The Glass Cannon Podcast - Gatewalkers Episode 17 – Mule Intentions

Episode Date: January 12, 2024

The heroes take their investigation outside of town. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/xGwP7KBMD-M This episode was sponsored by Demiplane, Foundry VTT and Norse Foundry. Check out Demiplane's Pathfinder Nexus and character creation tools at https://bit.ly/GCNOfficialTools See why tabletop gamers everywhere have made the switch to Foundry Virtual Tabletop at https://foundryvtt.com/gcp Visit https://babbel.com/GCP to get 55% off your Babbel subscription. Visit https://betterhelp.com/GCN to get 10% off your first month. For more podcasts and livestreams, visit glasscannonnetwork.com and for hundreds of hours of exclusive shows and benefits, make your membership official and join Glass Cannon Nation today by becoming a subscriber at jointhenaish.com. Watch new episodes when they premiere every Thursday at 8PM ET on youtube.com/theglasscannon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drinking a McCafe coffee is a lot like... You know that... feeling? Where it's so good you actually want a... a friend to get one? That feeling of... and getting the last... where it just hits in all the right ways that you...

to get one multiple times a day. Yep, McCafe just shouts... Order your McCafe on the app or in restaurant today. Must be McCafe. At participating McDonald's in Canada. App download and registration required. You are listening to the Glass Cannon Network. The premier source for role-playing game entertainment.

Last week on the Glass Cannon Podcast. You walk down this long hallway and what do you see? You see a slight woman and she turns around and bows. Please, there is no need to kneel. Stand up. Who are you? My name is Asta. She is alone. We all felt this way. We were all alone once. I say we... I say we trust her.

I'm only searching for answers. We are searching for answers as well. But there is a matter, pressing matter. We must get to the library. Would you like to accompany us? Yes, we have research to do. We'll catch you up on the way. Oh, you still have the barcode from before. Well have research to do. We'll catch you up on the way. Oh, you still have the bark from

before. Well, this is good. With this you could commune with the library tree. The tree has knowledge that goes back farther than us all. In a tome of ancient elven lore, you find a short passage mentioning

the defeat and imprisonment of a slender, lurking creature of shadows. You are a couple blocks from Minotaur's mansion, and it's very, very quiet, and there is a like alleyway between two buildings that leads to like another street, and the way the moonlight is coming in, you see a tall, slender figure casting a long shadow down the alleyway. Talitha is going to start slowly perching and on the hilt of the rake. And the second you step into the alleyway,

it just like steps to the side, and its shadow goes away. Run after it. You get to the end of the shadow goes away. Run. After a... You get to the end of the alley. Seconds later, no one there. Perhaps.

It's here. It's here. It's watching. It's watching. On the ground, right outside the door to your room, is something carved onto the floor. It looks like

halfway between a five-pointed star and like an elongated stick figure. Ho, ho, ho, ho. The adventure continues now. Девочка-пай Good evening and welcome to the Glass Cannon Podcast. I'm your host, Troy LaValle.

As you know, we have three amazing sponsors for this show. We have Demiplane, who's providing all of the character sheets and character tools that we use through their Pathfinder 2E Nexus. We have Foundry VTT, which has completely changed the way we play the game, both with maps and the way that I, as a GM, am able to interact with the game has made my life infinitely easier. And of course, Norse Foundry, the official dice sponsor of the Glass Cannon Podcast campaign, too! Now, you're watching this in the future, from the past. we're recording this in the past you're watching in

the future so odds are the new sets of dice that we have that have come out are already available they're already available for you to purchase you probably have several sets at home because you're rich because you did so well in life you worked really hard and you made a lot of money. But here we are just getting samples in to look at. And so I've had the samples for a couple of weeks and I brought them in for the players. And some of them were still tweaking, but we had dice. I didn't want to get rid of them. So like skids, his are going to change and whatnot. But what do you say, Matthew? You had for about five minutes before something happened? I would say about 90 seconds.

90 seconds. It was beautiful. Mind you, these are expensive dice. Uh, they're, they're very, very expensive. Individually, they're expensive as a set. Forget about it. It's, these are luxury items. But you're rich, so you can afford them.

But you're rich, so you're not worried about it. However, Matthew is a playwright. He can't afford nice things like good dice. He gets one set every 10 years and they're given to him. So Matthew, I give you a D20 and a D6. They are quite beautiful. The upcoming

Matthew Capitacazza set. Were. Were quite beautiful. Walk us through what happened in that brief 90 seconds, the last 90 seconds. Give us a play by play. You handed them to me. I admired them. I took them out of the little protective bags. Kate and I were looking at each other's.

She took it. She looked at it. Approved. I approved. I put it into this very nice dice tray I have, and it's a little protective little corridor right here. And then Joe gets his. Opens up his... Pulls his dad back and kate goes hey can i see that and joe instead of handing it to her like an old person chucks it it hits of all the places it could hit it hits my die in its protective corridor and chips it.

I imagine Joe's die was destroyed in the process. No, it seems fine. Perfectly fine. I almost demanded that we trade. But then I remembered he'd already touched it and it was cursed. Yeah, now it's cursed. Walk us through this, Joe. You know that you're not supposed to throw these dice. You're not supposed to make contact with each other.

They're like heavy gemstone dice. dice they're beautiful you could have chipped stop looking at me like i'm crazy this guy this telling of events okay so first of all i would like everyone around the table to reenact chucking a die here's what you did what would that look like there's chucking a die die look like? There's Kate. Yeah. Matthew is Kate. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're Matthew. Yeah. I'm Joe. What would chucking a die look like? I'm reenacting it.

Be Kate. Say, can I see your die? Can I see that? Ooh, let me ride my plane. Oh, this? Spike! Right. Right into Matthew's tray.

Yeah, if we're just reenacting a chucking, because I did not see the alleged chucking. I would assume it would be an overhand throw. Yes. Exactly. And you overhand threw it. I absolutely did not. That is preposterous i went like this kate reached out our arms didn't reach uh-huh so i went like this i'm gonna break another don't do it don't actually do it i went like this watch it get it on camera like this except that's what. When you threw it, you threw it this way.

What? Instead of throwing it straight, you went. I wish the cameras were rolling. Frances, were the cameras rolling at that time? Can we not reenact this over my die? So I reenacted it. If we got that on tape, it would be so hilarious to show it. It hit his die.

Didn't even make the slightest sound. And Matthew's like, oh! My die! And I looked at my die and I was like, I was in such disbelief. I guess, I guess mine was made stronger.

It was forged. It was forged in the fires of Noss's foundry. We should just throw our dice at each other's dice and see which one

is the strongest. Yes! And then we can get a ranking. Yeah, a tier bracket. Which one chips for, you just hold it like six inches above and drop it on it and then we'll get a ranking yeah which one chips for you just hold it like six inches above and drop it on it and then we'll see who's uh natty 18 by the way and this is what i actually said to joe and this is a direct quote i just looked at him in disbelief

and i said you were just a force of destruction on this earth aren't you oh i mean uh i know it's just it's just a die but uh i i'd be sad i'd be sad about it for a little while know it's just a die, but I'd be sad. I'd be sad about it for a little while. It's not even, like, the die is still beautiful. Like, it's very nice. But at the same time, it couldn't last a session before Joe ruined it. It didn't make a session. It didn't even make a session.

It didn't even make a session. Can we talk about Kate's catching skills for a second here? Like, how is this all on me? Hey, listen, I was going to say quiet, but if you're going to come to me. Wow, there's a lot of blame for Shania. You're going to throw the dice at me for me to catch it. I think we should talk about the catching skills. So, Kate, was it your fault?

No, of course not. I held my, look how big my hand is, by the way. There's a lot of surface area for you to throw into. And I was like, yeah, like this. Is that a four or five? Like this? And he threw it. Do you see where it landed? Off to the my left, your right over here.

I think the problem is Matthew's hands were so tiny they didn't cover the box. My hands weren't involved. I didn't think anyone would be so callous. He had utmost trust in us. I took something so expensive. The funny thing is he's got about 80 useless dice around that thing. And I hit the only nice one.

There are plastic dice. Forgive me, yours found in a friend's. That's the thing. That's the thing to me is the lack of respect for the sponsor. You sponsored the show so loyally for so long and you're just chucking their dice at their other dice. Yeah. Now that die is slightly less

random in its random number generation. I don't think you can roll it. I don't think you should be allowed to roll it. I think it's done. Troy wants to know if it's going to roll poorly or well. I think it's not a regulation die now. It needs to be thrown away. Or burned. Or destroyed.

Matthew, send in your die. Bring out the die, Hammer! Scaw! Get it in slow-mo, 120 FPS. Norch Boundary! Destroyed by Hammer. You wearing a cape? I didn't even know

you had a man wearing a cape without commentary from the peanut gallery I don't yes I am wearing a cape what's going on with that cape

it's nice it is a very nice cape this was it was my birthday recently and this was my birthday gift for my friend Nick Shelton, who I've mentioned many times on this show. I got a cape with no note, and I had to figure out who sent me the cape. Did you really have to figure it out, or did you know instantly? It took a little bit, but through my investigative powers and my knowledge of my 35-year relationship with Nick Shelton, I was able to figure it out.

