right thing. I have a thick skin, don't worry. To be honest, Claude,
00:25:42
Speaker
It's mine. It's just nonsense. It walks off pretty much, okay? It's a sunsetting. Yes, it's close to a sunsetting. So Elph is going to be looking for a place to camp. Okay. By that time, this is quite a slow set. You'd probably only be an hour or two out of Bleakmoor if you did want to. Oh, I thought you said days. No, no, no. So we've only been travelling for a day. Yes. Oh, wow.
00:26:08
Speaker
Well, are we approaching the end of the day? Yes, yes, it's pretty much. But we're actually an hour and two or three hours away. Is it safe for us to press on? Well, it depends what you'd like to do when you get to Bleakmore. I could just go to my dorm in the academy, but we don't tend to accept recruits in the middle of the night. Does Bleakmore have inns and taverns? It's a town, it's like clay peeking.
00:26:38
Speaker
fortified space you see, that's the Academy. I am, I see. I will also say that you'll probably meet more people what look like you and what look like Dribbo more. Ah, more elves than Dragonborn. Well, since the Academy opened, it's more of a place where more cultures seem to come. Excellent. So you may see some of your people.
00:27:08
Speaker
That would be amazing. You may not, but I've seen dwarves there. Have you seen many elves? I've seen an elf or two there. I've seen a man what has four legs there. I've seen, oh wait, this might be my story, but I'm getting confused. No, I've definitely seen them.
00:27:31
Speaker
OK, that's definitely seen. Just to get back to the point in hand, should we approach during the day or should we press on and approach tonight? Do you recommend camping? Well, I haven't been to my room in weeks, so I might go now. I don't know what the rule is. I don't think they encourage sleepovers.
00:27:49
Speaker
Let's press on, shall we? I'm pretty sure we're all OK walking in the dark. But I know that there's this wonderful image of all of us just bunging into your room. Scrap party! I don't like it because I don't drink it, but there's a very nice pub there. Good. And everyone says it's got lots of choices because there's lots of people sailing to Bleakmore from different kingdoms.
00:28:21
Speaker
Okay, then. I say we press on. Anyone who disagrees? I'm fine for that. No, let's go! Okay. You might get funny looks if you don't wear one of these. Now I'm gesturing to the tab art, because at most, the populace is associated. Look at me. I always get funny looks.
00:28:41
Speaker
that Bleakmore and Goldview are the two places where you're least likely to get funny looks in Sleek Gardens. Then I can't wait to enter. Let's get on. I can give you funny looks just so you feel like it's normal. It's okay Claude, that's fine. Thank you though.
00:28:59
Speaker
As you continue to approach towards Blythmore, you join onto the one path that leads in and out of the city, sorry, of the town. There is a rather well built balustrader, balustrader, that's not the right word, battleman, balustrader, thank you, that surrounds the town.
00:29:15
Speaker
eight or nine foot tall made of wood and relatively spiked and protected. There seems to be a guard or two patrolling around the edges of it as well. You can quite clearly see that they are well-armoured guards. As you approach even closer you notice that this building that dominates the skyline of Bleakmoor is
00:29:33
Speaker
of some repute. It's well lit as well, it's well looked after and it's different. It's obviously built much more recently than all the other buildings which fits in with Claude's story too. As you approach Claude, sorry I'm putting words in your mouth, I would have told you a little bit about the layout of what to expect there. The area is kind of split into three major areas. You've got the west district which dominates the inside of the town where you will find the
00:29:59
Speaker
Hailstorm Academy. You've also got Green Gate which are your kind of southern areas which dominate kind of many of the slung areas. One or two, one of the pubs happens to be located there and then north of it you've got Low Sprawl or what was called Low Sprawl until more recently where it's been renamed the Scard which is an area that is run to look after those Hailstorm recruits or Hailstorm surge members who have been injured in
00:30:29
Speaker
speak so it's kind of a very much a hustle and bustle place even at night you can see many torches lit and you can hear a busy atmosphere inside as you approach I'm guessing we're approaching yeah yeah as we start to approach the town and you notice a guard standing on the door of it with a large sword sheathed to his side he steps out as if to stop you for a second and notices Claude and just gives a knowing nod and steps to the side and lets you all pass in
00:30:58
Speaker
You walk past the Palisade gates that are already open. You notice quite a bustle inside the city. There are torches and sconces pretty much throughout the space. You can notice many, many people, as Claude rightly said, wearing very similar gear to that of Claude. The city's mainly made up of two-storey buildings with white panels and black wooden beams. Very much kind of Tudor-esque, I think.
