D&D is For Nerds - Barovia IV #31 The Triumphant Return of General Mandarin

Episode Date: March 7, 2026

The thing about wood from a tree-blight is that it's not regular wood, owing to the fact that it didn't come from a regular tree. It came from an evil tree, therefore, evil wood. And if you build a house out of evil wood, guess what, you've got an evil house, probably full of evil furniture. On top of this there's always the risk, or at least Emmanuel seems to think so, that the tree-blight will try and reform and become a great big tree again, and if that happens, you're out of a house, and also probably dead.If you're still wanting to pledge for the Jarren's Outpost Board Game you can right here! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oi, lads, did you miss out on the Jaron's Outpost Kickstarter and wish you weren't such a big doofus? Well, fear not. Late pledges are now open and they'll be open for a little while, so just head to Kickstarter search for D&D for Nerds or Jaron's Outpost and slam that late pledge button. No, you see no water for miles around you, you are like me. Nonetheless, Maroon. We are castaways in this terrible bad dream somebody decided to name Barovia.

To switch up the metaphor, we are imprisoned, and the fog is the bars of our cell and our jailer, is Baron von Straar. As far as I can tell, there's no way to escape other than possibly by dying, maybe by being eaten by a wolf, let's say. A compromise that makes both people mad means both people will be mad. With Elaniel, I have a great debt, possibly the greatest debt. Tarpos has an army. That is a question of morality versus practicality. And Pip, you're not much of either. Yeah, exactly.

Before you step back outside, Keening steps inside. There's someone who wants to meet with you. Who? I don't know. Didn't give a name. Spoke to us through the trees. Oh, right. They're outside town now.

Okay. Just me? Just you. I've been able to get Elaniel and Tarpos not to attack each other through the trees, but that is a tick and clock. Yeah, we've yet to settle on cleansing versus destroying. Yeah. Well, I don't think either one of them is going to see the other one's point of view.

No. Okay. How far away is Tarpos? Who are you asking? Kind of like from what Pip knows. I guess I don't have me. You have no idea, yeah. Did Tarpos say how far away she was?

She didn't mention it, no. But the lineal's guessing she's maybe three days away. Three days. How far away we from the lodestone? We did. You don't even know where it is. Yeah. We don't know where the lodestone is.

Fuck. Well, like I said in the tree, it's going to be a matter of who gets there first. Where's this person that I need to see? They gave me a, I'll walk you to the game. and I'll point out where they didn't say words. It was more like a, ah, dear. Sure. He shrugs as well.

Okay. I run through the Rolodex of people that want to kill me in my head. You're currently, most of them are standing outside. Yeah, yeah. You walk through the streets of Valakai. You see something that stops your heart, actually, as you're walking through Valakai. You can see that the tree blight at this point has been almost. entirely cannibalized. And you can see, very obviously, people are rebuilding with the tree

blight wood. You know that's a terrible idea. That's not going to end well. As in, you know, you don't know if anyone else knows. Oh. Okay. Give me a moment. Keening. Hey, I walk over to some people building a house. They, most of the people of Al-Qa-Qa-Qa-kai at this point know you, so they stop what they're doing and watch. This? You can't be doing this. with this tree. Nope. Is that exactly how you deliver it? Well, that's how I start the conversation. Okay. All right.

Why? It's a tree blight. It's like made of pure evil. You're going to get poltergeists. Your house might eat you. See, in that, I'm going to this is how you get monster houses. Yeah, is how a monster house? Every item you have, mimic. Everything is a mimic.

You're making the planks of wood. The very planks of wood of which your house is built, liable to leap up in the middle of the night and donk you on the head. Pip, the people of Alachi immediately do as you advise. And look back at Keening, like, he shrugs, not used to this. God, no. There's plenty of, I get the appeal, I say to the people putting that. They start tearing it off. One of the, someone comes up to you and asks, do, how would we dispose of this?

Get it as far away from town as you can. nice big open clearing and have a huge bonfire. That would be my suggestion. Thank you, General Mandarin. Oh, please. Can I instruct them on how to harvest it? Sure, yeah. Look, the woods bad, but there's many components that could be useful

and have various properties you might be able to use. I don't want to be too disappointed. This would have seemed like a great boon when it landed. So I can kind of walk them through, harvesting like, you know, cores and hearts and, like, where the treasure sacks are. Sure. You do so. They, as you, as you're talking, slowly, building.

But surely, after time, a bigger and bigger crowd assembles around you. It's dead, quiet. Everyone is just listening to you. Okay. So obviously, with a tree blight, you're going to find many sacks where over the years it's grown. It's kind of like a regular tree where you'll have the ring. sort of growing out, and it's going to, over time, I absorb various bits of treasure. You know, some you might find sort of veins almost of precious gems.

