Transcript
Speaker: Hello and welcome to Narrative Feats. Welcome to a special event actual play of Sladium Games. An exciting collaboration with the fine, fine people of Survive This Crit.
Speaker: Hello folks! Yay! How's it going?
Speaker: Introduce yourselves! Okay. Hi everyone. I'm Kylie. I am one of the hosts of Survive This Crit. And I will be here as Agent Kylie again today. Nick. What's going on everyone? I'm Nick. I'm the other host of Survive This Crit, podcast where we combine our love for horror movies and RPGs see whether not we could survive the horror movie.
Speaker: And today I'll be playing as Agent Nick, the ferocious fighter who's been stuck in here for over a year, ready to battle. And I think we have a couple of amazing guest agents who are going to part of this mission.
Speaker: So fellow agents, would you like to introduce yourselves? Sure. I am Rob playing, you guessed it, Agent Rob. I'm back and excited to join the team for the Sladium games. Outstanding.
Speaker: And I'm Chandler back as Agent CB, although I'm missing Agent Adam. I don't know what happened to him, but I think I'll be fine without him. Maybe. maybe Maybe there's some lore there.
Speaker: Who's gonna carry me? Who's gonna carry you when you are doing death saves? Are you talking metaphorically or literally? Yes. yeah When I get tired, who's gonna carry me? Thank you all for playing These Are Narrative Feats, a thrilling anthology series of tabletop tales brought to you by yours truly, Casey Jones, creator and host of Anywhere But Now and the joy of GMing.
Speaker: As we dive into bold adventures and fantastic tales, what better way to continue our exciting era than with bloody, glorious combat?
Speaker: For your listening pleasure, we begin in the Sladium today. iy am your dungeon maestro, and together we will make sweet music.
Speaker: Kiley, Chandler, Robert. Welcome. After deliberately seeking out the reprehensible villains responsible for abducting Agent Nick, you have successfully arrived in the Sladium again.
Speaker: Not for the first time, your weapons and armor have been taken. And after only a brief encounter with powerful patrons, you have mixed success in getting them back from the armory.
Speaker: Now, you enter the arena. Kylie, please pick a door between one and five. There are no wrong answers.
Speaker: Three. Outstanding. Everybody picks three. I can't explain it. It's lucky number. There's three of us here. we I mean, outside of Nick, who we will find.
Speaker: You emerge into a massive arena, pelting rain. You stand inside of a Pentagon before a truly massive house.
Speaker: The malignant mansion stands before you as this towering four-story structure looms overhead. And as you are gazing up at this house, this towering structure, that is when a floating holographic head and hands materialize over the house.
Speaker: This is the personage of Heil Vox, your announcer and color commentary for the day. Sla-dies and gentlemen, welcome to the malignant mansion!
Speaker: Within the villa of Verschmelts and Copper, the Viscount Vincent's vigorous ventures in vivisection have cultivated the most unnatural fruit of his family tree.
Speaker: Tread carefully. Your partner in crime has preceded you went into the house. and has not come out again. Don't worry, he's still breathing.
Speaker: For now. The good doctor awaits you in his laboratory. At best, you have hours to reach him before his masterpiece is complete.
Speaker: He awaits the storm, and it is already brewing. Oh. Is there anything that we can perceive like an easier entrance than the unwelcoming front door that's in front of us?
Speaker: So, looking around you, can I please get perception checks from anyone that cares to give them? I'll happily check how good I can look for stuff. That was rough. I hope one of you guys does better than me. That was a nine.
Speaker: I'll roll, but uh... I'm not very perceptive. got a... I got a four. Oh my gosh. I would like it to be known that I have rolled three times so far tonight, and every single one was a six.
Speaker: that It means something. Oh my goodness. It just might. That's not random, right? that's No, the algorithm is a legend. That is three sixes back I didn't even think that it was a six. Okay.
Speaker: As Heilvox vanishes overhead, you spot that there are towers at the four lower points of this massive arena surrounded by thousands of spectators.
Speaker: In those towers are slats. Behind those slats are figures watching your every move. And at the northernmost point, which you cannot currently see as it is blocked by the four story house, is the master box where The owner of the Sladium himself, Kozif Kills, watches with stone-faced enjoyment. Below his box are three smaller viewing windows for Zasta to TikTok, the Ardram Sisters, and Lady Meowgret Playstring.
Speaker: And better believe they are watching your every move. Rain beats down in a heavy torrent, obscuring your vision and making the yard a veritable swamp.
Speaker: The malignant mansion looms before you, ah grandiose crumbling manor stretching four stories tall. The northernmost wing of the house is encased in glass.
Speaker: Through sheets of rain, you can make out a door to the west, the south, and the east of you. The tower is capped by a bizarre lightning rod, an arcane needle stabbing towards the sky.
Speaker: Is the door open? Is there, like... is Is the door locked? I guess we should go as fuck you want. The door shut but unlocked. Oh, geez. Hey, uh... Robert, you're strong.
Speaker: you want to go in front, rookie? Uh, I'll go first. Since you're scared. I'm not scared. I'm just leadership. I'm management. i I can't die yet. i'm gonna I'm gonna push past him and I'm just gonna walk into there. And I'll follow cautiously. Yeah, I'll follow, I guess.
Speaker: ah You ended up in the back. Come on, me Find me. I hear the the voice of Nick calling to my heart. Find me. It's saying, it's saying, gee willikers.
Speaker: That sounds on brand. Sconces mount the walls of the anteroom as you step into a tall, wide expanse. Rooms fill every corner of the floor beneath chandeliers aglow with candlelight.
Speaker: A spiral staircase rises towards a second floor. You can make out music faintly echoing from the ballroom to the north. What genre of music? Is it like...
Speaker: soft, lilting, ah music to slow dance to in the ballroom. This is not good all. Which way do you go? All right, team. Well, Agent CB, you just ran in here. Where do you where are your instincts suggesting we go? I wouldn't say I necessarily have great instincts for where we're meant to be. I just trust that if I happen to...
Speaker: maybe a sketchy situation, I can at least get away quickly. I should do a perception check as well. let's That's call. Let's see. That was a 12. How do we feel about passive perception here, Casey?
Speaker: That works. Just let me know what your passive is. eleven okay twenty two holy 11. um Okay, 22. Holy I don't like my roll. I'm telling you, my rolls are bad. So, with your passive perception of 22,
Speaker: You immediately take some small comfort in being out of the rain. The entire house smells musty and lightly of wood decay.
Speaker: This is not a building that has been maintained in any significant way. You can hear writhing movement, light to the right, accompanied by nature's own perfume, the pollen of exotic plants.
Speaker: gotta sneeze.
Speaker: Kuzunte. Kuzunte. Yes, you have a study off to the left, a library off to the northwest, a kitchen off to the northeast, and a greenhouse off to the southeast.
Speaker: Where do you feel like go-go going? Well, if... I'll share that information easily. i think when Agent Kylie asks where my instincts are leading me, I'll just point out, well, we've got a study, a kitchen, exotic plants, music ahead.
Speaker: Well, the study is close by. i say we start there. Let's start with the study and then go into the room where you heard writhing sounds. But maybe we can find more context in this study.
Speaker: Okay. I lead the way into the study, boldly. Glass cases line the walls, holding specimens in a vast and varied collection.
Speaker: Each case features a veritable ecosystem of insect life, pinned and still. A chair rests atop a threadbare carpet against a desk at the wall. Can I do an investigation check and see if there's any sign that Nick was here? Like even the rug turned up or something like that.
Speaker: Give me an investigation check, Sibu Clay. That is a 21. What size a shoe does Nick wear? He wears a 13. I'm just kidding. 13?
Speaker: Wow, man. Big boy. No, I wear a 10 and a half, Kylie, please. a A well-founded, well-grounded 10 and a half.
