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C1 Ep. 147 The Nightmare’s Dusking Chapter Three
284 Plays5 years ago
The end has finally arrived, but can the heroes persevere in the mounting face of danger? Or will the quori forces be too much this time?
This episode is brought to you by the generous donations of our amazing Show Sponsors: Laura Pickrahn, Darrin Katzska, Irene Viorritto, Ryan Royce, Darrell DeLaney, Charles Compton, Richard Cree, Nastasia Raulerson, The Kamm Family, David Scrams, Elizabeth Clark, Rebekah Miller, deviouspoptart, Eðvarð Arnór Sigurðsson, Michael Clark, and Dustin Troupe.
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Transcript
Introduction and Patron Dedication
00:00:00
Speaker
The following episode is brought to you by the generous donations of Elizabeth Clark, Darryl Delaney, Ryan Royce, Darren Katska, Irene Villarito, Laura Pickron, Devious Poptart, Natasha Rallerson, Richard Cree, The Cam Family, Charles Compton, Dustin Troop, Rebecca Miller, Edvard Arnoff, Michael Clark, and David Scrams, along with all of our generous patrons.
00:00:32
Speaker
D20 radio, your gamer's role.
Campaign Finale Introduction
00:00:50
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. I'm Philip. I'm Randy. I'm Jeff. And welcome to the last episode of the campaign.
Recap of Past Encounters
00:01:00
Speaker
Gentlemen, what happened last time?
00:01:02
Speaker
So much fighting. So much fighting. So many wisdom saves. And just holding off waves, oh, quarry. And running, and puking, and bleeding, and being possessed. Yeah, smacking your friends around a little bit. This place sucks. Trying to pull a weapon out of the machine. I know I say that about literally everywhere, but this place sucks. Two of them said that about every place you've been. Two of the three boys are looking pretty ragged. Yeah. How are you doing on hit points, Dex? I'm fine.
00:01:30
Speaker
OK, I'm still in my temporary. He's in his prime. All right. I'm vomiting, I'm scared and I'm ineffectual, but I am healthy.
Discovery of Chain Lightning Stone
00:01:42
Speaker
And we ended the episode with Booyah reaching into his bag of fun. So picking up where we left off in the middle of Booyah's turn because I needed a moment. Booyah, you reach into your bag and you like just
00:02:00
Speaker
What this? Reach in for a moment and yank something out and you see a stone, a test stone that you had tinkered with and created back when you were working with Gerald to infuse one of the red stones with his dragon mark. And you forgot that you stuck this thing away and you pulled it out now. What this thing can do for you
00:02:30
Speaker
is um it has four charges okay okay you have four charges of chain lightning sweet so
00:02:49
Speaker
So yeah, you hit something, and then three bolts leap from that target to as many as three other targets, so up to four on one turn, that are within 30 feet of your original target.
Chain Lightning Mechanics Explained
00:02:59
Speaker
The range on the initial chain lightning is 150 feet. Dexterity saving throw. If they fail, they take 10d8 lightning damage. If they succeed, half damage. Holy cow.
00:03:17
Speaker
OK, and it chains off to three other targets, potentially? Potentially, as long as there's other targets within range. Each of the chain bolts then chain? No, it doesn't then. It just chains. Yes. Changes to two, changes to one. OK, so that was Booyah's turn.
Battle Intensifies and Booyah's Fall
00:03:42
Speaker
Now, the scorpions. So, first one, we're gonna attack you, Booyah. The squirrel? The crab-like creatures. Aye! Pinsir attack on Booyah. I appreciate it. It's so cool that you tried. Booyah, don't look great, Booyah, fall. Somebody get stone. 25. That hits. So that initial...
00:04:10
Speaker
Four points of damage. You're grappled. So he gets advantage. So that's 16. That's not a hit. 19. That hits. Okay. That's the big one. That is the big one.
00:04:34
Speaker
9, 14, 20, 29, 32 points of damage. Booyah, as the tail comes and pierces through his armor, kind of gasps. And as he falls, can he flip the stone? Into the air?
Strategic Combat Developments
00:05:00
Speaker
No, to an ally, whoever's closest.
00:05:04
Speaker
Sure. You can toss. I'm. You caught it. Shut up. We're going to throw that hard. He's got to give me a dexterity check to see if you catch it. So disadvantage, but your best step. I don't. Okay. We got throws at far. I mean, he's hooking it into the distance, but okay. So I have disadvantage as he's dropping to the ground. Yes. Chunks it back in Dexter's direction. Okay.
00:05:33
Speaker
It's a 17 year. Hey. Yeah. You're and then you like stand up just in time to see this like lightning infused fire. I catch it in my mouth, stanching the fluid from the lightning going into your body everywhere. And Booyah drops to his knees and falls face forward. Okay. He's down.
00:06:02
Speaker
It is now... What do I do with this stone? The one that was attacking... It doesn't have to be in the weapon? No. Okay. The one that was attacking Bamani is going to continue to attack her. That's a d12, I don't want to roll that one. 23 on... Well, she was already grappled, so advantage. 23, so... Kicking things off with seven points of damage.
00:06:32
Speaker
The claws, 24, so that's 4d4 points of damage, 21 total, rolling total right now. And then the tail, 20, so, oh my gosh, 9, 17, 22, 30, one, plus three, 34 points of damage.
00:07:03
Speaker
That's a campaign for Bimani. Bimani's down. Okay. Now it is the tentacle one's turn. So they're coming down from the sky. We'll split these up. Barak, Wisdom saving throw.
