Transcript
Speaker: which you've been lugging his trunk for four hours. Is there anything you would like to have done?
Speaker: No. He'd be still contemplating life choices right now. I'm wondering where the fuck Remy is in Alessio.
Speaker: Hello everybody, welcome to this week's episode of the Fellowship of the Tabletop. We are a live play D&D podcast set in the magical homebrewed world of Aerith.
Speaker: Joining us for tonight's session, we have Ian playing our on-high archer, Caelan. Hello everyone. And we have Will playing the ever-persuasive Lady Gardam.
Speaker: Mmm, toes. but And that is it with me tonight. Farewell. Farewell. I will be your DM for this evening. And before we jump straight into this session, Will, can you please offer us...
Speaker: Not necessarily in old girl's voice, but maybe in another character's voice. A recap of what happened last session. Just be yourself, man. you don't Don't bow down.
Speaker: What happened to yes and? It's just me. No and. ah So, in the last few hours of our adventure... No. Lady Garden has spilled the beans on ah what this mission is.
Speaker: ah she doesn't know what the contingency necessarily is, but does know that there is a heavily um escorted convoy heading south um towards Evergard and the group have got a limited amount of time to intercept.
Speaker: um Well, there's actually there's three days until this crossing is made and this crossing point is possibly the best point to intercept this group. And it's about two days journey for our party. So they basically ah set off, they set foot, make their way there, they walk, walk, walk, walk.
Speaker: ah etc. And eventually look to make camp. And during this camp making session um Remy goes off following a trail and ah doesn't come back. And the group discover that he looks like he's been taken.
Speaker: um Which is a little bit disconcerting. But the group decide that they cannot do anything as of right now. And they go ahead and make their rest. I believe that's the the deets that I have the the specifics of. Feel free to add anything if you want, Callum. Yeah, Callum. Actually, yeah I do have some questions off that. um So Remy was taken, and Caelan, if I remember rightly, did a a good role on a perception for tracking. um
Speaker: Was it decided that we... I haven't listened to last week's episode, for so forgive me. it decided that we... leave remy or did we say we're gonna wake up and go the true decision hadn't been made okay however every member of the winged watch always knows that the mission has to come first if there is somebody that gets left behind then so be it
Speaker: I'm not going to argue.
Speaker: Bless it's not choice for you. I've got
Speaker: We'll be fine, guys. We'll be fine. We'll be fine, just us three. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No stress. So, who's having dreams tonight? think nothing positive from this situation.
Speaker: Last session ended with the good Lady Gardanne taking the first two-hour watch while Caelan enters his trance state and Alessio starts to have a little bit of a resting.
Speaker: Now, your watch, ah Lady Gardanne, goes by without issue. You wake up. Alessio, as you normally wouldn't, you settle down for your long rest.
Speaker: A couple of hours go past, and Caelan, you start to naturally come out of your trance state. You realize your body has replenished itself with all the energy it needs for the next day. So you have successfully completed your long rest now.
Speaker: As your eyes start to adapt again to the light being let in, you look around and you have a ah small ah point of confusion as you think yourself, oh, why Alessio not waking me up? He's still going to need his rest.
Speaker: So almost in like ah a bit of a panicked state, you quickly turn to where he was resting and you find his stuff gone. and nothing but a note pinned under a stone.
Speaker: In haste, you run and grab the note. I don't run. You casually walk. Longstripes. And grab the na the note.
Speaker: Whatever, bastard leaving. and The note reads, Sorry for leaving you both. but I have a personal contact in Riverfold who I may be able to get information from regarding Remy.
Speaker: He's very private and protective, and we'll get spooked if there's anyone else with me as I approach his hideout in the city. We still have a small bit of time before the crossing.
Speaker: If we can get Remy back soon, i would rather not wait. Make your way to Riverfold. I will meet you at the whispering pillow in the late afternoon.
Speaker: The where? The whispering pillow. Cool.
Speaker: Good name.
Speaker: Okay, I'd love to you if you wish to do anything this moment. Yeah, absolutely. I would like to do what Caelan does best, which is just track the direction of which Alessio...
Speaker: um He'd have been doing this while reading the note. He would have been just taking in the atmosphere and the weather. Obviously, the long watch rest, um it wasn't that long. so And Kalen, even though he's in a trance, he's still aware of what goes on. So he's just, um I guess, coming to. just wants to... Just to...
Speaker: secure himself in the direction of which Alessio went not to follow. This is just to, uh, I guess have faith that he knows where on a compass, um, Alessio would be with which direction that would be. So he's looking around this ground for any, like, don't forget before they make camp, Cailin places like broken,
Speaker: uh, bits of twigs around or anything that makes noise, anything that kind of just alerts people from entering in, uh, and he would have done that in a different circumference, but he's looking for tracks mainly or any disturbances in the land.
Speaker: and Okay. Um, Nice and easy. Do me investigation check. I say nice and easy and I can't even talk. Investigation check coming out. That's all, folks.
Speaker: ah As always, roll fucking great with character. That's 23. i I can't think of any character throughout any campaign that we've done that's had more successful rolls than Galen. His percentage is ridiculous. No, it's good.
Speaker: It's a card. But yeah, it's a good roll. Quickly around the ground, you're a very easily able to discern a few ah scrapes into the ground where it's kind of lifted his pack up.
Speaker: ah From the ground, it's kind of scraped a little bit of the soil, disturbed the grass below. You've been able to pretty much follow... a very direct route leaving, trying to step over your kind of, um, uh, noise traps that you've laid out. He's mostly been successful in not making too much noise, but they have been disturbed. So you are able to follow a bit of a route and it does seem to basically lead back to the main path
Speaker: and you follow it in the direction of east, which is the direction to Riverfold. and With that type of roll, you can also tell that there is not much of... There's not a rushed pace nice that he's going either. It's a a nice, steady, casual a walking pace.
