On The Meta

**On The Meta** is the fortieth episode of *Another Bad Side Quest*. The party regroups at Twynn's home outside of *Krak* before heading back into the city to learn more and prepare for their trip to the *Maltrop Strip*.

## On The Meta

### **Synopsis**

**Pre-Show Shenanigans**

* Everyone's back! Thanks again for your love and support during our 1 year anniversary!
* Reminder, that advertisements going as a pre- and post roll. Darrin isn’t quite finished with that, though, so it will be premiering soon

### **Summary**

We return to our reunited party where Yashani, Boreal and Alaerith finished the tale of their travels to *Qho’sovo* and its salt mines, while Twynn continued his hammering on RX. Twynn finished up just as Bo finished the their story and while RX snored obliviously, only to be smacked awake by Twynn. Quincy demanded he be more careful, but Twynn insisted he didn't need to since he had taken out most of the parts that made him more nimble and replaced them to make him more solid. RX stepped down from Twynn’s table, his footsteps being louder and feeling heavier too, which Twynn explained was because he filled in some of his empty spaces with metal. RX complained about having to be perfectly still for so long and Twynn reminded him it was necessary lest he cause an explosion that could rip the whole shop into the Astral Sea and that his family's work was dangerous.

Sterling asked if Yashani got his *Sending* spell and Yashani recalled them trying to make a joke of all of them dying horribly before sarcastically calling it a good joke, with the sarcasm lost on RX. Sterling tried to pass it off as mostly Quincy’s idea which they quickly rebutted. Quincy went on to say either way it sounded as though the three that left had a considerably more trying time than those that stayed and they agreed. Twynn asked if they said it was a "Skein" or “fate witch” and on confirmation noted he thought most all of them were dead. Bo pointed out it did not seem like they stuck around for long and Twynn said Bo appeared to be “skein” as well, citing that he also has a fated purpose and a mark. Yashani asked if they were not all fated to die but Twynn explained while everyone had a finite amount of time, Bo had a more definite and unknown time limit. Sterling asked when that was and when Bo said he didn't RX asked if they would if they saw his clock. Bo noted it was incompressible to him but on Sterling's request pulled up his shirt and revealed the glowing clock on his back. Sterling saw it had no numbers, but as he watched closely to discern the magic of it saw there was a spot where neither the minute nor second hand would touch as the clock hands went around the clock face forwards and backwards and told the others of what he saw. Sterling suggested they keep an eye on it and that he would note it in Bo’s file and when Bo pointed out that the witch said he would die when it was his time so he figured he should be fine until then Sterling commented that he might even be invincible until that point.

At the mention of the witch Twynn asked about the items they collected from her and Yashani showed off the new staff and the witch's discarded bandages, while Alaerith released her new backback to her and pulled out the vampire bad earcuff and oblong blue stone from the borrowed *Bag of Holding.* Sterling noted that he had made a discovery during their time that he would reveal later on while he would check the items procured. He proceeded to repeatedly cast *Identify* on the items and revealed the backpack as a *Handy Haversack* and the earcuff as an *Earcuff of the Vampire Bat*. Quincy handed off their leather armor, including a breastplate and bracers, to Twynn saying they no longer felt it fit quite right which he happily took before pointing at the stone, noted he had one himself and demonstrated it while revealing it was an *Ioun Stone of Awareness*. He quickly stopped his explanation to tell RX not to play with the bolts and RX protested that he nearly finished a castle he was working on. Quincy commented he had gotten very good at that and Sterling added that the two had also gotten very good at making bullets together, which summarized much of how the two days in the house had gone. Sterling called the experience annoying and when Quincy sniped back Twynn called them both annoying for only bitching at each other for two days. Sterling complained that Quincy oversimplified the magical complexity of spell bullets and Quincy argued they were just casting spells on gunpowder.

