High Rollers DnD - High Rollers: Aerois #152 | The Silent Killer (Part 2)

Episode Date: July 7, 2022

Tired, weary and running low on supplies the team rush for safety in the dangerous lands of Jakkesh! Support the High Rollers and get early access to podcast episodes and Studio updates on our Patreon: www.patreon.com/HighRollers Grab some High Rollers merch: https://freshmerch.fm/collections/high-rollers Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound & TCT Adventures (Solasta: Crown of the Magisters) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome Welcome back to part two as our party. You know, there's been a lot of battles recently. They are on the cusp of potentially being able to defeat the stalker that has been pursuing them through the jungles of Jakesh. The stalker has, having taken many heavy blows after finally being spotted by Quill, a barrage of magical attacks, numerous hammer attacks by Aayla, has engulfed themselves in a fetid cocoon

and now has revealed their disgusting metamorphosis and has putrid metamorphosis, I apologize, and has flown up into the air with a pair of insectoid wings and has now just into the air with a pair of insectoid wings and is now just critically struck quill and reduced him to unconsciousness Ashes that was in fact that was their turn. So is a las go. Oh, it's my go. It's brand new round Hey, come on him to life

Okay, kill them. Hammer him to life. Aayla, kill. I'll try. I'm gonna use my last charge on my hammer to fly up to them and hit them in the face. Please. Oh, if they land next to me. I feel like these flight templates. Maybe.

So, flying up. It's like Matrix. 17 plus 15 to hit. And what hit? 17 plus five lightning. On the first hit, my brain just malfunctioned a little bit. They try and block it with their blow, but they're kind of thrown backwards.

25 to hit. Hits. This one, sort of as they deflect the first bow, you swing the hammer and catch them in the side. 16 plus 6 lightning and a dex save, which is a probably 16. Dex save, they are very dexterous, for a 30 total. Wow. They are very clearlyxterous for a 30 total. Wow. They are very clearly all about speed and agility,

their marksmanship, they are very dexterous. 24 lightning damage. So half to 212. You can see their body is broken and bruised. They don't appear to be bleeding, but this kind of Icarus black sap-like substance is coming from the various cuts and sort of like fissures that have appeared in their skin as the lightning's blasted them or they've taken the blows.

Heavily wounded, but still standing. Are they still flying? They are still flying, yeah. It's not concentration ability. They are naturally flying with insect wings. Yeah, they have wings, so... Anything else, Ayla? Would you like to instruct a guardian to take an action?

Can I get... Hotshot to take a little shot? Shade is also currently hidden, by the way. They've been hidden for a few turns now. But Shade can't get to them, can... They... I mean, Sh shade can throw their weapons they they have like oh sure get shade to do it then yeah it's gonna be at long range who's at this advantage but he's hidden which means he has advantage which means it's a normal role um

do you want me to roll this or do you want to roll it uh you you go ahead you know you know my dice rolls um so if they had been not hidden they only only have, I think, a plus 8 their attack rolls. When they're hidden, they have plus 14. Oh, wow. Yeah, it massively goes up. So with my 7, it goes to a 21. Oh, just enough! Oh, amazing.

I'll let you guys roll the damage because that's the fun bit. So normally it does 2d6 plus 4. When they're hidden, they do an additional 6d6. So it's 8d6 plus 4. 8d6 plus 4. Do you want to do it? 8d four 86 plus four 86 yeah 86 plus six let me put this into 24 24 points nice so kind of appearing having hidden themselves in the foliage for a few rounds um and now sort of like springing forward They would probably have dashed forward sort of like 30 feet,

kind of appearing from nothing, whips their blade through the air, spins and just at the long range, as the stalker is fighting Aayla, beds into like her shoulder. I thought you were little more than an annoyance, but it seems that you are perhaps a bit more skilled. As Shade's weapon beds in.

However, the weapon stays there and Shade is now, does not have an armament. Nova Vija. Coming back down very soon, hopefully. I'm just trying to quickly figure out Levitate. It doesn't say if it's an action or a bonus action. Casting a spell is almost always an action, so it will be an action.

No point in that. So I think we've ascertained that I can't really do anything that will get me up 30 feet and able to do the smashy that the many things that I can do so I'm just gonna go for a classic for eldritch blasts whilst blinded so disadvantage I want to make the appeal that if I've got Tiangong and I'm looking at okay, okay. Could I use Tiangong? If these were melee attacks, you can make... Because it says specifically

that you can make attacks from Tiangong. So absolutely, those would work. They would not be a disadvantage. When you cast your spells, it is you focusing on it. It's your accuracy, your energy. So you're not going to let me do a little Hexblade Curse either?

Nope. Unless the Echo Knight specifically says that you can do things like cast spells, which I believe it does not. Oh, look at that! No. That's a big pun. Oh, look at that! No. That's a big pun.

Big, big pun. I appreciate the effort. I appreciate the heart. Oh, natural 20 and an 18! Abby, it's still going to hit. 29 to hit. It's not a natural 20, so it does hit. Five, seven points in the first round.

Seven points of damage. One slams into the back of the Zorka. Oh. Oh. Oh. 17 and an 18, so plus 11. It's going to hit. Damn. Another seven.

Another seven points. Are you adding your bonuses to this, by the way? You are, right? Eldritch Blast only has a plus five. Oh, because, yeah, okay, because I think you changed some stuff around here. Okay. I don't think this will hit.

19? 19 to hit. 21, I see. Very changed some stuff around here. Okay. I don't think this will hit. 19? 19 to hit. 21 AC. Very nimble, this creature. Oh, Anna. Last one's not. So these two strikes, sort of like as Aayla is assaulting the stalker from the front,

Shade's knife digs in from the side, and then kind of slammed in the back, kind of being assaulted from all three sides. This creature definitely looks... There is a moment of when you guys look at sides, this creature definitely looks... There is a moment of when you guys look at them, can't really see their face. Actually, no, because their mask and stuff got melted off by the acid.

