Heralds E2

Heralds-E2 Transcript

RUSSELL: Welcome back to Spawn of Chaos' first campaign the Heralds of Wayinar, episode two. In our last episode we left our heroes in a precarious position, on the edge of a cliff after just having witnessed Sorrel leap into the ocean with monsters on the cliff above them bearing down. You already saw how messy and hairy that encounter got. Undead pouring up through the jungle up the mountainside towards them and the ocean in front of them. It is a question. What will they do? How will they get out of this situation? Where will this go next? So…For this episode, we are doing something a little bit different and a little bit special. Full transparency to you the audience, one of our staple players is, due to no one's fault but unforeseen circumstances that are extremely difficult, is going to be parting ways with us, and so this episode is going to be a send-off for them. So, if this seems to take a little bit of a different narrative structure, I hope you understand and appreciate, um, this character and the story as much as we appreciate Matt. And without further ado, let's dive right in, and let the chaos begin.

[lead-in to intro music]

[dramatic music] {title card fades in}

{back to Russell} [dramatic music fades] [rain and thunder] The wind howls, the lightning strikes, thunder rolls and roars over the mountain, rain pelts down on the jungle and on the heads of our heroes. The wind is biting and cold, the taste of salt on it, the dark night...Shadows dance around them, the roar of the undead from the jungle below them [zombies moaning] and ominously looming up the mountainside from where they came, a shadow framed by an orange glow, standing surrounded [hissing] by a wall of mist, they stand upon the cliff face.

[exciting music begins, fast paced with rhythmic drums]

BRAD (raspier as Obi, IC): (concerned) This doesn't look good, guys, um…Any ideas? They seem to be all around us.

MATT (Russian accent as Gorrkarraus, IC): The idea is simple. We fight, or we die!

JOSHUA (Scottish accent as Vano, IC): I'd much rather fight what's in front of us than what's behind.

RUSSELL: Gritzern shouts up from, uh, the path down the mountainside at you all.

(Authoratative, as Gritzern) It's no good! The path is blocked. There's too many.

BRAD (IC): (frustrated) Well, it's blocked behind us! What do you expect us to do, sit here and die?

ARIEL: Rosara strides through the party, uh, to go…to get in front of them, looking at this horde of undead fiends, and she says,

(British accent as Rosara, IC) I've got this.

(OOC) And she, uh, pulls out her holy symbol, and, uh, then (laughing) pauses she thinks to herself, uh,

(IC) Undead are fiends, right?

ZANE: As she says this, Lord Amadeus walks up right next to her and just looks her right in the face and says,

(British accent as Amadeus, IC) God, you're fucking useless for a paladin.

(OOC) Puts her…puts her holy symbol, and makes her put it away, and says,

(IC) (confidently) Let the wizard handle this.

(OOC) And Amadeus is going to crack his feet against the floor like he usually did when he was running away, and…and Expeditious Retreat 60 feet down the mountain, um, and then, uh, immediately cast Thunderwave in the middle of the undead.

RUSSELL: The undead snarl [undead moaning] in response to this, uh, writhing, shrieking. Everyone roll initiative.

MATT: Gorrkarraus has a 17 initiative.

ARIEL: Rosara has a 7 initiative.

BRAD: Obi, 15.

ZANE: Amadeus has a 3.

JOSHUA: Vano has a 16.

RUSSELL: Amadeus, as your spell strikes the writhing masses [thunder roaring] of undead, and they shriek and yell, you hear a hiss, something whips over your shoulder, and buries into the trunk of a tree [whooshing] right next to you, [wood creaking] and the tree begins to writhe, crumble, [leaves rustling and crunching] it…and then collapses to dust.

ZANE (IC): (mildly confused) Um, okay!

RUSSELL: Gorrkarraus, it's your turn.

MATT: Gorrkarraus will, uh, will look at Obi and Vano.

(IC) (proudly) I do not know about you, but I refuse to have my glory stolen by squires and scholars!

(OOC) And, uh, move forward to here, so the first, uh, longbow shot against zombie number two, um, for the zombie directly in front of Gorrkarraus, will be a…a 21, and if that hits, that will be 8 damage. Gorrkarraus will, uh, loose a second arrow at the same zombie, aiming for, uh, vital positions with the Dread Ambush feature. Uh, that will be a 19, damage will be an additional 13 damage.

RUSSELL: As your first arrow slams into the zombie’s chest, [arrow loosing, whooshing] it staggers back [zombie gasps and groans] towards the edge of the cliff. Your second arrow follows quickly, [bow creaking, arrow whizzing] slamming into its eye, and with a screech [high rasping] and a snarl, (zombie snarl) it topples over the edge into the ocean.

MATT: Gorrkarraus will look back.

(IC) (commanding) Do your best to keep up, underfoot! [crowds of zombies moaning] Vano, you are lagging behind!

RUSSELL: Alright.

BRAD: That will be with advantage, uh, which is a 16 to hit.

RUSSELL: That'll hit.

BRAD: Uh, and that'll be 18 points of piercing damage, and I will pump a Fury of the Small into it as well, which is a total of 22 points of piercing damage.

RUSSELL: Obi fires his crossbow, and the bolt embeds [thump, zombie hisses] into the skull of the zombie with a thunk and quivers, the zombie's head twists to the side, its body twists, and collapses to the ground, twitching.

ARIEL: So, for my turn, I want Rosara to begin to run down that…that path, uh, and stop in front of skeleton number four, um, being in that bottom right, below it. Yes, and, uh, she's just gonna take a running…a running attack at it with her longsword. (surprised) Fuck! Fuck! Are you kidding me? (mildly annoyed) Ugh, okay. It's a natural 1.

RUSSELL: Rosara lunges forward, racing towards the zombie, whipping out her longsword, [sharp metal scraping] she swings towards it, [sword slicing] the blade arcing through the air, and the metal boots on her armor slip in the mud and the rain, pulling loose…loose earth, and she stumbles to her knees.

[mud splashing]

ARIEL: Takes a free action to put away her sword and shield to switch to her halberd. [sharp metal scraping] That's the end of her turn. (laughs)

RUSSELL: Gritzern rushes forward, bearing down on one of the skeletons closing in on Lord Amadeus. His rapier arcs through the air, um, with blinding quickness, and quickly, um, scatters the bones [metal bouncing and clanging] of the skeleton, casting them and its pieces of armor here and there as he makes quick work of it. [wood creaking] Skeleton number four is going to make an attack against Rosara. Uh, it missed.

ARIEL: Okay.

RUSSELL: It was a 12. Skeleton number one is going to stagger forward and make an attack against Gritzern. 18. That's 7. Skeleton lunges forward, uh, swinging at Gritzern, clips his shoulders, and black blood [wet squelching] begins to spout from it, matted to his shoulder in the pouring rain. So, skeleton…skeleton is also going to make an attack on Gritzern. And that is a 4. Skeleton swings at Gritzern, and he ducks underneath, and dodges…and dances back on his heels. And then we have skeleton number three is going to make an attack on Lord Amadeus.

ZANE (IC): Don't worry, I have a plan. (laughs)

RUSSELL: 11.

ZANE (IC): 11 hits.

(Ariel, Zane, and Joshua laugh)

ARIEL: Dude!

MATT: Let me guess, the plan involves running some more?

ZANE: (laughing) Yes!

RUSSELL: And, uh, that will be 3. You take 3 damage as the skeleton, uh, smacks you in the knee with its club.

ZANE: So, Lord Amadeus is going to scream in pain and be like,

(IC) God damn it, that hurt. (painfully) Oh, god. (groans)

(OOC) And he's gonna…he’s gonna be…you know what?

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (confused) Which god?

(OOC) Gritzern demands.

ZANE (IC): (exasperated) Shut the hell up, you bald bitch! (Ariel and Joshua laugh) I will punch you in the face again.

(OOC) And he's going to smash his heels against the ground once more, and he's going to do 60 feet of movement to, uh, in between shadow five and shadow four. He's gonna be, like, right between them 'cause that's 60 feet away.

ARIEL: (laughing) It's okay. It's fine!

ZANE: And then since I still have…and then since…since I still have Expeditious Retreat on, [music fades] I am going to full on bonus action dash right into the ship.

RUSSELL: Alright, since you just ran past all of these shadows, they are now alerted to everyone's presence.

BRAD: (amused) Oh god damn it.

RUSSELL: First, I'm gonna roll attack of opportunity from skeleton number three as you leave it. That is a 10, which should miss, correct? It matches? Yes.

ZANE: (laughing) I have a 10. (laughs)

JOSHUA: Mm-hm, it hits.

RUSSELL: Right.

MATT: It means it's a hit.

RUSSELL: Ah, damn. As Amadeus dashes down…dashes away from the skeleton, it takes another swipe at him, dealing 8 bludgeoning damage [crackling] to his back, slamming him in the shoulder as he runs past. He threads his way down through the jungle, through a bunch of shadows, and then, as he turns and he steps, his hand…steps his feet upon the beach, I need you to make me a, uh, Athletics.

ZANE: Oh, that's not bad, it's 16.

RUSSELL: 16.

ZANE: I rolled a 16.

RUSSELL: Alright, as your feet strike the sand, a hand bursts up from underneath [sand scattering] the sand, grasping at your shoe, [creepy hissing] and the fingers just barely claw at the edge of your heel but do not grab it as you run along the beach. Obi, you hear the whistling of the wind, and then something slam into your shoulder, driving you backward and pinning you to the ground with its force.

BRAD: (surprised) Okay, ow.

[fast-paced, exciting music starts again]

RUSSELL: You are slammed into the ground. As you look at your shoulder, you see a tremendous, black, fletched arrow protruding from it, and you take 14 points of necrotic damage.

BRAD (IC): (groans with pain) Okay.

RUSSELL: Roll a Con save.

BRAD: Um, 19.

