Legends of Avantris - Curse of Strahdanya | Ep. 37 | The Thin Line Between Love and Hate: Part 2

Episode Date: December 17, 2025

In their search for a powerful and ancient artifact of the Raven Queen, the Azran Expedition must endure the sadistic tormenting of Strahdanya's brides and the share secrets kept from even their allies.    Gain access to an exclusive campaign, Shroud Over Saltmarsh, over on Patreon: https://legendsofavantris.com/patreon The Crooked Moon, a folk horror supplement for 5e, is available for preorder! Get the Crooked Moon at: https://thecrookedmoon.com/ Watch more D&D adventures in the world of Avantris live on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/legendsofavantris Check out our merch store: https://shop.legendsofavantris.com  Join our community on Discord: https://legendsofavantris.com/discord Watch our many campaigns on YouTube: https://legendsofavantris.com/youtube  All other links: https://linktr.ee/legendsofavantris   Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/F6_Y93VY-3w?si=bsVTBKeRX1iUocmv

You are in Castle Ravenloft and listening to Kursus Radania, a Legends of Adventist podcast. Last time, the Asran expedition proved to be quite rude by violating my privacy and reading my journal, discovering all of my deepest and darkest inner thoughts. However, my dearest bride Ludmilla returned the insult in full by playing with their minds and torturing them in her sick and twisted little game of sacrifice and pain. Now they're off to meet Volenta, who is your first. even more sadistic. I wonder how they will fare. This episode is brought to you by our generous supporters on Patreon. We now also have a merch store where you can browse more than 20 amazing

event-res themed designs. You can buy a shirt or become a Patreon yourself by following the link in his show notes. We are eternally grateful for your support. With that out of the way, let us proceed with the conclusion of Chapter 18, the thin line between love and hate. Well, Let us away then. The whole of bones. As Escher begins to lead you down to the depths of the castle, leads you past the room where you know the small man that had led you around previously resides. You can hear him.

What is it? Cirrus. Yeah, Cyrus. Cyrus. I can't read my notes. I was cool. You move past his room and you can hear him inside, Mom. to himself happy, happy as can be, as he leads you down towards the closed doors of the

hall of bone. He swings them open and ushers you in before closing them behind you. The room is not as you remember it. It is now piled high with desecrated corpses, the smell of rot, billowing up from all corners of the room, the table at the center, the seats which had previously been sat in by skeletons are now lined with partially decaying corpses. A foul, maggot-eaten feast adorns the table. Your eyes shoot to the corner of the room where you see one of the piles of desecrated corpses begin to move this way, or that pulsing, undulating. As a skull begins to rise from it in the form of Alenta,

as she drags a corpse out from the inside, she holds it up and stares into it, though you can't see her face through her skull mask. You can sense the glee emanating from her. She is much smaller than the others. Barely five feet in height and very petite. As she holds on to this corpse, She swings back and forth as she begins to dance with it.

Maggots falling from the open wound in its putrified stomach. She dances around the room singing to herself. As you stare around the room, you watch her as she moves with an almost feline grace. At moments, it looks as if she's floating. She holds up this lifeless corpse, bits of flesh. begin to pull away from it and land with a loud splat on the stone floor. Get the sense that she notices that you're there. But she doesn't seem to care.

Hello, madam? She turns her head to you, still enthralled in her dance. She pulls the corpse in tight to her and she breathes in deeply the scent of rotting flesh. she drops the body where she stands, tightens up her dress, and turns to face all of you. What do you want? Can you not see I'm busy?

Yes, you do look consumed in here. We've come to get a key from you. You see the sides of her face move beneath the mask. and though you can't see the smile, it is there and it is very large. So you've come to dance. This will be fun. Well, what will you do for me? Well, what do you propose as a fair trade?

Well, do you want a key to the dungeons, or do you want a key to my bedroom? looks between all of you. No, too fresh. Hmm. Do you want the key to the stables? A key to the carriage. It depends. Which key are you looking for? I want the key. Stradangius key.

Well, you don't deserve that key. Look at you, Frumpy and old. He's women. They keep saying that. They do keep saying that. You're not that old. Or something. She's probably 23.

You're going to think I'm far older than that. A day of her 21 and she begins to sag. Oh, gross. Well, Stradania thinks I do deserve it. She sent me here to get it. I hardly doubt that. Why would she ever send you to get the key from me? Because I'm to be her wife.

One of many. I'll show her, though. That is so frustrating. It makes this significantly. as fun, but I was tasked with protecting it and making sure that if I ever gave it, that the person you took it was right for it. That person, well, I will give it to you. But you must help me make a very difficult choice. Will you do that for me? What kind of choice?

The kind that can't make on my own. I've been racking my brain, day in and day out. How am I going to choose? What are your choices? One of five. Here, wait for me. And you watch as she darts out of the room. You can hear her footfalls as they echo down the corridor she's left from,

almost as if she's skipping. She looks like she's far enough out of like ears. Oh, yeah, easily. At this point, I've been very quiet. I'm almost smoldering, because I don't want to say anything. And I'm just going to look at the professor and say, it ain't going to be me the one who says we'll do anything this time. And I'm about this closer just blowing her away.

Shepard, this is the most vile of the three, I have no doubt. But if you do draw, your weapon. This all may be over. I'm so concerned now that she has many keys. She knows the key that we ask for.

Is she not going to betray Strudania? I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about our lives. This is not. This doesn't seem like some game anymore. It's a game to her, for sure. Not to us. But Lidmila, too. She might have had other keys. She might have given us. so did you think you...

I do not believe so. I don't think Luke Miller would risk the ire of Shibania given the proof that Victoria gave. And I believe we need to show her the same proof to make sure that we mean business. Yes. Sadistic as she was, she was quite law-bound, rule-abiding. Me too are taking the lead on this.

I'll do whatever you say and I'll back you up, but I'm not making any major decisions this time. As long as we don't come to any physical harm, I'm fine playing their games, especially if it's smoke and mirrors like your missing limbs. Yeah. You're fine. Yeah. And perhaps, presumably, we'll be fine again.

I don't think that these brides of Shredania would risk harming us, given that we are guests of her future new bride. Either way, Shepard's point and my point stand. You two are taking lead here. I do not like the implication of a choice for anyone but myself. That's fine. Victoria? Is that a manable?

Who is? All right. As long as you trust our decision. Yep. We will see what you decide, Professor. Trust based on evidence. Of course, you're learning. Very well, we will see.

Silence overbred. comes the room as you have made a choice. You wait and you wait and slowly you begin to hear the sounds of the skipping, this time getting closer and closer. And with them, the sounds of dragging chains. As the door swings open, you see Valenta hanging from it. Her arms splayed out as she welcomes in, Five Barovian commoners, all cloaked in tattered robes covered in viscera and blood.

They all look tired. They look hurt. They look sad. And they look hopeless. As she ushers them towards the table, she dances forward and she shakes the rotting corpses from the seats and she lines up five chairs. She has the commoners sit down on the chairs. They're all roughly the same age, varying in height, varying in size and shape. They all look the same, hopeless and in pain.

They've been tortured for how long, who knows? You see scars on them from nights of feeding. She looks at them all salivating. And now it is time for you. Which one will I indulging tonight? They've all been prepared. They're all ready. And so am I.

Which one? Do you have a preference? Professor, we can. They send one of these people to die. Well, who's to say that they'll die? They all look back and forth at each other. They all look horrified, but they are bound together. All of them, manacled to each other.

One long chain connecting them. and they look too weak to struggle against the bonds. You've been fed upon before now. Irene has been fed upon dozens of times. It's not like it's a fatal proposition from the get-go. Perhaps we should clarify. What could come from clarifying? Professor.

You can't turn a blind eye to what we're condemning someone to. At least we must know. What choice do we have? What choice do we have? We have an alternative. Any one? Clarify, Professor. You could feast on one of us.

You watch as she crawls on all fours behind these five people, sniffing at them, picking at them, scratching at them, pulling on them. And they seem frozen as placed, in place, their eyes darting back and forth. None of them wanting to cause any distraction to her, hoping that she'll move from them to the net. They're all waiting, baited breath every second drawing on, none of them knowing which one you will choose. Can't leave these people here. Fucked up.

My expedition would like a bit of clarification, if you don't mind. She looks up from the one that she was recently prowling behind, and you see her eyes shift behind the skull mask that she wears. What kind of clarification are you looking for? This choice is who you will feed on tonight, yes? Yes. And you fed on them before, yes? I've tasted them. Is the feeding you would do tonight any different from the tastes before?

I will feast with reckless abandon. Would your meal expire from such a feast? That depends. And she looks around the room. Do they look expired to you? No. Then no. If we make a choice, may we see our choice.

And speak with them. And just so you know, for clarification, she looked around the room of dead bodies. Not at the five people sitting there. Oh. I figured you wouldn't have said no to that, so I wanted to give you full clarity. I now realize where your eyes,

You're looking down there and not back there. The mess can be a hindrance for some. She does a backflip off of the table directly behind one of the chairs, and she picks up a body. She crouches down behind the table, the head lowing back and forth. Do you think that they should choose quickly with these poor, poor Barovians fear for their life? You're so right, little decaying man. You're so right.

Tell them to choose, and she holds her arm out and forces the decaying body to point at you. Ine, me, me, ma'nimo, one of you will choose now. There's no fucking right choice. Exactly right. So what choice do we make? She's looking to just feast

in the same manner that Stradonia did. She's not. I can choose at random. Do we honestly think that the fate of the rest will be any better? No. So what difference does it make? Whether it's tonight or the next night?

You hear a quick intake of breath. One of the villagers is listening intently to what you say. As your eyes jolt to them, you see as they straighten up. Their eyes darting back and forth as they listen for any sound of Alenta moving close. She can sense their fear, and she feeds off of it. We're coming back. This isn't over. No matter what happens here right now,

I'm coming back. Are these five the only options? Or may we offer an alternative? If the alternative is sweeter. One of us. She slowly moves from behind the table and looks from one to the next. You would sacrifice one of yourselves? Yes.

As a leader of this expedition, I would be willing, as long as you trust my choice. and you would accept our offer. Anyone but Victoria. Because sadly, I am not allowed to drink from her. Why not? Stradanya's wishes. Her blood is to be untapped

by any but herself. But you have thick veins. I would like to taste you. Give me a moment, will you? Sure. Is this a bad? She pulls out a whip and she slams it down across the back of the commoner that had done a quick intake of breath. Be quiet.

The adults are talking. You know what comes next. And she begins to pace in front of them lashing the whip this way and that. I don't want to put any of our lives at risk. Obviously, we're stronger than these people. We just need time. And then we come back and save them. But we need to make a choice now.

I mean, I trust your judgment, but I'm not asking you to put your life at risk. Then whose life will I put at risk? I thought of myself that she won't drink of me. I would rather sacrifice myself than watch one of these innocents be feasted around by her. If that meant for doing the expedition. Do you have some plan, Professor? My plan? What's to have faith?

Hoping that offering one of you, Garrix would shine his light down and through divine providence save one of you. If that isn't an option, then I'll throw an implement in the air and whoever it points at. I'll choose. Do you have a preference?

