Dice Shame - 2-135 | 'A Cog in the Machine'

Episode Date: March 27, 2025

Upon finding the slavers encampment, the party discovers and unexpected being...____________________________________________________________________Imagine your best game of D&D. The shocks, the twists and turns, the moments that can’t be caught because you just had to be there. That’s Dice Shame.Join our DM Jo, her husband Harlan, their brother Alex & their friend Nic as they experience those unmissable, gut-wrenching, heart-aching, joy-filled moments.This legendary AP releases a brand new episode every Thursday morning at 1:20 am!Content Warning: animal death, swearing, violence, claustrophobiaPart of the Rusty Quill Network Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I find it pretty impressive that you can be so unwanted in a town that you can use it as a bargaining chip. I made it to the edge before you guys. Come here. First time for everything, I suppose. Calm down. You're scaring these poor people. Is your name John? Will I appreciate boldness? What's an elephant? It's going to kill all of us.

It keeps getting stranger and stranger every day we go. What the hell is that? Sounds like it might be a battle. Holy hell, whoa. To me, what are we doing? Wynne, throws her hands across Doran and Red's chest, and she mouths Vonidad. Wait, you were the Nightstone 4? Uh-oh.

Welcome back to Dice Shame. This is Season 2, Episode 1.35, A Cog in the Machine. MVP this week is Colin Burkhart. Colin is one of the first Dyshame fans ever and continues to spoil us with his delicious memes over on our Discord server. Thanks for listening and hanging out, Colin. You're this week's MVP.

All right, shall we do this? Yeah, let's do it. Woo! Woo! Having been told us, having been told by Carilla Gem star about an encampment of escaped slaves from Iron Slag just outside of Dead Snows, and also having a good.

agreed to leave immediately and never show your faces in the town ever again, the party makes its way into the foothills of the Rauvin Mountains to meet the folk who can hopefully tell them some more about the Colossus and the plans of the fire giant Duke. All I'm saying is she didn't have to say we had to leave right away. It could have been, you know, the next morning. I haven't slept since we left Iron Slag. I'm exhausted. I think that's My fault. We didn't, you know, exist on the best of terms. I think I cut into a profit a bit. It's not your fault. She's just a little bit. You know, some people you give them an inch and they take a whole mile or a unit higher than an inch. You know, I find it pretty impressive that you can be so unwanted in a town that you can use that as a bargaining chip.

I have to say, you really managed to impress me in that aspect as well. Hey, that's true, Temeel. We've been hated by a lot of people but never hated that. much. Yeah. Good job. To be able to say, I'll leave and you can have this. Impressive. Well, I'm pleased that someone finds my being despicable to be an admirable quality. First time for everything, I suppose. You know, you're amongst the other despicable, so we're all together in a good group. Right, Wimmy? Red gives a thumbs up to Wim. Wim, does a great big thumbs up, and then she points at Temeel and does an even bigger thumbs up. Oh, she likes you. Tameel

Chuckles And I think that Tamil is Throughout like The time That they've been traveling The short time They've been traveling together

Has been watching Wim very closely She's really interested In trying to pick up Some of the signs So that she doesn't need The translation From Doren and from Red

Yeah Yeah Yeah because we edit the translation Wim says you need to give me Half your bagel Dude she though It's like shaking your head No

Come on Wim Play the sun sets and a chill breeze makes its way through your layers of clothing it's spring but just barely a thin little curl of smoke emerges from the tree line up ahead there's a weak smell of wood fire looks like they didn't make it too far no whims signs we shouldn't call them slaves anymore right that's... No, they're free people. Escapists.

Yeah. Escapades. Does that work for you, Temeel? Escapists? Perhaps we should find out what they wish to be called. Right, right. That's the most politically correct option.

Yes. We can just see what they are, call them, you know, by their names. Maybe they'll be named John. I'll just start calling John as we approach. John! Red starts yelling. This is clearly the encampment, though, right?

Naturally. I would have imagined that Red had done Prime Evil awareness and like... I like the idea that Temeal turns towards the smoke away from the, you know, from Adoran and Red, you know, kind of scoping things out. And then as she's turning back to be like,

all right, now how are we going to approach this? Red is already like off, yeah. Yelling, John. John! Oh, uh, oh, right. Red, oh, he doesn't quite understand first impressions the way you and I would. He sort of just dumps in with it two feet.

