Dice Shame - 43 | 'What the Cat Dragged In'

Episode Date: August 6, 2020

An unexpected friend shows up at an opportune time... Comedy, action and a whole lot of shaming come together in Dice Shame, an Actual Play Podcast of Storm King's Thunder by Wizards of the Coast! Join our GM Jo; her partner Harlan, his brother Alex & their best friends Justin and Rob as they tackle the daunting world of Faerun in this legendary adventure module! Dice Shame is a podcast that welcomes its audience to the gaming table. Like the games they play at home, they try not to take themselves too seriously. The show aims to be entertaining, inclusive, and irreverent, while still taking the rules (somewhat) seriously. Join us every Thursday morning for brand new episodes available on all major platforms including; Spotify, iTunes, Google Play and more! If you haven't checked it out yet... what are you waiting for?!? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey, you looked like you were looking for somebody. Get away from me. Oh, fuck. You can tell me anything you like. I had no problem putting her to her end. You didn't run any trouble traveling out there? Come here to be trouble. I don't actually like that short form.

My name is Elizabeth. None of my friends thought it was a wise thing. My parents basically abandoned me. That's a classic door and move. Red, come back in here. Ah, ha, ha. Oh, hi. Red.

B. You old so and so. Welcome back to Dyshame. This is episode 43, What the Cat Dragged in. MVP, this week is Mari Karniski for being a supportive fan on both our Discord and Patreon. Thank you so much. Thanks, Mari. Malevolent is an original Lovecraftian audio drama whose story arc is directly influenced by the whims of our lovely patrons. If you haven't heard it yet, you'll love. definitely want to check it out now that it's being released on its own podcast feed.

We're editing the weekly release into five chapter chunks and putting it out every month or so. It's atmospheric, chilling, intriguing, and all of it is 100% done by our own Mr. Harlan Guthrie. Honestly, take a listen. I guarantee you're going to love it. Part one is called The Dark World and is available wherever you get your podcasts. It's pretty spooky. All right, should we do this? Yeah. Let's go.

So we've been playing this game called D&D. What? Is that what we've been doing? We've been playing a whole different game, Harlan and I, in our real life, called Detective. In our real life. Not this fake D&D life. Yeah, Detective, the board game.

It's awesome. We have this cork board in our office now that's dedicated to like an old school murder map where there are like post-it notes and pieces of yarn connecting. Oh, super cute. Joe is really big on the yarn. She's like, I got to yarn these up. Yeah.

Not even connecting to anything relevant, just yarn. It's a yarn board. Actually, this is a game that I asked Rob to get for me when he was down in JenCon two years prior. I remember messaging you and I was like, hey, can you find this game? Because at that point, they were only selling it there. But I ended up getting it because Rob said no. I'm a jerk like that. Which, having now gone to JenCon, I recognize why you did that, because JenCon is a massive place.

true. Yeah, it's huge. Oh, I'm, I'm sad. I wanted to go to Jen Con this year. Me too. But you know what? I think we should make an agreement right here live on recording. No pressure anyone. I'm in. I'm in. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Strongly maybe, yeah. Let's do it. You have my. Strongly maybe. Sure. 100%. Alex said sure. He did it. He did it. Too late. I see who you're really trying to pressure. Well, Rob. I think it'd be cool if Dyshame went to Jen Con. That'd be awesome. I don't feel like it'd be hard to twist Rob's arm because he's been there and he enjoyed it. is Alex is someone who literally doesn't leave the house. You know, he does this for us and that's it. But when we do go to Jen Con, I think it'll be really awesome to meet up with some of our other podcast friends. There's a few indie podcasts that we've connected with and it's really exciting to play a table top game with them.

