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).

Timothy (DM)

Join us as we enter the Shadows of Prophecy.

Timothy (DM)

Prologue: A World Unravels.

Timothy (DM)

Chapter Four - They Stalk at Night.

Timothy (DM)

So, Wren, you are pacing back and forth, keeping your hands warm, looking around, and you notice that a puddle has collected nearby, and it catches your eye because in the reflection, you see someone standing behind you. ["Oh no"s from the group]

Dan (Wren)

Can I throw an elbow? Wait, do I...do I recognize the person?

Timothy (DM)

You do not recognize the person. The face is gaunt and kind of gray, like, a dark gray. The eyes are blurred, and it's just standing there behind you.

Dan (Wren)

[silent groan] Oh, yeah, I'm gonna throw an elbow.

Timothy (DM)

Alright, you throw an elbow back, and you don't hit anything. You just throw it through air--

Dan (Wren)

Is the thing still behind me in the reflection?

Timothy (DM)

--and the thing is still behind you in the reflection.

Dan (Wren)

So, it looks like I went through the thing in then a reflection.

Timothy (DM)

Yes.

Dan (Wren)

Great. I will whip around them.

Timothy (DM)

You whip around, and for a moment you see this figure as the cloud of smoke [whoosh] and dissipates into the air around you.

Dan (Wren)

Nope, nope. Hate it. I look to Goldfinch, were they looking at me?

Timothy (DM)

So, Goldfinch, you heard Wren kind of grunt as he threw his elbow back, and you hear the swishing of his cloak as he turns around, and you as well see the same thing: you see, as you turn, you see Wren flipping around, you see this figure standing behind him. and then [whoosh]

Kara (Goldfinch)

So, I just see a figure...

Timothy (DM)

Yes, you see the figure.

Kara (Goldfinch)

That Wren did not see?

Timothy (DM)

Wren saw it!

Kara (Goldfinch)

Oh, I thought Wren only saw--

Timothy (DM)

Just for like a moment before it whooshes away.

Kara (Goldfinch)

I startle, and then, like, put my hand on the hilt of my sword and just look over you to make sure you're okay, but the thing is gone again, like, this, I don't--

Dan (Wren)

Wren looks a bit, like, befuddled and shocked, but he gives you a nod to signal that he's all right.

Kara (Goldfinch)

I'm so confused to what's going on. First, these black figures with smoke and then this thing? They don't seem to be attacking us, but are they asking us for something?

Dan (Wren)

I have no idea, um. I mean, I think our best option is still just to wait out the night until day and then move the--

Timothy (DM)

And then in that moment, you hear a scream from the other side of camp.

Dan (Wren)

Oh no... [Kara gasps]

Timothy (DM)

Everybody roll initiative. [a collective NOOO from the group]

Kara (Goldfinch)

Oh, I keep forgetting to mention; I forgot I have a shield.

Dan (Wren)

I'm not excited for combat because I'm not a combat character. Which is--

Kara (Goldfinch)

Easier to spell?

Dan (Wren)

Well, he's a rogue... so, he doesn't have any spells either. He just... he's just not a combat character...

Kara (Goldfinch)

Yeah, you're usually, like, spellcaster in most cases, but you had said this is your first fighter style?

Dan (Wren)

No, this is my first non-fighter. So, he's, no, he's, like, not built for combat.

Kara (Goldfinch)

Oh!

Dan (Wren)

So, he CAN fight, but he's not good at it.

Kara (Goldfinch)

Well, rogue's are really good at dagger, dagger, dagger, so...

Dan (Wren)

Yeah, that's true.

Timothy (DM)

All right. So we have Robyn, Goldfinch, Wren, and then me.

Russell (Robyn)

Oh, what did you get?

Timothy (DM)

Kara (Goldfinch)

Oh, another seven.

Dan (Wren)

Good to know, it's a secret. Oh, we don't know, [whispers] but it's a seven.

Timothy (DM)

So, you hear scream at the other end of the camp.

Russell (Robyn)

I spring out of my bush, and I dart in that direction.

Dan (Wren)

How big is the camp? Oh, sorry...

Timothy (DM)

It's gonna take you more than a turn to get across.

Russell (Robyn)

Can I use my action to Dash, so I can move up to 90 feet when I dash

Dan (Wren)

Oh crap...

Timothy (DM)

Yep. So, you can dash--

Russell (Robyn)

I'm a fast little elf. [zooom]

Timothy (DM)

Okay, so you bolt out of that bush, and you start darting across camp, and you see two people standing near the fire: one person dead on the ground and the other standing over them. As you dart towards them, they crane their neck towards you, and just give you the widest blank grin.

Dan (Wren)

Sounds like a person?

Timothy (DM)

Yes, it's a person.

Kara (Goldfinch)

One of the villagers...

Dan (Wren)

Was it like the gaunt person that-- or was it a villager?

Timothy (DM)

A villager that you remember.

Dan (Wren)

[weakly] Nooooo

Russell (Robyn)

Robyn's gonna go, "You'll catch more flies with honey than vinegar" and crack her knuckles [Tim laughs] and get ready to, like, punch it next turn.

Timothy (DM)

Alright.

Kara (Goldfinch)

I clearly do not have 90 feet of movement [laughter], especially with this armor. I put... move my full 30 feet. Can I see, like, the scene ahead of me, like...?

Timothy (DM)

Yeah, so out like maybe 50 feet ahead, you can see the scene taking place. You see Robyn charging in, and you see a figure beyond them, but you can't make out features

Kara (Goldfinch)

And I can see something on the ground as well, but I can't tell who it is.

Timothy (DM)

Exactly.

Kara (Goldfinch)

Although, I do remember the mayor was going to be at the fire.

Dan (Wren)

Yeah.

Russell (Robyn)

Oh no.

Kara (Goldfinch)

So, I'm hoping it's not the mayor and begging it's not the mayor.

Timothy (DM)

It is not the mayor,

Russell (Robyn)

[relieved] Okay.

Timothy (DM)

Yes!