Red's already like, 50 feet from the edge of the encampment. I suppose we should catch up then. We should. And then while they're running, Doran's like, you know, he has this way, he has this way with people that he's just able to, you know, do this sort of thing and they put up

with them. Hey, I've been traveling with them for almost, probably half a year. I don't know. But I haven't gotten sick of him yet. Well, maybe a little sick, but not really sick. That's cute. Will I appreciate boldness? They made me a king.

Red like comes back. So the EWalk Village, not. I was just thinking that. I made it to the edge before you guys. Come here. A handful of humanoids is huddled around a fire in the gathering darkness. As a group, they look pretty rough, dressed in rags, entirely inadequate for the weather. They look exhausted and injured.

And red, as you burst into this clearing, a bunch of them turned towards you. One of them, like, looks as if he's ready for a. a fight. Is your name John? Is all you're standing? Red, Red, Red. Doran's first steps in and puts his hand on Red's chest. Calm down.

You're scaring these poor people. Oh, sorry. Listen, we've been going for like 48 hours straight. I'm a little wired on Mazdick and coffee. Are you the escapists from Iron Slag? Escapists? It's a term we've decided to use because it's more politically

correct than the other word. Oh, uh, I'm Arum. Yes, we are from Iron Slag. Okay. You can call us escapists, though, if that's what you like. Ah. This is a human man. He's got long, matted hair. He looks not frail, but maybe worn. You all seem quite on edge? Doran's her turns to Tamil. So, uh, hey, do you recognize any of these folks from, uh, you know, Iron slag? I'll be honest, the time that I spent there, but it was, it's hard to remember a lot of details.

Someone stands up from the fire and walks towards your party. They are a human with pale skin and eyes and androgynous features in a dark threadbare cloak. And they raise a hand up almost to stop you in your tracks. I know you. Me? And they pointed you, Timul. You were there.

In Ironslag, yes. What happened? Um, Duke Zolto, he had me fight his hellhounds, and when I lost, he cursed me out. I'm so sorry. red looks around sort of sees everybody what's the vibe here roll me an insight 26 okay uh the vibe is bleak here red these people are shivering the fire is clearly insufficient for their needs they are skinny to a person and there's a prickling of unease it seems like there's something happening that is throwing these people off in a way. Red turns to Tamil.

These people seem uneasy. I wonder if the fire giants are in pursuit, or maybe they know about the Von and Dodd waking up, or maybe there's something else. So strange. I think that Tamil turns back to this person that was just addressing her. What is your name?

I'm Trauster. Trauster. Yes. Forgive me. if this is, um, intrusive, are you all in danger still? Troucester casts a wary look at the tree line. I don't think so, though we are not alone in these woods. Ah.

There's something else. Is, uh, is it beast? Is it another camp, perhaps? Mm. At first, Margette thought that maybe the giants had followed us here. The sounds of machinery. echoing. Like, like something from Myrne's like.

But no, it's not. Oh, well, do you want us to check it out? If it is the Vonendod, Red says again under his breath to Temeel, that thing is going to lay waste to everything around here. Yes, yes, trying to quiet Red analyst. Yes. It's going to kill all of us. Okay, we are more than willing to see if it is something that can be taken care of.

Mm-hmm. Please. Yes. Well, if we have to, we aren't adventurous, Red says. He had, like, been sitting by the fire. He, like, pulled a hunk of meat. He was, like, cooking it on their fire. All right.

What do you say, Dorn? You want to check it out? Oh, absolutely, Red. You sit tight. We'll be right back. And Red steps outside and sort of says, Hey, you know what? I could have done this up on approach,

but might as well make sure. And Red flops down to the ground, and he puts his severed ear against the ground, and he just listens for a little. like a minute and red is going to cast primeval awareness and he does this by sensing the tremors in the earth in a five mile radius and i can tell how many humanoid or giants there are within the surrounding five miles wow lucky for your party there are no giants within five miles no giants and apart from this encampment of humanoids of which you have made yourselves apart they're

seems to be just a few odd humanoids within the five-mile radius, although there is one very close, maybe within a couple hundred feet. Red pops right back up. Well, it's either a Von and Dodd in stealth, because I can't detect those, or the thing they're wondering about is over in that direction, red points. Only about 100 feet. Well, let's go check it out. Ah, right. Doran sort of removes his axe from his sheath on his back and readies himself for battle.

You never know what sort of encounter we're going to have, Tamil. That's true. Whim gestures like, are we sneaking? No, look. Perhaps a slightly more stealthy approach. Yeah, all right, let's do it. Everybody roll a stealth check. Oh, uh-oh. That is a natural 20.

