Transcript
Speaker: this what he meant by the army? commander i can command a fucking army when he said that. See that? Alpha, that's perfect fucking recall, mate. It's kind of hot. Oh, God, I can't get back into it now.
Speaker: What happened to your voice? Alpha's broken. Should we turn him off? ah but I think he needs an update. Very broken. It's like a radio. Can you stick your USB into his port, please?
Speaker: There's no power out here. No solar panels. I can't charge. You can't do Wi-Fi. No Wi-Fi. ah Within the lost lines, you were thinking that... Oh, sorry. Sorry.
Speaker: What is going on? Generally, my brain is just completely flatlined right now.
Speaker: I try, but it's not long enough. Hello everyone and welcome to this week's episode of the Fellowship of the Tabletop Belem Draconis. We are a live play 5E 2024 D&D podcast set in the magical homebrew world of Aerith in the kingdom of Dralak.
Speaker: Joining you for this week's episode, we have Darren who plays the half-orc barbarian Tharaxanjari. Someone from Sleetgard called.
Speaker: We've got Will, who plays the Dragonborn Druid, Balbalkon. You came at a bad time. Ian, who plays the Tiefling Wars or a Nyx Karel. I'm crossed between doing a K-pop Dino Hunter song choice or Hot Fuzz, so I'm just saying hi.
Speaker: Pubey, who plays the rules consultant human cleric Emron. Knocking you out like a lullaby. The Granny Smith pie-smashing edgelord Callum, who plays the ward-forged Shartafisher Alpha.
Speaker: And it's only the one level up, actually. And my name is Mark and I'm playing the Human Blade singer Seth, Pharoah Reaver. And by last, but my no means least, is the book learner's boss man, the brigand of ballads, the balancer of belief.
Speaker: The back throat scraper and hymen breaker. Dungeon Master. The back throat scraper. Oh, God. that's And that is why before this, someone saw me do like a clean your hands, I'm done with it motion and went, oh, you're happy with your level up choices, Mark? And I said, no, well, actually it's because I've written the intro and that's why. I don't see how you come back from this now. You've entered a a new level of of problematic.
Speaker: Well, you know, many given that title... you know some things can't regrow so um you gotta snort you gotta will speaking of broken diamonds we see girls look We see old Gale. Hello, what's he doing? No, we see old Gale around a campfire deep in the desert somewhere, cold and shivering, alone with a large fire.
Speaker: He looks content and happy. The stars are bright above him as the midnight events take place for him as well as it did for our party. He turns to us and begins.
Speaker: I left my marshmallows around here somewhere.
Speaker: semen. The party heals up and Emron goes full loot goblin and he finds a big black coin and a reflective black shard.
Speaker: Seth makes a phantom steed and gets Sparrowhawk onto it for safety and the group decides to splish splosh. They get caught though, in a crowd in the middle of Scorch Helm, and Emron gets loud, and Baal gets lit, and clear those bitches out.
Speaker: At the Pissed Newt, there's a love song for Sebastian's mother. Oh, Sebastian gets a bit upset. Oh, Emron uses a sending stone to update Drago with what's been going on, and Nyx gets a captain's welcome. It's all like, yo, captain on deck, bitches!
Speaker: And And we find out that the deckhands are called Maros and Pike and brethren and tie-dye and other shit like that. And Nyx has got a black leather cap. All spiderweb to the helm, lucky boy.
Speaker: Emron sings a bloody good shanty, Tharok tries to console Sebastian in the cabin. Alpha's taking comfort in Rains's old familiar after being shit-scared of some demon bitches, and at midnight, Baal sees the silver glow once more. He sees some sort of minuscule brightness. It's like all twirls.
Speaker: Twelve tethers slightly slacken for about ten seconds or so. And Bala's like, hey, Nix and Alpha, maybe this nasty thing in the sky gets a little bit weak around that time.
Speaker: And then he's all like, hey, Nix, you need to convince Sebastian to take the throne of Sleekar. Nix is like, yeah, I'll do it. And then Nix and Bala, fuck. And let me tell you, got a VPN. I can see all that shit.
Speaker: Emron dreams again, and it's the silvery grand hole in the sky. And it turns out Drago done killed a big old porcupine. But amongst the usual crew up there, Emron also sees a young Prego, less tattooed.
Speaker: And another golden glowing figure whom he can't quite make out. And when he awakens, he hears Drago's voice from the sending stone and it reads, as follows, in my voice, not his, the nightmare must end.
Speaker: Go into hell with Red Rook. Tell him Dandelion. And oh shit, the party level up. You did level up. So one by one, quickly give us the 411 on your level up gains. Please, coming to you first.
Speaker: Poo Bear. Okay, I took a level of fighter, taking me to Cleric 4, Fighter 3. I gained my fighter subclass of champion, because I did come second place in the tournament.
Speaker: I gained from that improved critical, so attack rolls with weapons, can score a critical hit on a 19 or a 20, so a 19 is no longer one off a crit.
Speaker: I also gain remarkable athletes while having advantage on initiative and strength athletic checks. And when I score a critical hit, I can move up to half my speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
Speaker: Boom. Thank you very much. Alpha. I, as an artificer, leveled up and I get Flash of Genius, which um lets me add my intelligence modifier to another creature's roll within 30 feet of me. um But that is just as an artificer.
Speaker: As a sorcerer, I get Sorcery Incarnate, meaning I can either i can spend two sorcery points to use my innate sorcery ability. um In addition, while that feature is active, I can use both of my meic metamagic options on each spell I cast.
Speaker: Nice. That's quite cool thing. and I also changed to cantrip. I've given myself Gust now. um Why not? Why not? You're at sea.
Speaker: I'm at sea. It could come in handy. um And I've taken Stormsphere as well. Nice. Nyx? So, um listeners, as i I think I've said before, every time that I cast a spell, I make a note in my book, whether or not that was cast from my warlock side of myself or the sorcerer side of myself.
Speaker: And then when it comes to a level up, all I do is count how many pips I've got in each lane. And that will tell me what I'm leveling up as. So this time around. I am leveling up in my Spidey sense because I was putting fucking Awaken Mind on every motherfucking thing.
Speaker: And that is from the Spidew Swim. So I am now a level six Warlock, level two Sorcerer. And with the level six Warlock, I got Clairvoyant Combatant. So it's very apt, which allows me to form a telepathic bond with a creature using Awaken Mind.
Speaker: And I can force that creature to make a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw. On a fail save, that creature has disadvantage on attack rolls against me, and I have advantage on attack rolls against it for the duration of the bond.
Speaker: Very Gengar-like in Pokemon. I also took a... I have an extra spell, which I've used to remove Curse ah for the aforementioned Baal. So we are savvy all up in my woods.
Speaker: All right. It's a Baal. I took another level in Druid, obviously. And as a level 7 Druid, I get Potent Spellcasting. I get a choice, but I put it into Potent Spellcasting, which means I can put my Wisdom modifier onto any cantrip, which is rather tasty.
Speaker: I also get access to 4th level spells. So naturally, I have become the the DM's Bane and given myself Polymorph, because fuck you.
Speaker: I've also given myself some other tasty spells, like Worms, wall of fire, grasping vine, et cetera, you know. So it's, shit's going to get real. Awesome.
Speaker: Farok.
Speaker: Farok, nice and easy. He gets feral instinct, which means his instincts are now so honed that he gets advantage on initiative rolls and he gets instinctive pounce, which gives me free movement at the spot. The part of the bonus action it takes to enter my rage.
Speaker: I can, as free movement, move ah up to half of my speed. Super speedy. Therok, thank you. And Seth? ah Level seven in ah Wizard, I get access to fourth level spells. I get no fancy shit with them, but I did take Banishment, o because one must.
Speaker: Blight, because one must. And also Charm Monster. That's my fourth level spells. I also reduced ah Rope Trick and a few others in my second and first level spells. It also does give me access, if I wish to spunk my only fourth level spell slot away, access to fourth level Shadow Blade, if I so wished.
Speaker: Powerful. It's every two levels you get to use Shadow Blade higher, isn't it? Yeah, it's still 3d8. So actually, after saying it, I looked at it and realized it's unfuckled. So I won't be using it for that. I'll use it if I ever have a fifth level.
Speaker: It's good for a spare slot. Awesome. Thank you, everyone. So, you all begin to slowly awake on board the Severed Compass.
Speaker: I don't think anyone was still shaking off exhaustion. um I'm aware we were accumulating some earlier in the campaign. i So, I think we're okay there. I was collecting them like Pokemon cards. You You almost died and then we changed to D&D 24 and then you were slightly healthier.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you, Wizards of the Coast, for the money. Saved your ass.
