Legends of Avantris - Edge of Midnight | Ep. 14 | Not a Prisoner

Episode Date: August 6, 2024

After a tense meeting in the city bell tower, the party makes a horrifying discovery while infiltrating the jail...    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/zLY7f6QgghQ?si=83e8_kV2KbvsBlw_

Welcome to Legends of Evantris. I'm Nikki Scarlett and you're listening to Edge of Midnight. Here is what happened last time. You probably should have taken us with you, I think, because this was really not a safe place. I have an urgent message from the Inquisitor. She would like to see you now. There have been important things that have come to her attention.

You realize that there are about five knights' temple stationed around the cellar door to this tavern. You see the Archbishop begin to step up out of the cellar. I have recently had a meeting with the Archbishop and learned a few things that give me pause. Hugo cannot be controlled. Hope to find Zephring. The High Inquisitor believes she would be in the tower with Hugo. Hugo, looking in shock and anger as he constantly pulls on the bell, but you can see that he is convulsing and crying.

Hugo does not have Zephyrene. That gross pigeon lady everyone thinks is beautiful, has Zephyr. friend. So after all, twas kindness that calm the beast. No matter how sour we're feeling, sometimes all we need is a pick-me-up and turn over a new leaf as little help my friends. But then again, if y'all think that the power of friendship alone can save the day in this dark land, then you clearly haven't been paying attention. Well, at the very least, maybe it's bought our new sinful saviors some time, as poor little Hugo gets a brief reprieve from his familiar hell. As you look around this room, you have, Hugo has just calmed his fears for a brief moment,

long enough to look up at you shocked and blurt out that it's not the archbishop that has Zephyrine Mirabelle, but it is, in fact, the gross pigeon woman that everyone finds so attractive that has her. And just as quickly as he blurts out the world, You see his eyes a light in fear as he looks down and grabs on to the small train set that Jericho had just given to him. You see his lower lip begin to quiver as he begins to, as he begins to start shaking. And then he looks down, you see tears pouring out of his eyes as he pulls the hood even further down over his head. He begins to shake. Bad, Hugo, bad.

And he's watch as he smacks himself on the arm. Shouldn't have told them that bad Hugo bad. And he cries and cries and cries as he rocks and holds this small train in his arms. I'll be, as to the best of my ability, I know he's a massive dude. And so I'm just going to rock with him in silence and just sort of let him feel that he's not alone if I can.

Roll a persuasion check at advantage. Good thing to that advantage, I'll tell you. I'll have a dirty 20 on that. At first, he attempts to shake you off. As you can see, he just keeps saying the words, bad, bad, bad, over and over again. But you don't let him shake you free. As you hold on to him,

he begin to rub small circles on his back, and he continues to cry and he continues to sniffle, but he stops fighting you. He almost leans into you a little bit, and you can feel his shoulders, kind of collapse a little bit. He is clearly very emotionally distraught, and that is what he does.

I'll hum softly and sort of look at the other foot, like I'm otherwise preoccupied unless you need me for something. I will turn my back on Hugo and the bell and walk to the edge of the bell tower and look down to where, towards the prison and the jailhouse where the Inquisitor is, and put my hands on the bell tower ledge, ledge and snore. I'm very angry. How could we have been played like this?

Well, a perception check for me, please. Certainly. I knew that that woman was up to something, that she was evil, but I can't believe I allowed her to play me like this. I've underestimated her severely. My perception is a 16. You look out over the city and you can see what appears to be small groups amassing and coasters all around the the main circle. And I'd say, you can see that very clearly, because you're up at the top here and it's not that far away, that William Van Brunt is clearly up to something.

But it doesn't seem to be important enough for your eyes to linger as you have a target, and that is the jail or the goal. As you look over towards it, you see that though pigeons are flying all around the city, they're swarming around the jail. I'm gonna look over my shoulder at the rest of the group. It's the last thing that I do. I'm going to separate that witch's head from her body.

Well, now, the good news is, at least you didn't fuck her. I was in too soon. No, no. Sorry. That's an understatement, Briggsie. You're right. God's nose what would have happened if I'd fallen to temptation. Disgusting creature of the night.

Is he still ringing the bell? No. The bell, there was enough momentum. The bell's still swinging. It's just clanging at a much slower rate. But it is slowly, you imagine you've only got maybe five minutes or so before it completely stops ringing altogether. In this moment as Hugo takes the toy and Lefika is embracing him, and I guess if the bell is still kind of ringing, it suits my attention from Hugo. It'll step back and I'll see Hugo taking the, the train that I love so much, and then getting a very tender hug from Lathaca. And I will very, like, I'll kind of maybe flash up

and flare with kind of the demonic envy. And imagine probably Hugo being flayed alive. And then immediately, that was my dream, right? That was vision. I'm going all in on this. And then I'll stop. And I would say that every time the bell gongs, you all for a second feel almost overwhelmed

by that sin that you saw in your dream. For just a split second, Marius, the rage as you're looking out at the pigeon swarming around the jail is almost overwhelming, enough so that the hold you have on the stone at the top of this bell tower, your grip is enough to crack the stone for just a second. And then as it quiet, you feel

you're self-freeed from that wrath. But all of you deal with this for just a second. Well, maybe on second thought, I could probably take that. Never mind. You're not a half-bad fella. That train there is mighty special and only for good children and otherwise. You're a good fellow.

I'll turn around to, like, call myself. Hearing you said, I would roll a perception, or a persuasion check with what you're saying. to Hugo, yeah. He is very clearly, like, almost, almost completely broken. He feels... I have a... He feels... It's clear that he feels like he's let down the only person that he cares about or he believes cares about him by giving you information that you didn't have. And so he is tolerating Lethaca right now because her kindness is so pure, but he's really struggling, and it's easy to see that.

of 13. He looks down at the train in his hand. You go bad, Hugo no deserve things, and he tosses it into the corner and it doesn't break. But you see that as it lands, you see him wince as he looks towards it sadly, almost as if afraid that it was going to, and then you see him sigh and relief as he sees that it didn't break. But his lip trembles and the tears continue to pour

from his eyes as he reached. reaches towards it and then smacks his hand out of the way. He is not good enough for this gift, this nice, kind gift, this pristine toy. He doesn't deserve it. He doesn't believe he deserves it. And he pulls his hood down over his head just a little bit more, as if trying to hide from all of you.

What are we going to do? Well, Hugo ceasing to ring the bell is a good thing, but he cannot stay here. His life will be in danger if he doesn't follow whatever he was told to do. But this thing not ringing is probably for the best. I'll go towards the bell, and I assume it's pretty big, but would I be able to slow its sway from...

You could try to. Yeah. What? Okay. Like an arm. Some shit. I will try to slow the bell, unless Andy's face tells me. Roll an athletics check.

Are you just wrapping the metal of the bell, or are you, like, wrapping the red bell? I'm just giving it a DC to see how well you're trying to like you know kind of you know you know when you're trying to stop a kid on a swing rips your arm out of the socket I'm just gonna be like run direction direction with it you know you heated out the bell tower you shape change into a athletics you say yeah I think it's that athletic you you um I will say you grab onto the bell and you try and move with it and Uh, Hugo lets out a roar as you touch it and you jump back and he's loud and he sounds angry.

Um, no touch bell. And you jump back and you're not able to slow it that much. He seems very, very protective of it. I'm sorry. And as this happens, you hear from far off beneath you, a door open and a very familiar voice. Hugo It's the wrong voice, but Hugo

you better ring that bell as I have ordered you to do I don't hear it ringing loud enough, gargoyle Do not make me come upstairs And it's probably the loudest and most forceful you've ever heard the archbishop before, an loud slamming of a door

Lethaca in your arms, you can feel Hugo shaking. He doesn't know what to do. He doesn't know whether he should stand up and begin to ring the bell, but he starts inching towards it, constantly looking back and forth between you and the door.

Must go. Friends must go. Hugo in trouble. Hugo ring bell. And he's ringing his hands. He looks horrified. He's right. We can't stay here.

And we can't stop him from ringing that bell if that's what he wants to do. And I certainly don't want to endanger his life. If we can't convince him to run, which I don't think he will, we have to get out of here. I don't mean to doubt. We can trust what he says. We can't, but we at least have a lead.

And if he's right, and if what we're seeing and I'll motion to all the pigeons around the jail, are any indication. At the very least, that's where we need to start. And hopefully we find Zephyrie. Well, he's just saying, I'll agree. I think we should just leave him here and keep having him do his thing. And we have a way in, too. Which you...

Anyway, we described to you the whole seller excursion. The only problem is that is this game. It's very tricky. So we're going to have to figure out how to get through that game. If we want to hope to sneak our way in and take her out. Worst case, scenario, I'm not beyond blowing in the front doors and taking on a full-on assault. Back to the gate.

It just came from there. So tiresome. Well, I suppose that most of the guards are busy out in the city trying to keep peace, it seems. Hugo, how are you doing there, big fellow? You go bad. And as you look to him, you see that his crying is so verbose that snot and tears have matted on his hood and are now stuck to his. face and he's trying to peel it off and he's trying to wipe it clean and he sniffles and tries to

breathe when he can't catch his breath and he just looks as pathetic as they come Hugo. Hugo is not bad. You may feel that way now, but I am here to tell you that is not the case. If you want to ring the bell, do it because Hugo wants to. Listen to yourself. If you are hurting now, that is not because you are bad. It is because you are confused and sad.

You go hurt man because Hugo got stabbed. Hugo okay, friends were not okay. You go bad. You go tell secrets. May I help you with your wound? I'll lean down and I'll bear to myself and channel. Hands will flash in the moment. the moment of shadow and I'll cast cure wounds.

And he'll enjoy. He's significantly taller than you and you reach down to place your hand on the clearly open wound on his leg. And you begin to heal it and you watch as the dark shadowy magics almost writhed together and stitch up the flesh. And he looks down almost in shock, a beat of snot dripping from his nose. He sniffles it back up. And as you look up at him, I need you to roll a history check. Interesting. 13.

Okay. You look up into Hugo's eyes and they're clearly brimming with tears. But there is pure trust on his face. The healing that you've done to him, the comforting that you have been doing and working with him has clearly worked. and it is at this moment that you feel a big glob of tear fall on your cheek, but it didn't come from his eyes. And as you look up deeper into his hood, you see that Hugo clearly isn't half hill giant. But where there should be nothing but a forehead, there's a large, bulging eye. And though you've only read about these entities and books in your travels, it is clear that Hugo is half Famorian.

Half what? Phamorian. F-M-O-M-O-R-A-N. F-O-M-O-R-I-A-N. He has his normal set of eyes and a third? Yes. Oh, shit. I didn't understand that. Got it. He's a triclos.

Hugo, I've done what I can to heal your pain. The rest is in some ways up to you, but you are strong, I promise. I see great strength in you. And you have friends. Hugo has friends. We are your friends. That's right. He looks over you, Jericho, and then he looks towards the train,

and you see a look of sadness and want, but he doesn't say anything to you. As his lower lip quivers, and he turns back to you, and he kind of nods, Lefkin, he says, Hugo has friends. And that's going to be our secret. I wouldn't give my prized possession to someone who wasn't my friend. So you got a friend in me.

You got a friend in me. Friends have friends. Oh, yeah. No, that's exactly right. Hugo stands up, and he looks down at his wound, and he runs his hand along it, and you see a smile on his face at first. And then he reaches down with his large finger, and he boots you on the nose. Ferman Toll.

Unlock magic lock with four. Burminton. You have helped us a great deal. Thank you, Hugo. Friends, be safe and come back and see Hugo. As soon as we can. He reaches down, he picks you up, and he holds you to him, and squeezes you. It's kind of painful.

You feel like if he squeezed a little bit more, he'd probably crack your spine. And you're getting snot all over the side of your robe as he just rocks back and forth. and forth. Thank you. And he puts you down. And then you hear a door open beneath you. Hugo, ring the bell, gawgill. He drops you quickly. Friends go. Let's go. Let's go. All right. Just stare away we came, eh? Yes. I'll just, you know, motion to the rope. Oh, start. And while they're climbing down the rope, I'm gonna do a really awesome anime slide down the thing like one hand with my feet and just I'm vengeance I'm ready to go I'm fucking breathful shit I'm sliding down the belt's out hugo Hugo begins to usher you towards the edge and you hear that the door does not slam you instead hear the footsteps the hurried heavy thuds of the archbishop's footsteps as he begins to climb up the probably one story of this tower that he's he's heading up to as Hugo begins to push you out and help you over some of you he picks up and

sets on the other side. And then he immediately grabs the rope and begins to start ringing. And as he does, you all feel overwhelmed by your respective sins for just a second. But you feel like being in here and being so

close to the sound itself that you've almost, you've resisted it enough that even though it still lingers, that it's not going to be able to overtake you the way it has the rest of the city. And you begin to descend. Just before I descend, as I'm crossing the threshold.

I'm going to just whisper as quickly as I can to Hugo. Hide your new train toy. And then I'll descend down. You say this. And so as you begin to descend, you hear the footsteps of Hugo as he lets go of the rope and begins to rush to the corner to grab his train, just as you hear the door opening.