In other places, you might find monster components, plants, that kind of thing. And often as well, just absorbed armor, weapons, you know, you can find a lot of good stuff in a tree blight. I think Pip in his element, the fact that he has such a crowd, it's not even phasing him. Right. This he can talk about. This is easy. maybe as I do it I'm like because with a tree blight remind me you have to get the heart right

like that's the trickiest part which we do we know what happened to the seed nope well while I'm up there maybe as I work my way down the tree blight I'm like and so you know in case it happens again and living in Borovia it might what you're going to want to do is try and find the heart and destroy that that's that's right does anyone know what happened to the heart of this tree blight

instantly instantly a bunch of Alicavians turn around General Mandarin wants the heart Find the heart Who has it? And they start disseminating out Runners are sent out To look throughout town Eventually the heart is brought to you

Huh Okay Okay I was really scared One of you had given it away To an evil wizard or something So here's what we're gonna do Is there like a center of town

Sort of like a park Like a central park equivalent It's near the orphanage Would that of I mean it's not there But like that is like the wizards of wine, they could grow their crops again. They could. Yeah.

Yeah, but there's not many left, is there? No, but it was stolen from them. Yeah. Yeah. You're holding one of maybe three that are in Borovia. Okay. Well, maybe that occurs to me. Muriel's not around, is she?

You look around and yeah, Muriel is not around, but you notice standing near way off away, waiting for you to be done, is Keening. and now standing next to him is Claudia, who gives you a little wave when you look over. Okay. Technically, I say, holding up the seed, this belongs to the Mardikov family in their winery, but I don't know if there's quite enough of them left to restart that.

So here's what I'm going to suggest. There's a beautiful park at the front of the orphanage. Plant this, and from it will spring life. More life than you've ever seen here in Velikai before. I mean, if any of you have tasted the Wizards of Wine, wine and you want to know why it tastes that good, it's this. What's more? I don't know if anybody here knows how to make alcohol, good alcohol, in a fortified city. If there's the space, you could think about it now that the Wizards of Wines is no more. Having said that, Muriel,

who is a Martikov, may have a problem with that. But for the moment, let's imagine that this is what we're going to go ahead with. I think I'd rather the seed be somewhere fortified, frankly, because I don't want it getting into the hands of, like I said, an evil wizard. People run off to do, as you say. Yeah, that's a strange feeling and very undeserved. I hopped down out of the tree blight, and I go and rejoin Keening and Claudia. Sorry about that. They both shake their heads. Claudia brings you in for a, like a hug, a light, soft one, not from like, like, of warmth. No, no, that's her nature.

I very awkwardly hug back. Glad to see you're okay. Claudia. No trouble whatsoever. Pip, thank you for what you've done. Which thing particularly? Well, I suppose saving Valachi this time. Oh, hey, no sweat.

No sweat. You were very brave. It's very kind of you to say. Yeah. I have a meeting with somebody on the edge of town, but if you'd like to walk with me and Keening. Keening was informing me. Yeah, I'm sure we wouldn't mind.

You walk with Claudia and Keening. They, if you're interested, they just have like a conversation. They're just chatting. Yeah. Shoot in the shit. I'll just listen in and join in where I can, you know? Yeah.

Shoot the shit too. You have a pleasant conversation. It's nice to shoot the shit when, well, I mean, Pip's not terribly good at shooting the shit. But I do my best. to contribute. Mostly, I think Pips thinking, God, it would be good to be as good at people as I am at harvesting a tree blight. Wow, that would be nice. You notice, as you continue through Valakai, people show you quite a lot of deference. I hate every second of it. Valakavians are taking off

their caps as you walk past. Do not doth a single cap. Please. My God, I don't deserve that. carry on Claudia leans over and says it of course is I would hesitate to actually say that this is entirely cribbed as you were the one who did the deed

the very heroic act but I suppose it helps to have two different bards singing your praises for three months of course look I don't really feel like I deserve it, but if it's bringing a little bit of joy to Valakai, then, you know, I say, I'm all for it, I suppose. Pip, Claudia says. Yeah. She looks at Keening, who kind of shrugs, like he's not

sure how to proceed, looking back at Claudia, Claudia looks at you, Pip. The Bergermaster is dead. Lady Watcher is dead. Yeah. They were the only two real power. players within Valakai. With both of them dead, a lot of people are saying maybe you should be in charge. Claudia, you can't be serious. You are the clearest. You're the front front, I suppose. That's insane.

I don't know how to run a town. I don't even know what a mayor does. Every town I've ever lived in or passed through, I've been in for about a week maximum. You're standing at the gates to the city. The guards at the gates salute you as you step out. Claudia puts a hand on your shoulder. Well, I mean, you know, with myself, Iona, Elaniel, Keening, of course, even cribbit. You know, you'd have an excellent cabinet.

politician pip I don't think it would be fair I say as I'm like turning around to kind of walk backward I don't think it would be fair to the people of Velika I mean I don't know about you but I don't intend to be here forever I still retain some glimmer of hope

that I might get out of this place well in the meantime maybe consider it not for yourself but perhaps on behalf of the Valakavian's who would be thrown into a civil war if no one stepped up. Yeah, okay. Perhaps some kind of temporary leadership.

