A Mystical Land on the Brink
00:00:03
Speaker
Our story begins in a far and distant land, a place ruled by houses of sentient animals and mythical creatures, an environment that is forever tipping the scales towards controversy and conflict.
Adventurers Unite: A New Journey Begins
00:00:18
Speaker
Grave danger lies hidden in every tavern, forest, and stranger's glance. In this kingdom, we will follow a deviant group of adventurers, brought together by chance, or perhaps by fate.
Episode Title Reveal: Rolling Across the Pond
00:00:31
Speaker
This ragtag group of a tortle, a tabaxi, an otter and a hound will travel across this great kingdom, fighting their way through the unknown and weaving a powerful destiny. This is rolling across the pond.
Character Introductions
00:01:00
Speaker
Hey everyone, welcome back to Rolling Cross the Pond, Animal Kingdom, I'm your Jam Jesse, and I have no idea what's gonna happen tonight. I have very little plans. It's all up to the players today, so we'll see how it goes.
00:01:13
Speaker
Hi guys, I'm Lee. I play your lovable brutes, tortle, warrior monk gore. And yeah, I'm looking forward to hopefully putting a bug in my ear and talking to some friends and making sure they're okay. But I'll make sure I wash it first. I'm Luke. I'm going to be playing reader at the lovable goose barbarian. And I'm mostly just glad that I got to go second.
00:01:35
Speaker
Time to, you know, play half of the barbarian, canine, Saint Bernard, uh, ready to make an escape. I have to say, I don't know if it was me that put off this feeling, but your guys' intros are very, hey guys, I'm this and I'm excited for that. Like, yep.
00:01:54
Speaker
popped at the end. My name is Luke. I think it's because we've been recording a tea break before this already so we were already like talking a lot to each other. We're not like hyped up at the beginning of a recording session. We've already been recording for a little bit. Yeah, could be, could be.
Chaser's Complex Plot and Dilemmas
00:02:13
Speaker
And we want to welcome back our special guest. We were missing one today so we'll see how that goes. Hi, my name is Ariana and I play Chaser, the border collie fae nine.
00:02:24
Speaker
Awesome. And again, we are rolling across the pond and we are going into the world now. And we're going to start with the wonderful Chaser back at her quarters after the, I don't know, the word vomit, the data dump, the plot unfolding conversation that happened last episode. What initially is going on through Chaser's head?
00:02:52
Speaker
She's incredibly uncertain of a course of action. I think that at this moment, she feels like the pressure from Hava to help them out right away. And she doesn't not want to, because she's like, well, these guys kind of seem cool. Hava's a little bit erratic currently, but Rita seems to actually want to be her friend. And Hava is at least trusting Chaser, whether or not she wants to be friends.
00:03:19
Speaker
And so there's this sort of sense of, she feels a growing loyalty towards them, except for the fact that she totally doesn't agree with them trying to leave currently. So I think she's really banking a lot on Hava meeting up with her dad and that going really well, because if not, she's going to feel super torn. So I think at the moment, Chaser is, she is trying to come up with something she's a little bit mixed between King Elrass being like, Hey, maybe you can come up with some sort of a backup plan in case the wizards do.
00:03:49
Speaker
decide to turn on us. But there is sort of a little bit of feeling like, is he just trying to keep me busy and make me feel better? Or is this something I should really pursue? But also the more immediate Hava wants to get out of here. And we finally got her back as family. And so how do I not lose her as family, but then also not have her help her? Maybe not help her? Yeah, Chaser doesn't know. I don't know. That's why Chaser doesn't know.
00:04:16
Speaker
As you are progressively working towards somewhat helping maybe, I'm going to have you specifically roll at least maybe three times, maybe four times in this episode, a check or something that will boost future development. Let's just say that.
00:04:37
Speaker
whether it boosts them in your favor if you roll pretty well let's just say i'm putting that out there so let's start with that tonight i need you to roll a d20 for me just flat 18
00:04:51
Speaker
Great. With that role, you don't necessarily generate a plan, but you may be able to have more clarity when the next meetup with Hava is happening. So you will be able to roll with advantage during that time, if you do certain planning and so like that together.