Speaker: One by one, you begin to awaken, and the wind has been incredibly still overnight. While, Alpha, you've been resting, the ship really hasn't made any progress, but that was kind of to be expected.
Speaker: You will awaken at roughly the same time.
Speaker: Who would like to go first with their morning libations or rituals?
Speaker: I think Baal will, as he awakens, try to start gathering the group and go to the various rooms and things like that and just poke his head in, probably with a nice big smile on his face um and just say, I think it would be useful just to have a bit of ah of a chat this morning, see where we're going and a couple of updates, things like that.
Speaker: Maybe breakfast on deck? I don't know. yeah nick Oh, you meant on deck. The crew are pulling up fishing nets that were set from overnight as well. So you haven't got to worry about rations.
Speaker: Result.
Speaker: ah Yeah, Nix will follow up to the deck, just kind of pat in some smoldering smoke that's still i on his skin. I'll wait for everyone.
Speaker: You did say you were resistant, right? Yep, yep, yep. It doesn't stop. It's you it's a one big one big cargo hold. Probably separate with some cargo as well. so Yeah. Privacy.
Speaker: Emron will ah leave. I think Emron probably slept on deck because I had him at the bow earlier. um So I'll probably watch Nyx walk up there the stairs from underneath, ah from the below deck, walking, you know, perhaps slightly funny.
Speaker: And... and
Speaker: My high heel boots on, I'm okay. You should have actually said that, Barl. It would be funny. I'm so sorry. I typed it and said, Barl slept on deck too. ah So everyone having a massive crap over the side. no and Nice. and a I imagine, Seth, you descend from the crow's nest for for a morning scran.
Speaker: He's going to stay up there if he can get away with it. He's going to eat a ration. And any conversation that takes place, he's going to stay perching up there. like you' them So you'll be forty if you'll miss anything that's that's that's said under hushed tones.
Speaker: That's fine. Okay. If he misses lots, though, he will descend to hear stuff. Everyone shouts up, Seth, come down. Stop being antisocial. He gives you the finger. How far up is Seth? 40 feet.
Speaker: Cool. Fuck him. Tharok and Alpha. Alpha would have spent the night on the deck as well. more so Part of it kind of being a little bit close to Emron, part of it currently afraid of a dark space.
Speaker: Aw, mate. If it helps, the ship was rocking so you had a good motion. Oh, fantastic. Was that the waves or something? If the boats are rocking. We need that on our ship. We need that on our ship.
Speaker: Farok would have... spent the night with his feet up on the desk in the cabin and he would have fallen asleep in his chair, he wouldn't have left Sebastian unless he was instructed to leave. So that would have stayed. He would have remained a centurion guardian in that room. He would have come out as soon as he's seen the storm break and things are safe.
Speaker: And he would have started to prepare breakfast. And as the crew make their way onto the deck, they would once more smell what Varrock is cooking. I love that. on there That will never get old.
Speaker: Love it. You take the chef's feet.
Speaker: I did. nice. yeah No, I don't. I'm proficient with chef's tools. I've not have not got the feet. I'm proficient with chef's tools.
Speaker: And as you all slowly begin to emerge, Sparrowhawk does also join you, but stays shrouded, knowing that there are four unknowns on board.
Speaker: for now
Speaker: well how did uh everyone sleep bal nix we will ask you but it honestly sounded like either one of you was dying or and that now nothing that cure runes can't help you know it was fine it was good real good not fine sorry as he shoots a look to bal it was amazing
Speaker: Insight check.
Speaker: Nix is hiding something. yeah
Speaker: Bal was hiding something last night. No, no, no. I slept well. Yeah, I know. I slept really well.
Speaker: Go ahead, Therok, and make an appropriate roll for your chef's utensils. Sure.
Speaker: So... While Tharok is cooking. Oh, I fed you that one. um I had a message from our little friend.
Speaker: Drago. Is he little though? I wouldn't say he's little. like oh Like he was little, right? and then but What was the message? He said um the nightmares must end.
Speaker: He's going to hell with Red Rook. And then he said, tell you, dandelion.
Speaker: Sparrowhawk falls to the floor and then scrambles back up again. That was the last word of the message. Yeah, dandelion. Tell him dandelion.
Speaker: Your favorite flower? No. Cold, I assume. He's becoming a bit animated and it slightly distressed and is going to reach for whoever's closest to him who has a small weapon.
Speaker: Takes one of your... but but like Make a dexterity save and throw a nix. Yep.
Speaker: ye Yep, yep, yep.
Speaker: Yeah, that's only a 10. He's able to definitely just pull one of your daggers from your side as you just sort of catch his hand as he moves it away too quickly.
Speaker: And he just walks with purpose towards one of the dwarven sailors towards Brotin and just points this blade at his throat and says, ah need you all to go downstairs.
Speaker: mean, you could just ask him. Nyx. I need you all to go downstairs now. Do understand? Hold on. All of us? Who? Who? These. The Osriners. Right.
Speaker: Okay. All right. I hear you. Marys, Pike, Brob, Tie-Dye. ah Sorry about this. Could you go downstairs, please?
Speaker: And they sort of hesitantly nod.
Speaker: Dwarf moves quite quickly away. Sparrowhawk stays sort of looking out over the waters where they were and just moves the dagger back into his other hand and offers it back to you, Nyx, but doesn't look at you.
Speaker: Yeah. Great. I assume that meant something to you. Yes. um And he goes to the hatch that leads to the hold and he moves a barrel over it so they cannot get out.
Speaker: Dandelion was the last word of that message. Is that correct? Yeah, it said, so the Nightmare was to end, going to hell with Red Rook, tell him Dandelion. I assume you're the him.
Speaker: I don't know. Yes. that meant yeah She's alive. Oh, good. Because she did appear in my dream still last night.
Speaker: I see. She's alive.
Speaker: They're all alive. ah As in all the leaders? Yes. Okay. Oh, I need a moment.
Speaker: Yeah. This is good though, right? like We're continuing with the mission. As is Red work She survived the onslaught.
Speaker: Yeah, i mean, I can send them back a reply. ah It should work. um If you want me to, i haven't replied yet. What time did you receive the message? ah This morning. Do I get to reply or have to wait until tomorrow?
Speaker: I don't think your stone will reach them now. Are you sure? I'm pretty sure it can go to other planes. Try it. We've not tested that. Okay. um ah Tell you what, after breakfast, I'll try and contact him and see happens.
Speaker: Right. Okay, back to business.
Speaker: I feel like a weight has been lifted.
Speaker: Good. That's good. um Okay. First order of business.
Speaker: ah star
Speaker: By all means, if you wish to set the agenda here, go.
Speaker: Just... ah Bal, you wanted us all together. and did. um
Speaker: i'm I'm really glad, Sparrowhawk, that things are working out and seem to be better, um which I suppose takes some of the pressure off, somewhat.
Speaker: He kind of shoots Knight and Nyx and Alpha. Ah, sorry. So our mission regarding Delmon Trace... Yes. Yes.
Speaker: We obviously found out yesterday that a lot of the leaders of Aerith are being either kidnapped or or killed, and he'll again shoot a ah glance at Sparrowhawk.
Speaker: And there is an intrinsic link between those leaders and the dragons of the different kingdoms. With a a leader removed from their throne, the dragons are weakened.
Speaker: They will be losing significant amount of their power, which I have a feeling will will hinder some of the missions somewhat, and he'll do his best to avoid looking at Sebastian for that.
Speaker: ah We know that two of the leaders of
Speaker: Two of the leaders of Dralak are somewhere else, either taken or fled or what, I do not know. The triumvirate is is but one person, Delmontre, the person that we're going to go and interrogate, yes, that we need to find out more answers from.
Speaker: but didn't think he was a leader of Dralak. There are three. Delmontrace, Edna Fizzlebang, Lord Vossen. And Vossen and Edna are are somewhere else and we don't know whether they have been taken, whether they have been killed. We do not know, right?
Speaker: But we do know that Delmontrace is in Goldview. And if we are assuming that the other two are dead, and it's best to assume that rather than something positive, that means that the last linchpin of the rulers of Dralak is Delmontreys. And if, yes, we have to find out the information, but we cannot do anything that fully endangers him, because if we do, for all we know, we could be plunging Dralak into the same fate.
Speaker: as all of the other kingdoms. If Delmontre's...
Speaker: If something happens to him, i think Shondra LaCarr would lose her power. And that's bad.
Speaker: Because she's been pretty dickish to her, so losing her power isn't a bad thing. It's not a bad thing for... My fate? Correct.
Speaker: It is a very bad thing for Aerith. Because hate me as she does, she loves her kingdom. And she will not be able to protect it if Delmontrese falls. that That's what I wanted to say.
