Legends of Avantris - Tainted Grail | Ep. 2 | The Bear and the Maiden Fair

Episode Date: November 26, 2024

Our unlikely heroes find leads in Kamelot and set out into the mist on a hunt...   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/rJBcyBbs3XU?si=y7pruBSA_qqfm2w1

Welcome to Legends of Aventress. Last time, on episode one, Tainted Grail, we joined our heroes, our unlikely heroes. In the small farming village of Briarbrook, they were doing what they do most nights of the week, drinking at the public house, playing cards, discussing life. This night was different than the others. You were preparing for an epic adventure. You knew what laid ahead of you as you needed to set out to hopefully find the knowledge, or perhaps a new place to live, to save the people that you've grown to care about so much

over the years after laying down roots in the small farming settlement. It wasn't an easy decision. You know that more often than not, the people that Shrey from Briarbrook don't ever return. But these people had been so kind to you. You felt almost as if it was your calling, like you owed it to them. After the villagers saw you off and wished you well, you met the Mistfarer, Leo. Wise, experienced, agile, and eager to make some coin. and also aid you on your quest to find the largest city in Avalon, Camelot.

It was a grueling journey, especially for the three of you who are more or less retired in many ways. You were shaking off the rust, getting back to what it was like to be on the road and not doing simple tasks like farming and overseeing people who needed your help. It was smooth going at first with some minor hiccups here and there, but you saw it through, you saw each other through. In an unfortunate turn of the wind, the mists, mid-morning, halfway through your adventure, got unusually thick. And for the first time in your lives,

you were encountered with a foredwelling, a horrific 12, maybe 15, 14-foot-tall armored creature, humanoid maybe, with four arms, large weapons hanging at its sign. All Leo could do was scream a warning to run before he was torn asunder and before your very eyes. You heeded his warning and took off following his advice for how to continue on to Camelot without him. And it wasn't long at all before you were on the trail and you found the final Landmark, the broken men here, Stone. You had one final obstacle in your path as brigands,

a group of bandits who often stake out near this area, hoping to catch wearied travelers, those who have gone, you know, traversed through the weirdness and have been worn down by all of the different things that you've encountered. They were hoping to steal what little you might have had, Not knowing that amongst all of you, you didn't have much money, you didn't have any kind of magical artifacts, your equipment, your weapons, your armor, or not particularly well made in general. You had, you know, left from a small, poor farming village. It was a vicious battle.

Some of you had taken severe wounds. But again, you, the brothers that you are, came together. and helped each other out and were able to overcome the vicious assault. You found some things on them and proceeded to the edge of the forest, and it was then that you realized your luck was turning for the better. The mists began to clear, the trees slowly began to thin, and it wasn't long before the forest turned into sprawling fields and meadows as far as the eye can see. Several miles out, as the sun was shining on your faces for the

first time in many days, you could see the beautiful walls of Camelon. You have all but made it. You are tired, you are wounded, you are battered and bruised, you are low on food supplies. You have a little bit of money, but most importantly you have your destination in view. To steal from a wonderful DM who DMs from me all the time, what happens next is up to you. You're several miles away from Camelot, but you can see it very clearly. It looks like, almost like heaven to you. Help me paint a picture of the city proper in my mind. Are we talking like tall white walls and like a huge tall like spirey, uh, Lord of the seat style operation or is it flat and wide and dark? Like I'm inspired by the site because I've

never seen a city this size, but I'm trying to picture it in my mind. Good question. Yes. So from what you can see, again, several miles out, this is probably the largest city that you have ever seen. Easily. Some of you may have even been near Camelot or into it before, but some of you definitely have not. The walls are very tall. You may not have even, you may not have even seen, Balto specifically, may not have even seen walls like this, ever. They are light. They're maybe not exactly white, but they're very bright in color. The sun seems to reflect off these stone walls.

There are some spires and pointed tall towers that almost look like maybe mages towers or something along those lines. But it's big. But what you have to keep in mind is that you know is that Avalon is not a very populous island. So even though that this is the largest city in Avalon, you know that Camelot is really only home to a few hundred people. Granted, that we're talking, you know, tens of times bigger than, you know, the small farming village of Briarbrook that you've come from, that you've lived in for decades. But even as far as major, major cities go, there aren't that many people here in the kingdom of Camelon. But yeah, you'll see various towers and buildings peeking up from behind these giant walls.

It's almost radiant in the sun, and I think what you would notice almost initially is that the weirdness and the fog does not touch this place for miles and miles. It is sprawling beautiful fields and meadows until you start to get to the hill that Camelot is sitting on. It is raised in elevation from the rest of these fields and meadows. And what you'll notice too is that as you start to get closer and closer, there are pathways and small little huts that kind of lie in these pathways that you think might be guard huts. Oh. Checkpoints. I never thought I'd be happy to see the walls of Camelot. You've been in sword.

No, I always sent envoys. Never have the time to enjoy the luxury of Camelot, nor the interest. Well, despite fighting for them for a few decades, never felt the need to get invited. Never had the honor. But now's the time. Hopefully you can talk our way in today. I know how these people operate and it'll be effortless. The very least we can bribe them, but we need to hold on to as much coin as we can.

We need a room and a flagon of a good gold. What about you? You've never been. This is the largest settlement I've ever seen. I am intimidated. by the prospect of being in such a built place. They don't have cities like that on the continent. None that are still populated. Fucking ruins, I've heard.

Wiped out by the Red Death. Entirely is why I fled to Avalon. Well, this you'll find at Camelot that the welcome will receive, perhaps will be better very slightly than haunted ruin do we have to do anything special when we get there or or to get in let me do the talking I'm tired of fucking walking I need to sit down I need a good bed maybe a feather bed not you need some help I'm happy to assist you to the city I'll look down my my old wound is the leg that he stabbed me, and so I'm very clearly in deep pain, and I will very much hesitate, as I will be very

grateful that my surcoat was not pierced nor stained with blood, as I will just slowly nod, and put my one-arm not on the cane on your shoulder. All right, my lord, and I'm going to try to kind of get under him and sort of walk with him to ease his pain. Careful now, I'm not your fucking grandmother. Oh, you're going to be all right. Oh, there you go. One foot in front of the other.

When we find a place to rest, I will look again, and I will see if I can do anything, not just for yourself, but also for me. And I'm looking around and taking in the sights and looking at the fields and trying to determine what might be different here, what's growing. My eyes are just going a million miles a second. I'll look at

Christoff and I'll say, Rainer, you look like shit he beat the shit out of your face. Maybe you should ask Boto for a hand. Em, me, ribs. Oh, head me back.

Fucking blackjack. Oh, more effective than I would have thought. Well, these men are not known to avoid dirty fighting. I'll leave her a boy. It is a shame that we had to kill the boys.

I was hoping it would honor to come to that. It may not feel like it now, but better to be feeling the pain than none at all. Ten years ago, I wouldn't have been this beat up. Fuck. I'm not as sprores I used to be. Ten years ago, I could have had him seized and hanged like the thugs that they are. Let us not dwell on the decades past. And you're having these conversations as you proceed towards Camelot, and you're taking your time.

It's very clear that you're all beat up and not used to this. And it isn't long before you find a little footpath that clearly leads straight ahead as you head north to this major city. and you are start to approach a small little shack, which you know to be a guard, a guard's hut, a checkpoint, if you will. And you're maybe 100 feet away as you're approaching, as you see one of the guards fully clad in armor with a long spear, a pike if you will,

and he steps out of the shack and he gives you a once over. He looks at you all as you're limping and walking up, and he says, well, well, you all look like hammered shit. On your way to Camelots. Yes. We are weary travelers simply passing through, looking for a place to convales for a few nights. As you get closer and closer, it's when you're about 20 feet away that he holds up his hand and says, oh, right there.

One moment. No. he waits to see if you can ply. I'll stop. I'll kind of raise my hand for us to stop. I'll stop and take a half step backwards. Yeah. Yeah. So we're sort of, I'll let him do his thing and I'll take a step back. I assure you

we are not, highwayman. We are good people that follow the path of the old mother. Right, right. That's clear enough. One by one. Quick check for red death. Who's first? Step up. I look to Jasper to. No red death at all, no, no.

Come forward? I'll lean forward and immediately start to sort of show my eyes, my tongue. He sees what you're doing, and he understands that you have an understanding of this illness. And he quickly looks in your eyes. He seems pleased that you've taken the time to know what needs to.

to be done and he gives you a quick check over. He doesn't see that your eyes look off. He checks your throat and your tongue. He checks you over for lesions or any open wounds and sores. All right, good. Pass. Who's next? I will very clearly, I would have been tense the whole time that as soon as Bolto stepped up,

knowing that he's from the continent. And I don't know if they probably, if guards would presume that people from the continent are more likely to have to bring the red death. But as soon as he lets him go, I'll let up. And I will lean heavily on my cane and I'll say, Christoff, you next. All right, my lord.

I'll walk up. I'll, you know, show him whatever he needs to... All right, still got your tongue. Show me eyes, all right, all right. Good. You're good, Clay. Last one. I'll walk through.

I will walk up to him slowly, wincing with pain, probably with each step. And I'll try to force a smile, and I'll say, with how much wine I drink, I think the red death would... drown before it could infect me. He looks at your smile and he does not return it. He doesn't seem to appreciate the humor.

Yeah, careful. Show me arms? You'll have to forgive me. It's all right, and he's not rough with you. He's stern and no nonsense, but he's not rough. He doesn't seem to be, have any ill will or, you know, lack of patience. He's respectful. Yeah, exactly.

He checks your tongue, he looks at your eyes. All right, you're all clear. The rest of the guard towers won't stop you. Enjoy a camelot. Stay out of trouble. We'll try and we will. Thank you, my man. And you're free to continue on. I'll get back to Christophon, but my hand...

All right. Here we go. All right. That was painless. I am glad that they are testing for the red deaths. I was gonna say, I mean, you have one case, any of those walls and the whole fucking city's gone. In old country, they may... into the city one by blinding himself and drinking wax to cover the sores on tongue and he infected everyone he was hungry and many died see that was what I was

worried about one of the lords that I it's my leisure would occasionally war against over claims of land was known for taking in refugees from the continent and then burning them as soon as they approach the castle walls. When the red death comes, there can be no negotiation. That's a house that should have been exiled and stripped of their lands. And you had to fucking live through that for years. Just the fucking plague everywhere. My old childhood and into my twenties before.

I finally, finally managed to make my way onto a ship. Yes, I dealt with it. I tried to heal the sick. There are ways to relieve things if they get really nasty, but the resources to create remedies and medicine are few. I'll lead with a girl for a summer who was from the continent. She said it was some entire town, cities. Everyone just vanished, disappeared, just because they were all gone.

That sounds like very pleasant pillow talk. Can we please continue? Yes, let's... All right up the pace then. And you do. As you get closer, you pass a couple more guard towers, uneventful. They nod. They know that if you've made it this far, you get.

been checked and they don't they don't cost you or stop you in any way. As you're getting closer and the walls are getting bigger and bigger as you're approaching Camelot, it becomes evident that the stone that these walls are constructed out of have all these very intricate runic carvings. These aren't just normal walls. It kind of reminds you of the symbology that was carved into the small tokens that you received from Sasha. Not the same symbols. Just it gives you the same feeling, the same vibe. You get the idea that these ruins that are carved directly into the walls of Camelot are what are helping keep the city safe and the weirdness. It may be a different

type of magic. It might be wizardry. It might not be druid in nature. You're not sure. But you are, you're very certain that the markings on the walls are very purposeful. Do they seem just architecturally embedded into the stone, or are they like humming with magic and glowing and doing this whole thing? or are they like moss covered and just present as a feature on the face of these walls? Closer to the latter. They're definitely not glowing and humming. It looks as if somebody has like almost chiseled them in. And yeah, there would maybe be some, you know, foliage that has kind of collected like some mosses and things.

It's not radiating, it's not humming. You're not feeling anything, especially from this far away. Okay. But it's just a very distinguishing feature. It just reminds me. the Sasha's rooms. Okay. A little bit.

Again, not the same symbols, but you get the same vibe. I'm in awe of a wall this size. I'm like almost scared that it's going to fall on me. Yeah, yeah. It's physically imposing. You know, it's kind of a miracle that, you know, you feel that it's almost a miracle that humans were able to build this with how many humans are actually on Avalon, right?

It's intimidating. And as you approach the South Gate, it is open. and they are welcoming you in. You are not to be stopped by the guards again. They're not in any kind of state of emergency or alarm. The southern gate is open, and the guards see you again and nod and essentially welcome you into the city.

So many people in one place. This is like a festival night, but in every direction I see. As you're nearing the gate, you can start to hear the din. You know, of people talking, of people bartering, of people laughing, yelling. It's, there's life here. And it's, you all might feel differently, right? You might all feel differently from each other about how you feel about this, this, this, this bustling life, whether it's overwhelming or joyous or not. Oh, it's a lot of people.

It'll be fine. Too many fucking people, as far as I'm concerned. I don't need these many fucking people in one place. so that there can be trade in exchange of ideas and exchange of coin. Maybe the occasional exchange of the plague. The only time I've ever seen this many people in one place is on the battlefield. Are you concerned about being recognized from your, back from your noble exile? I hope I am.

I won't hide who I am any longer. I've been far too long in exile, wasting away. from what I understand the rumors that I died drinking myself to death. We will be at your side if you are. So maybe it'll be as if they've seen a ghost. I propose that we find a nice inn. How does one do this? Well, we see where the people who address the number,

nicest and smell of the best, where they traveling? Certainly not in this street. Let's continue. I am beginning to understand what you mean by smell. As you keyed Jasper's advice and you recognize that you will need to find a place to stay, to rest and heal, you proceed deeper into the opening gate of this city for the first time. Yes. Oboles. Did anyone else have any 20, any, we stole, I gave you the, shit. I believe it was 20, I believe it was another 23. So 43. We have 43. We have 43. You have all the opals. Yes.

That's what it's called? They're oboles. Oboles, yes. All I've got is my rations and my herbses. And it isn't long at all before you kind of walk, stumble into, almost accidentally, the main thoroughfare. There are permanent stalls erected on this main thoroughfare, but it's very obvious that people come and go on a daily basis to set up their goods and sell things. There are Bart, poets, poets, people singing, playing instruments. There's a juggler.

Somebody might be, you know, doing tricks for coin, trying to entice people to enjoy simple parlor tricks. This might be baffling to some of you. You might have never seen what looks like, you know, a tiny, a small circus. He never drops. I... Here. Even a better strategy. Watch and learn.

I will find the nicest dressed bard that. I can, and I will approach him. It's not hard. You find a gentleman who is standing there strumming a lute, and he's singing loudly, and in between songs, he's thanking people and waving his hat and collecting coin, and it's very easy to find him. I will approach him, and I will listen.

And I will smile, and I will say, Good singer. What would I think is a good, like, tip for a bard? One obol, two obols? Yeah, a couple obels. Couple obels. Would be very generous. I will take three obels.

Oh, okay. I'll take three, so we are now at 40. And you have a wonderful singing voice. You must be invited to all of the grandest houses of the nobility, perhaps even royalty and have... have a welcome place on a stool in all of the finest inns and daverns of the city. Oh, well, thank you. It's very obvious that you have a fine eye and even better ear. I do. I've heard many bars that have come to call at my castle, and none have a voice as mournful and yet sweet as yours.

You are too kind, sir. You're too kind. Well, if you're looking for further entertainment, you can certainly find me. playing later tonight at the Queen's Respite. The Queen's Respit? There are a few different in taverns here in Camelot, but the Queen's Respit is one of the finest. What is... is there anything finer than the Queen's Respite? Not in Camelot. Do they have flagons of Albion gold there?

Oh, the best. My good man. How about you join us there this evening and saying I can guarantee you the clientele will be rewarding, You'll be drowning in nobles with the tips that you'll receive. In the meantime, if you happen to... If you happen to sing, perhaps, in any of the company of Wizards, Miss Farrers that deal in the workings of the Meneer Stone,

we would be appreciative of what you find out. Well, as you previously mentioned, because my reputation proceeds me. It's true. I do sing for the nobles. I do sing for the court wizards. One in particular, I'm sure you've heard of him, the absolutely famous court wizard Archibald Rast. That is exactly the kind of information we are very curious about, only because we admire Archibald, he said. That's correct. Yes, we know who he is and we are great admirers. hoping to speak to him. If you have his ear,

we would not turn down such an opportunity. You've arrived in Camelot at the perfect time. In fact, tomorrow, the Queen of Avalon is hosting one of her open court dates. She's very kind in the way that she rules, but of course you know this, and she hears the grievances.

Her advisors will listen to the grievances of the people that she rules over and solve their problems. I'm sure that if you wanted to speak to Archibald, it wouldn't be a problem at all. You just have to convince her advisor. Oh yeah, all the rumor's true, about the queen. Oh, what rumors, my good man? The fact that she's unnaturally long-lived, let's say.

She's King Arthur's sister. Of course she's unnaturally long ridge. She's gifted by the gods, by divine right, to be the Queen of Avalon. Are you going on about the rumblings of witchcraft? The small folk will spread any rumor, no matter how fantastical it sounds. It's all they have nothing else going on in their meager lives. I'm just wondering why Arthur and Merlin didn't give this gift from the gods. Well, as we all know, poor King Arthur, he was struck down.

And Merlin, well, there's lots of rumors surrounding him, of course, but our wonderful queen of Avalon, I like to think of it as the old mother's blessing. Right. All right. I need to rest. So I'll see you at the Queen's respite then. Yes, and when you arrive, I... I'd love to hear your rendition of the heir and the maiden fare. He gives you a wing and he says,

consider it a date. Excellent. He will see you at the Queen's Respir. Oh, could you point us in the direction? It's been so long since I've been to the city. And he does. He gives you directions. And for being a small populated city,

it is still rather large. It's surprisingly large for only a few hundred people. But he gives you directions and you won't have any problem finding it. It is later in the afternoon when you've arrived here in this kingdom. And you basically know that you have a few more hours of sunlight to do whatever you'd really like to do, whether it be to go directly to the Queen's respite

or take a look around some other things. But there aren't too many hours left in the day of sunlight before you need to find a place where you will rest up for the evening. One more thing, Fair Singer. Yes. What was your name? I don't believe I asked. I apologize.

I have not been in a place of courtly manners in some time. Oh, well, of course. I mean, I'm sure that my reputation precedes me, but for those of you who may forget, and he kind of addresses the crowd as he says this in a loud, boisterous manner, I am Alexander Wilfred, greatest bard of Avalon. Well, Lord Wilfred, we will see you this evening.

I'll see you soon. My luck. Stay out of trouble. And I will hobble off and go in the direction that he pointed to the Queen's Respe. It's not hard. It's very easy for you guys to find this place if you choose to direct head there. Whatever speed you're like. I'm in awe of buildings with two stories, maybe three sometimes, maybe even higher.

Seeing storefront after storefront of exotic goods that I can't picture. pastries that would feed the entire village twice over just in one window. I'm as quiet as we walk through the streets, just sort of aware of my two good friends and making sure that I stick close to them, fearing that I might get lost. As you're taking all of this in and you're passing window storefronts and different permanent installations where people have set up their shops for the day or maybe the week You are seeing all manner of wonderful treats, food, plants, botany, things that you may have never seen before. It's fascinating to you.

You almost want to stop to look at every little thing that you're seeing, but your companions might be pulling you along, urging you along to get to lodging before, you know, the queen's rest potentially could be full for the evening. But it's hard. It's hard for them to pull you away because some of these things are so fascinating. and new that you've never experienced them before. Keep up, Paul, so surely you will not fall behind an old man with one good leg. There's so much here. I'll... You could spend a lifetime here, I understand.

But who would want to? I'll look around with this taste as I will proceed forward. I will be on edge, and I want to keep an eye out for any crows or ravens. Okay. And I'll just sort of like be kind of looking around, and probably uncharacteristically, uh, scared's not the right word, but maybe just like an ancient. On edge. Yeah.

