Episode Transcript
[00:00:05] Speaker A: You are listening to an atomic broadcasting production. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the feature presentation.
[00:00:13] Speaker B: And remember, do your part.
[00:00:15] Speaker A: Such as, like, comment rate. And don't forget to tell a friend to tune in for an atomic time.
Now, where did we leave off?
Ah, yes.
Having secured the crown of the Storm King, the party returned to Joel with their new flying castle.
After consulting with Cyrdire, they decided to seek out a curse severing knife from Irison once they'd finished preparing for the journey.
[00:00:58] Speaker C: Oh, my gosh. Well, Jenkins is leaving again.
[00:01:03] Speaker A: Welcome back, everyone. Jenkins is getting a drink, but as soon as he is back, he will join us. Today, we are pleased to greet you with a level 12 party.
[00:01:16] Speaker D: Wow.
[00:01:16] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:01:17] Speaker C: A wow of appreciation.
[00:01:19] Speaker E: Wow.
[00:01:20] Speaker A: Wow. So you guys were all working on your character sheets and everything, and I was watching. You guys seemed pretty excited. So does anybody have anything cool about their character improvements that they want to share?
[00:01:31] Speaker E: I've got some stuff if. If you guys. It's not super exciting. So, I mean, we could. We could start with me, and then we go. Go around.
[00:01:37] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:01:38] Speaker B: Be excited.
[00:01:38] Speaker E: Okay, well, so, I mean, if you've listened to the last episode, I. Wait, was that the last episode?
The potion? Yeah, I crafted a potion without any alchemical thingies because, you know. You know.
[00:01:55] Speaker B: Cool.
[00:01:56] Speaker E: So I just went ahead and got alchemical crafting. So now I have that, and I can do. I think it said that I can put four common things in there, so I'm assuming that's probably one of those that I can already put in my formula book. Yeah, my little lethargy pose. And I forget what it's called now. Stupify. Stupor. Stupor something or other. Anyway, I'm gonna stop talking now.
[00:02:17] Speaker D: Stupor. Poison.
[00:02:18] Speaker C: Never stop talking.
[00:02:19] Speaker A: Zafir is an alchemical crafter now.
[00:02:22] Speaker E: I am. I've got so many things going for me here.
I'm a knitter.
I'm gonna say that differently.
I can knit. I can.
I can cook. I can shoot. I can kill.
[00:02:36] Speaker B: You can cook?
[00:02:37] Speaker E: Well, yeah, maybe. I don't know. I just made that up.
I was thinking that with the alchemical crafting, I'm thinking if I stop talking, somebody else will start.
[00:02:49] Speaker C: Jenkins, what do you got, buddy?
[00:02:52] Speaker B: I wanted to draw that out longer.
Yeah, I'm pretty stoked for this level.
I have things I don't want to talk about, but the thing I want to talk about is a class feat that allows me to not waste a spell if I. If I miss or they succeed a spell save. It's great.
[00:03:12] Speaker E: That's Very nice.
[00:03:13] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm. I'm so stoked. I can only do it once a day, but so stoked for it.
[00:03:21] Speaker E: I wish we could do that more often, like with pokeballs. Like I wish you didn't have to expend a pokeball whenever you used it and you missed. Like spells.
[00:03:31] Speaker D: You can just have so many pokeballs.
[00:03:33] Speaker E: You run out and you only have so many spell slots.
[00:03:38] Speaker D: I picked up my class feat Champion sacrifice. Now if any of you take damage within 30ft of me, I can just take it for you instead.
[00:03:47] Speaker E: How much health do you have?
[00:03:49] Speaker D: I have 176 right now.
That should be fun. I also got something really cool that I will that will reveal itself as we play. But I'm excited for this Val stuff.
[00:04:03] Speaker B: Hi.
[00:04:04] Speaker C: Sorry.
I know it's me. Give me two seconds.
I'm sorry.
Okay.
[00:04:10] Speaker B: Hi.
[00:04:11] Speaker A: Hi, Abby.
[00:04:14] Speaker D: Hello, Abby.
[00:04:18] Speaker C: You know what, Sam?
[00:04:19] Speaker A: Get out. Get out.
[00:04:21] Speaker D: Okay. Goodbye.
[00:04:22] Speaker E: Get in the fridge.
[00:04:24] Speaker C: Go to the fridge. Go back to the fridge. Anyway, hi.
I picked up a pretty cool spell that I'm excited to use.
It has 120 foot range, which makes it easier than you know, 30 foot range, which is most of my spells. So that'll be fun.
[00:04:42] Speaker E: Do we get to know what it is?
[00:04:45] Speaker C: Sure.
It's called utter destruction.
[00:04:49] Speaker B: Okay, what's it do?
[00:04:52] Speaker C: You screech with an unearthly voice made of destructive energy, smashing every everything that lies before you.
Creatures take 4d8 Sonic damage and 4d8 Void damage.
[00:05:09] Speaker E: I feel like that's on brand.
[00:05:10] Speaker B: It's really cool and terrifying.
[00:05:12] Speaker C: It's a fun time.
[00:05:12] Speaker B: I like how terrifying Neros is.
[00:05:15] Speaker C: I know she has all these like spells. It's like she can rip you limb from freaking limb. But she's such a partier.
[00:05:23] Speaker E: She has the most self control.
[00:05:25] Speaker C: She only.
I make a point to only use those spells.
Desperate need of, you know, some sort of big damage.
So yeah, I hardly ever just charm it. Charm and then magic missile and telekinetic projectile. That's honestly the three that I use the most.
[00:05:46] Speaker A: So I did get one thing that I'm. I'm kind of excited about because I needed another two choices to do whenever I have actions and spells to spin out.
I got scroll adept.
[00:05:58] Speaker C: Oh, what does that do?
[00:06:01] Speaker A: So during my daily preparations, I can create two temporary scrolls containing arcane spells from my spell book. Both spell ranks must be two or more ranks lower than your highest spell rank.
[00:06:11] Speaker C: Nice.
[00:06:12] Speaker D: Yeah, I love it.
[00:06:13] Speaker A: So I get 2 extra rank 4 spells without having to worry about spell slots.
[00:06:19] Speaker C: That's handy.
[00:06:20] Speaker D: Worry about putting them in your hands.
[00:06:22] Speaker A: Yeah, just have them there.
[00:06:25] Speaker C: Just grip them on with a death grip.
[00:06:27] Speaker A: I have a death grip.
You'll have to remember that I do have a staff, too.
[00:06:33] Speaker D: And if you fall off the cliff, you can just unroll one of the scrolls and float down.
[00:06:39] Speaker C: Use it like a magic carpet.
[00:06:42] Speaker E: So many references.
[00:06:43] Speaker C: Or a parachute.
Neros comes by with her castle. Get on, buddy.
I'll save you.
[00:06:52] Speaker A: Nero.
[00:06:52] Speaker C: I can show you the castle.
[00:06:56] Speaker B: We've made so many elaborate pieces.
[00:06:58] Speaker A: Nero shrinks the castle down to magic carpet size.
[00:07:02] Speaker C: Why would I do that?
[00:07:03] Speaker B: Why would she do that?
[00:07:04] Speaker D: She could just sit on the top of the castle.
[00:07:06] Speaker A: So she could sit on top of the castle.
[00:07:09] Speaker C: No, I'm up there with Gwibs.
[00:07:13] Speaker B: Singing the song to Gwibs.
[00:07:16] Speaker C: I'm holding him like the Titanic.
[00:07:19] Speaker B: His immaculate biceps outstretched, wide, third wheeling.
[00:07:24] Speaker A: Hanging on with dear life on the.
[00:07:25] Speaker D: End of it, just like three feet off the ground.
[00:07:33] Speaker A: Guard looks up and is just like.
It's only my second day on the.
Well, speaking of the castle, I know Zafir had brought up the idea of possibly restocking the castle with, like, food and drinking, you know, things that are not human.
