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C3 Ep. 13 Grave Dawn Chapter One
307 Plays3 days ago
The founding field team takes their first mission.
This episode is brought to you by the generous donations of our amazing Show Sponsors: Laura Pickrahn, Irene Viorritto, Darrell DeLaney, Charles Compton, Deviouspoptart, Nastasia Raulerson, David Scrams, Elizabeth Clark, Rebekah Gowman, deviouspoptart, Eðvarð Arnór Sigurðsson, Michael Clark, Jerry Theuns, Mark Stanley, and Shelby Johnson.
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Transcript
Introduction and Campaign Setup
00:00:00
Speaker
Hello, and welcome to Eberron Renewed, an actual play podcast set in the Eberron campaign setting. I am your game master, Eric. I'm Mia. I'm Philip. I'm Trevor. I forgot the order. I'm Jeff. I justify the insist on going last because it's easiest and I'm dumb. Welcome everyone to the first quote unquote proper session of the campaign. but We have done the little prologue one-off adventures with each of our playable characters and now it's time to get the party assembled.
00:00:32
Speaker
to to start things yeah start the campaign boy my brain so all six of us are here and it's gonna be a mess yep yep yep so we closed things out with kaz's prologue arc do we want to do a quick recap on how that ended yeah we ended up real close to delure and it was scary uh some like people Nearly dead or it was a very it it was a tricky vibe to contend with but we we got in a fight with some like suspended life Yeah in the lure and skeleton. Yeah, I think right. It was at the previous fight. I don't remember anymore yeah There are skellies. Okay. Yeah. Okay.
Rolling for Icons: Relationships and Resources
00:01:11
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, so that's how we in things with Kaz so we are gonna be jumping to ah ahead in the timeline to where you all have been and at the manor that the lighthouse is stationed at for about a month. So enough time for you all to get settled in, make your spaces your own, do introductions with each other, et cetera. But before we start playing in the session, we need to do an important thing for 13th age, which is roll for icons. So what this means is we're going to be rolling. Each player is going to roll 1d6 for each relationship point that they have.
00:01:49
Speaker
with an icon. And then if they roll a five or a six, they get a trying to think of the right word, basically a resource that they get to use during the session that reflects their relationship with that icon. And if you manage to not roll five or six, you still get a little something. And then Mia's character being the occultist is a special little snowflake. And so we will get to that when we get to it.
Character Spaces and Personality Reflections
00:02:14
Speaker
So Philip, would you like to kick us off with this? So D6 for each relationship point and do it in such a way that you can tell the difference.
00:02:28
Speaker
Okay, my character's iconic relationships are with the Lords of Dust and the silver the Church of the Silver Flame. One of my dice is silver, so I'm gonna say that one's for the Church of the Silver Flame. Nice, the other two are not. I have a five on one of my Lords of Dust dice.
00:02:45
Speaker
OK, so because you have rolled a five, gives you an icon relationship advantage to use later in the arc at some point. So during this adventure, not just this session. So
Mission Briefing: The Undead Threat in Kernville
00:02:56
Speaker
we roll these at the beginning of an arc. OK. And it's with the Lords of Dust. So what that means and how that manifests and sorry, Philip, your relationship was conflicted. Conflicted. OK, so she likes the power, but but so in fact realizes there might be consequences. Yeah. So this manifests when there is a a narrative use or even a combat instance where, so a narrative use is kind of like advantage and triumph in Genesis where, hey, we're kind of stuck in a spot.
00:03:33
Speaker
I would like to use this relationship advantage, and then you would describe how your relationship with the Lords of Dust, whether it be agents of the Lord of Dust or agents against the Lords of Dust or just your power, et cetera, manifests in in a way that benefits you all.
Mission Preparation: Roles and Equipment
00:03:50
Speaker
If you want to use it in combat, then you basically get to re-roll a D20 and you get to describe how your relationship manifested that deal. After you use your connection, though, you roll a d20 to find out if there's a twist. So on a narrative connection, a roll of one to five indicates a twist. If you use it in combat, though, it's a one through ten is a twist. Cool. And you cannot hoard them. So if you don't use one of these by the end of the arc, then you lose it. So d20. Jeff, you want to go and go?
00:04:22
Speaker
yeah sure so my icons are the arcane congress and the platinum concord i realize now i do not have a platinum die so i suppose i'll just edit one go with this gray one so it's two for arcane congress and one with the platinum concord and i have rolled ones and twos OK, so since you did not get anything, you get a connection with an icon of my choice with an automatic twist. If you decide this is the worst thing for Eric to have in his pocket. So Eric informed none of us of this aspect before we agreed on this. Yeah. So I'm going to think about it while we continue to go through. And I'll let you know, Jeff, once we ah get through all this for Madison, you want to go and roll your icon?
00:05:06
Speaker
Yeah, I have a two for Lady Bol, and one for the Arcane Congress. Okay, I got a six for the Arcane Congress, and a five as one of my Lady Bol. Okay, so you have two to use.
00:05:20
Speaker
so much that down yeah one One with Lady Bull and one with the Arcane Congress. ok Trevor? Yeah, okay. So I'm gonna roll first. I'm gonna roll first for my relationship with the chamber. It's a four. I'm gonna roll next for my relationship with the Arcane Council. Congress. Congress. It's a three. Well, that's sure okay. I sure didn't write that. I'm gonna roll next for my relationship with Lady Bull.
00:05:45
Speaker
It's a five. OK, so you have one with Lady Bolt.
Strategic Planning and Character Dynamics
00:05:49
Speaker
Work. Write that down. I got my pen. OK, Mia, as an occultist with the icon channeler talent. Yeah. Do you want to explain how this works or would you like me to? No, I would not like to explain. I gave you an either or option. You can explain it because I will say the wrong words. So Mia has three fewer relationship points than normal, which means she starts with zero.
