Songwoven presents The Lanaya Expedition, a D&D 5th Edition actual play campaign.
Episode 8 Silver Bullet
You can catch us live every Sunday at 8pm EST on Twitch.tv slash Songwoven Show or watch
the video version of this podcast on YouTube.
Thanks for listening.
Hello everyone and welcome to Songwoven.
I am Tim Don Tran.
Can we please introduce, can a cast please introduce themselves around the table and
please after you introduce yourselves in any order, tell me what's your favorite snack?
My name is Jenny Sherward.
I play Cecilia Eidlewind.
I don't know what my favorite snack is.
My instinct always with food questions is just to say chocolate because I always tell
children that my hair used to be blonde like my sisters and my mom's as a kid, but I ate
so much chocolate that it turned brown.
So there we go.
I love that.
My hair has always been brown and I am Emma Roscoe.
I am a player character also known as a PC, also known as a pizza crafter and my favorite
snack to eat are Cheez-Its.
I love them cheesy little nibs.
I love pistachios with the shells on.
You have-
Nut job.
Literally.
There is a certain quality, a certain skill set that you must acquire through like watching
YouTube videos and eating pistachios with the shells on.
It's good.
No, you chew the shell and you swallow it, but you have to chew it in such a way that
doesn't cut up your mouth like a little blade hurricane.
Psycho!
No!
But you know, that's a skill that I acquired as a DM, a delicate muncher.
I hate you.
I was wondering why you didn't say the DM part.
I was like, some pistachio munching because that's DM.
It's all a setup, Jenny.
It's all a setup.
JT, I need to borrow the shovel real quick, you know?
But in all seriousness, my favorite snacks is pizza and cheesecake combined.
Anyways.
Yes, welcome to episode eight of A Songwove, an eight episode, eight weeks of us doing
this crazy little show of all of us, of Cecilia, of Jean-Claude, of the people in the chat.
The NPCs!
The nipples!
The nipples.
People are saying hi to me in chat, but I'm above them.
So anyways, do we have any announcements or anything before we can go ahead and jump into
the Raho play?
Look at Timmy's haircut.
It's better this week than it was last week.
Because it grew out.
That's good that your hair grows really fast though.
Yes, it does.
I was like, someone said to me I was like the BTS version of Kim Jong-Un.
I was very confused by that because I did not know what they meant.
What?
AKA.
That's awful!
AKA, that's someone, was me in the mirror.
Okay, that's fine.
I guess.
BTS, Chimmy!
No!
It's like, who said that to you?
I'll punch them.
But it's you, so I won't.
It's like, oh, it's myself!
It was like a Johnny Bravo scenario.
I was like, oh, who's that guy?
I was like, oh, who's that BTS version?
But for him it was also Kim Jong-Un.
Dear the Lord.
The only announcement, I think really, I mean this is later on in the month, but we're having
a holiday pre-recorded episode, right?
On Christmas Day, if anyone happens to be around when we would stream on Christmas Day
and we will be off on January 1st, which is also a Sunday, there will just be nothing
that day.
But on Christmas Day, there will be Christmas things going on.
Merry Chrysler, happy Honda days.
Heck yeah.
Toyota, what's the Toyota one?
Toyota tidings.
Oh.
Toytnops.
No, that's not right.
That's not-
I think it's Toyota tidings.
Yeah, Toyota tidings.
Hold on, I have a graphic.
Oh, these are things.
All these things.
Anyway.
Are we gonna play a car game?
A car Christmas game?
Ooh, wait, wait!
Set in the Cars universe.
Yes, set in the Cars universe!
It's Dennis' dream.
It's Dennis' dream!
Everyone's machinery.
You know, they have like dances of sugar plums in his head.
This is Dennis' dream.
Anyways, if that's it, we're gonna get loose.
We're gonna get car-razy.
We're gonna get Kim Jong Un-leashed!
Let's go!
Alright, with that said, let's jump right into the recap.
Can somebody do the recap, please?
We went to Worlington to restock.
Or yeah, that's where we went.
It's near a mine, Colig mine.
We went to Very Good Smithing, and this dude was crazy.
His name was Balgrumbuster.
He was insane.
And he gave us a saddlebag that basically has a griffin in it.
It's like a bag of holding, but it has a griffin in it.
And it gives us tasks to get magic items of certain rarity, and it will pay us.
And the griffin was very sad that this guy seemingly was trying to get rid of him, but
he was like, oh, it's small, I guess I- you guys are good, I'll go with you, sure.
We also get spells with the bag too, I think, right?
Yes, we didn't go into that in stream, but I have the whole description there.
And Timmy did say Cecilia knows everything it does, so I would know that it can cast
a lot of cool spells, like Legend Lore, for example.
And like, identify and detect magic.
I'm just going off of memory, I hope those were right.
I think they are.
It's just all of them.
Atheus is like, I'm the Legend Lore, though, wait.
Wait, Atheus!
MVP.
But yeah, we- so Augustus the Sphinx, who had rejoined us, he went inside the saddlebag
to catch up with Thaddeus the Griffin, and he came out already, right, Timmy?
No, he was- he's still in there.
Oh, he's still in there.
Went for a visit.
Yeah, he's talking to him.
And we all had heart to hearts instead, Cecilia and Claude, talking about like, Cecilia's
like, I feel kind of guilty, and Claude's like, no, you're supposed to do this.
And super sweet, her stellar and Jaime went to go restock and get some things, and also
discuss whether or not they want to stay with us.
We decided that we might try to- we might try to put the moon on Jaime, do like a moonbeam
or something, to try to figure out if he is a werewolf.
So I keep avoiding the term werewolf, where Claude just keeps saying various were-creatures.
Were Otter is his most popular theory yet.
Were Banana, but that's not a creature.
I had to think of a creature, and I said banana.
Were Nanner.
The Were Banana, you know.
So we found out all about everybody's past and things, we found out that Stellar has
a dragon mark.
It's not a positive thing for her, and we found out that she is the daughter of the
Arbiter of the Salarian Empire, which is an empire on the eastern part of the continent,
aka where we are ultimately going to be heading to.
So she ran away, and Stellar's not her real name, she will not tell us her real name,
but that's okay.
And she was in part of like a kind of like resistance group.
Of lore bards?
Barden lords?
Yep.
And yeah, she... the Soothe Masons, that's what they were called.
And yeah, those are the most important things.
Jaime had a very normal life.
Well, not normal, but much calmer life.
Big question.
His beginnings with the monks though.
Something's off there.
He said he had heard the monks talk about werewolves before when he's overheard them,
but that couldn't possibly be related to him, you know.
I wonder if it's like a shelter, like a monk shelter for werewolf babies.
Yeah, maybe.
Just puppies everywhere.
And with that, that's the recap.
Yep.
Perfect.
Good job, Dini.
Great job.
Thank you.
Amazing job.
We stay in Jenny and herself.
So just a little bit of a disclaimer.
Oh no, you are freezing up for me now.
I told you.
I told you it is.
Oh no, Jenny, come back!
I wasn't doing it for me earlier!
I'm just gonna get rid of logic capture.
Okay, the stream's gonna get all messed up for a second.
You guys ready?
Okay, bye Jenny.
I have so much power.
I told everyone today it was gonna be crazy.
I have so much power.
Jenny, come back!
I'm gonna switch my camera.
She turned it to the Ibex camera.
The thing.
Someone else at DM now.
Who's the DM right now?
It's you!
I'm the DM.
I have all the power.
I am the sunplug.
Oh no!
Wait, I have to be Cecilia?
I have full power.
I'm back with different lighting because I changed cameras, but it should be smoother
now.
Looks the same to me.
Oh yeah?
Yep, looking good.
It looks a little darker on mine, but that's okay.
Someone in the chat, someone in the chat, not gonna name any names, went, yo, new DM!
Just so you know, I have the power, I could turn my camera off at any time and become
the DM.
Oh yeah, check this out.
Oh, I'm still the DM.
Can mine do anything?
You have no power.
I have no power!
No.
God!
No, I think Emma, I think if you turned your camera off, I think it would make, I don't
know if it would make the DM.
I think it would make you.
Do you realize the power you have to sacrifice?
You have to sacrifice your identity to become the DM.
Do you know what that means?
Do you know the power you have to exude?
Guys, master.
Alright.
Focusing, I'm focusing.
Another thing that DM stands for is Dragon Mark.
I will say, if you are very well learned about Dragon Marks in the Forgotten Realms, mine
is a tad bit different, a lot different actually, but the same mechanical concept.
There's a very cool lore in there, but you have to pay me 20 bucks to get access to it.
Can we get a Patreon?
One day.
One day?
You think Timmy will let anyone pay him?
It's paying, technically it's paying the both of you.
But yeah, it's different, but it is just as sexy.
So anyways, I never said these words before.
I'm really scared.
How about we just...
Sexy?
Stop, you gotta warn me.
You have to warn me before you say things.
In general, I guess.
Anyways, how about we all dive into yet another session.
Into the beautiful world of Songwovan.
Ooh, Songweeven!
Where we last left off, traveling through the crowned Jackal Valley, we returned to the
Laniya Road.
After a slight stop to resupply and to recuperate about the yesterday's events, the group of
four journey once again onto the road with a renewed sense of direction.
Rain.
Ooh, summer.
Ooh, yeah.
A storm has sweltered over time.
As a cloud of darkness enshrouds the wagon, an even bigger cloud of heavy rain downpours
an hour for fledgling adventurers.
Cecilia, you count the thunder strikes, and they have been getting more and more numerous
since.
Louder.
And they shake you.
You see the lightning creates crevices in the skies as it crashes down far off, once,
twice.
Each one with more branches of fosure streaking out from it.
It has only been getting worse and worse as the weather storm picks up.
More and more.
How far do I think we are from the town?
From Vilvatide?
You are beginning to approach the border between House Parvin's tori and House...
What's his name?
Goodness.
House Marshalin.
Yeah, I just want to be away from House Parvin.
And very soon, you are going to pass the Cortalax River.
The Cortalax River, which creates the boundary between the two territories.
However, you are moving at a bit of a slower pace because of the oncoming storm.
Jaime and Stellar have both been trying to tie down the canvas over the wagon because
it almost flew off multiple times.
So no one's really having a good time.
Your horses.
Cecilia.
You're stressed out.
Yeah.
Very stressed.
Jean-Claude, you are the one piloting the vehicle at the moment.
Using your trusty map in front of you, which is now very wet.
You are just with your small umbrella that doesn't completely cover you, with the rains
in the other hand, and looking down at the map and looking up.
You're doing your best at the moment as the three children stay in the wagon behind you.
Missions, this is what happens in the Groove and Goult all the time.
I have attended.
What?
I got it!
What?
I'm just messing with you.
You're not really that far away.
So Jean-Claude, give me a land vehicle check.
It's a wisdom check.
Oh, come on.
I'm not wise.
Okay, so I just roll straight wisdom or saving throw?
Straight wisdom.
Jean-Claude, Jean-Claude, Jean-Claude.
Yay!
That's the number in my head.
Was it really?
Okay.
Wow.
I mean, these roads are, you know, well traveled.
There's no reason, but you know, it's muddy and everything is kind of rough right now.
But under the lightning and yeah.
You are following along your path, but you are moving at a slower speed than it would
take you.
You are going to get the Vilva Tide tonight, but because of the weather, thankfully not
because of dysentery, it's getting there a bit slower.
Yo, if we organ trail this, I'm a win.
You have Lillian hands.
Have fun boarding the river.
I played that game so hard.
Don't threaten me.
A river is before you.
What do you do?
Nevermind.
Continue.
So you do see someone in the chat says F your river.
You do see on the map there is a upcoming towards the border.
You do know that this is a map that was drawn by D'Amira plotting her a trip, plotting
different supply stops and such.
There is a circle, a small circle next to the border along the river and it seems to
have it's a circle and right next to it is a question mark.
I'm the one that has the map?
Yes.
Cecilia.
Um, yeah.
Cecilia, what does this mean?
She tries to move closer.
To look.
Peek under the thing.
Does she know what it means?
You don't, you do not have an idea.
I don't understand either.
Well, I mean, is it, wait, so where is it?
Is it closer to us?
I assume in the town that we're supposed to hit.
It's, um, it's between you and the town you're supposed to go.
On the road or off the road?
Uh, on the, it's, it's a bit off the road, but close, close to it.
And it's near a circle near a lake you said, right?
Yes.
It's near a lake that acts as a border between the two territories.
It's before you get to the other territory.
Do you think this is something worth looking at or should we avoid the lakes for potential
drownings?
Um, I mean, I, I, I don't know.
Maybe, um, I, with the storm.
We might need to stop.
Yeah.
Um, if, if we have to stop anyways, maybe.
But if we're able to get to town, that would be ideal.
I think.
Thunder.
Do we have any, any druids on board?
By any chance?
Anyone who could fix this right now?
Anyone who wants to step in?
Yeah sure.
I'll do a nice little rain dance to stop the rain.
Let's fuck up.
Push him out.
Don't call me that.
Step out.
Shit.
Thank you.
Uh, and he looks at Cecilia and goes, we should probably, I don't know where else to stop.
And I'm not sure if it is a good idea just to pull off onto the side of the road.
You're right.
Um, I mean, I guess we could see.
It is a water source as well.
I mean, we have enough water.
Any points to the rain.
Or it'll, we have flood.
Flood.
Or it will flood.
That is also a good point.
Is there anyone else on the map that looks like it would be a safe place to stop?
There is, um, there is a town that's also close to the, uh, that's also between, uh,
you and the circle actually.
Um, it is a place called, it is a place called Pine Blossom.
I don't know how I feel about a town called Pine Blossom.
Um, it has very horror movie vibes actually.
I just got Stephen King so hard right there.
Um, and if this is a horror session, I'm so down for it, but know that I will be doing
that of the tropes.
I asked out of game what phase the moon was last in out of curiosity.
Cause I might pay attention to that as someone who, you know, worships a goddess of the moon
um, at what point of this day will I remember what phase the moon's supposed to be tonight
to me just out of curiosity.
Oh, well now that you asked, a person-
Is it full?
It's full.
Oh, tonight it will be.
It was waxing.
But I can't meta.
I can't meta that.
Um, cause I don't know shit.
But you know who can, but who can, not meta, but actually knows.
Yeah, she is like remembering to, like she's thinking about like, I know we were talking
about wanting to settle down and try to see what we can do with Jaime tonight and she's
like or actually if we don't get inside tonight, I tonight is a full moon.
Oh, you hear that Jaime?
What is that?
Is that legitimate or are you also messing with me?
Sorry, what?
I asked before, but have you ever been outside in a full moon?
Of course I have.
Oh, but you're not sure.
I mean, I have, I've had the moonlight touch me.
Yes, of course, a full moon.
I've seen those, um, from inside through a window mostly.
Is it tent count?
Do you think Cecilia, if we put him under a tent or does it have to be like inside wooden
house?
I mean, I don't know.
I just know that he had that reaction to the moon shards before.
And maybe like there would be nothing with a full moon.
Like, you know, I feel like you would know if you spent your whole life, you know, you
would know if something happened to you on a full moon, right?
So like when he turns in the if and when he turns into a were utter.
Isn't it more, isn't it better to have him around other people?
Even if, even if this affliction, it turns me to something else.
It will not.
I promise.
I swear to you, I will not turn feral.
That is not who I am.
No, and I still don't think it's that.
I think you would know.
I think you would.
I think, you know, it's just going through my brain and.
There's lots of thunder and things and it's hard to think in the rain.