A little birthday cape? A little birthday cape. I put it on, and Samantha said, like, oh, now you could be George's dad's lawyer. That's all I thought of with the cape. Yeah. Very David. Yes. And this is another birthday gift I got, too.

Houses and humans. Houses and humans. Houses and humans. Oh, that's fun. I'm wearing them both. Oh, that's cute. That's great. That's great. Happy belated.

Thank you. The end of that Seinfeld episode is fantastic because Jerry, he has this friend. It's a long story, but the friend is like thinking about jumping off a bridge. And Larry David, as the lawyer in the cape, is like going to save him. He's like, who are you? I'm Frank Estanza's lawyer. The guy has no idea who that is. Guy in a cape.

Anyways, have you ever had anything, like I'm trying to think, I know I've had things that you didn't have for more than a couple minutes before it got destroyed. Besides that die, there must have been, I know trying to think. I know I've had things that you didn't have for more than a couple minutes before it got destroyed. Besides that die, there must have been. I know there's been moments. I feel like I have, yeah, but I can't think of an example. Like, you get a car and you scratch it within a day or. I can't think of an example.

I have an example, and it's also Joe. It's also Joe related? Another Joe example? It's not something I lost. It's something that Joe lost. We were all, the three of us were at Treehouse Brewery. Oh, yeah. That's a good one.

Joe, would you like to tell the story? The three of us were at Treehouse Brewery. Everybody here knows this story. But basically, I got, beers there are not cheap. And you only get two. That's it. And then they kick you out. They're normal price beers.

They're normal price beers. Yeah, but they're nice beers, so they're expensive. They're very nice beers. Double a Bud Light. And they're beautiful. And they're delicious. And they're rare and precious. You can only get them there.

You can't buy them in stores, Kate. Okay. You can't even get cans of the ones you can get on draft there. Exactly. So I got a draft of a beer, and I walked back, and I sat down down with my friends and i set it down on the side of my adirondack chair and eight seconds later i knocked the entire beer into my crotch i don't even know what i was doing the entire beer just boom and it was like what 45 degrees outside 50 degrees outside i i have another Joe one. Are you thinking about it again?

Please, please. The flight to Seattle. Oh, this is a great one. The airplane story. I'm so full. We were all sitting in the same row playing that game. Race for the Galaxy. Race for the Galaxy.

And our tray tables were packed. It was so cute. And you had a drink. I got a second beer. You had a beer. I don't remember why this happened. At 10. It was so cute. And you had a drink. I got a second beer. You had a beer. I don't remember why this happened. At 10.30 a.m. I was having a really good time.

You were having a great time. We were playing a card game. I had a glass of wine. We were playing a card game. It was really fun. Joe got his second beer. Our trays are down. We were the row that were like giggling.

Yeah. We were the giggle squad. We were the giggle squad. I don't know what you were doing. You were fussing with something, moving things around. No, no, no. No, I. What was it?

He didn't do anything. It wasn't his fault. He had put his beer on the tray, and we have cards everywhere playing Race for the Galaxy, like our tray tables are full. And the plane dipped. The freaking pilot put on the flaps full while we were like 20,000 feet in the air. The plane? It was just the plane for one second went...

Lost a bit of elevation. one second went lost a bit of elevation and joe's beer perfectly slid backward off the tray tipped and poured directly into his seat pocket on the airplane it couldn't have landed more perfectly almost not a drop hit the rug of the airplane i'm sure you didn't have anything valuable in the pocket full of beer he opened it he opened it the beer is sloshing it is holding it so i had to get up and go to the bathroom and like get all these paper towels it was a full cup of beer and we're like that's and i think you saw us you're just like i was sitting on the aisle across from you and i was like laughing what did joe do now and at first we were like that sucks like it's a how are we gonna get the beer out of it but you know worst case scenario it barely dripped on your backpack we were like okay it's like

barely dripping through the seat we're trying to clean it we're cleaning it time has passed to wipe it out with paper towel and he pulls out his phone, which had been in there the entire time. Completely forgot my phone was in there, and it was completely submerged in the beer. Such an animal. And then Sydney's like, you got to get rice. Get this man rice. Always with the rice. Delta brand rice.

I don't know about expensive stuff, but you do seem to lose a lot of beers. Yeah, well, I just seem to lose or break things immediately after getting them, I guess. Joe's been attacked a lot today. Yeah. I think he needs the services of a good attorney. Does a man wearing a cape like to offer money? I have another Joe one. There's another Joe one?

Oh, my God. This one has been told on the show before, so I won't repeat it, but the pickle incident. Oh, God. Oh, the pickle. One dollar pickle. Let's not replay the entire pickle incident. This is like a clip show now. I know.

Well, you've done so many horrible things. This podcast is probably the only thing you haven't broken. Knock on wood, everyone. Is anybody else's mic acting up? Is this something wrong? Is there? We're gonna take a quick break when we come back more clips from our past. What if in 2024, you got a little bit better every day. And I'm not talking about your roleplay, or if you've memorized every spell on your list, although that is helpful. I'm talking about learning a new language with Babbel, because that's exactly what I'm doing. And if Babbel can help you start speaking a new language

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that's the check. You will be able to do that and you will remember how to say it politely. Here's a special limited time deal for our listeners. Right now, get 55% off your Babbel subscription, but only for our listeners, at babbel.com slash GCP. Get 55% off at babbel.com slash GCP, spelled B-A-B-B-E-L dot com slash GCP. Rules and restrictions may apply. Hey, do you guys remember episode 135 of the Glass Cannon podcast? Here it is.

That would make this week so much easier. For all of us. My favorite part of that bit you just did is that you looked to the side as if we were going to put up a video of an audio medium. What was episode 135? Or was that just a random number? A random number. I don't even remember. Joe knows.

Joe does know the episodes. 135, we're looking at book three. Della. It's the Della incident, episode 135. Wait, really? There are many Della incidents. It's right around there. 131, 135.

Somebody's going to look this up. You have to look it up. Something about Ranger Things 2. Ranger Things. Oh, my God. That's the beginning of book four. Yeah. So it's right after,

just post-Delic. Yes, yes. I think that's the first episode of book four. Oh my God. The first comment on Reddit about the episode is,

this may be my favorite episode. It was fantastic. We used to make bangers. We did, remember? And now we just reminisce. We just talk about our bangers. Now we just break expensive dice. The second comment is,

ha ha, chelish buttholes. Unknown. We'll never know what that means. Ladies and gentlemen, the niche. I want to jump right in. I want to get right into the action here. I already shouted out the sponsors. It's time to get to work.

Obviously, there was the whole Gnome Fortress incident. Then bring Corimona back and you speak with Lema Feldthorne and she's like, all right, I spoke with the Oak stewards. It seems like this Kniepo the Slim situation

is one that needs to be dealt with. Bolon was just a piece of this machine. If there's a ritual that's going to make everyone extinct, maybe you could help us. And you're like, we're in. And she said, okay,

well, you should, you're investigators. That's what I was told. Why don't you do some investigating? You need to find out. All right. One of you,

one of you is an investigator. You should do some investigating. And she mentioned you should go to the Quaking Stacks. Brother Ramius had already been there, so you already had a relationship. Yeah, but the first time they didn't mention that dope-ass tree. I think he did mention

the tree. Did he? He's like, you should come back sometime and you could commune with the library tree. But at the time, you probably didn't know what it meant. Yeah, I was just like, see ya. I could feel the pressure of solo role playing where like everyone else at the table is like, wrap up your scene. Let's go. So that we can continue the story.

Also, Brother Ramius didn't know it meant drugs. Right. True. I didn't know it meant Frenching God. Feeling that sweet, sweet high on that God sap. Getting high on that God sap. Getting high on that God sap. Let's just write that one down. She also said that there was a survivor of a recent Gorga attack, a guy by the name of Pa Mosby.

You should check that out at Mosby Farm. And, you know, you had mentioned of the Thinlands. There is an area along the eastern, northeastern border of the Wildwood known as Thinlands Farms. Perhaps you could go investigate that as well. So last week you went to the Quaking Stacks. Do you remember what you learned? Yes. What did you learn? We learned about the defeat and imprisonment of ament, imprisonment, there we go,

of a slim creature of slender lurking shadows thousands of years ago. Possibly that the obnobulate curse was created in retaliation for the elves defeating this person or figure. We also learned that- And the key part of that is if this is true, then, and they're speaking of Kniepo,

Kniepo's been around for millennia. Yeah. We also learned a little bit about the Thinlands. They are a colorless forest located in the shadowy realm of Nighthold, once ruled by the exiled Count Rynalk. I'm sure he was a little exotic as well. Skid is cosplaying as Count Rynalk. Yeah, that's my little homage.

