Timothy (DM)
Welcome to Shadows of Prophecy, a D&D real play podcast where we will find out what it takes to become a hero, face our darkest fears, and pull ourselves out of a pit of despair. Shadows of Prophecy is a Dungeons and Dragons podcast with violent themes and adult language. Listener discretion is advised.
Timothy (DM)
With us today to traverse through adventures of loss and tragedy, we have myself, Timothy, as our ambivalent DM; Dan, as our compassionate healer, Wren; Kara, as the paladin, Valeska “Vale” Leone (codename Goldfinch); and Russell, as the monk Elawarin “Ela” Firhael (codename Robyn). Join us as we enter the Shadows of Prophecy. Prologue: A World Unravels. Chapter Four - They Stalk at Night.
Timothy (Narrator)
[in an unplaceable foreign accent] There seem always to be those who find strength in the darkest of places, compassion during the most trying of times, and power in the most mundane ways. These folk, the Adonis of persons, struggle against all odds, and oh, how wonderful it is to watch them squirm, to try and try again. Should today be the day that they stumble, falling for good?
Dan (Wren)
My name is Dan Shaw, we'll just use my full name, that's fine, pronouns: he/him. Character, code name: Wren. Wouldn't have shared his real name with the other player characters, but I think they're a couple NPCs that he would have shared his real name with that I don't know if we'll interact with them even in this scenario, but... Oh, and Wren's pronouns are he/him as well.
Kara (Goldfinch)
My name is Kara. My pronouns are they/them. Goldfinch would prefer to be referred as Goldfinch, but would not mind sharing their name if asked by the right person. Their pronouns are also they/them.
Russell (Robyn)
Hi, my name is Russell Bellisle. My pronouns are they/them. My character's code name is Robyn, and her pronouns are she/her, and she would not have disclosed her name because that's, I don't know. The sect of monkhood that she's from it's pretty secretive anyway.
Timothy (DM)
Alright, and I am Timothy; I am the DM. My pronouns are they/them and I will be playing a lot of different characters. So, there will be a variety going on there. Alright. It is a brisk November morning as the final leaves are falling from the trees. You hear the rustling of your captain's tent followed by the shuffling of feet and clinking of that all too familiar sound of their metal tea pots. So, you're in your tents. You each have your own individual canvas tent, and this has become a familiar routine as Captain (you all refer to them as Captain) wakes you all up to the sound of them making tea.
Dan (Wren)
What is Captain's codename? Does Captain have a code name?
Timothy (DM)
Captain does not have a code name.
Dan (Wren)
No
Timothy (DM)
Just Captain
Dan (Wren)
Just Captain.
Kara (Goldfinch)
I get up and do my morning routine of putting my... my plates on armor plates, sheath my sword, and head out for some hot tea, perfect for this fall morning.
Timothy (DM)
All right as you exit your tent, you see that there are 10 standard green canvas tents circled around a small kitchenette station over a fire pit. Captain is currently starting the fire.
Kara (Goldfinch)
What kind of tea you got there, Captain?
Timothy (Captain)
[grunt] Just the typical Earl Grey
Kara (Goldfinch)
Interesting choice.
Timothy (Captain)
Every morning.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Good morning to you.
Timothy (Captain)
Good morning. I see everybody else is sleeping in
Dan (Wren)
Wren would probably would sleep in a little bit, but he'll probably wake up shortly after Goldfinch and don his leather armor and step out of his tent and give a good stretch to start the day and head over to the fire as well. "Morning, everybody."
Timothy (Captain)
Morning.
Russell (Robyn)
Robyn, as Captain's saying, I guess everyone's sleeping in, you just see a hand dart out of her tent and open it and she goes "I don't sleep, Captain. I'm pretty sure you know this. I just meditate on that. So, I just heard everything you said." [Tim laughs]
Timothy (Captain)
Right, you are Robyn. You want to morning cuppa?
Russell (Robyn)
You want to make some biscuits with that morning tea.
Timothy (Captain)
I don't know if we have time this morning. Y'all have to get out pretty early.
Russell (Robyn)
Well, it's a good thing I keep some backup biscuits on hand.
Dan (Wren)
Everybody loves a day-old biscuit.
Russell (Robyn)
I mean, they're a few days old, but they still taste good.
Timothy (Captain)
Twist my arm, why dont'cha. I'll have one of those biscuits.
Russell (Robyn)
She gets up wearing a... kind of like a thick jacket with some fur on the collar, but no sleeves... 'cause monk... because monks don't like sleeves, and then she grabs her pack and pulls out some really old crumbly biscuits and hands you each one
Kara (Goldfinch)
Wonderful, thank you.
Russell (Robyn)
You're welcome. They're flour-flavored.
Dan (Wren)
Flower? What kind of flower-flavored?
Russell (Robyn)
Oh, I don't really like just...
Dan (Wren)
Like flour as in, like, what you use to bake or flower as in like a flower?
Russell (Robyn)
Whatever suits your cup of tea, darling.
Dan (Wren)
Perfect.
Timothy (DM)
So, you all enjoy your tea and biscuits this morning as you look around the camp and realize that you are the only ones present. Lark has not returned from their scouting mission, and you just see several capes hanging on clotheslines along the backside of the camp, but it's a quiet morning. Not unusual for the camp, but not typical either.
Dan (Wren)
This was just the four of us?
Timothy (DM)
Yes.
Dan (Wren)
Gotcha. Wren'll get up and head over to the captain. Captain, Lark hasn't returned. He was due back today, right?
Timothy (Captain)
Hey, yeah, he was supposed to come back last night. Um, haven't heard word yet.
Dan (Wren)
All right. Keep me updated on that.
Timothy (Captain)
Will do. All right. Are y'all ready to hear today's mission?
Kara (Goldfinch)
Absolutely.
Russell (Robyn)
[OOC] I don't have water... Robin just slurps loudly, the entire time that the captain's talking. [makes slurping noise]
Timothy (DM)
I can, I can get you some [more slurping noise]
Kara (Goldfinch)
You see...uh...you see Goldfinch, you know, half-Goliath who's quite chunky. They're really strong with a little teacup in their hand, just like trying to accomplish--
Russell (Robyn)
Like two fingers pinching it?
