Those We Carry With Us

"**Those We Carry With Us**" (1x35) is the 35th episode of Dun-Johns and Dragons.

## **Synopsis**

### **Previously on *Dun-Johns and Dragons***

Stone, Magpie, and Zander left Skip with a crew of mercenaries looking for the kidnapped Prince Durrian. Along the way they were joined by Barakas Creed, a bodyguard sent by Magpie’s family, who remained with them after an altercation with the mercenaries that left the orcish captain and two crewmembers dead. They then agreed to escort an old woman named Ira Marsh to the town of Coldwall. After encountering a band of shark-spiders, they met a satyr named Tuli Springfoot.

Back on Skip, Dugluss ingratiated himself with the Mechanists’ Guild, but on request from the Pirate Lord, discovered evidence of horrifying experimentation there. Yoolna, meanwhile, befriended a member of the Arcanists’ Guild named Drusilia. After Dugluss went missing in the Mechanists’ Guild, Yoolna tried to rescue him but was killed by a drider. Dugluss managed to escape, freeing several of the creatures held captive and catching sight of Yoolna’s body in the process. He picked up one of her daggers and escaped into the sewers.

### **Part I**

Dugluss is washed down a drainpipe and into the sea; after some struggle with the weight of his armor, he manages to reach the surface and make it back to land. Father Buckitt [played by Dave] appears on the dock and helps him heave himself out of the water, saying, “The Great Bucket in the Sky told me something terrible had happened and that I’d find you here. What’s going on?” Dugluss fills him in briefly; when he tells him what happened to Yoolna, Buckitt is regretful and says he feared something like this might happen when he left the group. The two go together to inform the Pirate Lord of what’s happened.

Half overcome with emotion, Dugluss tells the Pirate Lord that the head of the Mechanists’ Guild is dead by his hand (he spits when she mention’s Warren Tana’s name), and tells her of the horrible hybrid experiments he found. Brynn, impressed, says she’ll send some associates over to see what’s to be done, and hopefully install a new leader more friendly to her interests. Dugluss asks if she can see that Yoolna’s body is recovered and sent to his family in Dvarri’s Deep for burial, since she had no known family of her own. She agrees, and asks if there’s anything else she can do for him, and he asks if there’s any way she can help him reach the rest of his party in Wolvia. She tosses him a small silver coin embossed with an unfamiliar pirate symbol and tells him to give that to one of the ships down at the dock, and they’ll take him anywhere he wants to go.

At this point, Buckitt speaks up and asks if there’s a plot of land on the island that could be donated to the Great Church of the Bucket. She agrees, and Buckitt continues, “In fact, have you heard the good news of the Great Bucket in the sky?” He steps forward and begins pulling out pamphlets. The Pirate Lord sits back in her seat, pulls out a bottle and lets him talk. Talking past Buckitt, Dugluss thanks her for her help and takes his leave, then makes for the docks, but the only ship there is part of the Cadagast navy. He asks one of the sentries posted by the gangplank about passage to the continent, but they just reply, “Piss off.”

He goes back to the Equal Rope Inn and orders several drinks, rebuffing anyone who tries to join him, until a female half-elf approaches and, ignoring his attempt to brush her off, pulls out a piece of parchment and traces her finger over it; when she pushes it across the table, ink appears, forming the words, “Dugluss Deepforge?”

He hiccups. “That’s clever. Aye, who’s asking?”

Continuing to communicate via the parchment, Drusilia introduces herself and explains she has been keeping an eye on Yoolna since they met in the Arcanists’ Guild, but today was unable to locate her. Dugluss confirms Yoolna’s passing and they commiserate briefly. She asks what Dugluss plans to do next, and, still slamming back pints in rapid succession, he explains his plan to find his compatriots in Wolvia to inform them of the loss of Yoolna and then return to his home in The Fourth to give her a proper burial. Drusilia says, “Perhaps I can help you.”

