Transcript
Speaker: yeah scott got guided ah good good Guidance you've come guidance i'm touching you for Guidance Guidance doesn't happen look over to Prego and ah um
Speaker: Hello everyone and welcome to this week's episode of the Fellowship of the Tabletop, Belem Draconis. We are a live play 5E 2024 D&D podcast set in the magical homebrew world of Aerith in the kingdom of Dralak. Joining you for this week's episode, we have Will, who plays the Dragonborn, Druid Balfalkon.
Speaker: Ooh.
Speaker: Poo-Ber, who plays the human cleric, Emron. He broke my halberd. The Hedgelord Calum, who plays the Warforged Artificer Alpha. You ever dance with the devil in the underground hideout of the Piss Noot?
Speaker: Ian, who plays the Tiefling Warster and Ix Carell. Hi. And our dungeon deity, the dispenser of doom and the dictator of dice, dungeon master, delighter in danger, dungeon master Danny.
Speaker: Bonjour. I had one more needed to get in there. And speaking of getting one more in there, we see old gal stood at the bar, his long toes scraping small cracks into this into the ground.
Speaker: He seems to be clutching bit too tight onto a small, clear, what looks like a spirit of some description in a busy bar. in ah a kind of a busy um tavern-like environment, his left eye twitching as he seems to be muttering to himself.
Speaker: The orb slowly fingered and moved in his pocket as he as he starts muttering and says, Ooh, deal-breaker! So, the group has two weeks until the reunion for the Winged Watch.
Speaker: As they get outside, everyone's like, I'm going to try and get myself back into this room and ask for the Winged Watch help, but nope, it's a fucking cupboard. The group decides to split up to get themselves ready and also to try and work out what the fuck has happened with Reigns.
Speaker: Alpha and Nyx go to the docks to look for Reigns. Bahl and Seth go to Trunks to ensure that they can get some travel going on. And Emron heads to the forge to whack out his sweet, sweet hammer, probably.
Speaker: Alpha feels like he's pretty lost and abandoned. And Nix and Alpha are like, WWRD, what would Reigns do? And they consider that maybe he's gone elsewhere and they'll just leave a letter for him back at the Piss Newt.
Speaker: When they get back to the Piss Newt, Nix is like drugs, apparently. They get down below and there is a fire lit and a loot playing and it's fucking prego down there he's like let's race a toast to your father's memory they're like what the fuck you talking about boy and prego's all like well i heard through seth that range is off doing this shit and he's probably gonna die and i don't think you're gonna see him again and they're all like fuck and then he's like do you know what here's a little bit more seth's fate may be linked to range's fate and if range is one of the three and he dies seth's for two oh and by the way my brother is tocalon you know that person you just heard about in the big
Speaker: fucking prophecy thing and nix is like oh could i make a deal to maybe save seth in some way and uh prego's all like yeah you could but it'd probably be fucking catastrophic and you know about your deals and then it's all like alpha maybe you could make a deal instead and alpha's like i don't think this is a very good idea because prego's like i'm the only person stopping telcolon from returning and i'm linked to seth and if seth dies i go and you're all fucked pretty much so Alpha's like, let me just work out what kind of deal that I can set up to make sure Reigns is safe. And then Nix is all like, hold on, boys.
Speaker: Let's just talk to the fucking group for once. So they make their way to the group to work out. Is Prego bullshitting? Is Prego gaslighting? Oh, fucking knows. We just know that Prego's definitely fucked Seth with the wording of his deal.
Speaker: And Prego's pretty much got us all by the short and curlies. And they play a game of hunt the cunt. Emron rubs one out with holy lube to try to purge that naughty halberd, but that bitch shatters into golden ash.
Speaker: Oh, fuck. All along with Emron's hopes and dreams. And they arrive back at Trunks, and shit is about to go down.
Speaker: As you're rolling up your sleeve, Seth, as Nyx has turned the conversation... to being about this tattoo which marks the agreement, the deal made between you, between Baal, and between Prego.
Speaker: Baal's side of this fulfilled, Baal no longer implicit in this agreement. It's just you and you bear a tattoo each arm now to signify that.
Speaker: As you're rolling up your cuffs, Prego dropping the disguise of Reigns says the following.
Speaker: Do you all remember when we first formally met? I introduced myself to all of you in different roles.
Speaker: Yes. Yeah. you know Seth nods. Do you recall of what you were? Remembrance. Perhaps you could remind us, Prego.
Speaker: He took me to see the My patron.
Speaker: To Nyx, I was a minder. I was sent by the spider who swims to bring him to heal. Yeah, thanks for that, by the way. To you, Alpha.
Speaker: A bounty hunter. And indeed, i have found you.
Speaker: Do you recall any sort winces as he says this, Emron?
Speaker: You weren't sure about me. And I am still unsure.
Speaker: As am I about you. I'm a cunt. We've come to learn. Yes. And Baal to you.
Speaker: don't think you're overly clear what you were to me.
Speaker: You talked about being a mother and a father.
Speaker: And what was I to you, Seth?
Speaker: Seth's got ah ah really concerned face on furrowed brow. He pulls out a tab and red smoke, red mist forms in front of him and you just see like two very distinct forms of kind of armies forming up and behind a number of key individuals behind them, or waving their arms in the air, and he points to one of them. There's like three of them, I think, or four of them, behind the one of the armies, and he he still, Farrowbrow, points to one of them.
Speaker: Prego casts a spell, and you hear Seth's voice say,
Speaker: Well, Mark, could you say a foe in Seth's voice? A foe.
Speaker: He nods then. Realization hits him.
Speaker: Please continue, Nix, with what you're about to say.
Speaker: So, when we were down there talking,
Speaker: we were talking about deals and the deal that you struck, Seth, And you struck Baal.
Speaker: And how those deals are tethering this cunt, this plane of existence in Aerith. And by doing that, he's stopping his brother, which is Tolkien.
Speaker: Tolkelon. Sorry, Tolkelon. That big fuck off demon that's... that prophe ties to ruin Aerith at bay.
Speaker: They're brothers. It's the reason why Morota is dead. Also, because Morota made a deal with this bastard's brother, Tolkien.
