Curse of Strahd - Episode 16 'Argynvostholt'

Our adventure continues at Argynvostholt where Lyrielle meets her new best friend, a budding romance continues to sprout, and the search for their ally against Strahd continues at the Werewolf Den.

Transcript

SPEAKER_11 0:00

Thank you all for joining us for episode 16 of our Curse of Strahd adventure. Last episode we began with Quicktra being assailed by a Vastani assassin. Hired by somebody. Could have been Strahd. Could have been whoever else has.

SPEAKER_01 0:31

Oh, that fucking bitch!

SPEAKER_11 0:33

Has something out for you.

SPEAKER_01 0:35

Sorry, for some reason I forgot.

SPEAKER_11 0:38

Um. But they survived with the help of Liriel and Erwin, who saved the day as they were both unconscious. Um Leo was away from the group uh with Yevgeny. Yes. Getting busy. Getting busy. Um you came back to the Blue Water Inn, uh, greeted your party. A little bit of awkwardness. Um, really a little bit awkward. Um as Leo had to find out about the admission of a crush, and Leary and Quickdraw had to find out about Leo's uh bald adventures in uh yeah, it was very fun for him.

SPEAKER_03 1:48

He had a great time.

SPEAKER_11 1:50

You then went to check on Yomgeni and his massive key. Jesus. Um you then went to check on Arena at the church. She seems to be doing all right. She obviously isn't so happy that you didn't let her jump into the pool, but you guys still uh convinced her that it was not the best idea and that she should remain. Um she agreed that you guys are probably her best hope. Um, but if you guys are gone, who knows what will happen. Uh whatever. Father Lucian is going to send a raven to Ismark in the village of Barovia, trying to get him to come out and see his sister. Uh, because she can't really leave. Uh, you can't really trust her to go out on the road with you, especially since you're traveling towards Kresk a little bit. Um, and also you can't be out around Strahd now that he has his vendetta against you all. Um after that, you went to see Vera to apologize for standing her up the other night. Uh, you had a more important date with Strahd. So she explained that she would forgive you as long as you met her at the inn tonight.

SPEAKER_00 3:26

We'll see if that happens.

SPEAKER_11 3:28

Tonight. We're gonna hit the cookie. From there, maybe it's doable. You met Rictavio at his tower, uh which he is staying with Esmerelda Diavenier. His lady friend, his his uh trainee apprentice uh type relationship. Um it's not a romantic one. Um you convinced him to sick his tiger on the Vistani, now that you have confirmed that they are indeed after you. Uh he agreed. Obviously, he's been waiting for the opportune time to do so, but it seems that with him on the run and with you on the run from the Vistani, it's probably best to put an end to them immediately. So he will prepare to do that while the three of you head to Argonvostold. I pre-rolled to see if we would have any encounters. It's not that far away. Uh so you will not encounter anyone as the three of you head off in the wagon with Jacqueis to Argenvostold.

SPEAKER_04 4:54

What a guy.

SPEAKER_11 4:56

As you approach the mansion, high above the river valley just juts a quiet promontory upon which looms a sepulchral sepulchral Sepulchral Sepulchral Sepultral Mansion. Its turrets capped with fairy tale cones, its towers lined with sculpted battlements. A third of the structure has collapsed, as has part of the roof, but the rest appears intact. A dark octagonal tower rises above the surrounding architecture. Out of the fog comes a distant peal of thunder, quickly accompanied by the howling of wolves in the woods below. But the house stands silent, seeming like the fossilized remains of some long dead thing smote upon the mountainside. Okay.

SPEAKER_15 5:58

Larry, I'm tired of rain.

SPEAKER_04 6:02

I'm tired of a lot of things.

SPEAKER_12 6:07

Well, I guess we knock on the front door.

SPEAKER_05 6:09

My goodness. No, if that doesn't work, maybe we can just go in through the rubble.

SPEAKER_15 6:15

Oh, we've done one.

SPEAKER_05 6:17

Let's get in.

SPEAKER_11 6:18

Uh so you guys all start start outside of the outside of the castle. I don't know where the accent just started and I just went with it. Uh you guys will start out. Sorry, the castle there.

SPEAKER_14 6:30

Oh, I need my boy. I need to get my boy.

SPEAKER_11 6:33

Um, in the center, as you park the wagon um around this roundabout uh area in front of the castle, you see perched atop a ten foot wide, ten foot high cube of granite is a moss-covered statue of a dragon, its wings tucked close to its body. The statue looks east toward the mansion.

SPEAKER_03 7:00

Hmm. I think maybe we should be wary of that. Can I make an arcana check on it? Image of I have a feeling nothing's gonna try and come to life.

SPEAKER_11 7:08

An arcana check? Uh, sure.

SPEAKER_03 7:11

Would that be arcana? Or do we have to do that?

SPEAKER_12 7:13

I mean, this is yeah, this is ordered the silver dragon, right?

SPEAKER_03 7:16

Yeah. I don't trust anything now. I thought you'd be more trustworthy after what you went through. He didn't hear me. Twenty. What did I go through? The candles? Yeah.

SPEAKER_12 7:30

Everything lasts not.

SPEAKER_03 7:33

That was fun. But that was controlled fire from someone who's not my enemy. I don't know if these people aren't my enemies. I haven't met them. Fair enough.

SPEAKER_11 7:45

The fog uh makes it difficult to see, but as you approach and get close enough to it, you can see that it is a silver dragon of noble bearing, its spiny frill cracked and broken in many places places. It's a ten foot tall statue, but it is much more imposing it is as it is uh perched atop this granite block, but does not seem to be alive.

unknown 8:22

Great.

SPEAKER_14 8:25

Yet okay.

SPEAKER_12 8:28

I'm gonna knock on the front door. Okay.

SPEAKER_11 8:33

Uh flagstone steps flanked by stone railings, climb to a landing in front of a pair of tall wooden doors with rusted iron bands and knockers shaped like small trees.

SPEAKER_07 8:47

No way.

SPEAKER_11 8:49

Tell us about those knockers.

SPEAKER_02 8:51

I mean, that is what they're called, but it's just funny. Tell us about those huge knockers.

SPEAKER_14 8:57

Ask me about my knuckers.

SPEAKER_00 9:03

Sorry. No, I'm not.

SPEAKER_11 9:06

Wooden doors with rusted iron bands and knockers shaped like small dragons. Carved into the lintel above the entrance is the word Argon Vastold.

unknown 9:18

Okay.

SPEAKER_11 9:19

Just as you are about to knock, you hear the stone of the dragon's mouth behind you creak open and it begins to release this cone of cold. I need a dexterity saving throw from all of my.

SPEAKER_12 9:42

Shit. Who is the person that warned us about like watch out for statues or something?

SPEAKER_05 9:49

Watch out for statues. Um I don't remember.

SPEAKER_02 9:53

I don't remember either. Oh, I got an eight. Add three to it. I did. Okay. Well, I didn't do much better.

SPEAKER_12 10:01

Eleven. Eighteen.

SPEAKER_11 10:04

Quick draw. You quickly dive out of the way, off the stairs, into the side.

SPEAKER_01 10:08

Like a seat man with the dragons. Fuck!

SPEAKER_11 10:11

Um. Leo and Leary are not so quick and catch the full brunt of this cone of cold.

SPEAKER_15 10:19

We got Jacob Marleyed. Good morning.

SPEAKER_11 10:22

It seems to just be a harmless blast of chilly air.

SPEAKER_03 10:30

Oh, that was actually kind of nice. Hand blown back.

SPEAKER_11 10:34

Scare tactic. This one doesn't need actor. Statue seems to be worn down with time, and so does the trap inside of it.

SPEAKER_02 10:45

Well. Huh. She's like pushing her hair. Her hair was blown back, pushing it forward again. Okay, well, I'm awake. I feel awake now.

SPEAKER_11 10:56

You look like Martin Short is Jack Frost. I feel like uh I feel like I'm definitely awake now.

SPEAKER_12 11:03

My trap queen. Don't worry, I'll find it.

SPEAKER_03 11:05

I was just gonna sing that.

SPEAKER_12 11:06

Uh Vladimir! I'll knock on the door again.

SPEAKER_11 11:12

Doesn't seem to be an answer.

SPEAKER_05 11:15

And the doors are busted enough.

SPEAKER_12 11:17

We could just Is the door unlocked?

SPEAKER_05 11:20

Go in?

SPEAKER_12 11:21

Yep. I'm gonna go in.

SPEAKER_11 11:24

Okay.

SPEAKER_12 11:26

Slowly.

SPEAKER_11 11:28

You wanna make a stealth check?

SPEAKER_12 11:30

Uh sure. Twenty-three.

SPEAKER_11 11:35

Okay. As you slowly open this door silently, uh you peer into the room, taking just half a step in as you look inside, scanning around, and you see this room feels like a king's tomb. A grand staircase leads up to stone balconies held held aloft by stone pillars and arches. A tall faded tapestry depicting a nobleman in silver armor hangs from an old iron rod above the staircase landing. Six sets of double doors lead from this foyer. Along the walls, displayed on marble pedestals, are three alabaster busts of handsome men. The fourth bust and its pedestal have been knocked over, and their shattered remains lie strewn across the mosaic floor. Two chandeliers of wrought iron hang from the ceiling like monstrous black spiders.

SPEAKER_14 12:38

Yeah. Those look like monstrous black spiders.

SPEAKER_12 12:44

I don't think anyone's here.

SPEAKER_03 12:47

Who are these men? Can I inspect the busts? Leo's good at that.

SPEAKER_11 12:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 12:54

Um The statues, Leo, move away from me.

SPEAKER_11 13:00

You can make a history check at disadvantage. Or an arcana check at disadvantage. Depending on what you want to look for in this. Fifteen history or fifteen arcana?

SPEAKER_03 13:17

Arcana.

SPEAKER_11 13:18

Okay. You don't recognize the men. But you would know that some powerful dragons were able to disguise themselves.

SPEAKER_14 13:39

It's like the guy in Baldur's.

SPEAKER_11 13:42

Possibly these busts depicted what this dragon used to be human.

SPEAKER_14 13:49

That's interesting. I'm having a I'm having a lot of questions. But I'll keep them to myself for now.

SPEAKER_04 13:57

Are they Are they relevant questions or just in general questions?

SPEAKER_03 14:02

They're relevant to me, but not to anybody else.

SPEAKER_12 14:06

I want to look around the floor for uh any signs of stairs that would lead down. Okay trapdoors. Uh make a perception check for me. Only a thirteen.

SPEAKER_11 14:32

Um doesn't seem to be any uh downstairs.

SPEAKER_12 14:44

I'm starting to think that considering the state of this here mansion, nobody lives here.

SPEAKER_05 14:51

It's possible.

SPEAKER_12 14:52

I'm thinking that Vladimir is also kind of like that soldier that we saw on the road the other day. Yes, he could be dead, or this like weird, undead sort of thing.

SPEAKER_03 15:06

Well, possibly like Roctavio, and maybe he's just living in the upper floor.

SPEAKER_12 15:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 15:12

I mean, we might as well check. We could also just shout his name a bunch of times.

SPEAKER_12 15:16

Yeah, let's go upstairs, see what see what's up there.

SPEAKER_11 15:20

As you pass through this whole room and go up the stairs as you take your first step on the first stair, a great shadow with wings moves across the walls and disappears.

SPEAKER_14 15:38

Oh, what the hell was that?

SPEAKER_11 15:40

You hear the soft bestial hiss in the darkness. I doesn't seem like the shadow had a source.

SPEAKER_10 15:51

Um Vladimir, is that you? We're sent to find you. Silence.

SPEAKER_15 15:58

Can I make some kind of check to see if I can see it again?

SPEAKER_11 16:01

Yeah, I love it. What do you want? You gotta make some kind of check.

SPEAKER_03 16:10

Um, I want to see if it's still there.

SPEAKER_11 16:12

It is not still there.

SPEAKER_03 16:13

It's gone. Yes. It's not lurking.