RUSSELL: 19. That will pass.

MATT: Alright. Gorrkarraus, uh, seeing the tumultuous situation become significantly worse very quickly, uh, will move forward…to Obi, and I'm going to try and pull the arrow out of his, uh, try to pull the arrow out of his shoulder and unpin him.

BRAD (IC): (groans) (in pain) That looks like it's gonna hurt. Be gentle!

RUSSELL: As you reach for the arrow, lightning strikes, and in the added light, you recognize the fletching. You recognize the cut. You've seen these arrows before. You've made these arrows before.  You've fired these arrows before. This is a piece of your past, and then you hear it, drifting on the wind, the sound of hooves.

[hoofbeats]

MATT (IC): (disbelief) This cannot be! (afraid, serious) Obi! Everyone! We need to move if we are being targeted. You do not want to know what lies beyond their eyes if I am correct.

(OOC) And I will, uh, turn and fire the arrow that I have just yanked out of Obi's shoulder into the, uh, the skeleton in front of, uh, Rosara. Or, rather, attempt to, I suppose. That will be a total of 15.

RUSSELL: 15. That'll hit.

MATT: If that hit, it will be 7 damage.

RUSSELL: Uh, it's actually going to be more than that. It is going to be 16 damage. So, as Gorrkarraus releases the arrow, it…it dives through the air, [arrow whistling, impact] slams into the chest of the skeleton and rips it open, tearing a hole. Rot and blackness [flesh squelching, zombie hissing] spreads out from the wound, eating away at the skeleton, and it begins to dissolve and fall apart, and then it collapses into a shrieking heap.

MATT (IC): (proudly) Paladin, remember where your god was when Gorrkarraus saved you.

(OOC) And that'll be my turn.

ARIEL (IC): (confused and frustrated) I… (frustrated grunt)

JOSHUA: Yeah, alright. Yep. I'm gonna attack this guy right here. The one to the north of Gritzern. 21 to hit! That's 8 damage on the first attack. Second attack, that is, uh, 23 to hit. Uh, that is 9 damage.

RUSSELL: As Vano plunges his halberd [swinging, slicing] into the skeleton's, uh, body, it…the…the end of it buries into its spine, and with a twist of his wrist, he flicks the skeleton apart, and it breaks, and then shatters to the ground.

JOSHUA: As it breaks and shatters, I'll turn to Gritzern, and say,

(IC) (annoyed) You're welcome! You stupid git.

RUSSELL (Grtitzern): (frustrated grunt)

(OOC) And then I'll use my…I'll frenzy attack a third time with…I'll take my movement, and I assume this is gonna be with advantage on that skeleton 'cause he's being flanked?

RUSSELL: Yep.

JOSHUA: Um, attack him. Okay, 13. Okay, that's 8 damage.

RUSSELL: So, as you flank this skeleton and swing your halberd at it again, [slicing, impact] uh, you cleave its head and shoulder right off, and it crumples to the ground.

JOSHUA: Free action to turn to Gritzern and smile. With lots of teeth.

MATT: I was gonna say, big, toothy, raging smile.

(Joshua and Ariel laugh)

RUSSELL: Uh, Gritzern spins his rapier in his hand, slams it into its sheath, [sharp metal scraping] and gives you a grunt in response.

(Gritzern) Hmph!

(OOC) You see, down the jungle path, [creepy buzz] shadows begin to creep and seep out from between the jungle [creepy, raspy whispering] onto the path, coalescing into shapes and drift up towards you all. Shadow number eight is going to move right up next to Vano and make its attack. As the…the shadows glide forward, two of them glide right up to Vano and a second up to Gritzern. I'm going to roll for the first attack on Vano. 22. Alright, the first shadow reaches out, and brushes its hand against Vano's chest, [loud whooshing] who take 12 necrotic damage and 3 strength drain.

JOSHUA: (wincing) Oof.

RUSSELL: Second skeleton is going to make its attack, and, uh, you're lucky, that's a 7. Third shadow is going to make its attack against Gritzern. Gritzern grunts, grasping his, uh, rapier, as he reaches to pull it out of its sheath, and stumbles backward, and you see him go pale.

BRAD: Obi is going to…he's looking around and he's seeing bits of what's going on, but this hulking figure in front of him, and just about regaining consciousness from the…getting the shit knocked out of him from that arrow, notices it's no longer there, and holds his hand gingerly out to Gorrkarraus.

[fast-paced, tense music]

(IC) (pants) Thanks, I suppose. (in pain, tired) Uh, get me up, would you?

(OOC) And, uh…

MATT: Gorrkarraus will oblige.

BRAD: Pulls him to his feet, he turns, and needs to get Vano out of this situation.

RUSSELL: As you…as Obi scans down in front of him, he sees that Vano and Gritzern are standing in front of a wall of four of these shadows that are completely blocking the path down the mountain.

[ominous buzz, creepy whispering]

BRAD: Alright, um, Obi is going to use, um, his full movement…Um, Russell, is the cliff edge considered rough terrain?

RUSSELL: Yes.

BRAD: Yes, so it'll be half movement speed. Um, I'll use my full movement of 15 foot then to get as close to the beach as possible, which will be one square away from…from the beach…the cliff edge, I'm presuming that's a cliff edge going down.

RUSSELL: Yes.

BRAD: And I'm going to turn and fire a crossbow bolt at the regular shadow that has no number next to it, um, because he is within…he's engaged with an enemy. Should I hit, I get sneak attack.

RUSSELL: Alright.

BRAD: I will definitely hit. That's an 18 to hit.

RUSSELL: That's a hit.

BRAD: That will be 10 plus…It's another 18 points of piercing damage! So that would be 9 points of piercing damage.

RUSSELL: 9 points, alright. So, um, your attack… [bolt loading] your attack is halved, and you deal 9 points of piercing damage [impact] to the shadow, which simply hisses in response. [hiss]

BRAD: Obi is going to use his free action to inform the rest of the party that these shadows don't appear to be affected by martial weapons.

(IC) (tired) Guys. We've got to hit these things with spells. My crossbow bolt passed right through the damn thing. Barely hit it.

(OOC) That'll end my turn.

ARIEL: Despite knowing that Obi just said that, uh, they can't take, uh, melee weapon attacks, Rosara's gonna place herself right behind Gritzern, use her…and she's equipped her halberd, um, and she's going to take an attack towards that shadow number three. Um, she has advantage on it. Uh, and she's going to do…use her Great Weapon Mastery to like minus 5 to her attack roll, so she could add 10 to her damage. Does a 12 hit the shadow? [music becomes more rhythmic and exciting] Uh, 19 damage.

RUSSELL: Alright, Gritzern ducks under your halberd as you swipe at the shadow, uh, your halberd cleaves through it, [whooshing] and it hisses, [hiss] and then coalesces back into shape. Gritzern…uh, glances both ways, uh, quickly, eyes darting, and then down the mountain path, where more shadows are pouring out of the forest. You see three more of them coming out, up the mountain path towards you, and Gritzern turns on his heel and runs. Alright, as Gritzern flees from in front of the shadow, it grabs at him and pulls a hunk of flesh from his back [crunching and squelching] that, uh, drips blood, and he, uh, screeches in pain, clutching behind him, and staggers forward. As Lord Amadeus, uh, peers out over the railing of the ship, you hear a snarling, a crackling, [rumbling, ominous buzzing] you see sand start to burst open, and undead zombies, monsters, [sand bursting] skeletons, shapes and shadows that you do not even recognize, [zombies moan] they're grotesque, some of them, tentacles of darkness coming from them, begin to burst forth all up and down the beach. Dozens of them.

ZANE (IC): [deadpan] Well, fuck. Um, this was clearly the wrong way, uh…

(OOC) Shit! Amadeus is gonna look around, not seeing anyone looking at him, he's gonna take the chance, and he's gonna put the book into its holster. He's gonna clip it, and he is going to, uh, he's going to, uh…do Expeditious Retreat to, uh, the edge of the forest, because that is 30 feet away, off the boat.

MATT: Which direction? Which direction?

ZANE: Off the boat, south, uh, to the entrance of the forest, next to shadow six. Pfft.

BRAD: (amused) Oh dear!

ZANE: And knowing no one can see him, he is going to cast Thunderwave at first level. [loud thunder roar, magical tinkling] Just because that's kind of all he can do, as spell caster. So, Thunderwave, Constitution save 14. I'm gonna do a special point to transmute it. I'm gonna change the damage to, uh, radiant. Uh, they take 8 points of radiant damage. And then after that, I'm gonna spend the rest of my movement for bonus action dash, and then as I'm doing that, I'm yelling,

(IC) (panicked) The other way!  Go the other way!

RUSSELL: Rosara, as you gaze down the mountain path at Lord Amadeus running towards you all waving his hands in the air, you see a large, black, hulking shape burst from the jungle, [neigh, hooves thumping] [music becomes more ominous and disconcerting] a figure on top a great, black horse that glides along the ground, swathed in black robes trailing behind it, holding a great bow, a tremendous bow, bigger than any bow you've ever seen before other than the one Gorrkarraus himself carries. It notches a tremendous, black, fletched arrow and shaft to its bow, [bow creaking] and draws it, and fires, [arrow whooshing] and at that moment…its stallion slams into Lord Amadeus, knocking him to the side. [neigh]  I need you to make a…uh, Athletics check see if you can either…you can dodge that. Amadeus.

ZANE: If that is a Lord Amadeus Athletics check, I have a 2.

RUSSELL: You're lucky. Alright.

ZANE: Am I taking damage?

RUSSELL: Uh, you're taking 2 bludgeoning damage.

ZANE: Oh, that's not that bad. Okay, cool.

RUSSELL: Alright, uh, the great black stallion slams into Lord Amadeus, and he is able to stagger partially to the side, but he looks very battered, and falls to his knees. The arrow arcs through the air and slams into you. [arrow loosing, thump] You take 16 necrotic damage, and you need to make a Con saving throw.