Speaker: He walked, walked, walked, walked then walked some more walks walked and walked some more. Getting in the theme of this episode. you know Thank you for that. Cailin's going to head back to camp. ah
Speaker: He'd be aware that Lady G would still be in the early hours of her rest, so would leave her to... um slumber so would
Speaker: sit on the peripheral of the camp and open up his senses and by that i mean would sit and breathe deeply taking in the smells of the forest open his ears to take in the sounds and quiet his mind from thinking about his two missing comrades of Remy and Alessio, because he needs to focus in on the mission as a member the winged watch.
Speaker: And that's my, uh, that's my watch. My watch has ended. No, that's lovely. So you're taking everything in. You're just absorbing all the petrichor that's in the atmosphere at the moment. The what?
Speaker: The petrichor. What a wonderful word. Please, Callum, explain what petrichor is. It's the smell of wet grass. Wow. Stone, my friend. We have learned something new today, everyone. That's your word of the day.
Speaker: Petrichor. Petrichor. it was brilliant. I wasn't trying to trip you up. oh That was genuinely like nice. Something I've generally learned today myself. I'm spreading the knowledge. Like your seed.
Speaker: Exactly. um And talking your seed, we move on to Lady Gardan. You are... capable in having your full rest. I've never once heard about Lady G talk about her seat. You are successful having your full rest as well. Caelan has decided not to wake you and you may obviously account for your full rest as well. You awake and feel refreshed. And a new level.
Speaker: Not a new level. Level six. Being the only two here. You know it. um Well, maybe. We'll see. There we go. Yes. Oh, keep pushing. Keep pushing.
Speaker: i appreciate You're expecting more possibly kind of um movement and an atmosphere when you wake up. But it is very sullen.
Speaker: It is very quiet. Obviously, Caelan being the kind of person that he is, um it's almost like you're waking up by yourself.
Speaker: That was possibly one of the worst night's sleep I have ever had. Just here, upon the ground. Despicable. Alessio, Caelan, we will sleep at an inn. i will spare no expense. We will not do this again.
Speaker: If the coin is yours to spend, I'd still choose to sleep outside.
Speaker: ah you You won't take my money, is this?
Speaker: Long as we get to where we need to be, when we need to be.
Speaker: i see. Well, I'm sure Alessio won't mind. Alessio, it is an inn. She's going look around. We're staying in an inn next time.
Speaker: i demand it. Alessio has departed us. He's died in the night. Was he wounded?
Speaker: No, he's going to see a contact regarding possible information on Remy's whereabouts. Is this a euphemism for going and relieving himself, or he has actually gone to try to get Remy?
Speaker: Unsure what the euphemism would be here. a shit boy taking a shit?
Speaker: Literal sense here. Gone to find a contact.
Speaker: Right. There was a note. oh Pass it over. Let me see. Caelan will. Definitely pass over the note as if a magician was revealing the final card in a deck.
Speaker: Excellent. An annoyed ah lady Libilly will kind of slap his hand like a cat would just away from the note as it's kind of passed over and she'd unfurl it and hold it far away from herself as she kind of focuses her spectacles to give it a read.
Speaker: Ah, the whispering pillow. i know it well. Well, at least he has good taste in inns and this is where we shall meet him, I suppose.
Speaker: Very well. Very well. Have you seen Duchess Penelope?
Speaker: And she's kind of been tucked back of where you are camping. Can you roll me a D8, please, Gallop? I absolutely can roll you a D8. Apparently, she's not been tucked at the back. So let's find out.
Speaker: Unless it's One... Cool. So from wherever you say she is, this ah red horned head kind of pokes up.
Speaker: This very minute tiny, if you will, ah winged imp kind of reveals itself and and claws itself up on some of the supplies.
Speaker: And Lady Lobilly just sighs and goes, ah Lord Bentley, you're here, are you?
Speaker: And Lord Bentley, just kind of in a very, almost slow, creepy way, just nods. I do much prefer the company of Penelope, but hey, at least you're not Baron Reginald today.
Speaker: cotton We need to start packing things away. My trunk is over there, if you don't mind, Caelan. And just ah watch watch the delicates, would you? and Make sure you don't get any of the mud on my things.
Speaker: Caelan frowns to himself, looks between Lady G over to the trunk, back to Lady G,
Speaker: Very well. And we'll make his way to the trunk like some little bitch and start to get it into a yeah travelable state.
Speaker: How big is your trunk? umm On a given day. oh how sorry. How cold is it? I would say it is probably about three foot long, maybe two foot deep, so actually quite chunky.
Speaker: um But it's been kind of carted with us this time. ah We probably would have attached it in some way to the Raptor, wasn't that one of the things that we tried to get done? I think all your stuff, yes, was basically slung over the Raptor when they picked you up from your tower hideout.
Speaker: I see, and the two-legged reptile is no longer with us, so it should probably be yours. I don't think my back would be able to take the trunk on the journey, especially not as far as the whispering pillow.
Speaker: And you definitely have need for all the stuff in here. Absolutely every item is essential and has a purpose.
Speaker: Even that, hands off. Fine. As Caelan puts down what he was holding, some weird contraption to which there's only two things he can think of it fits into.
Speaker: And both of them is the answer.
Speaker: Very well.
Speaker: And how long will you be until it's all packed and ready out of interest? And would you be ah providing breakfast or is it something that we shall find on the road, I suppose? We procure as we move.
Speaker: And as for how long I will be through pursed lips, Cailin looks across.
Speaker: As quick as I can be. Very well. I'll just be over here on this rock pruning. Try not to hurt yourself.
Speaker: I shan't. The bustle is padded.
Speaker: Caelan sets about getting the trunk in some order. Is there any wheels on this trunk? Is it ah just a is there any straps on it? Talk to me. how how What did this trunk look like? Caelan gave it no fucking second thought when it was strapped to the back of a Raptor, of all things.