Speaker: We need to find out the information. Yes, I agree. But we need to tread a fine line. with what happens next. There's plenty we can do to get information from him without having to kill him. So that's not a worry. It's never going to happen, Don't worry.
Speaker: I know, but some of the other leaders haven't been killed per se. They've been removed in other ways and I don't know what we can and can't do. ah just I just want us all to be on the same page here that we can't let yet another dragon lose their power to defend Aerith.
Speaker: I mean, we've also got to remember that Sleek Guard, where Dunwon Trace is, is also where the steel nightmare and the things that came from it were quite apt to be there. We have to prepared to go there and realize it's hostile territory.
Speaker: Yes. The entire place. Which kind of links on to the next point. And this is where he is going to look at Sebastian.
Speaker: If everyone thinks your sister is dead... and it's probably best they think that if she isn't, because that will keep her in the safest possible position, then needs to be a ruler of Sleetgard on the throne to bring ah new matriarch into power.
Speaker: t Do you understand what I'm
Speaker: suggesting Sparrowhawk. Yes. If that were to happen,
Speaker: the heir of Galefather sleet, and believe me, she is magnificent.
Speaker: She will take her place and we will have an ally of the utmost power.
Speaker: question if this Leopold from Sleetgaard is the king how can and everyone will gesture towards Sebastian how can he take the throne if this Leopold who might be the king perpetually is still alive he is sorry jack I got just just to it's my father they're the same person
Speaker: He technically... i mean, Valkyret would already be the matriarch were he on the throne, so I... Our throne is disputed because he has been absent for so long.
Speaker: My sister has been queen-in-waiting. He just loses his breath for a second when he mentions her name, or at least her sister.
Speaker: that the entire kingdom has been coasting for years, not knowing if he's still the king or if Helena is the queen.
Speaker: i suspect i suspect she's trying to draw him out of hiding by presenting as though she has been killed.
Speaker: And if my father has a much more sinister part in this plot,
Speaker: I am quite nervous about sailing home.
Speaker: As in, you want to turn back? No. We need to capture Delmon Trace. i just You want to stay on the ship?
Speaker: I have another idea. But we'll plan our Delmon Trace soon. We have got friends in Sleetgaard. at least we did have. Emron looks towards Alpha.
Speaker: We have many. Okay. We knew someone called Satamak Barry.
Speaker: He's someone we helped who did a lot with us or was quite youthful when we were in Sleetguard last time. Just another name to put out there whether he's known to you or not.
Speaker: Everyone, I mean this with some respect.
Speaker: I'm the fucking prince of Sleetguard.
Speaker: I can summon an army if I needed to. Okay.
Speaker: How do we know that army's going to follow you, though? That's a good question. Because when we were last there, the CRISPR-run things, and now those steel things were in there, we don't know what we're going into.
Speaker: Agreed. Let's park the arrival until later this afternoon, or later in this meeting. I sense there is other things people want to discuss.
Speaker: Farok is going to, as he just steps away from the the cooking pot, I rolled an 18 on that survival check. Oh, perfect. Everyone gets six temporary hit points. way Sweet.
Speaker: ah This food is amazing. It's good fish. I i i don't eat. I assume I don't get to any. heat Then you will not get the temporary hit points. Farok starts giving out the bowls. go He'll go, the prophecy spoke of the rightful ruler. Yes.
Speaker: Where did you learn to cook? I'd learned to cook many years ago. I've been wandering around the Kostralak for years in part of Caravans. It became my role to keep... with This is what we've been missing as a group.
Speaker: Someone who cooks delicious food like this. So you've learned it from the people. It's the people's recipe.
Speaker: Anyway, it doesn't matter where I learned to cook. What matters is... Was it like a series of skills that you picked up along the way, or was it one person in your life? Whatever you're cooking, we can smell it.
Speaker: My mother taught me to fight. My father taught me to cook. We traveled in a caravan, and yes, it was my role. But who taught you?
Speaker: My father, as I just said. taught me how to cook. And who taught him? I would imagine his father. I don't know. He would have died before he was before I was born anyway. but You never knew your granddad? Thanks.
Speaker: Oh, sorry. i Sorry. Sorry. We've yet to really kind of touch base. It's been, it feels like barely know the guy, but he's out here serving his delicious food and for the people. these fish that he is frying, it's wonderful, but there are bigger fish to fry. It's like a people's champion right now is all I'm saying. Okay, fine. Whatever you want to say.
Speaker: If you wish to talk about me in time, fine. But for now, what you need to know is that we had a caravan that moved between Drellack and Sleetgaard. We fought at the Ember Scar and everybody died. Well, apart from me and a couple of others, we went our separate ways. I joined the Winged Watch.
Speaker: I took my skills there. All right, we don't need the backstory. What did you want?
Speaker: I wanted to say that didn't the prophecy speak about the rightful heir sitting on the throne or the rightful ruler sitting on the throne? Do what? What prophecy? What's he doing?
Speaker: Oh, it's the accent. Sorry. Never mind. Ignore me. Sitting. josh it's ah It's a harsh, tragic accent, okay? But we have to it's about the rightful rule, the rest. That's the thing.
Speaker: Alfred will be able to recall with a perfect memory. Oh, Sebastian's getting sassy. It'd be nice for Seth to join in this, but he can't hear it Okay.
Speaker: No food for Seth. Is he picking his nose up there? Does Seth pick his nose? What's that? but I don't understand. what the the Alpha, you asked a question. Why are you not answering? I'm checking over here.
Speaker: It's like a migraine. I don't understand. i got a so I process it. Give me a second. 17 on a history check that you were asked for. What does that mean? Technically, since 2024, I've not had sage and perfect memory, so it's gone out the window.
Speaker: That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it.
Speaker: and Yeah, you can recount all of the prophecy of the 13th kingdom by memory. Sing it. Miguel is alpha. Playback cast hands version because you can play back recordings perfectly, right? So, you know.
Speaker: Make it as a C-shank. If you haven't got it written down, I will send it to you now. Thank you. you don't fucking eat, but this fish stew is getting cold. Come on.
Speaker: ah Seth, do you want some fish stew?
Speaker: He's going to peek his head up over and just shake his head and then continue looking out to see him. ah Danny, has he heard what's been going on? Yeah, yeah this isn't quiet. then he He's fine then.
Speaker: Well, Alva's going through memory banks.
Speaker: Seth will also then, just while this is going on, will continue to look through his spell book new sections that have now opened up in his mind. um And we'll start kind of speaking in Nithrava, kind of working with him to like decode bits of the text in order for him to access the three fourth level spells that he's he's using. That's the RP thing that he's doing whilst nibbling on some Lambus bread and more Lambus bread. You don't get very far into that.
Speaker: before Sparrowhawk sort of notices a lull and just
Speaker: shouts up. Seth, we're going to need you for this part. ah He's dying in an instant. Oh, the fuck did...
Speaker: You've been with us for weeks and you don't even, you don't beckon to our call. I mean, that was instant as well. Like he climbed down. don't even think he climbed. I think that was a jump and then a grab at the end.
Speaker: He is a prince, so, you know, we probably command him. Is this what he meant by the army? commander i can command a fucking army when he said that. See that? Alpha, that's perfect fucking recall, mate.
Speaker: It's kind yeah Oh, God, I can't get back into it now. What happened to your voice? Alpha's broken. Should we turn him off? ah I think he needs an update. Very broken.
Speaker: It's like a radio. Can you stick your USB into his port, please? There's no power out here. No solar panels. I can't charge. You can't do Wi-Fi.
Speaker: No Wi-Fi. ah within Within the lost lines, you were thinking that... Sorry.
Speaker: What? What is going on? Generally, my brain is just completely flatlined right now. Hey, chat gkety go through the transcripts of the last 155 episodes and find the final verse.
Speaker: That's all you've say. Yes, the last lines. My apologies, Tharok. I'm still distracted, I think. um I can recite if you wish. and Whispers stir of a hidden decree.
Speaker: Thirteen kingdoms set free. Armies from hell, fury unbound.
Speaker: doesn't specifically say anything about
Speaker: and but particular rulers. The land's first rulers, the Thirteen, were awake.
Speaker: We're just talking about the very shirt about placing this man on the throne, and we I was just wondering whether it was the right thing to do, or whether we should instead be searching for Stigart's rightful ruler. I think the point is that what Baal was saying was that the right it's all about this this thing about you know dragons, and the rightful rulers have to be on the throne in order for the dragons to be to be powerful.
Speaker: yeah go going Which is separate. You're right. The rightful the rightful rulers. ah The rightful rulers. Are you suggesting that with that, with inhabiting a sense of the Gartrand's alpha, does that make you technically...
Speaker: A rightful ruler to Aerith?
Speaker: If we were to put you on the throne? Is that what you're saying about the verse?