ARIEL: Uh, Con saving throw is a 6?

RUSSELL: 6. As an effect of failing the saving throw, you cannot heal that damage until you take a long rest.

ARIEL: So, my max HP goes from 40 to 24.

MATT: (cringing) Ooh…

BRAD: Okay, uh, yeah, we're all gonna die.

MATT: Gorrkarraus will slide up behind, uh, Rosara.

(IC) Use this rage, paladin!

(OOC) And I'm gonna pull the arrow from the head through her body, (Ariel and Brad make disgusted sounds) uh, as to not cause as much damage.

ARIEL: (surprised) Fuck!

RUSSELL: Uh, Rosara, make a Con…make a, uh, Con check.

ARIEL: Okay, 12!

RUSSELL: 12. Alright, as Gorrkarraus rips the arrow from you, you feel your vision start to blur and your balance start to tip.

MATT: Do I have a…do I have a clean line of sight to the rider, uh, since he's elevated up above, and he hit Rosara?

RUSSELL: Yes. As you glance down the path, and you see the rider galloping up the mountain path, (horse neighs) your eyes connect with a dark, black, empty hood, and you hear a voice.

(deep, growly, echoing) Gorrkarraus, tell me. Did you abandon your vengeance along with your brothers?

MATT (IC): This cannot be. (angry) You died by your own hand!

RUSSELL (rider): Did you find the voice that haunts you?

MATT (IC): (confidently) I have found it! It does not haunt me. I am strengthened by it, and it shall fell you!

RUSSELL (rider): You think you have escaped the earth to save it, to save yourself, but you have only done so to return.

MATT (IC): (angrily) You have forgotten what we rode for, and I shall show you, it was never about me.

(OOC) And I'll fire the arrow back at him.

[bow creaking]

RUSSELL: Alright. Roll attack.

[arrow loosing]

MATT: 19?

RUSSELL: 19? That will hit.

[music stops]

MATT: Uh, 17 damage.

RUSSELL: 17 damage. The arrow slams into the body of the hooded figure, [arrow loosing, thump] who does not flinch or move. [soft, ominous music] The great, fletched arrow still embedded into its body, it reaches up towards its quiver to draw another arrow.

MATT: After seeing it not, uh, not care at all about being struck with its own weapon,

[exciting music begins]

(IC) (desperately) If you thought the shadows were a concern, you are wrong! That is a shadow rider, and it is empowered by something greater than I understand! We must move!

(OOC) And, uh, I will continue my movement back up the mountain beyond, uh, Gritzern, uh, hoping everybody follows as well. That is my turn.

JOSHUA: Vano, after seeing the interchange…Clearly there's a history there that I have no idea. Very confused, he goes,

(IC) (baffled) First, he says run down the mountain, now he's saying we run back up!

(OOC) And I will take my action to disengage and book it my full, um, my full movement up the mountain.

RUSSELL: The shadows, as the great hooded figure on the horse approaches, thundering up the mountain, stand silent and still in the line, unmoving. Obi.

BRAD: Yeah, uh, Obi, hurt from the arrow wound in his shoulder, the situation is dire, to see Gorrkarraus book it is enough for him to realize that, um, it's pretty much spring break on the beach right now, and he does not want to be involved in this, um, but he also knows Amadeus has got to get through a wall of shadows. They are still blocking that path, and he's now completely cut off from the party, and Obi is going to dump his entire stock of gunpowder that he has left, he's going to wrap five…he's literally throwing everything, this is his Hail Mary to get us out of this. He's going to tie five pieces of blasting powder together, and throw it in an arc after he's taken his movement towards Gorrakarraus. [sizzling] So, it lands on the far side of the shadows, so it doesn't…so the AOE does not hit Rosara, and it will hit all four of those shadows. So, I'd like to take all of my movement to get as close to Vano and Gorrkarraus as possible, and lob five lots of blasting powder to plow the road for Amadeus to get through. That is 30 points of force damage to all four of them.

RUSSELL: Alright. As your explosives arc through the air and slam into the ground, the ground shakes and rumbles  as earth is spewn into the air, [explosion] and a deafening crack rings [ringing] in everyone's ears, making their heads, uh, resound like a gong, and the shadows…I'm going to make them make another throw. Alright. As the blast strikes the shadows, it…it shreds through them, ripping off chunks from them, and pushes them back, casting them to either side, and tossing one up into the air that then comes down and drifts back to the ground.

BRAD (IC): (tired) I hope that was enough. Let's get out of here!

ARIEL: Um, alright. So, uh, (chuckles) feeling like shit, she's gonna turn around and dash towards Vano and, um, Gorrkarraus. That is going to be 60 feet of movement, and as she passes by Gorrkarraus, she'll ask,

(IC) (out of breath, nervous) What…what is a shadow rider?

MATT (IC): (panicked) Now is not the time!

ARIEL: Uh, yeah, full 60 feet as she passes by them. And, uh, yeah, that…that'll be her movement. What does she see? Does she see the demon down there?

RUSSELL: As Rosara dashes forward, you see in front of you, a towering wall of stone, and in front of it, two broken, crumbling statues, cobblestone path, and in front of them, a yawning aperture in the side of the cliff. Ancient doors swung wide open, and inside, a dark cavern.

ARIEL: As Rosara comes up to the entrance, yeah, she'll…That's where she'll end her turn, looking up at that entrance.

RUSSELL: Alright, it is Gritzern's turn. Uh, Gritzern is going to use all of his movement to dash towards the door, right behind Rosara.

ZANE: So, I'm going to full on crack my heel…my heels against the floor, [drumroll, dramatic music] and get down into, like, the most aerodynamic pose I can think of, which is arms completely back like this. {puts arms back and leans forward}

BRAD: (very amused) Naruto running.

ARIEL: (deadpan) Yep.

MATT: (laughs)

ZANE: And just sprints straight through, just going, as fast as I can.

ARIEL: Peak physical performance.

ZANE: And as I pass through Rosara, I'm just gonna, just, slow motion style, just… {double middle fingers} So I am now at the entrance to the cave, and I'm going to stand there, kind of side against the door so they can still go through, and I'm going to be waving everyone through, like,

(IC) (confident and rushing) Come on! Let's get inside! We're gonna die out there. There's a lot of things on the beach that you did not see, it's really bad, come on!

[music fades]

RUSSELL: As you stand at the entrance of the cave, uh, you look inside, and you cannot make out too many things in the darkness, but as lightning flashes, you catch sight of another door and a lever on the wall. Alright, I am… (wincing) Oh shit, okay. I didn't want to do that. (sighs) Okay, so I rolled a 20 on the attack for the shadow rider.

[intense, creepy music]

MATT: (cringing) Okay, yep.

RUSSELL: So, let's roll 8d8…Uh, Vano, how much health do you have left?

(Joshua laughs)

BRAD: (laughing) Not enough.

JOSHUA: Vano has 27 hit points.

RUSSELL: It hit you for 32 damage.

JOSHUA: (singing) Fuck me~

ZANE: (worried) Um, Rosara? We're gonna need you to do some Lay on Hands if you got it.

ARIEL: (heartily agreeing) Oh yeah, no, for sure, um…

ZANE: (high-pitched, worried) Okay, good! (Brad laughs) [tragic music begins] Please tell me you're a healer.

ARIEL: (unconcerned) For sure, just get him over to me.

RUSSELL: (somberly) A great, black arrow [arrow whizzing, impact] barrels into Vano, slams into his back, and explodes on impact, showering shards and splinters, black wood around him. Vano drops to the ground silently, like limp sack. You took 32 necrotic damage. And you need to roll the critical table.

JOSHUA: Yep.

MATT: (very concerned) Oh, God. That's right, he might…he might be insta-dead.

RUSSELL: We are in luck on the critical table, we rolled a 5.

(sighs of relief from all the players)

MATT: (relieved) Oh my God, okay.

ZANE: (relieved) Oh, thank God.

BRAD (as Miracle Max): You're only partially dead.

MATT: (dramatically) Shadzog be praised!

JOSHUA: (relieved) That could've been so much worse! I…I have a flesh wound! It's fine!

(more sighs of relief)

MATT: It's a big flesh wound, but it's only a flesh wound.

JOSHUA: (laughing) Yeah, it's a big fucking flesh wound, but yeah, you know, I'll…I'll take it! (more somber) Yeah, Vano just collapses.

RUSSELL: Alright, uh, Gorrkarraus, it's your turn.

MATT: Alright, Gorrkarraus, upon seeing the…the shadow rider's arrow, uh, fell the largest member of our party, um, will, with the…with the bow in hand, just turn it over, and grab Vano by, um, the back of whatever clothing and stuff that he can get, and just mostly to himself,

(IC) (seriously) I would leave you to die, but not by his hands.

(OOC) And I'm going to drag him, uh, I'm not overburdened, so I'm hoping I can move my full, uh, my full speed, since he is an object now, but you tell me, DM.

RUSSELL: Vano's turn is next, and Obi's turn is next, so I would say if, uh, Obi wants to jump in and help you, um, that I can…you can move your full speed, as an assist.

BRAD: Yeah, um, I will sacrifice my next turn to take it in unison with Gorrkarraus, if you'll allow it for flair,

RUSSELL: Yes.

BRAD: and I will help pull Vano to the entrance of the cave.

RUSSELL: Alright, the two of you drag him your full movement towards the mouth of the cavern.

BRAD (IC): (grunting with effort) You're a lot heavier when you're dead weight.

RUSSELL: Alright. As everyone stumbles in to the open cavern, you notice that the floor is made of stone. In front of you lies another set of doors identical to the ones at the front of the cavern, and on the wall next to you, a lever. This place is damp, dark, and filled with cobwebs.