Kara (Goldfinch)
Putting just a finger and thumb. Clink!
Dan (Wren)
Captain, how you keep these teacups intact throughout this entire process is beyond me.
Timothy (DM)
They're metal cups.
Dan (Wren)
Oh, well, that makes sense. I guess. I like to think they're porcelain.
Timothy (DM)
No, the whole setup is metal and that's why the clinking of the--
Dan (Wren)
You know, that makes sense.
Timothy (DM)
--tea cups as they go about this routine every morning is what has become your morning rooster.
Timothy (Captain)
"Alright, there's a battle taking place tomorrow near Vael. The exact location is variable, but it will likely be in the hills to the southeast of the town. Our Galadian liaison, Hawk, tried to negotiate with the general, but they have held steadfast that their intention is to intercept the Everfear army when they have advantage on the ridges of the hills there. So, today you are to evacuate the town of Vael and then report back to the battle site in the morning, just to do some Repose and Absolution...just our typical standard services. There is a camp area that we've scouted out not too far north of Vael. I can give you the coordinates here." And they pull out a map and they mark the coordinates on it. "And I'll annotate some of the landmarks as well. You'll see an abandoned temple just east of the camp. There's a reclusive hermit that lives there in the area. You might run into them. Should you get lost, they would be able to point you in the right direction. So yeah, any questions? Pretty straightforward. You've all done this before."
Dan (Wren)
Out of character question: so we'll have to pass through Vael to get to the camp?
Timothy (DM)
Yeah. So, you'll go to Vael to evacuate them and take them to the camp.
Dan (Wren)
Oh, take them, got it.
Timothy (Captain)
All right. So, I mean, it's gonna be a long day, so you should probably ship up and ship out.
Timothy (DM)
So y'all get ready for the day. What are you doing? How do you prepare yourself? What do you bring with you?
Russell (Robyn)
Robyn disappears back into her tent. She ties up her platinum blonde hair and tucks it behind her elven ears into a nice neat bun and then she--
Dan (Wren)
She has an aneurysm [laughs]
Russell (Robyn)
--and then she moisturizes her beautiful olive skin? I don't know. I just want to mention that she had olive skin, but that doesn't work!
Timothy (DM)
You don't need to describe every detail.
Russell (Robyn)
Cool, perfect. Yeah, so she ties up her platinum blonde hair, and then slips on a black fox mask, which is a custom of her order. She is known as the Twilight Fox amongst... I didn't come up with a name for the monk sect, though...
Timothy (DM)
That's okay.
Russell (Robyn)
That's a black fox mask with a crescent moon on it and really pretty clouds and stuff, and swirly doodads. Yeah, that top notch description stuff. [Russell and Tim laugh]
Timothy (DM)
Alright, so Robyn gets ready. Let's go on to Wren.
Dan (Wren)
Wren's get-ready routine is pretty simple. He goes back to his tent, collapses down everything so we can pack it up into his pack. He pulls out a leather strap from his pack that he uses to tie up his hair. His hair is about probably shoulder length brown hair, and he just ties it up really haphazardly into it a messy bun and tosses on his pack and gets ready to go. Fairly simple, really easy going.
Russell (Robyn)
That was much better than mine. Thank you.
Dan (Wren)
Yours had way more detail, to be fair.
Russell (Robyn)
Did it? I don't know I kind of blacked out midway.
Timothy (DM)
Alright, right Goldfinch,
Kara (Goldfinch)
Goldfinch sort of lumbers into their standard issue tent as well as they can. They fold in, they already had their golden plates on and ready to go. They just pack their bedding, their tools. They make sure that they have their spiral necklace of Tam Vanum, who's their god, and they make sure that they're like, hay blonde hairs like half-braided behind their hair that like shoulder-length behind their droopy pointed ears. They are not totally fully Goliath, they have some human features and brown eyes. So, they are standard issue military: routinely packs everything down and make sure that we put it in the right place and gets ready for the long journey ahead.
Russell (Robyn)
How tall is Goldfinch?
Kara (Goldfinch)
Seven foot tall
Timothy (DM)
Very tall.
Russell (Robyn)
How tall was the tent? Do they...
Kara (Goldfinch)
Like four and a half. [Dan laughs]
Timothy (DM)
They have... they have made some adjustments to the standard issue tent. It's stitched down one side to extend it a couple feet...
Dan (Wren)
Two tents stitched together. [laughter]
Timothy (DM)
Alright, so you all get ready for the day, pack up your tents, pack up your gear, and you start the long trek towards Vael. It's a quiet brisk morning in autumn. You hear the birds chirping. You see foxes and rabbits crossing your path throughout the day, and you finally come to the town of Vael. The brook babbles and gurgles beneath you as you cross the bridge into Vael. It's a quaint community tucked away in the hills just east of the Galatice forest, one of the last fertile plains before the land dries and turns to the wastelands of Galadia. You hear the laughter of children and the moos of cattle in the pastures just beyond the town limits, only a short walk to the other side. Town Hall is easy to spot. It's the largest and tallest building in the center of town. Villagers are courteous as you enter town, but they stare at you as you are outsiders.
Russell (Robyn)
Probably used to gettin' stares with this here on mask, so...
Dan (Wren)
Would they recognize us by our garb? Because we have capes, right?
Timothy (DM)
Oh, yes. Describe these capes.
Dan (Wren)
Oh, yeah, the capes that we all wear, because it's part of our-our outfit are... well, capes is...capes isn't in the right word. What's the word I'm looking for?
Timothy (DM)
Cloak?
Dan (Wren)
Cloak! That's the word. Um, our cloaks are a, like, forest royal green color, but on the back of them is stitched into... stitched into the fabric are silver wings, hence why we're known as the Wings of Mercy. So, we're recognizable on and outside the battlefield.