And I will also keep out, keep an eye out for any sort of like weapon, like John Q, blacksmith, like weapon shop. Absolutely. What you notice while you're on edge as you're walking through Camelot, you more than anyone else are cognizant of all of the soldiers and the guard. and they don't look unfriendly. They look serious and stern like they take their jobs very seriously, but you are cognizant of these people. I mean these are these are people that you might you don't necessarily recognize them right but you you recognize that there's a chance that you may have served next to them or that you might know one of their brothers

or their cousin right all of the guards here are definitely military adjacent if if not directly involved with the armies of Camelot. And that is definitely something that's on your mind. You do find John Q. Blacksmith and make note of where it is. But you notice that it's getting late. I don't want to stop there. I just want to be like, okay, that's where it is. You might even find one where, you know,

they're already closed for the day, but you make mental note of where it is. And you're passing all manner of shops, right? some that look mystical and magical in nature, some that sell food and treats, some that sell weapons and armor repair things. And you all make mental notes of where these things are as you're walking through the city. And it isn't long at all before you are in front of the Queen's respite. What you notice as you're walking through this city is that there are four main gates to the

city. You entered into the south, there's one in the north, the west, and the east. Very obviously so. The city was built to be easily accessible from all four directions. You notice that in the middle of Camelot, almost directly in the middle, as if this city was built around it is a still erect and sort of functioning men here still. It is far more powerful than the one that you left behind in Breyerbrook. Obviously so.

It's apparent the moment that you lay eyes on it. You're not entirely sure how, as you know that the knowledge to keep these things going is lost of time. You can only assume that the small army of court wizards that live here are responsible for keeping this place safe from the wilderness. As you pass the center of town

and the men of herestone, you notice that the four quadrants of the city have varying degrees of wealth and how up-to-date and how nice they are. And it's very clear that the Queen's Respite being more in the northeast corner of this large city is in a much nicer, nobler, richer part of the city. You stand outside of the Queen's Respite and it's a beautiful building. It's almost three floors. Different floors are used for different things. The first floor is a very

well-equipped tavern where you can get wonderful meals, hot food, all sorts of different kinds of alcohol refreshments, and if you choose to stay there, you'd be able to get a room on the second or third floor, hopefully quite easily. From outside, it is obvious that the evening is beginning. There are all sorts of people already inside, enjoying a meal,

and the din of the crowd begins to kind of warm up as you stand outside the Queen's Respite. This place looks very fancy. Perfect accommodations for men of our stature. Wouldn't you agree? I don't blow all of our fucking coin or drink. This was what I was going to say. We need to save coin to save Breyer.

Brewer. Brewer. Brewer. Well, we can't properly save the wonderful souls who took us all in without being... in the proper spirits. And it is the drink that raises my spirits to the point of being proper. You understand.

How many obols do we have? Forty. And if we stay here for a week, it could be half? How much for a room here? Let us find out. I happen

to be an expert negotiator. I will follow your lead. Just do your thing. All right. When you follow behind me, do not speak, and look mildly disgusted. Oh, do you want me to sort of, you know, look tough? Yes, I know you've broken ribs.

Keep my... Keep my hand on my sword and... And you look mysterious. You're from the continent. You're outside. Perhaps you're a great magician. Perhaps you've brought to the red death. As long as you don't get us all arrested in hand. you want to put a little bit of fear into them.

Uh, I'll pull out a piece of green linen that I have and sort of twist it and then roll it around and pull my hair sort of down in front of my face. Follow my lead. As you walk into this very nice inn, you push through the doors and you see finely crafted tables and some very nice chairs and some very nice chairs in of different kinds. And all the way across the room, directly opposite from the door that you've walked in,

is a bar, and behind it is a barmaid. And she appears to be the one serving drinks, and you can see some people coming out of the back with food, but she also appears to be the person who you would speak to to secure a room. I will walk over to her, looking kind of. Excuse me, I told that this is the Queen's respite. Oh, that's correct, my lord.

Welcome. What can I do you for? Is the implication that the accommodations here are fit for a queen? That's what they say. That's why they named the place, the queen's respite. Fit enough for the queen of Avalon? I am Lord Jasper Dunnington. And I suppose this will have to do. It's not up to my standards, but my leg, as you can see, is very injured. and I cannot walk another step.

We will be needing rooms, despite the unfortunate state that this place seems to be in. At the mention of this, she looks a little confused. She has this look on her face, like this is very clearly one of the nicest places in all of Camelot, and is confused by your disgust. And she looks at you and says,

all right, well, I think we have plenty of space. we're looking at four obels a night. Four obels a night. How long would you like to stay? Surely. You can't be serious. Four obels? Yes, me lord.

I'm quite serious. And people pay that rate? Yes, absolutely. Well, I... The people that I know and my friends would be very upset to hear that you'll... Lot here are committing highway robbery, but I will not spread the ill word to those rich and powerful friends. If perhaps for a one week, seven nights, if you cut as a deal, two obels and I sounds appropriate for the level of accommodation we'll get in here.

Um, I would like you, uh, using your creativity way and your communication domain. Max that shit out when I got up. Let me know if you are disciplined in persuasion. Shit, no, I don't know. I'm not. I'm not. I just had max communication, though. You have no other disciplines in communication? No, I have no disciplines. No. Okay, just wanted to check. So what you can do for me again is you will roll as a reminder of how making a resolution roll works. You roll a 1d10, you'll add your way, and you will add your domain or your discipline if that is higher.

Well, okay, hold on. Four plus five, creativity, nine. Oh, plus, oh, 10 plus four. So that'd be 14. I think that's the threshold for one of the, that is a difficulty threshold. That is a difficulty threshold. Where is it?

I have right here. That is the threshold for complicated. 14 is the threshold. We could bump it by two. We could get up to difficult with three. Three? We didn't announce it beforehand. Is that how we're doing it?

Oh. You act, no, no, it's okay. You can still use three. I haven't told you what the DC is. You asked me. You asked me what the difficulty threshold was of a 14. I want a feather bed, goddammit. I have not told you what the actual difficulty threshold is for this check.

17 and so my offer is two obel the knights for seven nights. She looks around the room and she looks at you and she says, Listen, I just work here. I don't own the place. But you three look like you're pretty beat up and look like you could use a nice place to stay. Quite frankly, I don't want the trouble. I don't want anyone calling the guard.

I don't want people spreading rumors. Two obols a night. For seven days, it's 14 oboles, but I want it up front. Understood? Absolutely. Don't worry. We'll spend all what you would have charged anyway on drink and food.

So we'll have three flag-ins of Albion gold sent up to the room as well. On lower the floor as possible. My leg doesn't work as well as it used to, and I will reach in and I will pull out 14. I'll round up to 15. And I'll give the extra one. You keep that one for yourself.

She says, good thing you know you're not drinking and eating for free. And I appreciate the tip. You can definitely keep those coming. And she hands you a key, and she kind of motions her head over to the staircase, as if to say, go on, get out of here before I change my mind, and anybody sees this transaction.

I have a pressed flower that I keep among my various herbs in my pouch. And I'll also tip with it, just putting it out. It's very beautiful, sort of like, orange, almost yellowish color. And I'm just giving it as sort of like extra thank you. Thank you. As the three of you, one of you,

grabs your key and you begin to walk away, you lay this pressed flower down on the counter and she almost like is taken aback for a moment and she has a slight soft, warm smile on her face as she seems to appreciate the gesture. I've forgotten my disguise entirely. I don't even look mysterious. Balto doesn't know how to do that.

And you see that she takes it and she sticks it in her apron. But she doesn't make eye contact with you. She seems to be hoping that you'll just disappear your room as quickly as possible. I'll follow my friends. I'll head towards whatever, you know, whatever room we have. Yeah. The room's up the stairs? It is.

She does seem to take into account, though, Jasper's request for his old leg. And you are just on the second floor, just up the stairs. the first room on the right. All right, my lord. I'll be fine, sell sword. After you, I'll very slowly make my way up. Kind of shuffling, it's creak. You know, I'm creaking with each one. They're not steaks. Taking it slow.

It's not too many stairs. Leaning heavy, you know, and on my cane with each step. Um, I make it up on my own. You, you do. All three of you get up there. You, you open the room. room and you are unbelievably blown away by how nice this is, especially after spending years in Briarbrook and sleeping in perhaps the back of a chapel or on a hard wooden bed with a hay mattress at best. These are nice beds. They have nice pillows. They have clean sheets. The room smells nice. It is unbelievable. And it is not long before you hear a knock on the door, and when you open the door, there are your three flagons of ale.

Rest sitting outside. Whoever delivered them is already gone. They bought gold? Albin gold, yes. Albin. Albin gold. It's a drink, I think. Are we going to fucking drink it in here? Yes. They lift it right on doorstep. You think we're going to drink with a rabble downstairs? Fortunately, door open inwards, otherwise I wouldn't be able to open door.

It doesn't feel right, not drinking with the rabble downstairs. Well, we can enjoy these flagons, and here, they brought us cups. You don't drink it out of the flagon. Baltimore, I'll reach over and I'll pour everyone a cup of wine. But it's so tiny. You take your time and you savor it. This isn't the sour red that we used to drink back in Briobrubr. This may be the last time we ever get to enjoy wine.

We at least may. We may as well enjoy ourselves on the finest that Camelot can offer. This is very nice. I'll, without hesitation, I'm taking the bed. I'm walking over to the bed. I am sitting down. I'm on like a Shea lounge.

There are two beds. Oh, hell yeah. There are two bets. There are two bets. I'll take the one on the right. You know, Dunnington, I'll hand it to you. This ain't half bad. You said we would spend more on food and drink

on top of 14 and 1 and 3, obels? Yes, we have 25 obels left. I'm not sure how much they charge, but I frankly, I'm not going to waste my time haggling. Did you see how she spoke with such saccharacterious? in the sweetness about as if giving us this was charity. She did have a pity, not out of trying to respect the greatness of House Dunnington. As you drank this Albion Gold, it is of such a high quality that you are not used to.

I mean, you've been drinking, exactly like you mentioned. You've been drinking the sour red from Briarbrook for forever. I mean, it's what you've been doing night after night for years as you play car. and reminisce and talk about the days that go by. And so this is a welcome change of pace, for those of you that are alcohol enjoyers. It is another level of opulence that you haven't experienced in a very long time.

And while you're having these conversations, it isn't long at all before you hear the tuning of a lute, of which you presume to be Alexander the Bard warming up to prepare for his entertainment for the evening, downstairs with the quote unquote rabble, as Lord Jasper so eloquently called him. All right, I've done enough drinking alone with two lonely old men.

I'm going outstays. Let's bring the drink. I will join you. I can carry you. Don't you fucking dare. I'll see you down there. I will meet you down there. I will meet you down there.

I'm going to finish my cup and collect my thoughts as I strategize, as that is my profession. I will be right, though. I'll take my flag in. Yeah. Yeah, but the pictures of wine, that's a flag. Oh, that's a surcee's always... Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a flagging that you then pour into a cup. So you have a large amount of alcohol to start with. You have a shit time. I will bring my flag. and my cup. Yeah. So that I don't offend any of the Camelot folk. Fair.

And I'll walk down, I'll take my roadies and I'll walk down to the main area and I'll try to get a table that's, you know, somewhat near the bard but not like front row, you know. Yeah, you find the table that's actually pretty centrally located. It's far enough from the bard where you can still have a nice conversation. You don't feel like you're right up against the speakers at a concert. But at the same time, you know, he can see you and he recognizes

you and there's enough seat. It's an empty table. There's enough seats for the rest of your companions as you wait for them. Uh, Balto, Jasper, what are you doing in the meantime before you get down? Oh, you are okay. Do you need me to look at your leg? I was going to suggest that. I just didn't want to hear Christoph talking shit. And if I... I suspected this was the case. If I needed to freshen up and use the restroom for...

Where would I do that? Is there a space here? Probably a communal, a tub, a very nice tub with a brush, soap, I don't know. Yeah, there is a communal bathroom on each floor that you can use. And again, it's not hard to find, and if you choose to do that,

you would find it of unbelievable quality, unlike anything you've probably ever seen. Give me one minute. I will go and freshen up, do my best to clean my hands, knowing that that will help with the healing process. I'll rub some water into my face and sort of really, like, de-dust the day of travel off of myself before returning. And seeing Jasper's finishing up his drink, I will very quickly just to check his wound and make sure that it doesn't need any additional dressing or that it hasn't turned in any way, given that. It's been in a lot of movement.

It's gentle. You inspect it, and you know that you've done all that you can do today. but you are ever careful and studious and exact about your work when it comes to medicine and you check him and it doesn't appear to be any worse than it was. It's certainly not dirty. You clean the wound very well. You'll just have to keep, you know that you're just going to have to keep monitoring over the next few days. I presume you would have like packed it as deeply as you could have with whatever kind of...

I'm not removing everything. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I did a whole job and I'm just making... You check around the packing, yeah. No scratching, no picking. It is just like shit. Yes, I know. That's what the wine is for.

I'm sure I won't even notice it within the hour. Let us go downstairs and enjoy the, what was it, the maiden and the hair? Close enough. Do you mind carrying mine? Oh, no, that's fine, that's fine. And I will very slowly, all that's fine. I'll let Balto go down first, and I will basically very much take my time. I fought Christoph and join him.

Yeah. Would there be anyone else in this? In this tavern? Common room. Absolutely. There is a lot of people. It's filling up quickly, especially now that Alexander is preparing to play. And you're glad you found the table that you did, because if you had been later, and you might not have been able to grab the table.

the table. Balto and Jasper quickly spot you as they make it down the stairs and they join you at the table. Jasper and Balto are last to leave the room. You lock up as you do. Not that you have many possessions to leave behind or anything like that, but you just, you know, you're used to it. As you proceed down the stairs to join Christoph at the table that he's found, something catches your eye on the wall. And you've, you notice that you've seen, it's a poster. You've seen this poster before. You happen to see them pinned to various points in the city as you were walking through.

But this is the first time that you are close enough for it to really, truly catch your eye. And Balto Jasper would be able to see this, because you're the ones walking right by the poster. It is a piece of parchment pinned the wall, nailed in. And it has these beautiful ornate border as it kind of goes around the parchment. And you see in a flowery writing.

And there's a picture of what looks like a scary beast, an overly cartoonish beast that might be out in the woods. And it says, attention, looking for brave hunters, reports to the order of weird hunters, good pay, lodging, meals, accepting any and all applicants, signed Oliver Ezra, Weird Hunter Captain. You make note of this, you notice that, and again, you recalling in your memory that you pass

several of these posters as you were walking through the city, and you join Christoph at the table. I'll take a look at it as I, the one thing that I have in my hand is my actual cup, and I'll roll my eyes at the poster, and I certainly will not be doing that, as I will, will also join on a stool or whatever, whatever that's the most comfortable. What I have had time to is what we're drinking wine.

Yeah. Would I have had time before I found the table to get another drink from the bar? Absolutely. If you would prefer ale or a beer of some kind. They have multiple choices. Things you've never heard of. They might even say

offer you to try some different things so you can even pick which one you want. You're like, you're spoiled for choice. This is something that's unusual to you. Yeah, I would walk up and I would, we don't have to RP this, I would get some kind of, just sort of rustic ale.

Nothing too crazy a family. Farmhouse. And the barmaid from earlier, she tells you. Hello, love. You don't have to repeat this. What's your name? Tell me your backstory.

Her name is actually, I have her name. Her name is actually Bridgett. Oh. It's a beautiful name. My mother's name was Bridget. She's the barmaid innkeeper. And she tells you that for an obel, you can actually get three of those ails. And that she will just put, she'll put on the tab. You tell her you don't have any money on you because Jasper's your moneykeeper. Oh, there's a charge for the ale? Yes, of course. I told you, you won't be drinking.

Even though we're staying here in the tavern. That's absolutely right. Oh, all right, this really is a nice place. Oh, right. Throw it on the tab. And she does. But basically, you know that when you're finished your ale, you can come up for two more. You know, one Oble, why you three of these?

And you'll be drinking into the evening, easily. Well, thank you, love. I'll take off real free. I should be able to have this. Oh, and then she wide-eyed nods, and yes, right away. And she pours them for you, and you're able to take them back to your table. Oh. Ah.

Oh, welcome back, lads. I decided to add a little variety to the evening's menu. We have pictures of wine. You buy more ale? I just was feeling something a little more like home. You know what I mean? And even the simple ale is much better than what you're used to. I mean, it's crisp, a little carbonated, nice and coop.

More for me. Been in the cellar. Oh, don't touch mine. I'm still going to drink that. But I just figured I could really go for an ale right now. Are you going to drink all three ales in addition to your... No, I got one for each of years, of course. How much does this cost? What I am? Don't worry about it, Walter.

Well, what if we find a man who can fix men here? And then they say it's 20 obols. And then we don't have the elbows. And then all of a sudden we have to go and work and find out how... We're here for years and the town is destroyed. been there Briarbrook too long. I was sort of taken it back when we had to pay for more ale. I mean, usually

it's just sort of like a give and take kind of thing where we just drink and then we go to bed. But it was one for all free. Well, that's why the good people of Briarbrook are the good people of Briarbrook and these are the chaff.

You are having this conversation and by now Alexander the Bard has started singing and it's very clear that he is here. He is a... He performs here a lot. The people cheer for him. They're happy

that he's here. People are not quite getting rowdy yet. They're excited. But these are, you know, refined folk. They're paying more money than they might in some other portion of the scene. So, rowdier than normal. So they're drinking and they're having a good time, but they're still showing respect, and everybody's having great conversation.

I would like all three of you roll perception. Oh shit. Skill check for me. It's the awareness, the awareness way. I'm gonna say a good one. You're hurting. You're drunk.

So you will roll a 1D10 and add your discipline or domain. If you have, no, no domain. Sorry, no discipline. We're just gonna use straight perception. So 1D10 plus your way plus your domain. Can I crit on this? Yeah. Absolutely.

Well, let's confirm that. Let's confirm the grid. All right. Come on, come on, come on. Oh! Close, close, close. All right, Christopj did he got an 11 total? 11, yep.

Okay. 12, love. 12? That's it. Oh, that's my voice. With a 10? 10 plus 2, 12. 10 plus 2 plus, it should be more than that.

It should be awareness plus perception. Oh, he doesn't, that's only aware. He's two awareness. I have two awareness. I'm looking around the best I could possibly. You know what? You guys not make fun of me. Jasper, what did you get, buddy?

Did not have good eye plan on my name is. Balthor Dahl. I got a six. Oh, my. I did not, I got a one, but I did not confirm the crit fail. Oh, shit. Oh, you tried to. I wonder why you will, too.

Ask me one of those details. Oh, my gosh. This is my nice one, so take this one. There's 1,400 right here. I just need to. It's 1,400. You. You.

The bar is playing. People are talking. As the drinks are flowing, people are getting louder. And it is really only Christoph and Balto that are able to catch bits of conversation that are happening around you. I'm in my cups immediately. I do not give a shit.

That's right. Your song is very suggestive. This is the finest wine that you've had in a very long time, and you almost can't get it down fast enough. And you hear whispers of, of, oh, it's tomorrow, tomorrow's the court day, the court day. Oh, I hope that I can speak with the queen. Oh, no one ever speaks with the queen.

You'll be speaking with their advice. Oh, but tomorrow could be the day, tomorrow could be the day. And you hear, oh, it wasn't another conversation. Oh, there's, do you hear the weird hunters, they came back today, another big kill? They were paid handsomely, handsomely. Oh, I certainly hope they're thinning out the hole. It's been getting worse.

It's been the mists, been kicking up. And you hear these conversations go back and forth, and it's a matter of how much you'd want to listen. But you're hearing tidbits about the order of the weird hunters and people are excited about open court today and hoping to early tomorrow morning be able to get some face with the royalty and air their grievances and get help with everything that's going on.

