High Rollers DnD - Altheya: The Dragon Empire #42 |The Roads Less Travelled (Part 1)

Episode Date: November 12, 2024

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Run your way at newbalance.com slash running Welcome back to Ulthea the Dragon Empire, episode 42. Wow. Our heroes rushed through a mine belonging to the Shirakar Earthworks group, hoping to rescue Rowan, who had been lured deep into the earth by a cultist of Belayne, the hungering worm, she who feasts one of the embered gods of Ulthaya.

Whilst his friends raced to his aid, battling hideous creatures and angry earth elementals en route, Rowan's mind flashbacked to an incident where he entered a proto-Majai vault and was caught in some strange machine. As his life was nearly brought to an end, the strange patterns on his arm began to glow and the stone itself sprang to life

enshrouding him in a shield that protected and healed him, at least for a time. Whilst in this state, Rowan experienced visions and mentally battled against a fragment of Belaine's divine will. Managing to seize it and choke it, he bargained and learned information about their current quest. Eventually, his stone shield was broken just as his friends arrived, and together with the aid of a new angry Earth Elemental friend,

they defeated Jae Soon, the cultist who had lead Lur'd Rowan down there. With their foe slain, the party begin to make their way out of the mine, though unsure about how J. Soon's brother Kuro, who remains above with a well-trained mercenary company, will respond. Before we do anything else, I am going to do an official retcon. Because Mark-

Gantius has been dead the whole time. He's been dead the whole time. It's been an illusion. No, I made sort of a mistake, but also just got flustered in the moment last week. It happens. And I described that J.Soon's gross insect-y, like weird morph face changed back when she died.

I got it muddled up and it should not have changed back. Because of the nature of her story and things that have gone on behind the scenes and certain magical effects no longer being in place, it would be that she still has the gross insect mouth. Take this body out of here, it's not just a tattoo we're relying on now, it's the entire visage.

There is still a tattoo and stuff like that as well, absolutely, but there is still a point of here, it's not just a tattoo we're relying on now, it's the entire visage. There is still a tattoo and stuff like that as well, absolutely, but there is still a point of like, just because somebody has a gross insect mouth, like there could be many reasons for that, there might still need to be some sort of like, convincing potentially, we don't know. Okay. But obviously, we'll perhaps be a little bit easier

because of that, but yes, that was just something I got wrong, and then also, do you remember who picked up the ring that she was wearing? It was Xantheus, wasn't it? I believe it was Xantheus that currently has it. Yeah, I think it was. I think you did lose it. Yeah.

Pretty sure it was Xantheus. Sure. Wasn't me. And that was just you guys, just a pop quiz for you. What was that called? Nobody knows. We don't have a name for it. It was just a ring? It has not been examined in Nobody knows. We don't have an image of it. It's just a ring.

It has not been examined in any form, I don't believe. I think I just saw that it was magical. And that was it. But I do have charges on my gold sight eye, so I could identify. Before you do that though, it's fate time, baby. Fate time! Fate time!

Fate time! Time for fate. Time for fatey, baby. It's a die! Fate time! Fate time! Time for fate. Time for fatey bye bye. A four. A four. A dice for you. Oh! Oh, a four.

A dice for you. A three. A dice for me. Dice for us. Six. Dice for you, lovely. A one. A dice for me.

Hooray! A five, a dice for you. Four to two. Four to two again. What was the meaning of life? What was that last time? Yeah. In your favor?

Wonderful. So the, you guys were making your way out of this rather sort of twisty, complicated mine. There is anybody who had any effects that last for less than basically an hour. I would say in fact actually if you have effects that last less than eight hours, because it's probably going to take you a couple of hours to make your way back out, certainly any effects that last a minute would have ended around the time the battle ended. Hello, question.

Question, so I have my Aura of Vitality up around me. I healed seven times using it. You can have three more uses of it. I can have three more. Absolutely, just roll those, literally pick a person and roll them. Who's looking real... Beat up. Crumby. I'm 25. I'm fine.

I'm 42. 22. 30 of 30. I'm weirdly fine. Okay, this is for Rhi. Thank you. That's a five. Okay. I want it for me, that's a six. I'll do it for... I'm fine.

Santheus. Hell yeah. Two. Oh, two, three, how much? The dice heard you and just went, no. You did get all of the previous ones. Yeah, that's true. You got 27 points total. No, 26, because you were on one.

Yeah, I was definitely on one at one point. You were on one for a long time. I got a big old heel. You're bloody on one, mate. You're always on one. So yeah, so you guys are, there was the vertical shaft that you came down. Ophelia, you can still walk up that fine.

And, you know, Cruft still has wild shapes, but for some of the group, that is not gonna be possible. And you will have to wind your way through, basically the way that Rowan, you were brought down here by Jessun, when you were brought down here, basically. Yes, question. I know you're the best DM we've ever had, frankly, and maybe on the planet.

I don't, I disagree, but sure. Everyone's a very different, all DMs are very different. Like all five of us are saying it though, so. But mainly Troll right now. So benevolent DM. You know Featherfall, right? Really cool spell. Yep.

It seems to affect people's weight as they descend, right? No, it doesn't affect their weight. No, it doesn't affect their weight. As if they're like really like- Magically stops them falling that quickly. Why? So if I feather fall someone and throw them upwards. Nope.

You're thinking of levitate. I think you'd throw them as high as they can, but then they'd land. That is a whole other spell, my friend. They'd land very safely. We had gravity. You know the inverse gravity thing that Nova did? And then I cast feather fall with them in that.

Yeah, they would would fall upwards. They would fall slowly upwards. Should everyone, if you have reverse gravity in your spell list, put your hand up now. For podcast listeners, I don't want to explain it. Yeah, it is, no, Feather Fall does not change their weight, it just magically slows their fall. Sentry's favorite spell. Yeah, I just came and clutched so many times. When we came down here, I think someone did put a rope down the shaft, not all the way.

There was a 50 foot rope in a 300 foot mine shaft. So the last 50 feet, does that factor into your calculations at all guys? No. No? Cool. No, I'm just drawing it. I have a scroll of fly. You can walk up. We could just give you all the ropes. You walk up, tie it, tie it, tie it, all the way back down again.

What would Ophelia want to do that, though? Sounds like work. This is work, man. Tying a rope is not work. Oh, that's hard. I get calluses on my hands, man. I will also say that climbing 300 foot of rope up is a very tiring, arduous thing.

It is literally the difference between a few minutes or about an hour's walk, guys. 300 foot of rope up is a very tiring, arduous thing. It is literally the difference between a few minutes or about an hour's walk, guys. Maybe even less than that. Like 30 minutes, 40 minutes of walking. I think Gruff is glued to Rowan's side this whole trip. He is just not making, you're not going anywhere alone. You're now glued to Gruff.

Yeah, Rowan is very much taking that on board. He feels like he very much needs support right now. He looks a little dazed and confused and scared. Did you leave the body of Jason down in the mine? I don't think we made a decision. We haven't actually, as far as I'm concerned, we haven't actually left that room. I think we're still in that room.

Yeah, we haven't started the journey, but we're gonna take it. Because, yeah, initially we were examining the body. We saw the tattoo. We were trying to figure out. I think I was saying that I don't trust the people outside. Like, her own brother is out there. And likely him and the rest of the group are in on this as well.

There's no way they're not, is what Xanthias was saying. And then Baranth and Penelope arrived. That's correct, yes. And that was the point where we realised how shaken up Rowan was and Gruff had a little peeky at his rocky chest. Sure. That was in fact the very last thing I think. Yeah.

Cool. Alright. We could suggest, well Rowan's not really going provide any input right now, but Chris Troc, maybe Baranth can carry Jason. Yeah. I guess I could identify this ring for now, at least. You can do if you'd like to spend a charge, yeah? Yeah, I may as well.

I've got two charges, so I'll use one of those, one charge remaining on the gold site, to identify that rang. This is not in D&D Beyond Jets, you have to just rely on the card for now. But it is a simple brass ring with a silver emblem of a troubadour's mask. So like a Harley Quinn kind of mask.

Oh yeah. And it is called the understudy's ring. Whilst wearing this ring, you may spend one fate point to cast the spell Alter Self on yourself. This spell lasts for eight hours instead, instead of one. Wow. In addition, you have advantage on charisma,

deception, and performance checks to pass yourself off as another person as long as you've observed that person for at least one hour. Okay, so it's like a mix. And it requires attunement as well. Okay, so is that you, a fate instead of a spell slot? Mm-hmm.

Very cool. Yep. Nice. I'm the study's ring, yeah, that's cool. I don't know why, when you said there was a card and it's not in D&D Beyond, I was immediately like, fuck yeah, bro, I love cards. Yeah, you just think, you thought it was a Pokemon card,

didn't you? Yeah. You thought he was gonna pass a Pokemon card. What if you handed out booster packs instead of loot boxes? I, there is very famously, I believe that Mike from Penny Arcade famously did this in a packs game once where he had booster packs of loot that you could... It was like a live show and they physically had to pay money to get them and you opened it up and it had like either a common, a rare, a legendary or something like that.

It was very good. Oh my God. I got a full art bag of holding. It's the same bag of holding, it's just got nice art. Yeah, EX. Shiny bit, yeah. Another non-roan suggestion. This is all above table.

Wear that for an hour. Yeah. Look like J. Soon. We'll just come back. And just walk out. Where's the dragon one? Dead, sorry. Oh well.

Anyway, I'm joining this party now, bye. These guys are great. I don't know if I've necessarily observed them for an hour at this point. If I watch the body, does that count? No. No, the idea of it is- This is how they act. Well, think about it, yeah. The name watch the body, does that count? No. No, the idea of it is... This is how they act.

