Hello, welcome back everyone to our Spring Fling One Shot Part 4 now. Well, it was supposed to be a very short adventure, a side quest for our cast to play some new people. Um, and it's been a lot of fun, but it keeps going and going. So you're here. Let's go ahead and get started with some introductions, all right? So my name is Mick and uh my pronouns are they them. I am going to be playing Violo Arlac, the underborn dwarf brawler Um and they are a lovable oaf that thinks that they're a spy, but are actually really terrible at it. Hi, my name is Eris. My pronouns are she they. I am going to be playing uh Sir Keah Thornfound, an assassin from uh the Shaded Grove. Uh, I am Michael. I go by revealing too much online, and I today am playing Bestet, a Qatari Wizard. Um, I'm Jen and I'm playing Rowan Comp today. She is a wildborn halfling guardian. And hi, I'm Brianth. I will be your guest GM for this adventure. And um let's go ahead and start off with a little bit of a recap. of where we're at and what we're doing. We are in the middle of an adventure, um, starting in the little village of Piraeus. They've done their investigation. They've found that the Jaguar knife is active. They met the leader. um tracked him down uh to in the town, followed the Jaggnife to their hidden lair in the forest, when they fortunately spotted a watcher, a sentry perched in the tree above them. And we return now to see their reaction to this visitor above the tree, who, fortunately, did not seem to notice them first. Are they related to Vio? Uh uh they're up in they're pretty high up in the tree. Um you haven't gotten a good look at them. Yeah, so you haven't gotten a good look at them to tell that. at this point. But uh you they will say that they're sitting they're sitting on a branch pretty high up with their feet kind of kicking, looking out and about. And um that's in the tree above the main group, let's say, as uh Serkea kind of circles around and as you guys are sitting there talking, um the You do hear some voices coming from what may be a clearing up ahead, um, at least it's a little brighter over there. Um And there's some kind of an argument or disagreement happening at this point, let's say. But uh fortunately for you, the Jagged Knife folks are not terribly observant or competent, and uh you've been unseen so far. Do we hear snippets from the conversation or is it just like we hear just the sound of Uh I guess the question apparently is, does it sound like an adult in a penis card? Okay. Yeah, it's exactly like that. Well, I think I'm gonna saunter in. Um I'll probably tell my party mates to wait here uh until well I guess not best at since she purposefully uh disguised herself. But I will say I'm gonna go in and um show them my token and see what's going on. So is there an entrance to the game? While Vio does that, can as a big cat can best at just climb up the tree and just sit down next to the scout that's up there? So good. I mean you can probably try it. I don't think it would be that hard for you. Uh you wanna you wanna what is what what would that be? Well you wanna know what my uh agility is? I'd like because it's definitely negative one. And like is it agility? Is it finesse? What what do we wanna what do we wanna say that would be? You tell me. I I'm fine with rolling agility. Like I I I I I don't mind rolling it when I have a negative for something. I mean I I don't think you're I don't think you're um I'm pretty sure that that that's grappling the tree. It's a strength. Okay. I I was gonna say you're not leaping. You're not you're not trying to leap up to them, right? Or or so I would I would actually go with a strength strength on that one. Okay, so we went from a negative one to a plus zero. Okay, there we go. Let's go. Jackpot. And and again, you're a cat, so I'm assuming you're using your your nails to, you know Yeah, I mean the the reason I the reason I was I was potentially gonna use my Katari Ancestry feature if it was agility. Oh wait, do you wanna the if it helps you for agility, I could I could let it happen. Negative agility. Yeah, no, I can let you use either one you'd like. I'm okay either way. I feel like as a cat, you'd be more likely to use your agility than your strength, but Okay, I'll do agility. I'm gonna take the negative one. Maybe we're gonna roll really well. We'll find out. Who knows? Stay tuned Okay, that's I mean that's not a terrible start. I am going to use my this could get worse. Uh um I'm gonna use my feline instincts. When you make an agility roll, you can spend two hopes. To re-roll your hope die, so I will spend two hope. The chances of me making this a success with hope, by the way, is very low. So just just as an FYI. My fear die is doing great today. My hope die is not amazing. Same. It's