Dalelands - Episode 4 'Myrna Nor'

The party meets Myrna Nor, a wealthy heir and magic student, at the Old Skull Inn in Shadowdale. She hires the party for 100 GP each to recover the Nathlum before her rival, Powell "the Owl" Niccam, can sell its secrets to the Zhentarim.

Transcript

SPEAKER_07 0:00

Thanks so much for joining us for episode four of our Dale Lands Campaign. Last episode we began with the players in Algargaunt's laboratory. He had just escaped as Ike as a snake could not open doors. So Algar managed to get away while the rest of the party slayed a psychic gray ooze. This gave the party a bit of time to explore Algargaunt's lab before Orion and Ike caught his trail, revealing uh his footsteps revealing that he had disguised himself as a human, um hoping that if they did eventually catch up to him, they would not recognize him. Uh that became quickly uh moot as it would dis it was discovered by the two of them. Um Orion being faster than anyone else, um, with his 35-foot movement speed, dashing at 70 feet uh per six seconds, um, was able to catch up uh in a few minutes to Algar, even though he had quite a bit of a head start. Grabbing him, uh grappling him so that he could not run away. Uh Algar tried his best to cast uh these attacking magic spells at Orion in order to either kill him or get away. Um unfortunately for Algar, he was not able to hit with many of these spells and was held until the rest of the group got to him. Uh yeah, I mean mathematically he should have killed you very quickly.

SPEAKER_08 2:01

I am very surprised.

SPEAKER_07 2:03

I rolled single digits on these attack dice many, many times. Um after you uh tied him up, uh found out everything that he was willing to tell you, um, and then killed him.

SPEAKER_08 2:22

Killed him, yeah.

SPEAKER_07 2:23

Um you returned to Algar's lab hoping to find a reversal or cure or antidote for uh his miracle growth formula, um, which Joanna, with her medical experience, was able to do uh fairly quickly. And then, with everyone's help, able to make uh twenty of these antidotes using the ingredients in Algar's lab to then spread around the town. While she was doing that, uh a couple of you rested and a couple of you continued exploring Algar's lab. Um, Val, specifically finding under Algar's bed a sentient great axe.

SPEAKER_10 3:14

Linda!

SPEAKER_07 3:15

With a uh bit of a creepy old lady voice uh that freaked out mostly the boys of the group.

SPEAKER_09 3:24

She is very gorgeous to me.

SPEAKER_07 3:25

Um just asked a super personal question.

SPEAKER_17 3:28

Uh but I like that she only asked you guys the personal questions. With us, she's like, hey, freaking.

SPEAKER_03 3:34

No, she has she asks you guys some personal questions.

SPEAKER_18 3:39

A wind could change direction in Orion would be a little bit.

SPEAKER_12 3:42

What side do you like better? Your orc or human side.

SPEAKER_07 3:47

Um so she can only communicate with those uh that are touching her hilt um through vibrations.

SPEAKER_18 3:56

Whoa!

SPEAKER_07 4:00

She can see uh seem sorry. It seems that uh she can see or uh can feel uh at around a 30-foot uh radius from herself, uh as she has made reference to being able to see people um and hear them, but is unable to uh communicate them with them because it's purely so her voice does not echo out loud, it it just goes into whoever's touching uh their minds. So um you also found a hundred gold, I believe. Uh and then once you returned to Humble Hill, uh spread the antidote around, healed everyone. Everyone was very grateful, of course. Um, and then Sister Liana gave you all your reward for helping. Um that was promised a hundred gold to each of you. Um so a very profitable day uh for you guys. Um you then returned to the inn, uh the Red Rock, it's called, um, in Dagger Falls, run by the half-elf uh Kesla. She saw that uh that you guys were all um wounded and exhausted, so she didn't try to come over and do her normal flirtation with Ike uh that has been a theme of the past two days. Um but uh so after your meals, uh you headed back up to bed, got a much needed long rest, and we are now uh in Kythorn 15 of the year, 1501 Dale Reckoning. Uh very funny year, that's for sure. Uh watch out for the mic stand.

SPEAKER_13 6:14

I'm so sorry if I didn't say goonlar?

SPEAKER_04 6:18

Jesus Christ. She started it.

SPEAKER_10 6:23

I did circle.

SPEAKER_07 6:30

We got a map on the board that says Goonlar now. I want to go to there.

SPEAKER_18 6:35

Oh my god, I'm crossing.

SPEAKER_07 6:36

Hodges minor illusioning the map.

SPEAKER_18 6:38

It says Voonlar. I changed it to Poonlar, and then you changed it to I didn't see you say neither of us.

SPEAKER_15 6:47

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_07 6:49

So, uh you all wake up early in the morning um to the sound of the city uh beginning to bustle, hustle and bustle uh of Dagger Falls. What would you all like to do?

SPEAKER_04 7:10

Check in with uh Sullivan if I can.

SPEAKER_18 7:14

I'm gonna go get breakfast.

SPEAKER_08 7:18

Um I'm gonna join Orion. Okay.

SPEAKER_17 7:24

Yeah, I'll go with them.

unknown 7:26

All right.

SPEAKER_07 7:27

Uh Val, uh everyone else wakes up for bed uh and uh wakes up from bed and goes down to get their breakfast. Val, uh you are asleep for a little longer than everyone else. Um and then when you finally wake up, uh you feel a bit exhausted from what seemingly was a rough night of sleep as you were holding on to this great axe, uh attuning to it. Um and then in your mind you hear.

SPEAKER_01 8:16

Good morning, Val. We are now one. Do you feel a difference?

SPEAKER_18 8:26

Did the sword. She's an axe.

SPEAKER_14 8:32

First of all, get her pronouns right. Pronouns a great act. So she asked me how I feel.

SPEAKER_07 8:47

Uh yeah.

SPEAKER_15 8:50

Um tired, but stronger.

SPEAKER_01 8:57

Good. I had hoped you would feel stronger now that we are together partners in our valiant efforts to rid this world of evil.

SPEAKER_07 9:18

You do not get the sense, though it is she is a bit creepy still. Now that you're attuned, you do not get the sense that you've been cursed.

SPEAKER_13 9:26

Hell yeah.

SPEAKER_07 9:27

Uh yeah.

SPEAKER_13 9:29

That's good. I wasn't convinced. Told you cursed. Good weapon.

SPEAKER_07 9:33

Um but you uh do feel um that she has kind of unlocked something in your brain a little bit. You feel a little more insightful. Oh uh, and you will have advantage on insight checks. Whoa! Through her guidance.

SPEAKER_14 10:01

That's great because I'm terrible at insight.

SPEAKER_02 10:03

You just have to hit them with the axe first. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 10:07

That's on the sort of sense, he's in pain.

SPEAKER_07 10:10

You s you get the feeling that uh her experience, though she doesn't really remember much of it, um lends itself to being able to tell you uh what people are thinking and feeling and if they she's getting bad vibes from them or good vibes from them.

SPEAKER_18 10:30

Um vibe check Linda. Yeah. That's it.

SPEAKER_07 10:33

Linda the vibe checker. You also notice that when you're speaking to her, you haven't been opening your mouth.

SPEAKER_08 10:46

Oh shit.

SPEAKER_07 10:47

And you have begun to communicate with her through your mind as she has begun to communicate with you through your mind, through these vibrations.

unknown 10:59

Okay, I see.

SPEAKER_07 11:00

So you are also now able to speak with her nonverbally, verbably, as herbably.

SPEAKER_10 11:07

Linda's vibrating all over the table. Linda, stop!

SPEAKER_19 11:13

Wake up in the morning across the floor.

SPEAKER_17 11:17

You talk to Linda.

unknown 11:18

No.

SPEAKER_17 11:18

I don't know how to feel that room with you anymore. I'm kind of scared to Linda.

SPEAKER_07 11:24

You guys know that scene in American Dad when she like uh when the main guy gets home, I forget his name. The American Dad. He gets home. Yeah. Uh and his wife is like all ready to have sex with him, and then uh and then he like says something that like pisses her off. She's like, I've had a long day at work, I'm tired. I'm not in the mood.

SPEAKER_19 11:46

And then she like puts the blanket over and just I'm brushing my teeth.

SPEAKER_07 11:53

Or something like that. Anyway.

SPEAKER_04 11:56

Or something like that.

SPEAKER_07 11:58

Something along those lines. Um uh everyone else um is downstairs, including Sullivan, uh, as they uh bring you your breakfast. Um breakfast is is brought to you by Larsera and Castla.

SPEAKER_18 12:21

Um Stra. I don't trust breakfast from somebody whose name sounds like a foodborne illness retweet.

SPEAKER_05 12:33

Chandel Gray Chandle Gray would we'll be getting uh later. She she is uh requested off this morning. Of course.

SPEAKER_07 12:44

But uh fear not, um we can take it from here, and if we need extra hands, uh thrun can pin us first if needed. Uh Sullivan comes over to you, Hajj, and goes, um I uh unfortunately haven't found a traditional uh library uh in the immediate area, but um I have explored uh Lithander's Light, the the temple to the Morning Lord in the They do um while it is mostly themed around uh Paladin and and cleric interests, uh some things that you m might be interested in. Uh I'm not exactly sure what you're looking for, but um you might be able to find it there. Uh I will lose all hope, uh though I have been sticking to the kind of immediate area of Dagger Falls and um not wandering too far.

SPEAKER_04 13:53

Uh remind me, have you sent word to Candle Keep?

SPEAKER_07 13:57

I have. Uh I've heard anything. I've not heard anything back yet. Uh it is quite a far uh f far way for for my word to travel and for it to travel back to me.

SPEAKER_08 14:10

You spoke about teleportation to Candle Keep around here, right?

SPEAKER_04 14:16

I had hoped um The Constable's Tower may have teleport.

SPEAKER_07 14:20

There would be yes. Uh I had hoped that there would be one in here, but um the Constable's Tower seems to be a bit uh dilapidated, and uh the rumors we've heard of these mages going in and not coming out. Um me without my spell book, you all um while strong against uh the goblins and smaller things that we fought, um I I wouldn't be so quick to go into a magical anomaly, it seems. No, I no.

SPEAKER_04 14:52

Had you heard of the Constable's Tower before arriving in Daggerdale.

SPEAKER_07 14:56

Uh I had heard rumors. Um I m most of my research has been focused uh on the sword coast. Um this was the furthest east uh that I had travelled uh in in my life, uh and it seems like it's the furthest east any of you have travelled as well. So uh Daggardale is not my specific uh wheelhouse, but I am learning and and doing diligent research to try and find uh teleportation uh options.

SPEAKER_04 15:35

As a favor, Sullivan. Sooner rather than later would be best, but I feel we're with the way that we are now.

unknown 15:51

I know.

SPEAKER_04 15:51

I know. I don't feel we're strong enough, but if you could gather information, Sullivan, but if you could figure anything out to give us an edge. Yes. It's the last place my my brother may have been singing.

SPEAKER_07 16:02

I um I have been uh scribing my uh prepared spells into my into a new spell book so I could be uh slightly uh less of a hindrance in travel and combat, if it does come to that. Um so that has taken up uh a a wealth of my time. Uh but uh if the Constable's Tower is paramount, uh I will switch some of my focus away from uh my spell book and and into uh this Constable's Tower, uh researching as much as I can. Um I I have heard rumors of uh Zentrim uh agents being in that area, uh which is unfortunate for us, seeing as um, you know what transpires uh in the caravan mere days ago.

SPEAKER_04 17:04

We were attacked by two on the road as well to the blighted village. Well, um we killed them. Did they seem to recognize you?

SPEAKER_08 17:13

No, I think they were just out for blood. No real reason.

SPEAKER_04 17:18

Out for Algar's blood. They were following us to, I believe, prevent us from stopping Algar. They had a vested interest in his miraculous growth serum, as he called it.

SPEAKER_07 17:31

Well, if they did not make it known that they uh recognized you, then that is good for us.

SPEAKER_05 17:38

That means that um Rogar's word has not travelled uh this far.

SPEAKER_04 17:45

Didn't travel very far out of his gurgling throat hole, if I remember right, but that is correct.

SPEAKER_07 17:50

Uh words to uh frighten and not uh not words that you must fear. Um anyway, I I will spend my day uh researching this Constable's Tower, seeing if it is an option to go inside and at least uh scout it out. Uh look if we find your brother, of course, um he seems to have by the things that you've said, he seems to have some sort of magical background as well.

SPEAKER_04 18:23

Yes. I'm not sure how much he's developed it since our youth. It's been many, many years since I've seen him last, but if I know him, he'll be quite strong by now.

SPEAKER_07 18:35

Well, he must either know where a teleportation circle is, or uh fingers crossed, be able to even create his own.

SPEAKER_04 18:45

There were one of the wait waitresses here mentioned men in dark cloaks going to and from the Constable Tower as well. Uh must must be the Duntern, then.

SPEAKER_08 18:59

Perhaps we should scout the surrounding area. Good, yes. And take them out if we must.

SPEAKER_07 19:05

They seem to have quite the presence in Dagger Falls, even uh with Kirkland Mourne's uh recent uh ascension to the throne.

SPEAKER_04 19:16

That and um the Black Hand is about Castle Crag. Should be fantastic. Yes. Well, I suppose we're here for a reason.