RX eventually cut into the noise to ask Twynn to go over what he had learned working on him the last two days. Twynn started by reminding them when he last saw RX he was still a semi-hollow shell, that when he originally built there were mechanisms to make him move faster and to disengage enemies with ease, but after seeing it was clear in RX’s finished design those were a waste removed those parts and replaced them with supplements to make him sturdier. Sterling commented his heavier footsteps and that it would be a pain to rewrite RX’s file and Quincy noted his second comment of files and asked if he really has a file on each of them. Sterling said of course he did, with Twynn also noting he had a file on both of them since they had been there, and Sterling asking if they knew how hard it was to cast spells on other people. Twynn said he had files to help when he was building machinery and used the statistics of other people to create more effective machines. Sterling asked if Quincy doesn’t have files and despite saying no, RX pointed out they kept journals which both Sterling and Twynn agreed were a type of file.

As Quincy reconciled with that, Sterling changed the topic and says “she”, referring to Tollanessa, knew what “the book” did and Tollanessa’s glowing orb came into the corner of his vision and requested they wait till they were on the ship, which Sterling agreed with. Tollanessa, through her mental connection to Sterling, activated *Ob's Charm* to suggest they talk on the ship and when the group agreed and Sterling suggested that was RX’s cue to say good-bye to “his father”, Twynn. As the party discussed if “father” was the right relation, RX ignored them and asked Twynn if there was anything else he should know and Twynn noted he had made him more conductive, aligned with how he liked electricity, which also acted as a buffer to diffuse energy to keep him from going pop. Twynn really recommended to know more RX should see Twynn’s father at the *Sra'jess Hot Springs* in the Principality of Pathu and asked if they had a map. Alaerith begrudgingly said he had one, pulled it out map from his bag and unrolled it to reveal the world map with two distinct red markings on it in *Rarkush* and another heading from *Rra'jaz* to *Gopjessez*. Quincy asked how long he had it as it would have been useful a few different times while RX asked about the red markings. Alaerith explained Ob gave it to him before they went to *Cessunaler* but ignored RX's question. Sterling also tried asking about the red marks, but Twynn interrupted as he took out a black pen and marked on the map where the *Sra'jess Hot Springs* are in the north, no more than what would be two day’s travel from *Vayilcor*. Twynn also noted they spoke of “the war priest” and some tried to brush it off, but when Twynn addressed him as both Ob and Velix Rex Ignis relented and confirmed that was who they meant. Alaerith pondered if everyone knew and Twynn said if they know history they did. Quincy mentioned they assumed Ob was a secretive name and that they should maybe be more careful to mention him in the future and Twynn said Ob was also friends with his father which was mostly how he knew. Twynn noted that Ob has been around for a long time and most everyone wanted to meet the champion of Rhizadeal.

Sterling suggested again they should make their leave and Twynn agreed, but quickly pulled out a small black box, handed it to RX and told him if he had any questions to use it. RX asked how to do so and Twynn said to call his name into the box. RX immediately tested it and the group heard his voice come out of Twynn's back pocket, to their confusion, before he pulled out another one. RX joked about Twynn talking out of his ass causing some to laugh. Alaerith went to roll up the map, but was stopped by Twynn who requested to see it again, marked another spot on the map in the *Badlands,* in the *Chasm of Spire,* told them it was where Ob was from, that it was a more desolate place then before and they could go if they wished to learn more about their friend. Quincy activated *Ob's Charm* and wondered if that could be where Ob was *Imprisoned* and *Buried* and Sterling suggested once more they return to the ship to talk. RX thanked Twynn for all of his help and the answers he was able to give and assured the man he would use the ability to communicate to ask many questions for the foreseeable future. Twynn again recommended RX visit his father since he was not the one to work on the things that truly powered RX and was unwilling to poke around as he did like living and keeping his shop in tact. RX said he had mentioned the Astral Plane several times and that it sounded interesting to visit, but was met by a chorus of voices suggesting otherwise. Sterling again asked to leave but when RX requested a bit longer Yashani tossed Sterling her new staff to keep him occupied. Sterling proceeded to cast Identify on it revealing it as a *Discordant Thunder Staff*, while Alaerith returned the *Bag of Holding* to RX. RX and Twynn wrapped up their good-byes before the party headed out of his home, out into the tundra to return to *Krak*.

