Timothy (DM)
Welcome to Shadows of Prophecy, a D&D real play podcast following the ill-omened web of lives whispered by the Void, their names repeated in the darkness. Shadows of Prophecy is a Dungeons and Dragons podcast with violent themes and adult language. Listener discretion is advised.
Timothy (Narrator)
Yet not carved in the stone, what has been set into motion is often difficult to avoid. So relax, sit back and join me as we wait to see if these twisted fates weave webs of loss and tragedy, just as we're expecting. I'm on the edge of my chair in antici-- ... pation.
Timothy (DM)
With us today to traverse through adventures of angst and arcane, we have myself, Timothy, as our ambivalent DM.
Kendrick (Winn D)
I am Kendrick (pronouns he/they) and I'm playing Winn D. Williamson, "How you doin' ?" [Editor's Note: This is a pun on the talk show Wendy Williams]
Russell (Blades)
I'm Russell (pronouns he/they) and I am playing Blades, a rambunctious rascal that all the maids want to tackle. Blade's pronouns are he/him.
Nicole (Sorelli)
I'm Nicole (pronouns she/her). I'm playing Sorelli Chambers, the twisted sister orphan of the forest and silent whisperer of the spirit realms. [Editor's Note: Twisted Siste is a rock band]
Timothy (DM)
Oooo.
Nicole (Sorelli)
It's gonna get weird.
Kendrick (Winn D)
Damn... alright.
Timothy (DM)
Last season on Shadows of Prophecy, we peered into the complex web of lives touched by the insidious whispers of the Void. Deep in the Enchanted Forest, a group of researchers (Alice, Panret, and Upri) uncovered ancient runes of the demi goddess Freya, but what exactly was in that book that Alice seemed so defensive of? Years later, Panret extended an invitation to Upri to attend the annual Ilrune Festival of the Goddess, and Yonce tagged along. The day consisted of copious amounts of food, drink, flowers, and dancing.
Kendrick (Midnight Dunreath)
And bacon.
Timothy (DM)
And bacon..
Russell (Blades)
Andm drugs. Lots of drugs. [Kendrick echoes]
Timothy (DM)
However, the normally harmless celebration of a cycle of life quickly turned to dark as we learned that the Steward had abused their position of power for more insidious purposes. But what was her end goal? And where did she take Upri?
Russell (Blades)
Fuckin stew.
Kendrick (Winn D)
[laughs] The Stew.
Timothy (DM)
Act One: In the Shadows. Chapter 12 - Overgrowth
Russell (Blades)
[winces] Oh no...
Timothy (DM)
You all sit in the dingy cottage of Audrina Adan, who you have recently met upon your arrival to the village of Magalie, a small farming community on the edge of the Enchanted Forest. Audrina sits across a small breakfast nook table. Their eyes are bloodshot and set in sunken sockets, heavy with dark bags, indicating many sleepless nights. Frizzy dark curls stuffed in a blue scarf tied on her head and a stained tunic implies many tireless days.
Timothy (Audrina)
*sigh* Thank you for meeting me. You said your name was Sorelli?
Nicole (Sorelli)
Yes. Audrina, what troubles you so?
Timothy (Audrina)
[breathless] Thank goodness you've arrived. I don't know how much longer I can hold out. It appears our town has come across some troublesome spirit, and my powers are weakening. I cannot hold them back any longer. You've come at the opportune moment. [pause] Will you help us?
Nicole (Sorelli)
I feel the dimness in your energy, and I too believe that we've arrived at exactly the right time. I've been feeling the spirit for days.
Russell (Blades)
[British accent] Right right. And I'm just going to add that we will also help you for the right price. Hi, Sorel-- I'm the sibling. Nice to meet you.
Timothy (DM)
Nicole, would you like to introduce your character?
Nicole (Sorelli)
I would *love* to. Sorelli is a Kalashtar sorcerer at about five feet six inches tall. She has dark, thin hair at about shoulder length and is wearing a thin black dress that goes all the way to the ground. Her eyes are green, but occasionally in the right light they flicker and become gray, almost... almost dead-like, and she's always wearing a black choker around her neck, which she never takes off even when she sleeps
Timothy (DM)
And Russell, would you like to introduce your character?
Russell (Blades)
I'm playing Blades. Blades is a human of moderate height with a slender athletic build in his mid 20s or so (I didn't feel like decidign an age; you're welcome). He has long, wavy dark brown hair that he usually keeps tied up behind his head in a messy ponytail. His face boasts sharp angular features beneath thick stubble, and his eyes are the shade of honey that he keeps framed with charcoal eyeliner. His resting face is typically that of a scowl, a habit he picked up growing up on the streets. He wears an emerald green shirt that he keeps loosely laced in the front showing off his muscular chest. He wears an asymmetrical bronze plated armor that protects his left arm, shoulder and chest, but keeps his right arm free because that's his dominant sword arm, and then he has two swords that he keeps strapped his back along with a longbow. Yeah, and then the rest of his armor is kind of, like, worn leather has daggers strapped everywhere. Looks like he's ready to fuck it up. But dashingly so.
Timothy (DM)
As the two of you are having this conversation with Audrina, another person busies in the background. Kendrick, would you like to introduce your character?
Kendrick (Winn D)
Of course! So, my character is Winn D. Williamson; [Russell cackles, "What?!?"] she is 57 years old. If you know the reference, you know the reference. 57 years old, she's very top-heavy, big tits, skinny body. [Russell winces] She has hair the color of hay, [Russell: "Heyyy."] eyes the color of darkness-- [to Russell] exactly-- [all laugh] The people of the town of Magalie, they know her as the town's gossip. She's always in everyone's business, but she does it because she's bored. I mean, it's a small town; there's not really much going on, so how does one busy themselves? By hearing everyone else's shit. And she is one of the closest friends of Audrina, they kind of our fire and ice, they are opposites that attract really well. And yeah, that is it. [a la Wendy Williams] "How you doing?"
Timothy (Audrina)
Very different vibes, um... [all laugh] around this little table. So yeah, so Audrina is gonna kind of fold her hands and start to fidget a little bit. [*sigh*] "I must ask: are your powers real?"
Russell (Blades)
Yes. The realest powers you've ever seen.
Timothy (Audrina)
I really hope you're not just another con artist. We've had so many as of late.
Russell (Blades)
Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that, dear.
Timothy (Audrina)
I can't afford another so please, please, whatever you can do to help us... We really do need it.
Kendrick (Winn D)
Sweetie, do you want some tea?
Timothy (Audrina)
Oh, Wendy! Yes, that would that would be lovely. [Kendrick: "All right."] Would the two of you like some tea as well?
Kendrick (Winn D)
I didn't ask them. Do you want some tea as well?
Russell (Blades)
No, I'm good. Thanks.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Sorelli sort of misses the question and just has her gaze on Audrina and goes over to take Audrina's hands.
Kendrick (Winn D)
So, is that a 'no' from you as well? [Russell wheezes]
Nicole (Sorelli)
No response.
Kendrick (Winn D)
Ruuuude. Okay. [Russell laughs]
Timothy (DM)
Winn D, that'll be fine. Thank you so much.
Kendrick (Winn D)
No problem.
Timothy (DM)
[discombobulated] What do you need? What are we doing? What... How can I help you? [Russell laughs]
Nicole (Sorelli)
Do do you feel?
Timothy (Audrina)
[indescribable moan] I don't feel much of anything right now.
Russell (Blades)
Relatable.
Timothy (Audrina)
What do you feel? Tell me.
Nicole (Sorelli)
There's darkness that surrounds you. [Tim gasps] Why has it chosen you?
Timothy (Audrina)
What do you mean?
Nicole (Sorelli)
Sorrelli... Her eyes change to gray, and she's just gone. She's... she's feeling into some other realm and not really with you all in the room anymore.