00:05:12
Speaker
Okay. Now that is the night.
Morning Interactions: Hava and Reader
00:05:16
Speaker
We're not going to revisit Havin Reader just yet. We're going to let them faster and think about it and let their players cringe at me for not letting them have their own thoughts. You know, they're just both looking at me like they love me and I don't like it.
00:05:29
Speaker
Next day, next morning, we rejoin them. And we rejoin them, obviously, in the same places they always start their day. Hava is at the table with her plans. And Goro is talking with, oh, Kevin, the runner, about your morning breakfast. Reader. Oh, yeah, sorry, Reader.
00:05:53
Speaker
Goro got there real fast. Yeah, I was looking at Lee. Goro is not there yet. Reader is there talking with Kevin for his morning. Let's start with Havas thoughts. Kevin, do you have a squirrel? I'm feeling a little hungry.
00:06:10
Speaker
He immediately pulls out a squirrel from his belt. Is it alive? No, he's gone. He's like, that's how you mimic a squirrel. And he's just like shaking it. It's completely gone. You can have it. Hava takes it, but it's set up. Really get into it. It's really juicy, right? Goes back to her plans.
00:06:35
Speaker
Cool. So you think, oh, Kevin. No problem. Hey, do you actually just do your plans in front of Kevin? Does Kevin know about your plans?
00:06:46
Speaker
I, it's kind of like I've got a book and I'm kind of drawing pictures in it. So it kind of just looks like a kid's drawing book, like a, like a little, like, I can just doodling. Cool. Great. That's, that's good. That's fine. And reader,
Quirky Group Dynamics
00:06:59
Speaker
go for it. I would ask for Kevin. Yeah. Cause I have made a list since our last session. I would like Kevin. Can I get an everlasting celery hair? It's just the celery hair that will never ever be true.
00:07:15
Speaker
I got a ruling for it. It's all flexible and weird. Nat 20. Yes, another Nat 20 on these things. I got it. And he takes off. He doesn't even want to hear the rest of it. He just does. Is this gonna be like a floss or something for you? Oh no. I don't know what it is. I just want to note down like the most craziest things that
00:07:39
Speaker
yeah okay that happens and just goes off and what kind of animals kevin again i believe it's just a dog i think okay did i say let me just double check i have to my notes said he's a dog he's a retriever he's a retriever yeah yeah he's a retriever there you go
00:08:00
Speaker
Does that mean I can use this celery hair as bowstring? He's not returned it to you. You might've created a monster. Okay, let's just put it that way. He's just finding celery.
00:08:12
Speaker
Let's just say, heaven is not used to, he's a barbarian. If you are making him do artificial things. So we'll see how that goes. Maybe he's unlocking something in his, in his, that, that chaser has already found. Anyways. So that is your morning. Your normal, the normal routine of your neighbors goes off and yeah.
00:08:36
Speaker
Hi, hi, hi, yeah. And then you hear the awkward noise that Barb makes like an hour later to what Hava thinks is a signal.
Chaser's Internal Struggles
00:08:49
Speaker
Now, Chaser, do you come visit this morning? That is a good question. I think she's trying to put it off. She knows that she probably needs to go, but there was still just so much yesterday.
00:09:03
Speaker
Here. Um, so not immediately in the morning now, maybe, maybe in the afternoon. Okay. That's fine. I feel like Hava is going to try and get the attention of Barb. Okay. Before Chaser comes. Okay. Well, Chaser's not coming at her normal time. So you mean at her normal time or coming or when she just. Well, when, when she doesn't come her normal time, Hava is going to start expecting that Chaser may not come through. Okay. Okay.
00:09:32
Speaker
She's going to start making her own plans. Yeah. Apart from chasers. Sure. So she's going to ask Barb for some help. Okay. So, so Barb is two pants down on your right. That's where she lives. Do you just casually approach how, how you let's, let's role play this.
