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C1 Ep. 90 The Road Below Chapter Four
332 Plays6 years ago
This week we catch up with the other squad who is out to rescue Commander Bala, and how they can possibly get her free.
This episode is brought to you by the generous donations of our amazing Show Sponsors: Laura Pickrahn, Jessica Smith, Irene Viorritto, Ryan Royce, Darrin Katzska, Darrell DeLaney, Jon Cary, Charles Compton, Nikko Batson, Matt Lewis, The Kamm Family, and David Scrams.
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Transcript
Introduction and Sponsor Credits
00:00:01
Speaker
This show is brought to you by the generous donations of our show sponsors, Matt Lewis, Laura Pickron, Irene Villarito, Darryl Delaney, Nico Batson, Darren Katska, Ryan Royce, John Kerry, Jessica Smith, The Cam Family, Charles Compton, and David Scrams, as well as all of our generous patrons. An ally will understand why you leave him to die. A friend will tell you to.
00:00:31
Speaker
sayings of the Umbrigen collected in the Wayfinder's Guide to Zindr.
Host Introductions and Banter
00:00:59
Speaker
Hello and welcome to Everon Renewed, a D&D 5th edition actual play podcast set in the Everon campaign setting. I'm your dungeon master, Eric. And I'm Phillip. I'm Randy. I'm Jeff. And welcome to another episode. Everybody's here and everybody's healthy. Whoo! Yay! Well, as healthy as can be helped, Randy just took a painkiller. That's right. And we're recording at almost nine o'clock.
00:01:18
Speaker
PM start time, so things are about to get weird. It's 8 22. How is that almost nine o'clock? You need to learn how to round things. Compared to when we normally start. It's definitely closer to 9 PM than we normally start playing. That's fair. That's true. So what happened last time? Doesn't matter. I mean, it doesn't matter. We're not doing that. Spoilers. Spoilers? Oh, really? Because I totally told them in the Discord what we were doing.
00:01:48
Speaker
You gave Philip a platform to engage with the people, he's gonna take it. That's the only one engaging with people on Discord recently. False. I believe I responded to something recently. With a question mark, actually, I think. Because I was like, huh?
Recap of Past Events
00:02:09
Speaker
Okay. So, um, anyway, uh, what happened four times ago was that a handful of the party decided to go and, uh, bail out Bala Bala breakout Bala from we have 50 gold pieces from the jail in a row. Last time we dropped a whole bunch of story bombs and now we're not going to let you know more about them for a month. I see you nerds in a month. We're doing a meanwhile.
00:02:37
Speaker
Yep. Big, big cliffhanger. Then meanwhile, in ROAT, 1183, we're adding three episodes onto the eventual review. Every time, every time we say, let's never do that again. Well, we could record a review right now. You want to talk about it? No, I didn't listen to him yet.
00:03:03
Speaker
Okay, so yeah, we're going to be jumping to the storyline that's happening concurrently with the exploits of Beric, Dex, and Booyah and cover what Drakir, Krast, and somebody else are up to. So yeah, y'all ready? Yeah, I mean, it's almost nine, let's get started. Yeah, let's go before I fall asleep. I hate everyone. So yeah, you all,
Mission Planning for Bala's Rescue
00:03:33
Speaker
a few days ago were dropped off in, or stayed behind in Miss Marsh on the train platform to go launch a mission to rescue Commander Bala, former head of the Dark Lanterns in Sharn that has, you were informed, been taken prisoner. So, Drakir and
00:04:01
Speaker
Krast, how did you all transport yourselves there? The train? Okay, hey, I'm just asking questions, like, not presuming answers. I was like, I don't know how to answer that, I'm assuming the train. We had some time, wanted to see the place, so we hitched out there. A lot of good people. So, Krast, you were kind of...
00:04:24
Speaker
hinging this whole idea of breaking out Commander Balla while the rest of the group went up to Flame Keep on your inside contact that you had still in Rowat named Thorin Stone Knuckle.
00:04:45
Speaker
And that might be confusing for some people. Jeff is not playing Krast. He's playing Thornstone Knuckle and Randy. He's playing Krast. There we go. There was some voice workshops before we hit the record button. I wanted him to have a bit of a British accent, but Derek said no. I didn't say no, I just said. He's not British. Hashtag not my Krast. But anyway. It's been a recast.
00:05:14
Speaker
Game of Thrones can do it 12 times with the mountain. We can do it with grass. You okay, Jeff? No, this is all great. So, would you like to introduce Thornstone Knuckle? Yeah, Thornstone Knuckle is really a stranger to all of us, including me, because he's five hours old.
00:05:34
Speaker
Thorin is a, uh, a dwarf. He was a member of the Citadel with crafts that is still is working with the Citadel. He is a employee, um, who has been brought to the prison to kind of beef up the security since they're starting to take in some pretty high value target or pretty high, uh,
00:05:54
Speaker
Profile prisoners, I value assets? Something. Important people they don't want escaping. And so Thorin is on that detail now, still working with the government.
Urgency and Strategy Discussion
00:06:09
Speaker
That is Thorin. He's a stout little fella. Okay, we'll learn more about him, then we'll get a chance to talk like him.
00:06:24
Speaker
like it. Okay, so
00:06:29
Speaker
Well, because you can set a marker if you want, because I don't know. I'm assuming Crass is going to give Thorin the information in real time, right? Like he didn't send me a message saying, hey, you're going to help us break somebody out of prison because they shouldn't be there. Or did he? Am I abreast of the plan? I hope somebody is. I would think that there would be some way of communicating to basically that like Crass to let you know, hey, we're coming.
00:06:59
Speaker
I would think Okay, so I know they're on their way here. Yes. Yes, and it's important, but I shouldn't probably not tell people that they're on their way here Yeah, I mean I these are things yes It's a secret like hey message secret mission keep Thorin. You've been in a good mood lately Yeah, my buddy crass is coming to visit next weekend he said something really big is gonna happen and I
00:07:22
Speaker
You remember Krabs used to work for us? Oh, great. His intelligence is six. What? No. No, his charisma was nine before I got to level up eleven times.
00:07:37
Speaker
That's a whopping 10. So, yeah, you would know that they were on their way. And, Thorin, you actually, based on Kras' message of coming to break Commander Bala out of prison before she's brought out for execution, you have some knowledge that would be important for Kras to know.