SPEAKER_07 19:28

Uh while I do that, um do you have any other business uh you'd like to attend to in Dagger Falls, or uh should I uh send word to Myrna that you will be meeting her uh today in Shadowdale.

SPEAKER_04 19:49

It's not too far of a journey, I suppose we could make it.

SPEAKER_11 19:52

Yeah, I'll can't think of anything else that we'd need to do other than your tower, but she's got important information.

SPEAKER_04 20:00

It it may be best if we visit her as soon as possible.

SPEAKER_07 20:06

It's entirely possible that this library of Lith Chantos would house a teleportation circle. Might be worth a shot.

SPEAKER_01 20:16

Excellent.

SPEAKER_08 20:18

All right, to Shadow Door we go then.

SPEAKER_07 20:22

Okay, awesome. Uh you pay for your uh your breakfast and your uh extra night's stay, um, and head south along the uh trail to uh to uh Shadowdale, the the old Skull Inn in Shadowdale. Um as you travel along the trail, it is uh quite uh Dagger Falls during the day is is quite a busy uh and bustling city. Um and then traveling south, the the trail is is pretty busy as well uh with traders and um the odd uh bandit or two not necessarily looking for trouble with a party of five adventurers, but more so looking for common rabble to shake down. Uh so they uh when they see the five of you coming, they kind of uh get off the trail and uh pretend that they're not there, but um you guys are are wiser than that to notice them.

SPEAKER_02 21:32

Lovely Dale we're having, isn't it?

SPEAKER_07 21:36

Yeah, yes. Thank you.

SPEAKER_18 21:40

Just uh tell but Orion snickering a little bit underneath his mask.

SPEAKER_07 21:45

Uh just gardening. Uh and he like plucks a leaf off of a tree that he's hiding behind.

SPEAKER_10 21:53

Good luck!

SPEAKER_17 21:55

Now even I admire the man.

SPEAKER_18 22:00

A local temple might like fa fast hands like yours. Might as well try and make a good life out of whatever this is.

SPEAKER_07 22:08

Gardening is not a good life.

SPEAKER_18 22:10

I thought it was a bandit. He's lying, right? Okay.

SPEAKER_10 22:13

No.

SPEAKER_13 22:14

Uh I'd like to do an inch like checkout advantage to see if we're go for it.

SPEAKER_14 22:22

I have a real gardener.

SPEAKER_08 22:24

Test out my new toys.

SPEAKER_14 22:26

Promise 6 hand on four.

SPEAKER_08 22:28

Oh no!

SPEAKER_14 22:30

Well, I'm convinced he's a gardener.

SPEAKER_08 22:32

He's most definitely.

SPEAKER_01 22:37

He's not even a good author. Does sound like he's disingenuous.

SPEAKER_14 22:45

That's like gonna keep running around.

SPEAKER_08 22:49

I'll go over to him. Uh oh. When removing leaves from branches, pick the ones that look like this, and I'll start like literally explaining to him because I'm like, oh, I can't watch this. So he's like literally explaining how to do it right and do like like trimming it well. And then I'll give him a pat on the shoulder and as you are.

SPEAKER_01 23:14

Yes. Thank you very much. He just runs away.

SPEAKER_04 23:22

Do you think he took it to heart, Ike?

SPEAKER_09 23:24

I I don't know.

SPEAKER_07 23:26

I hope so.

SPEAKER_04 23:26

Yes, well.

SPEAKER_07 23:30

Uh continuing along the trail, uh you arrive in Shadowdale. Is it like spooky here? Uh no, it's a a very uh populated city.

SPEAKER_18 23:47

Um Shadowdale named after me.

SPEAKER_04 23:53

I was hoping for a little more darkness and dreariness, but seems like a normal place.

SPEAKER_17 23:59

I thought they were I thought they were kind of named after like their vibe, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 24:04

Shadowdale. Quite made I guess quite mundane. I wonder how they got their names. The next one. Horriddale. If I remember how they got their names.

SPEAKER_07 24:14

Uh I will.

SPEAKER_14 24:16

Why did you become Cajun?

SPEAKER_07 24:18

It was supposed to be a list.

SPEAKER_04 24:22

How did that happen? Do we text how to do their name? You know? Does that sound Cajun?

SPEAKER_14 24:32

Uh no, it does nothing. The second time it doesn't do a history check. Yeah. Sure. French Creole Creole. French Creole. That's what I'm saying. So uh that's bleak. Yeah, but it's kind of like a night.

SPEAKER_07 25:04

Whoa, junk ass, big ass skulls.

SPEAKER_17 25:06

I want to climb that in. It's like one of those things where the more you look at it, the more you notice. Big notice the big skull. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 25:13

Big eyes.

SPEAKER_12 25:18

Ashaba.

SPEAKER_06 25:18

Tower of Ashaba. Bomb Bomb Bomb Bomb Bah.

SPEAKER_05 25:21

Ashaba, Ashaba.

unknown 25:23

Just let me know.

SPEAKER_07 25:24

My scars are my legs are more scars than.

SPEAKER_18 25:26

My legs are mostly scars.

SPEAKER_07 25:28

Yeah, most of scars. Oh scars.

SPEAKER_18 25:30

Battle Star Galactica. Battle Scar Galactica. What's up, Shadow Scar?

SPEAKER_04 25:34

Every day I break my legs. Every night I break my arms.

SPEAKER_18 25:37

That's how I read this person.

SPEAKER_04 25:40

I have glass bones and paper skin. Alright, here we are in Shadowdale. What's up?

SPEAKER_18 25:46

What's up?

SPEAKER_04 25:47

Um, Shadowdale.

SPEAKER_18 25:51

Welcome back to my channel.

SPEAKER_06 25:53

We just arrived in Shadowdale. In the Dale Land.

SPEAKER_18 25:57

Come with me to walk her. Oh no.

SPEAKER_19 25:59

That's not like Burger Dale.

SPEAKER_06 26:00

Let's call in.

SPEAKER_17 26:03

We're gonna get their mental.

SPEAKER_06 26:05

Let's just Burger King foot lettuce.

SPEAKER_17 26:07

Influencer house. And not do any. Mikaya later describes.

SPEAKER_18 26:13

We all take a different type of cringe influencer and just do it. Orion is one of those masked YouTubers. Mikaya later. Let's plays like con. He does this match though. Yeah. Mask on, shirt off. Sometimes with a tail. Yeah. Sometimes with a tail. Yeah. No, he has he's fully covered.

SPEAKER_19 26:34

Dallas, please save us.

SPEAKER_18 26:40

What is happening?

SPEAKER_06 26:41

Mikaya later describes the spider as being the size of a full-grown pizza.

SPEAKER_10 26:48

What the fuck happening?

SPEAKER_06 26:51

If I saw that. I'm so glad somebody gets some efforts. I have no idea what you're saying, man. If I saw that damn thing in my living room, I would stomp on it until it was a small brown stain.

SPEAKER_19 27:12

What the I don't even know.

SPEAKER_06 27:14

I'll find it and send it to the chat.

SPEAKER_07 27:17

Golly.

SPEAKER_04 27:18

You guys don't know number 15 Burger King Footlets. Oh, it's that guy. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_07 27:21

That's what it sounds like. I know Burger King foot lettuce from like the image of counting.

SPEAKER_00 27:26

It's the same guy.

SPEAKER_17 27:27

It's a big list.

SPEAKER_08 27:29

Alright, uh, Ike is wants to say something. Hold on. Okay. I wanted to apologize for the events earlier. I think I was hellbent on getting the vengeance that uh Algar deserved and dealing all that justice myself. I learned I cannot do things myself all the time. And it's not wise to stray from the group out of anger. But it was very difficult for me because of the crime he had committed. So thank you for sticking with me and for Orion for dealing the final blow. It must be easier for you. It looked like you've done it before.

SPEAKER_18 28:24

Taking lives is all I really know.

SPEAKER_08 28:28

I see.

SPEAKER_18 28:31

That's what I'm good at.

SPEAKER_08 28:33

Well you've proved you were good at it. Thank you for doing that final blow.

SPEAKER_04 28:42

We're all troubled by what Algar did. We wanted to see him brought to justice just the same as you.

SPEAKER_17 28:50

It was the complete opposite of everything that I believe into. I understand where you were at.

SPEAKER_08 28:57

But I I I seemed to have forgotten where I was, who I was with. All I saw was me and the direct line to Algar. And I had forgotten my companions.

SPEAKER_04 29:18

And the help that they can bring. You've been on your own a long time since Leaf had passed, yeah. Uh only a few months.

SPEAKER_17 29:30

That sounds grief, even if you're not actively in it, can still show ways of coming up, and I think trying to take it all on yourself was that manifesting. You know?

SPEAKER_08 29:46

Yes. I just thought I didn't work as a team, and I should have we should have acted together, and that was on me, so I apologize.

SPEAKER_17 29:56

We still got him.

SPEAKER_08 29:58

Thank you for your apology.

SPEAKER_17 30:00

Yeah. And you know, maybe next time turn into something with arms.

SPEAKER_08 30:05

Well, I don't have many options, right? I had to like I I felt like I had to light the mood, I'm sorry. That creature has certain abilities that I wanted to use against him. And I did not have enough strength to change into it again. So again, uh slowed down the uh the process, but I'm glad he's dead.

SPEAKER_04 30:36

Good.

SPEAKER_08 30:37

Anyways.

SPEAKER_04 30:38

The world is lighter for it, that's for sure. Indeed.

SPEAKER_18 30:42

Ryan is like processing all of this as well because he doesn't say much, but he's processing it because all he's known in his life is killing things and not feeling remorse and it being his his job and his lifestyle. So people processing their emotions about wanting to kill, and also just like talking about their emotions to him is like very different.

SPEAKER_00 31:13

Oh, we're gonna have a great conversation. Yeah, we're gonna have great conversations. Yeah. Hike is so emotional.

SPEAKER_18 31:19

So Orion's like in his head, he's like like kind of at war where he's like, Oh, what's so bad about acting on revenge and becoming a killer, but he's also like, Who was I before this?

SPEAKER_17 31:34

And it's good that we, you know, burned everything so that no one can ever try to, you know, start up what he was doing again.

SPEAKER_08 31:44

No one could find that.

SPEAKER_17 31:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 31:46

Venturan wood. Yeah. Very quickly.

SPEAKER_17 31:48

Yeah. So it's glad that we got rid of all that stuff.

SPEAKER_04 31:50

Yeah, it's very dangerous. Better off burned. Glad it didn't explode. When the hell came.

SPEAKER_08 31:59

Are you trying to deceive us?

SPEAKER_04 32:03

Maybe I believe it was better off burned.

SPEAKER_08 32:06

Oh, that's fair. God, I want to know something.

SPEAKER_06 32:09

I want to insight conch so bad.

SPEAKER_08 32:13

Yes. I'm not a great liar. You better have a good ass reason. Because Hug will kill you.

SPEAKER_04 32:21

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_17 32:25

Joanna will just be very disappointed.

SPEAKER_19 32:27

No! That's worse! Just turn to a bear or something. Just bowl me to death, please.

SPEAKER_07 32:35

It takes you a few hours uh walking to get from Dagger Falls to Shadowdale and inside of Shadowdale, Shadowdale Town.

SPEAKER_08 32:48

Whoa, no one counters.

SPEAKER_18 32:50

I know. I have like PTSD, I'm like, oh, he's gonna roll like a next one.

SPEAKER_07 32:54

Nice, peaceful day in the Dales. It takes a couple hours to get there.

unknown 32:58

I know.

SPEAKER_07 33:01

Then after one row. In Shadowdale, proud and stubborn families work their farms, mind their business, and share mugs of ale with legendary adventurers. Meanwhile, the Zenterim, evil drow from the Underdark, and other malevolent forces gather in the eaves of the forest and in subterranean tunnels, threatening the peace that generations of Dale folk have purchased with blood and tears. The largest settlement in Shadowdale is Shadowdale Town, and farmsteads, cottages, and cabins can be found throughout the forest. As you arrive in Shadowdale Town, the road curves around a massive outcropping of pale volcanic rock known as the Old Skull, a silent sentinel that has watched over this dale for eons.

SPEAKER_04 34:08

Is it an actual skull?

SPEAKER_07 34:11

No, it is just a uh giant rock that looks like a skull. Nestled in its shadow lies Shadowdale Town, a sleepy community of about uh one thousand five hundred souls that somehow feels far more significant than its size suggests. It is a place where legends are just are not just told, but where they come to retire. To your left, rising from a square stone stronghold, is the Tower of Ashaba, the infamous twisted tower. Its off-balance five-story spire leans precariously against the sky. A reminder of the Drow who built it, and the water wizard who drove them out centuries ago. Beyond it, you see the tall spire of Morning Dawn Hall catching the afternoon sun, and the domed roof of the House of the Lady, which serves as both Temple to Tamora and a bustling gambling hall. As you approach the bridge over the wide, shallow River Ashaba, you pass a vine-covered three-story windmill standing abandoned on the southern edge of the hill. A weathered sign nearby reads, No trespassing. Violators should notify next of kin. Have a pleasant day. This is Elminster's Tower. Why don't you like Elminster?

SPEAKER_17 35:57

He pisses me off.

SPEAKER_07 35:58

I love him so much.