Good evening, Count Rynalk. Hello, I'm Count Rynalk. Oh, wow. my little homage. Who do you think, Count Renalc? Hello, I'm Count Renalc. Oh, wow. Hello. Hello. And we learned that there was some sort of, I don't have copious notes, there was some sort of, I don't have any notes. There was some sort of line of like lights. A light line.

Demarcated, yeah, capital L light line. And there were like lanterns, like placed at a certain whatever that kept. Holds the land. The border of Nighthold. Yeah. It holds Nighthold. It holds Nighthold. The exact quote was, the border of Nighthold is marked by the light line.

Damn. Nice, man. Oh, it's the light line? I have the night line. That's weird. I wrote the border of Nighthold is surrounded by the light line. Who's right? I don't know.

I don't take your note. Let's take it back to the- Let's go back. You know what? Let's take a look at last week's episode. We're all looking at different TVs. They have a lot of monitors. Are they surrounded by TVs?

A lot. You should see what's going on here. We have the dome. The new dome everywhere. We're filming this in Vegas in the sphere. In the sphere. I can't wait till we play the sphere. That'll be fun. You two and Glass Cannon Live will be in residency at the sphere. In the sphere. I can't wait until we play the sphere. That'll be fun.

You two in Glass Cannon Live will be in residency at the sphere. That'd be sick. We're going to be in residency until we finish

an entire six book. Could you imagine just spending our days at the Mirage pool, our nights doing shows at the sphere. Oh my God, move all our families

out there to Vegas. Yep. Like Penn and Teller. Walking around drinking all day. And then, of course, at the end of the John, you guys, I can't remember where you stayed. Did you go back to Seven Arches? No. No.

Yeah. We were in Seven Arches. Well, yeah, all this is. Oh, yeah. Yeah, you went back to Seven Arches, and as you're walking around, you notice a figure in an alleyway staring at you a little too tall, like seven, eight feet tall, staring, silhouette. You guys are all creeped out by this, and you're all alone, and you walk slowly to this alley. Hello there. What?

Are you looking at us? slowly to this alley. Hello there. Are you looking at us? And once you get there, there's no one there. Not even a trace that anyone was ever there. Awful.

Then go to bed. Keep watch all night. Don't hear any sounds whatsoever, except for, you know, just the general sounds of the inn that you're staying in. And then when you wake up the next day to head out, you open the door and carved into the ground, right outside, or not the ground, but the wood outside of your door,

is like a strange symbol, halfway between a five-pointed star and an elongated stick figure. That's where we ended last week. What do you want to do now? Do you want to go to Pa Mosby's farm, or do you want to travel a little further and go into the Thin Lance farm? Isn't it night? Shouldn't we go to bed? No, it's first thing. It's morning. Do you have

this image? Can we see this image? I don't. It's halfway between a five-pointed star and a thin man. Well, if the top point was really long, it'd do a little head on it. And then little hands. Like maybe that man that Michelangelo drew? Yeah, the bifurcated man. Oh, so the arms are like the star.

It was Leonardo. That's Leonardo. Whatever. We knew what she meant. It's all the Renaissance. Who cares? I don't fucking know. You are an art history.

I have an art degree. I have an art history degree. Wow. Wait, really? Yeah. Kate and I were looking at paintings one time, and I was like, oh, I love this French style. I don't remember what it is.

And Kate goes, yeah, me neither. I have an art history degree. I don't remember what it is. And Kate goes, yeah, me neither. I have an art history degree. I don't remember shit. Walked away from it. She ripped it, sliced it with a pen. Took a knife, yeah. That's what happened. But imagine if it's a really long.

Too many electric forests for that art history. Yeah, a little too much last. Too many electric forests. A long figure with its limbs extended would kind of look like a star, but it's really just a long person. In my mind, it looks kind of like a lovey, where it's like a rabbit head and then it's a little blanket. What is a lovey?

For babies. I just Googled lovey. Loveys come in all shapes and sizes. There's no text with lovey. Lovey is one who is lovey. Oh, I know what you mean by lovey, yeah. Oh, the blanket body. It has like a blanket body.

A blanket body. It's got a head. An elephant head. Or whatever. No, this is more stick figure-y. It doesn't flow out like a ghost. Maybe we shouldn't get too hung up on this. No, I want to spend hours talking about it.

I need to know exactly what I'm seeing. I need a whiteboard. Here's what I think it looks like. Roll the whiteboard along. I think the original plan was for us to go to the farm. It was. It was. So I would like to continue.

Ha, Mosby's Farm. Stick to the plan. Mosby's Farm. And you know, she said like, our elders think it's like three nights, three days. This shit could go down. It seems very imminent based on their prognostications from reading Bolan's journal. And it's a day. You spend a day in the stacks.

It'll be a day to go to Palmose. And then it's a day to get to the Thin Lands. So, yeah, time is of the essence. Well, time is of the essence, but I cannot in good conscience move on without investigating this symbol. I think it's ridiculous. Like somebody carved this outside of our room. So at the very least, investigator-wise, can we just dig into the actual

was it cut with something? Is it burned in? How was it left? And none of us heard anything, which is very creepy. Is it resonating magic at all? It looks like it was carved directly into the wood with something sharp.

But there's an art. Maybe a knife? There's an artistic nature. Let's not jump to conclusions, Matthew. You're right, you're right. You have no proof to believe. There's an artistic nature to it insofar as that, like, it looked like it was drawn. But if you're really going to examine it, you get down there and it's thin, thin, thin carvings

that sort of imitate painting. It's almost beautiful if it wasn't so eerie. Scrimshaw. Scrimshaw. So I'm going to designate my two pursuer leads to be— You have a new pursuer lead every day. Yes, as per the rules. This is going to happen a lot.

Kniepo, one, and then Thinlands as the other. Kniepo, Thinlands. So walk us through this again. You get a bonus every time you're doing a jaunt that has to... Yes. Technically, I'm supposed to spend a minute examining the details of one clue and the subject related to that clue as the target of an active investigation. And it can typically be a single creature, item, or a small location,

but the GM might allow a different scope for your investigation. I stopped listening when you said, but the GM. So I imagine you're on the ground with your magnifying glass, running your fingers along the carving. I am using my magnifying glass, but I'm going to do an occultism check, right? Okay. Or is it arcana?

I would do occultism. It seems like an occult symbol. So I'm going to roll, and if this is related to Canipa or the thin lands, I get a cultism. It seems like an occult symbol. So I'm going to roll, and if this is related to Kniepa or the Thin Lands, I get a plus one. Okay, so that will be a 19. 19. It's not a symbol you recognize or have ever heard of. You see the five-pointed star kind of reminds you of, what is the...

The Sahedrin? The Sahedrin Medallion? Yeah, but in Pathfinder, there's a five-pointed John. Seven-pointed Sahedrin Medallion. Thank you. Star. So yeah, you're like, oh, maybe it has some connections to that. The Sahedrin rune, seven-pointed star that symbolizes the seven virtues of rule of early Thassilon.

Does it strike me as Thassilonian? Vaguely Thassilonian. At first glance. But it's five, not seven, right? It's five, not seven. It's a head, two arms, two feet, but they all end in points, basically. Yeah, and while there is an artistic style to it, it's still very crude. If anything, you get the sense that it's a warning.

Yeah. I get the sense that it's a warning. Yeah. I get the sense that this is a warning. I'm going to do a religion roll real quick just to see if it's associated with any religions I've ever read about or heard about. Natural one. Is that your new die?

I'm going to drop this gem die onto another gem die. You're 100% sure it is connected to judaism wow this is a religious judaism this is a whole can of worms we're opening yeah uh open we've opened they've opened the door to another plane i and given us a warning and you feel compelled to convert. I'm feeling well. Really going to throw my character off. I'm now Jewish. Stop rolling natural ones.

I'm now Jewish. Guys, I want to tell you something. Brother Amias is now Jewish. Mazel. Kind of a bar mitzvah for us. Alright, can we make our way out to the farm? Yeah, let's do it We have access to horses?

Yeah Yeah, the horse stewards will provide you with horses Oh yeah, we have the ox cart Obviously, Buggles doesn't feel Yeah, Brother Ramius drives a mule from behind an ox cart And Buggles rides in the ox cart Trembling in fear at being surrounded by horses. The ox cart that is

stained with Lucky's blood. Oh. Oh. Too soon. Too soon. And of course you have Let it go. Don't forget a newish party member who slept, who shared a room with you last night. Slept. And didn't kill you. And didn't kill you.

And who has artwork. Oh! Oh! Get out of here! Oh! Oh! Look at that. Oh!

That's cool. Holy crap. At least that's how she looks at the moment. Right. Wow, she looks angry at the moment. She has a serious sort of resting face. Yeah, she seemed much nicer when I met her. She's bad ass.

Resting elf face. We'll be the judge of that. This art, I'm in love with it. It's so awesome. It's gorgeous. Yep, shout out to Matt Forsythe. Yeah, give us a sitting, please. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Take us for a dance. So she, I said before in the previous episode, but this just like encapsulates her whole vibe. She has like long flowing white hair. It's very thick. She wears these white robes that have pants underneath. So it's useful during battle. She's not wearing a dress.

