Dalelands - Episode 8 'The Abandoned Grove'

Our party reckons with the aftermath of their newfound power as they continue on their individual journeys. New people are met, new offers are negotiated, and new goals arise for a certain humorous wizard in particular. A quest offered within Shadowdale Town and the discovery of an abandoned Druid's grove seem to be pointing the group in the right direction on their way as a newly minted adventuring party. Now if only they could locate Orion...he seemed to have slipped away in the night...

Transcript

SPEAKER_11 0:01

Thank you all for joining us for episode eight of our Daylands campaign. Last episode, the players navigated the depths of the library of Lefchantos and initiated Horse Heist, where they were able to steal the Nathlum, this ancient book, out from under the nose of Pal the Owl Nickum, and flee without a wound. Or without a significant wound. Not I, Captain As they ran far as fast as they could through the forests, they managed to get away with the Nathlum and decided to trudge through, risking exhaustion to avoid sleep and get as much distance between them and Powell and his goblin and Zenterim associates. In doing so, they were tracked by elf rangers, sort of protectors of the Cormanthor forest, unbeknownst to them. This came in handy as Orion, in the middle of the night, deep into the forest, was uh assailed by a displacer beast that jumped off of a cliff face and began attacking the party. It looked like their odds were very slim to survive until eight arrows came flying out of the forest, killing the displacer beast immediately, and saving their lives, possibly. These elves stepped out of the forest, told them they needed to leave if they were planning on continuing deeper into the forest, because they were not planning on continuing deeper into the forest and were leaving, uh, they were able to kind of do some uh white lies to get out of it, uh, and went on their way, separate from these elves, uh, warning the elves that there may be goblins in Zenterim and uh Pal specifically chasing after them. So maybe you guys got lucky and the elves took care of them. We'll be hard to tell. Uh you continued on for two more days until you arrived in Shadowdale Town, yet again, to cash in on your quest with Myrna Noor at Old Skull Inn. Over that travel time uh and and downtime, Hodge was able to copy over the spells uh and everything else in the Nathan, the the potions and the poisons uh that were contained in there. So the book itself, while very valuable and ancient, uh, was not necessarily as valuable uh to the party having those notes, and were able to cash that in to Myrna Noor uh in exchange for their hundred gold reward. Hundred gold richer, everyone, took uh a week off from adventuring to really uh kind of uh spend some time alone and uh and figure out what they kind of wanted to do with their lives as they as they found themselves very adept at being adventurers uh and felt sort of more in touch with that side of themselves as everyone leveled up to three, uh, choosing their subclasses. That is where we uh will join our party, as they have all on the same very night, uh, Kythorn 27. Uh I will start with Hodge as he tells us what he got at level three.

SPEAKER_06 4:26

I chose the illusionist subclass. Um I can cast Minor Illusion as a bonus action. Uh any illusion spell I have, which has a range of 10 plus feet, is increased by 60 feet, which means minor illusion can now be cast uh 90 feet away with sound and an image at the same time, and all illusion spells can be cast without uh verbal components. Did I say bonus action?

SPEAKER_11 4:56

I believe so.

SPEAKER_06 4:57

Yes. Um, and a couple illusion spells that'll be making their debut. Cool. Uh Val.

SPEAKER_12 5:06

Alright. So Val, with her level three upgrades, as a paladin, she gets more healing. Um she took the oath of vengeance. And with that, she gets, where are we? Bane and Hunter's mark. Which basically just make it easier for her to attack people and make it hurt more. And um, as an Asimar, she gets wings and some other things, but the wings are the coolest, so that's what's gonna happen. Um, and a few spells that are kind of fun. Um yeah, I have a perforating shot, which is pretty fun. So I can like combine that with like a smite and basically attack a lot of people around me. Like when I attack them, anybody within a five-foot wide line can get hit with my magic. So that's pretty fun. Um, and that's the most exciting spells.

SPEAKER_13 6:19

Cool.

SPEAKER_12 6:19

There I go. Ike.

SPEAKER_13 6:22

Ike is now a circle of the moon druid. Circle of the moon druids focus their power in wild shapes, changing into different beasts. Uh at this level, I know four uh shapes I can change into, and I can switch switch them out uh for different CR1 monster uh CR1 beasts, each long rest, but I'm gonna keep these ones for a while. I have brown bear, dire wolf, giant spider, and lion. Uh so he will be using those when we get into combat. Sweet.

SPEAKER_11 7:08

Joanna.

SPEAKER_03 7:10

Um Joanna is a life domain cleric now. Life domain focuses on the positive energy that helps sustain all life in the multiverse. Um she gains some spells. Aid, bless, cure wounds, and lesser restoration. Um, she also has Disciple of Life. So when she casts a sphen spell, oh my god. When she casts a spell that uses a spell spell to restore hit points, they will gain um additional hit points equal to two plus the spells level.

SPEAKER_14 7:53

Oh nice.

SPEAKER_03 7:54

Yeah. Um and she also has preserved life she can use for her channel divinity. And anyone within a 30 feet uh radius of herself, which can include herself, she can give five times her cleric level, so she can divide 15 hit points among everyone, or give all of them to one person, whatever the need may be.

SPEAKER_11 8:16

Sweet. Orion?

SPEAKER_04 8:18

I am now a circle of the stars druid, which means I have starry forms as my wild shapes. Um, so I will be taking the form of the archer. So constellations of the archer form on my body, and I can take a ranged spell attack as a bonus action to um use a luminous arrow that does radiant damage against my enemies. Um there's also the chalice form and the dragon form, but I will likely refrain from using them unless there's an emergency. Um and then I also have long strider now. Um and my level two spells are pretty cool. I took Moonbeam and Pass Without a Trace. So now our entire party will be able to be stealthy.

SPEAKER_11 9:05

Sweet.

SPEAKER_04 9:05

Moon Boom. Can't not say it.

SPEAKER_11 9:09

Uh we will pick up where we left off with Joanna having just prayed and devoted herself even further to her god Neuralis. Seeing this shadow in front of you as you opened your eyes uh and uh having it whisper something to you, uh, looking behind you to see what the light source of this shadow was, seeing nothing. You then turn to hear a knock at your door.

SPEAKER_03 9:49

Yeah, um, after what she just experienced, she is certain that this is another sign from her god, if not a full-body apparition this time, hopefully. Um so she will scramble up off the floor and book it to the door to open it.

SPEAKER_11 10:10

As you do, you see standing in the doorway Orion.

SPEAKER_04 10:18

Oh as you open the door, he kind of looks around at first, and a man on a mission, he pushes you back through the door and shuts it behind him. Okay. Before he walks over and stands on the other side of you, just kind of staring. And his he looks like he ran here. He his uh chest is rising and falling very quickly. Um yeah, he doesn't look very good. Not that you can really tell.

SPEAKER_03 10:50

As yeah, as you're as you push her back in, she's like, what? Hello, can I have and then she registers what you look like. Um can Are you alright?

SPEAKER_04 11:06

You healed all of those people in Humble Hill. Yeah? Did you feel it too? Your power grow within stronger than you are, or are you not? I mean Yeah, actually just I I thought maybe you could heal me too.

SPEAKER_03 11:31

Heal you, did you get what? Hurt sparring with L or something?

SPEAKER_04 11:34

I don't you don't look no, nothing like that. And as you're talking too much, he starts taking his glove off and rolling his sleeve up to expose his star-speckled skin.

SPEAKER_03 11:48

Okay. Um but w where's the injury? I don't I don't get it. This is the injury. Really? Can you not see that?

SPEAKER_21 12:02

I see stars and they look Can you fix me or not?

SPEAKER_03 12:07

Um Can you try? No miracles or promises or anything. Um How far up does this go? And as she asks, she's gonna start to reach forward for your arm.

SPEAKER_04 12:24

He flinches um as you go to um touch his arm.

SPEAKER_03 12:29

I don't I don't hurt, folks, that's not what I do. Just let me take a look.

SPEAKER_04 12:35

You say that, and you can't really tell, but he is looking at you. Um, and he's gonna offer his arm to you. And he's very tense.

SPEAKER_03 12:45

Um, and it's barely like feather-light, barely a touch just enough to hold his hand up. Um. Now. How far up does it go? You're not going to like my response. Okay, well, I I can't do much if you're dodging my questions and not being truthful with me, so can you just kindly answer my question?

SPEAKER_04 13:07

He takes a deep breath and then he swallows pretty hard. They all appeared on my face when I was a child. That's why I have to hide. Tonight, well, I thought I was asleep. I woke up and I was in this in the lake. And stars just started appearing on my body. All over. And it burns. It hurts so bad. This is different than it was when I was a child. This is different that I cannot sleep. I cannot focus on anything but the pain. Different enough that I'm here showing you my greatest shame. At least, Johanna, if you could do anything, I will be in your debt.

SPEAKER_19 14:02

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 14:03

Uh um. I'll try. And just from looking at it, she's looking to see. He said it burns. Yeah. Her sew really bad. Is it something that looks like a regular burn or something she's seen before? 21.

SPEAKER_11 14:20

Uh, it does not look like anything you've seen before. Um stars on a person's body is quite unique, and you not only have not seen it, you've never heard of it. Uh they do look like fresh. Not wounds, but they look fresh and they do. You can see them, uh, a bit of red around the skin. Um sort of like uh a fresh tattoo would have. Uh not like a wound from battle that you would have seen.

SPEAKER_03 14:57

Okay. Um. I mean, it kind of looks like it's already doing my job for me and healing on its own. I don't really think you need me.

SPEAKER_21 15:07

Oh, you d you don't understand. They're going to stay. Okay, so what do you want me to do? Erasin off of you? Please, if you anything, anything, if you can just fix me. Um.

SPEAKER_03 15:23

Okay, yeah. I mean, you cut me off when I was explaining it, but yeah, I did feel a little bit more power, so I will try to use that. Um. And she will raise her other hand that was free up until this point, and hover it over his arm.

SPEAKER_17 15:45

I do need to touch him to try this, but you.

SPEAKER_04 15:52

Yeah, he kind of like uh moves around just a little bit, very uncomfortable, but he does let you.

SPEAKER_20 16:01

And very lately she will put her hand on top and try to cast lesser restoration. I tried so hard to keep it together.

SPEAKER_11 16:15

Uh you can see the spells begin to uh work. Uh, but it doesn't seem to be removing the stars. It seems to be making them even a little bit brighter, as if you were kind of charging them with this healing magic.

SPEAKER_04 16:37

Um, he definitely tenses and winces a little bit in from the pain of that. Sorry. Um stars coming to the surface does not feel good.

SPEAKER_19 16:46

Uh oh, okay. Well, trying to help made it worse. Um I uh I'm not sure if I can make these go away. I'd I don't think I can heal you.

SPEAKER_04 17:05

He's silent for a moment as she just confirms what he knew coming in here, but this was his last stitch effort coming to his who was his enemy for help and showing her um what he's been hiding for almost his whole life and has been hurt over um over and over again was not an easy feat. And as she says, um, I don't think I can heal you, he's already pushing past her and he just says, I know, and leaves.

SPEAKER_22 17:36

But it's that they're she knows she can't he can't hear her anymore because he like booked it out of the room, but she will just say out loud towards the door.

SPEAKER_03 17:48

They're beautiful though.

SPEAKER_22 17:51

Um after hearing from her God for the first time, seeing a vision that he is real, and then having somebody who she thought hated her show up and ask specifically for her help and not being able to help him, she is going to try her best to trance and go to bed.

SPEAKER_11 18:18

Alright. Uh so everyone has a rest for this night uh in their own separate areas, as they have been for the past week as they sort of figure out uh themselves and their newfound abilities and and aptitude for this type of work, this type of life, um as you all sort of uh level up together uh but separately, you f you feel the need to the next morning uh meet yet again at Old Skull Inn and sort of discuss your next steps if if you want to travel as a group and and kind of uh work together to whatever ends you have. Uh you obviously all have different goals, but uh maybe they're easier to accomplish together. Uh something to discuss as you uh all arrive at the old skull inn on this morning, apart from Orion.

