Not Another D&D Podcast - Eldermourne - Ep. 13: Cindersworn (w/ Lou Wilson)

Episode Date: February 12, 2021

The Hexbuds investigate Prophet Gideon's remains and come face to face with a new faction. Jabari attempts diplomacy through gritted teeth, Corbeau gets "Jester-level" funny, and Tarragon unleashes the dragon. Support us at Patreon.com/Naddpod to get access to the after-show and a bunch of other Naddpod content!Music / Sound Effects Include:"Male Scream" by jorickhoofd at Freesound.org."Soul Coins" by Emily Axford. "A Wizard's Tournament" by Emily Axford."The Hexblood Centurions" by Emily Axford."Sea Beast" by Emily Axford."Spooky Shafts" by Emily Axford. "The Boy King's Court" by Emily Axford. "All I Need is One Thread to Spin a Web" by Emily Axford."Bittersweet 16" by Emily Axford.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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so be sure to use the code PAPA to get your discount 100% free shipping and get it fast with brush processing. Code P-A-W-P-A-W. Goodbye, Sweeties. Welcome to the campaign after the campaign after the campaign. This is not another D&D podcast. Hey, there's sentars. Oh, I don't I'm back to Elisabeth's money. So which of it?

No, I know how it feels. I'm your Dungeon Master, Brian Murphy, joined by J. Kerwitz. Cut, outspoken, reverent, brave, eloquent, able, understanding, extra fun to be around. Corbo, Babano, that is an Acroostic poem. Ladies and gentlemen. You did do an Acroostic. I've ate a chocolate. I'm so sorry.

You're gonna do an Acroostic poem. And then with a perfect Acroostic, we've got Emily Axford. Okay, Terrigan, Snake Roo, um, hmm, touchy. Nice. Oh, no. Animated.

Okay. Rare. Yep. yep rent to go Acrobatic grower Ornithafter Wow Yeah Better than mine and I spent a fucking week coming up with it. Damn! And then before he could finish scribbling down his notes, we've got Lou Wilson.

I'm so close. I just need something for I. Uh, justice, amped, bump in, archer, ranger, incredible jump. Woo! The safari high tower. Incredible Safari high tower In the building I do love it across thick and I would be down to do that next week as well and actually just I might get We'll see Fuck you no matter what next week. I'm doing it across Thank you my ass. I get to do my across

What next week I'm doing it across the e-mails I get to do my Yeah, at any point you guys can deviate from the script and just not follow Jake's lead, but you did chose I am not I'm not a leader. I don't know why this is happening No, I like it, but next week I know I really like the acoustics. Yeah, I mean that was that was good too I get you you were going and I was like what what's going on like I was like, did he just find a word and he's reading synonyms for it? Shit, get to dictionary.com. I'm glad you called it out as it across. And otherwise I would have been on, I just would have read from a Thessalon.

I recognize it immediately. She could spine a cross-tick a mile away. It fell over across the fan. I moved in a cross-tick savant, except for when it comes to making one on my head. Although rare in ring to go was pretty good. Yeah, that was really good. Rare in to go.

Yeah, that was that was right. We'll tell you what I'm rare to go. So why don't we get to a little recap. Transition. So last week you guys began your adventure at Glades Hut in the Secret Grove. After a lovely night of reconciliation and lawn mermaid hijinks, you awoke to a concerned Glada, telling you that you could not contact the sprites

at the entrance of the Grove. You rushed to the gate and found evidence of a fight, dead sprites and an injured Stalios. Stalios informed you that the Prophet Gideon had dipped in to turn a few centaurs before returning to the material plane to hunt down Wimers fleeing forces. You made your way to Pearl Hill to confront him where you found Gideon accumulating an undead army by turning the town's folk. You found Serenard arguing with a knight of Gideon's cavalry about whether or not they should follow orders

or join the living against the dead. Corbo slapped the knight with some diplomacy, but also with his hand. A diplomatic slap. A diplomatic slap. The slap on NBC. Remember that joke? Everybody remember we're making jokes about that? Was that an NBC? I watched that scene, the slap on NBC. Remember that joke? Everybody remember making jokes about that?

Was that an NBC? I watched that scene from the slap. Yeah. Insane. I cannot, you want to have a fun Saturday night. It's a little weird. You can't just find the scene, you have to rent it. You have to pay for it.

Rent the scene from the slap. And watch it eight times like I did. I don't even think I watched, quote unquote, the scene from the slap and watch it eight times like I did. I don't even think I watched quote unquote the scene from the slap ever. I don't know any. I only know a second hand references to the snap. That's your Saturday night right there. Okay. Go go cast you in on that.

We're doing our plugs early. Watch the slap. I can watch the slap from the slap. Just the slap. Just the slap. I the thing in the slap. Okay, I watched none of the wraps. Everyone, give it together. So after slapping the night office horse,

you were able to convince the soldiers to unite against the undead after a close battle where Tarragon was nearly killed several times. You were finally able to slay Gideon and help the army quail the undead uprising, but while the knights and toads celebrated their victory, you noticed Prophet Gideon's body began to twitch and amid a light blue glow where his head used to be, and that's where we are now.

So you guys are in Pearl Hill. There's kind of a strange juxtaposition of this revelry and also emergency response. You see that there are various mages and druids putting fires out around town and medics helping people. You do see that quickly, there is enough kind of arcane weather manipulation that you see it begins raining around the town and the remaining fires begin to go out. You see the ivory tower of Pearl Hill still stands.

It is smoldering with smoke, but the fires are out. You see the villagers at Corbos suggestion, have wheeled out kegs and are toasting to the soldiers, you see villagers and soldiers celebrating together. There's whimers forces with their kind of blue tabards and gold jackalopes celebrating with the Petty Kings forces in red and gold.

Everybody has just overcome this. Common enemy. All it took was a slap. That reverberates through time. The slappered Ralph Rural. It wasn't the undead, it was the slap. That's what I was talking about. Yeah, the common enemy was the slap. You guys do see though, amongst all of this revelry, you did notice that Gideon's body was twitching and you do see a dull blue glow coming from his head.

All right, well, we should rush over there. I'm just gonna fill up my tankard right before so I can drink while we investigate. Jibadi wants to save the drinking for the drinking and the investigating for the investigating, but believe me, Kodwo, Jibadi thinks to save the drinking for the drinking and the investigating for the investigating, but believe me, Korgbo, Jibadi thinks the same thing. I'll fill one up for you. You don't have to drink it till you're ready.

Yeah, perfect. Yeah, make it three. Make it three. Three, yeah, you got it. I had died twice, so I could use at least four for every time I died today. All right. So Korgbo is holding a bunch of beers like a waiter

has four mugs of ale that you're holding together and sort of a diamond shape. I'm gonna try to add a fifth one and hold it just really tight so I can get the full diamond one in one of them. Wow, that's like a beer pong rack. Go ahead and give me a dexterity check Corbo. Gladly. Corbo, it's still glowing so take your time.

I did, I rolled pretty damn low. Corpo it's still it's still glowing so take your time I did a roll pretty damn low I got good decks, but I only rolled a 13 a 13 you see that fifth one you flew a little too close to the sun You see it does fall I was trying to show you chatter. I was trying to get fancy fuck Some of the toads get sprayed Lieutenant Brighton looks upset. You'll need that anyway. They need to be water. They don't.

The doughs look like they got a little watered. They're getting watered by the by the water. You know, there's also you don't water toads with ale. See guys grab your beers and you go over and you see that prophet Gideon, his armor I'd kind of like dented in as he had been defeated here in battle and you see that his face is reforming but it is even more translucent than before like he looks weak but he does appear to be regenerating.

Can I put my crock on his chest so he can't sit up? You're crock? Like my foot. You got a gardening crock on. Yeah, are you trying to make crocks cannon in here? I saw a picture of it one time and it just kind of seeped into my head. I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. I saw a picture of it one time, and it just kind of seeped into my head. I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking.

I just- There it gone. Putzer boot. Her war croc. On. There it gone. Putzer boot. On, um,

Gideon's just read between the lines, artists. You all know, we all know what it looks like. We all know what it looks like. Why, why on earth, you would want your cool hex blood to wear crocs is beyond me artists do not do not listen to her make tear it on cool I just internalized it

you invented it so fucking casually yeah I didn't find it at all in my head I was I thought it was a term I didn't know I was like it can't be like regular earth cross. She was talking about like a place on the armor like, oh the crock of his armor. Like the crock of your neck or something. At first I was like, she's talking about some body part that I don't know what she means, but no, she meant crocks.

Good Lord. Oh my god. I'm wearing Crocs. Discussing everyone's stop. Okay. So, Derrickon puts her boots onto Gideon's chest. Just as a precaution to make sure he doesn't like pat up. You see he does react.

