Dalelands - Episode 1 'The Beginning'

The players arrive in Dagger Falls fresh off a caravan journey through the Anauroch desert that lasted over a month. All they have are each other as they navigate this new land. 

They set off on their first quest, to rescue Humble Hill from a strange sickness of unknown origin guided by Sister Liara of the Seeds of Cultivation.

Transcript

SPEAKER_14 0:00

Welcome back to the Chaotic Naturals Dungeons and Dragons Podcast. Thanks for tuning in. We are so excited to have you joining us on our new adventure into the Dale Lands.

SPEAKER_04 0:11

Thanks so much for joining us for a new campaign in the Dale Lands. This, while it is episode one, it is our ninth session in this campaign. We did eight sessions pre-campaign where we traveled across the Sword Coast, across Anarok to arrive in the Dale Lands. So, I will have everyone introduce their characters and what they've been doing for the past month or so on the road through the desert. We'll start with Lily.

SPEAKER_23 0:52

So I'm Orion. I am Leo's half-brother. Um I am a druid, but I'm playing him as an archer. Um, why am I nervous? We do this every week. This is so weird. Because you're sitting next to me now. Um each other anymore. Yeah, so Orion and Leo were um, they grew up separately, but um Orion lived with their awful, awful father. Farther.

SPEAKER_12 1:18

Farther.

SPEAKER_23 1:19

Farther. Yeah. He lived with their father. He trained him to be everything that Leo was not because Leo was a disappointment to their father. So Orion is the soldier that their father always wanted. Um until one night when the abuse got too much, he escaped the temple and hopped on a caravan wagon and joined everybody else. And he's really quiet and stealthy. Um, he is covered completely head to toe in just black veiling. You can't see any part of him at all. Um, he didn't even tell anybody his name for most of the sessions. Um he hates Joanna. He loves Hodge. He thinks that Hodge is the smartest person he's ever met. Um and yeah, it's taken him a while to open up, but he's starting to.

SPEAKER_06 2:13

He definitely doesn't hate Joanna.

SPEAKER_23 2:16

Hates Joanna. I think he doesn't know what he means. He doesn't know what any emotion is other than anxiety. So Emily. Yeah. So I'm playing Joanna Grace Arkright. She is an elven cleric. Um, Big Shock playing an elf again. Um she is a sweet southern girl. She left her small port town of Port Last to try and learn more about her family's religion and the god that they serve, uh, who is Naralis, the god of both healing and suffering. So she's kind of learning about how both of those things can be true. Um she is, for the first time, seeing combat um out in the world and seeing just the world in general and meeting all these different types of people. Um, it's been overwhelming and sometimes upsetting. Um she is wagon mates with Orion and does not like him either because she wants to help. She's very awkward, um, but at the same time somehow still charming. Um and is genuinely just wants to help anyone that she comes across, and he is not receptive to that. Um, so it's kind of throwing her off a little bit. But she has a really close relationship with Ike, um, kind of uses him as like an older brother, almost kind of father figure. Um she writes weekly to her parents who are still back home. And she is traveling with the memory of her sister, Eleanor, who died about a century and a half ago. And she's been called to the Dalians by an old friend who needs her to investigate um a plague that infected his town. And she's also looking for an old Elven City uh myth drainer to learn more about just being an elf in general, um, and hopefully find more about her god there.

unknown 4:31

Cool.

SPEAKER_21 4:32

Uh, Will. My name is William. I play Ical Agris. Uh, he's just known by Ike by the crew.

SPEAKER_01 4:41

He is a half-orc druid. He will be a moon druid once we hit level three. Uh some orc clans are known to kidnap humans to breed half-orcs to be a part of their military. Ike was one of them. He was born into uh basically slavery. Um he could not really swing a sword or hold an axe, let alone carry the weight of the armor. Uh so he was thrown aside to work with most of the women of this orc clan to be a farmer, tend to the plants and animals, the fields. Um, so he gained a lot of knowledge about that and really grew to like that sort of thing. Uh, he lived there for most of his life, uh, up until he was uh, I don't know, maybe mid-twenties.

SPEAKER_21 5:45

And he had escaped uh with the help of a very close friend who became lover named Yorna, who is an orc woman of this clan. Uh, she helped him escape and did not go with him.

SPEAKER_01 6:02

It was a situation where, you know, she was trying to distract the pursuers so he could escape and be free, and his goal is to, you know, make it so he can bring justice to the clan and kill them all, because they're all a bunch of warmongering maniacs. Um for the last six years, before he got onto the caravan, he had found his way to an old archdruid named Leif Briar, who took him under his wing and taught him the ways of the druid and taught him more about life on the farm, how to really care for animals and plants and do it properly, as well as teach him a little bit of magic along the way. Leif peacefully died in his sleep after the sixth year of him being there.

SPEAKER_21 6:56

And a few months later the caravan came along, and Sister Liana of the caravan was like, Hey, you are Leif's uh pupil. Why don't you come help me at the Dale Lands to get rid of this terrible blight?

SPEAKER_05 7:12

And he was like, you know what?

SPEAKER_21 7:14

Yeah, adventure is it's time for me to go out. I need to get stronger, know more about the world, so I can eventually uh best Chief Bulgren. Uh which is also Yorna's father, and uh kill him in battle and take Yorna away from it all.

SPEAKER_04 7:41

Thanks. Uh, Becca.

SPEAKER_11 7:44

Sorry, there's Froddies and it makes me.

SPEAKER_04 7:46

There are Froddies. Very loud ones.

SPEAKER_13 7:49

Alright, so my character, Valeria, she is an SMR but does not know it yet. She comes from a town just, I don't know, pretty far from the Dale Lands, and heard about the uh what you call it, the caravan going to the Dale Lands. She, before the caravan came by, had some news that told her to leave. And so she just was leaving her house. Um she's in her mid-20s and she used to be a guard at her hometown. So she's pretty good at fighting. She's yeah. And um she has some magic that she doesn't really know how she has it, but she uses it because she can. Um, yeah, she thinks Hodge is crazy. Um, she thinks Orion is actually pretty funny, but won't let him know that because she thinks she likes Joanna. And she doesn't want to antagonize Joanna. And yeah, likes dope too. Um, and that's all we have so far. She is still a mystery until she reaches level three.

SPEAKER_09 9:09

Carter. I am Hodge, uh, a wizard, a human wizard. He's from a small town outside of Waterdeep where he grew up with his father, his brother, and mother. Uh his father died when he was a teenager under mysterious circumstances that Hodge hopes to resolve someday. Uh, shortly after that, his brother departed to Waterdeep to help make a living and it was never heard from again. After his mother died, uh, he had no reason to stay in town and decided to seek out his brother and more information about his father's mysterious passing. He spent some time in Waterdeep, uh, learning a little bit of magic whenever he could from the mages there, and the book, his journal, uh, that was his father's before him, and Hodge is slowly realizing, functions also as a spell book. Uh he got word that his brother, uh, or that rather his surname, which is Hodge, which he goes by in hopes that someone will recognize the name when they hear it, and point him in the direction of his brother. Uh he got news that someone with that same name was in the Dale Lands. Hodge's father uh had told them often about a place in the Dale Lands called the Arkan Falls. So he's on a journey uh to get more powerful, to learn more spells, find his brother, and figure out what happened to his father.

SPEAKER_04 10:43

I should also mention Ike likes to smoke a pint. He'll often share that with Hodge. Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_21 10:50

They grew to be close friends during their travels, the month across the lands in the desert. Uh he grew close to Joanna as well. He's trying to get Orion to open up slowly but surely. He also likes to whittle. He has made everybody, except for Hajj at this point, a little trinket that they can carry with them. A whittle trinket. A whittle twinket.

SPEAKER_09 11:17

Yeah. I'll say that Hajj is uh quick with an illusion to lighten or dampen the mood, whatever's required.

SPEAKER_23 11:26

Um Joanna is also the oldest of the group. She's 190. Um but being an elf, physically, she looks like the equivalent of a 27, 28-year-old. So she's not she's not actually old.

SPEAKER_06 11:39

Yeah, it's young for an elf.

unknown 11:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 11:41

A young elf. Um so a few things that have happened on this campaign. Uh it's been 43 days since we first started in Port Last, uh, picking up Joanna. Um, and then we continued through picking up everyone along the way uh as we went from Port Last, which is right above Neverwinter, south towards Waterdeep, and then cut east uh through Anarok and the Delember Vale before arriving in Dagger Falls. Along that trail, uh, we met a few uh NPCs um that have kind of guided them towards these quests. Uh Will slash Ike mentioned Sister Liana, who is a watchful sister of the earth, a priest of Chontee, and a member of the Seeds of Cultivation. Uh, she has put out a request for help. Uh she is aging. Uh she's a 60-year-old human woman, uh, so she was she is a bit too old to be dealing with this issue. So along the caravan uh trail, she first hired Ike and then Joanna and invited everyone else to join along the way as well uh to fix the curse uh of a little uh town. Uh she um she's not sure exactly uh what the root of the sickness is or what the sickness really entails. But uh a cleric uh to heal and a druid uh to kind of find this source uh seemed like a logical first step to help her out. She has offered a hundred gold to everyone uh to help her find the root of this sickness. Otherwise, uh on the caravan you have met a trio of sisters, the Thorn Sisters, uh, who are uh who are traveling, uh these are noble sisters who are traveling to Daggerdale from Daggerford to marry, hopefully, fingers crossed for them, to marry the new leader of Daggerdale, Kirkland Mourne. Um so you got into some a few spats with them, mainly O'Rion. Uh one of the sisters uh really wanted to see his face, uh, and a little bit of Hodge uh trickery got involved. Um what now?

SPEAKER_23 14:41

So now she leaves me alone. Um I wonder why.

SPEAKER_04 14:47

As well as Velissa Zashir, who is a devout uh follower of the prophecy of Alguthra the Mad, uh, who is the um ancient woman who uh wrote the uh the scroll what is it? The roll of years. Yeah. Um she is very excited about this specific year, as it has been labeled the year of the shining mythyl. Uh so she has traveled uh all the way uh from Daggerford as well uh to settle, to be one of the first settlers in Myth Draener. Uh she hopes that this prophecy of Agothra the Mad comes true, and she has identified our adventuring party here as those heroes who will uh restore the once great city of Mythraener and its Mythyl. Uh hence the year of the Shining Mythyl. She has also agreed to help our party on that mission, uh, mostly Hodge, with finding scrolls and books uh from any source that she can. She is a very um knowledgeable woman, while a bit crazy. Uh she has she intends to help the party with uh finding some information for them.

SPEAKER_07 16:19

My research.

SPEAKER_04 16:20

Um we also had a bit uh of Zenterm conundrums um with Rogar uh and Dimble, who were members of this caravan, who were involved with the Zenterim doing some shady deals under the leader of the caravan's nose when they found out they were slain uh a mere few days ago, uh told on by our party as Hey, hey, hey, that barrel fell. Yeah. They had smuggled a barrel of jewelry when they said it was water. Turns out uh they were going under the nose of the leader and were punished for that. Um which uh before Rogar died, sh he shouted that um the Xenterum would be after all of you. If they ever found out that he he was killed at your hand, I said.

SPEAKER_09 17:29

People die in the desert all the time. Circle alike.

SPEAKER_20 17:32

He slipped and fell and his head came off.

SPEAKER_09 17:35

Yeah, that's what I felt with uh nursery rhyme.

SPEAKER_12 17:39

That's what I grew up with.

SPEAKER_09 17:42

That makes sense.

SPEAKER_04 17:43

Yeah. Uh you also found um an ancient document written in High Orkish that was until recently unreadable, uh, as nobody knew what High Orkish even was, let alone could read it. Um eventually discovering that this was a letter written by Powell Nickham, Powell the Owl Nickham, about a lost library of Leftchantos. Um they found this out by rescuing what's his name?

SPEAKER_11 18:30

Sullivan Crace. Sullivan Crace.

SPEAKER_04 18:32

Sullivan Crace, a an antiquarian of Candlekey, who was being held hostage uh by the eyes of a tar in the middle of the desert. Uh rescued by our party. Uh he now travels with them to the Dale lands with an ancient netheries scroll, which he intends to return to Candle Keep once he c he can find a teleportation portal to get him there.

SPEAKER_02 19:04

Let's do that first.

SPEAKER_04 19:06

Um, uh we've got the our main quests here, essentially right now, as we have arrived in Dagger Falls uh last night um and or this on this night, uh we will begin on the night when they arrive in Dagger Falls with the intentions of uh a big goal possibly being restoring Myth Draner or exploring it, uh, first of all. Uh an immediate goal of uh solving this uh curse of this farm for the seeds of cultivation, uh, and then a a large another large goal of finding this lost library of Left Chantos, uh, guided by Myrna Noor, who is waiting for them in Shadowdale at the Old Skull Inn, a very famous inn in one of the most famous towns of the Dale lands. On this night, their first night in real civilization, in about a month, uh you arrive, uh, the guards let you in. This is a massive caravan uh being led uh by experienced traders. You guys uh manage to uh help them along their way through lots of trouble through the desert, and uh mostly unscathed. What would you like to do as you guys uh set foot inside of a real city, not in the sand, not in the desert, uh, but in a really nice area for the first time in a while.

SPEAKER_23 20:58

Um, Orion has never been in a city like this before, ever. So he's going to stay quiet, but he is going to walk around and just see what's going on.

SPEAKER_26 21:12

Okay.

SPEAKER_23 21:13

He's only ever really been outside of the temple for assassinations.

SPEAKER_04 21:20

I think Ike will shed a little tear as he f his feet finally touches grass when he's out of the desert.

SPEAKER_01 21:27

Uh he doesn't wear shoes. He wears uh a poncho made of a bear fur skin as well.

SPEAKER_21 21:37

Uh as that was his very first kill when he escaped the um clan and had to fight for survival.

