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Ep. 76 Tangible Essence - Bellum Draconis
70 Plays10 months ago
Returning to you LIVE this week, our group of idiots try to move onwards to Snake Run.
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Transcript
Introduction and Sponsor Announcement
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Episode Introduction and Cast
00:02:20
Speaker
On with the show. So 13 meaning there's one plus another one is what Gabe here be saying.
00:02:31
Speaker
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I sometimes like to do my math out loud and sometimes when it's really really specious and easy math that still happens.
00:03:09
Speaker
Hello everyone and welcome to this week's episode of the Fellowship of the Tabletop,
D&D Game Chaos and Strategy
00:03:13
Speaker
Bellum Draconis. We are a live play 5e D&D podcast set in the magical home-brewed world of Erythyn, the Kingdom of Dralak. Joining you for this week's episode, we have Darren who plays the High Elf Artifice of Rainshadow. And we're back in the room. Yeah buddy, we've got Will who plays the human cleric Emron.
00:03:30
Speaker
I'm in tut room! Callum, you placed a wolf-forged artificial alpha. It's live play, baby! Will you place a dragon-bomb, druid, bile, valkon? I can touch your body and your ears.
00:03:44
Speaker
Ian, Ian, he plays the Tiefling Wars, so are Nick's Corell. Ah, yes. It's just touched my body. It's a sexual noise. And by last, but not to lose sight, is our sorceress supreme, our champion of chaos, the OG DMD of D&D, Dungeon Master, Danny Bonjour. We find ourselves...
00:04:04
Speaker
in the dark, dark night. And there is darkness in the night. And in a corner of old girl's shacky shop, we see a bundle of clothes and a beard sticking out in the light, glowing orb sticking out of his covers as an old girl stares into his orb.
00:04:32
Speaker
Oooh, cluster fuckduggery! What the fuck was that all about? The group can't even work out what the fuck is going on in their silence. Seth gonna be trying to fuck Alpha's shit all up. He gonna punch at him. That starts a big fucking fight. Turns out the Upriscule Lady goes running on it, so Bao cooks a bitch in her armor.
00:04:52
Speaker
Oh shit, Seth don't stop firein' Alpha, which means the ball ends up fuckin' tryin' to release some sort of dragon on his ass. Meanwhile, the women screamin' in pain. The halflings think, oh, I got a good idea. Hit some fuckin' spirits. Oh shit, she got goofed up even more so.
00:05:08
Speaker
She's screaming to stop. That ain't working. Big Daddy starts saying, choose your next actions wisely, boy. But they fucking don't, because they dumb as shit. He asks them to stop. Seth starts running into attack. Nick starts running into attack. Alpha starts running into attack. And Emron tries to heal the bitch. Let her die. Oh, fuck. End her suffering now, or you will feel the same, says Emron to Bart. There's some sort of fretty fret there. And anyway.
00:05:35
Speaker
This guy turns out to be some sort of paladin near the Acryscra, down off by name, and fuck me, can he hit about 30 points of damage per hit? Bow goes down! The counter spells for the heal as well! It's fucking gay habits! Chaos is crazy!
00:05:51
Speaker
And then this person done turns to Emron and says, I do not think that Alito takes comfort from the company that you keep whilst threatening to fucking behead Bal. But fortunately, Emron and Reigns save the little bitch that's been cooked in her armour and therefore Bal gets saved too. Oh, fuck me, that was tense. They end up vanishing. Reigns is like, why the fuck
00:06:16
Speaker
Fuck you killing people for no reason, and the party's still doing some infighting. When the tension suddenly decreases, bars start burning bodies, because that's what the fuck he kinds to do, or tries to do. And when the group decides, you know what, now's a good time to probably make rest, there's two fucking moons in the sky! It's not really a moon, it's more of a moon-shaped disc, but what the fuck is going on? It's all teepees and wigwams, because this is too fucking tense! I forget that! I forget that little moon!
00:06:44
Speaker
You can tell why. Oh, I've got a rent, ladies and gentlemen. Yeah, no. This is for your information listeners. We're recording in person. I'm still looking away from you all, but we're all in the same room for the first time in fucking years, which does mean happy times. It does mean I get to see Will's face turn bright red as he puts on his voice. His veins are pulsing and everything. I was worried he was going to poo himself.
00:07:14
Speaker
Yeah, that might have happened. That was intense. That was intense to be in the presence of. It's intense normally, but to be in your actual presence. He's still right now. He's still right now. I'm getting a tan from it. Like, sit in here. Two moons, two stars. You need an oxygen tank afterwards. I think you need to relieve yourself. Anyway, should we get to killing each other? Yeah. You know what's weird? I forgot about that. I don't want, like, there's so much imparty shit going on. Yep. Fuck. There's none. We're all fine. Nothing a good night's sleep. And two moons. Solve.
00:07:44
Speaker
I'm gonna kill people before I sleep. It's easier. It's okay, I'm with Alito now. You can't kill me now. I'm sure it's Alito's... Alito will recognize her own. I'll be like that guy in The Mummy, you know, when he gets out all the different symbols of God. Whatever works. Which one's Alito's god damn it? I'm gonna be like, fine. Alito will say hello. Slap. Right. An Alito slap. Sorry. Hi, Danny. Hi, Danny. Hi.
Mysterious Sky Object and Prophecy Discussion
00:08:11
Speaker
Hi. Just leave us to it.
00:08:15
Speaker
Gladly. Isn't that what happened last time? Gladly. You stand amongst a chaotic scene. It's safe to say. Around you, the corpse of slain wild orcs and a handful of a chrisca agents. The sand around you dyed that deep purple.
00:08:35
Speaker
from this drying blood that was there before you arrived. Two halflings, Rollo and Gabe, Dendibloom, sit quietly upon their cart, sitting with the images of countless death, unmeasurable violence that they have recently witnessed.
00:08:52
Speaker
Recovery from his wounds, Baal, your blood begins to drip and add to this inky mosaic in the sands. It's approaching mid-evening now, save for a few torches laying around, the light from some of your equipment. The desert night is illuminated from that familiar, cloudless sky. The stars, the moon, which have been your only means of navigation. The night, however, has this other object in the skyline.
00:09:20
Speaker
It's hard to get a sense of scale. It's either really small and in the immediate atmosphere or huge and very far away. What is clear though is that it's mirroring what the moon is doing. It's reflecting the light of the sun. But unlike the moon, it is motionless. You've watched it now over maybe the course of 10, 15 minutes, but really what you're getting is a complete stillness from it. Tired? Injured?
00:09:50
Speaker
mostly out of spell slots. What happened? Shit, I am. Fucking silence. That was a bollock spell, wasn't it? What happens next?
00:10:06
Speaker
I think Baal is, because he's completely fucked up, he's literally going to be licking his wounds. And when I say literally, I mean, tongue out, licking some of the damage. Like a cat. Yeah, like a cat, although more dragon-like. And he's also going to be channeling some magic into this as well. So he's going to be casting a cure wounds on himself just at first level.
00:10:27
Speaker
but you'll see kind of the flame like almost trickling out of his mouth into the wounds. And it doesn't look like it's kind of soothing or anything. It looks like it's almost cauterizing in a sense, but it's got that healing magic there with it. So that's what I'm going to do for myself. And I can use my kind of feet to do this for free once per day. So I've given myself 10 points more healing. Nice. As that happens and you begin to feel better, Seth, that tingle you started to feel on
00:10:57
Speaker
Your arm and that heat disappears. I know, I think, what that means.
00:11:09
Speaker
Does Seth know what it means? Is there a check I can do to try and put two and two together? Because it's obviously the hand where he hasn't had the thing done to it previously. Sure. Your passive is fairly low that wouldn't be in your active knowledge. So go ahead and make... Do you think he'd notice it start to subside and, okay, that's... Sure. Make a straight constitution role. We're trying to think about your awareness of your body.
00:11:38
Speaker
and recent events. Okay. Uh, that's an unnatural 20. Yeah. You sort of akin the sensation in your, on your naked arm, let's say to
00:11:56
Speaker
being intrinsically linked to Baal's survival, Baal's life force. You sort of sense that. That is not a reciprocated feeling. You don't feel like any bond towards Seth in these dying moments, but you feel that. Okay, so he's aware of that connection there. Okay, cool. He would be brooding, so would be taking lead from...
