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C3 Episode 49 The Voices in the Trees Chapter Two
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Kaz has books on the mind.
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Transcript
Introduction to the Everod Campaign
00:00:00
Speaker
oh
00:00:05
Speaker
Hello and welcome to actual play podcast set in the Everod campaign setting. I am your Game Master, Eric.
00:00:27
Speaker
I'm Mia. I'm Phillip. I'm Madison. I'm Jeff. And welcome to another episode.
Recap of Previous Events
00:00:33
Speaker
Folks, what happened last time? and We had some existential conversations and the mansion is more haunted than we maybe thought.
00:00:42
Speaker
We lost some books. We found some books. quite It was quite time. Someone's defacing the chapel. We talked about the nature of being and also there's a supernatural being somewhere in it. Another one somewhere in the house.
00:00:58
Speaker
Construct Barnaby is dead. Oh, yeah. Long live Construct Barnaby. Gone but not forgotten. And I'll get remains creepy.
00:01:10
Speaker
Oh, there's a... For no good reason. There's a third floor of the house.
Downtime and Roles Between Missions
00:01:14
Speaker
Yeah, who knew? Yeah, I'm about to check that out. And the second floor is apparently all sun-facing windows. Like, just... yeah the All the time. Floor to ceiling, baby. Floor to ceiling. All the rooms are...
00:01:28
Speaker
All the rooms are full width of the, of the building. Yeah. yeah It's like you go to the west side and that's the hallway that's all across the the backside of the house and everything else based on the sun.
00:01:41
Speaker
Okay. So we are now firmly in your downtime. so Timeline becomes a bit more malleable in terms of how long something takes and how long you want to spend time on it.
00:01:55
Speaker
But you all do have day jobs in the form of the armor, the librarian, the shadow maker the groundskeeper. And Javier expects you all to in between missions, keep up
Setting Up the Armory
00:02:05
Speaker
with those jobs. So I would love to hear from whoever, what you're doing.
00:02:11
Speaker
to contribute to the lighthouse in that way. So the armory that we acquired, is this a space we discover somewhere on the manor? No, we...
00:02:23
Speaker
bringing in stuff to set up an armory. You would set up the armory. Um, and Philip, just the conversation to figure out off Mike, uh, you, you can still use your downtime to determine the efficacy with which Nix uses the armory at the outset. Sure. And yeah. So, yeah, guess we need to decide where that's going.
00:02:48
Speaker
um is there like an undercroft to the chapel? Sure. Sure. Cool. That sounds like an excellent, creepy place to set the armory. does Find a spiraling staircase that goes down to the undercroft of the chapel. Nyx hauls... I don't know how we get a forge down there, but somehow or another... Urumi helps with the the movement of the ah necessary tools and things like that. Sure.
00:03:17
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, I mean, Nyx, once that shipment arrives, Nyx and Urumi... haul those
Enhancing Arumi with Arcane Runes
00:03:24
Speaker
things into a space off the chapel and get Forge and Anvil and everything set up.
00:03:33
Speaker
um Once Arumi's gone, Nyx kind of moves the Anvil and spends some time carving some arcanes this arcanely specific markings onto the floor under the Anvil and then hauls the Anvil back in place and...
00:03:54
Speaker
I mean, Nyx doesn't really have formal training as smith of any kind, but weapons have colors, you see. this And Nyx can see them. and so You got it. You're almost there. That's a different wall, is Nyx trying to figure out.
00:04:14
Speaker
It just says, it just says, what color am I? just well Wall of madness. That's what's worse. Oh, crap. don't remember that. When?
00:04:26
Speaker
You asked. And I literally said, you are your color. Right. Yes, but I don't know what that means. My color isn't a color. I can't help you with that.
00:04:38
Speaker
I feel like you could. did. I did. There's a of chalk markings on the wall. It's like, does this what does that mean? And in the corner, just written very tinily, is Javier thinks autumn is a color question mark. Yes.
00:04:53
Speaker
But yeah, I mean, Nyx would
Paranormal Activity on the Third Floor
00:04:56
Speaker
try to get that set up and try to work on what she is what she is able to do. She's discovered that she can essentially absorb... but the magic out of a magic sword, apparently. So can she invert that process and draw draw magic to be able to make these runes potent win
00:05:24
Speaker
when improving weapons and armor and things like that?
00:05:29
Speaker
Cool. And you're kind of drawing your connection with Shabrath to do this, right? 100%. hundred percent Yeah. Yeah. So go ahead and give me a, I'll take intelligence or wisdom based check and you can use Shabrath touched.
00:05:42
Speaker
All right. Well, we're going to go with intelligence because it's at least a positive number. Okay. That's all right. was three now. 10 plus a 16.
00:05:55
Speaker
six 16. Okay. So yeah, so you do have a good understanding of how, how to go about this and the implements and resources that are necessary to begin using the armory and creating these runes and uh i would like to say that uh nix asks a roomie if she can try adding some runes to some of roomies plating uh as a as a way of testing things out um on on someone who's unlikely to be harmed by them yes that sounds that sounds fine to me so yeah good
00:06:42
Speaker
Yeah, you, you successfully add rune to a roomie and his body. So go ahead and roll 100 me. So look, I'm gonna say it's where the equivalent of a shoulder blade would be, you know, just back of shoulder, back shoulder tattoo 28.
00:06:58
Speaker
twenty eight 28, roomie, like the, as soon as you finish etching the rune in orangey magic arcane glow kind of erupts from the rune and then washes over roomie.
00:07:14
Speaker
But it kind of colorless is around roomies head and he goes, oh, feels strangely resilient. The mentally, the bonus also applies to his mental defense based on that role.
00:07:28
Speaker
So cool. We can test on a roomie, but we couldn't test on Barnaby. I didn't want to make Barnaby strong. It's just the ghost of Valk. Valk's conscience couldn't haunt you. No, you thought it was a roomie, and then a roomie's face changes to Valk's. Valk was just changeling form. And it's bleeding terribly on the back of his shoulder. Yeah, pretty stoic there for the whole replacement part.
00:07:54
Speaker
Carving into your flesh thing, yeah. Okay, but yes... Nyx, you are confident you'll be able to make use of the armory. And because you rolled a 16 for this arc alone, you can do one additional rune for this arc.