Maybe we could think about till we found a proper Bergermaster. Maybe. That's very theoretical for the moment. Let me go see if this person who wants to speak to me intends to kill me. Keening gestures to the tree line over yonder. There's a rock, I think. I was given like a vision. There's a rock out that away,

has a face on it, a little like a man crying. You could see a city through the trees, said they'd meet you there. Okay. Well, I see if I come back. What cards do you have left? I pat myself down and pull out the,

the cards I have remaining. Mm-hmm. So, Pip, do you need a reminder of which cards you have left? Yes. You have two cards left. Mm-hmm. You have the enemies to lovers.

And you have, God, I love that one. And you have the unicorn. Okay. Well, enemies to lovers. That one, Pip probably is thinking currently, it's enemies to lovers. Just knowing Pip's history, he's like, I'm going to see. How do you know to already have that one? I know.

I'm like, look, I didn't have many boyfriends in Barovia, but it's, Enemies to lovers, that's my life, you know. Usually it's lovers to enemies. Well, yes, that's true. Yeah, it's not quite. Yeah, it's flipped for me traditionally, yeah. I got a visage of you, like, standing by the rock, and then something this person came out of the trees to meet you. Okay.

Alabaster skin, blonde hair, almost reminded me a Hector. I looked down at the Enemies to Lovers card and try to, like, make it mean Hector in my head. That would be curious, but I guess... Do I remember that Hector would sometimes say back in the day back at Couturey? I think you also experienced this. Oh, I might... But I don't know who it is, but I actually don't think this will be the first time that I've interacted with this person. The last time, I believe, was when we were fighting the druids, and I accidentally went into tree realm.

You do remember, Madam Ava told you for the unicorn that they have been watching for a while now. Maybe the unicorn. And that the unicorn will approach you. Okay. Unicorn. Hard to believe there'd be a unicorn in Borovia that hasn't turned into some kind of evil horse, but I guess we'll see.

All right. Well, I'll be back when I'm back, I guess. Okay. I turn around and I start walking toward the rock. Burgeon Master Pip Mandarin. and doesn't have a ring to it. You find, sure enough, in the tree line, the rock. It's a huge stone, easily taller than you,

maybe like twice your height, honestly, quite large. And on its face, not on purpose, although maybe actually you can see tool marks. Like, this was here naturally, and then people just came through and, like, carved it casually to make it look a little bit more like a person's crying face.

You can see in one part of it as well, people have carved like, you know, H and J or F plus Z or stuff like that. Okay. I lean against it and I wait. Pip, the trees and bushes shudder and move. And then as if being drawn, as if a curtain being drawn aside, the two of them part. And stepping into the little space with the rock and you, you see a unicorn. I laugh, yeah.

Adam. The most literal card. Just like holding up the card, flipping it down, holding it up, putting it down. Okay. Why couldn't they all be like this? I put it back in my... A unicorn. Keep holding on to it.

A unicorn. Okay. I'm assuming you're the person who wanted to speak to me? I don't speak hoarse, so I don't... The unicorn nods slowly. and speaks, but telepathically in your head, you hear a voice. Thank you for meeting me here. Oh.

Please come with me. All right. I step forward and I showed the card to the unicorn. I suppose in a way I've been kind of waiting to meet you, really. Destiny. The unicorn nods slowly. Tapping the color on the horse. It's like thick neck.

You do not believe in a fair. I don't know what I believe anymore, frankly. I thought I did. Well, I thought I did, and then I thought I didn't, and then I thought I did again. But now I'm thinking perhaps that was stupid. It just seemed like everything was working for Hector, and he was the kind of guy that it would work for.

But now... The unicorn leads you into the forest, and maybe you're saying this. You did have moments, though, at the pool in Creswick. Yeah. I mean, it seemed like, What I was seeing was what you might call miracles, the miracles of St. Hector, you know? Unicorn nods slowly.

And I don't know if it's the kind of thing with the darkness in Brovia is strong enough to corrupt even a saint. Or if I was an idiot to believe in destiny in the first place, I don't know. The machinery of this place is terrible and frankly incomprehensible. But it was nice to have a sort of north star. for a while. You know what I mean? Yes. But sometimes when we have ventured too far north

and the world becomes dark, we must be our own North Star. Yeah, I'm finding that very difficult. I have a lot of weaknesses, Unicorn. But you have goodness too. Well, yeah. You came back. You did not want to.

And you were tempted. Hmm. Yes. That's something I'm going to. have to tell people eventually. I don't know how I'm going to do that. But it is eating me up inside. A truth made known can hurt.

Yes. And this one would hurt you greatly. Yeah. That you would even think to tell it when no one had discovered and when no one might discover it. Well, you know, Unicorn. My name is Thastriel. Oh, right.

Thanks for asking. Well, Thestrial, you know, I'm a very weak man, very weak, and constantly fighting this uphill battle to overcome that weakness, and I'm not very good at it.