00:07:33
Speaker
Twenty one. Give me another one. Mm. Thirteen. Thirteen. OK. Nine. Fifteen. Sixteen points of psychic damage. Oh. And for the failed one, half damage. Well, fourteen. Seven. Twenty. So ten more.
00:08:03
Speaker
Okay, still up. That was the first one's turn. Wisdom saving throw. You don't have disadvantage because it's saving throw. 20. Okay, you succeed so you take half the image. 13, 14, 16, so 8.
00:08:26
Speaker
There's tension in the room it's second attack wisdom saving girl. I'm not worried about decks going down No It's a natural one Okay There's more tension in the room 1419 So 26
00:08:49
Speaker
The machine really starts to rattle. It's not a mechanical machine, but you hear the gears rattling in it. It's like a car that's three years overdue for an oil change. It's clattering to beat the band. That was the second one's turn. Wisdom saving throw. Really? All right.
00:09:17
Speaker
I'm going to go down now. I have two hit points, so I'm going down. Okay. It's up to you, big boy. The rest, so there's two more. Rush down to Dex. 27 to hit.
Dex's Lightning Stone Assault
00:09:48
Speaker
Yeah, my man. 13 points of damage. And that's a 12. You know, the Beric regenerates. Beric will wake up on his turn. Yes, I know that. Which is good, because your boy don't heal things. It's your turn, Dex. I'm writing, right?
00:10:19
Speaker
No, you're not frightened anymore. Oh, I'm not sick. I thought sick and was frightened. No, no, no, no. You just have disadvantage on attacks and ability checks. OK. I take the stone in my hand. Booyah tells us about the stuff he's tinkering with. We saw Booyah tinkering with the stone. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. He was doing prototype stuff. Can I fire lightning at the machine?
00:10:51
Speaker
Yeah. That's what I want to do. It's rattling. It's screaming. My friends are down. The only thing that I know in this is that machine stops working.
00:11:03
Speaker
Yeah, and if there's anything within 30 feet right yeah, so it's this is Predicated on dexterity saving throws you don't roll attack rolls so the machine can't get a dexterity saving throw, right? So you just need to roll me 10 d8 damage on the machine
00:11:23
Speaker
I'm going to need to borrow some D8s, like eight of them. All right, so there's seven, eight, nine, 10. Gave me one that was hard to read, so give me 20 minutes to decipher. 40, even. 40 points. Hey. Look at that. Nice, even. That's exactly average, nearly so. Well, it's below half. I guess it's a little below half. So you extend the stone out to the machine, and lightning just arcs through the air and hits the machine as lightning begins to spiderweb out.
00:11:51
Speaker
So we're going to go ahead and handle the attacks on the other query real quick. Yeah. So the one that was next to Booyah, who was right near the machine, I'm going to say is an eligible candidate. So.
00:12:08
Speaker
Is it the same roll or did he roll for each other? I don't know what the, what's your, um, same modifier for like fireball and lightning. 16. 16. Okay. So he fails. Um, there's the one and I'll say the two next to you that like came down to try to attack you. Um, that's a failure and a success. Uh, so two, we're going to take full one takes half the image and I reroll. It's not the same role. You go and reroll that same amount.
00:12:37
Speaker
I think for the sake of expediency, let's just, like, do one roll for all dead. So it was 40. No, no, 10d8. Still 10d8. Pardon me, that's all I can put in this. But just one roll. But do one roll, right. Yeah, sorry, that's what I meant. That's a seven, yeah. Right, yeah. 44 points of damage, so 22 to them that's eight. Awesome. Yay for the stone of change. I think I know what I'm doing every one of my turns now.
00:13:08
Speaker
Yeah, and I'm I'm going to say like you can just keep this thing like powering into it, basically like is it doing visible something to the machine? Yeah, the machine is like overpowering and like arcing and the stones are like really cracking and starting to shatter out as three, three charges left. So yeah, the three, the three corey that you hit are like
00:13:35
Speaker
almost possessed by the lightning. I mean, this is the power of Gerald's Sibris Mark manifest into reality. I take your word for it. They're absolutely my periphery. I'm staring at this machine until it collapses. Yeah. And also the other part of that is that is good insulation from having to look at my.
00:14:07
Speaker
All of them are swarming at you. So I just don't care. I got that white cloak on feeling good about it. The two creepy ones are going to go to two insect ones. Throom down the one that's been like making your life terrible. Oh, you need you need to give me a saving throw for a second. Oh, yeah. Wisdom saving throw.
00:14:18
Speaker
Two fallen friends and other fallen compatriots.
00:14:35
Speaker
10! Your awesome moment beep. I've done harder things than hold a rock while puking. Okay, so first one's going to attack you. And I am no dicks. 27. Yeah. 16, 23, 37 points of necrotic damage.
00:15:00
Speaker
Are you resistant to that still? What made me resistant to that? I don't have any idea what made him resistant. Was it the white cloak? No, I think it was the amulet and the breastplate that had that property. Maybe, I don't know. Oh, wait, no, no. Yes, you were absolutely right. The ribbon weave gives me resistance to necrotic damage. That's what it is. Yeah, it does.
00:15:17
Speaker
That was written down on one character sheet, 15 character sheets ago, I'm sure. So half of 37. Yes. So 17. Yes. 18. 18. 18. Second one's going to attack you. Oh wait, it gets to do this twice. Oh good. 23. Yeah. Seven, eight, 16, 19. So. So 10. No, nine. Nine, yeah. Nine, yeah, we're going down. Second one's going to attack you.