00:08:11
Speaker
Cool. And you just used it on a rune. Right. Okay. So once you're done doing that. As part of this, just to say, as part of this, Nyx starts like,
00:08:25
Speaker
wandering around, taking opportunities to she hopes somewhat subtly, kind of examine everyone's adventuring gear and figure out What, where are the weaknesses that need to be shorn up? So as you are walking through the house, you walk past the library and you see Aurora sitting there alone.
00:08:47
Speaker
And you instantly recognize that Aurora is reading battle reports of some kind that she has gotten her hands on. And you see the Brealish seal at the top, which, yeah, so she's reading Brealish battle reports.
00:09:00
Speaker
Something, I'm sorry, Brealish. So is she reading the news or is she got like... internal documents.
00:09:09
Speaker
It is... It's not like super... It's like government-issued documents. Like, she obviously says has a contact within the Brelish government to get them, but it's what members of parliament might get, not actual, like, military communication. Why do we have those?
00:09:28
Speaker
As soon as you start speaking, one of the snakes on her head hisses at you, and... Akron kisses back. She, like, brings the papers down. Sorry. Um... I...
00:09:41
Speaker
I like to keep up on the goings on of the Western Front of the Brelish War. How did government documents make their way to us from another country? I have certain contacts from... I used to
Kaz's Journey to Kalazart and Ghostly Encounters
00:09:54
Speaker
technically be a citizen of Breland, although don't think anyone there would have claimed to me.
00:10:00
Speaker
I understand that. The Brelish Command encountered some Medusas in a recent battle and called us the Children of Orlask, which is just a lovely way to refer to my people, but...
00:10:19
Speaker
Do I have any idea what that is in reference to? Give me a intelligence check. What backgrounds do you have? Shabrath Touch would be applicable. Smuggler would... Black Mark here would be applicable.
00:10:31
Speaker
Relic or Runaway is probably not either. Yeah, no. Just straight up check, though. 15? Yeah, you know that... 18, because level. You know that...
00:10:43
Speaker
Kind of the same way that like shifters are descendants of lycanthropes kind of thing. ah Medusas are said to be creations of a Dalkir, specifically Orlask, the shaper of stone.
00:10:57
Speaker
Although Medusas, generally speaking, vehemently deny a connection with the Dalkir. Okay. Well, good thing we don't let governments define us. Indeed. No matter what form they take.
00:11:09
Speaker
Right. She goes back to reading. It goes back to snooping around people's equipment. All right. Who else has a downtime activity they would like to narrate for us?
00:11:22
Speaker
So I would like to go into Kalazart. Okay. Kaz is still a little unsure as to what he is supposed to do as the shadow maker, but he knows it's not hanging around with the people that are already working here.
00:11:37
Speaker
a certain I'm trying to decide. And I, man, I know that I just keep going back to the cry, but Renee has an information conduit. It seems silly, not, and she was really interested in learning more about what we do.
00:11:49
Speaker
yeah So it does seem silly not to talk to her about it, but I sure still can't tell her what happened in Ashdown Hollow with Ladislav. So I got to figure that one out.
00:12:01
Speaker
We do have a very interesting news story though. I also want to go to the third floor. that feel like that one might be quick. We can knock that out. What does Kaz see as he climbs the creaky staircase two levels past where he's ever been before?
00:12:12
Speaker
Yeah, you get up to the third floor and second floor is blinding on your way up. Yeah. Yeah. I see but like close my eyes and the door. Yeah. You get up to the third floor and yeah, you see it smells of mildew very strongly.
00:12:27
Speaker
but There's cobwebs everywhere. it is very clear that this is, this space has not been touched in a very, very long time. Give me a wisdom based check to, to just get a sense of your surroundings.
00:12:41
Speaker
Okay. Can I say that my privileged mischief background means I've been in a lot of weird abandoned buildings before? Sure. ah Okay. thats right Because my wisdom is wanting.
00:12:53
Speaker
That's a 19 total. 19. Okay. So you get up there. I'm sorry. It's 18 if that changes things.
00:13:05
Speaker
Including your level? Did you add three for your level? Yeah. It's a 20-wood. It's not me this time. You get up there, Kaz, and you're kind of looking around furtively. and grab it.
00:13:16
Speaker
People are waving at you. You're furtively walking down and looking around, and you hear a faint... Hey! I run down the stairs straight to the first adult that I see. I'm like, as you reach the top of the stairs, give me a dexterity check or just, just give me a, you'll have to remind me.
00:13:41
Speaker
Just a D 20 straight. Yeah. D 20. It's a normal save. So you need an 11 or higher. I did not. I got a five. Out of nowhere, a book and the teachings of the blood of Vol come flying down the hallway and catch Kaz's foot as he reaches the top of the stairs and he tumbles down the first flight.
00:14:05
Speaker
No harm, except for all of your pride. but I think I turn around and I yell up the staircase, but man, I am trying to move out of your room. Why are you stressing me about this?
00:14:17
Speaker
Because that's what I think is happening. Can we hear Kaz crashing down the stairs and screaming nothing? Yes. All of you, as you are minding your business, hear oh a... Nix runs down the hall and into the stairwell.
00:14:38
Speaker
Kaz is also on the blinding room floor now. I want you to... so I look radiant. you Just a black silhouette against white light.
00:14:49
Speaker
If anybody else react to the noises. Selina would go see what's going on.
00:14:57
Speaker
Yeah, the ghost apparently whats and who has ah something to do with the blood of Vol. The ghost. Let me back up. There's a ghost. I'm pretty sure. And he wants my room, you or she, sorry, Zelena, wants my room. Nyx just folds her hands off.
00:15:15
Speaker
Oh, no! was a just genuine a brain fart on my part. Sorry. Well, what he definitely doesn't do is say, or she, sorry, ladies.
00:15:27
Speaker
so again but That's so funny. No, that is... Kaz would not have done that if Jeff had been thinking straight.
00:15:39
Speaker
Well, Kaz probably isn't thinking straight. He was attacked by a ghost. Yeah. And fell on a flight of stairs. yeah Yeah, I took a pretty good knock. There's a ghost.
00:15:50
Speaker
I think. No, there's a ghost. And it it was my room. That's been painting in the chapel. Could be. There's something painting in the chapel? Oh, yes. Something's been adding icons to the Sovereign Host.