00:08:05
Speaker
in that whoever gave them their intel on the timeline of Commander Bala's execution was off by a few days, and Commander Bala's execution is today. Wait, there was a trial? Wasn't there going to be a trial? Weren't we gonna... I don't know, let's speedrun this jail, I guess. What were you laughing at? Oh, I was observing that you guys got to custom build characters for a jailbreak and no stealth.
00:08:36
Speaker
Well, I've built crass the way I thought he would be. Not a sneaky sucker. He's the crass that we got, not the crass that we need. Yes. So I want to freaking fight. We haven't fought for two months. Well, you know what? That's not going to be optional. I did give him just a breastplate so he wouldn't take a
00:09:02
Speaker
So it's not a disadvantage for stealth. Not a disadvantage for stealth. Good job. They get things through. I wish to cure head pass without a trace. So, no, you had a similar question when you found out the execution. The trial is going to be happening at the gallows, basically, because nobody's
00:09:25
Speaker
Sure. Yeah. We call those kangaroo courts. Because of all the kangaroos. Right. There was one of those in Batman. He sounds like this. Sounds like this. You know what? Can we start the whole thing over? Let's rewind today. I'll build another rogue so Philip's happy.
00:09:49
Speaker
I don't have a right to be stunned that no one has proficient in stealth for a jailbreak episode. It's gonna be a good night. It's gonna be something.
Stealth Approach and Role Clarification
00:10:03
Speaker
OK, so, yeah, where we're going to pick things up on the actual narrative is in a seedy alley in Rowatt, where Thorin stone knuckle knuckle stone knuckle stone knuckle. Can remember it was the knuckle knuckle. It's not the stone knuckle. I'm calling Thor. I'm just calling Thor. I'm just calling Thor in.
00:10:33
Speaker
Um, Doran, you are, uh, hiding out eagerly awaiting, uh, the arrival of the person you're waiting for, as is the want of every person waiting for the arrival of somebody. Um, and so. Are you guys busy tomorrow? We want to pick this up in the morning. I will be home at the exact same time tomorrow as I was tonight. So, um, so, um,
00:11:02
Speaker
Yeah, it's it's a little bit before your shift at the prison starts. It's fairly early morning. Crass, Drakir, you're using the shadows of Dawn to make your way through the town. Any particular disguises that you would have implemented? I mean, Drakir isn't. Right, but
00:11:32
Speaker
I'm assuming he would not want. I'm assuming here at this place, people know him. Yeah. So. He shaved his beard. OK, so now you look like you look when you were a Citadel agent. Oh, no, he kept his beard and shaved his head and shaved his head. And he has a cloak on. So his hair is just the opposite of what it was. OK. And he's got a cure offered to give him some rad new facial scars, but he declined.
00:12:03
Speaker
See, in my brain, I thought, oh, because that makes sense that your cure would be official with disguise. Oh, wait. No, he meant actually cut his face. OK. So no, I'm not proficient with a disguise kit. I've got disguised self, but I can only do that to self. Yep. It's right there in the tin.
00:12:23
Speaker
Okay, so you know where the meaning place is with Thorin, Stone Knuckle that you're trying to get to. There's very few guards about, so you both give me stealth checks with advantage.
00:12:52
Speaker
37. That's gonna be it. Just 18. Okay. So yeah, you're both able to pretty easily stick to the shadows, avoid the prying eyes of any of the guards, and you find yourself in an alleyway facing down a dwarf. Knucklers at you. No. We're not. We're starting to... All right. Do I recognize him in the shadows? I mean, I would say something, but he looks completely different with his bald head and beard.
00:13:23
Speaker
And his cloak. And his cloak. And his cloak. And his cloak. And his cloak. And his cloak. And his cloak. And his cloak. And his cloak. And his cloak. And his cloak. And his cloak. And his cloak. And his cloak. And his cloak. And his cloak. And his cloak.
00:13:50
Speaker
I mean, dwarfs sound like that. You do Scottish accent. I couldn't, I promise. Be British. Be standard British. I will fail. I will do it. I will fail. Governor. Have you heard my accent work on this show? I know, and I'm trying to set a standard for myself. Oi. Why don't you just take the growlian and I'll go with this voice.
00:14:21
Speaker
Oh, I didn't make everybody boy No, I think yeah, this is how he talks so he's gonna stay up here. All right. Oh, yeah crass. Hey I Got your message. I gotta say I'm real blindsided by all this and it was this fella This is a drake here drake here thorn
00:14:50
Speaker
He's not a- He stares at you. He's not a darker. Oh, Thorin stares back. Careful. That's eventually the void. Or we'll fall in love. Something, though. All right. So, look.
00:15:11
Speaker
Everything you've told me, it's crazy, but I got no reason not to trust you. You never really, you know, lied to me before. So, um, I don't, I mean, how do we, look, I can, I can get you in there.
00:15:30
Speaker
Once we're in the building, like, there's places I'm not even allowed to go. So. Do you have a general idea of where they're keeping Commander Bala? Do I have a general idea where they're keeping Commander Bala? Yeah. Yeah. Because you know, you know, she's going to be transported. You know where trials and executions are in place. Right. Here's something that I didn't get a chance to tell you. The, um, the trial, it's, um,
00:15:57
Speaker
Like it's almost gracious to call it a formality. They're basically just going to give a formal proclamation of guilt right before they hang. Is that typically?
Internal Conflicts and Alliance Debates
00:16:09
Speaker
Yeah, sure. Hang her. So the timeline sped up from what you thought to tomorrow.
00:16:21
Speaker
Yes. No, is it today or this afternoon? This afternoon. No, not tomorrow. It's sooner than that. We've got to get. Basically, we got to decide where we want to try to get her from if we're going to do this because and Thorin would have worked with Bob, right? Yeah. So he knows her and he thought it was.
00:16:43
Speaker
Something fishy about that actually got brought in anyway. A lot of stuff that's been going on lately is fishy. Sure. Well, yes. For example, the lack of trial. Right. Well, in just the orders that you got and the fact that Commander Ball was arrested in the first place, nothing is adding up anymore. So what has Kras told Thorin here? What's the extent of what Thorin knows about what's really going on here?
