Dice Shame - 2-198 | 'Champion the Cause'

Episode Date: June 11, 2026

The party finally comes face to face with Duke Zalto...______________________________________________________________________________________________________________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 friends Nic & Timm 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, claustrophobia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No amount of our death is going to save face. I can't help it. I would like some answers. Clearly, I was wrong. Look, with better use anywhere else but here right now. She is terrified of this threat. You would have been proud of them. Well, hey there, little buddy.

You all have to leave this world one way or another. I can't believe it. For once, I want to offer another opinion. I suppose I should be returning this to you. This is the last ditch effort to save face. How flattering. You might be right. What a cinematic way to learn that Joe doesn't remember

what kind of shoes Temeel is wearing. You got leather boots on. Leather sneakers. High heels. She's wearing flip-flops. Welcome back to Dyshame. This is Season 2, Episode 198, Champion the Cause. MVP this week is Abigail, who's been live blogging their listen on our Discord

and is basically all caught up. Thank you so much for listening, Abigail. You are this week's MVP. Thanks, Abigail. All right, shall we do this? Yeah. Let's play D&E! Woo!

With the Von and Dodd under your control and the protective mythal of Silvery Moon in your hands, you realize that you are one step closer to defeating the fire giant army. The blood drains from the bodies of your slain enemies on the paving stones around you and the heat of battle drain. from your mind, surely Kimara Laylithar will be contacting you very shortly. In the meantime,

you have just a moment to breathe. All right, look, we've got the things back. The city is going to be protected, but there's still going to be a lot of forces out on that battlefield that need us to stop them. I mean, you know, these guardsmen are no match for, well, season adventurers like us. Did Lelara not say that if the mythor was replaced, that the invaders would be expelled? Of course, from the city. But that doesn't mean they're not going to try to attack it at one point. I mean, look, I'm no magician. That's what they call it, right?

And Red looks to wit it. But clearly, even a protective shield can be crumbled from the outside with enough force, right? Tamil kind of puts her hands up into like, you got me kind of move. Would we did know the answer to that? Would you like to make a history check? Definitely, 100%. 11, not so great. Total 11?

Total. A given to I have a plus 9 isn't great. All right. You don't know specifically anything about the history of these mythal, but based on the telling of the fact that this was a drow who stole it to begin with, there is some kind of loophole in place, at least, because the drow would have been considered like a part of the invading forces. Right, and it's supposed to keep them out.

There is some workaround. That's a great point. Yeah. Widdon says, I can't really figure out what happened here. In theory, the mythel's supposed to keep out enemies with evil intent to the city, and one was able to get their hands on the mythel. Listen, I'm going to be honest, I didn't even know they were physical things. I thought it was like an energy feel. And so when people said she was grabbing the mithil, I was like, grabbing the what?

But clearly I was wrong. Sorry, I don't really know how these things work. And he's just squatting over and staring at this. All right. Well, no, that makes sense. I mean, put it this way. That's enough to say that these aren't a guarantee that. the battle's over.

So I suppose, yeah, we need to rest and recuperate. Red starts doing some stretches over the dead drow. Apologies, I only meant shouldn't we hasten this back to its home, to the place where it is most effective, which I'm assuming is in the hands of the city wardens, yes. Just at that moment, there's like a shimmering haze of like sparkly, gauzy material, sort of elven magic right behind you, Temeel, and Kamara Lelethal, the elven sorceress who set you on this mission steps out of nowhere,

having tracked your location. Well met, adventurers. I see you have been successful in your mission. Yeah, yeah, yes. here, here, and Red grabs one of them and hands are back. Khamara, we were just discussing this. If the mythal is supposed to keep invaders or those with evil intent out, how was the drow able to sneak into the city at all to take it?

This is something that has troubled me. I presume that there are some forces at work here that are powerful, powerful beyond measure. I will have to do research. Thank you for retrieving the mythal. I will put them back into their rightful place shortly, and we will see the besieging forces pushed from the city. I think Tamil will look to red and kind of give a little, you know, like, you know, tell her what the drow said. The drow said that it was working for two clients.