00:16:05
Speaker
It's stealing our books and moving them around. Hey, guys, I fell down the stairs. Remember I was telling you what happened? Right. Go ahead. So Algot tells me there's innumerable space.
00:16:17
Speaker
Yes, sir. Oh, my God. Oh, I think he fully falls over. And then pops back really quick. Down the next flight of stairs. I think his knees fail him. And he goes down he pops right back up. And like, anyway, hello, Algot.
00:16:34
Speaker
Alcat told me that I could move to the third floor, and I went up there, and I heard a... and a I mean, just not a kind laugh. I can say that for sure. And then as i was as I was confidently exiting, he threw a book at me, and I tripped and fell down the stairs. Or she.
00:16:52
Speaker
Or she. Sorry, Nick. And I say...
00:16:57
Speaker
And so I was reminding him or her. Okay, you're right. Thank you. Oh my gosh. I was reminding the ghost that the whole reason I was up there is to try to get out of his, her, or their bedroom.
00:17:13
Speaker
Where's the book? Oh my god, here! Thank you. Wait, you have it? It is up at the top of the... stick Oh, so in that case, I silently point. So I'm just off enough to get it and give a dirty look to that room.
00:17:28
Speaker
Nyx reaches back
Uncovering the Ghost's Backstory
00:17:29
Speaker
and just like the her her soul blade, you know, screeches its way out into into our plane and she stalks up the stairs. Can Valk just cut through and as the paranormal investigator, perhaps I should look first before we... I did not know Valk was there.
00:17:50
Speaker
Neither did anyone else until just now. It just kept going. The conversation just kept going. I was left behind. I frankly love the cinematic imagery. Just the camera turns like edges slightly and brings back into frames. I've been here the whole time. At which point Kaz falls over again. And then you see Kaz scrunch his eyes concentrating and you guys don't know he's trying to fly on purpose, but he is.
00:18:16
Speaker
But yeah, no I think Kaz points to Valk and like, that's a great idea. Okay, I'm going too, though. Fine. Okay. Let me know what you see. I'll be down here among the light.
00:18:29
Speaker
I'll stay with you. Nyx makes herself small so Valk can go past. And just presses against the wall of the ah the staired stairway. think it's bold to assume that it's even a ghost. but Okay, all three of you ah get to the top the stairs.
00:18:44
Speaker
You see the dingy, mildewy, dusty, cobwebby third floor, ah specifically the hallway. It's not bold. It's ignorant, Valk. Feel free to give me a um paranormal investigator role, wisdom-based, Valk.
00:19:02
Speaker
If you're just trying to look around and notice, if you're doing something else, let me know. If you want to try to talk to whatever's up here, you can do charisma if you want. I'm going to look first. That is 23. 23. I want to see the little
00:19:18
Speaker
go thing Yes, you're catching some movements out of the corner of your eye. of It is certainly a small figure that is kind of jumping from doorway to doorway um with such a high roll.
00:19:36
Speaker
You can tell that this is a ghost of a creature from the material plane. Like it is a a soul that is stuck here. Okay. Given its size and the shape of its...
00:19:48
Speaker
silhouette you would guess goblinoid of some kind yeah so yeah figure do i know what color is it slow down slow down yeah ah do i even know what door it went into last did i see that their third door on the right is the doorway that you saw it in last right can i start i start going towards it but closing the doors that i'm able to sure okay And I can't see it yet.
00:20:20
Speaker
Nix. Pim. Why was I supposed to know You just asked me what color it was. Right, but why was I supposed to know you couldn't see it?
00:20:31
Speaker
I don't know. This is what you do. Cut back down to the stairwell. How are you finding the third floor, sir? I was going to say, when you come back down the stairwell, you hear Cas is like, okay, but like after they take care of it, we clean that place up. It's nasty up there, but I kind of dig the idea.
00:20:49
Speaker
like that he said I'll help or whatever. Cut back. Oh, as soon as Selena gets to the top of the stairwell, she grabs the book and just kind of stays at the top of the stairwell to watch. She's not going with Valk and Nyx, but she wants to see what's happening.
00:21:03
Speaker
Yeah. She keeps grabbing the books. Why are you stressing me? This is just like a couple paces behind Valk and just has sword up at the ready. Not that she's likely thinking that she can cut a ghost, frankly.
00:21:18
Speaker
I was about to ask, can you even cut be a ghost? Just be helpful. It is a ghost. don't know, but I would rather be, I would rather have the option to try not. If anybody can. This thing is, it it might be able to.
00:21:36
Speaker
yeah Will it also burn the house down? it's not on fire. I know it glows, but it's just, Nick taps it against a wall. like The wall catches on fire.
00:21:48
Speaker
yeah I did not think that could happen. I can't be honest. I'm as surprised as you are. when You reach the third door and you and do you go do you look in the doorway?
00:22:01
Speaker
think Before I would I would say that I am friendly. I'm not trying to kick you out of your home, but I would like to talk to you.
00:22:13
Speaker
And then I would peek in. ok This also just disrupts Nyx's train of thought because she's trying very hard to remember Exorcism 101 from Relicor. You look into a room where you see ah few more books stacked in a corner, all related to Blood of Old.
00:22:36
Speaker
Oh. You also find, and this is something that you probably clock is like ring, ringing couple bells, uh, Valk.
00:22:46
Speaker
You find some plants that were potted like around the house and maybe outside and stuff like that, that had been collected in here and have been cut like at the stem.
00:23:00
Speaker
Like there's just a little nut coming up out of the dirt. Do you think, I mean, Is it, are they trying to resurrect themselves? I think he's just a little mischievous, maybe trying to make some powerful contact, but I, I, I believe there are more efficient ways of trying to claim a body.
00:23:25
Speaker
You see a ethereal image appear before you, Vauk, and it is a young goblin, not a goblin child, but like,
00:23:37
Speaker
late teens in goblin years i think um and immediately start speaking goblin and at you does valk speak goblin it's his feet shift into a so into a cutting stance i i don't even know where i wrote any of that down i don't even yeah it's In 13th age, there's a linguist feat if we're going to care about it mechanically, but I'm fine with it just being what makes sense for your character to speak.
00:24:10
Speaker
And so that's why I just... do you think it Goblin's what's on all the old root ruins, right? Yep. So probably not that. Nyx, would you speak goblin?
