EE-2-12 - Tonight is for Celebrating

SUMMARY

Having defeated the gnoll leader, Grimfang, the party and the dwarven Blackguard make their way out of the forest. Ariel has chosen to safeguard the spear the he wielded personally. As everyone sets up camp to rest before returning to the village of Starren, Adriel makes her way around the group, sharing some of her dwarden, and congratulating everyone on a job well done.

After returning to the village, the part meets up with Ulyean, the captain of the Blackguard, to discuss the events that had transpired, as well as divide up their spoils. He also gives the party two letters. One that essentially buys them the horse and cart from the travel company that they had been renting, and one that tells the Guild Masters in Riven about what the party has done in the region.

Their day ends with the party having a small celebration at Lift’s Rest, the local tavern, though each celebrates in their own way, and not all of them seem cheerful.

SHOW SPONSORS

This episode is brought to you by Gabe and Jeff, over at Inter-Party Conflict, Chaiikaii, Fred on Fyre, Evora Dawn, Zach B, and Dungeons and Randomness. If you'd like to join them in supporting the show, consider joining our Patreon.

SHOUT OUTS

Gonna Geek Network – This episode marks our first as part of the Gonna Geek Network! I discovered the Gonna Geek Network through the show Better Podcasting, which has helped me learn a lot about making the show that we make today. I have been friends with the hosts for some time and have branched out into listening to a few other shows on the network like The Gonna Geek Show and Just One More Fix. This has been a long time coming and we are so happy to be welcomed into their group of shows!

CAST

Damian - The DM

Chris - Rem

Christa - Ariel

Chantalle - Kenina

Caitlin - Tempest

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MUSIC

A huge thank you to all of the musicians who allow us to use their work. If you are interested in learning about them, check out our Music Page.

Fimbulwinter – Vindsvept (Intro)

Tavern Loop One – Serpent Sound Studios (1:18)

Elven Glade – Tabletop Audio (1:53)

Campfire at Dusk – Michael Ghelfi (5:02)

Forest Nighttime – Michael Ghelfi (6:27)

The Spaces Between – Scott Buckley (6:32)

Campfire at Dusk – Michael Ghelfi (8:54)

Absolution – Scott Buckley (9:12)

Filaments – Scott Buckley (12:51)

Petrichor – Scott Buckley (18:08)

Casual Theme #2 – Andy SV (21:28)

Midsommar – Scott Buckley (22:27)

Daytime Forest – Michael Ghelfi (24:07)

[Exploration] Mystical Place (Loop 2) – Audio Alchemist (24:17)

Daytime Forest – Michael Ghelfi (28:39)

Rising Sun – Raft (29:13)

Rising Sun – Raft (29:55)

Rising Sun – Raft (31:46)

Through the Woods We Ran – Vindsvept (32:55)

Countryside – Michael Ghelfi (33:22)

Blacksmith – Michael Ghelfi (34:06)

Sacred Places – JDB Music (35:35)

Thunder Dreams – Incomeptech (37:50)

Thunder Dreams – Incomeptech (39:51)

Vinterns Drom – Adrian von Ziegler (42:04)

Medieval Library – Tabletop Audio (45:13)

Long Stroll – Incompetech (48:01)

The Things That Bind Us Together – Scott Buckley (49:29)

Forest Nighttime – Michael Ghelfi (56:54)

Melodic Interlude – Serpent Sound Studios (58:45)

Quiet Tavern – Michael Ghelfi (59:59)

Song of the Forest Folk – Vindsvept (1:00:21)

Casual Theme #2 – Andy SV (1:03:03)

Happy Place – Serpent Sound Studios (1:05:20)

Leaving for Valhalla – Serpent Sound Studios (1:07:05)

Filaments – Scott Buckley (1:10:05)

Pegleg Pete – Derek & Brandon Fiechter (1:13:55)

Ascension – Scott Buckley (1:15:29)

She Remained – JDB Artist (1:20:13)

Murn for the Past – JDB Artist (1:21:01)

Lady Winter – JDB Artist (1:22:15)

Reunion – JDB Artist (1:23:11)

Love Story – Andy SV (1:24:44)

Last Stand – Vindsvept (Outro)

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

This episode of Adventures in Aurelia is brought to you by Gabe and Jeff from Interparty Conflict, Chai Kai, Fred on Fire, Avoradon, Dungeons and Ramness, and Mike K on Patreon. You can join them in supporting the show at Patreon.com slash Adventures in Aurelia.

SPEAKER_09 0:19

I'm Steven John Drew from the official GunageGeek.com show, a weekly Geek News podcast that is a part of the Gunage Network. Just like the show you're checking out now. Shows on the network are individually owned, and opinions expressed may not reflect others. Find other awesome Geeky shows at Gunageeknetwork.com.

SPEAKER_01 1:02

I'm Damien, and I'm the Dungeon Master.

SPEAKER_07 1:05

I'm Krista and I play as Ariel, an Asmar sorcerer.

SPEAKER_00 1:10

I'm Chris and I play Rim, a human paladin.

SPEAKER_04 1:13

I'm Chantel, and I play Kanina, a Tiefling sorceress. I'm Caitlyn, I play Tempest, a Water Genasi Ranger.

SPEAKER_01 1:21

Previously, on Adventures in Aurelia's Aurelian Epic, our heroes agreed to help the dwarven blackguard slay Grimfang, a leader of a band of gnolls that have been causing trouble on the Norgeld Road. After some tactical planning, the combined group ambushed the gnolls in their camp, wiping them out. They were able to retrieve Grimfang's spear, which could be felt to give off an extremely negative magical energy. Ariel, the Asmar sorceress, has taken it upon herself to safeguard the spear as they bring it back to the Guild Hall in Riven. Our story continues as the party begins their journey along the Norgeld Road back to the village of Sterin. For the sake slightly of brevity tonight, we will pick up with the party and the Dwarven Blackguard having made their way to the road again, making their way from the woods where they fought Grimfang out back to the road. It'll be, let's say, 7 p.m. ish on the 31st of Bellanus. So you're entering mid-evening.

SPEAKER_07 2:32

Um Ariel is feeling a little bit uncomfortable because she had taken her cloak off in order to wrap up the spear. And she's used that's like her comfort blanket.

SPEAKER_01 2:42

So Ariel is carrying the spear that Grim Fang wielded with her on this journey back. So as you guys make your way to the road, kind of what what do you guys think is going through the party's head at this moment? You didn't have any issues on your way back.

SPEAKER_04 3:03

Yeah, I guess there's a big sense of relief that we've defeated this great foe and all of us are okay. You know, Kenina is very much uh glad that we all made it out and that everyone is safe, and we've also, you know, helped protect this area now from a threat that was attacking the roads and travelers to and from.

SPEAKER_06 3:23

So Tempest is just impressed with everyone that we got out relatively unscathed because we were expecting people to die.

SPEAKER_04 3:36

But yeah, I suppose on our way back, you know, um, you said we had no troubles, you know. Kenina's still pretty much on alert. I think she's still very hyped up from the battle, especially now that she knows she's uh used up majority of her her spells, so she's kind of a little bit still on edge, you know, keeping her eyes out.

SPEAKER_06 3:51

Who knows if we're gonna run into like more scouting parties on our way back?

SPEAKER_04 3:55

She's still on alert for scouting parties because she knows that's what we've run into in the past, and we can't guarantee all the gnolls in the forest were at that one camp. Exactly, but they haven't gotten the memo yet.

SPEAKER_07 4:05

They're gonna come back to their camp and then just book it after our scent.

SPEAKER_00 4:10

Possible. We don't know if there were scouting parties out when we were attacking the base.

SPEAKER_01 4:16

So let's pick up as the party sets up for camp that night. You guys had tied up the horses that you rode out um somewhere, so kind of that would be the point that you guys are heading to as you leave the forest. So you guys make your way over to the horses. They are okay, they're alive, they're happy to see you guys, since they've basically spent the last day tied up with some grass to eat and not really knowing what's gonna happen to them after that. So let's bring it in as you guys approach these horses and start getting ready for some form of camp.

SPEAKER_07 4:55

Well, you know what Ariel's gonna do. She's gonna pull out some carrots and make sure that those horses are happy.

SPEAKER_04 5:04

I suppose Kenina will probably set up a fire, as is usual for her.

SPEAKER_06 5:09

Tempest is gonna stretch out next to that fire and promptly fall asleep.

SPEAKER_01 5:15

And uh Adriel is gonna dig back into her pack one last time and uh fish out a bottle that she has had wrapped up in there. Pop the cork off. And uh you know, I said that uh hopefully we would be finishing this tonight. Takes a swig and hands it off to Tempest. And if she notices that Tempest is already kind of going to sleep, nudge her with the bottle. Tonight's for celebrating, don't you think?

SPEAKER_05 5:50

I suppose I could stay up for a bit longer.

unknown 5:52

Tempest.

SPEAKER_04 5:55

Yeah, it was a good job all around.

SPEAKER_01 5:59

Uh, you know, the horses could probably take us back tonight, but I don't know about you guys, but I'm beat.

SPEAKER_04 6:06

Yeah, I'm really tired. Yeah, I think we're all still kind of uh worn out from that. Both the journey and the attacks. A lot of excitement.