00:15:48
Speaker
25. Yeah. Um, 10, 11, 18, 24. Still necrotic. Yeah. So 12. Okay. Can't do this much longer. Uh, 22. Yeah. Seven, 11, 14. So seven.
00:16:11
Speaker
So, yeah, you're just getting battered as these things are like the eyes floating around this or like gnashing at you and tearing at you and you're just holding the stone desperate. Berwick. Good. Berwick wakes up. I see this what's happening. The machine is about to go. Yeah, that's obvious. OK. Berwick gets up.
00:16:44
Speaker
runs over to Dex, and I put my hand around the stone, and I look at Dex and I say, good luck in this, Marsh. And I cast Banishment on Dex and Booyah. You have the choice. Booyah doesn't. You promised me. I promised him!
00:17:21
Speaker
Now you knew when he asked us to promise that that was probably good. I had an eyesight. It's my only planer transport and I can only target two. I had a sixth level spell slot to use. I can take me too, but. This is why I had to get rid of Oregon. Didn't have enough tickets on. So mad right.
00:17:50
Speaker
But you don't know Barrack's not coming. You would have no way of knowing Barrack's not coming. No, I know. I know! Okay. I'm pissed. Does he get a save if he's unwilling? If he's unwilling, he gets a save. How long do I have to find out if you're coming? It's immediate, right? You cast it. I don't know
Beric's Sacrifice and Heroism
00:18:12
Speaker
you're not coming. I promised you I wasn't going to do it, but the machine's not done.
00:18:16
Speaker
I can't imagine... It's obviously about to explode. It hasn't? I need a call. Ryder died next. Yup, that's the thing. I have to try to resist it because the machine's... The machine's not broken! It's going to... Roll.
00:18:46
Speaker
You might not succeed. You might not succeed. What? Oh, I succeed. Don't break my glasses. The DC is 25, though. What is the DC? 17. And it's a what? What did you roll? I mean, I rolled a 15. What's the it's a wisdom? He didn't expect to look because he promised. No, it's a criminal.
00:19:16
Speaker
Which he has a plus four. Yeah I saved. That's my only spell sign. Booyah's dying somewhere. Booyah unconscious and making death saves. Who put this on me? This on you. Is Booyah's turn now? Yes, it's Booyah's turn. Where is Booyah? You don't know. I don't know. No, you're home. My home plane, but I was like, we're on the home plane. You're somewhere on Heaven. That's a nut.
00:19:46
Speaker
Okay. That's one again. That's a one against. Oh, no, it's not a one. No, it's a three, but. Okay. That's, yeah. Laying somewhere. We're rare.
00:20:06
Speaker
The tension in this room is uncomforting. Disconcerting? I don't know. Whatever. Beric went, Booyah went. Scorpion Quarry. They're going to rush up to Dex trying to take him out because you both have your hands on the stone. 11. 18.
00:20:38
Speaker
22. Yeah. That's 27 points of damage. Is it still a karate? Yes. Wait, no, this is not a karate. This is bludgeoning or piercing, whatever. Doesn't matter. Um, okay. Um, the other one attacks.
00:21:06
Speaker
the natural 20. It's the pincer attack, so it's not the big one. 17 points. Okay. Doesn't do it. 16 doesn't hit you right. No. Okay. Um,
00:21:37
Speaker
And that's Bimani's turn. So, um, her death saves. Nope. She does succeed though. Okay. And that's the end of this round. Um, so Dex go and roll damage on the lightning 41. Okay. Yeah. This is fair. One succeeds. This is his action. Yes.
00:22:07
Speaker
Barrick talk off of his turn. Yeah, that's 38 for the damage of the other guys. OK, the three that you hit before were kind of paralyzed by the lightning explode with electric energy. Go ahead, Barrick. You need to get back to your dream. It's going to blow. You need to get back to your dream. You're not going to live if you stay here.
00:22:41
Speaker
I mean, what? I can't live with myself if I don't try to see this through. You've done that. It's seen through. Look at this thing. I leave you die, right? This is you with your... I'm...
00:23:11
Speaker
I mean, Beric is grievously wounded, grievously wounded. I'm not going to get back as fast as you. If it blows and I have time, I'm not just going to stand here and watch the world end, but I can't keep up with you and you'll wait for me.
00:23:39
Speaker
There's no reason for us to both die. And there's not much reason for me to go back. This thing's... This thing's done. Yes. It's as good as done. Yes. They'll die when it's gone. Yes. And you'll go home. If I can get back, I will go home.
00:24:13
Speaker
Let me know when you're there. I let go of their stone and run, run, run, run, run. And I use the remaining two. The boots have been clicked this whole time. I get 160 feet. No, I mean, here's, yeah. Like Dex turns to go and the machine blows.
00:24:44
Speaker
That's what you're rolling damage for, is to see if the machine will have triggered.
00:24:50
Speaker
You turn and, Beric, you also see lightning crackling within, just silvery white light erupting and blinding both of you.
Post-Battle Chaos and Rebuilding
00:25:04
Speaker
Can't be blinding. Narratively blinding. The magical energy is overloading you. I'm just blind. Yeah. As it spreads out across the plane. We are going to give me a death saving throw.
00:25:24
Speaker
No. The last thing you all see in this moment before the white silvery light overtakes you are all of the quarry that were surrounding you seemingly on a wave of energy as they're just lifelessly tossed corpses being flung about.
