High Rollers DnD - Altheya: The Dragon Empire #38 | The Ashen Citadel (Part 2)

Episode Date: October 3, 2024

The party uncover some mysterious Crownsteel worshipping cultists in the ruins of the Ashen Citadel... but they must try to save two unusual prisoners! _______________ Boost your Charisma with some HR merch! https://highrollersdnd.teemill.com/ Add the Heroes of Altheya Minis to your TTRPG collection here: https://only-games.co/collections/high-rollers Enhance your bath time experience with the official Altheya themed DiceBombs at https://geekyclean.com/! Check out https://www.highrollersdnd.com/ for all the latest HR News! Love the podcast? Give us a glittering 5 star review! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/high-rollers-dnd/id1401508198?see-all=reviews Support the High Rollers on Patreon and get early access to Podcast episodes, vods and more: www.patreon.com/HighRollers Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound, TCT Adventures (Solasta: Crown of the Magisters), Monument Studios and Jolene Khor! Check out Jolene Khor and all her wonderful work on High Rollers on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1WX3ICiTmf4GpHwImnQMs6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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the best part of beer is the beer. Your game time tastes like Miller time. Learn more at MillerLite.ca. Must be legal drinking age. Welcome to part two everybody of Althea the Dragon Empire. Our heroes have been traveling into the Ash Hills in pursuit of Ser Eldraq Ignis, a knight of the realm of Kul'dra. They have fought against some beasts on their journey, having encountered them on the road, but they have now come across the Ashen Citadel, an old ruin from a battle during the Oriat Insurrection.

And having made their way there, and with Ophelia revealing a lovely new spell, have begun to investigate the ruin, with Ophelia sending out her severed hand as a scout to investigate what is within the remnants of the Citadel's ruins. Nice. And that is where we are today.

You overheard some strangely garbed figures with bizarre and quite ominous tattoos and paint markings on their bodies. You have witnessed that they have some prisoners, two strange creatures that Ophelia is not familiar with, some sort of sentient plant-like humanoid seems to be in a rather bad condition, as well as a small green-skinned woman

with sort of over-the-top, fae-like or child-like features, big ears, wearing a sort of very natural-themed outfit. Lots of green in the outfit, a few emeralds and things like that tucked away in jewelry, a pair of sort of thigh-high leather boots around quite a stocky figure, and yeah, that's what you see before you. I have placed upon the mini-map some representations of the figures.

The ones that Ophelia's hand has or could see from its current location. Right. So is Ophelia able to communicate while controlling her hand? Yep. She can come back out of it. It's like a familiar. Like when you send your senses out in a familiar, she is currently blind and deaf, I believe. But she can, as an action,

jump between the two and communicate. I have placed, there are several of these Ashen Marked Cultists, we'll call them for now. There are a couple who are patrolling on some high vantage points, the tower in the middle. Ophelia's hand can see that there is one walking upon the remnants of the battlements. There is one overlooking where the prisoners currently are,

as well as one in the gatehouse. And then there are three currently around the campfire as well. Okay, and sorry, what was the sigil they had again? It is a piece of very familiar looking metal with a draconic claw grasped around it. Okay, yeah, I think when Ophelia mentions that, I guess I will try in some way to see.

Well, let's find out if Ophelia does mention it. Oh, okay, sure. Yeah, because Ophelia's the only one who's seen all of this so far. Yeah, I think after seeing the prisoners in the cage, everything that's going on, yeah, Ophelia will come out of her form. Ugh!

What's it like in there? Is it bad? Do we need to be quiet? Do we need to be? There's, sorry, stage whisper. There's two strange figures in a cage. Like monsters or? There are two strange figures in a cage. Like monsters or? One looks kind of like a tree person.

I have no idea, I've never seen this before. And then another one is a little green fellow with a big hat. Wait, in cages? In a cage, yes. I think the tree fellow looks hurt and the other one is sort of trying to look after it. But I think that was the one that was calling for help.

The little one. Oh, those are the ones, I thought they might've been caged for everyone else's safety, but sure. And then by the camp over there, there's these, this is almost very strange, there's these cultists, I think they're cultists, I'm not sure if they're cultists, they have these gray robes on with gray paint

across their eyes and they have a symbol that looks like crown steel, it's a dragon claw holding crown steel, I think, it's like a black. Oh, like a, oh, a shot. Like when you cast your fire and it's black and red and gold. It's like that. Ah, that's not good.

That's not good at all. I'm wondering, is this Dame Cassandra? This wouldn't be like the Awoken that she mentioned? Or that was the Proto Magi, I think. Wasn't it the Awoken? I'm trying to remember. I don't know, Gruff, what do you think? Oh, that all I don't know.

I've, uh, shit, I don't tend to pay attention to these things, I've got to say, boy, oh, I'm sorry. Yes, I'm afraid it's all news to me. I'm a bit distracted and worried about Rodri, you see. Okay, um. She is, I text her, it's fine. But the cultist was saying something about vessels, like two vessels.

And what did I intend to do with vessels? There's some kind of cult here. From what I know, vessels, that sounds kind, doesn't it sound sacrificial, wouldn't you say? Vessels. I mean, if they're using crown steel or worshiping it in some way, maybe they're trying to create, I don't know,

maybe trying to infuse things with crown steel. Either way, it might mean they have some. Is there- Or they just want some and you're about to walk in and be like, hey, lots of it. If they worship it, I mean, anyway, I'm not gonna try that, but is there some way,

I was told that I'd have some way of sensing, not necessarily sensing, but... I want to try to find a way to almost like tell if there is crown steel in the area or something. Worst case, can I use fate to do that? I will allow you to spend a fate point to try. Sure, I'll give it a go. Maybe I can generate some kind of concuss.

There it goes. I realize I'm spending our last fate, but. An arcana check, please. Arcana check. I'm just going into a giant cultist. Does he get the fate dice for it? No. Arcana check, sure.

Oh, it's a fate to try and attempt to do so. As this is not, he does not have any such spell that allows him to do so, and Arcana does not normally work this way, but I will allow it as a Devil's bargain. Sure, okay. I was gonna ask if I can enhance it, but that doesn't make any sense.

That is, that is a 14. 14. You are close but not successful, so I will say this. Okay. You think you can not successful, so I will say this. Okay. You think you can, you're not sure, but there does, there is something familiar. You don't know where in this camp, but there is something in this region,

most like a whisper calling to you. Xanthir. Is it so subtle that Xantheus himself doesn't even recognize it or like? I have said all I can. But there is something within this area, within this ruin, something calls to you as you focus on the crown steel itself almost reaching out.

Yeah, I guess for everyone else, I don't necessarily go absent as such, but the conversation continues and I kind of go a little bit distant as if absorbing with myself while you guys carry on, I guess. What do you think, Santhus? Okay, I'll put it back in.

Um... I mean, I can't say for sure. There's an unease, but I can't say if it's just the ruins themselves or if it's the crown steel reacting to it, or I'm not sure. But it stands to reason, if these are cultists worshipping this, then

it's likely they have some or are looking for some. And a citadel this close to the Ash Hills? People holding prisoners in a ruin like this is not official business. It doesn't seem right. No, I mean, if they're looking for vessels... Just trying to see if it's worth us going in diplomatically rather than... I don't think they're going to listen to diplomatic thinking. No, which we should be quick to defend those in there.

The ones in the cages, I feel you, do they look like, I mean, you say they're not necessarily from around here, you've never seen anything like them before. Is there any indication of they're travelers? Are they treasure hunters? Are they artisans, traders? Is there any indication of why they might be here, just from looking at them? You can pop back into Spider, Spider senses,

if you want to get a better look at them. I've never looked. Eyes roll back. Oh, there she goes. Yeah, do you want to send the hand closer to the prison? Yeah, I'll just get it to have a little look. Let's put a little D4 down just to represent the old hand. Go, little hand, go.

That's a D4. Yeah. So the hand is currently over here on this corner. How close do you want it to get? It can see fine from its current location. Okay, well yeah, it can go a little bit closer, maybe five, 10 feet closer. As you move the hand closer, can you make a stealth check for the spider for me, please?

That is a plus four, and I will give you advantage, because it's quite natural for it to be. This is like five feet away from the bar, right? Mm-hmm, yeah. 17 was my highest. 17, all right. That'll be for those guys. That'll be for that guy.

