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Ep. 100 Me and My Therapist - Bellum Draconis
55 Plays3 months ago
We come to the sign-in day for the grand tournament. The only question is, are all our heroes on the same page?
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Intro written and produced by Joseph McDade
Music kindly provided by Fesliyan Studios
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Transcript
Return to Zencaster Lounge and Platform Features
00:00:09
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Here, as I live and breathe, that's Nick's corral. I haven't seen you round here for years. Welcome back to the Zencaster Lounge, where podcast streams are served on the rocks. What can I get for you today, sir? Yeah, hi. I'll have a round of Zencaster, please.
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Special Discount Announcement: 'tabletop'
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you'll get 30% off your first month of any Zencaster paid plan. That's zencaster.com slash pricing using our code table top to get 30% off your first month of any Zencaster paid plan. That way they can have the same easy experiences I do for all my podcasting and content needs. I'd say it's time for them to share their story. Well, I say that's quite a good deal.
00:02:29
Speaker
Anyway, are you going to buy that drink? That's 500 gold, you tiefling tit. Essentially, whatever the outcome of this, one of you is making a new character. We have to choose who dies. Next. Oh, well. Give me two of them. You're great, mate. We're on your phone.
100th Episode Celebration and Character Introductions
00:03:19
Speaker
Hello everyone and welcome to this week's episode of The Fellowship of the Tabletop. Balem Draconis, we are a live play 5e D&D podcast set in the magical homebrew world of Eryth in the Kingdom of Dralak. Joining you for this week's episode, we have Willy Place, Dragonborn, Druid, Balbalcom. One hundred episodes, baby! We've got Dairon who plays a High Elf, Artifice, a Rainside Owl. One hundred episodes, baby!
00:03:38
Speaker
who plays the human cleric, Emron? Claiming our sentry! Galamie plays the warforged artificer, Alpha. 100! Willy plays a tiefling warserer, Nyx Karel. My name's Ian, and I play the tiefling warserer, Nyx Karel. 100 episodes, really?
00:04:03
Speaker
Can I do that? Well, I was I was also turning to a page where I've got my my notice of notable brown noses for Danny and Half the fucking crew is called will that's the problem you bunch of pasty white men you're all gonna it's all the same anyway fucking out Sorry Danny what what?
00:04:29
Speaker
No, I'm saying sorry to Danny because he's the, you know, he's different because he's a hipster. My name's Ian. Come and shower me with compliments, please. The tiefling warcer, Nick's corral. Hi, Nick. I've already done this. 100 episodes, baby.
00:04:45
Speaker
The last one, no means least is our, it's lost all its good. He's kind of lost his energy for a bit though. The pride and joy of my life, the person I enjoy more than the company of my own children, the person who not only has changed my, no, the Sorcerer Supreme, the Champion of Chaos, the OG DMD of D&D, Dungeon Master, Danny. That's five compliments. I need 95 more for the hundred, please.
00:05:13
Speaker
Remember that time you touched him in a place that no one's ever touched him before? It's dabbing on my mark now. It was a wet Willy. I've never had a wet Willy before. His Willy was wet, yes. A bit of lube, so we'll be right out. Ooh, lordy. Can't go in dry. Speaking of lube. Episode 100, baby!
00:05:34
Speaker
Speaking of lube, we see our favorite centenarian laying topless on what seems like a large slab, but in fact, you can hear some quiet glockenspiel playing in the background and a small number of incense sticks burning either side as a hefty stout
Halfling's Massage and the Orb Scene
00:06:04
Speaker
halfling with very hairy arms walks out to old girl laying prostrate on a slab as he lubes up his hands ready for a massage. He says to old girl,
00:06:18
Speaker
Like normal, I'll start with your feet. And he moves down to Old Girl's incredibly long toes and starts massaging his gnarled and wisened feet. As he tugs on one of the toes to make it crack, the orb almost falls to the grind. And not only then does Old Girl's dexterous speed and long yellowed nails freak out and grab the orb out of the air. He turns to the camera and stares at the orb.
00:06:48
Speaker
That's what we're going to end this. Oh, curses. Alpha goes to the arcane Emporium and he sees some Galadriel looking bitch, Aurelia Starweaver.
Alpha's Quest at the Arcane Emporium
00:07:03
Speaker
She's all like welcoming him in and Alpha's like,
00:07:05
Speaker
looking for some research into some memory runes and Nakavolo and she's like yeah I know Nakavolo I get it and she name drops some bigons and bitches coy and hungry she's like some sort of information whore anyway Alpha leaves and decides to go to the brawl sign up go and pass some halls of mirrors and we switch over to
00:07:24
Speaker
who is trying to make some sort of small monument to his mummy but he gets stopped and he gets seen by the cleric and turns out she knows a lot she is like some very old jungle half elf from like old drydack and she's some sort of resurrected bitch like proper undead resurrected bitch bars are like pissed off like fuck
00:07:44
Speaker
Fuck you not letting me do my little memorial thingy. And they head to the Ballbag's house in the north of Milkgate. There's some sort of slave butler. And he comes out and turns out he's a bit of a bitch too. And he's like, Ballbag's not here. He's going to be back later. And he just like, I'm going to be all nobbish and all like, I'm going to turn you boys down and balls like, you know what? Fuck you. I'm going to be a knob too. And anyway, he reveals there's some sort of questy quest about defaulted payments and beating up some debtors. Ooh. Meanwhile, moving over to Nick's.
Nix's Prison Visit and Cursed Luck Revelation
00:08:14
Speaker
He goes to the prison, where there's a, well, kind of like a prisoner, a castle-y thing, and scopes that joint out. And it's difficult to figure out the routine of the guards, because there's three factions in this place! Nix is allowed in to see his old Captain Hildegard after some excellent bullshittery. And Hildegard's like, oh, we're all gone, boyo! We're all rotten in here for months!
00:08:36
Speaker
And it's all because of you, boy-o. Ever since you did that thing on the ship, it's been bad luck. And how the mighty have fallen. And it turns out that none of the crew members have made a single coin after Mr. Moneybag's corral done did the deal. You know, the guy's all fucked up. He's all been like attacked and beaten and fucked. And he's actually back the fucking ship.
00:08:58
Speaker
the Asmeralda. Hence why it's all been impounded. There's like some sort of 45 kgp bounty going on, but he does reveal that the Asmeralda is one of the main fucking prizes in the Jewel of Desert Champions. Nix is like, I'm gonna make things right, boy. And he needs to think of how he's gonna get out of that spider-spider curse. And the guy's like, you gotta find Ciri in the Temple of Tiryani. You gotta help find the crew. Meanwhile,
00:09:22
Speaker
has been outside the big old trial competition thingy looking out for people and he sees an orange skinned half-orc moving in. Is it a bird? Is it Marauder? Is it the Valkyrie? I don't fucking know. We're about to find out. Now keep cracking my toes, boy. Fantastic. Wonderful. Wonderful.
00:09:48
Speaker
As the midday sun reaches its zenith, you find yourself at the beating heart of Scorchhelm, the Scorched Plaza. The plaza itself is a vast expanse of sun-baked stone at the heart of the city, surrounded by towering buildings and bustling guild stalls. The ground beneath your feet radiates a heat, and the air shimmers with the intense glare of the desert sun, hitting that veil of...
00:10:18
Speaker
exhaled Keltrad, that plume, that sort of provides a soft ceiling over the city. Despite its harsh surroundings, the plaza bustles with activity as guild folk advertise services and travelers pass through on their way to various parts of the city.
Scorched Plaza: A Festival of Diversity
00:10:35
Speaker
The Grand Bazaar, a festival style domed structure dominates the Western view
00:10:43
Speaker
In the centre, beautiful fountains surrounded by street entertainers, bards and bands from all over Aerith performing roaring tunes to this multicultural picture of city folk and travelling tourists. You see children and animals bustling around the festival-like atmosphere celebrating and basking in some of the activities.