contagious. Okay, that that actually that actually did get better. So that's nice. That is a 16. This is with a negative one. A 16 with 15. Oh wow, 16. Nice. Well thank you for thank you for the fear. Hey, I'm just I'm just trying to make sure you're full. We're getting there. Um yeah, you scrabble up the the the trees and and plop down, I guess, next to this person. Or are you are you planning on plopping down or are you just scrabling up? It wouldn't it wouldn't be a plop. It would be like a very graceful like Settling like a cat settling onto a branch. Like it would be very yeah. Yeah, so you kinda climb up and then you like gracefully like stand and they're like sitting there with their feet dangling over the edge, kind of doopy doop and they're like They jump, um, you know, losing their thing, uh, losing their their balance for a moment. Best uh best at would like grab the guy, make sure he doesn't fall off, be like, whoa, whoa, settle, settle down Just here to make sure you're okay. And and uh you can see that this sentry also has uh a bow strapped to their back. Um, and they're, you know, basically prepared to snipe from above if need be. He kind of studies for a moment and goes, whoa. Is my s is is is i is my shift over already? You've been you've been up here for so long. It's it's yeah, absolutely. Uh oh. Okay. Wow, good. That was pretty uneventful, huh? Don't fall asleep up here or anything. Yeah, absolutely. You don't want to fall. And she would pat his shoulder and on pulling her her hand away She I just wanna like pluck hopefully silently pluck my claw on the bowstring in hopes that maybe I can at least reduce some of the uh the like basically my goal is to maybe like make like a little fine cut in it so if he ever tries to draw the bow then it snaps So if I'm able to do that. Um so what would that be, do you think? Uh for for a role? Is that a is do you want to use that as a that would be finesse. Is this an attack roll? Is this a finesse role? Tinker. It's seems like a f I was gonna go with finesse personally. I mean I I do have retracting claws, but that's to scratch a target to make them vulnerable, which I'm not Which I guess technically I'm trying to do. Yeah, that's I don't think that counts necessarily for objects, but but I see what you're getting at. Uh I would I would be okay with a finesse roll on that. Alright, so just trying to basically reduce the the the the uh tensile strength, is that the right word? Just in case he ever has to he ever tries to fire at us. Sorry, I promise I'm not trying to roll every few minutes. I'm just keep thinking of things to do. No, I'm loving this. I'm loving this. Go f go for it. Go ahead and give me a roll. Well. Uh 15 with fear. Have I rolled with hope yet? Nope. Nope, I don't think you have. But thank you. I'm I'm now full, so you don't have to worry about it anymore. Alright, straight to jail with that hope. Oh my goodness. Alright, I'm gonna get out. You're right. I'm gonna that's going in my my dice jail. Oh, oh you have a dice. Oh I love it. It's going in my dice jail and I'm gonna get a new hope. Alright, fair enough. Yeah, so Like the guy, um, oh yeah I guess you're also trying to so so that was the the trying to do it surreptitiously, right? Correct. Yeah. So I'll um Yeah, he doesn't seem to notice, at least he's kind of like, okay, cool. So he's like starting to look like how he's gonna get down and he's he's got like little um spikes on his shoes you see so he doesn't have claws but he's got little climbing spikes and he's he starts to kind of try to get by you Um awkwardly, very afraid of falling, it looks like, more than you at least. And and he pauses as he kind of sets his sets his feet and starts to take a step down and goes. Wait, um, where's your bow? Oh, uh, I don't I don't need one of those. And she would use press the digitation. Wow, that's so hard to say. I gotta I gotta not have that on my character sheet because I don't love saying it. Press the digitation to make like a little like just like the tiniest little streak of light go off into the distance like she's doing like almost like a ranged attack but it's just with a like a harmless Light. And uh they that that actually seems to to shake the the um the poor centuries. resolve even more, like, oh, one of those. And he scurries down the he scurries down uh the tree. And as he's coming down, uh Rowan and Vio can see him coming. But he's focused for the moment on climbing down the tree. I think I'm gonna try to keep him from noticing Rowan. Um So I'll kind of like usher Rowan like behind a bush or something, if I can, with her permission. um and run up to this guy and be like, hey, hey, you're the the first friendliest face I've seen around here. And I'll I'll show him my pin. But like, I'm here to join up. Quick