But well, maybe if we could be to.
Oh, no, no, shut up.
I'm shutting up.
I just maybe it's something to think about, though.
That maybe we do want to be indoors for more than just the rain.
So here's what we can do, too.
If we go into this peach blossom town that does not sound sketchy at all in any way,
shape or form, we could also ask about the circled question mark on the map.
Surely the locals would have a better idea than we do.
That's a good thought, actually.
Yeah.
I think it says pine blossom, by the way.
Yes, pine blossom.
The little town of Pine Blossom.
You know, because I'm so.
You see, you hear Stella goes, oh, don't trust that.
I also we have to go now.
I need to see who's in this town.
Midsommar.
I love that you got a horror.
It started becoming a horror session when you heard pine blossom.
I can you not.
I am prepared for like, welcome to Pine Blossom.
Like very.
Like, I'm ready for cult vibes.
I'm prepared.
The gods have brought us rain today.
The gods have brought us rain.
Merrily blessed are we.
I'm so prepared.
I'm ready.
Yeah, so the two of you in the front, as you're kind of like striving to make your way forward
and thunder again, boom, boom, starts hitting once, twice in the distance.
You do catch you do catch the the talks between Jaime and.
Jaime and stellar.
So they're going, it's going to be OK.
It's going to be OK.
Just like I promised.
I'm not going to leave you.
Hi, hi, me.
I'm going.
We have to find out.
And it's it's not it's not going to be as bad as everyone thinks.
I do hope I am aware of if I am aware anything.
Yeah, I think that'd be really cute.
I think where others can tear me up and chew off my limbs, but at least you'll swim really
cutely.
It would be really good for the rain.
I mean, not will it would, because I don't think you are.
So others have tiny little mouths, so we would take a while to chew through it.
Yes, but they also have very sharp teeth and nails and they can pierce through skin very
easily and.
But can they do because they use a little grok on their tum tums and they go to the
clams.
And so it goes legitimately.
And it sounds like I'm kidding.
I've seen I've seen other gangs before fight and they were fighting each other all the
way in an egg around.
They're forming gangs now.
The other all the way in the Salarian Empire.
Is that what progress means?
It is messed up in Salaria.
They'll do anything for progress.
Little fun fact, little fun fact, little fun fact in real life.
London does have, in fact, two other gangs that legitimately have turf wars.
Guys, that has to be a one shot.
Let's do it.
West Side Otters.
When you're an otter, you ought to be mean.
I don't know.
Almost making it to this nation.
Jaime and Sela who have been really distracted with like keeping the canvas down and just
trying to survive, like just trying to make sure things don't fly off.
You do you do hear Sela go, Hey Cecilia, how you holding up?
Thunder.
Great time to ask.
It's fine.
Yeah, I hate thunder too.
Oh yeah.
Yeah.
It's okay.
You guys found us a place to get away from the thunder, right?
Yeah pine blossom.
Oh great.
I don't believe that's the species at all.
This sounds great.
This is the start of every horror novel.
It's okay.
We can decide the final girl.
It is a thing, right?
It's Cecilia.
I've already decided.
The end.
What?
What does that even mean?
Do you guys know what a final girl is in a horror movie?
It's Sela goes, it would be Cecilia.
That's right.
She has final girl material all over.
I am comedic relief, so I would be dead felt most certainly.
I'm the coolest one here, so I'm dead first.
And then he looks at Jaime and goes, where are you?
Well if he's the were-order then he's dead.
And he is a new killer.
I don't want to scare you after this.
I don't want to be a killer.
No, no, this is going to happen.
Jaime is not going to turn into a were-something.
We're not going to go into a murder book.
Thunder.
Sela goes, I'm rooting for you Cecilia.
That's when you see it.
Oh god.
Is it possible?
By possible.
I will say, chat, they kind of predicted things earlier and I pre-time this session.
So is it for real a horror session?
Oh god.
I can't believe Pinebosom was enough to give everything to you.
And just in case the people watching the VOD, you're wondering what does that all have to
do with the title of this episode, you'll find out.
What is the title?
What's the title of the episode, Timmy?
You guys will find out when I name the episode and upload it.
I knew it!
It's a horror themed episode.
There's a sign.
Two poles that flank each side of the road.
It's a brass, iron sign.
It says Pinebosom.
And it has a legitimately very nice and embedded design.
There are pine trees to the side of it.
I can't handle this.
I can't handle this again.
I am the biggest scaredy cat, just prepare for screen.
Turn down your volume.
Turn it all the way down.
She's gone!
Otterly terrified, Smollford says.
Otterly terrified.
I'm like, Blanky.
Smollford will support Blanky.
That's not gonna protect you anyways.
It will!
It is a fenced community.
It is fenced.
You see that the gates are wide open.
But because of the wind, it's kind of like creaking as it kind of goes back and forth
a bit.
Creaking sound.
It's a creepy creaking sound.
A creeping sound.
So you see that there's a large fence but there's no buildings in view just yet.
They seem to have a lot of plots of land here.
And as you go inward more, as you kind of crest over a hill, you begin to see the river.
It's flowing incredibly hard.
You see harsh uproars of water and torrents blasting down the river.
As some of it kind of overflows onto the bank.
But you eventually begin to see a little bit, like three minutes in of traveling in there,
you begin to see the little bits of civilization.
It's a small town, capitalized by a very large manor.
Oh gosh.
It's not like I've played Curse of Strahd before.
There is a very large manor.
That's what you meant about the vampire thing.
Oh shit, are we dealing with fucking vampires?
I played a game recently where there were vampire nobles and Timmy said, please forget
about that when I was telling him about it.
If they're vampire nobles, they're going to be fucked.
I'm spoiling everything because I accidentally predict things, but it might not be here.
It probably is here.
I bet it's here.
Nothing's going to happen.
It's going to be a really cool night, guys.
If they don't sparkle, I quit.
Oh.
I know what you are.
Oh, they shimmer.
Oh, do they sparkle?
They sparkle.
A very large manor that is lit on the inside and small houses that surround it, but it
is definitely the manor that encompasses the entire picture of the pine blossom.
You had-
Fucking pine blossom.
I can't believe it.
You're so- Emma is so sharp.
I can't believe-
No, I'm not.
I'm just paranoid.
There's a difference.
Jean, as you head inward, you notice that the torchlights are out on the street.
Obviously so.
You see some lit windows of different, a lot more humble buildings aside.
You watch the first building you come across.
You see a halfling woman, very button cheeks, a button nose, slowly watching you as you
pass.
As soon as you wave, shuts the curtains on the window.
Oh dear.
It's like the bank and rake and bass movie.
Santa Claus is coming down.
Moving slightly inward, if anyone wanted to help you, you do spot another halfling woman
with a bag overhead rushing across the dirt road.
These buildings are lit inside.
It's not nighttime at the moment.
It's the afternoon getting to the evening.
The sun should be out.
That's why people are still up.
You see this halfling man dash across the road, but stops to see you, travelers, in
your wagons.
He just goes, says, why there?
You lot don't look like you're from around here.
But you think so.
We are just innocent lovely passerbys in your town.
Do you happen to have somewhere to stay for the night?
I feel a kind of answer, but I do feel like there is some suspicion to be casted at you
on the fact that you said that you are innocent passerbys.
We are but a family.
This is the year my three children are in.
Oh wonderful.
We're all also a family in this town.
This lovely town of Pine Blossom.
Oh, so, oh, what?
My name is my name is my name is Cherome Douglas.
Cherome spelled C-H-R-O-M-E.
You mean Cherome?
Cherome.
Yes, I know.
It's a curse.
OK, Cherome.
So this is your family started in town of I'm confused.
Please walk me through.
Not my real family, but you know, we we give by.
Anyways, you should be looking for shelter, but we don't have an inn here exactly.
You could just you can go towards the you could go towards the manor and ask the long
glade family to see they could give you shelter.
They give a lot of people shelter.
Or if you so fancy yourself, you can head over to the dark manor.
Oh, sorry, that seems daunting.
That's just what the locals call it.
It's an abandoned house, like a bit off to the side over there.
Well, that sounds great.
It sounds like free, right?
You could just stay there for free if it is abandoned.
Yeah, I guess you can do that.
But you know, on account of the voices and stuff that people hear inside in the sightings
of different individuals inside that shouldn't be there, if you're if you're a paranoid person,
then I really don't recommend staying in there.
So it's just so fascinating.
And the people who are in the big manor, who are they again?
What are their names?
Oh, their name is they're the Long Glade family.
They're the reason why this town even exists.
Oh, they're wonderful.
I'm sure they are.
And they have done nothing about this about you know what?
I think we should go have a chat with them.
Don't you think so?
It's just that every time someone goes look, nothing and nothing happens.
But it's all but it's all it's things only happens when people kind of trespass at night.
Oh, at the dark manor or the light manor?
Oh, the dark manor.
That's not the real name, though.
What is it called?
Oh, it's just a house.
Someone used to live there.
He was a real disturbed fella.
Oh, that sounds I mean, Cecilia, honestly, that would close list keeps growing for the
opponent, you know, house, free real estate company occasionally, maybe they have rooms
of else.
Why?
These voices.
Why?
So you don't want to ask the long late family if we can stay in their not haunted manner?
We should probably get the permission to stay on this town apparently.
Chrome is saying.
Yeah, that's me.
I'm a turner.
I turn to you all could stay in my place.
But it's very small.
And I have like three kids, so you're going to have to share like half a bedroom, all
four of you.
No, no, that's so kind of you.
But absolutely not.
Thank you so much.
Anyway, sorry for scaring you.
I was just kidding about everything.
I just like to add a little bit of color to this town, you know.
Oh, you are a jokester.
You're so funny.
You know, that is great.
That is a great introduction to people coming to your town.
Well done.
Actually, um, Carome, um, oh, sorry, to room, um, to room.
She pulls up the map.
She was the dark manner when it happened to line up with this X on the map, right?
Oh, my God.
Hey, shut up.
How do you why is why would anyone be interested in going to a location like that?
I don't know.
That is all kinds of cookie and 50 layers of crazy slathered in a bunch of what's so
far.
That's crazy.
It was nice meeting you.
What is he speaking?
Help translate for me, please.
I don't know halfling.
Anyways, you all says you all get out from the raid now.
You might catch your death out here.
I'm like a stellar punch that man into next week.
So so it's like I'd rather take my chance of sleeping in the river, but let's just let's
just find it.
Let's just find something out here.
Maybe maybe even camp outside.
Tell me how to see your sister was an adventure.
And if we are looking for artifacts and fancy things to say, just a thought.
But we should go talk to the leaders, the what are they?
The creators of this town.
One day, late family.
Maybe she marked it on the map because it's haunted and she never wants to go back.
She wanted to remind herself to never go back.
Or maybe she marked it on the map because it's a good place to say.
Or maybe she marked it.
I don't know.
It was a question mark, though, which means there are possibilities.
That it she doesn't know what's going on there.
Love it.
We'll find out more from this long, long great family.
Okay.
You are heading to the law.
The manor.
You are heading to the long way manner.
I'm actually more freaked out to go to the long laid manner.
Me too.
I'd rather go to the abandoned manner.
Just give me the ghost.
Don't give it to people.
People are scarier than ghosts.
Ghosts are cool.
Cecilia doesn't think so right now.
Cult leaders are creepy.
So you begin to head your way to the to the manner.
As you go in there, the gates are again open, but there does seem to be guards.
These times they are dwarves with hefty blunderbusses sitting against their weapons.
They have a towel placed over them to maintain the gunpowder inside of them because of the
rain.
But they kind of give you a sneer, like a dirty look as you pass.
But they let you pass.
You are beholden to the the manner, the long laid the long laid manner.
Think of the mansion from Clue.
Now, now kind of like cut that in half.
It's going to be a Clue game.
As you see, one of the dwarven guards kind of like walks up to you and just goes, oh,
it would be your princess here.
We're trying to find a place to stay.
And someone said we should come ask here.
Jerome.
Yes.
Oh, that pranks.
Yes.
And he you see the daughters, because as half fetch, does half fetch the lady and lord for
you at once.
Thank you.
He walks towards the front of the door and you see he knocks on the door.
It opens and you see a well dressed halfling man with a with a monocle and also a button
nose open the door.
They exchange the conversation for a bit before he turns around and goes inside.
I will say in the front of the manor, there is an awning.
So for the first time, you guys are like, even John, like you sitting in the front seat,
you are now like not beheld it.
Your skin's not exposed to the rain.
It's just nice to not be pelted right now.
Yeah.
He's so on it is mentioned because of sunlight.
Oh, good.
Hi, vampires, but are they rushing water?
Are they?
They also die under rushing water.
Good point.
Are they sexy is the question.
We might be able to spare them.
I think Jenny can answer that.
They're ugly.
I think every single one of them has been pretty.
Okay.
Anyways, I thought there's vampires in this game.
I don't want to set up expectations.
It's a vampire.
I know it.
It's a freaking vampire.
Eventually the door opens and you see the man, the halfling man with the monocle lean
out and looks towards you lot and goes, are you the awaiting party waiting to be received?
Yes.
Please, Heather, come forth.
Feel free to leave your horses in the frond.
We pretty you grant us acts.
Just get to see it.
Just come here.
See you in a bit, Reginald.
It's cold.
Get some rest.
Look at the others and go.
Yeah, we're going.
I mean the warden lady.
This is great.
If I went out, this is the way to do it.
And at least, Jaime will give us the upper hand when he turns into a were-other is all
I'm saying.
He's not.
We're not.
I'm not going to do any of that.
And I think I think Stella is right.
She will be the first death since she's the cool one.
I'll be the second death.
Yes.
I was acknowledged by the captain to be the cool one.
That's really good.
I'm making progress.
And that you're dead first.
Yes.
Jaime goes, no one is going to die.
These are just nice halfling people.
And as soon as he says that, as you walk into this large foyer, you see two halflings sitting
next to each other, well-dressed, one man, one woman, big grins on their faces.
The woman totes her head at you as you walk in and she goes, well, hello there.
Welcome.
You predicted.
You predicted the exact character.
Wait, wait, are they for real cult leaders?
No, the mannerisms, but I can't tell you if they're cult leaders.
I mean, yeah.
Oh, blessed.
Oh, blessed be.
It was really fortunate of you to come.
Did he not?
How fortuitous.
The thunder has sent you into the warm, the warm, the our warm embrace.
She does go.
Did you say left the end earlier?
Yeah.
Emma, when you were, when you were a joke role playing.
Yeah.
Oh my God.
It is like then I'm dead serious.
Wait, you're not.
Are you fucking with me?
No, no, no.
I'm dead serious.
They are cult leaders.
They're cult leaders.
No, no, no, no.
I can't kick.
I'm not going to say they're cult, but they praise the thunder here.
Oh, no.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
Okay.
Anyway, I'm shutting up.
I'm shutting up.
What's Lathander the god of?
He's like the light, right?
Light creativity, life.
He was many hats.
He's a favorite, he's a favorite in God, self perfection, spring, vitality, youth.
We're going to get into some weird like bless your heart.
Like, oh, bless your heart.
Dears, you all seem soaked through from the nasty weather outside.
Can you tell me?
Tell me, do you pray often?
I heard that.
The American South.
Now, please, why don't you go ahead and bask yourself in the warmth of this holy of this
holy building?
Can I have your names, please?
My name's Cecilia.
Yeah, I was so confused for a second too.
I was like, is she actually?
Yes.
Oh my God.
Wait, I was fucking with you guys.
Oh, no.
That's why I reacted so big when I was like, you got everything from Pine Blossom.
