High Rollers DnD - High Rollers: Aerois | #31 - Hall of the Gods (Part 2)

Episode Date: April 11, 2019

The team have found a chained spectre in the Night Eye they're not sure they can trust! Thanks to our one-time sponsor (and good friend) Brian McClellan! Grab his newest book - Uncanny Collateral - here: http://bit.ly/uncannycollateralhighrollerspodcast. Use the code HRDND for 10% off the Hardcover or HRDNDE for 25% off the e-book. That's just $3! Thanks to our sponsors D&D Beyond and Displate! Displate offer durable, steel, high quality canvases with a huge choice of artwork from a wide selection of artists! The High Rollers have a collection that you can view here: http://bit.ly/displatehighrollers D&D Beyond is the official digital toolset for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. Create your FREE account now and start digitising your campaigns here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/ Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Visit betterhelp.com to learn more. That's betterhelp.com. Hello, everyone. Welcome back to High Rollers, a Dungeons & Dragons podcast in the world of Erois, run by Dungeon Master Mark Scholloch-Humes, with me, Tom, playing Kilakad Kalad, bard slash cleric. I am Chris Trott.

I'm playing Lucius Viren, Elowin Elinastro. And I am a High Elf Sorcerer. I am Rh Trott. I'm playing Lucius Vue and Elowen Elinastio. And I am a high elf sorcerer. I am Rhiannon. I am playing Oriah, the rogue ranger orc. Hi, I'm Katie. I'm playing Ayla, a wild elf barbarian. And I'm Kim. I'm playing Nova, who is an air ganassi, and she is a hexblade warlock.

We're sponsored by D&D Beyond and Displate. Use the code HIGHROLLERS15 on Displate to get 15% off your order and check out both sponsors with the links in the episode description. We also have a one-time sponsor with our good friend Brian McClellan, the author of the Fantastic Powder Mage Trilogy, which you should definitely check out. But first, why not start a brand new series with his

brand new book, Uncanny Collateral? Head to the link in the episode description and use the code HRDND for 10% off the hardback, or get the e- and use the code HRDND for 10% off the hardback, or get the e-book with the code HRDNDE for 25% off. That means you'll get the e-book for just $3. So immerse yourself in an urban fantasy world and grab Uncanny Collateral by Brian McClellan today. While I'm here, it's worth mentioning that next week's episode will be the TwitchCon live show,

so the main Aroas series will be on hold for a week. But don't miss the one-shot, also set in Aroas, it'll be a whole lot of fun and if you're at TwitchCon why not come and see us? Anyway, on to the episode. In a darkened corner of the Night Eye, the party have discovered a chained spectre they're not sure they can trust. Welcome back to High Rollers. For this episode, the party have begun exploring the second level of the Night Eye dungeon temple. They have encountered a puzzle, which Kim is desperately trying to solve.

They've encountered a trapped corridor, which caused some damage and some harm to the party, but eventually was defeated. And now they stare into a large open chamber with a large stone and bronze water basin, in front of which a spectral figure bound in spectral chains, one to each wrist and one from the neck, extends almost up into the air and then vanishes.

And you look in. The ghost, this figure, does not seem to be aware of your presence currently. Just a... Closer. What was that? Was that what I thought it was? It seemed to be some sort of spirit, yes. Do you recognize?

The robes look similar to the ones that the ghosts outside were wearing. I'm guessing that this is one of the spirits of the Night High. But why is it chained up? Captured. I don't know. The other cells just seem to be aggressive, the ones that we fought. This one, I don't know why it would be captured. Who has captured it?

Was it maybe an old prisoner or a traitor, maybe? Were the chains as translucent and ghostly as... They seem to be made of a darker hue, however, like a dark spectral material. Did I spot, when the door was open, any chains in the room itself? Like, actual chains, I mean. No physical chains.

Just this stone basin. Not even like remnants of what could be. Nope. The walls were completely dark coloured, like a very dark blue. The ceiling as well. And then they had gemstones put into it, almost like stars.

Like the gemstones gave off this faint starlight and then it just has this kind of large stone basin filled with water. Hmm. And it had Siascan robes. Yeah, similar robes to the ones upstairs, yes. So I wouldn't say it'll be too peaceful. If it's a prisoner, I imagine it'll be quite distressed,

being trapped in there for however many years. Spirits can be funny things. Sometimes they can be aware of what's happened to them. Some of them can be stuck in time, like the ones we saw above. This one could be mad from being conscious for all of these centuries. I mean, trapped. At the very least, trapped by spectral chains. Like, what could it do to us, really?

We don't really know that. Why would, if this is a fortress where Siascan soldiers fought, and I assume they protected, right, why would they have a Siascan prisoner? I don't know. Perhaps it's been imprisoned by the one who's been stirring up this necromancer, perhaps. Oh, maybe, yes. Yes.

This could be more recent. Maybe this is a ghost that resisted the necromancer and he chained her up? Yes, if they have a power enough will, they can resist the commands of others. Or maybe they've been used as an energy source. So do we want to go have a chat? Or forcing the other guards to do stuff. Your friend seems quite distracted and they point Nova, who's like looking at notes. I think I would've probably like tried to not look at them.

You've got like a Nathan Drake-style notebook where you've quickly drawn the puzzle very, very quickly. What's happening, Nova? I had a theory. Is this about the room behind us? Yeah, the nice, non-bloodied room. Right, did you see the room ahead of us, by the way? No.

Okay, fine. There's a ghost in there. Oh, do you think he'd know who the youngest god is? She is chained up. She? Well, we don't know. It could be either. Yeah, you just saw long hair.

Elven features. Oh, oh I see. Do you think she'd know what the song is saying in the other room? Slightly. Maybe, but I mean... They're from that time. Well, we need to... This is where we're trying to go anyway. We can't cross that without seeing what's this. I can channel the energy into my lantern. If it does attack us, it will hopefully ward it off. Perfect. They begin. Let's enter. I can't make promises, but that's how it's worked

on other spirits I've dealt with before. You speak quick. Well, Calara, would you be best to speak with the… Who's Calara? Calara. You're not Calara. You're the priestess of Calara. Scaldi. Yes, birdman. You probably know…

Could have called me Hesper. You probably know better what to say to the spirit than we do. I know nothing. Not necessarily. I think it's... if I have to also to focus on my lantern requires quite a lot of concentration. It may be better if one of you speaks and I'm ready to word it off. And if it is trapped in the war times, it won't know what I am. So... Probably best not to. Well, if it's elven, then I think the one most familiar to it would be Master Lucius. You're a high elf. You're me?

Yes. Oh, I don't know what to say. What if we don't have anything in common? I mean... Let's make something up. We just need to find out if it's friendly, right? Yeah. If the being is friendly.

Okay. People don't like me very much, so I'm maybe not well what else around at that time no they would probably just see me as an elf okay so um act of the air of lusciousness and I think it'll be fine I don't think anyone. Okay. I could come with you. She knows what the song says. I will, if we get along. Perhaps Miss Araya can step with him as well. Orcs are a member of the Prime Race. The two of you perhaps will be the least threatening. Wait. What if they speak the language of the song?

Mm. Then what? Leave. Or see if there's a way around. Okay. then what? Leave. Or see if there's a way round. Okay. So you open the door. What kind of door is it? Is it a knob? Is it a handle?

No, it's like Aayla has to push it open. It's like a split stone door like this. Right. So Aayla pushes it open and then Lucius and Oriah step in. They get the front. Yeah, so as you step into the room the ghost's head kind of rises up weakly and you can see these big black orbs for eyes um obviously because it's a ghost there's no color and its eyes would have been like lucius's all one color so it's just black

were the other spirits eyes black uh any elven ones would have been yeah right yeah it's just because there's no colour to them. Like, normally they would be blue, they'd all be whole blue, but the ghost is just made of shades of grey and white and black, so it's just all black. And it kind of looks up weakly, and there's a moment of confusion as it looks up. You, you do not appear to be like the others.