There is this look of resignation, like a look of, yep, I've been defeated. Like, doesn't look like they, you know, is pretty confident they're not going to survive and just sort of, yeah, like kind of lets out a sort of soft smile. I will see you all very soon. Sentry. Unless Nova, you would like to command and just lets out a soft smile. I will see you all very soon. Sentry, unless Nova you would like to command a guardian

to take an action. Oh, I'd like Hot Shot to do a little shot. Yeah. 22. Ooh! Hell yeah. Just hits, 2d10 plus five. 12 points of damage.

Hole. And you probably would hear Hotshot say something like, this is for my squad. And just. Cool. Heavily bleeding Icarus kind of sap leaking out, but still alive. However, must be within moments of being defeated.

Heavily, heavily wounded. You know, passing, a glancing blow at this point. We'll finish her off. Sentry. Sentry's gonna heal Quill, right? Well, do we go with Sentry responsible or Rhiannon cool? Sentry would be responsible. But Rhiannon cool.

Rhiannon would save Quill. Rhiannon would save Quill. Rhiannon would save Quill. I'm gonna give him that. Because Lucius has still got a shot as well. Yeah, but also I don't think Sentry can get to me in time. That is true. There's no more difficult terrain though.

There is no more difficult terrain, but I think I'm 35 feet away. Oh, dammit. 15, 20, 25, 30. Yep, won't be able to reach him. So I think knowing that Sentry, yeah, if Sentry knows that she can't reach Quill, because she won't be able to heal him in time,

she doesn't have a bonus action heal. I can do this. I'm one half the Chaos Twins. I can do Sentry Quill. Sure. She's going to harness divine power as bonus action, regain a third level spell slot. Quill, Tom, if you're using a bonus action to harness a spell slot, what kind of spell is casting

in Snaring Strike? Not in Snaring Strike. Oh, you're going to Divine Smite with it? No. She's going to Misty Step. Oh! 30 feet up. She's enlarged right now.

And she definitely has a channel Divine Energy, because I know she used quite a lot of them. She has one left. All right, yeah, cool. According to her character. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's fine. That is a cool sentiment. Misty step up to the thing. I mean, she's enlarged right now.

I almost want her to just grab it and just plummet into the ground and slam it. Still make an attack roll. Making an attack roll is normal. Sure, but just spear it into the ground. Actually, no. If you wanted to do that, that would be a grappling. So it would be athletics versus its acrobatics to escape the grappling.

Oh, its acrobatics are probably amazing. It's very, yeah. I mean, it probably makes more sense to just... Just attack it. Double attack, right. And then flavor-wise, that's how she does it. It's just this wind. Yeah, I'll figure that out.

Let me figure that out if she hits. Plus 13. 13, so 26. Right. You don that out if she hits. Plus 13. 13, so 26. Right, you don't need to roll anymore. Starbreaker, Sentry just appears, like teleports mid-air, and you see this kind of giant lance swirling with green energy,

rips through the center of the stalker's body, and then as Sentry plummets back down to the ground, she drives the lance down, so it plummets into the very earth itself, pinning this creature into the ground. When the dust clears, you're out of initiative. Actually, no, because we do have Quill to heal, so we'll come back to that in a minute.

When Sentry lands, you can see that the force of the blow has split the stalker into two. Like, her body basically ripped in half, legs, you know, beyond Tiangong, like, several, you know, feet to the south, the body sort of impaled to the north, but still conscious enough to speak. And we'll just say to those who can hear,

which I think would be Century Nova and Aayla at this point, we'll just say, like, Oh, good luck. I'll see you at the fort. But you've at least earned my respect, if that means anything. Cerise Fairwind will perhaps one day know peace. And then you watch as their body rots and decomposes away,

leaving behind Shade's weapon, but nothing else. The bow, the cloak, the body turns to mulch and just melts into the ground. Oh, my God. Oh. Will. Cerise Fairwind, that's cool. All right.

It is death saving throw time. Death save from me. First one, so that's not too bad. Ten. All right, success. Lucius. Because I don't know if you've got potions, so I want to make sure I keep on top of everything.

Con. Con? What was it? What are you doing? It's your turn. It's your turn. The only thing left is the Quill Sleeve. I'll try Cerise Fairwind. No, that's fine. That's fine. I do have potions.

I will run over to Quill. Am I 30 feet? Yeah, I think you are, actually. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25. Yeah, you can get to him. I will.....do a medicine check, I guess. Stabilise. Stabilise. Medicine check to stabilise, if you want. Yep. DC 10.

7. Plus, uh... 8. Oh, plus 8? No, plus eight. Oh, plus eight? No, plus one, eight. Oh, not enough. You're like trying to bandage wounds. Like the arrow, you're like, do I pull the arrow out?

Do I leave it in? It looks infected. Like, is that gonna make it worse? This is too much, I need help. All right, we go to the top of the round. Ayla. I will fly on back down and shove potion in his face. Okay.

Yep. So if you've got potion, you spend it from your thing. What kind of potion? Standard? Standard. 2d4 plus 2. I'll roll it so you can save some time because it doesn't really matter. Seven hit points, Quill.

And that is going to be us. We don't need, we can lose the map now at this point. Oh, God, I'm shaking. That was so tough. It was exciting. I am down to absolutely nothing. Nothing. Nothing left. I still have an action surge.

Yeah, you do. Pilots hope that you don't have any more encounters. Yeah, we got a flat ball. You are, for a moment, the stillness of the Gravebloom Valley of Jakesh. Yeah, we got a flat ball. You are, for a moment, the stillness of the Gravebloom Valley of Jakesh is at least for the first time, perhaps, a comfort. Stillness, quiet, you do not hear the sounds of undead creatures, and you know that the threat of the stalker,

at least for now, is abated. Hotshot will begin tending to Shade, sort of beginning to attend to their wounds and their sickness that they struck. We'll dispatch Protector to say, sort of say, Protector, help Champion Quill, but we can't, we need to find somewhere to rest. We can't really stay here. Is Nova still blind? blind yes that has not gone um you passed your con save didn't you when you took the arrow to the chest yes you did yeah

yeah yeah so uh yeah uh you when you look at nova by the way all the three of you can see that her eyes are completely milky white and there is like pus and liquid like built up in her tear ducts that's just like you know it's crusting over like itch and and nova you don't feel well like you are like now that the adrenaline of the battle when it starts kind of like failing away like you almost stumble and tian kong like catches you and is like holding you up like you you can move and you can act but like yeah you are you are very ill like this is a disease definitely now like the only way I'm moving is cuz Tiangong's holding her up Can I? Ayla will support Nova okay yeah yeah yeah Tiangong will just say

yeah just nod and let you kind of take her because you can just carry her like yeah I'll just like piggyback for Nova yeah you're not carry her and like, open the control. Yeah, I'll just like, piggyback for Nova. Yeah, you're not like vomiting or like nauseous, Nova, it's more like a weakness. Your hearing is like so muffled, people have to be right next to you and it sounds like you're underwater. And your mind, it's just like, it feels like your brain's on fire.