Speaker: you find the faint imprint of size 10 and a half boot prints on the carpet, ah let alone boots of a modern cut that would not necessarily otherwise have found their way in to such a place.
Speaker: Robert, you catch your own eye in the mirror and is there a flicker of movement there or is that just your imagination?
Speaker: What was that? What was what? What are you talking about? mean other than you flexing have sworn i seen ah you mean other than you flexing in the mirror
Speaker: I suppose. this Just this once. Don't think I didn't see you flex. Chandler, as you are looking around, one of the cases catches your eye as a swarm of centipedes bursts out of the glass and is going to attack you.
Speaker: Can we please have ah from everybody your first initiative rolls of the day? Click on your token and roll your initiative on D&D Beyond. Oh, you roll a 20? Chandler, you hear and see a swarm of centipedes bursting out of the glass case and skittering right for you. What do you do? i think my reaction would be to just swing.
Speaker: What? Centipedes? No, I don't like bugs. Do they get within five feet of me, or do I just see them? Right now, they are roughly ten feet away, going by these squares that they are occupying.
Speaker: For that reason, let's try to stay in a single square when we are doing our duty. I'll put myself in the square. Well, here. I think i think by this point, i would my instincts would be something crawling on the wall. I would probably take a swing.
Speaker: I would assume it's probably a smaller bug, so I'm trying to swat at it. So probably just throw throwre a little open hand punch. You're going to punch the bug? Yeah, but like, i don't I don't have time to take my shoe off.
Speaker: Oh, fair, fair, of course. Kylie, what else do you do when there bugs around? I scream and ask for help. 14 hits. Yeah, all right. Well, let's see.
Speaker: Yeah, with a one on the die for four smack damage. Outstanding. You punch your fist into the writhing swarm of centipedes.
Speaker: and two of them just fall dead and collapse ah legs up on the ground in front of the glass case. ah Robert, nearby, a the other glass cases on the wall crack and shatter as creatures burst out of the box the glass boxes pinned to the wall.
Speaker: What do you do, Robert? Is the swarm... is it all bugs? The one closest to me? I guess the pile of creatures closest me. beetles, centipedes, and what look like... insects!
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker: I think I'll also just unarm the strike. The pile of insects closest to me. outstanding at 20 oh gorgeous go oh that's beautiful go ahead and double your damage for us uh roll the damage for us okay four is going to become eight outstanding so yes almost half of the insects in the case are suddenly mush on your fists robert you've been in this house for less than a minute and are already being attacked what is going through robert in this moment
Speaker: It's like every mission I've been on, I've had to take the lead, but I'm ready um ready to to face whatever we have to face to continue to get through this. I'm i'm feeling amped. I'm feeling ready to continue fighting. love it. I absolutely love it.
Speaker: Okay. Robert has gone. Chandler has gone. and it's the monster's turn. Okay. Beautiful. Oh, no. no. So first up, we have some wonderful centipedes that are going to just skitter off of the wall. And Kylie, wouldn't you know it?
Speaker: They missed you as they go five, 10, 15 and writhe about your feet as they are going to try and buh-bh-bh-bite you. as they sink their teeth in all the way up your calves to your very knees as you take 10 points of piercing damage.
Speaker: Outstanding. As they are just
Speaker: skittering up Kylie as you take 10 points of piercing damage nearby Chandler. The bugs that you punched did not appreciate that as they likewise are going to come for your fist and your whole arm and hit with a 19 as you likewise take 10 points of piercing damage as their tiny little mandibles and claws...
Speaker: start chewing their way up your arm. The pain not is enough to make you realize this is not a dream. This is really happening. I can't believe I already took 10 of damage.
Speaker: That's fine. I know. Oh my gosh. It's the Sladium, baby. Now they're coming for Robert. ah Robert, the bugs that you punched on the wall, this lovely brew of beetles, this batch of beetles, is coming for you with their own terrible claws as they are gonna try and infest.
Speaker: And they also get a nice little hit in as you take 10 points as they chew their way up your arm. Can I get an insight to check from anyone that cares to give one?
Speaker: Yes, absolutely. My insight is maybe kind of good. ah Why did it roll it 500 times? My first one was at 20. I didn't know. Okay.
Speaker: With a dirty 20, Kylie, Nick is not in here. all right, guys. Team, maybe we should roll out. Good to know. Hey, guys. I just thought you should know.
Speaker: I'm not in here. Team, I know we're good at killing bugs. We can keep killing them, or we could... disengage, but they may get us harder. So what do you guys think as we're like, I'm squealing over bugs being on my legs and my body? It's very wimpish of you, but if you suggest we find Nick, I'm in agreeance.
Speaker: Let's go. Agent CB, what do you think? Do you want to kill? Do you want to stomp every single bug? Or do you want to move to the next room seeing that he's not in here? i think when you turn to look for Agent CB, I think you discover he is already of the way.
Speaker: Oh, don't worry, I got you. I think when these bugs got close to him, he... he used his reaction to dip. Outstanding. Are you... are you with... are you disengaging on your turn? Because if you're not, they're gonna get an attack them opportunity. If they moved within five feet of me, then I can use my reaction to disengage and move up to half my movement. Outstanding. Which would be 22 and a half feet.
Speaker: So I'm... I'm out. You're gone. I don't mess with Chandler, as you ah retreat into the main hall, you sense creak and a faint pop in the change of air pressure as you realize the house around you has changed.
Speaker: You look behind you and the door is gone. Papered over and sealed, only walls encase you now. Long spilled blood has dried on the floor of every room as the house begins to shed its secrets.
Speaker: This is a house of death and you are its guests. no So to clarify, when you say that the door was papered over, is that the front door or the door to the study that I just left?
Speaker: All of the external doors leading outside of the house have been replaced with walls.
Speaker: That's not good. ah okay say would say I'm currently on standby by this door for Rob and Kylie to exit the room and then I'm going to shut it Outstanding smart idea. Kylie, it's your turn. Whatcha doing, friend? You know what?
Speaker: If i I turn to my left and I see that one of my agents has entirely disengaged, so well I think similarly, I'm gonna yell to Agent Rob, there's too many of them!
Speaker: We're only in the first room! And I'm gonna run out and disengage. So I think, I know they get ah an attack of opportunity, right?
Speaker: Only if you, only if you, uh, just flee by choosing to disengage, uh, you are bouncing. i have a really good Legally safely. There you go.
Speaker: damn Um, okay. Since agent Chandler has already retreated the heck out of there, Robert, uh, you are now standing alone in a room crawling with angry life. What you doing? I told you.
Speaker: I'm also going to disengage as my action. Outstanding. By all means get the hell out of there. oh I'll say, yeah, yeah, all right. And I'll leave.
Speaker: All right, guys. We don't have much time. happened to this room? is there blood? You slam the door behind you and just hear chittering and scratching against the door as nothing emerges under the crack. Can I get a fresh perception check from everybody? Not passive, active perception. That's probably smart. 17.
Speaker: I also got a 17. Very good. All right. Chandler, you can just make out you can just make out the writhing and tightening of cord nearby as both Robert and Kylie with your 17s can just make out a
Speaker: off to the Southeast. Okay. For those of us that are not good with directions, that's toward the bottom right.
Speaker: team Agent Kylie's better than real Kylie at directions. i move toward the the plant room to see what's happening.
Speaker: You step into a room that is covered in vertigree. The air is sweet with nature's perfume as greenery fills almost every inch of the small but vibrant green room.
Speaker: Pollen tickles your nose as vines splay across the floor before a massive fly trap, pulsing and full. You cannot make out what lies inside the plant but it moves of its own accord.
Speaker: ah We're going to keep the same initiative from the last round just for the sake of convenience as the baddies here are going to take the same turn.
Speaker: That said, Nick, would you be so kind, please, as to give us an initiative roll, please? Nick. Nick. You can't breathe. All around you is smothering green and the sting of acid as you...