Absolutely. Also, I think some of our fans in our Facebook community have said when we go down to Jen Con next, they're interested in meeting up and making us some signature cocktail. My goodness. Ziggy Cox. So you know where now. Liz Wilcox.

she wants to, she's made a drink for each of us. Dimension Door Podcast. That's the one. Yeah. They're ones that we're definitely going to meet up. They've made a Kraloth drink, a Jack drink, a red, and Doren drink. And Joe drink. But you know what? Oran drink. Maybe it could be something

with orange juice. Orange juice and soda. Orange juice and orange drink is like swamp water. Oh, no. I mix all the pops. So cute. Just a screwdriver. Speaking of drinks, Kraloth and Jack,

The two of you are sitting in the tavern in Belliard and a Tabaxi walks in, but it's not red. Whoa. It's this female Tabaxi. She's darker brown than red is, and she's got green eyes, and she has a bow strapped to her back. She looks a little bit weary of travel, and she looks around. She's got this expectant look on her face, and she looks around, and then her face. sort of falls a little bit. One of there's almost a moment when she steps in

where, you know, a beer or two in, a tobacco walks in, oh, hey, oh, no, mind, you're not doing it. Like that, like, almost like... Wow. Wow. Wow. I had a certain set of expectations. So we all just look alike to you, eh, Rob? Well, you know... I had to.

You know, I was thinking about this when Doran was saying, like, oh, a tabaxi, like, we have a friend's tabaxi. Like, I was thinking about how in D&D, like, with these races, like, it kind of would be such a small world to see another tabaxi that it would be like oh I know a taboxi and it wouldn't be totally like especially from someone like red he'd be like of course ask every tobacco and then Jack do you do you raise a hand I

I do think yeah he waves and says hi and then like halfway through that commits to it realizing that's not red at all but commits to it I love that hi I'm really friendly So, yeah, she'll walk over. Do you know that, Taboxi? I don't know. I thought it was read for a minute. Just go with it. Just go with it.

Hi. Hi. Hello there. Hey, you looked like you were looking for somebody. I was, yes. My name's B. Oh, hey, B. I'm Jack. This is Kralath.

Hello. Nice to meet you. It's a pleasure. Who are you looking for? Are you hungry? I just ordered some chicken, and we got some beers here, but... Oh, that's so nice of you. Yeah.

Well, thank you. I would love to sit. Yes. Please, please grab a seat. You can have some of my food. Well, we'll just order more. Maurice, can we get another plate of, what would you like? Some tibs?

Sure, of course. Some tips, please. Maurice, I kind of feel like tips, too. So if you don't mind, we can just kind of share off of each other's plates and, uh... Yeah, I just. she like tucks in beside you surprisingly familiar her long tail like curls around one of the bar stool legs and she sort of sets down her traveling haversack and goes for it you didn't run any trouble traveling out there it's kind of wild these days thankfully it's been quite a long day

for me oh yeah where'd you start oh just up the road some i cross this stone bridge really beautiful no way yes we were there a couple of days ago I've never seen anything like it. It's Dwarven. Dwarven. So our friend says, yeah. I don't know a thing about dwarves. What else can you tell me about it?

Oh, I can tell you all kinds of shit about it. And given an opportunity to, like, lose himself in something historical, Jack will, like, go through everything he knows about the dwarf king who lost the battle up there. Although, like, he'll just, like, talk her ear off pretty much. She's a surprisingly attentive pupil. And that's when the door opens. to permit Red. Immediately, his eyes fall on to the back of a Tabaxi.

And Kraloff and Jack on the bar. And just very loudly, he goes, oh, fuck. And he turns around and walks out. Hey, Red, what? Did you say Red? Yeah, that was our friend Red over there. Yeah. Red, come back in here.

Red is, like, quickly walking away, like, towards the town square. Just as Doran's coming back. Oh, hey, Dorn. Oh, where are you going? I thought I was going to meet you guys at the tavern here. Red sort of takes a moment, looks back at the bar, looks back at Doran, says, Uh, Doran, do you remember back in Waterdeep when we were in that bar and the barman said there was someone looking for me, another tobacco named B?