Like it's hard to think and like you're confused and dazed. Brain fog. Yeah. Making a bit too real here, Mark. I'm trying not to, I'm just trying to think of you're confused and dazed. Brain fog. Yeah. Making it a bit too real here, Mark. I'm trying not to. I'm just trying to think of symptoms of illnesses. Lucius will say to Tiangong, What happened to Nova? What happened?

She's inflicted with some sort of sickness. Right. Is there any way we can get rid of it? Not right now we can't. That's for sure. To rest, I think. I believe that Keelak and Sentinel Prime both have the divine magic capabilities to remove diseases, but only after they rest. Right, well, let's get somewhere safe then, I guess.

How many of us are there total? There are now, without Tinker, there's one less. There's three guardians and then the five of you. Five of us. I could take us back to the Stormchaser and maybe we can come back here. If I charge a gem on the book, we can just come back here later and rest on the Stormchaser.

Rather than trying to find some place here, it would be safer up there. How bright and colourful is the... I mean, the teleports... You've never seen it from the outside. That's the only thing. You know what it looks like when you teleport, but you don't know how it looks to other creatures around you.

But teleporting out might be fine. Then we just drop in again, I suppose, quietly or try to do it quietly. Are you saying that in character or is that like out of character planning? I mean, I don't know Lucius's thoughts of how bright is that. No, no, but more the like, oh, we can just drop back in. When you said we can just drop back in, is that in character you're saying that?

That was in response to Trot's thoughts and Tom's response to that. But I'm saying that we could go back to the Stormchaser and that's where we could rest. There is one difficulty with that, Champion. The reason that we set up the outpost is the storm chaser cannot just drop you anywhere in the jungle. The canopy is too thick. There are many dangerous parts here, ravines, fast-moving rivers. It would be very, very risky to jump in blind if we do not have a suitable landing spot.

And there are no suitable spots near the hold. We would basically be starting again. All of the travel progress. Potentially alerting more of the creatures. Push this advantage. Only have the chance.

I've never seen the creature the stalker. We've never defeated it. Is it gone? Is that it permanently gone no it doesn't seem that way she recreates bodies then i guess we have until how long that takes before it starts hunting us again indeed i'm guessing by the time we've rested she could be back we could attempt the storm chaser and perhaps we can find somewhere else but it is risky. We will either have to risk jumping into a potential undead horde again like you faced before

or perhaps a natural environment. There are many pits and sinkholes, swamps, quicksand, this jungle is very dangerous naturally but it is, and at least we would be safe whilst we rested. Here, we'll need to locate somewhere. I believe that myself or Champion Aayla both have the abilities, or Champion Quill can also locate somewhere suitable, safe, that will provide us with cover and a place to hide. We will then need to try and disguise our camp to avoid the undead. I know that our attempts to be quiet have not been successful

so far, but that is what will be required. Unless you have... I know that you are almost... there is no magical energy left. I know that there are some spells which can allow people to rest in safe places, but unfortunately that's out of my realm. Yes, very well. I've got literally nothing left, even if I wanted to make the temple of the gods or anything. Do you have anybody on the storm chaser who could aid us in any other way? You can still speed by the way, I don't feel like you can't. Yeah, no, I was just trying to think. So I have a spell called Creation, which is through Tiangong,

which can create vegetable matters stone crystal precious metals gems blah blah blah okay could that perhaps if i use vegetable matter could i create like a disguise yeah absolutely you could do that like you could basically create a hill over you like a hollowed out hill and you'd be inside it it says the object created must be no longer than a five foot cube uh ah it. It's, like, a little tiny. Oh, yeah, when you cast it at a higher level, you can make it bigger, basically. Yeah, so, unfortunately...

I mean, it could be used, like... I'd definitely tell you that you could use that in place of a stealth check to, like, create, like, a wall of, like, vegetation to, like, hide you, like, natural camouflage. So you could basically replace one stealth check that you would need to make with that spell, for sure. So Tiangong would communicate that, I think. I believe that, yes, we have an ability

to create at least some temporary camouflage that will last approximately 24 hours, but it will not be very large. How spent is Sentry? Because I know she can create roots and vines. No, I'm very out. The Matrix is drained of much of its energy. I don't have much left at all.

Speaking of the Matrix, if you would like a moment with Tinker... Well, I'm worried that he's still covered in that material, and if Nova's disease has not gone, then the one that killed Tinker might still linger. I'm worried about bringing him into the Matrix. Until we know more about these diseases, I mean, I'll take the body, but also we know that contact is how some of this spreads sometimes.

For the safety of the rest of us. I can maybe drag him, if I can use a piece of cloth, I could make something to drag him with him. It will just leave a trail. We'll be tracked easily. You see Sentry's like, yeah, he can't read facial expressions, but I don't think Sentry would want to leave Tinker here.

That's, I don't know, Tom, I think no, if I don't think that she would want to, but she also doesn't want to put the rest of you in danger. So, very conflicted. What about the other guardians? Have they got any... Hotshot will look and, like, when Aayla says that, like, Hotshot nods at Aayla, but doesn't outright say anything,

but she nods at Aayla. Like, she gives you that look of, like, we need to leave him. I think maybe Hotshot would say, Semmel Prime, I know that you don't want to leave them, but I've had to leave a lot of guardians in this place, and I don't think we're ever going to find them and recover their bodies. Sometimes in war you lose soldiers. We can't help that. Tinker did their job. We've got to do ours. That hold is still there. Kalaar is still here.