SPEAKER_11 16:15

It passes through. It it looked like if you were outside and a dragon passed between the sun and you and you saw the shadow um on the ground.

SPEAKER_14 16:28

I don't like that.

SPEAKER_11 16:28

That's but it passed through along the wall, and there's not enough light from a single source in here that it would have made any sense that it that it would have physically been there.

SPEAKER_03 16:41

Um can I take a closer look at that tapestry of the nobleman?

SPEAKER_12 16:45

Maybe maybe Vladimir is a history check for me disadvantage. Or like those booths that he can transform into a man. Yeah. If he wants.

SPEAKER_08 16:57

So seven.

SPEAKER_11 17:03

Hard to tell who this is. It's it's torn um just looks like a torn tapestry of a man you've never seen.

SPEAKER_03 17:13

It's like Beauty and the Beast with the West Wing and his portrait.

SPEAKER_05 17:17

I thought maybe, you know, maybe it was coming from the I don't know. Okay.

SPEAKER_12 17:23

I'm going to continue to walk upstairs. Okay. And as I'm doing that, just kind of yelling into the building like Ladimir.

SPEAKER_10 17:34

We uh we're sent to find you to uh We want you to help us kill Strahd and end his reign of terror and break this curse.

SPEAKER_04 17:46

One of your order was on the road and told us to come here.

SPEAKER_11 17:53

Silence still.

SPEAKER_03 17:54

Oh my god, he's not even home.

SPEAKER_11 17:57

As you ascend the stairs to the second floor, two stone balconies flank the main foyer. Ballusters carved to resemble knights in shining armor support their elegantly carved stone railings. Weapons and shields festoon the walls along Festoon Along the walls of each of these walkways. While alabaster busts of handsome men flank hallways that lead north and south away from the foyer. At the west end of each balcony is an archway that leads to a spiral staircase going up. Oh, upstairs again.

SPEAKER_03 18:46

What? There's just a lot of busts of handsome men, and I think that he's handsome.

SPEAKER_11 18:51

Yeah, see, you can't just get the curves on the front door. Which way would you guys like to go? You see, there's like um to the south is the part of the castle that has been broken apart. Um but to the north and the uh east it does seem largely intact. Uh or you can continue upstairs.

SPEAKER_04 19:18

Let's do you want to check this room?

SPEAKER_12 19:21

Sure.

SPEAKER_04 19:22

Uh the room. The room behind me.

SPEAKER_12 19:25

Okay. What what's in there? What in there? I'm looking for anything valuable like money.

SPEAKER_01 19:37

Oh, I'm there for some information.

SPEAKER_12 19:42

You don't know why he's going in there.

SPEAKER_01 19:43

I know you. She knows him.

SPEAKER_12 19:45

This store is hold on, I want to check this. Hold on, I want to check this out real quick. He tries a knob. Alright. He pulls out his thieves tools. Okay. Make a thieves tool check. Oops.

SPEAKER_04 20:05

Do you want guidance?

SPEAKER_12 20:06

Uh 15.

SPEAKER_11 20:12

You uh spend about a minute uh working it out, and eventually working it. Eventually, after that minute, uh you manage to pop it open.

SPEAKER_09 20:27

Gotcha.

SPEAKER_12 20:30

Inside this room, uh you find He's rubbing his hands as he was walking in.

SPEAKER_00 20:37

Maybe I was gonna stand in the doorway and just with her arms crossed and an eyebrow raised.

SPEAKER_11 20:42

Everything in here is absolutely draped in cobweb.

SPEAKER_00 20:46

Gross.

SPEAKER_11 20:47

Between curtained windows stands a black marble hearth with a sculpted mantelpiece, above which hangs a framed portrait of another handsome, well-dressed man with a wry smile and a thick mane of thistledown hair.

SPEAKER_15 21:03

Do you have a picture of him?

SPEAKER_11 21:04

No.

unknown 21:06

No.

SPEAKER_11 21:06

Opposite this fireplace is a large bed. Actually, I might. Um, opposite this fireplace is a large bed with a rotting mattress and wooden posts carved to resemble dragons. Across from the double doors stands a tall wardrobe, its doors hanging open, revealing a dark and empty cavity. The only other piece of furniture is an overstuffed leather chair that faces the hearth. Lyriel, you would recognize this to be the same man that was on the uh Okay. That was on the ripped uh what was it? Tapestry Tapestry. I kept wanting to say poster.

SPEAKER_12 21:53

Wasn't that guy downstairs too, Lyriel?

SPEAKER_03 21:55

Yes, you seem to f find his disgusting bedroom. Are you happy?

SPEAKER_12 21:59

It's gross and Here. Who has a giant?

SPEAKER_03 22:01

What were you expecting to find?

SPEAKER_12 22:03

Mm. He's gonna go to the wardrobe and like kind of look for a push on the back door, like knock on it.

SPEAKER_11 22:12

Make a perception check. 13. Just seems to be an empty old wardrobe.

unknown 22:25

Ah.

SPEAKER_07 22:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_11 22:30

So happy that he didn't find cool shit.

SPEAKER_12 22:33

You never know what could be in here. Hey, remember what? Remember when we were in the death house? We uh no one's been in there forever. I found all that cool stuff that I sold. You never know what could be in here.

SPEAKER_13 22:44

I guess so.

SPEAKER_12 22:45

It's a fancy mansion.

SPEAKER_13 22:46

Can I go over there and look?

SPEAKER_12 22:49

Over to the wardrobe?

SPEAKER_03 22:50

Yeah, Leo's looking for clues.

SPEAKER_12 22:52

Yeah. Uh make an investigation check.

SPEAKER_03 22:54

I'm scouting for clues.

SPEAKER_12 22:56

I want to look at the man on the and now that I've seen him twice, uh wanna see what he must be the leader of the silver dragon cult.

SPEAKER_11 23:08

Yeah, I mean it seems well the the Order of the Silver Dragon was based on Argonvost, um the dragon. Yeah. And this seems to be one of his uh geises. But uh obviously based on the tapestry downstairs, and that he is again represented here, probably one of his more notable uh notable human geises. I got a nine. Uh it just seems to be a wardrobe.

SPEAKER_14 23:43

Leo is like sleuthin. And then he sneezes because of the dust.

SPEAKER_11 23:50

Yeah. Cover your mouth.

SPEAKER_03 23:53

You put inhale so hard, you know you're allergic. Yeah, he sneezes like. Open mouth, cover your mouth. You know I could heal whatever sickness.

SPEAKER_11 24:02

I never I don't want it.

SPEAKER_03 24:04

I don't want the process of getting it.

SPEAKER_12 24:07

Oh, that's so hard.

SPEAKER_11 24:08

Yeah. Uh so um I want to backtrack and come back. You go to the adjacent room. Uh that door is already open. What do we have here? Uh two beds with torn canopies stand against opposite walls with a tattered rug lying on the floor between them. Set into the far wall is a fireplace black with soot. A soft hiss issues from the hearth. Whoa.

SPEAKER_13 24:47

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_11 24:49

Are the embers glowing? Is anyone following Quick Draw into this room? Is it just Quick Draw? Okay. Leo, are you staying outside?

SPEAKER_03 24:59

I'll keep watch outside.

SPEAKER_11 25:01

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 25:02

For now.

SPEAKER_12 25:03

Are these embers glowing? It doesn't seem to be, but Or to him does it sound like a fire that's recently been put out. Get granted uh given this hissing sound.

SPEAKER_11 25:19

Initially, yes, but as you approach, what the you see a tail peek out, and then a face. A small hissing dragon made of ash and smoke erupts from the fireplace, filling the room with soot as it beats its wings. Smoke fills the room.

SPEAKER_04 25:44

Okay. Hello.

SPEAKER_11 25:48

What would you like to do?

SPEAKER_09 25:50

It's kind of Are you Vladimir? We mean no harm, I promise.

SPEAKER_04 26:00

Can you sit still, please?

SPEAKER_11 26:03

Uh it looks to be uh wary of you. Uh doesn't seem to understand what you're saying, but it is it is slowed its beating wings.

SPEAKER_02 26:14

Yeah, Lyria will put her hands up and put her hands up, like far away from her sword to be like, I'm not gonna touch it.

SPEAKER_11 26:20

Okay. I'm gonna speak with animals. Uh you hear uh its its hisses and uh tiny it's it's very small. Um Its hisses and growls turn into What are you doing here?

SPEAKER_12 26:39

I'm looking for Vladimir. He said he would be here. An order a member of the order of the Silver Dragon told us to come here and look for him. We're gathering allies to defeat Strahd.

SPEAKER_11 26:56

Vladimir He is upstairs. Brilliant. You mean me no harm? No. No. Good.

SPEAKER_05 27:08

What does he say?

SPEAKER_11 27:09

I'm sorry about the smoke. I have to be cautious.

SPEAKER_12 27:13

Of course, yeah. Don't want any nair dwellers looking to ransack the place, huh?

SPEAKER_02 27:20

Hmm.

SPEAKER_12 27:21

Make a deception check.

SPEAKER_02 27:24

I don't think I helped with my hmm.

SPEAKER_12 27:26

Oh my god, that's like the fifth nine I've rolled. Nine.

SPEAKER_15 27:32

Nine, nine, nine, nine. Can you say that?

SPEAKER_11 27:36

It's German.

SPEAKER_15 27:38

It's German.

SPEAKER_11 27:41

I'm quoting Hitler from a movie.

SPEAKER_03 27:44

Okay.

SPEAKER_11 27:44

But I think that's fine.

SPEAKER_03 27:48

Okay.

SPEAKER_11 27:49

Um I don't know things. Uh sure. It does not believe you, but it doesn't really have it. It doesn't seem to have any possessions that you could steal from it anyway. I think just send that thing, but I can tell you. It flies out over your head. Uh pass Leo through the door. Um, and Leo, as you are outside, you see it fly up the spiral stairs.

SPEAKER_14 28:20

Don't shoot it. If he gets scared, he falls down. He's like, oh fuck.

SPEAKER_12 28:25

All right, let's go upstairs.

SPEAKER_03 28:28

You guys come out and see Leo on his ass once more.

SPEAKER_12 28:32

Come on, buddy. He's laughing at you.

SPEAKER_03 28:34

What did it say?

SPEAKER_12 28:36

Uh it said that Vladimir's upstairs.

unknown 28:39

Oh.

SPEAKER_13 28:40

Like I said. Look at that.

SPEAKER_12 28:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 28:44

Rather smart. Wanted to make a gross joke. What? Oh, my ass already hurt.

SPEAKER_12 28:51

Oh my.

SPEAKER_03 28:54

Yes, Leo, I'm aware. Um you told me in uh you told both of us in graphic detail about all of that.

SPEAKER_11 29:01

I didn't. Graphic detail.

SPEAKER_03 29:03

Graphic detail about all of that. You know, I almost proposed to him.

SPEAKER_12 29:06

No, you didn't. No matter what. There's no way.

SPEAKER_03 29:09

And she gets really close to your face. And you had the goal to say, oh, Tindy Pin ain't dates. Oh, I lamented for a moment. How dare you?

SPEAKER_08 29:16

Whoa.

SPEAKER_03 29:17

Hey yo. How dare you? You can never you can never say shit to me again. Never again.

SPEAKER_11 29:25

So where would you guys like to go? You want to keep exploring or do you want to go straight up to Vladimir?

SPEAKER_12 29:31

I'll go straight upstairs. Okay. Now that he's gonna know that I'm looking around for some.

SPEAKER_11 29:38

Um you go back uh and up through the spiral staircase leading to the third floor. Um so as you ascend these staircases, uh, you see narrow windows illuminating uh the dusty five foot wide staircases as you ascend, continuing to hold your sneezes. Um which side would you have taken? I guess the side closest to you guys. The roof over this part of the mansion has collapsed, creating a 20-foot diameter gaping hole with broken with broken rafters, knockers, busts, gaping hole all in one place.

SPEAKER_02 30:38

I kept it together until he said gape.

SPEAKER_12 30:41

You did not keep it together. You laughed at every other thing.

