S2.E12 - Storm Over Shang-Lun

The Raven lives! The party scrambles after barely surviving a plot to destabilize the Hinomoto Dynasty, the true Raven hot on their trail. Liren discovers his family's true enemy.

Email: hardlydndpod@gmail.com
X: @Hardly_DnD_pod

Solaceira: Anna

Durim Stonefist: Kirby

Liren Hinomoto: Caleb (Insta: @sleepyeyesoninsta, Twitch: https://m.twitch.tv/sleepyeyestv/home)

DM: Quinn Barbaza

*Lance Tippet: Chip*

Edited By Kirby, Strider, Quinn Barbaza

Music by Strider - https://open.spotify.com/artist/5U0T0CpHrHNPMYOmQzdw2J?si=4yd1iRK-Tb6D59U0o_SNyw 

Art Work By Caleb West 

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:03

The city of a thousand flowers is oddly silent. In the dead of night, as rain patterns down on all the flowers of the petals, creating this soft background that dampens every noise. There's not many passerbys on the street. Most of them are seeking indoors out of the storm, especially as it blows in, trading rumors, news of several Hinamoto's deaths that have spread through the city in the past few hours. And in the night, a shot rings out. Followed shortly by a second. Diem is now rolling for hit on Liren Hinamoto after Soriko shot him in the back. See what this role is.

SPEAKER_06 1:03

He just made such an interesting face that I can't read.

SPEAKER_02 1:07

Yeah, we can't read that. It could be one of two things.

SPEAKER_04 1:11

Okay. Liren. Take eight points of damage. On the first shot. Numbness pain spreads through your lower back. A sortiko continues his rant as he laughs. Hmm. What does that say? Like a stone. And pulls the trigger again. That wasn't that one.

SPEAKER_07 1:43

Yes! Yes!

SPEAKER_04 1:51

So I designed a weapon for Sordico Hatoko called the Liar's Vow. And this gun, when you spin the barrel and roll for hit, a Nat 20 does a hundred points of unavoidable magic damage. A Nat 1 heals the target for a hundred points of health. I am not gonna lie, I was considering some plot armor for Liren Hinamoto. Apparently he did not need it because that was a 17 to hit on the first roll and a Nat fucking one on the second. Liren, as your body plummets from the top of the Temple of Attila, hurtling towards the river, rain plastering against your body, you suddenly feel warm. And that cold, that numbness spreading through your back is beaten away right as you hit the water. Solistira, Durham, roll perception.

SPEAKER_02 3:10

There's no way. Seventeen.

SPEAKER_04 3:13

Solacira, you hear the first shot. Eleven. Durham, you do not hear the first shot. There's about 30 seconds. You hear the first one.

SPEAKER_02 3:30

So I don't hear the second shot. I'm not re I'm not rolling again.

SPEAKER_04 3:36

You have an action if you want to take it before the second shot happens.

SPEAKER_02 3:41

Remind me where we are. We're in our separate rooms, yes?

SPEAKER_04 3:45

You are in separate rooms. You are in the inn, you're in the Morenu Inn. You're not that far away from the temple.

SPEAKER_02 3:52

Right. And I'm not with Durham. He's in the room next door.

SPEAKER_04 3:59

I would imagine that Durham is still at the bar.

SPEAKER_02 4:02

Ugh. But I know the boys left.

SPEAKER_04 4:05

Yes, Sortiko pulled Liran away.

SPEAKER_02 4:08

I set up listening for anything else. And then go to my window to see if I can judge where the shot came from and see that direction.

SPEAKER_04 4:20

With your perception check, uh, your window doesn't look out to the temple, but from your perception check, you can see it was at least coming from that square in that direction.

SPEAKER_02 4:29

Yeah, I think I'll sit for another moment and see if I hear anything else.

SPEAKER_04 4:35

You sit for about a minute. You hear the second shot.

SPEAKER_02 4:39

Yep, going downstairs. I'm looking for Kirby. Looking for Durham.

SPEAKER_04 4:43

Durham is at the bar. Hey?

SPEAKER_01 4:46

Durham, have you laid eyes on Lirin or Sodiko lately? Have they come back?

SPEAKER_08 4:52

Nay. It's just been me and the the tender of bars, so to speak.

SPEAKER_01 4:58

Oh, it's just you two. How drunk are you?

SPEAKER_05 5:04

Kirby's rolling.

SPEAKER_08 5:07

Not drunk yet. What's a pint or two?

SPEAKER_01 5:11

For you, apparently, nothing but a drop in the bucket.

SPEAKER_02 5:14

There were two shots outside, somewhere from the square. We need to go and see if everything is okay. I'd like to get out of the city without there being any more concerns.

SPEAKER_08 5:24

So let me get this right. Just a few hours ago you wanted us to run away from all the battle and killing? And now you want to run towards it?

SPEAKER_00 5:34

I'd like to at least make sure that we've not been compromised.

SPEAKER_02 5:37

That's what I'm trying to do. If you want to stay here, that's fine. I'm probably better at getting where I want to go by myself. I eye his armor pointedly.

SPEAKER_08 5:47

I tell you what. You pay for my drinks. I'll come with you.

SPEAKER_00 5:52

I'll pay for a drink that you've already had.

SPEAKER_08 6:00

And I stand up.

SPEAKER_04 6:02

I'll put it on your tab.

SPEAKER_02 6:03

Thank you. And she's gonna haul him by the elbow. We're heading outside.

SPEAKER_04 6:08

You make it outside? You do not see Lyranfall. You took a little bit too long. However, you do, as you make it out into the square, you look over to the temple, and you can barely make out a figure on the roof of the temple walking away. You see a slight glow of runes on a piece of metal in his hand piercing through the darkness. Give me a perception check.

SPEAKER_02 6:38

Not one.

SPEAKER_04 6:43

It's raining and it's dark and muggy, and you cannot, or not muggy, it's actually pretty cold, but you cannot make out anything. Uh for all you know, Liren and Soriko are on a different temple. Ten. Durham you make out an eddy in the water. Like something about how the river is flowing doesn't quite make sense. That's about it. Interesting.

SPEAKER_00 7:09

Other than a figure on the roof, which could have been anybody, I don't see them.

SPEAKER_02 7:13

And I don't see anyone coming after us, so.

SPEAKER_08 7:17

Liren!

SPEAKER_02 7:18

Oh I put a hand in my ear.

SPEAKER_08 7:21

Did you hear anything?

SPEAKER_04 7:23

Liren, you feel water rushing around you. You're sodden. Uh it's cold and just chilling you to the bone. But the water rushing around you is not carrying you. You're not moving. You hear a faint Liran in a familiar voice.

SPEAKER_06 7:43

Can you run that by me again? What's what's happening with the water?

SPEAKER_04 7:46

Uh it's rushing around you. If you open your eyes, you will uh or try to move, you will see.

SPEAKER_06 7:52

Okay, yeah, uh, I guess in in response to hearing my name all eyes all open, trying to like just instinctively just try and start swimming.