The party returned to a mostly empty port, with the only ships appearing to be their own galleon and a few smaller trade ships. Flamecannon greeted them as they came onboard, noted they had been away for some time and when RX explained their absence was “soul searching” became interested when he learned the soul searching was related to RX. They party briefly explained RX knew exactly what his soul is, that being an Elder Tempest, and Flamecannon took a hesitant step back. They reassured him it was fine so long as RX was not knocked around too hard and Flamecannon immediately left to get a drink and asked for no one to rock the boat. Tollanessa asked Sterling if she could be let out, who then activated *Manifest Mind* to make her corporeal, and then suggested they find somewhere quiet. After deciding they needed privacy, and learning Tollanesa couldn't use *Ob's Charms* unless attached to Sterling, gathered in RX’s room, which was the captain’s quarters and took their places, with Alaerith slumped on the floor from his magic overuse of the past two days.

Tollanessa asked for the devil book and RX took it from the *Bag of Holding* and placed it on a table in the room at her request. Tollanessa referred to Quincy and their friend Bolton who had some innate abilities that Quincy seemed to have gained access to recently. Tollanessa said they had all noticed their recently acquired ability to use magic and when RX pointed out their hair noticeably changed Quincy argued they weren't trying to hide it. Sterling said they had gone over that Quincy needed to either learned magic or have an innate ability to do so without active difficulty, reiterating his earlier point they argued on, and Tollanessa said another way, as Quincy had done, gained power by making a deal. Tollanessa concluded Quincy signed something and Quincy, obviously unhappy to be under this sort of questioning and attention, admitted as much. Tollanessa explained contract magic and deals were very standard before she placed her hand on the devil book, said the book was the same and it was one of their contracts. She added that after looking at it that it was of the third layer, Minauros, run by it's leader Mammon, and bet her old human life she knew who's book it was. Alaerith asked how she could be certain and Tollanessa said the greedy and Mammon had specific tells and connections, that they were sneaky, drawn to it in a near insanity and surmised it belonged to Esmeria Swornguard based on her similar traits.

Alaerith asked what would happen if they opened the whole book and Tollanessa suspected either the magic contained in the book would spill out or it would simply be a contract. Bo wondered what the magic spilling out would mean and Tollanessa believed it would simply make a sort of signal or beacon Esmeria could then locate, but without opening it to read it was hard to say. Sterling asked if there was a way to open it safely, that he could cast *Nondetection* to hide it as they opened it to read and closed it before the spell ended, and Tollanessa said theoretically it could work. Quincy noted, with panic building in her voice, they were saying “theoretically” and what if, in theory, Esmeria came to them and Sterling gently reminded them this was how he and Tollanessa worked through things. Bo wondered if reading the contract was worth the risk of opening it and Sterling agreed it was something to consider. Sterling added it could have information on Esmeria, the same way Quincy’s contract would have information on their deal with Bolton, such as whether or not it was under duress, if the deal was parasitic or even explain why Esmeria was alive when she was supposed to be dead.