Zolto and a mysterious second client that, uh, that, uh, that, uh, that, may have hired the drought from another plane of existence. Fascinating. She takes a couple of elegant strides over to the drow's corpse and kneels down. She puts a hand on the woman's face. There is more I can learn. And then the body disappears. I will bring her to a cleric for interrogation.

Can I just say that's one of the coolest things in D&D, speak with Dead, and it's not used enough. Yeah. I love it. It's one of my favorite things ever, and I would want that in every game ever, but it never gets used. So I'm so glad she uses it. Yeah. If there is more to know, I will see that you know it. Right.

Well, look, with better use anywhere else but here right now. Red looks around at the empty dock ward. Yes. And I must restore these. lives are at stake. As to Zaltos' position, he's still outside the city at the northern gate.

I can teleport you to a closer location. Yes. Please. Please, yeah. Wim nods and moves forward and she plays the hand on Wim's shoulder and Wim disappears. Tammil will follow suit.

Tammil follows and then she moves to Witted. May I? It is appreciated. She teleports Witted out of the dock ward. Just a moment, and Red puts a hand on Doran's chest as Doran walks forward eagerly. Miss Layla Thar, uh, Doran and I have some troubling news for you about your son, Jack. Mm-hmm. He... He perished.

He died outside the doors of iron slag. they opened just as the Von and Dodd powered up its ultimate weapon and in an instant and a flash of light he was gone

Jack he he was brave and he died in one of the most bravest ways I could ever imagine and you would have been proud of him I think his dad would have been proud of him too

her eyes sort of drift up to where the vaan and dot is hovering over the city and sort of unfocus I regret that the life of my son was shorter than it had any right to be but I suppose he died in service of greater good thank you for bearing news of him to me. If, as his friends, if you have anything to remember him by, a token that I might have. Of course, of course, here. Red reaches into his bag and hands her the fork that Jack had, the archaeological find that he carried with him everywhere.

Here. This. This is, I believe, from his time in school. He was a brave warrior. Stubborn, yeah, but he was a light. He had a lot of life in him, and I know that he's in a better place. Thank you. I am grateful for you.

And for your words, I know this is hard. for you as well. I wish you courage in defense of our city and a hero's death if that is what awaits you. Maybe. We all have to leave this world one way or

another. And she teleports you Doran and Red to meet your companions where they are awaiting you in an alley. Yeah, you are standing

in an alley very close to the northern walls in Silvery Moon. And as the five of us sort of gather our wits about us, a goblin just fucking runs past and scales the wall. It seems like there are forces immediately being compelled to leave the city at speed. Shit's really hit the fan. All right. Doren haves his axe Temeel

Witted, Wim How'd it go Fine, fine Yeah, she took the news well Well, Red puts a hand on Doran's shoulder We're there for each other He kind of wipes a tear from his eye

Whittit, something weird happens Now There is like a little Bumbling, like little movement twitching around In your pocket In like your side pocket Reggie? Is that you?

No, it's not. What? Reggie pops out of the other side pocket. I'm like, not you. I look over. What is it? It's the clockwork spider that you had been fixing up for Temeal. It still got like one fucked up leg.

You haven't quite finished fixing it, but you're like 90, 95% of the way there. And it's like trying to crawl up and out of your suit. Is this unexpected in the sense that I wasn't expecting it to like animate in this way? Yeah. I mean, like I said, you'd been tinkering around with it and you'd been like spending, you know, some downtime trying to get it operational, but this is the first time that it's sort of shown any get up and go of its own accord. Well, hey there, little buddy. What's gotten it to you? I didn't think, uh, not where I left

you. Okay. Uh, let's, hey, do a quick turn for me. And I try to like examine it from all angles to see like, did someone else fix this or something? Like, yeah. No. I mean, he can't really ambulate super well, again, because of like the broken leg. So it's like kind of a stumbling motion. Like it's not, you wouldn't set it free on its own as is right now, but definitely showing a bit of pep. Ooh, what's going on? What is that?