Russell (Robyn)
And do people typically... I guess this is a question for the Keeper of Cats [Tim]. Do people typically respect the cloak? [Dan meows]
Timothy (DM)
Yeah, it is heavily respected, especially by civilians.
Russell (Robyn)
Okay,
Timothy (DM)
You are a sign that something is coming andit's bad, but you're also a sign that you're here to protect them and get them out of the way. The war has devastated this territory along the borders, and so a lot of people's livelihoods has been ripped away, and so you're really the last remnant of their security.
Russell (Robyn)
Damn.
Dan (Wren)
Cool.
Russell (Robyn)
[whispers] We're Bad Asses. [Tim and Dan laugh]
Timothy (DM)
So, the Town Hall is a simple wooden structure. It's noticeable by its height and a mass of its built-- the building in comparison to the small homes and a tavern nearby. Outside of the tavern, a man in simple beige tunic, welcoming you in, kind of waving you over as he spots you.
Russell (Robyn)
Yeah, we'll head over to him.
Timothy (Mayor Charles)
[middle-aged man voice] Ah, the Wings of Mercy. I take it you have some bad news to report?
Dan (Wren)
We never have good news, unfortunately.
Timothy (Mayor Charles)
Yes, that is the word around you. Well, what can I do with service for today?
Dan (Wren)
The armies are planned to merge together on the hills that are in the southeast of here. So, we've come to evacuate your village to ensure your people's safety. Just north of your village, we've set up a camp where your people will be able to wait out the coming battle.
Timothy (Mayor Charles)
This is what I feared, but it seems we have no power nonetheless, so I will support you in this evacuation and do whatever I can to help you out. We don't have much here left, but we do have some resources that we should bring with us. People might be a little hesitant to leave. These are their homes, and, uh, this signals potentially the last time they will see them, so give them patience, but we will have to be firm with them.
Dan (Wren)
When where they supposed to march on this area? What was the timing?
Timothy (DM)
Tomorrow morning.
Dan (Wren)
Tomorrow morning, so we don't have that much time.
Russell (Robyn)
Can I insert a one-liner in between the two of you?
Timothy (DM)
Yeah, go for it.
Russell (Robyn)
So, after you said something about news, you just hear from underneath the mask the thick southern drawl, "Better gravy, then no grease at all." [Tim laughs] And that's it. Nothing else, just in the background.
Timothy (DM)
All right.
Dan (Wren)
Robyn probably says those things all the time.
Russell (Robyn)
Oh, she does.
Dan (Wren)
Like, just constantly.
Russell (Robyn)
Constant weird proverbs that make no sense.
Timothy (Mayor Charles)
Alright, is there anything that you need to do before I call a town meeting?
Kara (Goldfinch)
Nothing, just call it with urgency.
Timothy (Mayor Charles)
All right, and they walk over there's a bell in front of the Town Hall, and they just start ringing it, profusely. Clang clang clang clang. And you hear that there's this moment of pause across the town as it falls into silence, and then a murmur just grows and swells as everybody starts making their way into the town center. It only takes maybe five minutes for everybody to collect, and they all filter into the town hall, and they take a seat. Charles Drake, the mayor, motions you all to the front of the room and stands up at the podium. "Alright, we have some bad news for you all, but the Wings of Mercy are here to aid us and just... hear them out. Give them your attention. They are doing their best as we all are and well, here they are. If you all want to introduce yourselves and tell them what is happening." [laughs]
Russell (Robyn)
Hello, townfolk My name is Robyn, and I'm not in charge. [Tim laughs]
Dan (Wren)
Alright, guess that's my cue! "Hello, everyone. My name is Wren. We are here to ensure your safety and the safety of everyone in your village. The armies of Galadia and Everfear will be marching on this region soon, and we are here to make sure that you are evacuated safely to a camp just north of your village. If everything goes as planned, we will get you all out to safety where we can camp out for a few days, maybe a week, and if all goes well, you should be able to return to your homes without any issues. Obviously, there is always the case where the armies will pass and converge on your village. If that's the case, let's not talk about that because that's a worst-case scenario. and more likely than not, they will converge on the hills to the southeast of here, and your village and your homes will remain untouched. Bring whatever you can. Bring any food, any resources that you can; leave behind anything that will weigh you down. I can't promise that your village will be as it was when you left, but better to lose your homes than your lives." And I'll step back.
Timothy (DM)
So, as you finish speaking, the town hall just fills with clamor and murmur. As people are kind of shouting out, asking questions. They all seem very uneasy. So, the mayor walks back up.
Timothy (Mayor Charles)
All right, all right, settle down, settle down.
Timothy (Mayor Charles)
The wings of Mercy will lead on helping get everyone packed up. We'll make sure that we have the essentials. Food, water, help them out anything you have to spare, bring it with you. It will do no good left here, so pack up everything, try to get it into the caravans, they will be around assisting those in need, and they will assist on the journey to ensure that everybody gets there safely. I'm apologizing profusely, but this is where we are at. We all know we are at war, and this is just how wars go. We do not have a say in the matter, and I do not want to risk losing all of you.
Russell (Robyn)
And just to add to that, Mayor, the goddess, Karma, also once said, "A full purse ain't as good as a empty one is bad".
Timothy (Mayor Charles)
Absolutely. [utterly confused] Whaat... yes. All right. Well, you all know what to do--
Russell (Robyn)
Sorry.
Timothy (Mayor Charles)
--so, let's get to it. And try to be quick. They tell me, uh, we have to be out by tonight.
Dan (Wren)
Yes.
Timothy (DM)
All right. So, with that everyone begins dispersing. There's a lot of murmuring a lot of tension, uneasiness. You see families, and everybody just, like, really worried. People hugging their children, rushing back to their homes. How are you going to help out?
Dan (Wren)
I'm going to pull over the mayor to us and say, "Mr. Mayor, are there any sick or injured in the village that are going to have trouble with the trip? We, as you I'm sure know, all of us are skilled healers, and so we can assist making sure that everybody is healthy enough to travel."