And you hear the voice of the Archbishop. Or I would say some of you are probably high enough to even look in. see as the archbishop makes his way into the room. He is covered, he is in his finest regalia. And in one of his hands, he has a large pink frosted pastry, which looks to be in the shape of a heart, clear bite marks taken out of it. It's filled with a raspberry custard of some sort. As he bites into it, chews and licks his lips. As he watches, Hugo, walk to the corner of the room, retrieve his new train.

And you watch as Hugo stops. And he looks down, Hugo ring bell. The archbishop taps his foot. He takes one more bite as he licks his lips, getting frosting, a coating far outside the perimeter of his lips. As he looks towards Hugo and he, and he says, You have not been ringing the bell like I asked, Hugo.

Have you been playing with toys? Hugo bows his head. Have you been crying, you pathetic, weak thing? Ring the bell as you were told, and you hear as his boots stomp on the stone. Is this the toy you were playing with, gargoyle? No, Hugo cleaning. I told you you had one job,

and you hear the sound of the train cracking. and crunching beneath the boot of the archbishop. Hugo lets out a yell, a almost like a whale, like a beaten animal. He's clearly heartbroken at the sight of this train being crushed beneath the boot of the archbishop. Where did you get to this thing? It's far too clean for the likes of you, Hugo.

Do as you're told, and you will be fed. You will be loved. You will be cared for. Continue to disobey me. And we might have to see how you would handle being alone. You wouldn't want to spend your nights in solitude, would you, Hugo? No, friend. Then ring the bell, Hugo, and do not stop.

And with a loud stomping, you hear as the archbishop turns from Hugo and slams the door as he makes his way back into the cathedral. not realizing that you're still so close, lets out another wail of sadness. And you can see as he rushes over and grabs the pieces of the broken train, and he tries to put them back together to no avail. Tears once again start pouring out of his face.

And you hear him say, Good luck, friends. You go miss you. I let that way out. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I suppose is this guy. Get it hurt him.

He makes his way back to the bell and begins to ring it. And with that, the bell begins to ring again. And it is the only sound loud enough to drown out Hugo's sobs as he cries over the loss of his friends and the loss of his train. As he continues to ring the bell. And you all steal yourselves knowing that as awful as this, situation is that your best way to help Hugo is to deal with a situation at hand and that there is something far more sinister in this land and she resides within the jail. And you all are easily able, I'm not going to make you roll for it, you're easily able

to scale down the side of the cathedral, taking the similar path to the one that you had taken up. So when we get to the ground. we climb back up and kill the bishop. Exactly. What is it? We got, you know, we're all out of bubble gum. We're gonna kick ass and all that.

I don't know. Yeah, well, we're all out of bubble gum. We're gonna kick some ass. When you make it to the bottom, you are on the side of the cathedral that leads off into yet another one of those a small, dark and dingy alleyways. You can easily dart into it.

You'll have cover to do what you need to. do what you need to do and make your plan going forward. Well, we've learned a lot from Hugh. Hugo's a lot more perceptive than we give him credit for. I wonder why that is. It's been, Kelly's got a hood that it instructs his vision. Oh, and so I would say Lethaca, the little bit that you know about from Orions is that they do have that third eye and that grants them the luxury of true sight.

And so it is through that eye that he was able to distinguish one. But Mayville looked like. And that Famorians are fake creatures. Did everyone see the eye? No, just you. He always keeps his hood on. And so it normally covers the tops of his eyes, but because of how close he allowed you to get to him

and that you were right down here fixing his leg, when you looked up, you were able to see up into the hood and see that eye. He's like Philonians from Shrek. He has it like leather executioner's hood, right? Kind of. Jettico, I think he sees much more than any of us realized. He has a third eye.

Can you see why kids love cinnamon toast? Your patience is adamant. Before we run deep. I hate you. I hate you. And you see a look on his face when he's like, you've activated my trap. That's exactly right.

Yes, Jericho. He can see why children love this cinnamon toast crust. God, she really can see everything. No, you don't understand. He's a Femorian. He's not half giant. He's half Femorian.

Oh, he's half Fomorian. So when he's not like one of them half gross hensians. What's that? I don't know what a Totson is. Oh, a Femorian is. Oh, a Fajon. Oh, that's crazy.

Huh? You don't say. You know what? Roll a history check at advantage. Because I'm technical, Faye. Yeah. That's why I'm doing it at advantage. Yeah. He certainly wields an awesome power.

We have a way into the jail. Um, fomento. What was the pimento? Vermintole. Vermin toll. Vermin toll. The, like vermin, T-O-L-L. Like, wow, those vermin sure do

do take a toll. Like, vermin tied the video game. I'm a vermin tole you. Like, I'm vermin tole. Don't make me vermin toll you again. Well, hell go. What did you get? I got a 14.

I would say that's enough. You, um, you, you've definitely heard of Femorian. I don't think you would know any more than what Lethica has read in her books. But you would be familiar with, with Femoreans, or at least have heard of them. It's gross. We, we have much, perhaps. even to learn from Hugo about his history and I hope to get him out of that place and out of the command of the Archbishop as soon as possible but I think we need to head to the jail straight away well that explains why so lumpy oh anyway we should really get going yes as long as we all agree that when we come back

we're going to kill the archbishop. And I'm going to repair his train. I mean, that seems like quite a leap. If Hugo knew my inquisitor was the hag, would that not mean that the archbishop knows as well? He's in league with her. Possibly he doesn't know. Well, Hugo himself said that everyone thinks she's mighty purdy, and if he's mostly talking to the Archbishop,

then I presume the archbishop thinks she's mighty purdy, given the old loving in a tavern cellar by the aerosmiths. Exactly right. I mean, look, the guy's not a nice god. He's a dick, obviously. But, I mean, he won't be, you know, does he even know why he's telling you got to ring the bells? Maybe it's some kind of charm. Maybe some kind of, like, Hags spell. I would agree. You don't think Hugo would tell him. Seems to be the only person

he trusts aside from us. But maybe he's like, oh no, Hugo, you're stupid. You don't know what you're talking about. She's real hot. I don't want to feel bad about, you know, me, you know, having fun. Being a dick.

Being, you know, sticking things in certain areas that maybe might seem to be. questionable if she was a horrible, disgusting pigeonag? At the end of the day. Regardless of the situation, the people in charge here have been doing incredibly evil things

and killing untold numbers of people. We deal with the witch, and then justice will come to the Archbishop, whether we deliver to France. And I'm not necessarily saying we kill him, but justice will be served. He must pay for his crimes. Well, here's the thing. Remember, Archbishop

He's a member of Philip's court, right? So we can't just go murder the guy and be like, hey Philip, we killed the archbishop And he's like, oh hey, it's me. What did you do that? I'm not so fond of Philip right now either, to be honest. We were sent here to cleanse this area of witches.

If the bishop is under their command and we can't break him free, we cleanse witches. We find a counteness call. Let us see what happens once we have killed this pigeon witch, this pig and pigeon hag. Let us see what has happened. It's big. Pick up, pick up.

Anyway, he's a proof of. Once he may be freed from whatever enchantment or whole of the, our High Inquisitor has on the Archbishop once this is once we have killed her. It is really hard to talk. I don't know what's happening tonight. I'm feeling it too. Do you think it's some sort of magical enchantment or perhaps voodoo hex or otherwise?

Or is it just on account that she's got some very nice thighs? I just said it. I'm just going to say it. She's got quite nice thighs. I expect that it is magical in nature, but that it's probably the thighs doing the casting. Garsh, when it worked on me in the beginning, I'm glad that she didn't, wasn't too fond of me

on account of me being a horrible, unholy construction. On that point, I want to apologize, Marius. I encouraged you to consider the power of the position that was being offered to you, and I should not have pushed. No, I, please, no one here owes me an apology. I was foolish. I overlooked the obvious. I underestimated it.

her. I couldn't have, I should have known. And I'm disappointed in myself. It's incredible that I still was able to find strength in Lathander and that he is still by my side. Let us see if we can find her and let us be sure that she is a hag before we take any extreme actions. We only have Hugo's word on this and even though I believe he believes what he said, we cannot be certain well I guess the question is does that mean that this pigeon

that the High Inquisitor is also Mother Midnight? I mean I don't know too much about hags and witches but I understand them based on all this is that different well that's very true I know hags but not night hags but still

they're similar to they're different kind of creatures than just powerful human type folk I mean, that begs the question, and they have 13 witches. And we haven't even seen a single one outside of the three good witches and the three hags. None of those are the witches that Philip was talking about, right? We're not doing a great job being Philip's midnight witch hunters. I had assumed that we had killed two of the witches that Philip spoke of, but that they were actually hags. Um, I guess we'll find out.

Either way, this land is in far deeper trouble than we could ever have guessed. Are we making our way through the alleys? You don't like it? I would say we're moving quickly. We're skulking while we're talking. We're working towards the cellar door. And I did give Doorbrim the crow bar. Yes, I know.

I'm keeping an eye on for the townsfolk to like make sure that like we're not provoking. Because if they're fucking cuckoo-cananays at this point. I'm making sure that I'm keeping an eye out for any more skinny dudlies or non-skinny dudlies, any dudley of any variety. Roll a perception for me. And I'd say roll it, roll it an advantage given what you had seen from up in the... Damn it. One of the commoners that just comes up, it's like, hey, mask lady, you want to have some...

Get the fuck out to my face. 26. That actually does happen. You are, on occasion, commoners are, the people of Cyril are coming up to you and trying to get, enjoy lascivious acts with you. You have to keep pushing them away. It's almost like a, it's, they're overcome with lust and you, at least for a while, were the heroes of Cyril and you are a prize to be won.

But what catches your eye, Jericho, as you're making your way. way through the streets is that you keep hearing whispers, whispers at first, and then it gets louder and louder. The name McDuff on the wind. Until eventually, as you're rounding a corner, you see what appears to be a large amassing of serillions, and at the very center on a soapbox is none other than William Van Brunt and his little lackey Percy Phipps. Phipps

is passing out what appears Percy is passing out what appears to be pamphlets as William Van Brunt is exclaiming wildly that the horrible witch Maggie McDuff has clearly escaped the confines

of the city. And tomorrow, next day, they'll be amassing a large witch hunt to head out into the forest and bring back her head. Anyone who's anyone. You want to prove your innocence that you're not a witch? Then sign up with Percy Phipps. Hand on Yorkerum's shoulder.

We're a fucking dumb asshole. I'll give him a gentle but firm squeeze on his shoulder. And I'll say, Yoram, remember what we discussed. Yes. You will have your chance. I promise you that. Always aid. Give the children knives.

I want you to take him out right now. I do. Okay, let you go. What? We must be careful. If we draw the ire of this entire town before we deal with the hag, it may cause severe issues and extra casualties that we do not want to deal.

Wait a minute, doesn't he know that we took care of Maggie Macbilt? This is how it is this a filthy sack? I can't. know if the High Inquisitor has spread the news yet, or if she's intending on keeping that secret and I don't have proof anymore. I gave her the proof. Wait, let's not fuck with these guys. They're just peasants, they're just filthy peasants. What proof did you give for her? The wedding ring. I gave her Maggie's wedding ring. I wondered why I was still in my

the um, Billy Brunt yells out, um, she killed your children. Now arm those that live. Give the children knives. We march in the morning. I hate him. Does Percy Phipps come up to us at all? They don't notice that you're there. You imagine if they notice that you were there, it would be a real problem. Percy is handing out pamphlets.

He also, you notice that at his side, he has a bag that's filled with like rusted knives and cutlery and things that he's passing out to children. And he also seems to have a wooden, Rusty knives? Yeah. He also has a essentially like a wooden clipboard

that he's taking down signatures for the people who are pledging themselves to join the witch hunt tomorrow for Maggie MacDuff. Here you go, kids. Ooh, if your jaw feels tight in three days, let me know. If we're unable to like just

see a pamphlet or pick one off the ground, I'd like to send Virgil to fly off and like just try to get a pamphlet. I would say you can easily do that. Virgil, why don't O.C., Why don't you fetch it over there, so I don't have to bend over. Okay, thanks, Virgil. What you see is basically,

a lot of things aren't spelled correctly. You can tell that it wasn't the smartest person who put these together. Classy. This is very well-reged. But the front of it has a rough sketch of what you imagine is supposed to look like Maggie McDuff, but she has buck teeth, a bulbous, warded nose. And it says Murder MacDuff.

on the inside it lists that in the morning they're planning on meeting at the gates to march out into the forest with pitchforks and torches and they will find McDuff they know she's hiding out there somewhere they'll kill her string her up and bring her head back to to town to put it on display at the town center and then there is a rough drawing of a human figure that says how to how to discern a witch Three teats, extra eyes, extra limbs, an extra finger on each arm or on each hand, which is known as the witch's finger, that they float if they're put into water. They cannot be forced to vomit, so try and make them puke. If they puke too much, they're a witch. If they don't puke enough, they're also a witch. If they don't puke at all, they're definitely a witch. If they puke a little bit, they're still probably a witch. And it's all ridiculous.

Gosh, I feel like this, this Percy fella might be, have a darker soul than even old, old Billy. Here you go. I think I might be a witch. I actually think that that's confirmed. Farron. No gag reflex. No. Overactive gag reflex.

It all counts. Do you think that you could be a witch and not no race? Any unusual moles? A witch. I don't think that's the kind of thing that happens by accident. Jericho. Affinity for animals. I'm not a witch. Ah, it's a witch.