Where's the cage? Cage is here. Oh, right where I couldn't see. Yeah, unfortunately. Beyond that building in front of you there. The nature of it, you have to rely on each other to play the other piece. No, no, that's fine. Now that I. The nature of it, you have to rely on each other to point out the things. No, no, that's fine.

Now that I've spotted it, it's fine. The hand scurries closer. The people around the, you know, not lit campfire, it's the middle of the day, they've not got the campfire lit, it's late afternoon, but they're packing their things. They don't notice the hand. The guard up on the tower does not seem,

just turns away at the wrong moment and just doesn't notice it. But the little woman, the green-skinned woman in the cage does seem to notice it. And there is a sort of, ah! As she sees this hand, ah! Like, she sort of panics. But you get a close look.

You can see that, yeah, this sentient tree creature, you did notice it, it has this kind of toga of moss and leaves and then this skirt of vines, but you can see that, almost looks like a part of it, there is a bow that seems to be, no arrows, you can't see any arrows, but there's a bow strapped around its chest as well, and it does have pouches on a simple leather cord,

like hanging off of a belt. The little green skinned woman, the goblin woman, she is dressed, yeah, like a traveler, but quite a wealthy traveler. Like I said, there are like little pieces of jewelry, emeralds specifically, or pieces of jade, green gemstones. And she has one of her emblems, which is attached. She's got a little capelet, not a full cloak,

but a little capelet. And you've got very strong nature themes from her. There's twigs and holly and little leaves and thistles stuck into her hat. And from her hat is hanging little charms, like bone charms or little pieces of rocks and geodes. And you can see that there is a symbol which appears to be a dragon's head with green eyes.

Little checked green stone eyes, and it's hanging off of a little small chain as part of her capela. And like I said, she's kind of got very natural looking fibers. She doesn't seem to be like a merchant or anything like that, but yeah, her clothing is well suited for traveling, for sure.

Can Ophelia just command the hand to do a little wave and then a thumbs up? So it kind of hops onto its thing. Waves. Like the Terminator just. You see, kind of hops onto its thing. Waves. Like the Terminator just. You see, like kind of still sensing, the little goblin woman is sort of like, gestured away from it and sort of like,

almost starts again when it like waves and thumbs and she like looks around. Hello? Hi? Hand waves. Oh! She's looking like a motioning like the, she's like shush. One, one, one.

I look at the hand to scurry away. Yeah, you scurry the hand away as this guard up on the top and the one that's overlooking the prison. Oh, what are you talking about? Be silent. We did not make a pact. Not if you cause trouble, perhaps we will negotiate on our agreement with your mistress."

And the woman's just like, but could you please, and she turns around, please could you get some help for my friend here? I've got to remember her voice. My friend, he's really hurting. I can't help him without my spell components, please. That's all I want them for. I won't try and escape.

You will have no such thing, prisoner. Is this something we can all hear just from where we are? Just Ophelia. Okay. You guys are 100 feet away. Ah, of course. Remember, you're 100 feet away. This is all coming through Ophelia's scouting.

Ophelia's eyes roll back. Okay. They look like travelers. Right. From what I can gather, they have a simp, the little green fellow has a green emblem of a green dragon on them. Wasn't there something about a green dragon in this area? Oh, yes, yeah, they're trying to restore the land.

That's right, I think it was a green dragon was sent. That could be part of the party. Trying to help the land. Well, okay, if they are travelers from that province, I guess, then. Could it be like a gnome or something, like this little figure? Is it a gnome or a?

They're about the size of a gnome, but they've got green skin. Green skin? Strange. But that means they could help us fight, maybe? Do you think they're capable? I mean, one of them was talking about spell components. So I think, and the other one has a bow

without any arrows on them or anything. So I think they could be capable. We just need to get them out, get the spell components and they can help us out. But one, that one's injured, right? The tree is injured, yes. Okay. Okay, maybe regular spells might work against them,

but, or on them. Okay, and what spells might work against them, but... Or on them. Um... Okay, and what about the cultists? Well, are they... Do they look like they're going to harm the... They look like warriors, from what I can gather. They look like they're... They can fight.

Okay. So... We're going to help them, right? Yes? I think that would be wise, yes. If anything, it gives us a good fit in with the Green Dragon province. Yes, I'm thinking. Well, and if they're servants of a Green Dragon, then as a knight, I think it's my duty to try and help them, especially if one's hurt.

Mm. Right. We go in. Maybe try to use your... thing to try to find the spell components and we can maybe start heading towards the Citadel. Sounds like a plan, okay. All right, so it won't take you long. It'll only take you like a few seconds to get close enough

but is the plan you're just gonna boldly walk up and just enter the camp? Are you gonna try and sneak up as best you can? Like what's the plan here? So this wall separating the edge of the map and the campsite. The broken wall. Yes.

Like, how tall is that really? Not that tall. It's about as tall as it looks on there. There's sections of it which are like maybe three foot. One part of the middle is maybe like close to five, six foot. Maybe like the tallest part is just up to Rowan's shoulders. Like, Rowan's gonna be a head above. Right, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah. But you could like get, you could army crawl it, you could like crouch and sneak your way, absolutely. We're still a wolf. Yeah, for a few more, yeah, you've got like a- As long as the hand exists. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'd say you've got like five minutes left on the hand and the illusion.

I mean, we could either use the illusion to get closer to the place, this is Tom talking, or we can use the rest of the time to have the hand continue to scout around to look for the spell components so we have a better idea of where to actually approach from. I have an idea. Okay.

Right, we head to that wall to our right. Yes, the one at the very, very back wall. We hide behind the taller wall, and I let my silent image distract them in a different direction. And then we run towards the cages. We sneak towards the cages, yes. We can try that, yeah, okay.

So we just need to cycle around to the right. We've only got five minutes left with Wolf. So we should make a move now. But quietly, right? It's completely silent. Great, completely silent. All right, then if the group of you who are moving up, I need a group stealth check

for you guys approaching the wall. We still have advantage because of ruins. Yeah, I'd say so. Yep, yep. Like I said, if it does get seen, the wolf is gonna have its own, like, you know, they're gonna react to it like it is a wolf, a giant, big scary wolf.

I got a four. With advantage. Four. I got a four with advantage. Oh, we're on a two and a three. Two failures. 24. That's a success with advantage. What? Two and a three. Two failures. 24. That's a success from Daisy.

15. That's a success from Ophelia. Oh, so it's all down to come rough. Comes down to Daddygraf. With advantage. Come on, Graf. With advantage. A 17, cost one, 18.

Yeah, so the 18, a natural one, so thanks to the illusion. Now, what I will say is because you succeed with the, it's a close success, as you reach it, you're all gonna get out of sight, but I'm gonna say that they're gonna spot the wolf at the last moment. But they're not gonna, no, it's you guys. They're gonna see exactly what the illusion is.

So maybe as we get close, it is Rowan, you're like, you know, focusing, you're having to like, Sostenuto is like where you cast spells from, right? So you're like not playing a chord, you're like holding the chords down and silently having to like create this illusion. You just stumble and you bump into the wall, knocks like a loose stone up, and that draws the attention of the closest group. Not everybody, but just that group of three,

they are going to see the illusion of the wolf. But you all manage to sneak round and you get onto this other side of the wall, this larger, stronger, thick stone wall. Whilst you are doing that, what was the hand... Is the hand doing anything or are you leaving it where it is? I think looking around for the spell components. Where exactly?

Keep in mind you only have a few rounds, so your movement is kind of limited to this area. Kind of maybe head towards perhaps the central tower in the middle. Yeah. See if it's being held in the middle. Oh, with the archer on top. Yeah. Yeah.

So it kind of, tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk, scurries around and heads inside. Inside this ruined tower, you don't see any kind of supplies or signs of any kind of spell components or anything like that. There is a large wooden staff, you know, not super tall, probably big enough for a small creature, like a quarter staff.

It's intricately carved with strange looking symbols. It has things attached to it by like leather hooks and belts. Some of them are quite cutesy. There's like a little sort of like felt bunny that's been attached to it. Yeah, there's like little things like that, like little trinkets and stuff like that. There is also another sort of leather,

very roughly made leather knapsack and also a quiver of arrows here. And it looks like this might be some of the materials. But you don't see anything that looks like spell components or anything like that. Not here anyway. Likewise, you don't see any other like bags or papers or satchels or anything like that.