Timothy (Mayor Charles)
Yes, we do have a local healer that is, um, has always done the best, but they are the only one. They most likely have some people in the infirmary as we speak if you want to help out there.
Dan (Wren)
Yes, I think that that would be good. Do we want to split up as a group, helping different areas of the village? Or we can mont-- I don't know, it's up to you whether you want to, like, play out each--
Timothy (DM)
We'll montage!
Dan (Wren)
Okay [laughs]
Russell (Robyn)
Robyn's just kind of... gonna go around, standing all rigid-like, her arms behind her back and just shouting proverbs that people while they pack. Not really helping anybody, and saying things like "A rolling stone gathers no moss". "Bless your heart." That's it. Completely unhelpful otherwise.
Dan (Wren)
It's like bardic inspiration but Southern inspiration. It's not as effective.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Just throwing them out there.
Russell (Robyn)
Keep in mind, this is like a short, five foot five elven woman, who's like jacked and just has a fox mask on and they can't see her face. [Tim laughs]
Dan (Wren)
Cute yet terrifying.
Russell (Robyn)
So, very intimidating, but also yeah.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Goldfinch kind of looks at Wren and say, "You're going to head to... toward the healer, correct?"
Dan (Wren)
I was actually going to see if you wanted to take over that; I can only help with, uh, physical injuries for the most part. Your magic might be more apt to help those maybe with sickness.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Alright, I'm fine with that.
Dan (Wren)
Yeah, but I will stick with the mayor and help out where he thinks necessary and, like, talk to people and things like that.
Timothy (DM)
All right. So, you all fan out across the town and go about your different ways of helping. That's what you do. You all entered the Wings of Mercy to help--
Russell (Robyn)
So helpful. [laughter]
Timothy (DM)
--and everybody has their own skills to give. So, you help out with the healing at the infirmary, you get people ready to make the trip, you help motivate them to pack up, you help organize, make sure that all of the wagons are filled with the proper supplies, make sure people are bringing food and water and that they have the things that they need in order to make it through an indefinite period of time, and after a very long day of putting this town together, packing all of its valuables up into several small wagons, you begin the trek north towards the camp.
Dan (Wren)
Nailed it. Campaign over. Definitely no night-stalking happening tonight.
Russell (Robyn)
Already forgot the name!
Timothy (DM)
All right. So, the general tone of unease continues as you make a very quiet lumbering trek north to where the camp has been marked on your map. Everybody give me a Survival check.
Dan (Wren)
Oh, no!
Russell (Robyn)
May Karma have mercy. [Tim laughs] Oh damn, I'm wise as hell. 14. I don't need to say that an accent. [regularly] 14.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Goldfinch rolled a 16
Timothy (DM)
16.
Dan (Wren)
Wren roll that an 11.
Timothy (DM)
Alright, so you're not going very far. It's also through hills, and you're kind of skirting along the edge of the forest, and so you make this trek. You spent the first half of the day packing up the town, leaving you to mid-afternoon, and you make the trek, and it is now at a point where the sun is beginning to set. So, you do know that you need to make it to the camp quickly, that you need to get everybody settled in, so that you can prepare yourself for tomorrow morning, and you are going along, there's like a little bit of path here and there. It's kind of a area that's been walked before, to kind of get around the Galatice forest, and you come across a dwarven man on the side of this path, just into the forest. He's just into the forest. He's hunched over pulling things out of a bush.
Russell (Robyn)
What kind of things? Yeah.
Timothy (DM)
As you kind of approach, you see that he's pulling brambles out of a bush and sticking them into a sack on his side.
Russell (Robyn)
Somebody is making common mana potions. A little New World humor
Kara (Goldfinch)
I assume we're leading the caravan basically, like by a ways ahead. So, there's space between the people and us.
Timothy (DM)
Yeah, I mean you can be leading, you can kind of be split up and spread out around the caravan to see, like, if one of you wants to take the back, somebody's in the front and then somebody else is kind of floating around and just checking in on people.
Dan (Wren)
This might not be true, but I like to think that Robyn is standing on top of a caravan, shouting proverbs at people.
Russell (Robyn)
Absolutely. No standing, lying down.
Timothy (DM)
All right. Are you in the front caravan or the... where are you at?
Russell (Robyn)
I'm going to be towards the front because I want to see this dwarf.
Timothy (DM)
Okay. So, where is Goldfinch?
Kara (Goldfinch)
Absolutely in the font. I just noticed that they had land vehicle proficiency. So, they're absolutely gonna--
Timothy (DM)
Perfect
Kara (Goldfinch)
--make that a thing.
Dan (Wren)
Wren will probably be somewhere towards like the middle-front, like, comforting people, talking to the mayor, making sure everything's going well in the caravan.
Timothy (DM)
All right. So, that probably leaves Goldfinch is the first to spot the dwarven man in the forest, and then you probably, Robyn, see him as well. [Russell laughs]
Kara (Goldfinch)
I look very confused. Like, we're still moving towards them. It's just a random dwarf in the road?
Timothy (DM)
Just in the middle of the woods.
Dan (Wren)
So, are they, like, in our way?
Timothy (DM)
No, no, there's just off to the side. Nothing... completely, just like there's no reason for you to stop. There's no reason for you to really take any notice. There's a person living somewhere that is in the woods.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Seems sus. I kind of, like, slow down, but keep going. Raise my fist. Like, hopefully if you notice it, like, I'm cautiously... there's something ahead. We're gonna keep going.
Dan (Wren)
You're seven foot tall; everyone notices.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Yeah, but just gonna keep an eye, and if there's like any, like, movements like toward the caravan, I'm just gonna like, be ready for it somehow. I'm very, very much on the edge.
Russell (Robyn)
As soon as you raise your fist, Robyn doesn't quite know what that means, and she just darts out of the caravan, stealthily, towards the target.
Timothy (DM)
So, as Robyn is darting out into the forest, this dwarf stands back up, having been hunched over this bush and turns around hearing the noise of the caravans, and then just kind of starts waving out and hopping up and down. [Scottich accent] "Oi, oi. What are you doing thayre?"