I would definitely, even though I'm hurt and I'm relaxing. I assume that my liege lord is, you know, three sheets to the wind at this point. So I'm gonna basically try to stay on, on, you know, on alert and we're still on a mission after all, so I'm gonna try to listen. Yeah, so if you'd like to make,

if you'd like to make, if that catches your ear and you'd like to listen more intimately, make another percentage of that for me. 8 plus Aware? Yeah, it is 1D10 plus, Plus your way, plus your domain. Awareness plus, okay. I have plus four a war, right.

Depending on which conversation you'd prefer to pursue. Oh, fuck. You actually feel like with that perception that you, it wouldn't be out of place for you to talk to one. Only if you'd like to. To go up and talk to them? Yeah, you know, they seem friendly. They seem open to the, like, you know,

like you're at a bar, and you're drinking, you're leaning over when you hear somebody's conversation and you say, oh, by the way, and you feel like you get the feeling that depending on which conversation you'd like to proceed with, that you can do that. You can be able to insert yourself

into their conversation without them getting upset. Did they talk about weird hunters and they kill it? Yeah, I don't know if you've heard too, but... Hey! Jasper, you fucking paying attention? They speak of... What? Some weird hunters came back today. Oh, it was on the poster, yes.

No, the mist is kicking up at this. And they're offering coin. Oh, and I overheard somebody at the other table. Oh. They're meeting with the queen tomorrow. That's what the lovely Alexander had already said. It's court today tomorrow. Are you sure you heard they were meeting the queen?

The advisor was going to hear out We suggested that we could get the advisors here and perhaps inquire about the man here. Well, I'm trying to say this might be your fucking inn. Besides going through a fucking bard, maybe there's some fancy up-across folk here. Worth a shot. When is it? What? When is it?

I'm sorry, what? The court day is tomorrow. Tomorrow. It's tomorrow morning. It's tomorrow. We have one night. In the morning. Yes, in the morning. This is from, you know...

By the old mother. Why? Why? What are the descriptions of both groups of people? Yeah, so the table that you overheard discussing the weird hunters in their kill and what had happened. They are a group of... group of one women and two men, and they seem to be a little bit more working class. They're not, they don't look dirty or like threadbare, but they seem to be working class

and that they're interested in these weird hunters that, you know, seem to go out and hunt daily and they're much more have their finger on the pulse of what's going on with these weird hunters. Whereas the people who are talking about potentially going to court, they look like they're a little bit more high class. They might have a little bit more money. And clearly they have some sort of something that they want to talk to the queen about. I think you go speak with them. Jasper seems to be enjoying the music. He has such a sweet voice, doesn't he?

I'll get up, but if there's an extra chair at the Weird Hunters... Yeah, yeah, you... there is, and it would be very easy for you to say hi in an internet. insert yourself. Oh yeah. How are you lovely folk doing this evening? You mind if I sit? Oh, welcome. Please.

Pull the chair. Cheers. He lifts up a glass of a... I brought me on. I hope you don't mind. Cheers, cheers, cheers. Cheers. Do any of you know how to play Merlin's beard?

And I pull out a deck of cards that I brought with me. The one man, the one man looks at you and says, I don't know Merlin's beard for me. I swore off many ages ago, but the others,

they might be up far-handed too. Well, I'm going to sort of focus on the woman that's on their group. What's your name, love? Roll for it. No, no, I'm good. She looks at you and she says,

oh, my name is Mirabelle. What's yours? Mirabelle, it's a beautiful name. My mother's name is Marybelle. She smiles a little at you. Thanks, Christoph. It's a pleasure to meet you, Christoph. How's you,

Oh, it's going lovely. You and your friends, you look like a tough lot. Well, it's tough on Avalon. It's tough everywhere. Even here in the kingdom, it's tough. It's tough. You have to be tough, right? She raises a glass. That's exactly right. Uh, you might suspect. I guess would I, would it be unreasonable for me to have my sword at my side? No, not at all. I mean, it's not unreasonable, but you would notice that most of the people in here are not armed. but they don't seem concerned that you would be armed. Okay, so I would have, I think, left my shield in the room, but my sword's definitely on my side.

Yep. And I'll sort of tap it. And I'll say, Melislo pays a hard price to keep him safe. But did I overhear that you were speaking about the weird hunters? Oh, yes. No, brave, brave people they are. I don't know how they do what they do day in and day out. They help keep Camelots safe.

They willingly, for Coen, of course, venture out into the weirdness and slay horrific monsters to keep us safe. Mighty heroic. I don't know if you've noticed. They have posters all over town. They're always recruiting. Oh, no, I noticed. I noticed.

You know, I must admit, I've come to grips with a few weird beasties myself. The ranks aren't great. That's why they're so desperate from recruitment. but the pay is good, there's food, there's lodging for those of them, for those of you that might not have it. Clearly you're here, so you must have some coin yourself, but really what they do is, is by the old mother, so noble. Do you, any of you fight? You look around the table and Maribel shakes her head and the two other gentlemen look at you and one of them says, oh, I used to, not so much anymore.

Doing all right for myself, as you can see, we're here with you tonight. We just respect them. It's good, good lads. You fought in, uh, for the army. Oh, not me. He had a brother, though. Oh, yeah, well, good lad, your brother. It's a shame, but you're right.

He was a good lad. Uh, well, I mean, if you happen to, you know, I'm, given that I'm quite, quite skilled and a little brave myself. Do you happen to know anything beyond what's on the posters in terms of who I might be able to speak to about these weird hunters? Well, besides talking to the other townsfolk and people who may have interacted with them, I tell you to go talk to all of himself. He's friendly.

He'd be eager to see you, especially if you're interested in monster slaying. All right. Well, I'll look at the fine lady and I'll say, I'll let him know that you sent me, and I'll flash her a wink. She giggles a little and blushes and says, Of course, of course, Captain Ezra, he's your man. All right, well, you know, if you're heading out soon, best not to start a game of Merlin's beard,

I'll let you get back to it. Well, if you change your mind, we'll be here. All right. Have a good evening. You know, and I'll head back to the table. You do that? All well, everything. What did you learn?

How did you seem to be laughing and smiling? I think it looked well. Oh, yeah. It was quite nice. Fawn lady over there's name is Mirabelle. Oh. Oh, okay. How does that help us in any way?

Oh, it doesn't. They knew, they know of. the guard captain that's on the posters. They said he's friendly. If we think that maybe, you know, trying to find these folks that know the weird, they might have the key of the secret to, you know, bolster them in the earstones,

but I have a feeling that the weird hunters are working class folk that risked their lives for coin, so I'm not sure how sorceress or arcane their knowledge is going to be. If I were a weird hunter and I made coin for killing weird monsters, I am not sure I would want the men here to be at bay. It's going to at least be three days before we are in any shame to be trudging off through the woods, seeking monsters.

We may just find them. merely okay i could use a few nights of rest myself i think what we do is have experienced the open court day trying to get in touch with the advisor and baltazar what can fuck archibald and always name something like archibald or balfazar or merlin Fucking wizards. Is it true? Oh, God, I love these characters. You guys are just so great.

Fucking wizards. Why don't you go make some friends with to fancy folk at the table next door? They're very fancy, and they are speaking... They're not fucking there. I made the friends that I had to to get us here and give me to my Albion gold. I cannot speak with them. They are fancy folk. They don't care for...

No, well, you know, Bolzo, I would like to see that. Why don't you go on and try? Oh, dear. God, Father, help us. If I go up there, it'll be, oh, hello, my lord. Need a refill on your flagging. And they would smell a stink of cow shit right away. Turn the noses up at me.

Why not the same for me? Fair point. It's in this moment. You're having, you're debating back and forth about who should go talk to this other table. The bard is getting louder. is getting louder. His play is reaching a fever pitch as the night is passing on and people are getting more drunk and they're having a good time. And even these fancy folk seem to be loosening up a bit as a large man stumbles up to your table. And he stops for a minute and he kind of wobbles a moment.

And in that moment, the way that he's moving, you can see that he's almost as drunk as Jasper. And he has a, he has kind of a, scowl on his face, and he looks at Jasper and he points his fingers, he says, Oh, you. You're a fucking Dunnington, ain't you? Do I know you, sir? Ah, you don't know me, but I think I fucking know you. I'm glad my reputation precedes me.

How do you do? He's, he's a little louder than might be comfortable, uh, in this point. and some of the patrons are noticing this, this is happening. You're the fucking chase. And he, and he, he looks at your question and he looks at and he goes, I thought you were fucking dead. Drunk yourself to death after you poisoned that kid. Well, one of the things you just said is fucking true.

I do not touch the boy. Someone may have poisoned him. I think it was the Frasbys. And as he says, accuses you of poisoning this, this, this, young lad. I will stand up. Okay, but I'm going to need you to make a test roll. And what this is going to do is this is

something that is very painful for you to remember. You are a prideful person. You know that these rumors have spread around the different towns and places that you've been to and you haven't quite been ever able to really shape these rumors, and it's something that no matter how hard you try, it still bothers you.

And so what you're going to do is that you were going to roll a 1D10, and the result of the 1D10 must exceed the relevant way. And the way is the one that you are... Five. Yes. Yes. Whichever one is the one that is your highest and based on your fault. And this rumor, you're going to roll a 1D10 and see if you can overcome this accusation and rise above this insult.

It's equal to five. Oh. It must exceed the rating. So I'm going to roll a 1D10 real quick. Okay. For the next three minutes, you will suffer a minus two penalty on all of your resolution rolls. And basically you succumb to your fault. The shame that you feel for this rumor following you,

that eats away at your prideful nature. It's gonna be not a long time, but enough that you, you take the bait. I stand up, I snatch my cane, I put my cup down, I immediately stand up and I will look at it. Excuse me, do you have any idea who the fuck you are talking to? I am Jasper Dunnington of Castle Blackmont. I have the blood of the Hydra.

What house are you from, peasant? I'll jump up immediately after he does. Whoa, whoa, big lad. We don't want any fucking trouble. Of course. Of course. I ask him a fucking question. Of course I fucking know who you are.

I said you're fucking Donington. And I said it out loud and I said you fucking killed that kid. I did not harm a hair on Benedict's head. I suggest my good friend. friend that you take that back, or there will be words. Oh, there's going to be words. How about there be some fists, or are you not man enough to meet me outside? Darlington, it's fucking late. What house do you belong to?

I don't recognize you. I've never heard of you. I'm sorry that you know my reputation. I know nothing of you. This jab, uh, it, for a moment he's taken ab. And it seems like you've, You've wounded him. Everything's okay. No, don't, no worries here. I need to correct, confirm. Oh!

Ah! Okay. Uh, he, he, he, the, at this point the patrons are all, are all stunned. The bar is trying to play on, but he can tell that there is, he's losing the crowd a little bit to, to this outburst. And he says, it doesn't fucking matter

what house I'm a part of. You know what we do to people like you around here. If you are, a whole man, he looks at your leg, you'd meet him. outside. And here I thought you were some, some noble of some house of repute, even a minor, lordling, maybe good chums with Frosbeys who get drunk and fat in my castle. But you aren't even a landed knight, are you? How dare you, I will meet you outside, you pathetic excuse of a of a worm.

Ah, okay. All right, all right, all right. Okay. No, no, no, no. Look, I suggest you forget this fucking happened, you turn around and you fucking leave. You understand?

He stumbles a little. He's very clearly drunk. He looks at you. He looks at Jasper. He says, I'll fucking be waiting outside. I'll be waiting. You best be looking over your shoulder.

People know about you, Dunnington. People know. Good. Good, they know that I'm not dead, that I am very much alive that the Hydra lives, and that my castle will be mine again, and the Frosby's better keep their eyes out. He starts to back up, trips over a chair. He catches himself, people snicker a little.

They laugh as he, and he looks around and he is angry, and a little embarrassed that he tripped, and that he couldn't match wits. with you initially. And as he gets to the door and he pushes the door open with force, you see him spit outside as he looks back over his shoulder and he walks off as the door closes behind him. And at this moment, Alexander the bar is looking around the tavern and he begins to start a new song that has a call and response to try to get the crowd back in and everything is fine. Everything is fine. The bar made, it was looking very

nervous and just hoping that it would be taken outside. And things begin to return to normal. the vibe is a little tense now. And people are hoping to just have some fun and get back to drinking. And this was very, this outburst was very unusual for this, for this in. What the fuck are you doing? You can't go outside. You can't. You are hurt. I sit back down and I pick up my cup and I refill it. I'm not going outside. Are you fucking kidding?

Are you trying to get it so fucking killed? No, that's, he's a braggart and he's full of hot air. Do you see how he tripped? He's afraid of me. Once I'm not out there in the next ten minutes, he's going to feel awfully embarrassed and ashamed. He won't show himself in this tavern again. He's going to walk home with his tail between his legs. His prod's been insulted.

So is mine. All he needs is a couple fucking friends, and we all end up with daggers between our fucking rips. I will think that we can take him. He's not even a landed night. Get him upstairs to bed. I'll both fucking move with him. Let's go.

It's not a time to sleep. The show is almost over. We're almost out of drinking. I, you are not my fucking mother. Give me another, I will get ailed. We'll go upstairs. Dunington. Go to fucking bed.

We don't want to think of Breyerbroke. We are not here for this. We are here to help those people. Well, if you kill him, get his name first. I want to know who it is. I'm not going to kill anybody. Fine. Fine. I'll stand up.

I'll grab my cane. I'll get my cane. I'll stand up and I'll point it bolt to. Take that one. Let's bring that one upstairs. And pointing at a flagon. I'll pop it off with the remainder of another flagon and see that Jasper starts to make his way up the stairs to our room and then quickly run back to the bar, ask Bridget for three of the nice farmhouse

sales that Christoff had ordered. And then... Yeah, she tells you for another obel. She'll put it on the tab. I just... See if they haven't eaten. Peppered bore.

Mutton chops glaze with honey and... And cloves. Oh, yes. We haven't eaten. You were able to order food, and for three more obels, it's plenty of food for the evening. So again, on your tab?

I don't even ask how much it is. I just... She tells you. We're hungry, and it's the end of the night. It's not that late, but it's the end of our night, and I will follow Jasper up, knowing that food and beverage is on the way. Awesome.

I will leave the establishment. Yeah, so you hoping to maybe diffuse the situation or talk to this man, whose name you did not catch, you proceed out the door of the front of the inn, just like he left, and it's dark outside. There's some candlelit illuminations, but, It's dark, and as you step out, you look left, look right, and you don't see anybody. Hmm. Anyone there?

You wait a moment. No answer. I've come to speak for Dunington. A few more moments pass. There's no answer. You are under the impression that this man did not stick around to find out what might have happened, had Jasper. or any number of the three of you walked out of those tavern doors from what you can tell. He doesn't seem to be around.

I'll walk back in and sit back at the table alone. I'll continue to work on my ale. And with them upstairs going to bed, I... There's no other way to say this. I look for a lusty Avalonian maid. Okay. Yeah, you are, things are winding down. When you told Jasper to go to bed and Balto tried to tell Jasper that the barred wouldn't be playing for much longer, he was right. Things are, it's late in the evening. You've been here for many hours, as you've discussed and talked to people and drank and had a good time and almost caused an altercation.

And a lot of people have been returning to their rooms and it's not nearly as crowded as it was as things are winding down. There are a few people left, and you spy one individual who might fit that description. I will sort of all down my one drink. And then I'll take the flag in, and I'll take two of the cups that was left from earlier in the evening. And I will approach her table, and we don't have to R&P this,

but I intend to socialize with her. Yeah, she sees you coming from a mile away and immediately the thing that you notice actually hold on let's do let's take a look let's take a look here I don't I don't have a good angle on the street I don't know if he's okay here's that I want to do I would like you to make an awareness I can't see he's fine he's fine I know right should I go down I could I could be bleeding I'd like you to make an awareness check perception and if you have the discipline of human behavior, you may use that. All right.

Yeah, that's what you use, human behavior. Sorry, what's that? It's awareness and perception is the domain. It's an eight. Let me, I'm gonna up it by two. Okay. Don't not, no. Absolutely not.

No! He doesn't, okay. So as you're approaching this woman, it is very, very clear that the look on her face is one that turns to recognition as she is one that she very clearly remembers that you were involved in the altercation with that gentleman earlier and were involved with one Jasper Dunnington and she almost immediately looks like she doesn't want to talk to you um how much does she look like she doesn't want to talk to me it's pretty pretty pretty she's not making it for the gentleman running for the door yet

But you can tell she turns cold. Her face turns cold. I'll pull back a chair and I'll say, I'll love. As soon as you sit down, she gets up and she walks away. I will, I'll just sit there. And I'll pour myself. I'll put the two cups down and I'll pour both cups. And I'll drink one of them.

I think it has been too much time. Jasper, I think I should go down and check on him. Do whatever you want, Bolto. He's fine. Things have gotten much quieter now. It is late evening, and the rest of the evening is yours, but there's not much going on left in this inn. Everybody has kind of turned to their roots, and the bard is done playing, and the barmaidin tells you

that she'll be serving for a little bit longer, but she's approaching last call, because she's going to be done work. Well, he was waiting for, Balto? You come back down. Yeah, I think that if enough time passes, I would be like, I have to go check and I would stop down the stairs and seeing you at the table, I imagine immediately evidently with no one in other patrons. Yeah, he is the only one left in the tavern. Chris off! You've just been sitting here?

Oh yeah, you want to join me? What happened with man? man. Oh, he fucking turned tail and ran. By the time I got out there, there was no one, no one stood around the way. I don't know if he was scared of me or Dunnington. We have food and additional ale. Oh, no, I figured. You're okay? No, I'm fine.

It's been a long day. And it's, uh, I feel on edge. You know what I mean, Bolton? It is to be expected. This time yesterday I think we were still with Leo. Fucking Leo. I mean, as far as the odds are concerned, it's a pretty good chance we'll end up just like he did. I fear the trek back home.

If we even get that far. Yeah, but you're right. Um, how's Dunnington? I suspect to sleep. He had 150% of the wine. I'd say just 150%. I am being generous. Would you like to play heads-up, Merlin's beard, before bed?

You know, I could go for a round of two. You deal out the cards and you play a few rounds of Merlin's beard before you are ready to head to bed, and you make use of this time. for the first time in a week or so that you feel safe and you feel like you can rest and enjoy yourself. And for a moment, it's

almost like the old days in Briarbrook, only you're just in a much nicer place. Food is better, the alcohol is better, the rooms are better, and you take a moment to enjoy before heading off to bed and getting to rest.

You all sleep soundly through the night with food and water and being able to rest, you all will heal two points on your health charts. Biggity dog. So you'll remove two checks. You know that you have to be up in the morning. It's not unusual for you all to be early risers.

If you spend an hour in the morning allowing Balto to continue treating your wounds, he'll be able to make some roles to heal you further, as this is what he would do on a daily basis to make sure that you're all healing. No one is infected. that you don't have any internal bleeding or contusions that are severe, things like that. So it would be up to you, but he is able to check you over and treat you once a day to continue to improve your condition as you as you are healed.

I think that we would wake up and do that before discussing the priorities of the weird hunters and the knowledge that there's a court day today. Yeah, you would know from the context of the conversations that you overheard and from what Alex the Bart had. told you was that today is your chance to talk to court and if you want to speak to a wizard or talk to the Queen's advisors and perhaps find like this is your only real lead right are the wizards here in Camelot this is your day so

you're you're going to have to make use of it today the next court day wouldn't be for several weeks and you're worried that that is too long if I'm spend an hour with Jasper to get him negative two wounds? Yeah. Is that hour shared across? I have to spend three hours? No, no, no. I just one hour in the morning treating yourselves and each of them is all it would take.

Okay. It's not going to delay you being late for the open court day. So it would be something that you would do routinely, where almost like you are back in Briarbrook where you would do your rotations and check on your patience, that you would take an hour to make sure the friends. I'll wake early. I'll get a basin of fresh water. will come upstairs and with some rags and what herbs I can apply, I will redress your wound.