Well, think about it, yeah. The name, the understudies ring, the idea is that you observe somebody interact and engage in activities, allowing you to then pass yourself off as one. How long were we with them in the camp? I would say about an hour. You could use that ring to impersonate Kuro or Jason

or Captain Nathaniel. Or any of the random gods. Kuro. Attunement would take. An hour. An hour anyway, right? It takes basically a short rest. Yeah, I mean in terms of Xanthius and his loadout,

I don't mind, anyone else can have this. So I'm not beholden to it just because I have it, someone else can take it, is what I'm saying. Doesn't feel gruffy. No. You want it? Sure. You gonna remember you have it. No. You want it? Sure. You're gonna remember you have it?

No. You have to wear it and attune to it though. You cannot put it in your bag and then forget about it forever. Oh wait a minute, it's good, right? I will allow the walk back up to the camp. Embarrassing really. To count as.

I will allow the walk back up because the mine is now safe. There is no threat in this mine. So you can count the walk back up to the camp as a short rest. which means you can all take short rest as well. Oh cool. In terms of your jewelry and stuff, I figured you'd say.

Yes. How brassy or silvery is it? It's quite silvery, but how brass? I like silver. What about brass? Brass, well it's a bit brackish, but jewelry's jewelry. Brackish? Yes.

Very cool. Sorry, this is still Tom talking there. Is that a good word? There you go, you can have, in that case, take the understudy ring. Thank you. I shall definitely remember it. Try to gambit that across the table.

Yeah. Swear to God. I will eventually have to put that on D&D Beyond so you can attune to it, because remember you can only have three items attuned at a time. Yeesh. I can make an actual ring.

You could. And then it's on your hand. And I'll never forget it, because I'll be wearing it. And you'll never forget it. It's gonna be so fucking big. Wait, it's got the rules printed on the ring. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

That's really weird. I'm only attuned to veracity at the moment, so. I have room. What's weird, Tom, do you want to share with the group? I rolled my short rest dice in real life, but when I did the short rest in D&D Beyond, it then said like, I'll roll the digital dice instead, and I was like, oh fuck it, whatever,

I'll just re-roll them in D&D Beyond. The exact same result, the exact same numbers. Okay. It's almost like the dice only have exactly, well what are the chances? A dice can roll the same number on it. 2d6, oh no! Whoa!

My mind's blown! 1 in 36, right? 1 in 36, that's crazy. I should have... Or D&D Beyond was listening. Did you say you needed 2d6? I just rolled a whole bunch. I could have used it.

Well next time anyone rolls 2d6, let me know. I have one more cursed dice to go. There's theories in the Discord as to which one it is. If they think it's a D100, they're wrong. I do have one of those, but it's not that. No, they include it's a 2D6, and I think they've found what it is. Well, they're wrong, I haven't checked, I don't know.

They might be right. Anyway, anyway. Yeah, you guys are making your way back up. Baranth won't take the body, by the way. Oh, that changes things, we're not leaving yet. Yeah, well, I'm saying, like, as you, like, Baranth is just like, I do not wish to carry this tainted corpse. It represents an antithesis.

I'm too small and weak, sorry. Oh, I can give it a try and carry it. I mean, her action's an antithesis, sure, but she's still the one upstairs' sister. He would want to see her. I care little for the desires of these miners. Okay, well, I guess we could work together. Rowan, are you in a...

I can carry, yes. Are you sure? Yeah. You sure? Yeah. You don't have to. She stabbed me. But it's okay, she's dead now. No. We'll help.

Leave Rowan. Yes, we will do what we can. I mean, we do still need to get it up that very, very tall shaft, but... No, we're walking the wrong way. We're walking the wrong way around. I remember we just talked about this. Sorry, I'm distracted, I was identifying a ring.

Okay, but we still need to figure out how we broach the topic once we get out of here. I don't mean to press us, but I've seen things and we should get moving quickly. There's still stuff out here? Matters are moving quickly. I'm talking about Sir Ignis Eldrake, Ignis Eldrake, and Lady Verrethera.

What have you seen? Is he down here? I've had a vision. A vision? Yes, you know when I can connect with the... Anyway, we have to go. Okay. Okay, not a walk in the park. I know where we have to go.

Okay, great. But they are captured and they are in peril. So we need to leave the camp as soon as possible? As soon as we can get out, great. But they are captured and they are in peril. So we need to leave the camp as soon as possible. As soon as we can get out, yes. Okay. Can we just sneak out? Is there a way we can just divert this nasty business entirely and just leave without a trace?

They were here? I can help us, Penelope kind of pipes up, kind of. I can help camouflage everybody, help you blend into the environment, makes it easier to sneak, but I can only do that once a day. I only have magical energy, only enough mana to do it once.

I can also, I also have- Oh, okay, great, it sounds- It's as well as that help. Yeah. You two combined, that would be very helpful. Yes, that's so do we want to leave? I just don't know how I feel about a mining company knowing that we've gone in there,

we suddenly go missing, they find the body of their sister looking like this. Daisy. Rodri. Rodri is up there. We have to get Rodri and Percival. Sorry. They were away from the camp,

like you left them a little bit down the way, but you will need to go through, I mean, to be honest, to get out, you'll need to go out past these guys anyway. So if you sneak past them, then you can easily just go down and get Rodri and bugger off again. What if I just throw a bunch of rocks on her and then it looks like some kind of freak cave accident?

You know, just... She does still have the face thing. Oh, we just aim the rocks at her face. They'd probably be able to tell what a genuine cave-in looks like and what a fake cave-in looks like. True. I think maybe we should just be honest with them. I'm just worried they're being dishonest with us.

I don't know, I didn't get a vibe of dishonesty from the other people, but I did from her. What if we're honest and prepared to run as well? I think that's the best option, because... There's a lot of them out there. But Rowan, you can warn them about things, because they shouldn't be keeping doing what they're doing. They didn't seem to care about, well...

Jason didn't seem to care about the well-being. That was before they knew. That was before this bug face. No, well, she was part of the thing, the reason the Bellamorce came up. It was a worshiper of Belayne. But they've, and they've hired the mercenaries here to kill the Belomorphs, so they,

I don't think they knew that she was part of this. Maybe. I don't know, I'm all confused. When you said the name Belaine, Rowan, you couldn't help but feel like a piece of stone in the wall slithered like a snake. Like, almost like the stone itself rippled a little bit, like there was a snake behind the stone.

Like you're not sure if that was just in your mind or if that was a real thing, but when you said the name. That feels like the rock or the earth itself or like an element that's amongst the rock. Make a... Nature? Nature check, yeah. But are you proficient in nature? Hell mother chuffin, yeah. But are you proficient in nature?

Hell mother chuffin', yeah. All right, well use your, use your, no yeah, just make a normal nature check actually, yeah. Oh, I was gonna say, don't forget you have fate. 13. 13. To you, it feels like, and this is the same as when you, you unfortunately flash back to that awful memory of being cocooned in this lovely, warm, welcoming, earthy feeling of like,

being almost like protected by like a motherly kind of, or like a parental figure. And that horrid thing that you grabbed was outside of it, but moving sort of in the shadows of the rock and the stone. And that horrid thing that you grabbed was outside of it, but moving sort of in the shadows of the rock and the stone. Feels like that. And it feels more like that. Like it is not part of the stone. It is tunneling.

It's like something. Amongst it. But again, you're not, you blink and like the stone's completely normal. Like you're not sure if you imagined it or if it's not there. But it was when you said Belayne's name. Rowan speaking about this stuff,

he starts breathing heavier and looks a little bit more worried and panicked about just being in this, but he doesn't say anything. Rowan's son, are you okay? Yeah, I wouldn't mind just us going now. Okay, let's, we're going out. We can figure it out as we go. Take this corpse.

I think we need to. If there's a chance to stop them from doing stuff that's gonna make things worse, I think we need to do that. It's in the best interest of everyone and the land. I trust what Rowan says. Rowan says there's trouble. I think we need to do what Rowan thinks is best and that's to stop people from disturbing things.

I agree. And Gruff is already like accompanying Rowan out. Yeah. Well, not that he's not listening, but he's already like accompanying Rowan out. We can say that again, this conversation is like, once Ophelia picks up the body and everything else, you're kind of having these conversations

as you're moving and stuff anyway. Like I said, it takes you about an hour to kind of wind your way back up to the top. And when you do, the sun is beginning to set outside. Like you kind of spent a good chunk of time in the camp talking to them, and then Rowan coming down here to do the ritual, the chase down to go and find him,

and now coming back up, you know, a good few hours have passed here. That crimson golden hue is beginning to vanish as you sort of see. So it filters in the mine entrance. And as you're making your way up, you begin to see at the entrance to this mine, you can see bodies of Belomorphs. And you can even see what look like maybe broken pieces of one of those earth stone creatures as well.

And just ahead of you, as you're emerging out, kind of the fading sun, let me just work out exactly which direction. South, west, you guys would be. So kind of the, just off to the western side of the valley that you're emerging from, the setting sun is pouring that golden orange reddish light down into this valley. So long shadows are being cast by the sides

of the cliffs and the rocks. But you can see out there, you see Kuro and his mercenary company, led by Captain Nathaniel, are in the process of bandaging wounds and checking equipment. And you can see that the field is littered with bodies of Belomorphs

and a couple of these stone earth elementals as well. In fact, you guys literally can see the battle map that I've got here. This is roughly what it looks like. So you guys are emerging out of the mine, and you can see they've got these rudimentary barricades that they initially made to fight the Reclaimers coming in. They've now sort of gone to the other side and have now been fighting things coming out of the mine, basically.

And based on your own experiences, you guys know that, yeah, the Bellimorphs and the Earthen Mammals came out whilst you were making your way down. It looks like at the same time, a bunch of them rushed the company here and tried to attack them up here. And yeah, you see them pacing. Captain Nathaniel's got a nasty wound that has been bandaged up, and he's kind of shouting orders and telling his men to get things ready. Clear these bodies out of here.