SPEAKER_06 6:15

A lot of emotional uh expenditure.

SPEAKER_00 6:19

The staff that uh we found, how tall is it? Um I mean, like is it like a big walking cane? Is it you're talking like Gandalf staff? Closer closer to Gandalf staff than uh than walking cane. Rem's probably just kind of standing there, still holding it but facing the the forest and kind of staring off into it.

SPEAKER_01 6:39

Adriel brings the bottle over to Rem. You know we killed him. Whatcha looking at?

SPEAKER_00 6:46

Yeah. We got rid of this one. What about the next?

SPEAKER_01 6:51

Oh, you're worried about a next already, huh?

SPEAKER_00 6:54

Well, tends to be when you remove one threat, another threat then finds its way in.

SPEAKER_01 7:02

Well, hopefully the gnolls won't be able to organize quite the same as they did this last time. And uh, she she looks up at you. You turned it down before you gonna take a drink tonight? The battle's over. Well, if uh if something else does show up, hopefully it won't be able to get such the foothold that it had last time. And if it does, well I guess we know we have allies in the guild now. Which kinda pat you on the back of the the quad sink. And enjoy staring into the woods. I'll leave you with your silence. And Adriel walks away.

SPEAKER_07 7:51

I think uh Ariel's gonna go over to Rem. What you looking at? You did you did good. I mean, this was your plan. Uh you you are the one that created what we were supposed to do and all that.

SPEAKER_00 8:15

There was some luck and definitely had a lot of help from from all of you. I'm just glad that uh nobody got seriously hurt.

SPEAKER_07 8:26

Well, good job. I think it's thanks to you that we're all, you know, alive and stuff. We could have did a completely different plan and it could have failed.

SPEAKER_00 8:39

But everybody, everybody had a reason that we're we're all here.

SPEAKER_07 8:44

Yeah. But thank you. And then it got awkward, so she's gonna walk away.

SPEAKER_01 8:55

And as this conversation was happening, Adriel was making her way over to Kanina.

SPEAKER_04 9:01

Yeah, Kanina's probably crouched over by the fire. She probably also has a thoughtful look on her face, and she's just kind of stoking it with a stick, the campfire light just reflecting off her yellow eyes.

SPEAKER_01 9:10

Now, just just so I can visualize the situation, is this a thing where like Kanina's kind of lost in the fire, just absent-mindedly poking away at it, or for the most part, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 9:21

Her her thoughts are definitely kind of heavy because sh she's not thinking exactly the same lines of you know Rem, like where another threat might pop up, but she's definitely thinking about the threats that are still out there in the world that they'll have to face in the future.

SPEAKER_01 9:34

Okay, so Adriel approaches. Um, we'll say that she's approaching from the side opposite Kanina, so she kinda sees sees this this like lost look in Kanina's face as she's just kind of poking at the fire, staring into it. And she uh kind of stands in front of you, leans a little bit and realizes that you're you're kinda lost. What are you thinking about Fire Girl?

SPEAKER_04 10:01

Oh, uh well, I've always found comfort from the flame, so I was just stoking up the fire while I was pondering over the battles the battles we've uh fought and the future battles that we might come across.

SPEAKER_01 10:19

Well, uh, you know, we did something great today. Uh tonight's a a cause for celebration, so how about you get a little uh fire in your belly? And she hands you the bottle that she's been carrying around to every member of the camp.

SPEAKER_04 10:33

Canina will stand up and throw her stoking stick into the fire and be like, yeah, you're right. That sounds like a great idea. She'll take the bottle to your good old swig.

SPEAKER_01 10:42

I don't know how uh how long we'll rest tonight, but I I'm eager to be home after today. I just I don't know that I could ride ride as hard as we did getting out here back after everything that we've gone through. So it's uh we'll take a rest tonight, but before resting, we should uh we should uh think about what we just went through. You know, say our own prayers to to those we pray to for the fact that we didn't lose anyone ourselves, you know. I came out with with my with my dwarves and you came out with with all your friends, and that's really all that we could hope for given what we what we were setting out to do. You know, something that something that they didn't think could be done, so and I I hazard to call it easily, because some of us came a little close there, but something that if they were willing to throw a throw a couple people that we would have been able to to handle on our own.

SPEAKER_04 11:48

Yeah, and I I thank you greatly for all of your help with this. It's just we couldn't have done it without you, and I'm certain that you would have run into troubles, you know, if we hadn't been there to back you up as well. So it's definitely a a joint effort on our part and taking down this threat that has uh been in the area for you guys. So Jill grasp her hand and shake it and just be like, honestly, thank you for your help. I couldn't have I couldn't have borne it if they're any of my companions were lost.

SPEAKER_01 12:17

And I I imagine as you kind of grasp her hand, um after a brief shake, her her response is to then reach in further to do that that hearty forearm hand grab.

SPEAKER_04 12:28

Kanina's grip is probably a little stronger than she expects.

SPEAKER_01 12:35

And uh you you see her take another another swig, and uh she stands up from where you were, scans around again, and uh sees Ariel walking back from her chat with Rem. And walks over to Ariel. Ah, so you went to go see what the the moody one's up to too, huh?

SPEAKER_07 12:58

Yeah, he was just looking off in the distance, so I just wanted to make sure he's okay.

SPEAKER_01 13:05

He's worried, but I think that he's probably reliving something that he's dealt with with his own past. But he doesn't know me and he doesn't want to talk about it. So I'm leaving things lie. He wants to reflect on his own for a little bit, that's that's his prerogative.

SPEAKER_07 13:29

Yeah, he's pretty quiet. We've been with him for a while and he doesn't really say much of his past at all.

SPEAKER_01 13:37

No. But I noticed him, uh when things get hairy and uh when someone needs to step up and take charge, he'll do it. He'll uh he he knows how to lead. And I'm sure you can rely on him for that going forward if uh if that's something that you need.

SPEAKER_07 13:57

Yep, I noticed that today. And I went and thanked him for it because his plan worked. We we conquered, we did it.

SPEAKER_01 14:07

Yeah, and we lost far less than I thought we were gonna lose, given how things were when we when we when we saw what was going on and with what the what the planes have been dealing with for these last few months.

SPEAKER_07 14:24

Yeah, I'm glad we were able to take care of these guys for you though.

SPEAKER_01 14:29

Tonight's a bit of a night for uh for celebrating, and uh, you know, I I said when we when we got out here that I was hoping we would be keeping the rest of this to finish after we were done. It's your turn to take another drink.

SPEAKER_08 14:46

What was this again?

SPEAKER_01 14:48

Uh it's uh it's uh Dwarden.

SPEAKER_07 14:52

Okay. And Ariel take a sip.

SPEAKER_01 14:56

And it's it's a strong liquor. The way that I'm going to play this is regardless of what you did previously, Adriel doesn't remember specifically. The only one that really stood out to her is Rem. So this this uh liquor that she hands you, it's essentially kind of and it's it's honestly probably closer to a vodka, even though I would want to say whiskey because they do tubers and potatoes and stuff. But it's got some real like hearty earth spices to it.

SPEAKER_07 15:32

So it like it's much stronger tasting than her mead and burns. So she's gonna like take a sip of and hand it back.

SPEAKER_01 15:45

It'll do it if uh that's it'll do it to you if uh if you're not used to it, that's why we call it dwarden.

SPEAKER_07 15:53

I think I've only really been I've only really had honey juice, which they call it something else, but I know it is honey juice.

SPEAKER_01 16:01

Oh you're probably thinking of meat, but if you want to call it honey juice and other people understand it, then that's that's your own your own thing.

SPEAKER_07 16:10

My friends do.

SPEAKER_01 16:12

And that's that's all that matters. If you know you're with some friends and they know what you're trying to say, that's all that really matters at the end of the day.

SPEAKER_07 16:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:20

Well, you know how he's feeling. How are you feeling after everything that that we've gone through today?

SPEAKER_07 16:28

Um honestly a little bit awkward because And like she like reaches back and touches the uh spear that's she's still like holding with her backpack, and uh with it being wrapped, I'm like, I usually am wearing my cloak, so I'm just feeling a little bit awkward, but besides that, I'm just really exhausted.

SPEAKER_01 16:52

Uh well I I think you're right to be cautious around that thing. Yeah. I don't know what that is, but that's that's not normal.

SPEAKER_07 17:01

I just remember last time we got a weapon off of uh a bad dude. We weren't really supposed to touch it, so I'm just trying to make sure we're careful again.

SPEAKER_01 17:12

Last time? Is this the is this a regular thing for you people?

SPEAKER_07 17:15

People like hiring us. We do a good job, I guess.

SPEAKER_01 17:19

Hiring you? You guys are being paid?

SPEAKER_07 17:22

Well, hiring in a way, like ask for help.

SPEAKER_01 17:26

I'm kidding, you know. We're gonna we're gonna split what we get and uh you know, whatever happens beyond that is up to you guys.

SPEAKER_07 17:37

But I'd I'd keep that thing under wraps if I were you, and uh I think I was planning on taking it back to Riven and having the guild leaders look at it.

SPEAKER_01 17:48

It's probably a good idea, they're gonna understand the magic a lot more than than anyone else that I could think of.