Oh. I don't know what's gotten into it. It's the little spider machine that I was fixing up for Temeel. What? I think Tumil had been temporarily distracted by trying to decide if she should throw static at that retreating goblin. Timmil, I suppose I should be returning this to you that I guess it's done. Thank you, Witted, for fixing this.

I can't believe it. She'll hold her hand out and let the spider limp its way if it'll come to her. Did your sister give the Atomaton a name? Kalia named this one Echo. And so I think it's only fair that we keep that one. Back in your possession, Echo seems a little bit less irritated and sort of settles down a little bit. It's so strange. I've never actually interacted with her outside of the presence of my sister.

I think there's like a heaviness that kind of descends over to Miel as she's just looking at this. She seems a little bit like taken out of time. I think Red sees that, just puts a hand on her shoulder and says, Hey, hey, look, we're going to face Duke's Alto. All of us together again. Yes. And everything that happened, everything that transposed, We're going to avenge all those who fell by his hand.

Damn right. I appreciate that, Red. But I have to admit, I would rather have my sister than vengeance. We cannot mourn endlessly those that have fallen though, so let's focus up and get moving. Yeah. It's strange. You'd almost gotten used to the sounds of the siege since your time. in silvery moon. But for the first time since your boots have been on the ground, so to speak,

there's actually a ringing silence in your ears. There are, of course, the shuffling sounds of soldiers' boots the next street over. But no clang of metal on metal, no blood-curdling scream of someone being pierced through by a lance, no sounds of spellcasting from the walls. No sounds of rubble. Buildings falling to pieces. It's almost like you're in the eye of a storm right now. Let's head to the wall. As Red starts to move off, I think Tamir will reach out a hand and kind of put it on his shoulder to stop him.

And she'll say, I appreciate your words, Red, and I'm glad that we are all here together. I still carry the weight of guilt for what has happened for my part in all of this as well for what happened to my friends and to my sister, but I cannot imagine being here with anyone else because it feels as though we have all lost someone and overcome all of that grief together. Thank you for travelling with me and for providing. support for my heart and mind as well as having my back. Red just puts his hand on top of yours and continues to lock eyes. And if you'll allow this, Joe, I'd love to use my inspiring leader.

Yay! Good job. Good call. Thank you. Thank you. To give everybody 14 temp HP. Nice. Hell yeah. It's like a half a hit from a giant. Hell yeah, brother.

You know, Timmil, has any of any of her told you how inspiring you are? Yeah, quite a Lita, although this should be called crying Lita. All right, well. Yeah, you cry so easily, Timu. I can't help it. And with that, you make your way out of the alley into the street leading to the North Gate. Let's go kill a Duke. I feel like we see a slow motion pan.

As the characters make their way out of the alley, and first we focus on their feet, and we see, like, Red's dusty leg braces, and Bessie's feet, like, hovering above the ground, Wim's little leather boots, Tamil, like, everybody Doran's big, clumpy shoes, and, like, slowly the camera pans up, and we see everyone in slow motion, like, doing the hero walk through the streets. And of course, Silvery Moon has seen some battle. There's like smoke billowing from a building to the left and some bodies on the right. Unfortunately, we see like the carnage of the people who have fallen, but our heroes stride through the street proudly, ready to face the forces ahead of them. And ostensibly, the fire giant Duke. But they are unafraid. Hell yeah

What a cinematic way to learn That Joe doesn't remember What kind of shoes Tammila's wearing You got leather boots on Leather sneakers Or high heels Clonky little Slutches

Shoes I'm just kidding I'm just kidding Ragged old loafers now God damn it She's wearing flip-flops That's right That's right