00:12:18
Speaker
everyone else at this point so would not be pressing forward or anything. He would have noticed obviously the big moon thing in the sky but there are more kind of more immediate issues and worries and threats he feels so he's going to be kind of trying to find somewhere to settle with his face to everyone but that is back to specifically the shadow mandians that seem to have it in for him.
00:12:41
Speaker
And as we sort of peer over Seth's shoulder and see the trio of Shadow Mendians contemplating the actions of the last sort of hour, what are you three doing? Reigns' emotions are just starting to come down. He's just had a rant about how the priority right now has to be saving Alpha. He's going to wait till the morning and he's going to storm towards the direction of which there could be scope of saving Alpha. That's started to subside. He's come out of his suit and he's dropped the sandals in front of him.
00:13:10
Speaker
Raines has popped the sandals on and immediately has looked up at the sky and just immediately, just so many things start to race through his mind. He immediately just goes, what? What? And Raines is going to sprint over with the sandals on to Rolo. You, you, you. It's Rolo, right? Yep. What's that? And you notice Rolo just look up, mouth agape.
00:13:43
Speaker
What's that? You've never seen that before? Nope. Looks like that, and points to the actual moon. Well, it looks like that, but it can't be that, because everything used to have two moons, but one of them fell to the Earth, and that became a city, and they call that moonrise. Anyway, that's not the point. The point is, if that's not natural... Okay, I don't know why I'm spitballing this for you, but does that look metal to you? Does that look like it's a construct, like something has... Someone has made that. That looks made.
00:14:13
Speaker
Rolo stares at this object in the sky that's some considerable distance away. Oh, you have no idea if that's metal. Good. Rain's then going to turn and sprint back towards Alpha. Alpha? Alpha? I know you're struggling. I know you're in a bad way, but you're the only other person I can talk this through where you're the only other person I understand it. What does that look like to you? It appears to be the moon.
00:14:42
Speaker
Well, it's not the moon because the moon's right there, Alfred, and Raines are pointing to the other side. It is another moon. Yes, it looks like another moon, but it doesn't look like a moon. It looks like it's... To me, from here, it looks... And Raines is just going to stare at it. Can I make any formal check just to see if I can discern? Yeah, I mean, make an investigation check because you're just dedicating your focus there. That's a 13.
00:15:11
Speaker
Yeah, I'll go back to my sort of introduction. It's impossible to get a sense of distance or scale. It's also hard to tell necessarily from this angle whether the disk has any rotating properties. It just seems to be there. It is equal in size to the moon, but
00:15:28
Speaker
your understanding of astrology. Astrology. Yes, not astronomy. Astrology is limited, right? What you do notice with 13 is you're sort of trying to find different angles to see if, again, if you stand 50 feet in another direction, does that property of that perspective change? And as you're sort of moving around the scene quite carefully, you notice Gabe, who's been very non-vocal this entire time, is just in the sand.
00:16:00
Speaker
drawing out the number 13.
00:16:14
Speaker
My process of thought right now, Alfred, is that if that's made, it has to be artificial. And artificial doesn't exist outside of shadow men. At least that's what I thought. However, I didn't think that component existed outside of shadow men. And then we went ahead and met that Magnus further. And, and, and... Oh my God. Sorry, mind racing.
00:16:33
Speaker
I wonder if our halfling friend would be aware of any locations that may be in the similar direction as to where this moon is currently hovering, or not moon as you wish. Excuse me, um, Rolo? Yep. Are there any towns or cities in the direction of that moon that is not a moon? Again, he looks up at it.
00:17:02
Speaker
It's slightly to the north of us. What? I don't know. North of here. Ish. You've got... Scorch Helm. It's slightly off north. Other north. You've got Goldview. That's ages away. And then there's the ocean. I don't think there's no cities in the ocean. There is. I'm aware of. Oh, hello, Nick. Where have you been? I don't know where Nick's was, to be honest. Where was Nick's during this?
00:17:33
Speaker
Last thing. I can't remember. You found yourself was close to where Emron was. Their side, the cart with the halflings. And at this point, you and Emron have sort of undeclared your involvement in this conversation, but you were positionally near. I pulled out of that. I'm not listening. But this is all within audible range of what Nyx is. Yeah, there is. Do you know of any? Can you name them? Cities in the sea? Yes. Loads.
00:18:00
Speaker
Which ones? I'm not going to tell you right now. That's the conversation for another time. Okay, you'd be surprised. Fine, fine. There might be cities in the sea, but there is another question here, Rolo. Your fellow, your man, I didn't catch his name. Gabe? Gabe is riding further in. Why's Gabe doing that? Rolo looks down. Gabe, what you doing? And Gabe doesn't respond, just keeps drawing out the number 13 in different sizes, different scales. And Gabe just turns and says,
00:18:32
Speaker
13th kingdom maybe and looks quite gormlessly back at rolo and rolo nods i i suppose could be maybe then looks to you like you know that information already i'm sorry but badger political knowledge is no worries take a breath take a breath there's a lot of
00:18:57
Speaker
Verbal vomit tumbling out of your mouth. Just take a breath. Yeah, I do that. I'm sorry. Think about what you want to say. I thought about it. Are there 13 kingdoms? I'm a gas lad myself. No, there is well, there was 11. So, 13 meaning there's one plus, plus another one is what, what, what Gabe here be saying.
00:19:28
Speaker
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I sometimes like to do my math out loud and sometimes when it's really really specious and easy math that still happens. You don't know the prophecy of the 13th kingdom? No.
00:19:47
Speaker
looks around and marks those who are more Western erytheons, expecting them to know. So looks at Seth and looks at Baal. Seth's nodding. Seth and Baal, you know this, whether you can accurately recall it. It's like a nursery rhyme you half know the words to. So if you wanted to attempt it, make a history check. Yes, please. May as well give it a go. There was a bit also about
00:20:17
Speaker
The blight from last campaign, there was an argument around for that being a twelfth kingdom that might have been heard about by the... Seth would know that. Seth would know that that was a maybe, yeah. History, was it? Sorry. Just a six from me, sir. Okay. How was it rolling proper dice? Did it feel good?
00:20:41
Speaker
I think that's my first proper dice roll. Is that your first proper dice roll or the fellowship? I don't know. Do you have side dice by your desk normally? No, because obviously, yeah. That's a momentous occasion. What did you get again? Fuck all.
00:21:05
Speaker
while you sort of draw a blank here thinking about it, you know it talks about the idea that there are currently 11 kingdoms that's given knowledge, and you know that there is a superstition that once the 12th is declared, a 13th will appear, but you don't necessarily value that prophecy so much. There are lots of prophecies. It's just the 13th one is a story that the bards like to tell and like to fantasize, and it's always,
00:21:34
Speaker
blown out proportion, people have very different readings on it. Seth, you've inherited very much a sleep guardian upbringing and there are verses, well, there are sections of verses you remember with that.
Character Development and Trust Issues
00:21:50
Speaker
I'm gonna take this as the role you've given as the role that will sort of dictate how much you genuinely remember this. So if you wanted to find out more about prophecy, you'd have to ask around and ask people to fill in the gaps.
00:22:09
Speaker
This is the section you remember with that role. In the realm of Erith, where kingdoms lie, 13 shall rise beneath the azure sky. When their banners flutter proud and tall, the fate of nations shall heed the call. In days of old, the sages foretold, a prophecy woven in stories untold.
00:22:34
Speaker
When Aerith's kingdoms, number 13, unity shall reign, a world serene. You don't remember the second verse. You don't remember anything other than that. You know, there is more. You can't remember if yours is the beginning or the second part, but you know, remember there is about half of it you're missing. Seth would speak up from his kind of sedentary position further away from the group and just say,
00:23:04
Speaker
it's all bullshit but basically yeah there's 11 kingdoms and there was a push for a while ago for the Blight to be named the 12th so that we could get to this magical 13th because they say when we get to 13 there's peace i don't even see how having another kingdom would make peace you go to my homeland you split it in half suddenly there's peace no but anyway that's the uh that's what they say
00:23:30
Speaker
I don't know why the halfling is suddenly going for it though. Who's they? Just stories and stuff, you know. It's not from the gods, it's just old stories. No, I never heard it from any of the priests of old, or any of the triumvirates. It's always been from soldiers, or from kiddie tales, or you hear it on the streets, and bards play at this. I didn't. I know of no religious link to it. It's just, that's just what people say, the same way that the sun will rise and set, they say that the 13th Kingdom will bring peace.