You see there is like a pained groan and you still see the image of his face despite his head being translucent here and you see he had his eyes closed and was awake and goes, fools, you're going to ruin everything. You're on the wrong side. Whose side are you on? And what's your name? Your real name, not whatever she did to you. My name is Gideon. Okay. This place is limbo. What we do here is meaningless if we do not serve the Reaper He is the gatekeeper who keeps us from godliness There is no rest until he is appeased so That's why you

Make undead thralls that is in his name That's what the Reaper wishes. You see, he closes his eyes and goes, it is not my place to reveal his plan, but know that he is the only God with true power. And suddenly, you guys hear a voice behind you. Go stand back, we must burn the body or he will regenerate. This is an S class horror. Who? Who?

What? I'm keeping my eye. You guys, oh, Jabari Corbo, check out that weird ass voice because I got business here. I got to make sure this guy doesn't have to. Keep your crock on that chest. Yes, yourck on that chest. Your boot is on the chest. You guys turn and see a battle mage in a red robe. Some light elements of a chainmail over her

robe with some steel paldrons. Short yellow orange hair that covers one side of her face. It's less blonde and more like a lick of flame. Wow. You see she wears a shiny golden graded mask that covers the lower half of her face that seems to be modulating her voice. Everybody go ahead and give me insight or history checks. A 12 insight. 17 for terror gun. Corbo got a 26. Ooh baby. Okay. Yeah. Inside. I would think that you guys as

members of the hexbloods would be aware of other kind of elite orders around elder mourn. And sort of you guys have various amounts of information about this based on your insight or your history checks here, Corbo would know the most. But you guys, you all know the gist of it. This is a member of the Cinder Sworn. They wear these masks to help them breathe in fire and to speak when there's no oxygen. And they also, they just wear them all the time because it is like intimidating and sort of a hallmark of their look. You know that they are in order of mages in the high Queens Royal Army, so they are imperial troops. All of the politics you

guys have been dealing with so far have been local to Outerboro. Oh, petty kings. So these are the big guns coming in. Exactly. So Heronford is essentially like a state capital, like a local capital of Outerboro. And that's where the petty king rules

is kind of like a duke would over a duchy, but he answers to the high queen who resides in the imperial capital to the south. Okay, I'm gonna have to hit you with another thing. I want to do an insight check as to what we, because we've been around for a hundred years and I want to know if we trust this high queen and this royalty. So your feelings on the high queen would probably vary based on individual character choices. You guys have not been betrayed in any big way by the Empire or anything. You might blame them for the war that you all participated in in the Frost Barrens.

Obviously no Empire is good. It is very bad to be their enemy. But this union has existed for a long time, and the Empire is weirdly, like, the capital actually operates in a way that's less fucked up than the individual territories in some ways, because the Empire has, like, a Senate essentially with, like, some voted officials, and they come together to, to like elect a high queen or a high king So this sort of the emperor It is kind of decided on by an elected body whereas the

Individual territories here in eldermore like the petty king come from old families and a lot of the stuff a lot of like the petty king And the petty queen stuff is because these these these people still wanna be called kings and queens, even though they're effectively dukes. Nobility. But you would know the Cinder Sworn are kind of seen, they're kind of like the hexbloods. They are seen as a necessary evil, whereas the blades deal with undead horrors

on a case by case basis. The Cinder Sworn deal with undead horrors on a case-by-case basis, the Cinder sworn deal with containment, they have been known to like raise entire villages to prevent the rise of the undead. Got it. So it's an intense thing. People can argue either way of that that they're like bad or that they serve the greater good But you see this person holds their hands up. You see flickers of flame and they go I am Kade drin Cinder sworn of the high Queens army and I warn you to step aside. I totally respect that

but do mind if I I mean if you just need him to be doused in flames. Oh, Jabari asks, please, please. Yeah, come up. Hey, please, can you please lay our friend do it? Yes, we did this. We are the reason that it is down. Please. Yeah, we're down to burn the body.

We'll listen, but we just, my friend's gonna do it. It's gonna be really cool. You hear the, you hear a prophet Gideon from underneath your boot, it goes, what if, and hear me out, we didn't burn him. All right, so we got a third opinion.

We are, let's consider all of them. Terregan, go ahead and give me a persuasion check with advantage. I got two 12s, but I got good persuasion, so it's a 19. You see, she ceases, charging up the fire in her hands. You see it just turns to smoke. She puts her hand back down at her side, and she goes, very well, you have started this fight. Now you will end it under by supervision, proceed. She puts her hand back down at her side and she goes, very well, you have started this fight, now you will end it, under my supervision, proceed.

Who would not be disappointed? Cool, thanks. I really appreciate you throulstering me and as I say that flames just start raining out of my mouth, just like breathing fire. Jabari, I think she just smashes his take her into corbos wherever it is at that given moment and just starts chucking it.

Yeah, you guys, uh, you guys cheers, you guys see, uh, for the first time in a very, very long time, Tarragon, um, unleashes her fire breath. Yes. Fuck yeah. You see, Gideon is engulfed in flame. You hear a muffled yell from him from under the crackling fire, and when the smoke clears, all that remains is a smoldering charred suit of armor.

Y'all right? Yeah, wow, it's been a while. Oh, and Terrogon, you see that your dragon rose is opening as you breathe fire. Oh my god, damn. The flower, it likes it. It likes it. See, it is good that you are back because the flower likes that you are back. Yeah, I'm also completely thinking about how horrors can be destroyed by fire. And so, yet another purpose, beyond even just caring for the dragon rules.

Yes, and no sinters what? No sinters what no? Teragon, she can do more. That is not it. That was just the beginning, yeah. That was just the beginning. If you want to, you can superpare. Are you trying to challenge me to a fire off.

Do you want to have a fire off? And we have a fire off? I mean, I cannot vote it too. OK, yeah, let's do it. Let's do it again, right now. You can do it right now. OK, let's go. I helped Targon take off her jacket.

I think I throw my head back and then let it erupt out of my mouth like a volcano. The cajran goes, that was a test. You are only supposed to use fire and controlled environments. It is not for a contest. Actually, I get in her face and I say, actually, I was taking out some of the trees up top that are covering the ground so that I can make way for new ground growth.

Very responsible. I now respect you. You see, she looks around, and you see, in several puffs of magic, more of the Cinder Sworn mages teleport in. You see they all wear the masks and red robes.

But, Kaderyn, this person who introduced themselves as Kaderyn, you see, she has various like metals and her like shoulder pads are more pronounced. It looks like she is the leader. And you see the mood around the town instantly gets kind of weird and quiet after Tarrikon burns this dude.

And all of these weird mages show up with masks. And Kedron speaks over the crowd and goes, Who is in charge here? Where is King Weimer? Oh fuck. King Weimer is not. The Empire was supporting King Weimer. Oh King. Oh.

You see us, Serenard. Yes, yes, Jamari. Serenard, yes. Yes. Easy, Serenaard. Yes, yes, Jamadi. Serenaard, yes. Yes, easy gallantiff. Yes. He just doesn't, he never gets off the horse. It's like a power play.

Sorry. I am Serenaard Wendell. I lead the fallen King Wimersforces, and which would make me tied for being in charge with Captain Jabari who leads the Toads. They are not, okay, for official purposes, they are not the Toads, they are the army of Thurston, brightly. Technically, they are now Hex thurston brightly and technically they are now uh... hex floods

yes and so they are hex floods in total that's right try try hex bludster that what is why did you guys retain the dry thing that there's no reason for that to come up with a little bit of our past a little bit of our future now we can grow i don't do it i will do a hopping thing then you want to be a toad fuck it never mind Now we can grow. I don't do it too hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot.

I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot.

I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot.

I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do it hot. I will do cast a spell that produces a small war tent that you see she enters without missing a step like she doesn't even stop to cast it and you see several of the other mages join her. And the way in I link arms on each side with Jabari and Corbo and do another emboldening bond because I don't know what kind of diplomacy we're gonna fuck off in there.

Why not stay, Jabari thinks we should stay in this formation, I think it's just powerful. Okay, yeah, that's cool. Yeah, is the opening of the tent wide enough that we could all enter like this? You see, Serenaard looks it up and down and he goes, I think so, but it's gonna be hard for us to get all four in. Is this a four person thing or is this kind of just a... I thought you were gonna ride your horse in there, so I didn't know if you wanted to.

I was gonna get at Corbo, put your arm around Gallant hoof. Okay. Arms with Gallant hoof. I link arms with the horse, Gallant hoof. Jibadi and his friends are going to show the Cinder Sworn, we mean business. So you guys all together enter the tent holding onto this horse as you guys cross the threshold of the tent. You see that this is some kind of a loosery magic and you are in a giant war room as if in a castle. You see a map of the empire on a large table in the center.