SPEAKER_02 30:44

What are you talking about?

SPEAKER_11 30:47

I kept it together until you said that.

SPEAKER_03 30:49

I want to make note that I've been really good.

SPEAKER_11 30:52

You have. Yeah, because you've been on your phone.

SPEAKER_03 30:54

I have a headache. I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_11 30:58

Creating a 20-foot diameter gaping hole with broken rafters bisecting it. Dark storm clouds roll across the sky overhead. The floor is piled with rocks, broken tiles, shattered beams, and other debris. Beneath the rubble lies a sagging floor with puddles of rainwater.

SPEAKER_03 31:20

Oh, that's not good. You know, this place could be quite lovely if they hired a housekeeper.

SPEAKER_12 31:29

I think they need more than a housekeeper. I don't think anyone's been here for a while.

SPEAKER_15 31:32

This is a callback to when Leo went into the death house and was making comments about needing a housekeeper.

SPEAKER_03 31:38

Or not not the death house, the um Mad Mary's. She needs a housekeeper. Yeah.

SPEAKER_11 31:47

Um, as you what are you rolling right now?

SPEAKER_03 31:49

I nap 20, apparently.

SPEAKER_11 31:51

Okay. Can I keep that roll for something?

SPEAKER_03 31:54

No, I know the rules.

SPEAKER_11 31:57

It's all right.

SPEAKER_14 31:58

Looks like Mickey Mouse.

SPEAKER_11 31:59

Um, as you round the corner of this hallway, you see, finally, as you step over this rubble and make your way around the corner, you see a fifty-foot long, thirty-foot-wide audience hall that is crumbled as well, leaving another gaping hole of rubble.

SPEAKER_03 32:34

It was you that time.

SPEAKER_11 32:36

I was laughing at every one. I'm not I'm not claiming that I didn't laugh. Weapons and shields that once hung from the walls have fallen to the floor and succumbed to rust. A large wooden throne carved to resemble a dragon with unfolding wings faces three tall windows to the west. Slumped in the throne is a gaunt armored figure with one gauntlet wrapped around the hilt of a great sword.

SPEAKER_14 33:09

Interesting. That must be him on the third floor.

SPEAKER_05 33:11

I guess so, but who else could it be?

SPEAKER_04 33:16

I know, but I just I don't like the way he's sitting there. It's uncomfortable.

SPEAKER_12 33:21

This is a boss room.

SPEAKER_04 33:23

Yeah. What?

SPEAKER_12 33:28

That was good. Do you approach?

SPEAKER_11 33:30

Yes, I do.

SPEAKER_03 33:32

I know Lyriel doesn't know what's making it.

SPEAKER_11 33:34

So this body that you'd assume to be Vladimir hunched over. Vladimir?

SPEAKER_08 33:46

Oh, Vladimir?

SPEAKER_13 33:53

Hello is that you please be you. Um hi.

SPEAKER_11 33:59

It is I, Vladimir.

SPEAKER_12 34:02

Oh, good.

SPEAKER_11 34:03

Excellent. What is it that you want with me? An alliance.

SPEAKER_12 34:12

For what purpose? To defeat Strad Bonzarovich himself. We're told that you could help us by one of your order.

SPEAKER_11 34:28

You wish to free this land from the creature that feasts on the blood of the innocent.

SPEAKER_12 34:39

That is correct. Correct. Don't we guys?

SPEAKER_03 34:43

I want nothing more. Of course. Truly.

SPEAKER_08 34:48

Know this. There is no monster I hate more than Strahd Van Tsarovich.

SPEAKER_02 35:00

Okay. Yes. The words you're saying are nice, but the tone they're coming out in, it's making it sound like you don't it's making it sound like we don't also feel that way. I think he's just old Leary.

SPEAKER_08 35:11

He slew Argenvost.

SPEAKER_11 35:15

Broke the life of the knight I loved. And destroyed the valiant order to which I devoted my life. That can be women. He can't be allowed to die again. Instead he must suffer eternally in a hell of his own creation, from which he can never escape.

SPEAKER_12 35:57

What do you suggest?

SPEAKER_11 36:00

Whatever can be done to bring him misery and unrest I will do.

SPEAKER_08 36:09

But I will destroy anyone, including you who tries to end his torment.

SPEAKER_12 36:25

Why is that? Don't you want him gone?

SPEAKER_08 36:30

I want him to suffer in his self-created hell.

SPEAKER_03 36:36

So do you you would rather continue to sit here in your destroyed keep and just hope that he's miserable in his castle?

SPEAKER_02 36:47

Other than actually do something about it and take your anger out on him personally.

SPEAKER_11 36:52

Freeing him from his undeath and this elsecape that he calls his home would be a kindness to him.

SPEAKER_05 37:05

Oh, believe me, wherever he ends up will not be kind.

SPEAKER_12 37:08

What if I told you he is not really suffering?

SPEAKER_14 37:13

He seems thrilled to be there.

SPEAKER_12 37:16

He takes joy in ruling over Perovia.

SPEAKER_11 37:19

Whatever guise he has, whatever smile and mask he's put on for you to witness is not true.

SPEAKER_08 37:32

He is tormented every day and night.

SPEAKER_12 37:40

So how else can we free the innocent that he feasts upon Freedom from this place?

SPEAKER_11 38:01

But I do not wish to be freed myself, nor would I wish it to bond Strahd if you know of a way to free yourselves or free those who wish to be freed from this place. But keeping Strahd here, I can assist.

SPEAKER_12 38:37

Okay. Okay. Might have an idea.

SPEAKER_04 38:43

What?

SPEAKER_12 38:45

Well, I know if we we have some stakes, right? He said stakes won't kill him.

SPEAKER_03 38:52

But they'll hold him in place. But he's got so many minions. They might attempt to free him.

SPEAKER_12 38:59

I don't know. Maybe we can find some silver chain too or something. Maybe Will you how will you help us? How can you help us? We need to end we seek to end Strahd and end this misery on the innocent and let your soul go to rest as well. Don't you want to go to rest?

SPEAKER_11 39:34

I am meant to stay here to make sure that no one kills Strahd.

SPEAKER_15 39:42

That's your whole purpose.

SPEAKER_11 39:45

It is a purpose that I am meant to do and do gladly.

SPEAKER_06 39:52

Comfort is not what I desire.

SPEAKER_12 40:02

Okay.

SPEAKER_15 40:03

It's a little selfish.

SPEAKER_12 40:05

I'm gonna turn around back to the group.

SPEAKER_04 40:12

I don't think so. It sounds like he wants to keep Strahd alive because he's in some sort of like dick measuring contest with him of who can be the most upset.

SPEAKER_12 40:19

Right, so like, because how are we gonna free these people without killing him?

SPEAKER_03 40:25

We can't. Exactly. We have to kill him.

SPEAKER_12 40:28

We can. And how's he gonna know if anyone's trying to kill him?

SPEAKER_14 40:32

I really don't want this guy. I don't want to kill this guy. He seems useful, but at the same time, he seems a little irrational and selfish.

SPEAKER_12 40:41

I don't want to kill him. I think he play he'll have a part to play yet, but I don't know what that is.

SPEAKER_03 40:52

You've had a lot of time to sit here and and think. What what do you think should be done to keep him alive but tormented? Worse than he already is. Surely you have an idea.

SPEAKER_11 41:01

If I knew how to do this, I would have done it long ago.

SPEAKER_03 41:05

Exactly. So maybe do you think that this line of thinking isn't going to work at all?

SPEAKER_14 41:10

Think about what it would be like if you wore.

SPEAKER_11 41:19

Than to live alive here. Especially if all of his playthings are taken away.

SPEAKER_03 41:28

There's no worse punishment for the townspeople than to have him alive. His plaything will never be taken away as long as his curse is in place, because every time she is taken away, she is brought back, and the cycle begins again, and you're still stuck up here ruminating on how much you hate him. The only way for it to truly end, for his plaything to go away, is for him to go away as well.

SPEAKER_06 41:54

I cannot leave this place.

SPEAKER_11 41:57

But you will not leave this place either if you intend to kill Strahd.

SPEAKER_12 42:10

We intend to take his playthings away. There are four playthings that I know of. And we are gonna take them all away so he gets even more tormented than he already is. The entirety of Garovia are his playthings.

SPEAKER_11 42:34

Not just four. Well, poopy.

SPEAKER_15 42:41

This guy seems as bad as Strahd.

SPEAKER_03 42:44

I Lyrielle's trying so hard to not just start yelling at this guy.

SPEAKER_02 42:53

She's so mad.

SPEAKER_12 42:56

Well, we'd still like an alliance with you to keep him as tormented as possible here. Can you help us do that? In whatever way you deem necessary.

SPEAKER_11 43:13

What is your plan? If you do not intend to kill him.

SPEAKER_12 43:19

To take what's most important away from him.

SPEAKER_06 43:25

And how will you do that?

SPEAKER_11 43:29

I have a plan. I he stands up, gripping his sword a bit tighter. I cannot let you leave if I do not hear your plan.

SPEAKER_09 43:52

I think we're gonna have to let Irena go to that pool.

SPEAKER_14 43:56

No, she's just going to be reincarnated. She's go it's going to kill her. And either she's going to turn into a vampire and be with Strahd forever. Even though he said her body is her own. I really don't believe him.

SPEAKER_12 44:11

And what if she doesn't die? That's a magical pool.

SPEAKER_14 44:14

I think I think she will.

SPEAKER_12 44:20

That pool seemed real mysterious, and she was real drawn to it.

SPEAKER_03 44:25

Seems like some kind of deception to me.

SPEAKER_12 44:30

But it didn't feel evil, did it? You saw the water, you tasted it.

SPEAKER_03 44:34

It didn't to me. But I don't I don't I don't trust it.

SPEAKER_12 44:41

It's hard for me to trust too. But Irena doesn't want to be alive right now, I can tell you that.

SPEAKER_03 44:49

Yeah, but then she's just going to be a baby, and then she's going to be a child again, who's going to be feasted upon by Strahd, like some kind of creep once more, and then she'll be a teenager, and then she'll be an adult once more, and and then what? We won't be here.

SPEAKER_12 45:06

Well, if she does if that does happen, then we'll have to come up with another plan, but I don't know. I think she she wants to be reunited with Sergei. Strahd's brother that he murdered. So what if that does actually reunite her with him?

SPEAKER_03 45:28

I think Tatiana wants to be reunited with Sergei. I don't think Irina does.

SPEAKER_12 45:33

Well, they're kind of one and the same, aren't they?

SPEAKER_03 45:37

In a way. In a way, but I don't I don't think this guy is going to be helpful.

SPEAKER_14 45:45

I think maybe we just lie to him and leave.

SPEAKER_05 45:48

Maybe tell him this is our plan for now. Yeah. And you know there's no good. And he'll see how nice we need to stick with it.

SPEAKER_14 45:56

He'll see how nice the town is.

SPEAKER_11 45:58

He sees you having this discussion and recognizes that you do not have a clear plan. He sits down, uh releasing well not releasing, but loosening his grip on his sword. Search Argenvast study and points to a room uh adjacent to where you are right now. Alright.

SPEAKER_13 46:29

Sure.

SPEAKER_11 46:30

You may find useful information there. You couldn't have started, but if my fault's alright, it's alright. Calm down here, little lady. Go to the tent. It's not my fault. Your only plan for salvation is to slay him.

SPEAKER_03 46:47

We need to go into that start. Immediately.

SPEAKER_12 46:51

I'll follow you in there.

SPEAKER_02 46:52

Or I'm going to start a fight, and she's going to push the door open loud as shit. She stomps in. She's really like she's pissed.

SPEAKER_11 47:02

Uh this room is a haven for dust and cobwebs.

SPEAKER_03 47:06

A chew.

SPEAKER_11 47:09

Leo's just.

SPEAKER_00 47:12

Why did you sneeze in French?

SPEAKER_12 47:15

Leo is open mouth coughing like a kid.

SPEAKER_02 47:19

It's that white cat that like Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 47:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 47:23

I've cast luster lesser restoration a lot.