But, you know, I think as part of that, sometimes you have to push stuff into the light and deal with the punishment and see what comes from that. Otherwise, the guilty to alive. Pipman. your greatest failing is not these weaknesses you think, but assuming that you are the only one

who faces them. Who else? Everyone is consumed by doubt, pulled in different directions. Everyone has darkness within them. Yeah, I suppose that's true. Everyone is capable of great evil. Yeah, I know that's true. But people are also capable of great good.

as well. And Hector Dragonsbane? What's he capable of? He is, as all men, both at once. I cannot foresee the future, and for someone such as Hector, I could do even less so. But I know you, Pipp Mandarin. I was unsure for a long time if you had the commitment, the good within you, powerful enough to do this. When you returned, when you willingly chose this darkness again for yourself, why did you come back? Well, I think the horrible truth, Thestrial, is that this is where my life is.

There's actually not much for me on the other side. I think that's something I've been avoiding for a very long time, but I think it's true. My mentor's dead. the Sharpshawk companions don't like me I hate my family what would be out there but in here

there's people who for reasons I can't fathom and will never be able to fathom seem to care about me and whom I care about as well so so I had to come back

I guess you came back for love yeah I guess I did for friendship and because Pip Mandarin. Dastriel, with a gesture, parts another bush aside, and you see a great alabaster temple hidden within the Slavish woods. How long has this been here? Because you are a good person.

Dastriel steps into the clearing surrounding the temple, and as you follow her, you immediately feel the wave of relief Like you can stand up again. You forgot when you're in your brief time outside of Borovia that this is how you are normally meant to feel. Oh my God. You do not feel like you're standing in Borovia. And in fact, when you step into this clearing, you can see the sun. Can anyone come in here?

Yes. Can you see the stars as well sometimes? At night. That's good to know. Where are we? We are in my, for lack of a better word, abode. temple, a space I can make, wherever I go.

Are you trapped in here as well? I am not trapped. Okay, I was going to say. I choose to be here. Well, that's crazy. What if the druids eat you? I am under their new management, they would not. Okay, fair enough.

I am in a manner, not unlike your good companions, Tarpos and Elaniel. I am here on a quest to help the lodestones. Oh, you, there's been some debate in the camp, I say, as to whether we cleanse or destroy them. I imagine you would be on the side of cleanse. Both are equal to me. I see things differently in that even destroying a lodestone does not end its power.

It merely reassigns it. Eventually, in time, the lodestones will repair themselves. But this time is long. even by elven standards. A destroyed lodestone will grow back in the time, in the time that it takes many elven generations to come and pass, but it will come back eventually. Well, that might be enough to convince Tarpos.

We'll see. You allow me to convince Elaniel. Oh, okay. That I can do. In exchange, I ask something very simple. Pip Mandarin. Look, I've been making some deals with people far worse than you. Deal with a unicorn. You know, that's almost a good decision.

Please, Pip Mandarin. Do not give up. Ah, a tough one. You have done it since your first day. Yeah, that's perhaps a very good point. Every day you choose not to sit down and let decay take you. Pip Mandarin, I will be... Your steadfast ally, if all you can do is that.

Well, I appreciate that. Pip Mandarin. And a horse can't smile. Yeah. But you feel the energy of a smile in this statement. Even your enemies love you. And if there were nothing else, that would be enough. Um, I appreciate it.

I miss my chicken. I can summon her, if you would like. Right now, she is, uh, being a menace amongst the druids. That's nice to picture, actually. She misses you. Yeah, bring her here.

You see some of the... A bush at the edge rustles a little bit and then... Pop sprints out the bush and... I like pull up my pant like. Yeah, Pop immediately leaps and starts pecking at your shins. There's something comforting about that. I missed you too.

I dropped my pant leg. Are we at your temple or your abode for any particular reason? I am here to collapse it so that I may travel with you. Of course. Is there anything I can do to help? No, but I may help you in another way. I know where your last card resides. Oh, well, that's great news. Where? Where do I need to go? He currently resides in Castle Ravenloft to be prepared for the front lines with torture.

And do you know his name? Escher. Oh, come on. Hector. Right, yes. So the people with Argen Vostel, do they say how to contact them? No, you'll need to ride out to meet them at their castle. I'm not sure if they can leave.

How far away is it? It's by horse will take you maybe like three, four days. it's back down the road to Valagai and then after the Saar falls you take a left after the Saar falls Okay, all right, I can do that You know, that's not exactly where But it's near where you would need to go

For the last lodestone Just keep that to myself Right, okay, so that way, right Muriel is outside, I assume Outside the castle, yes You'll need to step outside to talk to her Okay. Security doesn't look too tight.

I'm sure you could step out secretly if you wanted to. Don't even think I need to do that at this point. Pyrin just makes a noise. Are you, I just have a quick thought. Are you very good at contracts? What sort of contract? Pyrin trails off. How much have you mentioned about your dealings with Strah just now?

Did you mention that you got socked off? No. Pyrin, you see, is looking at your neck. Okay. Do you much try the contracts? What's that? A wound. Pyrin, Pyrin robs his snout.

He doesn't have one, but he robs an imaginary snout. Yes. What sort of contracts? The one that was dealing with the candle. Oh, like, contra. Oh, don't you meant like killing? Oh, right, I feel. Loves of experience with the contract

killing. Contracts, no. Do we have any way of contact in Cavendish yet? He's with Tarpos. Oh, he's with Tarpos. Yes, he's with Tarpos. I could send a message to Tarpos.