00:24:21
Speaker
I mean, Unless... unless The goblins of Corvair are like a major presence in the black market.
00:24:33
Speaker
i like That's the only justification I can think of. Like, if that's the case, then definitely. but That would be why she would learn it. Wait. Yeah, likely not because... Or street goblin or something, like whatever the... Street goblin.
00:24:46
Speaker
Yeah. There's probably some pretty sick, like, swear words that you know in goblin. Sure, sure. But um um know most goblins that are going to be trading in the black market can also speak common, so it wouldn't be necessary.
00:25:02
Speaker
Are they like hoarders in this space? Like the little treasure fiends? Or they just like actual nasty... No. rude I'm so sorry to the goblins out there. No, goblins tend to be much more like martial and militaristic a lot of times.
00:25:17
Speaker
Kobolds are much more of the like hoarder mischievous like steal your trinkets and stuff like that. you drink it Or if there's something inherently Shavarath about the goblin language.
00:25:29
Speaker
we are we are strong Can I speak ghost?
00:25:35
Speaker
yeah hit Well, Helena or Kaz, are the books it's been stealing written in Goblin? No. We don't speak. does the Is Goblin just what we call it? Does it have a yeah name?
00:25:48
Speaker
Yeah. Goblin. The ghost like pauses for a second. Do I know how to say that in Goblin? Like, do I know? no but I know how to say that. and Where's the bathroom in most languages?
00:26:00
Speaker
Wherefore dost thou disturb my living quarters? Oh, love this. Bro's like a teenager. Okay. isn't okay so We're just ah wanting to find a way to coexist. weve As you know, we've moved into this home recently.
00:26:20
Speaker
Our librarians would like you to stop taking books. Yes, please. that's She's very nice. they have a very They have a great system they're working on We just need the books to stay.
00:26:32
Speaker
um caz would like to move up here. or alternatively... Not— Are you interested in a roommate? No—Hey! Man!
00:26:44
Speaker
And I would like you to not take my magnolias and cut them off, please. Those are actually hard to keep alive. I don't necessarily need you to stop, but are you painting in the chapel? Did you paint the trap? The top of your region is quite alien and obscure to my ears.
00:27:00
Speaker
Didst thou paint upon the wall of yon chapel? NET! Images!
00:27:11
Speaker
and Huh.
00:27:17
Speaker
How longst werest thou in my room whilst I was slumbering? Can you just come down? He's not attacked us. Just come down here. There's also books. Why dost your companion this stand so far afield? There's books.
00:27:33
Speaker
You threw a book. Thou didst throw a book. A tome of my head did strike. And Verity did ensue. Yeah.
00:27:45
Speaker
Indeed. there so i realize i in I realize I can meet this guy on a mischief level and I move closer. Nick lowers her sword and then just lets go of it and lets it dissipate back into...
00:27:58
Speaker
the other so i I was screaming into the mic. I am sorry. I do not reside upon this whole... I do not reside in this home in domicile, but rather upon this land.
00:28:09
Speaker
This facade was constructed around my final resting place. oh You're in the graveyard. Or burial under the building?
00:28:20
Speaker
and I mean, technically everything would be a graveyard at that point. You're right. Kaz is kind of getting into trying to talk like this. He's like, a resting place of you and your kid? Aye.
00:28:33
Speaker
We were beset upon by the enemy during the Great War and taken down the very last. Oh, this was a battle site, not a burial ground.
00:28:45
Speaker
Was this a child warrior? Because, again, this is like little teen guy. My arm was as strong as any soldier that I stood beside. Hey, respect to you. Yeah, I've almost died in battle several times and i remind you, I am 16 years old.
00:29:00
Speaker
Yeah, I feel like most of those were kind of your fault, though. Yeah, for being so sanguine and vulnerable to puncture. Knowest thou who tis that doth paint in Yarn Chapel?
00:29:16
Speaker
Nay. He didn't do that. Just second. However, while we're pausing, Eric, did you see this episode going this direction? Nope. Are you glad we're here? This going to be one where we have a whole arc where we don't get to the adventure. I do? Yeah. Old English translator while I'm at it.
00:29:34
Speaker
I was not anticipating having to just be able to improv in Old English. That's why. You chose. there I could send you the link if you want. The problem is Kaz only knows Middle English. he's He's read the Canterbury Tales in the original language. Okay.
00:29:52
Speaker
Oh, I think to mine eyes, I just recall seeing a figure cloaked and hooded stalking about the grounds many times.
00:30:05
Speaker
A living figure.
00:30:08
Speaker
It is not of my particular breed, you can. All right, we have a different problem. Oh, okay. I just out do have a different problem. You have minions of the enemy strewn about your grounds. And he points at the potted plants that he's cut off. What?
00:30:25
Speaker
Wait, you were fighting flowers? We fought the denons denizens of Zoriath that invaded our realm and kingdom. And the twister of roots and plants.
00:30:39
Speaker
She is who killed me and my kin. So I must strike back from beyond the grave. There are plants that are not twisted, are they not? These plants do not belong here.
00:30:52
Speaker
These plants are not of this realm and region. like yeah for That might actually be my bad. sure that been but Tending his orchids.
00:31:07
Speaker
and But they they were they're not related anymore. That's that's just me. Hi. I'm Valk. You are of her realm and domain?
00:31:18
Speaker
Technically no but but Technically no Many lives have been lost on technicalities. no Is that your dog? There were just some puppies on the road and I've i've been feeding them. so so One might have followed me, I'm not sure. Why do you invade my final resting place?
00:31:38
Speaker
Dude, I just live here. Hey, can we get back to why you invaded my current resting place? Why are you- why did you choose my room? And why do you keep throwing the blood of Vol at me?
00:31:50
Speaker
Ah, to my eye, that is great humor. But- because He's not wrong. yeah Cassie, he's also like 16. Throwing the book? Yeah, it wasn't not funny, but why- It's like, you got me there.
00:32:06
Speaker
Look, game recognized game and all of that, but that doesn't explain why you keep going into my room. You don't seem to be spending time in everyone else's rooms while they are sleeping.
00:32:18
Speaker
I have invaded the other residents of this domicile's quarters from time to time and ah attempted mischief, but their reactions did not humor me. Yours did.