Timothy (Audrina)
[whimpers]
Russell (Blades)
Blades is going to walk over to Sorelli and in front of her eyes--
Nicole (Sorelli)
I snap out of it.
Russell (Blades)
Oh, shit. I was just out checking that you are gone. Oh, sorry, sister.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Thank you.
Russell (Blades)
Well, spirit? Here? Yeah? Real?
Nicole (Sorelli)
Real! Real, definitely real.
Timothy (DM)
Well, of course, it's been plaguing us for-for weeks now.
Russell (Blades)
You'd be surprised how many of these cases are in fact, you know, something else?
Timothy (Audrina)
I don't know why anybody would do that, but I suppose you're probably right. You-you are the professionals.
Russell (Blades)
Right you are.
Timothy (Audrina)
So what do we do? Is there something that you need to see? Should I--?
Russell (Blades)
First, I would like to see our fee, and then we can discuss about exercising the spirit.
Timothy (Audrina)
Ha, yes. All right, um...
Russell (Blades)
And we prefer half now, half once the spirit is gone.
Kendrick (Winn D)
Hold on, hold on, hold on. I'm not trying to get into your business and everything like this, but how do I know that you're not con artists? My friend Audrina has had a really rough couple of months. So I need to know.
Russell (Blades)
Did you not see the gray eyes and hoogity-boogity?
Kendrick (Winn D)
It could be a change of the light. I need to know that you are not con artists; the people want to know. *Our* town wants to know.
Russell (Blades)
Alright, Sorelli, do you thing.
Timothy (DM)
[laughs] The people want to know? [Editor's Note: I'm guessing this is a Wendy Williams catch phrase]
Russell (Blades)
Are you a local reporter?
Kendrick (Winn D)
Some people may call me that.
Russell (Blades)
The local gossip column?
Kendrick (Winn D)
I would not consider myself a gossip columner; I just like to know people's business. I think I... everyone just needs to know. This isn't about me. This is about you. I'm not the one who may be a con artist.
Nicole (Sorelli)
At that moment, can I share a visual?
Timothy (DM)
Don't you have Message?
Nicole (Sorelli)
I do... okay--
Russell (Blades)
Do that instead; it's a cantrip.
Nicole (Sorelli)
So, I'm gonna send a Message. So, I will share flashes of all of the spirits, so just then flashes of all of the spirits that we have encountered go before your eyes.
Kendrick (Winn D)
Winn D's eyes are open. I don't think the word is 'agape', but I'm just going to use it.
Timothy (DM)
[laughs] Agape. Eyes agape, mouth agape.
Kendrick (Winn D)
Oh... mouth closed [sing-songy] "Ohhhh! Myyyy! Gawwwwd! I gotta tell the people. Oh! Okay, okay, you're not... Okay. Okay. It's just stop. Stop. Stop the whatever you're doing. Stop it. Bleep it. Stop it. Stop it!"
Russell (Blades)
Alright, that's enough.
Timothy (Audrina)
Winn D, are you okay? What are... what are you doing?
Nicole (Sorelli)
It's basically a resume. [all laugh]
Russell (Blades)
So cheeky, sister darling.
Nicole (Sorelli)
There's-there's much darkness in the lamb.
Timothy (Audrina)
I-I believe you. I believe you! Please don't do whatever you did to Winn D. [Russell laughs]
Kendrick (Winn D)
"I'm gonna need some tea. I'm gonna go back in the background." and Winn D walks away.
Timothy (Audrina)
Think you, Winn D.
Russell (Blades)
I'll also have a whiskey if you don't mind.
Kendrick (Winn D)
Sure.
Timothy (Audrina)
I don't know if you have anything stashed, but I-I certainly don't have any whiskey in my house.
Russell (Blades)
Oh, right, you're just drinking straight tea, my bad.
Kendrick (Winn D)
[to Blades] Don't worry, darling, I hide some whiskey in her house. For those off-days.
Russell (Blades)
I figured as much.
Timothy (Audrina)
Um, so yes, where were we? Gosh, I'm so scattered lately... What would you need?
Russell (Blades)
Well, where's the spirit? Everywhere? Nowhere? Sometimes where?
Timothy (Audrina)
I've managed to keep it mostly confined within the gates of the cemetery with the occasional blip but we have evacuated everybody along the boundaries of... further away towards the center of the village. I don't quite know where the epicenter would be. But [sigh] every-every night it just gets worse and worse. Do we go there too? It's just outside.
Nicole (Sorelli)
I'd personally like to see it.
Russell (Blades)
Yeah, and why don't you stay here, love. Are you sure you can handle more of the spirit?
Timothy (DM)
Um, I mean, as long as I'm here to make sure that it doesn't go any further to get out, I-I think we should be fine. I think... Yes, yes. Yes. Um, you can go on your own, and I will stay here and [sighs] a little shut-eye would be nice.
Kendrick (Winn D)
Winn D walks over and hands Audrina a tea. "The tea is especially delicious this morning, I do say so myself." And then I hand Blades a little shot of whiskey, and then I give Sorelli... I'm just gonna call you Sibling 1 and Sibling 2 'cause I don't really care for your names. (Winn D doesn't care; I love your names. They're amazing) ...just a glass of water. "I know you didn't ask for anything, but you seem a little thirsty. Here's some water." And then I walk away.
Russell (Blades)
[laughs] Winn D, darling, why don't you come with us, you know, so you can recount our exploits to the people, you know, a little word of mouth is usually good for business.
Kendrick (Winn D)
I don't really mess with spirits but since my friend Audrina here can not... I mean look at her she's kind of frazzled. I will go.
Russell (Blades)
Yes, she does not look good; you're right.
Kendrick (Winn D)
She does not; she needs a couple of hours of sleep-eye.
Russell (Blades)
You look quite tired, darling, yes.
Timothy (Audrina)
[sighs] You know, on another day I'd be offended, but I do think you're quite right. [all laugh]
Kendrick (Winn D)
So, sure, I will go with you, but at the sign of a bad spirit, and I am out of there, and I'm telling the people. I will tell Tyrone, I will tell Lippy, I will tell Sarah, and I will tell my baby daughter Barb. [all laugh]
Russell (Blades)
Barb, is that short for something?
Kendrick (Winn D)
Barbarb.
Russell (Blades)
Ah, what a lovely name. It has a nice ring to it.
Kendrick (Winn D)
So lovely, so lovely. You know I had to name her myself.
Russell (Blades)
I'd love to meet her.
Kendrick (Winn D)
You probably won't.
Russell (Blades)
Oh, shucks. [laughs]
Timothy (DM)
[laughs] [to Kendrick] Oh my gosh, we definitely need to work on your naming convention.
Russell (Blades)
My daughter, um... Laptop Mike! [all laugh] My son, uh... Dice Marker!
Timothy (Audrina)
All right. [sigh] Please--
Nicole (Sorelli)
Let us go!
Timothy (Audrina)
--let me know if there's anything else that I can do.
Russell (Blades)
[hand outstretched] Um, half the fee?
Nicole (Sorelli)
Ho, yeah, sorry. Um, how much?
Russell (Blades)
20 gold now; 20 later.
Timothy (Audrina)
20? Okay.
Kendrick (Winn D)
20?!? Sorry, sorry.
Timothy (Audrina)
Winn D, I know, I know it's a lot, but...
Kendrick (Winn D)
Tyone's not gonna be happy about this.
Russell (Blades)
It's a lot because it's a one-time fee.
Timothy (Audrina)
This is important.
Russell (Blades)
A one-time fee that you can make in two easy payments.
Timothy (Audrina)
"Alright..." So she reaches down into a leather pouch on her hip, and you start hearing the clinking of metal as she's, like, digging around. "1-2-3-4... That's a silver. Oh, gosh. I think I have just enough" and she pulls out, like, a handful of... lots of copper, lots of silver and some gold and she's like "I-I think I counted it all [sigh] We'll be able to scrap together the rest when you're down here. I just haven't wanted to bring the villagers close to the cemetery."