00:11:05
Speaker
Your nose is filled with that sweet aroma of baked treats and sweet tobacco. Hundreds of bodies gathered, drinking, dancing, rejoicing as the city around you pulses with merriment. To the east of you is a colossal structure known as the melee.
00:11:25
Speaker
It's this towering gladiatorial training compound surrounded by these pristinely kept metal barred fencing. Inside, you can just sort of see it from the break of all the hustle and bustle, a vast array of fighting talent from all corners of Aerith of every color and every skin type and every alteration on the humanoid that you can think of.
Convergence at Scorchhelm: Bracing for Challenges
00:11:55
Speaker
Alpha already surveying this scene is soon joined by Baal and Emron who come from the milk gate area in the west. Moments later you see Seth and Rains begin to stroll in from the harbour district
00:12:11
Speaker
Seth and Reigns, who slept in this morning, given the events of the quite vigorous travel, Seth being in charge of transporting the party at immense speeds, and Reigns, who at various points throughout this, has been paralyzed, poisoned, and otherwise just absolutely hurt. You followed a note that was left in the room for you at the pissed note that instructed you from by... In Alpha's hand, they instructed you to meet here at the Scorch Plaza at midday.
00:12:42
Speaker
Then, finally, looking towards the northeast of the city, coming through the East Grey Glass District. A bit shaken, or perhaps a bit intoxicated, is the infamous Nix Correll. You all begin to cluster here, amidst the party atmosphere. What do you want to do? Oh, Seth, how was your lion?
00:13:10
Speaker
Yeah, I think I need it. That was quite a sleep. You're looking better for it. Yeah, I'm feeling better for it too, actually. There's a lot of driving we just did. It was.
Emotional Ties to the Esmeralda
00:13:24
Speaker
Uh, gentlemen, shall we get ourselves signed up for this thing, then? Mine was pretty good too. Just kidding. He slept quite well as well. He talked me on the way here, actually. Didn't you have that weird dream? No, I don't really dream. It's more of a trance, but no, it was nothing more than that. Just probably the with a Keltrad in the air. Nothing, nothing to worry about.
00:13:51
Speaker
or rains with what they see what so, by the way, we've all been to see double back by the way. Well, we haven't. No, no, we went to his house. There's a potential job opportunity there. If we're interested later. It's beating some people up. It's quite fun. The temple we went to the monument of the blight rains. There's some
00:14:12
Speaker
bit of interesting stuff there. I'm sure we can catch you all up on this later on, once we've, you know, I think, once we've proven ourselves. Alfred, how was your trip? Mostly enlightening. I perused a magic shop that seems to have many valuable things. But I went to one of the observatories and they are having a seminar tomorrow to discuss the floating disk in the sky. Oh.
00:14:42
Speaker
That sounds fucking boring. You can go. Next. I'm not listening to that. Did you sneeze at Alpha? When did you learn that word?
00:14:59
Speaker
fucking seminar, we can go and fight creatures in this pit. And you want to go listen to an old man, tell you about the seminar would be lost on you, Seth, I believe you're not showing any particular knowledge towards what you call it set thick now. No, no, I'm very fucking bright. I just know what's useful and what isn't a bunch of old cunts talking about something in the sky. What do they know? Anything more than we do. Anyway, alpha, you go knock yourself out. And then if you want to go to the seminar, of course, you can do that as well.
00:15:29
Speaker
Nick, how was your morning? Productive? Yeah, yeah. Not too productive. I just went down to the Harbour District and just perused the scenes. Many different bars, many different people. Ah, I smelled the sea air, did you? Yeah, it's invigorating. You seemed pretty excitable yesterday when we were coming in. You seemed very happy.
00:15:58
Speaker
It's
Competition Sign-Ups and Motivations
00:15:59
Speaker
the Sierras, everyone says it does something that feels like home, and I didn't realize how much I missed it, I guess. Insight check. I've done fucking beneath you. I've done one for them. Fuck, natural one. Just don't roll a natural one. What's your passive? My passive ain't much better, I think. I didn't do too much. Actually, 11.
00:16:25
Speaker
My passive. But I would, I don't know. You're actively challenging. I'm actively challenging, yeah. Also a nine. You believe, Nix? You know what? I felt the same thing coming here. The air is tasty. It's good.
00:16:41
Speaker
It is invigorating. Nix, I'm on your wavelength. I love the air. Savvy. Do we all feel suitably refreshed and ready to go for whatever we have to face in there? I feel bloody awful. Excellent, I mean. Wrong word. Shit, that's mine.
00:16:59
Speaker
Well, I reckon we're going to have to prove ourselves in some way. I thought we just signed on the form. I don't know. I have casually observed people who have been signing up and then entering through that door over there. As long as it's not another bloody seminar, I think we'll be okay.
00:17:17
Speaker
People are coming out quite battered and bruised, so I don't believe talking will be part of the proving itself. I believe somebody who looks familiar is in there now. Right. Oh, do we know him? Or is it that man we met on the road, that old guy? Very, very similar to Marota. Bless you. What?
00:17:43
Speaker
What is a Marota? It was a previous companion of ours. What? Entering through the door, there was somebody who looked... Which door? The proving door. Somebody had a striking resemblance to Marota, who went in not too long ago. I'm sure that's just a coincidence, but I mean, it does no harm to make haste.
00:18:08
Speaker
Yes, let's go and sign up and see what we have to face. Ugh, I prepped fucking social spells for today. Fuck this spine. Paul, Paul, do you know what they mean? Who is this morator? As they're kind of walking south, kind of get an elbow, I'm like, they all seem really up about this. Do you know anything? It was someone that Sean Dralikar requested to say behind when I first met the group. That's all I know. I don't know much more about it. Oh, so someone who used to hang with this lot was part of their group and then
00:18:39
Speaker
Alright, maybe some bad blood there. Okay. More enemies. Yeah, I've just got, not right now, but I could do with a word with you for a second after all this about something that I've seen earlier. Bit of advice, if you will. Oh yeah. What, me give you advice or you give me advice? No, preferably you giving me advice. Oh fuck, okay. I'll try my best. Right, you are. Right. Alpha, oh shit, where's he gone?
00:19:06
Speaker
Metabolic. There you are. I believe we approached there to sign up. I'm assuming I will have seen where everybody has been going. Are you still disguised, Alfred? Are you just walking around like, you know, buttoning? I'm not. I kind of disguise myself if I have interactions with somebody. So at the moment, because it would have worn off, I'm just kind of in clothes and a cloak and hood, et cetera. Okay.
Urban Navigation and Pickpocket Challenges
00:19:28
Speaker
Rains, you want to go do the sign up thing? It sounds official and you've done official shit.
00:19:34
Speaker
Being a prince and everything. I mean, sure, I'll go in there. He does have pretty, pretty handwriting if we have to sign anything. Yeah, and he's got the good words as well, you know? I might be mistaken, but I think we have to individually. There is no teams, is there? I think it's everyone. Well, let's see what happens. Let's wing it. Let's wait for an narrator to describe what we see. Look at us trying to plan things. Idiots, you know? No, you're right. Let's do this. Okay. Alpha, you go first. Very well.
00:20:03
Speaker
I will lead the way. I'm using all my spells slots at the moment on Disguise Self, so I'm going to, again, go for the very heavily flawed bearded Elphin type of thing. The only thing I'm going to be changing is my face, not my clothes on. I don't want to change my clothes in them.
00:20:22
Speaker
clear view of everybody else. As Alpha grows a bearded elf face, everyone's going to look tend to reigns. I didn't think elves could grow a beard. Is it me or is he deliberately standing out? Well, you know, I mean, he looks chathamendian with some of my ancestors have beards. I mean, I used to have one myself until I had a shave, but just this morning. That's because you're an elf, aren't you? It's complicated as to just there's been a
00:20:52
Speaker
a lot of inbreeding, a lot of elk. Welcome to my family vintage. It's pretty complicated how much human blood is actually left. But anyway, that's a discussion for me and my therapist. Let's carry on.