SPEAKER_11 47:25

Lester restoration. Lester restoration.

SPEAKER_00 47:28

Equivalent of popping a bed and drilling it's real quick.

SPEAKER_11 47:32

Lester restoration. This room is a haven for dust and cobwebs. Three narrow windows allow slivers of light to illuminate bare oak shelves along the walls, and a torn padded chair lying on its side near a cavernous hearth. A picture above the mantle has been slashed, its lower half hanging down below the frame like a torn piece of flesh. An iron door set into the south corner of the west wall hangs open on one hinge.

SPEAKER_02 48:07

Did you say that the shelves are bare in here? The shelves are bare.

SPEAKER_12 48:14

I did.

SPEAKER_02 48:15

Larryelle's gonna walk in. See empty shelves. Just start like when you're so mad, you just start laughing. She's like, shelves the shelves are fucking empty.

SPEAKER_12 48:26

There's another door. There's another door in here.

SPEAKER_13 48:29

What do you tell us to come in here?

SPEAKER_12 48:34

He never specified this room.

SPEAKER_03 48:37

Oh maybe it's like a meditation thing. Oh my god. Like if you if you come in here and you meditate, the answers will just come to you.

SPEAKER_12 48:45

Let's continue through this other door. I'm going. Because there's a there's another door, right?

SPEAKER_11 48:50

Yes, there is an opening.

SPEAKER_12 48:53

Uh I'm gonna I'm gonna like kind of nudge and push like her legs towards the other door. Come on, let's go.

SPEAKER_03 49:06

Yeah, I'm looking for clues.

SPEAKER_11 49:07

Okay, make an investigation check.

SPEAKER_03 49:09

Detective Leo, there is steam coming at flames. Oh god. Flames on the side of my face. Um that is a nine. Uh what is with nines?

SPEAKER_12 49:20

I don't know. I keep rolling nines on the dies.

SPEAKER_11 49:27

Anyone else want to look?

SPEAKER_02 49:29

Sure.

SPEAKER_12 49:30

Fuck it.

SPEAKER_02 49:30

I'll take a look. Was it a perception?

SPEAKER_12 49:33

Uh investigation. 18 investigation.

SPEAKER_03 49:37

Leo's looking like this.

SPEAKER_12 49:39

Yeah, that's gonna work well for the podcast.

SPEAKER_03 49:41

He's got a big thing. He's got his hands up by his eyes like their binoculars. He's like, I don't see any clues here. Not here either.

SPEAKER_12 49:51

The shelves are empty, and there's one book on the shelves.

SPEAKER_14 49:54

Oh hi Larry L. You're gonna kill him. I know. It's like a child. Fifteen.

SPEAKER_11 50:05

You hear the soft flapping sound of wings, but can't discern its origin. It's our buddy, maybe. As you look around, you see a single piece of parchment blows off the top of a bookshelf.

SPEAKER_15 50:24

It's like Baldur's Gate.

SPEAKER_11 50:25

Spiraling lazily in the air and landing gently at your feet.

SPEAKER_03 50:31

How convenient.

SPEAKER_11 50:32

Well, would you look at that?

SPEAKER_03 50:34

See, patience really is a virtue, Leo. Don't start.

SPEAKER_12 50:37

Leo, maybe not my baby this time. Who picks it up? I'll pick it up. See? It's what we came here for. Hopefully.

SPEAKER_05 50:54

I hope so.

SPEAKER_12 50:56

Oh. I get the computer. All right. Journal. Oh. It's it must be a must be a journal page. Yeah. Or something.

SPEAKER_15 51:07

Okay.

SPEAKER_12 51:08

My knights have fallen and this land is lost. The armies of my enemy will not be stopped by sword, spell, claw, or fang. Today I will die, not avenging those who have fallen, but defending that which I love, this valley, this home, and the ideals of the Order of the Silver Dragon. The evil surrounds me. The time has come to throw off this guise and show these heathens my true fearsome form.

SPEAKER_15 51:38

Huh?

SPEAKER_12 51:39

Let it spark terror in their hearts. Let them tell their stories of dark triumph against the protector of the Balanoch Mountains. Let Argonvost be remembered as a dragon of honor and valor. My one regret is that my remains will not lie in their rightful place in the hallowed mausoleum of Argonvostalt. Well it's so funny, Leo.

SPEAKER_11 52:05

You said I must show them my fearsome porn.

SPEAKER_12 52:09

That's definitely why. No doubt my bones will be scattered among my enemies like the coins of a plundered horde, trophies of a hard won victory. I do not fear death. Though my body will die, my spirit will live on. Let it serve as a beacon of light against the darkness. Let it bring hope to a land wrought with despair. Now to battle. Let it serve as a beacon of light.

SPEAKER_03 52:52

Okay. Beacon. Very good, Neil. I'm so sorry, I'm chicken.

SPEAKER_12 52:58

In the hallowed mausoleum of Argonne Boston.

SPEAKER_04 53:01

So he wants to be buried there? He is buried.

SPEAKER_12 53:05

I don't think he's in the mausoleum.

SPEAKER_04 53:06

But he needs to be buried there.

SPEAKER_12 53:07

I don't know where that is. I guess is this it?

SPEAKER_04 53:10

I don't know.

SPEAKER_12 53:12

I don't know. Well, let's go through this other door here. Okay, yeah. See if there's more to find.

SPEAKER_03 53:18

I'm glad somebody was paying attention to that. I'm I've I've I've caught I've relaxed a bit.

SPEAKER_04 53:26

That was helpful. I still hate him, but I'm not as angry as I was.

SPEAKER_11 53:35

Leo, as you continue looking around this room, uh you investigate the slashed picture on the wall. The picture shows the mansion in better days under clear winter skies with snow-capped mountains in the background. The top of the chapel tower glows like a silver beacon. Oh Beacon, beacon, beacon.

SPEAKER_03 54:00

It's the beacon. Look at those snow capped mountains. It makes me want to invent something called skiing. Maybe even snowboarding. Did you hit your head on the way up here?

SPEAKER_12 54:12

Yeah, you were skiing last night, wasn't it? Did I hit you by me as Lily?

SPEAKER_03 54:17

I'm having a weird day. It's quite good. Did I hit you with the door on the way in? No. You have Genny just Okay, that's enough. I don't need to hear anymore. You want that. I'm glad I wasn't. Um You weren't blessed the way that I was. Okay. I'm gonna go in the door. The open door.

SPEAKER_11 54:38

The walls of this room are lined with lead.

unknown 54:41

Oh.

SPEAKER_11 54:42

Emptied chests and shattered vases lie strewn upon the floor, their contents plundered.

SPEAKER_03 54:49

Lariel, do not lick the walls. They're made of lead.

SPEAKER_11 54:55

The uh the iron door that leads to this room, as you look around and see that this room is essentially empty. Uh it hangs on one single rusty hinge that has obviously been forced open and no longer closes properly.

SPEAKER_05 55:14

Okay.

SPEAKER_12 55:16

So somebody stole all this stuff already.

unknown 55:20

Oh, I can remember.

SPEAKER_14 55:21

Yeah, somebody beat you too, apparently. I mean, at least they kept the notes. Yeah, damn. Can I make can I keep looking for clues?

SPEAKER_11 55:29

Uh yeah, there's nothing. I mean, there's nothing that you can find just kind of base level, especially on that nine investigation shit. Uh no, you already you can't make two using that one. You could try something else. Like there's there's other ways to look for things.

SPEAKER_15 55:50

Can I make hmm?

SPEAKER_12 55:54

Let's go up to that.

SPEAKER_15 55:55

Can I detect magic? Sure.

SPEAKER_11 56:05

The picture radiates an aura of transmutation magic. But the aura is weak. It seems to be splintered by this uh split in the in the in the picture.

SPEAKER_14 56:22

Just photo.

SPEAKER_11 56:24

Photo, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 56:25

This painting has weak aura, but it is there.

SPEAKER_12 56:29

What does it do in the phone? Transmutation. Trans Transmutation.

SPEAKER_03 56:33

Transmutation.

SPEAKER_12 56:35

Maybe there's something behind it, or it's not what it seems. Make an arcana check for me.

SPEAKER_03 56:48

What the fuck? I'm rolling so bad today. Uh twelve.

SPEAKER_11 56:57

This could probably be repaired.

SPEAKER_03 57:02

We don't have mending. Well have carpenter's tools because I thought about taking it and then I didn't, so I don't have it.

SPEAKER_12 57:15

Can I reach it?

SPEAKER_03 57:16

But you know what I do have instead? Three different line items for Misty Steb. Thank you, DD Beyond.

SPEAKER_11 57:23

We have different ways to cast it. So stupid. Um The Carpenter's Tools could fix the frame, but not the painting itself.

SPEAKER_03 57:37

I have calligrapher's tools because I like forged.

SPEAKER_11 57:42

Uh on a Nat 20. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 57:45

Okay. Damn.

SPEAKER_11 57:48

Close. So close.

SPEAKER_03 57:50

So close. Hmm.

SPEAKER_12 57:55

Can I reach the painting at all, or is it like grab it for you?

unknown 57:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_12 57:59

Pick it up, Lear.

SPEAKER_03 58:02

I do.

SPEAKER_11 58:06

Uh it's still emanating that transmutation magic, but with it being broken, it's it's hard to uh hard to see anymore. Hmm.

SPEAKER_04 58:21

What are you thinking?

SPEAKER_12 58:24

You said it holded held magic, right? Transmutation magic?

SPEAKER_15 58:29

Yes. Transmutation magic.

SPEAKER_12 58:32

I don't think I've got anything for that.

SPEAKER_03 58:34

I'm sorry. Cat's eating the box. Eatin' the box.

SPEAKER_12 58:40

I don't think I've got anything for that, but let me try.

SPEAKER_03 58:43

You don't have anything for eating the box. Let me let me try uh Lyrielle, you have to break up with him.

SPEAKER_12 58:52

Let me try this uh uh peering into the magic.

SPEAKER_04 58:56

The anger is building into the tech magic?

SPEAKER_12 58:59

No. Make a make may I make an arcana check to see if I can help Leo out. Sure.

SPEAKER_03 59:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_12 59:09

No. It's only a 10.

SPEAKER_03 59:10

Lyrielle, could you make an arcana check?

SPEAKER_11 59:15

Well you already know you already know that you have to cast mending on it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_12 59:19

I say we go, I say we go up to the up to that place in the painting where that beacon is. Because there's that word again. Beacons.

SPEAKER_03 59:29

I think that's a good idea. I am going to take the painting with me.

SPEAKER_12 59:33

Sure.

SPEAKER_03 59:34

I'm just gonna carry it up with me.

SPEAKER_12 59:37

Okay. Yeah, like what do we do if no one has mending? It is a pivotal point in the well, it's not the only thing that you can do.

SPEAKER_11 59:46

But I I'm trying to help you guys along, but I don't want to spell everything out. I know.

SPEAKER_03 59:51

I'm sorry, I'm having such an off night. I cannot get it together.

SPEAKER_04 59:54

But once we take a even a short rest, I could probably change it right to mending.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:00

I don't know. Paladins.

SPEAKER_12 1:00:02

Um yeah, clerics and paladins can just prepare stuff.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:07

For clerics' long rest, I think. Do we want to? I don't want to talk to him again because I'll piss his meal. That guy is I thought we were stubborn. You can never call me stubborn again.

SPEAKER_11 1:00:21

He's going to let you explore the castle, but as soon as you try to leave, he's going without without giving him a plan. If he thinks that if he thinks that you're going to try to leave and go and kill Strahd, then he is going to try to kill.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:36

So he wants according to the entry you found, he wants his bones buried at this hollow.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:42

So why don't we tell him we plan to do that? And maybe he gives us his bones or tells them tells us where they are.

SPEAKER_12 1:00:47

That's what I was thinking too.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:48

Okay.

SPEAKER_12 1:00:49

But first I want to see what what's up there. Where the beacon is on the painting.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:56

Oh yes.

SPEAKER_12 1:00:56

I want to go up there.

