The Bad Bean Boys (Episode 4)

**The Bad Bean Boys Episode 4** is the forth episode from Group One of The Spectral Index side series.

## The Bad Bean Boys (Episode 4)

### **Show**

As combat began, Kami activated his *Manifest Echo* to summon his shadowy doppelganger near the creature, stabbed at it with his *Wind Slash Rapier* from the *Echo's* position with one of his two strikes, then advanced to move closer to it on the opposite side of his *Echo*. Quil pulled out his longbow, cast *Ensnaring Strike*, struck the creature with an arrow while activating his *Stalker's Fury* to turn his missed shot into a hit, but resisted as the *Ensnaring Strike* attempted to restrain him, then struck it with one of two other arrows. Flint dipped his hand into his bean pouch, smeared beans over his face, fired at the creature with his gun while activating *Violent Shot* as well activating *Fury of the Small* and *Defensive Flourish* to increase the damage to it, fired at it again, then used *Nimble Escape* to hide behind the beans. The creature stood up from prone, started to emanate this pink-blue air around it, which Kami resisted, but left Quil and Flint babbling nonsensically unable to do anything their next turn, then cast *Otto's Irresistible Dance* on Flint which left him river dancing on the spot.

Kami struck the creature with his *Wind Slash Rapier* twice before having his Echo strike at it as well. Quil still babbling was unable to do anything before the babbling wore off. Flint likewise babbling and dancing was unable to do anything before the babbling wore off. The creature turned towards to Kami and cast *Otto's Irresistible Dance* on him this time causing him to dance in unison with Flint. Kami unable to resist the dance continued to river dance on the spot. Quil, seeing the rest of group dancing, cast *Hunter's Mark* on the creature, pierced it with two arrows from his longbow, then backed away to keep out of range of it's effects. Flint unable to resist the dance continued to river dance on the spot likewise, but activated his *Action Surge* to fire twice on the creature with his gun. The creature, now starting to bleed blue and purple streaks of blood, moved towards Flint, as Kami used his reaction to attack with his Echo, hit Flint with three of his four slam attacks. Kami unable to resist the dance continued to river dance on the spot likewise, but activated his *Action Surge* to strike it with one of his two slashes with his *Wind Slash Rapier* from a distance, severing it in two pieces to the ground, releasing Kami and Flint from the dance. As it died released a hot white burn inside their mind blasting their minds with that same disturbing sound it gave off, and as it burned and faded away left behind a book.

Flint told the other he didn't feel too good, while Kami noted they should take the beans the creature was eating as their 6th bean. Quil approached Flint and cast *Cure Wounds* twice on him, while Kami added the flaming, vibrating beans to his *Bag of Holding*. While doing so, Kami and Quil noticed the book on the ground started to move and bounce, getting erratic and bouncing higher, and seeing that Quil rushed to hold it down and barely managed to keep it down on the ground. Seeing Quil's struggle, Kami rushed to hold it down while Flint pulled his gun out and "threatened" the book to not move, which seemed to stifle the book's efforts. Quil suggested putting it into the *Bag of Holding* which they agreed with as Kami wrapped it in his bed roll and threw it in his *Bag of Holding.* Flint tried to suggest Kami send his Echo as well to, but relented after knowing it would be too far away from him to keep existing. As they noticed that their *Bag of Holding* seemed to move as the bag fought inside it, Flint suggested opening it to be sure it was the book they were looking for. Kami and Quil reached for the book managing to keep it shut, but on seeing the cover noted it was called *"The Dance of Creation".* Kami frustrated through it off the island, which opened the book summoning another of the creature they fought as it fell.

Quil immediately suggested they needed to find a way out as they were not where they should be, while Flint bemoaned the loss of the book, and looking around for a way out, noticed a similar green shine from one of the trees. They all ran up to the shine and felt that pulling sensation as they were back on the star with the shaped platform, and deciding they needed a break, Quil pulled out some rope, cast *Rope Trick* creating an extra dimensional space for them to take a long rest. After finishing their rest and left the space they noticed there was now dried blood in the central part of the star. Flint asked Quil asked if he could track what it was, and though he thought there was nothing he could track, Quil picked the faint scent of blood from the purple portal. After telling the group, Flint removed the cartridge from his hunting rifle, loaded a new one and declared it was hunting time, while Quil pulled out his crossbow and Kami drew his *Wind Slash Rapier*. As they headed to the purple portal Quil cast *Pass without Trace* and Flint pulled the hood of his *Cloak of Elvenkind* while Kami made his way in.

After the familiar sensation of the portal had passed, they hit cold, black stone on the ground, with no stars or colour, just a black void with floating blue flames and black tiles, following a wall-less hallway, leading into the darkness, with red boot prints on the ground following it. They all made their way quietly as they could following the tracks, they noticed that the pathway shifted up and down like it was floating on a form of wave, though not actually moving as opposed to the feeling of it doing so. As they continued they heard the sound of metal on stone, or something else as dense and heavy, in the distance, followed by a low grumbling noise, which they determined was maybe 100 - 200 feet away. Hearing this they followed the path still, weapons drawn and quietly going, with Flint deliberately walking near the edge of the path, and noticed the sounds slowly became louder, while the blue flames expanded and the path they trailed grew larger.

