EE-3-1 - Reawakening

SUMMARY

As the party makes their way along the Norgeld Road back to Port Norsal, a strange person approaches them from the forest. Darodem greats them as a protector along these roads who has started to take watch over the area again now that the gnolls are taken care of. While they offer to keep the party safe as they camp for the night, they can do nothing for what is inside these adventurers’ minds.

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

SHOUT OUTS

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CAST

Damian - The DM

Chris - Rem

Christa - Ariel

Chantalle - Kenina

Caitlin - Tempest

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MUSIC

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

Fimbulwinter – Vindsvept (Intro)

Tavern Loop 1 – Serpent Sound Studios (1:16)

Stagecoach – Michael Ghelfi (3:43)

Stay the Course – Incomeptech (5:08)

Magic Mystery – Alec Wesner (7:43)

Forest Walk – Serpent Sound Studios (10:41)

Leaving for Valhalla – Serpent Sound Studios (16:24)

Forest: Night – Tabletop Audio (22:11)

Sacred Places – JDB Music (24:37)

Forest Nighttime – Michael Ghelfi (24:43)

Borealis – Scott Buckley (27:29)

Secret Garden – Tabletop Audio (32:08)

Existential Dread – Tabletop Audio (32:27)

Secret Garden (Ambience Only) – Tabletop Audio (Patreon) (32:42)

Percussion Loop #3 – AndySV (34:12)

Forested Cliff – Michael Ghelfi (38:09)

Giant Wyrm – Incomeptech (35:58)

Soul Searcher – Scott Buckley (45:27)

Virtutes Vocis – Incompetech (49:19)

Enter The Lair – Joel Steudler (53:28)

Secret Garden (Ambience Only) – Tabletop Audio (Patreon) (55:23)

Existential Dread – Tabletop Audio (55:26)

Percussion Loop #3 – AndySV (55:26)

Lively Tundra – Michael Ghelfi (1:00:11)

Whispering Winds – Vindsvept (1:00:23)

Hard Clash (Percussion Stem) – Audio Alchemist (1:01:43)

Medieval Town – Tabletop Audio (1:02:12)

The Encounter – Scott Buckley (1:03:31)

Medieval Village – Michael Ghelfi (1:06:25)

Secret Garden (Ambience Only) – Tabletop Audio (Patreon) (1:09:05)

Percussion Loop #3 – AndySV (1:09:08)

Existential Dread – Tabletop Audio (1:09:11)

Underwater – Michael Ghelfi (1:15:29)

Never Dying – Scott Buckley (1:15:36)

Stay the Course – Incompetech (1:16:50)

Never Dying – Scott Buckley (1:19:34)

The Encounter – Scott Buckley (1:27:05)

Medieval Village – Michael Ghelfi (1:27:06)

Secret Garden (Ambience Only) – Tabletop Audio (Patreon) (1:30:29)

Percussion Loop #3 – AndySV (1:30:34)

Existential Dread – Tabletop Audio (1:30:35)

Forest Nighttime – Michael Ghelfi (1:32:42)

Forest Breath – Audio Alchemist (1:33:28)

Medieval Town – Michael Ghelfi (1:34:39)

Lost – Adrian von Zielger (1:35:39)

Forest Nighttime – Michael Ghelfi (1:36:03)

The Encounter – Scott Buckley (1:36:16)

The Old Ones – Scott Buckley (1:36:34)

Secret Garden (Ambience Only) – Tabletop Audio (Patreon) (1:37:34)

Existential Dread – Tabletop Audio (1:37:35)

Percussion Loop #3 – AndySV (1:37:36)

Forest Nighttime – Michael Ghelfi (1:38:42)

Immersed – Incompetech (1:39:58)

Campfire in Woods – Michael Ghelfi (1:40:00)

Medieval City – Michael Ghelfi (1:42:37)

Last Stand – Vindsvept (Outro)

Transcript

SPEAKER_06 0:00

This episode of Adventures in Aurelian brought to you by Kevin Jeff from Interparty Conflict. And Mikey K on Patreon. You can join them in supporting the show at patreon.com slash adventures in aurillion.

SPEAKER_00 0:19

Stephen Johnson from Better Podcasting. I'm podcasting the podcasting part of the Get Geek Network. Just like the show you're checking out now. Shows on the network are individually owned, and opinions expressed may not reflect others. Find the geek shows at GetAGeekNetwork.com.

SPEAKER_06 1:00

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

SPEAKER_04 1:03

I'm Krista, and I play Ariel an Asmar Sorceress.

SPEAKER_08 1:07

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

SPEAKER_02 1:10

I'm Chantel, and I play Kenina, a tiefling sorcerer.

SPEAKER_03 1:14

I'm Caitlin, I play Tempest, a Water Genasi Ranger.

SPEAKER_06 1:21

Previously, on Adventures in Aurelia, our group of adventurers had traveled to the region of Isilia to speak with the dwarves of Steringeld about some items they had found within a cave system in their home region of the Chrysal Valley. While traveling to meet the dwarves, they were attacked by gnolls and later found out that these knolls were part of a pack led by a mythical knoll known as Grimfang. Before heading back to the Chrysal Valley, our adventurers decided to investigate this Grimfang situation further. Ultimately, they located his camp, slew him with the help of the dwarven Blackguard, and recovered his spear, a weapon that gives off a similarly powerful evil aura to the Great Axe they had found previously. Our story continues with the group on the road leaving the village of Stirren where they had been staying previously. As we begin Arc 3 of the Aurelian Epic, you guys have had your return back to the village of Stirren with a the way the village received you, at least, was a pretty warm welcome. They were very appreciative of what you had done, especially uh Lydia, who didn't have the means to take care of the problem with Grimfang, but recognized that it was something that she needed to have some responsibility over, just didn't have any way to force that to happen, and you guys did her and the village a great service in doing so. Many of the villagers, whether that played out in the episode or not, came by and thanked you for your work. And it seemed like the next day you guys were ready to start your way back towards Riven. So heading along the Norgeld Road back to Port Norsall. You guys know by now, especially the number of journeys that you've had back and forth along this road over the last few weeks, that this is roughly a three-day journey. And you guys headed back. We're kind of speeding things along, but on your guys' journey back to the city of Port Norse Hall, I need someone to go ahead and roll me a flat D20. I'll do it. 16. So it is about midday on the third of Monanon. You guys are roughly at about the halfway point. You're nearing the eastern edge of Lake Iselia, which is the major lake that is just north of the Norgeld Road. You guys had actually camped there a couple times previously. There was actually a section of fishing that happened within the lake at one point in time. That was not very fruitful, but was very entertaining for those that partook.

SPEAKER_04 4:15

Is that that one?

SPEAKER_06 4:17

Yep. As you guys are traveling, who would be driving the cart right now?

SPEAKER_02 4:23

Not me. So I'm not against switching spots with someone else if they wanted to ride in the front.

SPEAKER_06 4:32

If we say that Rem's driving, who would want to be up front with Rem?

SPEAKER_04 4:37

Uh, Ariel would be up front with I I mean, she'd be willing, because she'd probably be very happy to be talking to Princess the whole time as well.

SPEAKER_06 4:45

Okay. How about Ariel and Rem? Go ahead and roll me a perception check. Ariel, what did you get?

SPEAKER_04 4:53

Eleven.

SPEAKER_06 4:54

And Rem? 15. Makes sense. Ariel is uh is conversing with Princess along the journey. And uh Rem, who is actually driving the cart, is being a little bit more uh in tune with what's on the road. Um, probably in the next half hour, like distance-wise, uh somewhere that you would reach in about the next half hour or so, uh, something catches your eye over on the tree line to the south, which is um the same forest that Grimfang had been in and that you guys have spent quite a bit of time in over the last few weeks. You see what looks to be a large draft horse with seemingly someone sitting on its back. But it doesn't look quite right to you from a distance. Maybe it's a distortion with them being up near the tree line, maybe it's something to do with how far away that you guys are at this point.

SPEAKER_08 5:48

They're like wavy or something? Like, can you explain what looks wrong?

SPEAKER_06 5:52

If there were a person sitting on it, it almost looks like they're hunched forward over the horse's head.

SPEAKER_08 5:58

Tempest. Huh? Can you bring your spy glass up here?

SPEAKER_06 6:02

So is this a thing where Rem is going to stop the cart, bring it to a to a slowdown, or are you just asking Tempest through the window?

SPEAKER_08 6:11

Right now I'm just asking Tempest through the window. Like, because I don't want to look like I'm changing any kind of actions. Just keeping things slow. You said they were pretty far away.

SPEAKER_03 6:20

Okay. Tempest will reach into her bag. Is the window large enough to reach through?

SPEAKER_06 6:26

Or are we talking like No, I'm thinking like six inches tall, twelve inches across, give or take.

SPEAKER_03 6:32

Okay, so she'll she's not even really gonna get up. Just reach into her bag. Arm out the window. Here. Don't break it.

SPEAKER_08 6:41

He's gonna hand the reins to Ariel. To Ariel. As long as all she does is hold them. It's kinda like, you know, it'll drive itself. Just hold these. Hold this. And then reach back and take the spyglass, and he's gonna attempt to get a closer look at this thing.

SPEAKER_06 6:58

I don't feel that Rem would have much experience with a spyglass, so I'm gonna go ahead and have you roll perception again. Uh go ahead and take advantage, though. Because you are zoomed in, even if the aiming might be a little iffy for you. 22. As you you pan around, it takes you a moment to really get the spyglass dialed in. This is a large distance, so you know, moving moving a fraction of a degree is is a quite a large movement. But you manage to find this draft horse up against the the edge of the forest, and what you thought was a man slumped over the front of the horse, kind of covering its head. You actually see that in place of a horse's head is the torso of a man jutting out from this draft horse's body. And you can see they're bare chested, very muscular. They have a uh quiver slung over their back, and you can see what looks like an almost inhumanly designed bow across their back as well. Something that like the strength that it would take to pull this back is this isn't a typical archer's bow. Would Rim know what this is? Would Rem have any reason to to know what a centaur is? Like to actually know what a centaur is. I guess it would depend on how common they are, if they're written in stories. I think that this is one of those things that would come to Rem as fabled. There's definitely accounts that would suggest that they exist, but they're known to be very reclusive. You have met a pixie fairly recently, so you're starting to realize that some of these things that have been talked about through books and through stories that people are like, oh well, I've I've never seen one of those. Those don't exist. Those are just story storytales. You're seeing that those that might actually exist. They're just creatures that don't make themselves known to the human world very much.