Thonged As you move forward forward, the crowd around the wall begins to make way for you. And you see a couple of familiar faces in the crowd. You see Captain Sidiere Hanlar. She actually reaches forward and she claps you on the shoulder red as you move past and she doesn't offer you any words, but she nods sternly like a companion would. Red nods back. You see on the wall the a mage and Azar. Your letter reached him. And he also nods in recognition. And one at a time,

these people fall away and make space for you until you are in front of the North Gate. And slowly, it clanks open. Through the slowly opening doors of the gate, you see the battlefield outside of Silrayan. There is a horde here awaiting you. Mostly a crowd of fire giants, but an assortment of ogres, goblins, some drow mixed in, and it is an imposing force, and yet they also part to permit you to move forward into their masses. Slowly, it is revealed that there is an opponent waiting for you. You see him now. Duke, Zalto, out.

fitted for battle, he stands waiting you. He is a colossal figure, not taller necessarily than his lieutenants, but an imposing sight with an aura of vengeance and militant power. He stands flanked by his hellhounds and holds an enormous. Armist hammer, taller than most buildings in Silvery Moon. He is bedecked in his battle armor and splashed with blood. And he is looking directly at you. He gestures for you to move closer, not caring to raise his voice.

Well, I suppose our dancing partner is here. Hmm. Quite the costume, too. Red looks back one last time just at like the rows of people behind us, all looking toward us. Yeah, and you see just an outpouring of hope and support, and the Von and Dodd keeps patrol of the skies above you. Are we supposed to trust that they're not going to interfere? Hmm. I think this is, this is about honor.

I mean, look, the city's protected. We've done our job. The Vonendod is ours. This is a last-ditch effort to save face. It's that man who's trying to save his pride. Well, if he's going to give us the chance to take him out right now, I say we take it. Agreed.

Then let's go. For once, I want to offer another opinion before we just march in. Oh. You're suggesting we don't fight? maybe we should hear what he has to say. I mean, I'm not saying that we entirely hear him out,

but maybe, like Red's saying, if he's trying to save his pride, then perhaps we can help him do that and figure out what this whole reordining is all about after all. I mean, I would like some answers. And he swallows hard.

I'm afraid that based on that Habber, there are maybe only one kind of conversation Zolto is looking to have. Yeah, you might be right. And I appreciate the sentiment of trying to get more information, which would be helpful, but I would rather him give us answers at the end of static, if you know what I mean. Yeah, we got to end this today. Duke Zalto is too dangerous.

Let's go. And you make your way through the parting horde. The army that is at the gates of silvery moon gradually makes way for you, and you end up in audience with the fire giant Duke Zolto. He addresses you thus. Fire giants long know that they must understand their enemies. and I have come to understand that you represent the greatest that the small folk has to offer in that regard. I have seen you take control of the Vonidod.

And after you visited Iron Slag, he looks down at the hounds at his feet chewing on some giant-sized bones. I learned a great deal about you. Why have you come to speak with me now? Oh, you misunderstand. We're not here to talk to you. We're here to kill you. Thundergruntlets crackle to life. He turns his gaze to Tamil and he says.

You spent time in my dungeons. I did, and if you are accepting feedback, I do have some points of complaint. I recall that you were. left your party in the mountain of fire. I recall that you promised a fair fight. Maybe there's someone else you'd like to speak with about that. He looks to the side and one of the tower shield giants moves aside his huge shield. And you see a woman lying on the ground.

the giant reaches down and picks her up and holds her out it's your sister Kelia she looks like she's probably just clinging to life Tamil doesn't move but you guys are close enough that you would see her grip tighten on static which she's holding next to her

you know she's white knuckling this thing over message to Witted. I think she'll say, Witted, my sister used to be able to cast spells from Echo. Is that something that you're also able to do? If you are able to put any kind of healing or any protective spell into Echo, that I could then send her. If Echo is a viable vessel, I might be able to, yes.