above the table question. Yeah How much did you expect us to interact with this guy, huh? Okay. Honestly, I expect you to either try to avoid him or just push him off the tree and you know, that yeah, no, you guys never do what I plan and I love it. All right. Hello. What's your name? So li let's pause there for just a second and and Rowan Are you gonna just duck back behind the bush that was indicated or are you gonna be like staying with your companion because they're your friend or you're their friend, not the other way around? Exactly. Uh oh. Um being the good friend that I am, I will take their guidance and Stay stay hidden over here. We let them do them. Um and and Serkea is off on the other side. It doesn't have to worry about this particular in uh uh interaction. We'll we'll head over there next. in just a second. This poor sentry jumps like into the air as this little uh dwarf pops out of nowhere and immediately he's like pulling out his bow like train you you've got the drop on him but he's like all He's all like he's not knocking it and pulling about, but he's took it off his back and he's like gun arrow, ready to ready to draw to draw at this fearsome creature. How'd you get so close? Sorry? What did I startle you? Yes. Oh, I'm sorry. I have that effect on people. What's your name? I'm Dio. Don't don't mind. Don't I'm I'm not supposed to give names. You need to come this w w what wait, and then he sees your token and he's like confused. And then he sh he kind of pulls a a little jagged knife. uh amulet out of his is so pretty and he's like all right you've got the token i i guess i can let you through Come with me. Yuka Blackmane sent me. Yeah, you're gonna you're gonna have to talk to Blackmane Oh, is he here? And he just he he he he doesn't he the arrow that he was like knocking, he kind of like puts puts away and does like arranges his stuff and it's like yeah go wait You need to lead. I mean I need to um this way. And he kind of walks sideways, why keeping an eye on you, but going towards the towards the actual camp itself. All right, I'm gonna go talk to Black Main. I say really loudly so that all my friends can hear. I haven't been quiet previously anyway, so it's not like that much louder than I was talking before, but loud enough that my friends can hear. is the same person that they met arm wrestling. I mean from the description, uh he certainly fits the bill. He has that black mane of of uh Facial hair, which is very good. Funk girl said black mane to him whenever he arm wrestled, right? Correct. So I think I put two and two together that it's the same guy. Yeah, but anyone that wasn't introduced to him, like it's a very I mean, it's like Blackbeard, you know, this is it's his defining feature. So yeah, you you would you would know that he's talk they're talking about the guy you met at the tavern. So Kaya, while this is going on, I mean you hear you hear that that part of the exchange. Um you probably have no idea that uh Bass Ted is climbing up the tree and kind of watching on watching you all from on high. But um you've gotten a little closer to the camp. um under this with the without being seen, um approaching from a slightly different area at a different angle. And you actually see Blackmain who's standing like looming over um somebody who's literally tied to a campchair. And uh this person has been, you know, bruised and beaten. They look like a you can tell that they're they've been wor worse for wear. Um and they're disheveled looking. Uh and The black main is apparently questioning this person. And that's the the disagreement you were hearing. Okay. I'm Actually, Serke's gonna ignore that and it do is there any how many like are there any tents nearby in this clearing? Oh, um This t this this clearing only seems to have bedrolls. Like there's no tents. There's not enough organization to have tents. Uh basically it's the difference between the jagged knife and whatever you ran into previously. These folks are um individuals, not backed by money of any of any kind. Right. So Um you see a bunch of bedrolls, you see, you see like nut rucksacks um on the ground. And there are a few people kind of like lounging about and resting, but they're it's it's mostly busy camp a busy camp at this point. Okay. That messes with plans. Um there any any jagged knife just near the edge of the clearing? Um sure, why not? Yeah, there's a there's a few that are just kind of hanging out, visiting, trying to ignore what's going on with uh with the leader over there. Maybe they're not too happy about how this person was treated previously. Like to be clear, the black main isn't beating the person. He's just asking questions. But this person has been in a fight. Okay. Okay. So Kay's gonna How far Sorry, go for it. Go for it. I was