SPEAKER_08 9:00

And and with this, you know, bare knowledge, would it would it be the same kind of knowledge we have of centaurs or are they known to be amiable or are they more like reclusive?

SPEAKER_06 9:10

Um, I think you would know them to be more not necessarily reclusive, but defensive. They're they're very protective of their lands, but it's also one of those things that if you were to say that you ran into a centaur on the road, people in Port Norsaw would be like, you know what now? Like you'd find people that would believe you. There's probably even people that would corroborate that, oh yeah, they live in the forest down there. But it's definitely something that people would do a double take for. It's like, oh, that's an incredibly rare thing.

SPEAKER_08 9:40

Okay, so he's gonna as he takes a focus, he's gonna be like, can't believe it.

SPEAKER_04 9:45

Can't believe what?

SPEAKER_08 9:46

There's a centaur on the side of the road up there.

SPEAKER_04 9:49

Would Ariel know what a centaur? Has she read enough books in her life at the monastery to have read about a centaur among all the other animals that she read about?

SPEAKER_06 9:59

Even beyond what you've read at the monastery, you specifically chose to look through the books in Lyrian's hut. So it's very possible that you found some sketches of a centaur within the books that you found that you were flipping through there as well. So while it's not something that you have any firsthand knowledge of, you don't know anyone that has had an encounter with a centaur. I feel like you would have a much stronger, like, especially if Rem were to show you, like, oh, I saw this in Lyrian's books. Or if he described it to you. It's about how far away is the centaur now? About 25 minutes.

SPEAKER_08 10:36

So Rim will, you know, re-collapse the spyglass and then kind of knock on the window and hand it back through to Tempest to take the reins back. Gonna keep going slowly. Act casual. He stops us or hails us, we'll we'll hail him back and then go from there. If not, I don't see any reason to uh become too alarmed.

SPEAKER_06 10:56

As the next 20 minutes or so passes, you are starting to come to a more parallel line to this centaur creature, and they start walking towards the road. At this point, you all of you can just see it. You're close enough that you can see. And as they leave the tree line, anyone that is looking sees a centaur uh approaching the road near you guys, but they're not approaching in any sort of threatening manner.

SPEAKER_04 11:25

Ariel's gonna smile and wave, hi!

SPEAKER_08 11:28

As we pull even, you know, Rem will slow the horse down and then come to a stop.

SPEAKER_02 11:33

Can you know probably be like peering out one of our windows or curtains or whatever they we have and be just like, wow, just like what my grandpa used to tell me about.

SPEAKER_06 11:43

Does Rem begin to bring the cart to any sort of halt?

SPEAKER_08 11:47

Yeah, he'll he'll slow the cart as the, you know, obviously obviously as the centaur approaches, he'll kind of pull up to where they looks like they're gonna meet and come to a stop, as he would for, you know, somebody that hailed them on the road.

SPEAKER_06 11:57

Uh, the centaur essentially approaches you guys directly and then kind of makes pace with you. As the cart slows down, they look over you and oh, no need to slow your pace on my account. I can pace with you.

SPEAKER_08 12:12

Alright, if that's what you want, and they'll give a little snap to the reins to get the horse moving again.

SPEAKER_04 12:18

How are you, Mr. Centaur? You're amazing.

SPEAKER_06 12:21

I find it interesting that you would have such a strong opinion of me without knowing who I am.

SPEAKER_08 12:26

She really, really likes horses. No offense.

SPEAKER_06 12:32

Understandable. Not a horse, though. It appears that your cart has uh befallen some damage. It looks somewhat recent.

SPEAKER_08 12:42

Uh, we did have a run-in a few days back uh with some gnolls, but uh we took care of that.

SPEAKER_07 12:50

You took care of that?

SPEAKER_08 12:52

Yes. I we believe so.

SPEAKER_06 12:54

We killed Grimfang. Yes. Go ahead and uh roll insight, both of you. And while this is happening, um, what are Kanina and Tempest doing in the cart?

SPEAKER_03 13:06

Uh, Tempest is just sorta leaning out the window, you know, checking out what's going on. As as Nina said earlier, like, oh my god. It's a centaur. I have heard of these. He's talking to us. He's running as fast as us.

SPEAKER_06 13:28

I mean, you're not running, you're you're at a slow pace, but he's But he did say, Don't bother slowing down, I'm fine.

SPEAKER_03 13:34

So it's just like, what?

SPEAKER_02 13:37

Kenny would probably be uh, you know, uh looking out the window at the same, you know, and kind of just very curious at this, you know, instance, because it's very unexpected, and you know, she'll greet him as he walks up, you know, and do her cheerful, cheerful wave kind of thing. But yeah, for now she'll just kind of listen to see what he has to say and let Rem talk.

SPEAKER_06 13:54

As the other part of the conversation is started up, just a momentary glance at Oh, there's more of you.

SPEAKER_02 14:01

Yeah, hello there.

SPEAKER_06 14:02

And he he steps away from the card a little bit to make it easier for all of you to be able to see and actually have a conversation with him as you guys are walking. Ariel, what'd you get on your insight?

SPEAKER_04 14:14

Uh, a natural 20 plus five, so 25.

SPEAKER_06 14:16

And Rem?

SPEAKER_08 14:17

15.

SPEAKER_06 14:18

Ariel notices almost immediately that as she said that you guys had killed Grimfang, a like shock across the Centaur's face. And Rem notices it as well, but I think especially as Ariel was the one that said it, got that instant look in his eyes of like, what? You guys, you guys killed him.

SPEAKER_08 14:42

Well, we had help from the Blackguard.

SPEAKER_06 14:45

I uh I noticed that the trouble along these roads with the gnolls had stopped. A few days ago. I had not heard yet that Grimfang had been taken care of.

SPEAKER_02 14:59

Oh, were the uh knolls troubling your people as well?

SPEAKER_06 15:03

They weren't troubling my people. I don't have a people here per se. But I used to defend this road as travelers would come through. I would keep watch over them as they slept. But over the last few months the knolls in the forest had begun to be too much for me to handle. Times that I would be out overlooking travelers and trying to fend people off on the road, they could overwhelm me. They could almost meet me pace for pace as far as me having to escape from them.

SPEAKER_08 15:43

They were very quick. They did run us down, that's the damage. They were chasing us as we attempted to flee.

SPEAKER_02 15:48

Yeah, we didn't expect them to be quite so fast. It's very uh noble and quite brave of you to fend them off as much as you could, especially alone as you are.

SPEAKER_06 15:57

Yes, I have helped try to keep peace with the creatures in the forest. I help keep people from venturing in, and I try to keep things from venturing out.

SPEAKER_08 16:10

Have you ever spoken with the Blackguard at Sterin?

SPEAKER_06 16:13

I have not. I don't venture to either of your settlements on either end of this road.

SPEAKER_08 16:20

Well, I don't want to put you out, but I would say if something like this were to happen again, if you found anything beyond your own strength, speaking with the Blackguard there, they may find ways to help you if you were to maybe help them locate, you know, nests of bandits or dens of kobolds or gnals that have been bothering you.

SPEAKER_06 16:43

I could see doing that, however, the issues with the gnolls had gone on plenty long, and many people met their end when their knoll presence grew here, and neither settlement did much to help. But if Grimfang is dead, as you say, and from what I've seen around the area, that does make sense to me. I I noticed that that many days ago the gnals had stopped venturing out into the wood and had stopped making their way to the road. And as I noticed that they had less of a presence, I've started to bring myself closer to the road again, keeping an eye on things.

SPEAKER_02 17:30

Did you approach us because of the damage on our cart then?

SPEAKER_06 17:33

I mostly approached you as a way to introduce myself as your protector along the roads here. I actually didn't expect you to be as formidable as you seem to be. Many of the people that that journey along this road is a a single cart by pulled by two horses aren't able to defend themselves against some of the larger creatures around these parts.

SPEAKER_04 18:02

When he says introduce himself, that triggers Ariel. I'm Ariel, what's your name?

SPEAKER_06 18:07

Greetings, Ariel. I am known as Derodim.

SPEAKER_08 18:11

So Rim will be like, it's very nice to make your acquaintance. We are a uh small group representative from the town of Riven, from their adventurers guild.

SPEAKER_06 18:22

Ah, the town of Riven. That's not something I am familiar with.

SPEAKER_08 18:28

It is a a larger settlement, uh few days travel by boat from here.

SPEAKER_06 18:33

Ah, uh, across the Across the Sea is not a journey that I am one to make. I prefer to live within my forest and try to keep things peaceful here.

SPEAKER_08 18:46

My name is Rem. These are my companions, as you've met Ariel and Canina! Behind is Kanina and Tempest.

SPEAKER_03 18:55

Hey.

SPEAKER_06 18:56

That's uh quite the interesting group of companions that you surround yourself with, Rem. They are at that. He he chuckles a little bit at that. Well, I mostly just wanted to introduce myself as a way to allay any concern that you might have having potentially seen me along the the edge of the road, but also to let you know that you will have someone watching over you. I appreciate that. Believe I have actually uh watched over you guys a few times in the past at this point. It's good to know.

SPEAKER_02 19:40

Uh, we yeah, I've definitely had some times where I've been on watch and heard uh larger creature roaming the woods. I suppose that could have been you then.

SPEAKER_06 19:48

It's definitely possible. Since noticing the reduced presence of the gnolls in this area, I have begun to take up some of my previous duties of keeping track of what's going on on the roads, and when I notice that foolish travelers have set themselves up near where the gnolls live, I've tried to do what I can to keep watch over them. Potentially drive away any gnolls if they decided to suddenly become bold and make their way out to the road again. But you now know me, and I now know you guys. I just want you to know that as you guys rest for the night again, you shouldn't have anything to fear. We appreciate that.

SPEAKER_02 20:40

Yes, it's certainly very helpful to our situation.

SPEAKER_06 20:44

And with that, Gerodim starts to make their way off the side of the road, heading back towards the forest.

SPEAKER_02 20:54

Did he seem pretty earnest in his uh sayings and whatnot? Wanting to protect us.

SPEAKER_06 21:00

Would you like to roll an insight check? Yes.

SPEAKER_02 21:04

13.

SPEAKER_06 21:05

As far as Kanina feels, she feels that what he said he he meant truthfully.

SPEAKER_02 21:11

Yeah. Kanina's not really the type to really be super suspect, but you know, she understands that desire to want to help people and help protect people, so I think she's probably just looking to see if he had uh similar inclinations.