Speaker: Simply the land's first rulers. but Yes, Gartrans, right? the god Am I right? The Gartrans. But the land's first the 13 will awake. Wasn't that the line? Yes, yes. The land's first rulers, of the 13 will awake.
Speaker: All other than metal and stone will break. So... Describing an invasion there that's already going off. I mean, it sounds to me that we've got an easy solution here. We get to the throne, we pop Alpha on it and see what happens.
Speaker: If that doesn't work, Sebastian, we pop you on it You're confusing one single kingdom amongst 12. It will not be a drop in the ocean. Well, is there one chair to rule them all? I'm confused by this. like also It also sounds like if we if we wake up the 13, all others book the metal and stone will break. That sounds like a bad thing.
Speaker: Aren't the 13 awake? thirteen The 13 are awake. well
Speaker: We don't know. The land's first rule is the 13 will awake, all other than metal and stone will break. And that's what they want to do. Well, metal and stone, that's what their creatures are made of.
Speaker: Yeah, and the steel nightmare coming around fucking everything up and breaking everything up. So that applies, when the first rules of 13 will awake, that implies that everything else will die if they do awake properly.
Speaker: And the metal could refer to these demons.
Speaker: Could do, but they're not really metal. I mean, they're only part of metal. The things from the sky are like metal and stone. Stone. head We don't have all the answers yet. Stone and metal up and down.
Speaker: I don't fucking know. mean, the the point, I mean, I don't know. Whatever's going to happen, it's going end up there. And then one points up to the the the the steel nightmare.
Speaker: And Dermontreus has these answers. I'm sure of it. We all are. Okay, so plan still. Solid, we go and capture Delmontrese and give him a little poke to find out what he knows.
Speaker: And then Sparrowhawk produces an empty beer bottle and puts it in the middle of this gathering of people. Oh, for fuck's sake.
Speaker: And this is where we plan that heist. Right here. Right now.
Speaker: Okay, so we need to know where he is. You've got to take the bottle, everyone. Oh, okay. Okay. does anyone have any means to locate him to answer your question?
Speaker: Or anything on his person? Damn it. The rules! I mean, if...
Speaker: Wait a minute.
Speaker: There's a spell that... How many more days at sea we got, Nix? You estimate well with Alpha controlling the wind, you'll be there tomorrow night.
Speaker: Tomorrow if we headstrong. We can make it last longer.
Speaker: so there's a spell
Speaker: called Lockeer Object that I could do.
Speaker: What is on his person that you're aware of? And that's the list that we've seen. So if I could cast that because we know what the list looks like and what about the list I could locate the object, maybe.
Speaker: He will not part from it. It will be on his person or nearby. Good. But I don't know what the range... i think the range of that's quite limited, though. About a thousand feet, give or take.
Speaker: Well, we know he will be in the castle. That's as far as our intelligence has taken us. but so this So this spell could help us. This spell could get us... I mean, we might know within... Yeah.
Speaker: Could that be within 30 feet of that thing, so... then perhaps when we come into view, and we could wicked try this scrying.
Speaker: Yeah, and that would tell us where it is. Powerful mage, isn't he? It's going to be difficult to break through all those defenses, divination. Is the castle made of lead?
Speaker: Any lead in the castle? There's one room, but I hope he doesn't know of it. Because that that can fuck up spells like this and all that from... There's hundreds of rooms in that castle.
Speaker: Let's hope he's not there. Is the plan to keep him in the castle once we've incarcerated him are we literally trying to kidnap him back to the ship? Here's my suggestion and I'm open to any.
Speaker: I cannot be seen in Goldview. I will cause too much suspicion.
Speaker: And even now, if we are trying to draw my father out of hiding,
Speaker: A third sleet guard in Goldview is going to make your mother, well, your mother's heir, Baal, even weaker.
Speaker: I will secure your passage.
Speaker: And he hands, he takes this ring off his hand and places it in yours, Seth.
Speaker: I'll explain about that in a moment, but... Don't lose it. It is the seal of the family sleepguard. Only five exist.
Speaker: I'm not going into the castle with you. I will secure your means for escape, however. My suggestion is that we take Trace out of the city. Somewhere safe, somewhere we know.
Speaker: Somewhere on the border.
Speaker: Somewhere you are very familiar with. Alpha. And it gives you a knowing look. And the rest of you who have travelled there before.
Speaker: Do you mean Orla? Gopal Keep. I didn't think that was on the border. It's south of the city. It's on the way. Our forces will meet there.
Speaker: If I ask them. I mean, it wasn't very fortified when we left, but it could do something...
Speaker: All we need is time. Time with him, in a room, with all of us, with Ghostwing, with Red Rook.
Speaker: and Get the answers we need. What if Red Rook and Thingy aren't here because they're in, you It's a chance, yes. I hope they make it back.
Speaker: Okay. Seth? During that whole ah monologue, ah Seth would have opened up blank page of his book and would have been writing down a message to Spiralhawk.
Speaker: I wouldn't mind if people read that read it over his shoulder, but it basically just says, if you're not coming in the castle, will you show us the safest and quickest route in?
Speaker: Yes.
Speaker: You have a couple. The issue here is I have no idea what you'll expect inside that castle. If Akriskra control it, he gives a look to Nyx.
Speaker: Chances are they know you're coming.
Speaker: If my father or my father's forces control it, I don't know if they'll like be hostile.
Speaker: If these creatures in stone from the sky are walking through my family's halls,
Speaker: then why is diamond trace there?
Speaker: And if it's the sleek guard that is loyal to my sister, then you should be able to walk straight in using that ring.
Speaker: I don't know which force occupies the castle today. I did a week ago. I do not now.
Speaker: At that, Seth would have written down quickly another, after listing those four options, it could be. He's going to write down, if it's a Chris Grimm, surely we just grab one and torture the information of Trace's whereabouts out of him or
Speaker: If it's a Chris Cra. Shows that to the group and to. If it's a Chris Cra. What do we do Nix?
Speaker: Huh? Why is Nix our Chris Cra expert?
Speaker: Yeah i'd like to that too. Sebastian doesn't say anything but just looks at you expectantly.
Speaker: Yeah no i ah i don't get the I don't get the look. He reached their minds. I can read minds. They're watching you, Nyx. Well, like now?
Speaker: They have been for a long time. What? Since when? Think.
Speaker: Nyx forwards his brow and he thinks back.
Speaker: i said There's many, could be many reasons as to why someone's got a scry on me.
Speaker: Is this something to do with my patron? And Nick says undertones. Disappointed, Nick. I thought you'd want to keep your friends safe and this level of dishonesty is unbecoming.
Speaker: Yeah, this is great. But like if we could have a zone of truth right now, that would be really good because there's no dishonesty here. These guys know everything.
Speaker: Make a persuasion or a deception, but don't tell me. ah and Can Bile make an insight check as well? Mm-hmm. Bile's unsettled. I think we're all insight checking this shit.
Speaker: Make a persuasion if you believe you're telling the truth. Deceive me if you don't. Keep the role hidden from the players. Okay, so I know. Mm-hmm. Like, the player knows here. Mm-hmm. But...
Speaker: For a long time, Nyx has kind of pushed this and forgotten it. So I don't know what to like. It's not deception. ah What was the two? Deception and?
Speaker: Deception. If you are actively lying to Sparrowhawk. Persuasion. If Nyx has genuinely no understanding of what's happened. Okay, cool. Awesome. But don't tell me.
Speaker: And if I beat your role. All right.
Speaker: Okay, what what did you roll? Because I have to beat it. Six. Okay. I know if you're lying or if you're genuinely um attempting to tell the truth. All right, cool. so That you have no idea what I'm talking about.
Speaker: No idea.
Speaker: Does Balroll the 24 on insight? is is he you get the same You get the exact same. room So Nyx doesn't know what he's talking about. Correct. You think Nyx has no information here.
Speaker: What are you getting ah Sebastian? i don't I don't understand. Yeah, if you could clue me in.
Speaker: I thought... Nix, I thought you were a very clever man. Tiefling. And ah it's funny how clever and stupid kind of come together sometimes.
Speaker: In you, it seems a continuous synergy.
Speaker: What happened in Snake Run? The evening you left. What, when I... Snake run? Yes. Wasn't that the time that you accidentally got locked in prison?
Speaker: how did you get How did you get out, Nix? oh So that's when we first met Dribbo.
Speaker: i met him in the cells... That's been my charming self as usual.
Speaker: then I got taken for questioning
Speaker: and met this very attractive tiefling.
Speaker: As she
Speaker: Gave me this bag of holding.
Speaker: And there was gold in it. As Nick starts to sweat a little bit here and he pulls his collar out from one side. and just so So the Chris group paid you?
Speaker: They said...
