Cloudfall | 42 - Doom & Bloom
Last time on Cloudfall. For the first time since falling into the Feywild, the party got a few hours to rest. Huber and Tully had carved out a refuge protected by the white flames of an ever burning bonfire where they managed to survive in the Feywild for several weeks. Interactions between everyone ranged from lighthearted banter to heavy planning to heavy petting. Woah.
Tim / GM:All signs It's
Speaker 2:not that heavy. Jesus.
Tim / GM:All signs for escape are pointing to the giant tower at the center of the lake, but there's still loose ends. Some missing gear, some formidable foes, and a changeling on the loose. And Tully just turned off the lights. There's a minty smoke filling this cave like refuge burning your eyes and filling your lungs. And as the last smolders are drowned out, it's pitch dark in here.
Tim / GM:Even if you have dark vision, you can't see through the smoke in this moment, and suddenly all of you hear
Speaker 3:Quickly, this way. Follow me.
Tim / GM:And you know where it's coming from just based on the sound. What do each of you do?
John / Doran:Doran's gonna yell, trust your instincts, and I'm going to just run towards the, where the fire was.
Hannah / Eryn:Okay. Do
Speaker 2:I remember where the pile of paraceline birch?
Tim / GM:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Okay. I wanna create bonfire where I think it was.
Tim / GM:Cool. Okay. Nice. What's everybody else got?
Tara / Journey:Journey's gonna reach out with her Ganymede ability and try to feel for where everyone is.
Tim / GM:Okay. Yeah. You've got it right away. Okay. But you can't see anything.
Tim / GM:Right. Yeah. I think Guy's gonna run toward Hubert's voice. K. And Eren.
Hannah / Eryn:Would you say Eren is hidden by this darkness? Mhmm. Great. I think I would run after Doran. I'm assuming we're still standing kind of close to each other.
Tim / GM:Yeah. You're still in that refuge.
Hannah / Eryn:So, yeah, I would just follow Doran's footsteps.
Tim / GM:Yep. So what that amounts to is Guy, Doran, and Aaron all converge on the bonfire. Having followed Hubert's voice, you run to where Hubert is, which is right on the bonfire. With this bonfire being lit up again, you can start to see a little bit in the darkness here. And as the smoke kind of clears, you all see poppy by the pile of wood that was feeding the bonfire.
Tim / GM:So now that whole stock is igniting and kind of like burning and spreading, creating this huge sparkling white bonfire now. Journey, when you open your eyes onto the scene, you see most of your friends standing around the bonfire with a stranger, and you see Poppy who had just lit a bonfire. At that moment, you all kind of look around in the light here, and you don't see Tully, but you see Huber standing with you, and he says, follow
Speaker 3:me quickly,
Tim / GM:and he starts walking away from the bonfire.
Hannah / Eryn:Don't follow him, and Aaron's gonna hold their crossbow bow and point it at Huber's back.
Tim / GM:K. Journey.
Tara / Journey:I'm gonna cast fire fire on this Huber. Okay.
Speaker 7:What what's going on?
Hannah / Eryn:I don't think it's really him.
Speaker 2:It's not sure. It looks just like him. It sounds just like him.
Hannah / Eryn:No. This might be the thing I ran into earlier. I don't know. The changeling.
Speaker 2:If you're really Hubert, tell us something only Hubert would know.
Speaker 3:It's alright. Follow me.
Speaker 2:Okay. That sounds like him.
Speaker 7:Classic Hubert.
John / Doran:Jordan's going to run towards Hubert. Yep. And
Speaker 2:Well, the real prime archivist.
Tim / GM:I was like, please say that.
John / Doran:It's like, shit. Doran doesn't do damage. Yeah.
Tara / Journey:While you're thinking, for the purposes of the Faerie Fire that I cast, I know it's a 20 foot cube, but I would hope to, like, aim it for a back wall so that it would hit just him as much as possible Yeah. Or the changeling.
Tim / GM:You guys had talked about this plan before. I'm gonna have everyone else make a dexterity save with advantage to avoid this.
John / Doran:13.
Hannah / Eryn:16.
Speaker 7:Add 3 to those, fellas. What? 19. Yeah. 19.
Tara / Journey:Great. They all pass.
John / Doran:16.
Hannah / Eryn:18.
Tara / Journey:Yeah. They all pass.
Tim / GM:Cool. Alright. Yeah. Yeah. You get just the changeling.
Tara / Journey:Great.
Tim / GM:Sniped him with a fairy fire.
Tara / Journey:You see a fuchsia y glow surround this Huber, and Journey shouts out, that's not Huber.
Tim / GM:Aaron, you see Fairy Fire ignite, splitting out from this changeling skin, and you've really only seen Verifier come from one source, and that's Diver. Just the the look of it, the smell of it is familiar and nauseating.
Hannah / Eryn:What did you do to him?
Tara / Journey:Just lit him up so that we can see him.
John / Doran:Why don't we just wait here till Tully gets back? I'm gonna cast suggestion on the changeling, which I don't know if it'll work because it's a charm. But k. So it's a d c 16 wisdom save. 13 here
Tim / GM:for the wisdom save. Okay.
John / Doran:We'll wait by the fire till Tully comes back. Okay?
Speaker 3:Come with me. Go ahead.
John / Doran:Alright. And I'm just gonna try to lure him back and then kinda, like, look nervously at the rest of the party as we come back. Yeah. And,
Hannah / Eryn:Aaron still has the crossbow bolt pointing at them and says, does anyone have some rope we can time up?
Tara / Journey:I have my vine, but if you wanna
Speaker 2:I, I have some here.
Hannah / Eryn:Alright, Poppy. And Erin nods down.
Speaker 2:You want me to tie him up?
Speaker 7:I'll tie him up, Poppy.
Speaker 2:Can you do a general nod?
John / Doran:I'm gonna be talking to the changeling just nonsense stuff like, yeah, Tully should be back soon. It's awful dark. I hope he comes back. Just trying to keep it distracted to give the help action on any stealth attempt here.
Tim / GM:It's looking up at you, and it's just going
Speaker 3:Yep. Alright. That's okay. Follow me.
Speaker 7:Yeah. We'll just follow you, big guy.
Tim / GM:He's watching you kind of, like the changing is watching you tie him up behind and turns around and goes,
Speaker 3:it's going to be alright.
Speaker 2:Didn't even know where actual Huber is? Because he was here.
John / Doran:We need to find him where's Mikey too.
Hannah / Eryn:Wait. Tie him up extra tight and tie it around his legs too. Because if it changes, might try to slip out.
Tim / GM:You got it. Near that moment, you do hear,
Speaker 3:everyone, quickly follow me.
Speaker 7:From not that one.
Tim / GM:From a good ways away, actually. From outside of this little refuge. And then you hear, sorry. Poor choice of words.
Speaker 2:They're all they're all fake.
Tara / Journey:I think that one might be real. This one seems to just be repeating stuff.
Hannah / Eryn:Aaron's gonna walk up to the one on the ground now tied up and try to hit him on the back of the head with the blunt end of the cross bolt to knock him out. Not to do damage, but to make him incapacitated for a little bit.
Tim / GM:You would roll a regular attack, and if you're just kind of, like, bashing them with the crossbow, it would be a d four damage.
Speaker 2:Natural 1. Oh, no. Whoops.
Tara / Journey:Oh, no.
John / Doran:K. Is it considered restrained? I'm just wondering mechanically if there's anything that
Tim / GM:helps us.
Hannah / Eryn:Thanks, John.
Tim / GM:Well, you would've had advantage on the attack for sure. Okay.
Hannah / Eryn:Because they're restrained.
Tim / GM:Right. They're tied up at the moment.
Tara / Journey:Oh. Wow.
Hannah / Eryn:Nat 20.
Tim / GM:What a lot
Hannah / Eryn:of fun. What a beep.
Tim / GM:Incredible. Yeah. Okay.
Hannah / Eryn:Alright. Well,
Speaker 2:you can Huber's
Speaker 7:Huber's head pops right off.
Tim / GM:Alright. Here's what happens. You raise your crossbow over your head knowing that the biggest thing you're fighting against is time. Don't let this thing have time to make a decision because you know what you would do here. You take your crossbow, raise it over your head, and just bring it down on the changeling's head.
Tim / GM:In that moment, you see an arm spring out of its neck, a raw fleshy, muscled arm that is just now creating skin over itself. Ugh. It grabs the crossbow and stops itself from being hit, but you also saw that coming. You take out your 1 doppel fox dagger, and you just bash it in the back of the head with the pommel. You see it list forward once, twice, and then go down.
Hannah / Eryn:Unconscious?
Tim / GM:Unconscious for the moment. You also see it start to revert its form.
Hannah / Eryn:Oh, fuck. I don't know if rope's gonna hold it long, guys.
John / Doran:You guys, there's more, and we need to find where Mikey, Huber, and Tully are.
Speaker 2:There's more?
John / Doran:Keep the fire going. I'll stay with this one. Guys, we gotta go.
Tim / GM:You see, standing just beneath the the, quote, unquote, real Hubert outside this place, Mikey is with him.
Hannah / Eryn:Can someone see if that's really them, or
Tara / Journey:can I reach out with that feeling again, that Ganymede feeling?