And those things are going to come back. We've got to make this count. Sorry if that's heartless, but I've got a job to do. We didn't know Tinker for very long, but I assume they wouldn't want to impose any more risk upon us. I don't think so. But if you need a moment, Sentry... Yes.

Just a second. Just a second. Yeah. I think, like, Sentry would maybe, like, get some stones and some wood and like make like an impromptu marker and like almost like I'm gonna come back and try and find this place one day. Sure. Yeah.

All right. Well, trackers of deep, dank, dark and corrupted forests, let's find a real cozy place to rest for the night. Hot shot, we'll look at Aayla and Quill. Who wants to lead the way? I'll lean on someone and yeah, and try and find some place. All right.

Shade, Protector, help the others move as quietly as possible. So two of you can have advantage on your stealth checks. You can decide who that is. I would suggest Sentry as one of them. Yes. How good are you at stealthing? Right now, it's going to be tricky. I'm blind.

Yeah. What if I'm carrying Nova? Your stealth check will be at disadvantage. But I've got advantage from my cloak. Then it will just be a standard roll. Okay, well, I guess... We'll basically say that Nova doesn't have to make a stealth check if you're carrying her,

but you'll have disadvantage on the roll, which would balance out your cape anyway, your boots. Okay. All right, so you're taking care of Nova. Okay. All right, so the first thing is a survival check from Quill, please. Well, I've got my boots and my cloak. I have double advantage.

No such thing, but sure. They just help in different circumstances. Well, first things first, survival check from Quill, which is a big one. Regular single roll, not advantage or anything? Nope. Survival check. This is to find somewhere that you can basically try and rest in. Plus 12. That's a slightly higher DC. 25.

So, Quill leads you through and tries to put as much distance as you can manage between this place and somewhere that he thinks will make a suitable hiding spot. You travel for maybe an hour and eventually, not moving towards Nightbloom Hole, unfortunately, not gaining any progress in your journey, but Quill does manage to find what appears to be

a sort of hollowed out, very large, huge tree. But the roots of it, sort of underneath the tree, but the roots of it, sort of underneath the tree, sections of earth have fallen away and almost created like a cavern underneath this giant tree that is very difficult to spot through the roots. Like it's actually a very good hiding spot temporarily. However, it's still gonna need some effort to try and disguise and make sure

that you guys don't give yourselves away. But yeah, this is a very suitable chance. It's to lower the stealth dc to make it so that you guys can rest um the tiangong yeah so tiangong will use creation and create vegetable vegetable matter so fine so yeah you watch as tiangong kind of steps up to one of these kind of entry like these kind of like uh where the roots are split and you're using almost as like entryways, goes up to one of them holding the sword and you just watch as the plants and the roots grow over and almost seal it off,

almost creating like a... That's new. That's powerful. We have always been able to do this. You have? Yes, that is correct. Make fishies. We can create various matters.

However, depending on the type of material used, it lasts for considerably less time. We are able to transmute vegetable matter, stone, crystal, precious metals, gems, and adamantine or mithril. So, this is really inappropriate timing to really delve into this, but... No, I'm not creating you gold. No, no, I don't want gold. If I was to eat a tomato with your creation, would it, would it sate me? So Nova is swaying in front of you while you're asking this.

Never mind. Tia and Gon can answer the question though, like, which they would, because the thing is. Nova, answer me. I'm like, not like, you probably wouldn't vomit, but like, there answer me! Like... Not like... You probably wouldn't vomit, but, like, there's definitely, like, retching. While he's talking about food.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm just like... Don't you dare vomit on me. Tiangong will say, like, yes, food created through this process would last long enough for your body to digest it and absorb nutrients. However, then afterwards, it would no longer exist,

but it would already have been consumed. Food without the poop. However, then afterwards, it would no longer exist, but it would already have been consumed. As long as you... Without the poop? No, your body would still create waste material based on the process. If I'm understanding elven physiology correctly. Yes, I poop. However, this is a very powerful use of magic. There are other easier methods.

Honestly, that's fine. How are other easier methods. Honestly, that's fine. How are you doing, Nerv? Before we get into the full camp RP, because you can have that, I do need stealth checks from Aayla, Lucius, Sentry, Lucius and Sentry have advantage, Aayla's straight roll,

Quill, all need to make stealth checks. And does Tiangong take one stealth check away? Because of what they did? No, because you're carrying it. Yes, they do actually, yes. So that's gonna count as one extra success. Can I help Sentry by casting a visibility on her

with my last? Visibility won't help with this, because it's like you're trying to build. With the campsite, right? Yeah, because it's like you're trying to hide the campsite. This is to last eight hours. If this was for the normal travel, absolutely that would help. In this circumstance, it won't.

I got nothing. But if you had spells like Leomund's Tiny Hut and stuff like that. I had it. Yeah. So Sentry has advantage. Yes. Disadvantage, so it's just a straight roll. Straight roll.

Okay. Same as Aayla. 18. 18? I mean, the DC isn't as high because of the great spot that Quill found, and you've already got one success, so we got... Well, Sentry gets an eight. I get a six.

Oh my god. Nine. Nine? Why? Oh my god. How are we so bad at stealth? This is how we're going to TPK. Because of stealth.

We consistently are just Because of stealth. We consistently are just garbage at stealth. No, it's fine. Lucius sets off another forest fire. No, no. Let it end. Before, no, it's fine. Don't worry. What are you guys going to do about watches? Are you going to have somebody keep watch?

I'm blind. Yeah, you're blind. Spellcasters, you need the full eight hours. Apart from Lucius, who can be conscious for four hours of the long rest. Sentry. Sentry needs eight hours to get her laying on hands and everything back. I'll take first.

All right. So, yeah. So that's going to be your first half of your trance. You're going to be awake but meditating, and then you take the four hours of actual unconsciousness. I'll take second. Okay, all right. The guardians need, they need rest.

They don't need to sleep. They do need to rest, but the only one, Hotshot will say, I need shade to rest. Me and Protector don't, we're fine. Okay, so having two people pull the code would be good. Yes, yeah. Also Tiangong can keep watch, right? Mm-hmm.

Yeah. While I'm sleeping? Yeah. Yeah? Okay. I believe so. Does Tiangong go away if you're incapacitated? I think so, yeah. Then they would disappear when Nova is actually unconscious.