When Dugluss asks how, she says she will petition the Arcansists’ Guild for the dissolution of the Mechanists’ Guild; she is confident their magic will be plenty to handle whatever monsters they have hidden away. Dugluss asks if they find any of his research that they burn it, so his inventions can never be used for destruction. “I was blinded by ambition, didn’t see what their true ambitions were. I can’t let that happen again.” She agrees. She also mentions that she could shorten his journey to reach his friends; he is eager for the help, and so they agree to meet in the same place tomorrow. She bids him “Sleep well” and he goes to his room and, after a thorough cry, does just that.

They meet again in the barroom the next afternoon and she tells him, “I can help find your friends, and then with a bit of luck, I can send you, either directly to them, or somewhere nearby.” She asks for any of their belongings and Dugluss retrieves one of Zander’s TS Ballsworth novels from the Portable Hole. She uses Scrying and locates the others in the aftermath of the fight with Shomp Vala and the other marauders. Drusilia says she can send Dugluss to his friends when he’s ready to go; he asks for an hour or two to find Father Buckitt and say goodbye.

He locates Buckitt in front of a half-burned building in a run-down area, where he’s talking excitedly to one of the Pirate Lord’s associates about building plans for the Church of the Bucket. Dugluss tells him of his plans and says this may be the last time they see each other for some time. Buckitt understands, and hopes the Great Bucket will lead their paths to cross again. They share a hearty dwarven handshake and part ways.

Dugluss heads to the Arcanists’ Guild, where Drusilia admits him. “All ready?” she asks. He agrees, and she takes his hands and holds them tightly; he feels himself briefly pulled out of the physical realm and everything goes blurry, and then there is firm ground beneath his feet again and he finds himself in the countryside. He spends a couple hours exploring the area getting his bearings and finds the remains of a campsite [OOC Dave explains, based on the timelines, this is the campsite where they had the battle with Vala and associates, so there will be a couple days of Dugluss being behind, tracking them and catching up.] He spends the next couple days tracking his companions, until he finally finds himself in a wooded area with the sounds of combat nearby.

### **Part II**

Zander, Stone, Magpie, Barakas, and Ira are catching their breaths after the battle with the shiders, and casting curious glances at Tuli. Zander calls over to her, “Well fought.”

“You too,” she replies. “That was a nice move with the trousers there.” Tuli goes over to the group and everyone introduces themselves. Zander asks if she’s some kind of druid. She says, “Some people call it that.”

Barakas asks if she knows anything about the shiders; she says they seem to appear in areas of deep forest, and have been cocooning people and dragging them off. Barakas shares the rumors he’s heard about other strange hybrid creatures from the surrounding towns and they discuss the creatures’ possible origins. Magpie, meanwhile, is gushing over Ira’s fighting skills. Tuil, seeing Ira is the oldest, asks if she’s the leader of the group; Ira says no, she’s just going to Coldwall. They explain they don’t really have a leader, they’re more of a cooperative.

Out of the corner of their eye, Stone sees something rustling through the trees; they see a bird hopping along a branch with something in its mouth. It drops the object, a coin, directly in their palm. They hear Dugluss’ voice, “Trouble at the Mechanists’ Guild; return as soon as possible.” Tuli comments, “Mechanical birds and speaking coins; you *are* a curious group!”

They explain to Tuli who Dugluss is and the group discuss what they should do. Zander tries talking to Folar but doesn’t have much success. As they stand there talking, Barakas suddenly says, “Someone is coming. From the south.” They all hide and prepare to attack. Magpie catches a glint of armor through the trees and, after a poor perception check, she thinks it’s a bandit and fires the Wand of Wonder, but Reduces herself to half her size instead. Zander starts laughing uncontrollably and moves toward her; he’s now bigger than she is as swears high-pitchedly in infernal. Tuli calls, “If you didn’t mean to do that, I can probably help!” Zander tries to pick her up but she’s too quick; she pokes him with the Wand of Wonder and says “I’ll use it again!”

Dugluss comes running through the trees. “Hello? Is that you?” Stone, Magpie, and Zander are surprised and thrilled to see him, while Tuli, Ira, and Barakas stand around looking mildly perplexed; Tuli asks, “You have two friends named Dugluss?” Zander gives him Folar back and Dugluss pets him. Magpie squeaks, “Where’s Yoolna?” He is amused by her small size, but at her question and the sight of the shider corpses, his face falls, and he says, “How can they be here already?” Barakas’ eyes are still fixed on the south; he says, “Someone is still approaching.”