00:23:58
Speaker
There's something else that I can't remember all of it, but from what I can and I picked up, that's what I remember. Look, I don't know if it's true or not. I'm just, it's all I know. And he'll return to his stomach silence, kicking stones and yeah. And as you sort of explained that, Rolo sort of shoes Gabe to encourage him to stop writing 13, because it's just getting a bit creepy at this point. Emra, what would you be doing during all this?
00:24:27
Speaker
So, during all of this, Emron's been doing his own thing, essentially. Wanking. Touching himself. That's what I went, that's what I went for then. I've gone round and I'll be... Give my gifts to the gods. Me mighty hammer. My spiritual weapon. The meaty hammer. My spirit. And I will be gathering up. Is it counted?
00:24:53
Speaker
Because you have another being inside you. Is it actual like, you know, do you get two orgasms or a singular one? Find out. And is having sex with Emron almost like a threesome? Find out in play. How do you get consent? You can't communicate. That sounds like a find out in play question. Okay. What gender is still what?
00:25:22
Speaker
Ask him. Wow, him? Tell him, Mike. Ask them. Sorry, it would be the creative. Ask them. So, everyone will have gone around and can I have gathered up some of the various discarded weapons that have been left around? The orcs tend to favor axes and quite
00:25:47
Speaker
unified in the way that they're made. You get the sense that these are sort of tribal artifacts for them and quite treasureds. The Acrisca agents that have left it, they're all long swords. So I'm going to take them over to the fire. I'm going to use my channel divinity to remake these weapons into something new. Okay. I'm going to create an icon of Alito. Okay.
00:26:15
Speaker
That's it. That's what I'm going to be doing. So I'm going to be using my challenge divinity to create, so to break down using the magic and the fire to basically combine my forgery skills and obviously the divine power to then remake these metal objects into whatever I need to create a... There's probably about 50 or 60 pounds worth of combined mass there. So there is this significant metal structure that now exists in an elido symbol form. How long does that take?
00:26:42
Speaker
And aren't we just staying around this area at the moment? Are we just loading on to the caravan? This isn't Fort Carter. You've got to have a conversation about it. Because it's night, isn't it? So it's... We are. We're staying here. What? And amongst the corpses. Yeah, how long does this take? It doesn't say. It just says you can use your challenge ability to conduct an hour long, six and an hour. Okay. So for an hour, you're sort of excluding yourself from this conversation. Hour long. Yeah, cool. And I'll give everyone a chance to jump in if they're doing anything over this hour.
00:27:08
Speaker
As this time progresses, you notice the moon continued to do its regular orbit, but that second moon, that second object is static. It does not move. Sorry to jump in there, I've just had a thought. Is that in any way the direction of the tower that we left, the one that flummoxed us, or the Fizzlebang Tower from? It's hard to get...
00:27:34
Speaker
the navigation of this right, because you can't place its movement, you can't place its mass. But no, it is sort of above you and slightly northward. So it's not on the horizon, right? No, no, no, it is almost directly above you, but just northward. It's like some trimming show stuff. To add on to that, there's no direct source of light from it. There's no like Batman Bean coming to the scene. No, it seems to mimic how the moon absorbs, reflects the light of the sun.
00:28:05
Speaker
Nick says something that he'd do while you're busy with your hands, Emeron. Seeing Emeron go around and collect some weapons, I would go and loot the bodies. I thought they'd been burned. They're all burnt up. They're the big old flaming orc blaster. I wouldn't loot the bodies. You can get some orc. I would go and just... Orc pork. Shit. This would be orc built-on. Oh, in which case then... Lots of crackling.
00:28:33
Speaker
Well, Nick's all just busy himself, kind of keep himself to himself for a little bit because in his mind, he's just like, I'm not entirely sure how that escalated from a silent spell to beaten down on everyone.
00:28:48
Speaker
Um, so yeah, he's just, he's just busy-ing himself. Okay. You know about it when Nick says it. And when there's a moment, um, if you see, if Seth sees Nick's on his own, he would go over, but that doesn't have to happen now. That happened. I think probably it's a good time. All right. He just go over to make conversation and very quiet sheepishly sit down and just go, uh, fuck that up of it. Didn't we? I thought I was pretty clear when I gave you that message to be fair. So I.
00:29:15
Speaker
I mean, I did though, didn't I? Like you did, but I didn't think you'd... No. Pummel him. Well I just, he did the moment, I didn't want them to get our attention and you know... I'll see why you did it though, it was a good idea, it fucked us all up big time, but erm...
00:29:29
Speaker
Hey guys, you know when you just set one domino falling and then it pumps into another one and then another one and then before you know it, the entire tower's fallen down. It's like, you know, you fucked something up on bottom layer dragon
Strategy and Tactics Debate
00:29:45
Speaker
chest. Do we have to say fuck up though? I mean, I did. No, I'm not blaming you. I'm saying we collectively, all of us fucked up.
00:29:52
Speaker
I mean, there's another scenario here where we didn't silence him and the attention from the Aquisca was gathering. I don't know. I don't know. I just, I don't know how we got from A to Z in this, in this instance. And I'm feeling, uh,
00:30:08
Speaker
A little bit responsible for it. Fuck it. It's in the past. You can't change that shit. I have a question for you though. Right, yes. So, a while ago. Define a while ago. I don't really know how long ago. It feels like it's one long day. You cast a spell that made shit explode. Or like, everything kind of blew up. Like a shatter.
00:30:33
Speaker
Yeah, might be a good way of describing it. It's funny enough, because that's what the spell says when it's written down here. Yeah. Yeah. Do you get out your book? Yeah. Right. So yeah, Nix is just going, yeah, it's this one here. We're comparing Magic the Gathering cards at this point.
00:30:48
Speaker
he gets his hat as well. Just because I've got this one here and I haven't actually used it yet and I was just wondering overnight I was going to change a few things and he's going to gesture over towards Alpha to shut him up if he does it again and maybe hide how we look and change up a little bit. I saw this spell and I thought, is it worth it? Is it good? The Shatter spell? Yeah. Yeah. I've only used it a few times and it takes a bit of energy from me.
00:31:19
Speaker
But I think we cast this stuff differently though, isn't it? Because I feel fine. I don't really know. I'm still learning. Oh, me too. This power comes from somewhere, as Nix looks at his open hands, and I couldn't exactly tell you how it works. It's more like
00:31:37
Speaker
an innate feeling combined with specific steps in this book. Oh, right. Yeah, yeah. Totally different. I've got to do exactly what it says or nothing happens. Cool. I just wanted to check, like, if it was good and, you know, apologize. I've managed to close the mouth of a tiny cave with it so that no one could, you know, follow us. So it works on, like, rock and stuff and sand as well as people. Seems like it, yeah. Could you explode someone's head? I...
00:32:05
Speaker
And Nix's eyes widen as he thinks about that. Not like one of us, but just like, you know, in a battle for Nix. His eyes accidentally kind of rest on reigns. I don't think so. I don't know. I've never pinpointed someone's head. What if we both did it on the same thing? This opens up many opportunities. From the front and the back. I don't know.
00:32:32
Speaker
It could just be the center of the body. He's not getting the innuendo at all. Listen, I might put it in. I've got only limited places I can put my tabs.
00:32:43
Speaker
But while I'll never think... I mean, we can also like, I guess, there's some sort of strategic thinking, I guess, that I've never had anyone else to kind of magic body with, but you could choose some spells and I could choose some spells and we could like maybe have some sort of code words that when we're in battle,
00:33:08
Speaker
You, you lay a groundwork of a spell and then I come in and finish it off or, or, or both the other way. I've never, yeah, we could, I guess, like tag team spells. I don't know what that means, but yeah, we'll work together. Yeah. Great idea. Listen, one more thing. Okay. Oh, shit. I forgot. Oh.
00:33:30
Speaker
He reaches under his damaged eye and just scratches slightly for a second. Nope, it's gone. No, it can't have been important, except don't blame yourself. It's in the past, shit happens. Also, you want to go to Snake Crown, the nearest place to fix Alpha?
00:33:46
Speaker
Was that the idea? I just want to check who's so excited. I just see now, it depends on who you speak to. I would really like to go to Scorch Elm, but apparently that's like miles away. Days and days away. So maybe it is best to go to Snake Rock. My only concern is like the Acrisca, who are rightfully a little bit pissed off with us.