00:26:07
Speaker
Um... Booyah go and give me another death saving throw. Doesn't count, whatever it is. Didn't look. And wherever Booyah is, he has died.
00:26:26
Speaker
OK. All over Corvair. This is going back in time a little bit. Corey. Are attacking people in the streets of Corvair. The invasion is in full swing, except. For the country of Greenland. Bornel having taking the warnings and trying to compel other leaders and nations, but unsuccessful because of diplomatic relations.
00:26:56
Speaker
ensured that his top artificers went about and disabled any obelisks matching the description that the party gave to him. The inspired still tried to attack, but are handily pushed back thanks to Bornell's warnings and preparedness for this inevitable attack.
00:27:19
Speaker
In Thrain, the Quarry are attacking and the Knights of the Silver Flame and the Clerics try to hold strong against the Quarry, but much to the confusion of many of them, the power behind their spells is seemingly somewhat diminished. The Quarry gain greater foothold in Thrain than any other nation.
00:27:44
Speaker
Under the guidance of Adol Irwinarn, the Wizards of Arcanix overwhelm the Quarian-inspired forces in the royal district of Fairhaven, the Quaria running through the streets when the Wizards fly in, protecting the upper class citizens and the royal family from the attacks. In the poorer parts of town,
00:28:05
Speaker
Many citizens are frightful, but thankful once they realize the intent of a tiger running throughout the streets of Fairhaven, fighting off the quarry, attacking any that she finds. But the number of inspired inquiry are too great for her to fight alone. And while buying times for the citizens of Fairhaven slums to flee, the tiger is overwhelmed and disappears from sight.
00:28:32
Speaker
Word travels too late to the gatekeepers of the Eldin reaches, who were caught off guard by the Kori invasion, and did not see it coming. They use what tools they can to try and help the Ondarians in their fight, but they arrive too late. The docks of Stormreach are quiet, save for the persistent thrum of the Obelisk's energy. The reagent dock workers are loading up crates onto their ships when a faint noise begins to grow.
00:29:03
Speaker
starts like a far-off howl, but grows more and more into a deafening roar as a blue, ancient dragon descends on the docks, unleashing lightning onto the ships and the water surrounding the docks. The dragon makes pass after pass as the wood of the ships crackles and snaps, the corpses of the reedrant smoke in the dragon's wake and all manner of sea life float to the top of the water from the electrified current passing through it.
00:29:29
Speaker
The citizens of Stormreach would later go on to say that it sounded not as if the dragon were screaming in rage but crying. The dragon then spots the obelisk and takes off towards it. Suddenly, the fighting comes to a halt as the quarry die en masse all over the continent at the same time.
00:29:55
Speaker
Inspired forces try to keep up the fighting, but are no match against the collective forces of the Corvarian nations. Confusion spreads across the continent as to what caused these alien beings to attack and what they were. Nations begin to tend to their wounded and count their dead, and the dragon-marked houses begin deploying their people all over the continent.
00:30:15
Speaker
House Gerasco helps with the healing, House Orion and House Lirander take on transportation, and House Sivus graciously handles all communications between the major cities and governments of Corbary.
00:30:29
Speaker
Remaining inspired combatants are taken prisoner, but very few provide any information of use, and the information they give is useless to the governments of the five nations as speak of quarry and utopian futures as utter nonsense to many of them, with Breeland being the most efficient in gathering information and taking it to heed for the Dark Lanterns.
00:30:54
Speaker
Weeks turn into months as the world recovers from the quick but devastating attack by the Quarry. King Adal Irranarn mournfully eulogizes his sister after the unexpected death of her and her royal guards during the attack. The Church of the Silver Flame assures the three-ish people that all is well, and they will be stronger than ever as they rebuild, but the people continue to murmur about the diminished strength of the Church and whispers of the monarchy's return growing strong.
00:31:24
Speaker
Keeper Jayala sits with Scaravosian in the Cathedral of the Silver Flame. She closes her eyes and listens carefully. Her expression is clouded with frustration. Scaravosian gets up and places his head on Jayala's lap. She pets him while staring at nothing in particular. Months later, the dragon-marked houses call for a meeting at Thronehold.
00:31:52
Speaker
They expended great resources to help the five nations during their rebuild and are now demanding looser regulations, instead of charging the governments of Corvair the absurdly high bills that they are owed for their labor. Orenel Irenarn tells them that he would sooner eat a dire rat than be held hostage by the houses. Since Brelin didn't need to expend much towards their rebuild, the Brelish government offers to cover the bill the houses is levying against the other nations.
00:32:20
Speaker
Um, Borenel finishes the meeting by telling the houses that if they ever try to hold Corvair hostage again, they will redraft the treaty and the houses will be, will be begging for scraps in the gutter.
Reflection on Heroism and Legacy
00:32:33
Speaker
As the meeting ends, Borenel is stopped by a woman in the hallway, Paolo. How's the rebuilding effort going down south?
00:32:43
Speaker
It's hard, but the people of Stormreach are resilient. A voice coming down the hallway interjects, come now. I thought we agreed that the capital will remain Stormreach, but... Paolo rolls her eyes. Yes, the people of New Caya are resilient. Borghev smiles broadly as he greets Boranell and Paolo. A group of black-skinned elves are seen trekking across the desert at night.
00:33:10
Speaker
are moving at a rapid pace to avoid the coming dawn before they can find cover. They each carry trophies and pieces from their war against the aberrations, but they are retreating. Drakir looks back over his shoulder at the path they are leaving behind them, rage and fury in his eyes. A female drow in Venera puts a hand on his shoulder with a quizzical look.