Oh, hell, wow. Oh, pretty good. Pretty good. There's no better, baby. Pretty good, pretty good. I mean, to say, that doesn't carry over for everybody in the party. Wim rolled a nine. Oh, no.

Temeel, request that things go stealthy, perhaps a bit more stealth. Turns around, it immediately trips and makes a huge clattering noise as static goes flying. I rolled a seven. Very good, very good. Yeah, and Dorn gives Redis. stern look and then with a six turns around and trips on Tamil. Red just like stops. He's like five feet.

He turns around like, you know what? Let's not worry about stealth. Let's just go check it out. I can get out on second vote. I think you're right. Yeah, it's not going to be the wanted dog. That's for sure. Together, the four of us stomp our way into the trees in the gathering darkness.

It's the opposite of a stealth. I want to do a loudness role. Sure, sure. Everyone crits. And as we make our way underneath the darkness of the trees, you begin to hear it. Tim, what do they hear? What you hear ahead of you is the recurring methodical clank of a machine, not unlike maybe sounds of industry that you might have heard in iron slag so recently, but this, as you are getting closer, becomes clear and clearer that it is a machine. taking steps and moving around.

You hear it also apparently chopping a much more familiar sound into wood of some kind. Very much the sounds you would associate with a lumberjack or just someone chopping firewood, the more traditional sounds. It sounds like it is being done in an awkward way. I'd say you can probably even recognize like someone's taken like a hand axe and trying to chop not like a big, nice, solid, lumberjack axe, just like someone's chopping, but it is going with the clank of the machine.

What the hell is that? Dude, do you think it's a battle? Sounds like it might be a battle. If they are, they're losing against a tree, and red light walks up towards the same. Are there any, is there illumination, or are you just this dark shape attacking a tree? I think there's, like, definitely moonlight coming through. see is just this humanoid automaton who seems to be almost on one knee. It is a little bit taller than a human and decently chunkier than a human.

This thing looks built for combat, this creature, this automaton of some kind. And it has in one hand a thick hand axe that it is just brutalizing some firewood. and you, as you are watching, see it stand up, look down, point its wrist at the fire, and this little device pops out, fires this little bolt of fire at the campfire, seems to burst. At that point, the whole head rotates and looks in your direction, and the eyes light up red. Holy hell! Whoa! Wynne throws her hands across Doren and Red's chest

And she mouths Vonidod No You're tiny Some sort of metal demon Hey Like we mean you uh no harm Um almost defensively Tamil Casst her awareness out

I would love to cast Detect Thoughts Ooh Tell me about that please Yes I would love to So detect thoughts For the duration I can read the thoughts of certain creatures. So if this were truly

a mech, I would probably get nothing. But if there's anything that is organic inside of it, then I'll be able to read its thoughts. Okay. Tim, what do we get for surface level? You see this automaton standing there, still frozen, still holding the axe.

And as you are hearing a thought, the automaton whose eyes are lit up, bellows out one word. Hello. And then the thought you hear is in a very different voice. The thought you hear is...

Who do we have here? These aren't the guys from the other campfire. This does this make any sense. I don't like this. Red has his bow drawn, and he's like ready... Tamil, what are we doing? Come on, Torn. Let's take this thing down. It said, hello, Red.

Tamil puts a hand on Red's hand that's knocked the arrow back, puts a hand in front, of Doran as well, there's someone inside. We mean you no harm. We were told by those folks in the camp that there was something here.

We just want to talk. Tamil, how do you know it's not one of those automaton's? Those things are ancient. Some of them are self-driven. How do you know there's someone inside? Over her shoulder. I can hear its thoughts. It sounds a little fancy. Ooh. If there's fancy person in there, you let us know.

Tim, with the automaton face concealing your PC's face, are there any like moving mouth parts when it says hello or is it just a voice? Very much the head is a trapezoid that has two eyes. That's it. Great. Great. No other facial features. Critically, I think Wim has no context for the fact that this thing is speaking. Right. There's also basically the arms or like Popeye arms. where they're very spindly and then they get very big at the end

and there's visibly no room for human arms to be like in this suit of armor. What are we doing here? At this point, clanking forward you see the axe lower with a spin of the wrist kind of the mechanism places it on like a holster on the waist

and as he's doing that the wrist gun or the device that fired the flames retracts back in all one fluid motion and the chest of this thing opens up, the head rotates back and a very small, almost spindly looking gnome with a big head and goggles on is ejected visibly in a seat, the seat lowers down, and the whole suit begins to fold itself up into a very bulky backpack that he then hops out of the seat, pulls the seat, pulls the huge straps, like a big shirt, we're kind of pulling this huge crate onto his back, and he wasted up.