Okay. All right. So, yeah, continue. If you want to have some moments of brevity and interaction. Make plans. You've also, Hotshot will say, we're still about four hours away from Nightbloom Hold. Now, to recap on what just happened, which I know is awful. Do we have to?

Let's look at the pluses. Okay, the pluses. It very much looked like your guiding bolt was very powerful against anything corrupt and awful. Yeah. So more radiant where possible, although small. It very much looked like your guiding bolt was very powerful against anything corrupt and awful. Yeah. So more radiant where possible, although small and not too loud and bright. Not too bright, not too loud, but radiant.

Yes, also let's not forget, back where we were, we were informed that Clara's lantern is something we should follow? We use? Trust the light, the lantern is sacred. Trust the light. I mean, I don't know about you guys, but I've seen very few lights. No, but as we get closer,

I assume maybe there will be some, it may be more symbolic in that radiant is best. Possibly, maybe. Outside of that, I mean, I didn't see the thing disappear, but I've got no idea how long it'll take for them to

be reborn and to start chasing us again. And also, three others? Yep, three others. When we were watching Nightbloom hold, we didn't get a good look at many of the individuals that's too far away. We know that there's a lot of those hive undead, if we want to call them that, the sort of worker ant undead. A lot of them are in the grounds outside. We know that the keep is fortified. It has a large wall on a hill. There's a very large roth heart at the center of it all,

a large tree that we believe is partially what controls the undead, gives them their intelligence. There are several buildings inside the fort. The only creatures we ever saw that weren't the undead, we saw lots of their... They looked like maybe foot soldiers. They still looked like they were living. They didn't look like they were skeletons or undead. They look like living things but pallid uh depressed like the stalker

no not i've never seen like that all that rot and that infection i've never seen anything like that they just look sad honestly for lack of a better word uh the glimpse of them i got i feel pretty sad right now um not that kind of sad. Scaldy was depressed. But they seem to be foot soldiers, almost. Gambesons, pot helms, a few weapons here and there. Maybe like the sort of guard you would expect at a barracks or something like that. There are also a few monks, friars in black robes, embroidered with lanterns and carrying old rusted lanterns, that sort of thing.

We never saw any of the bigger knights, but we've heard reports from around the rest of Eros. They come in... The only reports that we had before we set out here is there are knights who appear in black plate armour, normally with two-handed swords, it was Vyhandlers. They're powerful, they have powers over undead and necrotic magic. But there were a couple of other reports.

There was one in particular, a similar knight, a half-orc woman, who was wearing blackened armour but was almost like it was on fire, cracked with red and metal. An absolute fury of warfare, just carnage unleashed. Could summon weapons from thin air, seemed to break weapons that struck them. They were dangerous. They appeared when resistance became overwhelming for the other knights. I imagine that maybe that was one of these other ones. From what I heard,

this other, this half-orc knight was in keeping with whatever that thing that was chasing us, in terms of power. Certainly not anything we could manage on our own. Okay. The other thing I will say is, forgive me, just because this thing has been stalking us, I was trying to keep a close eye on its tactics. We've never lasted that long against the Stalker. Any Guardians that have encountered it, within a few seconds they were dead. It seemed that it was harder for it to hide the longer it went on.

The first few moments when it attacked us, even when it attacked, I couldn't tell where it was coming from. But it did look like as the battle went on, it revealed itself when they attacked us. Even when it attacked, I couldn't tell where it was coming from. But it did look like as the battle went on, it revealed itself when she attacked, or when they attacked us. That might be something to keep in mind. Maybe if it engages us again, we need to just focus on defense

for those first few moments, try and protect ourselves. Right. It seems like it was most dangerous coming out of an ambush. If we can be aware of it, if we can make sure that it doesn't get the jump on us, then I think that we're in a much better chance

if we have to fight it again. Also, I mean, when Champion Aayla got up close to it, it didn't seem particularly dangerous in a close fight. I think if had you been rested at full strength, I don't think it would have been too much of a problem for you. Well, it's diseases are a concern. I can continue to, as we get closer to hold,

I can continue to attempt to track it. And that will at least help us know whether it's getting closer to us or even if it's just alive again, I suppose. So I can try that again but we don't know how the others fight at all um beyond breaking weapons and being cloaked in flame uh it's secondhand information i wish i had more details but we we couldn't waste too much time investigating it can you fix my eyesight quill not now. You can make an Arcana check or a religion, a medicine check.

Medicine or Arcana. I miss being able to see your face. Arcana. That kept going. 14. 14 total. Yeah. Looking at the symptoms, I mean,

actually, no, this is less about the symptoms than a medicine check. You don't think this is magical. You don't get the sense that this disease is magical in nature, which hopefully will mean that it will be easier to cleanse. You know the lesser restoration spell will get rid of this, as will greater restoration. Or some of Sentry's Leon hands. And, yeah, that's the other thing.

Sentry's like, I think I can help, but I need to rest. Yeah, I think we should keep some lay on hands. You're the best healer, Centry, in the pocket. No, no, that's not true. Quill's really good at healing. I can't do what Quill does. He's so triggered right now. I didn't say that.

I didn't say that. I'd like to recover a third level spell. Kim said that. I returned to my previous statement of women can be assholes too. Yes, they can. Okay. She had to prove it. Had to.

These conversations eventually die down as those of you who need rest, Quill, Sentry, try and get it. Lucius, you keep watch for the first four hours. Seemingly no sign of any danger. You wake up, you find Ayla kind of coming out of her elven trance. You guys swap places. Nothing so far. Let's hope that continues, otherwise we're a bit screwed.

You also have Hotshot and Protector are also there. They are actually, because they're a little bit, they're actually better at stealthing than you guys. They actually kind of go out of the little root base that you've got underneath this tree. They're kind of keeping a perimeter watch. They're actually like keeping out of the perimeter and sort of making sure that nothing comes too close.

Ayla, about two hours in, Hotshot and Protector come and in whispered voices, Undead, not the Stalker, but there's more of those things coming. We know you and the others need to rest. And they're saying this only, in fact, none of you hear this because the rest of you are all sleeping in a long rest. Protector looks at you. I will lure them away. You can't do that.