Bo and Yashani wondered what would happen if they just destroyed it and Alaerith suggested if might destroy Esmeria. Quincy noted the last time they destroyed a book it essentially summoned an Order of Ruin member and Alaerith pointed out that was only half of a book while the one they had was a full one. Tollanessa believed destroying the book could make it null and void and Sterling, citing if there was indeed a clause in her contract that brought her back from her original death, that she might die upon its destruction. Yashani said she didn't see a problem with that outcome, but Quincy reminded them Esmeria was the last known person to have *Tollanessa’s Sapphire* with Lysandra imprisoned inside and having her drop dead meant they would have no idea where it was. RX asked if they could use the book to track Esmeria and Sterling reiterated without reading the book, everything was a theory or a “maybe”, since they didn't know what was contained in the book, and for all they knew destroying the book simply made the deal a pact based on a sworn spoken word. Tollanessa suggested they keep the book to use it as leverage, if opening the book was a risk, they could just wait to dangle it in front of Esmeria the next time they saw her to see how much it was worth. RX wondered why their group couldn't ever come up with ideas like that and Tollanessa reminded she was once in a group very much like theirs and learned from them. Tollanessa added that based on her reaction they could see if it was worth destroying the book. Sterling suggested maybe Esmeria wanted them to destroy the book and Yashani pointed out Esmeria and the other Order of Ruin members were searching for the books and that if they wanted them this badly she doubted their goal was to destroy them.

This prompted Sterling to ask Quincy if their deal was something they had the ability to show them, clarifying they did not have to actually show them, but was something they had access to. Quincy stumbled a bit over their words before explaining they were not altogether sure of the terms of their contract because they did not exactly read it before signing and didn't know all they could do about it. RX asked if that meant Quincy was shown a physical copy to read, with Sterling questioning that they chose to not read it and Quincy explained the deal happened in a strange dream space Bolton brought them into. Alaerith activated *Ob’s Charm* and reached out to Bolton to ask if Quincy had a way able to access their contract with him and, after waiting a long moment in silence, Bolton replied, sounding ragged, that Quincy could will it and it would appear before the sound of him being brutally hit was heard and the connection cut. Alaerith, disturbed by the sound, quickly told Quincy to focus on the image similar to her illusory magic she had demonstrated. Quincy stood quiet for a moment, obviously upset as the sound of the hit rung in their mind, but pushed it away to focus and, after a moment, a small flame appeared in their palm which slowly burned brighter, became magma and finally revealed the contract, very similar to one of their journals, and embossed with Primordial which read "Pact of the Bullet Witch". As Alaerith looked to Quincy with a tired, yet small and proud smile while the others noticed the book was a good quarter of the size of Esmeria’s. Quincy started to skim the pages, but when Sterling began to approach, snatched the book out of his reach. Sterling apologized and assuring he was trying to make it more physical so they didn't have to continue to focus, as he assumed it was an illusion as they have demonstrated before, and Quincy rebutted him by saying it was pretty physical to them and smacked him in the chest with the very physical journal. Sterling sighed, said that he warned them before and cast *Grease* on them in retaliation. RX complained that this was his room and Quincy said if they thought Sterling could survive the hit they would shoot him before they asked Alaerith for help. RX insisted they move the conversation along while Alaerith tiredly stood up and cast *Prestidigitation* to clean them up.

Tollanessa noted it was a sign of a good relationship to be able to will their contract like that and Sterling agreed and noted that was the point he was hoping would be made, citing Esmeria couldn’t and had to go hunting for it. Yashani asked how many people tended to have good relationships with those that made this sort of deal with and when Tollanessa said Quincy and Sterling both had good relationships with beings that give them power clarified she meant deals with devils. Sterling said this was what they would need to keep in mind in using this as leverage and wondered if the original Esmeria would want to see the book destroyed, while in her current, corrupted form post-contract she would instead protect it. Sterling noted it was only a suggestion and the man in *The Underdark* who died, Kilick, might have known and Quincy party pointed out Kilick would have not known her recently other than the few visits in which he identified her as acting different, while Yashani said Charles probably knew her best most recently. Quincy added that Charles only knew her up to the point at which she supposedly died and Sterling noted it had been nine years of being in contract since then, considering the age of the *Plane Shift* circle they found in the ruins of the *Castle Vintorvas* and that the book might hold the history of that timeframe between. Sterling congratulated the group and saying this feels like the biggest break they have had in a while and Tollanessa wondered what they should do now. Sterling suggested the red marks on Alaerith's map before he handed back Yashani’s new staff and explains, from his earlier cast of *Identify*, that it had the ability to deal additional thunder damage.