SPEAKER_23 21:49

I think that the desert clothing comes off immediately. She gets back into her normal well normal and aircraft. Quotes. Um she Joanna normally is dressed um in sort of like a Victorian-inspired looking outfit, black and white, as us in the real world would have for a traditional priest, um, all black outfit, white shirt underneath with a black necktie. Um she's very she she looks out of place even in a fantasy world. Um kind of like a southern gothic nightmare, is how I describe her. Um but her personality is the complete opposite of what she looks like. Um and I guess she would she see you cry a little bit.

SPEAKER_01 22:39

It's like I'm like looking up like you okay?

SPEAKER_20 22:44

This is nice.

SPEAKER_01 22:45

This is nice.

SPEAKER_20 22:46

Okay.

SPEAKER_21 22:47

Like my toes are wiggling in the grass.

SPEAKER_20 22:49

I'm really going for it.

SPEAKER_04 22:51

It feels good.

SPEAKER_20 22:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 22:54

Where I'm supposed to be.

SPEAKER_20 22:55

Okay. I'm just making sure you're alright. You're blinking pretty hard.

SPEAKER_04 22:59

I'm sweating through my eyes.

SPEAKER_20 23:02

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 23:03

You get out of the desert and start sweating profusely.

SPEAKER_18 23:10

Sorry.

SPEAKER_04 23:11

What?

SPEAKER_18 23:11

You said the Zuzart.

SPEAKER_04 23:13

I was laughing when I was the Zonzuet. Zon Zuit. Uh Val and Hodge, what are you guys getting up to as you arrive in civilization?

SPEAKER_09 23:27

Um, did we keep Sullivan with us?

SPEAKER_04 23:30

Yeah, Sullivan's Sullivan's with you until he can find a uh portal. We're gonna go with him, right? He figured it would he owes us money. He said He said that he would teleport, get you a reward, and teleport back. Yeah. But you're by all means, if you want to teleport with him, you could. Um you freed him kind of in the middle of Anarok. So it was either he travels alone or with any guards that he can manage to hire from the caravan back uh west towards Candle Keep, which is a long journey, uh, or he travels with the caravan to the Dale Lands and finds a teleportation uh um a portal, a means of of transport there.

SPEAKER_09 24:21

We have until the evening, I can until you're met to meet up with uh uh She's going she wanted to meet him in the morning in the morning.

SPEAKER_06 24:32

Like tomorrow morning. Tomorrow morning along the river. We'll go to River Tesh and bask in its morning light.

SPEAKER_09 24:39

Great. Maybe we can all uh walk with Sullivan to get him to his teleportation circle, maybe see a place to shop or uh whet our whistles along the way. I have all but no money. I'm sure uh Sullivan here could cover our charges, yes?

SPEAKER_13 25:01

I heard he's buying.

SPEAKER_04 25:02

Uh they they robbed me of all of my money.

SPEAKER_13 25:06

Ha ha.

SPEAKER_07 25:10

Uh I have some gold to spare. Couldn't hurt me.

SPEAKER_09 25:14

Plus, that'll probably pale in comparison to the hefty reward that Sullivan has in store for us for protecting it. What do you call it? Was it priceless? That scroll was. I couldn't even imagine how it would be prepaid, won't you think, guys?

SPEAKER_14 25:28

You're getting that weird look in your eye, guess. Yes.

SPEAKER_09 25:32

He looks a bit nervous.

SPEAKER_08 25:34

It'll benefit my research so greatly.

SPEAKER_04 25:37

Yes, um, whatever Candle Keep deems a significant uh reward for this is uh of course up to them. I'm sure you'll be happy regardless of what this prize is.

SPEAKER_20 25:49

I'm curious. Yes, he will. Yes, I'll be.

SPEAKER_09 25:54

Yes. I will. I will, of course, did you know they wanted 10,000 gold for you, Sullivan?

SPEAKER_04 26:01

Yes, uh the desert gang, the eyes of a tar wanted ten thousand gold for me, but uh I can't imagine that a candle keep would have paid that. Where did they think they were gonna get it? I I don't know. I uh I think that this gang was just delusional. Oh, thank goodness we came along. That is for sure.

SPEAKER_09 26:23

Ah, yes. On our way then, perhaps.

SPEAKER_25 26:28

He's like, fuck.

SPEAKER_09 26:34

Perhaps your personal account. Surely there's a bank with a universal teller here or something? Somewhere in the Dales, I I I would I would assume. Um I guess that begs the question: where could we find a teleportation circle?

SPEAKER_03 26:55

Well, I would assume that um there would have been one in that tower. Um I'm not sure if it's working now. It looks a bit dilapidated. Uh the constable's tower, did they say it was?

SPEAKER_06 27:11

Uh. Yes. Uh that would be the place for handle.

SPEAKER_09 27:15

But uh this part of our journey goes on a hold, then.

SPEAKER_04 27:21

Yes. Uh I will uh keep an eye out, and if I hear anything about any teleportation circles, I will um obviously let you know, and you can guide me there. I have no means to protect myself, as we did not go and get my spell book.

SPEAKER_05 27:36

I'm not sure at all.

SPEAKER_25 27:39

Yes, I could have sworn you. It's only my life's work.

SPEAKER_20 27:42

Oh no, we did get it. Did we not get it?

SPEAKER_04 27:45

No, I mean You're afraid of the lioness.

SPEAKER_12 27:50

Oh right.

SPEAKER_05 27:53

Oh, she would have wiped us out.

SPEAKER_00 27:55

Yes, well.

unknown 27:57

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 27:58

I could have helped, you know.

SPEAKER_09 27:59

What?

SPEAKER_00 28:00

Thankfully.

SPEAKER_09 28:02

Neither here nor there.

SPEAKER_00 28:04

I know.

SPEAKER_09 28:04

Surely you can muster up a sending spell, so if we leave you somewhere in your uh weakened state, you could get a hold of us.

SPEAKER_04 28:13

Now that we're in a town, I might be able to bargain for some papers and ink. Uh any any items I need to scribe some spells. Um but it'll take me some time. Uh it seems like you all have uh some things that will occupy you in the meantime.

SPEAKER_03 28:32

Uh until I manage to locate a teleportation circle. Uh until then, I will uh I'll be at the Red Rock Tabern.

SPEAKER_04 28:42

Red Rock Tabern. Red Rock.

SPEAKER_09 28:45

Here's five gold. You just Yes, you will be reimbursed, I promise you.

SPEAKER_00 28:53

I know.

SPEAKER_09 28:54

Thank you very much, Sullivan. It's been lovely working with you, honestly, but I think we may need to uh depart him for the moment.

SPEAKER_03 29:05

Yes. Um like I said, I will start at work immediately.

SPEAKER_06 29:10

Uh trying to locate this, but uh perhaps we can use him when we find when we look for the library of Los Chantos. Yeah, perhaps.

SPEAKER_09 29:21

Uh Myrna is in the the next Dale over, so I have already sent her a raven.

SPEAKER_04 29:27

Uh of course.

SPEAKER_03 29:29

Alert alerting uh her of our arrival in the coming days. Um I will travel there with you, of course.

SPEAKER_04 29:36

Uh as we have uh a bit of history. I mean, we were classmates. Oh look at you like that joke.

SPEAKER_00 29:45

I don't know if you had a you said it in a weird way. I was just curious.

SPEAKER_04 29:49

Her and Powell kind of had a thing, uh which is why I'm so surprised that they're falling out. Uh what do you know about Powell?

SPEAKER_03 29:57

Uh he is a um dangerously smart student, um according to the letter, uh very, very intrigued by this uh this Lechantos and this um The Nathlum.

SPEAKER_04 30:16

The Nathlum must be quite powerful if it's uh willing, if it's if it's able to split up such a friendship, such a partnership as they had all throughout school, but um they must have had differing opinions on what they should do should they find it. And I know Myrna, and she is a uh good girl.

SPEAKER_23 30:44

Uh we already came out there.

SPEAKER_04 30:48

She she would not cutting that. She would not be the We already came out. She would not be the type uh to do anything uh rash poor uh with this, but Powell I could see.

SPEAKER_03 31:04

So I believe if we uh align ourselves with Myrna, we'll be on the right side of history.

SPEAKER_06 31:10

I think it would be a good idea to get to this library soon as well. I would like to study high orcish.

SPEAKER_09 31:18

Yes.

SPEAKER_06 31:18

I can get a few words knowing orc, but it's they did not speak high orcish from where I was from.

SPEAKER_05 31:29

So I would like to be able to learn it so I can read these letters if we ever find any in the future for you.

SPEAKER_09 31:35

I love that idea. Yes, of course.

SPEAKER_18 31:38

Orion is looking very out of place.

SPEAKER_23 31:42

He's just standing far. He's like standing just like uncomfortably far away from you guys. From our zergling.

SPEAKER_04 31:52

Uh so Orion is the only one who knows what this netheries scroll that uh that Sullivan has actually is. Um Sullivan has trusted Orion to keep this secret as he is adept at doing so. Kept his name secret and has kept his face secret all this time.

SPEAKER_17 32:17

I tried to keep my name secret.

SPEAKER_04 32:19

Well, yeah, you you did keep your name secret for a while. Yeah. Um so he trusts you to keep this secret um and to guard him if anything is to happen. Um Time will tell if you stick to it or not.

SPEAKER_18 32:36

I and Lily am gonna forget, so I will stick to it.

SPEAKER_09 32:40

Okay. Ryan, are you feeling alright?

SPEAKER_23 32:44

Yes, I am great. Why are you standing so far away from everybody? Oh.

SPEAKER_06 32:49

Just You are part of this group.

SPEAKER_23 32:51

Watching over.

SPEAKER_06 32:52

May as well act like it.

SPEAKER_18 32:54

He like looks around, takes a few steps closer, but still at a bit of a distance.

SPEAKER_09 33:02

That's great. That's great. Yes, it's so much closer now, isn't it?

SPEAKER_08 33:07

Everybody's not to outwardly praise him too much.

SPEAKER_05 33:11

He might get scared.

SPEAKER_18 33:11

He's like the god kid at a family gathering. Oh my god, he got out of his room.

SPEAKER_03 33:18

Let's let him do it on his own. Orion, come outside and play football.

SPEAKER_22 33:26

Do the opposite. It's too much.

SPEAKER_04 33:29

Now I'm picturing the the in Wedding Crashers, the one son who's just paints 12 now.

SPEAKER_18 33:38

He's watching the movie like four times a day. It's great.

SPEAKER_25 33:40

Wedding crashers are great. Child Wedding Crashers, not a sponsor.

SPEAKER_12 33:47

This one eight-year-old movie is not currently sponsored by this recording.

SPEAKER_04 33:51

So he is staying at the uh Red Rock Tavern. Red Rock Tavern. Whatever. I mean, he has five gold to spend now, but uh before then he was just kind of gonna bargain with whatever he can do. Knowledge or tales or or promises from Candle Keep. Um It is normal this is about the time uh that you guys would kind of be settling in. Sure. Uh because dur on the desert trail, uh you were sleeping during the day and traveling during the night because you were under the cover of the uh wagon uh and away from the heat. It is uh a month into spring at this point, a month and a half into spring at this point. Um so the weather's very nice right now, uh, but in the desert quite warm. So uh you do get a bit tired and begin to look around for places to sleep.

SPEAKER_10 35:00

Yeah, I got a jet lag.

SPEAKER_04 35:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_10 35:02

For sure.

SPEAKER_12 35:03

Desert lag.

SPEAKER_10 35:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 35:06

Madness.

SPEAKER_13 35:07

I will take a nap in the streets.

SPEAKER_12 35:12

I do not care.

SPEAKER_09 35:15

Yes.

SPEAKER_21 35:16

The Red Rock Tavern sounds like a grand idea.

SPEAKER_09 35:19

Yes, we can accompany uh our friend here.

SPEAKER_04 35:22

Uh as you walk in, it is a uh stone and wood uh built. Uh you can see most of most of this uh the town or the village of Dagger Falls is dwarven make. Uh, and you see that as well uh in this red rock tavern. Uh as you walk in, uh you look around and you see that the entire tap room is illuminated by these magical globes of light rather than candles.

SPEAKER_08 36:00

Fantastic!

SPEAKER_04 36:02

And at the at the center of it, uh you see this uh half elven uh woman uh kind of running the whole show. And you can see uh that she she looks like she knows how to do some magic, and these these uh magical orbs illuminating everything um seem to be of her make. Uh a beautiful half-elfetting a little bit up in age, uh, but still very charismatic as she kind of runs bar and tends this tavern. Uh you walk in and you see uh her time is currently being occupied by Sullivan uh as he tries to negotiate for uh a meal and a room. Uh you look around and it's it's pretty busy. Um it's pretty late at night, so a lot of people have left and and gone home to go to sleep. Uh but uh you do see a couple people from the caravan and a couple townsfolk who are look around and kind of like very confused as they see a bunch of new faces. And you know from speaking with some of the people in the caravan that the Dalands, the residents of the Dalands, are very wary of outsiders, especially in a place uh like Dagger Falls, uh, where they've been overrun previously by vampires and Zenterim and uh everything. They've just recently conquered that Zenterim uh rule uh through Kirkland Mourne's recent ascension to the throne. Uh you see that Sullivan seems to have gotten his way as uh as this woman hands him a key and and a pint of ale, and she kind of looks over at you guys being the next ones to walk. Rag tag a group of people. Good evening.

SPEAKER_02 38:02

Uh five ales? Five ales?

SPEAKER_08 38:06

Yes. What's everyone else drinking? Uh yes.

SPEAKER_26 38:11

My name is Kessler. Uh, you must be part of the caravan.

SPEAKER_09 38:15

Sorry?

SPEAKER_26 38:16

My name is Kessler, you must be part of the caravan.