Make sure we burn them. We don't know what these things are. Let's make sure, you know, Belimorphs don't know too much about them. Let's make sure that we don't leave anything to chance here. I want some patrols. I need some scouts. Let's make sure that those reclaimers

don't come back and take advantage of us. And it's kind of doing that military thing of getting orders in control. Kuro's behind one of these tents, kind of just wiping his brow and sort of breathing quite heavily. It looks like he's been part of the fighting as well. You can see that it's like a crossbow

that he's put on the ground, and he's got a quiver of bolts and things like that next to him. And yeah, everyone's in that kind of state of disarray. What do you guys do? Because you're going to see them before they really notice you here. So we are coming out of the caves now.

Assume, let's map-wise you're out, but if you want to hang back a little bit, you're more than welcome to. Where's the exit to this camp? So where we came in, it's a... I think that's what I see. Off of it. These sides, you could run off to the sides.

They're very hilly, very rocky, covered in woods. Like there's cover, but it's gonna be hard movement to go off to the sides, basically. You're basically gonna be going up into hills and things like that. If you wanna get to Rodri, though, he is basically directly ahead of you on the other side of the battle map.

It's gonna be difficult to herd. I reckon, yes, we speak to them, we be honest. But maybe we be honest while we're sort of making moves towards the entrance and, you know, have our backs towards the entrance maybe so we can make a quick exit. I hate to use a corpse as a bargaining chip or anything or a strategic thing, but we could leave it here,

say that we recovered it, but... It's a distraction. Leave it in the caves. They'll at least be behind us if they do decide to turn around and kill us. But yes, honesty. Well, I think the honesty kind of needs the face of... Bug thing to be, you know, kind of...

What do we say? Go look. Go look, it's right there. It's creepy as hell. of bug thing to be, you know, kind of. What do you say, go look? Go look, it's right there. Yeah. It's creepy as hell. I don't know, I think we should just bring it, bring it to them, because it's a bit weird to be like, no, you come over here and look at it over here.

That's gonna be suspicious. Okay, no, I don't know, I don't know. I still don't trust them. Oh Rowan, I know that you were, are you still feeling a bit nervous and stuff from what happened down there? Oh yeah. Well, I mean, I know, just in case anything goes bad.

Penelope's gonna reach up and sort of touch the side of your leg, and you feel this kind of field of like, I guess for her it would be like green butterflies begin to kind of circle around you. She's gonna cast a spell, Sanctuary, on you. So this means anybody who wants to attack you will have to make a saving throw

to be able to attack you, otherwise they just can't do it. Cool. Nice. Thank you. That feels really nice. I'm glad. You know, I know that whatever happened, I don't know what happened down there,

but it seemed to really shake you up. Yeah. It's okay, it's okay, it's gonna be okay. Thank you. Patting her upwards, cause she's like tiny. She's like three feet tall. We'll put a little arm, a big arm on a little goldie. It's like your hand, like basically is like her whole head almost.

He's being gentle, he's like patting her back. Yeah. Should I just, should I just take the body over? His tent, I think he's over there in that tent. Should I just take the body over to Kuro, I think he's over there in that tent. Should I just take the body over to Kuro and then the rest of you can start walking away should anything happen. At least then you're all out of safety.

No, no. Safety in numbers. Yes, we stay together. We're not splitting apart for a while again. We all go to the tent. All right, just so I'm aware, just because in case a fight does, again, I don't know I'm aware, just in case a fight does, again, I don't know if it is, but in case a fight breaks out,

I just want to make sure I know where everyone's positioned. So you are basically going to walk straight over to where Kuro is with the body. Yeah, the body is in someone's hands right now, I think. So Ophelia's? Are you going to be the first one, Ophelia, basically going to move ahead of the group? Yeah, I'll walk ahead. Alright, so you're going to get to about, I would say, here, when they're going to notice you, basically.

Because right now it's like they're like, pointing and like, giving orders and stuff. At this point there's no other way of getting around it. Where is everyone else gonna be located roughly? Like, so we've got Ophelia at the front making their way towards Kuro in the first barricade. Gruff will be next to Rowan, so whatever Rowan does, like just, yeah, solidly next to Rowan.

I feel like we'd all kind of come together, maybe. Sure, sure, sure. Yeah, I'll be with Ophelia, but not in such a way that... I almost want the body to be seen for exactly what it is, so I don't want to cover it from the guard. So you're like just to the side, basically. Daisy, where do you think Daisy would be? I think in the middle somewhere.

Sort of down here. And then what, Rowan and Gruff sort of behind a little bit? Yeah, it was Penelope and Baranth, whatever they're doing. Yeah, Baranth is, like, Baranth sticks to basically close to Penelope. Penelope will kick this Belimorph body out of the way. She'll be behind Rowan. It's almost a big line of us with Ophelia at the front

carrying this body. Yep. As you are carrying it out, sort of like, you know, it's been heavy. You've been carrying this for a while, Ophelia. You are feeling pretty tired, like, by this point. But you are just, you know, holding it been heavy. You've been carrying this for a while, Ophelia. You are feeling pretty tired by this point, but you are just holding it out in front of you. And it's one of the soldiers,

before Kuro or Captain Nathaniel notices, one of the soldiers is like, Captain, and points in your direction, which draws the attention, and Captain Nathaniel and Kuro both look over, and there's this kind of moment of silence where nobody really knows until Kuro's just like, Jason, what have you done? What happened?

And calls out immediately and we'll step forward. You see, those of you who have got a passive perception of I would say, in fact I'll make it a roll. See, it'll be, it'll be, it's only 11. So anybody with a passive perception of 11 or higher, so I think it's just Xanthius. No, no. 12.

No, I mean just me that doesn't. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. All of you would notice, like, Captain Nathaniel's trying to be subtle with it, but he basically gives a sign for his men to be ready. He's like, mounts, he's like, ready. Like, because he doesn't know what's happening. And you just see all of the soldiers

kind of tighten their arms on these musket rifles that they have, and they are not leaving their formations. They're not relaxed, they're ready in case something kicks off. Not like readied actions, but they're just, they're not relaxing. I think, if I, I guess I don't see that, they ignore me. You don't see that.

I'm the only one who does. But you do see Kuro is like, what the hell? My sister, what happened? And is looking towards you all. You don't think he's really seen the face yet, he's just seeing you carry the body of his sister. Yeah, it's the right outfit, the right body. Yeah. It's a complicated situation.

Can I bring her into your tent and we can discuss? Complicated situation? What do you mean? Just put her down. Like, what happened? Yes, well, can I bring her into your tent just to put her down, just so we can discuss? He, like, blinks a little.

Give me a persuasion check, Felia. Put her in a tent? He's just like, no, you need to tell me what happened right now, my sister's dead, I'm not, what do you mean put her into the tent, why? What happened? It's Hilo, we got bandages, like is she hurt? She's, I'm sorry, she's gone.

She's dead, Kuro. He will step a little bit closer. You see some of the soldiers kind of like begin to mutter amongst themselves and stuff like that. I know how this looks, but... Can I just, can I step around beside Ophelia as well? Just try and...

I'm gonna have to get a little table out of the way. Like wherever her head is, and just maybe like turn it towards him. Yeah, because it's kind of like tilted and her hair is kind of like covering it. I'll uncover and just turn it towards him. Sure. I can see. I'm going to make a wisdom saving throw

to see how well he sort of, Yeah, what's this? A thaw. Ah, I see, that could not be it. Now he rolls low. He just, well, his eyes just go wide and he's stumped. Like he's literally, he's speechless for a second. He's just looking at this disfigured, like ant-like

or insectoid-like face with a distended jaw and rows of sharp worm-like teeth, like horrid sandworm needle teeth. And just like, and he just sits down. Like his legs go out from under him and he just falls to the ground and he's like staring at it dumbfounded. Is anybody else doing anything?

Can I sit down next to him? Sure, let's see, can you sit down next to him? Anything from anyone else, just quickly? Rowan's little step forward. Okay. In which case I'll step forward with him. Yep. and we'll step forward. Okay. In which case I'll step forward with him. Yeah. Penelope and Baratheon did the same. Kuro, I understand what you're seeing is strange

and terrifying at the same time. I can explain what happened. You would hear a voice from, not from Kuro, but from the mercenary's direction in Captain of the Doors. I think that would be a good idea, my friend. And I think you should speak clearly. Sir, and he like calls out to Kuro, sir, listen. And you see Kuro kind of like snaps out of it a little bit.

Yeah. I'll put my hand on his arm and just like try and comfort him. I'm trying to, I wanna try and show him that we're not malicious in any way. We are trying to deliver bad news to him. That is a perfect help action for what I'm probably gonna ask is gonna be a persuasion check from Rowan,

so that's a great help action. But yeah, he's too stunned to recoil from you, check from Rowan, so that's a great help action. But yeah, he's like, he's not, he's too stunned to like recoil from you, so he just lets you do that, but it's a great gesture, like you said, of being non-threatening. I think while Rowan is talking and he makes this roll, I almost want, while everyone is kind of focusing on Rowan

and Kuro and everyone else, I almost want to step back and kind of nudge around the back of the group, just sort of idly kind of saunter there and reposition myself. Yeah, so that I'm just in a, not ungrouping ourselves a little bit, but just so if something does happen. What more? I think just around next to Baranth,

but just to the back of the line again. Yeah, you can see that like everybody, like the soldiers nearest Kuro, like you hear a couple of them, they've been looking and they've now finally seen Jason's face and they're like, by Satan's science, what is that? Like you kind of hear them say that under their breath

and there's like a muttering and like, make perception checks for me, you guys. Nah, seven. 15, dirty, 20. Perception checks for me, you guys. Nah. Seven. 15, dirty, 20. 15, dirty, 20. 15 is gonna be a success. Five. Five.

Nine. Sorry, so only Daisy and Gruff, you would pick up on this. Gruff, the little lion is kind of picking it up, maybe Daisy, because you're a bit closer. One of these mercenaries is like, did they do that to her? There, there's like that thought of like, what have they done to her? Like, there's that suspicion thinking

that maybe you guys have done something. But Rowan, please go ahead, say what you wanna say, and then I'll ask you for a persuasion check. Your sister was very interested in my story of an artifact that was found in Burnell that could carve into the land. He's like kind of nodding along, just can't take his eyes off that horrid face. I was taken with her down to the caves on my own, and at the time I thought, this is

fine I need to connect with the land like I do to figure out what's going on with these explosions and whether the land likes it or not. But I was lulled into a false sense of security by your sister, and she had a secret that was unearthed down there. Oh no, that's not possible. Give me the Persuasion roll. Fate.