[00:07:51] Speaker E: Or poison.
[00:07:52] Speaker A: Or poison.
Did anybody else have anything they wanted to do in town before you set out to Irison?
[00:08:00] Speaker B: Before we end this episode, we have to buy potions for the love of everything.
[00:08:05] Speaker C: Okay, we need to buy potions.
[00:08:07] Speaker B: I don't trust you.
[00:08:09] Speaker D: Oh, fair.
[00:08:11] Speaker C: I don't really trust Val a whole lot right now either.
[00:08:14] Speaker B: It's not that I don't trust Val. It's that sometimes Val is all the way over there.
[00:08:18] Speaker C: Trust Sam.
[00:08:20] Speaker B: She can't give me a pack.
[00:08:21] Speaker C: But Val.
[00:08:23] Speaker D: Well, anyway, I think while everyone was going out to shop and get supplies and such, Val went back to the remains of the chapel, remains of the temple of Phasma.
And she's been working on the painting there more, meditating over what's just kind of the situation that happened that she was dealing with of, like, finding better ways about how to draw the line of redemption and, like, action.
[00:08:57] Speaker A: That's fair. That's fair. And with all the time that you had while you were waiting for the Storm King to fall asleep, your painting was pretty much close to done before you even flew back to Joel.
[00:09:09] Speaker D: Oh, okay.
So I'm gonna kind of edit when I feel like it's done enough. I'm gonna kind of set it where I feel like it was before, where I saw Barzok go into it.
[00:09:24] Speaker B: And.
[00:09:25] Speaker D: I'm gonna try and, like, reach my hand through it.
[00:09:28] Speaker A: And as before, when your hand touches it, rather than just, like, pressing up against the painting, it kind of ripples like the surface of a pond, and your hand goes through.
[00:09:41] Speaker D: All right, so Val's, like, pacing a little bit, and then she's like, all right. And then she's gonna head off, and she's gonna try and find Neros and Zephyr and the others. If they're around, too.
[00:09:53] Speaker E: I will be currently haggling with a person. I don't know where I was going with that.
[00:10:03] Speaker B: I'll be currently haggling with an old hag over the price of a tomato.
[00:10:09] Speaker A: No Easter Raiders. 3 gold.
By price is fine.
[00:10:14] Speaker C: 3.
[00:10:15] Speaker B: 3 gold.
[00:10:17] Speaker D: The city's been through turmoil, Jenkins.
[00:10:22] Speaker E: Prior to destruction, this was only 2 silver.
Still a lot.
[00:10:29] Speaker A: They're the best tomatoes in the world.
[00:10:31] Speaker E: I don't even like tomatoes.
[00:10:33] Speaker A: That's false advertising.
Take away the potatoes, dwarf.
I mean, tomatoes.
[00:10:41] Speaker C: Did you say potatoes?
[00:10:43] Speaker A: Shush.
[00:10:45] Speaker E: I'm taking my business to the mart wall.
Look at the border.
[00:10:52] Speaker A: There's just a wall that has a whole bunch of market stalls up against it with a sign that says Wall for Marts.
[00:11:00] Speaker E: They unionized a couple of weeks back, you know, when the whole thing happened. I don't know why I'm telling you this.
[00:11:07] Speaker A: I know. That's why my stuff is so expensive. I can't afford to do business with them monopolizing.
[00:11:15] Speaker D: At that point. Val, save me.
It's just like Sapphire. Sapphire?
[00:11:22] Speaker E: Oh, I'll have to put you on hold for a moment.
[00:11:28] Speaker A: She grouchily pulls out a banjo and starts playing some music.
[00:11:33] Speaker C: Who is this lady?
[00:11:35] Speaker B: I need a whole episode just about her.
[00:11:38] Speaker E: She's barkeep. Barkeep's grandmother.
It runs in the family.
[00:11:44] Speaker C: Banjo barkeep.
[00:11:48] Speaker E: Oh, hey, Val.
[00:11:49] Speaker D: Oh, hey. Hi.
How's. I did it. I finished it.
[00:11:55] Speaker E: You. You finished what?
[00:11:57] Speaker D: The painting. The painting. It's ready. It's working.
[00:12:00] Speaker B: Oh, already?
[00:12:01] Speaker D: Yes. Well, I had all that time yesterday while we were waiting for the Storm King to fall asleep.
[00:12:06] Speaker E: You mean while I was sleeping?
[00:12:08] Speaker D: Yeah, when you drugged yourself for.
[00:12:11] Speaker E: It sounds so bad.
[00:12:13] Speaker A: Banjo music stops.
[00:12:16] Speaker E: Don't worry about it. Hey, you don't have any sleeping potions? Never mind. I can make my own.
So you finished it?
[00:12:22] Speaker D: Yeah, it's all done.
I need to get Neros and see if she's wanting to come along.
And I was gonna see if you wanted to come along with me as well.
[00:12:33] Speaker E: Wait, we're going now?
[00:12:35] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:12:36] Speaker E: Into the thingy.
[00:12:38] Speaker D: Yes.
I shan't think it should take too long.
Parazak's expecting me.
[00:12:44] Speaker E: I mean, can I drop off these groceries at the castle first and then she might be. Actually, Neros might be at the castle.
[00:12:53] Speaker D: Okay, yeah. I'll come with you. Did you advice on one of these tomatoes? They look.
[00:12:58] Speaker E: No, this lady is a crook.
[00:13:01] Speaker D: A crook.
First of all, I set a piece of gold down for the banjo. Music. Thank you for the music. It's very lovely.
[00:13:13] Speaker A: Well, I appreciate such kindness. She sets the banjo aside. How many tomatoes do you want, young lady?
[00:13:21] Speaker D: I can choose.
[00:13:24] Speaker B: That's how shopping works.
[00:13:27] Speaker C: Do not normally choose how many tomatoes you take home.
[00:13:31] Speaker B: And take one tomato, you'll be happy about it.
[00:13:34] Speaker D: Are you wanting me to buy tomatoes from you? I thought you were saying I could have some for tipping you.
[00:13:40] Speaker A: She looks up at the banner over her wagon that says tomatoes for sale.
That's kind of why I'm here.
[00:13:48] Speaker D: Yeah. I'll take a tea. How much are they?
[00:13:50] Speaker A: Three gold. Well, you're very nice.
Two gold each.
[00:13:55] Speaker D: I do like to support local.
Sure, I got lots of money. Here you get.
She reaches into a giant sack full of gold coins.
[00:14:05] Speaker C: I think Jenkins is dying.
[00:14:09] Speaker E: He's nodding, crying or gold? Val. Val, it's the principal.
[00:14:15] Speaker D: Oh, yeah, I'd rather I.
[00:14:19] Speaker A: He's right. This is the principle. Let's discuss interest.
[00:14:23] Speaker B: What the one time my accounting for.
[00:14:25] Speaker D: Her would come in handy before we make the situation even worse. Madam, I'm gonna leave now.
Thank you. Goodbye. Come on, Zephyr.
[00:14:36] Speaker A: Thank you. And she puts the gold in her pouch.
[00:14:38] Speaker D: I take a bite out of the tomato and I spit out. This is disgusting.
Is this even a real tomato? Like as she's walking.
[00:14:47] Speaker A: It's an apple.
[00:14:49] Speaker D: You know, I like apples. It's just when you're expecting to bite into a tomato and you get an apple, it does all sorts of things to your senses.
[00:14:56] Speaker C: They feel completely different.
[00:14:58] Speaker D: Right.
[00:15:00] Speaker C: Even when you're touching them, they feel completely different.
[00:15:03] Speaker D: No, the problem is that they didn't. That's the problem.
[00:15:06] Speaker A: They were very soft apples.
[00:15:09] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:15:10] Speaker E: I have silently. Well, not silently, but I have secretly summoned my telekinetic hand and I'm gonna cause a little mischief in the back to make her look away, I knock down a tomato box.
[00:15:23] Speaker A: I'm going to look over my shoulder for far too long at that noise.