SPEAKER_06 19:38

Uh Hodge is still probably up in his room of the old skull, and he hasn't really left town the way the others may have traveled around a little bit more. He's kind of been holed up looking at the books and his other research notes. If anyone wants to come and get him.

SPEAKER_15 20:03

At least three A.

SPEAKER_13 20:05

I'll go get him. I'll go up and knock on the door. But it's time for breakfast.

SPEAKER_06 20:12

Come down. No response, but you hear murmuring and paper shuffling, flickering candlelight, um, indicating that the room has probably been shuttered, so it's dark in there, aside from the light.

SPEAKER_13 20:27

Oh dear. I'll open the door.

SPEAKER_05 20:31

It's unlocked.

SPEAKER_13 20:32

Hodge, is everything all right? Your research is all over the floor.

SPEAKER_06 20:39

He is at a desk by candlelight, going through. Oh, Mike, I'm so glad you're here. This is amazing. I've learned so much.

SPEAKER_13 20:48

Um walk up behind him and look over what he is studying on the desk.

SPEAKER_06 20:55

See personal notes, things that he's written down. You see his book that he got from the library of uh Chantos uh opened and uh being rifled through, dog eared, and you also see Ike would recognize probably um the notes that I had secretly uh kept from that gentleman. His name Algargaunt. Yes, Algargaunt's notes about the Miracle Growth Serum. The notes on the simulacrum specifically is what I kept and uh did not tell anyone and in my uh carelessness have left strewn about uh during my research.

SPEAKER_13 21:48

You I don't know if you feel this, if you're too engrossed in your hand looking over. It's not a hand on you, but a pressure. You have been busy, haven't you? And you'll see he will reach down and pick up the stack of Algargaunts that you had copied.

SPEAKER_06 22:11

He freezes and he uh does not move. Oh. What is this, Hodge? Ike. You have to understand.

SPEAKER_13 22:27

I trusted you.

SPEAKER_06 22:30

Yes.

SPEAKER_13 22:32

You better have a damn good explanation for this.

SPEAKER_06 22:35

I need it for my research. Ike don't understand. To be like Gaunt. Not to be like Gaunt. Every failure, every wrong turn, is a path I can avoid if I know where he went wrong, if I have the information to study. This is the key. This is the key. His research is a piece of a puzzle that I am trying to put together. It will help me learn about my father. Ike please. Please.

SPEAKER_13 23:06

Learn about your father? Yes. Did he experiment on humans and animals as well? I don't think so.

SPEAKER_05 23:14

I don't think so, Ike.

SPEAKER_06 23:19

I didn't want others to learn this way, but when I was young, I lost my father. A storm. He was crushed. But when he perished, I watched his body melt into snow in front of me. I melt. He melted. After years of research, I learned only that that could mean one thing. He was a simulacrum. My father was an illusion. I don't know for how long. My mother never knew anything of it. I don't know if my father was replaced. I don't know if this was the creation of some wizard and his sick game. But I don't know. All I know is that he was a simulacrum. And I need to know. If he was real. If he is real. Algarga's notes, while crude and evil, have given me some insight into this problem. I'm sorry. I had to. And I knew none of you would understand. So I took them. Please. Please forgive me. I you can trust me. You can.

SPEAKER_13 24:52

Can I? After this. You're making it very hard. I don't want to see you go down a path like Gaunt did, trying to create life in hopes of creating some kind of simulacrum. And harming other people, destroying fields like he had.

SPEAKER_06 25:16

It won't be that way. It won't.

SPEAKER_13 25:20

My father What will it be?

SPEAKER_06 25:28

When it is right, you can't tell the difference between what is real and what is an illusion, the way I could it as a child. He was my father. Up until the moment he died. That man loved me, he cared for me, he raised me. There was never a moment I thought that he had been replaced or he had changed. That's what this is all about. That's what this simulacrum could be. Something just as real.

SPEAKER_13 26:04

I'm sorry about your father. I am. I just. When I saw these notes and you had them, I was afraid you were going down the same path as Mr. Gaunt. I You don't test on anything or anyone. Or plan to, do you?

SPEAKER_06 26:30

No.

SPEAKER_13 26:30

Does Simulacrum require this?

SPEAKER_06 26:33

It only requires a willing subject. Which up to now and continuing, lest the party consents should only be me. I would not wish to stumble upon a a situation that either Algar or Gaunt created or what happened to me when I was a child. This is just something I need to get to the bottom of. And his notes are crude. As I said. I needed time to research them, but we can destroy them now. I think.

SPEAKER_13 27:16

That was my next question. If you still needed them, because if these get out, if you were to get harmed in any way, and your notes got out, lost.

SPEAKER_00 27:25

I know.

SPEAKER_13 27:26

What I can't imagine what would happen.

SPEAKER_00 27:29

I know.

SPEAKER_13 27:30

If they can be destroyed now, I would like to watch you destroy them now. Unless you need them. You need to keep them as safe as you keep your heart in your chest.

SPEAKER_06 27:48

I can disguise them. I can. I've taken many notes on them, to be frank. Uh which are not necessarily easily legible to the untrained eye. Uh his notes can go, but part of his research lives on in mine. Uh which of course I guard very closely. This is my life's work, and I understand if I need to earn your trust back, I can I completely accept that, but these notes, and he'll take them from you and conjure fire in his hand as they turn to ash and sort of float away. I need these no longer. Uh my spell book, my research notes, uh contain some of his work and others works that uh are just best if they don't get out, I should say. It's in all of our interest to guard my work together as a party, as I would guard any of yours. Special belongings, as I would guard your uh you know, meaningful items, so I have to get to the truth. My father and my brother and what happened to them, if he was ever truly there to begin with. And the only way I can do that is by testing.

SPEAKER_13 29:31

I see. So from Algar's notes, you know what not to do.

SPEAKER_05 29:40

That's exactly right. Yes.

SPEAKER_13 29:43

And can I trust you to not test on unwilling subjects? I hope that I can, so far I have trusted you.

SPEAKER_06 29:58

Should I ever cross that line, may you tear out my throat.

SPEAKER_13 30:08

I think that it will not get to that point. I do as well. But if it does, I will. Out of mercy. Thank you. If I ever lose myself in any way to forms that I may change into or a blind rage to deal out justice where it may or may not be due. Hold me, if you would, hold me back.

SPEAKER_05 30:47

Yes.

SPEAKER_13 30:48

And illusion me away if I I don't know that kind of magic, but I can put me in a rock, you know.

SPEAKER_06 30:59

I can make you be at peace.

SPEAKER_13 31:00

Yes, exactly.

SPEAKER_06 31:03

I will send you out to pasture, if you will.

SPEAKER_13 31:09

It's a dream. I'm sorry I doubted you, but you're every right. I appreciate you being open.

SPEAKER_06 31:20

If you must share this with the party, I I understand.

SPEAKER_13 31:28

I think they would eventually understand, but perhaps we should just hold off on the existence of them and say that you took inspiration, perhaps.

SPEAKER_05 31:42

Yes, that might be maybe best for now. Thank you, Ank.

SPEAKER_13 31:50

Of course. Thank you for reassuring me. I was about to snap your neck.

SPEAKER_00 31:59

I could tell. The air got thick in here.

SPEAKER_13 32:05

I'm sorry, I I Yes, sometimes I need to learn to ask questions first. But uh you are my friend, Hodge, and I hope to remain so. Yes. Now I'm starving. Shall we go down? Yes. I'll offer my hand to him and do that glass.

SPEAKER_06 32:30

Absolutely. Will loves doing that with all of that. That's how you know it's real.

SPEAKER_12 32:39

Um well, did you see no Ryan this morning? I haven't seen him since last night, actually. Okay. Is everything alright?

SPEAKER_03 32:53

I don't know. It was weird. Something weird happened. I don't weird than normal or anything.

SPEAKER_14 33:02

Yeah, but no, but uh I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 33:12

Uh like when you got your wings and everything and he freaked out, and then later that night I had like a thing with my I finally heard my god, by the way. You're so cool.

SPEAKER_12 33:24

That's really exciting.

SPEAKER_03 33:25

Yeah. Uh showed me a a vision of a of a like a gra there's like a gravestone statue um back home of it's like a whole ghost story lore thing where I come from. Like one of the old leaders uh couldn't save the town during wartime. So when he died, they say he's like cursed to come back every time the town gets attacked. So people say they like see him walking around and stuff like that. But his grave marker is like a big shadowy like angel thing. Um and they say that's what he looks like when he comes back. So I saw that and I was like, okay, he knows that that's where I'm from. Because my sister and I would sit underneath it and talk about Narylus all the time. So I'm like obviously showing me, you know, that's like a thing. It's awesome. So I was already sorry, I started rambling. Um, I was already having like a night because of that, and then I hear a knock on my door and it's alright. Huh. And he was like being all weird and like asking me to heal him and stuff, and I didn't say anything wrong with him, so I tried to and nothing happened, and he got mad at me as per usual, and then he bolted, and I haven't seen him since. She does not tell Val what she saw on him.

SPEAKER_15 34:37

Oh, he sparkled too.

SPEAKER_03 34:40

Yeah, she will she will stick with the nothing was wrong with him, from what I could see. So, well, maybe after breakfast, if we haven't heard from him, we can take a look for him.

unknown 34:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 34:52

Yeah. I guess. I just want to make sure he's okay, you know, because he left like real fast and uh seemed weird. So Ryan is. Why are you laughing at me back?

SPEAKER_12 35:06

I just think um Orion's always funny around you. What does that mean? I just think you guys have a fun chemistry, shall I say?

SPEAKER_03 35:24

You and I have two very different definitions of fun. That's probably very true. But sh I'm gonna ignore that for now. Yeah, Hodge, arion is missing. She's like looking at Valley.

SPEAKER_14 35:42

Coming up the stairs and telling her Orion morning, ladies.

SPEAKER_03 35:48

I mean, we said Hodge was up there for three days. I'm sure it wasn't great.

SPEAKER_00 35:52

Ah, I magically cleaned my mind. Very quickly!

SPEAKER_13 35:59

I was taken aback by the sheest state of his room, a mess of papers and books half open, and but uh I helped him clean up, and yes, now we're here.

SPEAKER_05 36:14

For breakfast.

SPEAKER_13 36:16

Where is our shadowy friend?

SPEAKER_03 36:20

Uh I was just telling Val I haven't seen him since last night. Uh either of you seeing him?

SPEAKER_06 36:24

We checked the dark corners.

SPEAKER_13 36:26

I did not see him on my way back from Humble Hill, no. I don't know. Perhaps he's still asleep. But he doesn't seem the type to sleep in. I hope he's alright.

SPEAKER_03 36:38

I think so. Val said some weird stuff, but I'm ignoring that for now. Weird stuff.

SPEAKER_06 36:45

We have the means to magically detect him.

SPEAKER_03 36:48

She said. She said we have a fun chemistry.

SPEAKER_00 36:53

Fun.

SPEAKER_03 36:54

That's what I said.

SPEAKER_00 36:56

I enjoyed watching.

SPEAKER_03 36:58

I think you gave me a cross as a faith a week ago.

SPEAKER_13 37:02

I think he wants to be. Joanna, I think that for some odd reason he wants to hate you so badly, but he cannot find it within himself to hate you. But he's he finds comfort in your presence. I tend to have that effect on people, yeah. He finds comfort in your presence, so he gravitates towards you as you are as a uh it seems to be a sort of confidant for him. Something somebody he can tell things to where he doesn't feel like he can tell anybody else. Um it's a compliment from somebody like him, I think.

SPEAKER_02 37:41

Really?

SPEAKER_13 37:42

Yes, I think so.