00:32:31
Speaker
You were trying to make Selina mad at me by planting the books in my room. No. Didst thou attempt to stir consternation among my companions?
00:32:43
Speaker
It would seem that any time there is the slightest chance that one of your companions might be slightly annoyed by you, you get very flustered and upset by that, and I find that funny. You're getting rage baited, as the kids say. Yeah, man, if that is the case, I'm terrified that they will It not the case for your companions.
00:33:03
Speaker
yeah They're confident adults, dog! I am a goblin! Right. Sorry. They're confident adults, my guy.
00:33:14
Speaker
i am not your guy. You could be if you'd chill a little bit. We could be each other's guys. I feel like you and I could be friends, but like, first step, boundaries, gotta stay out of my room, man. But I resided in that domicile before you.
00:33:33
Speaker
Okay, then you're sending really mixed signals because when I came up here to find a different room, you threw to the book at me and you cccc see and oh up straight up freaked me out, bro.
00:33:44
Speaker
I can't talk like that. Yeah. Your companions seem to understand. Yeah, but they weren't here to laugh at it. Like, what's the point of making a joke that no one else can hear?
00:33:56
Speaker
I found it not funny at all. Oh, you're one of those guys. They sit in your room and make jokes to yourself at the expense of other people. He's been dead for some time, so I think that makes sense. Do you not do things just for your own pleasure and entertainment?
00:34:10
Speaker
What is sad is everything I do is to appreciate other people. We have to work on that. That's not healthy. That's really, really vulnerable of you. I feel like I need to tell the whole room. love how the whole room has now turned on. We do need a meditation room.
00:34:29
Speaker
You need to put up a lot more walls around your feelings and emotions. I mean, not generally. I don't know that that's the answer. I think there's a professional in town.
00:34:41
Speaker
Okay, well, now that I said it out loud, not like generally in my whole life, but like, you're all very intimidating and competent, and I don't know what's happening with my life at any given second.
00:34:53
Speaker
And how you feel. Nope, don't answer that. It's a trap. How does it make you feel? I think I've been pretty clear. It makes me feel uncertain and scared all the time. Right, that thing you're calling confidence, that's the walls.
00:35:06
Speaker
See? Dost thou require me to be here for this? Man, frankly, no. yeah Wait, don't leave. Are you moving the books in the library?
00:35:19
Speaker
Yes. Why? Comedy. It's funny. You keep moving them into the wrong order. I am helping you put them back where they go. so i'm new We have a new order. Maybe I could teach you the new order and you could help me put them in the new order.
00:35:35
Speaker
Perhaps. And then the goblin like falls through the ground.
00:35:41
Speaker
He's not going to learn the new order. he Burns up into sunlight. It disintegrates. Unfortunately.
00:35:52
Speaker
These are items. Everybody gets XP. That was different than I thought it would be. Also, apparently there is a living being wearing a hood and cloak who's coming into the chapel while I sleep in painting on the walls.
00:36:08
Speaker
Do we know it's alive or just a hooded being? Well, he said it was not of his Kind. As a goblin. You just mean a goblin, though?
00:36:20
Speaker
asked if it was… I asked if it was living, and he said, I do not know if it's living, but it was not of my kind. i took that to mean not a ghost, but I suppose that is also possible that he meant not a goblin.
00:36:33
Speaker
If it's the church, could it be a spiritual entity? It could be, though I would wonder why it wears a cloak. Fashion. Is there not a god that is seen in a cloak?
00:36:49
Speaker
Sure, but why be seen in this case? What's it painting anyway?
00:36:57
Speaker
It's been adding other gods to the icons of the Sovereign Host. Are they like the normal gods? or like They're the members of the Dark Six.
00:37:09
Speaker
was about to say the bad guys. and Well... I know, I know. The Dark Six. Is he a good painter at least? Yeah. I have not asked that question. Like are the paintings good?
00:37:24
Speaker
The paintings are singular color and it's it's much more on the side of graffiti than fine realism painting.
00:37:36
Speaker
it It certainly has a certain it has a certain flash to it. makes I suppose the simplest Beginning point would be to ask all of the known inhabitants of this house whether they've been painting in the chapel.
00:37:52
Speaker
While I sleep. I've been busy getting spied on by a ghost while you sleep, apparently. I know assumed that one of you would have said something by this point in the conversation if it was you.
00:38:03
Speaker
Look, I'm one of the people in the house. I don't know what we're doing anymore. I assume you're standing right behind us. Yes. ah Have you been painting in the chapel?
00:38:15
Speaker
No, I would not deface the chapel. I'll... That tracks.
00:38:23
Speaker
Have you seen anyone crossing the grounds in a hood and cloak?
00:38:28
Speaker
No. Noted anything else.
00:38:32
Speaker
I'll ask a roomie. Okay, well, this seems to be end point to this stage of our investigation of the ghost. yeah So I'm going to go check in with the other inhabitants of the house as to whether they are painting.
00:38:50
Speaker
That's what Nix is to do. She's going to go find all of the other living inhabitants of the house and ask them if they're painting in the chapel. And if they've seen a cloaked figure crossing the grounds at night.
00:39:01
Speaker
more yeah Okay. You find Aurora in the library and she says that no, she has not been
Mystery of the Chapel Paintings
00:39:10
Speaker
painting in your room while you sleep.
00:39:13
Speaker
You find Henrik in his laboratory, fully lycanthroped out. Super uncomfortable. like Really uncomfortable. About get worse. but You walk in and you see the chassis, formerly Barnaby, on the work table. Okay, we're next. That's, yeah, next time.
00:39:31
Speaker
Hedrick blitz over. I hated that. Yeah. No, I have not been going into your bedroom and defacing the walls. Look, it's a chapel. It's like just, I happen to sleep there. I... Alright.
00:39:45
Speaker
Next turn's in water. If I told you I was going in there while you were sleeping and praying, would that make you feel more comfortable? Yes. Interesting. Okay. Noted. Ruby and... the air You find roomie sitting on like a stone bench in on the grounds by himself with a small pamphlet and you see Morgrave University on the front and he's reading it and he looks up is like hello Nix.
00:40:15
Speaker
In your patrols have you seen a hooded figure crossing grounds at night? And I suppose, though I can't think why you would, have you been painting figures on the walls of the chapel?
