Legends of Avantris - Vagabond's Heart: A Dimwood Tale | Ep. 5 | Whispers on the Wings

Episode Date: October 10, 2024

The vagabonds reconnect with an old friend and learn about a secret society maintaining balance in the Dimwood...   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/ok2KU0azS4g?si=CmUVrRTevhmjsg3A

This is Mikey Gilder, and you're listening to Vagabond's Heart, a dimwood tale. Here's what happened last time. I'm not going to shoot it with arrows. Last time we tried that, two guardsmen got plucked off, never to be seen again. Only two. It was quite a tragic day. It seems to be attempting to get some kind of lift, and you see that the wings now are shredded. I'm going to make you feel better, and then take those things out, and then hopefully you'll be all right.

Some sort of mercenaries or something. There's definitely a distraction. It sounds like they were paid to take care of us in case we came out here. I tried to tell you the taxes weren't out here. I tried to tell you that. So what about your missing taxes, my friend? Well, did you find the taxes? If you were to leave town with your loss, you should probably leave right now, you understand.

Excuse me? The tax me? I didn't put the taxis. You know getting it out of your statute. Now go. Taxes is taxes. Okay, we'll count this. And if it's everything, we'll give the town's vote.

Only a nearly worthless position, ma. May. Take the river north to click-clock crossing. The bottom line is we have four places, ultimately we need to see. And this one is the most out of the way. On the lake, heading in the direction of the town, is a number of boats. Moving towards that direction is a minor fleet,

the Marquis-8 controlled vessels. As you make your way north, you turn around the bend, and you make your way of the bend, make your way up the river and as you turn on the bend you get close to the shore, you see a cloaked finger in the rain up along the bank with a lantern and you see two eyes peering down and a feathered hand reaches up and pulls down the hood and you see Jericho, the Greek horn owl, that started your quest on the riverboat which is piloted by a frog who tells you his name is

Benning. And he's, he's, he's, he's a very relaxed frog. But as he turns, turns the corner, you hear a huffing and puffing and you hear the snapping of twigs as you see Jericho erupt from the trite line. That's right. And standing with his lantern as, um, uh, he's looking around wildly. And then as you also see the rustling of trees and leaves and you see shapes through the the forest as you see a number of winged figures flying above him not too far away. What do you do? My friend, what are you doing all the way up here? He's very, he's, he's, he's far away.

Terrico! Terrico! What's he doing out there? Is that him? That's the same hour. I mean, it looks just like him. I just don't know what that. How'd it get all the way up here?

I mean, we haven't been gone that long. Matt, I must move quick. Hey, Benny, can we go over there, please? We know him. our friend. Girl, it looks like there's danger of that way, France. We gotta get them.

And the least we can do is pick them up on the way, but I just pull over real quick. We can't leave them for the birds. Well, I suppose I gouged you have been with the prize. That's fine. Oh, I mean, I gave you a fair prize.

Just so curiosity, sake, if we wanted to say if we'd wanted to say Hegel, do you think we could have gotten a low price? I don't know what you're talking about. And he, uh, He pushes the boat forward as you go through the rapboards. The roaring river.

The roaring river is loud. Jericho is unable to hear you as you make your way around. And as you walk over, you start to see the shapes of eerie warriors, soldiers. And they don't seem to be the standard run-of-the-mill guardsmen or regimented warriors. These seem like elite hunters. they are all birds of prey you see one of barn owl who looks very much like a silent death

a scar over his eyes you see you know it's game you see a hawk a falcon as they are flying towards him and you see that his wing is still damaged Jericho as he's stumbling forward with the lantern

he's looking around and he He cast his lantern light across all of you and he sees you. And he just, no, what are you doing here? We can ask you the same thing. Quick, quick, get close to the show as you can. We need to jump in as we go by. Take me unless you want you doom.

We're going to save you. Come on. Get into the boat. Make a persuasion. Make a persuaded an NPC roll. While they're doing that, I'm going to take off my scarf and put it around my head back little bonnet. And then take my bed roll and wrap around. Okay.

Do that. Bob meets of disguise. That's going to be an 11, my friend. Get the boat. Eleven. He looks, and he says, But this is my boot for fun. Grumbly grab!

And he jumps and grab him if I can. Tems and roguish feats to see how well you do this. Because we are not docking the boat. We are going to try to slow down and get close to shower, but we're going to keep moving. Holy shit. Ten. Yes.

Okay. Yeah, no, it is not even close. As he jumps forward and tumbles and tumbles and, in and as he's, uh, keep, keep going there. They will be on our tails.

You have brought your own doom. And, uh, he looks back in all of the, uh, all of the burns now fly out. And you see that there is a total of, uh, six of them.

And they all fan out in a V formation as they are flying towards you. And what's the air? Burk captain's there. What was that? Ben, all right, Benny. All right, Benny. I'm going to need you to get this thing kicking an

overdrive here. All right. Come on, come on. I don't know what else you want me to do. We're on a boat. Did I just sign? Did you just pay me to die? Deep into the rapids, as fast as you can.

Let's try to lose them. Yeah, Benny, don't you have any jets? Why would I, what's a jet? Because normally starts to twitch. Why would I have a jet, long young lady? Are we doing upstream too? There's no way. Oh, we are?

I thought it was like we were going with the rapids. No, because it goes up to the waterfall. Jericho, I assume to have made a tactical, the boo-boo, as they say. Just get down on the floor, okay? You get down, we'll kill him all. I'm going to push him down. I'm going to sit on top of him with my cloak, kind of with my big bed roll pulled around me

and just kind of like huddled up on top of him like a little nest. You do that is, and you feel that his feathers and his clothes are absolutely filthy, they're damp. He's been in the woods wandering around for a long time. And as the birds fan out and they get ready, Benny looks at all of you. Well, I'm going to keep going off.

I guess this is the only shot I got. I hope y'all can take care of these birds. In hindsight, this was a terrible, terrible decision, and I apologize profusely. What do you do? The birds are descending now, as they're getting closer and closer, out of the woods now.

It seems like they have a very clear shot at you. Grumbly, I don't even have a weapon that I can use here. All I've got is this measly skittgen-degger. Do they have, like, ranged weapons? They do, but you know that, birds have to fly, and so they need to perch somewhere, too. But you start to see that they are looking around there, all these large rocks on the bank that they are starting to descend towards. What do you do?

I honestly do not know what to do in this situation. I think we've got to get him in this boat. Did they see him get in the boat? Yes. They burst out of the tree line and they saw. Benny, how quick do you think you can park this thing? You'll be able to get away if we just make our way with Jericho. They'll go after us and you'll survive. Is that what you're saying for him? I think so. I think that Grumley's right. I think the only way out of this is to get off the boat.

I hate to do it. From here, our only hope might be to take cover under the rough canopy. The range weaponry might not be good if they're flying over the heavy, dense trees. Well, I can just come after us. But it's better to take them on foot than in the air. We can find a cave or a rock, and then we can jump out and kill him. I'm with Gromley on this one. Dead foul of eerie soldiers.

They deserve death. Benny pulled the boat over now. Oh, yeah, you got it. You're paying me, and I guess you're my only shot, so you're double paying me. And he takes the boat around, and you actually see that there is two massive logs sliding down into the river propped up, and you feel like you can get some cover. As the boat makes its way beneath it, you hear the loud twang as an air flies and hits the trunk, and you see that a falcon

is standing on a rock across the river, across the river, and it's fired an arrow at it. How big is Jericho compared to Gromley? Jericho is probably a little bit taller, but not, but a lot thinner. But he's a bird. Grumley, pick up Jericho,

we're going to make a break for it as soon as we hit shore. All right. Sorry about this. And I grab him. Okay. So you pick him up, and you get out of the boats. And Benny, like, what do you do?

What about me? Just make it to safety. We're gonna, we should be fine now that we've got Derrico. And me are breakneck speeds running into the forest. Okay. You do that. And so you, you, you, uh, he says, well, good luck, friends. I'll try to pick you up up the river.

I hope y'all don't die. And he takes off. And you see Jericho, uh, and now as you grab him, he feels, uh, he looks incredibly, uh, his eyes are sunken in. He looks incredibly weak and hatching. as if he's been running from these birds for a while. As you begin to pick him up and you all start scampering, running as quickly as you can,

you hear the, as arrows fly in and hit the trees, as you all dash through the forest and you hear the flapping of wings as all six raise up and chase after you. And you're running through the forest. What do you do? What are you looking for? I'm looking for a cave. Just an idea.

I was going to say, either a cave or go deeper into the forest as dangerous as that sounds, so that the cover, it gets the brush that's thicker. Some kind of cover that we can use that, like, hide and then may have jumped out. Even if it's dangerous to go deeper into the woods where there's more, we want more tree cover or a cave. Okay. We're going to look for some sort of cover. Oh, okay.

Jericho, I know this isn't very dignified, but just hang it on. Oh, I'm sorry. Everyone's under one of my own. I have burdened you with even more. No, no, no, no, we agreed to all this, and we've got good news, but we've got to get somewhere to say so many Christians. Come on! I'm sorry because I'll sad on you.

It was totally unnecessary. I've been taking an arrow to the back. As you're carrying him, you are running through, you're dodging through, and you're feeling the wet, the wet soil. You were in the woods, but this, the style of forest that's around you is similar to what you experienced several

days prior in your counter outside of Warholo. You're a bit far north, but you're not egregiously far north. So you're going through the wet soil. You see that there are a lot of logs overturned willows draped over, and you actually see up ahead not more than 500 feet is a ring of willows.

This is very not appropriate. A number of willows with all of the leaves in the canopy hanging down. giving a ton of cover. And you make your way through, there's a huge wall that you need to climb over and you leap over it. And you dive behind it. What are you're trying to do? So we are, we're in a grove?

You're basically beneath the dense canopy of a drooping willow tree. I think we're going to try to hide an attempt to ambush these, these eerie warriors. Okay. It's proto style against the ringwereaks. We want to kind of get down to a bank next to a tree and just try to like, high. And then the second I feel that their clothes, I want to jump out with my halberd and go for it. Okay. Okay.

I would say choose one of you to make an attempt for a sheet to see how well you hide. Hazel. I was also going to say, can I try to burrow a little bit to like kind of create like a little no where we could hang it down lower? Yeah. That will affect it. So you see Hazel burrowing and digging out and making it. and make a 10th Rogen speeds. Let's see how well you're hiding.

Okay, what does that? I helped to dig, but it's not very effective at all. Yeah, I mean, I'll help dig in case we have to give her... Brogish is cunning to... Yes. Oh, it's... Oh, Finesis. Oh, Finesis.

Oh, Finesis. Oh, Ferex. Oh, Fenex. You got Dex? This is not Dungeons and Dragons. It's a nine plus three is 12. Twelve. 12. So, oh, yeah, you dive beneath this little burrowed trench as

and you all hide and you wait. And we'll give yourself a big one, right? On a success or no? Yeah, on 10 plus you pick one. You pick one. So you don't have a clear path of escape, you use up some resources, or you lead evidence. I mean, the first one makes a lot of sense.

They're clear path because I just back myself into a hole. Right. So you don't have a clear path of escape. Okay. And you wait. And you hear a flapping of wings from Sao. And suddenly you hear, as you hear this splintering of wood, as talons sink in to the log above, your rain down.

And it seems as if you feel the presence of one of the eerie assassins over you. As you hear go, you see that, you hear a voice call out, Chuck in the widow They might he there Is he within like Is he close enough Where I could jump out And Albert is in the face

He's like directly above you So you could do it I will The second I feel like Like he's turned at all I'm gonna jump out No I don't care if he's turned up I'm gonna just jump out

And swing my Halbert around And I would like to use vicious strike on him Okay You can work And I would like to make Marcus Sharp So that Okay, how does that work? Sorry, weapon attack They're here somewhere. Are they over there?

You guys had one. Right here. No, I gave you guys one. Then it's maybe over there. Any way. Vicious strike, when you visually strike an opponent where they are weak, mark an exhaustion and roll with might. On a hit, they suffer serious harm. Okay. So I'm going to mark an exhaustion. Okay. And I'm just going to cleave as hard as I can. and roll 2d6. Did you pick it up? Four, five, six, seven, I got an eight. So on an eight, what happens?

So they still suffer his serious harm, but they get a shot in as well. Is that a three harm? So it's three harm than him. Okay. Does that mean that he still gets a shot, even if that three harm were to kill you? because it's, or no, to kill him because it's like simultaneous? Or do you think of him?

It's sort of, yeah. So you see Grumley turn around and just swing his halberd. It cleaved in, blood and feathers spray as you see a falcon head looking at your eyes wide, shocked at the halber that's cleaved in his chest. But then you, and in a swift motion, you feel something slide in. you, Grumley. As you take one

injury and one exhaustion. Oh, no. So what does he look like now? Not Grunley, but the dude.

The dude. As you slide in, I will use my plate armor to block the exhaustion and I will take the injury. It slides in and it's resisted

a little bit by your plate armor. And then you hear eyes roll back and it falls. So as soon as Grumley makes this attack,

I'm going to jump up out of our foxhole. and go for the first eerie soldier that I see with the Skinkerton dagger. Do I see one, like, close by? Okay. You try to follow up Brumley's attack. I'm going to jump out and follow you.

Okay, you fly around, and as you do that, Booker, Hazel, you leap out. Jericho is staying hiding beneath his log, and you see as a red-tailed hawk flies directly above you. He's flying in. He hasn't seemed to quite notice you yet. And he's looking and he sees what's just happening as the falcon is slain as he looks down at you for a second. What do you do? So as soon as he sees me, like, seeing that he's, like, distracted,

I'm going to use charm offensive. When you play upon an enemy's insecurities, concerns, or fears to distract them with words during a fight, I roll with coming. And I'm going to say, as he's flying over, hey, you birds aren't real sharp for being eagle-eyed birds. How'd you miss us down here? And, like, try to distract them.

Got him. Amazing. That's going to be a nine. I need one more to get a 10. I think I can help you. Hazel's with you. We can. Hazel's with you.

So, yeah, what is it to assist? Is it exhaustion or? I'm pretty, I don't know if I can do that right now. Okay. If you can't, I can't either. I have three exhaustion and three decay. I have three. Yeah.

Okay. So it's a nine. Okay. Which is on a seven to nine, you tick them off. They aren't listening to you anymore. matter what you do until the situation drastically changes. So they aren't sure what to do? It just says they aren't listening to me, no matter what I do.

They're ignoring me. Is that what you intend? No, my intention was to get a hit and make an opening for myself, but I didn't. I didn't get that. Okay. So it just says that they ignore me. It's like my fail forward in some way. Like my taunts like didn't work.

Okay. Okay. So as that happens, he looks at you and he says, as he sees the dead falcon fly and he looks at you and he says, You'll die raccoon as he flies over you, not more than five feet. As he calls, come here to me! As they all fly up and through that anger, Booker, they all gather around and their weapons are,

and they all fly back. Their weapons are drawn. The dead one, however, they're all drawn to you. They now know your location. As you see five birds descending upon you, and then suddenly the ground starts to shake. You hear... As you hear the absurdly loud buzzing,

and suddenly leaves burst through the... Burst all around you. Wood snaps. You see a flash of turquoise, green, orange, pink, as in a massive burst of feathers. blood, the massive dragonfly from the day before swarms in, chomping, not one, but two of the birds and completely scattering them. You see one of the hawks and an eagle get completely devoured as it tears it apart with its massive mandibles. And then you see one of the, one of the birds

try to fly away, and you see a large claw reach up and slash it down. It cuts off one of its wings. It smashes against the tree. You're allowed to sickening crack as the dragon fly, and you see it's all patched up with spider silk. It's like 100% the same one. It is the same one with spider silk as it tears it up.

As it sh-z-z-z. And you hear the, the, all of the birds scatter. And you look around and you hear as the form disappears. And, damn, it gets quieter and gets silent. Are any of the birds on the ground? And you look around, that's one dead, two dead, three dead, four dead. And you look around, you don't see any of them. Any, any, any, any, any, any, any, any, any, any, any, any, any, any, and however, you see, you don't hear it.