Speaker: It wouldn't come with wheels, I think. I don't think Lady Gardan would have any kind of contraption with wheels. It's not a travelling case. no no know No. I see it as like a storage trunk. It's normally the kind of thing you would put down in your house and you put all your nice winter blankets in there. Okay.
Speaker: Caelan has a natural strength of So... so
Speaker: Let's do this, I guess. Do you want to roll just roll role Roll just a straight strength. Just straight up strength? Straight up strength. I think the trunk would probably weigh more than the contents on this occasion.
Speaker: ah We've got a solid nine.
Speaker: you You do struggle, especially at the first bit. The weight of the actual trunk itself just really kind of has you... taken aback. um You are able to lift it, but the moment you can only kind of have your arms dropped and locked in front of your waist with this trunk.
Speaker: And you're kind of just moving forward and moving the trunk with every single step you take. And you're just trying to move it down ah to the more well-trodden roads and the beaten paths that you'll be taking to get to Riverfold.
Speaker: Okay, ready when you are. So Caelan trying to hide the fact that he's sweating under his pristine elven hair and features and one who normally carries himself with such grace that could be mistaken for a ballet dancer is suddenly hunched over, arms locked and dropped, as our DM said. You have terrible posture. You must lift with your knees.
Speaker: Noted. Well, very well. I suppose you're leading the way. i shall follow you, Master Tracker. Indeed.
Speaker: I think Cain would probably try to lead the way. He would try to still be the same person at the forefront of the walk, but generally with the noise. He's not moving in the zigzag formation that he normally does. I tell you that. he's not He's not dropping between trees on either side of the roadside. He is...
Speaker: trying to keep a perceptive glance ahead, left, right, and in front, up, down, and below. But there is no deft of movement here. He's very well aware that, ah for him, he's in a precarious situation to which, if they did get ambushed, he's not the odds aren't in his favour in this one.
Speaker: Which is fair. I think as well, I think a constitution check should will probably be in order. This is a very, very long walk that you've got to get to Riverfold. And the idea that you'll be able to carry this heavy trunk all the way there, we are talking some good hours. He rolled an eight on that one. so all the stuff that he's bad at, guess what? He's bad at. ah
Speaker: Very clumsily and very without grace. I would probably say that this a kind of three-hour walk that it would be to Riverfold is probably going to take you more like ah four and a half, maybe even five, depending on how it goes along the journey, just because this trunk is really, really slowing you down, almost to the point where even ah Lady LeBilia's natural walking pace seems to sometimes close the gap.
Speaker: on you kaylin as you are trying to just keep a he'd be stoically silent the entire time other than passing loathing dirty looks backwards towards lady g there is no tell other than the sweat and the piss poor posture in which he is walking there's no muttering under his breath There's no moaning verbally out loud, but there is a icy silence that's filling the air.
Speaker: And I think as you are approaching Riverfold and you're starting to see more caravans and more citizens that are walking along this path, they all kind of give you a bit of a confused look.
Speaker: as you are just walking and struggling with this case. And I think ah icy glare would extend ah to them as well, just as a they are all going past. Caelan, Caelan, wait, wait, I have an idea.
Speaker: should make it much easier. My legs are rather tired. I'm going to try to hitch a lift. Excuse me. And she kind of waves to try and flag down one of the passing caravans. And, yeah, one of the passing caravans, they're not in a big rush, so one of them will eventually just kind of stop.
Speaker: Yes, my lady? Ah, well, I am just looking for passage. If you have a spare seat for an elderly lady upon your wagon, I would much appreciate it.
Speaker: Do you perchance? i could I could pay my way, certainly. Whereabouts is it you're going? ah Why, we're heading to a Riverfold.
Speaker: Is this your location, your direction also? Yes, it is, my lady. I'm afraid there's not much room up front with me and the ah horse up here, but you're more than welcome to sit in back with some of the cargo. Oh, well, thank you. I very much appreciate it. Caelan, Caelan, here, look. If you walk behind this cart, it should be much easier as it pushes its way through the mud.
Speaker: so that's fucking Fantastic.
Speaker: Are you okay, Caleb? The companion of mine is not of many words, you see. I'm fine. might struggle to get that trunk on there as well, I'm afraid, milady. Oh, it's no bother, Caleb's fine. He's happy to carry it. He's carried it this far. He doesn't even seem to have a single word of complaint.
Speaker: that right, Kiglin? Yep. Mm-hmm. And in his good mannerisms, this person's going to hop down from where he is sat and just kind of escort you, ah Lady Lobillia, to the back, and there's like ah just gives you a bit of a nudge up into the cargo hold, which is basically full of cabbages and potatoes.
Speaker: Ah, I see. Very well, thank you. And, um...
Speaker: Are you able to sweep one of the seats, perhaps? it's but Lots of mud, you'll see. I don't want to get it on the dress. I've but i'm not really got a seat back here.
Speaker: I suppose you could take this cloth, and he just kind of unfills the cloth and drapes it over one of the crates of cabbages.
Speaker: I see. Very undignified. But... I suppose it will do. My legs are tired after all. Caelan, come. Stop slouching.
Speaker: And with a ah whip of the reins, this casual caravan just starts moving again. And it just kind of... glides almost past Cailin who's a little bit in front of you as you've waved it down and just through the back Cailin you can see Lady Lobelia just kind of sat on a crate through this open canvas ah style wagon as you're still lugging her trunk for the watch
Speaker: Cailin just walks
Speaker: He's trying to shy away any bad memories he has of trying to carry things as a youth, where his dad yelling at him and a whip in his hand.
Speaker: And despite the assistance for Lady of the Billiard, it's still going to take a good few you hours before you actually get Riverfold. It's just been a nice casual pace. How much of a gap now between me and the cart I would probably say, even if the cart is going at a very, very slow pace, you're probably still looking at maybe... It's going to start at 20 yards and slowly increase increase. By the time you actually get to Riverfold, you know...