You can use Fate, and you do have Advantage. Daisy's given you Advantage on this. Do I have the water? Yeah, so he's With, you can use fate, and you do have advantage, Daisy's giving you advantage on this. Do I have the water? Yeah, so he's still, he's got, drank the water. You drank, yeah, you drank the golden water. Should've got plus one. Yeah, plus one. Extra plus one.

18, 19. 29. Holy shit. Is that with the plus one? 30. Jesus. Da da da da da da. He, like, yeah, begins to react like,

no, no, that's not plus, and then his eyes lock in on the face. We were worried that maybe more of you were compromised by this cult. A cult? Yes. A cult of what? Of what?

No. Of Belayne. No, no, dwarves, we hate Belayne. She eats our ancestors, the ones that we don't protect. Oh God, it's saints and science. He's like looking at it. There is a tattoo that confirms this as well. It's not been a sudden thing.

He like looks and he's like, show me. Show me the tattoo. Where is it? Show it to me. I need to see it, I need to see it. Yeah, Ophelia will, yeah. Pull down and show off, like on the sort of side of her back kind of thing.

And he, like, blinks. He just, like, shakes his head. I can't believe it. I mean, I know that she's a tiefling. She's not a, she doesn't have metal skin. She doesn't have earth skin like the rest of us. But why? Why, why, why Belaine of all the, of all the things?

And you can see, I mean, you guys can make insight checks, but if he's an actor, this is a damn good performance. That road's just kind of taken in by it. Yeah. Don't worry. Sure. I mean, like for the rest, all of you guys, like this seems thoroughly legit. Like he is so taken back.

Yeah. And the Belimorphs attacked up here as well. I'm so sorry, Kuro. I just don't understand it. I mean, we... And then he sort of thinks, and you can see like a little touch of realization. You know, out of all of the other earthworks, out of all the other mining companies I know, I used to joke, I used to joke that we were so lucky. We never had trouble with Belomorphs before. We never, you know, we dig and we mine

and normally everybody has to deal with them. If you go down in the earth, every dwarf knows that Belaine, she hungers for the riches. I just thought we got lucky. But maybe it wasn't luck, any like looks at the body. Maybe she did something. Maybe she did something to make sure that we never had the trouble with her. Until they found what they wanted.

Whatever you had, it must have been something. She must have been worth giving up everything. She thought she had me pinned. And he rubs his chest. Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm sorry that she tried to do that to you. That's not about me right now, it's about you.

It's okay, we're safe. As a point, this was not gonna be a one check and done, but a 30 is quite an exception. This was gonna be a like, you're gonna need to make a couple of checks to convince this guy, but with a 30 persuasion, I mean, I can't argue with that. You are so persuasive.

Yeah, he's just like, and I think this is like, he looks in Rowan's eyes, and I think this is like, he looks in Rowan's eyes, and he can see the hurt and the pain that you're going through. Still looking terrified to this point. And there is just like, he believes you. Like, he is just like, I don't wanna believe it, but he can't see any insincerity in you,

and he just looks at what has happened, like he physically looks at what has happened, like he physically looks at this hideous transformation and the tattoo and is just like, completely stunned and he just kind of goes quiet after you finish talking to him, he just kind of sits there for a minute and sort of like puts his face in his hands and sort of holds himself together. You see at this point like Captain Nathaniel's been watching this scenario, and he'll just do that, and all of his men sort of relax a little bit. The men and women under his command will relax a little bit.

And you'll see, he'll say, Davis, Jones, why don't you take Mr. Kuro, Mr. Kincaid, back into the tent and get him something to drink? I think that's probably a good idea right now. And two of the soldiers will be like, oh,uro, Mr. Kincaid back into the tent and get him something to drink. I think that's probably a good idea right now. And two of the soldiers will be like, oh, yes, Captain. They'll move up and be like, come on, Mr. Kincaid, come on, let's get you a drink.

Let's get you something to eat. And he's just like, yeah, something to drink sounds good. And he kind of like stumbles up. He's in shock. Like he is fully in like, he does not know what's going on right now. And so he's very like just easily led away. And you can hear them like,

oh, you like the whiskey, don't you, Mr. Kinkaili? They're kind of like trying to talk to him and engage him. Like these are soldiers, they know what to do with like battle shock and stuff, and so they've taken him into the tent. Captain Nathaniel will walk over. I'm sorry for that unpleasantness. I wasn't sure where things would stand

if I had to deal with murderers of my employer, but what the hell? I overheard a little bit of what happened down there, but she tried to kill you? Ron is like looking off in the distance to the ash hills at this point. Yeah, sure. Sorry. No, that's all right I was just making sure so she I Don't know what to say We were fighting those things up here as soon as you're as soon as the rest of you all ran off You were gone perhaps a few moments a minute or two and then those things came here. As soon as you're, as soon as the rest of you all ran off, you were gone perhaps a few moments, a minute or two,

and then those things came surging out, and they attacked us. I would imagine she sent them. We had to fight a lot of the Bell and Wolves down in the mines as well. What about the stone creatures? Did she create those as well? No.

That was the earth fighting back. I see. Well, we will do our best to look after Mr. Kincaid, and it'll need some time, I suspect. But is there anything before, I don't know what your plans are, is there anything I can do to help or anything that you need? You can help. The land.

Cease the explosions. Do you think that that might be connected to all of us? Yes. Alright, well, it's not my business to tell Mr. Kinkade what to do. I am just a mercenary, but I will inform him. And I think that he'll be likely to listen. Sorry. Sorry.

Ophelia's just sneezing in the background. I like the idea that canonically Ophelia was just like, My dust. Yeah. And he'll just sort of like cock an eyebrow and smile over in your direction. No, oh well. Seems best that, yes, I will speak to Mr. Kincaid. Do you need supplies or anything?

Or, what does this have to do with those figures in black? The reclaimers, you call them. Is this connected to them in some way? I don't think they're connected. This is more the Earth fighting back against the explosions. And Belayne, well, we encountered cultists who stole this artefact that could blast through the rock, and Belimorphs were there as well.

So wherever Belaine is, these Belimorphs are all followers of Belaine. So just an unfortunate circumstance that you happened into this camp and Jason learned of this encounter that you had. If she hadn't learned of, if she didn't know, I imagine you would have just passed on your way. Terrible, frightful business. But it's better that you know now

before she has a chance to do anything worse. Yes, well, if I may be honest with you, there have been a few incidences. They were chalked up as accidents in our previous mining operations. You know, somebody would go missing. It happens, unfortunately, as I understand it, in the mining works.

People get lost down shafts or people stumble into places they shouldn't. People went missing and it was always choked down to an accident, but now with this information, perhaps it was more than that. Perhaps Miss Kincaid was up to something. I'm sorry your men were at the brunt of this. Well, we've been mainly just acting as guards. We've worked with the Shirakai Earthworks for some time, but we mainly just protect them from bandits, wolves, that sort of thing.

This is the first time we've encountered anything like this. It was mainly the miners and folks who were under their direct employ that went missing. Dwarves, specifically. Those with valuable earthskins, golds and silvers and the like. I hate to imagine it, but perhaps she was offering them as sacrifices. Quite possible. Oh. There was something I was going to say and it's just exited my brain.

It's out there. Where is it? I don't know. Carry on. That's really good, actually. What are you going to say? Do you need rest? Do you need... I have a few medics amongst my team. We have a few bandages and healing salves that I could offer you to patch you up. Or if you need to rest the night, obviously, I think it's better and safety in numbers and all of that, but...

Rowan, do you think we need to leave... now or... Do you think we need to leave now, Rowan? Or should we... We need to go now. Okay, I might just need a change of clothes. Oh yeah. If you look at you. Oh yes, my apologies. Yes, no, Bellamorth, really.

You will look and say like, I have some personal clothing I could. No, yes, yes. Bellamorth really got me good. They got me, yeah, they hit me bad. Give me a moment. Thank you. What does he look like at the moment? Just for you. It got me, yeah, they hit me bad. Give me a moment. What does he look like at the moment? It's like, I imagine it's just like,

it's like, it's like, and it's like, teared apart, like, he's definitely like, most of his torso is out. Is his torso out? I would say that, Xanthius would be smart enough to like, because you have your bandages on your outfit, don't you? I'd say the bandages are covering it, and whatever scraps are left, like,

Xanthius has got his arm over. That particular area as well of his outfit has quite a lot of layers to it as well. So it's tattered, but I would say yeah, Xanthius, for the sake of argument. I bet when I get these off, just layers and layers of this one. That bit was from a scratch from a Belimorph,

that was from when one of them spat at me and melted it, this bit was I just bent over too quickly. I probably would say though that your glove that normally hides your corrupted hand, most of that's been melted away, so you're I just bent over too quickly. I probably would say though that your glove that normally hides your corrupted hand, most of that's been melted away, so you're also trying to like hide that, so you're in like a pretty bad way right now. Yeah, it looks like I'm just holding a wound or something,

but yeah, everyone, I guess anyone else would know. A cruel DM would probably make you make deception checks and things like that, but I'm not that guy. Rowan will take off his big scarf and cover you make deception checks and things like that. But I'm not that guy. Rowan will take off his big scarf and cover you. Oh, thank you Rowan, this is huge actually, wow. You wear this all the time. Oh, thank you, it's so warm.