SPEAKER_18 36:02

If it means any Elder Wizards, your travels.

SPEAKER_07 36:06

This uh tower has been silent for a decade, yet the locals still give it a wide berth. God damn it. Half expecting the old sage to step through the door at any moment. Uh you then arrive at a massive three-story timber building that serves as the heart of the town's social life. The old Skull Inn. The scent of roasting mutton and hops drifts from the tap room, and a portly halfling with a practical air and a twinkle in his eye, named Mungo Silvermane. That is a halfling name. Holy shit. Stands at the door wiping his hands on an apron and readying a pun for the newcomers.

SPEAKER_08 36:56

Oh god, it's just Dallas.

SPEAKER_19 36:59

Oh no.

SPEAKER_08 37:00

I don't trust him already, halflings.

SPEAKER_19 37:02

Mungo, what's your mongo?

SPEAKER_17 37:05

Every time we hear a new halfling, I'm so scared that I'm gonna laugh.

unknown 37:10

Bungo.

SPEAKER_14 37:11

So Joanna is racist. Got you.

SPEAKER_17 37:16

I don't think his real name. He's a halfling. Anyone tell me to tell Leno his real name? Mungo.

SPEAKER_18 37:20

I'm scared I'm gonna hear him.

SPEAKER_17 37:21

Mongo Bungo.

SPEAKER_14 37:22

It's Mungo Bungo now.

SPEAKER_18 37:25

Leno's gonna call me Mungo Bungo.

SPEAKER_19 37:27

Did he introduce himself as Mungo Bungo? Or excuse me, as Mungo Silvermane, or do we're just telling us the Mungo? He's got a real long ass fucking the whole way across the street.

SPEAKER_06 37:38

Mungo, Bungo Silvermane.

SPEAKER_04 37:43

Um how's it going, sir? May we uh enter your fine establishment? You're vampires?

SPEAKER_17 37:53

What? No! I mean, I'm really pale, but I'm fine. If I was, I wouldn't. Why would you ask us if we're vampires?

SPEAKER_07 38:01

Well, why would you ask if you can enter an open tavern? You're in the door.

SPEAKER_18 38:05

You're onto something.

SPEAKER_07 38:08

He kind of scoots but uh steps to the side.

SPEAKER_12 38:12

I walk in.

SPEAKER_18 38:15

Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_12 38:16

Dunk under the door.

SPEAKER_18 38:18

Um Orion hesitates at the door and he kind of just like like moves not being able to get in. He looks at the mommy, just goes joking and steps over the participants.

SPEAKER_19 38:27

A joke! A joke! I'm sure that can scare the shit out of the little guy.

SPEAKER_18 38:33

Yeah. Gotta keep them on their toes somewhere.

SPEAKER_08 38:39

You have a history of vampires trying to get in.

SPEAKER_18 38:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 38:44

No, I just thought it would be funny to say. Seeing as you asked. It's kind of funny.

SPEAKER_08 38:50

Well, we were only being blind.

SPEAKER_18 38:52

Is this this is after Strahd?

SPEAKER_07 38:55

After your curse of Strahd adventure? Yes.

SPEAKER_18 39:02

Actually, Orion doesn't know that his brother fought Strahd. He hasn't seen him in years.

SPEAKER_04 39:12

Um in a way.

unknown 39:23

Okay.

SPEAKER_17 39:24

I thought there was gonna be more to that sentence.

SPEAKER_05 39:27

In what everyone's establishment.

SPEAKER_04 39:32

You're about to break into song.

SPEAKER_07 39:35

If you don't stop me.

SPEAKER_10 39:39

Yes, I um I would just stop it.

SPEAKER_19 39:44

Oh We don't like you!

SPEAKER_18 39:50

Um I want to hear the funny man sing.

SPEAKER_04 39:53

We're looking for someone uh we're supposed to meet you could perhaps point her out to us. Uh Mirna. Are you familiar?

SPEAKER_01 40:03

Uh yes, the uh the noble wizard lady.

SPEAKER_04 40:09

That sounds about right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 40:11

Uh yes, just over here. Let me show you two.

SPEAKER_04 40:14

Thank you.

SPEAKER_07 40:15

Uh and he skips over to the to the table. And he puts both of his arms out and says, Here she is. Myrna goes uh sitting very uh uh rigid and uh with great posture.

SPEAKER_10 40:34

Thank you.

SPEAKER_05 40:34

There's an elf. The five of you must be the friends I've heard so much about.

SPEAKER_18 40:45

Friends is a strong word.

SPEAKER_07 40:48

We are friends. We mean it when we say it.

SPEAKER_01 40:51

Well, you certainly have mutual acquaintances with myself, and you've offered to help me. So I'd consider us friends already.

SPEAKER_08 41:01

And here we are.

SPEAKER_15 41:03

Yay!

SPEAKER_07 41:03

What is your words?

SPEAKER_15 41:05

New friends are I am.

SPEAKER_07 41:06

Uh skin is crawling. Make yourselves comfortable. She motions for you all to sit down. Take a seat. Um as as you all sit down, uh Mumbo finally closes his arms and heads off.

SPEAKER_04 41:22

Ah, he's still here. Great.

SPEAKER_17 41:24

I wonder, did he like acting like that? Is that what she's like how he is?

SPEAKER_04 41:27

I've never met anybody like that before. I'm certain. I don't want to meet anybody like that.

SPEAKER_07 41:31

That doesn't have a bad track record of my my eyes, I don't trust him. Uh she breaks her rigid posture to lean in closer to you at the center of the table. I am so grateful for you all meeting me here.

SPEAKER_01 41:44

Uh I have a terrible problem, as you've heard, uh, and I'm hoping that the five of you can solve it. Are you also in search of Nathal? Yes. Um my colleague, Powell, Nickum, and I learned of a hidden library built by a long dead orc wizard named Lethchantos.

SPEAKER_07 42:11

He wrote The Nathlum, a book of arcane lore that we believe is located in this hidden library. But Powell has offered to sell the tome's secrets to the Xenterim.

SPEAKER_08 42:24

Oh that won't do That seemed like something that would be priceless. What could the Zenterum possibly offer besides gold for that?

SPEAKER_07 42:39

It is um it is unknown to me what they have offered to uh my old friend, but gold uh and power must be uh paramount in this offer. Uh the Nathlum uh is uh uh uh very valuable uh to people like them as it uh we uh We have uh according to our research it it de details how to create many rare poisons as well as their cures.

SPEAKER_05 43:11

Uh who knows what the Xenterim would do with such knowledge? Uh biological weapons.

SPEAKER_01 43:19

Yes, the the Nathilim and the rest of the library must be found and recovered uh by uh good people, and not my friend uh old friend Powell, uh and certainly not the Zenterim, um for the good of not just the Dales, but all of Ferun.

SPEAKER_08 43:48

Yes, I have heard whispers that they are in uh search um of poisons and and things along those lines.

SPEAKER_04 43:58

They nearly found one. We just came from uh Tiger Dale where we destroyed and evidence of the research of a poison that had lighted a local village.

SPEAKER_07 44:13

Well um you saw to it that they did not recover this?

SPEAKER_05 44:19

Yes, but they had nearly beaten us there.

SPEAKER_07 44:22

Well then uh I I guess we must get a move on uh and uh speed is of the essence.

SPEAKER_05 44:32

Um Powell does have a bit of a head start, as well as anyone he may have hired to assist him um I I do not know what the Zentrim are after this specifically for that is not necessarily my concern, but my concern is that they are to get their hands on it before we do.

SPEAKER_07 44:56

I can give you each five er sorry I can give you each a hundred gold to recover the Nathlum for me.

SPEAKER_05 45:06

Um if you have any questions about it I can certainly uh answer any questions but like I said uh speed is paramount. Uh the Anathalam is inside of the library of uh let's jump to us I believe it is uh it it should be um I I I would be uh incredibly surprised if it were not if you point us in the direction we have a vested interest in stopping the Zent in this endeavor, I believe it costed us an hour adventure one too many times already Um It it will be uh a journey um of about a hundred miles uh or so uh which would take about four days um it it is uh deep into uh the forest of Corminthor.

SPEAKER_04 46:06

What Dale is that a part of the It is not a part of the dales uh it is south south of Shadowdale that's sorry the Dale of Boundaries Oh sorry Orion and I can lead you all through yes this uh chant is full of books yes it is a library is it not?

SPEAKER_07 46:31

Well that is quite old yes yes um I'm I'm sure you will find uh valuable information the only thing that necessarily I am after is the um is the Nathlam. What are we waiting for?

SPEAKER_18 46:47

Yes I think it's best we don't waste any more time I say we go as soon as we can.

SPEAKER_07 46:55

Well um best of luck to you return here uh when you have found it I will be waiting um uh I I uh obviously it will take you uh at least eight days to return here so um I I will be back here in eight days and then every every day uh after that uh for a week so if you uh perish then that is very unfortunate but uh if you do get caught or anything um uh if you are able to send a raven to Old Skull Inn uh address to me um if you are in any trouble I can send uh assistance.

SPEAKER_08 47:41

I will send uh my familiar look for a bar now come to the end it will give you the letter Okay do you possess sending magic change that um no I I'm not um much of a spellcaster myself.

SPEAKER_05 48:02

Despite my studies and appearance uh I am no wizard.

SPEAKER_17 48:08

I am just a uh sage just a girl it's okay sometimes what we look like has nothing to do with you know anything else about us my that's right.

SPEAKER_07 48:21

My family would never uh let me uh practice the arts anything that could get me into much trouble. I am you see I am a uh heir to a Symbian trading house so um my family is protective of me to say the least does Nickum know you were looking for this artifact as well.

SPEAKER_05 48:49

We had discussed uh searching for it together but uh I had um discovered that he uh had plans to sell it to the Xantrim and uh we had a falling out immediately um he uh continued with his plans and I continued with mine separately um I was wondering if we would have the element of surprise on our side but it's hard to say he may be expecting me.

SPEAKER_17 49:21

I'm not sure if he expects um a party of five Randos yes um so you may be unsuspected he possibly could have Xentrim with him to assist in this discovery as well so uh be on the lookout um and uh I am uh worried uh of course with such an old uh library uh a powerful wizard that uh there could be some traps to keep an eye out there uh but with with Chantos was was he was not evil he was uh tragic and well-meaning figure uh if sometimes misguided all villains start out that way he he was no villain but Powell he could become one if he did not just be off that um above table would there be any way for her to send like a letter for me like not fear raven or anything like just literally like post a letter for me.

SPEAKER_07 50:36

Yeah there's courier services but um usually couriers would be like town to town not all the way to uh your parents if that's what you're gonna say actually just scared uh scargale oh uh yeah um a courier could absolutely okay um do you mind if I leave something with you to drop off with courier before we get going here?

SPEAKER_08 51:00

Uh certainly I will just uh take whatever whatever the rate is out of your rewards oh yeah of course I I actually don't even need the hundred so take whatever you want out of it um I'll take a hundred Parker and Will just both lean forward I'm not here for money um this needs to go to uh to Scardale um I've been called specifically to go there but I just want it's just just a quick note letting um letting my old friend uh know that I am in the Dales and I'll be getting to him when I can okay uh the friend's name uh Elliot Elliot uh okay do you have a a last name uh um or a buff table I didn't give her what or a or a race uh anything else to um kind of looks like like dark features all that stuff so right yeah that should narrow down uh much more than just his name yeah um good and fairly tall so you can rent a wagon make shorter yes uh with our reward with our rewards we um we could afford one I think surely at least for a four day journey a wagon could we we could make it in two days exactly I was thinking Oh you do what's I'm surprised um yeah you could creatures uh you could hire um where's I mean you could hire a coach but it wouldn't be much use because you're going through a forest right uh off trail but you could you could hire horses to make to make the travel a bit easier five horses how much is five horses to rent for like a week I'm gonna need a fucking war horse horse is gonna ride you I cannot turn into a horse uh to buy yeah no to buy a draft horse it is 50 gold um to rent um just rent and just keep it it is just don't return it just don't what are they gonna do come after us the heart of the Zen to kill us not if we kill them first we're already dead hey go look for a horse where is it just make it up uh make it really well I want it to be realistic I I'd say probably a gold a day that's not bad let's do it it's only 50 to five makes sense uh oh here it is jacquondas jacong jaquondas yeah I'm not paying fittigal Ike is getting used to the weight of his purse he's liking it he's liking the jingle jangle be able to be horse himself so you know that's true even though I won't pick a horse is my other wild face right at level three.

SPEAKER_07 54:16

I originally wrote Orion to have a pet horse um so it would be all those horses that's the one that kicked a copper per mile oh my god which means it would be let's just walk so you're doing a 200 mile you're doing a 200 mile journey which means it would be two gold okay easy which is gonna shorten it by how much I guess I'd say it'll save you a day.

SPEAKER_12 54:42

Great yeah whatever let's do it no I don't care fuck it's paying for everybody are we getting horses two gold each for your horses to rent to to shorten it by a day I don't know I could also summon one but I don't want to I could say that I changed one of my wild shapes into a draft horse who gets to ride eight I'm not riding like Joanna why not I'll say side saddle because I'm a lady that's true.

SPEAKER_18 55:16

Do you even know how to ride a horse?