Tim / GM:Johnny, you can confirm in an instant this is Mikey and Huber.
Tara / Journey:This is really them. We gotta find Tully too.
John / Doran:Inside check on Journey now.
Speaker 2:Could I mage hand pick up some of the pyrosaline
Tim / GM:Yeah. The burning stuff. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And just carry it with me?
John / Doran:Yep. Is there any reason to leave this one alive?
Speaker 2:Yeah. You don't just kill people randomly. It didn't even attack us. What? What?
John / Doran:What do you mean it didn't attack?
Speaker 2:I mean, did he pull out a weapon on you? Did he slap you across the face? No.
John / Doran:Dorn's looking at Aaron to kinda get a read.
Hannah / Eryn:I don't know. I mean, I don't think anything here is gonna be our friend.
Speaker 7:And they clearly took out our protection. It might mean something else is coming for us.
John / Doran:I totally might be dead right now.
Tara / Journey:I think putting out that fire was a hostile action all on its own.
Speaker 2:I don't feel right about killing someone that's just laying there.
Tara / Journey:Yeah. Maybe we just get the hell out of dodge.
John / Doran:You move ahead. I just kinda give a nod.
Hannah / Eryn:I'm not leaving you.
Speaker 2:Well, I'm leaving.
Speaker 7:Let's go, puppy.
Tim / GM:Those few instances you got here were a gift. You all see the changeling start to rouse again after being momentarily knocked unconscious.
John / Doran:I'm gonna stab it with the blade of Riz.
Speaker 7:Blade of Riz?
John / Doran:Yeah. That was called? Salamorous Riz. I just thought I'm trying to come
Tim / GM:up with a nickname, but yeah. Attack with advantage.
John / Doran:Nat 20.
Tara / Journey:Wow. It's 2 day draw for all.
John / Doran:It's probably not enough damage to kill it, but What's the crit damage? So
Speaker 7:you gotta roll again.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah. Do damage.
John / Doran:Oh, natural one.
Tara / Journey:That's incredible.
Tim / GM:Yeah. And the only role of once a point.
John / Doran:Heat damage.
Tim / GM:You see it writhing on the floor, Doran, and you see black smoke start to rip across its body, and you know that it's about to change again. But you don't wait to see what's going to happen. You flip this thing over on its shoulder. With one arm, you bring up the blade of king salamorous Riz, and you plunge it into this thing as best you can. And When you draw it out, you are locked eyes with yourself as a young boy, drawing a bloody blade.
Tim / GM:And he says,
Speaker 2:am I gonna die here? Doran.
John / Doran:Arin, can you help, please?
Hannah / Eryn:Doran, this is what I was talking about earlier. And Arin's crossbow bolt is aimed right at this thing's face, but Aaron's trembling, like shaking.
Tim / GM:Chase gets up bleeding, crawling towards you, Doran. It says, help me.
John / Doran:Please shoot at Aaron. Fuck.
Hannah / Eryn:And Aaron shoots it right between the eyes. Yep. 19.
Tim / GM:Yeah. It's the changeling. Okay.
Hannah / Eryn:Six damage.
John / Doran:Plus all the sneak attack. Right?
Tim / GM:Yes.
Hannah / Eryn:So many layers. Seventeen damage.
Tim / GM:Okay. With that, you're all staring at young Doran as a trickle of blood runs down his nose, crossbow bolts sunk into his face. He falls forward without a single sound, kind of changing as he does. And before you is a changeling in its natural form. It is naked and facedown and dead.
Tim / GM:What do you do?
John / Doran:I grabbed Aaron's hand. Let's go.
Hannah / Eryn:Okay.
John / Doran:There's probably more, and we'll try to run and catch up with the group. Yeah.
Speaker 2:I don't think we got anywhere.
Hannah / Eryn:Not very far. Like at the mouth of the opening or whatever.
Tim / GM:Yeah.
Hannah / Eryn:The cave place.
Tara / Journey:Yeah. I put a hand on Poppy's shoulder and kinda turned her away. Let's go.
Speaker 2:Okay. That felt different.
Tara / Journey:This is a different place.
Speaker 3:We have nowhere to stay now. We must keep moving.
John / Doran:Where is Tully? Did you see where he went?
Speaker 3:Tully is not with us any longer.
Tim / GM:Okay. Not with us? He kind of like firms up his grip on Mikey's shell, and he says, no.
John / Doran:I see.
Tara / Journey:Journey briefly looks at Doran in kind of a moment of solidarity, I think, of understanding of the, like, dire circumstances here and gives a nod, and then turns to Huber. Did he leave anything behind that we can use?
Speaker 3:The changeling had it took his possessions to complete the ruse.
Tara / Journey:I don't think there was anything that we really need. We should just keep moving.
Speaker 7:To the tower then? Yes.
Speaker 2:To the tower.
Tim / GM:We're having fun. You all make your way towards the lake. You have to take a slightly different path coming this way. As you go, you start to notice a slow gradient of vibrant, dully glowing blue flowers under your feet.
Speaker 2:Are they the same kind as Tully was growing? Oh, shit.
Tim / GM:Yes.
Speaker 2:Did we grab the the flower?
Tim / GM:You got you had that one flower in, like, a bell jar or something.
Speaker 2:The meridian fruit.
Tim / GM:Yeah. Yeah. We can say you would have grabbed that.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Yeah. I have the pink meridian fruit now.
Tim / GM:That's what I'd say.
John / Doran:Yep. K.
Hannah / Eryn:It was by the woodpile, and you picked it up.
John / Doran:I'm assuming breathing the, like, the pollen from the flowers is what gets you with the hallucinations. I
Tara / Journey:Tati ground 1 up and experienced it.
John / Doran:Mhmm. Oh, that's true.
Speaker 2:And had a traumatic flashback. Yeah.
Tim / GM:You're all moving through this field of flowers, and, Poppy, it's kind of occurring to you now. But even before you speak up, Doran, you start to hear, Doren. I'm looking around. You don't see anything, but it's like it could have been like a creaking tree or something, but you heard it so clearly.
John / Doran:Is it a voice I recognize?
Tim / GM:It's a young voice, not yours. Not the one you just heard, but similar.
John / Doran:Did anyone hear that? Do we have everyone? Everyone's here. Everyone's close. Hear what?
John / Doran:I heard nothing. Fucking flowers. Let's keep going.
Speaker 2:Everyone should cover their mouths and noses, I think.
Tim / GM:Jurney, you hear? I'm so happy I could cry.
Tara / Journey:I'm starting to hear some things. I don't
Hannah / Eryn:Aaron pulls up the scarf thing they wear around their neck and pulls it up over their nose and face like a mask. Mhmm.
Speaker 7:Guy, moves up the, slang that's carrying his head to cover his nose and mouth.
Tim / GM:Guy puts his head in a bag.
Speaker 2:Poppy is in sort of a traumatized, like, shock state a little bit, and as we're walking, it's just I I couldn't do anything. I'm I'm never good enough to help. I don't do anything.
Speaker 7:Poppy. Poppy, you're slowing down. Are are you okay?
Speaker 2:Yeah. I'm I'm right behind you.
Tara / Journey:Hey hey, Poppy. You got another tea towel I could borrow?
Speaker 2:I, like, hand over the one I was using, maybe.
Tara / Journey:Oh, no. Poppy, no.
Speaker 2:It's okay.
Tara / Journey:No. Poppy, why don't you put this on?
Tim / GM:Poppy, as Journey's talking, her voice starts to muffle out into, and all you can hear is your parents in the next room. It's so nice to have you over. Yes. This is our son, Coriander, the rising star. That's right.
Tim / GM:We're so proud of him. Nearly the top earner of Kenmore machines. Did you know that? And he's only 16. I know.
Tim / GM:I know. No. Not our only child, but, he's he's something.
Tara / Journey:Oh, no.
John / Doran:Is Doran lucid enough to cast a spell? Yeah. I want to cast, calm emotions. Okay. We're slowing down way too much, everyone.
John / Doran:Let's just try to focus. So calm emotions can deal with a charmed or frightened effect. Mhmm. I don't know, like, how that sits with the blue flower hallucination thing, but
Tim / GM:I was
John / Doran:hoping it could basically just help us focus and keep moving. Yeah. Alright. So, I think people can choose to fail if they wish. It's a d c 16 Charisma check to resist the effect of the spell.
Tara / Journey:Yeah. Journey would choose to fail.
Speaker 7:How's the guy doing? He hearing anything?
Tim / GM:Between heavy footsteps, you keep hearing traitor.
Speaker 7:Guy will fail to save.
Speaker 2:I think I'm too lost in the sauce.
Tim / GM:To choose to save it. To find out.
Speaker 7:Guy's gonna soak up those calm emotions and then take a look at Poppy, who's kind of flailing a little bit. Mhmm. Oh, alright. Up you go. He's gonna pick her up and put her on her his shoulders again.
Speaker 2:Yeah. I rolled a 13.
John / Doran:Your charm breaks then, probably.
Tim / GM:Poppy, you lose your your, charm resistance charm. As it unravels and falls to the ground, you all hear a tiny stone.
Speaker 2:And I'm also not calmed, I assume.
Tim / GM:Right. Correct. Yeah. But you do get a cool breeze as Guy lifts you up a bit higher. Being lower to the ground, you had it worse than anybody else.