Speaker: yeah You're talking probably a good 500 yards ahead of Lady Lidabillia, but the way I kind of envision it, she's got to Riverfold at this stage. She jumped off the caravan at the entrance to Riverfold, and she's just waiting for you.
Speaker: If that's all right with you, they will. Absolutely. So just while Caelan's struggling with his trunk, the caravan is going to be pulling up to Riverfold,
Speaker: Anywhere particular you want me to take you, my lady, or is just the entrance to the town okay? Would you like to wait for your... It's very, very kind of you. Truly, it is. To be honest, I do not know your name, but I refuse to pull up to my abode in the back of a potato wagon. But again, I appreciate what you've done for me. Potatoes and cabbages, my lady.
Speaker: Yes, and cabbages. That explains the smell. Yes, yes. Probably not the um most pleasant and smells, my lady. Yes, if you're right here, i shall I shall drop you off at the front.
Speaker: Absolutely. And here are two silver pieces from me to you as a gesture of thank yous. well Thank you very much, my lady. With pleasure.
Speaker: and On your way. Again, he escorts you back down um and then drives into the city. And it's probably, you probably stood there maybe a good half hour at this stage before Caelan even kind of is spied in the distance, still lugging ah this trunk. Caelan, on your journey towards Ruifold, which you've been lugging this trunk for four hours, is there anything you would like to have done?
Speaker: No. he'd be still contemplating life choices right now. i' wondering where the fuck Remy is in Alessio. Still with strain and arms down and locked, you eventually get to the front of Riverfold and reunite with Lady Lobillia.
Speaker: There you are. There you are. I've been waiting nearly half an hour.
Speaker: Apologies. It's okay. It's not a problem. Honestly. It's just 30 minutes out of our, you know, two remaining days to get to Riverfold on time. Or not Riverfold. Apologies. To get to the crossing on time to meet our quarry. But you dilly-dally by all means.
Speaker: Hmm. Where to?
Speaker: To the Whispering Pillow, boy! The Whispering Pillow! That's what it said on your friend's note, did it not? At least we can leave... this there.
Speaker: And then, obviously, for the night, if we stay the night there, yes, and then... Failing that, ah we can always... Well, if the raptor has been procured again, tie it to him, I suppose. Unless you're happy to maintain in the carrying of my equipment.
Speaker: Oh... i think the raptor's a good idea. What time is it, Callum? ah You're probably talking about 12 o'clock midday at this stage.
Speaker: Okay.
Speaker: To the whispering billow, then. Very well. oh I am...
Speaker: You somehow muted yourself, and I'm not entirely sure how. ah I was just contemplating... ah How many steps I would have to take from this point. It's a hell of a journey.
Speaker: and i am somewhat recognized within the Whispering Pillar. I've performed many a time there. In fact, I was leading Lady in Porklet many moons ago. I believe my picture is still on the wall. So I'm going to disguise myself. Do you have the ability to disguise yourself also?
Speaker: Yes. But I'm not sure I need to. Hmm. Very he well. I'm trying to think of backstory of characters, who we could be to one another.
Speaker: Oh. Right. Mm-hmm. Perhaps brother and sister? Yes, clearly. Given the close proximity of our ages.
Speaker: And in the blink of an eye, she uses without any form of ah components that you can see whatsoever. um She uses her invocation to disguise self. She turns herself immediately into the spitting image of yourself, Caelan. It's all completely an illusion, obviously, and her height won't change. It won't differ. So maybe just a slightly taller version.
Speaker: And she'll say, my dear boy, don't be so naive. Oh, this'll be fun. Yes. Now, twins, perhaps. Yes, twins.
Speaker: What are we, ranger folk? I suppose you pass as a ranger, don't you? ah Hunters. Yes, i have an idea, I have an idea. And the trunk that you're carrying changes to like a deer carcass with a silent image illusion. Again, she can cast at will without any form of component.
Speaker: LAUGHTER but ah it is just an illusion so as you're kind of moving it she has to kind of recast it here and there um but she goes and then do keep talking Caelan I want to try to ah pass myself vocally as you right yes I need more
Speaker: I think it's time we should get going. i do too. I think it's... I think it's time we should... learn almost I think it's been a while. Goodness, I need to dust off.
Speaker: I think it's time we should get going. Galen. And what, pray is your name? My name?
Speaker: Well, Galen, our parents... They didn't really have a funny bone in their bodies, did they? When they named us Caelan and Daylen.
Speaker: Daylen Ashwing. Daylen Ashwing. I remember you gave me this scar, and a scar appears on her forehead so that we could be told apart by our parents.
Speaker: We're twins. We're twins. I was born about ten seconds before you. You're older. I am. And you've never let me forget it.
Speaker: Right. Right.
Speaker: Am I leading the way? Well... As your older brother, perhaps I should walk slightly ahead. This is somewhat unnerving. Is it?
Speaker: Yes. Because I can stop, if you want. i could Genuinely, I could stop at any moment. No, don't hate what you're doing. come. I don't like dropping character until it's done.
Speaker: Caelan, follow my lead. And as she walks her ladylike manner as well, as she kind of keeps an eye on Caelan, she has the actor feat. She is going to try to mimic kind of perfectly what he is doing as well to, as best as she possibly can, mimic like the twin of Caelan.
Speaker: Is there role for that? I would love to make it my first role. I didn't know if there's a role for the actual actor's feet, but if not, then yes, we're going for a performance one. So the feet reads, as quickly scroll down to try to find it, which I fail to do so, impersonation. While you're disguised as a real or fictional person, you have advantage on charisma checks to convince others that you are that person.
Speaker: And then there's also mimicry, where you can mimic the sounds of other creatures, including speech. um and they can make a ah ah wisdom save, an insight check to see if it's faked or not. um But yes, I will gladly make a performance check with advantage, if you will.