00:06:13
Speaker
So when all the characters get to roll their relationship dice, like right now, Mia gets an automatic five to apply to any icon that she chooses. So, yeah, what do you do you have a icon that you would like to have one with? No, but I actually thought that we were going with it would be at random.
00:06:36
Speaker
It's going to be rolled at the start and then whoever pops up gets that automatically. Okay. One, a two, a three, a four. Interesting. The sea princes of the Lazar principalities. So well go and write that down, Mia, that you have one with them. And then, okay. And because this is the distinction with
00:07:02
Speaker
um 13th age, first edition versus second edition. In first edition, if you roll a five, that was you got a relationship point with a twist. But since you get that automatically, if you don't get anything, Mia, I'm going to say that you just get a relationship arc and we'll roll for the twist as normal. So it's like you you got a six on a roll instead of a five. And OK, so, Jeff, you have Part of me wants to do yours randomly because of Kaz being Kaz is. That's fair. Interesting. The king citadel. Hey, that's where I'm from. If that factors into anything. Yeah, it does. I mean, and it's a you're your resource to use. so Cool. So i so i have I have the ability to use this in like everybody else, but you get to decide the definite twist that I would have.
00:07:51
Speaker
Yeah, there is an automatic twist to it. So OK. Okey dokey. So that is rolling for icons. And like I said, this will last through the whole arc, not just this session. So don't feel like you have to use them in this ah recording session since the art will typically last too longer than that. So OK. Now that you have all that done, you all.
00:08:14
Speaker
Find yourselves at Athlehampton Manor outside of Kalazart, Kire, the hills outside of the town. I can't remember how much of this we included in the session zero recording, the description of Athlehampton and the creation of it. Quite a bit. That was awesome. I think so. mike Okay. I had forgotten all of it and I remembered the river piddle from re-listening. So it's perfect. Okay. So it is enchanted to look worse on the outside than it is on the inside, although it is still in a rough state on the inside, but I'd like everyone you've had a month. You've met the director, the archivist and the engineer who reside here. Their names are the director's Javier Viejente. That's Yep. Spelled spell this traditional way.
00:09:00
Speaker
Yes. Okay, spelled spell as you would expect. The arc, the J or an X? J. Javier. Yes. Far enough, that's fair. The archivist goes by Aurora, and the engineer is Hendrik de Kaneth. I love that we have a Kaneth. Okay.
00:09:16
Speaker
I would love for each of you to just take a moment, if you like, and describe what your room looks like. You've been given your own private quarters in Applehampton Manor to make your own. I know when we were coming up with different rooms and stuff, like, fill up with Nyx, drive the chapel as potentially being some place that Nyx, at least nested in with weapons and stuff like that, but I don't know if Nyx would also have a different sleeping quarters if he eats like that. But, who would like to go first? I will. I can. Oh, go Trevor.
00:09:43
Speaker
work okay so it's it's just a real basic box of a room okay but everything is like that really not there and i was like and that's it that is it no but everything in it i mean it's very simple nothing nothing fancy bed dresser just bare minimum but everything in it is like the darkest darkest blue it could be like right before black blue Yeah. OK. But then it's got some really cool. I guess they'll be magic. I don't know because that's the world we live in. But like, you know, those strip lights the kids like today? Yes. Yeah. Yeah. It's like that. But they're like electric blue and they kind of outline everything in the room. OK. My dark dark. You look like you live in Tron. Yeah. Yeah. That's that's that's what I thought of.
00:10:34
Speaker
Love it. It's great. Cool. Philip, you were fighting to go next. We saw it in your eyes. Right. Yeah. Aeris. Nope. Nope. I'm done with that. What happened? What happened there is Trevor described that room and I thought Vian Aeris really would be best friends. And so that. Yeah. Anyway, Nyx. Nyx stays out in the chapel. I think most of the time, at least like Nyx sleeps out in the chapel. Sometimes things happen and she doesn't want them to happen in a building that might kill everyone if it caught fire.
00:11:03
Speaker
So next, we've got the chapel. the The chapel is old and run down. I don't know if we established what it was originally a chapel dedicated to.
00:11:14
Speaker
but If it was just the sovereign host or if we, if we said the precious moments figurines chap, and me it was your creation. philip So if you want to dictate what it is, we can, we can say it's to the, to the, the sovereign host. It's just a general
Journey to Kernville and Community Engagement
00:11:28
Speaker
purpose chapel. It's still pretty rundown on the, on the inside as well as the outside, lots of exposed stone, stonework, and every, every surface that isn't just directly.
00:11:44
Speaker
defacing any remaining religion icon religious icon is has weapons hanging on it of just ah ah a wide variety and the main the main space of the chapel all the seating and stuff has been cleared away and there are lines and circles and various other things, ah diagrams drawn all over the floor, but it's kept wide open as a space for Nyx to practice and to exercise, which she does a lot. And then her
00:12:22
Speaker
sleeping quarters is up like in the there's like ah a loft space to the chapel and she's put a bed and things up there and so when not otherwise engaged with people that's usually where she is and she's usually practicing with weapons while being watched by her familiar a small pseudodragon with metallic red scales. Nice. Okay, who wants to go next? I can go next. Valk's room is probably one of the other, as many people are, one of the rooms that are furthest from people, not for any magical reasons. He just does not want to be bothered.
00:13:11
Speaker
by people ah so it's a very like dark academia but like dark art deco kind of space where there's a lot of geometric shapes nice where it again his kind of vibe where he tries to look a little fancier but at some point it's just given up So there's stacks of books and like the rug is like slightly tripped up and the bed is not made. But if you look around, there's like a lot of little things that he's found along his journey that's a little more expensive. And he likes to try to put them on display and look fancy. But I think his room would also have a lot of like drapery to keep him of a little moody and a little mysterious.