And she has this red katana at her side, which matches, she has like red eyeliner, very subtly, um, these red sort of wrist gauntlets and these red ties in her hair, but everything else is like pristine white and silver, this like silver breastplate. Um, and her features, they are like fox-like. I said that she has like very, uh, not rodent-like, I just want to say fox-like, small features. She has, like, a very serious sort of face. But, yeah, that's Asta. You can now see her.

But this is her. Asta? Asta? Asta. Asta. Like pasta without a P. Like pasta without a P, and that's how she explains her name to you.

Asta, like pasta. Like Nick and Nora's dog. Like Nick and Nora's dog, which Matthew explained to me. The only thing she's missing is a cool black cape. I'm trying to make capes happen. She would never. I'm trying to make capes happen.

She would never do that. But you guys saw her. I think she's missing a cool black cape. Just imagine. Imagine how much cooler she'd look. For a second, I thought she's missing a secooler. Imagine how much cooler she'd look. For a second, I thought she was a hero, but then no cape. No cape. I guess she's just an NPC.

This is her human form, though. That's how you tell. That's how you tell. PC. My parents have asked me, what does PC mean versus NPC? It's very easy. Late mom. If they're wearing a cape, it's a PC.

So we're all NPCs at this table? Is that what we are to you? All but one. All but we ended up playing. All but one. Wow. All but one. All right, so you want to go to Thin Land John.

Yes. Yeah. Not Thin Land John. No, Palm Osby's. Palm Osby's Farm. Palm Osby's Farm. John. All right, so yeah, it's going to take you the better part of the morning into the afternoon to make your way to Pa Mosby's Farm.

All you know is he is a recent survivor of a gorga attack. Not unlike you. Although you killed the gorga. You come up on this small farm. You see it in the distance. Very, like, a ranch-style home. Pretty decent acreage. A little ranch-style farmhouse.

And there's a rickety wooden fence surrounding the property. Maybe some beasts of burden tilling the fields like dragging big metal shit. I don't know anything about farming. Dragging fucking tomatoes.

Really feeling immersed. You're painting a picture here that's like a beast of burden with like a thing on its back that's like scraping the land. One of those things. Like a hoe? A plow? Did you call me? Plow, that's what she calls you. Are Like a hoe? A plow? What did you call me? Plow, that's what she calls you. Oh, a plow.

Are you a hoe or a plow? Are you a hoe or a plow? It's personal. You see a young man come around from the back of the house, 12, 13 years old. He's carrying a basket of vegetables and he sees you

and drops the vegetables to the ground. He's like, they've come to take me away. They're going to take me back to hell. And he runs into the house and a woman rushes out onto the porch. She's very pretty, beautiful, wearing a simple farm dress,

late thirties, maybe early 40s. And she rushes out to the sound of the boys' cries and then sees the group of you. And he's like, Ma, look, devils have come to return me to my ancestral home at the right hand of the Prince of Darkness. Ma! He's screaming and he's like, Jiminy, Jiminy, Jiminy, it's all right. Ah! He runs behind the house. Jiminy, Jiminy, Jiminy, it's all right. He runs behind the house.

Jiminy, they aren't devils. And like we always tell you, you're not a devil spawn. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. My son is a bit troubled. He believes every stranger he comes in contact with is a devil or a demon meant to take him to hell. Return him to hell, I should say. He believes he's the son of the high prince of a great devil, and one day they will return to take him home.

This happens pretty much every day. It's horrible. The mailman, the milkman, UPS drivers. It's horrible. The mailman, the milkman, UPS drivers. It's exhausting. I have to ask, are you devils or any sort of demon? No. I didn't think so. I just have to ask. He knows if I don't ask. You're definitely not devils.

I don't ask. Is your son a demon no no he he just it's a malady he's had since he could speak how did he get the idea that he was a devil i don't know some children are born with the ability to play the piano my son jiminy was born uh with this belief that he is the son of a devil. I have to say, that's much worse than being inherently able to play the piano. Yes, and we've tried to teach him the piano, hoping he would take a shine to it and forget all about this devilry.

I suppose the two skill sets don't overlap. They don't, and we've learned that. We've got him into hockey and football and frisbee. Nothing. He just believes he's a devil spawn. I'm sorry, I don't understand. Have you ever been visited by a devil? There has been no devil activity in our lives ever. Sense motive.

No connection to devils. We're not even religious. We don't even go to church. I'm sensing the shit out of your motives. Yeah, perception check to see. Brother Ramius is staring. Yeah, Brother Ramius is like, I'm sorry we disturbed you.

Let's leave. Dirty. A dirty, filthy 20. A dirty, filthy 20. No, she seems really distraught over this very strange illness that her child has. Have you ever considered

trying to teach them something and telling them it is what the devils do? No. Give me an example. You could teach them to plow your fields. But we have the beasts of burden for that. They don't seem to know what they're doing.

They're ripping up the tomatoes. Things have fallen apart ever since Pa's attack. That's why we're here, in fact. Yes, I'm sure you're here for a reason. We don't get visitors beyond delivery people. What is your name?

Moira. Moira, I am Brother Ramius. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm very sorry to hear of your son's suffering. Thank you. How long has this been going on? Um, with our son? With Jiminy? Yes.

Ever since he was three, four years old? So over a decade? You cannot tie it to any one incident. There was never one traumatic event. When he was little, we assumed it was an overactive imagination, but it just sort of spun out of control. We hope that there will be a cure someday. Perhaps it's the proximity to the Wildwood.

I've asked my husband if we could perhaps relocate our farm, but he is stubborn and refuses to do so. I thought that maybe that would make a difference. But, you know, most days we don't get visitors, but it does sort of limit our travel. We can't go on vacation because everyone he sees, he assumes is the devil meant to take him to hell. Brother Ramius, in addition to being a man of the cloth, is actually a rather brilliant medic. Perhaps he might be able to assist you. Like an exorcism?

Perhaps. I am unsure what, if this indeed comes from some sort of possession, I don't know. But I would very much like to speak with him, with your permission, and you're welcome to observe. It's going to be hard to convince him you're not a demon. Perhaps I don't need to. All right. Is this why you're here?

To help us? No, I'm sorry. It isn't. We really wish to speak to Pa. My husband?. No, I'm sorry. It isn't. We really wish to speak to Pa. My husband. Your husband, I guess, about his incident with the Gorga. It is actually the Gorga who we are hunting. Yes, Pa. He is not well.

Two nights ago he was ambushed while returning home after a day of selling turnips in Seven Arches. We have the best turnips in a hundred miles, you know. Must be the soil. Another reason he doesn't want to leave this farm. It's very superstitious.

We heard about this. Yeah. We heard that the Thin Lands creates, like, vibrant soil. Now, keep in mind, you're not in the Thin Lands. No, I know. But the proximity. People would deal with the dangers just because of the value of the soil. It seems selfish, if we're being honest.

Like your son being afflicted this badly, and you're like, but that's soil, though. The turnips. The turnips are money. And that's all that matters. You like turnips? I love them. Perhaps you'd like to try one. Eat them raw.

Oh, please. I'd like to try some turnips. Here, he spilled them all on the ground, but they're clean. Our soil is very clean. Here, have a turnip. I just bite into the raw turnip. I bite into the raw turnip. It's very hard to eat.

No one would ever just eat a raw turnip, but it melts in your mouth. It is quite delicious, and if you like turnips, it's good. May we perhaps speak with him? I know he's not feeling well. We will not be intrusive. Just a brief conversation? And what is this in regards to? We are hunting these, Gorga.

We're trying to find out where they are coming from and how to stop them from ever attacking your farm again. Yes, I mean, you're welcome to find out where they're coming from and how to stop them from ever attacking your farm again. Yes, I mean, you're welcome to speak with him, but he's not right in the head. He had a slow day at the market and was coming back home when he heard his mule, Shailen, scream out in pain. He turned and somehow in a moment she had been completely eviscerated and then whatever hurt Shailen sent to attacking him. He ran ten miles all the way home

but he hasn't been right since I bandaged him up but he hasn't left his bed. He's been traumatized by the entire experience. Just keeps talking about his dead mule. He always loved that mule. Shailen? Yes. You name all your mules after him. experience, just keeps talking about his dead mule. He always loved that mule.

Shalen? Yes. You name all your mules after him? No, just Shalen. He had quite a fondness for that mule, loved that mule more than me sometimes, I felt. I thought you said you were not religious. I'm not. Well, I suppose if you were religious, you wouldn't mind a certain after a god. I suppose that's true. May we speak

with him? The way he looked at that mule. Talked to her. Touched her. She had touched me that way. Alright. Are you... This is her. This is the wife that... Are you... Jealousy. Yes. Can you account for your whereabouts the night of the attack?

Yes, I was here. Where were you on the night of? I was here with Jiminy, going over his letters. His letters? Yes. I think it was H that day. H? We're recovering H.