No, but I'll tell you what, let's have a drink. And I grab your arm and I start pulling you towards a tavern. Doren, just, wait, Doran, okay. So there's a tabaxi looking for you. What are they, uh, an old master or something? I don't know how their relationship. work with your phone? No, it's a little more complicated than that. Um, look, look, I just, I think it's best to, uh, well, why don't we go check out Dallas's house? I'm fairly certain that Jack and

Crayloth said that they were going to meet us here at the tavern. And so I think we should go. Doren, just wait. I think B sort of stood up and turned around and then you were gone. So she turns back to Jack and Crayloth. Oh, do you know, Red? Um, yeah. I, I mean, I sort of do in a man. of speaking. Well, I'll be. Small world. It's really more of a great big world. So you came from where Red came from. Do you know him from back home? Yes. Oh, yes. We know each other from back home, Mastika. Yeah, what did he tell me? Just wanted to wander for adventure, looking for a place to sell his bow and arrows, wonderful Fletcher. Is that what he told? I mean, I've heard wonderful

things about him, yes. I'm supposed to be his apprentice. Oh, can I roll... I just want to get a gut feel for how truthful she's being. Sure, yeah, absolutely. Roll in sight. I got a whole seven. A whole seven. Yeah.

Like a nice round seven. Like a round prime. Integer seven. Of all the tabasies that you know. She seems like she knows red for sure. Red's just very seriously Doren, just hold on. She's my apprentice.

See, when I come from, if you're a Fletcher or you're a guild artisan of some sort, you're meant to have an apprentice, and this one is that. So she was your apprentice for arrowfletching? She hasn't become my apprentice yet. You just told me she was. When I come from, see, every

guild artisan is meant to have an apprentice. And they're sent after it, and it's very rigorous and very demanding, and you have to be somewhere that they can contact you, and it's It's just, it's a, it's something I didn't want to do. And now that she's here, Doran, I need you help. Go in there and distract her. You're more or less what my kind might call a deadbeat trainer.

Oh. Yes, probably. Is that a good thing? So you basically abandoned your apprentice before you ever really got to know them. The person in there is someone I want to avoid. How are you going to help me? But you can't avoid the inevitable red. She's hunted you down thus far.

I met her in the blacksmiths, actually. I told her to come here to meet you because I thought it might be... Oh, great. I thought she was a good-looking, you know, animal person. I thought maybe you might think she's a better-looking animal person. What? She's no goblin.

You're not being an animal person yourself. Doren, and like, and for the first moment, Red has this really sort of helpless. He, like, sits on the side of the well, and he's like, Doreen, how am I supposed to... What am I supposed to do? I'm no, I'm no teacher. I can't, I can't try to help this. I, I'm lost.

Back in the bar, B is like, hungry for details. The same way that sometimes Jack is hungry for knowledge, where she's like, so please, anything that you have to tell me about Red, what was it like to adventure with him for so long? Yeah, and almost Jack's happy to answer. lots of them because he likes to talk and hear his own voice and be distracted. But I think almost every one of them ends with like a question about tabaxi or about B or about Red's past or about like stuff trying to like fish for just as much information as she's trying to get like, oh yeah, we ended, I hired him to go on an archaeological dig. That's how we met, Crayloth and he met in Water Deep?

They took a boat to Water Deep. Where did you, how did you end up here? How did you get across? Well, I of course was on a boat for a very long time to get across and I just, I really can't abide the water at all. So that was a terrible journey for me. But I knew that at the end of it, I would find my teacher. And so I was just thrilled to be going on this adventure. I mean, after I was done throwing up every day. But then after the ship, I'm sure you had to go on an even bigger adventure across the land. And had you been to the mainland before?

No. This was my first time ever in Fé, Rune. And I can tell you, I'm so thrilled to be here. and I'm learning so much. Anyway, you should excuse me. I've just, I mean, he must not have seen me. Red is, like, sitting there. He looks up at Dorn and says, what do I do? You know, Red, you cannot escape the inevitable. For example, when I was married the first time I got married

and it was a difficult situation because... Yes, you mentioned it was a goblin. I told... I told... I told you about this? Yes, and he like pats the stone next to him for you to sit down. Oh. And like lifts you a little bit so you can sit on the well next to him.

When I fell in love with a goblin, none of my friends thought it was a wise thing. My parents basically abandoned me. And I was left to figure it all out of my own. But what I realized was that you really can't avoid the inevitable. And sometimes you have to face difficult things in life. head on and i think that we together should go in and meet this apprentice of yours and see what's really up because at some point you're going to have to and red really does listen to dorin when it comes

to military tactics uh red for all of his aloofness feels like he has a good footing in that and when it comes to sort of emotional empathy, Red has a good footing of that. But when it comes to problem solving in those worlds, when they don't have a clear solution, you know, when it comes to Kraloth, he doesn't understand how it started, so he abandons it. When it comes to the grudhog, he doesn't see a clear solution, so he wants to abandon it. And to an extent, that's what he did here as well. But something resonates within Red, as Doran speaks. And he sort of nods. Oh, right.

