High Rollers DnD - High Rollers LIVE at PAX West 2019 | A Plane in the Astral

Episode Date: September 7, 2019

Welcome to our first PAX West live show! This episode is CANON and has an effect on our main series, Aerois! Tom (Quill) and Katie (Aila) are joined by special guests Nate Sharp (as Paultin Seppa) and Erin M. Evans (as Havilar) as they're ripped from their universes to a new dimension with some wild characters! A MASSIVE thank you to Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms for flying us out to Seattle and giving us the chance to make our first appearance at PAX! You can play the game FOR FREE on Steam, Xbox, PS4 and mobile devices, look out for Aila and Quill as playable characters! Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Plus resources for artists and athletes. Learn more at rbc.com slash support youth. Hello, everyone. Welcome to a very last minute, but very looked forward to, High Rollers Live here at PAX West. Thank you all for coming. I'm your Dungeon Master, Mark Sherlock-Humes. And today I am going to be taking a variety of players from our home game Arois, along with some special guests,

on a little planar adventure. Our first player joining me is Mr. Tom Hazel. Hello! Hello! Hello! is Mr. Tom Hazel. Hello. Hello. Hello.

Hello. Hi. Hey, buddy. Hey, bud. How's it going? Good. Joining us, the first of our special guests, fantasy author Aaron M. Evans.

Take a seat. Ready to play some D&D? Yes, very excited Joining us, another Eros regular Our good friend Katie Morrison Hi Hey pal Hey pal, hey buddy Good to go?

Yeah Excellent Our very last special guest And I'm sure this man needs no introduction Hey, pal. Hey, pal. Hey, buddy. Good to go? Yeah. Excellent. Our very last special guest, and I'm sure this man needs no introduction, rock star Nathan Sharp. Rock star. Well, hello. Hello, hello.

You good? Aces, Mark. Aces. Oh, I love it. I love it. I love the positivity. So, are you ready to play some Dungeons & Dragons? Oh, yeah.

Are you guys ready for some Dungeons & Dragons? Oh, yeah. That's what I like to hear. What? Was mine not good enough? No. Theirs is far, far better, Tom. Yeah.

Okay. So, before we get fully started, we'll do some character introductions. But the one thing I did want to say before we get started is a big thank you to Idol Champions. They're the reason that we're here at PAX. If you've not checked their game out, Idol Champions of the Forgotten Realms, please do so.

They're the ones. Without them, we wouldn't be here. Yeah. So, big thank you to those guys. Absolutely. In terms of who we are playing, I thought I'd leave that for you guys to introduce guys. Absolutely. In terms of who we are playing, I thought I'd leave that for you guys to introduce yourselves.

So why don't we start with Tom? Okay, I am Tom, clearly one of the players, and I'm playing Kelek Adkalar, who is a birdman, arakokra, I may as well just say cleric at this point. He's got one level in bard, but we'll call him a cleric. He's got one wing and a little stormy eye.

Something special is going on in there. He's meant to heal and support his allies. He doesn't. Like every cleric in Dungeons and Dragons. That's Quill. Quill for short. Okay. Erin.

I'm playing Havalar, who is my character from the Brimstone Angels saga. She is a fighter. She is a glaive master. She is very good at fighting monsters, which is why it is kind of garbage. She is not an idol champion, she thinks. You can play her twin sister, who is, you know, okay at fighting. That's fine. It's fine.

And she comes along with her pet hellhound Zuni. Nice. That will be a lot of fun. Wait, hang on. I missed that. What did you say? Don't worry. Katie, who are you playing?

It's fine. Pet hellhound, you know, what could go wrong? She has a muzzle. It's fine. Oh, no. I'm Katie. I am playing Ayla. She is a Path of the Storm Herald Barbarian,

so she's got some kind of lightning-type powers going on. She's got a very massive warhammer, and, yeah, she's a delight. She's a delight. She is. That's all you need to know. Yeah. Nathan. Nate.

Who are you playing? Yeah. Nathan. Nate. Who are you playing? Today, I will be playing the wine-loving, fourth-wall-breaking, friendly-neighborhood bar that goes hard, Mr. Palt and Seppa. Everyone's favorite. Yeah, I knew that. That's what the thing is. I knew that that would get a little, a little... Yay! I know him! So, we're just going to jump straight into it. Oh, cool. Let's go. You feel a sudden lightness in your body, and a lurching sensation,

as you are pulled backwards from wherever you are, in whatever world you're in, by an invisible force, and the world around you seems to shatter like glass. The movement is sudden and swift, and you watch your worlds flash before your eyes with incredible speed. And as quickly as this happens, the movement suddenly stops, and you find yourself on what you believe to be a ship's deck,

staring out onto a silvery, misty sea. A dull, purple, hazy sky with clouds of thin, grey mist drift lazily. And between them you catch glimpses of twinkling stars. And in the distant, you can see rolling, twisted black shapes that seem to connect the silvery sea to the infinite reaches of the starry sky above you. Some of you recognize each other.

Aayla and Quill, you are pulled from the world of Erois. What's up, buddy? But around you, you see two strangers, two people you have never seen before, not your regular traveling companions. Erin, what does Havi look like? Havi is a tiefling. She is on the tall side.

She has kind of dark purplish-black hair, kind of medium-toned skin and gold eyes, and she's got like a big honking glaive. Whoa. It's definitely out already. Just like whipped out straight away. Nice. And Paulton, what does Paulton look like, Nate?

So Paulton is a human. He's got some medium length, really, kind of like scraggly, unkempt hair. And looks like he's probably a bit overdue for a shave and a sleep. Okay. A bit worn. Yeah, a little bit. He's looking tired. Okay.

Yeah. And, yeah, you find yourselves on this deck of a strange-looking ship. And as you kind of glance around and see each other, and for Havalar and Polton, you see two people you've never seen before, which I forgot that the artwork is up there. But for the game purposes, you should probably describe Ayla and Quill as well. Sure. Ayla is sort of

she's pretty muscular. She is a wild elf, so she sort of looks a little bit Viking-ish. She's got fiery red hair, which has got loads of braids, and it's just kind of looking a little bit straggly, a little bit unkempt.

She's got a huge, huge warhammer, and she's got a piece of tartan just tied onto her belt. And that's Aayla. Yeah, and Quill is a brown-feathered kind of hawk-eagle-like face. Aarakocra. He's got what looks like

one arm tied behind his back. It's kind of obvious it ain't there. And he's covered in cartography equipment, compasses. Not a spyglass anymore. Turns out I totally forgot I lost that. Long ago. Long, long ago.

Far long ago. And he's probably currently... Do we recognize where we are? Well, for that case, Quill, why don't you make me an Arcana check? Oh, Arcana. I want to try and figure out where you are. Sure. Because I will tell you now, all of you would recognize that this is nowhere you've ever seen before.

This is not something that is familiar to you on the material plane. Whatever world you come from, this doesn't look to be a part of it. Right. Okay. Give me an arcana check. Let's get the first roll of the game on. That's a plus four. Here we go.

Ready? Boom. Oh, okay. 14. 14. Yeah. You look around for a moment, and there's something bizarrely magical about the place. You don't see, looking around with your keen vision, you don't see any civilizations. You don't see any islands. Keen vision.

Keen vision. I see everything. Well, right now, you just see this silvery ocean and this weird purple sky. You are not certain which one, but you're definitely on a different plane of existence. And the other thing you would notice, Quill, with an Arcana check, and you're such high passive perception, massive passive perception. Just 22. Yeah, sure. and you're such high passive perception,

massive passive perception. Just 22. Yeah, sure. You spot that all of you, including the two strangers, have a silvery cord that extends from between your shoulder blades, goes up about three or four inches, and then vanishes. It fades away out of existence. And all four of you have the same cord coming out of your backs. Hi.

Ayla's immediately got the hammer up. So which one of you did this? She takes out the hammer and is like, oh, my God, hi. I loved you in Brave. You were amazing. What? Yeah. And looks over and is like. I think it. What? He looks over just like...

I think it was him. He looks over just like... He's making jokes. It's definitely him. I loved you with gravy and potatoes. No, no. Off limits. Actually, we get that a lot. We get that a ton.

Wait, so no, hang on. Who did... You? He's making jokes. This is super not it you? You. He's making jokes. This is super not in my wheelhouse. No? He's making jokes. I think it's him. Me what? Where are we? Why did you bring us here? Well, you see, we are on

what's called a ship. And it is a vessel that is made to transport goods and individuals. Well, this isn't our ship. We just came off of that ship. This is definitely not our ship. Definitely not your ship. Where's Nova? Where's Lucius? Where's Sentry?

Where's Sentry? You're saying all kinds of weird words right now. That's sounding... So this isn't your ship? Why are you not alarmed by this? If you're just brought here like us, why are you not... Man, it's been a rough few months.

I've seen a lot of... Wait, what's the rating? I've seen a lot of poo-poo, doo-doo, crap. Shit. Shit. I've seen some shit, man. At a certain point, you just go numb to it. That was the one.

That was the one we get. That was the one. I took it. Sorry. Damn it. Mine. So whilst Aayla and Polton are kind of engaging in

conversation, I think, have you hear and you see out of the corner of your eye a very... You kind of look where you are. You kind of take a moment to look on the ship itself. Whilst Quill is kind of figuring out, looking at the stars and the ocean

and everything else, you look back and you can see that you're on the deck of a ship, or what you thought was a ship, but when you look further back, you kind of quickly realise that the ship is actually built on the back of a gargantuan spider.

And its eight legs are kind of extended, and in between its legs are these great sails made of webs. And it just gently and slowly moves, but the webbing sails are filled with some sort of wind that is propelling it. And you can see that on the

back of the giant spider there are these great glass domes. And you can see scurrying around the domes and on the webs are these little spiders. But they're wearing little bow ties and hats. Oh, my God, that's adorable. I have such confusing urges right now, because I feel like I could probably chop some legs off,

and I bet I could totally beat this thing. Do I hear that? But there's water down there, and I don't know if I should. No, I can tell you guys that. I'm really good at this. Cool. So it sounds like none of us did this. Question.

Well, do you typically chop down the sails of the ship you're on? No, I just think about it. I mean, plans for fighting the thing. Do you ever act on those urges, though? Well, like if it starts trying to eat us, duh. Okay. Well, we kind of need those, so maybe not. Ships, man.

I hate ships. Ships suck. Do your boats always have spiders attached to them? Yes. Wow, we don't do that. You say our boats like we know where we are right now. When I got here, you were here. So as far as I know, this is your boat.

This isn't our place. This is maybe his place. Probably his place. It might be. Probably not your place. No. So his place. Probably his place. Probably not your place. So whose place? Whose house? Ah, there's a lot there.

A scurrying sound, like many legs crawling across wood. And urging, kind of crawling up from the underside of the deck, a giant spider, large in size, a big thick bulbous body on its back with another little bow tie and

hat. But this one also has little cuffs around each of its eight legs. And it kind of scurries up and looks at you and its little mandibles kind of click together. Its many eight eyes kind of spin around. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It talks. Why wouldn't it

honestly at this point? My name is Garcon. Welcome to the Stroke of Midnight. Thank you all for coming. I'm so glad that the lady's relic has worked and brought you here to us. It's like 2 p.m. Oh, my good man. No, no, no, no.

I'm afraid the time works a little differently here. Your little device might be a little out of sync. Is it always the stroke of midnight here? That's the name of the ship, my good bird. No, no, I mean... Oh, my deepest apologies. I forgot to... Where are my manners? And it extends one of its giant hairy legs down towards you.