It looks to be just some weapons. There is a ladder that goes up and you can see that this guard is patrolling around up at the top. The three sort of elevated scouts, by the way, they have chainmail and they have swords, but they also have crossbows. Okay. These three down by the campsite,

immediately catch sight of a large fake wolf here. These are the ones all with chainmail, swords, shields, maces, that sort of thing. And they immediately are like, brothers, sisters, a beast! As they call out to it and they are going to react. What does the wolf do? I'm going to make it snarl.

Okay. And then kind of pivot away from us, but like keeping his eyes trained on them. Okay. So it's like, it's moving away from us. So down towards the southern end of the map, okay. But it's crowling and sort of threatening. And it's, well it can't growl, but it's snarl.

Yeah, it's like looking intensely at them. With that, then, these three, they would, the nature of these beings, they would say like, ah, ah, the beast, there is crown still in its blood for the Reclaimers, brothers! And then they will charge it. They, oh, they got you. The Reclaimers. I know that band. The Reclaimers, brothers. And then they will charge it. They're fucking at you. The Reclaimers.

I know that band. Wait a minute. Yeah. God, they're gonna chase this thing for 500 miles. So, well, they are gonna charge towards it. They basically are gonna take an initiative. At this point, let's roll initiative for the group, because obviously Rowan can make the illusion

do stuff on his turn. Yeah. Sorry we're doing that. I don't wanna get too far ahead of ourselves here. Are we fucking doing it? No, fucking you just ghosted. No, we're doing it guys. I just got an L1.

Yeah, it's an initiative, don't worry. Yeah, it's an initiative. Yeah, but we want to have the jump on that. True, well. You've got it out of the system now. I feel like if we jump out, we're going to have a surprise round. So these are... I would. And even then, it we're going to have a surprise round. So these are...

I would. And even then, it's the illusion that's going that way. Oh, we don't want them to recognise this silent image. What did you get? Immediately. I got a 14. So that's not too bad. Yeah, what have you got?

16. Okay. Ruffleth? Hasn't rolled yet. Mark is making a table of boys. Let's do all of your initiative, then I'll roll mine. Daisy. 16. 16. Xanthias.

14. Rowan. 2. Ophelia. 15. 15. Grapher, I believe, is a plus one. Okay. 3. Okay, well, yeah. Not too bad.

Faster than me. True. And then my claimer, Acolytes. Okay, well, yeah. Not too bad. Faster than me. That's true. And then my reclaimer, acolytes. They are at 18. He's confident, he's rolling out in the open. Oh shit, they're all beating us. 18 outs. So the three reclaimers will go 18?

Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Spicy boss. Do they count as a minion group? We don't know yet. You don't know? Don't feel like they do.

Ophelia, what is your dexterity? It is a plus two. All right, the scouts are gonna go before you. They have the same initiative, but they're quicker. Okay. And then finally, one more figure. Yeah, that's the thing. We can see five on the board right now.

Is there five? But there's probably more, like, in the other end of the... You don't know. In the other end of the Citadel, which we are nowhere near. So, these acolytes, these three acolytes, the Reclaimer acolytes, they rush towards the illusion and begin swinging weapons. There's no hesitation or fear.

These things do not look frightened at all by this beast. The three of them together charge in. They swing their weapons. Obviously a parsister, it's an illusion. So I'm gonna basically have them make an investigation check to figure out what's going on. Can the illusion not dodge? Like do they not have to beat an AC for it to dodge?

It would be my action to move it. Right, okay. So I assume that would also be the animation. He doesn't have fight, you could hold an action to be like, if they attack it, I'm gonna have it pull away. Right. But we didn't have that. Yeah, no, it's fair enough.

But no, it only does what Rowan tells it to do. So if he was having it move. His interaction with the image reveals it to be an illusion. There you go. So the three of them, but the three of them are immediately drawn away as they run up to it. Brothers, some sort of illusion.

Something is nearby. And they immediately are gonna basically, if this was Metal Gear, or they're now in yellow alert, right? These guys are like, something is up. So I'm gonna have them basically using their passive perception. So what this is gonna mean is you guys, any movement, you need to make a stealth check.

Okay, right? I will then oppose it, because everybody's in active mode. You guys, if you get detected, they will spot you. If you are separate from the rest of the group, you don't reveal the rest of the group. If you are separate from the rest of the group, you don't reveal the rest of the group.

If you are stood with everyone and they spot you, they will see whoever is there, whoever is not hidden basically. All right? Love it. So, in that case, where, I know it's probably, what's that cone of vision?

Like, where are the guy at the top of the tower, the scout by the prison, like where are they looking right now? Yeah, I mean like, Kona vision is not a thing, but it would be a thing. So I would say that like, as they hear their brethren, they are all looking in the direction of, and there is also, I'm going to put him up here,

but he is technically down here. He's kind of peering around the edge. There is another one here. They are now all looking in this direction. When these guys shout that it's an illusion, they immediately are gonna start moving around. They are now in high alert mode. Yeah, so that is gonna be their turn.

They attacked, they shouted that it's an illusion. That's it, that's their turn. We then go to Daisy. Fuck. It's Daisy, Ophelia, Xanthius, oh no, sorry, Daisy, Ophelia, oh no, sorry, Daisy, bad guys, Ophelia, Xanthius. So this wall here, I'm kind of tucked behind a wall right now.

Yep. Is that area you can get up there, that broken wall there. This bit? Yeah. Yeah, so it would be, so this wall is about 10 feet high, so you'd have to climb up a bit, but you could try and get up onto this ruined building here if you wanted to.

But it would be an attempt to climb, so it'd be like an athletics check or something, unless you have some special ability. I'm gonna try and do that. I'm gonna go behind the wall, so I'm not going straight towards that. I won't have you make a stealth check then, because there's no way that anybody can detect you

from where you are. 10, 15, 20, 25, 30. And then to climb up would be another movement, so you could use bonus action dash, yeah. I will do that. Okay, I'm gonna need an athletics check. You have no fate. Okay, I'm going to need an athletics check. You have no fate. Yeah, we do.

I will spend some, I'm going to be using it on ability checks, so I'm going to add this to like perception check rolls and stuff. Because they're now on high alert. Athletics. Athletics requires. That's pretty good. Not very good.

No, six. Oh, you don't have six. Yeah, unfortunately, the DC's not crazy because it is quite a loose, rough wall. And how about acrobatics not? Yeah, you are not built for physical strength and like, you're just like, there's no, you know, it's hard to find the footholds,

there's no rope, this is pretty difficult for you to just bear climb and you scrabble and scrabble and aren't able to make any purchase. You do still have an action left. Can I just hold an action to if someone threatens any of the group, if they spot the group and they threaten them, can I throw a knife if they're in range of me?

And you've got line of sight, because right now you can't see anything else. If it's possible, I would like to ready an action to do that. Absolutely. So four people watching, I would like to ready an action to do that. Absolutely. If it. So for people watching, Daisy is hidden back in the map. So no, that's fine.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You'll pop up at some point. All right, so after Daisy, then it is the Scouts go. There's nobody immediately to detect, so I'm basically gonna have them all ready actions. They're gonna overwatch if this was X-Com. So they are gonna ready actions that if they ready actions. They're going to overwatch if this was X-Con. So they're going to ready actions that if they spot somebody,

they're going to fire a bolt. All three of them. Now is that, just if they spot anyone with their passive? If they spot anybody. Well, it'll be an active check because they're now in alert mode. So they're all now doing a watch. So we'll literally hear them all.

And I will choose their facing. I will choose their facing. This guy is going to keep looking down this way. Towards the prison. This way, this guy's gonna look over here towards the trees. Way away from us. This guy is gonna look outwards,

suspecting maybe an attack coming from out that way. So they're all facing different directions right now. Yeah, so the biggest threat right now is the guy looking at a prison. The other ones are looking kind of away from us right now. Yeah, okay, all right. So, Ophelia is next. So interlaced.