It's a witch. It was a joke. It's kind of an inopportune time to be a joke. I was trying to lighten attention. I like jokes. You want to hear another frog-related joke? That's all I've got lately for some reason. Go on. It was Jeremy.

Jeremy the frog's birthday. And his father looked at him and said, Jeremy, today you become a real man frog. Happy birthday. It's where you go? Is that it? I raised a bunch dog. No, I just thought of it on the spot.

Oh, so where you go? Thank you. Let's try to avoid the double you word while we make our way through these public streets. People are getting close and dancing. Oh, which. I'll put kind of like, if anyone comes up to Lethika, I would kind of hearing that bell, like, put a protective hand on her and then just kind of step in front of her, because I assume no one's coming after this nasty thing. No, no, they're not. No, they're not. It's really the ones that they're eyeing are Lethika and Mary. One for a group, walking with a dead tape to her.

I would like, look and say, now, you mind your manners and watch them hands. And I'm like, like, taxiderving. I'll turn my banjo around like a prod. Get out of here, you peasant. I mean, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, but you are literally peasant. Your grim, your patience is admirable. Good job holding back. William von Brunt will get his stay.

I promise you. I just don't understand why he drew a self-porture on the front of this brochure. It's not quite ugly, not though. I promise to stand by your side and take him down if you help me with your inscription. Mm-hmm. It's at that moment that you hear William Van Brunt call out.

Um, and those pathetic witch hunters sent here by Philip Druskenwald. What have they done for this city? Worthless, talentless hacks. But no fear, Cyril. For Billy Brunt is here. And he flexes his muscle and you see his rippling muscle in his thigh. muscle in his thighs, he places it on top of the soapbox. And I will protect you from the witches.

With my handsome facade and my immaculately carved body, that group of worthless hacks have nothing on billion phips. And everyone cheers and claps. You're at least 15% body fat. Pessing shows. Go to God. Frucial! I bet you can't bitch, bitch, too.

Oh. And with that, the cheers of the people drown out the rest of his words. He's clearly high on the attention and the admiration. And he doesn't seem to notice you as you restrain yourselves and control yourself and make your way back out into the back streets of syrup. and it doesn't take long before you eventually stumble towards the inn, and you do see that it is significantly less guarded. There seems to be no one around these parts of the streets.

But as you look down the street towards the jail, you see that clearly more guards have been called home as they are filling the streets. Well, if all else fails, perhaps him talking ill of Lord Dreskenball getting arrested. I don't know if this is that kind of place, but usually talking to him of the Lord of the Land is, Oh, there the people, go ahead.

No. Not a land care too much for Philip Orler, including the guards. They should be a bit more respectful. He's got a mighty nice carriage in suit. Anyways, he's got a very pretty wife too. I got a cane that was able to kill it. It grows weasel very easily.

And really nice hair. And that thing he uses for Waka. I assume we steal over to the solar. What is he in the water today? Quimpy, edgy one liner about leverage. I break the locko. Ben, after 10 minutes. Are we doing the sound thing or we're just going to kick the door in?

Nobody's there, right? Doesn't seem like there's anyone around. You looked down the street because you're not too far from the jail here. And you do look down the street to see it would be possible to sneak your way in and just barge in the front door. But you see that it looks like the High Inquisitor has called a large portion of the guards and Inquisitor's home as they are patrolling the streets around the direct perimeter of the jail. But this is far enough out. These streets seem to be deserted. And what's the pigeon situation around this?

Most of the pigeons seem to be swirling around the jail. It says of all the pigeons have been called home. Something is clearly happening at the jail. We will get that William Van Brut, I promise you. Oh. Oh, no. And we'll save Zephyrine and we'll reunite her with Colette. And although poor Francois met Hugo and

in the field of combat and lost very different. At least, at least, oh, my love. At least he'll be reunited. And we'll make it all better in your group. Don't you worry? I think that's a little too soon. I'm not gonna lie.

I'm sorry. Oh, my God. Andy is not Marius's stone face Seeing all these gallows Is giving me the case Of the gallows humor I apologize

Do your thing with the thing Is the lock on that thing Yeah it was He mended it Yeah he was mending to repair it I don't know I'm very sneaky I'm very sweet

And then way to go I'm breaking you As I watch the Orgram Smash the thing And I will say Now Virgil We'll keep you out here And keep an eye out

And if anything, if you see anyone coming behind us, let us know. And I know you've been hungry on account on you not eating any flesh for a few days that I know of. Why do you just go get some pigeon? Get some roasted pigeon is actually a very expensive delicacy in some parts of the vansions. So enjoy. So he'll keep watch. He will keep a watch. He will keep a watch.

And you are able to make your way down into the cellar. And as you do, you see that the remnants of the trist that you had spotted just earlier in the day have been completely cleaned up. There is no sign of that any further. And it takes a little bit of looking around. You don't remember the exact spot on the floor where you had found the trap door. But you are able to, for the most part, quickly look around and find the loose stones. And you are able to pull them out and show those. those who had not been here, the descent into, or I guess that was just Marius, the descent into the underbelly of the city itself.

And with the quickness, you all descend down into the subterranean tunnels, replace the trapdoor above your heads, and begin to make your way towards the gate. And it takes that 15 minutes or so before you find yourself back at the gate, the gate that nearly bested you all, Wait, do you think you should be the one to say it? I don't think that it matters. It might not listen to him. It might only respond to a certain person that becomes right. I think that you wrote us to deal with the comfort and you should be the one to treat. I'm not saying that because I want you to get blown up or anything.

Well then step back then. You're very wise. I'll look at the lock and I'll try to get a sense. Is it look unchanged or in the same position? It looks exactly the same. It's not before. Vermin tone. And as you say the words, you all watch as Lepika's eyes glow a lilac purple. Her mouth drops open and pigeons begin to spill out of her chest.

You feel incredible pain as your head explodes. I'm just feeling. I was like, wait, she didn't. I will say, your eyes do glow that same lilac color for just a second, and then all of you hear a soft click. Nice. And a brr as the gate swings open maybe three or four inches. Wow.

You get someone down here with a W&D 40 cans. Look at that thing's right away. It's weird. That's good. Ginger Lill, I'll reach up and. touch the gate and continue to open your flesh melts away damn it dicky um and then well he looks at me like I'm gonna touch the gate is a game I don't know you've touched it before I heard of the Monday exploded by the

game you were able to touch it but when you do no hag business I'm not checking for traps I might as just like, she could... I'm just like, well, you know, if you're going to ask me scared like that, then yeah, your skin's going to melt away. Oh, gosh, I just realized vermin tol, like their vermin, a centipede, a weasel, and a pigeon,

and tol like the tolling of the bell that's key to their plan, most likely. Oh. A little on the nose. I just realized it. Thanks, Mike. I'll forget it was like a, like a breech toe. like paying the toll.

Yes, some sort of payment. Passage. Oh, that could be it too. Perhaps the price of human sacrifice. Anyway. Let me try a different password. Plot. That was a great session. We'll see you next week.

Legends of Evandras. Good night. And on the other side of the gate, there is a tiny worm shuffles for a I would like to step through the gate. Oh, it's over. I was just slamming her head in the door. Oh! How dare you bring him up here?

I am so sorry. Why is this so close to me? Don't stand. Don't stand so close to me. So what the hell are you gonna do? We walk through the threshold. Yeah, we walk into the other side, let's go. At least.

It's exactly what you saw. It seems to be a network of tunnels. You make your way through them, and you eventually get to a point where there are four different pathways that you can take. And through guesswork, et cetera, you choose one of the paths. And you eventually find that most of these lead to other businesses within cereal, different inns or shops or things of that nature. And for the sake of brevity and whatever is happening here tonight,

you are easily able to juice that it seems like a way for the High Inquisitor to quickly move people in and out of the jail without being detected. Things as simple as giving people a word, take your friend to the spa today, and they show up. I just made it up, Mike, all right? A family member who believes that their sister is a witch.

A family member who believes that their sister is a witch. And so they take their sister to the spa and they are then taken into the jail against her will, that kind of thing. It is very clearly for an affairst reasons. You see different areas where there are shackles, manacles to keep people locked down here. You are met with a handful of doors that have the same marking on them that you are able to use the verminable word to open up and traverse. and it seems like this extends quite a way through the city, but not throughout the entirety of the city. One of the things I would say you would probably look for is to see if there's a way to get to the cathedral and it does not look like there is. They do not seem to be connected.

Does this system of tunnels A feel sewery at all or disconnected? Okay. So there's a smell and one and down channels. It feels sewery in the sense that like there are clearly rats. down here. There are some pungent smells where you imagine the guards might on a, I would say you on occasion find

areas where there are stored wine casks or ale casks where it looks like the guards knowing that they're not allowed to drink as much might sneak down here at night and have a party and get together with their friends and probably piss in the corner. So you smell that.

It's pretty gross. Why would they make pancakes. What? I didn't say anything about pancakes. That's what we said last time when the bishop was having sex with the horrible. Oh, wow. It's called a cold back to you. Wow, that was a long walk. Yeah, so they're making, uh,

discussing pancake batter pancakes. What's all the spurn cake batter? It's high protein. The pancake batter or sperm? Says lethic garlic batter because of the sperm. Oh. I've lost control. Is there any way to deduce like...

No. I'm sweating. It's 71 degrees in here. I think it was from the strain. Well, just put some flour down your pants. Two hours. He's telling us to eat pineapple. for pineapple pancakes.

So can you deduce what? Oh, does the network of tunnels look like it's been handmade or like it was magically? It looks like it was handmade. Oh, okay. It's probably been here for many, many, many, many years. So this is straight up Cyril underground,

but it's now been enclosed by... Yeah, you imagine that there's probably, you know, So yeah. Cool. I don't know what I was going to say. I was thinking prohibition. Speak easy. They're probably speaking here.

Yeah, oh, cool. Okay. Just for the hell of it. I would like to, as we go through the, presumably I have an idea on my head what Zephrin looks like, or maybe she wears, like, a common outfit. Just as we go,

I'd like to see if there's any kind of, like, you know, some across, like, like a torn-off piece of, like, a frock or anything that might be like, oh, that looks like a trapping. I would say roll an investigation check and we'll see what you find. 19.

You keep your eyes out and you do find bits of cloth. You find a missing, you find a small child's shoe that clearly is blood-stained, but it's just the one. You find a pair of gloves and things of that nature, but none of them seem to be related to Zephyray. Do we hear anything else as we're moving around the field? Down here, it seems to be completely quiet at this point. So I guess, I would gesture to Marius, and I'll say, well, can you, you lead the way because you got the shield and the sword.

Of course. And you've been in the direction, well, I guess we've all been in the direction of the jail, but do you have any sense of where the jail might be if we're trying to find a trap door upward? I don't think I'd have any better guess than you would or anyone here rather than just my general sense of direction. I certainly haven't been down in these tunnels before. I suppose my goal is, though, once we're working together find which direction we probably need to go,

either by process of elimination as quickly as we can. My hope is that if this leads up to her chambers, we get the drop on her. Perhaps we can confirm her true nature while her guard is down. there may also be some other connection down here to a deeper layer. I imagine she doesn't do all of her business in her

quarters. Right. Chirico, do you have a sense of where Virgil is right now? I believe I do. I think he's just at the building above the seven. So if you could point to him at this very moment would you be able to do that and accurately go?

He's in that direction or that. I don't think I have a waypointed, you tell him. You could try. I would like to, do I have a waypoint to virgin? Like an arrow. I was using your communication ability. Hmm. I mean, because you could sense it like a spell.

Sure. Put your heads up this one. For the sake of brevity, yes, definitely. Oh, no, yeah. You feel like you could sense him. You have like three more hallways to go down. and you think that you'll be there. Well, that was very good thinking.

We can use him like a compass. I just thought if Virgil would fly above the prison, we would be able to use him like a compass. At the very least, we can orient ourselves based on where he is right now. Exactly. Oh, yeah, no, I think we're actually right. Oh, there's the door, garch.

I have led the way. You have. Between Virgil and Marius, I would say your sense of smell. As you get a couple of hallways away, you catch a whiff of a familiar story. smell. The perfume that was nearly intoxicating in the bedroom of the High Inquisitor. It disgusts me now.

And as you walk closer and closer, as you walk further and further down the hallway, it is even more aromatic until you eventually get to the end of a tunnel with a wooden ladder that leads up in the trap door clearly visible. Do you smell that? What? I would say nobody else can smell it. Oh, no. No.

That's what I meant to say. You didn't remember that. I mean, the rest of you can smell. The rest of you can smell urine and pancakes and other things, but you can't smell. Oh, yes, the pancakes and the urine. No, no, no, no. Behind all of that, I can smell her perfume. We're getting close.

But her chambers were absolutely drenched in stuff. We're getting closer. What did it have notes of? I tell him, because my nose is just, That got to. Lavender, lavender, rose, and Pergamont. Oh.

They guys. I didn't think to ask. That sounds really nice. Yes. Yes. Gosh. So it's right up here, then we can probably assume.