I apologize. I didn't realize that you were looking to speak. I was worried that you were assaulting me. Oh, hello. Whoa, Red puts his bow away. You know, just a little guy. Hi, Red walks up to you. Significantly smaller than my construct. Yes, thank you very much. My name is Witted Wigwabber, but I am, I must correct you, not a fancy person. I am a very hard working nobe, though I come from, admittedly, a fancy family that you would probably designate as being fancy. A minor correction. A minor correction. Fair. My name is Red, red-handed Robin. This is my best friend Doran. Red like grabs Doran. This is my new best friend, Temeel, and this is my best friend Wim. Wim Waves.

It is an absolute pleasure to beat you all. The way he's looking at you from out of his goggles, it doesn't seem like it's a pleasure. He looks kind of still weirded and like he keeps like looking back at the fire and like you he seems like are we done talking like he takes a step away like oh we're we're still talking oh okay all right it takes like a step closer ah uh yes so what are you doing here this is a nice fire can we join you oh uh well uh i suppose i made this fire myself and he looks in the direction of the fire that you just walked away from a hundred feet away like the other escapees

had. There's a perfectly serviceable fire over there, however. Yours looks wonderful. Redd-like walks right up and like pulls a log close to it and continues cooking his meat on it. You're a lot smaller than you appear to be at the beginning there.

A friend, I tell you, you got to be careful, you don't scare somebody. I mean, you could scare somebody that's much less brave than us. That is a feature. Your fear is a natural reaction and one that I very much intended to be a function of the device. Oh, I worked on Doran. Tamil's been kind of quiet this whole time since you emerged from the suit.

And she's been kind of looking at the crate on your back with almost an unreadable expression. And just very quietly, she comes over. She's not going to invade your personal space, but she gets close, and she is still looking at this thing, and she says, did you make this? I did. With assistance and mentorship, I was able to construct this myself.

It took a very long time. It's beautiful. And there's this kind of, like, distant look in her eyes as she's just kind of admiring the crate. You made that thing? Red says, like, chewing a piece of turkey. That's pretty cool. I made these.

Red, like, reaches into his quiver and, like, pulls out a few different arrows, and they just clatter to the ground. I'm like fumbling. Oh, damn. Okay, sticky fingers. Wim lifts up her hands so that she can sign to you from a distance, Red, where you're sitting by the fire. She's over with Tamil and Witted still.

She signs, can I try it on to you? Oh. Oh, and like, Red saw the size of the whole of the construct. I think it's a little small, Wimmy. Yes, she would be crushed. Oh, yeah, yeah, you'd be crushed. To death, you say. Dorn.

sort of turns to Tamil and gives one of those kind of, you know, that flabbergacid with his lips, he says, well, I tell you, as he's putting his axe away, he's, I tell you, he keeps getting stranger and stranger every day we go.

He seems friendly. Perhaps the strangeness means we're going in the right direction. What are you doing out here? Were you in Iron Slag with those the other, um, escapist. And there's a little eye roll with the, with the word.

It's catching on. Escapists, uh, I, not that technically term I would use, but I do, uh, not. Uh, travel with those people, no. Uh, I, um, I, um, I'm just a little awkward and so I, I made my own campfire. And as someone who appreciates technology, you are welcome to join at my place. But if you're going to keep traveling in this direction, I, um, I, I'm just a little awkward. And so I, I'm, I'm, I'm I'm heading to Iron Slag, because, for what I've heard, you should expect to get used to devices such as mine if you are heading in this direction. There are apparently more of them afoot, and that is why I am going in this direction.

Oh, you mean like the Vaughnandot, Red says through like mouthfuls of meat? What do you know about the Vodidat? Oh, well, I mean, what don't we know about the vaughan dod? I mean, we saw a friend get killed by it, vaporized by a death ray on its forehead. Amil, he seemed to be genuinely, like, warming up to you a little bit, and then he immediately, like, a robot, just stands up, turns and walks right towards red. You've seated, you've seated up close. How close were you exactly?