Speaker: With Reigns gone.
Speaker: There's a very real chance that your life is forfeit as well, Seth. Or so this cunt says. far So with that knowledge,
Speaker: and this is where Nix will look towards Emron, the talk of new deals was broached. Not for myself.
Speaker: I'm a bit out of deals.
Speaker: Alpha? Alpha?
Speaker: I may have to be more careful on the wording, possibly, but I wish for Reigns to be kept safe and secure.
Speaker: In exchange for that, Prego would like the princess. ah There was another deal where Seth is kept safe and secure in exchange for the princess.
Speaker: Cards on the table.
Speaker: Aaron, look,
Speaker: It's got to be very easy for me to say this, but these sort of things and these deals happening in an individual basis isn't good for the party as a whole.
Speaker: Yes, I learned the hard way about that.
Speaker: This is very real and there is strong consequences to any deal made.
Speaker: We all know this, me especially. We need to talk this out as a group because the consequences of his brother coming down before we're ready
Speaker: could be the end of everything that we're trying to protect.
Speaker: Before you open your mouth, Prego mimics an activity that you will do called pass the bottle. And once Nix has finished speaking, produces a empty carafe of wine, gestures it to the group and places it towards you, Emron. It looks like you're about to speak next.
Speaker: Emron looks at the carafe.
Speaker: Baal was able to fulfill his part of the bargain.
Speaker: Yes.
Speaker: So what does Seth have to do for Philist's part to get his reward, his army? Seth requested
Speaker: an army with unwavering support for Sleetgaard. Okay, so where where did he get that? He can have it right now. We can end the bargain.
Speaker: And that then... means Seth doesn't have to be tied to you or Reigns? Correct.
Speaker: Well, that seems simple, doesn't it, Seth? If you want this army, it's going be really useful right now. Seth's head is in his hands, and he just he looks up, and he's just shaking his head, looking at you quite sombre.
Speaker: right um um I think Nick's just said if that deal is over... Prego is gone and fucking bombshell, by the way, that your brother is the the the big fucking evil thing that's going to be coming and and fucking Aerith.
Speaker: My brother not evil. It is those. And he points to the sky. The second moon and the twelve tethers that come out of it.
Speaker: They are the evil. And your brother wants fight those. No army here on Earth will defeat them. Only my brother's legions. So why don't you fuck off and have him fight them and end this fucking thing?
Speaker: What do you think that is?
Speaker: I find it very hard to believe that you are as cunning as you claim to be. I've only got one thing tethering you to this world to stop your brother from coming back.
Speaker: That seems very short-sighted for someone as arrogant as yourself. Is it?
Speaker: Or do I fundamentally believe in the ability for a handful of individuals
Speaker: to do the right thing?
Speaker: Well, you guessed wrong with Reigns because he's fucked off, hasn't he?
Speaker: I'm wrong.
Speaker: You don't get it right all of the time.
Speaker: um Alpha, when you're talking about the princess, you and Baal kind of motion to his chest, the center of his chest? the the thing that The thing that's keeping you going?
Speaker: She is no longer here and points to his chest. and basically takes out the... and I don't know if Baal has seen it, but a piece of obsidian that he took from a the but the previous war force that he found, Magnus.
Speaker: S.H.I.E.L.D. is now in here.
Speaker: And... And Baal's going to look around. Is there anyone else? I know it's the middle of the night. Anyone kind of lingering nearby? Anyone? No. Okay. If I'm pretty confident in that, I'll go... and
Speaker: I'm assuming, Prego, the fact that you're fucking here and talking about all this shit, you can understand or you've seen everything that we've seen, you know everything that we know, there's no fucking secrets with you.
Speaker: Am I right in thinking, Alpha, that that thing then, the princess, that is what all sides want rather than you? It's it's that.
Speaker: It is a possibility. Maybe Prego could tell us.
Speaker: I wondered when you would ask. I mean, if you're enamored with our abilities and think that we can help save this world, it would be helpful to have a little bit of... then everyone sort of pauses for a moment and sort of grits his teeth.
Speaker: Guidance.
Speaker: About what to do.
Speaker: ah Clearly, i'm a cunt. What I'm going to ask you to do is not going to be appetizing.
Speaker: What is your question?
Speaker: Why is this princess wanted by everyone?
Speaker: She is the last of the Gartrans. Yeah, that we know.
Speaker: why are they important? They are them and points to the object in the sky.
Speaker: Oh, fuck.
Speaker: So they want her to reclaim whatever... Aerith. Erith and rule it like they used to because that's what she was implying when she spoke to us. Yes.
Speaker: And she was being hunted down by Eurion Cardinal who had made deals apparently with your brother. Yes. So this is a big clusterfuck fight over Erith.
Speaker: Yes. So either we side with your brother and he defeats them and turns it into a hell dimension of his own plaything. Is one. mean, yes.
Speaker: Or there's the other army, which is the one in the sky, which wasn't fighting over Sleetgard. Correct. Why not? and Because the two oldest kingdoms in the land you know as Aerith, when it was divided after the Gartrand rule, Shadowmend and Sleetgard.
Speaker: Shadowmend.
Speaker: Exists because of my brother.
Speaker: Sleetgaard exists because of the Gatrans.
Speaker: Leopold Sleetgaard is 4,000 years old. As in the existing one right now? There has only ever been one. Fuck off. He has been Leotgard Sleekhald I and Leotgard Sleekhald II. It is the same individual. Leotgard I served Princess Aemold de Gatrin until her last breath.
Speaker: They are the same.
Speaker: It's the Urien, the one that is reigning now, also the same as the one from Approximately 4,000 years ago? Yes.
Speaker: The two are timeless. One a human, one an elf.
Speaker: The elf made a deal with my brother. The human remained true to the Garton Clause.
Speaker: What happened since? Earth became its own world.
Speaker: All of these wonderful kingdoms with new life existed.
Speaker: They are caught in the middle.
Speaker: And that's what we're defending, right? The life that's remained, yeah. we've got The ones in the middle. armies. Two armies. And us in the middle of it all.