All right. Yes. Yes. Of course. What is. I mean, right? Yeah. I, we have to continue our adventure.

B will understand that I can't stop and train her. We'll figure out a solution. And he stands up and helps you off the well. And as we start heading towards the tavern, he's like, you know, I'd love to meet your ex-wife one day. I don't think you'll ever meet my ex-wife, Red. Well, there's more to that. story as well and like red stops that's not for here or this time promise me that if i speak to be that you'll tell me the rest of that story i promise i will tell you the entire story of my marriage

to the goblin just her name before we go in just tell me her name i doren's eyes look up to the sky in sort of a memorable way her name was kremelot haggerfeld and red is just like All right, deal. And they do a fantasy handshake, and Red heads towards the tavern. Yeah, Red, as you go to open the door of the tavern, the door is opened by B, and she's standing on the other side. Ah, ah, ha, ah. Hi. Red.

B. You old, so and so. How are you? And, like, I imagine Kralath and Jack are, like, behind her as well. I think there's definitely this moment of, like, she can't turn back because there's Kralath and I behind her, and you can't turn back because Doren's right behind you, and you're stuck there. We're all standing in the doorway. And there's like a little halfling like, excuse me, I'm trying to get in.

Sorry. I've been looking all over for you. Yes, I know. I mean, I imagine so. Wow. I mean, were you? Yes, yes. I landed in Waterdeep a couple of months ago now.

I was asking all around, and then it turned out that you'd pass through and I was able to pick up your scent. And I followed you all the way here. Well, cool. Yes. And it's awfully nice. Nice to meet you. And Doran extended... Oh, sorry, yes.

Hold on. Crayloth, Jack, Doran, this is my daughter, B. Hi. Your daughter. Nice to meet you. Yes. Oh, well... In a manner of speaking.

Yes, it's a bit of a long story. Well. And they, like, awkwardly hug. I kind of picture they put their arms around each other a little bit and like... Well... Are you planning to be in town long? No, yes. I mean, probably.

yes and he looks towards jack uh no uh no probably not we're you know on the road i mean there's a lot to tell you yes yes i have a lot to tell you also yes yes yes um well why don't you go first and then i'll go and then we can go well um maybe you guys should take one of the booths instead of we i'm standing here in the middle of the doorway that halfling's looking real eager can you fucking move please oh right it's too late like bees already got her pack like half unslung from her back and she puts down everything and she like unwraps this long parcel that she has with her. Oh. There's a long piece of canvas that she is unraveling from something and she stands up with this bow in both of her hands and she holds it out to you red. What? Bede, what is this?

It's a long bow. Its grip is made of woven strips of black. leather. The light brown wood is worn in places, but looks well cared for. It's recently been oiled. And Red, you recognize an image on the top, like the upper part of the bow. It's a little fish, daubed in teal and blue paint. You recognize this bow. It's called the dream maker. B looks up at you as she holds this bow out to you and she says, um, this is rivers. And Red, just completely unlike him, for all the time you've known him, he just reaches out and takes it in such a respectful, solemn way. Is she alright? No, Red.

She died. Wow. Your mother was, and he, like, kind of shakes it off and looks absently to the other three who are just, I'm assuming slackjod. Dorn, like, immediately redirects his eyes and, like, is, starts fiddling with something. Yeah. Krayloth is... I think I need to sharp this. Kind of gestures to Dorn and Jack to come into a corner booth and sit down.

Yeah, I like the idea maybe we set out two of the drinks and some of the food on one table and we go sit in a different... Yeah, Red just stands there looking at the bow. How did she die? It doesn't matter now. B, I'm so sorry, I, uh... That's okay. She was the best friend I could have ever asked for. I, uh, I really don't get...

That's all right. You should really have this. This is not... This is nothing that I should take from you, and he sort of pushes it back up towards it. No, Red, I have my own. As I'm sure, you know, an apprentice has to make their own bow, and so I've been working on this one.

