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C3 Episode 59 Pilgrimages & Infestation Chapter Five
177 Plays3 hours ago
Dimitri unlocks a hidden secret, but do they find any answers?
This episode is brought to you by the generous donations of our amazing Show Sponsors: Laura Pickrahn, Irene Viorritto, Darrell DeLaney, Charles Compton, Deviouspoptart, Nastasia Raulerson, David Scrams, Elizabeth Clark, Rebekah Gowman, deviouspoptart, Eðvarð Arnór Sigurðsson, Michael Clark, Jerry Theuns, Mark Stanley, and Shelby Johnson.
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Transcript
Introduction to Everother New Podcast
00:00:09
Speaker
welcome to Everother New, an actual play podcast set in the Everother Campaign setting. I'm your Game Master, Eric.
00:00:27
Speaker
I'm Mia. I'm Phillip. I'm Madison. I'm Jeff. And welcome to
Ice Cream and Bug Fight Recap
00:00:33
Speaker
another episode. Folks, other than Jeff and Madison getting ice cream in between the episodes, what happened last time?
00:00:39
Speaker
No one had to know about that. We had to. We have to sit here and watch you eat ice cream. Go get some ice cream, dog. It's really good, too. Now we're recording.
Katigri Upset and Blame Shift
00:00:49
Speaker
pi I'm going.
00:00:50
Speaker
Bug fight. Bug fight happened last time. Mind fight. also yeah we've Yeah. we really We really hurt some people in order to convenience ourselves.
00:01:04
Speaker
yeah i't I don't think we made a friend out of Katigri. She doesn't know. well That's probably true. ah yeah She doesn't know that's our fault, but I can't imagine that she's going to be wanting to make friends as we if we see her again.
00:01:18
Speaker
That's
Dimitri's Combat Spells
00:01:19
Speaker
why you blame Dimitri.
00:01:22
Speaker
i'm i'm I'm down with this plan. like I get that not all of Valk's opinions about Dimitri have been reasonable, but I'm... Wait a minute. Nyx will throw Dimitri under the bus.
00:01:35
Speaker
Yeah, if it's if it's down to one of the five of us, then absolutely. yeah Who's that guy? I don't know him. Right under the pleasure yacht. He did so much to help in that combat. How dare all of you.
00:01:48
Speaker
He did one thing. he did two. He cast two spells. He cast Blur and Rhea Frost. I've sent all over the thing where he tried to talk Selene into coming to his bedroom.
00:01:58
Speaker
Yeah.
Post-Combat Recovery and Investigations
00:01:59
Speaker
He, once again, did not try to talk her into. Made a offer and then immediately left it. Like, like, there was not, there was, there wasn't even any attempt to convince.
00:02:12
Speaker
Yeah. And yet Valk is unreasonable. Yes! Anyway. Two things can be true. Two things can be true. Yeah.
00:02:23
Speaker
There's a lot of unreasonableness to go around. like Anyway. You all can do your quick rest business. Spend any recoveries that you like post-combat.
00:02:34
Speaker
And also roll to recharge any recharge spells that you used in combat. I recharged my floing my swarming flame demons. I have a request.
00:02:45
Speaker
If you are staggered, please tell me you are staggered. Okay. i you I was only briefly staggered. I didn't matter that I didn't have my focus, but I do have very... I'm gonna need a reminder about what staggered is Less than half your max hit points.
00:03:05
Speaker
I'm right at half. Well, we're not in battle now. Yeah. Oh, so during... In battle. In combat. and If you get staggered, let back out. Gotcha. Okay. Okay. You will recovery and be pretty much back up to full.
00:03:20
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, and narratively, like, Dimitri reaches into his bag and pulls out a little, like, folding chair and sits down. Like, you all are resting after the fight, cleaning up. um We also each, if I recall, have a healing potion.
00:03:35
Speaker
You do. Imagining that? Okay. No. You can drink it during combat as a quick action to use the recovery. Got it. Is anybody doing any investigating on the bodies or anything like that of the dwarves?
00:03:50
Speaker
You, no. i do want to look at one of these weapons. Where did that die from? Is that the missing D6 from earlier? I think that is. Yeah, it fell in lap.
00:04:00
Speaker
Yeah, Nyx will crouch down by one of the bodies and
Fan Art Controversy
00:04:04
Speaker
examine ah just one of the, I mean, you said they were like it was like a war hammer with with like a beetle horn? Yeah.
00:04:13
Speaker
Yep, okay. Can I be right behind her doing the same thing like Miles Morales and Peter? The camera shows Nix kind of kneeling down looking at this this hammer and then over Nix's shoulder you see Valk's head rise up. Oh my gosh. I love this image. this makes me so happy. We need devoted fan artists to create moments like this.
00:04:33
Speaker
Wow. If only I could draw them. You also have a lot of other art
Magic Ring and Secret Message Discovery
00:04:38
Speaker
projects we're going on. work like You I don't. To be fair, I have not been given permission to draw anyone's character.
00:04:45
Speaker
So no one has had a character drawn. I think Cart Blanche. Yeah. yeah I'm not going to do it. Somebody should. yeah i can barely write my name.