SPEAKER_04 55:18

Yes I do she's quite old she must have a horse before ancient how dare you do they are else bound by that same faux pas that humans seem to be hair or the lesser lived species I should say brown.

SPEAKER_17 55:33

You can't even see out of that state noanna um pending yeah to old age too um but no fine I think like a both table what the fuck is it like 800? I don't think it's a forever but I'm no I know loader rules for L technically technically like old old age would be like eight nine hundred but I eight nine technically technically six seven cut that um ton of yourself yes technically I guess indefinitely if nothing really bad happens like a jellyfish but huh yes may at one point ask for a bit of your blood if you'd be okay with to research your long life you need her blood I don't know I just thought we were so she doesn't feel excluded I'll ask you for very well I'm a little weirded out but like I'm sure for your research I guess now that I'm thinking about it I may like a little bit of all of your blood work on that but you all have very interesting things about you I think maybe trying to trying to find ways to live forever Hodge not forever but I have lots of things I'd like to learn and I don't feel you know 90 years, 80?

SPEAKER_04 57:03

I'm not very healthy.

SPEAKER_17 57:05

There's enough time I'm I'm a half elf the age I am the age I am now like it sounds like a lot but I mean if you look at me I don't look much older than you know O'Rion or Val or anybody else you don't know how old I look how old do you think I am how old are you?

SPEAKER_04 57:25

What a great question.

SPEAKER_18 57:26

You'll never know 27?

SPEAKER_04 57:28

Thinking back to how wrinkly your hand was when I said you take your glove off 40 that would make me a baby 50 no too far 45 too far 42 You are you not okay so are you guys going to rent the horses to save a day or would you not like to?

SPEAKER_08 57:56

I will turn into a horse and so we can save a little money I will pay two gold to rent a horse for myself so Hodge paying two gold renting a horse going to saddle someone needs to ride Ike someone's going saddle Ike would you be okay with that's the reason I'm able to do this. Okay? I don't have a saddle that's what I'm saying you can buy one I think I'll be okay okay I feel weird putting a saddle in my friend yes I suppose it is fine if it's more comfortable for you it's fine. I'm imagining you as a horse it is a long journey.

SPEAKER_17 58:35

Minor suffering is my thing anyway. So it's fine.

SPEAKER_08 58:38

Alright if you say so everything is an act of God.

SPEAKER_04 58:41

One fourth you'd be pissed if too much for me then your God would be pissed horses.

SPEAKER_18 58:49

Yeah if I took this out on probably horse horse struck down or something.

SPEAKER_06 58:53

I need a challenge rating of zero draft horse is just checking.

SPEAKER_17 59:01

Because it's both a prank of a finger or something that's kind of why I'm investigating it I don't understand how both are okay but also not okay at the same time it's a whole thing yeah horse is not zero draft horse is fine familiar for I I can't I'll just rent one a large dog deer I don't think deer is I don't think a horse is a wild shape.

SPEAKER_07 59:27

It's not wild shape like for you I mean like for her she could do it familiar that's what I meant sorry deer familiar great dame uh if you want to buy a saddle for yourself uh they're anywhere from 10 to 60 gold that's fine I'm fine with it it's up to you I will have to really afford it I grew it you know we didn't have any of that so it's fine.

SPEAKER_04 59:54

All right Val are you gonna rent a horse as well yes?

SPEAKER_07 59:57

Yeah I can't run the whole way I can take two people I wouldn't be surprised I wouldn't be surprised those calves and then O'Rion if you want to show you how much it look like buy a horse for yourself or rent a horse for yourself or you can ride on any of the other three rentals? I can talk about people if needed not in a fight that maybe I can take people if needed oh that's insane that that's on that bottle by the way that is I can't believe that read it out loud a threesome of antioxidants and full uncensored flavor get your mind out of the gutter. Okay.

SPEAKER_12 1:00:41

Didn't need to do all that part of not giving a fucking just drinking my porn juice fries.

SPEAKER_10 1:00:50

That's gonna be a hot you can't you can't get out of context.

SPEAKER_07 1:00:58

Are you turning into a draft horse or a riding horse? Diraft horse riding horse is for nighttime oh riding horse is riding horses are quicker.

SPEAKER_08 1:01:08

Are they really 60 feet versus 40 feet? Holy shit never mind I didn't know I have that on my list but yeah so riding horse I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_18 1:01:20

I mean he does riding horse established by Tommy 60 feet yep riding horse horse like who the fuck is that who are you talking about? And then do you know he has a brother have I said that you know that he's 42 years old and that's bad travel music from Van Helsing we don't have the rights to that hush hush hush Brian's the equivalent of being 24 years old.

SPEAKER_08 1:02:02

It would be um an honor to get copyright striked Leo's copy written struck in around my age copy I know how old you are 20 28 cool Ike will shift into his horse form and he is a beautiful black haired furred furred is it fur?

SPEAKER_07 1:02:31

Yeah yeah black furred and his mane is not yellow no fuck you uh and his mane is such a dark green that it looks black but in the sunlight it has that like green tint to it oh your hair is a horse kind of like my hair it looks black until I get into the sun that's right yes well hop along that's strange to say you're beautiful as a whole horse Ike yeah well thank you of course I want to braid his hair I'll hop up and sit yes Joanna actually you should braid his mane that'd be lovely to return the favor would you like that you may can I pick some flowers so you can put them in along the way absolutely of course as we travel yes yes along the way yes of course yes yes I'll have Linda pick them for me gonna reap some flowers from the side of the road with your great axe yes she's great I think she'd be into it I think so too Linda likes to be involved Linda's a forest we're traveling through the forest so just put a forest on the screen wait a second uh maybe roll a dice or two mile Jenny Hutomile Had a mile Jenny Ike will kneel down so you can get up easier since there's no sound see O'Ran that's how you act like a gentleman I'm a perfect gentleman so as you travel through Cormanthor uh the forest um you there obviously is not much going on there are not uh you see there are not places to stay there are not inns so you're you're spending eight hours a day traveling just in each other's company uh and then settling down and and setting up a campsite in the middle of the forest and um uh time camp time camp time let's all talk and uh yeah so you are free to uh you're free to communicate with each other as you travel uh wow it's been a very peaceful journey so far I'm honestly surprised making record time if we're uh we're on a we're on a path I take it for a bit uh every now and then you find like some like a dirt path that's here and there but for the most part uh this is largely unexplored uh or unsettled territory um I'd love to look for signs of like boot prints or old campsites or something if they're like ahead of us.

SPEAKER_08 1:05:32

Yeah make a survival check for me ah balls I'll help you uh let me know when it's been an hour because then I have to change back. Oh fuck.

SPEAKER_18 1:05:41

I have to know survival plus five to survival I will help you Oriah let me know if I can help you I don't know why that's advantage then right it should be yes yeah I rolled two seventeenths five so

SPEAKER_07 1:06:01

Twenty one. Uh two seventeen split. I don't I'm joking. Um you do uh follow not footprints but hoof prints uh through the forest, kind of meandering. Um and as you continue, you follow them, and it's not um like I said, there's not much of a path that you're following. Um but there is like a normal route that you would take through trees.

SPEAKER_08 1:06:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 1:06:45

Trying to stay as straight as possible to your destination uh would be the obvious way to go to save yourself time and trouble. Strangely, these uh hoof prints seem to be meandering and kind of zigzagging back and forth. Zigzag and Zance. So uh that's what they call that. Um and you do see on um there's like a vine uh of thick uh spiky brush. Um and on that you see as as it's kind of zigs through and out um on that vine uh a piece of ripped black cloth. And on that cloth there is um an insignia. Um if you'd like to make a history check to see if you can recollect it. Yeah, anyway.

SPEAKER_02 1:07:48

I have a minus one.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:49

I have a very good history.

SPEAKER_18 1:07:50

I bring it to the check. Hold on, I did found some find something that might be of use to you.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:57

May uh take a look. Yes, here you go.

SPEAKER_05 1:08:03

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 1:08:09

Twenty-four.

SPEAKER_07 1:08:11

Um this is a uh black winged viper uh with uh it is embroidered into this black cloth um with gold uh string. And on that history check you recognize this as a symbol of the Zenterim, which they usually use on coins, uh either gold or iron coins, um but for it to be emblazoned on a cloak, like this seems to be from, uh signifies a very high up member of the Zenderim. So someone very high up has been moving through this forest uh very in a very strange manner. Uh and seems to be uh up ahead of you. It's up to you guys if you'd like to follow that trail, but uh intuition would tell you this guy would not be easy to take down.

SPEAKER_18 1:09:27

Right. I think that this is none of our business, and we should just continue.

SPEAKER_08 1:09:34

If we run into him, then we run into him.

SPEAKER_13 1:09:37

But we have a mission to get this book, which we know is a danger. I don't know what this fucker's up to. Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:45

Right, though. Maybe we can dig a big hole and put some sticks in the ground or something. I haven't fallen it.

SPEAKER_18 1:09:53

Oh, yes. Yes. Then he could stop. Oh. Or I can shoot him over and over and over. I was thinking we'd kill him high up.

SPEAKER_08 1:10:01

I think we'd best leave alone.

SPEAKER_18 1:10:05

Ryan's just coming up with different ways that he could kill this guy.

SPEAKER_16 1:10:08

I know over a hundred ways.

SPEAKER_17 1:10:12

Hike hike. Mid-braid on hike. Just stop giving options. We're not gonna kill him. He's evil.

SPEAKER_18 1:10:23

We should.

SPEAKER_17 1:10:25

Sometimes it's just take your own advice. He's not our business. Oh no.

SPEAKER_08 1:10:30

If we run into him, then we run into him.

SPEAKER_17 1:10:32

Yeah, but we shouldn't go looking for No.

SPEAKER_08 1:10:34

No. If if Hajj says this is a higher-up rankings interim, then usually they are pretty strong.

SPEAKER_04 1:10:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:10:43

Yes.

SPEAKER_08 1:10:45

So would you like Oh, sorry.

SPEAKER_04 1:10:46

Sorry, this is the same the zigzagging path. Do we have an idea of why they're zigzagging? Are they avoiding something? Or is it just their hard to tell? It's hard to tell if they're chasing something or if they're avoiding something.

SPEAKER_07 1:10:59

Or if they're trying to throw their trail off. Not sure. Mike thinks they would probably be trying to throw their trail off. Um so you have three options. You can either actively avoid this path to s to make sure that you do not encounter this person, you can actively follow this path to make sure that you do, or uh you can continue as you were normally, not caring if you're following or avoiding it, and to have a chance of encountering this person. Um if you do actively avoid this path, you will go slightly off in a different direction, and I would ask for a survival check to keep it to three days. If you would were to fail, it would then go back to four days as you go off travel off trail too much.

SPEAKER_04 1:11:53

Heading where we're heading anyway. To avoid them would be too could be.

SPEAKER_08 1:11:58

I say we continue as we are.

SPEAKER_04 1:12:00

Yes. Keep an eye out as far ahead as we can. Yes. Who you're uh your familiar. I'm quite perceptive. Yeah, you have a familiar, yes, Ike? I do. Could he scout ahead, stay high up? Your owl. Yes.

SPEAKER_08 1:12:14

Perhaps could see fucking. Yes, allow me to summon him. Uh I guess it's been an hour.

SPEAKER_07 1:12:20

Yeah, by now. So I am now regular Ike. Do you warn Joanna that you're about to Yes, I do.

SPEAKER_18 1:12:30

If you didn't know it was gonna happen because you've never been a horse before.

SPEAKER_08 1:12:34

Well I haven't been for I haven't been in wild shape for a long period of time. So I don't know how long it lasts.

SPEAKER_18 1:12:40

You just on wild shape and you're on all fours. That's what I was doing.

SPEAKER_08 1:12:45

My knees are shaking.

SPEAKER_07 1:12:50

She's still on your back and you're just I'm like, I'm flat. I'm flat on the ground.

SPEAKER_12 1:12:56

Like sorry, Joanna. I'm very as that happens, all three of your horses rear back and go, what the fuck?

SPEAKER_10 1:13:06

Are you okay? Sorry.

SPEAKER_08 1:13:08

She like help you. Yes, I'm I guess it doesn't last for too long.

SPEAKER_18 1:13:12

This is genuinely the hardest Oriana's ever laughed before in his life. He didn't know he could laugh like this. What are you what do you think is so fun?

SPEAKER_08 1:13:22

Orion.

SPEAKER_17 1:13:25

I fell on egg. Okay. I didn't touch the ground. I got you all right.

SPEAKER_08 1:13:31

I have never been better to see you laugh. You can't see much.

SPEAKER_18 1:13:39

Oh gods.

SPEAKER_08 1:13:40

Uh I'll check the I will help Orion, or Orion can help me with checking the checking the trail.

SPEAKER_10 1:13:48

Okay.

SPEAKER_08 1:13:49

Yeah, make another survival check. Do you want to both roll? Yeah, sure. I have plus five. And you have plus five, dude.

SPEAKER_18 1:13:57

Um 21.

SPEAKER_07 1:14:00

Uh on the 21, it seems as though uh these trails or these tracks are about an hour ahead of you. So it would be tough to catch up to him unless he stops and takes a break an hour before you guys. Um, if you decide to either take a break early before nightfall, um to avoid stopping and like it's it's pretty easy to tell that like he's an hour ahead of you. If you were to stop an hour early, you would be about two hours ahead of like the normal, all right, sun's going down, it's time to set up camp, and you would likely not run into him.