SPEAKER_02 37:43

I'm as confidant?

SPEAKER_13 37:46

He is getting there. He's getting there.

SPEAKER_03 37:50

It feels like talking to a brick wall most of the time. And then by the time he actually does want to say something, it's just like an avalanche of like, I've been feeling really bad. So I don't know.

SPEAKER_06 38:02

I imagine your relationship like skipping stones on the river. You're the river, Orion skips the stones. It's like an act of violence to skip the stone. But it feels good.

SPEAKER_04 38:15

That's so hot.

SPEAKER_18 38:22

Well you know what I mean? Hold on, I gotta get back into my body for a second.

SPEAKER_15 38:28

I left on the white corner. Orion pops on over the show. That's really hot. I mean, yeah, it is, but like I said, I'm trying to I didn't imagine it in a sexy way.

SPEAKER_03 38:50

Um It's an act of violence that feels good. Crazy. So I'm she's struggling to understand. So I'm the I'm the water. You're the river, yes. I'm the river.

SPEAKER_06 39:06

I guess lake, any body of water.

SPEAKER_03 39:09

But he hates me, but he doesn't.

SPEAKER_06 39:11

The only place you can skip stones is at the water, if that makes sense.

SPEAKER_03 39:16

Okay. I guess. I don't know. Even when we were still on the caravan act, it was like, oh, he's always around you. So um I don't know. I thought it was like a creepy thing, but I think he just feels safe around you.

SPEAKER_13 39:32

Comfortable. Comfortable enough to open up a little bit. But he just this he just seems like somebody who takes a long time to open up. And when he finally gets the courage to open up, it is like an avalanche. But I hope he knows that he has us three too. So you don't have to bear the weight of that avalanche.

SPEAKER_03 39:59

But maybe he can come to y'all's room in the middle of the night. And she realizes she said that in her eyes.

SPEAKER_13 40:05

What? Uh uh I am giving you a side eye as well.

SPEAKER_02 40:13

I don't think you have to announce.

SPEAKER_03 40:16

I don't think you have to announce that, I think it's just something that you do.

SPEAKER_14 40:20

Oh, I see.

SPEAKER_03 40:25

I already told Val, but like, you know how like I'm sure over the last week you all felt like a little bit stronger, right? Like a little more powerful.

SPEAKER_14 40:35

Yes. He is very strange. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 40:37

I was in the middle of like kind of reckoning with that. Uh I heard from my God finally, like I was talking about. Oh my god. Wow. Yeah, heard from him and I saw like a vision. He showed me a vision of a thing from back home so like I could connect the dots. Um so I was still reeling from that, and I heard about a knock on my door, and I went over thinking, you know, maybe I'll see another vision or something. And it was O'Rion, and he was asking me to hail him, but I didn't see anything wrong. And so I tried, and because there wasn't anything wrong, nothing happened, and he got mad at me and left.

SPEAKER_13 41:12

Of course he did.

SPEAKER_03 41:13

Yeah. So I don't know why he came to me if he was just gonna get mad anyway.

SPEAKER_06 41:18

But a beacon outright or something. Maybe it'll come to it.

SPEAKER_03 41:23

What can we put out that he lacked? He doesn't like anything.

SPEAKER_06 41:26

Picture of me, picture of Hajj!

SPEAKER_02 41:30

We'll get a piece of cake, we'll put it in Hodge's hands, we'll put him outside. Perfect.

SPEAKER_06 41:33

I will like go outside and conjure 90 feet up a minor illusion, like cake.

SPEAKER_02 41:43

Is it working? How does it work? We can't put your face.

SPEAKER_03 41:56

Yeah, both casting a light to be like blinky, blinking light.

SPEAKER_00 41:59

I imagine this being like cake. Cake! Turn that off! I'm looking for my friend!

SPEAKER_06 42:09

Um is your name cake? No. I'm the levian cake, so I gotta do a draw him in.

SPEAKER_11 42:17

Is this um You have not seen this guy before?

SPEAKER_06 42:25

His name was Mungo. Mungo.

SPEAKER_13 42:28

Pingo Bongo or something.

SPEAKER_00 42:30

Bingo Bongo.

SPEAKER_13 42:31

Francis Mungo.

SPEAKER_00 42:37

That's the most popular name I've ever heard in my life. Mungo Silver Silvermaids.

SPEAKER_03 42:43

I had to check it.

SPEAKER_06 42:45

This is a Mungo Bongo.

SPEAKER_11 42:47

This is Mungo Bongo. No, this is a uh a muscular human uh comes over.

SPEAKER_22 42:55

That was a joint. Come on.

SPEAKER_07 42:58

I really think you should turn that off. It's false advertising.

SPEAKER_03 43:04

Uh-oh, because we're outside the game.

SPEAKER_06 43:06

How do you know there's no cake here?

SPEAKER_07 43:08

I saw the sign, I ran in here. I asked for cake, and they said we have none. What are you thinking? I starts laughing. Fine, I'll get rid of it. You see the guy storms out.

SPEAKER_11 43:31

Uh I'm sorry about that.

SPEAKER_08 43:34

Uh that was pretty funny though.

SPEAKER_11 43:41

Uh he hands you he hands you a uh piece of paper.

unknown 43:46

Oh.

SPEAKER_11 43:47

Uh sort of like a piece of uh paper. Yes. Um and it says I won't get one. Uh it's it says skull crushers. Uh Oh, every week. Um, sorry, I scrolled past it. Skullcrackers, I think. Uh he's threatening us. Uh sorry, skullcrackers. It says skullcrackers every week.

SPEAKER_04 44:12

They got kicked there?

SPEAKER_11 44:13

Um, and then under as you kind of read about it, uh it is a weekly pun contest.

SPEAKER_08 44:21

Oh skull and do it. You're pretty funny. Maybe you could uh enjoy this. Um the premise this week uh is adventuring. When it gets their tab cleared.

SPEAKER_02 44:37

Joanna is so excited.

SPEAKER_21 44:38

How do you have to do it?

SPEAKER_06 44:39

How many days from now?

SPEAKER_09 44:40

Tonight?

SPEAKER_06 44:41

Oh, of course it is.

SPEAKER_18 44:42

How'd you have to? That's so funny.

SPEAKER_08 44:44

The only thing is with your magic, no magic allowed in this pun contest.

SPEAKER_03 44:51

Just magic of a man, am I right?

SPEAKER_09 44:53

No props of any kind. You should not participate.

SPEAKER_15 44:58

Props.

SPEAKER_11 45:02

Physically, yes, as long as they are not magic. Uh no repeating any puns that have already been used, of course.

SPEAKER_08 45:09

Uh heckling is allowed. Perfect. And a pun must be understood by at least three sober locals.

SPEAKER_04 45:17

Wow. Sober? Tall order.

SPEAKER_09 45:20

Also, uh, I should note, because you're new in town, jokes about Elminster might not go over very well. They are pretty risky. Uh not that you'll have to. Uh barely know. Precisely.

SPEAKER_14 45:34

But just maybe you should show a little respect.

unknown 45:42

Okay.

SPEAKER_09 45:42

Everyone else is welcome to participate, of course.

SPEAKER_12 45:45

Fantastic. Except for Joanna, apparently. Except for me.

SPEAKER_09 45:50

You started off on the wrong foot, but maybe you'll regain your footing tonight.

SPEAKER_16 45:54

I have a habit of doing that, yeah.

unknown 45:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_16 45:57

I think before, I think before.

SPEAKER_06 45:59

I will think on it. Thank you for the invitation.

SPEAKER_16 46:01

Yes, of course.

SPEAKER_13 46:03

It is every week, so no pressure. Yes, once a week, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 46:06

That's but if you could do it tonight, that'd be really fun.

SPEAKER_06 46:11

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 46:12

Keeps people on their toes, you know, keeps it fresh. Keeps the keeps the keep the uh before we get to that.

SPEAKER_06 46:18

I think maybe we should try to go out and find Orion.

SPEAKER_02 46:21

See, sometimes I try to talk and I don't have to be able to do that.

SPEAKER_11 46:23

Because you're looking at the sheet at the bottom, it shows uh how how the judging is done, how the winner has decided. Uh, and it goes laughter, groaning, table slapping, ale spitting, immediate shame, someone shouting out, out with you, and a priest of Latander looking disappointed, but smiling.

SPEAKER_14 46:46

That was the goal.

SPEAKER_11 46:48

Specifically Latander, oh, that's so funny. Priest of Latander looking disappointed, that was the goal. And they use three bowls. You kind of put uh you put uh your score into laugh, groan, or banishment.

SPEAKER_13 47:06

If Orion does show up before we go look for him, pretend we did not have this conversation. Oh, absolutely.

SPEAKER_06 47:14

Orion can never know.

SPEAKER_03 47:15

I'm gonna make I'm gonna enter him into the contest.

SPEAKER_06 47:20

He will kill you. Or try.

SPEAKER_03 47:24

That's a risk I'm willing to take, Hodge.

SPEAKER_13 47:26

Imagine he wins.

SPEAKER_11 47:27

Unbelievable. It does say no sign up required. You could just kind of like stand up on the stage whenever it's your turn. Oh, perfect. We don't tell him.

SPEAKER_03 47:35

We don't tell him what's happening and then we just put him in.

SPEAKER_11 47:38

Yes.

SPEAKER_14 47:39

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 47:40

But yeah, I think we should probably look for him.

SPEAKER_16 47:42

Um whenever we whenever we do find him, if y'all would be uh interested in helping, um I do have to at some point go a few Dales away to uh Scardale, but how about uh an old friend? So I'm still waiting to hear back, but um when I do, I'll be gonna head up there.

SPEAKER_13 48:09

Scardale. Whereabouts is that from here? I'm not familiar.

SPEAKER_16 48:13

Uh through far away.

SPEAKER_05 48:15

Uh Jesus. Super far. It's a month's travel. Uh 16 days travel.

SPEAKER_03 48:27

Yeah. Uh I was asked I was asking around over our like week apart. It's a it's apparently about like sixteen days away.

SPEAKER_14 48:33

Oh my.

SPEAKER_03 48:34

So it would be maybe a lot. So I understand if if you guys have stuff that you need to do. Um, I can probably go by myself.

SPEAKER_11 48:44

For our listeners, it's essentially uh fully across the Dale Lands. You are uh they are currently in Shadowdale, uh, which is northwest. Scardale is pretty much uh all the way southeast.

SPEAKER_13 49:00

Yeah, there's not a place that we have on our agenda that we can stop at on the way to Scardale, make the most out of our travels.

SPEAKER_11 49:11

You will pass through many of the dales and many of the large cities as you go. Um is there anything in particular you were hoping to come across or no?

SPEAKER_13 49:23

Um I was just thinking like any one of us had like something.

SPEAKER_06 49:31

It discussed a particular type of uh creature that you could create, a homunculus.

SPEAKER_19 49:38

Uh huh.

SPEAKER_06 49:39

But it is known mostly to be artificers. So I I do wish to find one. I'm certain on that journey we may come across one. This also brings up another point I wanted to hopefully discuss with a Ryan present, but I believe myself at least, uh I'm going to begin accumulating items for my research and that we potentially are awarded rewarded loot from these various uh bandits and towers that we are uh perusing. I think we should buy a wagon, a cart, to store our wares and ride in. Need we not continue to walk everywhere.

SPEAKER_02 50:23

Um prices.

SPEAKER_06 50:27

Also, I do believe we should leave uh uh Daggardale. Because you're in Shadowdale. We should leave Shadowdale. Daggardale was where you first relatively soon, unless we uh wish to pay the nice gentleman whose horses we rented for his horses. Uh we have avoided him thus far, at least I have. Yes. We've rented them for way less gold than they are truly worth, and they are all now dead.

SPEAKER_13 50:55

We should uh see perhaps if he has any errands that need run, and perhaps we can earn his favor back. But it sounds like we might need money to get this wagon.