SPEAKER_09 38:19

Yes, yes, formerly. We were at least. We we've just uh departed. Ah, I see. Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_26 38:24

Uh you've gotten to where you hope to then uh so far?

SPEAKER_09 38:27

Looking to uh spend some time in the beautiful dagger dead that we've heard, frankly, so much about. Quite a sight uh for someone coming from uh the desert path.

SPEAKER_02 38:36

Uh yes, I did uh smell the sand uh as everyone walked in here.

SPEAKER_18 38:40

Orion shakes out You can't like see anything, but Orion shakes out his cowl a little bit, and there's still sand falling out.

SPEAKER_02 38:49

Uh for the next hundred years. You're gonna sweep that up, aren't you?

SPEAKER_17 38:55

Yes!

SPEAKER_25 38:57

I must uh she grabs a broom and hands it over to you. Damn it over the bar.

SPEAKER_04 39:01

I uh Ike is he's laughing out loud in the hawk is fucking.

SPEAKER_18 39:07

He'll do it, but he kind of like sweep he doesn't sweep all of it into the pan, he kind of like sweeps a little bit.

SPEAKER_23 39:13

You know how like when you are sweeping and then there's that little teeny tiny bit of dust left over and just kind of looks like flowing. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_25 39:23

It's just kind of it just kind of like falls in between the floorboards and she's like uh her she's been occupied by talking to everyone else by the now.

SPEAKER_04 39:31

Um I'll help the street. Is this a smoking tavern? As long as it doesn't stink. I assure you it won't. Good. Uh so five L's. Of course, of course. Kitchen kitchen's closed. The cook went home already. Uh but I can get you drinks, and if you're looking to stay a while, I can get you some rooms as well.

SPEAKER_09 39:55

Yes. How much for a round of drinks and uh is it two beds per room, is it? It is, yeah. Uh three rooms then? We're all used to sharing quarters at least. I want to be on their own. Or someone maybe can. I'll go on my own. Yeah. Uh are you won't.

SPEAKER_24 40:15

I'm tired of sleeping with my face covered. Fair enough.

SPEAKER_04 40:19

That'll be uh six silver for the rooms and uh a silver five copper for the ales.

SPEAKER_06 40:28

I don't know how much that is in gold. Uh less than one. Less than one, but then I'll give you one.

SPEAKER_09 40:35

I will cover it for the evening. Take a whole gold, please, and keep the change. Thank you. Yes, of course.

SPEAKER_02 40:42

Well, uh, how many days are you looking to stay?

SPEAKER_09 40:46

Uh not two, maybe. Uncertain at the moment.

SPEAKER_26 40:49

Yes, that's so much per diem, I suppose. Yeah, of course. Very good. Uh just happy to have uh traveler stand here. Uh it seems like everyone else is kind of in and out.

SPEAKER_23 41:01

Hello, traveler. I think I think the whole time this this woman's been talking to Joanna kind of has been staring at her and just seeing a half-elf woman in her older years is kind of making her miss her sister a little bit.

SPEAKER_02 41:19

Do you know all right there?

SPEAKER_14 41:21

Uh yeah. Yeah, you just remind me of somebody. Oh, my my sister.

SPEAKER_27 41:28

In a good way, I hope you're good. Well, I'm sure your sister was beautiful.

SPEAKER_14 41:35

She was.

SPEAKER_27 41:36

Now, uh you tall drink of water.

SPEAKER_05 41:42

Uh yes.

SPEAKER_23 41:44

Everybody thinks Ike is hot. Plus Joanna might not, but Emily does.

SPEAKER_09 41:50

Yeah. Even with the feet. Even with the dog.

SPEAKER_23 41:55

Your dogs are out in every campaign. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 42:00

You look like uh came from somewhere far, far away, huh? Uh not as far as Joanna. Yes. Like away from civilization. You could say she looks like at least looks civilized. You look like you're from the middle of nowhere. I mean, no offense. I'm just curious about your story. I don't.

SPEAKER_21 42:28

Above table. What is the because since the clan I was in was like a nom kind of not nomadic, but they had a place to stay.

SPEAKER_04 42:39

Where was it again? Uh it was on the outskirts of Oral Bar. Oral Bar, okay. I know Oral Bar.

SPEAKER_21 42:45

Outskirts, but there wasn't like a specific name for where they were at just outskirts of Oral Bar. Okay. Um He's not sure if he's gonna reveal that.

SPEAKER_06 42:54

Uh I spent uh the last several years with uh an infamous archdruid by the name of Leaf Briar. And I helped him on his farm out in the Delambir Vale.

SPEAKER_03 43:10

Oh, the Delambier Vale, huh?

SPEAKER_04 43:12

I guess that's not too away from civilization, but um if you were with a druid, you must be a druid as well, huh? I am, yes. Did not venture into town much. Well, uh, that tracks. You are a handsome one, though. Thank you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_09 43:33

You said your name was sorry? Kessler. Kessler.

SPEAKER_01 43:37

Uh I look over at Joy like, oh, what do I do?

SPEAKER_09 43:42

Play to your strength, big guy. You're a kiss next time.

SPEAKER_00 43:47

What? How's it for your beer in the house next time? I don't think moving your eager's like that.

SPEAKER_06 43:54

You know.

SPEAKER_20 43:56

You don't know what I know.

SPEAKER_06 43:57

That's so true.

unknown 43:58

We should talk more.

SPEAKER_06 44:00

Are you all right, Joanna?

SPEAKER_14 44:02

Yeah, just seeing what she could have had.

SPEAKER_06 44:07

So you get to have that.

SPEAKER_14 44:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 44:14

She'd be proud of you.

SPEAKER_23 44:17

She'll kind of like get his arm like lean into his arm and give it like a squeeze.

SPEAKER_06 44:21

Come sit at the bar. I want to smoke. I'm stressed about the spring, and I'm not at the farm.

SPEAKER_20 44:28

Do you think you having your feet out was working for her? It seemed like it was.

SPEAKER_06 44:32

My feet out?

SPEAKER_20 44:34

But she seemed really into the fact that you were like out of the woods. She was looking down.

SPEAKER_05 44:38

Maybe she likes rugged men, but she's rugged feet. She's not.

SPEAKER_20 44:43

Some people do, but uh.

unknown 44:45

That's all right.

SPEAKER_05 44:46

She's not really my type.

SPEAKER_20 44:48

Oh. Oh, I know. I didn't mean for that to come out like that. I mean like I know what I know you're we should go sit down. Okay.

SPEAKER_06 44:58

Yes, I'm stressing about the animals and if they're all right, and if the earth is being tilled right, is the the seeds of cultivation have it under control.

SPEAKER_05 45:06

I should put my trust in them. But I like to be in control of it.

SPEAKER_23 45:14

So you want to take the whole organization you want to take it over from the whole organization?

SPEAKER_05 45:19

We could go back. No, we can't go back. I just have to forget about it and trust that they are doing the job right.

SPEAKER_20 45:28

I'm sure they'd listen to anything you said if you take care of this black thing.

unknown 45:32

Good. Good.

SPEAKER_08 45:35

Is there a library in town?

SPEAKER_05 45:38

Library in the frothing at the mouth.

SPEAKER_08 45:41

Library again. Is there a place for books or scrolls or something like that? Boom, we have stuff, baby don't take it.

SPEAKER_03 45:50

Well, um Is that high orchish? It's a miracle.

SPEAKER_12 45:58

He's thinking of tongue.

SPEAKER_03 46:03

Well, the uh the constable's tower was kind of a sort of magical. There's plenty uh around here. Uh Shadowdale, I'm sure you'll find it. Yes, yes, I've heard that as well. Yes. Um are you in a rush to find out?

SPEAKER_09 46:23

No, I suppose not. All things come to those who wait, right?

SPEAKER_26 46:27

Yes. Yeah. Uh speaking of waiting, here are your ales.

SPEAKER_07 46:31

Lovely. And uh my name is uh Hodge, by the way. Have you heard that name before? Hodge. Met anyone with it?

SPEAKER_03 46:39

Uh you know what? I'll think on that.

SPEAKER_04 46:43

Uh I have some more customers coming in. Beautiful and see the three sisters walk in behind.

SPEAKER_09 46:48

Oh, Jesus.

SPEAKER_04 46:53

If you look back, you see the pick out like a sore thumb, they'll come right over.

SPEAKER_05 46:58

Green thumb Hodge. Yes. I have that as well. Two! Well, three if you count my skill. Three green thumbs if you count my skill as a list.

SPEAKER_20 47:12

I don't think you should say that about it again. I liked it.

SPEAKER_12 47:19

I thought it was I thought it worked.

SPEAKER_22 47:23

Alex, we'll we'll talk about it later. It's not. Don't say that. Three green thumbs. I thought it was genius.

SPEAKER_05 47:29

Thank you, Alex.

SPEAKER_22 47:30

So you're the smartest man I know, Hodge.

SPEAKER_03 47:32

He agrees. Jandle Gree, uh, come over.

SPEAKER_02 47:36

Um talk to this man.

SPEAKER_04 47:38

Uh and you see one of her uh waitresses comes over and says, uh, what about?

SPEAKER_02 47:44

Uh nice to meet you. I'm Jandel Gree.

SPEAKER_07 47:47

What Jandel Greech?

SPEAKER_03 47:49

Uh it is very nice to meet you. What what did you need help with?

SPEAKER_08 47:53

Uh whose mail is this?

SPEAKER_09 47:55

I suppose I have just inquired to uh Kessler there about a library in town, or if you had ever met anyone uh that travelled under my name as well, Hodge. Hodge struck a chord with your It does strike a chord.

SPEAKER_02 48:11

Is that so? Great news. I I didn't think I recognized your face.

SPEAKER_09 48:20

Are you is your brother a twin? No, he was a few years older than myself, but we obviously shared some qualities. Sure, sure. I do remember the name Hodge, and I do remember a face in my wave my hands and conjure an image of my brother.

SPEAKER_02 48:38

Yes. Yes. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 48:41

What was his name? Hodge. It was his last name, of course.

SPEAKER_09 48:51

Sella. My brother Sella Hodge.

SPEAKER_03 48:55

Yes, I did make fun of him for that because I thought it sounded like Sella.

SPEAKER_02 49:03

And he was trying to sell me something.

SPEAKER_18 49:05

Is that not It's Alec Factory?

SPEAKER_01 49:07

It is Alec Factory. I was like, I didn't know. I was trying to figure out what had. Me too. I was like, I saw the S in my head. I didn't see his D. I was like, that's not a his brother his brother's name's that. Alice.

SPEAKER_09 49:26

Oh, I think. Yes, he's gotten that joke uh many times through his life. I'm sure he found it very amusing. Good. Um did he say where he was going?

SPEAKER_03 49:39

Going, what he was doing here? I I don't remember. I just remember that he gave me that same look about the joke.

SPEAKER_02 49:48

You did.

SPEAKER_06 49:50

Um that's how we express uh Did he say where he was going? Yes.

SPEAKER_03 49:56

I remember he was with men in dark cloaks. Interesting. Uh and oh, yes, he mentioned that he was going to clean uh attempt to clean the constable's tower.

SPEAKER_02 50:12

Does that sound like something he would do?

SPEAKER_09 50:14

It does sound like something he would have done, yes. Or at least something he would have said he would try to do and then not do it.

SPEAKER_04 50:20

So Well, the tower's not clean, but I classic seller. What do you mean by clean? Th that's not for me to say. I I didn't inquire further.

SPEAKER_09 50:33

I think his purposes would have aligned with our own. He just has a way with words.

SPEAKER_04 50:38

So it does not mean that it is dirty. Dirty. It certainly is dirty. Uh dirty in more than one sense.

SPEAKER_03 50:48

Oh Shh. He was with these men in dark cloaks, and I do sometimes still see um people go in there and and uh it seems like they must be trying to clean it.

SPEAKER_04 51:04

I don't know what other business they would have in there.

SPEAKER_09 51:06

The same cloaks as the men that were with my brother.

SPEAKER_04 51:09

I believe so. Interesting. I don't really pay them much mind.

SPEAKER_09 51:12

No identifying features on their cloaks? A sigil, perhaps. I don't look very hard at them. I apologize.

SPEAKER_02 51:19

Um I'm sure you'll s probably see them tomorrow morning.

SPEAKER_26 51:24

Uh that's when I usually see them is in the morning. It's not every day, but.

SPEAKER_09 51:29

Come in for a spot of Ricky before going to the They don't usually come in here very often.

SPEAKER_04 51:35

What? A spot of what? Breakfast! They must have I've seen a few of them in here every now and then.

SPEAKER_02 51:42

But uh yes, we we have here at the Dales. We do um We don't really uh see them very often. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 51:58

Apart from uh going in there, um Yes, but I I I don't pay much attention to them, uh but uh we do try to keep the Red Rock uh clear of uh Nair dwells.

SPEAKER_08 52:13

Oh yes. Orpal!

SPEAKER_04 52:15

How but it does seem like your brother was here, if if I'm remembering correctly. Uh I have not seen him in uh what must have been a few years, maybe?

SPEAKER_09 52:32

That is still very good news. The best news are bad in months.

SPEAKER_27 52:41

That's good.

SPEAKER_26 52:42

You must be uh has come a long way searching for him then.

SPEAKER_09 52:45

All the way from Waterdeep. That's where I have last heard about his whereabouts, so this is great. And it means I'm on the right path. I'm extremely grateful to you and your help.

SPEAKER_03 52:57

Yeah, well, you're welcome. If you have any other questions, uh do let me know. Yes.

SPEAKER_12 53:03

I will.

SPEAKER_06 53:03

Uh I do if I could if I could. Absolutely, I excuse me. I'm gonna get up from the table and kind of pull her aside. And eusphine. This was a shot in the dark. You happen to haven't haven't happened to see a orc woman pass through here with wild black hair, much like Joanna's there.