Sterling wondered if anyone would benefit most from not being caught off guard and when Quincy suggested RX as he did not need to sleep RX explained, since being *Awakened,* had progressively needed such things and, while he could stay awake in a *Sentry's Rest* sometimes, needed to sleep about once every three days to recharge. Sterling asked who has the best physical awareness already and Quincy pointed to Yashani, while Alearith pointed to Bo. Alaerith suggested that Bo would do good with the *Ear Cuff of the Vampire Bat,* but when Sterling attempted to clip it on watched it slip through Bo’s mostly incorporeal form when he did not focus on it. Quincy pointed out the stone that floated around the head might be better and Sterling handed the *Ioun Stone of Awareness* to him. Quincy asked for the ear cuff and Sterling agreed it might be a good fit for either them or Yashani before noting it certainly could not be him as he needed glasses to see and his hearing was quite bad as well. Quincy agreed the ear cuff appeared to be more their style anyhow and Sterling told them it would enhance their hearing, though Quincy picked up he was keeping something from them and warned him not to try and lie. Sterling eventually explained the ear cuff would draw blood in exchange for it's use, but Quincy shrugged it off as a fair enough trade for the assistance.

Alaerith asked who had Ob’s bandages and Quincy noted they did and pulled them out, along with the three charms still stowed within it, at Alaerith's request. Alaerith asked if either Bo or Sterling could tell if there were any magic within them to see if they were special like the Skein Witch's wraps and when Sterling cast *Identify* on them found they allowed the attuned user to teleport themselves 15 feet away from danger in a tense moment and could use their *Ob's Charm* at an indefinite range. Sterling also cast *Identify* on Bolton’s bowler hat and discovered it would give a gun user an even steadier aim, granting advantage on ranged attacks. Sterling gave the hat to Quincy, explained what they did and, after the group decided between RX and squishy wizard, Sterling took the wraps. Sterling started to wrap the bandages around one arm, but realized there was still a significant amount of length to go and stripped out of his shirt to cross the bandages to his other arm. Quincy called him very scrawny and suggested he try working out with Yashani and Sterling tried to argue he was lean and nimble while he asked for Quincy’s help to wrap his chest, though they were rather rough about it.

Yashani asked when they planned to set sail and RX asked if there was anything else they needed to do before that as well. Sterling offered that there was no reason to not stop by his home before they left and could take some furniture to make the journey more comfortable. Yashani wondered if it wouldn’t be missed and Sterling reminded her his mother was missing and his father was currently on his last tour of the country, as he retired from the military and would be saying his various good-byes at least another couple of months, so they would have time to return it or explain the absence of items. Sterling offered to contact his father and ask him but the party didn't push it as Sterling admitted he didn't really want to tell his father about what is going on anyway.

Quincy said they needed to talk to Flamecannon, left the room and found him on the deck drinking. Quincy checked in that he hadn’t put any more holes in the ship, citing that they got concerned when he drunk, and Flamecannon noted he concerned himself when he drunk and admitted he had a problem when Quincy asked why he did. Quincy admitted it was weird to remember he is a high end political leader, that they had heard stories about him and come to find he was like this and he reminded her he had been out of politics for just as long. Quincy asked if he had visited Zofia and when he said he had spotted her Quincy wondered if he would go see her and find some work for the ship before they left, specifically “vague” work. Flamecannon clarified it wouldn’t be their typical shipment and when Quincy agreed finished his drink, said not to leave without and walked off of the ship. Quincy headed back to tell the others they may be able to earn a bit of coin.

Sterling asked where they intended to go when they left and Yashani recalled the *Dusterbyan Lighthouse* being of interest. At Sterling’s request Alaerith brought out the world map again and the group saw heading east along the coast could take them to the two red Xs, that Alaerith had yet to explain and claimed weren't important, but heading west would lead them to the port at the edge of the Puhan Trading Company, then around the *Maltrop Strip* and to *Eveed* where they would then need to continue on land to reach the lighthouse.