00:04:57
Speaker
you want my Hero Forge? Given. that's that's That's the closest I can get to drawing a character is playing on Hero Forge. Anyway, 21.
00:05:05
Speaker
21. Okay. okay So you can tell that this, weapon is very recently constructed and, uh, it's, it is a forged weapon. There seems to be some aspect of switch forging process that it's not like grown. I kind of, i was, I was picturing like, okay, interesting.
00:05:24
Speaker
there's There's like a transmutation process that kind of turns it into this organic living thing. So you kind of composite in your brain, Nick, that it's it would be possible whatever setup they have.
00:05:40
Speaker
you could take existing weapons and potentially transmit them into this kind of very harmful, infectious, infesting weaponry.
00:05:51
Speaker
Okay. Interesting. so Something else that you notice as you're examining is on the hand of the the dwarf that's holding this, you see a ring that catches your eye that is very clearly a like true magic item.
00:06:08
Speaker
Not does not seem it it is not tightness. It is a gold band. It seems to be something that this dwarf may have had before. all the finger tightness? No. Oh, okay.
00:06:21
Speaker
Nyx will nudge the the haft of the weapon away from the hand with her boot and then lean down and slip this ring off of the dwarf's finger.
00:06:35
Speaker
Okay. Since you're looking over Nix's shoulder, you can also give me a wisdom based check to investigate. Use your paranormal investigator. My slightly odd
Dimitri's Protective Spell Dilemma
00:06:44
Speaker
looking friend looking over my shoulder while i acquire a golden ring is a little, a little troubling, Eric. Like, don't worry about where this is about to go. It's my birthday.
00:06:53
Speaker
Yep, totally, totally. Happy That's, that's not your size. You can't wear this. Look, just because your fingers can be whatever size you want. That's an 18. No, my paranormal number 22.
00:07:11
Speaker
twenty do
00:07:17
Speaker
22? Yes. You notice as Nyx is knocking the weapon away and messing with the hand, the door's body shifts ever so slightly and you see a rolled up piece of parchment that was like stuck in an inside pocket of the jacket like stick out slightly.
00:07:37
Speaker
can I reach over Nyx and plug it in? Yeah. So I'm going to just say Nyx does this kind of automatically and nonchalantly. not so much that she noticed a magic item. It's much more...
00:07:55
Speaker
This is the aftermath of a battle. Oh, that guy's got a ring on. He doesn't need it anymore. I can sell it. yeah like it's it's It's very much just a casual battlefield scavenger behavior. Yeah.
00:08:05
Speaker
Well, as soon as you actually grab the ring, Nix, you sense it. Do you grab the ring? Sorry. Yeah. Yeah. yeah i have the room Yeah. You can sense its magical nature and recognize it. And you, i will read you the property of this ring.
00:08:19
Speaker
i Whoever wears it Whosoever wears this ring. It's a ring of instant vengeance. So it has an ability that's a recharge 16. Seems unhealthy.
00:08:34
Speaker
When you take damage from an enemy's attack, choose one ally you can see. That ally can make a basic melee or ranged attack against the attacker as a free action. Choose an ally within what range?
00:08:47
Speaker
That you can see. Oh. And the quirk, if you get too many magic items, is you stick close to your friends. so Real close. as As Valk leans. my So that is the magic ring that you picked up.
00:09:00
Speaker
Valk, are you unfurling this piece of parchment to read it? I will
Debating Dimitri's Motives
00:09:05
Speaker
step away from Nyx and then open it. yeah No, I want the other arm to come around Nyx's other shoulder and unfurl it. So we can both read it, you know?
00:09:17
Speaker
Yeah. You open it up and it reads in common, the early pilgrims have reached the doors and finally deciphered the message. It is, and then in quotations, our lady Furnia in your blessings, we see the true flame.
00:09:35
Speaker
We will find you and set you free, breaking your chains as you forge the chains that bound our enemies. Oh. Infernia is spelled F-E-R-N-I-A.
00:09:47
Speaker
Yep. i yeah I will just share that with the group, because I think the dwarves were trying to find someone else and knocked on the wrong door.
00:09:59
Speaker
Eric, is Our Lady Fernia someone else? Because I know what the Furnia is a plane. Is our lady Furnia someone? Nothing that you are aware of correctly.
00:10:11
Speaker
Okay. um
00:10:16
Speaker
You asked me that question and my hands are in my pocket and I kind of shrugged in my mind. It was you asking me about that. And just the Kevin James meme of like that from a photo from like King of Queens going, I don't know, man. But anyway, as ah Nix and Valk are poking around at the bodies, Kaz, Selena, are you all doing anything other than just catching your breath and resting up post-combat?
00:10:40
Speaker
I don't think Selena would want to go near the bodies. So no, I don't think so. Yeah. I am staring at what they're doing with no desire to touch these bodies myself. Okay. I guess I would check the other dwarf too, just in case.
00:10:56
Speaker
That dwarf has another copy of the message that Valk found on the dwarf, but he does not have a special ring. Yeah.
00:11:06
Speaker
once Once you all kind of stand up awake in bodies, Dimitri says, i suppose now is as good a time as any to broach the subject. Where did you get a folding chair? It is in my bed. oh It's best not. just It's a bag of holding.