BRAD: As soon as everybody is in, like, the immediate threshold, Obi's going to turn with his hand over Vano, and turn to Rosara.

(IC) (desperate) He's bleeding out! Somebody help him!

ARIEL (IC): (hurriedly) I got it! I got it!

(OOC) And, uh, Rosara is going to step forward and, uh, place hands on Vano's chest, and she'll say,

(IC) Someone pull that lever to open that door!

(OOC) Uh, (thinking) and cast Lay on Hands on Vano…um, I'm gonna give him…

BRAD: (laughing) The way you said that!

ARIEL: I'm gonna give him…

BRAD: (mock exasperated, imitating Ariel) I cast Lay on Hands on Vano…

ARIEL: (mock annoyed) God! Jesus Christ!

JOSHUA: (mock glumly) I guess if I have to.

ZANE: (mock exasperated): What happens when you’re the only healer.

BRAD: (dramatically) If I must!

(laughter)

JOSHUA: (mock offended) I see how it is. It’s fine!

ARIEL: Not to metagame, but she's only gonna give him 5, just to get him on his feet.

MATT: Were the first…were the first set of doors decayed, or were they just, uh, old-looking?

RUSSELL: They're just old-looking.

JOSHUA: Uh, Vano, as…as she lays on hands, it gives me 5 health?  Vano just goes,

(IC) (inhales) (shocked) Son of a bitch!

ZANE (IC): (wryly) That hurts, doesn't it?

ARIEL (IC): (seriously) Yeah, the arrow feels very bad.

BRAD: Obi is going to turn, face the door, and ready a crossbow bolt, ready an action, [bolt loading] in case anything comes up from behind us while everyone else is dealing with the door.

MATT: Yeah, Gorrkarraus is putting a shoulder into the north door and trying to get it closed. I can't deal with both doors at the same time.

BRAD: I will be on the opposite…directly opposite Gorrkarraus, so because we both have ranged attacks, I will kind of both be kind of like on each pillar of the door, um, looking out of the…the main door, readying…readying a, I'm presuming, readying an attack in case something comes up behind us.

MATT: I'm trying to close the door while we're doing it, so I'm like leaned into it with an arrow drawn, pushing the door…trying to push the door closed, I don't know if it moves or not.

RUSSELL: As you push the door, you hear the thundering of hooves drawing closer again, and the door does not budge.

BRAD (IC): (worried) Gorrkarraus. What is that thing?

MATT (IC): (desperately) The lever! Hit the lever! We have no choice!

ARIEL: Rosara grabs the lever and pulls it.

RUSSELL: As you pull the lever, [pneumatic hiss] the door wrenches free from Gorrkarraus' hands, and slams shut in front of you with the resounding clang, plunging you both in darkness, [bang] [rain and thunder stop] but you hear an equally loud clang in front of you. [bang] Light as you blink and your eyes begin to adjust to a dim light that filters from the room…from behind you, you realize that the second set of doors have swung open. [soft, creepy music] You see in front of you, a third door, larger, more ominous, a great, grotesque face hangs upon it, and its eyes glow with red light, and on the wall, lies another lever.

JOSHUA: Vano takes the opportunity to get on his feet and just go,

(IC) (confused) What the…where the hell are we?

ARIEL (IC): (worried) Somewhere safe, for now. We should keep going further in.

BRAD (IC): That thing could probably break through the goddamn door. Can we barricade it with something?

ZANE (IC): (dismissive) Um, I would take it, if, uh, Gorrkarraus could not close the door, I don't think that thing can even open the damn door without that lever being pulled.

BRAD (IC): That's a fine assumption to make.

ZANE (IC): But let's not wait to find out what can happen.

RUSSELL: The door looked to be made of some sort of solid stone and was about eight inches thick.

BRAD: Obi's not taking any chances, he's gonna back away from the door.

ZANE: Lord Amadeus is gonna make his way into the room, and uh see the lever right here, and he's gonna go right to the lever.

RUSSELL: As you approach the lever, you stumble over something in the darkness, and then, as you look down, blinking, you see two bodies, mutilated, uh, hands outstretched, knives thrust into each other's chest, one in armor, and one not, upon the floor, in bloodstains long since dried.

MATT (IC): I think Obi is correct, we need to back away from the door. Move into the antechamber, and we will gather ourselves.

BRAD (IC): (frustrated) Amadeus, for Christ's sake, don't touch anything without looking at it first!

ZANE: (deadpan) And Amadeus just pulls the lever.

RUSSELL: Amadeus pulls the lever, [pneumatic hiss] and the doors to the second chamber swing shut, slamming, and you hear a bang on the other side.

[bang]

BRAD (IC): (sighs) (sarcastically) Great. We've got levers and doors. Fantastic.

JOSHUA (IC): And bodies!

MATT: Gorrkarraus, as they're saying that, and adding to it, Gorrkarraus will move forward and, uh, push Amadeus up against the wall, uh, bow drawn…like bow drawn, arrow under his neck,

(IC) (intensely) If you touch one more thing without being told to, it will be the last thing that you touch. Do I make myself clear?

ZANE: And Amadeus just pokes him in the nose, and just says,

(IC) (simply) Get the fuck off me.

MATT: I'll just shove him backwards. I'm not trying to hurt him, but I'm just gonna shove him back against the wall one more time.

ZANE (IC): (seriously) I'm fucking helping you guys. So understand that when I need to get through a fucking door, we have two things of barricade now between us and that thing, that apparently you know! (angrily) So is there something you're not telling us?

MATT (IC): (angrily) Do you know this place? Do you know this place?

ZANE (IC): (angrily) Yes. 'Cause it's away from that thing, so this is the safer spot than that.

MATT (IC): (angrily) And had the lever dropped the ceiling upon us and crushed us all, you would have known this?

ARIEL (IC): (annoyed) Gorrkarraus, we shouldn't speak in hypotheticals. The point is, we're all alive, and we just need to figure out how to get away from there and perhaps deeper in here.

BRAD: Obi turns to the party with his hand covering the black blood from his shoulder, and kind of like motions towards Vano in a way that tells the entire party, just from his look, we are in bad shape, and arguing is the last thing we should be doing.

JOSHUA: Vano just doesn't have the energy to…to argue. He's just clinging on.

ARIEL (IC): (worried) Let's take a closer look at these bodies, perhaps?

JOSHUA: Yep, I was just looking at the bodies, but I am…Vano is injured and preoccupied and feels very weak from the necrotic damage that he took, uh, and some of his strength was sapped, and he's just very disoriented. So, when he looks at the bodies…Yeah, with a…with a 6, uh, he just cannot perceive anything.

MATT: Gorrkarraus is pacing back and forth, he…It is not fear, it is…it is extreme frustration, if anybody is reading body language, and he's muttering to himself, uh, something about, uh, dead brothers and dead sons of Djar.

ARIEL: So, rolling with advantage, uh, Rosara's looking at the door, uh, Investigation…Oh, a natural 20! With advantage.

RUSSELL: As you scan all up and down this door, you see that there is no gap at all between the ceiling, the floor, and the walls. It fits in here perfectly, seamlessly, it is made of some form of wrought iron that you do not recognize. It appears completely impervious, [soft, eerie music] there is not a single flaw in the metal work. It is smooth as glass, and it glistens with a black, dark light, and it seems almost as if the glowing eyes in the face twinkle at you.

ARIEL (IC): We're not breaking through this door. There must be some trigger to…to open it up somehow.

(OOC) Uh, and she's going to try to, like, reach up to the, uh, the eyes. If she can. Is it too high?

RUSSELL: Uh, you can reach it. It's at face level.

ARIEL: She's gonna kind of feel around on the face.

RUSSELL: Make a Wisdom saving throw.

ARIEL: Ah fuck. Okay. That's fine! 18.

RUSSELL: 18. As you touch the face, you feel something cold wash over your fingers and rush down your spine. [people screaming] You blink, and the world is around you is gone for a moment. You hear crashes, screams, dies…[creepy whispering] uh, dying, agony, horror, [creepy whispering] um, you see fire and death, and you feel a pain in your fingers, and then you instinctively rip it away, [screaming stops] but you do not take any damage.

BRAD: Obi uses his crossbow as kind of like a crutch to right himself, and turns to Rosara.

(IC) (amused) You know what I said about not touching things, right? Yeah, case in point.

ARIEL (IC): (frustrated) We can't stand here and rot, Obi! We have figure out how to get further in, otherwise, we're just stuck in here instead of being killed by whatever's out there.

BRAD (IC): There's only one way we're going to figure out what is going on right now.

(OOC) And he turns and dead-eyes Gorrkarraus.

(IC) (intensely) You shot that thing with its own weapon as if it was an extension of your own arm. Where did you learn to do that? How do you know this thing? And where the fuck are we?

MATT: So Gorrkarraus, acknowledging Obi, kicks the, uh, kicks the pile of rubbish next to him, uh, in frustration, and turns.

(IC) (frustrated) I fired that arrow because it is an arrow that I know! I fired it at him because I know him. That is Tokorozie, former captain of the Shadow Riders. Shadow Riders that are all dead except for me.

BRAD (IC): (darkly) Well, we'll learn something here. Something new today, huh?

ARIEL (IC): So we're being chased by undead savages, that's great.

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (surprised) Shadow Riders?

(OOC) Said Gritzern, perking up.

(Gritzern) The Shadow Riders are…They're an elite Djarian force. (suspicious) Where are you from, Gorrkarraus?

MATT (IC): (confidently) You have answered your own question. I am a son of Djar. I am from the village of Dayha. The shadow of Mount Villcroon, or I was, before it was taken from us.

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (worried) And tell me.

(OOC) He said…he says, his hand hovering over the hilt of his rapier.

(Gritzern) (suspiciously) We all know that, as Edwed, we are forever bound to worship the ancients, but what demigods do you serve? Do you pay homage to the Heralds as they deserve?