Oh, yeah, I've seen it. I've seen it real close, like, as far as that tree over there? Red Lake points to a tree that's not at all close. You say, that close. Okay, and he starts, like, measuring how far the tree is. like a and you see him like starts up pacing it out okay yes uh now you say your friend was killed by it i am so sorry for your loss could you tell me exactly what weapon systems were utilized the destruction of your dear friend well well take it down a notch wiggum what was your name again

wigwamber wigwammer take it down have a seat look we're all friends here let's get to know each other a little bit first look we've all lost a lot at iron slag and uh i'm sure some of us don't want to talk about the death of Jack, even though some of us are moving past it rather quickly. Wim shares a little bit of a look with Temeel and then sort of looks awkwardly off into the darkness. Have a seat. Relax. Let's get to know each other. Doran's eyebrows raise at the mention of heading to Iron Slag. Come join us, Doran. Whim pats a spot by the fire.

perhaps some place a bit more cozy. Tamil starts to hum a melody under her breath very quietly, and it's not an illusion, but this kind of form starts to take form around everyone who's close to the fire. It starts out a little hazy, it almost looks like smoke coalescing into a solid, form, and suddenly we find ourselves inside of this little hut, a tiny hut, in fact. And from, you know, you're not sure what it looks like from the outside, but it's got, you know,

windows, and there is a space kind of on the walls where there are these five hooks, and almost without thinking as if she's done it a million times, Tamil goes over, she takes her cloak off and she hangs it up on one of the taller of the hooks. The fire is kind of centered in the middle of this space, and the air gets noticeably warmer, and the light blooms a little bit more so we can all see each other better. Oh, wow.

Hmm. Tamil, this is wonderful. Oh. Oh, comforting. It is much nicer. Appreciate it. Red walks over to one of the hooks as well, and he's like, kind of like flicks the hook a little bit,

and then takes his bow and just has it. hangs it. I kind of like what you've done with this place. It's, it's say, this isn't a Liament's tiny hut, is it? Um, I yes, it is. I

think though that it, I put my own particular touch on this. Um, this is what my, my group and I used to use when we were camping. Oh. Just a little cozy spot. Right. Doren looks very

proud at the comment, but then Sun looks very sad at the comment. Aw. Remembering his friend. Well, it's beautiful. I mean, you've added some personal touches. Look, and red light points at a random hook on the wall. That one's a little shorter than yours.

Yeah. Yes. Just sadness. You see visible sadness wash over Temeel's face. So, like, Red C's sadness on Dore and sadness on Tbil, turns to the gnom, he's like, so gnome. What did? Where you come from?

We did hops, instead of taking a seat, when it kind of hops into his armor's seat and then it leans forward on its legs so he can warm his hands by the fire. And he says, it's interesting. I know that my fire was the superior fire measurably, but it wasn't cozier. And I couldn't calculate why exactly.

Thank you, Tabil. You've very much made this a much cozier fire. I can't quite quantify. I am from Silvery Moon, as you could imagine. I am a researcher and inventor there. have traveled from the larger city that is able to finance my efforts to the countryside for a nice little jaunt in order to learn more about this incredible device that has been around the countryside.

Ah, we've been to Silver Moon once or twice. Yeah, you've ever been there, Tameel? We passed through one time on the way to another adventure. It's not that notable. Put it this way. It's on my map. I don't remember it per se, so I don't blame you. It's very elven, a lot of libraries, a lot of trees.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Not the kind of raucous place we like, like Yada. Doran's sort of circling the fire now, taking a look at the tiny hut that Tamil was able to conjure. He sits next to this gnomish character on the other side of the nomish character than Red sitting. He says, so, you want to know about the Von and Dodd? You know, I take a year of... You like these sort of mechanical machines.

Oh, yes, they are my particular fascination, and I would say area of expertise. Oh. Hey. What is the nature of your interest in the Vonnedud specifically? Well, it's one-of-a-kind device. Its technology goes back too far earlier than even the height of elephant automata that we have ever studied. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a hold of a technology that has not existence, and he just starts rattling on and on about the history as he knows it of the Vodendad.

Yeah, we had one of you before. Yes, but this particular version of it is being used to bring war. And if it is an academic interest that you have, I am curious if perhaps you would want to see it functioning, you would want to just observe as opposed to stopping it or destroying. it would be my dream to see its weapon systems in action whoa whoa whoa slow your roll there gnome look this thing is uh world-ending cataclysmic violence in a metal shell it's you don't want to see its weapons bud it's going to roast you alive well he's not wrong we can certainly find a way

to uh uh uh make use of uh the ability to research uh What it is capable of? Well, I'm firing it at a target that would not cause any destruction. Look, a machine like that is built for one purpose and one purpose alone. It is a killer what it. And coming from a killer myself, looks, shoots a look to Temeel. Just the guy in the bar and looks back. I know something about things that are designed to.