00:34:05
Speaker
We're travelling towards Snakerun, and I'm just thinking, is it smart? Will we get the time to help Alpha? Or, if we, like, make it to the doors of Snakerun, will we get, like, fucked? Well, we could always hide ourselves. We could pretend to be someone we're not. I like that idea a lot, but there's a lot of people here that...
00:34:24
Speaker
trying to get them under, like I'm as good as performers as the rest of them. Like I've been in plays and shows and I've even directed some myself, but still. So for people here that I don't know, like how are we going to hide Alpha? I'll put him in the sand.
00:34:43
Speaker
put him in the sand until we fix him. It's a big hole. OK, listen, I've got this one. He's going to point to just some scrawlings. You can't. It's like illegible. I've got this one. So I can do that. That works for one. You can do your thing. I've got I can disguise myself through magical means. And also that's all that's just with confidence.
00:35:04
Speaker
Okay. So we could hide a couple of us and then some sneaky bitches have to, you know, get in another way. Okay. I know maybe it's a conversation for later, but I just wanted to make sure you were on board because, uh, you know, I think, I think we need to stick together next. I think, uh, it's good. Uh, tag team, as you call it, maybe he's going to just, yeah, awkwardly gonna, yeah, good. Excellent. Before you go. Oh Jesus. You're here. We could help get one or two of you in. It's, it's not like a well,
00:35:35
Speaker
You'll understand when you see it. It's quite easy to get in and out. It's just a town, isn't it? It's not like a real city. Yeah, but if you're worried, we could put Metal Boy there in the car, pretend he's cargo. Well, see, my thing was, like, we weren't particularly secret about where we were going when we were talking to Kriska. And if I was, like, suddenly fucked up by this random party, I would go to the place I was going to,
00:35:59
Speaker
But I would certainly be on my watch and telling other people like, yo, there's some people who's coming this way and I fucking hate them. Let's get them. Here's my argument, though, Nick. I agree with you on 100 percent. You know how they just vamped themselves and they disappeared? They teleported out. Why didn't they do that like ages ago? Because I feel like they thought they could take us no matter what happens. They were helping us. It's a power move. Why can't they teleport you then? Oh, they said can't move that many.
00:36:28
Speaker
Well, one time.
Relationship Dynamics and Trust
00:36:30
Speaker
Also, like, there's different steps on the ladder. I'm not sure if they're at the highest or lower. Of course. Okay. No offense.
00:36:38
Speaker
Good. None taken. Don't think you got that. We're good. We're good. But we can help get you in. You're taking us home. You agreed. Listen, Gail, that would be really helpful. No, Rolo. Rolo, what did I say? Gabe. Gailie. Gabe's my brother. Oh, sorry. Right. Yeah. Rolo, sorry. Yeah, that would be great, I think. Because I think we do need to go to Snake Run. We need to get our friend fixed.
00:37:04
Speaker
Yeah. Is there healing? As Nyx looks over to you. Oh, good idea. Rolo, is there healing or any clerics? Well, depends who's in town. But he might be lucky. Because our guy points to Alpha. What's his deal? I don't know. We really need to get to the bottom of it. He's never done this before. He's never just randomly... Where's his skin? Well, again, I never asked that question despite my time with the group. That's...
00:37:32
Speaker
That's a very good question. Why doesn't he speak? Oh, he does speak. It seems to be random. Who's the princess? I don't know. There's so many questions that you're correctly asking that I just don't have the answer to, but I mean, it's pretty obvious. He's pretty broken. Right. And we're just trying to find... I don't know if that's a...
00:37:59
Speaker
Like a mechanical service he needs, or a magical service he needs, or an emotional service he needs.
00:38:07
Speaker
Is there any of the sort in Snakerun? Well, there's forges, if it's metal. Forges might be good. There's the multi-faith space. I'm not a follower. Multi-faith space. Yeah, there's a shrine, a temple, but because, you know, we're not really a religious folk so much out here that
00:38:31
Speaker
We don't really have one huge temple to warn God. There's a guy what's in there, what runs a couple of shrines and different things. You could try that. Usually you can find hope drunk in wherever she is. Yeah, she's a cleric.
00:38:47
Speaker
hope is a cleric and she's normally drunk all the time i like the sound of her uh so we'd see her in the nearest tavern is there a tavern that she frequents is there a place does she have a a place of refuge uh usually wherever she passes out but you might find her if she's not she travels a lot between scorch helm and and gold view and always calls what she looked like how would i know other than just being drunk
00:39:13
Speaker
What's they defining? If I was to see her and pick her out of a crowd, how would I know it's her? She is a dwarf, so that helps. Okay, so look under the crowd, gotcha. She is a blonde of hair.
00:39:29
Speaker
Um, she has lots of tattoos. Any specific ones? Tattoos are great. Great big star. That will do it. Above her eye. Above her eye. Is she one of this lot and points the, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh,
00:39:58
Speaker
Or is there just one drink? Or is there just lots of drinks? You've never been to Dralak before.
00:40:06
Speaker
No, I always got told to stay on the ship. So, like, you're from the north or wherever. Water is a bit of a, you know, rare resource, let's say. Yeah. So, we don't do a lot of brewing, don't do a lot of drink making. When people want to, you know, get leery, they take stuff. There's like a, you know, there's a tea house that's
00:40:30
Speaker
You know, where she'll be normally on something. Okay, so a tea house? Is that a code for something? I feel like they don't drink tea. Tea? Yeah, just not like... I think the tea mixed with something. Not like... Or is it just straight up drugs? It's like mushroom tea. Yeah. Okay. She is a drug abuser. Various flowers. Well, you are down here. Tea abuser. You never heard of Keltrad. I do know about Keltrad.
00:41:00
Speaker
that I do know about.
00:41:24
Speaker
My captain was aware of that. This raises a lot of questions. None of which you had the answers to. Very well. I'm going to go. But you were extremely helpful like that. We've got a yes. Oh, yeah, of course. You're very helpful. We have hope. You really don't. Oh. Wait till you meet her. With that.
00:41:44
Speaker
That's gonna like lots of kind of half many stuff. Yeah, you are the Great great. We're gonna point each of them. Thank you. Thank you. Next we'll talk about Take teeming later. I need some rest because I'm a bit fucked and he's gonna I'm gonna do that thing. I'm gonna get the Destruction cheddar. I'm gonna put that okay. Well Then I might change mine up. Oh wait. Oh, you don't want to have the same one don't it makes one explode Oh
00:42:10
Speaker
Okay, okay, okay. Let's both have Shatter, and then we'll talk about later on what spells could work well together. I'm very new at this, but it's very exciting. Ian, have you seen The Boys? Yes. You know the Invisible Man when they put the thing and he explodes it. That's what I'm thinking. Grenade up the butt.
00:42:30
Speaker
Right. Cool. But yeah, let me know if I tread on your toes for like spells. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. This is very good. Like, in fact, it'd be helpful just to see how other spells work, really. Yeah, I'll cast away. I'll let you know. I get a little bit turned on every time I do a spell. Is that the same with you? Or is that just a me thing? That's a me thing. So that's going to get very quiet. Maybe Baal will understand that one. Break eye contact. Okay. Baal, let me hear this. So that's just going to, without literally responding, just turn away. There's still a new thing for me. And just walk off.
00:43:00
Speaker
Okay, sit in the stand and start. I'm changing the basically replenished. Stop being so fucking honest, Nix. If I see Seth walking away, I'd like to catch his attention quickly. Okay, and after Seth breaks away, I would go and find Emron, Reigns, and Alpha.
Alpha's Condition and Group Support
00:43:23
Speaker
A bit of a cue.
00:43:26
Speaker
As you two, Nix and Seth sort of wrap that up, you just see Gabe and Rolo just sort of rubbing out the 13, like moving their feet over those 13s just to try and get rid of any sign that they're sort of spreading rumor.
00:43:41
Speaker
And some of that sound just kicks up and hits Rains, you on the now unarmored self. What are you up to? Yeah, Rains would have spent that last 10 minutes just with Alpha. He's acutely aware, amidst the mirage of thoughts that goes through Rains' mind, that the paternal instincts for his son hadn't
00:44:00
Speaker
properly kicked in in the quiet moment they're going to. So Reigns would have used that 10 minutes just to just make small talk with Alpha. He's gone around and cast with the fork now Detect Magic just to see if that overwhelming level of necrotic radiance is what's happening with that on Alpha because there's been some weird stuff happening. And as he does that he would have just gone to Alpha
00:44:25
Speaker
I absolutely loved that potato peeler alpha and I'm very, very sad that I lost it. First time I ever did any tinkering, magical tinkering, was on that peeler. How are you? I am feeling unusual, to say the least. I'm not aware of things like exhaustion or hunger or thirst, but there's a certain overwhelming sense within me and I am not sure how to describe it.