just I just wanted to quick know how far roughly is Bastet away from Serkea at this point? Just like how wide is this camp area? So the the the camp's pretty wide. It's it's big enough, like I say, for you know 10, 20 uh jagged knife folks. Um so, you know, easily 20, 30 feet across. So you know, 10 Plus meters. Okay. I I don't have anything I'm wanting to do. I just wanted to kind of like, can I see Circa moving from my spot on the from where you're at because you're actually paying attention, unlike the sentry, yeah, you can totally see them. Uh Approaching. Okay. Yeah. I'm sorry to interrupt you, Eris. Go ahead. You're good. You're good. Um okay. What is can Sukria ha hear what Blackmain's saying? Uh yeah, if you want to try if you want to attempt to to listen in, you can certainly just hang out there. They're not making any attempt to be quiet. Um there's not a rule required, just uh kind of a time, I guess. Nah, fuck it. It I'm gonna is there any any dragon knife by the but by themselves? in this clearing or the Yeah, like like yeah, there there's a couple that are off by themselves or, you know, kind of like like I said, um looking out the other way, not really wanting to see what's happening in the middle. Most of the people are paying attention over there, but there's a couple of people that are kind of wandering about um until they're or given orders to do. There's a guy with there's a a uh a couple different kinds of of jagged knife that you'll see. You'll see some that like have a spear or a javelin that they're kind of leaning on. There's some earlier ones with clubs and uh a number of people with bows. Um, like the sentries that we were that um I described previously. So yeah, what kind of person are you looking for? Um someone I s someone Who I can get away with taking quietly. Yeah, you see someone walking away from the clearing kind of almost in your direction, not quite. Um, possibly going off to the latrines that would not be in the camp proper. So, you know, there's always an opportunity for that. Got a newspaper under one arm because he's gonna be in there a while. Dancing a little bit because they waited too long. Yeah. I'm gonna follow this person. And with my with my dagger out in one hand, I'm just gonna try uh use I'm gonna try just uh just take the the Jagger knife out quietly or at least incapacitate with a weapon attack And I'm also gonna be using the Assassin's class feature marked for death. Ooh What does that do? Um I gotta look that up. On a successful attack, you can mark a stress to make the target mark for death Attacks you make against target that's marked for death, gain a bonus damage equal to 1D uh plus 1d4 per per tier. Is it my tier? Is it their tier? I don't know. Uh human scare It's your your tier. Yeah. I would be Yeah, it's your tier. Two tier. Two two D4. Two D. So so you you're just trying to basically knock this person out or you're trying to just once one shot them and killed them. Oh I'm trying to slit slit the throat. Oh okay. Oh oh oh oh um okay well then I needed a I need an attack roll for you Um didn't need to re-roll that map, that was cocked. Okay, that one's not cocked. Um I'm very sorry, but that's uh that's a double ten. Yes! Yes! I thought you were gonna I thought you were apologizing to us and I was like I did two at first. I thought they were too. I thought it was like oh I'm sorry that didn't work out for you. Now the whole canceller did. Incredible. Um Yeah. Okay. Um the the so this is this is this is a a an unnamed NPC who doesn't have a huge stat block or anything like that and you're you know mucriton. You critted, you critted, so I'm just gonna be like, yeah, you sneak up behind them uh just as they're starting to, you know, reach for their trousers and Slit their throat and and they're like, ugh and you know, they start to slump immediately. You've successfully ended this poor jagged knife. guys wonderful won't life um in the most embarrassing way possible. Well maybe not the most embarrassing. One of the more embarrassing ways possible You could have waited until he was on the toilet and then it would have been a little bit worse. That's true. That's true. Um without yeah, without being done. Uh Sir Kay's gonna sneak back towards the edge of the camp and just wait for it to see what VO's gonna do. So so you just killed this person, just left their body? I have no respect. Wow. Okay. So once the next person goes to latrine, we're all gonna be. God damn it. Um let's see what you did there. Which is the opposite of what you want in that area. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Oh boy. Okay, so you go back towards the you go back towards the the thing. Alright. Yep. Um no no no never Yeah, you know I Chaos Fawn maybe, but not Gremlin. I've said this so many times, but every every time like I'm like, oh that's a oh I see what they're trying. Nope, I don't see what they're trying to do. Nope. Nope. I'm surprised. Nope. All right, moving on. So as Vio is so before Vio approaches and while this killing thing is going on, Blackmain's kind of booming voice here calls out, you know, you can hear. And he's You know, tell me what you know, and you'll be released. You have the word of the black maid. And uh th there's just kind of a weak sound like a laugh or a chuckle um in answer then you don't some some words that you maybe don't catch as you're a little too far away. But as you as ha as you approach, Blackmain hasn't noticed you all the prisoner's got more important things on his mind. People are kind of glancing some of the other Jack and Knight folks are kind of glancing at Vio like What what why are you here? Are you under guard oh they're under guard. I guess it's okay. I mean it's this a little bit. I'm just like waving at anyone who stares at me. Hi, hi. You clearly don't seem to be a threat You know, but people are kind of like glancing at you oddly. Um and uh the black man's like, uh are there more mercenaries arriving? And uh the you see as you get closer, you can see that this person's outfit Um, which is seen in way better days, uh, is kind of tattered and and uh torn a little bit. And uh they're decked out in a a white shirt with a yellow stripe That's stained and has kind of some blood and bruises on it. A white shirt with a yellow stripe? Yeah. Is that what you said? Yep. Uh and the colors match the enjamb house yellow. Okay. Okay. So they are a mercenary hired by Anjon or whatever their name is. Um and they're likely from the party that was killed and put into the ravine. is my guess because they only have one prisoner. Yep. Yeah, there's the only prisoner in sight. Yeah. And then it goes all this is circulating in in the o's brain. In your brain. In your brain. Yeah. While this is all happening, uh I'm um while Best Ed is on the tree branch, I am going to swap one of my uh domain effects out for one that's in my vault. Ooh. So just wanted to let you I wanted to let you know I'm gonna be spending two stress to pull something out. Oh I love it. I I I don't take advantage of that enough. What what do you do you mind if I uh t do you mind sharing with the group what you what you're slopping on? Yeah so I had r I had reassurance, which I can only use once per rest. So it's not doing me any good at this point. Oh. And I'm going to be swapping that out with the book of Iliad. Oh, I love that book. I was okay last night. That is one of my favorites. As she As she is watching this happen, um, Bastette remembers that she can speak into people's minds if she can see them. And she sees this prisoner, and she realizes that she hasn't done this in a while. And so she kind of like starts to panic a little bit that maybe she doesn't remember how to do it. And then uh then it comes back to her. Oh, very nice. I l I do I do love I do love uh Iliad actually. Um all right uh so the the answer comes kind of weakly from this person. He's like, no no uh Jeanne has spent too much already. And at that point, uh someone finally notices VO and kind of points behind Black Main where you're approaching, and he spins around like, who dares interrupting this? And of course it's Vio and he laughs. I'm imagining Vio just standing there with grin a grin on their face and just rocking back and forth on their heels. Yeah, yeah. They are acting happy go lucky like nothing is wrong, but they're actually like as they see the kind of severe beating that this prisoner has taken, s they see the house colors of uh Lady Jean, they're going to shift into their defensive martial form. So they're gonna spend a focus token to activate their defensive Focus. Um so that will be that any attack rolls against me have death disadvantage unless the adversary marks a stress. Um So I am kind of just like That's one of those new class things, right? The the the brawler? Yeah, it's a brawler class thing. That's lovely. Or it's actually the martial artist subclass. Oh okay. All right. Yeah, but yeah, it's exciting. This is the first time I'm using it, I think. So Okay. Um so I think that I'm just going to like walk right up to Blackmain and be like, hi, you said that I could meet up with you guys and I'm here. And like literally he could as he does a face like, mmm. rubs his hand down along like his mane. H how did you mm and Look, w little one, I'm I'm busy right now. We have important things to take care of. Yes, I know, and that's why I'm here to help. The that huff again of the, you know, monkey air. Um and he looks to the he looks to the sentry. Well, at least you spotted her. Them Yeah, they they spotted me right away. We w we