That's why I reacted so huge.
I was like, what?
How did you do that?
Jenny.
Thanks.
This is Sean Claude.
And oh, that is a mighty name.
Mm hmm.
My stellar of the stars.
Oh, that is a pretty darling name.
And honey.
Oh, no.
Are they antebellum South?
No.
Oh, that is a name.
Oh, no.
Oh, welcome.
Welcome.
Feel free to take off your shoes right there.
We can get Atticath here to retrieve some rooms for you if your heart so fancies.
You are too kind, my lord and lady.
Tell me.
We just happened to come upon your beautiful little town and did you start this town yourself?
I mean, how?
No, no, no, no, no.
Nothing like that.
And you see this other halfling, another aged halfling, the man, just goes, what happened?
What had happened is that we started our nice little humble little orchard here called the
Long Glade Orchard.
And we have benefited from the bountiful harvest that Lethander gives to us every single day.
The trees outside.
All the ones in the back, acres upon acres of Long Glade apples.
We have some in the kitchen if you want, freshly picked.
That's very kind of you.
We were hoping to make it to Velvet Tide tonight, but I guess the weather had other plans.
Oh my, no.
You'll catch your death out there.
That's what Charome said.
Oh, Charome, that little prankster.
So real quick though, but we also heard that there's potentially, you know, we don't want
to inconvenience the lord and lady of this place.
Perhaps there is a, there's like a house that is not really currently occupied.
Perhaps we could stay in as well so that we're not interrupting your goings on and whatnot.
Well it is the beginning of spring, so many of the, many of our families have come together
in our nice beautiful town of Pine Blossom.
So I reckon they don't have many, much space.
Unless you want to stay at, unless you want to stay at the abandoned estate.
And as soon as he says that, thunder.
And they don't seem to flinch.
I think it sounds great, honestly.
You know, we have, we don't want you, you have such a beautiful lavish home.
I would hate to inconvenience you here.
Because the other halfling goes, no dear, you wouldn't be convinced, you wouldn't be,
you wouldn't be a hindrance on us at all.
You know what, Cecilia?
Let's go to that abandoned house.
Yeah, we'll have that giraffe guide you to that.
Thank you so much.
Your hospitality has been absolutely stellar.
She suddenly grows pale.
And she just turns and walks up the stairs.
You have to forgive my wife, Urquist.
It's just, she's, how you say, a bit ill at the moment.
Was she offended we didn't want to stay here?
Oh no, that's not, that's not the case.
But I must warn you though, in regards to the abandoned estate that sits at the very
edge of this little pocket of warm civilization we call Pine Blossom, there has been sightings.
Thunder.
Goodness, I'm not even done yet.
There has been, the local kids have been calling it ghosts and hood-a-vairs.
Hood-a-what?
Hood-a-vairs.
Hood-a-what?
A hood-a-bear?
Oh, that's a local, it's a local scary creature that the adults in this village make up to
make sure that the kids stay inside.
What is it?
Oh, it is a creature with the head of a bear, the body of a bear, but the feet of a tiger.
But it's fake and there's also not ghosts over there?
Why would you be scared of a bear with tiger feet?
Because it is very attracted to bad math.
To convince the kids to do better in school.
Oh.
Field tactics don't work in education, I've been told.
It doesn't.
We have a very cute depiction of it in the classrooms and I feel as if the kids have
actually gone attached to the hood-a-bear.
Anyways, if you wish to stay in the estate, I won't stop you, but we do have warm rooms
here but I suppose you will have your privacy.
And Adarex can feed you and such.
Did your wife need healing if she's sick?
And then he turns to Cecilia.
Cecilia?
He's in med school?
Yeah.
I might be able to help if she's not feeling well.
Oh, that'd be wonderful, but she has natural medication to attend to.
Though I will inquire about your services if she's still ill by tomorrow's morning.
Oh, alright.
When you hear in the distance the woman, F**K!
Are you sure?
That sounds bad.
One second.
Adarex entertained him or something and he runs off.
He runs off.
Is this a natural medicine?
Or actual medicine or natural medicine?
A natural.
Honestly, you're probably better equipped than me right now for it because I don't have
lesser restoration route prepared.
He goes, Agatha?
Agatha, are you okay?
And you see as he all turns towards the butler, he goes, right, I'm supposed to entertain
you now.
I'm so okay.
I do have detect poison and disease.
By the way, just as a small disclaimer, the Lord and Lady are not officially Lord and
Ladies.
That's just what they like to be called.
Yeah, I suppose that makes sense.
This is, well, it's very near house, Marsharine, but this house, Marsharine, whatever you said
it was Marsharine.
Marsharine.
So, wait, they're just being weird power tripples right now?
Well, they generally do improve the lives of everyday people.
It just feels better.
I mean, they're basically the mayor, so why not just call them Lord and Lady just for
the fun of it?
I think that they deserve a title just for fussing in town.
It's a completely opposite direction.
Stella goes, hey, Jean-Claude, maybe.
We're super thankful that we're here in the warm bosom of your territory.
Jaime goes bosom, and Edorax just goes, well, if your heart is sad on it, I can escort you
to the other manor.
Be warned, though, it is leaky and a bit creaky on the inside.
But you will have as much privacy as you want.
Well, with ghosts, though.
No.
Do you think there's actually ghosts there?
Me?
Yeah.
No.
Why did you go both ways first then?
So if there aren't ghosts, then what are people trying to hide there?
It just belonged to a rather afflicted individual before the individual moved out.
Oh, they didn't die there?
They just moved?
Yes, they moved.
That is like, OK.
I thought they like died there.
What the rumor was, the man who lived there before.
Oh, before him?
His name was Jackson.
Jackson.
He was a temperate, halfling man who was well loved by everyone.
He suddenly wide-eyed and leaning in as he's telling the story.
Hey, Jackson.
He lived in this village for a good long time, peacefully.
Though he was not as friendly with the rest of the great people of Pine Blossom as everyone
else, he tended to his own matters, his own darker matters.
For you see, he had a child, two, born of love with his wife.
He had a child or two children?
Two.
OK, so he had more than one to eat children, not a child.
A child.
He says, you can watch it in the silhouette of the window.
The children would run out, run around and play their shadows dashing across the window.
But the locals began to notice the silhouettes growing thinner and less every day until there
was no more.
Before Jackson left the village, without his family in tow, where have they gone?
I'll never know.
Why are you telling it to us this way?
I'm trying to understand you.
And you guys did nothing?
Did anyone check on the house?
How long ago was that?
Where's the welfare system here?
Fifty years ago.
Also we did check, yes.
OK, I was going to say.
How old are the lord and lady?
Respectively, the lord is 287 years old.
Oh.
Lady.
I must not tell.
So I guess 50 years isn't that long.
282 years old.
OK, so you said I must not tell and you just told.
So I'm sorry.
Revenge.
Reven- why?
Are you displeased by your employers?
For making her, for her making you entertain us?
So which avenue of comfort do you wish to stay in?
I would love to know why you're pissed by your employer first before we make that decision.
I believe that's not important.
I believe-
Yeah, he has a weird relationship with his employer too.
Is he?
Yep.
Oh, do tell.
I'm sorry.
Quick, Lian.
Quick, like, death glare.
You you you, as you death glare, you do see Stella like nodding.
No, no.
Your wife just died.
So the answer is no.
OK, across the world.
I didn't know that.
Shit.
Yeah, yeah, now we know.
So we done.
That avenue is, one of the avenues blocked off, that one.
You don't, you don't flirt with the widow.
Why did you do it then?
I didn't know.
John Clough, captain?
No, no, I found out from the other man.
No, what?
What?
Do not know.
Jaime looks away from you.
Listen, we are out of.
So what's it, what's it gonna be?
I don't know.
Come on, out of character, Jenny.
Wait, what does Tim want us to do?
I think either is an option.
But in character, though, she was kind of waiting to see, like, are they sure they don't
want any help, healing or anything?
Oh, maybe I go ask.
Your accent changed.
It really did.
Oh, it did.
Oh, wait, you're really getting me?
Yeah, yeah, really good.
Fuck.
Wait, Tim, right?
As you pointed out.
Sorry about that.
What's it, help, Jenny, help.
Wait, wait, was he telling us all the backstories stuff when he was weird British man?
Yeah.
I want to cast detect magic.
You should.
I'm going to.
The brambles on your on your bracelet light up as you guys take magic.
I think because I'm a yep.
And I'm going to use one of my spell slots for for a ball of magic.
Yeah.
So flex, you see a flex of sparkles kind of shoot out from your bracelet and they they
gravitate towards sources of magic.
You do not sense any magic.
No magic.
Anyways, shall I bring you?
Yes, we can go to the haunted dark.
Yes, I ghosts.
I think you're a quick choice.
Follow me.
You see he walks to he walks to a small bowl sitting on a table.
He holds up this sort of like rusty key and he takes an umbrella, extends it and just
walks out.
I'm going to turn really quickly the others and go, what the fuck is going on with the
voice change thing?
I what is going on?
Is he just a bad actor?
Nope, nope, nope.
I'm just just trying to act.
I know.
I think they're fucking weird.
And that's why I think we need to go.
I would rather handle, you know, creatures of the dark and deep than than these people
directed us to the manner, though, to, you know, so maybe maybe the trap are you saying
that maybe maybe maybe you're both are bad.
I mean, so what do we do?
I think they're both I think everyone's been really nice so far.
Okay, I mean, yes, I am.
Well, it's for you.
I am curious about her, though, if she is feeling sick.
And that's like actually because I still don't know what my sister meant by she was scared
of what the moon was doing to people because it is a full moon tonight.
I mean, I can go cast a spell.
I have a spell prepared to see if I can detect what it is if she is very ill.
I I don't know.
I think we should.
I'm also worried.
I was thinking about this on the way here.
It's been two days in a row that we've been attacked by the shade.
We probably shouldn't be around other people then.
Yeah.
Good point.
I mean, I really don't want to be out there and the rain and maybe ghosts.
But I think that's.
You know what, maybe the ghost children would be our friends, you know.
We can I will promise to like a fence, avenge them because clearly their dad left them to
die just fucked up.
But.
That's really fucked up that I think about it.
Let's go and marquee.
As you make your way over alongside Reginald and marquee, you make your way towards a dark
wood estate with two round large round windows at the very top at the top floor.
It has a sort of like upside down V shaped roof with like sort of like shingles on top.
Despite what everybody said, it doesn't look as old and decrepit as as as you might you
might have thought it was.
Like you were thinking about like a rundown, like, you know, Monster House from Monster
House.
Yes.
It's not that bad.
Like like like the grass around it is a bit untrimmed.
And there is a blood stain.
I'm kidding.
But there is there is pretty pulled up wood from there to from there to there.
That's not like unlivable.
This looks great.
He's make a perception check.
Jean Claude.
Oh my God.
I don't like this man.
I don't like you.
I don't like your weird accent change.
Nat fucking one.
I have a passive of 20 if that helps.
Give me a perception.
Cecilia, can you please help my inept ass?
I hope so.
Nat.
Wow.
OK, so I noticed nothing.
You know, you don't notice much as you're looking at the house.
But Cecilia, you do notice is like this place looks as Jean Claude says, this place looks
great.
The butler you you see the smallest smile just immediately rubbed on his face.
He's being a bit sly about it.
Your name was Edirrex?
Is that your name?
Yes, that is my name.
How long have you been working for their family?
Seventy eight years.
That's a long time.
What did you do before that?
I was a carpenter.
I was also a professional swimmer, but that didn't turn out very well.
Oh, in the river?
No.
Oh, I just thought maybe if you grew up here, it would make sense.
I was in the capital of Carvarum and then.
Couldn't get synchronized with the rest of the swimmers.
Stellar goes, if one of the synchronized swimmers drown, do the rest of you have to drown?
Still here.
Sorry.
No, he just answers.
But that is my deep past.
That you revealed to us.
There's no shame in it at all.
Are you practicing dialects also?
Are you an actor?
No.
I wish I was.
OK.
He pulls out the key, he opens the door.
It creaks open.
You see before you, there's a taxidermized deer hanging on the wall and also a taxidermized
owl bear.
And you see that there is a carpet of just a bear kind of like hung out.
Its mouth is open.
It seems to have an apple inside of its mouth.
It is a very nice furnished room.
You could have.
And it does seem clean.
It seems clean on the inside.
A chimney, like everything.
It's a nice medium sized house with like three fourths to it.
It's a pretty vertical house.
Kind of like a house in Philadelphia.
But yeah.
He just goes, is there anything else any of you need?
I could bring food out to you.
Or have one of the other servants bring it out.
I think we got our own food.
Right guys?
I think we'll be fine.
Thank you.
Wonderful.
He holds the door knob as you all walk in.
He just goes, enjoy the night.
Closes the door and we're going to go to break.
I was going to ask if my divine sense went off at all because I would know if they were
undead.
Right?
You have to actively use it.
Oh, shit.
I do.
We're going to go on break.
All right, everyone.
Join us for the next really cool other half of this session.
Songwulven.
Hello again, everyone.
And welcome back to Songwulven.
For I am the DM and my word is final.
Not if I turn off my camera.
I see.
Wait, my power.
I am the DM.
No!
Turn off my camera!
I say no haunting.
Take the ghosts.
I just don't want.
I don't want.
I don't want the creepy halflings.
Halflings are super cool.
What's wrong with them?
Halflings are cool.
Not these ones.
Yeah, these particular ones.
Real quick, I see the chat and I see that I see one of them praying that I would roll.
They've casted a bane on me that I would roll natural ones or terrible rolls for the entire
game.
So I'm going to see if it worked.
Well, it won't work on a fake roll.
It won't work on a fake roll.
It has to be a real roll.
What's that?
Say his name to me.
Call him who he is.
En Vesilius.
JT.
En Vesilius.
Anyways.
Those not ones will kick in for shimmer.
No, I love her.
I already rolled one.
Stellar of the stars.
Shimmer.
It catches on, I'm telling you.
Alright.
With that said.
Rain.
Wrong.
Rain.
Wrong rain.
Jesus, if the Dice Gods do not give you what you're owed, I will take care of it myself.
Jesus.
And then the Dark Souls are going to make a shimmer NPC for his next game.
I might not mess with the chat anymore.
Anyways.
Rain.
Thunder.
The torches along the sconce.
Sconces along the wall holding torches become a light.
As you see Stellar snap her fingers, each of them becoming a light.
Bringing light to the room.
You are in a living room area ahead of you already.
An open pathway towards the kitchen area it seems.
The place is well taken care for.
Maybe the butler has been taking charge of this place.
This is around the larger manor area.
A staircase leads you up towards another level that's at your waist level.
You can tell this place was made for halflings.
Oh no!
I can't fit in anything!
The doorways are a bit short and the doorknobs are a bit hanging low.
For three foot tall people.
There's a chandelier that you are at contention with at the moment Jean Claude.
Is there a warm place I can get the horses to?
There is a rickety staple in the back.
I want to try and make sure they're comfortable.
I don't want them to be miserable in the cold.
It is sizable enough where the two of them are away from the rain that is now turning
sideways.
There is old smelly straw in here.
Chat said make a survival trick to sit down.
Decks check for leaving the room.
Decks check for walking through a doorway.
A slight of hand check for bringing a spoon to your mouth.
They're not eating it, inhaling it.
I'll try to reinforce stable roof with tent tarp or whatever just because I don't want
them to sleep in the rain.
So Cecilia did have to go off to do that.
Jean Claude if you are worried.
Do you need backup or do you want me to stay in here?