MATT: Gorrkarraus will extend his arms and, uh, let some, uh, black-tentacled energy [slithering, creepy ringing] kind of flow down them.

(IC) (proudly) I worship no Heralds, no demigods. Only the one true god, Shadzog. If this is a problem now, so be it. But there are bigger problems, just outside.

JOSHUA: Vano hears that you worship Shadzog, and from his experience in Oaknesh, has heard of the Shadow Riders, and understands them to be an elite force, uh, runs up, as best he can, stumbling with his halberd to swing at you, misses, and just lands in… the halberd lands [swinging, clang] into the stone or dirt of the floor, uh, and as I kind of, you know, crumple to the side. But I glare…Uh, Vano glares up at Gorrkarraus.

(IC) (angrily) How can you worship that which would destroy us all?

MATT (IC): (confidently) That is exactly why I worship it and spread the knowledge. You are wrong about what you think. Shadzog is not a destroyer.  He shall bring balance. But that is not what we are here to figure out right now!

ARIEL (IC): (angrily) What I am hearing is that you are the reason our party is riddled with arrows!

MATT (IC): (angrily) I am the reason that you are alive!

ARIEL (IC): (deliberately) I'm just saying that, perhaps, if Gorrkarraus were out there, maybe, maybe we'll all be fine.

MATT (IC): It would only slow Tokorozie by minutes. He is significantly stronger than he was before he died. I do not know what blesses him…or curses.

BRAD (IC): (worried) Gorrkarraus…What does he want?

MATT (IC): If I were to make a guess, with how far he had fallen before his death, and how far he has continued to fall…I would be his first target, but he would not stop with me.

ZANE (IC): Or maybe he will.

MATT (IC): Then why was I not riddled with arrows when I was clearly in sight? Why did Vano take a hit? Why was Rosara struck? I was always there! He is meant to try and make me suffer, regardless of how much that would not work.

ZANE (IC): Yes, but with you dead, before we all died…He wanted to make you watch as those you were around fell, but that doesn't mean that he will not kill you even if everyone is still alive. (seriously) You are what he wants, correct?  From what you just said. Are you the reason he's dead, Gorrkarraus?

MATT (IC): (frustrated) Tokorozie is the reason he is dead! All of the Shadow Riders died by their own hand.

ZANE (IC): And how come you didn't? How come you're still standing here alive?

MATT (IC): Call it luck! Call it smarts! But instead of…instead of engaging the enemies that had taken them, I watched as they died as they had lived. They willingly fell to their knees and lost their heads. I survive…I survive not for vengeance, I survive for what we do here! I was chosen for something greater, and if it is a death in this room, so be it. But we have survived this long, together, for the most part.

BRAD (IC): (frustrated) We're running out of time. (sighs) Those doors are only going to hold it for so long. We've got to figure out a way out of this room.

ARIEL: Rosara will cast a glance towards the bodies.

RUSSELL: You want to Investigate the bodies?

BRAD: Yeah. I'm gonna help! I'm gonna help! I'll give her advantage again!

RUSSELL: Roll…roll Investigation with advantage.

ZANE: As they're doing this, is the, uh, is the door seemingly magical? Like a magical lock?

[ominous, creepy music]

RUSSELL: Yes.

ZANE: Yes? Okay, um, as they're investigating the bodies for the keys, Amadeus is just gonna walk right up to the door, put his hand directly on the top of the skull, and cast Knock. Which automatically suppresses the arcane lock, for ten minutes.

RUSSELL: Make a Wisdom saving throw.

ZANE: Gotcha. Good thing I am pretty wise! With a negative 4…I'm joking. I have a…I have a plus 0, so 14.

RUSSELL: 14. As you place your hand upon the door, you see a face you have seen before, drift in front of you, young and beautiful, and then the flesh begins to melt off of it, dripping, and leaves an empty skull that grins at you. And then another face, young and beautiful, again melting before you. Another and another and another. You feel a searing pain in your spine, and then you shriek, ripping your hand from the door, you stagger backward and take 15 psychic damage.

ZANE: 15 psychic damage. Well, that is enough to put Amadeus down to unconsciousness.

RUSSELL: As Amadeus screams, ripping his hand back from the door, the eyes flash in this…in the face on the door, and Amadeus crumples to the ground.

ARIEL: Uh, Rosara will try to catch him before he hits the ground, and, like, she turns to Obi, and says,

(IC) Look…look at the bodies.

(OOC) And I rolled an 18 with his help, so…

RUSSELL: As you search through the bodies, you see nothing out of the ordinary. They are very rudimentary…It appears to just be a rudimentary, uh, run-of-the-mill merchant and his guard. Who apparently murdered each other in this room.

ARIEL: (laughing) I give Lord Amadeus 1 hit point from my Lay on Hands pool.

ZANE: Lord Amadeus shoots back up.

(IC) (gasps) (out of breath) Did it work? Did it work. Is the door open? Please tell me it's open.

ARIEL (IC): (sarcastically) Yeah, it's wide open! And look! There's wenches and wine!

[music fades to soft, atmospheric music]

MATT: Gorrkarraus's crouched down, just, like, in a squatting position, his hands on his knees, his, like, elbows resting on his knees, and, uh, is remembering to pay homage for surviving a battle, even if it is not winning a battle, and, uh, he will…he'll lick the tips of his fingers and just run it across the ground, and re-lick the uh the dirt [horses galloping, neighing] off of his fingers.

RUSSELL: As you lick the dirt from your fingers, you hear, in the distance, the sound of tramping hooves fading away.

[galloping fades]

MATT (IC): Tokorozie has left. But it will likely be for reinforcements or a way through the door. We must think!

JOSHUA: (IC): That's not my particular strong suit, so, I'm gonna lay down.

(OOC) And then just kind of pushes up against the wall and slides down, to just see if there's time…If there's time, I'm taking a short rest. If people open shit up before then, you know, so be it, but…

BRAD: After hearing the conversation that has happened over the past couple of minutes, the failed attempts on the door, Obi remembers back to his childhood, the stories he's been told about gods, the Heralds, everything. Even if they were fleeting fancies, he's going to deep…try and think deep into his religious…like, any kind of religious background with a check, hopefully, to see if he can piece a story together about the symbol on the door and get anything else, 'cause we're coming up with nothing doing anything else right now, and he knows this is a race against time.

RUSSELL: Well then, make a knowledge Religion check.

BRAD: 15.

RUSSELL: 15. You stare at the door, and you can…and you identify one thing distinctly. It does not remotely resemble anything you have heard of in any…touching any religion, myth, or legend that you have heard in your past. It is completely alien.

BRAD (IC): (thinking) Whatever this is, it's…it's got to be… (sighs) A symbol of an entity or a creature. (sighs) Gorrkarraus, does…does it look familiar to you?

MATT: Uh, Gorrkarraus will, uh, look back up toward, uh, toward Obi and the door, and, uh…Don't have any good knowledge skills. Uh, I have some History that I could roll. 13?

RUSSELL: Throughout the long years of your life, all knowledge of history that you possess throughout the land of Djar, no such thing has ever been mentioned or spoken of to your knowledge.

MATT (IC): This is not a symbol I recognize, but I am not from this land. (chuckles)

(OOC) Gorrkarraus chuckles to himself.

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (frustrated) Why do we care?

(OOC) Says Gritzern, pacing back and forth.

(Gritzern) (frustrated) I don't want to go through that door. You said this shadow…person is gone? We should leave!

MATT (IC): And what about the shades? The skeletons? The zombies? The hordes that roam the forest?

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (confident, frustrated) We've been here before! We know how this haunted forest works. When the sun rises, they will all be gone.

ZANE (IC): So then we wait for the sun to rise.

BRAD (IC): Are you suggesting we sleep here? (disappointed) Goddamn it.

ZANE (IC): (wryly) There's a little…there's a dead body right there you can cuddle with, Obi.

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (frustrated) Oh, well, perhaps we could, uh, find a way to open this door back up and sleep in the front chamber?

JOSHUA (IC): It does seem like it's pretty safe in here.

ZANE (IC): I would much rather sleep in this chamber as there is two doorways of protection between us and outside. I would rather sleep in this chamber.

ARIEL (IC): Sacrifice safety for comfort.

BRAD: I am just frustrated, and I'm kicking the ground, and I'm going to find a corner and just childishly slump my…myself down, and fold my arms, and just flat-out ignore everybody with the…the sheer, just, dumbfoundedness of the situation.

MATT: Seeing, uh, seeing Vano just having completely physically given up, uh, Gorrkarraus will stand up, realizing that we're all kind of, uh, relegating our situation, and he'll toss, uh, he'll toss his waterskin to Vano.

(IC) If that is the same poison that we used when I was a Shadow Rider, this will help at least ease the ache until we can get you healed up. We will need you at your full strength if we are to make it through this.

JOSHUA: I'll open the wineskin, uh, the waterskin, and go to drink it, but I'm holding eye contact with Gorrkarraus the entire time, because now that I know he's a son of Djar and worships Shadzog, distrust up the wazoo. It's that Oakneshi shit, man! (laughs) I go to start…I start drinking it a little bit, take a couple swigs, and then throw it back at him.

MATT: He will, uh, he'll catch it, and then just lean up against the wall. Uh, the frustration is still very visible on his face.

RUSSELL: As the party begins to wake after a fitful rest, they find themselves still within the dark chamber. [music fades] Two doors on either side, one with a great face, soft, glowing red eyes, staring ominously, and the other, plain. On the wall, lies a lever, and on the floor, two bodies.

JOSHUA (IC): (satisfied) Ooh, I tell you. (groans) A rest can do you quite good. (stretches)

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (impatient) The sun is up!

(OOC) Says Gritzern, pacing back and forth once again.

(Gritzern) We should be moving.