met on the path back there. I showed them my token. They showed me their amulet. Very pretty. I'd like to have one of those by the way. Like like So what are you guys doing here? We're learning. Learning about what? And he he kind of points backwards, you know, not even looking at the lengths. Learn what lengths these evil people will do. Go to Lady Jeanne? And her ilk. Ilk. Is that like milk? Her people. Oh, her kin. No? And and uh he he kind of shrugs and nods. It's like, sure, okay, their kid. And and behind you behind like you can see like kind of past because he's kind of big, but he's got gaps where you know he's got his arms out. He's all burly chested. But you see um the the person behind actually look up at you when you ask say if they're family or you know kin and uh like almost hopeful for a second, but then realizing when it no you're you're you're Here to join. He's so screwed. And he kind of get looks even more dejected. So what do I gather from that? That he that this guy is not all in on the jagged knife or So the the the the person who did that was the was the prisoner who was like looking dejected. Oh sorry. So so so basically uh no no thank you. I I need to clarify what what's ha who's who's doing what. So thanks. Um Uh for a second he was hoping that you, you know, were were sent here to ransom or rescue him. Uh just from the way you were talking so nicely. Um but no. No. So what's so bad about Lady Jean? I mean she's scary and she's really wealthy, but she didn't seem that mean to me. Of course she did kind of tell us to stop doing what we were doing, but Everybody kind of does that. The fact that VO's like everyone tells me to stop. It's just the I'm used to it. I just ignore them. Um uh the simia kind of shakes his head and it's like We don't know. We know she's hired mercenaries. There was at least one, maybe more, groups here in this very forest that she was hiding, protecting. We've taken care of them. But we don't know what she was planning. He might know what she was protecting? Then why don't you just tell them? I I say to the prisoner. Uh I was I I I was talking to them before you arrived. Oh, am I interrupting? And like Vio's just now realizing that like they were in the middle of a conversation. Go on. And I kind of slink slink away, so I'm like with the rest of the people. I'm just watching him talk to the guy. Blackmane, like Motions to the sentry who thought he was ending his shift and was done for the day, right? To like be with that one. And and he's like. But he does not question. He just sighs and g follows you wherever the heck you're going. Like, you're not getting away from this person, by golly. And uh Blackmane spins back around to ask more questions. Um, so at that point I'll I'm gonna pause and ask if anyone else has a response or reaction that they want to be doing at this point. You can at least hear Blackmain's response in Vio's piping voice because I think Vio is still trying to be heard by all of the all of their friends. Still talking very loud. Yeah. As as they do. Um, but if there's anything any of you else want to do, uh wanted to make sure you have a opening to do so. So just remind me of the last The last little bit of that conversation? Um so uh Blackmain was basically asking uh if there were more mercenaries arriving, and the person being questioned said know uh that uh Jean has spent too much already on on whatever this is. And that's really all that you've heard so far. Other than um Blackbane promising to release this person if they're on if they tell the truth. Okay, okay, cool. Best that's gonna open a open telepathy. Spend a spend a hope in open a line of mental communication with the prisoner. Okay. And Bestad is going to say, why are you in this town? You can tell me, or I can rip it from your mind. I can't promise he will survive if I do. So in my head, right, um, this this doesn't work. He doesn't know where you're saying this from, right? Correct. It's it's just uh in his head. And he's like even like he's not sure now. Like he's looking at Black Main going, oh no, they have magic users. Like this I'm so screwed. Um and and and he says out loud, right? Because he's he's he's not really thinking straight that he should be talking in his head to someone who's talking in his head. He's just like answering the question. He's been he's he's a little broken. Um I I I oh shoot, I lost it. We live here, you know. My my cousin runs runs the Village. Sorry. Question for clarification for me, but this guy was a mercenary? Uh no, his clothes are actually pretty pretty nice for a mercenary. Um, but they've been talking about mercenaries and you found a bunch of Yeah. Okay. And and to which Blackmain goes, like, looks at this guy like, why why is he babbling like this? And kind of