Who are you? Have you come to torture me as well? Torture? Absolutely not. We're here to stop that if anything. Where have you come from? You are not like the others. You are not remnant.

No. Sorry, he wouldn't say remnant. They wouldn't say remnant. Court of Shadow? They say... You are not with the Court of. Sorry, he wouldn't say Remnant. They wouldn't say Remnant. Court of Shadow? Yeah, they say... You are not with the Court of Shadows? No, no. We are here to rescue anyone that fell victim to them. At last.

A champion of Siaska and the gods has come. Yes, a whole party of us. Good. Good. You must hurry. There is an incredibly wicked power at work here. Yes, what shackled you? Yes, she commands a power unlike any I have seen.

Now, what is your name? It is Lucius Virion Elowin Elanasto. Elanasto. I know that name. What? I mean, yeah, your family is descendants, a long family descendant line. Good bloodline. Yeah. Hey, someone finally knows him.

Strong, proud family. Yes, I have known a few officers with that name. I am Watch Commander Eloquus. I was trapped here by a woman, an undead creature that she woes from the dead. Many of my companions, she's ensorcelled them somehow, made them think that she is a commander, one of us. But even now I can sense it, it is not of, it is not of a rowess, it is not of anything I can sense it. It is not of... it is not of Aroas.

It is not of anything I have felt before. Has she taken over the shrine of this place? Yes. Yes, the shrine is nearby. There are paths to it. But the defenses, the Hall of the Faith, you must be cautious. It is warded against entry. Yes, we've gathered that maybe the most youthful of the gods could lead the way. It can be.

The song changes as one moves down the corridor. It changes the order in which you must step on them. Only those that have learnt how to roll it. Impossible for any of us to do it, then. Is there any other way to do it, then. It's not absolutely normal. Is there any other way to disable this trap? If you can reach the other side of the corridor, you can disable the mechanism.

There is also a pathway through the dormantries, but I believe that she has left several of her guardians there. Oh. If you can free me, I can assist you. I can give you some aid, but I do not know how to break these bonds. Where do they lead? Into a different plane?

I imagine some far realm, yes. She mocked me when she placed me here. She said the only thing to set me free is the one thing I do not have. A taunt to break my mind, I suspect. I was the only one that was not convinced by her sorcery. How far into the battle with the Court of Shadows are you? Oh, I'm well aware that that ended long ago.

Okay, good. I didn't want to disrupt your state of being, but yes, it's been many, many years. My other companions, the spirits that I've seen lingering here, they are confused, trapped in a time. But I gave my life willingly and pledged for my spirit to remain here to protect the shrine. So I am aware of what has happened. You're a noble soldier of Siasca and we thank you. Thank you, Master Elanasta. Just nods his head weakly.

Oh, their head, sorry. He's androgynous, by the way. My voice is obviously a bit more masculine. This is much more of an androgynous, elven voice. Yeah, you did say androgynous. I don't know why. No, no, it's fine. I'm making the same mistake, so. Yeah, and you can just see, like, the hands are held up and he's just like...

Maybe it is life that is needed. Perhaps. But I don't... Quill, you're almost on your way out. I'm joking. I'm joking. It's a joke. I panic.

Safe to come in? Yes. Oh, meet the party of Siaska. My forgiveness for not greeting you properly. Understood. So who was it who chained you again? I do not know her name. A woman in dark clothes. A mask. A silver mask over her eyes. Was she Spectrum? No. Very real. Powerful.

Hmm. And... Do you understand the song in the next room? Yes, of course. I was one who created it. It is a protection of my own design. Do you not speak the language of the divine beings? I'm guessing it's angelic. Celestial. Celestial! My dear scholar, there are a number of set phases.

You said you believed it to be something to do with youth. I translated some words and they said starry, guide, youth, bright, bright, lead, and mother. And I guess maybe... You must be quite clever to work it out without understanding the language. Thank you. The first verse is our starry sky guide us with the steps of youth.

Shine ever bright and lead us to our mother's arms. But as you progress further down the hall of the faith, it can change. It will require you to know different facets of the gods. Considering you created the trap itself, can you just tell us the answers?

He looks around, he's like, my apologies. I want to trust you, I do. But she has used sorcery to try and confuse me before. If you can free me, I am more than willing to help. If you can prove that you are not working for her in some way. But how do we know you're not also under her spell and that releasing you would kill us all? You don't. But you do not need to release me.

If you can release me, I will assist you. All I ask is you stop her. If you truly are children of siaska and of the other gods please she's doing something i can feel it at the back of my mind she's corrupting this place somehow if you could just translate the song for me or give me a crash course in celestial i could give it a go i've given you the first verse course in Celestial, I could give it a go? I've given you the first verse.

Cool. How do we release his shackles? You seem quite smart, Ganassi. You will work it out, I am sure. Oh, great. Mark, can I have that verse again? Yeah, do you want to sit here again? Our starry sky

guide us with the steps of youth. Guide us with the steps of youth. Guide us with the steps of youth. Shine ever bright. Shine ever bright. And lead us to our mother's arms. Lead us to our mother's arms. Kim will go insane if she doesn't solve this puzzle.

I think I've figured out the first panel. Okay, great. Okay. And then it goes dead. So what could we do to break the shackles? They don't go anywhere. Give him something he cannot have.

That is what she said. The only thing to set me free is the one thing I do not have. And what about this basin behind you? It was once used as a scrying pool, sacred, blessed, to communicate with Siaska, to see places beyond these walls. A scrying pool. Did this person...

The waters were blessed. Though you should be cautious. There was once a guardian of these waters. Perhaps it is still and dormant, but after many long years, it may have become restless. In this room? In the base. In the base, okay.

Oh. Don't go looking in there. I suddenly feel very agitated. On edge. How about you heal the shackles? Heal the shackles? Did this person say this thing about something you cannot have after they found you as a ghost? Were you always a ghost?

Yes. Yes, I was a spirit for a lot of years now. Something you cannot have. Something I do not have. Do not have. Do you have any idea what that thing is? My will is weakened. It's difficult to think.

Breath? I cannot think of something. Heat? Blood? Did you say you were a force captain? My will is weakened. It's difficult to think. Wrath? I cannot think of something. Heat? Blood? Did you say you were a force captain? I was the watch commander, yes. Watch commander.

Did you have a weapon of sorts? Mm, I had magic. Magic. He doesn't have a life. He doesn't have physical form. He doesn't have, yeah, doesn't have physical form. Freedom. Doesn't have air.

Lots of the things Nova said are true. Blood, air, body. You know. Loads of stuff. Like life. Musculature. Bones. He doesn't have all of the sense of humour. You wouldn't have

if he'd been locked up like that. That would suck. A squad You wouldn't have to be locked up like that. That would suck. Um, hmm. A squad to control? Oh, I think this is for you, by the way. And I'll hold out the scroll case with the note inside it. Okay. Chained up.

I'll just, like, put the note in front. Wow. Yes, those were my orders. They were not for me. Well, they didn't get out of the keep, just in case you were wondering. Buddy, are you still bleeding? A bit of trickles. I guess I'm still bleeding a bit. Yeah, sure.

You've not healed, right? So, yeah. Well, no. I mean, I'd say that the wound is closed up. If you're not bleeding. I guess the blood in the hallway is still there. Oozing. I'm gonna flick that onto the... I mean, I'd say that if you wanna do that,

you just have to open the wound, and like, if you wanted to try and rub your blood on it. I mean, it's worth a try, I guess. So sorry if this... So what'd you say So what are you doing? Walking up to him and then trying to flick it on? Or are you going to try and cut the wound? Because you've got a big wound,

but it's all closed up, scabbed over. You could go up and have somebody open it and then try and get the blood over the chain. I mean, I guess, yeah, I guess I'll... Would it have closed up if we've not... It's taken us like... It's been a couple of minutes. Like, a big gashing wound like that, I'm guessing.