Yeah, I'm... I'm good, thanks. Oh, how terribly rude. Oh, hello there, my dear. Oh, yes, very nice good, thanks. Oh, how terribly rude. Oh, hello there, my dear. Oh, yes, very nice to meet you. Be careful with that leg. No, no thank you. Oh, my goodness. Perhaps my lady has made a mistake.

What about you, my good man? Please, have some decorum. I take his leg. I'm just, like, pleased to make your acquaintance, and I kiss it. Oh, very good. Oh, well, it's good to know that at least one of you has the appropriate manners. Well, as I said, my name is Garcon. If you wouldn't mind following me, I'll take you to the lady of the ship.

Question, is my dog here? As in, are you asking the spider or Mark Humes, the dungeon master? That's a good question. Let's ask the spider. That seems more entertaining. Oh, I'm afraid that if you had any traveling companions, I imagine that the spell would not have brought them with you. Do you have some means of summoning such a creature?

I do. I don't... Yeah, I could do it. Oh, well, there you go. I need some help. So the rest of you watch as Havala utters these words. There's kind of a hissing, fizzling sound in the air, and then there's this tear, this kind of... in space.

Okay. And three creatures emerge out from it. The most notable one is a very large, very excited, muzzled hellhound that just comes bounding out and begins whipping its head around, sniffing, and then it sees Havala and bounds towards her and just kind of throws itself against her. The two creatures following it are two imps red skinned fat pot bellied gross little devil baby imps that fly through and one of them is like

ah jeez Havala really this is a terrible place for us to go ah jeez come on Blip and then you see the other ones just like hey come on what are you doing don't tell me we're here I didn't want to be here. Question, sorry, small, small, small round thing.

Who is this? Who by Asmodeus is this? This chick. She has a badass big hammer thing. I do have that, yes. You said you know where we are. Yeah, we'll talk. Where are we?

You don't know where you are? No. You stupid mortals. You don't know nothing. They really don't. You have one job. Sorry, sorry, sorry. Where are we?

You're in the astral plane. You don't know where that is? No. Is that like good, bad? I mean, it's kind of both. It's the realm of thoughts and dreams. Loads of stuff lives out here, and they've got these big ships that they fly around in,

but weird stuff lives up in here. We don't want to, it's gross. Also, really dangerous. Lots of monsters. Yes! Yeah, I thought you'd like that. Jeez. To be fair, that could be quite fun.

Listen. If we're going to do it, it should at least be cool. Harry, look, we brought the dog. Can we get out of here? Go away. Don't ruin my fun. And then they just begin making their way back through the portal. That dog's good, right? Because that guy

thinks I'm delicious, but that dog definitely knows I'm delicious. Yeah. So, she doesn't need to eat. Okay. And I'd rather she didn't eat. Me? Because when a thing that isn't supposed to eat, eats, it's really gross after.

I want to pet the dog. So don't worry. I don't want to clean up your place. You want to pet the dog. You want to pet the hellhound. I want to pet the dog. Okay. What's Zuni's general reaction?

Zuni doesn't know you, and so she would definitely growl and be dripping flames. It begins boiling out of its mouth. Can I attempt to handle an animal? Sure. Of course you can, Nate. Go ahead. So. Okay. You take a couple of steps. You can, Nate. Go ahead.

So. Okay. You take a couple of steps, the hand out reads, you're kind of like reaching towards it, you know, Crocodile Dundee style, like, attagirl.

And it gets close, kind of low growl as you step another, take another few steps. And then as you kind of reach to reach for the muzzle, just this kind of gout of flame begins kind of rousing out. Why don't you make a dex save for me? Sure. So that is a 23.

You managed to just kind of throw yourself out of the way. It's not a full blast of fire, but it's enough to kind of like cause you to like leap back without getting burned. I just like kind of duck cause you to like leap back but without getting burned I just like kind of duck and it goes over me. I look back She likes me Do any we don't flame people Yet I Want one I don't can we get one? No

It looked well, no just looking at you No. That's super fun. It looks at Will. No. It's just looking at you. No. You can bite her, too. I mean, I get to bite her.

She doesn't let other people bite her. Can we get a hellhound? Good, ladies and gentlemen, if I may, I really must take you to see the mistress, if you don't mind. Now that you've been reunited with your pet. Yes. It's great. We have a two-hour plot to get to, so let's go ahead. Yes.

Well, the party is meant to start very soon, yes. Party. Party. Yeah. Well, the party is meant to start very soon, yes. Party. Party. Yes. If you wouldn't mind, please follow me. And the giant spider turns, and its little cuffed legs begin scurrying along the deck, one of them kind of urging you on behind it.

Okay. Party. Party. I feel like we don't really have a choice here, so sure, party. No? Party's always the right choice. Yes?

Pre-game. I don't go to parties. Sure. It doesn't take long. You follow the spider across the giant deck. There's no mast or anything like that. The sails are all kind of between this gargantuan spider's legs. But the deck leads you to one of these large glass domes.

And inside you are led through what appears to be a grand ballroom. You can see the circular tables have been set up. There are crystalline statues of a beautiful elven woman covered in webs and silks. You can see that the tables have been etched with the symbols of moons and stars.

Great banners made of webbing have been draped around like decorations. But the spider leads you through that ballroom and up into a very stately bedroom. You can see that a large crystalline bed has been erected. Huge plush pillows have been decorated around. But the room is massive.

It's for a huge creature. It's that kind of party. Yeah, it's that kind of party. What kind of party? So carry on. The spider opens up one of the doors and kind of stepping through into this large bedroom is you see the giant spider-like legs first,

but pulling through, a spider with the upper half of an elegant-looking woman dressed in this long silk gown, almost like a ball gown that covers the enormous spider body beneath her. She has onyx black skin with white hair decorated with crystalline spiders, and she looks down at you with pale lavender eyes. Ah, sacred blue, my guests have arrived. Love it. More of that.

But... your guests for what? Oh, my apologies, my good birdman. I have brought you here to help me with my party, yes? Sorry, we're going to have to repeat that one again. But you don't help with the party. Sorry, I forget that some of you material playing creatures are a little simple. I have brought you here to help with my party. Oh, thank you. We're here to help with the party.

When you use the Hs, then I can understand what the sentence is. So what help? Giant spider woman looms down. Okay. I'm like between a hell hound and a giant spider at this point. Chicken's on the menu. My name is Lady Duskwillow. I am the captain of the ship, the stroke of midnight.

And I'm having a most wonderful party this evening. But I need some help. You said it was Duskwillow? Lady Duskwillow. Thank you. Well, look at you all. Aren't you so wonderful? I'm so pleased that the relic brought such fine mortals to me. Okay, two questions. So we're not guests of the party? We're like assistants?

Yes. And second, what relic? Oh, it is called the Orb of Needs. I have a third question. By all means, my little pretty elf. Why? Oh, well, you see, I don't quite control who the relic, who the orb summons. I merely give it a task, and it finds the most suitable life forms in the multiverse

and brings them to me. What's the task? Oh, we'll get to that soon, my little tiefling, sherry. I say, I'm just like, oh, that's perfect. I have my orb of mead right here, if you'd like some. I'm quite fine, thank you. I do not sell myself with your little

plainer drinks, your material plain drinks. I make my own. They might have better. Oh, I have much more elegant affair. If you would like the alcohol, I will have something special brewed for you, yes? That sounds like a fantastic idea. He just looks like... Nothing could go wrong.

I love you. What a handsome little man. To answer your question earlier, Zirelic, it is called the Orb of Needs. I found it long ago in the wild space. And I state the purpose, and then it finds unique individuals and summons them to the astral plane

via astral projection. And you think, or the orb thinks, that us four are the best for the task. That is what it seems, my little bird friend. We could do something. No, no, no, no, no. There will not be any killing. Well, why am I the most suitable person for the job? I'm very confused. No, my dear. I do not know, I'm afraid. But anyway, to the task at hand.

I am having a little gathering with many of my planar friends from all across the multiverse, from the Nine Hells, the Abyss, Mount Celestia, all over the place. But how do I put this? They have the suspicion, you know? They do not trust me and my little friends. And she gestures to all the spiders and things around her ship.

Well, I mean, you are just plucking them out of their usual day. Oh, no, no, I've invited them. Oh. They have been invited. So what I need is unassuming little motters who they will not think that you are up to anything. They will not think much of you at all. I get on really well with people.

Yeah. Even better, you will blend in with some of the abyssal ones, I'm sure. Oh, they're such fun. But anyway, I have three tasks that I need you to complete. And then not only will I send you on, but I will give you a boon, whatever you want. I will make sure I will try and provide it. What kind of party is this?

It's a little gathering. There will be canapés, perhaps a little dancing, a little mingling. Nothing too crazy? This should be just easy work for us. Of course! Oh, I believe you. Yes. Well, the three tasks that I need you to complete, they're quite simple. I need you to keep the Githyanki and Githzerai ambassadors

from killing each other. I'm going to need to hear that again. The Geth Yankee and Geth Zerai ambassadors from killing each other. They are mortal enemies. How silly of them. I'm so glad you are in good spirits, my little dear, my cherie. Okay. I'm so glad you are in good spirits, my little dear, my cherie.

Okay. The other one I need you to perform is, there is a devil who is coming. His name is Jasimir. He works for Mammon. He's the ruler of the third hell or something. I do not know. Doesn't sound important. But I need to find out what is going on.

He's up to something. I need to find out what is going on. He's up to something. I need to figure it out. Something involving Mammon and another lord of hell called Bel. Figure it out. You'll think of something. Hells bells. Get it? You're so funny.

What a funny little bird, man. We're not doing that again. We are not doing that again. We are not doing that again. Last task, I promise, is very simple. An angel, an archon called Aromanthia is coming. She is a little

puzzle box, you know. She is a little secret. I want to know what is her most desire, what she wants the most in the world, so I can provide it. I'm on that one. Perfect. I knew I could rely on such a handsome man.

How you accomplish this, I do not mind. The only restriction I have is, please do not be attacking my guests. They're very powerful. They're very dangerous, but also I don't want to clean up all the mess. Your mess, specifically. Cleaning does suck.

Yeah. Well, what if the Gift Yankee and the other one, what if they start fighting? Do we then... Your job will be to prevent them. Oh, easy. We'll just keep a barrier between them at all times, right? Yes, escort them around, keep them entertained, make sure that they are not getting too frisky, you know.

Sure. Frisky, sure. Sure. Sure. Help yourself to my laboratory. I'm quite the alchemist. You are welcome to concoct yourself your own little potions if you wish, or if you want to try and make something unique, you can do that too.

But the party will be starting soon, and I need you to chop-chop. Okay. Chop-chop-chop. Now, any questions before we go? So many, but I don't think we're going to get through them all. So the details about payment were a little vague. That, yes. Well, what do you want?

A lot. Then I can probably provide it. All right. I've been traveling the astrocy for centuries, my dear. I'm a very powerful druid. I can probably make something for you or find something for you if you want. A little magic trinket, a little boon, a boost jar, whatever you want. Gold, if you want gold, I give you gold. Whatever you want. I do like whatever I want. And if you want, you can always stay here with me. Wait, no, this sounds great.

Don't do it, mate. A giant bulbous spider body kind of like perched on the bed. Nice. Just a reminder. Falling with his orb at me is just like, nice. Anything else? What about you, my dear? I think your orb is broken.

No, no, no, no. Because you didn't say a single thing I'm good at. Maybe you meant I have a twin. Maybe you meant the twin because she's the talker. No, I'm sure that the Orbez made no mistake, my dear. What happens if we fail at this? Well, that is a very good question. You are very clever.