00:44:56
Speaker
Oh, well. My memory seems to be failing me. I see. And up until this point, your memory is a specific relay that we installed in your brain that was perfect. And that feels like it's degrading, right? Exactly. As am I degrading. Okay. That would explain the necrotic
00:45:25
Speaker
Alfa, before anything else or whatever happens next, I'm going to make sure that our priority is saving you. Just so you're aware, you must be feeling a host of emotions. I wouldn't blame you if you were somewhat frightened, but know that I'm not doing anything else. I'm not going anywhere else until we fix this. Thank you. There is one question. As the scan continues,
00:45:57
Speaker
Does Nix hear this? You didn't identify that you're doing this quietly, so yes, everyone can. I am going to just cut in when you say that you're planning on healing. Oh, about that. I've got a heading. There's a cleric, Hope. I was just talking to Rolo about what's happening in Snakerun, and there's a cleric there who
00:46:20
Speaker
I don't know, it's a first place to try because we have no information about how to help Alpha, so finder cleric I guess would be helpful. She might be there, might be. She's a traveller. I can find her. Okay. But it's a thing, there's other places as well. So you can catch me up with snake run, scorch helm, where we talking? Two different places, snake run. Right, so that's closer, that's good. Yes.
00:46:47
Speaker
Okay. Okay. Alpha, how are you feeling about that? I kind of feel as if you have the biggest skin in this game. Yeah, about that. Where is your skin? What happened to his skin? Sorry, very low. That's a good question. He's never really had any. He's made it, but anyway, Alpha, let's not go down rabbit holes. No skin. Would you like skin? I have never thought about it. There's some skin to go and spare.
00:47:19
Speaker
The worst thing is that alpha is contemplating it as early skies right now
00:47:40
Speaker
Reigns can see that thought process was going back to a moment in Shadow Men where he goes, Alpha. You would absolutely notice a long stare at one of the more fresher, less charred. Reigns will flick his fingers and go, Alpha, do you remember we talked about this and we learnt the spell Disguise Self because of what you tried to do with that Ganasai skin?
00:48:01
Speaker
Oh, yes, yes. Yeah, well that's why, don't be looking at that arc now. I remember what you did just because your memory stayed and don't mean mine ain't. I remember what you did. I only remember certain parts of that, but I'm very certain that it did not end overly well. It damn sure as hell did not.
00:48:19
Speaker
But the point remains, Alfred, but there's a lot of talking about you here and what do you think? What's your feeling? I am uncomfortable as to the motions, as I will call them, that I am going through. So if there is a lead for possibly
00:48:37
Speaker
getting me back to 100%? I look, I'm only trying to find a heading that we can go, I can't, it sounds hopeful. Everything else at the moment is based on assumption. It is a slim chance, perhaps, but a chance nonetheless. I'm working in more darkness than M1 and Reigns about this. I'm just trying to find a north. This might be the truest one we have.
00:49:05
Speaker
I do not feel the problem I have is mechanical. No, well she's a cleric. I did ask if there's a forge there, if you needed like maybe we could upgrade you. Have you ever thought about having like a big old fucking sword on your arm instead of a hand? I don't know.
00:49:23
Speaker
Anyway, but yes, this is more of a magical sense. I don't know, but it's something... Look where we are right now. I will word it differently, I believe. It is something I will pursue. And if anybody else wishes to join me, then they are welcome to do so. Just to clarify, pursue as in hope, this person, or... Oh, cool. Well, I ain't leaving you, Alfred. I'm coming with you. Oh, look at that.
00:49:52
Speaker
We have a destination and a place to go. Emron, how do you feel about this? You've been very quiet. Yeah, he won't answer it until he's done his thing. What do you think, Emron? He's doing something. He's doing his thing. Listen, this isn't a lead ol' thing. He ain't gonna talk till that's done.
00:50:09
Speaker
Okay, so with that natural bosom conversation, with Seth making his way away, I'll kind of motion for him to come over and kind of pat the sand near where Baal is sitting cross-legged, probably a small bonfire kind of in front of him as well. I think I owe you an apology, Seth. No, not from what it looked like. I totally understand. I would have done exactly the same thing. You're all good.
00:50:40
Speaker
I'll wear the robes. I used to be with them. Makes sense? But, um... I need gestures to his arm. It's different now, isn't it? What do you mean? Did you feel it? No. Your arm? They're like the other one. I don't remember. There was the heat of battle. The heat of, well, something else. What do you mean? Fuck. Uh...
00:51:08
Speaker
I think that if you die, I'm stuck with the thing we've got to do on my own. And I have all of it. And if I die, I think you get stuck with all of it as well. So you're saying these link us?
00:51:28
Speaker
together too. Well, let me put it this way. When you were faced down with a great sword at your throat, the arm that I haven't got it on was like tingling and I could feel these etchings like when it happened on the other arm. And to me, that's, I was inheriting yours. And then when you got better, it went away and there's nothing there. Look, and he pulls up a sleeve and it's just his normal pasty white arm. Skinny boy. Skinny boy, wow. Nothing, nothing there. See?
00:51:59
Speaker
I see. I think this shit's gonna follow us till we die. Or until it's complete. Yeah, how about that? Didn't quite get an end date, did we? We're gonna have to somehow stay with this lot, aren't we? Certainly. Don't think they like us very much. Mmm, maybe not. I was hoping to catch Alpha at some point and have a quick word. Because technically everything we've done is in their favour, is it not?
00:52:28
Speaker
apart from me punching him in the face. Well, that didn't help him much, I don't think. It helped in the sense that you were trying to stop him. I see that now, however... And he did stop, and he did stop, you know? No one talks about, ah, Seth, well done. You stopped him saying princess, good job. No one actually said that, but it's fine, I'll take it. Well, there was something else that stopped him saying princess initially, and yes, anyway, the point I wanted to say is that my...
00:52:55
Speaker
I feel like I was very quick to revert to my original way of thinking and I shouldn't have, I should have trusted you and I feel like now
00:53:06
Speaker
despite me abusing that trust on your behalf, I feel like that bond has strengthened between us. So you say it's fine, but understand, I thank you, and I will have your back from this point forward, no questions. Oh, yeah. Well, you always said that from me, and don't worry about the rest of them. They'll come round. Listen, about that... Oh, no, I forgot what I was going to say.
00:53:30
Speaker
I wish this was a set thing, but this is a mark thing. It was the first one, a mark thing as well. I thought I was like, mmm. No, I had another thing and now I've lost it. Well, fuck it. Let's make a cannon. Oh, I've forgotten again. He scratches under the eye again. Right. We're going to have to, like, Emron ain't going to see either one. I think he needs to go away and polish his metal for a bit, building a big fucking statue. Do you think it's made of metal? Oh God, I don't know anymore. So much metal going on. But we,
00:54:02
Speaker
somehow need to convince them to let us go with them because obviously if we don't and one of them dies we're fucked. Which I suppose leads us to telling them? I am not good with words particularly I think I proved that point so if anyone's going to tell them I'll take your lead if you think it nails the right time we can tell them but I'll let you do the talking because I'm a waffler and yeah.
00:54:31
Speaker
Well, the thing that confuses me is that not two days ago, we all swore vengeance on the abciscara. And when that vengeance is due to be reacted or acted upon in protection, not in assault, I did not throw the first punch. In fact, actually you did, sorry. 100% me. But as that woman charged in, she was laying siege to Alpha. I acted entirely in protection of him. And yet I seem to be the bad guy.
Future Strategies and Moral Decisions
00:55:01
Speaker
Well, all I'll say, and he's been stood up at this point, and he just popped himself down next to him. I guess they'll be facing the others, and he's going to look over towards Emron and say, during the Blight, we had problems with certain soldiers switching sides. They thought that the undead were right, that the Akiva was correct.
00:55:26
Speaker
People's allegiances get confused. I'm not saying that's the case with Imran, but no one goes into things thinking they're a cunt. Don't they? They think they're doing what's right. And just because his views are slightly different to ours, that doesn't mean he's wrong. It just means he's an idiot. But that's different. We can have idiots. I'm an idiot from time to time. But if he were to change allegiance... What, he? Maybe. Who's to say he won't?