Dan (Wren)

It's the mayor who screamed [laughs]

Kara (Goldfinch)

Out of character: as a player, that's a relief to know. I'm gonna dash with another 30 feet, so full 60 feet, and just be ready with my... i just start pulling out my great sword and have my shield in my other hand, clanking along as fast as I can. [laughs]

Dan (Wren)

Wren will use bonus action to Dash [snidely] because I am a rogue. So, he uses a bonus action to Dash and make it also 60 feet because apparently longer legs don't mean a thing in D&D.

Timothy (DM)

Not if you don't know how to use them effectively.

Dan (Wren)

That's fair. So, how close am I to the fire by this point?

Timothy (DM)

So, Mai... or not Mai [Dan and Russel laugh] Russell plays Mai in another--

Russell (Robyn)

Who's also just as mischievous [Dan and Tim laugh]

Dan (Wren)

[laughing] It's funny, you play the same character.

Timothy (DM)

Robyn is on the same side of the fire as you. These figures are on the opposite side of the fire, and Robyn is about 30 feet from you.

Dan (Wren)

Okay.

Timothy (DM)

So, you have 30 feet between you and Robyn, who's maybe 10 feet away from the fire, and then there's figures just-just beyond that.

Dan (Wren)

Can I spot the mayor?

Timothy (DM)

Give me a Perception check.

Dan (Wren)

Oh shoot, 8.

Timothy (DM)

You quickly look around as you are running towards the scene, and you don't find the mayor anywhere.

Dan (Wren)

Okay, I'm going to then use my action to... I can tell who's killed a person, right? It's like pretty obvious.

Timothy (DM)

Yeah. So, now you're about 40 feet, both Goldfinch and Wren, so you can start to recognize that it is one of the other villagers. You don't know their name; you just recognize them from the crowd.

Dan (Wren)

Gotcha. I'm going to shout out to Goldfinch and Robyn, "You take care of the assailant, non-lethal if possible." and then I'm going to huck my rock at that person! 'Cause I have a rock and I still have an action!

Russell (Robyn)

[incredulous] The hypocrisy!

Timothy (DM)

Give me a-a ranged weapon attack. You don't have proficiency because it's makeshift.

Russell (Robyn)

[imitating Wren] "Don't hurt that person [throws rock]". [laughs]

Timothy (DM)

So, you would add your Strength or Dex, but not your proficiency.

Dan (Wren)

Russell (Robyn)

Dang.

Timothy (DM)

Alrigh, that is going to hit them.

Dan (Wren)

I'm going for, like, a shoulder, maybe a chest. Yeah, not for the head.

Timothy (DM)

So, roll for damage. A d4 plus your Dex.

Dan (Wren)

That's 4 damage

Timothy (DM)

4 damage, all right.

Dan (Wren)

And one more question. (Sorry, I have a lot of them). The dead person: how dead are they? Like decapitated or just stabbed? Saveable, maybe?

Timothy (DM)

Uh, it's hard to tell.

Dan (Wren)

Okay.

Timothy (DM)

They are on the ground, they are motionless, and that's about all you can make out.

Dan (Wren)

Okay.

Russell (Robyn)

[whispers] Oh yeah, we're healers.

Timothy (DM)

So, they might not actually be dead, but they are motionless on the ground. There is a body motionless on the ground

Dan (Wren)

I can work with that. That's yours.

Timothy (DM)

All right, so this "person" has craned their neck towards Robyn, given out the biggest toothiest but blankest grin, like, no emotion behind it, just, like, a forced wide grin, opens up its mouth, and lets out a shriek that you remember as the sound of the black figures.

Russell (Robyn)

[narrows eyes] We meet again.

Timothy (DM)

I need you to make a Wisdom saving throw.

Dan (Wren)

All of us or just Robyn?

Timothy (DM)

All of you.

Kara (Goldfinch)

Oh, nice. Wisdom saving throw? Alright.

Russell (Robyn)

Kara (Goldfinch)

Dan (Wren)

Also 21.

Timothy (DM)

All right. [Russell whines] So, while absolutely batshit terrifying, you are able to maintain your ground and continue moving on towards this creature that is going to start charging towards Robyn. What's your DC?

Russell (Robyn)

Dan (Wren)

Your AC?

Timothy (DM)

Very sorry, AC

Russell (Robyn)

Yeah, 17.

Dan (Wren)

[in an New Zealand accent] What's yer Day-say?

Timothy (DM)

And this "person" [laughs] is going to charge towards you and grab you on the shoulder as you feel your lifeforce starts to drain from you.

Russell (Robyn)

Please stop rolling.

Dan (Wren)

Dear Jesus.

Russell (Robyn)

They're still going!

Timothy (DM)

For 9 necrotic damage.

Dan (Wren)

You just, like, brush that off like it's nothing. That's half of my health.

Russell (Robyn)

No, that-that's a good chunk of my health too. You-you just hear Robyn scream [screams]

Dan (Wren)

But in Southern, I don't know that either...

Russell (Robyn)

Dang flabbit! [Dan and Kara laugh]

Timothy (DM)

Sorry. I'm not following my own rule. [laughs] So, it has its arm grasped on to you.

Russell (Robyn)

Oh, so I'm grappled?

Timothy (DM)

You're not grappled. It's just grabbed on to you.

Russell (Robyn)

Um, Robyn's gonna mutter, "Somebody thinks the sun comes up to hear them crow." and she's gonna thrust her open palm upwards towards his elbow, trying to make an unarmed strike. Does 14 hit?

Timothy (DM)

A 14 does hit. This is an unarmored person.

Dan (Wren)

Yeah, you're fighting a pedestrian. [laughs]

Russell (Robyn)

And that is for 7 blunt damage?

Dan (Wren)

Bludgeoning? Yeah.

Russell (Robyn)

And then, yeah, now I'm gonna burn a Ki point to make two unarmed strikes.

Timothy (DM)

All right.

Russell (Robyn)

--as I'm just laying into him with a bunch of... with a flurry of blows! That is a 17, and that is for 7 more points of damage, and the last one is a 22, and that's for 5 points of damage.

Timothy (DM)

Alright, so you just start laying into them--

Russell (Robyn)

And anyone who can see notices that she punches, like, weird, like, and then she'll, like hit, like, move her fingers to, like, kind of hit pressure points? Almost fighting like Tai Chi style? Like [martial arts sound effects]. Like very martial artsy.