Well, it's not my fault. You must understand it is the Orb itself. If you do not fulfill the conditions that I have summoned you with and you go back home because you are destroyed or something like that, there will be... We'll get back to it.

We'll get back to it. If you go back to your home world without me giving you the, okay, then curses, lifetime of suffering, pain. That is just the way the orb works, I'm afraid. But it's a very simple matter. You won't need to do that much.

The orb sucks. What if somebody I'm just saying, somebody smashed the orb with a giant hammer? Does that still apply? I do not know. It's a very powerful artifact. Who knows what could happen? I felt like that was a very powerful artifact. Who knows what could happen? I felt like that was a very targeted...

I would never... I might. For all intents and purposes, could we get something in writing that lists us rather than a team? Perhaps as four independent contractors. Just in case

somebody decides to smash an orb with a hammer and the other party members don't consent. I might. Of course, my dear. Thank you. We'll treat you separately. Thank you. I have a standard contract.

You don't need to worry about that. Okay, great. We'll deal with that later. Okay, sure. That's fine. Me and Ayla, we're kind of like a package deal. No, no, no, no, no. You can treat us individually for payment reasons. That's fine. Me and Ayla, we're kind of like a package deal. No, no, no, no, no, no. You can treat us individually for payment reasons.

That's fine. No, I mean with a team. Oh, great. Brilliant. Any more questions? The party will be starting very soon. Is there anyone from where we're from here? Maybe.

I do not know. I do not know where you are from, unfortunately. I do not know. All the worlds out there? All the worlds. I think we're good to go. Let's get it over with. Well, I tell you what.

I do you a couple of little favors. You claim that you are not so good at the talking, yes? Well, and then she's going to reach down one of her large spider legs and touch you on the top of the head. All right. And she's like... And as it touches you, you kind of feel like some of your garments begin to change.

Beautiful jewelry kind of appears around your neck. Your outfit changes into a very elegant gown, a beautiful kind of dress. And she's going to enhance your charisma, giving you advantage on charisma checks for an hour. Well, that's handy. Also, apparently I look banging now. I'm going to try

a couple little moves to Glade. Stretches and moves as you need it to. Will you be providing any other tools for assistance? You have access to my laboratory, which is very well stocked. You can make your own potions. You can do

all sorts of crazy things with them. No, that is the one thing I'm going to give you. Cool. But she got a whole new outfit. She got a thing. She's the nice one. You had a good laugh. And this one clearly needs no help with that.

He's very handsome. So maybe this one did need the help, but I don't know. I like this one better. Don't you dare make me look like that. Okay. No problem then. I'm also pretty good looking for a bird. The hellhound is still looking at you.

Like drool coming down of its mouth. Sizzling. In a menu sense? Alright, next question. No more questions. I need to go prepare for my guests. Pick up my little cherries. I will see you later.

I'm so excited. So are we. No. And then you are ushered. This is awful. Yeah, this is pretty terrible. I can't talk to people. People don't like me. This is one of the easiest jobs I've ever heard in my life.

What are you talking about? Cool. Take that then. Oh, no. I'm happy to divvy these out. of the easiest jobs I've ever heard in my life. What are you talking about? Take it free. I'm happy to divvy these out. I've already got dibs on figuring out what an angel woman wants. The other two... I feel like you're going to

just... Yeah, you're going to enjoy that too much. Going to crush it. In terms of Jasimir, he's up to something, and we're really good at trusting people. Frickstone! You can tell who the people that watch High Rollers regularly are in the audience, because there was a big snickering going on.

So, maybe we could do that one. Or, we're good at stopping people from fighting us. That might be the one that I'm better at. What if we just all three do the other two? I definitely don't know. Sure.

Or is it a case that we need to watch out for what this guy does with the angel? I'm trying to get the job done is what I'm trying to do. Oh, no, no. We are too, but you don't understand. People really, I don't get on well with people. They don't like me. I don't know why. I'm a delight.

Cool, cool, cool. Okay. Great. Well, I'm going to go. I'm a delight. Cool, cool, cool. Okay. Great. Well, I'm going to go ahead and do my job and let me know how the rest goes. And I would like to just find my way to... Yeah. There's like a kitchen.

Well, Garcon, the awakened spider, is outside. Oh, I'm glad that your chat went well. Would you like me to escort you to the ballroom? Oh, absolutely. Of course, my sir. Good man. Oh, marvelous. Do we want to get any potions from the laboratory? Because I feel like I'm going to make something explode if I touch them.

Probably. I don't know how to make potions. No, no. But it could be quite amusing. Do you know how to make potions? I have absolutely no idea. I assume it's just like... And then something happens?

So I can do that? Yeah. Definitely do that. Would you like to go to the laboratory? We may as well have a look. There might be something else there for us. Okay. Other than potions.

Maybe, possibly, please. I want to ask Garcon something first. Of course. I just came from a different job straight away, so I didn't have time to get party attire ready. Is there any kind of wardrobe situation? We have an abundance of tiny bow ties and hats

for the spiders. That's fine. I could provide one of those, if you wish. I'll take a... I have a few spare cuffs for you. Ah, yes, cuffs. Of course, yes. Well, we'll stop by my wardrobe first. Great. Excellent. Absolutely.

So, Polton is taken to, you're kind of led through this beautiful art deco ship interior, but you go down and it becomes like little tunnels of webs and clusters of spider pods. Okay.

And you are led into a large, cavernous, pulpy, organic room, but there is a single coat stand with eight pairs of cuffs, a hat, and a bow tie. Great. Help yourself, my good man. How big are they? Massive. Okay.

So I'm just going to, like, I'll put the hat on. The hat is comically large that it just rests, like, I'll put the hat on. The hat is comically large that it just rests like down past your eyes. Okay, well, I can make that work. Okay. You have oversized top hat. You can add it to your inventory if you want. I'm trying to see if there's anything

I could do with that. Probably not. Okay. What about the bow tie? The bow tie, you can wear it. It will be comically huge. Okay. Because it's small and dainty and very elegant on the spider. On you,

it'd be like a big comedy clown's bow tie. Okay, I'll pass on the bow tie. How big are the cuffs? Well, the spider's legs are probably about this wide, so maybe around the neck? Just one.

All right. I'll just grab it and figure it out later. Okay. You just take a bunch of stuff and figure it out. Those of you who go to the laboratory, before you meet the guests, the Stroke of Midnight's laboratory is a very elegantly well laid out alchemical lab. You can see all sorts of vials and ingredients, bags of things, frog's legs, pinches of

sulfur, all sorts of weird stuff. And here, you can try, you can either make any kind of potion that you can think of from the Dungeon Master's Guide, or you can try and make a unique potion that has an effect you get to choose. But how well it will perform depends on

how well you do in dice rolling. Uh-oh. Have you watched Nova make any potions before? No. No, me neither. Have you watched anyone make potions before? No. I watched her just now say, oh, I think this is what you do.

That's the pouring of imaginary potion bottles. I mean, this is a home or destroyed situation. That's literally what the spider said. So maybe we just make a potion and just see what happens anyway.

Sure. You go for it. What do we do? We make a potion so that the two gift guys become friends. You want to give it to someone else. I don't know. Maybe. Maybe we can try to make a love potion.

What would these ingredients, what sparks love for you? Frog's legs? No. There's an actual heart here. It's a heart of a little sprite. That's plausible. A little sprite as well. That's pure love, right? So love. Glitter. Have we got any glitter? You can find some glitter

in the ingredients, sure. Okay. Dogs' tears. No one's ever said love to me. Cat nails. What do you love and how does it make you feel? Hitting people with a big hammer. How does it make you feel? Like a badass. So we want to put blood in this potion. You can put blood in there?

What kind of blood? Yes. I can zap it with a little bit of lightning. You want angel blood? A spark. Ooh! Ooh! You want to try and make this question? Pixie heart, glitter, blood with a spark in it. Okay.

I will let you roll this with advantage because that's very creative thinking. Make an intelligence check. Straight intelligence. Straight intelligence. Oh, cool. Plus one. Yep.

Okay. With advantage. With advantage. Okay, here we go. You're the nicest DM. With advantage. With advantage. Okay, here we go. You're the nicest DM. With advantage. With advantage. So another one.

16. 16. Nice. So the potion is a complete success. It achieves exactly the desired effect, so a love potion. But it does have a mild side effect, which you can tell me what it is. The mild side effect is you can tell me what it is. The mild side effect is they desperately

hate each other the moment the party's finished. Okay. Like war-like hate. Yep. I mean... You just let players do stuff? This is a Mark Hughes one-shot. Welcome to my game.

This is what Mark's brain does with one-shots. You like? I mean, yeah. So, you've made your potion. Love potion. You have a love potion. You can write that down. And then you are all escorted.

Polton with his new hat that is kind of jaunty-angled, I guess. What I wanted to ask if I could do is can I put the little cuffs on and cast animate objects so that they can tighten themselves and they just fold to fit? Yes. You cast animate objects. The cuffs, you could also put it on the hat. I think you can do up to eight objects or something like that.

So you can have the hat and then the cuffs. Yeah, they'll animate. They can shrink themselves up, but they can also just hold themselves in place. Sweet. So they're just comically large, but they're in place. Or you can have them rolled up and fold themselves up. Yeah, I wanted to fold themselves up. And then the hat will basically keep itself.

So it's very large, but it stays the same. Great, so I can see. But remember, that's a concentration spell. Right. And definitely. I'll remember. Don't worry. Definitely worth a fifth level slot.

Mid-fight. That's a great use of a fifth level. Just so that my cuffs can fit. Yeah. This is how we balance out me being twice the level, is I just waste it on dumb people like this. He's level 12. He said to me earlier, what level are you?

I'm like, 6. So you're only double our level. We're level 6. It's fine. He can do his own thing. He's good. He's really famous and cool and I like Nate the most. Sweet.

Wow. This is the best game ever. I love Dungeons & Dragons. So, you are taken down into the grand ballroom that you passed through earlier, and you can see that there are a variety of very weird characters down here. You see off in the corner,

attempting to speak, chatting to various guests and things like that, you see an incubus, a male succubus, basically. Red skin, horns, wings and a tail, lounging around, big open shirt, chest hair kind of poking out, tight leather pants, and he's just kind of walking around with a drink, kind of like winking and smiling at everybody. walking around with a drink, winking and smiling at everybody.

You can see there is an angelic woman, blue skinned with a single long braid of white hair that falls down her back, ornate armor, big feathery wings, greatsword on her side scabbard, and she's just walking around. She's huge. She's nine feet tall.

The first guy, you said tight-leather pants. Is that pants or pants? Pants. Trousers. Trousers. Okay, the first guy, you said tight-leather pants. Is that pants or pants? Pants. Trousers. Trousers. Okay, cool. We're in America now, Tom. Just for us three.

Just for you guys. You also see two very similar-looking creatures, but they're dressed differently. They have this kind of yellowy, mottled skin, no noses, and then elongated ears. One is wearing armor and a military uniform, and the other one is wearing more priestly noses, and then long, elongated ears. One is wearing armor and a military uniform, and the other one is wearing more priestly robes, and they're on

opposite sides of the room, just glaring at each other. You also see, as just other guests that are mingling around, you see a clockwork pentadrone, basically like this single shape with these different

six or seven, I can't remember, sides on little spindly legs and arms walking around and it seems to be examining all of the trays of food and counting however many things are on there as it moves around. You also see a large centaur and a winged

elf who appear to be having some sort of argument and whispered turns kind of like whispering to each other. There is also a Shadar Kai goth band on stage. On the drums is printed Doom Train

as the band's name. I can't wait for the rendition. For your particular notice, you're beginning to feel a kind of sickness in your stomach. Oh, no. But it's not that strong yet. Off in the far corner, lounging on a webby chaise longue, is this gross, obese-looking pig demon with these tiny little wings.