[00:15:28] Speaker E: I then open a bag and start throwing tomatoes into it.
And just keep doing that until she starts to turn back around.
[00:15:39] Speaker A: I do need to repaint that part there.
[00:15:42] Speaker D: Zephyr, come on, we have to go.
[00:15:44] Speaker E: I Close up my bag, which doesn't seem like it should be holding that many tomatoes, and walk away.
[00:15:51] Speaker B: Hmm.
[00:15:52] Speaker A: I was done talking to him anyway.
[00:15:57] Speaker E: I have, like, 45 tomatoes in my possession.
[00:15:59] Speaker A: Oh, my gosh.
[00:15:59] Speaker E: I don't even like tomatoes.
[00:16:01] Speaker D: If you don't like tomatoes, why were you haggling with her?
[00:16:05] Speaker E: It's the principle.
[00:16:07] Speaker D: That's fair. The castle's just right over here.
[00:16:11] Speaker E: It's hard to miss.
[00:16:13] Speaker D: There's a building in the way. There's a wall.
[00:16:16] Speaker E: Not anymore.
[00:16:17] Speaker D: Ah, there it is.
That's ours, right?
[00:16:20] Speaker A: Oh, my gosh.
[00:16:22] Speaker C: Because there's more than one floating castle in Galerion.
[00:16:27] Speaker B: Nearest has been messing with the paint.
[00:16:29] Speaker E: Job the valet pulls.
[00:16:31] Speaker C: She's been redecorating.
[00:16:32] Speaker D: I don't remember what the plate numbers were.
[00:16:34] Speaker E: C, L, O. Wait. CL0U.
There's not a D in numbers.
[00:16:40] Speaker D: A D.
Do we just knock on it, or do we walk in, I.
[00:16:45] Speaker E: Wave at the guard and I just.
I just wave at the guard. I don't know why I was.
Yes. No. We walk in.
[00:16:53] Speaker C: There is no guard of Cloud Castle.
[00:16:55] Speaker E: Guard outside of Joel.
[00:16:57] Speaker A: The guard that's outside of Joel just watches you and goes, now, you see, Stuart, those guys just got a castle.
If they'd had this castle for a while, they would have been more confident about getting on their castle.
[00:17:12] Speaker D: So is she. Do you know where she is? In here. I haven't really been back here yet since we landed.
[00:17:17] Speaker E: I just figured she'd be around here somewhere. It is her castle, after all.
[00:17:21] Speaker D: Near us.
[00:17:24] Speaker E: Maybe she's upstairs in the bedroom that we never got to see.
[00:17:29] Speaker D: I don't know. I'll go.
I thought it'd be easier to find everyone. I'm gonna go running around the castle looking for.
[00:17:39] Speaker C: Do you have the map of the castle?
[00:17:41] Speaker A: Oh, sure, sure.
[00:17:43] Speaker E: That would be cool. Do we have a map on the side of the wall of the castle that says you are here and shows all the exit points?
[00:17:48] Speaker C: That statue man.
[00:17:51] Speaker E: Are you that statue man?
[00:17:52] Speaker C: No, I've climbed it. And I'm sitting on the axe.
[00:17:55] Speaker B: Oh.
[00:17:56] Speaker C: Or the hammer or whatever it is.
[00:17:58] Speaker E: All right.
[00:17:59] Speaker C: I'm, like, lounging on his arm, like, on his biceps.
[00:18:04] Speaker E: Thinking of glibs, thinking of glibs Reminiscing of muscles gone by One day.
[00:18:09] Speaker C: One day I will know his name.
[00:18:12] Speaker E: Hey, what you talking about there?
[00:18:13] Speaker C: Oh, hi.
[00:18:15] Speaker D: Hi, Neros.
[00:18:16] Speaker E: How'd you get up there?
[00:18:17] Speaker C: I don't quite know. And I jump down.
[00:18:21] Speaker D: Very good.
[00:18:21] Speaker C: Oh, it twisted an ankle.
[00:18:23] Speaker D: Oh, I'm kidding. Do you need healing?
[00:18:25] Speaker E: No.
[00:18:26] Speaker C: What?
[00:18:26] Speaker E: What do you need like, a tomato. No, I've got like, 45 of them.
[00:18:31] Speaker D: No, don't eat them, they're bad.
[00:18:32] Speaker C: I don't like tomatoes anyway, so.
I don't like tomatoes.
[00:18:37] Speaker E: Let's move.
[00:18:39] Speaker C: What do you need?
[00:18:40] Speaker A: What?
[00:18:41] Speaker D: So you remember way back when we were. I was in Phrasmus Temple and a fellow par was like, hey, come see me later. And he went into that painting.
[00:18:56] Speaker A: Right.
[00:18:57] Speaker D: So after everything and the whole arid thing, I went back there and I found some of the leftover pieces, and they seemed to like or worked like a portal of some sorts. So I finished the painting that I've been working on for the last couple of days, and it's a portal into the Deadlands and it's ready to go. And I'm gonna go in and speak to Barzok, and I thought I'd ask if you wanted to come along.
Zephyr.
[00:19:25] Speaker E: Thanks.
[00:19:27] Speaker C: What did he need to talk to you about?
[00:19:29] Speaker D: Don't know. Just some stuff relating to Corvus.
Because he seemed like he had some information about Corvus he wanted to share with me, but not with Pharasma. Mm. So he wanted me to find him later.
And maybe some other stuff. Not entirely clear. He didn't have a lot of time to speak to me before Pharasma showed up. And he was like, peace out.
[00:19:49] Speaker C: Yeah. And then you told Pharasma about Corvus.
[00:19:51] Speaker D: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:19:54] Speaker C: So she's like, a little silent.
[00:19:57] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:19:57] Speaker C: So a little angry.
[00:19:59] Speaker D: Going in there might offer some answers to things that are currently unknown.
[00:20:03] Speaker C: Are you going to tell Pharasma about Corvus again?
[00:20:06] Speaker D: I don't know why I would. I haven't seen Corvus again.
[00:20:09] Speaker C: You weren't supposed to tell her anyway to begin with. Well, you promised that you would not tell Pharasma about Corvus, and then you did.
[00:20:19] Speaker D: I didn't want to say that. I wouldn't anyway, in the first place.
[00:20:23] Speaker C: Well, then you shouldn't have said it anyway. Having a conversation.
[00:20:26] Speaker E: I don't like it when you argue.
[00:20:28] Speaker C: That's fine.
You shouldn't. If you didn't mean it, then you shouldn't have said it.
[00:20:33] Speaker D: I was trying to be helpful. By getting answers from the source of everything that would have the answers.
And it's not every day that that opportunity presents itself and we don't know currently what the end result of that fully is.
[00:20:57] Speaker C: You still promised.
And if you didn't mean it, then you should not have promised.
[00:21:02] Speaker D: I didn't want to promise and I told you that then. I don't like to lie. It's not good.
[00:21:10] Speaker C: Yeah, but keeping your word to your friends also means something.
[00:21:15] Speaker D: Well, I'm not sure about a lot of things. I get very confused. Everyone keeps telling me I need to lie, and everyone tells me I need to not lie. And then everyone tells me I need to do this and I need to do that. And I don't know right now, but I did what I felt was best and most helpful for the situation to be of help to my friends.
And sometimes helping your friends is not always doing what they want.
[00:21:42] Speaker C: You can believe that if you want.
[00:21:44] Speaker D: That's some. Yeah.
Something I've learned.
[00:21:49] Speaker E: So, are we gonna like.
[00:21:52] Speaker B: Sure.
[00:21:53] Speaker C: We can go into the painting.
[00:21:55] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:21:56] Speaker C: How long are we going to be there?
[00:22:00] Speaker D: Should only be like maybe three hours tops. I don't know.
We'll find out. I'm not sure he's expecting me, so like I assume that means will be a little quicker. I might be able to find some fun answers. I remember Corvus told you to try and get here at some point. So maybe he'll be able to show up and do something.