Russell (Blades)
Maybe we'd make a one time exception, where we'll collect the fee afterwards. You know so you can get some higher denotations. [Editor's Note: Russell probably meant "denominations"]
Timothy (Audrina)
Thank you so... Thank you so much. I promise we'll be able to pay; everybody will be so grateful if you're able to rid this...
Nicole (Sorelli)
The cost. Brother I know... I know that you have always been the business sibling among us but the cost of allowing this spirit, this force, to do any more damage on this village will be far greater than anything we might pay.
Russell (Blades)
Sister, your heart is too big. Alright. Scrape up what you can, and we'll see.
Timothy (Audrina)
Thank you so much! Oh my gosh. You truly are sent from above.
Russell (Blades)
I mean, Winn D over there, pro bono has been great business.
Timothy (Audrina)
Hezboleps [sp?] has sent you. I've been praying to her every day, hoping, begging. Thank you so much.
Nicole (Sorelli)
We'll see what we can do.
Kendrick (Winn D)
Truly, it's really amazing. You are all at the moment. You're icons, now let's do this.
Timothy (Audrina)
You hear the clattering of metal as she pours the copper back into her pouch. And with that, she-she starts to blink her eyes: they feel and look so heavy as she just is slumped in that chair. "Winn D, will you... will you show them the way? I might take a nap now. Please do come get me if there's any trouble."
Kendrick (Winn D)
"All right, will do." Winn D then goes to the couch. grabs a blanket and just throws it over... throws it over you, and is like "Just sleep, drink the tea. I promise you it is delicious. I added some honey. I know how much you love honey, and just breathe: 6-2-4. 6-2-4."
Timothy (Audrina)
6-2-4. 6-2-4. [laughs] Wait, what? What is that?
Kendrick (Winn D)
Inhale for four beats Hold for two. Release for six. [Editor's Note: This is a breathing ritual to aid in sleep, popularized by the app 'breathe'.]
Timothy (Audrina)
Ahhhh.
Kendrick (Winn D)
There we go. There we go. All right. [looks at the siblings] It works.
Russell (Blades)
I believe it probably does.
Kendrick (Winn D)
Listen, Swords Blades, it works. Okay? All right. You just relax, sweetie. Let's do this. Will I be protected during all this?
Russell (Blades)
Yes. Make sure you bring the whiskey; that's the best protection against the dead. [Tim laughs]
Nicole (Sorelli)
And just be sure that you stand BEHIND me at all times.
Russell (Blades)
Yes, that too.
Kendrick (Winn D)
That'll be no problem because I don't mess with spirits, so I will be behind. I'll bring the whiskey. Do you want anything sweetie?
Nicole (Sorelli)
[looking at the untouched water] No, the water is-is lovely. Thank you.
Kendrick (Winn D)
"I figured as such." Winn D goes into the back, grabs the whiskey, puts it in her satchel. "All right. Let's go! If you're ready, I'm ready."
Nicole (Sorelli)
Lead the way!
Russell (Blades)
Yeah, we-we don't know what the cemetery is, Winn D.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Small town, I imagine.
Russell (Blades)
Stay behind but point, all right?
Kendrick (Winn D)
Audrina, how do I get to the cemetery again?
Russell (Blades)
Wait, can we see it from the house?
Timothy (DM)
Oh, yeah, you can... you can definitely see it from the house. [Russell: "Oh shit."] Like, right at the entrance of the cemetery. [Russell: "Oh, that's a beaut."] So... like, she is the town cleric, and she tends to the cemetery, and as a result she lives *right* there. [Kendrick: "Oh."] Pretty much on site.
Russell (Blades)
Makes sense. Shortest commute ever, really.
Timothy (DM)
Yeah, very short commute.
Kendrick (Winn D)
That was just a... That was just a little Winn D, Winn D... some jokes, some jokes. It's right there. Let's go. [Tim laughs]
Timothy (DM)
So you step outside of Winn D's-- not Winn D's cottage-- Audrina's cottage (Winn D has a house elsewhere in the village).
Kendrick (Winn D)
In the good part!
Russell (Blades)
I'm sure, it's a beautiful home.
Timothy (DM)
In the good part!?!
Kendrick (Winn D)
In the good part.
Timothy (Audrina)
'Cause there are good parts and bad parts in this village of, like, only a couple of hundred people.
Kendrick (Winn D)
Of course. Do you see this hair? It is pure hay. [Editor's note: I'm a loss for this reference. Does it mean that the hair is the color of hay or the consistency of hay?] [Russell laughs]
Timothy (Audrina)
You step outside of Audrina's cottage, and you can see to your right the gates of the cemetery. They are, like, a rusted wrought iron that extends maybe 20 feet up. There's some, like, intricate embellishments on the gate. There's those, like, spiky posts along the top, and you can see just, like, rolling hills with stone pathways that kind of lead up into different sections of the cemetery. You can see small stone structures within the cemetery walls, some light landscaping, and yeah, it's a pretty typical small town cemetery. [Editor's Note: ...with 20-foot tall fences...] Not like a flat area, but kind of layers of tombstones.
Russell (Blades)
It's quite beautiful, actually.
Nicole (Sorelli)
"Yeah, lovely. Lovely flowers, plants, and..." Sorelli's going to walk ahead of the group now that the cemetery is so blatantly in sight [all laugh] and walk about four feet from the gate, not going to go into the cemetery but going to begin seeing what Sorelli might notice or feel in the space.
Timothy (DM)
Sure. How are you going about this? Are you trying to tap into spirits, or are you just observing?
Nicole (Sorelli)
Observing the energetic realm, so just, yeah, feeling into the overall energy of the place.
Timothy (DM)
Yeah, so give me an Arcana. First roll of the session. [all laugh]
Nicole (Sorelli)
[rolls bad] Oh brother, we might have been a little OVER-confident here. That's gonna be a nine.
Timothy (Audrina)
First roll in the session. Was that a nat 1?
Russell (Blades)
That's a 7.
Nicole (Sorelli)
No, it's a 7.
Timothy (DM)
Oh, it's a 7. Okay.
Russell (Blades)
Try rolling on the table next time.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Okay. I'll do better next time.
Timothy (DM)
So a 9. I mean, you can feel this, like, energetic disturbance, and there's, like, a lot of energies going on. They're very much, like, almost interfering with each other. A couple of things that you do feel is that you do feel this strong ill intent IN the cemetery. You also feel, like, a lot of energy coming from Audrina's cottage. It's a little complicated to parse out exactly what types of arcane energies *are* coming from her, but you could potentially assume that it has a lot to do with the clerical abatements that she's been trying to apply on the cemetery, kind of, you can tell there's, like, some sort of protective energy radiating, but then also, like, a lot of other energies kind of muddled about, like, very... as if her spells have been a little cluttered. She hasn't had, like, a strong clear intention behind her protection spells.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Can I tell whether, like... are Audrina spells effective? Are they draining energy from her? What's the relationship between the energy there?
Timothy (Audrina)
Yeah, so you can tell that the, like, spiritual energies are kind of dissipating as they reach the edge of the cemetery, that they-they kind of have this falloff as they start hitting up against her protection spells. Abjuration is the class of magic that she has been mostly using, as well as some enchantments, some evocation, and even a little bit of conjuration kind of sprinkled in there. Interesting methods to say the least.
Nicole (Sorelli)
"Winn D, your friend has done well here with what she has." [to Tim] So it's working is what I gather?