Speaker: I'm not it's two. Everyone.
Speaker: Draw arms. What do you mean it's not two? Well, how is it that the Apkriskra are here? How do they know everything that is happening?
Speaker: How can they be in the right places at the right time? Are they working for the demons? No. The Gartrands?
Speaker: No. Wait, are they working for the gods that came after? No. Themselves?
Speaker: I know nothing of the Criss-Cross true intentions. Well, ah great, thanks. You could have led with that. But I know they are not connected to either the Gartrons or my brother.
Speaker: So that Delmon Trace...
Speaker: The magic he holds reeks of the same magic as Orion and Leopold.
Speaker: So he could be timeless as well.
Speaker: And potentially has made a deal with somebody. Or nobody. How do you get this timeless magic?
Speaker: It is not clear.
Speaker: So I would be first in line if they were handing them out, nonetheless.
Speaker: Emron's about to speak, but then he sees that Baal's almost... And then Prego passes the carafe to Baal. ah Sorry, we've not been playing by the rules, Seth. I know that you've been getting antsy and kicking the dirt, but I've got the bottle now. He's been shaking his head.
Speaker: What do you want ah with... hu And Baal will kind of nod to the ah the obsidian that Alpha has.
Speaker: What would you do with her?
Speaker: She is the key to everything. What does she unlock? For the Gartrans, I return to my brother, a victory.
Speaker: To the Yb'Kriscra, who's to know right now.
Speaker: To any other force in Aerith, unknown.
Speaker: To the dragons?
Speaker: I'm unsure. But Prego the Majestic
Speaker: is to be the one holding all the cards. That is what I want. You want to be able to have the bargaining chip. I want to be able to decide.
Speaker: Who wins. Yes.
Speaker: Alpha. Because at the end of the day, you're looking out for whatever's best for Prego.
Speaker: That's what he's always done. Alpha, you need to understand this thing that you hold is arguably the most valuable artifact, not just on Erith, but arguably of the plains below and whatever the fuck that is up there.
Speaker: And you're willing to give that... to this self-proclaimed cunt, and I'm not going to deny it. I christened him. I'm just saying.
Speaker: As you were. Thanks, Nix. And you're going to give that up?
Speaker: You can't. Poor Reigns.
Speaker: I mean, it it was ah it was it bringing the discussion to the group, as opposed to Alpha just making the choice. the just The deal was that three of us were important. Have you worked at which three?
Speaker: I was going to say, can you tell us? No. Of course you fucking can't. What happens if we just take the the thing inside Alpha and we destroy it? What happens if we just end it all?
Speaker: I assume we've done then Tolkienon's job for him and he's if we've destroyed the last Gartron.
Speaker: So confused. Bile's going to turn to Seth and kind of take in Seth that's been, I assume, shaking his head through this time.
Speaker: Yeah, he's he's he's been shaking his head and ah the men but he's kind of processing through it, half listening to to most of what's what's been said so far. um will have I like to imagine he's been sat ready in the clip-clop position at the reins on top and seeing everyone approach from that position, happy, it late then goes through all the fucking emotions um and almost all those stages of grief.
Speaker: in a one-er. And he's just kind of sat with quite glazed-over look, just kind of staring staring out. And he's he spent the last two or three minutes just trying to get trying to get Nix's attention, but with without a lot of effort. He's not been gesticulating big. He's just been trying to catch his eye, but has has failed up until this point.
Speaker: And with... With bowl like Ball looking, he'll just he'll just point to... He'll look at Ball and then just point to Nix, but just but with a single finger. There's no emotion, really.
Speaker: And then he'll lift. And then if Nix does look at him, he will just very, very slowly lift a finger to his to his temple and just tap the side of his head. Okay, yep, yep, yep, yep.
Speaker: And you'll start feeling the presence of Nix's mind in yours. And it's like a ah wave comes like a tsunami of like a fucking emotion that he's emotionless on his face, but you feel this hit of of all this all these this weight of emotion.
Speaker: um But his voice is very calm and he just says, um ah agree with Bo. Alpha can't give that up.
Speaker: We seem to be stuck in a bit of a conundrum.
Speaker: Verbatim, Nyx is just telling everyone. It's not really just for you, Nyx. Oh, shit. Thanks for sharing. I'm still new to this myself as Nyx fires back into your brain.
Speaker: ah don't like more deals. Deals is what ah got us into this mess with Prego in the first place. don't think more will get us out of it, but I don't know what will. I don't know anymore.
Speaker: I don't understand any of this. Why isn't there just one one guy we can kill and be done with it, you know? Why isn't it simple like that, like war? Yeah, I feel you.
Speaker: I'm more confused than ever. I thought we were just... bringing this simple question of we save you, we give up the the artifact.
Speaker: Seems like a good deal, but I'm not one to say what a good deal is, obviously. This has just gotten hella more confusing.
Speaker: you want me tell the group? what you like that Now that I don't want to overstep, um i I could just be your mouth. No, you can't. I'd need to know as well. like When does this...
Speaker: but how do How do we know when Raine's... How long have I got? Nick's will say that loud.
Speaker: How long does Seth have? Seth nods. I do not imagine you'll still drop breath in the morning. Vile's going to stare directly at Prego and just take in everything about him and say...
Speaker: If something happens to Reigns, does Seth die?
Speaker: Seth is tasked with keeping three of the four of you alive.
Speaker: Which three? You won't know. you're saying he might not die?
Speaker: It's possible. but you imply that he won't draw a breath. you've and You've shown your hand Reigns is one of the three. Could be. I want to make the biggest insight check of my fucking life, Danny, please. Guidance, guidance, you've got my guidance.
Speaker: I'm touching you for guidance. Guidance doesn't happen. good and Oh, Nick's will look over to Prego and just... ah prego just Prego just winks at you back.
Speaker: But meets your gaze directly, Barl. Go ahead and roll. He did. I got a 23. three so Fuck you.
Speaker: Well, hopefully fuck you.
Speaker: so they Told you he was hotter. Never that easy. Can you roll again, please?