Or at least we're getting more closer. This is at least under the prison. Well, following the theme, follow your nose wherever it goes, Marius. Where do you think this will bring us up, there is? I couldn't be to guess, honestly. Did you see anything in her chambers that might hide it

door. Well, I mean, her entire bed chambers were hidden by a door. It was as if there was a sliding entrance to her personal chambers in her office. So it wouldn't shock me if there were dozens of entrances and doors like that all over the jail. I would say that you know that her room is at the very

top of the jail. And this is clearly ground level, if not a level lower. Yeah, I'm assuming that we're going to pop out somewhere in the jail and we're going to have to figure out where we are. We're not going to like end up right now. The gale. Yes, the gaol. The gaol.

I am, I would bet a large amount of gold pieces that this does not need directly to hurt her office or dead jeers. It should spit us out somewhere in the prison and we'll orient ourselves from there. But be ready for a fight. I'm gonna go up a few runs on the ladder and just press my ear to the truck door and see if I hear anything. Roll perception check. Yes, my.

US, sir. I can tell you. I'm gonna start, I'm gonna start averaging your rolls. Derek's bullying me. What is your word? It's like, two, four, four, six, two, two, three, two. I get a ten. Yeah, you don't hear anything.

You listen, but, and it's, and that's kind of comforting, it's, it sounds quiet. It sounds like there's no movement, you don't hear the sounds of boots on the floor, you don't hear anything. hear anything. Are we ready? Yes. When we open the door, we need to get up quickly and orient ourselves in case we're going to become face-to-face with any of the guards. They're not going to take kindly to us being in there unannounce.

I will reach forward and I'll touch your shoulder. We are all together on this, but you need a little extra help. I will make you advantage on stealth. Yes. Thank you, Lothika. On the count of three. Three, two. Okay.

There you go, squint out. Who's grim? And you're grim. You are grim. And you lift the, you lift the track door up, and you immediately spill out into this room.

And your noses are salted with that scent, the smell of the perfume, the rose, the lavender, the bergamots. And your eye, it takes a second for your eyes to adjust. You've been in these incredibly dark, subterranean tunnels for almost two and a half, maybe three hours at this point, traveling as they move this way and that trying to get your bearings. And you spill out into this room and the soft flickering candlelight is almost intoxicating

mixed with the perfume as you breathe it in. And you look around and you see that you're in what appears to be a bedchamber. And it is small, especially in comparison to the bedchamber, you know the High Inquisitor sleeps in. But it is incredibly lavish, far more than you would expect. A beautiful red velvet four poster bed sits up against the wall, a heavy rosewood carved armoire in the corner, a beautiful elaborate writing desk with a high-backed leather chair.

This is a beautiful, beautiful room, and it is clearly lived in, and comfortably so. I should have taken that pet menus. Is this the High Inquisitor's quarters? It's not as shocked as I am to see this, and as lavish as it is, this is nothing compared to her area. Mm. So does her smell. Yes, very much so. It's beginning to become nausea. I would say roll a group investigation shot.

So who the fuck sleeps here? Maybe she's all bedrooms all over the prison. What was the show? A investigation. Yeah, nine. Nets two. Oh. Okay.

Okay. Oh. 10. 16. It's because they're missing. 21. 16's over here. 15.

Nine. Verlethika. Ferrit. That was the joke. Devastating. It makes me more than you do that. Devastate. Devastate.

Devastated. Devastated. It was dry, like, But you know that he means it. With that, the group perception check was, I would say, it evened out in your favor. You look around the room and your attention is drawn to the desk, where you see papers about people being brought into the jail and things of that nature, the guards rotation, et cetera.

And it becomes clear to you that this is the bedroom of the captain of the guard. guard and the captain of the Inquisitors. And you rummaged through the armoire and you notice that it is here really where that sense's coming from as all of the outfits in the, they're basically casual outfits for off-duty are just soaked in this perfume. And then you get a whiff from the bed. Clearly, the bed itself is coated in this perfume. And as you look towards the bed, it is then that you see it.

Something, some form, some large shape just under the velvet coverlet that is shifting and moving. Slowly at first, and then a quick jerky movement this way. Almost as if it's trying to remain hidden. but with that group perception check, I'll say you're easily able to see that there's definitely something moving beneath the cover. Gosh, I'm already scared. Be prepared for any horrific hag magics. It could be anything. I'll take my...

I'll put my shocker. We don't think it's group spider babies again, do we? He's like, dynum. Shakra. I'll, um... I'll, um... I'll take... My staff with the long antlers on it and take a corner into the covers and slowly.

Please don't be spider babies. You put your antler-headed staff at the tip of the coverlet and you slide it under and you slowly begin to move it up. And then quickly you toss it over. And just as you do, immediately shooting out of the bed is this two-foot-tall pigeon creature with a human face and human hands and feet as it looks at you and squeals, and then shoot straight up towards the ceiling. You can tell that it's flying, but it feels like it almost propels like a rocket.

And as it collides with the ceiling, it turns towards you its neck, completely rotating 180 on its spine as it looks down at you and smiles and then squeezes through the tiniest crack. A crack that you couldn't even imagine it could fit to, and it's almost as if the bones inside of it just turned a jello as it melds its way into the walls.

You have clearly seen this hags familiar. I could tell you its name and I'm not going. Fabulous. And in the moment that it flew up, looked at us and disappeared, we were somewhat ready. Yeah. Can I frisbee my chakram and try to give it some action? Just a regular attack roll?

If you would all like to do that, you're welcome to me. You will be rolling at disadvantage because it's insanely fast. I'm too startled to do anything. Yeah. I'm too grossed out. My fabulous venues. Disadvantage? I will say.

He doesn't stop to tell us his name. He, he, he have met. I name is Stinky Brian. I like the parents. You're a good one. You're Gerald. Well, far there goes, fragrant Terrence. Fragrant Terrence.

Fragrant Terrence. Yes, Lone, as fast as a shrew. And what I will say is those of you that aren't attacking, which is everyone else, you can clearly see the flu and stains all over the sheets of this bed. Oh. God damn it. Pissy Thomas.

14. 14, and that is not enough. Well, I would say you are able to throw your chakrum. It does not find purchase on it as it darts out of the way. But you hear this guttural pigeony laugh as its humanoid face, which looks so abnormal on this pigeon body, as it smiles, its teeth gnarled and yellow, as it sloops into this small crevice

between the stalled on the same. And where it once was, there are now six or seven floating pigeon feathers that slowly waft in the air. You've blown our cover. She's certainly going to be more ready for us. Yes, I. What do we do?

We hurry. We've got no choice, there's no point to really steal anymore. Let's go then. We haven't snuck up on one of them. yet. The other two are dead. Well set. That's a really good point. And I have to say, I feel like

I've been real hard on Virgil. I keep calling him a weird and gross bird. He's not weird and gross at all compared to that thing. He's like quite a handsome, normal-looking crow compared to that thing.

Let us quickly see if there's anything of value here beyond just living accessories. And then we, maybe we've Ask Virgil to go to another location and we can track him in that way. Oh, yeah. But I'll do you.

And I want to start just... Can I find a perfume bottle? I would say that the smell that you are smelling is... It is clear that he's banging the Thigh Inquisitor. Often. And that her scent... The... No.

No. The captain. And that her scent is all over his clothes and the sheets. And it is so much so, maybe even so recently, that her scent's lingering here. But I wouldn't say that she has, she would have left a perfume bottle here. Is the captain's room Spartan? Like, is there anything that would be interested in Lethaca or can we just run out? I would say you probably just run out.

I mean, there's stuff here. He has, you know, maybe a pocket watch. It's stained. It's very stained. He has a very stained silk trousers. I'm not trying to see. You notice that on the bed that there are a bunch of used tissues. Are they happy tissues or sad tissues?

You don't know. We'll never know. And they're both. Why not both? Never know. Thank you for making up on that, Andy. Gotcha. What?

Can I ask about my vestige? Yeah, sure. I haven't looked at my game, you spoil and the spoiler? Yeah, we haven't changed. Yeah, they updated. Oh, mine's not good. You might have to refresh your page.

Yeah, well, I was looking at my first part of it anyway. But I'm not entirely sure how to use it at a higher level. Do I expend a spell slot to use my vestige? I have no, what is your first split fest? It was like 16 years ago that I made that. Oh, no. Oh, no. It was the DM here.

The DM here is hell. I'm just running this game. It says it higher levels when you cast a spell using a spell slot of second level or higher, you gain five additional temporary hit points for each slot of level above the first. But I wasn't sure if using my vestige takes one of my... No, it doesn't use one of your spell slot.

So I would say it just levels up with you. Like if your character's max spell slot is a seven, it would do it at a level seventh. Just because I don't care. Let's go. If I need a change, it'll change it later, but for now it's fine. Also, True Strike made a very good comment. While Briggs's looting, he picks up one of those silk sheets,

and it's actually just like, oh, this is incredibly starved. It's like the sheet of glass. I'm very extra for this. I'm not going to bump into the shaft. Oh, God. Before we go, then, I would tap my staff on the ground, and you would see Wicker start to kind of wrap around my arm from where I'm holding the staff and other parts of my body,

and I'll cast whatever that is. I don't know what it's called. It doesn't have to name on it. A Wicker visage, thank you. Guys, don't worry. Farron already said she's not a witch. No one's thinking it either. Oh, yeah, totally.

No, Sharon already said it. She said she's a witch, I believe her. If anything, she is a witching training based on what Maggie has been. I'm not a feud. I spent a whole evening attached. Like I said, two, three, four, four. Got her.

But yes, outside of the stiff blankets and used tissues, there's really nothing in here that you would, I would say that you wouldn't want take with yourself. It doesn't seem like this is where he keeps a receptacle of his gold pieces or jewelry or anything like that. It's just a boring old room. Let's get out of here. It smells like that for me. It does. Is there a door? Yes. We leave. You make your way out of the room. You're just walking out the door. Oh, I see. Oh, no. I mean, that's what you said. So, you walk out of the door. Yeah. And you find that you're in a simple hallway. This seems to be a

quarters or barracks area to this jail and you see that there are multiple doors lining the walls and that there's another door off ahead of you. I'll turn to pretty good. What would you say? What would you say? Well I was going to say we should probably be careful before they open the door but it's a little too late for that and it's fine. So let's continue.

Understood and I'll proceed. We have two choices in front of us? You have multiple doors in front of you. It's good from that door. Done. Great. You go through that door. And as you make your... Boom! Who's in there?

Hands up! It's like, you've got your gun out and you're playing. I'm just pointing the sort of the room. Clear! It smells like pigeons and shit in here. I don't know why I should be arrested for this. Everybody in here's doing it. I see of 18 homeless men.

Yeah, yeah, it might be against the law. But what are you to do? Arrest all of us. Please. Stop doing that. They all put one end over each other's arms and start actually river dancing while drinking off at the same time. It's quite in breath. What is?

I don't have control of this session, and I've given up. This podcast is brought to you by our Patreon. Become a patron today at patreon.com slash legends of Aventress and gain access to tons of exclusive perks, including a monthly movie night and a weekly Patreon exclusive. campaign set on the high seas, shroud over salt rush. You can also go to the crooked moon.com to pick up your own copy of our first published supplement, The Crooked Moon, a folk horror tone for Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition. And don't forget to snag all of the extra goodies like dice, miniatures, plushies, a tarot deck, and more. Thank you. So yes, so you're walking down the hall, you see a plethora of doors. I'm going to be honest, just go in a door. So you do.

You too. And you, I would say you, you explore a few of the rooms and they all, they all seem to be, they all seem to be empty barracks, just places where the guards would sleep, the inquisitors would sleep. Whoever's manning the jail for that particular day, et cetera, similar to a hospital where they might have rooms for people to take breaks and naps between, between shifts and things of that nature. and all of them seem to be completely empty until you get to the door at the very end of the hallway and you can clearly hear the sounds of laughter and camaraderie.

To hear you. Yes, the sounds of laughter and camaraderie. Oh, they're having fun all the while working for a filthy hag. They probably do not know that they are working for a filthy hag. Can I hear how many voices are behind the door? Roll a perception check. Is there no more? That's right to ask the real question.

I think that's mandated by the wall. What is it? What is it? Average it. Yeah, what's the average? Go ahead. It is four, actually. Twelve.

I hear some voices. You do hear voices. As you imagine, there maybe like five? Okay. I think that there's about five feet. Pulling, it's weird. Wow. Sounds more like a tort to me.

Why don't we just talk to him and tell them what for and say, hey, we're looking for Zephyrine Mirabelle. We're here and you're working for a field of the hay. Stand down, men. We can always just send him in. There's no way they've been alerted yet that we're here under Hill intention. We've been invited on multiple occasions. How do we just pull up the door?

Leave him here. Go about our business. I think we have to get forward. Yeah, the only way out is through this room. The only way out is up. Hashtag railrooting. Am I right? Thanks, Nicky. Where did these tracks come from?

Well, these are all bedrooms. That's probably the common area that then leads deeper into the jail, if I had to guess. To spend a lot of time in human-made structures. I didn't know. That's fair. I mean, I'm sorry. pretty good idea. I think, mate, I bet a bunch of these lads are seeing you walking around. These songs. Probably pretty accurate. I think they know all of us are together and that we are looking for witches. If we just say we have moves that only the high inquisitor can hear, they will let us hear.