SPEAKER_11 1:00:59

So if you are in search of this beacon location, you can take the stairs all the way up to the top through uh the tallest tower. So you wind up the spiral staircase uh all the way uh to the top floor uh and then go through the beacon tower. The beacon tower. The beacon tower.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:28

Lovely.

SPEAKER_11 1:01:29

Finally, wooden stairs climb to the tower's peak, which has a stone floor and a thirty foot high pitched roof.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:38

Okay.

SPEAKER_11 1:01:46

Ravens roost on crisscrossing rafters, coming and going through small holes in the roof. Ten foot high, five foot wide arched windows are evenly spaced around the walls. Each window consists of a lead latticework fitted with small panes of transparent glass. As you look out the windows, to the north and east lies a mist shrouded valley with dark woods, a small town and a lonely windmill on a precipice. To the south, a river flows through a foggy marsh. To the west, between rocky hills, you glimpse an abbey perched on a snowy mountainside beyond a long stretch of fog smothered pines. Velocity, old bone grinder, and the abbey of St. Markovia are all visible here.

SPEAKER_15 1:02:51

Markovia is bad.

SPEAKER_11 1:02:56

The beacon is obviously not lit. Which means that the dragon's bones are probably not in the mausoleum.

SPEAKER_04 1:03:15

I know. It's a big thing here.

SPEAKER_12 1:03:18

Alright. Um, let's ask him where the bones are.

SPEAKER_13 1:03:22

Yeah, we still tell him that's the plan.

SPEAKER_12 1:03:24

Yes, it is.

unknown 1:03:27

Okay.

SPEAKER_12 1:03:28

Alright, we're gonna go back downstairs.

SPEAKER_06 1:03:31

Okay.

SPEAKER_12 1:03:32

Tell him we're gonna put the bones in the mausoleum. Where are the bones, bitch?

SPEAKER_02 1:03:38

Where are your bones? Where are your bones? Where are your bones? I've no time for pleasantries.

SPEAKER_11 1:03:45

Where the bones at?

SPEAKER_03 1:03:46

Girl, where your bones at? Damn, girl, where your bones at?

SPEAKER_11 1:03:52

As you go back to meet again with Vladimir, uh his head raises from his slouched form. Have you come up with a plan?

SPEAKER_04 1:04:08

Yes, actually.

SPEAKER_06 1:04:10

Good.

SPEAKER_04 1:04:11

We're going to return the bones to the mausoleum. Where are they?

SPEAKER_06 1:04:16

The bones of whom?

SPEAKER_02 1:04:20

The silver dragon. The silver dragon.

SPEAKER_11 1:04:24

The bones of Argenvast.

SPEAKER_04 1:04:27

Yes.

SPEAKER_11 1:04:27

Yep.

SPEAKER_04 1:04:28

We're going to relight the beacon.

SPEAKER_11 1:04:30

Should be in the mausoleum.

SPEAKER_04 1:04:33

Well, we just went up and checked. The beacon is not lit, which I'm taking to assume means they're not there. Do you know where they could be?

SPEAKER_12 1:04:41

And this journal entry by Argenvast toll. I mean by Argenvast says that his bones are not he wants his bones buried there, but they are not. Where could they possibly be?

SPEAKER_11 1:04:55

Well, the only other place I could imagine them being his Castle Raven.

SPEAKER_07 1:05:03

I knew you were gonna say that. No!

SPEAKER_12 1:05:06

I Well We need to get those, don't we? It seems that is the case.

SPEAKER_15 1:05:16

If we go there, Strahd is going to kill us.

SPEAKER_12 1:05:18

You think you could help us get those well, I think your task should be retrieving the bones to honor Argonvost and light the beacon once more.

SPEAKER_11 1:05:30

I cannot leave this place. Oh, that's right.

unknown 1:05:35

Okay.

SPEAKER_11 1:05:35

But there be there may There be dragons. But there may be someone in this castle who can.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:49

Oh, not the cute little one with smoke. Oh no, he scared him.

SPEAKER_11 1:05:53

If you do not think you can do it yourselves.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:56

Oh, I think we could do it ourselves, but we won't. Have to kill Strahd in order to do it, and so I don't he grips his we would or not. We know how you don't want to do that. Leary I'll grip first.

SPEAKER_11 1:06:09

Exactly. If you are as brave as you seem to be, then you should have no fear retrieving bones from a castle. His castle is large enough that he may not find you.

SPEAKER_12 1:06:31

I hope so. He's got eyes everywhere, it seems.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:35

Especially on us.

SPEAKER_11 1:06:41

Well it still remains that I cannot leave this place and help you in that way.

SPEAKER_12 1:06:50

That's all right.

SPEAKER_11 1:06:52

But if the beacon is lit, maybe I will be able to leave.

SPEAKER_15 1:06:59

Perfect.

SPEAKER_12 1:06:59

I think that'll break your little curse.

SPEAKER_15 1:07:03

The curse of Argenvast.

SPEAKER_06 1:07:08

No.

SPEAKER_15 1:07:13

The curse of Strahd.

SPEAKER_11 1:07:15

Strahd will not like it.

SPEAKER_15 1:07:19

Perfect. And that makes me awful.

SPEAKER_12 1:07:22

It'll torment him even more, won't it?

SPEAKER_02 1:07:24

Yes. We're gonna go. Wow, it's amazing how that works out.

SPEAKER_12 1:07:31

Looking at Lyrio. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_03 1:07:38

So we agreed. We get the bones back for you. Strod is miserable without them. The beacon is relit. All is well.

SPEAKER_06 1:07:50

Good.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:52

Good.

SPEAKER_11 1:07:55

Boys? I'm glad I could help.

SPEAKER_10 1:08:03

Oh my god. Okay, we're gonna go now.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:06

See all of Lyriel.

SPEAKER_10 1:08:09

I feel like Lyra's hair is like the gibbet, like all of Lyriel.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:14

She was already standing straight because she has to be a little bit more. You can't see how hard Dallas. I gave Dallas a look in real life that Lyrielle gave that man. That is exactly our friendship, Dallas.

SPEAKER_11 1:08:42

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:42

I she she is already like she already stands straight because of just her armor and her posture. Everything goes to Rigid and her hand and her hand like flexes toward her sword. She goes, okay.

unknown 1:08:58

Down.

SPEAKER_10 1:08:59

We're gonna go now.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:01

And she goes, you know? Maybe I'll down. I'm going, I'm going back into the wagon. I'm going back to the wagon.

SPEAKER_12 1:09:09

Hey, come come here. Come down here. Let me tell you something.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:12

What?

SPEAKER_02 1:09:14

And she she will kneel.

SPEAKER_11 1:09:15

You're going back the same way you came through, I'd assume. Yeah, yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:19

Yeah, she'll kneel down.

SPEAKER_12 1:09:21

He'll give you a kiss on the cheek to snap you out of it.

SPEAKER_15 1:09:25

Leo throws up in his mouth a little bit.

SPEAKER_12 1:09:27

Now come on. Come on, little lady. Leo, let's go.

SPEAKER_15 1:09:32

Yep.

SPEAKER_12 1:09:33

Yup.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:35

He's joking back. Are we are they back down at the front? Are we back down?

SPEAKER_12 1:09:39

Yeah, you would have gone.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:42

He he does it and like immediately turns around because he's she is frozen in that position for a second and then goes. That's entirely unfair.

SPEAKER_11 1:09:53

Um as you guys um as you guys are exiting, you hear the clopping of horse hooves come to a stop out in front of Argenvastel and the crunch of wagon wheels on gravel. Who could that be? A cart pulled by a draft horse and driven by a Vistani.

SPEAKER_07 1:10:18

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_11 1:10:20

Stops in front of the mansion, pulls his pants down, and begins to piss on the statue of Argonvost.

SPEAKER_03 1:10:32

Larielle has to kill him?

SPEAKER_02 1:10:33

Larielle had her hand on her sword, but that confused the fuck out of her.

SPEAKER_11 1:10:39

She's like, dude I would assume yeah, I'm assuming you guys are staying are inside. He does not have a side. I'm staring for him inside.

SPEAKER_12 1:10:47

Yeah, I'm staring for him. So we don't see him?

SPEAKER_11 1:10:50

You do see him, but I would assume that once you heard these the horse, you guys would have stopped in your tracks and not continued outside. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:10:57

The second Leo saw a man pulling down his pants, he stopped at his tracks.

SPEAKER_12 1:11:01

He stops for like a good five seconds. Am I? And he without hesitation aims for his head and shoots.

SPEAKER_11 1:11:14

Okay.

SPEAKER_12 1:11:16

Make an attack rule. Uh that's only at 11 to hit. That'll hit.

SPEAKER_03 1:11:26

What?

SPEAKER_12 1:11:26

Okay. Fuck. That's crazy.

SPEAKER_03 1:11:29

Clear was in the middle of going to be like, are you also seeing? Okay. I guess you are seeing what I'm seeing.

SPEAKER_12 1:11:39

Uh, that's nine damage. How do you want to do this?

unknown 1:11:45

If I got mad.

SPEAKER_11 1:11:47

Just straight through the side of his head. Uh you see um where you are, uh you see the arrow go into his head, you see his head sink down, you see the stream of piss go up. Oh my god. Uh, and then you hear a thunk on the ground as he hits the ground dead.

SPEAKER_12 1:12:14

Now that's just damn right disrespectful.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:16

Well now we have uh uh another wagon and another horse.

SPEAKER_12 1:12:20

Nah, we'll leave that one.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:22

Yeah, I don't like horses. Alright.

SPEAKER_12 1:12:24

I'm gonna go over and loot his body.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:27

Oh.

SPEAKER_11 1:12:28

Um you find twelve gold on him. Damn right. Uh, and just basic travel gear. But it seems that the wagon has something inside of it. Mm-hmm. That was where I was going next. As you look inside, you see a plain wooden coffin. Oh. What's in the coffin? It seems to be empty, but there is an engraving neatly chiseled onto its lid. As you peer inside, you see the name Quick Draw.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:19

Put him in the coffin and bury him. What?

SPEAKER_12 1:13:22

What is this your B?

SPEAKER_03 1:13:25

Why do you live like that? What do you think?

SPEAKER_12 1:13:28

Uh the coffin has my name on it.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:30

Is it what? What size coffin is it? Is it for like a normal size?

SPEAKER_11 1:13:36

It's quick draw sized. And as you look at that, what seemed at first like an empty coffin, you hear tapping from inside.

SPEAKER_12 1:13:51

What the fuck? I don't know, but stand back. He will slide it open and like immediately take a step back.

SPEAKER_11 1:14:09

A swarm of bats screeches and slashing, shoots out roll initiative.

SPEAKER_04 1:14:18

What the fuck is happening? What the fuck?

SPEAKER_12 1:14:22

Eighteen eleven.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:26

Eight.

SPEAKER_05 1:14:29

Lovely.

SPEAKER_11 1:14:31

Eighteen, eleven, eight.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:42

Little treat for Dallas or later. I don't like it.

SPEAKER_02 1:14:45

That's a it's it's not a treat for me right now.

SPEAKER_11 1:14:48

That's it. You're muted.

SPEAKER_02 1:14:52

Willie. Okay.

SPEAKER_12 1:14:55

Lower up first as a swarm of bats shoots out towards you. So is a swarm like quote one target? Yes. Okay. Uh yeah, I'm gonna hunters mark it. Okay. And twice. Oh, that's uh nat 20 for the one, and a nat one for the second hit. Okay. Uh so for the first crit, that's not a lot of damage. Um that's eight damage. That'd be halved. Oh! Havved! Mm-hmm. I don't like that. What if I'm using silver bolts?

SPEAKER_11 1:15:37

Uh no. Swar uh the swarm of bats is resistant to bludgeoning, piercing, slashing.

SPEAKER_12 1:15:43

BPS baby. Okay. Second hit does second one does not hit as it is a net one.

SPEAKER_09 1:15:50

Oh, but I re-roll once! I'm halfling, I'm halfling.