Timothy (DM)

So, you just lay into this "person". You're hitting them in all their joints, and you've knocked away their arm, and they are getting battered.

Kara (Goldfinch)

So, this is just one person that we can see.

Timothy (DM)

Yes.

Russell (Robyn)

Oh, I didn't specify that was non-lethal.

Dan (Wren)

Well, good thing you didn't kill him. [laughs]

Timothy (DM)

That's okay, I'm taking that into account unless you change your tone and start using blades.

Dan (Wren)

[in stage directions] "Looks at paladin" [Tim laughs] You can use non-lethal with a blade that's like--

Timothy (DM)

Yeah, pommel and the flat side... We'll just change everything to bludgeoning, yeah...

Kara (Goldfinch)

You know what, I'm gonna use Divine Sense as I'm approaching. I'm still moving towards them. I'm using Divine Sense. Can I tell if it's celestial, fiend, undead?

Dan (Wren)

Right.

Dan (Wren)

Oo...

Timothy (DM)

You use your Divine Sense that you've been rather trained in--

Dan (Wren)

Homina Homina Homina.

Timothy (DM)

--and you've learned to attack fiends, celestials, all sorts of cosmic beings that are adjacent to the Material Plane, and this exudes a different energy all together. You've never come across something that felt like this. That's that same energy that you feel each time you are near one of those tears That crackle of energy that dissipates? This is that same energy.

Kara (Goldfinch)

So, something that I've never really experienced before? Okay, as a bonus action, can I cast Sanctuary on Robyn?

Russell (Robyn)

Oo, thank you.

Timothy (DM)

Alright, so you cast Sanctuary on Robyn--

Kara (Goldfinch)

Which means that until the spell ends, any creature who targets a warded creature with an attack or harmful spell must first make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, I can tell you what happened when it comes to it.

Timothy (DM)

Perfect.

Russell (Robyn)

Cool. Do I feel all warm and tingly?

Timothy (DM)

So, Robin feels ALL warm and tingly and protected and safe. Nothing can hurt you.

Russell (Robyn)

I feel as snug as a bug in a rug?

Timothy (DM)

Yes, as snug as a bug in a rug.

Kara (Goldfinch)

You're like encased in this, for a second, like, the shimmering light that's, like, goldish white, and then that fades in to.

Russell (Robyn)

Karma, thank you for your protection (because I don't see you cast it). [Tim laughs]

Dan (Wren)

So the the "dead person" quote unquote, dead person is 40 feet away you said up to this point, right? Approximately?

Timothy (DM)

Yeah.

Dan (Wren)

So, I'm gonna have to use my bonus action to dash over--

Timothy (DM)

Alright

Dan (Wren)

--to that person, and I'm gonna use my action to check for vitals and potentially heal depending on how badly this person is injured.

Russell (Robyn)

This is why you're the boss.

Timothy (DM)

You sent a faint pulse.

Dan (Wren)

Good enough for me! Okay, so, Wren is not a magical healer, as you can imagine, because he is a rogue, but he's got the healer feat. So, for those listening at home, the healer feat allows me to stabilize a dying person and potentially give, like, wake them up, like, we... they can regain an HP. I can also heal non-dying people to actually heal them for a certain, like, I think it's a d6 plus something as, like, an action. So, a healer but not your conventional magic healer. That's a Medicine check, right?

Timothy (DM)

Yes.

Dan (Wren)

Okay. That is 16 in Medicine.

Timothy (DM)

All right, so you start trying to stabilize this person. At first, it's not quite evident what is wrong with them. You sense a faint pulse, and their body is motionless, their breathing is very shallow, and you notice bruising that starting to form on their neck. Their larynx has been crushed.

Dan (Wren)

[whispers] Oh, that's not good. [normally] Wren, as part of the healing process is going to toss his cloak, like, over the person so like... to like... kneel over the person and toss his cloak out to, like, prevent rain from coming in, and to like, prepare a space where he can he can heal properly. He's going to reach into his healer's kit and pull out, like, tools. So, any, like, cuts he sees, he's going to, like, sew up and he... and he's going to like apply probably, like, wet grass to, like, cool the area around the larynx to try and, like, relieve any swelling, and anybody who can see him (he's like very methodical) and all of it just happens really quickly. He's just, like, really... knows what he's doing, knows what to do, has practiced.

Timothy (DM)

You whip out all the balms, you have the gauze, and you start putting a compress on it, securing it in place, so that they're not going to move their neck, all of that, and you notice that their breathing does start to deepen. They appear to be stabilized.

Dan (Wren)

Okay, cool. I did my job. That's it. That's my turn. Those are all of my actions. [laughs]

Timothy (DM)

All right, so this "person", kind of shoved away by Robyn, and this sanctuary being thrown up, again opens its jaw and, like, unhinges, and a loud shriek starts to pierce through the air as a black smoke starts pouring out above it, and another face of this black smoke forms above it. It opens its mouth, and the shrieking is now coming from both faces. Everybody make a Wisdom saving throw that can see it, so Wren is surely hidden.

Kara (Goldfinch)

So, they're making an attack or spell against Robyn, right?

Timothy (DM)

Oh yeah, I mean it's kind of like an AoE, does that...?

Kara (Goldfinch)

I don't know what that means for area effects, but it says "attack or harmful spell must first make a Wisdom saving throw".

Timothy (DM)

Okay, I will do that. What is your DC?

Kara (Goldfinch)

Not great: 12.

Timothy (DM)

It passes.

Kara (Goldfinch)

Nothing happens.

Timothy (DM)

Okay. Lovely... for me. [Tim laughs]

Kara (Goldfinch)

What's the ask, by the way?

Timothy (DM)

Wisdom save. So, now you have to make a Wisdom save [laughs]

Russell (Robyn)

Timothy (DM)

Kara (Goldfinch)

Natural 20.

Russell (Robyn)

Yay, that's the first one, right? [air siren horns]

Timothy (DM)

Again, this is ABSOLUTELY out-of-this-world terrifying, but you have a mission that you're trying to do. You are here to protect these people. You hold steadfast in your conviction, and you hold your ground.

Russell (Robyn)

Is its head still like pointing up?

Timothy (DM)

Yeah.