But you fly it. lap around, you see a, we need figure, just appear in the corner of your eye, as you see that barn owl, the scarred eye, look at you and point before flying away. Who does he point to? Just, all of you. Oh, okay, he's just like, and go on, get out of here. See what I can. You are in... Staddy bird, the forest.

Oh, goodness, graces. I don't believe it came back and helped us. Oh, God. Remy saw, I got me plate armor. Are you okay, but me? I'm fine. Are you sure? To the game master,

would you say I'll just defend it someone who could not defend themselves from a dire threat? Yeah, I would say that. Oh, I feel very energized for acting as a defendant to you, Mr. Jericho. Jericho, have they been chasing you since the last time we met?

They picked up my trail three days ago. I've been on the run ever since then. All right. I understand that we're all very, tired, but I'm going to need you to do the best you can and get up, and we're going to keep moving at a slower pace, but we can't

stay here. I don't think it's safe. I think we need to try to do what Benny said and meet him further up the river. And then he can take us the rest of the way to where we were going. Where are you going? I don't remember. I'll go on the map. We're going to click-clock crossing.

That's the one. We're going to clip-clock crossing. So we're here. At least as an intermittent. Mediary stuff because we're all a little banged up. So, which side of the river are we on right now? You are on the far side, a little bit north-east side? You're on the east side, yeah. Okay, so we're like over here.

Yeah. So if we can just stick to the tree line and try to meet Benny farther up the river, he might be able to take us the rest of the way and we can get you the safety. Well, this is not your burden. I thank you, but now that they are disposed, I must continue My quest Wait wait

Before you go I'll look to show you something I was gonna say We've got a lot to talk about I'm sure you can't come along with us And we can walk and talk Perhaps I will

Take a ride To To Clipclock crossing But there I must Make my way North Blumley You gotta shovel

Well we're going north as well Where are you going? You're going to robberal falls. Of course. That's where you said that one of the ruins was. Yes, I am heading towards Potsville. Oh, that's far to the west. West?

Yes. So, would you like to at least accompany us along the way you could rest up? Yeah, you don't look so great. We could pay for a room. You can stay with us. Please stay with us. Well, I'll very least get on your riverboat. if your fraud and isn't

dead. Well, now that all it bleeds are dead, you should be just wrong. And we took you with us, so hopefully they didn't go after him. Well, I thank you, friends, I do not want to burden you. Let's go.

Grumley, you got a shovel. To the boat. I don't know if we want that boat guy to see what we're doing. I think it's fine. Oh, before we get on the boat, good point. Thanks for thinking for me. I will go into my pack and I will pull out the huge flaming

staggart medallion. We went to the first ruin. We found this. You were right. It existed. We found one. Unrap it. Still kind of holding it with the racked limit and show him. You pull it out

of your pack and you show him this. His eyes widen. The yellow owl eyes, incredibly large in his head. He says, you have done it.

I told you It was real that much power Does anyone know you have this? Nobody? No? No, just doing it all, no. No, no. No, the only one?

No, no. No, the only one? No, no. There's a drunk bird back at minds in, uh, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, she told.

She's definitely a drunk. That is, that is unbelievable. I knew this existed. To see it. are close to see the power. Do you intend to secure the rest? We're going to try.

I think that's our plan. That's why we're on to Rybeth. Why can I do it? Well, if you are heading to Ribel Falls, I have an old friend there who may be able

to help you. She is not trusting. But Her name is Sister Beatta Don't you dare mention the sister part in public Oh, well, that, all right, that seems pretty important Look for black feathers Is she a bird?

She's a raven, yes But like a good bird, not like one of those mean birds That we just what killed, I just what killed one of them You can trust me I wish she did I had wish she did my entire career she has no allegiance towards the earring. So if we just ask around for Biana, would she be all right?

Do not... Just a Bia. Ask around. Oh, don't... Okay. But what you should look for a raven in Ribera folks? Is that what you say? Look for a raven. She is usually the cotton top inn.

Oh, okay. That's where she meets with commoners. So she does good. for the community itself. Good. Community depends on your definition.

So she knows the location of the next room. Is she not royal or something? What are you making commoners? I cannot speak anymore. It's not my place to tell you. Oh.

You shall hopefully meet her and hopefully you will be able to convince her to help you find what you see Can you say that we know you? Mention my name, yes. But do not mention

what's become of me if she thinks that I am no longer in my position my name may not hold as much weight. She doesn't sound like very good friend then. She has her own goals, as do you? as do I but we must go so like as we get to the river I just want to see

if we see any like trace of Benny's boat you look around you make your way through the wood and you walk along the river bank no sign of the owl or the birds that had chased you but as you continue

you see you hear anything before you see you hear something before you hear you see something as you hear the low twangs of a banjo, sailing on the wind, as you eventually make your way over a wet rock,

and you see down along the shore in a patch of lily pads, you see Benny in the bed of his boat, his hat tilted forward, just plucking on with banjo, sitting around, and his boat's tied up to a log.

Oh, my acorns, you survived, you did it. Well, dang, and I was about to leave in about 20 minutes. I guess now I'm due to bound to give you the rest of your journey. I appreciate it your honour and our deal because we pay you quite a bit of coin. So if you could safely take us to click clock crossing, it would be greatly appreciated. And there shouldn't be any more trouble now, hopefully. We took down that, or at least somebody did.

What? Mostly me, I've got one. You're all covered in blood, friends. I don't think it was mostly... No, we won't get any on you or your boat. We just need to get to click on... For anybody in the boat, it was mostly, and then we had most of the help was from a friend.

That's not he currently, or presently, or right now. Well, y'all's strange, but you pay me some good going. Thank you, friend. I've been. Now, I hope y'all ain't intending on staying long if you make your way off. Staying along and click, clock crossing. I don't, uh, I did someone a bad turn there, and they don't take, Finally to me.

Well, that's not our problem, no, is it? I'm saying if you're looking for a ride to ride barrel falls, if your ferryman gets caught up by the law enforcement. That is also not our problem, friend. Well, you take us the whole way there. Just get us to click, clock, and we're done. I'm going to take you all the way to ride barrel, right? No, if we said to take us all the way there,

we should use the services. We already paid him. Well, if it's included in the fee, then fine. But I'm also not getting roped up in his legal problems. I'll just mean we just go through quickly So it doesn't get roped up And the second you get roped up That's between

By the Marquis While we're taking this time to journey I was hoping we can maybe resupply When we got to quick clock Can you park for like an hour And just lay low Maybe on the edge of the cross Is there any kind of shop

Or general goods store I just need to stop in for a second I've got coin to spend And I need to spend it Well how are you planning to get through Pickup Wilson anywhere As long as I don't show my face walking around town, the folk

that run the Betterboro Bank ain't gonna catch a side of me, is all I'm saying. Damn it, is there any place in Rye Barrow? A Rye Barrow Falls that we can resupply. At a clear and has places you can resupply, friend. Do you got enough to make the whole way? It's risky to try to make it all the way.

I don't think I can make it. Does the river go through the town? Let me cut over to the map. I believe it goes through the town. Yeah, it does? Yeah. Most of the town is on one side is on the western side.

If we stop at all, we risk losing our ride. That's all I'm saying. Well, what if he drops us off like kind of southern bits in the town? And then he just keeps on slow traveling and we do our shopping real quick luck and then get him on the northern side. It will literally take me a flash of an eye.

I just, I need not even five minutes. But in that five minutes, we lose our ride. I don't want to hear any griping from anybody. What is that baseball? I don't want to hear any griping. Do I grime? Occasionally.

I'd never. You usually gripe when we're out of food. What's gramping? What's griping? What's grifeng? So, griping, it sounds like this. Bucca, why didn't you do this? Booker, why did you lose our ride?

Booker, why did you steal that thing? Booker, why did you do this? That's what Grypton sounds like. So gramping, the definition of gramping, is very reasonable questions. And what am I ask you? That sounds right to me. Don't get caught. Well, I hope they don't find me.

And you make your way and you complete the jury. Oh, go ahead. Well, so, and just, do you. Jericho would want to get off. Yes. Right, because he's trying to go. I do need to get off. So we're going, we're going to say like, hey, we're like parking right.

I did forget about that. Jericho, we're not going to keep you a hostage on this boat. No, I have my own journey. Have you had no luck trying to track down your daughter? I have not, but my heart tells me that good fortunes have come. You have found one of the artefacts in the ruins. Surely I will. find a clue to my daughter.

I think that she may be held by agents and Potsfield, but I won't see. I wish we were helping you. Agents and Potsfield? What do you mean by agents? They have their birds everywhere. Birds live in every clearing. Agents of the heary live amongst them. This is pretty severe. And you sure you don't need our help?

I do not. It would be... selfish of me to ask such a thing, and I know that this is something I must do. Well, for what it's worth, there's a good chance we're going to be passing through Potsfield. If you wait for us, we might be able to reconnect and help you out. We're only on this question because of you in the first place. That's true. We've got to go down that way anyway to get to the ruin in Drake Smith.

And if that sounds like guilt, it's because it is. So now I'm trying to guilt you into letting us help you again. Great, so tremendous amount of guilt all right. well, well, they see that's what ripen sounds like. You blame the booker for nothing. I'm trying to tell you that we're willing to help you, and we're not going to take no for an answer, provided it doesn't kill us.

You're not going to kill us. We're going to let you off at the clock crossing, and you go find your dot. We're going to keep going. We're going to find the thing in the room, and if we have any connected Potsfield. Well, then we'll see you then. I will see you there if I'm alive and still there,

and you are alive. over there, which is my burden. You complete the journey. You arrive a click clock crossing. You arrive to a beautiful, wooded clearing. Towns that are predominantly rabbits, many burrows built in to wooded hills all around. And you see that there is,

many, many large oak trees. As you see that there are dozens and dozens of shops and merchants more per capita than you've seen in any other clearing. As you see a large number of, a variety of other woodland creatures, all interspersed within. But you also see

as you make your way up the river and you will stop at the very, very, very outskirts. of this town, towards the center, a large wooden structure. It seems to be built out of a huge tree that seems to spiral upwards. As you see a large, extravagant house built on top of this oak tree. And you are able to make a dock there. And as you all got an hour. I'm already getting nervous.

We will... Well, just keep on, go and slow down the river and wait for us at the edge of town. And they will be looking for you. Well, I'm saying, it'll be mighty faster for us to take the river north rather than y'all... Than y'all walking through the town. Don't move. Stay out of sight. We will be right back.

But there's so many shops here. We'll take an hour. That's all we need to resupply. We don't even need that much time. No wandering. We're just going to resupply. Why has everybody putting them up? Because I hear Gryphon coming.

And I hear, I'm just really, buy your pies. It shouldn't take too long. We're going to go to the general store. And that's where I'm going. And that's all we need to do. You go to the pie shop because there are rabbits here. And I'm guessing you want to buy some pies. I can smell them already.

Booker, you go wherever you want to go. General store. We're going to the General Store. We need supplies. All right. Well, we're going to split up. Booker and I go to the General Store. Hazel's going to buy some pies.

going to meet you to north side of the clearing, all right? You're not going to meet me right here, friend. Or you meet me in the north side of the clearing. I think you should get through the clearing. It's going to take a lot longer than now for you to do shop and make it all the way of north. That's why we're coming right back here. This is a big town, friend. That's how we're doing.

If something happens and somebody's poking at you, just go. Just go and meet us on the itch of town. It'll take a little longer, but it'll be safe. I hope so. Some of these folk don't take kindly to debtors. I will tell you that. That's plan B. Plan A is to meet right back here.

But if you are at risk of getting captured, you move on, and we'll find you. Okay, that will do, Fran. You all make your way out. As you get in, you hear as faint buzzing. As you see, as you're making your way through, you see bees flying through the air. As they all buzz around, almost like a humming in this beautiful little song. As you see rows and rows and rows of large hives. As beekeepers.

many beekeepers in May, you see them pulling out giant trays of a honeycomb, as carts are being wheeled around with covered in baked goods, many farms and crops and the like. You are able to make your way through this town, and you are able to resupply whatever you would like, whatever kind of pie. You know that the specialty here is the use of honey. There is a tremendous amount of honey here in ClickClot Crossing and it's a heavy ingredient in just about everything that they serve here. A variety of honey pastries, honey-based pies. You know that they have some fruits that are shipped in from Nookington, but obviously the classic apples, cherries, pears, and peaches are usually, those are the four varieties that they have, you know, from Nookingtons.

like, you know, or Newkington Orchards. And they're showing that off a variety of bunnies. You see a, you see off towards the center of town a large structure that's almost built into one side of the hill. And you see a large sign far down that says the better borough bank. As you see a number of, you're starting to now see the Marquis 8 soldiers have a pretty heavy presence here. The heaviest presence that you've seen in

any clearing so far. It seems as it seems as it the closer that you get to new Felicia that the heavier the presence of the Marquis that are. But there's also they're not just cats. A lot of them are rabbits that have seemingly joined the ranks.

You see a number of recruitment tents and a number of field hospitals. It seems as if the presence here is pretty intense. You see a number of workshops, but it seems as if the center of this town seems to be commerce and you see a great number of grist mills built all alongside the river, grinding the various grains into the bread for the dough. So you can resupply however you would like. I'm basically going to take,

I have four coins in my bag. Yeah, for four decay. I'm going to spend three of them to remove all three of my decay. Okay. You do that. They trade them outside. I have one gold coin left to spend. do that. I have used my last two coins to remove to resupply so I have full decay. Okay. I want to go to the bake shop. Okay. You do that. You go to a bake shop and you see there's a a variety of them and you you're not quite sure which one to go to. There seem to be a variety of smells. And this one smells pretty good. This one smells pretty good. And you, you hear, you smell one that just smells deliciously. There's a great nutty, nuttiness to them. A lot more than a lot of these other big shops have. Something that speaks to your chipmunk, your, your, your, your

chipmunk sensibilities. And you see a sign that's hanging on the door. And it'd be, symbol on it, etchedon to it, is a large pie, but with a big acorn stuck in. And it says nabs, M. A. B. Apocry s. And you make your way in. And you see that there, it's chockful of rabbits, a few cats. You see, um, uh, you see an otter. You see a fox, a mouse. You see a variety of people, they're all trying to, to get their orders as behind the counter, you see a squirrel with a great big bushy tail as, uh, uh, yeah, now hold on, hold on. It seems to be a male, a male squirrel as a bit, a bit older, but, uh, it's okay, it's all common. You see there's a variety of pies, uh, obviously a very heavy use of honey, but you see that

there's, uh, there are pecan pies. Uh, there is, uh, there's a variety of, of, of nut-based pies as well, and other patrons. Oh, sir, sir, sir. Oh, okay, here you go. Very nice. Oh, hello there, young lady. Hi, I'd like to try that pie. We don't do free samples here.

Oh, but you see, I have the most horrible allergies, and if it's got the wrong kind of honey or the wrong kind of nut, it could be a terrible thing, and I just really, even just a nibble, what can make my decision? Well, nah, I usually doesn't get free samples, because the nuts are very good. believe that. They smell just

wonderful, but wouldn't it be awful if I bought a pie, a beautiful pie, and it made me just sick as a dog, and I'd have to say, Naps pies, why did you do this? Trick an NPC roll, please. Okay. Pocazia's better, because that sounds like gripe.

Why, you got a great? Nine. Four, nine. Oh. Uh, so I'm seven to nine. So, and then those were there to help. They stumble and you get a critical opportunity. Okay. He looks at you and says, well, I, lady, I met many, many chipmunks in my day.

And I think that, you know, I can tell when you're lying, your cheeks puff up real big. And your cheeks are very puffing right now. So you can either buy a pile or move along. I hold alive to help a customer. And he turns away. And you see that a lot of the customers are kind of full. him and no one is looking. No one is looking

towards one corner of the shop as you see a variety of nut and fruit-based kind of pies. Fail forward, my friends. I'm going to, is there like a glass partition or is it just like pot? No, there is a glass partition, but there's a number of

trays on these large wooden cabinet type things where there are a few pies out. All right, so while his back is turned and most people cannot see me, I am going to take as many pice as I can. Okay, let's see how you do with the temper of his feet.