SPEAKER_07 17:55

Yeah, I mean I'm pretty good with Arcana, but not for this.

SPEAKER_01 18:01

Well, you have yourself a good night, and remember, we did a good thing today.

SPEAKER_07 18:07

Yeah, we did.

SPEAKER_01 18:09

And Adriel turns and heads back over to Tempest. You still awake over here?

SPEAKER_06 18:18

A bit.

SPEAKER_01 18:20

How are you feeling?

SPEAKER_06 18:24

I feel pretty damn good about this. We were you know really expecting the worst. And we're all still here. That's something to say. We ran into some of these fuckers when we got off the boat the first time on our way up here, and it was a wild ride. And uh I wasn't sure if that was the type of adventure that they had been feeding me, but Ah, so your your thing is you're after adventure, huh? Yeah, I saw a lot being on the water for so many years and figured it was time to to seek out some adventure on land. That's what they call it, right? Adventuring.

SPEAKER_01 19:20

Well, is it the adventure that you are after?

SPEAKER_06 19:25

I don't know. Just something different. Nina seemed pretty keen on on dragging me along. Or uh, as she put it, adventure.

SPEAKER_01 19:40

How are you feeling?

SPEAKER_06 19:42

Like I said, I feel pretty good about this. We're all still here. They sure talked it up like uh we were gonna be losing quite a few people and to this big scary guy.

SPEAKER_01 19:54

I think we could have. I think if it weren't for uh weren't for someone being able to tell us, uh tell us how things were at camp. And uh someone else who was able to help formulate a plan. And someone else who was able to create quite the opening uh opening salvo. And someone else to make sure that we all stayed up on our feet. I don't know that we could have done it.

SPEAKER_06 20:30

Everybody definitely held their own, played their part. And damn, I'm glad I had my spy glass. I did not realize how rare they are out here when you're not on the water. You know, on a boat, everyone has one. Yeah, you know, uh they are so handy.

SPEAKER_01 20:48

Does your boat know you took that away from them?

SPEAKER_06 20:51

I assumed it was mine.

SPEAKER_01 20:54

Everyone had one. Well, as you just said, those things are kinda rare off the boat. Not sure if they uh be too keen on you having that with ya. But it seems like it came in handy, didn't it? I'd say so. Alright. I'll let you get some sleep now.

SPEAKER_04 21:17

And in in the midst of all this going on, Kania's probably like got up after she took her swig and she's like going around congratulating all the other dwarves and patting them on the back, you know, handing out food. Whatever, jerky and rationing.

SPEAKER_01 21:31

Rork and Carwish like, Hey, Fire Girl! Hey! Chest bump. Actually, I think that the problem with the new is we go, chess bump, and both of them get on either side of you.

SPEAKER_04 21:45

Yes, canina'd be all for it, but she'd probably be half squishling just Canina's all for she's she's a little bit more lively now that uh Adriel talked to her and she's just like, Yeah, celebration. She's like, You are good.

SPEAKER_02 22:00

Out there.

SPEAKER_04 22:00

So are you? Couldn't have done it without you.

SPEAKER_02 22:03

Couldn't have done it without you.

SPEAKER_04 22:06

Slap him on the back. Be all cheerful.

SPEAKER_01 22:09

They give you they reach up and give you a pat on the back, but both of them together just kind of like, oh yep.

SPEAKER_04 22:17

Yeah, she's trying to help kind of lighten up the moon, be me make it a little more festive, as Adriel was saying, you know, since we did just beat a great foe and need to celebrate a little bit while we can before we get back on the road in the long grueling journey.

SPEAKER_01 22:29

And and though Adriel has been pushing this whole thing of uh you know being a cause for celebration and everything, you can tell as she goes and talks to everyone, and she doesn't just talk to the four of you, she talks to everyone else at camp. And though you can tell that the mood itself has lifted as as she goes around and talks to everyone, it's also clear that all of you, including the dwarves, are just absolutely exhausted. So while spirits are raised, energy is still pretty low. So a lot of it is people kind of hanging out around the fire. And over probably the first hour or so of you guys being at camp, everyone kind of filters off into their own little areas, gets their their bedrolls made up, and you see them start kind of bedding down for the night, pretty much as the sun is going down.

SPEAKER_00 23:25

But Rim, at some point, after staring off into the void for a while, will uh wander over and sit down where the he can get some firelight and he'll kind of write in his um journal about what happened.

SPEAKER_01 23:40

So, for the sake of brevity, we'll go ahead and say that that throughout the night watches are kind of established. Um based on the way everyone filtered out, it was more of a uh everyone kind of paying it loose attention and just waking up like the next person over to them. But nothing eventful happens through the night. Long rest, confer. Yes, you guys can all count yourselves as having taken a long rest if you need to do so.

SPEAKER_00 24:12

So in the morning, can I try to identify the staff again using Arcana? Alrighty. So I rolled a 22.

SPEAKER_01 24:21

Well, here's the interesting thing. When it comes to identifying magic items, technically the two ways that you identify a magic item are with the identify spell, or by spending a short rest, spending time with the item. Now I will say, to give a little bit of a compromise and to give a bonus to uh actually having Arcana and rolling well with it, I'll say that with a 22, I believe that passes like a hard check, and I'll knock off basically 15 minutes per difficulty tier. So you're gonna get that done in about 15 minutes of studying the item.

SPEAKER_00 24:54

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 24:55

It's not going to allow you to attune to it. I'm still gonna make that be the short, the full short rest, but as far as discovering the properties of the item, I will give it to you. The item is a staff of power. Staff, very rare, requires attunement by sorcerer, warlock, or wizard. The staff can be wielded as a magical quarter staff that grants a plus two bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it. While holding it, you gain a plus two bonus to armor class saving throws and spell attack rolls. The staff has 20 charges for the following properties. The staff regains 2 d8 plus 4 expended charges daily at dawn. If you expend the last charge, roll a d20. On a 1, the staff retains its plus 2 bonus to attack and damage rolls but loses all other properties. On a 20, the staff regains 1d8 plus 2 charges. Properties Power Strike. When you hit with the melee attack using the staff, you can expend 1 charge to deal an extra 1d6 force damage to the target. Spells. While holding this staff, you can use an action to expend 1 or more of its charges to cast one of the following spells from it using your spell save DC in the spell attack bonus. Tone of Cold takes 5 charges. Fireball, 5th level, takes 5 charges. Globe of Invulnerability, 6 charges, Hold Monster, 5 charges, Levitate, 2 charges, Lightning Bolt at 5th level, 5 charges, Magic Missile, 1 charge, Ray of Enfablement, 1 charge, Wall of Force, 5 charges. Retributive Strike. You can use an action to break the staff over your knee or against the solid surface, performing a retributive strike. The staff is destroyed and releases its remaining magic in an explosion that expands to fill a 30-foot radius sphere centered on it. You have a 50% chance to instantly travel to a random plane of existence, avoiding the explosion. If you fail to avoid the effect, you take force damage equal to 16 times the number of charges in the staff. Every other creature in the area must make a DC17 dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes an amount of damage based on how far away it is from the point of origin, as shown in the following table. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage. So basically it's eight times, six times, and four times, depending on how far away. So that is why when you cast detect magic on it, all the things. So I will say that if Rem wishes to hang on to it for now, you can go ahead and add it to your character sheet and decide who you're going to give it to later, unless you already have something in mind for it. That is what you have. What is what is what is Rem right now?

SPEAKER_00 27:45

Rem is as he kind of discovers this and and understands what it is, is extremely shocked that it was found, first of all. And then he's he's wondering if it if he should actually let anybody know what it is, or if he needs to like, you know, say, oh it's nothing really, and like get rid of it because it's just so powerful. So he's he's gonna sit on it for a minute as he thinks.

SPEAKER_01 28:09

Okay. Go ahead and add the staff of power to your character sheet. As the stats stated, you can't attune to it.

SPEAKER_00 28:16

Yeah, it's it's like going in my backpack.

SPEAKER_01 28:19

Yeah. I'm just making it clear that while Rem is remaining in possession, he cannot attune to it. Is it putting too much in Rem's actions to say that he probably separated himself a little bit, or do you did you just pull this out right in the middle of the camp?

SPEAKER_00 28:36

Like I'm I'm sure when he got up in the morning, he kind of walked away and sat down to to study it, and he was trying to keep himself free of distractions.

SPEAKER_01 28:44

Okay, so while Rem is doing this, um, would anyone else like to do anything with their early morning?

SPEAKER_04 28:51

Kenina would probably be up early as per usual, and she would go over to wake up Ariel for their usual morning routine. She's just like, gotta keep up with it. And so shake Ariel awake and then go do her exercises. She'll notice, you know, Rem off to the side. Because I imagine they got off, you know, more or less the same time. So she'll wave good morning to him and but do her orc exercises. She knows Rem likes his alone time. Don't forget to stretch first, warm up your body. Oh, right.

SPEAKER_01 29:21

And I imagine, as is um kind of typical at this point, Tempest sleeps until the absolute last moment.