Speaker: get get good guys guitar oh guidance oh my guidance
Speaker: smoke it prego smoke it just yeah out of that and um um uh nix you doing the guidance? ah ah if it lands I don't know I would try again, with a knowing look and a almost slow motion finger, I'd have to pray again with another hand out touching my arm. I'll bless him if I have to.
Speaker: If it works, it bumps me to a 31. ah ah If it doesn't, it's still, yeah, 27. It's like max.
Speaker: Not even cutting words would bring it down.
Speaker: You, Baal, believe Reigns is one of the people that needs to stay alive. Okay. Okay.
Speaker: He's just distracted by Nick's enough times for you to see a glimmer, a sliver of truth.
Speaker: So,
Speaker: what is most important to you right now? That Seth remains alive? That Reigns does? but Well, you're implying that we need to keep Seth here, because if we don't keep Seth here, you're not here. And if you're not here, Tolkien on rocks up, and we become a fucking royal rumble between these two armies, and everyone else gets caught in between.
Speaker: Everyone's on fire. Best analogy ever. You must stop thinking it's two armies. Okay, those two armies and whoever fucking else wants to fucking weigh in in this clusterfuck of a fight.
Speaker: during Sorry, just during this back and forth after Seth has said his bit to Nyx, he'll leave the connection open. And you can I imagine like it's like you can hear like static, like, you know, you're still there on the phone with someone, but they're not passing anything across. And he's's he's just going to slump down onto the chair.
Speaker: He's going to reach down and get a spell book. And it's like, you know, like um looking through a um like a like an old film, and film, old um photo collection, one of those big photo collection books.
Speaker: He's going to literally go back to the beginning and just page one. And then page two, he's not looking for anything. He's just going to just like almost like reminiscing over over the the spells he's got and the the kind of the the drawings he's got, um almost making his peace with whatever decision that gets made.
Speaker: It's just this is what he's going to do. He's going to take his time with this and then like in the Matrix, nod like this. Mm-hmm. not like this and then we'll just we'll snuff it and that's why he's that's his that's his opinion or he's he's he's residing himself to the decision that gets made by the group because it's fucked if you do fucked if you don't um yeah he doesn't stake in it anymore so he's just gonna he's gonna do that and kind of zone out but that continued buzzing nicks happens and like just uh yeah you've got that if needed sorry to interrupt
Speaker: Prigo sort of walks around the back of you, Seth, and rests a hand on your shoulder, but addresses the rest of the party. So, and he starts patting it patronizingly.
Speaker: four four What do we do about our friend here? There must be other other parties fighting for our side.
Speaker: What side is yours? The side of Aerith, the side of
Speaker: All will bring life. Just different versions of it. Then you are perhaps and I have steered you towards
Speaker: the one that looks most like it will now.
Speaker: The winged watch.
Speaker: Or I have steered you towards Deep Kriskra. One of those two. Reveals Earth. To look like it does now.
Speaker: Who knows? Who knows what power will do? So. Alpha, you've already been given an offer which it seems like you are more hesitant to take.
Speaker: So I offer one final one.
Speaker: To all of you.
Speaker: Define all I cannot reverse Seth's. Say for two reasons. Seth, you accept that you are happy with the army with unwavering loyalty to Sleetgaard has been given to you.
Speaker: He's gonna like half chuckle and shake his head bitterly. or but yes well but then But then nods his head. you mean that army up there? No. Do not interrupt me one moment.
Speaker: If you agree now then the army that is sworn to Leopold Sleetgaard and to the Gartrons will be ever stronger.
Speaker: But...
Speaker: If you fold this round, if you stay in agreement with me,
Speaker: Perhaps I can find you an army with unwavering loyalty to Helena Sleetgaard
Speaker: instead. And you play the long game.
Speaker: I remain tethered to you. This pact remains in place.
Speaker: Or you cash in now. And Aerith is locked into a different fate. And while Seth considers that an offer for the four of you,
Speaker: you will keep her.
Speaker: You will decide what happens to her.
Speaker: But At the end of all this, when the five, four, or six of you have that decision around what happens next for Aerith,
Speaker: I will be there.
Speaker: When all players have revealed all hands and you are deciding who wins the pot,
Speaker: you will let me play in that final hand also against my brother.
Speaker: Two deals. As well as the deal offers to you, Alpha.
Speaker: Seth, something for you to consider. The four of you, something for you to consider. So if we agree to this, you get bound to us and you stick around?
Speaker: To the four of you, yes. the four of us. Wow, Mr. Seth.
Speaker: If Reigns perishes, Seth will not.
Speaker: That'll be our agreement.
Speaker: You keep her. Seth is freed.
Speaker: What's the other side of this deal? What the consequences? Because I want to see the fine print.
Speaker: I trade in ambiguities. Yeah, no, it's very demon of you.
Speaker: I get the chance to overthrow my brother.
Speaker: And I get to be the seventh voice. Or fifth.
Speaker: Or sixth. You get a voice at the table is what you want, basically. At the end of the road. The deciding voice or an extra voice?
Speaker: It depends which way we are all leaning.
Speaker: Ambiguous.
Speaker: So her and Seth, for all that.
Speaker: You get what you want. You get time to make a decision. To figure out which power is going to rule Earth after this war. And you keep your friend, Seth. I give you time. You give me time. It is a simple trade.
Speaker: And while you're bound to us, your brother has no other way of getting here other than sending his forces through.
Speaker: Prigod doesn't say anything.
Speaker: I'll take that as a I'm not sure. Because the only reason... I'm not his only brother. oh One travelled here previously in Erith.
Speaker: Started the blight.
Speaker: My brother Grazett.
Speaker: what What happened to Grazett? Out of interest. Pure interest. Why is he not here? He was defeated. that's interesting. so you kind your kind can be defeated.
Speaker: He can. Because he chose war. I choose peace.
Speaker: I'm not evil. I'm just a cunt.
Speaker: Seth says into Nix's head, I don't think we should have taught him that word.
Speaker: yeah You hear that laugh back in your head. I'm still now really confused. Am I going to die now or not? Because it sounded like I was definitely going to die. And now it's a bit of a chance and now I'm not.
