Episode 330 - Some Ends are Beginnings

We continue our flash back adventure, which is something that is so fun about tabletop RPGs, right? Just throw in some backstory later in the adventure. I love it. Anyways things go real, real bad for our heroes and new pals. Good Luck!

## **Story**

### Long Story

The last episode ended on a cliffhanger, where Skud got beat up and his cards were stolen. Apparently, that was Skylar, whom Skud had to battle and got his cards back. Okay, moving on! Years later, Skud, now 17, had been failing in his Cleric classes (while his classmates were all level 5 clerics, Skud was only a mere Level 3). The Old Master called Skud to his office to talk with him, worried at Skud's attitude about not wanting to be a cleric of Uthgar. And so, he got Skud a dog, to show him the ways of being chill and cool. Skud named the dog Squelch, or maybe Hambone, or Spud, or whatever. It *should* be Squelch, but someone (not naming any names here) forgot to talk about the dog on Skud's Wiki Page. So they couldn't look it up. My B. Skud also got his robe (the one styled after those wavy, 90's water cooler cups), and his chest waxed in the form of a V, where the robe didn't cover.

Master Alder returned to the town for the first time in many years, and Skud, Chopper, Vespertillian, and Tater Tot went to challenge him (and his three skeleton companions) once again. Alder remembered Skud (though got his name wrong) and the battle commenced. Skud used his Mandible card that he got last time, and won the fight! For his victory, Alder gave him a T-shirt.

After hanging out in town for a while, Skud and co returned to the Monastery, only to find smoke billowing out from the top. This they saw as they were ascending the mountain, and upon reaching the top, they found the dead body of Skylar, and that of a masked figure she had been fighting. There was another masked individual, this one alive, who turned to them and warned them, in a timid, southern voice, to leave. As Skud attempted to engage this man in a game of Bones, Tater Tot, just tackled him. The rag-tag group was able to tie him up and interrogate him, learning that he was a part of The Skull Bandits, a group of bad guys, who, well, steal stuff. This man had a "Peepaw" who would always tell him that this monastery had booty in it. Also, he had a possum pouch that was full of some liquid. Also, he was a Wood Elf. Guys. This is Lannie Caplain!

They knocked him out and took him up to the monastery with them, where they saw that everyone there had been massacred. The Skull Bandits remained, looting. Barging in, not stealthy, the group was immediately noticed, and a fight began. During it, Tater Tot and Vesper were knocked out, and Skud was stabbed with a poisoned sward. As he passed out, he saw the Bandits kill Squelch/Hambone/Spud! But, then, he saw four figures in black robes enter, and kill all the bandits. One of the skeletons got his robes torn off, revealing that it was made of iron. Then Skud blacked out.

He awoke to find Master Alder standing over him, along with his three skeleton companions, one of whom was made of iron. Alder apologized for not getting there soon enough. He said that all of the others were dead, including Tater Tot, Vesper, and Chopper. The only other survivor was Lannie, because he didn't kill anyone. Skud asked how he was able to command the bones like that, and the man revealed that he was a true Bonemancer. He tossed Skud a coin with a skull on it. From that day forward, Skud vowed to travel the world and learn everything that there was to know about bones and be the most powerful bone master the world has ever seen.

Aldur then took Lannie to the constable, to pay for his crimes.

### Short

The whole, "Skud getting beat up" thing, was resolved pretty quick. Skylar did it, they got his cards back, it's fine. The Old Master gave Skud his dog Squelch, and his robe. They fought Master Alder again, and Skud won, using his Mandible card. They returned to find the Monastery destroyed at the hands of The Skull Bandits, one of whom was Lannie, Lahni's brother. All of Skud's friends (including the dog Squelch), were killed, and Skud was rescued by Alder and his three skeleton companions (one of whom was made of iron). Aldert then took Lannie to the constable, to pay for his crimes.

## **Trivia**

* Despite the different races reaching maturity at different ages, the Monastery only recognizes the human age of 18 years old, as the official mark of adulthood
* The dog is Squelch, whom we saw before. I also forgot about this dog entirely, despite there being a wiki page dedicated to it
	+ No one remembers the dog's name, which makes me wish I could be there for the live streams, to help out. Oh well. I guess it's Hambone now
		- Or maybe it's Spud, I don't know
* Tater Tot is 6 1/2 ft tall now
* There's a new Bone set out, this time the bones are purple
* Skud has a crossbow, and a single dart

## **In This Episode...**

### **Cast and Player Characters**

* Michael DiMauro - *Dungeon Master*
* Tim Lanning - Tater Tot
* Mike Bachmann - Skud Derringer
* Josh Bingaman - Vespertillian

### **Non-Player Characters**

* The Old Master
* Chopper
* Master Alder
* Lannie Caplain
* The Skull Bandits

### **Locations**

* Drunkeros
	+ Ssathra
		- The Monastery of Uthgar

### **Quest Log Updates**

* [Active] - Become the Greatest Bonemancer in all the world!
* ~~[Complete] - Find Skud's missing Cards~~

### **Quotes**

**"You need to choose life, my dude."** ~ *The Old Master*

**"Guys, that doesn't look like cum smoke to me."** ~ *Skud Derringer*

## **Rolls**

* **Recap**
	+ Josh - 3
	+ Tim - 8
	+ **Bachmann - 9**