He's 13. How old is he? Isn't he like 15? I was just going to say, like, how old is he? He's like 15. He's troubled. We do one letter a year. By the time he's 26, he'll have the whole alphabet.

He'll really have it down. And we'll start the slow, arduous process of stringing them together. We will never forget H-year. It's been a hard year. By his 40s, you should have his numbers as well. Oh, God. I just want to be clear. you should have his numbers as well. Oh, God. All right, well, I... I just want to be clear.

Do you suspect your husband was fucking a mule? No! At least I don't think so. I just wish that he would handle me like a mule once in a while. Okay. All right. We have motive. You should just communicate that with him.

Right? I don't understand. Right? Yeah. Yes. Seems a just communicate that with him. Right? I don't understand. Right? Yeah. Yes. He's a bad actor. At signs. I've told him that I'm not happy.

Be like, hey, this is maybe what I'm into. We can try out. Have you expressed that desire to him explicitly? No, I mean, he knows that I'm not happy, but he doesn't care because of the turnips. We do well. How do the turnips enter into your bedroom? Perhaps you because of the turnips. We do well. How do the turnips enter into your bedroom? Perhaps you can use the turnips in the bedroom.

Perhaps you should just speak with Pa. Yes, please. Now deal with my own sick son and my lack of satisfaction another time. What's your story, Sarah? You look scrawny and weak. Care I? You look scrawny and weak. Yeah. You're my type.

You like thin men? Doesn't everyone, master? Come this way, meet Pa. As I said, he is, uh,

little off. He's not normally, uh, so, uh, erratic, and he has been drinking. But this way, he's self-medicating.

As we walk, Asta would like to say to Brother Remius, Aren't you a cleric? Of a sort, yes. Why? Why did you not help the boy? I don't understand. I asked to speak with him. But you didn't help him. I'm confused.

As am I. Wouldn't you put all your efforts into helping him? Of course, if I can. He did try. I've already asked. I'm sure we'll be speaking with him next. Do you want him to forcibly tackle the boy? It seems he did try.

Why don't you help him? I don't believe I would be able to. Still don't fully trust her. Only known her a day. Yes, quick question for you while we're at it. Where were you on the night of the attack? Did you carve some shit outside our door last night? She looks at her now.

Carve some shit outside our door. Carve some shit outside our door. And guys. Are you into some weird tall star shit? You see her look at her hands. She does have very long, pointed nails. And she sort of lowers them beneath her robe. No, I did not.

I didn't think so, but you know, crossing every option off the list. You are thorough. You're a thorough group. I'd like to add, I'd like to change one of my pursuer leads to Asta's Nails. Asta's N of my pursuers to Asta's Nails. Asta's Nails.

Anything to do with Asta's Nails. I do believe, now that you ask, that we will get very little from this man. I think we may learn more from the boy. It will be important to speak with him. But he might be so erratic and filled with fear that he won't speak of why he feels this way. But we can try. Yes, let's try. I think she's right, though, to remind us

that we should really make an effort to grill down on this boy and try to help him, see if he has something that can help us. Thank you, Buggles. Good call, Asta. Children are very smart. They're in tune with things that adults don't understand.

I agree. It's true. That's why they should be in charge of everything. Children. Children. Should be in charge of everything. How old are you, Buggles? Thirteen.

Children. Should be kings and dukes. And what shall the grown-ups do, Buggles? 13. Children should be kings and dukes. And what shall the grown-ups do, Buggles? The grown-ups will be subservient in every respect. Laborers. Yes, blindly following the orders of toddlers. And cream puffs and cake for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Surely that would be the menu.

She brings you into the house, and Jiminy was like hiding around a corner, and he sees you. He goes, no! They'll deem me unworthy again! Ah! Dup, dup, dup, dup, dup, dup, dup. Runs upstairs.

Jiminy, Jiminy, they're not. Come this way. And she takes you around a corner and down a long hallway. And you just see a single room and the door is cracked, a little light coming through. And she's like, What? Pa, you have some visitors.

Visitors, bring them in. I don't get many visitors these days. Oh, man. Troy is about to have a fall. Regretting this entire experience. That's why when we were outside, I said, let's just move on. I don't like it when he has a lot of fun. Always bad news.

He is going to love this guy. We're about to learn nothing. Nothing. And lose an hour. An hour hour And we'll do a lot of laughs But nothing will be accomplished We will bring joy to someone's day She opens the door And ushers you in And you walk in a bedroom

And there's an older man Maybe mid to late 50s, maybe even early 60s, much older than his wife. He's got a patchy white beard. It's like just clumped on his face. He's lying in bed, wide eyed. You see several empty liquor bottles on the bedside table next to him. And he says, Oh, my friends, you're all here. Good, I'd like to make a toast. He grabs an invisible glass, holds it up. To my beautiful Shailen,

the best mule in all the kingdoms, always there, to listen, to smile back when I made a funny joke, to comfort me when I needed company. Company? Comforting. And now dead at the hands of monsters. He drinks from the invisible glass. Sir, if I may.

Now, before you get into this, we're going to get into a little mechanic. Oh, mechanic. Investigation minigame? A little investigation minijohn. Balloon pop or bubble pop. We're playing a get into a little mechanic. Oh, mechanic. Investigation mini-game? A little investigation mini-John. Balloon pop or bubble pop. We're playing a mini-game. I'm only going to give you so much information based on the success of your checks. The checks that I will be rolling.

Matthew. With my new John. You can take. I would like to roll them with my new John, but we don't know if it works. You want to hand me your John? Just throw it. It will have to go through Joe and I. Can I see it? Let me see this chip. You're not touchingy or John? Just throw it. It will have to go through Joe and I. I see it.

Let me see this chip. You're not touching any of my things that bring them. Those purple ones. Those purple ones are nice. You can take a, keep in mind, whatever you choose is what you're going to do as you're role playing. You can take a diplomatic approach. You just want to talk to him. Diplomacy.

You can try and intimidate him if you're good at intimidation and think that's the right thing. Listen to me, drunkard. Tactic here. Shake him out of it. Medicine, perhaps, to try and ease his suffering. Or perception, to be a real thoughtful ear. Those are your options, and there are different DCs based on what you choose. What if I were to offer him a dose of shiver to reduce his fear?

Oh, that's interesting. Classic. He gave you the four options. Like, what about option five? No, I think that option would fit into one of those. Medicine? Medicine. Or give him the drug and just see what happens.

Yeah, I mean, what I would do is I would give you a bonus to your check. Or a penalty if shiver fucks him up. Shiver could really fuck him up. Yeah, Shiver's a hell of a drug. That's a serious drug. It will reduce his frightened condition. And then it will make him clumsy. And then it will put him to sleep. Is he frightened still? Are you supposed to mix Shiver with alcohol?

That's a real That's fine. I don't know. I don't think we need to go to Shiver right away. It might kill him. So only one of us can do a check? Nope. You just tell me what you want to do.

I'll roll the checks and we'll see what happens. Everybody can all do different checks? Mm-hmm. So perception is my best skill. Perception, medicine, intimidation. He's listed. Despite it not being mathematically advantageous, my first gut instinct was to go with diplomacy, not medicine. I was thinking medicine for the kid.

For this guy, I was thinking more along the lines of commiserating that we had been attacked by Gorgas and we're trying to stop that from ever happening again. What's your bonus? Taking that approach, plus six. Okay. I have a proposal. Okay. I have a proposal. Okay. I have stabling lore. And I'm wondering if maybe I can like relate to him

on the level of a mule. I've known a few hot mules. Yeah, like I know how the relationships are out there with mules, I guess. All right. What is your stabling lore? Plus five. All right, so you're going to try and play upon his mule sympathies.

Plus six, you said? Plus five. Plus five. Okay. I'll do perception. Perception. And what's your bone? It's plus seven.

I don't think, yeah, I don't get any bonuses for this unless it's related to... Actually, no, you use your pursue elite activity. That's just going to be a bonus of perception. Okay, so you get to use that. All right, so it's related to... Actually, no, you use your pursue elite activity. That's just going to be a bonus of perception. Okay, so you get to use that. Alright, so it's a plus one, so

plus eight. Okay, plus eight. Great. Can I do intimidation? Okay, keep that in mind. Well, I want people to do theirs first, and then if things aren't working... You're going to come in. Well, I was gonna do like diplomacy too

so we could do like good cop bad cop oh that's fine that's fine keep that in mind I have you're in Tim it's a plus four I have the dark fields kitsune so I'm I can exert my unsettling presence to subtly demoralize others so it's more so like I don't know she looks weird like I think maybe her fur starts to

stand up and her teeth, like, kind of... Dark Lord, you would have a queen! And what is your perception? Plus eight. Or diplomacy plus eight. Diplomacy, excuse me, plus eight. Okay, great. I didn't realize Buggles was so diplomatic.

Quite charming, yes. All right, so you come in. He's very likable. Charming, yes. All right, so you come in. He's very likable. He makes a toast to his dead mule, Shalen, who was taken at the hands of monsters.