Speaker: Am I reading that right? Or am I just confused? You're ahead. You hear a higher pitch nervous. as Seems like there's a deal here where you your life is...
Speaker: no longer tied to Reigns you're still tied to us I guess instead of three people you have to make sure doesn't die or go down to two Reigns Reigns' days seem to be numbered
Speaker: so if we take Reigns out of the equation of your deal you your days aren't numbered anymore but you're still tied to us And we continue to be pawns of this Brago's machinations and games with his stupid brother and his family. And that continues.
Speaker: More hopeless before he centers your head. So if it were a pawn to him or a pawn to the will of the gods or a pawn to our own fates, I don't think we can escape that.
Speaker: Prager announces, gentlemen, would you prefer to share with the rest of the class? And looks at both of you. Seth's going to look at him and then look you dead in the eye, Nix.
Speaker: And you'll see a little snarl on his face. I watched one of his brothers get brutally killed. I look forward to doing it again.
Speaker: We're just discussing the deal and the finer points of it and whether or not Seth is going to be safe. Going to cut his head off and then slowly push my fingers down his spinal column and really cause some damage.
Speaker: Make his arms and legs twitch. I'm going to make him shit himself. im go A mountain wrapped in leather, ears like a banner unfurling, slow, deliberate grace. That trunk, oh, it's not merely an appendage, but a symphony of utility.
Speaker: I'm going to make his toes wobble around a little bit and make him do a little dance as as he slowly spurts blood out of himself. That's what's going to happen, okay? Make sure you tell him that bit about the but blood spurting, yeah?
Speaker: That's important he hears about the spurting blood, okay? ah Okay. Okay. Seth's days aren't the only ones that may be numbered with a lot of spurting blood.
Speaker: Seth nods. Is that a threat?
Speaker: Seth nods very sarcastically. song Who knows? Ours is not to do or die. Ours is to wonder why.
Speaker: if if we make this deal... Does this mean Seth is still bound to two of us? Seth's... Seth's decision comes first. Seth, you cash out now.
Speaker: And Sleetguard receives an army. You just don't know which Sleetguard that is. You cash out now, you're no longer bound to reigns.
Speaker: Or... You stay in the game.
Speaker: You find a different Sleekard for that army. And we move to the table here with you four.
Speaker: Seth's decision comes first. And I know there's a lot going on, Seth. I understand. i Well, I can't possibly understand the full ins and outs, but...
Speaker: I know you can, I can see you kind of staring at Nix a lot and I'm assuming that he's doing that mind fucking thing, but you need to be able to, I'm sure it is. i need you to talk, Seth.
Speaker: I need you to communicate this with us.
Speaker: There is so much at stake and so much that we might be willing to do for your sake. And if I don't know your full mind,
Speaker: He's to have looked at you the entire time quite... Not... Quite... Shit, don't think... don't know the word. Just just like listening. Nodding as you say it. Understanding. Appreciating what you're saying.
Speaker: And then we'll turn just his eyes towards the Knicks again. I'll do what the group thinks is best.
Speaker: At the end of the day, I'm just a soldier. I'm only as good as the company I'm in.
Speaker: If the group decide A, I go with A. If the group decide B, I go with B. To be honest, I don't still fully understand them.
Speaker: The office that is, or really what's at stake for them.
Speaker: Just tell them to decide and I will tell Prego accordingly.
Speaker: a Seth is down for whatever we decide is best. Seth nods to prove that Nyx isn't just making that up.
Speaker: He wants to play his part as the soldier.
Speaker: I don't know. As Nyx. Here. I...
Speaker: Time is...
Speaker: Deals. Fucking deals.
Speaker: At least we're all a part of this. um Time, from my very small point of view, and thinking about best foot forward,
Speaker: Time is the best currency we can hope for right now. Time for Seth's life. Time to see how things play out in the world of Aerith.
Speaker: Time to test the waters with the winged watch.
Speaker: Maybe the Chris Crow if we're following that. and That's not me saying that we should.
Speaker: without us bargaining for time, a lot of the decisions that we hope to make would just get made without us.
Speaker: and We are truly powerless then. There's consequences. so There'll be consequences that we don't even agree to and won't know until it happens.
Speaker: And we have to accept that if we're going to do this,
Speaker: That's my thoughts on it.
Speaker: Seth's going to and have slowly nodded and just throughout the following, whatever else happens next after that, he's going to sat down with a single page open in his book and he's going to quite nonchalantly just be trying to and failing at casting Find Familiar, trying to recreate bits of the spider he had previously, just reminders of what's the past when things for him was easier as as the others say they say their piece.
Speaker: Do you know, Prego, why those names we had to get were important?
Speaker: Yes, I do.
Speaker: Will you tell us why?
Speaker: no
Speaker: But they are important. Does it help us if we know? Not yet. They'll just be names.
Speaker: But when you need to know,
Speaker: it will make sense.
Speaker: Telling you too soon it's only going to burden you. Okay. I'm going to look to the others now, almost ignoring Prego's presence for a moment.
Speaker: Nick's, for once, had a few smart words to say. Meow. That's pretty good.
Speaker: Time is what we need. At the moment, it is against us. We have no initiative. We are reactant.
Speaker: But we've always said as a group that only when we work together, people who've left us not counting, do we actually have a chance.
Speaker: So we need to make sure Steph sticks with us.
Speaker: If that means that we have to then make a deal with Prego,
Speaker: to keep Seth safe.
Speaker: And that might be what we have to do.
Speaker: But I swear this, um mafi by by Aledo and by all the people that we know who have put their faith in us, the actions I take
Speaker: will be to save Eryth and the life that is here.
Speaker: If that's what we have in our, in our hearts, in our minds,
Speaker: then a deal with Prego is a burden we'll bear, because others aren't here to do it. And sometimes we have to bear the burden for others
Speaker: And Emron looks at Prego.
Speaker: But I swear by Aledo, you double-crossers,
Speaker: I will do everything I can to stop you.
Speaker: Prego believes you.
Speaker: One day. Perhaps you will.
Speaker: Seth loaches over and grabs the bottle um in between his kind of slow castings of the carafe that's been passed around to represent who can speak.