[00:22:20] Speaker C: Well, if we're going to go do that, then I need Elwood.
[00:22:23] Speaker D: Oh yeah.
[00:22:25] Speaker C: Does anyone know where he is?
[00:22:27] Speaker B: I think because I want for us to have potions, I think I'll be buying potions.
[00:22:35] Speaker E: Potions.
[00:22:37] Speaker B: I thought about just being in the castle too. I was like, no, you could have.
[00:22:41] Speaker C: Bought potions and then come back to the castle.
[00:22:43] Speaker B: Oh yeah, I have. I have just. I am returning from buying potions.
[00:22:46] Speaker D: Zephyr, he kept talking non stop about potions. I bet he's out getting potions right now.
[00:22:51] Speaker E: I even learned how to make potions and he still went.
You think he's.
[00:22:58] Speaker D: Let's go get him.
[00:23:00] Speaker E: Onward to Albert.
[00:23:01] Speaker D: Quickly.
[00:23:03] Speaker B: As they go to leave the castle, Albert is walking in with a satchel filled with potions.
[00:23:08] Speaker A: The guard in the background now you see, Stuart. That guy is confident about entering the castle.
[00:23:14] Speaker D: Alad.
Yes, Val? This looks over at nearest.
[00:23:20] Speaker B: I got us potions.
Neros. Hold this one and then it disappears.
[00:23:26] Speaker C: Can you stop doing that?
[00:23:28] Speaker B: No, the other one appears in their other hand.
[00:23:34] Speaker E: Go ahead and you can toss those in the kitchen or something.
We are going on an adventure.
[00:23:41] Speaker B: We're already on an adventure.
[00:23:42] Speaker E: Another adventure.
[00:23:43] Speaker C: You know that thing I talked to you about at Troll Forge now?
[00:23:49] Speaker B: Yes, but I haven't even thought about it.
Okay.
I hope I can. Sure.
[00:23:58] Speaker C: I don't know how I. Listen, I'm not sure how you're supposed to help. Corvus just told Me that I need you.
[00:24:05] Speaker D: Oh, a mystery.
[00:24:07] Speaker E: Okay, just do your little thing and let yourself think about it later so that you know about it now.
[00:24:12] Speaker B: That's not how that works.
[00:24:14] Speaker E: You can figure it out.
[00:24:15] Speaker C: I'm not. I wasn't expecting to go either. Val just came in and told me that the portal is ready.
[00:24:24] Speaker B: We're just gonna accept that for now.
[00:24:26] Speaker D: I was painting it.
[00:24:28] Speaker E: She's very.
[00:24:29] Speaker C: We're just going to accept that she can paint magical portals too.
[00:24:31] Speaker D: I can also break curses with rituals.
[00:24:35] Speaker B: That makes more sense.
[00:24:36] Speaker D: Yeah.
Well, all four of us are here.
Should we get Uvair to all four of us? Nope.
[00:24:43] Speaker C: Sven is shaking his head no.
[00:24:45] Speaker B: Uvaire's just sitting over.
He's relaxed in the castle. Just.
[00:24:50] Speaker C: No, he's sitting up there on the throne.
[00:24:53] Speaker D: He's like, I heard all of this, and I am not getting involved.
[00:24:57] Speaker B: Leave me out of this.
This is for the youngins.
[00:25:01] Speaker A: Robert's having Troll Forge flashbacks.
[00:25:04] Speaker E: I can imagine. Just the table in front of him is just laid with scrolls and books and things.
Instead of ignoring us. You literally just didn't hear us.
[00:25:13] Speaker C: It would be the perfect desk for Uber.
[00:25:15] Speaker E: Yeah, it would be. Especially if it was giant size.
[00:25:18] Speaker D: We just said. Come on.
[00:25:19] Speaker A: Aren't you IRL picking spells? Yes.
[00:25:22] Speaker C: So that's perfect.
[00:25:24] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:25:25] Speaker A: And off topic. I picked a spell that I want to use while they're doing their thing.
[00:25:34] Speaker E: Like, away from us. Or.
[00:25:36] Speaker A: Why don't you message me what that is so I can know when is a good time to do that.
[00:25:39] Speaker C: Sorry, I couldn't resist.
[00:25:40] Speaker B: Before we leave.
Before we leave, then Aurora's gonna look at Uwe. Please distribute these potions amongst our rooms.
[00:25:49] Speaker A: He vaguely.
He vaguely gives a gesture of sure.
[00:25:55] Speaker C: I love that it's kin. And he has been sitting there this whole time.
[00:25:59] Speaker D: Man. Imagine if we don't come back.
[00:26:03] Speaker A: He glanced up whenever he saw. Whenever you guys came in. And he glanced up again whenever you two started arguing. And he just went right back to what he was reading. Fair.
[00:26:15] Speaker C: Fair.
[00:26:16] Speaker A: Like, not getting in on this again.
[00:26:20] Speaker D: To the temple?
[00:26:22] Speaker E: Why didn't you just.
[00:26:23] Speaker C: Why do we have to go to the temple?
[00:26:24] Speaker D: Oh, I left it where I had seen it before.
[00:26:26] Speaker B: What if other people.
What if somebody stole it?
[00:26:29] Speaker E: I don't think anyone's going to be visiting the rubble.
[00:26:32] Speaker D: I just kind of left it where it was before, where Varzok had gone through. I thought that made the most sense.
[00:26:38] Speaker B: It does make the most sense.
[00:26:39] Speaker C: All right, Uwe, keep the castle safe.
[00:26:42] Speaker A: Uvaire looks up now with his full attention.
Good luck. All of You.
And especially to you, Neros.
May you find the answers that you seek.
[00:26:58] Speaker C: Thank you.
It's only one way to find out.
[00:27:02] Speaker D: All right, let's head over.
So, while we're on our way out, like, nearest. You haven't heard anything else from Corvus since the whole thing, right?
[00:27:12] Speaker C: What whole thing?
[00:27:13] Speaker D: Since I talked to Phasma about him. You said you hadn't been able to call him.
[00:27:18] Speaker C: He showed up once.
[00:27:20] Speaker D: Oh, really?
[00:27:21] Speaker C: So he's safe. But he said it was close.
[00:27:26] Speaker B: No offense to Val, but every time I tell her something, she tells the person I'm not supposed. She's not supposed to tell.
[00:27:32] Speaker D: What?
[00:27:33] Speaker B: Are you sure you want to tell her?
[00:27:35] Speaker D: You don't tell me things I'm not supposed to tell their people.
[00:27:37] Speaker B: A lot, actually. You've told my mom about a lot.
So have you, actually.
[00:27:42] Speaker C: Remember that I was drunk, right?
[00:27:44] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:27:45] Speaker C: Yeah, that doesn't count.
[00:27:48] Speaker E: Well, I'm safe. I don't tell anyone anything.
[00:27:50] Speaker C: And I do? I am sorry.
[00:27:53] Speaker B: She's. She'd have to learn it eventually.
[00:27:54] Speaker A: I know.
[00:27:55] Speaker C: But I'm still sorry I drunkenly came into your home and just started spilling things to your mum.
[00:27:59] Speaker D: I hold farth that lies and secrets are never positive.
So as we're getting closer to the temple and the painting, we kind of see. It's like everyone. Everyone's all right with this, right? Yeah. Going in?
[00:28:13] Speaker B: Mm, no, but I. I promised Neros, so.
[00:28:20] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:28:20] Speaker E: I've never walked through a painting before, so I think I'm most excited about that, to be honest.
[00:28:25] Speaker D: Okay, cool. Well, in case this somehow goes terribly wrong, I'll just jump in first.
I already stuck my arm in and it went all right, so.
All right, let. I won't let you know if it's not safe, but should we leave a note?
[00:28:40] Speaker E: Like, on the outside of the painting? Like, do not move or don't put face down.
[00:28:44] Speaker D: People generally have respect for art not to touch.
