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Runtime Break start 3h 43m 2h 2m
Episode 22: The Point of No Return
We return to the Schemers Table here in Dol-Makjar, deep in the sewers under Caravan Hill where our brave adventurers have gone underground. One adventurer sort of becoming an adventurer fully this night.
Indeed, Halandil Fang, waiting at the gate, looking down and realizing that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and the road goes ever on. This road led down into some nasty sewers (because you've been hot on the trail of Demodus Blix, the illusionist grad student of the Penteveral, who went missing after he discovered he helped the House of Tachonis, perhaps unbeknownst to him, cover up the massacre at the Palazzo Davinos).
Having sprung Misha Undragor from prison, you guys had an eventful night at the Seven Stars tavern. Hal connecting with Romina Rountree with all of the intel she had from working at the Stahlkeep (the manse here in Dol-Makjar of House Einfasen).
Bolaire played a hand of cards with a horrifying merchant named Druspin Fortunada, a traveling wizard named Arnesha Vane (having taken the seat of gnomish smuggler, Pimley Morn), and played a hand of cards with King Augustus Valian, who has come and absconded from the Seven Stars as Hound of the King, Sir Marten, came and found his liege and got him the hell out of this bar to get back to the business at hand, staying with Mr. Bowsprit, a merchant that you have some familiarity with.
Murray pinned down Pimley and found out that he had indeed been part (at first) of trying to get Demodus Blix out of town after whatever task he accomplished for the Tachonis (it seemed that he must have gotten the hell out of dodge from seeing the writing on the wall). And Pimley realized that this was a little too hot for him and dumped the desperate Demodus (who was depending on him for help) into the clutches of the Crow Keepers to whom Demodus owed some money.
Following the Crow Keepers after Murray made contact with an ally in Caravan Hill (the soothsayer Temelow, who gave you a reading of your cards speaking surreptitiously of the eye she had been keeping on the Guard Tower (the old tavern frequented by the leadership of the Crow Keepers)).
The Crowkeepers, you were told, were in disarray. Their Guildmaster Solomon, having been killed several days ago by the elven warrior Vaelus, who then left town after the world's first known revenant was created. They seemed to be in disarray and took Demodus into their own custody after paying Pimley Morn handsomely for doing so.
You went deep underground (where you discovered this hiding place of the Crow Keepers and them speaking to something inhuman in the chamber beyond.
A careful illusion was cast and created for you to look out and essentially draw some of the Crow Keepers away. This city thief is affected by a Phantasmal Force and heard an illusion from Hal and a rock hurled into the muck water beyond, and many of them are about to peel out.
However we must resolve at the top of initiative, one of them who spotted a strange sight of a mask peering around the corner here.
9 Comments
thisisdee@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 131d
Fight in the sewers was amazing. Azune with 25 AC taking on 4 rogues who have advantage/sneak attacks, Hal just jumping in to save the kid, Murray with the 25 Arcana check and finding the loot, then Bolaire with the body transfer while roping in Hal. Part of me think it was kinda mean of Bolaire, cos Hal was just saying it was the first time he killed anyone in decades, then Bolaire just nonchalantly asked Hal to kill his body. And without warning too like a simple "don't get the mask too close to your own face" or anything. But man was that so interesting to watch! What would have happened if Hal had failed the Wisdom check? Would Tal/Bolaire then take over Hal's body and Liam plays a new character?
Genuinely so excited for the next episode, with the most intense cliffhanger of "did Murray manage to get her list of interns through to the Dean by the end of the day?" and "Will Hal get to bury his brother?"
Ultragramps@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 131d
Bolaire on Hal is certainly interesting. Liam really was walking the edge there.
My knowledge of how the mask works is also changing. I thought he would be able to remove himself from a body and that they were going to interrogate Aubrus Drime for trying to kill him in the Overture.
I'm still not certain that Bolaire's host body has to be killed in order to disengage the mask. I wonder if Bolaire didn't want Aubrus to reveal anything about their underground activities.
If Bolaire knows that he is draining the host body to death, he would make some sort of effort to get removed from Hal before serious harm was done.
Tim_Eagon@dice.camp · 2 pts · 131d
@Ultragramps @thisisdee I thought they murdered Aubrus to frame him for what happened in the sewers.
thisisdee@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 128d
I thought that was just a convenient excuse because Bolaire wanted the other body and it just so happens that it was a good place to dump a body.
Ultragramps@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 130d
I think that is the excuse Bolaire gave to Hal. Blaming a dead man for other deaths is plausible but his body would’ve been alone in the small exit chamber rather than the piles of bones and bodies in the larger lower room.
There was a scene of Bolaire eating and talking to his host body about how much longer he would last as Bolaire “wears him out”, so to speak.
Tim_Eagon@dice.camp · 1 pts · 130d
@Ultragramps Bolaire is definitely a parasite, but I don't think he uses up his host bodies that fast.
thisisdee@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 130d
Oh, interesting thought. I didn't even consider that Bolaire could release themself (itself?) without killing the host. But I think that's true based on the Bolaire flashback? Might need to rewatch that. But yeah, not wanting to leave a witness is highly possible!
Ultragramps@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 131d
♪Episode Song References♪
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Highlights
"The road goes ever on." J.R.R. Tolkien
Command:SilenceTremorsensehas relayed what we see on the mapFilth Bombwipes out most of the Crow Keepers and initiative comes to Hal, who everyone has held an action to start a coordinated attack.Healing Wordbrings Demodus to consciousness.Mage Armorthat looks this good.Commandon Zaghi."Damn, we're in a tight spot." (O Brother! Where art Thou? reference)
On a nat one, I have to fuck you guys.
Color Sprayapplies theBlindcondition and damageDissonant Whisperscrowns Bolaire as the scariest thing in the sewers.(art by TriaElf9)
Intermission
Folks, we are back. Here in the sewers underneath Caravan Hill in the city of Dol-Makjar. What an eventful combat it has been. Crow Keepers were sent off on a wild goose chase and chased that goose right back to our heroes. Azuna Nayar just tanked a surround sound rogue quad strike only to be joined by the rescued Demodus Blix. Halandil Fang dropped into the darkness,
Healing Word-ed the young grad student illusionist, and with an upside-down bat swing, Murray Mag'Nesson got her wayward pupil back up on his feet and out the door.We just ended on Bolaire's turn as he dropped down post-
Shatterspell to find Laumy who had dissolved the body of the Crow Keeper Captain Zaghi and delivered aDissonant Whispers, banishing this entity down deeper into the darkness. On a nat 20Intimidationand a failedWISsave against, Laumy has exited combat leaving all of you with a room with four Crow Keepers. Azune that is going to be your turn. Murray and Demodus have entered the room, and there is an illusory knight made of light that is helping you in combat. Murray'sColor SprayhasBlinded two of the Crow Keepers beside you. They will only last for a turn, but you do have advantage against those Crow Keepers.Booming Bladestrikes could give him the "Boom Boom" catch phrase."This life, it has found you."
Truestrikeis approved.Booming Bladeend's combat. Demodus' massive knight illusion gives a loud public service announcement.Comprehend Languages(continued)
Ultragramps@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 131d
Investigation