I'll just sit down, actually. Listen here, Wilmer, Willie Waggie. But I can't help but agree with what's Red saying. This is a very dangerous machine. How do you think they keep it running? What do you think they're using to make it work? This is exactly what I would like to study. Certainly, weapon systems aside, there is great technology going on in this device.

And we could agree to disagree in the use of its weapons. But if I could get close to this device, that would certainly bear research far more fruitful than any kind of destruction that it could cause. I have no interest in its weapons being utilized to cause any harm. I certainly want to know more about what powers this device. Yeah, Dorn sort of leans into the conversation a little further. You know, hey, if you're learning about it,

you could probably learn how to dismantle it too, no? I mean, you seem pretty handy, no? His eyes go wide for a moment. He says, certainly yes. Well, look, we got this. Maybe this could be of help. And Red pulls out of his front. pocket a little piece of cloth which he unfolds and as he continues to unfold it it gets

larger and larger and he throws it on the ground this is a portable hole and he reaches in and struggles to lift out a large metal rod which he drags out of the hole sort of like spilling across the center of the hut and then drops the heavy clang oh oh oh oh oh this is called the rod of the von and dod and uh you're okay what it you have one you have one you have have one. Oh, oh, oh, oh. My goodness. I just start marching around in a circle real quick. Some get him some water

or something. Whem? I don't know what this is. Oh, well this is a rod of the vaughan and dod. We took it off a fire giant a few months ago. Basically, when I touch it, Red puts his hand on it, I can detect adamantine objects

within, I think, 10 miles? Oh. It's sort of like the locate object spell, but very specific and then he takes his hand off. It helped us track down the Vondod in Iron Slag. We got to center its location using it. Hop into my suit and I don't put like the whole lid on, but I use it to stand up and its arms. Could I, could I hold it perhaps? Oh, of course. Go ahead. Absolutely. So I like I'm kind of like using my own hands to like take tools like and hold them up to my eye and the actual mech is like tilting it back and forth, pointing it. This is incredible. I've only seen it

described in books. I haven't actually seen Wooded person. And it's fresh off of the fire giant you killed. That's fantastic. While Wadid is like in the background doing this, Red Light grabs Tamil and Doran and sort of walks over the corner and he's like, is this guy serious?

Look, obviously he's motivated to help find the Von and Dodd, but doesn't it kind of sound like he wants it to do some damage? He said that he wasn't interested in the weaponry, just the machinery of it, which perhaps the specifics are something that

can wait a moment, but it does feel as though our purposes are at least somewhat aligned. Yeah. Whim signs I'm worried. I have known many people who have wanted to see Dragon Fire up close

and those people are not always good people. Wim says she's on show. Yeah. He's headed to Iron Slag anyways. It's not really anything. we can do. We can't, we can't necessarily stop him, looking over at Wim, and

you know, looking over at Red and Tamil, it might be helpful if, you know, we kind of said to him to come along with us, and then at least we might be able to understand a little bit better. You know, find some weak spots. Dorn starts to kind of go into the

little bit more of a diatribe about the tactical advantages of having a gnome in the party and wear the weak spots on this vaunted. And the benefit of saying, it this way is you don't actually have to worry about the benefits you can just say. I can just say that. In summary. Red kills all the giants

and wins the game. Yeah, I totally agree. Yeah, look, okay. I agree. Tamele, you agree? I think so, yes. He seems handsome? I don't want... Red.

How dare you assume? He does. Oh, how dare I? then. Apologies. No, no, just objectively. Can I do an insight check on Witted just to kind of get a sense of, you know, like not his true intentions or anything, but just kind of the focus of his intention? Absolutely. Let me clarify with you, Tim. Are you being deceptive at all about your intentions? There's something to learn here, definitely. Fabulous. I would say I have been, yes. Roll, insight, and then if Witted is trying to be deceptive, then we will contest it with Tim's deception role.

I'm curious about what it is that he truly intends with this, if it really is just a mechanical interest or if there's something more there. Oh, you might be right. Oh, you mean like, what they call an ulterior motive? Yes, Doran, yes, an ulterior motive, exactly. So anyone who's interested can absolutely raw insight. Yeah, I'll roll. I love the image of the five of us inside of this I was thinking of that, cozily furnished Liamann's tiny hut with an engineered fire that was built by a robot no man. And the four of us kind of putting our heads together off to one side.