If it was still open and bleeding, he'd be like... But I could still just rub... I'll tell you what, I'll tell you what. If you want to do that, if you want to do that, get rid of a hit dice, and that will represent you, like, cutting yourself enough to pour blood over a chain. Sure, sure.

Okay, so you move up, and as you begin doing it, you kind of take a blade with your one hand or something like that, and you hold it in your mouth or something. Why is the weak one doing this?

But you cut yourself. I'm really bleeding. You coat the chain, and the blood is the only thing that coats the chain itself and turns it solid. Oh, so do I go through the... Your hand technically passes, but as soon as the blood coats thing that coats the chain itself and turns it solid. So do I go through the... Your hand technically passes, but as soon as the blood coats a part of the chain,

you can grab it and it's physical now. Otherwise, it just passed through. However, as you do this for the first chain and the rest of you see this chain turn solid, a large amount of water begins to pour up out of the basin. Roll initiative. Oh my god! I want to go back to the puzzle! Oh, Hesper.

Natural one. Oh dear. I'm going last and I'm right at the front. I'll move myself right to the front. Oh dear. So, let's see. It's okay. Oh, no.

A water thing won't make us bleed too much. I want to go back to the puzzle. You can't. Well, you can. You can run away. If anyone gets hit by this thing, run towards the Elequid. Quill. Three.

Nova. Six. Lucius. Seven. Wow. Jesus. all right what is happening good day to roll dice all these on a two it's got no decks me that not so you better wait okay so it looks like it's broken me. It's it's it's go so quill This huge kind of like shifting form of water attempts to scoop you up and pull you into it. Oh my blood

I need that that's a 20 to hit. Yeah Yeah, I'll do it You take a 11 points 14 points of bludgeoning damage, and you are currently grappled. Oh god, okay. You are also pulled into the creature itself. Oh! And you are now suffocating. Is it the same mechanic?

Yeah, sounds like it. It's like a morphic bomb. You are pulled inside of it, you are basically grappled, and you are, you can't breathe. Jeez. Yep. Suffocating is not a condition apparently. inside of it you are basically grappled and you are you can't breathe jeez yep ah suffocating is not a condition apparently no what does suffocating so that means you can hold your breath um i'll say you get a breath in so what's your normal you could do two minutes right yeah two minutes until you suffocate fine i mean combats might not last that long let's hope not yeah um it can still crush you you can feel this pressure as you're basically...

The water itself is animated and is holding you and can squeeze you. Ayla, your go. I'm going to rage, first off. I'm going to rage. I'm going to rage. No! What? Carry on.

I can't hear you. Oh, God. Carry on. No? No, I want to go up and... Can I hit one of the chains? Which chain? The one that Quill put his blood on.

Yep. Yes, you can. Yes, make an attack. Spectral Guard starts fighting. So you hit the chain. Deal damage, but half it, because technically the Howling Gale is not magical enough. Would my lightning channel into it as well?

Yeah, just do the damage, roll it all together. But damage don't half, lightning damage don't half, weapon damage half. Oh my god. TPK. Really? Seven with the hammer so half that. So three. It's not this, it's the blades.

It's like any online game where someone just yells G-G the most. So yeah, the chain begins to break. Yeah, you can make another attack. That'll hit. Yeah, sure. So same again. Although you don't get lightning this time. Oh, yeah.

So half of five. Half of five. That's enough. The first chain. The blood kind of snaps the chain itself, and you watch just like, yes, you've stolen it, the blood. Blood must be what it was. snaps the chain itself and you watch yes, you've stolen it the blood, blood must be what it was

break the chains great, so that was Ayla's turn so now we go to Lucius or Oriah, either one of you have you both got the highest dex? your higher dex so because you were already injured it was one hit dice for you

to coat it Anybody else it will probably be about two hit dice because it would be like a fresh like oh, I see. Okay You'll have to actually be like I think Be one for you, okay, so a riot or Lucius I'd like to as my action cast Hunter's Sense on it Yeah

See if it's got any weaknesses immunities vulnerabilities Yeah it does So it is resistant to fire and non-magical attacks So weapons that aren't magical

it will be resistant to It is immune to the following poison exhaustion grappled paralyzed prone

restrained and unconscious Nice It's immune to a lot of stuff it is animated water effectively okay if that makes sense can't grapple water is it like the water element it's a water weird which is very simple bonus action I am going to do slayer's prayer okay so you're just setting yourself up would you like to move uh no I'm good where I am I think you can stay where you are? Stay where I am. Okay, Lucius. I'll set myself up.

On the one hand, I want to Lightning Lure Quill out, which would hurt the shit out of him. Possibly. On the other hand, and I'm going to do this one, I'm going to send a second level Ice Chromatic Orb into it in the hopes that I start freezing parts of its body. Sure. Make your ranged spell attack. I'm going to start with the butt. I mean it does not appear to have a butt, but you can guess.

17. You have 17 hits. 3d8. A meson. 4. 5d8. A mezzan. 4. 5. 5. 14. 14. And then dichromancy.

How much is it for? 5. So 19 total. Quill, take 8 cold damage. As you're inside this water, as it begins to intensely freeze, as this chromatic orb hits the water and then... And you can see parts of the water begin freezing. Are you unconscious?

I'm unconscious. Okay. Constitution saving throw, please. You watch as Quill inside just... His eyes flutter closed. Eight. Constitution. Nine.

Can you roll V20 again, please, Quill? Eleven. I want a seven. Oh, it's fine. So the cold, as it freezes, the water constricts reflexively and you feel your ribs become bruised. Bruised ribs? Yes, basically this is the exact same as broken ribs, but you can get rid of it on a short rest.

Oh, thank you. I imagine like, freeze up and then you just... But it means that if you come conscious, you have to make that save or you can't. Basically, actually no, it's slightly different. You can take an action or a bonus action but not both, and your speed is reduced by 10 until you take a short rest. Oh, so actually a lot nicer than broken ribs. It's not as bad. Yeah, it's a lot nicer. Okay, but Lucius, you did that, you did your dichromancy.

Anything else you want to do? Panic. Okay, panic. Nova. How far am I from it? You and Skelby are still in this corridor. 30 feet. You're within range.

Yeah, so go inside it. Inside it? Yeah. You'd be 35 feet. 35. You can try and bamf it now. Are you trying to get Quill out? I was going to Thunder Step out and then do damage inside it, but I can't because I'm

34. Wow, thunder from the inside of it. And the lightning. In which case, can I just move to the corner of the room? This one? Yes. I think for this turn, I will just stick with an Eldritch Blaster. Seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve. Twelve to hit, misses.

And a twelve plus seven hits. So the first one goes wide, But then you catch the second one In like a part One of these arm tendrils That comes up You're like Two points It is

It's not It's magical damage So it's still Still Blasts part of its hand You don't take any damage Quill From that one

Cool The cold is because it's water And it conducts the freezing cold Through it Same as if lightning hits it By the way Yeah Quill Could you make a death saving throw and it conducts the freezing cold through it. Same as if lightning hits it, by the way. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

All right, I'll pull it out. Quill, could you make a death saving throw for me, please? Yeah, and can I ask about my air status if I'm unconscious? 19. 19, that's a success. You are technically drowning. You cannot regain hit points until you get air. Go. So you still make the save. You still you get air. Go.