All right. Let's see how I do. Oh, oh, shit. That's not good. Oh, no. That ain't good at all. Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo. You know, three. Yeah, it's a six.

Oh, no. Wait, hold on, hold on. Do we have any twists? Yeah. So it counts as a plus one, though, right? Yes. Is that enough? Yeah, that would be a seven.

Use it. Let's not use it. Yeah. I think you have two. So you pick two. And so with my just barely pass, I'm going to say that I do not have a clear path of escape, and I leave evidence of my roguery.

We're going to end up in Marquis' age jail over a damn pie. Not surprise, actually. You, as you, just turn it, you managed to swipe one, two, three, four, five, six pies. Holy God. However, you go. to the, you go to the, and there's a special pie compartment in your sack for this point, this is a thing, you are very, my belly. Yeah, it's exactly right.

And however, you go for a seven pie. Lucky number seven, this isn't very lucky for you. I'm nice. You go for a beautiful peach and honey pie with peaches imported from Nookington. And as you go through, you go to pick it up, and the tin was actually a little bit weak. and it just breaks in half and spills and crumbles all around you. And you look around and you turn to leave. And there's actually a huge crowd trying to push their way in.

And as you're trying to make your way through with all of the pies in your pack, you hear a voice call out. Now what happened to all those pies? Can he see me? You're kind of in the crowd, but he definitely see you. Um Oh shit I'm gonna take some of the

The pie that's built over and just like Fling it at the person next to me And like just Like food fight it all over the crowd Okay for what purpose That chick dropped his pie I mean it was awful and then I'm gonna puff my cheeks out And I'll think there was nuts in it

Ah It was terrible This is going from bad to worse He looks and he's like What? Make a trick in NBC. Make a trick an NPC roll, please. There we go.

The two and an eight. I have no cunning. It's an eight. Ah. Oh, that, that works. That's good, though. Passes. Um, so.

Leave the cunning to a good friend. But I take the, wait, on a hit, they take the bait and do what you want. Oh. On a seven to nine. They can instead choose to do one of these. They can, the NBC can either hesitate, stumble, or overreact. Overreact. Overreact, please. No, I think, do you choose for them or does Mike choose?

Oh. Oh, they can choose one. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have chosen that last time. Oh, yeah, that was my fault as well. We're learning. You say that, and he looks at you and he says, he turns and he looks and you see that there is a rabbit probably not much older than you. Now he's covered in peach pie. And he looks at you like, I've never seen you before in my life. And then you see a knob leap over the counter. It's like, come here.

He has like this hickory cane as he's going to like, get me back pie. And there's an opportunity, a little passing in the crowd with an opportunity for you to slip out. I'm going to take a soy for the peach, lick it, and run out the door. You do that. It is delicious. as you shamble out, make your way out through the streets, as you look over and you see that

directly in front of you is that huge spiral oaken structure ahead and you turn and you make your way down towards the river. And it's, there are, there's actually a shocking number of frogs around here. You get the sense that being so close to Wartwall and right on the river that there is, there's a pretty decent frog population, at least in the southern end of the clearing. and you eventually all ride back at Benny's river boat as you all board unless you want to do anything else in the town. I say as I step on the boat onto the boat. Now that's what I'm talking about.

A shopping trip with absolutely zero incident. I laid out in the back of the boat and I put my hand behind my head and I kick my feet up on the end of the boat. Does that count as stealing something by the way for my kleptomaniac trick? Benny, my friend, let's kick off. Well, the debt collectors didn't come yet. Benny Frankl's is free another day. He's the host.

He's my friendsy. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Welcome. And you push off.

After Jericho is left. And you make your way through. Dupor doesn't know me already. Yeah. Duber says L-O-L. And he is very easy going. That is the... Just wait, my friend.

Just wait. That is the most antacathetical thing. Yeah. As you make your way through, and you see that they're... As you make it way through, the trees here are very dense, and it seems as if there's a bit of... The leaves here are a variety of colors, not just green, but shades of browns and yellows and oranges, is interspersed through with the green of the trees. As you make your way through, there's actually a large number of bird housing as well.

A lot more densely populated than the other clearance that you've been to. And as you make your way up, you see a variety of strange looking colorful, are they songbirds? It's kind of hard to tell. You see one that's very large and green flying around in a hollow that has it almost looks like a cuckoo clock. Thank you, feather, fall. Thank you, feather, soul. You see what seems to be flying above,

heading in the direction towards the center of town, a red female bird that seems to be pretty angry about something. As she flies overhead, as you continue to make your way through the town, it takes you the rest of the day to make, or not the rest of the day, but a good number of hours to make your way through the rest of the time. town and then leave the clearing heading north. And I'll say because you paid, um,

because you paid him a bunch of coin and you already gave a lot of exhaustion to make this trail, this, that counts for the, this whole passage. Oh, beautiful. So the encounter that you had for this was Jericho. And so you make your way down the river and you know that the distance between a click, clock crossing and, um, and Rybara Falls is not nearly as much. It's not, as far of a journey. You are camping out occasionally on the side of the river when you need to, but you eventually... Is this days, though?

Yes, it's a number of days. The woodland is very large. Time is kind of wibbly wobbly. So would you say time has passed? Yes. Okay. Oh, so we lose some exhaustion then, right? So, right.

Each day, we lose exhaustion, and I would... Because I'm an arbiter, I have the feature where I would be... Two exhaustion? Is that reasonable? Two nights? I think two nights for this whole journey. Yeah, we'll say we'll take two. Because I was at three exhaustion.

Let's say when you arrive at Rye Barrel Falls, on a boat, you're taking an easy and you can kind of remove their exhaustion trip. That would be great. Yeah. Let's do that. If Bougar had got stabbed, he'd be careful. As Benny, he's occasionally just singing the tune. So we're in Rye Barrier Falls?

Not yet. Okay, not yet. So you're making your way. You're making your way up the river. All right. And the air gets a little bit brisker. As you feel the river, it's not quite as rough, but the mist is, it's a lot, the air is mistier. As it coats your fur, packed of your exposed skin, it's almost pleasant.

As you are making your way through the river, you see a large barge heading down in your direction. And you see a barge, and it's just absolutely stacked with huge logs, as a barge makes this way down. And you see that standing atop is two individuals. There is a fox and a beaver, and they give you a wave, and you see that on the barge is a sign that says the Ripsaw logging company. And you see them making their way down. You had seen a number of workshops. Ripsaw. Lodging Company.

You see a number of, and you see a number of these. And they make their way down. You saw some, you didn't spend a whole lot of time in ClickClon crossing. But as you think about it, you remember that there was actually, not only was there a great deal of commerce there, There was a great deal of trading and shipping and freight. It was a big frit industry there as well as logs. You remember seeing logs getting unloaded and being brought up to New Felicia and being sent out all around for the supply chain of the Marquis A.

Play Root. The Reader game. The board game. It's right there. As shipping would, you know, is a large part. of what the Marquis A does, and you continue to make your way north. And as you arrive, head north and north, it gets a little bit colder and colder, but it feels not unpleasant.

And then towards the, you had camped, and it's probably late morning, and then you listen and you hear the faint, disin-roaring of a waterfall. as you turn around the bend and you see ahead of you, the great ice howl mountains rising up above you, capped with a beautiful ice piece, forested in the number of areas, dark and light gray stone, beautiful and majestic, almost shrouded in clouds. As you turn ahead of you, you see the great beginning of old Tom's River, the rye barrel falls. one after the other, almost making an entire sheet across part of this mountain range as it roars down into this massive mouth of the river where the, it seemed like the beginning of Old Tom's river

through the dim wood begins. And you see as it stretches out a sprawling town, you see the, the heavy pine trees, the oak trees of Cook-Lock crossing now behind you, the, uh, large pine trees. It's a very alpine feel. And you see structures all built around made of wood, stone. And as you look around, you see that there are whole swaths of hills that are totally barren, save for stumps. As you see large wooden workshops and a number of workers. You see a fox and a cat with holding a large saw, making their way to a work site. It almost kind of has a similar vibe to Reckonoid Ridge, but instead of miners, there are loggers,

as this seems to very much be a logging town. As you make your way, you also see that there are a number of small farms, tall stalks of rye, below in the wind, and you see off to the side as you make your way through the river, a number of distilleries and breweries. and breweries as you get as you actually see a barred sail past

just absolutely filled with barrels of rye bourbon and a variety of beers I'm gonna jump up almost like rocking the boat a little bit and like leaning on the side and being like great acorns above I've never been this far north before

this is amazing oh I can't believe I'm finally seeing this look look at that over that and look at the city And look at those... Oh, sorry, sorry, I'm just... I'm excited to get to the... I got to try the world famous rye and all of the great drinks they have here.

Well, let's remember the task at hand. We've got a fine sister bea-a-a-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. Who's that? Not nobody, my friend, nobody. Sounds like a word blanket. No, it's my friend sneezed here. He's coughing up some flimbing in the back. You're going.

My sister, my sister happens to live here. I'm from New Felicia, so my sister's not far. She's just a clearing over. If you're saying to one more time, I'm going to slap you upside the head. Probably I didn't know you heard a sister. I certainly do, of course. I've told you all about her, haven't I, Hazel? Oh, I'm just so forgetful.

I think it would benefit all of us to stop saying the word. What, sister? Hazel! I think that's the word he means. Well, I'm a sister, don't you ever any of hisibbons? I've got brothers. too. Benny, how far to we reach shore?

We're almost down to the dock, down in a friend, you're real clear here. See, this is way, way better, way better than any, anything that Clem Club crossing can offer. I'm feeling,

ain't no tax collectors up this far north. Oh, that's fantastic. Just simple, folk, doing simple things. Making an honest, maybe not so honest, living, drink long away.

These sound like my people. I don't know. It's a little depressing with the woods gone. What? Sacrifice. There's many of woods and you need to, you need timber for progress. It's just like on sightling. I had like a big bone spot in the middle of the forest.

Well, every clearing's kind of like a bone spot in the middle of the forest. That's just how clearings are. So like you clear it and then you fill it up with people and then instead of like tree heads. have people here. You know? There's plenty of people. You look at all the people around. And I gesture, are there lots of people around?

You look around and there's a wide variety of people. And you don't know it has a similar vibe to Reckin Winter Ridge. It definitely seems more built up. There are some residential districts, some nice little wooden neighborhood with creeks running through. Some, you can see the buildings are kind of running up the hills going into the mountains nestled in. It seems to be a fox-dominated clerics.

as it's predominantly foxes, but once again, like throughout the whole dim wood, a wide variety of forest creatures. But there are a good number of people, but on the other side, and as you make your way, you pass very close to a logging operation. As you hear the loud as you look ahead and you see that there are a number of cats and foxes holding onto this large metal contraption with a massive buzzing saw going. incredibly fast as they just tear through a tree and it slams down. You see a beaver foreman kind of directing things as you see that there's a good number of machinery. And you see that there's actually a large metal crane with gears exposed all turning around that leans down, picks it up, and then places it on a barge as it gets up.

ferried over. What time is it? It's probably... You're probably... Mid-afternoon. Okay, so it's later in the day. Yeah. Okay, cool. Well, I don't know about all of you, the rest of us, but I,

could use a hot meal, a good drink, and maybe a good old sleep in and in. We've been camping out for several nights, and I just want to relax. Well, we've got to go to the end anyway to look for, you know, people in general. Thank you so much for the passage. And

Be safe. As he docks, he looks. He's like, well, thank you, old friends. I was, being honest, I was heading here anyway, trying to get a job playing piano. But I appreciate the extra coin for my trouble. Maybe he didn't say you could pay the piano? Oh, that's my actual specialty. But you're so good at the bunjo.

I used to see him play the piano. I'm going to try to get a job and leave my boat here. Maybe I'll find my way south again, but. If I can get free drink at the belching barrel, ain't no better life than that, friends. Well, regardless, we appreciate the help even if it came in price. And remember, watch out for the tax collectors. They separate people from their money even better than I do. Man, that is very true.

If you see any greedy-looking rabbits coming up this way, you turn the other direction, friend. Believe me. Duly noted. Thank you. And he pitches up, and you all make your way into Rye Barrel Falls. The constant din of the roaring falls is just the state of this town. As you see just the various sheets and sheets of water pouring, pouring down and the mist that coats the entire town. It almost, and the light refracts in it in the noontime sun, there's almost this beautiful shimmer across the whole town as it's bathed in the mist.

And what do you do? I would keep an eye out for the cotton top end Yeah, that's exactly basically Right, well I'm heading for N-in Right. So I would keep an eye out and walk through the town and would look around I want to look for the cotton top in so that we can get a room

And then I would keep an eye out for Sister Bayotte. Booker doesn't exactly remember the name of the inn He's looking for a nice one. Okay, okay, sounds good. If there is more than one. Yeah, well, we know there's two. You know, there's least two. Okay.

Well, I'm looking for a nice one, the nicest one. You look around and you see that, once again, there's the heavy Marquis-Aid presence. It seems as if there's a ton of workshops all throughout, a ton of lumber mills built out in a good number of workshops. And each of them is heavily guarded by Marquis-Aid soldiers, both of foxes and of cats and a variety of other creatures. and as you make your way through one town square, you see a large bulletin board, and you see plastered up in the very center, huge sheet of paper, heavy black ink from the press,

and it says, Erie takes Warwalla. Oh, shit. And you see a sketch. So this guy can like fuck off. So he can fuck off. And then I'll... Can you duplicate it? I think I can duplicate it. Hold on.

We'll see how can you do it? You should be able to... Duplicate. And then let's move this guy up. Look at that. Bam. Oh, no. The bird presence is growing.

The URI has struck a devastating blow. And you see that... It's pretty close. Five versus six clearings now. Instead of... They're... I like the strategicness of this clearing. That is a key clearing.

This is such a... It's such a central clearing. What's the green people? That is, my friend, my friend. What are we calling it? This case, the denizens? No. It's the Woodland Alliance.

Bum, bum, bum. There's some kind of rebellion going on. Down, now, not too loud. I almost lost my accent there for a second. Romley, I'm listening too close to you. The point is we can't talk too loudly about them, including certain words we mention. The Woodland Alliance is one of the first.

those things that we shouldn't talk too loudly about. Oh, they're just radicals? They're trying to overthrow them on keys any way it wants. I'm trying to take over the whole dimwood. Radicals? You call them radicals, my friend? No, no, it's power of the people. They just want to be martyrs, is all they want to do.

What? No, it's the power of a unification. It's the power of the people rising up together. Oh, it's a fantastic thing. Well, we'll see about that. I don't... Real art you is such a political figure. But, no, I'm not.

I'm just, I'm just here for the rind. Please. Are you kidding? ...animated just now? Well, I mean, it's passion. I mean, think about it. Think about... How do you feel when you see a freshly baked pie?

I feel pretty good inside. Right. It's the same feeling that these people get when they rally together and they beat the oppressors. Well... I haven't seen you beat anybody. Well, I'm not a fighter. I'm only in it for the money.

He's a con man. Look at these bad of stuff. Con man is a little harsh. I don't like that. I'm out to make a living from a lot. myself and just live an easy life, you know what I'm saying? Working on Easy Street. You know, sometimes I think about marketing and just, you know, generally selling your wares.

And I feel like for you, you're a businessman. And your business is teaching people valuable lessons that they won't make a mistake twice. That is an absolutely fantastic way to put it. I appreciate that, Hazel. You're very kind. I'm not sure how that works. But anyway, let's look for it. So you make your way, you make your way through, and let me pull up my notes here.

We're staying someone nice, by the way. We're not just picking any random ramshackle in. Why, you pay for it? I'll pay for myself. I never said I pay for you. So. But then I guess you're staying in at nice in. Thank you very much. You, um, you make your way through and you see, uh, as you're turning, Grumbley's in the lead. trying to find a spot.