SPEAKER_03 53:27

Full orcs or half orc. I mean the Dales are home to many civilized orcs. That's for sure, but I I uh hair hair like hers, did you think?

SPEAKER_06 53:43

Yes. Uh very thick and curly, wavy like. Hmm.

SPEAKER_03 53:50

Not that I really remember. Uh it I don't speak orcish, so usually uh we we kind of leave that uh for the maybe you should you should talk to um you should talk to uh orthron.

SPEAKER_04 54:13

Um he's he's the stable boy, but if if orcs come in we usually have him communicate with them. Great. He's a half orc as well. Okay. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 54:22

That slim chance, but I I apologize that I couldn't be more helpful.

SPEAKER_04 54:28

Thank you. Welcome. Uh so Orthrin, uh you do remember seeing him like just in passing as you walked into the bar. He's just right outside in the staples.

SPEAKER_12 54:42

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 54:43

Uh yeah, I'll slip out and speak to him. Uh you see him tending to the horses, making sure they're all fed. He has a handful of oats and like a bag around it on his shoulder that's kind of open, and he it's just kind of leaning there. He's not even holding it, it's pretty strong. Yeah. So he's just kind of leaning to the side with a full bag of oats uh as he just kind of grabs handfuls and starts feeding them to horses. Bruno's the tips and tricks.

SPEAKER_21 55:09

I have no advice to give to this man. Um, I'll get his attention and ask him the same question.

SPEAKER_05 55:16

Oh, hello. It is. My name is Ike. Pleasure to meet you.

SPEAKER_04 55:23

Reaches out his hand and shakes it.

SPEAKER_21 55:26

Forarm glass.

SPEAKER_04 55:27

Yeah, forearm glass.

SPEAKER_06 55:29

Um I was wondering if you had seen a orc woman pass through here. She's uh tall, but not as tall as I am, and has wild black hair. Very wavy, very thick.

SPEAKER_05 55:44

Uh most most beautiful orc you've ever seen. Uh I shot in the dark, but I was just curious.

SPEAKER_04 55:53

Uh do you remember how do you know how long ago it would have been? I mean, I think you know, no idea. You would have remembered this face. Really beautiful, huh? Girl girl years. Yes. I am looking for her. Uh you know, uh I don't uh I mean, I see quite a few beautiful women, but none with the hair that you describe. Maybe she cut it by the time she came through, but uh I don't remember. I'm sorry, man. No, no, no. Uh I appreciate you. Thank you. No problem. You do you do good work here. Thanks. Uh see you look like a man of the animals as well. That I am. This one here's mine. Oh, brilliant. It's beautiful. His name's John Dest.

SPEAKER_19 56:48

Fuck you! Fuck you!

SPEAKER_12 56:52

Johnny!

SPEAKER_19 56:53

John this one's doesn't every lifetime.

SPEAKER_18 56:59

In Curse of Straud, we have a horse named Jaquis, but um, we'll forgot his name. And he was like, our horse worse something.

SPEAKER_01 57:09

Like genuinely as possible. I was like, isn't the horse named Johnis?

SPEAKER_23 57:14

And then he goes, What is that? I said, when your liver's shutting down, your skin jumped.

SPEAKER_01 57:20

So I have to bear this cross forever.

SPEAKER_21 57:23

Yes, this is Johnis. I need to find me a little bit. Say hello, Jonas. I will pet Jondis.

SPEAKER_12 57:33

His yellow fur.

SPEAKER_21 57:40

Uh yeah, I'll go back in and join the party.

SPEAKER_09 57:44

Val, are you falling asleep in your ale?

SPEAKER_10 57:48

There's bubbles just coming out of it.

SPEAKER_08 57:53

My word, perhaps we should get to that.

SPEAKER_22 57:57

Okay, well, he wants to be on his own, so be it. Please.

SPEAKER_04 58:05

You hear a bit of commotion outside. Uh, and you hear you hear Orthron's voice, you recognize, and then three other men uh kind of bickering with him. Uh, and then you see you see the door kind of uh come in a little bit, and somebody Well, that was a that was our noise. As somebody bumps right into it, uh, and then you hear Orthron go, you're not getting in here. Uh and they continue to try to push it, try to push themselves in, uh, and then you hear a clack and a body hit the ground.

SPEAKER_14 58:49

Is there a window near the door?

SPEAKER_04 58:51

Uh yeah, you could kind of if you push your face upright against it. I mean, my boy Orthrin just got slammed. I'm coming out. I'm coming out, I'm coming outside. Alright, so you can before you get out there, Joanna comes and uh comes around the window uh and you see Ortran with his hand like he just slapped somebody. Uh and you see a dude on the ground and he's Orthron!

SPEAKER_21 59:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_25 59:20

Oh yeah. So you run out and you see Orthron uh having just slapped this dude right on the ear, and he's like on the ground writhing in pain.

SPEAKER_04 59:30

Orthrin, are you alright?

SPEAKER_25 59:32

Am I alright?

SPEAKER_04 59:33

Well, yes. Look at this fucking guy trying to get into my tavern wearing that. Uh and you look down uh and you see uh this dark armor with a hand uh sigil across the chest. What hell's that? Uh the black hand of Bane.

SPEAKER_25 59:54

Uh and you see two other men running. You see two other men running away as as he just plouted this motherfucker in the ear.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:04

Uh and you see Orthron picks the guy up by like he has uh like a cape kind of over top of his armor. You see him grab the cape and just pick him up.

SPEAKER_25 1:00:16

Jesus Christ.

SPEAKER_20 1:00:17

If I hear walked in.

SPEAKER_25 1:00:21

We walked into an adjacent alley, drops him there, kicks him, and walks back to the stables and he goes.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:30

Nods.

SPEAKER_08 1:00:32

You know him? You were worried about him, like?

SPEAKER_05 1:00:35

I thought he got hit? Uh he did the hitting.

SPEAKER_25 1:00:42

Uh you see Kesla Kesla sees you standing in the door uh for an extended period of time, and she goes, Don't you worry, Orphan's got him.

SPEAKER_20 1:00:56

Where are we? Where are we?

SPEAKER_05 1:01:00

We are in Daggodale.

SPEAKER_20 1:01:02

No, I know, like later here. Did you see I mean, you saw that.

SPEAKER_06 1:01:09

What is the Black Hand of Bane doing here? Would I know that?

SPEAKER_25 1:01:13

Yeah. They're pretty popular. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 1:01:16

What would they be doing here?

SPEAKER_25 1:01:18

Pretty well known.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:19

I don't know.

SPEAKER_25 1:01:20

Maybe popular wasn't the right choice. So popular. Join Black Hand of Bane. I mean a revival, actually.

SPEAKER_23 1:01:29

Is this I don't know. Like post-Baldur's Gate, and is that canon?

SPEAKER_04 1:01:33

This is post-Baldersgate, and it is canon.

SPEAKER_24 1:01:36

Okay. So I know about Bane. Lily. Lily.

SPEAKER_04 1:01:41

You guys also played Descend into a Vernus.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:44

So three other men?

SPEAKER_04 1:01:46

So two other men. There are three total. One's in the alley, two ran away after seeing him fucking wipe the floor with it their friend. Uh I'm gonna ask Orthron. Was this the first time that the black hand tried to enter here? Uh first time that these three have. I haven't seen them before, but we've had a couple stragglers here and there. Uh we've made it well known uh that we don't accept any Xantaram or Bane uh followers, any any ne'er dwells. Uh let's hope we keep them out as much as we can. Uh I gotta slap them on the ear. I gotta slap them on the ear. Right, right. You are. Uh remind me not to get on your bad side.

SPEAKER_24 1:02:29

I didn't know Bay and I used to be such witch.

SPEAKER_06 1:02:31

I don't think you will, brother. Hell yeah, brother.

SPEAKER_18 1:02:36

I just code so.

SPEAKER_25 1:02:37

Another forearm last year. I'm gonna kiss on the cheek.

SPEAKER_13 1:02:42

Whoop! Um uh Val's gonna be very cagey about these bane fuckers. Oh. As she should. Yeah.

SPEAKER_21 1:02:51

Yeah, quarter meter phase above the table.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:54

Yeah, we've got we've got plenty of characters with some mystery here. Val's just been largely untouched on this row as she escaped what was troubling her.

SPEAKER_06 1:03:04

Uh I will say Ike's miss Ike's backstory has been secret, except for there was a moment where he had talked uh talked to Joanna about his whole like pretty much life story and upbringing, but nobody else knows where he came from and what he grew up in.

SPEAKER_04 1:03:22

I've got a lot of secrets still.

SPEAKER_23 1:03:24

Secrets, secret, secrets and only only Ike knows fully about Joanna's sister and the fact that she was uh a half elf in her what she thought was previously full elf family. So it's a bit of a bit of a scandal there.

SPEAKER_04 1:03:41

But a scandal opera.

SPEAKER_23 1:03:43

Young mom's a hoe.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:46

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_09 1:03:47

Val, I've seen you go toe-to-toe with a chimera and not even blink. What was that? You look pale.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:56

I'm always pale. It is true. I just don't like those guys.

SPEAKER_06 1:04:04

Um have a bad running in the past.

SPEAKER_13 1:04:09

Yeah. I've been trying to avoid a bad running, shall we say?

SPEAKER_09 1:04:17

here for you.

SPEAKER_13 1:04:18

I can't be certain. I don't know, but I wouldn't like to give them the opportunity to find me, shall we say? Okay, so I will kill them outside.

SPEAKER_09 1:04:29

Well pretended. Flying low has its merit as well.

SPEAKER_13 1:04:35

I might want some information from them, so maybe kill them after. Got it.

SPEAKER_09 1:04:41

Perhaps we can capture the one in the alley. There is one knocked unconscious in the alley right now, actually. Yes.

SPEAKER_24 1:04:47

Do I think to go get him? Bring him to one of our rooms.

SPEAKER_13 1:04:51

I don't think we should bring him in here. They don't seem to want him in here.

SPEAKER_04 1:04:55

We can't bring him in here. Yeah, it's definitely not gonna be getting in this. Unless we make it.

SPEAKER_06 1:05:00

We interrogate him in the alley if you want information.

SPEAKER_10 1:05:04

I think we should.

SPEAKER_06 1:05:06

Oh.

SPEAKER_09 1:05:08

Just a couple friendly questions.

SPEAKER_18 1:05:10

Just a couple of friendly questions. I'll grab him by a scruff when we get out of there. Hold on, hold on.

SPEAKER_04 1:05:14

As you go back out and uh walk to the alley, uh it seems like he ran away by now.

SPEAKER_18 1:05:23

Can I crack him? I know I'm gonna go back.

SPEAKER_04 1:05:26

Let's go. You're not a ranger, you're a druid.

SPEAKER_09 1:05:28

Can you smell his discovered drawers?

SPEAKER_17 1:05:31

Joanna, will you guide me?

SPEAKER_04 1:05:32

18?

SPEAKER_17 1:05:33

What? Do your little magic, whatever you do.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:37

We're gonna 18 survival check to a final sky.

SPEAKER_17 1:05:40

Um 27.

SPEAKER_25 1:05:41

Dang, you fucking uh Ike's like, alright, I got the trail, and then Orion just shoots Mats.

SPEAKER_23 1:05:49

I'm fucking on him.

SPEAKER_25 1:05:52

Um I've got him.

SPEAKER_04 1:05:56

You uh after him.

SPEAKER_20 1:05:58

I guess you fucking.

SPEAKER_04 1:06:00

Find his uh his cape uh and his sword uh fell off of him as he was running away uh in the alley um and you find footprints uh pissed through out uh uh a couple of drips of blood that as his ear was bleeding uh on the way. Uh just the regular long sword and the regular cake. I take. I take. I take and I so um he he went down this alley uh and all the way uh out of Dagger Falls, uh as you as you follow the trail and get to uh where the guards are watching the door and um they're like oh everyone's in a hurry tonight. Uh where are you going?

SPEAKER_24 1:07:01

It's just me.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:02

So I mean whoever wanted to follow. I was assuming you were chasing it.

SPEAKER_18 1:07:08

I was, but yeah, if they wanted to follow me.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:11

Uh it's you the door just closed pretty much, you can see, uh, and he turns to you and why is everyone in such a hurry? Where where are you going?

SPEAKER_24 1:07:22

Oh, I was just following somebody.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:24

Oh, you wanted to catch up with him Is he underneath?

SPEAKER_24 1:07:28

Like, do I see him?

SPEAKER_04 1:07:30

He well, he just went out, he just went out the gate.

SPEAKER_24 1:07:33

Yes, I wanted to see him.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:35

Uh sure. Uh well I open up the gate for you. Um Thank you.

SPEAKER_24 1:07:40

Will you leave it up for my friends? Ah no, I said friends. Tend I didn't say friends. Well, we can do it. You're by You're by yourself right now.

SPEAKER_09 1:07:49

So we're catching up.

SPEAKER_24 1:07:50

Yeah, so just this group of people that are following me.

SPEAKER_12 1:07:54

My friends.

SPEAKER_23 1:07:55

I mean, Jimmy's going as fast as she can in like her little Victoria booch thing.

SPEAKER_12 1:08:01

Click click click click click.

SPEAKER_22 1:08:04

Skirts going. Just fucking.

SPEAKER_04 1:08:06

Oh, he might be chasing out of the thing. Alright. Uh he they open the gate uh and you see this guy s fucking running uh down uh the path. Uh any reason? And I'm assuming you leave. I I left. Yeah. Any reason why okay. Uh and then he sees the rest of you following. Uh I assume your his acquaintance is uh right ahead.

SPEAKER_22 1:08:39

He called us that?

SPEAKER_04 1:08:40

No, he didn't run so. I don't have time.

SPEAKER_13 1:08:43

How are you saying he was at first?