00:09:54
Speaker
Yeah. So he's gonna, like, we're free to leave the tent though, right? That's why. Yeah. You just, you can't pass this coastal line. Yeah. Right. Okay. Yeah. So she'll go over to, to bar, she'll tell reader, I'm just going to go grab some fresh air. I'll be right back. Like she's not going to tell her either. She's going to go talk to her. Roll deception. Nine. And reader roll insight. 24.
00:10:19
Speaker
Gosh. Was that a natural 20? No. Okay. 19. Yeah, you can tell that she's up to something. And then, yeah, so she's gonna go knock on, or call out, I guess it's a tense, so she'll say, hey Barb. And you see this fragile old cow. Hi. Hi. Yeah, hi. Hava.
00:10:45
Speaker
Hava. Hava. Uh, you new here? Yeah, just visiting. Do you? Hey, I always hear you make a weird call every morning. Just wondering what that means. And she's going to actually whisper that to her. And she's not going to whisper back. She's like, weird call? What? What? What do you speak up? I'm an old lady. Well, I just was wondering if it was a signal. A signal? What weird call? I don't. I don't.
00:11:14
Speaker
I need you to roll the step, or to roll inside. Okay. Most, like, paranoid schizophrenic thing. You're screaming, let's-
00:11:23
Speaker
You're signaling somebody, right? You're trying to communicate. What did you get? An eight. Yeah, you just think she doesn't know. You believe what she's saying. Yeah. So just disregard what I've just asked. Yeah, but you make a noise. And how can I I just was like, I want it. I wanted to know what like your what do you what does it mean? All right, persuasion. I want to roll persuasion.
00:11:51
Speaker
Yeah, go for it. Yeah, go for it. Oh, shoot. That was a natural one. I don't even need to roll. You know what? I'll roll just in case I get a natural one. Let's see. Nope, I'm fine. I... She just is the complete opposite. She's offended and she takes her stick at you and kind of waves it, waves it at you and kind of bonks you on your nose for one damage. Sorry, I didn't...
00:12:19
Speaker
You- you do not offend me. You- you- you leave this place. You- you're- you're- Yeah, that's what I'm trying to do. You leave my tent. I- get out of here. You making me sound like a crazy old lady. I'm sorry. Okay, I'll leave. And she's gonna go back to that tent.
00:12:37
Speaker
What? Oh, I was just trying to be friends with Barb, you know, but I think I said something she didn't like or something. I don't really know. She hit me on the nose. It hurt. Okay.
00:12:52
Speaker
So yeah, you guys do that. What, so is it probably, probably after your next meal,
Reader's Social Challenges
00:12:58
Speaker
right? That you would go or, or what, what time is chaser thinking of, sorry, I was going to say before chaser comes, Luke needs to talk to me, but I'm just saying.
00:13:10
Speaker
Well, it's up to it's up to reader. No, I think there's a specific time. I keep putting it on. So what I'm going to leave you with the subject as well for the record. Why is reader doing this morning when Chaser doesn't show up?
00:13:30
Speaker
gets frantic that he pushed her way accidentally. I shouldn't have done that. I shouldn't have told Buster. Tana, now she hates me. That's all. And I'm probably gonna do the same thing as what Hava was doing, but like the opposite. She's not coming. She hates me now. So I'll probably see the Crystal and Jade. Okay. I don't know if Hava's gonna try to stop me or anything. You're gonna leave too. Wave and I'll go walk out. Hopefully they do better. You gonna go see your girlfriend? I'm kidding.
00:14:02
Speaker
So Crystal and Jade are your neighbors to the left, like direct neighbors to the left. And so you head over to theirs, right? Or are you just waiting for them to pass? No, I go to their place. Okay. Okay. I'll say that it's a friendship bracelet made out of wood. So it's probably not like the most effective thing could be splinters, but it's a nice gesture.