Russell (Robyn)

Robyn's gonna go "Well, that was extra" and throw a punch at-- non-lethal throw a punch!

Timothy (DM)

All right.

Russell (Robyn)

Does a 9 hit?

Timothy (DM)

A 9 does not hit.

Russell (Robyn)

I just, y'know, I'm sooo struck by the noise that I just slap the throat. [Dan laughs] Thus, the punch is more of... [Russell coughs as he punches his own throat]

Timothy (DM)

Did you just hit your own throat? [Dan laughs]

Russell (Robyn)

[wheezing] I DID. I DID

Timothy (DM)

No-ho-ho.

Russell (Robyn)

[clears throat] Oh, I didn't think that through.

Timothy (DM)

Don't do that please.

Russell (Robyn)

Yep, hm. All right. I'm gonna follow up with a... with an unarmed strike 'cause I slap it, and I'm going to [slapping noise] uh, 13?

Timothy (DM)

13 hits.

Russell (Robyn)

5 points of bludgeoning damage as I redirect my wrist up and punch him in the chin.

Timothy (DM)

All right. So, their body is rather battered. You see blood dripping from their nose. They have a cut on their lip. They're bruised, but their jaw's still unhinged towards the sky.

Russell (Robyn)

Can I also do a free action?

Timothy (DM)

Yes, you may.

Russell (Robyn)

Can I rip the amulet off and shove it in its mouth? [laughs] Oh, no! What if he chokes? It's too late, I already did it.

Dan (Wren)

[laughing] Oh great.

Timothy (DM)

Okay, you rip the amulet off, you shove it into the "person"'s mouth.

Russell (Robyn)

Yes.

Timothy (DM)

--and the shrieking starts to build. Roll 3d6 and 3d12.

Russell (Robyn)

[concerned] For me or for the person?

Dan (Wren)

You're gonna burn the soul out of this person.

Russell (Robyn)

9 damage. 9 d6, damage for the d6s. And, oh, math is hard. And 20 damage toward- towards it.

Timothy (DM)

28?

Russell (Robyn)

20. Just 20. So, do I take the 9 damage?

Timothy (DM)

Alright, so this is what happens. [Russell clenches] So, you shove this amulet down the "person"'s mouth, and the shriek builds, and it's piercing your eardrums, and the smoky visage starts to kind of blur, and the smoke starts pouring out of the person's throat, just pouring out shooting out like hot steam out of a teapot, and the body collapses to the ground. You see their eyes are open and blank. They are motionless on the ground, and above them is this cloud of smoke that is swirling chaotically and all sorts of agitated until it finally takes a new form: one of those smoky figures from before. This one is a little tattered. Its form is less held, but it stands above the body or floats above the body.

Russell (Robyn)

You win some, you lose some. Balance. Praise Karma!

Timothy (DM)

Oh no!

Russell (Robyn)

All right, yep. Guess I'm just underneath the smoky thing? Do I'diiie? Save me. Did I take any damage?

Timothy (DM)

No, you did not.

Kara (Goldfinch)

For now...

Russell (Robyn)

That poor man.

Timothy (DM)

You just burnt out the soul of this person. [Russell winces]

Kara (Goldfinch)

Oh my god. Oh, wait. So, the amulet did that.

Russell (Robyn)

Yeah, the amulet killed the man that was possessed. [giggles]

Dan (Wren)

It unpossessed him!

Timothy (DM)

It had to draw a lifeforce from somewhere...

Dan (Wren)

The amulet did. Yeah. Okay,

Kara (Goldfinch)

So, wait... So, did the amulet push the spirit out of that person, or was the person possessed and that just was that spirit out of it?

Russell (Robyn)

Yeah, the person ejected--

Kara (Goldfinch)

We can tell it's not that person's spirit.

Russell (Robyn)

Yeah, though the person is now lying on the ground, motionless. [Dan laughs]

Dan (Wren)

Blank-staring up into the rain. [Russell cries]

Timothy (DM)

Yeah, that is what it seems like it was a possession that you ejected from a now dead person. The person is very dead. They have like rigor mortis 100%. Their skin is just sapped of color, and their eyes are just wide open in fear, their jaw's still unhinged.

Russell (Robyn)

[sagely] Balance. [Dan and Tim laugh]

Kara (Goldfinch)

I just, like, kind of look at Robyn, just, like, gesturing and like, "What do I do now?" I lower my great sword but sort of still ready and I'll hold my action to swipe with my great sword as soon as another thing just appears... something but--

Timothy (DM)

The smoke is still there... or the black figure is there.

Kara (Goldfinch)

Oh, still standing there?

Timothy (DM)

--floating over the body. Yeah.

Kara (Goldfinch)

Oh, okay, okay,

Timothy (DM)

It was ejected but it's still present.

Kara (Goldfinch)

Okay, you know what? I gonna take a swipe at that.

Dan (Wren)

Goddamn! Use lethal. I authorize that.

Timothy (DM)

You charge in, you draw your sword in one hand--

Kara (Goldfinch)

Imagine a seven foot tall half-Goliath with a really, really big, you know, sword's that usually like least three quarters of your height or something? So, for Goliath, it's like, what? Five foot? Five foot sword and a shield in one hand. So, I'm protecting myself as I swipe at this black spirit thing.

Timothy (DM)

Yeah.

Kara (Goldfinch)

I rolled a 14 plus 6, so that's 20.

Timothy (DM)

A 20 will absolutely hit.

Russell (Robyn)

It's a greatsword. You get to reroll 1s and 2s, right? Or is that--

Dan (Wren)

Isn't it? I think that's a... that's a fighting style. Do you... thinking about a fighting style?

Kara (Goldfinch)

No, I'm a Dueling. I'm a Dueling.

Dan (Wren)

Yeah, gotcha.

Kara (Goldfinch)

So yeah, it's a very weak two arms? Plus four. So 6. They get something

Dan (Wren)

That's not too bad.

Russell (Robyn)

Yeah

Kara (Goldfinch)

Yeah.

Dan (Wren)

It's more damage than I'm ever gonna do, so...

Timothy (DM)

[awestruck] It's enough. [disbelief from Russell and Kara] It's just enough.

Dan (Wren)

Good thing you burned the soul outta that fucker.

