188: Guys, Did You See What I Just Did To Him?

## Summary

The party try to help remove Batthwack's newly stuck crown, but can't. They continue on their way back to Norton and it starts snowing, to the surprise of roughly half the party. Will inadvertently summons Curtis and has the group tell him that he's trying to get home. Back in Norton the group debrief the Rainbow Trout about their completed mission, receive their *Water Breathing* ability and learn about the Aeonian Anglerfish in Beartoggle.

## Synopsis

Mo has a go at removing the crown from Batthwack's head, but he cannot. Mo wants to try and pry it off with a knife, but Dew says he thinks Batthwack's crown is flattering and the group agree. They investigate the crown and Will quizzes him about the events leading up to him wearing it. Batthwack insists that he just touched it and it was on his head, still not mentioning the god he met. Will wonders if they are still trapped in Barovia and Batthwack suggests it could be the other way around; that maybe some of Barovia escaped. Raphina hypothesises about wormholes in the spacetime continuum and nobody knows what she's talking about. Batthwack puts his *Robe of Eyes* back on but doesn't see anything unusual.

Will asks Dew if anything happened to him and he says it didn't, he just removed some of the grabby triangles from himself. Will casts *True Strike* on Dew pretending he's just wondering if he's still drunk, but he's really trying to get some insight into Dew's character. Dew sees through the lie and realises what Will's trying to do, so offers up some information about his childhood freely.

Batthwack asks Will if the crown bothers him and he says it doesn't. *"You can be King of Barovia,"* says Will, who's keen to clear up that he was not going to betray everyone back in Castle Ravenloft. Raphina hugs Will and he tries to avoid it, but can't.

Hilula speaks up, asking Dew about who raised him because she hasn't heard of gnomes. Brom also hasn't heard of gnomes. Will is surprised that they wouldn't have heard of them because there are gnomes in Tivoli and Dew is confused because Harry told him about a gnomish village just outside Norton and he shows them the pouch of gold coins he found. Brom says that was Harry's story, but nobody every believed him. He says there's never been a village south of Norton that he can recall. Will says that he'd never heard of Barovia and asks if anyone else had. They hadn't, except Dew of course, who is from there. Dew assures Will that he is real, shaking him by the shoulders. Will says that maybe Barovia appeared into their world and messed things up, like the money getting heavier, the airship crashing, people speaking in weird voices and Batthwack being king. Raphina says she can barely carry her money any more and asks Dew to carry it for her.

They get back on their lizard mounts and head off again towards Norton. On the way they stop to make camp and settle down for the night. Dew casts his *Cordon of Arrows* spell again as protection and they set a watch, but Will, Raphina, Batthwack and Dew find that once again they cannot sleep. Everyone else sleeps. The night passes without event and in the morning everyone feels rested, despite not having slept.

Soon after dawn, when they're getting back on the lizard mounts to set off again, it starts snowing. Will is freaking out, but Brom says that's normal for around here; it can snow even when the weather is warm. Dew and Raphina disagree, but Hilula and Mo back up Brom. Captain Clockface is also surprised by the snow. Dew says it seems like they're not as close to home as they thought and Will has a sinking feeling.

Will pulls out Curtis' Punching Dagger', vanishes and is replaced by Curtis. Everyone is startled, especially those party members who have not encountered him before. Batthwack draws his sword. Will brings himself back, saying *"I did not think that was going to happen!"* Will wonders if he could send a message to Tivoli by getting the party to speak to Curtis. Raphina agrees to help and Will grabs the dagger again to summon Curtis. Raphina introduces herself but before she can ask anything, Batthwack interrupts to ask if *"Will is actually rich?"* Curtis replies *"Yes."* Raphina asks if Curtis just came from Tivoli and he says yes. Raphina tells Curtis that Will is coming home. Curtis wants to know when Will is going to be home, but Raphina can't say. She says he's trying to get home. Curtis chats to Batthwack who asks him about gods in Tivoli. Curtis tells Battwhack about Zol Berdia. Raphina asks Curtis if he's ever heard of Barovia and he says he hasn't. He says he's heard of Beartoggle (Region) and Gully's End, but hasn't been there. They ask him whether he knows any gnomes and Curtis says he does. Curtis becomes a bit nervous about all these questions, but Raphina reassures him. Batthwack asks Curtis if he remembers fighting Baba Lysaga and he says he does. He had thought it was a dream. Before they can ask any more questions Will brings himself back.