Garrick's can provide salvation to those who sacrifice themselves. but it cannot be me if we wish for that to be the case. Unfortunately, there also could be complications that I cannot foresee. It was different before when it was our sacrifice. I don't know if this is a choice we can make. You hear a loud thud and then a scream echoing throughout the chamber. As you look over, Valenta is perched on the lap of one of the men.

his arm is now hammered into the table with a long metal spike sticky fingers I'm watching you be careful or it will be the other one too they need time to talk and we need time to play but she seems to pay no attention to A vile creature of the night Consider to protect I'll look at Shepard

Oh that is unthinkable circumstance, so anyone to harm this vampire which? Understood. Shepherd, being the small that she will burn the quickest. You have my word.

We can somehow guarantee their safety of these people might be happy. And die. If it meant saving them, yes. May I ask a clarifying question? You turn around as you say this and her,

pulls her head up. You can see blood all over the front of her mask as she's lapping at the wound. This poor man squirming and crying in agony as the metal spike has been driven through the top of his hand into the table. She drinks up the blood there. She looks at you. A smile graces her face. His blood drips from her chin. Sure. What do you want to know? Oh, one second. And she laps up a bit. more. It was beginning to spurt. Once you're done, may we

take leave with the remains of your victim. But that's the best part. You have many things to play with you here. Roll persuasion check. Me?

Yeah. 16 plus I start Phone here, plus... I think it's an 18. Yeah, 18. She thinks for a moment and she looks around the room. And do like them to be a little more seasoned. So, yes, you may take it.

Do with it what you will. Give us one moment, please. Thank you. Okay. And she goes back to what she was doing? I'll go out of hopefully you've shown. My preference is one of those miserable souls. I'd rather put them out of their misery than sacrifice a capable warrior. But if you want to sacrifice yourself, we presumably have means to bring you back.

It's not unheard of. I understand what the logical choices here. And I also understand by saying that I'm not going to make a choice, that I'm essentially just letting you make the choice for me. I'm just not happy about it. So do what you will. And I'll support you. You after all, Clayton Azran, you are the leader of this expedition. You must make your choice. We will not help you feel better about whatever choice you make. But there is nowhere to go but forward. I'm simply offering you a choice. I know no one wants to watch these innocents die, but I am also putting my fate in Sarnax's claws.

I'm trusting that this won't be the last time I see you, but I know that it may not be a possibility. Tori, what say you? I can't make a choice. So, Kana, you're leaving it to me? It's my decision. I will feel very uneasy watching her torture and kill and innocent. But if you made that decision to do so, I would understand.

Is it my choice? Would you like to sacrifice yourself? Or is it my choice? It is your choice. I'm simply offering it. I choose him, and I point at the guy that she's nailing him without. Jesus. Hmm.

Good. You see as quick as lightning, she rips the jugular from his neck. Blood spurts everywhere, as his head hangs over limply, and she begins to lap it up, relishing in it, in almost a near friend. She's ripping flesh from flesh.

You can hear the bones cracking under her teeth, as she moans almost seductively into the corpse. As you can watch, shock on his face for just a second before all light leaves his eyes. His body already limp in her arms, and she continues to suckle and to feed. The four other Berovian commoners are screaming and wailing. They're pulling at the chains, but though tiny and live, she is strong and she holds them at bay.

What do you do? The key. Get the fucking key. The key. She holds up her hand. And she goes back in for more. Take your time. To feed and to feed and to feed the other commoners around completely bay. in blood until finally she looks up. She wipes the blood from her lips, flicks it into the face

of the Brovian nearest to her. Her eyes linger on Clayton. She reaches into a pocket at the side of her robes. She tosses you the key. She then reaches to the other side of her waist. deal is a deal after all and she unshackles the single commoner and lets his body fall to the floor with a thud as blood pulls around him I'll not at Connor

I will go and pick up the corpse and I will back away well you've gotten what you've wanted so unless you plan to play music to support my jamboree in the dance with me you can live good day and I'll turn it on a lovely day

Goodbye. I look forward to seeing you dance again, Valenta. Oh, you want to see something really cool? And she flops back on her back and she begins to sing a melancholy tune. It's in this poor man's blood she begins to make sweeping motions with her arms and her legs. A blood angel. Do you like it? This is not over.

And I'm coming back for you. We'll see you at the wedding. You will taste delicious. Until tomorrow. Good evening. And thanks, what are the fun. Esher? Esher, where the fuck are you?

We're leaving, Professor. You see that she starts to... Now, as I'm leaving. Her body starts to prickle. She gets up on all fours like a cat, and she bears her fangs at you, but she looks towards the door and she doesn't make any motion to head towards it.

Get out. Now, all of you. I'll leave. Goodbye. All right. Holding the body. Do I... Now that he's close to me,

I mean, he's covered in blood. Do I recognize? This is like a peasant. This isn't anyone special. You've seen many like them, hopeless faces, but you've seen so many Barovians at this point that you would look down at him and think that he could be any of them. You could have talked to him.

He could have said something nice to you in the street. He had a kind face under all of that hopelessness, probably family, probably friends. And as the door shuts behind you, you hear the sound of screaming, violent, painful, screaming in the sounds of breaking bones. Well, did you get it?

Yes. And this, what on earth are you going to do with the corpse? We'll see if Gerex will spare his soul, all his life. But we got the key, that's what matters, right? well for you i guess well no and i'm gonna have Lucas take the key and i'll float it over to Victoria

how are you feeling getting to spend time and his head turns to to Victoria with your new sisters you'll be just like them soon nothing like them no I see what stairs within you you will be far worse

but only time will tell one more key one more key please leave the way may we have a moment please right here outside of this room as you wish no no not here of course that's stupid

take us somewhere private he sighs but he doesn't look like he has the energy to continue this as he removes himself from the wall and saunters down the hallway and he gets towards Cyrus Bellevue's room and you see him think for a second, but he turns to the room adjacent to it, opens the door and leads you in.

No one will hear us in here. No one. It's me, of course. I'll throw my case down. Magnet, because... The room is nearly bare. It's dirty, haphazard, broken bits of furniture, but aside from that, nothing extraordinary.

All of it's our next. Yes, Professor. Do what you can. do you realize that anything I do for this poor soul will take at least an hour Escher I jump back out the room Professor How much time do you have? As long as you would like

Anastrossa has no idea you're coming She does not wait for you Who you can Talk now And if you can't You know, do much maybe just even see if, you know, Derek's will take the soul

and give him some peace or something. I do not ask for the power of my God to undo the finality of death lightly, Professor. I will do so for dear allies, critical companions, critical keys to our success, to my holy mission, but to ask the fire lord to use his great power. For this, I am sorry, Professor.

I cannot do that. Sonic, I'm not asking you to do anything. I'm telling you to do what you can. I will do what I can, Professor. It is up to you what that is. Whoever would like to join me in the case. may assist, I do not need help, besides placing the body down. Maybe do what we did in the vineyard.

Perhaps. Kana, if you will join me. Yes. If I am to be let out of the case, shall I just send you a message? That'll be fine. No matter what I do, Professor, does not take the onus away from you. You understand that.

Yes. You hear a soft rap at the door. Is Asher in with us? No. Hello? The door creaks open a little bit, and you see Asher stick his head in. I don't want to be a busy bottle or anything, but I would like to make it known that, though you forced the professor to make the choice, you're all guilty.

That was all, and he slams the door show. Yeah, I mean, he's right. He's not wrong. do what you can Sonics and I'll point down the stairs in the case I'll start heading down carry down

Thank you, Connor and we'll head up I will as soon as they're in I'll close the case I'll say I'll pull out a stool and I'll throw it on the ground and I'll close the case and I'll just sit on the store

I'm going to sit outside of the case or inside of the case? Outside And so it's only Kana and the professor As soon as they go down, I'm shutting the case, and then opening it again. As you get to the door, it swings open. Arabelle's standing there in a beautiful ball gown. I am so glad that you are here. I was writing a story, and I want to tell you all about it.

Horribal? Yes, Farmer. I appreciate your enthusiasm for stories. Storytelling is the most effective way to convince someone. to join your side. There is a really important question. If Clayton laid an egg, what color do you think it would be?

Clayton is a mammal. Let's say the premise is just preposterous. The point of a story is that it's not real. So in my story, when Clayton lays an egg... To even entertain your fancies. Aurebel, if you will, please,

go to your room for just a moment. moments, something very serious has happened. I'm very sorry that I have to speak to you like this. I am not good at this, usually. It is, you are a big, mean jerk, and you do look like a dinosaur. And she stomps her legs, she slams the door in your face, and you can hear her huffing down the whole way.

You hear a door slam in the distance. And then again. And then again. I'll wait while the body is bleeding all over. Thank you for helping. me back there, Kana. I was hiding the body, Sarnax, is bleeding all of them. Well, very least, at least young Tommy said

that apparently dinosaurs are not lizards and are in fact birds. So my hatred of dinosaurs and birds is justified. Let's go. You both lay eggs. Bring the corpse, Kana. Fine. I will lead us to, I will lead us to

an empty room that has more, hopefully a stone floor where we can dress the body. We were easily able to find the cellars of the man. the wine cellars where it's cold with stone floors. Maybe a garden? I think that down here we can run water. It'll be cold to preserve from the stench.

I can perform a funeral of the last rites. Okay. It'll take me an hour if you would care to bring your implements. Sure. In fact, yes. Yes. Bring your implements. Let us go to the garden. to the garden where we can get to proper ventilation.

We do not have time. I do not trust Escher, comma. I believe that time is of the essence. I believe the longer we linger. We do not have an hour. Do not. Let's move. Let us go.

And we'd like to go to a garden where ideally there's at least a place outside, or outside, someplace that has ventilation. There is a beautiful, greenhouse that you're able to find your way to. A beautiful cobblestone path that winds its way through, overgrown, immaculately large, blooms of many varieties, a place where Clayton could come to and build up his tinctures, concoctions, and potions and things for his spells. And it's quite beautiful. And there are large plots of bare earth. If you wouldn't mind,

Laying them out on the stone, I, you may fetch your implements if you care to. I will not stop you. I will prepare the body. Okay. I'll lay the body down on the stone, and I'll try to find like a faucet or some sort of fountain. You can find you easily. Okay. A pump that you begin to pump and water starts to flow. Oh, as well, yeah, I lay the body down.

I'll just start pumping and filling like a buckoo. water. So I'm going to do the best I can to pull out a fucking nail out of his arm. I'd like to clean him up the best that I can. Oh, bring the water with the implement. Yeah, kind of, you know, taking the water and we'll kind of clean him off and all of that. Get whatever rags. I would like to get like, probably get the clothes off of them, get like some kind of sheet to cover them up and then clean up the body the best that I can. Um, and then just get some some general implements or rather just some like

probably just some Tinder and just some pieces of wood and I'll and I'll I'll break off one piece of the the black wood from my things and I'll place it basically right at his head in like all of the Tinder that I'm putting

underneath there and once once that's all done and you know with with us doing that together I'd pick my lantern back up, and I'd turn to Kana and say, do you have any words you would like to say, any rituals before we finish this? Certainly. And I will take out my ladle, and in like a second bucket,

I'll, under the running water, I'll fill it with one hand ladle and pour it over my left and then swap, pull it over my right. And with clean hands, I will rejoin Sarnax and kneel next to the body and close its eyes if the gentleman's eyes are already closed. And I will bow my head and say, ancestors, please watch over the soul and may he have a restful after life. Wake from death and be reborn again. Thank you.

As you finish, I'll pull out a vial oil from my cloak, and I will start shaking it and pouring it over the body. And as I do that, I will say, truly a wayward soul wandering through the darkness. I know not your name. or where you came from. I do not even know if you had a soul. But all the same, I regret your fate.