Timothy (DM)

You bring your sword down through the figure, and you slash right through it, and as you do, the momentum of your sword just splits the figure, and the smoke is drawn with it as it is whipped out and fades out and dissipates into the air around you.

Kara (Goldfinch)

[coldly] And don't come back. [Dan and Russell laugh]

Timothy (DM)

The camp is, for the most part, silent. Except for one new sound that you can all make out.

Russell (Robyn)

Oh no.

Timothy (DM)

The whimpering of the mayor from behind a nearby tent.

Kara (Goldfinch)

[whispers] I'm just gonna check that out.

Dan (Wren)

I got it. I got it.

Kara (Goldfinch)

Are we still in initiative by the way?

Timothy (DM)

No.

Dan (Wren)

I'm going to prioritize. Just double-triple-checking the man with the amulet in his mouth.

Russell (Robyn)

No, I want to do that. I want to do that too. I feel for a pulse.

Dan (Wren)

Seeing you doing that, I'll go... I'll go talk to the mayor.

Kara (Goldfinch)

I'm tending to the bodies by the firepit.

Timothy (DM)

Okay. So, the one body has been stabilized, but you're helping, and they're slowly, like, regaining consciousness. You start hearing them mumbling.

Dan (Wren)

"Um, they shouldn't talk." I tell you. "They shouldn't talk; their larynx has been crushed. So, try to keep them from talking."

Timothy (DM)

So, they start kind of murmuring, and their eyes are slowly blinking open, and you're able to continue to care for them. Um, [laughs] Robyn, on the other hand... [Kara laughs]

Russell (Robyn)

So, I want to simultaneously check the pulse while I pluck the amulet out of their mouth, and pocket it.

Timothy (DM)

You put your fingers on their neck, and you pull the amulet out of their mouth. Everything is very stiff, so you kind of have to, like, jiggle it out between their molars and you don't feel a pulse at all. Like, there's nothing. There's... this person is very much dead. Without a resurrection spell, they're gone.

Russell (Robyn)

I'll use my two fingers to close their eyes, and say... [thinking]

Dan (Wren)

[to Russell] I know you have something for dead people.

Russell (Robyn)

[racking his brain] Do I?

Kara (Goldfinch)

That was out in front of me by the way, right? I just kind of, like, look at Robyn and say, "This is probably for the best. Like, you know, they were possessed. They had something foreign in them."

Russell (Robyn)

"Anyone can fly, but it's the landin' that kills you."

Kara (Goldfinch)

Just look at Robyn, exasperatedly.

Russell (Robyn)

Uh, guards, we got a body over here.

Timothy (DM)

So, at this point, there's a lot more people awake, and they've seen a commotion. So, like, this time, as they step out of their tents, they see something going on, and people are starting to collect all around you. They look frightened. They don't know what's going on. Most of them caught only the end glimpses of that encounter, and so they can't explain what they've seen, and they are surveying the scene, and they see one person in bad condition, another person very much dead, and the black smoke is still dissipating from the area in the light of the fire.

Kara (Goldfinch)

I sort of, like, gesture, like, try to calm them with my-my hands, like, "It's alright folks. Like, we-we've handled this figure." I try to calm them with my might calm tone, like, try to, like, exude confidence in just, like, making sure that they're not, like, growing, growing in fear, which would lead to, like, honestly, like, just confusion in the large crowd. That's not good.

Russell (Robyn)

Yep, that's smart.

Kara (Goldfinch)

Yeah. So, I just continue to do that and sort of, like, look toward these... you two while I do that.

Dan (Wren)

I'm gonna go find the mayor.

Timothy (NPC)

[shook] Wh-wh-what's going on here? What was that thing?

Russell (Robyn)

It was a demon.

Timothy (NPC)

[racing for breath] Uhh, are w-we in d-danger?

Russell (Robyn)

No--

Timothy (NPC)

Do we do we need to get out of here? [frantic breathing]

Russell (Robyn)

No, it's been exor-m'cised. So, we good...I mean, your friend here. Unfortunately, not. The exorcism killed...killed them, but, uh, we should all be safe, everyone else here.

Timothy (DM)

As you're saying that somebody else who is joining the crowd recognizes the body, and they let out a scream in agony as they run towards and collapse over it, crying.

Kara (Goldfinch)

I sort of, like, since I'm near the body. I sort of, like, sort of put my hand on the shoulder and say, "I'm very sorry for your loss. We tried to protect this person, but it seems like there's some sort of spirit inhabiting his body. When did you last see this person?"

Timothy (NPC)

[in broken tearful voice] They were...they were just in bed next to me. Yeah. We had just gone to sleep.

Kara (Goldfinch)

You didn't see them leave?

Timothy (NPC)

No, I just woke up with the commotion, and they weren't here, and I was freaking out. What happened?

Kara (Goldfinch)

We're still in the process of figuring it out, but we're going to quickly find the answers for you.

Timothy (NPC)

Please do, please find who or whatever did this and j-j-just put an end to it. [crying]

Kara (Goldfinch)

You see, um, Goldfinch have a very careful neutral face, whether that is comforting or not, that's up to the person, but they just, like, sort of, like, hears them out and say, like, "It's okay. We're going to find the answers. We don't know who would do this to them, but everything just happens for a reason. That is how we experience life. Sort of, like, you know, repeating the, uh, phrases and rituals of Tam Vanum that I found comforting, just saying that not that anything has meaning, but there's comfort in the chaos. And that there doesn't have to be reason to this, but there's comfort in that." It may not be comforting to that person, but I try in my the way that I speak that it's clearly comforting to me, and I'm confident that it happened this way for a reason.

Timothy (DM)

Yeah.

Kara (Goldfinch)

For not a reason. Yeah.

Timothy (DM)

Yeah, I mean, so they're so caught up in the events of what happened, and so they're... they hear what you're saying, but they are more involved in the death of their loved one.

Dan (Wren)

I'm gonna find the mayor.

Timothy (DM)

So, the mayor is still like cowering behind a tent, but slowly creeping out.

Timothy (Mayor Charles)

Oh, my God. Are there...there gonna be more of those, like, do I need to get people out of here? Like, what is what is going on?

Dan (Wren)

I don't know, but your people need you right now, and cowering behind a tent is not helping anyone.