steps forward, Martin, why are you Why are you going over this? We already know this. I know who you are. Everyone here knows who you are. I don't know who he is. Clearly not everyone does. Clearly not everyone does. Vio l raises their little hand in the air. No more interruptions, little one. Oh Sorry. I thought you asked a question! Deep steadying breath, deep steadying breath. What was the plan? He asks. Can Bastet, since with his line of telepathy, when the prisoner answers out loud, can Bastet also hear that in her mind? Oh, for sure. For sure. Yeah, yeah. Okay. I figured since he would would be thinking it as he said it that it should be. Oh for sure. I just want to make sure that was. Yeah, you you hear everything he's saying. Um it's just in your head because you're a little far away and he's not being loud like some of the other folk Um but anyone on the anyone, you know, like Circa can probably definitely hear and I'm not sure about um Rowan if if they can at least hear bits and pieces, if not every single word. So they can get the gist. Um and uh he pauses actually before admitting, but remembering that he's been threatened to be like dismembered horribly, um very recently, not by the jagged knife, as it turns out. Um 'cause um we were to go to the sharehockers houses, steal the seed, burn it, or spoil it, whatever. Y you know and and And you would take the blame. Oh shoot. I told you guys they were evil. Jack and I forgot. I think I think your gate cut that off. I saw listening. I told you guys they were evil. The jack and knife are good. It's all about perspective. I want Besta to sigh loudly in this guy's mind. And um Then she's gonna say in not out loud but with a telepathy, the nobles plan to steal from the people of the town? To ruin their livelihoods to take from the take from them? Uh Blackmain uh uh looks glances over at at the at the the guy, um Martin, apparently. Um and kind of like he doesn't hear this thing, but he sees him like respon reacting, responding like to something that he can't tell what it is. And but he just says, apparently his conscience has got the better of him finally. as he like speaks i kind of quickly. The the they were they were almost they were almost free. They would have not been under our control. They they'd paid off they would be paying off their debts and And we would not be we we needed that income. This way they will owe us for generations. When when we raise the price of the grain they have to buy the seed they have to buy. they they have no money. It would be all on on on debt. We would we would own their land. And at that point, like um the black main is like fist bumping, like, yes, we finally know what's going on. And And uh he actually says out loud, so so now what will she do? And the guy just shrugs helplessly as much as he can. I mean, he's bound to a chair, you know, he's like stuck he but he kind of shrugs helplessly. Uh I do not know Uh we did not expect r resistance. The the jagged knife was real. That's all I know. Did you guys steal it yet? Or you haven't st stealed it yet? Do they still have their grain and their seeds? Vio asks the prisoner, totally ignoring that uh Black Main told him or told them not to to interrupt anymore. And and and Blackmane actually like glares back at you, like, but it is a good question. So he kind of like lets it go and glares at the other guy instead. Is no, we couldn't. We needed them to be away for the festival. Oh, did you invite them to your party? Everyone is invited to the party. Not everyone. Some people get special invitations and others don't. The the festival is for all. That's how we knew they would be there. I see. So not the the special gathering at Lady John's place. Just they go into town and Celebrate. Okay. Hmm. But they're still gonna leave their farms unattended. So if Lady John really wanted to, she could go and do it all herself? It seems like somebody needs to warn the townspeople. Why are we all out here talking instead of warning these sharecroppers? Blackbean? Just waves a hand in front of him. Black bean. Blackbean. Black bean like he's now he's stroking his mane again, uh, like this. uh what you're saying makes sense and and he's not happy about it. Because it's coming from me? Probably, yeah. And then he and then he turns to you and goes, they will not believe. You didn't. And then he uh he uh he he starts wandering around like this, kind of walking back and forth trying to figure out what the next step should be. Uh Basta in that moment would with your permission, GM, uh jump down from the tree branch and presumably land on her feet just due to being a cat. Um and she would walk towards the camp and say, Perhaps they will believe someone with a little more Authority. And as she said that, she would drop her