00:21:09
Speaker
I mean, thanks for sharing with the group. Everyone will look to every answer they have. Let's go, come on. Click clop. Click clop. Click clop. So, as you pass through what is quite possibly the busiest dense populated area you have seen since, well, Baal, a battlefield, Seth, a battlefield, Rains, Alpha and Emron,
00:21:39
Speaker
father keep when it was in full sort of party season, receiving guests.
00:21:49
Speaker
Next we're used to crowds. But it's been a while since any of you have felt sardines like this. So walking across this populace is quite a feat in itself. You've got to do a lot of dodging, diving, be really patient. Sort of thinking about getting to the front row of a festival gig and the amount of shoulders and knocked beer that you are having to accidentally apologize for.
00:22:12
Speaker
To the end, it takes five or six minutes to cross what would be about a 20 second hike. I need you all to make wisdom saving throws as you're moving through this space. Please. I am shit at them. Anyone have the urchin background? OK.
00:22:44
Speaker
Okay. Next, what'd you get? 15. Thank you. Bal? 17. Thank you. Alpha? 18. Thank you. Emron? 13. Thank you. Seth?
00:22:57
Speaker
Thank you, Seth. 23. Thank you, Reigns. Free. Most of them ending in a three, by the way. That was like 13, 23. Yeah. Emeron, I need you to go and Reigns to your inventory, please. Emeron, I need you to reduce your gold count by 1% of whatever it is. Reigns, I need you to reduce your gold count by 10%.
00:23:26
Speaker
Oh, he had the prize! Flippin' heck. I've got 880 in total. So you're losing 8. Why didn't we share the wealth? So I'm using 9 copper. Raids had the payment. Yeah, by 1%. So it's 9 gold.
00:23:48
Speaker
No, so all of my money, I've got 871 gold, 95 silver, 25 copper, everything added together comes to 880 in gold pieces. 1% losing, 8.8. It's 8.8, 9 gold. 9 gold, thank you, sorry. Maths, not my strong point. So like what I said a few seconds ago, yeah, no worries. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Arrains, what do you lose? I have 2886 gold. Oh, my God. You lost 200 in... Bitch.
00:24:18
Speaker
That urchin is fucking minted. He's going to get stabbed in the street. It's just a wink and a smile to Nick's. Tip of the cap. They're going to be dead in a day on Keltrad, Odeid. That's what's going to happen.
00:24:34
Speaker
So you pass through this hustle and bustle. You have no idea it really happened. It rains at all. That is not enough gold for you to notice the weight change, to be honest. Where it's slightly more, probably you would have recognized it. You move through this crowd and you arrive at this towering block above you that is essentially leading you into this courtyard.
00:25:00
Speaker
As you step into this courtyard, to the left of you, it's more like entourage than actual competitors or anyone of real sort of physical or magical threat. You look around and it's different clusters of people. Lots of people with orange wrist wrappings or head coverings to denote that they are part of Vossen's collective. You've seen a purple here to indicate any of the criss-cro. But there is a real mixture of races as well, common, uncommon, and some rare ones.
00:25:31
Speaker
There are also horses, as well, hitched up.
00:25:35
Speaker
And then everything's leading you into this sort of stony arch, where you hear a lot of the noise and hustle and bustle. And as you approach a stony arch, it's interesting, above this stony arch is this canopy that, or balcony, rather, that leads into the structure as well. But this balcony has floral arrangements upon it, has very noble dressed elves, very noble dressed wolves, smoking, drinking from very,
00:26:05
Speaker
precious material based goblets. A lot of opulence upon that balcony down here is where a lot of the sort of muscle and magical prowess is flexed, but there seems to be like a two tiered system.
00:26:19
Speaker
almost like a picture going to the races and everyone sort of dresses up, like that sort of aesthetic, but in that members area, that VIP area sort of vibe. You step through this stony arch and it's very cold, you're in this very cold, dark stone corridor for five, six, seven, 20 feet.
00:26:44
Speaker
And then you emerge into this under chamber. This under chamber that's lit by these huge, huge braziers. Above you is this metal platform suspended by chains. And on it, you can see people feasting on very exotic animals. People are like, they're just huge drapes of fruit. There is a...
00:27:11
Speaker
at least three detectable instruments you can see. You can't see much because this surface, this layer, is about 25 feet above you. But you can just sense that there is this viewing platform that has that members-only vibe to it.
00:27:25
Speaker
On your level, however, it's blood-stained stone, as far as the eye can see. This looks like a combination of a fighting pit, everyone, you'd be really familiar in this sort of environment, meets like undercroft of a chapel, meets a dungeon, like a torturous dungeon. The smell of blood and sweat is thick in the air.
00:27:47
Speaker
about 100 feet in front of you. This is a big circular room and that metal platform with the VIPs is above you. This circular room is about 100 feet in diameter. On the far end is this huge cluster of about 50, 60 bodies, all looking in a direction. All you can see is backs, as far as the eyes can see.
00:28:08
Speaker
In the centre of this chamber is a small kiosk with an individual sat at a desk, but everyone else has hustled and bustled. And you can just hear, and everyone, you'd be super familiar with this sound, the sound of just...
00:28:22
Speaker
skin hitting flesh and then receiving those hits back. You hear oohs and ahhs from the competitors that are sort of on this ground level from you. When you can hear breaks in any of the music being played above you, you hear laughter and golf balls almost as if you are underneath nobility that are using this as entertainment and you are amongst individuals who use this as their livelihood.
00:28:50
Speaker
This is a very dimly lit chamber and all of the concentration of activities at the far end from you. From where you are, you're seeing various shapes and outlines of people who are in this competitive stage.
Proving Conditions and Competitor Tests
00:29:01
Speaker
There are gnomes to goliaths, there are dragonborns to goblins, there is a plethora of people interested.
00:29:09
Speaker
To the eastern side is a series of names inscribed in gold plaques that go for 100, 200 intonations, almost like a hall of fame. To the left-hand side is this glassed-off section that you can't see at this angle, but you think you might be able to if you get a bit closer. It's quite wide. It's almost like an aquarium. So you're walking up to it, and then there'd be some sort of exhibit behind it.
00:29:40
Speaker
What do you want to do? As you're just hearing in the background this music, this laughter, and then this immediate sense of hustle and bustle. Well, this brings back a few memories. You've been here before? Not in this kind of, not this fighting pit, but it's not my first one. Ooh, you're full of surprises. Yeah, you can ask me about it one day at some point if you want. Maybe I will. But yeah, this is... Yeah, it's got that smell.
00:30:11
Speaker
You're in sweat and a bit of blood. A bit of shit as well, I think. Yeah, don't stand in any brown smears. Right. And you say there's a desk in the middle, Danny. There's a desk in the middle with one dwarf sat facing the crowd as well. It hasn't really noted that you've come in.
00:30:34
Speaker
read. Well, the crowd over there, that looks like wherever the proven or whatever's happening or some kind of warm up. Go sign up. And everyone's going to make for towards the desk. Okay. And do you all sort of follow suit? Oh, yes. Yeah, indeed. Yeah. Yeah. I was going to say that this is kind of like quite overwhelming.
00:30:57
Speaker
for Seth so he's going to literally cower down and when he sees everyone kind of take that breath and stand tall and kind of like that knowing I've been I've been here like this somewhat before so that's going to literally be walking like in his shadow like indirectly behind his steps to stay very close to him because this very much is not comfortable. As you approach this desk this dwarf doesn't note you for a while it's interesting this desk just has it's just filled with paperwork
00:31:26
Speaker
and there is no way he's seeing the activity beyond that crowd but any of you who sort of have a wide angle just see this dwarf is almost like Game of Thrones warging into something else there is there is no um you can't see his pupils just his whites have his eyes he is this black bearded black haired grizzly dwarf almost like
00:31:50
Speaker
Hagrid-esque in terms of there is more hair than there is skin visible. And he's wearing this very tightly fit leather armour with these chains all over it. Very gladiatorial in the way it approaches that.