SPEAKER_04 8:03

Liren, you are being held against the surface, against the riverbed, and there is a row of claws made out of water wrapped around your chest, holding you up. As you begin to thrash, the river flows, swells up, and for a moment, coming level with you, you see an enormous eye burning like a sun in the night, before the claws drag you out of the water and place you on the riverbank. The swell fades into the river.

SPEAKER_06 8:42

Okay. Um I do hear my name being called. You do. Do I notice who it I mean, do I know it's Durham?

SPEAKER_04 8:57

He sounds fairly distinct.

SPEAKER_06 8:59

There's a lot uh that just happened to me that I need to process. Um I think the only thing keeping me uh from freaking out is I need to dry my book. So uh I'm just gonna grab my book off my hip and suck all the water out of it and splash it on the ground. And then I I think just look around to see if I'm safe. Do I see Sortiko anywhere?

SPEAKER_04 9:31

You do not. You look back up at the roof line of the Temple of Attila and you cannot make out anyone looking down standing over you. You do not know where Sortiko is.

SPEAKER_06 9:40

Okay. I I think I think I want to start moving towards wherever I heard my name being called from, but I would like to be stealthy, because I don't want to have him realize that I'm alive. Give me a constitution check.

SPEAKER_04 9:56

Twelve. Alright, you're not quite in shock, but you're pretty rattled from everything that's happened. So I'm not gonna give you disadvantage across the board, just on a few specific actions for now. Sure. But uh, you can start to like scramble up the riverbank and try to to move.

SPEAKER_06 10:18

I think right now I'm just kind of running off of adrenaline and instinct, struggling to to process what just happened. So yeah, I I definitely want to start moving. Do I need to roll for stealth?

SPEAKER_04 10:30

If you want to be stealthy, yes.

SPEAKER_06 10:32

Yeah, definitely do. Do I have a disadvantage on that?

SPEAKER_04 10:35

You do.

SPEAKER_06 10:36

Okay. Great. Oh, it's 18, but then what's the second roll?

SPEAKER_04 10:41

A 16, not too bad. Okay. You make your way up the bank, you're now you're on the far side of the river. You you've crossed the river, you're back uh in the little square by the Moreno Inn, crawling out. You see two figures in the rain uh craning around looking for you. So at Durham, you see a shape crawl up the riverbank, slowly taking the form of Liren Hinamoto. Orch is fine.

SPEAKER_00 11:07

Why were you in the water?

SPEAKER_06 11:10

I'm going to keep moving. Keep my head low. I assume- I assume my cloak probably has like a hood, probably have the hood pulled up. Um moving. And as I just pass them, I'm going to say, each side, no. I just push past them and walk inside.

SPEAKER_02 11:30

He sounds like he's actually taking charge. And I follow.

SPEAKER_06 11:34

You go back into the inn. And I'm going to head straight back up to the rooms.

SPEAKER_04 11:38

In the rooms, uh, your boots are squelched against the uh wood. You're you're dripping in, but you head back up to the rooms.

SPEAKER_06 11:45

Um, yeah, I think as I'm as I'm hearing the squish, can I cast uh press the digitation again and just suck out the water and just throw it out a window or something. I don't know. Just deposit it in a bucket. Deposit it in like a potted plant or something. Yes. You know, they'll say you do that. Yeah, so I'll okay, so I'll do that so I'm not squishy and wet anymore, and then just head straight into the room. Um, I don't think I'm even gonna pay much attention to who follows me out of the two of them. What do y'all do?

SPEAKER_04 12:18

Why not?

SPEAKER_02 12:20

Yep, same.

SPEAKER_04 12:21

Alright, you all are in the rooms now. You shut the door behind you. I assume you lock it behind you.

SPEAKER_01 12:26

Yeah, then where's where's Sortico?

SPEAKER_06 12:29

Lock the door.

SPEAKER_02 12:32

Alright. I go ahead and lock the door.

unknown 12:39

Oh.

SPEAKER_08 12:41

Are we about to get frisky? I haven't even bathed yet.

SPEAKER_06 12:59

I'm just going to sit on the bed and just face in my hands and probably just cry.

SPEAKER_02 13:10

I just stand there watching.

SPEAKER_08 13:12

Durham's gonna walk over. Put his hand on Laren's shoulder. Is it your first time?

SPEAKER_00 13:24

First time for what?

SPEAKER_06 13:27

Swat swat his hand away.

SPEAKER_01 13:32

First time for what?

SPEAKER_06 13:35

Horrific. I cannot stand.

SPEAKER_05 13:41

I'm not flipping you out of hand, I'm flipping Kirby on the new animal.

SPEAKER_06 13:55

I'm gonna just swat his hand away. Sorry, Kobe. He shot me. He he he tried to kill me. Oh, you look fine to me. I d I suppose I do. Um I'm gonna feel like just reach around and try and feel my back. Do I feel anything?

SPEAKER_04 14:23

You feel a uh like circular almost burn mark-esque scar, but it is already healed. Oh he has a hole in his clothes, essentially. Yes, you do. You've got two.

SPEAKER_06 14:35

Okay. He um that gun, the The gun we got from the raven, uh the one he took from me. I think he I think he tried to kill me with it.

SPEAKER_01 14:49

Why would he try to kill you? I thought you were best buddies.

unknown 14:56

My whole life.

SPEAKER_01 14:58

Um I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 15:02

Did he say anything? Surely he didn't just shoot you.

SPEAKER_06 15:06

Otherwise Yeah, he ran his mouth like usual. He told me that he always hated me something about my wasted potential or I never did anything with I don't know. I don't I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 15:31

I don't I don't remember Did he take the credit for the other in motos murders?

SPEAKER_06 15:42

Um No, I don't I don't think so. Interesting.

SPEAKER_08 15:50

Solitera. If Soriko believes that he killed Virin. And we are still at the same spot that we were when you did the deed.

SPEAKER_00 16:04

Indeed. Well, that begs the question of what do we want to do next.

SPEAKER_01 16:10

I personally would like to stay out of it, but he knows where we are, and so this would be one of the first places that he would come back to.

SPEAKER_06 16:20

At least he's not going to. He said it himself, he's a coward. He did his job and now he's gone.

SPEAKER_01 16:27

Was he working for himself?

SPEAKER_06 16:31

I don't know. For all we know, he could be the raven.

SPEAKER_02 16:34

I What do you mean he could be the raven? We killed him. We have his head, or did.

SPEAKER_06 16:42

But but we know that they're fakes. I think something never sat quite right with me about that whole situation. We know there's fake ravens as stand-ins and the way he took the gun and just the way he had it, like he knew what he was doing. Look at him. I'm still alive, so maybe he didn't. Maybe he's just an idiot.

SPEAKER_00 17:09

The idiots are always the underestimated.

SPEAKER_08 17:12

Hey, I do believe. If he was the raven, I don't think you'd be here with that gun. Seemed quite strong to me.

SPEAKER_01 17:22

We don't have any more information. This is the first place he's going to come looking. If we don't want to get caught, we should go.

SPEAKER_04 17:37

Several screams and a gunshot. From outside down the hall, it's not a large inn, you hear it. Liran! I know you survived your fall, my friend. Come on now. Let me finish the job.