00:13:57
Speaker
yeah And I mean, there's nothing fancy. He's got like the four poster bed and like a couch he kind of found and like attempted to drag in, but needed help. um So it's kind of scuffed up along the bottom. Probably has like dirt stains on it or something like that. And it's just like it looks put together. But the moment you start looking a little closer, it's just it's kind of a hot mess in there.
00:14:22
Speaker
Ice. Very good. So Kaz has just recently started staying in his room. He spent the first week or so sleeping in that war training room that I dreamed up for the house because he doesn't sure if he was going to explode. And once he realized the magic is actually a combination of like.
00:14:39
Speaker
heightened emotion and will he realized he could sleep in a bed so but his room is pretty bare uh one thing that we have not elucidated on this podcast is at some point between the jailbreak and today Cass was informed that he has been he's missed 20 years like There's no real accounting for it, but there's he yeah the last thing he remembers is 20 years ago. He hasn't aged any. so Notably, what you will not see in Kaz's room is any sort of magical or technological advancement that has happened in those last 20 years. i don't you know Wartime tends to accelerate technological advancement, and anything that has been developed is not represented in his room out of both defiance and fear. The one thing he does have
00:15:25
Speaker
is a warforged schematic. He's not seen one in person still. Okay. But he either asked for or stole from Hendrick De Canis because he is 16 years old and he thinks they are cool as it gets. So that is the one thing that he's kind of embraced. But he spit I don't know if we have free range to come and go from Athelhampton into the town that's nearby. If we do, Kaz has not. He's terrified of running into someone, so he has not left Athelhampton since the day he showed up. You all have been afforded the opportunity to live here, to be a part of something, but yeah, you're not...
00:15:57
Speaker
you're you're Your ability to come and go is not restricted. Sort of figured. Yeah. So his i mean his room's pretty barren because he looked like he didn't go get his stuff or anything. So anything he has is at the largess of Javier, Aurora, or Hendrik, I assume, right now. So, gotcha. That's where he's at. Cool. And last but not least, here to wow us all,
00:16:19
Speaker
Oh, yeah. So Selena has tried to put together to the best of her ability the kind of bedroom that you would imagine for the daughter of a diplomat, somebody who grew up very aristocratic. However, it's very like put together from what she could find. She was able to find a four poster bed and some kind of mismatched but still nice furniture to put in there.
00:16:40
Speaker
but her favorite part is one of the panels and the walls will open into those secret passageways and so through the secret passageway there's kind of a hidden room that I don't think anybody else really realizes is there and it's much darker than her normal room, kind of calling back to that my bar touched background. Gotcha. And that's where she kind of feels most like calm and at home. So she spends a lot of time in there. And then there's also a little space for grub in there in the secret passageways for my little familiar raccoon. Nice. Miley also goes and sits in her closet when she gets overstimulated. So I mean, I feel that. OK, awesome. So you all, like I said, you've had a month to explore as much of Apple Hampton as you've been able to. There are lots of
00:17:25
Speaker
corridors that are currently blocked off. And the director has talked about, you know, it's, it's expensive to renovate. And so they are working on getting resources to continue to make Apple, Hampton, what Apple, Apple Hampton, what it was once was. Apple, Apple hamster. You've guessed my password. No, this is the new algorithm.
00:17:44
Speaker
Yeah, but you all get a request. There is a system in each of your living areas. You are basically given by Hendrik a little disc with a red jewel in the middle. And essentially, when the director needs you all, the red jewel begins to light up and like ebb with energy.
00:18:06
Speaker
ah So it's a little calling system yes if needed. So you all see that light pulsing. The director has requested your presence in his office. Let's go. Selena grabs Grub and heads that way.
00:18:21
Speaker
OK, yeah, I mean, yeah, yeah, it has kind of gets up like and starts to lope towards. Yeah, this is easily noticeable when you were offered free room and board was, hey, you're you will have a job to do eventually. So sorry. Go ahead, Trevor. I was going to say it's it's easily easily noticeable because it's the only red light in the room. but That's true. It's very. So if you ask Hendrick if she could get a blue version, some actually, I mean, a bit purple needed. okay Yeah.
00:18:48
Speaker
like Nick's head's across the across the grounds. I think Fap is probably gonna be like the first person there to be a good a good little guy. Yeah. ah we Out of breath, you called? It's like I anticipated this. He farthest away because he doesn't like people first in line because he desires their approval. I like that. It's complex. Yeah. thank you Real quick, one thing i I forgot to mention, Philip, as Nyx spends a lot of time in the chapel, no request is that no skill check is necessary because of the amount of time that Nyx has spent and probably looking at the walls.
00:19:21
Speaker
something you notice of any time there's any kind of iconography that displays the members of the Sovereign Host before Nyx even got there, there is a bit of vandalism of somebody has included the Traveler, like a hooded figure in all of those icons, but it was very clearly done after the fact. Interesting. Is the Traveler not...
00:19:45
Speaker
usually included in the iconography of the Pantheon? Traveler's typically part of the Dark Six. Right, right. i Yes. I don't think I got that wrong. You can tell me. No, no, you you have that right. I was trying to remember what the what the term for the whole Pantheon was, if it's... that's all. My brain was just trying to remember what the term for the whole Pantheon was.
00:20:03
Speaker
That was, that was what the pause was. ah chip Okay. All right. You don't have to answer for me. It does not look like that the dark six six were cast out of the sovereign host. So it seems like they may. Okay. So i like was the sovereign host and now it's not. Yeah. Okay. So the director's office is you pretty well appointed. it's It's very clear that he has spent a fair amount of time curating the space. Lots of dark brown wood paneling on the walls with some built-in bookshelves behind the desk with lots of different tomes and volumes. He has a respectably large desk that is currently covered with maps and papers and letters. When you walk in,
00:20:43
Speaker
You all have seen him before, but for the listeners, you see an elf who is about six foot one, six foot two with actually pretty short hair that is very salt and pepper, a little bit more salt than pepper.