Russell (Robyn)
Can I try to appear behind this person?
Timothy (DM)
[chuckling] Do you have an ability to appear behind them?
Russell (Robyn)
No, like sneak by them? Just use stealth; dart into the treeline?
Timothy (DM)
Sure, give me a Stealth. [laughs]
Russell (Robyn)
That's a 24
Dan (Wren)
[incredulous] Oh my god.
Timothy (DM)
All right, so you just start around, and you are now behind them as they're like, kind of flagging down the caravan.
Russell (Robyn)
I'm gonna very creepily just put my head up beside them and go. "A guilty dog barks the loudest."
Timothy (DM)
Huh! [in a Southern accent] How'd you get thair? [laughs] That... that was not their voice! "Oi Oi." I am so sorry. [Dan laughs] Nope, that's canon now. They just keep changing their voice. "How'd you get thair?"
Russell (Robyn)
With my legs?
Timothy (Hermit)
What are you doing, creeping up behind some people and stuff and... [flustered] Get on out of there!
Russell (Robyn)
Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you owned this forest.
Timothy (Hermit)
I don't, but what are you all doing here?
Russell (Robyn)
We're fleeing the town of Vael because there's a fightin' a-comin' up tomorrow.
Timothy (Hermit)
But you shouldn't be here. You shouldn't be here.
Russell (Robyn)
Why? No. I thought you said you didn't own this forest.
Timothy (Hermit)
[begrieved breathing] Can't say I didn't warn you. [sigh]
Russell (Robyn)
Um, and you didn't. You just said you can't be here.
Timothy (Hermit)
[sigh] Yeah. You all should turn around right now.
Russell (Robyn)
And why's that?
Timothy (Hermit)
[desperate whisper] These woods are not safe.
Russell (Robyn)
Can you be more specific?
Timothy (Hermit)
They're not safe, I said!
Russell (Robyn)
Well, I mean, we're not headed into the woods. Can we just been there them?
Timothy (Hermit)
This whole area is not safe. [laughs]
Russell (Robyn)
I'm so sorry.
Dan (Wren)
It's true, though.
Russell (Robyn)
Yes.
Dan (Wren)
Just gonna skirt the side of the woods.
Timothy (DM)
You notice that they have hundreds of amulets and charms dangling from, like, every inch of their body. They have a sack of brambles, and now that you've been talking to them, it hits you. There's this potent foul acrid odor that just emanates from them and burns your nostrils.
Russell (Robyn)
What's that smell?
Timothy (Hermit)
[stuttering] None of your business. Now, I said it's not safe in these areas. You-you best be turnin' around right now.
Russell (Robyn)
Well, we can't do that because we'll probably die along with all these good folk, but uh, we appreciate the warning. We'll make sure we double our them-their watches. You wouldn't happen to be that hermit that everyone's been talking about?
Timothy (Hermit)
Oh, what? Uh, I mean, I guess people could be referring to me as a hermit in these woods and whatnot...
Russell (Robyn)
I mean, you look pretty hermitty
Timothy (Hermit)
I live here... don't you all live where you live?
Russell (Robyn)
Wait, so you're telling me that you live in the unsafe forest that we can't go near.
Timothy (Hermit)
I have to; to warn folk like you. You don't know what you're getting into.
Russell (Robyn)
Alright, can you follow me and tell my, uh, team members that because they're just gonna think I'm crazy spewing that nonsense.
Timothy (Hermit)
No, I don't want to talk to nobody else. There's already too many people here.
Russell (Robyn)
Can I snatch his bag of brambles and runoff?
Timothy (DM)
Give me a Sleight of Hand
Russell (Robyn)
18.
Timothy (DM)
Alright, so you snatch their bramble, right off their hip.
Dan (Wren)
Rude
Russell (Robyn)
"Better come get it!" and then I just book it straight to Goldfinch at the front of the caravan
Kara (Goldfinch)
I'm, like, watching incredulously. I didn't hear anything, but I've seen Robyn just take something from this person. [laughs]
Russell (Robyn)
Oh shit, so you're probably just like "Oh my god, Robyn's mugging this poor guy"
Timothy (DM)
Mugging a random person in the woods! Oh, no!
Dan (Wren)
That's accurate, honestly [laughs]
Timothy (DM)
Goldfinch, you've been watching this whole shenanigan go down. You've seen them talking back and forth, and then you see Robin grab something run off, and then you see this man takes an amulet off from around his neck and just throws it after Robyn, and then he bolts off into the woods.
Kara (Goldfinch)
So, the amulet just lands on the ground?
Timothy (DM)
The amulet just lands on the ground behind Robyn. Robyn doesn't see it, but you do.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Is Robyn running towards me?
Timothy (DM)
Yeah,
Kara (Goldfinch)
I kind of, like, wave as soon as she gets within earshot say "He threw something at you. They threw something at you."
Russell (Robyn)
Who, the hermit?
Kara (Goldfinch)
Yeah.
Russell (Robyn)
Oh shit. Where did he go? I was trying to lure them over here. He was spewing some nonsense...
Kara (Goldfinch)
They seem to have ran away, but they threw like some something behind you.
Russell (Robyn)
Oh, I'll go look. Here, hold my brambles.
Kara (Goldfinch)
I just hold my hand out.
Russell (Robyn)
I go back and try to-- "What? Where was it? Goldfinch? Over here? Over there?
Kara (Goldfinch)
I kind of awkwardly hold the brambles in my arm a little bit, so I can free one arm and just, like, point on the ground like halfway behind him.
Dan (Wren)
By this point, Wren's part of the caravan will definitely have caught up by now--
Timothy (DM)
Oh yeah, the caravan just keeps moving throughout this.
Dan (Wren)
He's gonna like step out and be like, "Hey, uh, Goldfinch. What the hell's going on?"
Kara (Goldfinch)
I have no idea.
Dan (Wren)
Um, ok. Robyn?
Kara (Goldfinch)
Yeah.
Dan (Wren)
Okay, I'll go... I'll go... I'll go talk to her. I'm gonna head out towards Robyn.