You see bookcases with books and scrolls, candles, and maps crammed into the cubby holes. And you see braasures like the room. Cajun looks out at you guys and goes, We will be working in tandem from here on out to eliminate the threats of undead. The High Queen has been concerned with the petty king for some time. He has ignored our messages and hoarded out of Burrow's wealth without paying his due

to the Empire. We have contacts in court who warned us of Maksora's influence and we began monitoring her. We knew a rebel king with the strength of an echo-mance of behind him was a danger to the Empire, but thought a forceful removal could be unpopular. Therefore, she was quietly backing Wimers' claim to the throne, supplying him with weapons and soldiers. Very political, Aussie. Very political, indeed.

If Wimers dead, ultimately that's not what is important here. Moxora has played her hand and the threats of the undead is clear. The people will not want another pearl hill. The cinder sworn are free to move to Heronford to neutralize the threats. Moxora cannot hide behind polite politics anymore. What, okay, first off, what does neutralizing the threat mean? Yes. We'd love to know a just kind of play by play that you intend to do to her inferred. Here's the play by play. You hear at all at the same time they go, the cinder sworn do not turn undead. We burn undead. We will do a controlled burn of

everything behind the castle wall. Alright, so that doesn't sound like it's that controlled. does it? It sounds like that's kind of total destruction, right? What does your control, because I love, I love controlled burning. It can be good for plants and foliage and biodiversity, but I'm a little, I'm curious as to how you make the decision, what burns? Do you have concern for allies within the castle walls? We have concerned for the people of her and for for for sure

The people of her and for beyond the castle walls will not be injured. We are very very good at our jobs What about the cooks and what about the you know men in waiting? What about the gesture? There's a funny ass gesture in there There's a good position who plays for your body every morning. Oh the gesture? There's a funny ass gesture in there. There's a funny ass gesture. You can't get the four-season who plays for your body every morning. Oh, yeah. You should bang. Well, I do my burpees.

What of him? You hear they're trying to whisper to each other, but they're all talking, you get really loud robot voices and just going, what about the funny ass gesture? There's apparently a funny gesture. Okay, okay.

And you see, Kadron looks back up at you guys after talking to some of her people privately and goes, then you will aid in an evacuation of the innocence within the castle walls. I looked at, I nod, but I'm looking to Corbo and Jabari to be like, yes, I'm in. I'm in. I mean, Jabari is much better at murder than the evacuations. But I'm sure that Jabari and his friends couldn't figure it out. Yeah, Jabari is really good at murder,

but I think we could do, I think we could work with this. I think we could evacuate. That's so interesting. I'm really good at murder, too. It seems like everybody's really good at murder. So we got to have somebody that's down to step up for the, yeah, for the saving. May I send her sworn? May I refer to my close associates in with a degree of privacy? I want to speak of a bit of intel that is sensitive. Can we, we'll back out of the tent, all arms lay just briefly.

Yes, very well. Is it okay? You stay and talk to these people. Okay, bye everybody. I'll be right back. I'll just stay in here with these people who want to burn everything. Yeah, that's good.

That's a good place for you. All right. So we back without looking over our shoulders. You guys walk out of the tent. Sweet, you guys are out of the tent. Uh, Jabari Corbo. They are going after just a puppet. We know that the Maksora in there isn't the real Maksora. Ah. Use this information that we should share with them. Very interesting. I'm feeling very conflicted. Well, Jabadi's first thought is that we should. Why not?

What is it that we are worried about if we share with them the information that Jabadi and his friends have? I mean, are we telling the Empire about the existence of groves and is it going to make them curious how someone was able to manipulate the power of the groves and will they walk down that path themselves? And even going after one of the puppets in Heron for our friends that live within Castle Walls in danger, are we helping them, even if we're not defeating the true enemy? This is much too happy for Jabari.

Jabari deals in life and death. This political stuff is much too much for Jabari. It's very political. But you shoulder it well, Jabari. If you feel overwhelmed, you're still really shoulder in it well. You make Jabari feel very good. I think that my, I think as I mull it over in my head,

I think that my opinion is that we should let them take out the puppets in the castle, but maybe not disclose this information. Jabari agrees. Jabari likes that we keep that, at least for the moment, especially since we have not seen this one, since the swarm and how they intend to handle

Maksora, that we keep that for ourselves. And yeah, selfishly, I want that final kill for ourselves too. Oh, that is well. That's what everybody's talking about. That was the same. That was the same. We are all saying it. I'm saying it.

That's our mother. That's our mom. Nobody kills our mom. Nobody kills our mom. Nobody kills our mom, but us. Okay. We kill our mom nobody kills our mom Nobody kills our mom but us okay, we kill our mom anyway, hopefully we didn't shout this too loud Let's Information back into the tent all of the center swarener our yellow are talking way too loud in there Just about casual stuff of being way too loud to ever hear what you're saying anyway. She was wearing crocs

It was weird They look so comfortable though, but you guys do know even with your passive or what you're saying. Anyway, she was wearing crocs. It was weird. They look so comfortable though. But you guys do know, even with your passive insight, kind of as you guys talk through this plan and wondering whether or not you should tell the sender sworn, it doesn't make a huge difference because the king is kind of like Gideon here, right?

He's still this powerful undead dude. because the king is kind of like Gideon here, right? He's still this powerful undead dude. Moxora is still a powerful form of Merrowin. They still occupy the castle of Heronford. He is still the king of Heronford. Having these people all there is still a liability You know what I mean? So even if she's not the true End all be all yeah, I think it was just like trying to decide I was just trying to decide whether or not

It's like wrong for us to not share that information to not share that this is just a puppet And I'm gonna decide that it's okay to not share sweet. Sweet. Cool. Yeah. Hi, Cinder Sworn. We're back. Hey there. Hey there, hey there, Cinder Sworn. Hey there, Cinder Sworn. Hello, hexpluts. What have you decided? I think we've decided we would we would love the opportunity to do a controlled evacuation before you do a controlled raising of the castle. Yes. It settled that. And if you do need any help with the killing eventually,

like after everybody's out, we're available for that as well. And all at once, everybody says, the cinder sworn do not need help from anyone. All right. All right. You have not seen Jibadi. Except to evacuate people, we get to do the cool stuff.

All right. All right. I feel like you all are like living a life that we were living. And I just want to say, have you ever all hugged each other done a closed loop hug? A closed loop. You see they all look around at each other confused.

You mean like with your arms? Yes, it's like you hug all the way so that you I know you cannot To perform a ritual where you all stand around and you hold hands so that you can burn something in the middle But it does something it does do something it does them to your inside It's like an Instinctual ritual very well Leaving inside of all of us and we feel compelled to do fast my understanding in a hundred years You just just let it marinate for a hundred years

Right, well if you will evacuate the civilians and guards Then we will be safe to level of Moxora stronghold with as few Casualties as possible civilians and guards and gestures and bars were on it. Yes. Are you a gesture yourself? Excuse me. Was that an insult? I didn't realize. He just, he really hates bards. Oh my God.

You love gestures? They're hilarious. I could never do with they. Got it, but you hate singers. Fascinating. Well, we will have to move quickly. I'm sure word will spread fast. That Maksora's attempt here did not work,

so we will need to strike Karenford before she can raise another army and we will need to contain the undead that she can spread. Right. So I will leave with the three of you. The four of you looks at Ser Reinharddeni goes, not much of a sneaky guy. She nods, looks back. He's on a horse, even in the tent. Yeah, sorry about that. You see, she looks

at you guys right. Then the three of you. We will travel together. I will set up a teleportation circle. You will send the evacuees to me and I will get them out of there. Soon as sunrise hits, so too, does the fireballs of a dozen cinderswarn, burn the undead, not turn the undead, we are the cinderswarn. We are the cinderswarn. Very nice. Wait, who is that one person that just attracted? No, we just say all together, we say we burn the undead. We do not turn the undead. Nobody says we are the center's one.

We are the center's one. Sorry, that was our old one. Who is that? Who was that? That was Ray. Ray cut it out, man. A guy we had as your team was kind of fallen apart. Your team is falling apart.

One of your guys says you're not a sneak guy. Don't be afraid to share more, Ray. You know, also, Ray, if you're ever looking for a new team, Jappati and the Hexplud's are always recruiting. So we are the center sword. We stick together, even when we don't agree on what we're supposed to say. Damn, that's the kind of guy we need on our team too.

That's not a good line, Ray. Shut up, Ray. Okay. I'm starting to think though the Hexplud's need some kind of slogan like that. Like what's our bumper sticker? Yes, the thing we can all say together in unison. Yeah, yeah, we'll think of that.

Yes, yes. Okay, then the three of us, before of us, rather. And my dog, if you don't mind. Uh, Lake. Ah! Uh, scared of Lake. What? Are you our scared, Ray?

I'm a catch person. Leave me alone.. Oh come on. Oh, she's harmless Shall we heads to Heronford and I will set up our teleportation circle and at sunrise we shall do Our fire you work. Can you wrap up with Jabari and his friends? Can I keep up with fight? Do you want to run there? I'll teleport by myself and you run there? Oh, you teleport. Oh, yes. You teleport. Yes, I guess teleporting is always gonna win the race,

but you know, you're good to wear the metal for that, does it? Exactly. Jabari wonders, you know, where is the character in teleporting? We take off running. How did Jabari says that? Oh, that's a really good last line. Everyone, go, go. Let's go in there. As take off running. How did Javari says that? Oh, that's a really good last line. Everyone, go, go, go. Let's go in that.