I will take another close look at Christoph and make sure that you're doing okay. There's some, you know, one of these wounds, I'm sure, almost certainly needed stitching day one, and you didn't complain enough about it, so now I'm making sure that that's taken care of. And I have a few scrapes and bruises myself that I rub a little salve into just to ease the pain. I'll spend that hour, and as we're discussing, the minor injuries being what they are, or just injuries, do we think we have energy enough for court today?

You understand it might not come back for some time? I would have probably gotten up before everyone, and as we're getting ready, I'll be pouring myself a cup of Albi and gold. I love that. As I'm pouring myself as I grab my cane and I put it down and I'll drink it and I'll say, well, we don't have any other better plans, do we? What do we hope to accomplish at court?

We hope to get access to the bug Belfazar. What the fuck was Archibald? Archibald Rasp, I think. Archibald Rasp, yes. We ask him about how we can find magics to rejuvenate our... mania stone or we find a new mania stone where we can conduct a pilgrimage that is by far the least desirable of the options though I would say at least a third of the town is probably too sickly and too old to make the voyage without the

journey without dying that is last option Caspar the boy I I treated for many weeks he is still sick very sick it will be much much longer before he could make any journey. So we've got to find the wizards or whoever might be able to help. And that means we need to go. And I've been at course plenty. I should be able to handle there's no problem. Perhaps even gain audience with the queen herself.

Should we look a certain way? We should all make sure we bathe, yes. How presentable can you look? I can be all right. I don't think we have time to go to a tailor. I guess we should have gone yesterday. When we arrived. We were tired yesterday.

I don't think we could afford it either. Thank you. Yes. I will come here. As a part of the hour that you might use to administer first aid to all three of you, you'd also be getting ready, bathing. I'll shave and try to get my sort of beard and mustache

somewhat presentable, maybe waxed it a little bit. Yeah, and you would also know that, like, the point of open court day is for anyone to be able to go and share their grievances and their problems and hopes for finding a solution. So it's not uncommon for people who are even super low born to be there, right? They might not get the same treatment, but, you know, everyone is welcome. If you are going to administer first aid, what I would like you to do is make three healing checks

with the discipline of first aid if you have to. I don't. So if you could just tell me who each role... Who each roll is for. As you shout them out, let me know what you get. Okay. But I am a good healer. So it will be 1D10 plus the way plus the domain of healing.

5 plus 5 plus 2 is 12 plus my 1D10. Yeah, that sounds right. Who's this for? Shit, I'll make that for Jasper. Okay. It's going to be a 20. Perfect. Next.

This one will be for Christoph. Oh, let's fucking go. Damn. And this is the lucky die. Well, okay, that's going to be an 18. 18, okay. One moment. Yeah, so you are, because you don't have the appropriate discipline,

but you rolled really well, everyone would heal an additional point. Just a point. So three total. Yeah, three total. Two from the long rest. the long rest of food and water and one from Bolto. I am still okay. So he just healed us one.

Yes, you each get one healing. Okay. I will have the other two cups. Oh, for this one. After Balto checks me out, and I'm looking a bit present. Anyone else care for a bit of the scale of the hydra that burned you? As I grabbed the flag in ready to pour in the cups. I need more wine this morning.

We drank plenty last night. It's the break at dawn. Dunnington. The perfect time to begin. Your nerves, it'll help us be presentable in the court. I have water, and I will pour it in, and I'll pack in a little bit of additional powder. You can't tell if it's medicine or if it's just flavoring, but I'm sipping at my own personal concoction. Jesus. I'll take the flag in myself, I'm ready to go. You continue doing your morning rituals. You might stop downstairs for some refreshments and maybe some food, some breakfast, light breakfast before you head out.

But it isn't long at all before you are walking through the thoroughfare again in this bright morning. And you see the people getting ready for trading and the things that they do as you make your way to the main keep where you know that the open court is going to happen. And again, making note of notable places and things that you might want to see given time here. and it isn't long before you find this main keep, and it's easy to find not only because of its size, but because of the crowd that is gathering here. And there seem to be lines forming. And there are guards who are directing people different places in different ways,

and they make sure that you get in the correct line based on what you're looking for. You tell them that you're hoping to speak to a court wizard, and there's a special line for that. And this is a slow and painful process. This is bureaucracy at its finest. And maybe something you guys aren't used to because you don't deal with these cities.

You don't deal with these guards. You don't deal with politics. You are used to farmers. You are used to people who do things when they want to do them, when they're not on anybody else's time except for the way that the sun moves. And so this is kind of a painful process

where you're being shuffled from one place to the next and you're waiting in line. And Jasper's complaining about his leg because he's standing for so long in this line. And after many, many, many hours, it is not long. It's very long. After many hours, you finally reach the head of the line, and standing before you is one of the Queen's advisors.

He introduces himself as Edward, as he says. All right, who's next? Come forward, come forward. Yes, we wish to gain audience. All right, and you're here to speak with the court wizard? Yes, yes, the court wizard. We're court wizard. My name is Lord Jasper Dunnington. This is Christoph Reina, and this is Balto, son of Kassum. All right, and he's flipping through some parchment, and he's marking off. He writes down the names that you said, and he says, quick summary of your visit, your reason for having a meeting with the wizard.

We are seeking knowledge of how to reactivate a mania stone, or perhaps knowledge of where an untainted mania stone may lie. He scoffs a little and says, all right, and he seems to jot that down. Perfect. The Wizard Rast will see you shortly. You can head right down this way, and you will see his door is on the right. I thank you. Now proceed, please quickly. Next, who's next?

And he calls up whoever's next in line, and you start to walk through this castle. And he is magnificent. I mean, this is stonecraft that you have not been this close to. ever. It is beautiful. It is old. And you find yourself wondering how long Camelot has been here. And it's, it is just absolutely wonderful masonry. And you can feel the opulence. Small details like the click of my shoes on the surface of the stone are surprising and new information to ball. Yeah, it's, it's a strange echo that you hear as you walk down this, this hallway and you find a wooden door that you've been directed to by the advisor.

It was the seal of the queen on the letter that stripped me of my lands and titles. I'll just look around very, not filled with disgust. I don't know what the word is. Distain. I don't believe she got some gift from the gods for a fucking second. Do you really believe the whispers of the small? I think it's what? Wishcraft? Strange dark powers. She manipulates all of Avalon. That's stuff of fairy tales of snarks and grumkins. What makes you so sure? Because it's never complicated. It's the small folk that want it to be some grand plan or strange mystical powers controlling things. Then there's something to blame, something to shake their fist at for their shit They don't want to accept that life sucks. So you think that they've just replaced the queen for hundreds of years,

and she plays it off like, oh, I'm King Arthur's sister, the same one, and here I am, centuries later. It doesn't have to be witchcraft, or malevolence, does it? Or it could be... What else do you think it is? A good workout regiment. A healthy diet of dates. I don't fucking know, I don't care.

All I care about is getting safety for Briarbrook. And she's only as useful in that aim. You hear muffled clicking, that same click-clack of shoes on stone and a voice from inside the door. Is someone out there? Is someone out? What are you doing huddled outside? Come in, come in, you get to see me. And the door swings over.

and there is a tall, thin, elderly man wearing wonderful robes. As he looks at the three of you and says, well, what are you doing out there? Come in, quickly. Thank you very much for your husband's fatality. Come in, come in, come in, come in. Yes, yes, of course, of course, apologies. And he allows you to come in, and as you walk in,

immediately, you're hit with the smell of incense and herbs and things. You can hear bubbling. There's all these different glass flasks, and, flasks and vials sitting over open flame, different colors and noises and sounds and books and scrolls. It looks like extremely organized chaos as this man ushers you in and says, it's a pleasure to meet you, who do I have here?

My name is Archibald Rast. I am one of the court wizards. These court days are unbelievably busy, so I don't have a lot of time. How can I help you? Thank you for your time. Lord Rast. My name is Lord Jasper Dunnington. This is

Christoph Reiner and this is Balto son of Kassan. Welcome, welcome. Welcome. Great things. We appreciate your time and your expertise and your infinite wisdom. We are seeking powers any aid that we can in the rejuvenation and restoration of a

Mania Stone. Ah, mania stone, you say? Yes. Well, unfortunate timing. It wasn't that long ago that Queen Morgan halted search for the lost knowledge of the men herestone. You see, there's a lot going on. The weirdness creeping in, it's a high priority, but we have, we have, uh, people who refuse to bend the need to Camelot thing that she's dealing with. There are famines and wars and things like that.

So she's, unfortunately, uh, uh, requested that we stop our search temporarily. Well, uh, the difficulty in making such a decision is that the forebearers That's what they're called, right? Four dwellers. Four dwellers, damn it. Yeah, that's okay. The difficulty in that decision is that the foredwellers are active, and we encountered one in the weirdness on our way here.

No more than a several hours journey from the walls of Camelot. You don't say, my boy. Yes, our mist pharaohs torn in two pieces by one. We barely escaped with our lives. Fascinating, and he runs over to his desk, and he pulls out of scrolling, whips out a quill, a quill and he begins to jot some notes down that you can't see. Interesting, interesting.

Well, there is a bit of good news. I personally have not stopped my own research and search. In secret, of course. I have a little spare time. I am very interested, very interested, in learning a bit about what you're looking for. And I might have some good news for you. Well, good news and bad news, of course.

We are from a town called Briarbrook, and its men here is failing, and without it, the people they will not survive. You must help us. Yes, yes, this is a very common problem. It's not uncommon these days. Did you hear about these small settlements being swar up by the fog? And you're going to help these towns, right? Like, with Briarbrook, if we don't fix it, the whole fucking town is done for. Dozen's dead.

Well, that's the, the plan is to help, yes. Good people. I do have time for a bit of a history lesson. Yes, of course. We love history lessons, especially my good friend, Christoph here. He will be very attentive, and it will be a quiz later. Christoph, proceed, my good man. Have you ever heard of the wizard oaring?

No. Orin. I, it has been so long time since I had my history studies. Please elaborate in greater detail. Well, he was the very last wizard to be directly trained by Merlin himself. My great, great, great, great, great grandfather also knew Orin. You might be asking yourself, what does this mean? Well, we all know that with the death of Merlin,

and supposedly his line that a lot of his knowledge has been lost to time. I suspect that the knowledge is not lost, but merely stolen. Which leads me to my next point. Do any of you know of Castle Crow's Nest? Hmm? I'm sorry, what? Did you just fucking say? Castle Crow's Nest, my boy!

You'll have to forgive, my friend Christoph Reiner. He has a deep fear of castles and crows. crows. I can see by the look on his face. It appears that he knows what I'm talking about. Yes, I know what the fuck Castle Crows' Nest is. To wash your tone, Chris off. What do you fucking utter it?

Well, so it sounds like you're aware of Mordred, the necromanic former knight of the round table. Well, allegedly necromanic. Oh, he's necromanic. You better fucking believe it. Do you have experience with this night? Yes. Yes, I do. I was on the front lines for years. I've seen what he's fucking capable of.

Really? And what was that? Fucking horrors beyond your imagination. It's said that he worships Morgan, goddess of death, war, crows in black magic. Seems like you believe it. Dark wings, dark deeds. I don't need to fucking believe it. I fucking see him. Needless to say, this individual might have reason for working with the foredwellers and keeping the men here stones from being reactivated.

I believe somewhere deep in Castle Crowsnest, the stolen knowledge, not the lost knowledge of these men here stones lies. So the good news is, and the bad news is, it's as simple as waltzing into Castle Crows' Ness and taking it for yourself. It has to be some other way. There's no way that we can go to this place if it truly is haunted by a great necromancer. We are but three weary broken men. I know no magic.

I have only my sling and my herbs. I am but a simple healer. There's no way that I could siege a tower. and is this the only way? He thinks for a moment, and he seems sympathetic to your words and your plight, and he says, Unfortunately, I think so. Stolen and lost knowledge is not an everyday thing.

You didn't think this would be easy, did you? I didn't think it had to fucking deal with the fucking Dark Lord, the fucking Raven King. It's unfortunate, yes, but. Think about what we're trying to accomplish here. It's very clear that you have the same interest that I have. We're talking about the saviors of humanity. If we find a way to fix these stones,

you're not just helping your small town of Briarbrook. You're helping all of Avalon. It's got to be some other fucking way. If King Arthur and Merlin figured his shit out, what can't you? Christoph, Our friend has clearly done the best that he's can. And he's fucking failed at it, apparently. He takes your jab in stride, and he warmly smiles, and he says,

Drasco is right. I am but an old man. I have since dedicated myself to knowledge and the betterment of humanity through the study of magics. Well, the villages are being swallowed home out of fucking weirdness. We're all doing what we can. And please, let me just say, before we say anything further that we do appreciate

what the Queen has done in these trying times, despite the weirdness, swallowing entire villages, the foredwellers lurking in the forests, that her priorities distracted, so many not able to bend the knee to Camelot. Yes, yes, no. No, of course, of course.

I can certainly help you on your way to Castle Crowslist. You know this one, especially, Christoph. Not an easy journey. It's one of the most northern points of Avalon. Oh, wholly unlivable by humanity standards. The beings and creatures that reside in Castle Crowsnest, horribly mutated beyond reason. The fog there is thicker than it is endless. Everywhere else at Avalon.

That being said, I have the ability to produce candles that can at least keep the fog at bay and assist you on your journey in getting there. If, of course, you're up for the task. Well, it sounds like we don't have any other choice. And perhaps we can venture forth and hope that it is all just mostly stories that our grandmothers tell us to keep us being good little children.

It's tough to remember at times that sometimes fate calls upon you even when you don't want it to. I can see the trouble in all of your faces, but it seems also that you know what you must do. You so desire for me to make the candles, I only require one thing. What is that? To render the fact of a creature that has lived its life in the weirdness. We render it down, we boil it, we exchange. We turn it into a candle, and when you light that black candle, it repels the weirdness. Any creature in the weirdness, a beast, a small rabbit, a crow?

Well, for the number of candles you're going to need, it's going to have to be a pretty big beast. Well, we have faced the creatures of the weirdness just yesterday. Oh, yes? I am sure this will be no small chance for us. We will be up to the challenge. lucky for you. I'm sure you've seen the posters of the town. Boy. The wheel hunter captain is always looking for help. I'm sure he would pay you too.

It would be a matter of you bringing back a caucus to me and I will get to work. Well, we know where to go now. We have all of the answers that we came for. Well, and if you have any more questions upon your return, I'm happy to answer them. I will equip you with the knowledge that you need to make it to Castle Crow's Nest. Thank you for your help. You have been incredibly gracious, Lord Rast. We will do this thing for you. Just know.

And I mean this in the most reassuring way I can. I understand the gravity of the situation and the task at hand. And as impossible as it might seem, you are all better men for attempting this. wherever King Arthur is he and the Allmother smiled down upon you I believe the Allmother is guiding our path and I believe we will be victorious you have my word

on my honor and on my name my house Dunnington we will do this thing and it will be not just we will find this creature but we will discover of the secrets of Castle Crow's nest. Oh, and before you go, and he shuffles over to his desk,

and he opens a couple drawers. No, no, no, where did I put them? Ha ha, ha, here. And he comes back, he shuffles over, and he hands you each a seal that seems to have, it's a seal that you recognize, Jasper. It's the seal of the Queen of Avalon, and he tells you, if you need to come back and see me,

there's no, there's no need to wait to these lines. Just to let them know that you can come speak to me directly and show them the seal. But don't use that to get in any trouble. I don't want the city guard coming to complain to me that some ruffians are waving seals about and causing fights, understood? We would never do such a thing. We are not here to cause trouble.

We are simple folk from a simple town. All right. If there's anything else I can do for you, please let me know. How many... Yes? Have gone out trying to... Bring back what you're asking. Well, over the years,

more than I can count. All right. Good day. He means to say thank you very much. We appreciate all of your time and your great wisdom. My lord. And he nods, and just kind of motions towards the door

to let you leave as you would like. You have no problem taking your time, back through the castle. It is an absolute madhouse in this place, especially for you guys who have never seen this kind of commotion before. And the guards and the advisors are trying to communicate and move people the best they can. You hear whispers of people saying, when will I meet the queen? When will I meet the queen? And the advisors kind of brush off those questions and funnel people into different lines and things like that. And by the time that you are done with all this ordeal, it is already evening. You've spent a whole day dealing with you.

dealing with the bureaucracy of this open court day, and you will have the evening to yourself to decide how you want to tackle the task at hand. But you do know that there is a way to receive help if you so desire. You are also very aware of Archibald's direction that the more rendered fat he receives, the more of these candles he will be able to make you, and the better off you will be on your quest. You don't want to run out of candles at the wrong moment. Walking through the city,

you will arrive back at the Queen's Respite, unless there's anything else that you would like to do before getting there. I'll go right back to the Queen's Respe. Yeah, yeah. And...

I would join. Yeah, that's right. I think you realize you know what needs to be done and you might be ready for another meal. It's been a long day. Again,

This isn't, these aren't physically, maybe for Jasper a little bit. Standing is physically tough for him, but this isn't horribly physically demanding. It's more mentally draining, and you're ready to rest of the evening before you decide what you're going to do the next day to fulfill this request for Ultramal. And I thought the court at Castle Misswood was complicated. This is a whole other level. Can we draft a letter to home? We trust a courier to make it back.

Carriers don't always come to town often. I'm happy to write the letter. I think we need to tell him to leave. Where will they go? I don't fucking know. They're... It's... For as many healthy people

there are in that town They're just as many Graybe is old and firm sick Can we tell them to try to Make it here or can we And through the woods Well, perhaps we can I'm like him making it through the woods

What about candle? We make candles with Archibald and Send those via courier And then they come here There's no hope for Briarbrook if we do not

achieve salvation. That much is clear. Can you not hear him? Fucking believe. And for all their fucking knowledge, they have to rely on Mordred. And I'll spit on the ground. That the Raven King is the only one

with the fucking knowledge and power to reactivate these things? All of the power of the wizards is, it's all the people believe. You act like he did fucking wizards. Oh, I'm a duttery old fool. And we believe that he has that power because he acts as if he does have that power.

Did he display one use of magic? No. Power is where the people believe, Christoph. He will believe, as you have said, perhaps I am the skeptic. If any of these The small folk of Avalon Are as petrified of the rumors of the Raven King

That is where the power lies They're not fucking rumors It's real Well Then we will have to Face it one way or another We have no choice You asked the same question

That I was going to ask Christoph I the way he used his words suspected that many more had been sent to the castle before us and

when he spoke of the candles I assumed there was no hope as well there is a glimmer of hope we are three bitter spider spiteful old men.

It's tough to kill people like us. It's the good and the kind and the just that die young. People like us live forever. There may be a chance that we find this knowledge and we bring it back to Briarbrook. And no one has to go anywhere. I'm not worried about the candles. I'm sure we could go out there

kill a fucking beastie and drag its ass back to that stupid fuck. But we could have 42 million candles. We'd have to get into the castle itself. Crow's Nest Castle? Undead sorcerer. Maybe we can parlay with him. Powerful necromances.

Armies of fucking undead as far as I'm concerned. It was rumours, and his men were hardy. Took twice as many blows to fucking fell. Are you saying that they were walking corpses? I don't know what the fuck they were And I didn't believe it until I had to Escort

Commander of the Rook Knights And that's when That's when my battalion was wiped out What a fucking scarlet worm is You ever heard of one? No I've been fucking seen one Giant

fucking monstrous worm beast creature and it wasn't even a living one we were caught by one of his necromances and he raised a fucking dead one wiped out over two dozen men some fucking miracle of cruel fucking joke that I'm still alive and there was no warning no warning besides the fucking crows so who knows what else he has defending his pretty little castle then we will keep our eyes to the sky and avoid the crows and the ravens and the rooks. I forgive me if I do not fear the snacks and grumpkins and the rumors of the small folk.

