C2 E75

I mean come on!? As heroes we have to set boundaries between what is good killing and what is bad. And this druid is really stretching our boundaries right now.

## **Story**

### Long Story

Faelia Emberbrew has been defeated. She tells the others that if they kill her, they'll also be killing her son, Thaldin. Selene assures her that they have no intentions of killing her, but that they do need answers. Faelia gives those answers. For years, she had been studying the Myconid people, the way they live, operate, think. Then, one day, Thaldin took ill. Searching for a cure, Faelia found none. Though she was able to find, through experimentation, that she could help Thaldin feel better using a certain potion. Unfortunately, this potion could only be brewed by using a certain gland found in the brains of the Myconid. Doubly unfortunately, removing the gland is what causes the Myconid to become zombie-like husks of their former selves. She didn't intend on making them hostile and evil, it was just a by-product of her trying to save her son. She does admit to making this most recent zombie, though. The powder she poured into its brain? That was a "Turn Myconid Into Zombie Hulk" powder. Every druid has a pouch or two of that lying around.

But why, they ask, does she feel the right to do these things to the Myconid. By extracting the glands, she's essentially killing them. Faelia, however, feels that these creatures are not real people. They rely on base instincts, they're not as civilized as other species. Also, they eat Faelia's poop, which is just icky. The party agrees that that's gross, but not as gross as Faelia's obvious bigotry toward the Myconid.

Faelia offers them a deal: if they help her continue her work, she'll help them by giving them powerful potions. She can craft Potions of Eternal Life for them, but to do it, she'll need to extract the gland of the mother of the Myconid. She's underneath the village, and she needs their help in getting to her. They decide to take this whole situation to Sporelin, and get his opinions on this whole thing. He absolutely forbids them to go see the Myconid mother, because that would kill her. That would mean the end of the Myconid people, since that's the only way Myconid are born; through the mother. The party agrees, but also, they don't really want the death of Thaldin on their hands... Hmm, it's a conundrum.

Sporelin wants to put Faelia on trial for her crimes, and if she were to be found guilty (which is almost a certainty), her punishment would be that she'd be *turned into mushroom food and eaten!* Holy shit! That's brutal! As for Thaldin, they swear to take care of him to the best of their abilities. This is concerning. Does that mean they're going to feed him poop, since that's what they think food is? Probably. Uh oh. The party probably shouldn't leave this kid here. But they also don't want to adopt him and bring him along on their adventures. Hmmm... Much to think about.

Well, either way, they'll need Thaldin, so T'Chuck and Screech return to the Emberbrew house to get him. Meanwhile, R'Oarc and Selene stay with Faelia, and try to get more information out of her. Most of that information is that she doesn't view the Myconid as real people. R'Oarc argues that they have thoughts and free will, but Faelia counters that they don't use that free will for anything useful anyway. Real cool, Faelia, you sound like a lot of fun. Not. lol

Back at the Emberbrew estate, T'Chuck speaks with Thaldin, who now has a Tiny Tim voice. He attempts to heal the boy using magic, but is unable. Meanwhile, Screech is exploring. He finds, beneath the dining table, a secret entrance to a laboratory. It's horrible down here. A Myconid corpse is stapled to the wall, dissected for studying. Vials and beakers litter every table, with strange and bizarre concoctions inside. Most are unlabled, clearly still in development. But there are a few vials that are labeled. These seem finished, so Screech scoops them up to take with him. There are four *Potions of Superior Healing*, one *Potion of Longevity*, one *Potion of Vitality*, and a *Potion of Maximum Power*.

Screech returns to Thaldin, and asks if Faelia ever actually tried using any of these potions on him. He says that she has. They taste awful, and never make him any better. Alright, well, they tell him to pack his things; they're leaving. His mom isn't coming back, she's under arrest. Obviously, this upsets the boy, but he quickly begins to accept these two as his new mommy. They resist this. T'Chuck picks Thaldin up, and they return to town.