I know, I liked it when I wore it as well. It was very helpful. But yeah, Captain Nathaniel will disappear into his command tent and he returns shortly. He has basically a spare set of clothes, but they are, ah, he is from the Suncrest Isles, so they would be Suncrest Isle in sort of design. So a bit more sort of like,

Suncrest Isles are very tropical and warm, and so it's like the shirt is a lot more breezy. It's a bit more, It's not a Hawaiian shirt. But it would be like cool linen trousers and like a sash. And then like a kind of like, yeah, a tunic with loose baggy kind of like airy sleeves. But luckily in Xanthias colors. It'd be brassy, it'd be bronzy colors.

That's all right. Yeah, it'd be like bronzy colors, be bronzy colors. That's all right. Yeah, it'd be like bronzy colors, like bronzy kind of metallic. It does have patterning on like the tunic and the sash. Okay. Yeah, light linen trousers. Your boots, I would say the leather boots are also pretty worn, and so it gives you

like a pair of like army boots. But these are like common clothes, like nothing. Nothing fancy. Okay, well I'm going gonna go get changed real quick, but then we can go. Anyone need any? There was a lot of theories about, because you joked about taking J. Soon's outfit,

and I did have to remind people that it is a tight black bodysuit, leather bodysuit, with a black jacket and like thigh high leather boots. Be awkward if we came out. I mean, yeah, but also, she was a tiefling dwarf, so she was a lot shorter and stockier as well. So just the idea, it would have been very Rocky Horror, if so.

It's such a CRPG thing of going back to the village wearing the bad guy's clothes, like, sorry, we had to. Yeah, like, all this gate, what you have in your hand. It's got plus one. I can explain. Yeah, like, all this gate, we're going, yeah. It's got plus one. I can explain. Yeah, don't worry about it. But no, yeah, you briefly, it doesn't take you long, you literally nip in the command tent,

Captain Thaniel lets you get changed in there, get changed. There probably would be a standard, like a traveler's cloak as well as part of that, just for like cold weather and rain. But it's like a simple, basic, probably slate gray, like hood like cold weather and rain. It's like a simple, basic, probably slate gray, like hood, like hooded cloak.

But I come out, it's like a montage scene. Flip open the curtain, strut forward. Bam, bam. Whoa. I mean, everyone's like too busy, like, you know, grieving over the party, or like, you know, helping Rowan, and you're just like posing in the background.

Ophelia's the only one outside going, yes, yes, yes, yes. Oh no, Penelope would also be like, you know, helping Rowan, and you're just like posing in the background. And he's like, Ophelia is the only one outside going, yes, yes, yes. Oh no, Penelope would also be like, looks really good. There's one standing in black looking miserable and out there like taking selfies of myself. There's a funeral in the corner. Holding up the dead body, oh. Yeah.

Got him. Yeah, no, Xanthias, you get some clothing, kindly provided by the Mermaid's Folly. It probably would, not to go into the point, but the cloak probably would have the Mermaid's Folly. It probably would... Not to go into the point, but the cloak probably would have the Mermaid's Folly badge icon as well. So this is their mercenary company, specifically, is the Mermaid's Folly. Sweet. MFers. Didn't think about that. But yeah, you guys, they are quite happy, like Kuro seems happy to just...

They're like, our employer is in, needs our help, we're gonna focus on that. He doesn't want us to attack you guys, we're just paid to do our jobs, so we're not gonna do that. And so they're happy to just let you go. Who is it who used the rope to initially, you? Can we just like, you, grab 50 foot of rope,

like, just like, cause he sent any supplies. And we just like, plenty of rope! In my cup! You never know when you need it. You never know when you need it. Yeah. If Graff would like to go, you can pick up some rope and add it to your inventory.

I don't have any. I do now! Yeah. Oh wait, no I did. It's a mining, like, they have, I'll just grab like six days of frac. Now I've got two. You're 100 feet now.

Rowan's gonna walk off to... Sure. ...Rodri. Yep. And just start preparing Rodri. Yeah, you guys make your way back down there. Rav. Are we, like, is anyone else with us?

Or is it just because I want to follow the... I'm getting changed. I'm assuming that, yeah. I'll probably go over to the wagon. Rav. Can I speak to Rodri, please? Okay, it's okay, give me a moment. Embarrassingly, I don't have this

because I'm on the old D&D Beyond, but new D&D Beyond, speak with Druids, Druids can just speak, have it, just have it. How'd you do it before? Think that last time. Oh, we changed over? I had the spell. And we changed over characters, yep.

Penelope. She's used her use, we changed over? I had the spell. And we changed over characters, yep? Penelope. She's used her use, you've used her use of it today. Oh. But you're a luck vest, yeah. I can hold his mouth, look, and I can put my... Take a face. Hi. Rowan.

It's me. I like this better. Rodri. I don't think Rodary's enjoying that. It's lovely to see you! Rotary's not enjoying that. Sorry, Rotary, let's go. Why don't we speak to him tomorrow?

Sorry. Good vision tomorrow. I can make it happen tomorrow. That's okay. Can I take Gruff aside? Sure, do what you want. What does this look like? You just grab him a ball.

Oh well, I imagine it's probably when... That is happening. That is happening. They're very distracted. Gruff, Gruff, Gruff. Yeah, probably just tug on his... What's up, little one? I didn't want to say it because I didn't want anyone else

to know when we were in the cave, but did see a big old chunk of crime steal. Right. He didn't notice it, but I just didn't... I don't know, I feel like I should tell you when I see things like this. Is it still down there? Yeah, but I didn't want to touch it because...

Sensible girl. Nim... Yeah, I said I shouldn't touch it, so I didn't touch it, but it was... Sensible Nim! I just say that it, so I didn't touch it, but it was... Sensible Nim! I just say that. He doesn't know how it works, so he just shouts for Nim at you. Also, Graf, don't drink the golden water.

Pour it out. What? What's wrong with it? Crown steel. Crown steel, Graf! What? Crown steel. How do you know that? I know! Nim knows! Bad vibes. But I feel all right. I know, but that's only Bad vibes. But I feel alright.

I know, but that's only because it's a teeny weeny bit, but look at his reaction to it. He thought it was the best thing ever. You have got a point there. See? If you're pointing towards me, I'm like in the back of the wagon trying to find some kind of reflective surface so that I can dress myself better in this dumb new outfit.

Doesn't sit right. Just a little bit too tight. Well, you would have to cut a hole in the pants for your tail. Yeah, I'm trying to do that now. A little bit too small the first time, and then. Xander, what are you doing? Help me out, this is ridiculous.

It doesn't have a tail hole. Oh, a tail hole? And the robe doesn't quite sit right. It's just all, it doesn't feel right on me. Just, like a Jumanji. It's like, well something. You're using veracity. Shhh, shhh.

See, it's a bit low at the front. If we just pull it back a little bit. My shoulders, I just don't think it's the right size. If I just pin it back here, if I take this little. Captain O'Faniel certainly had a bit more of an athletic build versus Xanthius. Just get broader shoulder than... Just not here. Just not here.

I just feel it down my legs, it's just a seam, it doesn't feel right. I need to get this fitted or something when we get back to Ashen's rest. Oh, we can get some new ones tailored. We could get some new ones. A whole new one. Wait, of course we're gonna do that.

Easy. Is it me? Or do you think Xanthius is getting a bit more cocky? Oh no, it's definitely happening, yes. Right. Do you think that's part of this potentially... Right. Um, but yeah, I just is down there. Obviously didn't want to touch it. Didn't want him to know about it.

But Golden Water, I think we should just accidentally tip them all out. You know what, Afidia? This is starting to feel bad. We should celebrate over a glass of liquid yellow. Liquid yellow? Do you have any on you? Well, you picked up a few, didn't we? I should have filled my water bottle.

If I'm correct... You filled your water bottle. Xanthius, Rowan and Gruff, fill your water skins and any other containers you could. I have it here that you have five days of golden water. You're there saying, do not drink any more. Me and Ophelia are like, hook arms around. I have to say, what should we do?

Yeah, we can. Do you guys drink more? Hey, Roderich, who wants some water? No! If I see Rowan going to feed water to Roderich, I'm just gonna slam him. What are you guys doing that? And after Ophelia's run off to help Xantheus,

I like the idea of Penelope showing Rowan a spell where she casts a spell and makes rocks roll towards her and stack up. It's just she's using the Elementalism spell and Dreadcraft and making things bloom. Oh, my. By the stars. That's incredible. She's basically playing games with you. She makes a stack of five rocks become a little rock person, do a little dance.

No way! That's amazing. Can I try something? Well, I look at Daisy and we're talking about this and everyone else is gallivanting. Miss. Miss. I can cast Destroy Water. Miss. So I can destroy up to 10 gallons of water within range.

Yes. Can I take a sip? Here we go, Ophelia. My eyes! It just turned into acid. That's the second half of the spell. But what would remain? Ah, there is a specific line of clarification from the spell.

You can create or destroy up to 10 gallons of water in an open container within range. So you can target your water skin with it, but you would not be able to affect all of the water skins within range. But you could easily destroy your water. I'll destroy my water, and then can I spend another spell slot to create fresh water for me?

I'm gonna remind you, you can also just pour out. Like magic to go, Begone water! Ha ha! You do like the full incantation just to tug at it. Esmec azalal, bespejnumin, el denen bes! Ah! It's an ematic, though. You do like the full incantation just to turn that. It's McEvillal! Blast to the man! Elves dead end!

Bess! Poof! And then meanwhile, Daisy's just like, pssh. Ha ha ha! Correct. I love the video about that. I go over to Xenthius. You could then create fresh water in your water skin after.

I just go over to Xenthius, who's holding his water container and just go... Yeah. Stop it while looking at Gryff. I'm assuming you do not, well, because otherwise I'm gonna have to think. But you can absolutely, if you want to tip it all out and then just create freshwater, Gryff, you can do that. Yes, I will just tip it out.

But then I will create fresh water. You show that water, Gryff. I'll show that water what's what. So as I understand it, right now, cause also Rowan drank the water, so I think your water skin also has it in it. So Rowan's water skin, Zanthius, everyone except Gruff's now. And Gruff's.