Ooh, that's what we did. We open a door. You walk in there, you like you own a place. Start like commanding them around. Just give them orders and stuff. I know, I'm going to show them respect. No, they're obedient dogs. That's fine. Jesus. Should we feel here? Yes, absolutely. Please don't take his name in favor. That's a shock, man. All right, and then we're in agreement. Is that all right by you? That was for me.

And worst case scenario, if they won't agree and they choose to fight, well, then we'll be ready. Oh, and if Marys, Barks, orders to us, and that's what he owns in place with us, then we should agree to sell that he's supposed to be in charge. I don't think it's going to, I'm not going to,

but just follow my lead. And I'm going to reach out. I'm going to reach out to the door with my sword in my hilt, or sorry, in the scabbard, and my shield on my back or whatever. Like, I'm ready to go, and I'm going to attempt to open the door. You reach out, and the door does not seem to be locked. You're easily able to open it. The door swings wide with really no additional noise.

This door has been used on countless. countless times, and you see a room in front of you, and there are multiple seats, there are multiple tables with seats around them, and there are about a total of nine individuals in this room. As soon as I open the door, I will loudly and say, Inquisnizance, and get their attention so I don't startle them, like, try to sneak up on them. You hear some of the mid-lafters, all of a sudden, silence. And then the sound of chairs grinding on the stone as all of these men turned to look down a hallway that they had all imagined was, was empty. And all of them look shocked and confused.

And then you see as all but one of them, or as eight of them turned to look at one man who's clearly more well dressed than the others as he sits amid a group of them and they all turn and look at him to see what he's going to do. As he stands up, places his hand on his chin, and motions for you to speak. My name is Samarius Renetheer. We've been summoned. You hear a little bit of laughter off in one in the corner. I ignore it.

Nobody really threw me off my game. I ignore it. However it's gotten to me. It's so many down real good. My name is Sumerius Renathar. I've got it. No, I don't pause, okay? Yay!

No, man. I don't. I didn't pause. I'm sorry. No, me nervous. My name is... My name is Sir Marius Renetheer. I am the leader of the heroes of Cyril.

We have been summoned by the High Inquisitor, and we have urgent news to deliver to her. Roll a deception. Jack. I do. I give them a baleful stare. Do you believe me? Deception, you said?

Come on. Not bad. Not bad. Okay. Technically, it's not a lie. Dirty 20. Delivering the music, she has to die. Uh-oh.

You. Yeah, I'm speaking the truth. I mean, I should see. Question, is this guy wearing lightly stained silks? Clearly. You watch as many of the men reach for their weapons, and you watch as this gentleman, he's an older gentleman, but very, very chiseled physique for Arnold.

I mean, think, uh, I think James Bond. Oh, boy. Oh. And, uh, wait, which was just... You know, Brosnan or... Brazman. Okay, brazening.

All of them. Yeah. Pretend like you're putting their faces together. But I was thinking of Pierce Brosnan. Yeah. Um, and, uh, he, um, he raises his hand for them to, to wait. And he looks towards you.

So, you've been summoned to do what now, lad? Well, on more than one occasion, deliver news regarding the witches in Cyril. I see. And you're coming into the jail through our private quarters. I stop. Yes. And how did you attain access to our jail through the private quarters, lad? We got lost.

You got lost. And you happened to stumble into our private quarters? Yes. I'm just nodding. I'll walk. Please, this is urgent. We need to get to the High Inquisitor immediately. I need you to roll of persuasion and disdemeanor.

But I didn't crack. I'm sorry it's not. I believe what I'm saying. That's where in context. A six. Can I roll for initiative? A six. I see.

You got lost in a place you weren't supposed to be. I'll have stepped forward at this point and I'll be right up next to Marius as I say. Marius is being coy with his information. We were allowed access to this underground quarters area by the High Inquisitor herself. So were you allowed access to the private quarters by the High Inquisitor herself or did you happen to get lost? What I mean to say is that we came in the way we're instructing. instructed and got lost in the hallway. Yes.

He's a man of few words, but she'd better listen to him. We've got to go. It's urgent. I'm the captain of the guard. See, your voice is doing it to me on this one now. It sneaks up in strange ways. I'm the captain of the guard. It's happening again, but it's fine. Now all of a sudden I'm going to be Ferran.

Why have I not heard? it's gonna happen. I don't know why I'm gonna let it ride. This what he sounds like now. Why was I not told you were going to be here? As you know, I'm sure you know, 20 of your good men rode out days ago to a mine to investigate the going on here.

And they did not come back for what happened to them was horrendous. Things have been tough around here. And I'm sure with all of the moving positions and filled spots, that your job has been stretched very thin. it wouldn't surprise me that things fall

through the cracks and so you were sent to help that's right we have been helping Lord Philip said us I'm then I turn so you're trying to tell me that the High Inquisitor sent you

in through our private chambers but you were also and you got lost but you were also sent by law Philip Druskenvold into our private chambers? That is exactly correct. You can see that he's beginning to question. What's going on here?

The Lord Philip gave us our quest. The High Inquisitor gave us access. We got lost because we were using the tunnels to avoid the calamity and chaos of the upper area. We're trying to get, this is an urgent matter. We have very limited time to prevent disaster. Are you believing this, boss? You see some schmuck off to the side.

Hush down, Carl. We know that these six have done many things, Cyril. And I know that this one, the scrawny one here, has the High Inquisitor has her eye on him. And you see a bit of jealousy flash on his face as he says it. Well, if you're here to help, I'm sure I have some tasks I can put at you. Excuse me. Are you here to help?

Yes, yes, of course. One of the tenants is always aid. But I step forward. And my eyes will flash and I'm going to kind of do a little bit of left hand bids and I'm going to hex him. Oh. With system mobility checks as disadvantaged with his, are disadvantaged on him.

Look, you all right. We'll take orders well, right? We just need to get through to that other door. So we're gonna just be on our way. You all lads just stand down. And we just, we won't bother you anymore. We'll continue on for business. Right?

And we're just- And so what am I rolling? You don't have to roll anything, but if you roll an insight, then you would roll this advantage. Oh, he's not gonna, you would need to roll a, a, what's that forceful one? Why can I think of it? Intimidation check.

I'm proficient in that. Thank you. Oh, God. Twist it. For Mary's sake, twist it. Twist it. Please, Briggs, before I grab a mop and I begin to mop things like your fucking murder, everyone.

Thank you, Chad. The six was better. Yeah. Thank you, Chad. It might not be faded. It might be fated. Was it a six or a name? Was it a six.

So eight plus six is... Fourteen. That's not terrible. It's also big and scary in the, you know, you have a chunk. He looks... Ian, you see a look at. of disgust on his face.

You're walking in to my jail. I have no word that you're meant to be here. You're coming in through places you should not be and giving me a twisted web of lies. And then you have the audacity to tell me to stand down and let you pass. Well, no, he's not from around here and he has a condition.

Clearly. He has a condition where he says really stupid things when he's nervous. And being in your presence, Is it contagious because it seems like it's something. No, no, I'm just always nervous. You felt these clammy hands, gonna count of the-

Silence. But I'm just saying, we're here. I said silence. Well, I would suggest that you be quiet and then also- His eyes, his light, his eyes alight in a violet fire. And you immediately see his head snap to the side and shake a little bit. Oh.

And then he looks to every single one of the men in the room and yells out, kill them. knew that was coming. We fuck this one out. All of their eyes, a light in purple. They're clearly under some kind of charm. I need you all to roll for initiative. I think if that guy...

...combat, Derek. I think if that guy hadn't laughed at you in the start, you'd stumble through your face, I think you were been fine. It's fucking Carl! It really flew off your game. We are... Once we've realized that combat is starting,

I'll draw my sword to see you and I'll look to Briggszie. I'll point my sword. at the one that laughed at me and say, I'll get him. I think we could have had it if we just stuck to like one fact. You'll be using the map that looks like this. So go ahead and place your characters somewhere in that space. So we came in from this way or no, from this way?

That pick one, I don't care. I think this was probably just like the long four way. This was the room, yes. Yeah, I sold the same way. And then we've got to get out. Right? Is that the way that works? Yeah, I'm trying to get out.

Yeah, yeah. And then if you can place these, just, they would be all along the beds and the tables. Just put them. Right next to you. Whoa. That guy's better. It is. I'm not going to watchtower.

You want to pass me the camera clean? There's quite a few of these guys. Oh, a little bit more than my mat. That's all right. She said nine. You got to lift. We got to live on. So there are eight guards and one.

Guard captain. We have 10 out here. So you want it? It should be eight guards and one guard captain. Well, that guy looks like the captain, so let's hold off on there. That looks like you got one hell of a beard. And also your... Horticildrum.

This guy's the captain. He'll be over here with these guys in the back of the room. Oh, no. My battle music is gone. I'm so good at placing tokens. You're so good. Look at how logically that makes sense. We just beatbox it.

I almost started the video instead of changing the camera here. Okay, so that's gone. So let's just do creepy tower music. Actually, that may not be a good one. Oh, I see that guy is. He looks like a witch hunter, like Victor Salt Spire. Yikes. The flesh just weak and needs binding.

We'll just use this. And so, yes, so with that, you watch as all of them, as he seems to lose control over this situation, the anger rising up in him, and you see as, I will say, Marius, you're just perceptive dampier abilities. You see the head of that strange, familiar creature peek out of the corner and smile at you, almost as if whatever that entity is triggered this to happen,

as all of the guards turn on you and the captain calls out and yells for them to attack. 20 to 25. 21. Sorry, what did you say triggered the, what triggered the, so the familiar? So their eyes flash, well, so the captain's eyes flash purple, he's clearly under some kind of possession.

And the familiar seemed to track, trigger it when Jericho wouldn't stand out. We do need to know which one's Carl. Solaceous, Scroo. I think it's gonna be this. Number four. Number four? Yeah, damn it's, I gotta go all the way.

Marius. All the way that Marius. All right. He's dead. So you got 21? Yeah, yeah. So did Briggs, so I'm just gonna go. So you're gonna go first and then Briggsie.

And then it is going to be a guard captain. And then 15 to 20? 19. 11. Farren. Would you get Lethaca? Yeah, just tell me what. I got 12.

Oh, I got a 12. Sorry. So who wants to go first? And you got a 15? 19. So you first? Yeah. Orrum before Jericho.

Your grim, Jericho. I got a 9 because I rolled a 4. Okay. Oh, that's for it. That's for it. That's for it. Say it loud, say proud. Yeah, that's four.

So with that, Marius, you want. Marius, you watch as the guard captain calls out and tells them to kill you, and they all immediately grab at their blades, their eyes glowing, that strange violet light as they all begin to almost moan and shamble, almost zombie-like, as they mobilize. I will draw my sword and shield,

and with a deep heavy sigh, Bethann to forgive me. And I will twice attack number six, and then turn to Briggs and say, I'm going for Carl. Oh, man. I got a 24 and a 10. Coral.

A booth of the... Oh, the 10 does not hit. So that'll be 1D8 plus 7. I think that's it. And that is... Oh, no, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, I lied. I think I get... I think I get magic sword shit.

Hold on. And you did this to number one? Holy fire. Yeah, it's three... It's 3D or? That's 2D6. Oh, two extra D6. I'm sorry.

To which number? Number, it will be to number six, one attack. Okay. If I targeted, that would it hit both of them and attempt for three days? It's gonna be seven. So 12 plus seven is 19 points of damage to number six. That's good to cut the points.

You walk up to number six and your eyes are still on Carl, but you can't get to him through this gentleman in front of you. As he puffs his chest out and slams into you, you bring your blitz. down and I'm doing a significant amount of damage, but he is still standing. That's my turn. Briggsie.

I'll say, all right, I'll get a guy in charge, and I'm going to walk across the room. What did you get your grim? Oh, 12. Oh, okay. I was just above. Yep, yep, yep, yep. I got an 11.

So I'm walking across the room to the guy that has my hex on him, and I... I forgot you texted him. I forgot you text him. Attack twice. And so in my hand, the cutlass will appear as I bring it down on his head. And so that is a 13 hit and a 27 head.

The 27 hits. All right. His AC is 18. Oh, big fella. And the guards are 16. So, I think you should know that, so it makes it easy. That is 19 points of damage. Nice.

You blast into him. You're using your Eldridge Blast. Cutlass. You're cutlass. You're cutless. He takes the damage, and he doesn't even flinch. He just jolts to the side, his mouth open as he's breathing open mouth completely. completely detached from the world with one sole purpose, and that is your destruction.

And it is his turn. He is, can you make it? Can you change it so that it's the big map? Yep, yep, yep, you go. Because that'll just be easier for me to see, I think. He is going to move toward, who's in front of him? Directly in front of him? Briggs-A-Z.

Okay, perfect. That's what I thought. He is going to make his attacks on Briggsie. He is going to... he's already used that. Yeah, because that wouldn't have held. He is going to make all, he's going to make three long sword attacks on you.

The 17 hit? Nope. Damn it. We're going to hurt murder. 19? Yeah. Don't do it. Not tonight, buddy, and I'm going to have a cash yield.

Okay. I think it's wise. Nah. I don't know. I'm up there alone. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

All right. Yes, that's his turn. Aaron. I will look towards the... Are these colors? They are columns, yes. Colum. Okay.