She just says she's going to go get the horses settled in.
That's what she does.
I'll explore a little bit of the haunted mansion while she does that.
You see that Jaime is also looking around.
So Cecilia, as you are tending to the outside, you hear, hey, an enlarged thunderbolt striking
through the door.
It turns and jumps.
You see as you turn behind you, you see, oh, goodness, I hate that so much.
Why does it always have such good timing?
Stellar.
Yeah, that was really bad timing in my opinion.
That's fine.
I'm trying to make sure the horses aren't miserable all night because they really need
proper rest because they've been kind of just going, going, going for days.
Yeah, no kidding.
Here, let me help.
Thanks.
And just goes, just go off on yourself like that without somebody following you.
You never know what could happen in this crazy place.
Was it just me or Edorex?
When John Claude was talking about how nice the house looked, he like smiled a little
bit, like kind of trying to hide it.
She kind of brings her hands together.
This place sucks.
Maybe he didn't, but like if he, like, I wouldn't doubt it if he did because the vibes, like
he won't know he won't, he would 100% did it.
It can't be like actually haunted, right?
Or is that what you say when it is haunted?
Should I say it's definitely haunted and then it won't be?
I don't know how this stuff works.
We had someone, we had someone like, I don't know, the village idiot, which is always,
who always turns out to be right.
He comes around and says, oh, it's haunted.
And then, and then everyone's like, no, it's not haunted.
It's so, it's a bug.
I don't want to scare you.
And we don't even know if Jaime's going to, I mean, I think he's fine.
I just, he, he's really scared.
Yeah.
Not, not of like all this.
No.
He's just really scared that if, if everyone says what it is and that he does turn that
if that, if he will turn back.
I I've been trying not to scare him.
And then I just kind of, you know, kind of got scared myself and then kind of forgot
about trying not to scare him and talking practically.
But I am a little worried about that.
I am also worried by the fact that they said multiple times that we'll have privacy out
here.
It makes me think that we won't.
So maybe we shouldn't talk about things.
It's really weird when they keep bringing that up.
It sounds like it's, that's not something you need to promise.
That's just kind of assumed.
Yeah.
But I also didn't want to stay in the house.
Oh, let me guess.
The really scary couple who, who have big grins on their faces and really, and stare
at you with wide eyes the entire time.
Kind of made you feel off.
I also did like, I mean, I know this is like kind of the lesser point, but she also complimented
everyone's name, but Jaime's, she just said, that's a name about Jaime's name.
And I think his name sounds very nice.
Yeah, it does.
It means supplanter, but like, he's not like that at all.
What?
Oh, I know name meanings.
Yeah.
What's my name mean?
Timmy Googles.
Timter.
Well, I wouldn't.
I'm not there.
It means blind.
I mean, I am pretty blind without my glasses on.
And they keep getting wet and it's really hard to see.
So what you're saying is you should be not wearing your glasses the entire time so you
can really embody your name correctly.
I guess.
Did my name do me to not being able to see?
Oh, does your sister wear glasses?
No.
Oh, I'm so sorry, Cecilia.
I'm sorry.
She just she just got to chuckle lightly.
She just goes, well, we grow into whatever name that we pick for ourselves.
So if I pick a different name, I won't be glasses anymore.
Take a crack at it.
I don't even know what I do for another name.
What about?
No, never mind.
But I mean, there's lux, but I feel like I'll think of something for you.
You got Cece going on as a nickname.
Oh, yeah.
That's what my sister calls me to.
I was wondering if Cece was a nickname that that the captain was saying or if he just
keeps getting everyone's name wrong and he legitimately think that's your name.
I think he did go.
He'd say like Miss Cecilia or Miss Cece.
So I think he knows my name.
He really was adverse to not calling me Miss.
Oh, Miss Cece.
She just chuckles.
That's when thunder hits in the middle of this talk.
I just have to be like this while we're here, too.
I think this doesn't help.
Yeah, no kidding.
It really creates an atmosphere that's really for this specific case.
I should get inside.
You know what?
You know what will calm me down?
There are many ventures where courage is craved.
But no other traveler can take them like Cecilia the Brave.
I'm working on something for you.
I don't feel very brave today, to be honest.
You're scared, right?
And yet you're out here helping the horses.
Like I said, you can only be brave when you're scared.
Well, you're very good at all.
Your rhyming and nice words and things.
Thank you.
Are you going to fit that into a song, too?
Things.
I don't think it's already ruined by the time I said it in things.
And things.
One of the things she does the best is that she sings.
It's all about moving with what's given you.
And then thunder hits again and she goes, OK, never mind.
I hate this place.
Let's go.
OK.
Bye, Reginald and Markeia.
I'll check on you later.
You put a tarp over like where the rain is and it's dark and dry inside.
OK.
Better.
Let's give you a face like, no, don't go.
Give Jean-Claude a punch for me.
Smack Jean-Claude upside the head for me.
I was going to say maybe we should get Atheus out, but I feel like that would make the atmosphere
even worse, to be honest.
Oh, goodness.
No, I don't want any talking skulls.
I don't want any talking skulls.
The last thing I want in this atmosphere right now is a talking skull.
Maybe they're trying to scare us, but maybe that would scare them.
He tends to have that effect on people like we can out scare them away.
You know, we cancel out the scare and then we'd be the killers.
Charles bring out Charles.
We're not going to kill anyone, though.
Yeah, I haven't talked to Charles yet.
That's a genuine thing I've been wanting to do.
OK, you do that in like another room.
I'm not messing with those bag pals of yours.
Except for the cat, I can mess with the cat, but he's a black cat.
I don't want him crossing my path.
I mean, it's a very unfair superstition to the cats, you know.
Oh, gosh, I sing songs about superstitions.
The foundation of so many of so many stories are about superstitions.
And as she tries to open the door, she goes.
OK.
Did they lock us out?
Lock them in.
He had the key.
Did he give us the key?
Oh, my gosh.
And then we'll go over to Jean Claude.
Are we fucking launching something?
Jean Claude, you begin to investigate the house.
I go, come with me.
We must meet the ghost children and become their friends.
Um, sure.
He's looking around.
He's genuinely like you see, like looking around, but he does seem a bit antsy.
His fingers, his fingers are in a lisp, but his fingers are paddling along.
He just hand this he's like he seems genuinely nervous as he's like walking around.
Why are you scared?
Oh, oh, I'm not.
I'm not scared.
You don't have to.
You don't have to worry about me.
He points at it.
He pointed us.
He pointed a suit of armor holding a holding a sword.
No helmet.
He goes, um, that's awfully nice.
It's also not halfling sized.
Like everything else in this house.
Good point.
That is a bit strange.
You know what?
We have to be inspectors now.
Right.
Like health inspectors.
We had a couple of those around the temple.
That too.
We could be both, but something is their foot, as they would say.
Yes.
And like feet.
Things kind of smell around here.
Smell.
Specious.
Suspicious.
And I investigate the armor.
Investigation check.
Well, yeah, why isn't this is the wrong.
Jesus Christ.
Eleven.
I'll have Hiney give an honest shot to you.
Please.
I'm even lower calling it now.
So I guess my question is why would they have human arm?
Oh, it's is it like a dead, like dead venture who would come through?
Wow.
Animated.
We don't know it.
The armor is made of a nice material, but like much like decorative armor, you kind
of like you kind of notice is like this is it looks like plate mail, but kind of like
going on to and like giving you giving you like a roll around.
It's pretty thin.
Oh, so it's not worth it then.
It's just like ornamental.
It's ornamental.
And that's the most you can tell right now.
That's the obvious like, like just obvious interactions.
Okay.
I don't know.
I mean, I don't think this is useful to me.
But he smells it.
It is a bit suspicious.
Tell me what you smell.
Mostly rain and fungus.
But he looks it looks inwards.
He goes, I just don't trust the placement of this armor.
Let's just do just want to jam it to the closet somewhere.
Let's move it.
Let's move it somewhere.
Should we move it?
Maybe we should lock it in a room.
Is there a bedroom?
And he's going to, you know, quickly see if you can open it or see it better.
There is like a half door that's like on the side of the staircase.
And as you open it, a chill hits you immediately.
As a staircase, there's a staircase that leads downwards into darkness.
This is perfect.
I mean, we will put it down here.
I'm going to crunch down and crawl down there.
You're going to die.
He looks in and goes, the room seems a bit daunting if I'm being completely honest.
Come on, this is a perfect.
We lock it all the way down here and we won't have to deal with it later.
How about I don't like to destroy the people's property, but how about we just throw it?
Throw it down here?
Yes, just, you know, one, two, heave ho.
Are we going to hear a crash outside?
I mean, like I was going to be respectful about it and carry it down myself.
But if you really are intent upon throwing it down the stairs, then we can do that too.
I mean, I was also planning on sleeping in the basement.
Hmm.
This is hard.
Why?
What?
Why?
Oh, it's just you all can have the rooms to yourselves.
I'd rather, you know, sleep where, you know, there's less noise and it's peaceful.
In the basement?
I would suspect so.
Okay, then let's go check out your new digs.
Hmm.
Before before we do, he pulls up the jug from his hip and offers it.
What?
Kami, are you going to be really creepy and like lock me down there or something weird
or like drug me?
Like, what is this?
No, why would I do that?
Because you're being really, really giving me the ick right now.
What is this?
I just feel like I just feel like people are very nervous right now and it would be it
would be great if we can all just really alleviate some of the nerves.
I literally was not nervous until you started pressing me a jug before just walking down
the stairs.
Oh, goodness.
Um, we could put the armor somewhere else.
I was just trying to make it worse.
Have you been here before?
No, I have not been here before.
I've never been here before.
Can I inside check what the fuck is going on?
Yeah, OK, go ahead and inside check.
Wow.
Yeah, he seems he seems nervous.
I mean, you seem it's honest.
It's just like he's nervous.
He's definitely nervous.
He's been nervous though for a bit for a while.
OK.
OK, Jaime, we don't have to go down here and I'll walk back up the stairs, close the
door.
Let's put the almost some else.
OK.
Um.
Um, as he's thinking, make a perception check.
It's going to be low as fuck.
So whoo, 19.
I'm useful right now.
At this point, you do you do hear like the ground, like the floorboards are creaking
and just beating the D.C. 15 check.
You do kind of like look around.
You see you see out of the corner of your eye.
One of the floorboards are like creaking up, curling up.
And as soon as you like, look to see it's it's flat.
Hello, is there a little mouse down there?
And I'm going to walk over and try to open it up.
You tend to open it up and nothing.
This is not these pieces of wood are not supposed to be like bendable.
It's like a very straight piece of wood.
You saw like curling up, like curling.
Was that like was it like a finger curling or was just like to come closer or just curling
it down?
The piece of wood was curling.
Oh, it was curling.
It was like the piece of the floorboard.
Hi, May.
No, it was really cool.
The wood just did this really cool trick.
Please don't try to scare me.
It's not going to work.
I think this place is normal.
I'm not trying to scare you.
I'm being very serious.
It did like this.
And so I thought there was like an animal underneath, but the wood that the way that
is shaped, it could not naturally bend this way.
Is this a present, sweet ass?
Is someone who would like to review themselves?
We mean no harm.
Knock.
Ghosty front.
Knock.
Where?
Coming from upstairs.
Hello.
I just want to meet you.
I want to help you move to the, you know, with your, you know, have you had experience
with ghosts before?
No, I read a lot of books.
Okay.
Hello.
You start going upstairs.
Uh, one step, two step.
As you make your way all the way up and you genuinely do have to like, kind of like bend
your head down at some places.
He's knocking.
Hey ghost, it's me, your boy, Jean Claude.
You um, you make your way to see an offering of four, four doors in front of you.
One at the very end of a hallway and three sort of like spaced out evenly adjacent on
a wall adjacent.
One of the doors is already open.
Ghost kiddos.
Hmm?
He says ghost kiddos to the open door.
No response.
I'm here to help.
I, I mean, he goes, have I made completely honest?
I'm not sure if this is really effective.
Shouting at them?
Yes.
I mean, with, with actual kids, you wouldn't say, hello kids.
I'm here.
I'm coming.
Well, I'm not going to say what you play hide and seek cause that's even creepy.
I'm trying not to come off as a predator right now, Heidi.
I'm just saying.
Like what?
Should I be like, Oh look, I have a white wagon outside little kitty.
I have a puppy in it.
Do you want to come and take my wagon?
That's worse and they can hear you.
If they're around.
No, no, I never thought this would not do.
Oh, look, I have candy.
Don't you want to come into my white wagon with the candy in the puppy?
Hello ghosts.
If you are here, we come in peace.
If you're not here, you could disregard this.
Chad said, want to come for a ride in my windowless wagon?
The horses are blindfolded.
I will take a peek in the open door.
One moment here.
Boom.
Okay.
So as you, you take a, as you take a peek in the open door, you do see genuinely, it
is a room filled with dolls.
I mean, you like shelves upon shelves of dolls.
You said there's a bed, a twin size mattress and it has dolls sitting, sitting on aligning
the edge of the bed and one, one tucked in.
Jaime goes, Oh, this is cute.
If there goes children, do you want to play dollies?
Nothing.
Are there any dolls that stick out in particular?
All of them seem to be like, it's the similarities are, are, they're pretty similar.
They just have a few of my new differences because they probably, you see, the all these
are probably handmade.
Okay.
So just a bunch of handmade dolls.
That's it.
Can I pick up one of the dolls?
You do.
You, you pick up one of those.
I go, you're too close child.
Do you want to play dollies?
You build, I would be build.
And you pick up a doll.
Yeah.
You pick it up.
And I'm looking at it.
It seems to be able to like a very fine, like handcrafted make.
You can see at the bottom of the shoes, it says there's carvings into it.
It says JJ initials.
Yo, sorry.
There was like a creak up in my apartment.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Fine, my door's locked so it's fine.
But that was a little creepy.
Okay, sorry.
Continue.
Oops.
Maybe I should turn the light on.
The first, the first real D&D.
Yeah.
If you need to turn it on.
Jimmy is in your house.
Turn off your virtual fake background thing.
This is a pre-recorded video.
I can turn my light on real quick.
I'll be right back.
Okay.
Yes.
We're knocking on the front door.
They're upstairs now, so.
All right, I'm gonna go say hi.
Turn off your background to me.
I'm back.
Light is on.
I can see.
Okay, so holding the doll and the, in carving, what does it say on the foot?
Woody?
JJ.
Woody.
JJ.
Oh, JJ.
Yes.
It's seemingly, it seemingly could be like a maker's initials.
But yeah, it's, it has a frilly dress on it.
And all the dolls seem to be of like, like seem to be like of a female persuasion.
And all of them say JJ on the foot.
Yes.
John Claude is going to go look at the dog.
Oh, little dolly, would you like to come on with us for a tour of the house?
Maybe when we see the ghost children, they will want to play with you.
Oh yes, John Claude.
I would be so happy to come explore the rest of this house.
I think that's you saying that.
That's not the doll.
No, it's the doll, Jaime.
Oh my God, there are ghosts in here.
Obviously.
It is me, Jaime.
Oh, of course.
Oh, Jimmy Juniper the doll.
Do you not see my initials on my foot?
JJ.
That's both.
That's both of our initials of our first names put together.
Oh, dolly.
Are you really Jimmy Juniper or are you John Jaime?
You are asking too many questions.
Come, we must go explore the rest of the house.
John Jacob jingle hammer smith.
As you begin to run.
Take the little arm.
You see Jaime just kind of like does the same thing, picks up one of the dolls and just
goes, hi, I'm Jaime.