Speaker: And he's going to hold it for a second and and hand it, making eye contact towards Baal.
Speaker: Baal will take it.
Speaker: I hate this.
Speaker: Seth's going to chuckle.
Speaker: What if I bear the burden for them?
Speaker: No.
Speaker: The terms for all four of you.
Speaker: To protect Seth.
Speaker: If Reigns dies.
Speaker: I hate that that's on the table.
Speaker: I fucking hate that whatever Reigns has chosen to do has led him to this spot and led us to this spot. It doesn't make sense. It's fucking idiotic and chaotic and it has put us once again in fucking mortal peril. I hate this.
Speaker: Then let's not
Speaker: Alpha, that isn't a choice. Why isn't it?
Speaker: Because you remove the one bargaining chip we have against this cunt.
Speaker: And you put it straight into his hands.
Speaker: And we don't get a say.
Speaker: I'm not saying that we are the right people to have a say. We're a group of fuck-ups more than anything.
Speaker: And I know I'm a hypocrite for saying so, because I made a fucking deal with him before, but... I do not like the idea of giving him all the cards.
Speaker: Neither do I. But we'll be at the table, at least, if we do our deal. If he is a voice, so be it. According to him, it sounds like there'll be many. It sounds like... I mean, Prego, you obviously can see into the future. You made fucking cards for Morota weeks before her death. You know what's going on. I know you do. I know this is how you play your fucking games, and I hate you for it. Truly, I do.
Speaker: and wish there were a better word I could say than cunt, but you are a cunt. But...
Speaker: I made a promise. The other night, after being absolved of your fucking deal.
Speaker: that I would do what I can protect this group. And if a member of this group doesn't want to protect themselves and fuck off somewhere, I'm sorry, Alpha. I'm sorry, Emron. I'm sorry, Nix. I know you were close. Seth, I don't even know if you'd give a shit, but fuck him.
Speaker: He's gone. He's landed us in this shit. I am going to protect you. If you stay this course, I am here to protect you. Emron, I'm in. Seth, I will do it for you.
Speaker: He'll thrust the bottle into Alphys hands.
Speaker: Alphys looking around at the group.
Speaker: Reigns is somebody who has been by my side from day one.
Speaker: I've never known him not be there, not around.
Speaker: But then there was the rest of you.
Speaker: I may have lost a couple of people in my brief time span here on this plane.
Speaker: But you are all important to me.
Speaker: Barl, you do make a good point, and perhaps it is one of those things where I must put faith in Reigns and what he's doing, and that his decision is indeed the right one.
Speaker: No, he's fucked us, Alpha. Don't think about Reigns. He's fucked us. It's how we see it at this moment.
Speaker: But nevertheless, I do not believe that Seth should pay the price whether it was a mistake or not.
Speaker: I do not wish to give up the princess.
Speaker: But I will help bear the burden with my family here.
Speaker: Prego begins rolling up his sleeves at this point.
Speaker: So.
Speaker: How do we proceed?
Speaker: Burn me, daddy, and make it fucking hurt.
Speaker: Seth's going to stand at that and nod at what Baal has just said with a bit of a perplexed look on his face and one corner of his mouth lifting into a smile slightly, confused at the seriousness of the situation, but was going to agree and nod at what Baal has just said, hoping that Prego will understand ah the intricacies of what he's just said.
Speaker: He puts his back slightly to Seth, who I think is still sat down at this point, and holds two hands out, one towards Emron, one towards Baal, and then looks to Nyx and Alfa to sort of perhaps form a circle.
Speaker: I'm not going to lie, guys. I am fucking terrified.
Speaker: We bear this together. In this together, Nyx.
Speaker: And Alpha is going to offer a hand to Nyx. Yep. Yep. Yep. I'm in. And the most important thing this time, Nyx, with this deal is we're not doing it for us.
Speaker: We're doing it for others and for Earth, not for our own power, not for our own game. Yep. I hear you.
Speaker: hear everything you're saying. It's just, I can't believe I'm walking this path again.
Speaker: what do you see? and Nix's eyes just shift to Prego. At the end, picking up on what Baal said and the fact that you did know about Morota, what do you see at the end of this when we are making the choice?
Speaker: I cannot answer that. Cool. Detect thoughts. And I'm going deep in. i want
Speaker: i want to see what he's seeing when he says that. who Mind shield. Yeah, I assume so, but it's the last card I've got that can think of. I love it. Don't get me wrong. I love it.
Speaker: ah So I'm going hard on this one. um Not just surface shit, but though I do get that regardless. I get ah sense to presence of thoughts. Unless he's got mind shield.
Speaker: Yeah, I know, but I'm just reading what it is here. like You don't read the thoughts, but you know, no, that's sense thoughts. Read thoughts. Target one creature you can see. You detect. You learn what is most on the target's mind right now. Yeah.
Speaker: And then as a magic action, um I can probe deeper into the target's mind. ah You have to make a wisdom saving throw. On a fail save, you discern the target's reasoning and emotions and something that looms large in its mind.
Speaker: such as worry, love, or hate. On a successful save, the spell ends. Either way, the target knows that you're probing into his mind. Until you shift your attention away from the target's mind, the target can take an action on its own turn to make an intelligence arcanic check against your spell save, ending the spell on a success.
Speaker: I want our minds to connect as well while I'm doing this. So way I'm going to shift my telepathic link to Seth into Prego's mind. So he full on knows what I'm trying to do.
Speaker: The surface thoughts in that moment with Prego. When you asked, what do you see at the end of this?
Speaker: You see you, Nick's corral.
Speaker: Aboard a beautiful ship. Motherfucker.
Speaker: With a giant hat.
Speaker: This ship. as a crew of four, five, six dozen, you're holding a jewel in your hand.
Speaker: And as you twist it, the wind moves with it.
Speaker: You have one hand on this jewel, one hand on the rudder, and you are cruising across a vast ocean that is at your command
Speaker: You look around you.
Speaker: You see your old captain.
Speaker: Much older.
Speaker: Sat down.
Speaker: full bottle of rum in front of him.