SPEAKER_06 21:24

It's essentially with that, you're not getting a reading off of them that they're pr like happy to do this, that that this is it doesn't seem like something that is a calling to them, more so as it is something that they feel they need to do. They they feel yeah, they feel a responsibility more than they feel a calling to it. But you are getting the sense that they mean what they say when they say that they're out there to protect you and that they are out there to protect the people on the road. And you didn't get any sense that they were being dishonest when they said that the increased presence of the gnolls drove them away from that duty.

SPEAKER_02 22:08

Keena appreciates it, and she is kind of like uh just kind of like curious about the situation that brought them to this kind of role, but she's happy to have met someone who's willing to help us out.

SPEAKER_06 22:20

And at this, go ahead, have time advance towards night on the third of Monanon. Does does anyone in the party feel the need to actually set up a watch given what Derodem had told you?

SPEAKER_08 22:35

I think Rim, even though that Derodem said that, would still feel more comfortable setting up his own watch. Maybe being a little bit more lax about it.

SPEAKER_02 22:43

Yeah, I feel like Canina would would be willing to like maybe do like a two-person watch or something like that, like just have a couple of us, you know, make sure things are going fine throughout the night, especially in the night where some of our party can't see, you know, she'd feel better if uh she could keep watch over some people.

SPEAKER_06 22:58

So if there's going to be a sort of watch, what does the party do as Rem flicks the reins, stops the cart, unhitch the horse and take care of it?

SPEAKER_02 23:09

So we'll definitely set up camp for the night, and I feel a lot safer with uh Darodim here protecting us, but I certainly think uh it might be wise for us to still kind of keep an eye out, just because I don't think he can be in all places at all times.

SPEAKER_08 23:22

Four eyes is better than two.

SPEAKER_03 23:25

I'll stay up for a while to keep an eye on things. I'm not quite tired yet, being stuck in the cart all day. And I don't see as well in the dark. So I'll take it while the sun's still up a bit.

SPEAKER_08 23:36

I can take it just before sunrise.

SPEAKER_02 23:38

That works out, and I'd be fine with staying up in the darker part of the night. I can see fairly well.

SPEAKER_04 23:44

But do you think Derodim is gonna be around? Because he said he would watch, then we could get more sleep.

SPEAKER_02 23:49

Yeah, he's definitely going to be around, but I don't know, we are still in a in a big open, exposed area, and I I do trust him to keep uh part of uh part of our area safe, but it'd be nice to have a little extra set of eyes open just in case anything manages to get past him. Okay, well, if you uh it's like I I f I do feel a lot safer, and we do have him basically working as an extra to watch, so if you want to get some rest airl, I have no problem uh staying up through the night. I have energy to spare.

SPEAKER_04 24:18

Okay, well, if you if anything, um if you start getting tired, then wake me up. Or if you hear something or something, because I'll obvious obviously be getting like the most sleep. That sounds like a plan.

SPEAKER_02 24:29

If I hear anything or see any disturbances, I'll let you know.

SPEAKER_06 24:32

As the party starts forming up for their watches.

SPEAKER_04 24:38

Are we gonna be able to say what we want to do before we go to sleep?

SPEAKER_06 24:41

Sure.

SPEAKER_04 24:42

Ariel wants to look and see why that this staff is different and stronger than the current staff she has, since Rem said it's stronger, but didn't tell her why.

SPEAKER_06 24:53

So what you're saying is that Ariel would like to spend an extra hour before her long rest to uh to study and potentially attune to the staff that she has?

SPEAKER_04 25:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 25:04

Alright. Kenina and Rem get their bed rolls out, they eat whatever they're going to eat for the night, and begin to retire for the night. Tempest starts setting up her stuff for a watch. And instead of getting ready for bed, what does Ariel do?

SPEAKER_04 25:24

Ariel knows that she's gonna be getting a lot of sleep, so she wants to figure out why Rem said this other staff that he brought to her room is stronger and basically better than the current staff she has, because he didn't really tell her anything. So she kind of wants to study this and see what it's all about.

SPEAKER_06 25:46

Okay, so before going to sleep for the night, Ariel's going to essentially spend the the time of a short rest to study the staff, and you are going to find out that this is a staff of power, and it has all of the stats and all of the abilities that I went over in the last episode, because I'm not going to spend 10 minutes going through that again. But Ariel now knows what it is, what it does, and the significance of being given a staff like this.

SPEAKER_04 26:17

She's probably like, oh, wow, he was right.

SPEAKER_06 26:23

And I imagine that as you've been doing this too, you've you've had this staff laid across your lap in your hands, studying it, kind of getting a feel for its magic. You're almost feeling a warmth from behind you, and almost like someone has their hand on your shoulder and is guiding you along the traces of magic as you start to piece together and pull out what this sword is, what it does, and how to use it. Does Ariel wish to attune to the Staff of Power?

SPEAKER_04 26:54

Yes, she wishes to attune.

SPEAKER_06 26:57

And suddenly, after what feels like an hour of study along this, it's it's like all of the dots have finally been connected, and Ariel almost feels a pulse of energy surge through her body as your bond with this weapon has been made. The sun sets over the party. You guys have about one more day after you wake up to get to Port Norsaw. Tempest is taking the first watch.

SPEAKER_05 27:32

I am.

SPEAKER_06 27:33

Go ahead and uh roll for roll perception. 24. I see everything. Especially given that Tempest is taking watch earlier in the night. Um, there's still a little bit of sunlight. And as Tempest is making her rounds and taking a look around the camp, you see a large horse-like figure off in the distance, nearer to the forest side of things. They seem to be keeping somewhat of an eye over you guys, you've noticed. Over the the time of your watch that they have paced back and forth a few times. They're they're walking a good ten minutes in one direction, then they come back, and occasionally you see them cross over the road, head over to where the lake is, and it seems like they're just keeping a wide perimeter around you. Keeping an eye on what's going on. Based on what you had been told earlier, you believe this to be Derodim.

SPEAKER_03 28:32

It is reassuring to see that he is actually out there. They are actually out there. And um, she'll just settle into uh probably sitting up on the cart.

SPEAKER_06 28:45

Like on top of the cart, or like in the driver's seat of the cart.

SPEAKER_03 28:48

The seat's probably a little more comfortable. Okay. You know, so have a little bit of a higher vantage point, but especially with Deredim around, not expecting anything exciting to happen. And you said that you got 24 on perception, right?

SPEAKER_06 29:05

Correct. Uh the the one thing that you do notice on one of their journeys towards you that they have since drawn their bow. They don't seem to have it drawn and ready, but they are holding it in their hand as they pace around.

SPEAKER_03 29:21

I will do the same.

SPEAKER_06 29:23

No, I like from the start you notice that. Oh, so they if they didn't just as as nights fall in, you've noticed that they are just walking around with their bow at the ready.

SPEAKER_03 29:33

Well, in that case, I mean I've got mine with me as well, just sitting up there.

SPEAKER_06 29:38

And a couple hours passes, and what do you do?

SPEAKER_03 29:44

Um, oh no. Trying to think of how she would occupy herself. Probably like whittling away at a stick, but not doing anything in particular.

SPEAKER_06 29:54

Is this a thing where like by the end of your watch, the stick that started out as two feet long is now just six yeah, is now just you know, three inches long, and you've just kept sharpening a point further and further down, or are you trying to carve?

SPEAKER_03 30:09

No, it's probably just mindlessly doing something with my hands.

SPEAKER_06 30:15

So a couple hours pass with Tempest fairly mindlessly whittling away. What do you do? This is the end of your watch.

SPEAKER_03 30:24

She'll hop down off the cart, stretch out, because back's all cricked up from being hunched over, whittling and sitting in the same spot for two hours. Go, nudge, Nina, awake. Like, alright, I'm ready to turn in. Oh, yeah, okay. Yeah. Have a good sleep. Thanks. Oh, uh, I have seen the centaur, you know, wandering around making his rounds, so ah, well that put my puts my mind at ease. Mm-hmm. Don't be worried if you hear anything.

SPEAKER_02 30:59

Can you know get up, rub a sleep out of her eyes, stretch a bit, a couple upper torso twists, and then go ahead and start her watch.

SPEAKER_06 31:07

Would you like to roll perception for your watch?

SPEAKER_02 31:09

Yes.

SPEAKER_06 31:13

13. With a 13, Tempest had already clued you into Eridim's presence, and you are able to notice them kind of as they they make their their end of the round closer to where you guys have set up to make a camp. But unlike Tempest, you had the the aid of it being lighter out, much nicer perception check. You there's times that you lose them off in the distance. And uh we end up to about a couple hours into your watch.

SPEAKER_02 31:53

The cart, and uh she's trying to keep perceptive. You know, she's kind of a fidgety individual, I'd imagine, as well. So but she tries to keep a mental note of where she's seeing Darodim and whatnot. And uh, since nothing has happened so far and she knows Darrow Dim is out there patrolling, she'll go ahead and continue with the second part of her watch.

SPEAKER_06 32:11

Okay. Ariel. You find yourself coming awake in the middle of a forest.

SPEAKER_04 32:20

Do I see my friends around?

SPEAKER_06 32:22

No, you do not. Go ahead and roll perception. 12. You feel that something is wrong. Like something that should be close to you is missing.

SPEAKER_04 32:36

I immediately look for the spear.

SPEAKER_06 32:38

You reach up to your back where you've been carrying it around, and it's not there.

SPEAKER_04 32:46

I'm gonna scramble looking around for it.

SPEAKER_06 32:49

As you look around, you're in essentially a clearing in the forest. The the trees all look very similar and much the same to one another. Approaching from one side of this clearing is a large black figure. They almost seem covered in shadow, even though what you're seeing is in the light of about a midday.

SPEAKER_04 33:17

I'm I'm gonna be like.

SPEAKER_06 33:20

Who are you? From seemingly out of nowhere, you see the spear appear in this figure's hands. I think you know who I am.

SPEAKER_04 33:36

I'm gonna grab my necklace and just be like, leave me alone.

SPEAKER_06 33:42

Coming about 45 degrees off to the side of the figure in front of you, you see a very similarly like cast and swirling shadows, canine-esque creature also approach out with a low growl.

SPEAKER_07 34:00

Did you think it would be so easy to take this from me?

SPEAKER_06 34:11

Roll for initiative. What? Just her.

SPEAKER_04 34:18

Uh oh. That sucks because she doesn't have me drummer on right now. I'm shaking right now.

SPEAKER_06 34:28

Ariel, what did you get for initiative?

SPEAKER_04 34:30

Ten.