SPEAKER_06 51:10

Yes, definitely.

SPEAKER_11 51:12

And I've spent You all have at least 200 from the two jobs that you've done.

SPEAKER_06 51:16

I do not, I've spent nearly two of my gold.

SPEAKER_21 51:20

So much money.

SPEAKER_06 51:22

Yes, yes, not to mention all of your debts to me.

SPEAKER_13 51:25

So we'll need uh what you did sign up for an 80% interest rate. We'll need two horses, I would imagine, and a two-horse cart.

SPEAKER_06 51:33

Honestly, I think a one wagon cart, one horse wagon may be fine as well. We're not holding it.

SPEAKER_11 51:39

Uh so the rules for a wagon uh are that a uh an animal pulling a wagon can move up to five times its base carrying capacity, including the weight of the vehicle. Uh adding an extra one uh would add their carrying capacities together. So speed would not increase, but carrying capacity would. And since you are not um I'm heavy. Since you are not stuff is heavy logging freight or trade equipment, I doubt you would need a second one, at least at this junction.

SPEAKER_06 52:16

Oh, okay, great. Sick. One horse and a wagon, then.

SPEAKER_03 52:19

I mean Perfect. Wonder what its name will be.

SPEAKER_06 52:23

Fuck you. I also we need to discuss our award still with Sullivan. Like a check-in on his own. How can are you gonna leave that poor man alone? I when he pays me for saving his life. Didn't he already pay you?

SPEAKER_02 52:43

No!

SPEAKER_13 52:43

I'm even paying him! He does he does owe Hodge for saving his life. And us.

SPEAKER_03 52:50

He owes him, but that 10,000 you keep going on about, that was like a ploy by a bandit group. He didn't have anything to do with that.

SPEAKER_06 52:57

I'm using it as leverage. Were you hoping to get at least half? Yes! At least half would be amazing. I'm not even expecting half, but you start obscenely high, and then anything that comes after, you always ask for more than your final price.

SPEAKER_03 53:14

If you wanna help if you want help persuading him, I'm pretty good at that.

SPEAKER_06 53:19

So Well, I I believe he's honestly trapped in uh Daggerdale until uh I forget where he said. Doesn't hurt to put a little pressure on him, you know. Yeah. Maybe Orion can like look at him real hard and scare him.

SPEAKER_04 53:40

Look at him ask. Yes. It is ominous. Yeah, this is a good thing. We've all seen a Christmas carol.

SPEAKER_06 53:46

Exactly. Just stand there unmoving, not speaking. Makes people very uncomfortable.

SPEAKER_13 53:52

Because the ghost is the Lord of the Rings.

SPEAKER_04 53:54

The ghost of Christmas Future did a lot for me as a time.

SPEAKER_05 53:57

Christmas Future? Christmas present was my favorite.

unknown 54:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 54:02

Like Santa.

SPEAKER_06 54:03

Oh my god. What's that?

SPEAKER_11 54:06

While we're talking horses. Horses, horses. A draft horse is 50 gold, a riding horse is 75, and a wagon is 35. Oh, 35 gold?

SPEAKER_03 54:17

Why did I think it was more than that?

SPEAKER_06 54:19

Draft horse and a and a wagon is what we would need, right?

SPEAKER_11 54:22

A draft horse's carrying capacity is 2,700. Uh, and a riding horse is quicker, uh, but its carrying capacity is slightly less. I would say riding. Okay. Yeah. It's mile, it's 60 feet. So it's a little more expensive, a little quicker, and it has a little less than way more than 30,000 gold.

SPEAKER_22 54:41

12,000 gold.

SPEAKER_11 54:43

I thought it was like 500 gold for both. You guys are used to the I mean, at this point you're used to those high-level campaigns from Vecna, League of Ruin, where you were making tons of gold, but a hundred gold gets you pretty far.

SPEAKER_22 54:54

Making stealing. And losing all I was taking shit. I ended up a billionaire. I she has like 1.4 mil.

SPEAKER_11 55:06

As you guys are uh discussing uh your next moves, um a couple a couple things happen at the same time. One uh an old man uh with a briefcase, a large briefcase, uh goes and sets up uh at a adjacent table to the five of you, or the four of you, I guess, uh with Orion absent. Um sets his briefcase on the table uh and opens it, and you see uh thirty bottles of potions. Well they're gonna be a little bit of a ten of them. Uh what's up? Potionsella? Yep.

SPEAKER_03 56:06

I don't know why I don't know why a briefcase in a high fantasy setting was so off-putting. It was like a briefcase.

SPEAKER_11 56:12

Ten of them are separated into brown, silver, and gray layers resembling bands of stone. Uh another row of ten is a clear concoction with bits of salt and soot swirling around in it. And the third uh is a glimmering red liquid that you would all recognize as potions of healing. The other two uh you have not seen before. Uh so he kind of sets up shop. Um and you look around and you notice a couple other people have done the same uh slowly as it is early morning. Um at the same time, is there a convention in town or something? A courier walks in. It's a bitch fest. Uh with letters uh and and gives them to Mongo. Uh Mongo takes them, uh Mongo says thank you, uh, and then he starts to uh give them out to the people he he recognizes by name, uh, and anyone he is not, he shouts out their name and somebody comes and gets it. Uh he does come over to your group, he hands one letter addressed to Joanna.

SPEAKER_14 57:26

Oh, thank you.

SPEAKER_11 57:27

One letter addressed to Val, and one letter addressed to Hodge. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_03 57:33

What the hell? And none for Gretchen Wiener's Gretchen Wieners.

SPEAKER_22 57:40

Oh, sorry, but you're not Gretchen Water. I felt everything in my brain go, don't say it, don't say it.

SPEAKER_11 57:46

Uh Joanna, yours is from Elliot. Val, yours is from your family, your aunt and uncle. Um, and Hodge, yours is from Sullivan.

SPEAKER_02 58:01

He says, Fuck you, I'll never open it.

SPEAKER_05 58:06

Yes. Um whoever wants to go.

SPEAKER_11 58:08

Uh yeah. Uh Hodge, if you want to start, uh pop it open. He says What if he says he's not gonna pay? Uh well. Haven't seen you in a couple days. Getting a bit worried. I miss you. I have unearthed some uh news of the sentient axe you had me study. And we gotta go back to Niger Day. I have found a lead on a teleportation circle. Hey in the daylands. P. S. We are not going in that tower.

SPEAKER_15 59:08

No, there's a gigantic monster guarding it. P PS I hope the mic's got that. Leave that in there. Like the vicious beast that's guarding the tower.

SPEAKER_13 59:27

Might be good to go back to Taggodale. It's not far. Check in with Sullivan. Yes. I agree.

SPEAKER_03 59:34

That's true. I'm surprised he like followed up. Yeah. Well, just the start of it, like they haven't heard from you in a bit. I was like, I think he likes you messing with him.

SPEAKER_06 59:43

I also think we told him we were going to go to like an old evil wizard's library.

SPEAKER_03 59:51

So that's also true. But I think he I think he likes you messing with him a little bit. I think I don't think he has a lot of friends.

SPEAKER_06 59:57

No, he doesn't. Probably. Wizards apparently do. This is the most people I've known in quite a long time.

SPEAKER_21 1:00:03

Look at you above average. Yes!

SPEAKER_06 1:00:06

Oh no.

SPEAKER_21 1:00:08

One of you will betray me.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:12

Is it me, Jesus? Judah. No. It's not you.

SPEAKER_11 1:00:18

Uh in Val's letter, uh it's mostly just your family checking in on you. Uh it's been a couple months since they've seen you, so um wondering how you're doing. How do they know you were here? Uh they have ways of finding people, yeah. Okay. Uh couriers in this world use a combination of I've been looking for you. It's magic to locate people as well as word of mouth. Uh and there's certainly been some word of mouth about uh this group spreading, uh but uh at the end of the message, um they speak in a way uh this sort of coded language that they would have used uh with you uh as you had kind of trained under them as a soldier. Uh in plain speak, they essentially say Agents of Bale have been watching us. Bale? Bane, agents of Bane have been uh I was thinking I I fucked up Bane and Ball. And then I combined them. Uh Bane have been watching us. I'm sure they're watching you. Be safe. And then Joanna, I sent you the whole letter. If you'd like to read any of it aloud to anybody, you don't don't feel like you need to read the whole thing.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:04

Yeah, so she'll she'll open it. Um, I guess. Hmm. Paraphrases cinematically. Now, this is like she's reading it at the table. This is like her inner monologue. Like it's like she's hearing it, but she's not actually speaking out loud. My dear Joanna, I was relieved and glad to receive your letter and learn you've arrived safely at the old skull inn. I hope Mungo Silverman's terrible puns have helped make up for the long journey from the sword coast. I'm sorry I couldn't meet you at the River Ashaba Bridge. As I warned before, matters in Scardale have only worsened. This place is nothing like the Roland Hills around you now. Scardale sits deep within a vast gorge, a scar in the earth that local stories claim was carved by feuding gods long ago. Whether that's true or not, the land certainly bears the look of it. The people here have survived more than their share of hardship. War, occupation, and the shaken plague have left have all left their mark. Things are steadier these days under Lord Caru Oh God Almsayer? Almersayer? He's a tiefling with a talent for winning people over, though no one mistakes his kindness for weakness. The docks are busier, the roads safer. There's a sense that someone is finally steering the ship. Still the plague has never truly gone away. It lingers in the poor districts, flaring up now and then. The afflicted suffer, boils, tremors, and worse. That is why I wrote to you. The people need more of the medicine. They need someone who understands how to ease suffering without losing sight of hope. The guidance I spoke of is needed now more than ever. There's a heaviness over the valley, and I believe both the grace of Nyralus Analore and your patient spirit could bring hope where little remains. Enjoy your time in Shadowdale, but do not stay too long. Follow the river Ashaba south, and any local ferryman can point you toward Scardale. I look forward to the day we can sit together at the evening star inn and speak of Port Last over a proper meal. Until then, travel safely. The woods of Corman Thor hold more than old memories. Until we meet again, Elliot. And she'll kind of finish reading that in the last paragraph there of like, I look forward to the day we can sit together. She'll kind of smile through herself out loud, say, okay. Nice.

SPEAKER_11 1:04:19

So now you have another option known to you, and that is taking a ferry through the river of Shaba, which you are currently on.

unknown 1:04:28

Okay.

SPEAKER_12 1:04:29

Nice.

SPEAKER_13 1:04:30

You see Ike after everyone gets their mail, he looks like silently like dejected. Like he's he's happy for everyone that they got mail. But secretly he's like, uh, would have been nice to get a letter too. He doesn't know for who from, but would okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:48

Wood sitting there, would Joanna notice that look on his face?

SPEAKER_13 1:04:51

Oh, you can, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:55

She's gonna tear a little piece of the side of her letter off and just write like good morning, Axe, and slide it across to him.

SPEAKER_13 1:05:05

He'll look like confused and pick it up, and he'll just like give you like a knowing smile, like, thanks. I appreciate that.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:15

Well, um we might have a bit of a faster way to scar down my uh friend that I was talking about, great me. Um, we can take a ferry, which I know I'd be fine. Grow up with boats and all that, but if any of y'all get seasick, we might have to see eyes kind of get wide. Okay.

SPEAKER_13 1:05:35

Uh never been on one of those. Oh I like when my feet touch the earth.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:44

You'll be with me. I I I I'll be able to let you know everything that's going on. It's kind of like somebody who's never been on a plane before. Like, if you get on a boat with her, she'll be like, that means this, and this is that like she'll explain everything. It's nothing you have to worry about, but Okay. It's just an odd. You don't have to.

SPEAKER_13 1:06:00

No, no, if it's going to be faster, I I will I will do it, yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:04

Okay. It's okay to be nervous.