00:20:59
Speaker
and a close trimmed beard as well but with the short hair his elf ears are very prominent. He is very tan as well and he is dressed in kind of the looser fitting trousers that you would see like 1930s, 1940s suit wear with a tan button-down shirt and so suspenders holding up the pants. Nice. And he is currently standing behind his desk examining some letters, so when Valk comes rushing in he's, oh, Valk, welcome. We'll wait for everyone else to get here before I do the brief, but
00:21:36
Speaker
How are you settling in? He's just going to like awkwardly smile and just like nod. He's out of breath. I think he's to ho part but you just kind of smiling, nod, and then just say, I don't know if I should have chose a room that far away. Well, it's still early days enough where I'm sure if you want to relocate, no one else would. No. I've made my literal bed.
00:22:03
Speaker
It's not even made, but it is there. As the rest of you arrive at the director's office, probably ah right after the last of you arrives, Aurora also walks in. Aurora is a Medusa, but her snakes are pulled back like she's kind of tamed them, so there's a ah band around their heads. You see that they the snakes seem annoyed by this, but you know, has to be done. She is kind of a sickly yellowish greenish complexion and she is wearing much more battle ready like ah she's wearing leathers like leather armor.
00:22:46
Speaker
But she walks in and nods at you all and direct her, well, good news. We have a situation to have you all test your skills against that we believe is played her in nature. It's a relatively straightforward occurrence, I think, but there's a small village south of here in Kire called Kernville.
00:23:09
Speaker
that last week the town graveyard woke up and its residents clawed their way out of the dirt and thankfully the town had enough combat capable individuals to deal with the dozen or so ghouls that came up through the dirt but the town has, it seems, become a beacon for the undead.
00:23:34
Speaker
We actually had a battle of Carnathy and Chiron armies and a lot of the Carnathy undead broke rank and started making their way towards Kernville. The towns erected a makeshift barricade around the edge of town to keep out the undead horde.
00:23:52
Speaker
But they need help and unfortunately, Kyre is too busy with the war to send help right now. So we have been made aware of the situation and I made contact with the town and they requested help. So.
00:24:07
Speaker
I think that upon hearing the nature, Kaz has been pretty keeping to himself, and Kaz has been very much not, I want to say himself, but but no one knows him because we haven't really done episodes where he's been a normal district. But upon hearing the nature of this, since he just a month ago got into a fight with some undead, gets a little cocksure and a little bit, and he's like, oh!
00:24:31
Speaker
oh is that ah okay so we got this it'll be fine no worries and just like cracks his knuckles and leans back like suddenly naively confident because he did it once and yeah other people did most of the fucking Javier smirks it at Kaz's response not in a contest anyway just in the like glad to see that Kaz is settling in given his situation Yes. He's just glad to understand something. Everything's very weird. Yes. say you You've had your run-ins with the undead, Kaz, and so we're excited to see your skills put to test again. and i I know all of you are more than capable of dealing with a few zombies and skeletons, but the
00:25:09
Speaker
core mission and what we need to do is figure out why undead are attracted to Kernville and stop that from occurring. Even if you all go and kill every member of the Horde, it's just going to get replenished. Hendrik down in the lab, had he's been working on something since I told him about this that might that that will be of use, so go meet with him and he'll go through instructions on that.
00:25:34
Speaker
but I have a, and he reaches into his drawer and pulls out. It's like a small cylinder that on the bottom twists, like you can see a seam, and he sets it on his desk. When you approach the town, point this in the air and turn the bottom, and it will launch a signal into the air, and the town guard will know to create a diversion on the opposite side of the barricade to try and draw as many make a lane for you to, to get in and over the barricade. You will have to still fight your way in more than likely, but that will deplete the hordes. So you're not having to fight to the the full group. All right. Let's go bust up some dead heads. Not yet. We have to still.
00:26:16
Speaker
I love the enthusiasm. What's our transport situation? Well, we we don't really have anything for you right now. So travel by foot. If you want to go into town, you can try to barter for horses. On foot, it's if you go directly, it's south by southwest in the direction of Kernville. If you go straight through the wilderness, it's a two days journey.
00:26:39
Speaker
If you take the road, you'll go directly south and then you'll have to cut east. and That'll make a three-day journey, but obviously ah safer along the road, unless you run into soldiers or something of like along those lines. so that's current Unfortunately, we don't have a good transportation set up yet. So soon though, Aurora speaks up and says,
00:26:59
Speaker
You all should take some time before you leave, though, to prepare, have access to library yeah the the tomes, the resources. You could talk to Hendrik about potential supplies, but don't don't neglect the resources that this place has for you before you set out. You might be able to learn some valuable information about your foes before you leave or how to deal with the situation once you find it.
00:27:26
Speaker
twelve i
00:27:31
Speaker
yeah is Does anyone else want to take the flare, or am I just going to take the flare as he's just grabbing the flare? You can take it. I don't want it. Well, I don't think you should have it.
00:27:50
Speaker
Yo, hey, what? Come on, now. I... I don't know, dream it was both. Which I just thought was a little... You're probably right, but Kaz would want to hear it. I got enough flair on my own. That's fair, he's true. He's gonna... he's gonna pocket the flair. Make sure I remember. Just... In your pocket, yes.
00:28:07
Speaker
It's very safe. He's a professional, please. I think that's going to kind of like awkwardly look around. I think the conversation's done. It's going to be like we probably should go talk to Hendrick unless no one else wants to go with me.