Magpie quietly asks Tuli for assistance and Tuli returns her to normal size with Dispel Magic. Dugluss comments that Magpie sounds different (she’s no longer putting on her accent.) They hear heavy footsteps coming from the south. Everyone hides, but Stone, Ira, and Barakas all make for the same tree and it isn’t very effective. They see an orc carrying a large, rough-looking greataxe. He locks eyes with Stone and yells, “WHERE’S BROTHER?!” Zander, Magpie, and Stone recognize him as Shamp Vala’s half-brother.

A quick and brutal combat follows. Magpie, Zander, and Stone each do a hefty dose of damage with Chaos Bolt, Eldritch Blast, and Inflict Wounds, respectively; the orc lands one attack on Barakas, but Barakas turns around and quickly finishes him off with his quarterstaff.

Tuli drops out of the tree where she hid and introduces herself to Dugluss, and Magpie asks again about Yoolna. Dugluss explains what happened and his plan to return home to arrange the funeral. Tuli, not knowing who they’re talking about but understanding Dugluss is sad, picks a flower and gives it to him. Dugluss takes out Yoolna’s dagger and gives it to Magpie to remember her by, and Magpie gives him a huge hug, both of them openly sobbing. Zander, who has been pacing silently, suddenly Eldritch Blasts a nearby bush out of rage. “I just want to keep my friends safe, and I couldn’t do it. Again.”

Barakas lays a hand on Dugluss’ shoulder and says, “I’m sorry for your loss. If I may make a suggestion: Steepoint is but half a day’s travel from here. Before you depart, why don’t we raise a glass to your friend.” The others agree. They ask if Tuli wants to come along; she does, and they all make for Steepoint.

When they reach the town, they find many houses burned out, partially collapsed, or otherwise badly damaged; some people are working on repairs, while others go about their business amidst the partial ruin. Tuli asks one of the workers what happened, but the worker just breaks down crying. Another comes to comfort them and says explains that a few weeks, perhaps a month ago, a dragon came flying from the south and set upon the town, destroying buildings and plundering their supplies before continuing on to the north. Magpie asks what color it was; the worker replies, “Dark. Dark as the night sky.”

Barakas turns to the group and says, “There were rumors of such a creature in Westerhaven; did you hear of such a thing?” Magpie pulls him a little way off and quietly explains what happened with the dragon in Westerhaven.

Tuli apologizes to the townsperson and asks if there’s an inn operating, and is given directions to The Indigo Mace. They find the inn, looking much brighter than the rest of the town. Dugluss goes to the bar and orders drinks while Tuli joins some people dancing. The others find a table and Dugluss offers a toast: “For the best among us. She had a fire in her heart, steel in her soul. May she now rest below fine art, and return to the fold. To Yoolna!” The others join the toast and they spend the evening reminiscing about times past with their friend, and introducing Dugluss to the recent additions to the group.

After they all go to bed, Ira knocks at Magpie’s door. Magpie lets the old woman in, and she says sympathetically, “It’s hard to lose somebody; at my age, you know, I’ve lost about as many friends as I’ve had. But it’s not the end. You carry people with you; you never forget. I have something — I think your friend would want you to have it.”

She pulls something out from under her cloak and with unearthly speed she is suddenly cheek to cheek with Magpie; Magpie feels a sharp pain and looks down to see a dagger sticking out of her stomach, which she recognizes as Yoolna’s dagger, last seen stuck in the hide of the black dragon as it escaped from Westerhaven. Magpie hears a deepening voice say, “You should’ve killed me when you had the chance.” The figure shoves Magpie backward out the window; landing against the wall below, she looks up and sees a dark shadow with a long tail and leathery wings pass by.

## **Featured Characters**

### **Player Characters**

* Dugluss Deep-Forge
* Father Buckitt - does appear briefly in this episode, but JD was not present; Father Buckitt was instead played by Dave.
* Magpie
* Stone
* Yoolna
* Zander Brushspark