SPEAKER_13 1:06:08

Um I am we'll be frank, I am very nervous about getting on a boat.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:15

It's like once you're out on the on the water and you got like the the waves are going and the sun is out, it's it's real nice.

SPEAKER_13 1:06:24

Very good.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:24

It's the nature part of it, you like it.

SPEAKER_13 1:06:28

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 1:06:29

Right.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:32

Yeah, so he said they're ready for well, me, but uh, whenever we can get there.

SPEAKER_13 1:06:39

Excellent.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:40

I'm excited for y'all to make it real nice.

SPEAKER_13 1:06:44

Yes. I wonder what these people are selling out here.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:49

I know.

SPEAKER_06 1:06:50

I should sell them. Yes, who always?

SPEAKER_00 1:06:55

I forgot it was all I forgot it was all. What are you selling?

SPEAKER_10 1:06:59

Oh, I have potions. I've been making them all my life.

SPEAKER_03 1:07:05

And how long is that sorry for asking. Uh oh, I'm just curious. How how old are you, sir?

SPEAKER_07 1:07:12

Never ask an old man his age.

SPEAKER_03 1:07:14

People ask me all the time, but I'm, you know, elf. She'll point to her ears.

SPEAKER_07 1:07:20

Precisely.

SPEAKER_22 1:07:24

I'd be curious about it.

SPEAKER_11 1:07:26

Uh he he picks uh the one which is the brown, silver, and grey layers.

SPEAKER_10 1:07:32

Uh he picks that up, shakes it, and goes a potion of climbing.

SPEAKER_11 1:07:39

Uh, and you see that the uh shaking the bottle did not mix any of the colors. They are like individual layers. Sort of looks like a sand layered thing. Sand art. Uh yeah.

SPEAKER_12 1:07:50

Except that you get messed up when you shake it up.

SPEAKER_10 1:07:53

Uh this will help you climb up to uh a wall very quickly, even myself. Sometimes I use it to climb into bed.

SPEAKER_06 1:08:07

Incredibly sad. Don't share that with potential customers. It was meant to be a joke.

SPEAKER_10 1:08:14

I seem like you know it works, so that's good.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:18

There is a competition tonight that I think you should be able to do it.

SPEAKER_10 1:08:21

I participate every week.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:24

I can beat this guy.

SPEAKER_11 1:08:26

What uh and he points and he he points up and you see his name on like there's a leader being like a list of winners and his name occurs uh many times.

SPEAKER_13 1:08:36

Oh my god. Yeah. What is this smoke-like bottle of there? Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_10 1:08:42

Oh, this this is ocean of comprehension. Any language you fail to understand will be clear to you for about an hour. Wow. How much? Each one is fifty gold. Ooh.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:04

A spit. An insult! Consoon height!

SPEAKER_18 1:09:12

That if that'll help you with the hat work.

SPEAKER_13 1:09:15

It is the going rate for potions! Understandable. I uh do not question your prices, old man. Uh what else do you have in that case?

SPEAKER_11 1:09:25

Uh the case was the like it opened and like this is it.

SPEAKER_13 1:09:31

Yeah, but I'm saying, like, what does like I don't know what these potions are.

SPEAKER_11 1:09:36

Do you Oh! There's three of them. So he's got three. Yeah, he's got ten. Ten of each. Yeah. I see, I see, I see.

SPEAKER_10 1:09:45

Of course, this one is the potion of healing. Very famous, but none taste as good as mine.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:51

Oh you do free samples.

SPEAKER_06 1:09:53

Maybe you're a tree. I have recently come across for the elixir of health. Elixir of health! You know it? I do. You know how to make it.

SPEAKER_11 1:10:08

I um make a persuasion check for me.

unknown 1:10:15

Ouch.

SPEAKER_06 1:10:17

I'm gonna use my heroic inspiration as a human to re-roll that. Much better. Oh my god. Sixteen.

SPEAKER_10 1:10:26

I have been struggling to find my recipe. It got lost in a recent move. So I would greatly appreciate it.

SPEAKER_06 1:10:37

I will create you a copy of the one I have found in exchange for all ten of your healing potions. My word! Yes, it's quite the expensive uh recipe. I'm being very generous here.

SPEAKER_10 1:10:55

Are you all together? Can you throw in a potion of comprehension, would you?

SPEAKER_06 1:11:00

And maybe nine of the healing potions leave your stock intact, and one potion of comprehension.

SPEAKER_10 1:11:08

That is quite pricey.

SPEAKER_06 1:11:11

Yes, the answer of health is a quite pricey potion.

SPEAKER_10 1:11:14

I would I would say, how about your choice of potions for once uh all of you in the group? Four potions total. That's 200 gold.

SPEAKER_06 1:11:29

There is a fifth of our party not currently present, but I'd hate to leave him out. I've heard that one before.

SPEAKER_13 1:11:43

I think that is uh fair. Yeah, he's been doing this for a long time and I'd gets past you.

SPEAKER_06 1:11:51

Yes! Yes.

SPEAKER_13 1:11:53

He's serious.

SPEAKER_06 1:11:55

Fine, have your pick.

SPEAKER_13 1:11:57

Uh potion of comprehension, if you please.

SPEAKER_06 1:11:59

Of course! What kind of potion of health was it?

SPEAKER_11 1:12:02

Uh just a regular potion of healing. Great. Uh so that would be uh 2d4 plus 2 HP regained on the on the imbibing of it.

SPEAKER_06 1:12:16

Thank you. And I'll make a little copy of my recipe that I got from the nap bomb and the Cool.

SPEAKER_13 1:12:25

And I I will purchase a potion of climbing.

SPEAKER_10 1:12:31

Oh here you are. I'll get this for I'll give it to you for half price, in accordance to our deal.

SPEAKER_13 1:12:40

Much obliged.

SPEAKER_10 1:12:40

I will get this for Orion. Perhaps he could use it. So that'll be twenty-five gold, young man.

SPEAKER_13 1:12:47

There you are.

SPEAKER_10 1:12:50

And for the ladies.

SPEAKER_12 1:12:54

Um I can draw shit. I'll take a pen a potion of comprehension as well.

SPEAKER_02 1:13:00

I was gonna do the same, yeah.

SPEAKER_10 1:13:01

Oh a bunch of readers we have here.

SPEAKER_12 1:13:05

Yeah, yes, I can read.

SPEAKER_10 1:13:09

Well, you will be after this.

unknown 1:13:12

I know.

SPEAKER_10 1:13:13

For one hour, precisely. 'Tis a bit salty, just keep your eye out for that.

SPEAKER_15 1:13:22

Well um Interesting. Wha Because there's probably something.

SPEAKER_13 1:13:28

Because of the salt.

SPEAKER_21 1:13:31

I I need to know whose side you're on.

SPEAKER_13 1:13:34

I just said the side of science!

SPEAKER_10 1:13:43

Thanks. Well, I thank you for your thank you.

SPEAKER_13 1:13:47

Wonderful deal. Thank you, Duncan. Be sure to come again.

SPEAKER_10 1:13:50

And I thank you, sir.

SPEAKER_06 1:13:52

Of course, I'm happy to share uh information with a fellow scholar.

SPEAKER_10 1:13:58

Of course, any potions uh sorry, elixirs of healing that I uh are to produce and to sell. Uh, you would get uh quite a bargain on them.

SPEAKER_06 1:14:12

Very kind of you indeed, sir.

SPEAKER_10 1:14:15

That is, of course, if you even need them, seeing as you have the recipe already. I'm not much of a potion crafter myself, but is one in your party? No, I not believe.

SPEAKER_02 1:14:29

I made antidotes, but not necessarily.

SPEAKER_06 1:14:31

You don't have any materials to produce them. We could gather them ourselves, yes, surely, but not a hobby that any of us have dabbled in as far as I'm aware.

SPEAKER_10 1:14:41

Uh I have been doing this for quite some time. I do have some extras that I could lend. Who? Extras ingredients? Not the ingredients, but the uh the components to create them. Uh the uh the hardware.

SPEAKER_06 1:15:00

Like a alchemist's supply kit, perhaps. Correct, yes. I would be more than more than willing to maybe pay you even for it. That would be a great boon to us and our party.

SPEAKER_10 1:15:11

I'll give you a discount, of course. But uh yes, let me um let me go out to my wagon and I'll come back and and get it.

SPEAKER_11 1:15:20

He'll he'll take a couple minutes as he's very slow. Uh so anything you guys could. Can I help him walk?

SPEAKER_15 1:15:25

Can I go like walk with him? Help him. Sure, yeah. Slow down! Did he have to use the man or climbing to get into his wagon?

SPEAKER_11 1:15:31

Well, he's doing that. There are you said there are other vendors about? Yeah, there are people like kind of setting up uh some stuff.

SPEAKER_13 1:15:39

Yeah. I'm going to check out what else is going on here.

SPEAKER_11 1:15:42

Is there anything in particular that you're looking for? Um something that might catch your eye. Tobacco. Okay. Um yeah, you do see uh one guy setting up uh a fairly young elven man um setting up. He has uh various it's kind of like a smoke shop. Yeah. Yeah. He has uh different pipes that uh have these like elven carvings on them, as well as some tobacco and some uh weed as well uh and and other 420 pipe weed.

SPEAKER_15 1:16:25

Do you think uh pipes in DD make your tobacco taste like things like vapes do?

SPEAKER_11 1:16:32

You could certainly do some like press the digitation on it or something.

SPEAKER_06 1:16:36

I can't flavor things thus.

SPEAKER_15 1:16:38

I want strawberry mango, please.

SPEAKER_11 1:16:42

Um while you are going over, uh you see uh or Joanna is walking with uh this old uh potion seller, uh, and he does get out a potioner's kit. Uh it's has some signs of wear and tear. It's kind of like his backup, um, but he takes it out and hands it to you.

SPEAKER_10 1:17:05

You can keep this for yourself or or give it to your wizard friend. Um I will I will charge you half price, uh so twenty-five gold. Whoever wants it can can pay me.

SPEAKER_16 1:17:19

Oh, that's fine.

SPEAKER_10 1:17:20

This will allow you to craft uh.

SPEAKER_16 1:17:24

You don't want it?

SPEAKER_06 1:17:25

No. I can get one cheaper in the next town over.

SPEAKER_03 1:17:28

Would I be able to use that? Would I be able to use that since I made the antidotes for the gaunt?

SPEAKER_06 1:17:35

Um learn how to use it.

SPEAKER_11 1:17:39

Yeah, you could spend if you don't already have uh proficiency with an alchemist kit, uh then you could spend some time uh getting proficiency with it.

SPEAKER_22 1:17:51

I have calligraphers, so I have great handwriting. But that makes sense.

SPEAKER_04 1:17:57

Um got chicken scratch.

SPEAKER_13 1:18:02

I feel like Orion would have beautiful handwriting though.

SPEAKER_03 1:18:05

Maybe she writes it like it's very easy to do.

SPEAKER_13 1:18:09

Um supplies, I should say.

SPEAKER_16 1:18:13

Yeah, I'll I'll pay that. I'll give him 20 times I forget about that.

SPEAKER_13 1:18:17

Ike's handwriting. Terrible.

SPEAKER_03 1:18:20

I could have been a doctor. I gotta use this comprehension poster just to read your rat neck.

SPEAKER_13 1:18:24

Yeah, he holds it like he holds it in his pencil on his fist.

SPEAKER_06 1:18:30

He writes with one of those like pencils that's like really big too. Yeah. It's the only kind he has. I made it myself.

SPEAKER_10 1:18:37

I made it myself. Yeah.

SPEAKER_11 1:18:40

Uh so as that's happening, uh uh we'll cut back to Ike uh walking up to the elf with his uh who is actively setting up uh kind of his his little shop.

SPEAKER_13 1:18:52

You carve all these yourself, these pipes. I do, yes. Very good work. Thank you. And you see like decorations. Of course, yes.