Timothy (DM)
It working. Yeah, it's working, but it's not, like, a clear cut. Like, you've experienced some more adept clerics who have, like... they put up a abduration spell, and it is a WALL that is, like, strong and steadfast, but hers is kind of wispy. Like, things are kind of seeping out.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Hmmm. Well, brother, it's... I'd-I'd give it a B+. [Tim laughs] Audrina has done well here, but there is some "spirit leakage" as we call it in the In-Between [Tim laughs]. It's leaky; it's a little leaky.
Russell (Blades)
Ah yes. It's such a... it's such an industry standard term. [laughs] Right, well, I suppose we better get in there.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Yes, I do be we arrived, right-right in time, um...
Russell (Blades)
--stop the source of the leakage. [all laugh]
Nicole (Sorelli)
Sorelli's going to go down to the ground and place her hands on the ground and cast Detect Thoughts to see if there are any specific spirits in the cemetery who might have something to say.
Timothy (DM)
Oh, yeah. Okay. So, you cast Detect Thoughts, and you're kind of doing this without, like, a clear target in mind. So, I'm gonna have you do another Arcana roll.
Nicole (Sorelli)
[to self] This time on the table...
Russell (Blades)
To be clear, Detect Thoughts you cast on yourself, and then people have to make saves in a radius.
Timothy (DM)
Oh, is that how that works?
Russell (Blades)
Yeah.
Timothy (DM)
I have never used that spell.
Russell (Blades)
It's a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw to avoid having your surface thoughts detected, I believe.
Timothy (DM)
You are kind of collecting thoughts around you. Cool. So you cast Detect Thoughts. What was your Arcana roll?
Nicole (Sorelli)
It's gonna be an 8.
Timothy (Audrina)
An 8. Okay--
Russell (Blades)
Throw the dice away, please.
Nicole (Sorelli)
I know, I know. I'll pick a new one.
Russell (Blades)
Put it in jail. Get another one.
Nicole (Sorelli)
"It was a long voyage to get here through the woods."
Timothy (DM)
[to Rusell and Kendrick] Because the two of you are within the radius, so I'm going to need the two of you to make a Wisdom saving throw, and I'm also going to do a Wisdom saving throw for Audrina.
Kendrick (Winn D)
That's the 16.
Russell (Blades)
15.
Timothy (DM)
15, and what is your save?
Nicole (Sorelli)
13.
Timothy (Audrina)
13. So you can't hear either of your immediate parties' thoughts.
Nicole (Sorelli)
It's a shame. [Tim laughs] "Penny for your thoughts?"
Russell (Blades)
No. [laughs] Perhaps a gold.
Timothy (DM)
Um, you can hear some Audrina's over in the cottage. They're very mumbly, very agitated. She just seems to just be, like, repeating, like, 'Go away, go away, get out of here. Leave me alone.' And then you start to hear many voices throughout the cemetery, kind of, like, just, in the general vicinity, and they seem rather disturbed, like, they are upset that their slumber has been disturbed, that they have been taken and pulled from a place of peace and are now just kind of agitated, and so there's a LOT of agitation going on here. So many people are *very* agitated. And yeah, that's kind of what you're picking up.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Sorelli is going to stay in this sort of connected trance, like, you know, hands on the earth position, and she's going to ask "Spirits, who summoned you?"
Timothy (DM)
You ask... and you wait for a moment, but you don't get any clearer responses. Nobody is offering any information.
Kendrick (Winn D)
I look at Blades. "What is she doing?"
Russell (Blades)
I believe the industry term is "a vibe check". [Tim laughs]
Kendrick (Winn D)
A vibes check? Okay, got it. Got it. So, you can stop the leakage? [Russell: "Yeah."] Okay.
Russell (Blades)
Precisely. Yeah.
Kendrick (Winn D)
I'll be over here. Just gonna ask a question. [Russell laughs] People want to know, people wanna know.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Very scientific. What will you do?
Kendrick (Winn D)
I went to school for this. As you were, as you were.
Russell (Blades)
HA-HA-HA. I CAN'T.
Kendrick (Winn D)
I'm channeling. I'm channeling her.
Russell (Blades)
YOU ARE!
Timothy (DM)
There's a lot of channeling going on.
Nicole (Sorelli)
A lot of channeling.
Russell (Blades)
Sister, darling, are you picking anything up?
Nicole (Sorelli)
It appears that the spirits are *pissed* that they've been awakened.
Russell (Blades)
So they have failed the vibe check. Got it.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Yeah, yeah.
Kendrick (Winn D)
God, Tyrone's not going to be happy about this.
Russell (Blades)
Do you sense the perpetrator's spirit anywhere?
Nicole (Sorelli)
I can't *quite* feel it through the many voices in the Void, and it's not clear *who* summoned them. I'm not sure that *they* even know. [Russell: "Oh, alright."] So it's a question mark here on the edge of the cemetery.
Russell (Blades)
Shall we go in and draw it out?
Nicole (Sorelli)
Shall we?
Russell (Blades)
Go in and draw it out?
Nicole (Sorelli)
Ah, yes, yes.
Kendrick (Winn D)
This is going to make such good content for my talk show, which is a show I do midday where I just talk to the people.
Russell (Blades)
In the town square?
Kendrick (Winn D)
In the town square.
Timothy (DM)
In the town square; oh my god this.
Russell (Blades)
So you're more like shouting at them? Because you know...
Timothy (DM)
The town caller.
Kendrick (Winn D)
Yeah, the town caller. I'm like, "This is Winn D."
Russell (Blades)
Perfect. Keep that whiskey ready. It'll protect you.
Kendrick (Winn D)
All right. Thank you.
Nicole (Sorelli)
The ultimate shield. [Russell: "Yeah."] Brother, would you do the honors of unlatching the gate? I do this a lot, but I'm a little... a little freaked out here.
Russell (Blades)
I kick it open.
Timothy (DM)
You kick open the gate. It creaks as it kind of wobbles back and forth on the hinge.
Russell (Blades)
I draw this... my swords to keep me safe even though they probably I can't stab a ghost with them...
Timothy (DM)
You draw your swords just in case... [laughs]
Kendrick (Winn D)
And that's why you're called Blades. Oh, it makes sense. [Tim laughs]
Timothy (DM)
Oh my goodness.
Russell (Blades)
Right, right. I step in. I'm gonna go about maybe 30, 45 feet in? [Tim: "All right."] and try to be very perceptive. Is it nighttime or...?
Timothy (DM)
Probably around late afternoon at this point.
Russell (Blades)
Oh, middle of the day? [Tim: "Yeah."] That's weird. We should have waited till nightfall.
Timothy (DM)
I mean, if you would like to wait around; it's just you've only recently arrived in the village of Maglie, and it is best to travel during the day. [laughs]
Russell (Blades)
Alright, ghosty, we're here to get rid of you. So, anything to say? Do? Throw?
Kendrick (Winn D)
Oh my god.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Blades is the brave sibling.
Timothy (DM)
So, you call out into the cemetery, and you don't hear any response.
Russell (Blades)
Perfect; job done. Let's go collect our... I'm just kidding.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Just then, Sorrelli casts a quick Minor Illusion of a weird goblin next to... next to her brother just-just to fuck around, just to freak them out a little.
Russell (Blades)
*bleh*. Sorelli, stop that! We're working! We're on the job!
Kendrick (Winn D)
Oh my god, that was a goblin. Oh my god. Did you just do that?
Nicole (Sorelli)
Just-just for fun. Just, maybe we come back at night.
Russell (Blades)
I swipe it away. Yeah. All right. Yeah. Well, let's take a quick look around to see if there's any physical evidence of occult practices, someone summoning something. Perhaps grave tampering.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Seems wise.
Russell (Blades)
"Any of those sorts of things." [Tim rolls dice] Oh, shit, the dice roll.
Timothy (DM)
All right. You start looking around looking for occult practices, any other things out of place. Give me a Perception check. Or Investigation.
Russell (Blades)
I'll do Perception, thank you. And that is a 22.