Timothy (DM)
All right. So, Robyn, as you're searching around, you find the amulet on the grounds. It is a star, a five-pointed star with an eye in the middle, and as you look closely at the center of the pupil, you see a smaller symbol resembling the veins of a leaf. Give me a History.
Russell (Robyn)
I'm real smart, so this's gonna go quite well.
Timothy (DM)
Or Religion.
Russell (Robyn)
They're both 15. Okay, which is what I rolled. Thanks for the loaded dice!
Timothy (DM)
You've never seen this symbol before.
Timothy (DM)
"Well, this is kind of creepy." I say as I pick it up. I just touch it. I don't. Yeah. Oh, no. He's getting another piece of paper.
Timothy (DM)
No, just for me--
Russell (Robyn)
Okay
Russell (Robyn)
[in high pitched voice] Keeper of Cats is gonna kill meeee.
Timothy (DM)
--so far.
Dan (Wren)
Robyn. Robyn. What are you doing?
Russell (Robyn)
Uh, Goldfinch told me to go get this here amulet... that some crazy old man wearing a bunch of amulets threw at me. I guess he had extra?
Kara (Goldfinch)
I should have specified to look at it. Inspect it first.
Russell (Robyn)
What, do you know what it means?
Dan (Wren)
History check? I'll take a look.
Timothy (DM)
Yeah, History or Religion.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Can I support a little?
Timothy (DM)
Yeah, y'all can
Dan (Wren)
Another 15. I also rolled a 15.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Should I roll on my own then?
Timothy (DM)
Yeah.
Dan (Wren)
You probably have a better Religion than I do.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Do I?
Dan (Wren)
I don't know; you're a paladin? [laughter]
Timothy (DM)
Paladins don't necessarily pay attention. [laughter]
Kara (Goldfinch)
Goldfinch rolled 2. [oof from Russell]
Timothy (DM)
Alright--
Dan (Wren)
We're all so smart.
Timothy (DM)
None of you have seen this symbol before. Nothing... I mean, you've seen stars before; five-pointed stars are pretty common. Usually, stars like this have something to do with balance or whatnot. In a lot of cultures, the more points on the star, the more pure and it's it's all really complicated. There's lots of different cultural references to stars, and nothing is really landing as an interpretation of this symbol, especially, like, the eye and, like, what is in the pupil? Like what-what is going on here?
Russell (Robyn)
Oh, I'll hold on to this, and she puts it around her neck.
Timothy (DM)
Alright.
Dan (Wren)
Oh, okay. Um, so you said a hermit threw that at you?
Russell (Robyn)
Yeah, some crazy guy, saying about something dangerous back in the woods.
Dan (Wren)
Is that his bag of brambles? Is that...?
Russell (Robyn)
Oh, yeah, he threw that at me too. [Tim laughs]
Dan (Wren)
Oh, um...
Russell (Robyn)
Yeah, he's mad.
Dan (Wren)
Okay.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Absolutely did not happen.
Dan (Wren)
Is he gone?
Russell (Robyn)
Yeah, he went In a way 'cause he was so ashamed that he threw his brambles at me
Kara (Goldfinch)
I just shake my head at Wren.
Dan (Wren)
Yeah, we should get back to the caravan. You know our job?
Russell (Robyn)
Oh, but "something in the forest is not right" is what he said. So, either he crazy or, like, something not right, y'know?
Dan (Wren)
Yeah, well he threw stuff at you so... come on, let's-let's get going the caravan is gonna leave us behind.
Kara (Goldfinch)
We're not going into the forest, right? We're just driving alongside it.
Dan (Wren)
Yeah, the camp... according to the map is just on the edge of the forest. I mean, it wouldn't make sense to camp IN the forest.
Kara (Goldfinch)
No, absolutely not.
Russell (Robyn)
As we walk back to the caravan, Robyn lifts her mask and looks at her amulet and just mutters to herself. "Don't count your chickens until they hatch." and puts her mask back down.
Dan (Wren)
[laughing] You're so stupid; I love it.
Russell (Robyn)
Is this too slapstick?
Timothy (DM)
No, no, it's perfect, perfect amount. All right, see you continue on. The caravan has been moving. So, you catch on up with the caravan, and you start to realize that you are getting to where you are trying to go. You see a clearing, right along the edge of the forest. Looks like the perfect place: on high ground; looks dry; enough space; it has a little bit of coverage because of the woods, so it'd be perfect to set up camp there. You also notice into the forest, there's the top of a stone structure peeking out over the canopy of the trees. So, it's a dark and withered stone that has been crumbling so the structure is starting to crumble and...
Dan (Wren)
I'll want to check on that.
Timothy (DM)
Yeah.
Dan (Wren)
Just to make sure nobod's...
Russell (Robyn)
Is the Captain with us?
Timothy (DM)
No, The Captain is not; they stay at the camp for when everybody reports back in.
Russell (Robyn)
Goldfinch, Wren. I looked at you in the wrong order, it's fine. Didn't the Captain say something about that them-there hermit he talked about living some there-them ruins nearby?
Dan (Wren)
I know the hermit lived in the forest, and then there was the ruins to the east of Vael, but I mean like we should check out that anyway just to make sure 1), that hermit's not staying there, and if they are staying there, we should just make sure to keep eye on that area.
Russell (Robyn)
You keep them safe. I can return--
Dan (Wren)
Sure.
Russell (Robyn)
--their brambles and this beautiful amulet. She tucks it into her shirt.
Dan (Wren)
Our priority is the people of the village, but I guess if we can help him along the way, couldn't hurt.
Kara (Goldfinch)
I'm hesitant to leave the people when we go into the forest, which was... seemed highly suspicious.
Dan (Wren)
That's fair. Did the village have any guards? That, like, noticeable guards people with like swords spears, shields?
Timothy (DM)
I mean, there's hunters, so people who have some sorts of skills, but it's a small town.
Dan (Wren)
Gotcha.
Russell (Robyn)
Does the hunters have horns? Like hunter-hunter's horns?