So you still make the save. You still get the 19. Cool. But even if you roll a 20, you don't come back. It's all right. But it'll be two death saves, right? Well, I'd be on... You remain unconscious and you will keep making death saves

until you have air. I believe is how it works. And be healed. It makes sense. It makes sense. It makes sense. It's just like, ticking away into the bitchy fate of the nuns. Ooh, unique circumstances! Like drowning and being dead.

Fine, I'll banf you. Banf me, please. We got you, boo. Banf me. Banf me. We got you, boo! I don't want to die to a friggin' water elemental. A frozen. Of all the things. Would you rather die to die to a friggin water elemental The frozen all the things Like dying to the blade would be nice because it's at least a good meal for you afterwards. Yeah Although I get in a freezer for us. Yeah, if you throw some nice and fresh for when we need it

Yeah, well, yeah, if you throw some spices on this, then I'm like basting it on. Can you pass me the DMG underneath your bookstack? I think it might be there. Just stand next to some salt. Someone puts a little fire underneath it. Nom nom nom. It'll be good soon. At least it's not Troll Rations tonight Or

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Lurps Lurps Lurps Lurps Lurps Lurps I might have to look that up actually. I might have to use D&D Beyond to quickly look it up. The last thing I remember reading is when you're on con- like when you are suffocating, if you have no air, you're basically- your hit points become zero and you cannot regain them. But I guess like what if you're just unconscious for like 20 minutes? Like is it

just like you just keep making the death saving throws and if you keep rolling high enough you somehow don't die? Yeah but i mean it's gotta be a limit right yeah yeah i feel like 20 minutes worth of death stage that's the goner that's my fucking dnd beyond is updating that's like 200 saves right can you just like search like actually who's who's you've just had a turn didn't you oraya uh no i've just had i'll look at no okay somebody somebody who's just had a turn just look'll look at it. I'm going to go. Okay, somebody who's just had a turn, just look up underwater D&D. He's not doing anything just now.

He can do it. I've got it. Well, you've got a 19, right? Yeah. Okay. So after Quill, it's Scaldi's go. It will go 5, 10, 15, and get next to Nova. Yeah, I mean, she'd see Quill's unconscious, right?

Like, yeah, she'd save him. So actually, it's not going to be... She knows that he can't regain hit points while he's drowning. So she'll call out, we need to get him out of there, I can't heal him until he can breathe again. I'll get him. Maybe. We'll see. I feel like every time you suffocate on a round, you just take down and it's just going to be a fail, fail, death.

It doesn't say, you don't take down... At the start of its next turn, It drops to zero hit points And is dying And it can't regain hit points Or be stabilised Until it can breathe again That's all it says So there is no limit I think it's just a

But I guess it's You're constantly making death saves Yeah And you can't be healed So Also Also keep in mind If this thing attacks him again

That's two death saving throws Yeah So After Skaldi's go it is its go it crushes Quill so that's what two death saves two death saves and you just watch as this water

kind of like its arms kind of come in and you watch Quill's body like and you watch like his armour begin to like break and snap. His feathers get pressed against him. You can see it crushing him underwater. Oh, God. Okay.

We can't lose another one. Ayla. Can I reach in? Yeah, absolutely. I'm raging. Athletics with advantage because you're raging. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23... Ayla reaches in. you grab him and you pull and you can feel this thing holding him back.

You dig your feet into the ground, the hammer, into the ground. When you pull him and he kind of launches back behind you. Not enough to do damage. You smash against the wall and die. That's your action though, is to pull him free. That's fine. Can I just get him somewhere where he...

Yeah, just like push him back, he will get an attack of opportunity. Um, can I... Or no, I... You can just toss him behind you. Yeah, just put him five feet behind you. And then pick up my hammer again. So technically he'll be about here. And then, yeah, you pick up the hammer.

Okay, great. After Ayla, it is Oriah and Lucius' go. Cool. Close one. I can't remember when Mike's on it. The problem is somebody has to heal you because Skaldi's after you. Well, it's Lucius and Oriah's go.

Okay. I got you. I'm scared of him. Just go back to thinking about Kentucky Fried Chicken. Lucius or Oriah, who's going? I'm going to go. All right, go, Oriah. I'm going to smack you, go back to thinking about Kentucky Fried Chicken. Lucius or Oriah, who's going? I'm going to go. All right, go, Oriah. I'm going to smacky rapier time.

So you move up. Yep. Move up behind this guardian. And I'm going to use my extra D6. And you can hear the whole time this ghost is like, guardian, please stand down. And it just isn't listening to him. Like he's weakly trying to command it to stand down,

but it's not listening. 22. The rapier slashes through the water and the faint traces of magic along the blade arc through it like it's made of flesh. So I'm going to use my Slayers Prey. So you get Slayers Prey and Sneak Attack because Aayla is next to it.

Oh, hang on. I need my D8 first. D8 plus four first. Seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven. Yep. So then Slay's Prey. Slayer's Prey, four. 15.

And another two for sneak attack. Wow. So 16. Very nice. Is it 16 or 17? 17. 17. Yeah, so you watch as this blade

rips through the first half. Yep, easily done. Nice. Okay, you done? Got bonus action? Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. You can do it with your off hand, but it will have resistance to the attacks. It's not magical.

I'll still do it. I'll do it. Okay, yeah. Go for it. Attack roll. 12 plus 6. Yeah, hits. 18.

Hits. And then... E6 plus 3. Yeah. 5, 8. 8, and then half that to 4. 4. Yeah, so you watch as, like, Orion cuts it across with a short sword.

Lucius. I'm going to scramble over to Birdie. Oh, no, no, no, Birdie, no. And try and stabilize him. Medicine check. Best I can do. Boy. Roll it.

Natural 20. Oh! Mouth to mouth. You open up the beak. Mouth to beak. Yeah, because you have to give him air. Like, he can breathe, but you're, like, pressing his little chest. Like, hello, birdie beast.

No! Like, water kind of, like, and, like, water chokes up. You are unconscious but stable. Oh, so do I have one HP? No, you're at zero, but you're stabilized. Oh, man. Nova. Well, I was going to cast Spare the Dying. You're done. zero but you're stabilized oh man um nova well i was gonna kind of spare the dying

you're done i will um seeing that quill is back up well yeah you can see that lucius has saved him yeah he's vomiting water yeah disgusting i'll um spray over your face probably does spray it over your face. Probably does. Probably does spray it all over your face. Eldritch Blast, a Rue. 18 and a 12 plus 7. Both hit then. Yeah. Yep. Nice good old force damage as well.

Five and a nine, so 14. 14. Which is enough. As you watch these two blasts from Nova's hands, the water just into a fountain and down into the pool and become still I believe that your friend is fine seems safe for now sorry that I could not help sorry buddy I I didn I didn't think. Well, he's still unconscious. Nobody's healed him. Scaldi can go up and, in fact, she doesn't want to use her spell slot,

so she's just going to be like, he just needs time to rest. We should probably take a few moments here. Okay. I don't want to use spell slots. How fucking kind. You're not dying. And she's got, like, two left. There's a big, bad woman.

Yeah, there's this thing called managing your resources that some people know about. Like Mr. Spill Slots! Pew, pew, pew, pew, pew! That's a gif right there. Spill Slots! Well, you need a short rest to fix your ribs anyway, so I feel like...

Yeah, and I think that we still need some blood to free this figure here. I'll do it. Yes, I don't mind as well. Quill, will you? I'm a Quill. It's still bleeding, though. He's not bleeding. He was never bleeding.

He was being crushed. But is he still bleeding from the time before when he... Oh, damn it. Anyone bleeding? Some of you are going to have to spend some hit dice to do this. So Ayla can do it for one. I can do it. I'll do it.

So you take one and then it's two for you, Nova. It's two for you to do it, so I'll do it. Because you have to basically cut fresh wounds. Wouldn't my blood have gone into the water elemental and then exploded? No. Can we just get it off the ceiling in the other room? Yeah. I know that DM shouldn't say no, but no.