00:11:21
Speaker
And it's bigger on the inside. You use it to kick. Adventuring gear, like my chair. What a great line. So, I have a slight confession to make.
00:11:35
Speaker
When I saw you all in the... Remember, Val grew complication on the icon relationship. This hasn't been complicated?
00:11:47
Speaker
This is not the complicated version? Group complication, not personal. Social complications are not... Valk making stuff weird the whole time does not count. Because that's just what Valk does. um yeah Valk is simply complicated.
00:12:04
Speaker
When I saw Valk at the Briny Lantern, I also recognized another member of your
Kaz's Memories and Lady of Eternal Tales
00:12:13
Speaker
compatriots here. That being Kazimira. It shifts her hand.
00:12:19
Speaker
Oh, yeah. I knew it was me. Kaz starts to, like, can't slink in the background. He looks around, like, where can I trap? I'm assuming your hand is shifting to... case I need to kill him.
00:12:32
Speaker
Yeah. My weapon hasn't gone anywhere, Eric. Dimitri clocks this and says, i was fearful of this reaction. So, and he rolls his sleeve up and there is a tattoo on his forearm.
00:12:48
Speaker
I did this last night. If any arm comes to me or I die, a message will be sent to the Arkane Congress and a scrying spell will be cast on everyone here. So please give me a chance to speak.
00:12:58
Speaker
What Nyx is thinking right now is, still work if his arm's not attached.
00:13:05
Speaker
Probably Dimitri would anticipate that question. He just looks at Nyx and says, yes. Please. you Which is known for yes. i Your image is plastered in quite a few places as the Congress, Kazimir, as a runaway anomaly.
00:13:22
Speaker
Yeah, I ran away.
00:13:27
Speaker
i does not consider himself anomalous. and mean, he does, obviously. But it's not fair for other people to say it. Word. I bring this up because when I return...
00:13:40
Speaker
After this mission, I will be expected to give a full report of what happened and what I encountered. And the fact that I aligned with someone that the Congress has a great deal of interest in.
00:13:52
Speaker
I'm not a vigil of the Congress. i'm not I have no desire to take you in or take you with me back to the Congress. But I need and need to bring something back to avoid reprimands from my eye-ups.
00:14:05
Speaker
How about the thing you're here for? That is... That would be part of my initial report, but when I say encountered Casimir Pinaris... you suggesting you're incapable of lying? Why do you need to say you encountered Casimir Pinaris?
00:14:21
Speaker
Omit... Why would you say anything? You don't have to... Well, considering that your threat was that if any harm comes to you... You'll report us, magically.
00:14:32
Speaker
And what you seem to be planning to do is report our friend Kaz here. Seems to undermine the threat. No, you see, this is a message will be sent and all of you be scribed upon to where the Congress can follow you.
00:14:47
Speaker
That is not part of what I am trying to do here with Kaz. That is where the threat in balance exists. I don't understand why you must do anything about this.
00:15:00
Speaker
You're... you You need not mention the four of us at all. i I believe I will. I have contacts in the minds that will have seen me with you that will report back on their own accounts.
00:15:12
Speaker
I have contacts back in ad reports that saw me associating with you. And if any of them recognize Kazimir Pineris and include that in their reports, then and I'm caught lying. But like I said, why would I lie and potentially be caught in such a lie?
00:15:26
Speaker
You have not even heard what I'm asking for yet, and you all are already... Seeming to be very... But you opened with a threat. No.
00:15:38
Speaker
You moved your sword to be in attacking position. That is when I brought up my safety measures. Because I didn't know if you were going to be a threat. What if you had died in this fight we just had? Not of our hand or anything that we did. We would be scried upon after that?
00:15:52
Speaker
was not even with this There opportunities for that to happen yet. Dimitri, you might as well just finish what you're saying. I do not understand what
Kaz's Past Actions and Arcane Congress Interest
00:16:01
Speaker
has happened. You threatened us.
00:16:05
Speaker
You threatened me. And then I acknowledge the measures that had in place. prepared to react to your threat. Right. That's what I was doing. This is my safety measure.
00:16:16
Speaker
If you are going to... i mean, say what say what you're going to say regardless, but I'd love to hear how this... You taking back proof of my existence doesn't lead to more complications with me and the Arcane Congress.
00:16:31
Speaker
Well, first and foremost, I do not know where you came from. I do not know where you are going next. I not asked any of these things of you. We are two adventurers that found ourselves aligned. And I am able to say, as long as you don't share it with me, no, I do not know where they were going next. And I was not able to ascertain that information, which is very different from having this crying spell cast upon you.
00:16:53
Speaker
So, have... have Two options that I am proposing. Either you explain the nature of your arrival back on the material plane, which is the biggest question that the on-campus has as an anomaly throughout from Delonis. Call him an anomaly one more time.
00:17:21
Speaker
Okay. they they Thanks, thanks. finish Finish what you were saying, please.
00:17:29
Speaker
Or in the case that I think is far more likely that see magic the magic that returns you back to the material plane from the Lannis caused you to not recall the circumstances upon which you were removed from that plane.
00:17:45
Speaker
You allow me to use my magic to see if I can surface that memory.