00:31:24
Speaker
The walls are sometimes also made of stone and brickwork as well, the floors are all well decked out, the paths are well decked out, it's very clearly defined, these seem to have been redesigned relatively recently, almost in military fashion, with kind of clear lines of straight, lots of straight lines, lots of 90 degree turns, not the winding passages you saw back at Clay Peak, this seems to have been redesigned for the very purpose of
00:31:47
Speaker
the the academy as you walk in directly down the path towards the centre of it it opens up into a large plaza and to your right you see and it's been difficult to not see it the very very very
00:32:03
Speaker
Hailstorm Academy. You're now in the centre of town here, there are people walking around, you can see groups and members of the Hailstorm Academy or Acolytes or Initiates walking around into these talking, deep conversation, you hear words of the black, you hear words of the fight back, you hear words of the work of the cleric, the
00:32:25
Speaker
hustle and bustle of conversations. You can also see lots of commenters as well, people who obviously live in this town who work alongside selling fruits, selling vegetables, even late into the afternoon and into the night selling their wares throughout the time as they know this place never really shuts. Behind you, carts continue to bring in either members of the Ailstorm Surge that are wounded, missing body parts, you see some with large bites or gashes and wounds quietly sobbing to themselves as they get brought on in carts. You also see other members walking in exploring
00:32:57
Speaker
Checking the quality of goods approaching, the goods leaving, and kind of keeping track of everything. This seems to be a well-oiled military operation that has kind of moved into a town that happens to be in our location. What would you like to do? There seems to be a lot going on around here. That feels a bit busy. For this time of... is it like an evening as well? The sun's gone down by this. Is it normally this busy at this time of the night? It doesn't normally stop here. We have a very important job to do.
00:33:26
Speaker
And... Witches. Well, we train new recruits for the blight. We take people that have been injured in the blight and heal them. This is one of the command centres for the whole hailstorm surge. You keep talking about this blight. How long has it been a thing? Very long time and it's growing. Then you're not really doing
00:33:55
Speaker
a good job. It's hard when you kill someone and they come back and fight you and their mate comes up and fights you and their mate comes up and fights you. Where is the blight in relation to? We are pretty close. It's a few hours to the east. This is one of the most fortified positions off the front line. Surely at some point you must fear that the blight will
00:34:24
Speaker
growing size and attack here well we've held steady for a couple of months now what happened before that well it started off being the size of a little village now it's the size of the kingdom so you've retrieved the last couple of months
00:34:44
Speaker
last year with Lucian Blightbane. He led a heroic escapade into Clearguard and since then we've managed to slow the advancement of the Blight and well some people might be so bold to say we've held it. This is a breakthrough.
Confrontation with Lady Archward
00:35:02
Speaker
Well Claude this is your hometown is it not? No I'm from the capital originally. Right. But ever since
00:35:11
Speaker
Beheading was outlawed. There was no longer in need of me as the royal executioner And I don't do well. No one gives me orders. Oh, so I joined up Okay, so Lucy and blight blade who used to be the prince, but it's no longer the prince. I like him. We once played tag jolly this time
00:35:32
Speaker
I would like to go to my dorm and read my story but we should go find Gilda. I think Gilda at this time might not. Gilda will always meet new recruits but well I don't mean to offend. No you can go. But most people here are gifted in the magical ways and some sort. But we don't turn anyone away that's the motto. I always found that people who delved into the
00:35:59
Speaker
really warriors and upon that you hear a voice from behind you a powerful voice speak over you you obviously haven't met many people who are able to cast magic dragonborn and you turn around and you see a very tall female human standing in front of you wearing a replete with sleep guardian surge armor but this armor has kinks has cuts
00:36:25
Speaker
has gashes missing from it, that she wears still with pride, she hasn't come from battle and she still looks relatively well-kept, who has been listening in to the conversations behind you.