And although it was another that decided that you would suffer this grisly death, it was Clayton Azran's choice. But I have the power to bring you back from the dead. And it is my choice to refrain. And for that, I am sorry. What I can do is ensure that your body will not be used as a plaything as a meal or ever risen to suffer the same abominable fate of undeath as your murderers. I'll take a little lick of flame from my lantern, and I'll send it over to the body. And as it burns, come, weward sword.

souls, wander through the darkness. There is a light for the lost and the meek. All hope and fear are easily forgotten if you submit to the soil of the earth. Flames dance for a moment, almost stationary. And as your words echo throughout the greenhouse, the body fully ignites in a blaze of flame. And in it, you see colors of shifting scales, Garrick's carrying a soul home. Thank you, Fire Lord. Connor, help me move his ashes. And we will plant a seed.

He will be reborn, if not in the next life, as a tree. In this case, if trees can grow like that. we will try I will gently gather his ashes onto a larger cloth that I have in my bag and I will bundle it together and carry it over to one of the

patches of grass outside with our next and then ideally we would take it and you know take the ashes pan it down in some soft soil place the seed and top it off with some water thank you Connor

you spend some time doing this. You're soft-spoken while you do. You speak when you need to, but you're both in solidarity for what needs to be done here. While that is happening, what are you doing outside of the case? After Clayton would have pulled the stool from the case, I would have just sat on the cold stone with my back up against the wall. And actually, I'm still, like, massaging and flexing my hands, and I'm gripping the butt of my pistol. You know, it's, you know, it's, you in its holster and just kind of like thinking to myself and kind of, you know, weirdly checking my hands over and over again. I would just be sitting.

And I would, as soon as I pulled a stool out, I would switch it back to the mansion opening and just for them to come up whenever. You wait. It feels like time moves slowly as you wait. The silence for the first time in a long time is uncomfortable. None of you know what to say, what to do, how to diffuse this. This is something you've never been forced to deal with before. But you still have some semblance of time. And unless you had anything else you wanted to do,

you do? I wanted to make a quick one on the way out, I would say. Sardex, if I may be permitted, and you may come with me if you would like. I'd like to check on my master. I will give you that time, but we must be brief. Absolutely. And I will just sprint as quickly as I can down the halls and just try to find the room that I remember laying Jentecci

and seeing if Sergei is in there. You knock softly on the door. Sergei greets you. In one hand, holding a journal that he also appears to be writing in a very similar mate to that of Stradonius. He looks up, he seems shocked to see you. Is it time for the wedding? Did I miss it already?

No, Sergei, in fact, it was postponed until tomorrow. I was afraid I've been lost and thought I have a lot of theories, a lot of things I would like to talk to the professor about and my mind has been going wild. Whispers, it's not important. I will alert him. As soon as I see him that you wish to speak with him, I think we have some time before the wedding tomorrow to talk.

That is great. How can I help you, Connor? I wanted to check on my master. How is he doing? Well, when I finished with the help of the morning lord, sending him to the abbey, he was eating and he was speaking. He is short on words, as I'm sure you know, but there is a kindness in him. One I see reflected in his student, but you will be happy to know. he will make a full recovery.

Thank you, Sergei. You can thank the morning lord. Without his grace and his power, I would not have been able to manage the feet it was to get him from whatever this place is to there. Only for a life, I am indebted to you. And the morning, Lord, thank you. He reaches his hand out,

and he places it on your shoulder, and he smiles at you. You have done well, little. Did he mention anything about Stradanya and why he came out here in the first place? I've been searching a very long time for him, and I'm still without answers. He's a man of little words, especially to someone he knows, not at all. I was able to get exactly what I needed from him to make sure he was safe for the trip. But those kinds of questions are ones that should come from you and not from me. Thank you.

I will let the professor immediately. I should go. Thank you, Sartre. and I will dash out and meet up at Sarnax. And as you make your way out of the case, Clayton, you are able to realize that it has not been a full hour. But you emerge. The awkward silence, almost echoing around you.

It is done. I did what I could. Is that satisfactory? You can very well. Curio. I'll shut the case. He will be avenged. He will be avenged.

Damn right. And let us not forget. We all made the choice, but in the end, it was Valenta who killed him. She is the one who will pay for those crimes. We will see to... Enough sonnex, please.

Let's go. Yes, sir. I'll get up. And I will leave the room. I'll follow. One by one, you exit the room. And you begin to walk down the hallway. Escher, you hear the pattering of his feet as he catches up to you.

Do I sense and descent within the happy family? Are the brides getting to you? Take us to the next bride, please. The final bride, right? There aren't more than three, are there? Well, aren't you in a mood? I would like to be done with this. your keys, have you not?

Yes. Victorious, have you not been so far? Isn't this grounds for celebration? Not yet. I tire of silly games. Silly wagers. I want to be done with this.

Well, one more bride to go then. Chop, chop. Cut, cut. Put a little pep in your still. We head to Anastrasia. And he begins to lead you.

through the castle, back up the stairs, into the main hall, and then outside into the grounds. It's cold and it's dark. Whipses, small flecks of snowflakes or ash, it's hard to tell, as you begin to move through the grounds and towards what looks to be a very large stable house. You continue to approach the stables, and it's louder here. louder than anywhere else that you've been. Bats fly through the rafter or around the rafters and out all over this place. Rats squeak at you as they scamper in. You can tell that there are creatures of all sizes here.

And rustling around towards the front, hunched over, dressed in a plush, woolen cloak. You've seen her before. Anastrasia. tends to the creatures, humming to herself, a tune none of you've heard. As you look around, you realize that Escher is nowhere to be found. Victoria. Andestracia. Her head jolts up as she looks around.

Well, good evening. What brings you to the stables tonight? We've come to see you and to ask you for... Well, could I ask for a hand before whatever business you have? I have a wounded creature on the inside that needs a bit of fresh water. And I've been at this all day. I'm so idly feeling weak with one of you. With one of you. Thank you.

Come, please. And you see as she is sloshing the bucket around, but she kind of reaches out. Your hand's a little shaky. I grab the bucket. Come with me. We will meet you out here in a second. And she leads you just slightly in, and you see that there appears to be a wounded wolf off to the side.

His paw has been bandaged up. It's currently gnawing on a bone as she instructs you to fill up the trough of water. As you fill it up, she's prattling on just a little bit. We found him in the woods, and I'm pretty sure he was the smallest of the group. Whatever got him is probably still out there, but he will make a good pet. He will make a fine wolf once he is healed. Very kind of you to have spared his life. of course, they are all my pets, and you're able to look around and you see that most of the

stables here are packed full. Is it seem like well-maintained stables, or is everything in- For the most part? I mean, it's a little haphazard, as you can tell that she's probably the only one that comes out here and manages it, but for the fact that she's the only one that does it, it looks pretty well-cutt. Very impressive, yes, and I'll fill up the water, the trough, and I'll bring it over, and can I help in any other way?

She places her hand on yours. You can feel the searing cold of her empiric skin. She can feel you tense up, but she doesn't seem to be bothered by it. She pats your hand. No, gone, thank you. I appreciate it. Let's go find out what Victoria needs. If I can help the bride before the wedding, I will do what I can.

Can I just insight check her, considering I haven't experienced this level of kindness from anyone else? She seems genuine, but there is almost a vacancy behind her eyes, where the smile doesn't quite reach all the way up. Yes, absolutely. And I'll follow behind her to go back out. And we'll like try to lock eyes with one of them as I turn the corner just to give them kind of like a tight-lipped nod. She wipes her hands off on her apron. and she flounces towards you Victoria. She quickly, before you have a second to react, she embraces you stiffly as she places a kiss next to each one of your cheeks.

What can I do to assist you this evening? We certainly didn't mean to disturb you, but I've come to fetch Stradanya's key that you keep. Have you? Yes. And how am I to believe that you are on a mission from the mistress? She has instructed me to show you these marks. Do you mind if I inspect them further, please?

I suppose that's all right, yes. She takes her hand and her fingernails are, unlike the others, nearly completely filed down with work in the stables. She pulls your collar down. and she looks. They look to be the mark of our love. Well, if she instructs it, I would be happy to provide it, but I was tasked with making sure that anyone who came for the key

strong enough to handle that which they would procure. So, I will, unfortunately, need you to fulfill a small task for me. There we go. what it is. It's a horrible, sad thing to think that something I've tended for loved, cared for, or would potentially fall at your hands or would be stained in killing you. But I think Queenie is fit for the job. You see, many years ago, I succumbed to the whisper.

I listened, I followed, and they did not lead me astray when they led me to a small form of a vampire bat, weak, left by all it had known, and I've nurtured it for years, and it has grown and grown and grown. And she looks over, and you see there's almost a thirst on her face, as she looks to a large broken tower. immediately behind the stables. I've set Queenie up with a nice life, and she's the strongest of all of my pets. If anything could put you to the test, it will be her. Felt the beast, and you get the key,

even though it would break my arm if you were to kill. If you survive, you can have it. But I must warn you, and she reaches out and she grabs each one of your hands and squeezes it, there's a high likelihood you would die, and I would be so, so saddened by this. Ma'am, you've been, if I may, incredibly kind in the short time that we've spoken to you. And I just wanted to say that, you know, you send us in there to do this. That animal's not going to survive. You don't have to do this.

I don't have a choice. You would not be coming to me if you had not already gotten any other keys. Or I am the last test on the line. For you to have access to that which you choose. I need to know that you are tough, that you are strong. Separate the wheat from the chaff. Well, then I'm sorry that I was the one sent to do this. I'm so...

Can I see if her feeling is genuine? But that will lead you to Queen? Yes, rolling in sight. Anastrasia. To grow so large, it must be a very unique diet for seven years. a creature, do you mind sharing what that diet may be? Human blood, of course. I see.

Bats and vats of it, Quaney is ever thirsty, this sweet young thing. And I guess she's meanly, she's still growing. The young babe. I got him a lot. Yeah, she seems to be completely honest and genuine. So you want to put her down? No. It pains me to think of my poor cleaning fall.

Just as much as it pains me to think of you falling at her claw. There must be another test. Something we can do. Oh, sadly, Victoria, there is not when Sturdana orders. You comply. At this point, while you guys are still talking, I'm taking out justice and judgment and redemption. and I'm like cleaning them up.

I'm making sure everything looks tip-top. I'm checking my stuff and basically like getting ready to just like go. Slay a monster. We'd be happy to comply. Please do lead the way. Well, I wish you all the best. I love her. Be as gentle as you can.

Hey, like I said, it didn't have to be like this. My apology is if you are killed in the process. She is quite rambunctious. All right. Well, you appreciate your concern. She's standing. steps to the side and you can see as she kicks aside some of the rubble and there is a small cobblestone path that leads to the ruins of this very large tower, the door to it barely

hanging on its hinges. She's, we will find her in there. She's finished her meal for the day. As we approach the door, I take my poncho off. I actually throw it to Clayton. I hang this up somewhere. This is the easiest one yet. well I don't like Queenie's chances being honest but I wish her the best you see as a

single tear rolls down her face I'll put it in the case and I'll say Monster Slayer do what you do best all right everybody ready right

right behind you Shepard Is she watching us This podcast is brought to you by our Patreon Become a patron today at patreon.com slash Legends of Aventrous and gain access to tons of exclusive perks including a monthly movie night

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5th edition. And don't forget to snag all of the extra goodies like dice, miniatures, plushies, a tarot deck, and more. Thank you. Now, I've never hunted anything like this. You know, I've hunted giant bats before. It's not uncommon. They're quick. He's hard to spot them. They move quick.