ARIEL (IC): (sighs) (tiredly) I agree. Come on, let's get this door open.

(OOC) And, uh, Rosara is going to head towards the lever to, uh, flip it back.

RUSSELL: As Rosara flips the lever back up, [pneumatic hiss, thunk] [stone grinding] the door in front of you swings open with a bang, and as you see it [bang] swing open,  [emotional, mysterious music] you see the doors at the front of the cavern from the first chamber slam shut.

ARIEL (IC): (softly) Oh. So there weren't two doors all night. No matter. {shakes head} (normally) Okay, so the plan is we get to the boat, and we sail as far away from this accursed place as possible?

MATT (IC): We were all driven here with a purpose. We can use the boat to move down or up the coast, but we are not leaving this place. Unless that is what Nov Romarans do when things get difficult, is run from their problems.

ARIEL (IC): (in disbelief) You want us to stay here. You want us to stay here? We've already lost too many people in our group! Why on earth should we wait until nightfall again?

MATT (IC): Why should we leave? (sharply) Do you want to go back to Nov Romara? Is that where we should be sent? Or maybe we journey to Oaknesh or Djar. We could go and see the amazing isle of Shadzog, since it is so prevalent in your minds.

ARIEL (IC): (frustrated) What do you want to accomplish by staying here? Do you want to have a conversation with your old dead friend?

MATT (IC): It has crossed my mind to hunt him, but that is not why I want to stay. I do not know what led you here, but I know what led me here. I was told that Jvar-VunGal is where my journey started, and that this place would lead me to the door that I must find. Since this one is not it, I will be journeying up or down the coast, and I would expect you all to take responsibility for what has been tasked upon us, and do the same.

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (frustrated) So!

(OOC) Says Gritzern, cutting in.

(Gritzern) If you're willing to travel up and down the coast, do you have any opposition to us doing that by boat?

MATT (IC): I do not. But we do not leave the coastline.

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (impatiently) Fine! I can agree to that. But I…we need to get off the shore.

ARIEL (IC): (frustrated) Skeletons can't swim, so fine.

(OOC) And Rosara will, uh, head over to the other lever and wait for the rest of the party to get into the… that first chamber.

MATT: Gorrkarraus will stand, and he dips his hand into the pouch that's on his side, and just brings up a little dirt, and rubs them…rubs it across his hands, and then moves into the antechamber.

BRAD: Obi, having rubbed his little eyes, and looked around the room to see everyone still arguing, um, will just…he keeps to himself, and,

(IC) (wryly) Well, uh, no sense letting shinies go to waste, eh? And, uh, these will probably suit me.

(OOC) And he'll bend down and pick up both daggers, swirl them in his hands, almost with like a silly little flair, no real purpose, and just "shoop" down by his side, in his belt.

JOSHUA: Vano is gonna follow folks into the…into the other antechamber, um…but he is preparing, in case there's still shit out there, to…to start swinging immediately.

RUSSELL: As everyone stands in front of the doors, at the ready that lead outside of the cavern…

ARIEL: Uh, Rosara pulls the lever.

[soft music begins]

[pneumatic hiss]

RUSSELL: Nothing happens.

ARIEL: (confused) She pulls the lever again!

[pneumatic hiss]

RUSSELL: Nothing happens.

BRAD (IC): We're not stuck in here, are we?

JOSHUA (IC): It kind of feels like this is not supposed to happen.

BRAD (IC): (exasperated) Just because we were touching shit, wasn't it? We've broken it, right?

RUSSELL (Gritzern): Obi!

(OOC) Says Gritzern.

(Gritzern): Scurry on over there and pull that other lever. I want to test something.

BRAD (IC): (deadpan) Um, is this going to result in my unlikely demise? I mean, I'm happy to help, but…

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (impatient) I'll give you a silver piece if you shut up and do it now.

BRAD (IC): Make it five.

RUSSELL: Gritzern tosses, uh, three silver pieces and a copper at your feet.

BRAD (IC): (deadpan) Can you count?

RUSSELL (Gritzern): It'll be five if I take off two of your fingers.

BRAD (IC): Right.

(OOC) (laughs) Obi takes the three pieces and kind of like backpedals a little bit, avoiding the bodies on the floor, um, and just like grabs the lever, like, almost wincing, and, like, apparently nothing happened so he's like, "Ah, okay."

(IC) On three?

(OOC) (imitates lever) {pretends to pull lever}

[pneumatic hiss, stone grinding]

RUSSELL: As Obi pulls the lever, the doors in between the two passageways slam shut, [bang] sealing Obi behind them. The doors to the front of the cavern swing open with a bang. [bang] It is still raining, but it is only a light drizzle, [soft rain, forest noises] and you see the mist of the morning sun creeping over the horizon.

BRAD: Just as the door is closing, you just hear like a muffled,

(IC) (frustrated) Oh, son of a b-

MATT: Gorrkarraus, uh, steps out the front of the…out the front of the doors, scanning as he does so, with his…with an…with arrows knocked, um, but fresh air is something that he needs.

RUSSELL: Alright, roll Perception.

MATT: (frustrated) Oh my gosh! How are you gonna give me a nat 20 when it doesn't… (sighs in frustration) I have a 24!

RUSSELL: You have a 24? You scan the forest, and all is quiet and still. As you listen, you can hear throughout, and you do not hear the sounds of small creatures, but you do hear some insects buzzing about in the basin below.

BRAD (IC): (incomprehensible, annoyed muffled noises)

ZANE (IC): (annoyed) Rosara, open the door for him.

MATT: Gorrkarraus turns over his shoulder.

(IC) The forest is clear, and the air is quite crisp. Let us get Obi out, and we will journey to the boat.

ARIEL (IC): (sighing) Right, right.

(OOC) And Rosara's going to pull the lever.

[pneumatic hiss]

[stone grinding]

RUSSELL: Is Gorrkarraus standing outside the door or within it?

MATT: Um, I am staying outside the door, since my perception is that everything is clear.

RUSSELL: Alright, so, as Rosara pulls the lever, the front doors swing shut with a clang, locking Gorrkarraus outside. The doors to the inner chamber swing open. Obi is standing there.

BRAD (IC): (angrily) And you guys better come b-! (sheepish) Oh. Oh! Hey, hey guys!

ARIEL (IC): Hook a rope up to your lever, Obi, and we'll get out of here.

BRAD (IC): Tie a rope to it?

ARIEL (IC): (annoyed) Yes! That way, you can walk in here, you can pull it, and now our door will open.

BRAD (IC): (satisfied) Ah…That makes a lot of sense. Cheers, okay! Uh…

(OOC) I…I take out my 50 feet of rope, and do a crude little like sailor's knot, uh, like a strong one, and I will, like, come into the other room, and just hold the rope up.

(IC) Well then. I did the hard bit. You pull it.

ARIEL: Alright, um, everyone's clear in that first sleeping chamber? We're all in the first antechamber, right?

RUSSELL: In the front chamber?

ARIEL: Alright, Rosara goes ahead and pulls that rope.

[pneumatic hiss]

RUSSELL: As you pull on the rope, [stone grinding] the ground shakes beneath you, and the…and a flame [flame whooshing] bursts forth on the lever, burning the rope away, and then, upon the ground, in a circle in the center of the room, runes appear. Gritzern looks down at the runes, and his face grows pale.

(Gritzern) (gravely) Lonkai Venshal.

(OOC) He says.

ZANE (IC): (confused) No no no. Halt.

(OOC) Amadeus is going to walk over to the runes and study them.

RUSSELL: You are not fluent in this language, but you are familiar enough with adjacent and…uh, runes, these seem to be a much more ancient and rudimentary…rudimentary version of runes that you are familiar with, and that…between that and the pronunciation that Gritzern just gave which also sounds very different and strange from similar words, you deduce two words from it. Blood Door.

ZANE: Discerning that two of the runes that I recognize are "Blood Door," uh, Amadeus is going to get up from his little kneeling stance reading the runes, he's gonna say,

(IC) (annoyed) Oh, for fuck's sake.

(OOC) Grab the knife that's behind his back, uh, against his belt,

BRAD (IC): What's he doing?

ZANE: pull it out, [sharp metal scraping] slice his hand, and slam it against the door.

ARIEL (IC): (confused and surprised) Lord Amadeus! What are you doing?

ZANE (IC): (silghtly offended) That is Lord Amadeus II of House Ravenhook, Second of his Name, Ambassador of the Realm to you, you insufferable swine!

ARIEL: (laughing) Rosara's gonna bang on the doors, they're like,

(IC) Gorrkarraus! Get in here!

ZANE: (laughing) I was waiting for someone to say his name. 'Cause I've been holding that!

BRAD (IC): I mean, I can kill him for you if you want. That was pretty rude.

ZANE: And, uh, Amadeus is gonna look at everyone, hearing Obi say that, hold an Eldritch Blast in his hand, and say,

(IC) (deadpan) Really now, pipsqueak?

JOSHUA (IC): (mildly annoyed) Alright, calm down.

ARIEL: So, what happens to the door? Now there's a bloody hand…a bloody Amadeus hand on there?

RUSSELL: Uh, it has a smear of Amadeus blood on it?

ZANE: That's it? Shit! (laughs)

RUSSELL: Well, you're probably also now going to get infected, so…'cause you just shoved… smeared your hand all over who the hell knows what.

ZANE: So Con save, got it.

BRAD (IC): Well, we're all in this room, right? Why don't we just pull the same lever again? Or does that not work? I'm not good at these things.

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (sarcastically) Yeah, that sounds about right.

(OOC) Says Gritzern.

(Gritzern) Uh, yeah, um, just go pull that lever again, uh, it'll be fine.

BRAD (IC): Um, that was 100% sarcasm, so I'm going to not do that.

ZANE: Amadeus is gonna go walk over and pull the lever.