As you go to run, she throws out like an arcane net that envelops you and teleports. All of you guys, and you teleport and you arrive behind the castle wall in the dead of night. You feel the cold wind blow. You see that there are various bonfires and bragers lighting up different areas of the area around the castle. It's almost like a village back here,

like there are laborers and there are some people who live and work back here, servants, quarters and whatnot. It is dark where you guys have arrived. Cajun has picked a good place. You see you are near a large grate that leads into a sewer pipe that flows beyond the wall. When we arrive, I think three of us kind of round up. Who is there?

You know, just bringing up with you, Jabari, we're not bringing the king, right? No, I think it's good. It didn't want to make that decision on our feet, you know. It's good to think about these things ahead of time and to talk it out before, you know, we're in the heat of the moment. I love that, that new thing that we're doing. The other thing that I'll say is, I don't know that I totally trust this inner sworn to just throw a bunch of evacuees into their teleportation circle. Does that cross anyone's mind? I'm

fine to be paranoid. Ever since the blood ritual, I'm just questioning everyone we need. What do we say yes to? We need to ask a few more questions. You see, Kaderyn points a finger and does a controlled blast of red hot energy that melts the great around the entrance to the sewer and she goes, I will set up a teleportation circle around the edge of the sewer, anyone who runs through it will be transported it to Pearl Hill, direct them to me and I will get them to safety. Can I do an inside check just on that? Yep.

I don't know, I don't even need to do an inside check to know there's a little fucked up that we're evacuating through the sewer You didn't like tell tell us that ahead of time you were just like you asked want to evacuate now What crawling around the world would you rather do it surrounded by enemies in the middle of the camp would you like me to start doing My very slow spell is that surrounded by would you want me to do it in the middle of the barracks? Is that how the extra were? I should have been mentioned early. Politically evacuating in the place in which human evacuations is I can kind of see where you're going. I get the metaphor you're doing.

I didn't think about it like that. And that's actually a pun. I knew you guys liked gestures. That's a gesture level good. Yeah. I'm not even I'm not even upset anymore. That's funny. Okay. Well, uh, yeah, you wait here and we will go.

Very well. I will begin to cast my spell. Did you want to do an insight check? I did. I got a 16. A 16? You, it is very, very hard to get a read on these people. One thing you kind of take notice of,

the way that the plan was brought up, invited you to volunteer to evacuate the people. So the question is, is that to put you in danger? Or is that to save people without asking for it? I relayed that information at Jibarri and Corbo, the second we're out at your shot. Oh, wow. This episode of NADPOT has brought to you by Bird Dogs. They're a company that makes pants and shorts, so no matter where you fall and the age

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to sacrifice movement. And trust me, you are going to need all the movement you can get when you and your brothers and legs are out there on the battlefield kicking the shit out of your rivals. So when the lower body battle begins and brother is forced to kick brother, make sure you are wearing bird dogs. To get yours and a free Yeti-style tumbler, go to bird dogs. Go Team Pants and enjoy the show! Here is how this is going to work. The area behind the castle wall here is going to be divided up into three sections.

There's an area where the laborers are, where you could go visit a blacksmith or something, and where some of the people who don't live in the castle but maybe work at the castle might live. There's a couple dozen people there. There's the barracks, which is where Jabari was living, which is a slightly bigger building that is very a lot more militaristic, obviously.

There's more guards and knights there, and then there's the castle itself, which has two levels. I say we start with the laborers, right? They're the most likely to be completely innocent. Yes, Jibbarik also wonders how much the castle knows that the prophet Gideon is dead, and if Maksora has already started sowing her seeds of doubt that we are good and are, you know, whether or not people will trust us. And I feel like we can get a sense of that by talking to the laborers.

You're right. Should we go? Like, yeah, that's great. Let's start with the laborers. Sweet. So you head towards where you know a lot of the laborers to live. You see a cluster of huts and small homes with thatched roofs. You

can see the glow of fire in some of them. It is very late, but it is, you know, providing heat. There is a smithy nearby with an outdoor forge and anvils. The shop itself is closed up, but it looks like there's some candlelight in the apartment above. You see that there are two guards on patrol. These sort of lesser guards doesn't look like it's anybody really in command. If they were to yell or something, there could be more people with earshots, but these are the people that would see you if you were to fuck up big time trying to get into a house or something. All right. Maybe we should try to just speak with one of these guards to sort of know if they're

on alert for us or not. If we just show up to one of these guards, we might see their reaction. Yes. And Jabadi, you know, if someone needs to be... Yeah. Yeah. I mean, murders on the table don't worry about it. Jabadi will try to Yeah, let's keep that one a number a number one top of mind. We're still evacuating. We're already making excuses to get to the murder. One actuated right one B. I think it should be two. I

really think it should be yeah, I'm gonna go ahead and say one B is doing it safely and then we start a whole new bullet point for me. Yeah, a one new line. Why not one C? Jibari wanted to why not one C? It's still underneath everything important. It's just not knocked all the way down. You know, you know, you know, I can't say no to you. It's one C. Okay, murder's one C. Come on. All right. It's one. It's one C But that's really far down all right. Yes, it's our own it's but it's still number one. It is right below doing it safely This is why I asked Shall we approach them together or I think we should stealth up just to one of these guards, right? Okay great

Guys go ahead and give me stealth checks. I'll say you guys wait until I'll say you see them talking to each other for a sec. Then they separate one kind of rounds a corner with his torch. And you guys try to sneak up on him. He will do a perception check. I just crit, baby. Nice. Hell yeah.

Natural 18 over here. Sweet. I got a 19. He got a 16. He did not see anybody. He is walking around the corner, kind of just going about his job kind of lazily. I guess we got to kind of just,

I guess I hide in the corner and I go, oops. Go ahead and give me a persuasion check. 17. 17. Okay. You see, he looks confused. You manage.

I think I'm doing like the assassin's creed, like hiding in some foliage. Okay. So you're hiding in some foliage. You say, you hear. Who is that? Okay, Steve. Do you wanna engage with this guy? Do you wanna, I mean, we kinda need,

I feel like he's a litmus test, right? That's kinda what we're doing. I'm, Jabari's gonna uncomfortably stand up. Just like slowly rise out of the grass. So he sees, he's fucking Jabari high to our suddenly just, like Homer Simpson just appears out of the bushes And the guy just goes, ah! Ah!

It's all right. Jabari! Yeah! Hey. Captain Jabari, what are you doing here? Wasn't there a battle? Aren't you marching on Pearl Hill? We have marched on Pearl Hill.

Jibadi Wondrous has word reached the castle about the nature of the events at Pearl Hill. You see he looks excited and he shakes his head and he goes, no, what happened? Did we stick it to Weimar? Did we take him to Weimer? Did we did you take them out for us? Indeed we stuck it to Weimer A Javadi's friend Terragon definitely struck him then we were we were certain of his death However, it was it was really cool. It was amazing. It was awesome time. Yeah, really cool Yeah, you see it's it's like this like 16 year old guard who just like feels cool for hanging out that Spud's yeah, yeah, that sounds cool. That sounds awesome. Yeah, we're back is it was pretty it was impressed

I actually Unleash some fire even today for the Crete she burned a fucking she burned someone and actually that that's kind of what we wanted to talk about That's who we're here for okay,. So I think that you probably know, but the king is in danger. We need to evacuate you and the other laborers. Yes. The castle has been infiltrated by others. And they are watching. So we must quietly move people away from the city. I thought you said we, we won at Pearl Hill. Why are

their infiltrators? Why are there people in the castle? Why are we in danger? They are magical and Jabadi is nervous that they will use their magical powers. If they know that we are back. So we need to move everyone safely out of here so that Jabari and his friends can stick it to the infiltrator as much like we stuck it to Wimer in the cool way. Oh yeah, super cool. We did it. Yes.

Go ahead and give me a persuasion check. And I'll say you can do it with advantage because you got your friends here. I mean, thank God, because it's a minus one. Play. It's 16. It's 16. This kid looks nervous and he goes, I should probably talk to one of the officers at the at the barracks about this unless it's a command from you Captain Jabari in which case.

It's a command from Captain Jabari Jabari and in which case command from captain Jabari you What what is your name hard or sir? You hard or are Receiving a command from captain Jabari himself. Damn. That's an honor captain Jabari trusts you Well, you heard you heard about me. I did. Yes, you're how you what did you hear? Well yesterday yesterday when you were on patrol. Yes, and you were doing. We heard about that that that trick that you do with your store. You show us that thing that you show us the trick you do with your short on. Yeah, yesterday

starts doing that weird back and forth thing that people try to do with lightsabers where they like twist their wrists, but it doesn't look that cool, but the person thinks of it as cool. Wow, that's where it is really good. I like the noises you make with your mouth while you do it too. That has a lot of flavor.

Woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, yeah. We need that sort of initiative to perform this action safely. Okay, gather people up where we heading. Gather people up and then fuck me. I don't want to send them to this fucking teleportation circle. Oh. What if we just tell them to go wait by the sewer

and we go through, we go through first. We'll be the first ones to step through the portal. Love it. Go wait by the sewer. I know that is not the most fun thing to hear. That's where the shit is. That's right. That's where the shit hits the fan. Right. It's a metaphor. But it is where people evacuate.

So it does make sense to be the evacuated. Physically and metaphorically. Yes. They are layers, yes. Yeah. It's veryically. Yes. They are layers, yes. Yeah. It's very clever. OK. And then can you point us in the direction of your officers?

Yes, they're at the barracks. Oh. And just remember, don't go shouting these orders around. We added this is all very, very under cover. All right. The people that have infiltrated that we are trying to save everyone from are inside, so we're trying to get everyone. So we're going to go see your officers next and they're going to do their thing. Okay. Is it okay if I

tell Gilbert? Because Gilbert is on duty over here with me. Tell Gilbert tell Sol and tell tell all the other guards. You see he nods. He salutes and you see he runs off and starts conferring with the other guard Who looks a little confused at first, but then he gestures to you guys like over in the bushes He's the a light wave from Jabari. I put my plague doctor mask on and I'm not might be Yeah, the dude the dude was like going through and and counting like that's tarragon, that's Jabari. Oh, a Corbo the Crow, Corbo the Crow.

I turn profile, you get it. And you see they quietly begin going into the homes and warning people. Great. I think Jabari reverse homers just slowly back down into the grass. I think Jabari thinks homers just slowly back down into the grass. I think we, I think that Jabari thinks we are doing well. We didn't really need a sneak, but I just, I create, and I really wanted to use my crit.

Damn right. Yeah. Alright, should we head to the barracks? Yeah. Space, and it seems that, to Jabari, that Maksora has not spread word of the defeat of prophet Gideon so I mean of course we should still be careful, but that does feel like it is in Gibri in this friend's interest Right, let's do it. So you guys continue sneaking and you head to the barracks And she and you see next to these

Stables where the horses are kept you see see the barracks, like a small... Oh, we got it for you, the horses. Like a small keep of its own. There are four pillars around the stone building. Out in the yard, there are various practice dummies and areas for sparring. You see holding torches are several guards out here. You see that there are two guards

that are sort of these lower level footmen, but you see one commander and one full knight speaking to each other. This seems to be like the commander on duty right now. There's not a ton of people out. It is late at night. We sneak up and over here their conversation and then hypothetically sneak away and then just

if the conversation is you know, penine then we'll just walk up towards them. You can hear that it's benign. You hear that they are just people who were left behind to guard the castle and are a little insulted that they didn't get to like go to battle for the glory of outer burrow. Okay, let's walk up. We're doing no stealth. Jibbari and his friends are just going to go say hi. You know when we stealth for a party, it feels pretty weird to come out of the cell. Hey, yeah, yes, yeah, just got to go right up and say, Hey, hey, officers, exactly. And, hey, officers, hey, officers exactly and hey officers. Hey officers and we'll will execute plan one C if need be

One and one B won't be yeah, we do and we do one B if they do not work. We do one C I will I will say this Jabari go ahead and give me an insight check Because he knows the more people are on's 27 Jesus Christ. Oh wow. Jabari, tell me your secrets, Murph, you do know that this officer here, this commander is one of these whimer types that like doesn't trust like the hex bloods or is like jealous of their legacy. So is one of these by the books,

commanders that probably honestly got left behind and not used in battle because he's not that good and is kind of a stubborn dumbass. Damn. And let's just go right up, but have our hands on our hands, which are our weapons weapons except for to barry have your hands on your weapons. Yes, and terror gone Please if you can do the talking jibbadi is not okay. I will I'm going forward. We'll back you up with his authority But jibbadi will prefer not to jibbadi is scared

Okay, absolutely Hey officers. Sweet. Yeah, you see this commander's name is Kovac. You see as you approach the guards, like hold their torches up to kind of like light your faces, the commander looks down on you from a top his horse and goes, hexbloods, Jabari. Have you fled the battle? What happened?

Excuse me. No, the the battles over. Yeah, we have we've heard no news here. What do you mean the battles over? Have you abandoned your posts? No, we haven't we have to stop it with that is And now there are other posts to be filled, okay buddy? So actually we're fucking working overtime You're welcome for fucking pulling a graveyard shift. Anyways, I got a dragon living inside me. If you're not careful, you're gonna come out. Pearl Hills half a day's right away. How did you get out of the hex plushers?

Oh, I'm sorry. We, also people don't normally live to be 107. And here we are. So I guess we just defy logic, huh? Anyways. Mm. Yeah. The castle's in danger and we are here to evacuate it.

He laughs and goes, huh. If there was danger, surely I would know about it. Wait, you are a bet, you're knowing about it now because we're telling you about it. So if you... But certainly I would know about it before you. You know what, buddy? I gotta be honest, I'm not super concerned about you.

You're pretty, you're a little bit agitating me But if you can just respect that your troops are in danger and have the and have the good management sense to at least Evacuate them all go ahead and let you stay here Listen, what is your name? I know I'm gonna grab him. I'm gonna grab him. I'm gonna grab him off his horse. I'm gonna grab him off his portion pull him down to the ground I'm gonna grab him, I'm gonna grab him off his horse. I'm gonna grab him off his horse and pull him down to the ground. Okay, everybody roll initiative. It's not full combat yet.

I just got it again. You could again. Sweet. It is not full combat yet, but everybody's gonna need to do things on their turns. 25. 21. Good God.

11. You see, Jabari goes and grabs this dude goes to pull him off his horse uh jibbari go ahead and give me a athletics check come on jibbari that's gonna be a 12 he passes so you see j, Jabari goes to grab him. This dude is already on high alert, goes, whoa, that pulls the kind of horseback. You see the guards go to pull their swords as he two guards, a knight, and this Commander Kovac.

This other knight looks like is probably the commanders like Lackie, but these two guards look conflicted, cause Jabari lives in the barracks. Yeah, you see, as this happening, one of the guards is like, kept a Jabari, no! It's just like so, so sad. Doesn't understand what's going on.

Things, maybe you guys are betraying them or something like that. So there is this conflict, but this commander dude looks like he's going for a sword. Teraagon, you are first. Okay. The commander dude is going for a sword. These people are watching. I'm not going to fucking fight the commander dude in front of these people. I'm going to shout to them and say, not shout, say it's, I'm going to do a stage whisper to them and say, not shout, say it's, I'm gonna do a stage whisper to them and say, the castle is in danger, evacuate the barracks, lead who you can to the sewage system.

You hear the commander goes nonsense. Again, if the castle was in danger, I would know about it. Go ahead and give me a contested persuasion check, Tarragon. 18. Okay. He gets a 16 on his persuasion check. So you see these two guards salute Tarragon. Oh hell yeah.

I promise I personally will not hurt your commander here. If you like him, just get everyone out of here. I really don't care about this guy. I just care about getting everyone out of here. And then can I use an action still? Yes. Can I use my in keepers magic and cast unseen servant and send a servant to untie the horses

and make sure the horses get away? Yeah, certainly. I just like a little like a whiff of smoke comes from my hand and then disappears and then it's a ghost Did you did you tell it to bring the horses to the sewer? I Kind of feel like the horses can vent for themselves after a moment. You just hear a stable boy go. Oh No, I mean you just see a bunch of horses just running off so fast

Jabari that is your turn. Great. So I reach out for this guy. He like rears up, gets away from me. That's fine. It's not what Jabari wanted, but it's what Jabari. Jabari, I'll, I, do I put his hands up? Looks at this commander and says,

Commander Kavak. Jabari apologizes for attempting to put his hands on you, but you must know that this is Tehragon snake fruit and the only reason there is an outer borough for you to fucking defend is because of her and this man Corbo Bavino, do not forget their names. Now, you have a choice. Your two gods have decided that they are going to follow her wise words and save the good people of these barracks. You now have a choice if you would like to support them or be knocked out and have somebody drag your life drag your life, your unconscious corpse. That's right. One A, four, five, very nice.

Unperish, unperish, unperish, by living body to a sewage system. Your decision right now. You see that normally going up and calling out a commander like this, you might have them just like start shouting and getting there other nights and stuff. You know for a fact, you know, a majority of the King's troops are gone.

So this dude kind of looks around, was talking a big game, sees two guards already go. Now him and his buddy are outnumbered, and whether or not he wants to be a dick to you, he is aware of how strong you are. So go ahead and make your intimidation check. Oh, man.