Speaker: are embraced tighter than any partner you've ever had what is going through nick as you realize you are in the mouth of a fly trap big enough to swallow you whole oh my gosh let's go in through my head but come on come on come on think think of a way out you can do this i'm trying to push out every direction I can. Come on.
Speaker: Think. I'm trying to remember any type of survival training I've received from a from the DEAD. Think. Think. Think. And then I try to recall wise words from Agent Rob one day.
Speaker: Go ahead. Remember, if you can't, when in doubt, eat your way out. There you go. That's facts.
Speaker: That's facts. Outstanding. So since y'all have rushed into their clutches, the monsters are going to get a surprise attack on you. And then we are at the top of the round.
Speaker: That's fine. Vunderbar. Agent Kylie, as you rush into the room, the vines that you heard writhing along the floor and snare out like a whip crack and are going to try and grab ya.
Speaker: brood Rude and effective. Okay. Respectfully. Oh, fuck. That's not good. Respectfully. oh indeed. You are grappled as the vine takes hold of you and you take 11 points of bludgeoning damage as it snares you tight.
Speaker: Nearby, Agent CB. Another one on the far side of the corner is likewise... trying to grab you and misses as its coils completely fail to take hold of you while the warlock's trumpet bloom that is currently chewing on
Speaker: Nick is going to sting him. Okay. And not do so great because you are just already his clutches. So you're good. Outstanding.
Speaker: At the top of the round, Agent Nick, you are currently ah grappled by this thing. Can you give us a strength check to try and eat your way out or tear yourself free? Exactly. Let's see.
Speaker: Strength check. Here we go. Oh my goodness. That is unsuccessful.
Speaker: no! I tried to take a bite and it just didn't work. I realized, oh my gosh, this is stinging my lips. Oh, this isn't a good plan at all. You might be allergic to this thing. You're not sure. Did you register your food allergies before you entered the slating?
Speaker: It's been so long, I've forgotten my food allergies. Wonderful. Uh, Agent Chandler, you are up and Robert is after you. What are you doing, Chandler? I think I still have some remaining guilt from convincing Agent Nick to jump off of a ski lift. And I think because of that, my gut instinct is to...
Speaker: run in with the only thing I can think and try and cut and swat like a combination of trying to cut this plant and swat it away and rip the vines apart to get them free so I'm gonna go in and I'm probably going to swing with a dagger ah twice and flurry of blows to try and kind of rip as much out as I possibly i can So that'll start with me getting a little too close.
Speaker: All right. So he is currently completely contained in this thing. Feel free to give it the old what for. All right. So this is going to be four total rolls. That's with a dagger. That's a 17 to hit.
Speaker: Oh, beautiful. That is a hit. Would you rather me roll to a hit and damage or roll all the hits? Yeah, do all the hits and then do all the damage for efficiency's sake.
Speaker: That's a 12 to hit with the second swing. All right. And then the flurry of blows, two swats with my fists. That's a 13 to hit. That is a miss. Man, I'm doing poorly. And that is a 26 to hit.
Speaker: That is a hit. So two of those hit. One armed strike and the first dagger. With your first dagger, you slice and Nick is immediately just sluiced out of this thing's fly trap and cool collapses prone on the ground, sticky with plant juice.
Speaker: As then you follow it up with a pair of blows, only one of which hits as you make contact. Can you please give us damage for the dagger and the fist? Casey, for you, does Nick count as being within five feet of this plant? Yes, he does.
Speaker: Okay, so dagger damage. Oh, it automatically rolled sneak attack for me. Wow. It gave you eight piercing and then 11 sneak attack damage.
Speaker: All right. So a total of 19. And then a little backhand swat with my fist. That's nice. Five on the die plus three is eight. Outstanding. Okay.
Speaker: Chandler, you have just sliced and punched a towering plant to free your friend. What is going through Chandler in this moment? I think I'm embarrassed at my fear of the creatures that the insects that came at us. And so I am feeling resilient and confident that I can fight something that doesn't give me the heebie-jeebies.
Speaker: Outstanding. May your jeebies be properly heebie'd. Yeah. i'm a little I'm a little arrogant because I feel like I look really cool right now, even though I missed two of my attacks. Wonderful. That's the benefit of being a rogue is you had four attacks.
Speaker: Robert, you are up and the monsters are after you. What is Robert doing? um Let's see here. think I will move down to one in front by Kylie here. This one.
Speaker: Up to that one. And then I will roll to hit with my long sword. 10 is a miss. I am allowed an extra attack as well. So can I just roll to hit with my long sword again?
Speaker: That is also a miss. Lovely. As you swing down, hacking away at the ground and the thing rides out of the way each time you realize these things are not quite as inanimate as you first assumed.
Speaker: Ah, Okay, so Kylie, you are currently in this thing's clutches. Yes. Okay, outstanding.
Speaker: I'm stuck.
Speaker: what, it is just going to continue writhing about and enjoying digesting you. um Nick, You are right in front of this thing and Chandler is to the north. I think it's gonna go to Chandler because it hasn't tasted him before.
Speaker: um As it is going to try and sting Chandler and fail. That is a natural one. That is a crit fail as it gives itself a point of its own poison damage because critical fails hurt us too.
Speaker: After that, it is going to once again try and grapple Chandler with a tendril. and grab onto ya as you are held fast.
Speaker: And that is what it's gonna do for the time being as you are grappled, Chandler, in its tender embrace. Last but not least, actually, that's right, the the vine in the corner failed to catch hold of you.
Speaker: That said, you are now grappled And there's absolutely no reason two of these things can't feast on the same thing at once. Okay, so.
Speaker: Chandler, as the trumpet bloom in front of you wraps its tendrils around you after missing with its sting, as you are held fast, you suddenly feel a second serpent of plant life coil and tighten around your legs all the way up to your hips.
Speaker: And this one comes with crushing a bludgeoning damage as you take 11 points of bludgeoning damage from the crushing grip of the assassin Vibe.
Speaker: Ow, indeed. Off the clock. It is your turn, Kylie. What you doing? Okay, so I would like to... Let's see. i have some spells, and I have some fun things I'd like to do.
Speaker: i'm have to roll a strength check, do I not? Because I'm still grappled. um Okay, so let me start with that. My strength check is going to be... A 22.
Speaker: Okay. okay So this is a and a bad news, good news situation. Cool. One of those actions was tearing yourself free. The bad news is you take poison damage as this thing was wrapped around you, much like poison Ivy before at the start of your turn.
Speaker: ah So you are, as you rip yourself free, you are going to take another 20 points of damage as the plants are not done with you.
Speaker: This is a burning sensation all up and down your arms and your torso as you rip yourself free. You still have an attack left to your name, Kylie. What are you doing? I cast Guiding Bolt on these this plant behind me. I back up, like, I take a step back so I'm not too close. Mm-hmm.
Speaker: Oh, that direction. And I cast Guiding Bolt. And I say, duck to Agent Robert. And that is an 18.
Speaker: That hits. To hit with a 66 damage. So 20 radiant damage. Oh, beautiful. Okay. Wonderful. You blast the plants with your radiant damage and it recoils and starts to reduce just a little bit.
Speaker: It did not like that at all. Yeah, it shouldn't have. Okay. Nick, you are freshly freed, standing immediately to the left of a giant stalking plant. Whatcha doing? All right.
Speaker: So I couldn't find the picture I wanted to share. So instead, I'll just say the energy I'm bringing today is like that of a chipper scoutmaster. And as I'm released from the clutches of the inside of the plant that I was in, I'm shocked to see Everyone in all my fellow agents like guys.
Speaker: Whoa. What are you doing here? It's crazy Did you guys? Did you guys come to save me? Oh my goodness here? Let me let me help with that i again pull out my hand at you again.
Speaker: Yes yeah Good one, Robert. Good one. And then I ah pull out my hand axe, and I'm going to take a nice big swing with my axe at this plant.