Hello, I'm Jaime.
I am just JJ.
Would you like to come see the rest of my house?
Come on.
And he's like, oh, what a coincidence.
I am also JJ.
While we've been in this room, have any of the other doors open to the other room?
No.
John Claude is going to go, okay, kiddos, we have two little friends here, JJ and JJ,
who would love to meet you.
We would love to play.
Where can we find you?
So Cecilia.
She's just like, hey guys, cool joke.
Okay, let us in now.
And that's when you hear from behind the door.
Password?
You hear John Claude's voice.
John Claude's voice?
Password?
Password.
It's raining and I just want to come in.
Stella attaches to the doors and goes, hey, Catherine, you don't want to sit in the mic
now and I catch a cold.
I will sneeze all over your face right after I puncture your eyes.
Okay.
It's me, John Claude.
And you hear the door unlock.
I can't believe it.
Okay.
And she opens up the door to see an empty living room.
Where did they?
Sean Claude?
And that's when you hear upstairs a doll talk.
Hi, Judy B. Jodepur.
Have you seen my swishy dress?
It is fabulous.
Trashic.
JJ stands for Jerry.
Jerry Jerry.
I love your gender neutral name, Jerry.
I've had a gender journey very recently and I've come to a complete understanding of my
identity and I feel very comfortable with myself.
I'm so proud of you.
Your story must be told to us so that we become more comfortable with people left behind.
Yay, Jackie.
Stella goes, I'm very happy for Jerry, but what's going on?
Were you downstairs?
Did you come upstairs?
No, still downstairs.
I'm at the door still.
I'm like, maybe we should put something to make sure the door doesn't get shut again.
You wrote gender journey, JJ.
Yeah, JJ.
Because you said gender journey and that's the first thing I thought of.
You know, like, how they do like crazy with a K, kids.
Would that be your team name?
Gender journey.
Gosh.
Um, she's like...
Sean Claude?
Oh, yes, Cecilia, we are doing very important business up here.
How did you get upstairs so fast?
What do you mean?
We just unlocked the door, right?
No, Kym and I were inspecting the doll.
Can you come down here then, please?
Okay, hold on.
And then he comes down, he walks the doll as if it's tattling down as well.
No, no, hell no.
No, no, no, no, no, put that back.
What do you mean?
She's so cute and cuddly.
Hell to no, no, absolutely not.
I'm not dealing with that.
I will burn it.
Can I look at the lock on the door?
Is it like one you can just like turn or is it have to be a key?
It's a turn.
Okay.
What is wrong, Cecilia?
The horse is okay?
Yes, but did you lock the door behind us and then, you know, say what's the password and
then unlocked it and then ran away before we could see you and then played with dolls?
No, because what is the password?
I don't know it.
I don't know either.
I just, I just, I thought you were scared because I threatened you into opening the
door and you did.
He laughs and then goes completely blank faced.
Stay there.
I would never run from you.
You remember the jail cell situation.
Anyways, let's-
That was because you were embraced in a level of respect.
I see things just coming out of your mouth sometimes.
Goodness.
You're gaslicking me.
So somebody else opened the door.
What do you mean?
Jaime was just me.
Yes, I was investigating the dolls.
Yeah, inspecting them.
Okay, well the door was locked and then it wasn't and I also heard your voice and I don't
know why.
Is that weird halfling doing an actor thing where he's like practicing all of his different
voices?
Remember he did the weird voice switch thing?
Maybe he's pretending.
Maybe he's in here.
It's just not funny.
Okay.
I'm trying to hang out with the ghost children.
Maybe he like came in and locked the door.
Maybe he's in here.
Come on, motherfucker.
And he's going to like take out the battle axe and let's go.
Come on, we're done.
No funny anymore.
Jaime goes, hey, hey, you shouldn't, you should put that away before you damage anything in
here.
Well, you know, I think that is weird.
I mean, he's wanting to use my voice.
Come on.
Maybe it's just like a prank.
From who though?
Who's pranking me?
You us.
Racks like you suggested.
I don't know.
We still together now.
What they feel because prankster or not, this is annoying me because I am in, we saw this
thing, there's like a weird basement thing too.
Like there's a lot to see here.
We don't have time for Tom Fuligri with this bed.
Shut the door.
Come in all the way.
I know it's like, it should be like getting dark around this time and the moon should
be coming out.
Just turn in our rooms, try to sleep through a night.
All separate rooms or?
Well Jaime wants to sleep in the basement by himself.
So we can all sleep in the basement or unless you think that's not important because otherwise
I would be fine on my own if.
I preferred if I was alone actually.
In case of the were-artor reveals itself.
Please stop saying that.
Okay the were-bunny.
Stop.
Well then why do you want to be alone?
It's weird Jaime.
Stella goes, seriously stop.
Okay okay.
Are you gonna be okay?
I just need time to think is all.
I am kind of worried about leaving you alone though.
I don't think any moonlight can reach down there.
Even aside from that.
Just how everything's been weird here.
So we could all be in the basement.
Or you and Stella or you and Jean-Claude or you and me or anyone I guess.
I should have just said anyone.
Really it's it's quite alright and Stella goes.
You can let me right?
I made a promise to you and you're gonna let me keep that promise right?
I um I suppose.
Maybe you and the Atheist but I feel like that'd be kind of miserable.
I'm not dealing with any skulls.
Yeah.
All of the all of the all of the back buddies they stay in the back for tonight.
If this is a prank though it would be really scary to whoever's pranking us I bet.
It's also gonna be really scary when I light them on fire.
Yeah I won't take them out.
Alright well I guess we're gonna turn in for the night.
Right buddy?
We almost did the armor down there.
Why would you do that?
Established dominance.
He begins to walk towards the basement.
Have a good night everyone.
Good night.
And then Stella walks in having a duck beneath the door.
Yeah y'all have a good night.
Close the door.
Leave me the two of you on your lonesome.
I don't really see the big if Harry is like so concerned about turning I'm gonna kick
his ass no matter what if he turns on us.
So I'm not too worried about this.
Well I mean I'm not saying that you've been insensitive.
It's just if you think about it like he's never known that like this kind of thing could
if that were true it's really scary and it would change his life forever you know and
how he thinks about himself or that he doesn't know what's going on with his own body.
It's very scary and that's probably why it's just not that funny to him.
But you can get it fixed.
It's still scary and even then we don't even know we don't know what it is you know like
it's new it's really scary I think.
I would be scared if it were me.
Well I don't bring it up anymore.
Well hopefully after tonight he'll feel a little better.
Then we can try to figure out what's going on because if he knows it'll be easier for
him to feel like he can handle it you know or if there is anything at all you know.
I don't know how much Stella will be able to do though if there is a problem.
Yeah I kind of don't like leaving them down there either with weird things going on in
the house but I also don't want to invade their privacy.
Yeah yeah.
Alright well if they need us they'll call us and until then I won't bring it up again.
Yeah okay.
And I get the feeling we don't actually have privacy here but you probably already know
that if you think they're pulling a prank or there's ghosts or something.
JJ's are so very suspicious.
We hold up the doll and nods the doll's head.
The doll blinks at you Cecilia.
Is it like one of those ones where it like the eyes go back when you roll put it push
it back or is it like a cloth doll that blinks.
As you see Jean Claude's doing it it is like walking up and down it seems to be blinking
along with its movements.
Like a normal doll though okay.
What was I going to say.
Alright shall we jump in?
Yeah I guess that'd be fine.
I would rather not if you want they can sleep near the door and you could take all of the
beds just because I feel I don't like the idea of splitting up further is not enticing
to me right now with the prank still.
Oh is it that little shit.
Remember that guy they kept saying he's such a joke style.
Is it that little fucker from earlier with the hat.
Yes.
I would kick his ass.
I would probably be dead of this room.
I was I was planning on just I don't really want to go up to the bedrooms or I assume
there's bedrooms upstairs.
You looked up there right?
Hmm do you want to go in like the living room or something before you?
I just kind of want to be near the basement just in case you know.
So I was planning on just taking the sleeping bag anyways.
Let's set up a sleeping bag in the hold then.
Alright.
You were gonna throw the armor downstairs to establish dominance she says.
I you know I have failed to walk it down the stairs you know but I'm not talking about
anymore I'm going to bed in the other way.
Me and JJ are going to bed.
Okay.
I have I don't have the saddle bag on me I assume it's on the horse if I had to guess
the saddle bag.
You can say you brought it with you.
Okay.
I'm curious and that can cast detect magic right?
Yes.
I will I should put the charges thing on my sheet it has eight charges but I will spend
one charge to cast detect magic.
The eyes of the griffin the eyes on the depiction of the griffin light up and as you cast detect
the magic you see small spectral feathers seemingly kind of like shine off of the bag
and they spiral for a moment.
And then you see that they kind of like they all kind of like go they all like began to
like trail and they began to go into like the to the door next to the basement.
That leads to another room that you guys aren't quite sure of yet and you see that the feathers
seem to be going through the door through there that's just how the tech magic works
it's not weird.
They seem to be following a trail of magic.
But it does pick up on magic?
Yes it does.
You detect magic yes.
What school?
Illusion.
Illusion magic interesting.
Can I go in the direction that the magic is which you see this happening instead of just
going and getting her sleeping bag out she's messing with this saddle bag.
Pretty good Cecilia.
There's illusion magic here.
Here on this floor?
Somewhere in that direction.
Is it towards the fucking cellar door?
No.
Okay.
There's a door next to it.
That's not flushed with the staircase so it's another door.
I'll go open it.
You try to.
It's locked.
Alright you little shit open the fucking door.
The door says nothing it defies.
What did Stella say again?
I don't think it will work this time.
Kick your fucking ass you little shit.
Open the fucking door.
Bangs on the door.
If nobody lives here like the story says that means it's okay to break it down right?
Yeah we're doing it and he takes his axe and goes.
She was a little surprised that you just went right at it but she's not going to stop you.
What a good suggestion Cecilia.
Ice hits down the middle.
You kind of look through the crack.
It seems to be a study.
Jean Claude.
That is Jean Claude.
This door is nothing before your might.
And then I'm going to kick it down and be like oh look there are books in here.
Here's Johnny.
Chat said.
One person from chat.
Or one mod.
JT.
Because you just kick down the rest of the door and you walk in the side to see a bunch
of books.
It seems to be a study with one desk with a large circular mirror in front of it.
It's one circular mirror and many other smaller mirrors like circles around it.
Seems to be very ornate.
Like a dressing room.
There's an inkwell with a feather pen in there but it doesn't seem like people have been
in this room for very very long.
The illusion of magic is coming from this room.
Anywhere in particular.
I can't tell where.
Let me take a look at something real quick.
Is invisibility an illusion spell.
Jenny.
Maybe.
I.
Illusion or I'm trying to think what else it would be.
You see a faint outline.
Around one of the bookshelves.
There are bookshelves lighting the walls but the middle one on the far end has a faint
outline around it.
This is what's giving you the illusion magic.
She touches it.
You touch it.
And yes invisibility is illusion.
As you walk up to it and touch it.
Your hand goes through.
And you touch the wall behind it.
Stick my head through slowly.
Her head vanished to a bookshelf.
Yeah it goes inside the book.
As you do that your head slowly makes contact and touches like the cold wall behind it.
Can I see anything once I have my head inside it though.
It's just the wall.
Just a wall.
It's just a wall.
Why would there.
That's it.
Is there any like button or lever to push.
Secret thing on the floor.
Feeling around the wall and floor.
Bookshelf on the side.
Roll me an investigation check.
Okay.
Can I assist her?
Yes advantage.
Advantage on my investigation.
I am inspector Jean Cloudeau.
It helps because I rolled a 12 first and then a 24.
Inspector Jean Cloudeau at work.
Feeling around you don't you do not feel you do not feel a switch or a lever of any kind.
But it is strange like the placement of this illusory bookshelf here.
But no you don't feel anything.
You feel on the sides of the other switches looking at the books and nothing seems to
stand out to you.
The books are of a.
The books tell their own story.
These are medical books.
Oh I'm actually very interested in those.
You can't grab them right because they're not real.
Oh wait on the I thought you meant on the other shelves.
Yes on the other shelves too.
Oh okay okay.
But you know the illusory you already found out as illusion but you see that the bookshelf
in front of you is a copy of another bookshelf like the books are lined up just the same.
Oh I go over to the other bookshelf and look around there.
We're going to pick you back up for your 24 investigation still.
Okay.
Yeah it seems to be just books again medical books and feeling around again you don't you
don't feel anything.
But these books are real and they're dusty.
Nothing can't move the bookshelf.
There's no like a secret door.
You can't move the illusory one but everything else you can touch.
You mean to move something.
I don't know I just don't know why they'd make a copy of this bookshelf.
They're the same bookshelf.
If I move something on the real bookshelf does it change the illusion.
Oh good point.
Nothing happens.
Nothing happens to the illusory one.
Maybe we should move the bookshelf to its illusionary one.
Like a key.
Yeah.
I'll do it.
It might be just a waste of time but I'm curious why it's here.
No it's a puzzle and I want to solve it.
I'll use powerful build.
So I count as one size larger when determining my carrying capacity and the weight I can
push, drag, or lift.
Just lift a bookshelf.
You put the bookshelf against the illusion and it's so nice because you just have to
line it up with the bookshelf.
The exact dimensions are there so you can just make little fits.
As you go ahead and just every book Jean-Claude you can go ahead and give me a investigation
check.
Yes.
I am so good at that.
Is there any help from me here or does it just have to just be him?
Assuming I'm looking around a bunch too.
Yes you can help.
Well.
18.
Nice.
I'll take the 18 and not the 3.
Not the 3.
Not the 12.
The 12.
Oh goodness.
I was so scared when I had to do your voice.
I was like nope never again.
I'm never going to do that.
There will never be doppelganger Jean-Claude.
I always have to impress the Sicilian.
Jean-Claude as you align the bookshelf up you're given the spot that there is some stark differences
now.
Letters along the spine of the book says in the illusory one all of them were sort of
like a bit more brighter than the other one.
But as you line it up you get to see as the two images mend together some of the letters
on the book when they become lined up some of them are faded and some of them are light.
Most of them are faded.
What are the ones that are lit?
In the first book it's Janice Luarth's medical knowledge and the J is a light.
Then it says Eticus Farrington and then Alois G-E-A and as you look down it says N-C-L-A-U-D-E.
Jean-Claude that's me.
Where is my name on a book?
Across multiple series of books.
When you point it out she's like she's kind of looking at it confused and worried.
Is this Celia's name there or is it just my name?
Just yours.
Yes hello it is me Jean-Claude.
Ghost children I have the dolly to play with.
Thunder.
Yes it is me.
I guess if someone was in here they could just make that illusion.
They know magic and stuff.
Maybe the kids will wait and follow.
And they know your name and they know your voice.
Oh.
80 years ago?
And I've been traveled for 200?
Well if someone we met in town just now.
I'm thinking it is either ghost children saying hello or there's something here.
What else is in this room?
I don't know.
That's it.
It's just Jean-Claude and nothing else.
And they're medical textbooks right?
About what?
It's just different facets of medicine, medical care, things about the anatomy of different
races, different races bodies and such.
Medical, natural medicine.
One of them is a shade of potion recipes and such.
I'm confused Cecilia.
Me too.
Can I look for the books for anything interesting?
Can I also open them up and see if they are what they say they are?
You open them up and these are genuine books.
Yeah.
It's a little faded.
It's old.
Go ahead and go ahead and make an investigation check for me.