I'll do it. So one hit dice for Ayla, get the other chain you're not in combat now so it doesn't take you long to just break the other and then it's just the one on the neck so ready an action to attack him if he attacks us okay there's one left I'm Scaldi you do the other one with no it's literally one per chain you've got to smear your blood over this chain to get a large enough area to strike I think you just need to take no rest so my conscious man just still taking a short rest so this is you're not conscious yet okay I don't really hit that it's left though if you can do

it Mr. Nova then that would be I can do it, Miss Nova, then that would be... I can do it. It was me that put Birdie in that precarious situation, so blood for the blood god. So two hit dice. Which god is that, and is she the youngest? So Lucius, this is actually a pretty big deal for Lucius. Like, what do you do?

Like, you have to bleed enough to, like, smother a part of this chain. Take my gloves off. Put them far away from standing. Lucius, I can do it if you want? Like, you have to bleed enough to, like, smother a part of this chain. Take my gloves off. Put them far away from standing. No, no, no. But do cut me, because I can't cut myself. I'm definitely not going to do that. I'd rather just do it myself. I'll do it.

It's this big, deep gash, and it hurts, like, gripping onto this chain and, like, sparing your blood. You took three fingers! You didn't have to cut so deep! Oh, don't cry about it, it's fine. I have a... I've got bandages and stuff, don't worry. Nova, do you want to break the chain? Yeah! So you can just, with Tiangong, you can just cut through it.

And, yeah, and as it... As the three chains are both broken, the ones around his wrist just vanish, and he kind of slumps to the ground, this spectral form. You see him, he like, they look up, and they look at their hands, and before their hair was ragged, and their clothes seemed dirty, and now a bit more light seems to flow into them, and their colour changes from this dark black and grey

to a slightly more bluish hue and he kind of like rises up or they keep rising, I need to keep referring to the they they rise up and you see this elven face kind of look and he's like thank you, thank you so much I'm sorry about your hands

but they will heal in time thank you I can now give you whatever aid I can I'm sorry about your hands, but they will heal in time. Thank you. I can now give you whatever aid I can. I can lead you past my wards in the Hall of the Faithful. I can also, if you permit me, I can journey alongside one of you in your body and offer you some protection against the evil magic that this woman wields.

Maybe the- I will not use my powers to take control of you. Of that I give you my word. I mean, if we're gonna say who's squisheist. He does have bruised legs. Let us wait for him to recover. I do not wish to do this against his will. Yeah, we should probably ask him before we let a ghost go into his body.

Could you translate the song for me? I can do better than that. I can lead you across it. Okay. But can I make a guess? Of course. Are the first two sets of tiles the youngest gods? Are they Sayana and Palidor? You are very correct. Oh! Yes, I know!

I did a thing! That was piercing! That was so good. Good God! That's why reading books is a good thing. See? It does count. I should have... I'm back! Nova's back!

Yes! When there would have changed, as you reached the middle section, it would have asked you for the eldest. The song changes. Uh... And then the last section, it would have asked you for the eldest. The song changes. And then the last section it would have required the middle children. The middle children are Velina and Zephyr? Hesper.

And Hesper. And Hesper, no! But then Altelicus and, and, and Killara. They are the eldest. Bucks! So Tom, if you want to spend a short rest, if you want to spend hit dice. I don't have any. You have no hit dice. You are on one hit point.

Mm-hmm. Oh. I didn't realize you had no hit dice. That's pretty funny. I only had one left when I spent it, I didn't realize. Why did you let yourself spend it then? Because he's Tom. He's Tom. I solved it. And also. Spell starts pew pew pew.

I got deep into it by that point. Apologies Quill, I did not realize that you were so injured. I have a little magical healing left, but I thought to save that for later. I don't have any potions or anything. I've got healing. Here!

What's? Is that a healing slav? No, it's a potion. Oh, slav. Use the slav. The slav takes longer to use. Solve. I've got it.

Solve. Slav. I've got one. Solve. It's called Rose Meadows Healing Slav. Depends if we want... DM's rules. Do you want me to use the slav?

I've got one potion. I'm dancing around. I mean, is that the only potion? You're very cheery. Lucia starts dancing too. Quill is that the only potion you're very cheery Lucia starts dancing, too She did the thing that you got the knowledge the what the puzzle yes, she figured it out the puzzle was back She's smiling your face books

Knowledge okay. I was a little bit wrong on one thing, but that's fine. I'm sure I would have just taken some taking a short rest Okay, I was a little bit wrong on one thing, but that's fine. I'm sure I would have just taken some of it. We're taking a short rest, aren't we? If you want to spend your hit license, you can. And I'm sure with you guys, I would have figured out the rest of it. I'm so happy to have you back, Nova. I reckon you could have done it on your own. I'd be good to add your con modifier.

Do you want this potion? How many do we have? This. Is that the only one? That's the only one I got. It's either you save it and get knocked down again, or you go into this final battle with this masked lady with the most strength you can have. How is everyone else doing?

I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm just bleeding profusely. I feel woozy. I need to sit down. Okay, well, Scaldi probably bandages your hands for you so you're not bleeding. I've only got 2 HP off. I'm fine. Oh, that's part of the short rest. Totally fine. Because I was probably going to do a prayer of healing.

A level 3 prayer of healing. You could still do that. Spell slots. Or you could just cast level 3 Cure Winds on yourself. But it's the same, it's weird. It's like 3d8 on myself or 3d8 on everyone. Well yeah, because it's a 10 minute cast time. Yeah, you could do that.

I just used my hit points. So did Oriah. I mean, would I have done this before the rest? No, the short rest you were unconscious. You woke up at the end of it. Well, okay, how is Lucius doing? I guess you're fine. I'm fine. I'm whimpering about my cut hands.

How's Scaldi? She can take a heal. How's the ghost? Ghost is fine. Dead. I mean it'll take ten minutes, I may as well. Just do a prayer of healing. Sure. And I know it's burning a spell slot.

I mean I'd say level three spells are specifically for healing. Yeah. So 3d8 plus 4. Mmm. Oh, my God. Delicious. That was a big globule.

Glob of phlegm. I think someone's on the war. Oh, no. You're horrible. We can probably switch the camera back, by the way, and see it as well. I just realized that, like, you guys are all super tiny. You guys are just going to jump past this puzzle now.

26 healing for everybody. 26? Scaldi's at full? Damn it. Oh, wow. 2 HP for me. But for the stats, I want it to be known that I just did 26 healing six times. Yep.

No, that doesn't count. It counts. Of course it counts. That's not my fault. That means you don't heal them, you know. So you've only healed yourself and Scaldi. I put the numbers out. Yeah, that doesn't mean it heals them, though. In WoW, you wouldn't get that.

You've healed Lucius, too. Scaldi and you. Anyway, so you spend ten minutes. You cast Prayer of Healing. The ghost Eloquist just kind of floats around, waiting for somebody to accept him or accept them into their body. Oh, yeah. He can go into someone's body, and I figure since you're the squishiest... Why would...

Gets you protection. Yeah. I'll do it. Are you sure? Are you sure? Yes. It will not harm either of us. What about when he wants you to leave his body? Do you just leave?

I will gladly depart. Before you do, yes?? Do you just leave? I will gladly depart. Before you do... Yes? What's your favourite colour? Strange question, but perhaps dark blue, like the night sky? Dark blue doesn't quite align, unfortunately. But that's fine. How do you feel about burnt orange? I have no preference.

They're complementary on the spectrum of colour. That's true. I feel like we'd be... Very well. Great for each other. I have no preference. They're complementary on the spectrum of colour. That's true. Yes. I feel like we'd be... Very well. Great for each other. If you are sure. As long as you are.