Speaker: I can't remember exactly word for word what was said, but said that we need to stop doing what we're doing and do something else and get out.
Speaker: And then there was a bag of gold on the table and I took the bag of gold that was on the table, came with a nice bag of holding.
Speaker: There was a consequence though. that super No one told me at the consequence. They just said, if you take this, then bad things will happen. Now, at this point, I had had a lot of bad things happen. i was like, what's one more?
Speaker: So nothing, no, i didn't i didn't say yes to a deal, but I did take the gold, but no consequences ever kind of reared its spidery head, as it were. No one had to die.
Speaker: so So Del Montreus could know we're coming. Are you saying the Obchriska, that was a deal? The Obchriska has got a squire on me. You've been informing on everything you've seen to the Obchriska without you knowing.
Speaker: The Winged Watch, they know everything about us because of you. And yet no one decided to keep me out of the loop while I was in the Winged Watch.
Speaker: Seth's gonna wave his hands in the air a bit and goes we can and he's gonna write, we can use this to our advantage. They know where Nix is. He looks at everyone and then underlines a few more times.
Speaker: He's gonna draw a box underneath it and write a label on one side of the box that says Nix being loud and annoying. A little stick figure with horns.
Speaker: And then at the opposite end of the box, he's going to do a circle and put us sneaking in without them knowing. <unk> And there's look to the group.
Speaker: Turn around. Nick, turn around. Stop looking at this. oh Oh, yeah, yeah. but i'm so I'm confused. Nick, turn around. Okay, I'm turning around. Nick, turn around. You don't need to know anymore. Seth's thinking exactly what I'm thinking.
Speaker: I agree with that. We just have to make sure that an Emron sort of walks over and sort of reaches his hand towards your writing implement, Seth, so he can write with it. ah He's going to hand it over. get ah Firstly, he holds it back a little bit because it's his only form of communication, then realises and hands it to you.
Speaker: Holds in his big, big ham hands. um And it's like, but whatever we plan, we have to make sure Nix doesn't know.
Speaker: Because the moment Nix knows, they know. Emron, you don't have to write that. You can just say that. Well, I'm confused, but if Nick can hear it... I understand. So, hang on, as Nick is back to you guys. You need to go downstairs. Can you go downstairs, please?
Speaker: What? Hang on, this is my ship!
Speaker: i The land but last time I checked, it was my ship. ohho Yeah, rock welcome to the conversation. So, you just want me to leave... I mean, the last time we threw someone out of this meeting, it didn't go well, just to say. but Well, he wandered off. Seth's going to do it on the boat He can't go anywhere. So...
Speaker: so Right. Hang on. Hang on. Hang on. I have no problem leaving. I understand. Savvy to what you guys are saying. I pick up what you're putting out, but I'm trying not to pick it up. But I just need just need some, because I've just had this revelation kind of put on me.
Speaker: um So I'm a conduit to the Obkriska, and they see what I see, and they hear what I hear. Correct? Correct. Fuck!
Speaker: o Nick, how often in your life have you just received thousands of gold from a shady organization? i could Would you believe it's happened more than a couple of times? And how often has that organization called to collect?
Speaker: I mean, no, you know, yeah but ah we're in a habit of making deals. This is just one more, but this it's more of the, it's more of like, i like, look, you know, ah fucked up.
Speaker: Absolutely. Didn't really know how much I fucked up. I wish someone gave me the 411. whatever that is here, but they know everything.
Speaker: Likely, yes. Ah, damn. I don't come off too well here. Fine. Okay. um Fuck. Seth's going to have written in big capital letters in his book.
Speaker: Nick, go away. are You are going to be our bait. He's going to show it. to He's going to make sure you look at it. He's going to show it to you and say, Nick, go away. You are our bait. And in the corner, it's still got the picture of like, you're on one side and we're on the other side.
Speaker: And he's going to just then shut the book and then come back over to to everyone else. Before he goes, his other option, Nick, throw that pouch into the ocean.
Speaker: Huh? It's your other option. With the bag of holding? Do we know that's what it's coming from? It's coming from this? Did you receive anything else from them? No, it's just a bag I hold in and in there was gold. Do you me to check it?
Speaker: I can check it. Fuck yeah, I do. ah i'm gonna I'm going to take the bag over to the bow the ship. i'm going to cast identify on it to find out if there's any other spells active on that item. Is that how identify works?
Speaker: Yeah, so it says you learn whether any ongoing spells are affecting the item and what they are. but on have Now, if he's holding the bag, are they looking at him or me? It's question. Seth, were you about to say something?
Speaker: ah Yeah, and Seth would have tried to get Nix's eye and just he'd start lightly tapping the side of his head.
Speaker: after After looking at everyone going, and asking that question out loud, looking towards Seth, he's like, hu ah connect your mind to his.
Speaker: What? You'll just hear him say, keep the bag, you need the money.
Speaker: You'll need the money, sorry. Keep the bag, you'll need the money. Hey. hu To answer your identify real quick. Nix, is anything in the bag other than money at the moment?
Speaker: No, it's just money. Okay, then just the conjuration magic for the bag itself is all you locate, Emron.
Speaker: Okay, as far as I can tell, it's not the bag. Nix, would you like me to check you? Yeah, but are you going to, I mean, yes. I'm like, you guys know everything and I'm sorry about this.
Speaker: You're more than welcome to check me, but isn't that just going to, and he's going to point down, going to show that thing up? no No, because it I'll be able to know what ongoing spells, plural.
Speaker: Okay. Do your doom. If any are affecting you.
Speaker: I mean, just take the get back i hold him back first. it We've said that's fine. know you're feeling, yeah. um I could see you getting twitchy. ah em Everyone will take Nix's hand in his, you know, worn, calloused hands.
Speaker: Mine are soft, like silk. Emmermans is not. um he's Like I wear gloves that have got Vaseline in them. I look like sandpaper. um I've got like ah a pearl in one hand, divining stones in the other, and um I've got Nyx's hand, and I will again cast Identify.
Speaker: Nyx's person? Yeah, so if you if you instead touch a creature throughout the casting, you learn which ongoing spells, if any, are currently affecting it. It's Nyx. Any spells currently affecting you? ah I have the Dia with Prego ongoing.
Speaker: Yeah, that's on there. I have my ah my bond with my the great old one. That spell. And that's the only ones that me and Nix as a player are aware of. Okay, so you just get necromancy.
Speaker: That's it. That's it. Just a necromantic spell.
Speaker: Emron shudders for moment and then lets go. And he looks at others. Unless it's something else on him that they're using, I can't find it.
Speaker: What about the gold itself? That's long gone. but all Every single piece? Yeah! We spent quite a bit.
Speaker: What's in that bag then? Other money? The gold that we got from this ship. Oh, okay. Then if they're tracking you, Nick, either it's some other way or whatever. I'm ah really sorry. I thought if I could find it, we could work out how to... No, don't be sorry. um I appreciate you checking. I guess that means I'll go downstairs then.
Speaker: nix will pull himself up less looking like a captain now than he did when he first aboard the vessel and uh and we'll just clip clop and how heavy is the um the uh the the the thing the barrel to the barrel powder so you'd be able to do an awkward like roll minus one to my strength you'd have to like twist it off So you'll just see... So he's going to walk over there, right? Already looking less like a captain and then spend a good five minutes just... Seeing that, Farat would walk over. Seeing that, Farat would walk over move the barrel from opening the house.
Speaker: Pity. Pity. Yeah. ah well as As you were... And Nix will go downstairs. You'll hear his voice as he goes down. Marius, Pike, Brot, tie-dye. We're in a conversation.
Speaker: Farrakh will come back from the barrel and will just say to the others now that Nix is out earshot. so The reason that this has been kept from us and from him is because we don't want the Abkhristra to know that we know that he's being spied on, right? Yeah, but they do know now.
Speaker: And that's when Seth slams his book down on the floor, sits down cross-legged, opens it up to the back page with the picture, and then continues to write. And what writes is, Nix and um because he's writing quickly now, Nix and Ob will think Nix will be bait.
Speaker: We will split from him to enact our plan. We will make him think this the whole time until the last minute. Then we stay with him. And then he basically then puts a circle around the bottom group of us and draws an arrow up towards where Nix is. Okay. Okay.
Speaker: Reverse. Make them think you're going to do something, but don't. And then he's going to write beneath it, us knowing they're listening gives us an edge, an edge that we haven't had before this.
Speaker: We now know what they know. We can control that. Awesome to that effect. And the Windwatched, I suppose, have been using this to their advantage the whole time, hence why we've not been told about it. Correct. Correct.
Speaker: Fair enough. Now you're thinking.
Speaker: So let's decide our plan and then you can tell Nyx what you want him to hear.
Speaker: There are four ways into the castle by sea.
