193: Batthwack's the Fruit!

## Summary

The party battle against a tide of gelatinous cubes and are rescued by Krikrik.

## Synopsis

Will and Batthwack are facing off against a gelatinous cube in the tunnels beneath Morrow's Inlet. Batthwack is pulled into the cube where he finds himself face-to-face with Marko's corpse. Will tries to pull Batthwack out but can't, nor can he free himself. Mo, Raphina and Dew hurry round the corner and attack.

Mo is engulfed by the cube. Will dodges the cube and is able to pull Batthwack out at the same time. Will casts *Dimension Door* to take Batthwack back to the group. Hilula manages to pull Mo out of the cube and Mo attacks. Batthwack casts *Thunderous Smite* to charge his longsword. Raphina casts *Banishment* and the cube vanishes, giving them one minute to act. Everything that was in the cube is left behind.

Batthwack goes looking for Marko's key and finds two more gelatinous cubes down the tunnel in the direction the party had come from. They are trapped. Raphina and Batthwack attack, discovering another cube behind these two. Will *Eldritch Blasts* the cubes. Mo summons the Luminescent Lobster of Love to attack a cube with spectral pincers. Dew attacks with lightening arrows.

The cubes are advancing and Mo has to dodge their attacks. Raphina attacks a cube and destroys it spraying acid on Mo and Dew. Batthwack is still searching for a key, but can't find anything. Will *Eldritch Blasts* the gate to try and blow them open. Mo is attacking the cubes but retreats. Hilula is smashing at the gate with her axe. Dew also falls back to the gate. A voice coming from the wall behind Will says *"Hey is somebody out there?"*

Raphina calls out to the Luminescent Lobster of Love as she had seen Mo do but nothing happens. Having heard the mysterious voice, she bangs on the pipe to send a message. Batthwack is simultaneously fighting and retreating. A cube is destroyed and he is sprayed with acid.

Will feels the wall behind him move, a hidden door opens and the same voice says *"Guys, come on, hurry! They're coming!"* *"Who are you?"* says Will and the voice replies *"I'm Krikrik! Come on!"* The voice tells them that more cubes are beyond the gate so there is no use going that way. Faced with no other option, Will goes through the door. Mo, Hilula and Dew follow, as does Raphina. Batthwack also backs towards the door, still fighting, and goes in.

The door closes behind them and they find themselves in what looks like the end of a tunnel that goes off into the dark. They introduce themselves to Krikrik and explain they were on their way to try and meet Crumplemeyer. Krikrik explains that he/she can sense the unhappiness in the town and wants to do something about it, partly for altruistic reasons, but also because if things are more harmonious it might make it easier for him to venture above ground. He wants to bring down the wall, which he sees as the main cause of the animosity and he proposes to do this magically by inscribing runes on magic paper. Will is doubtful about Krikrik's plan and motivation. To try and reassure them Krikrik offers them a map of Morrow's Inlet. He shows them where the paper mills are and how they can reach Crumplemeyer's Book Bin via the tunnels.

Dew asks Krikrik about gnomes and he hasn't heard of them. He also hasn't heard of Strahd. The party discuss whether to go overground to look for a hotel or stay below.

## Trivia

* The episode title quotes Greg. The party are fighting gelatinous cubes in the pipes under Morrow's Inlet and Batthwack gets sucked inside one of them. Greg/Dew: *"What is that thing?"* KT/Will: *"It's gross! Batthwack's in it!"* Eric: *"That makes it worse."* Greg: *"You know how jello's disgusting... but jello with fruit in it's like... Ugh! Batthwack's the fruit!"* Abby: *"Mock turtle jello salad!"*