00:14:27
Speaker
Cool. So you walk over with this bracelet and you see Crystal with his feeding Jade after her nap that Jade just had, um, their breakfast-ish. Hold with Jade? Jade's not that old. She's a child. Yeah, but she's not like, she's like two or like... Maybe like two or three. Okay. Hey, I made this... I eat you for fr... French friend. Are we friends? I made a friendship bracelet, so...
00:14:56
Speaker
You make it for me or Jade? Are we friends? Hey Jade. Yeah, sorry. Hello. How are you? Nice weather. We're having. Yeah, we're eating right now. We're eating right now. Can you come back later? Right. Okay. Bye. Okay. Is there anybody else nearby?
00:15:16
Speaker
You have the coat family, which is the blue and sniffles. They're also dogs. You have Blaine Joy, who's also somewhere nearby. You have the coopers, or the coppers, sorry. The coppers, they're a snake family of four. And the wood hearts. And the wood hearts, yes. The panther and the cougar.
00:15:42
Speaker
And I just waved awkwardly being like, if I stay by there. You hear, yes, it's weird. You're talking to yourself right outside her house. We're still eating. I had a good day. Roll deception.
00:15:58
Speaker
Poor reader, still lie about having a good day. I meant that more of like, he talked to somebody today. Okay, if you truly believe it, then it's not sub-section really. As a insight for her to know, like, reader, to be like, no, nobody likes him.
00:16:18
Speaker
All right, go ahead and roll insight, Hava. 20. Yeah, a natural 20. You can tell that he, he, he's, no one really respects him here, but more than that, you can tell that the way he even is around you is not right. Like he's definitely keeping something from you.
Suspicion Arises: Hava and Reader
00:16:41
Speaker
So Hava is going to just like, she, she wants to like comfort him, but also she's a little bit suspect now that she knows that, that he's hiding her something from her, but she's, she's like, it's okay. It's okay. I'm here. If you need to talk, wink, wink, wink. Okay. More friends. Cause I think he genuinely thinks he had a good conversation with people. So it was like, okay, thanks for the random hug.
00:17:11
Speaker
So okay. Me? Yeah. Okay. So she will come by later, but I think what I'd like to do is for Tracer to go back and visit the King, but not really. I don't know. She wants to kind of check things out.
00:17:27
Speaker
My stealth is not good necessarily, but I think I kind of want to just like be around and like hear what's kind of happening and she's still feeling dirty. Like the day today or like the king is private time. The king and I think like either she wants to have a conversation with the poodle, what's purity? Purity. Or maybe talk with the king more and like she doesn't want to like push him too much but would like him to go meet Hava
00:17:56
Speaker
And so she's just feeling kind of stuck right now and feels like I had that conversation with that lion, seemed good. She couldn't really quite put her finger on what it was, but just sensed that this guy, you know, had some kind of good intentions, but now she's like, but yet somehow they're on different sides from us and my uncle. And so she's very, there's a lot of like inner turmoil right now. She doesn't know what's right and what's wrong. So she finally gets herself like out of her chambers or her room or whatever is like, okay, I just need to
00:18:26
Speaker
Maybe ask some questions or go listen. Or I don't know if she's usually welcome to like meetings, the meetings as yes. There's only a few you're not allowed to be in. Let me roll with those are happening.
A Critical Meeting with the King
00:18:41
Speaker
They are not, they're not happening. Yeah. So you are technically allowed to any meeting. Right. But there's no meetings happening.
00:18:50
Speaker
No, there is meetings happening, but none of the ones that you're not allowed. Oh, gotcha. Gotcha. Okay. Okay. So can I go check that out? Yeah. So you go and you go and they are, it's kind of like a house meeting. So it's actually important for you to be in this one. It's like, check my schedule.
00:19:13
Speaker
Yeah, right. It's about food distribution, how there's influx of more animals coming in than going out now and how they have to actually get food to the troops that are out and stuff like that. It's that dynamic of
00:19:33
Speaker
we need to actually supply our people to live and survive. And you see the king. He's up there. He's inspiring. He's being joyful.