And it's just eating and constantly just shoving food in its mouth. And as it finishes spiders with little trays on their back bring more and just on the edge of it you can kind of feel that queasiness that arises whenever you're in the presence of a demon but not strong enough yet you'd have to get closer to it okay so hey she's got some

weird friends but I can't go in that corner what what I can't go in that corner why yeah he's grotesque. He is, but I mean... I'll barf. Okay. If we're lucky. I mean, I probably would too. Yeah, no, he's...

And if I touch someone, they'll have to fight the demon. So you should know, going in... Hang on, hang on. I'm sorry. If you touch someone, they'll have to fight the demon? Is this really garbage, like, infernal gift that I got stuck with? Anyway, so I'll make you really good at fighting the demon, but I don't know if you cannot fight the demon.

So maybe you stay close to me, and then you get to fight it. How about, now check it out, what if... Oh, you're back. Well, I've been here, right? Yeah, you kind of came down together, yeah. Obviously, I wasn't paying attention. A concept. That's Dungeons & Dragons.

What if you don't start fights at a party? Yeah. I mean, option. And I did say, just, I can't go in that corner. Or I will. I can't control it. That sounds like profiling. You just saw someone in a corner.

It's like, I want to fight this. You know what? Take it up with the freaking king of the hells. Because I didn't ask for this shit. Oh, okay. I really don't want to. But, yeah, you know the thing about if we go home and we haven't completed this the you know eternal pain

misery as you guys are talking better? Barfing is better than that the incubus sees you and begins making his way directly for the four of you as you're kind of whispering together and he kind of like moves his way he picks up a little champagne flute as he's going like downs it

oh god what's this voice what's going on like, downs it. Oh, God, what's this voice? What's going on here, then? Oh, God. We've got a bunch of little mortals coming up to the astral planey. I like them. Look at this handsome fellow. Look at this handsome fellow.

How are you doing? You all right? Yeah. A couple of strong ladies. I like a few strong ladies, eh? Don't know about you, Birdman. You're not my type. Sorry.

Ha! At least he won't eat me. Would you eat him? I could. We... Hang on, what? He said he would. Well said. You little mortals.

You're all so confused all the time, aren't you? Yes, actually. It happens when you're kind of ripped out of your world and put somewhere else. Oh, that's a shame. Oh, well, you could make it more enjoyable, you know. You could join me over there and there's a few extra rooms around or we could get a little drink together or, you know.

Huh? Anybody? Not you. Not me. Phew. You kind of do the few. He kind of do the few. He kind of, yeah, he looks a bit offended, actually, when you're kind of dismissive of him. Dude, you're offended?

You'd be lucky to be with me. I'd be lucky. It's very true. I'm a very handsome Aarakocra. Well, maybe. Too many feathers for my liking. So what are you doing here? Birds!

We were brought here as the mortal guests to the party just to show there's no hard feelings depending on lifespan. Yeah, that's nice. Whatever it is. Just to show that diversity. Yeah, Duskwillow's a weird one like that. Well, I think it's more forward-thinking than weird, but yeah, weird's a word you could use.

So what are you doing here, huh? What are you really doing here? Oh, we're here to make sure the party goes off swimmingly. Sure. Yeah. Well, if you want to do that, then come join me for some drinks. Hey, what's your name? Yeah, what is your name again?

Oh, my name's Jasimir. Cool. I don't often brag. It's the one. Hey. Hey. That's the dude. What are you whispering about there, eh?

What are you whispering about? I'm not whispering. We're just saying how attractive you are. Your pants are great. Okay, you're going to have to give me a deception check on that. There's no way I'm letting you get away with just saying that. 13. That's just a straight 13.

He, like, leans in. Oh, really? Yeah. He kind of twists his little forked goatee. Look how pretty her dress is, though. That's true. I do. That little tiefling hair.

Sorry. I'm still not good at this. And then he starts leaning over towards Amalur. Jasimir, was it? Yeah, Jasimir. What's your name, fella? Oh, Paulton. Nice to meet you, Paulton.

Paulton Sepp of Hinn Waterdeep. I'm not going to remember a second name. You'll be lucky if I remember your first name. Fair enough. I point to his glasses. You'll be lucky if I remember your first name. Fair enough. I point to his glasses. You're looking a little low there, buddy. Want me to top you off? Look at this.

What a nice man. Why don't we go get a drink together? Oh, please. You seem like you've got a thing going on. It's true. I do have a thing, if you know what I mean. This one's into me. I'm just going to stand behind

Quill. Anyway, drink order. I'll be back. Anyone want anything? You had champagne. I have this. Alright, good. This is the ambrosia. Get the good stuff. Don't let the spiders knock you off with any of that cheap mortal crap. Oh, they got a top shelf. I'm on it. Good man. Good man.

Top lad. He's going to come back drunk, isn't he? Yep. Yeah. That seems likely. Yep. Jasmine will just linger around, but it's a busy party. You can always make excuses and go off. You can go and speak to whoever you wish.

Oh, so he's just wandered off then? No, he's kind of lingering around, but he'll grab somebody as they ask. He starts talking to one of the Shadar Kai. Yeah, so that's one of the guys. I can easily see the other two, the Githyanki and the, I forgot the name of the Shadow Kai. Yeah, so that's one of the guys. I can easily see the other two, the Githyanki and the... I forgot the name of the second one. I talked to one person one time and I'm already creeped out, so... Yeah, I'm panicking.

I got nothing. I'm actually having, I think, a crisis. Yeah? Oh, yeah. I need to go home. I feel like I want to smash the orb. Feel an overwhelming urge. Right? That was not a bad plan.

Does that guarantee our way back? Have I totally left yet? I mean, you can decide. I'm a nice dude. Do what you want. You do what you want, Nate. You're my Pat Rothfuss. Fancy.

Don't encourage that. Don't encourage that don't encourage that it's going to be a very fun flight the chandelier instantly lowers I know what I must do so I hear something just okay so the whole smashing thing

no literally no I was like only 60% serious right now now. Right now. Still no. Might. Might. If that orb is smashed and we don't just do this job and go home, I will personally, I don't know. I haven't figured it out. It's been a while since I've looked at my spells,

but I can do a lot of stuff that hurts. That was a hell of a threat. Okay. I haven't figured it out. It's been a while since I've looked at my spells, but I can do a lot of stuff that hurts. That was a hell of a threat. Okay, I mean, look, we'll try and do it. We'll try and do things. This Jasimir guy is creepy and not into me. And that's what makes you the best candidate. He's not interested in you at all. No, but you can...

Do you feel like you can do this? going to make me do this, aren't you? You got the nice dress and stuff, though. It's like it was kind of made for you. I'll stand near you while you do it and just be creeped out. Is it going to be a problem if I punch him? I think

you would be great at stopping people from fighting. That's where I might be better. I feel like you don't really know me. I think you two be great at stopping people from fighting. That's where I might be better. I think you don't really know me. I think you two should stop people from fighting, mostly yourselves. Yeah. Can't guarantee that.

Yeah, no. No, no, no. And I think you should talk to this Jasimir guy because I think it would be funny. But there's no way he's going to tell me anything, especially about his secret plans. Because, why would he?

Why did you do the secret plans like that? Because he's probably standing right next to us. You're having this open conversation anyway. He probably heard most of it. Oh. Maybe. Hey, bud, we're investigating you. I know.

Everyone is. Just ask him about his thing and go with that. All right, cool. Just do the directive. Right. Well, in that case. I can do direct. It'd just probably be very pleasant.

Here's a potion, a love potion with side effect that shouldn't affect us until after the party's finished. I'm sorry, you have a what now? Oh, we made a potion. We're going to stop the war between the GIF Yankee and the GIF other guys for an hour. Until it starts even worse.

By then we'll be gone. Totally. We don't live here. It's fine. No. I'm really good at making potions. Apparently. Okay, cool. I'm going to walk over to... I'm going to at making potions. Apparently. Okay, cool.

I'm going to walk over to... I'm going to walk away from this. You walk away? So where's everyone doing? He's definitely going to get drunk now. Where's the Archon? Do you know much about angels? You can make a religion check for me.

That's who I was going to go to. She's like the only one, right? I mean, there is the only one, right? I mean, there is definitely only one nine-foot-tall blue woman with giant feathery winged wings and golden armor. Winged wings. Right, I'm making sure there wasn't. Winged wings. Yeah, there you go.

Damn it. I was going to go the whole packs west without doing it, but it's fine. Anyway, yeah. You start making your way over to her, the planter. Okay. Should we get this incubus guy over with? Or should we try the love potion?

The love potion? Oh, on the Githyanki guy? Yeah. That's what it's for, right? You weren't going to give it to the incubus, were you? I don't need to. Why look at him? I know.

It's like super charging. Look at the way he's looking at both of you. He does not need a love potion. We are on the same page, man. I might vomit. Remember you were saying you were going to vomit? I'm getting close now. Zuni's just kind of snuffling around you but every time one of the giant spiders

walks past, you can see her big drooling, sizzling maw just kind of like following these giant spiders around. No eating spiders. That I guarantee is gross. Can I make friends with the dog instead? I mean, you can try.

She's kind of a little protective. Can you tell her that I'm a nice person? I can. Sometimes it works, even. Sure. Make an animal handling check for me. All right. That is a 20, but not a natural.

20. Yeah. My dog listens to me, apparently. Zuni will listen, and she kind of, like, lowers her head and, like... Ayla?

Right? Ayla. She's nice. She's a good friend. She has a big hammer. Yeah, kind of, like, sniffs around the hammer and sort of, like...

There's not immediate friendship, but she's willing to let you approach and be kind. Yeah, you can kind of tap her. She's got this kind of thick hide, this kind of bristly, thick demonic hide, or devilish hide. Quill, Quill, Quill. I want one.

No. Why? No. It'd be totally fine. No. Also, she shouldn't see the demon, because she's bred to cover her eyes. She just thinks you're petting it for now. Polton, you make your way over to Archon Aramanthia. And as you kind of approach, you can see she's kind of Brienne of Tarth style,

very straight-backed, looking around, but is analyzing, almost like in a protective way. And she sees your approach and is like, Greetings, mortal. What can I help you with? It's like... Are you all right? Yeah, I kind of turn. I'm just like, Hey.

Hello. Some party, huh? It is indeed a party. It is. I like that. That's smart. I get what you did there. It was really good. I answered your question. Yes.

So how do you know... I don't hesitate on the name. I do remember it. Lady Duskwillow. Lady Duskwillow provides various services for Celestials operating in the Astral Plane. She allows us to use her ship when we need to scout out for enemies. Such as, and you can see her eyes, like she is glaring at the Incubus and the Demon, as if she kind of folds her lip a little bit. Suffice to say, I'm here almost as a protection against these more foul

guests that she has invited. Quite what she's planning to do, I do not understand. Ah, yes. Foul seems to be the theme. Indeed. She does not get the pun. And what is your name, mortal? Oh, Paulton. Paulton Sepra.

Paulton Sepra. Well, it is very nice to meet you. It's very nice to meet you. What did you say your name, mortal? Oh, Paulton. Paulton Sepra. Paulton Sepra. Well, it is very nice to meet you. It's very nice to meet you. What did you say your name was again? Archon Aromanthea. Aromanthea. Do you go by the whole thing? The Archon is a title. Oh, gotcha.

I definitely knew that. Aromanthea. Okay. Well, it is very nice to hear that Lady Duskwillow provides things that you need or maybe even want. Yes, I suppose so. She's very good at that. She has a way of knowing what it is.