SPEAKER_06 29:29

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 29:30

While Camp is uh waking up and starting to break down, I imagine that there's actually no cooking of food today unless the party wishes to hold things up and instead it's more of a passing out breakfast, boys. Yeah, more of a passing out of jerky, water skins, hard tack, biscuits, bread, a a road breakfast. And uh well, how how long would Ariel and Kanina's workout be?

SPEAKER_04 29:58

Um, I think I've made it like an hour before, but you know, we're also doing it very early in the morning, so maybe, you know, when everybody else starts getting up, getting getting stuff packed up, they'll they'll stop to go help.

SPEAKER_07 30:09

So probably more like a half hour.

SPEAKER_04 30:11

Yeah, I guess so. Like I said, it's usually about when the sun is coming up or a little before is when we start, so it depends on how early everybody else gets up. These are these guy are guys are from the Blackguard, so they probably get up early, I'm guessing.

SPEAKER_01 30:23

Adriel would be making her way around camp, and uh she sees Rem come back holding the staff that he's been studying, looks off at him and is like, did you find out anything interesting?

SPEAKER_00 30:35

Uh it's uh it's a magic staff for plus one.

SPEAKER_01 30:40

Okay. I just, you know, magic's not really my thing. I just wanted to let to let you know that we're gonna be getting ready to go here soon. So uh pack up what you need. Uh if if you need any rations or anything, we've got plenty that we can uh share. We're just gonna we're gonna be hitting hitting the road early back to Starin.

SPEAKER_00 31:01

Alright. Thank you. He'll go to his pack and tie the staff into his bag.

SPEAKER_01 31:05

And uh UC Adriel is kinda looks over at the at uh Kanina and Ariel working out. And then turns over to Tempest and goes and nudges Tempest with her boot. Hey uh hey, sleepy head. Did you drink too much last night? No, I'm just not really a morning person. Ah, I kinda got that impression the other day, too. Uh well, we're getting ready to go now, so why don't you you get up, find some some jerky, go uh go get some water, some bread or biscuits or whatever to you know if you need any rations to fill your belly this morning.

SPEAKER_08 31:47

One, two, one, one, two. Alright.

SPEAKER_00 31:55

Straighten your back!

SPEAKER_07 31:56

Yes, sir! And then Ariel also straightens her back.

SPEAKER_04 32:00

I imagine Ariel's probably a little stiffer than usual, too, because you don't have your cloak or anything, so you're probably a little feeling a little exposed.

SPEAKER_01 32:07

And then Adriel makes her way over to the to kind of the edge of camp where you guys are working out 30, 50 feet away, whatever. And it's like, you two about done yet?

SPEAKER_04 32:19

Yep. As long as everybody's up and we can start heading out, so.

SPEAKER_01 32:23

Yep, we're getting the horses ready. Uh people are eating, uh, eating and drinking whatever they need for their fill. And uh I think we're gonna we're gonna try and ride hard just like we did to get out here. The the horses have had a a full day to rest, so we're gonna we're gonna ride hard back to Sterin and try and get there again all in one day.

SPEAKER_04 32:44

Sounds good. Yeah, sounds like a plan. And you know, heart atta may be a little bland, but I have some excellent spices you could just sprinkle a little on top.

SPEAKER_01 32:52

Ah, that's uh I've already had breakfast today, but you know, maybe later we'll talk about that. And uh for the listeners and the players, as morning has come around, we are officially in the first of Manan. And we smash cut! You guys are arriving at the village of Sterin in the early evening, and the sound of horses fill the village as the hooves ride inside of the wall. And the sound has drawn out quite a few of the people. I mean, this is a very small village, and you you have some familiar faces here. Ulal's uh smithy is literally right inside of the gates. The uh inn that Amylo runs is right inside the gates on the other side, and then the next building in is uh the Blackguard offices in the village of Stirren. So uh you notice that Ulal kinda stops what he was doing at the forge, and uh Ulian starts walking out from the Blackguard office to greet you guys as Adriel leads the line of horses directly over to the front of the Blackguard. The party dismounts.

SPEAKER_04 34:28

Yeah, so Kanina will probably be excited uh seeing Ulal, you know, upon entry.

SPEAKER_01 34:34

And uh is he actually out there or he he's out he was out there hammering away at the forge, and as you guys rode in and rode past him, he recognized who was here. And um as the horses all kind of circle up in front of the Blackguard office, you see Ulian uh take the piece of work he was working on, put it back in the forge, and kind of tuck the hammer into like a loop in his uh blacksmith's apron and uh start kind of walking, not really in your direction, but you see him stand out out of the cover in front of his forge, kind of fists balled up on his hips, and he's kind of looking in your guys' direction.

SPEAKER_04 35:17

Canita seeing Ula will dismount and she'll just be like run over to him waving the sword and just be like, Mr. Ulal, Mr. Ulal!

SPEAKER_02 35:25

I uh I see you brought the sword back.

SPEAKER_04 35:28

We did! We killed Grimfang!

SPEAKER_02 35:30

You did?

SPEAKER_04 35:31

We did, and I made sure to use the sword.

SPEAKER_02 35:34

You did?

SPEAKER_04 35:35

Yeah, we kept our promise.

SPEAKER_02 35:37

I uh I appreciate that part of it. Do you remember the other half of the promise?

SPEAKER_04 35:44

Yes. No!

SPEAKER_02 35:48

Uh, you know the part where uh when you tell people what you did, I made the sword.

SPEAKER_04 35:56

Oh, of course, yes. We're going to spread your name, because of course we couldn't have done it without you and your masterwork here.

SPEAKER_02 36:03

So it it did good for you.

SPEAKER_04 36:04

It did really good.

SPEAKER_02 36:06

I'm glad. That means that uh as as far as I'm concerned, the bargain is met. The sword is yours.

SPEAKER_04 36:14

Thank you. I really appreciate it. We'll be sure to do good deeds with this in the future, and Grimfang will just be the the first in a long line of enemies the sword will defeat.

SPEAKER_02 36:23

That's you know, as as much as I wish there weren't enemies to slay in the world, that is what I made it for, and that's exactly what I'd like to see happen.

SPEAKER_04 36:32

Yes, well, it's in good hands. And I promise I'm not much of a sword user, but I'll train well with it, and if not, then we definitely have party members who are adept at using it that we can we can definitely use for the cause of good.

SPEAKER_01 36:48

And uh you you see him extend out a hand to you.

SPEAKER_04 36:51

You need a well, you know, shuffle the sword under her arm and stick out her hand. Kind of go for that.

SPEAKER_01 36:57

And he does, he he reaches in deeper for for a nice forearm grasp. Um you've you've probably kind of gathered at this point that that this is a sign of respect from from the dwarves when they go for an arm grab instead of just a handshake.

SPEAKER_02 37:14

I uh I appreciate what you've done and what you're gonna do for me. You know, they they only see me as a toolsmith here, and I'd like to be something more, and I'm hoping that this is the first step in that direction, so I thank you for that.

SPEAKER_04 37:30

Yes, I'll be sure to spread your name, Ulal Hammerfell.

SPEAKER_02 37:33

Hammerfell, but close enough. When I'm Hammerfell, they'll be putting me in the ground.

SPEAKER_04 37:41

Haha, nice one. Yeah, so she'll go for the arm grab, and then having promised uh Ulal that she'll spread the name of his mastercraft and tip, uh, she'll also note, you know, what Rem said about the sword being magical, and she'll uh question him and just be like, well, uh during the battle we couldn't help but notice uh that the sword seems to have some magic properties. Uh did you put anything special in it?

SPEAKER_02 38:10

I'm no mage.

SPEAKER_03 38:13

Hmm.

SPEAKER_02 38:14

So if uh if that thing's magical. I don't understand why.

SPEAKER_04 38:24

Well, uh did you put anything unusual in it that you wouldn't have put in a normal sword? Like what is it made out of exactly?

SPEAKER_02 38:32

Uh I mean it's it's made out of a high-quality steel straight out of Sterendeld, but nothing that I did to it is uh different than what I would do for uh a very high-quality hammer or pick that I would make as a tool for someone around the village. If that thing is magical, then something something out of my hands must have happened with it.

SPEAKER_04 39:00

Hmm. Well, that's interesting.

SPEAKER_02 39:02

Well, uh what what makes you think it's magical?

SPEAKER_04 39:05

Um, my uh friend Rem over there noticed that it had some magical properties. He didn't say much about it, he just told me that he noticed it uh had some magic.

SPEAKER_01 39:17

With that, uh Ulol actually starts walking past you and walks over in Rem's direction. So uh Rem, you have this this old dwarf uh white hair, pretty, pretty bald. You see he has a his beard's tucked underneath a a leather apron, and you see a blacksmith's hammer. Uh kinda in one of the the belt loops at the bottom of it, and he he approaches you and he's like Are you Rem?

SPEAKER_02 39:49

I am. What can you tell me about the sword? Sword? Your friend over there told me that uh you told her it's magic.

SPEAKER_00 40:01

It has a magical aura emanating from it, yes.

SPEAKER_02 40:05

When did this happen?

SPEAKER_00 40:08

I noticed it when I was investigating for other magic items. Whether or not it was there when you gave it to her or after I couldn't tell you.

SPEAKER_02 40:17

If it was, I had no part in it, intentionally at least.