And then eventually you see, you get to an area that is partially residential, but a lot of mercantile artisan, an artisan area, of a lot of individuals, a lot of woodworkers, of course, in this area and other crafters. But you see a very quaint, but quite nice, three-story in, with very nice shutters and a sign that has a waterfall logo, but on the top, the mist kind of makes like a puffy cotton-like look. And it says the cotton top end. And you are standing outside. What do you do?

On a scale of however many inns are there in the town that we passed, where does this one seem to rank in terms of... You haven't passed many inns. You get the sense that it's a bit more spread out because of the nature of this town. But you've seen like a pretty ramshackle in that our people may be up for traveling to work logging at least for a few months or a few weeks. And they look pretty, pretty ratty. So this is nicer than that. Yeah. You saw this place that looked really scuzzy called the Beaver Creek Inn.

And. And. I'm And Dobro. There we go to. The Beaver Creek Inn. But this looks pretty nice. So this looks nicer than the other that you've seen. You get the sense that as you see that going up in hills towards the falls is probably

a prima real estate. And there'll probably be a lot nicer hotels up there. Wait, wait, we're stopping here? What about, what about there? Look at those beautiful houses. I remember what we're here for. What do you mean what we're here for? We're here relax and have a nice glass of rye.

Well, the whole point is to find that ruin that we're going to explore. Sister Beata, let's not forget. Let's not forget. Maybe we can take a day trip. up there tomorrow. But we're not going to stay there. We've got to preserve our funds and we've got to...

Don't blow all your money, is all I'm saying. Be responsible. You worry about your own money, friend. I've got my own money and under my own control, all right? I'd be willing to back venture to go off there

if you were feeling particularly crafty. I'll see what we can do. I sling my sack over my shoulder and I like make my way into the end ahead of them. I'm just run afold. You make your way into the end.

And you see an actually very pretty looking central room that has a high ceiling and actually goes up all three stories with a small little balcony on the interior that goes off down hallways into the other rooms. It's made out of this very beautiful, dark, polished wood, it seems. You see that there's a number of trophies on the wall, large fish, some preserved insects that have been hunted. and a variety of other things. And you see that there is a very quaint bar to the back with a roaring fire, this stone fireplace with a large stone chimney, almost masterful stonework rising up the entire length of the building. And you see a number of patrons sitting down in these comfortable chairs.

There's a number of people. There's one or two people at the bar. A couple people is enjoying a meal. And you see that there is a middle-aged woman. And she seems to be a shrew. And she has a long pointed nose with some small whiskers at the end, little ears, definitely shorter than all of you, as she's bustling around in a gray dress.

And she turns and she's, oh, new customers. Hi, hello. Come in, come in there. Hello. The name's Booker. We're looking for a room for four. What are you charging? Well, you're going to stay in one room.

Yeah, well, it depends on your prices, but that's what we're looking for. One room. Well, you know, here's the price. And it will be, for one room, it'll be a one, for one room, it'll be one coin. One to K. I suppose that's amenable. There's no way you're accepted any kind of work instead of gold, are you?

What kind of work are you looking to do? Well, I mean, we just do what we can, but I see this is a very industrious town, and it looks like some of the other inns might be accepting work and trade for board. and food. That's true. I didn't know if maybe this was one of those establishments. It was very, very handy. Nonsense.

Nonsense. I couldn't take you work. You're looking like weary travelers. You come to the cotton tail in to rest and relax. Well. You don't need to work. That does sound nice. Can we spare the funds, everyone?

It's just that they say if you're doing what you love, you never work a day in your life. And Booker loves to mock floors. It's true. I'm going to stop here right there, Hesled. Not a pretty good cook. If you're willing to take one coin, we will gather our funds together and we'll get back to you in one minute. Okay, let me know.

You make you show comfortable, okay? All right, here's what we're going to do. We all have money, right? I have more decay, track, yes. Well, all right, and I take out a coin. It's a number of coins, but this is worth it. Well, I take out one coin. And I say, all right, well, there's just only one way to decide who's going to pay out of the three of us.

I'm going to flip a coin. Heads, it's going to be you, tails is going to be you. Deal, done. No. I'm going to snatch the coin out of there. Do you have a D2? No, but we have coins.

Oh, yeah. We have literal coins. Yeah, flip a coin. That flip a coin much better than... I have a coin. I prefer to use these beautiful metal coins. By Norse Foundary. Wait, which one's which?

Oh, bad luck for Hazel. That's a tails. I put the coin back in my pouch. This is the same. I don't have any. I've got another pie. I spent all my money on those pies. I'm going to try to figure her out.

Okay. Make a figure her out. Figure that someone out. Oh, geez. Can I roll against him for trying to trick into him? Oh, no, it isn't. Oh, and I get to roll with charm. What do you know?

Oh, you lucky son of a gun. That's going to be a six, which is a miss. I don't get to figure you out. It's a miss. Yep. Okay, I don't know, I assume she's telling the truth Yeah

Do you want some of the pie though? No, we need to pay for the room And you lost the, you lost the coin flip, you have to pay That's not true Oh, that's what, I guess if you can't pay Then that means Grumley has to pay Grumley, you got to pay, you lost the coin flip I don't lose no coin flip

Well, Hazel won by default What do you mean she won by the phone? I'm the winner Yeah, I flip the coin, she didn't have the money She won by default somebody has to off up the coin it looks like you're the only one who has it well

I want to try to trick an NBC and I do have a and I want to try to trick gum I don't think you can't trick it you can't trick it It's not an NBC It is an NBC Okay it's specifically an NBC

You can use something like I take it back out I take it back yeah I do have a coin It's just I was saving it How could you do that to grumbly like that Well I was going to do it to you But then when you said

I had to do it to grumbly I felt awful Unbelievable. So what you're saying is you'll pay the nice woman. Yeah, well, what I was saying is that I have a coin, but I was saving it for dinner because I'm so hungry. We was on the boat for so long. I'll tell you this.

I'll tell you this. Since you lost the coin flip fair and square, if you pay for the room, I'll worry about them. That's a little ambiguous. I will secure dinner for all of us. Is it going to be good dinner? It will be the best it could possibly be. I don't trust you.

What's not to trust? It's your old paled book. I've had your back all these months. That's true. I guess I do owe you. It says it right here. Why own them? Well, what do you know?

We can't break the game rules. Okay. She bustles over and she tastes a quote. Oh, I'm so glad you missed staying. But where are you coming in from? You look a little way. We came up the river. I'm from New Felicia, of course.

It's very misty. Very misty. Well, what's you down for? Would you like some tea? I would love some tea. As lovely as tea sounds. If it's part of the room. Of course, no.

Tea is part of the cotton top experience. Oh, and how really, on any cotton top? It's a pleasure to meet you. It's nice to meet you. As lovely as tea sounds, Miss Cotton Top, I'm very interested in this lovely clear drinks dimwood famous rye. Oh, of course we can't remember what variety of those.

Well, I would love to try the recommended... We travel very far to come see this, and I'm interested, and the best you've got... What would you recommend to someone who's never had the famous rye barrel-falls rye? Oh, that's a good... I guess I would ask a quantifying question. what kind of

flavor profile are you looking for? She seems like her eyes line up and she seemed I just described her how I'm, you know, without going out of fire her. I saw you eat trash one. And then I continue describing how I feel about

caramel notes and she shuffles off and and brings over a glass of this very dark, this darker eye. And however you would take it with ice or not, but she places it down. And she says, this is the wood spider.

So I'm assuming this isn't included in the room. No, it's not. I assume you're going to pay for it. Absolutely. And I make a very elaborate show of pulling a gold coin out of my bag and giving it to her in front of Hazel. Thanks. The pleasure is all good. mind. And I will take a sip and I will savour it. It has a real kick as a bite to it. So the

wood spider, you see that there's a large spider, this shaggy orange orange hair all over it with black patterning. And it's got a real kick to it, but it's very, very delicious. It is not the, is it is not the standard swill you got we're getting in reconnoiter. I slap the table and I say, I can honestly say that's the greatest rye I've ever had in my entire life. What a wonderful experience! I've never been happy to be here. It's never been happier to be here. Well, I'm glad you're enjoying this day.

And we should have vacancies for a number of days. So let me know if you're going to be in town for a little bit longer. We might. We don't have as much of a selection as the barrel, but we do okay. If the rye stays this good, we might spend a lot of time here. Well, I'm here if you need it. Just call for Ellie. Happy to do it.

That sounds good. She bows and shuffles off. And then I kind of like swirl the rye in my glass and I say, you know, as I take him to say, oh, fantastic. Hazel, oh, it was very nice of you to pay up on the bet you lost. That means that you're an honestly true, true person. You do talk a lot about how much you owe him a lot. Yeah.

Well, he broke me out. Well, I don't even remember really where I was, but I remember I was awful stuck. I remember my last one. Well, that doesn't matter. The point is we've all helped each other. That's what friends do. Most importantly, that's what vagabonds do. We're not just any vagabonds.

We're best friend vagabonds. That's true. That's true. That's right. Lovely, lovely. Rye, this is fantastic. Thanks again for not, you know, skipping out on your bed. Do much birds stay here very often?

What kind of question? is that? I'm just asking if there are lots of birds here, I apologize for my friends. I don't see any birds, frankly. Birds, I'm not you? We get a few, of course.

There's a number of birds that live here. Oh, well. There's old Perry. He's a Robin. Oh, Perry to Robin. That sounds like a very good name for a Robin.

Any other birds? Oh, um, B comes in here a lot, yeah? Uh, B, oh, what kind of bird is she? If you don't want me. asking of course. Oh, well, I mean, it's not something you normally ask in polite conversation, but she's a raven.

Oh. Oh. I've never seen a raven before. Have you seen a raven before? I don't know. I don't think I can say that I have. I think I was mostly confused that her name was bee, but she was in fact a bird and not a bee. Oh, no. The bees are usually down and clicks like crossing. Well, yeah, we saw an awful lot of them. It just really tricked me up. Well, I...

I would like to see a raven. I would like to see a Raven too. If she's around, just let us know, all right. She usually comes here and harvicey-no before sundown ever, I think. But she comes in, not every night, but she occasionally comes in for a meal, sip out of file, drink, usually meets with a friend. My stomach is just going to growl really loud. She says that. I'm sorry for my companions here.

We've been on the road for a very long time, and we're not used to such hospitality. Well, you're going to get the best hospitality in all the falls here they're called. Now, I'll drink to that. Cheers. Cheers. Drink up, loves. And she scampers off again. Well, this is quite the life. Let me tell you, I could spend at least a month here before going on to see some other clearing. Remember, we're on a mission. Because of not lose shorned it at. Missions, sight, talk of

ancient relics. There's an ancient ruin. I'm not worried about it. No, this is the one that we're going to... We're stage whispering. No one can hear us. Are there other people? There's a number of people, but no one's really... They're kind of going about... Stage-whispring, as you know.

Yeah, they're stage... You're their stagework whispering. As you do, as one does. Well, as far as I know, the ruin can't be too far. The ruin wasn't that far from... from Reckanoida Ridge, so I think we should keep our eyes out, and hopefully we can learn more from B.

All right, well, that's fine. That's all well and good, and I suppose... Well, then we wait another night, and that's certainly not going to be too upset, because that means there's more rye that I can consume if we can find a way to make a little bit of money, because I'm a little hard up on cash after we hit the old general store.

But to be fair, I was a little tapped out from all of the inventories. as we've been on. So, you know, worst case, gum scenario, we pay for another night at the end, compliments of whoever loses the next coin flip, and then, you know, we'll see what we can do to make a little cash on the site. All right. Well, if you want to do your thing that you usually do, I won't report you to the Marquis-8, and then so I will take my cut. Report me to the Marquis-Ate for what? For cutting someone out of their money. You keep using that word, con, con, con, man, I'm not conning anyone.

These are mutually beneficial business practices between two individual consenting beings, if you will. Oh, so now you're just lying. That's right. You sound soap with a prize inside the salt. There's no prize inside the soap. Some of them had prices. Like what? How do you define prize?

Clemliness. It's not soap. Cleanliness is the greatest prize of all. So that every bar of soap has a price. In its own way. So, yes. Are for you calling people or you're lying. All the way.

I mean, take your bit. You said marketing before. That sounds like a good one. That's what I said. Thank you. I knew we're friends for some. I just keep sipping my permit, my ride. I thought you was going to get me dinner.

Well, working on that, it's not quite dinner time yet. I mean, the sun hasn't even quite gone down below the mountain yet. Well, it's certainly supper at least. Right? It's fine. It's fine. I'm trying not to wine. Jeez, Louise, I, it's not more.

I'm not worried about them. Everyone just hold your horses. I'll be right back. This podcast is brought to you by our Patreon. Become a patron today at patreon.com slash legends of Aventris and gain access to tons of exclusive perks, including a monthly movie night and a weekly Patreon exclusive camp and set on the high seas, shroud over salt marsh.

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like dice, miniatures, plushies, a tarot deck, and more. Thank you. So I'm going to take my glass of a rye which I'm savoring. Yeah, every drop. Oh, the wood spider is.

Oh, he is. Oh, he is. And I'm going to go find Ellie. Okay. I'm little enough. I'm sorry to bother you again so soon, but one of my lovely companions is bothering me about food and dinner.

What kind of fare do you offer here? Does it come with the room? Oh, no, it doesn't come with the room, but it's not the most expensive. I could get all of you for some coin. We won the k-fruit to feed all four of you. We have a lot of fish from the river. It seems to be most of it, but we have a few other things, a lot of nut-based dishes. That sounds lovely.

And I will take one coin out, I will put on the table, I will mark one to K. Oh, Boko. You didn't hear any of that. This was a conversation that I had with just Ellie. If you couldn't please, still. In fact, I'm rolling on flow, Bukka, I'm hungry. No, no, it's going to be for the four of all of our companions, if you would please. Of course.

Thank you. I appreciate your hospitality. Whenever at your leisure, we'll be waiting. Oh, get him right out. Thank you. And she goes out and you have a little bit and she grinned. brings this incredibly rich, hearty stews, remember potatoes, thick broth.

You find a bit of a pistachio kind of nuts floating in there and some bit of fish in there, and it's very delicious. Oh, this is so good. I told you I'd take care of it. Oh, okay, you're the best. I know, I know. My favorite part of the dim wood is that every clearing has its own culture and its own censorship.

That's why we're here for the rye. Do you drink, Romley? Is that something I would know after traveling with you for lots? I can't spot a tea, but I'll have, I'll have enough ale every once in a while. I suppose I'm not much on spirits, but I could have a little bit. Well, if the person that we're looking for doesn't show up tonight, I suggest maybe trying some of this rye. It is absolutely world-changing. Oh, right.

Well, I suppose I could. I don't have much coin, but maybe they could offer more services as soon. security, given that there's some rumblings of war to Cleveland the South. So that's one of the weird things I kind of thought. Now, maybe this is a little bit more of an upscale sort of establishment, but I was trying to feel out whether or not they might take labor instead of coin. That doesn't seem to be the case. She seemed to have said that she wasn't interested in taking our labor because she couldn't do that to us.

But she might only accept coinie. I was only going on our limb because we all know we should hold our coins when we can. But it's a little strange. It's a little strange to me. Maybe I'm just reading too far into it. Maybe this is just, like I said, maybe I'm more of a upscale establishment where they don't really do that. But I was just a little surprised. I'm hoping we just need one night here either way.

And I think that if we can speak to B tonight, we can learn where this ruin is, and then we can strike off tomorrow morning. Oh, just one night. Are you sure? This is fantastic. We have a goal in mind. We have a 30. Sounds even better.

I mean, we don't know anything about anything. Well, you want you to buy a bottle to go, it would probably cost... A whole bottle? A whole bottle. A whole bottle of ride. You can drink it on a row, right? You don't need ice, you don't need... A bottle like that is not a bottle you take walking down the road and drinking it like its water, a swill.

Look at you. That's exactly the kind of thing you would do. What? With a hat you wearing and those shabby clothes. Oh, really. I swear by my equal. You're trying to fight with me? No, I'm not.

I'm just saying. You're not. After all this time we spent together, you're gonna insult me like that. I'm not trying to insult you. I'm saying it would be in character to drink whatever you like on the road. What's wrong with that?