As you're talking to her and as you start talking about things that you want and things like that, you can see she reaches her hand up to this long braid of hair and she almost starts playing with it, stroking it. You get the impression that she's nervous about something. I stopped

mid-sentence. I'm sorry, I didn't hit on a nerve or anything, did I? No, of course not. No, as a celestial, no. I'm sorry, I didn't hit on a hit on a nerve or anything, did I? No, no, no, of course not as a celestial, no, I'm absolutely fine of course not, as you would well, I just, you know you must have thought, I'm going to go

and I must speak with some of the others now no, we were just getting good conversation is there like drinks put out or anything? yeah, you can just go and help yourself. Okay, I'm just going to grab one and say, please, shall we cheers?

I don't normally drink. It's a party. I think you should. I think you should loosen up a little bit. We're going to have a good time here. Make a persuasion check. Thank you. That's what you were fishing for.

Okay. 23. Whoa. I was waiting for that one. From a 10? Yeah. Plus 13. Oh, man.

Wow. Persuasive man. I suppose I can have a little, and she'll take the glass of ambrosia and begin sipping it. Yeah. See, it's nice. So while Porten's doing that, what are the rest of you doing? Right, so I guess...

Apart from petting the hellhounds. So it's up to me for the jasmine guy, right? Well, I'll do it if I can bring the dog with me. Is he near the corner? Oh yeah, if he's near the corner, you're not going there. Is jasmine near the corner? He's wandering around. He's wandering the party, mingling with various people.

You could try and get him on here. You could try and ask him to be on his own. Look, it's okay. It's okay. You've got the potion. There's two of you. You're scary. So you can stop these two from fighting easily.

I'm not going to be able to stop them from fighting. They'll fight, not over me, for me. I'm talking about the eating thing again. Right. I'll go for Jasmine. Okay. So you're going to move over to him. As you move over to him, you can see he's

kind of watching this bickering couple, this centaur and this winged elf. And the centaur is getting very drunk and the winged elf is like slapping him and he's like, stop it. Stop. You've had enough. I don't think I have.

This party's garbage. She's just like, look, we've been invited politely. Just behave yourself. And the incubus is just kind of like, just watching them. Oh, those two don't seem to get along too well, huh? Are you kidding? They're married. What?

Yeah, I know. It's ridiculous. Love, what a load of shit. Yeah, I mean... What do you want, Birdman? You don't need a relationship with love, right? I mean, maybe we could be friends. You said you weren't into me, but maybe we could just... Jazzy, come on, buddy.

No, absolutely not. Absolutely not? Jazzy? Do you know what the fuck I am? I'm a devil of the nine hells. You're some chicken with a compass. Don't you fucking call me Jazzy again, boyo. Hey, listen.

I'll send you to the hells. I'll send you to the depths of Stygian. I actually believe you. Good. Give me a chance. Please. Oh, you're pretty desperate, aren't you? Listen, I've been teleported to this

place. I've met spiders. I've met hellhounds. I've met this guy who wants to eat me, and I'm pointing to Poulton. I'm like, just someone. Oh, you're pretty pathetic, aren't you? Yes! Alright, I'll

be your friend. How about that? Yes, okay. Get me a drink. Yes, sir! Good answer, Boyle. Good answer. It's good to establish the dynamic of the relationship up front. Especially when one of them's the devil. What about

Ayla and Javi? What are you guys doing? Okay. Do you want the Githyank you? I don't know the name of the other guy. I don't either. I forgot it. If we just say Githyank the other guy really other guy. I don't either. I forgot it. I think if we just say the other guy really fast, maybe they won't notice. You can see that the one in the priestly robes

is kind of following the other one around, but keeping a distance. He's kind of folded arms, and he'll walk over, and if he moves over to some way, he kind of shuffles his way over, and he's watching him closely. I'll take that one. I don't know which one it is. But maybe they'll like

to talk about themselves and they'll tell us and we can skip the part where we look like we don't know what we're doing. What are the potions? It's just like, what if we take the potion and we pour a little bit into two of these glasses? So they both get half a potion and then they won't necessarily

make out for the whole party. But they only have half a potion. I know, that's what I'm saying. Maybe it's just half... Yeah, you can do that. Would you pour it into the two glasses? Does Havi like... Havi would do that. But she wants...

But she wants buy-off here. Did we make two? No, we made one. Just made one. This is what I'm saying. If you have half of a love potion, are then you just sort of platonically friends? It's like more of an unsure crush potion.

Right. That's fine for our purposes. You don't murder your crush, usually, I don't think. I mean, I don't know what people do here. I really don't. Yeah, let's hope it doesn't half the duration. Did you think of that one? I loved the part.

No, Havlar absolutely did not think of that. So, what are you guys doing? Do you have a better idea? Nope. I'm here for a better idea. Half potion, half bread. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's do that.

So you pour the potion into two glasses, and then one of you is going to go up to the one in robes, and one is going to go up to the one in armor, yeah? All right. I'm that robes guy. I'm going to get another glass for myself as well. Do they look the same? Yeah.

They're all like crystal little champagne. No, no, I know which one is the potion, but I meant like so if I was holding them, he couldn't see that they were different colors or anything. No, they're the same color. Love potion is wonderfully invisible. How about that? That's convenient.

Yeah, convenient. Okay. So when, Javi, you kind of take Zuni and you approach the one in the robes, and there is this kind of moment of like he kind of looks at you and then turns and then turns back, more composed.

Ah, greetings. How may I help you? Hello. I don't know anybody at this party, and you seemed like you were all alone, so I came to talk to you, and I brought you a drink. That is very kind of you, little creature. My name is Morgzorm.

I'm a Githzerai. Githzerai. Githzerai. That is right. You have probably heard of my species. Lots. Super lots. I definitely have heard of you before. Yes.

Super lots. So, well, thank you for the drink. I'm afraid that I do not normally partake in alcohol. It is part of my priestly tradition. Pulse. Who throws a party with booze and invites, like, holy people? This lady, apparently.

Okay. It's really annoying, right? Yeah, right? Who's the guy you're making eyes with? Oh, no. She is one of the Githyanki. She is a dangerous enemy of your people and mine. You should try and avoid her

if possible. Yes, very dangerous folk. We were once one people, but they have become the tyrants that they once sought to kill. My people will hold them back. Well, that sucks. Indeed, it does suck.

While you're talking to him, you make your way over to the other one, who kind of clocks you, kind of eyes you up and down a little bit. Greetings, mortal. How may I help you? I was just admiring your armor. Thank you. It has been with me for many years. You seem a warrior yourself. I am,iring your armor. Thank you. It has been with me for many years. You seem a warrior yourself.

I am, yes. Interesting. You mortal warriors can be formidable sometimes, but you're no Githyanki, I'm afraid. Oh, really? Tell me a bit more about your fighting style. I'm really intrigued to hear more. Would you like a drink, by the way?

Yes, I will. And she takes the drink. And then she holds it. And then she's like, well, first of all, and she pulls from her scabbard a silvery greatsword. You see this. And she gestures it towards you. But then she begins putting it near the thread.

With this, I could snuff out your life in an instant. Cutting your silver cord to the astral plane would kill you instantly. Cool. Well, that's what that does. Puts it back. But of course, I have no quarrel with you. Your time

will come to serve as our slaves. But for now, I'm trying to avoid that one. Okay. She gestures. Do you know roughly what time that would be? Like, give me a time estimation on... A few centuries, perhaps. Oh, cool, yeah.

Not long. I'm gone. That's fine. Go ahead. You're quite funny. I try. People tell me I'm delightful. Well, I don't know about that, but I admire a strong warrior, especially amongst all of

these pompous idiots. Has the incubus tried to make sexual relations with you? Yes. Quite disgusting. Irritating one, yes. What was your name? Aayla. You are quite good for a mortal, Aayla. I'm doing it! I'm making

friends! Aayla is schmoozing and is actually succeeding. What are you doing? You return to... You've got the angel. Ayla is schmoozing and is actually succeeding. What? Nailed it. What are you doing? You've got the angel. How much have you been drinking? It's not like funneling drinks into this person's situation. It's more just like two or three to loosen up and just be like,

oh, let's just pour from the heart. This planetar is pissed. She is drunk from the heart. This planetar is pissed. What? She is drunk, the angel. She's kind of... Well, then I guess I am too then. I've just been keeping up. Okay, if you've been keeping up.

Well, whatever you're drinking is extremely strong. It is potent alcohol, but it tastes like honey and sweet nectar, and it's easily drinkable. And she is leaning on you, just kind of leaning on your shoulder because she's like nine feet tall. You know, the problem with places like this, my good man, is that they remind you of what you don't have in life. I know, right?

What's your story then? Come on. What's your story then? Come on What's your story? Let me tell you I feel like it's less about What your back story is And it's more about What your front story is going to be You know? Your front story?

Yeah, your front story It's ridiculous No, it's not It's only as ridiculous as you let it be. That's very wise of you. I think it's more about just what you're looking for your front story to be. Oh, don't please. It's embarrassing.

I don't want to talk about it. Here, how about I'll tell you, and if you tell me yours. I can go first, Stephen. Okay. What do you want in life? Let me tell you, man. I've been through some shit, okay? Yeah.

Man, like, my parents are dead. For us mortals, that's a thing that happens. But they were, like, killed. Then, you know, house is blown up, like, five times and stuff. Wow. Five? Something like that. I don't know.

I lost count. Man, there's something about, like, a dark lord and curses and you know I think more than anything I just want some damn normalcy, you know you know what, I get that can I ask you a question? yeah

have you ever been in love? oh I'm an angel, Paul I'm an angel, Paul. I'm an angel. I've got to fight an endless war against the demons and the devils. You know what I don't get to do? I don't get to be in love.

Sometimes I go in disguise into the material plane and I buy romance books to read when I'm back in the fortress. That's no not fair! It's really sad. Let me tell you something. Yeah? I have been

like a couple times, and it's great, man. You feel like you can fly, right? Yeah, I can fly! It's... I don't know where I want to go though let me tell you

it feels like your soul your insides can fly and it's beautiful it's great you deserve that and I'm really glad you told me that

I'm going to it's good to get it out of the chest. I would give like a... Bring it in. Bring it in. The feathers kind of wrap around you and you have like a nice... Oh, man. And then she starts like just stroking your face.

You're very handsome. Oh, here we go. She's like, you're handsome. Jasmine, I've got your drink. Ah, good one, Boyle. Thank you very much. Anything else you need, just let me know. Let me know.

I'm your guy. You know what? You're a funny little fella, aren't you? Ha, no. You know, I can read your mind. Can you? Yeah.

What can you see? First of all, you're terrified of being eaten. Oh, no. There's something you want. Huh? There's something you want from me. I want to go home. I can always help you do that if we make a deal.

What kind? You know, my lord, Mammon, he's working on something pretty big right now. Oh, yeah? Can always use more people, more help. What does Quill know about devils? Also, do I hear this? Life, what?

Also, do I hear this? Make a perception check for me. See if you hear this over the din of the party. Okay, so my religion... Can I also... Yeah. Yeah. Oh, this is a plus check for me. See if you hear this over the din of the party. Okay, so my religion. Can I also? Yeah. Yeah. Oh, this is a plus one from me.

Me too! Nice. Mine's an 18. Yours is an 18. So have you absolutely hear this incubus utter the words like, we can always make a deal. Hold up, gift guy. That sounds great. Don't do that. Don't do what? Why? What? Why. Hold up, gift guy. That sounds great.