SPEAKER_21 1:08:45

My speed is 40 feet. Can I catch up to him? Yes. Is he within 60 feet? I'm going to mine is 35.

SPEAKER_04 1:08:54

He's he's 60 feet from you, probably 120 feet from you guys. Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_18 1:08:59

Because I'm tall as fuck.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:00

But yeah, if you want to change into something that's a little quicker, is that what you were saying? Yeah.

SPEAKER_21 1:09:05

I was gonna try and change into a wolf, and uh my speed is then 40 feet, and then attempt to bite him so he gets knocked from. Okay.

SPEAKER_24 1:09:16

Orion sees your wolf for me and he just goes, Pogat.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:18

Yeah, you see, uh, you see uh how bad of my EC I change into a wolf and just sprint past you, uh, eventually catching up to this guy who's uh yeah, make your attack.

SPEAKER_21 1:09:37

Um I think it's an 11 to hit.

SPEAKER_25 1:09:43

Uh you jump and miss, or you catch him, but uh you probably would have caught him if his cape was out uh and been able to drag him to the ground, but uh that fell off. Uh he reaches for his sword as you do.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:55

Uh he's like, shh fuck!

SPEAKER_18 1:09:58

Well, I conjure cover, and there's a wall but directly in front of him.

SPEAKER_25 1:10:02

A physical wall? It just spawns immediately?

SPEAKER_18 1:10:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_25 1:10:05

Let me say that. Conjure covers.

SPEAKER_04 1:10:08

I think you would conjure cover in front of you. Uh the area's 10 feet, you're 60 feet behind him.

SPEAKER_16 1:10:14

Okay, never mind, I don't do that.

SPEAKER_04 1:10:15

Okay.

SPEAKER_16 1:10:16

Sorry, that's a new spell for me.

SPEAKER_25 1:10:18

Um, I want to just like throwing a wall 60 feet at you. Yeah. Uh Tom and Jerry here.

SPEAKER_13 1:10:29

Can I get within like 60 feet of this fucker on command?

SPEAKER_04 1:10:32

Uh, you're 120 feet back, so unless you have anything that lets you go a little quicker, then you're not gonna be able to catch him because you are all dashing as quickly as you can.

SPEAKER_23 1:10:43

This is super fast. 35. Can I catch up to him and try and grab him?

SPEAKER_04 1:10:47

Eventually, yeah. Uh he's got a speed of 30, so eventually you can catch up to him. Oh my goodness. Uh you can make another attack as as you're trying to catch up to him. He has nothing to attack you with. Uh 16. Okay. Uh you jump, grab him. This also knocks him prone, correct? Uh so you bite. How much damage do you do, Joe?

unknown 1:11:08

Okay.

SPEAKER_08 1:11:09

I can die.

SPEAKER_04 1:11:12

Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_25 1:11:13

Uh he took a little bit of damage from his ear. You can see his blood is still dripping out of it. Uh, as he's like covering it, trying to like stiff arm you. Uh, he kind of looks like he's doing a Heisen pose a little bit.

SPEAKER_04 1:11:29

Uh as as he's running away, and then you uh jump and grab the arm that he's trying to block you with, and f you guys uh roll and fall to the ground with you on top of him. And he goes, Oh fuck shit. What? Uh what is it, Wolf? What do you want? Uh, whatever druid is in there.

SPEAKER_05 1:11:49

Stay there for a moment.

SPEAKER_02 1:11:52

Alright.

SPEAKER_04 1:11:54

I heard they could talk. Uh eventually, Orion, you catch up to him, uh, and you see Ike holding him to the ground.

SPEAKER_18 1:12:03

I'll hold my longbow out, like, to ready an action in case he tries to leave.

SPEAKER_04 1:12:07

Great. Uh, whole party. Yeah. And he looks past and sees uh the other three sprinting and eventually catching up.

SPEAKER_25 1:12:16

What is it?

SPEAKER_04 1:12:18

What do you all want with me? I was just trying to get a drink.

SPEAKER_11 1:12:23

Valeria?

SPEAKER_06 1:12:24

At the wrong place. But uh, we have some questions for you. If you would, Valeria.

SPEAKER_11 1:12:30

Oh yes, oh yes. Um, what are you doing here? The fuck?

unknown 1:12:36

I love her.

SPEAKER_04 1:12:39

The fuck.

SPEAKER_25 1:12:41

Are you trying to intimidate him, or you can either make an intimidation roll or a persuasion role?

SPEAKER_04 1:12:46

This will be at the persuasion. Persuasion roll.

SPEAKER_22 1:12:49

Uh, I'm trying to intimidate it.

SPEAKER_04 1:12:50

It'll be an advantage because he is in a not so good situation.

SPEAKER_13 1:12:55

I'm gonna stand right over him and be like, uh, what's what's the fucking vibe dog? Like, what's wrong with you?

SPEAKER_04 1:13:01

What's wrong with you, man?

SPEAKER_13 1:13:02

The fucking vibe dog.

SPEAKER_04 1:13:04

We overlover.

SPEAKER_13 1:13:07

Uh, 21.

SPEAKER_25 1:13:08

That's intimidation or persuasion?

SPEAKER_13 1:13:10

Intimidation, one.

SPEAKER_25 1:13:11

Okay. 17 plus 6 is 23.

SPEAKER_13 1:13:14

23, wow, good.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:18

Fuck. Um Castle Craig was getting a bit crowded, so uh a few of us have been exploring exploring other other situations being if uh if uh we should not relocate. Uh sort of to say, um I'm sorry if we uh intruded on uh your tavern.

SPEAKER_04 1:13:45

Uh you don't seem like the locals, though, so uh I uh he he looks at you and now that he's he's uh been on the ground for a bit and and is like coming to terms with his situation, he kinda looks at you and goes. Oh, I see.

SPEAKER_05 1:14:05

Speak. Oh, you see.

SPEAKER_11 1:14:09

Alright.

SPEAKER_09 1:14:10

Um, I think he will make it out of here.

SPEAKER_13 1:14:18

Oh. What's the deal what I know about Table? I know anything about Castle Craig.

SPEAKER_04 1:14:23

None.

SPEAKER_13 1:14:24

Cool.

SPEAKER_04 1:14:25

Um But it seems, based on context clues, that they like to hang out there. He knows something about too with that look. Um, but yeah, as he's like as he's telling you like what the situation is, he finally gets a good look at you and pauses. Um I I see what the situation is now.

SPEAKER_02 1:14:45

What do you know?

SPEAKER_03 1:14:47

We've gotten orders to look out for someone matching her description.

SPEAKER_14 1:14:57

For what do you want to take you?

SPEAKER_13 1:15:07

Where? For what?

SPEAKER_02 1:15:10

You've been promised to our lord.

SPEAKER_21 1:15:16

What sounds like that you know everything, don't you?

SPEAKER_04 1:15:23

And you slipped away. As I couldn't. I don't know how you've done it. I don't know how you're here, but the word of you has reached me.

SPEAKER_13 1:15:37

And your friends in Castle fucking bite his neck.

SPEAKER_04 1:15:42

Crag.

SPEAKER_00 1:15:42

Crag.

SPEAKER_25 1:15:46

Right next to Tower Todd.

SPEAKER_18 1:15:51

Um, Zero Lord meaning Bane? Do we know that?

SPEAKER_25 1:15:54

Yes. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, the black hand uh is pretty common signifier.

SPEAKER_17 1:16:02

Actual.

SPEAKER_04 1:16:03

You've been promised to our Lord Bane, and you managed to slip away. Don't know how you did it or how you got this far without being reclaimed.

SPEAKER_13 1:16:17

Reclaimed.

SPEAKER_04 1:16:18

But if you let me go, I will not speak a word of it.

SPEAKER_06 1:16:28

I don't trust you.

SPEAKER_04 1:16:30

Yeah, make an inside check.

SPEAKER_12 1:16:32

Yeah, I'll make an inside check.

SPEAKER_04 1:16:33

I believe Bane is the Lord of Lies check.

SPEAKER_21 1:16:37

Yeah. God damn it, the Lord of Lies. Ohdy20. Oh, kills.

SPEAKER_23 1:16:47

My crossing there. Nap 20!

SPEAKER_12 1:16:52

Woo, woo.

SPEAKER_04 1:16:54

This bitch lying. Tell me if he Yes, he is lying. Alright, I'm gonna bite him again. Um I'm trying to figure out what I can tell you on a nap twenty, though. Uh about him lying. Um.

SPEAKER_09 1:17:08

Hmm. Things I would want to know are. I guess. Is are they They're talking about searching the area for her.

SPEAKER_04 1:17:22

Yeah, uh he seems here. He seems to be. He doesn't seem to be necessarily shocked that he is in a situation where he's being tackled by a bunch of people. He does seem to be very much in shock that he has been tackled by people that seem to be. In in his eyes, she is the leader of this group. Right. And she has like hired you all to protect her because in his eyes, she is this valuable possession that they are after. He is in utter shock that she has made it this far, especially because the word of her escape was last from Neverwinter. Clear four forty-two days across the fucking world.

SPEAKER_09 1:18:17

If they are looking for if the Black Hand is looking for Val, this information cannot reach Castle Craig. Val.

SPEAKER_23 1:18:27

No.

SPEAKER_09 1:18:28

Say the word.

SPEAKER_23 1:18:30

Joanna ready's a sacred flame. Um.

unknown 1:18:36

What else do I want to know from him?

SPEAKER_20 1:18:38

Do we want anything else?

SPEAKER_06 1:18:39

I'm not sure. He will spread word that you were fighted in the world.

SPEAKER_23 1:18:44

Are we hidden right now?

SPEAKER_04 1:18:45

They will send more. You're in the middle of a road, but it's a little bit more. You're in the middle of the road, but it's the middle of the night. This finishes. Yeah, make a presumption check.

SPEAKER_13 1:18:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 1:18:58

Just say the word, Val, and I'll kill him.

SPEAKER_13 1:19:01

Yeah, I think he needs a guy.

unknown 1:19:04

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 1:19:05

Uh you see uh a couple drunks walking down the road. No, I'm not sure. Uh, and guards hundreds of feet away that you obviously already talked to. Um, but nobody you have to worry about seeing yet.

SPEAKER_09 1:19:20

Surely the town guard, even if we are seen, will believe that the cultist here attacked us, accosted us on the roadway.

SPEAKER_10 1:19:29

I don't think they're just gonna be able to do it.

SPEAKER_09 1:19:30

They did see you chasing after him.

SPEAKER_10 1:19:33

Do they seem like they'd be chilling then though?

SPEAKER_04 1:19:36

Um I mean he didn't actually open the gate for you to do it, but they also opened the gate for him to run away. They also opened the gate to let him in. Yes. If they were really concerned about him being in the city or him running from something and wanting to stop him, they would have. Okay.

SPEAKER_13 1:19:54

That's fair, but they're also not that concerned at serious.

SPEAKER_04 1:19:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_13 1:19:58

Let's kill him.

SPEAKER_04 1:20:00

It seems yeah, they seem a little a bit lax about this whole situation.

SPEAKER_09 1:20:06

Anybody's neck.

SPEAKER_07 1:20:07

Do it off the road and then I'll advantage on your attack.

SPEAKER_04 1:20:10

That's gonna hit. Yeah. Um he he has unarmed strikes to fight back, but he had he can't do anything. You guys have him surrounded on the ground, prone tackle. Seven damage. Uh, how do you want to do it? Uh just right into his neck. Uh he can't even make a sound. He tries as he's about to shout something, but his vocal cords get ripped from his throat. I will drag him.

SPEAKER_06 1:20:39

I will then drag him by the arm into the woods under some brush. You know, well off the road and come back.

SPEAKER_04 1:20:50

Like nothing happens.

SPEAKER_11 1:20:52

Nothing down.

SPEAKER_04 1:20:53

Um there's a bit of blood in the dirt that you can just I'll press digitation to take it around. Um and there doesn't seem to be any witnesses.

SPEAKER_23 1:21:08

Alright, to bed.

SPEAKER_06 1:21:09

To bed, yes.

SPEAKER_23 1:21:10

That's that Joanna is gonna slap over the arm. Make me help you and then you run away like that. Yes, I caught him.

SPEAKER_06 1:21:20

You caught him.

SPEAKER_23 1:21:22

And she just starts walking down. She just whatever. She starts walking back towards the town. Good job, Orion. You run funny. Sacred fling comes up in our hand again. Live jet.

SPEAKER_24 1:21:38

He's giggling a bit of mess, but you can't see it or hear it.

SPEAKER_18 1:21:41

So keep walking.

SPEAKER_04 1:21:42

Uh you come back to the gate uh and the guard out front goes back so soon. What's everyone in such a hurry for tonight? Uh I nobody answered my question when I let you through, so uh He forgot his Are you still a wolf?

SPEAKER_13 1:21:57

We're returning. Yes, I am.

SPEAKER_04 1:21:59

Uh Right. Don't bite anyone.

SPEAKER_09 1:22:06

He forgot to tell us the punchline to a joke earlier.

SPEAKER_04 1:22:12

Uh let me hear it.

SPEAKER_09 1:22:14

Uh we didn't catch him.

SPEAKER_04 1:22:16

Oh, I thought you were talking about the wolf. I thought the wolf was the punchline to the joke.

SPEAKER_00 1:22:21

Uh nope, sorry.

SPEAKER_04 1:22:23

Could have been. I will.

SPEAKER_21 1:22:23

We didn't hear it. Change back into myself.

SPEAKER_22 1:22:27

You're not a wolf! Where did your clothes go?

SPEAKER_21 1:22:33

Still on.

SPEAKER_24 1:22:35

I made you look.

SPEAKER_01 1:22:38

I'm clapping. Clap him on the shoulder, and that was a good one.

SPEAKER_23 1:22:43

Joanna is mad at herself for laughing at that.