I've seen the dark deeds of the hearts of men, simple men and women, living, mortal, flesh and blood. I've seen the life go out of people I love dearest, people I was sworn to protect. gasping for air, choking in their sickbed. To me that's far more terrifying than any sort of corpse-given second life or any sort of malevolent monster worm. The people of Briarbrook cannot move. Only our efforts can guarantee they all live.

We have to sacrifice, to push, to do anything that we can to help. Is Caspar the boy that I treat in Briarbrook. He takes medicine every morning to help with his ailment. There is another treatment I could give him. Rendered puppy lard is the main ingredient. ingredient of this potion. That's a bitch too far. You say puppy lard? Yes, a guarantee. But I save for him his dog in hopes that it grow up with him. I would certainly hope so. We have to go and get the lard to save this village. You know, Berto, sometimes you leave me speechless with the off-the-wall shit you fucking

fucking... Stop saying odd... Boltoe, stop saying odd shit. Let boy dog live. You know, I'm glad that you have let the boys' dog live. But there is no hope for Briya Brooke if we do not go on this quest for the cat. If we do not find the secrets within, we have no choice. Sacrifice, huh?

There's nothing noble in that. The town's dead either way. And if we go on the mission, odds would say so are we, but I'm sick of running. Don't call it sacrifice. We are not noble-hearted heroes. I plan on using any kind of victory to make an alliance with the make an alliance with the queen and get the Frosbees ejected from my castle and preferably hanged. And then what?

Who gives a fuck about the Frosbees? I do. I don't even care about Castle Blackmont. I just want them dead. Without a home. And then I can die happy. They are the ones that killed Benedict. But what doesn't matter?

That's what you say? I know. The gentlemen that we met that you failed to meet out in the alley or the thoroughfare believed me to be the culprit. If someone told a nasty lie and destroyed everything

that you had ever known and laughed, would you want to live and let live? It depends on what you mean by live and let live. If you mean, just tune it out. ignore it and try to move on and yeah that's what I would do that's what I have done that's what this is for and that is another silver lining we know we need to find the order of weird hunters and it's guard captain we need to find the creature in the weird and capture it bring it back to the wizard and

And then, maybe then we can go north and recover the secrets of the men here. And that is exactly a summation of what you need to do. But, in the meantime, we don't have to spend any more obols on anything other than ourselves. Yes. Yeah, you have the evening to talk amongst yourselves, and when you're ready, you know that you're comfortable. beds await you. You can do anything else that you'd like to before you go to sleep, but Balto has laid it out pretty clear exactly what needs to happen. You will have the option of certainly striking out on your own to perhaps see what's out there in the weirdness and

fell a beast yourself, but you also know that this order of weird hunters exist and they are always looking for help and they pay. Is there anything else you'd like to do before you go to sleep? I would spend the evening socializing. Okay. I will spend the evening. I'm not going up to the back to the room. Okay. I will be in my cups.

And if, if, if, uh, Bolto and Christoph want to be there or not, I'll just be sitting, I'll just post up in the corner somewhere, and I'll just be drinking. Okay. Alone or, or not. I feel restless.

I am struggling with all of the emotions of the challenge that confronts us, and I am overwhelmed by the noise of this space, and so what I would normally do at night is go and search for herbs, but I don't have a forest to go to me. Yeah, that would be very tough here in Camelag. So I will endeavor to take walks around blocks

and try and sort of get some legs pumping and move in just to wear out my... energy. For sure. And you're able to go for a walk and you stick to where it's well lit. Obviously the origin of the city that you're in is is doesn't seem to be like there's a lot of crime. I mean, you pass guards, right? They're on watch. There are people who are responsible for keeping the town safe around and you are able to do some laps and get some fresh air. For sure. If any animals happen to come my way, they hiss and run away, but you would see the occasional you would see the occasional cat but nothing maybe a dog it's there aren't a ton of you

know any rats that exist in the city would would run at the at the noise of a human walking around even at night you might hear them rattling around in the alleys but you wouldn't even catch sight of them uh dare i ask uh Christoph like what your plan is or her I'm just socializing you're just socializing I'm just seeing who I meet you know having drinks and you you notice a few faces from the night before. I'll help Bridget, you know, clean up if she needs help or whatever. Sure. You see a few faces from the night before, but a lot of faces you don't recognize. And even the entertainment this evening is different than it was previously. Alexander the Bard is not here with this tonight. They have a different more.

And you... Yeah, you actually don't prefer his music as much. It's not as lovely as Alexander's music was. You, the people who do recognize you, it takes them a little time to warm up to you, but they recognize that you are not a drunk like your friend Jasper was and you don't seem to be causing trouble. And the people that you socialize with, they warm up to you over time and the people who didn't recognize you from the night before have no problem talking to you and you spend the evening socializing. Perfect.

And if there's anything else you'd like to do, otherwise, you can Eventually I make my way to bed. I would try to help Christoff when I'm sufficiently drunk. Sure. We really don't need it all . I would like to go up to, while maybe while he's chatting up, Brigitte. Yeah, okay.

I'll like walk up and I'll say, Sir Christoph. Oh, God. God's. Don't you... Young lady, do you... Shouldn't you be it, Ben? Do you know that you are speaking?

You've been speaking all night to a heroic night. Oh, ah, good evening, Lord. Is everything all right? Everything is delightful. The venison pie, outstanding. Yes, Mr. Christoff is keeping me lovely company, and it's been a busy night, but he's been talking my ear off and keeping me company.

in between boring drinks. And noble... The stories of the old days. Noble company, yes, before you were knighted and risen to even be landed, actually, after this great quest.

He has his own castle. He will be returning to, yes. His own castle? His own castle. You know, I'm not, you know, brag too much. It's not really my thing.

Yes, a landed night. It's no lord, but, you know, he has the spirit of a tight. A true knight. noble, fair, true, chivalrous. Always willing to help a damsel in distress. Oh, my. Yes.

Have you ever been to the old brooks, a region of the northwest to here? No, I've spent my whole life here in Camelot. The biggest towers you've ever seen. You see, King Arthur, in the glory days of this land, built these great big watchtowers all in the northwest. And that's where we're all. from and you know I didn't want to talk too much about it but he is very very

humble my castle leaves in just a little valley between two great towers and so if you happen to see my shield tomorrow morning you'll see two towers painted right on it so that's why you know I try to stay humble play it off like I'm a self-sword but you know Dunnington you spilled my beans well I You see it as there are people, as you saw last night. There are people who know me and want to kill me. And so we try to keep a low profile, and I try not to get Christoph's very, very well-known and wealthy family.

Try to get them tangled up in my business, you understand. She's enamored with these stories. She's very clearly impressed. But she's often stopping you to help people, and you're picking up the story. You're starting it. You're stopping it. She's moving. She's obviously working.

She can't just sit here. listen to your stories all night. But she's happy to oblige and listen, and she seems enamored. And, uh, well, yes, uh, about that. Please, please don't cause any more trouble here. I understand you're very important people,

but we can't be having fights. The, the, the, the, the, the owner would not be happy with that. Oh, at that moment the door crashes open and two guards are pushing, pushing Baltho in, I thought this was Evelyn. I thought this was Evelyn. That doesn't happen. Incredible.

What is the great? A meal? Oh, Sikiland meal? I couldn't hold myself. Can we take a break for the love of God? We're going to sleep and then we'll get in my sleep. With that, we don't have to our penis. We're in the air until two in the morning.

I'm getting. I will, when I feel like that she believes that he is a night, with land. She believes it. I will just kind of smile, well, I am going to rest my weary legs and sit by the fire. In my state, I get cold very easily.

So you have a good night, young lady. You too, my lord. I'll hobble over to the fire and I'll just sit alone, maybe if there's like a chair there and I'll just have my flag in my cup and I'll just drink. Absolutely. Just staring into the fire into my cup. You continue

to socialize until you're I hang out. Until you guys are very satisfied and want to go to bed. I attempt to pull off a heist. Jesus, long. No, eventually I come back. I see if Jasper's still awake, I'll sit by the fire with him for a little while. Eventually I make my way to bed.

My goal is to not sleep in the room tonight. Yeah. Depending on my success level, that would determine what time I return to the room. Alright. Here's all say. One in the morning, two in the morning, seven in the morning. Do I get to give him a leadership? No, no.

Depends on what you say, you gotta repeat this. I did. Okay, so you RPed very well. Leadership, in this case, though, I don't know if that's right. It doesn't really apply. Leadership doesn't really apply. Yeah, that's right. I'm thinking of human behavior.

Let me take a look at inspiration. Yeah, you know what? Give a, give me a conviction. Give me a conviction roll if you have inspiration and courage. Oh. You can use that, otherwise use inspiration. Oh, okay. Don't you roll yet.

Oh, no. Me? Oh, sorry, sorry. You hold your dice. We're finding out if you get a bonus. Okay. For your tracks of land. You do feel like the stories that you are telling and the wing,

there's no other way to say this. The wing manning that you've done for Christoph is working. Christop, you feel inspired and you think that the stories are working on this woman. I can't really for doing this. Then what I need to you, leader. What I need you to do is roll for me a creativity role, communication. If you have charm as your discipline, you may use that. Otherwise, it's creativity and communication.

So you'll 1d10 plus communication plus creativity. I'm gonna use all of my survival points. No, no, don't do that. We'll do that. Did you use one? I use one. Yes. Okay.

For getting crystal. Six from your fucking twins. And then you're up. You got a 10? 10. 10. Okay. You can tell that she seems to be taking a liking to you.

And she's laughing at your story. and she's having a good time, but you can also tell that she's working hard. Like she's at her job, you know, and it's like the night kind of winds on and you, as the patrons begin to leave the bar, you talk and you talk and it's as if you're old friends and you're getting along so well. You almost don't notice that the inn has empty and is only the remaining two of you. And as she looks at you and laughs, she says, Oh, Sir Christoph, you are so wonderful. Oh, you don't have to call me, sir.

This has been, well, you're a knight. You're a knight with land. Oh, no, but I'm trying not to get a big head about it, you know. She reaches out and she says, I think what you're doing is so noble. And she puts a hand on your cheek, and her hand lingers, and there's this slight pause, she says, but I have an early morning, and I have to get ready for work.

No, no, you're right. You're right. Things don't start. Things don't... Me too. Things don't stop, just because we're having fun. Nope, there's lots to do. I agree.

I've got an early morning as well. She begins to clean up, and she says... Horrible mutated monsters to kill, you know. I may not survive. She looks at you. I don't say that. And there's this moment. There's a pause that kind of hangs in the air.

And the pause isn't awkward. It's just, it's a moment that she thinks and she says, I'm glad that you're going to be here for a week. Good night, Sir Christoph. Good night, lady. Ultimately and I are sitting by the fire. Yeah, we're watching the fire. We're watching the fire.

And she goes in the back and continues her duties, but she seems genuinely pleased to have spent the evening talking to you and has, you know, like she's taking a liking. It didn't work, either. What do you mean it didn't work? Wensches love nights. Well, she's not a wench. She's a tavern keeper.

I love you guys. Burst into howling laughter. I love you guys. We're hugging each other and crying with laughter we are. All right, you all go to bed after you have a jest at your friend, Christoph's expense. You have one last round before you head up to your room and you rest for the evening. 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 marsh 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 tome for Dungeons and Dragons fifth edition and don't forget to snag all the extra goodies like dice miniatures plushies a tarot deck and more thank you you go to sleep and you you you have your task at hand Balto laid it out you know very openly that you you know what you needs to be done. You have to hunt a creature that is existed in the weird and large enough to make

as many of these weird candles as you know you possibly can. You are able to potentially elicit some help from the order of the weird hunters that exist in this city. They're always posting up posters and looking for help and you are quite confident that given the opportunity they might take your offer, take you up on your offer. You all heal two more health points for taking a long rest and having meals and resting in a really nice place. And I would take the hour. Two total.

And then again, if your good friend Balto is gonna take the hour in the morning to continue to treat your wounds, depending on the rolls, you may heal additionally. Okay, roll really well. Let me just, hold on, let me just make my heel pool here. G-O-B-C. So, yeah.

A. A. Four. Minus one, minus two, minus three. All right. I will roll first for Jasper. Okay. Oh.

I knocked, I killed Jasper. You can use one of my scout points to be rolled out. He's dead. He's dead. No, I don't know if I need it. Unless is a pool scout point. No, no, that's a 17. Still, I don't like get like a, like it's,

if it's binary one or zero, I think 17's gonna get it. Oh, okay. I don't know. 17, next one. 17, I'm gonna go Christoff. The crit, let's confirm the crick. Confirm the crap, confirm the crap. The negative.

The opposite happens. Okay, no, you're good. You ignite into flames. So 10 plus. This is just a ranch. What was the total? I'm sorry. Max.

10 plus 12 is 22. Damn, okay. Which one was mine? Oh, I rolled that. So I have to- Are you sure? No, your role was the new one, which was a, your die got knocked over. Oh. So roll again.

Just roll again. A great. A grit. Roll again. Confirm? No. So, so close. So I'm really fucking, I'm decoctioning this up.

You will all heal one more additional health point. Okay. Tends to your wounds. So, one, two, let's fucking go. So three in total. Three. And then what is your, does anybody still have wounds left? I do. I do. How many? Two. Three wounds, three wounds.

Derek? I have four wounds left. What the? You got like crit? Or not crit, but like... Yeah, I started tonight off with nine and then... You know, you... Is that right? You took a huge hit. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I was here and then I lost with so I should have only one and okay. Yes, you would have four. Okay, because I had eight. All right, I think. Awesome. You take the hour, you clean yourselves up, you get ready for the you do your morning rituals. Again, you might head down for like breakfast before congregating and deciding what your course of action is going to be.

I start with a little bit of scale of the hydra. Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course. That's very funny. I think that we, I would want to spend at least one more day resting, seeing that everyone's eyes wound. Do we think that we can find the weird hunter captain, or do we need to rush? If we can spend another day, I would rest here. I mean, don't the posters say, I mean, they're always looking for help.

I think we just rest. Maybe we stock up and, you know, maybe look for new weapons or armor or a new shield for me. I would go down the street to Apothecary and see what I could see. There is much to learn there. We haven't had a good old-fashioned shopping episode in a long time. Let us spend the next hour and a half RPing this. I could investigate House Frosby and see how their standing is with the crown. I suppose I could pick up a side geek, wrestling steer, down by the livery.

Wait, are you saying that we can turn this into like 10 sessions? That's exactly what I'm saying. They call me a wrestler. You would all know that you absolutely could take another day to rest before you seek out the order of weird hunters. They're not hard to find. They're always looking for help. They basically go out on hunts daily. It's their job. That's what they're doing. They're trying to protect Avalon. They're trying to keep the city of Camelot safe. Obviously they do it for coin. They're doing it for free. But they are, you know, doing it for a good purpose.

If you would like to explore and potentially shop, the only thing I want to keep in mind is that I have your current tab total up to 20 at a bare minimum. for food and drinks for the previous days. Oh, God. So, uh... 20 plus 14 plus one. That includes the 14. 20 is everything. The 15 tip. The 16 for three drinks, 17 for three drinks, three more for food. We tip 15?

No, you took one more on top of the 14. So I'm doing a running total. So I'm at 20, and that's being generous because I didn't charge for the drinks that you guys probably consumed last night. So keep in mind that you do have a running tab, even if you paid the 14 up front, you know, they're... You know, so you've- I think it's reasonable to just say that we're out. Take the extra five. No, no, you had 40 something.

We had 40. When we got to the end. And I'm not shopping. I'm going to the apothecary. Well, that's right, because you tip the bar. So I would say you have, let's, we'll call it 23 was the running tab. You have 17 left currently.

You have 17 left. Oh. Because you tip three, which brings from 43 to 40, and then the current running tab is the 14 up front, and we'll just say you paid up your tab, which is 23, you have 17 nobles left. His money goes fast. Yeah, it does. I don't know.

I think maybe we're just stuck up in some rations and we're not going to buy any weapons or armor with that. That's correct. No, but we need more coin. If I can't afford to drink tonight. How do we get more coin in a city? Well, why don't we offer our services due to weird hunters and maybe they'll pay us

along with giving us what we need? You think they'll give us an advance for tonight? I doubt they're gonna lend the money before we fucking go risk life and live. You're very confident that Christophe's right, but you know that with the 17 nobles that you have you have enough money for alcohol tonight. So you're not like completely panicked.

Yeah, you're not gonna go get the... I got the sheets right now. Yeah, yeah. And so I said a little bit more of the hide. scale to hijay in a row. So it's up to you guys. If you would like to shop around, I would encourage us not to RP that,

and I'm happy to tell you what there is, but you can absolutely take an extra day before you go seek out the viewer of weird hunters to get that last bit of rest, and one more night of drinking, much to Jasper's happiness before you head out. And again, we don't have to RP this, so it's really just tell me if Bolton

So learns anything at the apothecary. If there's something in the city that would have piqued his interest, maybe something that he wants to come back and buy. He's experiencing wonders that he's never experienced before. And so seeing plants and herbs and herbaceous, he would want to hold on to those memories as like a star, something that he can pursue after he rescues everything and everything turns out so great.

Absolutely. You have some time on your hands, and you visit an apothecary. You visit several different shops. One of them is called the All-Mothers Embrace, and they sell all sorts of stuff that a medicine like men, medicine man like you would be absolutely interested in.

They sell all sorts of... I question them constantly about it. Yeah, and you talk, and they're happy to share knowledge with you. The quick, like, here's the information that you gather is that you can buy potions for 30 opals apiece. They're not cheap. Jesus. There's a bag of healing essences, which is something that absolutely catches your eye. It's a pouch of all sorts of exotic plants and minerals and salves and things and solutions that you would absolutely be able to use.

It's 50 obols. But it would, you understand just by looking at it. and talking to this person, the healing powers that you would be able to gather from this healing essence. And lastly, they mentioned, you see these small crystalline bottles, beautifully shaped, almost like the shape of a tear. And when you look at this liquid, the way that it shines, it is almost ethereal in nature. And they tell you that it's called Tears of the Allmother, but there are 100 obels of vial. And they're not entirely sure that they're able to convey exactly what they do, other than that it has unbelievable healing properties. properties.

That would have taken my whole day. Yeah, you would have been... I've been asking about the plants and where they got them and how the network of creation spreads out across Avalon and how it makes its way to Camelot. That's, yeah, assuming they don't get tired of the fact that it's obvious I'm not buying anything, I would just ask, ask, ask them.

As long as they don't have anyone in the shop, they're more than happy to have conversation with you for hours. And you enjoy that, and that's what you do with your day. I make some good friends. I would just admire all of the weapons and armor that I can't afford. Fairly. Then I just help Jasper with whatever he needs.

I would try to do the opposite of what the wizard said. Oh. And not the opposite, but basically, I'm not waving it around trying to be unsubtle about it, but I'm kind of trying to maybe sit in court and maybe I'll go back to the castle and I'll probably try to maybe sit into the court if there is a public,

if there is any kind of public audience. It might not, if there isn't, I'll try to basically use the Queen's Seal to get into an area where I can kind of listen to the, oh my God, what the fuck is, the term of the audience of basically where the issues of my region would have been. And basically kind of think, like,

get a lay of the land and get an update of my home. Yeah. That's what I would do. You're able to do this. When you get there, you notice that it's not nearly as busy as the day before. This is not every single person, you know, in the city trying to get to the same location at the same time. And it is not uncommon for these royals to do business, some of their business openly.

Like you said to the public. And, you know, you might not be able to contribute or comment or gain audience, but you're able to listen, especially with the seal that Archibald gave you. The guards and the people who are conducting business in the castle in the keep, not have any issue with you. And there are other people who also seem to be of high noble standing, who are listening, taking notes, maybe passing letters, you know, delivering papers and you do hear a bit about your hometown and it's brief, right?

They have a lot to get through and again, they don't do all of their business open in the open, but you are able to sit there for as long as you like and just absorb the information that's kind of going on in the castle's day-to-day business. And I'll go eventually, I'll get back early and start drinking. Yeah. You know. If there's nothing else that you would like to do, you can spend the eating again and just rest up and be prepared. And with the wounds that you have left, you're nearly full strength.