No, no, no, it's okay. I thought he was traveling somewhere. No, he's with Tarpos. No, I need to, yes, no, it's okay. Yeah. Got bit by Struts as what? Saying something there, purely? No, no.

thing. He didn't say what, so... He didn't say what? He got you there, parent. He must admit. Yeah. There's something you're on your mind, here.

Well, it's not something that's on my mind. It's something that might be addling yours that I'm worried about. Yeah. The wound on your neck. Did you get it in torture? It is a more recent wound, unfortunately.

Yes. It didn't notice it at the party earlier. I mean, sorry, before you went and saw, Stroud earlier. Two little dots, side of your neck. You look pale, Hector. Don't have multi-colored at this point.

Pyrin, the thing that is coming down is more important, I understand. You weren't there. Right. You haven't had your body taken from you piece by piece. If you want, I can direct you to where Strad is. right now. You can drive a stake through his heart. Thank God that is not my destiny.

It could be. Somehow I doubt it. How do you know it is not? I mean, aren't you a seer? Don't Don't get snippy with me, Mr. Bloodbag. Well, it would not be the first time that

Did you fight for a second? You know what? It's not important. It's not important. It's not important. it's not important. We'll deal with Borture and you know what? I'm not even we'll deal with torture and then we can have

our own internal struggle. I have a plan. It will work out. There's no point in putting out the stove fire if your house is in the middle of a bushfire. Sure. Absolutely. Triage. Deal with the most important thing first then work your way down. Sure.

Trust me. All I'm asking for is some truth. Okay. I understand this is very hard, maybe for a spy of your kind. Yeah, it's really hard because what if you've been mind-controlled, Hector? I understand it might be very hard for a spy of your experience to give me that, but I need you to trust me. How do you know, sorry, I need to trust me. How do you know you've not been addled, Hector? I guess I don't. I guess you need a little bit of faith. Is there anything I have faiths, Pips. Shit. I don't do that.

Is there anything I could say or do that would make you trust me here? Are I keeping this from the brains trust? For now, yes. Okay. Well, you know what? The brains trust, I've always thought of them as more of a peanut gallery anyway. Everyone isn't seeing the bigger picture. everyone is fighting over the little tiniest of things I thought maybe this

incursion I thought maybe people could at least come together for this but the druid the arch druid who I thought was going to be wanting to protect the land at least does not seem to care I don't know

Hector I really don't know I will go speak yeah speak to Muriel look you get me out of here And you can do whatever you want. On that, actually. I have a little bit of power. Sure.

From Strade. Yeah. Like, I could open a portal. You could? Could I get him out? You could try? I mean, Pyrin, if you want, I can get you out right now. Piran, it feels like his atoms stop.

Show me. I try to tap into that. Absolutely can. You can hear, right here, right now, if you want, you can open a portal to either another dark realm or to Candor. I can... Oh, sorry, not even to Candor, to Ognot, the entire world. Oh, I can, um, huh. I can take you, yes, I can open up a portal to anywhere in Ognot. I don't know when, though. I start, like, to, it's like a pinprick, kind of like, can I control it? Because I don't want it to, like, go all the way. It's like a little portal or not.

How big? Like almost like a, I guess a porthole of a ship. Like a kind of like a tiny thing you can kind of see through. It's hard and it like varies in size. Like it's using, it's exercising a muscle you didn't even know that you had and you've never used before. But you can, yes. I can't. I don't know when it is.

Can you make it bigger? I want to like, stop it. I probably I probably can might have to be quick That's fine Is that it? You're out?

Pyrin looks at you I don't I wasn't there with Madam Eva So I don't know if Maybe my destiny was just to help you this far And then I get to go free Bye bye Pyrin Bye bye Hector

It was lovely knowing you So do you believe in destiny or not Is it? What's my destiny? I wasn't there for the reading I just heard You're an assassin. Yes.

Your blade can do many things. It can kill, but it can also help me topple a nation. Hmm. Good. And I do need your help toppling a nation. Well, I've been in this situation before. Not toppling a nation, I suppose. It's dramatic, but cool.

So, all right. Well, if it's our destiny, then I guess I'll stay here a little longer. Look, Pyrin, if you're not. really, all pretense drops, just like, if you really want to go, I'm not going to force you here, kidnap you, make you stay against your will. If you want to, we can, you've helped me this far. There is a, hopefully you can go. The moment you left, one can hope. You might arrive a thousand years in the future or a thousand years in the past. I actually do not know how that works. But there is another teafling out there that needs help.

Of course. If you want to go, you can go. You'd open the portal right here right now? Yeah. Prove it. Close my eyes. And I start stretching that muscle that I just found that I had. I hope you don't.

I do hope you realize that you, that I need you here. You look into Pyrin's face and you can see, there's a strange expression on his face. He's looking for the first time you have ever seen him do this. Pyrin looks like he's judging, assessing you. It looks like he really doesn't believe that you're going to let him go. After I say, I hope you don't go because I need you. And I come to look at you as a very close friend.