Speaker: I love it. I'm just going to 20 because I don't think I have proficiency. so It is plus 8. 21 hits. Okay.
Speaker: before And then I'll roll damage, or do you want to just apply that damage already rolled? First damage works, the six. Okay. Cool, cool, cool. All right, cool, six damage.
Speaker: You have two more attacks this round. I do, okay. So gonna take another hit with the hand axe. 13, 13 hit. A 13 is going to miss. a thirteen is going oh okay One more mighty slash going all the way back and swinging down.
Speaker: We've got 13 again. ah You hit the first time and with all the confidence you are slashing back and forth as it just tumbles out of the way.
Speaker: Chandler, you are currently bound by the assassin vine and begin the turn with 20 twenty points of poison damage as your skin burns as you are in the clutches of not one but two killer plants.
Speaker: What are you doing? ah Yeah, well that hurt. um Is it possible to try and contest these grapples both at the same time? Or would I have to do one or the other? I'm going to say that because of the tricky nature of it, you're gonna you can roll once to tear yourself free from both But you're either going to succeed at both or fail at both. Yeah.
Speaker: Wait, can I bless him? I probably can't at this point. Sorry. Why not? I cast Bless on Agent Chandler, who I turn around and I'm like, oh, he's caught.
Speaker: I cast it on I'm double caught. I'm going to try to wiggle my way Instead of trying to sheer force of will rip these vines off, I'm going to try and move myself in a way to create space at certain points and just keep moving until I can wiggle Give dexterity check to try and slip your way free.
Speaker: Okay. Straight dex or acrobatics? Acrobatics works. Okay. So I'll roll it acrobatics and then I'll roll the blesses a de four Beautiful. You didn't need it. top of that Yeah.
Speaker: Outstanding. with Roll it anyway. Yeah. Why not? I got max. So it's with a 22. Much like hands trying to hold on to soap, they squeeze too tight and out you slip.
Speaker: As you wriggle free of the plants, you are no longer bound. That does take an action, however, to pull off. Chandler, you have one more attack available to this round. what are you doing, sir?
Speaker: So you're saying that would take my action or one of my attacks one of them from my action? So and I could still have my second attack. Mm-hmm. I am on your side. The monsters are not.
Speaker: I'm here. All right. No, I will. I will take that opportunity to take a single attack with the dagger. I'm in a flurry of blows again, which will give me the benefits of a disengage action because I i act drunk half the time and we'll go from there. And then I'm going to try and s slip away.
Speaker: Because I don't want to get grabbed again. But let's see. With the dagger. Fair. That is a not quite a 17. Are you attacking the vine or the warlock's trumpet? the same one, the big one. The same one that had an A. All right, I won't roll the blast for that yet, though. And then the flurry of blows would be...
Speaker: That was i don't know why i will damage that was the wrong button. Hold on. Let me roll. 17 hits. And. 24 absolute hits.
Speaker: OK. So how how how so many so many things to click. OK. Knife damage plus. Because Nick's right there. Mm-hmm.
Speaker: Plus both unarmed strikes. Wowee. 12 more. Outstanding. So let me say this out loud for the viewers. um That is a, with the knife, that is a six piercing plus four for sneak attack for 10. Six damage on the first hit. Wait second.
Speaker: No, hold on. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You got it right. Eight damage the punch. Yeah, you got Four on the second punch for a total of 22 damage. Yep.
Speaker: That was gnarly. And then because I am have a tipsy sway, which is not the name of the actual feature, I'm going to utilize the the benefits of a disengage from my flurry of blows to walk behind Kylie and hide.
Speaker: Splendid. That's fair. You got it from here, Nick. You got it from here. You have watched as your friends have been captured and freed themselves one after another from these constricting vines and other awful nasty things.
Speaker: What is Robert doing? Hopefully ending this soon. ah i will continue to attack the vine in front of me. That is a hit.
Speaker: That was 23. And then as a bonus action, I'm going to cast Shining Smite on that. Do I just roll? I don't think there's a, just roll the damage for that. Okay.
Speaker: So that's six shining smite damage and then roll the long sword damage. e And you have one more attack with your long sword. That's six shining smite damage, seven long sword damage, and then I'll just roll to hit with the long sword. That's a hit. Well done.
Speaker: Dang, you're just hacking away over there. I believe that's 23 damage. You believe, correct ah I see 10 for the one-handed slash. Right, I'm saying total.
Speaker: but Oh, oh, gotcha, gotcha, gotcha. Oh, yeah. Between the two attacks, yes. so All right, wonderful. So as the group of you continue to hack and slash, ah the plants actually disengage the warlock trumpet loom uses its vines to pull itself to retreat to the corner of the room as the assassin vines likewise disengage and coil themselves up.
Speaker: trying to make themselves as small as possible in the room of around you. Outstanding. um Kylie, what are you doing? um I turn around to assess the health of my team and I'm like, who needs healing?
Speaker: Because I see CB looks not great. um And I turn to the rest of the party and see uh how they're doing where they're at um give me medicine check let's see i have a plus zero on my medicine check you have no idea other than agent cb is bleeding you want to you want some healing agent cb i'm gonna i'm gonna cure wounds on you i will say see he does he does nod and then when you get close he says and for the record i look fantastic
Speaker: Yeah, you do, buddy. Great. You're good. Yeah, the the swoopy hair and that and the blood-stained shirt is really... it's You know, the crowd is going to go nuts for it. But I put my his hand on his forehead and then um cast Cure Wounds, which should be 11 healing for him.
Speaker: Magnificent. I take any kind of blood that I find, and I take any you dry- like any blood that's no long- like not coming out, but is stained, and I'll just like wipe it on my face.
Speaker: Almost like a workhorse. Does anyone the party have any, uh, fire casting spells? I have- wall or fire Oh, I have sacred flame!
Speaker: Should we just light this room on fire? that's what I was thinking actually should yeah I should make a I can't or patrons are watching okay bird the I'm a let's back it up let's look alright everyone let's have at least six feet of space remember your fire ring now okay me safe are okay I think get the hell out of the room I can light this thing on fire Kiley give an insight check real quick take I got a 13 plus four for my insight, so a 17. Setting a room on fire in a house you have no exits from.
Speaker: Maybe it's not the wisest idea, guys. I think we should still do it. Honestly, I'm checking out these rooms. They don't seem fireproof. ah pull out my phone. yeah sir Set a reminder for when we leave this house to set a room on fire.
Speaker: You have no signal on your phone. said i never Don't I don't have service. Okay, here's the deal, guys. If we live to get out of here, we're going light this whole thing ablaze when we leave.
Speaker: But in the meantime, let's follow CB's lead and just close every door and try to lock it if possible. We don't want anything following us. Wow, guys, you guys came to save me?
Speaker: are you... Oh my goodness, fellas, I'm so happy to see you. It only took a year. Only it took a year, but gosh golly, man, it's been it's been quite a year. Wouldn't you believe it?
Speaker: I'm honestly shocked you're alive, if I'm being totally honest. i mean, it's crazy, right? You're stronger than ever. You're stronger than know. You're like and a champion now. Okay, team. ah Agent Nick, you've been in this more times than I have.
Speaker: how Where do we go from here? How the hell do we get out of here? We found you. it'd be nice if we could just leave, but I don't think Heil Vox is gonna allow that. I would like to roll for history to maybe recall something about an exit or a way out.
Speaker: Okay. You can. You are a bit wrapped up in your own thoughts of, i was inside of a plant today. That was unpleasant. You know, Kylie, oh to be honest, I've just... I haven't found the exit yet. But gosh golly, I'm gonna find that exit. Don't worry. You know what?
Speaker: Maybe we should just move on ahead. Let's go check out... You know, we heard music earlier. Maybe music is a a clue. Should we go pursue the the room that had the music, like the ballroom? You tell me. Team, I guess I'm the manager. I think we should head towards the musical room. So I don't go in. I go up to the entrance.