00:32:05
Speaker
A typical Roman gladiatorial, he has the sandals, he has the sort of leather-strapped leggings, and then there's this tunic, this leather tunic that sits upon his chest. And you just see this one exposed arm, this left arm that's just full of tattoos, but they are tallies. It's almost like a prison cell where a prisoner has sort of just engraved and etched that into stonework that exists on this guy's arm.
00:32:33
Speaker
It takes a few moments for anyone, necessarily, who clears their throat, perhaps, and he just turns and mugs and goes, ooh! Not watching the proven, then. Here to sign up. Ah, we are. Oh, well, we are. I believe we have to sign up as individuals. Yeah, no groups. Don't recognise that of you. First time? Yeah. I'm not sure. My name's Stonefist. Greigle Stonefist. Welcome to my halls.
00:33:04
Speaker
I'm the trainer here most of the year, but they bring me in to look after the fresh meat and the shoes and reps, as it were. So, any of you seen a duel before? Been to Desert Champions? I've been to Fighting Pits before. Wish I had no Fighting Pits, any boy? But no, I don't think any of us have had any experience with this. Right, well,
00:33:34
Speaker
In that case, let me explain a couple things. In order to qualify, you need to go through what's known as the Proving. It's a test that's different each year, so there's no point going out there and asking for tips. It's designed by a guest every single year. An individual who's in charge of the games this year, he's an interesting character. You go through the Proving,
00:34:05
Speaker
And should you be deemed successful, you'll be in. Now the Proven is a test in one part, just to make sure you're up to the standard. You know, we don't want to just let any vulnerable Tom, Dick, or Ari go in there and get his heart ripped out. You know, we're not animals. Everyone who goes in there needs to go in there with a fighting chance. But it's also a chance for you to impress. Them lot up there, and he gestures up to the metallic floating balcony above him.
00:34:36
Speaker
there were the money bags and they see something they like your odds get better and that means every burden who puts a bet on you and I'm talking thousands thousands of people bet on these games the better odds the more you get now
00:35:01
Speaker
there is a way of substantially increasing those odds. And it's by making yourself, what's known as, blooded. Yeah, we sport to a veteran outside the city talking about this. That's it. Do you understand what that means?
00:35:19
Speaker
Well, you can go in bloodied where you can not get saved or unbloodied where you can get saved.
Risk of Bloodied Status Explained
00:35:25
Speaker
Yeah. Set the end of it. Don't go in bloodied. One of my pals will get you up spic and span. You might be a bit hurt, but you won't be dead. Go in bloodied. You're committing yourself to one chance. Come out of that the winner. You never work a day in your life again. But no one gets you up.
00:35:52
Speaker
Now, this year, I'm not entirely sure where the Games Master is going to take it. But typically, there's no rules when you're inside there. There will be some requirements. The jewel will ask of you. How you meet those is entirely up to you. The one rule if you're spectating, you do not interfere. What do you mean by requirements?
00:36:17
Speaker
Hard to know. Each year, the jewel involves different challenges, as well as, you know, trying to rip the heart out of everyone that's fucking you up. So what about last year? What was the requirements last year then, for example? Last year, we didn't have it because of the blight, but yeah, two years ago, two years ago, we had, we had someone with a penchant for drowning people, right?
00:36:44
Speaker
Her design, her design was that every minute a water level would rise. Yeah. And, uh, if you couldn't swim, couldn't hold your breath, couldn't cope, you didn't have long. Ah, so the requirements could be that the environment changes or that kind of stuff. Well, the person who's been brought in to curate the games this year is of a particular, let's say otherworldly stature.
00:37:12
Speaker
and they'll have interesting ideals. Care to share who it is? I cannot. Well, fair enough. Detect thoughts. Interesting. Talk to me about that. What do you want to do? How are you doing? So, as soon as Emron mentions, do you care who that is, Nix wants to read the person's mind. He's got a spell. Well done, Ian.
00:37:42
Speaker
I'm very invested. I swear I took it. Yes, I did. Ha, I took it. I knew I wouldn't need it. It's a Sorcerer's Spell level two and it sets for the duration. You can read the thoughts of certain creatures when you cast a spell and as your action on each turn until the spend ends, you can focus your mind on any one creature that you can see within 30 feet in front of you.
00:38:09
Speaker
If the creature you choose has an intelligence of three or lower or doesn't speak any language, the creature is unaffected. You initially learn the surface thoughts of the creature, what is most on its mind in that moment. As an action, you can either shift your attention to another creature's thought or attempt to probe deeper into the same creature's mind. If you probe deeper, the target must make a wisdom saving throw. If it fails, you gain insight into its reasoning, if any its emotional state and something that looms large in its mind, such as
00:38:39
Speaker
So we'll pause there and we'll do surface only and then you can choose to delve deeper. I think the idea is he did it because everyone asks about who the person was that Nick's hoping to see you here. Okay. It's in that snapshot moment. You hear two things. Dragonborns attractive. And you do spy an occasional glance at Bart and then woof.
00:39:07
Speaker
Don't say devil, don't say devil, don't say devil. He's repeated three times in his head. And in that, just in that exchange, that's what you sort of hear in a 15 second window.
00:39:26
Speaker
That's enough. Sorry, I was going to say, do you want me to keep talking? You don't know I've done this. No, I know you haven't. I was just going to wait to see if you... He does sort of look around the group and there's just a notable pause and he just looks at... He looks a bit suspicious. Bow, your passive is high enough just to detect this.
00:39:48
Speaker
OK, not sure where to align it. Glances at his eyes linger on Alpha for a longest time, but Nix, you don't feel like you've been made in any way there. This is Nix's first time casting this spell, so he's not doing it with any. It's not he's not being expressive, but it's not exactly like he can stealth hide this either. There would be a tell if he was to look hard enough, sweat beading from the brow.
00:40:17
Speaker
just this purple kind of energy kind of emanating from his horns that he hasn't learned to control yet because that's his conduit of power in some ways. He's trying to keep it low key. He does require all three components, so yeah. I'd say for reasons you haven't learned yet, he is not perceiving that.
00:40:45
Speaker
It's a sorcerer spell. It is. You're all D20 for me. Of course. Potted plant, potted plant. A seven? Okay. Now, any other questions? No, I guess sign us up.
Final Sign-Up Decisions and Their Weight
00:41:10
Speaker
What?
00:41:11
Speaker
Take your time. The prizes can be found in the cabinet displayed behind you and just points to that glass wall. There are, at the moment, all six of you wanting to compete? Everyone wants to group. Yes. Sure. We're all happy to compete. Aye. Yep. Just so you're aware, you can go in as friends, but only one can win. Now, it was told to us that
00:41:41
Speaker
you could choose to just leave the arena if you wish to. Was that correct? Yeah. Once you're out, you're out. Once you're out, you can't go back in. Yeah. And when you say prizes, is that prize just for the first place or? One prize for one winner. At the moment,
00:42:10
Speaker
moment, there are 21 competitors, all you six that'll take us just one short of our maximum. Oh, okay. I'll be here. Check out the prizes. Talk about anything you talk about. When you come back, you went to an unbreakable agreement. Okay.
00:42:38
Speaker
And he just puts six pieces of parchment on top of the desk. And there is sort of an outline of a handprint. And there is one ink well, sort of in between the center point of these six ones. He says, when you're ready, print there and give us your name. That leans back in his chair, wargs.
00:43:05
Speaker
Again, you just see this blue glow over his eyelids. Sorry. So the paper and the handprint, you know, everyone's dealt with guild stuff before. I assume everyone's thinking, is that some kind of magical contract? You've encountered this before. This is a means to say, it's a consent form. It's a binding agreement. Yeah. Okay. Everyone turns to the group.