Tim / GM:Oh,
Speaker 2:hi, Guy.
John / Doran:Hey, Bobby. Feeling better?
Speaker 2:A little bit. Yeah.
Speaker 7:Alright. Let's make it to this tower.
Tara / Journey:Do I
Speaker 2:have a better vantage than everyone else?
Tim / GM:Little bit. I mean, couple inches up there.
Hannah / Eryn:It's literally Luke Skywalker and Yoda. Yeah.
Tim / GM:I'm not into the woods. The headless Luke. Yeah.
Speaker 2:All I can
Hannah / Eryn:think of right now.
Speaker 2:I think I'm probably exactly guy's height at this point then.
Tim / GM:Yeah. Like, about the right When
Speaker 2:he's got his head on. Yeah.
Tim / GM:Durney, you hear of unexpected voice. You hear Ganymede coming through, and he says, excuse me. May I connect with you?
Tara / Journey:Yeah. Sure. I I mean, we're can we walk and connect? Because I gotta keep moving.
Tim / GM:Well, that's part of the problem, you see. I'm close. The last piece. The the faith the hearing. The shale.
Tim / GM:It's close to here.
Tara / Journey:Oh, Yeah. Can you lead me to it?
Tim / GM:Just keep talking. I can hear you.
Tara / Journey:Okay. Everybody, can we do some chitchatting, I guess? Ganymede can feel that last, the last piece, the hearing one. I think, Doren, it's your shell.
Tim / GM:Yeah.
Tara / Journey:He can hear it. So if we keep kinda talking, we might be able to find our way to it.
John / Doran:Okay. Yeah. It it's worth a risk.
Hannah / Eryn:What do you wanna talk about? Talking was never my strong suit.
Tara / Journey:Well, you all are doing great. I guess, don't pay no mind to the things you're hearing from the flowers. I I don't know what they are for you. I don't know. Is it supposed to be bad stuff?
Tara / Journey:Because mine wasn't bad. So, yeah.
Speaker 7:I wasn't loving mine.
Tara / Journey:Yeah. But it's not it doesn't matter. We we don't need to worry about it. We're gonna be out of here.
Speaker 7:Just talk over the flowers.
Tim / GM:I think I treat her.
Tara / Journey:Not gonna be a big deal at all.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Sure. Yeah.
John / Doran:I'm having trouble concentrating.
Speaker 2:I don't hear her. I don't hear her.
Tim / GM:Yeah. We are so
John / Doran:proud of you.
Speaker 2:Oh, shut up, Cory. Oh. Sorry?
Tara / Journey:No. It's alright. Me and Poppy, what are you what are you hearing?
Tim / GM:You. Nothing. Ungrateful Sprite.
Hannah / Eryn:Well, that's not good.
John / Doran:Can can we get an investigate check to
Tim / GM:try to
John / Doran:find this thing?
Tim / GM:Yeah. Okay.
John / Doran:Slight meta game. Who's actually good at that?
Speaker 2:Andre.
Tara / Journey:Please never make
Tim / GM:me laugh.
Speaker 2:Mine's like mid range, I think. 14 for me? Yeah.
John / Doran:21.
Tim / GM:15. Alright, Doran. You do come upon it. You're kind of like getting low into these flowers, sweeping your hands across the dirt to try to see this thing. Okay.
John / Doran:Great. I put it in my, Gamison left inner pocket. I don't know.
Tim / GM:Oh my god.
Speaker 2:My left inner Gamison pocket.
Tim / GM:Do I have to look shot in the left inner pocket? Butt butt. Michelle, it's there. It turns
John / Doran:the air around and
Tim / GM:Aaron, you're you're watching Dorn as he stands up with the shell, and you hear again. Peekaboo. You worthless little shit.
Hannah / Eryn:Aaron spins around with their crossbow drawn.
Tim / GM:You're pointing it at Kai.
Speaker 2:Oh. What did you say?
Speaker 7:I said nothing.
Hannah / Eryn:Erin's kinda frantically pointing.
Tara / Journey:Hey. Hey. I think we should get out of this field.
Hannah / Eryn:Yeah. Let's go. Faster.
Speaker 7:Let's all assume that after this thing that I'm about to say that nothing we hear is real.
Speaker 2:Oh, the what you just said right now?
John / Doran:That was it.
Hannah / Eryn:Oh, okay.
John / Doran:Alright. Let's move.
Tara / Journey:Yeah. I I run.
Tim / GM:You all see Mikey looking
Speaker 3:at the ground going, what do you mean there's no chocolate?
Speaker 2:So Mikey, there's chocolate.
Tara / Journey:Where are
Speaker 2:we going?
Tara / Journey:Come on. I grabbed Mikey's hand.
Hannah / Eryn:It's Poppy's voice that's haunting him.
Speaker 2:There's no more chocolate left, Mikey. There is chocolate. There's no more chocolate left.
Tim / GM:I'll never give you chocolate again, Mikey. Diabetic? As you're all walking out of that field, you're kind of leaving that gradient now as they start to thin out into tall grass and sand as you near the beach of the lake. And, Doran, as you exit that area, you hear right behind you, Doran, I can't feel my legs.
John / Doran:I'm gonna slowly turn around and look now. We're out of the flowers. It's just
Tim / GM:a waving field of grass. You don't know if you even ever heard that really. It might be just something you made up to hurt yourself, but it's his voice.
John / Doran:I'm gonna use prestidigitation just to chew it off some, like, dull blue sparks to try to see if there's anything standing out there. Give me perception check with advantage. 17. You see nothing, but
Tim / GM:you have Ganymede's hearing back. And in the great distance, you hear the heavy clumping of iron fruits headed towards you.
John / Doran:Do we wanna kill some red caps, or do we wanna run?
Hannah / Eryn:I said we keep moving forward.
Speaker 2:How much paracelene birch do I have left?
Tim / GM:It's just about out. I mean, you brought what was burning, but Yeah. It's not much.
Speaker 2:We're almost out of this too.
John / Doran:K. Let's keep moving and look for some more bark on the way if we can.
Tim / GM:Yeah. You continue on towards the lake. As you head out this way, there's not much for birch as the trees have thinned out. Approaching the edge of the lake, the dry grasses and low shrubs give way to a soft gray beach with windswept dunes. And it's eerily warm here and snowing, a soft rain of ash and cinders.
Tim / GM:You see the rock bridge that reaches out into the lake towards the tower, and this bridge is it's made of black magmatic stone like taffy, stretched out and splattered over the water. And the water here is violent and it rolls in waves against the rocks, threatening to submerge parts of that causeway. And And then suddenly, it all falls into place. The cinders in the air have volcanic stone all around you. You're directly beneath Backseat and the lava that flows off the side of the island.
Tim / GM:As you all keep running, a glob of magma falls between Guy and Doran sizzling against the water and splashing on your clothes.
Speaker 3:It's not easygoing.
John / Doran:It's probably saving shells, I guess.
Tim / GM:Mikey nots.
Speaker 2:I'm gonna hold the shield above my head to shield me and Guy.
Tim / GM:Thank you, Ocarina of time. Yes.
Tara / Journey:I think we should probably hurry. Yeah.
Tim / GM:You all start moving across that magnetic bridge. I need you ultimate dexterity saves.
Speaker 2:Do I? If I'm ready. I okay.
Speaker 7:Yeah. And you all have plus 3.
Speaker 2:22.
Speaker 7:20 natural.
Tara / Journey:Oh, wow.
John / Doran:18.
Tara / Journey:27. Oh, jeez.
Hannah / Eryn:I got 4, but I if I take damage, it's halved. I gotta look at this ability. Yeah. Because of my uncanny dodge. Yes.
Hannah / Eryn:Okay.
Tim / GM:Alright. That's actually just Eren. So Eren, that is 12 fire damage halved to 6 As you are splashed with magma. You all continue sprinting across this bridge, and it's not as easy as you thought. The ground is extremely uneven.
Tim / GM:It's also wet and submerged in some places with the ash, with the magma, Now you can all see cresting that beach, kicking up sand everywhere, a small group of redcaps led by Smile Grin. His teeth are gleaming and sharp in the light of the cinders here. You can see he's covered with battle scars, fresh battle scars. You can see some of them are wearing the skin of vermin lord trick.
Tara / Journey:Oh. Oh, no. Yikes.
Speaker 2:They kill them.
Tara / Journey:Well, that's Oh, wow.
Speaker 7:One problem down, I guess. Does it have all the eyes on it?
Tara / Journey:Oh.
Tim / GM:It's got holes.
Hannah / Eryn:Oh. Oh, no.
Speaker 7:Are we out of the blue, flowers?
Tim / GM:Yes. You're well out of those. Yep.
Speaker 2:If everyone goes then I can cast something behind us.
Tim / GM:Huber and Mikey both run ahead of your group as best they can to get past you.
John / Doran:Don't go too far. We'll take care of this.
Tim / GM:Huber looks, nervously ahead at the Towers of Lore.
Speaker 2:Could I fabricate the bridge behind us to make as much wall as possible? How wide is the bridge that we're on?
Tim / GM:Probably less than 20 feet. So you could cover you could make a 10 foot wall across this whole bridge.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Tim / GM:Yeah. Doing that with fabricate?