Everyone together again, T'Chuck suggests to Sporelin that they detain Faelia. She's dangerous, and they can't have her getting away. Perhaps it would be a good idea to keep her alive, so that the Myconid can continue to eat her poop. I hate that I had to type that sentence. But what about Thaldin? If he stays here, the fear is that Faelia will continue attempting her plot to harvest Myconid glands, in search of a cure. But, again, they really really don't want to take Thaldin with them. They'll have to find a way to cure him themselves.

And so, with Sporelin agreeing to keep Faelia secure, the party leaves town, with Thaldin in tow. As they walk away, T'Chuck snatches the *Potion of Longevity*, and downs it. He immediately has 9 years removed from his age, putting him at a spry 49 years young.

### Short

Faelia has been harvesting Myconid brain glands in an effort to find a cure for her son. The party has Faelia arrested, and then takes Thaldin for themselves, with the intention of finding a cure. T'Chuck makes himself 9 years younger.

## **Trivia**

* Faelia's name is spelled "Faelia".
* The Potion of Eternal Life would, mechanically, be a Potion of Vitality, which would give each of them a permanent +2 to their Constitution.
* Michael says that the party hasn't spoken to Thaldin yet. This is not true. They investigated the Emberbrew home and met Thaldin back in Episode 73.
* The *Potion of Maximum Power* maxes out damage rolls, and spells.
* T'Chuck says, of Thaldin, that he's "not Bucky-material", which is a weird phrase they say that no one knows the origins of...
* Thaldin is stated as being 9 years old. He was previously 12 years old in Episode 73. Maybe he drank some of that *Potion of Longevity* that T'Chuck drank. Hey, speaking of which...
* T'Chuck's age is lowered by 9 years, putting him at 49 years old. This means he was 58 years old prior to this.

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

### **Cast and Player Characters**

* Michael DiMauro - *Dungeon Master*
* Tim Lanning - T'Chuck
* Jennifer Cheek - Selene von Esper
* Nika Howard - R'Oarc
* Mike Bachmann - Beholder-doodle (Screech Echo)

### **Non-Player Characters**

* Faelia Emberbrew
* Sporelin
* Thaldin Emberbrew

### **Locations**

* The Underground
	+ Fungarum

### **Quest Board**

* [On-Hold] - Investigate the mysterious goings-on to the east
* [NEW][Active] - Find a cure for Thaldin Emberbrew
* [Complete] - ~~Save the Myconid people~~
* [Active] - Restore Mineford to it's true potential
	+ [Optional] - Reforge the Path to Morendarith
	+ [Optional] - Bring a load of ale to the newly opened Goblin city of Thornhaven
* [On-hold] - Investigate "Bill, the Necromancer", in the far off city by the coast
* [On-hold] - Take the disembodied lips to the oceanfront, for a burial at sea
* [Selene] - Come up with a name for her Hound of Ill Omen

### **Quotes**

* **"I think Selene could host *Fresh Air*..."** ~ *Mike Bachmann*

* **"But, she brings us gifts, and lets us eat our poopies!"** ~ *Sporelin*

* **"I myself have been a pig, so I might have a problem with it."** ~ *Selene von Esper*

* **"Who the *fuck* is Gertie?!"** ~ *Beholder-doodle/Screech Echo*

* **"Who the *fuck* is Bucky?!"** ~ *Beholder-doodle/Screech Echo*

## **Rolls**

* **Selene** rolls *Persuasion* to get Faelia to spill the beans. The mushroom beans - 26
	+ Success - She explains her whole thing.

* **T'Chuck** rolls *Medicine* to see if he can heal Thaldin - Nat 1
	+ He doesn't do that.

* **Screech** rolls *Investigation* to search the Emberbrew residence, and find any clues - 19
	+ He find a trapdoor underneath the dinner table, leading to the basement.

* **Selene** rolls *Deception* to say that Ratma Ritmo would be a good guardian for Thaldin - 18
	+ She's able to say it, but Faelia doesn't care

* **T'Chuck** rolls to see how much younger he becomes, after drinking his *Potion of Longevity* - 3
	+ His age decreases by 9 years, and he is now 49 years young