Speaker: You see Marota. Stood right next to you. Holding the rudder with you.
Speaker: And there is this dragonborn flying between the rigging with an agility of an animal
Speaker: that just smiles at you.
Speaker: The sun is warm. Your belly is full.
Speaker: You're at peace.
Speaker: Danny. That is what you see. Danny.
Speaker: Does Seth know that Prego is casting a spell right now? Because he would have noticed the connection has broken with Nyx and has assumed that he's doing something, his his mind really shit on Prego.
Speaker: Seth's vision has then switched to Prego feeling an offensive, as in we are on the offensive in a weird kind of psychotic way. And he looks towards Prego looking to see if he's doing anything to stop Nyx.
Speaker: I'm looking for any semantic, verbal, or or ah material components that Prego is doing. Any muttering, any movements, any gestures.
Speaker: ah do yeah You see nick Nick's doing those things. Prego is there, arms out, sleeves are rolled up, about to clasp hands with Baal and Emron nearby. And he's looking at them.
Speaker: He has no idea. He's not looking at Nick's. In the slightest.
Speaker: Okay. Thanks.
Speaker: I'm going cast Counterspell anyway, just in case. Just in case. Just in case. Do you have to nominate a target? Yeah. and Yeah. Interrupted creature in the process of casting a spell. It is semantic.
Speaker: Only. Does it make the creature or is it in an area? It's just a creature. You attempt to interrupt a creature in the process of casting a spell. ah The creature makes a con saving throw 15. On a failed save, the spell dissipates with no effect.
Speaker: And the action or bonus action or reaction used is wasted. And the spell slot that they used is not wasted as a result. You cast your spell. And it's a wimp. And it's like, okay, yeah.
Speaker: A dart. I was going to go with a dart. Nice. It just sort of bounces off Prego's back and falls to the floor and the glow from that spell incantation just turns into smoke.
Speaker: Just going to nod at that. Almost like, yeah, I knew that was going to happen. And go back to his familiar half-casting. Prego just looks over his shoulder back at you and smiles for a second at you.
Speaker: But he's largely just being warm well with everyone.
Speaker: Yeah, he's definitely a cunt here in his mind.
Speaker: Who is ready?
Speaker: step forward.
Speaker: I'm ready to do what is right.
Speaker: Thank you.
Speaker: Bal?
Speaker: At least make it look cool.
Speaker: That I can do.
Speaker: Alpha?
Speaker: I am still trying to decide whether you are a villain or not as per our previous conversations. But rest assured, I agree with the rest of the party. You are a cunt.
Speaker: And I'm still stepping forward.
Speaker: Next, Corral.
Speaker: ah Looks at everyone.
Speaker: Together, yeah?
Speaker: Together. Together.
Speaker: Okay.
Speaker: Yeah. um let's go around again, i guess.
Speaker: And the moment, Nix, that you complete the circle, Seth, you aren't in this. This is ah this is between these four. Your hands are locked together and you you cannot pull away despite your best efforts if you try, if you even attempt to.
Speaker: And you just feel this you just see this this sort of white glow emanate out of the chest, a Prager the Majestic. And it sort of rolls down both of his wrists and begins to sort of snake around all of yours, goes over the the core of Baal and Emron, and then snakes into the wrists of Alpha and Nyx.
Speaker: And Prego just reiterates the terms of the deal.
Speaker: Whatever happens to Reigns, Seth will not be harmed.
Speaker: But at the time,
Speaker: when the party, or these four individuals in this, need to decide what to do with her, the Prager will appear.
Speaker: And then you will feel sharp,
Speaker: sharp pains burning into your forearms and into your biceps and right up to your shoulder, while this is you have felt before. There we go.
Speaker: That's the one.
Speaker: And within seconds, sort of the the space around you feels even darker than this dead of night.
Speaker: And then you notice that your arms are filled with these flame-like tattoos in jet black. Cool. Nyx and Emron.
Speaker: Sorry, Nyx and Alpha.
Speaker: On one arm only. But on Baal and Emron, on both arms, as you have to sort of be the conduit for it to pass through to get to every person. Oh, man. We're so cool.
Speaker: Then within a few seconds, you are restored.
Speaker: Prego sort of just stretches a little bit and stands a little bit taller than he was a couple seconds ago and just says, I feel wonderful.
Speaker: Balvalkon.
Speaker: Yes. When we all met, I was a minder. I was a foe. I was a bounty hunter. I was an unknown.
Speaker: To you,
Speaker: think you are something to me.
Speaker: You are the heart.
Speaker: I will cock his head a little bit. The heart? To you? No.
Speaker: To us. And looks at all of you.
Speaker: But will kind of follow your gaze.
Speaker: Right. Seth, you are protected if anything happens to Reigns.
Speaker: Better keep the rest of them alive, eh? So that's going to flick him off.
Speaker: You do not know which one you are allowed to lose. He nods and continues to flick the bird. Wonderful.
Speaker: And just know,
Speaker: you can cash in at any time.
Speaker: He shrinks.
Speaker: I bid you all ciao for now.
Speaker: What are we then, Prego? Are we still unknown?
Speaker: And always will be. And you'll understand why at the end of times.
Speaker: I'll see you then. If not before, I now have five tethers to Aerith. Once again.
Speaker: i might go buy some lunch. ah hope you keep an eye on us just to make sure we don't, you know, suddenly die. and Thanks to these, I will never not have sight of you again. Yeah.
Speaker: Figured that. I will know everything the Winged Watch says. Everything you decide. We better tell them that.
Speaker: You're also going to see some really nasty shit. But I will look at Nyx.
Speaker: and i He leads into you this moment, but I've already seen it.
Speaker: You will always have a companion in me.
Speaker: You just may never trust me. And I understand.
Speaker: Ciao.
Speaker: For now. And he disappears. In front of you. What a cunt.
Speaker: Can we all agree that this is fucking Reigns' fault? Seth nods. Take that as a yes, Nick. Thanks. goodna I've done some shit.
Speaker: Yeah, but you have done some shit. But I feel like what Reigns has done has personally screwed a lot of us with our pants on.