SPEAKER_02 17:56

Out the window. Now. What floor of the inn are we on?

SPEAKER_04 18:00

You're on the second.

SPEAKER_02 18:01

Yeah. She's pushing them. I'm pushing them towards the window.

SPEAKER_04 18:06

Broken glass, splintered furniture, uh, more people crying out.

SPEAKER_02 18:10

Pushing them towards the window.

SPEAKER_04 18:12

I'm not gonna budge.

SPEAKER_02 18:14

Strength check. I'ma push with all my might.

SPEAKER_04 18:16

I think Liren has a considerable advantage here. And a pretty good roll. I'm rolling a D4 to see how long it takes Sortico to find you. 18.

SPEAKER_01 18:32

A two. Oh no.

SPEAKER_06 18:36

Liren doesn't budge.

SPEAKER_01 18:37

Lirin, why won't you move?

SPEAKER_06 18:41

I'm gonna stand up and face the door.

SPEAKER_02 18:45

Oh my god, we're all going to die. Dunham! And I motion towards the window, as if an invitation.

SPEAKER_08 18:51

How much do you think that gun's worth, Virin?

SPEAKER_02 18:54

Oh, you've got to be kidding me.

SPEAKER_08 18:56

I don't give a shit. So you're saying the gun's mine if we take him down? Take it. I'm gonna go over by the door, like on the side where the door would like open, and I'd still be hidden behind the door. Hammer in hand.

SPEAKER_02 19:12

I can't believe I'm doing this.

SPEAKER_04 19:13

Dura moves into position.

SPEAKER_02 19:15

I am going to set a snare with one of my new abilities.

SPEAKER_05 19:24

Ooh.

SPEAKER_02 19:25

So um it does technically take one minute to cast snare. The spell reads: As you cast this spell, you use the rope to create a circle with a five-foot radius on the ground or on the floor. When you finish casting, the rope disappears and the circle becomes a magic trap. It is nearly invisible, requiring a successful intelligence or investigation check against your spell safe DC to be discerned. That would be a twelve. No, that's to hit. Um the trap triggers when a small, medium, or large creature moves onto the ground or the floor in the spell's radius. Must succeed on a dexterity-saving throw, or be magically hoisted into the air, leaving it hanging upside down three feet above the ground. The creature is restrained there until the spell ends. A restrained creature may make a dexterity-saving throw at the end of each turn, ending the effect on itself on success. Alternatively, the creature or someone else who can reach it can use an action to make an intelligence or arcana check against your spell safety C.

SPEAKER_04 20:31

Okay, you you successfully cast your snare spell on the ground, and I'm swimming in right in front of the door.

SPEAKER_02 20:38

Yes. And I give I give Durham a very pointed look, pointing to where I've set it, and crossing my arms, and an X shaking my head, telling him not to cross it, but saying nothing, and then I retreat to a spot where I'm hidden by shadows.

SPEAKER_04 20:55

My I guess I should say former friend at this point? Suriko's voice sounds a bit closer. Come on, I know you want to confront me. I promise I'll do you far better than Reagan. Or perhaps uh Tsunome would like to speak with you. Maybe you'd have a better conversation with her. Oh yes. Yes. Murder and violence in the Hinamoto estate. Three, the most promising heirs down in one fell swoop. How could it happen? Ah. You hear another gunshot. I'm having too much fun. I know you want to confront this. You know, prove that Hinamoto name. No Hakoko could ever stand up to you, no? Especially not after one murdered three of your family members. It was really easy, you know. So easy, just within earshot. I wonder who I could do it to next. Let's see. Does Codero still uh enjoy living? Listening to the birds singing at dawn on the uh balcony. Maybe next time I'll have a song ready for him.

SPEAKER_06 22:07

Do I hear him getting closer? You do. And I think your uh your trap might have interfered with my plan. Is there any way to move it?

SPEAKER_02 22:18

There is not, but you can always step around it. Like if you're trying to get to the door. Okay, so it's in the middle of the room? It's it's in front of the door. It's directly in front of the door.

SPEAKER_06 22:30

Okay. If I can get around it, then I'll think I'll be okay. As I listen, I'm going to slowly draw the blade of the Empire from its sheath. And with a shaky hand, I will cast green flame blade on it. As I pull it out slowly. And just kind of hover my hand over it and just slowly coat it in this like sickly yell uh yellow and green fire. My eyes wide. And I will stand. If you'll let me stand at an angle ready to lunge through the door. And can I hold an action?

SPEAKER_04 23:16

You can. You hear uh he's almost right outside the door now. Okay. You hear it. Ah, there he goes, hiding again. So characteristic. All of these Hinamoto, no? Reagan was a real challenge, but he never saw what was right in front of him. Tsunome, now that is the one I was the most proud of. Feather in my cap if I do say so myself. But you always hated them, did you not? You should be thanking me. I did you a favor, made you this much closer to the line of succession. Of course you lived, I wasn't planning on that.

SPEAKER_07 23:52

But yeah.

SPEAKER_04 23:54

You live and you learn. Next time I'll take three shots. Now come on out. What better way? Honor your family, avenge their deaths, save them, protect them from this future threat that none of them saw coming. Huh? Let's talk about this. Where's the voice? Outside the room, but he's not moving any closer.

SPEAKER_06 24:18

Does he sound like he's right outside the door?

SPEAKER_04 24:21

No.

SPEAKER_06 24:23

Mm-hmm. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 24:26

I'm tempted to make you roll something. Namely constitution or uh some other type of resistance.

SPEAKER_06 24:33

Oh, I've been rolling to myself. Actually, if you would allow that. I have been Of course, of course. I have been just barely managing. I'm I I am currently braced and just shaky and sweating. Durham. Maybe a change of plans. Because this bastard might not move another inch closer. What if I cast a fog cloud? And we run. And you try and tackle him.

SPEAKER_08 25:12

So we are a getting hands here.

SPEAKER_06 25:16

I don't think I can stand another minute of this thing. I'm with you, Lirin. Sorry, sir.

SPEAKER_00 25:24

You're telling me you want to waste a perfectly good spell? Could we at least try to capture him alive?

unknown 25:30

No promise.

SPEAKER_00 25:32

He could be useful. Just a thought.

SPEAKER_06 25:35

Don't do what I can.

SPEAKER_00 25:36

Just try not to get shot again.

SPEAKER_08 25:39

Open the door. Then reach over and open the door.

SPEAKER_04 25:43

Fog cloud in the hallway. Fog erupts into the hallway. Durham, I assume you go barreling out. I'm assuming Solisera removed the spell from the floor.

SPEAKER_02 25:52

I guess technically I can. Yeah. Grumpily.

SPEAKER_04 25:56

Alright, we're gonna say you did that before Durham went running, right here. That's fair.

SPEAKER_02 25:59

Correct. Yes.

SPEAKER_04 26:01

Durham. Does a 12 doesn't hit.

SPEAKER_08 26:06

It does not.