Speaker 2:Yeah. Yeah. Okay. But I wanna grab, like, the hot and, like The fresh stuff? Slippery stuff.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Tim / GM:Yeah. You all see Poppy kind of, like, lean down and then almost do the wave and just kinda, like, rise her hands up. And at that same time, it looks like water actually. Like this whole bridge just kind of liquefies and just sloshes straight up into this kind of, almost like natural looking, mountain joint where these things are pushed together in a, wave in stasis.
Speaker 2:It's a hot magma wall.
Hannah / Eryn:Yeah. Okay. Very full metal alchemist. Yeah. Yeah.
Hannah / Eryn:It's cool.
Tim / GM:How tall
John / Doran:is it?
Tim / GM:10 feet.
Speaker 2:Alright. Go. Go. Go.
Tim / GM:Impressive. You all hear the agonizing cries of the red cats on the other side as they've been thwarted by a large stone wall. You can hear the digging and picking and smashing as they're trying to break down or climb their way up this thing on the other side.
Tara / Journey:If nothing else, at least it gave us more of a head start. Let's get going.
Hannah / Eryn:Yeah. Run.
Tim / GM:Okay. Creating more distance? Mhmm.
Tara / Journey:Yeah. Yep. At least getting onto level ground that isn't a bridge. Sure.
Hannah / Eryn:Yeah. Fair. Yeah.
Tim / GM:That buys you enough time to get to the edge of lore, to get off of this magmatic bridge and away from the environmental hazards of the falling cinders. You're all sprinting across that magmatic causeway trying not to slip and trip and fall in the lava as you do. You've reached the edge of lore. Hubert and Mikey help themselves up first, this kind of, rock dirt wall made of roots, that they sort of scrabble up and get onto the grass up there. As the rest of you are climbing, the red caps are upon you.
Tim / GM:You see them drop over the other side of that wall. Some Some of them having successfully climbed up with their little hooks and sides. You see Smile Gren and 5 companions chasing you down.
John / Doran:Doran, touches Aaron on their arm and just says, go hunt. I cast greater invisibility on Eren.
Speaker 7:Oh. Woah. Shit.
Tim / GM:This is the one that doesn't turn off when you attack people. Right? Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Dope.
Hannah / Eryn:So mine is, like, sneak attack every time? Yes.
Tim / GM:You get sneak attack on every attack.
Speaker 2:Okay. Sounds sick.
John / Doran:And then if I and then I do wanna make another action, but I understand if I don't get another chance.
Tim / GM:I think you will get another chance. Let's let everybody decide. So those red caps have a ways to go before they get to you, so they're all still running towards you. You watch as a glob of magma drops onto their group. Smile grin.
Tim / GM:Strangely, Smile grin does not dodge as well as the rest of his Is that right?
Speaker 7:I mean, that's can't.
Tim / GM:Right? You're right.
Speaker 2:That's so useless.
Tim / GM:So as Smilogrind's charging towards you with his Bismite claws on his fist kind of raking forward with his just right onto his shoulder. You hear him kind of and like barrel roll onto the ground and slide, sloughing off skin as he does. Oh.
Hannah / Eryn:Nasty.
Tara / Journey:It's very visceral. It was
Tim / GM:a good description. Criminy's. Criminy's. Sorry. But the damage he just took compared to what Aaron took for getting is unfair.
Hannah / Eryn:I mean, I was halved.
Speaker 2:Chimney criminy. Chimney Christmas, y'all.
Tara / Journey:Criminy jismus.
Tim / GM:Criminy jismus.
Hannah / Eryn:Oh, god. Too far.
Tim / GM:Erin, you were just made invisible. What's your first move here?
Hannah / Eryn:Yeah. Erin's gonna turn around, kneel down, crossbow, bolt. I wanna use do I have the Diabolo ones all back? The Erin's all back?
Tim / GM:You only have one more Silent Violet, but you've got 2 of the other 2 each.
Tara / Journey:Oh, there's 2 of each. Mhmm.
Speaker 7:Are you sure you don't wanna keep them until the end of the campaign and never use them? Right. Yeah.
Tim / GM:We might need these health potions.
Hannah / Eryn:I'm gonna, load up a raging red bolt. K. This will induce indiscriminate rage, causing the target to lash out at the nearest creature. I'm gonna aim for smile grid.
Speaker 3:K.
Hannah / Eryn:And shoot with advantage. Yep. Because I'm hidden Yep. Very sneaky. Nat 20.
Speaker 2:Nice. What?
Speaker 7:God, hell yeah. Sneak attack nat 20?
Speaker 2:Oh my god. Are we actually gonna kill this
Tim / GM:guy this time? Sick.
Hannah / Eryn:Okay. That is 41 damage.
Tim / GM:Holy shit. Hell, yeah.
Hannah / Eryn:And then Kill him. The Diabolo thing is, gives them rage.
Tim / GM:Yeah.
Speaker 2:What did you shoot?
Tim / GM:Smile grind.
Speaker 2:Smile grind. Jesus. Obviously.
Tim / GM:You all see Smile grind kind of stand up from that sliding position where he had just gotten splashed with magma. And the second he does, you see an arrow just land into his neck. He stands up with a, and kind of coughs a second. And then you see his veins begin to turn red and glow brighter than the magma around him. And you see him breathing deeply.
Tim / GM:This deep rage that he has every single day. This is just how he is anyway. It's barely different. But he's a little less discriminant about it now. The other red caps that are behind him charging your group, one of them comes up behind him, and Smile Grand turns around and goes, and just cuts this thing's throat as it comes by.
Tara / Journey:Oh. Chint.
Tim / GM:Now he hits somebody, of course. Right. Attack.
Tara / Journey:Useless. I love the consistency. Yeah. Sometimes the dice are really trying to tell a story.
Tim / GM:Cosmic influence on all of that.
Tara / Journey:Maybe there is a God.
Speaker 2:Maybe there is.
Tim / GM:Yeah. You see, somewhat significant slash marks appear on this other red cap as it runs by and does not understand what's happening here. And it kind of stares at Smile Grand. It kind of challenges him back. It's still on a surprise round for all of you.
Tim / GM:We've got Journey, Guy, and Poppy.
Speaker 7:Guy has his sword drawn, and he's gonna wait for any of the red caps to get to him.
Tim / GM:Are you gonna stand out in front of everyone else? Yeah.
Speaker 7:Okay. He sees this attack on Smile Grin, and he says, I think your time's about up. And he casts, told the told the dead on mister Smile Grin.
Tim / GM:Mhmm.
Speaker 7:This is a wisdom saving throw. K.
Tim / GM:To everyone's shock. 20.
Tara / Journey:Oh, no. Wow.
Tim / GM:Anything on a field?
Speaker 7:Nope. Nope. Nothing happens. Wasted action.
John / Doran:Hold on. I'm just gonna cast silvery bars. So, Smalgam was going to save the Toll of the Dead. Yeah. To help guys' action, I'm using silvery barbs.
John / Doran:Okay. Rolls again.
Tim / GM:Yeah.
John / Doran:Then I will give Poppy advantage on Poppy's next, hell
Tim / GM:yeah, action. Yeah. Cool. That is a 9 total.
Speaker 7:That's a fail.
Tara / Journey:Hell, yeah.
Tim / GM:Okay. So because it is myth missing health points missing health points, it takes the increased amount. Right?
Speaker 7:Yep. It's 2 d 12. That's 16 damage.
Tara / Journey:No. You said I'm bringing Smilegarn back, and we said no thank you.
Hannah / Eryn:So stupid. Alright. Poppy?
Speaker 7:He's fine.
John / Doran:He's fine.
Tim / GM:Still up. Poppy?
Speaker 2:I'm going to do a quick arcane recipe
Hannah / Eryn:Mhmm.
Speaker 2:And use a first level spell to make a bob tart. Okay. And then hand it over to journey. You can zoom it as a bonus action, and it causes your next attack to deal an additional 1 d4 plus 1 force damage for each spell level used. So just the 1.
Tara / Journey:Great. Okay. I would like to consume the bob tart
Tim / GM:Mhmm.
Tara / Journey:As my bonus action, and then, shoot Smile Grin with an arrow.
Tim / GM:Okay. Be gentle.
Tara / Journey:Okay. 21. It's a hit.
Tim / GM:Hits hits Smell Green. Goodbye, my sweet boy.
Speaker 2:Sweet boy. He's the worst.
Tim / GM:Well, I
Tara / Journey:don't know. You rolled pretty bad. 9 damage.
Tim / GM:Oh, good. Oh, good. Journey sinks an arrow into Smile Grin also. Like, this poor thing. Like yeah.
Tim / GM:Just getting riddled with bullets, essentially.
Hannah / Eryn:Don't make us feel bad for him.
Tara / Journey:I have a Okay. So second arrow, 23 to hit. Yep. Do better. 8 damage.
Tim / GM:Alright.
Tara / Journey:Just whittling.
Tim / GM:Everyone roll initiative.
Speaker 3:Oh.
Speaker 2:God, that was all before.
Tara / Journey:Oh, I'll roll it with the big metal ones.
Hannah / Eryn:That's what I did.
Speaker 2:Oh my god. Well, it's
Speaker 7:like my first good initiative in this campaign.