Just, you know, keep your eyes up. Don't fall. Keep moving. Don't do anything stupid. And we're going to get out of here just fine. All right. All right. All right. This is your thing, Shepard.

I pull out judgment and redemption, and I use my boot to kind of kick the door open. I know he said it was kind of on. But yeah, you kick the door open, you hit slam into the wall on the inside of the circular tower. It echoes up throughout the roof of the tower, which is partially caved in, but still gives cover. And I'm going to walk in and take a look around. You step in the rest of you going in as well. Yeah.

Johnny my lantern ahead of Shepard. You all walk in to the tunnel or into the tower. And just as soon as you step in, you wait for your eyes to just, to adjust to the darkness. But they never do as pitch black, as pitch blackness surrounds you. Sarnax, you hold up your lantern. And you watch as the flame itself appears to snuff out.

I need you all to roll for initiative. Oh. Magical darkness. We should have expected that from a horrible vampire bat. I just got an animal. natural 20. Nice. Thank you for your,

thank you for your to scream. And I didn't scream. And I didn't scream at. Of our, of our headphone wheel there's. I appreciate that.

I got an un-natural perception to say. You enter in, into the, into the broken tower. You're immediately met by a wave of darkness. A chill comes over you

as the hairs on your arms begin to prick up. And eerie, quiet. And then all of a sudden, your ears begin to ring. I need you all to roll a Constitution saving throw place. Yikes. Oh, boy.

Is a loud screeching sound begins to pierce the air around you. Your heads are throbbing as you hold onto your ears. You can see absolutely nothing. It feels like if this continues, your ears will begin to bleed. What did you all get? Natural 20, so 23. 21. 19.

21. You are all able to succeed as it continues on. You will take some damage. Oh, yeah. but you feel like you've been able to withstand some of the... What was our Heroes Feast? 11. 11. Oh, what does that do?

Max HPA, by the word. Also abuse. So, oh, boy. So why is it? Because I can't Slayer's prey or hunters market because I can't see it. I can attack it without penalty, but I wouldn't be able to do the others. You can do a lot more than the rest of us.

Yeah. All right, this is gonna be more tough than I thought. I take it back. Nicky might best of me. You might be dead. You got that to Max. D-Fes-B-fire, right? Just a bad, I think.

How big it is bad be? How big is the towering? 49 points of thunder damage. How much? 49. That's half a mess? No, no, no, no. That's the full.

So if you pass, you take half a bat. 24. Oh my gosh. Did you pass? I heard some weird thing. I got a . Okay, okay, okay. So we all take 24.

So what was the impetus of this damage? Like, what kind of damage? Thunder damage. Okay, but what, do we hear it? Yes, you hear a loud screech. Your ears are throbbing. They feel like they're about to bleed. It continues and continues. If it continues for even a second longer,

you feel like you'll lose all hearing, but you're able to shrug it off as a sound stops. You begin to hear slowly. The throb of silence fills the air, slowly the sound of beating wings. Oh, God. Back down. Tana.

Do I have any idea what direction? It might be in. Somewhere in front of you. But it is pure magical darkness. I will... I will stand. I'll feel around in front of Shepard. And I will say,

Shepherd, I can't see a damn thing, but it's somewhere in front of me. I'm going to stand in front of Shepard, and I will take... You move forward, your boots sinking into something soft. As you hear it squirt beneath your feet, the smell of... defecation

assails your nostrils. You nearly slip, but you hold. Oh my God. I will take the Dodge action and await its approach. You do that. Clayton, if you want to put this directly in front of you. Oh, shit.

You feel wait, that's, it's that big. You feel the beating of its wings before you smell it. The putrid stench of its body As though you cannot see this thing in front of you, you know it is right there as it is going to use a legendary action.

And it is going to... I jinxed it. It is going to make a claw attack on you. 17. Yep. It is going to miss. I think it's right here, maybe. But you feel as it swipes.

You're looking this way and not using your nose to sense out where it's, could be, and is in that moment that it barely misses you as it swipes forward. All right. That's your turn. You let it rip. Are there like loose boulders in the area? You would have no ideas. It's pitch black.

Try to feel around. You can see absolutely not. Yeah. You could get down on your knees and begin to to feel around in the guano. Oh, yes. It's a little magical. Um, I will. I think that's not going to work. But I could try.

No, no, no, no, you do what you gotta do. I will basically just cast a spell and hope it works and say, Hopefully there are things I can animate. And I want to cast animate objects, animate objects. Do you have to have vision for that? No.

Okay. That's amazing. Objects have to life in your command. Ten non-medical items in range that are not being born or carried. Okay. So you just hope there's ten So I think I hope that there are enough options in the area and it matters when you're 20 and tell me what you get.

I love that. I love that, Nikki. Just making a giant slab of stone. Five. So you only get to one a tag. Okay. Thanks. So how many things can I animate?

Reach out with your senses and you attempt to animate objects around you, but you find nothing to animate as your spell fizzles and fades. Oh, my God. That is so savage. Oh my fucking good. In this moment, you once again feel as this creature swipes at you, and it is going to hit. You are caught off guard as its claws

digged into your shoulder. What does that put your AC up to? 25. 25. 25. You feel as the claws come close to you, and though you're caught off guard, you are able to feel. Nice.

And its claws wrench into it as it kind of pulls itself away. It is a tax, advantage because it's an unseen attacker. Thank you. Thank you. Maintaining game save. Thank you.

Doesn't matter. And let me just check for that first. No, no, I'm rolling like hot garbage. I'll use this one. We good. And that is its second layer action. Go for it. Shepard. Well, when I hit level 18, I got feral senses.

When I attack a creature that I can't see, I don't have disadvantage on the attack rolls against it. As long as I'm conscious and I can hear, I'm aware of its location in it of any invisible creature within 30 feet that isn't hidden. I'm going to make three attacks. I can't use Muncher's Mark or Slayer's prey. You can't attack it, but you can't attack it. Right, which is why I can't cast those spells.

Yeah, so I'm just making three attacks with sharpshooter. Okay. Uh-oh, it's a sharp shooter. Oh, not bad. So two of these are going to be 21s and one of them, oh, 21 minus 5 is 16. 16? 16. That misses.

So the two attacks miss and then the one's gonna be a 28. That hits. Okay. Just barely. Just barely. Just barely. Just barely. I guess we'll find out.

It'll be three regular damage, three cold damage, four radiant damage, which is 10 plus 17 is 27 points of damage. You let loose blasts into the air. The darkness snuffing out any light that would radiate. from your weapons as you hear screech, as you hear the creature screech, a piercing noise echoing throughout this room as it seems to take the damage. And then I'm gonna move, just, you know,

try to move 30 feet away, but not too far away, but yeah, just over there. I'm easy some of my move. It is going to use its legendary action, and it is going to turn directly towards Yeah, it's gonna hit Kana and Clayton and Sarnax and Victoria with Thunderway. What? I need you all to make a con saving throw for me.

Thank God, I'm not going to be good enough, probably. Actually, no. Oh, very cold. 18. 25. 18 should be fine. Just a bat. One saving throw?

Yep. 20-something? Let me check. 26, maybe. He's like out my good days. I hope we'll be fine. The DC is 18. Anyone who

failed is going to take 23 points of thunder damage and you're pushed 10 feet backwards. Anyone who succeeded is half damage. And then it's its turn, Victoria. I'm going to fire off a random firebolt in the direction of

Y'all are right. Where you think it is? Where I think it is and based on the flapping and the stench. Okay. And that's a disadvantage. Okay. So pretty good. 22.

God. That hits. Okay. And that'll be on this. That's amazing how many spells rely on that you can see. I can't really. Yeah. I'm like totally fucked. My end so half my kit is being able to play and like make a Slayer's prey.

And if I can't slayers pray, then I can't have my kit. Yeah. I'm sorry. One thing. Are there any creatures that can see any... Cremies. If you have a truceight, so like if you had a crab, if you had a crab and could just...

Oh, yeah. And see through it, you can see the bad. What level's true sight? Blindside. One. One side. One of the one. One of the fire damage.

I think it's either. Well, rogues have blindside, but it's not like what I'm going to... You curl your fire bolt into the darkness, and for a second, you see it erupt and flame before the magical darkness surrounding it. snuffs out the light, but you hear the screech of the bat as it collides with it doing a bit of damage. When it like erupts, do we get like a flash or any sense of like the size of the creature?

Enormous. To you, it feels enormous. Okay. But for the sake of tokens and things, it's a large creature. Okay. Cool. I don't think I even shy any of facts anymore.

16 is dicey. That's not. It's Dicey. Your turn. It's my turn? My turn? My guess is. Unless there's anything.

Okay. Yeah. Cool. My turn. I'm going to, um, do I hear, is it just this, is it just this monster in the cab? That's all you can hear? Okay. They weren't aware of.

Uh, I can't, I, and in the commotion, I probably, I've been knocked back by Thunder. I probably, do I get a sense of like where my comrades are as well? A rough. Okay. I don't think, I'm not gonna metagame it, I don't think I would be as pristine enough. I'm going to look in the general direction. I'm going to say, I'm sorry, dodge! And I'm going to just blindly cast fireball behind the general direction. I would say Clayton and Kana would probably be in the explosion. Yikes. And so a dexterity saving throw for both of you. What's your DC? My DC is 19. Oh my gosh. Well, yeah. That was one off. Got on 18. Yeah, it's two off. It's probably not gonna do that. Yikes.

And because I forgot to bring out my fire prints, I'm not really up to be eight. So how about that? All right, can you do that. 47 points of fire damage, if you failed, at half. So, 23 with you. 23 if you succeed. You raise your hand and in the darkness,

you call forth a fiery orb from the sky as it slams down. onto what you imagine is this creature as well as a few of your allies, not realizing that guano is one of the key components to fireball in this entire room. I'm staying. I was about to start ready to roll over hours.

Oh, my God. Come on. I love it. But it does. You hear the loud screeching sound as this creature takes the flames. You can smell the burnt fur as bits of it singe away and you hear it before you.

You see it as its wings are now flapping above you. If you can please move him directly in front of, actually behind Sarnax. Would I take it, would I get an opportunity to attack at disadvantage if I saw it moving? If he didn't have flyby. Oh, duh. So, he is then going to, Queenie is then going to reach out and is going to make two claw attacks and one bite attack on Sarnax. Okay. The first claw is going to hit.

I see. Second claw is going to hit. And the bite is going to hit. Oh, I'm in danger. 15 for the first claw. Okay. 16 for the second claw. 19 for the bite.