Speaker: And I want to roll perception before we go. Okay. Let's see. That is a 17. Okay. With a 17, stand in the doorway of the...
Speaker: you stand in the doorway of the
Speaker: of the ah the house, the the house, the Schmutzenkörper, and ah stare in at a chandelier that has fallen and bodies that have been dead for some time strew across the floor.
Speaker: Music lingers from instruments long since collapsed, surrendering their shape to time and neglect. A chandelier lies broken on the floor, its chain still barely clinging to the ceiling above.
Speaker: Floor-length mirrors hang on every wall as rain pelts down from above. Does your eye betray a flicker of movement from your reflection?
Speaker: Or is it simply your mind playing tricks? Guys, I don't like what's in the mirror. let's Let's break all the mirrors. I don't care if it's a bad luck. We're already in the house of bad luck.
Speaker: It can't get worse. Well, Kylie, that's just superstition. Wasn't there a mirror in the other Yeah, and then bugs came out of it and attacked us. Bugs came out of the glass cases, not the mirror.
Speaker: Okay, that's good point. i don't I think we should break the mirror. That's my opinion. But what if we could walk through them? Uh... You want to try- Okay, Agent CB, I'll let you take the lead You want to try to walk through a mirror? Yes and no.
Speaker: I'll do it. Okay. I'm just going to start slowly, carefully walking into the room. Head on a stool. for it, CB. Okay. okay I stay in the entryway of the door.
Speaker: Marvelous. I would like to just kind of peek my head through because I'm just curious. So I'll just kind put myself right there. I am intentionally not looking at the mirror as I roll up to it.
Speaker: um And I wait until I get as close to the mirror as I can. And then I will slowly look up as I reach my hand out and see if I can, as if to try and push my hand through the the glass.
Speaker: Who knows? Who knows what this place is? It's so much worse than that.
Speaker: You press your hand against the reflection, and instead of feeling cold glass, you feel a hand pressing against yours. Do you pull back?
Speaker: What do you do? ah well I'm going to tell you what my instinct says, and it's probably a bad instinct, but I'm going grab the hand and try and yank it out. Oh, wonderful. Okay.
Speaker: Okay. That's marvelous. Okay. I'm like in a panic, like out of, out of fear, like out of, Oh, that's something. No, like, Chandler, please take DM's inspiration for bold choices.
Speaker: As you pull and yank something out of the glass that is going to attack you. um And then we're going to have a fresh round of of action rounds, starting with Chandler in the first, because you're the only one in this room.
Speaker: Is anyone watching or am I in here by myself? I assume people had my back. I'm here watching from the doorway. You're the only one in there! I was watching from the door. Don't worry, when it's my turn, I'll ah i'll come right in.
Speaker: It's just like the ski lift all over again. Right? you said This is hormone for the ski lift. Okay, that is a... Oh look, a six! Plus eight for fourteen.
Speaker: It's just my day. For sixes. 14 is not bad. We rolled a 23. Oh yeah. That's okay. You rolled a 14. Okay. So you know, I'm reaching the mirror and yank as a humanoid that looks like you.
Speaker: leaps out and its smile grows wider than your own face has capacity to smile as it looks at you with curiosity with curiosity and in a voice that is very unsettlingly similar to your own says, you know, you're the first one to do that.
Speaker: How about a hug as it reaches out to grapple you. As it grapples you. oh Okay. two All right, so here's what's gonna happen.
Speaker: This is outstanding. The rest of you from the from the doorway watch as Chandler's own reflection pulls him into the mirror. no Oh, I had gone first.
Speaker: and was going to break it. Chandler. up Here I go. e be Guys, we can't we can't just let him be sucked in like that. We got to go after him. Can you please Chandler, give me a charisma saving throw?
Speaker: Uh, I bet you I can. Yes. I'm so good at these. I have plus one. Okay. That's a nine. Okay. That's not going to work. Uh, your own reflection pulls you into the reflection and the glass ripples like a still pine until it is just still glass again. As Chandler is now standing next to Chandler on the other side, the business side of this. No. No.
Speaker: I missed! I would like to go running after. can i Can I go running after? You can try. You can certainly try. I'm gonna go run and do like a dolphin dive through the mirror. No! Give me an acrobatics check.
Speaker: Okay. Don't worry, buddy, I'm coming for you! Okay, so you run full bore at an inanimate piece of glass and smash into it.
Speaker: The glass shatters as you take six points of bludgeoning damage and two of slashing as broken glass glitters down on your shoulder and arm, bringing you to a healthy, robust 92 as in the mirror next to you, only 10 feet away, Chandler is dragged from one to the next in a headlock.
Speaker: ah So you said that was six damage total or eight damage total? eight I missed the numbers. Eight total. Okay. Chandler, it's your turn, buddy. You are currently in a headlock on the far side of a mirror against yourself. What you doing? I'm in a headlock from myself on the other side of... It sounds like a riddle. Stop headlocking yourself.
Speaker: Well, I'm... Ah, man. I'm suddenly realizing maybe that wasn't the best idea. cause now I have to fight the fiercest foe of all, myself.
Speaker: Uh, if wait, so when I look around, can I see, I'm grappled by this, by this version of me, can I see the mirrors, but from this side? Or what does it look like when I look around? You can, so from where you're standing, you feel like you were standing in the reflection of that ballroom and you can make out ah Nick, who is close enough to one of those mirrors to make out.
Speaker: um The others are kind of out of your point of view at the moment, but you are very much not alone in here. Well, if there's one thing about grappling, it's this thing can move me.
Speaker: but I should also be able to move in. So I think I'm going to grab on and try and yank it with me back out of one of the mirrors jumping through from this side. You can certainly try. I feel like, I feel like, yeah, I'm certainly thinking smartest stuff. Let's get away and go back, but let's, no, you don't grab me and kidnap me. I'm taking you back. And then we're going to break all the mirrors. Maybe if we have time. Wow.
Speaker: It's like, maybe you should have listened to me from the beginning when I said we should break the mirrors. Not to be that person. Did somebody hear something?
Speaker: I'm bad at hearing good advice. Yeah, I'm going to try and pull this thing back through. One of these mirrors.
Speaker: Go for it. What would you like me to to roll to attempt this? You are currently in grappled, so um moving is not really much of an option, but you can try to like force the two of you. Give us a strength check. All right. I'll just do straight strength.
Speaker: But ah I am blessed. Oh, that's true How long does that blast last? It lasts for... I don't know. or Maybe I'm not. To a minute. So probably not. Okay, I'm probably ah braba not blessed. Give an insight check, Chandler.
Speaker: Okay, I think Casey has learned not to trust my ask if i can use passive. I think that's probably... Give insight check, please, Chandler. Yeah, I'd like to say 28. Okay, yeah. edit um You are being fucked with as try to pull yourself through the mirror.
Speaker: Your elbow... cracks the glass and there is just spider web of cracks on your side of the glass and unsuccessful at trying to pass through as over your shoulder, ah the creature with your voice.
Speaker: And actually it's your beard brushing against your beard as he's got you in this headlock and says, You and me can be pals. We have so much time to reflect. I've got a rules question for you, Casey, and this might be boring to our listeners. So being grappled, if we look at the rules, essentially sets my speed to zero, correct?
Speaker: Yes. But my skirmisher feat from my two levels by three levels of rogue says when an enemy ends its turn within five feet of me, I would add 10 to my movement speed.
Speaker: I think grappling is going to negate that. Okay, just checking. the The insight check was to give you the wherewithal that this thing is letting you move around with that failed strength check to bang your own elbow against the glass. And as it spider webs and as it cracks...
Speaker: the shards start to flit away and fly at Yaskins. As the first one misses and the second one hits. As the very glass that you tried to smash against lacerates up your arm for 14 points of piercing damage as bits of glass dig into your arm.