Timothy (DM)
A 22. Okay.
Russell (Blades)
Ah, and we both rolled 17s!
Nicole (Sorelli)
Oh yeah, so it's gonna be a 20 for me.
Timothy (DM)
And is that Perception or Investigation?
Nicole (Sorelli)
Perception.
Timothy (DM)
Okay.
Nicole (Sorelli)
So,
Timothy (DM)
you start to examine the cemetery. And there's a couple things that you notice one, you notice that at many of the graves, there are little offerings, candles, flowers, all of that type of thing. But none of the candles are lit and most of the flowers. Actually all of the flowers are dried or wilted. So you can assume that nobody has been visiting their loved ones for a while. Enough time for all the flowers to really have died. And out of the corner, I certainly you start to notice See wisps of black behind one of the gravestones. And it has this familiar allure to it. You notice fingers wrapped around the stone. And then they slowly slide away as the black smoke dissipates.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Brother Do you? Do you see this? Am I the only one that sees this
Russell (Blades)
yard? I don't see a thing. I mean, what do you see sister? Oh,
Nicole (Sorelli)
I'm not sure who? This familiar. Shadow might be familiar. Until I recognize this being from my past or
Timothy (DM)
you do. This is that darkness that always follows you.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Lanes. We're gonna have to make this a quick trip. It's found us already.
Russell (Blades)
Alright, how do we get caught up?
Nicole (Sorelli)
Excuse us when the call was station?
Russell (Blades)
It's gonna be protective
Kendrick (Winn D)
big jug. All right. Big loud jug. When he chugs How much
Russell (Blades)
time do you think we have?
Nicole (Sorelli)
I think maximum three hours at best. And then yes, we best be on our way. Right. I have to act quickly though. Because this village is? Well, the chances are not good.
Russell (Blades)
Oh, right. So how do you propose we get this ghost out and about?
Nicole (Sorelli)
I think we're going to need to gather everyone in the village at the town square. And make a sacrifice.
Russell (Blades)
Sorry. Come again, sister.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Oh, did I say that out loud? I'm not sure where that came from.
Russell (Blades)
Right. Right. All right. Like a go. Or?
Nicole (Sorelli)
Well, what do you suppose were to
Russell (Blades)
get away with sacrificing children? Some of the town's might take offense to that. Reputation
Nicole (Sorelli)
adrene is close to death. What do you think she really I think close enough.
Russell (Blades)
Right? But she's also the only thing keeping Oh,
Nicole (Sorelli)
yes, you're right. Yeah, and it's the leakage shit could come out more at any moment. It would be a waterfall of spirits.
Timothy (DM)
Can I have you? Check. As you're having this conversation in front of windy.
Russell (Blades)
Oh my disadvantage. That's a nine.
Nicole (Sorelli)
That's a 10.
Timothy (DM)
All right. When do you start overhearing snippets of this conversation, including the word sacrifice.
Kendrick (Winn D)
Excuse me a sacrifice? Wait, wait, hold on. Hold up. A sacrifice. What are you talking about?
Russell (Blades)
We never said sacrifice.
Kendrick (Winn D)
I just heard you say sacrifice.
Russell (Blades)
Are you doing the spirit? I
Nicole (Sorelli)
don't think it was me. Yes. Where the voice
Russell (Blades)
is coming from Wendy. From you.
Timothy (DM)
Can you give me deceptions against and insight
Nicole (Sorelli)
719
Russell (Blades)
Oh, a natural 20 but 90.
Timothy (DM)
All right. So how would you like to explain away this? to kind of get windy off of your when you
Russell (Blades)
don't listen, sometimes the spirits will make you hear things. It's trying to turn us against one another because it knows together. We are stronger.
Kendrick (Winn D)
Oh my God. Are you serious?
Yes. So I am so sorry.
Russell (Blades)
I didn't know we actually weren't talking. You know?
Kendrick (Winn D)
I swear saw your lips moving. I'd sacrifice I heard three hours.
Russell (Blades)
We were saying a prayer. A prayer to protect ourselves. You know, that's what the whiskies full
Nicole (Sorelli)
of whiskey.
Kendrick (Winn D)
So whiskey prayer.
Russell (Blades)
Okay, so we need to speak Wendy passes
Kendrick (Winn D)
the whiskey to blaze. I am
Nicole (Sorelli)
I can't yet I'm on the water.
Russell (Blades)
Right? Back.
Kendrick (Winn D)
I am so sorry. I did not mean to assume I'm this question but I'm just I heard sacrifice and I freaked out. This could have been a hot topic hot topic, which is a topic that I serve while holding fire.
Timothy (DM)
Torch. Oh my goodness.
Kendrick (Winn D)
But sorry, I did not mean to assume the
Russell (Blades)
point the show. We might wait. We can stick around.
Kendrick (Winn D)
I have gotten nominated for a lot of awards, aka does a lot of extra meat at the dinner table. Yes. That's what you call it. Ugly. Yeah. All right.
Russell (Blades)
So when do you send it to
Kendrick (Winn D)
me Not giving windy is she's giving what needs to be done.
Timothy (DM)
Windy is a thing that is happening. It's great.
Nicole (Sorelli)
I feel strangely hungry.
Russell (Blades)
I am going to quiet No, I need to focus. I'm going to use my primeval awareness. See if I can sense the spirits.
Timothy (DM)
All right, how does that work?
Russell (Blades)
So for up to one minute, I can sense any aberrations Celestials dragons elementals FaZe fiends or undead within a mile of me. Please don't tell me there's a dragon.
Kendrick (Winn D)
Now that would be a hot topic
Timothy (DM)
that says any dragon who prefers their fire breath would be literally a hot topic.
Kendrick (Winn D)
So we're gonna miss leave the jokes to me, sweetie.
Russell (Blades)
psychic damage. Continue.
Timothy (DM)
Yeah, so you're getting similar vibes just a rally. So there are some agitated spirits that are on the like cusp. So they're very subtle in their energies. And that's kind of spread out around the cemetery not
Russell (Blades)
concentrated.
Timothy (DM)
But you do get a stronger pane up the hill to the left. When you look up you see a kind of twisted, withered tree at the top of the hill.
Russell (Blades)
Sister that tree has given me some bad vibes. Shall we go check it out? Let's come on windy. Remember, don't believe everything you hear.
Kendrick (Winn D)
Okay, I will. All right, I'm following you. This protects me I don't want to die. Tyrone will be very upset if I die.
Russell (Blades)
We don't want to upset Tyrone don't. Alright, as we approach the tree do we notice any of the nearby graves or their graves near the tree
Timothy (DM)
there are see make your way up the winding stone steps up the hill towards this tree. And as you reach the top you feel the energy growing so that it's like the first thing you notice this energy is growing and it becomes darker angry. And when you reach the top of the hill you notice that there's several graves up there. Most of them worn stone with candles that are relatively melted. But there is one tomb in particular with fresh candles. Maybe let only once and the dirt around it is still unsettled. The grass has not yet begun grow over it.
Russell (Blades)
So fresh death.
Timothy (DM)
Yes. The name on the tombstone is Vera Agus. Rochelle.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Wendy, have you heard of a Vera Agus Rochelle?
Kendrick (Winn D)
Yes, I have
Russell (Blades)
oh, yes do tell us.
Timothy (DM)
Vegas was recently buried. Their death was quite sudden, they were a man in their middle years, who was actually quite close to him. Audrina Alright, so
Kendrick (Winn D)
you didn't hear this from me? By Vera guest and Katrina. They were very close. Some would say too close, but I'm not a gossip.
Russell (Blades)
Like, close or like, you know, friendly.
Kendrick (Winn D)
I don't know. I just hear what I hear. And then I just go about my business. And he just died very suddenly.
Russell (Blades)
Oh, God, the dramatic pause go on.