SPEAKER_04 26:08

Alright, you hear another gunshot. And Durham, you feel a blow bounce off of your shoulder. Doom, but it doesn't stop you. You keep barreling forward and you tackle something small and woodlike. It clatters a ground and splinters as you tackle a chair. The fog cloud, make another roll, disperses. I've always had a thing for pressed digitation spells. His voice is now echoing from a different spot. Oh gosh! Durham, you are immediately mobbed by bandits. They pile on you as you tackle the chair to the ground. Uh give me a strength check. Competing strength as they try to pin you. Well, that's a 13. From the bandits. Durham, you are now pinned to the ground. Uh the bandits sort of dogpile on you. There's three of them on you. You can't quite make out how many more there are in the inn. But more of them now pound up the stairs and bolt into the room. And Soriko keeps talking. Again from a different point. Because, I thought you would have uh figured it out with my little incantation thing. Raven, you know, right on the chest. It was very on the nose. Ah, but fortunately that didn't do the trick and poor Aethis. Ah. I knew he wanted out of my deal. Unfortunately, he trusted the wrong people. Just like you, Lydra. I wish you had gotten some more time. You would have gotten along with it.

SPEAKER_02 27:58

I'd like to cast detect magic, which would allow me to sense the presence of magical effects within 30 feet.

SPEAKER_04 28:07

You cast detect magic, Solaceera, you feel the sense uh like pinpricks in your uh sort of little pressures in your brain as to where these things are. And so there's a magical effect down the hall to the left. You feel another one in the middle room of the lobby, of the bar downstairs. You feel another one uh closer to the door on the right.

SPEAKER_02 28:28

Can you say those one more time, please?

SPEAKER_04 28:30

Down the hall to the left, in the lobby, close to the door on the right. Come on out, Liran. I'd hate to kill another friend of yours.

SPEAKER_06 28:39

So we're not able to get a decent read of where he is?

SPEAKER_04 28:43

No. Or perhaps maybe it just needs to be family members. Maybe that will motivate you. I'm gonna be honest, I don't know how many more of your family will uh give me any decent fight. With that, he's gonna cast a vicious mockery on you. Hmm. So uh give me a wisdom saving throw. Thirteen. Yeah, that's not gonna do it. Go ahead and take three points of damage.

SPEAKER_02 29:11

So the door is open, Durham is in the hall, pinned. Where is Lirin standing?

SPEAKER_06 29:18

Lirin's still in the room, I assume. About to charge out the door.

unknown 29:21

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 29:22

I'm I'd like to seeing him probably take a half step back and flinch. Lirin. Chuck down the hall to the left or in the lobby. There's a door to the right. He's one of those three places. I just can't tell which one.

SPEAKER_06 29:39

And with that, Liren is going to soak in the pain of that three damage and scream as he begins a blade song. And I'm going to charge into the hall. And what were the three places? Down the hall to the right?

SPEAKER_04 30:01

Left down the hall. Down the hall to the left. Right, very close to the door. And down the stairs in the lobby. I'm thinking lobby. How's the how's Durham looking? Durham is pinned in the lobby under a few bandits, and there are more in the hallway. There's a in the stairwell.

SPEAKER_06 30:17

So there's several that are blocking my way to the lobby? Yes. How many?

SPEAKER_03 30:24

Three.

SPEAKER_06 30:27

Oh boy. Yeah, I don't know. God's telling me lobby. I'm gonna go. I'm gonna run. Okay, so for a blade song, my AC is buffed by three, my movement speed is buffed by ten feet. I have advantage on dexterity checks, and I have a bonus to constitution. This is basically like a wizard rage. And so I'm going to do that with my green flame blade and slice at the first man in my way. Alright, roll for hit.

unknown 31:07

No!

SPEAKER_06 31:08

It did uh my dice did I did hit something and then bounce off of it if if uh if we want to foul that. No.

SPEAKER_04 31:17

Call it call it making up for uh gnat one healing you when you were supposed to die. That's my luck. Keeping me humble. In your rage, you miss a step and you go tumbling down the stairs. You slip just into the group of bandits. And I'm gonna say, even with that gnat one to hit, the effect of it is I'm going to make a little check here on Durham's assailants who do not do well at all. That was a four. Alright, so Lirian, as you tumble down the stairs, just all all man, you clear the stairwell. The other bandits like like fall out under you. You're on your you're laying down. You'll have to spend your next action getting up. Durham, the bandits that are pinning you get knocked off. So you're strategy pinned. You're pinned.

SPEAKER_05 32:19

That was part of the plan!

SPEAKER_04 32:22

So both of you are on the ground. You will have to spend your next turn getting up, but you are no longer pinned. Oh, that's awesome. So let's see here. I'm gonna give you an action, then everyone's rolling initiative.

SPEAKER_02 32:33

So at this point, I'm going to peek out the hallway, hearing this thud of bodies and groans of discomfort. Possibly some broken bones. And I want to take a moment to memorize exits, see where everything is while still being hidden. Either from the doorway or where I'm at in the stairwell.

SPEAKER_04 33:02

Alright, give me a stealth check. Fairly low DC.

SPEAKER_02 33:06

18.

SPEAKER_04 33:08

Oh yeah, yeah, you're good. So you stay hidden. You do you check. Basically, there's the one main door out through the uh like in through the actual like restaurant bar part of it. Um you're not sure if there's like a service entrance behind the bar to your right, like back where the kitchens are. That's possible. Uh otherwise, there are no other entrances or exits, there are windows. There are seven bandits that you count. There are the three uh on the ground who were pinning Durham, there were the three that leader and knock down, there's one more deeper in there, and you see what you assume to be Soriko at the back, uh close to the entrance, wearing the raven mask, holding the liar's vow, still glowing runes uh with that visage, but you can make out it's it's him.

SPEAKER_02 33:59

Now, I will I would like to point this out. My detect magic would tell me if that is an apparition or something that is not actually him.

SPEAKER_04 34:09

It is not an apparition.

SPEAKER_02 34:11

Is he one of the sources of magic that I sensed?

SPEAKER_04 34:14

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 34:16

Okay. I'm going to move to the right. That's the only one we haven't determined yet.

SPEAKER_04 34:22

Okay. Uh as you move to the right, you just uh you feel that magic sense. Like pinprick, you bass it. It's like when um when you've got a quest marker and you it's beneath you, and so when you run over it, it just does like a circle around you. It's just that kind of thing. Yes, the but you you get the sense that it's the remnants of a precedentation spell that he used to cast his voice.

SPEAKER_02 34:44

Okay. Would that be the same thing if I head down the hallway to the left?

SPEAKER_04 34:49

You're gonna have to find out.

SPEAKER_02 34:51

Yeah, I'm gonna do my investigations first.

SPEAKER_04 34:53

Alright, you you I'm assuming you're gonna spend your whole time you bolt, bolt, you're just doing suicides on the uh yeah, okay. Little bit, yeah. Just the sprints down the yeah. Alright, so you run down to the end of the hallway, that is another point of a precedentation spell.

SPEAKER_02 35:06

Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 35:06

I'm gonna say that's your turn. Now everyone, roll initiative. Oof, that's a 19 for Sortico. 17 for girl. Seven.

SPEAKER_02 35:22

21 for Solicera. Nope, sorry, 22. 22.

SPEAKER_04 35:30

No, 14 for the bandits. Uh Solaciera, it is your turn first.