SPEAKER_01 40:23

Interesting. Now, what what did Kanina do as Ulal started walking over to Rem?

SPEAKER_04 40:30

She probably just trotted after him.

SPEAKER_01 40:32

So he looks he looks back over to you.

SPEAKER_02 40:35

How about uh how about we keep that between us right now? I don't know what happened and I don't know why. And as much as I'd like to make a name for myself, I'm not ready to make a name for myself making magical swords that I don't know how the fuck they're magical.

SPEAKER_04 40:52

Hmm. Well, uh, that's understandable, I suppose. I'll keep it under wraps and I'll do some o some of my own checks here in the future. I know a little bit about magic, so.

SPEAKER_02 41:02

If you find anything you know where I'm at, send a letter or something.

SPEAKER_04 41:06

Sure, we'll do.

SPEAKER_00 41:09

As as he walks away, Rim's gonna cast detect magic and kind of look at him. See if maybe there's something that he's not saying.

SPEAKER_01 41:19

Only magic that that Rem sees. Sword that Kina has, the the spear that Ariel has, the staff that you're carrying, all of the previous items that uh that you had gotten from the king in Steringeld.

SPEAKER_07 41:37

Not the guy's hammer.

SPEAKER_01 41:39

How f how far away is the forge? Nothing off of Ulal himself. Um the way that I'm thinking of it, the forge would be 100, 150 feet away.

SPEAKER_04 41:48

Canina's kind of speculating to herself, well, maybe it was just, you know, the power of his resolve and imbued it with magical pack properties. Who knows? Some things, sometimes miracles like that happen.

SPEAKER_00 41:57

Since Remardy has his vision up and he's looking at the sword again, he'll look at Nina and be like, looks like it's the school of evocation.

SPEAKER_04 42:03

Hmm. That's good to know. I'll double check on it and see if I can find out anything else about it as well.

SPEAKER_01 42:10

So, you know, I imagine that um while this is going on, uh Ulian and Adriel have actually been having a conversation over on like the other side of this this circle grouping of people. And uh, you know, as as you guys finish up with talking with Ulal, you'll see the two of them having a conversation 20 feet off in the other direction.

SPEAKER_00 42:38

Rimmel walk over.

SPEAKER_01 42:40

And uh as Rem approaches, uh Ulian looks over at Rem. So you guys came back.

SPEAKER_00 42:51

You finished the mission.

SPEAKER_02 42:53

Uh, Adriel was telling me as much.

SPEAKER_00 42:56

Uh I think that your roads will be safe for now. But beware the power vacuum. Usually when something like this disappears, something else scrabbles its way from the darkness to fill the slot.

SPEAKER_01 43:10

I'm uh I'm hoping that the gnolls aren't smart enough to have a power vacuum create, and that you guys will have killed off enough of them that there's not enough left to create.

SPEAKER_00 43:24

It's not the gnolls, it could be just anything else. God bandits, rabid wolves.

SPEAKER_01 43:32

That's the kind of thing we would deal with any other time, isn't it? As was stated, these gnolls banding together is unheard of, unnormal. Based on what Adriel was telling me about what you guys saw up close in person. Rimfang was a creature worth the legends that have been told about him. You know. We talked about him like. Almost in a mythical sense. Something not real, something we'd tell the children so that they'd be scared. Even though we knew something was going on with the gnolls, but with what Adriel described, something not right with him, and the way he crumbled to dust as he was slain.

SPEAKER_02 44:18

There was something wrong with that creature. I don't disagree.

SPEAKER_00 44:23

Huh?

SPEAKER_01 44:24

Well, uh, why don't we get everyone together and wish him a job well done? Besides, he leans in a little closer to Rem. I believe we have some things to work out.

SPEAKER_00 44:37

Yes. Nina, gather everyone.

SPEAKER_04 44:40

Okie dokie. So Nina will go around and gather people, and but she's probably like talking in her loud volume as per usual, so people who she doesn't actually speak to personally will probably know enough to gather her.

SPEAKER_01 44:54

As Nina goes to talk to Ariel and Tempest, Adriel's also going around to the dwarves that she's been leading, and you see her start delegating them to do things like take care of the horses, a couple of them, to gather up the armor, and so that it can be given a once-over and everything. And Adriel leads you with the rest of your party inside the office of the Black Guard. And Rem has been in here before, and there's like this big map table that makes up a large portion of like the front room. And Adriel directs one of the dwarves that's with her. You would have known him as Frederick throughout the time that you guys have spent. And he starts laying out the bags that have uh that had all the coins that you guys collected, the gemstones, and uh Adriel and Ulian start opening them up and spreading things out to to count out everything. So, the way that I see things here, there's two different ways that we could go about this. Either we can split things up with uh each person getting their own fair share, or we can split things down the middle. The black guard'll have their half, and you guys will have your half to do with what you want. Now, seeing is splitting things up completely evenly is uh gonna benefit us a little bit more, and splitting things down the middle is gonna benefit you guys a little bit more. I figured I'd leave the call up to you.

SPEAKER_04 46:40

Well, um I feel like splitting things down the middle might be a little bit more uh simpler, and then we are a party after all, so be our party funds, unless everybody wants to figure out exactly how much they each want.

SPEAKER_00 46:56

I agree. And the fact that you basically were hiring us to help you. If you'd wanted to divide it evenly, you could have done this yourself. I will say, unless anybody else in the group has uh paws that I don't need gems, I'd rather take their value. So if you want to take the gems and give us an equal value in the sum of coin.

SPEAKER_04 47:18

Oh, well, uh that's a good idea, Ram. Perhaps I'd be fine with that, because I think splitting it down in half but giving us uh the coin's worth instead of the actual gems would be a better value to us as adventurers and travelers, so we'd have the ability to spend it as as we need.

SPEAKER_00 47:33

And you and yours could take them to Sterangeld and to the jewelry district to sell the gems, possibly actually even at a profit.

SPEAKER_01 47:41

I I can uh I can agree on that if your party's okay with that. We we have the coffers to to do the exchange ourselves and handle selling the gems up in Sterengeld. I'll probably have an easier time doing it than you guys would.

SPEAKER_00 47:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 47:58

Oh, sounds like a plan.

SPEAKER_00 48:00

Any problem with that, Tempest? Would you like to keep a gem?

SPEAKER_06 48:02

This whole money thing is over my head. Me too. Whatever you think is best.

SPEAKER_01 48:08

So, splitting down the middle, just so that it can be in this episode how the party gets their loop. Splitting the treasure down the middle, the party is going to take eight gems worth 100 gold each, 300 copper, 3,500 silver, 650 gold pieces, and 40 platinum. Actually, since you're not getting the gems, so um another 800 gold. So, for anyone that's ever complained about money, y'all just got like 1300 gold each.

SPEAKER_00 48:44

Yeah, 10 platinum, 962 gold, 880 silver, 75 copper.

SPEAKER_01 48:50

And I will say, um, Adriel and the party helped split things out evenly because of the whole change with the gold to the gems. I think there's actually enough in there that they just take all the gems and straight split the gold out to cover it without having to do anything extra there. And anyone that that is uh paying any attention to him would notice that Ulian actually goes over to his desk and uh sits down to start writing. And by the time you guys have all not only split things up between the two sets of parties, but then divided it amongst yourself, Ulian has come back to you guys with a fairly decent-sized sack as well as two sealed pieces of parchment. Kind of walks over to Rem because uh as, you know, in fairness, Rem is who Ulian has been working with. And uh he hands Ram a fairly weighty sack. Um you know I I said there was a reward in it beyond what you guys found out there. Just, you know, in in case you didn't find anything to make it worth it for ya. Here's 500 gold. But aside from the sack of coins, um, William also hands Rem two envelopes. With for the first one he he hands out to you. Uh you know where you you I I know a little bit about the issues you guys have been having with the cart and the horses. Um when you take it back in uh Port Noir Sall, give this to the people at the office there.

SPEAKER_02 50:42

Those horses in the cart are yours now. Do we have to put them on the boat?

SPEAKER_00 50:47

Yeah. There goes all of uh Ariel's money.

SPEAKER_07 50:50

Ri rially? Prin Princess is is ours?

SPEAKER_01 50:55

I'm uh I'm squaring things away with uh the Fair and Travel Company.

SPEAKER_00 51:00

Rim will take that envelope and I should just hand it to Ariel.

SPEAKER_05 51:03

So we don't have to deal with Malin anymore?

SPEAKER_01 51:07

Well, I'm Well, you're gonna have to deal with her to leave, but it's okay.

SPEAKER_07 51:11

I I'll talk to her. But we own her now.

SPEAKER_02 51:15

No, give you a person.

SPEAKER_04 51:21

We really appreciate it.

SPEAKER_01 51:23

But I I you know I've I've witnessed some of the trouble that you guys have been having, and it seems like you guys are a little attached to these specifically. And if you're gonna be traveling around, can't be having you rent something every time you get to another place.

SPEAKER_07 51:38

You guys, no name needs a name now.

SPEAKER_01 51:44

And uh the second letter he he holds out. And this one's just for your guild leaders. Let's them know that uh essentially it's me signing off on the work that you guys did. A certified letter, if you will, that Ulian of the Black Guard is certified the work that you guys are doing.