Kendrick (Winn D)
I'm we just one day he was there. And next day he was dead.
Russell (Blades)
And then did adrenal determine cause of death?
Kendrick (Winn D)
If she did? She didn't tell me because she knew I would tell everyone. So he's just died. And he was sudden and we're really sad about it because he didn't make very good candy. Oh,
Timothy (DM)
his husband survives him and does have a home on the other side of town.
Russell (Blades)
That's right. Given our time constraints, just a you thinking maybe a quick and dirty exorcism.
Nicole (Sorelli)
I think that would be most appropriate. All right.
Russell (Blades)
Wendy. Do you have a shovel?
Kendrick (Winn D)
I do. Is this right down there. I see a shovel over there. I can go grab it for you. Perfect. Perfect. All starts your pie tell you that. Bear gets did have a husband.
Russell (Blades)
Right, right. So tell him anything of what you're about to see.
Kendrick (Winn D)
I promise I won't. I won't even tell Tyrone perfect and keep that whiskey handy. We'll need it. All right. It's almost out but I'll make sure I say Have some for you don't drink anymore.
Okay, and when he goes and grabs the shovel and then hands it back to blades,
Russell (Blades)
I started digging the grave. All right,
Timothy (DM)
give me a athletics check oh shit and are just starting to dig up 12 his grave. Alright, so you start to dig the soil is rocky and heavy with a recent rain and so you get like a foot down when your body starts to ache as this is happening Cirelli again, you see this familiar figure. This time its arm reaches out from behind the tree and starts to just subtly claw at your ankles. Ooh, just kind of running the tips of its fingers
Kendrick (Winn D)
kind of bind ankle
Nicole (Sorelli)
blades blades stop. You have to stop digging right now.
Russell (Blades)
What this isn't this isn't the way but quick and dirty means burn up. I
Nicole (Sorelli)
didn't I didn't do it. Didn't do what I didn't do it.
And so rallies just in a panic or going into a panic or sense of reality is gone. At least momentarily. While she yells at blades. Perfect deep
Russell (Blades)
breaths. I keep taking
Kendrick (Winn D)
four to six four to six.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Thank you. I'm proud of those numbers could come in handy so well.
Timothy (DM)
No one else sees this hand as it continues to claw your ankle. The rest of its form hidden from you behind the tree.
Russell (Blades)
Why don't you go get another shovel?
Kendrick (Winn D)
Okay, I'm going I'm going member 4264466
Nicole (Sorelli)
to
Kendrick (Winn D)
close enough and windy runs to grab another shovel.
Russell (Blades)
Sister What do you see? Tell
Nicole (Sorelli)
me nothing. Nothing. And Tsereteli as terrified and panicked as she is She stands between the grave and the tree so as to hide the figure that no one else can see.
Timothy (DM)
Yeah. Okay. And like see yourself and you continue to feel it. As it starts to trickle its way up your leg. And blades continues digging. You hear the sound of the shovel hitting the rocky soil and dirt tumbling out as he tosses it into a pile
Russell (Blades)
right at the body yet?
Timothy (DM)
Not yet. And that's when windy you see Mr. Shell Oh standing at the base of the hill
Russell (Blades)
right which one? The dead one or the identify
Timothy (DM)
his phantasmal form slightly transparent. But you can still make out the long violet cloak that he would wear and he stands facing hydrangeas cottage. You see his form kind of shape? As if it's almost glitching phasing in and out
Kendrick (Winn D)
am I the only one who sees this? Yes. Okay. Wendy sees the spirit.
Oh my god.
Vera guess is that you
thought you were dead? What's what's going on? Why? Why'd Why do you look like that?
Guy. Oh my. Oh my god. So this is freaky. Guys, guys,
Timothy (DM)
and as you're calling out to Vegas, and then you begin to call out to Australian blades. You see various head start to turn towards you. And as his eyes reach yours, you see a face Gao all across his face is as if his expression is grown beyond his form. That is just like projecting these huge eyes with the brows furrowed a mouth agape in pure anger. And he begins to fly towards your
Kendrick (Winn D)
eyes and Wendy books it towards
you I told you I didn't deal with hearing oh my god Hurry up hurry up and windy is
running and running
arms Agape
Timothy (DM)
is a game what are the two of you do in here windy call out to you and as you look up you see her running towards you in close pursuit. A ghostly form
Kendrick (Winn D)
and I'm running like this
Timothy (DM)
windy is running with her arms in like T Rex pose apparently. Just kind of flailing about as she stumbles up the hill towards you.
Russell (Blades)
Alright, it's really time to start digging and I throw you the shovel and I bolt in when he's direction to get between her and the apparition
Timothy (DM)
All right. Everybody roll initiative Yes, even you you have commoners that's a good luck. We didn't know you're not Oh,
Kendrick (Winn D)
I did not know this either.
When you're gonna die when he's gonna run.
I got an eight.
Timothy (DM)
Coca Cola 11 And what was blades
Russell (Blades)
17
Timothy (DM)
All right. So it is just flying after windy. It passes her well and comes for Tsereteli shit. It claws at you and you start to feel the energy drain from your body.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Understand Audrina is predicament as
Timothy (DM)
20 points of necrotic damage. Drain you have life weighing you down towards it.
Kendrick (Winn D)
That's a lot. Oh my god. DM that's all great. So
Timothy (DM)
you see its mouth. Just a gape in anger. And you hear it start to scream a screeching, painful, high pitched scream that just echoes through your head. You feel the pain billed as like this pressure headache in the front of your skull. Blades, what are you doing?
Russell (Blades)
All I really can do is hit it. Go for it. So first, I'm assuming I'm already next to it, right? Yeah.
All right. I'm gonna do a thing. So as a dread Ambusher or that feature. On my first turn, I move an extra 10 feet not applicable here. But I get to make an additional weapon attack. Okay. And then I'm also going to use a bonus action to cast Zephyr strike, which also lets me make an additional weapon attack. So I get to swinging it four times. All right, three times with my main hand. No, it's it goes. Don't look at me.
Timothy (DM)
Stupid attack. Make attacks. First one is 14. All right. That will hit
Russell (Blades)
four or five. All right, piercing. Let me have a nine.
Timothy (DM)
Nine does not hit.
Russell (Blades)
Then we have a 2121 with it. And that is for 10 piercing. And then I follow up my offhand which is a natural 20
Timothy (DM)
All right, crit. Oh,
Russell (Blades)
oops, sorry. That's that is gonna be eight tnpa soon. All right. So you just see a flurry of?
Timothy (DM)
Yeah, so your flurry of slashes cut across its body. You see wisps of its form flinging out along the edge of your sword. Surely run it starts to make eye contact with you. It seems hurt, but rather unfazed. Shit. Windy. What are you doing?
Kendrick (Winn D)
So I just had a look up Commodore stats and thank you very much for that. You're welcome.
So I'm going to take the bottle of whiskey and I'm going to use it to make as a makeshift club
Kendrick (Yonce)
and swing at it does a 10 hit attenders, and he just goes through them. Oh my god, I think that was a little bit of a mistake. Oh, in horror she just is like slowly backing up to make sure I didn't notice. All right and I end my turn.
Timothy (DM)
Lovely. So, as this is all happening, the figure locks eyes with blades. And again, you all hear it let out that Shri as it charges towards you, but at the last moment blips into the ground beneath its tombstone. I grab the shovel and keep digging, the air settles as you begin digging yet again.
Nicole (Sorelli)
And do I still have this ankle tickling spirit?
Timothy (DM)
Glad you asked. Because at this point, you feel the hair on the back of your neck start to prickle standing on edge and almost as if you feel it's breath on the back of your neck. Oh my You are worried that if you turn around, you might see its face again.
Nicole (Sorelli)
So rally drops to the ground in another fit of panic and closes her eyes. determined not to look at the spirit and just closes down.