I will just step forward a little bit. Actually, I guess I won't because I'm getting in the touch. I'm going to step on top of the beds. I think I'm already on a bin, so... I will look towards where the captain... the captain is over here and the two guards with him. And you're lucky the High Inquisitor trusts you to hold your own dick when you're taking a piss.

Oh, damn. What the hell? How much psychic damage does you take? Right? And then I will, you'll start to see some black, almost like dust swirling in the area of the three guards, kind of set around the third one. So they will all make a constant.

Constitutional saving throw. The lowest was a 17. Nothing happens, I suppose. Oh no, wait, no, that's a lie. That was good though. One liner. Yeah, Quip was good. Yeah.

So they'll take half damage. Okay. This is Wither and Bloom, so it'll kind of creep up onto them and suck some of the life frame. So they'll take three necrotic damage. Each. Which numbers are they? Four, three, and the captain.

All right. They take the damage and they seem unfazed by it. Cool. Your room. I'd call out. It's my choice. Hang on, Briggs, I'm coming. I'll run straight up, right in the mix.

Just to join them. And I'll attack. Ooh, I'll invoke the maiden and call upon the power of my ancestors. Pierce the veil, all that jazz. Yeah. And then I will attack that guy twice. What guy? Captain.

I see we're attacking the captain. Okay. Oh, yeah, yeah, that's him. I'll do it. I'll do the... Good night. the reckless attack? Yep. Why is this paper here? Just that one? Oh, I showed Mesa's tiny. I don't want to look at that image anymore.

He's taking psychic damage. The first attack would be a 15. That misses? Ooh, four fours. That's all just 12s. It's a mess. Yep. Swinging. You swing into him, but he is able to dodge out of the way, though he is an older gentleman. He is clearly very fit and very seasoned in battle. Jericho. I will step.

Wait, hold on real quick. That was one attack, right? No, that's actually wise. Oh, you did? Yeah. I'll miss everything. Unbelievable. It happens.

We need to warm it up in here. Let's fucking go. It's fucking go. It happens. I wrote a seven and a four. And I wrote two fours. Next to my good friends, near Briggs and Yorgram. And I will look at, I will look at the guard captain.

And I will say, well, I was going to suggest for you to open it up, but I'm account of the fact that you've commanded all of us to kill. I guess I'll just say, you're going to die here. and the giant wizarder never loved you. Marius is a lot harder than you are. Fantastic. Uh, mine sliver on him. And I have an intelligent saving throw.

They now have body image issues. The most deadly of all. Is 15? 15 is not enough. He is going to take two, he's going to take five points of psychic damage. And his next saving throw was made minus 1D4. And with that, I would also like to get part

of inspiration to Mary us. There's a combo. Do you, one D6? One D-E-6? I think so, right? Let me see. 18. It's a nice, it's a nice combo.

Beautiful. Well combo in. He, you say this to him and you expect to see something on his face. Before the fight had started, he, there was clear jealousy on his face when he looked at Marius. But in this state, it is, his face is completely placid. It's as if what you said to him had no effect. Oh, he is a, shit. It's too.

Huh? It does do the damage. Yes. Yes. Just doesn't have the emotional effect. With that is the soldier's turn. The one off in the corner along that flat edge, yep, is going to move into Farron. No. The one that is off closest to Richard is going to move towards whoever that person is, I think, is Greg Zee.

Carl, don't kill him. Yeah, so Carl's going to do that. Carl's gonna do that. And then the other one that's off to the side is going to move into whoever that is. Left of a cup. Yeah. On the table? Probably just around.

Maybe you just put them on the table, it's fine. He'll jump on the table and just stab you. Yeah, there's wrong. Hi-outes of the Caribbean. Let's dare, man. So the one on Farin is going to miss. Oh, that one's also going to move into Jericho. Oh, go, go, go.

Oh, go. Marius is a nine. So that misses. Jericho is. is an eight, so I'm gonna use this other die. There is one on your gram, and that is an 18. Hey cat. Yeah, it is.

There's a advantage on your room. They're at normal advantage on me. Because I recklessly attack so they'd be an advantage, but then my maiden's shroud. Okay, good. So then the 18 holds, all right. And he takes, he takes his, he takes his pike and he takes his pike,

he's going to ram it into you. And he, because he is at a martial advantage by having his friends next to him, he is also going to enjoy some additional damage. Oh, who means that's got a lift back tactics? That's cool. That's because they're well organized. Yeah.

17 points of piercing damage and he rams into you. That's pretty hefty. I rolled really well. That's a lot. That's a lot of damage. That's shit. hold really well.

You took after that. You're gonna reduce my cry of pain by half. Okay, you do that. I say, I admit. The two on Briggsie are going to attempt to attack him. Natural one for one of them, but the other one is going to be a 21 to hit. What do you mean it misses?

Shield! Oh! Yeah! And then the two on Lephyca is going to be an 18 and a 16. Yakes. I'm gonna kill Epicra right here. Okay, so they're both going to attack you and they're also both going to use their martial advantage.

So, I don't know, I'm killing you. What are the martial advantage? It's like past tactics, but it's gonna be 46 and 2D 10. I hope you can bail yourself. Just say that's a Zikes. Let's get so cute. You can't take the formal fire at this hour.

It's gonna be jammed. It's 25. What's that? Sorry, it's one of my favorite sound. 34 points of damage. 34? I drop unconscious. Do you?

No, you're not. I thought you're gonna be so old. Vicki. No, I'm just kidding. That was a joke. Don't step on me. Too soft. All right.

All right. Well, let's take a look at what we got in the old grab bag of tricks here. That's all the Cermarius, then. If I guess you know that. Y'all are playing this like you're not surrounded by freaking nine guards. What's that all of them? Uh, yes, that was all of them. All right. So death throw from you, friend. Yeah, because it's your turn. Natural one. Here we go. You want to do anything again? I don't want to do anything again. Me-me-? Maybe start singing. There's a, there's a shrew in my pocket. Oh, they failed.

Just one. Here's me. Look at my spells. Oh, Wes. Marius. Cure wounds, divine favor. What's that dude? We deserve down the dude and it'll drop it on all of them.

That's pretty good. I had an advantage. I missed everything. It's all okay. I'm going to start by taking one attack on six. Okay. Oh, that's good. Massive. I think it had 29 to hit.

Yeah. It's 16. It's 16. That would be helpful in another. I feel like Lethika really wants to be dead. She loves to 15, 15 points of damage. You know. You watch as Lethika falls next to you.

You see as her eyes roll back in her head. You can barely see it through the mask. And you watch as her lithe body crumbles to the ground right at your feet. And you are, you hear just off in the distance clang of the bell and you feel that rage, that wrath well up in you is you take your blade and you completely slide it through the throat of this soldier

and then whip it around, completely cleaving his head from his body as his limbs crumble and he lands on the ground with a splash. Lethick, I'm coming. Gross. I might take an opportunity attack for number five. You will.

It won't matter, though, because I'm rolling fours. And then I will use my... I'm dast it. It's just gonna work around. You're next. It's one of these D5s is really bad. Or D6, D12. One of my D20s is really bad.

And I'm using my second attack to attack number eight. Okay. Nice. 24 to hit. How that hits. Come on. Better, is 11, 13, 7 is 20 points of damage to number eight. 20 points of damage?

Yeah. The rage still feeling, a few, you as you swing around and you move to the side, dodging an attack from one of these guards and swinging your blade around, cleaving off the head of number eight as well. As the blood splashes over my golden and red armor, I take a deep breath.

And I pass my turn. Like a sweet, sweet spit take. And it is Briggs. You just save my life, at least for another room. I'm there for you, baby. Well, there's still one guard there, right? I think it was my baby. We'll kill it.

Oh, I'm sorry. Come on, Yogi, we can do this. And I'll go in for two attacks. Big boys. Chunky boys. One misses, I think. Yeah, there's no way. Before last time it missed.

So one hits. What is it? It's important. Oh, it is? Yes. Oh, okay. One is a 26, and the other is. There is a 12.

Okay, well. Yep, no, it is as it is. What, Andy. I didn't realize compel duels a bonus action. Okay, so does that mean you have something else you can do? Yes, yes. You can.

Because it's safe life. Okay. Wait, oh no, I feel like Mary. Mary, she's gone. I'm so sorry. Oh, wait a second, does he have a bonus action? I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. After I cleave this guy's head off, and I'm just, I'm relishing in the blood.

You can hear that bell, and it's making you kind of plowdy. I look to, I look to number seven, who is standing over Lethika, and I point to him, and I say, you and me, and I cast him Pell Duel. Okay. So he will attack you on his turn or now? Well, he has to roll a wisdom saving throw. Well, he's going to fail. He can choose to fail. With a two, he's definitely going to make up.

He doesn't have to attack me, but he has disobeyed him. on anybody he doesn't attack it. That's not me. And she can't move away more than 30 feet from me. Okay, perfect. Thank you. That's it. Sorry, I apologize. I am not going to do that. You hit with one? Yes, I hit with one.

Okay, so that is 18 points of damage. Wow. Holy shit. All right. This is how it's balanced. Let's feel the boy. Hold on, make sure. You use your cut list and you slow, slice down into this guard, looking over at your grim, you are focused.

Between the two of you, you believe you can take him down. We can take him down. He wobbles a little bit on his feet with this slash. It was an unexpected hit, but there is nothing behind his eyes. It's almost as if the person that had been speaking to you, they vacated. They're not in this body anymore. I don't feel bad about this, you know.

And it is his turn. So he is going to turn to you and he's going to retaliate. His first attack is at a minus a D4? Mike? Yes. Yep. So he's going to make his first attack. Oh, no, it's a saving throw.

Apologies. If he makes a saving throw, it's a minus D4. Okay, well, I rolled a nine plus four, so that's probably not gonna hit, a 13. Nope, no. A 20 and a 15? 20 will hit. Okay.

So he is going to hit with the 20, and he is going to do. 35 points of damage. It is a long sword attack, and he's going to use Marshall Advantage, because I believe, yeah, he's got people within five feet of him. So he is going to do. No, he does. He's got a bunch of guys. One or two.

I don't know, it's a one D10. It's a one D10. And 3D6. 13 14 14 16 points of damage and that's his turn and he is still channeling his leadership whatever he has in him he calls out again in almost a hollow voice

kill them all and you see that they are they once again emboldened themselves to continue to attack you on that, but you too. But oh, who, oh, cool, no, no, no. Kill him now. Oh, oh.

Yeah. Rich. Uh, Farron. All right. I will look at number five, and I'll reach my hand up and clutch it and then spread it back out and some spory type business will fly into his face

and he'll need to make a Constitution saving throw. For number five? Bonapha. All right. Constitution saving throw. He seems emboldened by whatever it was the guard captain did, and he enjoys a buff to this. Number six. 15?

No. I'm just excited. So he will enjoy. Some damages. Some damages. 11. 11 points of damage. 11 poison damage.

All right. I'll just blow some spores in his face. He takes the damage. He looks like he's pretty wounded from inhaling this. As he breathed, you can hear the crackling in his lungs. And it seems like the scores are doing some work. You're grim. We're gonna definitely check this one down.

The same rules. Just kidding. Uh, 21 to hit the main guy. Yep, that hits. Nice. And then 13 damage on the first hit. Wow, all right. And then I'm going to hit him one more time. There you.

A 22. Yeah, yeah. 12 damage. You get 25 damage to the same. Yep. It's a big shovel. You remember the last turn. It's 25 damage.

You take your shovel and whack, whack into him. You can hear the metal of his armor crunching. You can see where it's piercing into his flesh and he's bleeding from underneath it. He looks like he is pretty wounded, but he is still holding strong against you. As he's hit, you would see like mists creep from me up onto his person

and they would swirl about him. And he's fucking disadvantaged against anyone else. Now that I hit him, bitch. All right. Jericho. I'll look around and I'll see Lefica fall and I'll see that Marius is rushing to protect her. And I'll look at that and I'll shoot Mary as a sly smile as I play on my banjo.

How he longs to see her face now, her dark and moonless gaze now. He knows she's never late, still anxiously he waits. Patient is the night. And I'm gonna cast a healing word. Nice. On, on Mary's. On.

I roll that. You can add an additional 1D4 because that was so pretty. Thank you. Well done. And then I'll say, look at the and I'll turn and I'll say, well, I guess I'll help you along there, fella. Next to the guy, and I'll hold my banter with one hand

and I'll pull out my sickle and I will try to cut his hat off. To who? The captain? No, on number one. Oh, number one, thank you. Number one. Or to kill him as quickly as possible. I was gonna say you're probably not gonna do it this round.

I don't think that's gonna head. Go up parts. But it's a fun, a 13? 13? 13 misses? Okay, no. Clan. Oh, never nine. And I will, I will,

feel, yeah, that is, yeah, that's right. Okay, one is going to attack Farron. Oh my God. 13? Okay, so that one misses. Can you make it the big one, Rich? Because I'm having really hard time saying it. 10 points of Helene. And so then there's one on Jericho.

That's meaningfully important. The one on Jericho is going to hit. There's one on Merricko. Marius. It's going to, or not Marius, sorry, Yorgram, that one misses. There are two on Grigsie, the first one misses, second one misses, and then there's one on Marius.