00:17:09
Speaker
Crass communication with Ornn would have been relating to specifically the Bala breakout. So what you've heard is not true. Stop. Yes. Yeah, what you've heard is not true. I'm coming back because Commander Bala has befallen the same fate as me in that we've been falsely accused of crimes against the state.
00:17:34
Speaker
Um, because there's corruption within the government. I doubt crafts would have even said, like, the Borneo's not the real Borneo. Like, trying to keep the story as realistic as possible. Right. Like, Thorin doesn't know the changeling of it all. Yeah. Yeah. Fair enough. Um, straight to the point.
00:17:51
Speaker
Well, I mean, Krast trusts Thorin as far as this mission relates, but everything else might sound a little crazy to anybody. You mean Thorin trusts Krast? Yeah. And the more sane Krast can keep himself sounding, the better. You know the transportation route?
00:18:15
Speaker
I mean, I know the standard one. So assuming, you know, I mean, Balla, Commander Balla is like a big deal. I'm sorry, I don't know what you know, so she's like a big deal. So there's probably gonna be more security, more eyes on it, but I doubt they'll take a different, not so much so they're gonna take a secret route or have like a dummy, you know, trans, you know, divergent paths.
00:18:44
Speaker
Why are you thinking that might be the best is that the weak point to transport? How good are you two at breaking into places to be in quiet and sneaky? I am very good at breaking places Yes, probably in transport The trick here You've been around me enough to know Not great at breaking in I've been around you
00:19:15
Speaker
Okay. Um, fine. Um, yeah, it's like, it's pretty clear that these two are, he doesn't care why they're both brought here to do this. Like, but he just knows that it's not a, it's not their bond with each other. That's led them to this. Well, just let me tell you, um, Drake here is not real chummy chummy, but he's hella great in a fight.
00:19:45
Speaker
Yeah. Grest is also moderately competent. Yo, that tracks. Anyway. OK, that's fine. How much time do we have to do anything before this wagon train starts rolling? So. Just to show you all, here is a map of the row app. You all.
00:20:14
Speaker
are up here. Okay. And one of these little alleyways. I want to be next to the orange building. Okay. Kermit. Um, the prison, Kermit, no idea why a map I can access on my phone. Yeah. Google, Google row it map. Um, so the prison
00:20:40
Speaker
for high level targets is on the center island up here at the north. And where the execution is going to happen is at number four. Your knuckles are completely covering anything you're trying to show me. So I know it's like I got stone knuckles. I know that there is no bridge leading that way from the central island. Do we expect that she will be taken by boat or will she be led in an enormous circuit all the way around the city?
00:21:05
Speaker
So you're going to parade her as some thorn. You would know because she is wanted for high treason against the state that the execution would be public display of. Disaffection, I don't know. But yes, they're going to parade her through the street on a wagon so that everybody can see
00:21:31
Speaker
I have a question. Don't mess with Breeland. Okay, so you would say, I mean, honestly, like, they have to drive through most of the city to get from point A to point B. There are a lot of places that one might, and they have to cross over two bridges to bring this attack. Yeah, two bridges also involved. Perhaps we could find an optimal place to cause a distraction.
00:21:59
Speaker
On Berwick's board of giant conspiracy that he once had, there was rebel group in, um, in Breland. Yes, there are.
00:22:29
Speaker
They have presence here. My voices are way too similar. I got to come up with them. They have presence here. Yes, they do. Know how to get in contact with them here. Christ, you ate. I know that's why I'm just kind of yes. No.
00:22:51
Speaker
Because I have two problems with what we are not dealing with. I think we do not have time to break into prison. Probably this is true. But I don't know how we're going to get out. Suppose we ambush the transport. Suppose we get Commander Bala. We don't have an airship here that we can escape on.
00:23:21
Speaker
would I have some, I mean, I think Thorin has contacts. Thorin has resources. Thorin can probably get us out of the city, but it might have to be like, by taking off down this river and letting it go where it leads us, you know, that kind of stuff.
00:23:41
Speaker
Um, the Howling River I now see just called on this, on this map. Well, stick with me. You learned some things about everyone. Really tickled me for some reason. That was a belly laugh. Cause I'm an idiot. And he knows a lot of stuff about everyone. Give me a.
00:24:01
Speaker
investigation check, Thorin. Since you knew that Kras was coming, maybe you could have made contact with some of your contacts about a possible exit strategy. Not likely. That's a five. Okay. Um, that's after your modifier five. Or did you roll a five? No, I rolled a two. Okay. Um, which would have been a 16 for Dex. All right. So we're saying I didn't put something together.
00:24:35
Speaker
so this rebel group no sons of liberty all right now hang a voice on your voice hang along Chris
00:24:55
Speaker
Sorry, this is I had something in my throat. I was wondering if you have been sick. Yeah. Yes Anyway, it's the dumbest thing Look if we're trying to do this if if if I mean you're
00:25:16
Speaker
My friend seems strong. He's right. We need more help. And if there's one thing I know about the swords, it's that they are able to get in and out of this city without our detection. They've got a means to do it. You need to decide if your desire to see Commander Bala freed outweighs your disdain for this organization. Where does that hateth person live, their leader?
00:25:47
Speaker
She lives in row at here. Well, I mean, I don't, I don't personally know a way to get in touch with her though. I'm thinking they are in opposition to this.
00:26:15
Speaker
Yes, they dislike the people who have taken over this government. It's very index, and we're talking about the weird towering. No, you're absolutely right. The swords of liberty are direct opposition to the people that I work for. Exactly. I despise them. I do not wish to work with them. But you also don't like the people he works for.
00:26:48
Speaker
The enemy of your enemy. In the Underlark we have a saying that the person who hates your enemy is also... Your enemy. Useful to you. Is also your lover. The translation is not perfect. The person who hates your enemy has utility to you at the moment. That's what they say downstairs. Yes, that is what we say in Kyber.
00:27:15
Speaker
Could they do like a persuasion check on him and what would he roll to?
00:27:21
Speaker
I mean, because I know he absolutely despises and hates the Sons of Liberty. I mean, he has since day one of liberty to the other swords of liberty. Those guys do have a spell that can force him to cast friends. Nope. Chris is a bit of an animal. He's a bear. I mean, I will roll persuasion. I'll persuasion.