SPEAKER_04 52:07

Wow, that's awesome! Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_00 52:09

Sure, we'll make sure to get them in touch with you in case there's uh future need of adventurers.

SPEAKER_01 52:15

And I appreciate having this uh reformed allyship with the with the Adventurers Guild.

SPEAKER_00 52:23

Perhaps they can open a branch out here.

SPEAKER_01 52:27

We can see about things. Port and Rasal is a very large city. Maybe it's in need of its own guild hall. After giving Rem the these letters, Ulian's gonna hold out an arm to Rem.

SPEAKER_00 52:42

Rem will tuck the the second letter away and then he'll reach out and grasp.

SPEAKER_01 52:48

It's been it's been a pleasure working with you, Rem.

SPEAKER_00 52:53

Aye, uh, it'll it has been an uh unexpected pleasure to deal with a man of uh your stature.

SPEAKER_02 53:04

And uh Adriel has good things to say about you too.

SPEAKER_01 53:09

Um, and then after they after he he lets go, he moves over to Kanina, holds out a hand.

SPEAKER_04 53:17

Kanina will perk up and she'll Is it is it the arm is it the arm thing or is it the hand? It's the arm thing. Okay, yeah, she'll go for the full arm and you know, vigorously do the whole grasp.

SPEAKER_02 53:30

I haven't been working with you, but I appreciate what you've done for this this region.

SPEAKER_04 53:35

Yes, and we appreciate all the help you've offered in helping us protect this area. Couldn't have done it without the assistance of the Black Guard.

SPEAKER_02 53:43

And the Black Guard feels appreciated. Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 53:47

Welp, if you have need of the Adventure's Guild anytime, you know who to get in contact with.

SPEAKER_01 53:52

And Ulian walks over to Tempest, holds out an arm.

SPEAKER_05 53:59

She grasps his firmly.

SPEAKER_02 54:02

Why are you wet?

SPEAKER_05 54:06

You've never met a Janasi before, have you?

SPEAKER_01 54:10

Not one of your kind.

SPEAKER_05 54:12

It's just kind of always like that.

SPEAKER_01 54:15

I appreciate the work that you've done. Thank you for helping my area. When I stepped off the boat, but did they not tell you where you were going?

SPEAKER_05 54:30

Not really.

SPEAKER_06 54:33

You were going somewhere to talk to somebody about a bracelet, and there might be dragons. Um, but I was promised adventure.

SPEAKER_02 54:43

Did it feel like adventure?

SPEAKER_06 54:48

My first experience, so we'll go with yes.

SPEAKER_01 54:51

Then it sounds like they delivered on their promise to you two. He gives a shake and moves over to Ariel.

SPEAKER_07 55:01

And Ariel remembers the proper, elegant handshake that she had with the druid in the woods, and holds out her hand daintly.

SPEAKER_01 55:24

Got to about the halfway point, and you stuck your finger just kind of kinda out for him. I see I'm dealing with a lady. And he just reaches up and between his thumb and and forefinger gently grabs the the tip of your fingers and and gives you a kiss along the knuckles.

SPEAKER_07 55:43

And then she's very startled about that.

unknown 55:47

Wait.

SPEAKER_01 55:49

Isn't at this point. She's like looking at everybody like what just happened here? And Julian's blushing too. They're both just kind of like, did I do wrong?

SPEAKER_00 56:01

Ruh's gonna look at Ian and be like, your pupil.

SPEAKER_01 56:04

And you know, with with flushed cheeks, Julian just kind of chuckles like, well, uh, I I thank you for the work that you did. Thank you. You've helped this region out greatly.

SPEAKER_07 56:21

Uh thank you for clearing up the thing with the horses, too. And then she looks over at Nina, like, what do I do now?

SPEAKER_01 56:33

As the the bit of awkwardness between Ulian and Ariel builds up, Ulian it's kind of like I've said my thank yous. He he just kind of scoots out to the back and circles around the back of the group and heads back over to his desk. And we'll say that the party at this point collects all of your earnings. What what would you guys like to do next?

SPEAKER_04 56:58

Um, you said it was evening that we arrived, right?

SPEAKER_01 57:00

It is.

SPEAKER_07 57:01

Well, as we're just walking out and Ulian's not there and it's just us, Ariel's gonna be like What did I do wrong?

SPEAKER_04 57:12

Oh, nothing. I think it was just that. Why did he kiss my hand? That's one way to greet each other. Okay. Or, you know, uh conform a deal. It's just normally uh I think doors prefer a more hearty greeting.

SPEAKER_00 57:28

Next time we're in a major town in a near library, perhaps you should look up a book on etiquette.

SPEAKER_06 57:34

Tempest just laughs and she's like, We thought you were a lady.

SPEAKER_07 57:43

Okay. I'll I'll write that down in my journal to do that.

SPEAKER_04 57:48

Well, it is evening, so we'll probably not be heading out unless we wanna I don't know if the trading company's still open, but we should probably get some rooms at the inn and leave first thing in the morning.

SPEAKER_07 57:58

Okay. Maybe we should head over to Maylin and just let her know that we will be leaving first thing in the morning so that way we can have the horses ready to go. And also clear things up too if he hasn't done that already with the letter.

SPEAKER_04 58:12

And then also uh I mean, does it look closed? Would they still be open around this time of night? That's kind of thing.

SPEAKER_01 58:18

I mean, you're dealing with a small village and the sun's not down yet, so at least in my headcanon, everything's kind of in a nebulous state of open as long as people are there and they just kind of transition back and forth as needed.

SPEAKER_04 58:36

But uh yeah, I'll let you uh handle the meeting with uh Malin if you'd like Ariel, and I'll go see about getting us some room. Sure.

SPEAKER_07 58:44

Uh so Ariel's gonna walk over to Malin's uh office and knock on the door.

SPEAKER_01 58:54

The door opens up after, you know, a little less than a minute. Oh, for fuck's sake. What can I do for you today? I just see a pained smile.

SPEAKER_07 59:10

And she Ariel's smiling and just like, I just wanted to let you know we're gonna be leaving in the morning.

SPEAKER_01 59:18

Okay, I will make sure that the cart and horses are ready for you guys to leave in the morning. I believe we squared away everything last time.

SPEAKER_08 59:28

Yep. I just wanted to give you a heads up because you had requested that before, so I appreciate the warning.

SPEAKER_01 59:35

It's better than being woken up early, because now I can tell them that they need to do it in the morning and I don't have to wake up.

SPEAKER_07 59:42

Exactly. You have a good night. Is there anything else you need for me?

SPEAKER_01 59:47

No, I believe we squared everything away the last time that you guys were departing, and things should be all ready for you to go in the morning. You have a wonderful night.

SPEAKER_07 59:58

You too. So after that, Ariel's gonna head over to Lyft's rest because she knows Nina is getting rooms for them.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:07

And on Nina's side of things, she'll go ahead and walk into the tavern and just be like, Hello, Mr. Amylo. We're back again.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:17

Oh, my favorite customers.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:20

Yeah, we'd like to.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:22

I shouldn't have favorite customers. What are you doing back?

SPEAKER_04 1:00:25

Well, uh, we had some tasks that we had to complete, and uh we saved the area. We slew Grimprang.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:33

You did! I you know, there's already rumors going around the village. I already heard that.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:38

Yeah, well, I suppose uh news spreads like wildfire in a small village like this.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:43

Yeah, there's only like 25 people here. And so far you've talked to over 20% of us today. Well, uh, are you gonna be doing another uh you know, first rounds on me tonight?

SPEAKER_04 1:00:57

Hey, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:58

You know what? Uh you've been good to me. You your rooms are free tonight, too.

SPEAKER_04 1:01:03

Wow, that's so awesome. Now that we're back in town and we're all settled in, we can celebrate a bit and bid our farewells and we'll head off in the morning back to our guild.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:14

Yeah, no, that's you know what you've done is actually gonna be good for me too. When people can travel the roads more safely, more people are gonna come in, more people are gonna come get rooms, are gonna buy more ale.

SPEAKER_04 1:01:27

Yeah, that's that's true. Lots of more traffic will be headed your way for sure.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:32

And you know, uh, I gotta say I'm also happy that there's not gonna be so many people dying on the roads, too. Can't ignore that that's also an important part of things. So uh where's the rest of ya?

SPEAKER_04 1:01:48

Oh, uh Ariel went to go tell uh Maylin that we're gonna be leaving in the morning, so I'm sure she's just letting her know that our wagon and horses need to be hitched up. But uh yeah. Uh I'm assuming the rest of you guys traveled in with me.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:01

Yeah, I'm covered in.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:03

Yeah. Oh, there you are!

SPEAKER_01 1:02:05

We almost didn't see you there. You're so quiet.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:11

Well, did you hear that, guys? We should uh let loose a little bit tonight, have some have some drinks, some food.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:16

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Said the first round's covered, you're playing the rest of them though.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:21

I understand that. Well, be sure to buy some food and some drinks and just need to make sure that's clear up front before you guys let loose a little too much.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:30

You know, because then you let loose, and then you guys get drunk and you pass out, and then I have to drag you into your rooms, and then I still didn't get paid for the fact that you guys drank most of my alcohol. I've never dealt with this before, nope. As this has been going on, Amilo is filling up mugs of ale for all of you, and a little glass of honey juice.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:56

Canina will slap down enough payment for you know, food for us and then uh the next round of drinks. Because she she wants to liven up a little bit and have fun with everybody for our last night in Stern.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:07

Alright, let's get meta here for a second. How many how many gold of a party is Kanina throwing right now?