00:36:44
Speaker
She's not even looking at you at this point. She looks over Claude. You've been gone quite some time now. May I ask where you've been? Well, I carried out my mission to the Ozrin Isles. I discovered someone who was a necromancer of sorts. These people, they claim to have removed his head. Good.
00:37:04
Speaker
And what may have been a tricky outbreak to the west of Clay Peak has been averted. She puts her hand out and looks down quickly. Claude, we asked you to go to the Ozran Islands to follow up on a lead regarding Ericas. There was nothing in your report to ascertain that you should go west into the Basinwind Swamp. May I ask why you went west into the Basinwind Swamp? These people who encountered Ericas
00:37:33
Speaker
believed that he may be in the Bays and Winds swap. And as it was my only lead, I investigated. Also, what's curious is that they are not from Aerith. She looks at each of you in the eyes for a second, looks down towards... That one is from Aerith. That one is. And Folly will just look up and wave. Yes. Quite. Nonetheless, Claude, this was not part of your remit.
00:38:00
Speaker
We knew of the elements of the blight within that area of the basement's swamp, and we were sending forces to deal with it. Well, no, you don't have to. We've dealt with it. And he helped. And everything was fine. We're standing here. The forces I have with them were rather dangerous. And we're very dangerous.
00:38:18
Speaker
There was a portal that we destroyed. Yes, we knew of the portal. We wanted that portal intact, Claude. We needed to work out how they were using it. That was why I asked you very specifically to go north and not to go to the swamp. That was a missing line. A Captain Drallanus of Claybeak had got into the swamp to investigate.
00:38:39
Speaker
He had been missing and so we were tasked by the people of Clay B to go and find him in that act. We then ended up defeating and to a great personal cost to our party. And she looks directly at Claude again. So there was a cost for this as well. Claude, we will talk later.
00:39:03
Speaker
you took place I'm sure it had good intentions and for that I'm sure the people of Sleepguard are thankful to you. It's worth pointing out to you that this thing that came through the portal was manufacturing smaller things that were appearing with alarming frequency. The alarming frequency my friend is not the size of that portal but the size of the portal in
00:39:27
Speaker
You feel that the alarming frequency coming from that small portal was a problem. My friend, I have a place you will need to see at some point. It could have grown bigger though, we had to act. We needed to know more though. I understand where you are coming from. Now, Claude. Hello. Why have you brought these people to us? Are they to join the Academy? Well, I wish to return to my post. They are following here on a different path.
00:39:53
Speaker
Some of them may wish to join the academy. You must speak to them, but I understood that this was a place of safety, so I brought them here and then they can make their minds up. Well, it was a rare moment of initiative, Claude, and for that, well done. Thank you. But for today, and for the foreseeable, until I feel that you have regained my trust, you will stay out with your party and will not be entered into the Hellstorm Academy. Okay. Because of your inability to follow clue instructions,
00:40:21
Speaker
This is all well and good. Is there any way we can go to discuss this? Well, here is a good place. Work out in the streets. Yes. Are you Lady Archward? That's my name, correct. We have been sent to this world with mixed, with weird, strange messages of whispers, of saving Aerith, of the elf it looks to Robin. Perhaps Drago is right. There is another time for this discussion.