Okay.
While she's doing that can I use one of my fucking whatchamacallits?
16.
Divine Senses.
Yeah you can give me Divine Senses.
Right now as your Divine Senses search out for any rancorous sort of like scent that
will depict to you a celestial or undead fiend you get nothing.
Nothing okay.
It's a 30, 60 feet right?
60 feet yep.
Anything affected by the hallow spell or know the location of any celestial fiend undead
within 60 feet.
That is not behind total cover.
No.
Ghost children.
No ghost children right now.
Okay.
Good to know.
Now Jean Claude knows.
Now I know.
Not here right now.
This is a live person pulling a prank.
Live person being a little dick.
With that investigation check as you're flipping through the books you do catch on one of the
pages.
There is a page sort of like a referendum about another fellow doctor.
It does go like before he died my last farewell to him was one of the best ones you can really
give anybody.
A nice neutral goodbye.
And you see the word goodbye is a lit just like those the ones on the shelf.
Says goodbye Jean Claude you motherfucker.
Goodbye she says looking at the book.
Goodbye what?
It's glowing in the book.
Like my name?
Yeah look.
Okay goodbye what?
You want me to leave the house?
We'll leave in the morning.
I don't get this.
Maybe some of the other books also have glowing text in them.
I will fuck it.
I'm gonna start flipping them open.
Was it one of the was the book I was looking at was it one of the ones that was glowing
that I looked through?
Yes.
Yes it was.
It was the very first one.
Check those out.
Okay.
Okay looking through looking through the rest of them and I'll expedite this.
Looking through the rest of them like looking through it's not you're not getting anything
but the word goodbye is still a lie and that's it but you're not getting anything else.
Okay.
I don't really know what to do with you Cecilia.
I don't know either but I don't want to stay here.
Okay then do we want to go to the basement and say I don't know I leave it up to you.
Yeah I think they might want to know this too.
I feel like that's a valid reason to interrupt them.
I keep the book in my hands but I go over to the um go over to the basement door and
knock on the door.
No response.
Hi Amy, Stellar.
We found something.
Come in.
Am I does it sound like someone might be impersonating them?
Not that I can tell it sounds like.
It does sound like Stellar.
Okay I open the door.
We'll start to go down.
I stay at the top.
You guard the door.
You know.
Cecilia you make your way down and you see that a torch has been lit down here.
A light's been giving.
You see the um just from just from upstairs down you can see like the flickering of a
light and you see the silhouette of two people sitting around.
And you hear goes what did you find?
Hey um well there's this illusion magic upstairs.
As you get towards the bottom of the stairs you see you do not see a Stellar or Jaime.
You see a small like little like campfire and the two things that are making the silhouette
are two dolls placed in front of the fire.
One looks like a white tiefling another looks like a dark-skinned human.
That's when the door um that's when the door shuts between the both of you.
How?
Wait wow I'm in front of it what?
How?
You're in front of it it shuts.
I did.
Cecilia come on.
I knew it was a dick before.
Pond!
Stellar!
Jaime!
Um uh Jean Claude as you are just like kind of dealing with it you do see like the keyhole
it kind of like lights up like lights coming through it.
Do you want to peek through it to see what's going on?
I'm like listen I'm sorry okay I'm sorry I was a dick earlier.
I get uncomfortable when people are uncomfortable and I try to make jokes about it okay.
Do you look through the keyhole?
Yes I'm screaming through the keyhole.
As you look through it as you like screaming and then you look through the keyhole it was
a light you saw light coming through it but as you look through pitch darkness utter pitch
black.
Okay so I apologized and now you're being a dick about it now I'm pissed open the door.
Cecilia.
Did he hear me yell out his name?
He did yes.
Okay.
But uh as you look up Cecilia you see on the door peeking through the eye hole um this
this figure is attached to the door you see all skins and bones small uh you can see like
the wrinkly back of its head not Maro um it's like not again.
You see uh it is upside down like it's crawling upside down all sticking to the door and as
it you see um it kind of like places its hand over the keyhole and it looks up to you with
its pitch black dark eyes um and then it just and then you see it just kind of like crawls
cracks as it moves it you see.
I swipe up the heime and stellar dolls.
Plushies they're plushies.
Byr says oh they got turned into marketable plushies before we could do it.
And you see.
Oh my god they turn people into plushies that's a room full of people.
You see.
Yep you're playing with people.
I'm playing with fucking people.
You see the person like every movement it's cracked you see its you see its nails jagged
downwards the dark um the dark cuticles um of its nails jagged and stretched out um and
folded over the front of its fingers as it just slowly pats its finger across you.
I am jd dd like dolls sit you back I I don't know what to do Claude please open the door
no come down you don't hear.
Oh.
Um Jean Claude.
Is the detect magic still left just out of curiosity.
Oh that's ten minutes usually.
Ten minutes uh I will say that the investigation inside of the room.
We searched a long time yeah.
That's what I was wondering.
Okay.
Um Jean Claude uh there comes a point as you're uh yelling uh you hear behind the door.
Jean Claude.
Whose voice Celia?
Cecilia.
Yes Cecilia.
Blurring you down too.
Um the door unlocks and you see a very unsure Cecilia opening the door and looking at it.
She looks at you she goes she just goes.
Steller and Heime are gone.
Okay well what was the deal with the lights thing light show.
I have no idea.
What do you mean you and what do you mean they're gone.
They're not there.
Okay where's the stuff was there stuff down yet.
Yeah they're not there.
Okay well come on we'll go find them maybe they went for a walk I don't know.
I I'm not sure if they went for a walk I mean Heime said he was didn't want to get exposed
to the moon.
Okay then where are they where would they have gone if not where where.
We could check other parts of the house.
Okay then come on.
Okay let me tell you if this is a joke it's not funny and I know I know you're I know
you're going to come with me this time right.
Well yeah I was guarding the door which you shut not you I guess but someone shut on me
and then decided to put light in it.
Why would I shut the door.
I don't know but did you cast a spell when you were down there.
No then why is that why they why why they like the light.
Why this place is so weird.
I know.
Okay hold on one second can I use I'm divine sense again on the door on the door.
Yeah.
I'm trying to sense any kind of like beings again you know you're not getting anything
again.
Well son of a bitch.
Okay no nothing.
Okay come on Cecilia.
Oh what were you.
Wait what if she has a look on her face like she she has an idea but she doesn't say it.
Very fine she pulls out the saddlebag and you see the tech magic is casted again.
You see you see this time the feathers are green upstairs.
Back to the dog room.
Yeah very uncomfortable.
It's okay I have a little dolly with me.
Come on we go play.
All right ghost children.
Are you ready to play come on Cecilia.
Makes a face.
Head upstairs.
You head upstairs.
Yeah he's no question in his mind this is her.
Awesome.
We were just talking about the episode where this happened in Rapunzel's tangled adventure.
So one of you is going to turn evil.
Disclaimer I haven't watched the show so I don't know if that's true.
Oh yeah I'm gonna find out our mom's the main villain of the movie and just go crazy.
Spoilers for Rapunzel's tangled adventure.
I act like a spoiler alert.
I was a little late on the spoiler alert.
You watch as um.
Oh Cecilia you see the this you see this ghoul like figure all forced on the ground kind
of like circle.
Ew.
Around you.
I am ready to cast a spell on it if it looks like it's going to attack.
You are mine.
I'm gonna cast moonbeam.
I cast moonbeam.
Moonbeam?
Mm-hmm.
All right what's the what's the what's the saving throw.
Saving throw is a con save.
Is it 13 DC?
DC 13.
Which feels so.
Oh hell yes.
So it takes 11 radiant damage and if it fails it will instantly revert to its original form
and can't assume a different form until it leaves the spells light.
If it has if it's a shape changer.
You see as you see as a as a silvery beam of pale light shoots downwards and in circles
around around the creature and it's like sort of cylinder.
You watch as it just kind of like it's it's it's uh it begins to scream as you see that
like the sizzles on his body begin to like uh like burn and blister and it just rushes
off.
As it rushes off you see just down to uh into shadow.
I have a thought while the spell is still up I take the dolls and I put them under.
You put them under the moonbeam.
Under the moonbeam.
If I kill them I swear can I make it non-damaging.
I said I would allow because you are a petitioner of the moon.
Okay.
You hold it under the moon.
Nothing happens.
Okay.
Um.
She seemingly the thing isn't here.
Do I still like hear it close by?
Can I can I can I just like look around either perception investigation whatever you think
is best for the time.
Yeah uh go ahead and give me a perception check.
What are you looking for exactly?
I'm looking for right now it's top priority signs of more danger after that it's unusual
stellar heime anything like that but the main thing is signs of danger.
Alright perception.
Eight.
Here's what's obvious.
Your vision is really good in the dark.
You see multiple heads bobbing heads in the dark crawling along the walls stalking around
but not entering the circle of uh of moon of moonlight.
Fuck no.
The moonlight only lost a minute.
You see three.
One of them the one you just burnt two of them smaller.
Um two two two of them smaller um and kind of like uh kind of like uh like children um
like the family the kids the kids what was that do I remember their names um you're just
giving jack uh jackson's name but that's it.
Jackson.
She she's gonna try she was.
Jackson.
Um you see you see that um the the adults one heads like like eyes wide open in recognition
and the teeth starts grinding together.
Uh I.
I don't want to hurt you.
I don't I really don't I just want to know where my friends are okay.
Submit.
What was that?
Submit.
Is the door open can you get out?
Yeah is there anything up the stairs right now?
Um nothing.
I'm gonna go that way.
You're gonna go that way?
As you rush out of the uh circle you you hear as you rush out of the circle as soon as you
step out you hear screams as they leap sideways across touching to the walls jumping to different
walls like grasshoppers and just chasing chasing you they jump vertically and crisscross as
they all chase you and stare away.
Moon shard these bitches.
Um.
Yeah honestly that's smart.
So Jean Claude.
You see Celia um she um she's she there's a there's a there's a there's a there's
like a she's very nervous like of course she's very anxious and you you know this look on
her but um she's still making her way uh forward.
Um and she goes.
This time let's the both of us enter the room.
Okay.
I.
Alright don't worry.
We can't leave each other alone right now.
Okay alright.
I wasn't trying to leave you alone.
I was trying to make sure no one came down the stairs to fuck with you.
Okay.
Alright.
Okay.
So little Dulles you're coming in okay.
As you walk into the room you are the room has not changed since you last left it.
Um and Cecilia walks in the door behind walks into the room behind you.
Um you do see something though um one of the dolls now is holding a sort of like a plush
pitchfork.
Okay.
This is not safe for children especially ghost children.
I don't think that's gonna hurt anyone.
I think it is bad for children to see something like this.
Okay little doll I'm going to take your pitchfork away.
Let go.
You see as you kind of pull it up it does kind of like slide out of its hold but then
it like grips it.
Little doll let go.
Is it holding on to it?
Yes.
I am trying not to panic.
Let go little doll.
Make an athletics check.
That's the fucking doll.
This is where it helps to play a fucking dumb ass.
I bet whatever this thing is that's like controlling my visage is doing this with everyone in the
town.
Oh good point.
Okay so the doll rolled a 25 and I rolled a 22.
Well it's holding on to it and not only is it doing that it was like being pulled up
but now you see it's like planted now and as you're getting more and more frustrated
with it you see that second hand latches onto it.
Okay I let go.
I don't understand why you're so mad at me ghost children.
The door you hear the door close.
Cecilia why did you close the door?
And you see the back of Cecilia you catch her at the end of her closing the door.
But she's not turned towards you.
Cecilia?
That's better.
Her hands fall to her side and you see that one of her hands is holding a knife.
What's wrong?
Okay hold on.
As her head bends backwards and you see that she bends you hear a crack as she bends all
the way back and looks at you.
Jean Claude?
Are we done here?
She her both of her hands hit the ground and she's spider backwards crawls towards you.
And he's going to try to climb up on one of the doll shelves.
As you begin to climb up on one of the shelves you hear the dolls begin to laugh.
You know what you little shits that's not funny.
They're laughing and you see their heads are like twitching and going back and forth.
You know what I don't appreciate any of this.
I was supportive of you and I looked out for you stupid dolls and he's going to start
whacking them away as he's trying to climb up the doll shelves.
You see as Cecilia begins to like crawl towards you she takes a swing at you with a knife.
You what the fuck?
Thank you for playing this game guys this is really nice.
Yeah thrilling.
Jesus Christ.
Does a 17 hit?
It does not because I actually have my enchanted armor this time so 19 right?
19 AC until I get hit.
That's right yes so it doesn't hit.
Bye bye.
The knife you see grinds against your armor but nothing happens.
And what are you trying to do now?
So he's not sure yet if this is a charm Cecilia or if this is not Cecilia.
He has no clue.
So he's going to use the butt of his axe and go cut the shit Cecilia and smack her.
Smack her down.
Go ahead give me a check.
What would that be?
It will be a great axe attack roll I'll say.
Okay so just battle axe.
Got it.
11.
He's not swinging hard.
It's really creepy because the legs and the hands move very fast now.
You see spiders like or cockroaches.
That's how fast her hands and legs are moving as she just dodges your attack.
Okay I'm starting to feel like this is not Cecilia enchanted.
Could be wrong.
Okay no it's not you.
No it's going to uh he's going to um cast channel divinity turn the faithless.
Turn the faithless?
Uh let me take a look at that real quick.
Oh boy.
Painful for feigned fiends to hear.
So I'll read it for chat.
You can use your channel divinity to utter ancient words that are painful for feigned
feuds to hear.
As an action you can present your holy symbol and each fey or fiend within 30 feet can hear
must make a wisdom saving throw.
It might not be fiend.
You hold you grip your hand your bracelet comes to light and you hold it up.
A very glorious light fills the room.
Give me a quick perception check.
Okay because also if it's a shapeshifter its form is revealed but yet again only if
it's fiend which it might not be.
Perception perception perception it probably does nothing but I tried.
Percy?
11 18 sorry 18.
The dc was really high so no you succeeded.
Really?
Yes.
You catch it because you haven't used this before but you know what it does.
It's in the of course you know what it does it's it's it's a magic that comes from the
very depths of your heart and your soul.
So you just you hold up your bracelet you hold up your bracelet and the entire room
comes to light.
There's um there is something something strange that happens that you catch.
There's no like immediate reaction but after like two three seconds of in the light then
you hear the you see the the sizzling of skin and the um the the celia clutching her head
her mouth her mouth her jaw becomes unhinged you see her jaw goes her mouth goes a lot
bigger than it actually is and she just screams and you see all the dolls begin to like this
cacophony of screams as well.
Um but it took a bit.
Interesting it took a bit.
Yeah.
And they didn't leave me alone right she didn't like the fake cecily didn't move away from
me.
Um she did not she did not move away but it is she is being like burnt by it.
Which you're probably not supposed to.
And is the creature's true form revealed or no?
Well I mean kind of with the melting flesh.
Um no no um no other forms revealed that's just cecilia.
Okay.
Because if they were fiends I'd also get advantage on my attacks but I guess not.
Okay well I'm assuming it's not cecilia so I'm going to well is it there it's it's
turn now how are we doing this.
Um it's just free form it will say that right now it's just kind of like still so you can
do um something.
Yeah I'm gonna try to rush towards the door um so I'm gonna try to axe whack it out of
my way.
Um it falls before you easily it's a door um this time it's one just super swing and
the entire door just falls off its hinges.
And I go you need to get the fuck away from me and he sprints out.
You hear distorted come back don't leave me.
Cecilia!