[pneumatic hiss]

BRAD (IC): {shrugs} Okay!

[stone grinding]

RUSSELL: Amadeus pulls the lever, and the doors slam shut, locking him in the antechamber. [bang] The doors at the front swing open, and you see Gorrkarraus standing there, becoming damp with a light dusting of a drizzle.

MATT: When the doors open, and you all see Gorrkarraus, he scans the party a bit.

(IC) So, what has happened? You have been playing in the playpen that we were leaving…I do not see this scholar.

ARIEL (IC): (annoyed) The scholar's back there, we can't get both doors open at the same time.

JOSHUA (IC): (seriously) Gritzern, you read what was on the floor. What'd it say? (mildly annoyed) Oh sure, now you're quiet, you little bastard.

RUSSELL: Gorrkarraus, as you hear…hear the words, "you read what's on the floor," you instinctively scan the room and see the runes now emblazoned on the floor were not there before.

MATT (IC): What- Where did these come from?

ARIEL (IC): We tried to pull the…the lever with a rope, but the rope burned away, and those runes appeared.

BRAD (IC): It was a really good rope. I'm gonna add that again, by the way.

ARIEL (IC): (sighs) (frustrated) Obi, we will find you a new rope, once we get off of this death island!

ZANE: From…from the other side…from the other side of the door, you hear,

(IC, muffled) (frustrated) Shut the fuck up about your rope, and get me out of here!

MATT: Can I tell…I'm specifically trying to not come into the…the chamber, I don't…Gorrkarraus doesn't like closed spaces as much, um…Can I see the runes from here, or do I have to come back in?

RUSSELL: You can see them from here and, uh, recognize that they are gobbledegook to you.

BRAD: I don't want to be in this antechamber, so Obi's going to step outside with Gorrkarraus.

MATT (IC): Vano, you said that Gritzern can read these runes. Do we know what they say?

JOSHUA (IC): Well, he said some words, but I did not recognize them.

ARIEL (IC): Amadeus read the runes as well and decided to…hurt himself? In response to it?

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (frustrated) I'm right here.

MATT (IC): Then what do they say? Translate for us.

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (sighs) (somberly) They say… (hesitates) The phrasing is different in another tongue. But the words are clear.

BRAD (IC): (annoyed) Simplify. Please?

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (somberly) This is the Blood Door. I have heard of this in legend before. Blood Door is a door created by the gods that demands a sacrifice. A sacrifice of blood.

BRAD (IC): (confused) Didn't we already try that? Or are we talking, like, gut the pig? You know, the whole thing? Everything? Like, we talking about getting real nasty? Do you know what I mean?  Like… back to everything?

RUSSELL: Gritzern steps forward, looming over Obi, and looking down.

(Gritzern) (wryly) You mean, like, gut the piglet?

BRAD (IC): I mean, there's technically there's more blood in people that are bigger than me, so it will probably be more effective if we use someone that was larger, but, um…

ARIEL (IC): (disgusted) Oh, nice, Obi.

BRAD (IC): I'm just saying it's like maths, do you know what I mean? Like…

JOSHUA: Has Vano heard about this Blood Door in his history?

RUSSELL: Roll a knowledge History check, or a knowledge Religion, whichever you feel more confident in. You…there's…there's…It's tied to both.

JOSHUA: Yep. I'm gonna roll Religion, because History is not exactly gonna be Vano's strong suit anyways. 14.

RUSSELL: You do not remember much, but you do remember in your tribe when you were very, very, young, vague whispers about a world long before the breaking. A world even before the Primes ruled here in Gregoor-Sheav. A wilder, stranger world with different rules and different gods.

JOSHUA (IC): I don't know much, but it seems like…seems like we're playing on a different level here. This…It strikes me of something I've heard of. I think we're playing with something akin to like a…a dark power.

ARIEL (IC): I mean, that would track, considering the undead, the Shadow Rider of Gorrkarraus' old colleague…

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (wryly) Considering the…the giant face with glowing red eyes on the door?

ARIEL (IC): I'm wondering if the two dead bodies inside of the antechamber, the one we slept in, I'm wondering if they were attempting to, perhaps, share the sacrifice of both of them. Trying to half kill each other to make up for a single sacrifice, and then they just did it.

RUSSEL (Gritzern): (sharply) Perhaps someone like you from your cushy background, from your easy life, where you haven't had to face the brutality of the world, doesn't understand this, but it's obvious to anyone who's had real experience, those two were fighting to the death. One of them wanted to force the other behind the door so that they could get out, and in their desperation, in the dark, they killed each other, and they both died here, like fools.

ARIEL (IC): (offended) Don't you dare tell me what I have and haven't experienced, and perhaps, maybe, we can all put it to a vote, and see who can open up the Blood Door for us, if you'd be so kind, Gritzern.

JOSHUA (IC): (wryly) The…the person that comes from the…from the land of dictatorships and empires wants a democratic vote? You've got to be joking.

BRAD (IC): (laughs) That's a good one, Vano. Nice.

MATT (IC): We can take a vote if it is desired, but you all…we all have different stories on how we got here. Mine entailed what I thought was…symbolism, but I was told I would be presented with a door that only the worthy knocking upon could open. We have had two already attempt to knock. I would not be adverse to making the attempt myself.

JOSHUA (IC): I'd say that's about as reasonable as anything else I've heard.

ARIEL (IC): Go ahead and follow your prophecy then, Gorrkarraus.

BRAD (IC): (wryly) And that's if, uh, Gritzern here is gonna even let you.  He seems scared of it.

JOSHUA (IC): I'm not entirely sure that Gritzern could stop him.

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (confused) Why would I want to stop him?

(OOC) As Gorrkarraus pulls the first lever, [pneumatic hiss, stone grinding] the doors once again switch, front swinging shut, and the inner swinging open with a clank, locking everyone inside. [bang]

BRAD (IC): Well, we're back again. What do we do differently this time?

JOSHUA (IC): Well, Gorrkarraus said he wanted to try to open the door. I say give it a go.

MATT (IC): If there was anything but a path before us that was not this, now would be the time! But I am willing to knock upon the door unless we have a better idea. The vote is the only other thing on the table, for a life to put in front of it.

JOSHUA (IC): Either way, if something bad happens with the door, or if we try to run away, someone's gonna get either locked in or eaten by that door. So, it's going to be a problem either way.

ARIEL (IC): And you said that the door was a part of your prophetic dream or vision, so go ahead.

MATT (IC): A door, yes.

(OOC) Gorrkarraus will, uh, step forward, he'll, uh, pull some…he'll pull, uh, just a bit of his, uh, soil from his pouch.

(IC) (authoritatively) I am the hand of Shadzog, and I knock upon this door.

(OOC) And, uh, he'll eat the dirt, and knock on…knock on the door. I obviously will make connection…connection with it before I can knock again, so…

RUSSELL: As Gorrkarraus knocks upon the door, the eyes [magical ringing] in the face wink out.

BRAD (IC): Well, uh, that's progress. But scary as fuck.

JOSHUA (IC): (unsure) Yeah, I don't love that.

ARIEL (IC): Does it move, Gorrkarraus?

MATT: Gorrkarraus will take a step back and cross his arms. So am I just looking at a blank door…same door but no skull and face on it anymore?

RUSSELL: The face is there, but the eyes have gone out. They winked out.

BRAD (IC): The eyes have gone out. Does that mean it's not, you know, sparkly anymore? Magical?

MATT (IC): Just wait. I have…I have taken the risk once, and it has paid off. I have been known to make a coin flip again.

(OOC) And I'll hover my hand over the door, looking for just one sign of approval from somebody before I actually put a hand to it to see if it is damaging at all.

ZANE (IC): Go ahead!

JOSHUA: Yeah, Vano just nods.

MATT: Alright! He'll…I'll put my hand against the door and try and push to see if anything happens first.

RUSSELL: When you put your hand against the door, nothing happens.

MATT (IC): I think we should all be in the chamber, and pull the…pull the lever again. I am fine, I have taken nothing.

JOSHUA: Vano will go up to the lever. Make sure everybody is inside, and then just pull it back.

[pneumatic hissing] [stone grinding]

[ominous, mysterious music]

RUSSELL: The inner door slams shut, and you hear a clang on the other side. [bang]

JOSHUA: Nothing changes with the door? The…the big one?

RUSSELL: No.

MATT (IC): The door changed when I touched it, but it has not affected me as it affected the two of you. The question now stands, would someone else be willing to touch the door to see if that effect returns itself?

ZANE (IC): Why don't we try opening the door now that the lever's pulled?

BRAD: Well, doesn't it need… (hesitatingly) Maybe your blood's special, Gorrkarraus, it needs your blood.

MATT (IC): This is possible.

(OOC) And since I know that the door doesn't hurt me, uh, Gorrkarraus will gladly just bite the palm of his hand and put it against the door.

RUSSELL: Nothing happens.

BRAD (IC): (annoyed) God damn it.

JOSHUA: Vano goes up to the door and touches it too.

RUSSELL: Make a Wisdom saving throw.

JOSHUA: Just a 10.

RUSSELL: 10?

JOSHUA: Yup.

RUSSELL: In your mind, you hear the screaming of children. Find yourself standing in a muddy field. You blink, and it's gone. You take 11 psychic damage.

JOSHUA (IC): (grunts in pain) (painfully) God! Gods dammit. The effect returns, alright!

BRAD (IC): (wryly) You know, it's funny. Out of anything in this world that I thought was gonna kill me, especially you, Vano, I didn't think it would be a door, but, ehh.

MATT (IC): It will not need to be a door. If I can still touch the door, and Vano cannot, then your vote will not matter. And I am not scared to die, (laughing) I have done it before.

RUSSELL (Gritzern): The word,

(OOC) Says Gritzern,

(Gritzern) Is cling.

MATT (IC): I do not understand.