As you feel its teeth sink into you. I need you to make a Constitution saving. It's over here. 28. You are able to pass. So you feel its teeth sink into you, and it attempts to begin to leach the life force from you. But you're able to harden yourself and rip away,

pulling the teeth out of your flesh. And that is its turn. Okay, comma. For the, or is it, oh, that was Queenie's turn. For the sake of my vestige for the coursing river ability, when an ally takes, damage with 30 people of you. It doesn't specify, but I'm assuming I have to see the ally take damage. I think that would make sense. You have to be able to see where to go. I rather there's

like, oh shit. It's kind of like one. It's like holds in time and space. So I will follow the sound of Sarnax's voice and walk towards him. Would that be, would that make sense? You, you can hear that it has moved and the sounds of Sarnax groaning from. being attacked by it, but you don't know what side of him it's on. You can feel the flapping of its wings, the air beating down on you. But it's actual location you don't know. You can, you can attempt to attack it by moving towards it, but you attack it disadvantage. That's what I'll do. So I will move, sorry. Can I just move here? Would this be one space? Okay? Yeah. And I will attack. I will use a bonus action to summon my fighting spirit, which will give me 15 temporary

HP and these attacks will be at regular and not at disadvantage because this would only give me advantage. There you go. So three attacks, regular. Scroll up with my Naginata. So two of them will be 16 a hit. That misses. Okay. And then one should hit with the 28. That does hit.

It's going to be a D10, which will be a four plus five. So nine points of magical silvered slashing damage. Can you said nine points? Nine points. You feel as you slice through the air two of your attacks missing. You can't quite find this creature. But the third one lands. You scrape the blade along its leg.

It lets out a screech as your face is plastered with its blood. It's over here. It's right of short doing. I mean, it's right here. And I'm just going to try and sink my blade in. It is its turn for a, it is going to use all of its legendary resistance, or its legendary actions as it takes in a deep breath

and prepares for something. Oh, here. Oh, no. I am going to say augmentum and try to dispel the magical darkness. Okay. At what level? Can I say a third look?

Okay, roll for it. And what do I add to it? You're plus five. You have plus five because you're in. Oh, you're witties. But you're using your spell casting ability. So it is a 14. You cast your spell.

Should I lucky it? I'm gonna lucky die. I'm gonna lucky die. It'd be only fourth level or lower. Yeah, and I mean, that just seemed ridiculous. Okay, there we go, 19. Better. Obviously succeeds.

Yeah, I don't know how it is. You cast your spell. And it takes a moment. You almost feel blinded by the colors as they radiate around this tower, flapping behind you, Sarnix immediately in front of you, Kana. It's now dripping with blood, this gigantic vampire bat. Now it's a little. It jolts this way, and that almost caught off guard,

almost blinded by the newfound light in this room. as it lets out a screech of agony, it seems very frustrated. Now I will use bonus action, Misty Staff, one, two, three, four, five. I'm gonna missisle stuff way right here. Nah, there you are, you bastard. And I'm gonna use my bonus action to Slayer Spray.

Okay. You grab one more, don't. Oh, yeah. And then I'm gonna make two regular attacks on it, not chirps shooter attacks. One's gonna be a natural 20. No! Yay!

And the other is going to be a 31 to hit. So that's going to be max damage automatically on double the dice, right? Yes. So that's going to be six times eight is a fuckload. Sorry, six times eight is 48 plus seven is 55 for the first hit. And then the next one is going to be minus one dying. The bandbole is right here. It's going to be another 8 plus 715,

which will be a total of 70 points of damage for two attacks. So I already did the 55, so that would be another 15. Yeah, just another 15. Told you I was due. You let loose your rage into this creature. Everything that you've been through today is boiling. up inside of you, as you can now see this thing looming in front of you.

The incarnation of the horrors you've experienced if you let loose judgment and redemption and you blast away bits of fur and flesh as it screeches out, heavily wounded by the stack. Victoria. All right, I am, oops, little. First, I am going to raise up my hand

and a skeletal form will come out and I am going to cast chill touch on it. I'm no longer disadvantaged, right? No. 24 to hit. That hits. So that's 13 damage. And if it is undead, it has disadvantage on attack rolls against me until the end of the next turn.

It takes necrotic damage and it cannot regain hit points into the start of my next turn. Then I am going to snap twice to use two sorcery points and quicken a spell of shatter. So I will point my hands out and you'll hear glass shattering in a 10 foot sphere around Lebat. And-D-E-Labat. That will be at the fifth level,

and you need to make a con-saving throw. Okay. Uh, uh, 26. Okay, so that passes. No, no, no, no. Sorry.

So, you know, 21. Still passes. Um, you will take half, uh, what type of damage? It'll be thunder. Okay. 23, so half of that is 11, uh, thunder damage. Uh, and shatter, would that affect anyone else?

It shatters a 10-foot radiant sphere centered on a point. Yeah, so I would be casting it at like all. Behind that, yeah. Now that I can see it, I would. Yeah. I got you, I got you. You channel your shadowy magic as you let loose this spell, and Queenie is unaffected.

Ooh. Tundra. Oh, thunder, yeah, that makes sense. Thunder, thunder, thunder. It was a chance. regenerated. Um. It regenerated 800.

I'm going to, after like being torn apart by this bat, I am going to look up at it and say, Fire Prince, please help me. I am so done with this. And I will summon him out. Dxterity's 830, D.C. 19. I need to roll the damage here. Great. I roll the natural 19 plus decks.

Okay, succeed. So you're going to take half of this damage. The 29. Which is 8 plus 712. half of 15. And what type of damage is there? Fire damage. And then I am... So wait, I take how much? So half? So half of seven. Seven. Seven. And then I am going to just, you know, once again, look, and now that I can see it, and I'll look and like, Tikana and Clayton's charge, and I'm saying, I'm sorry, friends, and I'm going to turn around and

drop a fireball behind it. Have it explode. And a dexterity saving throw, please. 28. 68. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, plus a D8 because of Zuko. That is, wow, terrible rules. 4, 6, 8, 8, 10. That's a lot of twos, that's a lot of twos. 10, 20, 30, 39 points of fire damage.

It failed to half of that, which is 38. so 16. Points of fire damage. And then that is my turn. It is Queenie's turn. 18 points to it. Sorry, I said 18. No, she's at 16.

So I'll make two more. Go away. Her skin is singed by the flames. She is not looking weak, but definitely pained as she rises 60 feet up into the air and lets out a large, whale. She flies up into the air 60 feet as she lets out this loud screech. You begin to hear the flapping of wings. I need you to place one of these on each of you. Here you go, Mike. You can

pass that over. As, oh it's disenged. Though not as large as Queenie, what appears to be, her children begin to fly out of the raptors. No longer in their sleep. They fly down directly towards you and they are all going to make... Is it one on each person? Yes. And she has done...

There you go. She has done that. And they are all going to make a bite attack on each one of you. I'm sure it'll be fine. Why are you terrible? Beams. Victoria does a single.

17 hit. No, this is that. Let's see. Oh, no. 23 for Clayton. Oh, my God. For Clayton. Shield.

Okay. Incredible spell. 24 for Shepard. Oh, yeah, Jamie. I never run out. No, that doesn't hit. Perrona. And that doesn't hit for

what's his fuck. And so Victoria and Shepherd are going to take this damage, and I need you. Straight to the face. They are going to bite into you. I need you to make a dexterity saving throw. That's a 20 total. You're going to take seven points of piercing damage, and Victoria, you're going to take six points of piercing damage. Do you need my rule?

No, you're taking this for the bite, because you're taking this for the bite, because you're you failed. I do need your roll. You said six points? I got a 12. Okay, and what did you get? 20. You will, you shrug this bat off of you. But Victoria, you are not

able to wiggle away from it as you are then going to take and cause it. Six points of necrotic damage and you are grappled by this thing and restrained. All right, that's Queenie's turn, Kana.

So I'm gonna hit the one that's on Victoria. Looks like number five. Three times. I don't really have any six-week bonus. So one will hit for 29, other ones 19 to hit. Both of those hit. And then 13 to hit. I don't think is it either.

13 misses. Okay, so two. Although I guess this. And I can re-roll two. Two. Oh, it's a 10. Nice. There's going to be 15 plus 10. So 25 points of damage to number 5 magical silver slashing.

Thank you. You slice into the one in front of Victoria and you nearly cleave it in two, but it is barely hanging on. She is going to use legendary action and she is going to fly down directly between Clayton and Victoria, Kana and Sarnax. Right, like. Oh, no. And she is going to, she is going to begin to screech. Oh, oh no.

And she lets out a loud screech. Once again, your ears begin to ring. I need you to make a Constitution saving through the three of you. Is this spell? No, it's an innate thing that it does with its throat. Okay. What kind of, what kind of safe? Sorry.

Constitution, not you. You're not in the cone. I would like to use a twist. Yeah, we got them. Thank you, Chad. Thank you, Chad. Oh, that's a natural 20. So it'll be a three-four.

Gotta give it up. That'll be a 31. 27. 22. Okay, you all pass. But you will take half the damage. 39 points of damage, so half if you all passed. So I look around, are there any objects that are just inanimate and around me

that I could command tiny or otherwise? any size between tiny and huge. Huge. Like what kinds of things? The only thing that's around are rafters. Like, is there any rubble? Like, detach rubble, or is it all sort of... It's basically all covered in guano.

Okay. Oh, then probably not. There's nothing that's, like, loose and about. This entire room is completely covered in bad shit. You throw that shit out of it. Let's try that. Anime Quano question. Why aren't I do?

A quino, let's either. Create a quinoable one. Impeda these. And I'm gonna try to grapple it with teleconnesus. Dwee. I hate it. Yes! Throw back to yesterday.

Make a check. Wait, hold on, hold on. Just, just, just, just, just, just, hold on, hold on. No, I rolled the two. Never mind, I rolled the two. Oh. What did it get?

Five. Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Queenie. Queenie. It's five. 13. So I, is it on the ground right now? No, it's flying in the air. I'm going to rip it to the ground and hold it there.

How high in the air is it? I would say it's probably about 20 feet in the air. Okay. I will slam it to the ground. I won't do anything, but I'm going to bring it to the ground. And I'll hold it there. and just for good measure, bonus action-wise, I'm going to Misty Step.

One, two, three, four, five, six. I'm going to Misty Step way the fuck away while maintaining my grip on Old Queenie. What type of, you said psychic? What? What kind of damage? Like, what is telekinesis? It's transmutation magic.

Gotcha. It can do force damage, I think. I don't think it doesn't need damage. Yeah, you should be a little crush. You'd slam them around and like... Huh. No damage. Really?

I'm not going to complain. Legendary action time. Or shepherd. Is this considered incapacitated? No. It just strange. It just can't move. Yeah, no, no.

I'm just looking at Queenie. That's all. It probably feels like magical darkness. Oh! Holy shit. I'm sorry I'm saying. Here come the rocks. You want to play that game?

Rocks are falling! Oh God, I'm going to ruin tower. Oh my god. Let me take a note of what you just said verbatim. Oh God, I'm kidding. It's a joke. In the book. You're fool.

Oh, my God. Are you done? Are you done? I'm done. So it's a shepherd's turn. Okay, I'm going to make three sharp-sugar advantage to the X-Lop. Well, unless you want to use any one. legendary actions or anything.

No, I used all three of them to do what I just did, so. Oh. Oh. No, but thanks. Killed Shoo! Yeah. Shoot her. And you would be at advantage, yeah?

Yeah. Because it's on the ground. Oh, that's actually gonna be close. 17. Oh, but your range and it's on the ground. It's not prone, though. Yeah, that's why I asked if you was, make sure it's not pro.

No, it's not prone. It's just, it's on the ground. 17. 17, it misses. Ooh. Maybe I shouldn't do sharpshooter then. I'll just make a regular tag. That definitely hits.

19 plus 15. Double 14s that both hits. So it's going to be, book, book, book, book. Basically a crit. Oh, plus. No. Burn is a hole.