SPEAKER_10 1:19:03

Thank you. This is this is fine work. Thank you. What is your name? My name is Ike. Ike. It is nice to meet you.

SPEAKER_13 1:19:12

And yours.

SPEAKER_10 1:19:15

Sorry.

SPEAKER_07 1:19:17

You shouldn't have asked. Just make some shit up. Uh it's hard to make up an elf's name.

SPEAKER_06 1:19:22

Castellas.

SPEAKER_22 1:19:23

My name is Joanne. I didn't do like an elf's name.

SPEAKER_11 1:19:27

Hey, that's a new name.

SPEAKER_06 1:19:28

Who's still in following?

SPEAKER_11 1:19:31

When I make up names, it always is like El Kyle.

SPEAKER_00 1:19:35

Jimmy!

SPEAKER_04 1:19:38

Jesus. We've got James in there quite a few times. Yeah. Jimbo!

SPEAKER_21 1:19:44

Oh! Jimbo James. Jimbo James.

SPEAKER_13 1:19:47

My name is Bobby.

SPEAKER_07 1:19:49

Here we go. Here we go. Here we go. Here we go.

SPEAKER_10 1:19:54

My name is Eldrin. Nice to meet you.

SPEAKER_13 1:19:57

It's a pleasure, Eldrin. Well, I am in need of some pipe weed. Well, I have plenty. Well as some uh recreational tobacco. Sure, I have plenty of that as well.

SPEAKER_10 1:20:12

The rest of the day, I do say myself.

SPEAKER_13 1:20:15

Excellent. How uh I would like a let's see. I've got a long journey ahead here. Hmm. I will take two pouches of tobacco and two pouches of your pipe weed.

SPEAKER_10 1:20:32

Sure. Uh that will just be five silver, my kind fellow.

SPEAKER_04 1:20:38

Very progressive town. This must be the last one.

SPEAKER_13 1:20:48

I'll five silver, it doesn't seem like a lot. I'll give him a gold piece. Oh I appreciate that. Keep up the good work and keep owning your skills.

SPEAKER_10 1:21:02

If you are ever um wanting to sell your pipes that you make, I I would certainly uh buy them.

SPEAKER_13 1:21:11

That is good to know. Uh as a matter of fact, I have an extra. Oh. I would like to give this to you, though. Keep this. As a gift. As a gift.

SPEAKER_10 1:21:22

You've paid me twice. Oh two times over for my tobacco and my pipe weed, and now you give me a gift. Yes, sir, I do. Aren't you the kindest man I've met?

SPEAKER_13 1:21:33

I appreciate that. Thank you very much. Remember me. Uh as I will remember you. Whereabouts do you grow this?

SPEAKER_10 1:21:42

Uh I have a farm just up north, uh in Shadowdale. Excellent. I will come back and visit. You look like a farmer yourself. I am, yes. Well, if you'd ever like to come up to the farm, uh I usually uh I I come here uh during the mornings to sell until I sell out uh of my the best.

SPEAKER_11 1:22:04

Uh stuff that I pick from my farm. Uh everything else uh gets uh sent in larger shipments, of course, uh across uh the dales and even further sometimes.

SPEAKER_10 1:22:15

But the best is reserved for this stand. Yes. The very, very best is reserved for myself and my friends at my home.

SPEAKER_13 1:22:25

Of course it is. I would I would have you send uh Raven to the Delambier Vale uh to a farm called the Verdant Briar. They have a it was it was my farm. And uh they have a tobacco patch of briar leaf. A very finely flavoured tobacco.

SPEAKER_10 1:22:56

I have heard tell of it. I have not smoked it myself, unfortunately. You must. I heard it was a uh grown by a arch druid. Indeed it was. Are you a druid yourself? I I am, yes. Well I studied under him. Fancy that I would run into you. I my farm is right next to the Abandoned Druid's Grove, just up north. Abandoned Druid's Grove? Yes. Tell me more, if you would. Well, I I don't uh I haven't been here all my life. Of course, as an elf I've been around for quite some time in comparison to you, uh but uh the Druids uh left before I got here, quite some time before, and uh honestly, uh I would not be the best source of information for it. If you were to find another druid uh in Shadowdale Town, they would certainly have more than more than enough info on it.

SPEAKER_13 1:24:01

Perhaps I'll have to do some exploring on my own. But uh send word to the Verdant Briot Briot They will mention my name and they will offer you a good discount on purchasing their product to sell here. That would be fantastic. I appreciate that. Of course. The seeds of cultivation are looking it over. Interesting. Oh, it's good to have a connection with them. Indeed it is. Well, Eldrin, I will leave you to your work, and I thank you for these. I have been need of them. And I thank you for your generosity.

SPEAKER_10 1:24:42

Of course.

SPEAKER_11 1:24:46

And they kiss each other on the lips. Oh my god. Um as everyone is uh kind of finishing up their breakfast and and any drinks that they may have gotten, uh, and Ike comes back to the table, um a soldier walks in.

SPEAKER_06 1:25:10

Soldier? They open fire. Where's he got a gun? Gun off of old nickel.

SPEAKER_11 1:25:22

A uh a tiefling uh with long black horns uh walks uh with a kind of uh soldier's stature over directly to Val.

SPEAKER_07 1:25:40

Valeria Oh fortnight.

SPEAKER_12 1:25:43

Who's asking?

SPEAKER_07 1:25:45

I am a soldier of Shadowdale Town. I was sent to look for you specifically for what purpose to invite you. The wish God I wish Lady Cara Solwood has heard of your exploits so far and would like to meet you.

SPEAKER_10 1:26:22

We have a urgent matter we need. A party of adventurers to handle.

SPEAKER_12 1:26:35

Uh what is this matter? Is there anything more you can tell me?

SPEAKER_11 1:26:42

This is not something we can discuss in a inn. This is something that we must discuss at the Tower of Ashaba. The tower nearby.

SPEAKER_12 1:26:58

Is that Sunwater?

SPEAKER_11 1:27:00

Uh, you sp having spent a week in town, uh, you would have certainly seen the Tower of Ashaba. Yeah. Um it is home to Lady Kara Solwood, uh, who is uh the head of um of Shadowdale Town, uh, and clearly she has either heard or watched uh your group, specifically Val being uh a soldier, uh, and has uh requested your appearance for a sort of quest.

SPEAKER_15 1:27:45

Side quest. Well, I suppose we should go and visit her while we're here.

SPEAKER_11 1:27:50

Uh after he makes sure that uh you are the right person, makes sure that you know exactly what the uh intent of his visit was, uh he knocked. Nods and turns around and leaves.

SPEAKER_05 1:28:04

Alright, well.

SPEAKER_11 1:28:06

Quite popular.

SPEAKER_05 1:28:07

So I'm there of there. Uh you have to take him.

SPEAKER_11 1:28:12

You have a call to Scardale. You have a call to the Tower of Ashaba, specifically pretty much right next door to where you are, and you have a call back to Daggerdale, Dagger Falls specifically for Sullivan Crace.

SPEAKER_06 1:28:30

And a call to a pun contest to match.

SPEAKER_11 1:28:32

Absolutely. Additionally, uh having, like I said, having spent a week in this town, uh, you would know uh well the first one of the first things that you saw was Elminster's Tower uh in the center of town, which is uh very, very off limits. Um uh the old skull inn, obviously, you are in that now, and then right next to it is the Tower of Ashaba. Uh there is also Morning Dawn Hall, which is a uh sort of temple and library to Latander. Uh there is also uh the house of the lady and a mill down south, uh and then up north uh is more farmland, uh including the farm that you just spoke uh about with the elven tobacco salesman. What would you like to do?

SPEAKER_06 1:29:32

You guys want to do this pun contest? That will be later in the night.

SPEAKER_03 1:29:37

I would love nothing more than to see you do the pun. I've been running puns all my gods.

SPEAKER_14 1:29:43

I knew you would. I don't know if you're gonna do that.

SPEAKER_13 1:29:47

If we could, if you wouldn't mind, there's an abandoned druid's grove not far from here. I'd rather just get eyes on it. Yes, and then perhaps we can stop at the tower, since it is right here. Sure.

SPEAKER_14 1:29:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 1:29:59

I think that would be beneficial to all.

SPEAKER_14 1:30:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 1:30:03

I know maybe along the way we could spot Orion as well.

SPEAKER_12 1:30:09

But we will try our cakes on the room.

SPEAKER_13 1:30:11

I think he he might have interest in the Druid's grove being wild. Uh where is that boy?

SPEAKER_02 1:30:21

I don't know. I think I don't know if I maybe said something yesterday or if him just getting so mad at me is what made him disappear, but I was only trying to help him.

SPEAKER_06 1:30:32

I'm sure it has nothing to do with things going on.

SPEAKER_13 1:30:41

I don't know.

SPEAKER_11 1:30:45

Uh is your immediate prerogative to look for Orion or to head to the uh the tower?

SPEAKER_06 1:30:52

The Druid's Grove. The tower is where compared to the Druid's Grove?

SPEAKER_11 1:30:56

The Druid's Grove is up north. Yeah. Um near the. This would only take what? So this is this is you guys, yeah. It's less than a mile. The whole town is is smaller than a square mile.

SPEAKER_14 1:31:08

Yeah, so we can do that there. Easy peasy.

SPEAKER_11 1:31:12

Alright.

SPEAKER_06 1:31:14

And where's the tower? Is over there.

SPEAKER_11 1:31:17

Pretty much right next to where you guys are right now.

SPEAKER_06 1:31:20

That the tower is where you need to go.

SPEAKER_12 1:31:23

Uh yeah. I need to go to the tower to meet with the lady.

SPEAKER_06 1:31:26

I have a feeling she's gonna have a big ask for us. So maybe the druids grow.

SPEAKER_13 1:31:31

So I figured it would be a quick look. Uh look at an attraction if you would.

SPEAKER_06 1:31:36

Yes, and then we can head back into town for this evening's affairs.

SPEAKER_13 1:31:40

Perhaps some lore. Perhaps some uh druidic notes left behind.

SPEAKER_06 1:31:46

I guess we're not reminds me of have you been studying the the High Orkish book?

SPEAKER_13 1:31:57

I have been looking at the book, yes, and the potion of comprehension was to look at the uh perhaps look at the uh letter written by Lothchantos.

SPEAKER_06 1:32:09

I I completely agree. I I'm desperately curious as to what it says, so maybe this evening after the fun contest we can take a look.

SPEAKER_13 1:32:19

We can put together some reference referencing the alphabet and phrases to the note of about Lothchantos and High Orkish.

SPEAKER_06 1:32:28

Absolutely. Absolutely. Okay.

SPEAKER_11 1:32:31

Uh the gang heads up uh about half a mile uh through farmland. Uh much of it thriving uh right now as it is uh peak springtime. Uh there's a lot of work being done um on these farms uh and the the smell uh of this fresh tilled earth is uh just filling the nose from the smell of manure, like weak time for working the earth.

SPEAKER_03 1:33:14

I mean, I guess I can't talk too much where I come from. It smells like fish most of the time.

SPEAKER_05 1:33:22

Gross.

SPEAKER_02 1:33:26

Let me tell you, it is. I don't like it.

SPEAKER_11 1:33:33

Um as you look around, uh you see a bit of a clearing.

SPEAKER_13 1:33:41

Uh you do see um if there are any hidden druidic messages, I spot them automatically.

SPEAKER_06 1:33:51

Got your ass, but you weren't expecting that. Uh huh.

SPEAKER_13 1:33:53

I was, and that's what I was leading to. I don't even have to succeed at check. You all do though. Except for Orion and me. Guess there's nothing wrong with you.

SPEAKER_00 1:34:03

Fucking idiots.

SPEAKER_02 1:34:07

Um I could if I drank my potion from the nice old bag. Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh.