00:17:53
Speaker
of your return to the material plane. It would be in a situation to where we are both seeing it at the same time. But if you know, then simply sharing it would be enough.
00:18:08
Speaker
But something tells me that you do not know. I don't. Dimitri, is there a way that I can learn this without you learning it? And then I can tell you I'd prefer not to have all aspects of a memory that I don't recall shared with a stranger.
00:18:22
Speaker
Does that make sense? Here's what I... Go ahead. No, please, go ahead. i and I understand that trepidation. And to answer your question at first blush, I would say no not in this current circumstance. There is nothing within in yourself that I am aware of that you could muster.
00:18:39
Speaker
Perhaps Valk could poke around in your brain and unlock something, but that, I think even Valk would say, is a much more dangerous prospect. But you you have the means to draw the memory out of me, but not without sharing it with you at the same time.
00:18:53
Speaker
Of course, I would be witnessing it at the same time that you are. His method is painless. Mine would not be. And... My money's on wearing a demiplane and his security measure won't work.
00:19:03
Speaker
That is a risk you could obviously take by killing me. And if your friend Nyx is wrong, then the Arcane Congress will be hunting you for the rest of your days. In a much more aggressive fashion than they currently are.
00:19:18
Speaker
but They're going to be hunting me regardless, yeah? i got milk I got wanted posters all over, you said. I will be perfectly honest with you, Kaz. You are classified in the Arcane Congress records. I am not calling you this. I am simply making a statement of fact of an arcane anomaly that is non-stratanine.
00:19:40
Speaker
There are... Entities that the Arkane Congress is having to actively search for and seek out because people will be in danger if they do not do something about them. You are an entity of interest, not a danger.
00:19:57
Speaker
So while you are on their radar, so to speak, and if you encounter people from them like me, information will be sought after. Nobody is seeking to throw you in a cage.
00:20:09
Speaker
They literally put me in a cage, Dimitri. That's why I had to run away. Yes. There was tear. Well said. There was a tear in the
Valk's Psychic Damage from Memory Unlock Attempt
00:20:21
Speaker
material plane.
00:20:22
Speaker
You came flying out of it. You started screaming and running around and magic was shooting out of you without abandon. Because you were scared. I understand.
00:20:33
Speaker
But at that point, you were a danger. It has been deemed now that you are no longer an act of danger. I make a motion like I'd like to talk to Nyx for a second. Like, can you give us... Yep.
00:20:47
Speaker
Dimitri holds his hands up, picks his chair up, and walks a little ways down the tunnel and sets it back down. I mean, I don't care if the other two here as well, but like I'm not going to shoo you two off by any means. um um After a moment, you all see a shimmery bubble appear around you all.
00:21:04
Speaker
That was similar to the tavern. nix I don't want to be... I've switched sides. I'm entirely on Valk's side of this relationship now. You're correct. was all a mistake.
00:21:16
Speaker
I apologize. Socially, he's a mistake. Unfortunately, he is a very trustworthy professional. If... Let's focus. If you're wrong...
00:21:29
Speaker
and and his message goes out and the scrying happens, then we are under surveillance and I am reclassified as a danger because we killed a member of the Arcane Congress. There's no getting around that.
00:21:47
Speaker
I don't want to... re participate I don't think it matters. Imagine they already classify me that way. Fair. fair then i'm consorting with no dangers it's not like i don't want to know these things i've been trying to find things out i'd rather not i shared a bunch with you guys without realizing it would you like me to try well you just said it hurts it might hurt it might hurt me more than it might hurt you well don't want that either i'm used to that it's fine that's why i'm offering
00:22:23
Speaker
Look, here I know based on what you guys weren't around, I got some more kind of flashback-y things. Or maybe you were around, but it just came in my head. I don't remember. I overstepped my... I stepped out of place. I i so overstepped a boundary. I did something above my station. I'm not sure what I did there that got me kicked out. It feels like that's what may have got me kicked out.
00:22:47
Speaker
And not knowing what that is and sharing that with somebody who is going to take that information back to people who already have a thing against me scares me. But I don't know what else to do right now.
00:23:02
Speaker
Well, if I'm in a situation in the future, I would just say go for it. If we're in a situation in the future, i would recommend lying and not immediately admitting that his supposition was correct.
00:23:18
Speaker
I feel like he would know. I i mean... think he already knew. and Saw his face. Yeah. My plan was to say, i popped out.
00:23:30
Speaker
But then he was like, and if you don't know, and i was like, well, that blows that plan. i didn't even get a chance to blow it. He did it for me. Right. He's clever. Smart.
00:23:41
Speaker
Capable.
00:23:44
Speaker
I will push again. we have already had a few moments of magical sync in the past that has not resulted in either of us doing harm. The reason I said it might cause more harm is when Dimitri tried this for me when I asked him, it caused him harm.
00:24:05
Speaker
But that is under different circumstances. I mean, how much harm to you are we talking? And I guess if you're willing to do it, who am I to... Yes, me I'm not really the protecting type. i don't know, but I am confident, mostly confident, that I will probably sustain more damage.