00:33:37
Speaker
It was like they knew exactly how to enter the city. Where our guards were, we never stood a chance. Suddenly, Barak's eyes shoot open. They shoot around, scanning the area from Bela Shira's chest as he examines large crystal in the center of the Kabuline fortress surrounded by drow corpses and other aberrant forces. Now what to do with you?
00:34:07
Speaker
A blonde boy hits the dirt hard as he winces. We've got to keep your feet from getting tangled up underneath you, Cassian. Crastic sends a hand down and helps Cassian out. Don't you think he's a little young to be running to sword fight? Charlie asks with concern as he unloads his cart with food items. Don't be silly. I started younger than him. I don't take that as a resounding endorsement. Orianna steps around the cart.
00:34:34
Speaker
I would have known half of what he learned in the past year, my brothers and I. She stops. Gerald walks out of the house. Are we expecting company? They all turn to see a lone horseman riding up. Krast and Gerald share a concerned look. Charlie, maybe take Cassian and, just Cassian inside. Gerald reacts to Oriana's look.
00:35:02
Speaker
The three of them begin walking towards the horsemen as Charlie and Cassie unlock the door behind them. Once the figure gets close enough, Crass raises an eyebrow. What the... Why is he here? Vore, Beric's half-brother, dismounts his horse in a hurry. Apologies for arriving unannounced, but I need your help.
00:35:30
Speaker
Crasp looks concerned. What's wrong? Ravor is fighting back tears. I don't know why, but a hooded figure approached me last night, and Ravor extends his hand and out of it a black blade appears. There's a voice in my head saying that I must do what Beric would not. What is happening?
00:35:59
Speaker
Crashed and Gerald take four towards the house, trying to keep him calm. Orianna walks away from the group until she knows they can no longer see her. She throws the silver tip spear as hard as she can as she collapses to her knees, allowing the motion to overtake her. She slowly reaches into her pack and pulls out a small envelope that she found shortly after Beric left.
00:36:27
Speaker
You're Orianna. You'll be angry with me, I know. If I've managed to get away, that means I either tricked you or restrained you in some way. If you're reading this, then I am dead, and you will find yourself obliged to forgive me. Sorry if I hurt you in any way to get away from you, but I'm not sorry that I succeeded. You have become something you should not be at your age, an adept killer, and someone who's undergone harrowing dangers and adventures. These are facts of your life, and there's no going back.
00:36:57
Speaker
however monstrously unfair and cruel fate has been to you. I'm sorry for those things, but I have learned that the only good you can make from the vicissitudes of fate is to turn them into strings. You have done that and I am immensely proud of you. I will not use my death to tell you what to do with your life. I only ask that you allow yourself to have one. If we succeeded, then vengeance is no longer possible. You can accept that it was not taken by your hand or you cannot. I don't know, but either way, it is now beyond your reach.
00:37:27
Speaker
Take time to find out what you want to be, to grieve what is lost, and to help others rebuild what can be rebuilt. Perhaps adventure is what you will desire, but you've never had the opportunity to find out. I have made some arrangements regarding my inheritance that I hope will give you the resources to become what you want to be, when you have found out what that is. Do what you will with it. You may, when my grandfather passes, live at the estate, or sell it, or travel the world on the proceeds.
00:37:55
Speaker
You are an extraordinary young woman, and I know you will do great things whatever you choose. My only regret for myself is that I will not get to see it. I remain with love your friend, Beric. P.S. The condition described in my will is not a private joke. I was told that if I had no relatives, anyone I loved might end up with the pact. I have no idea what has become of Drakir, and Vore is too sensible. Be on guard. P.P.S. Encloses a short message for Paolo. Please see it delivered.
00:38:27
Speaker
Jace pulls the airship to a stop over the Wote Hightower homestead. Alright, time to disembark. Jace leads Rickard, Paolo, and Orgev to a skiff to head down to the ground. A small gathering arrived earlier today, with familiar faces all around.
00:38:47
Speaker
Within Krast and Gerald's home, stories are being exchanged of the daring feats performed by Beric, Dex, Booyah, Theradak, and Draconos. Farlin and Orgev tell of the war-forged attack on the lightning rail. Thorin, not enjoying the spotlight at all, talks about the first time he met them in Roat and what a weird day that was for him.
00:39:15
Speaker
Krast and Jared share a previously never heard story of an airship attack over the Thundersea. Graham and Albin tell stories of Barrick and Dex attempting to get along in their first weeks together with a naive red tiefling Draconos playing the peacekeeper between the two of them. Paolo spends time in the corner telling Cassian about his father and what a great man he was.
00:39:44
Speaker
Orianna approaches Paolo at some point during the proceedings and hands her an envelope of her own. Dear Paolo, there is nothing that I can write that will undo the shadow that has fallen between us. If I ever hurt you, I am sorry. I have been very open with you about what fate dealt me, so I hope you can understand my behavior. As I consider my likely death, I see things with a certain clarity, and I know I have made mistakes.
00:40:11
Speaker
I also believe I understand the nature of our relationship and I do not flatter myself that I left you weeping. Whether or not, please forgive any foolish thing I said or did as those of a young man out of depth in all areas of life. Knowing and admiring you, as I will to my last moment, is one of the few things that prevents my ever-truly wishing that none of this ever happened. I know you're well enough to know that I needn't ask, but please look after Orianna. You know, I do not mean for her safety she is too formidable for that.