Tim / GM:Alright. Poppy?
Speaker 2:10.
Tim / GM:Doran? 19. Gone? 18. Journey?
Tara / Journey:Good old natural 9.
Tim / GM:Okay. And Aaron.
Hannah / Eryn:24. Wow. Which makes plays makes sense. I rolled a 19, but also I'm invisible, so it kinda checks out.
Tim / GM:Well, unsurprisingly, first up is Eren.
Hannah / Eryn:Oh. Unsurprisingly. I'm gonna shoot Yeah. Across BowBow. Okay.
Hannah / Eryn:How many red caps are do I see?
Tim / GM:There are 5 red caps and 1 smile grim.
Hannah / Eryn:I know this invisible creature is around somewhere. Have we had any indication of this invisible being nearby? Big footprints?
Tim / GM:Oh, sure.
Hannah / Eryn:Tree shaking?
Speaker 2:Can I see the invisible creature?
Tim / GM:There are no footprints on the magnetic bridge. You have not been up anywhere to see any other clues.
Hannah / Eryn:I think Aaron's gonna try to climb up a tree and get a higher vantage point.
Tim / GM:Yep. Aaron's got a pretty good climb speed with that second story work. Is that right?
Hannah / Eryn:Yep.
Tim / GM:Yeah. No problem. Mikey is kind of just now, like, cresting the the side of the fallen island of lore, kind of hoisting himself up there, and you, like, pass him up essentially with your climb speed. You get up there and look down on this magnetic causeway below you, and you whirl around to look at lore kind of laid out ahead of you. And it's a weird sight seeing it kind of like crumbled and disheveled here.
Tim / GM:And looking around, it doesn't take you long to see a tree that looks like it was sliced down by a katana.
Hannah / Eryn:Do I see any strange movement? I kind I think Aaron is sort of like the red caps aren't really that big of an issue anymore. Like, we we still need to take them out, but I'm worried more about what's ahead. Yeah. But can I use my vision?
Tim / GM:You can make a perception check with advantage. Yep. Still invisible.
Speaker 2:I'll come doing this during combat.
Hannah / Eryn:I'm worried that thing's gonna attack us. Perception? Mhmm. 24.
Tim / GM:Even with the 24, you do not perceive the invisible creature.
Hannah / Eryn:I'm trying to see if I can see any movements of other things, like trees, bushes, grass.
Tim / GM:Here's the other thing. It's exceptionally windy up here. Okay.
Hannah / Eryn:So just everything looks like it's moving?
Tim / GM:Yeah. Kind of in constant flow.
Tara / Journey:Are there
Hannah / Eryn:any cloud kips?
Speaker 2:Hannah. Hannah. This is combat.
Tim / GM:Interesting.
Hannah / Eryn:I'm wondering if I what I wanna know what I see you guys. Give me a break.
Tara / Journey:No. And that's that's actually are there birds and animals? Or are they too afraid? I get it.
Tim / GM:I mean, as you look around here, scanning for any kind of movement, you do see smaller creatures, Things that fell with the island and have managed to survive. I would say, yeah, you see a cloud kip.
Tara / Journey:Okay.
Hannah / Eryn:Does that take my whole turn? Yep. Okay.
Tim / GM:Too much looking.
Hannah / Eryn:No. It's okay.
Speaker 2:He now leaves combat, tries to catch a
Hannah / Eryn:cloud kip.
Tara / Journey:Fully invisible. Advantage on all attacks. Double damage.
Speaker 7:You do, however, see a big floating sombrero.
Tim / GM:Moving around.
Hannah / Eryn:Alright.
Tim / GM:Alright. Next up is Smilgrin. Yay. Who is just blood lusting, and I'm powerless to stop it.
Hannah / Eryn:Told you they weren't a threat.
Tim / GM:Yeah. Takes another swipe at his companion, natural twenty. Woah. Wow. Gosh.
John / Doran:Good thing he's not attacking us.
Speaker 7:Will they be all dead by the time it's
Speaker 2:it's my turn again?
Speaker 7:Maybe. It's very possible.
Tim / GM:The one that Smile Gryn is a sailing is kind of caught up in that exchange and is kind of fighting back now. Did not hit Smile Grill. The other 4 continue towards your party and arrive on the scene. Guy, you are at the very front of this line. Is that correct?
Speaker 7:Yeah.
Tim / GM:The first red cap comes up to you with a sickle that is lashed to a long stick and is coming for where your head would be, but gets a little confused. But did you say you had a ready to action for this or no?
Speaker 7:No. I was just ready for yeah. Yeah. Not a ready to
Tim / GM:action. Spiritually ready.
Tara / Journey:Mentally prepared.
Tim / GM:Alright. I'm looking
John / Doran:forward to metal going in my skin.
Speaker 7:Yeah. This will be good. Guy.
Tim / GM:12 to hit. Nope. 24 to hit. Yes. 14 to hit.
Tim / GM:No. Okay. 11 slashing damage as this thing comes after you with a sickle tied to a stick. Ouch.
Tara / Journey:That's also very Tears of the kingdom.
Tim / GM:Yeah. Another red cap runs up to you, guy. 19 to hit.
Speaker 7:It's a meatzza pizza.
Tim / GM:K. For pizza. Natural 1. No. And, 24 to hit.
Speaker 7:Yes. Oh. Did I each get
Speaker 2:3 swipes?
Tara / Journey:Yes. Assholes. Them, not you.
Speaker 2:Well
Tim / GM:It's getting real.
Hannah / Eryn:Can we trademark MeatZZa pizza?
Tim / GM:Probably not. Fourteen slashing damage? Fourteen guy a third red cap approaches you.
Tara / Journey:Tell them to stop.
Speaker 2:Where are they coming? Stop.
Speaker 7:It's enough of your slashing damage.
Tim / GM:25 to hit.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Good lord.
Tim / GM:I didn't know these guys were good. 20 to hit. It's just smattering. That sucks. 24 to hit.
Speaker 7:Yes. Wow.
Tara / Journey:He's making
Speaker 2:these moves
Hannah / Eryn:out now.
Tim / GM:7 slashing damage.
Speaker 7:K.
Hannah / Eryn:Let Tim have something.
Speaker 2:He went after the
Tim / GM:8 slashing damage.
John / Doran:K.
Tim / GM:8 slashing damage.
John / Doran:K. That
Tim / GM:was a 3rd red cap. Correct? 4th red cap approaches.
Tara / Journey:Oh my god. Good god. You're gonna die.
Tim / GM:25 to hit.
Speaker 2:Yeah. What the fuck are you rolling?
Tim / GM:16 to hit. Nope. 20 to hit.
John / Doran:Yeah. I don't have any silver barbs for you. Okay. I'm sorry. I used it already.
Tim / GM:9 slashing damage on the first hit. Okay. 7 slashing damage on the second hit.
John / Doran:No problem.
Tim / GM:The 1 redcap and Smilgrin are still slap fighting in the background.
Speaker 7:Alright. So I got 4 guys on me? Yes. Alright. This chain this is,
Tim / GM:Guy just looks back covered in blood. Oh.
Tara / Journey:Poppy, I don't feel so bad.
Tim / GM:I'm hit. Doran, it's on you.
John / Doran:What the fuck do I do about this?
Tim / GM:You see the kind of severity of these things, and you had from a distance before seen red caps kind of descend on creatures, but now you're seeing it descend on your friend, and they are no gentler. Chet. Is that a party inspiration?
John / Doran:Guy, keep your chin up. Give a party inspiration to a guy.
Speaker 2:Inspiration?
John / Doran:Yeah. I'm on the bridge as well.
Tim / GM:You're on the bridge. You've essentially got your back to, like, a dirt wall of, like, roots and trees and stuff.
John / Doran:I can see guys hurt. Mhmm.
Tim / GM:And kind of alone out there at the front.
John / Doran:I can't fucking take those hits either, though.
Tim / GM:Send poppy.
John / Doran:Yeah. Just throw Poppy?
Tim / GM:Yeah.
Speaker 2:How much damage did you take? I'm curious. So much.
Speaker 7:64 damage?
Speaker 2:Yeah. I would be dead. I have 58 max.
Tim / GM:But conceivably, a guy could be killed next round.
Hannah / Eryn:Do you have any healing, Doran?
John / Doran:No. Oh my god. You're useless. I do have I do have healing word, but that's for someone to hit down. So I'm just going to, come up a little bit and just take the dodge action.
John / Doran:K. And just, like, holding out the short sword. Okay. Just trying to, like, have guys back a little bit as best I can. So dodge action, that's my turn.
Speaker 7:Alright. Next up, Guy. Oh, okay. Guy takes that last blow from the red cap
John / Doran:Mhmm.
Speaker 7:And kinda staggers back, and he falls onto his hands at ease. He's pretty beat up. Yeah. He's breathing heavy, and the flame from his neck starts burning brighter. With one hand, he kinda reaches into the flame.
Speaker 7:And slowly from the flame, he pulls out the handle of a sword.
Tim / GM:You start to hear whispers, Guy. Mhmm. You hear Traitor. Traitor. Traitor.
Tim / GM:Traitor. Traitor. Who is in your mind at this moment? Is it Danathin Hawk and his long sword? Is it hold on.
Tim / GM:I gotta look up all their fucking names again.