Don't do that. Don't do what? Why? Why? No, he's me. Don't listen to the Tiefling. They're kind of made big mistakes a long time ago. It's fine. We'd work something out. Want this shit? But this is Jasmine, you know. I'm his best friend now.

Trying to do the thing so we can go home. What's the trade? You gotta ask that because there's always something on the other side. They don't just do nice things. You don't just do nice things. You don't do nice things. You're speaking from experience.

Who you been making deals with, eh? It's Zuni. Just come here and put her head in my face. Okay, you've got a hellhound. I'm not all right. Calm down, you beastie. Get away. What's the deal? I'd like to hear it.

I want to know what the githyanki, the one that your tall, muscly friend that's into me is talking to, that giths up to something in the hells, and I want to know what it is. If you find that out, I'll tell you what you want to know. That's a nice deal, right? Then the deal's done. Deal's done.

I'm not interested in all that. That's way too much effort. Way too many devils making warlocks and having all sorts of trouble. They say that and they're lying. They'll totally do more shit. So, hang on. So, wait. But if that's the deal, I just find out what he's doing, you tell me what you're doing.

That's the deal? Sure. Is that acceptable, at least for you? That is acceptable. Uh-huh. Stop it there. Stop it there. Okay.

Do you need this in writing? No, no, no. We don't need it in writing. I'm a devil. The contract's built in. They make the writing magically so it already exists as soon as you agree. This one's smart. I like her.

She's very smart. Not as smart as you, though, Jasmine. Oh,. This one's smart. I like her. She's very smart. Not as smart as you, though, Jasmine. Oh, he's a charmer. I like him. No, seriously, go find out what that Githyanki knows. On it right away, sir. Stop copying my accent. Did I? And then him and Javi start staring off.

Ayla, as you're talking to the Gith Yankee, first of all you see Quill making his way over to you, but then you see that the other Gith, the Gith Zerai, is approaching with a glass of drink. Does it look like the one that... They're all the same. They're all the same. And he begins approaching,

and as you're talking, and the Githyanki that you're talking to, her name is Zarin, Zarith, sorry, looks over. What are you doing here? I'm talking to this mortal. I'm coming with a sort of peace offering,

Githyanki. We're both here. There's no sense in us avoiding each other this evening. I even bought you a drink. He already has a drink. What a shame. Well, I'll hold on to it for you. You know that my kind does not partake in alcohol.

You can take that drink and shove it into the astral plane. I'm talking with this one. Get out. Well, that's okay. We can all talk together. It's fine. More friends. More friends. You don't understand, mortal. These kind are cowardly traitors. Cowardly traitors.

We're trying to protect the universe against your kind. I'm just going to keep talking with myself until players do something. Oh, right. We're so enraptured. I'm going to stand so that I'm kind of in between them and be like, so tell me more about your kind. I'm going to run up.

Am I still holding? I forgot. You've got your drink. This is a one. You're like, you forgot your drink. You have a different drink. Here, trade me. Trade me.

Trade me. Trade me. Trade me. He, like, takes it and swaps it with you. Is that a non-alcoholic drink? Yes. I went and found it special. Make a deception check. I don't know how good this is going to be.

13. You have advantage because you currently have the enhanced ability. That's right. It's still 13. Really wants to be 13. It's like, I did not believe that Lady Dusk will have provided any. Still, I'm not thirsty.

And perhaps you should find something less disruptive. You are interrupting a conversation. I think we could all have a very lovely conversation together. I'm intrigued by... Hey, it's everyone. Hey, have you guys got your drinks yet?

We should have a toast! They're a doozy, huh? Not that one. That one's not a doozy at all. That's a real doozy. That'll do you, but that one... Part of what we're doing here is supplying the guests with drinks and fun and conversation. Fine, let's get this over with.

Hey, to parties. To parties. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Ayla's got a drink anyway. So, I need you to make a constitution saving throw, Havilah. All right. He's drunk half the love.

The Githyanki's drunk half the love. That's not good. Okay. Wait, so drunk half the love. The Githyanki's drunk half the love. That's not good. Okay. Wait, so where was the love? Where was the love? Where is the love? Where is the love? It's with the Githyanki's.

Oh, good. That's right. So you're watching this, and you see the two Githyanki who are glaring at each other. Their eyes turn a clouded pink, and they kind of stare at each other for a moment and kind of blink a few times. What did you get on your con save, Havala? Six. Okay.

Nice. The second this hits your system Yeah. And you just hurl. The bath just spores across the ground and you can see that inside, whatever you just threw up, whatever you just drank, even though it was clear, parts of it begin sizzling and popping.

There was some sort of poison in the glass. Oh, I see. He was bringing over. But the two, Githyanki and the Githrai, don't even seem to notice because they're just like, I never realized how powerful you are. You've always been quite a wise one. Should we... We should talk more.

I feel that we don't talk enough, my dear. Yes, yes. Perhaps we should move over here. Oh, wait, wait, wait. No, no, no. Don't go yet. Hey, you. Hey, which one was the deal for again? The Giffy Anki? I don't remember. Hey, big guy.

Giffy Yankee guy. It's a girl. Yes. Wow. I'm so sorry. My bird friend does not know manners. Why am I the one saying this? I would like to have a conversation with my good friend.

Oh, yeah, but... We needed... I need to take... You're right. Wait a friend. Oh, yeah, but hey. We need to, I need to take a second. Yeah, yeah, that was a killer. Zuni starts trying to lick up the sick. No, no, no, stop that. Stop that. Yeah, so we're supposed to find out for our boss

if you're ready with the thing in the place. And I point at Zuni. Make a persuasion. And Quill, are you're ready with the thing in the place, and a point at Zuni. Make a persuasion. And Quill, are you trying to help out? Do you want to jump in and try and say something? I mean, she's just rambling. I'm trying to jump in. Oh, I didn't say that at all.

Oh, wow, four and a three. Yeah, so it's a four. I won't help. And it's almost like it's just they're confused. That's fair. I didn't do a really great job. What are you talking about? Oh, my God.

Help me. Hey, man. Health. And you see the Gith Yankee, the warrior one, just kind of eyes go wide. And you can see her hand kind of strays to her sword. What about them? Just a hell of a place. Yeah.

Am I, like, kind of making my way away from this? I mean, how well do you think you can fend off the advances of an angel woman? Fend off is not what I would be trying to do. Embracing? I more just say like this conversation is going in a very interesting direction. I need to pee.

So you kind of pull yourself away from blue lipstick all over your face. And I will return. Feathers in your hair. Yes. Yep. It's like I'll be back. Please do. I can't bear to be. And. Yep. It's like, I'll be back. Please do. I can't bear to be... And you can see she's drinking again, like...

I want to be like, oh, okay, alright, well, you know. You're so kind. You're so kind. You, you, you, you, you. And then she kind of, like, droops herself on the chaise longue. Okay. And then you kind of stumble over towards the conversation. And then I'm, like, thinking about the fact that she was, like, kind of like droops herself on the chaise longue. Okay. And then you kind of stumble over towards the conversation.

And then I'm like thinking about the fact that she was like kind of hired as defense. I'm like, alright, so if shit goes down, we are now fucked. See how it plays out. So you begin making your way over to this conversation and you can see that the Geth Yankee and the Geth Sarai are turning on Quill now and they're kind of looking at you confused.

And then there is this flash from outside the grand ballroom itself. Up in the purple, starry, hazy sky, there is this colossal... And you see four giant tentacles wrap around the glass dome of the ballroom. What? And you can see the inhabitants start looking up, confused, what's going on. And Quill, you notice that

there's this faint yellow gas that's coming in from where the glass has been cracked by these giant tentacles and it's filtering down. And as the other, the planar inhabitants of the room, they start swaying, and then they just fall down, eyes open, breathing, but completely paralyzed.

Because why not at this point? And everybody except the four of you is now... Even though we're, like, breathing... Yeah? You don't know. Whatever brought you here, perhaps you're somehow protected. But, I mean, you're also not necessarily here here. You've got these weird cords.

But these creatures are actually here. The creatures never had any of the silver cords. Dude, immortals are so much more lightweights than I thought. Yeah. It's wild. The tentacles begin writhing and moving on the glass dome. Is this another guest? I'm going to say no.

No? And then a pair of chains begin repelling down from the giant dome itself. All these chains kind of fall down. Is this a fight time? Most likely. Do we want to start dragging people to the edges of the room? Actually, no. Zumi's paralyzed because she was also brought here.

Oh, no! She's just on her side, drool, sizzling, and she lies on her side completely paralyzed. I mean, I don't feel the need to get any of them safe right now drool, sizzling as she lies on her side completely paralysed. I mean, I don't feel the need to get any of them safe right now because the one that I was talking to is planning to take over the world and stuff.

I'll lean down to Jasame with his eyes open and just be like, hey, I'm just going to deal with this but then I'll get the job done. Trust me, I'll be back. Five figures begin rappelling down the chains. Four of them appear to be grey-skinned dwarves, bald of head, with

dark grey skin, white beards, decked in dark patchwork armour. They have weird-looking long-barrelled firearms as well as cutlasses and eye patches. Some of them have like little wooden legs and they begin like rappelling down but leading them in the center of this group is a

distorted figure with this kind of bulbous chest a long elongated head and these milky black eyes with tentacles dripping over its mouth a mind flayer decked out in leather armor with a long scabbard, and it has an eye painted on its large forehead, kind of scoots down. One of its hands is a hook, and one of its legs is a wooden peg leg. And as it lands, well, well, well, what do we be having here?

Ripe plundering of juicy brains for old pirate Captain Zellix. Ha ha ha ha ha. What? Thank you. You don't want to be taking these brains. No, they're real dumb. Well, well, well. A couple of mortal stragglers.

Two ways, perhaps. Aye. We'll get them. Captain, we've been waiting... You are very drunk. Captain, we've been waiting for you. What? There's been a change of plans.

What? Hang on. The brains are being prepared for consumption However, they're not ripe yet You're supposed to get the memo But we were actually going to bring them to you once they're ready Boy, you be trying to lie to a mind flayer I've had like seven of these I don't think I'm capable of lying

I would like to lie to him with a deception check Sure, throw it Seven of these. I don't think I'm capable of lying. I would like to lie to him with a deception check. Sure. Roll it. Wait, I need to do math. You do. You are also at disadvantage. And then I need you to make a wisdom saving throw. Okay, not quite as good.

So that's a 23. 23, okay. Now make a wisdom saving throw for me. Okay. Cool! Oh, no. You stare at him into his face, and the rest of you outside just see the temples on this big, bulbous, squid-like head.

And, Polton, you just feel this presence, like tentacles worming its way in your brain and your mind, pulling apart memories and thoughts, where you've been, why you're here, and you just kind of stare at him, and he's like, Ho, ho, ho, ho. You're a pretty good liar, but not to fool me, me boy.

Okay. You're a sad, little, lonely fella, aren't you? All full of hate and sadness. Oh, don't worry, I can relieve you of that. I mean, it's kind of part of my brand at this point, so I don't think I want that. You be talking nonsense. All right, mortals, I'll be here to say one thing. I'm not here for your braids.

You're astrally projected. I can't even suck them out if I wanted to. Yay! That's a positive. But I will be taking the drider, ladies. I've been after Duskwillow's brain for a century. Hey, listen, so we got a deal going on right now. I don't care.

Yeah, yeah. No, seriously, you want to listen to this? Do I? Oh, yeah. Yeah, you do. It right now. I don't care. Hey, no, seriously, you want to listen to this? It's a... Do I? Oh, yeah. Yeah, you do. It's great. Just read your mind.