00:40:40
Speaker
But she will not know what to do if this ends in victory, and I fear I have placed a burden on her in my will, that you will have better experience to help her handle. I have now, sat in silence, attempting to define in words how I feel for you, and to find that I cannot find the correct words with which to close this letter. And perhaps that is as fine a poetic symbol of what we have been to one another as any. Yours, Berwick." Crast and Gerald sit back.
00:41:09
Speaker
enjoying their home being filled with laughter and joy for the first time in a long time, although the tinge of sadness permeates every story. Orianna and Vore sit quietly on the porch, neither sharing a word. Finally, everyone moves outside, with four gravestones set up in the side yard next to the home, each reading the full names of Beric, Dex, Booyah, and Theradax.
00:41:38
Speaker
Each person, in turn, shares their farewells. Bala walks up and places a dark lantern's badge on Theradak's stone. Rickard places a flame insignia on Booyaz. Boranell places Uryx, general insignia, on Barracks. Cassian begins to apprehensively walk up with Charlie, unsure of everyone watching him. Cassian begins to cry and Charlie lifts him up.
00:42:06
Speaker
Charlie gestures to a small metal hook on the front of Dex's gravestone. Cassian nods and Charlie sets him in front of Dex's stone. Cassian reaches for his own wrists and unties a strap of silvery leather. He ties it to the hook and begins to move in the wind. From a fair distance away, a red tiefling sits on a hillside watching. He wipes tears from his face as he summons his
00:42:38
Speaker
and goes to take off, still unable to face those that he once loved.
Tributes to Fallen Heroes
00:42:45
Speaker
Everyone slowly begins to leave, going back to their lives, going back to a world that would not be possible without the four men that they just spent their evening recognizing. Once the sun begins to set, all that's left staring at the graves is Orianna, Vor, and Cassian, with Charlie watching from the porch.
00:43:08
Speaker
I don't know what I'm going to do. It all seems like too much. Vastian looks up at me more. I can always hide. That's what Dex taught me. No matter what comes after me, I can always hide. And I got good at it. Thor shakes his head. I wish I could. Whatever is going on is in my head. I didn't ask for this. I wish I could just get rid of it.
00:43:35
Speaker
Orianna reaches into her pocket, produces a letter. Well, I think your brother had other plans. All right, so Orianna pulls out the letter, opening it. It contains the last will and testament of Beric Rowan Esquire. This is some of it been preempted, but we'll read it in any case.
00:44:02
Speaker
I, Beric Rowan, being of sound mind and reason, do as follows bequeath my worldly goods. Any items of use to adventure, remaining on my person I give to my companions and friends Dex and Booyah, for use in their future adventures or for sale if they have come to their senses and given up this madness. Any property left to me in Miss Marsh I give to Booyah in the event that he wishes a home in Dex's domain.
00:44:26
Speaker
All right of inheritance, title, land, or goods obtaining to me through my mother, Eurek Rowan, or her family, I hereby transfer to my friend Orianna, to belong to her and her heirs, whomsoever they be.
00:44:39
Speaker
This inheritance comes with only one condition, namely, that should she ever be approached by a dark figure offering her a sword and a destiny, that she rejected, and tell said figure to go directly to the deepest pits of the Nine Hells. Vor and Orianna, looking at your will and reading the last line, give a somewhat gloomy chuckle to each other. I really wish I would have read that a couple days ago.
00:45:10
Speaker
Um, well, it's possible that Berwick talked about giving it away and how he couldn't for a number of reasons, but I don't know if those reasons apply to you. Um, we,
00:45:38
Speaker
Cut to another scene. Voor has gone on his way. Where would you have? In the house. Like in the estate. My grandfather will have it. Taurus will have it.
00:45:58
Speaker
So Orianna, going to meet Beric's family, arrives at the estate. Just really just his grandfather. After much consternation, she has agreed for Crass to go with her. And so, yeah, they ride up on horseback and dismount and begin to approach the house.
00:46:31
Speaker
and Berwick's grandfather, or is it stashed away in the house or would it have been left with him? So Berwick's grandfather would direct Orianna to a writing desk where there are two envelopes. One of them is labeled, if you listened to me, and the other is labeled if you didn't. She kind of laughs. I don't know which one she picks up. She reaches down, picks up an envelope,
00:47:05
Speaker
She picks up the, if you didn't listen to me, envelope first. Here, Orianna. If you've found this letter, you've arrived at the estate. There are some legal instructions included in the other letter. I am writing this one under the assumption that you ignored my advice and accepted the sword. Here is what you must know.
00:47:30
Speaker
The creature talking to you in your head is Bel Shalor, the shadow in the flame, a demon who will try to convince you to do evil in the name of good. Possessing the pact long enough may extend your life. I had begun to notice effects of that sort. Erebus will try to convince you to release the energy of the pact to destroy the quarry.
00:47:47
Speaker
Doing so will probably upset the balance of reality in some way, but it will certainly end the presence of the Silver Flame on Eberron, unleashing the Demon Lords it holds at bay. You must not do this. My plan, had I lived, was to find an apprentice other than you and prepare them for the day of my death so that they would be ready to receive the pact from me and carry it on serving as a prison for this evil. That is not what I wanted for you.
00:48:15
Speaker
If you can find a willing vessel, crass, perhaps, or Draconis, then I would beg you to give the pack to them. I believe they will be trustworthy with it. But if you will not, then you must carry the burden, resisting the temptation. Trust yourself, not the creature inside you. But it is of great importance that you find someone you can pass the burden on to at your end. It is possible, likely even, that I am trapped eternally in duller.