Speaker: I am sorry. Don't apologize. I got myself into this mess. Can we get initiative rolls, please, from Robert and Nick? Sure can. I suppose. Agent Rob, you're so far the least... 14.
Speaker: Confrontational. Robert, you are up and Chandler is after you. Robert, what are you doing, friend? Okay, I was going to say I'll at least enter the room for now. And then, like...
Speaker: Agent Chandler, can I see my reflection or reflection of something in the mirrors or in any of the other mirrors I look at when I enter? You can see your reflection. So cracks have formed where you see X's and you can see your reflection.
Speaker: um However, on the opposite side of that reflection, you can also make out Chandler struggling with a copy of himself. And you look over your shoulder and do not see Chandler behind you.
Speaker: Okay. ah c I see. I see. All right. One moment. Hypothetically, if we break all the mirrors, would that be either really, really good or really, really bad for Agent CB? I don't think we're gonna know until we try. I was gonna say maybe i can cast Command, but I just don't know if it can hear me through the mirror and would I have to roll a perception to... Or, what could I just say I wanted to cast it on the go Chandler? That's...
Speaker: putting the other one in a headlock, or would it be able to hear me through the mirror? Technically a 60 foot range. Given horror conventions, they can hear you, but muffled as if you are talking through thick glass.
Speaker: Okay. i think I'm going cast its command on it then. And it's a wisdom saving throw of 16. Evens or odds? Evens.
Speaker: Evens, you picked the right Chandler.
Speaker: You picked the right Chandler. What is your command? ah Approach. Outstanding. ah So yes. Slipping between the cracks in the mirror, the doppelganger of your friend and ally slips under the cracks next to your friend who is bloodied and looks the worst for wear.
Speaker: You said approach, you did not say let him go. So he continues to hold him grappled in a headlock. Right. as the other Chandler, says to the lot of you, do you have any idea of where you are?
Speaker: Do you know what it is you're trying to stop? Because this is just the appetizer, friends. Oh no! um it's honestly, no. i I have no clue what's going on, guys.
Speaker: i was going to say, is that as as close as he can get to me, given his movement speed? Is he supposed to use all of his movement to get closer to you? Yeah, says the target moves towards you by the shortest and most direct route, ending its turn if it moves within five feet of you.
Speaker: Gotcha. Okay. Also, I guess per turn it has to continue to move to me. that what that means? Because flee in Flee, the target spends its turn moving away from you, so I'm i'm not sure variable is. happy to oblige as he brings him closer to you. Okay. Okay.
Speaker: I think that's pretty much all I can do here. Robert, as this thing gets closer to you, he looks you in the eye and says, my, my, you are magnetic, aren't you?
Speaker: think I'll be you next. And suddenly Chandler it with the headlock just morphs and shifts. and mo like ripples on a still pond.
Speaker: You are facing you holding your friend in a painful headlock as he bleeds. Excellent turn usage. Please take DM's inspiration for creative use of command.
Speaker: Chandler, you want a headlock, sir. What you doing? I'm flailing about. I'm going to try and... get out of this headlock first. Okay. You know, the classic slippery way. You're a slippery boy. That sounded even grosser when I said it. Yes. Sure it is. 16 acrobatics check to try and slip out of this.
Speaker: That is slippery enough. Amazing. um When this thing shifted to match Rob, did it match did it match his clothes as well? I'll say yes.
Speaker: Okay, I'm going to use my first attack, or I guess my second attack, if the acrobatics is the first, to try and make a big enough rip in that shirt that we can tell the two apart.
Speaker: And then I am going Flurry of Blows be able to disengage. Give us that attack. ah move so good. Phenomenal. I like to think I'm smart.
Speaker: Doesn't mean I am, I just like to think it. That is a miss. That is a 10. That is a miss. You slash at Robert and he turns his head to you and says, I bet you've wanted to do that for a long time.
Speaker: Shame on you. Yeah, I think if I missed the dagger, I think I would flurry of... My initial instinct was to use flurry of blows and try and run and shatter more of these mirrors.
Speaker: but I don't think I can in good conscience walk away if I can't tell the difference. So I think I'm going to try and I'm going to flurry of blows and try and rip at clothes, but I'm mostly just going to be throwing punches. So that is a six on the die on the first one. That is a miss. And it's a three again. so That is a 10 here. And that is a miss.
Speaker: And with that, I'm going to step back next to Nick. Kylie, some genuine is going on. Uh, Kylie, what you doing friend?
Speaker: So i can I roll something to try to be able to tell the difference between the two? Give me an insight check. Okay. I can do that. I'm, I'm good at that. Well, I'm not bad at it.
Speaker: let's see. My insight is plus four. 19 plus four. So you have kept track of them and like they have not done a do-si-do or anything like that, although that's a lot of fun to pursue in the future and like have pegged which one is the foe Rob, the not Rob.
Speaker: Okay. Well, I'm gonna um do, you know, you just, a, as a cute little cleric thing, I have two actions. My first action is going to be guiding bull on him.
Speaker: And that is gonna be... That's plus four, so 14. That's a miss. That's not good. That's not good at all.
Speaker: That's okay. So I missed that. That's fine. Then I'm gonna just come in there and use my, actually, I'm gonna use my crossbow and I'm gonna use a bonus action of Hunter's Mark to try to be able to give more damage.
Speaker: So do you want me to roll for the crossbow first? Please. Okay, lovely. That's a four. um Plus eight, so a 12 I assume does not a hit with my crossbow.
Speaker: That is a miss. And I'm not even gonna bother doing Hunter's Mark because I missed. I will save that for another turn. So I attempt to shoot lightning at him and hit him with my crossbow and nothing.
Speaker: I must be really wigged out to see two Robs at the same time. in a room full of dead bodies and a very bloodied Agent CP.
Speaker: Rob, your mirror turns to you and says, my, they are eager to try and hurt you. How does that make you feel? How does that make you feel? I know my friends got me.
Speaker: I'm not worried. They've got you. All right. Nick, you are up, sir. What you doing? All right, so am I also able to easily distinguish between the real Rob and the fake Rob?
Speaker: They have not moved, and you can make you can clearly see which one Kylie tried to hit. Perfect. Okay, so then I'll just check that. I am going to approach the creature, and then i will go ahead and I will grapple it.
Speaker: I love it. I'm gonna go for the grapple. All right.
Speaker: So yeah, target must succeed on a strength dex saving throw. First, you gotta to make contact. Give us an unarmed strike. Oh, an armed strike. Got it. Thank you. You got him. Question is now what you're gonna do with him.
Speaker: Okay, I got him grappled.
Speaker: I'm gonna put him in a headlock now, and then I'll just like whisper behind him like, so you wanna be friends, huh? And then I'll just like grapple him and I'll bring him down to the ground and I'll ah lock my legs to, I'll lock my legs around him.
Speaker: that way he can't move. He's caught.
Speaker: Awesome. Are you doing anything else, Nick? Well, not sure what else I could do from from the grapple if I'm trying to restrain him. um Can I try and try and punch him in the liver while I still have one arm around him trying to restrain him?
Speaker: I think between grappling him and navigating him to the ground is going to use both your actions. Okay. Then I guess that's it for now.
Speaker: um Okay. Beautiful. Good Agent Nick. He's going to try and slip free of your maneuver. Slippery as he can be.
Speaker: That is a 17. What is your... ah Okay, so what is your strength modifier? Four. Okay, give us contested as he tries to slip free. So give us a strength check. There we go.
Speaker: You can do it. Oh no. So nimble as anything, he slips out of your grip and uses half his movement to handspring to his feet.
Speaker: This is going to give Rob an attack of opportunity upon him. As Rob, you do that first and then we'll go from there. This guy must have wrestled in high school. He knows what he's doing.