Yes. Will I feel anything? He possesses your body. Are you resisting? No. Then he possesses you. Whilst you are possessed, you have resistance to psychic and necrotic damage.

And also his arm comes out of my... You get a third arm! No ghost arm. No ghost arm. No ghost arm. But you can hear Eloquist's voice. You can hear their voice inside your head. But it's not overpowering.

It just kind of sits at the back. You can ask them questions. You can speak to them any time you wish. The others can't. Only you can. Okay. But if they speak to me, they speak to the telekis as well. Yes, he can hear them. Elekis, yeah. Elekis, yeah. Elekis, are you now queer?

I will leave this to you. He will leave this to you. You can hear him. I can hear him. He can hear you through me. Oh, that's nice. Hi, Elekis! I say hello back. He can hear you through me. Oh, that's nice. Hi, Eliquis! I say hello back. He says hello back. Yay.

He said that, actually. Yay. They, if you don't mind. They. Sorry, they, Eliquis. I find it quite odd that you have this very distinct split between these genders. The old elves that I knew, we just, were us. It's very odd to me.

We should be more accepting. It's just quite curious. I find it interesting. Make the most of company in your head. It's quite nice. Miss Nightfrost. Anyway, let's move on. So untextfully, just like, I'm an asshole! So mega blunt. You don't care.

I know, it's funny. So what's the plan? What do you guys want me to do? Head back. Follow his leader. Eloquist says in your mind, I can lead you across the safe tiles and then we can deactivate the Hall of the Fairies.

I feel like we have to go across the puzzle because Nova might explode if we don't. I'm just still dancing around. As I mentioned, they did leave. I believe I heard her mentioning to her guardians to remain in the dormitories. Can we just assume that we hear this? I'm saying this.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, sure, yeah. I'm trying to say it over him, so sometimes it comes out really weird sounding. Is there anything at the back of the room? No. Okay. Oh, there's no, oh, there's no doors, okay. Wait, is there anything else? There perhaps perhaps once was but I've changed my mind

Okay, is there anything else of note in this place before we carry on down that way? This one's just used as a scrying area Can I take some of the gemstones out of the wall? I would prefer if she did not do that If Orion is like going up and is like No, don't, please They are beautiful gems Be a waste What about the other side? We saw another corridor on the other side Leads to the dormitories

I ordered the injured there But she is During the battle I believe this woman Whoever she is Has risen many of them up as her guardians. She has stationed them there while she conducts her business in the shrine.

Okay, so not that way. Nova? Books, books, books, books, books, books, books, yes! Well, at least it's better than how she was behaving before. I much prefer this one. That's very true. It's going to get real tiring, though. It's actually a lot more enthusiastic than before.

But if you want to cross the floor, then let's go back to the main room. Yeah, we're not going to move around miniatures and stuff. So you make your way back to the Hall of the Faith. I want to move Nova's miniature exactly where... Please don't. Please don't. Please don't. With your knowledge and Eloquus' guidance

you can easily cross the chamber. As you reach the second stage, the chorus changes and you hear the song change. And then as you reach the next checkpoint, it changes again indicating that you would have had to have changed which gods you could step across. It is the youngest gods, Sayana and Palidor. When you reach the middle section, is the youngest gods, Syanna and Palador.

When you reach the middle section, it is the eldest, Killara and Atelicus, and eventually it is the three remaining gods to reach the far side. On the far side of the chamber, you see... There is the statue of Siasca in a small antechamber stood in front of a large golden set of doors. Behind the statue, which is quite large, it's about 10 feet or so, behind the statue itself, there are three bodies, skeletal remains in armour and robes.

You can see that one of them appears to be some sort of elf in robes. One is a dwarf and the other is a halfling. And their equipment is all rusted, save two things. The elf clutches a beautiful wooden instrument, a bandalore, a type of multiple stringed lute, many stringed loot. Many stringed loot. It is beautiful. It is engraved with symbols of the star, of the stars, and of Siaska. And the sky, you can see it kind of has an air theme around it as well, and it's just clutching it in its arms as if he died playing,

or they died playing. The dwarf has a pipe engraved with lots of monsters, like a smoking pipe, and it's got all different monsters engraved onto the side of it And it looks pristine both of them look pristine Any iron sloths on there? No

Technically they wouldn't exist during their time Fascinating you think the wood was rot away Just think it's something cool that we should take? Probably. Can anyone play a stringed instrument? Nope. Can I play this? I mean, Eloquist, is there anything about this? Does Eloquist know what it is?

This was a dear friend of mine. They carried this instrument with them. It was enchanted. It was? Oh, then we should leave it. No, you should take it. It has no purpose here. It is not sacred like the gemstones. This was meant for somebody to play. I would be sad to see it rot and remain here. Quill, can you not?

It's not a loot. It's a bandalore. Do you know what it does, Eliquis? I remember him. I remember that they were able to channel spells through it, that it could replicate spells and effects. But you do need to know how to play it. They were a bard of sorts. I know how to play the lyre, but not the bandalore.

You could give it a go. I mean, it's not too dissimilar. I mean, it's still a stringed instrument. You might not be super proficient with it, but you could play a tune on it. Just open strings. What about the fancy pipe? That, I'm afraid, the dwarf here, he was a friend, but I don't know him very well. But I do recall the soldiers telling stories of conjuring amusing images through smoke,

perhaps it is through this pipe. Dangerous habit. I don't know Perhaps it is through this pipe. Dangerous habit. He knows what it is. Kim put one in the horror one shot, but you guys never found it. Yeah. Cool. Yes. Yes. Please. Take them. They have no purpose in life.

You want to take the bang a bit a bit? I mean, if Eloquist says they're okay, then sure. I mean, I haven't played anything for a very long time. You can take it. Sure. Yeah, if you just pick it up, I mean, obviously it is a magic item. So if you want to learn what it does, you will either need to cast Identify

or spend a short rest with it. Do you need two hands to play it, though? Quill will have some difficulty playing it. Oh, shoot, yes. Can I not just put it on the floor and then just I think that it will be difficult to play, but you can use its effects and abilities. But if you want to actually do a musical performance with it,

it will become tricky. I probably wouldn't anyway. I don't feel like Quill's a musical performer type. Bard. Of Bard, yeah. In fact, I would say that, yeah, actually what you might need is to be able to, like, use its magic item abilities,

maybe some sort of sling designed for it, so you can kind of use your side without your arm to kind of adjust it. The sling holds the weight, and then with your free hand you play it. Okay. Just pluck a couple. I've got no idea what Bandalore is, by the way.

Yeah, it's... Did you not hear me tell him what it is? I was too busy It's like a lute but with many many strings It's got like 12 strings on it And it's got a big deep Rounded bottom section Whatever you searched for wasn't

You searched for Bangalore from Apex Legends No no I will show you a picture later Thomas I've googled Bandalore and let me tell you I don't even know what came... I will show you a picture later, Thomas. I've Googled Bandalore and let me tell you. I don't even know what came up. I will show you later. You're a shirtless man there, Mark.

I don't know what he's Googling. I don't know how to spell it. So, it's fine. We'll add it to... It's on D&D Beyond the Defender anyway. Sure, sure, sure. But, yeah, are you going to take the time to cast Identify? No, you can do it as ritual as ten minutes, but... Oh, it's one of those.

Cool. Yeah, I may as well show. I mean, if we've got ten minutes, but... Oh, it's one of those. Cool. Yeah, I may as well show. I mean, if we've got ten minutes, like, are we progressing on? Yeah. Yeah, I guess. Continue on our merry way. Is anyone taking the pipe? I'm not taking that pipe because it's bad for your breath balloons.