Meanwhile, Witted is entirely nonplussed. Doesn't think anything of it. Totally fine. Great day, frankly. Everyone went to the bathroom at the same time. I'm going to compile my notes about the Vonen Dodd. Fantastic. We live.

Totally normal behavior. Can I ask you about your deception role? Tim, what did you get for Witted's deception? Here's the thing. I rolled a 16, which is really good, plus nothing for the first role. But I thought he was so excited that for the one particular part I'm thinking of, he would have disadvantaged because of how badly he was hiding it. So I rolled a three on the other. one. So I feel like there's two tiers. If you get a 16, you learn two things. And if you get a

three or I, you're definitely learning the important thing. Okay. Before anyone talks about the results of their roles, I'm going to give you an inspiration for two reasons. Number one, the inspired character design. Loving this mech situation. And additionally, self-imposing disadvantage. Come on. Yeah. All right. I love it. I appreciate the honest. If it was my NPC, he'd have disadvantage. You're like, that's this guy. Fabulous. Who rolled higher than a three? I rolled 14.

Everybody rolled higher than a three, and Doran got 16. All right. I rolled 16 on the dice, which gives me a 26. Oh, you have a plus 10 insight. Come on. Wham rolled a six, so she's among with red, I guess, just learning the first piece of information, which is. You are a one.

that when he said he wanted to see the weapons system tested out he really did just want he just wasn't thinking and phrased it in the worst way possible he genuinely just wants to see the weapon system activated it was like yeah that'd be cool oh i meant against a mountain kind of like oh i guess that wasn't implied and didn't take it for granted but it sounds like the only person who got higher than a 16 is tamil so tamil i i feel like lied by omission when it was said that I could destroy the thing and take it apart. And I said completely. But you know, I would never. He seems cool to me. You know, I think when he was talking about the weapons, you're probably right. I think he probably just wanted to see how they fired,

not on people. Yes, but I don't, I do not feel confident that he would actually willingly disassemble the thing that he would willingly shut it down which is ultimately what we want right? Well yeah I mean

yeah I mean well I don't think he's going to be joining the giants anytime soon to cause mass destruction amongst the land do you? No but I think Redd you were right red that this this thing has one function

that even in the hands of someone well-meaning or curious, it would still be a threat. Right, right, but, but if it is just a tool that can kill things and we need to take down the giants,

look, look, look, look. I'm not saying one way or the other. What I am saying is, let's eat the elephant one bite at a time. Yes. What's an elephant? Oliphon. Oh, now it's fantasy. Got it, got it, got it.

You pronounced it weird. You pronounced it weird. Saved it. Amazing. Sounds like you said Aliphon just changed some letters to me I don't know Look let's just take it one step at a time

Obviously With it is at the very least More intelligent than the three of us And that could be very useful When trying to figure out what this Von and Dodd can do Let alone how to shut it down Well first of all none taken

I saw you try to tie your shoes earlier Come on The stats don't lie, girl. It's, listen, the rabbit goes around the hole. What nonsense is this? I love this idea that your character's like super

adept at like, but like literally just can't tie her shoes or something really basic. She's got belcro boots is what happened here. Can't cook an egg to save her life. Blast these things. Oh, I think that's really funny actually. Right. Well, turning back to Witted,

what should we call? you, by the way, whitted? Whid? Mr. Wigwammer? Mr. Wigwabber is my father. Please, you can call me Witted. Witted. Witted. I actually have a list

of approved nicknames and you hear this from like the side of the shoulder and he pulls out of this list. I accept Witted, weed and he starts going through all of these nicknames and then they start getting weird where it's like little one, little man,

big guy, iron dude, A dude nerd, as long as it is officially a nickname and you're not making fun of me. If you are making fun of me, that would be different. And there's about 16 nicknames that he's willing to accept. Any nicknames that are not pre-approved on the list, I will have to consider making fun of me. All right, big guy. Look, here's what we got to do. Red Tick's step forward.

Over there are the escapists. And the reason we came here is to talk to them about Iron Slyde. That Von and Dodd is heading somewhere. we think, possibly, it's heading to Citadel Feldbar. We need to validate that in some fashion. So we need to talk to them and find out a few things. Number one, how slow is this stupid thing? Do we have hours or weeks before it reaches?

Two, do they know its destination? If it is Feldbar, we've already sent a Raven, but we need to get there pretty quick. Number three. Dorn, what was number three? Um, I don't know, Red. You're making this up as we go. Right.