SPEAKER_04 1:22:46

The guard is also laughing. Alright, alright. Yeah, it's too late for this.

SPEAKER_20 1:22:52

Uh you have a little bit of the get inside.

SPEAKER_04 1:22:55

Um I thought they would go away.

SPEAKER_20 1:22:56

You have a little bit of some of this, I'll be some of that.

unknown 1:22:59

Sorry.

SPEAKER_04 1:23:00

He raises the gate. You guys can walk back inside and walk all the way back to the Red Rock Inn, the Red Rock Tavern, um, and uh the Red Rock Inn. Yeah. Um rock. Walk back, everyone's kind of cleaning up. You see uh Sullivan has already headed up back to his room. The the three sisters left uh after all that commotion. It seemed like they probably weren't interested in staying in a place that was uh gonna have all that.

SPEAKER_23 1:23:38

Maybe we should do that. I think I'd be like that.

SPEAKER_05 1:23:42

It'd be very amusing. You'd be so wealthy. You could finally shut him up.

SPEAKER_19 1:23:49

That's true. Oh yes.

SPEAKER_04 1:23:52

Uhhrin comes up to you guys. Uh you guys go running after him. Uh yeah. You manage to catch him? Yeah. What'd you do with him?

SPEAKER_22 1:24:07

I made him. He's under a little bit.

SPEAKER_06 1:24:11

I'll then we got what we wanted. And we sent him off. So you ate him or not? I did not eat him.

SPEAKER_23 1:24:20

I don't know, but I don't think he would taste very good.

SPEAKER_06 1:24:23

I we got what we wanted, and we left him.

SPEAKER_04 1:24:28

As long as he's not gonna be bothering my Anne anymore.

SPEAKER_16 1:24:31

That's literally we'll never only in spirit. Although, if his friends come back, please yell for us. Sorry, I think.

SPEAKER_04 1:24:39

I can handle his friends. They might be on the lookout for the their buddy. They'll probably come back here. Ask me what happened to him. What do you want me to tell him? And he ran off scared.

SPEAKER_12 1:24:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 1:24:53

Of you. Because that's what he did.

SPEAKER_23 1:24:57

He left his cape and his sword behind. Show him.

SPEAKER_04 1:25:00

That's fair. Yeah, uh, you might want to tuck that away.

SPEAKER_17 1:25:07

I don't know.

SPEAKER_04 1:25:12

Alright, well.

SPEAKER_16 1:25:13

It's a new cloak. I can just turn it inside out.

SPEAKER_04 1:25:15

Have a good night. I guess if you're staying the night, I'll see you in the morning. But uh let me know. Uh I I do uh rent uh drum this out if if anyone if anyone needs a ride uh just let me know.

SPEAKER_00 1:25:34

Every time it's gonna get me.

SPEAKER_04 1:25:35

He did that on purpose.

SPEAKER_00 1:25:37

That's such a nice name. How'd you come up with that?

SPEAKER_04 1:25:40

Uh I just saw his yellow s yellow fur.

SPEAKER_00 1:25:42

Nice. Oh, yeah. Yep.

SPEAKER_21 1:25:44

Very well known. I I half expected him to be like, well, I almost need to jaque.

SPEAKER_11 1:25:50

It just didn't look quite right. Makes a lot of sense. I like that. Isn't that?

SPEAKER_04 1:25:57

That's very nice, yes. That was uh Yeah, you uh it's funny you mentioned Jaquiz. I didn't meant that was my father had a horse named that Jakuize and it wandered into the mist and I never saw it again.

SPEAKER_00 1:26:13

Well that's fair.

SPEAKER_09 1:26:19

Well, good night. Val, I know it's late, but we'll hello? Behind you. Uh so what room how you guys split in these rooms? We'll discuss this later.

SPEAKER_05 1:26:34

Yes, we want to make sure that you're safe.

SPEAKER_10 1:26:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:26:38

We can protect you.

SPEAKER_10 1:26:40

Thank you. Thank you. I will be an explanation.

SPEAKER_21 1:26:44

You know secret.

SPEAKER_10 1:26:45

In the morning. After I've had my coffee.

SPEAKER_12 1:26:50

Zong zong my golly.

SPEAKER_09 1:26:53

Uh me and Ike will stay up all night smoking the wacky tobacky.

SPEAKER_06 1:27:01

I do believe we uh can spare some of that tonight.

SPEAKER_09 1:27:05

So celebration for having made it to the daylight. Alive, frankly. Got a little dicey out there in the desert.

SPEAKER_06 1:27:15

You best leave the window open, or Kessler will be mad at me.

SPEAKER_09 1:27:20

Yes, mad at me. I can always uh I don't think you could do any wrong in her eyes. As long as you open that door feet first, you know what I'm saying. I didn't catch her looking at my feet. I didn't catch her looking at your eyes.

SPEAKER_20 1:27:39

I I don't catch a lot.

SPEAKER_23 1:27:41

But that was clear as day. Mm-hmm. She did like your feet. Even I noticed. Even he noticed.

SPEAKER_06 1:27:48

Well, um didn't act like nothing happened.

SPEAKER_09 1:27:51

For the best. That's how they like it too, you know. Nantalat. Oh no. Do they like it like that?

SPEAKER_06 1:27:59

Nuncheland.

SPEAKER_09 1:28:00

Demand a challenge.

SPEAKER_06 1:28:02

Aloof, as they say.

SPEAKER_20 1:28:04

There is such a thing as too aloof, though.

SPEAKER_06 1:28:07

Well, too bad.

SPEAKER_09 1:28:09

Damn, but they like that too. What ways is right, ways, I suppose.

SPEAKER_24 1:28:16

Yeah. Well, good night. Orion disappears.

SPEAKER_25 1:28:20

Locks every Are you going into the solo room?

SPEAKER_18 1:28:23

Yes.

SPEAKER_25 1:28:24

Okay.

SPEAKER_18 1:28:24

I'm gonna lock every single door and window. Even the closet doors. Just everything's locked. Blacking out all of the curtains.

SPEAKER_25 1:28:34

Shoving the two beds together so we have one good one. Noise coming from Ryan's room.

SPEAKER_18 1:28:41

He's rearranging all of the furniture to like go up against the door. Just the line of the window.

SPEAKER_09 1:28:48

Wood on wood. Mattresses are on the floor. Bed frames are creating like a crib. He's got a blanket for him.

SPEAKER_18 1:29:01

That's actually a great idea.

SPEAKER_24 1:29:03

He's eating his cake in his blanket.

SPEAKER_01 1:29:07

He didn't ask Kessle. I'm surprised you didn't ask Kessler if he had cake.

SPEAKER_22 1:29:11

I'm not doing that again.

SPEAKER_01 1:29:13

Um the kitchen was closed. That's true. We'll have to find a pastry shop in the morning.

SPEAKER_08 1:29:18

We do have tensions cake.

SPEAKER_23 1:29:22

Oh man. Well, I guess we're rooming together then. Yeah, ladies. Ladies jam.

SPEAKER_04 1:29:32

All right.

SPEAKER_18 1:29:33

Um, you got crush on anybody?

SPEAKER_04 1:29:38

Uh all right. You rest lingo. You screw incredibly well in a real bed.

SPEAKER_18 1:29:47

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 1:29:48

First time in so long.

SPEAKER_18 1:29:50

This is the first time Orion has removed his mask. 40 days. God, it feels so much.

SPEAKER_23 1:30:01

More sand.

SPEAKER_12 1:30:05

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_23 1:30:05

At least it's like an order face is nicely exfoliated.

SPEAKER_18 1:30:08

I'm a screen. It's fused to him.

SPEAKER_05 1:30:13

That's nice and good.

SPEAKER_00 1:30:20

Jesus.

SPEAKER_09 1:30:28

What do you think Ryan's mask smells like?

SPEAKER_05 1:30:34

Yes, I like quite a bit. Party City.

SPEAKER_19 1:30:35

Well, if you remember. Remember he doesn't sweat? Was that this campaign? That was this campaign.

SPEAKER_01 1:30:44

He hasn't told us that.

SPEAKER_19 1:30:46

No, he was like, You guys didn't remember that he doesn't sweat?

SPEAKER_01 1:30:48

That's like a major part of my backstory.

SPEAKER_18 1:30:51

Last time someone was like, don't you stink under all of that in the desert? And he goes, No, I don't sweat, won't you smell? And they did. Oh. Yes, yes, yes. A goblin, I think.

SPEAKER_25 1:31:02

Oh yeah, you didn't think a goblin smell. And then they were like, what material is that? Yeah.

SPEAKER_24 1:31:07

So he doesn't actually smell it. It wicks away moisture. I don't know what to tell you.

SPEAKER_04 1:31:12

A beautiful sleep first night master mattress.

SPEAKER_25 1:31:21

In a long time.

SPEAKER_12 1:31:24

Hey.

SPEAKER_25 1:31:24

Oh, Ryan's finally got a room to himself. He's letting that ship fly.

SPEAKER_23 1:31:32

Now I'm the fan of Christ, yeah. Jesus gotta go. I gotta get out of here.

unknown 1:31:39

What?

SPEAKER_23 1:31:40

Actually, guys, my Uber here.

SPEAKER_25 1:31:42

He's by himself maxing.

SPEAKER_18 1:31:43

Good God. Guys, he's not Leo or Book Orion.

unknown 1:31:50

Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_04 1:31:51

Alright. Uh you wake up to the nice chirping of birds outside your window. Um, and you hear and smell uh the cook has started whipping up breakfast um downstairs. Mike is the first one down. He's used to waking up pretty early.

SPEAKER_00 1:32:18

Uh, you see, uh Ike, where are you?

SPEAKER_04 1:32:23

You see, Tesla uh is like set putting the chairs down. They were uh picked up uh put on the table as they do, and then she's putting them back down, ready for seating. Oh, good morning, Ike. Good morning. Uh as you walk down the stairs, she she uh is putting the tables back together, and uh, but you see that she's keeping you kind of in her periphery. Wow, she's not looking directly at you, but you can see that she's not turning away. Yeah. Um feet. As she uh as she puts the uh as she puts the she puts she puts the chairs down and kind of leans down.

SPEAKER_06 1:33:11

Ike, uh, did you sleep or I slept very well, thank you. It was the best sleep I've had in a long time. You look well rested.

SPEAKER_05 1:33:22

I feel well rested. What can I get you for breakfast? I would love a spot of coffee, if you will.

SPEAKER_06 1:33:30

How do you take it? Uh I do take it black with uh a little bit of cream, just a little.

SPEAKER_15 1:33:38

Just like she would have said that no matter what he said.

SPEAKER_04 1:33:44

Uh she uh goes and fetches a pot of a cup of coffee um and uh she has one herself as well. She puts yours uh I can't. Uh she comes over and s and uh to the table that she just set up, uh, puts her coffee down, sits down, and then puts yours right across from her. It's a lovely chill morning, isn't it?

SPEAKER_03 1:34:13

Beautiful spring air. Uh must be heaven for you after being through Anarok. It is. I can't imagine. It very much is.

SPEAKER_04 1:34:23

It's my favorite time of year. I haven't been through Anorok in I don't know how many years, probably thirty. Anarok is the desert. Yes.

SPEAKER_09 1:34:33

That's where we rescued specifically Solomon Crazy Friday.

SPEAKER_04 1:34:38

Well, Anarok is the whole area.

SPEAKER_06 1:34:39

Right. Right. Alright, right, right.

SPEAKER_05 1:34:41

Uh yes, I do not ever want to set foot in a desert again. Well, hopefully you won't have to.

unknown 1:34:48

No.

SPEAKER_03 1:34:48

Um do you eat breakfast? I will take a little, yes.

SPEAKER_06 1:34:54

Just a little. Don't eat too much. I'll be right back.

unknown 1:34:58

Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 1:34:58

Uh she leaves her coffee there and goes back into the kitchen. And she comes back uh with some uh some nice toast and eggs. Uh sets sets it out for you.

SPEAKER_27 1:35:14

Dig in.

unknown 1:35:15

Thank you.

SPEAKER_24 1:35:16

Orion's gonna come down next. And he's he's like watching their interaction, but he doesn't want to disturb, so he's just standing there menacingly.

SPEAKER_04 1:35:24

You see, Ike is Ike is like, I'm just I'm assuming you're fully focused on just she's kind of like arms on the table, kind of like leaning in. He's eating like this. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:35:36

Orion, just like oh good morning, Orion. Does he ever take that mask off? I haven't seen him take it off now.

SPEAKER_06 1:35:46

He's uh he's a mysterious fellow, but he's very funny.

SPEAKER_12 1:35:51

Don't want him hear you say that.

SPEAKER_06 1:35:52

What? Have you ever tried to get it off of them? No, that's that no, I have not. I'm afraid he would uh beat me up and perhaps slip my throat.

SPEAKER_02 1:36:05

I didn't know he was like that, but I guess the mask signifies a bit of secrecy. It does, yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:36:12

Um what did you say your name was?

SPEAKER_17 1:36:17

Orion.

SPEAKER_03 1:36:18

Orion. Um can I get you anything to eat or drink for breakfast?

SPEAKER_24 1:36:22

Uh yeah, I'll have whatever Ike is having, please. I'll go and I'll sit next to her. Or across from Ike, I'll take whatever spot she was taking.

SPEAKER_25 1:36:33

And just like move her coffee cup. Uh she comes back and the gods you're here.

SPEAKER_04 1:36:40

Pretends she doesn't notice and puts your food back.

SPEAKER_17 1:36:43

I felt that was an energy shift that I didn't I don't know, I picked up on it.

SPEAKER_06 1:36:49

Ryan, I don't know what to do. I don't know what to tell her.

SPEAKER_17 1:36:52

She really likes your feet.