Your what? What balloons? Yes, your breath balloons. What it's bad for your breath balloons. Your what? Balloons? Yes, your breath balloons. What's breath balloons? Your breath balloons. Oh. Oh my god, see! I got it straight away and then I was waiting for the bed to dry and everyone else.

Your lungs. That's it, yes. Rhi's just dying. She's holding it in so bad. I've got pretzel in my mouth as well. I'll just probably spit it everywhere. What do you call the organ that pumps all the blood through your body?

Your hearty, obviously, yes. I know what that is, that's silly. What about the organ that makes the urine? Your pee pot, I don't know why are we talking about this is it's a there's an evil necromancer by your biology your knowledge of biology. Can we move along? Let's move along.

Well, the door in front of you, this gold door, appears to be locked. There is a star-shaped keyhole. Can I take the pipe? Yeah, you take the pipe. Yeah. Write down pipe. Pipe. Yeah.

I mean, you can actually write down because I think it's an uncommon item. You can add pipe of smoking monsters or something like that, I think it's called. Of smoke monsters, that's it. Pipe of smoke monsters. Oh, that's really cool. It's like a really silly game. I really wanted you guys to find it in the one shot. It's one of those things where its ability is kind of lame, it's just like a fun roleplay item.

It's funny funny you can make a dragon appear over a small shire basically yeah it's the gandalf pipe basically um yeah so yeah the the gold door before you but it appears to be locked there is a crystal keyhole uh in the shape She's thinking. Crystal...thing! Scrollcase! Nova. Volume levels lowered, please. I have a crystal... Not tone, volume! I am so confused! What, what, what? I have a crystal key!

Do you? Excellent. It was on the end of the scroll case. I showed the commander! Eloquence? That is the key that opens the door. That's the key! I was expecting us to have to go through the other room, but... I did a thing!

You did a second thing! I can't, like, when you guys went down that corridor and found that little caved-in area, I was like, Damn. Like, you could have got to this door and then be like don't have the key where is the key? Backtrack. Backtrack time. Yeah yeah so you pop the key in? Yeah. Just it unlocks you hear like the heavy scraping of stone as you pull open these like stone golden-laid doors it leads into a dark corridor with your light your torch would have burnt out there but we're kind of going off the

light spells and stuff. I'm sorry Quill i'm gonna have to change from red um the door leads into a short hallway with portraits of siasca and the other gods painted onto the walls faded but still vibrant in many places um rich tapestries though now faded and worn thin hang and drape down the sides the other door at the far end of this short chamber, which is about 20, 30 feet wide. The doors and the walls are very thick here, however. The door at the far end is ever so slightly ajar and a very cold wind or breeze flows through. It feels icy cold.

Oh no. And I guess being underground. That ain't right. It's a giant fridge. And there will be snacks. Frozen chicken. Meal deals. Meal deals.

It's a Tesco. Is there a sign above the door that says Tesco? No. It's a neon light. It's actually out there. Sainsbury's Local? No. Aldi's? No.

Morrison's? No. Little. Is it really fancy and it's Waitrose? Walmart! No. My immersion. There is no sign above the door.

Damn it. But it is ever so slightly ajar. There's no noise. You can't hear anything. There's no light. It doesn't say bad guy's lair above it. I'm growing more concerned that this necromancer is aware of our presence. Scaldi, her eyes are just dead focused on this door. Something is not right about whatever is in there. I can't...

As a priestess, I can normally at least feel the god's presence, but something's very wrong. And Quill, you're getting the same vibe. Like, you still have that connection to Hesper. You don't think your spells won't work, but whatever is behind that door, the gods have stayed very fucking clear of it. There is no presence. It's a little...

Eloquence. Eloquence. This cold, this icy, is this... It's created by her. Emanated from her? All I can feel is that she is corrupt in the shrine. Can I do a primeval awareness, please? Yeah.

What does it do? So I can sense if there are any aberrations, celestials, dragons, elements, fave fiends are undead behind the door. All the things. I will say you don't think that there are any of those creatures behind that door. But! But.

Whilst there are no creatures, there is a planar presence there. There is something about this room that is not of this world. Oh, shit.

It makes sense because, Quill, you said Hesper couldn't see the woman in fire or chains. Couldn't see the vision, no. But that was linked to a portal to the bad place. And Nova, as you're saying this, is that feeling from Tiangong. The shard is in there. Oh, of course.

Preparing the thing It might be another gate Okay, no the gate Well, I think Hesper could still see the gate though. I think they're staying away from this because of its immense power not because of They can't see it if the gods are steering clear of this place why are we here it says we're real dumb is this the kind of thing that you were involved with before is this similar to the sort of thing that

we don't know we can only assume until we honestly I don't know what we're doing ever cuz no that I know that you might be scared but and I appreciate that perhaps this is more involved than I thought it would be, but whatever is in there, we must stop it. I can't turn back now. Whatever it is, if it enslaved Eloquus, if it's disrupted these spirits, it's obviously powerful, and it obviously means no good to the living. We must put an end to it.

Do you sense anything, Eloquus? Nothing more than I have seen before. It is the presence of the woman who entrapped me. Very well. Do you sense anything, Eloquus? Nothing more than I have seen before. It is the presence of the woman who entrapped me. Very well. Woman in the silver mask. As watch commander, Eloquus, what would you suggest? Caution.

Make sure that you are prepared for a fight. But be bold, be brave. To show weakness now, I do not believe that will help us. I can't get rid of my hair. Did the woman have any insignias on her? A badge or a brooch or... Torn clothes.

Like a uniform of the Court of Shadows, but left shabby and worn. Silver mask. A silver mask. Beautiful. Intricate. Covered her entire covered all of her upper face

you get a flash of this woman in your mind Quill as this memory is shared with you long dark raven hair but her entire like the mask encapsulates her like the whole top half of her face including both eyes but she seemed to be able to see

in Eloquence's memories but just no visuals just complete silver intricately drawn almost like swirling patterns like galaxies no silver i mean but like the designs were they purple no no it's all silver just all etched in silver okay so i can't tell if it's like a silver relief not etched in silver. Okay, so I can't tell if it was like a star. Or like a silver relief, not etched in, but like a silver relief, like piped silver around to create these forms. Long, dark hair. The clothes were very similar to the Court of Shadows knights

that you fought in the starship, but left tattered, not kept in good condition. Tall person? Fairly tall. Maybe around 5'7", 5'8". So I guess you assume that that mask is

magical of some form. Yeah, maybe. But we should be brave. Have you seen what kind of abilities she has? What she can do? Only the ability to I mean, I approached her, but before I could do anything, she bound the chains to my

wrist and neck. She seemed to have incredible command over the undead. What about the Guardian? She seemed to control that as well. I think that the Guardian was more being left alone for so long. The nature of the corruption to this place, I think that is what aggravated it. It was not trying to kill you on purpose,

but rather just lashing out. To defend you? Perhaps. Well? What if I did a distraction before we went in there? Like what? You said Court of Shadows, right? And there might be a portal back there.

I could pretend I'm careless starving. Oh, with your illusion? I can disguise myself. Do you not have that ability? You created a monstrosity of a cow. Well, I can do that. But anyone clever enough will see right through it. No, I can disguise that but anyone clever enough will see right through it. No I can disguise

myself. Try it. Would um did you communicate there's a shard in there or no? There's a shard in there! Would Tiangong have any power over that shard? I mean you've got the base part of it right? Yeah

but I never imagined there was like how I don't I only imagined there was, like, how... Maybe. I only have one. I don't know how, if they need a time or a ritual or glue. I can't guarantee it. Okay. Nova, in your mind, single word,

almost as if responding to Quill's questions, if, well, Tiangong's listening in. Oh. Single word. Almost as if responding to Quill's questions if, well, Tiangong's listening in. Call. Tiangong says call. Call. It's fine. Call the shard?