Oh, thank God. That's going to be a natural 18 minus one plus four for 21. Nice. He looks taken aback, kind of like looks back at the barracks. See, there's not a lot of light on in there. There's not a lot of troops here at the moment to defend. And you see, he kind of sheepishly goes, this order comes directly from the king to evacuate.

This was from the king specifically. It might as well have been. It is though. Was it? Yes, right? From the king. A king gave the word. There's no reason to get lost in the new ones.

Someone in charge of you just gave you that order, all right? Right, okay. Direct orders from the king, from the guy in charge of you just gave you that order, all right? Right, okay. Direct orders from the king, from the guy in charge of you, either way you wanna square it that's fine. To quietly to the sewers, everyone. And you see, that just you rides off, kind of scared and leaves it to his little flunky

to kind of go in the barracks and start rousing the other people. All right. All right. So the barracks are taking care of, right? Yep. So it would seem. Is that is the barracks where the hexbloods stuff is? Yeah. Jabari says, can we make just one stop, please? Yeah. It'll be quick, very quick. It's hard to think, right? Because we have so many good memories here. And are we just gonna let people come through and burn this all down? Well, if that's the case,

then let's walk through the old hall one last time. Just walk, just walk. Okay, one last time. You guys walk through the barracks and this one place that was once the home to only the hexbloods, you guys, a Corbo and Terraghan, see that it has changed so much. It used to be much more kind of bare bones. And now you see, you know, like armor lining the wall and things like that, there's a lot more equipment.

You see a lot more banners and kind of fineries sort of the accoutrements that would come with a night of outer burrow and when you guys were here It was it was a stone building and you guys all slept on cats and just like trained all the time What kind of beds that these nights were sleeping on oh this thing better not be soft. I'm gonna feel this mattress You see that they do have some that they do have some feather mattresses. Oh, look how much give this dang cot. This is a double cot. I never seen, it's like two cot's put together. It's the kind of bed that you sleep in,

that you sleep in. This is not the kind of cot that you have a bucket of water splashed on you to get you up and back up running around. This is not, this is a you wake up on your own time kind of what Jabari what's what's this thing at the head of the bed? This kind of like squishy little cute thing. I'm trying to understand because it's just it's but that they call it a

Palau and it's like a a plow a plow. Yeah, it goes right on top of the bed. And what do you do put it on the floor when you know it's honestly is a decorating underneath their head Is jibani does not understand what the point of me like you're you why not just let your head down But I guess it's right comfortable. I guess that's something Talking like the gesture in the in the castle right now That's I thought it was,

Jabari thought it was one of his jokes, but no, they all have them. I'll try it. Maybe I'll try it. We'll see. All right, so save one pull out for each of us again. One pull out. We get all take a turn.

You guys grab a pull out. And yeah, you see Jabari's room, which Jabari has kept very much the same. And you do see that on the floor, near his cot, are two other cots that are still kept pristine. I might be sentimental, but I think we got to bring the cots. Call me a sentimental little bag,

but I think we got to bring the cats. I know, I know we're trying to steal that of this castle and through a sewer, but I'm sorry, I'm not doing it without my cot. Okay. Okay. Jibadi had the same thought, and that is why Jibadi insisted we come here. We stopped on these cats for 75 years. And they're still good.

I know. All right, I grabbed my guy, throw it over my shoulder. 75 years. And there's still good. I know. All right, I grabbed my guy, threw it over my shoulder. I also grabbed my cot. Yeah, these things are compact. They have fold up. Yeah, he grabbed my cot.

You guys roll your cot, so I've put it in your packs. Okay, to the castle, yes? Okay, to the castle. Here's one thing you guys would know about the castle. The castle is gonna be a little bit tighter, security wise. Maksora has been keeping this place on lockdown. No one visits the castle unless she wants it to happen

and normal guards and staff can't even go up to the second floor like where the king is. So everything has to go through her or the king or one of her trusted advisors. So you guys sneak to the castle and you see Jackalope keep. There are red and gold banners of the bright-leap family hanging down from the second story. You see a top, the castle walls. There are two crossbowmen patrolling and in front of the open archway of the door you see two

knights standing under torches and you see two more patrolling and these are full fledged knights. These are not scared new recruits. But our vibe is that we want to evacuate them. I mean, it is up to you guys who you want to evacuate, but these dudes are not going to listen to you by default. But there are lords and stuff inside the castle who outrank the knights. You can boss the knights around. From Jabari's time in the castle,

like, well, he knows who's kind of like the most susceptible to our charms. So Jabari would know that there is a guy named Lord Murthel who stays in the guest quarters in the castle. And he is one of the only holdovers of the King's council from a while ago because Moxora has kind of packed it with people who are sympathetic to her cause. Lord Murthel is not a, you know, like strong ally and like, you know, great person who supports Thurston Brightleap, more like somebody who was willing to go along with Moxora stuff

just kind of a rich Coward he is somebody who could boss around nights or invite people into the castle Okay, I am going to cast sending and send a message to him and tell him Hi, it's Terrigan's Negro, Corbo, Babinau and Jabari the Safari, meet us at just outside the castle. The castle is in danger. Go ahead and give me a persuasion check. Now, at one, so I'm gonna re-roll that, because I'm gonna have to. Wow, lucky.

24. Oh, hell yeah. You hear his voice in your head. And while you're requesting a private audience with me at this time at night, using strange magics, does the king know you're here? Can I respond? What does the spell say?

I think I can just recognize and can answer in a like manner immediately. I don't think that's... You hear him, it does not sound like he's going to just come running out of the castle. The high persuasion check, it seems like he's a little intrigued, whereas had you rolled very poorly, might have run and gone and told somebody. Oh, what the hell? All right, then, God bless. RIP to that third level spell.

Okay. All right, then, I guess. Can we go speak to him in person? Yeah, I guess so. Yeah, do you body thinks we should still feel? Yeah, we should, it'll cause a commotion if we come back. People are gonna wanna know, people are gonna have questions.

Sweet's. Okay, so you guys see, there are six people out here. I will say the crossbow men are kind of patrolling. So you guys wait for a clear moment. See those two guys go away. It's just the four nights now. Go ahead and give me stealth checks. I roll the 28.

Jesus Christ. Stealth is plus five, so that's a 17 for Jabari. You got an 18. Okay, nice. You guys go to slip in, Tarragon, like a shadow, slinks into the archway, but you see, you guys are illuminated by a night's torch

as he turns around at the most inopportune time. And you just hear like, ah, ah, it's shooters! Guys, go ahead and roll initiative. They have not called their friends yet or anything, they will act on their turn. All right, it's's 24. 18. Uh, that's gonna be a 15 for your morning.

Um, Corbo, you are first. Oh god damn it, we got it. Can I do like some kind of insight? Like how are they posturing like we're getting into a fight no matter what? Or these guys would know who the hexbloods are. You guys sneaking in is very strange. or these guys would know who the hexbloods are. You guys sneaking in is very strange. They will try to grab you and kick you out or arrest you.

If you don't try to kill them, they probably wouldn't try to kill you. Okay. Okay. So that's your turn, Corbo. You see, Tarragon sneaks in and continues sneaking. Shh. I do it. I hold up a little in and continues sneaking. Shhh. I do it. I hold up a little finger to my hand.

Alright. Alright. When I say this, a little bit of smoke comes out. That's cool. I look right at Chipari and I'm like, did you see that? Chipari saw that. She's back, man. I don't know what else to tell you.

She's back. We are back. Alright. So I'm just going to raise my hands up at the nights and say, I'm not your enemy, I'm not here to fight you, okay? He doesn't have to go south, just hear us out. Why are you sneaking in the shadows, Corboh the Crow? Because this castle's in danger, it's been compromised.

We can't walk through the door because we don't know what's going on inside. You shouldn't know what's going on inside. You shouldn't know what's going on inside. We're the guards here. You should be outside the castle. We should be inside the castle. That's how guarding something works. Why are you sneaking in here? Because I'm, well, I'm trying to tell you guys that something bad is happening in the castle. And if you guys are like the hex blood sneaking in, weren't you supposed to be with the troops at Pearl Hill? It's a really long story. And if you're down to chat it out, I'm excited

because I think we're gonna have, we're gonna have a really meaningful conversation. So, Javari, you see the two dudes with crossbows kind of come back from the patrol. You see one of the nights down here kind of like holds a torch up to signal to them You see they hold their crossbows to you. You see there's a little bit of a scene now You see the four knights here all kind of like they're not going fully aggro right now

They all have their hands on their swords and just look kind of confused but in the meantime Let's go ahead and cut on over to Tarragon. You enter hearing a Corbo kind of trying to buy time behind you as you just hear like more kind of just like people gather around. It's almost like a fight is about to happen, but you sneak in. It's this big open room lit by only some dim brazers. There's an echo of wind through the room There are a few guards and servants milling about but not many you are able to sneak past them It's been a long time since you've really traveled

around the Castle here, but you are aware of where like guests and diplomats and people would stay and have an idea of where like Lord Murtle would be, and you actually see your message has kind of peaked his interest, not enough that he would go out on his own, but you see this older man, very skinny, kind of like one of these nobles who is sticking his nose up. You see, he's holding one of these little candle holders and is wearing silk pajamas. And you just catch a glimpse of him opening the door and kind of looking out in the hall,

looking like concerned. Like, is someone watching me? Is someone doing mind control on me, what is going on out here? I like pop my head in the gap of the door. Hi. What are you doing here? Okay, the castle has been compromised. It is going to be attacked. I am here as part of an evacuation crew to try to get as many people to safety as possible before that happens. I am here as part of an evacuation crew to try to get as many people to safety as possible before that happens. I know that you hold clout with the nights and the guards and I need you for their sake, for the sake of all the servants in here to go rally people to evacuate to the sewers.