[00:28:49] Speaker E: Never mind.
[00:28:50] Speaker D: It's like at any museum or gallery.
[00:28:51] Speaker E: Tuss is nowhere near a museum. It's a rubble pile of rubble.
[00:28:56] Speaker D: That's fair. And then she's gonna hop in.
[00:28:59] Speaker A: Val.
You step through the painting, and there's a chill that runs through you akin to the feeling like when you step through the sheet of cold water dripping off of a roof and you find yourself standing in a black void.
Everywhere in every direction is dark, except beneath your feet is a small dirt road that winds and twists off into the distance.
And this road is kind of curved, kind of like if they wanted rainwater to drip off the side.
[00:29:40] Speaker D: Oh, neat.
All right, I'm gonna turn back and I'm gonna stick my head back out if I can.
All right, it should be good. Watch your step. It's narrow.
[00:29:55] Speaker E: I take out a little piece of parchment and just write unintelligible scribbles on it and like, tack it to the side of the painting, just like the frame.
[00:30:05] Speaker B: I look at it, Zafir, I'm sure.
[00:30:08] Speaker E: Someone will get it. Let's go in.
[00:30:09] Speaker B: I've been teaching you for so long. And step in after Zafir.
[00:30:16] Speaker C: Neros looks at the painting.
[00:30:21] Speaker A: With a.
[00:30:21] Speaker C: Little bit of trepidation.
Is that the right word? Yeah, I think that's the right word.
Goovis, protect me.
And she steps in.
[00:30:36] Speaker A: You all four are now standing on this road, winding and twisting into the darkness.
The darkness itself almost seems to lap or encroach on the sides of the road. Almost as if the darkness wants to consume the path.
[00:30:58] Speaker B: Um, Val?
[00:30:59] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:31:01] Speaker B: Religion's not really my strong suit here. So, any advice?
[00:31:06] Speaker A: Yes, Val? I'm not even gonna ask for a religion check. You're familiar with Pharasma, you're familiar with Barzok.
You know where you are.
This is the dead roads.
[00:31:18] Speaker D: Dead roads. I keep saying deadlands.
[00:31:21] Speaker A: And the best piece of advice that you can give alward is somewhat the obvious.
Don't stray from the path.
Some of those who have strayed from the path in the past just find themselves back where they started.
Others, never seen again.
[00:31:41] Speaker D: All right.
Don't stray from the path.
Sometimes nothing happens. Sometimes lots of things happen. Apparently so.
[00:31:51] Speaker E: Gotta be honest with you, Val. I don't know how to stray from the path. I don't. I don't think there's anything out there.
[00:31:59] Speaker D: Yeah, so don't step off.
[00:32:04] Speaker B: Well, lead the way, you two.
[00:32:10] Speaker D: Onwards and forwards.
[00:32:12] Speaker C: Does Neros feel anything like any foreboding?
Anything?
[00:32:22] Speaker A: I wouldn't say that Neros feels any more sense of discomfort or foreboding than anyone would naturally feel in this area. Okay, I know that Neros probably has that concern about Pharasma, but she doesn't have any sense of. Of being watched or exposed.
[00:32:39] Speaker C: Are her arms burning?
[00:32:41] Speaker A: No, her arms actually feel quite comfortable.
[00:32:43] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:32:47] Speaker E: I just have a really weird question.
[00:32:50] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:32:51] Speaker E: You know how I can teleport into shadows?
Do I have any feeling as to.
Like, I can assume whenever I see a shadow, I can pretty much tell if I can teleport to it.
What do I feel from these shadows?
[00:33:13] Speaker A: You feel like there are no shadows because there is no concept of light here.
[00:33:22] Speaker B: Why does that go so hard?
That's such a good line.
[00:33:27] Speaker E: That breaks my brain.
[00:33:33] Speaker D: As Val gets started, she's just gonna kind of in a whisper, kind of be like, barzak, I'm here.
And then she's gonna kind of, as we're going forward, she's gonna be praying and kind of trying to. In the same way she's reached out to psychopomps before.
Kind of attempt to kind of match that energy, that sort of internal ritual to Barzakh.
[00:34:03] Speaker A: As you all begin walking down the road, the camera kind of stays behind and just starts like drifting downwards a little bit. You walk off into the darkness. And as you start walking away from the road, it kind of just disintegrates behind you.
And as you walk away, eventually you just walk into the blackness.
And then the camera does a cool swoopy thing as it like, swoops through, like a disorienting angle of just going over and around nowhere in the void. As you're walking along this path that seems to be appearing in front of you and disappearing behind you at the same time.
And as you look off into the distance, suddenly one of you notices a light.
And as you continue getting closer, you realize this light is on like a steel lamp post just appearing out of the darkness.
And closer you notice there's a small building with a bar out in front of it. And as your path continues forming and materializing in your way, you realize that this bar is cutting off your progress as if this were some sort of toll booth.
[00:35:27] Speaker D: The path like goes right to it or goes right next to the blocks.
[00:35:31] Speaker A: Yes. And there's. It goes right up to it and would continue past to this bar. There would be no way to go around without stepping on.
[00:35:38] Speaker D: There's just a door here then? I assume so.
[00:35:41] Speaker A: Like, there's a small building to the side of the.
And there's like an arm.
[00:35:46] Speaker D: You said mentioned building, then started saying barn. I thought you were calling the building a bar.
[00:35:51] Speaker B: I was a little confused too.
[00:35:52] Speaker A: It's a toll booth.
[00:35:53] Speaker D: Okay, gotcha.
Hello.
[00:35:57] Speaker A: A creature that seems to be made of pure shadow, just like molding and flickering with whims, leans out the window.
Present your stamps.
[00:36:15] Speaker B: I don't have enough time to make a forgery. I didn't know we'd need stamps.
[00:36:21] Speaker D: I am Val, Champion of Pharasma. I have been summoned by Barzak.
I know. No stamps.
[00:36:33] Speaker A: You are here to speak with the head usher.
[00:36:36] Speaker D: We are? Yes.
[00:36:39] Speaker A: Ah, I see.
He gestures out in front of him and to your left, more road just materializes that goes off in a different direction.
Your path does not lie ahead.
Not yet.
And the shadowy figure just recedes back into the building again.
[00:37:04] Speaker D: Thank you.
May the Mother of Graves bless you.
And she'll do a little spiral motion with her hand.
[00:37:13] Speaker A: There's no response from the building.
[00:37:16] Speaker D: All right, so that's not for us. Sway.
[00:37:21] Speaker E: Val. I thought.
I thought I was into creepy stuff. What is all this?
[00:37:26] Speaker D: This is where you go when your souls are ushered away.
After you die, the psychopomps, like that fellow with the toe booth, they retrieve your souls and bring you to the roads.
This won't be your last time visiting here.
[00:37:47] Speaker E: That was the most ominous thing you've ever said to me, Val.
[00:37:51] Speaker D: Thank you.
[00:37:53] Speaker C: I don't think that was a compliment.
[00:37:55] Speaker B: With Zephyr, you don't really know.
[00:37:57] Speaker D: Well, yeah, they usher you through, give you your stamp, and then you go to sit before Pharasma herself.
[00:38:07] Speaker E: So these stamps, what is it, like a rubber stamp?
[00:38:13] Speaker D: I'm not as familiar with that aspect of it. I don't know if Monday of the Living are.
But I assume once you've gone, once you've been retrieved, it'll all make sense.
[00:38:25] Speaker E: Hmm.
I wonder how many people I've sent here.
[00:38:31] Speaker D: Probably best not to dwell on it, Zephyr.
[00:38:34] Speaker E: I won't meet them, will I?
[00:38:37] Speaker D: Usually they're sent from here to their resting place.
Depending on how they're judged, there's several different homes for souls.
[00:38:52] Speaker E: Zephyr is visibly more nervous.
[00:38:57] Speaker D: It's all right, Zephyr. We're here together.