00:27:51
Speaker
Um, I think it would just be much more likely to trick him into it. Okay. You all have intimidation proficiency. Or we could just say if that got like over a 10 and persuasion, then it could be persuade you to give me a persuasion check and then we'll 14 20. Okay. Um, now you give me a wisdom saving throw with a 20 DC.
00:28:25
Speaker
What'd you roll? 14. What's your modifier? Plus eight. Okay. Plus 11 with my aura. I was about to argue that it shouldn't be wisdom because what we're proposing is in fact wise, but that would make it charisma and that's going to be even worse. So can it be a dexterity saving throw? Strength for bullheadedness. Intelligence? What about intelligence?
00:28:55
Speaker
All right. The dice have been rolled. All right. I mean, well, did you know where if did you all mention Hadith Irwin Aran by name? I said, yeah, he did. He said Hadith. And that's true. You know where Hadith lives. She lives on the center island in the castle. Right. So that's what I said. I said, I don't know how I would get. Well, I'm not the sort of.
00:29:20
Speaker
Citadel member that would have access to her. No, it's not somebody with higher clearance. Yeah, right Maybe I can get commander ball on it One contact All right Someone needs to create some sort of enormous distraction for us to pull this off, right?
Plan Adjustments and Negotiations
00:29:40
Speaker
Okay, there are three of us Christ if you don't want to work with this up swords You don't have to
00:29:48
Speaker
but I'm going to get in contact with them because we need them to make this work. You don't have to be a part of it. You can hate that it's happening, but I'm not going to not use every resource to try to save the command. You can kill them after. Well, I hope I wouldn't. Salad. Please.
00:30:16
Speaker
you changed and well no just are more open about it uh you yowza um i don't want you to do that please don't oh i'm not going to i was just telling him he could oh okay well look what you're saying is reasonable it makes sense i'm glad we agree but
00:30:41
Speaker
Also, if it would be helpful, I have this thing that I could use to summon a dragon. Another strong, please don't, from me. Will it be hostile to me when it arrives? It will be hostile to you? Yes. But it would create a large distraction. You're not. You're certainly not wrong. Here's the thing about that is the dragon
00:31:11
Speaker
would probably stop the whole proceeding. But I don't want to do that. It sounds terrible. Now, Krast, I do understand your trepidation. I understand your hatred. Do you? Well, yeah, I do. Fuzzy.
00:31:39
Speaker
No, I don't understand it. Oh, Randy's basically asking if your character knows what I just texted him and the answer is no. Oh, OK. All right, look. I have to have some know somebody who knows somebody in the Swords of Liberty, right? Yeah. Yeah, you got to have a confidential informant or something like that. Exactly. I've got a stoolie.
00:32:08
Speaker
So I say, look, we're wasting time and you're not presenting alternatives. So what I'm going to do, and you're welcome to come with me either of both of you. Uh, I know I've got a guy on the inside of the swords. He is a low level kind of thing. Um, he's a, he's a real, he's real dummy, but he works with them and he comes and he keeps me abreast of what's going on. I'm.
00:32:38
Speaker
I'm going to get in contact with him. And I'm gonna see if we can't... See if we can't make a plan for a distraction. Krast, if I make sure that the distraction is of the non-destructive, non-violent as possible variety, you gonna go with this or not? I'll not work with the Sons of Liberty. Or the... What are they? Dadgummit the Swords of Liberty!
00:33:07
Speaker
I'm not asking you to work with him. I'm asking them to do a thing while we do our work. You'll do it without me. What are we gonna do? Present another option. We cause another distraction of our own. Why do we need them? So the three of us cause a distraction while the three of us rescue Commander Bala. It's a bold move. Extremely.
00:33:42
Speaker
What are you going to have them do if you were to go get one and get what? What are they going to do? I cause some sort of ruckus protest in the streets. They, I mean, there's all kinds of things that they can do. This is a big town with a lot of places to cause a lot of noise. I was hoping they would attack the security detail. Works for me. We see some of these swords of liberty will be killed.
00:34:08
Speaker
while attacking the security detail, and after we are gone, if we do it right, the Swords of Liberty will be blamed and hunted down and killed. We can frame Sons of Liberty for our actions. That is not a bad idea. That had the opposite effect on me.
00:34:38
Speaker
You're still willing to do it. But you sir, are terrifying.
00:34:45
Speaker
You notice, by the way, that the grass that's sticking out between the flagstones around Drakir's feet is dead. Oh, I didn't know you could do that, too. No, it just happens, apparently, because of the orb that I carry around. The orb does that? I mean, I think that Krast's hatred of them, from what it sounds like to me, is probably enough that anything that harms them or could cause trouble for them, he's probably all about.
00:35:15
Speaker
Alright, so are we all in agreement now that we will utilize and sacrifice at least some of the swords of liberty that are here in ROAD? And some of the details of who is just doing their job?
00:35:50
Speaker
I'm having a real weird couple of minutes and I'd like to get on with my life.
00:35:58
Speaker
All right, I want to see a dwarf that sounds like this next Next we need a way to escape Is possible the swords can provide us with this. Yeah, he's gonna get on one of their boats Well, I mean they don't know we're going to betray and kill them after we get on the ship What what we need is a way to not
Escape Routes and Distraction Tactics
00:36:26
Speaker
be implicated and if we can spirit the commander away as unseen as possible? I can make myself and the commander invisible. Then how about this? We find a place that we can put her
00:36:51
Speaker
that we can secure until potentially the, we have the swords run to the other side of the city, get to the other side of the city. They're pursued there. And we walk out the front gate.
00:37:08
Speaker
Or I guess you guys, I will be staying here. I do not want to join whatever thing you guys have going on. It sounds awful and weird. And you guys don't even seem to want to be doing it together. I'll stick here where the job is good. Job might not be good after we do this. You know,
00:37:32
Speaker
that has occurred to me uh while i was talking um might be safer for you to get out of town yeah what the hell do you think do you think it would be possible to obtain
00:37:52
Speaker
oceans or other magical thing that would allow myself and the commander to breathe underwater i mean we definitely have magic vendors alchemists shops we have shops we have them that sell the magic pharmacies yes apothecaries uh here in here in the city if we took
00:38:19
Speaker
if we laid our ambush near the river, I could grab the commander, become invisible with her, and dive into the river, and then you to escape it by whatever means you may, I will take her out by river. Sure. And I don't trust the swords. Once we get Commander Bala, who's to say that they won't try to take her?