Speaker: You could head up to the city proper, in through the main gate, in the courtyard, and then into the castle. It'll be the most patrolled, it'll be the most visible.
Speaker: But we don't know which force controls the castle. As I say, if it's a Chris Crone, you might be able to walk straight in. If it's Sleek Guardians, the same.
Speaker: Why would the Chris Crone just let us walk straight in? Because they know You're coming.
Speaker: Oh no, I want trap us. So they're like a trap. Who knows? Okay. Okay. But honestly, when was the last time the Kriskra bothered you?
Speaker: Before or after Nick's encounter?
Speaker: Before?
Speaker: I don't think it's a coincidence. I think the Wingwatch has done a very smart thing here. I really do. So, have you Chris got a good... I'm so confused. I don't know if it's as easy as saying one side is good, one side is bad.
Speaker: But they might just let you walk in. they may be entirely hostile. They behave differently in every kingdom, as we know. So it could be like the enemy of my enemy is my friend kind of jobbing. Potentially.
Speaker: Potentially. Because fighting the bad things. Or if we're... Okay, okay. It just gets fucking complicated. Or they haven't contemplated that we hold some cards. They think they hold all the cards and therefore would let us walk straight in. They also know everything we know. Like about the Gartrans, all that kind of stuff, about Alpha. They know everything. They'll know more, which is why we're doing this.
Speaker: da Okay, so we can go in the front door. What's in the way? Val, sorry. I was going to say they they're going to know that we're after Delman Trace.
Speaker: Correct. That's already been announced. It's a heavily fortified castle. I don't think it would bother them, the thought of us. What are we going to do? Walk in and just take him and walk straight back out?
Speaker: I also don't think it was circumstance that he left us or left behind his itinerary for the next few weeks.
Speaker: Perhaps he wants to be found.
Speaker: We don't know what we're walking into.
Speaker: The second option. The dock is likely occupied, but you might be able to walk ship to ship if we get as close as we can, and you can go up via the base of the cliff, through the royal dock, and into the castle from the cellar entrance.
Speaker: You might wish to make that call once so you see which forces occupy it. Perhaps as we sail closer over the coming day and a half or so, We'll get an understanding of which nautical traffic is occupying these waters.
Speaker: As we understand it, Sleetgarden and Shadow Men are in outright war now with each other.
Speaker: What the Navy is doing, we'll find out, I'm sure.
Speaker: Do you think there's a chance that if if people occupying the castle, they still need servants? Are there friends that we could call on to give us information?
Speaker: A lot of the good people we've ah relocated okay for their safety, but yes, we could explore that if we need to.
Speaker: yeah para
Speaker: When the heroes that stopped the Blight split, one of the ones that went with Helena was said to be a master thief. What's ever happened to him? He's still with her.
Speaker: They're not in the castle. They're not in Goldview. Not at the moment. If
Speaker: Dandelion... They're not there.
Speaker: Thankfully. Okay, so that's the second option. The third option. Looks at Tharok.
Speaker: Scale the walls. We'll take you into the cliffs. Scale 40 feet sheer cliff, 60 feet of foundations, and head up the turret another 40 feet.
Speaker: If you have the magical or physical means to do this, it might be the quietest.
Speaker: I mean, Bal and I can fly, so we could fly out there and drop a rope down.
Speaker: i can also... well have a feeling that I could help another member of ours fly. And I know that Nix has done that before as well. He's carried someone.
Speaker: So a few of us could we could fly up there. He had all of us over.
Speaker: So this is the option. Option four.
Speaker: Halfway up said cliffs is a cistern, a sewer entrance. It will not be the most pleasant, but it would get you to the kitchens.
Speaker: get you straight into the heart.
Speaker: But it's risky. If you go into the heart of the beast, you don't get the time to see what the beast looks like.
Speaker: I think it's best we know what we're fighting before we get there. Agreed. Or if we have to fight. I think we should also consider that if the cliffs are an option, that overlooking the sea, there is potential that even if they're not the way in, they could be the way out, particularly if someone has the means to ensure that their way down isn't a direct drop.
Speaker: So, four ways in and I offer a fifth way out. That ring I gave you, in the courtyard, you'll find the hound master's kennels.
Speaker: in the back room look to the east wall and there'll be a grove a groove where the ring will work the ring will contact something and open a door that'll lead you outside the city and it's there I'm proposing that i wait with horses
Speaker: that's a good idea
Speaker: It will be defended. it It will be isolated. It will be abandoned.
Speaker: That is the cleanest route out, but it might not be available to you once you're in.
Speaker: We used it in emergencies before. Would you need to go there in advance of us getting into the castle? Yes. ah Well, you you have the ring to open it.
Speaker: i will get you I will secure you transport on the exit. But you'll have to be there assuming we use it. But if we don't use it, you're on your own outside the city and we've still got to get you somehow, don't you?
Speaker: My concern is if we if we have that option and go, right, you wait outside the city, you're out there with s'mores and your dick in your hand, well, we have to go another way and you could get... If I don't see you by dawn, i will head to Goldport Keep.
Speaker: And I'll assume you've made your own way there. You also have the sending stone, do you not, Emron? Another way to communicate if needs... Only with Drago. That's how the sending stone works. I've got one-way communication... Two-way communication with Em. That's it.
Speaker: I can try to find something small, an animal, to send a message on to yourself if I know you're going to be there. I can have that prepared. I'll be there. Which...
Speaker: Brings me to another point. I don't mean to cause offence. How clean is your castle? Is it in good repair? Is it... Mine, I left it pristine.
Speaker: So are we likely to encounter things like rats or more likely cats or what kind of... Is there going to be any smaller animals that know about?
Speaker: potentially. but It's been a very long time since I've been home. And it has been occupied recently by members not of our family, so...
Speaker: There's a chance. We keep cats, we keep hounds, and rats are unavoidable in cities. If we need to scope out the castle beforehand, that's something I could do.
Speaker: Yes. should Or... take this. It's a so small book which Seth actually has a copy of but it's it's a book on the migrating birds of Western Erith.
Speaker: It's every common bird that would be seen in Sleek Isle as well with a picture.
Speaker: i
Speaker: I think I might be able to do something with this but I don't know if I'd be able to work it for myself yet.
Speaker: I'll do what I can.
Speaker: During this, Seth has been more furtive writing and his square map has now expanded into a ah small battle map as he he seems to just just just become bigger and he seems to straighten his back as he sits. and If he could command without speaking, he'd be attempting that.
Speaker: And if anyone was to look down, he'd have a map drawn. And basically what you've got is... The square is now the castle with the cliff edge and then a boat with oversized cannons drawn on it.
Speaker: And then ah to the in the corner, quite small to keep up on the same page, he's written classic show of force bluff. Nix is told, we go kitchen. We go kitchen.
Speaker: Maybe he overhears something about climbing the tower though. ah As in, we climb the tower, he doesn't in parentheses. When we get trace, distraction from the severed compass, it fires on the castle.
Speaker: Distraction equals courtyard, equals houndmaster's
Speaker: kennel, equals door, equals horses, equals clip-clop.
Speaker: And it kind of looks to to everyone. how How big is the system?
Speaker: It's
Speaker: and enough to drain castle grounds in a hurry. Four feet by four feet, perhaps smaller. Okay, now. That's going to be a tight fit for some of us.
Speaker: I'm sorry. um Just off that again, Seth will just quickly, again, he's just been scribbling, scribbling, scribbling down the whole time. He'll just write down in in capitals, if we grab Trace, do we question him there?
Speaker: Question mark? No. I think we need time. No. How long? We need to get him to go up or keep.
Speaker: He won't come easily. We need to knock him out. Yes. Or convince him somehow. We're too vulnerable. We're too vulnerable.
Speaker: We need to take him to an environment we own and we know and we can control. I don't know the seas. Nyx might, but we can't include him in this. That needs another point. What do we tell Nyx? He has to be told something.
Speaker: I mean, I like... the i like i like Seth's idea. I mean, personally, i like the idea of Nyx rocking up to the front door. I'm sure Nyx would like that idea also.
Speaker: On his own? I'll go with him.
Speaker: What happens after? What you mean? Say we are successful in everything we plan. If they have eyes on Nyx, then we bring Nyx to Goldport Keep.
Speaker: Clock's thickened.
Speaker: but yeah Seth's going to write, we get Delmon Trace to take it off? Off Nyx? We decide if the of Kriskra are allies, I suppose, after that meeting.
Speaker: That's true. And Baal. I suppose we enter the endgame.
Speaker: Our last few days before the alignment.
Speaker: And we make our final move. I thought we had 50 days, or is it? Yes, but do you really want for that wait for that clock to tick? Oh, no, no, no, no. no Now, one more thing before I leave you to really think about this, and I'm no works expert here. I support the actions that you'll take.