Speaker: I think that's very fair. Wonderful. Luckily, it was advantage. 20. Not natural. Despite, obviously, this the walk that you'd have trying to imitate Kaylin and the general body language, you're perfectly fine to blend in is what people would deem as twins. You've seen very, very less Lady Lobelia walking through the town and very much more Caelan as well.
Speaker: And Caelan on his part, in spite of walking with his trunk through the better part of the day, acting like this person's skivvy,
Speaker: can't help but in spite of all of that feel way more at ease and way more comfortable with the situation than it was if it was just him and lady g and that's perplexing him somewhat as he walks in step behind himself
Speaker: very very confusing keep up it's this way sure
Speaker: And Lady Lobelia, you've been to this town before. You know, as you say, very well the Whispering Pillow. You're able to navigate the town very easily and find yourself at its doors very quickly.
Speaker: Cailin, you're obviously just a little bit behind. And I think, again, Lady Lobelia will probably would be waiting outside this stage for Cailin to catch up. And as you are waiting...
Speaker: Lady Lobelia, there's a window that's right next to the door. And you will see this um kind of burly human get thrown straight through the window, back first smashed through, and land on the ground unconscious.
Speaker: Huh.
Speaker: Seems like quite a lively place. She says as she looks around. ah Is Caelan within earshot of her saying that? i I would think he'd be close enough. Unless you were whispering it, then yeah, I think he would hear it.
Speaker: No, she's she's gone full method. Right. Well, perhaps leave the carcass outside, Caelan. She kind of nods to her trunk.
Speaker: Caelan acquiesces, not gladly ah externally, but internally. oh thank fuck. As he puts down the carcass with no sense of trying to do it gently. Literally, if it was a deer carcass on his shoulder, deer carcass in quotation marks, ah he will just let it roll and fall onto the floor.
Speaker: There is a sharp look from Lady Chardin. It's a cold look back.
Speaker: Well, I suppose the deer is dead. And she kind of shoots daggers visually at you.
Speaker: Shall we?
Speaker: Just give me a moment. Caelan suddenly feeling a little bit more at ease and back to his... ah mobile self is going to take a couple of steps backwards.
Speaker: Um, Callum, you said someone was thrown through the window. Yes. I want to hear, I want to close my eyes and hear what's going on in there. i want the vibe of the atmosphere. Is there music? Is there heated arguments? Is it just a low thrum of a crowd that's enjoying themselves? What is the vibe basically? Is there people milling around outside?
Speaker: ah is Yeah, I want that. i want to I want a vibe check on the place, and I just want a temperature read on what we're walking into. Cool. Perception check, please.
Speaker: I can perceive you. Exactly. After this person has come smashing back through the window, the noise inside seems to have dulled down.
Speaker: a little bit It seems very, very quiet. It's almost like people are on edge. It's difficult to get a reading, but there's ah you can feel an uneasy tension inside the place now.
Speaker: There is still music playing. It's a bit of a lively jig. um You can hear string instruments and a piccolo being played.
Speaker: Other than staying the evening I'm waiting for, Alessio, what's your play? Why are we here? Well, I guess it was to reconvene with the group, but maybe we can put our ear to the ground.
Speaker: See if the transports come through this way. Find out what kind of, I don't know, heavies they've got with them. Perhaps... And then she kind of looks beside Caelan to the air for a second. um Her imp familiar would have been invisible, casted invisibility on itself before kind of this journey rather than her walking with this imp.
Speaker: And um what she will do is she'll kind of, yeah, look into the beside it and um telepathically say to it, Lord Bentley, you will sit atop my trunk and you will sting anyone that gets too close that tries to take a peek.
Speaker: I will, of course, convert it into some sort of rotting carcass so no one should get close. Do you understand my instructions?
Speaker: They have telepathic communication with you, don't they? Yeah, I've also got awakened minds, so. and cool Yeah, you you can hear through it. Yes. Yes, what, Lord Bentley?
Speaker: Yes, mistress.
Speaker: Very well. And with that, she'll kind of um motion to the the trunk, the carcass, the illusion, and it will kind of take on signs of decay and rot as well. It doesn't make any sound. it doesn't There's no smells that kind of accompany it either.
Speaker: um If she can, I'm just goingnna have a quick look at the... No, no. My Neruluz only lasts for a single minute as well, so there's no point trying to make it smell. um But yeah, so it'll just kind of look a little bit gross outside and she'll plant the imp on top to basically be like, keep people away from my stuff.
Speaker: Okay, that's fair enough. Caelan, what's your passive perception, can I just ask? 14. Oh, passive perception, 17. Yeah, 17. Okay. I'm a big boy. I've got big eyes. Just as ah Lady Loebili is casting this ah illusion ah to turn it into now a rotting carcass as Lord Bentley takes his seat upon it,
Speaker: you are doing your normal thing of looking around and just being on edge. And you notice an individual that's eye has been drawn to the illusion that Lady Lobelia has cast.
Speaker: ah Give me a synopsis of this person. What do they look like? What's their height? What's their race? You can't tell the race. They're too far away. Height, you probably say five foot five The body type is lean, slender.
Speaker: Very similar to you, they are kind of cloaked up. They're not having any weapons on themselves. They just have a satchel down by their side. Okay. Are they close to the Whispering Pillow or the inside? Are they looking through a window are they quite a way far outside? are probably about 25 feet away from you, back in the direction you just walked from.
Speaker: Oh. So you guys have been walking down towards the Whispering Pillow and you've noticed this individual where you just walked from spot this... um bit of illusionary magic. um They've made it kind of obvious against their own will when they've seen the illusionary magic happen.
Speaker: But you've clocked that they've reacted to it. Okay.
Speaker: Cool.
Speaker: Are you still just going to go straight in? Yep. Well, once Lady G has done her thang. Yeah, she'll turn back to you and just say, This illusion of myself only holds up when nothing's touching me.