00:24:29
Speaker
Which is fine. Okay. i It's the kind of damage that can be healed. but I was going to say, I have the same thing as the kind of damage he can do with extra knowledge of you on you. Right. I am already think like reaching for my, the we each have an extra healing potion. like, well, if he gets bad enough and I kind of put it down, I say, see what you got.
00:24:49
Speaker
So yes, I think I would like to, for Valk to poke around and see if she can unlock that memory for me that I can then share with Dimitri. keep I keep saying she about Valk because she's a changeling and played by me. ah He can unlock that memory.
00:25:03
Speaker
Valk responds to anything. Right, I know. It's okay. I knew this would happen. Okay. So, essentially, what what you all are going to have to attempt to do.
00:25:16
Speaker
So, Mia, you'll be using Zoriat Touch to do this. And what's your spellcasting ability? Is it intelligence that you normally ping off of? Yes. So, it'll be an intelligence check.
00:25:29
Speaker
And what's your modifier on that?
00:25:33
Speaker
S3. Like when when you're casting a spell though. Like with your level and all that business. Oh, with level. S6. Zoriap touched would bring it up to nine? ten.
00:25:46
Speaker
Ten. A ten. And then there's... No, those are on Wisdom and Carisma. Never mind. And is there is there anything I can do as a willing participant to aid? Yes. So I'm going to explain the way that this is going to go down essentially. So...
00:26:01
Speaker
The total after, and Jeff, you'll be able to do something to add to the modifier. Okay. The base DC, in order to get anything out of this, is 20. Now, we're starting with a plus 10, so not too bad.
00:26:17
Speaker
Sure. If you get 30 or higher on your final roll, no one gets any damage. Okay? Okay. For each step below 30, 29, 28, 27, and so forth, is to Valk.
00:26:34
Speaker
Okay? Uh-huh. evens will go to cas odds will go to valk okay that Okay. So Jeff, you're going to make a wisdom check to try and still your mind to make it easier for Mia to get in there and dig her out. too Okay. A wisdom check.
00:26:55
Speaker
Yeah. I don't know if any of your backgrounds would be applicable here. Well, no, because this is dealing with Fae Touched. Right. I figured I could push that one on. Yeah. yeah Okay. So a wisdom check adding Fae Touched.
00:27:09
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. So that's plus 11. It's not so bad. That's a 24. four So add plus four to, so plus 14 and then roll the die.
00:27:20
Speaker
Oh no. no. That's a five. Wait. So 19. Yeah. It's going to hurt. Oh. got to see.
00:27:34
Speaker
It's 11.6. Way to throw an icon die onto it, man. I burned my special eyes. I'm sorry. May I spill too early? Oh, dear. That was unnecessary.
00:27:45
Speaker
I think I'm about... I might go down. I have full HP and I might go down. 23 psychic damage. Oh, my God. Rolled very quick. Now, what was the odds and evens bit you said earlier?
00:27:57
Speaker
We're both... We just both... So no this would actually... i said evens go to Kaz, odds go to Valk, right? So Valk takes that because it is 11 below. yeah,
00:28:11
Speaker
Valk, you try to tap in but this narrative will make sense. You find yourself... So you initially step into Kaz's mind and you see a small hut...
00:28:26
Speaker
And you see a figure sitting in a chair. And you approach. And... As soon as you get close, the figure turns around. And where you're expecting some version of Kaz, you see the bug lady sitting there. And soon... And then you snap out of it. That was 20-something?
00:28:48
Speaker
20... 23. Okay. but How does Valk react snapping back out of it? Like, what is Valk? Because that that is a potent amount of damage. Like...
Kaz's Options Regarding Arcane Congress
00:28:54
Speaker
I...
00:28:57
Speaker
I actually think whenever Valk attempted, it's one of those things where he's like, I'm sorry, I'm going to have to touch your face. And i I think as it happens, you can see the longer that he's trying to make that connection.
00:29:16
Speaker
the the literal color, what very little remains of him, starts to drain. so like the pinks in the ro and the purples on his face completely start to fade and he is just physically frozen.
00:29:33
Speaker
His eyes are now open but like it's they're starting to dim and he's just not moving and not responding. and Importantly, Kaz, you you didn't feel anything at any point.
00:29:45
Speaker
It was like somebody intercepted Val. Right. On Val's way into your brain. He just touched my face and then fell over. Got it. No, just standing there frozen staring at me. Frozen, yeah, went went pale.
00:29:57
Speaker
The same effect is when he was touching the body. um He's just not there. Recognizing that it is over, I pull away. Does that... Does me disengaging from Valk change anything? or he so Yeah, ro i think he would snap too. His color's not back, but at least there's a focus in his eyes.
00:30:17
Speaker
yeah And he would look down at you and he's just like, there was only a hut. And I think it's because we're in the plane. The bug queen was there. i think you were supposed to be there,
00:30:35
Speaker
but she was there instead she was there first but you weren't there it was a it was a cozy hut i think i lived in a tree okay then that wasn't your house yeah okay okay she didn't hear that i give valk of the healing potion that i was holding i don't need it it's fine are you Are you really that well off?
00:31:01
Speaker
No. yeah I have one of my own. we Sure, you took 23 points for nothing. I have one of my own. And I said that was okay.