But if you need to, please seek out Tiffany. She will need your help. I close my eyes and I try to stretch that muscle to just open up that portal, teafling size. Well, I'll let Tiffany know that you're on your way. And then you feel, and it's noticeable. When Pyrrion steps through the portal, you feel it not through destiny, but through your connection to Borovia. Something has been diminished. There is now, you're not, you don't know, you don't fully understand this.

But something about Pyrin leaving weakens Borovia. And you feel, like the tiniest, almost infinitesimally, like only in Adams' width. But you feel Bortcher encroach a little further. And then, as the portal begins to collapse on itself, you feel Pyrrins step back. through and then the portal collapses. Why did you come back? It's my destiny, I suppose. I was just checking to see if you'd do it. Why would I lie?

He looks you up and down. Like the idea of you lying just then would have been self-evident. That is just anathema for Hector right now. Yeah, yeah. Well, thank you for staying. Don't. I don't do that. Okay.

All right. Well, I need to go have a chat with Muriel. If you can, here's the con... No, I want to speak to Kavanish about that. Right, well, I have to go and speak to Muriel. All right. Well, I'll keep the whole...

And he does like a mimes being bitten. I'll do a... I'll keep that underwraps for you for now. But I'm letting you know that... You're going to have to tell them eventually. I know. It is... I cannot imagine anyone in this group keeping a secret as big as that.

Hip Mandarin. I haven't filled in... Have I filled in Pyrin about, like, Strad's weird plans? Of that he kind of gets adventurers down and he kind of almost to, like, abdicate from the throne. If you want to, you can have mentioned it. It's up to you. I'm just trying to think about

if I already have. Period. Wouldn't have picked up on that. I don't think you already have. No. I'm pretty sure you have. Yes. No, you are.

Okay. I know. I know. I know. It's, please trust me. I have a plan. It is not the best plan, but it is a plan nevertheless.

I think I have a way of making this work out. Trust. Well, I was about to say trust is a hard thing to come by in, but I actually just don't trust. So I wouldn't know if the trust resources. here are greater or lesser. I like to verify.

And, to your credit, Hector, whatever you're calling yourself. Hector does not feel right. I don't know. Since I just it's like everything around me, like everything on me, whoever I am, this, I don't know. It just nothing feels right.

Hector does not feel. Never, I don't know. It's like going back to, can you go back to your childhood village? Pyrin has a very dark expression and he says, no. Did they ever have a nickname for you?

The dark expression continues. No. It feels like going back to your hometown and everyone knew you by a nickname. Yeah. But that was 20 years ago, 30 years ago. Hector feels wrong. What?

It's all I've got right now, I guess. whoever you are yes I'll keep the being bit thing under wraps thank you um uh uh Muriel wants to talk to you I

sorry I remember standing up for a brief moment I remember not feeling like you're being crushed by the weight of the world hmm god all right

I will make myself scarce, Muriel will, you know, I will have a chat to me. We'll find you just as you leave. All right. I, um...

If, incidentally, you need to get a message to me. Actually, a good... We should work something out. Um, uh, I don't know. Is this to college dorm? If you put like a sock on the door or something, I'll know you need a private word.

Uh, sure. I'll put a sock on the door. All right. I start heading out towards, I get heading out of the castle. You just lead through the front door? Yeah. Yeah. You walk, as you, you leave the castle, there's the...

I guess I get dressed first. Yes, of course, smart. Presumably I'm getting, like, going from the, the weird-looking high collars of the evening before, I start just dressing up in more commoner clothes of, like, warm furs, a big sort of overcoat, because I want to kind of, I'm now kind of going to hide my body a little bit more and a very high, thick scarf. Fair? Classic. Yes.

Just to really keep things under wraps. And yeah, like a big overcoat kind of thing, just to kind of really, a for like what would appear warmth, but really it is just to kind of hide this thing that I am. And I start, yeah, walking out of Castle Ravenloff. As you step outside, first like one drop, then a second, then a third, and then it begins raining. You walk to the outer wall, whether the drawbridge is, and as you approach, one of the guards nods at you and then gestures to someone on the walls who then lowers the drawbridge for you. Thank you very much. The guard standing at duty asks, will you be gone for long? maybe an hour

we will lower the drawbridge once we see your approach then thank you very much of course do you need an escort horses no not right now very good thank you very much

as you walk out they gesture and the drawbridge is raised back up you walk a little bit the castle ravenloft is at a cliff's edge and quite higher you walk down

a slope into a forest area. As you're walking down that slope, before you hit the forested area, you hear, and you see a raven circling above you. Is there like a clearance or, not clearance, I guess, like somewhere where we can kind of... Well, there's just the tree line. That should be enough. Yeah, head to the tree line. You get into the trees and as soon as you have some cover from the castle, you hear, as a raven slowly descends. And as it's...