And then he pours himself an actual drink. Did you try the turnips? They were quite delicious. They were fantastic. Even raw. We make a turnip wine here at Mosby Farms It's not perfected yet But we're gonna get it perfected And everyone's gonna buy it when I can walk again

And Moira looks at you He can actually walk It's fine His injuries are not that bad physically It's just His mind Pa, I'm going to go Check on Jiminy.

You'll be nice. May I come with you? Where are we going? I'm speaking to the wife. You want to come with me? May I come with you and speak with him? Yes. Oh. Yes, you may come and speak with Jiminy.

Right this way. And they leave. Leaving the four of you with Pamos. You guys want some of this experimental turnip wine? Yes. I think it's pretty good. I'll take some. All right.

And he spills a glass towards you. It's empty by the time she's done. It's kind of like a... Talitha won't drink every shot. She's just going to kind of like pretend to nurse it. Anybody else? I don't drink. All right.

What are you here for then? For not having a party? We wanted to ask you questions about Shailen's death. Oh, Shailen. I love you so much. We might be able to offer you a bit of respite and justice for that. You can bring her back to life? Are you sorcerers?

Young Buggles here has many abilities. Yes, I think I can sense her presence. Oh, she loved you very much. She did. She was very fond of you. She was. And she was quite athletic. Yes.

Oh, she was a mix. She had a good heart. Strong. Strong and... I mean, yeah, there's nothing quite like the bond between someone and their steed. And those demons took her like it was trying to take Jiminy. What happened? Tell us everything. Creature.

Devil spawned, perhaps. Undead monstrosity. An animal. Except it doesn't walk on two feet. It's like a skull dog with eyes like saucers full of night. Gorka. Like a doll's eye. Like a doll's eye.

Took my shale and I turned. And she was in pieces on the ground. And then I felt something lash at my leg and I set off to running. I've never run so fast in my life. And I had to leave poor Shailen by. She'll never forgive me when I see her in the afterlife. Oh, she says she does forgive you. She says that you did the right thing because you only would have died too

and then who would have told her story to the world she said that to you she did I can she's here now in the room does the letter P mean anything to you no H that's

that's this year oh yes oh she was listening in on the boys' lessons. She's very fond of the letter H. Harry, does the name Harry mean anything? Oh, no. Harold? Perhaps Hay. Hay.

She liked Hay. She loved Hay. Yes, she loved Hay. She loved Hay. She wants to thank you for feeding us so much delicious hay over the course of her long and happy life. Oh, I miss her. She misses you too.

How did you outrun the gorga? We have faced off against one gorga. I don't know, because they weren't alone. These undead monstrosities weren't alone. As I turned to run, I saw a figure in the woods behind these beasts. A tall, thin man. All shadowy, except for an eerie smile. I'll never forget the smile I saw.

It was the only thing I saw in the darkness. And when I saw him, I could I saw in the darkness. And when I saw him, I could feel him in my mind. I could feel him reading my thoughts. And before I set off to running, I just remember it left me with this profound

feeling of unworthiness. The entire run home, all I felt is that he didn't want me. Like I wasn't good enough for him. It must have been my father. It must have been my father. He always said I wasn't good enough.

And that I've been cursed with Jiminy. Sir, we have tasted your turnips. They are exceptional. Thank you. They're the best in a hundred miles. Your son, Jiminy. Yes. Sweet boy, just a round disaster.

What happened to him that he believes he is being followed by demons? I can't control her when she's like this. You better do what she says. That was some real subtle intimidation there. That was real subtle. I was getting ready if he didn't go up there. I jumped ahead. I'm sorry.

That's definitely bottle cap. I've been cracking up at Skid for eight years now, but I've never seen him make himself laugh as hard. I can't stop laughing. I think Azza misses at you

and she's like, not yet. Sorry. Help. What did you say? So you're going to intimidate the good cop to your bad cop as a strategy? She's never done this.

She puts her hands on his night table. Her clawed hands. Why do you not protect your son? Protect him? He's touched in the head. I can't protect him. I just keep him safe here. And when people come around, we tell him to go do a chore so he doesn't have these outbursts.

We do the best we can. We're simple farm folk. We're simple turnip farmers. You think that's a good life for him? It's better than the life I had. At least I don't beat him. Did your father beat you?

Yes. I deserved it. You are a weak man. Why? Because I couldn't protect Shailen? You can't protect anyone. Shailen, your wife, your son. Do you want the Gorgas to come and attack them? Are they outside?

It would be most helpful if you could tell us everything. Have you ever encountered any of these creatures before? Or seen this thin, slender man with the eerie smile? No, no. I hear stories about these creatures. There's all sorts of creatures in the Wildwood. I used to have an electric fence to keep them out, but it didn't work.

Have any other strange things happened to you in your time here? Oh, no, just simple farm folk. The boy says he sees things, but he sees lots of things. What did he say that he's seen? I don't know. He said when he was young, he had these nightmares of people coming to take him away.

Devils, he called them. He's a boy. Thought he'd grow out of it. A physical devil. Here we are in H, and he still believes these things. Has he ever described these devils? As giant men.

I don't listen. I've got turnips to farm. Wine to make. I don't know why you think you're a bad father You're clearly a wonderful father Both to Young Jiminy and

To Shailene If only You might be a better one if Perhaps you stop self-medicating In this room What did you say? I'm wondering Do you remember where you There's barely any liquor in this room. What did you say? What? I can sell anything I want! I'm wondering,

do you remember where you... There's barely any liquor in this turnip wine! Uh, remember Shailen? Remember Shailen and how we connected? Yes. Because I love

anything you can stable. What? I just love stabling. And the lore of it all? And the lore of it all. And I just... Deep. Remember when we connected of it all. And the lore of it all. And I just... Deep. Remember when we connected on that?

Oh, yes. Anyway. Deep, complex lore of stabling. Based off all that, I'm wondering, do you remember at all where you left Shailen? When you were attacked, where you were? left, Shailen? When you were attacked where you were?

It wasn't far away from where Atria Pebblesworth was found dead. One more time? Atria Pebblesworth. Atria? Atria Pebblesworth! She died. I probably would have ended up like her. It's an area where people tend

to die? No, no. You asked me where Shailene was left. It was near where Hadria Pebblesworth was attacked. How did Hadria Pebblesworth die? I don't know. I just found her on the road, all shriveled up. Nothing left to her.

Shriveled? Did you come across that before all this happened to you? Hadria? No. No. I just know it's in the same location how far is it from here oh about 10 miles close closer to town yes it's on the way back to town but a different route we would would we have this is me popping out of the narrative for a minute. Would we have taken the road that he took here? Would we have found Shalen's body if it were still there? Yeah, you would have seen a mule and you did not.

He probably has his own route. Do we want to go check out the body? It seems like this is a crime scene. We should probably investigate a crime scene. Investigating a crime. Yeah, though we... I know we're short on time. We're short on a crime scene for investigating a crime. Yeah, though we... I know we're short on time. We're short on time. Can we see your leg?

Huh? Yeah. I'm a married man! Show us. Ha. We're shaving. We're shaving. Look away! It's hideous! And he pulls his pant leg up.

And there's like the tiniest little scratch. Oh my God. It doesn't look infected or anything. Oh, can I hide it? He's like my five-year-old. I'll never walk again. Does it even look like an animal did it? Like, could it just be a scratch from brush?

It could be. But it, you know But it's a pretty long gash that's already started to heal. But it doesn't look like it should be bedridden because of it. Is there a check I can do on this feeling of unworthiness and then he seemed like he wasn't actually attacking. He was able to get away from the Gorgas.

It sounds like the thin man didn't want him. Why would they want the mule? Why indeed? Perhaps we'll find out after this break it's that time of year again the time for new year's resolutions and usually there's stuff you want to improve about yourself for your life let's let's flip the script what are some things that you want to keep the same about yourself? You're proud about yourself. You want to keep the same in 2024. Personally, I am having a lot of fun doing this. I've been having more and more fun doing this and that makes my life

better and I think it makes the shows better. Super happy about that. That's something I'd love to maintain. Around New Year's, we get obsessed with how to change ourselves instead of just expanding on what we're already doing right. Maybe you finally organized one part of your space. Oh, I did that too. And you want to tackle another. I won't do that. Or maybe you're taking your supplements every morning and now you want to actually eat breakfast too. What? Therapy helps you find your strengths so you can ditch the extreme resolutions and make changes that really stick. And therapy can help. I've talked a lot about my experiences in therapy,

and it just has done me a world of good just having someone, a neutral party to kind of put things in context. It knows what they're doing. It really just helps a lot. If you're thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. It's entirely online, designed to be convenient, flexible, and suited to your schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist and switch therapists anytime for no additional charge. Celebrate the progress you've already made. Visit BetterHelp.com slash GCN today to get 10% off your first month.

That's BetterHelp, H-E-L-P dot com slash GCN. As Talitha, Buggles, Asta, and you. And Zephyr. Zephyr. And Zephyr. Thatephyr. And Zephyr. And you. That's me. Looking at her.