SPEAKER_02 35:35

Oh, Blimey. Alright. So I'm standing at the top of the stairs. Peeking around. And I'm gonna start picking off the bandits. So, because I'm from the top of the stairs, and I'm using a short bow, because Anna can be smart, I'm learning. I'm gonna use my short bow to get one of these bad boys.

SPEAKER_04 36:02

Go for it.

SPEAKER_02 36:03

Alright. I'm assuming that since my friends are in prone, they are not going to give me advantage.

SPEAKER_04 36:10

No, they are not.

SPEAKER_02 36:11

That's what I thought. Okay. Worth asking. Uh, where are my bonus actions? There it is.

SPEAKER_04 36:17

I'm going to- You can target one of the bandits on the floor.

SPEAKER_02 36:20

Who's in prone?

SPEAKER_04 36:22

Yes. There's three of them.

SPEAKER_02 36:24

Because that would give me advantage, yes, please. So, one of the ones that's in prone. Going to shortbow. That's an 18 23 to hit.

SPEAKER_04 36:37

Yeah, that hits.

unknown 36:41

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 36:42

A bandit with more than a 23 AC is not hold on.

SPEAKER_02 36:48

So he um that's 14 damage. Is he dead yet?

SPEAKER_04 36:54

Yeah, he is. You want yeah.

SPEAKER_02 36:56

Yeah, that was it. So she's so I'm at the top of the railing. Laren's down like a bowling ball. One of the guys has his he's on his on his stomach. And quick back quick drawback, snap release right between the shoulder blades, basically pinning him to the floor.

SPEAKER_04 37:18

Dugo's limp as the arrow catches right in the back.

SPEAKER_02 37:22

Oh, that wasn't even with advantage. It's fine.

SPEAKER_04 37:25

Oh, is that your turn?

SPEAKER_02 37:26

E yeah, I'm gonna stay where I'm at. I'm gonna s although I will move just slightly so that I stay hidden. So just like five, ten feet.

SPEAKER_04 37:33

Okay. Uh it is now Sorko's turn. Sortiko is going to cast Vicierous Mockery again on Solisera. You know, I did not think she would join the fight. She was just here to rob you too. I thought she'd be out the door by now. Slinking away with her uh tail between her legs. What's the wisdom saving through?

SPEAKER_08 38:02

It's a five.

SPEAKER_04 38:03

Yeah, so take five points of damage from that uh deep cut, especially because um no one should know that.

SPEAKER_02 38:16

But he's not the first to allude to it. Someone else did too. Raken, maybe?

SPEAKER_04 38:21

No, he did.

SPEAKER_02 38:22

He did. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 38:25

That's true. He was the one that knew your real name. Because he played it off, uh, I believe he said that some men were looking for you, which y'all never followed up on. Um then uh told him who you were. Which should have been a lot more suspicious at the time. Yeah, probably should have been.

SPEAKER_02 38:53

Look, we're all still learning, alright? We ain't worldly wise yet.

SPEAKER_04 38:58

Uh sortiko just keeps talking. And if she knows what was good for her, she would be on my side.

SPEAKER_02 39:05

What's the incentive?

SPEAKER_04 39:07

You're gonna call out, you're gonna say that. Uh call it service. You ought to understand, no?

SPEAKER_00 39:14

No response.

SPEAKER_04 39:14

It is now Durham's turn. I stand.

SPEAKER_05 39:19

Durham stands the fuck up.

SPEAKER_02 39:22

With a chest tell it high.

SPEAKER_05 39:25

Durham, Durham stands up. And um if you want, give me a performance check.

SPEAKER_04 39:35

13. Alright. I will get into the you do you stand up competently enough. I will let you, if you want, roll intimidation. You're quite infamous with this group of bandits. I was gonna use my voter section to glare anyways. Go for it, yeah, go for it, go for it.

SPEAKER_05 39:52

Roll intimidation. You can say something too if you want.

SPEAKER_08 39:59

Oh. Think about the past guests. That was uh 10 for my intimidation.

SPEAKER_07 40:09

That's really good. That's really good.

SPEAKER_04 40:12

I fucking love making the line according to the uh according to the role. That was excellent. Yeah, so they are not intimidated. A few of like the ones on their feet do back away a little bit, just but less out of like abject terror and more self-preservation. Opportunity of attack. No. They they don't turn their back and run. They just they take it like a step back.

unknown 40:40

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 40:41

Nice try. Indeed, they can. The two bandits who are not dead on the ground use their action getting up. The other three see the arrow strike from the shadows, uh, as well as Durham like op to his feet, ground his hammer, and they all all the bandits spend their turns like getting situated, getting oriented. Lyran, I'm assuming it's gonna be the same thing unless you've got bonus actions you want to use. Um, is it my turn now? It is not your turn.

SPEAKER_06 41:12

I also stand.

SPEAKER_04 41:17

I'm gonna say you're less infamous than Durham. Given uh given given the point that he did several times against these groups of bandits. So you do not have to-less infamous on the Enamoto! If you if you want to try and use that. I'll uh performance.

SPEAKER_05 41:35

Yeah, go for it.

SPEAKER_02 41:37

Keep in mind, three of your most elite family members have died in the last 12 hours.

SPEAKER_06 41:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 41:44

My aura in the last seat of cool.

SPEAKER_06 41:49

My aura's draining by the second. Performance, that's uh 12.

SPEAKER_00 42:03

Ugh.

SPEAKER_04 42:04

Yeah, I'm gonna go. You you look you you give a decent like show, you know, straight the robes, the the blade is still on fire, uh, but they are not intimidated.

SPEAKER_06 42:14

That's fine. Okay, so what can I do now? I I got up and is that it?

SPEAKER_04 42:20

If you have a bonus action, you can use it. If not, that was your action and your turn.

SPEAKER_06 42:24

My bonus action! Oh yeah, no. Green flame blade, I think he is my bonus action, so.

SPEAKER_03 42:30

No.

SPEAKER_06 42:31

I think I'm gonna be quiet. Just staring murderers. Yeah, exactly. I don't think I have a bonus action.

SPEAKER_04 42:40

He is up. This is becoming a theme, don't you think? I do have a bonus action. What in the Chad face did you just give me?

SPEAKER_06 42:53

Y'all saw that too, right? Me realizing I have a bonus action. I can I can misty step. I can misty step as a bonus action.

SPEAKER_01 43:04

Ooh.

SPEAKER_06 43:05

Oh, okay, yeah. Go ahead and read that for us. Yeah. Briefly surrounded by silver, scared me a little. Briefly surrounded by silvery mist, you teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see. Okay, where do you go? Oh my kind of oh, let me actually do a roll for myself. Uh I'm gonna do a constitution save. Or should it be a wisdom save? I don't know. Yeah, screw it. I think I'm gonna mist you step right up to like behind Sorgo.

SPEAKER_04 43:39

Okay, I'm not gonna say that that's a fairly occupied space. Behind him? He's yeah, like he's he's right by the front door. Yeah, you're not gonna get behind him, but you can go up next to him, beside him.