00:43:31
Speaker
Do we want to check out the prizes? I'm assuming we want to go in unbloodied. Oh yeah, that's my instinct, but don't want to go check out these prizes. I mean, don't forget our friend last night said that we should go in unbloodied so we can meet them in a few days and in months, didn't he?
00:43:53
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I talked to you at length about what we have at Liberty to die for, and Lord knows, a place that smells this bad is not on that list, but I'm... It didn't smell that bad.
00:44:05
Speaker
Yeah, it's through the MRAM, but I'm pretty curious to see the prizes anyway. Just to check, we still win prizes even if we go in and bloodied, yeah? Oh yeah, and they're supposed to win, right? I believe the idea is that the people who bet on you and your odds, the money people upstairs love the sight of blood. Most folk who
00:44:31
Speaker
And we've already got a sizeable bet rather than service. From my experience, folk who like tournaments like this, like Blood, and especially rich folk, no offense range, who like to watch people suffer and die. And the idea of people doing it without any chance of coming back, they like that. They like watching people fight because they're desperate, because they could die. They like watching that in people.
00:45:02
Speaker
So as we were warned by flood, bloody people will be fighting for it, but they'll also get better odds because it's more entertainment for the rich folk. Yeah.
Strategy, Stakes, and Betting Influences
00:45:14
Speaker
Not thinking here as we are raising funds for bigger causes than just our own name, yeah? Yeah. Very well. I think we could put money on
00:45:30
Speaker
on winning or ever and try and make some money on this as well, but I imagine also it happens.
00:45:39
Speaker
We just got to make sure one of us win. And then we get the prize. Sorry, is there already a sponsorship on you though, sir, if I'm already in an invested thing where we're supposed to... It's only a light thing. Yeah, and it's only Nick's that's in on it, really. Yeah. I didn't even decide. It was more for flavor than anything deep. Okay. I'm not wearing that tabard though. Do I have to wear that tabard? No.
00:46:04
Speaker
You sure? Yes. Two blood right. Okay. Prizes? Yeah. Prizes. That's cool. Prizes.
00:46:12
Speaker
So you do a bit of a 180 and head to the western side of this room. And yeah, like a huge aquarium exhibit, you just sort of see behind really thick glass. And then Seth, you would detect this within a heartbeat. Rain's in alpha, within a couple of extra heartbeats. This veil.
00:46:35
Speaker
behind the glass of this very fine, very hard to detect unless you know it's their veil of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of
00:46:57
Speaker
various intervals in the second tier above you, about 20, 25 feet above you, the same level as that elevated disc where a lot of the VIPs are enjoying themselves. And you look at this aquarium style exhibit, and there are a number of prizes, each with a label attached to it. There is something called the Amulet of Health.
00:47:23
Speaker
There is something called the ring of invisibility. There is a stack of 45,000 gold pieces. There is a bag of holding. There is an invitation to have a personal audience with the three rulers of Dralak, that being the Fizalbangs, the Ipkriska, and Lord Fossun. There is the deed to gold port keep.
00:47:53
Speaker
There is the sword of sharpness. There is the manual of gainful exercise. There is a cloak of protection. There is the right to a slave named Abraham Hildegard. There is a staff of particular magical power. There is a dragon egg.
00:48:22
Speaker
of golden trimmed accent. There is a helm of teleportation. There is an alchemy reagent chest. And there is a deed to the ship called the Esmeralda.
00:48:44
Speaker
And as we're sort of looking through and seeing these, by the moment that egg appears, your arm burns furiously cold. Is any part of your arm exposed, the one with the tattoo?
00:49:04
Speaker
With his new leather armour, I imagine not. I don't think he'd be going around with it kind of on show, per se. Okay. For the first time in a very long time, you feel incredibly cold upon that arm. That's what you see? Well, looks like we've got to win this then, lads done it.
00:49:30
Speaker
What the hell does Goldpaw keep doing in there? Do we win all these prizes? I think that's the plan. Bloody hell. I mean, didn't... I think we only win one. Oh, is it one? Oh, just one. I was wondering the impression it was only one prize, but we get to select which one we would like. Oh, depending on which one of us wins. Exactly. Yes, Riggs.
00:49:56
Speaker
It's a question for the DM, and it's more Darren's curiosity than Rayne's.
Emotional Resonance of the Esmeralda
00:50:01
Speaker
But Rayne's was privy to Nick's talking a lot about this theatre ship. And I was just wondering if Rayne's could make a history check just to see if that triggers any memory. But seeing the Esmeralda goes, I've heard, wouldn't that ship you used to talk about?
00:50:20
Speaker
No history check needed. Nix has abundantly, flamboyantly celebrated that name. You know it's Nix's ship. Cool. I wanted to make sure that I wasn't treading any lines. Almost to the point where you think his full name is Nix Carell Esmeralda. That's how much he is. He is iconically associated with it. Rather than press Nix on this, Reigns is just going to glance at Nix.
00:50:51
Speaker
He's not going to say anything. He's just going to look in Nix's direction. I'm curious what he sees. Nix has kind of almost softly glazed through most of these prizes, having known that the Esmeralda was on the deck of cards anyway.
00:51:19
Speaker
Almost like this, just one by one, prize, prize, prize, prize. The only other one that caught and almost caught his breath as he's going through him was the Captain Hildegard's slave notice. That made him stop, pour his, surprise him, caught his breath. It still wasn't the prize he was looking for, the one that he's been told. And then when finally he casts eyes on the deeds to the Esmeralda,
00:51:47
Speaker
If you're seeing all of this, you just see someone flick through like an Argus catalog and then finally stop. Only this is no happiness. There's no joy. It's this dread and soulless kind of just longing as if you've just seen your ex-loved one walking through the crowd.
00:52:09
Speaker
And that's where he is at the moment, just kind of lost in thought. No emotion other than the souls dripping out of his eyes. Rains? Rains will remember this. He's not going back and forth on it now because it doesn't seem to be the time or place for it. So Rains is
00:52:30
Speaker
But Raines has clocked the nicks. He's tried to speak to him several times. He's clocked the distraction, the change in nicks. And yeah, Raines will just mark this one for later. And Bao, I'm curious what your response is. Do I recognize that the type of egg, the style of egg, like this is, I know what's going through my mind.
00:52:57
Speaker
Obviously, would Baal see this as one of Gaelfire's brood, or...
00:53:05
Speaker
Like, I don't know whether there's specific markings or individual things that even if you'd be able to pick that apart, but that's what I'm trying to ascertain. Dragon eggs have a sort of egg-like, a pale white, off-white exterior with circular accents that suggest the sort of draconic bloodline they affiliate to. And you know, golden accents mean they only came from one
00:53:37
Speaker
matriarch. Yeah, that's the only thing that Baal's kind of staring at at the moment. And with his arm feeling frigidly cold, the rest of him's feeling pretty fucking warm. I thought it was a bloke called, is it Fawn Dad? Who Ola was in debt to? It was.
00:54:07
Speaker
then why the fuck is the deeds to go put keep up there? Could someone say my name? And turning from the crowd clustered ahead of you is that very same opulently dressed, arrogantly well-spoken individual who has been
00:54:34
Speaker
roughing up, no. Keeping honest, the desert and gold port keep. The man reigns had tea with, I seem to remember. As I live and breathe. It's you, you fun old crew. I was on my way to come and visit you after this duel, but here you saved me getting my boots muddy.
00:55:01
Speaker
Come, what celebrations we may have. I imagine you're here to pay your debt before it's too late. Well, seeing as we were paying the debt to keep gold port keeping, you put it up in there. I could just as easily take it off. The jewel has not started yet. That's a thing that can be done. Nick says he's almost broken out of a trance and he just is his twitch as he hears that.