Sands, as it passes the tree line and becomes difficult to view from Castle Ravenloft, it tumbles head over head, and then a woman who you may remember is standing in front of you, but who, if you do remember her, it's just kind of tickling your fancy. You probably the last time you, oh, the only time you've actually seen Muriel was from Yester Hill. Way back yesterday. Yes. When...

In the mouth of a tree. Yes. Being chewed in the mouth of a tree. Muriel stands up, pushes back her jet black hair, and looking at you square in the face, she, in a hesitant voice, Hector? Yes. Yes, it's I. I am Muriel. Yes, we've met them.

I did not look like this. Briefly, yes. Yes. How have you come to be attached to Pip and everyone else? Pip, well, and yourself, of course, after saving me from Yester Hill and the Druids, I, the way of ravens, the way of the feather, we have not fared well against the druids. I'm sorry to hear that. We have been scattered, destroyed. The Wizards of Wines is no more.

I'm so sorry. I know there was, on the way to see you, I remember there was things were not looking good. They did not improve, I take it. We have gone from a large family to a few individuals. Oh, I am really sorry to hear that. The Blue Water Inn has probably also been destroyed. Irwin is dead. Oh no. How is Danica? This was a few months ago now. She has grieved all she can.

There is nothing left but revenge. Of course. I'm sorry for your loss. I know the... It seems that Tarpos is now leading the druids. Muriel... You got anything for a perception check? No, insight, sorry.

Is that a proficiency of mine? It is not a proficiency, Hector, no. It's not a saving throw, is it? No, it's a skill check. Roll by skill, a skill check with advantage. Yeah, that counts. You see a dark expression crosses Muriel's face. She doesn't think much of par-poss leading the druids.

You see in her expression something like, a same shit different smell. She doesn't say anything but you can see that's kind of her opinion. Fair enough. Yeah. In my hair, I'm like, well like they're better, it's bad. They're better than Keska, but also they're very confusing.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Don't think about the druids too much. I don't want to. They hurt my head. They're annoying, yeah. I was there at Valakai defending what is left of the homestead. Pip helped. Pip saved us and Valakai. Good, it is his good. It's good. It's good.

to hear. I'm glad that you're safe. I must admit, after the events of over a year ago, I had not thought much of Pip. But he has renewed my faith, I would say. He's a very complicated man. I think people often write him off without thinking. But he is a good man. I would agree. Could be. Could be the case.

There is certainly a good man somewhere in there. I feel myself and the Weir Ravens, the way of the feather, we owe him a debt. Sometimes I do too. You are, she looks you up and down and I won't make you roll again. She seems a little startled at your appearance, but not the way you would imagine. She's not startled at what has happened to you. it looks like something else like confusion

and then when her eyes finally settle on you when you stare into those deep black pools she says you are young yes I am when the Weirravens made reports on you

they did not mention your age right I guess where I'm from it thrust into the clergy and you sort of have to grow up fast when being trained to fight the demons and the devils of the world.

I, she smiles, I come from a place where one learns childhood ends early. In a way, Sam. Pyrin mentioned you wanted to converse with me about some things that have happened. Anyone of my author, save Danica, anyone of my author who knew of you is dead

and someone must continue there must be a continuity of information and so I now will learn the view of what we hope is not another in a long line of adventurous standing in your shoes yes you've been around

I guess the way of the feather has been ran for a long Long time. The Way of the Feather has, as old as these lands. So three months ago, so when I got, we got the invitation to, to dine with Strad, I, um. She makes like a, like a sucking in air emotion. Sorry, the devil. And I make the gesture? Yeah.

I apologize. I thought maybe we could try to, to settle things non-violently. I'm tired of seeing people die. Had I been there at the time, I would have cautioned you against. Pip did as well. But in heading off to Castle Ravenloft, I ended up being waylaid, which is something I want to talk about. But going to Castle Ravenloft, it was not what I expected.

I expected him to be, no, coming out of a car. often with his vampire and zombie hosts playing waiter to a feast of nothing but what he imagines we eat. But it isn't that. I don't know if you know if Perrin has told you, but it is like it is like being back home at a court of the king where the king respects his staff. It is very much a not what I not at all what I expect. But I know that he has done horrible things, but I don't know what he has done that he's

been directed by his hand and what has just been his generals running amok. You've been fighting him for so long. I just, I want to know what, what has he done? The devil comes in, uh, with a pleasing form and hunting. need words when he needs something. And when you do not give it willingly, the devil is kind to those who serve and obey him. You say he respects his staff. From appearances, it is what is happening, but... It may look like respect, but I think it is not respect. I think the devil believes everyone save himself a child, incapable of making their own decision.

And when a child disobeys him, he is quick to the rod. You have seen what it is like within the castle. But you have also seen what it is like on the land. Yes. I think back to Esme and not treating her like a child. But also not going straight for the rod and just, wow, how bad that went. Yeah. Who knows where she is now?

Some evil greed demon crawling around the fucking mountains or whatever. Yes, which is why I'm so taken aback by it all. Rather confused, really. The devil does not allow for methods other than his own, does not see that other people have their own goals and objectives and wants and cannot comprehend when someone else does not want. want what he wants. Descent is punishable by death.