SPEAKER_06 34:32

Ariel, suddenly as you are clinging to your amulet, thinking to Cosin, trying to figure out what to do, this figure in front of you, in the blink of an eye, has closed half the distance and starts charging in your direction. Suddenly, with you having no idea where they came from, there is a winged human standing in front of you with a long sword in one hand and a shield in another that is directly put themselves in between you and Grim Fang.

SPEAKER_04 35:10

So as it as he comes closer, he does look like Grim Fang now, not just a shadowed creature.

SPEAKER_06 35:16

Grim Fang thrusts out with the spear at the creature that put themselves between you two. With one thrust of the spear, you see the winged creature in front of you bash the tip of the spear away with the front of their shield, and Grim Fang takes that momentum, swings it around, and slashes across them on the other arm. You hear just a as the creature has blood drawn from the tip of the spear, and they retaliate. Oh, almost a crit on the second one. There you go. Currently they are at 36 hit points. But as they have a second where they gasp and you hear them sucking in air, and with a grunt, they swing out twice. Almost in an X-like pattern across the front of the shadowed Grim Thing in front of you. Dealing, for meta purposes, a total of 32 damage. And it is your turn.

SPEAKER_04 36:35

Ariel is. I don't think she's even thinking to mage armor at this point. She's very flustered. So she's gonna shoot a guiding bolt at Grimfang. 23.

SPEAKER_06 36:51

That will hit.

SPEAKER_04 36:52

Oh, I'm actually using my big one. Because I imagine she would be like going for it at that point. Because this is beyond freaky. 22. So as all this is happening with Kosein attacking and stuff, as soon as Ariel sees like a clear moment, she snaps her fingers, and in Celestial says, Light upon you, and radiant lightning shoots towards uh Grimfang. And then as it hits Grimfang, like a celestial prayer starts glowing around him. And then it binds to his fur and lights up and singes, and the light gives advantage to the next attack.

SPEAKER_06 37:39

And the the shadow canine comes bounding out of the side of the clearing. Um, since the angelic creature in front of you had kind of put themselves in the path, the shadow warg charges straight over to it and is going to lead with a bite. Does a 12 hit.

SPEAKER_04 38:05

No.

SPEAKER_06 38:05

Okay, so it's going to kind of give a running bite at Kosein and skid across the dirt as Kosane moves to the side. Kanina! Hello. You find yourself jolting awake in the clearing on the side of a mountain to the sounds of birds and a moderate amount of rain falling. Do I know how I got here? You don't. You were laying on the ground and you woke up to this feeling of rain on you. Uh, I didn't go to sleep though. You don't remember falling asleep, no.

SPEAKER_02 38:48

Huh. Okay. Kanina's very confused. Like, it was just like, wait, I was I was on watch. What happened? I was my watch isn't over yet, did it? Did I did I go to sleep? Don't remember. I guess you'll look around, see where she's at, I guess, if it's familiar to her or anything, or if it's new territory.

SPEAKER_07 39:09

Ah.

SPEAKER_06 39:10

You're awake. Sitting, curled up behind you, pushing some trees back. Is a large red dragon.

SPEAKER_02 39:22

Yeah, she'll probably jump a bit out of the voice, you know, because I imagine, you know, dragon voice deep and booming somewhat. And uh kind of turn around and be just like. What?

SPEAKER_06 39:33

You it's been some time, Fire Child.

SPEAKER_02 39:39

Indeed, it has. And what are you doing back here?

SPEAKER_07 39:43

I was resting.

SPEAKER_02 39:46

Why am I here? Did you bring me here? Where are my friends?

SPEAKER_07 39:50

Believe it or not, you've brought yourself here.

SPEAKER_02 39:57

Well, I don't remember getting here, and I had no desire to leave my friends and my party.

SPEAKER_07 40:02

Well, since you're here, it feels like a good opportunity for some more conversation.

SPEAKER_02 40:12

You never struck me as the conversational sort. Especially when you're burning my village.

SPEAKER_06 40:19

That was merely a potential. Potential. I needed to see how strong of a bond there is between us.

SPEAKER_02 40:36

Well, speaking of potential, I've had a friend inform me of another possible vision that she had of us burning her monastery. And I don't really like this potential of having any kind of relationship with you. I'm a good person, and I don't need someone of a dubious nature like yourself around me.

SPEAKER_06 40:55

The dragon in front of you stands up and uh begins walking towards you, stepping essentially to what would be behind you as you stood up to start talking to this creature. Would the monastery happen to look anything like this? As he's peering off a cliff down the side of the mountain.

SPEAKER_02 41:26

Yeah. She didn't see it herself because this was not her vision, but from the descriptions that Ariel had given her, she'll assume that this is said monastery. I suppose that could be a monastery. I've never seen it myself, but I would assume, since this is a strange place, you could show me anything you wish to.

SPEAKER_07 41:47

And you wish to burn it down?

SPEAKER_02 41:50

No. This is people's homes, so why would I do such a thing?

SPEAKER_07 41:54

Well, you said your friend's vision showed you doing it.

SPEAKER_02 41:59

Yes, but it was, like you said, a possibility, and it doesn't have to happen. I'll make sure it never happens. And she'll kind of tense up a bit, step aw stepping away.

SPEAKER_06 42:10

And the dragon sits down, lowers its its forelegs so that its head is a little closer to being eye-level with you. I never decided to burn this down.

SPEAKER_07 42:23

Your friend is the one that said it's going to happen. It seems as though neither of us have any intent to do so.

SPEAKER_02 42:36

Go ahead and roll insight.

SPEAKER_06 42:39

17. Um, as you try and get a sense of how truthful the dragon in front of you is being, you aren't getting a sense that he wishes to burn down this building in front of you. Essentially, I guess the way that Kanina might get a readoff of things is that you feel he is leaving the decision up to you.

SPEAKER_02 43:02

You see. What are his eyes?

SPEAKER_06 43:05

Yellow. Uh kind of a golden yellow, not like a cat's eye yellow.

SPEAKER_02 43:10

Yeah, I guess peering into his uh draconic face, trying to get a read-off of him, she'll she'll kind of believe what he says, so she's still kind of on edge because the things she's heard from Ariel and the things that he's shown her in the past have not been exactly soothing to the soul, so she's she's a bit on edge, and she wants to make sure she makes the right decisions and doesn't want to be led astray.

SPEAKER_06 43:34

And as as he gazes into your eyes, he continues to speak. I don't understand why. But for some reason, the two of us have formed a bond.

SPEAKER_02 43:53

Hmm, a bond, you say? I suppose we have seen each other on more than one occasion. You always seem to enjoy striking up these conversations and showing me odd things. So what is to become of this relationship of ours? What do you want?

SPEAKER_06 44:14

Fire child. I am broken.

SPEAKER_02 44:21

Broken?

SPEAKER_06 44:23

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 44:24

Well she will look at his physical body from what she can tell. Does he look broken?

SPEAKER_06 44:30

He he I imagine, especially given the size of this dragon, Canina would have to, like, physically look to see.

SPEAKER_02 44:39

She'll do so. She's looking for, you know, like damage scales, broken wings.

SPEAKER_06 44:43

He lifts a wing on your side, and you don't see anything out of the ordinary for what you would expect a dragon to look like. And he just continues. It's nothing physical.

SPEAKER_05 44:55

Hmm.

SPEAKER_06 44:57

You see, myself and the rest of the mothers and fathers, my brothers and sisters, have been banished from your world for some time now.

SPEAKER_02 45:18

I suppose that would make sense with the legends we've heard and the vanishing of your kind. Nobody's seen a dragon, you know, for ages now, and what little we know of dragons is in passed into myth, essentially.

SPEAKER_06 45:35

Those that remain have had to go into hiding. Those that can birth the rest of our race have been removed from your realm.

SPEAKER_02 45:48

I see. Are you in our realm?

SPEAKER_06 45:51

I am not. That is how I know that you and I have a bond.

SPEAKER_02 46:01

So what do you know of an axe? Got her inquisitive face on, kind of peering at him suspiciously.

SPEAKER_06 46:08

The look that you get from him, like very large dragon, but you get that kind of he he pulls his head back and tilts it to the side. That explains a lot.

SPEAKER_02 46:24

Hmm. I see I've uh struck some sort of recollection there.

SPEAKER_06 46:32

The axe is the axe of my champion.

SPEAKER_02 46:37

Your champion?

SPEAKER_06 46:40

There was a time, probably before any of your races will remember. Back when the dragons were able to roam free on Aurelia. That me, my brothers, and my sisters shared a connection with some of the more mortal races of your world. The axe signified my bond. I see. Me and the rest of the mothers and fathers, as far as we are concerned, are immortal. Though, we do believe that we could still be struck down. However, those that you guys consider gods put us away a very long time ago. And broke our bonds. That fire child is how I am broken. I see. My axe needs to be reunited with its other side.

SPEAKER_02 48:04

Its other side?

SPEAKER_06 48:06

It is broken.

SPEAKER_02 48:08

I guess thinking back to her memories of the axe, did it seem like broken in any obvious way? I know there was wounds on it.

SPEAKER_06 48:15

I'm going to give it to you because it coming up was so long ago that I don't expect you to remember it, but Kanina might. At the base of the axe, there was a dragon's claw that was in a somewhat opened cupped hand position. It's not obviously broken.

SPEAKER_02 48:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 48:37

But it's something that you could see something being in.

SPEAKER_02 48:43

I remember there was a dragon part on the end of it, but yeah, I didn't notice it being obviously missing anything, I suppose, at the time. Huh. So, you need this other part of the axe, but what happens when the two halves join?

SPEAKER_06 49:03

It is only when our bonds are put together that our individual seals can be broken.

SPEAKER_02 49:12

So you mean to come back to this realm?

SPEAKER_07 49:15

We would like to.

SPEAKER_02 49:16

Then why is that? Is the realm you're in not good anymore anymore? Or is it a bad place?

SPEAKER_06 49:24

The realm we are in is devoid of all significance. We miss our kind.

SPEAKER_02 49:35

I guess that kind of uh strikes a chord with Nina in a way, because she's always been uh well when she was younger, she was alone quite a bit, so having found a group of her own that she's grown close to, you know, she kind of understands that whole wanting to reconnect with basically his family or his kind again.

SPEAKER_06 49:57

You know why you don't see dragons anymore?

SPEAKER_02 50:03

Well, if they're on the realm that you're in, that wouldn't be my main guess why, but Oh no.

SPEAKER_06 50:11

It is only my brothers and sisters that are locked away. Many of our kind still exist in your realm, but they've been driven into hiding because they cannot bear children for themselves. But there were a number of eggs that have not yet hatched.

SPEAKER_01 50:36

Oh.