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, we'll get just a way. Oh boy. That's going to be 6, 7, 8. So that is unfortunately just 29 points of amherst. Bang, bang, man. Yeah, I guess I shouldn't have done Sharpshire. She's still pretty quick, even with my advantage there.

And it's unfortunate. Held almost in stasis on the ground, you let loose your blasts. And she takes the damage, she squeals from it. Her eyes almost nearing on all of you. She looks furious. What does she look? Victoria. Not as much as you know.

Oh, dear. She's a big girl. We don't do much, Ben. No, we do. Oh, really does that mean great. I'm going to stretch my arm out towards her, even though I am grappled in restraint. And an inky tendril will extend and start swirling by.

And if you could make a deck saving throw. From Queenie? From Queenie. Do you get an innovation? A disadvantage. So regular. Because she has advantage against magical stuff. So 19.

19. Oh, that just meets it. Okay, so, 30. So 37, what does that have for 37? 16? 16. Okay, so you will take 16. 37? 37? 38. 18? Oh, yeah, that's right. It is 18. 18. I will take two more damage. Okay. Okay, so, yes, 18 necrotic damage. Okay. And the spell ends. I will use two more sorcery points to cast chill touch again. You, that's a 24.

That is 12. Thanks, do you end up? Did it make that once? It did. You probably accidentally really. Because you can now roll virtual dice in D. Yeah, I didn't know that. I didn't know that.

If you click on anything, basically, it would. will roll what it is and then automatically give you the total for like your saving throws, your skill checks. It's kind of cool. Yeah. It will never replace actual dice for me. No, no, no. Absolutely not.

Mostly just startles me. Yeah, so that was 12 necrotic damage, you're disadvantaged on attack rolls and you can't be in that place until my next turn. But I don't want that to happen. Oh, he's a legendary resistance. I don't have any. Oh.

So I can't want to. What? You have disadvantage on attack rolls, and I can't regain hit points. Disavantage on attack rolls until the end of my next turn, and can't regain hit points until the start of my next turn. And you have a spooky skeleton hand clinging to you. Oh, whores of all. I'm sorry, Max.

How would you like to fuck up my evening? I mean, probably not very much. Hold on one sec. I need to. Oh, there it is. I don't think I can cast it. at eight level. I know this, I can say can.

Eighth level. Just casual eighth level. Very cool. I would like to look around and say, I have had enough of this. And my lantern is going to ignite. And I am going to hold out my lantern and say, Garex, give me the power to destroy.

and I'm going to cast a firestorm at an eighth level, and a massive snake of fire will reach out and snake around hitting all of the bats, but leaving my friends intact. I think I should be able to do that. Yeah, it's 10 foot cubes. So it's 10, 10, 10 foot cubes. So one, two, three, four, five, six, seven,

yeah, no, no, no, no, those are within a range where you can get two, three, four. There's five. No, I don't think, actually, I don't think he can get Sheper's bat. So it should be able to get everyone else's bat. Which number of Shepherd's bat? Three.

Three. So I'm going to just cast firestorm in that situation. So do you just drop the remaining cubes all in the same spot on the bat? Is that like the idea? So they all connect into like a big cube. Oh, I see, I see, I see. Okay. Damn.

And the worst part is when you outcast it, doesn't actually increase the damage. Oh, wow. Does it increase the length of the snake? No, it doesn't increase anything. What's the point? I don't have a seven-level spall. slots. No, but I mean, I'm just saying, oh, you can just use it. Oh, not bad, not bad. Okay, whoops. That is 10. That is 25. No, no, dexterity saving throw, by the way. Okay, I'm just going to roll for all of them.

Yeah, exactly saving throw. Can I have a twist of face? 25. Yeah, no. 27. 29. Is the DC 8 or lower? No. 29, 35, 40, 46 points of fire damaged, anyone who fails, and half. Every single one of them, all but the one behind Sheper is completely annihilated in its spot. Queenie begins to scream and wail as she watches her children incinerated in front of her. Thank you. And so they're all dead, and then I would like to use my bonus action to

once again, ignite and cast spiritual weapon. And it's just going to make it a quick attack, spell attack on that. Sorry about that. On who? On who? On Queenie. That's going to be a natural 20. Got it. Got it.

Got it. You know what? I'm going to get all the breaks during the final battle. 14, 17. 17 plus 5 is 21 points of force damage to Queenie as an addition. 17 plus 20. Do you have a marker free? Can you do math? No.

Cynax. What can Queenie do on her turn? Attempt to break out, right? Yeah. She can do literally anything she wants as long as it, as long. She just can't move. Oh. It's not like she's like paralyzed or anything.

Okay. Her speed zero and she's disadvantaged on attacks and she is more advantage against her. And like dexterity saving throws her a disadvantage or something. She did. And dick saving has her. What? I rolled... We don't know that.

I rolled a five to recharge my screech. So she's going to turn towards Kana. Oh, no. Not Clayton? No. She is going to turn towards Kana, Victoria, and Sarnax, and she's going to let out her screech. I need you to make a...

It's not worth it. We don't know. We don't know. DM, have we learned if this is an undead bat? Or does a regular old vampire... Right, right. I was going to say we don't know. 30. I mean, is my indomitable feat to, uh, 18.

It's the D.C. Oh, thank God. 23. I needed that. Thank you. Anyone who failed takes 44 points. The dowry, we don't remember this day. Was I in that?

Uh, no, is Victoria. That's what I thought. Oh. Victoria, I didn't hear you. You need a con. 44, 22, damning. I failed. I'm sorry, I passed.

Yes, 22 if you passed. That's got a good enough. 25. Yeah, you all pass. So you will take half of the 44, so 22 points of damage. Okay, if you will take from it. She's really, five even. So that's why telekinesis is so busted is that it's not a safe.

It's a contest, right? Right, right? That's why it's so fucking good. I love that. Oh, so that wouldn't even work. Yeah. Okay. And that is her turn. Chipsy! Kana.

So she's still restrained. She's not, well, it's not considered restrained, right? Yes, it is. Or it is restrained? Yes, she's restrained. So you are advantage when you attack. Very good. I will, um, and the ones, yeah, the bats are gone.

So I'm going to stand between, uh, uh, uh, Victoria and the beasts. You can move me two spaces that way. And then I will make. Yes. Yes. I'm already. Three attacks.

I'll make two attacks advantage, and then since I have advantage, I will use my rapid strike feature to forego my advantage on my third attack and make an additional weapon attack. Oh cool. So four attacks? Four attacks? Great cool. So that should hit with a 26. Okay. So 11 points of damage. Second attack at advantage. Uh, 30 will hit.

This will be, uh, 15 points of damages. And then these are two regular attacks. Oh, 19. Uh, does a 15 hit her? No, I don't think it does. No. I don't know if we know. You don't. No, 15 doesn't hit her.

Nice, another 15 points of damages. Dimmages. 11.10. And that'll be my turn. And flies. You rush up and she's unable to move from as you slice into her, but she is swirming. You can see the pain on her face, this poor creature.

As you look into her eyes, you see a sense, you see a sense of sadness, a sense of lack of control. This is simply a poor beast. You demolish its kin and its livelihood. How it takes it. Just another day in a life of a molesters there. Life of the Malster Slayer. Am I right? And it is, it's, uh, it can do, it's got legendary actions again.

So it's going to call forth more of its babies. So if you want to put another bat on each of you and then put one more on, um, Shepherd. Where's the to-me? Here go. Kelts she's got them. The whale that Queenie lets out is sorrowful more than it. is angry as she calls for help from her family as you hear the beating of wings and more of her kin rejoin the fight. They are going to make an attack against each of you and two against Shepard.

I'm going to do the two against Shepard. One is going to fail and the other one is also going to fail. One on Victoria and that is going to 18 hits. One on Clayton and that is going to be a 20. Are you going to hit? Yeah, you do. This is on Kana and a 27 to hit on Sarnas. Can I warning flare disadvantage?

It's going to miss. The one on Victoria is going to do, and so I need Victoria and Clinton to make a Constitution saving throw. I'm sorry, a dexterity's . Actions. Actions. Warding flare, bah. 25.

Heart fail. Clayton, you are going to take eight points of piercing damage. Victoria, you are going to take six points of piercing damage, and then you are also continuing to be grappled, or you're grappled again, and you're going to take an additional four point of necrotic damage, so two for you.

I guess, because you're resistant, right? To necrotic? Are you? I can't remember. It's shadow sorcerer stuff. That'd be cool. Let me look. But I don't remember. Either way, it's four points. Should be at the top by your health. Should be like a resistance as immunities box.

And that is their turn. As they bite into you. Clayton. Don't you fuck this up. I hear Shepherd muttering Don't you fuck this up So I will attempt To use my action

To keep her restraint Wow So we need to make another check Seven Six I'm gonna blink Way the fuck away over there I'm gonna

I'll the natural one Amazing John Oh okay Is that your turn? I'm done. Oh, I'm done. Is it my turn? I'm going to take two opportunity attacks. Here, okay. I'm in the back.

In which line. If they hit you, they restrain you. Oh, shit. Seriously? Yeah. No, you need to make a deck saving try. So, you're confident. Yes, I'm very confident.

I'm going to attempt to move away from this first one and take an opportunity attack. You're going to what? Attempts. Attempt to move away from the bat and take an opportunity attack. 21. That's. So you are going to take five...

Eight points of piercing damage, and then I need you to make a dexterity saving throw. So what works? Nope. I got an actual one. Twist it. Pretty good. Oh, I should.

I haven't twisted like a year. Bigged bad. That's what they're for. Wee. 30. Very nice. Yeah, no, that succeeds. So that's going to be...

It is unable to grapple you and you're able to move away. Five, ten. I'm going to attempt to make another... Take another opportunity attack. A thirteen. Miss. Yes. Five, ten.

Seven. That's another fifteen. So twenty-five. And then I move down here. And I'm thirty. And in an eighty-foot cone, I unleash hell fire on everything here. Except for my friends. Oh, wow.

So that's going to be a DC-17 Dex saving pro. Everything but number five. And then I'm going to roll 8D8. Fuck. Just kill everything. Okay, so the little bats fail and Queenie. You said dexterity? Yeah, it's a D.C. 17 decks.

Why is she disadvantaged? She's not a strand. Oh, she's not a strange. Okay. So she keeps her seven. Oh. And so 17? Neat.

Yeah. Damn it. So she takes out. It's not 19? No. Well, it says 17 here. Let me double check my thing. I mean, I just wrote it down last night, but equipment, judgment, and redemption.

Is it Dex or base or is it Wizz-based? It just says Dexterity, saving third DC-17. Oh, okay. Is what it says in my ability. 19, 19, uh, 20, 21, 2, 3rd, 23, 24, 25, 6, 7, 28, 29, 30, 36, 26, 20, 29, 30, 36, points of damage to small bats and 18 to. All of the bats that are caught in it are completely oblitering. Fuck yeah.

Is there shrieks echo throughout the tower. Queenie lets out a wail of mourning as she watches her kin fall before her once again in her weekend state. And she takes half? Yep. Yeah. And it was half of 38, you said? Yeah.

So 18. So unless you had intended for the DC to change that level up, then... I don't care. Yeah. I don't care. I'm just saying, you know, if that was not the intention, then it's just seven. and that's it. Yeah.

Oh. Yeah, it would be eight plus waves plus. It might be 18 now, right? I don't know. I don't know how that's calculated, even honest with you. That's right turn. That is your turn. That's your turn.