00:38:47
Speaker
I don't think, I mean, I can't imagine why they... This would just be another opportunity to kill them if they did. And as far as they know, she is a traitor to the thing they hate. And that whole thing about the enemy of the man that you don't like is the buddy that you need. Temporarily... has temporary utility. Has temporary utility. It is not... I hear it's better than the original under comet. Not really.
00:39:16
Speaker
It's just longer. There's like 15 more syllables. The direct translation would be, is temporarily useful, but also disposable. Temporary utility is like how the Germans have really specific words. Temporary utility actually means we'll be dying later.
00:39:40
Speaker
Guys instead of you. Sure. I mean, I was already anticipating that we would do it by the river simply because of the choke point. It's a shame no one can fly. Yes, that is a shame.
00:40:00
Speaker
And that's not even germane to the situation. Shums up, just think about stuff. Well, it's not true that no one can fly. You got me there. That's the Thor and I live now.
00:40:17
Speaker
He's the kind of guy who thinks about those sorts of things. He thinks about stuff and then tells other people. He is the embodiment of the shower thoughts subreddit. It's just who he is. Y'all ever wonder if dogs could talk, what would they say? I hope mine likes me. I think you can say good things. Anyway, man. All right. We don't have a lot of time.
00:40:45
Speaker
Contrary to this conversation. Yeah, we do. Back on track, Thorin. I need to speak to the people I know within the swords.
00:40:59
Speaker
We need potions, specifically a water breathing one. I do know who would be most likely. Oh, if possible. Sure, sure, sure. It would be good if she also could breathe underwater. I do. And again, Thorin just looks at you with, I never will be able to understand this man and I'm not trying. A rat scurries by and dies as it passes. I take three steps back.
00:41:29
Speaker
Um. I know a place right where that we most likely to have those. So it would be a requisition office for magical items and things like that that you could go that I could just put in for. Yeah, I mean, or you could try to go more black market routes. So there's less of a paper trail.
Resource Procurement and Collaboration
00:41:47
Speaker
What can I roll to see if I've got a guy? A guy. That's the end of that sentence. A guy. I've got a guy that he's the guy. He's done some shady things.
00:41:59
Speaker
Okay, this is important. Thorin is not a prison guard. Thorin was brought into prison detail now. Thorin is a... I mean, he's a spook. Yeah, yeah. So I looked the other way on some shady dealings that this particular potion master has done. And he... I get things on credit, maybe.
00:42:24
Speaker
OK, yeah, I'll I'll allow that. Go ahead and give me. I mean, it's always possible to care has some money. He might have robbed Booyah Booyah would have just given you. Yeah, Booyah is great, but your care would still rob.
00:42:46
Speaker
No, I'm going to say, yeah, you, you know, the, the person that you described that owns the apothecary shop that you've overlooked, maybe some potions that they should have been, shouldn't have been selling within city limits. And so, yeah, you're, you're able to give me an investigation check. Can I assist him so that he has advantage?
00:43:09
Speaker
Can I be helping him? I guess I can craft. What is it? What is he rolling for? Can my position give me advantage from here? Yeah. Okay. I think he just gets to roll with advantage. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. That's probably not going to do it. Which one is investigation? Intelligence.
00:43:28
Speaker
19. Okay, there we go. So yeah, the first one was a date. The apartment carrier is amiable to your request, says, well, fine. Just if next time you could get good on your credit balance, that would be great. You know what else would be great? If next time you would stop selling illegal potions in the city and make, well, you told me.
00:43:53
Speaker
You did tell me, now I went, if we're speaking in half truths, you did tell me that you've stopped. However, the evidence points to an alternative situation. I'm telling you, there are like three other apothecaries in this town that deal in that stuff. Like, I'm not the only one. No, I know, but when you go to trial, you don't say, but what about all the other murders? We're talking about the ones you do.
00:44:20
Speaker
I like Thorin. Fine. Here. And you see two vials of cloudy green fluid. Um, that has, is there any candy on the counter? Sure. I take two and I, are you there? Uh, sure. I toss one to drink your, um, there are jellyfish like bubbles floating in the green liquid in the vials.
00:44:46
Speaker
So looks neat. And I don't know anything about this stuff, honestly. Like I don't, I'm, I don't know a lot about potions. So I turned to Dracure and I go, just look right. Dracure will detect magic for free. They are magical. Uh, is it the right school of magic?
00:45:06
Speaker
I don't know what the school is. Is it the correct school of magic? Oh, look it up. Just say yes. Transmutation, I think. Yes. Yes. It is the correct. Okay. The correct type. That's fine. The one kind of shrugs and puts him in the satchel and he turns to. Declan. Declan. Devlin. Devlin. Sure. It's like Declan like Elvis Costello turns to Devlin. He says, listen,
00:45:37
Speaker
We're all friends here, right? What? Okay, you and I, we're cool. Amiable acquaintances? You have temporary utility to me. I'll take it! And I walk out the door. Leaving you two to stare at each other. If you speak about our being here to anyone, I will kill you and everyone you love. Pop my head back in the door. I think he means it.
00:46:08
Speaker
He just stands there. The plant on his desk has died. I say, I say, I think he means it, but I will try to not let him.
00:46:19
Speaker
okay um so i feel like i'm shouting am i doing a lot no that's good no you're okay uh kira's very soft spoken so you're just you're just boisterous which is dwarfy it's appropriately dwarfish um okay so go ahead and we need to make contact with your swords of liberty yes fella yes and i mean give me a charisma roll just straight up
00:46:44
Speaker
a five. Okay. But I do have when we talk to him and this is the thing, I do have proficiency and intimidation and that's what I'm hoping I think I'll probably need to use. That's fine. Give me a quick overview of this character. Oh, this guy? Yeah. Okay. This guy is a, he's kind of a wannabe. Uh, like he's, he's in the, the group and he, he is a sword of liberty. He
00:47:08
Speaker
He mostly really believes in the cause, but he more mostly is he's like the kid that has the anarchy sticker on his backpack and he knows what it means and he doesn't hate the ideas, but he's not sold out for it. So he's not ranking, but he's liked and he, so he has
00:47:28
Speaker
He doesn't have power, but he has just enough influence with the right people kind of thing. He's the, he's Joey fishes. Joey fishes. Joey fishes. That's seriously what they called Joe Pesci growing up when he was a kid in the, a kid in the streets of wherever the hell the four seasons were from. I mean Jersey, but I didn't know what part would be really afraid to call Joe Pesci Joe Joe Joe. Yeah. Um, what's his name?
