Ep. 5 - Getting Schooled, Mvt. I

Back at Strumlotts and ready to explore, the bards rest up, fuel up, and practice up with some familiar and not-so-familiar acquaintances.

## Plot

The episode begins with Kyle (who accidentally calls Raz’ul “Roz’ul” throughout the episode) telling the bards they’ve leveled up before they head to find their dorms.

They enter a large common room with a number of elevators and spires along a wall. Each spire (there are four in total) is shaped like a different instrument, a flute, a clarinet, an oboe, and a bassoon respectfully. Following their key card, they head to their dorm: Bassoon floor three pad four.

The dorm has a common area, a small cooking area, and individual rooms. Randy puts up some Rouge Rock genre band posters, including the “Rouging Stones” and “Stealing Dans”. Randy also puts up a wooden box with a carving of the Hemp Hills. Yashee  puts up posters of the bands “The Pixes” and “The Unihorn”. She puts up a portrait of James Vandersneak above her bed, and a spoon rack (arranged by sound). Raz’ul decorates with a vintage travel poster of Mount Tain, and a “Fern Golley” signed poster, given by Fern Golley himself. Nick also mentions Raz’ul’s love of potpourri for the first time.

Raz’ul calls Symbol on the Ira Glass, with the goal of learning more about their ensemble magic. Symbol informs them that now that they’re instruments are attuned to another allows them to use the words of their song as a way to manipulate the world around them. He comments that he did not realize they would be in a position where it would be used and apologizes for putting them in a situation where their lives were at risk.

Randy notices a pamphlet on a nearby desk containing a layout of the school featuring the cafeteria (the cafetorium), library, basement/storage, practice areas, and dorms. Yashee suggests stopping by the cafeteria for a meal, as she has gotten quite hungry.

They find their way to the cafeteria, there is a window to place their order at and a multitude of glass tables set atopt stands made of cut tubas. Before ordering, Raz’ul notices Tabitha eating at a table. A cook comes out when the three approach the window and introduces himself as Alto Brown and tells them they need to sing their order. Their instruments do not glow for this performance.

The bards head over to Tabitha, who is finishing her breakfast. Tabitha asks how they’ve been doing and apologizes for Gareth’s behavior as they are in the same note class. She invites them to come spar with her latter before heading to the practice rooms. While eating Symbol calls the bards on an Ira Glass and instructs them to go to the library to get something from Mr. Reed. Deciding to head to the library latter, Chaos Sauce makes their way to the combat practice rooms to find Tabitha.

Tabitha sets up a wooden golem to make the groups fairer (2 against 3 rather than 3 against 1). Tabitha goes first, trying a new spell using a flute like instrument. She attempts to create a crown of thorns above Raz’ul, who glares it away. Randy summons Eddie Izzard the Giddy Wizard to cast *firebolt* at the wood golem but misses. Retaliating, the golem swings at Randy’s tummy. Yashee goes into a rage attacking the golem with her hammer mallets. On his turn, Raz’ul transforms into a normal scorpion, running and landing on Tabitha’s waist. Tabitha creates black tendrils from her body, swatting Raz’ul away and transforming him back into a dwarf. The battle continues with a mix of magic and melee attacks, featuring Raz’ul transforming (again) into a swarm of rats. Tabitha casts *thunderwave* (understandably, as she is now covered in rats), pushing back all three of the bards.

While transformed, Raz’ul smells a strange scent. Described by Kyle as a “tangy smokey sauce”. Raz’ul notices the smell is the magic from they are instruments and brings it to the others attention. Tabitha, meanwhile, emanates a dark energy and her voice changes into a split tone. Her eyes grey over, light from the room backlights her shadow, which morphed into the shape of an unknown ancient monster. While the voice is still talking, her mouth is no longer moving. The three bards stare and Yashee calls Tabitha’s name, which snaps her out of her stupor. Tabitha immediately asks if they’re all okay, before rushing out the door.

After processing what has happened, the bards head back to the dorm and play a song of rest in order to recover from the practice fight.  Kyle instructs Raz’ul and Yashee to go to their dorm room (Meaning for Nick and Ali to physically leave the room) in order to talk to Randy. Randy feels a voice in the back of his mind telling him to add a scent to Raz’ul’s potpourri. Randy attempts to shake it off, but fails a wisdom saving throw. He then mixes in hair from his feet before heading off to bed.

## Song - "Alto Brown's Orders"

### Chord Dice

* C as given
* D minor
* C (times 3)

### Drum kit

* heads
* 87 - jazz walts 1
* kit 81 - techno 4

### Lyrics

**Randy:*
I’ve got the hunger, that sweet halfling hunger.

Give me all your waffles and Randy’ll be fine.

Alto:

I’ll curb that hunger and you’ll never want another.

Waffles coming back, and be sure to use the sweet maple butter!

Who’s next?

Ra’zul:

I’m not a picky dwarf, I’ve been living out in the woods.

A chef special, Alto Brown, would leave Ra’zul feeling mighty, mighty good.

Alto:

Well you’re out of the woods now, so it’s time for some good foods.

Boys, the chef special. Braised boar and beignets!

Next please.

Yashee:

I’m hungry today so I’ll start with three sandwiches,

Don’t care what’s on ‘em as long as there’s meat.

Do you have any fruit? No on second thought,

I’ll have tusk soup with a juice and a whole block of cheese.

Alto:

Quick boys, three sandwiches, tusk soup, and a block of cheese, chop chop!

That all sounds good.

Are you sure there’s nothing else?

When I’m your cook, you are the boss.

Sauce, smothered in sauce.*