Speaker: This might just be a further point of consideration.
Speaker: One of my assistants has been looking into the demon...
Speaker: like breaches, let's say, specifically the ones that you are encountering.
Speaker: The intervals at which they are following Alpha are getting quicker.
Speaker: We were in the meeting last night for two or three hours.
Speaker: and a hell gate opened up outside the library.
Speaker: The reason I feel safest on this ship is because we are moving. If a hell gate opened, it would open in the middle of the ocean.
Speaker: What if you could
Speaker: get in the castle, remain hidden and stationary for a number of hours,
Speaker: If Alpha were in one location...
Speaker: Imagine... You would bring the distraction to the doorstep.
Speaker: A great risk. A huge risk. And one that puts all of your lives in danger, i know. What if the demons send more than they did last time? Because they know we've defeated that lot.
Speaker: so They'd be daft to just send that. They're they're going to send more each time of the game. This is the heart of where the forces from the Steel Nightmare are not aggressive.
Speaker: They are protecting Sleetgard.
Speaker: This could be an explosive. Could in theory be leered towards attacking but but the Hellgate. It also sounds like we might not necessarily have a choice.
Speaker: But it all depends who's occupying the castle. If it's Slick Guardians, please do not do that. Again, we might not have a choice. We bring hell whether we wish to or not.
Speaker: We could be unleashing... Just to make sure I've got this plan correct, i' I'm sorry, Val. We haven't formalized the plan, we're just looking at the pieces, but but what's your take? But the the pieces that I've got so far is we're talking about to Emron and Nyx walking up to the front gate.
Speaker: That's one option. Possible option. We're potentially seeing that as one of maybe two distractions or one distraction on its own. Another distraction on its own or potentially a second distraction is the crew on the ship who will stay here will launch a false flag attack at the castle.
Speaker: Perhaps we could even pass this off at the Shadomendian ship. It could be a potentially staged as a false flag attack. It's there potentially at war. And then we have another option, which is to get the rest of us into the castle, get hold of Delmontrace, and perhaps use a Hellgate in there to distract anything that could be on the other side. Although that's, as you say, only an option, providing we find Obkriska in there and not Steak Guardians.
Speaker: Would you even do it on the Obkriska?
Speaker: We have to get Delmontrace, whatever it takes, right?
Speaker: It's not an easy decision.
Speaker: I've said that I have. I'll be where you need me to be.
Speaker: ah suppose when we get closer, if I'm able to say cast my spell, we'll know exactly where in the castle he is. That might decide which direction we go. We'll also know.
Speaker: what the seas look like, what forces are aware the state of the war, and maybe be even some indication as to who is in the castle. I can certainly scout it if we get closer.
Speaker: And Seth's going to write, off sorry, Seth's going to write, but either way, Nyx now believes he is bait. Whatever we do, he has to stay with us for this to work.
Speaker: if Is it best to also, I know we're going to get there tomorrow evening. Nighttime's a good time to attack, isn't
Speaker: Yes, or mean, in times of war, are they always on guard? who is in that castle. This is the biggest unknown. But just as we can use the Kriskra via Nyx, we can use the demons via Alpha.
Speaker: We have tools.
Speaker: I have a question about this tracing on Nyx and what you know of it. if If it's something that they hear, are they further inside Nyx's mind, say? Because is there any reason why we can't tell Nyx the true plan as long as she does it telepathically?
Speaker: I do not know. I just know they've known everything you've done since that exchange. I think we've just got to assume everything. So we have to basically keep Nick Semi in the dark on what we're doing.
Speaker: yes On another point to that, if Prager is now in Prisoner of Tolkien in the Hells, what if Tolkien's able to monitor and everyone sort of looks down at his his own marks?
Speaker: Because Prego could always see what we're doing.
Speaker: How do we know that demons can't see now as well? If they've been following us, chances are they can. They are more likely connected to myself. Demons, as far as we're aware, have no skin in the game as far as Del Montreux is concerned, right? But if Prego's... The point is, if Prego...
Speaker: Prager's brother is able to do something to be able to tap into what we're doing.
Speaker: um My point is that whatever we're trying to do is against the demon's interest. The demons will try and stop us. And if they can, kill Delmontrace at the same time.
Speaker: That is also good motivation for moving Delmontrace out of the castle. If he is aware a Hellgate could spawn if we were to hang around and Upchriska are in charge of the castle, then he probably wouldn't want to put his own a team at risk.
Speaker: and Ask yourself, while Delman Trace has not dared to approach you for very long, think you shared more than two hours at the Jewel of the Desert Champions and then he was gone.
Speaker: And of course you need him alive if Baal's understanding of... Shondralakar is correct. Yeah, there's links to one thing that we don't understand, which is the 13 names.
Speaker: Which I'm hoping we'll learn. There's risk on all sides, right? We we we have to get Delmontreis, but we have to accept as well that we may lure other things closer to him that would gladly benefit from his death when we need him alive. So we have to just i know that that risk is there and be prepared for it.
Speaker: We can't make firm plans until we know exactly what the situation is at that castle. Agreed. Once we know that, we can not tell Nyx anything.
Speaker: I'm going to leave you. Think about this. You're the experts. I don't want to confuse things. And then I will just not speak to Nix for the rest of the journey unless you say otherwise.
Speaker: You can control this. I'm sure. This isn't easy. He's your friend. i understand. You're sacrificing a lot.
Speaker: Whatever you need. I'll just be in there.
Speaker: and he moves into the cabin but doesn't shut the door.
Speaker: Just a thought. If we're going down the route of the double bluff,
Speaker: could we not tell Nick's everything?
Speaker: I mean, the other plan is that we're
Speaker: you know We assume they think it's a double bluff. Let's assume that whoever's in the Crisker are smart. And they assume that we've realised the issue and therefore we know that the bait is not the real bait.
Speaker: So let's have Knicks, you know, let's fucking walk up to the front door. Meanwhile, other members of our group are going in another way.
Speaker: gives us two avenues of attack.
Speaker: If some of us are at the front door making noise if we have to, that surely draws people away from the rest of the castle
Speaker: so you can get Delmontreus.
Speaker: Some of us aren't as sneaky as others. who Who of us are the best at sneaking in then? Certainly not myself. I've done infiltration before. I can do it.
Speaker: right do I'd rather not go for a grate where I'm going to be two foot taller than it. If all be said. i we put but Alpha, are you sure you're not so you're not like quiet as sorcerer? you I'm afraid not. So that's going write down...
Speaker: well We don't know anything until you know. until we know what's running this place. We can't make any plans until then.
Speaker: No. But I can also, i can prepare a spell that makes us, well, maybe offsets the negativity of our stealth. I can remove our footprints, and things like that. so So you could take some people in.
Speaker: Yes. There's another option of... a bigger distraction, possibly one that would wipe our hands. Considering we are going back to, Goldport keep.
Speaker: We are not too far from my goblins. It's been a while as since as I've seen them, but how far away are the goblins from the city? I mean, how far Goldport keeps what a few hours.
Speaker: I, as I recall, it might've been half a day's travel away from Goldport keep for the goblins.
Speaker: They could potentially cause a rather big distraction. There were many of them. That's a long time for us to... mean, they're at Goldport Keep now, aren't they? I had invited them to stay there, yes, with Orla. Didn't Orla say that the goblins had turned up?
Speaker: I do believe so. But we're still a few hours outside of the city from there. Yeah, my concern is us waiting around for that. Plus, no offence to... He's got the opportunity, correct me if I'm wrong, Alpha, you can you can talk to them, can't you? You've got a means of contact.
Speaker: They speak the common tongue. I had a means of communication previously, before I took on the essence of the princess. Had? Alas, yes, unfortunately, similar to Emron sending stone with Drago, I had one with the goblins, but they didn't seem to understand the premise of using it.
Speaker: They merely thought they were talking to a stone rather than myself.
Speaker: I mean, that i I am 100% for there's no such thing as a bad idea, but
Speaker: if you say you can't actually talk to them or they might not believe you, that sounds like a bad idea. It's more of a potential diversion to Goldport Keep before heading to the castle.
Speaker: right yeah with Yeah, but it's it absolutely depends on time adds extra time to our journey, though, doesn't it? Well, if nothing else, the goblins could be really useful for dealing with anyone who comes on our heels.
Speaker: It might buy us more time at Goldboard Keep. That's true. A defending strategy. ah did The leader arrives and says, stop anyone coming through. Okay, so we can't make any plans that until we're closer.
Speaker: Right. I still think... Go on. Sorry, Seth. Seth is going to write, but we have options. We have possibilities. This is better than before.