Cool, Ophelia whispers to the group, the supplies are in the central, well, some supplies are in the central tower. There's a staff, a couple of bags. I think it might belong to the prisoners. Okay. I could mage hand. I think it might belong to the prisoners. Okay, um. I could Mage Hand one of these things to them. Gruff can Mage Hand too, right?

Both of you can. Yes, I can, aye. But we need to be within 30 feet. Yeah, and also six seconds, guys. Yeah, yeah, yeah, sorry. Then Ophelia's an action, we'll command the hand to return to her. So that spell ends, and then I will

spider climb around the back of the wall. So next to Daisy, basically, and then do you want to come up into this building? I want to stay at the back of that wall. Okay. At the rear of the wall, just basically as far as I can get towards this archer on the... Looking at the prisoners.

35. Do you want to dash? I've already done an action, so now come on the hand. So you've just got movement. So 35 will get you to here. That's fine, yeah. But you're on the side, so we'll put you up there so we know where you are, but you are not currently visible. You are hanging off the side of the thing.

Yeah, sure. And that is my turn, thank you. All right, yeah. Not gonna have you make a check just yet because you are not in the side of the thing. Yeah, sure. And that is my turn, thank you. All right, yeah. Not gonna have you make a check just yet because you are not in visual range of anything. As you get closer, I might make a check to this guy to see if he can hear you. Cool, yeah. All right. That's nice. But right now, I think you're okay.

So then we go to Xanthias. Roman, just in case things get a little bit dicey here, I'm gonna protect you with Mage Armor. I don't believe you can with Mage Armor. Oh my. I don't believe you can cast Mage Armor on somebody else. You touch a willing creature who isn't wearing armor. Oh, isn't wearing armor. He's wearing armor.

He's wearing leather armor. Shit. He's got leather armor. He's got pretty good armor. I didn't realize you could cast Mage Armor on somebody else. I thought it was a self. I only recently read the spell.

Yeah. But no, it's when you're not wearing armor. Oh. Might as well put it when you're not wearing armor. So, that's a... Might as well put it on yourself then. I basically every day I tick a spell slot. Oh okay, yeah, yeah, I'm totally fine with that. Makes sense. Why you got your hand on me?

What's the matter? It's okay, I thought this would work, but... Let's give it 12 more seconds. Okay. Two more rounds. All right, two more rounds. No, I will follow what Daisy was doing and try to head in that direction.

I think my acrobatics is pretty... Athletics. Athletics, sorry. Strength based. My athletics is not the worst, so I think I'll try to climb up into that. All right, athletics check please. 11. 11 is enough.

Oh! This is like a ruined loose wall. Right. There is enough purchase for you to be able to climb up. Daisy was just unfortunately unable to. Very good, okay. Xanthias is now here. Within the tower, yeah,

I think you can see me a little bit there. To make it a bit easier, I can actually do this. Just take that wall off. So I can't use my, it's an action to help, isn't it? Yes, it is, yeah. In that case, I'll use my bony action to spend sorcery points, create some glyphs on my runes. Alrighty.

Can you please make a stealth check for me? Oh, of course. Especially as you are also conjuring these runes and things like that. Okay, that's a unnatural 20. Unnatural 20, okay. This is less so for the scouts, but for somebody who was not yet revealed. As you climb up, you see a staircase

that leads down from this room into a floor below. And as you clamber up and you make your way and you summon these sigils, you hear a voice. What was that? From below. Shit! Someone right here. Xanthius, end of turn, correct?

Fuck! Do I have any more movement left at all? No, that is like, I'm using your full, I've been quite generous to give you the climb. Thank you, but no, that's all I'll do though, in that case, oh fuck. All right, unfortunately it is his go next. No!

As coming up the stairs. But facing the wrong direction. You see, no. I'm sidling behind him the entire time. You see a figure, as you are at the top of the stairs, he makes his way, he's currently half way up the stairs towards you, but there is immediately, you see the same kind of broken

chainmail pieces of plate, like a plated shoulder, things like that, but this one is wielding like an iron staff with a gauntleted hand, like an armoured mage, and you can see around one of his eyes, the flesh bears a very similar effect to that of your hand. And you can see that built into a choker around his neck is a very familiar, very small piece of metal.

Is there like a flaring almost in my chest at all or something like that? When you see it, your eyes meet and there is something here. Almost a piece of you wishes to rage against this foe and to take what it has. Fuck me. And it looks at you.

What is this? Another sacred here? No, no, you are some other. Gods, gods! Ah! As... We were never gonna manage to stay here. The reclaimer's sacred.

My brother in Christ, we just got this far in. I rolled a natural 20 on my perception check. Oh, wow. Really, really? Yeah, and he rolled a, I rolled a natural 20 on perception perception check. You really did? Yeah, and I rolled a natural 20 on perception and it was a day. I imagine even when I first see this guy come up the stairs, there's almost like a,

I'm like standing on the edge of this broken thing. I almost like recoil off the edge of this building. You push yourself up against the back of the wall, like, ugh! Yeah, like it's, the Zanthius half of me, Zanthius 90% of me, guys, like wants to get away from this thing,

like it recognizes immediately. On his turn, he will look at you with his baleful eye, and you watch as it glows red as a beam of fiery energy fires out. Jesus. I'm gonna roll that. Oh! Cocked.

That is going to be 13. Does not hit. You throw yourself up into the wall, Lanceth, as a fiery lance. Yeah, like I almost tried to block it with the demon hand in the glove. Yeah. Like maybe it kind of impacts that or something.

It glances off like that as the very homelander-esque, like Superman, this eye beam. Cuts across the wall. Ah, ah, you, I sense it. You have one of the great ones gifts. Oh, if you can sense it, then you know to fear it. Fear, fear you, fear the gift of our God? I think not. Unworthy!

With that. Unworthy now, am I? Gruffeth. Oh dear, Rowan. I think the boy is in a bit of trouble. Yeah, I think so too. What would you like Gruff to do? Folks?

He could go into the open area, he could try and sneak around. If they've called for guards, right? This guy's called for, he's drawn attention to you, for sure. I wonder. He would want to protect Zen. Actually, yeah, he would want to protect Zen. So, he will have to try and climb up,

but we'll see if he will be able to. But Wild Shaped into a K kitten to do so, right? Yeah, tiny kitten. No. Little tiny kitten. It'll happen one day. One day. So Gruff will run along the side.

Next to you, Daisy, throws himself up onto the wall and with his feline, with his wild heart claws and his agility, he manages to pull himself up, pulling himself up above the stairway leading down as he looks down. Oh dear, that doesn't look very good. I say, oh, you like fire down there, do you, boyo? Let's see if you like this then, eh?

And he is gonna cast Heat Metal on the bush. Yeah! Oh yeah! Love that. He has like this metal armor and these metal plates. Hell yeah. I thought you were gonna say has like this metal armor and these metal plates. Hell yeah. I thought you were gonna say on the choker, like whoa fuck.

Oh, I mean. It's part of it, it's part of the armor. Yeah, that's cool. That's cool. Remember, not all crowns still has the same properties as yours. Yeah. You watch as, yeah, Gruff, the metal armor,

this kind of dulled black metal begins to burn and that smell of soot and ash intensifies as the man is like, ah, ah, fire, fire means little to me. You can see he's in pain, but he is resisting some of it. Yeah, he does it, self-fledglish. Two D8 damage, halved, unfortunately. Sure. So eight fire damage, halved to four.

But it continues. It does continue, as long as concentration. And Gruff is now at the top. That is his action. That is gonna be it. That is what he's gonna do. From that, we then go to Rowan. Really? Yes.

Yeah, we didn't make it all the way through Rowan. Okay, Rowan. Yeah, because the accol it all the way through the run. Okay, uh, Rowan. Yeah, because they're, they're, they're, reclaim it, the acolytes attack that thing first. I think Rowan is going to run forward on the ground up to the edge of this building. Yep, Stealth Inglour. Yes. Okay.

He's trying to stay hidden, and he's gonna continue his original plan of trying to mage hand something to the captives. Yeah? Going to kind of press himself up against here, hoping that these figures won't see him. So I need to find a way to look inside in order to mage hand. From that base level you can't see inside that tower right now, and I need a stealth roll from you as well, because we do have this scout here who is checking that area.