Speaker: I wasn't planning on touching you. No, that's not what brothers do. But the point is, if things, you know, look a little bit rough in their eyes,
Speaker: You were always the stronger brother. I was the wordsmith. understand. You always stood for me. You always protected me. Right.
Speaker: That's your motivation. Then can I suggest that you find a quiet place in this establishment and I will get the drinks.
Speaker: Yeah. Just a quick question. Do we usually get people coming up to us and kind of hitting on us because of our our looks?
Speaker: Not that I'm aware of. Good. I didn't think they would because of what your face looks like, but I just wanted to double check.
Speaker: I'll go find a space.
Speaker: And I imagine Lady LeBilly would fling open the door with like a little bit of dramatic flair than what she's used to. Only start to do that. And then the acting kicks in and then it's more restrained straight afterwards. And ah as you walk in, you find probably about eight people currently sat down in this ah large room.
Speaker: square room, all around tables. There's a fireplace roaring. You can see in the corner now the music that you've been listening to, but these are enchanted instruments. So they're just kind of floating there in the corner playing um like a violin and a piccolo and just giving this little bit of a jig.
Speaker: As your eyes glance around both of you and you take in ah the room around you, you see now near where the smashed window was a very tall, bulky, pale Goliath.
Speaker: baldened head, wearing a vest, but you can also very clearly see like a, a white apron that's got like the frills around the collar and he's wiping down a table.
Speaker: Um, that exists. You seem kind of lift it back up and then start wiping down. And you just start hearing him moan to himself. Um, I should spit on my floor. I'm checking out my window. I'll make him pay for the window as well. Ain't nobody going to be messing up my floor. um Everybody else seems to very, very on edge around him.
Speaker: You could tell easily um that he seems to be in a little bit of a mood, but as he cleans up, he sees that you've kind of come in and says, my apologies, please take a seat.
Speaker: I'll be right with you. I'll take one near the non-broken window. Fair enough. There's plenty in the back. No, I'll take one in the front.
Speaker: He kind of nods, she nods, and makes her way over to, if there is an empty table, near a window, preferably one that's got its back to kind of the room, not the room, back to the wall, facing out into the room to see as much ah as possible out there. And if she's got her back to the window, um she will kind of cast a glance outside as well at her beloved trunk.
Speaker: So you there isn't one set up just to be all the way in the corner, um but there is a spare table nearby that you could potentially try and move over.
Speaker: But you can see that all these tables are thick, wooden, heavy tables designed for endurance rather than possibly the more dainty kind of craftsmanship you might be used to at Lady Lobelia.
Speaker: Dainty? Yes, she'll... She'll kind of put her hands on it to move it and then stop herself and be like, no, I like where this is.
Speaker: Okay. And you she'll sit herself down, ah probably a little bit too roughly, and kind of lean forwards on the table, kind of hunch her shoulders forwards and just look around the room.
Speaker: And you've got a decent table. You're not completely protected on all sides like you wanted to be. But you are you do have a lot of eyesight from people coming in through the door. If anyone wants to come through the window, you've got eyesight to what's going off behind the bar as well. as said, these eight people that's around, they're all just on different tables and all just having a drink.
Speaker: mixing and you've got it's a mix of humans and dwarves mostly that are in here at the moment
Speaker: within you oh yes she'll wait she'll wait for cailin to go and get the drink cailin's been watching and uh there is that a taste of surprise in his eyes as he watches lady g's ah thought process of where about in a room to sit and there is a recognition of game meets game here because that's what Kaling was going to do sit in a place to observe but also have a an eye out on front um and while he's thinking that and while he's thinking about the out front he is just going to poke his head just over to the broken window and look out towards the trunk having remembered that he saw that nefarious pecker
Speaker: who spied the illusion spell go off. Just to track where he or that person is. So what do I see when I look out the broken window?
Speaker: Are you making it obvious that you're looking out? No, absolutely not. Because the guy was talking. So you had the Goliath talking to us, right? um And he was clearing up the ship from where about yeah the broken window was. So ah if the Goliath is back towards the broken window as he's cleaning stuff, Caelan is strategically placing himself in view of the window to look around the Goliath while being out of hold, I guess.
Speaker: semi-conversation as if someone's he was muttering to himself so all Kalian has to do is be in the circle to make it seem like the conversation's happening okay uh in which case that I'll let you decide which role you want to do you can either do a stealth as you're trying to look out or you can either do a performance to see um if you can make it seem like you're not looking I'll let you choose I'm gonna do fucking stealth because performance is minus one and stealth is plus six That's a very obvious choice. What? That's fucking shit because he got a critical fail. So that's 91, seven in total.
Speaker: You try your best. Yep. As you can imagine to try and... take into account of this, but maybe just kind of distracted by Lady LeBellier and her approach to seating, your entire face just kind of turns a little bit to the left and you clock eyes directly with the person you know has seen Lady LeBellier do the yeah illusion cast. And soon as those eyes clock, he turns around and starts walking away.
Speaker: Oh, okay. didn't go to the trunkunk carcass didn't Didn't go to the trunk carcass. trunk carcass. Fair enough. um Nothing he can do about that now. So he'll quickly surmise that in his mind.
Speaker: Turn around. a pro Give Lady a praising looks of just good position. I see you. And we'll head towards the bar.
Speaker: What sort of music's playing? As I said, it's like a ah lively jig. Is it on my left-hand side as I'm walking towards the bar or is it on the right? It's on the right-hand side as you are walking towards the bar. What's everyone doing on the left-hand side? Are they up and dancing are they sitting conversing?
Speaker: You can see what Caelan's thinking now as he's walking over to the bar. He is taking it all in, hence the questions coming at you. Yep, no, it's perfectly fine. Everybody else seems to be minding their own business.