Speaker: 24. That's a And nice. that's a hit
Speaker: yeah stand
Speaker: and nice Beautiful. You slash him with your sword as he rolls to his feet and he just points at Nick and shards from this broken mirror fly through the air in Nick's direction that is going to miss as he looks around and says, my, my, my.
Speaker: Isn't this fun and all of you on my dance card. Robert, it's your turn. What you doing? He still looks like you, by the way. Okay, that's fine. I guess if move to this other side of him, is he considered flanked at that point?
Speaker: Once you move, I'll be able to tell they'll be able to tell you. Yes. I will just roll to hit with my long sword again. 18. Roll one more time because you have him at advantage because you have him flanked.
Speaker: Just in case you crit, 23 hits. o nice Beautiful. That longsword is working well for Rob. Yeah, seriously. yes And then can I use my extra attack as well?
Speaker: He's going to single-handedly save all of us.
Speaker: Ooh, lovely hit. 24, very nice. Nice! 17 total, I believe? Bully. ah Yeah, you attack him twice and slice up his back. The back of your own shirt has been slashed twice.
Speaker: What is going through you as you attack yourself? Huzzah! There's only one me!
Speaker: There's not enough room in in this town for the two of us. Chandler, you are up. You are bleeding. And this thing is ten feet from you. What are you doing? I can heal you if you don't want to fight.
Speaker: No, i Guys, I forget some of my talents. So I'm going to run in. Oh, Lord.
Speaker: i'm i'm I'm not flanking, right? So I don't get advantage. is still flanked, though, so you get advantage. So I get advantage. We are going to start with...
Speaker: two attempts to stab. So I'll roll twice to be the advantage. That's a hit. Let's see. This is the 18 for the first one. um Which I'm going to stunning strike.
Speaker: And then I'll roll the second one. That's a hit. 23 the second one. And then I'll hold there. I don't want to use all my key points. But I'm going to Stunning Strike the first one.
Speaker: So that is going to be Constitution saving throw. And if he fails, DC 15. If he fails, he is stunned.
Speaker: That is 17. He is not stunned. That is bummer. Let me roll my damage. Love where your head's at though. First one was sneak attack for 15 damage on the first stab. This one's only the first, the piercing. So plus five. So 20 total damage. Beautiful.
Speaker: Okay. And then for my bonus action. thank I'm going to backhand him.
Speaker: So with the backhand, it's 18 to hit and ah simple seven bludgeoning damage. just Really show up who's in charge. As you smack him hard enough for him to bleed and break a blood vessel in his lip, he turns back into you and says,
Speaker: yeah What issues are you grappling with? Why would you do this to yourself? Kylie, how's it going, friend? You know, um I've had better days, for sure.
Speaker: um Let's see. i see my team valiantly fighting in there and part of me is like do I just end it for everybody and do like a really big spell or should i um is there would I get advantage right now because he is flanked in a variety of angles currently if you're trying to get a ranged attack on him I'm gonna say no like melee up close has him advantage I will use my movement to move forward And then i will use my mace as my first action.
Speaker: And then I'm going to cast Hunter's Mark as well, assuming that I actually hit something this time. One can hope and dream. My mace has a plus here's yourrome six on it.
Speaker: that's 15 plus six, 21 to hit. Gorgeous, that's a hit. Roll one more time because he's flanked. Oh yeah, that's true. In case you crit. In case I crit. Why not?
Speaker: i did not crit so i will keep my higher roll and then that is a 1d6 plus two and so that will be five damage but i want to add my hunter's mark onto it and add that additional 1d6 of damage um for a crisp little one Every bit helps. Every bit helps. So I maintain my hunter's mark now for the next hour. yeah Don't hurt my friends!
Speaker: And that's a five. Plus, I believe an eight for my skill with the mace. and one more time because he's flanked. Thank thank you, thank you. A six. Plus... 11's gonna miss. Yep, that's unfortunate. so i So I hit the first time and I missed the second time, but he does take, I believe, six damage total and I have Hunter's Mark on him, so... Yay! You whack him with your mace and he wipes... Chandler wipes blood from Chandler's chin as he looks at you and says, clock's ticking, Red. oh He brings up a good point, guys! We have to get to the laboratory. We have to get to find the doctor. We're gonna be in a lot more trouble if we don't find the doctor.
Speaker: he's ah He's a distraction. Okay, i look at I look at the creature and first thing I'd like to do is ask him, tell me, where' where's this lab? How do we get there?
Speaker: You're flanked, you're outnumbered. you have Tell us where it is and we'll leave you alone. He glares past you at the spiral staircase leading up, up, up. And he says, good news, you have nowhere to go but up.
Speaker: Alright guys, I think he's telling us to go up. You don't say. But... Why would you do that? Don't make assumptions. You're right.
Speaker: Assumptions make an ass out of you and me. That's the first rule of DEAD. But you know what? also don't like this identity fraud he's been committing. You want to play, buddy?
Speaker: Let's play. And I'm just going to give him a quick few rounds of punches right now. Oh, you monster. He's flanked. to Go for it. You want to play? Let's play. First order strike. It was a one.
Speaker: I take back. You guys, maybe it's time to make a strategic retreat. Roll role at advantage because he is flanked. yeah roll again okay break goodness I'm gonna go ahead and say thank you for re-rolling that is still a mess you would have hit it's still a miss okay that's the first ah I can punch
Speaker: time okay those are all misses there I'm sorry he's good guys cause you're good Shucks. He's disengaging with a handspring and lands on the far side of Chandler and Rob and da lands on his feet and then disappears behind one of the mirrors that is intact.
Speaker: Okay, guys, where's that staircase he was talking about? Unless you want some more you better not come back. You're only giving the waving fist to yourself in the reflection. Get away from the mirrors!
Speaker: Did we not learn our lesson the first time? Look him. Look at him. So hideous. You're talking to yourself now, Agent Nick. And I move toward the exit. Well, before we do that, can I maybe roll investigation and see if there's anything else the room? Like something over on this left side that's just piano? Okay. Is there anything of interest?
Speaker: There's a corpse on the ground. Yeah. You want to loot the bodies? Loot the corpses. I do want to loot the bodies. Alright, I'll loot with you. Give us an investigation.
Speaker: they Thirteen. Thirteen. You find a dagger that has dried blood on it. That's cool. Interesting. I rolled a fifteen. Can I roll?
Speaker: Okay. Okay. with a 15, Kylie, um you help him frisk the bodies. um And as you do, um like you roll it over and look at it,
Speaker: you notice two things with a 15. um Number one, it has a pouch with about 30 silver pieces in his pouch.
Speaker: right And number two, it looks like his liver has been carved out and taken. Oh, that's... I take the money, first of all. I just slip it into my pocket before anybody can see.
Speaker: The liver thing is weird and I do- Haley, did you find anything? Uh, this dude is missing a liver. That's not good. took his liver? I didn't take his liver! It's gone!
Speaker: was already It was gone before I got here. I did not steal this man's liver. But, uh... Are there- I mean... Maybe there's other people's- other corpses that have missing body parts.
Speaker: Maybe it has something to do with the doctor. Agent Nick, you tiptoe closer to the corpse between Rob and Chandler.
Speaker: And as you look it over, you find that this one is missing both kidneys.
Speaker: Oh my gosh. Guys, both this, this person's missing both of their kidneys. That's fatal. Nick, why would you take their kidneys?
Speaker: What happened to their kids' knees? i did oh What did you do to their's kid their kids' knees? Oh, please! They were good knees, what can I say? I'm an old man!
Speaker: No, I'm just kidding. oh Guys, I didn't do it! That's crazy! Man, I mean... Okay, look, look, look, look. I came in here a while back with like a few with a few people.
Speaker: i definitely remember that little girl that but Kylie is next to. Oh. hello Honestly, I don't remember at all, though. Yeah, she was kind of a pain, honestly.