00:55:30
Speaker
They'd make an exception, I'm sure. What for? Is it individuals who put these assets up for price? Yes. And those individuals have the power to rescind them? Before the jewel commences, the proving closes at midnight tonight, so I've got some time to make up my mind if you've got the coin. Now, these were the... What about this old collector's thing?
00:55:55
Speaker
was all sorted out when we ended up with Nix and Marotta accompanying us. What was all that about? You haven't told them? Looking at you, Nix. I am incredibly sorry. I was lost in thought. What was that, Emron?
00:56:20
Speaker
Well, this all, you know, when we returned to Goldport Keep and we met this person, and everyone's looking at, you know, I've warned Dad with a little bit of, you know, disdain.
00:56:39
Speaker
a deal that was struck one there and we got what was called collectors or whatever it was and we got two collectors to accompany us and it ended up being you and Marota. But I could never figure out what that was to do. You never discussed this. Oh, how sweet.
00:56:56
Speaker
No, your faithful friends there, points at Nix, and someone's in there at the moment with a striking resemblance to the one you accompanied, but something's different. No, they opted to work for me for free for months to pay down that debt. Very humble of you not to have shared that information. What all is that?
00:57:23
Speaker
Mmm, it still has accrued a fair sum, but they have attempted to help. Time never came up for the conversation. So, about my three and a half thousand gold. Give us a minute to discuss.
00:57:45
Speaker
Take all the time you need. The proving closes at midnight and he just turns, picks up a glass from a nearby table. It's a small incantation, raises it to you, sips and strolls back towards the proving. Why do I really want to punch you in the face? Oh, it's, it's, it's, it's something that we all, okay. Do we have three and a half thousand gold? I have zero. No, I have some, but not much.
00:58:16
Speaker
I can't remember. Sad. Could've sworn more than this, but anyway it's 2600. I got, I got, I got over 2600.
00:58:30
Speaker
close course of swim run. Nick looks like he wants to say something. Nick says this conversation is happening. Thank you. As the conversation is happening, Nick's has turned invisible. As soon as, uh, voor, voss, voor dan, voor dan, fossen, voor dan. As soon as voor dan has turned heel, uh, Nick's turns invisible and I mean to trail him. Do we notice Nick's turn invisible? So. We probably turn around and he's not there.
00:58:59
Speaker
you will notice nix disappear and nix as you
Nix's Invisibility and Strategic Eavesdropping
00:59:08
Speaker
follow fondant. He just joins another cluster of individuals who are looking into this space that's beyond the way you can see unless you get involved in this huddle. You're sort of at the back of it at the moment. You can hear that sound of flesh hitting flesh. You can hear grunting. You can hear animalistic cries from animals, not humanoids making animalistic cries, but beasts making cries.
00:59:37
Speaker
Next is turned invisible to try them under the assumption whether or not this materializes makes no difference is what next is doing.
00:59:47
Speaker
under the assumption that he's running in the same circles as other patrons who have put forward the rewards and he is going to trail him for as long as for up to an hour and just be nearby listening intently
01:00:09
Speaker
to all the conversations out there. Obviously we all know what words he's trying to pick out from different people, but that's where I'm going, that's where Nick's is. Okay, what I want you to do is I want you to make a perception roll for me to ascertain the sort of groupings of individuals that are around you as you're following him. Six.
01:00:33
Speaker
So largely you're surrounded by competitors rather than bodies that are able to provide rewards on this scale. And it's more that Vordent is just locking shoulders with the common rabble here. At no point does he make an attempt to go up to that upper level where the up-heats are enjoying the comfort.
01:01:00
Speaker
You don't really learn anything. I was going to say, if I learn any sort of direction where other people are, I'd tail off. Those aren't the conversational threads that you're following. No one is talking about their reward that they posted. Lots of people are talking about rewards. You're hearing a lot about a lot of interest around particular items. The majority of people who are competing seem to be competing for the personal audience with the rulers of Dralak.
01:01:25
Speaker
There are some people are doing it for the token goods. There are some people there is a good portion doing it for the gold. A couple of individuals interested in the ship, a couple of individuals interested in a slave.
01:01:42
Speaker
but with six, that's all you can entertain. Yeah, totally understandable. That's Nick's basically for the hour. So the rest fill in as you were. Once I start feeling that the spell's starting to fizzle, Nick's will come back into the crowd and we can pick up from there. Okay. What are the rest of you doing? Where the fuck has he gone? I don't know what he's like.
01:02:11
Speaker
fucks sake but what what we do about this we don't have the cash how much money can we pull together i've got about 800 i have approximately 400 so we're short i've got 60 i hold up whatever one has a slice of this 1500 but my point is
01:02:36
Speaker
And my point is, how much we have. If we want to make, because they talk about these prizes, whoever wins gets one. But it's insinuated that whoever wins, you also make money on the bets that are made on you. So we kind of want to have money to be able to bet on ourselves to win, to be able to make money on top of whatever prize gets chosen. Problem is, there's lots of good prizes up there. And I reckon, and one looks around the group, quite a few of us would go for different things.
01:03:08
Speaker
Correct me if my logic is flawed, but the prize up there of 45,000 gold pieces would clearly cover the debt that is owed. If one of us were to be successful, could we not purchase it afterwards? If it's for sale, but also the point is that Baal, for example, might want to get the dragon egg. Nyx, wherever the fuck he's gone, might want to look after the Esmeralda.
01:03:32
Speaker
You know, I don't get me wrong. The 45,000 gold does seem to be the richest of the prizes in quantity. Like some of the items there. You say that. How much of the gold pump keeps non good state? How much is my Relder's, the fine looking ship? Yeah, but I don't think there's Relder's. Okay. I don't know. I can't price up, but some of those things don't look like they're worth as much as say the 45,000. I don't know.
01:04:02
Speaker
Okay, then we're back to the original plan where we pick one of those and place our bets on them, right, to maximise our return. Well, yep. In theory? Is, um, Danny, has Vordad still stood there awkwardly waiting?
01:04:19
Speaker
No, no, so he went back to watch whoever is in the proving at the moment. It's just you. You are starting to notice, Seth, there's a couple more people are coming to that sign up desk and are having a similar looking conversation with the dwarf running things there. Guys, I'm pretty sure the bloke did say there are 21 after our six, there's only one more space left. There are definitely people looking interested over there. I think if we want to get our asses in, we need to...
01:04:47
Speaker
Okay. After that, I have a very good, unbreakable, definitely foolproof plan that can solve all our problems that I can explain afterwards. I know I sound like a YouTube video, but bear with me, okay? Okay, let's sign up, and then we can decide how we're gonna... I mean, we're gonna sign up at this rate, and Nix ain't gonna have a place. But let's go anyway. Nix, you're conscious to the room as well. You're seeing... At any point, you'll see the group go back to the desk.
01:05:19
Speaker
Let's go. As soon as, yeah. Nix is learning shit. DICE is not in my favour. As soon as he hears that the group's moving on, he's shifting, dropping invisibility, and he'll turn up behind the group. Do you go back to the desk as a group? Yeah, I work. Yeah. Yeah. You do it first. I don't know what you do. Okay. Yeah.
01:05:50
Speaker
But any questions before you agree to this? Just to confirm, you get to choose one of them prizes. One prize, and you get 5% of every bet that's put on you. And can you also bet on yourself? Yeah, if you want. Yeah, okay. Right.
01:06:08
Speaker
And just to check, Kansa, you're talking about people who bet for you to win, or is it just bet on you full stop, like to die in the first second? No, no, no. You can only bet on a winner here. All right, to win. So it's important you put a strong foot forward straight away. Yeah, and then the proving will set your odds. Any nobles upstairs who vouch for you, that will also improve your odds. Right. Is the proving individual? Oh, yes. Yeah, I thought so.
01:06:35
Speaker
Okay, I'll be the first to sign up. I'm going in, uh, unbloodied. I'd quite like to not dare. A name? Uh, Emron. Just Emron? Uh, yeah, I don't have a surname. That's a mighty, mighty sad thing to hear. Anyway, who's next?