Go ahead. Do it. Get all up in there. Nine plus wisdom. Wait, do I want to save if I'm right? Do you want to? Probably. I just told him to get all up in there.

Okay. You feel invasive tentacles pulling apart your memories. It's not invasive. I'm opening the door. Flashes of being struck by lightning plummeting to the ground. Your wing torched. The pain. The agony.

You have the memories of Sentry, your best friend in the world, being killed in a monastery. Unleashing evil upon your own world. As it's all building and jumping around. Probably should have just told him the deal. Yep. He didn't want to hear it. Well, what a little sticky predicament we have here, eh? Did you get to the deal?

The deal itself. I mean, I don't care if you've made some sort of deal with Duskwillow. I want her brain and I'll be taking it with me. Okay, okay. So on that note, could we... Would we be able to leave? I don't know.

Could you do that? The woman said that she had to... She has to say we did a good job. Well, yeah, but if you... That's a shame. Yeah, but if she doesn't have a... Hold on. We're going to talk about this really quick. Wait, I'm a pirate. I'm waiting in your your boat it's really cute it's not our boat yeah exactly

we're finding a way that benefits everyone you even more so okay so like if she doesn't have a brain can she say we did a bad job well she can't say that we did a good job I think she has to say we did a good job we need positive confirmation not absence of making excuse me

I'm talking everybody make an intelligent saving throw oh shit I think we did a good job. We need positive confirmation, not absence of negative. Excuse me, I'm talking. Not absence of negative. Everybody make an intelligent saving throw. Oh, shit. That's not going to go well. That's going to go real bad. Oh, no.

Didn't work. So 18 minus 1 is 17. Maybe. 13. 13. What was it, 17? 17. Maybe. 13. What was it? 17? 9. I let him in again. 9. And I have a minus 1 too.

Okay. I will tell you that those of you who failed, which is everybody but Ayla, are going to take 15 points of psychic damage. Oh no. Okay. As you feel this kind of shockwave of psychic energy ripple through your brains and your minds. Ayla, how you save against this, I don't know,

and I don't know how to justify. She's not paying attention. She doesn't care enough. She doesn't care. She's just complete lack of empathy. Was that a spell? It was a spell. Oh, I counterspell it.

It's not a spell, it's an ability. Well, then don't tell me it's a spell. Well, I'll counter ability. I thought in case I was going to be like, I have like magic resistance or something. No, it is an ability, so it is not a spell. And with that, let's roll some initiative. Oh, wow, okay.

Jump in. Bam. Oh, wow, okay. Jump in. Bam. Not as good. Okay. We all rolled a five! And you rolled a twelve. Three fives. I can change mine if that will make it so I feel like a part of the team. Do you want to change it to a five? No.

Please don't. Quill, what did you get? I got 14. 14. Havalar? Seven. Seven. Aayla? Nine.

Polton? Twelve. Twelve. With a five? Yeah. Plus seven. He's level 12. Having been shushed, the pirate captain Zarek the Mind Flayer will step towards Havalar

and his tentacles he's like I might not be able to eat your brains but I can send you back to wherever you came from to suffer forever. And he's going to plunge in with his, in fact no, he's going to try and wrap a tentacle around your head.

That's a natural 20. Okay. That sucks. Wait, again, two? Pretty bad. Oh, no. That's a natural 20. Okay. Whoa. That sucks. Wait, against two? That's pretty bad. Have a lot, okay.

Have a lot. You are going to take another 20 points of damage as this tentacle thump, and it just collapses onto your head, and you are now grappled by this thing, and you can feel it trying to rip open your skull as it's like oh man. Trying to suck your brains out. Good thing I'm done with this series.

You're saying it's okay if I just kill off Avalon. Is that what you're saying? I'd rather you didn't. That would trigger my Hellish Rebuke. Okay. You're going to cast Hellish Rebuke? Yeah. Okay. So that's a saving three for me, I think. Yeah, dexterity saving throw.

That is a massive fail of a seven. Okay. So three, ten fire damage. That's ten, and then... Another ten. Yeah, another ten, thank you. So that's 20. Nice.

Ten points. So as the tentacle kind of wraps around the Mind Flayer, this just scorching flame erupts from your back and your body and it just engulfs the creature entirely. He's like, ah! But he kind of still steps forward and the tentacle is still wrapped

around you, even though he's been wreathed in flames. And he's just, you hear this kind of from the side of his mouth, like, get the rest of them crew, come on, deal with them while I suck out her brain! And with that, the rest of the Durgar... So two of them pull out these enormous blunderbusses that they've been carrying, whilst the other two draw cutlasses. We're going to have two shots at one at Polton and one at Quill,

and then the two ones with cutlasses are going to rush towards Aayla. So, in fact, Quill and Polton, can you make dex saving throws then for me, please? Sure. Dex saving throw. Oh, bam. Nice. Bam. 24.

24? Yeah. Saving throw? Yeah. 400. Okay. 26. Saving throw?

Yeah. 400. Okay. So the two of you, they kind of level these big blunderbusses, and these huge gouts of flame erupt, but you kind of throw yourselves to the side or duck underneath them, Matrix-style, depending on your level of coolness. I mean, with above 20s, I feel like it'd be like a head tilt. You can just like, vroom, and it just whoosh,

this kind of column of flame erupts behind you. So as you're doing that, two more rush towards Aayla. One's going to strike out with a Cutlass for a 21 to hit. Yep. You're going to take six slashing damage. And then the other one is going to be a 23 to hit for six more slashing damage. Okay.

Pretty high. Guess what? My D&D Beyond just crashed. Aww. Free crash. It's fine. So you know that's 12 damage when you get in. My D&D Beyond just crashed. Aww. Refresh. It's fine. So you know that's 12 damage when you get in. You're not raging, so you don't half-back just yet.

And then after that, we go to Quill. Quillic Ad Calar. Oh, cool. So is this Mind Flayer flying? It's not flying. He's hovering. No, he's descended down onto the ground. He repelled from the chain, and he's kind of in the middle of the ballroom.

All the tables and things have been knocked over from the tentacles. There's bodies of planar creatures paralyzed everywhere. There are many spilled drinks. There's a pile of puke in the middle. Oh, yeah. I'm just trying to... Because I've got this bandore, and I'm trying

to remember all the spells that it has, and there's tons. Well, you've got, like, six seconds. Okay, in that case, like, six seconds. Okay. In that case, with my six seconds, I will do... And all the other guys are around me, right? Yeah. Well, two of them are kind of... One's in front of you with this gun, the other one's in front of Polton, and then two have rushed towards

Ayla. Spirit Guardians! What does it look like? It looks like a million birds. Just tons of little birds. Lots of birds! Birds! You've got to be careful or Jim Darkmantle is going to come see you. So you launch out these waves of spirit guardians. Tell us what it does. So anything that is within 15 feet of me, which I guess is like everybody, has to take 3d8 of damage. Radiant damage.

At the start of their turn? Oh, they have to make a save. Okay. A wisdom save. Wisdom save. One duergar fails. That was a natural 1. One duergar passes with a natural 20.

My dice are being great. Another duergar fails with a 10. And then the other one is a... Let me check. That is a 14. What's your spell safety, C? That will be a fail. Okay, so it's a fail.

And there's a mind flayer? And then the mind flayer. So we've got one past Durgar, and then the mind flayer is crazy high. Yeah, how much wisdom does a mind flayer have? 25. Oh. Yeah.

He passes, but three of the Durgar fail. Okay, so 3d8. So 6, 10, 13, and then everything else I think takes half that. So yeah, 13 to a lot of boys. Yep. Like six to the other boys. A lot of boys.

That's still a lot of damage. Yeah, so these birds just kind of fly out everywhere. And the Durgar who failed their saving throw, they're being like, they're kind of like swatting at these kind of spiritual birds, desperately trying to And the Durgon who failed their saving throw, they're being, like, they're kind of, like, swatting at these kind of spiritual birds, desperately trying to get them out of their way and their vision. And, yeah, they're being, like, blasted with radiant energy.

Polton. Yeah. What would you like to do? So I'm going to look to Captain... Yep. Accurate, yeah. I'm going to be like... This is, you know...

This is his preferred name. Yeah, it's his preferred name. I'm going to be like... This is his birth name. It's his preferred name. So look, before I... Yeah, yeah. I've dealt with that before. It's all fun and good. Good job. You're doing great.

Great. Is that to me or is that to the monster? That's to the monster. Okay, okay. You're doing great, Mark. Thanks, Tom. You actually are doing great. Thanks, okay. I'm just like... You're doing great, Mark. Thanks, Tom. You actually are doing great. Thanks, Tom.

He's doing great. It's like, is there a chance that y'all will just leave willingly? Because it'd kind of be easier, and we're a little short on time for the rest of, you know, this thing. So we've only got about, like, 17 minutes. So I'm just, for the sake of... You'll be dead in three. Okay, cool. So I'm just for the sake of the thing you'll be dead in three okay cool so I'm just like alright fine and I

I just kind of like cool I'm going to do a thing now and then I kind of like hold out my arm and then from my cloak a little dissevered hand just kind of crawls up it and I grab it and the hand I'm holding with my hand just kind of crawls up it. And I grab it. And the hand I'm holding with my hand just kind of points at everyone.

This is elaborate. I love it. I'm involved. I'm intrigued. And I'm going to cast mass suggestion on all the mind players in the room. And say, I've got all sorts of crazy shit that will make you wish you were dead already, so maybe you guys should just go for the sake of your own health. So they all need to make with the bonus of the severed hand, which is a plus 2, a... wait,

where did it go? It's a plus 2 severed hand. Severed hand of plus 2. Why not? It's something they're good at. It's a wisdom saving throw of 19. Do you see 19? That is a 19 exactly. But the Durgar, I have to roll for those as well. 1, natural 1. That's 3. He's gone.

That's a 20. Oh, he's still here. And then another 3. He's gone. So's a 20. Oh, he's still here. And then another three. He's gone. So what was the suggestion again? They should leave or else they're going to have a horrible time. Okay. So on their turn, they'll take the suggestion.

But you see the Mind Flayer's eyes just kind of pulse. And it's front lobe like... You'll be dealing with a Mind Flayer, son. Not some chump with no brain like the bird. I say, to be fair, to be fair, before I looked at the spell, I thought it was a charisma saving throw. What do you mean? I'm a handsome fella.

Oh, God. I've got charisma of 17, don't you know? You're doing great. You're really doing great. I feel like I should protest here. He's eating my brain. Nice. Oh, yeah.

After Paulton, Ayla. So I still have the two guys. They are. I mean, you've seen this kind of effect, and some of them look like they're a bit confused. I'd say that one of the ones fighting you is the one that's saved on both things. I'm going to hit him. I'm going to hit him.

I'm going to rage first. As you begin raging, this lightning begins crackling up and down your body, up your arms, up your legs, and then into the Howling Tempest, your great hammer, as the lightning arcs up and down it, sparking the gem and causing flashes of color to emanate across the room. I'm going to attack recklessly, Mark. Wow! No! With advantage to attack recklessly, Mark. Wow! No!

With advantage! Yeah, yeah, yeah. 13 or a footnote. So, 13. 21 to hit. That will hit. Yeah. Yeah.

So that is going to be... Boop! Two, three, four, five. Nine damage with the hammer. That is going to be... Boop! Two... Nine damage with the hammer. And can you make a dex saving throw? I can indeed. One dex saving throw for a whopping... My god.

19. Ah! Half damage. So half of six. So three lightning damage. So a lot of lightning damage. You smack him with a hammer and this blast of six. So three lightning damage. A lot of lightning damage. You smack him with a hammer and this blast of lightning erupts through his chest.