I have an Ian. You have, you had vials that you filled up, didn't you? She wouldn't get up with blood. Cause you had blood. I have blood, yeah. I think you filled up vials. Oh yeah, I did. Do I have vials?

Yes. Okay. You were gonna sell it. Oh yeah, I did. Yes. Okay. You were gonna sell it, oh yeah. I just have it noted that there is four days of golden water. Okay. I just had a big fight, I'm going back, and I'm having a sip.

You drink some? I'll have a sip. Sure. Do we witness this boy? I need water, it's normal to drink water. It's normal. Are we witnessing this boy drinking this water? I'm not like, glug glug glug everybody.

It takes a sip from his water skin. Yeah. Can I? You are currently in the process of filling your water skin up with magic, so no, you don't notice. Can I go over to... Mia.

Rowan and ask him if I can see his water skin, please. You can do whatever you like. As a point, your buff refreshes, Xanthius. So you get that plus one to ability checks and saving throws. And then you get the plus one thing. That was a lovely drink of water. Tastes so good.

Yeah, so good that I, in a moment of clarity, really regret calling it Liquid Yellow. Yeah. I mean, at the time when you called it that, I was like, that's not a good name. It came out. Gold slug. I mean, it's Liquid Gold.

It's Liquid, I don't know why I didn't say that. I know why you didn't call it Liquid Gold. Or Glittery Gold or anything. Why Liquid Yellow? Why not just say, if I just said piss, then it would be obvious I'm making a joke. If it's Liquid Yellow, it's like I'm trying to canonically call it liquid yellow.

Let's just call it gold water, shall we? Yeah. Tainted water. Cursed. Blasphemous water. Bad water. Blasphemous water. Dr. Pepper.

Blasphemous water. I'm gonna go over to Rowan. Rowan, can I see? I call it red bull. Can I see your water skin, please? Rowan. Rowan, can I see? I call it Red Bull. Can I see your watcher skin, please? Rowan is like focused so hard on the little like rock man. He's like, yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever. Oh, look at this. I'm gonna take it and I'm just gonna pour it out.

Okay. Are you looking at Gruff's eyes when he does that? I'm looking at Gruff going, thumbs up, like approval from Dad. I will, and I will, wow. Gryff, Gryff. Did you actually say Dad? No, she wouldn't have said that.

Gryff will come over and do the old crate water as well. And then... Oh my god, another spell slot, please. Yep, water skin refilled with fresh, clean water. That is one thing I would do. Before we leave the camp, can I ask them if they can give us some water? They can, that's the one, they will say,

Captain Nathaniel say, we can spare a water skin or two, but our supplies aren't unlimited unfortunately, but I can spare a water skin or two. That's okay, yeah, that would be great. Because mine was empty because I emptied out the gold water. Cursed water, yeah, blasphemous water. So fill yours and then they will, they can give you another one.

Okay. So then I will go to Xanthias. Xanthias. Oh hi, what do you think of these clothes? I've been trying them on in different ways, but the sash doesn't quite work, and Ophelia ripped the tail hole open for me, and that's great, but does it look good?

I can't tell. I'm feeling weirdly self-conscious all of a sudden. It looks like there's not much that you have a choice about because your other clothes disintegrated. Yeah, I know, it was a damn Bellamorse. They melted it all, it was ridiculous. They only target me. All your clothes are fine.

How about though, when we go to the next town that we stop by, we'll get you some new ones. Yeah, oh actually they might have something good that's similar to what I have. It's mostly cauldron after all. Yolo. Can I just see your watcher skin please? Oh sure.

Why? I've got it. Why, no, oh! Why would you do that? We were gonna sell this in Ashen's Rest, it was gonna be so, why? I pour it. Why, no, oh! Why would you do that? We were gonna sell this in Ashen's Rest, it was gonna be so, why? We're gonna have to, Ophelia, you seeing this? No.

That's not the, a money! That's money, you're pouring into the dirt! Sister Ophelia, that water is full of crown seal. Crown seal water? Oh. No, come on! No, thank you much much he liked it. Oh, that makes sense.

It's delicious, you thought it was delicious too, if you knew, right? No, it's delicious, it's super. It wasn't that good. Oh, yeah, but it was in a quiet taste, maybe, sure. It's a bit spicy. I like spice, I like spice. And now I don't have that, now I just have water.

My own flavored water. You actually just have an empty. Well, yeah, great, now what are we gonna do for rations? That was very useful, Daisy. Sorry I'm not trying to get you to poison yourself to death. I don't think it's poisoned. I don't think it's poisoned. Everything around here is drinking that water and eating their stuff.

Yeah, and they're corrupted. Over hundreds of years. Won't have any effect on me. How sure is he? Canonically, Zephia doesn't laugh. How sure is he that he doesn is he? How sure is he? Just Tom can't help himself. Well, okay, fine, great. I'll just have water, but it was delicious,

and you all agreed. I wouldn't say it was delicious, it was wet. Well, that tends to be what water is, yeah. I mean, you could have at least asked. It was water. It was pretty.

Well, would you have let me. What are we gonna do for a replacement? Would you have let me pour that out if I had asked? Oh no, because now I have no water. Gruff could give you, I actually have an extra water skin from the camp, so you can have this one. I'll give him the extra one, but.

So now you can't complain, because you've got water and it's not cursed. You're welcome. I'll take a sip of that. It does not taste anywhere near as good. Yum yum. It's incredibly bland. I don't appreciate your sarcasm.

That's good water. I don't appreciate you pouring my good drink down your throat. You know she's only looking out for your best interest, Santhius. Aw, Dad's mad. I had a nice drink, now it's gone. Daisy, can I... Hey, can I check this out?

Can I borrow you, Daisy, for a second? Oh, yes. You gotta look at this stone creature one sec. Oh, oh. There's like a little tiny, it's like a little tiny rock with four little rock arm and legs, and he's just doing a little dance,

and then Penelope gets a dandelion and makes it get a little almond leg, and they start dancing together, the little dandelion and rock. Oh, my God! I know, that's great. I lied. That's not how I brought you here. Um, can you, uh, speak in our minds except for Xanthias real quick? Everybody's? Yeah, except for Xanthias real quick. Okay.

Oh, group call. You're an invited boob. Do-do, do-do, do-do, do-do, do-do. Yeah, except for Xanthius real quick. Oh, group call, you're an invited boob. There's a secret Discord channel. You're not in it. Yeah, I'll do the thing. Is it working? Hello? Hello. Hi, team. Rowan requested a group call, but Xanthius isn't here.

So just act normal. Hey everybody, it's me Rowan requested a group call, but Xanthes isn't here. So just act normal. Hey everybody, it's me Rowan. I'm speaking in your minds right now. Okay, we really need to get going. And I'm a little worried about where we're gonna end up because you know the whole Crownsteel thing? It's gonna get worse. Oh, I saw some in the cave just down there.

I told Gruff, I didn't tell Xantheas. It was a pretty sizable chunk. Oh, what, like? It was like a, and can I just? You can imagine in your head, you can picture like an amendment. Oh, I'll picture the image. Oh, that's a lot.

It was like a, yeah, like a grapefruit size. That's a big chunk. You can show the image. share that picture in my head. Yeah, all of you, was that? Sorry, I know I can't, but you actually share the images through this group chat as well? It's telepathy. So if you...

You can imagine what. If somebody, now here's the interesting thing. I guess we decide now, do your characters have aphantasia? Because then you can't. No. Because it is literally like if Daisy can pick, and also Daisy's an artist, so she pictures it in her head, she can transmit that image.

In the same way that like if you think about a memory and you imagine things that were said to you, it would translate in the same way. When you do telepathy between people of different languages, they understand each other, right? Only if you speak, because you would speak, you mentally speak in the words, but you could, if you wanted to be like, oh, we can't understand each other, right? Only if you speak, because you would speak, you mentally speak in the words. But you could, if you wanted to be like,

oh, we can't understand each other, I will imagine an apple. And they'll be like, that's an apple. That's how I like to rule the same way. I don't know if that's canon, but like, yeah. That's how I imagine it. You see it, yeah. But you have to still speak the same language.

You must like, chat with Rodri, don't you? You have to, it has to be a creature that is capable of thought. Has to be capable of thought,, it has to be a creature that is capable of thought. Has to be capable of thought and it has to be able to stand in language. Oh, me, Rowan, and Rodri would be in a good chat. Oh, dang! In return.

But that's how I do it. Yeah, so in return, all of you except Xanthius now, and again, like Xanthius is a storyteller, so I imagine for you it's kind of in a similar way that you kind of can project these images. Rowan, Rowan, not Xanthius. Xanthius is a storyteller, so I imagine for you it's kind of in a similar way that you kind of can project these like images. Rowan, Rowan, not Xanthius. Xanthius is the cocky one. Thank you.

You see this large underground lake in a huge cavern. You see like a fortress town built around on an island in the middle of this lake. And in the center of that is a pile of crown steel. Some of it broken pieces, like of what looks like armor or weapons. Some of it appears to be raw. Some of it is almost like it's been pulled out of a creature,

and it's all just gathered in a pile sat in the water of this giant lake, basically. Can I do a con save real quick? Sure. Thanks. Okay. 15. I don't know what you're doing, so I can't set a DC. Me running back through these memories is also when I was captured in this point

and had other memories. I wonder if I would involuntarily flash something like that through if I fail at concept. With a 15, I think you'd be all right. You only share what you're intending to share. That's why I wanted to leave it to the dice roll. So yeah, you see. In the future, when you wanna do that, let me know and I will roll a d20 and not tell you

and then I'll know, cause I don't want you to know what you rolled so then I can be like, cool. Cool. Like you don't, yeah. All right, we'll do that. This seems very, very, very, very, very bad. That's a lot.