Timothy (DM)
You shut your eyes and you start panicking rolling around on the ground. And you feel this sense of overwhelming like oppression as your vision continues to darken to a pure pitch blackness.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Well. This is a new type of darkness for me.
Timothy (DM)
Blades as you're digging, you start to notice a black veil appearing around Cirelli as a mist is just starting to pour out of her. You've never seen this happen before.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Usually the smart sibling can save us but
Russell (Blades)
well that doesn't look good. I stopped digging I try to pick up so rarely and I run
Timothy (DM)
alright so you scoops rally up and where are you running
Russell (Blades)
out of the cemetery? Oh sorry Wendy the spirit is excise up exosite booboo my brains are working we can't do this job. It's unbelievable. Sorry keep the deposit by
Kendrick (Winn D)
wait what you're supposed to help us the leakage the drainage leakage what's going on?
Russell (Blades)
Oh sorry. We're not spirit plumbers. We're spirit exorcist. Good luck. And just keep running. Okay?
Timothy (DM)
Running with Cirelli in your arms through really, you are plunged into this darkness you feel your body go cold and wet. As you feel just more grounded in just almost a lack of sense. Like you can't feel blades who's picked you up you felt this like sudden jolt of motion, and then it quickly faded away. And now you feel as if you are suspended in darkness. And even then the coldness starts to drift away the feeling of wet becomes unnoticeable to you. And all of your senses are taken from you. You cannot hear you cannot see. You cannot feel cannot taste.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Can I speak? What would you like to say? Who's there?
Why have you brought me here
Timothy (DM)
you call out into the void. Then images start to flash before you a tree in the middle of a forest grown to through an immense size twisted and gnarled a purpley black ooze, dripping from cuts in the bar, covered in thick thorny vines. Another flash, you see a woman with long wild hair, green skin and short tusks. Another flash, you see a tree house, set upon blue Gioconda trees. Then you see it zoom out again quickly flashing of various images of fantastical forest flora and fauna just oversized, glittering with arcane energy, a path imprinted into the fabric of the universe, drawing you closer in towards this tree. It zooms out and you see yourself in blades arms, unconscious limb, that darkness shrouding you as he runs from the cemetery. And these images continue to flash just like zooming in and out in and out. And you see a portal black stone carved with sigils. In a dark stone room. A woman wears a crown made of flowers, and antlers. image of a creature projected onto the wall, tall, lumbering with antlers out in every direction, little puppets hanging from the branches. You see people at a festival, dancing around a pole with ribbons and flowers. Again, you're pulled to the portal and back out through the path in the forest and back to your present state. And then everything collapses in on itself into your form. And you start to blink your eyes open. You look up and see blades worried breathing heavy sprinting out of the village of Magalie. Well,
Nicole (Sorelli)
I have questions but my immediate reaction is blades blades I know what to do I know what to do. We need to bring the nature magic in what we have to gather in the woods and have a festival with a maypole. And I'm going to need to wear antlers. And we're going to need to make tiny figures out of anything we can find in the forest and dangle them from all the trees. This is not to be confused with a good time or a party
Russell (Blades)
right now. Yes. To exercise the spirit. Yes.
Timothy (DM)
And as you're kind of stumbling to gather these words, sputtering them out towards blades. You hear a booming voice in the back of your head. Find her a pre
Nicole (Sorelli)
Opry
Russell (Blades)
what was that?
Nicole (Sorelli)
Do we know? Upri At this point, the sorrelli siblings don't right.
Timothy (DM)
You've never heard that name before.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Upri what she's she's the one we must do the maypole dance for. And to do that we should find her. I think she's in the woods.
Russell (Blades)
Which Woods sister has quite a bit of a forest nearby.
Nicole (Sorelli)
I know there's a lot of trees in the woods, but there's a big gnarly one that has some purple that we'll need to find. You think the villagers will help us find this tree
Russell (Blades)
after this botched existence? I know I don't think they can help us do a damn thing.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Do I from the vision, the experience in the darkness to I recognize the tree house that I saw like am I familiar with this tree or any place that was in the vision then
Timothy (DM)
you have no recollection of the actual places in the vision but there's something kind of nagging you can you give me an Arcana check di J jail five you feel this like nagging sensation you're recalling these visions and they're so scattered they were so fast flashing in and out and all over this like, general area of a forest. But you feel this kind of pool kind of as if that like path of arcane energy in the forest is calling to you. As if it wants to show you the way
Nicole (Sorelli)
I honor this pole and turn to blades and say let's go we gotta go. Go where? Into the Woods. Can you can you can you find my antlers? And maybe start making the figurines to hang in the trees for the
Russell (Blades)
festival? What have you need just maybe we should find a healer first you don't look like you're in great shape.
Nicole (Sorelli)
I forgot I have necrotic damage
Timothy (DM)
yet. Yeah, you're pretty pretty gnarly
Russell (Blades)
hang on we'll okay we'll stop at the next time and then into the forest we'll go okay good luck Audrina bye
Timothy (DM)
All right, you all are gonna just sprint off.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Probably should heal first. I think I think you're not wrong about that. I've run
Russell (Blades)
back into town towards Audrina. She's the clerk right?
Timothy (DM)
You do run back towards a dream his house. Wendy Do you still live in this house? Where did you run Mandy?
Kendrick (Yonce)
I mean, as soon as they left I went straight back to her. I think Wendy went back to the adrenals because she does not deal with any spirits.
Kendrick (Winn D)
And even though her Drina is tired. She knows that she can protect her so she's in the house. All right.
Timothy (DM)
So you bash in the door of the cottage in your
Russell (Blades)
fervor. HUDs Rena, we need healing.
Timothy (DM)
You see how Audrina and windy are? They're awake? kind of startled. They seem to be in like high energy mode.
Kendrick (Winn D)
No, no, no, you left me in that graveyard to die so so she she was possessed.
Russell (Blades)
We had to run kiddos far where you said and
Kendrick (Winn D)
I quote, The Exorcism was not happening. I've already told the people what I never said such a thing. Yes, you did. I heard you. You say out of your mouth.
Russell (Blades)
You hear things. The spirit must have been messing with you.
Kendrick (Winn D)
I mean, I would have thought that until I saw you pick up your sister and run right leaving you
there to die.
Russell (Blades)
She was possessed. I
Nicole (Sorelli)
haven't quite sorry, Wendy.
Timothy (DM)
What the hell is going on? What is the Nine Hells are the two of you doing? What is wrong with you, sir? Rally? You look like Jeff?
Nicole (Sorelli)
Yeah, I'm close to death.
Timothy (DM)
When he go fetch some water. We must tend to her wounds immediately.
Kendrick (Winn D)
You're waiting. Go fetch me in the graveyard to die. Now we told you to run and you just didn't follow?
Timothy (DM)
I don't know what the hell is going on. But I must tell you the immediate needs of his people. We need. Please help me?
Russell (Blades)
Yes. When do you help?
Kendrick (Winn D)
Wendy sucks her teeth.
Fine. Fine. I will go help them. And I slowly go into the kitchen to get whatever you need.
Timothy (DM)
What happened? Were you able to exercise the spirit?
Nicole (Sorelli)
No, but we know what needs to happen next. We must follow the call into the woods. This is bigger than what lies here in the cemetery. Do you think you can hold it back for another day?
Timothy (DM)
You see her lip begins to quiver. Oh is the really feels like eye twitches and her dolls begin to shake as her voice stutters
what? What do you mean?
I can't keep this up. What do you ask of me?
Nicole (Sorelli)
there anyone in the village who can join in the magic to hold it at bay just a moment longer. Audrina just a moment longer, and I promise it will end in a great celebration.
Kendrick (Winn D)
We will say anything they said it was undoable and now they're asking for a day and now the same moments
Timothy (DM)
What are you doing to be
Kendrick (Winn D)
what you're doing to my poor friend? Gina?