SPEAKER_06 50:37

And they have all taken it to be their life's duty to ensure that their kind's children can remain safe.

SPEAKER_02 50:46

I see. So you're ensuring the future of your kind? And you wish to come back to keep them safe, then?

SPEAKER_06 50:56

It is only my brothers and sisters and I that can create new life for the dragons.

SPEAKER_02 51:04

I see. I understand that, and it is a noble cause, but at the same time, what kind of coexistence can do you want to have with the rest of the people who are here? I imagine if you're banished before from the realm, then perhaps there was a reason. I I can't help you and your kind knowing that I might be letting in people who wish to harm the rest of us here.

SPEAKER_06 51:31

Banishment of my kind was led by the pettiness of those that you call gods.

SPEAKER_02 51:38

But that doesn't quite answer what I was asking. Basically, I'll let me be blunt with you. Do you mean the people of this realm harm?

SPEAKER_07 51:47

I don't have to.

SPEAKER_06 51:51

We were able to live a somewhat peaceful existence next to your kind's ones. We don't see why that couldn't happen again. But there's a level of acceptance that would have to come between both sides for there to be any chance of that. That is why my brothers and sisters and I bonded with our champions. They were able to serve as a mediator between our kind and yours.

SPEAKER_02 52:34

I see. And Canina will think back to the illustrated scroll that we found, you know, in the Dwarven city, and, you know, about the champions, especially the one writing on the white dragon and the whole formation of the valley there and whatnot. And she'll kind of draw the connections because we did kind of think of in the past that perhaps there are weapons that hold special significance to dragons and you know, the dragon riders at the time. So she's not entirely opposed to the idea of helping this dragon. And thinking of that, she'll be like, well, I'm not entirely opposed to the idea of helping you here, but before we do that kind of thing, uh perhaps we should introduce ourselves formally. I'm Kenita Kojen. What is your name?

SPEAKER_07 53:26

I am known as Doitan.

SPEAKER_06 53:31

There is little more that I can do with this bond than to occasionally meet with you. That is, until you have found a piece of the bond will help make our connection stronger.

SPEAKER_02 53:53

I see. Well, I'm not unsympathetic to your cause, and I'll see what I can do to help. But I'm not entirely trusting of you yet, so to speak. I'm not happy with the idea that things could go so wrong in the visions that have been presented to me so far. I don't wish harm upon anyone, and I don't want to be a villain in this situation. I want to do good things. If helping you will ensure that I can help others, I'll do so. But know this: if you mean any harm to our realm, I will stop at nothing to stop you.

SPEAKER_06 54:34

Your trust is not a thing that I can demand. If I wished to be truly and unabashedly evil, you wouldn't have a choice in what were to happen to this building. And Doitan perches up, kicks off with his back legs, and flies off into the sky.

SPEAKER_02 55:03

Kenina will watch him go, and she has a bit of a resolve set in her eyes, and she's decided to help out Doitan while she can, and hopefully keep a watchful eye because if she can ensure this connection with him, then she can hopefully maintain some uh security on what he's doing.

SPEAKER_06 55:29

Ariel!

SPEAKER_04 55:30

Yeah! The battle's over. We win.

SPEAKER_06 55:34

Grimfeng moves to shove Kosein aside and pushes past him, closing the rest of the distance between.

SPEAKER_04 55:44

So as Grimfeng tries to shove, Kossein's gonna swing her longsword for the attack of opportunity.

SPEAKER_06 55:53

Alright.

SPEAKER_04 55:54

Uh 21.

SPEAKER_06 55:56

21 will hit.

SPEAKER_04 55:58

So Kossein swings and slashes Grimfeng's side with uh 11 points of damage.

SPEAKER_06 56:07

So Grim Fang will take 11 points of damage. Close the distance to you. He reaches out with his hand and grabs you by the throat. Does a 20 hit.

SPEAKER_04 56:21

Yep. It hits even with my stuff if I had it on.

SPEAKER_06 56:27

Ariel takes 25 points of necrotic damage.

SPEAKER_04 56:33

Uh she's resistant to necrotic, so does that mean anything?

SPEAKER_06 56:37

I mean to take half damage.

SPEAKER_04 56:39

Ooh, thank god.

SPEAKER_06 56:40

It is Kosane's turn. Uh Grimfang is now behind Kosein by about 20 feet. And there is a Shadow Worg standing directly next to Kosein.

SPEAKER_04 56:52

Okay. I don't like making choices for my god or my angel. Okay, so Kossein is going to swing at the Shadow Warg. So hopefully there won't be two things charging at Ariel. 17 to hit.

SPEAKER_06 57:10

For the Shadow Warg, that will hit.

SPEAKER_04 57:13

Would be 23. And uh 15 of that 23 is radiant damage. Oh, and then I do I roll the hit again for the second attack? So 18.

SPEAKER_06 57:24

18 will hit.

SPEAKER_04 57:26

17 as she swings again.

SPEAKER_06 57:29

As Kosane takes two rapid slashes across this shadow ward in front of her. She nearly cleaves it in two. Like it is brought down to its knees, struggles, and pushes itself back up, and you can just hear the the huffing coming from this ward standing in front of her. Ariel, it is your turn.

SPEAKER_04 57:57

Is there any sort of disadvantage for how close he is if I cast a spell?

SPEAKER_06 58:02

I don't believe so.

SPEAKER_04 58:03

Okay, well, Ariel is going to shoot another guiding bolt, but this time at second level. Uh 18 to hit.

SPEAKER_06 58:15

Um, this is against Grimfang, and that will hit.

SPEAKER_04 58:20

10. He lights up again with uh advantage on the next attack with her player scripts going around him.

SPEAKER_06 58:29

And Ariel's going to stay standing face to face with him.

SPEAKER_04 58:33

Uh she's tried getting away from him before and he's knocked her on her ass. And I don't know that she can take another hit of opportunity at this moment. So, yeah, she's just gonna stand there holding her necklace tightly and just constant praying.

SPEAKER_06 58:52

He is staring you down even as you are burning him with his radiant energy, and he just says to you, You've seen what the corruption has done to me.

SPEAKER_07 59:05

Do you think that you are so different?

SPEAKER_06 59:10

It is now the Shadow Worg's turn, and the Shadow Worg is going to take essentially the last bit of its energy to run around Kosane or run over to the back side of you opposite of Grim Fang and lash out basically raking you with both sets of its claws. Well, um, does the 11 hit?

SPEAKER_04 59:40

No.

SPEAKER_06 59:42

Does a 22 hit?

SPEAKER_04 59:43

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_06 59:45

Aerial takes uh seven points of slashing damage. And 23 is gonna hit.

SPEAKER_04 59:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 59:56

And a 11 points of slashing damage. As this warg has basically taken the last breath that it it can, charges over, and just one paw and then the other come down across Ariel's back. Rem. Yes. You come to on a road out in the middle of an open plains. You feel like you've been walking for a while, but you don't remember any of it. In front of you, off in the distance, a couple miles or so, is a fort garrison. And it looks like you were walking in the direction of it.

SPEAKER_08 1:00:44

And I'm alone? Yes.

SPEAKER_06 1:00:46

Is it a familiar fort garrison? Uh, as you scan the area around, it it does look quite familiar to you. Interestingly enough, as you're kind of panning the area. Go ahead and uh roll perception.

SPEAKER_08 1:01:01

22.

SPEAKER_06 1:01:02

As Rem does a a wide sweep with his eyes looking like 220 degrees all around him, it's almost like the areas to your your left and right are in sort of a haze to where you can't make out anything. However, straight in front of you, you you do make out that the fort garrison does look very familiar. The trees around it, the mountain up behind it, all give it a very familiar feel to you.

SPEAKER_08 1:01:34

How does the garrison look?

SPEAKER_06 1:01:37

Um, the garrison looks like it had recently come under some sort of attack.

SPEAKER_08 1:01:44

Like it's still smoking recently, or like No.

SPEAKER_06 1:01:47

In fact, as you are making your way closer to it, you can actually see people milling about the area. It looks like trees from the surrounding forest are being chopped down and are being brought in to help create lumber to make repairs on anything that had been damaged in the attack. So it looks like they've gone through the worst of it and are in a sort of rebuilding. As you make your way, do you enter the the central kind of courtyard of the fort?

SPEAKER_08 1:02:22

If I'm not challenged and stop yet.

SPEAKER_06 1:02:24

No, it seems like everyone around almost acts as if you aren't there. They they make their way around you, but they don't draw attention to the fact that they were going on a path and then swerved to avoid you. Seems like everyone is is fairly busy just doing the work that they're doing. So do you enter the fort?

SPEAKER_08 1:02:46

Yeah. I'll walk in.

SPEAKER_06 1:02:48

As you are inside the walls of the fort, you know where the barracks was. And it seems that over by the barracks there is a man. Uh, looks to be about his early to mid-twenties. He has slightly long but well-groomed blonde hair. He's kind of tall. Uh a little lanky, but you can get a feel for some lithe muscle build behind him. And it seems that he is the one in charge of giving people orders. I'll walk towards him. As you approach, he is very familiar to you. Belted at his hip is a rapier that is of remarkable make. In fact, it is something that you are very familiar with yourself. He sees you approaching, and a look of recognition comes over his eyes.

SPEAKER_08 1:03:43

Does he have any ranking insignia?

SPEAKER_06 1:03:46

No, none whatsoever. He abruptly, and what would be seen as rude to any person, walks away from the person that had been speaking to him walking down the steps, approaching you.

SPEAKER_08 1:04:00

We'll stop at the bottom of the steps. Didn't I kill you? Do I recognize him as you do? And he's not military. No. Is this a visage that would immediately anger me?

SPEAKER_06 1:04:16

I don't think that the first sense that Rem has would be anger. The first thing that Rem feels as those words come out and he realizes why he recognizes this man is a pain in your chest. A slight burning sensation. Well, how are you here?

SPEAKER_08 1:04:40

Rem will just stare at him for a moment. He'll put his hand to his chest where he feels the burning. So you are him. He's gonna look towards the walls.

SPEAKER_06 1:04:50

Yes. It's a work in progress. How are you here? How far away is he? Ten feet or so?

SPEAKER_08 1:05:00

I'm just gonna look back and be like, it doesn't matter how. It only matters that I am. He's gonna reach down to his hip and feel for his pick. It's right there. He's gonna draw it. And and pulling my shield around.

SPEAKER_06 1:05:13

I have a sense that you feel we have some unfinished business, old man.

SPEAKER_08 1:05:19

With you and your kind, my business is never finished.

