S3 Ep 2

**Full Episode**

**Dirty Twenty Recap**

### Is This... Land?

We rejoin our adventurers as they drift towards the greatest discovery of their lives: the first sight of land since the Great Flood. Val and Bal are awestruck, having never seen solid ground in their lives. Snibbles responds as we might expect them to by now: immediately journaling and documenting everything in sight. Rory wanders away from the wheel to observe as well. Unfortunately, with no one steering the boat, it drifts into a cluster of rocks, which tear a massive hole. The team springs into action, attempting to keep the ship from taking on too much water while steering towards the island. As they draw closer, they see a few cloaked figures standing on the beach, one accompanied by what appears to be some kind of massive dog. One of the figures directs the group towards a small dock. The group discusses quietly whether or not these people are friendly, but with their ship rapidly sinking, it appears they don't have much choice but to land. The figures on the beach appear to be of the same race as the body they encountered in the water; the "Darklings" appear androgynous and very similar in appearance, but not clones of each other. As the group's boat runs into the ground, one Darkling tells another in Sylvan to *"Go inform the High Priest".* Another explains in Elven (which literally everyone *except* our main Diplomat Balthier can understand) that they will be escorted to a house to stay in while their ship is restored overnight. The Darklings appear mostly devoid of emotion and speak coldly to the group; they begin to suspect that the islanders have ill intentions, but try to write it off. Val takes note that he understands Sylvan, though he's never heard or spoken it before.

All of that aside, the group's first steps on land are monumental. Snibbles takes one step, stops and presses their feet as flat into the solid ground as possible. They take a deep, shuddering breath before continuing, saying *"I assure you, this is how we were meant to be"*. Val falls to his knees and lets the sand pour through his fingers. *"This is everything"*, he says.

Still adjusting to walking on solid land, the group is led up a hill from the beach into what must have been a mountain peak before the Flood. Scragly, sparse trees dot the landscape, and for the most part, nothing looks particularly healthy. There are several different small buildings constructed out of driftwood or perhaps old ships. One building stands out; a massive stone temple with stained glass windows. The group doesn't ask many questions though, as their escort doesn't seem too keen on talking.

Finally, they reach a small shack at the edge of the island. A storm seems to be brewing in the distance as the guard explains that the crew will sleep in this house throughout the night, they will not leave the house, and when they wake in the morning, their ship will be fixed. They are to leave and never return. Rory asks the Darkling for their name, but they just stare blankly. Everyone walks inside, the door is shut, and they can hear heavy locks jingling as they are apparently locked inside.

### A Long Rest

The group makes note of the island's location on their map and settle in for the night. The island lies on the southernmost point of the Infiri Valley, and is the last submerged mountain on a long range. As they mark this information, Snibbles raises their concerns to Balthier. They worry that the Flotilla's leadership will treat the island natives poorly if they are led to the prospect of a permanent home, and note that the island is too small and scragly to support even a fraction of the Flotilla's population. Snibbles asserts that the island's people have found their own home, and they should be left to it. Balthier replies that he's not sure he trusts these people anyway. He notes that the building they're in appears to be made of wood from an old ship. Perhaps the Darklings outside are deconstructing their ship this very moment and preparing to kill the group? They decide that they will rest for the evening either way. Bal asks Val to teach him some key phrases in Elven, and Snibbles and Rory suggest the possibility of her using her strange powers to get a peek at the situation outside. They decide for the moment that rest is more important than going against the Darkling's orders. Despite sleeping indoors, shielded from the elements, the group decides to takes watches in shifts.

As dusk fades to night, a thunderstorm begins to roll in. As the others sleep, Fin and Rory talk about the day's events. Infinis claims that he can imagine how his friends must be feeling, as his first steps on the Flotilla were unsteady and foreign as well. Rory feels sorry that the group's experience on the island has been so negative and uncertain, knowing that they wanted this for so long. They agree that they are clearly experts at finding land-- having done in two days what the entire Flotilla has spent 54 years trying to achieve-- and if this island doesn't work out for any reason, they will find another, better one. The night rolls on and the storm picks up intensity. Suddenly, through the noise, Fin hears concerning sounds off in the distance; a heavy thud, and the muffled sounds of screaming. Looks like it's time for action after all.

Fin places himself at the door, attempting to pick the lock. Balthier wakes up Val and Snibbles, filling them in quietly and instructing them to be quiet. Rory uses her Echo abilities to teleport outside of the shack and into the rain. She climbs up onto the roof and does her best to observe through the darkness. Using the Darkvision goggles Snibbles gave her, she sees the guard with the dog creature who had led them to the shack. The guard appears completely unfazed, with a blank look on his face. She climbs down and teleports back inside to report, taking the place of the Echo that had been standing there, regarding the group with a strange, gentle smile. Fin is able to unlock the door, but everyone decides to lure the guard in close and see if they can't get any more info from them before sneaking out for good. Fin re-locks the door and everyone begins banging on the walls and doors, until they hear heavy footsteps outside and the jingling of chains. The guard opens the door, dog at his feet, and asks them what they want. When the group inquires about the screaming, the guard asserts that they must have imagined it. Seeing that questioning them won't get them anywhere, Val casts Speak With Animals and has an honest, heartfelt conversation with the guard's dog. The dog helpfully informs Val that the Darklings took a group of humans to the stone temple, which he's never seen any humans come out of. Additionally, when asked whether he believes that this group will be taken to the temple, the dog responds *"Probably!"*

In the background of all of this, Balthier has been talking quietly with Snibbles. He asks them to teach him a phrase in Elven: "*You will let us go early and act as if you have been authorized to do so."* And with that, our resident bard is back in business doing what he does best. The newly-charmed guard stands aside to let the group out as Val subtly has his fireflies chew through the dog's leash. The leash snaps, the Darkling chases the dog off into the darkness, and our adventurers are finally left to explore in peace.