She is going to use one of her layer actions, and she is going to fly towards Clayton, and she is going to make a claw attack. For a... 22. Chew. More of those you have left. I have infinite shields. What? You do not?

Yeah. For what? I have to cast it infinitely. There you don't. And I get to misty step infinitely. Wait. Are you being serious? At level, yes.

Bull shit. Oh, yes. It's like wizard master's shit. Wizard Master. All like all wizards can do that. You can just pick up and you just get to find you get to choose. Well, I'm going to great time tonight. Yes.

It was lovely to see you. I cannot wait until Felix gets a stroke. Oh my God, that is so busty. That's frustrating, but that's fine. It doesn't hit, proceed. Victoria. Victoria. I'm going to dozy on you, bad.

I can have held my gloves. Oh, my God. I'm going to point out, I'm going to move a little too. No sense grouping. I'm 30? Yeah. God, I'm so broke.

I am going to point out you'll hear shattering glass, and I will cast shatterer if you can make a constant. It's immune. It's immune to thunder damage. Oh, fuck me. You said it. So many spells. You said it.

No, I'm just kidding. You have now that I already told you on. You can do something else. I even wrote it down. Immune to Thunder damage. You have crown of stars you could use. We're stupid. It's so good.

Why? Just frozen car or whatever. I might. What is that? Oh, yeah. You mean the fight where Sylvia literally neutralized an entire room of massive fire giants? Can I have you all be quiet for a second? We have a long talk to get home, but we just need to review.

We just need to review your spouse a little bit, talk about it. And just, you know, think about what's, what should you be doing? doing with your actions and your economy. I really have never played a spellie smeller. I really like this claw thing she's been doing. Who needs to mess with success? Who needs to use? Do you know,

go for it, Kel. Who do you get a lot? Above second level is overrated. Honestly, why even get to, I mean, you can't even need to get to level tomorrow. I don't like he has to this far in the camera. You're going to die. She tried to.

Just shatter. Just shatter. You couldn't do that. Shatter. Just shatter. Okay. Oh, you could recruit your dog now that you can see it. It's almost dead.

Just nuke it. Here, I'll tell you what. Here, I'll show. Use like a big nuke. Let's see. Well, let's not use a ninth level. Let's use a nice big old eight-levels. Do you have any of this?

Snokey. What about this one? Rishie's has another hippocat. Do you have my turn and give it to to go. Victorius. How's it looking? Try again.

It's got to pretty wrong. It is looking, uh, bloody. Oh my god. Really? We're gonna be here until 1 a.m. Queenie's gonna, this isn't even my final flamos. Yeah. Just use this one.

And then we can just start sneaking it. Seven star like notes up here. Yeah, I know. Just use it and then I'll tell you what to do. Use it. Cast it? Cast it? Okay.

Put the shadow. Cast it. But it's thunder damage. And then she's going to use your bonus action. I wanted you chaosful for Thunderdine. I love that word. Okay. Okay.

So now you use a notice action to take one of these moats of shadow and you're going to, your head's swarling with shadow. These crown stars? Yeah. Literally one of the best falls in the day. And it sucks. That sucks. That's a gap.

One of these moats, you use a bonus action. You're going to throw it at this bat. And so you need a ring spell attack. We're going to take a die and you're going to roll it. please kill it. Please kill it. It probably hits. Oh, in case you weren't aware this is our

New Player 1 shot. All right. What's a C-C? 18. Oh, yeah, that hits. Okay. Okay, so now it's going to do, hold my foot.

We're going to go. Crown of Star, City of Star. One shoes. Your hat's going to hit the camera. Oh, my God. I'm sorry. Just don't move to. 1412.

Now roll 4D12 damage. What? Yeah. But why would you ever do that when you've got a frosty claw? She just set the crown and then as a bonus action, you can't use the nuts. And you get like so many shots. It's amazing. It's all my favorite spells.

I can't wait. Okay. It's so good. God. And I can fire them all the same time if you want. Oh, my. Radi? So now 29 radian damage.

Yes. She just. Nice. Whipped. Okay. Nice. Well done. Does it look like it?

He said 29? 29. 29. Okay, I'll take that damage unwillingly, as it were. Does it take it regular? Yeah. Perished you. It's great.

I'm having a rough day. You're doing great, Cal? You had some sickening RP earlier with Stradia. I was just spent early in the evening. The first time, you watch as a crown of shadowy stars begins to flit around Victoria's around her head, faster and faster and faster. she concentrates, moats of them shoot off

and embed themselves into Queenie, nearly erupting in a huff of shadow. Queenie lets out a wail as she takes the damage from it, her flesh singeing in a shadowy light. And that is Victoria's turn, Sarnax. How would you like to fuck me? I would like to, you know what, I'm so fucking tired of this.

I am going to, Just point at it, and I'm going to say, who's after me? Queenie. Oh, please kill this as quickly as boss. And I'm going to- Oh, no, actually, she's gonna use a layer action. Legendary action? Yeah, legendary action, sorry.

And she is going to rush toward Victoria, and she's going to make a bite attack. Woo! You got me an opportunity attack. Oh no, I use you know. No. But you can't fly by you. a loser.

You done? I brought a natural one, so keep going. Okay, sorry, Max. How is that? Oh, it's my turn? To be fair, I would have deserved it if you hurt me just now.

Okay, I'm going to just like, I had, this has been a day. I've had enough. And I'm going to cast fucking Fireball where it's not going to hit anybody. Dexterity saving throw, please. I'm just, I'm just gonna fucking stand that

I'm so done. Fireball. Uh, 27. Uh, yeah, succeeds. It succeeds, of course. You blow me up. Uh, uh, 38, uh, 43, so half of 43, which is 20, 21. 21 points of fire damage.

And then I'm going to, uh, bring my, uh, my, my, my spruce her weapon right next to her as a bonus action to make a spell attack. That should be, I can move that, that, right? Uh, and that's gonna, uh, miss. You let loose a large motifier again all around her, singeing your party members as well, potentially. As she takes the damage, she is starting to look weak, but she is still holding on.

All right. It is her turn. Yeah. She is going to move towards, she's going to whip around and move towards Kana. And as she gets to you, she's going to lean down. And she's going to rub her pointed snout into you, a whimper of pain coming from her.

She paws at the ground. She's going to hold her action. Oh my God. It's your turn. I use my action to pet the dog. Good. I'm just going to put my... She nozzles gently into your hand.

Oh, my God. You look up at you. Her eyes begin to start watering. You can see the flesh ripped away at her, the fur that's sin. She looks so sad, so weak, so wounded. Roll a perception check for me. begin to look around the room and you see that

this is not a home this is a prison and this is not something she would have wanted this is not a life that any creature like this would have wanted trapped here against her will forced to do the bidding of an undead bitch Clayton's your turn we gotta set her free

I'm going to move between I'm going to move between her and and Clayton I'll be like no you cannot kill her we must set her a free. We must have set a free weekend ocular. Do I, would I say it? The Conner's been charmed. No, this is a horrible monster.

No. You watch as it's bearing down on Kana for all you can see is ready to bite. It's ready to rip the flesh in your body. You've had a day? I've had a day. Pizzle. Deco!

And I'm going to cast disintegrating. Yes. What do I do? What do I do? You don't do anything. You don't do anything. It's just an attackable. It's just an attackable. You gotta twist it.

You gotta, hold on. Oh my God. Do I know it's easy? No, we don't actually. I rolled the 10 instead. My eyes flashed with like a bright magenta. As I just adjust my aim a little bit and the beam almost supernaturally turned straight into the beast.

Tell me what disintegrate does? Well, this is where I guess fall on. Yeah, wait. A thin green ray springs from my pointing fingers to a target that I can see within range. A creature targeted by the spell must make... Oh, no, it is it a saving throw, isn't it? No.

Oh, it's not an attack roll. So, whoop, who, who, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, rewind. I'm going to rewind. It's going to roll... I'm going to pass the dice tower to Mike. It should be Dex. It's a three. Thirteen.

It fails. So... So, okay. So now, ideal... Wait, hold on. Ideal 16D6 plus 40 damage. and if it drops to zero

hit points from the damage the target is disintegrated It literally just turns to dust It has to be rezzed or some shit You can't even bring it back to life So hit you know D6s How many do you need?

Give enough I need 16 So I don't know What the fuck? We should Are dice still the same? Here got a bunch of all Yeah

I've got a lot 8, 9 10, 11, 12 13 14 14 15 16 Yeah, this is messed up. Oh, goodbye, Beastie. I just, I kill it.

You don't think so? No, no, no. Dice, please. Jeez, Louise, I'm gonna be shocked if it doesn't. Plus 40? It might as kill. 49, so it takes 89 points. Oh, damn it's gotta be enough.

You reach down as you jump between this creature and Clayton. You cradle its face in your hands. It looks up at you. Its leg partially broken. It's wings and tatters. If bats could cry, tears would be rolling down its face as you slowly rub its cheeks. And for a moment, you see joy, happiness in its face as it lets out of coop. And just as it does, Clayton blasts it with this dark, gray energy.

And you watch it as shock fills its eyes as it is disintegrated in front of your face. As it disintegrates, I'm going to take my hat off and say, uh, that's always the worst part I'm going to fall to my knees and just like stick my hands into the ashes and the fucking that shit and I'm just going to weep for a second

damn Clayton you all right the door swings open Anastracia rushes in she slides down in her knees as she pulls up the ashes my poor sweet queenie well if there had been the carcass left

I could have animated it, but I'll have to find a new one. Well, I guess you'll take the key then, and she passes it to you. You can see the emptiness behind her eyes. What a shame. I will miss her so much. I can tell. Good day. Is there anything?

It's like all ash. It's all ash. There's nothing. No, it's literally just that. It literally, it's literally, it can be destroyed to life. Only by means of resurrection. Yeah, or wish it back to life. Would I have like a vial or something for the sake of this moment just to collect a little

perhaps? Yes. I will wait for, um, on a, on Astasia, Anastrasa to turn away for a moment and I will like gently. She turns away and she looks sorrowful, but it doesn't quite feel right. I can look at your wings. It's so cool. they've done to you.

And I'll just scoop some of the ashes in and I'll cork it. My heart weeps. She looks between all of you. All right, let's go. Yeah, you know, it's, uh, this isn't an easy job and it never really gets easier. People think that, uh, monster slayers hate animals, but it's actually quite literally the exact opposite. Uh, you do what you can and you just fight to live to fight to fight.

another day, and that's about it. It's a little bit of a lonely lifestyle. I'm sorry. I've done far worse today. Let's get the fuck out of here. My poor queenie. My apologies for your loss. She reaches out, she grabs your hand.

I appreciate the sentiment. Sorry. It is so upsetting. I yank my hand away. The work it is going to take to find her place. See you at the end, Honestrasia.

I will see you at the wedding. Yes. Esher? Esher! And we'll walk out and try to find Esher. You make your way out. The sound of her strutting about the tower can be heard

as she is doing this or that. She walk out into the cold. You see, leaning up against far off across the courtyard, Escher, leaning up against the doors to Castle Ravenloft. You begin to make your way towards Escher, leaning up against the gates to Castle Ravenloft, or the doors to the interior of Castle Ravenloft. Well, it looks like you accomplished it. How did it feel to kill something that had no choice?

What is that twice today, Professor Azran? That something fell, was felled by your hand? Something. No choice. Does this land offer anyone a choice? To shame, my good man. Are we all not prisoners here of our own device? The device of Trudania at the very least.