00:40:50
Speaker
I'm tired and we will discuss it in due course. It would be helpful to all of us. Mistress Arcwater is a very busy lady. You might not see her again tomorrow. She might not be able to hear what you have to say. And she's here now. Because we're not being shown any damn respect. As far as I know we got rid of a portal full of evil intentions to this
00:41:30
Speaker
go is that right yes of course please follow me and let me describe something to you very clear she did thank us but she needs to do more than thank us she walks directly past you or through the middle of you towards the north of clear
00:41:51
Speaker
as we're at the time, you enter into a series of what look like pop-up tents that have been put out. There are about 12 or 13 of these tents. The mood suddenly shifts in the air and you can see here this place is a place where soldiers have come, soldiers have visited to be healed, to be somehow put into some kind of shape. You see men missing arms, you see women missing legs, you see people in pain and agony and you see off to the right
00:42:22
Speaker
wall and behind the tent in the other side of the tents a series of graves she says follow me her voice lowering slightly you walk between the fence sorry between the wall and one of the tents and you come through to a field to the north of the city of the town and then you really understand the true nature of this place this is a graveyard and you see thousands of graves going off almost into the distance through the night and she point she gestures out to them and goes
00:42:58
Speaker
I understand you might have lost one of your own, but please understand, this is bigger. You might have taken out one small port, and for that I do thank you, but there are millions more. These are my Shader, Drago. These are the ones we must fight. These are my Shader. Althea will turn to Robin and go in Arvish. I see Drago continues to help us, endear ourselves to the locals.
00:43:25
Speaker
He doesn't dropkick people, though. I spoke in Elvish. Oh, sorry. In Elvish, I respond to WOAH! Basically, nice to know he has a bit of a reputation. I'll make a note of it.
Undead Threat and Strategic Planning
00:43:39
Speaker
Ha! And I sort of take a moment to offer a nod to Fizzle Bang. This is all well and good, and I understand the reason why you're showing me this. It does not diminish our own personal loss.
00:43:55
Speaker
we're not here to join your crew but we can help as you have already been told we've already got rid of one portal and we are here and we are strong and we can help you we can help
00:44:13
Speaker
graves. But in return you might have overheard that we are not from this place. We require more information. We want to know why we are here. More importantly we want to know if we can get back home. Along the way if we can help you we will. I will promise my specialties and my weapon to you my lady in exchange for two pieces of information if you may. I want to know how we may get to moonrise and
00:44:42
Speaker
And does the name Rolf Hulksplitter mean anything to you? The first question, not the second question before slightly. Yes. Rolf Hulksplitter is the leader of Erith. He is his Highness, Rolf Hulksplitter. Why is it that you ask about him? You say he is the leader. Yes. Why authority? And he might be dead.
00:45:06
Speaker
No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Quite recently messages came from the Sangrean lands telling us exactly. His decree, the man is alive and he is supplying the obsidianus to help with the spirit on readout, to fight back the undead. The man is very hard to kill, I've seen him in combat, he's an incredible swordsman. I feel that now is the time for complete honesty, so I may as well allow you to have it. Whilst rummaging through Eraqat's things on the Alderaan Islands,
00:45:36
Speaker
came stumbled across a book, which I happened to open, and vanished into. I mean that literally. Upon reading the book, I was told that Rothorgsplitti's death is not what it seems, and that I should seek out followers of this mysterious voice that spoke to me in Moonrise. Interesting. She takes a second to herself. Now, Rothorgsplitti is alive and well. I have that on very good authority.
00:46:06
Speaker
This person that spoke to you, do you remember anything about him? Pardon me, what is your name, sir? My name is Robin. Robin. Do you have anything that reminds you of this? There are many gods in this realm. The god told me not to open my eyes. Maybe it was a god, for I should not look upon her. Was it? It was a female voice.
00:46:31
Speaker
We have been spoken to by a Thragh guest stand. Shortly after I was returned to the marshlands where my companions rediscovered me. Interesting you mention her. We know very few gods that take on the female human form here.