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (somberly) It means "devour," Shadow Rider. The Blood Door devours. These two,

(OOC) He points to the bodies on the floor.

(IC) (intensely) Did not understand the sacrifice.

BRAD (IC): (confused) Are you telling me…Gorrkarraus here has got to die so that we can get through the door?

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (chuckles) Die? Someone has to stand on the inside of this door and pull the lever for the rest of us to leave. And I don't know about all of this ancient nonsense, I…I know very little of it, but it doesn't matter. (authoritatively) I…I don't want to appease the gods, I don't want to provide a sacrifice, but someone has to stand behind this door and pull the lever, or none of us leave, or we,

(OOC) He points to the bodies on the floor.

(IC) Are just like them.

BRAD (IC): (wryly) And I take by that, uh, that heroic speech, you're not offering to stay behind yourself, right?

RUSSELL (Gritzern) (laughs) What do you think?

MATT (IC): Listen. (somberly) If the door demands sacrifice, I have already said I am willing to make it. As Rosara has clearly pointed out, my prophecy…The door clearly is…Not clearly, but the door responds to what I have given it. I would be willing to try more blood to see if something changes, but I would also be willing to…I would be willing to make the sacrifice because I believe that if this is the door, it will fulfill what I must do. And it would ensure your freedom so that you must do whatever it is that we have all been tasked to.

RUSSELL (Gritzern): Wait!

(OOC) Says Gritzern.

(Gritzern) (sighs) (somberly) There may be one thing we can do. I do not believe in ancient gods, and if they are real, then fuck them and their demand for blood and sacrifice. I won't play by their rules. Obi, do you have any more rope?

BRAD (IC): Um, well, not really. It kind of caught fire.

MATT (IC): If this goes south, I will not be needing mine.

(OOC) And I'll pull rope off of my, uh, pack and drop it down. It's 50 feet of hempen rope.

RUSSELL: Gritzern takes one end of the rope and lashes his hand to the lever, and then lashes the rest of the rope around his arm, down to the elbow.

MATT (IC): (confused) What are you doing, Gritzern?

RUSSELL: And then hands the other end to Gorrkarraus.

(Gritzern) (shakily) Everyone, stand in the exterior chamber.

ZANE (IC): (concerned) What. What are you doing?

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (shakily) Stand in the exterior chamber.

BRAD (IC): Well, you don't have to ask me twice. Nice knowing you.

(OOC) And Obi just walks out, nonchalantly.

ARIEL: Uh, Rosara will do the same, but hesitatingly.

RUSSELL: As she hesitates, he places a hand on her shoulder.

(Gritzern) (somberly) Hand me your halberd.

ARIEL (IC): (hesitatingly) I…

RUSSELL (Grtizern): I need a stronger blade than my rapier, hand me your halberd.

ARIEL: She gives him her halberd, and then slowly backs away.

[music fades]

RUSSELL: He clutches the haft of the halberd right below the head of it, makes eye contact with everyone. [slicing, blood dripping] And then with a swing, severs his arm off at the elbow.

(Gritzern) (groans with pain)

ARIEL (IC): (shocked) Oh my god, Gritzern!

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (desperately) Stay on the other side of the door!

(OOC) He staggers forward. Uh, as soon as he stumbles over the threshold of the second door, he says,

(Gritzern) (desperately) Gorrkarraus, pull!

MATT: Gorrkarraus will pull.

[pneumatic hissing, stone grinding]

RUSSELL: The lever moves down the smallest chink. [bang] The inner doors swing shut just a fraction, and the outer doors swing open just enough to leave the smallest bead of light. Then, Gritzern's hand pulls free from the lever and drops to the floor.

MATT (IC): (groans) Not even this worked.

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (pants) (intensely) Whatever you fools say about me, I'll have you remember: at least I'm willing to make a sacrifice.

ARIEL: Rosara's gonna go to…to Gritzern. And, um, like…like cast…cast Cure Wounds [magical tinkling] on his…on his stub, on his arm? His old arm?

RUSSELL: Alright, how much does that heal?

ARIEL: Uh, 10 hit points for Gritzern, uh, and I'm assuming Cure Wounds will at least…

RUSSELL: As you place your hand over the stump, blood pours through your fingers and pools on the floor. As the healing flows out of your hand, the tide of blood stops, and Gritzern relaxes some, his shoulders coming down, but he's still visibly tense, and his face has gone even paler.

ARIEL (IC): (shakily) I…I don't know if there's another way out of here.

RUSSELL (Gritzern): (intensely) There is no other way out of here.

JOSHUA (IC): One of us has to die.

ARIEL (IC): Or stay.

JOSHUA (IC): That's the same thing.

ZANE: You see Amadeus slowly walking into the room. Without talking to anyone.

MATT: Gorrkarraus is going to grab the back of Amadeus.

(IC) (confidently) I am bound to this door, scholar. You would think someone has learned it, as you would have already realized this. I have made my peace. I have no problem sending you on your way. You will be rid of another son of Djar today.

ZANE (IC): You're sure, Gorrkarraus? No matter…no matter what you are hiding.

MATT (IC): (confidently) I hide nothing. And I do not fear death. A slow one would be peaceful.

ZANE: And then, uh, Amadeus sticks his hand out to shake, uh, Gorrkarraus' hand.

MATT: He'll, uh, he'll respond in kind and go for the forearm.

ZANE (IC): (sincerely) As a son of Djar, your god looks happily upon you for your sacrifice.

MATT (IC): (amused) Hm! You do not know my god. [soft, somber music] This is okay. Just do what you must do, and I will do what I must. If I see you again, I will make sure to leave the arrows in, next time.

(OOC) As he looks at Obi and Rosara.

JOSHUA: Vano…Vano is staring at Gorrkarraus, very conflicted. He would be thrilled that another son of Djar would die, but he also…you also helped save my life and are willing to sacrifice for the team here, and I'm not going to go up and shake your hand, but Vano just looks, and gives you a slight bow-nod with his head.

MATT (IC): (confidently) I would ask one thing on your journeys. If you find Tokorozie, and you kill him, do not let the body lie upon the earth or bury it. That is sacred ground. Burn him so that he may never touch solid ground again.

ARIEL (IC): (sincerely) Seems like an easy enough promise. Gorrkarraus, I know you don't look upon me or my people favorably, but…may your god have mercy on you.

MATT (IC): (sincerely) And may you realize that yours is false. But, carry it well! You will take care of them. They will need you.

ARIEL: With that, Rosara will pick up her halberd and, yeah, back off.

BRAD: Obi, kind of like, steps out from behind the doorway, like, peers around, looks at Gorrkarraus, assessing the situation, and just,

(IC) You're a wicked shot, I'll give you that. You have my thanks, friend.

MATT (IC): Do not make friends, little one, but I would count you as close as I could.

RUSSELL: Gritzern stands there for a second, gritting his teeth and looking away.

[emotional music]

(Gritzern) (laughs painfully) (upset) Too many times have I been down this road. And they fall one by one, again and again and again, and yet I remain. I would not be good to you in life, because of the cost to me and to you, because of this road we tread. But because you choose to sacrifice, I…I will say this. (sincerely) You have fought well, and with courage. You have acted with valor. And at this time, I do not care in what legion you ride, what god you serve, or for whom you fight. The true spirit of an Edwed is to fight with all their heart, and you have. It's been an honor to face foes alongside of you, and I do swear to you, that if it is the last and only act I do upon this earth, I will put that hell rider into the flames.

MATT: Gorrkarraus stands up a little bit straighter, and nods, and, uh, he turns away towards the large door, and just crosses his arms, and stands.

JOSHUA: Vano moves…Yeah, Vano moves into the antechamber, but stands where he'll be able to watch Gorrkarraus as the doors close.

ZANE: Amadeus…Amadeus is going to follow in suit with everyone, but he's going to stand with his back away from the door.

BRAD: Obi can't watch and is at the other end of the antechamber, facing the wall.

MATT: When the rest of the party leaves, Gorrkarraus takes, uh, his satchel off, um, and goes into his bag and pulls a, uh, what looks like a book out, and he puts the book in the satchel. He leans his head up, and he says a…he says a prayer that you…what you think is a prayer that you can't hear, and he looks down, and he touches the dirt, uh, on the ground again, takes a lick, and he kicks the satchel back, and pulls the door…or pulls the lever.

[pneumatic hiss, stone grinding]

RUSSELL: As the satchel slides across the door, and Gorrkarraus pulls the lever, the doors slam shut with a clang, [bang] echoing off the walls. Behind you, sunlight floods into the room, basking you all in a warm glow.

[music fades]

(voice cracking) I hope you have enjoyed and appreciated this parting tribute to one of our cast and crew, Matt Connor, a fraction as much as I have enjoyed the immense pleasure of working with him over these past months to create this project.

[pause]

As the old adage goes, the show must go on, but, even though it does, it does not mean we forget, or no longer appreciate the people who have made such a difference in our lives, who've worked so hard on the project, and who've become such a close and dear friend. Matt has been absolutely integral to the birth of this production, and everything that comes afterward, and the rest of the show, owes a tremendous debt to all of the work that he has done behind the scenes to push this production forward. I want to thank you so much for supporting all of our passion, our vision, and our dream, allowing us to create this beautiful piece of art. Thank you so much for listening. This has been Spawn of Chaos' first campaign, The Heralds of Wayinar. Please, if this has meant something to you, if you've appreciated it and enjoyed it, do something to, you know, you know the stuff on the platforms. You know all that, like, share, subscribe, follow, you know…you know the drill. Thank you so much for your support, and we will see you again with episode three next Friday at 5pm Pacific Daylight Time, airing live on Twitch, well, live…What do you call, it live replay? The world can definitely throw a lot of chaos our way, but when we face it together, it does make a difference. Take care of yourself out there, and always remember: even though chaos waits you in the dark, so do others who have your back.