00:55:52
Speaker
He was the one that was focusing on, well, my little cooking experiment, as opposed to someone that he's supposedly been travelling for many a month.
00:56:03
Speaker
I don't know. It's a good question. I don't have the answer. All I know is people are more, annoyingly, people are more complex than they let on. I don't know why. I can't look at a person and go, right, I know what you are. And they have all these layers in depth and backstory and it's complicated. And that annoys me. So I don't know, but you know, I respect him.
00:56:23
Speaker
because he stood for what he believed in. I don't believe in what he believes in, but I respect him for that. But I'm not going to tell him that because I'm a belligerent bastard. Anyway, I need to go change some spells. Of course. You're not going to do anything in the night. I'd planned on killing them in our sleep. I'm really glad I didn't. Oh, you could have told me about that. Not them when he points to the party. Not them. I mean, I mean the Chris Crow, the guys.
00:56:46
Speaker
I was going to cut them. Anyway, listen, you're not going to do anything like that. You're not going to leave, are you? No, not at all. I mean, fill me in if you're planning on slitting a criss-crossed throat in me. I almost had scroaked in the night. Please do. In his quote. Please do. Let me know. Keep me informed because I'm always on board. But yes, I think I'm tempted to, well, from everything that transpired, it seems that Nyx and Alpha ran straight to our aid initially. I'm tempted to have a quick conversation with Alpha and
00:57:16
Speaker
and let him know about our predicament. What do you think? If you believe that's a right course of action, I will back you. I'm going to go fiddle with my book. I guess something's changed. I'm going to use a shetter. Have you heard of it? A shetter. Usually after really spicy food. Oh, no, no. This makes things... No, I see where that's going. Right. Anyway.
00:57:44
Speaker
Nix and I are going to have a bit of fun with this spell. Or maybe make someone explode, maybe of Crisco. That's the aim. Well, let me know. I'd love to see that. Especially if they're wearing purple robes. Speaking of which, I actually salvaged some from the scum over there. I don't see myself wearing it, but if disguise seems to be the route that people want to go down, then it's an option.
00:58:04
Speaker
Yeah. And about that also, I think we should all, you can tell the others because the others hate me. They hate you too, actually. I don't know who they hate more, but maybe it's me, but I'm going to be very, I'm going to be very nice. But the guy said to me,
00:58:21
Speaker
The sun shines brightly over Edith and that sounded like some code that I was supposed to answer. I mean, all I said was like, yeah, it does. So I failed that. But I think if we come across some of Grifka and we say that to them and they respond and give us a nod and a wink and a how do you do and they say a word, a line back, we can initiate ourselves in that way as well. So the sun shines brightly over Edith. I don't know what the response is, but we could just keep asking them until someone tells us.
00:58:50
Speaker
Well, as long as we... Well, they say, yeah, it does. We know that they're not on Christmas. Or, I guess, the code by accident. And we could also torture them to find the answer. That is another option. Yeah, and I'm on board. I've got silence now as well for Alpha to stop him saying Princess, but we could also use it to silence the screams of the dying of Christmas. This is true. This is true. Well, like I said, I'm always on board.
00:59:14
Speaker
I don't intend to throw the first punch, but I intend to burn the fucker at the stake if the punch is thrown, as you've seen. Did you know me? I'm all about throwing punches in badly armed situations. Like you, Seth. I wish others did. Right, I'm going to go and sort my spells out and have a bit of a rest, but yeah. I'm not doing anything stupid in the night as long as you don't.
00:59:38
Speaker
And then he's gonna walk off and do some spell stuff and then fall asleep, so he's sorted it. Before you start to think about summoning over Alpha for a chat, Rains. I would have finished my Detect Magic and I would just like to know what's happening with that wave of necrotic energy that was coming off Alpha. The reading is still the same, yeah.
01:00:03
Speaker
You can measure a tangible increase in that necrotic strength, but the reading is still the same. It's getting stronger, Alpha, but the reading's the same. Yeah, there's something going on. Necrotic. It is very unusual, but it's not surprising. There is one other thing. Just a small thing. What was it with Princess? Yeah, actually. What was that?
01:00:36
Speaker
I think I can only say that it seemed like the right thing to say. But who is the Princess? You were aware you were saying it as well? Yes. And you weren't aware of the danger it was causing for all of us?
01:00:53
Speaker
It was causing danger. It was causing danger, right? If you could have found a way to silence him, you would have done the same, right? I was aware of everything that was going off, what I was saying, volumes, actions, reactions. And it felt right. It just felt like the right thing to say. But who is the princess? I am unaware. Oh. I'm just...
01:01:23
Speaker
Alfa, you were a construct made up of living memories in some form. We've talked about how memory rooms work. You were saying something and you thought it was right, but you couldn't process it though it was causing problems. Is that correct? I was aware of the repercussions at the time.
01:01:45
Speaker
My actions still seem to be the right response to such a manner. And you still feel that now? I mean, that was just a wrong thing. You almost got us all killed in some ways. You're the reason why this went down. That is one interpretation, Nix. I would heartily disagree. You know, there's many options to many questions, I guess.
01:02:11
Speaker
There's like, there's no princess memories in that memory room that you're talking about, Rains. Well, the memory room acts on like a subconscious for Alfa. It's not something he has a direct link to. It's something that effectively... I mean, this is new. We've never had a Macavolo.
01:02:30
Speaker
work the way that alpha does so i i don't fully know how it works if i'm honest but yeah he doesn't have i've also never had a link to what i looked like with the rune that is currently within me as well but well you've done that now haven't you yes because when we went down to the dragon's den that was
01:02:48
Speaker
Exactly. We managed to get all the funding. I really hoped you wouldn't get a go there. I was really happy. It just happened. So maybe that's started something in you. I don't know. But anyway, I just wanted to let you know about hope and where we can
01:03:11
Speaker
find help maybe it gives us a destination and heading i'm gonna go and um and he just kind of gestures to a quiet area uh sort my magic out okay okay glad you're back as he points to alpha i never left yes keep keep keeping score we've got seth and nyx now basically on long rest
01:03:37
Speaker
Yep. At least initiating that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But we'll come back to you a bit, but we'll say that you two are. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm done. You have checked out for the Eve, which leaves Emeron, your hour is ending, so you're now sentient and active in whatever you want to do. Rains, Alpha, and Baal are still awake. Rains would have one final thing for Alpha, which is, I think we have to
01:04:04
Speaker
assume that there could be multiple things happening here, Alfred. Like you've had access to whoever was in that room that brought you to life. And we told you several times, many rooms tried and many failed, yet that one stuck. And I think that you understood out of history from the second I placed that room inside of you. So there's bits of me in there, but there's also bits of someone else. I'm like a parental ancestry. Whatever's in that room is a part of your fabric, of your being.
01:04:35
Speaker
That's some strange things happening. There is definitely something wrong with you, but also as well, I think we shouldn't rule out that you could be... I don't know what the world is growing up and what we'd say about organics, but I don't know. Evolving, maybe. I don't know. You pulled a weapon out of your chest as well, so then you couldn't do that when we first met. You literally pulled a cannon out of you. So there's a lot happening here, Alfred. Do you understand what I'm saying? Yes, yes. I am very aware. It is certainly something worth investigating.
01:05:05
Speaker
I may give some of my time to it while the rest of you are sleeping. Good. But just remember that you're not some science experiment to me. You're my... I know. You're my friend. You're my... You're my son, Alfred, okay? I wish I was a real boy. You're my boy, I believe.
01:05:36
Speaker
We have to save you. That is my priority. My life is still young and I do not wish for it to be terminated so quickly if that is the end result of my current necrotic decay. Rains doesn't know what else to say. So what Rains will do is he'll just go, okay.
01:06:01
Speaker
you're gonna need to go through a rest cycle. I think that's why, given what's happening, that you do everything you can to rest out. You too. Yes, I'm gonna do it. And Rain's just gonna head over towards the camp area where Nix is and just start. No, not in the direction of Nix, because Nix had found somewhere sensible. He's not gonna go too close to Nix. Just somewhere, just somewhere away, suitable for a campfire.
01:06:29
Speaker
By the campfire? Yes. I know Nick's went in that direction, so he's headed in that direction. You've seen Nick's in the same book. Glass orb. He's got his kind of chain locket thing here.