We need to get moving. Okay, do we need to let Obsidius know that there's this much crown steel here? I focus on the image of Sir Eldrake Ignis and Lady Veryth. So yeah, what you would see there is the Lady Veryth here is a little bit more distant. Like she's not, you can tell that it's some sort of draconic humanoid figure,

but she's like shrouded in shadow. You don't get a good look at her specifically, but she seems to be a prisoner. But you see Ser Eldrake Ignis very clearly, like bound chains, kind of keeping him locked down, and this Reclaimer dressed in these elaborate robes with this elaborate like headpiece, holding a piece of crown still reverently,

moving to Ser Eldrake and then forcing it into his mouth and for him to eat it. And you can see that one of Ser Eldraac's arms is showing heavy corruption mutation. Oh, we need to get going immediately. Maybe though, just really quickly before we go, we could ask the captain to send a message to Osirius and to Embarissa, Lady Embarissa,

and let them know that there's crown steel and Sir Edd Eltrak, well, is in this state. That's a good idea, Gruff, yes, we should. Do you know the direction, Rowan? Yes, yeah, you do. Right. I can follow the river.

Yeah, so you have it. If you wanna pass me your map, actually, I will mark on. Oh my god. Map on. I think there is a mark already. Oh, did I already do that? Yeah. Two tiles to the east of where we currently are.

No, that is a different place. Oh. What? You're okay. No. I don't think any of us are okay today. I'm chill. What is old PTZ doing?

It's gonna slowly drift towards the right. It's doing such a slow drift. Okay, so we are currently. There it goes. It's still going. Here we go, so. Oh, look at that. Oh, look at that beautiful pan.

Just ready to rest. So you know it's about, yeah, you know it is about three days because of the terrain. It's about three days travel to the southeast, right in the middle of the ash hills, like deep close to the mountains. And you know that that's the direction you're going. The other thing you would remember, Ron, from your vision

is that there are a network of underground rivers that all link back up to that lake. And they have, like they spread throughout the ash hills. So you could try and maybe, you've got two choices basically. You travel over land to directly where you think this underground lake is and find a way down from like the surface.

Or you find one of these underground rivers, you try and get into one of those and then try and take that along to the lake itself. It would have carved a path. Yeah. But again, like that might be- Because it's kind of our mouths open towards it. But that might involve having to go underwater at points

and like, you know, it could be more dangerous. But then, otherwise you're gonna have to go over land and then find the way down. Because you know that this lake is quite far under the earth. Like it's probably about 300, 400 feet under the earth. Yeah. But yeah.

Yeah, I'll point it out on the map. On the side of Ron. So are you doing this in your head now, or are you kind of, you're saying this out loud? Yeah, I'll come back to the group now. Okay, we need to probably get moving. Oh, okay. Nice outfit, Xanthius. Thank you, you think it works?

Yes. Thank you, great. Oh, did Daisy, did you just laugh? No, I've got something in my nose. What is it? What's wrong? What's missing? What's missing? Look at me.

Yeah? I'm not one for fashion, Xanthius. You look resplendent. Do I look stupid? No, absolutely not. You've never looked stupid in your life, I'm sure. Well, I've said like 20 minutes ago when I was... You were saving me.

Well, yes. And that was important. Well, yes, no, I wasn't focused then, but anyway, thanks for the scarf, by the way. You can have it back. Thank you. Are we leaving, are we heading off? Yes. So you know which way to go.

I think we should head in this direction, and I put the map off on Roger's belly. Okay. And point it out. Well, we're right here. So what's that about? And then I look at everyone else very obviously, like, remember what I showed you. Wait, did you say that out loud?

No, no, I'm just nodding in that way. Okay, but at what point do we have to tell Zenith that there's a Cron Steal? So, if we're here, it'll be about, what, one, two, two, maybe three days? Three days with the terrain, remember? It's a day and a half moving through difficult terrain. While the boys are having this conversation, can I take Daisy to a site and get Daisy to write a message,

everything we know, from what we saw in the vision to the location, with the intention that we give it to the captain to get to Lord Obsidius and Lady Ambrisa? Sure. Do you say that that's what you're planning to do? to the captain to get to Lord Obsidius and Lady Ambrisa. Sure. Do you say that that's what you're planning to do? Like out loud? To Daisy? Okay, we can use the psychic comm, right?

I'm asking, yeah. What were you doing? Yes, psychic comms. Okay. Yeah, you finish writing that up, and then yeah, you can make your way back. Like, yeah. Before we head off,

I'm going to give this to Captain Nathaniel to send to Lord Obsidius and Lady Emberissa as an update. Okay, great. Oh, you said you also had a vision, Rowan. Yeah. What did you see? That sounds important. It is really bad.

Okay, but you know which way to go, right? But what did you, was it, did you see, not Emberous, did you see? I start breathing heavily. It's quite, it was a lot, it's antheous. Okay, well I mean if it- It's bad and we should press on. Do you know what we're gonna be up against?

Did you see the other creatures? It seems like the leaders of, or the heads of this reclaimer cult. Okay. How many of them? Where are they? I just feel like this is important to know before we just charge into this place. We have to go deep underground. I know we have three days, but, you know, are we again, as we usually tend to do, going in beyond our depth? Grapher? Grapher?

Alright, don't yell at depth. Grapherth? All right, I'm here lad, I'm here. I'm sorry, I just, I don't want to, we seem to always be... Grapherth knows how to explain things better. Right, he had a quick word with me, he saw in his vision where we need to go next to save Lord Ser Ygnis.

Eldrake Ygnis, right, everyone seems so flustered at the moment, What's going on? I just, if you, I'm just, I don't want to dive into another place, get into another fight we are woefully unprepared for. This vision seems like the perfect opportunity. In your head, you just hear these go, he knows! Baranthos say, like, you know, normally quite quiet,

will interrupt and be like, I agree with Xanthius. It would be most unwise for us to plunge into battle, not knowing what we are up against. If you saw how many there are, what kind of equipment they have, I just don't want- I'm telling him, this is not right. I can't be dishonest with Xanthius. It's not dishonesty, it's just, you're in danger.

Me? Yes. What did you, was this a prophetic vision? Did you see me in this vision? No. Right? I saw your greatest enemy in this vision. I'm trying to think. Papa!

A joke answer could be, but as in what? Oh, you, oh. They have hoarded all of the crowns till they could find into one place. All of it? As much as most have ever seen. And they're feeding it to Sir Ignis Eldrack. Sir Eldrack Ignis.

I can't get that wrong. Which way around is it? I can't do it. Sir Eldrack Ignis. It feels like it should be Ignis Eldrach Ignis. Eldrach Ignis. Why don't you get that on the map? Which way around is it? I can't do it. Sir Eldrach Ignis. It feels like it should be Ignis Eldrach. I don't know why. I don't know why it's logged in. That's not his name.

You guys are freaking out right now. It's Eldrach Ignis. We've been trying to follow this guy for weeks. Look, okay, we are heading into a place which has got the most potent amount of crown steel possible and we've seen what it does to you in small supply. Well, no, okay, maybe a little bit. Not really, but I mean, yeah, possibly.

But I mean, we were already kind of prepared for this, right? We were... We knew where we were going could have had a lot of Crownsteel around. And Obsidius says that if you get around it, then it's not good. He warned us specifically. Not that, and I turn to Penelope and Baranth.

That's a problem for me. Crownsteel, schmarnsteel, that's what I always say. Penelope's just looking at you with big goblin anime eyes, Baranth completely expressionless. He's like, I don't really understand what you're talking about. The Crownsteel is, you said it's like the sickness that Lady Verithera wanted to heal, right? Are you sick?

No, well, no. No, no, no. He's particularly fun. Do you want to give me a deception check there, pal? Do you want to give me one? Deception, pal? Do you want to give me one? Ha ha ha! Deception, let's see. I'm not even going to fate it.

I can tell you that I don't even need to look at numbies. I'll fate it. Yeah, go ahead. Yeah. Nice. Get a fate back. What'd you get? What'd you get?

I am the Dungeon Master. Yeah? Therefore, I ask first. You're doing a perception check on me. Yeah. What'd you get? What'd you get? What'd you get? I am the Dungeon Master. Yeah? Therefore I ask first. You're doing a perception check on me. Yeah. What'd you get? What'd you get? What'd you get?

Oh my god. Thomas. Was it more or less than a nine? A nine. Vanellope will sort of knit her little brows together and she's like looking at you. I'm not, if you're sick it's OK. I want to try and help.

Like, it's OK if, like, you don't have to lie to me. No, it's just, you know, like dragons. In your head again, you hear, Sheena! Listen, it's okay, like, without. Dragons and people associated with dragons have an unusual reaction to crown steel, so if we were to encounter a lot of it down there, then it might affect me greater than everyone else,

is what I'm saying, sort of. Okay. Listen, I mean, y'all, everyone seems to know a lot more about this stuff. I don't really know what this stuff is, and if it sounds like it's real dangerous and stuff, and Baranth doesn't know that much either, right? Like, Lady Varithera was the one

who knew all about this stuff, so... It is dangerous in the wrong hands. Okay. It stuff, so. It is dangerous in the wrong hands. Okay. It can be dangerous even if it starts in the right hands, it can become bad. Well then, if they, and you said that this place has got a load of it, right? And it's in the water, you said? Yes. Well then that's what's making everybody sick, it's the source of the illness, right?

Yes. The veins of Dathenax. But the problem is that when he had a drink of that, he thought it was really, really, really good. Yeah, but it was. Okay, yeah, that's probably a bad idea, then you shouldn't be, don't eat anything or drink anything in these lands. It's tempting.

But listen, if we can rescue Lady Varithera, I'm sure she's gonna know a way to cure the sickness or the plague or whatever it is, she'll find a way to make the poison go away. I'll gently put my arms around Penelope. Uh-huh. Lady Varithera has beenelope. Uh-huh. Lady Vero-thera has been held there. Uh-huh.

Oh great, you know where she is, we can go rescue her. Yes, but she's, she doesn't look. Blink, blink, blink. You know what, we're gonna do it. She's gonna be fine. Yeah, oh Lady Vero, she's one of the most, she's so kind and she's so lovable. You know, if there's anything.