I must. It is my duty. It is my purpose to protect. You must rest. You must be at your full strength, champions. The hold will be a challenge. We cannot afford another engagement. This is what we do we are guardians see katie hates this and doesn't want this to happen but ayla in terms of tactics and survival exactly yeah because of the way she is she'd be like we can't do this without this sacrifice. And... And you see Hotshotlight puts a hand on your shoulder. It's no different to Tinka.

We've got a job to do. You know that. We're coming back for you. Protectors is like... Sentinel Prime is coming back for you. I will... We will scour the woods, we will find you, we will end this, and your sacrifice will not be in vain.

You will be returned to the Matrix, you will be reborn again. Thank you, Champion Aayla. That, I was not expecting such a sentiment from a non-guardian, but it does mean a lot. Good luck. Look after the others. Thank you. For everything. Just like, crosses their blade across their chest. And yeah, Hotshot's like, as soon as the others are up, we need to move. Protector will lure this group away, but we can't linger.

Lucius is trancing hard right now the rest of you are unconscious none of you know I have a dream about saluting even Tiangong isn't

even Tiangong isn't there's nothing else we can do if we don't do this we will literally die so Protector leaves the party does what Protector does

that's what Protector does the greatest of all of us. And, yeah. So long. So you just watch, Aayla, you just watch as they stealth out into the jungle. That's the last time you see them. The rest of you, two hours later, you awaken.

You begin sort of coming out of your long rest. You know, it's not exactly a perfect eight hours, but that's roughly what it is. As you do Lucius, you get a message in the messenger ring. Captain, it is Oriah. Is everything all right? It's been a long time without any communications. What's happening?

It's been quite the ten hours or so. We were pursued by a strange entity called the Stalker. We have dispatched them, but we believe that they can come back in the future. Is there anything we can do? Miss Valor is very worried, and she was asking because she was supposed to come and teleport to you, but she didn't want to. She was waiting for your signal. We're still approaching the hold. Okay. We've heard some bad things about it. If there is anything, any extra support we could gain around that area.

I assume we're going to be destroying what's called a big tree. All right. It's in control. Well, the canopy is so thick, the darkness is getting worse from up here. If you can speak with Navigator Quill, if you can give me a rough direction that you've been travelling in, sort of translate for me, Quill should be able to give me enough information that we can follow you on the Stormchaser, but unless you can give us a signal,

I'm not sure how much help this ship itself can provide. And you can't see the hold from above? No, the canopy's too thick. The canopy's thick, but also the gloom gets thicker, gets more dense as it gets to the center of the valley. Right. It makes it almost unpenetrable, the gloom. Unless you hear from me again,

the next signal flare that will go and pierce through the gloom will be a signal for you to bombard that area with everything you've got. All right, we'll be ready. Okay, do you want to... Miss Valor, the other thing I want to mention is Miss Valor does have a method. We've tried scrying and sending spells,

but they're not getting through to you. Valor believes that it is part of Calara's influence. But she does think that she has found a way to at least enable you and all of the crew, even those without messenger rings, and us to communicate. But it will only last for about a minute or so. So if we do need to do any desperate planning,

she thinks she has a way to enable that communication. Right, I'll give you the word via messenger ring to open that communication. Very good, Captain. All right, if you can just give me those navigation coordinates from navigator Quill, and we will follow as best we can. Yes, thank you.

We'll just have, like, yeah, Quill can give you that information. The party is somewhat safe. Good. And we are somewhat on our way. We definitely will have our vision. If you cannot do it, Captain, no one can. So we have all the faith in you. You couldn't see my salute, could you? No. It's a messenger ring.

But I was definitely saluting. As were we. Lucius, who are you saluting to? Oh, okay. Yeah, I got it. It's Oriah. Oriah, Val is very worried, of course. They are wanting an update, and I said everything's, I look at Nova.

Nova's face down. So, after the long rest, Sentry will come up to Nova and will lay her hand over your eyes and the matrix will pulse and she'll use five points of her lay on hands to do a cure disease. She can remove one disease for five points of her lay on hands.

Can you mark that off for me? I can't. I can't. I've got a note. That's all right. Let's keep some of that in the bank. Yes. She's only using the five points to get rid of the disease. Yeah, that's quite useful i keep some of that in the bank yes like yeah she's only using

the five points to get rid of the disease but that's quite useful it's very handy nova bank for anyone who needs it yes and all that sickness all that nausea and stuff also goes as well as it's purged you kind of almost feel this light filling you your eyes almost like glow like you see this white golden light and then your vision returns. Sorry, I've just clicked long rest. I'm just looking at all the things that are recovering. So much. Yes, you guys can have a long rest. Would a dawn have technically happened since we're here?

That's a good question. Because my Amethyst Lodestone charges at dawn. But you used it just recently, right? Like you used it in that fight. Yeah, so it's out of charges. Then a dawn hasn't happened in those eight hours, no. Okay. But if it was from anything from the outpost encounter...

Oh. Did you use anything in the outpost encounter? I had three charges used. In that encounter. But it's all charges come back on the dawn, right? It's a roll for it. Yeah. Did you not? Did someone use charge? So every dawn you get X amount of charges, is it yeah did you not did someone say every dawn you get x

amount of charges is it 1d6 okay yeah you can roll 1d6 yeah you can you can get some charges back on the uh on the lodestone uh a dawn has passed since you first arrived here but one all right so one charge or whatever uh that means i can do flight no you look great oh Oh my god. You look so much better. Do you feel better? Yeah. Just go sit up. Why were you talking about tomatoes? Oh yes, um, your creation spell. Oh yeah. I was just asking Tiangong if you ate a tomato that you made, would it sate me? And Tiangong's already told me that it would be enough time. I just have a really vivid recollection of you talking about talking about tomatoes for age and poo Were you talking about poo? Yes, I was thinking whether it would be enough time for me to eat but not poop But apparently my body makes poop anyway, so I didn't imagine that that's a thing that happened. Yes for sure. Okay?