00:31:12
Speaker
All right, I hold on to it to give Valk later when he's unconscious and can't refuse it. I have one on my own. I'm going to use my own. but Yeah, use your use your own. that's i just i'll just I'll just put this one where I can reach it easy, I think. i e I think I looked, I was like, I've got to let him try.
00:31:30
Speaker
Because otherwise, there's there's... Our hand is forced. Okay, you give me an alternative. I'd love to hear an alternative that doesn't involve you killing him and me getting caught even more quickly by the Arcane Congress because now I'm dangerous and scryed upon.
00:31:45
Speaker
That one's
Dimitri's Perspective and Kaz's Reflection
00:31:46
Speaker
off the table. I certainly they can't stop you from doing it, but I'd really appreciate you not. I can't stop you from doing anything. We can't bend the truth.
00:31:59
Speaker
I went in. i saw... I have seen you in the past. Presence. Past. In the past, when we interacted, I saw you in the present, but it was your...
00:32:12
Speaker
Back when I was older, right? Yeah. So... I mean, I'm willing to... I will tell him everything I told you guys about... I know that I was in league with the Lady of Eternal Tales and that I apparently made her angry and she cast me out.
00:32:32
Speaker
Sounds like a truth to me. yeah It is a truth, and hopefully it's an acceptable. Great. That's sufficient truth. Yeah. Would I know if Dimitri is able to have any sort of, like, truth spells or is... You know that Dimitri... Dimitri has gotten as far as he's gotten because he's incredibly good read of people.
00:32:58
Speaker
Like, as as weird as you think his he is socially, like, he He's an investigator. Like he goes out and does these investigations and inspections and things like that for the Arkane Congress.
00:33:11
Speaker
Like weird as he is, he's convinced more than one woman to marry him.
00:33:16
Speaker
It's true. So. Well, more than one person. I don't know.
00:33:22
Speaker
Also, the like the circumstances being you wanted to have a chat. the bubble goes away and all of a sudden Kaz is like, I actually remember, here's like after all of the, well, it'd be great to know, like I really want to know this, like the like the inconsistency there, Dimitri would probably pick up on. He's not lying.
00:33:42
Speaker
But the truth of the matter, this is what we yeah right? There's that, but also the truth of the matter is the reason I didn't want him going in is because i didn't I didn't know the nature what he'd see and I didn't want a stranger to see it because of what I knew about, we could probably play this.
00:33:57
Speaker
I mean, I'm going to tell him anyway, so... All right. I kind of make a motion that... Can I just step out of the bubble? Is that a thing? Yeah, you can step out of bubble.
00:34:12
Speaker
Nick flips him off. I... I step out of the bubble, and i'm just going to say, okay, Valk tried, and got out. He's not doing so hot now, so I guess you were right about that.
00:34:23
Speaker
Look, the reason... I'll tell you everything that I know, and I hope it is sufficient. The reason that I didn't want... The reason I still don't want you to see this memory is because I apparently did something.
00:34:41
Speaker
Do I know Archfey? Like, i haven't really... Yeah, I think I know. Yeah. Yeah.
00:34:48
Speaker
When I was in Thelonis, I was in league with one of the Archfeyes. And apparently close to her.
00:35:00
Speaker
And then I did something or said something or suggested in a course of action that she found untoward. And I believe that is what led to me being cast out.
00:35:15
Speaker
That's the memories that I have. Those are the things that have come to me since I've left. And so if you need to know the very nature by which an archfey of another realm managed to do her magic, no, I can't tell you that.
00:35:29
Speaker
But I can tell you that I made her mad and she sent me back. Do you not want to know more, Cass? I don't... i Yes, no, I want to know everything. I'd like to have all of my memories back.
00:35:41
Speaker
But one of the great things about but my memories being mine is I can choose to whom I share them with. I understand that. But clearly you have been back for some time now and you've gotten pieces inconsistently.
00:36:00
Speaker
i I will say my piece and your companions can glare at to me all they want, but I'm only talking to you. Okay? Don't worry, Kaz. It's a friend who's blackmailing you right now.
00:36:12
Speaker
Case in point. So the Arching Congress, like i said, does not view you as a danger. They view you as a point of confusion as to how you did what you did and what the circumstances around it are.
00:36:27
Speaker
The Archang Congress wants from you information about that.
00:36:36
Speaker
he longer The longer that information is withheld, the greater the agitation may grow. Whereas
Kaz's Vivid Memory with Lady of Eternal Tales
00:36:46
Speaker
if you elect to share things willingly with the Arcane Congress and work with them in identifying what happened and the nature of your disappearance and return, then they will be less agitated and you will no longer be a primary person of interest because you will be viewed as someone who is cooperating with this research and investigation.
00:37:16
Speaker
Nobody is mad at you, Cass. Nobody blames you for the nothing that you did. Dimitri, I appreciate you trying to level with me on this, but the fact of the matter is that I am over a barrel.
00:37:31
Speaker
And so if you are telling me that what I told you was not enough for you to not reveal anything about just like...
00:37:44
Speaker
i If this isn't enough for you, you i mean you've clearly made it clear. You have made it clear that scrying is an option on the table for you.
00:37:53
Speaker
And if they decide, who am I to know that if what I told you is not good enough for you that you still want to go into my memories, if that's the option that I have, then I don't know why we're leveling with each other.