I know I ended on the word sewers. The sewers find it sounds gross. You see my PJs. I see your PJs. Yes. I You know what I'm disgusting. I know saving all of the servants. Why? No, I just crawl through the sewers with a bunch of guards you. Yeah cool. Check the fuck up What was the thing? I have a dragon dormant inside of me. As I say this, my eyes aren't my dragon, eyes are like glittering gold, smoke is pouring out of my nostrils, and if you want to live, if you want the people that you love to live, if you want the life that you love to continue

as it is, you will gather the servants respectfully, and you will take them, the guards, the knights, to the sewers, at which point you will be Spared my wrath. Go ahead and give me an intimidation check It's gonna be a 19 on the die What I'm already proficient I'm already proficient and intimidation so that's 26 I'll go ahead and roll my bond. I got a four 26 I'll go ahead and roll my bond I got a four

Damn, I've spoiled my PJs Good they're gonna get worse very well, but only because it was my idea I think it's a I think it's a splendid idea that you presented You know what? I want this train. We're not getting off this track. You're in tell room with my ideas It's you're right Good idea You're afraid of it You're afraid of it You're afraid of it. You're afraid of it.

You're afraid of it. I am afraid of you. I'm afraid of everything, everyone. We need to evacuate. Everyone get out. I need every guard, every... And you know what? And you know what?

You see that little night-shall you're wearing? You're gonna put that in a pile of mud so that the servants don't have to get mud on their feet. I'm going to lay down in the sewer to serve the servants. Guard at night, step sod, mate. I have to literally eat shit. I'm going to literally stick my face in some sewage and eat a piece of shit. She didn't even ask you to do that.

And I'm going to like it. You see, this Lord rushes out, doesn't get ready, doesn't bring anything with him, just like scrambling out Corbo and Jabari. Corbo, what are you saying to these guards and knights right now? You see like another half dozen come over. Just around. So let's zoom out and start at the beginning. It's not about what's your garden.

The castle is about who your garden it from. You understand? And what's your garden from? It's already inside. So what do you do? You've got to guard your lives by evacuating. And you have to guard the lives of the townsfolk by evacuating them. Do you understand? You follow? You see, suddenly, Lord Murthel comes running out in his silk pajamas. He goes like, we're evacuating everyone till all of your little until there's everyone getting out. I gave you a heads up.

There was something going on inside. There's a problem inside and we're going. We are leaving now. We are evacuating immediately. These are direct orders from the king. The king told me, you see these nights look skeptical. But at this point, they've been cut off from the king, they've been being given strange orders for months now. So you see they just kind of murmur amongst

each other and you see one who looks to be in charge, kind of signals for the others to go off with the Lord. They begin making their way. You see the officer goes back in to start clearing out the castle. Lord Murthel had been yelling, so most people are already alerted. You see people are clearing out. One kind of strange thing is, as this is happening, there is like a full-on scene. Like this dude was just like kind of running out shouting,

there's no response from like the King or Maksora or anything. I think it's really, I come out, I look kind of guilty and just say I had to get really mean in there. Oh, Jibbadi cannot believe you missed that. You got really nasty. I'm feeling like a hangover from like being really mean. It looked like that guy was crying a little bit Yeah, he was crying from every orifice if that way Everybody every or I'm kind of upset damn to not see the dragon in full form

I mean honestly this Jibadi is glad you did what you did when you did because jibadi was seconds away from Executing plan one C., I knew one C was lurking. Kind, I, I, I, I, I, Jabari hates to say it, but it felt like we were losing up just like the speech. The speech that I was giving, it felt like one C was my priority too. I don't know what was going on. I was nervous. I, yeah, yeah, but, I had a stage fright. You will get it back. Here's the question is like, do we go check on if the king is here or not?

Or do we just go check on all these people that we just sent? Well, it has, everyone has been shouting and it doesn't seem like there's been any sort of, I'm, Jabari is confused. Yeah, guys, even with your passive insights, Jibari, you would know generally the amount of people that are in the castle day to day,

all of the people who have evacuated are all from the first floor. Are, I, I'm wondering, I want to look outside and see if there's anyone coming for the castle right now. You do not see anybody coming towards the castle but but so we're so we can assume that that there are people on the second floor hold up not necessarily that they're just waiting to kill everybody that we sent over to the sewer. That's what I'm

worried about. That's just what you're worried about. Okay. I mean, so well, first thing, maybe we just got to look upstairs. And if they're there, then we did something good. And if that's empty, then we have to haul asked to the sewer very quickly. Should we split up and send someone to go look for to go check out the sewer? Or should we just go straight to the sewer right now? Because these people on the second floor if they're not responding they're clearly deep in sleep or it's a trap meant to lure us in a Gebrate believes that we are here and at least should

Peak together You can get behind a peak Just a peak just a moment How do I want to live? I don't want to leave all the fun to the senders warns all Yes, all right, let's go just a peak just a peak and then your body will Quick and remaining key points to get back to the shore as soon as possible. Oh, I forgot how fucked up we are Now that you say that I am gonna cure myself because I'm at five.

You guys actually can have taken a short rest. So go ahead and roll your hit dice and get all that stuff. So you guys should be in okay condition. You've taken a short rest like while you guys were kind of celebrating. As you guys enter the castle, you hear a blood curdling scream coming from the second floor. And you had seen a couple nights come in

to like to go warn the second floor. All right, well that sounds like it's worth a glance. What will go peak on, yeah. Let's go peak the scream. So you guys sneak up this grand staircase and it's very strange. This keep is very bare bones like the Jackalope keep tries to be like we keep the old ways of outer burrow.

It's very like bare bones, but there's not even torches lit on the walls. It's just completely dark. So you guys sneak up and as you enter the quiet hallway, you see a trail of blood down the hall as if something was yanked and pulled down the hall around a corner. Perhaps even more troubling, there are two guards in front of the King's chambers who are not reacting to it. They've got these metal helms on, they've got pikes at their side, staring forward, not speaking, standing there in the dark

Striek of blood across the floor. I'm going to give me perception checks 18 14 21 nice you Get the hint of the smell of death these these guys at the door, reek of death. So, one sea? One sea? Yeah, do the honors, Jabari. I think it's time. One, see it up.

Great, if they're not moving, I think from the darkness, I would like to sharpen the blade for three key points and then just from darkness fire An arrow at them. Oh, Jabari go ahead and give me a Stealth check see if you beat their perception. I don't think it's 16. Okay, you pop out from the shadows Arrow at the ready bow drawn You see these two guards in tandem. Just the sound of like a neck breaking as they turn

and look directly at you, rotted faces, half showing like skeleton, drop their pikes, begin rushing towards you. You see round the corner where all of the blood was coming from. A six and a half-foot tall soldier, a knight that you would have known that was sort of like the bruiser of the King's guard, Now an undead monster, but seems to have more dexterity to him. You see he's outfitted in plate.

He has a gold cloak on, but it's all like ratty and messed up and covered in blood. You see he wields a two handed hooked blade that is covered in fresh blood. You see, he rounds the corner and begins rushing towards you guys, and that's where we'll end our session. Oh, come on! No, I want to fly to.

We were about to do one C. Wow! One C! Not to do one C. Thank you all so much for listening. We'll be back next week with one C. Thanks. So, you can hear us talk about one C over on our Patreon,

patreon.com. We'll be talking about it. That's NADD. POD don't sing yet. Oh. And Lou, you got anything you'd like to plug? Not really. You can follow me on Instagram at sweetluzigno.

That's sweet, LOU, ZINHO. Sweet, check out Lou on Instagram, Jake, you got anything you want to plug? Yeah, I got a live show. I'm doing a live show with a mirror, not IRL on the internet. You could take it for it, virtual ticket, right? In real life, yeah. Oh, yeah, you can get it right? In real life. Yeah. Oh, yeah.

We could do a quick edit down to Tampa. Wow. Do you? Uh-huh. Yeah. So tickets for that are at jaconamere.com. Uh, and it's on February 24th, so you can check that out. And then we'll also be in Tampa the week out. That's what I was just saying.