Oh gosh I'm just reminded of rush hour.
Jackie!
Um so uh back to you cecilia.
Yeah I was running towards the stairs but there.
You're running up the stairs you have to head start you get to the door first and you try
it and it's locked.
You hear the sounds of them latching onto the walls as they're closing it behind you.
The growls going louder and louder.
And you do.
Pull out the moon shards.
Pull the moon shards?
I don't use them but I pull them out.
Moon power baby.
Okay you pull them out.
No difference seemingly.
As you pull them out they do uh come alight and you see the um you see them um you see
them uh you see the three uh ghouls latching onto the walls kind of like see it and they
kind of like go backwards a bit kind of like staring at you.
Is that enough opportunity for me to try to break the door?
Give me an athletics check yes.
Okay.
Come on Cece.
I don't have proficiency in athletics unfortunately.
Cece Cece.
19.
Nice.
Um it um the door breaks uh open um you uh easily uh easily uh and you see as as it breaks
open you see the ghouls begin to start uh start dashing towards you again.
Um and you hear you um you hear what is that?
Nothing important um uh Jean Claude.
And then you hear Cece.
Okay.
I'm also holding the dolls in the other hand.
The two dolls.
Um Jean Claude you come down to see Cecilia holding on to two dolls um and three ghouls
um encircling uh about to dash towards uh her.
Are you spying on Cecilia?
Are you Cecilia?
Is that even real?
Yes.
Where is Cecilia right now?
Oh I don't.
Submit.
Is that coming from the hiker?
The ghoul as it comes out of the doorway it just.
Like looks over to you Jean Claude.
Why do you have those fucking dolls?
And he's going to go.
Cecilia get the fuck out of here.
And he's going to um go.
I think I have a dagger let me check real quick.
Oh wait no I have my javelin.
I'm gonna toss that.
Okay throw my javelin.
Yes throw the javelin please.
Twenty two.
Twenty two hits.
Heck yeah.
Seven piercing damage.
Oh uh there's another attack roll.
Is it?
Did you?
Oh I did I did another attack roll.
Sorry guys.
On the word javelin.
I need to press javelin.
Watch it be seven.
Oh eight even better.
Not better.
Not better baby.
Make another uh perception or investigation check for me Jean Claude.
Probably it's not affected by it because it's piercing but I tried.
I'm not that smart.
You see that the one you hit um I assume the mother uh um you see it travels with the
javelin and sticks to the wall.
Oh that's good.
Um you see just.
And it looks uh looking at you Jean Claude.
I'm sorry for what happened to you.
Not my fault.
We can't help you.
Cecilia we out.
Bye.
It's surrounded and also she goes.
Stuller and Jaime are dolls.
I don't know what to do.
You know what that's fine out out we go out now time to believe and he's gonna sprint.
I'm surrounded right?
Yes.
Oh you can't leave.
Um.
Even the one that I threw a javelin at?
Um that one's pinned to the wall but there's two the two kids.
Oh there's one in between me and her.
Oh yes.
Oh I didn't know that okay.
Um you see that one of the kids is just gonna goes what is that what is that what is that
give it to me give it to me um.
Back of the bag.
And it's gonna it's gonna jump towards the bag.
Make a real quick you can make it you can make a dex saving throw for me.
Okay.
Four.
Oh I'm very clumsy.
You kind of like clumsily like kind of bring your bag up like how do you do it and you
see that the you see that the the ghoul actually misses you as it lunges towards you and it
hits the wall.
Oh wow.
Huh.
Very undextress.
Um yeah you were pretty sure.
Stellar and Jaime fighting them in a different.
Stellar and Jaime might be fighting them in a different place like how you kind of saw
the effects of the moonbeam.
That's what I thought happened earlier.
You mean like it's a time time thing.
I don't know I don't know about that but I mean like when we were at the same time doing
different things at different times I did my moonbeam and then you noticed them recoiling
but not from your thing so I thought maybe that was connected.
At like they were happening at the same time you know because we were just playing them
at the same time.
They happened at the same time but I could be wrong.
But I don't know.
I don't know.
Um she.
I don't I don't know.
When when can I.
Yes you can.
Okay.
Um I have my gosh I was gonna I knew what I was gonna do and now I don't know what I'm
gonna do.
Um maybe this shouldn't be the priority but since one missed me can I locate.
Object.
On the hat I gave Stella.
Oh yes.
Nice call.
It is within a thousand feet.
Nice call Jenny.
Definitely sense it.
On the doll.
It's outside of the house.
Okay.
Um.
Stellar's outside.
Oh do I have enough opening to leave the opportunity attack from one still.
It would probably be an opportunity attack.
Yes.
I think that's fine.
I'm gonna start going towards the door.
Yeah.
I'm just going to make an opportunity against attack against you.
Okay.
It swipes at you.
Um but you see that it just completely utterly misses.
You see Jean-Claude you see that it just a veracious way but the city leaves the vicinity
of it as you go towards the door to see you see that the door is locked.
Okay.
I already use my action.
Yeah.
Otherwise I would try to break it unless I can if you're going free for him.
What a moment here Jean-Claude as you just kind of like you have other javelins and your
weapons and everything you see that the one of the one of the kids you see kind of like
you know like just kind of like stands up for a moment and a sudden calm kind of like
fills over the glass they're like as they as their movements become still and you see
that they retreat back into the study.
They all suddenly just go back.
You see that the one that has the javelin inside of it it just kind of like pull push
itself against the javelin.
Why?
And then I'm gonna start retreating back into the study.
Oh goes into the study not the cellar.
The study yes with the um with the lucy book yeah the bookcases were Cecilia.
He's about to run into a door.
What you go and he's gonna go follow.
Well not without you.
Where are you going?
They're going into the study.
Why would they go into the study that makes no sense.
I guess she's gonna turn to follow you then.
Don't go at the door.
Come on go go I'll be right back.
No.
Jean-Claude as you poke your head into the study you see they're completely gone.
Nothing yeah it's the um like everything was there but the ghouls are not there.
See yeah there's like a protein here.
Not I'm gonna tell you the obvious.
You don't even see the blood splatter from the uh from the ghoul you pierce with the
javelin.
What is going on?
Are they fake?
Are they illusions too?
Oh good point they might not even be real.
That's why they're not fucking real are they?
Did one hurt you?
No did one hurt you?
No.
They're not fucking real.
Alright you little bitch and now he's gonna start like slam out into the slam open door
open.
It was whoever the fuck you are you come out right now.
Um into the study.
Um she um as you go into the study there is one lone doll sitting in the middle of the
room and it just goes goodbye.
What does it look like?
It's a normal doll.
I slice it in fucking half.
Give me a wisdom save.
As I smack this doll down.
20 30.
Your axe slices through completely goes through the illusion is gone.
You hit the ground the ground splinters up um and the illusory bookcase in your head
is gone.
In my head.
Um yes it's gone.
I just see him slice through a doll and the doll stays there.
Yeah you can give me a wisdom save too we'll say.
Okay.
15.
Gone.
You blink a few times and you see as the wibbly wobbly visage everything the doll is gone
and that bookshelf is gone.
Okay.
I still sense Stuller's nightcap outside.
Yes.
Um and both of you give me a perception check.
Okay.
It's so funny.
Halfling from the beginning he's like he's always a trickster.
Little bitch.
14.
As you um uh Jean Claude for you especially after you hit the floor and your spadalock
splits through the ground you do hear a small.
Where the fuck is it?
It seems to be coming from the space you um coming from below the floorboards which you
just hit.
Ripping it up.
As you're as you're ripping as you're ripping it up you do hear um it seems to be a bit
uncalled for.
You don't have to do any of that.
This is a beautiful house that you are wrecking.
Why don't you come up here and show me two guys and he's going to keep fucking.
Why don't you just.
You can just lift it.
Why don't you.
Why don't you just.
And you you see the um the space behind the the illusory um bookcase where it once was
but now the real bookcase in front of it you see that a slap against a.
Open as a.
Grab them by the throat.
I don't know who it is.
I don't care who it is.
It's a grab them by the throat.
It's a pathway.
Um.
Oh damn it.
It goes.
We we says let's meet face to face but let it be known that you um you are a part of
something greater.
Um.
Are the both of you mad.
You move the bookcase Jean-Claude easily.
It is one handed.
No.
Why would I be mad.
A small staircase that leads downward.
Come on Cecilia.
Let's go meet a new friend.
If anything the both of you gave wonderful reactions.
I can add you as.
Uh addendums to my book.
That sounds lovely.
Come on Cecilia.
As you come down you see a a genuinely like stocked room like lived in.
There's a bed and and the telescope it looks out of a small like window out towards the
top of this basement room.
And you see multiple like books and like a big a big things with like writing.
There's like a there's like a there's like writings like multiple pages with ink still
being dried.
Drawings on the wall of of the both of you of your like scared faces.
You see there's a there's a quick drawing of a very of a very scary looking Cecilia
the one that you saw Jean-Claude.
And you see a half elven a half elven man who's standing in front of his standing in front
of the writings.
Both hands up.
He's well dressed.
He's got small glasses on.
Hello there.
We haven't properly.
But don't you have your friends to attend to?
Hello there.
I think you know my name but I don't know yours.
What is your name?
You might know my name.
My name is Fernigan Cavacos.
Which if if if you're if Jean-Claude is Jean-Claude a recreational book reader of horror books.
Yeah not not so much unless there's a romance plot in it then no.
But if there's a romance plot in it then yes.
Okay then no you don't know this guy.
No no no I don't know.
I go oh of course I know you.
Am I close enough to him?
Yeah as you're getting as you're getting closer he's like kind of like taking like little
steps away from you.
He goes I see that you've been.
I can pay you because this is wonderful research.
No need to pay me you've lovely out.
And you can look up and see the place where you've been smashing the floorboards.
Oh dear you know I can fix that.
How close am I to him now?
You're getting closer you you're definitely advancing closer than he is backing away.
He goes I can put in a character like you.
I bet the audience would love you a very strong big brother character a lumberjack I'm assuming.
Yes you know lumber sexually is very in right now.
How close am I?
You are as close as you want to.
Fucking decks him in the mouth punches him straight in the mouth.
Go ahead and attack him with advantage.
He's an author what can he do?
He's an author.
This is just what would this be?
How would I roll this on roll 20?
Go ahead make me just a straight yeah so yeah athletics.
Okay you said advantage.
Yes.
Wow well a nat one and an eight so I'm really pissed.
You punch forward and your fist actually like punches forward and like he he managed to
like huh he steps out of the way your your punch lands like on like on one of the wooden
desks and just sends paper scattering about.
Oh come on don't you want to learn how to shoot?
Please listen please listen.
This is how writers he's on his knees now like this is how writers this is how they
work I was just getting the very best the very very best.
Out of the situation you John Claude right?
John Claude?
The shirt full on heaves him up high into the air.
He is off the ground you are holding him with one hand.
I go Cecilia can you do the talking please?
Um I'm kind of worried about Jaime now if they're outside.
Yes the trail let them outside.
I had heard about the prevailing issues with the moonlight and I thought to perhaps draw
the best fear I thought best to place him out and see and gather and gather the reactions
and I thought there was a ripe story there but I'll pay him more than anyone.
I'm gonna go upstairs I'm just gonna go back up I'm going back up and I'm following my
my spell to get to Stellar.
As you go back up you sense that the locate object is actually coming closer.
John Claude what are you doing?
I bring him down so his face is to my face and I go you intentionally tried to harm our
comrade.
I thought I didn't know I overheard.
You overheard us talking about the way or something and you thought to shove him out
into direct moonlight.
That's not true obviously.
What did you just say?
I haven't been able to keep an eye on them since you broke out of your room.
I slam him into the desk.
As you slam him into the desk he just kind of like curls up he goes oh my back.
I'm gonna hold his face into the desk and I'm gonna say you're not fucking moving please
please please shut up.
That's an automatic success on intimidation he shuts up.
And I'm just gonna hold and wait until Cecilia comes back downstairs with Jaime and Stellar.
Cecilia you make your way outside.
You see that the rain has actually lightened up the clouds above has lightened up giving
way to full moonlight.
And you hear.
Stellar are you okay?
Stellar running out of the woods clutching her arm limp arm blood dripping down.
Where where is he?
I don't know what happened.
Everything that led you out here was fake.
We found that out it was fake someone was faking it but what's happened to Jaime?
You hear a howl.
Stellar's eyes widened and you see she turns around.
She just goes Jaime please and you see parting the woods standing on its hind legs a an eight
foot tall werewolf.
Its eyes glowing this white whitish glow.
As it kind of like steps forward you see it's strolling at the mouth.
It snaps at the air.
It seems to there seems to be an inner battle going on.
It looks at the both of you looks at Stellar.
There's a moment of calm before there's a howl.
I don't have any more second level spell slots.
Stellar goes it's me Jaime please.
I told you I wasn't going to leave you alone.
Are we near the stable Timmy?
It is going to help you're going to have to go you're going to have to go around the back
of the house.
Okay I'm thinking the tarp.
Can we get him out of the moonlight somehow?
Looking at you Cecilia.
Mo-weaver.
Mo-weaver?
Jaime?
As it looks towards Stellar there's this legit moment of just like it snaps back.
It seems like it's in pain.
It's okay.
We can go get away from the moonlight.
Jaime?
Roll up persuasion check.
16 that's actually pretty good for zero mod.
You catch it.
You seen it in the eyes of your sister before this kind of look where the eyes soften.
When there is a moment of ferociousness that just all of a sudden just falters completely
for a second.
As you see the eyes of Jaime it returns to its original color for a moment.
You see it's like it's fighting.
There's some different forces tugging at each other before it just kind of like goes back
to where it was.
And you just hear a whimper.
That's when you see as you're focused on the werewolf a crossbow bolt coming from the side
and striking the werewolf in the side.
There's no pain.
You see the werewolf.
All of a sudden the wild side comes back as you can see it just looks towards who shot
it and you see one of the dwarven guards on a horse kind of like aiming the crossbow at
it like wide-eyed.
No stop just go away just go away no.
You see Jaime begin to rush towards the dwarven guard.
You see the dwarven guard trying to reload.
Jaime goes Jaime go!
Can I cast sleep?
You can cast sleep.
And try to center it where it only can hit him and so it won't hit you know a dwarf first.
Absolutely.
Twenty-four hit points.
I imagine he has more than that.
This game got real.
Yeah you can see it legitimately like and it's just a veraciousness.
Shakes its head viciously but it does slow it down enough as kind of like wait.
It just kind of like deals with the deflection and it just shakes off the mist you put over
it.
You see the as Estella is running towards Jaime the dwarven the dwarven guard has loaded
another crossbow bolt and just shoots again.
I actually got to roll to see if this hits.
It does not.
It sinks into the werewolf skin but not far enough.
Grabs the arrow and breaks it.
Which in the back I have like blankets or something.
Something to cover moonlight.
I don't know if it's going to help at this point.
But this is the only thing I can think of.
Except from just knocking him out.
But she yells at him again at the guard to go away.
Get away.
You and Estella are going get out of here.
Go.
Both of you are yelling at this guard to go away.
We'll go ahead and see if this guard.
Make a persuasion check with advantage.
You have to beat an 11.
You can do it.
Well I rolled a 2 first.
Estella's advantage gives me a 12.
You did it.
You watch as the Dover and Guard are backing away on the horse.
The horse is very scared.
And he just goes, what the hell is that thing?
It turns and he goes, I'm breaking reinforcements.
And he rushes off.
Don't blame me if anything happens to you.
Help me, Estella.