Oh, like he's above the law. Yeah, he doesn't give any cares. He doesn't care at all. You know what? I'm done. With the two of you, I'm done. I got you. I got your dinner.

I did what I could do. And you both have just got me at my end of my rope. That's it. I'm going up to the room. I take my stew and I take my glass and I'm like trying to hold it all. And I'm like, I go up to Lely and I say, where's our room? Come, it's either little patches. Oh, it's on the third floor, three or four? I like bite the key because I get on more hands.

Thank you. And I like head up to the room. You do that. Oh, no, I feel terrible. I was just trying to say that he's the kind of guy that shouldn't be ashamed about drinking and Paul O'Roy in the middle of the street. He's awful sensitive to me. I guess so. I mean, we're all pretty rough and tumble, frankly, and I don't necessarily, his flavour.

He's prideful. I guess he's too prideful. I think he thinks that he's a little more hot class than he actually is. I think he forgets he's a vagabond, maybe. Maybe. No, life on the road. It checks you mind. Yeah, I think, I mean, we all live on the road 100% of the time.

Well, I would like to live in a clearing. One day, one day I'll be back in New Felicia. as a share of Beatrix will welcome me back in her employ, and I will be keeping a peace once again one day. That sounds nice. After we collect these relics and I'll give it over to the Marquis-Zayton, and we all are regaled as heroes. It's going to be glorious.

Oh, I don't want that. I just want to go home. Well, don't give you lots of pies, and don't give any pardons you want, I'm sure. That sounds good. If I could just get paid, like, a lot. They'd probably pay you a lot as well. Pay back what I owe, then I'd be fine. And I'll go home.

Oh, right. Well, I think... I would like to at least keep it now that it's sort of approaching evening. I'll keep an eye out from beat. Okay, you do that. Booker, you arrive at the room and there's two nice beds, two nice end tables. You know, it's not super fancy, but it's good. Well, this... What do?

I sit down and I sit down and I... eat the rest of my stew and I like enjoy the rest of my ride while I look out the window. And I'm just going to kind of chill and wait. Okay. I'm not really in a hurry. I'm not really interested in me in any of this other business. Yeah. As you look out the window, you see that towards that same news board where is it like a bulletin board?

Yeah, it's like a large bulletin board where they had the big bulletin where the war wall had been taken by the eerie. Okay. You see an individual who is, his arm is all bandaged up and is covered in a sling. And he puts a box out, stands on top of it and pulls out another large sheet of paper and hammers it in. And you just, you see that happen. And then you all wait in the evening. And night passes.

and you look around and it gets about sunset probably about seven, eight. Keep me an eye out for a raven and you'll see it. I'll eventually come back down. Okay. Booker joins you again after I'm back. I've been drinking tea for hours.

We've got some tea? What? What do you say? Is it we're awful sorry for what we said. I didn't mean any offense. You know, I'm trying to compliment here, but it was just... It was a misunderstanding. All right, well... We're all vagabonds.

I'm not to remind you. I, too, am a little sorry. I overreacted. He was a little immature of me to storm off like that. But in other news, the room is very nice. Oh, that's good. Oh, that's good. Is it as good as that last in?

It's not as nice, but it's pretty good. That was like top, top air. It will suffice. And, uh... Nothing's as good. Good is free anyway. Ellie makes it all worth it. Yeah, she's very sweet.

She's a very good person. Oh, right, well, let's keep an eye out through this Raven if she ever shows up. I haven't seen her yet. I don't know. It's getting awful late. Maybe we ought to go take a look around. They could look around. I'm not opposed.

I just don't want to miss her. There is something I would like to get a closer look at outside. I got a bulletin board outside. It just looks like there might be some good place to to get information from. I mean, that's where we saw the information about the glaring. Exchanging hands, which is just unbelievable. I can't believe it happens so quick.

It's neither here or there, I suppose. There's a lot of information on the board, or we might be able to gather some intel, if you will. All right, we'll lead the way. Take a walk, and we can come back and check a later. We'll go quick, because I don't want to be too far away from the inn, just in case. All right. Oh, I can see it from the inn.

Exactly. So, Hazel, maybe you'll keep an eye on the inn. While we all make our way to the board, and I just want to check on the board real quick. It was a gentleman. He was putting up new information all the time. Oh, this is nice. Might be something worth it. I was going to run over quick.

Yeah, we just want to take a look at the bulletin more real quick. Yeah. You run over, and you see that where the individual had put in was a cat that seemed to be injured, put the bulletin. You see another headline, and it says, Northwest. Alpine Operation Destroyed Can you read of them, Matt?

Yeah. What? Dun, dun, not that one. I always fucked that up. Northwest. So it's just up here. Somewhere out of the woods.

All right. Alpine operation destroyed. Soul Survivor says, Soul Survivor says trees came alive. Authorities say,

Eerie to blame. What, what in the, what kind of nonsense is this, tree's coming alive? I mean, this is like some, some, some like madness, ridiculousness that we would have heard and recognized a ridge. What did you say? Who says, uh, authorities? Authorities say, say, eerie to blame. I think, to me that sounds a lot like the ruin. Maybe there's some kind of magic that's bringing the trees alive.

Or just more madness. I mean, that's what we were worried about in the first row. Or it could be madness, perhaps, but, you know, you don't. You don't take that kind of claim seriously, do you, Rumley? Trees coming alive? I mean, based on what we've seen, we now know magic is real. Trees coming alive. Everything else in the forest is alive, so we're not the trees.

That's right. I mean, trees are technically alive anyway. What's to make them, you know, magic might as well make them more alive. You technically have me there, but I'm not going to just... Fight. Is there anything else in Baltimore? I don't rule without. Um, you look around.

and it says it was actually kind of ripped off and you see that there's a bit of remaining ink that said like a piano player wanted at the belching barrel and it's been ripped off.

You see a little bit of frog slime on the corner. You see a couple of odd jobs. Basically all of the mills are hiring. All of the workshops are hiring. You look around and you see everyone is, might be a little bit tired or well to do, but with the industry that the Marquis

8 has brought to this clearing, everyone seems to have a job. There's two, there's more work than seeming, than everyone's hiring, it seems. There's a wide variety of things. There's a number of update bulletins that says, a strange movements seen in sticker brush, you know, advise to not venture south. Do not venture south. A variety of updates in the clearing of eerie movements,

a lot of propaganda. You probably get the sense of, but this large bullet tape, this has a variety of things like that. All right. Well, back to the end. Okay, we go back to the end. We keep an eye out for B. But if we don't see a bottom morning, I'll say we just go to the northwest.

so we investigate. Yeah. And if we do have to stay here a bit longer, it looks like we can all get a job. Right. All right. Agreed. Let's head back there.

Come on. Okay. So I think I, at least rumbley, I think there's wait and drink root tea if that's free with cream and sugar until late into the night

to see if B ever shows up. Is there like a fireplace? Yeah, there's a large fireplace. Booker will stay down in the common area but basically fall asleep in like a chair and in a fireplace. Expecting Grumley to wake him up if there is to be some sort of business. Okay.

And probably wouldn't look like. And I forgot to mention that at the bottom, you see at the bottom of all the large bulletins, including the Erie bulletin and all of the official ones, you see that it's all by the decree of Baron Roald Steiner Roald Rold

Rolde Rold Steiner Yeah Roald Steiner And you see It's all by the decree of that Steiner

And with that you you wait a little bit and it gets to be about

11 11 15 living 30, you're getting tired and you feel like there's there's no hope. And then door to the inn opens and you see a figure walk through and you glance over and you see that there is a there's not a hood per se but you see an individual wearing a cloak covering most of its person and you see dark fur, long pink snout with a bulbous nose, two little ears, and wide eyes as a rat

seems to walk in and look around a little shifty and steps on over and you see that there are, there are a number of chairs around the fireplace and you see him stop by towards where Booker is. I'm asleep. Yeah, asleep. And he looks at Booker and then he walks. over to a pair of chairs that are pulled off to the side

and he sits down and you see that he takes off his cloak and he's wearing his leathers and you see that there's a number of blades all in like a bandolier around his person and he hangs his cloak over the chair next

as if to save a seat and he sits there. What do you do if you do anything? I continue to sleep. I mean, yes, I would like to just sniff the air. I would like to just sniff the air to see if I notice any change in smell. I get any kind of like

scent. Yeah. I would say that you just could do that and you sniff and you get a scent from, he very much clearly smells like a rat and not a very well-dressed rat. Well-willed rat.

And it's kind of he's kind of unpleasant, but he's looking around and he's shifting and he seems to be waiting just like you are. Got it. I will keep my eye on him, but I'm not going to wait, wait, wait, booker up. I'm just going to kind of hang out, drink tea, and just sort of every once in a while, I'll shoot my eyes over the head and you see if he's doing anything weird or shifty.

Okay. You do that, and you see that, um, that, uh, that, uh, that Ellie is, uh, is finishing up for shift and it's about 1145. She, uh, is finishing, tidying things up. And then a red-breasted robin, who's very large and portly, steps into the inn, and he takes over for the night shift. And he's like, oh, they're not, eh? And he stands behind the bar, and he takes over. It seems to be the sole ploy of this place.

And you're all kind of distracted, and then the door opens. You see a hooded figure standing there, long black beak sticking out. from beneath him. And there are no patrons in the inn now awake in this common room, except for Ewell, and the rat. And you see the raven step over. She very clearly seems to be female. As she steps in, she pulls down her hood. You see large eyes looking around, and they then narrow and they glaze over all of you. She hesitates for a moment.

And then continues. And you see her look. The rat doesn't even turn as he continues to look at the fire. And she then sits down next to him. The rat takes the cloak off. And they both kind of stare off into the fire. And then you can't really hear anything,

but you start to see their lips, their mouths are moving very slightly. I you did not wake me up correct that's how I heard well now the second she walks in I will very subtly with my metal boot

kind of kick your foot just very gently to sort of wake you up ah I'm talking huh huh she's it I mean I don't is it a crow

I can't tell what's a different gram like cromley stop get me this photo roll right just gave me me me I'm not drunk, I'm just sleepy. All right.

Settle now. What's going on? Look, over there, I'm at the start of the end. Probably sibling is here. Okay. Yes, all right, all right. Our sister just... No more, no more, no more.

I'm on the same page. Let's just all wait and see. What happens? All right? What do you say? You got any more of that tea? Yeah, sure. And I go...

Is there like a station with there's tea? No, you flagged down the Robin. And he kind of waddles over and he said, Oh, here's your tea. Here you go. Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. Oh, you see that he has another tray. He has a small tray with, it seems to be a very small tea kettle, two cups.

And there seems to be two small little sandwiches. As he walks over, it's like, oh, here you go, B, good to see you again. And for you, sneaks. Okay, here you go. And he walks over, and they both kind of look at him, irritating, irritated, but they just nod and they take it. You see that the Raven reaches into her cloak and pulls out a coin to pay him. And then the Robin shuffled back over. This, yeah, he's pretty good.

Pardon me, I'm a little. Blyriye, uh, has that, did I miss anything? No. This guy who just didn't sit in here. So what's the game plan? Are we going to bum rush them? Because even though I can be blind-potted by dental floss right now, I can see that gentleman has a lot of knives and blades.

Well, then I'd say we're not up to, to bum-rush anybody. Well, bum-rush in a figurative sense, I mean, I'm concerned that if this person is even remotely worried about titles and things that if we say the wrong thing, we're going to end up like pincushions. Well, let's just be friendly then. I would like to read a tense situation. Oh, make that roll.

Grumly. So that's 2D6. I fail horribly. You're trying to read as they as you get the sense that as they go in to take their bites, that as they're biting the food and

drinking the tea. Those schisty master. They're taking the opportunity as they're chewing, to talk. And you seem to be making words, but that's all you can get the sense of. You're communicating, but I can't see what to say. Well, let's just go. And what do you expect to happen? I'm a little worried we might just get bled out.

If this is as serious as we think it is, and what we're dealing with is nothing to joke about. They might, we say the wrong thing. We might just be dead. Well, all we've got to do is be friendly. That's what my mom taught me and that's what I'll do. Oh, my sweet summer child. Well, all right. I was born in the winter.

Fair enough. It's a plan, I suppose, is the point. Do we have any other better idea? Or do we wait and just wait till they're done their conversation? To me, not that I hang around with unsavory individuals, but experiences taught me this as a conversation we don't want to interrupt. Maybe we wait till they're done, but we see where to take it from there.

take it from that. Well, how about we wait until that rat guy, covered the knives leaves? And if she leaves with them, maybe we can follow them out of the end, or meet them in... I think this is a... In a non-threatening matter. In not in a dark alley

with a wretchful of knives. It needs to be very clear. Very... Hazel makes a very good point in that we do not want to do anything that is even remotely concerned threatening. A rack full of knives sound very dangerous if we threaten it. Mostly because we'll end up as a pug, a chipmunk, and a raccoon full of knives if we do the wrong step, all right?

All right, well, look, this is your thing. You deal with people. This is my thing. Yeah, you talk to people. Unbelievable. You tell me what to do. In that case, I'm going to wait and allow them to finish their meal, talking about whatever the hell they want to talk about. What if they leave?

Then we will talk to them in a non-threatening manner. Do you agree? In the dark alley with a ripple of knives? No, before they leave. We will have a conversation with them before they leave, but I'm certainly not going to interrupt them. Are we all on the same page?

If you just tell me where to put this and I point out of my helper. You put it away. You put it down. You put it out of sight. I don't care where you put it. I can't really get it out of sock, but I can put them on me back maybe. Do they not have a weapons check here? I mean, what? I got me... I got me... Do you know it on my back?

And I got my... Does it look like they've got plenty of sandwich to finish? Uh, it looks like, um... The raven does, but the rat is almost done. Damn. I think I should just go say something. Hazel, please. If the rat gentleman is almost finished,

then we can just talk to our raven friend uninterrupted. I don't think he's going to leave her here. Then that's fine. The only reason I even asked the god of our world how close they were to finishing their meals was to suggest that grumly put that thing away. But if there's a... not enough time to run up to the room, then just forget about it. The point is, you have to

try to look as non-threatening as possible. Let's just wait and see what they do. At this point, they ended up in a corner, you see a movement. As the rat gets back up, takes the cloak off, and puts it back on, and the raven continues to stare into the fire, and then reach down and take a little bite of the sandwich, as the rat turns a around and looks. You see his eyes dark, you, you, you, and then towards the door. All right. He walks out. Now, nobody do anything. Grumley, you said that this is my thing. I'm going to go do my thing. No one move unless I look like I'm in mortal danger, in which case then Brumley moved very quickly and kill everyone in sight.

Now, my great shoes on me back. Don't, I move's in the corner. Don't do anything else, all right? You'll know the warning side is when I'm screaming for my life. Understood? Nothing else. Maybe you should have a better sign than that, like an early warning signal. Nothing else. Understood. Understood. What about that?

What about that? Deathening, life-threatening scream. That's it. Like a sneeze. Did I just not say what it was? He's going to spring for his life. If you're only screaming, then I can't really, you know. You don't move unless it sounds like I'm dying.

That's fine. Trust, promise me. Doge, at least we'll get revenge on. whoever killed him. Perfect. Don't move. And I begin to non-threateningly kind of like whistle and walk over to the raven sitting at the table.

So you see the raven. I want to need another claw. The raven is sitting there and you see her take a cup of tea. And she continues to look forward as you step around and sit in the chair.

Oh, I don't want to sit. I'm just approaching. You're approaching. And and being very as non-threatening as I can. And as soon as you approach and you stop, she takes a sip of tea and she says, for a raccoon, you're not very stealthy, are you? Well, to be fair, and I just want to start this conversation. No, no, no, no, no, no.

Stealthy is not the name of this game. I want to start by saying that my name is Booker, and if I know anything about these kinds of meetings, that your man with all those blades is currently looking. at me and threatening to kill me. So I come to you saying that I bear no threat. I would like you to make a reputation. Yes. My man. I would like you to make a Marquis-Zate. Beautiful. So I would also like you to make a denizens. Both and Erie, all three. What? Okay. Okay. So what is this role? Reputation moves.