SPEAKER_08 1:14:58

So we are more likely to run into him as we are potentially.

SPEAKER_07 1:15:08

Uh the the trail also stops kind of zigzagging as it gets further into the forest. Uh, and he seems to either have stopped uh caring about losing his trail, that is, he he's gotten further in, uh, or he stopped chasing whatever he might have been chasing. Um you feel pretty safe that as long as you don't press hard into the night, you you don't necessarily run the risk of encountering this person. But if he is can gonna continue to go the same direction as you, you have two more full days of the possibility of running into him if you continue following.

SPEAKER_08 1:15:51

What do you say? Stop at the first sign of the sun going down, right?

SPEAKER_18 1:15:56

I think that's probably the best. There could be wolves out here or something something worse.

SPEAKER_04 1:16:03

Just behind this person, perhaps we can follow them into the library and swipe the treasure out from underneath him at the last moment. Have him do all the work for us. Yes, perhaps fall into a trap, pal, exactly. Yes. Uh most likely.

SPEAKER_08 1:16:24

Oh classic. Classic keeping watches.

SPEAKER_17 1:16:33

I only need four hours so I can take you know, first, second what, whatever.

SPEAKER_18 1:16:39

I also need four hours.

SPEAKER_07 1:16:45

Alright. Um so uh Orion and Joanna watch together.

SPEAKER_18 1:16:58

Hold hands. No definitely not whoa, a girl from Jane.

SPEAKER_07 1:17:04

You find a nice tree to settle under.

SPEAKER_18 1:17:07

Fell and Backa both let them. Umrion and Joanna do not want that. Shut it. That's why we write about them fucking. We really can't have it in the city.

SPEAKER_01 1:17:22

Yeah, we can't have it in canon.

SPEAKER_18 1:17:23

Oh no, there's only one horse.

SPEAKER_06 1:17:28

Oh no, there's only one tree to lie under in this forest.

SPEAKER_07 1:17:33

Find a nice uh big tree to to um rest under, uh providing you plenty of shade. Um, is this your grandma? What?

SPEAKER_02 1:17:46

I don't know, it's a druid joke. I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_13 1:17:49

Oh.

SPEAKER_08 1:17:50

Oh sorry, I no, it's not.

SPEAKER_04 1:17:57

I'm going to pet. Please need me.

SPEAKER_14 1:18:02

Okay.

SPEAKER_07 1:18:04

Immediate. Uh all right, as the two of you um take first watch. Uh Hong Shu perception checks, please.

SPEAKER_18 1:18:13

Not Tony. Yep.

SPEAKER_08 1:18:17

In the darkness.

SPEAKER_18 1:18:18

Yeah, he's next to Joanna, and so he is focusing on anything other than her.

SPEAKER_07 1:18:27

Um Joanna, you start to feel this strange energy. Oh no. And then a smell of rot starts to fill your nostrils. Um, O'Rion, you recognize Joanna feeling strangely, and you look around and your eyes immediately lock into this tree. Oh god. As you see its limbs start to move slowly, creepily down, and recognize this as a Gulfius Dwight. No tree. A Get out of there! Horrific uh gargantuan plant um that uh you have absolutely no shot at fighting back. And only because you have horses do you have a chance of even escaping if you get on it immediately.

SPEAKER_17 1:19:39

Everybody get up. Everybody up! Immediately.

SPEAKER_07 1:19:46

You you see uh immediately as you guys start shouting and waking up, it stops its uh sneaky little uh reaching over you attack, and you see a mouth of a gate as it is about to try to uh swallow you whole and uh shoots its uh its branches and tries to reach you, but you guys hop onto your horses and with 60 feet of movement speed get away from this Gulfius blight that has a 50 foot of movement speed.

SPEAKER_19 1:20:21

What? Oh my god.

unknown 1:20:24

Boom. Boom.

SPEAKER_17 1:20:26

Starts to chase after you. Oh just run.

SPEAKER_02 1:20:32

Let me try this as we go and I'll try to cast sleep on it.

SPEAKER_17 1:20:35

I think you turn into a horse again, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 1:20:38

What's the save for that? That's a wisdom save. Wisdom 14.

SPEAKER_07 1:20:48

That is a 14. Oh uh, so it starts it slows for a second as it starts to drift off, and then it just boom, and then uh 30 seconds go by and you guys put um put 50 feet uh between you guys. Actually, you would both probably be dashing. Uh so a hundred feet between you guys in a matter of thirty seconds, uh, and it kind of stops and kind of turns around and goes back to its home. What was that?

SPEAKER_17 1:21:27

Uh huge tree. I don't think it liked. I don't think it liked Hodge Grandma joke.

SPEAKER_04 1:21:34

Uh yes, you know, trees do have feelings, my friend. Yes, but it was a joke against you. Uh well and against the tree. I think it's a good thing. No, I don't know.

SPEAKER_17 1:21:43

Something was wrong with it.

SPEAKER_04 1:21:45

Were you two fighting? Did you spook the tree? Did your bad energy seep into the bar?

SPEAKER_17 1:21:50

I know you're not talking to me when you say about bad energy.

SPEAKER_08 1:21:53

Oh, your bad head butting of energies.

SPEAKER_17 1:21:56

No.

SPEAKER_08 1:21:57

Oof.

SPEAKER_17 1:21:57

Oh well. Just trying to rest. We were actually sitting there and it was actually weren't talking to each other, so it was pretty peaceful. So energy.

unknown 1:22:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 1:22:05

Aren't they all isn't it also immune to like everything? Uh resistance to fire and necrotic, but 264 hit points. That's what we that's what we focused on, right? Yeah. That's a CR-16 for a party of level twos. Absolutely not. If you didn't have horses, if you didn't have horses, it would have been rough.

SPEAKER_06 1:22:24

Well, good thing we have We didn't have horses.

SPEAKER_17 1:22:27

I only have three spell slots.

SPEAKER_07 1:22:32

Please go sweet. So you guys run, find a new place to sleep.

SPEAKER_10 1:22:39

Okay. Introspect the trees.

SPEAKER_07 1:22:40

Everyone looking at the make sure these are all normal trees. It's not this massive tree you thought that might be like a great space to sleep under.

SPEAKER_19 1:22:49

I feel bad for waking y'all. This one you're coming on.

SPEAKER_17 1:22:54

I feel bad that we had the scare y'all awake. So all of you will continue our watch. You you three, just go back to immediately.

SPEAKER_04 1:23:05

Immediately. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 1:23:08

All right.

SPEAKER_04 1:23:09

Um a minor losing sheep. Jump at the cross.

SPEAKER_07 1:23:12

Your watch continues very peacefully.

SPEAKER_11 1:23:16

Oh good.

unknown 1:23:17

I can even know.

SPEAKER_07 1:23:18

Um four hours. Uh we talk.

unknown 1:23:24

Okay.

SPEAKER_07 1:23:24

Okay. What do you talk about?

SPEAKER_08 1:23:27

I want to talk.

SPEAKER_18 1:23:29

Your sister's dead. That's it. That's crazy. That's him bringing it up.

SPEAKER_02 1:23:37

Really?

SPEAKER_18 1:23:38

No, that's not him being like, oh, your sister's dead.

SPEAKER_17 1:23:42

Yes.

SPEAKER_18 1:23:43

So is my mother.

SPEAKER_17 1:23:44

Oh.

SPEAKER_08 1:23:46

Um, bro, sucks at social interactions.

SPEAKER_17 1:23:50

Yeah, I know.

SPEAKER_08 1:23:51

Oh, it's so good.

SPEAKER_17 1:23:52

I'm sorry to hear. Was that a recent thing? Or no.

SPEAKER_18 1:23:56

I was young. I mean, you're pretty old. How old how old were you?

SPEAKER_17 1:24:04

How many years ago was it?

SPEAKER_18 1:24:06

Yes, but. Oh, me.

SPEAKER_03 1:24:14

He's trying so hard. Oh my bless him. Bless him.

SPEAKER_00 1:24:19

I'm awake in my sleep and roll.

SPEAKER_10 1:24:21

Oh god.

SPEAKER_00 1:24:21

Bless him. Yeah, I get Hajj and I are like making side-eyed, like, oh team years.

SPEAKER_17 1:24:33

So yes, I was alive then. Um. What happened?

SPEAKER_18 1:24:41

My father's a terrible man. That's all I want to say. Just how just is to die.

SPEAKER_11 1:24:53

She got sick. Um.

SPEAKER_17 1:24:56

Something that should have not even really affected her had she been like me, but that's how we found out she was actually more like you. Like me. She was half human. Oh. Huh. So she should have kicked it, should have been easy, but it was scandaled. Took her down. Yeah.

SPEAKER_18 1:25:30

I have a half-brother. He's like you. Claire.

SPEAKER_17 1:25:36

Like me. Oh. Okay. Um. Is he like you in terms of sociability? Ha! Did you laugh at me? I laughed at the thoughts. You did a little bit.

SPEAKER_18 1:25:53

I saw you laugh at me.

SPEAKER_17 1:25:55

Okay.

SPEAKER_18 1:25:56

Oh, my brother is wild. Nothing like.

SPEAKER_17 1:26:02

I'd love to know what you think Wild is.

SPEAKER_18 1:26:05

I don't know. Maybe one day I'll maybe one day he'll join us. I don't know. I'm kind of looking for him.

SPEAKER_11 1:26:17

Where? Oh.

SPEAKER_17 1:26:19

You don't know where he is. No. I haven't seen him in years. This is the most she's getting out of him, and she is. She is. She doesn't want to like freak him out, but she does. She does genuinely like. She does genuinely care, even though they do buttheads and fight. Like she's a she's a helpful, compassionate person, so she can't help like, oh your mom's dead, you missed your brother. Like I want to know more. Um she doesn't want to freak him out. Um he reason you haven't seen each other, you just don't live close, or I'm a soldier.

SPEAKER_18 1:27:01

He's not. He lives with his mother. I live with our father. He believes in Saluna? I don't know what I believe. Oh.

SPEAKER_17 1:27:17

Well, it's okay to question. Just because you were, I'm assuming, brought up in a Salunite temple? Just based off of your whole everything? Yeah, something like that. Just because you were brought up there and it was maybe the only thing that was available doesn't mean that you have to believe in it. Like I was telling Hodge a little bit earlier today, it's kind of why I'm out here. I want to know more. I I don't just want to blindly believe something just because I was told that that's what I should believe in.

SPEAKER_18 1:28:01

He realizes he's said too much to you, and he decides to shut down the conversation by just saying, Gods are for people who are weak. I don't know, I can't think of something cool.

SPEAKER_12 1:28:18

Well, adding that at the end certainly made Oh god.

SPEAKER_18 1:28:22

Oh god.

SPEAKER_17 1:28:24

Well, she's gonna let that just roll off. She's not gonna take that any real offense to that. Um well regardless of that, I think this was nice. And if you do want to talk about your mom or your brother, come and find me. Because you know that I understand, at least to a certain extent.

SPEAKER_18 1:28:53

Do you have a picture of her?

SPEAKER_17 1:28:54

Uh yeah, actually. And she'll take her locket out from under her um shirt and click it open. Her name is Eleanor. I called her Nellie.

SPEAKER_18 1:29:08

He doesn't say anything, but he does study it for a moment.

SPEAKER_17 1:29:13

So I always keep it close. But yeah, just if you feel sociable again, you can come and find me. I won't tell anybody that we talked to. Thank you. That's good. Probably. They would like to talk to you too, you know. I'm sure they would. Especially Hodge. And Ike. Ike Ike feels a lot of things. Yes, he does.

SPEAKER_18 1:29:48

He doesn't know what to do with that. That makes him nervous. I just think maybe it'd be a good thing.

SPEAKER_19 1:29:55

What is that?

SPEAKER_18 1:29:58

Ryan feels too. Just he feels a little too. It's it's so internal. He wasn't allowed to be like that.

SPEAKER_17 1:30:08

But anyway, you clearly are done with the conversation, so I'll let you hear.

SPEAKER_18 1:30:13

He's already walking to the opposite side of the camp, and he slumps up against a tree and keeps his watch from there.

SPEAKER_17 1:30:21

Have a good night.

unknown 1:30:26

What?

SPEAKER_08 1:30:26

He's opening up.

SPEAKER_18 1:30:28

He's starting to. It's gonna be real boring if I have to pretend I hate everybody for a long time.

SPEAKER_07 1:30:34

How do you guys want to do this watch? So you guys are doing the first watch, how long? And then who and then who wants to switch after that?

SPEAKER_04 1:30:44

Wake me up or both of us? Wake me up.

SPEAKER_10 1:30:47

Wait, wake me up.

SPEAKER_08 1:30:49

We'll let uh we'll let Val rest.

SPEAKER_07 1:30:59

So you guys do the full four hours for your first watch?

SPEAKER_18 1:31:04

Yeah, we might as well. We only need four hours of sleep, so Okay.

SPEAKER_07 1:31:07

So four hours pass. You wake up Hodge and Ike. Sure. And they take the second watch. Okay. Um make perception checks for me.

SPEAKER_08 1:31:22

Twenty-four.