In which case what I'll probably do is use my action to dash, and this will be the stealth for the whole... Okay, yeah, I love it, so... Okay. 25, 30... Sneak a little Rowan. You guys are not getting doodles today because I'm getting frustrated. Yeah, that's fine. That's right. 19.

I am a rock. I am rock. You are moving across the open here. So what I'm gonna say is that you sort of go around this table and hug the wall. I just got the image of Krunk. So what's the total? He has a group when he goes up against the wall.

What was the total? 19. 19. I am gonna give the guy advantage because you don't have a lot of cover here. So I'm gonna give him advantage on his perception check. His perception bonus I believe is four. I'm just a rock. Please don't have a lot of cover here, so I'm gonna give him an advantage on his perception check. His perception bonus, I believe, is four. I'm just a rock.

Please don't look at me. Plus four. I'm gonna add a fake die. Fair enough. It gives it back to us if we need it. So, you got 19, plus four, I need a 15. It's a public roll. No, 10.

So he is distracted, perhaps called by his superior. His eyes are diverted over towards Xanthius and Gruff. As Rowan, you manage to sneak your way through, avoiding attention and avoiding more importantly, the crossbow bolts that were soon to arrive. Yeah, that's what I was worried about. The right actions. All right, I'm not gonna have them go because they didn't spot you. Like these guys have taken their turn and stuff, the crossbow bolts that were soon to arrive. Yeah, that's what I was worried about. The reaction. All right, I'm not gonna have them go

because they didn't spot you, like these guys have taken their turn and stuff, so they're gonna react next turn. That, Rowan, because that was your action to dash. So that is gonna be a brand new round. Hell yeah. At which point, hearing the call of their master, a number of these figures, these recliner acolytes.

10 feet, because they've got to do difficult terrain. 15, 20, 25, 30. They come rushing towards. Okay. Then they are going to dash. Are they hard focused on rushing towards them? They are, but I'm gonna give them a perception check to see if they can going to dash. Are they hard-focused on rushing towards them? They are, but I'm going to give them a perception check to see if they can spot Rowan.

Yeah. That is... I roll it for just the group. That is a fail. They are too enamoured with what's going on in the building. Rowan, you are free for now. There are, however... They are not the only ones. That's coming from this building.

You were right. Yep. So what does that mean? There's... Too many. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. We need the help of this knight. Yeah, we need the help.

Yeah, we know. Might be minions. Might be right. Should heat metal on their prison. They are going to rush over. I'm going to give this group a perception check to see if they spot Rowan. Can't find me. I am rock. 17. I'm gonna give this group a perception check to see if they spot Rowan.

Can't find me, I am rock. 17. He is just eight foot and nothing right now. Just like pressed up against it, like, ooh. I can't see it myself as a brick wall. Yeah. Yeah. That is gonna be, these reclamers got enough

to open the door, they've probably stepped just inside as well, but they are basically in that building at this point. That is gonna be the Acolytes go. We then go to Daisy, who's next up. Hello. Hello. I'm just going to slightly shift this so that I can see inside.

The roof just come off. These guys are all inside now. OK, so they're just about to come up the stairs towards us. Yes, basically. I need to get out of here. OK, so they're still at the very bottom. They're at the bottom floor, yeah. They're at the bottom floor.

Apologies, people, but for podcast listeners, we need to describe anyway. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Okay. I look at night. There's not a lot of room with Gruff and Xanthius in the way. There's not a door at the back, is there?

You could, I'd say, yeah. I'd say you could. There's not a door at the back, is there? You could, I'd say. Yeah, I'd say you could. There's not a door at the back, yeah. Nor a window. Sure. If only. I'd say you're fairly small, and Xanthius, technically Gruff, could be next to Xan, like that. And Ophelia's going along the top of the wall, right?

Yes, yeah. Okay. Since this isn't working, I might have to take a different route. I might have to go back round the wall and try and get them from the other side. Or let me just try another... Athletics, yeah. So it'll be one of your movement actions, so this will be your move or your bonus action basically. Do it. 18.

18's enough. This time, you scoot your way up to the top. Sorry, I'm trying to see. Can I? So this guy's technically like on the stairs coming up, but we're just gonna leave him there for now. Okay. Can I scoot and try and follow Ophelia for,

I'll do a dash for... Yeah, you can hop up on this light barrel here, hop up here, and then you can get next to Ophelia. How much? So that would be your movement, so 15 feet to get up there. Oh no, sorry, 20 feet, because it counts as double. 10 feet, I'd say 10 feet gets you to here,

so that's your movement, basically. That's one movement to here, so you still have a movement and another potential action, if you want to use your bonus action to do that. Or you can dash with your bonus action. That could be your movement action. Can I... Move up to, where this guy?

15, 15, 20, 25, 30. Run along the top of the wall. Yep. Now, as you get closer, I am gonna make a perception check for this guy, can, 15, 20, 25, 30. Run along the top of the wall. Yep. Now as you get closer, I am gonna make a perception check for this guy. Can you give me a stealth? Can I hit the deck when I get... Yeah, you can. Yeah, I'd say you absolutely can. I'll give you advantage on stealth, but you'll go prone.

Yeah, basically. Uh-huh. Hopefully. 18 for this guy. 25. 25. You go prone, but this guy does not see you. He's focused once again on the call out. He's seeing Gruff and Xanthius at this point

because you've had direction, attention directly called to you. Okay. And Gruffath has gone, blah, blah, blah, blah, he mellow. Yeah. So would he, sorry, out of interest, would you have taken the shot? No.

No, okay. I don't need to worry about that. I've got plenty of stuff to come. I know, I know. I'm just playing both sides here. More giblets. So you moved. I'm giblets.

Bonus action dash. You still have an action. Can I just, can I take, is dodge a bonus act? Dodge. Dodge is an action. You can take the dodge action. I'm just trying to, basically I'm trying to move as far as possible to try and make my way

down to the prison room. You're basically roly-polying on the top of this wall. Just like, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, yeah, yeah. That's what I'm doing, like, off the wall. That's your dodge action. I'm trying to make it towards, like, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, no, you get behind this guy. Yeah, that's what I'm trying to do. That'd be great. So that's my, okay, I'm done. He is currently still unaware of you, all right?

So that is Daisy's go, that is the acolyte's go, so now it goes to the scout before Ophelia, unfortunately. So, this guy can see into this fight. This guy's gonna turn his attention over here. This guy is quite far. If he goes here, actually, he can see Xanthias and Gruff. This guy is gonna make a perception check to see if he can see Ophelia and Daisy up on the tall thing.

If you're... You were 24 in your stealth. 25. 25. Ophelia's around the back. Oh, that's right, Ophelia's around the back. So, just to see if he can see right, if he is around the back. So just to see if he can see Daisy, unlikely. Peter Pan's shadow. Nope, does not see Daisy.

But is gonna see all of this as well. Gruffin's Antheus. Yes. You have some shots coming your way, I'm afraid. Nobody has seen Rowan. Actually no, I will make a perception check for this guy, because he might see him. I am 19.

What'd you get, 19? Yeah. Doesn't see him. Oh my God! I'm rolling really badly. How are you getting people like this? I'm rolling really badly. To be fair, after what, three campaigns

and like 10 years of high rollers, the best stealth you've ever done. Except for you and Kim. You're about to get shot a lot. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, we're done. So the guy who's very far away in the gate house, I'm gonna use his ricochet shot ability,

which means I get to make a target against both of you basically. What weapon is he using at the end? A crossbow. What's the range on the crossbow? A heavy crossbow is 100 feet to 400 feet. That's right. That's enough. So against Xanthias. heavy crossbow is 100 feet to 400 feet. That's enough.

So against Xanthius. Oh. Wait, 100 feet to 400. 14. Like there's 100 men? 100 feet is short range, and then up to 400. 14 is exactly, I will use shield. All right.

Bam! The crossbow goes wide. Yeah, I've just deflected that laser with my Demon Arm. I'm now conjuring a shield out of that thing as well to bounce across my boat as well. I would have, Gruff would have used Armor Evoke and Chomp. I was about to say to you, he probably would have broken that one out.

As a bonus action, yes, absolutely. You're right. So his AC is 17. Is your personal Demon Arm all like demonic and dark and crackly, or is it like? Is that an at 20, I guess? No, but it's a 21. It will still hit Gruff, this attack.