After several days of enjoying yourself. I think we would eat, sleep, and go to the mist walkers in the morning, or mist hunters. Yes, the weird hunters. Weird hunters. It's all good. After an hour of healing. Yes, so then you'll all heal two more, and then he'll all heal two more. And then he'll all to make his roll. Okay, that's it. I'm full up.

Jasper. I don't need it. Okay, well, you get a 17. Okay. Christoph, you get a 16. Balto, you get a 21. Yeah, that's all. That's one more. For everybody else who still has wounds on their sheet, you get an additional.

So total of three healing. Jasper, you're able to take the dressing off. Balta takes the dressing off and your wound where your stab wound looks much better. It's not 100%, but it's getting there. There's no infection. All of the bruising and swelling that Christoph had experienced has gone down a lot. You're not worried about any kind of clotting or anything like that in a bad way. And you all feel better, you know, even in your rusty adventurer state where you're

slowly getting back into things, you feel good. You feel like the opulence and this little bit extra of hospitality that you've received over these days has really done a good amount. I will enjoy some wine. Yeah? I'll probably take a skin of it. Yeah, you take some for the road.

Take a skin of it for the road. Why not? And I will have a morning wine with. Jasper just to... We may die today. Yes, we go back, back to the weird. But with more experienced men, not by ourselves as we were on the way to Camelot after Leo.

You have this conversation as you're walking through the city, and it's not hard for you to find where you're going. The posters have directions. You can ask people, they point, you know, they are happy to hear that you're looking for the weird hunters. These people know the good work that they do, and anyone who is willing to help the weird hunters is good in their book. And you actually proceed to the eastern, sorry, the western gate of Camelot.

And you know that this weird hunter's, the order of weird hunters lodge is just outside the gate. They have their own stables, they have horses, they have equipment. They are well stocked from the jobs that they do using the coin that they are paid by Camelon to protect them. It's maybe 30 minute walk as you approach this building. Again, you see that they kind of have their own makeshift stables, there are horses grazing, they look well cared for.

there are men and women who are dressed in leather and they all seem to be they all seem to have a metal emblem on their on their leather on their chest You can't quite tell what it is from here But they all it all seems to signify that they're a part of the same order They're running around they're taking care of the forces there's some training in the yard There's not many of them and maybe only you know half dozen that you see you working there And as you approach they they they notice you but they don't stop what they're doing. And you are able to walk up to the door

and enter this order of weirdness, weird hunters, if you would so like to. Jester, do you think we have to ride horses? Can you ride a horse? I can manage it. Can you ride a horse? Horses and I do not agree. I think it'll kick you off and kick you in the head.

Yes, like bull, a cow. Your story's confused me. Yeah. Well, if we need to get a horse, maybe they'll have one that is very docile and not aggressive. Let us hope. All right, Dunnington.

You have the emblem to see you? I do. All right, do your thing. I will try to find someone as I... It looks like they're in charge that has the aura of a leader. Yeah. You enter... You enter this launch, this building.

And as you walk in the smell of leather and is heavy in the air with cooking meat, they're obviously, you know, living in these kind of makeshift barracks. They kind of live just outside the city walls. This is where they're stationed and you can see beds where these recruits and some people choose to stay here and sleep. And it is on the wall opposite of the door that you walk in all the way across the room. You see a man who is older than the men and women that you've seen thus far. He looks a little bit more distinguished. He stands up tall, his back is very straight.

He is also wearing leathers, and he has one of these metal emblems on his chest. But his appears to be a little bit more ornate. He's also wearing a hat. As he turns around, you can see that his face is a bit scarred, clearly a symbol of the battles and the creatures that he's fault. thought. And as he lays eyes on you, he shouts almost a little too loudly. By the old mother! What do we have here? New recruits? Yes, you have that right. We have the seal of the queen here. We are unimportant business

to slay and retrieve the corpse of a beast of the weirdness. A bit old for recruits, but welcome, welcome. My name is Oliver Ezra. We're a hunter captain. We'd like to join you on today's mission, if you don't mind. Hopefully the extra manpower will make it a little safer than usual. What we lack in youthful vitality, we make up in hard-earned experience. He looks at you very closely, and he kind of sizes each of you up. Well, we never turn away any help around here. It's tough, it's difficult.

What are we looking for? what you're looking for? What is your go? The biggest beast that we can find, something that has been corrupted by the weirdness that's lived its life and can be used to be rendered down into a candle of magic. He holds out his hand as if to want to examine the seal. I will reach into my, my, uh, my, uh,

circle and I'll pull out the seal and I'll hand it in. Man, man, man, man. We'll see we're all in order. Uh, did. Did an old Archibald send you? Yes. Yes he did. Lord Rast has sent us on this quest, and we are also in need of coin. However, we may be of use to you all. Oh. Weird candles, you say. Yes, of course, of course. Good luck. Has it. We've been tracking a weird bear for several days. Yeah. It's a big beast. Are you up for the challenge?

Bear should be easy. I used to join my lord father, Ron Hans, and we took down many bears, boars, elk. We can certainly handle the bear. By the old mother, I don't think you heard me. A weird bear. What's so weird about it? These are creatures that spend their lives in the weirdness, amongst the trees in the mist. Mutations, just like the humans, make them far, piercing. Well, uh... uh, Leo mentioned weird wolves, probably something similar.

Ha! The bears make the wolves look like puppies. All right. Nothing we can handle. Good, that's what I like to hear. When do we leave? We can leave in a few hours. We'll ready the horses. Uh, knowing old Alchabal, and these candles we're going to have to bring back the old corpse. We'll... That's sled to the horses. Draw it back.

All right. I'm happy to help get ready. And he starts to direct you to things that you can do. He basically tells you what's going to happen is that he's going to take... Five of the weird hunters will be joining you. Only some of them will be actually joining you on the hunt. Ones that will remain on the outskirts of the woods, are there to watch the horses, watch the sleds,

be ready to receive the kill provided that you are successful and help everybody get back. After maybe an hour or so, you've packed up the, you've packed up all of the supplies, you've ready the horses, you won't be riding them. These horses are merely being used for, be suburbied to drag back the carcass of this potentially monstrous creature.

And you are all ready to head out, provided that there's nothing else to do. He gives you information of what it's going to be like to potentially hunt this creature. You know, it's not something that is easy. But these are not stealthy creatures. It's a huge monstrous bear.

They leave tracks. They know how to track them. It's something they've done before. And with all things going your way, hopefully there will not be many casualties. I am very comfortable around the horses. You'll probably kind of see a general, like a surprising tenderness with the horses

as I will help saddle them, and I'm able to get them, you know, bridled and ready to go, helping however I can with a surprising dexterity as I'm able to. Yeah. I'm just checking and double checking what I have in terms of my supplies. making sure that everything is where I need it. Should I need to grab it quickly?

Okay. And yeah, I would just sort of, I would lend my aid in, you know, if there's anything that needs to be lifted or moved or carried or tied off. Like, I would help with that. And once everything seems to be in place, Captain Ezra looks at you all and says, I be ready to head out. I am ready.

Yes. Then let us begin. And you walk alongside the horses. and the captain has taken the lead and the other four weird hunters that are with him kind of guide the horses and, you know, Balto's a little weary, staying a little farther away from the horses.

They don't seem to, they eye you up, like, you know, to keep your distance from these horses. They're not, they don't seem to be comfortable around you. And it is only a few hours walk before you, you're making this walk, and it's very similar to the walk that you made coming into the city. As you walk farther and farther and farther away from the city, you start to see the tree line reappear in front of you. And that familiar kind of sinking feeling that you get, you know, from being near the weird begins to kind of creep in.

You remember... Sorry, one moment. As I am just making sure that the music is... You get a familiar sinking feeling. as your eyes settle upon the tree line. And even from this distance, you start to see a little bit of the mist hovering around the base of the trees.

And even though you're standing in this field and the sun above you is shining, you almost start to feel like it's a little bit darker near these woods than you'd like. All right. Are we ready? Yes, Captain Ezra. Let us make our way in. Are there any hand signals or anything we should know before we step foot in his woods?

And he briefly runs you over some very simple hand signals. And they're actually very similar to the ones that Leo used. But he doesn't seem too concerned about being all that stealthy. It's more about picking up the trail and tracking this creature and making sure that you take it down before it takes you down. He points at two of the weird hunters, and he tells them to stay put with the horses and the sled.

And he basically tells them if you guys are gone for a certain period of time to return back to the lodge without you, because it is a bad sign that you most likely will not return. He points to two of the other, the other two weird hunters that are not staying there. He says, Frederick, Mousa, you're coming with us.

And they both nod quickly. Frederick, who looks to be young, maybe half of the age of you guys. He wields a sword, much like Christoph, and has leathers that are slightly worn, but not nearly as worn as Captain Ezra. And Mercer is someone who is wearing leathers, but also has kind of a robish nature to the leathers,

and is wearing a chain around their neck that has the symbol of the All-Mother on it. This person appears to be some sort of a roberian. religious person, maybe not so much of a fighter, but obviously has their purpose amongst this team. And with that command, Captain Ezra begins to walk into the woods, with Frederick and Mercer behind, and all three of you, closely behind as well. As you begin to walk through, you might ready your weapons. You might be on guard. The captain is stopping every 10 or 15 minutes,

kneeling down, touching the soil, touching the grass, the foliage, looking at broken branches, and making hand signals and telling you to go this way, every once in a while he'll stop and he'll confer with Frederick and Mercer. And they'll talk amongst themselves, and there will be a pause as they think and they nod and then they continue. It's at this point that I need you all to make a resolution roll regarding stealth. Oh, stealth?

Yes. I'm aware of that. So that is going to be yes, exactly. That is aware, the way a warre, and if you are disciplined in, no, just straight stealth. So no discipline. So you will roll a 1d10 and you will add your awareness and your stealth. Seven.

Six. 12. Okay. I'm looking for rocks every time we stop, and so I might make a little noise causing a few of them to tumble or something along those lines as I find a smoother sharp rock for my sling. As you guys are traipsing through the woods here, it is, you know, you might occasionally step on a branch, right?

Very similar to the time that you were with Leo. But you're not, you don't even notice, but Frederick occasionally shoots you like a worried glance. Shoots you a worried glance as he hears a snap and you're following the hand signs, there's a stop. And there's a go and there's a stop. And you're doing your best to not make noise. And it's not long before you enter a clearing. It's very, it's been very obvious that Captain Ezra, Frederick, and Mercer have been on a trail. They seem to have picked up a trail. They're on it.

It opens up into a clearing. And again, he makes another stop. He looks around, and he stands up and he quietly leans in and says, I believe we're getting close. What makes you say that, Captain? The tracks, they're getting deeper. There's more signs that this creature is... Should we try to surround,

or approach directly. Surrounding would be a good idea, but something is off. And I need you all to make perception checks, which is going to be awareness plus your perception. Oh, crit, confirming the crit. Oh. Not, did not confirm.

Okay, so what's your total? Perception, uh, 11 for me. 11 for Christoph? 15. Four, Jasper. Seven, I'm just looking at Ezra. It is Jasper who first hears it. And in that same moment, Captain Ezra also seems to hear it.

And before you can even react, he quickly spins on his heels and says, The beast is here. Ready yourself! And out of the woods, very close by is a large crashing session. It goes from almost silent to this absolutely monstrous beast crashing through the woods. This is the largest creature that you have ever laid eyes on. It very much looks like a bear, but it is rotting, fleshy. It has these bulbous, almost tumors that seem to be all over its body,

over its body, the flesh, the coloration is not right, and I'm going to need you all to roll for initiative. If I draw us a small map. By biggest creature, me the biggest animal, was it bigger than the foredweller? I was gonna say, okay. It is, by far the largest, like, wild. Yeah, god, god, so that's one of the biggest beef.

Holy shit, that's a big old bear. So if you, yeah, I'll do. Mm. That's very good. That's very good. To battle, man. To battle men. The battleman?

This is, that's you. Is she Christophe? Is that you? No, that's Alta. That's Alta. No, Christop is the knight. I'd be here. Oh, where's the knight?

Oh, she's over there, maybe? Oh. Swap that out. Okay, yeah. The sort. That's her. So you guys can place yourself where you would be. You would be a little bit behind.

Oh, my stab, bro. That's fine. One is going to be the weird bear. Number two is going to be Captain Ezra. Number three is going to be Frederick. That puts me right here. And number four is going to be Mercer. Can you grab the other mini?

I just want to see. Yeah, please. Feel free to do which you like. All right. Here, go. I think this could work pretty well. Be sure. I do two.

Here are you. Three and four. I mean, we could place ourselves wherever we want. Yes, that's correct. You do you. Two, three, four. Okay, so we're gonna start with the top of the round. We're gonna do order of action.

It's gonna be 1D10 plus your speed. I would have been up. You might have been up farther. I would have been further at the back. I was right next to the captain chatting. Oh, we're rolling for a thing. How do we roll for the three? It's 1D10 plus your speed to determine order of action.

I'm pretty sure I got a 7, but I just need to find my speed again. Oh, good. I'm gonna confirm the critical fail. Seven. I'm gonna confirm the critical fail. Nope. I feel all this should be on the front of the year.

Bolto not long for life. I agree. I agree. Same thing with... One moment. Remember your numbers for me for one second. That's why it is worth of one. Okay. You got a 16?

16. Okay. What else did you guys get? Jasper got a seven. Oh. Balto got a four. Got a four. Balto got a four. There he goes.

The whole world is out the door. Fitsy's got a gun. Oh no. All right. This sucks. And then again, as we do in reverse order, you will determine your fighting stance for the round. Balto. Determine your stance.

Standard. Offensive. Offensive. Number four is going to take defensive Jasper? Offensive for Jasper. Offensive. Number three is going to take offensive. Number two is going to take offensive. Number one is going to take offensive. Christoph? Which one's the bear? Number one. So their numbers shall correspond. Defense. Number two is... Defensive. Number two is Ezra. Number three is Frederick and number four

is Merchant. Perfect. That sounds right. Awesome. So it is Christoph's turn first. You are taking a, you said a defensive stance? A defensive stance. That's what I thought. Okay, so you get to take your turn first. You can either approach, you get movement, and you have an action. I'll just scream.

Watch yourselves! Stay back! And I'm going to run up my three speed, and with my unpredictable feature, I want to basically bashing with my shield to kind of like stun him as he's lunging for us. And that will give me plus one on rolls against...

Awesome. And then I will come in with a sword stab into his haunch. That's fine. Okay. Come. Nice. Is this the roll plus my attack? Yes, so your attack is going to be your combativeness plus your domain or discipline,

which for you will be the discipline in swords. So combativeness plus swords, plus your attitude modifier, which is defense, so you're going to minus two from the attack, and then whenever you roll on your 1D10. So my role in total is going to be 20, but the damage roll is going to be. Damage roll is going to be 23. So your roll is 20, with the minus 2? Yes. Wow.

Oh, sorry, yes, correct. Okay. So a 20 is going to hit, and the damage you said is what? 23 total? 23 is my full damage role. Okay. So you run up and you are ready. Again, it is, the brigands are far from your mind at this point.

You are looking at this act. at this absolutely terrifying creature, but you don't let that deter you. As you move forward, you raise your shield, you bash it in the face, and it almost doesn't seem to be expecting this, as you drive your sword deep into its haunch, dealing a lot of damage. But it still seems to be, okay, it roars in pain. Okay. It is the bear's turn. It sees you, Christoph, as you have approached it. And it's almost, it notices that you're there and it's angry, but it sees these weird hunters.

And it seems to have a recognition in its eyes that these men and women have been hunting it for a long time. And it pushes past you and almost knocks you out of the way. Oh, no. As it moves forward and charges. I've got a beef with you, motherfuckers. Directly to, between Captain Ezra, and Frederick and it is going to make an attack on Frederick.

This weird bear, it charges, and immediately it almost jumps forward to mall the young Frederick and it tears deep into this young man's armor. The leather almost seems to melt at the absolute brutality of the slashing claw attack. And you hear Frederick's, scream as blood gushes from his chest. And the bear is going to then, because it landed an attack,

use its special bite maneuver to deal additional damage on top of it. That he's toast. I'm so fucking dead. One moment. I'm doing a lot of math, I've always. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Frederick falls to the ground, and he goes from looking scared

but healthy to being an absolute bloody mess. and gasping for air as the blood begins to run from his mouth, as after the bear has landed this horrific mall attack, it clenches down with its jaws, and Frederick is not looking good. He is looking very, very, very bad. Is three? Three. Yeah.

Three's Big Fred. Okay. Number two is Ezra. Ezra as he turns and watches this creature and he says, Frederick, no! Remember your training! No! And he attacks the weird bear and attempts to drive his sword deep into this creature's hide. Oh, he's gonna get like a special bear attack. Oh yeah?

Yeah, I've been hunting you my whole life. I know this how to kill you. He does a good amount of damage, and the bear seems to yell in pain, but it is fully focused on trying to rip Frederick to shreds. It is Frederick's turn, and he is going to attempt to stand up and shake this bear off of him. He is unable to, as he continues to scream, and the blood is just pouring from his mouth. from his mouth. Run!

It is very clear that he is stuck in its jaws. It's all good. Jasper, you are up. I will look. Am I close enough? I'm sorry, what's the range on Inspire? It's technically 30 feet. Each one is like six.

Oh gosh. So you would have to move kind of like around and behind. Yeah. Now, each square is six feet technically. So how, Virgie, how far do I need to go? It's gonna be five squares for 30. Yeah. So you have to get here.

Okay, I'm going there. And you can. Yeah. I love that. Yeah, you can move. Yep. And not conspire, but leadership, correct? What?

Leadership, yeah, yeah, yeah. Thanks Pythagoras. I will say, no, no, be patient. Wait until it lunges and then thrust. And I will basically get into angry. And that will be a strategy on anyone that I can spy, prioritizing my two friends. and this guy, then this guy, he's already fucked.

Actually, I'll give it to him first. Yeah, you are able to give this command of leadership to everyone. I need you to make a leadership role. It's going to use your strategy. It's going to use your strategy. Pretty good. Pretty good. It's under conviction. Do we give it a run on the wrong or does that three?

1D10 plus your conviction. 100%. Yep. Okay, so 10 plus and plus your strategy. 10 plus, oh gosh, oh gosh. 10 plus, that'll be a hot 20. Oh, well, okay, that's very good. Wait, hold on, hold on.

Actually, no, no, hold on. It's whatever you roll. 20, yeah. Whatever you roll, plus your domain, plus your disson. Damn. 20. 20. You step up. And then I have plus one because I'm a strategist.

I'm a leader, rather, I'm a leader. You step up and you deliver this command to your party. And you find that it's exceptionally difficult, more so than usual, to deliver this command in the absolute mayhem that has broken out in the mere moments that this beast has let from the edge of the wood into the clearing and started mauling one of the weird hunters.

And so what I'll say is with that role, you would normally get a plus two, but because of your, and the difficulty of the check, you'll get an additional plus one, and you're going to give your team plus three for the next two rounds. Okay. Awesome.

It is number four's turn. This more timid-looking weird hunter who is wearing the emblem of the Allmother, they take a step back, actually, away from the mayhem that is happening, closer to the edge of the clearing, and they grip the symbol that's hanging around their neck, and they begin to whisper a prayer. and it's in this moment that a bit of golden light begins to seep through their finger, the fingers that are locked around this amulet. And as the light grows, they kind of pull their hands away, and you see that this orb of light is growing,

and the emblem is floating between their hands and the middle of this, this orb. They seem to be pouring some sort of magical mana or something into this prayer, this mana, and it's very clear that they're casting a spell. What? You have seen magic maybe once or twice in your life, but it's very clear that this is what this is. And as this young Mercer begins to pour the magic and the incantations into this amulet, you

can tell that they're almost overcharging it in some way. It seems to be like they're hastily trying to cast the spell more so than they normally would. And this golden light then bathes down upon Frederick. that is in the jaws of this creature. And Mercer is going to make a spell. Wow, I'm gonna click confirm this. What? Hopefully it confirms.