SPEAKER_04 1:36:56

You see, she walks around the table, picks up her coffee, and takes it with her as she kind of walks around, continuing to finish putting the chairs down and everything. Oh, sorry, go ahead.

SPEAKER_23 1:37:07

Janina being an elf, she only needs four hours a nights. She's been up, just not down with everybody for a while. Um, so she'll be the be the third to come down and see her cup of coffee at hand, but I think Do you need any help setting up anything?

SPEAKER_26 1:37:24

Or no, it's alright. I've been doing this for many years.

SPEAKER_14 1:37:29

Uh how you two are it.

SPEAKER_04 1:37:32

I'm sure you know as an elf.

SPEAKER_23 1:37:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 1:37:34

Time kind of flies.

SPEAKER_23 1:37:36

It does. Yeah. Yeah. Feel free to. Um I have a question about one of my spells. So if I cast a veil of dusk on myself, can I eat my breakfast under the veil of darkness?

SPEAKER_24 1:37:49

Like, would they be able to see me? Dark light little pink thing.

SPEAKER_12 1:37:53

Yeah, we can put it everywhere.

SPEAKER_18 1:37:54

Yeah, absolutely. Okay.

SPEAKER_25 1:37:55

Why don't you just take it up to your ring?

SPEAKER_18 1:37:58

He likes you guys now.

SPEAKER_25 1:38:00

You can make it small enough that it just covers your face as well. Yeah.

SPEAKER_18 1:38:03

Like the Sims nudity sensor.

SPEAKER_02 1:38:08

That's a real setting.

SPEAKER_18 1:38:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:38:09

Quick, download Wicked Whims. You can see his face.

SPEAKER_18 1:38:16

Press shift tag will go into first person.

SPEAKER_12 1:38:19

Alright.

SPEAKER_18 1:38:21

I do have. I can't. What? For a shift tag? No, that's a real thing.

SPEAKER_12 1:38:26

You can do that for whatever.

SPEAKER_06 1:38:29

It doesn't do it for me. I usually rise right before the sun.

SPEAKER_14 1:38:33

Okay. Um, has she been walking around with her coffee cup this whole time? Like one-handed putting things down. I sold the seat.

SPEAKER_06 1:38:40

She um she came down and sat with me while I ate and was I pretty sure flirting with it.

SPEAKER_20 1:38:48

She's looking at your feet again.

SPEAKER_06 1:38:51

No, she was looking right into my very soul, it's name. I was trying to eat my breakfast.

SPEAKER_16 1:38:58

Did uh want me to threaten her?

SPEAKER_23 1:39:03

No. We're staying here. Okay. You just say the word. I will. Maybe maybe let her down.

SPEAKER_00 1:39:09

Tell it just yes.

SPEAKER_06 1:39:11

I've never dealt with this before.

SPEAKER_23 1:39:14

You said sometimes you gotta just like tell him like nope.

SPEAKER_06 1:39:19

Right. Okay. Right.

SPEAKER_14 1:39:20

You gotta be a little, you know, even if you gotta, even if you have to lie a little bit. Of course. You just gotta, you know. Let her let her down, though. Let her down easy. Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_16 1:39:29

I wouldn't even lie, I would just say. Please stop flirting with me. And how many times have you had to do that? More than you would think.

SPEAKER_06 1:39:37

Seems very rude, but oh I'll see how the situation plays out.

SPEAKER_16 1:39:41

I'd like to.

SPEAKER_11 1:39:42

But uh more than I would think, yes.

SPEAKER_05 1:39:45

But Kessler. Have you heard anything about this blight?

SPEAKER_20 1:39:54

Uh um, I'm here too.

SPEAKER_01 1:39:59

I just unbuttoned my blouse. But my blouse.

SPEAKER_05 1:40:02

Uh have you heard anything about this blight in uh around here?

SPEAKER_03 1:40:10

Yes, it's um unfortunately uh affected some of my orders. Um the the chef uh has been a bit frustrated by it. We uh our our fresh food, I mean these we were able to get the eggs. Luckily, it hasn't affected the chickens, but um yes, it's been affecting some people uh uh I believe in the valley um of late. Uh I I think they sent for somebody um to help. Was that possibly you? It was.

SPEAKER_05 1:40:43

Oh yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:40:44

Oh, they sent for you specifically. They did.

SPEAKER_27 1:40:47

Well, what a hero you are.

SPEAKER_14 1:40:50

And I'm also helping.

SPEAKER_27 1:40:53

Did they send for you as well?

SPEAKER_14 1:40:54

I was asked on the caravan up if I could be your assistant. I'm a cleric.

SPEAKER_05 1:40:58

Great. Yeah, Sister Liana of the Seeds of Cultivation. Uh perfect.

SPEAKER_04 1:41:06

Well, um anything about a source or what it looks like. Uh I mean, I don't really believe it. Yeah, you you know how I I I was here. I I live here, I stay here, I I don't know. Any any word you might have heard from travelers. No, uh I I mean anyone who's sick is not gonna come up to Dagger Falls and and come to my inn, luckily. Uh but no, I haven't heard much about it. Uh just uh few hours to travel uh by foot down there, so uh it's a stay here tonight as well, uh, if you're going to investigate.

SPEAKER_03 1:41:54

That is where we are headed.

SPEAKER_04 1:41:56

Good. Uh that'll help me and the rest of the businesses that rely on. Your source of food, yes. We'll do our best. Well, I wish you the best of luck, and if you do get sick, maybe you don't come back.

SPEAKER_14 1:42:13

Is that fair enough?

SPEAKER_04 1:42:14

Maybe I should get sick.

SPEAKER_14 1:42:16

You can pretend just I'll pretend like I'm I'll pretend like I'm treating you for something when we come back.

SPEAKER_05 1:42:23

Yes. Well, we don't have to come back here. All right, it's late. Hodge needs to get up.

SPEAKER_08 1:42:28

I wander down the stairs. Ooh, man! Sounds like a baby.

unknown 1:42:35

Oh!

SPEAKER_08 1:42:36

Val's not here.

SPEAKER_23 1:42:37

Oh, wait for the room service?

SPEAKER_09 1:42:43

Is it best to leave her alone after what happened last night?

SPEAKER_06 1:42:46

Of course she was still sleeping.

SPEAKER_09 1:42:47

She's asleep laughing.

SPEAKER_06 1:42:48

Perhaps we should check if she's still here.

SPEAKER_09 1:42:51

Yes.

SPEAKER_22 1:42:52

When she was as of 15 minutes ago.

SPEAKER_10 1:42:55

All mosey all the way.

SPEAKER_25 1:42:59

I stands up to go and look if she's here and she just walks out the door.

unknown 1:43:03

Right.

SPEAKER_04 1:43:04

Um, uh everyone's awake, and as as you come out of your door, uh Sullivan comes out of his. I he looks over at Joanna and I don't uh O'Rion and goes. I mean no offense, but Wow. Um sleeping in a bed by myself rather than a wagon filled with you two is uh wow.

SPEAKER_17 1:43:52

It was really Joanna snoring for once.

SPEAKER_04 1:43:55

And not to smell your mask.

SPEAKER_19 1:43:59

How do you think I feel? I'm the one underneath it.

SPEAKER_04 1:44:02

You don't have to wear it.

SPEAKER_23 1:44:03

Thank you, my boy. I do. And I do not snore. How would you know you're I don't even sleep?

SPEAKER_04 1:44:12

Yes. She meditates.

SPEAKER_17 1:44:16

Another title of snoring.

SPEAKER_04 1:44:18

You all have your breakfast, whoever wants it, uh, and coffee and brickie, as you call it. Exactly, yes. Yes.

SPEAKER_23 1:44:26

That's what I wrote in my notes. I wrote Bricky. Bricky.

SPEAKER_09 1:44:31

Oh, did all of you pay for your food?

SPEAKER_15 1:44:34

Well, and uh I was I was just going to put it on a tab. Oh, perfect.

SPEAKER_02 1:44:41

Perfect, thank you. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:44:43

Figured you had much to get up to this morning. Indeed, yeah.

SPEAKER_09 1:44:46

Very kind of you. Of course. Perhaps one of us could uh repay the favor at some point. Who knows? All of us. Yeah. On our way, though.

SPEAKER_23 1:44:55

Or maybe, you know, maybe we can get that price lowered a little bit. Yes.

SPEAKER_25 1:45:00

Perhaps a beer pressure never hurt nobody. Ike is like, what the fuck are you talking about?

SPEAKER_24 1:45:10

You sound like my brother.

SPEAKER_01 1:45:11

Poor guy.

SPEAKER_24 1:45:12

He's clueless. I was hoping he would say. Maybe kiss that man. I don't know.

SPEAKER_09 1:45:15

Ike, you were just showing me your abs last night.

SPEAKER_06 1:45:19

I was not.

SPEAKER_09 1:45:20

No, I spent the other nights. I'm sorry. Maybe in your dreams. All ten of them were very compelling.

SPEAKER_25 1:45:32

He's got four on his feet.

SPEAKER_23 1:45:36

That was a horrible. I hate that.

SPEAKER_25 1:45:40

Well, fabs.

SPEAKER_06 1:45:42

First. I think we should go meet Sicilyana by the river for whoever wants to join me.

SPEAKER_10 1:45:49

Yeah, of course. Yeah, expecting to.

SPEAKER_04 1:45:53

One old day to the next, huh?

SPEAKER_23 1:45:57

You're breaking up a roster here.

SPEAKER_21 1:45:59

I don't know. I don't know how I'm doing that.

SPEAKER_08 1:46:03

Orcs really take her-ups.

SPEAKER_05 1:46:06

I don't think that they do. Just trying to learn the culture. Fuck me, I guess.

SPEAKER_03 1:46:16

Have an ally for orcs, actually?

SPEAKER_06 1:46:22

Some do have many. Some orcs do have more than one bride, though I don't necessarily agree with the custom.

SPEAKER_09 1:46:30

Interesting.

SPEAKER_10 1:46:31

It's good to know. Hmm. Good to know. Yes.

SPEAKER_09 1:46:37

It's always good to know everything. He is in search of knowledge.

SPEAKER_10 1:46:41

That's true. Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_09 1:46:44

At some point. Perhaps later.

SPEAKER_06 1:46:49

Okay, Sir Gideon Offneer. What? I said, okay, Sir Gideon Offneer.

SPEAKER_09 1:46:56

Uh The All Knowing?

SPEAKER_06 1:46:58

The All Knowing's reference. Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 1:47:01

Um as you head out of uh Dagger Falls and down uh to the River Tesh. Um a beautiful cacophony of bird song and uh tapping on wood as the hummingbirds uh hummingbirds? Woodpeckers. Woodpeckers. Uh woodpeckers peck on the wood and the hummingbirds hum. Um we've been with her and the tufted titmouse is tufted. Um you see uh sister Liana uh by the riverside uh with her feet uh in the water. There's a feet cooling off.

SPEAKER_01 1:48:00

Um there is nothing mentioned about her. Kessel looking at my feet. You guys are Tarantino veil? Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_06 1:48:12

Uh maybe I should let my toenails grow out.

SPEAKER_16 1:48:17

Oh dumb. Why did you mention that to me?

SPEAKER_01 1:48:20

Jopkin! Retraction!

SPEAKER_16 1:48:23

That'd be very bad for your balance. What?

SPEAKER_04 1:48:28

Uh she's relaxing by the river, uh, enjoying she's got her hands, she's kind of rubbing the grass and she's feeling everything. Smell the grass in the dirt. Um, and she notices uh the footsteps of uh five friends approaching, and she turns around and goes, Ah, I see you've all taken my invitation. Uh nice to have you here.

SPEAKER_03 1:48:54

It's incredibly relaxing. Um I'm gonna dip my feet in a pool. Good. Yes. It is the perfect temperature right now. After being in the desert for the hot sand on our feet, uh the cool uh running a river will do us well and and brighten our spirits before what will probably be uh a bit of a rough day or few, depending on how long it takes us to rid uh this place of its of its uh curse, it seems.

SPEAKER_02 1:49:35

Um Well, let's not think about that right now. We'll get to it later in the day, but uh O'Rion, uh do you get into the wilderness very often?

SPEAKER_24 1:49:51

Always I don't typically go in water like this. Why not?

SPEAKER_03 1:49:58

So refreshing.

SPEAKER_16 1:50:00

Sure it is, but come take your boots off.

SPEAKER_23 1:50:07

No he said He will That's a thing I've said him. I can do this now. Can't do it later. I can do it now. I'm going to take my glove off. And I'll put my hand in the water.

SPEAKER_25 1:50:20

Please describe your hand. That's the Oh my god. We're all like. Joanna's. Four hands just go. All of those are.

SPEAKER_23 1:50:36

Joanna has like the only part Joanna's that is open are her hands, or her hands are already in the roof.

SPEAKER_09 1:50:41

I have my arcane camera out. I can capture her.

SPEAKER_23 1:50:48

He has pretty tanned hands. Like he's been in the sun for a long time, which is surprising because he has not seen the sun in a very long time. Um so he's very tan and um his hands are very calloused. There's definitely some dried blood on them.

SPEAKER_17 1:51:04

Um his nails are like normal nails.

SPEAKER_25 1:51:08

Bro doesn't wash his hands. He cheats his glove up and everyone goes, ew.

SPEAKER_23 1:51:15

This is why gloves are unsanitary in the food business, and you should just wash your hands. Anyway, little lesson. I'm not gonna go on about that. Anyway, yeah, very tan, very calloused. Um, like he's been doing archery for years and years.

SPEAKER_26 1:51:29

Very tanned. Very calloused.

SPEAKER_25 1:51:31

Big very good recognize.

SPEAKER_24 1:51:34

He is almost six foot five, so just a little guy. Proportionate.

SPEAKER_01 1:51:40

We're very similar in true.

SPEAKER_22 1:51:42

Yes.