00:38:05
Speaker
Dimitri, that's enough information. Okay. I am capable of deciding what I need to decide without interjections if people will let me finish speaking. Okay?
00:38:17
Speaker
Okay. Nick flips him off. I was going to say I'm more than happy to include what you shared with me in my report as what you were able to share with me about your memories of what happened.
00:38:32
Speaker
What I was saying further was me simply stating i have the capacity and the ability to provide you with See why. Because that seems to be what is missing from your mind. Yes, it will be something that I will see as well.
00:38:47
Speaker
But, the Akin Congress, like i said, they want the information, they do not want you. They do not blame you for what happened, is what I was going to say.
00:38:59
Speaker
Was not going to say that you did anything wrong before Nick so rudely interrupted me.
00:39:06
Speaker
Like I said, it was an anomaly that occurred with the material plane and the boundary with Tholanus. We seek information about it.
00:39:17
Speaker
That is all. just So, if that is all you are willing to share with me, very well. We may continue investigating these dwarves and what they are doing with the weird bug people.
00:39:29
Speaker
If you would like to know more information about why you were thrown out of Tholanus and back here, in the bodies that you left it in, I can give that to you. But that is up to you.
00:39:41
Speaker
encourage you to listen to yourself and not the interjections of your companions, but that is just me. ah No, when Nick starts acting like a toddler, Kaz stops listening to her.
00:39:52
Speaker
ah Nick starts acting like a toddler. She's flipping. pit We have a condescending asshole gnome, and you want me to behave nicely to him?
00:40:05
Speaker
Oh, I, here's the thing. Jeff really wants to know. It's just, get Kaz is scared. Dimitri, like I said, of course I want to know.
00:40:18
Speaker
Can you give me, I'm, I am concerned because I don't know what we will see. And who is to say that you don't decide that the things that you see require further investigation and further prodding or make me a danger and suddenly I'm back on the radar.
00:40:39
Speaker
The unknown is safer in this case as much as I want to know. Can you agree with that? That's my my trepidation is founded. I can understand your concern and trepidation.
00:40:52
Speaker
I will say any crimes that you committed in Solanus would be of no concern to the Arcan Congress. and Not the crime. The crimes are not. it's i I mean, I'm not going to say this.
00:41:03
Speaker
Kaz is thinking, what if what we see is she says, here you go. I've packed your bags with all this magic and in 10 years you're going explode. like Yeah. Yeah. ah Exactly. I mean who's to know? Dimitri? We've tried once. We could try again in better circumstances. Yeah, after I take a nap.
00:41:21
Speaker
Yeah. Dimitri, I don't hold the same contempt for you that my compatriots do. almost said seem to, but it's not a seeming thing. Can we have a frank discussion about what does and does not need to be in your report?
00:41:36
Speaker
I'm being... Absolutely. If you... yes If you want to know the means by which I was sent back to Thalautis, and the means by which I was sent back from Thalautis, and the means by which I was sent back from Thalautis, make it into your report to the Arcane Congress. I don't have a problem with this.
00:41:57
Speaker
but At what point would you feel honor-bound to include more things that would make me even more of a specimen worthy of study? Let me ask you this, Kaz. And I will answer your question, but I want some clarification from you.
00:42:10
Speaker
If, let's say, just a crazy hypothetical that came to my mind, we discover that in 10 years' time, you are going to explode and destroy ah large section of Korver in a catastrophic arcane explosion.
00:42:26
Speaker
Kaz screams boo in his head to see if Dimitri flinches. I knew it! would Would you want to be in the position to where you are walking around as a ticking time bomb? Or would you want... I'm not talking about throwing you in a cage, but talking about finding a solution to that.
00:42:40
Speaker
Because I am fine with your terms. I have asked you specifically about why and how you were sent back to the material plate. And that will be the memories that I look into.
00:42:53
Speaker
Is the last memory you have... in Thelonis. That would be the only thing that I will include in my report. I will leave it up to you. If what we see in your memory shows that you are a clear and present danger,
00:43:10
Speaker
To the people around you, I will let you make a determination on what you want to be done. Is that fair? Yes, that is that is fair. And at this point, ringing in Kaz's head is Valk saying he is a trustworthy or a trustable professional and good at what he does.
00:43:27
Speaker
And the moment go, up why would I lie to my superiors where he said that? Well, the yes. But Kaz, you guys gotta let me let Kaz be dumb sometimes. I haven't tried to stop Kaz. No, I don't.
00:43:43
Speaker
That's true. I look back at them, at my friends, and I say, how long is this going to take? For us here, it will be but the moment.
00:43:55
Speaker
For us in Zaire, it will be a few minutes. All right.
00:44:01
Speaker
I give him permission to do it. He brings his little gnome hands up to your temples. I forgot he was a gnome this whole time. Yeah, Kaz has just been looking down because he's also been seated this whole time.
00:44:13
Speaker
Kaz,
Conclusion and Social Media Mentions
00:44:14
Speaker
you find yourself viewing in the third person, unlike your previous memories. Like you, Kaz, 16-year-old, are standing in a hut next to Dimitri.