00:40:29
Speaker
No and no. Right. Well, apparently there's a hooded figure that's been walking around the grounds at night, so keep an eye out for that. an eye Yes, most concerning.
00:40:40
Speaker
Agreed. It's coming into the place that I sleep. don't like that at all. Yes. To Javier. Javier's office door is closed. um you hear You hear voices on the other side when you knock, the voices stop, and Javier opens the door, and you see a half-elf woman with silver white hair sitting in the chair across from Javier's desk, and Javier says, Oh, next, how can I help you?
00:41:11
Speaker
Someone's been slipping into the chapel and painting. thing is on the walls at night while I am asleep. And... We spoke to a ghost that said they saw a cloaked hooded figure crossing the grounds last night.
00:41:37
Speaker
So I'm just checking in with everyone who lives here. That's obviously concerning. I've not seen a hooded figure walking around and no, I not going in and painting on the chapel walls in your room. So, but we'll keep an eye out. And obviously that's a Pretty big cause for concern.
00:42:01
Speaker
Agreed. Yes. Yes. Oh, Nyx, this is, Dr. Tashana, Varesh. And the half-elf woman stands up and walks over to you and notice there's like faint iridescence with her hair and she extends her hand out to you with kind of a very professional and practice composure and Nyx shakes her hand briefly. Pleasure to meet you.
00:42:32
Speaker
Hello. I understand that you're part of the field team for the Lighthouse.
00:42:38
Speaker
Yes. Excellent. Well, we maybe if things continue on the path that they seem to be on, maybe getting to know each other better suit and Javier says perhaps, but let's continue our conversation and Nick's, I will let you get back to what you are doing.
00:42:59
Speaker
Right. Nick's steps out of the room. Okay.
Networking and Interplanar Anomalies
00:43:03
Speaker
We're going jump back to, unless there's something else that we need to do in the follow-up to the ghost. Right. Jeff would go back to the others and report that it had no explanation.
00:43:14
Speaker
ah as As Jeff said, checking out the third story would just be a quick little endeavor, and now Jeff can go to Cal's art to... It's your story, man. We're just living in it. Factually untrue.
00:43:25
Speaker
ah The goblin ghost it was a threat rolled from the very first upgrade you made to the house. Pete! ah Okay. T-muchel. Well... well At some point, I did point to a room to Algon, like, I'll take that one, thanks.
00:43:40
Speaker
Very good. I'll move my own stuff, but it would be great if we could get a head start on the cleaning while I run to town for a pit. Indeed.
00:43:52
Speaker
He seems to live to serve, and I don't want to take that away from him.
00:43:56
Speaker
I appreciate that, sir. Oh, yeah, I said that to him. Yeah, for sure. Okay, so you're heading into town? Yes. I think I am, again... still feeling out what I'm supposed to do as shadow maker and having someone with access to regional information does seem smart and, and I'm still scared to do too much exploring on my own. So I think I'm, it I am going to go talk to Renee at the cry, Renee, right?
00:44:23
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. At the cry and heard it on a little bit more. So as soon as you walk into the Kalzart Cry office, Renee at the front desk goes, you're back. Kaz considers adopting a conspiratorial tone, but then he realizes it's not worth that.
00:44:40
Speaker
And so he's just yeah, okay. um What do you got for me? Well, that depends. Okay. Don't get too excited about the way I ask this, but is there anybody else here that can overhear us?
00:44:54
Speaker
There's a some other journalists back there. So yeah. Okay. Do we need to somewhere private? Do we need to have a private conversation somewhere? I mean, as long as they're not listening in, I guess we're okay. If you can keep it cool when I start telling you some stuff.
00:45:13
Speaker
All right. like yeah So here's what's up. I just got back from another job. Oh, where? Pella's watch. Remember I came and talked to you about it a You asked me about that. Yeah. Yeah.
00:45:25
Speaker
So your information was helpful. And great because of that, I wanted to talk to you some more about what it is that we do. Me and my colleagues are a group that is tasked with investigating interplanar anomalies. Yeah.
00:45:48
Speaker
when When, say, i don't know, an entity from Don V gets a little big for his britches and decides to start meddling in the material plane, we go and we take care of it.
00:46:00
Speaker
I chose that example because that just happened. And I kind of explain what happened. And i tell her about like I tell her about the harmonizer. And I tell her a little bit more about...
00:46:14
Speaker
I tell her about Deep Root. I don't tell her about Lottislava. I'm like look, I can't tell you everything. Remember I said there was like telling me everything. Some big stuff. I'm telling you so much. Part of my job, in addition to the field work, is creating a network of informants.
00:46:36
Speaker
that we, that both can keep us abreast of things that are happening and that we can use to gather more information. And you've been really helpful. And I would like to officially extend an invitation to be a part of our organization. It is my network it is not a, yeah, i literally my spy network. It is not a paid position. As far as I am aware, I'll need to talk to Javier about that.
00:47:00
Speaker
This would be operating for the good of Eberron. Oh, he needs some spy lessons 101. Part of my shadow network. Yeah, man. All right.
00:47:13
Speaker
Part of this would be that you... How do I say this? We are very good at denying... And if you decide that you would rather tell people about this than help us out, I don't think anybody's going to believe you when all sudden done.
00:47:32
Speaker
I would love for you to be a part of it though, Renee. Yeah, I mean, yeah, all this sounds crazy. I love it. So straight up, man. Hey, hey, here's a little bonus information to get you started. It all feels crazy.
00:47:45
Speaker
So wait, are you telling me that I can't report on the Harmonizer stuff though? You were just telling me that for fun? No, I was telling you that for enticement. um Oh, because I definitely reported on the zombie thing you told me the first time you came in here.
00:47:58
Speaker
Yeah, so, okay, the zombie thing... Here, okay. The zombie thing was a thing that happened to a whole town and they all saw, right? So you can report on that. The zombie thing...
00:48:09
Speaker
I will tell you what happened in Pella's Town. Right, now hang on. The Harmonizer. She's got you there. She's not wrong. I'm not done. The people of Pella's Watch know that they were taken over.
00:48:23
Speaker
temporarily by something from outside of this plane. The harmonizer thing is kind of proprietary information for our organization.