SPEAKER_12 1:15:54

Uh that's a 16 to hit. That'll hit. 610, uh, 14 damage.

SPEAKER_11 1:16:05

Have to seven, which is exactly the HP it had left.

SPEAKER_13 1:16:09

Oh, nice.

SPEAKER_11 1:16:10

How do you want to do this? As you immediately uh fire somehow with two crossbow bolts, catch an entire swarm of bats.

SPEAKER_02 1:16:22

How many shit?

SPEAKER_11 1:16:24

You just impale you like perfectly in the shish kebab. Yeah, I was gonna say you shish kebab an entire swarm of bats. Some like shru something out of a Shrek movie. Yeah.

SPEAKER_13 1:16:36

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_12 1:16:38

Oh shit, what's the problem, baby? What does he have why is he driving a coffin with my name on it?

SPEAKER_13 1:16:47

That's full of bats. Did you make that up?

SPEAKER_12 1:16:50

No.

SPEAKER_13 1:16:51

And it's full of bats. Or was it full of bats? I don't know.

unknown 1:16:56

I don't know.

SPEAKER_12 1:16:58

You guys don't have coffins. That's good, I guess. That was really ominous.

SPEAKER_04 1:17:05

Was he meant to be like the pickup after if I hadn't stepped in earlier?

SPEAKER_12 1:17:12

Maybe, I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 1:17:14

Well, how did he know we were here?

SPEAKER_12 1:17:16

Because Strahd is he's got eyes in the trees.

SPEAKER_15 1:17:20

He wanted to freak us out.

SPEAKER_12 1:17:22

I guess so, but Yeah, maybe he's just like scary, isn't it? I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 1:17:29

He seems like that type, yeah. He seems he seems like actually him and fucking Vladimir if they would be best friends if they just talk to each other. They could be lovers. Oh that.

SPEAKER_12 1:17:39

Yeah, mate.

SPEAKER_03 1:17:40

He lost his love. And Irina, clearly, she's not going to love Strah.

SPEAKER_04 1:17:45

Oh yeah, they both lost their wow, they have a lot more in common than you'd think. Yeah.

SPEAKER_12 1:17:50

Well, I don't think it's a good idea to go to the castle as we are.

SPEAKER_13 1:17:53

Right now? Absolutely not. So I mean we didn't tell him exactly when we'd be doing that.

SPEAKER_12 1:17:59

No. And he doesn't need to know. But I think we are gonna do it.

SPEAKER_04 1:18:04

What?

SPEAKER_12 1:18:06

I think we are gonna do it. Oh, absolutely anyways, because it will Strahd won't like it, and I wanna fuck with him too. So Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:18:15

I mean, if we don't do it, and we do kill Strahd, the dragon will still be here because he can't leave without the the bone. This is so true. I don't trust him. I don't even trust him. We could also look me in the eye and say, I'm glad to be hope. I'm getting mad thinking about it all over again. I cannot believe that. Yeah, he was a real asshole. Yeah. On Dallas's part, that was funny as fuck.

SPEAKER_07 1:18:42

It was really funny.

SPEAKER_02 1:18:44

I got possessed for a second. The look I gave you was not me.

SPEAKER_12 1:18:49

Exactly what I wanted.

SPEAKER_03 1:18:50

It spoke through me in that moment.

SPEAKER_12 1:18:52

I still think we should uh do it. We could also just, you know, kill Strahd and then look for the bones immediately after and put the bones back.

SPEAKER_08 1:19:01

What did you say?

SPEAKER_03 1:19:04

Hypotheticals. I can still hear you! The only thing is if we do kill Strahd and we bring the bones back, then he's going to kill us.

SPEAKER_04 1:19:10

That's also true.

SPEAKER_03 1:19:11

Oh, I we wait a while after Strahd is dead, he realizes how great it is without him, and then we put the bones back, and he's like, actually, thank you. I was just being a stubborn asshole. I still think maybe maybe bones first. Bones first, then we have to go back to that gods forsaken.

SPEAKER_12 1:19:29

Yeah, if we get the bones, castle search everywhere in the castle for these bones, and then have to leave the castle, that's always a fun deal.

SPEAKER_03 1:19:38

Yeah. We might fall through the cracks again in the bridge because clearly he needs some contractors out there. Yeah.

SPEAKER_11 1:19:44

Well, you still have the painting. You know that casting mending on it would give you some information.

SPEAKER_04 1:19:51

True.

SPEAKER_12 1:19:51

So if we take a moment, I can keep that keep that painting on you. And uh, why don't you meditate a while while we travel to outside of Kresk towards that den.

SPEAKER_14 1:20:02

What time is it? Do you think I'll be able to go, Seba?

SPEAKER_12 1:20:07

Still like you like what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_11 1:20:09

Okay, so you sli you woke up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy.

SPEAKER_14 1:20:16

Thinking about some minute things.

SPEAKER_09 1:20:24

Two very different something's going on.

SPEAKER_14 1:20:27

Don't ever say like P Diddy, P.

SPEAKER_03 1:20:28

Diddy again. Fuck that guy. Derogatory. It's cat shot. Yeah, but she changed it.

SPEAKER_15 1:20:35

Um what did she say now? I don't know.

SPEAKER_11 1:20:41

You're way too close to the mic. Um, okay, so you woke up. It's probably like nine or ten. You woke up, you went and talked at the church, you went and talked at the Bergamaster's mansion, you went and talked at Rictavio's, and you went and talked, or you went and did this whole thing. Um yeah, I'd say 10 a.m. is pretty fair.

SPEAKER_03 1:21:11

Plenty of time to go see Vera tonight.

SPEAKER_11 1:21:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:21:16

Yeah. Two bitches in a row?

SPEAKER_00 1:21:18

That's crazy.

SPEAKER_12 1:21:19

So you're gonna you're gonna go where and do what? I think we should go to the werewolf den and try and find that ally that Madame Eva spoke of.

SPEAKER_03 1:21:29

Clearly, because this one is a bust.

SPEAKER_12 1:21:32

And then uh Leo, you can figure out that painting on the way.

SPEAKER_03 1:21:36

Tyriel will figure that out.

SPEAKER_15 1:21:39

What?

SPEAKER_03 1:21:40

Do I get mending?

SPEAKER_11 1:21:41

Clerics get mending, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:21:43

Oh, okay. Well, I guess I'll do it then.

SPEAKER_11 1:21:45

Can you switch spells on a short rest?

SPEAKER_03 1:21:47

I think it has to be a long rest for cleric.

SPEAKER_11 1:21:49

Alright, so you hop on the wagon, yeah. Uh led by Jaquis, you are safe for a three-hour travel. Um favorite. You go up uh Pasque past Pasque Crest, past Crest, uh, and then through meandering through the wilderness up to the werewolf den. Nice.

SPEAKER_02 1:22:13

Um, I said thank you.

SPEAKER_11 1:22:15

Your turn.

SPEAKER_02 1:22:16

Your turn. Your turn. Um, yeah, as they're going, I think Lariella still has like residual annoyance from that fucking Vladimir. That mixed with like the why was there a coffin with our names on it? Like, what the fuck? So she's she's kind of been fuming. She fumed, I think, a little bit still for like the first hour and a half. Yeah, the first like hour and a half, she's still kind of muttering to herself, but like, I can't fucking god. Um, but after everything that happened in the morning, and then also now having seen that they apparently are just walk riding around with coffins with our fucking names on them. Um in the front, she is sitting closer to Quick Draw than she has been. Um and it's just kind of not touching him, but is keeping a hand close. Like there's like one resting on her leg or on her sword, and the other is in between them just on the bench.

SPEAKER_12 1:23:26

By the way, um still unfair what you did, but it's not you out of it somehow.

SPEAKER_05 1:23:41

Thank you, darling. You can have your time of endearment as it were, and I will have mine.

SPEAKER_09 1:23:51

Well, alright then. Are you gonna be alright?

SPEAKER_05 1:23:56

The further we get away from that man, yeah.

SPEAKER_12 1:24:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:24:00

I think I'll be okay.

SPEAKER_12 1:24:02

Yeah, we'll uh we'll let him win his little pissing contest.

SPEAKER_13 1:24:07

Yes.

SPEAKER_12 1:24:10

Alright, and he'll kind of he'll take one hand off the rein, pat her hand, and go back to holding the reins with both hands.

SPEAKER_11 1:24:21

Above the tree line, carved into the side of a rocky mountain spur, is a wide torchlit cave that looks like the gaping maw of a great wolf.

SPEAKER_04 1:24:34

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:24:38

Well, they're on theme, I guess.

SPEAKER_12 1:24:43

Just be on your guard. There is one. I forget what their name is because I'm terrible with names.

SPEAKER_15 1:24:49

Carol.

SPEAKER_12 1:24:50

Yeah, that one. We don't want that one.

SPEAKER_15 1:24:53

Nope.

SPEAKER_12 1:24:53

We want. I think Madame Eva said it was a lady one.

SPEAKER_04 1:25:00

Yes. Which one has a lady name?

SPEAKER_00 1:25:04

Do you think that it has tits? Can you cut that part out?

SPEAKER_11 1:25:09

I don't want no, actually, that was I think Leo said that for sure. Keeping it in purely because you said immediately gotta cut that part out.

SPEAKER_03 1:25:22

What Leo?

SPEAKER_12 1:25:24

That's a valid question.

SPEAKER_03 1:25:26

How do you know if it's a lady? Do you want it to? But that'd be it would be very helpful. Also, I'm kind of curious. Why are you nodding?

SPEAKER_12 1:25:35

I don't think it's a valid question. Alright, how are you gonna go about this? We're gonna leave the horse out here. All right, Jesus. You keep steady now. We'll be back. He nods.

SPEAKER_03 1:25:50

Oh. Oh, it understands you. Wait, do you still have speak with animals on?

SPEAKER_12 1:25:55

No. He knows what I mean. He knows what I mean. He's a smart, he's a smart.

SPEAKER_03 1:25:59

You two've really bonded.

SPEAKER_12 1:26:00

Yes, we have. He's my favorite horse ever.

SPEAKER_03 1:26:05

Oh.

unknown 1:26:06

Alright.

SPEAKER_03 1:26:06

Are you going to get boofed with us, Dequis?

SPEAKER_11 1:26:10

Tilts his head to the side like dogs do.

SPEAKER_12 1:26:15

Alright, let's uh I'm going to cast Pass Without Trace. Thank God. Okay. So we can all go about this sneaker. For everyone. Stealth advantage, right? It's uh plus ten to stealth.

unknown 1:26:29

Oh.

SPEAKER_11 1:26:30

Alright.

SPEAKER_02 1:26:30

Which might clan grass.

SPEAKER_11 1:26:32

Make your stealth checks as you approach the mouth of the cave. The open jaws of the wolf's head form a fifteen foot high canopy of rock over the cave mouth. Held up by natural pillars of rock. The ceiling rises to a height of twenty feet inside the cave. Torches of iron brackets line the walls. From somewhere deep inside you hear the echoing sounds of a flute.

SPEAKER_14 1:27:02

Gimme.

SPEAKER_11 1:27:03

Some notes are discordant. Painfully so. Interesting. Stealth checks.

SPEAKER_03 1:27:09

Eighteen. Eighteen. Twenty-two.

SPEAKER_12 1:27:11

Whoa. I rolled a two and I got twenty-two. Holy fuck.

SPEAKER_03 1:27:15

I rolled a nine and I have a minus one. I rolled a six.

unknown 1:27:20

Nice.

SPEAKER_11 1:27:21

Did I ask? No.

SPEAKER_02 1:27:29

Dallas is trying to get Lurielle and Emily upset today.

SPEAKER_11 1:27:35

Um.

SPEAKER_15 1:27:44

I feel that right through my soul.

SPEAKER_11 1:27:47

It's bad, isn't it?

SPEAKER_03 1:27:48

It's so bad. It sounds like me in the fourth grade. It's really bad. It's not a thing.

SPEAKER_11 1:27:53

Is fourth grade a thing? No. Uh probably not.