00:48:45
Speaker
to not allow yourself to feel guilt on that fact. I am content to know that you have not succumbed and that the world goes on. Using the Twelfth Rune on the sword, unless you have already made it a spear, may allow you to communicate with me. Though you have not accepted my final advice, I understand what you did. You have been a hero too long and perhaps it is hard to go back. If you will bear this burden, then you will have my thanks.
00:49:13
Speaker
Your friend always, Eric. And the other letter is like where the spare keys are and that kind of thing. Yeah. And a copy of the actual will, which doesn't actually have that condition. She sticks the letter in her pack and smiles, picks up the other letter, thinks about opening it.
00:49:39
Speaker
smirks as she shoves it down. She needs to know where the extra keys are. Dolar. I look around and see what we see. Well, all right. So that didn't work. Well, I mean, I think, I think the machine's gone.
00:50:10
Speaker
I hope that's true. So it's usually about this point in my trips to Dullar that I'm either met by the Raven or my mother or one of those horrible shadow creatures that keeps trying to drag us in here. 15 seconds of silence while we all wait to see if anything's happening. Look around.
00:50:30
Speaker
Nothing. Right. So, look, here's the thing. I didn't do what Erebus wanted me to do. Because I think it's probably a bad idea. But I think that means this is where I'm staying. So I'm not sure where you two go from here. But I think. I think this is my last stop. That's all right. I can.
00:51:00
Speaker
I can perhaps do some good for whatever person ends up with the pact. Those three people, I can imagine, I'm really quite hoping it's Drakir, frankly. But... Well, I mean, I do recall Drakir wanting it quite a bit, how we met. Well, maybe that would have been better. Drakir definitely would take...
00:51:31
Speaker
I don't know anything about this stuff. Y'all know I never really had a strong face. I scrapped you. So I don't know where I'm going. I mean, who knows? You feel a strong sense of lethargy starting to overcome. You feel like a weight is starting to drag you down. Not not like physically, but just you're you're seeming to lose
00:51:59
Speaker
who you were becoming fainter. Booyah, no, did machine blow? Yes. Yeah, but I think we got it. Booyah, you, after you say that, feel a sense of warmth on the side of your face as you look and you can see a bright column of silvery light in the sky. Over to the side of you.
00:52:28
Speaker
Hey guys, I don't know what's going on. I'm starting to feel weird. I don't know how much Time I have to say something so just shut up and listen for a second This feels fitting to me I Don't know that I would have enjoyed living if neither if you guys didn't We did what we needed to do I
00:52:57
Speaker
We got given a task none of us wanted. But we... We did it, and it wasn't fun at any point. But it was bearable. And I love you both. And I guess I'd probably start fading away or something? Before you fade. Sure, of course, of course.
00:53:25
Speaker
Booya have no family left. Booya say you Booya family. Booya to die, Booya to die with family. Booya love like brother. We do job, we do best can. Booya proud to know. It's a good job.
00:53:56
Speaker
It's a good conclusion. Booyah, you feel the warmth growing stronger on the side of your face. Do you guys see flame? Booyah flame called Booyah. Cool. You earned it. Gotta restore it somehow.
00:54:25
Speaker
So yeah, you slowly begin to fade towards the light. At the same time, Dex, you feel the sense of who you once were on the material plane begin to, it's not that you're forgetting, it's that it seems to matter less. It seems like you're moving on to something different.
00:54:54
Speaker
And after a moment, you're both gone. Eric will take him in together himself. Whatever that means here and, uh, start walking after just
00:55:23
Speaker
Just a minute of walking. You hear the sound of. Boots crunching on. On forest floor. And you see. Eurek. My mom. She just gives you a warm but sad smile. She approaches you.
00:55:54
Speaker
And couldn't do it without too much. She just takes you into her arms and puts her hand on the back of your head and says, it's okay. It'll be okay. Good to do. You're right. End of episode.
00:56:24
Speaker
Thank you all so much for the past 147 episodes. We have one more review coming, but it's been a heck of a ride. And I know I've been making remarks about one last time ever, but obviously we're not going anywhere. We'll have more news on what's coming, but we're super excited to hear your questions and thoughts and yeah, just load up.
00:56:54
Speaker
Discord Facebook everything I this experience has been remarkable and Just thank you all so much. I'm not gonna do the normal plugs at the end of the episode just kind of feels weird to hype up Stuff right now, but I just want to say thank you Yeah, this has been a lot of fun
00:57:22
Speaker
Shouldn't have done that part of the end, Eric was right. Someone go before me. Also, thank you very much to everybody who listened and everybody who's watching. It's been a wild ride.
00:57:42
Speaker
getting to do this. If Eric had told me three years ago that if I played this game with him in a few years I might cry one time, I'd have told him no. We actually were talking today at lunch, or dinner, before we started doing all this.
00:58:02
Speaker
I can't believe we decided to make a podcast of this and I can't believe people listen to it. But then I was like, you know, if we didn't make it a podcast, there's no way we'd still be playing this game as much fun as we have doing it. I mean, Philip lives in Dallas. Eric's moved an hour from where he used to live. And I have the Internet. OK, OK. We could have tried to make it work, but it wouldn't have been like this. Right.