But he's got his armor up. I don't know, actually. He does, yes. I always imagined the magical shield, magical spell shield to just be this invisible force, but I don't know. It could be anything. Yeah, anything you think is different.

I don't want to theme it to be theme. Seven damage, so with Gruff's temp HP, that's gonna be three damage after the temp HP is gone. So the crossbow does sort of thud in, but I also didn't heal Gruff after the 10 PHP is gone. So the crossbow does sort of thud in, but is, I also didn't heal Gruff after the fight. He should be on 40, so I will just do this. All right, so Gruff does take a bolt in the shoulder from this ricochet shot.

That is just the far archer in the gatehouse, however. Okay. The one on the central tower is going to do the same thing with Ricochet Shot. Xanthius, your AC is still increased. Yes. That is gonna be an 18. That's not hit, I've got 19 now.

The invisible force, whether it's the cool crown shield thing, is deflecting these away. Gruff, that is an 18, just beating Gruff's AC, unfortunately. He's got his armor up though. Well, his armor has to replenish each turn, so. That is gonna be nine points of damage to Gruff. He's getting battered by these bolts as they fly in.

This guy over here, he does not have a very good line of sight, because there's this cover of these barrels and crates to both of you. So I am going to have him... Overwatch? I'm going to have him move. Ooh, downstairs. No, I'm going to have him basically ready in action that if he sees you or Gruff, he's going to take a shot.

But he won't be able to use his Ricochet shot, he'll just have to make a normal basic attack. So he's kind of lining up, waiting to strike you both. That is going to be the Scout's turn, Ophelia. Can I cast Chill Touch on the Archer in the central tower, please? Yeah, absolutely can. You only need Line of S, right? So you need to pop up, basically. A pop up. Oh, I don't know if I do. Oh, do you not?

I create a ghostly Skeletor hand in the space of a creature within range. It doesn't say about being out of the sea or anything. Perfect. You can just stay stuck down here. Yeah. OK, great. What do I need?

Is this an attack for you? It's a ranged spell attack. OK. 24. 24. 24, is it hit? Hell yeah. 2d8 Necrotic. Oh my god, five on 2d8.

Five points. That's pretty cool. Still damage, still damage, still damage, still damage. We're gonna have him as Scout A, by the way. Yeah. Right, so yeah, you watch as this kind of... Ah! What is this? Ah!

The two-hand Razor from the bridge as it grabs him. Yeah, it does not seem to have any sort of protections against this. Pull him into it. That was your action? That is my action, I'm just trying to see if there's anything, any, can't regain hit points until the start of its next turn.

Okay, great to know. Yeah, I'm gonna keep moving up, following Daisy, but along the side of the wall towards... You've got 35 feet of movement, right? Yep. So you get to about there. Yep, perfect. You can see me, I'm invisible. Yeah.

You're doing really good. Anything else, Ophelia, on your turn? No, that is me, thank you very much. All right, then we go to... Xanthias. I want to... This guy, sorry. He is down halfway up the stairs.

Yeah, we've got his miniature up on the thing, but yeah. Okay, I almost want to try to grab him with a shocking grasp, which I believe I have advantage on because he's wearing metal. You do. And for now, in 2014 rules you do, that's going away soon. But you will have to step out and move down the stairs to get to him, which will give the archer

his shot of opportunity. But your shield is still up until the end or start of your turn? Oh, that's a... Might be start. Good question. Until the spell, no, hang on, sorry. The problem is, is I've got it customized from another spell,

so I just need to Google it. I think either way, there is something about this guy Xantius just fucking hates. And he can't fully understand why, but there's just an anger building up there that he wants to try and... Start of your next turn, so you don't have a boost AC. Shit.

Okay, fine. But... So you step out, my ready action goes off. Go for it. That is gonna be a 19 to hit. That hits. And would hit even if I had the shield. That is gonna be...

12 points of piercing damage. Okay, I have two runes. Which I'll happily use now. Okay. To reduce that by 2d6. Okay, I have two runes, which I'll happily use now, to reduce that by 2d6. Okay. Oh. So I could potentially. I reduce it by eight.

All right, so you take four. Nice. So the runic shields of your magic sort of suppress the bolt, slowing it down before it kind of does full damage to you. You step down the steps and meet this figure halfway up. And I want to, yeah, I want to grab, I almost want to go for his throat

and try and shock and grasp this guy. If you roll a 20, maybe you do grab the throat. So I have advantage because of the metal, both wearing and in his neck. That is a 14, that is a 15, so it's a 21. 21 against this figure, I believe is a hit. Worrying, you had to check that one. That is 14 damage.

Nice. And Lightning, he is not resistant to, as the she grab and you just, he's like, but he's under the effects of heat metal and you just touched his hot metal. That's true, but I have resistance to fire, so I don't care too much about that. So you, I'm gonna keep this damage roll for him as well,

I'll make it the same damage roll. Sure. That would be 13 fire damage, so half to six for you. Okay. And half to six for him, so I'm just actually gonna have him take that. Oh, is it like steam and like smoke? So, 13 fire damage, so half to six for you, and half to six for him, so I'm just actually gonna have him take that. Oh, is it like steam and like smoke?

So I take as much as, like he's wearing the heat. Any creature that touches it, as well as I understand it. Yeah, so he's touching it. Oh, that's sick. That's how heat metal works, it's metal touching skin. Yeah, so, but then you plunge this lightning into him as it courses through his body. He now can't take reactions as well, I believe.

He cannot take reactions. Oh, cool. It'd be like an action, right, to shove? Yes, it's an attack action, yeah. Yeah, I'm just wondering what I can do with a bonus action here. Kick him in the balls. Dragon breath.

Like a dragon's breath. You could hit all of the guys coming upstairs as well. Now this building, stone? Stone. Hell yeah. There is like some wooden furniture down below, but. I mean, if I'm literally grabbing this guy all of the guys coming upstairs as well. Stone? Stone. Hell yeah. There is like some wooden furniture down below, but. I mean if I'm literally grabbing this guy by the throat,

he said he doesn't fear fire. Yeah, I'll test that theory. Are you gonna enhance it? If I enhanced it, would it be to the entire breath? So disappointed in you. So everyone would take, it wouldn't be like Scorching Ray. Scorching Ray is three separate attacks. Dragon's Brace is one effect.

Do it. Yeah, I mean. Do it. He knows I've got it. I know I've got it. There are like two devils and they're both real. There's, well that's the thing, that whispering devil, I can hear this in the keep somewhere.

Or is this from him that I'm hearing the whispering? Okay, fine. I'm doing it, yeah. I'm gonna give him disadvantage on saving theory because you literally have him grabbed and you're in his face. The others are gonna get some cover because he's in the way, so they're gonna get a bonus.

So what's the DC to be? The DC for my dragon ancestry, dragon breath, is dexterity 15. 15. All three of the minions succeed. Okay. So I am gonna see if you can overcome their HP threshold,

because they do have a threshold for effects that when they succeed on the same threats, he fails, so he's gonna take the full amount. As you enhance it, his fire resistance does not apply. Oh! As you see that bead, and it's only a tiny fragment, almost shaped into the same symbol as on their tabards of the rough crown steel metal,

almost seems to glow and ignite around it, and that fire engulfs him, and he is not protected at all against this flame. What is the thematics of dragon breath out of interest? I've never actually really determined, like do I, for that second, have a draconic head that's breathing fire? No, no, you open your mouth and fire exudes out.

It's magic. It's part of your blood. Yeah, okay. So, in that case, if it's enhanced, it's 2d6 normal. Plus d10. With an extra d10, which I'll need to take damage for. But, and the ones that succeeded take half. That is 11 damage.

Total? Total. Right. So five. He takes the full amount. And then 11, half, so 11 would be five. So it is not enough to kill the minions coming up the stairs. They are badly burned. They're like trying to put themselves out, but they are still up.

But they are now heavily weakened each. Are they burning? Um, yeah, sure. Hell yeah. They're burning. Yeah, so is he. Sweet. Yeah.

I mean, it's fire, right? Normally it doesn't do this. Does it not say that? Oh, sorry, it does. I was going to check. I think it does say in the spell it sets't do this. Does it not say that? Oh no, sorry, it does. Well, I was gonna check, because I think it does say in the spell it ignites, sets things on fire. And the target gains a burning condition.