00:28:24
Speaker
i Go by myself if I have to. No, we should go. the The head of the town guard is named Cor Vinay, so just find find her when you get into town. She'll be able to brief you on the situation. Thank you. All right, good luck and look forward to hearing what happens when you get back. Thank you. All right, let's get it done.
00:28:44
Speaker
Yeah, I think that's going to try and head towards Hendrick. It's probably best to talk to him first before trying to do any sort of other preparation. Yeah, that's where Nick says it as well.
00:28:56
Speaker
A question about the library. Does it have does it have regional periodicals? does it have How recent is some of the information in the archives of the library? Aurora is working on getting it up to date, but right now it's mostly reference material about like magic and the planes. It was like relevant materials for the mission, I guess, and now she's working on supplementing it with other things.
00:29:20
Speaker
Kaz should have so much interest in learning about magic, but he simply doesn't right now. So he's actually, I was gonna go to the library after there was stuff. You know what he what? What are you looking for in the library specifically? My thought right now was that Kaz genuinely thinks that his efficacy is gonna be fighting zombies. And he was gonna go see if he was finally gonna maybe look at some information about things that have happened in the last 20 years and there's some doubt. They get the paper, like, if you wanna just get up to date on Well, there's up to date and then there's what happened 15 years ago, kind of. Yeah. Yeah. I gotcha. ah So i I think it would be a good idea. I think that he will go to the library and actually do some reading about, find some reference materials, looking glossaries for things like tentacle coming out of mouth or strange unexplo... It happened, Philip. I flavored it differently, but the spell is very much called forced tentacle.
00:30:13
Speaker
Or or or so some spontaneous magic stuff just to see if there's stuff that he can figure out a little bit what's going on with him It's not about the mission. It's just about going Okay, Selena, are you hendric or something else? I'll talk to Hendric too. Okay, I guess I'll go too Okay. So the four of you get to Hendrix lab, it's double doors that are closed. And as you all walk in, you see a, what was initially a very startling site, but has grown more familiar of a large half man, half wolf figure, like pull, like trying to pull two implements apart.
00:30:50
Speaker
and is like straining against it and finally just muscles like fully tensed up and then they like pull apart you see an arcane like wave shoot out and just oh and then the form changes into a very muscular but thin man with uh dark skin a dark beard and close cropped hair apologies for that hi just working on some experiments and sometimes magic gets sticky so uh What can I... Oh, you're here for the mission, I'm guessing.
00:31:23
Speaker
Yes. Yeah, we were told you would have outfitting force. Yes. And Hendrik goes over to a station and gestures you all over and you see a ah circular plate that has an outer rim that rotates with various symbols along the edge. And the inner circle has one large arrow that clearly points at a symbol when it's in a certain position. He's like, so this is unfortunately a one-time use implement. um I can recharge it when you bring it back, but this will allow you, if you locate a eight temporary manifest zone due to planes being coterminous or other spells, things like that, this will allow you to negate the manifest zone itself. So based on Aurora's research and my own experimentation, we think that
00:32:17
Speaker
What's happening in Kernville is more than likely a result of a manifest zone of a plane being present somewhere in the town or under the town or over the town. But ah this, when activated, will negate that magic. Unfortunately, you see the spinning implement here.
00:32:36
Speaker
Different maneuvers zones require different magical signatures to negate them, so you will have to figure out what plane is manifest and set it correctly before activating it, otherwise it won't work in this particular situation.
00:32:49
Speaker
pretty good guess to think my bar or dollar, but not sure which one. So, um, either of those, this one, any points to one symbol is my bar and this one is dollar and he points to another symbol on there. So the, yeah, that's, that's what I got for you. So that is the primary tool for this particular job. Please, but like I said, bring it back.
00:33:14
Speaker
so that I can recharge it instead of building a brand new one. That would be splendid. Any questions about use of this? There's just a... Once you've got it set, then you push the very center circle, and you see an even smaller circle right in the middle. ah When you press this down, it will activate the runes inside, and then an arcane explosion will occur. A safe arcane explosion. And he looks at Selena. If you set it to the Maba setting, maybe you stand back a bit.
00:33:42
Speaker
That sounds like a good idea. I think maybe I won't be the one to carry this one. You said safe. Has it been... Have you triggered it with a person in the radius? I've been in the rapius and i I triggered it to upset the frequencies of Lamania and it did not have an adverse effect on me. Perfect. How big are we talking about this thing? It's like okay six inches in diameter. Next we'll pick it up. yeah and i just the maan Would you have told people about the pacemaker at the lighthouse, Selena?
00:34:14
Speaker
Yes, I think so. I think I'm, so you know, she's so used to her father talking about it. It's not exactly. Yeah. And then just shut up about it. Not communicated to be a secret. I'm just primarily concerned about the arcane implements in inside of you that's keeping you alive. So, yes. Yes. I'll be sure to step back when it's in use. Do you all need anything else before you?
00:34:34
Speaker
head out. I know we're dealing with undead, so obviously things that if if any of you have a skill set that deals holy damage, that would be probably a good thing to have. But that seems like it'll have to be traditional. Indeed. Disassembly. Kaz, you're in the library, so you're what what are you looking for he is looking he's finding the biggest reference book that he thinks he can read and understand and that has a glossary and he's looking for terms like spontaneous or uncontrollable Okay. Some descriptions of some of the things that have happened to him. I did roll on the weirdness table, just a couple of effects he's probably experienced as things have happened over the last month. just and i yeah The two things that I rolled were, the like number one, you accidentally summon, or no, sorry, three. You're hit by a pulsing wrinkle in time. You speak slightly slower than you should until you catch up.
00:35:26
Speaker
And the other one was number 15, your gender changes and your discretion, it changes back. So I think one night he like sneezed and a fireball came out of him and he turned into a girl for 20 minutes. And at that point he realized I need to start reading. Gotcha. So that's what he's that's what he's doing is any anything. but If Aurora is there, you would absolutely be asking her because she clearly would not be someone he would keep the secret from because why would yeah like. Yeah. Yeah.