00:58:26
Speaker
So thank you guys, especially those of you that, you know, it's so cool when somebody says, I just found out about it and I've binged 130 episodes just so I can catch the live stream. Amazing. Thank you. That's really humbling and crazy. But you, uh, you guys that have been there since like the jump, like, I mean,
00:58:44
Speaker
However you found out about it, more than a few of you is because I was like, can you please listen to my podcast? Internet stranger, you seem nice and I'd like you to hear it. We wouldn't have done it if we hadn't gotten tracks. We wouldn't still be playing and I wouldn't be crying over make believe. It's been awesome and I can't think of people I'd rather played with. Yeah.
00:59:12
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, gosh. Thanks for going on the crazy ride with us. It's been epic. It still blows my mind every day that there are people out there that are willing to listen to us play a game. I tell people at work and they just look at me like I'm nuts. So like, what? People listen to you guys play Dungeons and Dragons on a podcast? And I'm like, yeah, it's amazing. So killer support.
00:59:42
Speaker
That sounds excruciating. Yeah, like, you do what? And I was like, yeah. And, you know, I'm the senior member here, and I've probably played longer than these guys have, I'm pretty sure, since I was in on the ground floor of this game. Still don't know half of what at least two of these fellas know, because they really devote a lot of time and effort.
01:00:12
Speaker
The time that I know that Eric has put into this has just been phenomenal and I mean kudos and I mean I just can't thank you enough for doing putting this together and just the effort and
01:00:28
Speaker
It just, it's crazy, I mean, I would, no. If you ask me, nope, can't do it, sorry, no time, nope. Would not even want to attempt it. And to come up with a storyline like that, and to pull us through it, and to tug on our emotions. It's just been amazing, Eric. Thank you. And you guys are a blast to play with.
01:00:49
Speaker
And I couldn't think of anybody else I'd rather play with in all the years I've played this game. You guys are the best. Thanks. Yeah, thank you for everyone who's listened to this.
01:01:00
Speaker
been immensely fun and I think I'm meaningful in our lives. It's been a lot of fun to get to know you guys on Discord and we look forward to continuing to do so. We keep acting like we're saying goodbye. This is not over. I'm not good at the Discord stuff. I apologize.
01:01:19
Speaker
All of us intend to come back. This is not the end of any of us as players in this podcast. We're just putting this campaign to bed. Jeff and I are still friends. It's okay. I'll be less mad tomorrow.
01:01:36
Speaker
Yeah, it'll be totally like it never happened right yes, I'm still a little mad at Jeff or not coming and trying Stabilize me at least you know again. I'm the one who doesn't know anything about this game. Guess you forgot to stabilize I thought you were just gonna die in my arms somewhere on the material plate. That sucks too. Let's just all go Little ever on review
01:02:03
Speaker
Yes, we look forward to the questions, and we'll do our best to answer all of them that we can in a reasonable amount of time. I'm sure there will be a lot of them. But thank you, and this was very fun. Thank you, Eric. This was enormously fun. Thank you for letting me be as high maintenance about my character as I was, and I know I was, and
Podcast Journey Reflection
01:02:25
Speaker
for playing along and creating opportunities for Beric to be interested.
01:02:31
Speaker
And for almost never saying no. Yes, that's true. Not necessarily in-game sessions, but if I text you, I was like, hey, here's the thing I thought about. You'd nerf it a little bit or come up with a different way to do it, but you would never like, yeah, I don't know, that doesn't fit in Eberron, or that doesn't fit in this story. You're like, you can't make it work. Well, you know, I'm not really feeling theri-dac. It would be okay maybe if I did something different. I got that text like three hours before the session. But you didn't have to do it right then, but you did, so.
01:03:00
Speaker
Thank you all. I'm not going to belabor this point. I know that I'm a better dungeon master than I was three years ago because of this game and because of you all and because of the positivity and the challenges and the ways of thinking things through and that stupid bag that I gave Booyah.
01:03:30
Speaker
I don't know, this podcast has, a lot has happened since this podcast has started in all of our lives. And we look forward to continuing it and doing more, but I just, something that I am constantly blown away by is just how remarkable our listeners are.
01:03:55
Speaker
I talk with other podcasters and other hosts and the level of engagement and care that we get from you all as listeners. Our patrons are amazing, but all of you are just so engaged.
01:04:12
Speaker
You care so much. I mean, at Gamer Nation Con last year, we had people cosplaying as characters from the show. And they're probably watching. Thank you, guys. But that was mind-blowing and so humbling. So yeah, thank you all. And can I address in the next few weeks what's going to be happening?
01:04:37
Speaker
So yeah, it does sound like we're eulogizing, just the campaign, not the podcast, not us playing the other. I know we said it a bunch of times, I want to say one more. We've got three weeks of these three episodes we recorded tonight coming out. Then we're going to do a big review that will do all at once, may span two episodes if it's crazy long. I'm asking.
01:04:57
Speaker
for one week break before we hit the one shot because the only reason is I should be working on it right now but I'm in the most difficult play I've ever been in in my life and lines is hard y'all lines is hard so that'll give me just a week because the show will end when the review comes out it gives me a week to really prepare stuff make up some character sheets and
01:05:19
Speaker
Then that'll be a handful of weeks, I'm assuming. At minimum three weeks worth of stuff. And then as much time as Eric needs to get ready to start campaign two, we may take a little break again there. But we are coming back. You know, lots of podcasts, take breaks between seasons. We're just gonna follow that, and well, it's just our season is three years long. Yeah, no big, right? All right, well.
Final Words and Campaign Closure
01:05:45
Speaker
I have been your dungeon master, Eric. I'm Philip.
01:05:49
Speaker
I'm Randy. I'm Jeff. Happy trails. See you next time. Thank you guys.