And that one is going to hit. So there are two that hit, and that's one on Jericho and one on Yorgram. So they're both going to use their martial, no, the one on Marius can't use as Marshall Advantage, the one on Jericho came. So he will be using up. It was one D6 and one D10.

And they're hitting with their pikes. So Jericho, you're going to take nine points of damage. And Marius, you're going to take... I was kidding. I was kidding when I tried to cut your head off. You're going to take eight points of damage. Roger. Outful concentration as well.

It's a prank, bro. It's a prank. So it wasn't all minus to my... concentration, which I don't think I knew. That's your cause. Lethaca. Lesthika. Oh, Mario?

I think you were healed, yeah. Awake. You're awake. I mean, is it my true? Yeah. As you wake, you see the shining golden god standing over you. Just murdering people covered in a cloud of blood. I like it.

His pecks are doing that punchy thing. The Terry Trues thing. Yeah, the punchy thing. I'm on the ground and I'm looking up at, I see that the person who took me down is, head is right next to me. Yeah. Looking at you. Give it a little wink.

And then I look up, and on the table above me is this other soldier who is looking like he's about to come down on to Marius. And without thinking, I just reach out with one hand. I don't say a word, but I attempt to word of radiance him. Oh, I have to say that. Literally, I have to say a word. No.

And one number. Seven. Constitution saving throw for number seven. Yep. Okay. No, he feels. Outstanding. That will enjoy some shadow damage. Five points of radiant damage.

Oh, beautiful. This is beautiful. Oh, yeah. For number seven, yes. He takes the damage and it jolt him back a little bit as he's blasted with this radiant damage. But he is staring at Marius. His focus behind those empty eyes, his need to kill is for Marius. Can I?

Can I? shimmy away and then use half of my movement. I see that he's focused on Marius and I'm wondering if I can get away without an attack opportunity. Because of compelling duel, I will say yes. Okay, I will. He's not even looking at you.

He is a mindless thrall essentially at this point. And I will put myself up against the stone wall and get my bearings and just sort of focus on what has transpired since who knows how long it's gone by since I've been not locked out. Right. Sir Marius.

I'm locked in combat with this guy, and I'll notice that she's scooted away, and I was saying, well done, Lethika, now on your feet, as I strike this guy. One attack. 17 plus 12 is gonna hit, or sorry, 8 plus 12 is gonna hit. Gone.

Oh, I strike this guy for, damn it. 17? You, watching Lethika move away emboldens you as you slice through his stomach. and completely whip your blade to the side as his entrails spill out onto the table with a soft thud. As he hits the table and then I relish

in the sound of his squishy orderly to do the table, I step out from behind the pillar, Coral! And I make an attack against him. Number four. Coral. Another 17. This guy just loves rolling 17,

so that's gonna be 25 to hit. That hits. And as I strike him for, 12, 13, 14, 21 points of damage. How do you wanna kill Carl? I rear back as I'm running at him and I say, tenant's number six, Carl, think ahead! And I cleave him in two.

And you take your sword straight down on top of his skull with a loud crack your blade pierces into his skull and you split his head in two. And that's my whole turn. Bye, Carl. Briggs. He's laughing now. Oh.

Oh, great. I will just go back into the scar captain and keep whaling away. Okay, 219s. Wow, if I had cursed him, it was both with a crit. Oh, my God. I'm going to tell you right now he's got one hit point left, so. Well, and also, we should be saving our shit. Did you hit him with one hit point? What?

Did you get one hit point? Oh, he rolled all zeros. I did. Well, hate to be it. That's sad. That's sad. You put the barrel of the voodoo gun in his mouth. Can I redirect my other attack to the guy next to?

Okay. Got it. I kill him. I cut his fucking head off. You swipe your blue-doo vade. Your voodoo vade. I love blue-dube aids. Oh my God, it's a knife.

You swipe your blue-duvade down onto his neck and you, and you... You slice through, and he begins to sputter as blood spills down over the top of his plate armor. His head lulls to the side as he gurgles and burbles and falls to the ground dead. And in that instant, you watch as all of the remaining guards begin to blink, their eyes go back to their normal colors, as they all begin to look around, and some of them yell, and you see one of them look like he's about to pass out. and all of them are immediately going to drop their weapons, put their hands up, and start backing away.

Can't they think of them just tell me guys? No witnesses. Do you have pause in combat? For all intents and purposes, sure, unless you're going to keep killing them. It's up to you. What do you want to do? They threw down their weapons already.

They threw down their weapons. Once they saw what was happening, they come to and they see this scene that they didn't, they weren't willingly participating in this. They see their guard captain completely covered in blood, his throat cut. They see two, three headless, Coral's headless, Carl's just in two.

Carlin has his head split in two. Their heads rolling, they are shocked and horrified, is they're backing away. You can tell it they're shaking, afraid to even speak. I'm going to point at the trapdoor that we came through into the underbelly, all these tunnels, and I'll just find someone else to be. They look between all of you to see if anyone seems to be moving towards them,

if they all begin to walk towards the door. And as they five feet, seven feet, they turn and run. I'll put my cycle back. I was like, you're lucky I'm really terrible with this thing. So they leave the way that we're trying to go. No, they leave the way you told them to go. They're not going to fuck with you. The way that we came. Like, yeah, I get the fuck to your rooms.

They're heading back to the go to your room. They are quickly running and moving that direction. As they leave, I will go to put my blade in its scabbard, and I can smell the blood on it, but I'll steal myself and wipe my blade clean, and then she did it. Marius, that was some mighty fine work. You're okay? I did one more.

It had to be done. Well, that was impressive, and it made me think of a tune just now. Deneenee, neen-ne-ne-ne-ne-ne. I'll continue. Crimson Hayes, it's old Carl's brains. Lail-like eyes, he don't seem quite sane. Thought is funny. Left but don't, I don't know why.

Marius is going to strike this guy. I'll give you more of a comparison. Thank you. Thank you. Oh, that's amazing. Oh, that's a thing that happened. I'll be very quietly. After I see that the guards leave,

I'll save a short prayer and just letting everyone else get their own bearings, but I'm deeply hurt, and I will attempt to heal my own wounds in the same way that I've healed Hugo's just hours earlier today. So you're easily able to do that. I would actually have to, can I use it to Bartacansprison? You get a double inspiration on you,

and you can use that to heal. Yeah, give it to left. Oh, you can add a Bartik inspiration. Yeah, it's a new, it's a new feature. It's all missed magical inspiration. And so you can add an additional D8 to that. Max ceiling. Also in another timeline, you could have sung that song to Marius

and the lyrics could have been, excuse me while I kissed this thigh. Oh, wow, yeah, that's good. Be-back from a prize. Thank God that timeline didn't happen. All shut the door behind the guards. And I'll go over to the table and I'll start dragging it. Get somebody out. Be out here.

The organs are sliding off the table as you're calling it. I'll help as well. Three of us will move the table. I want to just drag it in front of the door so that in case they get charmed by a fucking pigeon again. I am quite tired. Roll an investigation check for me or perception check for me, please. Should be like a million. Bad.

Is it over ten? No. All right. I don't think so. I don't think I'm proficient in anything useful. Oh, no, I am. Holy shit. It's still in over 10, though.

It's a good. Nice try. Nice try. Well, right, do you think we better get going, then? Agreed. Is everyone okay? No. I am very hard.

I have healed myself to the best of my ability, but I am quite tired, magically. And I don't know if I have the ability to support you all, in this coming fight. We have to be honest, I heard you whispered back ceiling and I thought you were floating. I, those two cards in one turned at 79% of my... And I have less HP than I did at that time.

Well, let's, I think that maybe what we should do is see if we can find clues and perhaps take a rest in this room. Unless, if we feel like we can... I think you would feel like this is the safest you're going to feel. And so if you need to rest, this is the place to do it. I wouldn't mind arrest. I mean, frankly, I'm tapped out of my...

Well, let, why don't we rummage around in his corpse? Ritz, you get at that. Oh, you were chased. Yeah. Just be careful. Everyone else we've killed with Lada guys has erupted into worms or something horrible has crawled out and attacked us. I want to check his mouth for like pigeons or gold teeth or whatever else you may have.

It is not physical healing that I need. We could take an hour and I could bandage my wounds, but without my ritual of prayer, I will not have my usual powers. We're not waiting here for eight fucking hours. That's what you mean. I mean, it is what it is at this point. I will, uh,

I'll walk over to you and, uh, like, have you look like, description-wise. I mean, like, you look real beat up. Whatever the wounds that the guards did are half-heeled, and I could probably, if we took an hour in the form of a short rest, for meta-speaking, mechanically,

I would be able to get myself up to where I need to be. That's not my concern. The fact is that I'm spent, and I don't know how to manage clerics very well yet. Right. Well, either way, if we're going to take a short look, rest, I will take your hands in mine, and I will whisper a short prayer and use my channel divinity, turn the tide.

So if anybody is at less than half health, then you get 1D6 plus four. Oh, shit. But if you have more than half your hit points, it doesn't work for you. I'll say given the nicest of this situation, you may all feel for that.

Wait, no, hold on, hold on. Do I have... Are you listening to me? What? Yeah. I think that was a beautiful RP. moment, so I'm saying regardless of what your health is at, you may all heal for that. Thank you.

Oh, when you're going to punch me in a face. Thank you. Wendy Fitch, you get my old. Wendy Fix plus four. So I can, I'll roll it if it's, because it's for everybody. Ah, nine. Not bad. Almost max. Almost max.

I'm four. And so with that, I want you all to roll a group investigation check for me, please. Don't mind. How many go? You are fine. Oh, Natty, 20 for old Brzy. I mean, you find a number of regular teeth in the head that are littering the floor. Oh, plus zero.

Ooh, I'm not the smallest, did I? You said investigation? Yeah, 19. 20. Eight. Jericho? Ooh, investigation. Three.

So eight, eight, and three? Yeah. You got a natural 20? I did. We were 18. You're fucking zero. Yeah, I heard that. Table bros.

Table bros. We're like laser-focused. The table bros do seem to have a better time investigating this room, while the Jericho and the Lethaca's... The Jericho. The Jericho. We prefer Lethachy. The Lethachy. Are cleaning up, moving bodies around, et cetera.

But the table bros are able to find what appears to be a ledger that seems like it's important. It documents what and who is coming in and out of this place. You're able to find that on the guard captain. It's a small logbook. And looking through it, you see crates that are coming in of some kind of substance for the High Inquisitor. You see that a goat was delivered just recently. Oh, God. You also see that there are many, many instances of some.

someone known as Mr. Hat that is coming to call on the High Inquisitor. And last, but definitely not least, you see the logging of Zephyrine Mirabelle in the lowest recesses of the dungeon is where she was taken to. So you know your destination is down and not up. I will say on top of that, the logbooks about the crates, you do notice that.

there are some crates in this room and as you open them up you see that they are filled with this strange gray stuff that definitely does not look delicious but it does seem to be some kind of edible something and i would say um i would say that's what you get from it i mean there's why was the goat delivered and that mr uh mr hat was provided special guard privileges and most of his visits were in the wee hours of the night. This isn't the first time that we've encountered a goat skull. Surely it must be used for some ritual. It's delivered live. I think that sacrificing it has more power. In my travels, I found that ghosts are often sacrificed for religious purposes like this

for power. I'm not sure why goats specifically, but I would guess this is the same. We don't have a way. It makes sense. We know she's a egg. And we know they're all about goats. Can I investigate, like just look closely at the gray stuff and pick it up and see what it is? Yeah. And I'll say we'll use the group investigation roll. What questions do you have about it? I'll answer. What is it taste? No. Oh. Oh, my gosh. It's delicious.

Um, such, like mushrooms. Like, can I get a sense if it's like a natural, like if it's something that is, has just been like a processed natural. I don't know if it's something that's been like mixed together. It's definitely something that has been mixed together. I'm created. Can we short rest? Will I do this? Yes. What do you think about this entry about Mr. Hat? Only one person around here. I've seen with a hat. Oh, the big, he's got the big Bishop's hat. Yes, quite large.

Oh, he's just, oh, he's, wait. We know exactly what Tommy was last here. Let's compare notes. That's shockingly smart, Briggsie. When was the last time Mr. Hat was logged? Does it line up with the last time that we saw the bishop leave the cellar? No. And so I imagine that you would realize that cellar trists are probably not logged here.

This is when he came to the jail itself. That's in the black hole. I would say, however, you do know of that. a time when he had been here. And there are markings of the archbishop having shown up. Oh, stupid a d. Sorry. Obviously, it was right here in the world. I know I could also say you're probably smart enough to understand that he might be in there under two different names because who needs, who needs mystery? Mr. How does the bishop? You got it. Oh, leave it alone. I'm just saying like the guards aren't going to be. be logging every time the archbishop shows up as Mr. Hat.

Like, that wouldn't make sense. But when he's showing up for personal reasons, he had a code that only some of the guards would know. Yeah what I mean? So yes, you got it. You figured it out. Well, maybe it's him. I don't know. Wait, do you actually figure it out? Yeah, no, you actually figured. Mr. Hat is the bishop. It's just, that's just what it is. Oh, okay, we did it. We figured it out.

Well, that was easy. So you had a very smart idea. I appreciate it. Well, thanks, I mean. So it sounds like we've got to look for Zephyrene down. So this dungeon goes deep. Are you gonna play a tune or anything? Can you do that? Yes, I suppose I could. Sir Marius, your heroics really are inspiring.