Okay, no good, no good. Damn. But it's very clear that the golden light begins to close up some of the wounds on young Frederick, as Mercer is doing everything in his power to try to save his companion. Volta, you're up. This magic's crazy, yo.

Magic. I see this and I have to push the awe that I have in my mind out of the way to confront the fact that we're still fighting this monstrous bear. I'm going to back up. Can I get out of like into the like end of the clearing here or if I, if you want to. If you were trying to take like a defensive stance, you absolutely might be able to hide behind one of the trees on the edge of this clearing. But you had choose it chose offense. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But yes, you can absolutely move towards the edge of this clearing.

I'll just come here. Yeah. And having picked up a few of the stones on the journey into the forest here, I will put one into my sling. And I'm just going to, I'm going to aim for its eye. I'm going to knowingly try to hit the head area. But, like, as much as it's thrashing around, I want to do some serious damage.

And I will endeavor to hit it with my simple sling. Okay. Roller attack. Oh, crit. Confirm. Confirm. Come on, come on, come on, come on. 10.

Oh, almost. So it'll be your 10 plus your combativeness and then your domain or discipline that you're used for fighting. And then plus. So it's 15 to hit and it's 16 total for the damage math. 15 to hit. Did you add the two for your offensive stance? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Did you add three for the leadership? Oh, yeah. Oh, I did not add three for the leadership. So that's a total of 19 with the damage? It should have been 19 for the damage. Exactly right. Thank you. You take a step back as you are watching the absolute Carnigan form. This spell, this magic is now in the air as well that you see.

But you stay yourself and you aim and you loose a rock and you are able to make connection to the, in this creature's head. It doesn't quite hit him in the eye, but it hits him in the face. The temple or general face area. And the creature, even though it has Frederick in its jaws jerks and moves, and Frederick cries out in pain. I look closely and hope to see some Bloods start to at least come down over its eye.

But that is the conclusion of my turn. Get the way if you can, and that'll be my turn. Okay, then we need to re-roll for the order, top of the round. Let me real quick roll mine before you shot yours out. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So close. Gosh, why is every battle so tense? This is rough.

Remember plus three. Oh, thank you. Yes, you guys have pluses as well. Oh, and the bear needs to be, do it at disadvantage. Three plus three plus three is a nine. Sorry, not just, they need to re-roll it. Okay, thank you. Yes, they need to re-roll it and take the lowest.

Not a disadvantage. No. It's take the lowest style. There's no other good word. You go to the Fathoris and you look at disadvantage or advantage. Penalton. Christop, what you yet?

Shit, three plus nine is 12, 30, 40, 15. 15. 15. Okay, 15 is good. And then we've got. 17 for Jasper. Whoa, 17 for Jasper. I rolled a 10. Nice, nice.

Nice. Nine. Nine. Nine. Baltho got a nine. And nine will always Look out, it's Freddy Five there.

Baltho, what did you get? Jasper, you had too much wine. What did you get again? You said a nine? Nine. There we go. All right, so not bad. Okay, in reverse order, the

The Weirdhunter captain will take offensive. Mercer will take four. Defensive. Balto. Offensive. Offensive. He's going to attempt to take, Frederick is going to attempt to take defensive. He's in the jaws of this one. Please, no! The bear takes offensive. Offensive. Offensive. Offensive. Offensive. Okay. Jasper, you're up first. Offensive. I am going to step as far away. That's what? One, two. Right? I can just do two.

Yep. Yep. Yep. I'm just, you. walking back as I've had my loaded crossbow ready, and I'm going to wait until, you know, he's calling out, until it gets angry from the, from this. And as soon as it kind of tries to lunge, I'll shoot my quarrel from my crossbow. Sure. So combativeness plus your domain or discipline. Five. Plus your plus two, plus five. I'm going to use one of my hunters, my survival points. Okay, your rule. Seven, I will take that. Nice. So seven plus Six is, what is that? That's 13.

Oh, wait, plus, oh, hold on, sorry. Oh, I'm an idiot, I'm an idiot. So it's offensive, so it is, hold on. So the best way to do it is to do your combativeness plus your domain, do that first, then add your 10, and then add five, because you get plus two from the offensive and plus three from the leadership. So then that is 19.

Nice. 19. Because this includes my crossbow damage, right? Denied from offensive? No, it doesn't. Oh, it doesn't? So, 21. Versus to hit, 21. Yeah.

But then add the damage for the damage. Yeah. 21. Which is a really cool system. Yeah. I like the math of that. Very much. So 21 as I fire my quarrel, attempting, as it's trying to get, you know, if it's angry from that thing, listening to my own.

You do an absolutely huge attack, which is great. You sink, this crossbow bolt sinks deep into the ribs of this creature. And it's howling in pain, but again, it hasn't let go. It's like lockjawed on horror. Christopheye. Christoph, you're up. I am going to rush up to it.

And I'll get shoulder to shoulder here with... Ezra. Oh, Ezra. And I'll just scream out. Can you fucking save him? And I'm going to attack. Oops. Sorry, can you help me? I don't know how to keep falling off.

You're fine. You have 18, so. Eight plus 16, place. plus three, so 16, 24, 25, 26, 27 to hit. Wow. And 30 for damage. Unbelievable. Well done. You deal an absolutely massive blow to this creature, and it is bleeding, and it is angry.

You just did an unbelievable amount of damage. I put my sword against its side, and as I'm moving around next to Ezra, I just slash it the whole way across. You've definitely noticed, though, that this tree is just, creature seems to be more resilient than anything else you've ever thought. You're not sure if it is the weirdness that has toughened its hide almost. It doesn't seem to be cutting like you would expect. But you do know that you have dealt enough. You have struck true.

You dealt an unbelievable amount of damage to this thing. So it's definitely bloodied. We're all going to be fine. It is number one's turn. It is going to continue to make an attack on Frederick. I don't know. This guy's a great tank. Crick confirmed does not miss.

But it is with an unfortunate, sickening, ripping and snapping that you realize that this weird bear is finally letting go because Frederick has been his You're not sure if it is his spine and then the muscles tearing as he's been ripped into. And then because the bear has a feature, Frederick. It has killed someone, it gets to make another attack.

You were such a nice Mike Brack. So he's dead. Toast. Yeah, he's absolutely dead. And you can see a bit of sadness in Captain Ezra's eyes, and you hear Mercer gasp as this happens. And the bear turns to attack Weird Hunter Ezra. Oh, wow. You do?

No. Oh, no, I do. You like themes? I do like this. Frederick killed by a bear that's called him

Freddy five bear or five it's very funny no we had five fingers five fingers where did his

target guy get here and then well he just had the five fingers across the two hands you have to kill him that's a game

fear um the The weird bear having ripped poor Frederick in two, and his entrails are spilled on the forest floor. It immediately in a rage, whips around and slashes Captain Ezra across the chest. His armor seems to be holding up a bit better than Frederick's.

He's a bit more quick on his feet, even given his advanced age. It's clear that his experience is shining through, but he yells out as he's clearly hit, and it appears to be a bit wounded. At the end of this weird bear's turn, you see that its flesh begins to kind of stitch up a little bit. It clearly has some sort of regenerative properties as well. Oh, great.

You're not allowed to do that. You want to have fiery attacks? This is where we all die. I'm sorry? Does you want to have a fire attacks? Oh, no. That's a good try. Yeah, he's gone. He's out of here.

Balta, you're up. Oh no. I will move in this direction like so to continue to circle beast and then I will attack again with another sharp rock yeah the creature is big enough that you're able to shoot around Christoff if you don't want to get away from us I'm I'm trying the three I'm I'm I'm I'm counter striking yeah I just meant that like because you are behind both of them I still think you you have line of sight what is your total attack it's your combativeness plus your domain

plus your I have plus five to attack I rolled the seven plus three to leadership so So I have 15 to hit, and that makes my damage 16. 15 to hit? Yeah. Okay, that still hits. And you said plus two, so for a total of 17. Yeah, you lose another rock, and this creature is large. It's hard for you to miss.

You'd be hard pressed to miss even in this absolutely hectic scenario. Sometimes I kill small animals like puppies. Jesus. This is a nightmare. This is nightmarish. Oh no! In old country. My children need food.

The glow from Mercer's amulet continues as he's continuing to chant. When he saw Frederick absolutely ripped in two, he falters for a moment and the light kind of diminishes and the small orb of light that is around the floating amulet falters for a moment, but he steals himself and he continues to chant. to chant. And in this moment you hear Ezra yell out as he's been struck by the bear.

Mercer quickly. The spirit is willing, but the flesh needs binding. Yeah! By the old mother! You see a knowing in Mercer's eyes, he nods and continues to chant. And this golden light, this bright light engulfs Ezra as he is he is healed, attempting to heal him. Oh! I thought he was going to Dragon Balls either.

bald z this business this is a healing spell yes yes fantastic trying to keep his uh is is is very clear that this mercer's role is to uh holy shit some sort of a healer uh you know to keep his fellow hunters alive uh with the role here it appears to work you see uh the wounds that esra has just taken uh close up a little and it staunches a little bit of the bleeding that that is staining his uh his uh his leathers uh and then it is uh as uh as uh Ezra's turn, he's going to make an attack. Mercer. Son of a bitch.

Oh, quick confirm. I'm rolling a lot of tens of it. Yeah, come on, could confirm it. Nope, I went from a 10 to a 1. But it's still a good hit, and Captain Ezra steal from this healing, drives his sword deep into the side of this bear. Yeah, I am not doing all right.

Luckwise. The bear is in this moment. bleeding. You see that it no longer looks good or okay. It's starting to look kind of rough. But in this moment, as Ezra delivers this blow, you can tell that the bear starts to breathe heavier and faster. And it gets kind of a crazed look in its eye

as it appears to be in a bloodthirsty friends in state. All of this fighting, the fresh bloods, that is in the air, it's blood, Frederick's blood, seems to enrage this creature. And it is the top of the round, and we're going to roll again for initiative order. Okay. The bear needs to roll it, roll twice? Yep. Oh, wow. No more. Both three? Yep. Then we got it. With three rounds, right? Or the two rounds? This is the top of the third round. It lasts three rounds. Yes. Yes. Two. Two rounds. So this is not, we don't have. So we have it for one round. Yeah.

You're right. It ends on the end of this. Right, because we didn't have it the first round, then we have a second round. It'll end at the end of this round. Yeah. Because you get essentially leadership, fire, fire, fire, right? I got, did really well again.

I rolled a nine plus a four, 13, 14. Yeah. Okay, let me roll for the other two. Oh, wait. Yeah, 14. What did you get, Justin? Jasper? Wait, oh shoot, I got a 19.

19? 12 plus 4. 16. I'm sorry. I'm that at math. 16. What did you get? Eight. Oh, boy. I ate this. Christoph, Jasper.

Okay, not too bad. All right. Even though the bear appears to be frenzied and breathing more heavily, you still feel that you have the jump on it. Christop, you're up. Christop, you're up. Um, uh, stance, defensive. Oh, apologies. Balto, stance. Offensive stance. Offensive stance.

The bear is taking an offensive stance. Ezra is taking an offensive stance. Mercer is taking a defensive stance. Jasper. Offensive. Offensive. Okay. Awesome, Christoph, what is you, what are you doing? That's a nasty wound.

You better patch yourself up. And I'm going to, I say that to Ezra, as we fight side by side. Yep. And I'm going to attack. I want to use your survival. Yeah, we gotta kill this guy, Dad. Now's the time to use survival.

Use another survival. I'm gonna use one. Can I use two on the same role? It doesn't say that you can't. That's fine. That's fine. Six plus 16 plus three. So 16,

16 plus 6 is 22. Jesus. 16 plus 6 is 22. 23, 24, 25 to hit, and 28 for damage. Awesome. Again, you deal an absolutely massive blow. The only advantage to poor Frederick's loss is that it is giving you these openings, to really do what you need to do to hopefully drive this home.

And you deliver another massive blow. Awesome. Jasper, you're up. Frederick or red shirt? I'll take that. 23. Think. Keep going, Christoph.

It's almost dead. Thunk. Go to wait, me lord. You drive another crossbow bolt deep into its ribs. You are a good shot. You've done this many times and you actually land this crossbow bolt bolt

very close to the other crossbow bolt bolt. It's almost like in your mind's eye, you're back on Breyer book, loosing arrows into a still tree. as you do a good amount of damage. Yeah, and this would have been where I would have learned to use a crossbow would have been in the hunting with my Lord Fahman.

And so this kind of takes me back. You could say coral. Is that crossbow bolt? Bolt is also a coral. Yeah, a bolt. A bolt of coral. I just think of the sun from the walking dead when I hear the word quarrel.

It's at this moment that you realize that the magics that Mercer have been channeling in this. his amulet begin to dim, and he's breathing heavily, and he's sweating. It seems to be taking a lot out of him. And he takes a moment to redouble his efforts as he really focuses on this amulet to see if he can continue to heal his weird hunter captain.

I see. Right the owl mother, we'll fight. That is a critical failure. Oh, no fucking way. He begins to, first time, double. He he you see that he's breathing his labor. He's focused on this magic and he's he's still chanting to himself But you can almost hear the chanting in between these words that God God just a little bit more and the light is is flickering. It's it's growing and shrinking. It's almost out of his control and there's a flash as mercer is knocked backwards and he lands on the ground and he almost looks stunned as if he has lost control of

of what he was trying to do with his channeling. And he does. He miscasts with a critical failure. He attempted to put too much energy into this magic and lost control that he appears to be stunned. And he is going to be stunned for at least around. He cracks his head on the tree, probably. Yeah, he lands on the ground, and he's not unconscious,

but he looks dazed, and almost like he's out of it and a little bit of shell shock. And Captain has ever been? I don't care for it, frankly. if you ask me. Hmm. Oh. With this attack

and the miscast of this magic you can tell the which the weird hunter captain is distracted in this moment and he looks at her shoulder and yells Massa! Get yourself together! And as he makes a swing with his sword, he

misses. He is clearly distracted by the miscast of this magic and all hell is breaking loose and his attack is no good. and it is the bear's turn. Christoph, I think you might be in trouble. No. He took the words out of my mouth.

The bear is going to turn and attack Christoph. Oh. What have I done? It seems to recognize. Clearly, I'm watching from over here. It seems to recognize you as a threat. Now that Frederick has been dispatched. I've made an enormous mistake.

Offensive. It gives me forward. image but you lose you take more damage take a lot more damage yeah considerably more damage you take six more damage that's a lot what is your defense but there's a weird bear it's a weird bear oh your total defense is eight oh that should be no because you oh yeah it's eight I had your defense is like 14 this thing with when I'm using defensive stance which I was gonna use every round but I just got no that's okay you got it's all right you went offence is

oh I'm sorry you're right so it's a lot because it's a lot and minus, normally it's 11, minus three, it would be eight. I'm gonna take it in the face. It's like you're fighting in the Oster Meier-Weiner truck. You can't deal with that. What? Everyone knows. Stop saying all shit.

Um. Um, um, did you mlow? The other five nights in Frimmies game. You, this, you were feeling either overconfident, or maybe you were feeling as if you were going to end this quickly.

That's right. But you weren't prepared for how quickly this bear was able to, this weird bear was able to move and strike and he is going to do... He's faced. It's going to be 12 points of damage. Oh! Your shield wasn't readied. You are taken by surprise.

the actual power of this beast is shocking, as it attempts to volume. That's bad. So my armor is two, so that's ten points total. Yep. Holy crap. Oh, fuck. As it turns to me. Ah!

So by my calculation, what is your current status looking at? My current status, I've filled all 10 boxes of O-KK okay and good. So you're bad. So I don't have to have one X in bad to be bad, right? No, you are just, once the final box of OK is ticked, you are taking the bad condition. Oh-oh. You unfortunately see a large amount of blood spill out from where your friend Christoph is. You're not entirely sure if it's Christoph's blood or Ezra's blood, or perhaps even blood that was on the weird bear from Frederick.

I would have four damage if I have taken defense of. But things are looking violent. Well, Shucks. Baltho, you're up. Oh, shoot. Don't do okay. Oh, no. I don't have anything.

I can't possibly do anything. All I can do is a Texas bear. I can't go up and... No, I can't. Hold still. Hold still. In this scenario, it would be extremely difficult to administer any kind of human without some sort of a potion

or magic. Or magic. Yeah, it's fucking. I look at Mercer. He's like crackling on the ground. All I can do is continue to throw stones. You had a charm that would protect against mental resistance. I will crit and I would like to confirm the crick.

For an attack? Yeah. Come on, come on. Come on. Come. All right. That's still a tent. I know, but I'll take the 10 plus the 3 is 13 plus the 5 is 18 of the maximum damage hits,

and then I'll do a plus 1 for sling for 19. Okay, I think I got all that. Yeah, big hit. Oh, big hit. All done, all done. Thanks. Awesome. Top of the round.

We're going to roll for order again. The bear will roll twice. It falls off. Leadership falls off. Okay, so now six for both, though. Bolto. BOLTO tired. Are you all right?

Everything good over there? I've been circling for what feels like 30 minutes. It's been three seconds. Buh, bha-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-uh. What did you guys get? 18. Ooh, 18. 9.

Bolto. Six. Sheesh. Christ's fast, man. Uh. He's this crappy guy. guy. Yeah, I have mind speed. You can really feel the difference between a fighter and normal. Yeah, you know, it's really cool. It's really cool. I take defensive stance. I'm just going to say it right now. I'm taking defensive

stance. I'm going to go by a bear. You need to get behind the, you need to stab him and get behind fucking. So one of the things to remember as well, and it hasn't come up yet because you were before the bear, but you're very, very fast. But in an instance where if the bear had been before you and an attack, you could have attempted to be by foregoing your action. It just hasn't come up yet. Oh. Right?

Yeah. But if you are waiting for your turn and you are attacked, you can choose to forego your future action when your turn comes up to parry in that moment and attempt a better defense. Just for everybody's knowledge. Awesome. Christoph, you're up.

You up first. This bear is looking rough. Does everyone else need to do the? Oh, we have to do that thing. Oh, I keep forgetting. Thank you so much for helping you remember. Balto, what are you doing? Offensive.

Jaspers? Offensive. The bear is offensive. Actually, I'm defensive. Okay, Jasper's defensive. The bear is offensive. Mercer is stunned, so you're going to take standard. By default.

Okay. And Ezra is also going to take defensive. Defense. Okay. Now, Christoff, you can feel the tide's shift. How is old Victor over here? Oh, I thought you're going to ask. Honeyboles.

You mean Oliver Ezra, not Victor. Yes, not Victor, Salisbius. He is breathing heavy. I mean, he took a massive hit, but he did also receive some healing from Mercer, so I would say that he looks okay. I'll just lean over and I'll say, go. Just get the fuck out of here.

We can finish this. He looks at you just as a, think of it as a free object interaction and replies to you, never. The weird hunters will never return without that mark. We can do this! And I will try to like kind of continue to aggrove the bear if I can. And I'm going to try to use the Perry action. You'll have to tell me what it does.

Boy! Bam! Oh! Okay. You might not be able to take it until it attempts to attack. No, I think I have to take it on my turn. Well, my understanding is that you take it if your turn hasn't come up yet. if the character normally played next in the order of action.

Yeah, so I think that you can take Perry or you can take it when you're attacked to forego your action. It's the way that I would interpret this. I see. I can check the book real quick, just to make sure. I like that. It's like I take the Dodge action. Yeah. Yes, but it's better because it's better in a way.

Yeah. But yes, let me just double check real quick. Thanks for everybody bearing with me here. Well, I announce my intention to Perry. And then at the cost of my upcoming action, they perform a contested action to roll against the attacker's role. Oh. So basically you give up your action by saying, I intend to pair. Yep.