I think it easily succeeds. That's the thing I've added to this. Yeah, yeah. So yeah, hell yeah. So they are burning, yep. All right. I'm not gonna move, I'm basically staying where I am.

I know, okay. You need to take damage though. You do, D6 of psychic damage, please. Oh, of course, yes. Four. You do. D6 of psychic damage please. Oh of course, yes. Four. Oh dear. You've damaged yourself quite a lot this turn. No, it's not too bad.

At the end of Xanthius' turn, it goes to the sacred's turn. He takes that fire damage from the heat metal, I've already applied that. Okay. It's just like, it's just like, you know, struggling against the electrical damage

and everything else. And now the burning as well. Yeah, and the burning. Oh yeah, so cool. I will do a d6 of damage for the burning condition. Three more points. Hey, something. It's something. Hmm.

I know you're deep in thought. He is going to... He reaches a hand back to his minions. He's like, bruh, brothers! You're not done yet! Let the fuck out! And he's going to throw out sort of black flame that enshrouds their armour and he's going to grant them temporary hit points.

Okay. He's going to grant them temporary hit points. How many temporary hit points? I will find out. Ooh, that is going to be six temporary hit points each. Nice. And then that is his bonus action. Um, uh, uh, uh, uh, inflame my brethren.

Uh, and then he is going to, uh, he pulls out this wicked curved knife, and he's just going to slash you with curved swords. That is a 14. That is exactly, unless I, which I, no I won't. You won't? I won't shield, because I don't wanna keep spaff and spell slots.

Sorry, who are you? I'm scared of this combat. Six points of slashing damage, six necrotic damage, as he draws the blood on the blade, feeds into his hand and he heals. Fuck, okay. Yes! Had I have realized he heals.

That's why I was like, oh you're not shielding. Okay, you know what, lifestyle, that's okay, is it? I kind of fuck with lifestyle. Okay, okay. Your bad. But yeah, he plunges and smashes across you with the curved blade as the blood infuses him. I have realized that dagger.

He's looking rough though, I will say. He's bloodied. I didn't realize the dagger was that. Looking rough still. Sorry, out of interest. This is the first time I've enhanced since the ritual spell on me. You notice nothing.

Okay, cool. But suddenly you hear the flapping of wings, and that's telling us it's gonna beat your ass! Yeah. He did say as long as it wasn't a national rest. Uh, Gruffeth. Gruffeth is gonna maintain concentration on heat metal. Is it concentration? Yes, it is. K'in form. No.

Kitten! Kitten! Do it! K-I-U-N. How rough is Xanthius? Kitten! After that, strike. 16 HP total.

So you're looking pretty. 16 out of 40, pretty bad. He will, as an action, he will reach out hand and cast Cure Wounds on you, Xanthias. Thank you. That is gonna be seven plus, for 11 HP back as his action. Banging.

Second level Cure Wounds. That is his action. As a bonus action, he will Chilele. Chilelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelele He will, shalala. Shalala, shalala. Then we go to Rowan. The camera whips 180 from looking at those two. This intense battle. To the bottom of this tower, just a brick wall. And then the eyes open. Blink.

Boo. Just his outfit. Because I imagine the tower got like ivy and moss and all your greens and browns and your gray skin, you just perfectly blend in. And pink panther music starts playing. Da dun, da dun, da dun, da dun, da dun, da dun. Is cast Enhanceability, Dexterity on myself.

Oh! Oh! Oh! You feel as light as a little kitty cat. Oh! I'm a little gazelle. So dainty. So prance across the battlefield.

He's a kitten. That's a point. I never wrote Perception to see if the prisoner saw you. What'd you get, a 19? Yeah. As you're doing this, as you're like, oh, and you enhance yourself, none of these scouts, all of these soldiers,

like, are running around, haven't noticed you, and you look over and just looking through these bars with these big eyes is this little goblin woman, kind of like, you know, she's kind of like very shaped, like, her legs are quite thick, she's got these thigh you know, she's kind of like very shaped, like her legs are quite thick, she's got these thigh highs, but she's got this tiny little body, but this huge hat, like a Ranny from Elden Ring style hat,

with all these little things hanging off it. And she's looking, she's like, hey! Oh, help me! She's like, help me! I'm invisible. Okay, and she's pretending to look around. I'm going to mouth to her. I'm going to get your things.

Okay. And I'm going to strafe to the other side of this wall. Just a man. I'm gonna need a stealth check. With advantage. With advantage. One scout and two, well, two scouts now, because we have the guy up on the guard tower

and these warriors. Come on. 13 this time. 13 total, scout. Oh wait, what about your enhanced dexterity? That was the advantage. Oh, that was the advantage, sorry. This scout.

My sacred one, there's another in the courtyard. He's there, how did we not see him? These two acolytes, natural to it. Oh shit. They just like see you immediately. Oh shit. The guard up at the tower also sees you. My, my, by the great one, how did we not see him?

He's fucking huge! He's huge! This guy, he's looking this way. The fact that he's a fucking half giant. Yeah. And they're like. Ugh! But yeah, they now all see you, unfortunately.

However, there are no ready actions from any of these guys, so they don't get to it, they're just so stunned. They're like, ugh! But they are now aware of your presence. Oh yeah, that guy shot me. So you have plenty of movement still. So you've used about 10 feet of movement. Oh no!

Shut up. You've used about 10 feet of movement. I'm gonna go inside. Yep, you can easily get inside. I'm gonna look. I don't know if Ophelia briefed us on what was in there. It's super obvious, because they're just leaning up against the wall.

There's very little else in here. Grabbing arrows. There's a staff, a quiver of arrows, and like a knapsack and things like that. Whatever I'm able to grab. You can grab all of it, you're rowing. Yep. And then I'm gonna use the rest of my movement to go back out.

That was 15. So. Towards the cage. 10. Sorry, five, 10, 15. So you only get to just about here. Is it an action to grab those things, or is that? I would say it's part of your movement.

I'd say it's bonus action it an action to grab those things or is that? I would say it's part of your movement. I'd say it's bonus action, bonus action to do it. Well you've action to enhance ability. That's true. Movement, bonus action. You're done. I'm done. You're done.

Alrighty, at the, yeah we can try and squeeze another round in. Top of the round, the acolyte. The acolytes. These ones are gonna run for you, Rowan. How did we miss this one, sister? I do not know, brother, but let us slay him. As they rush up, the three acolytes who are burning,

with 10 PHP now, though, 10 PHP, they take four, so it reduces their 10 PHP, so as minions, they're still up. But they're looking bad, they're burning and they're definitely not in a good place. You and the Sacred Runner are kind of blocking the stairway at this point. That was my... Yeah.

So they are going to run up. And actually what they're gonna do is, one is gonna run up behind the Sacred One. He's gonna use an action to grapple and shove him behind himself, and they're gonna basically push the sacred one behind them all to protect him. Right.

And then they're gonna rush you. Okay, so I'm gonna make a group attack for them. Yeah, no, if they wanna fucking die. Yeah, they do. So, when the acolyite makes a joint attack, it doesn't have advantage. Are they still on fire? These guys are, yeah.

Group attack. Alrighty, natural 20. Goal! They're minions, they don't get anything cool. I'm sad that I've wasted that. Unshieldable, but oh god. Unshieldable. This is going to be six necrotic damage

as the three of them sort of rush up. One steps to the side, lets the other ones like sword strike you. One just reaches out and almost like drains some of your life force away as this group of minions use some sort of foul magics and spells as they attack you. And then the sacred one is pushed to the bottom of the room.

We'll all find out in a minute. Sure, sure, sure, sure, sure. But that is gonna be the acolytes turn. Oh, and then the two attack against Rowan. I'm gonna make a group attack against Rowan. 12 to beat. That is gonna be a 14. That is only four necrotic damage, though.

Okay, I'll take that. Then we go to Daisy. Hello, is there a roof on that cage? Is it fully enclosed? It is, there is a roof on it, yeah. So I didn't have enough materials to put one in, but there is a roof on there. Can I drop down onto the roof?