I have a blanket.
Maybe if we can get it over him, maybe it'll protect him from the moonlight.
I don't know.
But I'm pulling it out.
You're pulling out the blanket.
You see Estella holding a hand up to the werewolf.
The werewolf is going, hey, hey.
And the werewolf snaps to her, snarling.
You see all the feral in his eyes.
You made a promise, remember?
You're not alone.
You're the same Jaime that I know.
Can I get it over while she's talking?
Make a stealth check for me.
Not stealth.
Disadvantage, too.
Because I wear heavy armor.
It's a ten with disadvantage.
Not bad.
One moment here.
Maybe he's passive.
Well, he's a monk.
He's got a high passive.
That's werewolf being a werewolf clouds your perception or something.
I don't know.
Probably not.
Does it?
Or does it enhance?
Because they have good hearing and smell.
I wrote a six total.
You see Estella just talking.
You see two results.
The werewolf doesn't seem to be attacking her as you manage to just walk up behind him
as you get closer and closer.
This is the closest you've ever been.
You can feel the pure size of this creature.
Every snarl sort of shakes you.
You can now see the blood on its claws.
Probably Estella's blood.
As you walk up, it's a bit more intimidating.
It's a lot more intimidating up close with the blanket and intel.
Gonna try to shield him from the moonlight with it.
Make a improvised attack roll using strength with advantage.
That's just strength plus proficiency.
No, not proficiency.
I'm not proficient in improvised attacks.
Such a strength.
Nat 20 for 23.
Wait, was that advantage you said?
Yes, it was advantage.
Okay, not disadvantage.
I was just checking.
A sudden jerk of movement, you pull the blanket over the werewolf's head and you see it begins
to thrash.
It's going to make an attack roll against you with disadvantage.
One second here.
Haunted house session.
It's going to be d20 plus four?
Dang, I thought werewolves were stronger.
Yeah, it's a plus four.
14?
14 misses.
Do I bother?
I'm okay.
I had a werewolf second one.
It begins to thrash around.
It's okay.
Throwing claws everywhere.
This is when you see Estella goes, it's okay.
It's okay.
We're helping you.
She's going to roll a persuasion check.
Okay.
13?
She used a luck point.
He's the luck feed.
No, not one.
Oh, Jesus.
What?
Yikes.
Make a strength saving throw.
Okay.
I mean, athletics check.
Same thing.
Same thing, 16.
Okay.
Yeah, I don't have proficiency either.
You are holding on.
You are like on a bucking bronco as he's just thrashing around.
He does swing what's in front of him though at stellar.
Real quick.
With disadvantage again.
She just barely moves out of the way.
I have rope in the bag.
I say quickly.
Settler nods.
As she reaches for the bag, she begins to pull out rope.
And as she begins pulling out the rope, you see coming out of the bag, Atheus comes out
biting onto the rope.
And she just shoves him back in there.
This is not time for levity.
As she picks it up, she goes, wait, what am I doing with this?
What am I doing?
Just hide me.
Hide me.
We're going to make it so you don't hurt anyone else.
Okay?
It's just like I promised you.
You're not going to hurt anyone.
Okay, I'll heal stellar.
So if that's making you feel bad, you don't have to feel bad.
Okay?
You're still being tossed about.
I'm trying to hold enough.
Before we make the persuasion check.
Jean Claude.
I am.
Didn't know he had a serious affliction.
I'll remain here, but perhaps if the situation is dire, then you should go see your friend.
No, you're coming with me.
Drags him.
Wait, wait, wait.
You begin dragging him up the stairs as he's thrashing with his legs.
He goes, I can walk.
I can walk, please.
No, you do not deserve to walk.
That's when you hear outside a howling growls.
The pleas of stellar and Cecilia.
Drop him and run.
You come out to see stellar with the rope.
Cecilia on top of a thrashing, enclosed, eight foot tall, bipedal furry creature with blood
on one of its claws.
Without even hesitation walk over, don't know what's going on, but pins down the creature
and the blanket over it.
I thought it was advantage because Cecilia is definitely helping.
22.
I have to roll a nat 20, which I did not.
You grab it by the claws, its thrashing claws, and with you and Cecilia both at once, both
moving in the same downward force at once, this eight and a half foot tall werewolf becomes
grounded.
Of course, in this moment, it's thrashing.
Remember who was bloodied and hurt, deep claw marks in her arm rushes up and just hands
the rope to you, Jean Claude.
Nope.
Tie it.
As you tie it, Cecilia, I'm going to go ahead and ask you for that persuasion check for
earlier.
Okay.
With it?
No, it's normal.
It's normal.
Okay.
14.
Jean Claude, you make work of tying up this werewolf.
You watch as you do have to let go from time to time to get a full... It will take in
the attack against you with disadvantage.
Not even going to roll a second one.
I rolled a 10.
It's very reminiscent of a cornered dog, a cornered wolf, an animal.
All these forces pressed down against it.
All the attacks it does now has this sense of... It's desperate to get away.
Is this considered a beast?
It doesn't seem so.
Okay, so it's not a beast.
Got it.
There is this want to get away from everything, but it's not exclusive to this wolf form
that you see before you.
You felt this before.
Being trapped?
You get it tied up.
Rope wrapped all the way around it.
Cecilia and Jean Claude, as you both of you back away from this, the energy that I had
fighting for its life from it being pinned down has all of a sudden been drained.
You hear a mournful, silent cry coming from below the blanket.
You're okay.
It's okay.
You see Stella kneel down.
She just goes, hey, hi, me.
It's me.
I'm going to talk to you now.
As her hands gently fall beneath the blankets, she grips her lightly, very deliberate movements,
one that you would do to approach a beast, approach a scared animal.
She goes, I'm going to lift it.
I'm going to lift it.
You're just going to see your friends.
She lifts it ever so gently, still covering the moon, but just enough so that the werewolf
has eye contact with all of you.
You see for a moment the self-defense mechanism kicks in, but only for a moment.
The eyes narrow and then they resolve.
They soften.
Now you can see like tear stains on the werewolf's head.
Hey.
Stella smiles.
I made a promise.
See?
You're not alone.
A shot from afar.
Thunder.
You see a large hole blast through the chest of the werewolf.
He's on the ground.
The eyes widen.
You see Stella's eyes open in horror.
As you, as the werewolf who once showed massive strength in its earlier struggle now, gasped
as the eyes began to, as the eyes shortened.
Jean-Claude and Cecilia, you look to see where the bullet comes from.
And you see a man wearing a hat.
The shadowy wolf, spectral wolf by his side, smoking, a smoking rifle, throwing knives,
gloves on the hand, long pea coat.
He reaches for another one of the silver bullets on his bandolier.
And he goes, remember me?
He loads a bullet.
You will.
I just do it.
I don't say it.
I step in front.
That's where to end the session.
I'm going to roll for my healing though, cause that's what I do.
Yes, you're going to do that.
Absolutely.
That is going to be the, the both of you definitely have something to do at the top and I'll apply
that healing.
I just, I just don't want to forget.
Yeah.
Mine was to stand in front body shield.
I knew he was going to show up again.
Gosh.
The title of this episode is silver bullet.
Son of a bitch.
It just hit midnight.
Thank you all for watching.
Might go a little bit longer just to make sure, you know, it counts as a second day.
Okay.
Let me see.
How do we make this?
We'll make this like three minutes longer.
Yeah.
Nice haunted house.
Jesus.
Thank you for DMing.
Yes.
Thank you.
I'm, I'm mad in the best way.
You both so much for playing.
Wow.
My silent sieving is not at you, Tim.
It's at the situation.
There's a lot to be, there's a lot to be angry.
I at first thought that you would, you just flat out killed, um, Jaime.
He wouldn't.
No, he'll never do that.
Okay.
Cause I was like, if you did, this is going to take a whole different turn of the game.
Yeah.
No, no, no.
Jaime is not dead, but that, that hurt him pretty bad.
Yeah.
But silver doesn't kill werewolves.
It's just effective.
Yes.
Yeah.
Yep.
That's fine.
Um, yeah.
Killing, killing people just instantly like that.
It's not fun.
That's not fun for the players.
Well, like also I was like, it was the killing the NPC while they were down that I was like,
if Tim literally like one shot kills us NPC, this is going to change the game entirely.
It would change it.
And it would change it.
And that, that, that's just so unfair.
It's also like very right.
I was like, I was also like a little confused because I'm like, this is not Tim's style
to chill an NPC while they're down.
So when you're like, when you were like, oh yeah, Sealy can heal.
I was like, okay, I'm fine.
Deescalating, deescalating, deescalating.
Yeah.
Breathing.
We're breathing.
We're calm.
And then I was like, I'm going to roll it this time so that everyone's clear.
Real fucking clear.
Have to clear it up.
Jaime is not dead.
In fact, I'll give you a little bit of extra here.
After the bullet, you see Jaime actually reverting like slowly like down.
The bindings are not working anymore because you know, he's smaller now.
But the bullet wound, the big hole is definitely still there, but you healed him.
That's okay.
He's still up.
He's still there.
And I'm in the house, Stellar and Claude and I will fight this scary guy.
Rule of thumb, just so people know my style, I don't do not kill NPCs, especially the ones
that players like instantly and they have no way of dealing with that.
You got to you got to earn these deaths.
They got to happen in a battle.
They got to do something.
It's got to be something else.
But it cheap, cheap death like that.
It's going to, the resentment.
It's not fun.
I was going to say like, okay, okay, okay, okay.
It's okay.
You're not going to hate him for this.
You're not going to.
It's okay.
Calm calm calm.
I have you guys in mind.
I don't have any resentment carried over from this game to the next.
I I've done that.
I've done that once and it was the worst feeling ever and I've never done it again.
Because the thing is a lot of DMs joke about killing your favorite NPCs and you want to
know something.
I don't like it.
Yes.
We used to like I was okay with the joking for a bit.
We like you know, he used to joke back and forth about like, yeah, what's going to happen
in the game and stuff.
And at one point it got to be like too much.
I was like, I was like, it's not fun for me to talk about this anymore.
And he stopped and never did it again.
And that was years ago.
And that's all it took.
It's just because sometimes for players that one helpful NPC is actually an embodiment
of the DM for me.
Like I'm like, this is my friend, you know, kind of thing.
So to like to have a sudden NPC death that one you really cared about is kind of like
you killed my literal friend.
Like this is the DM's way of being my friend kind of thing.
So yeah.
The thing is like, you know, I think a lot of like, you know, DMs, especially like, you
know, once before they want like these these moments of like cheap shock to really make
games memorable.
But it's so harmful for the long run.
Like for the players, like especially for like the players feeling of choice.
You don't ever want to feel like a player has like choice raw for them and the game
doesn't.
The game doesn't matter.
You can make strong narrative decisions, but don't make such big decisions where you feel
like the players can't do anything about it.
And it just it just makes a really bad, really bad vibe.
What?
Yeah.
And the thing is like death is so that is that this final and is lasting and it is very
impactful and it will impact your you want that levity in your table.
You make death very rare because especially with at this table, death is incredibly impactful.
These these two role players right here, they look at every detail, they let everything
affect them and sink into their body.
We're at the beginning of this campaign, so we still want fun, we still want fun folks
on the road, right?
Yeah.
So like that's the oh, sorry.
Oh, just sorry.
One more thing.
Death can be so uninteresting to everyone thinks it's something cool because it's really
tragic and final.
But you know, shock value, there's so much more interest in having a character still
go on and still have a story going on and still interacting with the player characters
and things like that.
That's what me and Jenny discussed on time.
Yeah, I've talked about how like in when I was younger and stuff, I was like, haha, yeah,
authors killing their characters and things, you know, because they're cool and it pushes
the narrative forward.
What I realized later is that most deaths in fiction tend to not actually I don't believe
sometimes it's very dependent.
I feel like overall, though, most deaths in the fiction I was consuming do not actually
serve the narrative better than that character being alive.
They are usually it is usually shock value or trying to make you cry or something.
There's some places where obviously it's necessary.
And even D&D too, it is and it's very possible.
But I always like reassure players at like Timmy's games, because I know how Timmy Dms
very well because we have played a lot together, is that if they get really worried about something,
really anxious about something that's outside of their control, it's not going to go bad
unless you it is up to your decisions.
That is the only way that something you really care about will go bad is you have to knowingly
make decisions or knowingly fail and have the opportunity to do something because he
won't do it.
He won't just take the things you love away on purpose without giving you any say in how
it happens and any say in stopping it.
So that's really well.
I'm glad with one I'm playing with this team, but also I'm kind of glad that we continue
to kind of like confront that trope that so many Dms left it like I'm going to kill your
favorite NPC.
Like I want to kill your favorite NPC and it gets to a point where it's like, why?
JT can attest for this because Emma, you don't know this, but I expressively asked JT for
permission to do this because I know how like I know how much NPCs mean to you guys.
I was going to kill Cleave.
I was going to kill Magnus's, you know, like big orc pal.
And I had to very expressively ask JT for permission and like I did it twice.
I was like, okay, this this might be a life changing events that occur.
I might do this.
Are you okay with this?
So I'm not.
But yeah, we're talking about this afterwards.
It's a bit impromptu, but I think it's actually really important to have this conversation
afterwards.
And in a way, this is checkup because that was a really high emotion scene.
So it's really good that we're having a chance to talk about it afterwards, alleviate some
stress and, you know, just put some qualms to rest and get the tools.
Yeah.
And I don't know how long we have to go into this day for it to count as two days because
it's unclear based on our past streams.
We usually get two days out of one.
So I hope I hope that it counts as two days because otherwise we're not affiliates yet.
Also I think this is kind of nice that we're doing this because so many streams don't do
this when the session's over the sessions over.
And I think, you know, a lot of people, we don't watch the cool down sessions, right?
After intense moments.
At least I don't on I don't see it on Critical Role.
You know, the big.
Yeah, they have like a separate show to talk about it.
But that comes out like weeks later.
But that's after.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
It's not like at the table after the game.
So I think it's after shows.
Yay.
So chat says just making things clear how I am, how things are going to future.
So if you want shocking, shocking and cool NPC deaths, if it happens, if it happens,
it's earned.
And I've talked about it before with both Emma and Jenny or or it's a backstory and
PC who died that I didn't realize I liked until I played a prequel game.
Gosh, that's very specific.
My favorite D&D NPC was already dead when I was first introduced to her.
But then I played prequel games and I got to know her in two other games.
And she's dead.
And I'm bringing her back in the actual game.
To resurrection.
Oh, gosh.
I release.
Anyways.
I release.
I regain one.
But that said, anything else from any of us?
Thank you.
Hopefully next time we're affiliate, please update our stats on Twitch.
We want the emojis.
Please update because they always update late.
And I just want to click the apply button.
And then we never have to be like, hey, follow us again.
Never again.
We just get to do what we want now.
With that said, to copy some other shows little motto at the end.
Remember to love each other.
Seriously.
Remember to do that.
Remember to take care of each other and look after each other and to keep each other safe.
Not only in just tabletop RPGs, but just general in life.
Because you want to be with people who keep you safe and care about you.
Right?
And we care about you.
Yeah, the chat.
You.
The chat.
Oh, Timmy said he cares about chat.
Sigh.
Make it.
Make it a clip.
Deception check.
Natural one.
Oops.
I was lying.
I was out lying.
I see.
The truth, you mean.
I see Timmy.
And with that said, this rain is going to carry us over to our next session.
Yay.
Let the rain fall down.
Thank you so much for watching.
Feel the rain on your skin.
My skin feels.
Bye.