00:48:34
Speaker
No one else saw the harmonizer, right? It's room full of dead orphans that no one's going to be able to account for. a giant passage under city hall that we left Yeah.
00:48:49
Speaker
Yeah. Are you going to go tell the people about the Harmonizer? I wasn't planning on telling anybody anything. Yeah, but your job's not to be the Shadowmaker. It's bad at your job.
00:49:01
Speaker
but
00:49:04
Speaker
Oh my gosh. This is amazing. No, he's he's like, look, the... The public knowledge of of these things, the things that the people who live in the town, the things that are going to get out are things that you can absolutely report on.
00:49:20
Speaker
But if there are... i don't i don't know. The problem is that I don't know what we have to keep secret and what we don't. So the things that no one else sees right now, I'm not... Yes, you raised your hands, Renee. So why joke you why don't you tell me what you want the story to be.
00:49:38
Speaker
yeah I feel like that's what I'm getting at poorly. Okay. Yeah, it's it's very poorly because I had no idea that's where we were headed. Yeah. I thought that was my idea. Well, there's these voices in my head that keep telling me I'm doing a bad job.
00:49:51
Speaker
we never said that. Okay, and other one just keeps making faces. ne self to talk is not never saying it and the other one just keeps making faces The voice in your head makes faces at you. Shut up, Renee!
00:50:07
Speaker
so Walls, Kaz. Walls. i am... You seem really interested in the things that we do. And i would I think it would be really nice for me to have someone that I can talk to about it. But...
00:50:24
Speaker
like a I can't let you share I know what I'm saying is tell me, you told me what actually happened at Pella's watch. You yeah don't want me to report on the Harmonizer.
00:50:34
Speaker
Yes. Tell me the excuse that you want the world to think was actually going on and I'll report that. like So in this, in this case, we skipped town so fast.
00:50:51
Speaker
Yeah. In this particular case, we... This is how spy networks operate with the jerk with yeah with journalists. Like, you feed us the story that you want told. We dipped out so fast that we did not, like...
00:51:03
Speaker
cede a story to the townspeople. So I don't really have one this time. I basically, I don't know how to tell you this, but that's what I did about Deep Root before I told you about Deep Root, the things that happened in Ashdown Hollow.
00:51:17
Speaker
I told you the thing that was safe to tell and the thing that we wanted told. If you remember, I did not tell you about the giant tree until today. Or probably didn't mention the burrowing lion either.
00:51:31
Speaker
The what? I know, it was insane. Did it look like a normal lion? With mole paws? remember that was something we said or something you said, actually. I kind of think about it.
00:51:42
Speaker
eighty Yeah, it looked like an actual lion, but underground. Well, above ground by the time we saw it. So let me ask you this, Cass. Yes. You are starting up a shadow network of spies And you're at asking me to be a part of it.
00:52:03
Speaker
Yes, because you have access to regional information that I don't have. You might hear things that don't get reported much in the same way that I am telling you things that can't be reported.
00:52:16
Speaker
The quid pro quo here is you don't keep those secrets from me and I don't keep most secrets from you. Okay. Sure. And she makes a note in her notepad.
00:52:31
Speaker
Okay. Yeah, I can do that. And I'll funnel stuff your way that seems weird or creepy. That's exactly what we need. Man, if you would have been here like four years ago, it would have been super helpful.
00:52:44
Speaker
What happened four years ago? You all like, this is like, probably base level Kalzart knowledge, but it it makes sense that some of you might not know it. i Kalzart, four years prior to this campaign, had four archons leading an army of 10,000 angelic being beings on behalf of Thrain descend upon the town, take it over, fully occupy it, and then they got a big trunk of books and scrolls and left.
00:53:17
Speaker
Holy crap. It was called Thrain's Great Eastern Campaign. They took over Kalzart and Esten, two major cities in Kyrie.
00:53:28
Speaker
and And Rene tells me that? or does Rene act like it's something I should know about? Rene is more than happy to recount it to you. Yeah. Okay. That is a wild.
00:53:39
Speaker
And also, i don't want to say that's exactly the sort of thing we're doing because there's no way that the art your organization in its current form could have any real, could put it really you much of a dent in 10,000 angelic warriors.
00:53:53
Speaker
um But think think small scale of that, and that's what we're trying to do, yes. Yeah. Okay. Zombies and and and mind control of single towns kind of stuff.
00:54:07
Speaker
Okay. Yeah. You should talk to Barcha sometime. He's Warforged soldiers stationed in Kalazart specifically to keep an eye out for celestial beings that might come back. That is exactly why I brought you into this, Renee, for those sorts of tips. And I write down Barcha in the notebook that i now have with me.
00:54:27
Speaker
I take a notebook off of the desk and I write down Barcha. Can I have this? Sure. Okay. I put it in my adventure bag. Give me a charisma based check, Kaz, with j any applicable background that you can pitch to me to see how much information Renee like readily gives you about the residents of the town. barcha is telling I don't know that my privileged mischief would really probably not factor into this, so I think I'm just going to to do straight with... I mean, I have a plus six to charisma, so it's all like it's the worst roll.
00:54:59
Speaker
And plus three because your level. No, sorry, that includes my plus three. Ah, yeah. And I rolled a three, so that would be nine. i mean, I just say advantage. I'll keep an ear to the ground in terms of other strains goings on in the area and Kalzart in particular to let you know what's up.
00:55:16
Speaker
Thank you. I'm sorry that I acted so weird. Not this time. I have no real excuse for this time. But the first few times we talked, I wasn't sure how much I was allowed to tell people. And I wasn't sure if this was the best first step, but I'm realizing now that I think it was a really good idea to bring you into this.
00:55:38
Speaker
So again, sorry that I was so weird and shifty the first few times. I also wish that I could say i will be less weird next time. Glad to be on the team.
00:55:48
Speaker
Awesome. I, I'm gonna, then you hear a gruff voice from the back of the room shout, Hey kid, you got those, those spell shards transcribed yet? It's like, I'm working on it.
00:56:03
Speaker
Sorry. I gotta get back to work. Good old J. Yeah. John and Jimson back there. Oh, now I'm trying to think of it.
00:56:14
Speaker
Does that imply the existence of a spider pan? Strongly. I was thinking, i I don't know, I was going Perry White more than J. Jonah Jameson, but two sides of the same one.