SPEAKER_07 1:31:24

Okay. Not just go ahead. The horse is very, very quiet. I'm sorry. Smoking a pipe. After after that scary moment with something that probably could have killed you all in the matter of seconds if you didn't have those horses with you and if you couldn't turn into one. But the forest is you know that deeper into this forest is is danger lies.

SPEAKER_04 1:31:59

Terrifying force of nature back there.

SPEAKER_09 1:32:03

I haven't seen anything like it.

SPEAKER_08 1:32:04

I've heard stories, but I could I can't believe I didn't recognize it, but I guess too focused on the journey ahead.

SPEAKER_04 1:32:15

I always found druids to be gentle folk. Kind, compassionate. They'll, you know, deal with it if you cross them, but they don't seem to reflect nature in the way that I've experienced it. The the harsh reality of these creatures.

SPEAKER_08 1:32:37

Yes, there are some who do. That I've heard of. Not met personally, thank goodness, but I have been told of druids that have turned to the darkness and the shadows, dealing with dark magic. Yes. Vile beasts they turn into and control and awaken and is not what I intend to do. But find strength in the goodness of it all.

SPEAKER_04 1:33:10

Yeah. Yes. That's good news for us, I suppose.

unknown 1:33:15

Yes.

SPEAKER_08 1:33:16

I I try to remain gentle. But sometimes it is hard to. I've been through uh quite a bit, let's just say. But uh so it's hard to keep things hard to keep uh certain emotions in check when driven to certain points if you catch my drift.

SPEAKER_04 1:33:43

The rivers, rapids are tepid at some points.

SPEAKER_09 1:33:48

They are. Well, at least it's been a quiet night so far. You're a man who's interested in the weather, I see.

SPEAKER_04 1:34:01

Yes. What interests you so about it? My father. He loved it. He loved to study it. The town where we were from had a quite uh the history of inclement weather. High winds, tornadoes, storms, that of the like. He always felt the true magic of this place, this world we live in, was contained in its natural phenomena. Our ability to study it and observe it, he felt he could predict it even just by observing the the daytime sky. I guess it rubbed off on me. Uh perhaps when he died, uh I wanted to carry on his legacy. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_08 1:34:48

Well, to see what the weather tomorrow will bring us. Yes, please do druid craft uh in my hand. Tiny harmless sensory effect that predicts the weather for the next 24 hours.

SPEAKER_00 1:35:05

Yes.

SPEAKER_07 1:35:07

It's gonna be a very beautiful day tomorrow.

SPEAKER_19 1:35:11

Must less.

SPEAKER_07 1:35:12

Sunny, lightly cloudy.

SPEAKER_08 1:35:17

What is your favorite type of weather? This is important information for me.

SPEAKER_04 1:35:22

You know, my father always said the only bad weather was weather you didn't like. So if I like it all, it's all good weather to me.

SPEAKER_08 1:35:35

All right.

SPEAKER_09 1:35:38

I'll make note of that.

SPEAKER_07 1:35:44

And after two hours, uh, it is time for Val to start her watch. You're gonna be alright by yourself, Val.

SPEAKER_14 1:35:52

I have Linda.

SPEAKER_08 1:35:55

This is true.

SPEAKER_04 1:35:56

We had to roll you over four times to get you to wake up.

SPEAKER_14 1:36:01

Well, try her next time.

SPEAKER_07 1:36:04

Linda snores. It's like white noise. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_01 1:36:13

I've quite taken to the name Linda.

SPEAKER_17 1:36:19

Okay, because she hated it at first. Oh, that's good.

SPEAKER_01 1:36:25

Where did you hear this name first?

SPEAKER_15 1:36:28

I think I heard it in a story when I was a child.

SPEAKER_01 1:36:32

Can you tell me this story?

SPEAKER_14 1:36:37

I don't remember it.

SPEAKER_01 1:36:42

We have so much in common already.

SPEAKER_14 1:36:45

Yes, we both have memory issues. How funny.

SPEAKER_01 1:36:51

Do you have any experience wielding a weapon like me? Not one that speaks with you, of course, but a great axe.

SPEAKER_13 1:37:09

Um above the table.

SPEAKER_15 1:37:11

I do not should I take it? Does it matter?

SPEAKER_07 1:37:14

No, that's that's totally totally fine.

SPEAKER_14 1:37:17

Um, no, I have never wielded a great axe before. Do you have any tips? Any recommendations?

SPEAKER_01 1:37:26

Go for the neck.

SPEAKER_14 1:37:27

Oh my god. That's my girl. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:37:39

Some like to be kissed on the neck, but when I do it they seem to cease to exist.

SPEAKER_18 1:37:51

That's sad.

SPEAKER_01 1:37:53

Poetic.

SPEAKER_15 1:37:55

Do you wish you could kiss people without killing them?

SPEAKER_01 1:38:00

I wish I was not an axe, if that's what you mean. I do wish that I could remember what I once was, if I once was anything else. But part of me is happy because if I once was something that was not what I am, then the desire to be that would be much greater, I'm sure.

SPEAKER_08 1:38:38

Somebody's soul is imprisoned. Absolutely.

unknown 1:38:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 1:38:42

It is not just let me put a sentience on this act. Somebody would put in there.

SPEAKER_01 1:38:47

If you were to be turned into a weapon, would you wish for your memory to be wiped so that you would not know that you were once this great, beautiful woman?

SPEAKER_15 1:39:06

Oh. What's the flattery again?

SPEAKER_01 1:39:12

Or would you desire to know everything about what has happened to you?

SPEAKER_18 1:39:18

Linda's gonna try and swap places with Val. Linda might try to body swap me. Um I think I'd like to forget.

SPEAKER_08 1:39:30

Val, why are you talking like that? She started talking off slow and hairy.

SPEAKER_01 1:39:38

I cannot wait for your friend Sullivan to continue researching me, though I do not like the idea of parting with my master.

SPEAKER_15 1:39:56

We just want to help you maybe regain your memories.

SPEAKER_01 1:40:00

Yes, I wish selflessly for us to all know what I am and where I came from and who my old master was. I hope that he is the great man I remember and not some evil being. That would be so disappointing.

SPEAKER_13 1:40:34

Even if he was evil, that doesn't make you evil.

SPEAKER_01 1:40:38

But if I had the responsibility of chopping off innocent people's heads, giving him a good night kiss, then I wouldn't know what to do with myself. Not that I can do anything with myself in the first place.

SPEAKER_13 1:41:03

Well I will make sure to only kiss those who are evil for you.

SPEAKER_01 1:41:12

Speaking of those who are evil, who are these? Hands of Bane, I heard Hodge speak about. They are after you.

SPEAKER_14 1:41:28

She picked up a lot, yes. Listener.

SPEAKER_15 1:41:34

They are a cult who use any means to get anything they want. They worship an evil god named Feam.

SPEAKER_01 1:41:51

I do not remember this god, though. I don't know if I remember any gods. But if they are after you, then I will help you and keep them away from you. I cannot wait.

SPEAKER_07 1:42:14

And if there's anything else you'd like to do with your remaining two hour watch, you certainly can, but uh it is another peaceful two hours as you wait for the sun to rise. You all wake up to the tweeting of birds in the forest of Corminthor.

SPEAKER_18 1:42:41

Orion is like, he's a druid in the sense that he also hates nature waking him up. This pisses him off. Ike is He's a nighttime druid.

SPEAKER_12 1:42:53

Like he's the first morning to smoke it up by fire.

SPEAKER_18 1:42:57

Oh smoking a bike.

SPEAKER_12 1:42:59

Schmoking a pancake.

SPEAKER_18 1:43:00

Um Orion's in a tree with his um. Fuck, I don't want to cast my shadows, but I want it to be shadowy.

SPEAKER_04 1:43:10

Let's go find some shade. He's in the shade of the tree. He's down on the north side of the tree.

SPEAKER_18 1:43:16

I can Druid Craft. That's the shake clap. Umrion is asleep up in a tree with shadows just all over his body so that you can't see him. But you can see the shadows.

SPEAKER_08 1:43:28

This is not how druidcraft works, but okay.

SPEAKER_18 1:43:31

I'm changing it.

SPEAKER_07 1:43:33

Okay.

SPEAKER_18 1:43:33

Exactly.

SPEAKER_07 1:43:37

Yeah, actually, I'm actually changing the whole thing.

SPEAKER_17 1:43:41

I'll sit at the campfire with Ike.

SPEAKER_04 1:43:43

Hodges up description and press the digitation himself clean. Oh.

SPEAKER_18 1:43:49

It has to go in a five-foot cube. If it's just over his top half, then it's fine.

SPEAKER_07 1:43:55

You can curl it to a big thing. Or he could just the dogs hanging out in the chat.

SPEAKER_18 1:44:01

Just boots on.

SPEAKER_06 1:44:03

Boots on.

SPEAKER_18 1:44:05

Stay on. He does, yeah. He sleeps with his mask off if he's high up enough and has his druid craft on.

SPEAKER_04 1:44:13

What a mask on. What does this mask on? Like me to magically clean your body. It's not invasive. Do you have to see us? I don't think so.

SPEAKER_07 1:44:23

You are next to the river as well.

SPEAKER_17 1:44:26

Hodge. And she'll gesture towards the river.

SPEAKER_08 1:44:29

Why did she not just if the river is there, I'm I will go in the river.

SPEAKER_17 1:44:33

Why did you not just get in the river?

SPEAKER_08 1:44:35

It's right there.

SPEAKER_17 1:44:37

You didn't look to your rivets?

SPEAKER_08 1:44:39

No.

SPEAKER_17 1:44:39

Okay.

SPEAKER_08 1:44:40

I will go uh I will go wash myself. Uh you can't tend to the I'll be back uh soon. And he will walk down the river bend out of sight. Perception check for me, please. As I am out of sight, take off my puncho.

SPEAKER_18 1:45:06

Strip that down.

SPEAKER_08 1:45:12

Eleven.

SPEAKER_18 1:45:14

Oh god.

SPEAKER_07 1:45:16

Uh you smell very sweet. Smell in the wind. Like flowers and lively plant life. Perfect.

SPEAKER_08 1:45:36

But we do not see anything. William doesn't like that. Ike is having the time of his life.

SPEAKER_07 1:45:46

As you wash up in the river Ashaba. Um one of the two major rivers running through Ormanthor.

SPEAKER_01 1:46:01

Uh what would everyone else like to do?

SPEAKER_18 1:46:07

Hodge, you can magically wash me if you would like, as long as you don't have to see me. I have no idea if that worked. Do you feel cleaner?

SPEAKER_04 1:46:22

Yeah, you feel clean cleaner.

SPEAKER_18 1:46:23

I feel great.

SPEAKER_17 1:46:24

Great! Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 1:46:25

Joanna?

SPEAKER_17 1:46:28

I am curious, but she wants to like test it visually, so she'll like put her hand in the dirt and like roll it around a little bit. Okay, go. And she's looking at her hand. Big on dirt!

SPEAKER_04 1:46:39

Well, okay. Smell too. Big on dirt.

SPEAKER_10 1:46:44

What smell is that?

SPEAKER_04 1:46:45

Uh dirt smell?

SPEAKER_02 1:46:47

Is that what you're asking about? Oh, smell is that.

SPEAKER_17 1:46:54

Oh yes. God, I just hate it.

SPEAKER_06 1:46:55

Do you still like feel the dirt?

SPEAKER_17 1:46:57

No, it's gone.

SPEAKER_03 1:46:58

No, it's allows me to clean or soil a surface. So I couldn't. Oh, I give dirt.

SPEAKER_17 1:47:05

So then now this is done to myself. Spoil it. Why did the other river turn brown? I wasn't about to look down with me.

SPEAKER_19 1:47:13

It was a plug-in.

SPEAKER_02 1:47:16

Uh I must have kicked up some mud under some bottom of the river.

SPEAKER_13 1:47:24

Okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:47:25

I totally didn't shit when I came about.

SPEAKER_18 1:47:28

It was big 10, like in Zach Stone is gonna be famous.

SPEAKER_02 1:47:32

No one gets that reference.

SPEAKER_18 1:47:34

Emily. Alice! I can feel your eyes on the YouTube.

SPEAKER_17 1:47:42

Okay. Well, yeah. I guess I believe that. Yeah. I mean it's fascinating, it really is. It's nice. Sam. Yes. Me next. Me next. Okay, great.

SPEAKER_02 1:47:52

I gotta get a little red. Um be gone dirt.

SPEAKER_14 1:48:04

Oh pretty.

SPEAKER_04 1:48:07

Yes. Even between the fingernails.

SPEAKER_14 1:48:10

That's really impressive, actually. All the blood is gone.

SPEAKER_07 1:48:14

Ike. In the river, as you're kind of washing yourself and wading through, trying to figure out what that smell could have be could have been, uh, you start to feel movement around your feet.

SPEAKER_12 1:48:28

Oh look down.

SPEAKER_07 1:48:34

Now that everyone's gone, I can unroll this we found the highlight.

SPEAKER_14 1:48:41

That's what's been up to. What do you want to know about?

SPEAKER_18 1:48:51

That's why I walk so slow.

SPEAKER_19 1:48:55

You should have seen him as a horse. It's smaller.