00:47:58
Speaker
his his name her her name her name their name their name is its name it's not joey fishes no it's not joey fishes it's not joey fishes i thought that's what you were telling us the name was no that was just my there's a whole lore about joepesh apparently because i definitely tried and your jersey accent is definitely gonna be prison mike
00:48:26
Speaker
The Dementors, they were everywhere. No, it's, it's please. Um, his name is, no her name. I'm gonna make it her name.
00:48:39
Speaker
Her name's Ava's going down the list of female Irish names in my head. It's EBA ABA EVA You don't want to spell it a o if e Yeah Ava EVA And and her parents call her Eva but she likes Ava better so that's what she tells people her name is
00:49:10
Speaker
Okay. All right. Oh, no. I said I was going to do intimidation stuff. I'm not going to be threatening a young woman. I approve of that impulse in you. Do not want to be threatening young women. Yeah. Thank you. I was like, you do? Oh, Jeff's not foreign. Not to want to be threatening young women. Or any women. I mean, just generally people. Or most men. Yeah.
00:49:36
Speaker
or whatever in the binary one might fall. We are the least intimidating group of people. So am I going to her? Yes. Actually, you know what? I think no.
00:49:54
Speaker
maybe no i think i want to send no because we don't have a tough time is she a dwarf she's not a dwarf uh i was gonna have her be sent to me because there's a power dynamic there but we don't have time to message and stuff so i go i go to where i assume she'll be okay and i assume she's there
00:50:11
Speaker
Yeah. You know that she she's kind of an ear to the ground, street level grunt work. And so, you know, the the spot she typically works. So Ava sees you come in and just kind of kicks a bag around the corners like, hey, hey, Thorn.
00:50:33
Speaker
Oh, oh, Ava. Ava, I didn't expect to, you know, came looking for you. And I did not expect to find this.
00:50:48
Speaker
Let me look in the bag. Ah, man, there's nothing in the bag. Ava, you know that there... I let things slide because you told me the big stuff, but you need to show me the small stuff too. Yeah, the bag just slid. And I go and I pick it. I think that's worth it. Yes, then. Now, the clever wordplay of exoneration. Yes, wonderful. I walk over and I open the bag. Okay, you see...
00:51:14
Speaker
some just illicit material that's not allowed in city limits. Magical potions that cause senses of euphoria but also cause horrifying after effects. It's poisons that have a real nice kick on the front end. I take those. Come on. But then I look at Ava and I say, Ava, it turns out
00:51:44
Speaker
I'm not sure how to say this. Um, I think you and your friends might be right. I don't know if you heard, um, but my old boss, commander Bala has been arrested. She's a standup person. A lot of weird things have been going on. And I'm starting to think that the same fight you have is a fight that I might be getting into.
00:52:15
Speaker
Are you tracking what I'm saying here, Ava? Maybe? Okay. I can't... ...exculpably put it much clearer. Um, but I mean, if, if your old boss is a standup person, then why were they your boss? Like the government is corrupt. No, it is run by impostors.
00:52:45
Speaker
Well there you go. Oh this is trickier. Don't get too close. From what I can tell. It's just small things. I assume so. Things with a CR of zero. I'm a small thing. Four foot one forty.
00:53:01
Speaker
Um, no, I say to Eva, I say it. Krast is not there. Oh, you're not there. Oh, he's not. He's not like he's there, but he's not. Yeah. Oh, I think he's not on the conversation. I think Thorin pulled Krast. You're going to stop here because I just don't know. I don't know. Krast is does not have a history of impulse control. So from from what I've seen as decks. So I assume Thorin knows even more so. I don't think you would actually kill a girl in the street. No, I mean,
00:53:31
Speaker
Typically when he's on the job crisis, pretty, pretty solid. Just swords of Liberty. He gets a little heated. He hates them. I get it. So he's like around the corner somewhere. Just chilling. Man. I've made, I've made Thor just sound like a dirty cop. Like he's not training day. I promise. He's in the CIA. Yeah, that's true. There's a little gray there. Um, but I say, uh, look,
00:53:59
Speaker
Okay, fine. Government is bad, but there are good people. There are good people involved in it. You don't want to see me dead, right? You know what? Don't answer that here is what I need from you. The important thing is we're going to start fixing the problems that you people don't like. I need you to tell. Yeah, let's see. Yeah. Yeah. Look, I need you to get word to hate it here. Winarn.
00:54:30
Speaker
The red owl sorry yeah the the red owl You know the red owl right? She'll say this it went on I had to sort of fight with her right and a sword fight with her Yeah, no this is this is character work confusion It was very brief I just thought there was briefly a sword fight with her I always shut off another hit hated this around cuz I'm not in those scenes, so I don't know much about it
00:54:57
Speaker
I make that joke so much, people are gonna start believing it. I really do pay attention. Um, I'm just dumb. I mean, I, I can try to, the red owl is top of the food chain. I, I mean, if you tell her, if your cancer man, she met at the bowl.
00:55:22
Speaker
Tell her the brother of Beric Rowan needs to speak with her. What? She will know. You know what? I do what he says. Not because I think he's dangerous. I do think he's dangerous, but that's not why. I'm dangerous. Thank you. Thank you. I'll take it from here.
00:55:42
Speaker
these guys know some things. There's some information that they have. If he says, tell her that Barak Rowan said this, and this will help all of our causes, I think we need to do it. We should probably explain to this person what we need the Swords of Liberty to do. Yeah, that's what I'm getting. All right. Plain and simple. We're going to stop the execution today.
00:56:12
Speaker
And what we need for you to do is get your friends. Oh, and here's the part you're going to like. We need you to kill some bad guys, the people that you think are bad.