Timothy (Mayor Charles)

Wh-what was I gonna? [stopping himself] No, you're right. You're right.

Dan (Wren)

Wren isn't gonna wait for a response. He's going to turn on his heels and head back to the woman who's, like, on the... the body of the person, take off his cloak, and drape it over her, so she's, like, out of the rain and warm and kneel down and say "I'm so sorry for your loss. When we can, we'll bury him and we'll give him a proper burial."

Timothy (NPC)

Thank you for that. [sniffling] That would... that's very kind of you.

Dan (Wren)

[quietly]...I am gonna need that cloak back. [Russell laughs] But, I am gonna need that back.

Timothy (DM)

Alright.

Russell (Robyn)

Can I say something, but then can we just cut it because it's probably too much?

Timothy (DM)

Sure.

Russell (Robyn)

Robyn's gonna lean in and say "You should take comfort in knowing that Karma chose him, and that it was time to go." [Tim laughs]

Timothy (DM)

So much religious dogma going on over here, which makes sense! Not uncalled for, not always unwelcome. Sometimes, it is asked for.. Right, you say that.

Dan (Wren)

Wren will stand up on a crate or something where he can get up taller than everybody, [looking at Goldfinch] except as probably as tall as you are [laughs] and I'm kinda, like, to talk to the people. "I'm sorry that you all had to experience this tonight. If everyone could just please go back to their tents and try and get some sleep, we believe that the source of whatever caused this came from the forest, and early tomorrow morning we will set off to new campsite far away from this place where you'll be safe. We will stay up and monitor the woods until then."

Timothy (DM)

You hear a couple of objections people are also wanting to ask questions. Give me a Persuasion role to kind of quell the crowd. Quell? Is "quell" the right word there? Calm? Give me a Persuasion role to calm the crowd.

Dan (Wren)

I rolled an 8. [Russell chokes]

Timothy (DM)

Okay. So, you are struggling to calm everyone down. People are confused, scared, unsure...

Dan (Wren)

I'm going to shoot a look to the mayor, like a stern, like, that's, like, two fingers "lookin' at you" look.

Timothy (Mayor Charles)

[in a Boston accent] Alright, alright. Now, uh [clears throat] the-the Wings of Mercy are here. Why did I become Bostonian?

Russell (Robyn)

[in a mobster voice] "Ahm da mayuh"

Dan (Wren)

[in a Boston accent] "Weer heeya tuh help"

Timothy (DM)

[still in the accent] All right, the [in agony] Oh my gosh! I... say, er, say something as Robyn. I need to get my voice back.

Russell (Robyn)

Oh, alright. "Calm down, everyone. As we all know, the goddess Karma preaches that 'An empty wagon is the loudest' so we... if we just pop down and go to bed, we should all be all right.

Timothy (Mayor Charles)

Y'all heard the Wings of Mercy. There is nothing we can do here. We must all just go back to bed and hope that that was the last of it. The... [stammers]

Russell (Robyn)

A quick side note, if you think someone's possessed, bring them to me and I'll just smack them with this here ding-doodle, and they should be good to go.

Timothy (DM)

Okay, give me a Persuasion roll, and--

Russell (Robyn)

Oh no!

Timothy (DM)

--the mayor is going to also assist with their advantage because they have, uh, familiarity with the townsfolk, and as they've been bumbling over their words, they are not coming across very persuasive.

Russell (Robyn)

Oh, do I have advantage?

Timothy (DM)

No.

Russell (Robyn)

Timothy (DM)

13. Okay.

Kara (Goldfinch)

You have a minus one?

Russell (Robyn)

Yeah.

Timothy (DM)

So, with a 13, like people are not fully buying what you're putting out. They are still really uneasy, and they have a bunch of questions. They might be coming up to approach you to ask said questions, but the vast majority people are not going back to sleep. They are going to hang out by that campfire and...

Russell (Robyn)

This is where he was possessed. This is not a good place to stay!

Timothy (DM)

--or they'll-they'll hang out in the lighted areas of the camp, and you start to see some of the torches going back on throughout the camp. People are relighting up the camp, and everyone is on alert.

Kara (Goldfinch)

But I have more eyes, I guess.

Dan (Wren)

I guess that's fine.

Russell (Robyn)

Yeah. All right. I've been holding it together, but [coughs] she coughs up some blood. "I-I need to lay down."

Dan (Wren)

Here. Let me take a look at you. I'd like to try and heal Robyn.

Timothy (DM)

All right. Give me your check.

Dan (Wren)

That's a Medicine check. That is a... not as good. That is a 13.

Timothy (DM)

All right, 'cause your medicine works special, doesn't it?

Dan (Wren)

Yeah. So "as an action, you can spend one use of a healer... of a healer's kit to tend to a creature to a restore 1d6 plus four to it plus additional HP equal to the creature's maximum number of hit dice" which is--

Timothy (DM)

Do you even need to do a check then?

Dan (Wren)

I guess, maybe not... but also, like, would it make a whole lot of sense to, like, just be able to, like, "healed"?

Timothy (DM)

That's kinda what other healers do, but yeah, I get what you're talking about. Okay, so a 13 is... we'll just count that as a success.

Dan (Wren)

Okay, cool. It's like the general maybe "above 10" sort of rule. And you should have three hit dice because your level 3, right? I'm pretty sure it's just your level right? It's how many hit dice you have? Yeah, 'cause, like, mine is 3d8. Yes, so you get healed for 11 points of damage. I have some like slaves on me that I, like, rub into your bruises that help, like, calms you down.

Russell (Robyn)

Oh, that feels good. Oh, that's tasty, too.

Dan (Wren)

Oh, yeah. Mmhm.

Russell (Robyn)

Oh, is this edible?

Dan (Wren)

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I use in cooking sometimes.

Russell (Robyn)

Oh, well, I do like the aromatics. [Tim stifles laughter]

Russell (Robyn)

Feel free to rein me in whenever. I'm...

Timothy (DM)

Alright, Wren has performed some medicinal services. That sounds weird. Medicinal services for Robyn, who has started to regain their constitution, um, and the rain is starting to let up.

Kara (Goldfinch)

Finally.