SPEAKER_06 1:05:23

Alright. He draws the rapier, points off behind you. About 30 paces that way. And he looks at the people around him, kind of points around him with the rapier. None of you are to interfere. Me and this man have business. I've killed him once, I'll kill him again. Go ahead and roll for initiative. Rem, what'd you get for initiative? 12. As Rem and this man make their way. Towards the center of this courtyard. The people working around him. Most of them actually continue on with their work. You see a handful that had been helping direct kind of form up to create a sort of a ring. They don't have weapons drawn. They don't look like they're planning to interfere. They look more like they're planning to keep you guys contained within a, let's say, 60-foot diameter circle. Alright then, old man. Come at me.

SPEAKER_08 1:06:32

Is he you got you got first in an issue? I didn't know if he was like letting it. So Rim's gonna hunker down behind his shield. And using his bonus action, he's going to cast Shield of Faith. How far away is he?

SPEAKER_06 1:06:47

We'll say that you guys essentially, that that 60-foot circle, you guys went in about 20 feet from each edge, which will put you at about 20 feet away from each other.

SPEAKER_08 1:06:55

So Rim will approach five feet. And he'll take, I believe I get two attacks now.

SPEAKER_06 1:07:01

And as you approach, you see him flick his rapier into a readied stance, crouches down a bit, and in a flash, a dagger appears in his other hand. And so I will attack with my war pick. One. With your first swing, he just kind of backsteps, letting it swing in front of him. Take my second attack.

SPEAKER_08 1:07:24

Twenty-two.

SPEAKER_06 1:07:25

Twenty-two will hit.

SPEAKER_08 1:07:27

Or nine damage. Piercing.

SPEAKER_06 1:07:30

Is uh Rem's uh war pick magical? No. So he had backstepped Rem's first attack, and he was stepping back into a readied position to strike. Unexpecting as Rem makes like the backhand swing, bringing the pick back up and gouges him across the chest. And he he looks down, puts a finger into the blood where the tip of that war pick grazed him. Well, I see you do mean business. And he strikes out at you with the rapier. Uh so that's a 24 to hit. It hits. For 13 points of piercing damage. Plus six points of poison damage. And make a constitution saving throw. 14. Rem becomes poisoned until you take a long rest. So he had returned himself to a readied position and strikes straight forward with his rapier, twisting his wrist at the last second to get around Rem's shield and stabs him in the side. Does a 17 hit. No. He draws it back out. You see a smirk across his face as he lunges in for a second strike with the rapier. But knowing his tricks, Rem gets his shield in the way to block it. Alright, so. Are you going into your next turn? Yeah. Okay. Back over to Ariel's battle. With the distance to Ariel closed off, uh, Grimfang pulls back with the spear and thrusts it into your midsection. He must have caught the spear on the ground on his first thrust, ripped it back out of the ground, and readjusts his grip on it. Uh, does 15 hit.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:42

Meets it.

SPEAKER_06 1:09:43

Here it is about to go. Um, so that's gonna be eight points of piercing damage and two points of necrotic damage.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:53

So it's one point?

SPEAKER_06 1:09:55

One point with your resistance.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:56

Mm-hmm. Is it her turn?

SPEAKER_06 1:09:58

No, it is Kosane's turn next.

SPEAKER_04 1:10:01

Alright. Is the warg in between the warg is all the way on the backside now? So it's Kosane, Grimfang, Ariel.

SPEAKER_06 1:10:10

And then the warg.

SPEAKER_04 1:10:11

Okay. So Kosane's gonna turn around because she was facing the warg, and uh, she can feel that Ariel is like about to die. So she's gonna turn around and swing her long sword at Grimfang. 17 to hit.

SPEAKER_06 1:10:29

17 will hit?

SPEAKER_04 1:10:32

Eight again, and then 12. So 20?

SPEAKER_06 1:10:36

Uh 20 points of damage.

SPEAKER_04 1:10:37

Yeah, and then a second attack.

SPEAKER_06 1:10:40

Describe what happens as Kosane destroys this shadowed figure of Grimfang.

SPEAKER_04 1:10:46

Okay, does Kosane's sword is it like lit at all?

SPEAKER_06 1:10:50

It would have a like celestial glow to it. Okay. I believe it's uh based on the stat block. Any weapon that is wielded by Kossein is magical uh based on the angelic weapon.

SPEAKER_04 1:11:05

Okay, so in my imagination, Grimfang's back is to Kossein. Kossein turns around and raises her sword up and just slashes it through his back and um it goes piercing into like through his chest, and he's like pinned to the ground, and the um celestial light is just coming out of the sword.

SPEAKER_06 1:11:32

And as this light grows around Grim Fang, um, who had already been lit up by your guiding bolt from the last turn, too, so that light just continues to intensify. And by the time your vision like recovers from the blinding light, the body is gone. Hossein still has another attack and more than enough movement.

SPEAKER_04 1:11:58

Alright, she's gonna finish the job and go after the warg. She's gonna swing back around to the where she was.

SPEAKER_06 1:12:05

Actually, it would be going around Ariel. The warg is on the other side of Ariel. It's not good.

SPEAKER_04 1:12:10

It would be it would be a nine.

SPEAKER_06 1:12:12

Okay, so with that that movement in between is lit a little bit thrown off, and the swing goes wide on the shadow warg. It's Ariel's turn.

SPEAKER_04 1:12:24

Ariel is she's like barely holding herself up at this point with her staff, and she's going to just tap the staff on the ground, and there's gonna be a wall of force goes in a circle of um around her, so that way the warg can't do anything, nothing can penetrate through it. And I can do me to read the description.

SPEAKER_06 1:12:51

Sure, tell me what you're casting and read it off.

SPEAKER_04 1:12:53

Wall of force, and an invisible wall of force springs into existence at the point you choose within range. The wall appears in any orientation you choose as a horizontal or vertical barrier barrier or at any angle. It can be free-floating or resting on a solid surface. You can form it into a uh hemispherical dome or a sphere with a radius of up to 10 feet, or you can shape a flat surface, blah blah blah. Uh, she's gonna be doing the sphere, so she's completely encompassed. In any form, the wall is one-fourth inch thick, it lasts for the duration of 10 minutes, and uh, if the wall cuts through a creature's face when it appears, the creature is pushed to one side of the wall, your choice of which side, obviously, if that worg is near, it would be pushed out. Uh, nothing can physically pass through the wall, it is immune to all damage and cannot be dispelled by dispel magic. Uh it can't a disintegrate spell can destroy the wall instantly. Uh the wall also extends into the etheral plane, blocking etherol travel through the wall. So basically, Ariel's down to two hit points, and she does not even want even a tiny little bite to hit her. Two hit points of the power. So she's like getting super defensive.

SPEAKER_06 1:14:16

And you said no creature can pass either direction?

SPEAKER_04 1:14:19

Yep.

SPEAKER_06 1:14:19

Okay, so Kosane would also be locked into the wall with you.

SPEAKER_04 1:14:23

Yeah. Okay. But the thing is out of the wall. That took five of her charges.

SPEAKER_06 1:14:31

Oh, using your staff. Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 1:14:33

She hit the staff to the ground and cast wall of force.

SPEAKER_06 1:14:37

Is that going to be it for Ariel's turn?

SPEAKER_04 1:14:40

Um, that's considered a spell, so she can't cast any other spell, right?

SPEAKER_06 1:14:44

Uh, it's gonna be an action regardless.

SPEAKER_04 1:14:46

Because she has bonus actions, but they're spells, so that's why I don't know how.

SPEAKER_06 1:14:51

Are they canon trips? No. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 1:14:53

But that's considered using a spell.

SPEAKER_06 1:14:55

I believe so.

SPEAKER_04 1:14:56

So no, she can't do anything more.

SPEAKER_06 1:14:59

The warg suddenly kind of like shoved back a little bit through the dirt, furiously charges back at the dome that you have just created, this shimmering light field in between you and the war, and is chomping at it, striking out with both of its claws, and cannot get through. But essentially, the whole time that you are trapping yourself in this dome, the shadow ward is going to be striking at it from the outside.

SPEAKER_04 1:15:31

On all of its turns.

SPEAKER_06 1:15:34

Tempest! Yep. You find yourself in a panic suddenly as your lungs are filled with salt water.

SPEAKER_03 1:15:45

Well shit. Am I fully submerged?

SPEAKER_06 1:15:49

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:15:51

Can I tell which way is up?

SPEAKER_06 1:15:53

You can. You can see clearly. You can also breathe normally. Well, I wasn't expecting that.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:04

So I know which way is up, and I can breathe normally. The couple seconds, or even just a half a second, of panic fades away. Gain my bearings. Take a look around.

SPEAKER_06 1:16:23

Alright, go ahead and roll perception.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:27

24.

SPEAKER_06 1:16:28

With a 24, you see a shape moving through the water. Coming towards you. The shape is rather confusing to you. Uh normally when you you see something in water, like it's it's a dark spot, especially with how clearly you can see, you would expect to be seeing an outline of some sort of creature. But instead, you are getting a vague sense of a humanoid shape. It's almost like you would expect to see if, say, a human that was invisible were standing in a fountain.

SPEAKER_03 1:17:09

Okay. Um I I don't think I would do anything. Just if they're coming towards me, I guess just float on guard.

SPEAKER_06 1:17:21

Uh on guard, are you drawing?

SPEAKER_03 1:17:24

No, no, just just a little more at attention.

SPEAKER_06 1:17:29

After a few moments, the shape in front of you it appears to be like a human, but made out of water. Greetings!

SPEAKER_03 1:17:42

What the hell are you?

SPEAKER_06 1:17:44

I am Alverin. I am a member of the elemental guard of the Sea of Mists. What are you doing here?

SPEAKER_03 1:17:54

I honestly couldn't tell you.

SPEAKER_06 1:17:57

And uh the creature settles down in front of you. And you see the shape where its head would be. Tilt to the side. Who are you?

SPEAKER_03 1:18:09

My name is Tempest. I I guess I'm an adventurer now. But I don't know what I'm doing here.

SPEAKER_06 1:18:19

Tempest. Does the name Raina mean anything to you?

SPEAKER_03 1:18:24

That was my birth name. How do you know that?

SPEAKER_06 1:18:30

Tempest. I believe I'm your father.

SPEAKER_03 1:18:35

My my mother always told me that my father was a pirate.

SPEAKER_06 1:18:40

Indeed, I was. And then one day, I went over. And I don't remember the course of events that led to me being here. But I woke up and I was the man that you see before you.

SPEAKER_03 1:19:01

So you just disappeared one day and turned into water.