00:56:22
Speaker
It kills strong. If it happens, it happens. But we need the security detail that's caravanning this soon to be killed prisoner. We need it attacked. We need that distraction. We need you to take out some of the bad guys so that we can save one of the good ones.
00:56:49
Speaker
I mean, I'll, I'll, I'll pass that up the totem pole, but like this today. Yeah. It's this afternoon, so we're going to need you to get on it quick. Okay. Um, so what, what do I get out of this? You get to still be a useful to me.
00:57:15
Speaker
without a backlog of crimes you've committed. But you just took my, you know what, whatever. It's like, where are you going with this? You just took my criminal things. Yeah, that's what I do. Where are you going to poison? It's not poisoning anybody. Like, people want to buy it, they drink it, they feel good, it's not good for them. I understand, it's drugs, yes. Right, it's drugs. Understood, yeah.
00:57:44
Speaker
OK, well, I'll I'll talk to my people and see if I can get something all the way up the totem pole.
Execution Logistics and Skill Assessment
00:57:53
Speaker
That's not a thing that would be an uprun all the way on the flagpole. Probably some places have totem poles or not. I mean, aren't barbarians literally tribal peoples and things like that. It's just they have Tyrannosaurus on them. They're more awesome. Yeah, they would be awesome. What are the names?
00:58:12
Speaker
Who do we need to have? Who does she, what name does she need to hear? The brother of who? Derek Bowen. You dumb douchebag. Derek Rowan. Yeah, I got it. Thank you. You know where this one lives? I know how to get to this one. Yeah. Okay. Oh, and I look at her and I say, I cannot, cannot impress upon you enough.
00:58:41
Speaker
That it is really important that you don't disappoint this one. Because. And then I just kind of shut. I don't even know if you're powerful, I just know you're terrified. I just realized that Tricure is definitely still carrying around that poison bead. Yeah, yeah. Oh yeah. Tricure could kill everyone.
00:59:23
Speaker
He threatened that to the last guy. I just assume it's kind of his thing. It won't be enough.
00:59:34
Speaker
I would say that I don't believe him, but he told me earlier he can summon a dragon. So it's true. Like I don't... I just don't know. It's been a real weird afternoon. Morning. It's been a real weird morning. Well, I'm gonna leave you to it now. We got a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it. So Ava, I really do have faith in you to get this done. Okay, bye. You should go. Yeah, yeah.
01:00:04
Speaker
And maybe just kind of backs away around the corner that she kicked the bag. And then you just hear rapid footfalls. Yeah. And she goes, oh, I kicked the cat. And then you hear people walking. Um, um, I'm curious. Oh, where in my people's history
01:00:30
Speaker
I do not know the customs all over this surface. In my people's history, the execution of a notable enemy would be an occasion attended by the important people of your government, your king, his queen, courtiers,
01:00:52
Speaker
sure people um we is this so also here i mean when it's somebody like what they're making command the commander out to be it can be a bit of a spectacle however i want to make things up now that may or may not be true in eric's head because i've got things i would like to have happen to me um no i i mean i feel like
01:01:22
Speaker
If the fake Boranell is trying to even kind of seem like the real Boranell, he would not do that, right? I don't know. I mean, he's holding a mock trial and an unjust execution. I mean, Breland has a constitution. Right. Important people would be in attendance.
01:01:41
Speaker
So already he's not acting like Bora now. Well, um, Oh, you know what? I mean, I would know if people had come in. Well, they're already in town. It's road. This is, this is the capital. Yeah. He's already there.
01:01:54
Speaker
born out going to lead like a triumphal parade of his, of his, his captured traitor enemy or any of these things that that's sort of born out and other members of the Royal family will be present at the execution and probably be part of the train. Okay. Well, that raises the profile and the security detail considerably. Um, did you meet three?
01:02:18
Speaker
I know of three. Yes, I know that he was at the I was at the here was at the gala. Right. He didn't he didn't go in and talk to three. You weren't the barracks pointed out, everyone. Right. And you weren't there the next morning. He was outside. Right. Looking at the red with the bird, the raven. Yes, yes, of course. He was talking with the boys. Close the raven. Come have your life ruined. Yeah. Oh.
01:02:46
Speaker
Anyway, what's next? Okay. Well, I, I mean, so how did it go? I mean, I, we have to plan as though they will not do it, but that if they do do it, it will be helpful to us. That's the best that I can say about it. You paladin, what spells do you cast?
01:03:15
Speaker
Do you do magic? I do, actually. I'm very excited about it. First time in years. I can make this stuff. Now, one thing that I can do, because I don't do a lot of magic that I thought might be helpful, is I am able to directly speak to anybody I want to, and they're the only person that can hear it.
01:03:43
Speaker
and they can respond as well. I have to be able to either see them or know for certain that they're on the other side of a wall. About 120 feet. Here, tell of a guy that can run that fast. That could be very useful. He's not fairly that fast. I beg to differ. Word travels fast. He's not as fast as this guy. He is moderately confident.
01:04:12
Speaker
Christ, I've heard all these crazy stories about the people you're rolling with now. One of them's awesome. The other one's blue? It's all true. You know, I wish that I could get close enough just to hate it before this and say, need you to cause a ruckus.
01:04:37
Speaker
And honestly, I can do this one as many times as I want in a day. So we can just talk to all kinds of people. But I think there's a... There's gotta be somebody in this parade who feels the same way that we do. And I wish... There is at least one. You say that with some confidence. Yes. Well, if the king is there, there will be at least one.
01:05:09
Speaker
I'm sorry, are you saying that the king? Oh, well, I suppose the king will not actually be there, but the person pretending to be your king, his bodyguard, three large warforged, three will be there. No, yes, I know three. Yes, he is of our mind.
Final Plan and Team Dynamics
01:05:29
Speaker
Okay, we're gonna just, like two steps back. You did say, the person pretending to be my king. Yes, your king hasn't been mentioned yet, right? Your king is in class. Crass intentionally did not go to crazy town. That's why Crass has given you dagger eyes. Drakir lives in crazy town. And Drakir is like on a Tuesday. Drakir fights a floating eyeball. All right, Thorin, he speaks the truth.