Yashani said there was something else they should decide, noted that Quincy’s old ship had a name and wondered if this ship needed one. Quincy said it does, though Sterling pointed out the ship has its placeholder name of “Galleon 84B” which RX seemed content with. Quincy said a ship’s name should represent what the ship meant to the people on it and asked if anyone has any ideas. Sterling said Quincy noted a few ideas while they waited for the others to return and Quincy offered that Tabernacle’s ship had been home to him, Quincy's had always seen *The Misty Moon* as a safe harbor and in that vein they might call it *Sanctuary.* Quincy did add that the group did not have to indulge her sentimentality and RX called it a perfectly reasonable idea. Sterling agreed while it may not mean home, it certainly meant something to this group, something safe and nicely aligned with their goals as the Order of Restoration. Yashani said she did not have experience naming large things that float, which Sterling pointed out that "name" could be an option, and Yashani was inclined to defer to those with experience. Quincy wasn’t sure if “large thing that floats” could be painted on the side very well before mentioning with a name also came a figurehead, but noted she wasn’t very good with woodworking as that was Kerrack’s hobby. Yashani excitedly announced she was quite proficient in woodcarving and Sterling offered magical assistance in the large scale while she handled the finer details. When it came to ideas of what the figurehead should be of, Yashani noted a literal house may be strange and while RX suggested a lantern which was also met with disagreement. Quincy suggested a lantern and Yashani said they might as well just put a real lantern up in that case. Sterling asked about animals and suggested Nubbi, which was a bit of a sore subject, or Hobble and when Yashani suggested Bluteber may be an option Quincy agreed it was more intimidating then the other mentioned ones. Sterling asked what that was and Yashani and Quincy explained it was Killian’s boar who had been the mascot of his own ship and the incident of property damage in *Cessunaler*. Alaerith suggested, after a little bit of prodding, in line with *Sanctuary* maybe a shield and RX suggested a tortoise Shell which Alaerith agreed and noted Seren would like knowing he was still protecting the group. With the group in agreement Yashani said she would sketch some concepts for them to pick from later.

*(At this point in the VOD, Zach tried to discuss as Sterling, what type of group the party would be. This group type is a mechanic that Darrin had asked the cast to work on which would give each party member particular abilities and the group as a whole special abilities based on the group type chosen. There was no good way to summarize the very meta chaos that was this portion of the group’s discussion. Chaos starts at 1:40:34 and Zach teleports us two days ahead - Haelley)*

The next two days were spent ferrying various odds and ends of furniture and supplies onto the ship, with Quincy also having taken a few dozen books, with most of it fiction, while Sterling had taken as much of his family’s library in the various extra dimensional spaces as he could. Over the course of the two days Alaerith went on his own, bought a finely made carpenter’s tools kit, had it engraved with Yashani’s name and when he found it safe left it outside of her room. Yashani found it the next morning and, while confused, appreciated it, spent the next hour asking each of party member if it was them with no direct answers in the end. Flamecannon also returned that day with a *decent sized chest*, along with a bag of *100 gold*, from Zofia, said the chest needed to be taken to *Vayilcor* and they were not to open it. While the others found this odd Quincy shrugged it off and admitted most of her and Flamecannon’s work revolved around “don’t ask, don’t tell” as you couldn't lie about what you did not know.