SPEAKER_08 1:49:01

Joanna Joanna knows why he went outside. Um we'll look down into the river. He's he just thinks it's probably a fish or a snake, perhaps. And you're right.

SPEAKER_07 1:49:15

Uh a family of carp uh on their way through the river. Uh kind of swim around your legs. We'll try and catch one. Uh all right.

SPEAKER_18 1:49:27

Make a they're a family.

SPEAKER_07 1:49:30

Make an unarmed strike attack for me, please. Unarmed strike. Unless you want to use your cane.

SPEAKER_01 1:49:36

Yeah, I do.

SPEAKER_07 1:49:38

Go for it. Just smack!

SPEAKER_12 1:49:40

Yep.

SPEAKER_08 1:49:41

Exactly. Yeah, swapping a fish. Oh, that's gonna miss.

SPEAKER_12 1:49:46

It's like it's like swapping a fish in a river.

SPEAKER_08 1:49:49

How about a three?

SPEAKER_07 1:49:51

Oh my god. Uh you just you slap uh and the uh the water. uh just splashes up uh and uh the fish swim away. Um a couple seconds later um another fish, another carp comes and swims up and hits you in the leg and you look down and this is the biggest carp you have ever seen. It is like a four foot long carp that just slams into the side of your leg uh almost buckling your knee.

SPEAKER_08 1:50:33

Oh he's still I have a better chance of hitting it. Okay. Fuck that's a 10 to hit that'll hit a fucking 10 magic fish you never know you never know it's a magic fish natural fish.

SPEAKER_18 1:50:55

It's an armor cart blinking magic.

SPEAKER_07 1:50:59

Oh perfect well I can't minimum damage. Uh so you smack uh and immediately it turns sideways and starts to float I will pick it up by the tail get dressed and walk back to camp turn and see Mike holding a carp uh somehow nearly the size of him breakfast that is gigantic that's not right.

SPEAKER_08 1:51:34

This is this is very strange. This is definitely not right I've never seen one this large before and I've fished a lot so dry it out and save it for our lunch.

SPEAKER_17 1:51:47

Should I make can I make like a medicine check?

SPEAKER_07 1:51:50

Arcana check to see the channel check uh a nature check uh an arcana check medicine check yeah well not an inside check right now just a thought a history check I could even give you 13 medicine check nineteen as a nature check to determine what a hellcoming carb is this nineteen on a medicine check I'd like that twenty on a whatever check you gotta tell me uh let's say history because I think I'm gonna no I know this fish I remember you I raised this fish as a young fish I wouldn't be surprised if that you raised this fish uh Joanna is upset because I wanna got a better medicine check than she did she I wrote an 11 okay he's feeling really uh happy about that fishy listen I grew up in a pork town I know fish that's a rather rat studying it naturally as I'm cutting it open to gut it and everything. Um okay so the nature check I'll do first this certainly is very very large for a carp you've never seen one this size um and thinking back to when you were in the river and you saw this family of carp the normal size ones you this flips a switch in your mind to think okay maybe those regular size ones were the babies and this was the mom following um you also notice um and on the medicine check you would also notice this uh that the carp is unnaturally has uh a black strip kind of going up along the sides of it um so it's kind of uh half black half uh normal like light carp colored uh like that light tan um which is strange on the medicine check this uh carp was likely uh poisoned and on the history check you remember reading about um the or hearing about the uh the carp being overfished in the northern part of the river of Shaba uh by orcs who used large nets uh to fish a bunch of them um and then they just began to grow so large uh that the orcs then instead of trying to use nets which were breaking from how large the carp were getting they started to use poison poisoning the river so that they would die and they could just fish them up. I guess you like your human side better which originally he didn't know which in turn turned the carp black and more aggressive on continuing on that medicine check this the carp is not fully black so it is not fully poisonous you it would be safe enough to eat um and what'd you get in your Arcana check? Good because I didn't have any more information it's just a big ass carb do you relay this information to the group of course what do you just terrible poor thing continue to gut skin it debone it a little holding off otherwise you just eat your the rations that you have yeah we can fucking eat it now. Dry around you cooking it setting up a fire and everything drying it out yeah dry it out for later I'm sure it can feed us all. I need everyone to make a perception check on that don't mean like that one natural ten five seventeen nice seventeen as well okay on those three fails oh you guys do not notice a pack of wolves sneaking around the forest as they smell this uh this fish roasting at the fire until they are close enough um and you start to look around the two of you uh Joanna and Hodge uh peer over your shoulders and see these wolves twenty feet away surrounding you at the center of a campfire feet is for a whole meal and a half Ike well one second roll initiative Joanna and Hodge will get advantage uh Val Mike and Orion will get disadvantage disadvantage no hey that's not terrible worse 14 14 14 14 14 burn that 14 14 Val six not bad not bad not bad Hodge 22 Joanna Orion my goodness you're you're rolling hot tonight yeah at 20 wolves I think before that though she's like a total of what the way you cleaned out was actually really impressive if if after this you want like a job in Portland they could use you. Um excellent I would love to see the world and see where you're from I don't know that much but I've never seen the ocean oh we're gonna bang this out let's go on some wolves we've dealt with wolves are you guys okay to not as I love it's always up to you with the with the Orion can speak with animals and ask if they would like some of our fish longer I guess right stuff probably oh yeah I can also I think it's I just have one spell I think yeah all right Hodge will be up first you look around and you see five wolves surrounding the party I'd love to see Ike is roasting fish fish.

SPEAKER_04 1:58:46

We're watching Ike roast the fish the little silver bell I carry on my belt that's normally soundless. As we walk and hike and ride you can't really hear jingle. There's a little as you ringing your bell I don't that your trinket yes the one that I won't tell you when there's winning trivia gives me a bonus to my initiative roll sweeps um my bell my silver bell that's my father don't spread out turn and I will cast um magic missile and I'll direct uh all three bolts to this one here how much damage it'll be three four plus three little four three nice um eight eleven fourteen points of force damage how do you want to do this um the bell jingles and I whip around and almost instinctively a magic missile fires out from the palm of my hand and um pierces like through the force bolts pierce through each side of the the wolf and kind of like a dull wet thunk as its body falls.

SPEAKER_07 2:00:22

The wolves all gathered around you start to snarl and immediately you turn around guided by your bell and shoot out these three magic missiles and the one falls dead immediately and the other ones uh flinch for a second and then go back to their snarls.

SPEAKER_08 2:00:40

Uh they are all going to charge in at um the one with the least amount of armor uh which looks to be Ike uh okay because he's naked no put the puncho on the battery yet uh so three of them uh run around to Ike uh they're each gonna take a bite attack reaction uh that's a nat 20 reaction please so I'm gonna cast uh spiny shield uh so ethereal badge barrier spikes made of magical force interposes itself between me and my attacker I guess attackers in this case uh when I am hit by a melee attack barrier reduces the damage by 2d4 and deals the same amount of piercing damage to the attacker and I also get a plus two bonus to my AC I would like to Silvery bar for the nat 20 however okay so is is that so I'll re-roll that but is that for just the one attack or is that for every concurrent attack on that turn?

SPEAKER_07 2:02:09

So it lasts until my next turn fuck so that's gonna get all three of them as they they all three of them have committed to biting you.

SPEAKER_08 2:02:16

That is so you immediately doing this yeah pop that up the Nat 20 is gonna get re-rolled that's a dirty 20 okay so my AC is now 18 a 20 a 21 and a 21 brother my goodness I'll give you the advanced so I will uh I can re give me the damage for the first one uh oh I can't tell um the first one is four piercing damage and you are knocked prone.

SPEAKER_07 2:02:57

Okay I will take no damage and it so okay here's the thing reduces the damage I am dealt by two d4 I rolled two fours so it doesn't take I don't take any damage but it will then take eight damage nice yep let me come over and read it real quick that's what it that's what it sounds like that's crazy so eight damage as a reaction well I rolled double fours yeah uh fuck uh so that one's bloody great next damage six I will take no damage and it will take eight piercing damage what the two fours again uh damn all right and the last one you look like a fucking portrait mine right now you said three damage I will take no damage it will take six piercing damage damn okay so as they charge at me so all three of those are bloody uh as they charge at me I will hit my staff on my onto my shield and from it it grows into like almost a great shield and thorns like a good eight inches long just protrude out of it as they try and get me fuck uh just in time as they are all sprinting after you and leaping uh seeing you uh as the less armored target uh did not predict that you would produce armor out of uh magic immediately upon being attacked the one remaining one could not reach you Ike so they're going for Orion who is right next to you. There's a 14 hit.

SPEAKER_16 2:05:00

No.

SPEAKER_07 2:05:01

It runs up to you and you manage to uh either dodge out of the way or redirect its mouth uh away from you uh that'll bring it to Ike with three bloody wolves uh spiked uh just moments ago so the shield will disappear now because it is technically my next turn right even though it's my first turn I wanted to ask about that um it says it lasts until the end of your turn or the beginning last year lasts uh until my next turn yeah so it dissipates okay got it I thought so what can I do here can I um bonus action if I took a reaction yeah okay all right bonus action and I'm gonna hit the one right behind me that did that's eight oh yeah that's gonna hit fat 24 damage 24 damage I mean 24 to hit oh okay just kidding no let's see if I crit get in my trick I don't uh okay and that's going to be uh eight damage how do you want to do this split its pretty head opium uh uh they are quickly uh being taken out um and dealt with Joanna um I'm going to fire a guiding vault that I'm gonna try to flashbang the one behind Orion Okay yeah protect your man what that is a 23 to hit Mike's so mad he didn't see me a red season all the time uh 15 readings uh how do you want to do this um because she also saw the wolves with Hodge um as soon as he turns she also turns and just tracks the one that's coming for him and kind of similar similarly to Hodge the guiding bolt comes out of her hand before she even knows what it's happening. You see it's its entire right side of its body is seared by this radiant damage uh and it falls to the ground uh right next to Orion uh Val um is Linda a great axe plus one so yes all right then I'm gonna hit him oh yeah does a 21 hit yeah that's right fucking level two let's go uh thirteen points a daily how do you wanna do this um I just wanna go for the neck like Linda told me what uh you hear Linda goes holy shit you and her combine to lop the head off this wolf Linda's bloodlust guys love it's good for me just wait till she gets an extra attack all right Orion uh one left very hurt next to you dagger please yeah that's a two what the fuck table top table top stable top five with exactly five HP how do you want to do this um I stab it in the eye nice uh you see you stab it in the eye uh and it just slowly closes its eyes as it falls dead now surrounded by five dead wolves the carp uh still fine did not burn in the six seconds it took for you to kill uh one round of combat you guys successfully kill all five of these wolves as they surround you we all got a piece of the pie too amazing should we um have wolf for dinner can you eat lunch and maybe we should make jerky wolf steak is that is that a thing you can do that uh yes you can make you can make a steak out of just about any meat so true shiitake mushroom do I know would I know that no actually portabella portabella so uh I'm going to eat it your religion yes what's I was raised in the Saluna temple temple the moon maiden very much Joanna is wide eyed because she's like I thought we weren't gonna I thought we weren't gonna talk about this I thought you didn't want people to know this is this is great news O'Rion the Moon Maiden guides to better places as it guided me in to find leaves abode she guides everyone else to me all the more reason to eat these walls don't worry you just have to let her in that makes it bad you've been you seem too closed off my brother perhaps he is right she's perhaps it's not your responsibility to reach out to your God and worship her she would find them yes I think she might sense a reluctance in you to fully see and worship her and perhaps she doesn't

SPEAKER_08 2:12:00

Like that.

SPEAKER_09 2:12:08

We like you. We like you.

SPEAKER_18 2:12:12

He shuts the fuck up. We do. We all do.

SPEAKER_17 2:12:18

Thank you, Hodge.

SPEAKER_18 2:12:21

I guess uh we didn't record the part where uh Orion talked about his religion, but he prays the Saluna very often because he was raised in the temple and she never responds to him. Yeah. So he sees everybody else in the temple get their prayers answered and his never do.

SPEAKER_08 2:12:49

Perhaps there is a darkness within you that not even the moon can shine through. But I hope that we can shed some of that light in here.

SPEAKER_18 2:13:04

I don't need God to tell me who I am.

SPEAKER_09 2:13:08

No, of course not. But we need each other. I'm glad you're here.

SPEAKER_18 2:13:19

He doesn't know how to respond to that, so he just nods.

SPEAKER_08 2:13:25

He knows. He just wants them to hear it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_16 2:13:27

Is he standing like kind of how we are, our minis are? Like, is he close to me?

SPEAKER_17 2:13:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_16 2:13:34

She'll kind of whisper.

SPEAKER_17 2:13:37

I told you they want to talk to you too.

SPEAKER_04 2:13:41

He doesn't say anything to that either. Even the brightest light casts a shadow.

SPEAKER_18 2:13:50

Oh. Guys, Lily wants to respond, but Orion wouldn't.

SPEAKER_00 2:13:54

Orion's like, stop.

SPEAKER_10 2:14:02

Leave me alone. God, this is what I was worried about.

SPEAKER_02 2:14:06

Zuko getting sick.