Tara / Journey:Is it Kevin? Sir Pinkle? Kevin is one of them.
Speaker 7:No. I know who this sword is. Okay. This is Prince Lotem's sword.
Hannah / Eryn:Oh. Oh.
Speaker 2:Guy, what is this? Your lover.
Tara / Journey:What is this? This is so sad.
Speaker 7:Yeah. He pulls out this long sword from his head. And it's covered in green flame. And he slowly gets back up to his feet. And he lets go of the sword, and it sort of, floats there and then spins around him a little bit.
Speaker 7:Yeah. This is a guy's spiritual weapon.
John / Doran:Oh. Okay. Cool.
Tara / Journey:That's so, so cool.
Speaker 2:And also really fucked up.
Tara / Journey:Yeah. Very sad.
Tim / GM:Your thoughts cycle through the flail wielder, the gladiator wielder, the the lance wielder, the long sword. Every discipline that you had fought against, every discipline that you trained them into is available for you to wield again.
Speaker 7:Oh, great. Oh, this is a Noctis situation. Okay. Yep. He's back at his feet.
Speaker 7:He's got 2 swords now.
Tim / GM:Yeah. The real one and the spiritual weapon. Uh-huh.
Speaker 7:Yeah. Guy's gonna attack a red cap
Tim / GM:Okay.
Speaker 7:With regular old great sword.
Tim / GM:Sure.
Speaker 7:Probably gonna probably gonna use channels of infinity on that to add 10.
Tim / GM:Okay.
Speaker 7:19 to hit.
Tim / GM:Well, it hits. Great. We know that much.
Speaker 2:What class are you technically? Paladin.
Speaker 7:Twelve damage from the first attack. K. How's he looking after 1 Just fine. Damage? Just fine, Okay.
Speaker 7:Well, second attack.
Tara / Journey:The red caps have redeemed themselves.
John / Doran:Nice. Oh, natural
Tim / GM:oh, I like that.
John / Doran:Yeah. But I
Speaker 7:wasted that first attack.
Tim / GM:Give me another roll on that.
Speaker 7:Okay.
Tim / GM:Nope. Yep.
Speaker 2:Never gonna happen again.
Speaker 7:20. I could throw a little smite on that for extra spice. I haven't smitten in a while.
Tara / Journey:Smote.
Speaker 7:Smote.
Speaker 2:Smote. Smit.
Tara / Journey:I think Smote is actually correct.
Speaker 2:I know.
Tim / GM:Going out and getting Smit.
Speaker 2:I'll wait Smit from the other day.
Tara / Journey:I got Smitted real good.
Speaker 7:Okay. So that's that was 20 plus, plus another 5. So 25 total?
Tim / GM:Okay. That's mine. Alright. After that, I would say not so fine. Even a red cap at this point is considering what it's doing.
Tim / GM:Why is it here? Why is it fighting you? But it's still a red cap, so it's not gonna change anything about what it's doing.
Hannah / Eryn:And then you got your spiritual weapon attack.
Speaker 7:Sure do.
Hannah / Eryn:You go guy. You go.
Tara / Journey:You go guy.
Speaker 7:Extra ten damage from the spiritual weapon.
Tim / GM:Alright. With that guy, you give this thing the kind of 1, 2, like swinging down with it in huge sweeps as you do. The first one, you're kind of calibrating your distance on, and you kind of nick it. That second one, you get a good chunk out of its ribs, and you bring the blade back and kind of, like, spray blood all over the causeway here. As you bring your sword back and kind of like hoist it on your shoulder, just waiting as this thing creeps towards you again with its little sickle on a stick, and then from behind, you see this glowing green blade just pierce it through the back, through the chest, and slide out as this thing slumps forward dead.
Tara / Journey:Oh. Oh. Got one.
Speaker 7:You do
John / Doran:have to roll to hit for that spiritual weapon, though.
Tim / GM:No. You're right. I didn't. Oh, fuck. Sorry.
Speaker 2:Rules lawyer over here.
John / Doran:I'm sorry.
Speaker 7:No. You're right.
Tim / GM:I feel
Speaker 7:so 15?
Tim / GM:That does hit. I feel so trickable in those moments. Woah. I just didn't notice that he didn't roll my
Speaker 2:dick. Yeah.
Speaker 7:Yeah. Yeah.
Tim / GM:Yeah. It's that fucking bravado. That did connect. That did kill it. Nice.
Tim / GM:Poppy.
Speaker 2:Poppy anymore. Okay. I'm on the ground. Mhmm. Are there any red caps closer to the edge of the causeway?
Tim / GM:A little bit. I would say, Smilgrin and that one that it was slap fighting. They're a little farther back, but they are a little bit closer to the edge.
Speaker 2:How close?
Tim / GM:Probably 30 feet away or so.
Speaker 2:Okay. I would like to line up ring of the ram
John / Doran:Okay. Cool.
Speaker 2:And try and knock one off the edge.
Tim / GM:Okay. Smile grin or the red cap?
Speaker 2:Smile grin. Okay. And then I have to make a spell attack. 24 to hit.
Tara / Journey:Hell, yeah.
Tim / GM:Does not I'm kidding.
Speaker 2:So it takes 2 d ten force damage, and it's pushed 5 feet away.
Tim / GM:You're just using one level of it?
Speaker 2:I thought I could only use 1 at a time. You can
Tim / GM:use all the charges if you wanted to.
Speaker 2:I'll I'll just do 1.
Tim / GM:K.
Speaker 2:Fourteen damage? Did it do it?
Tim / GM:My boy.
Speaker 2:Did he die by being pushed into the water?
Tim / GM:Alright. Okay. What's the range on the ring of the ram?
Speaker 2:60 feet.
Speaker 7:Yeah.
Tim / GM:So you can do it from where you are, essentially? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Guy, out of the corner of your eye, you see Poppy kind of, like, lining her up her fist, like, in front of her face, pointing it kind of down range and closing one eye to get a good aim on something.
Tim / GM:And all of a sudden, you just see Poppy fly down and she slams into a dirt wall with a and in front of her, you all see this like spectral ram just racing across the scene. Gaia goes right past you, this big white blur, and it crashes right into Smile Grin, and you just see him starfish and go sailing out into the black mist of life and disappear into the water. You hear a splash, but you don't see it because it's under a thick blanket of black fog out there. Oh my god. Team smile grin is blasting off again.
Tara / Journey:I got the same joke.
Speaker 2:David, see that? I did.
Tim / GM:With that, it is Journey's turn.
John / Doran:I'm sure he'll be
Hannah / Eryn:back. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Wait. This is not the first time we're gonna
Tara / Journey:take Nobody, no murder.
Tim / GM:Next time, we're getting a hacksaw and we're cutting his head off. Yeah.
Speaker 2:We gotta stop throwing him off the
Tim / GM:edge of the wall.
Tara / Journey:He's No body, no crime. Yeah. Journey sees that guy just get fucking demolished by all of these, red caps. And she looks down at her bow and feels for a moment like she needs to get in the mix. So she straps it to her, jumps into the air to move forward towards Guy and the melee, and as she does, she turns into a bear.
Hannah / Eryn:Woah. I forgot.
Tara / Journey:She turns into a black bear.
Tim / GM:So cool. Journey, can you give me a good growl knowing that I'll put some cool sound effects over this?
Tara / Journey:Oh, boy.
Speaker 3:I don't even need
Speaker 2:That's pretty good. Yeah. Yeah. That's good. Yeah.
Tara / Journey:And she jumps into the mix and, goes to do a multi attack to the nearest Yeah. Red cap.
Tim / GM:We call that red cap number 2.
Speaker 7:He's got a big 2 on his cap. Yeah.
Tim / GM:They've all got numbers painted on their
Tara / Journey:shirts. So 17 to
Tim / GM:hit? Yes.
Tara / Journey:That's 4 piercing damage. Yep. That's a bite. 2nd attack, 10 to hit.
Tim / GM:No. It does not hit.
Tara / Journey:Okay. So the first attack, she goes in with a bite and is not used to this body Yeah. And manages to hit with the bite, doesn't do a ton of damage. But the second she kind of reels back and is like, meh, gross, and tries to slash at him and just it doesn't have it quite right.
Tim / GM:Yeah. Yeah. You didn't quite consider that you would have a red cap in your mouth for a second, and that is awful.
Speaker 2:Mhmm.
Tim / GM:Awful experience. Alright. Yeah. Journey is apparently a frontliner now.
John / Doran:It's good news.
Tim / GM:You all hear from the background, I got you guys.
Speaker 2:No, Mikey.
Tim / GM:You all see from up above on lore, a fireball comes streaming across the scene and smacks into red cap number 2.
Speaker 2:Nice.
John / Doran:Good job, Mikey.
Tara / Journey:I forgot
Speaker 2:he could do that.
Tim / GM:Yep. 77 fire damage. It actually was 9 fire damage, though. Wow.
Hannah / Eryn:That's a bro.
Tim / GM:God. Alright. That's the end of that round. Next up is Eren. Yeah.
Tim / GM:Okay. In the distance, you all see a bunch of magma and cinders fall on nobody.
Tara / Journey:We said no thank you, lair actions.
Hannah / Eryn:Yeah. I'm going to shoot from my vintage in the tree invisible Mhmm. My crossbow. Red cap.