With everything in place Sterling suggested they spend their last night in *Krak* celebrating and decide to head to *Rug’s Tavern*. The party, Flamecannon and Charles all prepared to leave, except for Luntz and Bo who decided to stay back, with Bo citing he had business in the brig to tend to. Yashani hoped it involved letting Nubbi out of the cage and Bo said they would see. As RX wondered if foxes could drink alcohol the group left and soon burst into the already lively *Rug’s* *Tavern*. Charles waved down the barkeep for the first round of drinks as Flamecannon suggested they find somewhere to sit. The group found a large booth in a back corner as a band plays on the stage they first saw Charles battle against and get smacked in the face with a lute by the bard Bumbleskutz. As they sat Charles returned with the first round of drinks, including oil for RX, and everyone drank the first ale of the night. Sterling, with pinky extended, took longer than the rest and RX activated *Telekinetic Movement* to tip the bottom of Sterling’s tankard and force him to drink faster causing the ale to slip past his chin and on his shirt.

Amidst several people teasing him Sterling asked Yashani if she could take “him”, pointing to the very large Goliath bartender, and Quincy immediately warned anyone off from messing with the bartender as rule number one of tavern crawls. Charles got Sterling’s attention and called him a bitch as he cast *Vicious Mockery* which Sterling failed to resist. Sterling in retaliation cast *Phantasmal Force* on Charles, which he failed to resist, causing him to believe the Goliath bartender was making fun of his mother. Charles angrily got up and storm up to the bar angrily yelling for him to stop and cast *Vicious Mockery* on him as he went. Quincy quickly followed, tried to pull him away and barely managed to keep him from continuing forward until RX helped, all while Charles continued to try and fight the bartender. Quincy tried distracting Charles, but when that proves fruitless smiled at the bartender as they paid the them *three silver* to not beat Charles up and the bartender accepted it. Quincy paid for the next round as RX failed to cast *Shocking Grasp* to knock Charles out of the spell, which only ended when Sterling finally dropped *Phantasmal Force*. Sterling told Charles he was the one talking shit and when Quincy suggested Charles if still wanted to punch someone it should be Sterling Sterling kept out of arm distance. Charles whistled a little discordant tune and cast *Dissonant Whispers*, which Sterling failed to resist, before threatening if they were outside Sterling would have been shot with an exploding arrow. Sterling pressed on with being an ass and Charles failed to to smack him as Sterling used *Ob’s Bandages* to teleport 15 feet away, but though he avoided the attack bamphed backwards into a group of people, knocked someone’s drink over and was bodily moved out of the group.

Those back at the table watched as Yashani laughed the entire time, never having been more amused, while Quincy and the others came back to the table with another round. As they continued to drink Quincy asked if anyone wanted to play poker and managed to get everyone to buy in with a bit of peer pressure for *five gold*, with *four gold* for Alaerith who was just under. In the game to follow Quincy shamelessly cast *Cheat* to win the first round, though Sterling caught on as he cast *Detect Magic,* but didn't call it out as he won the next two rounds, earning Quincy *11 gold* and Sterling *23 gold.*

Quincy thanked them for the winnings which she now intends to use to swindle other people in larger games, but Sterling stopped them and drunkenly offered the *Ring of Rooster* to slip on someone's hand and transform them so she could steal their gold. Quincy pointed out the goal of swindling was to not make it obvious you were swindling someone and Yashani drunkenly commented that she found Sterling-Chicken very funny to see. Quincy exclaimed that they still hadn’t seen that, turned to Sterling and failed to shove the ring back onto his hand. Sterling slipped away, cast *Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere* on himself and Quincy said they would just wait him out, while Yashani tried to convince Sterling it would be funny and that Tollanessa would love it for research. Sterling activated *Manifest Mind* to make Tollanessa corporeal and ask her opinion, but finding herself trapped in a bubble cast *Dispel* to stop it. The moment the sphere dropped RX and Yashani pinned Sterling down and Quincy leaped into the fray, slipped the ring onto his finger as he squirmed, and in a small pop of magic instantly *Polymorphed* into Sterling the Rooster once more. Quincy and Yashani clapped excitedly before Quincy picked Sterling up to inspect him while he clucked angrily and while they ignored the stares of other patrons. Sterling pecked at Quincy, but as if they knew it was coming Quincy instinctively cast *Mage Armor* forming a magical protection as rippling electricity ran over them, to Alaerith's notice, and deflected the rooster's peck. Quincy shrugged it off, put Sterling under their arm and headed to the bar to get more drinks.