SPEAKER_06 43:51

What is it occupied by the door? It's occupied by him. But it's behind him.

SPEAKER_04 43:58

He's not no, he's like back. Basically to the door. You can't. Yeah, you can't. Like doors close. You ain't about to like erupt out of his stomach. This ain't an alien movie. Yes. So yeah, you can get you can get close to him, you can get near him.

SPEAKER_05 44:16

Yeah, no, I'll be back. He's gonna have a turn before you do.

SPEAKER_06 44:20

Ooh? Well, he'll have disadvantage. Will he have disadvantage on his gun? I mean he didn't during his little moment. He did not, no. Ugh. Yeah, but every but every time I'm away from him, he's also gonna be doing attacks. True.

SPEAKER_04 44:36

I'm gonna go up next to him. I'm gonna go to his I'm not here to dissuade you, just just to inform your options. Yeah, so you misty step around the room and you you emerge right next to Sortico. Uh and as you emerge from the mist, as you as you regain your senses, you are staring down the barrel of the gun. So it's your turn.

SPEAKER_07 44:57

Bandits?

SPEAKER_04 44:58

No, bandits went before there and they took their uh turn orienting, getting up. Got it. Because most of them were on the ground. I'm treating bandits, again, for mobs, as like a whole cohesive unit, just to keep things simple.

SPEAKER_02 45:09

Yes, I had just missed that part. Okay. So it worked so well last time. She's just gonna go ahead and do another bow, an arrow to one of the bandits that's clearly within range. I'm assuming, and maybe I'm wrong. Sortiko is how far away?

SPEAKER_04 45:31

Sortiko is gonna be about 30 feet away.

SPEAKER_02 45:34

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 45:35

You are not gonna get an advantage on this one either. No, the bandits are prone, and you're behind Durham, so you're not flanking them.

SPEAKER_02 45:42

I'm still at the top of the stairs. Durham is at the bottom of the stairs.

SPEAKER_04 45:45

You are. He is. You're just you're not gonna get advantageous because you're not flanking them. Oh, wait, sorry. The whole uh thing that we talked about earlier. If an allies within what, five feet? Uh-huh. Yep. Yes, in that case you do.

SPEAKER_02 45:59

Thank you. That is a 24 to hit.

SPEAKER_04 46:05

Do you need to ask at this point?

SPEAKER_02 46:09

Uh this and oh, that's awful. For a total of 12 damage.

SPEAKER_03 46:16

How do you do it?

SPEAKER_02 46:18

Yeah! This is what I love being a rogue. They're facing Durham. He houses back to me, more or less. And I'm locked in. Drawback. Snap. And it goes right through the eyeball and sticks out the back of the skull. He falls.

SPEAKER_04 46:41

Like head twists jerk back as the eye goes right through the socket. Just turns around. Knees. Face down. Uh arrow snaps off against the wood of the floor. Two bandits down, five to go. It is now Soriko's turn. This one doesn't look good for you, Liren. Because your AC has a plus three to it, doesn't it? Yes. Yeah, so that's a four to hit.

SPEAKER_06 47:12

Let me let me check my skill sheet actually. That might that might hit. Hold on. Oh, it doesn't. Oh we're good.

SPEAKER_04 47:20

Nice. Sorryko pulls the trigger. Boom! Uh, but misses you jerk out of the way. And Soriko goes. You see, you should be thanking me. This version of you is much more persistent.

SPEAKER_02 47:33

Do we know how many shots he has in that gun?

SPEAKER_04 47:37

You do not.

SPEAKER_02 47:38

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 47:40

Durham, it's now your turn.

SPEAKER_02 47:41

Oh.

SPEAKER_04 47:42

Okay. Caleb is giving me the biggest glare right now.

SPEAKER_06 47:46

Yeah. I'm gonna I'm gonna stay I'm gonna stay silent and determined.

SPEAKER_02 47:50

He's very good at that.

SPEAKER_08 47:52

I'm gonna swing my hammer at the closest bandit to me. Fuck yeah. Roll for it. I rear back, and as I swing, my foot steps on a little puddle because it was raining outside, and with everybody coming in, the ground's wet a little bit. And as I'm swinging at the bandit in front of me, my foot slips out from underneath me, and I I kinda like take a couple steps back to try and gain my balance from swinging my hammer. And uh that's the end of my turn. I rolled a two.

SPEAKER_05 48:29

Your hammer like Oh no.

SPEAKER_04 48:33

Your hammer like thunks into the wood and like bounces off and clatters and you stumble back. Alright. It is now the bandit's turn. So a couple of the bandits are going to rush you, Liren, as you appear. Another few bandits are going to rush Durham. So gonna do the three that rush you, Liren. Does a 17 hit.

SPEAKER_06 48:57

Ugh, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 48:58

Okay, so uh the first one runs in with a uh with his axe. He is gonna do he's gonna do four points of damage. I'll survive. Comes in and right as you duck out of the way, his axe catches you across the chest. The next one who comes in.

unknown 49:22

Shit.

SPEAKER_04 49:25

That's what I like to hear. The next one uh on a similar but different puddle. The one Durham just slipped. The bartender really didn't get around to mopping this place. So the next bandit is going to. I'm not copying, I'm referencing, I'm making an illusion, okay? The next bandit is going to uh rush at you, he's gonna slip. He's gonna backpedal in the water, fall forward, and he's gonna whack his head on the bar.

SPEAKER_05 49:54

Oh whack his head on the bar.

SPEAKER_04 49:57

Uh his lip is busted, he falls back. Uh, he is dazed. We're gonna count him out of the fight. Was that a nat one? Finish him off. That was indeed a nat one. Fantastic. Continue. The last one, I'm assuming an 18 hits. Uh yeah. Oh, jeez, that's another five points of damage. The next bandit with a sword comes in and jabs it. Uh and gets you uh like sort of scours you across the ribs. Okay. How are you doing there, bud? Not great. Level three wizards aren't known to have a lot of health. Yeah, I'm not the best looking guy in the world. Alright, well, it is now your turn. Okay. Um there are now bandits between you and Sortico as well.

SPEAKER_06 50:45

Oh gosh dang it.

SPEAKER_04 50:48

How many wizards? Sad. There were so one's oh no, two are dead. So um, that's right. I didn't roll for Durham stuff. Sorry, yeah. Okay, so two are dead. One's now unconscious. There are two between Liran and Sortico. There are two rushing Durham. I forgot to roll for them, so. Does a 16 hit Durham? It does not. Fucking chat. How about a how about a 20? Oh. That one hits. Uh take four points of damage. As this next bandit uh jabs his spear into your shoulder and catches the chainmail and draws a bit of blood. That's the bandit's turn.

SPEAKER_06 51:27

Lyrod, now it is your turn. So I attempted to missy step right next to Sonico. How are there now people in between?

SPEAKER_04 51:37

Because they rushed and attacked you. And with like melee, like they are got in your space. Fine. Fine. Alright. I'm gonna make this as painful as possible for you.

SPEAKER_05 51:50

Yeah, I know. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 51:53

But also just like logically, like they did, like, they're both melees, they moved in. They didn't stand five feet away from you, like like reaching out to hit you. They they got in that mission.