01:06:59
Speaker
Yeah. I'll, I'll, I'll for all go up after everyone. Name. Al. Just Al. Just Al. All right. Just Al. Now I'm going to need you to drop whatever magical incantation you've got going on here. I see. You're going to lean in quite close and just let it, let it go.
01:07:30
Speaker
So the beard and all the elves and the features. Don't hold it back anymore. Cold never bothered him anyway. Didn't slam the door. Turn away.
Competitor Lineup Announcement
01:07:43
Speaker
Oh, I just looked at you with a modicum of surprise. Please do another one.
01:07:51
Speaker
I would see you lock my entire life and then two of you show up to compete in the same games. Oh, shit! I'm sorry. I'm sorry to mock. Al, is that right? Yes, Al. Sorry, two? Yeah. Where's your puppet master? And he begins to sort of look around. I do not have a puppet master. Where is the second of my kind, if I may ask? Until you do the proving, I cannot give you any more information about other competitors.
01:08:22
Speaker
Your odds have to be set, and then you're locked in. If Alpha could swear under his breath, he would. And they don't breathe. As that's happened, Rains walks forward and just immediately puts his hand down and goes, name's Rains. Rains, is it? Are we spelling that like the precipitation from the sky? Like the horses? What is it? No, like the rules of the entire kingdom. No. Or the G. Right.
01:08:51
Speaker
Get signed up, Al. Raines will say with a very quick, steely glance towards Alpha. After what? I'm the only one he has the surname of. Unbloodied, like your friends. Please. Yeah, unbloodied. Uh-huh. Anybody else? Yeah, I'd like to put forward myself for the competition of fighting, please.
01:09:18
Speaker
You don't have to do it if you don't want to, by the way. No, it's Osiris. I'm going in with a name because we all agreed we'd use these names. My name is Osiris, my lord. These names will get announced, so whatever you want to be known by, just tell me now. Oh, fuck yeah. Osiris, my lord. Osiris, my lord. Lord with an E on the end. Sure. Alright. Bloodied, unbloodied.
01:09:50
Speaker
Uh, and he's going to look right into bowl and kind of do a seething behind the eyes, eyes, dead force, not properly taking you in. That doesn't help. He's going to turn to M run. Unbloodied. Remember our friend from last night said we need to go in on bloody. Oh yeah. Fuck. Yeah. I'm blooded. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yes. We would like to lose you. Oh, Cyrus.
01:10:22
Speaker
Invisible one. Yes, of course. Next, Corel. Why did we come up with the names? Oh my God. I thought we'd stop using them when we get them. I'm bloody like your friends, Mr. Corel. Bloodied. If you please. We're next, next. What are you doing? Then what happens next is he turns over
01:10:52
Speaker
the parchment. And instead of a handprint, there was a small, sharp blade. Who wouldn't mind? Scratch yourself on that. It's not the first time. Can we just check? If he goes in bloodied, being brought back to life, that includes any of us trying to bring him back, right? Oh, yeah. If he goes in bloodied, when he goes down,
01:11:23
Speaker
You can't touch him. We can't even, like, staunch the wounds or anything like that. If you bring him back to life, it invalidates the entire principle of being blooded. But until he dies, we can, you know... Until he's deceased. What are you asking? And ask it straight, because your boy is about to... Well, no, my point is, if blood is pissing out of his body and we can stop that from happening so he still stays alive, before that blood stops pumping, can we act?
01:11:51
Speaker
yes okay if the games conclude and he's dying or dead he stays dead okay nix you do realize you're being a fucking retard here because you have money on me to win and now you are going in basically saying you're willing to die you do know how that looks yeah can if he's goes in bloody can he walk out I
01:12:22
Speaker
Stakes have changed somewhat. My apologies. If you want to walk out, slice his finger on the blade of death. Imagine what? Just answer our question though. Only if he wants to. He's committed now. The point is that he could choose to go, you know what, actually I'm done and walk out. Yeah, you give up. Okay. All it is is it just means you won't get resurrected. Okay. See?
01:12:52
Speaker
But there's no ways, ways. Nix, I had a plan. I've got a plan. I've got a plan. It's fine, Seth. Yeah, I thought we had a... Okay. It's fine. It's something we can all discuss later. And, uh, you there? Mr. Dragonborn? Valkon, the walking inferno. I like it. Valkon like volcano. It's not. And your status, sir?
01:13:25
Speaker
He casts an eye back over at the rewards thing. Looking at that egg. Looks round at you, Nix. Nix is looking down on the ground, uh, already aware of your stakes. Flips the sheet over and cuts his finger. Yeah. For fuck sake. Don't have a bitch. Right, you are a kiddo. What's the fucking point? You haven't listened to my plan. I've got a foolproof plan. Seth.
01:13:55
Speaker
I'm happy to listen to your plan. I think whatever these two have got in their fucking brains. And the contracts are all snatched off the table and filed. And then there is a sound and all of the lights in this chamber flicker blue. Casting Thaumaturgy on himself. Grigor Stonefist announces,
01:14:26
Speaker
Ladies and gentlemen of the melee, we have our quota. 28 fighters will enter the arena for the jewel of the desert champions. One will come out victorious. And then he begins to read through the name of the champions who have entered.
01:14:56
Speaker
Introducing, in order of sign-up, Tharoxan Jarbi, bloodied, Elaris Moonshadow, Borgrim Stonefist, Serafina Lysara, Xalatha Kortha, Grima Zinbar, bloodied, Kaylin Windrunner,
01:15:25
Speaker
Natalia Jodrin Thistledown Greenba Dharalath Balor, bloodied Vara Stone Lyralael Brightblight Brightblade My apologies, ladies and gentlemen Fennry Stormclaw Rurik Ironforge, bloody
01:15:54
Speaker
Shailah moon whisper. Gorath thrall, blooded. Karasha swift foot. Zariel nixara. The Valkyrie, blooded. Flood of the Osrin Isles, blooded.
01:16:22
Speaker
Trial 472. Blooded. Emeron. Owl. Raines. Osiris, Mightlord. Nyxcarell. Bloodied. Valkon, The Walking Inferno. Bloodied.
01:16:52
Speaker
James. And the lights flicker back to orange. Did he say James? And there is this halfling on the other side of the counter towards you, just looking very bolstered and goes and joins the crew that are inspecting whoever is in the proving. Right. There we are. I thought we had to pass the proving before we were in. You're in.
01:17:22
Speaker
You still have to pass the proving. Okay. But what happens if we don't pass the proving? Then we're out. Then we will have one less of something interesting. I've been asked to close the proving. Sorry, I've been asked to close the sign-ups. Are you drunk?
01:17:45
Speaker
It's a long day, mate. You starve yourself of natural light all these years. It's a fine line. Tough gig, bro. So to prove it, the last competitor will be out in a moment. Everyone who's the first signed up, you'll be first to go in.
01:18:06
Speaker
follower, you, Al, you, Reigns, you, Osiris, Mightlord, Nyx Carell, and then Valkon the walking inferno. And James, you'll be in about 45 minutes time. He just shuts. Are there any rules in regards to the proofing? Who the fuck is James?
01:18:22
Speaker
All will be explained to you. And at this point, the crowd is beginning to disperse from the far end of the room, and they're beginning to sort of mill out. People are picking up drinks. People are just sort of talking. People are looking around at that wall of fame on the other side that lists previous winners. People are talking, those of you who are higher perceptions will sort of hear some of the names that are being suggested. Baal, you're specifically, when you aren't seething with rage, you are making out
01:18:48
Speaker
Oh, the Valkyries competing this year is quite a common thing. You're up first, everyone. You'll be going in, looks at a pocket watch, about two, three minutes, and you'll be facing a series of tests, all of you.