And you're ready, you're an offensive. And then if you are attacked, there will be a bit of a different role. You get to roll for your defense instead of it just being a passive amount. Maybe he'll just trip and his face will go right under your foot. Number two is Ezra's turn. He tells you that they're not giving up and he attempts to attack this pair. Oh, good hit. Good hit.

Good hit. Weird bears, found some human made him every way. Why are you such weird bears? Awesome. Okay. Ezra looks at you. Weird Captain Ezra looks at you and he is stalwart in his belief of that you you can succeed here and he continues to drive his sword deep into this bear's haunch

as it screams in pain and fury and bloodlust. and it is Mercer's turn. I'm gonna roll to see if he is no longer stunned. He is still stunned. But you can see that he's coming too, and he doesn't look so shell-shocked as he agreed as he did. It's the bear's turn, and the bear is going to attack Christoff. So what we're gonna do is we're gonna have the bear roll for attack here, and then I'll tell you what your role is. Okay, so the way the Perry works is it's basically a contested role,

just like when we do other. what you're going to do is you're going to add you're going to do combativeness plus close combat plus your attitude modifier plus a 1d 10 so you you will get the plus two because you take a defensive stance as well I'm going to let's use a survival point we got it we got it's got to be high and then I'm going to buff it by three yep and that's max okay so 10 plus 10 or attitude modifier which is plus two right yes Then you get the three from, well, I guess technically the leadership wears off, right, at the end of his time. Correct. Yep. So no plus, you're just the plus two.

Okay, so 10, 11, 12. Then your close combat, not your discipline, your domain. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Yep, and then your combativeness. Oh, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. Perfect. Which is, oh, plus my shield bonus, right? I don't know. It might not.

Yeah, if the shield is, the shield works while you're taking a defensive stance, correct? Yes, it does. Yep. Yep. And that adds? It adds a plus two. Oh, nice.

You're never gonna believe this. Yeah. You have 24, the bear got 23. Outrange. Oh! You are, you take this parry action. You know that things are died, but you know that if you can remain stalwart, if you can remain this living tower shield,

you might provide an opening for your teammates to to bend this off. This bear is very intent on killing you. And you raise your shield and you catch its jaws as it clamps down around your shield. And the shock of the force of the bear radiates up your arm and your shoulder. I feel it. You feel it, but you don't take any wounds. You're gonna feel it tomorrow, you're gonna be sore, but you do not take any wounds. I just have to fight in the shade.

Jasper, you're up. I am going to, uh, I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll, Oh, shit, I'm so far away from you. That's what I was saying is that he's just like, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I'm, fuck, you don't get it. I can't get to you, right? No. No.

No, there's no. I wasn't thinking about it. Yeah. I am going to... I'm trying to go to now, but it would be meta. Yeah, that's too meta. Provoke it! Provoked it!

And stab it when it launches! As I'm going to then call leadership. Yeah, make a leadership role. I'm going to use another. And again, use strategy. If you have that. I am going to use another one of my survival points. Okay.

That is, that's... Oh, I have to use that. You have to use the second rule. Yeah, that's the risk. Take one out, Rich. I'm using another survival point. I should have taken the five. Nice.

Nine. Leadership, you say, plus strange. Oh, you, it's nine. Plus nine is 18, plus six is a nice, what was that, 24? A nice 24 leadership, and I'm also a leader. Oh, wow. Okay.

That's very good. You will, again, this is a dire situation. Your team hears you and you do a good job strategically commanding them, but given the DC you will get plus three. Awesome. And that's including my that is including your plus one. Awesome. Plus three folks. Yeah. I love it. That was Jasper Stern. Volta, you're up. What? Volta doesn't get the bonus. Amazing. Keep spiking. Wow.

Roll that again. Roll that again. Roll that one again. Yeah. We're due. We're due. Come on. Come on.

It's rare. These are hard to get. These are hard to get. It's 1%. But you are going to hit. So what is your, what is your total? I think it's like 19 plus four. No, no, because I had the plus three there.

I think it's 16. So because I'm offensive stance, it's 15. It's 15 to hit and then 16 to damage. You do a good amount of damage. The bear. This thing is slowing down. Oh, and I'll. Get over to me too is also what I say.

Get the fuck over here, Malto. Huddle together. Strike is one. You lose another rock. I'll get right behind. I'm worried about Christop. It connects. It connects well. You do a little bit of damage, not as much as you were hoping. This bear is bleeding. It's weird flesh is trying to do its best to stitch itself together

and continue to stay alive and do everything that it can to repair, repel these attacks. But you seem to be gaining ground for sure. All right, top of the round, let's determine the order. Plus three, fertile. For the bear first here. Now, finally I roll well. 19. Hold on.

One second. No, no, no worries. I just have to do a lot of math. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. That's a lot of math. We can vamp. Um.

Yes, we choose not to vamp. Yeah, vamp. Vamp. Vamp. Bam. Boom. Oh. Oh.

Khrisovina-19, you said? Kirstovvian 19. Sorry. 19. 19. Okay. What did you get? Bolto and Jasper, what did you get?

14. I always roll so well on the mission. 14. Okay. Bolto? Not good. The witch, the weird hunters did, I can't want to say which hunter? The weird hunters did not roll well. It's very evident. Okay, reverse order for

for determining stance. It appears as though Mercer is no longer stunned, but he's still going to take the standard stance. Ezra is taking the offensive stance. Volta. Offensive. Offensive. Offensive. Offensive. Oh, the bear is taking offensive. Oh, defensive.

Defensive. Okay, you're up. What would you like to do? I am going to... Boom time, get back! What the fuck are you doing? And I'm going to... You feel a pouch of ranch at you in the back.

Oh, ugh. I got... What do you mean? Stop. I'm gonna attack. You're gonna attack. I'm an attack with my sword. Yeah.

Pretty good. Six plus 12. So yeah, it's six quick plus ten actually. So it's six, sixteen, plus three, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, nineteen. 19 to hit and then twenty two for damage. Okay. How do you do this? Let's go! What did you just say, Mercer?

That's very funny. It's okay. It's very funny. It's all right. Yeah, it's really good. It's good. Its jaws are in my shield and it's open. Strike! It's splintering. It's activated! My shield almost cracks because of the pressure and I see the crack, I see its mouth. I'm gonna take my sword and go pierce it through my shield through the crack up into its head. Killing it. That's badass.

Exactly as you describe, you find an opening and you strike a troop, and you drive your sword. You drive your sword deep into the mouth of this beast up through its skull, and as it dies, it is going to use its ability, death throws to deal some damage. Yeah, it should. It is only going to do one wound to you and Ezra. It is unblockable. Oh my god, yeah, that's fair. This is a wound, it's death row.

The creature, surprised. Yes, angry. It lashes out in anger, and it slashes it, Ezra, and the weight of this massive bear lands on top of you as it is felled, and you each take one more wound. Just one total, sorry. Quickly, quickly. Move the beast.

Get to Christoph. I'm not a weak man, but as soon as I see Christoph go underneath the bear and crush, I don't know if I know the bear's dead. I see the sword go up, and it's almost like one of those climactic cliffhangers. From my vantage point, I am not a strong man, but I'm not a weak man either.

I will thrust my entire body, my shoulder right into the side of the bear and try to behave, pounding against it and roll it as quickly as I can to try and surface Christoph. Ezra sees you do this. Mercer sees you do this. Finally, he's on his feet and he runs.

And all of you, maybe Jasper, you feel as though you're gonna... I'll walk over. Is the person on the ground like torn to pieces is or, okay, so I wouldn't be like try to like check his pulse or something. No, no, it is. Okay. He's more viscera than human.

Got it, got it. I will try to go help, what's his face, help him up. You do, you help Mercer to his feet. Get yourself on your feet, Mr. As soon as he realizes that Christoph needs help and that Ezra has delivered the command, the three of them pushed this massive creature off of you, enough for you to be able to get up. Oh, I'm okay. I'm okay.

Oh, I'm just fucking old. On your feet. On your feet. We lost a good man. Frederick was young. Tonight we'll drink in his honor. Yes, we will. You know I? Yes.

We need to get the fuck out of here. How often do you lose hunters? More often than I'd like to admit. Christoph, are you okay? I'll fucking leave. Not good, though. Can you do that magic again with the glowing and Healing? Yes. Mercer. Do you have this healing magic in you again? He looks upset and a little embarrassed. He's very clearly tired and he...

No. I cannot. Not today. I am drained. He's okay. Everybody miscast every once in a while. It's totally normal. Everyone does it. Shouldn't have happened. I put us all at miscarriage. Ezra, we need to move this bear quickly. Yes. Let's, let's butcher it. The best that we can, it'll be easier to move in pieces. We need to collect as much as the fat as we can. To return that to Archibald. It's all right if we don't get the whole thing,

but as much as possible, we're not gonna be able to move this through the underbrush in one whole piece. Leave to me, just the fat. That's a good fucking idea. I was going to drag the whole goddamn, And he pulls out a large hunting knife, a carving knife, if you will. And you, again, you all have your field knives and daggers. You would very easily be able to help with this work.

What I would like you do is to each roll a resolution roll. And what we're going to do is... Is it monsters? Is it... Let's take a look. There's a couple options we have here. I actually think we're going to go with natural environment. Your choice of animals or survival, if you are disciplined in either.

Nine. Oh, geez. Nine. Nine for Jasper? Eight. Am I leadershiped? No. That's up to the leader.

I don't know. I would say that has worn off. Okay. Yeah. Because the battle has... Oh, minus two. It's been gone for... That is very much a strategic thing.

Yeah. Not so much applying to this one. Do we think that we need to get to a difficult zone? I'm at 15. If I use two boopies, I could boop-dee-bop. Let's use two boopies. That's a very bolso thing. So Bolton's gonna be up to a 17.

Let me roll for the captain. This isn't my first lard handling. That's right. I feel like I also would have been taught by my Lord Father how to skin a bear and a deer. It's like when Tywin Lanister in season one of Game of Thrones, he's introduced. Season two?

Season two. Is he in season one? Yeah? Yeah. At the end of it? Wow. I forgot they introduced him that early. Holy shit.

You all get to work, and some of you are doing better than others. But you're making quick work of this. As you're going through, again, some of you are able to harvest the fatty portions of this weird bear more than others. And as you're cutting into it, you recognize that there's something wrong with the organs inside. It doesn't smell right. The organs are off. You have seen bears before. You've seen wolves. You've seen the inner workings of creatures. Again, some of you more than others.

you're intimately aware of their biology. And this weird bear is very much internally and externally affected by living in these. You make quick work of the bear, and perhaps you don't collect as much larve as you would have liked, as much fat as you would have liked. But you get a lot of it, and it makes transporting it back out to the edge of the woods much easier than you would have thought, especially Christoph, thinking that you are going to potentially drag an entire carcass along. I'll help carry big chunks of fat.

And it's, make no mistake, this is pounds and pounds and pounds of meat. This is not easy. It is slow going. It would be hundreds of pounds. I've got a tarp around my back, a big satchel. If you take a satchel and be able to sling it over my shoulder and lean the actual weight on my cane.

What helps is you notice that after you've done the carving of this creature, Captain Ezra reach into his pack and pulls out a small candle holder. It looks like a little metal dish with a hook, like a circle on the end, that you could hold right. And there is the littlest tiny nub of a black candle. And he hands it to Mercer and he says, don't let it go out. And he lights what you know to be the remnants of a weirdness candle to help clear the mists Amazing. Because you take all of this weird bear meat

all the way back to the edge of the forest. It isn't long before you, again, the trees begin to thin. The mist is unusually light because of this candle. As you move through the weirdness, the mist almost seems to ripple out around you and Mercer, who's leading the way holding this little bit of candle. as it grows ever so dangerously low. And just as you think that this candle's about to go out,

you see the horses. You see the other two weird hunters. They are safe and sound. But it is dusk as you leave the woods. It is much darker than it was when you enter. The two weird hunters that are there with the horses and the sled, they look to Captain Ezra expectingly confused. One seems to be missing.

The captain hangs his head and shakes it, and silently they understand that Frederick is no more. You all load up this sled with all of this meat, this lard that you have captured, and it is a solemn walk as you all lead the horses back to the lodge. The captain looks at the three of you and says, well, if you have time from a drink, I would invite you in to drink and drink and drink.

Frederick's memory. Yes. I think we've got time. Let me see to Christoph and then drink. Rest. You may even spend the night here if you'd like. In the morrow, the hunters and I will help you transport this to Archibald. He's familiar with us. He'll know we're coming.

We do this often. Please, I implore you to stay. Could use a fucking sit. Where were you, Claude? It's general area. Basically, you know, it was 12 damage and a single slash, so I'm kind of slashed across the torso. You look terrible, Christoph.

Way back. And I would get to work. And I might even have to ask for additional medical supplies as I am going through the process. They have bandages, they have ointments and sows. This is what they do for a living. They are not unaccustomed to mortal and vicious wounds. And they basically get you anything you need.

Like cleansing alcohols. Am I able to actually heal wounds for him at this time, or am I just... If I roll, I'm not actually able to reduce the number of damage that he's taken. Am I? Did you... I don't have first aid anymore because I fucked up last time. No, no, no, that's not...

That wouldn't be my question. My question is, when you woke up this morning for the hour, you rolled... Oh, I did the hour for him, yeah. You did. Jasper didn't need it. If he needed it, then you won't be able to heal him again. An extra point, but you will... I did need it.

Yeah, so you've already healed him today. Yeah. But that wouldn't stop you from cleaning the wounds. Oh, I would do the work. I just was mechanically because I'm not as fluent with the system I wanted to see if I I want to know if I was targeting something on my sheet. No, you will not make a healing role. You will not make a healing role for this.

But I would still do all of the necessary. Yes, absolutely. And again, the captain has rallied some of the other hunters that stay behind and they're fetching you things as you need it. And you're telling everybody. And they have their own healers as well, medicine people who are helping you as well.

But Mercer seems to be the only one that seems to be well-versed in magic. and he is very clearly tapped for the day. As you are dressing the wounds and working on Christoph and anybody else who needs it, the captain would ask you. So, why have you been staying in Gamelat? A queen something. I would have, well, this happened,

I would have been like, I don't leave you to it. I would have gone to the horses and pet this down. See, we didn't, we wouldn't go out that long. And I'll feed them both an apple, and I'll give them a pat, and then drop it, the sack on the sledge. And then I would settle back down, get my, I'll take their booze first before getting to my wine skin,

if they're offering it. And I'll lean back and I'll take the drink and say, we are staying at the Queen's Respite. Ah, that's a nice place. It is. He does sit down at the table with alcohol, and he gestures to it and says, this won't be quite as fine, but hopefully

it will suffice as he has a bottle of spirits and some bottles of ale to offer. No wine. I spent a decade drinking sour reds not much better than piss, so this is very welcome delicacy. Thank you. Especially after a battle, it just tastes all the sweeter. What you did today was brave. You men rose to the occasion, rode with us. and help keep Hamelot safe another day. It's hard for us to bolster our ranks, so we appreciate the help. I'll drink in the memory.

Oh, fuck. Careful. Easy. Liz the jerk. I'll drink in the memory of old Fred. Here, cheers. De Frederick. De Frederick.

And you all toast. Everybody in this, in this Hunter's Lodge, toasts. and they all cheer. And some of them introduce themselves, and they tell you stories that they've been on. They tell you stories of Frederick. Some of them make you laugh.

Some of them make you feel sad that this young soul has passed so young. But bravely, doing what he felt was the right thing to do. After some time, the captain gets up and says, no payment. And he goes to his desk and he pulls out a small leather pouch. and he walks over at refilling his cup with a bit of liquor. And he throws the pouch onto the table,

and you hear it with a loud clank, land, and he says, 150 obols, 50 each. I... What? You are very kind. Thank you. We will put this to good use. We're paid well for our work. The queen makes so of it.

We're keeping Avalon safe. You earned that. So much. That is certainly 150. Thank you. We are happy for Christoph to take a blow in order to earn this and to help explore the mysteries of the weirdness. The captain looks at you and says, That's right.

Christoph, you're a tough old bastard. That's what I've been called in the past. but that coin is going towards an investment on more fucking protection. You look at your shield. Look at your armor. There's enough

currency here for us to enjoy protection investment and to enjoy our last nights in Camelot. It's not as much as you think. I only ask, could I speak with Mercer?

Of course. The evening is yours. You've earned it. Do what you want. I'd hear more about how he came to magic. His ability to hear this is remarkable. The captain just nods you, and he basically tells you you have free reign of the launch. You've earned your place here. I would take the time to converse with him, and like I was at the apothecary, probing and asking and trying to get a sense of how he came to... Where does this orb come from?

What is the trick? Is it something that he's specially gifted with, or is it something anyone can learn? I'm trying to be graceful, but I'm also a schoolboy. Yeah? About it. He basically explains to you that he believes

that it is his belief in the All-Mother, that allows him to channel this magic. He knows, from the... teachings and learnings that for certain individuals who are sensitive to the weirdness, that all magic kind of originates from this mist, from this source of things that people think is evil. But he explains to you that over time humanity has learned from Merlin different ways to harness the weirdness, different schools of magic, different ways, philosophies almost, of how to harness and manipulate this weirdness. But he truly believes that it's his connection with the

Allmother that allows him to be so sensitive to the magics of the weirdness and harness it for good instead of evil. His faith. Are you interested in learning? How long to take to practice? I may not have many more years. Solely depends on the individual. You are a medicine man? I have spent my life trying to cure, to heal, to offer a relationship.

belief. In the old country, it was very hard. Here, I help people with rashes. Well, you may be more suited than most. We will talk more. I would like that. And the knight continues on. You're trading stories and the witch hunter, I keep saying that. I'm so sorry. The weird hunter, Captain, Captain Ezra, he asks, May I ask, why are you fetching all of this for old octumult? Yeah, well, it's, you know, it's a good question. It's so it can make a lot of those fucking candles.

If I am overstepping my boundaries, please tell me, but may I ask why? We're heading north, discover the mysteries of the mania stones, and to save the only people still left living who give a shit about any of us. The many of stones. How far north? All the way to Crow's Nest. Are you serious? Yeah, I'm fucking serious.

You know many have tried, right? If we can find the knowledge that is said to be there, we can save not just those that we love at home, but also perhaps many villages across. Avalon. Well, you are tougher bastards than I thought. Do you think you can do it? No.

Nope. No. I've known dozens of men that have fallen to the minions of the Raven King. But maybe since there's just three of us, fly under the radar. I will take my sling and... sling and in one stroke I will kill the what was his name I will kill him in one blow easy no problem well he won't suspect death to come from the three of us old ugly

bastards it's the perfect trap well I certainly appreciate the honesty so the plan is to make enough weird castles to make it all the way up to grass Castle Crow's Nest. Archerbald must believe you can do it. Those candles are worth a fortune, and we use them around here. Well, my guess is he's hoping that if some lucky bastards find what he's looking for, then it's worth a shot. It's worth its weight in fucking old wolf. No offense to, you know, your own needs for the candles. But Oh, it's not. He, there's a pause.

As the conversation lulls for a moment, and he hangs his head briefly, and then he stands up, pushes his stool back, he snatches up the bottle of dark liquor. He fills up his cup and offers it, silently, offers it to the rest of you, as if you need a refill. Yes. He pours, he pours, he pours. Yes.

He holds it up, and he swirls it in his cup, and he says, well. Then it looks like we have a lot of work to do and he raises it up. Cheers. Cheers. Cheers. He knocks his head back and drinks deeply as do the rest of you. He slams his glass down on the table with a grin and says, uh, get some rest because tomorrow the work begins and that is where we will end our session. Amazing. Got to give it up. Thanks for staying so late.

I'm staying so late, everybody. I know it's crazy late. You know what? You know what? We've gotten started a little late the last two weeks, and I just want to make sure we get full sessions in. I don't have to wake up early to get up to work for the morning because I'm actually staying late for my job.

That's true. That's true. That's true. Overtime. Thank you so much. O.T. If you're lucky, your boss will give you the morning off. Oh, yeah.

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