Speaker: As I still said, there was a palpable tension that you could feel as you come in, obviously from the Goliath, it's basically chucked this person out the window, and everybody else is just trying to... How you perceive it is that they're all trying to be on their best behavior and not make a mess.
Speaker: and There is ah two people that are sharing a table, they're just trying to have a a lowered conversation, almost like a high whisper. or a low torque, just that kind of thing.
Speaker: You can't seem to see anything untoward from what you can clock straight off the bat, but you've only just walked in and you're still taking in all the surroundings. Okay. He's just getting ah that same thing that he was doing outside, a vibe check, temperature check.
Speaker: um Heads over to the bar. ed And you're only waiting there a few seconds before this ah Goliath comes over and he just kind of walks behind it.
Speaker: What can we get for you?
Speaker: What's the local?
Speaker: Local's a honeysuckle mead, if you're interested in that. We got something a bit darker that's made of whisper leaf, if that's ah more your thing. What do you recommend? I like the honeysuckle personally. I think it's got a nice little bit of a tang and sweetness to it. Goes down nice and easily. Means you drink more, I make more money.
Speaker: Do you make it here on site? Caleb asks, he's trying nonchalantly look around as well, just holding conversation with... Not made here on side now.
Speaker: Made by halflings. They're a few miles due east.
Speaker: Very well, I will take two. Two it is, you got it, coming right up. And almost in an instant, he's presumed two pints. and they're just kind of gently placed rather than slammed on the table, as you'd expect from most kind of people.
Speaker: Caelan hides the surprise at pints, thinking that they were shorts, but we'll keep it inside. It's a Goliath, doesn't do anything by halves. yeah That'll be three copper for the both.
Speaker: And Caelan gives over three copper. And I thank you.
Speaker: Anything else you want? Anything else you need? No.
Speaker: Shame about the window. I'll get it repaired. It's not the first time that it's happened. This is what happens when people mess with my bar.
Speaker: Kellen looks into the Goliath's eyes. And he meets you back, stare for stare. Not planning on making any trouble for me, are we?
Speaker: Not tonight. Cailin will take the two pints and walk away.
Speaker: And he goes about his normal routine of just ah cleaning, tidying, washing, and making sure customers are entertained.
Speaker: The evening goes on. the evening The afternoon goes on. We've only been here probably about half an hour at the moment. Is there anything else you guys would like to talk or discuss? I need to know, if an hour goes by, that's the I need to do the recasting of the spells. You're looking less like me and more like you.
Speaker: that's this face Her face is like returning, like Daylands is going full. Yeah, the D&D movie, you see it starting to melt away. She puts the menu up in front of her face. Hold on, hold on.
Speaker: Ooh, the pink trottons look lovely. Yeah, she'll kind of, as they're sat down together again and sipping through the mead, she'll be like, wine. hey Wine. Almost forgot myself there.
Speaker: It's preferable, but I guess this'll do. Saw you chatting to the park. Did you get any more information on... Perhaps this caravan making its way through No.
Speaker: You seem somewhat upset by something. Upset over the broken window happens a lot. Oh, does it?
Speaker: I mean, I know it does. I've been here lots. Almost every single one of my performances. He's throwing people out. Getting too drunk.
Speaker: You can handle your liquor, I take it, Cailin.
Speaker: Why? How long are we drinking here for? Not long.
Speaker: but just feel like even though I've known you my whole life, I've known you your whole life by 10 seconds.
Speaker: I feel like we don't talk anymore.
Speaker: Can you tell me stories of our parents?
Speaker: What were they like to you?
Speaker: That's not why we're here. No, it's not. And Caelan will look away.
Speaker: Can't blame a girl for trying.
Speaker: What's your favourite colour, Caelan? don't know how to deal with this. Am I getting all up in your head, Caelan?
Speaker: we have commission We do have a mission.
Speaker: We do- two of my own aren't here. No. They're not. But we are brothers. Till the end. You and me. Kaelin and Daylon.
Speaker: The twin amigos.
Speaker: Right, Daylon. What do you suggest we do next? Well, on the letter... Did it say a time frame?
Speaker: I'll be honest, my glasses slightly slipped. I saw the whispering pillow and kind of rolled it up from that point. No letter. No time.
Speaker: Just wait here. Well, that kind of sucks, doesn't it?
Speaker: For which one of us? Well, we're the same, you and I. We share the same DNA.
Speaker: The same unfortunate looks. Yeah, I'm going to need another drink. And Kalen will hold his hand up and click his fingers.
Speaker: Looks like we are going to test how much alcohol I can handle. on
Speaker: Same again. Something stronger. Barkeep. My brother and I had a little wager here.
Speaker: What kind of wager? Well, we were trying to work out what got your goat. All right. Yeah. Well, what were the guesses then?
Speaker: Well, Caelan here, he was saying that he took it at face value, that you were just frustrated with someone for not looking after you, but I think it runs deeper.
Speaker: I think something's been irking you. And you took it out on that sort outside. Now, I'm not saying he didn't deserve it He did. But I think something's going on in this town.
Speaker: And I think you know what it is.
Speaker: Interesting. Interesting.
Speaker: Bastard spat on me floor.
Speaker: That was kind of the trigger.
Speaker: Shit, I guess owe you a silver then, Kalen. It's amazing how visceral human phlegm can be.
Speaker: Before you go exchanging monies, I do feel the need. I do have to tell you the other bit as well. You see, i have been in a bad mood. I've had three of my finest customers and they've all seemed to have disappeared, owing me money.
Speaker: And that's also pissed me off. Disappeared? Ah, they were all supposed to be back in a couple of days ago, clean up the tab, pay the bills for the room, and then off on the merry way.
Speaker: Not a single one of them has come back, but I only gave them a tab because I knew that they were good for it. So the fact that all three have skipped out on me, I find very unusual.
Speaker: That's very unpleasant of them. Yeah, bastards. Caelan. Looks like it's the silver from you, brother.