Eight and eight? Some guy listening in his car is like, me? You. You're the adventure too? Zephyr grill this poor, mentally unstable drunkard. How did we do?

We cut back to Brother Ramius walking with Moira. I see you're a man of the cloth. Does your religion outlaw the pleasures of life? I don't understand what you mean. Oh, just... Drinking. Hashish. Facts. No, no, no.

But in the abbey, in the monastery, it was not allowed as much. But the religion as a whole, no. In fact, there are many different ways to enlightenment. And followers of the Keeper will explore many avenues Explore, you say? Yes It's warm It's warm in here

She must be like itching, like the word explore gets her hot Thirsty Did you say explore? She must be like itching The word explore gets her hot She is thirsty Did you say explore? Jiminy, Jiminy, you want to speak to Jiminy She said you were going to see him And I would love a chance to speak with him Alright, I will try to calm him down But he is

Stay here Jiminy, Jiminy, I'm coming up For a moment and the devil's gone no they're still here and one don't refer to us as them they're still here

one would like to speak to you is it Ace Ventura too when he's he's translating he's like I think I have to translate it translate it for him and they're yelling at him

white devil white devil and the guy like translates and he's, did you just call me white devil? The translator's like, it's how they know you. I had to give you a name. Quintuacho or something. Quintuacho. That's right. Did you just call me white devil?

Did you just call me white devil? How they know you. The devils, they're not... They're friends, Jiminy. And this man thinks he can help you. Can you just listen without screaming for one moment? All right, but I'm going to close my eyes. All right, Jiminy.

She looks to you. This is, um... What is your name again? Brother Ramius. Ramius. He's a kind man. A handsome face. Shapely thigh.

Shapely thigh. A comely thigh. Well-traveled buttocks. well-traveled buttocks. A well-traveled buttocks. You really looked at him, huh? I'm wearing very heavy robes. Crisp gray eyes. Just to give you a picture.

I just want to... You won't be looking. I would prepare you for once a buttock. It appears as if he hasn't shaved in at least six hours. He wants to speak with you. Jiminy said, all right. Hello? Jiminy's like, all right. Hello? Jiminy!

Sorry. Is it hot down there? Is it hot downstairs? Hot in here. Is that what you call it? Downstairs? Oh, my. Is that what you call it? Downstairs? Oh, my God. Jiminy, I...

I'm so scared. There is no need to be frightened. I'm here to help, and I assure you I am no devil. In fact, I have made it my life's purpose to fight devils and demons. Though I don't look it, I am a warrior, Jiminy, fighting the very spirits that torture you. You fight devils? I do.

Demons too? Demons too. And I know they're very scary. They scare me. Have you... Have you fought my father? Well, no. I've just met him. Not the one downstairs.

My real father. Oh, well, no. Not yet. And this is how I want to help you. I want to find out who your real father is. And where he may be, so that I can assure you he will never hurt you again. Why do you want to help me? Just close your eyes.

And perhaps this will give you an idea. There is so much evil in this world, Jiminy. And only some of us, those of us that can, must band together to fight it. Must come together as one. Try to reach an enlightenment that will purge all evil forever.

And he's going to cast Bless. And just start sending this like It will purge all evil forever. And he's going to cast Bless. Oh. And just start sending this, like, warm emanation of divine, holy energy into the room around him. And let it envelop Jiminy for a moment. And it should feel holy to him and empowering. And he can keep it going as he keeps concentrating. And as he does,

it keeps spreading and spreading throughout the room. He feels, you see his muscles relax and keeps his eyes closed. Oh, feels warm. It feels good. Doesn't it? To know you are in the light.

Can he take me when I'm in the light? No, he cannot take you. Not while I am here. But I must ask you a few questions. You may become afraid, but that's okay. There's nothing wrong with that. It is only through facing this fear That we will defeat it together When did you first

When do you first remember Seeing your father I was A little boy I remember The letter G I was a little boy. I remember the letter G. So last year. Last year.

Oh yeah. Now you're done. Why did I say this is H? What's the 13th letter of the alphabet? They go out of order. They go out of order. This makes it thoroughly confusing I remember

just like I said the letter G how I've longed to hear what came after I had to wait ten years age it makes so much sense but it was my G year

I was four And I was lying in bed And I heard A knocking on my window But my bedroom's on the second floor So I thought maybe it was just the wind but the knocking became more insistent and so I opened my eyes

and there was a figure standing there that didn't look like Mama or Papa or any person I'd ever seen. Mama. Or Papa. Or any person I'd ever seen. And I could feel him. In my brain.

Tell me that. I was. His. I was his son. And that one day, I would inherit his kingdom. And I screamed. And my mama came in and lit a candle. And he was gone, and they said it was a bad dream.

But then I kept having the dream, and the dream would happen at different times, not just at night. I'd be outside playing, and I'd see my father, this thing in the woods, talking to me. What does he look like? His skin is gray and long.

He's got a long, long body. Much taller than my dad. But he doesn't look strong. He's just tall. And I don't see his face. I don't even see his eyes. Just his mouth. And his mouth moves.

And I can hear him talking in my brain. And when did he most recently visit you? After my father came back Or Pa He said that They're all gonna die He's gonna kill them all Did he say he would kill you?

His own son? Did he say when? I forgot. That's okay. Jiminy, that's not going to happen. We are going to stop him Nothing will happen to your family And nothing Will happen to you

I assure you Moira puts a hand on your shoulder I think that's enough I think that's enough And he releases the spell I think that's enough. I think that's enough. And he releases the spell, sort of, and the room becomes not quite as holy.

Brother Remius says, Okay. Thank you for letting me speak with him. Jiminy, thank you for sharing with me we're going to fight this together she goes to him and says give me a moment

you see her like bring him over to her or his bed kind of like lay him down brush his hair and go back to the room with Pa Kind of like lay him down and brush his hair. We go back to the room with Pa. Oh, this be. Anything else you want to try and get from this guy?

Were you really fucking your mule? Yep. That's very... It's a very crass way of talking about what we did. All right. Why do you think this figure would want your mule and not you? I don't know. I never thought about that. It's probably because I'm not worthy.

Is there anything special or noteworthy about the place where this happens that you can think of? No. It's just a road that the farmers use? I can point you to it. Let's ask Moira.

We can ask Moira. When did you move to this farm? This is my father's farm. You grew up here as well? I was born in a room right next to this Bloop Came right out Is there anything else strange that's happened

When you were a child or Over the past few years? What do you mean strange? You said yourself you lived so close to the woods. That's right. Any other incidents? All this weird stuff that goes on. Right.

In the woods. Mm-hmm. That's why I drink. Because I don't want to think about it That sounds unhealthy Thank you for your time She bows And a pleasant age to you

And we leave See ya So this is really interesting Both he and his son mention the feelings of unworthiness But they don't talk to each other about it If only they connected So this is, I mean, this is really interesting. They both, both he and his son mentioned the feelings of unworthiness. But they don't talk to each other about it. It's the saddest thing. It's only they connected. It's the saddest thing.

They can help each other. The wife and the husband. No one's, no one's communicating. No one's communicating what they need. He's just perpetuating his relationship that he had with his father. Generational trauma. He's trying to fight so hard against it. Generational trauma.

It's becoming, it's happening because he's fighting so hard against it it's becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy sad it also sounds like they're being haunted by Kniepo

yes yes they believe oh hello oh brother Ramius hello oh hey brother I imagine he's coming

down the stairs as you're coming out Moira okay I love this though like they're talking you over here at the end of this yes they believe. Moira, okay. I love this, though. Like, they're talking you over here at the end of this.

Yes, they believe. Is Moira okay? She's not well. We should go. You don't want to stay a little longer? And as we get going, we'll talk on the road. We need to get away from this place. We'd be happy to linger so Moira can have some alone time.

I have yet to have a sweet tea. I hear it's popular on farms. We're running out of time. Yeah, I'd like to leave. We need to get to the Thin Lands Farms as soon as possible. And then if we get going... We should explore the site of the... If it's on the way.

If it's, yeah. It is not on the way. No, it's back. It's backtracking. I don't know about this yet as Brother Ramey. We'll share. Wait. We'll tell you on the road.

I can, after you, you know, get a little more information, I can tell you sort of where you are geographically. I just don't know where it is. Do you guys want to. I think let's, I mean, I think it sounds like it sounds like they saw Kniepo. I don't think going to the place is necessarily going to help us, especially with our timeline. Sure. Can we do it on the way back, though? It is interesting that Hatria Pebblesworth

also died, and they found her shriveled up. Perhaps we could talk to people who knew. The selection process of... That's what I'm saying. Originally, I was like, oh, well, maybe they're taking the souls and they want the animals. Women. Female horse, female lady.

Thoughts? Female mule, question mark? Oh, I said horse. Mule. Pardon me. Sorry, bug. The mule isn't going to be able to procreate anyway. It's a mule.