Speaker: I mean, it's it's a real sad, shucks, that like she's dead. But at the same time, like I didn't even bother to learn their names. They were just kind of ah annoying. um The sladium has hardened you. we We have to keep going, guys. I do want to ask. This person was not missing both their kidneys when I remember going in here with them last time.
Speaker: That's not good. Definitely was not. It's crazy. I do want to ask, is the piano operable? or Oh my no. It was playing despite being inoperable.
Speaker: I don't like that! The violin on the floor, I'm assuming that is, is that also crashed?
Speaker: Just curious. Are there any ah strings in the piano? Like any piano wire that could be salvaged? fascinating. Give us a sleight hand check. That's a 10.
Speaker: That is a 10. No, unfortunately, you are not able to pluck free any of the piano wire. That's a dark thought anyway. Could I see if there's anything that could be used as a shield around here?
Speaker: Going off of your previous investigation check, sadly, the answer is no for this room. Hmm. Okay team, does anyone need healing before we head up the stairs? Who knows what harrs will await us. Yeah, I also have a lay on hands pool that I can give HP back to. I would like to be healed, but know CB needs more healing.
Speaker: So... what your blood You're bloodied. Shut up. We need you.
Speaker: Hey buddy, you don't look so good. Hey buddy, I look great. As you say that, I cast Cure Wounds. You always look great. And I give you a handshake.
Speaker: A nice, firm one. And I smack you on the forehead as I cast Cure Wounds for 22 HP. Holy cow, that feels good. yeah Yeah.
Speaker: My back, like, straightens up. I'm like, oh, guys, I was not okay. Thank you for saying something, because I i totally thought I was fine. Kylie, I will go over to you and say, you don't look so good either. Yeah, I'm not i'm not looking my best. i would I do not mind being healed. That'd be awesome. And I will give you 20 HP. Thank you.
Speaker: Rob, if you don't currently have it, please take DM's inspiration for helping out a partner. I do have it. Nevermind. Can I give it to somebody else?
Speaker: new Okay. um Okay team, let's go find the staircase. Cause if, if the weirdo that was CB and Rob showed us anything, we do know that we have to go up.
Speaker: So we need to go up because at this point, Who knows how long it's gonna take before we find this thing and we can hopefully get out of here.
Speaker: We're determined to leave with Agent Nick this time. That is our mission. Shucks, guys. i'm I'm so nervous. I've never been upstairs before. This is gonna be exciting. I don't know about y'all, but my mission is to impress my patron.
Speaker: The twins! I'm gonna shout the twins!
Speaker: i do a salute to the Tick Tock. Man, wonder what Tick Tock's doing right now. Oh yeah, i guess we're in the basement. They can't see us, can they? You look around and paying attention to the walls for the first time, they start to shimmer and turn translucent.
Speaker: You realize that they can see you, um but unless you are like making a point of staring out at the spectators... um The walls are in place for you.
Speaker: I just wave, hey guys, wow, look at all these people. Isn't that great? I'm gonna try and look towards the patrons, do a cheeky little point spin, and then then do a back flip. Give me a performance check. Seven. So you slip in some blood and land on your back, knocking the air out of you.
Speaker: You do not take any injury. I offer a hand. i I go to take it and then do one of those like handshake things where you go, ooh, never mind. And then I realize I'm on the floor and then I have to awkwardly stand.
Speaker: I offer my hand to Agent CB. Here, buddy, let me help you with that. i actually I actually do stand up in the coolest way. It just looks a little awkward. Like, it's almost like a kip up, but if you're drunk and you look like you're stumbling, but I'm actually really sturdy. I roll my eyes and say, these freaking boys.
Speaker: And I exit the room. Still holding Agent CB's hand. I raise our hands and I take a quick bow. I know how she how important showmanship is here. And then I say, okay, guys, not fooling around. Let's go.
Speaker: Let's follow Kylie. The twins have seen me both carry you in battle and restore your health. I have nothing else to do here. Let's go. right, who wants to go first? Who's feeling brave?
Speaker: I have the most HP, i'll go I'll go first guys, just as a ah thank you for coming to help me out. Aww, cute. Well, hope hope we don't leave you behind again. Yeah, I hope so too.
Speaker: Rule 33, never leave a fellow agent behind. You know what? I didn't have much of a choice. um I follow right behind him. Nice. did do Wow, swanky place, I say as I look around. The vibes in here are definitely something. You reach the second floor, landing ah crumbling story mired in cobwebs.
Speaker: Your hearing is plagued by whispers you cannot fully make out. You smell the unmistakable odors of death and decay.
Speaker: And to clarify, the spiral staircase you climb continues up, up to a third floor as you arrive on the second. interesting Interesting.
Speaker: I was going to say, do we want to go up? there There could be things that are useful here, like tools and weapons. Maybe we should, we can, there's like four rooms. We can clear this in no time. Come on.
Speaker: I'll take this room. That's what we thought about the first floor. And I'm just peeking into the doorway. Kylie, you reach the lavatory, the washroom, and a spectral green cat oh fuck kisses from the tub before it vanishes back into the wide copper tub.
Speaker: um There's a ghost cat. I'm not sure how to feel about that. Whoa. Well, it's a cat, so... But that looks like a bathroom, so I don't know if there'd be much that's, like, exciting in there. I'm gonna take a quick peek in this room, and i would like to do some type of investigation to see if there's maybe anything worthwhile to use in our combat. on. Chandler?
Speaker: Agent Nick, you reach the meeting room on the second floor, where the table lies shattered on the floor as a number of corpses lie around it, broken.
Speaker: One is missing its feet, another its head, a third its left leg is nowhere to be seen. As you approach a trio of disembodied spirits materialize around the broken table, the spirits looking equally broken.
Speaker: Not one of their bodies is intact. and they are arguing over where to search the house as they have all died before finding what they were looking for. Okay, can I make an attempt to communicate with these ghosts?
Speaker: You absolutely can. All right. What do I have to roll? Give us a persuasion check, because at the moment they have not noticed you. All right. Let's make an attempt.
Speaker: Not good. They talk over you as the one that is over here drifts away from its corpse and says, You've got a good juber getting walled by that ink monster. Who gets killed by ink?
Speaker: And the other one down at the south says, You've got walled by a rabid mirror, you idiot.
Speaker: And the third one who has a goose egg even dead says, least you were born and can cast a fight and buy a lot of books. Cool.
Speaker: Uh-oh. A lot of books. Okay. Nick with a 22 for an investigation. You see that there is a chest in the southeast corner of the room on the far side of a lot of shattered furniture.
Speaker: The bodies look like they have been picked over by adventurers previous. a Okay. Okay, okay. So I'm going to head towards the chest then.
Speaker: Okay. And I'm going to try and open it. Okay. Okay. Give us another investigation check, please. All right. and and You don't see anything dangerous on above or around the chest. Awesome.
Speaker: All right. I open up the chest. Okay. and Give us a constitution save, please. As a needle wicks out and scratches the palm of your hand. did you Okay.
Speaker: ah constitution Okay. Okay. So you go to the chest, you open it, and all of a sudden there is a scratch across your palm that starts to bleed and leaves behind a greenish residue. You take two points of piercing, four of poison, as your forehead starts to perspire. The room is suddenly very warm,
Speaker: And you begin to feel heavy as you take on a level of exhaustion. And that is where we're going to pause today in part one of the Sladium games with Survive This Crit in the Malevolent Malignant Mansion.
Speaker: See you all again soon. Mwahahahaha.
Speaker: This has been Narrative Feats, the actual play anthology. Tune in next time when we return with the crew of Survive This Crit to see how they fare in the malignant mansion.
Speaker: Will they find the secret lab of Dr. Verschmelzenkörper? Time and the dice will tell. Bye-bye. Thanks, everyone, for tuning in to this episode of survived this crit with narrative themes.
Speaker: Thank you to special guests Chandler and Robert and of course to our amazing DM Casey. Come back next week to see if we can survive or find our way out of this mansion.
Speaker: Toodles!