Dan (Wren)

I mean, I imagine we stay up until dawn.

Kara (Goldfinch)

You risk exhaustion. Should we try to do a watch or...?

Russell (Robyn)

I mean, I can always meditate when we're on the road or during the day.

Dan (Wren)

We spent a lot of time on the edge of this forest and didn't see anything during the day, and at night all of this started to happen, so while it might not stop it at daybreak, I'm hoping it well. And I imagine that people have started packing up their stuff if they're all awake. I might have asked them to, honestly. If you're going to be awake, pack up your gear. We're going to move at first... at first light.

Russell (Robyn)

Oh, we do.

Dan (Wren)

Yeah, we're not staying here another night.

Russell (Robyn)

Oh, but I thought we... okay.

Kara (Goldfinch)

What are you thinking?

Russell (Robyn)

I thought we...we gone... we gone-don got the doodad. We did.

Dan (Wren)

Yeah, but we don't know how many gone-don other doodads there are!

Russell (Robyn)

Ah, oh, he's... alright. I see what you're getting at. [Tim rolls more dice] I'm counting my eggs before they're raised--

Dan (Wren)

Eight. There eight more based on that roll. [laughs]

Russell (Robyn)

--before the hen laid 'em!

Timothy (DM)

So, you all are talking amongst yourselves, trying to put some of the villagers minds at ease as they approach you, and the rain has started to clear, but with another crack of lightning, you see in the forest towards the temple, several figures hidden between the trees.

Kara (Goldfinch)

So, towards the temple not like... so are the trees, like, where they're hidden that... are they like obviously on the edge? Like, towards us or is it more like--

Timothy (DM)

They're a little deeper into the forest than the things that you've been seeing, and you can't quite count all of them in the flash of lightning, but they're just, like, in between the trees. You notice a couple figures standing or floating,

Dan (Wren)

Are they corpor-- okay, I was gonna say are they corporeal figures?

Russell (Robyn)

[slightly hurried] Yeah, maybe we should leave? As soon as possible?

Dan (Wren)

Yeah, absolutely, yeah.

Russell (Robyn)

Alright, I'm going to go start helping people pack.

Kara (Goldfinch)

Yeah, I think we should be swift and try to get people to get going.

Dan (Wren)

Leave things you don't need. Bring food. Water.

Russell (Robyn)

We'll come back in the day for personal belongings.

Dan (Wren)

Maybe.

Kara (Goldfinch)

During the day? Yeah.

Russell (Robyn)

I mean, I'm a fast runner. Carry back a couple handfuls of pictures. I don't know.

Timothy (DM)

All right. So, do you go to the mayor to tell them your plan?

Dan (Wren)

I will. I'm going to leave you two to stay and watch.

Kara (Goldfinch)

Great! [Dan laughs] Fantastic. That went so well last time. All right.

Timothy (DM)

All right. So...

Dan (Wren)

Okay, yeah, I gotta go to the mayor and be like, "Um, not to alarm you, but there are figures in the forest. Many of them, I didn't get a good count. And so we need to move everybody now."

Timothy (Mayor Charles)

There's more those figures?

Dan (Wren)

I have no idea if they're the same figures, but let's not take that chance to find out.

Timothy (Mayor Charles)

[in accent] "Oh, yeah, you're right. We got to get out of here. We can't." [normally] Oh my gosh. I don't know what voice I started with, but it's this now. This is what it is now. "All right. I'll ring the bell." [long pause]

Russell (Robyn)

[confused] Wait, we got a bell?

Timothy (Mayor Charles)

Yeah, he brought a bell with him to... He's the mayor! He pulled the bell off the town hall, and brought it with...

Russell (Robyn)

[astonished] How big is this bell?!

Kara (Goldfinch)

That's kind of his job.

Timothy (DM)

It's like a cowbell! It's like a... It's like a small town, they-they need something to, like, be loud and clingy to, like, call everybody to the town center. So [clang, clang, clang, clang clang]. Now, everybody is quickly, and they were already on alert, so they're quickly coming together towards the sound of the bell, and they are waiting for instructions.

Dan (Wren)

I'm going to tell the mayor to gather your best hunters and bring them to the edge of the forest. With bows, obviously,

Timothy (Mayor Charles)

All right. Are we... are we gettin' the rest of the people out of here though?

Dan (Wren)

Everybody else's.... everybody else should move east.

Timothy (Mayor Charles)

All right. Alright. Apparently, there are more of those things, and, uh, hate to do this to y'all because you probably wanted to sleep tonight, but we got to get the fuck out of here. Uhhh. [Dan and Russell laugh] So, grab whatever you can, we're leaving right now. Only bring what's necessary. We'll come back in the dayligh.t We'll-we'll send people or whatever, it doesn't... just we-we got to get out of here.

Dan (Wren)

Things can be replaced. You can't.

Timothy (Mayor Charles)

And with that, like, everybody starts rushing about, grabbing stuff. They're chattering. There's like a lot of noise going on, and the mayor is going to grab run and start leading you towards some of the hunters. Goes up to them. "Uh, sorry. We're gonna have to... w-w-we need your help with something else, um. Get your family in order and meet us at the edge of the woods."

Dan (Wren)

Mayor, you just... you stay behind and lead everybody. Send your hunters.

Timothy (Mayor Charles)

Alright. So, these-these guys and gals, they'll head your way.

Dan (Wren)

And I'm gonna head to the edge of the woods to meet up with y'all.

Timothy (DM)

Y'all. All right. So, you will meet at the edge of the forest. You're ready. You see all of the villagers are packing up, grabbing stuff, throwing it into carts, throwing it into wagons, getting the horses all reined up and getting out of the camp, and you see a couple of the other hunters, like, three or four of them coming your direction. They look a little confused and disoriented. They look uneasy, but they meet you all at the edge of the forest. They all have bows.

Russell (Robyn)

The hunters are with us at the edge of the forest?

Dan (Wren)

Oh, perfect. Shoot anything that comes past that treeline.

Timothy (DM)

Alright, you're just standing at the edge of the forest, like, oh, okay.

Dan (Wren)

We're just a barrier between us and the helpless villagers.

Timothy (DM)

While people are camp-camping out?

Dan (Wren)

Yeah, while people are leaving.