00:44:27
Speaker
You see...
00:44:30
Speaker
A very old man breaking well into the triple digits, seated seated in a chair with a long white beard and long white hair.
00:44:44
Speaker
And after a moment, you realize that you're looking at yourself over a century from now. You're speaking with someone who is standing in the hut with you. You see a fairly tall life figure dressed in all black, except for a white porcelain mask with a passive face.
00:45:04
Speaker
It is clear that it's it's almost like the memory is having to wind up because you don't hear anything through the talking until the door to the hut opens.
00:45:16
Speaker
And there you see a tall, blonde, Aladrin woman. that you recognize from one of your previous memories that spoke to you. Except in this different context, now that you're not viewing it in first person, Kaz, you feel...
00:45:33
Speaker
A swirling of a lot of different emotions kind of rise up in your chest seeing her ranging anywhere from very deep, intense love harbored resentment to outright rage just kind of swirling about in you.
00:45:48
Speaker
She turns to the figure. figure Kaz remains seated as she enters. the The other figure turns and regards her. And she turns to that figure and says, i believe we are unacquainted.
00:46:00
Speaker
I am the Lady of Stories, the Weave of Eternal Tales, your queen. And the figure kind of stiffens for a moment and then drops to a knee. And you hear from behind the porcelain mask, forgive me, i did not know your face.
00:46:19
Speaker
She waves a hand, leave us.
00:46:23
Speaker
The figure gets up and walks out and she turns to regard older Kaz.
00:46:29
Speaker
So, you've decided to play counselor to the Archfey now. think your wisdom can help them weave stories of their own. You finally hear yourself speak in an old but not tired voice.
00:46:41
Speaker
Well, someone has to guide them. We can't all play court and attend balls every night. She shakes her head. You never understood. You could have, had you taken my offer.
00:46:57
Speaker
Been by my side.
00:47:00
Speaker
Kaz frowns. Perhaps if the nature of our meeting had been different. Perhaps if the nature of our meeting had been different. She responds. You came willingly.
00:47:10
Speaker
I was a child. Older Kaz shouts as he finally stands up. I knew not what I was giving up by coming here with you. And you knew that. Your sweet words of affection to a 16-year-old boy now grow sour after a century to dwell on them. Ever...
00:47:26
Speaker
Even once I came of age and we, the lady's face softens as Kaz pauses. And she says, he misses you. You know, Kaz shakes his head.
00:47:39
Speaker
Of course I miss him too. But he never had a choice as to which of us he was going to grow closely to closer to, did he? That was the deal. The Eladrin grows colder. You left.
00:47:50
Speaker
He did not. I did not. Kaz glares at her. What choice did you leave me? You told me I had to become one of you, an archfey.
00:48:01
Speaker
Me as I am was no longer enough for you. I wanted to spare you the state you are now in. Look at you. You have what, four or five years left in you before you pass? You are now one of the few creatures here that can write their own story, and yet you've chosen one so mundane.
00:48:18
Speaker
Kaz laughs mirthlessly. I chose the one I wanted. teaching others about their stories, providing guidance, and eventually being able to leave here.
00:48:30
Speaker
The Eladrin woman nods. That's why I came here. As you know, I can never leave the Feywild. But when you stumbled into my home, I knew eventually you would need to return home.
00:48:46
Speaker
It is your story, after all. But I won't let you die here and return as a corpse. So i will give you back the life you think I so mercilessly mercilessly stole from you.
00:48:59
Speaker
One last gift from a woman you once loved. Kaz looks confused as he says, Baldry, I don't understand. And then you both snap out of it.
00:49:13
Speaker
I think Kaz is probably crying. And embarrassed, and even though he did clearly ask for this, he's now angry at Dimitri. And he just goes, did get what you needed? And like, is wiping his face.
00:49:26
Speaker
Dimitri says very softly, I'm i am very sorry. Yeah, well, we came here to do a job, let's go. And he like, walks past Nix, and then realizes that's stupid and waits.
00:49:37
Speaker
Nix waits for Dimitri to go first. I have no contract with you. You haven't paid me for protection. And that little stunt paid for our trip here.
00:49:50
Speaker
After you. Dimitri just kind of smirks and shakes his head and walks past Nick's value out. And we'll call it an episode there. Thank you all so much for listening. If you want want to be part of the conversation surrounding this episode, you can head over to our discord. The link to which is in the description this podcast.
00:50:07
Speaker
We also have a YouTube channel, youtube.com slash the geek pantheon. If you want to financially support the show, you can do so over there. Phillip. Also on YouTube, Spotify, Tales from the Laughing Tree. We have another actual play over there called Blades and Banners. It's Pirates and Eberron.
00:50:23
Speaker
And ah you cannot financially support over at the YouTube channel, like I just said as I was going on autopilot through this outro. can just watch videos over there. ah There are ads on the video, so in a way you are. But anyway, if you want to do it more consistently, there's a Patreon.
00:50:37
Speaker
Patreon.com slash the E-Pantheon. If you want to financially support the show, you can do so there. Thank you all so much for listening. I've been your Game Master, Eric. I'm Mia. I'm Phillip. I'm Madison. I'm Jeff.
00:50:50
Speaker
See you next time.