### Temple Run

They make their way to the stone temple, following Snibble's lead. The deep gnome uses their enhanced darkvision and natural affinity for rocky ground to quietly steer the group through the various buildings without being spotted. There are guards posted at the temple doors, but Val uses his dancing lights cantrip to lure them away. The group bolts inside the main doors, fortifies the exit with a crowbar, and takes a moment to breathe. The room is small and dark, and a set of double doors on the right wall marks the entrance to the rest of the temple. Rory lies flat on the ground and attempts to see into the next room through the crack between the door and the floor; the next room is well lit, and she can see at least two sets of boots. She sees a pillar off to the edge of the room that appears to provide some cover, and uses her Echo to teleport behind it (*\*heh heh... nothin personal, kid\** ok sorry). What she sees is concerning. Two rows of benches line the chamber, which is brightly lit with torches. A large tapestry depicting a woman, vibrant with blues and purples, hangs on the wall. What appears to be a smashed altar lies crumbled at the opposite side of the room, where another set of double doors conceal another chamber in the temple. Four Darklings are sitting in the benches, and all of them are turned towards the door her friends are hiding behind, faces completely blank. Rory realizes that they know they are here. She teleports back to the room and reports what she's seen, or as much of it as possible, before the door opens and one of the four Darklings stands before them, face still blank. They stand to the side, seemingly offering them entry. The group stands and moves tentatively into the main chamber, keeping their backs to the wall. As they approach the middle of the room, the doors on the far side creak open, and a human man steps out. The man wears the ornate regalia of a high priest, and his demeanor is jarringly jolly. He explains that the group is welcome to this place of worship, and that he and the Darklings worship the Lady of the Ocean: Snibbles knows that the Lady of the Ocean is the figure depicted in the tapestry. Despite his jovial nature, the group can tell that he isn't being honest. He claims not to know anything about the screaming the group heard, nor anything about the group being locked in an abandoned house overnight. Fin walks up and gives the crumbled altar a little kick and asks what happened; this appears to strike a nerve in the priest, who for just a split second lets slip an expression of barely contained rage. As the group is talking, Rory examines one of the Darklings. They have a completely vacant look in their eyes and don't seem to react to Rory's presence at all. In the background, Val kisses Balthier on the shoulder and casts Guidance on him, just in case. Chat reacts accordingly.

After some back and forth with the priest, Snibbles proposes that they stay to reconstruct the smashed altar. The priest tentatively agrees before retreating back into the room he came from, which he's stated is his own personal chamber. Just before the door closes, Val catches a glimpse of fresh blood glistening on the floor. With the priest gone from view, the crew turns their attention to the Darklings left in the room with them. They don't appear to respond to any questions or movement near them, but move to prevent Rory from touching them. Val attempts to speak to one of them in Sylvan, and for a moment, sees a glimmer of sorrow in their eye. They realize that the Darklings are likely being controlled somehow. However, with no information to help them on that front, the crew begins to formulate a plan and prepare themselves for a fight inside the priest's chambers. That plan mostly involves getting all of their weapons out, knocking a torch onto a rug and kicking the door open. So, uh, they do that.

### The Depths

The group rushes into the priest's private chambers to a grizzly sight; there are two dead bodies on the floor, both covered in blood. A trap door lies in the corner of the room, appearing to mark the entrance to some sort of basement. A tall, solid obsidian obelisk stands in the room's center. Even more concerning, the room is completely empty. The group confirms that the priest must be more than what he appears. Rory walks up to the obelisk and attempts to kick it over; however, as soon as her foot touches the surface, she blacks out and falls to the ground, completely limp.

Rory blinks, and finds herself surrounded by water; undulating around her is a sickly blueish light, and she can feel the current of unseen eels slithering past her. She feels herself crushed by the pressure of the water, and cannot breathe, despite not exactly needing to as a "warforged". She is struck by sudden visions; a woman crying out, a city on fire, a blurry rebellion, a version of herself cold and pale on her deathbed. A voice hisses out from the water: "***What is this?"*** The vision ends. Meanwhile, Val and Snibbles are trying to get her to come to. As she awakens with a gasp, she cries out in a voice not her own: *"You will not have me!"*

As could be expected, Rory is deeply troubled by the vision, but Balthier advises her to stay calm. The group descends down the ladder into the basement of the temple, readying themselves for a fight.

The room they emerge into is lined with massive stone coffins, and a door lies on the other side. The group attempts to proceed quietly, but after Snibbles opens one of the coffins, horrid green ooze-like creatures begin to emerge. The smell is absolutely putrid and the group springs into action as the oozes begin to lash out and attack. The fight is relatively quick, and the group destroys the creatures. As the last ooze melts back into disgusting cursed jello, a voice booms into the chamber:

**YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE COME HERE.**

And that's where we left off last week on Dirty Twenty! We have video recaps as well as full episodes up on Kanoadaddy's Youtube Channel: just navigate to the top of the page and you'll find the links! See you on Friday!