SPEAKER_15 1:27:56

Sounds like me back in the year. When I was a child. Oh yes.

SPEAKER_11 1:28:02

So as you continue up, uh the cave splits to the left and the right. In the middle, standing on a five-foot-high ledge, are two feral looking women wearing shredded clothing and clutching spears, seeming to be on the lookout, but you guys, with your stealth checks, have found shadow and hiding places as you meander up.

SPEAKER_14 1:28:34

They do have tits.

SPEAKER_09 1:28:36

They're humans.

SPEAKER_14 1:28:40

Usually I like feral-looking women, but I don't like them.

SPEAKER_11 1:28:44

There seems to be a horn that is kind of set uh on a mantle uh to alarm, to sound an alarm if intruders are spotted. Luckily for you, you have not been spotted. What would you like to do?

SPEAKER_15 1:29:03

Steal that horn, quick drop.

SPEAKER_11 1:29:05

Follow the uh how big is the horn? Uh it's a normal-sized goat horn. Oh, and it's just mounted somewhere? It's just kind of like set on a just kind of set on like a mantle, so for easy grabbing and tootin'.

SPEAKER_04 1:29:22

Easy tootin'.

SPEAKER_12 1:29:25

I'm gonna grab it. Well, you're not up there. I wanna get up there. Okay. Alright. Um yeah.

SPEAKER_11 1:29:36

Uh I'll make uh perception checks for both of them. Should I roll again since I'm going forward up there or no? Uh I'm gonna keep that one that you gave me. Okay. Those are pretty good rolls. But not quite good enough to see. I stay looking around as quick draw you break off from the group and head off a little bit closer. Do you climb up the side or do you take the stairs?

SPEAKER_12 1:30:18

Uh I don't think I I'm gonna take the stairs.

SPEAKER_11 1:30:23

It's just a five-foot ledge.

SPEAKER_12 1:30:25

You can likely couldn't grab it with your hands. Yeah, I'm gonna go around so I'm not like climbing directly in front of them in their line of sight. Yeah.

SPEAKER_11 1:30:33

Well, they're kind of they're looking, so the stairs are kind of behind them. Yeah. Um, but yeah, you can climb up behind them, grab the horn, uh, and sneak away if you'd like. I would do that. Okay.

SPEAKER_05 1:30:45

She's mouthing after you.

SPEAKER_11 1:30:48

I like they are none the wiser. These two women continue looking around, doing their jobs.

SPEAKER_09 1:30:59

Let's follow that music.

SPEAKER_11 1:31:00

Very well.

unknown 1:31:01

Okay.

SPEAKER_11 1:31:05

Uh it seems like it's coming from uh both the it seems like both directions kind of split off and then rejoin because you can hear it equally from both. Alright, we'll just go to your left then, I guess.

SPEAKER_12 1:31:20

We'll go to your left.

SPEAKER_11 1:31:29

A five-foot-high stone ledge overlooks this large cave. Which has a smoldering campfire at the far west end. The floor is covered with gnawed bones. Around this area, around this wolf den, it seems, nine wolves and a human sit around the campfire. The flute, while it was echoing through the caves, seems to be coming from here. Is it a woman? This is a man, a very old man, playing a flute of Electrum. Ooh, fancy. The wolves are huddled behind him, and as he kind of moves around, uh they kind of follow him.

SPEAKER_04 1:32:42

He's like a snake trauma. He's he's a wolf trauma.

SPEAKER_11 1:32:46

So cute talent. What would you like to do? They still do not notice you. They are nine wolves and this old man playing this flute, uh kind of having a nice good old time. I'm worried. Uh, in their den.

SPEAKER_12 1:33:03

I'm worried if we alert, if we say hey, that he'll be like, oh my god, intruders kill him immediately.

SPEAKER_06 1:33:10

Yes.

SPEAKER_12 1:33:11

But if we're like, hey, we're looking for uh a certain werewolf, because there's one werewolf in here that we don't want to mess with.

SPEAKER_09 1:33:19

Maybe that's that guy.

SPEAKER_14 1:33:21

It's true.

SPEAKER_12 1:33:22

But he seems nice.

SPEAKER_14 1:33:24

I mean, we could I could go up and help him with the flu to make him sound better.

SPEAKER_12 1:33:33

You think we should keep going for now?

SPEAKER_05 1:33:36

I think I think for now. Yes. Yeah. Keep going.

SPEAKER_12 1:33:43

Yeah. Because maybe maybe the werewolf that we want maybe she's being held captive here for some reason. Because her and Carol are button heads.

SPEAKER_09 1:33:59

Maybe. I don't know. I think for now we should just keep going.

SPEAKER_06 1:34:08

Yes, I agree.

SPEAKER_09 1:34:19

I'm not in the mood to fight nine wolves. Oh me either.

SPEAKER_14 1:34:23

No, not at all. Although Yafgeny would be really proud of me.

SPEAKER_03 1:34:29

Are you going to talk to him?

SPEAKER_09 1:34:31

You gotta start putting notches in your mace.

SPEAKER_03 1:34:33

We shouldn't be having this conversation here, but are you going to talk to him again? He pulls out his mace. I already do. It's covered.

SPEAKER_11 1:34:39

Very nice. Chris is one for times he's had sex on this campaign.

SPEAKER_14 1:34:45

Um hey, fuck you.

SPEAKER_11 1:34:48

That's what one person will do. Um guys continue sneaking past, where would you like to go? There is a set of stairs that lead uh further north, deeper into this cave. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_07 1:35:04

Okay.

SPEAKER_11 1:35:05

Which you could certainly go through a little bit. Okay. A maze of torchlit tunnels and caves expands in front of you. More bones lie strewn upon the floor. The ceiling here is ten feet high. Um I will need, uh, as there are so many bones on this floor, it's hard to find quiet footing. So I will need uh stealth checks with disadvantage, please. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:35:43

I already have disadvantage. I'm so sorry. I keep hitting the mic. I know it's me this time. I'm so sorry.

SPEAKER_12 1:35:52

Twenty-seven.

SPEAKER_03 1:35:55

Fifteen. Twenty-five.

SPEAKER_11 1:36:01

A fifteen is just good enough.

SPEAKER_02 1:36:05

She's like about to step on one.

SPEAKER_11 1:36:09

As you meander through this maze of tunnels and stepping past these bones line on the floor. There is a kind of alcove on the left to the western side. There's also one to the northwestern side, and another directly north. Uh, and then northeast, there are two staircases uh leading into a larger area. Which way would you like to go?

SPEAKER_12 1:36:55

Um, I will break off like we're, I guess.

unknown 1:37:05

Here.

SPEAKER_11 1:37:07

Oh, wherever. Yeah, move yourselves wherever you'd like to go. I'm gonna move here and kind of peek, see what's down there. Around the corner, yeah. Okay. Rough hewn stairs lead down to a torchlit cave and a bizarre sight. Wide-eyed children stand behind wooden bars and stare at you in terrified silence. What the The cave holds six wooden cages, their lids held shut with heavy rocks. Two of the cages are empty, and each of the others holds pairs holds a pair of frightened children. A crude wooden statue stands between the cages. It bears the rough likeness of a wolf-headed woman draped in garlands of vines and night flowers. Piled around the statue's base is an incredible amount of treasure. A woman in shredded clothes kneels before the statue. Behind the statue, two maggot-ridden corpses hang from iron shackles bolted to the wall.

SPEAKER_12 1:38:27

The reveals in this campaign are insane. What the hell?

SPEAKER_15 1:38:32

What the fuck? That's disgusting. These poor little guys. We have to save these kids, please.

SPEAKER_11 1:38:38

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Make a religion check for me as you look at this.

SPEAKER_12 1:38:42

There's a woman kneeling at the statue you sent? Uh yes. Okay. Maybe that's our person. Fuck, my computer just died. No, it didn't. Religion, religion, religion.

SPEAKER_11 1:38:58

Uh, nineteen. The statue is a crude depiction of Mother Knight. Oh. Interesting. And she seems to be praying to Mother Knight for guidance. She seems to, as you listen in, she seems to believe that her mate, Emile, may be dead by Strahd's hand. She prays to Mother Knight for guidance, hoping that the goddess might hold enough sway over Strahd to persuade him to free her beloved Emile.

SPEAKER_12 1:39:39

Huh. I'll motion for the others to come forward. Come closer. And like point and like with wide eyes, like, I think that's her.

SPEAKER_03 1:39:50

Leo like doesn't even see her, he just sees the statue of Mother Knight and this blasphemy around it, and he's drawing enough like of a comparison to Saluna that this is pissing him off so bad.

SPEAKER_04 1:40:05

If she's praying to your version or their version of Saluna, maybe making yourself known might go over well. The children and the corpses around the statue of the moon goddess.

SPEAKER_03 1:40:22

It's a little weird, I'll I'll admit.

SPEAKER_04 1:40:23

But everything's a little bit weird here, so maybe I'm gonna hide the amulet.

unknown 1:40:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 1:40:28

So there's not a huge sun in the chair.

SPEAKER_03 1:40:30

Well, there's a giant moon on mine, so. But that's good.

SPEAKER_12 1:40:35

In the midst of her, I guess, prayer, I will from the shadows.

SPEAKER_11 1:40:42

Hey She turns wraps her neck around. Who are you? Sorry, I'm gonna change your voice before I commit to that. That's a boy voice. Who are you? I'm cold, quick draw. Come here. What are you doing here? I think you're what I'm looking for. Very confused, she slowly meanders over. I've heard about you, I think.

SPEAKER_12 1:41:24

And I've heard your prayers.

SPEAKER_11 1:41:29

Heard about me and in what way?

SPEAKER_12 1:41:34

Call it uh uh what's the word Divine Intervention. Thank you, divine intervention.

SPEAKER_14 1:41:44

From the moon goddess.

SPEAKER_11 1:41:46

Mother Knight sent you.

SPEAKER_04 1:41:47

Yes.

SPEAKER_11 1:41:48

Perhaps yes. Oh, there's three of you.

SPEAKER_04 1:41:50

Oh hello, hello, sorry.

SPEAKER_11 1:41:51

All right, these are my friends.

SPEAKER_04 1:41:52

I'm Leo.

SPEAKER_11 1:41:53

Um Lyria. I seem to find myself surrounded. It's alright.

SPEAKER_04 1:41:57

No, no, no, no.

SPEAKER_11 1:41:58

We we don't mean harm anyone here. Either persuasion check or deception check. If you're really trying to commit to the fact that Mother Knight has sent you, I'll say deception. If you're I said perhaps. Okay. So I'll let you do a persuasion, and that can be at advantage with help from your extra advantage because I have the moon on my breastplate.

SPEAKER_03 1:42:20

I'll give you guidance.

SPEAKER_11 1:42:21

Well, he's the one talking. You guys kind of are still in the shadows a little bit. But if he fails, you can maybe flash that.

SPEAKER_00 1:42:29

I'm gonna flash her my breastplate.

SPEAKER_12 1:42:33

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_11 1:42:36

Just like I flashed Emily earlier That was certainly quick. I've I've only just begun praying.

SPEAKER_15 1:42:49

Um goddess works in mysterious ways.

SPEAKER_11 1:42:52

What what will you have me do? What do you need me for?

SPEAKER_12 1:42:59

Well we judging by your prayers somebody has your beloved uh You don't like him, do you? No, not one bit.

SPEAKER_11 1:43:17

Neither do we We seek to supplant him and kill him and rid this land of his curse Well I you want me to help you kill Stradvan Zarovich if any any hands can help, right? I can accompany you under one condition. Yes Well two name em one that we rescue my husband Emil, of course he is still alive. Yep and two I cannot leave until my pack leader is killed.

unknown 1:44:09

Okay.

SPEAKER_11 1:44:10

Great. His name is Kirill. Oh that's great. Oh perfect. That's great.

SPEAKER_05 1:44:13

That's what I was worried about.

SPEAKER_11 1:44:15

He should be back shortly. I was instructed to protect these children, make sure that nobody can get in, but That's another thing I'm wondering about. What the hell's going on here?