Bro, I don't think we've done that. So, no, we have not. So basically what happens is when I ask for a reasonable favor based on my reputation, or you're just having me make, so basically I'm going to roll and I'm going to add my denizens' reputation, which is plus one. I think for this situation, Marquis Aid is the most appropriate. Just the one? Yes.

Okay. So I will be only adding plus one on my role. Correct. And certain things can happen based on the outcome. So if I've ever needed a good role, and it looks like we might have one more root T available. Two more. Just in case, that's going to be exactly a 10. A 10. Yeah.

Wow. Nine plus one. Nine plus one. Okay. With that, do you need to... No, I got it. Perfect. I got it.

You're on fire. It just says a lot of good shit. Yep. A lot of good shit for 10, my friends. That's impressive. As you say that, And you, uh, you, uh, you, but I'm like, she stays there. Like, she takes another set.

Well, I suppose it's no surprise that the individuals that got mixed up with bog hop and smiles make their way here to me. Well, well, well, it sounds as though you may have heard of us already. I'm not, I don't know if I should be, uh, honored or scared that our reputation may proceed us already. I would not be too impressed or proud. I know many things. Of course you do. I did not mean to presume. Have a seat. Of course. As you wish, and I will sit down.

I assume you've been waiting here all night for me. We have. I have no reason to lie at this point. And for what purpose? We've been sent by someone. who holds you in very high regard as far as information may go. I'm not wanting to generally get mixed up in life-threatening situations and quests, if you will, but it so turns out that we might be on one.

And she pauses. And then for the first time, she actually looks at you, and then looks back. And what sort of... What sort of life-threatening quest? Well, I don't really know. know what the whole thing entails. All I know is that the area has been on our asses since day one, and I don't like it, because mostly I'm just trying to live my life. Let me do you one better. If for some reason I might be able to tell you your real name, maybe you'll understand what

kind of information we're looking for. If you tell me my real name right now, I will know that you are serious and you're worth my time. Your name is Biani. Biatta. Bata. Sorry, I already got. I'm not calling your sister. I'm specifically not. She, her eyes shoot over.

So, I imagine that means that Jericho is alive. Well, he is, and he specifically mentioned that we should not necessarily bring him up because he was worried how you might react. But yes, we've met the man. he seems like a good person and he is alive. I have... So was I. I haven't heard from him in months. I thought

that they disposed of him. Well, I think luckily, well, I'm luckily, depending on how you see it, we stepped in twice, right when the era was on it. And the first time, we were able to distract them thanks to one of my friends over there, and then the second time,

we stood our ground, and fought some of the Erie soldiers, and with a little bit of serendipity, we got away with all of our pieces intact, if you know what I'm saying. Well, this changes things. And what do you need from me? We need the location of the ruins.

She tenses up. At that moment, make a persuasion, persuade an NPC. That's your specialty. Shut! I will help you. If I'm not going to help. It's not going to be the difference.

It's a four. Even for two? Oh, you can help. That would only make it. Two, three, four, five, six, seven. I mean, I can add two. Oh, you can? Mm-hmm.

Has. Because I'm your friend. It has to make reasonable sense because this is a low, unless you walk over. Oh. It's up to you. I would say. I would say... That's a roll, right?

Yeah. I would say she... So we only have twist the fate, but that only adds one, so it would still be a failure for you getting a twist. So it's not, I don't think it's... It's obviously not worth using a twist scenario. I rolled the one in 12 that I literally needed any other role. Yes. Any other role we could have thought that.

And that's the nature of the game. So, Prissy. She tenses up is the fact that you even know what you just said. is alarming enough, but do you have any idea what you've gotten yourselves mixed up in? Jericho is an old fool and he's signed your death sentence. I will continue to be honest with you as I have the moment that I step forward to your table. We have no idea what we're getting into. We don't know.

We saw a poor old man who was accosted and run down and my friends, as honor bound as they may, be decided to step in and we find ourselves here after many, many, many, many hard weeks and months. That's all I can say. And do you have any form of proof beyond the whisperings of a senile old owl? We do, she turns. What kind of proof? May my friends join us? Please. And I turn over my shoulder and say, provided they do none of the time.

talking. Get over here, you fools. All he said we've provided they don't do anything. God. I apologize, and I'm like motioning them over. She sighs. I don't like my help or you hear Perry call over. Oh, you need to be needing more.

I'm over, more rib of rice. On sandwiches, just please. Sandwiches coming on up. Now. I'm assuming you're saying. That's all you're all sitting down. You're all pulling chairs around. I'm trusting you because, even though at first I didn't trust Jericho, I trust him now.

We have proof. I don't think it's the wisest thing in the world to show it here right now. If you have somewhere safe that you would like to go, and maybe we can continue this conversation, and you'd like to invite your knify friend, by all means, we are willing to comply. We are no threat to you. or your friend, but we'll do whatever it takes to make you feel comfortable and prove that we are telling the truth.

Persuaded an NPC. There's no way I can do this again. There is no way. There's no way. You can fuck up that bad again. Thanks, Rich. There you go. You didn't fuck up that bad.

You rolled one better. Isn't that what we needed? So that is a five. This is a five. You can help me. with two to make any seven. Yeah. Which is enough to fail forward.

Okay. So, it's a pass with consequences. Fail forward. That's what I said, right? Fail forward. In this game, every time you fail, so seven to nine, they aren't sure,

but the GM will tell you what I need to do this way, though. What do you have to take to give me plus two? One exhaustion. Oh, okay. All right. Cool. How do you help? What was the question?

So basically, it was more of a statement. We're willing to go to where Biala feels safe, even with her bodyguard, her toothy, her knify rat, because we are not threatening in any way to show the proof that we have that we are telling the truth, that Jericho is not a crazy old man. Well, that's true. I mean, from what we've heard, you come here every night, so we've got a room upstairs. We could just go right up there, and you're already where you feel safe.

and we might make you walk around all night because that's got to be just annoying. And we'll be happy to even let your gentleman friend survey the room first. Yeah, that's true. He can come and I would be willing to share some of my pie

that I have. It's very precious to me and delicious. I understand you don't understand the gravity of that, but I can't begin to even describe it to you. She hasn't even given me any of her food and we've known each other for months. it just seems like a nice thing to do when you're meeting somebody for the first time. So with that, you get the sense that she looks back and she looks at you and she seems pensive.

But you get the sense if you mention a phrase to give her a sense of what you mean without producing it, a word to describe what it is that you have, then that will do the trick. just to just to give you a little assurance here that we're not just blowing smoke so if you will the item that we have is the blazing harm

she immediately leans forward and says we need to go right now oh should I lead the way then no you will be blindfolded oh I don't mind that and I will guide you to a

safe space. I do not trust the rooms here. What do you mean, gone and fold? Can I figure this person out? Yeah. Oh. Damn. Blooms. Twelve. Pick a green right out. So

is this character telling the truth? Yes. What is this character really feeling? She is shocked that a bunch of vagabonds knows what the blazing heart has and allegedly has it. She seems concerned and wants to make sure that the information or the visual of

the Blazing Heart stays safe. What does this character intend to do? This character intends to take you to a safe space that that she believes will be appropriately taken care of.

So I don't get any sense of like danger. All right. Can I keep my weapons on me? You may. I'm not worried about you raising your weapons against me. And to be clear, that's not something that even once crossed our mind.

We're willing to be blindfolded as a display of trust. And again, I can't describe the gravity of that situation either, but maybe my companions can attest to that. Can I ask a question, though? If you're not worried about us,

what are you worried about? Crying eyes that have that information There are very few individuals in the entire dimwood that know of these existences. Some of the information that Jericho had was from my order. I see. And you'll have to meet the master. That doesn't sound very good.

Is it nice? Or she? We're willing to do whatever it takes. I just don't know an edge because Jericho kind of made it sound like we were the only ones who knew about this in the first place. Well, what I'm quickly learning is that this one. world is a much bigger place than we could have imagined. And that's all I will say. Now, blindfolds.

Let us go to a safe space. This is the only room that I am feeling comfortable in. Let us go, and we will go towards the woods. Done. She stands up and guides you out. You all follow her. And as she leaves, you very faintly see her game. catch Perry.

He's like, oh, have a good night. And he looks, and then his face kind of returns to normal, and he, like, gives her a little slight nod. As, as, uh, as you all make your way out. You, you, as you, as you, uh, she guides you through the town, her hood comes back up. And, uh, all four of you are guided to a towards the falls. As she gets towards, uh, this small.

clearing, everyone's around. Her eyes dart around. Have we been blindfolded this whole time or not yet? No, not yet. Okay. And she pulls out one, two, three, four, and she blindfold each other. Do you, do you prefer, as she's putting the blindfold on my face? Do you prefer B or Bata or what, what do you prefer? While we were in public, let us call me B, please. It said, all right if I stick with that, because, you know, I don't want to flip-flop and accidentally make a mistake. And poor Grumby, he doesn't even know his, well, anyway.

Hey, what's just... Whatever, doesn't matter. The point is, uh, B, I just wanted you to be polite, and I wanted to let you know that I, in particular, and then Hazel and Peggy and, well, grumbly aside, we're not really fighters. We're really just here to help, and we're trusting you. So I don't want to end up with a knife in my back.

Understood? Well, you don't have a choice, do you? I know that's not very comforting. Agreed. We don't have a choice. Let's just... Go on with it. No.

I hope you are all fine and rock climbing. Not blindfolded. Well, good luck. As, uh... Not Romley, it's been good knowing you. I'll be fun with me knows. Yep, yep. I'll remember you when you're dead upon the rocks. Okay, this whole time I'm blindfolded.

I want to get as much sensory information as I can sniff. Okay. You are told to walk. You are guided through. and you were guided through the town. You smell the smells of the rich ryes and whiskeys and ales of the main thoroughfare. And then as you make your way away from the food and the residential areas and the taverns and inns, you get the smell, the rich smell of wood of sawdust as you make your way through an industrial district.

Many sawmills and workshops, you hear the hammering. and the sawing, as you get the scent of sawdust, as you make your way further and further, the smell of the pine forest starts to overtake you, as you get further and further away from the civilization of this area. As you continue, the elevation continues to go up, and the mist starts to get, you smell the water, you smell the falls and the mist as you get closer and closer to the falls. And the roaring gets louder and louder until you can barely hear anything else. as you are then led up and through a very small path narrow

but that are rocks occasionally have to scramble over climb over a wet rock occasionally might slip but a very winding path that keeps going up and then you curve and up and up and up so it's not like a sheer cliff we're talking like switchbacks

yes switchbacks as you are making your way up and she's he's continually you know telling you like mind your step as you make your way higher and higher, as she's using her wings to fly around and stand on rocks and basically guide you, as you hear the roaring of the falls. As you continue to make your way,

the sound is cacophonous. You can't hear anything. As you're being blasted with the mist from the roaring falls. as you continue to walk and then suddenly it is so loud that you feel that you could feel the mist blasting off to your side, you are behind a waterfall. As you move through a narrow opening. As you make your way on stone, smooth stone surface, as you continue to make your way, it's wet, and you are being blasted by the mist,

but then eventually your foot hit something and it seemed to be nice wood and you step up a few steps and then you continue to step forward and you hear the strange locking, unlocking sound and you hear the of a door opening and as you step into this space and the door closes behind you,

the roaring of the falls disappears. You smell, you smell, you smell, rich fragrances of fine teas and wines, perfumes. As this smells not unlike a number of the manners that you had been at in New Felicia. As you make your way through, you step on hard wood and carpet. As you are guided forward, it sounds through hallways and hallways. And then you are brought into a room and the door closes behind you and it's locked. and the, you were all pushed into a chair, beautifully polished wood, it's comfortable, plush cushions.

As you're all sat down on either side of what feels like a table in front of you. As she says, now you can meet Grand Master Zakarius. as she, you hear her talons clap around, away further away, a door opens and closes. You sit there in silence. Minutes pass. 20 minutes, 30 minutes. We're still blindfold.

You're so blindfold. Do I smell anything at all beyond, like, or in a manner of some kind? You smell that you're in a manner and you smell bird. You smell ravens, crows. You seem to be very single-minded, not a whiff of any other creature beyond the four of you. Not a wreath of cats. You get the lingering scent of the, of the, yeah.

I think Wichita is the only rodent. Are you guys all right? Are you not right? No, you're not a rodent. Perkins aren't rodents. They aren't? No. Trash panda.

Canny? Can you know? no they're their own family yeah yeah yeah no they're part of the canine family no they're not I gotta Google it I'm a wooden you are rodent yes

you're the only rodent so you smell hazel and you smell the lingering tufts of sneaks at least what that's what the rat the rat what Perry call them and then after exactly one hour passes

you hear the dong and the door opens you hear a clack clack as talland feet seem to step in and rather than the light footsteps of a beata

you these sound heavier, more regal and you hear it stop in between you possibly at the head of this table and you hear a voice you may take off your blindfolds now. It's a good thing that you waited for me to enter the room.

I show up. We don't want to make any thought of movements. It is good you do not. Yeah, your hands are free. I have been watching you this entire time. I, like, very, very deliberately reach one hand up. And do, like, very slowly as I pull up over my eyes. You pull off your blindfold.

And you see. You are in the most beautiful, is it a lounge, a study, a dining room of an elaborate mansion. There's beautiful art on the walls, a large grandfather clock in the corner. Everything is perfectly polished and crafted. And at the head of this large, long table with numerous chairs on either side, you see, to be directly the first two. You see a robed figure, a raven, considerably older than Sister Bayada,

probably in the 60s in human years, graying of the feathers, as they seem to kind of fall back beyond his head. He looks at you with stern, discerning eyes, as you see that he is wearing his robes are a mixture of blacks and grays and reds. As he leans down, he eyes all of your satchels. Sister Beata told me that you have a relic from the ruins.

Before he can answer, I'm like, I'm looking around the mansion. I'm like, oh, my acorns! You guys live like this? How do I get part of this deal? I don't want to be, I don't want to be just bumming around anymore. Oh, this is beautiful. Where are we? Are we behind a waterfall?

You are in our manor. Manor, it's more like a mansion. This place is fantastic. Are there any windows at all? You look around, and in this room there are no windows. How do I get a slice of this pie? You cannot. What?

You are not... You are a raccoon. What is that supposed to mean? it means you are not fit for our order what's your order oh that's not nice you don't know what he's fit for him hey hazel let it go

it might be like a bird only thing I don't know just just just just let it up you're not for COVID I suggest you not push your luck the fact that you are even seeing this is unheard of a COVID yes

what's your order he looks at all of you well I suppose that now that you are here if you think that you are willing to leave without whispering a word of it and not being murdered and we have eyes everywhere I can give you information

you have our word which way an NPC greatly use your use your help nine unless what is it what do we need to assist 10 no I mean oh exhaustion

I'll do it we can't we cage of twists do you want to not save it I can exhaust you so what were you trying to So we were trying to persuade. We're all talking, so it makes sense that any of us can market. I will market, and to help, I will basically abase myself to apologize for the transgression I made about hoping to get a piece of the pie.

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I was being rude and, uh, and, uh, anyway, yeah, I, uh, grommily, gromily, continue. I didn't mean to interrupt. I, I apologize. And I do like a deep, a deep bow and take my hat off to assist him. It is good to be humbled. The rookroost order of the COVID conspiracy. The rookroost order of the COVID conspiracy? Yes. I don't know what it is.

that is not important at this moment. We have existed for generations. We watch, we learn, we gain information, we spread information, and we maintain a balance in the dim wood. And so it seems as if in these times, with the balance shifting so heavily, you all fall into our laps into the rook-roost manor, and you have the blazing heart.

Well, or so we say. Produce it. Of course. Well, now hold on. You blindfolded us and dragged us halfway around the world, it felt like, and I got all misty in, and then waterfalls. And we've been pretty kind. trusting.

Trusting. That's right. Thank you, Booker. It just seems like, you know, you haven't given us a whole lot, but you're asking for something that we went through a great deal of trouble to secure. Hazel's making the point that we're looking to retain this item. I'm not asking for you to deliver it to us. We are not the ones that hold the great positions of power. We are the ones that move the pieces, nudge them slightly, to topple others, to lift up, those that may need assistance. I care not for these relics other than they do not fall into the wrong hands and shift to the balance.