SPEAKER_11 1:34:15

You uh as as you arrive at the specific farm of the man that you met, uh labeled as such, uh, as most of these farms are, uh, you turn to the forest where you feel an energy shift uh and push in past the tree clearing about five hundred feet until you reach a circle. Um this abandoned Druid's grove uh surrounded by this circle of ancient stone menires. Um these kind of standing stones. And as you look around, uh you feel the air kind of get thicker here with uh with magic and with uh this druidic power that you have now uh not that the moon is currently taking over anything uh as it is bright daylight, uh, but you do sense this druidic power that has been manifest here uh even though it is long gone. You also feel a thinness in the border between here and the Feywild. You see the wildflowers around you uh more intense and bright, uh, and the shadows cast by these large standing stones quite a bit longer than the trees that are directly next to them that tower over.

SPEAKER_13 1:36:23

Be careful you step. Oh there is a thin veil between here and the Fey Wild. Oh just be on your guard. This area is heavy in a good way, but this veil is thin. And the Fay is a dangerous place, so I've been told.

SPEAKER_06 1:36:54

Tell no one your name if you meet a strange person.

SPEAKER_13 1:36:58

You are exactly correct.

SPEAKER_06 1:37:02

Make no deals nor promises. Give nothing.

SPEAKER_03 1:37:09

Oh, that goes against like everything about me.

SPEAKER_06 1:37:12

Yes, I'm looking right at you, actually, Joanna. Just call one of us over if you meet somebody.

SPEAKER_03 1:37:18

Can you look at somebody else? So I'm I'll like I know it's directly for me, but like, can you look at somebody else out there?

SPEAKER_13 1:37:23

Anybody is strange, do not talk to them. Let us do the talk.

unknown 1:37:27

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:37:28

That's gonna be real hard.

SPEAKER_11 1:37:32

Um fascinating. As you would you uh as you're standing at the border here, would you start by going towards the circle, the center of the circle, or would you start by reading these stones?

SPEAKER_13 1:37:51

Uh I would probably be looking at the stones. Okay. Reading them.

SPEAKER_11 1:37:56

Uh you read uh the first one that you read kind of details the history of this druid grove. Uh, and you gather that they um the druids who used to reside here kind of detail about Shadowdale Town growing and kind of pushing them out and how uh they have left this here um to be used by those who would come after them, but they themselves retreated deeper into the forests of Cormanthor. As you move on to the next one, uh you get a sense uh that uh the story of this druid's grove and the ability that they gave it starts to form a clearer picture as you continue kind of looping around and reading uh this it's very it's in druid script, and you can read it and understand it, but it's very confusing. Uh it takes you reading all of them, uh, which takes quite a while. They are massive stones and a lot of word has been carved in here, but you finally reach uh the final stone, and it clicks immediately that this stone circle is a teleportation device to anywhere in Fey Rune and anywhere in the Fey Wild.

SPEAKER_18 1:39:54

What? Oh what?

SPEAKER_06 1:39:58

This is what Sullivan's arms about.

SPEAKER_11 1:40:01

And you feel a thrum of your staff. Around you, you look and you see kind of the grass begin to start glowing in a circle, almost inviting you to slam your staff down to trigger this teleportation. But something in you tells you maybe not right now. Yeah.

SPEAKER_13 1:40:34

Well, this is fascinating. I completely agree.

SPEAKER_06 1:40:42

Do you think they fled through this the druids? I what did the stones say?

SPEAKER_13 1:40:48

They fled deeper into Cormantha Forest. They must have used they could have used the circle to tell to transport them somewhere deeper within. Or they just went on foot. But this is a teleportation device within these stones. And I feel in my staff that it could trigger it.

SPEAKER_06 1:41:21

I fear it's a one-way trip, lest we have a another circle similar on wherever we end up.

SPEAKER_13 1:41:30

It's it it can transport us anywhere. Anywhere in the in the Forgotten Realms. Anywhere in Fey Rune. Anywhere in the Fey Wild as well. But I don't know how to tell it where to go. Perhaps Sullivan might know.

SPEAKER_05 1:41:50

Yes, this can feel it.

SPEAKER_06 1:41:55

Very intrumity. That's what I was thinking, like Lego.

SPEAKER_03 1:41:59

Like, you know. Not that you do that, but like feel my imaginary wanna go.

SPEAKER_06 1:42:07

It's kind of like uh Darsus with the wind, right? Yes. You just just by vibe, as it were. Oh, do you miss him?

SPEAKER_03 1:42:19

No, I just wonder how he's due and if he's still like lost.

SPEAKER_06 1:42:22

Yeah, so smelling farts still, I'm sure of it.

SPEAKER_03 1:42:25

That's right. You did that, I forgot you did that.

SPEAKER_06 1:42:28

He does it all the time.

SPEAKER_13 1:42:37

Well, for now, we should go back. I'm less this uh take us somewhere we don't want to be right now.

SPEAKER_06 1:42:47

Well found, though. This will certainly come in handy, I'm sure.

SPEAKER_13 1:42:52

This place holds a lot of magic.

SPEAKER_03 1:42:56

Yeah, knowing this is here, especially if it is like a druid thing that you sense, there'd probably not a lot of people know that this is even here.

SPEAKER_13 1:43:04

And I wouldn't tell anyone else that it is, for fear of them uh being sent somewhere that they don't necessarily want to be.

SPEAKER_14 1:43:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_13 1:43:14

As in trapped in a Cormontor forest, killed by owlbears, or worse, trapped in the Faye realm.

SPEAKER_03 1:43:25

I'm not gonna tell anyone. Can you look at somebody else? I'm not gonna tell anybody.

SPEAKER_13 1:43:29

I'm talking to you, Joanna. You ask the question. I'm not blame you. You're taking it the wrong way.

SPEAKER_03 1:43:36

How just has me freaked out?

SPEAKER_06 1:43:39

Any little freaky creatures ask for your name or a favor, just say no.

SPEAKER_13 1:43:44

And make sure you have iron on you. Cold.

SPEAKER_02 1:43:46

What? What? What?

SPEAKER_13 1:43:48

Just trust me.

SPEAKER_02 1:43:49

Is my mace iron? I don't know.

SPEAKER_06 1:43:53

Linda doesn't count. I'm Sullivan has has information about Linda that he did not write in this letter, which is making me more worried.

SPEAKER_14 1:44:03

I don't know.

SPEAKER_13 1:44:05

If you can, if we go into the Fey Realm before if we need to travel in the Fey Realm, just carry a horseshoe on you.

SPEAKER_14 1:44:12

Horseshoe?

SPEAKER_13 1:44:13

It's made of iron.

SPEAKER_06 1:44:14

Yes. Spit three times and turn around in a circle. Well, before you land in the passive perception.

SPEAKER_11 1:44:21

Fuck you! What'd you say? Fifteen. Passive perception.

SPEAKER_04 1:44:26

Was that a Pirates of the Caribbean reference? Fifteen. Ten.

SPEAKER_06 1:44:35

Yeah. Uh perception eleven. Just passive fifteen. That's a 16 intoxication level. Yeah. I've never used those.

SPEAKER_11 1:44:47

Um Ike and Joanna, as you're having this uh slightly contentious conversation, uh you overhear a bit of uh laughter deeper into the forest. Uh and some hoops kind of clopping through the grass.

SPEAKER_03 1:45:18

Joanna just puts a hand on ice I am looking around.

SPEAKER_11 1:45:26

Which direction is this sound coming from? Further east, deeper into the forest.

SPEAKER_03 1:45:34

Do we think maybe you get near this thing? If the druids are nearby? Did it maybe send like a notice to him that you're here?

SPEAKER_13 1:45:44

I don't know. That would be very interesting.

SPEAKER_03 1:45:48

Or is it one of the little freaky creatures the Hodge was talking about?

SPEAKER_13 1:45:52

It might very well be. If you heard something, should we run?

SPEAKER_02 1:45:57

No. It sounded nice. It was laugh laughing. Oh. And horses?

SPEAKER_06 1:46:03

In the woods? That's not nice.

SPEAKER_18 1:46:06

Well, I mean, it's they sound like they're having a good time.

SPEAKER_13 1:46:09

I will go. Oh god. I'll go around the stone circle to the other edge of the forest and just peer in.

SPEAKER_11 1:46:23

Do you want to do this stealthily? No. Okay.

SPEAKER_06 1:46:26

Give him guidance of something.

SPEAKER_03 1:46:28

Oh yeah. As you go, you look at or I'm not gonna spy up his ass. It's better!

SPEAKER_11 1:46:35

Uh you look in.

SPEAKER_03 1:46:37

I don't do that in this campaign.

SPEAKER_11 1:46:39

And you see a small family of satyrs. Uh you see a man, a woman, and their young boy.

SPEAKER_13 1:46:51

Oh, look at that. It's a family of satyrs.

SPEAKER_06 1:46:54

Tumness. They're liars.

SPEAKER_11 1:46:58

Uh the boy is kind of galloping around. You see, he's like just kind of learning to walk and and run, uh, and he's kind of stumbling through the tall grass. And you see the mother is is laughing and watching him, uh, and the father is preparing a bit of a picnic for them.

SPEAKER_13 1:47:20

How pleasant is that? Best best leave them to it. I didn't want to interrupt that family gathering. But I really want to.

SPEAKER_02 1:47:31

Ike, what did you say?

SPEAKER_13 1:47:33

It's a family of Satyrs. No. They're teaching their young how to walk and gallop.

SPEAKER_06 1:47:38

It's false, probably. That's so cute. Kind of illusion, or some deceiving.

SPEAKER_18 1:47:43

That sounds weird. A hodge. Some things can just be nice for the things.

SPEAKER_06 1:47:46

Some things can't. I don't trust it. What are they doing here?

SPEAKER_11 1:47:51

Hodge.

SPEAKER_06 1:47:51

It's uh huh.

SPEAKER_11 1:47:52

Oh, yeah. Oh uh Ike. Um you hear a small voice. Everyone's kind of chattering around you. Uh, but in your ear you hear a bit of a buzz, and then a Isn't that cute?

SPEAKER_15 1:48:08

Oh no.

SPEAKER_11 1:48:09

And you look over and you see a pixie.

SPEAKER_00 1:48:14

I'm running. Oh there's little one.

SPEAKER_06 1:48:26

What's on me? Oh.

SPEAKER_13 1:48:28

Ah.

SPEAKER_21 1:48:29

I am Ah and you were talking to me about two minutes. Look at that. He almost immediately gave himself up. A little shy, aren't you?

SPEAKER_13 1:48:42

Ah, sorry, I just I didn't expect to see you here. Ah.

SPEAKER_01 1:48:47

In the forest.

SPEAKER_13 1:48:48

What is this place?

SPEAKER_01 1:48:51

Well, this is just the truth's grove.

SPEAKER_13 1:48:54

Yes. And it's a teleportation. A teleportation device, I see. Oh, you're a smart one, aren't you? Yes. Uh how do you tell it where you want to go?

SPEAKER_01 1:49:08

I spoke too soon.

SPEAKER_11 1:49:13

Uh it leans in, it like flutters in and grabs the top of your ear and your and your earlobe and starts to whisper.

SPEAKER_14 1:49:25

Just think about it.

SPEAKER_13 1:49:32

I figured a sponge.

SPEAKER_01 1:49:34

Don't go.

unknown 1:49:36

Tell me.

SPEAKER_13 1:49:39

Shut his finger over his lips. No telling. I am as silent as the grave. The secret is safe with us.

SPEAKER_14 1:49:50

Good.

SPEAKER_00 1:49:54

Yes, hello.

SPEAKER_11 1:49:55

Flutters over right in front of your face and kind of leans in. Oh about your

SPEAKER_01 1:50:00

Dust. Yeah. Please watch you about my dust. That it exists? That it has magical properties?

SPEAKER_09 1:50:09

Takes up. And just scatters it over your face.