Right. I think it's pretty good, actually. The matron told me that I was to be your apprentice. Well, I did specifically ask her to be your apprentice. Right. But she said that it would be a fine gift for me to bring this to you. No, of course. And yeah, I mean, that bow on your back looks great.

Thank you. What can I teach you? This is great, really great. And Red sort of was looking to the door again and back to her. This is wonderful. You know, and he takes like a half step towards the door. I really appreciate everything you've done, B, and he takes another half step. And I think...

And Doran kind of scoches to the edge of his seat and skips over to the door. And Red takes another half step towards the door. And I really appreciate everything that you've said and shared. But really, B, I can't be here. And he turns and runs right into Doran. Like, boom. In fact, what Red is trying to say is he can't be here. He needs to bring you to come sit down at the table.

with us over here, because life often throws us different loops. And did Red just tell you that we recently engaged in some battles with giants? Isn't that interesting B? I feel like Red hit Doran so hard that he, like, fell back onto the floor. And as Doran's saying this, he's like looking at Red almost angrily, you know, because it was so clear that Red was about to bolt again. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And Red stands up and dust himself and says,

uh yes um and he walks back over to be and puts the bow back in the tube for the time being and gestures to the booth with the other three hmm huh anyway i'm so sorry for being so awkward and bringing all of this um history uh you were obviously in the middle of something today it sounds like from your friend what your friends were saying you've been very busy yes and actually we're recouping today so we've got lots of time to rest And catch up with our friends and family. Right. Red?

And Doran kind of like scoots in the booth next to Red so that there's no real easy way to escape. Yes, right. No, Doran's right. And, you know, we're all family here, really. Some of us more than others. But Kralath is one of my best friends. And I, like, gesture widely to Kralat sitting across. Traylor, did you know about B?

Red hadn't said a thing. Oh, that's not true. I'm like nervously eyeing between B and Kralat. Her eyes get like giant cartoon kitten eyes. Of course I talked about B. Krayloth, remember I told you all about it. You know what? And I'm going to do an insight role.

Nice. The good thing we got some expressive eyes going on and really glances. I give Kralat the meaningful glance to say, don't tell her that I said nothing about her. I got a 20 for insight. Whoa. Nice. Am I able to suss out, like, what the situation is and, like, sense Red's?

Red is very loudly trying to tell Kralath, please lie and say that I have told you a lot about this poor girl. So, so in this moment, now that Kralath is kind of back, you know, to his senses, he sees what Red is going on. And I'm picturing, like, boomed in on Red's face. And there's, like, sweat coming down and just like, whoo looks over at B. And B's, like, hesitantly looking. And then he looks back at Red. Red's like nodding. Come on, buddy.

I'm going to do a perception role on B and her gear. So what can I just tell from the surface of B? That's a 22. Please make it something that Red doesn't know. That makes no sense. Wow, okay. She's wearing a piece of jewelry that you don't recognize as having come from this. continent.

It's got some feathers on it that seem fairly exotic. Orange sea glass. It looks like she's been collecting things from her travels. So although the like nuts and bolts of

this piece of jewelry seem to be largely things you don't recognize, it looks like she's picked up like a pebble from the shore of the desert river where the stone bridge was and you know she's she's got like a couple of things from feyroon sort of attached it's like a charm bracelet but with in like necklace version so crayloth comes back and just like zoom comes back

into focus and he says he didn't just talk about you he sang your praises that's right he told me oh crayloth crailoth you should see be and how she is so fascinated by all the little things in the world. And I can see it a little bit in red as well. But with you, there's something special about you. Just look at that orange sea glass necklace you've got there. Red's told me about that. But I think you've collected some more things there too. Looks like some pebbles from a lake. Looks like some feathers. You're definitely right about her, Red. She's real special. That makes a deception, just glowing. No, I don't want you to roll a deception because this girl is so desperate to believe what you're selling her, which is that this tabaxi here that she's

been looking for for so long actually gives a shit about her. So she wants to buy that line for sure. Doren's like looking at Kri-Lat like with wide eyes and he like leans in and whispers in Kri-Lat's here. Is that really all true? You try some of these tips here. I mean that's right. B, I, of course, how couldn't I tell these guys about you? Um, And, you know, all of that we've been through. I mean, yes, I suppose we spent some lovely times together, especially when I was younger, not so much in the past few years. Well, you know, I mean, I, the things that happened being the explorer and all that.