The scene switched back to the ship, where Bo had waited some time but eventually made his way to the brig in the cargo hold of the ship. As he situated himself in front of the cell door Bo cast *Speak with Animals*, retold the story of going to *Qho’sovo* as well as the Skein Witch about his predicament. He admitted he didn’t tell her for her input, but over their time traveling together prior to how it was now had gotten used to telling her those sorts of things. Nubbi expressed her condolences, which Bo appreciated before asking if Nubbi had any knowledge on what it could mean. Nubbi said she didn't know anything herself, but Avia would, the Champion of Kenala who put Nubbi on the task of watching over the group and Bo. Bo mirthlessly chuckled as he realizes he didn't know if he would have time to do so before asking if they could find her to or a way to reach out to her and Nubbi said there was a way to reach out before, but not since she had been punished. Bo sarcastically told Nubbi she had been very helpful and Nubbi said she was being honest. Bo asked if she had put any thought how she might return to normal and she pointed out that information was hard to come by when she was locked in a cage. Bo sighed before he unlocked the brig, told her she didn't have to follow him or with the group, that she could leave if she wanted and Nubbi said despite being kept in a box she did enjoy it with them. She also added she would likely be hunted if she were to leave as three tailed foxes were quite a sight.

Nubbi noted that she smelled alcohol as Bo heard the sounds of the party returning to the ship, shouting and stumbling around on deck. The two headed up and RX noted that being the designated driver was very annoying as he tried to coral the drunken members of the party together. RX asked if Bo could help put them all to bed and though Bo was unsure how helpful he could be agreed to try. As they talked and their voices overlap a flash of magic and Quincy, who had previously been carrying a rooster under their arm, was now holding a whole Sterling before the sudden weight toppled them and both fell in a heap on the deck. Tollanessa appeared to tell him they were a chicken for too long while Quincy complained that they thought they had to kick him to put him back. Yashani shrugged and said they waited too long while Sterling complained that returning to binocular vision was difficult. Quincy swayed up to their feet, reached out for Bo and demanded they dance since he did not go out drinking and, after a moment, Bo sighed with a smile, complied as he focused to stay corporeal and took their hands to dance.

1. ↑ Ian retrained his one level in Rogue and took his 8th level in Fighter, giving him the necessary ASI to take the Tough feat
2. ↑ Extradimensional storage space
3. ↑ When making a Perception check that relies on hearing, you can take 1d4+4 piercing damage as the vampire bat bites into your ear and gain that as a bonus to your roll
4. ↑ The attuned user cannot be surprised
5. ↑ The world map given to Alaerith by Ob, along with the dagger from his friend in "Trust"
6. ↑ +1 to attack and damage; if you roll max damage, roll the die again and do that roll in additional thunder damage; requires attunement by a monk
7. ↑ The title of the book as they discovered it in the *Nij’a* ruins
8. ↑ As seen in "Lost Friends & New Allies (The Ballad of Bo & Gal - Part 5)"
9. ↑ Jessa as Yashani said she was “attuned to the maximum number of items”, toeing the line on what could be considered meta knowledge, which of course makes the cast laugh a lot
10. ↑ Round Two of going meta with Jessa toeing the meta line with that she wasn't attuned to the maximum number of items
11. ↑ Having revealed in "Captain Flame Cannon" that he was the decades missing Pirate King Drygong, one of three that rule over the pirate city of *Zhai*
12. ↑ Round Three of going meta with Jessa toeing the meta line with saying she is “proficient in carpenter’s tools”
13. ↑ Final Round of meta as everyone tried to prod it was poor sea elf who bought it.
14. ↑ A cantrip created by Mage Hand Press in *Valda’s Spire of Secrets* that lets you reroll any ability

check you make to play nonmagical games of skill.