01:19:12
Speaker
A test of your endurance or combat proficiency. A test of your dexterity. A test of your mind, your voice, or your soul. As you have not entered the games before, we have a certain standard to uphold. You will be facing a particular creature in that first test. You need to last 60 seconds against it.
01:19:43
Speaker
fall up to 60 seconds, you're out. Does that make itself clear? All right, so I have to pass each of those tests or are they all in one? One follows the other. Compulsory ones locked in the cage with the creature, the test of dexterity, and then you've got an option of three afterwards this year.
01:20:05
Speaker
We don't usually add those, but the Game Master's adding some sort of intelligent element goes over my head. And when does the actual tournament start? Should we get through? Is that tomorrow? He just leans back and appears at this one well of light that is coming down from the sun.
01:20:29
Speaker
Get ready boys. Two days time. Two days. There'll be a reception tomorrow night for the competitors. Competitors only. You're more than welcome to attend here. Sun down tomorrow evening. And that's if we're competing. Oh, yes. There you'll learn your odds. Okay. And everyone's sort of been like stretching and limbering himself up.
01:20:59
Speaker
Which one? He begins to just produce six flagons and puts them on the countertop for you all. And then cleans his throat once again and casts Thaumaturgy upon himself.
Manipulated Trials and Emron's Challenge
01:21:12
Speaker
Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, please make your way to the proving window for our next challenger, Emron. You're up, Sonny. And as you sort of begin to move towards that chamber,
01:21:33
Speaker
It's a small cell that again has this thick glass door that opens. You can step through. And Nix, you weren't quite close enough to see what was going on before, but the bestial sounds that you were hearing that were being attacked didn't match the creature that is waiting for Emron in this cell. Emron, you can see chained and you all can at this point. What I can only describe as
01:22:02
Speaker
a panther-like creature the size of a lion but the jet black skin and has multiple tails that sort of loop back over itself that seem to have like snapping mouths and it's hard to... this was really similar to the displacer serpents you encountered in the desert you couldn't quite locate where their form was because there seemed to be these auras around it
01:22:32
Speaker
And as you're getting closer and people are sort of making a parting of the crowd for you almost, and you're getting a lot of looks up and down. People are really sizing you up. And at this point, when you step towards the window, you look up to the balcony above and you can just see about four or five dozen very nobly dressed individuals peering over this balcony to size you up. This displacer creature waits for you inside the pit. And just as you're about to approach that threshold, is there anything you'd like to do?
01:23:03
Speaker
This is the last point you can turn back. Emrah looks to group. Wish me luck. Good luck. So that's going to pat you on the bum. You'll be fine, Emrah. Cheers, Seth. Just tell us how to pass it when you get through. And then you can hear my plan afterwards. That sounds like a great plan. When we're in. Yeah.
01:23:34
Speaker
And as you begin to raise your foot, you just hear a voice from the crowd behind you going, ah, nope. The master deems it not. And this old, well-dressed servant, a slave collar, that everyone about you instantly recognize from his rudeness this morning, announces to the room, absolutely not.
01:24:04
Speaker
turns speaks to the dwarf who sent you in none of you are close enough to perceive what was said again with that magically enhanced voice the dwarf announces i'm sure ladies and gentlemen it seems as though a mistake has been made one moment and the cell in which the displacer beast was housed disappears
01:24:38
Speaker
It's halfling, incredibly well-dressed. Slave walks up to the cluster of you with everyone just heard and says, master de Bullbeck, wishes you good luck in the trials ahead. Not that you need it, eh? Oh, thank you.
01:25:03
Speaker
And as you turn this time, whereas once a displaced beast is now a giant rat. And as you step in, what's gonna happen next is all six of you are going to step in and we'll do this as sort of like a
01:25:31
Speaker
simultaneous experience. So you can all do these challenges at once, if that makes sense. And you're all given the same test. At every point when you're about to step in, Debulbeck's butler prevents you from facing a very dangerous creature and replaces it for something much more manageable. You step in to these cells, each of you, in this moment. Any preparations you would make. By the time
01:26:04
Speaker
I'm actually going to rewind slightly. Emron goes in and you will watch Emron's first challenge. Then Alpha, you go in. You watch Alpha's first challenge. Reigns, you're next. Seth, you go in next.
01:26:24
Speaker
And as Seth's minute ends, and before Nix, you step in, Nix and Baal, you are just shoulder to shoulder. Two lads, bloodied lads. And you have a private moment together. Is there anything you want to sort of recognize about the status you've picked or talk about?
Task Completion and Strategic Planning
01:26:51
Speaker
It's not personal.
01:26:55
Speaker
Of course. Savvy. You understand? Aye. Savvy. Good luck. Yeah. We'll give him a show.
01:27:32
Speaker
Sorry, Danny, do you have to check? Have we, as Alpha, Reigns, Emron and Seth have already gone through. I know we're kind of going forward and then going back kind of thing.
Nix and Baal's Heist Confrontation
01:27:40
Speaker
Yeah. Unless there was anything you particularly want to say when it's just you, Nix and Baal. Yeah, slightly. Sorry. So it's kind of doubling back on it. He'll turn the minute that Reigns, who was the third goes in, he's going to instantly turn very, very quickly to Nix and go, you're a fucking idiot. Turn to Baal. You're a fucking idiot. And then he was going to turn back to Nix and go,
01:28:01
Speaker
I have a plan for a heist of the fucking century, my dude. I've got a plan. Let's take the fucking lot here. And then he's going to walk backwards, hands out and then walk into whatever the fuck is facing him. Okay. Nice.
01:28:25
Speaker
Ian loved that. I lapped that
Nick's Battle and Mysterious Reminders
01:28:27
Speaker
right up. Nick's is kind of got the white noise effect that's happening in his brain right now. So he's he he understood, acknowledges. But there's that kind of happening that doesn't really penetrate. So everything also that I said with Seth, no, Baal.
01:28:54
Speaker
So it's the same. Yeah. Yeah. Raines is in. Then Nick and Baal have their exchange that they've already shared. Nick steps in. And Baal, when it's just you and you're watching Nick square up against this giant rat, you've been waiting patiently about 14 minutes, seeing all of your friends get bitten, dodge, attack back.
01:29:23
Speaker
There's just a voice in your ear that says, don't forget the agreement we
Suspenseful Conclusion and Danny's Narrative
01:29:41
Speaker
And that, so we're going to end this week's episode of the Fellowship of the Table Tour, Bellum Draconis. You son of a bitch, I mean. Danny, you're brilliant. The other two of you, you knobs. God damn it. That's exciting. Wheels within wheels within wheels. Essentially.
01:30:03
Speaker
Whatever the outcome of this, one of you is making a new character. We have to choose who dies. Nick. Oh, well. Give me two of them. You're great, mate. We're on your phone. I would do the same. What I will say is that a lot of credit has to go to Danny for this interwoven narrative and how
01:30:33
Speaker
on character everyone is being. So yeah, massive, massive shout out and props to Danny there. Yeah. Well, I see you. I see you. I like it.
Upcoming Drama and Social Media Engagement
01:30:49
Speaker
I knew it as well. I knew it.
01:30:54
Speaker
So guys, if you want to see some real in-party fighting, you might as well tune in to the next few episodes to The Fellowship at the Tabletop because it's about to get juicy up on this bitch.
01:31:08
Speaker
Thank you very much for tuning in, making this a party every day week. We love you for it. If you wanted to check our X page out, you can do so. Like, for instance, if you've got what Scorch Helm looks like, there's a map posted right there for your eye holes. Then if you wanted to go one step further and follow us individually, you can do so. I'm at iWorldA1, Callum's at the d20Gamer, PoohBear is at natural20will.
01:31:36
Speaker
Darrin's up. Darrin Peugeot's six. Mark's up. Hasty Roll DM. And our wonderful... Oh, no, I forgot about Will. Don't count me out yet, friend. His fellows have been... Oh, wonderful. Did I forget? Our extraordinary masterful DM can be found at... Total Party Thrills. Until next time, guys.