SPEAKER_04 1:03:16

Well, we all know that I'm very bad at that translation.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:20

Well, okay. So five gold is gonna be, you know, your fairly standard, a couple drinks and a meal, ten gold. Well, the meal's already covered, so at that point you're looking at like the equivalent of probably sixty dollars on drinks in in the real world kind of deal each. So uh, and you know, it it only goes up kind of exponentially from there. Like, we're probably getting to the point that 25 gold is probably buying what he has.

SPEAKER_04 1:03:59

Uh yeah, she'll she'll basically just want us to get some some nice warm food in our belly because we've been, you know, surviving off of rations and hard attack for a little bit, and then I mean it's only been a couple days, but you know, back from a long journey in a long fight, so uh probably just slide, yeah, 10 gold over, cover the meal, and enough for a couple rounds of drinks, maybe enough mead for her to have a couple.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:22

So I gotta clarify something before before I kinda let let everything loose. Mm-hmm. How private is this party? Is it just kinda you guys in your own? Are you buying drinks for anyone else that comes in looking for um it's fine either way, you know?

SPEAKER_06 1:04:39

Sure, why not?

SPEAKER_04 1:04:40

And Tempest slaps down into platinum. Can you just like, yeah, anyone's welcome to join? And Chantel's thinking, like, oh god, these are dwarves, they're gonna drink us out of our money.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:49

So, you know, if Tempest is throwing another platinum down and saying that pretty much anyone drinks for free tonight, you're you're you're treating him very well.

SPEAKER_04 1:04:59

But yeah, so we're we're we're planning to have a small, small little affair of a party. You know, we're not keeping it just to ourselves, but anyone's welcome to hop in if they so please.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:10

So at this point, you guys have put enough money down that you guys are all able to drink and eat your fill. Um, throughout the night, the the story has gone around through the village. So basically, all the villagers want to at least come in and kind of say their thanks, see what the uh essentially starin is seeing you guys as heroes at this point. So they want to see what the heroes who took care of literally the most dangerous problem that they've had in years look like and who they are and meet them so that you know, in 10 years when they're talking to their their grandkids or their children, they can be like, I met the heroes that killed Grimfang.

SPEAKER_04 1:05:59

And I'm sure Kenita. Is absolutely elated about all this attention and this whole hero of the village status. And so she's very much uh like she'll you know, especially after she has a few drinks, she'll be just like getting up on one knee and like being like, Yeah, this is like this is how I attacked him with the sword, and like shows how she swung it, like not at anybody, but you know, maybe not thinking exactly clear you shouldn't be swinging the sword inside, that kind of thing.

SPEAKER_07 1:06:23

Ariel's um actually probably the complete opposite when she's drinking her uh honey juice than what you guys normally see her. She's just really only sipping on it, and she's trying to purposely stay sober and keep track of the uh spear that's wrapped up because she's paranoid about anybody lifting it off of her or touching it. So she's purposely just trying to be careful and responsible about it.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:55

As Kanina was like going over the story and and this is how I swung the sword. You actually hear uh You know you're supposed to swing with the the bladey part, right? I mean, this seemed pretty effective when I and uh and you see that Lydia is is standing behind you with uh mug of ale in her hand. So you did it. You really did it.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:23

Yeah, we slew Grimpang.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:25

You know when I uh I w when I put the idea out there for you guys, obviously I wanted it to happen, but I didn't think it would.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:36

No, well we certainly couldn't have done it without the assistance of the Black Guard, and and I'm sure just like the efforts of our party, you know, that we managed to make it.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:46

You know, I don't remember the last time I saw the village like this. She's looking around like there's a dozen or so dwarves milling about.

SPEAKER_06 1:07:57

Oh, Tempest is in a corner leading them in drinking songs.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:03

Well, how'd it go? I mean, obviously you you were successful. I s I s she kinda cranes her. I see y'all made it back. Uh I didn't hear anything bad happening with the black guard that went with ya, so obviously things went well, but how how'd it go?

SPEAKER_04 1:08:21

Well, we did this whole uh flanking maneuver. We circled the camp that we found, uh, thanks to uh Tempest's excellent tracking skills. And we basically uh split into different groups of three and circled the camp, took out all the small fry first, and we all got together and managed to kill off Grimpang. He was quite the big guy, and he had a war with them too. And so that was quite the challenging battle. There was definitely a couple close calls there, but you know, managed to manage to do it.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:53

That sounds like quite the experience, uh something that that not your everyday person gets to gets to go through. I'm uh I'm happy with what you were able to do for us. I just I wanted to to come by and personally give you my thanks. I'm sure Ulian already kinda kinda went over all this with you, but the Sterin is my village, so you know the safety of of the people of my village and also the the surrounding area, like uh like you know what you had to go through with with bringing Eldith around. It's nice that I'm not gonna have to hold people back anymore. And uh assuming things are safe, like I I don't foresee any any further problems, but I guess we should still be a little cautious just in case something comes up.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:43

Yeah, there's always the normal dangers of traveling on the roads, but I feel like we've taken care of the the biggest problem that you hadn't, so it should definitely be a little bit safer, and then you know, in the future, if you ever do need some more adventurers, you know who to call and contact with. And we're just doing our part as adventurers to help uh rid the world of evil.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:04

And after kind of having having her moment with Kanina, uh Lydia moves over to find Ariel next. Are you doing okay? Oh, yeah. You seem uh given all the festivities going on, you seem kinda beside yourself tonight. Um I'm I'm good. You don't sound good.

SPEAKER_07 1:10:37

Just a lot has happened, and uh I'm just trying to be responsible.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:44

Ah, I see, huh? Uh people do celebrate in their own ways. I I see your friend over there. She celebrates by uh by telling stories. She kind of gestures over at Kenina.

SPEAKER_04 1:10:56

Knina's doing another demonstration.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:59

And then she uh she kind of points over in Tempest's direction. And well, I don't think she stopped singing since I got in here.

SPEAKER_07 1:11:09

Yeah, it's actually kind of interesting to see, you know, Tempest react to this, because you know, it's our first like real big mission with her, and I'm glad that she's not scared and wanting to go back to her boat. Maybe she'll stick around with us.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:27

And uh Lydia kinda gestures over in Ram's direction, who I guess is probably sitting at a corner table faced out towards everyone. And him, well, uh I guess he's doing exactly what I was expecting him to be doing. Kind of moody that way. But you use you're different, you're surprising me here.

SPEAKER_07 1:11:51

Yeah, I usually drink a little more, I guess, of the honey juice since I've discovered how good it tastes, but you know, I've I've got some things I don't want lost, and I don't want to be respon irresponsible and forget about them, so just trying to take a slow tonight.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:12

I can uh I can understand that, you know. Uh like I said, everyone celebrates in their own way, and you did go through something something quite big, and I mean it it might not be the way that most people think of trauma, but it probably was traumatic. So if you need some time to process what happened, I I understand it.

SPEAKER_07 1:12:37

Yeah, I I got hurt pretty bad. I mean Rem healed me up, but for there for a while I was pretty scared, so I'm just kinda you know, processing this whole thing.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:50

You pulled through though. And it seems like some of that's to do with uh the people you surround yourself with.

SPEAKER_07 1:12:58

Yeah, we've got a good a good group here.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:02

I'd uh you know, I guess you're all part of the same guild, so I imagine they're not really going anywhere, but you know you know what they say, keep those keep those close to you that are important.

SPEAKER_07 1:13:16

Yeah, I mean Nina's becoming a pretty good friend and mentor, and I'm learning that Rem is was pretty outstanding as far as a a leader for our group, and uh Tempest seems pretty cool. Sassy but cool.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:36

Yeah. You can tell that Tempest is uh is new to the adventuring life.

SPEAKER_07 1:13:42

Yeah. I think she's I think she's doing pretty good with it though.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:47

I'm sure she'll do alright. She's got you guys to keep her keep her on the right path.

SPEAKER_04 1:13:53

At this point, Kenina's joined in with the drunk drinking songs.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:58

Well, and almost seemingly following you at this point, Lydia makes her way over to where Tempest is uh going into uh sea shanty, and Lydia just goes, I don't know the words to this song, but Tempest, how are you?

SPEAKER_06 1:14:16

I don't think Tempest would even stop singing. She just like put an arm around Lydia's shoulders, mug up in the air, so she's still singing and swaying and give Lydia a big old hug.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:30

Lydia starts kind of swaying with you and rocking with ya, and she clinks her her mug up against yours and takes a big swig out of it. Well, I came over to ask how you're doing, but it seems like you're in the middle of stuff and having a great time.