SPEAKER_06 52:04

Ugh, okay. This is bad. How many people are close to me? And how close are they?

SPEAKER_04 52:10

Sorry, code, two bandits. They're within the okay.

SPEAKER_06 52:14

Well, um, I want to use sword because shiny and on fire, but that's probably not smart. I should use ice knife and get that juicy little explosion damage. So we'll see if we can do that. So I'm gonna use ice knife and roll. Ho ho ho that's pretty good. That's a 23 to hit.

SPEAKER_04 52:36

Yeah, that hurts. Can you can you friendly fire yourself with ice knife? I don't think so. Um, I mean double game. You're also in the range. Like, would you get hit by the explosion? That feels like that's how that should work.

SPEAKER_06 52:49

Uh, mayhaps you're right about that. The target and each creature within five feet of it must succeed on a dexterity saving throw or take 2d6 cold damage. I might just like blow myself a bar within. Yeah. Hmm. But what if, hold on. Everybody listen with me here. What if I chucked that at Soriko, who I assume is ten feet away? Because there's people in between now. It hits if it hits him and then explodes and then hurts the people who are just out of my range.

SPEAKER_04 53:25

He's not 10 feet away from you. He's he's within two yards. He's within six. You could throw it behind him and hope that the piercing damage only hits him. Like I'll I'll let you make uh I'll let you in your when you're trying to roll for a hit, I'll let you make that d20 to try and throw it behind him to get that piercing damage. But if you're gonna chug it at him or the bodies in front, you're all taking it. You have uh a bonus to your decks though, though. I do advantage on the decks. So you could risk it.

SPEAKER_06 53:58

I'm gonna risk it. With advantage on my desk, with advantage on my decks, I'm gonna risk it. And use my blades on the floor.

SPEAKER_04 54:05

Fury burning in his gut. Liran hurls his ice knife at the bandit. That 23 to hit does hit uh the initial damage the bandit takes, roll for it.

SPEAKER_06 54:14

Okay. So that initial damage is going to be one do you ten? Nine.

SPEAKER_04 54:24

Jesus, y'all's damage rolls are off the charts. So And now all four of us need to make dex saves. Correct. So the bandit uh sputters as your knife takes him right in the chest. He stumbles back into Sortico. Dex the checks. What's the DC?

SPEAKER_06 54:41

Where is my supposed DC? Oh no. Does it not say? Oh, uh, the save is 13.

SPEAKER_04 54:48

That is a 16 for Sortico. He shoves the man out of the way and ducks the shards. The other bandit uh also manages the they remember, or not remember, they heard about this trick. Uh the other bandit also dives out of the way of the shards. Um, but the one who your knife hit is not so lucky. And as the dagger uh beds in his chest and explodes, the shards rip part of his like chest open and he collapses on the ground uh as the knife slowly melts and the ice stars slowly melt into his skin.

SPEAKER_06 55:21

Uh as for me, with my advantage I got an at 20. Oh yeah, you're chilling. You you furious just yeah.

SPEAKER_02 55:29

Did we have to roll as well?

SPEAKER_04 55:31

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 55:32

Uh no, you're no, I'm wrong with her. Never mind. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 55:37

Yeah. It is your turn though, Solosera. Well, hold on, so I think I can still I still have another second level spell slot and I might use it. Are you gonna let me Misty Step out of here? Because honestly, I've put myself in an uh-oh situation. Uh bonus action, yes, you can use it. Okay. Are you gonna have me take it if it's opportunity attacks?

SPEAKER_04 55:57

If it's your bonus action, and Misty Step is a spell, which means like you like disappear in the shroud and then you move away.

SPEAKER_06 56:02

Yeah, briefly surround yourself in silver silvery mist, you teleport.

SPEAKER_04 56:07

I'm gonna say no. You don't you know if you're like teleporting, you're not not an opportunity of attack.

SPEAKER_06 56:12

Yeah. So sadly that's both of my second-level spell slots spent, but I think I think with that scare of of uh me being there, seeing all that move in, I think I'm as Liran gonna have a moment of clarity and be like, yeah, nope, and just fade away and teleport. I'm gonna try and I'm gonna be gunshot. Yeah. Yeah, I'm gonna misty step back behind Durham and reassume my role as a damage support. And stop tanking.

SPEAKER_04 56:44

So, Liren, you you misty step the fuck out of there. Solasir, it is now your turn. So we have I'm gonna say with two fairly beefy men in the way, your next shot's gonna be disadvantaged.

SPEAKER_02 56:57

So I would roll straight.

SPEAKER_04 56:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 57:00

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 57:01

Stairs ain't that big. Like, especially not in kids. With two, with a 6'4 dude, with like with like uh a built 6'4 dude in the stairway behind another, also pretty built, yeah, not as tall. Yeah, you're you're they're hefty. You're shooting over their heads, or you're shooting past ears. 6'4 and 4'6. Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_02 57:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 57:28

Um It's not.

SPEAKER_02 57:32

I'm just muttering to myself, damn idiots. I swear they've never fought with just need them to move. And I'm gonna use a short bow at one of the bandits that's left. That's not good. Uh uh. Does a 12 hit?

SPEAKER_04 57:54

It does.

SPEAKER_02 57:55

Great! Okay. Beats it, beats it.

SPEAKER_04 57:58

Bandit bandits are are are not great. Phenomenal. Not 12. 12 hits. Not a roll for damage.

SPEAKER_02 58:04

Nine damage, please. Man, that sneak attack.

SPEAKER_04 58:08

Your arrow your arrow takes the bandit in the upper arm. Uh, like right in the like right in the collarbone. Uh, so like he like screaming, he got it, jerks back, but he is not dead. Um, there's blood pouring down the uh side of his arm over his shoulder. Uh to do another head count, I believe. Tube down by Solaceira, Durham did not hit any, Lyrin killed one, one's knocked out. There are three bandits left. Uh, and one of them now has a great whacking arrow in his arm. Soriko is gonna look around and go. You see, this is why, this is why higher help never works. Ugh. Somehow your luck persists, my friend. I look forward to seeing you soon. With that, Sortiko's gonna bail.

SPEAKER_06 58:58

Alright.

SPEAKER_02 58:59

Pursuit. I will at least.

SPEAKER_04 59:01

You're gonna have to get through the rest of the bandits. It's also not your turn. It is Durham's turn.

SPEAKER_02 59:07

I know.

SPEAKER_04 59:08

As you see Sortiko duck out of the room.

SPEAKER_02 59:11

Can I yell at Durham? Even though it's not my turn?

SPEAKER_04 59:14

Yeah, of course. You can always talk, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 59:16

Go get him!

SPEAKER_08 59:18

Yeah. Player, that's gonna be a lot of multi that's a lot of opportunity attacks. Trying to chase.

SPEAKER_04 59:25

You have an opportunity attack. You have it now as he turns his back and tries to get out the door.

SPEAKER_08 59:30

I don't think I was close enough. I think that's within f I don't think I was close enough to Sorry Co. That's within five feet to get the opportunity attack. Um Yeah, yeah, you're right. Yeah, because I'm st I just stood up. I'm still at the bottom of the stairs, essentially. If he was by the door, it's definitely more than five feet.