Dan (Wren)
Like, I don't think they're Daddy tiefling? [laughs]
Timothy (DM)
No, no, they're more--
Russell (Robyn)
I see the confusion [laughs]
Timothy (DM)
I mean, they're-they're small town hunters, so their strategy is going out in small groups, and they're not on a big divine kingdom hunting spree on horses and stuff like that.
Dan (Wren)
Question: how far is the stone structure, and how close to nightfall are we?
Timothy (DM)
So, the sun is just above the horizon--
Dan (Wren)
Gotcha. So maybe like--
Timothy (DM)
--so, there's still daylight.
Russell (Robyn)
We should go while they're still light.
Dan (Wren)
Yeah.
Timothy (DM)
You're not at sunset yet, so the sky is not turning purple and orange and all those beautiful colors. It's still daylight, but you're just getting... like, it's probably 7pm.
Dan (Wren)
So, we got an hour-ish probably.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Yeah, remind me. How far are we away from the camp? Or are we at the camp?
Dan (Wren)
We've made it to the camp.
Timothy (DM)
You're basically making it to the camp right now. Your-your, um, caravan's coming up on it, maybe 100 yards out. You're just looking along the treeline and noticing this.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Should we make sure they get to the camp first?
Dan (Wren)
Yeah, I'll go talk with the the mayor to let them know that this is where we'll be setting up camp for the next few days to a week. We'll have to leave them eventually anyways because we need to converge with the armies later on, so they're going to be on their own anyways. So, let's get the... let's tell them to set up, and then we'll head into the woods.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Were we meeting other Wings of Mercy people at the other camp or was it like an empty camp?
Timothy (DM)
Empty camp. You're on your own.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Yep yep.
Timothy (DM)
With an entire village in your protection.
Dan (Wren)
It'll be fine. It's not our first time
Russell (Robyn)
I mean,[points at Wren] that one's in charge. So...
Dan (Wren)
Great. [laughs]
Timothy (DM)
All right, so you lead the caravan up to the camp location, and you start instructing them and helping them unpack the caravans getting tents set up, helping some of the more elderly and the children and getting everything set up, but once they get going, they pretty much can figure out what they're doing on their own. They know what they need to set up, and there's some organization the mayor handles, just to make sure that resources are distributed throughout the village.
Kara (Goldfinch)
I kind of suggest to the mayor and assume that there's like a few, like, stronger people and hunters as well kind of "Keep a watch; keep an eye on the camp."
Dan (Wren)
That's a good idea. There's hunters and fighters and... and I imagine, they have, like, basic weapons to defend themselves.
Timothy (DM)
Yeah,
Dan (Wren)
they brought with?
Timothy (DM)
Basic weapons and-and, like, that's pretty standard. They're are small village, so they've had to protect themselves against the random gnoll outbreaks and stuff like that.
Dan (Wren)
Gnoll outbreaks, like it's some disease. Infestation of gnolls.
Timothy (DM)
Gnoll packs passing through there.
Russell (Robyn)
Do we have were-gnolls in this universe? Because that's terrifying.
Timothy (DM)
Were-gnolls? Maybe... [laughs]
Dan (Wren)
They breed like rabbits; they're everywhere! [groan from Russell]
Timothy (DM)
You tell me your fears, and I will create them.
Russell (Robyn)
Yeah,were-hyenas? It's up there.
Timothy (DM)
All right. And so, they are all unpacking, setting up camp as the sun is just creeping closer and closer to that horizon line.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Should we check out the forest before it gets too dark?
Dan (Wren)
Yeah, that's a good idea. I'm gonna put down my pack, and just grab my, like, weaponry I guess? I have like a dagger and a bow quiver of arrows, but I'm going to leave my, like, traveling pack because we're not going too far.
Russell (Robyn)
I'll do the same.
Timothy (DM)
So, you all set down your packs, grab your weapons, just as a safety precaution. There will be nothing in the woods. Absolutely not. Um [laughs]
Dan (Wren)
Definitely perfectly safe.
Timothy (DM)
[to Russell] What do you want?
Russell (Robyn)
You don't know what that face that I make... So, before we set out, I want to go to the mayor and give him some words of encouragement. Just very, like, like slap him really hard on the shoulder. "A new broom may sweep clean, but an old one knows where the dirt is" and then just walk away.
Timothy (DM)
They go to say something, and as you're walking away, they just kind of shake their head and go back to helping whoever they were helping. And you all meet back up and you start trekking into the woods, only a couple hundred yards til you approach this ruin. It resembles a sort of temple, and it's pretty simple. It's not... it's not like anything that outstanding. There is some, like, ornate stonework. It's like a temple on top of a stone platform with grand stairs leading up from all directions like each cardinal direction, and it has a red terra cotta roof. It's very gothic in style, and so there are four entrances. It does not look like anyone has been here for a while.
Dan (Wren)
That's good. That's a good sign.
Russell (Robyn)
We get a map!
Timothy (DM)
And as you start to explore, the area feels chilled. Maybe, it's just the stone reflecting off the heat. You've been in damp old crypts and ruins before, and they tend to be colder.
Dan (Wren)
Yeah, big cathedrals like that are freezing on the inside.
Timothy (DM)
Yeah.
Dan (Wren)
It can be the middle of summer, and they're like ice boxes
Russell (Robyn)
And is this forest kind of on the swampier side? Like what's... or is it more temperate or coniferous?
Timothy (DM)
It's more coniferous, yeah.
Dan (Wren)
I thought I heard carnivorous and I was like, "They eat people?"
Russell (Robyn)
Oh, that would be terrifying.
Dan (Wren)
We should do a quick sweep through just head through the building, make sure there's nothing taking up residence there, and then head back to the camp as soon as we can.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Agreed.
Dan (Wren)
We don't want to be stuck out here at nightfall.