Yeah, you absolutely can. Just gonna move these guys up. Yeah. Although how far is that? What, 5, 10, 15 feet? Yeah, how tall is the cage? It would be, so this wall is about 15 feet high, so you can roll and it would be, I would say,

a 10 foot drop. I'm not gonna straight roll. No, no, it's a 10 foot drop. So can you make an acrobatics check for me? Just to see if you can reduce the fall damage. It's gonna be D6 of fall damage all the way. Natural 20. Natural 20, easily enough.

You don't even land prone, you land on your feet, and I will let you make a stealth check, as part of this, to see if this guy, like, you wait for the right moment and just fall down. Literally flinks. Yeah, Black Widow style. Well, my intention was that I was gonna slide down the bars and just appear at the door and be like...

Yeah, yeah, you can just like literally, da da da, pop off down. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You get to the front of the gate. It's like cobbled together,

it's like wood and metal like combined. Is it locked? It is locked, yeah, it's a prison. Can I pick the lock? Yeah, it's your action if you wanna pick the lock, yeah. That's what I wanted to do. Yep, thieves' tools, so this is proficiency and, yeah, so proficiency and dex. Was that a free stealth check because of the 20?

Oh yeah, make the stealth check actually. May as well. Wait, 15. 15? This scout does unfortunately still see you, but you land, you can make the pick lock check. Do you have expertise with your Thieves' Tools? Yeah, I believe so, yes.

Yeah, so this would be double your proficiency and decks. It's annoying that it's not a skill on the character sheet. Double my proficiency and my decks. I do have everything, I checked that I had everything. So I think it should be plus 11 for you. God damn. Yeah, because wait, no, it's plus four, wait, what's our proficiency bonus? Three.

Three. Yeah. So, plus 11. 11. This is a pretty, like, it's a pretty sturdy lock, it's going to be a DC of 20. Oh, shit. So you need a nine. You do have one fate.

Go for it, go for it. Okay, sure. It's near the end. You are using it. Sure. Yeah, go for it. I rolled a nine plus three, so, 12 plus 11. 23.

So you slide down and you whip out your tools and very quickly, within like a few seconds, you hear it click. As you appear, the little goblin is like, geez, where did you come from? What's going on? Looking around at all of you guys now suddenly appearing before they.

Sneaky like a cat! Get out! Go! Go! He can't move, my friend, Boranath, he can't move. He's too injured, please, do you have anything? Can you heal? Can I, I'll go in.

I don't have anything that I can use right now, actually. So I'll say, we have people who can help, but help us out for now. You can see Rowan really close with all their stuff. Your stuff is with him, go, go! Okay, okay. I'm going to now roll initiative for Penelope. Penelope, I've only known Penelope for three rounds

and I will die for her. Yes, Penelope is gonna be at 13 in the initiative. I want to know what the tree person's called. Yeah. She did say his name. His name is... That's the best stealth and execution of not being seen that I've ever done. Hell yeah. Ever.

This whole thing is super stealth. You've done a very good job. You've done a very good job. The tree person's name, she said it was her friend Baranth. Baranth. Baranth and Penelope. B-A-R-A-N-T-H. B-O-R-A-N-T-H. And Penelope, like Penelope. Oh, cool. And yeah, and for those of you who are from Althea, because you goblins

are not common to Althea. They are not from the continent of Althea. Goblins predominantly come from the continent of Stridia, which is another far off country. We've never heard that before. Literally never out outside of this. Stridia is a far off land known only to a few close diplomats of the Dragon Empress,

because contact with Stridia has been quite limited and goblins come from there. Sorry, the continent of Althea or Ilnera? Sorry, the continent of Ilnera, yes. Althea, yes. Althea being the world. So Ilnera the continent, sorry, my apologies. Enough that like, you would probably all know that goblins come from this other place, but you don't know much about it, basically. I mean, as mysterious as Althea is. You're not gonna be like, whoa, what the fuck are you? It's gonna be like, whoa, what the fuck are you? It's gonna be like, oh, I think she's a goblin.

They weren't even in Koltra just roaming around. No, no, very rare. So why is this, yeah, this one is also like a diplomat of the green dragon. I've just seen Ophelia. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We know Ophelia's from Arceus. She's just detached her hand,

and it's been roaming about the ground. We've been talking to dragons, we've seen them shift into you. That's fine. Oh, and also- Little green woman, hi! And she looks adorable running about the ground. We've been talking to dragons, we've seen them shift into you. That's fine. Oh, and also- Little green woman, hi! And she looks adorable, by the way. Exactly!

So not like, goblin-y. Kind of like, well no goblin-y, but like, kind of cute goblin. Like World of Warcraft, you know, they've got the big ears. She does have like a slightly sort of like, you know, strong, prominent nose and chin, but she's got these like big anime eyes, like very, is it the Yordles in League of Legends?

They've got these big like chibi, almost like chibi almost, like big hair. You can see that under her hat, she has this very strong turquoise blue hair that's just like spilling around her shoulders. And she looks like a druid. She looks like she has like nature magic elements and stuff to her.

All right, everyone out there. The HR fan art channel just blew the fuck up. That's what I'm gonna say, I'm gonna make a new fan art video between now and the next relay. So you have two weeks. Two weeks, I want it full of the goblin. For Baranth, by the way, the inspiration for Baranth, being this plant person, is there are these creatures

called the Sylvaneth in Warhammer Age of Sigmar. They are like these willowy tree people that are just plants come to life, basically. But he has like this big strong plume of vine-like hair. He's wearing a toga, almost looks Greek-like, in the outfit and then the bow. There's reinforced wood for his bracer and things like that. All plant the bow, there's like reinforced wood for like his bracer and things like that.

That's all tree-like. All plant-based, yeah. There's no metal or stone. You said they had a belt. There is a one leather belt with like a satchel. That's the only thing that's not tree-like. Yep. Cool.

Yeah, no, I'm just looking at the silver nest, they look awesome. So that is what we see. I think that is a really good point for us to end the episode. Yeah. Following Daisy's turn, having freed the prisoners. Just squeaking down on the railings.

Eee! Yeah. But you've got them out, and we've got their stuff as well. They're about to win the fight and help out. That was the aim. Yeah, absolutely. Amazing.

All right. Good selfie. Good that excellent job, everybody. You actually. We did a thing. Such a good encounter so far. Yeah. We did south. We did it.

For a little bit. Yeah, and a conference, this is your first confrontation with the cult called the Reclaimers. Reclaimers. That is an out of game thing, you don't know that quite yet. No, these are not the Awoken.

Sorry? Reclaimers. Didn't he shout out the thing? Who did? The Master. Yes, he did, yeah. Let's go Reclaimers. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He rallied the troops with him. Yeah, my Reclaimer brothers.

So whoever's near him puts. But that means... These are not the Awoken. This is nothing. You can imagine, this is... They are asleep and... So... But that means that next week, there is the live show episode,

but the week after is when we will carry on this episode. Yeah, you got two weeks to draw the goblin. Two weeks. And Baranth and all the other cool things that happened in this episode. Goblin bear, you cute fuck. Yeah, I wanna see the sigil, I wanna see the ash sort of painted.

I wanna not see Rowan, but I wanna see the brick wall. I wanna see the brick wall taking her hand off. I wanna not see Rowan, but I wanna see Frickwall. Frickwall taking her hand off. I wanna see Kronk Rowan. Yeah. Kronk Rowan. Yeah. Whoop.

Man. As close as his eyes blends in perfectly. I wanna see Cat D. Yeah, yeah. Cat D. I also wanna see fucking Xantius with lightning hand breathing fire into this dude's face.

Just good, good. Unlimited power. Yeah. Yeah. Man, this good, unlimited power! Yeah. Yeah. Man, this could be such a good episode. Good episode. All right, everybody, well, thank you very much, everybody at home for watching.

That is gonna be it for today's episode. We will see you for the live show stream next week. Some of us will probably pop into chat for that. I'm on holiday, so I will not be on holiday. Enjoy holidays. And then after that, we will be back for a brand new episode of Orphea. Take care, we love you, bye bye! See you, love you, bye!

Bye! Hey, do you like role-playing games Well, you should check out Mystery Quest. It's an actual play podcast where we focus on all kinds of indie TTRPGs with a rolling cast of special guests. You can find us anywhere where you get your podcasts. I'll see you there.