Speaker: just our souls that are fucked, I suppose. It's nice to have company this time.
Speaker: Still feels foreboding as fuck, though. It does. You were right, Nyx. You were right, Emron. We do need time. Aerith is going to be
Speaker: DP'd it seems as he points to the sky and to the floor. yeah And that could have happened tonight. It could have happened tonight. Were it not for what we've done.
Speaker: but what we We've already saved Aerith. If you think about it. Well, I think we've got some steps to go, but I think we know that we've now got to do this mission for the wing watch.
Speaker: we've got to make sure the winged watch know that Prego is a cunt.
Speaker: And we've got to make sure that we're ready for whatever this end game is. So that if, or should I say when,
Speaker: Prego decides to have his meeting, and I know he's listening and have his word in, that we're prepared to make sure that we're not exchanging... The devil we don't know.
Speaker: for the devil we do know.
Speaker: So, best foot forwards? Seth's going to put a finger up. As Seth would No, no, he shakes his finger, shakes his finger, shakes his finger, reaches down, pulls out a tab, pulls out a minor illusion and forms this small, ah overly, like ah small mouth, this overly large lips, really big gaunt teeth inside. It's just going to go, clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop.
Speaker: And he points to it. There's violin. Clip-glop. Clip-glop. It just keeps going. Clip-glop. Clip-glop. Clip-glop. You're going to be okay to drive for a bit because it's always going to do with the rest. Clip-glop. Clip-glop. Okay, let's get on the fucking car. He thumbs up. Clip-glop. was hoping for coconuts.
Speaker: I was hoping for coconuts as well. ah I was hoping for coconuts as well. And it keeps going clip-clop, clip-clop, and then randomly just changes. Clip-clop, the march of something bound tied to the earth. Clip-clop, clip-clop. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. What was that? just it and shuts it down. Yup.
Speaker: And he quickly goes. No, no, no. Seth, Seth, Seth. Close the horn. Nix. You're making a face, Nix. As if to go. What was that?
Speaker: I don't know. We'll talk on route. And he's there like hammering the reins, trying to get trunks to move. But for some fucking reason, the elephant ain't moving. It's still tied to the post and he gets down and quickly unties the post. Gets back up.
Speaker: While you're all focused on Seth in that moment, Seth, you experience a shortness of breath. Seth does. Yeah. Oh, fuck. And almost for a second, your heart skips a beat and you're really struggling like you're choking violently.
Speaker: And then you notice while Seth's sleeves are still rolled up. Oh my God. His tattoo begins to sort of pulse temporarily, glows white for a second.
Speaker: It takes about five, six seconds of you all looking in sheer panic at Seth before it snaps back to where it was a few moments ago. And Seth, you can breathe again, but you are like coming up for air after being underwater for minutes.
Speaker: The tattoos are still there. Still there. But for a moment, it felt like they were being pulled off you. Like when it happened to Baal.
Speaker: Alpha, in that moment of concern, you might express for Seth, or maybe not. You just feel your iconic energy just sort of fizzle inside you a little bit. Just temporarily, but almost like your connection to the weave and and and how you...
Speaker: have learned how to conjure magic has just been tainted temporarily. and You just feel really depressed for a few moments and then panicked for Seth.
Speaker: And Emron, you just feel sadness. You just feel an absolute weight in your gut. You're not sure why. You try and concentrate on it for a second.
Speaker: And it fades.
Speaker: But it just... You just feel a tear in the corner of your eye.
Speaker: Bal, you feel nothing except empathy from like seeing Seth not looking particularly well. Nick's the same.
Speaker: With my passive, would I pick it up on the others as well? Just that something's, there's a shift, there's a change. yeah you you see Seth struggling to breathe and you and you look around to your friends and you see Alpha just sort of malfunctioning slightly and and Emron almost crying but looking really solemn.
Speaker: But Nick's matching your level of panic and uncertainty.
Speaker: And that's where we're going to end this week's episode of Fellowship of the Tabletop, Bellum Draconis. Oh, fuck me. not ready for that episode to end. Dude, you're a twat.
Speaker: Shit's gotten real. Shit's gotten real.
Speaker: At least Reigns is gone now. Prego is playing us like a puppet master and we're just dancing to his tune. No, we're not. We're doing it our terms, man. Had we rejected it?
Speaker: Oh, absolutely. we rejected the deal? We were put into a corner. We're all part of a deal now.
Speaker: It's like reading the small print and realising that Apple's going to turn us into the human centipede. LAUGHTER
Speaker: ah At least, yeah, at least it's all cards on the table this time though, isn't it? That's true. We're on the same page. That's the nice difference. No more subterfuge. All in it together. No more lies at the moment. It's all like so much lies. All in it together. me. Now we've just got to unfuck Seth.
Speaker: That was the quickest hour and a half ever. Literally, I was like, no fucking way. There's been 10 hours, it's been an hour and a half, right? That's just... I can't believe how long we've got until the next recording.
Speaker: But that's been our listeners to listen to because they will hear what happens next You lucky sods. Lucky, lucky sods. ah so That being said, do tune in and listen next week.
Speaker: But while you're here, thank you for tuning in this week and making us a part of your everyday lives. We love you for it. If you wanted a page to locate us on, we have a couple. We have an X page, which is at Fellowship Table, and we have a Blue Sky Pie page, which is at Fellowship Table.
Speaker: What's it called? Fellowship Table Top. Fellowship Table Top. It's not Blue Sky Blue Sky. Blue Sky. American Pie. Apple Getting High. and Let's talk Sunnys Blue Sky, guys. Come up Blue Sky. That's it. That's it.
Speaker: You can follow us there at Fellowship Tabletop. And then we have individual pages, which you can link us to. But let's fucking say it because it gives us all a nice little sign off there. I'm at I rolled one on X. This is all for X. We haven't done the blue sky yet.
Speaker: ah Pooh Bears app. Natural20Will. EdgelordCallum at TheD20Gamer. Mark is at HastilyRollDM.
Speaker: Will is at FellowshipNBCBC. And our VIP of the content D&D can be found at Total Party Thrills. Until next time, and guys.
Speaker: Hello!