[00:39:01] Speaker E: That may be so, but there may be others, and I don't like that.
[00:39:08] Speaker D: Well, they all should heed that I am one of Pharasma's servants.
And having a summons from someone like Barzok should keep our safety.
And on we go.
[00:39:26] Speaker A: As you turn and head down the secondary path, Neros, as soon as you turn off of this main path, those whispers that you kind of constantly hear in the back of your head, one of them cuts through a little bit sharper and a little bit clearer, and you just hear you're going the wrong way.
[00:39:51] Speaker C: That sends a shudder down her spine.
Because they're normal, she can't decipher what they're saying, ever.
They're just whispers.
Her step kind of stumbles a little.
[00:40:04] Speaker E: Bit.
[00:40:06] Speaker C: And she shakes her head really hard.
[00:40:10] Speaker B: You okay?
[00:40:18] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:40:19] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:40:20] Speaker C: Let's keep going.
[00:40:23] Speaker E: How far is this?
[00:40:26] Speaker A: You walk on 5 minutes, 10 minutes.
It's really hard to tell.
There's no sense of smelling time.
And alward, if you try to use time sense.
It's almost like a psychic zap. Like if you ask what time it is, the world answers what is time?
[00:40:49] Speaker D: Baby, don't hurt me.
[00:40:52] Speaker C: Now is not the time.
[00:40:55] Speaker E: Time.
[00:40:57] Speaker A: You continue on and again you see a light in the distance, but this time as you go closer, rather than it being just a small hut with a bar across the path, it's a massive stone arch that builds into a wall that just extends left and right into the distance.
A portcullis blocks your way this time and as you approach another shadowy figure leans out to greet you.
What brings you here?
[00:41:30] Speaker D: We have been summoned to speak with Barzak.
[00:41:36] Speaker A: All of you?
[00:41:42] Speaker C: Nero's nods.
[00:41:44] Speaker A: The shadowy figure just kind of turns as soon as Nero's nods and dips its head in reply.
Proceed. And he gestures and the portcullis begins to just slowly raise and open.
[00:41:57] Speaker B: As we begin to go through the portcullis, Alward's going to grab Neros shoulder to whisper. Nearest are we really? I thought it was just Val, Aren't we here?
Okay. Sorry.
[00:42:08] Speaker E: Zafir nods at the shadowy figure as he walks by. Just kind of a an acknowledging nod.
[00:42:17] Speaker A: As you're walking through this archway, the building itself is materializing around you, almost as if certain stones and bricks are just zipping in from every direction and just assembling the walls around you. As you enter, the path begins to widen and you find yourselves in a courtyard with a fountain of pure darkness in the center.
Sitting on a bench next to this fountain is a large figure wrapped in a cloak with a corvid crow like head. In his left hand he holds a tombstone and in his right is a key and he's tracing sigils and text on the tombstone.
[00:43:03] Speaker E: Well Val, you're up.
[00:43:07] Speaker D: Does he have any like titles besides just Barzak?
[00:43:12] Speaker A: He's also known as the Passage.
And he is the Usher.
[00:43:18] Speaker D: Gotcha. Okay.
Hail to Barzak, the Usher.
The Passage himself.
[00:43:30] Speaker A: He stands from the bench, easily towering at 8 or 9ft tall, much larger than last time you saw him, and he just dips his head in greeting.
[00:43:43] Speaker D: When last we spoke you said you were calling me to come here to speak more.
We've found our way here now.
[00:43:57] Speaker A: Indeed.
I sensed promise in you.
You are compassionate for the souls around you. Yes.
[00:44:09] Speaker D: I try to be.
[00:44:12] Speaker A: Val. I will get to the point I offer. You work in my service as an usher yourself.
[00:44:20] Speaker D: What does that.
As an Usher?
[00:44:24] Speaker A: Yes. The psychopomps I'm sure you are familiar with. They are those who guide the souls of the deceased to the boneyard to be judged By Pharasma, the Ushers are those who help the souls that are more difficult to reach or less willing to come.
[00:44:50] Speaker D: Okay.
What of my current journey?
[00:44:56] Speaker A: Your current journey would not interfere with your duties at present.
It takes time for an Usher to fully realize her new abilities and new self.
If you should accept this, there would be a period of metamorphosis as you grow into your powers. But this change would be irreversible.
Eventually you would leave your old existence behind.
The woman that you have been will cease to be.
And Val the Usher will be all there is.
[00:45:34] Speaker D: Well, what does the Grey lady think of this?
[00:45:41] Speaker A: This she is accepting.
It is not often that I make such a request of Pharasma.
[00:45:53] Speaker D: I is of great honor to be asked about something like this.
Well, you'd wanted to speak with me back then about.
[00:46:07] Speaker A: It is indeed.
[00:46:10] Speaker D: Well, as a servant and champion of Pharasma, I would be greatly honored to accept that. I think.
[00:46:26] Speaker B: Val.
So I know this isn't really my place, but you're agreeing to essentially no longer exist.
[00:46:35] Speaker D: From what he said, I mean, there's still an existence there, but you're not you anymore.
[00:46:48] Speaker B: You would.
And I don't know how all this works, but you would just be like the puppet.
[00:46:56] Speaker A: I would phrase it as an instrument of the gods.
[00:47:01] Speaker C: Same thing.
[00:47:03] Speaker D: It's different.
I would still have.
I would still be me. Just as all the psychopomps are still unique in themselves.
[00:47:15] Speaker A: I believe self identity is a very difficult thing to define.
[00:47:23] Speaker D: Right. It seems that there's some that hold on to that strike stronger than others.
[00:47:27] Speaker A: Though at the close of your metamorphosis, Val, I doubt anyone would recognize you.
[00:47:37] Speaker E: Mr. Mr. Zoc.
What?
I don't know if anyone has asked, but why?
[00:47:54] Speaker A: Why Val? Or why the need for an Usher?
[00:47:57] Speaker E: Why Val?
[00:48:01] Speaker A: Val has given her life to the service of the gods in a way that very few have.
I see in her the promise to become that which the dead roads need.
And those who have known the sting of mortality serve as Ushers far better than those who cannot comprehend it.
[00:48:24] Speaker D: When he says, like the Stingo, she reaches instinctually over to her prosthetic.
[00:48:33] Speaker E: How long would she have?
[00:48:39] Speaker A: It is beyond my power to say.
It depends greatly on one's own own ability to accept the power that they are being granted. But the fastest that I have known this metamorphosis to occur during is a period of months.
But the longest that I have known it to take is a period of centuries.
Difficult to pin down.
[00:49:08] Speaker D: So long as I can see my deities through here on the mortal Plane.
Then this feels like the right.
[00:49:20] Speaker B: Did you say centuries or decades?
[00:49:22] Speaker A: Centuries. Centuries.
[00:49:26] Speaker D: You're fine.
[00:49:28] Speaker A: I. I imagine Albert saying that in person, just interrupting about. Did you say centuries or decades?
I just want Val to really hear that part.
[00:49:41] Speaker D: She's a deity much greater than any I could accomplish on the mortal plane.
But I'd ask that I could finish what Phrasma set me upon with Waffenir before I transition away.
[00:50:06] Speaker A: Barzok reaches into the folds of his cloak and holds out a clay tablet.
On it is inscribed a circle with a narrow X through it, which you recognize as his holy symbol.
Val, this tablet will bear the insignia of your new position as a mortal herald.
It will allow you to access these powers.
Once you accept this deal permanently to become your new identity.
Crush it.
The tablets powers will be conferred upon your own being irrevocably.
But should you decide against accepting this, then bring this tablet back here to the Temple of Pharasma.
Lay it down.
[00:51:14] Speaker D: So when this is broken, I start the journey towards the metamorphic.
[00:51:20] Speaker A: You can begin the journey up to a point to begin getting a taste of what it is to be a herald.
However, this existing between two worlds comes at a cost. Should you be slain while the tablet remains undestroyed, there would be none to come claim your soul.