As they came to the edge of the platform, they saw a mountain of books, paintings, artworks, forms of knowledge, portions of buildings and on top rested a sleeping, purple colored dragon with big massive horns on it's head, and a black circle that floated in between the horns that pulsed with this weird white energy. Flint noted that while he was fond of starting with violence, noted his desire to not do so and wondered if any of them could speak draconic and both responded with a no. Flint suggested that the universal language, being the language of beans as an option, and suggested offering them a gift being the *Bag of Holding* and the *Decanter of Endless Beans* in exchange for at a look at the books. Quil asked who would be willing to wake them and Flint suggested Kami to do it, adding it was necessary to not sneak around them take it head on without weapons for a bean based discussion. Quil noted they should have an escape plan in case the worst scenario happened. They looked back recalling the portal they came back was still where it was, and looking around the current platform noticed it continued on in the distance, but also noticed the dragon was almost non-physically formless, with an appearance of the night sky, and as it shifted in it's sleep, more colours turned, spinning with it.

Flint pondered if space dragons liked beans and Quil replied, from the pile of books it slept on, that it wanted knowledge. Kami noted they had three options being to get to the other portal, talk to the dragon or attempt to root through it's hoard. Flint suggested that the book wasn't the dragon's possession and could be bartered for a phenomenal fee and Quil added there was the chance that the book wasn't there either. Flint suggested they had a forth option, which would involve deception and the *Decanter of Endless Beans*, using it to spill beans on the ground, while Flint would use using his *Cloak of Elvenkind* to create words and pretend the beans could be used to summon spirits that could communicate across planes and give it in exchange for the book. While discussing the idea, Quil started to become perpetually afraid of the dragon, even while sleeping, as it activated it's *Aura of Madness* and left Quil *Frightened* and immediately backed up behind the others. Flint added that he could pretend to be the King of the goblins desiring to exchange knowledge for the ability to speak with the dead, while Kami just suggested they should talk with it, and agreed for the bean plan to act as "Plan Bean". Quil voiced his opinion that they check other places and only return if sure that it was there. Flint motioned for him squat down, and as he did. placed his hands and reassured him sometimes you have to do what you don't want to and wasn't alone while he gave *Bardic Inspiration* to him, which reassured him.

Kami pulled out his pan flute and started to play, with Flint approaching the dragon's space with his hood up of his cloak, while Quil hid away. The dragon opened it's mouth, with the intensity of a bright white star from within, as it woke, and asked what was making noise. Kami and Flint gave their apologies for disturbing it and the dragon in asked what they were doing in it's hoard. Kami explained they were looking for a book and asked for it's help, but it didn't seem to care for what they wanted or that they were even there. Quil turned to Kami and asked if they should do *"Plan Bean",* but Kami just told the dragon they would take their leave and continue their search, which again seemed to ignore them. Quil reached to hand Kami the *Decanter of Endless Beans*, but the dragon noticing it opened a black portal, reached through it to appear near them and grabbed the *Decanter of Endless Beans* and pulled it back to itself and dropped it onto the hoard. Seeing that, Flint declared himself the Goblin King, how he wished to show how to use it and that it needed goblin magic to work, but the dragon replied "funny" as it activated Three *Legendary Actions* to activate *Void Cache* causing his hoard to disappear, as he landed on the ground and told them to not make silly jokes.

Flint, deciding he needed to try something, whispered "Geyser" in hopes to activate the *Decanter of Endless Beans* from wherever they were, and the dragon noticing that something happened to his hoard, used his claw to cut a circle in the air and saw the beans being blasted all over his hoard. The dragon not happy, activated his *Stellar Flare Breath* on them blasting them with starfire, which Kami managed to resist the brunt of, but Flint and Quil took the full blast of with additional radiant energy as well. The dragon snorted, while Flint noted Kami might be the only one in position to negotiate. Kami asked him to disregard his idiot kobold friend and the dragon retorted his hoard was now gooey, as he reached into the hole, pulled out the *Decanter of Endless Beans* and threw it at Flint.

Kami tried to change the topic by asking if he knew of the *Spectral Index* and the dragon replied that he did, revealing it was within it's hoard. The dragon noted his interest in it and how all life was explained in depth within it and placed it on the ground. Quil tried to ask if there was anyway they could have it, with Kami adding the idea of bartering and the dragon noted something of similar worth. Quil pulled out his *Dragon's Reach Crossbow*, explained it was a very powerful item of use and would be a great collection to add to his horde. The dragon responded it was the stomach of a similar great dragon, lifted his head, and as the circle between his horns spun and pulsed a bit, turned his head down the other hallway that the group didn't come from and noted more visitors.

**That is where we leave Episode 4!**

### **Post-Show Shenanigans**

* The group noted that they might have issue with their health and would probably need to blame the new visitors for the issue that happened lol
* Darrin thanks everyone for watching, noting this was the last adventure for The Bad Bean Boys as the finale would turn two stories to one
* Darrin re-introduces himself and ABSQ, and thanks his three special guests from the TTRPG Twitter community taking part in this side story who can all be found on twitter
	+ **@OrkFromMork** who can be found on twitter interacting with others on the TTRPG community, playing as **Kami** - Halfling, Swashbuckler Rogue / Echo Knight Fighter
	+ **@LovecraftDnD** **(Sam)** the dm from "Live, Laugh, Lovecraft", playing as **Flint Eatswood** - Goblin, College of Swords Bard / Gunslinger
	+ **@tasty\_doom** **(Kyle)** the dm from the "TastyDoomPodcast", playing as **Quil** - Tabaxi, Gloom Stalker Conclave Ranger