SPEAKER_04 59:46

You're still about 20 feet away, and Lyrance behind you now, so yeah.

SPEAKER_08 59:50

Yeah, I was pretty much referencing like if I were to chase after him, there'd be three bandits who'd swing on me, essentially. Yes. Yes, there. So I'm going to swing at the closest bandit to me. Roll for hit. I rear back for a swing. And this time I stop early as I notice another puddle at my feet. Remembering oh, this didn't happen quite well as last time. And uh that is gonna be my turn. What?

SPEAKER_05 1:00:26

Roll the five. Dude, it sucks.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:31

That's hilarious, though. It's hilarious though. Okay, Durham, you you in an extreme display of foresight. Uh raise your hammer, but but check your swing. My hammers at the ready. Or a two. How about a nineteen?

SPEAKER_08 1:00:59

Mmm. Mmm.

SPEAKER_04 1:01:02

Meets it, beats it, right? It does. That hits. Level three with an AC of 19 is insane. Bananas. But I'm telling ya. Bananas. But the bandit with the spear gets you again. Uh he's gunning again for your. You see, he's actually gunning for the arm that's holding your hammer, your dominant arm. Uh take another five points of damage as he uh scores another cut uh this time on your chest.

unknown 1:01:29

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 1:01:30

Liren.

SPEAKER_06 1:01:33

I hate this guy. So the Sorko is running.

unknown 1:01:39

Away.

SPEAKER_06 1:01:40

Yeah. Okay. Great, cool. Is there anyone within melee range of me? There is, yes. And then is there anyone within five feet of that person? An enemy.

SPEAKER_04 1:01:55

Uh yeah, I'm gonna say they all moved closer to attack Durham. So the three bandits are right there within five feet.

SPEAKER_06 1:02:02

Okay, I'll try my melee attack with Green Flame Blade with my sword on the closest bandit to me.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:13

Go for it. Roll for it.

SPEAKER_06 1:02:16

Uh 13. That hits. Great. Roll for damage. Okay. That's three. But with green flame blade. Let's see, hold on. So sorry, it's taking me so long. Here it is. Okay, on hit, target suffers weapons attack, normal effects. It's fire damage, if that means anything. You can then cause green fire to leap from the target to a different creature of your choice that you can see within five feet of it. Second creature takes fire damage equal to your spellcast ability modifier. So he's gonna take more damage than the guy I sliced. Okay, so I think if I'm reading that right, hold on. Takes fire damage equal to your ability modifier. Oh never mind, that'll be another three damage. So my modifier is plus three, so I'll slide I'll slice the guy, he takes three damage, and then the green fire will erupt on him and then leap to the next closest bandit and deal three damage to him.

SPEAKER_04 1:03:14

Cool. Flames erupt down the uh leather armor of this bandit, and uh as the bright green flames spark up, they almost take the form of a dragon leaping from one to the next in their uh like shape, and they envelop the Mansola Syrah shot. And they spread rapidly over his clothes. He starts to scream and writhe, and the flames burst and he collapses to the ground, uh, contorting and contorting until the flames sink. You can smell burning flesh, burning clothes, and the man goes still, the bandit is dead. Cool. Okay, neat. There are now two bandits left. So Asira, your turn.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:00

Two bandits left. Soraku's gone. I'm still on top. In the balcony.

SPEAKER_04 1:04:06

Always. Sorry, yes, you are.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:09

Would she be though? Um, conversation for a different podcast. Sorry. Caleb's giving me a dead eye stare. It was right there. I had to take it. Don't judge me. I DM. I would respectfully request that you flip a coin for me. Heads that she stays and continues the fight to protect the Hinamoto and get themselves out. Tails, she pursues the man that has somehow single-handedly assassinated the three Hinamotos and almost succeeded with a fourth.

SPEAKER_04 1:04:49

Uh, fuck though. Make that decision yourself.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:54

Both are relevant.

SPEAKER_04 1:04:56

Asking me to make decisions for you. Fuck no. This is a choice. This is where the grit comes from.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:02

I don't have any when I PDAD.

SPEAKER_04 1:05:04

What do you do?

SPEAKER_02 1:05:13

Fine. Okay. Yeah. The stairwell balcony ramp runs the same direction. Like if I jumped out the window at the end, it would be the same place that Sotoku exited the building from.

SPEAKER_04 1:05:28

Thereabouts, yeah. You'd have a pretty decent angle on it.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:31

Wish me luck, boys. And she takes off. And she's going to throw. She'll use her short sword to open the window. Or if there's a chair somewhere, you know, something she can open the window with and she'd jumping out.

SPEAKER_04 1:05:47

Got it. Glass shatters, pricks along your skin as you uh go out through the busted window, tumble out into the into the mud. Uh it's still raining heavier now, uh, coming down, pouring as it's closer to midnight. Night. Later in the night, you stumble out into the square, there's almost no one out there, and you see Sortiko. You see Sortiko about 30 feet in front of you, leaning against a lamppost.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:14

I pull up short for a moment. Relaxed posture. Did you suspect I would come after you?

SPEAKER_04 1:06:21

That I did. I'd love to be honest, I was mostly hoping that uh Lirin or that infernal fucking dwarf would uh make their way out of the door first. Decent shot. But uh I had a feeling it would be you.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:35

I'd kill to know who told you my name.

SPEAKER_04 1:06:38

And yet I know that there is no possible way you would kill me.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:42

You are right.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:43

I don't want to kill you. I mean I do want to kill you, I suppose, but I can't kill you.

SPEAKER_04 1:06:48

No, and I don't think you know why.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:51

What do you want, Sortico? Other than power, that's obvious.

SPEAKER_04 1:06:57

I have everything that I want. I carried out my end of the deal.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:02

I'm assuming it's safe to say you're not going to tell me who you're working with.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:06

Is it not obvious, my dear? He sent me two.

SPEAKER_02 1:07:13

That's irritating. But it'd been nice to know I had an ally in this instead of us working against each other and me grating against you the whole time.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:25

My dear, no one said we were allies.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:29

We both said the same man. How does that not make us allies?

SPEAKER_04 1:07:33

Because I was given orders too that no one raises the gun, points it at you. Get in my way.

SPEAKER_07 1:07:46

And that is where we will call it for today.

SPEAKER_04 1:08:25

Everybody getting the smoke. Everybody getting the smoke. Apologies for no intro today. We figured it better if we just dive straight in. But as always, we have Anna playing Solaciera, Caleb playing Liren Hinamoto, and Kirby playing Durham Stonefist. I am your host and DM Quinn. Again, thank you all so much for joining us. Please spread the word. Join in on the plot twists. Wanna get as many people involved in this as possible? Uh, feel free to reach out. We'd love to hear from you. Aside from that, my very pissed-off players.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:01

Incredibly.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:02

Any final notes?

SPEAKER_06 1:09:06

I'm just I'm just tired at this point.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:16

In that case, thank you all so much for joining in. Thank you for listening. Enjoy the rest of whatever day or time of day you're in, and we will see you later. Take care, y'all.