So what? Procreate anyway. It's a mule. So what? I mean, both both people that were chosen in some way or men. Wait, who? Bolon.

Oh. Son. They're both visited, have these intense connections where it's like you need to, you know, we are connected. They're formed like a partnership almost in a way. The thing I didn't get to ask the kid is like,

has he asked you to do things? That kind of stuff. Why didn't you ask that? The mom kicked me out. You have no influence over the mom? You didn't heal the child? He comes down. He's sleeping now. Thank you.

I know that was difficult, but he seemed calm as he fell asleep. If I might suggest something that may help. Do not think of this as an illusion or a delusion. Do not treat him as if he's made this up in his mind. Are you saying demons are coming to take my son? They may be. This very demon that he's identified fits the description of the creature we are searching for. This threat is very real. You must protect your family. And we are going to do our best to stop this creature from ever visiting your son again.

If you believe him, if you show him you believe him, and that you will fight for him, it you show him you believe him, and that you will fight for him, it may help him. Was Pa helpful at all? No. Yes. Somewhat. Your jury's out. Yes. He is a

sick man. Yes, it is a pre-existing condition. I think... Perhaps you were right, Zephyr. You need to communicate more as a unit. Family is very important. Yeah, yeah. Zephyr, you said that? That's what I said. Zephyr, you said that?

That's what I said Zephyr You all need to talk to each other more I heard you under your breath, I'm sorry if I No, you're right Yeah, maybe that is, maybe that would help Seems like you all are having similar, same experiences And not talking to each other about it

Not believing each other. I think we're past the point of talking. Maybe it's time Jiminy and I... Take action. Move on. Kill him? No. He'll kill...

To Leith, he goes... He'll kill himself eventually with the drink. Perhaps it is linked to the location, though. This close to Wildwood. Yes, I would encourage you to leave this place. No turnips are worth this. What this handsome man says is true. Then we need to leave here.

Would you like the handsome man to stay and protect you? The handsome man has a name. It is lonely on the road. Where will you go next? The Thinlands. We will go to the Thinlands Farms. Thinlands Farms? And then we will return to Sep...

Have you heard of it? I mean, I've heard tell. We don't do any business with them, but it is far on the outskirts of the Wildwood. Indeed, we have a long way to travel. No one really goes over there. We don't have much time, which is why we are in a rush. Otherwise, we may stay longer. Are you winking?

I did not wink. If you leave this place, you should make for Seven Arches. You could stay there, and perhaps when we return, we could reunite in the city. The roads are not safe, unfortunately. But, thank you. Do you have an Instagram or anything? I don't know. I don't do social media. Well, you know where I live, at least for the time being.

You could leave word with the Oak stewards if you do make it to seven hours. All right. Well, thank you. Wasn't expecting this today. I mean, who does expect a team of exorcists, therapists, cops to show up at their door at all? Not a cop. Not a cop. Not a cop.

Not a cop. I have a cloak. A cloak. He's 13. I think I'm younger than that You've uplifted our life In many ways I'm not sure what to do I need to get away from here

But I don't want to end up like Atrio, that mule Anyhow, that's my problem Of which I have many Good luck Would you like to come with us? Onions anyhow that's my problem of which I have many good luck good luck would you like to come with us on your

would you like to bring your charming son along with us oh that's on our entire journey it's very kind of you but too dangerous far too dangerous

I don't think that would be good for Jiminy's would you like to play Moira and Jiminy throughout the next several seasons that's mainly why I don't think that would be good for Jiminey's. Would you like to play Moira and Jiminey throughout the next several seasons? That's mainly why I don't want to do it. We hogtie them and bring them along. I'd rather stay with my drunk, sick husband.

Than have to roleplay. Than have to roleplay. Anymore. A mother and demented child. Forever. Until I eventually kill them because I'm bored of playing them. All right. Good luck to you. Farewell. forever until I eventually kill them because I'm bored of playing them alright good luck to you

farewell bye and you leave and we leave can we do can I do some sort of knowledge check about the relation

the worthiness thing has that come up in any of our research or any of our yeah you don't have to roll a check. You don't remember hearing anything about being worthy. Think back to like Bolan, his speech before he attacked you, speech during the fight and things he said in the journal. You could spend some time with the journal.

Yeah. You see that. But it doesn't ring a bell. but it doesn't ring a bell. I mean, I know, like, Bolan's thing, which actually turned out to be Kniepo's thing, was they wanted to bring about the destruction of all non-nature, right? There was any humans, humans, goblins in particular.

Bolan did say he was chosen, you know, chosen. But is he talking about chosen to be revealed something in the gate, Chosen by something else? You know, is that worthy from that? Chosen as a conduit for Kniepo? Like, that's what I'm wondering. That's what it feels like. It's common with him and the kid.

Like, I know we told them to leave, but... I know. I was trying to be polite. Let's barge back into his room. Just one more question. All right, so... I mean, they never described him doing anything.

Right, he just thinks everyone's... Horrible, violent, evil. He's just so terrified all the time. It seems like the Gorgas are doing the dirty work. Right. The Gorgas are doing the dirty work. The boy's hands are clean. He just lives in a constant fear, and his mother and father constantly tell him that his fears are in his own head.

While that may be true to some extent, it does not capture the reality of the situation. This boy has been visited by Kniepo. He said he is his son. I don't know if that's a mistranslation, or if this child really could be the offspring of Kniepo. We should ask Moira what her pregnancy was like. Yeah. Yeah.

Did she consume tannis root? Did she ever sleep around before marrying him? Did she ever have an affair with the devil? Did she accidentally take a nap in the Wildwood? Stranger things have happened. Or can Kniepo take on other forms? So many questions as you leave this farmhouse. You don't want to head back to town and lose time

to go investigate whatever this other death was. This incredibly important crime scene? Yeah. Okay. You don't even know where it is. It's a name like Pebble. What was her name? Pebblesworth.

It was clearly made up. Yeah, on the spot. Pebblesworth. Pebblesworth. I'm glad she died. You're going to have to head. One less Pebblesworth out there. You know what I'm saying?

You're going to have to head into the woods Pebblesworth out there, you know what I'm saying? You're going to have to head into. Never met a Pebblesworth I liked. You're going to have to head in the direction of the woods, and you knew that there was no place to stay. There's no inns along the road out here. You're going to have to camp out. And then if you make, you know, you've got a few hours before, a few hours of light left, make a camp, get up,

make your way to Thin Lands Farms. Yep. So you're heading sort of south, southwesterly. Eventually the sun goes down. Oh, man. Build a fire. Sit around

the campfire. What's the sort of mood in the room? A little creeped out. Creeped out. Yeah. Plus, Buggles generally, he's never slept outside. He's always been sort of, he's lived indoors his whole life.

Same with Brother Ramius. This is very unusual for him, too. Talitha is a forager. Have I told you guys this yet? I don't think so. Are you picking mushrooms? I'm picking mushrooms. Mechanically, I can always find enough food and water to survive, and then I can roll a subsist roll

to see if I can bring four additional creatures. That is awesome. And I also have some scouting more. Oh, wow. So you found the perfect place to camp out. Would anyone like some flay leaf? I don't want to do this alone. No, I'll keep watch, I guess.

I'll keep watch. I could keep watch as well. I'll keep watch. Okay. I dig a hole. I dig a hole and stick my head into it. I dig a hole. It's like so many places. I dig a hole and stick my head into it. I dig a hole and then I lay. Hey!

I dig a hole and then I turn into a fox and then I go inside it. Nice. You see me kneel? I'll see that. I put down my katana and then I just stand there and I just turn into a fox and then I go into a hole. That's fucking cool. So you turn into like a tiny little fox. go into a hole. That's fucking cool. So you turn into like a tiny little fox.

A little white fox. Holy shit, did you see that? I poke my little fox head back out. Good. That is adorable and terrifying all at once. I didn't know she's like a little dog. Look. You're fuzzy.

Buggles, you're so funny. So funny. Zephyr, you're kind of watching the woods while he's getting high. He's scouting. She's scouting. She's scouting. She's popping her head out of the foxhole and Buckles is admiring all of this.

Give me a perception check. Oh, geez. All right, here we go. This is fine. Ooh, not bad. Math. 21 total. 21.

21. Feels like a cliffy perception. 21 total. 21. Feels like a cliffy perception. My god. You're high. You're so high. You see rising out of the bushes an immense cliffy.

Oh no. Brother Rick is just like What the fuck is that? What the fuck is that? You have very sharp senses. Archer's senses. You're watching sort of the periphery of this campsite. Imagine you scanning back and forth.

At one point, you get back to a point that you just looked at, and it's so dark beyond the edge of where this campfire is, but you see one, two, three, four, five, six large dark pools moving towards you in the brush. Moonlight reflecting off of the eyes of three Gorgons. Oh, come on. And we'll see you next week. Okay. Full-blown combat.

I don't like this cliffy. Come on. Oh, beautiful. Enormous cliffy. It's way too big. Oh, where's our bird? Never visualized it. I feel dirty knowing it.

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