00:35:51
Speaker
So, uh, I think, I think that's what he's doing. He may have even shared that story with her at some point, like, okay, so I need to tell you something. Don't judge me last night. And then explain about that stuff. So for sure. Okay. Give me a intelligence role for researching this. And if you have a background that you would like to pitch to be applicable, you can say so.
00:36:12
Speaker
I mean, if you think that because the magic comes from being in the fave for so long and one of my backtrads is fave-touched, I will use it. But otherwise, if that's too too broad, I don't really trade print. This does not count. Yeah, I mean, it's just your I don't feel like that would be applicable for your ability to research this stuff. and I think that's totally week fair. Yeah, absolutely. All right, then it's plus two. two That's 21.
00:36:34
Speaker
Hey, so specifically researching your own magic and kind of the spontaneous nature of it. So you owe it to 22 because we're level 20. I got it. Don't forget to add your level. OK, you find a really interesting entry when you're looking for cases of spontaneous random magic effects, like not just spontaneous, but like the randomness of what you experience.
00:37:00
Speaker
You find a couple of cases in these reference documents about when a a magic user specifically undergoes really severe injury or even potentially like when somebody has died and been brought back, but part of their death involved great physical trauma.
00:37:21
Speaker
that their magic a lot of times can change. And while the healing process is happening, it's like the magic can shift and alter. And so the the verbal somatic material components they use to cast a spell will Will be different as they come back and as they change so there's specifically something around Like trying to think of the right word severe is the word that's coming to my head But that doesn't seem like severe healing does not seem like a ah correct turn of phrase Significant healing has been known to really throw off
00:37:59
Speaker
people's magical abilities into doing unexpected effects. Specifically magic assisted healings like not just if you're seriously interested in spending some time recovering. No. A body's natural healing does not have this effect specifically around magical healing.
00:38:14
Speaker
Okay. I've got it. Kaz flintries his front to look for the little card to write his name on and leave at the desk to take it home. He's home now and just puts it back on the shelf to read somewhere later. Aurora was at the desk and kind of raises her eyebrow used to bring the book up to her.
00:38:30
Speaker
And he kind of pats, he goes, right, so. And then he asked if he can leave it out so he didn't have to look for it again. we think it was It was up the ladder. Can I just leave it on the table? Yeah, Aurora has. Who would, like, would Cas have been the one in the library the most over the past month, or who who would have frequented the library a lot? I don't think Cas would have spent a lot of time in there up until he started. I think Ralph would. You know what, occasionally, but not a ton. Nick's V, no interest in the library. Not no interest in the library, but she's not in there a lot. Didn't you?
00:38:58
Speaker
Yeah, probably wouldn't have been there a lot. She reads and usually a library is also a place where there are large comfortable chairs for sitting. So. But Valk has been in there pretty frequently. Yeah. So. So, Kaz, as you go to put the book back, you see that there are.
00:39:13
Speaker
four small-ish cubbies labeled Kaz, Selena, V, Nix, and then there's a small cart labeled Vout next to that shelf. Cute, nice. so So you can put books that you want to come back and and read again later in your cubby. So I have a question, Jeff. We collectively have no idea what happened to Kaz.
00:39:37
Speaker
Yeah, no one does. Okay. The people of the Feywild would have a the same... Sure. There's no memory of it that we do, but but the way that the the way I've written it is his memory is subconscious. Occasionally, so so something will flash like deja vu. Eric never really talks about mechanically if that will become a thing, but so he will occasionally... So our understanding...
00:39:58
Speaker
is, while Kaz obviously has some spectacular magical abilities, Kaz is a 16-year-old boy. Like, thats that's our whole understanding. Right, but but also... Kaz has 16 years of experience, yes. Right. Despite how long he was in the Feywild, despite the 20-year gap.
00:40:15
Speaker
Right. He's probably said that all my friends are 50 now, which they would be 36, but he's 16. Sure. Sure. Yeah. He's functionally retirees at this point to him. Right. Okay. Okay. So as we are coming back from the workshop, Nyx is, Nyx is in very, very sort of sturdy functional trousers and a ah form fitting, a sleeveless tunic because she was probably exercising.
00:40:41
Speaker
And she's perpetually, you're either used to this by now or you're never going to be the the most Philip think about next. She's perpetually fiddling with something and it's usually sharp. And so she's fiddling with whatever knife was on her belt and and says to everyone else walking back from the and engineering shop ah space. ah So here's who's in charge of the kid when we do this? I don't even know how old he is. So I don't think he's... He's like 16, right? You know more than I do. It's not it. You know, I'll try to keep an eye on him. Because what whatever else happens, we can't like we can't let a child be eaten by zombies while we're out there. I mean, people die every day. That's true, yes. He's a kid, though. Children die every day. He's saved. Okay, we... ah Is there something wrong with you? She's not wrong.
00:41:35
Speaker
likely. No, the information was not wrong, but the intent seemed really odd. I don't know if you've picked up on this, but I believe something wrong with you is a prerequisite for receiving an invitation to this. OK, I like you. Fiends talk to me and I can use whatever implement of death you put in my hand. She has a necromantic pacemaker.
00:41:59
Speaker
True. I'm not and entirely sure what's up with you yet. And the 16 year old sneezes and explodes. Can Cass have overheard that part as he's walking up to them? so So what I'm saying is, sure, something's wrong with all of us, but who's going to not let the child die?
00:42:16
Speaker
And Jeff, absolutely you have permission from me at least to have overheard any of any of this. I think I don't need your help. I've fought these things before. It's fine. I'll be fine. I'm not a child. I'm a teenager. OK, problem solved.