She's crying. There's no way that she's. I can't wait to meet her. You know, if there's anything. She's crying. There's no way that she's. I can't wait to meet her. You know, she's not gonna get sick from this stuff. She wants to help and she's gonna kill her. She's gonna find a way. Yeah, she'll find a way. Yeah.

It's okay, it's okay, Rowan. Just like Luke. It's fine. Yeah. I said before we came out here that if something like this was to happen, that I would take a step back. I don't have to be there when this happens.

Maybe I... We didn't have really good luck with splitting up before. Well, no, true, but we... Can we just have a quick, if this was a movie, a quick hard cut to a montage of you fighting in the ruins with all that fuss. RAAAARGH! In the tournament. NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN just hiding, like, you know what? You're aggressively like, where is it? Like Bilbo looking for the one ring, like, it's in my pocket, where is it?

But if you don't think I am able to contain myself when I'm in there, even if I feel like I can, then I don't have to be in there. Taking off again. Honestly, Xan, I am a little worried. Like that water. I am more than a little bit worried. The water seems to really affect you,

and that's a trace amount, if anything. You wanted to sell it. I did want to sell it, but that's because it made me feel good, and I want to make money. It made me feel good, and it was also fucking delicious. In her defense, Ophelia wants to sell everything. Fucking delicious. Right, in her defense, Ophelia wants to sell literally everything ever.

Yes. She has, like, she had a coffee cup with slime in it. I was gonna give that to Blackwing. Yeah, it's just, it's resourceful. It's a bag full of crap. I like money. Sure, but I like money too. Anyway.

We're here for your best interests. We're going to be getting very close to both the water and this source of crowns to this corrupting, Ser Eldrake Ignis. Kaleanpi? Do any of you have like a magic that could help maybe Xanthias? If you're worried about him losing control of himself,

like sometimes there's magic that can help you, you know, like the Sanctuary spell that I cast on you, it protects you from people trying to hurt you, right? Maybe there's, and there might be magics that helps you have a stronger will, or like prevent people from taking you over or something like that. I could throw a dagger at him.

I mean, yeah, of course, like, you know, maybe Baranth could, I can restrain him and stuff. By making him really stop. But that's not useful. Yeah, well, no, that's like that. I can stop you making him really stop. But that's not useful. Yeah, well, no, that's right there. I can stop you being frightened. So I aggressively. You don't think we have anything that will help.

I aggressively take down some cultists. Daisy's literally talking about killing me, and I'm the bad guy. I said it's not useful. I said I'm not gonna do it, it's not useful. No, you're right. Also, montage cut to Ophelia eating that man. Yeah. Draining and sucking him dry as well.

Coming out cuffed in blood. We're the good guys. There's also all the blacksmiths in that square, Daisy killed a lot of those guys. The daggers flat. I think maybe you just hard cut to all of us and we're just not good people except maybe just rowing and grinding. Those two are pretty fine actually.

Yeah, yeah, they're fine. Are we on the good side? In my defense, Daisy panicked in almost all of those situations. It was Nova that used Maddening Darkness when she panicked. That was Warcry. I think we should get moving. Yes, she would go.

We've got three days to think about this. Yeah, we can think about it on the road. Should we go through the caves, through the tunnels, or... It's very deep, so we will need to go down at some point, is whether we choose to follow the rivers that are underneath already, or go over land. You know exactly where to enter though? I've had quite strong visions.

Okay. You're all pretty Okay, you're all like pretty precise, like you can, you'll be like, you can think you can get to like, we are above the lake, like you can get to like somewhere above the lake. You know those like metal things that cross over with water? Times that by a hundred.

Dowsing rod. Dowsing. Times that by a hundred? Yeah. Okay, that's pretty specific. Have you heard of GPS? No, I haven't, what does that stand for? Have you heard of triangulation?

What specifically? Gnome protection spell. They hide a gnome in the world and then there's a spell that you can triangulate. Gnomes don't run the place, casting stinging spells. Should it be positional? Would it be positional? Gnome positioning spell.

Gnomeing positional system. You get three gnomes in a triangle. It's a gnoming positional system. You get three gnomes in a triangle. It's a gnoming device. Instead of a gnoming device. Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!

Oh! Greetings, friends! Looking for the location? I'm the local gnoming service. Fuck's sake. She's a little guy with big white hair, little hat. They just stood at the corner of major locations. They're those like ear trumpets.

Yeah. Oh! Oh! Yes. Oh, I love that. Well, let's go, but I hope to think that you can share this stuff with me, the crime steal's not right here in front of me.

I don't know how to confront my problems. Cut to Gruff's pocket. It knocks on Zanby's chest. Ding ding. I shouldn't be, I mean, okay, fine. I'm glad you told me, but. It's out of pure concern for you, not because of you. Hope you understand.

I don't. We're not worried because of you. We are worried for you, is what I'm trying to say. No, you're going to have to run that one by me again. We're not worried because of you. Right, so you're not scared of me, you're scared for me. You're scared for you.

Right, no, I don't understand that either. So, you're not... It's the Crownsteel, knock him out. Okay, all right. So, are you guys making your way? You're gonna get back on the road? I think we're making our way, but before we gruffle nip to the camp,

give Captain Nathaniel the note that he asked Daisy to write to Obsidius and Embarissa. You asked them to send another message, didn't you, the day before? Like, before you went down into the mines, you asked them to send a message, I think. Did we? Did I imagine that?

I might have imagined it. That was your brain space. But yeah, Nathaniel will say like, I can have one of our messengers head off. I mean, we're likely going to be leaving this place. Mysticura was obviously gonna take some time, but we'll probably leave this place anyway. We'll head back onto the road,

head back into Gildai, or perhaps onto Feros, or somewhere like that. If we encounter a herald or somebody, I will try and send a messenger off, but we don't really have, I don't have a runner or scout, but if we find someone, I'll pass on. I can't promise you any timely delivery is the only issue.

Did we not have any other way to contact? Do we have a scroll of Sending? Yeah, we'll just get him to use Crownstone spells. And then Obsidius will come. Obsidius will know about it. I'll just blast into the sky like a flare. A flare, yeah. Then we'll get raptured by Obsidius. It's really important that this gets to Lord Obsidius.

It's to do with the Reclaimers, it's to do with this Knight of His that we're looking for. And it's going to be really dangerous. Well, you know about Galvissar, do you? Of course, yes. Right, it's to do with that. The... It died hundreds of years ago, the Oriental District. Yeah, well it's sort of coming back.

Give me a persuasion check. I don't know that Grif really believes in himself either. 19! 19. We will do our best, as I said. I will send a messenger out, but it also depends on the roads, my good man. Like, if I send a single messenger out,

it's likely they'll be killed by some beast or something. If we find somebody on the roads, my good man. Like, if I send a single messenger out, it's likely they'll be killed by some beast or something. If we find somebody on the road, we will make sure that this message gets to Ash and Rest. I just can't promise you it will be, you know, it may take days to reach there. I absolutely understand. I just, anything, any word. Of course, yes, we will do what we can.

Why do I feel like we had a scroll? If it's not in your inventory, you don't have it. I believe you did have one, but actually you did, you used it, Ruff used it when you were playing the lamp lighters. My crush. Yes. Yes, okay, cool.

Whose name I've completely forgotten already. Sugriyol. Yeah, I'm out of the sea. Dead to me. You used it to contact Sugriyol. Do you remember the name of your date? Huh? Dead to me. Oh my god. Used it to contact the real guy. Do you remember the name of your date? Huh? Dead to her.

But that chants over a billion times. It's been so long. Yeah. Cool, yeah, they will take the message. Like I said, it is a, he's happy to, he will make his best effort to get it sent off. But you are several days away from Ashland's Rest. You are out in the middle of nowhere.

So might. It's better than nothing. It might be one of those arrive at the very last minute kind of things, but probably not gonna arrive before that. Okay. That's all good. All right.

We can start heading off. Y'all make your way. You begin traveling and night comes in goats. We're gonna do all the journey rules and things like that in a minute just when we come back for our part two. But before that, let's see. Xanthias, Rowan, Gruff, and Ophelia, you all drank the gold water.

Now Xanthias, you had a drink recently, so this doesn't apply to you. The rest of you, when you wake up the next day, after a long eight hours of rest, and your long rest, and your traveling, the next day, you all feel not very good. You are suffering from a withdrawal-like effect. You have minus two to saving throws and ability checks.

That's a big swing. Oh, we're gonna end up having. Plus one to minus two. And you are craving more of that water. I will remind you, Ophelia still has a day's worth of water in vials. Did you not pour it out? She did not pour it out and it was not destroyed.

My money. But you have a kind of like, you are, like, you will know that you're in headaches, you feel sick, it's like a hangover, or like a drug withdrawal. So like, you know that if you have more of that, you'll probably, you'll feel better, but like, you can't shake these awful headaches,

and that is gonna, you don't know how long that's gonna last, that withdrawal effect. The magic sickness. Yeah. You feel great, Xantheus. Sound with us, yeah. As long as you... You probably get to the point where you're like, oh, I want to drink some more.

Shame I've just got this regular-ash stupid board. What was the penalty? Minus two to ability checks and save throws. It's basically the opposite. It's like double the bonus effect that you had. Well, well, well. Does it say in the corner underneath that little icon, duration? Nope.

Weird. Well, you've stacked it now as well. This UI sucks. Where's the mini map? How do I turn that on? But with that, that is where we're going to end part one. Okay. And we'll pick this back up in part two. Just as we pass one of those GPS gnomes.

There it is. Hello! On your way to the Ash Hills, keep on going! They always know where we are. They're just like in the trees, it's like one of those little holes in the trees, he just sticks his face out. I've heard they've had a data breach recently.

Really? Yeah, we've got to worry about our privacy. Oh wow. Archmages hack into them all the time. Can't we say more safe words? Right, with that, that's gonna be it for part one, we will see you in part two everybody. See you then.

See you in a bit. Goodbye. Bye! Good bye!