SPEAKER_09 1:51:44

I'd like to see you two arm wrestle. I think that would be lovely.

SPEAKER_03 1:51:49

Yeah, I don't know. My strengths fly. Maybe not try now, it's a relaxing morning, is it not?

SPEAKER_05 1:51:56

Just soak in this moment.

SPEAKER_08 1:51:58

As they say, cannonball. I'll rip off my two next cannonball into the river.

SPEAKER_04 1:52:06

Nice, relaxing morning it was. I am having a grand time. This is just the way he is. I I had a nice hour to myself.

SPEAKER_26 1:52:18

Might as well share the river with the rest of you.

SPEAKER_23 1:52:25

You're getting her hair is so long if she's as she's like sitting, just like kind of dipping her hands in the water. The ends of her hair are in the water as well as she's leaning up. Would you stop that?

SPEAKER_22 1:52:37

He follows that up by smacking the water.

SPEAKER_23 1:52:41

She'll shall like throw some back. You couldn't throw it back. That is very refreshing. Whatever. Why are you over here? Go with Hodge or whatever.

SPEAKER_09 1:52:53

Come up out of the water. You know, I don't even really bathe. I just use magic. Maybe you can extend it. This is just like a pin of brown stream smaller on me. Sometimes I miss some spots.

SPEAKER_12 1:53:12

My arms can't reach back there.

SPEAKER_23 1:53:15

Seeing that.

SPEAKER_01 1:53:16

I just pretty digitated toilet paper. This is your man.

SPEAKER_09 1:53:24

Clean or soil surface. Clean. Or soil.

SPEAKER_25 1:53:30

So sometimes when it's my back and I mess it up and I do the other one.

SPEAKER_09 1:53:36

Yes, yes. Who is that accidentally soiled their own underwear with magic?

SPEAKER_19 1:53:44

You look over and I'm just gonna like it.

SPEAKER_25 1:53:47

And you see Sister Liana goes up. Let's go.

SPEAKER_19 1:53:54

Well, go downstream a little. I'm gonna go upstream, preferably.

SPEAKER_09 1:54:01

Off the water from wherever I am downstream about.

SPEAKER_04 1:54:05

She takes you to the side, Ike.

SPEAKER_03 1:54:08

Ike uh I know we're all having fun, but like I said, it it might get a bit serious uh later in the day. I I'm not sure what is causing this blight or or um I I really am unsure of many of the details, but my plan, um the reason I have all of you here today is is for you all to investigate. I will manage the townspeople, uh heal and um assure them that I trust the five of you to find the source and to uh cure this, but um you know I I'm not feeling all too well. Uh so uh like I said, I'm I'm just going to deal with the people and keep them calm uh as as you all investigate. Uh so you have uh full reign um of the area to investigate. Uh ask whoever you need to ask, talk to whoever you need to talk to, and um uh you're you're in charge from here on out. I'll just get you there.

unknown 1:55:21

Okay.

SPEAKER_06 1:55:22

If anything happens just to give you word, look for a barn owl. It will give you a letter of a barn owl. Fuck you. Look for a barn owl, okay. It will come to you. Is it you? No, it is uh my familiar.

SPEAKER_21 1:55:45

Ah.

SPEAKER_06 1:55:46

What is its name? I haven't named it yet, actually.

SPEAKER_03 1:55:51

It'll come to you sooner and happy later. Uh maybe on this little quest you'll find a name for it. Well, um, whenever you're ready, I am ready. Let's be off.

SPEAKER_04 1:56:08

Uh alright. Uh so you leave the river Tesh and head uh towards uh deeper towards the valley. You just kind of follow along the river. Uh there was a reason that she wanted you to meet at the river. It's close to where you're going, but also a nice relaxing thing, like she said before. This takes a serious turn. Um you arrive in a lightly wooded dale of rolling hills. So, uh you arrive in this uh little farm town uh by the name of Humble Hill. Um you see a couple people uh kind of walking, covering their faces, uh coughing every now and then. Um you see swaths of crop uh just blackened and dead. Uh and uh people trying to uh scrounge up whatever they can of their fields. Uh a very sore sight for a farmer like Ike, uh, and a priest of Chon Priestess of Chantie like Liana. Um yes, it's a bit worse than I thought it would be. Um it seems as though all of their farms are dead and many of their animals are uh you see a couple empty pens, uh, or very uh scarce-looking uh barns. She uh finds the first person that isn't covering their mouth that looks relatively healthy and goes up and says, um, I am Sister Liana.

SPEAKER_03 1:58:00

I've been sent here by the Seeds of Cultivation to attempt uh to heal your uh town here, your village.

SPEAKER_04 1:58:10

And uh the very exhausted-looking old uh man, much of it has already uh stricken most of our our our village here and most of our crop.

SPEAKER_02 1:58:23

Uh whatever you can do, we we appreciate it. And she goes, um can you take me to the um whoever's the head of this town?

SPEAKER_03 1:58:33

And he goes, Yes.

SPEAKER_04 1:58:34

Uh uh again, um the rest of you, uh I would you like to come as well?

SPEAKER_05 1:58:44

We are sent here to help.

SPEAKER_04 1:58:46

Uh he takes out um some cloth from his uh pack, uh six pieces, hands one to Sister Liana, and then one to each of you, uh, and then one for himself, and he goes, uh, when we go inside, just cover your mouths. It's the best thing that uh we've found to look at me! Uh the best thing that we've found to uh eliminate the spread. Uh also um try not to touch anything. Uh Silana goes uh quietly and just kind of looks back and kind of re- nods reassuringly to you all uh as you follow this old man to a uh the biggest um home in this small village, uh, as the old man uh knocks on the door and you hear a uh gruff voice.

SPEAKER_03 1:59:38

Come in. Come in, uh mask yourselves, please.

SPEAKER_04 1:59:45

And uh the old man opens the door uh and kinda ushers you in. He does not follow you inside, but uh puts a his mask over his mouth and ushers you in as as you all go in. So Sir Liana covers her mouth, uh motions for you all to do the same, uh kind of look double does a double take at O'Rion and goes maybe you should just double up, just in case.

SPEAKER_22 2:00:09

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 2:00:10

Um, sir. Uh you you walk in and find this this uh middle-aged looking man, seeming to be the authority figure, maybe the mayor of this town, um, just bedridden uh by the side of his wife, who is also uh also looks very sick, but is is taking care of him.

SPEAKER_03 2:00:34

Uh she goes, uh I um asked to see the leader of this town, and uh I assume that is you, sir.

SPEAKER_04 2:00:43

He goes, Yes, uh you see he like kind of gets the chills and starts to shake a bit.

SPEAKER_03 2:00:51

Um are you here from the Seeds of Cultivation? Yes, sir, I am. Um and these are my associates. They're going to help with the investigation. Um good. It's it's good to have you finally here. Uh we have done some digging ourselves and and asking around. And um my wife uh she actually um was the one that figured it out. She goes Yes, I um months ago, uh, before all of this started, um a traveling halfling alchemist by the name of Algar Gaunt. Um we found that he sold several farmers a uh miraculous miraculous growth fertilizer. Um everyone who's used it, which is most of us, um their farms have been corrupted by this blight. And uh everyone who's eaten the food or come in contact, exactly. Uh come in contact with it. Um it seems to be the cause of it.

SPEAKER_04 2:02:26

We've sent word to the guard and uh the husband kind of puts his hand on her lap and goes, It's all right, honey.

SPEAKER_03 2:02:37

I'll take it from here. Uh, we've I have sent word to the guard that um that El Gargaunt, uh, with his description, uh, this halfling alchemist, has has uh he has not been seen since. Uh he couldn't have gone far. Uh I can't imagine, but it we haven't seen him. Uh, not that we have many people who can go looking, but the guards have not seen him. The guards of Dagger Falls or Daggerford, uh uh uh Daggardale.

SPEAKER_04 2:03:09

Sorry. Um that's a that's a doubtless mistake there. The guards of Dagger Daggardale have not uh gotten any word on him.

SPEAKER_03 2:03:19

So it's good that we have uh five uh worthy-looking uh travelers and adventurers uh to search for him, because if you are to find him, he should face the harshest of punishment. Uh if I were to say we've lost uh half our village so far to to this place, and many of us are you say the wife kind of starts tearing up and the husband goes, uh on our way out, it seems.

SPEAKER_02 2:03:51

Unless we are able to find uh a cure.

SPEAKER_05 2:03:55

If I had a copper for every time, a halfling did something wrong. I'd have two copper, which is not a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice.

SPEAKER_06 2:04:09

He will rot himself in his cell and not do the honor of killing him quickly.

SPEAKER_05 2:04:19

Feed him his own potion. Good. He deserves nothing less.

SPEAKER_03 2:04:27

He deserves the very worst for what he has done to our village and uh I have been praying to the gods that he has not journeyed far to give his serum ten rodels, lest the villages experience what we've been through in these past few months. Sister Viana goes. You will be safe. I will muster up every bit of healing that I have and see what it can do. They will search for this Algargaunt fellow, and if they find him, bring him to justice.

SPEAKER_04 2:05:11

And she looks at you and nods like nothing. Seeds of cultivation normally do not deal in this harsh punishment of death, but she looks at you with this fury in her eyes that you have not seen from her before. Uh nodding as to say. I will stay here, I will tend to the townsfolk, and they will investigate. Do not worry, we are incapable hands. We have travelled through the desert, and they have taken down everything in our path. Everything much much worse. Worse than a little halfling man. She uh kind of puts her hand out as if to say, You guys can leave now. Um I'll attend to these people. Uh and she begins to say a prayer to Chanti to heal. Um she looks at you and uh uh she says, If you find anyone in need of healing on the way, please just do it.

SPEAKER_03 2:06:20

Uh but if you must touch them be careful.

SPEAKER_06 2:06:31

Where do we start looking? Where was he last seen?

SPEAKER_03 2:06:36

Uh I I don't know. Um I would have to assume the outskirts of town. Uh we would have noticed him if he was within our midst. Uh so uh start wherever you'd like and find it from there. I I cannot help you with this.

SPEAKER_09 2:06:57

Perhaps we can follow the blight.

SPEAKER_04 2:07:00

He didn't uh there's some kind of thing. He he distributed it uh throughout the town, and uh so uh I don't think you'll find much of a trail. Uh it it seemed everyone kind of gave it used this fertilizer, um uh corrupted uh the water table first, uh spread throughout, poisoning all of the crops.

SPEAKER_03 2:07:27

Uh best of luck.

SPEAKER_23 2:07:30

Uh before they leave, knowing not to touch them, um Joanna is gonna walk up next to Sister Liana and just kind of offer her own prayer um from Gnarless to lessen the current suffering of these two people in the hopes that to hold them out to be healed. Just give them more time.

SPEAKER_04 2:07:58

Uh like you've heard from the Dale Lands, the warnings of how people are not open to outsiders, uh that worry fades away from these people as you are offering immediate assistance and and showing that you can help in a way that they need very much need it. So they lean in and pray with you or listen to your prayer and accept it wholeheartedly as they very, very much needed.

SPEAKER_15 2:08:31

I believe I was brought here for a purpose, so I'm gonna I'm gonna do my best to fulfill that for you.

unknown 2:08:38

Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 2:08:40

As you exit the home, uh, and you kind of have this whole uh village uh you look around. It's a lot of uh blight, a lot of ruined crops, a lot of sick people. Uh you kind of uh 360, it's just all around you. Um very uh very hard to know where to go first.

SPEAKER_05 2:09:12

Ike was definitely gonna be softly softly crying to himself and trying to like cover it up in his hands.

SPEAKER_23 2:09:22

Um after they leave that house, uh Joanna will go right up to Ike silently and just take his hand and squeeze it a little bit.

SPEAKER_05 2:09:38

He will. He will suffer.

SPEAKER_12 2:09:41

I know.

SPEAKER_05 2:09:43

I'll force feed him his own serum. I'll give him the honor of a quick death.

SPEAKER_06 2:09:52

How how could he?

SPEAKER_07 2:09:54

I don't know.

SPEAKER_06 2:09:55

What do you think he would gain? Money?

SPEAKER_14 2:10:00

Power? Maybe somebody's making him do it?

SPEAKER_23 2:10:07

We'll figure it out.

unknown 2:10:09

Yes. Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 2:10:12

The quiet as all you don't hear the bird sound and the insects and everything that you heard mere miles away in the along the river as you traveled all the just death. The silence of death is cut every now and then by coughs, but the uh the river quietly streaming is suddenly broken by the screams of the family. Your eyes turn, and in the distance you see a rickety home just holding on by a thread is being bombarded and punched and pushed by this man. But as you look further and focus more on it, you see these growth sprouting out from this man whose gray skin. And uh as you really take a better look ushered in by these screams, this man has been transformed into a fungus that is enraged and trying its best to get into this home.

SPEAKER_23 2:11:51

Uh immediate guiding bolt. It just shoots out of her before she even knows what's happening.

SPEAKER_04 2:11:56

That's where we're gonna end our session.

SPEAKER_01 2:12:01

Why do you have to live so far away?

SPEAKER_04 2:12:06

Thanks for joining us for our first episode of our Dale Lands campaign. Our first recorded episode with Becca and Carter joining the chaotic naturals fam. Minor fake. So as always, you can follow us anywhere and email us at our email.

SPEAKER_01 2:12:39

Send us your ships. Send us kisses.

SPEAKER_12 2:12:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_23 2:12:43

Dude that fan art. I think so seriously. Please fancy.

SPEAKER_26 2:12:46

Everyone in Ike's feet. Alright. As always.

SPEAKER_14 2:12:58

Thanks so much for listening to the Chaotic Naturals Podcast. Find us on all of our socials at Chaotic Naturals or send us an email to chaotic naturals at gmail.com. New episodes of the Dale Lands every Wednesday. Find us wherever you listen to podcasts.