Champions we need to move You all as you look around a hot shot is just like interrupts that conversation is like we need to go As you look around, Hotshot just like, interrupts that conversation, it's like, we need to go. All right, Hotshot. Hold on a minute. All of you notice Protector isn't here. Century's like, where's Protector? Yes, where is Protector?

Are they just doing a patrol or something? Hotshot will look at Ayla. No! And then Hotshot will say, yeah, they're out on patrol. They're gonna meet us there. Good, excellent. Ooh oh in which case anybody what's your passive insight call 22 oh but it is a guardian uh so it's especially hard to tell i suppose yeah that's true you're not sure like this you're like forehead crinkles i mean why would

like i think that like you're like there's like definitely like you're like it could be true but it also doesn't make a lot of sense um i mean how is ayla looking not good she terrible liar very blunt i think enough that like that will confirm for quill like maybe that will give like advantage like that gives you enough of a bonus but for the rest of you i think unless you've got a really high insight, like Sentry definitely wouldn't pick up on it. We're talking about Pooh. Yeah, so like Quill's the only one

that kind of picks up on it. I think Aayla will just look at Quill, just give him a look to be like, he's not coming back, but she will not let anyone else see that. Yeah, that's good. Or she'll like whisper to Quill when they're away from the group. There was no other way. I think I would.

She would just say there was no other way. The way that Hotshot and Aayla are looking, and this would just be disastrous for Sentry, particularly. So I don't, yeah, I'm not going to like. Hotshot will just say, yeah, they're going to try me instead. I need to clear a path. Great. Let's move.

So useful. They'll be valuable in the next fight. That is. This looks so good. If I can join you. All right. Do we know the rough direction we're heading? Yes. I know the way to the hold.

All right. Now remember, everybody, I know i've tripped on everything so far and said a cape on fire but let's get real quiet and keep it as quiet we haven't succeeded a single i think we'll be okay for the next hour or so so let's let's get as much distance as we can cover now right you guys get a free hour of travel uh if you'd like to you guys can double march uh it does mean that you'll go an extra distance, but you might have difficulties later on. Or you can just take it slow and steady. I say we move fast.

Yeah. Because we don't know when. You've got four hours to go. So this will get you two of those hours down, which means you'd only have two more hours to cover. Because we're inevitably going to fail the other two anyway. So bad things are going to happen. Eight-hour rest.

Let's just boost it. Two hours travel. Okay. Ten. Ten hours total. I will kind of ask the others, how safe do we want to play it with the other three allies of the Stalker?

three allies of the Stalker, should I ask a question about who or what they are? Maybe this would help us if they decide to ambush us. I mean, I just want to know more about, like, she seemed really sad. She seemed sad. Like, she didn't want to be doing what she was doing, like she's being forced to. She didn't want to do it at all. She asked us to end it. So if we can get more information, or maybe if there's a way that we can free them, or a way that we can help them. It seems like it's beyond the tree that controls the hive. I feel like this is coming directly from Calara. I just think it would be useful to at least get a glimpse

of how they fight, what they look like. If I know what they look like, I can track them again. Like I did the other one. Considering what happened to us eight hours ago, I think that's beneficial. If you can think of a way that you can learn about all three of them with one question? Yes.

Kalara's show me all of Kalara's corrupt followers. How will... That will show, like, surely... Millions. So many. Yeah. Like, what was the stalker? Who? That would be one question.

No, I mean, but what was that? How can I use what that is to identify the other three? Do you want to make an intelligence check? Nova can make one as well. I always want to make an intelligence check. She said that there were three others. You can if you want. This would be Arcana.

No, this would just be straight history checks. History checks. Yeah, it would be history. I've got plus six. Oh, I've got plus nine history I've got plus six oh I got plus nine I've got plus eight 18 18 19 10 Lucius and Nova I mean when Quill kind of says that like what are they like you do remember like um they were like when you had the reports they were calling themselves grief Knights they the people were calling them the grief knights.

So that is a grief knight, okay. Yeah. Is it? Oh, okay. Oh, I thought the black armoured ones were. Yeah, I thought those were. I mean, it sounds like they're all part of it. It sounds like the stalker and this half-orc knight are exceptionally more powerful.

But they are part of the grief knights. I would say Nova with that 19, which is just a little pinch higher. I mean, it would make sense if this was a knighthood, like a kind of holy order of knights, there is a command structure. You have knight commanders, you have, you know, regular knights, and then you have squires and people beneath them. If these, if the Stalker and this other one were the senior knights, then yeah, they would be the knight commanders of Calara, or of the Blackened Rose was the name of the order. You remember that the order was the Order of the Blackened Rose.

Who were the knight commanders of the Order of the Blackened Rose could potentially either reveal who they were or who they are now if they still are considered knights. So Nova would go on a big long rant about knights and the hierarchy and structure and almost pull out a scroll with a diagram and all that. But yeah, in short, probably a good question is, who are the knight commanders of the Order of the Black and Rose? And then you could maybe say currently, or you could say previously, because it seems

like some transformation has happened, because the one, the stalker that we just fought definitely wasn't like that all the time. I was probably going to ask how they would fight us, I suppose, and maybe that would gleam some kind of idea about how they will actually fight. What powers do the knights have? The knight commanders have? Can you give me all the information ever, past, present and future, about these three bastards?

What are they weak to? I mean, if it's all Calara's domain, I think we know how they're all probably weak to the same things. Light. Light, radiance, holy. I mean, it would be interesting to know if they're all as stealthy. Are all four of them stealthy? Do they have different expertise?

This one person. I'm going to put some pressure because we've got 15 minutes to wrap this episode up. So if you want an answer, you've got to be asking that question in the next couple of minutes. Yeah, I want to know how the four knight commanders of Killara. The Order of the Black and Rose.

The Order of the Black and Rose. I want to know how they're going to fight us. Like, that's basically the question. What are their powers? What are their powers? Yeah. What are their skills? How do they fight? How do the Knight Commanders of the Order

of the Blackened Rose fight? How do the four? How do the four Knight Commanders of the Order of the Blackened Rose fight? Question mark. Question mark. Unfairly. The eye turns to mist and fog and you are...