00:56:32
Speaker
Which applies to the existence of a Jimmy Olsen. Kaz, as you are leaving, um you you come across... a Kalishtar woman who is walking down the street, Kalishtar, holding a ah small stack of papers and ah sees you, Kaz, and goes, hello, young man. How are you today?
00:56:58
Speaker
oh hi. I'm i'm doing fine. Jesse, this Kalishtar woman is about six foot seven. Right. Okay. and very dark complexion and adventurer, like you would guess, like fighter barbarian type of build.
00:57:15
Speaker
That's all talking about. Well, that's good to hear. I'm actually out seeing if there's anybody interested in either joining or sponsoring an adventure.
00:57:27
Speaker
And you seem to be the adventurous type, given your garb and the way that you carry yourself. it's It's my bag, isn't it? Sorry, go Yes, I am... Knee socks and school uniform pants.
00:57:38
Speaker
His badges sewn on. I'm seeking funds and like-minded individuals for an expedition to Arganessin. And she hands you ah a small flyer with relevant information and her contact info.
00:57:54
Speaker
um there's ah There's a drawing of a dragon. was like, Arganessin is Dragontown, right? Like, for sure. The continent of the dragons. Yeah. It's like a band-seeking bass player poster. Yeah. you Little strips to tear off.
00:58:09
Speaker
I'm going to shoot you straight, ma'am. I certainly and do not have the means to sponsor any sort of expedition, and I am not Argonessin prepared. I'm more of like, I'm a Talinta Plains at best kind of thing right now. But you have been on adventures before, yes?
00:58:27
Speaker
I've been around a little, I guess. Excellent. So you do have some experience, which is more than I can say for most people in this town. I've been in i've been in some some fights, sure, but yeah.
00:58:40
Speaker
I am fully taken, by the way, by the large Kalistar woman, just to be clear. Well, it's, I mean, you carry yourself like someone that's been in more than just a few fights. Stands up a little taller. And we never saw Kaz again. Dragons, huh?
00:58:57
Speaker
Well, that's very kind of you to say. i I just, I don't know if I can leave for Argonessent right now. it's a that's a big but That's a big commitment to make. There would be some preparatory time, of course, but... Yes. and what Did she hit me like a flyer?
00:59:16
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. Come to Arganesson. Right. See, Arganesson. Get your wrist. Sorry, what did she say? Think about it. Think about it.
00:59:27
Speaker
Come back, find me, and we can chat some more if you have questions. Absolutely. What are you doing now in terms of your adventuring? Oh, I'm between adventures right now, I guess you could say.
00:59:41
Speaker
Are you a part of a regular band, though? Not a regular one, no. ah yes Maybe the most irregular band. He doesn't say that. Well, if your friends would also be interested in this type of adventure, then i the more the merrier.
01:00:00
Speaker
I will pass the flyer around for sure. It's just one. Yeah, we only only need one. we Oh, yeah, sure, I'll take a few. Now, suddenly, I'm helping recruit for Organesis. All right, well, farewell.
01:00:13
Speaker
And you give me a wisdom check real quick, Cass. Sure. 100%. What is her name? i'm I've got to throw die in the gutter.
01:00:26
Speaker
ah Wisdom? Yeah, she she did she did she didn't ever say her name. I i just realized the clock that she did not introduce herself by name, and it wasn't on the flyer. A contact info? i i I thought there might be contact info on the flyer.
01:00:39
Speaker
It is on the flyer. Hold on. Okay, great. My wisdom roll was a nine. am firmly in the single digits this evening. I guess I did roll a 21 earlier, but... And she just points down at the bottom. Just write down there. If you go... if you just go to this address and ask for Bimani, you will find me there.
01:00:58
Speaker
Bimani. With a V or a B. B-H-I-M-A-N-N-I. This is... Yeah, this is not our first B'amani. I just realized this.
01:01:12
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, yeah. See, I remember some of them. um Just not Trayna. That's sick, Eric. That's awesome.
01:01:24
Speaker
Kaz thanks her for recognizing something in him and... He doesn't say that part. And then um starts to think just how hard of a knock he may have taken on his head earlier when he fell down the stairs, considering the way that he has been interacting with humans today. What is the... web I'm sorry. i didn't I didn't write down the place. What is the place that I asked for the money?
01:01:48
Speaker
Was it just a home? There was an address. Yeah, there's just an address. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Okay. I wish her good luck. And i Tell her that I will definitely think about this.
01:01:58
Speaker
Um, and I asked, you know what I say? So how long until you leave and what are you doing in Cal is art until then just here to recruit? Just gathering funds, mostly in recruiting. Yep.
01:02:12
Speaker
Been traveling, Eastwood for some time and yeah. it and i I'm sorry. We haven't, I don't remember this. Calizard is like a decent sized town, right? like it's Yeah.
01:02:25
Speaker
Yeah. it's one ah It's one of the big cities of Cair. so Oh, okay. Even that big. Okay. So it would make sense that you would be here doing this. Sure thing. and It means I should venture beyond the newspaper probably if it's a major city. All right. Awesome. Thank you.
01:02:40
Speaker
And I, good luck. And I will probably, I might be in touch with you. That would be great. Yes. Okay. Okay. And
Podcast Wrap-Up and Community Engagement
01:02:50
Speaker
Kaz heads back to Aptholhampton Manor and we will call it an episode there.
01:02:54
Speaker
Thank you all so much for listening. If you want be part of the conversation starting this episode, you can head over to our discord link, which is in the description of this podcast. We also have YouTube channel, youtube.com slash Geek Pantheon. If you want to and ah not financially support the show, I guess i there there is ad revenue to be had at YouTube but if you go watch the videos. So yeah, fill it. Get me out of this.
01:03:14
Speaker
Yeah. Tales from the Laughing Tree on Spotify and YouTube. We have another actual play over there that just wrapped up its first season. It's taking a little break called Blades and Banners. It's Pirates.
01:03:26
Speaker
We also ah have a Patreon. Patreon.com slash Patreon.com slash TheGeekPantheon. If you want to financially support the show, you can do so over there. Thank you all so much for listening. I have been your tongue-tied Game Master, Eric.
01:03:42
Speaker
I'm Nia. I'm I'm Phillip. I'm Madison. I'm Jeff. We'll see you next time.