Look, I think this is a great reunion, and we wish you all the best. So, B. What brings it to Fyroon, other than to catch up with your father and, uh, You know, do you have some other things that you're planning to do here? It's really less of catch up with my father and more, I guess, discover my profession. I was hoping to apprentice under him back in Mastika, and he disappeared. And so I thought, well, I suppose it's time to see a little bit of the world and came across the ocean. So now that I found him, I think, because.

the matron said that my apprenticeship was approved that you would be able to commence teaching me. I mean, I think we all agree here that, you know, it isn't the time to train a hero, you know, a young girl. I think we have more pressing issues, no offense, B, and he sort of like nods emptily to the other three. It is impeccable timing. Do you know about, Red, did you tell her about what? we've been doing, what we've been assigned with? Yes, so far as, you know, things that have happened, giant-wise, did I tell you, I fought a giant?

Yeah. Oh, yeah, we fought some giants. This is... That I can't train, U-B. I think that's what we're all saying, right? Sorry, but no luck here. Good luck, though. as red is like making the motion with his hand he's sort of looking to crayloth like this disappointed look and like looking to jack jack to see his own dad reflected in you at the moment you know you know all you have to do is just fletch and uh but um and then he tries to squeeze out like very very abruptly eh but you know i there's other things that i have to do and he like slinks down underneath the table dorin doesn't allow it he throws his hand down on the table you're gonna sit right there red and we're gonna figure this out be why why

don't you join us. We are heading back to a giant man. She doesn't need to join us. What are you talking about, Doran? B doesn't want to join us. She doesn't need to join us, right? I would love to join. No, you're not allowed. What are you doing? You listen to you're red. You're being really unfair. You've clearly abandoned this young girl from a very young age. And it's disgusting. It's disgusting to see this sort of behavior from you. Wait. From someone that I had love and admire so Dorn, what are you talking about? You want, you want B to come with us to be killed by giants? Well, I did.

Like, it happens to everyone around us. You would bring someone to his kids. Yes. Thank you, Jack. Jack is the only one here that's got my back. Look, and he, like, nods at you. She doesn't necessarily have to come with us, but she should be involved in. Like, man, this is complicated. I don't need to be in the middle of this.

I didn't come here to be trouble for you, Red. Well, you are troubled. Oh. Hey, now, Red. You've traveled a long way, B. And it's clear that this situation is much more complicated than any of you bargained for. But the only way that we're going to get through it is if we sit down and we lay it all out on the table, and Kralov pushes away all of the empty dishes, just speak openly and honestly and not be afraid of our feelings.

And Red, now standing, sort of taking the movement from Jack, says, well, good luck with that. And he leaves. You know, we've got this house outside of town. I think we're going to stir it up as some sort of orphanage for people whose fathers who have abandoned them, you say, and the door's like just swinging and I'm like out in the night air. So feel free to come and stay there with us, B. This is certainly, uh, Doran's now lost in thought. well i would be lying if i said that i had the closest relationship with red and i suppose coming here was a bit of a shot in the dark i was hoping that he would be amenable to the orders of the matron and also to my request since my mother died and i think maybe he just need

some time to process everything. B, that's a very mature attitude for you to have. And I admire your ability to disconnect from the difficult emotions that I'm sure you're feeling. Yes, of course. I think maybe I'll stay the night here at the inn. I would like you to understand that I'm quite capable of taking care of myself. And I was serious when I suggested that I come and help you with whatever it is your mission designates.

You know, she is the daughter of Red. B, you're going to stay here the night? Yes. We'll be sure to come by and touch base with you before we move down to Grud Hogg. She reaches her paw across the table and takes your hand, Kralath, and she looks deep into your eyes. And she says,

I do not intend to let my father get away from me. And then she stands up and goes upstairs. I'll see you guys around. I might try and walk over to take the kids to the Hamford House, see if we can find some place for them to stay for tonight. I'll speak with Brad. Krillath. Why don't you stick back and have a few more drinks with me?