For the first time, you see something you've not seen before. The vision is split into two, as if watching two visions simultaneously. Oh, huh. You see... The first that you witness is a wild elf, a familiar wild elf that you have seen before in two forms. In one vision, she appears as a wild elf

with brown braided hair, dressed in the black tabard and black leather armor of the Order of the Blackened Rose. She accompanies other knights as a master archer barred and black leather armor of the order of the blackened rose she accompanies other knights as a master Archer leading Squires in volleys of arrows against undead creatures risen up from some foul act heroically bravely she is a huntress but there is also a trepidation. She avoids the front lines.

There is a fear that you sense, a past, shame, a cowardice that once cost her dearly. And then in the other vision, as if something divides your sight in two perfectly, you see the stalker a name comes to mind you heard Cerise Fairwind now you know her as the grief knight of plagues bringer of pestilenceble to fire arrows that conjure disease and spread poisons. A master of camouflage, of hiding. That cowardness, a sickness within her own body now made manifest in physical form.

The next vision, you see a bold, strong, half-orc woman, burly muscles, decked in plate armour, carrying what almost appears to be a barrel on her back, full of weapons collected from battles and duels won. Dozens of them. She moves around the battlefield, inspiring her fellow knights and squires, taking on the biggest undead threats that the Order of the Black and Rose seeks to eliminate. She defends the innocent and laughs and jokes and makes light of her victories, lifting up trophies that she's claimed in battle. In the other vision, you see her in this one you do not know the name of, but

you know that they have taken on the title of Grief Knight of War. Their armour, they have swollen in size, gaining strength, durability. Their armour is almost breaking at points, but where the fractures form, instead hot fire and steam begin to emanate from the blackened charcoal skin beneath that is now encased in steel able to summon weapons to her side to fit whatever needs are required she is indomitable blows deal less damage but also ill-timed strikes, novice strikes that perhaps are easy and clumsy to avoid. She brings her own weapons down damaging them sometimes breaking them. The next vision you see is of a well-dressed Ember Elf wearing breastplate, appearing almost like a priest, his bald head studded with various diamonds and the shape of a moon around

their forehead. They conjure great divine magics, annihilating the undead with blasts of radiant energy and conjuring the elements when they defended life as a servant of Calara, as a true knight of the Blackened Rose. In the other vision you see the grief knight of famine. Now that light that they once summoned has turned into cold frost, one arm completely encased in blackened ice. They emanate an aura of frigid death around them, and they are able to consume life, magic, hope. Finally, you see a figure. A noble human man. Older, but no less regal in his appearance.

This is clearly the commander of the Order of the Blackened Rose, bedecked in the most ornate, beautiful plate armour you've seen before. beautiful plate armor you've seen before, inscribed with stylized roses and the cycle of life built into their very armor itself. Graying, thinned hair pulled back, but they are a legendary figure, like something from a storybook. As they direct their knights and they rise up,

they mount a horse and parade through the streets to cheers and cries of life. In the other vision, they ride a skeletal steed, its eyes glowing with blue flames. His visage is gaunt, haunted, eyes sunken and black. eyes sunken and black. His sword arm, now a skeletal hand, as it clutches a longsword at his side. Undead, skeletal creatures swarm around them,

empowered by his mere presence, but also spirits cling to the ground around them, as you see the Knight Commander, the grief knight of death itself. God. And that is the last thing we see in today's episode. Oh, yeah. Oh, that's so cool. We've got our own horsemen of the apocalypse put in grief for you.

The grief men of the apocalypse. One horseman. And women. Grief, grief, griefers of the apocalypse. It's you, I mean, actually. It's you, I mean. Yeah, Cerise. Yeah. Oh!

That's awesome. Do you, well, and I guess we'll find out, do you need to fight all of them? Are all of them there? What's going to happen? We don't know. I mean, thankfully, it seems like only one of them will properly be able to ambush us. So that's good. I don't think the skeletal steed human will be able to sneak up on us. Famous last words. But he has big armies of undead and spirits. Very cool. Holy moly. Very, very cool. I'm going to retcon one thing. They didn't have a longsword. I said that they were clutching a weapon. On their back, you see a blackened, black and silver scythe.

Of course they do. There it is. Sorry, just had to get that. I forgot about that one. I forgot about their stat block. He is a commander of death, so why wouldn't he? Why wouldn't he? I forgot they have a particular move,

which will work better if they have a scythe. Oh, they just harvest crops. Yeah. Yeah, that's it. Harvest crops. Really love their crops. Efficiently. He's the commander of death,

but he loves a bit of farming. A bit of farming on the side. Loves a bit of farming. How many carols wants the goddess of life? It's not farming, it's farming. Booming. But yeah, there you go. There's a little... Those are the knight commanders of the Grave Knights. Well, not wonderful. Furmen. Yes. But yeah, there you go. There's a little...

Those are the knight commanders of the Grafenwights. They're not wonderful. Pretty horrible. Pretty horrible. But we are back in action. We're long-rested. Long-rested at the cost of one poor little guardian. One Grafenwight did that to us.

We got four. Yeah, but we were really weak. Yeah. Yeah. We were completely tapped out when we fought one of them. Yeah, so... And I was blind. You're no longer blind.

So that's good. I can see. Clearly now. But yeah, it's one of those things that you are certainly more prepared to fight Cerise if she appears again. Like, you kind of know more about what they do. I mean, these other three, you've got some hints from the Eye of the Storm, but like... Still haven't faced them.

Magic uses on the War Orc. Well, then again, we could use Radiant because we know Cerise don't like it. I will say, it's not like they were vulnerable to it or anything like that, by the way. Like, Radiant hurt, but you didn't see any signs that it was, like, particularly effective. I just thought it was more magic.

I would have told you if they were vulnerable to radiant damage. Cerise don't like it. Yeah, it's fine. You can have that. Just break her legs again. Rob the Casbah. It was a really good joke, guys. For sure it was. Do you want to do some donations? Actually, no. We're going to end the episode.

That's what we're going to do. Thanks for joining us. We will see you again. Yeah, well, you know, don't tell a terrible joke and distract me. We'll see you next time. Thanks for joining us. Take don't tell a terrible joke and distract me. We'll see you next time. Thanks for joining us. Take care. Bye-bye.

Bye, everybody. Bye now. Bye. Goodbye.