Number three. After we get that information, which is basically a new list, we then need to figure out whether we head this thing off, rally the troops, or, and Red sort of looks to Temeel, head to Iron Slag. If Duke Zolto is there, then maybe there is a reason to poke our heads inside. Please forgive me, my mechanical knowledge is limited. is this something that is controlled remotely, that he's simply unleashed, or would he not be somewhere close by to it, following with it, traveling with it?

That's a great question. Well, I don't know how it runs, but what I can say is the speed in which it walked was pretty slow. If this thing is heading to Feldbar, hell, it would take a 10 day to get there. If Duke Zolto is just walking along this thing for 10 days, then he's not quite the king I thought he was. my guess is he'd wait back and then ride out before the attack. William just does a big shrug. I don't know. That makes sense, right?

Yeah, but I mean, you're postulating. I'm definitely postulating. But to me, if you're wheeling a cannon, right, like to the gates, the king's not standing by the cannon. He's usually on the hill. And then when it's in position, maybe he'll ride down for the assault type of thing. Unless he's like a Palin King kind of guy, you know what I mean? That's true. No, but that makes sense.

I suppose that makes sense. So it's just wandering, destroying. Yeah. And if we get in its way, or if it gets to a destination before we can figure out how to stop it, well, then they're fucked. Yeah. And we're fucked.

And everyone's fucked. I can approve of the steps of the plan that you have laid out so far, except for the first one, trying to talk to those people. When I found out that they were from iron slag, I immediately approached them and tried to ask them the questions about the specifics about the Voted Dodd, and they would answer a single one of my questions.

He flips down the lid as he's, like, getting ready, and he's like, I don't know why, says the voice. Um... Right. You know, they had... Right. They had a sort of rough go of it in Iron Slag. Their function there was not exactly voluntary.

You know, plus the Von and Dodd is this, you know, horrific killing machine, and you look like it. Yeah. It's kind of PTSD vibes, you know? I'm slipping back out of my suit. I was just maintaining it. And I'm just like, yes, yes, a terrible, terrible, beautiful, beautiful work of art. Look, I think if we approach together, we got to them first and they asked us to check you out.

And we can come back with a two thumbs up. Look, Reds Rovers carries a certain amount of credibility. more credibility than the Knightstone 4, which was our old name, and it got tarnished. Wait, you were the Nightstone 4? We'll talk about that later. Uh-oh.

No? We'll put a pin in that. We'll go over at all on another point in time. All right. Look, if we go together as a group, I think it'll be much more achievable to get the information that we need. And plus, it looks like they need some help.

Yeah. They were wearing rags and shivering by a fire. I'm sure putting our heads together and Red looks directly at widded. Or one big head, together, we can figure out a way to help them. Probably give them some of this gold that we're carrying around here, Red.

Shorn sort of jingles his own purse. Tamil doesn't know about how much money we have yet. Oh, that's okay. Neither does the gnome. We've got a lot. We're independently wealthy. It's true. This is all from, you know, plundering, um, empty... It's not a brag, I'm just saying.

Empty crypts and you are a little impressed, right? Rada of the voted dot is far away the best treasure. Anyway, Red drags the rod back into the portable hole and he folds back up the hole and puts it in his pocket out of the mechanical hands I've been I've been just playing with it the whole time it's like scanning and studying a little bit of a tug

Yeah, all right and it folds up the hole Well let's head over and talk to them And you know maybe Maybe approaches yourself And Red puts a little hand on the gnome's shoulder Honestly my preference would be to let you guys do the talking and I just sort of reap the benefits of being traveling with you. That works for us, too.

Oh. So lift up the helmet. And I'm still in the mech, but my helmet's, my face is showing. Maybe we should do the talking. I mean, we all have our strengths. Right? Definitely. Physical strength for you.

I have charisma. So just a meal, though. Some of that. The visor slams down. I could build a better fire. Yeah, exactly. And we head over to the escapists. Yes.

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Can we get the name typed in the chat by any chance? Yes, so sorry. 100%. I apologize for an audio medium, picking a name like this was mean. Fantastic. Witted, Witted, Witted, Wittler. Dora's going to have a fucking feel. I wanted a note name.

I wanted a gnome name that wasn't just like the, yeah. Yeah, sprigle sprockets or whatever, yeah. Yes, yeah, yeah. Like, it should feel weird. It should feel a little like Evan Kelp to say a little bit.