Temeel will take Echo out of her pocket and put her hand behind her back so that Echo can crawl down kind of the back of her leg and then over to Witted as unobtrusively as possible. I will take your silence as acknowledgement. What's interesting to me is that as much time has passed since I left, Iron Slagg. Much time has passed since you claimed that you had killed all of my friends and, And yet, here is my sister, which to me says that you knew that I was strong enough to come back and face you again. How flattering. A patrol found her outside of Iron Slag. And their kindness prevented them from killing her then and there.

I have been keeping her alive for just such an occasion. if you like I can dispose of her now Are you really that thick? I think red like puts An arm onto me or like Yeah Just don't don't push it

Don't push it Sorry this is This is hard to navigate Look you got your reaction Okay fair enough You have a bargaining chip You parted the waters We came out to speak

So what is your ultimate goal here. No amount of our death is going to save face. Every giant here knows you've failed today. You failed to hold onto the keys of the Vonundad. You've failed to attack Silvery Moon. The only path forward is an honorable death. Not so. You have something I want and I have something you want. If you relinquish control of the Vonidod, I am willing to let your sister go and call off the siege. If not, I will strangle this city from the outside. Again, you all can tell the minute changes in posture into Miel's body.

She is terrified of this threat. The idea of seeing Kalia having her back again for just a moment and then having to watch her die again, I think it's like it's starting to tip her over a little bit. But she's trying to maintain this like stoic, flippant bravery just as a show. But you can tell that she's starting to teeter. Mm-hmm. Look, you're in no position to bargain. No giant would even consider the deal you're offering if it were on the other foot. I think what I said is true and I think you know how little these men believe in you.

You came with the force, a force surely enough to beat some elves and we stopped you in your tracks. You sent an assassin in the city to prevent that shield from reappearing and yet it shines bright and strong and you brought that and red gestures over his right shoulder in the sky the vaughan dod an ancient piece of giant technology to war something that caused carnage and chaos for a thousand years and lost control of it fire giants look on your leader and weep at his absolute failure. You have struck a chord with Zalto and in anger he lashes out with his hammer and hits the shield of one of his shield guards. And just this ringing clang echoes out over the battlefield to quiet the murder.

murmuring of the giants around him. Enough! I will offer you one thing. Fight or die. We accept. Understanding, Red says loudly, turning to the giants, that this fight, unlike every other fight your Duke Zolto is offered, is fair.

That's right. You've offered this before to Temeel. and cheat it. Well, let's see if Duke Zolto can truly, and I mean truly, put his money where his mouth face. We accept your fight, and if we win, if your Duke Zolto's head should fall, then this army will turn around and head back to Iron Slag, where it belongs, never to stand in these fields again. And when I kill The last of you

Know that the city behind you Will fall to ruin And shortly thereafter The rest of this stinking land Come forth You know, I can't help but feel like reading the names of the Patreon supporters is becoming longer than the episodes themselves. So I'm gonna try something a little different here and use some magic.

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if I could have done it much faster than that so I'm going to go lie down We'll see you next episode Bye bye Did it have a name

Did your sister give the Automaton a name Yes She Which I'm sure you have Top of mine And that

It's Webster. Webster. It's been funny. Spider-Man. Yeah, she called it. Its name is all so witted, strangely. Peter Parker? Yeah, it's her little automaton.

Tanya. I can't believe she's hearing, then. How are you? Tanya. Shit. Okay, well, let's say one cool line at least. All right. Nice.

I don't know. Couldn't decide to better myself, Doran. Whim gives a big thumbs up. Let's kill some shit. Like a hero. Let's kill some bad guys. Hey, I wonder if we get that stone if they're all just kind of like,

you know, be flung from the city walls, like rag dolls. No, less is more. Jesus. It clanks open. Amazing volle, yes, amazing. We hear.

a bird in the distance. Get out of here, pigeon! Sorry. And an angry junkhead. Mm-hmm.