00:42:35
Speaker
Thank you. and there you just her i'm I'm happy to carry this, but would someone else like to? I operate, you all know, I operate up front with a sword and things are going to be hitting me and I would really be bad, obviously, if one of them broke this. Do you want to trade the flair for the...? Sure, yes. You hold on to the to the suppressor, and I'll use the signal.
00:43:01
Speaker
Gotcha. We don't have to go through it. I mean, Kaz asks what that is and you guys can explain what did it is. Yeah, sure. Kaz will say he wants no part of it. So, excellent. Nix, you have a familiar right that is with you? ah Yes. Yes. There is a a small dragon like creature with coppery red scales that is usually coiled on her shoulder or flitting around in the area.
00:43:24
Speaker
Does it have a name? It does. Yes. The the familiar is called Acheron. Acheron. Okay. How do Acheron and Grub get on? I don't know enough about the nature of Grub to answer that question. Acheron is definitely sinister. Okay. See, I don't know if we're Grub. Grub's a shadow rat from the planes of madness. Shadow raccoon. Big rat. Trash panda, Jeff. Grub is a trash panda.
00:43:53
Speaker
but Grub is so easy to get along with, but very, very curious and has kind of no, like, sense of boundaries. Like, we'll just kind of crawl up people's arms and sit on their shoulders or whatever. So I don't know how well they get a along. So what I'm hearing is that Acheron and Grub are the pinky and the brain of Acheron. It might be the Tom and Jerry. Oh, that's conceivable, yes. Acheron is big, bad. Got it. So that's very possible. Whatever hurts Phillip's feelings the most. No, it's Trevor's turn.
00:44:23
Speaker
See, I was going to have a hellhound, but then I thought Eric's going to turn it against me and make me kill the dog. So oh what don't those they were shadow dogs. They weren't actually dogs. They were the level. And I would say it's a hellhound. Phillip, it's not really a dog. They're fair. Eric was made by dogs with like six years ago. Pretty sure you had to write a single dog for all of campaign to OK.
00:44:48
Speaker
anything else that you all would like to do before you depart for Kernville. I mean, Aeros would go back to the chapel and arm herself ah extensively. Okie dokie. There are also like tomes and things in the chapel as well, so that can be used for research of a religious nature. If anybody wants to use the chapel that way, Nix has claimed the chapel, but Javier was very clear with everyone. She doesn't prevent anyone from using it. Yeah. Yes. She has made a substantial space where she can swing a sword without hitting anything. And she sleeps up in the balcony. But yes, any of the like library space in it or any of that is is still there. She has not
00:45:32
Speaker
There's just a lot more weapons on the walls. Yeah. So effectively we're we're in kind of a prep phase thing where each of you, I'm not going to count Jeff's like personal research thing for CAS as it, but you can each do one thing to try and gain a benefit going into the adventure, depending on the nature of what you do that can be altered based on the activity.
00:45:55
Speaker
but Mine's very straightforward. I would like to know because this is a new system. I would like to know whether fighting animated dead ah needs particularities in terms of weapons, like whether or not there are things that undead are resistant to or immune to in terms of hitting them with weapons.
00:46:17
Speaker
That would be something that you would take the research action to figure out. So both religious and arcane documentation to have this in the library of the chapel would but both be equally effective, ah but I will just need an intelligence role. And then if you have a relevant background to make.
00:46:33
Speaker
The closest thing I've got in terms of relevant background is that I am Shavarath touched. And so we kind of interpreted that as being a martial prodigy. Yeah, I'll accept that since you're specifically looking for combat oriented information. Oh, that's not a great role. All right. Plus my 12.
00:46:56
Speaker
12. So the way you can find out what the 12 is that this is a pretty baseline thing with any form of skeleton. If you encounter skeletons, all skeletons have a resistance to weapon damage of 16. So if you are attacked with a weapon, you need to roll a 16 or higher naturally on the die in order to deal. Otherwise you deal half damage.
00:47:19
Speaker
Well, I don't like that. Zombies don't have the same resistance. So if his zombies are the other form of undead, you're good. Just skeletons specifically. Skeletons are going to be a problem. Got it. Yep. So that is Nix is kind of what Nix does before you all hit the road is researching efficacy of fighting undead. Can Valve look for or maybe read over any sort of further detailed document about the magical happenings of the area that they have? Yeah, you can go. Like I said, you all get the paper so you can kind of go do your own research about like recent stories in the area surrounding this town and like magically what's been going on. We'll do that.
00:47:58
Speaker
give me an intelligence, or since you're looking through like newspapers and not just like a reference document, I would also accept wisdom, if that's better for you, ah since it's kind of more connecting the dots and stuff, perceiving things. ah If you have a background that you think would be relevant, you can use it. There is that paranormal investigator that we just picked up. Perfect. Okay. Does that add anything? Or is that just- It adds four, since you have four. Yep. Plus your level, don't forget your level, everyone.
00:48:27
Speaker
plus my, oh, yep, fairy race. That was a one. So, numbers after Thanksgiving. Eight? Eight. Yeah. Okay. through Looking through the papers and trying to, and you naturally got a one, is what you said? Okay. Investigating through the newspapers and what's been going on, you kind of pick up on the fact that there's been a lot of battles happening along the borders of Khair with the war, specifically between Khair and Karnath. And these Khairan newspapers are positing that surely, like, this is a a wartime operation by the Karnathi military.
00:49:08
Speaker
to turn our own debt against us. And so that you're kind of concerned that there may be like a high level necromancer that's going around, causing all of this business. ah And this specifically, they're tied to the military. So some of the cure. An F E necromancer spy invades Kaya turning our debt against us. That kind of thing.