Let me... You're singing all of songs about this guy. Well, I mean, he's the one... Maybe if you had inspired me with the Shandy had sing a song. and there's also lyrics really matched up well And with that you guys have had you I just want to remind you it is 1030 And we do have some stuff to get

You know what I'll take a verse about me Let's maybe brevity of some of us I'll take a verse about old Jericho Among the fields of straw and stover A scarecrow's works narrow Over Life's of violence dream Longer than it seems

Lonely is the night. Songwress. Single tier rolls down Marius's cheek. What a haunting tune. Thank you, Yoran. That's the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. How dare you? Really? Really?

I watched that whole fight again today. I had to. As we near the end of our hour rest. My wicker armor troughs to the ground. It does. You always recast it. Aw. I don't know if I can.

I think it's the only ones a day. Oh, well, you're borks. Yep. Yeah, thank you. All right. Are we ready to move on? Yes, I feel much better. I pray that we do not run into any more innocent gods.

If we do, I propose we put them to steal. And if they find us, I... they find us, I suggest we run. See if we can make our way beyond them. Great. Let's be stealthy line and continue. Based on his book. We steal and we try to look for Zephyr. I give advantage of areas. All right, roll stealth. That counters out. You're just doing it. Stealth, stealth, stealth. I got a very mediocre 10. And I think I have no plus to it because that would be bizarre.

Oh, nope, I got plus one. I have an 11. Okay. Pretty sneaky long. 15. Oh. Yep, we're stealing. 19 for me.

16 for me. All right. You are lucky your friends rolled high. Little king-clang action for Mary's. And also brevity. But you leave this area and you find yourselves in what appears to be long corridors of cells. And for the most part, it seems to be devoid of guards. It seems almost if the guards that were on duty were slacking with the captain in the room

that you had just been in, and having killed the majority of them and sent those that had, those that survived off into the tunnels underneath, there aren't, at least that you've seen yet, there aren't any guards outpacing. You don't know when the changing of the guards will be in, when new guards are would come in, but for right now, all seems quiet except for the screaming, moaning, and crying of those that are imprisoned here. And this is fairly awful. The smell of defecation is overwhelming.

You see that outside of the cages or the cells are plates of moldy breads and hardened cheese and goops of that disgusting gray goop. soup that is clearly not delicious. And you steal yourself against the begging and pleading of these people for their freedom. And you see in some of these cages skeletons, partially decomposing corpses, people who are succumbing to severe starvation, and you have to turn away from it because your destination is down. And so you continue to make your way down through layer and layer and layer deep within the earth of Cyril until you finally find yourself in what you imagine is a place where they

keep some of the most overlooked of the prisoners. And it is here that you are met with the sound of a horrifying silence. Whereas in most of these cages, whoever had been imprisoned here has already succumbed to death. And it's cold. It's very much deep within the earth. You see that the plates here, some of them have fresh food on them as if they put it out, not even realizing that the person in that cell had been dead for 10 years. You see the skeletons within that have clearly fully decayed over many, many months. And it is as you get towards the very end that you hear a whining, wheezing voice. And as you, as you, as you, you get, you, it is as you get towards the very end, that you hear a whining,

wheezing voice. And as you look at Haggard, a maceated old man is clutching the bars of his cell as he's looking out at you. That's the torture chamber. You don't want to go in there. I've seen anybody go in there recently.

That's where they took that woman. They're taken into the room. No one that's gone to the room ever comes back. You don't want to go in there. How long ago is this? Maybe a day, not much more. It's too late for her. Turn back.

You don't have to take me with you. He's shaking in the old. I ain't got time left in these bones. But for your sake, turn back. No, this is really terrible to see. I think we got to let him go. You can see that his, the pants that he's wearing are far too big for him. now. He probably hasn't eaten in months. And he, you can see the stains where he's clearly

defecated on himself. And he, he's shaking. You can see all the veins just under his skin. It's so paper thin that it's almost translucent. Does it look like it would be possible to free him? Pretty see, trying. You think we can't, we can't leave this old fella here. What's your, what's your name, fella? Oh, I wrote it down. Corbyn. Oh, Corbyn, my name is only, I did. I prepared for this moment. My name is old Jericho sticks. You call me Jericho.

He reaches out his shaky hand. His fingers look unusually long with the way you can see the bones in them. Oh, the name's Corbyn Giles. I ain't a witch, no matter what they say. Thank you for the message. And I will, from my backpack, produce a ration. Oh, you didn't have to do that. I'd flap the wax paper. Please, no, you must. He looks at it. He licks his lips. you can see that you should see saliva on his lips, but his mouth is dry, his lips are cracked. There's nothing there to wet his lips as he reaches out and he grabs the cake and cracks it and starts to chew on it a bit.

Oh, I feel like a right young man. Sweetheart, this is delicious. When was the last time you had water? I'll pull up my water skin. Please. You're an angel sent. from heaven. He reaches out and he- I don't know why we'd free this guy, nobody else, but I mean, he, uh,

everybody else is dead already. He'd shoot the log. Oh, I thought you were shooting him. I was like, I thought you shot him. No, that's such a brink thing to do. He reaches out and he's, he's spilling a little bit of the water on himself.

He's so shaky, he can't really hold it up to his mouth, but he gulps it down and, oh, you are an angel sent from heaven. May fault as praise you and your family and friends, my darling. Indeed. Thank you. I'll take the water skin back. Briggsie, he's the one who has told us not to go into the... You shoot the lock? Yeah, I shoot the lock. And you shoot the lock and it cracks and breaks. This is an old, rusted lock. You imagine your room with your strength. You probably could have ripped the door off its hinges with enough thoughts of Billy, the

butthead or whatever you'd call him. And you are, you're able to, the door itself swings open, and you see as he shambles a little bit, his eyes alight with wonder. I can't believe my luck. I don't know who you are, but you got a friend in Corbyn Jiles. You weren't in prison for like mass murdering heroes, were you? No, my family turned me in as a witch, because I wasn't willing to give up my farm.

Jesus. Well, not anymore. I just thought of a song to sing about Corbin Giles. The Litch, Corbyn Jiles. If you watch Bay Wild, you know that Derek does not trust this fucking voice. And I'll look at them and just very genuinely touched the fact that this guy is so seemingly so terrible. convert all the other prisoners, and I'll play my banjo a little bit. You're not a prisoner.

You're a free man, and your blood is your own now. Don't care where the past was. You know where you're going. Out. Get out of here, Corby. Oh, go, go. And I'm going to use part of inspiration on him as like luck. Don't go in there, whatever you do.

Run. You get out. If you ever find your... yourself right outside of Fulson's. I've got a right outside of Cyril to the Northeast. I got Corbin's farm. You come by and you get yourself a nice apple pie. We will find you there, Corby.

I don't think we'll need to, bad. Good luck, bye. He pats you on the back and you watch as he shambles off. You can hear the bones and he's knees creaking as he walks, but you freed Corbin. Good miracle, what I'm gonna make sure? Three steps. You don't want fucking pie?

Does not. As opposed to whatever kind of pie. With Corbin's groans of aches and pains, his arthritis clearly getting the best of him as he bakes his way up the hundreds of stairs. He's going to climb to get out of this thing before the changing in the guard. Partic inspiration. One of those. It's silence in here.

It's the only prisoner. If Corbin dies, I'll kill you. No, that's, I always like to say there needs to be like at least a win. Corbin's your win. your win. Corbin will make his way back to his farm. No, I was going to sit. Any of those raving lunatics in the streets are going to try and fuck him. Oh, no, he's going to

be able to go to escort quest in World of Warcraft. You have to farm all the way back to the end. He had an RP walk the whole way. We accidentally accepted it as we're at the boss room. I'm sorry, I know we were all put on a quest, but I'm going with Corbyn.

All right, see ya. And with that, what stands before you now is the door to what Corbyn told you was the torture chambers. No way back. This is it. Let's go. You first. I will attempt to open the door. I'll be right behind Marius.

The door's easy enough to open. It seems like there's not as much, there's not as much security down here. They imagine anyone that could make it this far with the guards on duty would need to be down here in the first place. And so there is no lock. You're able to open the door itself. And you are met with a room that smells absolutely rancid. The smell of festering blood and bodily tissue. You see all manner of torture devices, iron maidens, racks.

Anything that you can think of is here. There are these large spikes sticking out of the wall where you still see partially decomposing bodies stuck to. and it's quiet. There's no one alive in here. There's one door off to the side, which looks a little, almost bloodstained, a little darker wood. The formation of it is a little bit different. And one of Corbyn's sentences, Riverrates in your mind, they took her to the room. No one comes back from the room.

And it's past that door that you hear a thwap. Wow. Wow. I would look to the gang and motion that we need to head over there towards that door. What's that to happen? Can't hesitate now. Somebody's through that door. Get ready. Door path is set.

Be very quiet. You just fired off a gun. I didn't know where. The silence are on. You begin to walk towards the door and you notice that on a table, which was clearly a place where people were flayed a lot. alive. You see a hat, one of the Inquisitor's hats, and next to it, a letter

with a knife stuck through it. Seems important to pick it up. You pick up the letter, and you see the words, I saw what's down there. I'm sorry for everything I did. I didn't want any part in what's going on. Fultus saved my

soul and my family. We want to go in here? Yes, we don't have a choice, but this is going to be very bad. I mean, we could just fucking bail. No. I'll take so nice. Okay. We double your resolve, please. What's the hat look like?

It looks like the Inquisitor hats that they all wear. Oh, okay, okay, okay, okay. Like the Van Helsing hats. Okay. You're stealing. Well, well, I meant steal, like it. Yes, I know what you meant. Too easy.

Like, yeah. You reach out with a little bit of hesitation, and you slowly open the door, and you're immediately met by what is making the thwap, thwap. thwap sound. There is a man hanging by a rope in this doorway. He has decided to end his life in this manner. You can see no hat atop his head as his body dangles from the ceiling here. Beneath him is a cavern that just stretches down and a wooden ladder up against the edge. So it's a doorway with an entryway he's hanging in it and at his feet is where the ladder is to go down. This body just thwap, thwap.

So he's fresh. Yeah. You imagine hours at most? I'll love to blow up my bicycle. I think we should get this feather down. I would walk up and like a hug his body, hold his body. I'll cut the rope. You're easily able to do that.

And the way down to what you have been told is the room is completely open to you. I will stash my sword and shield and begin to climb down. And I'll follow Marius. You make your way down the ladder and through rough-hewn tunnels. Until you find yourselves in a large room, there are tables up against the walls with scrolls and other things, bits of storage. It's clearly some kind of magical room. room itself in the very, so against the walls or bookshelves and tables filled with

bibles and potions and scrolls and papers and other things, in the very center of the room is something that you have seen similarly before is the archaic writing on the ground in that purple coloration. And in the very center, just like you had seen in the crooked house, is that strange, headless effigy body with a goat's skull where a head should be. You stare at it. Those clothes look so familiar. Something about this looks so familiar. And then you hear a strange squawking sound. And then thum-thum-thum-thum-thum-thum-fum-fum-fum-fum-fum-fum.

As Marius, you feel something hit up against the side of your leg. And as you look down, the head of the head of Zephyrine Mirabelle looks up at you in an expression of eternal horror and pain, her severed head now leaning up against your pant leg. All of you look down at it for a moment as you then look up and to the side and sitting in a large plush chair on the very edge of the room, one leg kicked over the other, is clearly high inquisitor Mayville. As she, you look down at this head and you see that the cheeks have been carved out of her skull. You can see the sides of her teeth clearly showing to you. And as the high inquisitor looks at you, you see she takes a beautiful silvered fork and knife and cuts up two pieces of fresh flesh. As she pops it into her mouth and chews, she slowly starts to unlace her boots.

She just looks at all of you. And you see that sitting next to her on a plush pillow is that strange familiar, that pigeon-like familiar with the human face and the human hands. And as she chews up the flesh, she turns towards this creature, makes a strange sound as it opens its mouth and like a mama bird feeding her chick, she spits the flesh into her familiar's mouth. She kicks the boots off of her feet. And you see where human feet should be, too, beautifully pink pigeon-like feet. as she looks towards you and smiles. And that is where we will end the session. Someone fucking called it last week.

Someone in chat called it. Well done, Nikki. Thanks. Thanks for running the session for us. Thank you for playing in it. Holy smokes. Oh, I'm so upset. We were too late.

We were, we were, we were, we were red hair. Thank you so much for listening to the Legends of Aventry's podcast. We hope you enjoyed this session. If you want even more campaigns to listen to, become a member of our Patreon at the Pearl Dolphin Tier or Higher to unlock Shroud Over Saltmarsh, a patron-exclusive campaign set on the high seas. You can find that at patreon.com slash Legends of Aventras.

If you want to chat about the episode with the Aventriss community, join us on Discord at Legends ofaventras.com slash discord. We also post content nearly every day on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. So make sure you follow our stuff. socials at Legends ofavantris.com slash social. And make sure you check out The Crooked Moon so you can terrify your friends with a folk horror fifth edition supplement published by us. Get your own copy at the crooked moon.com.

Thanks again and we'll see you next time.