Timothy (DM)
Yeah, and so the temple platform is kind of lined with gargoyles, and you see these big grand archways leading into the structure itself. As you approach and you go up the stairs, you can see into the building through that archway, and there's this small vestibule area with a table. The whole place is covered in cobwebs, another indication that nobody has been here for a while.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Okay, so we can see through all the archway, so maybe we can just triple around the platform. Yeah, look at the gargoyle. At one point as we walk by the gargoyle, I'm, like, looking at it, like, never really seen these kind of structures before, I assume. So, just looking at them as I walk by.
Timothy (DM)
Yeah. You do see in the vestibule that there is a closed door that leads deeper into the building central area that you can't see into, but the vestibule seems pretty clear. There's just a table in the middle. Cobwebs, dust collecting in the corners, leaves, all that sort of debris.
Dan (Wren)
Yeah.
Kara (Goldfinch)
There's a door.
Dan (Wren)
Yeah, I'll do a perimeter check. I'll holler if anything happens. I don't think there will be it seems like nobody's been here in a long time if you to want to head into the vestibule and meet you in there. Check out the inner sanctum?
Russell (Robyn)
Sounds good. I'll start tiptoeing in.
Kara (Goldfinch)
I just remembered that I have, like, plates and...
Timothy (DM)
Oh yeah. So, your clanking around in your plate.
Kara (Goldfinch)
I go like as slowly as I can, but I'm also seven foot tall. So, yeah, I'm clanking,
Timothy (DM)
Clanking and stomping around. Goldfinch was doing the perimeter, right?
Kara (Goldfinch)
[to Wren] I assume, like, we'll do the ops.
Dan (Wren)
Yeah, Wren was when was gonna take part of the perimeter. Yeah,
Kara (Goldfinch)
[to Robyn] And you're going inside, right?
Russell (Robyn)
Yes.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Given the history of Robyn, I'm just gonna [gestures to following Robyn]
Russell (Robyn)
Supervise? [Dan, Kara, and Tim laugh]
Dan (Wren)
I can make my way around the building. Yeah.
Kara (Goldfinch)
Bu,t also just in case, because I see a door and since it's covered. I want to make sure that Robyn has backup because there's no escape. Escape out.
Timothy (DM)
All right. So, Wren, you start going around making the perimeter, you turn the corner, and you turn back and you can no longer see your party because you've turned the corner, and you continue around. You continue around. Robyn, you start creeping into the vestibule. You are pushing cobwebs out of your face. [grunts from Russell] And you're--
Dan (Wren)
Very subtle
Timothy (DM)
--very. [laughs] So quietly. Give me a Stealth check while we're at it.
Russell (Robyn)
Is it at disadvantage because I grunted?
Timothy (DM)
Goldfinch as well, um...
Kara (Goldfinch)
Disadvantage.
Timothy (DM)
And you're kind of hanging back, Goldfinch? Are you hanging back? Are you like...
Kara (Goldfinch)
I'm just hanging back, but still like following.
Timothy (DM)
All right, yeah.
Russell (Robyn)
[sharp oof from Russell]
Kara (Goldfinch)
Goldfinch rolled a 2 plus 4, so 6.
Dan (Wren)
That's a spicy dice.
Russell (Robyn)
Robyn got a dirty 20.
Timothy (DM)
And a dirty 20. Okay, so, Robyn, although, like, kind of huffing as she pushes away all of the cobwebs, is very quiet. Just like little pads of her feet, hitting the stone as she tiptoes towards the door. And Goldfinch in the rear, kind of stomping around the metal plates clinking, getting ready to like, charge in, should Robyn need something, and you get to the door, Robyn.
Russell (Robyn)
Can I put my ear up to it and listen in?
Timothy (DM)
You push your ear up against the door, and you listen, and it's entirely silent. You can't hear a thing.
Russell (Robyn)
[very quietly] That does make sense. [Tim laughs] [normally] I'm going to very quietly... is it, like, nudge the door. Is it locked? Is it a handle?
Timothy (DM)
There is a handle, but it doesn't have, like, a turning mechanism. So, yeah, you start to push the door, and it creaks slowly open.
Russell (Robyn)
Is it dark inside?
Timothy (DM)
It is very dark inside
Russell (Robyn)
This would be a good time to clarify that I have night vision.
Timothy (DM)
Yep.
Russell (Robyn)
Or dark vision.
Timothy (DM)
You have dark vision!
Russell (Robyn)
Haha, not night vision [laughs]
Timothy (DM)
You have dark vision.
Russell (Robyn)
Oh!
Timothy (DM)
It's-it's very dark, but you can see make out the shapes of objects in the room.
Russell (Robyn)
So, I've always wondered that races that have dark vision, are their eyes, like, reflective? Because I think you'd be really cool--
Russell (Robyn)
Like cats?
Russell (Robyn)
So, Robyn still has the mask on, and you just see two glowing green eyes in the little slits behind the mask.
Timothy (DM)
Actually, I love that depiction. You're peering into the room. It's very dark, but you can make out the shapes. So, there is a large round table in the middle of the room, surrounded by chairs, and there is a glass orb in the center of the table, and then to the other wall is an altar with a giant demon's skull.
Timothy (DM)
And that is where we will put a pause on today's story. Thank you all for joining us for a plunge into the abyss. I hope you all enjoyed this episode of Shadows of Prophecy. Join us next time to find out what becomes of our unfortunate players in this most dreadful act.
Timothy (DM)
Shout out to my brother known as the chill electronic vapor soul artist LUSQ for writing our chillingly epic theme song, editing by Scrubcast, and a big shout out to Syrinscape for some amazing atmosphere and music. Make sure you check them out at Syrinscape.com. I always use them at my game table, and it adds that little something special to bring your players into the story. Also, please follow us on Twitter @shadowsprophecy and Instagram @shadows_of_prophecy. And hey, show us some support by becoming one of our fabulous patrons at patreon.com/shadowsofprophecy, where you can get access to bonus content like handouts, encounter maps, and even adventure guides to run your own horrific campaigns or one-shots. And at the very least, give us a five star review on your podcast platform of choice. This is how we get the word out about our podcast and we love sharing it with you all. Thank you, and tune in next time for more tales of dread and despair at Shadows of Prophecy.