01:06:53
Speaker
Wasn't there one more thing? It was the horseshoe. Horseshoe, thank you, yes. The horseshoe with the book. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Raines ain't getting near that. Raines ain't getting near it. He's just making shapes in the sand again, flicking through the book, making shapes in the sand. Raines would normally get his artifice, we stuff out and do similar things for the Rubik's Cues, but tonight he's just, he's going to take in the sky, he's going to let M.C. brew in some tea, and he's just going to rest until a long rest. Meditation comes over him. Okay, thank you. Which leaves Emeron, Bao,
01:07:22
Speaker
and Alpha. Seeing Reigns leaving Alpha alone, because Baal's been sitting there, same place cross-legged, but watching the groups they go, seeing now seems to be his opportune moment, he's going to call over in Draconic to Alpha and just say, Alpha, a quick word. Which one?
01:07:42
Speaker
Oh, sorry, you want to talk. I'm... yes. Yeah, Alpha will just very casually walk over to where Marle is sat. Cool. And he'll just say, how are you, Alpha? I believe the most accurate word would be tired. You feel tired?
01:08:09
Speaker
I believe that is the most appropriate word that I know of to describe my current status. A bit of a crazy day, hasn't it been? Yes. How are you holding up? You took quite a large amount of damage during this fight. Yes, I'm used to taking a few big ones.
01:08:35
Speaker
Fantastic. You encounter many enemies with large swords? Well, some enemies, some friends, but I digress. I wanted to say thank you for restoring me. I felt the energy was from yourself that got me back up, so to speak. So thank you for having my back in that sense. And I want you to know that I will always have your back also.
01:09:05
Speaker
Thank you. The combat that we endured, I noticed you were the one coming to my aid. I felt, at the very least, coming to yours was appropriate. I appreciate your assistance. Do you think I went too far? Possibly a manner of opinion. In mine? No.
01:09:35
Speaker
Baal will remember that. Because Alpha's a duck. There'll be a wry smile across Baal's face at that. I thought that might be how you responded, Alpha. And I'm glad. I feel like you might be on the same page regarding the Abchryskra. As far as my
01:10:01
Speaker
opinion states, they are still our enemy. They are still the ones we are attempting to fight in order to help a certain individual. Do you know, being released from Sean Dralica's service, I thought I would be spiraling to some sort of misery with no hope, but
01:10:29
Speaker
I almost feel a new sense of freedom that I didn't expect. And part of that, I would say, comes from this group. And part of it would come from a connection that I have been given.
01:10:50
Speaker
And with that, Baal is going to kind of undo the sleeve, some of the leather armor, kind of taking off pieces of the armor around one of his forearms. And yeah, take that off for him next to it and kind of look down at it. I have been tasked, shall we say,
01:11:18
Speaker
with the protection of many of us within this group. Yourself included. And... By whom? Perhaps by the same person who has... given you the fuse, shall we say, to your demise. Ah. I see. Doesn't fully make sense in my mind either yet.
01:11:46
Speaker
I feel like it has been given us purpose, given us drive to get you sorted, but keep us together. I believe that some of you in this group are destined for something greater than ourselves. And so, and it'll kind of redo up the sleeve at that point.
01:12:14
Speaker
I just feel like you should know that, regardless of what happens, I will be there to help you. That is most unexpected, but appreciated. Thank you. This last day we seem to have had a couple of massive incidents, haven't we? That is an understatement.
01:12:44
Speaker
It's been most hectic. I know of some magic that might be in our favour. Do you think that Rains carries much of his wealth about him? I am unsure, but we have previously taken on jobs to earn coin, so it is rather unlikely. How about gemstones?
01:13:15
Speaker
Not that I'm aware of. Why do you ask? Well, the magic I've learnt can put a stopper on death, shall we say, but I need some gemstones of some value.
01:13:34
Speaker
So if, as we next arrive to a city, if I have not much coin to my name, but if you can procure, or perhaps some of your companions can, some of, well, it's going to be several hundred gold pieces, and if we can find someone willing to park with some diamonds, then
01:13:56
Speaker
Should things go horribly tits up? Should, I don't know, nicks shank a bitch and get heated 200 feet? If I can get there in time, I can solve that. And I think it's in all of our best interests to keep everyone here alive.
01:14:12
Speaker
There has been many close calls, so I will not disagree with your train of thought. Did it have to be diamonds specifically? That's all I've seen used for this particular spell, yes. I'm aware that Nyx does have a rather large jewel, but it is certainly not a diamond. I was hoping to see Nyx's rather large jewel. If you ask, I'm sure he will be more than happy to show it to you. Barlix is lit.
01:14:42
Speaker
Well, anyway, Alpha, thank you. Thank you for today. Thank you for reaffirming what I thought about your views on the Abcriskra, and thank you for giving me more time. You are most welcome. However, just as something possibly for you to think over,
01:15:07
Speaker
I am still questioning whether everybody in our group has the same view against the Obgriskra as we do.
Conflict and Group Unity
01:15:16
Speaker
And Baal's eyes will flicker over towards Emron. Straight back at you. With the slightest of nods. And turn back to Alpha. And if those goals don't fully align,
01:15:41
Speaker
Perhaps they do not have a place with us. See, this is the issue. This is the issue, Alpha. You all have a part to play. We cannot. We cannot afford to break up over this. I just think perhaps I will not outwardly, aggressively,
01:16:11
Speaker
target someone in open combat or an open field, shall we say, in a civilian setting of the purple robe and put the entire party in danger. However, I cannot promise that I will not react. I cannot promise that should the perfect opportunity arise, nothing should happen from there. But I think perhaps outwardly displaying that hatred might not be the best route
01:16:41
Speaker
Because if it causes a split, we are lost. Emron is a peaceful person. You say that. I've seen him bash many a skull in with that big fucking hammer. He does. And he does seem to get some form of enjoyment from it, from what I can see. But only when it is required.
01:17:05
Speaker
Maybe it's a conversation for yourself and Emron. I feel tonight meaningful dialogue might not happen. Perhaps. But he's also logical. If it is the general consensus of one particular action, more often Emron will go along with that action, but... well...
01:17:34
Speaker
moon about it. Indeed. I feel like we need to unravel this. I feel like we need unity. But our goals are never fully going to align, I suppose. So, caution. Anyway, thank you, Alpha.
01:17:53
Speaker
And thank you. And rest assured, you have my support in anything that we do as well. I appreciate that. And he's going to kind of place a hand on Alfa's shoulder as he stands up. And that hand will kind of linger a little bit too long. There'll be a little squeeze that I don't know whether you'd feel. And Bar will make his way away. And that's me done for the evening, other than I'm going to change some of my prepared spells. Because I think I can do that from a very nice lecture.
01:18:20
Speaker
I'm legit for and cast heat metal. Burn, baby. Alpha, you're sweating. Hot flush. Thank you, Baal, which leaves Alpha and Emron the only ones still and awake.
01:18:39
Speaker
or not engaging in the works. Well, so having watched The Shady's Fuck conversation in Draconic, because obviously that whole thing was in Draconic, the only thing I obviously saw was obviously Barr reveal his arm and then him look at me or glance at me and I'm just staring back at him. And once I'm admiring his work, he's allowed himself to slip back into a more peaceful
01:19:00
Speaker
mindset allowed himself to go back into his personal life, which was to forge and create things with his hands. So he's let himself almost calm down through that. Are Rolo and Gabe still awake? And if not, I can push this to another time. Yeah, they are conscious that if you will fall asleep, they are the ones doing the watch and they are sensitive to the fact that you are in a bit of a communication breakdown. So they are just sort of skeptical and they've just met you and you've just killed a lot of
01:19:30
Speaker
the people who are helping them. So there's a scepticism right now. Anyone's going to go over to Rolo. Rolo, I wondered if I could ask you a couple of questions you might be able to answer. You might not, if possible. Go for it.
Political Dynamics and Religious Practices
01:19:50
Speaker
Obviously, given what we want to understand, the three families, whatever they are, are now ruling Dralak, as it were. Right. So, obviously, in Shadow Men, there is a guild who would spread out a little bit from across Earth. Do you know if Cline the Shadow Shield have a guild house in Scorch Elm?
01:20:16
Speaker
I mean, everyone's in Scorch Elm these days. Maybe. I have not been to Scorch Elm in... When was it, Gabe? Why am I asking you? You wouldn't remember. Two, three year. Okay. Yeah. I mean, it's like the biggest place for people who don't care for the law to be. That attracts quite a crowd.