SPEAKER_06 1:19:10

That is a way to put things. It would appear that my side of the family has some deep-rooted connections with the plane of water. I see through yourself that you are displaying some of my lineage. So this is your fault? About as much fault as it is that I am what I am in front of you. Is it a problem?

SPEAKER_03 1:19:48

I mean, it was a little hard to fit in once things started changing.

SPEAKER_06 1:19:54

It's hard for many people to fit in. Just ask a tiefling.

SPEAKER_03 1:19:59

Oh, I know one of them. She's crazy. But in a good way.

SPEAKER_06 1:20:08

And hard to fit in.

SPEAKER_03 1:20:10

I mean, she's pretty good at making friends. A little forceful. But she's the only one I've ever met, so I guess.

SPEAKER_06 1:20:20

Uncommon, you might say. Different. Hard to fit in.

SPEAKER_03 1:20:27

I seem to surround myself with people like that so it doesn't feel as uncommon. The other girl in our party has glowy eyes.

SPEAKER_06 1:20:36

Interesting. Well, Raina, it still doesn't explain what you're doing in the Sea of Mists.

SPEAKER_03 1:20:43

Sorry, please don't detonate me. I go by Tempest now. A lot's changed since you disappeared.

SPEAKER_06 1:20:50

My apologies. Even through my change, I have kept the name that I was given at birth. Weird. Alvrin still feels like it fits me.

SPEAKER_03 1:21:00

Why did you never come back?

SPEAKER_06 1:21:02

He gestures to him. Unfortunately, it appears that it is hard for my kind to return to land.

SPEAKER_03 1:21:12

Why did you never send word? Mother assumed you dead.

SPEAKER_06 1:21:16

In many senses, as far as the world on land is concerned, I am dead. I'm here, but I'm not the man that I was. I understand that this is a lot to take in, and I probably shouldn't have given away my position in things. I see that that was a bit of a mistake now. However, it was important. You aren't supposed to be. Tell me about it. I was essentially sent as a scout when it was noticed that a creature was within the Sea of Mists. It didn't belong here.

SPEAKER_03 1:22:00

Where is here anyway? The Sea of Mists is pretty big.

SPEAKER_06 1:22:07

Somewhere about thirty or so miles off of the eastern coast of Saval. Um I believe we are somewhere in between the cities of Port Noorsal and Tumeria. You just woke up here.

SPEAKER_01 1:22:27

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_03 1:22:28

Yeah, I'm confused too.

SPEAKER_06 1:22:30

Problematic. What do you know of the Misty Sea?

SPEAKER_03 1:22:34

Not a whole lot. I was on a boat for a few years, but it's more fish tails. Yeah, I was hoping to find you. Maybe connect with you somehow. But I wasn't a pirate. Did you find a pirate ship? I wasn't a pirate.

SPEAKER_06 1:22:52

That might explain why you weren't able to connect with me.

SPEAKER_03 1:22:55

I don't think I would have been able to connect with you anyway. You're made out of freaking water!

SPEAKER_06 1:23:01

Fair point. Though if you had at least associated yourself with pirates, you may have been able to learn a little bit more about me and what became of my fate. At the very least, you would know that I'm dead. Well, as far as anyone on the ship is concerned. And they would have been able to confirm it until you suddenly woke up in the misty sea, and I was standing in front of you, and I had to explain to you that I'm not in fact actually dead, I'm just different.

SPEAKER_03 1:23:28

There's no need to yell.

SPEAKER_06 1:23:31

I feel he turns around, backed up against a wall, in the middle of the fucking ocean. Again. You aren't supposed to be here. By all rights to the elemental guard of the misty sea, I should kill you. But you're my daughter, and I can't do that.

SPEAKER_03 1:23:55

I appreciate that. I think.

SPEAKER_06 1:24:00

There's a reason that ships known to venture into the misty sea do not return. And there's a reason that those that do are often seen as crazy. Do you know the stories about anyone that has returned from the misty sea?

SPEAKER_03 1:24:18

Well, sure, everyone knows the stories. What do they see out here? No one can give a straight answer, but there's horrors. Unknown to man.

SPEAKER_06 1:24:30

Large winged beasts that fly through the skies? Yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:24:34

Larger than the largest ships.

SPEAKER_06 1:24:38

There is an agreement that goes back essentially to the beginning of our recorded history that the Elemental Guard, those of us that are water elementals, and the Air Elementals, created the Misty Sea as a place to hide the things that the world cannot know. Like what? Like large winged beasts, larger than a ship that has ever been built. And yet you are here and you do not know how.

SPEAKER_01 1:25:14

Nope.

SPEAKER_03 1:25:16

And at this point, I'm a little concerned with how I'm gonna get back.

SPEAKER_06 1:25:29

How is it that you can be in the water?

SPEAKER_03 1:25:33

I don't really know. Just one day after all of this stuff started happening, I felt like going for a swim. And uh wanted to see how long I could hold my breath. Found out it wasn't super long, and when I started choking, I didn't actually start choking. Thought I was dying, and then everything just kinda was okay.

SPEAKER_06 1:26:03

Sounds quite familiar.

SPEAKER_03 1:26:05

But I didn't turn into water.

SPEAKER_06 1:26:07

Evidently. A different part of you awoken that chose not to kill you and turn you into a water elemental. Perhaps it's because I'm still here. There's not room in our lineage for another yet.

SPEAKER_03 1:26:21

So you think I'm gonna turn into water when you die? Because I don't want to turn into water.

SPEAKER_06 1:26:26

I don't know if that looks unpleasant. I don't know if it'll be when I die or if it'll be when you die after I have died, if you're killed by one.

SPEAKER_03 1:26:36

Noted.

SPEAKER_06 1:26:37

That seemed to have been an important part of the uh change. Drowning. Sounds like you went through something similar. So you said you woke up here.

SPEAKER_03 1:26:50

Yeah. Last thing I remember was waking Nina up to go on her portion of the watch, and and I had just finished mine and I was just in my bedroll. Perhaps it's time for you to wake up, Tempest.

SPEAKER_06 1:27:07

What? Ram, what was your next action?

SPEAKER_08 1:27:14

So he's going to remain where he is. He'll place his hand against his chest again, and he's going to expend uh ten points to cure the poison and heal himself five. It's his action. He's going to use his bonus action to look at the man in facing him. He's gonna say, You and your kind are a scourge on this land. And if it takes every breath I have, I'm going to wipe the slate clean. He's casting his vow of enmity.

SPEAKER_06 1:27:43

And is that the end of Rem's turn?

SPEAKER_08 1:27:46

Other than movement, that's everything he does.

SPEAKER_06 1:27:48

Being able to do things like that, this might almost be a fair fight. You call me a scourge. I've seen what your kind does to the villages around here. I've seen them come in and take what they want. What they feel is their right. All because of the little badges that they wear on their uniforms. And he's going to move himself into a stance to strike out at you with his rapier again. Does a 19 hit? No. Okay, so he has gotten himself back down into a readied pose and thrusts out with his dagger. Rem moves his shield up in front again, being the defensive trained fighter that he is. So a uh 18 is also not gonna hit. Nope. And so another clang rings out through the uh the courtyard of this fort. Ha! You are a challenge. A worthy opponent. Let me know when you'd like to end things.

SPEAKER_08 1:28:56

Having blocked the attacks this time, not as tricky as last time. Rim will step forward and strike out with his uh war pick again. That's a natural 20.

SPEAKER_01 1:29:05

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_08 1:29:06

That hits. Um, criticals here are double damage, double dice. Double the dice.

SPEAKER_06 1:29:12

So roll all your damage dice twice.

SPEAKER_08 1:29:15

And then he's going to expend a spell slot of first level to divine smite as well, which adds another 2d8 radiant damage to the target. It's 3d8 on a normal strike. So I'm 6d8? Because part of it's divine. Do you want that separate? Nope. Okay, so that's altogether 28 damage.

SPEAKER_06 1:29:36

And as your pick can act just a well then.

SPEAKER_08 1:29:41

And then he'll pull back in strike for his second attack. An 18? An 18 will hit. Just barely, but it hits. And he'll expend another spell slot to do another uh divine strike. 12 damage. This ends when you die.

SPEAKER_06 1:29:59

And he was knocked back catching himself, like shuffling to get his feet under him. As he stands back up in front of you, he wipes blood off the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. Oh well then. I haven't been hit like that in quite some time. If we must continue, though. And he's going to move back into a lunge with his rapier. And that's gonna be a big fat miss with a 12. 12 again! Still hiding behind the shield. Now we move back over to Ariel. On your first turn inside the bubble. What do Ariel and Kosane do?

SPEAKER_04 1:30:45

Uh Kossain is going to heal Ariel. 2d8 plus 2. It's healed for seven points.

SPEAKER_05 1:30:55

There is Kossain's turn. And on Ariel's turn.

SPEAKER_04 1:31:00

Uh, Ariel is going to turn on her mage armor. And Ariel is going to ask Kossain, do you think Grimfang is coming back?

SPEAKER_06 1:31:10

I think that for the time right now, we have taken care of that problem. I don't know how he came back this time, so I cannot guarantee that he won't return in the future.

SPEAKER_04 1:31:24

Okay. Well, I guess we just need to gather our strength and take down this warg. It looks like it's almost dead.

SPEAKER_06 1:31:33

That it's a good idea.

SPEAKER_04 1:31:34

We can do it, right?

SPEAKER_06 1:31:35

I believe so.

SPEAKER_04 1:31:37

Did I touch the spear? I was trying to be so careful.

SPEAKER_06 1:31:42

I don't know if um whether or not you touched it would have made any difference for what we're dealing with right now.

SPEAKER_04 1:31:49

Okay.

SPEAKER_06 1:31:50

It's not a thing that we know about. Perhaps merely the how close you've stayed with it is what is causing this. Perhaps this is a one-time thing built into the magic of the spear to torment you. I do not know. But I'm here for you and I'm here to protect you.

SPEAKER_04 1:32:11

Okay, let's uh heal up and do this.

SPEAKER_06 1:32:14

So the warg spends its next turn striking at your dome on Cosane's next turn.

SPEAKER_04 1:32:20

Cosane's gonna heal me again. She can do it three times, it looks like. Ooh, that's 12.

SPEAKER_06 1:32:27

So then on your next turn?

SPEAKER_04 1:32:29

On my turn, Ariel will cast a shield of faith.

SPEAKER_06 1:32:34

And is that the end of Ariel's next turn?

SPEAKER_04 1:32:37

Yep.