[00:51:48] Speaker D: I understand.
[00:51:51] Speaker A: He's still just holding the tablet out.
[00:51:55] Speaker D: She'll reach out to accept it.
[00:52:00] Speaker A: The moment your fingers touch the tablet, you feel a chill from your feet all the way up through your hands and into the tablet. And now suddenly, the tablet that you're holding is warm and has a pulse.
[00:52:17] Speaker D: No, no, no. It's my baby.
[00:52:23] Speaker B: You have to kill your baby, Sam.
[00:52:27] Speaker D: Easy.
[00:52:29] Speaker B: Easiest decision.
[00:52:30] Speaker E: It is you.
[00:52:34] Speaker D: So she's feeling this and looking down at it.
And then she kind of just looks at each of you, just kind of gauging your guys's reactions or thoughts right now. Just kind of see. And just look at you guys some more.
[00:52:54] Speaker B: Howard looks appalled.
[00:52:56] Speaker D: Interesting.
If we may ask you some questions, Barza, while we are here with you.
[00:53:07] Speaker A: You may ask whatever you will and I may answer whatever I choose.
[00:53:15] Speaker C: It's normally how that goes.
[00:53:18] Speaker B: You may ask what you will and I'm going to lie to you, so.
[00:53:20] Speaker E: Recall. Check. Recall knowledge.
[00:53:25] Speaker D: My friends are here because we have other tasks to accomplish here in the Dead Roads.
And I perhaps would ask you about what you know regarding them.
[00:53:40] Speaker A: You want to ask me about the Dead Roads?
I'm confused.
[00:53:46] Speaker D: We are here to speak with another.
And it's one that I'd spoken with Phrasma. Briefly about. And I wasn't sure how much perhaps you knew about that situation, if any at all.
[00:53:59] Speaker A: I have far more important things to do than arrange social calls.
[00:54:04] Speaker D: Um, are you not aware of anything pertaining to Corvus?
[00:54:15] Speaker A: Corvus is a psychopomp, but rarely travels these roads.
[00:54:22] Speaker D: We came here looking for him.
[00:54:27] Speaker A: A poor choice indeed as these.
These roads are liminal space.
Very few spend their time here. But I.
[00:54:37] Speaker D: He told us to come here.
Right near us.
[00:54:41] Speaker C: Was it the dead roads or the boneyard?
[00:54:43] Speaker A: He wanted you to go to the boneyard.
[00:54:45] Speaker B: Oh, do we get to the boneyard from the dead roads?
[00:54:48] Speaker A: Can we make a religion check?
[00:54:50] Speaker B: I'm not religious.
[00:54:52] Speaker D: Can I?
[00:54:52] Speaker A: Val knows the dead roads are a transitory plane between the material plane and the boneyard.
[00:54:58] Speaker D: Amazing. Nat 20 from Nero.
[00:55:01] Speaker A: Neros you know this too? In fact, neros, with your NAT20, you are 100 confident that that original toll booth that stopped you was stopping you from progressing to the boneyard.
[00:55:13] Speaker E: All right, now we gotta go back.
We'd have to.
[00:55:16] Speaker C: Well, we needed to deal with this.
[00:55:18] Speaker D: Barzonk.
Can you help us to go to the boneyard?
[00:55:26] Speaker E: We need stamps.
[00:55:30] Speaker A: You are correct, small one.
You do need stamps.
Lest you be consumed by the darkness.
Hold out your hands, those of you who are not ushers.
[00:55:43] Speaker E: This isn't going to sign me up for anything.
[00:55:47] Speaker C: No, it's gonna get you into a really cool club.
[00:55:50] Speaker E: My mailbox is too full and I can't read them.
[00:55:53] Speaker A: These stamps will last only so long as your sojourn in the dark roads. Once you leave them to the material plane, they will fade.
[00:56:03] Speaker B: How do we get back?
[00:56:05] Speaker A: He gestures to one side of the courtyard and the air just kind of begins rippling there and it looks just like the painting had from the other side.
[00:56:16] Speaker B: I meant from the boneyard.
[00:56:19] Speaker A: What business have you in the boneyard?
[00:56:23] Speaker B: Why are you asking now after you've already offered to give us the stamps?
[00:56:27] Speaker A: I did not offer the stamps to allow you to go to the boneyard.
[00:56:31] Speaker B: Is that not what you just were going to do?
[00:56:33] Speaker A: No, that was to keep you from being consumed by the darkness that surrounds us as we hold this conversation.
[00:56:39] Speaker B: So why didn't you? What? I thought they were.
Because Sophia said we need the stamps to get into the boneyard and you said yes, you do need the stamps.
[00:56:48] Speaker A: That would be necessary, yes.
[00:56:49] Speaker B: You're very confusing.
[00:56:52] Speaker A: I don't deal with people personally very often.
[00:56:56] Speaker D: Barzak, we need to go to the boneyard because Neuros was summoned by the psychopomp.
Corvus.
[00:57:07] Speaker A: I'm afraid you are mistaken. Anyone summoned to the boneyard would be deceased.
[00:57:13] Speaker D: He did it with words.
He told her to come to the boneyard.
[00:57:20] Speaker C: He did it with words.
[00:57:22] Speaker D: He has. I would. Perhaps you'd like to explain to him.
[00:57:27] Speaker C: It makes me uncomfy.
[00:57:29] Speaker D: I can keep trying to.
[00:57:31] Speaker E: I can close my ears if you want.
[00:57:33] Speaker C: No, you're fine.
[00:57:34] Speaker E: Okay.
[00:57:34] Speaker C: You don't need to close your ears.
[00:57:36] Speaker A: Barzok looks at Neros.
What need have you of a stamp?
[00:57:41] Speaker C: What? What do you mean?
Oh gosh.
[00:57:48] Speaker A: What, do the doors not open for you?
[00:57:51] Speaker C: What doors?
What are you talking about?
[00:57:55] Speaker A: He gestures back to the portcullis.
[00:57:58] Speaker C: What?
[00:57:59] Speaker A: How did you come to be in this place?
[00:58:02] Speaker C: I came through the painting like the rest of them, of course.
[00:58:08] Speaker A: But is this not one of the way gates? He gestures back again to the portcullis.
[00:58:14] Speaker C: I don't know what you're talking about.
[00:58:18] Speaker A: Who authorized the opening of this gate?
[00:58:22] Speaker D: It. You did. We were the man at the Tolbys. He told us to come here.
[00:58:28] Speaker A: Abby panicking.
[00:58:29] Speaker D: When did it open? I don't even remember.
[00:58:31] Speaker B: It opened after it opened.
[00:58:33] Speaker A: After.
[00:58:34] Speaker C: Neros nodded to the shadowy, shadowy figure that yes, we all had an appointment with Barzov.
[00:58:40] Speaker D: You're right.
[00:58:41] Speaker E: And for the record, nothing happened when I nodded.
[00:58:43] Speaker B: Are we. Are we. Are we in the boneyard now, is what you're saying?
[00:58:46] Speaker A: You are in the Dead roads.
You are not in the boneyard.
[00:58:52] Speaker D: This all is very so the nearest.
[00:58:54] Speaker C: What am I?
[00:58:57] Speaker A: I do not know.
But I can tell you you have no need of a stamp.
[00:59:07] Speaker C: Why am I dead?
[00:59:12] Speaker A: He cocks his head like a bird.
I do not believe so.
[00:59:18] Speaker C: Then why don't I need a stamp?
[00:59:21] Speaker A: Even the dead must be guided here in the Dead roads.
[00:59:27] Speaker D: Am I guiding her?
Am I her usher?
[00:59:33] Speaker B: Can we.
I gesture to me and Zephyr. Can we get a stamp?
[00:59:38] Speaker A: Oh, but of course.
[00:59:39] Speaker B: Okay. Thank you.
[00:59:40] Speaker A: He holds out the key that he was holding. And at the end of the key, it's shaped like that same symbol with the circle and the X. And when he presses the key to your hand, you just like feel a chill and there's just like a red mark left behind.