In person. Yes. Woo! It is a virtual show. Do not stay at Joe's series. Lee please. Thank you. Stay safe everybody. I'd also like to quickly shout out the the NAD pod shop because we just restocked a

bunch of stuff. We got Moonstone, Hoodies and sweatshirts. We've got Glade Home Hoodies and sweatshirts. I'm wearing my Glade Home hoodie. I mean, Glade Home sweatshirt right now. There you go. And we also have the Thorn Kirk hoodie and sweatshirt that just dropped. So get cozy, check out shop.nadpod.com.

Get cozy. I'm also, since we're plugging things, I looked at my sweatshirt and lifted it up into the zoom frame. I also am wearing a fox pin that I got from Caitlin Hackett, the artist. So I'm just going to go ahead and plug Caitlin Hackett because I've been wearing this little Fox pin that I got from her and a big fan. Sweet guys. Thank you all so much for listening. You can follow us on various social media platforms. Follow Sweet, Lou, Zeno, that's ZINHO on Instagram. You can follow me, Emily and Jake. I'm at CHMIRFUN Twitter. Emily's at AXFIRD and Jake Herwits is at Jake Herwits.

And you can tweet about the show using hashtag, NADPOD, that's NADDPOD. We are the nation of our billions. We are the nation. The nation of our nation! The nation of our nation! It's the end of the show, everybody, and you know what that means. I do, Emily. It's time to shout out our Benevolent Council of Elders, starting with Julia W. Brad, D. Jeffrey S. Haldor, Frostback, Steelbreaker, and Matt M. A crew of skeletons

raised by Prophet Gideon. Unfortunately, they were all bards in life, so instead of fighting, they just entertain the townspeaks with a bone-side-of-the-phone concert. Next up, Jordan DJ, Cutter W, Jage Zolo Dolo, and Dylan B. Corbos, mustache grooming team. Jordan Holds the Mirror, Cutter works the scissors, Jaibs on Razor Doody, and Zolo gets the ladder going. And Dylan has the most important job of all, holding up an actual horseshoe for comparison. Schumer the mushroom, Danielle the Dastardly Dame, Andrew M, Beardman Dan, and Scott D. Fias team of cigar rollers who recently entered into a partnership with Terraghan to produce a series of magical dragon smoke stogies.

Now that's what I call a crossover! Danny P. Alainacy, Mixologist Michael McD and Victor T. Boundores Boy. Producers and editors of Dungeon Dogs, lakes new spin-off actual play show. It's like that painting of the dogs playing poker, but with way more rules. Andrew B. Justin I. T.J. M. the gnome barbarian, Elena M. Trayle the cray-fay and Jared E. Jabari's team of tattoo artists. Their specialty is drawing humans getting devoured by demons

and freaky at mildly humorous ways. It's honestly a huge blessing that Jabari found them because business was not going well. Christopher B. Austin Bonesaw, MR. Damiel R. Cyborg version of Josh the Cobalt and Octo Litch, a group of resurrected zombie centards who now go by the name SIN-tars. That's SIN with an S. I know, it's confusing an audio, but if you could see their cool jackets you'd totally get it. Trust me. Gage M. Sir Carl, Richard X Machina, Michael L. and Kelvin Noodles, other seasonal sprites

that reside in the Sacred Grove, Gage and Carlar Autumn sprites, Richard and Michael are Summer sprites, and Kelvin Noodles is a limited edition President's Day sprite. Sergio Salazar Salaman Secarias de Sacuani, Trast the Traveler, Joris Dena G, Calum L, and Ryan. The Cinder Sworns for Lorne,

a support group for those who have had their hearts broken by a Cinder Sworn. Jack L. flawless whale, temporal, Sam L. Nicholas C. and Reese NS, the Cinder Sworns dentist to deal with all the usual idiosyncrasies of dentistry, but also have to dodge dangerously snapping metal jaws and occasional guisers of fire. Thanks for keeping their chompers in tip-to-tap shape. Samuel B, Mike H, Matthew E, Coulton B, and Adam G. The Cinder flings a group of imperial fire-breathing part androids who pursue control demolition, but just can't really commit to the whole idea of Cinder Sworn. Mateo C. Nebadger.

Panama James. And Adrian the Halfling Bard. The Heronford Sewer Maintenance Department, which has been calling the Sewer the evacuation station for like three years and is so piv that they aren't getting any credit for it. Dan. Nikki W. Grace G, and Drew Nasty, the makers of the teleportipati, who lobbied hard to get a placement in this critical, shit-themed teleportation episode. But in the end, they couldn't convince Murph that portipati's existent elder mourn.

Hahahaha! C.C. Lulu, Jay, Barnes and Ador, and Michelle O Elder Morn's only crock cobblers. Whenever Terragons crock, Skettbroken, she has to travel long and far to get them re-coubled. Timmy R. Lucas B. Aaron S. and Kevin M. The makers of sentimental cats. It's incredibly inconvenient for a short-term use item, but who's complaining? Not the hexplots or Henry. Austin C. Hogfishes above average hog, New York, and Steven C. The Cinder Sworn Horn Horn, the only Skaband made entirely of Cinder Sworn. You might think Skye is dead, but wait till you hear their kick-ass distorted vocals. KJ, Raoul Anne, Mike K., and Maxwell C. So Estons' dressage trainers who have taken Gallenhoof under their tutelage in no time

this honorable steed will bring justice to anyone who doubts that horses can't pop and lock. Quaranty, Justin Raccoon, Nick W. and Michael C. Owners of Crispy Horrors, a fried food truck that specializes in dragon roasted horrors. The food is delicious, but unfortunately spreads the plague. Esmi Am, Spartagnus, Nathan, Kazumia, the all-knowing, and Big, Beardow, Big Bad Be, big, bad, big, the bad. The members of Guns and Dragon Roses, a metal band so metal they refuse to put any venue that hasn't recently been torched by Dragon Fire.

Jack, Meehaw, Eric M. Burley T. Axel A. Nero-Claudeus Caesar Augustus Germannicus and Christian A. Gossipy sprites who love to spread all the hot gas to Glada, while other sprites might have more important info to offer these little drama magnets, no all the juicy rumors about the Centaur dating scene. J. Dragonborn, the Sandrayan, Ben A. and Feldonis. The cast of, Hey there, Centars, a Mr. Rogers-type show catered to little Centars. Each episode opens with them painstakingly putting on four new horseshoes. Dave H. Catherine S. David K. Christian S. Keith K. and Brittany B. Air being beers who had booked the Cinder Sworn Magical War tent for the same time as the war council.

Kaderen didn't want to cancel the reservation so they just quietly sat in the corner playing settlers of Catam. Kyle H. The Time Walker. Emilio D. Frankie Koala. Big Bad John. Aston S. and Blair, the Bug Blair Barberian. The Squirrel Folk of Squirrel Hill, a tiny squirrel village right next to Pearl Hill. These tiny brave warriors joined the living in their battle against the undead resulting

in dozens of rapid zombie squirrels who will terrorize the area for weeks to come. Pork chop, channel M, Argent, Alice, Minette F, Pat L, Acquitha A, Cinder sworn, Who throw incredible BBQs, their burnt ends are burnt to perfection, it almost makes their monotone small talk worth tolerating. Lauren H. Josh D. Janina E. Maddy Y. Alex H. The Eldest Berry. And Ryan S. Dragon enthusiasts who have been secretly following Tarragon around almost like whale watchers waiting for her to unleash the dragon. The past hour has been incredibly rewarding. The bone duster. Joshua Ace. The bone duster. Joshua A's, Robeck's

Dressel, Brent Lee C, Toads, who are now honorary hexplots and are already trying to inject their influence on the order by suggesting they abstain from water. We will not have it! Micah B, Carly Ann, Micah B, Car, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, the goldfish gremlin, Logan S. Sussi Apple, Leviathan, guards who all practice the art of waving their swords like lightsabers and making whooshing noises with their mouth.

Haters can hate, but this has actually scared away a ton of horrors from the castle. Demi A, Bioquart 7, Kenny, Remington CD, Amber K Amber K Mike R and Everett P. Kavak's children, who much like the other guards and residents of the castle, have a general dislike for the guy. K so say Lindsay W. Adams C. the ASMR ASMR. Carlins C. Anthony S. and Sally S. Guards who heard Corbo speech outside the castle and are very confused, not just about who to fight, but just confused in general. Corbo will have that effect on you. Tristan C. the Goose, Jake, Andy, Orrin C. Emily S. C. C. A. and Matthew J. Planners and Preppers who wrote option 1D, 1E, 2A and 2B, all of which

will sadly never be explored. Sorry fam, once it is and that is all for our benevolent council of elders. Thank you all, once again, and it is with a full heart that I say. Bye sweeties. That was a hit gun podcast. Bye, Sweeties. That was a Hitgun Podcast.