Tim / GM:Number 2.
Hannah / Eryn:The one that looks the weakest.
Tim / GM:It's actually your choice between 25. The one that, Smilgrin was slap fighting or the one that Journey is trying to kill right now.
Hannah / Eryn:The one Journey's trying
Tim / GM:to kill. Yep. She's got
Speaker 2:to steal her kill.
Tara / Journey:Mhmm. Journey don't mind.
Speaker 2:24 to hit.
Tim / GM:Hell, yeah. Definitely hits.
Hannah / Eryn:Great. Popped them. And that's sneak attack.
Tim / GM:But invisibility.
Hannah / Eryn:22 damage.
Tim / GM:22. Okay. Alright. Journey, as you kind of like back away from this, red cap as you're fighting it, having bitten into it, having slashed at it. The second you take a step away, it's almost just to let this crossbow bolt enter its abdomen, and then you're back into it.
Tim / GM:You just hear this whistle slink right past you. Alright. It is back to smile and grin. Moment of silence. And then red caps.
Tim / GM:Red cap number 2, is going to go after a journey. 16 to hit.
Tara / Journey:That hits.
Tim / GM:Yep. You need a bear hide. A 9 slashing damage Okay.
Speaker 2:On
Tim / GM:that first attack. 24 to hit.
Tara / Journey:Yeah. It hits.
Tim / GM:9 slashing damage. And that last one is an 11 to hit.
Tara / Journey:Meats it pizza. Wow.
Hannah / Eryn:Meats it pizza.
Tim / GM:That is another 9 slashing damage. Congratulations.
Tara / Journey:Alright. The bear turns back into Journey.
Speaker 7:Oh my gosh.
Tim / GM:It's a bear.
Tara / Journey:Oh. But it soaked up all that damage.
Tim / GM:Yes. It did.
Speaker 2:Now you're turning into Journey sound.
John / Doran:That was incredible.
Hannah / Eryn:That was really good.
Tim / GM:Alright. Red cap number 3. Just gonna go after Guy. Guy, that is a sheepish, 9 to hit. No.
Tim / GM:I should've known. 19 to hit. Hi. So 19 does hit.
Speaker 7:Yeah. Sorry. Which means I'm probably down.
Tim / GM:Splenda. That is our new sponsor is Splenda, by the way. Oh. That is 8 slashing damage. Yep.
Tim / GM:I'm down.
Tara / Journey:Okay. For now.
Tim / GM:It takes another attack on you, guy, with advantage now that you're down to try to kill you. That is a 25 to hit.
Hannah / Eryn:Wow. Is that
Tim / GM:You fail a death save. Yep.
Speaker 2:Just one, though? Yes. Okay.
Tim / GM:The last red cap that is up here is going to go after Doran. And it has disadvantage on this attack?
Speaker 7:Yep.
Tim / GM:16 to hit, Dorn. That hits. 10 damage, Dorn. Ten slashing.
John / Doran:Yep. I'm checking concentration real quick because I have to do that for greater invisibility. Okay. Okay. So I got, 12.
John / Doran:K. So I think I'm okay so
Tim / GM:far. So good.
John / Doran:And it was 10 damage? Yeah. I gotta update this.
Tim / GM:Slashing. Yep.
John / Doran:Alright. That was the only attack. Right? Wow. That's great.
Tim / GM:That's funny. 2nd attack coming in hot. 17 hit. Yep. Another 10 slashing damage.
Tim / GM:And the final attack, oh, that would have been a natural 20.
John / Doran:Is a an 8. To hit? Yes. That's not good enough.
Tim / GM:Well, you just like saying that, don't you?
John / Doran:Alright. Greater invisibility drops.
Hannah / Eryn:I'm scared.
Tim / GM:You can suddenly see your hands.
Speaker 2:Aaron is naked.
Tim / GM:Why did I take my clothes off? Just the instant you turn invisible, you're like, yes. Finally, take your pants off.
Tara / Journey:You know,
Hannah / Eryn:I think if I turn invisible in real life, I would run around naked for a while.
Tara / Journey:Oh. No. I didn't. Yeah.
Tim / GM:I mean, shoes on for sure. That last red cap is going to run up and join the fray here. Okay. Is going after either Journey or Doran, and the dice picked Doran. 14.
Tim / GM:Hits. Hit. It means a pizza. I'm just gonna do all the rolls real quick. Who ate again?
Tim / GM:Missed. Last time. And 12. Miss. Oh, nice.
Tim / GM:Sorry. Just one hit. Not bad. Is 10 slashing damage. Yep.
Tim / GM:My friend.
Speaker 2:Tough.
John / Doran:I'm not good at this part. Guy, get up.
Tim / GM:Alright. You all survived a round of red caps. Doran, it's on you.
John / Doran:First off, gonna cast, healing word on Guy. I will do it at a 3rd level because I'm a super nice dude. 12, health. Then I'm going to, cast a spell this time. K.
John / Doran:I'm gonna cast hypnotic pattern.
Speaker 3:Oh, cool.
John / Doran:So I use this before on the red caps. Yeah. Trying to target just the red caps. It's, going to be a wisdom save, d c 16.
Tim / GM:Alright. Number 2 that Journey's fighting. 11. Fail. K.
Tim / GM:Number 3 that is also in that scuff. 11. Fail. Number 4 that is also in the scuff, 18.
John / Doran:Success.
Tim / GM:And the final one that was slap fighting smile again, nat 20.
John / Doran:Oh, wow. Okay. So I locked up 2 of them at least.
Tim / GM:Yeah. The 2 of them that are most kind of in this fight right now just stop. What does your hypnotic pattern look like?
John / Doran:Okay. This time, it's coming out stronger than the first time Doran had cast it. It's, so there's, like, bright kind of sky blue illusory sort of flash that happens. And then after that initial, like, flash of lightning, like, then, a golden mist starts to kind of float and disperse, and there's kind of like a sound. Mhmm.
John / Doran:And, 2 of them are just totally entranced, like, drop their weapons to their side and are just staring blankly. Yeah. And the other 2, shake it off. And yeah.
Tim / GM:Yeah. You see 2 of them go slack jawed, and their eyes are just kind of, like, watery and dilated.
John / Doran:I do wanna use my movement if I can. Yeah. The ones that swung
Tim / GM:at me There's one here that could make an opportunity attack on you from moving away.
John / Doran:I'm gonna take a risk and try to get out of the way from it.
Tim / GM:Well, it's gonna take another day. I don't know. 18 hit. That's a hit.
John / Doran:9 slashing. 9. K. Right. I have to roll a concentration.
John / Doran:Otherwise, this is fucked up.
Tim / GM:Turn. Yeah.
John / Doran:10. But it's lower. It was either this or take 3 attacks. Yeah. And there's no way I was surviving that.
John / Doran:12. Okay. Yeah. I'll move my range, which is 30 feet, away. Mhmm.
Tim / GM:Yeah. That 30 feet gets you up to that root wall. Would you start climbing if you were able to get to it?
John / Doran:I don't think so. Okay.
Tim / GM:Yeah. Yeah. Your back is up against the wall. Okay. It's Guy.
Tim / GM:It's Guy. Who's that guy?
Speaker 7:It's Guy. Guy gets back up to his feet, grabs his great sword, and he reaches out for his new other sword. But it's not there, I presume, because he was unconscious.
Tim / GM:Right? Yeah. Yeah. It tends to disappear when you lose consciousness. Mhmm.
Speaker 7:Guy doesn't like that. So he activates form of dread. Go hit hit hit hit hit points. 6 hit points?
John / Doran:Yep. Yep. And the guy's going to go after 1
Speaker 7:of the ones that is not distracted by a sparkly pattern.
Tim / GM:Cool. Yeah.
Speaker 7:Oh, there's that number again. 11 to hit.
Tim / GM:Does not hit.
Speaker 7:Okay. 2nd attack. Okay. It just got up. I'm a little wiz.
Hannah / Eryn:Yeah. Do you still have that bardic inspiration dice? Mhmm.
Tim / GM:That bright flash that, that Doran used is kinda leaving a sunspot in your vision.
Speaker 7:15 to hit.
Tim / GM:15 hits.
Speaker 7:Okay. Great.
Tara / Journey:So now that goes
Tim / GM:away. No.
Speaker 7:That's 12 damage, and that will make a wisdom saving throw.
Speaker 2:K. Be afraid. Mhmm.
Tim / GM:10.
Speaker 7:That's a fail. Okay. It's afraid.
Tim / GM:Alright. It is afraid. Got you. Smell fear. You can levitate your movement speed, and there's some other bonuses wrapped up in there, I think.
John / Doran:That's cool. When does this happen?
Tara / Journey:That's a Ganymede.
Tim / GM:Yeah. It was a kind of Ganymede level up. Yep. When he smells fear, he becomes empowered. Cool.
Tim / GM:Alright. It's, Poppy.
Speaker 2:Poppy is going to pull out Inch Mhmm. And the witch and aid mixer.
Tim / GM:Okay.
Speaker 2:And she's going to use create bonfire on him.
Tim / GM:Okay.