Yeah, that sounds good. There is something that we need to take care of before we leave, too. so let's have a few drinks and then let's uh yes do that absolutely jack we'll meet you back at the manor you and red see if you can find him on the way sounds like a plan so jack gets elizabeth and anthony packed up and ready to go and settles any tab with the bar and starts heading out towards the hampered house you notice as you're walking that the kids footsteps are starting to drag like they've been through quite the ordeal they've traveled a lot today they're little they're tired. It's past their bedtime on the best of nights. And so it's starting to seem to

you like a great idea to get them into a bed. Just a little further. Uh, why don't you to walk up ahead there, see if you can, uh, Jack's at a loss. He's not, he's not cut out for this fatherly stuff. Jack, as you're heading that way towards the humprod household, you see that red is just sitting under a large tree, sort of on the outskirts of town, just looking at a bow in his lap. Hey, you two want you to just walk up, wait for me by the gate over there. We'll be right there. It's almost, oh, we're almost there. Uh, hey, you doing all right? Hey, Jack. I'm, I've been better, I think. Yeah, what a, what a day, huh? Yes, yes. Uh, you're going to talk about it, or? And he just looks at the bone in his lap for a long time and says, you know, she looks so much like her mother.

B. Yeah. At river, right? What was, what was her name? Branch of a river. Oh, beautiful. She was my best friend, but the vast majority of my life. And when I left, I always regretted not bringing her with me. Would she have come? No. She had B. Her life was complete. I recognize why I look like the world's worst father in there, but... Yeah, I know one who's got your beat, don't worry. Does I help my case at all if I say that B, for all of her glory, was more of a favor to River?

I'm not what you'd call someone who's really interested in having a relationship of that sort. He says sort of through like a cringe, as if even into Baxi culture, sort of being asexual isn't welcomed. But River was someone I love very dearly as far as I could love someone. and she really wanted to bring a piece of me into this world along with her, and I was happy to oblige. That sounds like a really complicated set of decisions. You know, it wasn't, actually.

No? It was probably the easiest decision I've ever had to make. But what to do after, how to handle a problem that I couldn't see a solution to. That was difficult. It's not that River wanted me to be a part of B's life. but be so wanted to have something in her life that was me. And she deserves that. But how do I be that?

Do you want to be that? I want her to have it. She's the best version of anything I could ever be. Jack, she is smarter. And God, what a sense of humor. I remember playing with her when she was little back when I was just Uncle Red because River wasn't sure. know how to address it, but she would light up my life in no way that I could ever find

a comparison. I don't have any answers before you read with everything happening in the world right now, despite all the dangers. Can you imagine what we got went through walking across that bridge or walking through the lands? You know, at the end of the day, it's dangerous is out there. And to leave her following after us, to just try and run away, that's not going to end well for her. But what if she dies? On her own, out there in the world, it would be a travesty to lose another light like she is in this world. But if it's at our hand, Jack, this is why this scares me, this responsibility, this ownership of another life. It's nothing that I can, I can barely manage my own life. I can't even imagine what, what role I would have in her.

And if I was bad at it, if I couldn't do it as well as I could take a shot, if, if she fell because of me? Unconscionable. I can't even imagine how you would feel. Then how? How do I proceed? How do I make, how do I give her what she deserves? There is a middle ground between leaving her trailing after us on her own through danger, and bringing her with us leading the pack or standing beside you. I don't have any answers for you, Red. And Red stands up and sort of puts a hand on Jack's shoulder. Yeah, I think I'll wrap an arm around Red and sort of give me a half hug.

You make a lot of good points, Jack. I think Red looks back to town and towards the humprat household. And for the first time, he sort of goes towards his problem. And he says, you're right. Good night. And he heads back towards town, back towards B. So after a little while, Kralath, you and Doren have hoisted some brews together. So Kralath, after slamming back several beers with Doren, he stands up and he's not tipsy at all.

You're a big guy. Yeah. And he says, well, I think we should probably head back to the villa soon. But, yeah, we come with me, Dorn. There's something I want to take care of. I would like nothing better than to go with you on this. nicely lit evening and see what sort of trouble we can get into. So you guys open the doors of the tavern.