00:49:30
Speaker
He doesn't like that, but he's going to kind of keep that clipping with him. Okay. Every time anyone else goes to read the newspaper, they just like articles. He has to be observed in the library and he can't take anything. He'll write in all the books. so I was almost done with that crossword, too. Nyx is gonna be up front of the next time she comes to the library and there's a no scissors or other sharp object sign from the door. yeah V, Selena, or Kaz? Yeah. Go ahead, V. Oh, okay. Sorry. um That tickled me. I don't know. I think V would know a little bit about... maybe killing some skeletons. Who knows? I don't know. So but I want to see if there's I got some ninja stars. I want to see if there's anything I can do to to maybe make them better at killing skeletons. OK, so you can go meet up with Hendrik to see if he can modify your ninja stars to to potentially deal holy damage, which is kind of a baseline thing that everybody knows that messes with undead is holy damage.
00:50:28
Speaker
ah So, what are your backgrounds, V? Backgrounds, Carnathy Assassin, raised in the Icewood and trained by the Slade Hand. Okay. I would say that, you know, being a Carnathy Assassin, probably you would have had somebody in a similar position to Hendrik who's been able to modify the weapon type or the the damage type of your weapons before. But obviously, c V,
00:50:54
Speaker
didn't actually do that and wasn't like didn't have the schematics so give me a I would take intelligence or charisma to explain to Hendrik what you think and you can add your Carnathi assassin background plus your level So roll a d20 plus the mod, are you doing intelligence or charisma? I'm gonna do intelligence. Which is intelligence plus the assassin plus level. ok Oh, okay. Oh, okay. Well, I rolled a 14 naturally. Nice. Plus one intelligence. So 15 plus three, the assassin. This is 18 plus the level is 19.
00:51:32
Speaker
OK, yeah, you're you're able to fumble your way through the explanation. The Hendrick is like, i you know, it's one of the situations where you're having to listen to somebody explain how to do a thing that you are very adept at. Like he's he's generally getting the information from you. But the way that you explain it is so circuitous and like not bordering on nonsensical. But he's taking notes and he's like, oh, OK, yes. And he takes the stars like, come.
00:52:01
Speaker
come back right before you leave. And I think I can get these to where they'll deal holy damage for you. So, yes, I'll give it a shot. Oh, perfect. Thank you. Selena or Kaz? Kaz is going back to the library. He likes it there now. And I think because he overheard a bit of that,
00:52:20
Speaker
Instead of instead of looking at like any sort of magic that might protect himself or look at the sort of magic That might make him stronger. He's gonna read up on healing and buffing. Let's show you who's gonna protect who and so nice that is what he wants to he wants to read up on ah Healing magic fully knowing that he doesn't really have control of his spells as much as he would like But he thinks the more he reads the more it might come out of him okay, give me a Give me an intelligence check again, but you can apply your faitouched background to this role. Okay. Cause perhaps there's something subconsciously that you might. You said intelligence. Yes. Yes. 13, 14, 17, 17. Not a great role on the die. Um.
00:53:26
Speaker
And you have the attack warp talent, right? Yes. i I chose attacking warp, not defensive warp. Okay. Yeah. Right now I basically have two defensive or one, one healing spell and one kind of buffing spell that are in my defense section. And that's it. Okay. I need to share this spreadsheet with you probably. Okay.
00:53:45
Speaker
yeah
00:53:50
Speaker
Once on this arc, Jeff, when you would be activating your attack warp ability, you can instead choose one time to gain the water defensive warp property, which is where until the end of your next turn, when you heal using a recovery, add hit points equal to your wisdom modifier to that healing. So basically you get you get additional healing one time because of this research that you've been doing.
00:54:16
Speaker
But only to myself, not to another person. Or is that? I haven't read the watch. Yeah. so Yeah. Okay. I mean, that's worse for me. Selena. Okay. Well, Selena's is a little bit similar because she agreed to keep an eye on this kid. So and now she's going to go try to kind of brush up, see anything she can find on like kind of protection spells. Okay. Okay. So researching in the library. So intelligence check. Plus if you have a background that you'd like to try and utilize.
00:54:41
Speaker
I don't think any of mine really apply, maybe Daughter of Diplomat, but. No, not really. Yeah. Okay. 16. 16. Okie dokie. Just trying to find the right thing that would be afflicting. Did you take the shield spell as one of your spells?
00:54:59
Speaker
Okay. Through your research and kind of gaining an understanding of it, I'm going to say for this arc, you specifically, like you can cast shield. Normally it's only when an attack hits your AC. You can do it when, oh, here it is. You gain access to the champion feat for this arc. Instead of affecting yourself, you can cast shield with an ally you're next to is hit by an attack. Okay. Awesome. To help protect the kid. Perfect. Somebody has to.
00:55:27
Speaker
Right. OK. And before you all head out to go to Kernville, that's what we're going to call the episode. So now that you all are all prepped up and ready to go. Thank you all so much for listening. If you want to be part of the conversation surrounding this episode, you can head over to our Discord, the link to which you can find on all of our socials, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter at Geek Pantheon. We also have a YouTube channel, youtube dot.com slash the Geek Pantheon, where I do TTRPG videos. Philip's now going to plug a thing. but We have another podcast, Tales from the Laughing Tree.
00:55:55
Speaker
ah which has a new campaign going called Blades and Banners. You can also watch on YouTube, on the Laughing Korea's YouTube channel. Eric's a player. I'm the GM. It's over there. Indeed. Pilots. Yes. ah We also have a Patreon, patreon dot.com slash the Geek Pantheon. If you want to financially support the show, you can do so over there, or you can buy some merch at thegeekpantheon.com. Thank you all so much for listening. I have been your game master, Eric. Hi, Mia. I'm Philip. I'm Trevor. I'm Madison. I'm Jeff.
00:56:24
Speaker
we'll see you next time we did
00:56:49
Speaker
We'll see you next time. We did it.