What I mean and no offence, it doesn't seem overly balanced as is. All I see is Erie is Eerie and Markazate. They're poor little denizens and all the little critters. They're getting all those stuff stolen. How's that fair? There will always be a power in the dim wood. It is the nature of the wood as set forth by the kings of old. It is our responsibility to ensure that one does not completely

take over. That is when true destruction occurs, true tyranny. There must be opposing forces, a balanced scale. Do you know the location of the ruin nearby? You know of the ruin? Yes. We know there's four of them. Look, we know you've talked.

We know you've spoken to Bayard, and she knows Jericho. So we all know what we all know. Why don't we just get to, you know, probably show them the hot? I will produce the huge amulet. You pull out the amulet, and it glows as you pull it out of your pack, as you unwrap it, and it glows in this room, and almost like a lantern, and his eyes stay very focused,

but there's a very slight hint of surprise, as if he still at this point, half expected you to be liars. No. And... You and me both, brother. And he pauses and he says, there are

a few things that I thought I would never see in my life. In all of my years, I cannot believe it. And the four of you are the ones that have it. Well,

done. What's fine. And what is? What do you plan on doing with his heart, and if I give you the information you need, what do you plan on doing it? I assume you are looking for the other three of the relics. Well, when Jericho came bursting out of the woods, to be fair, I kind of thought he was crazy. That's true. He is a fool.

Well, I wouldn't go that far, because once I set my eyes on this thing, I knew what he was saying was the truth. So now, as far as I know, we need to finish what we started, but at the end of the day, I've been asking myself the question, Why? What would you like us to do with these? Well, I mean, at the very least, it's immense amounts of power, and how do we, for common people, determine who gets to wield it? Are you saying that Jericho know the location of all of the relics? I don't know.

Booker, regret speaking. As we seem to be at your mercy, and we're trusting each other here, then the answer is yes. I don't know that he... Did he tell you... Did he tell you that he was the only one who knew? I don't recall, did he? He did.

He mentioned, yes, he did, and he told us not to tell anybody. You have to understand that we're in a very vulnerable position here, and we're not looking for Jericho to come to any harm. This is indeed alarming. I am not looking to harm Jericho. But if he knows where all of them are, I did not think that he must have found that information in other ways. And he's a better spy master than I thought he was. But if anyone in the Erie knows where all of them are, if anyone in the Erie, if Vost knows it.

any of those relics. With the power that the Eerie has already amassed, it could be disastrous. No, we would never give it over to the Eerie. That's what you found birds, never. Yes. Not on my honor. But wait, if he only finds one or he finds more? What can you do with just one of them?

Does this have any power on a show? It does. Do not unleash it. I wouldn't, but I would like to know what kind of power it does have. That's what I would ever unleash it. Accidentally, like, trip and do something horrible. Did you not see the power that it had when you retrieved it from the minds? Well, I mean, we watched something happen, but it, like, sucked up a bunch of mists, like, like, floy things. Did you see that it had the power of the mind?

Oh, yeah, no, it did. It was making people crazy. It was. That's pretty astute of you, Brumley. that was a good point. And then the power of the mind over the body, did it kill anyone? Well, to be fair, I'm not sure we witnessed that.

I mean, we heard tales of the poor miners who were being affected by it going crazy, but I don't think we outright watched to kill anyone. You think it was telling people in their heads to kill themselves? At the very least, it is horribly dangerous. Do not open that valve. I mean, we wouldn't dream of it. No, we have been a moment.

I don't even look at it that close. I didn't know how to valve on it. Well, it's a heart. I think about hearts have valves, don't they? I didn't think it could just be opened. Either way, I'll keep it in my pack. I'm not wear it, I'll use it, and I'm playing it. We keep it wrapped up, and then we wouldn't ship... This is actually the first time we've shown out to anyone. I'm true. I don't plan on... We want to collect a mole so they'll fall in the wrong hands.

and we've said Jericho's life twice now. If they happen to get a hold on him and he lets you slip, I'd rather be the one to have it than he'll be. Romilly's right. I would say with that argument, whoever would like to make a persuaded NPC roll. I can't fuck it up three times in a row. Stop jinxing yourself.

Fool! Fool! That's good enough. That's a five plus two is a seven. Seven. So that's going to... It's eight. Five.

No, charm is plus two. Oh, five. I have not maxed my charm. I thought you had a plus two charm. Nope. I took plus one a lot. He looks at you... He looks at you unsure.

And I think that if you reiterate and double down on that argument and reference what you had seen the ear you've been doing, taking the clearing of Wartwood and the like... Wartwell. Warlow, apologies, that you could probably convince him that way. And maybe say that you're single-minded in preventing this on his side. The bottom line is that the Erie has been mobilizing more than I've ever personally seen in my life. Grumly, I mean, have you seen the move like this ever? They come for war. We were just in Warlow.

It was awful. And at the time we were there, it was controlled by the Marquis. It's now controlled by the Eerie. Just as quick as it took us to get up. It's the first time I've seen a clearing change hands in my memory. And I mean, this is, this is, this is turmoil. This is ultimately chaos. And all we know is that we're going to see this through,

as much as I don't want to, because Gromley is unabound as ever, and there's nothing I can do, but back up my fellow friends, even though I hate it. You should have seen the amount of troops that they were mustering in Macbeth Creek. You could see the torches. in the air, there must have been hundreds of soldiers.

They've been and rolled out the sky, there's so many better. Before tonight, I can't remember that the last time that I've unabashedly told the truth for more than an hour straight. That's true. He lies all the time. And we are just laying it all bare for you here, because we know the gravity of the situation. Very well. You are the ones.

Perhaps it is vagabonds that are the key to the key to the situation. the balance of this forest. What a nightmare. I could not have said it better myself. Very well. You will need to experience what the king of the forest

experienced. Tequila forest being distanced here. Yes. Wait, isn't he dead? Yes, but... And we have to... My sentiment, exactly. The forest, the dim wood before the blazing heart was inhospitable.

And it wasn't until he became the master of the forest and took up his crown. Have we heard the term master of the forest before? Nope. I will personally lead you to where it is. Where what is? The ruins. The crown of the dimwood. Should we leave tonight?

Yes, but it is very dangerous. That's fine. I do not let any of my own enter. Well, you've finally met capable hands that will be able to take on the danger, no problem. I'm down to you. I'm very strong, and the rest of them are just fine. I'm pretty strong. I'm not so strong.

She's quick. And she's kind of sneaky. Yeah. You know, talking. And Peggy, she makes older crazy inventions. Oh, yeah, she's got a messer tooth. Very well. Are you prepared?

We leave in 30 minutes. Let's go. You will be blindfolded. That's fine. Just pull me in the right direction. As long as I can keep me weapons on me, that's all on me. You're not going to let us. die on the way there, are you?

Not on the way there. Any, like, supplies that we could use? There's been an awful long walk up here, and I feel a little injured and a little tired. Is there anything we can do to prepare? Remember what I mentioned griping? I'm not griping. I'm asking a question. It's a difference.

I hardly want it all. I didn't even beg yet. I just simply asked, since we're retaining the balance of the forest and all that. It's a swim so. Make a persuaded NPC role. 11 plus whatever.

Oh, shit. Plus charm. Was, uh... Yeah, it's enough. 12. He says, we trade in information secrets, but basic supplies we have,

take what you need and he gestures to a cabinet. take what you need from there but that is all we will give you this is not our fight this is not our quest it is yours well I know that I could at least replenish at least one decay

I'm gonna have a little of that middle of supply and some food and maybe a little supplies to take my thing unless there's anything in this cabinet to replenish some of my exhaustion can we if we like ate a little used a med kit

I would say you could probably take one, probably one, you can probably take three that you'd care to distribute however you'd like. Oh, God. Is there like a wet stone that I can sharpen my halver with and maybe reduce time? Yeah. So that counts as one and three then? Yeah. Um. All right.

Now, I'm ready when you are laid away, please. You all be blindfolded. He steps forward. and he takes time blindfolding all of you. I'll never get used to this. And you're all guided, and you feel as you're winding through these wooden halls, as you are led out,

and you hear the echo of the cavern around you, as you then begin to make your way, you hear the dripping of water and the roaring of the falls behind you. As you, the sound echoes more as you feel like you narrow into a passage, and then you go up and up and up as a pathway rises. You hear the wings flap and take off as you are exposed to air.

As the wind howls, you are guided down and through. As you feel the smell of the pine is back, the smell of the trees. As you hear the not the waterfall, but the roaring river, you seem to be at the very top of the falls. as you are guided down and down and down into a valley. And you feel the smell of the wood and the leaves. As you, as it feels like the forest is getting denser and denser around, even though you can't see anything. And it feels like you're walking for an hour too.

As eventually he stops. And he steps forward. and undoes each of your blindfolds. And as you see, you are in probably the thickest, most tightly knit forest that you've ever seen. Large trunks rising up. The thick leaves and canopies is entirely blocking the sky. And directly ahead of you, you see trees all around. But through the trees, you see stone.

large blocks, crumbled spherical shapes, as it seems to scatter directly ahead you in whatever you can see through the tightly knit trees. And it seems to be the exact same architecture and style as the building that you had seen in the caverns. He turns to you. Oh? Zicarious. And he says, here you are.

What you seek is forward. I have never sent any of my own to investigate, and the ones that went on their own accord do not make it back. Oh, thank you, Forrest Master. Forrest Brer. Thank you. Welcome.

Welcome. We are playing first look of the Root RPG. Their Kickstarter is live. We're playing a little bit of preview. Exclamation point Root. Look at our awesome art. Look at the awesome art. We got it.

We got it. It's Booker. It's Booker. It's Booker. And, yeah, so our wonderful sponsors Magpie game. It's an amazing power by the Apocalypse system. So welcome. You,

uh, and he looks at all of you and he says, I will be back in three hours. If you survive, meet me here. And if it takes a little bit longer than that, I didn't realize we'd have a timing limit here. I assume you'll be dead long before that.

Fantastic. Okay. All right. You're awfully presumptuous. Just you wait. We'll be back and free hours. All right? Very well. Or maybe a little longer. I mean, just don't get like, you know, bored and leave. You know, make sure we're actually dead before you give up on us,

I suppose. Yay. Perhaps. Good luck. The balance depends on it. The balance depends on what in the hell did I get myself wrapped up in? He turns in his robe, a flap

in the wind as he spreads. This is a large Ravens' wings and flies and takes off into the sky, kind of bursting through a patch of heavy forest canopy. And you all now stand the four of you alone in front of these large ruins through this forest, where the forces almost seems to have grown into and through. So just before we proceed, I just want to make sure we're all on the same page here. From what we understand, Bayada said that she'd kill us instantly. no problem whatsoever, assuming that the rest of this order is of the same equal skill,

some of them have wandered in in their own volition and never come back. So what in the heavens above chance do we have? We have each other, we have teamwork. Yeah, you know, my mom always used to say that everybody has a special skill. Great. And so I like to think of us as a good. like a little family and we all have our special skills and maybe we're all not, you know, flying harbingers of death. But those are not ones I would use, sure.

Yeah, but you're awful crafty and Grumby's really strong. Right. I'm very strong. He's just like, gosh, she's really smart and, you know, I'm here too. And I think we're on. You're right there too. That's right. So, so just so I'm all, we're all. We're on. all on the same page here. Grumley breaks things. You eat a lot. Peggy smuggles illegal weapons and I'm a con man and you're expecting us to get this done. That's right.

Maybe. Yes, I am. Now be a good lad. Confidence is key. And why you scout things out real quick? Grumly, I would be honored and I take my hat off and I do a deep bow as I back into the ruin.

I walk away from them facing them and I back up into the run. Okay. It's not probably a good stop. Don't tell me how to do my job and I put the hat on and I proceed it. You put the head on and you proceed in. As you walk through, you see as you're having to weave through these large tree trunks that rise up and you see large swaths of stone floor and a structure that it's hard to tell

at least at this point what it once was. but you see often to the forest huge blocks that seemingly were cast very far away, rising up as if this structure was destroyed violently

as you as you make your way through, you get the semblance of what these ruins are, the semblance of rooms and old former walls that are collapsed but throughout the entire process, you see trees.

And you notice something a little off, the closer and closer you get in. You notice that the trees get tighter and tighter knit. Then you notice that on the bark of these trees, you're not sure if that's true, but you see eyes. Do you see a face? is it a is it a it's hard to tell you look around

and as you get a little closer you hear of creaking and you look trees just standing there but every single step you take you suddenly feel like eyes are watching you what do you do

how close am I to the entrance of this cave you are probably so it's not a cave right you're in a forest Okay, so it's not like the pre- It's just, no, it's basically There's architecture, and basically the forest has grown up through it, and you're basically going through a very tightly knit

forest. Okay. That it's basically grown up out of these ruins of this massive stone structure. I'm going to turn around, assuming that I was doing a little to scouting and say, um, are you guys still there? Yeah, we're here.

Where should we be? Hey, hey, hey, hey, keep it down, please. Is your danger? No, no, nothing beyond the dangers of me being alone in my own brain. But please proceed with caution and come towards me because, and, and, I, heavy on the caution. Should we not run at you? No, no, just slowly.

Your voice's making me feel a little old age. Oh, they're right there. Slow, slowly, probably old dude. I don't run, but I jog to where Booker is. I'm gonna be right on his heels. So as you turn and the loud clanging of Grumley's armor is ricocheting through these trunks. And Booker, as you're turning, you hear, and you hear like the creaking of wood and

turn around. And a large tree that had a branch configuration that you just seen seconds prior now seems to be facing an entirely different way. Ah, I gladly stop! And I'm really loud. And you all, at this point, they arrive at you. All right. What's going on?

Quiet. Why? Not a peep. I might be going crazy. But I think the trees are moving. We heard they were alive. And as I have said many times in the last several weeks, weeks of our journey. I didn't believe it until I thought I saw it. So...

Did you see the dream movie? I'm not willing to commit to that yet. As far as I know, we need to go slowly and not make ourselves any kind of threat. Can we do that quietly? Yeah, but... I think, can I make a suggestion? if you do so quietly I'll be extra quiet okay I think maybe

we should all have each other's becks and walk back to back to back and then that way if the trees are creeping up on us we'll all know because we'll have somebody at our back Hazel I will do anything you want

if we all do it quietly alright I think that's I mean all right that sounds fine

I'm not the quietest east let's me almost a bit clanky let's you want to be facing forward let's try extra hard

grudley okay I'm trying very hard I think I should face forward as well let's all link arms back to beck to back slowly

slowly and quietly. Okay. And we will assume this four-man position with grumbly and the leap all of our backs to each other. And we're going to slowly and quietly, the best that we can,

head deeper into this death trap where the trees eventually rip our limbs from our bodies. Okay. Whoever would like to make the attempt roguish feats for the group stealth rule. Not me. That's finesse. That's not me. Rook it up.

I got minus one on for next. Crazy rogue. Six, nine. Yeah, I got nine. I will assist. Okay. I'm going to say that as I, I'm going to take one of the walking backwards positions,

and I will kind of stumble a little bit and some of one of my precious, precious pies will fall out of my bag. It slides out. out and a beautiful cherry pie lands the ground splatters over a stone and you manage to creep through and was that?

Yes, you know. And you start to creep through and the trees are getting tighter and tighter knit. And the closer you get have we noticed any movement though, assuming our new position or our new formation. Assuming our new

formation, I will say, as you walk forward and you're creeping, you are looking around, and all of you now hear, you look, nothing's there. You hear the rustling of leaves. You look, it's gone. You see the bark and the markings on the trees, and they look like you rub your eyes. And all three of you now see, is this a wailing face? And you turn and you look and it's gone. Gramele, Gramele, calm, calm.

I think, don't think there's your face. That doesn't matter. It doesn't matter, Gromley. We're not going to fight the tree. Gromley, gromily, get yourself together. If you're a tree or somebody behind a tree, I don't know. Gromley, gromley, please keep you cool. I want to get a sense.