Timothy (DM)
This behind me
Russell (Blades)
Do you have any brothers and sisters of your religious you could call on for AIDS
Nicole (Sorelli)
maybe we can leave a spell behind add a little zest to do the ballclub maybe we could plug just a leak or two brother before we head to the woods, even though I know we're not spiritual plumbers. Just Just this once. Maybe.
Timothy (DM)
Oh, no. No, there is no.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Back when did didn't you set that name?
Did I say back?
Kendrick (Winn D)
That's fair because the one that you would dig in the gravestone
Timothy (DM)
as you hear her start to call out. You whip around and you see various standing in the room behind you.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Oh shit, not this guy again.
Timothy (DM)
He screeches, his mouth a gape and he points a finger at to Drina his arm shaking with fervor. The glare piercing into her as you see her crumble to the ground.
Kendrick (Winn D)
Audrina and Wendy runs to her
checks her head
Nicole (Sorelli)
no sorry, sorry.
Kendrick (Winn D)
How far you can see my suffering.
Timothy (DM)
She is just cowering in a corner. As if she is placing every object in the room between her and the ghostly form. She scampers into a corner.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Is she in direct threat from the ghostly form? Like is the ghostly form attacking her?
Timothy (DM)
No, it continues to point the screeching noise building.
Nicole (Sorelli)
I want to cast an illusion of anything that had drained I might find peaceful maybe putting him out of view so that I can calm her and ask her what she's sorry for.
Timothy (DM)
All right, give me a deception roll with your illusion.
Russell (Blades)
Oh, better Oh, better. Yeah,
Nicole (Sorelli)
let's see.
Timothy (DM)
1919 The noise does not subside, but you cast this kind of a wall of illusion between her Drina and Vegas. And it wipes away the image of the ghostly form. You see she continues to cower in the corner. But She blinked her eyes open
she just goes where is it? Where is it gone?
He's coming for me. I know it
make him go away
Nicole (Sorelli)
a gene I'm not going to let him hurt you
what?
What happened?
Timothy (DM)
You won't understand? He can I will
Nicole (Sorelli)
certainly is going to go over to her Drina to try and comfort her and add a sense of safety
Timothy (DM)
to everything because to me it's fun thank you can ask of me. You can't possibly understand what that does to a person. Just keep this up. Feel like I'm crumbling. The weight of everything around me and nobody i Don't even look at me. Why would they they're fucking priestess for full appcues sake
bindi Will you forgive me?
Kendrick (Winn D)
Of course there's nothing to be sorry about sweetheart don't judge me too harshly This is a judgment free zone so ed
Timothy (DM)
I only wanted one thing one thing for myself
and I fear it just what did you do
very gas I know you're there I know you've come for me
and I should have known this day would come I should have known
I was weak. I took from you I kept from you so I could have something I was selfish. But no longer.
Just let me do this one last thing. Let me help these people.
They've come here to help us and I have lied to them. I've received them and they deserve better. There he goes, will you let me do this one thing and then you can take me you can do what you will of me. And you hear the screeching noise subside. As you look behind the Cirelli you see the figure begins to fade.
Nicole (Sorelli)
This is a relief
Timothy (DM)
and Drina comes up to you and she places a hand on your cheek. Her body is still trembling tears damp in her face and drip off of her chin. Her eyes bloodshot and red and you feel a warm start to grow on your cheek as her energy begins to channel into you. You feel all of your strength return mechanically you are going to regain full hit points.
Russell (Blades)
Oh wow.
Timothy (DM)
As you see the color fade from her dream has eyes and the trembling of her hands begins to soften
Nicole (Sorelli)
Thank you
Timothy (DM)
windy goodbye. And her body collapses to the ground with a thud
Nicole (Sorelli)
Audrina
Kendrick (Winn D)
Audrina windy run surgery in his body wake up. Wake up. Wake up.
Timothy (DM)
You start shaking her body is limp in your arms. All the color pull from her skin and eyes.
Kendrick (Winn D)
No
Russell (Blades)
she have a coin purse on her waist
Timothy (DM)
gosh, I will keep her she does as her limp body is jostling about in windy his arm. Oh did you hear oh no jingling of coins in the pouch on her hip.
Russell (Blades)
I would like to pretend to comfort Wendy as I then slip my other hand and give me
Timothy (DM)
a sleight of hand.
Kendrick (Winn D)
You're an asshole
Russell (Blades)
mean he doesn't need it anymore. But is a 18
Timothy (DM)
an EIGHT team yeah when he doesn't see that scoop
Russell (Blades)
and I pocket it?
Well, no access to it really doesn't even feel well done.
Nicole (Sorelli)
Audrina Thank you. And Cirelli puts a hand on her Gina's shoulder and thanks her for the life that she just gave back. Just really and wonders what Audrina could have been lying about. In her final words. How did she deceive us?
Kendrick (Winn D)
Would Wendy know?
Timothy (DM)
As cryptic as those words were delivered? You all stand around, unsure of what she meant.
Russell (Blades)
I mean, she clearly did something she wasn't supposed to.
Kendrick (Winn D)
How dare you?
This is my friend dead on the floor. And this is what you can say. silence I knew it Get out. Get out.
Russell (Blades)
Blades. We'll just leave.
Kendrick (Winn D)
Get out.
Timothy (DM)
You hear the door shut behind you. The words get out echoing through your mind. So rarely What do you do?
Nicole (Sorelli)
I go with blades out the door. But I give one last look at Audrina on the way out in gratitude and still feeling the call to the forest. I know we have to go there next but wish that this was different.
Russell (Blades)
Well, Sister darling, were to jingle jingle as
Nicole (Sorelli)
well. Did you did you show me the coin pouch? I did. So really shakes her head and says Not this time, brother.
Russell (Blades)
And no, we need the money.
Nicole (Sorelli)
No. You're right. This is why I leave the business to you. Blades. Do you remember? Do you remember the treehouse from when we were kids?
Russell (Blades)
I can't say that I do. We've been
Nicole (Sorelli)
given more life here. We have to go to where our life began in the forest. Walk. Follow me.
Timothy (DM)
And that is where we will put a pause on today's story! Thank you all for joining us in this vile vignette as we plunge into the abyss. I hope you enjoyed this episode of Shadows of Prophecy. Join us next time to find out what becomes of Sorelli and Blades as they travel deep into the enchanted forest, and who they will come across.
I want to give a special thanks to JayCeeAitch (JCH) and Chris B, our fabulous patrons keeping the candles lit here at Goblin Forge. Your support has meant the world to us, and we are so greateful for your absolute generosity.
I would like to thank Scrubcast for some incredible sound mastering, music and effects. They have been so easy to work with and I highly recommend checking them out if you’re ever in need of audio editing, especially for their epic music and effects design.
I would like to thank Syrinscape for some outstanding atmosphere and music. Make sure you check them out at syrinscape.com. I use Syrinscape all the time at my game table and for our Twitch streams, and it adds that little something special to bring your players and audience into the story.
I would like to thank our players this evening. Dan, Ellie, and Chris. I'm so happy to have you in our cast and can't wait to hear what perverse adventures we'll find ourselves in next time.
Our Theme song was written by my brother, the chill electronic vapour soul artist Lusq. You should check out their most recent single, Gus.
This has been a Goblin Forge production. Please follow us on Instagram , join our Discord, and if you really love us, show us some support by becoming one of our fabulous patrons at Patreon.com/Goblin_Forge, where you can find FREE bonus content like handouts, encounter maps, and even adventure guides to run your own horrific campaigns or one-shots. Shadows of Prophecy is a fully personally financed project and our first foray into the TTRPG arena. Any and all support is greatly appreciated! And at the very least, give us a 5 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 a trek into the belly of the beast, lead by none other than the tormented Sorelli.