SPEAKER_17 2:14:10

Um, and Joanna, what kind of sweat this out, Zuko? She'll kind of look at Ike a little bit. Like, she wants so badly to tell somebody that they like she actually talked to him. So she'll just kind of give him after Orion kind of shuts down, she'll just give Ike a look of like badly covered, like, wow, I didn't know that was gonna happen.

SPEAKER_08 2:14:29

He'll give Joanna like a little like, yeah, it's alright. It's coming. We're getting there.

SPEAKER_09 2:14:38

Alright, everybody, we need to leave Orion alone for a while. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 2:14:42

Reset the social battery.

SPEAKER_09 2:14:44

Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_18 2:14:45

He is gonna kind of walk away and just be amongst himself for a little bit.

SPEAKER_19 2:14:48

As I says, bang, bang. He starts stabbing the grass.

SPEAKER_18 2:14:55

I'm going to my room.

SPEAKER_09 2:14:58

Right, we have to go.

SPEAKER_18 2:14:59

Shut up cube.

SPEAKER_16 2:15:02

Drew a craft.

SPEAKER_13 2:15:04

Oh, I want to tell him so bad.

SPEAKER_17 2:15:06

I want to talk so bad that they talk.

SPEAKER_08 2:15:09

Um he's as silent as the grave.

SPEAKER_17 2:15:18

Uh Ryan's never had friends before. She doesn't care. She doesn't care. As soon as he leaves, she's gonna go.

SPEAKER_05 2:15:27

What?

unknown 2:15:28

Okay.

SPEAKER_17 2:15:29

So it's strictly between you and me, okay? Because if he finds out, I think he might actually kill me.

unknown 2:15:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_17 2:15:36

Probably, yes.

SPEAKER_16 2:15:37

As she's to not make O'Rion suspicious because she doesn't know if he's watching them still. She's standing next to Ike but not looking at him. She's talking forward.

SPEAKER_17 2:15:48

Last night during our watch, um he actually talked to me.

SPEAKER_09 2:15:54

Did he?

unknown 2:15:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_17 2:15:55

What did he say? I knew about the selenat thing. Well, I guess the silo net thing uh based off of his clothing. And uh he he was asking me questions about uh my sister. And I I knew about his brother too, so I had to pretend like I didn't hear that before. Um but yeah, it was it was weird.

SPEAKER_09 2:16:16

That's that's great progress.

SPEAKER_17 2:16:18

We had like a nice conversation.

SPEAKER_09 2:16:21

That's wonderful news.

SPEAKER_17 2:16:22

And he told me not to tell anybody, but I couldn't keep it in anymore.

SPEAKER_09 2:16:25

I will not tell us all.

SPEAKER_17 2:16:27

Okay, thank you. Because I think he might actually try to kill me if he finds out that I told anybody. But he has his whole thing to keep up. So but he was it was nice. He asked questions and seemed like he actually listened and I learned a little bit about him. Um that I will still keep between us, but of course, yes. He asked to see her picture, so I showed him my locket. He stared at it for a little too long, I don't know what that was about, but um Well, your sister is she's very beautiful.

SPEAKER_11 2:17:02

Yeah. But I don't know. It was nice, but I I don't know.

SPEAKER_08 2:17:10

He takes a liking to you and he feels he feels comfortable and safe around you.

SPEAKER_17 2:17:14

That's so hard to believe. Based off of literally everything he's ever said.

SPEAKER_08 2:17:19

Maybe it's the attitude you dish back.

SPEAKER_17 2:17:22

Well, I'm not gonna I'm a nice person, I but I'm not like I grew up around sailors. I'm not gonna just, you know, let somebody push my buttons and not say anything back.

SPEAKER_09 2:17:31

Of course, yeah.

SPEAKER_17 2:17:32

But I think maybe, hopefully he knows that I do genuinely want to help him, even if he's impossible to work with sometimes.

SPEAKER_09 2:17:43

Deep down he does. But something something in him. It's deep within him. I want to fish it out so badly, but it must be on his terms.

SPEAKER_17 2:17:58

Yeah. Yeah, there seems to definitely be, even with the little bit he's opened up, there certainly is a limit because at a certain point he did just get up mid-conversation and walk away from me.

SPEAKER_08 2:18:09

He's done that before.

SPEAKER_17 2:18:11

But I took the hint. I took the hint, I let it go. But I don't know. I kinda It was kinda nice being the person that he came to, even though I thought he hated me and still thinks I still think he might a little.

SPEAKER_08 2:18:27

But I'm wondering why he has not had prayers answered, even though he has devoted time to speaking with the mood maiden.

SPEAKER_10 2:18:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 2:18:40

I don't often speak to the mood maiden unless it is a I suppose a dire need or a question that I fear only she could guide me to the answer.

SPEAKER_11 2:18:52

But I don't know.

SPEAKER_08 2:18:54

Something is there's a barrier between them.

unknown 2:18:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 2:18:58

We could find out what it is and hopefully break it down because she is a benevolent voice.

SPEAKER_17 2:19:05

Yeah, he didn't mention anything last night about not getting prayers answered, but I would have told him, like, look, I I've never directly heard my God's voice. I mean, yeah, sure, I guess.

SPEAKER_09 2:19:18

You typically don't.

SPEAKER_17 2:19:19

Prayers amount of been granted. I can't really prove it, I guess. I don't know. I'm hoping to figure that out, but I don't Yeah. I don't think anybody's ever been spoken directly to No, uh I for sure haven't.

SPEAKER_09 2:19:37

But I don't know.

SPEAKER_08 2:19:42

I don't know. But as best we'd be off in case more wolves come.

SPEAKER_13 2:19:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 2:19:50

We'll leave these here so they can feast upon their bone pack or whatever and hopefully serve as a warning.

SPEAKER_11 2:19:57

Um, should we get him out of the tree?

SPEAKER_00 2:20:00

It's time to go, Ryan.

SPEAKER_18 2:20:03

Yeah, he'll he'll come come down, but he's gonna kind of keep his distance a little bit.

SPEAKER_17 2:20:09

And she's gonna loudly overcompensate so he doesn't think that that's what she was talking about. Yeah, Ike, the carp looks great. I think it'll be good, and we should definitely try those wolf steak things that you were talking about. I think that'll uh sustain it. Orion fell. I think I fell out of the tree. I think it'll be the letters check. I think it'll sustain us for a while. Oh hey, you're back. We should go.

SPEAKER_18 2:20:32

He walks past everybody and he just starts leading everyone out.

SPEAKER_15 2:20:38

Orion, we're going the other way.

SPEAKER_07 2:20:43

Ike, are you turning into a horse for the travel?

SPEAKER_08 2:20:46

I will turn into the horse for one hour.

SPEAKER_07 2:20:49

All right. Um as you make your way further up the trail, you are going to where towards where you uh took your morning bath in the river. Uh and as a horse, the smell, the smell that that sweet smell that you that sweet smelly smell that you smell um smells smelly is uh becomes uh like tantalizing.

SPEAKER_09 2:21:25

Do you do the rest of you smell this?

SPEAKER_07 2:21:28

Your you can uh the those of you that are riding on horse well, everyone's riding on horse, uh, feel uh your horses begin to pull at the reins forward towards this scent, uh and uh their their ears kind of like pricked forward uh with a natural obsessive interest in whatever is this smell, and you feel yourself uh Oh, Lelly. Like this this insatiable urge to excuse me. This insatiable urge to find this scent.

SPEAKER_08 2:22:05

I'm like trying to shake off the smell.

SPEAKER_04 2:22:07

Are you okay? It's can we smell it as humans?

SPEAKER_07 2:22:12

You smell a bit of a sweet smell, but it's hard to tell what it is, and it's very hard to tell why the horses are so interested in it. I'll start to like walk faster, a little faster towards it.

SPEAKER_10 2:22:24

Okay.

SPEAKER_07 2:22:25

Um you start to smell the sauce um this sweet uh like honey uh scent uh mixed with this like musk uh smell. Yeah, as you uh as you continue into this forest drawn uh drawn towards a dense thicket uh of soot-colored fern in the forest.

SPEAKER_19 2:22:56

Uh ferns?

SPEAKER_07 2:22:58

Mm-hmm. Oh, uh as you continue, your horses pulling you, and Ike Ike, you are just unable to stop your curiosity and interest in this. Um if everyone wants to try to fight their horses, they can. It's gonna be hard because the uh horses are very strong. I'll try. You wheel in Ikea. I'll try to stop Ike. Make either an animal handling check or a uh athletics check to try to physically you can either try to ease your horse uh or you can try to physically pull it.

SPEAKER_18 2:23:29

My animal handling is plus three. My two. Nineteen oh mama. One.

SPEAKER_17 2:23:35

Oh cool. That one. Oh shit. Uh 22. I guess I'm going first.

SPEAKER_07 2:23:42

Okay. That was a strength. Yours was a strength check. Did anyone make strength?

unknown 2:23:46

Okay.

SPEAKER_07 2:23:46

I did. You okay. You did.

SPEAKER_19 2:23:49

They're both equally terrible.

SPEAKER_07 2:23:51

Okay. And you guys made animal handling 22. Um, okay. So the two of you, uh Orion and uh Joanna, Jesus Christ. Uh I almost called you Val. Um are trying to kind of like listen in to what they're what your horses are feeling in this moment to try and understand them, to stalk them. Um I'm just describing it. This feels like a biological compulsion and not a magical one. This doesn't feel fay. It feels uh like whatever this scent is, there's like this biological thing that has flipped a switch in your horses' minds. The two of you, uh, as you try to manually just pull the reins, uh, your horses kick back uh and tip you off and begin to dash towards this scent.

SPEAKER_18 2:24:47

Um I'm going while this is happening, I'm going to Druid craft um a different scent in front of my horse's nose.

SPEAKER_07 2:24:56

Good idea. Okay. What what scent?

SPEAKER_18 2:25:00

Um carrots.

SPEAKER_07 2:25:03

Okay. Uh you see it its ears kind of relax and and its muscles, uh, the tension in its muscles as it was like uh sort of like creeping forward, like seeing what this smell was. It wanted to go off, but you are kind of like calming it down a little bit. You cast this spell and it's its muscles release the tension. Uh the horse at uh Hodge and Val's horses go darting off. Um but your horse calms down as Ike Ike as you are communicating your feelings back and forth with uh with Joanna, uh you sort of calm yourself down. You still like your eyes, nose, and ears are locked in on this, but you do not have the urge to just dart away. Um so the two horses that you guys are on are fine. Your your friends have just been knocked off of their horses, uh, so you can pick them up and bring them on to hike and your horse.

SPEAKER_18 2:26:03

Can I take Hodge?

SPEAKER_07 2:26:04

Yeah, sure.

SPEAKER_18 2:26:06

Can you guys get back up?

SPEAKER_02 2:26:09

That oinks me up onto the horse. Oh my god. What would you like to do? Girls on one, boys on the other.

SPEAKER_08 2:26:14

Uh see these black ferns. Yeah. I would like to make a I would like to inspect them naturally. Alright.

SPEAKER_16 2:26:21

Make an extra naturally naturally naturally.

SPEAKER_07 2:26:25

Natural 20 for 26. Nice. These I can do this because I'm worried.

SPEAKER_13 2:26:35

That's true.

SPEAKER_07 2:26:36

Because I'm awesome. As you inspect the ferns, um and get and get closer to them. It's the Lord of the Rings reference, by the way. Oh.

SPEAKER_12 2:26:45

Well, actually. Are you still a horse right now?

SPEAKER_07 2:26:48

I am. Okay. As you inspect the ferns uh with your nose and eyes as a horse, um you get closer and the scent grows stronger. Um and then you are able to look over and you see this massive felled oak tree uh shimmering with a wet, iridescent sheen that you are drawn to uh even stronger. Uh the ground around it is pitted with deep trenches filled with damp leaves and decayed branches. Thousands of giant harvester termites, some the size of house cats, scuttle over the wood. You see piles of crushed white shells littering the edges of the pits like bleached bone. Um you on that nature check uh recognize this as the territory and the den of a Cormanthian owlbear. And that's where we're gonna end our session. Oh shit. Oh no.

SPEAKER_18 2:28:05

Can I make it, my friend? What happens if our horses die? How much money do we owe?

SPEAKER_04 2:28:11

Because we are gonna lie. None because we're returned.

SPEAKER_02 2:28:15

We have to go back to that town.

SPEAKER_04 2:28:17

We'll sneak it.

SPEAKER_07 2:28:18

Awesome, guys. Holy shit.

SPEAKER_13 2:28:22

Oh my god, I will be too much. That's a riot, bro.

SPEAKER_07 2:28:30

Join us next week as we uh either fight or flee. Or befriend this owl bear.

SPEAKER_18 2:28:39

What?

SPEAKER_07 2:28:40

You're gonna say as we learn more about this owl bear den next episode, and possibly find the Library of Lechantos.

SPEAKER_14 2:28:54

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_07 2:28:55

Let's go chunky in episode five of the Dale Lands Campaign.

SPEAKER_19 2:29:00

Wow.

SPEAKER_18 2:29:00

Alrighty, that's crazy.

SPEAKER_17 2:29:02

Thank you so much for listening to the Chaotic Naturals Podcast. You can find us on all of our socials at Chaotic Naturals or send us an email to chaotic naturals at gmail.com. New episodes of the Dale Lands campaign every Wednesday. Find us wherever you listen to podcasts.