Episode 11: A Classic Quest. No Twists

Episode 11: A Classic Quest. No Twists - At last The Nearlies have their hero crests and embark on the first official quest as members of the Guild and it’s an absolute industry standard: Giant Rats in the Basement. Unfortunately for our friends there ARE a couple of twists, the title is a lie. Most significantly that these rats have been corrupted by one of the world ending horrors called The Glorious and are mutating more and more horrifically with each passing hour. It’s an extermination for much more than property value! Let’s mash em up!

## Cast

### Nearlies

Josh | Xenator Brisbane
Kathy | Lavaleen Crest
Andy | Martin Sirque
Amanda | Gwendylyn Cloot
 Robbie | The Speaker
 Aaron |  Production & Sound

### NPCs

APPEARING
 Sarah
Todd
 Jlor
 Orgess Ungerverden
 MENTIONED
 Manni

## Summary

The Nearlies attempt to lower the portcullis to seal up the holding cell and stop the mutation of rats from spreading. They simultaneously have to fight off already mutated rats, and rescue Jlor, who has been trapped by the monsters.

## Synopsis

### Prologue

Ninnean comes across the ruined potion that Gwendylyn had attempted. She notes that Gwendylyn had actually prepared it correctly, and that it must be frustrating for Gwendylyn to still always fail.  “you should tell her, you know”, says a voice in her head.  The voice belongs to her dead daughter, Gwendylyn’ s mother.  Ninnean pushed the thought down, knowing the Gwen wasn’t ready for any truths.  When cleaning up, she spies a small piece of the Golden Apple.  She touched it with her tongue.  Despite how limited the contact, she could feel the curse creeping into her. There had been sedative inside as well. She followed the trail, and sees a thin spindly creature dragging Gwendylyn along.  She could still feel the curse and, to stop its course, she bit off her tongue.

### Episode

The Nearlies are resting after their encounter with the Giant Rats at Orgess Ungerverden’s camp. Ungerverden manages the basement situation, where the Inn is storing monsters.  They manufacture problems for the Heroes to solve to act as a Hero’s catalyst.  But something got into the holding cell, and mutated (Gloryspawn Infection) the rats that was being stored.

The Nearlies are tasked with lowering the portcullis, sealing up the holding cell to stop the spread of the mutation.  To help Ungerverden passes out some potions and weapons to the Nearlies.  After passing out weapons, she warns the Nearlies that there is a Manticore, that they need to look out for.  Manticores are known to be liars and like to eat intelligent, humanoid flesh.

The Nearlies open the portcullis, triggering a wave of terrified rats.  Valeriana, depending on her Gentle Beacon, steps in front of the oncoming wave, trying to command them to stop.  This promptly fails, and Valeriana gets swept under the swarm of pony sized rats.  Martin, trying to help, wades in and fails, also becomes stuck in the wave of fleeing rats.  In a comical daisy chain of failure, Gwendylyn tries to help Valeriana and Martin, and becomes stuck in turn.  Xenator casts Terrifying Speech on the rats.  This does cause them to part around them, but continue to flee, until they’ve left the area.  Lavaleen and Sarah simply stood aside and let them pass, which given the results, appeared to have been the correct course of action.

The rats gone, Todd gets sent ahead on a scouting mission.  He is able to confirm that the portcullis is in the open position.  The groups debate attempting to close the portcullis or cave in the cavern.  During this debate Lavaleen hears the low rumble of a heartbeat, probably locating the Manticore.  The group begins to examine the innerworkings of the portcullis to try to lower it. They are interrupted by Jlor, who is trapped across the caverns with a white rat.  Xenator embiggens the swan version of Lavaleen and the know large swan flies across to where Jlor and rat are hiding.  Lavaleen has some difficulty convincing the rat that she is a friend there to rescue them, and Jlor won’t leave without him. Xenator then casts a stick version of Pig’s Wall, covering the portcullis opening.  Lavaleen uses Woodland Whisperer to calm the rat and convinced him to jump onto her back.

During the rescue attempt, the rest of the Nearlies fight a Rat Prince.

### Epilogue

Ninnian is running after the man who had stolen Gwendylyn.  The man is startled when she catches up to him.  ‘I’m with the First Circle. We need her.  We need her power.  You know what she is.”  Ninnean accuses the man of cursing Gwendylyn.  “Oh poor woman, she was already cursed.”  The man looks around, stating that if he is harmed, he doesn’t know what will happen.  Ninn opened white hot hornet nails. There was an attack, and Ninn was sent into the brush.  The man and Gwen disappear into transportation magic.  Her daughter tells her that Gwen is a dark thing and it was better off if she was gone.  Ninn drags herself home and worked to heal herself and planned how to get Gwen back.

## Notables

Episode 11

 Objects Acquired

 Spells Used

 Metamorph Attempts

## Quotables

Xenator: “We have a healer with us. Sort of.”

Ogress: “The Manticore is a liar, and if he says anything bad about me, he’s a double liar.”

Martin: “Guys tuck your pants into your socks; we got rats coming”

## External Links

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 Website - Episode 11