Call. You don't know? I mean, you've got the handle. You speak to him in your mind, right? Can you see if you can reach out and do the spooky mind thing? Maybe try and summon the shard in the same way that you talked to Tiangong. Okay. I'll just hold the dagger out and then just shut my eyes.

Nothing happens. You don't even know what this thing looks like. You're trying to imagine it in your mind, but it takes many different forms. You're not quite know what this thing looks like. You're trying to imagine it in your mind, but it takes many different forms. You're not quite sure what it could look like, and that doesn't seem to have any effect. I'll say that knowing that you being a warlock and knowing the nature of your pact and things like that, you think you might have to see it, and then you can try and communicate with it. Because Tiangong, you know its presence, you know what it looks like, and that gives you power with it.

You need to see this other shard. You need to know it. Nova, you seem to be thinking a lot. I don't think it's working. I've got a headache. Try the callus thing. Okay. At the very least, it will distract them for a moment so that we can get in there. What about the rest of us? Do we... I feel like we don't really have much choice. We're just gonna have to.

We'll have to spring the trap as soon as this disguise is dropped. It's probably gonna drop pretty quickly because I don't really know how much I could really convince someone that I'm, like visually, but emotionally. Well, this person won't know how Kal has got here. And that's something you know.

I will explain another thing about Disguise Self. It does not disguise your voice. It doesn't disguise my voice. Do an impression of Calus Starbane. Valor. My daughter. It's good, but it's a little high. What are you doing here?

Just try not to say anything. Just don't talk. Just trip them up. Look really menacing. Just look threatening enough that you don't have to talk. So just sweep in. Imposing presence. What if we held Alice captive? No, that wouldn't work.

It would never work. Let's get the jump. It'll never work. Left at the jump. It'll be our turn to be the trap for once. Not be the trap for once. I mean, Lucius, you said that you're pretty sure she knows we're here. Yeah, that's what I think. So let's just go with it. Let's just...

Just everyone ready yourselves. Element of surprise, I guess. Exactly. Let's go. So what's the plan? Are you just going to all charge in at once so you're gonna send over ahead of you are you I need to know no first and then we're right behind so you just step in behind callus you're gonna disguise self and then I get everybody walks in I guess I go in and then they see what happens you guys have my back yes are you going

in with Nova though are you gonna try and hide in this room it's very vague terms being thrown around I think we hide in this room until something bad happens okay so you're gonna hide and then Nova goes in first okay right so everybody makes stealth checks if you're hiding Starbite, Kalistar, Kalistar. Oh, it's cold. This is a 10. 17. 17?

14. 14? 10. 10? 15. 15. And then Nova, you Disguise Self. Is that your new invocation, the one you swapped out, or is that a different one?

Yeah. You're just going to cast Disguise Self. It's the Eldritch Invocation, so I can cast it without using the self. Mask of Many Faces. Yes! The old Trelemar. Yes! Oh yeah, of course he had it.

He loved it. He loved it, it was his favourite thing. So yeah, I guess I would use Tiangong to, like, I'd move Tiangong down me and as the dagger moves past me I transform into... It's like casting a wand with yourself kind of thing. Yeah. And you watch as, yeah, it's a perfect replica of how you imagine him, how you remember seeing him. He's magnificent!

But the thing is, because it's disgusting self anything that's like if he's taller than you the height above you is all illusion like you have to base the illusion around yourself um i guess he would be taller than her yeah so it's like nova's head is technically like where his like top of his chest is and neck is right and then she just thanks will had one cool thing and that was it. All right. Imagine like my hair is like his face. And then you're going to step in.

Oh, God, why am I doing this? Why did I say I do this? Do it. You step in. Deep breath. I sort of move my shoulders back, assume an arrogant posture. You have to pull the door because It's only slightly ajar. You pull the door, open it, and then step through.

As soon as Nova steps through, she vanishes from the U4, and then I'm going to explain what Kim sees. Once this place would have been a glorious temple to the Star Mother. White granite walls inlaid with veins of glittering crystal, rich drapes of dark blue fabric glistening with thousands of stars but any peace and serenity these walls had has long passed the back wall of the room has collapsed and a large metal chest protrudes from the wall

the vague shape of limbs and armor beneath the stone, the centre of which is made from a thick looking crystal, and a faint glowing shape of a tri-bladed throwing disc can be seen behind it, matching in style to Tiangong. However, a strange thick black inky substance has spread out like an infection across the other walls and much of the floor, turning the room into a sweeping, endless space of empty blackness that absorbs all light into a void of nothing. A numb chill spreads throughout the room, filling you with a trembling sense of futility. At the center of this void is a woman, her skin pale white with thick veins of pulsating blackness. Her clothing bears a resemblance to the remnant forces you

have fought before, but are torn and shredded, and a mask of silver covers her eyes, her lips painted in dark crimson. What have we here? Her voice echoes across your mind as her lips move. A little candle clinging to life. The rest of you, as I said, Nova steps through in this disguise and then blackness just kinda comes up.

It's not, it doesn't look solid, but you can't see whatever's in this room. That's not good. Let's go. Let's go now, let's go now. I'm rushing. You all kind of step through and feel this agonizing cold cover your bodies as you like. And it's almost like a membrane that you have to like push through.

And as you come out the other side, you see the same thing. This room that would have once been beautiful, but now the walls and the ceiling and the floor are covered in this infection-like blackness that's just black void. It just absorbs light and everything it touches into nothingness. And it seems to stretch on out for eternity.

And the only physical thing that remains is this chest, this metal Titan's chest hovering in the middle of nothing with this pulsating blue Tiangong-esque throwing disc, like a throwing star, um, right in the middle. And this woman just looks and the mask kind of completely hides her eyes and face.

I see a few more little lights come to join me. Have you come to preach at the temple? No. Ah, what a shame. Still, you will serve a purpose. And she takes a step back. She holds out a purpose. And she takes a step back. She holds out her hand. And an enormous blade of energy, dark red.

Like an enormous lightsaber, like a Kylo Ren. As tall as she is, five, six, seven feet tall. Tall. Then let this begin. And that's where we're going to end today's episode. Oh crap. Yes! Look at this one! I love it!

It's so good. I can feel it in my feet! As I was describing that and Rhiannon just goes It's so fucking cool! That is the best thing a DM can ever get as a reaction when you're like describing this cool thing and then a player just goes I was that but like for different reasons I thought I was just gonna get annihilated in one blast

Well yeah I mean it was like yeah It was dumb So did we get the feeling of being like transported or is this just the next room on? No you think you're still in the You think you're still in the night eye? Okay. But it's like it's being taken over by this room versus the last room. It's just infection and darkness and blackness. I had a horrible thing.

You played Destiny thingy, right? Yeah. You know when you went into those rooms where all that void stuff fills out? It's like this kind of creeping blackness that just dominates. Filled with void and stars. Oh, very cool. Very much that. That was fantastic.

Thank you. Well, thank you so much, everybody. We'll see you. Well, most of us will see you at TwitchCon. Yeah. And then we'll be back next week to finish off this little dungeon. Bye. Goodbye.

Bye. Goodbye. Hey, everyone. Thanks for listening to this episode. This little dungeon. Bye! Goodbye! Bye! Goodbye! Hey everyone, thanks for listening to this episode. Remember to check out both D&D Beyond and Displate with the links in the episode description and grab Uncanny Collateral by Brian McClellan using the code HRDND for the hardback or HRDNDE for the e-book.

That's just $3 for the e-book of an incredible story from the author of the Power to Mage trilogy, which is another series you should absolutely check out. We'll see you next week for the TwitchConbook of an incredible story from the author of the Power to Mage trilogy, which is another series you should absolutely check out. We'll see you next week for the TwitchCon one-shot, but the series will return the week after and we'll fight this silver-masked warrior. We'll see you then.