Russell (Robyn)

We're like the rearguard.

Timothy (DM)

Getting out? Okay, so you're just, like, taking up the rear? Yeah. Okay. You stand at the edge of the forest. You have a couple hunters with you with bows. You're all on edge. You had seen figures in the forest, and you were looking, and you can't see them anymore until another crack of lightning lights up the woods, and again, you see figures now in different places. All kind of spread out throughout the forest towards the temple.

Russell (Robyn)

[shouting backwards] Yeah, we need to pick up the pace, people!

Dan (Wren)

Are they moving closer? Or are they still like the same distance?

Timothy (DM)

There doesn't seem to be a pattern, they're just like... the first time you saw them, they were kind of grouped up in one area, and now there's figures all throughout the forest.

Kara (Goldfinch)

And you said they were heading towards the temple?

Timothy (DM)

They are in the direction of the temple.

Dan (Wren)

So, like, almost coming from the temple.

Timothy (DM)

But, so is the forest, but yes.,

Russell (Robyn)

So, it's like a haunted forest. [laughs]

Kara (Goldfinch)

So, what if it's related to the temple and there's that giant frickin' skull.

Dan (Wren)

Well, let's get as far away as we can.

Russell (Robyn)

Or we could go burn it.

Dan (Wren)

You want to go in that woods?

Russell (Robyn)

No.

Dan (Wren)

Didn't think so.

Russell (Robyn)

Also stone don't burn too good.

Dan (Wren)

Right, stone don't burn. [laughs] That's just as if you just burn down the doors. [Kara and Russell laugh]

Timothy (DM)

A rush of air whips pass you all, and the torches in the area all go out.

Dan (Wren)

Okay. Luckily, I can see 10 to 15 feet.

Russell (Robyn)

[one-upping Wren] I can see 60.

Timothy (DM)

So, Robyn is staring out into the forest. With the commotion, you've lost sight of any figures. They seem to be gone again.

Dan (Wren)

Do people like their torches back up?

Timothy (DM)

So, this is all at the edge of the camp. No one's concerned with this. They're all doing their things, getting ready, doing exactly what you said. Oh, there so there were just, like, a couple torches that were on the edge of camp that went out. If any of you were holding any, that one went out. Because I think you had a torch.

Kara (Goldfinch)

Yeah.

Dan (Wren)

I'll instruct a hunter to go relight the torches.

Timothy (DM)

Alright, so they go, and they relight all the torches. It's only like two or three.

Russell (Robyn)

That's suspicous.

Dan (Wren)

We wait!

Timothy (DM)

And you wait... in silence

Russell (Robyn)

Fists ready!

Dan (Wren)

Yeah, once the caravan starts to move, we're gonna go with.

Russell (Robyn)

Yeah.

Timothy (Mayor Charles)

And in that moment, you hear the bell going [clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang]. "Alright, we're on out of here. Oh, we're on outta here", and that's what you hear coming from camp, but simultaneously, you hear a shriek coming from the forest, rushing towards you. You all turn around. You see another figure rushing towards you. A tear opens up.

Russell (Robyn)

Not today, Satan!

Timothy (DM)

A tear opens up. Robyn whips out the amulet--

Russell (Robyn)

I mean, not today, demon.

Timothy (DM)

Roll a d6.

Dan (Wren)

Satan doesn't really work.

Russell (Robyn)

No, Satan doesn't exist. [Dan laughs]

Timothy (DM)

You hear a shriek, you feel 2 hit points of necrotic energy being sapped from your body--

Russell (Robyn)

6 to them

Timothy (DM)

--as it whips through the tear in the space before you and blips again out of existence.

Dan (Wren)

Can I try to hit it with an arrow too? Like, loose an arrow?

Timothy (DM)

Yeah, give me an attack.

Dan (Wren)

Timothy (DM)

14. Okay, so you loose an arrow on it right as this is all happening. It kind of collapses into the tear, and the tear shuts, and the arrow drops to the ground with a clean break where it had been snapped in between this space and the beyond.

Dan (Wren)

[excitedly] Ooo, did I kill something on the other side? [whispers] I hope I did.

Timothy (DM)

Everyone's leaving off in to the east. You're standing at the forest; you don't see anything in this immediate future. What will y'all do?

Dan (Wren)

We're--

Russell (Robyn)

"Make like a tree, and get the fuck out of here."

Dan (Wren)

Yeah, we're gonna keep an eye on the forest as we head... head away with the caravan but... but head away with the caravan nonetheless.

Timothy (DM)

So, you start chasing after the caravan. The other hunters are tagging along with you. You hear whispers from the woods. You see wisps of black smoke coming in and out of the trees. With every crash of lightning, you see figures standing in the woods behind you, and you are RUNNING away, and [heaves a sigh of relief] that's the last of it.

Russell (Robyn)

I would like to point out that Robyn is going to use her full dash speed of 90 feet and she's father than anyone else.

Timothy (DM)

Sprinting the heck out of there--

Russell (Robyn)

Little Roadrunner. [zooming sounds]

Timothy (DM)

--and that's the last of it. You take the caravan out towards the other location marked on your map, you find a flatish area, and you all settle in as you don't witness any more events throughout the night. Nobody sleeps well. Everyone is on edge. Many people stay up the night--

Dan (Wren)

Us included.

Timothy (DM)

--but eventually, dawn breaks. The sun reaches out above the hills, and daybreak has come.

Timothy (DM)

And the whispering stopped.

Timothy (DM)

And the whipserings stopped. No more shadows, no more figures. It's behind you all. Whatever it was. Not. Your. Problem. [laughs]

Russell (Robyn)

"A bull without horns is still smart." [Tim laughs]

Dan (Wren)

Yay! [group makes airhorn noises].

Timothy (DM)

And that is where this chapter of Shadows of Prophecy comes to a close. Thank you for joining us through the darkness and continue the story next time for a thrilling new adventure.

Timothy (DM)

Shout out to my brother known as the chill electronic vapor soul artist loss 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 to check them out at syrinscape.com I always use them at my game table. And it really does add that little something special to bring your players into the story. Also, please follow us on Twitter at @ShadowsProphecy and Instagram at @shadows_of_prophecy. And 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.