Speaker: Oh, yeah. We've got lots of options. I like us going with the plan. I like it. I mean, i know splitting up doesn't sound great, but it equally means all of our eggs aren't in one basket.
Speaker: It also means that there'll be some of us that they can't see. As long as Nyx isn't with the all of us, they they can only see Nyx. They can't see the rest of us. And Nyx can go invisible. I know that that won't help with him being seen, can can anyone else channel any invisibility?
Speaker: Is that the checks he's had? No. I'm afraid not. Okay. Well, that's good to know. Can he make someone else invisible? we made He made... Sparrow Hall. He made you a visible name before.
Speaker: And, okay. So there's, okay, right. The way I see it is we arrive, one or two of us quickly scout the area, find out what it is we're facing, we make the decision of one of the five entrances, and it sounds like we've got four or maybe even five different avenues for distractions and infiltration. It sounds like Emron is the person to turn to to find Del Montreis.
Speaker: It all depends on who's occupying that castle, doesn't it? Yeah, but removing him. That's the one thing we haven't talked about. We know how to get out, where to go, where we go from that point, but when we actually encounter him, then what? mean, if we punch him enough and tie up, we've just taken with us.
Speaker: He's an incredibly powerful mage and leader of an entire country. We'll punch him really hard.
Speaker: Okay.
Speaker: Or we invite him and say, hey, Demontraeus, we're actually trying to save the world. Want to come with us? If you want to live?
Speaker: Come with us if you want to live. And then Seth's going to um look at you, Baal, and draw his sword, scimitar, and kind of point to that like, huh? We could always, huh?
Speaker: And then he's also going to be pointing to a spell, And you can just make out the cursive, horrible, archaic writing at the top of the page that just says, speak with dead. just does a little shrug like, hmm? Can I imagine that all your people are also stick men as well? Oh yeah, 100%. Everything's a stick man. yeah. I'd like to imagine neither of us like drooling and just nodding like Jack Nicholson.
Speaker: i don't I don't like the idea of actually killing Delmontris. Lithavrodic's very sad. No. And even though I would be able to revive him if I got to him in time and had the funds to do so, there's no saying that... Mixed got gold.
Speaker: let's go Yeah, but with his death, that that could sever the ties to Shumdroddakar. I don't think it's worth it. But, backup plan for when everything goes horribly wrong and we, you know, destroy Aerith.
Speaker: Yeah. That's terrifying that you have a spell like that. Seth's going to grinningly nod and then just circle just the head and then do like a little tapered line across the neck and do a thumbs up.
Speaker: Okay. Have you, have you used it before? No, he's shaking his head. Okay. Okay. It's going to be difficult to speak with the dead when I can't talk, but you know. So get close to the castle, look out who's occupying it.
Speaker: Who's occupying it does depend on how we go in there, whether we go in guns blazing, Sneaky sneaky or a bit of both.
Speaker: Okay. Some of us are less stealthy than others. Alpha raised his hand.
Speaker: I know that I could be sneaky. I don't like the idea of leaving Nick's. I could potentially. his mouth out the front. Yeah, but he won't be alone. Yes, but he won't be with me. Emron, I know you can you couldn't heal.
Speaker: But it's just me and you. Now.
Speaker: We're the only two that can keep this group alive. True. I'm not losing anyone. I'm not doing that again.
Speaker: It's surely too dangerous, though, to take him with us, though, right? If the old Chris Grick can see him, that's that's too dangerous. We have to accept that the split is the safest way to actually protect him.
Speaker: and the rest Yeah, he can't actually to go the way we're actually going. But you're the one that knows the way to go. Yes, but I'll be able to tell you where he is outside the castle, won't I? I don't know. I hope so.
Speaker: And Nyx will be able to can do the next we um
Speaker: If you walk up to the front gate, they're surely not just going to leave you there. They're going to take you into the castle. Maybe there's a chance we can reconvene once we're on the inside. Oh, yeah. I mean, that's that's that's my point. I mean, you know.
Speaker: The last thing they're going to expect is us so someone to walk up to their front door bald as brass.
Speaker: They'll take you inside the castle. Some of us enter the other way. We reconvene once we're inside, once we have done one's race. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. wait wait wait Alpha, you certainly can't go, and I'm really sorry, you can't go as you.
Speaker: You can, am I right in thinking can still disguise yourself?
Speaker: I'm afraid not as well. That was more so of a... Arthur Fisher. We cannot have you appearing as yourself, but I was going to say you've got the ability to to move yourself and someone else. that You did it with Sebastian pretty much into the hells.
Speaker: But if if you're with Nyx, you have a means of escape, or if you're imprisoned, removal from imprisonment maybe? True, but it is rather loud.
Speaker: Yes. Yes.
Speaker: i would have to But you've walked up to the front gate. Why do you just need to be quiet? But if we're splitting the group into a front door party and a excuse the expression back door party then
Speaker: Emron can keep everyone alive in your group?
Speaker: I'd say Nick, myself, Seth walk up to that front door. Potentially. That leaves Baal, Alpha, Tharok.
Speaker: To go the sneaky way.
Speaker: Both groups with the front line and the back line, I suppose. Yep. Seth nods.
Speaker: What do we tell Nyx?
Speaker: Well, I'll just tell Nyx. I said Nyx. We're going to go walking up to the front door.
Speaker: Do a couple of weird winks at him as well. That'll really shit him up.
Speaker: I mean, I think Nick's will believe me. don't think he knows. ah for I don't think I can lie. so Well, you wouldn't be lying. No, exactly. So, yeah.
Speaker: But the point is that it's an option. I mean, the point is we could get there and realize this is all. I mean, last time we made a really elaborate plan like this. it never fucking happened. So, you know.
Speaker: No, that's true.
Speaker: I just think splitting our things, I know you don't want to consider it, Bal, but us all together, it's great, but it literally puts everything on that one moment. And a group of us in a four-by-four space for a long time
Speaker: I just don't like the idea of it being the only your option.
Speaker: Because they'll know we're coming from that way.
Speaker: You don't want to leave Nick's on your own. Totally agree. We don't leave anyone else. No, we don't leave each other hanging out to dry.
Speaker: I trust you, Emron. Seth and I can tell you whatever they hand out.
Speaker: Having processed the plan, Farok's going to just take a deep breath and he's going to take the remaining bowl of stew over to Seth and he's just going to go, i know you said you didn't want any, but this is made with filbish weed. It's good for your constitution.
Speaker: We might need all the edge we can get. Yeah, and Seth would take it and give him respectful nod and take some take some mouthfuls of the food.
Speaker: Enjoy your six temporary hit points. Oh, shit, yeah. And you all just look at the barrel that's sitting above the trap door.
Speaker: After a while, Seth's going to stand up and move over to the barrel, look at it for a minute, look back at everyone else. And then he's going to look and get a second barrel and start pulling it in front until he sees probably a slight aghast look from some people, kind of, what?
Speaker: And then he will move the the primary barrel away from the front of the entrance until it's clear and then open up the hatch. No, this is a four. I said four, okay? This is not how you play Liars Dice, guys. Come on.
Speaker: Nice. i Seth will go back up the watchtower as well. I'm going say.
Speaker: And, Pao, I imagine you're the first person to kind of look look down into the hold.
Speaker: They're all naked. And as you you look down there, your friend's on deck with you, plotting your next steps, which...
Speaker: absolutely mean life or death for all of you. The one person you care about most, you can't tell a single thing that hasn't been considered.
Speaker: And Sparrowhawk just comes out of his cabin and purges next to you, Seth, as you tuck into your fish stew and just whispers,
Speaker: I miss your voice. so And that's where we're going to end this week's episode. and The fellowship of the tabletop.
Speaker: Bellum Draconis. Piss.
Speaker: We have a plan.
Speaker: Have a goddamn plan. It's good plan. This shit's going to to hell. I thought that Seth was about to speak for a moment. Oh my God. He might next week. Oh, how we get the How long do you have to wait until we find out?
Speaker: Seven days. That's literally the point. Great David gave us the answer. Seven days.
Speaker: Great. Grouchy bastards. took him on a boat on We're on a boat. We're on a boat. ah that That took a hard right. um So I'm going to bring it back.
Speaker: going to bring it back now to thanking you all for tuning in, listening, making us a party every day week. We love you for it. That was a damn fine episode right there. Yeah,
Speaker: yeah yeah we have various ways to follow the podcast. You all know this. Now we'll sign off on our normal spiel, which is we have individual X pages. I'm at, I rolled one.
Speaker: Darren's at. Darren page zero six. Mark's at. Acedly rolled DM. The apple pie smashing needs a partner soon because it's getting a bit weird now with the amount of pies that's just behind you and you're leaving behind just the foil trays that are filled with some weird substance. Callum's at the D20 Gamer.
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Speaker: Until next time, guys.