Second attack. 14. So that'll hit again. So it's a 14. And then we're going to do... 11 with the hammer. And another... Oh, yeah, we don't get that.

Don't worry about the lightning damage. As you bring the hammer down and another... Oh, yeah, but don't get there. Don't worry about the lightning damage. As you bring the hammer down on the second time, you just collapse him into his side. You hear ribs and bones snap and break, and the body is just hurled across into the glass dome where it shatters, and the body just goes flying out into the silvery sea. Like, plink!

That was a good one! A little glint. It just turns into a star. Have a laugh. Okay. As I'm held, can I hit him with the glaive? Yes, you can. You're currently grappled. Good.

So you will have disadvantage on the attack roll. Okay. But you can also attempt to break free. You can just try and get yourself free if you'd like. It's an athletics check. Or do you want to remain tentacled? Do you want to remain tentacled? I don't want to remain tentacled. That seems like the wise

choice. So okay, I'll try to get out. Get out? Yep. So athletics. I feel like I'm going to end up not getting to use my glaive at all, but that's okay. We'll figure it out. It's a 17. Yes. So you kind of break free of the grapple,le, you rip the tentacle off your head, take a step back and lower the glaive and you can take your action. Awesome. Okay. So I'm going to attack. I'm going to use a precision attack.

Okay. So one of your combat superaries. I'm going to roll these separately because this is really big. Oh! That really sucks. Hey, you never know. It's now a... Well, do you have auto fail for that? Nope. Okay, cool.

So that ends up being an 11. An 11 is not enough. That was my guess. So even with the precision attack, bring off the tentacle. I'm a little off. Okay. But I get two attacks. You do?

And... You can precision again if you want, I think. Okay, but I get two attacks. You do? And... You can precision again if you want, I think. Yeah, I also have the distraction one. Okay. I think that's on a hit. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yep. I really want to hit him.

I'm going to use the precision again. Okay. That's better. That's 17 plus one, but 18. 18 is, yep, easily hit. You cut through. He's wearing sort of like a breastplate, but also his thick, rubbery skin is providing.

Do you have a great weapon, Faisal? I do. Oh, that's right. Thank you. Thank you. Yay. That's better. So 7 plus 3.

And then just to be annoying, I'm going to hit him. I have the Polearm Master, so I'm going to hit him with the back. And so that's a two. Two more damage. I'm a little shaky still. So you kind of throw him off, and you kind of slash down with one end of the glaive, and it kind of digs into his shoulder. What are you doing?

And then you whack up and bite him, and it kind of hits him in the tooth. And you think you see a little mind flayer tooth. That's very satisfying. Out of his little tiny little butthole. That is very satisfying. That's what they have. Cool. At the very beginning of the next round,

the giant glass... Wisdom save. Not yet. Carry on. The glass dome breaks, and the giant tentacles that were kind of above, one of them is going to come slamming down into one of you four.

So we'll go one, two, three, four. Two, three, four. That is a one. Quill! Oh, the squishiest one. Make a dex saving throw, please, my friend. Dexterity save. Okay, so this is plus five. Wham!

14 points of bludgeoning damage, and you are not prone as this giant tentacle like, bam, slams down through the ballroom on top of you. What would my save be for the concentration? It's a constitution saving throw. Okay. DC 10, I think. Woo!

Birds! Excellent, pal. Birds! Mind flayers go. He's going to make his wisdom saving throw, which is a failure this time. That was a 7, a 6, a 13. 6, 9, uh, 17 damage.

17 points of damage. Nice! The bird's just like, he's like, get these creatures off me! And he's flailing around as the bird's very Hitchcock style, just begin pummeling into him. Oh, yeah. Spiritual feathers flying everywhere. But then he's going to turn around.

Let's see if his mind blast has recharged. Oh, yeah, let's have a little look at that. It has not. Oh, that's a shame. That's a shame. So, sensing that the Barbarian and the Fighter, the Tiefling Fighter, are quite scary opponents,

let's have... One, two... You're scary. Make a Wisdom saving throw. Oh, no. This is not going to be good. That's a four. You are now dominated. Oh.

Sorry. Kill that one. Is that a spell that he just did? That is a spell he just cast. Would you like to try and counter spell? Yep. I'm not fighting her. I believe.

That's what I say. What level are you casting at? Let's go with fourth. Fourth, eh? Mm-hmm. Oh, I believe you will need to... Sorry, I'm just looking this up. Oh, God, why did you do this?

If it's a casting spell of fourth level or higher, make an ability check. Yes, I think you fourth level or higher, make an ability check. Yes, I think you're going to have to make an ability check. I'm just checking what level of spell this is. There we go. Oh, yeah, make an ability check. Oh, yeah. Okay.

Oh, yeah. So it says cast an ability check using your spellcasting ability. So d20 plus your charisma. Yep. That's a nine. That's not enough. So you go to counter the spell, but for whatever reason, it's psychic energy, whatever it's used to create

its spell is just alien to you. The spell takes hold. You are now dominated, Ayla. Attack and kill Halton. I'm going to stop using this one. Yeah. So, after his go,

because that's all he can do, that's his action on that, the remaining Durgar, three of them, in fact, the three surviving Durgar, run, no, well, you can roll it if you want, because it'll probably kill them, but the mass suggestion causes them to run towards the now open sides of the ship and just throw themselves.

Luigi and Smash Bros. style, like, woohoo! I told them to escape or leave. Nice. I guess I'll do that. Do you want me to... Let's see. One passed. One failed.

One passed. Cool. 19 damage to the one that didn't pass. Well, he's dead. Yeah. He's picked apart by spirit birds. The other two just... And throw themselves off of the ship.

Ah, mutinous bastard crew. I'll take care of you all meself, because we've still got seven minutes. Okay, who's goes it now? So after those, we go to your go, Quill. Cool. I am going to use a bonus action to heal. Hilarious.

Wow. A healing clarity. He's healing. He's healing guest. Yes, I'm going to heal Havok. Oh, thank you. I can see your health here. Oh, no.

And that's at level three. So I do like 3d4. Oh, a healing word. One, at level three. So I do like 3d4. Oh, a healing word. One. Hey. Three. Whoa. That's a big roll.

It's the thought that counts. Eight health, huh? Nice. You know what? That's a third level spell. Take it out with the designers. You might still be able to get Jeremy if he's around. Hey!

Anything else? Yeah, so that was my bonus action. Yeah. And now I'm just going to look at Jasimir because, like, this sucks. I want to get out of here. And my eye is going to start clouding over and there's going to be lightning blossoming in there.

And I'm going to look at him and say, what are you up to at this party? Okay. So you want to use your eye of the storm? My eye of the storm. So you watch as your vision turns misty and clouded, and suddenly you see a rush, and you see Jasimir, this incubus,

meeting with a devil down in the depths of Avernus, a fiery wasteland of yellow dust, volcanoes, obsidian mountains, and flame. And you see him meeting with a red-skinned, horned devil, an old creature, millennia old and very powerful, in the depths of a forge. powerful in the depths of a forge. Zariel is up to something, my dear Jasimir. I would like your master to

provide me with some pure platinum that I can deal with her plans. Whatever she's up to, it involves Baldur's Gate. Go and speak with your planar allies. See what she can learn.

And then suddenly you're back in reality. I know what you're up to, you prick! Also, I never liked you! Kala! I'm sorry that's fine I will however because I'm sure

somebody's yelling about it make a concentration check for the spell how much damage did you deal Quill? 17 17 wait when?

to the mind slayer with the spiritual guardians oh I thought I already did that didn't I? yeah no no but you need to make a save concentration check nope

just how much did you do? Do you remember? 17. Don't roll the dice. 17. I don't know what you're getting me to do. Nothing. Never mind.

17. The spell, the concentration goes on the dominate person. On the dominate monster, sorry. Cool. So you kind of feel yourself like, snap back to reality with this intense urge to kill Polton, and then it vanishes. Don't like that.

Are you good? You had a weird... Oh, yeah, yeah, no, no, I'm just fine. This guy's going to just... I'm not pleased with him. I'm going to hold my hammer up so lightning starts charging into it, and I'm going to launch it straight at the Mind Flayer.

Yep, you're going to use the javelin saw. Yes, I'm going to launch it straight at the Mind Flayer. So... Yep, you're going to use your... Yes, I'm going to use my throw. Sue. Can I attack recklessly as well? So 16... 24 to hit. That is a hit. Weapon damage plus 46.

So... That is a hit. Weapon damage plus 46. So, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 with the hammer, and then... 17 lightning damage with the hammer, and then the hammer flies back to my hand again. You throw it out, and as it kind of collapses into your hand, you watch as this lightning just arcs up and down this creature, its rubberized body, Havala right in front of you as you've been facing down this thing. It just begins shuddering. It's like, I knew I should have gone somewhere else!

And then it explodes in purple blood, just covering the front of you in this goopy mind flayer blood, as it's just... And then it explodes in a gout of purple goo. That was amazing. That was absolutely, all this is worth it. That was amazing. I made friends today and everything. This is a good day

for me. As the Mind Flayer dies, the great tentacles kind of writhe and squirm around and then the whole thing you see the tentacles drift away and something turns and you see what looks like a great sort of seashell with these giant tentacles coming out of it this almost weird not like nautilus ship and it just disappears into a tiny tiny dot and vanishes and Damn. And as it goes, the gas begins to dissipate, and the spiders and a few of the creatures begin kind of coming to.

And you see Jasimir is starting to move as well, and you can see Zuni and the others, and they're slowly coming to, and he's looking at Quill with all the hate in the world. But they're still kind of coming to. Lady Duskwillow, however, kind of coming to uh lady dusk willow however kind of comes to her senses most she's like oh you saved us my friends my cherries you've done it yep when we got the job done let's get out of here she's like yes yes yes and she kind of opens up a tiny

vial and gestures and little silvery lines from your minds begin kind of filling into the vial right before she does that and I'm going to be like, before you send us back, I want one more thing. Name it, my handsome man. It's like, for me, can you give me an access at any point bridge between my plane and the astral plane? Of course.

And she kind of reaches up her hand and a kind of image of a spider web with a crescent moon begins appearing, probably on your arm or like a tattoo like on your forearm, and it begins glowing. And then she basically throws out three silver coins, one to each of the remaining of you.

Simply tell me what you want when you get um, and make sure it happens. She stoppers the vial and then you suddenly feel that rushing movement you have a few moments before you all vanish as you kind of look at the four of you I really hope we get to work together again someday, you guys have been

so cool, and Jasmine, I'm outie if you're ever in a row, look us up we'll be flying around somewhere and you feel yourself being pulled away and then there is a sudden lurch. The worlds kind of spin around you and you wake up in your own worlds in your own bodies. And with that

we're going to end this episode. Man. Good. That was incredible. Thank you very much. Before we go before we go Erin, where can people find you? I am on Twitter at erinmevans.com and I keep a sporadic blog

at slushlush.com. Where can people find you? You can find me at natewants2btl on socials, but more importantly, myself and some other cool people just launched Cantrip, our D&D fantasy inspired clothing line. And we have a booth here at PAX. We have a little bit of stuff

left, so if you want to come check it out, it's in Bandland. And you can find us, the High Rollers crew, every Sunday at 5 o'clock UK time, I think which is 9am Pacific. Twitch.tv forward slash High Rollers D&D or on YouTube High Rollers D&D. Thank you so much for joining us, everybody. Thank you for watching.

Everybody watching at home, we hope you enjoyed this. Thank you to my players. Thank you. Thank you, Mark. Bye! much for joining us everybody thank you for watching everybody watching at home we hope you enjoyed this thank you for my players thank you thank you