SPEAKER_06 1:32:37

And continuing the onslaught, the warg is thrashing about on this dome. Kenina. Where were you taking watch?

SPEAKER_02 1:32:52

I imagine I was taking watch probably on the wagon or the uh cart.

SPEAKER_06 1:32:56

You jolt awake sitting in the front seat of the cart based on looking out at the sky. Seems like you may have been asleep for ten minutes or so. I don't remember dozing off, but you're in the second watch that you decided to take.

SPEAKER_02 1:33:13

Kina's kind of like looking around and seeing that she's back where she remembered being. She will think to herself, like, if this was if that was all a dream, that whole meeting, that was something she just thought up, but I don't know, it it kinda seemed very uh very real. Seemed like more than she could just dream up by herself. She's gonna continue with her watch. Does she see anything new in the area? No.

SPEAKER_06 1:33:37

Um are you going to spend pretty much the next watch just sitting up in the cart, continuing your your watch as normal?

SPEAKER_02 1:33:47

She will, but she'll probably move to more of like a standing type position somewhere where she can't really get comfortable and fall asleep in. She doesn't want to doze off again.

SPEAKER_06 1:33:56

The most the that you see change uh about the area around you is as you near the end of your watch, and probably what triggers you to begin uh waking up Rem is that the sky is starting to move from that deep dark, almost black blue to starting to lighten up where it's still a very dark blue, but you can see the shade lightening ever so slowly.

SPEAKER_02 1:34:26

Having nothing else happen other than her strange dream vision, she'll uh go ahead and wake Rem up for his shift. Just kind of gently grab his shoulder and shake him awake. Be like, Rem, it's time for your shift.

SPEAKER_06 1:34:43

Rem, it's your turn.

SPEAKER_08 1:34:45

So Rem will uh attack again. That's a natural 20. And this time he's gonna expend a second level spell slot to do 3d8.

SPEAKER_06 1:34:54

So it's gonna be 8d8 this time. 35 points of damage. Jeez! Rem, you put everything you have into this next blow, and the pick breaks right through this man's guard as he put his his rapier and dagger up to try and block you. You crush right through it as the tip of your pickaxe sinks into his heart. He's gonna do it again. The man is dead on the ground, though. He doesn't care, he's making sure. Rem drives the tip of his war pick into this man's heart, driving him into the ground, rips it out, and just shoves the spike back into like the other side of his chest to make sure that this man is dead. And as you are looking down at him, watching the light fade from his eyes, you notice that he is familiar. More than in the sense of being the man who killed you. It's almost like looking into a mirror into the past for Rem. And you hear Kanina's voice.

SPEAKER_02 1:36:07

Rem, wake up. It's time for your shift.

SPEAKER_08 1:36:10

He's just staring at the man on the ground.

SPEAKER_02 1:36:13

Rem? Man, you're sleeping real deep. Full body shake!

SPEAKER_08 1:36:21

Using her strength to kind of so at the shake he'll he'll wake up. His eyes will snap open and he's got almost a feral look on his face. And he's gonna stare straight back at you, and he'll reach up and grab your tunic, and he'll ball his fist as if he was about to attack, but then he'll stop himself, and he'll look around like you know, he doesn't know where he is for a second, and then he'll let go of the tunic. Sorry.

SPEAKER_02 1:36:42

Oh, uh bad dreams. Yeah, apparently. Sorry to put you on edge there.

SPEAKER_08 1:36:47

And he'll stand up and he's gonna be rubbing his chest.

SPEAKER_02 1:36:49

Hmm. Old one bugging you again?

SPEAKER_06 1:36:52

Something like that. And in the back of Rem's mind, he just hears. Good. So you can do it.

SPEAKER_08 1:37:00

He'll move closer to the fire pit, stoke it a little bit, start his watch.

SPEAKER_02 1:37:06

Are you gonna be okay for your watch?

SPEAKER_08 1:37:08

Yeah, I'll be fine, thank you.

SPEAKER_02 1:37:09

You little you look a little a little shooking up there.

SPEAKER_08 1:37:12

Uh old bad memories. I'll be okay.

SPEAKER_02 1:37:16

Hmm. Well, feel free to wake me up if you need anything.

SPEAKER_08 1:37:20

I'll cook breakfast.

SPEAKER_02 1:37:21

Alright. Sounds delicious. You know where to find the spice pouch.

SPEAKER_06 1:37:25

Has Rem ever offered to cook for the party before?

SPEAKER_02 1:37:28

No. Kenine is a bit off put, but she'll go to sleep. She has uh her own dreams to uh think about.

SPEAKER_06 1:37:38

Alright, Ariel.

SPEAKER_04 1:37:39

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_06 1:37:41

It is Kossain's turn once more.

SPEAKER_04 1:37:44

Kossain's gonna hold her action until after Ariel drops the wall. It takes an action to drop a concentration, right?

SPEAKER_07 1:37:53

No, you just do it.

SPEAKER_04 1:37:54

Okay, so Ariel's going to drop the wall.

SPEAKER_06 1:38:00

Which will trigger Kossain's action.

SPEAKER_04 1:38:03

Is going to swing her longsword at the Shadow Warc 15.

SPEAKER_06 1:38:09

15 will hit.

SPEAKER_04 1:38:10

Oh, cool. Three slashing damage and then eight radiant damage.

SPEAKER_06 1:38:16

I mean the the Shadow Warc had one hit point left. So the bubble comes down and Kosane just immediately like twists around Ariel, bringing her longsword up right through the Shadow Warc's neck. Like in an instant before the Shadow Work even realizes that this bubble is gone. At least here I can protect you.

SPEAKER_04 1:38:42

That's good to know. I know you can protect me there too.

SPEAKER_06 1:38:48

Rem, you said you'd like to do something before everyone wakes up.

SPEAKER_08 1:38:51

Yeah, so basically, after he's gone to the fire and waited a couple of minutes for Nina to bed down, he's going to uh cast his uh divine sense off to see if there's anything in the area.

SPEAKER_06 1:39:03

How big and what is it sensing?

SPEAKER_08 1:39:05

Sixty feet. It can sense good, evil. It'll know if the location we're in is hollowed, it can detect any celestial or fiend undead.

SPEAKER_06 1:39:15

Um I believe you detect a celestial and a fiend?

SPEAKER_08 1:39:20

Well, knowing them.

SPEAKER_06 1:39:21

In the cart, uh, I think they're all good aligned. Nothing is out of the ordinary or Rem.

SPEAKER_08 1:39:29

That's mostly what he was checking for. See if there's an email.

SPEAKER_06 1:39:31

I think you've done this before.

SPEAKER_08 1:39:33

Yeah, I've caught both of them before and been like, okay.

SPEAKER_06 1:39:35

There is nothing that Rem is unfamiliar with. Would the spear be extra glowy?

SPEAKER_04 1:39:42

Because it's like evil?

SPEAKER_06 1:39:44

Yeah, I suppose it would, but it's also entirely possible that Rem has I mean Rem already knows. Yeah, he's he was looking for something that was new. That's the thing, I I don't know if that because it hasn't been explicitly said, I don't know that Rem hasn't done this in the time that you've gotten the spear, but you know that that thing is exudes an evil aura.

SPEAKER_08 1:40:04

And then basically, once it gets light and it's almost closed into watch, he'll actually start cooking up some breakfast for everybody.

SPEAKER_06 1:40:12

And the rest of the party wakes up to the smell of whatever Rem is cooking taken out of. Given how things went, you guys would have restocked when you were in uh in the village of Sterin just a bit ago. So Rem has some fresher ingredients to work with sausage, beans, black coffee. You guys wake up to the the smell of a nice breakfast. Unusual for when Rem is taking last watch.

SPEAKER_08 1:40:46

And as each person wakes and comes out, he'll actually present them with a plate.

SPEAKER_03 1:40:50

Someone woke up on the right side of the bed today.

SPEAKER_08 1:40:54

We didn't say that. Wait, you like coffee?

SPEAKER_03 1:40:57

No, I do. I don't understand you.

SPEAKER_04 1:41:00

When Ariel wakes and goes and gets the breakfast presented, sh she's gonna smile softly at Rem. You know, because she's kind of a little bit traumatized, but at the same time, she's happy and she's gonna be. Uh I learned about the staff you gave me. You're right, it is a lot more powerful.

SPEAKER_08 1:41:22

Take good care of it.

SPEAKER_04 1:41:24

I will. It will help a lot.

SPEAKER_08 1:41:27

He's gonna hand some coffee, he's gonna hand her orange juice.

SPEAKER_04 1:41:31

Ariel doesn't get to have coffee.

SPEAKER_08 1:41:34

Something tells me she wouldn't like it.

SPEAKER_02 1:41:37

I imagine Canina would probably wake up a little later than normal, just which is a little unusual for her, but she did take a double shift, and she also had a lot in her mind, so she'll probably sleep a little bit longer than normal, so she'll be the last one to join the uh gathering of breakfast. But she might actually forgo exercise for once this morning. Get that extra little bit of sleep in.

SPEAKER_08 1:41:58

And Rim will will actually make one extra plate. And he'll just leave it out where if Darodim wants it, he could come get him.

SPEAKER_02 1:42:06

Thank you for breakfast, Ram.

SPEAKER_08 1:42:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:42:08

That was nice of uh Darodim to help keep watch last night. I definitely felt a lot safer with his presence. I saw him a couple times wandering by. Did you see anything odd on your shift?

SPEAKER_08 1:42:23

Uh quiet.

SPEAKER_02 1:42:24

Hmm. I see. You still shook up about your awakening?

SPEAKER_08 1:42:29

You shook me real hard.

SPEAKER_02 1:42:30

She has this doubtful look on her face, just like, mm-hmm. Yes.

SPEAKER_06 1:42:35

At this point, unless anyone has anything that they would like to wrap up before you guys get to Port Norsaul. I think we'll go ahead and end the episode evening on the fourth of Monanon as you guys are approaching the gates to the city. We hope you enjoyed this episode of Adventures in Aurelia. You can help the show out a ton if you tell others about it by sharing episodes on social media. You can support the show by donating to us monthly on Patreon at patreon.com slash adventures in Aurelia. Your support helps us buy new equipment to improve the show as well as commission art to help others visualize our world. Lastly, we'd like to thank the artists who allow us to use their music in our show. Kevin McLeod of Incompotech.com, Tabletop Audio, Windswept, Sirenscape, Alexander Nacarata from Serpent Sound Studios, Adrian Von Ziegler, Scott Buckley, Michael Gelfi, and Alec Wiesner. You can find links to all of these wonderful artists at adventuresinarelia.com/slash music.