SPEAKER_06 1:14:46

Like at this point, if she stops singing, she's going to lose her spot in the song because she is drunk.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:53

I mean, maybe I'll talk to you later when you when you're ready to to mellow out a little bit. And she drains her mug. Not really getting anywhere with Tempest. Uh, after a song or two of singing along. Well, not really singing along, she doesn't know many sea shanties, but after going through the motions with Tempest for a little while, Lydia finds her her way over to Rem. At this point, she has uh she has two fresh mugs, one for her, and she kinda slides one across the table at at Rem as she approaches the table and she walks around the side of it to meet up next to him. You know? I've always known you to be kinda quiet and grumpy. Even during celebrations, huh?

SPEAKER_00 1:15:47

No. I don't believe this is my celebration, I think it's theirs.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:54

There's who? Your friends or the village? Both. Why isn't it yours? Didn't you uh help out too?

SPEAKER_00 1:16:05

I used some remaining knowledge I have to give them an advantage, but doesn't mean that I deserve this.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:14

None of them died under your command.

SPEAKER_00 1:16:17

Thankfully, mostly probably to their own actions, not mine.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:23

I mean I I I talked to to people at the village. I've I've talked to Amelo. I know that while the rest of them have been off doing their own things. You were staying up and studying your maps. I think you sell yourself too short.

SPEAKER_00 1:16:41

Well, if you're gonna be involved in a fight, you always try to make sure that you have the unfair advantage on your side.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:50

Yeah, and seems like you're the one that that does that for your own team. But you don't seem to see yourself to be a part of them.

SPEAKER_00 1:17:02

I believe that uh one's worth is discovered by one's actions.

SPEAKER_01 1:17:10

And uh what about your actions hold you back, Rem?

SPEAKER_00 1:17:17

I just have my own my own actions that I answer for.

SPEAKER_01 1:17:25

Sounds like uh Sounds like someone with a bit of a dark past, huh?

SPEAKER_00 1:17:32

Yeah, we all have a past.

SPEAKER_01 1:17:35

Sounds like yours haunts you though.

SPEAKER_00 1:17:40

Perhaps. I have more to answer for than the others.

SPEAKER_01 1:17:57

Well, does this feel like a step in the right direction?

SPEAKER_00 1:18:03

It's a step. I don't know about the direction.

SPEAKER_01 1:18:08

Well, it's not my place to tell you what you gotta believe. But I can tell you what I believe, and I believe you've done a good thing here. And I can't tell you that you gotta be happy for it. But I can tell you that you got something to be proud of. And you got people that look up to you, and they respect you.

SPEAKER_00 1:18:38

I don't know if they should do that, but But they do anyways. Huh. Hopefully I can teach them better than they than I was taught.

SPEAKER_01 1:18:50

You know, they say that we learn the most from our greatest failures. Maybe if it weren't for whatever haunts you, you wouldn't be the type of person that you are today.

SPEAKER_00 1:19:00

Maybe the people that said that never failed in a way that they don't think that they could have.

SPEAKER_01 1:19:09

We talk in riddles sometimes.

SPEAKER_00 1:19:12

Oh. We've all seen different things in this world.

SPEAKER_01 1:19:16

I. You know, Rem. I hope that one day whatever haunts you will be a thing in your past instead of a thing in your present.

SPEAKER_00 1:19:31

That would be a day.

SPEAKER_01 1:19:34

That one's for you. She gestures at the mug in front of you. See what's interesting is I was planning on having Lydia's rounds be the end of things.

SPEAKER_06 1:19:54

But you don't want to end on that?

SPEAKER_01 1:19:56

But I don't want to end on that. So I think the best way to handle that is uh just kind of fading out the night. Um go around. How late um would you imagine that you're up partying? How how does the night go for you? What what's kind of your parting thought as you get ready to retire for the night?

SPEAKER_07 1:20:19

Uh I don't think Ariel actually stays up very late because she kind of wants to hang out and have fun with the other girls, but she feels the responsibility of the spear, so she probably is just gonna um finish her one glass of mead, eat some of her dinner, and then go back to the room and uh like place it under the bed with her stuff and get out and journal about just Grimfang and everything that happened that day. And then go to sleep thinking about the horses and what we should name the second one.

SPEAKER_04 1:21:06

I suppose Tinina, I think she probably uh is able to observe a little bit more than she lets on. She probably noticed that Ariel and Ram were both very uh very subdued throughout the night, not as loud and happy as she was hoping they'd be after we got home, after successfully defeating this this like uh big foe in battle. It's like she had some fun with Tempest, but uh Tempest is still fairly new for to the group as well, so in a sense, she's almost feeling a little lonely as she's kind of wrapping up for the night. I imagine she'd probably stay out a little bit later than everybody else, and she'd probably wind up trying to help Amilo clean up and that kind of thing, but as she's packing up for bed and whatnot, she's probably missing Nixie a bit, in all honesty. She remembers her drunken night out with her and how much fun they had, even if they got in trouble the next day, and she's she's just hoping that she can form closer bonds with her her comrades, and hopes that they'll open up to her a little bit more about their their concerns, and hopes that she can be seen as a trusted comrade that they can confide in.

SPEAKER_00 1:22:16

I mean, Rim obviously has been watching everybody, and he's he's not drinking heavily as Tempest apparently would like. He's probably drinking heavier than he has in a long time. He's got memories of things that you guys don't know that's very similar to this knight. So he is kind of lost in thought of both the past as Lydia saw and his own future. He's probably gonna, you know, like he'll sit there and he'll drink and he'll converse if people come over and talk to him. Again, not the most talkative of a person, but if asked about what happened, he would probably recount it fairly simply, less less boisterous than Nina would, but he'll watch Tempest, you know, lead her drunken singing. And he'll uh look to Ariel and you know, watch her as well, make sure that each of his you know compatriots is enjoying themselves per se. Maintains kind of his own vigil.

SPEAKER_06 1:23:17

So Tempest would stay up far too late, considering we're trying to leave in the morning, um, and drink far too much. Because it's been a while. Uh, you know, their incentive of getting her off the boat was a taste of adventure, and it was really intimidating. Uh while she seemed really gung-ho, it was nerve-wracking to go in and being told we may not come out of this. But we kicked Grim Fang's ass, and we all came out of it alive and pretty much unscathed, other than you know, a couple good hits, but she didn't get touched at all. So once she's got a few drinks in her, she's feeling great about it, and it's like, if this is what adventure is like, you know, what's coming up next? She's gonna start trying to brainstorm names for the group. Drunkenly. So they're all absolutely ridiculous.

SPEAKER_00 1:24:26

One last thing, as as the party dies down, Rim's gonna kinda go over and and find Ariel.

SPEAKER_07 1:24:34

He's in the room.

SPEAKER_00 1:24:35

He'll knock on the door and then he'll, you know, lean in and be like, you still awake?

SPEAKER_07 1:24:41

Undressed, but yes.

SPEAKER_00 1:24:44

That's not uncommon. I uh I wanted to talk to you about about the fight.

SPEAKER_07 1:24:52

Oh, yeah?

SPEAKER_00 1:24:53

You uh you took more hits than many of us, and that that uh that worried me a little.

SPEAKER_07 1:25:01

Yeah, it was probably my fault for not staying back.

SPEAKER_00 1:25:06

Well, you'll find that um in this world there's uh there's no such thing as as uh a perfect plan. Um so when entering a fight, it's best to make sure that you uh you'll overpower your opponent in every way possible.

SPEAKER_07 1:25:25

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 1:25:26

So uh I notice that you're a little lacking in your defenses.

SPEAKER_07 1:25:34

She looks like kind of defeated.

SPEAKER_00 1:25:37

And he'll reach down and pull the staff that he found out, and he'll hold it out to you and be like, this should help. Be very careful with it.

SPEAKER_07 1:25:47

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 1:25:48

And then he'll just hand it to you and turn around and leave.

SPEAKER_07 1:25:52

Thanks.

SPEAKER_00 1:25:54

The door closes.

SPEAKER_07 1:25:56

Uh so I guess Ariel's gonna look at it and then set it next to her other one and get back in bed. Because he didn't tell her anything about it, so she has no idea.

SPEAKER_01 1:26:13

As the whole party, each individually throughout the night, retires to their beds and falls asleep. We're gonna go ahead and end the episode. And this will wrap up um Adventures in Aurelia's Aurelian Epic Arc 2. We hope you enjoyed this episode of Adventures in Aurelia. If you are liking what you hear, consider rating the show and leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. If you know someone who likes fantasy stories and think they might like the show, help them find us by showing them adventuresinarillia.com, where they can listen to episodes, read our blog, and find links to subscribe to the show. We are also available on your favorite podcast apps. If you'd like to support the show, you can donate to us monthly on Patreon at patreon.com slash adventures in Aurelia. One dollar a month gets you access to all of our bonus content and helps us raise the funds needed to improve the show. If you'd like to get in touch with us, you can send an email to feedback at adventuresinarillia.com, or you can join our Discord server over at adventuresinarillia.com slash discord. We'd love to hear from you. Lastly, we'd like to thank the artists who allow us to use their music in our show. Kevin McLeod of Incompitech.com, Tabletopaudio, Windswept, Alexander Nacarata from Serpent Sound Studios, Adrian Von Ziegler, Scott Buckley, Michael Gelfi, and Alec Wiesner. You can find links to all of these wonderful artists at adventures in Aurelia.com slash music. Yes. Okay. You guys are now level five. So level six, right now.