[00:59:55] Speaker E: I'd like it to be on my palm, if at all.
[00:59:57] Speaker A: No, that's fine.
[01:00:00] Speaker D: He's very as a question.
[01:00:04] Speaker B: What emotion does it give when it touches my hand?
[01:00:08] Speaker D: Oh.
[01:00:10] Speaker B: Because it touched my hand.
[01:00:12] Speaker A: The best word for the emotion that floods you is desperation.
[01:00:20] Speaker B: I don't like that. I don't like as the stamp is being removed from his hand. I don't.
It's Fine.
[01:00:28] Speaker A: And then he finishes stamping on Zafir's palm.
Now, what other questions did you have?
[01:00:38] Speaker E: There was a speck on my head.
[01:00:40] Speaker D: One last question, out of curiosity.
Do you know anything about Cornelius, who was traveling with me for a time?
[01:00:52] Speaker A: Is he deceased?
[01:00:55] Speaker D: No.
He's just up to something.
[01:00:59] Speaker A: Then he is none of my concern.
[01:01:01] Speaker D: Okay.
It doesn't hurt to check sometimes. Sir.
You'll hear from me again shortly. I think.
[01:01:11] Speaker E: I have a question.
It has nothing to do with them.
[01:01:17] Speaker D: Or.
[01:01:21] Speaker E: I may have sent a lot of people down here.
[01:01:24] Speaker A: Indeed.
[01:01:30] Speaker E: Are they mad at me?
[01:01:33] Speaker A: Not anymore.
That's good.
There are some who are experiencing bliss too great to concern themselves with you. And others who are experiencing torment too great.
[01:01:47] Speaker E: Good to know.
Good to know.
[01:01:51] Speaker A: That's all, I presume. If there is nothing else, then the four of you will be returning to where you belong.
[01:01:59] Speaker D: We need to go to the boneyard.
[01:02:03] Speaker A: I cannot advise that.
[01:02:06] Speaker D: I know.
But we have to do it.
[01:02:15] Speaker A: I cannot allow that of you vow.
[01:02:20] Speaker D: And why not?
[01:02:21] Speaker A: You have pledged yourself to me.
Your powers will not grow outside of the material plane.
[01:02:30] Speaker D: I don't imagine we'll be in the boneyard. Lung.
[01:02:36] Speaker A: Are you asking permission?
Or are you telling me what you will be doing?
[01:02:42] Speaker D: It's.
You said so yourself when talking to Neros. You don't know what she is.
This is an opportunity for all of us to find that out.
[01:02:53] Speaker A: I have no concern.
[01:02:54] Speaker D: But Pharasma does.
[01:02:58] Speaker A: You have pledged yourself to my service, Val.
[01:03:01] Speaker D: And you serve Farasma.
[01:03:03] Speaker A: Yes.
[01:03:04] Speaker D: Yes.
So in.
In that line, I still serve Pharasma. And I'm still a champion of her service.
[01:03:13] Speaker A: You are new to this position of Asher, Val. So I will give you an option.
You may continue to the boneyard or you may keep the tablet.
[01:03:25] Speaker B: I think me and heroes and Zafir could do this.
[01:03:29] Speaker C: I need her.
[01:03:30] Speaker E: I'm okay with that.
[01:03:32] Speaker C: Corvus told me I needed her and I don't know why.
[01:03:36] Speaker B: Wasn't it just to get here?
[01:03:37] Speaker C: I don't know.
[01:03:39] Speaker A: I can hear you all.
[01:03:40] Speaker D: You.
[01:03:41] Speaker B: You know, most people are polite enough not to barge back in.
[01:03:44] Speaker D: You told me you chose me. A big part of it was due to my compassion for the living and the souls.
And I do this following that edict of myself of the redemption that I've sworn to uphold.
The compassion I have for life in all sorts.
And if I have to give up the tablet to do this, I'll do it. And if for some reason you still don't feel like I'm still a choice for that, then I Guess that's that.
But I'm still upholding everything that you said you chose me for by doing this.
[01:04:24] Speaker A: Barzok cocks his head to the side, and I'm gonna need a diplomacy check.
[01:04:32] Speaker D: Oh, my goodness.
[01:04:34] Speaker A: But for that, we'll wait for the next episode.
[01:04:38] Speaker C: Let me roll a dice.
[01:04:40] Speaker B: I know it's almost like 9 o', clock, but let's keep going.
[01:04:43] Speaker C: Oh, my gosh.
[01:04:46] Speaker A: All right. And the hero point for this episode goes to Sam. I was torn between giving it to Sam or to Abby, but Abby is at maximum, so it goes to Sam.
Made my choice easy.
[01:04:58] Speaker D: Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
[01:05:05] Speaker A: You are welcome.
[01:05:06] Speaker D: You.
I'm going to.
Yeah, thanks for the hero point. I'm going to go think really hard on all this. This is a lot. A lot is happening. And he gave me a thing and then immediately offered to take it away from me. And so I'm gonna go home, maybe get ice cream. Oh, I want ice cream. I don't have facial hair, so I can have froyo cones much easier currently than I normally have because it's normally stuck in my mustache. It's such a pain. I don't have it right now, so that's cool.
Yeah, I'm gonna just, you know, go and keep doing things and hope that Abby's okay. Cool, too. Cause she's going through a lot. She's going through it.
[01:05:52] Speaker C: I just want that to be very clear. For the record, Abby is not okay.
[01:05:57] Speaker E: So tell us in the discord, do you have facial hair? Do you have problems eating ice cream?
[01:06:00] Speaker B: Nuts.
[01:06:00] Speaker D: Do you like Barsa?
[01:06:02] Speaker B: Steal his ice cream?
[01:06:03] Speaker D: I like rabbit.
[01:06:04] Speaker C: What is Neros?
[01:06:05] Speaker A: What are your theories of Neros?
[01:06:08] Speaker D: What is she? Who knows? I don't Maybe.
[01:06:12] Speaker A: Is she?
[01:06:13] Speaker E: Is she?
[01:06:13] Speaker D: Was she?
[01:06:14] Speaker B: I might go pick some up.
[01:06:15] Speaker D: Is Corvus her dad?
[01:06:18] Speaker C: Everyone thinks he is.
[01:06:20] Speaker D: Maybe shields are psychopomp hands.
I don't know. Anyway, talk to us and we will talk to you.
[01:06:33] Speaker C: Talk to us if you want to.
[01:06:35] Speaker B: No. He's already laid the command, man. Everyone make a will.
[01:06:38] Speaker D: Say, I'm tired of being nice. Get over here.
What are you waiting for?
[01:06:43] Speaker A: We'll see you all in the next episode.
This has been an Atomic Broadcasting production. If you enjoyed the show, make sure to give us some support by liking, commenting and following. These things really do make a difference in getting the word out and helping our community grow. Also, make sure to check us out on threads and check out the Discord server where you can chat with other fans and discuss all the recent developments and happenings. Links to all these good things in the description below. The Written and the Lost is an original story that uses trademarks and or copyrights owned by Paizo, Inc. Used under Paizo's Fan Content Policy. Atomic Broadcasting and the Written and the Lost are not published, endorsed or specifically approved by Paizo. For more information about Paizo, Inc. And paizo products, visit paizo.com hope to see you all in the next episode. Until then, have an Atomic time.
[01:07:36] Speaker C: Can you show me the second floor, please?
[01:07:38] Speaker A: No.
[01:07:40] Speaker C: But it's my castle.
[01:07:41] Speaker D: Well, you never explored it.
[01:07:42] Speaker A: I don't have a second floor.
[01:07:43] Speaker C: Oh, really? But it has a second floor.
[01:07:46] Speaker E: So that's why he never went upstairs.
[01:07:48] Speaker B: That's why Sam got the hero for.
[01:07:51] Speaker A: He saved my Bacon and then just threw the bacon in the fire.