00:46:49
Speaker
The most straightforward one might be Turiani. This is T-E-R-I-A-N-I. Just as I see you all getting your pens out. Turiani, does she have the ability to communicate and find out things about those who she communicates to you? Wait, that sentence doesn't make sense. Please say it again. I will say it again in a way that I'm tired, forgive me. Does she have the ability to communicate to people and show them things?
00:47:16
Speaker
from their past. Her book is quite well known actually, it's a book of a journey of a follower of hers, Helikion's Journey. This book basically tells of the journey of someone's life and to finding the Gautariani, so it would make sense if
00:47:36
Speaker
from your past life. They were real. I remember them. She is a faithful and true God and does usually manifest herself to them who are devout to her or to any faith or feels she has good cause to. I myself have never been visited by her but she has many followers across the land, many in moonrise which might answer your other question. She has a desire to send me there, what to send us there. Interesting.
00:48:03
Speaker
Commander, if I may, they do claim to have defeated Eric Cass. Yes, and that would be an excellent piece of work if that indeed is true. Now...
00:48:14
Speaker
It is late. I must... I must move on. I have many jobs to be... I know you said I shouldn't be a part of this, but may I please go and tend to the scard for the evening? She nods and says you may, but please... I will be gone by morning. You do not need to be gone, but all I ask is that you do. Through them with the same respect, we show all our people here. They are my brothers and sisters. Good.
00:48:42
Speaker
And are you going, are you staying? Yeah, I'll head off to the head cleric. And just as you see Claude start to wander off into the area of the Skaad and you see people kind of, you hear the groans and the screams of people as they're being worked upon. Our Claude kind of nods and looks over, he's a good man and this place needs more people like him. It's a shame for so many.
00:49:04
Speaker
so many are returning to us, we weren't designed for this and to be honest, and suddenly you hear a scream coming from further in the camp and just this constant fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck
00:49:28
Speaker
They're coming. We've seen some. Over the ridge. We can hear them. We need to start moving people in now. We need to start... They're coming. It's happening now. I told you we weren't ready. And she says... Arquo turns and says, Hessa, calm down. Calm down. What do you mean? She looks at you. She looks at Arquard. The undead. There's hundreds of them. Just over the ridge.
00:49:54
Speaker
We've got minutes. Drago. Robin, I think it's time for us to... Get out of here. No, I was going to say, I was going to say, tell them what we can do and hold them off. We've got experience with fighting the undead. We can help you. Buy some time. You get your people to safety. There's just too many of them.
00:50:18
Speaker
They're coming from the north. They're coming all over from the north. Right. Will they have to funnel in through an entrance? Yes, probably through the tents, unless they just budge through the tents. The front ones are well protected. We've got some borders on the outside, but it's wood. They look like ghouls. We've seen them before, but never this far inland. Normally they're nearer to High Haven or nearer to Blight themself. We've never seen this far north.
00:50:40
Speaker
If we grant you time, is there a sustainable escape route that we can... Yes, we can work into the gates, I'm sure, and what kind of takes over. If we're inside the gates, if we can get this carpet inside the gates, we can shut them off. We normally have small-scale versions of this, but it's never been on the scale before, but we've got the arches, we've got the people to defend it, and she instantly turns around and lets off like a half-scream, half-war cry to the city, to the town in which the area starts, the bustle starts to move around.
00:51:08
Speaker
soldiers start to run and start to prepare the gates. The gates start to half shut. Humans and all people start to kind of get dragged into it. Claude, I'm about 200, 250 feet away. We'll be heading towards that front line. I'll just turn and say, Commander, I would like to join. Claude, stay with your friends. Friends, I would like you to join me on the front line. Let's buy these people some time. Can you give us a signal when people are safe?
00:51:37
Speaker
Absolutely, you're going to have the help with the scar that there's too many there's eight or nine men per Barracks here and there's not many of the nurses on the tonight. Most of them are off training or It's somewhere else. We'll hold them until you give us a signal to withdraw mr. Noem How are you with the medical arts? We don't need your medical
00:51:57
Speaker
move them, get them inside the gates. Some of us will start working on from here. Hassev, yes. Will you be able to manage? I can take my men and start moving some of them and there's only three of us on. We're talking 50 people here. We need to save as many of these as we can. Honestly, some of them can't walk. She looks to the side and notices there's a couple of old carts down there. The wood, use the carts.