I want to see if I can smell any other, like, animal outside of the trees and the four of us. And on you, it smells. tree and ancient and stone and even the scent of the roaring water behind you is long gone. As you approach, you go further and further. And as you turn around, it feels like you're almost going, weaving through these narrow passageways. It doesn't make sense that these trees are so close together. You look around, you can barely see far ahead of you. And you look back and you're like, I don't know.

How do you remember how you came? We don't. It's almost in, it's almost maize. Oh, no, we don't remember. It's almost maze-like as you go, but you press forward as you start to see the stone. The stone, that's, that is a sure way forward. You follow the walls as you get, you weave in and out and with the stealthiness. You manage to avoid being as careful as you can, avoiding bumping into everything.

As you have or see, you hear the creaking, branches seemingly move, but only out of it. of your line of sight. As you finally arrive at... The Weeping Angels treatment. As you finally arrive at something that's different. This is like fucking awful. You arrive at...

You have been in this knotted maze. You seem to be now facing a ring of trees, almost deliberately placed. all in front of you. And the branches of these trees are low, and they are growing in all various directions. And they all seem to be in between these tree. The branches are interlocking,

forming almost a pyramid, a wooden pyramid shape. In between each tree around this. And the denseness of the leaves growing out in the knotted bark and the darkness of this canopy makes it very difficult to see. Past. What do you do? Can you describe the pyramid shape that's coming? It's basically the branches are growing down into like, have you seen like the,

the wicker fetishes from, uh, yes. Is it making like a like a impassable wall or is it just, it is very tight? It could be impassable. It looks immediately unpassable. Okay. But you... I just wanted to see how... It is very tight.

It's just something like, oh, that's creepy. So we couldn't might get into this pyramid thing? You could try. It's looking very tight. Probably not, but you could try a variety of different things. Does it look more like a blocker that we have to go over? I guess. You see that it's very...

It's very intricately tied. And it's almost like if the trees are attempting to prevent. But you see that it's very... these pyramids or these shapes continue up. Oh. Around each, around each of these,

in between each of these trees they surround them. So it's almost like a ring of wooden pyramids. Yeah. And... Okay, so we're not... Okay. So the path is basically...

The path kind of ends with all these pyramids. With all these pyramids. With all these pyramids, it's forming and it's circling. You see the... Made of branches. It's not... Branches going around.

And there are some slots. but you're not really sure how to proceed it unless you have any ideas. All right. All right. So, so the first thing that comes to mind is that the reason that these

disorders lost so many people is because we're in a goddamn maze. I don't know where we are. We're completely lost. I thought I'd be able to reverse engineer the way that we came in, but I... I don't know this down.

It'll be all right. Just don't panic. All right. We're out of dead air. I mean, it just smells like trees to me. Right, right. Right, right. I'm worried that if we turn around now, we will never get out.

And we will starve to death here and there'll be nothing that we can do. I pull out the ambulance. And I start beating around. No, no, problem. Please. You start waving it around. And as the amulet starts to move, it's glowing. And as it starts to, you wave it around, it's glowing.

And as it starts to, you wave it around. And as soon as it passes over the pyramid shape, you see as it starts to move slightly. It's working. Gromley, gromily, that was the single most reckless thing I've ever seen anyone do. And while ingenious, you're still an idiot. We need a fine way for him. What if I was doing anything good? What if it's just making it bad?

I just really try to focus not on anything in particular, but I feel like I'm doing something. I hope you understand that a treat comes to life and rips me in two. I will haunt you until you're dying day. No one's going to die. It'll be fine. I'll just, I've eaten so many acorns and now if they come back to eat me, it'd only be fair, but I taste terrible.

That would be called irony, and we're not going to mention it again in the present of the change. She isn't an ironic. Don't you think? You... Once out of black planet. As the movement as you look down, you notice a glint of white.

As you look down and... the bend almost, you see a white skull, avian with a black beak, sitting at the base of one of these trees. And as you wave it around, you see that the branches of this formation start to shift and move. And it almost seems as the closer that you push it, the more that they part, and then as soon as you pull it away, I'm thinking you're on to something. I think it's working. But we want to make sure we don't threaten anything that may be alive. Hello, trees.

I like you very much. You have pretty branches. You are very fine trees. Dear acorns. Your wood looks very strong. No knots at all. An evergreen. Evergreen.

Definitely green. Booker just says his head in his hands. Like having. The prettiest trees I've ever seen. What else? Oh, what, Chris. Oh. Oh.

facey trees oh facie trees how lovely are your branches oh facey trees oh facie trees please don't use those branches to kill us that didn't rhyme but that's all right we're going to proceed forward and so I'm very slowly like step by step

while like talking I'm going to need a persuaded NPC role wait from me or from from Booker I would say whoever would like to roll it it was grumble It was all grumble All assist if necessary Yeah

So I have an eight That's pretty good We can each assist And you've already You've already assist So if you care to do that I do I'm marking exhaustion So as you sing

Oh facie trees And you look This is not a song that Booker knows He's just trying to like Make up the words While Brumley sings the the uh as you're singing and you're making it up as you go and you press the amulet forward all of the branches part and a pathway opens as it seems as if you're singing fucking shockingly helped as you press forward the branches uh move and you see to your left as you make your way through this pathway is these strange formations branches all just and they all return to normal opening the pathway and as you see on the other side of

this ring and you know see that there's a large ring of trees all motton you see that in one of the branches is a hatchet seems to be a raven make in one of the branches is it near the skull near the skull as you continue your way and there's another ring and the branches as you continue to sing, the branches part their ways as another ring and then another ring and then another ring and just dark and it's almost maze like in here. You're not even sure which way to go, but all you do is press forward. And the amulet continues to glow. And then finally you pause and there's a hesitation for the smallest ring of trees. It doesn't look like that large of a chamber. And then you clearly see now as it parts, you look around and you feel eyes on you.

And you turn, you see the knotwork and the holes in the tree, the little hollows all around you, forming faces, eyes and mouths. And they all are pointed directly at you. Well, I don't know if the singing is helping, but it's making you feel a little better. And you continue. And you finally approach. And you, as the last bit of knotted and interwoven branches, emerge and pull apart, there's a faint glow of orange,

the exact same color that glows from the amulet. Directly ahead. and you step forward and you're finally the claustrophobic feeling that had been haunting you. You're really no idea how long you've been in this forest maze. As you approach, and this is a very tight chamber, no more than 20 feet by 20 feet circle, as you see stone ruins and you look up ahead and all through the stone, you see intricate, knotted, branches of trees all forming a large throne. And you look around and you see the bits of stone on all the sides.

And this may be where the Blazing King at one point held court. And it is entirely destroyed, save for this throne of the made of the forest itself. And directly in front of it in the center, the throne is on the far side. side, directly in the center, is a knotted pedestal made of that same interlocking, hardened barbed wood. And wrapping around it is a crown. And through the knotwork and the bark, you can see it glowing. See, I'm...

Hazel, I think you're right. And then... And now... Pardon me, but... But the wheels have been. turning a little bit and I have an idea. Grum, you've got to hold the hog. You've got to make sure that we're safe.

Okay, I'm hard, that's what I'm doing. I'm holding it. Which leaves the rest of us. Someone has to grab the crown. All right. Now, we saw, we saw, we saw the raven and the hatchet. We can't cause any danger to any of this. Or all of us will cease to exist. Okay.

So, what I'm not. I'm thinking is the best way to handle this. Okay. It's to determine who's going to go grab the crown. We'll just play a quick game of rock paper scissors. No. No, it's fine. It's fair.

It's fair. It's fair. That aren't you how you're doing? No, no, no, no, no. It's time out. Please, let me. Let me. You're holding the heart. It'll be a fair game of rock paper scissors.

Normally I would enjoy a game, but every time I play a game with you, I lose. No, no, that's not true. It's confirmation bias. You're remembering the bad times and not the good times. So if you're... I'm trying to the amulets so that it hides my face. You've never won against him, just so you know. The winner, the winner, the winner gets to determine who goes to the crown.

Do you? I think you're going to win and determine me. You know? It's a game of chance. We never know, right? I'll turn the amulets so that it blocked my face from Hazel and I'll say, just trick her so she does it anyway. No, this is a fair...

That's what you do, right? This is a fair game. so oh fair game oh I'm going to see this one do you agree no what do I get to play your crooked games

there's nothing crooked about the game he's really good in taking things as far as I know you're the best thief I ever met and the bottom line is I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want to do so I playing a game of chance we equal liberalize the game and hope that whoever's the winner gets to choose what they want to do.

Do you? Understood. Please. Okay. One time. Just shake my hand. I wish you'd just give me something so I felt better about you losing already because you're cheap. So rock paper scissors.

All right. What do you intend on throwing? That's not how you play the game at all. I'm making like conversation. I just want you to know. I want you to tell me what you're intending on throwing. I intend on. throwing the rock.

You intend on throwing the rock? I do. Okay. Right. On the count of three. Right. One, two, three. Dang it. It appears as though I've won, so you were going to fetch the crown. Did the camera get that?

Andy just actually in real light, next level the fuck Anna kills. If I have a mic to drop, I would spike it through the table. I hate being married to you. Andy scissured. Andy's shoes and the shers courts paid

parchment shiers dang it it was a fan dang it it was a fair game it was a fair game it was the game

and it was fair and square and you told him what you were just going to do but you lied because you did a different one you didn't do courts you did parchment and he did shears

and I think if I remember the rules back in New Felicia when I came to the gym where they taught me the game and I believe I believe deaths, I believe you lost. You should probably go take that crown. I just...

I'll never win. I just have to get myself a victory drink. Yeah, fine. Oh, how am I going to get it out of the trees without hurting them? I'll accompany you, and I'll just sing this on again. I think you'll get rid of that? I think it'll be just fine. Okay.

All right, Hazel, so just... I'll hold the amulet here, and hopefully it'll just un-release the crown, and you just take it. Okay, but what if we make a man? Well, we hopefully shouldn't need to, bud. If they look mad, I'm just going to put it back. I like, I use my head to gesture to the weapons on my back. I'm going to use my voice to gesture to that dead guy back there with the hitching. Well, I don't, I agree.

I don't think we should do that. When I look around, I will just, approach with this amulet and it'll open up and you take the crown. How does that sound? All right. I'll try it. Okay. Oh, facie trees. Oh, facie trees.

Oh, would you give us that crown, please? Oh, no, that was good. Am I afraid? You approached with the amulet. God damn it. And as you sing and you're approaching the center pedal still, the wooden throne behind you, still looming large. And it looks like it's a very large throne.

And you saw a statue of the Blazing Heart before. But this is a throne for a normal sized man, a critter, if you will. And you approach and the faint orange glow cast over the crown. And as the, you see the knotted work, it's looped in various things in order to hold it tight. And as you approach and as you sing, you press forward, it makes no motion to move. As you get closer, though, you notice something about the crown. You see that the crown is glowing of that same cute orange. And at the top of each, you remember that in the statue and the murals, it was all decorated in small little antlers, basically.

dotting the whole thing, forming a crown. But this, it looks like intricately woven knots, almost in like balls around each of the tops of the crowns through the bark, almost like these large roots that are keeping it in place. So it's like super, super in there. So basically it's super in there, but at the very top of the crown it doesn't look like from what you remember the statue. It looks like just each of the little decorative,

decorative pairs of antlers are kind of almost woven, just tied together. Oh, maybe you just need to untie those little things. What if it hurts them? Just try one, and then if it hurts him, apologize. Oh, I'm scared. Right. I don't speak treat, though, so this is all you. I don't speak trees.

No, you'd be fine. It's just because of... I've got to the ambulance. I'm a very important job. I'm holding this ambulance. Oh, fancy treat. Oh, fancy treat. Please don't kill me.

And I'll untie. I'll try to untie one. I would like you to do an attempt roguish feat to see how dexterous you are with this. She's going bad. This will be a little special roll. Nice job. Also, Corey Hickson, yes, this is a pound by the apocles. With that, don't choose shit.

Because you see Hazel's tiny little. little chipmong pause, lean forward, and you intricately take each of these antlers that are woven together, and then you begin to unknotted, and you get you tug a little bit. It's made of metal, so it shouldn't move, doesn't make sense, and then you pull, and you pull, and you pull, it shifts back, and then the little antler, and that kind of hums a little bit with the glow. And you are able to go around and each one while singing that song of old facie tree. And then you, the last one, you and the final little pair of antlers, the crown is complete, the center one of the largest pair in the center of this head that was still very large,

that's still large. It's almost built for a massive figure. Probably about yay big. you undo it and then suddenly you hear the creaking and all of the

roots and bark that was locking the tree in separates the crown in separates and it's sitting there on a pedestal almost held up oh my eight cars that you'd mean you'd be able to do it I honestly thought that I'd

rocked my sister to a death Oh, you did it. I knew you. I had to face the hotel. I believe you. Pick it up. Pick it up. That's what you do. I mean, last time, you know,

Peggy just grabbed the heart and gave it to grommily, no big deal. So chances are good. Well, she's going for it. All right. Well, but now that you mentioned that, I realize we took it off, and it's all of that, we had missed Zoot back into the ambulance the second we she's always holding the crown. She's already holding the crown.

And she's already holding the crown. As you're saying that, she's holding it and like she looks at you and you hear, and then the shifting, the groaning of wood, shooting is all around you. It's almost cacophonous as the entire forest is groaning and creaking all around you. And then it stills. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say, Hey, so no matter what happens, moving forward, don't like all the crowd. No matter what happens, you hang on to that crown.

even if a tree would have snatched me up and rip me too, you hang on to that crown, all right? It's awful heavy. Don't put it on your fuzzy little head. If you have to, don't drop the crown. You think you'll look all right on me? It looks a little big for your head, to be honest, but that's fine.

Don't, don't let go of the crown. Okay. I'll put it. I can put it in my bag, right? Don't release contact. I'll just hold it. I would hold on her to crown. Okay.

If we all huddle around Hazel, maybe we get out of here in one piece. You're not? I want to look around and see if I see any movement or any kind of danger. You look around, and as you see, there's no movement. And where all of the faces were on all these trees did not work. It's all gone on. Smooth stone trees, and you now see that all of the interwoven fetish shapes of the branches are now gone. They seem to just be trees that surround you.

We haven't. We haven't. Let's just go back. Let us proceed with caution and hope that we can find our way out of here because I'm not convinced I'm still not lost in the deep dark woods. And they like spread out at all where they were like really like tightly. They're still very tightly. They're still very tight. Yeah. The faces that we thought we saw or no more. Yep. I'm going to sniff. I'm going to use my nose to sniff for ravens. All right. Maybe that can lead us back. I think that's a fantastic idea. We said there was a stone. Weren't we following a like a stone?

You were falling kind of relative stone path, but it's still so destroyed. Okay. Okay, okay, okay. So I'm going to start sniffing around. You sniff around and you don't get any sense of a raven. You're very deep. All you smelled is ancient wood. So I think that we would try to basically try to

retrace the stuff we took, but I mean, even if the path looks different, we're going to take our best guess. Okay. You know, you do that. And so, you you leave and you step forward and you make your way to that first ring of trees and you hazel carrying the crown steps through and steps across the other side and as soon as the crown passes the ring of trees you hear aloud groaning and rustling as the and creaking as the trees all around you begin to move and you see uh the limbs swing around almost

hitting you as leaves start to shake, as they sort of bathe as you're being rained on by leaves, and you hear the groaning of wood and creaking, and suddenly you hear the shifting of earth as it moves around, as you're almost now bathed in leaves, and you see branches all around you weaving, and you're almost paralyzed, and then suddenly, you realize all of the trees are retreating into the earth, all around you. After but a moment, after but a moment, you pause and you're in a huge clearing in the forest

and that's what we're in the session Oh my God, I hope you just didn't kill a bunch of ends I would feel bad if they were like sentient individuals as opposed to just like you know guardians Oh fuck I know Thank you so much for listening to the Legends of Avengers podcast We hope you enjoyed the session

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