And we step out into the cold, cool night there. And we start walking. We don't really say anything to each other, but we get to the entrance to the graveyard in town. And I lead Doran in. And on the side, there's like this wagon with a couple coffins. Oh, I see. This is where you and Jack,

dropped off the body of Galvin. That's right. He was a brave soul. Come on. Help me out with this. Doran doesn't really say anything. He just lifts the end. We walk the coffin over to the grave, and we slowly lowered it in and begin to cover it. And Kralath looks back up at the stars. It says, Doren, can I tell you something? You can tell me anything you like.

I feel like, uh, I feel like there might be something wrong with me. What do you mean? The, uh, the Hemperat woman. Hmm. I had no problem putting her to her end. I half expected to be afraid or reluctant or, maybe resolved that it was the right thing to do, but...

Instead, uh, it just felt like nothing. No pain, no resolve, no reluctance, just emptiness. Have you ever felt that way? Well, the, uh, the conversation tonight, uh, my, my ex-wife came up. Huh. Her name was Kremelot. She was a, she was a goblin. You know, when I met her and, uh,

actually, when I fell in love with a goblin, it was, I was torn between two worlds. My world, in which I was brought up to fear and hate, goblin and orcish kind, and then all of a sudden falling into a world where I was now in love with what others would presume to be my enemy. That must have been confusing? It became even more confusing when I took up arms in a battle and, and, uh, I didn't know it at the time, but I actually slaughtered Krumlott's entire family. And I felt nothing but success.

And the surge of adrenaline, I was empowered over the defeat of my enemies. Why do we enjoy killing nearly as much as we enjoy loving? This is a paradigm. Feeling things that we feel like we shouldn't feel. Or in my case, not feeling those things. Kraloth. And Doran reaches up on his tippy toes,

and he puts his hand on your shoulder. Oh. So cute. And he puts his other hand on the back of your neck, and he tilts your head down to him. He says, it is only human for you to feel these conflicts. for if you didn't feel any conflict,

then I would know there was something wrong with you. Come now. Let us bury Calvin. Thank you, Doran. And he begins to shovel dirt in. And he turns and he looks up at you and he says, by the way, that hamper felt, she was real scum. Don't worry about it.

That's a classic Doran move. That's a classic Doran move. Because he got the name wrong when his heart was there. Well, that's that. Yeah, why don't we head back up to the manor and get ourselves some sleep? Absolutely. And you see Doran kind of pushing this makeshift cross that they've put together. Some fence boards that were lying around.

Rest well, Galvin. You're a brave soul. And Jack, you're back at the manor. Are you just heading straight to bed or did you want to get anything done in the middle of the night? I mean, definitely going to find a bed for Liz and Tony, the children. Yeah. I can't name them already, eh? Elizabeth and Anthony is a lot.

It's a lot of... I don't actually like that short form. My name is Elizabeth. Listen. Named after my grandma, so... Stop it. It's been a long day. Shut up, kid.

It's been a really long day. Yeah, and I don't think there's too much... Like, I'm not going to wake Talas or whoever else is around. Just can sort of deal with that in the morning. It's pretty late. Yeah, there's definitely evidence of a couple of visitors at the Manor. But it's late. You don't want to wake anyone up.

Yeah. And Red actually is going to sleep in town. But before he goes to bed, I'm going to do one last thing. So Red heads back to Belliard and maybe 20 minutes after Bee lays down before falling asleep, she hears a knock at the door to her room. Oh, okay. Bee gets up and she goes to the door and she... But he's already gone. Oh, okay.

So she opens it. So she opens it. Sort of run down the hall. A keen eye, you know, would see him leaning around. the corner but what she sees is a is like a small simple box at her feet and as she picks it up there's just a note on the top that just says was happy to see you dad and as she opens the box she sees a suit of studded leather armor Emotions run high around here.

That's probably because of how much we love our Patreon supporters, especially our great old ones, Christopher Ryan Evans and Adam Fry. You make us a better team. There's like this wagon with a couple empty coffins. Just kind of like, I guess it's like, you know, DIY. Take one, leave one? Graveyard buffet. Take a coffin, leave a coffin.