01:20:40
Speaker
Okay, no, I have to use what to know because, thank you. Shadow... Client Shadow Shield. They're a client to Morgan Smiths. They were... had quite a few holdings in Shadowmend and I know they did try and spread out in order to continue their guild and trade. I would imagine they'd find themselves in Skort Shelves. You know, it's a very, very liberal place. They do lots of business, so... The other one was... in...
01:21:09
Speaker
The place we're going to, nearby. Snake run. Snake run, aye. Do you think Captain Gellnoth will go there? Yeah, they're based there. They patrol the road. Through the other... Is it a barracks or whatever? The toll house. The toll house. Yeah, they're part of the abcriscoer crossing control.
01:21:40
Speaker
That's where their garrison is.
01:21:44
Speaker
And are all of Criscra a lead of followers or is it just, you know, I met some what are Thiri Arne's, some what are Mixwa, some what are Akiba, some what, no, actually I've not met any that are Akiba, some that are the other one, Vatini's, some of them what just worship their own bollocks, like, you know. No, like,
01:22:11
Speaker
And in, in Snarewood. They're all individuals. I was just wondering whether there was a particular, the captain is the second person who has been a former Aledo that we've encountered with the Acriscra. Faith is important to people. It is, and I know. But in the, I briefly overheard while I was doing stuff, there's a temple in Snarewood.
01:22:36
Speaker
Yeah, it's more of a multi-faith site of worship. Right. It's quite new. The guy who outruns it, he's old as balls, but he's very wise. Very wise. There is a lido spot there if you need to just like, you know, check in and rid yourself of oogly-boogly.
01:22:54
Speaker
And Snailwood's a good place for us to get supplies and equipment. Yeah, but I mean, you were looking around, you all are not equipped to be out here in the sands for much longer. No, no. Okay, thank you. I just wanted to get an idea of things before we discuss tomorrow. Whatever happens, I'm happy to help you go back into Snailwood. I know I made that clear earlier, but if there's any doubt,
01:23:18
Speaker
I was not much doubt until now. I know the others were a bit wary because of the Acrisca and that lot. Well, the Acrisca is only one third of the power and they don't come into town that much. When they do, it's not very remarkable. Is the tollhouse too far out of town then or not? It's about a quarter mile out of Snake Run's tower itself. Okay. Is that on the other side of Snail or do we have to pass it together? Oh no, no.
01:23:46
Speaker
We'll be coming in via the sands that you won't be going past them if that's what you're worried about. You might just spot the occasional one in town. Okay. Thank you. I would, you know, just be careful of like the rest of the ruling powers. And I'm sorry for what you had to witness here. It was not our finest moment. You all seem like the weirdest group mercenaries ever. You don't agree on anything.
01:24:15
Speaker
No, perhaps that's one thing we do agree on. Like, you all got to sort your shit. I think there was a breakdown in communication. Clearly. Anyway, thank you. Very helpful. We'll take the first watch. I'm happy to... I'll be up for a bit if you want to rest. No, you rest. We've got this. Okay, well, you wait me after an hour. Oh, we'll do.
01:24:44
Speaker
Oh, throughout.
Alpha's Watch and Memory Exploration
01:24:46
Speaker
We haven't been fighting, so we're fine. Well, it's fine. Everyone will look over towards Alpha. Alpha, are you okay to stay on watch while you do whatever you do when we all rest, or do you want to actually rest? I can keep a casual eye out. Okay. Okay. That's useful to know.
01:25:10
Speaker
So, everyone, you take yourself down to rest, and Alpha, you are active for this first leg of the watch, is that what you're suggesting? Or are you also going into that back pile, power down? There is something I'd like to attempt before. Go for it. And this could be something a bit later on. From the conversation with Reigns, I want to just kind of sit and maybe take
01:25:37
Speaker
a few minutes to try and I suppose get in, maybe try and get in touch with the room that's actually inside of me. So I've got like a bit of connection with an image now. So it's like almost Alpha Mind Demon is like trying to go into a meditative trance where he's looking inside. It's something he's read about something maybe he's seen a morrow to do before, or at least something similar and you're going to try and attempt to get in touch with something like that.
01:26:05
Speaker
I'm sorry, I've just leaned over to Calum's phone. He's got a screen protector on there that doesn't cover his fucking screen and it's hurt me. There's like a centimetre from the bottom of his phone. Hold it up, show everyone. Sorry audience, it's not really podcast material. If you want to put a screen protector on your fucking phone. I'm sure you get the one that fits your fucking phone. Or the one for your phone, not just like a random screen protector.
01:26:32
Speaker
I just bought one. Of course you did. What happened if you dropped it at a perfect stone position right at the bottom of your screen? That was shatter. That's what screen protection looked like. Then I'm an idiot, aren't I? At the moment it's not happening. What the fuck? That's like going for the smallest condom when you've got the Magnum PI of dicks. Or go for an extra large condom when you've got a small dick. That's over compensated. Can I just say as well that the Magnum PI of dicks is the best metric of penis measurement I've ever had.
01:27:01
Speaker
And we've got to that point. Anyway, you were doing something after before. I was trying, but there we go. Yeah. You are trying. I'm looking inwards. Different. This is the flavor that we get in person. I'm looking inwards now. I'm going to let you finish. I can't hate you.
01:27:22
Speaker
I've had this on since day one and I've never bothered to buy another one, I'll be honest. Fucking irritating. That's just when we look at you. Anyway, what role would you like? So just clarify what you're doing with... I'm trying to get in touch with... Hang on, I've just come to a late finish.
01:27:43
Speaker
I'm trying to get in touch with the soul that is part of the memory room that is inside me trying to find any semblance of why I might have started saying princess, why it felt like the right thing to say at the time, anything like that. I just feel like I've got a bit more of a connection now with the image that was in the
01:28:03
Speaker
The Dragon's Den. Make a straight wisdom roll for me, please. Roll for existential crisis. I love that Dragon's Den is now part of our campaign. It absolutely is. My wisdom is atrocious. Oh, that is five. Okay. You enter into this focused
01:28:33
Speaker
Sentinel like mode with your functions and you are trying your hardest to sort of repurpose or energy towards that inward reflection and trying to to just extrapolate the where you were when you started saying princess and try and place yourself in that moment.
01:28:54
Speaker
It's not clear, you'll have a perfect memory but with that roll of five, there are fragments you see and that's it. You experience something that you feel like you've always known despite the fact that this is brand new but you feel like it also has that nostalgia attached to it. You find yourself out of breath, a sensation you're not accustomed to.
01:29:24
Speaker
Your legs are feeling heavy. You are leaking somewhat from the forehead and under your arm. There is some sort of watery substance running down your back. With a roll of five, you find yourself in a courtyard. You recognize that as a structure.
01:29:50
Speaker
There are elaborate sculptures around, tended gardens, hewn stone, marble quartz, et cetera, that sort of lace this very opulent scene. You look past that and you can't remember where certain roots go, doors go, corridors go. You can't see that full image. You smell burning, burning of wood, burning of stone, burning of flesh,
01:30:24
Speaker
There is a voice from behind you that just keeps saying the word princess. You can't turn back. You don't have control over this. This isn't a lucid experience. You're just in this singular, still couple of seconds of repeating memory. The voice, however, is familiar to you. You're certain it rains his voice.
01:30:59
Speaker
Rain's just a princess all along. I knew it. But there's an off pitch that doesn't quite, it's not 100% match. You focus a bit more and try and just explore this sensory information you're feeling. And you notice in a moment, this missile, this arrow fly past your head. It sort of skims your brow.
01:31:32
Speaker
Then you feel this sudden pain in your back and you plummet towards the stone you're running on. And that is where we're going to end this week's episode, The Fellowship of the Tabletop.
01:31:48
Speaker
Bellum
01:32:05
Speaker
Went through my mind, couldn't help it. Thank you everyone for joining us in the room. And thank you everyone for joining us online, for making us part every day.
Conclusion and Social Media Handles
01:32:13
Speaker
We love you for it. And if you wanted to check us out, we don't post. But if you wanted to DM us, we have a social media page where you can reach us. Collectively, it's at fellowship table on X. And then individually, I'm at iWorld1, Darren's at... Darren Page O6. Mark's at... I see the world DM.
01:32:17
Speaker
Draconis.
01:32:30
Speaker
Alpha Will is at. Natural20will. Beta Will is at. Fellowship NPC PC. Columns at. TD20Gamer. And our glorious DM can be found at. Total Party Thrills. Until next time guys. Farewell.