SPEAKER_06 1:50:15

Watching Hodge start to talk to this thing, Joanna is like You should fill up this file. You should just tell me nothing. I was kinda like. You have a smart man.

SPEAKER_13 1:50:27

You must trade. You cannot just ask.

SPEAKER_18 1:50:30

I did not ask. Tells me not to take it. I made a suggestion.

SPEAKER_06 1:50:33

I asked for nothing from this pixie. You open it! I asked for nothing! Uh technicalities.

SPEAKER_03 1:50:39

Technicalities are what they live on. Charming as you are.

SPEAKER_06 1:50:45

I'd rather not be indebted to one. But if you found it uh beneficial to fill up this vial, you know, maybe we'd be out of your hair. Wouldn't that be so fun? I don't deign to say what is fun to a pixie. Fun to a pixie, torture to a human.

SPEAKER_01 1:51:10

Interesting point.

SPEAKER_11 1:51:12

Make a persuasion check.

SPEAKER_12 1:51:15

You got this, buddy.

SPEAKER_01 1:51:18

What?

SPEAKER_12 1:51:21

Yay, my cheers helped!

SPEAKER_01 1:51:24

I guess I can spare some of my dust.

SPEAKER_18 1:51:28

You get crazy.

SPEAKER_01 1:51:30

Do you have a container for me to shake myself in?

SPEAKER_18 1:51:32

I can't like we'll be gonna.

SPEAKER_06 1:51:37

Never. I would be. Uh this one here would have words with me. At least I'll produce like uh like a uh flask, essentially.

SPEAKER_11 1:51:50

Uh kind of shimmies in.

SPEAKER_00 1:51:54

Now what?

SPEAKER_08 1:51:56

Why would she do it? Uh it fucking it's warms on the side of it, and you hear a little a little bit uh and it goes.

SPEAKER_01 1:52:07

One, two, three.

SPEAKER_03 1:52:16

Oh my god. That was wonderful. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 1:52:23

Don't get that in your nose.

unknown 1:52:25

Oh.

SPEAKER_00 1:52:30

I may have already.

SPEAKER_01 1:52:38

I could have chosen to poison you if I'd wanted. I bet you could have you devil. You're just too key if I couldn't.

SPEAKER_00 1:52:46

We should not spend a minute longer. Oh good.

SPEAKER_18 1:52:52

What was all that about? Don't talk to anything.

SPEAKER_00 1:52:54

Don't I know how to talk to it. You would be in the Fey Wild by now, chained up somewhere.

SPEAKER_13 1:53:01

Or having a time of seemingly what you would think is time of your life, but actually.

SPEAKER_06 1:53:06

We'd be on a new adventure trying to get you back.

SPEAKER_03 1:53:08

And wouldn't that be fun for all of you?

SPEAKER_06 1:53:11

Uh yes, we'd learn a lot.

SPEAKER_03 1:53:13

Exactly.

SPEAKER_13 1:53:14

Uh I'll take one of out of my basic fishing equipment. I'll take out a uh a colorful lure, and I will hand it to the Pixie.

SPEAKER_14 1:53:25

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_13 1:53:26

To represent our first meeting and uh represent our friendship. This trinket I give to you.

SPEAKER_01 1:53:34

Well, thank you.

SPEAKER_11 1:53:35

Uh grabs it uh and kind of looks at it.

SPEAKER_01 1:53:38

Um Thank you very much. Course. You're very kind.

unknown 1:53:45

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 1:53:45

So is your friend? Not sure about that one. She hasn't spoken to me much. What is your deal? I like your skin. It's very glowy like mine.

SPEAKER_15 1:53:57

Um I like your skin. Thank you. It's called my three-step skincare routine. I do every night. Interesting. Yes.

SPEAKER_04 1:54:06

That was into Korean skincare. Yes. Korean glass skin.

SPEAKER_06 1:54:12

She has a bag of snails she like puts on her face.

SPEAKER_03 1:54:16

Snails come on my face every day. I've room with her, I've seen it.

SPEAKER_01 1:54:22

Well, normally I don't like it when people tread on our territory. But being led by a druid and friendly folk, you can stay if you'd like. Seeing as you understand what it's really means to be here.

SPEAKER_13 1:54:39

Yes. We will return in time when the time is right. Perhaps we'll see you again.

SPEAKER_01 1:54:50

Perhaps. Perhaps not. I kind of come and go. As do we. I like to watch the Satyrs grow up.

SPEAKER_05 1:55:01

Ah, yes. That's really nice.

SPEAKER_01 1:55:04

I've been watching that boy since birth. And his father, too. Not the mother? The mother, no. She's new here. Oh.

SPEAKER_13 1:55:19

Interesting.

SPEAKER_14 1:55:20

Okay.

SPEAKER_13 1:55:23

Interesting. Hmm. Well, I want to ask more, but we must be off.

SPEAKER_01 1:55:30

Yes, and so must I. I've got to put this gift away.

SPEAKER_13 1:55:35

Yes. Keep it well.

SPEAKER_01 1:55:39

And you keep your gift well. Don't tell anyone where you got it. No, never. They wouldn't believe me.

SPEAKER_04 1:55:48

Probably. Does anything happen to Hodge? Like, does he start floating at all? Texas.

SPEAKER_06 1:55:58

Uh the fairy dust.

SPEAKER_11 1:56:02

The fairy dust does one radiant damage.

SPEAKER_14 1:56:05

Oh no.

SPEAKER_11 1:56:06

And either charms or poisons the target until the start of your next turn.

SPEAKER_02 1:56:12

So it was telling the truth when it's it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 1:56:18

Impossible. That's so funny. Couldn't have happened. I had my defenses up.

SPEAKER_11 1:56:22

There is no save on this either. So pretty useful.

SPEAKER_21 1:56:28

Nice to goodness, Pixie.

SPEAKER_11 1:56:30

Uh the the Pixie uh waves and then flies away quicker than anything you've ever seen before. Wow.

SPEAKER_13 1:56:39

What a chance meeting that was. I've never seen one in real life. I've heard stories all about them from Leaf. It's quite scary.

SPEAKER_03 1:56:51

Well, you covered it well.

SPEAKER_13 1:56:52

You got it to shake it into a smith with that pixie. Are you alright?

SPEAKER_06 1:56:57

Yes, I do believe it affected me with its magic after my many warnings.

SPEAKER_02 1:57:03

Yeah. In that in that in that in the jar. In that funny, that happens.

SPEAKER_06 1:57:12

Well, what do I have? A pleasant demeanor and a jar of pixie dust.

SPEAKER_03 1:57:17

A glass full of pixie body dust. And it told you specifically to not put up your nose, by the way.

SPEAKER_06 1:57:23

I may.

SPEAKER_03 1:57:24

Yes, but don't.

SPEAKER_06 1:57:25

Those kind of warnings, you know, are only around for the people who can't handle it.

SPEAKER_21 1:57:31

Again, why are you looking right? Because you're talking to me. Looking right to me.

SPEAKER_00 1:57:35

Who would you want me to talk to?

SPEAKER_03 1:57:38

I just I don't know. I feel there needs to be like some sort of like antagonistic energy without Orion here. Sorry.

SPEAKER_06 1:57:45

Kicks and Ross. I'm like, wish the Pixie were back.

SPEAKER_13 1:57:50

Well, thank you all for joining me in this. Thank you all for joining me in checking this abandoned grove out. Yes. It's good we know this circle is here. Strange. We can all use it in the coming days.

SPEAKER_14 1:58:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_13 1:58:06

Yes. Um I suppose to the tower we go to see what uh tower. The uh Miss whatever her name was. Lady Sulwood. Lady Sulwood has in store for Val and our party.

SPEAKER_11 1:58:24

As you venture back forth through the farmland yet again, uh you arrive at the foot of the Tower of Ashaba, a stone fortress raised by ancient and evil powers long ago. A very off balance five-story tall square stone stronghold has earned it its name, uh the Twisted Tower, because of its bizarre shape. Anyway. So as you step forward, uh a bunch of guards uh greets you, uh getting your uh names and immediately uh under instruction, uh escorting you inside of this tower, uh all the way up to the fifth floor, you meet Lady Solwood. Um you see uh this well-dressed woman with auburn hair down to her shoulders um greets you. Hello, uh, you must be Val and her party.

SPEAKER_12 1:59:55

Yes, yes, this is hard. Ike and Joanna and is around here somewhere. Yes.

SPEAKER_11 2:00:04

Well uh I have a bit of a assignment for you. I've heard of your good deeds around here and have summoned you for this specific task. Um we have had uh a family go missing, the silver stars. I'm not sure why they've gone missing, but I believe it to be the work of own Nasha.

SPEAKER_02 2:00:47

That sounds compared to Nasher's gold.

SPEAKER_15 2:01:01

No spirit.

SPEAKER_04 2:01:10

Uh that was my introduction to vampires, and I've loved them ever since.

SPEAKER_11 2:01:18

Kind of trying to do something here. Um Bone Nasher, uh, I believe has captured the Silver Stars. He resides in the tomb of Demara, south of here. I would like you to enter the tomb of Demara, destroy Bone Nasher, and recover the Silver Stars if they still live. Your reward will be one hundred gold each. And whatever plunder you may find in the tomb.

SPEAKER_21 2:01:56

Well Hodges in. No, no, I mean yes, yes. I would And helping save a family, guys.

SPEAKER_11 2:02:10

I would prepare, make any preparations you need to to fight undead. I believe Bone Nasher has risen from the grave and is uh of that nature. According to our information, there may be other soldiers uh or uh beasts among this tomb. It has been uh not it has not been explored fully for many, many years, so we are not exactly sure what resides, but we do know that O'Nasho is there and that the family is as well. Can I count on you?

SPEAKER_15 2:02:57

I think so.

SPEAKER_13 2:03:00

You are the one that's been summoned.

SPEAKER_12 2:03:03

I think we should do it. Good.

SPEAKER_11 2:03:07

Well, uh I will give you a map, uh, and you should be on your way uh as soon as you are ready.

SPEAKER_13 2:03:15

Uh which I would hope is now. Yes, we should find Orion. Yes, we will need him, I think.

SPEAKER_06 2:03:27

overnight. Well that I'd have a pun contest.

SPEAKER_10 2:03:32

A pun contest is more important instead of saving a family. Good to hear your priorities are in order. It is not even lunch.

SPEAKER_11 2:03:44

That's a mere hour's travel south.

SPEAKER_15 2:03:46

Oh, you can make it back in the morning.

SPEAKER_11 2:03:48

You must not worry about timing unless there are more uh to battle than I would presume. It's not even lunch, Hodge.

SPEAKER_03 2:04:00

We can absolutely make it back in time for you to win that punk contest. That'll be your real.

SPEAKER_10 2:04:05

I wish you the best of luck.

SPEAKER_03 2:04:06

That's end to the day, then.

SPEAKER_11 2:04:07

I appreciate your help. I just got back from an undead fortress and boy, are my brain's hurting. Uh she hands you the map and uh it shows that it is, like she said, uh, about an hour travel south, and that is where we are going to end our episode. Thanks so much for joining us for episode eight. Uh next week we will rejoin our party as they head to the tomb of Demora and fight O Nasha. And where's Orion? Where the fuck did that guy go?

SPEAKER_15 2:04:45

Maybe we'll find O'Rion. He's gooning in the forest. That's Leo. Orion.

SPEAKER_13 2:04:53

Oh, he's gooning in the forest.

SPEAKER_15 2:04:55

You don't have to go in the forest to do that. Val's like, you can come tomorrow. No, I can't.

SPEAKER_18 2:05:07

Thanks so much for tuning in to the Chaotic Naturals Podcast. You can find us on all of our socials at Chaotic Naturals or send us an email to chaotic naturalspod at gmail.com. New episodes of the Dale Ends every Wednesday. Find us wherever you listen to podcasts.