00:52:21
Speaker
and then she runs off through the screams of the city to try and get more people in. We've got the people screaming, you can hear now the noises kind of pouring down off the coastline. You can't see any of it because it is now dark but you can hear the intensity in the air start to rise and rise and rise as you see soldiers planting along the walls, fires being lit, arrows being lit, a couple of cautionary arrows get sent out to light.
00:52:46
Speaker
the area of ground a flat ground that leads towards the coast as well you find yourselves within these tents these dark and dingy tents where you can hear the groans of people inside them you can see the flaps of the few that can walk out with bruises and bruises um the ability to walk stumbling out being supported by their comrades walking out but you know for a fact as you walk past you hear them there's three or four men there mate there's five or six there you've got to go to ten three my mate's still stuck in
00:53:11
Speaker
there you can hear these voices all come past you as you walk towards the front line as you get to the front line you can just make out over the horizon which is all but dark you can see a very light shimmer of blue light from the very small crescent moon that sits in the sky you can see one two three four five six figures start to just pour over like ants pouring across a dark blue canvas and these figures start to pour over the horizon as you prepare for battle
00:53:38
Speaker
And that's what we're gonna leave, actually. That's much better. Thank you so much.
Conclusion and Listener Engagement
00:53:42
Speaker
for listening everyone oh we almost got to combat there's two episodes more combat I'm sorry that's okay a really nice place to stop for the new year I like it that was very bad bad bad good thank you very much for listening everyone we really appreciate it happy new year all happy new year good episode there mark I'm loving the RP from everyone so very good it's very interesting about Claude getting some good old information and backstory there
00:54:08
Speaker
If you would like to follow us, you are more than welcome to do so. We have a Twitter account that I always mention at the end of every episode. But hey, why not? Let's mention it again. It is at fellowship table. Please do follow us. And from there, you can find our individual Twitter handles. For instance, you can follow me at iRoller1. You can follow Darren at... Darren page 06. You can follow Danny at... Total party throne.
00:54:35
Speaker
I love that one. You can follow Will at Natural20Will. You can follow Callum at VD20Gamer. And you can follow our magnificent, majestic, glorious DM at Hasterly Rolled DM. Every other episode now, I'm going to come up with some sort of wonderful smoke blowing up your ass type introduction for you. I still won't give you inspiration. Ah, damn. I'll level you up. One thing I do want to do is
00:55:04
Speaker
If you're finding that you're listening to this podcast through iTunes, if you could pop us a review and a star rating, that would be great. If you're listening to it through any other means, if there's an option to review, please review us, that would really help us. And if you really want to go one extra step further for us,
00:55:23
Speaker
retweet us and our episodes and tell your friends tell your families tell your loved ones tell the people you hate get the name of the podcast out there we would appreciate it even more than you could possibly imagine until next time guys
00:55:49
Speaker
Hi everyone, this is a special and really quick shoutout to our main man Danny who plays Claude. He set up his own Etsy page and it's called, funnily enough, Crafts by Claude. He's currently hand making and selling personalised initiative trackers. Each comes with a logo of the character or creature type because you can also have them made for baddies as well.
00:56:06
Speaker
and they can be personalised to include specific character names or indeed nicknames if you want them. But wait, I hear you exclaim, where do I put these awesome trackers made by the world's single nicest person? Luckily they fit perfectly on your DM screen, or in my case, my laptop screen.
00:56:22
Speaker
We've all been there in the heat of battle with six or seven rounds in. It's been five straight hours of playing D&D and your mind's a little bit frazzled and you're losing track. These are perfect just for letting you know who's going when and who's next. Check out his work on Etsy, Search Crafts by Claude.