SPEAKER_15 1:44:31

Are they hurt? Do they need help?

SPEAKER_11 1:44:34

They are are prisoners.

SPEAKER_15 1:44:39

They're children.

SPEAKER_11 1:44:42

Werewolves need to eat.

SPEAKER_15 1:44:45

Oh we're killing everybody in here.

SPEAKER_12 1:44:48

Uh if he's gonna be back soon, but not now. I can free them. Yeah. I I think we should free them and get them out of here and hide somewhere while we take care of your pack leader.

SPEAKER_04 1:45:03

May I make a suggestion? I think that we've free them after we kill this leader, because if he is on his way back and suddenly children start spinning out of the cave, he's just going to kill them.

SPEAKER_11 1:45:14

I do not think the children will wander far for fear of being eaten. Right. So maybe you should Yeah, you're right, Lirio.

SPEAKER_12 1:45:20

That's a good point.

SPEAKER_05 1:45:21

So we take care of the pack leader first.

SPEAKER_12 1:45:23

Yeah. Maybe we should just wait here for him. Hmm? Is there anyone else who follows Kirill?

SPEAKER_11 1:45:31

We all do. Well, I guess. I don't know how you would have managed to sneak through here and not see the rest of the pack.

SPEAKER_14 1:45:41

Do you do you eat the children?

SPEAKER_11 1:45:44

I do not partake, and no nor does my husband, but we are forced into this servitude by um extradition from society.

SPEAKER_14 1:45:57

I think that we should kill the whole pack.

SPEAKER_12 1:45:59

If it comes to it, or maybe if we kill the pack leader, the rest will scatter because they don't know what to do.

SPEAKER_03 1:46:04

Even if they scatter, they'll find another one and they're gonna continue to eat children, I'm sure.

SPEAKER_12 1:46:10

What about that guy playing the flute?

SPEAKER_03 1:46:12

Yeah, what's up with him?

SPEAKER_14 1:46:13

What's his deal?

SPEAKER_12 1:46:14

Is he uh mean and savage like Kirill? That is Skenes.

SPEAKER_11 1:46:20

He is um well respected in our pack, but he is too old to hunt, which is why he did not go out with Kiro. He is loyal as are we all to Kirill as the leader of the pack, but uh he I would save him for last. He's he's not the fight that he once was. Sure.

SPEAKER_12 1:47:01

Well, I think that I think that we should wait for your pack leader to come back and we can take care of him. That way you can leave and accompany us to the castle.

SPEAKER_04 1:47:18

And what is what is your name?

SPEAKER_11 1:47:21

My name is Zuleka. Zuleka Toronasku. It's a pleasure to meet you. It is a pleasure to meet you, and I got your name, quick draw, but I don't think that I got yours looking at the both of you.

SPEAKER_04 1:47:37

Uh Lyria. Leah.

SPEAKER_11 1:47:40

It's nice to meet you under such strange and uh fortunate circumstances. Well, do you wish me to accompany you in this fight or to stay here and keep the children safe?

SPEAKER_15 1:47:59

Are you okay with turning your back on your pack?

SPEAKER_11 1:48:06

I am, otherwise I would have attacked you on site.

SPEAKER_04 1:48:09

That's also true.

SPEAKER_15 1:48:10

I like that. Um it's up to you, I think. I think Do you think the children will be safe without you?

SPEAKER_12 1:48:17

Well, they cannot go anywhere currently.

SPEAKER_15 1:48:19

That's also true.

SPEAKER_12 1:48:21

They might use the children as leverage.

SPEAKER_04 1:48:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:48:25

So maybe you stay, and if we find as we start to fight him, if it's too much we call for you.

SPEAKER_11 1:48:36

It um it may be wise to begin taking out some of my pack silently before they join Kirill's side, lest we get overwhelmed in battle. There are more than ten of us, more than fifteen total. Goodness gracious. And that's just here. So I know that I know that Bianca is sleeping in a cave that is Kirill's mate. She will fight relentlessly to protect him. I know that Quincancia is sleeping with her boy Kellen, who is a but a child. He he is he is a wolf, but he is he is but a child. Um she probably will not join the fighting, so we should leave her alone. Sure. She would probably go to protect her son.

SPEAKER_06 1:50:00

But everyone else is is fair game. Excellent.

SPEAKER_03 1:50:07

Will the boy be okay if we kill his entire pack? That sounds like a villain in the making.

SPEAKER_11 1:50:14

He will have his mother as long as she does not join the fighting. And anyone who uh if we manage to kill Kirill first and establish ourselves then possibly others will lay down and I will be the new leader of the pack.

SPEAKER_04 1:50:42

Oh yes. I like that idea. But it is promotion.

SPEAKER_11 1:50:46

It is risky business. Yeah. So this is why I say we should take out Bianca first, possibly while she sleeps. Where is she? Uh she is in the South Cave, just across the the little alcove that you would have uh passed. Uh she she sleeps. I I believe that um Keel um has taken six of our pack and nine wolves as well. So it's a lot. If he returns then we might uh not live to tell the tale.

SPEAKER_14 1:51:47

Maybe we should go outside and wait for them.

SPEAKER_11 1:51:49

I was thinking that too, Leo. That's a good idea. If we are able to s sneak back outside and are un uh unseen.

SPEAKER_14 1:51:59

I think we could.

SPEAKER_11 1:52:01

Can you cast But then the children will still be here if that's if that matters to you.

SPEAKER_14 1:52:06

When will they eat? Not the children. When when will the wolves try to eat the children?

SPEAKER_11 1:52:12

Probably when they return, they will m likely be hungry from battle.

SPEAKER_15 1:52:16

Okay. Well do you think that they will be safe?

SPEAKER_11 1:52:19

If we are able to sneak out, kill Kirill's hunting party and Kirill himself, and return with Kirill's head. Possibly we can negotiate with the rest of the pack. Yeah.

SPEAKER_14 1:52:38

Let's do that.

SPEAKER_11 1:52:39

Wait for him outside, kill him outside, force. This is not something that I have necessarily thought about before. So you do not have to go by my plan. I am just telling you all the information that I can think of.

SPEAKER_03 1:52:52

I like the plan. I think that you're already a great leader. Do you think we should take care of the one that's sleeping first?

SPEAKER_12 1:52:58

I do. Because Bianca's not going to want to negotiate.

SPEAKER_03 1:53:02

We have to do it quietly.

SPEAKER_12 1:53:04

She's sleeping.

SPEAKER_03 1:53:05

Cast command halt.

SPEAKER_11 1:53:07

Well, she's sleeping, so we get a group. Well, either we can kill Bianca and try to kill the rest of the pack before Kirill returns, or we can sneak out and fight Kirill before he returns, bring back his head, and the rest of the pack will likely be too preoccupied with determining his successor to attack us.

SPEAKER_15 1:53:31

Okay.

SPEAKER_11 1:53:32

I think I like the second idea.

SPEAKER_15 1:53:34

Can I make an insight check on her?

SPEAKER_12 1:53:36

Yes. Yeah, I think that's I think we should wait outside for him and take him out first, even if he's got nine wolves and six other people with him. If we take him out first and focus on him, maybe the others will kind of cower and be like, oh shit.

SPEAKER_07 1:53:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_11 1:53:58

On a 22 insight, uh, she seems to be telling the truth. Um this is the woman that Madame Eva promised. And she she seems a bit frightened by the fact that she must, with these uh newfound allies that she's just met mere minutes ago, must uh take out Kirill and his hunting party, which is substantial. But she sees strength in you all, and if you were able to sneak in here unharmed, and if your goal was to speak with her, then uh she, guided by her prayers to Mother Knight, thinks that this may be the best idea. So the plan is to sneak out and fight Kirill before he arrives back home?

SPEAKER_07 1:55:03

I think so. Yes.

SPEAKER_11 1:55:04

Okay.

SPEAKER_12 1:55:06

I think we should sit sit out and spread out, and then I I can be on a hill or something above on the top of the cave mouth.

SPEAKER_04 1:55:17

I'm just I'm just gonna book it at him and just go for it.

SPEAKER_12 1:55:21

I guess so.

SPEAKER_04 1:55:22

That's all I can do. I don't have any.

SPEAKER_03 1:55:24

I have to be up close.

SPEAKER_12 1:55:26

Yeah. I could be up close, right? They're with you.

SPEAKER_03 1:55:29

No.

SPEAKER_12 1:55:30

Just so there's one other target, you know.

SPEAKER_05 1:55:33

I will be fine. You are better at range.

SPEAKER_12 1:55:37

There's a lot of the pawn and party.

SPEAKER_05 1:55:41

I know.

SPEAKER_12 1:55:44

And they would be in human form right now, wouldn't they? Because it is the middle of the day.

SPEAKER_05 1:55:49

Most likely.

SPEAKER_12 1:55:51

You one would hope, I guess. The others were in human form.

SPEAKER_05 1:55:54

That's true.

SPEAKER_04 1:55:56

If you want to get up in the front lines, they're not fine.

SPEAKER_12 1:56:01

It's not a full moon.

SPEAKER_04 1:56:02

Possibly. Yeah, if you want to get up into the front lines with me, that's fine.

SPEAKER_12 1:56:07

I just get worried.

SPEAKER_04 1:56:10

I can take care of myself.

SPEAKER_12 1:56:11

I know you can. I know you can.

SPEAKER_04 1:56:18

But if you wanted to be there, that would be fine.

SPEAKER_12 1:56:22

We'll see what happens.

SPEAKER_11 1:56:26

Okay, uh, so you guys all sneak back out of the cave, still using those stealth checks, make it to the cave mouth, where you wait for Kirill, all hiding out, continuing on those stealth checks, to ambush him and his hunting party when he arrives. A few minutes later, about half an hour, goes by, as you are still hidden in the shadows of these trees and the cave mouth, you see coming around the corner a big burly bearded man with ripped clothing at the head of a pack of six other men and strong women, all with ripped clothing, surrounded by a pack of nine wolves, approaches you. And that's where we're gonna end our session.

SPEAKER_03 1:57:41

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_02 1:57:43

Oh no. Half an hour in that position, Larry. I was like, my fucking legs are crapping. My legs are cramping up.

SPEAKER_11 1:57:50

I didn't know if I comfy your armor.

SPEAKER_02 1:57:53

Use your core, Larry.

SPEAKER_03 1:57:54

How didn't I get armor to get it?

SPEAKER_11 1:57:55

It just doesn't have flex fit.

SPEAKER_03 1:57:58

I know you have abs underneath there. Use those. Hell yeah, I do. He looks at quick draw, like, all right.

SPEAKER_11 1:58:08

Thanks for listening. Uh this is probably a long one, another long one, so I appreciate you. Uh sticking around through a long, long episode.

SPEAKER_14 1:58:19

You get this crazy voice whenever you're monologuing.

SPEAKER_11 1:58:23

I'm I'm whispering in my people's ears. I'm gonna listen to you. Shout out to my baby girls. No, that's all of our listeners to our podcast. We haven't we haven't made it like a fan. What's a fan name?

SPEAKER_03 1:58:38

Oh, we should make we should do like a little poll. Or like people submit the chaos.

SPEAKER_11 1:58:43

We're gonna hear back from three people.

SPEAKER_03 1:58:45

That's no better than no people. We're the chaos twins. The three of us are the chaos triplets, all of us are the chaos quadruplets, we're the they're the chaos.

SPEAKER_11 1:58:56

Original John and Kate Blush. The chaos team.

SPEAKER_02 1:59:02

Yes. Um get those manager haircuts out. Karen haircuts.

SPEAKER_14 1:59:10

Thanks for tuning in to the Chaotic Naturals Podcast. Why are you speaking like that? I was trying to be sultry. You never know who's listening to these things. That's not how you talk. You're going to be okay. Fine, fine, fine. Thanks for tuning in to the Chaotic Naturals Podcast. Find us on our socials at Chaotic Naturals or send us a Raven at chaotic naturalspod at gmail.com. New episodes every Saturday. Much better. Much better. To that tickle your fancy, Louis. Sure.