His eyes linger on you for a little bit longer. No, not all of us. Some of us made their choice. well be the long trek back through the castle and much to do he opens the door and motions for you to enter you begin to make your way back through the castle back the way you came through twists and turns up and down stairwells and through secret doors until things begin to look similar again as you all spill out once again into the audience hall the throne room there's a paw in Escher as he looks around as he thinks to himself and he looks between all of you before he appears to have made up his mind well this is it then he takes out a small key

he opens up the door to the bath to the bat the bathing hall and then opens the door to her closet it stretches for maybe three or four rooms lined with gowns, negligees, chains, whips. And in the very center, on a beautiful pedestal shaped like an inverted raven's claw, so it's an ornate wooden box, three keyholes in a line. I'll take the keys out of my pockets.

I'll keep one, hand one to the professor. I don't think so. I think this is all on you. I don't want to touch those fucking things. I just don't think that Strydonia would be happy with anybody else handling those keys or that box or whatever else might be inside. It is yours to take, Victoria. Let's be done with it, and I'll, I guess, put one in, turn it. You put one in, you hear a click, the next one, and a click, the third one, and the final click.

The sound is the lid itself pops open. It box is shaped like a raven, its wings outstretched holding onto it. The beak curved down, and as the lid opens, the head rises and sitting on a beautiful purple velvet tufted cushion is the most beautiful and ornate hairpin you've seen in your entire life. Gold filigreed feathers adorning the length of it, twisting, almost as if shadow made carnate in the melted metals, forming this beautiful pin. that would sit so perfectly in your hair to hold your veil. It's absolutely lovely, and it looks far older than you had imagined. Do we all see this? Yes.

Uh, you know, on second thought, I'm not so sure I want Victoria touching that thing. Do you think it's dangerous? I'm just getting a bad feeling. What's your bad feeling, Shepherd? I generally trust your instincts. I can't put my finger on it. It's just something not sitting right in my gun. But we know it's powerful. It must be.

We know it's of divine nature, but I suppose there are gods of all moralities. And being from Strick, I would like know vaguely about the Raven Queen. Would I now... Roll a religion. Wow. That's maybe my first religion chapter. Oh, wow.

In the history of D&D, this is the first religion ever, I must be a horrible. Hey, I'm not bad. I haven't had a clarity. No, I'm all religion. I just say I've grown religion in any dark ones. I've done it. Yeah. I don't think I've done it as a DM.

It's a 26. Nice. That's a 26. You, I would say, are familiar enough with the Rape's Queen. The power of the Raven Queen is not a good power. It is not a benevolent power. It is neutral, just like death. Cares not if you are good or evil.

Cares not if you are a sinner or a saint. It takes all. Divine power. It is all the same. Look, I'm not saying don't do it. I was just voicing my concern. Collect your hairpin, Victoria. Reach out my hand and hover moment and then pick up the pen.

You reach out your hand, and it hover. over the pin for a second, you begin to imagine what you would look like at the altar, dress, hugging your body. Shredanya's mother's hairpin nestled in the curls atop your head, holding your veil. The way she would look at you, those piercing eyes, she says, I do. She reached down to grab the hairpin. Your hand is repulsed backwards, and you realize that you cannot grab it. I can't touch it. Ha, ha, I knew it.

Something wasn't quite right. You control a lot to get this hairpin, Manum, and I'm going to send my mage hand over to grab it. Your mage hand flies in swiftly, and as it reaches down to grab it, it bounces backwards, 15 feet with great force. Is there something you're supposed to say to us? You probably need permission from Shredaania.

We came right here. Why no? Perhaps it's a test. Shradanya herself. I would like you to roll a perception check for me. Twist it. Twist it. Okay.

Okay. Okay. Okay. Thank you, chat. Thank you, chat. You guys are the best. That was much better, but perception is a 14. You are, your hand hurts a bit from force.

You feel like you might be on the right track, but you can't imagine what you could possibly need to do. She told you if you got the, keys you can have this. His Escher's still with us? Yeah. Do you know what's happening? No, but you could read the letters on the inside of the lid.

Oh. It's Leos. What does it say, Victoria? I'll read it. A secret gained, a secret given. Damn it, I was wrong. It's just a simple puzzle.

Someone say puzzle? Yeah, I said it. I'm not certain it is a puzzle. Torrey, I think you must be the one to give it a secret. Does it say a secret gain? A secret given. It makes perfect sense. If my religion's score maintains, does my religion?

For what? When I hear a secret gain, a secret given, and I think about the rainbow queen, does that make sense? Yes, it does. The Raven Queen is a goddess that deals in secrets. I mean, that should be easy, though. A true secret. What does that mean? What's the definition of a true secret?

What makes a secret? Something that no one else knows. No one else knows. Maybe only you. You don't want to share. Right. If none of you know, but perhaps people that I know at home know, is that a secret? Well, it's a secret amongst some people, but maybe it's also like...

You fear the clicking of Escher's boot. as he walks up towards the box and he looks down at it. I don't think even if we solve this puzzle that I could reach for that thing, myself anyway, but you might as well give it a try. I secretly watched Rodonia dead. You see a faint shift, almost iridescent ripple over the box. as he looks at all of you and leans back against the wall.

Escher. Escher. Thank you for being precise and stating what you mean and you want. We want the same goal. No path but forward. For all of us, we've all. We want freedom.

We all want freedom. We all want to go home. We have been discussing all of today about choices we all made. I want my own goddamn castle. God's damned castle. There's only one way to find out. So we saw the ripple, and I'll reach down again and try to.

You reach down, and your hand is once again repelled back with force. It's not as strong as it was before, but there is still a barrier protecting this pin. Must we all share a secret? It's hard to say, I suppose. Fine. I'll pull off my hood, and I'll step forward. Shepherd Yeah

Would you do me a kindness I guess that depends Could you hold my lantern Yeah of course Absolutely I do not wish To hold this Will I share my secret

I'll step forward I'll kind of shuffle past Victoria And look at the hairpin See the shadowy magic With the raven filigre I have doubts Not in my God

but in my cult's ultimate aim, not just doubts, I will be transparent. I will be honest and share this secret. I disagree with our cult's ultimate gain. Evil acts can be done by great societies, by great cultures, in lands such as this, committed by the high-born, undead, avian, or otherwise. But when the nature of your entire life, of your entire world, forces you, guides your hand,

does that make you worthy of a fiery death? Fiery genocide. I used to think that unwaveringly, yes, but now I do not. Now I do not wish to commit such a fiery massacre. And I am sorry to all that I have left behind at home. But my path is no longer with them. It is with you all here. No path but forward.

You see the shimmer once again radiate over the box. So you said that aloud to everyone, not in a whisper or anything like that. I know I've already done mine, but I feel mine was not nearly as. impactful as that so I left you the general there I said it I think shock are you not satisfied

with anything professor you fooled us all thank you you'll get your land my castle we can discuss the castle depending on how much you help us well

provide the box a secret to professor thank you I don't want to go you must professor this is going to stop you of all of our trials today this needs several secrets and mine's not needed

you are a fool if you think that is going to be the case I will go back at home in Inari many years ago now my master Tentecchi has told me but the blossom that blooms in adversity is normally the rarest and most beautiful I have not faced a greater adversity than what I have endured with all of you since we've entered Girovia.

I've learned so much and learned so much. I feel I have learned everything I can from my master. Although I am happy, but with your help, to which I'm indebted, we have saved him. And with Sergei's help, he is safely returned to the Abbey. return to the Abbey. I must secretly admit I no longer feel that pool I once had to return to my homeland, to my city, to prove myself and restore my reputation. When I know that the weight of that honor means more to me in this group that I treat and feel as true family, than those who have cast me out, a Ronan, traveling alone.

And I know now this is what it needs to no longer be alone. It was large. As almost rainbow light shines for just a second, as it ripples across the box. Kindred spirits, Kana. Yeah. I guess I'll go. No point in kicking the can down the road, as I say.

So Sharnax, you know, are the monsters that monsters fear, right? Yes. Well, I am the way that I am, and unfortunately, the way that I am is what caused my parents to get murdered in cold blood. And, of course, the doc took me in, and he took care of me, but that kind of set me on a path of avoiding most people. doing my own thing and learning what it took to to protect my small, my small village where I come from. And outside of the dock, I never really had friends, never really knew anybody and was pretty much a loner,

which is why I took up doing what I'd do. And you might think that my wish might be, or my secret wish might be that I wish I wasn't a T-Fling. But that's not it. I've come to peace with it now. I mean, I am who I am. My secret is that I wish I had learned to love myself a lot sooner, because then maybe I could have started my own family, and I wouldn't have gotten into all this,

and I wouldn't be here, and I might not die in this God's forsaken plane. That's really it. You look down at the box, you see again as it shimmers, the light undulating across the open, the open wood. There's still time yet, Shepard. Your story does not end here. He's right. I'm kidding, not too old to start a family now.

Married to the job, you know. It's no secret that I'm not entirely what I've seen. I've struggled my entire life with my darkness. It's a straining to understand what I am and what that means for my... balance in life and and over the years as the brides like to point out

I'm no spring chicken I have come to realize that this darkness may be too much for me to overcome and so I have come here for selfish reasons it seems that this place could be the perfect prison for me and since I've been here

I'm not entirely sure that I should leave. The undulating light ripples across the box is accepted your secret. We all have our choice, and it will be yours to make when the time comes. I will respect your decision, but we will miss you if you stay. Manu, I try to mage hand to the her man. The mage hand makes its way down and bounces off lightly. There's not much left of the barrier protecting him.

You want a secret? I've gone through too much. You turn back now. Sonax? I don't recall at Selinka Pass. When you asked me if I had a daughter, and I told you no. Yes, I do.

That was a lie. I do have a daughter. I have a young girl named Amelia. I have a wife named Clara and they're both at home waiting for me. I've hid this all from you, but that's not my secret.

My secret is that there's a reason why I hide it from you. When you do what I do, or when you've done what I've done, make enemies. As an archaeologist, I've done whatever it's taken to make the discovery,

to solve the puzzle, to gain the renown and the admiration of my colleagues of my peers of the university. I've sent a young boy in that headfirst into a tomb. I knew it was dangerous, but he had explored it. When he was killed by a dart trap, what could I have done? In chalk, I plundered countless artifacts from villages where it was all they had. had. But they belonged in a museum. They did no good rotting in the jungle. I've displaced entire villages and boggist my homeland to make room for a dig. People living there for centuries. And I forced the mountain, dug up everything they ever knew, because someone older and more

interesting lived there. And why? Why? Ambition. It was all worth it. The eternal pragmatist, the renown, the funding. My name in the papers, it was worth it. So I continued. Instead of stopping, I just hid my family. And here we are. My secret is my ambition has... Let us all here. It's led us into this prison. It's led me to do terrible things, and I still haven't looked. There was no motion in the box until the words, and I still haven't learned. Once again, the colors ripple, and this time you're met with the sound of beating wings. And that is one we'll in the session.

True. Here, such terrible secrets from those who are supposed to be heroes. In the grand scheme of things, am I really so much worse than our protagonists? I suppose, objectively, yes I am. But still, reading someone's diary and then stealing their mother's heirloom what they plan to murder them with it is pretty sinister, no matter how you approach it. Will they succeed in pilfering the hairpin in getting away with dealing in matters of death? in shadow? Find out in Chapter 19 of Cursus Tordania, the devil cried. In the meantime, if you wish

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