And dissent can be anything as large as a disagreement on our joint enemy or as small as deciding perhaps that they love another. Hmm. Okay. From all the horror stories that people allude to him, it is not matching from what I am seeing. You enjoyed the good meal in Castle Ravenloft? Not really, no. There was good food there.

There was good food there. People seemed to be enjoying it, yes. Which is why it is so confusing. My question is, why does he eat so well when we cannot? People starve on the streets in these lands. Okay. Okay. Do you know much about the dark places?

We know some. We are aware that you met the patron of a different lands. Yes, from Boccia. Madam Borizzi. That's the one. We are aware of an incursion of sorts. I think in heading to Castle Ravenloft, I'm sure Perrin has mentioned, but I ended up being, I guess, the ward of a young paladin, Gretchen.

She puts up a hand I do not know the details of your time Outside of Borovia But Pyrin had many She pauses words to say Of your noble gesture She doesn't put any irony In the words noble gesture

But you get the impression That that was Pyrin's phrasing And Pyrin did Put some irony He sure did I mean he did it to my face Yeah I um

I chased after her And in doing so I was captured and tortured and ripped apart. And I think I was put back together, but I think parts of me have been put in other things and other people. And they're going to come, invade, and try to conquer this land. And they have amassed an army. And I think, I understand,

that we have a common goal of taking, out the devil. I think the common goal right now should be to fight this invasion because if she ends up with control, I mean what you say with the devil, how he is very quick to go to the rod. Madam Baritzie, she will do worse. We need to stop. We need to stop. before she consumes this land. She will rip us all apart. She had never seen an A's meal before. And then, then, she took a cut.

She didn't tear. She's actually very precise. She cut me apart. And then she wants this land. She's going to come in here and take that. Now you might think maybe this is good. I start shaking my head it won't be

say what we will about the devil he doesn't control everyone he doesn't put a device around your heart that if you try to escape you die we need to work together

right now everyone in Borovia we need to stop that and then we can go back to trying to do the other things. Hector, are you confident you have the order of events correct? What if now that the devil is at his weakest? What if now is the time to strike? And then, once we have control of these lands, we can turn on Bordshire. Do you know how to defeat him once and for all?

This incursion or the devil, do you mean? The devil? Well, Hector. I had hoped you would know that. I do. But I think maybe the man might be weak, but vampire is not. Do you know, did you, it's the way of the feather. They know how it is. We have some understanding. The devil is but an emissary of another greater evil.

Yes. So, so I, me and Pip, we went to the Amber Temple. We, and we learned a good deal. So, look, this is, take this with a grain of salt. But there is the man and you then have the entity, the vampire. And it seems to be that the man, he wants to retire. He is seeking to pass on an ownership or his legacy or to find an heir. And that is why.

you are hector you are not the first person he has said this to okay so that is known right that is what i was so yes but that is seems to be why i'm here no one has ever been though there are those who have gotten further than you and have not been good enough right thing is it is why we're all here yes it's why i'm here it is why it's why my pipis here why kining cribbet and i don't know maybe even yourself and and and and If he wants, and he wants that there to, and he does these little tests, to see who is worthy to rule.

But sure, I might not be the first person to this, but I could be this person. I, I hear that the old God that has been taken care of, that the one that was living under Valakai. She nods. So my mind is, is, clear, I know what I must do. To seal off,

Vampier, there is a ritual that you have to do. And I know it. It is with the knowledge that we got in the Amber Temple, there is a ritual. We have to fight Vampia and Vampir's avatar. But if I am the avatar,

you just have to fight Vampir. But the only way that we can do that is if we stop the invasion. Because yes, while now might be the perfect time to strike, why he is weak, why he is withering away, Vampia is still strong. Hector, what you say, it is difficult to comprehend. It is, perhaps. Madam Borizzi is bearing down.

She might be here any day now. To get rid of the devil we know will take weeks. That's how long it will take to travel to the Amber Temple, right? Maybe a week? Maybe a week? Weeks, no, maybe weeks is it? Yeah, weeks is not inaccurate. To get rid of the devil we know will require like a week, maybe weeks,

just in travel time alone. I worry that when you pick the devil you know, you forget that it is still a devil. They have not forgotten it is a devil. I don't understand what is the devil. worry here. I mean, I... Surely you do understand what the worry is. I do. She sighs.

And you can see in her face, it seems like she's kind of humoring you. She thinks, she quite clearly believes that the two outcomes to this will be either you realize that you're wrong or that

you die. Those seem to be very clearly the only belief she has of any outcome here. Hector. And her eye, she breaks eye contact with you. She thinks for a moment, makes eye contact again, and says Hector, you understand

how many people will see this. You will be one of many adventures who go to Strad's castle and then decide to join rather than to die at his feet.

I understand how that might look, but I'm I need to say, I'm not, I'm not saying we don't do. We don't strike him down. I'm just saying, I just take on the Ritzie first before we take on the devil we know. She gives you a pain smile. Yes, you can handle the devil. I see that you have already survived one puzzle with him. She gestures to your neck.