Speaker 2:So when I cast a cantrip on pinch, he gains the following stats for 1 minute, and then he can smack people. But because I use crate bonfire, he ignites and becomes a fiery warrior for 3 rounds until he burns out. His smacks deal 2 d6 fire damage, And additionally, deals 2 d4 fire damage each round to nearby foes who fail a dex save.
Tim / GM:Armin' Finch.
Speaker 2:So I'm gonna, like, bop him on the head with the wooden spoon Yeah. And send him into battle.
Tim / GM:Okay.
Speaker 2:And then I'll have him smack whoever's closest, I guess.
Tim / GM:Yeah. Do you wanna hit the one that just got hit?
Hannah / Eryn:Yeah. Cool.
Speaker 2:That's 2 d 6 fire damage.
John / Doran:Does he have to roll the hit?
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah. I suppose. Right?
Tim / GM:Yeah. Of course.
Speaker 2:What is my
Tim / GM:you're making spell attacks with your proficiency on set.
Tara / Journey:So it'd
Speaker 2:be mine. Yep. Okay. 15.
Tim / GM:That hits.
Speaker 2:Okay. That is 8.
Tim / GM:8 fire damage?
Speaker 2:8 fire damage.
Tim / GM:Cool.
Speaker 2:And then he deals 2 d 4 fire damage each round to nearby foes who fail a deck save.
Tim / GM:Okay. So it would I think it would be at the end of Pinch's turn, so where he, like, concludes his turn is where the fire damage ticks off.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Tim / GM:So it would be against those 2. Yes. Does it say what the deck save is, or is it a dispel? Okay. 12.
Tim / GM:The one that you just hit. Wow. Got a 10. Nice. The other one got a 16.
Speaker 2:2 d four four.
Tim / GM:K. Alright.
Speaker 2:So he's just a little crisp. Yeah. And Pinch goes
Tim / GM:like, smack, smack, smack.
Speaker 2:Yep.
Tim / GM:Yeah. By the way, Pinch is literally on fire Yeah. And, like, is just burning down. You see him, like, getting larger and hard shelled and blackened and crispy and, like, is like 3 times his normal size and is, like, stomping over towards this thing and just starts clobbering it with burning hands. Mhmm.
John / Doran:Not just
Hannah / Eryn:burning hands.
Speaker 2:His eyes are just a little bit molten looking.
Tim / GM:Yeah. Yeah. It's like smiling on its way. Yeah. Alright.
Tim / GM:Brings us to Journey.
Tara / Journey:Yeah. So I'm in melee range, I think, at this point. Yeah. So I'm not going to use my bow. Okay.
Tara / Journey:I am going to yeah. Yeah. So I'm gonna step out of melee with this distracted Yeah. It's casting. Yeah.
Tara / Journey:And then cast hunter's mark on number 4.
Tim / GM:That's the one that's been beaten up recently. You wanna do that or the untouched one back there?
Tara / Journey:Yeah. I'll go for the other one. K. So, yeah, I'm gonna cast hunter's mark on it, and then, yeah, I'm gonna hit it with my bow. Mhmm.
Tara / Journey:22 to hit?
Tim / GM:Yeah. That
Tara / Journey:hits. 13 damage.
Tim / GM:Alright. That one is, not doing so hot.
Hannah / Eryn:Okay. You can
Tim / GM:see it keel over a little bit.
Tara / Journey:I I would hit it again. Grab it
Tim / GM:at its bones. Oh, okay.
John / Doran:Try to
Tim / GM:go for that dramatic explanation.
Tara / Journey:I hit it again. Alright. Try. 24 and a hit.
Tim / GM:Oh, yeah.
Tara / Journey:Fourteen damage.
Tim / GM:You're taking, like, slow backing away steps as you, bring the bow back and end this thing with your second shot here. That first one, it kind of gets up, with fury in its eyes, kind of grabbing its weapon, ready to strike at you, to charge at you in this next round. But as it takes its first step, it gets pinned to the ground with another arrow. Cannot move. Cannot breathe because that's
Speaker 2:dead. Yay.
Tim / GM:And we're back to Mikey.
Speaker 2:Mikey. Mikey.
Tim / GM:Oh, don't
Speaker 2:worry, guys. I'll take care of that.
Tim / GM:Mikey, raining hell from above. 12. No.
Tara / Journey:You tried.
Tim / GM:I'll do better next time. Eren, it's back up to you at the top of the round.
Hannah / Eryn:Okay. Eren's still up in the tree Mhmm. Taking in everything. Mhmm. They lower their crossbow down, and then a hand goes to a dapple fox dagger on their right side.
Tim / GM:Mhmm.
Hannah / Eryn:And Erend remembers that they still haven't recalled
Tim / GM:Mhmm.
Hannah / Eryn:The other one and does not wanna leave it in the Feywild.
Tim / GM:Yeah.
Hannah / Eryn:So Erend's going to whisper back to me.
Tim / GM:When you say that, you feel the effect of it take place as you had before. You feel just a little bit of pull as if you were being drawn towards the dagger a little bit. So you know that it worked, But it's taken a second because you don't see anything happening right away. I want you to make an attack with advantage on every red cap that's still
Hannah / Eryn:here. Oh. Oh.
Speaker 2:Oh, yes. Oh, 2 nat 20. What's
Speaker 3:the name
Tim / GM:of that? Amy?
Tara / Journey:No. Someone take a picture of me. I don't know.
Tim / GM:Holy shit. Alright.
John / Doran:So That's insane.
Tim / GM:So Erin just has a pair of twin daggers that can always bring back to each other or recall whenever she needs to. She just recalled it from a 1000000 miles away, and I don't know if my camera can see that very well or not. Yeah.
Speaker 2:It could.
Tara / Journey:It was insane.
Tim / GM:Yeah. That's too nasty.
Tara / Journey:Holy shit. Y'all. 1 in 400 odds.
Speaker 2:Wow. Holy shit.
Hannah / Eryn:That made me scared when it happened. I feel like that has to
Tim / GM:You look like you were in disbelief for a second there.
Tara / Journey:I was in disbelief. That has saw it.
Hannah / Eryn:That has to come
Speaker 2:towards the, like
Tim / GM:Here's what happens.
Hannah / Eryn:I'm like, my heart's pounding.
Tim / GM:Okay. Aaron's kinda farther up than anybody else. Notices they're missing the stagger still. Calls it back. In the distance, Doran, with your Ganymede hearing, you can hear this.
John / Doran:Hi, Duck.
Tim / GM:You duck. And I think the move is, when he dip, you dip, we dip. Everybody gets down Yeah. And this dagger, like a lawnmower blade, just comes whizzing across the scene. You see, cuts their heads off.
Tim / GM:Wow. Yay. All 3 of them. The hypnotized ones, you just see Journey, this thing's neck explodes as just a storm of blood, sprays everywhere, barely missing Mikey as he dodges off to his side.
Speaker 3:He goes, oh, fuck.
Tim / GM:And Aaron, with your palm wide open, this thing just lands right in your hand.
Speaker 7:What the hell?
Speaker 2:Holy shit.
Tim / GM:So good. Oh,
Hannah / Eryn:wow. That was so cool. I can't believe I rolled 2 twenties. I gotta take a picture. I'm pausing my video.
Hannah / Eryn:I'm sorry, guys.
Tim / GM:Aaron, you're holding a soaking dagger in your hand, looking down at your party who is your party is, like, scrambling from side to side looking for the next threat, and there's no movement down there.
Hannah / Eryn:Mikey's head is in his shell,
Speaker 2:and we're like
Tim / GM:Oh, no. You look up and both Hubert and Mikey have receded their heads into their shells as if they've been decapitated.
Speaker 7:And a green flame erupts from their shell.
Tim / GM:Yeah. I serve. You know what, y'all? I think we ended right there. Oh, man.
Tim / GM:Oh, my gosh. Thanks everybody so much for listening. I'm Tim, your GM.
Hannah / Eryn:I'm Hannah Plain Aaron. Dopple fox daggers for life. Oh my god. Actually, just call me 2 nat twenties from now. No.
Hannah / Eryn:I'm just kidding.
Tara / Journey:Oh, I'm Tara, and I play Journey.
Speaker 7:I'm Thomas. I'm Guy.
John / Doran:I'm John Playandorin.
Speaker 2:I'm Maggie, and I'm Poppy Kenmore.
Tim / GM:Please share this with people you love. And we'll see
John / Doran:you next
Tara / Journey:time. Next
Hannah / Eryn:time. And the
John / Doran:people you love, we'll see them too.
Tim / GM:We're watching on Sunny Lamp now.
Speaker 7:We'll see everything.
Tim / GM:We'll just see your friends, but not you. I do wanna say before we, round it off, we have our first Patreon subscriber. Kian Darling on Instagram, is our first single and only Patreon subscriber. Thank you. Yeah.
Tim / GM:Hello. Thank you so much for listening. Please. Paul, Robert, Anna, everybody else is out there. Appreciate everybody who listens.
Speaker 2:Sorry. I like how Paul precedes your actual real life friends.
Tim / GM:Yeah. Paul was our game. Tell me Paul. I just I wanted to take another second to acknowledge, the people who listen and who are, like, really into the show. And yeah.
Tim / GM:Thanks, everybody.
Speaker 2:Thanks, mom. Take it.
Tara / Journey:Thanks, everybody.
Tim / GM:Alright. See you all. Bye.