Speaker: Why don't I get you more drinks? And he goes off and he comes back. He puts down another pint of this honeysuckle for you both. And then he brings you both out as well in like a small tumbler.
Speaker: It's a green liquid that just seems to be fizzing on the top. Probably like twice as big as a shot glass. There go. If you want something stronger, mix that with that.
Speaker: You'll be seeing stars for the rest of the night.
Speaker: Right. And that's just on the house, is it No, no. I'm adding it to your bill. That'd be five copper. He said he wanted something stronger. Did you know, Kalen?
Speaker: Yeah, something tells me I'm going to need it. still waiting for my five copper. If you guys can mumble on your own time, please.
Speaker: Put it on our tab. No, no, i'm I'm not doing any tabs at the moment. I apologize, young man. Tell you what.
Speaker: You've piqued my interest. How about I give you a silver? And you tell me more about these patrons that skipped town.
Speaker: Well, what do you want to know?
Speaker: What's their favorite color? What do you mean, what do I want to know? I want to know names. I want to know what they're up to. Why have they gone missing? You got some kidnappings going on here?
Speaker: Are you cooking up mystery meat in the back? Is that why they're going?
Speaker: First of all, if I'd have known why they disappeared, I wouldn't have been so tetchy because I'd know exactly where they were. So that seems a bit of a daft question, if you ask me.
Speaker: Alright, let me change it then. Where did they go? You said they'd be back in a couple of days. Where did they go? They said they had a job for somebody in town.
Speaker: Said they'd go and do it, come back, pay me for more than reward, job solved. Did they say who that was? She says as she slips another coin, another silver, onto the table.
Speaker: Well, I didn't get any names. They said it was some, um...
Speaker: Ah, were they called? That place up north that likes the Sphinx and whatnot. Shadowmend. That's it.
Speaker: Shadowmendian soldiers or something like that. they They're doing some work for them, or were. Oh, right. Shadowmend.
Speaker: Keep the drinks coming. And she nods. All right, but these two silvers are for me. Absolutely. You've earned it. And you've pocket for silvers and you're going to go back.
Speaker: as the afternoon continues to go off, we're probably talking maybe about three o'clock in the afternoon. Now it has been a few hours. So you will have had to recast your. Yeah. Illusionary magic. When she knows it's coming towards an end, what she'd probably do is like get that make her way toward, if there is like an in-house restrooms, um, she'd probably make her way there. If there's not, she'd probably, ah like head out and into ah into a, into somewhere more secluded where it wouldn't be as obvious.
Speaker: Not that there's any kind of giveaway signs that the spells are being cast for her. Just um obviously now with her kind of within the tower and then making like ah a conversation, if you'd like, with the barkeep, she'd be probably a little bit more um inconspicuous.
Speaker: with it but she would also need to go back out and and redo the the casting of the the carcass outside i was going to ask as well and um lord bentley has kept obviously in touch with you throughout this no one's dared to touch or even go near this rotting carcass that's been outside at the moment everyone's definitely kind of stayed clear of it um you if you have a proper kind of telepathic telepathetic i mean telepathic communication ah with Lord Bentley and what he hears, then you will to know that there were going to be some kind of um customers are going to be coming into the Whispering Pillow that were decided against it because of this rotting carcass that's now outside this tavern.
Speaker: Nice.
Speaker: And you drink and you are... um going well probably just into mid-afternoon at the moment. And...
Speaker: it' You're not starting to relax. You're still on edge and you're still waiting for the ah reappearance of Alyssa. And just when you're starting to think, where is he? When's he going to come here? Why the fuck didn't he set a time frame for this?
Speaker: Could have been doing a lot more stuff that was productive. The door just kind of... smashes open almost to the point where it's pulled straight off its hinges and you see a very very slow kind of thud of two steps come in as a heavy drenched body starts to walk through the door and you see it collapse onto its knees and fall face down
Speaker: the head spins over just a little bit to the right. And you see clear as day now, Alessio battered, bruised, blooded within an inch of his life. And he's just reaching out a hand, mostly towards you, Caelan, just kind of in the corner before it drops under its own weight.
Speaker: And Alessio's eyes shut. And that is where we'll leave it for the end of tonight's episode of The Fellowship of the Tabletop.
Speaker: Holy boss. Oh, shit. yeah Look at that one. You've been up to no good. We did it. Shit. We fucking did it. Yeah.
Speaker: Caelan and Dalen on a whirlwind adventure movie. Caelan and Dalen. Who would have thought that? I'm so sorry for a monosyllabic, bo boring, like...
Speaker: You did really well, Will. You had to carry all of us on your shoulders there. Yeah, this was i this was been really, really entertaining for me just to kind of watch or listen to as well. And ah it's been absolutely fantastic. Well done, guys. Well done indeed.
Speaker: Well done to you, Callum. A lot of fun. yeah Mate, I've done very little this episode. I want to find out more about that bartender. Yeah, me too. I want to know who's... We're getting on something here. Yeah. like Fuck this main campaign. Let's just keep going. He does have a backstory. And if you want to fuck off the actual mission that you were doing, then so be it. That's fine. It's not a problem. yeah We can see how that comes back in the future episodes. Fuck the contingency. Yeah.
Speaker: Remy, Alicia, we'll just leave them and carry on. Caelan and Dalen. We've got a whole thing going on. I was just starting to warm up. i Might have heard my backstory after all.
Speaker: ah to which is an extensive thing. I promise you that. It is. It's definitely not one sentence. And that know it's not written by AI. Absolutely created solely by my brain and my brain only. and that Callum, do you want to find a way to end this for us?
Speaker: Ah, we can just say goodbye. Thank you very much for listening. So goodbye. And thank you very much for listening to this week's episode of The Fellowship of the Tabletop. Getting better at it. Until next week, guys. Farewell!
Speaker: ah There we go. There we go. Just waiting for the end.