They continue down the river and find themselves arriving at the eastern border of Norton. The townsfolk are out fishing and people start gathering around. Brom recounts their adventures, reassuring the townsfolk that Mo is a friend. They decide to go and see the Rainbow Trout straight away.

They head over to the Trout Temple and are met by Dim. Dew introduces himself and the other new members of the party: Hilula and Mo. Batthwack's money is still at the temple but it has got much heavier. Mo scampers up to The Rainbow Trout's cistern and peers in. When asked for *Potions of Water Breathing* so they can talk to The Rainbow Trout, Dim says he doesn't have any. Will smells a rat and begins to wonder if this was all a con. Mo sticks his head in the water anyway and Will brain texts The Rainbow Trout saying *"We're here. We killed Chilchirah."* and he hears a reply *"Excellent. Come talk to me."* Will is not convinced but tells Batthwack to stick his head in, which he does. Mo is having a lively conversation with The Rainbow Trout. Will gestures to Dew and Raphina to follow suit and they do. The Rainbow Trout assures them *"As you can see, you are in no danger of drowning. I keep my promises, do I not?"* so Dew tells Will to join in and begrudgingly he does.

The party tell The Rainbow Trout of Chilchirah's strange comments about Savnok the Inscrutable and there being a demon among them. The Rainbow Trout says he does not recognise the name Savnok. Will says he doesn't trust The Rainbow Trout and casts *True Strike* on him, allowing him to discern that The Rainbow Trout is a very old being not of this earth, who likes helping people. Raphina asks The Rainbow Trout if it's possible that they're in a parallel existence. The Rainbow Trout says that there are many planes of existence and it is possible to travel between them. He tells them of his fears for the state of the world and that something is happening which is causing him to shed his scales. He says that away to the southeast, he can usually hear the presence of the Aeonian Anglerfish, who he describes as a very powerful force. He says that lately however everything that direction has been blank. Southeast is the direction of Beartoggle. The Rainbow Trout says *"I would recommend you seek out the Aeonic one. He has the ability to warp the very threads of reality himself. He may have some insight into what is happening."* He explains that the Aeonian Anglerfish can *"spin back time like the hands of a mini clock"* and Dew recalls their conversations with people who think Strahd lived hundreds of years ago. The Rainbow Trout tells them that The Aeonian Anglerfish can even bring life back to those long dead.

Will asks if there are any animal gods who live in luxury and The Rainbow Trout says the Divine Monkey lives very well in Carnivar. Dew insists that he wishes to go and see The Aeonian Anglerfish because he thinks it could help him find his family. Will agrees that heading down river to Beartoggle and away from the wilderness they're in now is likely to help him get towards Tivoli. Hilula says *"I think we were going there anyway, weren't we?"* Mo asks if he can come along with them. Hilula insists that Raphina should tell Will about Beartoggle since he won't believe what she says. Will says he trusts Hilula (he's lying). They mention the Scarlet Market in Beartoggle where there are entertainments, shows, dancing and "karaokay", where *"you listen to a recording of someone singing and you have to play all the instruments around it."* Hilula also mentions Tinkertown, a world-renowned area for crafts people of many different trades. Will likes the idea of having fine things made for himself, so he also agrees to go.

## Trivia

* The episode title quotes Eric as the Rainbow Trout. Will is cross-examining The Trout about his life, suspecting he may be one the "depraved gods". He then rejects this line of questioning because it isn't going anywhere. The Rainbow Trout asks if he's just deflecting because Will thinks he's been rumbled. Will says *"What are you talking about?"* *"You just seem like a highly suspicious person."* explains The Trout. *"I am!"* exclaims Will. The Trout says *"Just trying to speak to the type of person you are."* Will realises the cross-examiner has now become the examinee. *"Wait a second. Now I'm all fucked up guys."* he says. Turning to the rest of the group, The Trout says *"Guys, did you see what I just did to him? Pretty great, right?"*

## Episode Sponsor

*Main article: The Adverts of Pork Fried Dice*
This episode was brought you by the *Acid Splash* spell, *"Treat your body to the natural 20 vitamins and minerals that are in every serving of acid splash."*