01:05:56
Speaker
Your king is in flame keep with my brother. Half-brother. That's the important distinction. I misspoke. Half-brother. Thorin, uh... Okay, here's the Thorin. Walks away. Nope, nevermind. Thorin takes his hammer and he, non-threateningly, clearly not about it, and he puts it... That just comes out of there, huh? When you do that? Use that with your hand and that thing just comes out of there. Yes.
01:06:27
Speaker
And I can do this too, it catches on fire. That, and I say, Oh, really? Well, and that's half a Phillips spell slots for the day. That's just a lifetime glitch. That's just fluff, man. I say, well, then I can do this. And you see a spectral hand come out and wave at you. Like, I'm not. And I do the same thing.
01:07:12
Speaker
That's about it though. Form a shadow blade. Throw it. I start tap dancing. Grass is becoming annoyed. I begin to paint. A beautiful... That makes sense for a dwarf. What's his mind? Stone cutting more artisans. Was his mind unable to handle this information? Did you not tell him about this? I did not tell him this. I was gonna say, when I take my hammer out and I put the head of it on the ground, I just kinda lean on it. But we got into a thing.
01:07:13
Speaker
fine anyway.
01:07:42
Speaker
No, I say, okay, here's
01:07:53
Speaker
Here's the thing, I'm already too deep in this now. I just put out a hit on like everybody with a group of- You want everyone dead? No, no, hang- no, no. I don't-
01:08:15
Speaker
No. Believe it or not, I couldn't achieve that. Craft. What? Where what? Why? Oh, it is a poison I received from a genie.
01:08:29
Speaker
this is true of course of course you know what you know what of course it is listen thorn I did not tell you everything because it is so outlandish yeah anything
01:08:53
Speaker
What else you want to tell me? You guys friends with a god now too or something? I think that is a joke. Oh man. But the king is a false king. Alright. What does that have to do with three? Oh, we told three. Well, my half brother, a little goblin person, and a changeling, told three.
01:09:22
Speaker
What why did he I mean like okay, but and what makes you think asked to cross go with us on that? No, what no he was investigating the murder. That's right. What makes you think he believed you well, he said so That they'd report to me that they said that he said so and they believe him so these three guys tell him in three is loyal to the true king and
01:09:49
Speaker
Oh yes, I believe the true king was there. Thank you! I forgot. He wore his cloak. It was hard to tell who he was. You know, can we talk about that for a second? Cloaks! They're great for disguising! I agree, they are excellent. I have a couple. Yes. Well, you know, because I'm small, so fabric's cheaper, I can... Anyway... So, I guess...
01:10:13
Speaker
What would I need to say to three before this happens? Because that it is a long parade. And, you know, we have to cross. They have to cross one bridge very quickly to get off the center island. Right. There's a second bridge at the perimeter of the city that they would have to cross. That's a good place. That would be very narrow for us to be able to get to it. But good idea. I think that's our best bet. That does sound like a wise decision. We are on the far side of the bridge.
01:10:46
Speaker
As soon as Commander Balla's paddy wagon gets back on terra firma, Swords of Liberty attack the other side of the bridge. Attention focus is there. We grab the commander. I will have told her as well. I will have plenty of time to drop messages
01:11:13
Speaker
to as many people as we need. What I need to know, I can talk to Commander Bala. I don't know what I need to say to three to potentially convince him of anything.
01:11:46
Speaker
secretly to him that would put him in. What about? I mean, I'm going to true Borenelle needs your help. That's not work. Well, I, well, I, I mean, looking at it again, it doesn't say a length of message. It's just, I have like one string of things to get out and then I have to cast it again. Right.
01:12:14
Speaker
Okay. And he can respond to me one time. I can say whatever I want to him, and he can respond to me one time, no one will hear it. But I can keep doing it. I see. As long as I have enough copper wire, which guys, I have, so. I went to a, there was an old house they were about to tear down. And I just ripped all of it out.
01:12:38
Speaker
What you gotta know about me is I have lots of copper wire and also a twig that have been struck by lightning. Those are things you gotta know about me. This could be useful things. Yeah. My materials. I got it on lockdown.
Conclusion and Audience Call to Action
01:12:54
Speaker
Alright, so I'm going to tell him the exact situation. I just need to know the trigger words that he needs to hear to know that I'm with him and with you and there we're all I am he and he is me and we are all together. I think the true king needs your help to be part of that. I might have perhaps mentioned Barak Rowland.
01:13:16
Speaker
All right. I'll say, um, put it in context with him. I can say, uh, Barak Rowan sent Krast and his brother to come save commander Bala. That sounds right. Things are about to happen. Half brother. To save Barak's half brother.
01:13:34
Speaker
No, they're not here to save me. Oh, you're the... Commander Bala. Commander Bala? Yes. I am Beric Rowan's half-brother. Beric Rowan's half-brother? Crassed. Yeah, dude, I know. Okay, great. I think that would work. Okay, and then I'll need to let Commander Bala know. Hey, you're about to get...
01:13:57
Speaker
a potion slid into your hand. Drink it, it's fine. When did this thing came out of nowhere? It'll allow you to breathe underwater, and that's how we're gonna get you out of here. I think that sounds right. Okay, the fighting part. Right. Is gonna be a whole thing. I mean, I'm not scared of the fighting part.
01:14:29
Speaker
I need to not be implicated. You're already a fugitive. You've threatened the destruction of the entire town. I don't think you care about the consequences of law. No. But even if I leave with you, which is on the table, I cannot be implicated in this having happened. Unless it goes so far south that I've got to start
01:14:58
Speaker
swinging hammers, I better make sure that anybody that sees me doing it dies. That sounds reasonable. Well to you, sure. Okay. Okay. Okay. I think that's the closest thing we can have to a plan. Sounds good. Yes. End of episode.
01:15:21
Speaker
Thank you all so much for listening. Join us on Facebook if you want to be a part of the discussion at The Geek Pantheon. We are on Twitter and Instagram at TheGeekPantheon. We also have a Patreon if you like what we do and like to see it done just a little bit better. Head on over to patreon.com slash TheGeekPantheon to consider joining that community. We would also like to thank Kevin McLeod for the use of all of his music. You can find it over in Competech.com. Once again, I'm your dungeon master, Eric. I'm Philip. Randy and Jeff. And we will see you next time.