her adjust appearance and shift back into her nice robes and pristine condition. And uh she would walk up to Black Main as she as she shifted appearance and said that. And Vio's gonna step up next to Bestette, put their hands on their hips. looking like very proud of themselves, like power posing basically, and say. And I also have a very bold presence and I've been told I can be very convincing. Rowan uh is Why don't we go back? Uh like leaning out from behind the bush and peering over the top of her shield. So it's not gonna be a fight? Are you saying that like so that everybody so like Black Main could hear? Yes. Amazing. Cirkey's gonna s stop stalking her next target. How do we explain that we killed one of them? We're not with her. We don't explain the dead one week. She just cut she comes out hiding. Like humming an elven uh sorry, a Sylvan song, uh just like skipping through. Do I have to roll anything for for saying that, by the way? Um Ye you know, so so from from my perspective, like that was such a cool moment and it's uh it's uh it it was higher I think than in my head than than what maybe you were thinking of going down to do. But I just think it's such a cool moment. I wanna give it let you have that that like jump of surprise and and that reaction so I don't think there's a role needed for that. Oh I wasn't necessarily sorry, I guess that was a valid question too. I wasn't necessarily asking do I have to roll to land? Do I have to roll To persuade was my question. Oh, I would love to see a role for persuasion on that. Okay. Can we like tag team? I assume you're being assisted with Couple questions. I mean you can Okay, so My character sheet is real weird. I have voice of reason. I speak with unmatched power and authority. I have advantage on action roles. to de-escalate violent situations or convince someone to follow your lead. Perfect. So first question, can I use that? Second question, I'm also highborn, and I have advantage on roles to leverage my reputation to get what I want. So Is it double advanced? Is there any reason I shouldn't have advanced? No, I I would I would say that probably Highborn doesn't really count a lot with with with Black Main. Um but your previous one I would say yeah you get advantage from that for sure. Okay, cool. I don't think there's a thing as double advantage. I guess it wouldn't make sense. Yeah. It wouldn't make sense for me to help you then because that's pain interesting. I don't think VO can help. Maybe just hold on to that hope in case my hope dies. That's true. Oh, okay. All right. That's fair. So about that hope die that we were talking about. Yep. I can spend two hope to re-roll either hope or fear. Okay. I'll re-roll my hope die because I mean it wasn't terrible, but it was a four. So I'll say my support is that I'm standing there very Proud looking. And I I think Basta says that and kind of like steps up and has this moment where she's like, Did I just walk into a a like a group of people that are just gonna murder me? And then she feels a little emboden emboldened by Vio kind of stepping up with the power pose. Mm-hmm. Like part of her is like kind of like rolling her eyes, like This one again, but also she she secretly, despite being outwardly kind of a snob, she feels supported. Oh my god. So can I use either result from the the ri I have to use the new result. I think you have to use the new result. Okay, so my hop my hope die went from a four Two oh one. Oh noor! So But you have advantage. Okay. Yes. I mean it Did you want to use it again? I can do it again or if you have do you have any stress marked? Uh I'd I'd have stress marked, yeah. If you wanted to, I also have a once per long rest when you console or inspire an ally who failed an action role, you both clear two stress. So if you fail, then but I'd rather you not fail. Uh so yeah, I will um let's see, how do I flavor this one? I will give it to you, but I'm trying to think. Um I don't think I should roll for hope anymore. I I even jailed my hope diamond on a new one and it still hasn't rolled well. What is going on? I think I'm gonna like just go up to you and like kinda like fix your trousers a little bit, fix your like collar or whatever I guess how tall are you actually? She's pretty tall. Like she's she's Okay, so I can't fix your collar. I might just like I'm just gonna make sure that you look in pristine condition. So I'm just gonna like Oh, oh there fix that, fix that. Okay. Yeah, yep. Okay. And then go back to my PowerPoint. For the love of God, be be higher than B. All my hope. You have all my hope. Oh my god. That made it a critic. Let's go! Was that a full critic session? Worth it! Okay, so that's totally worth it. I just want to point out that made it a crit and I rolled a six on my d6 advantage. So okay. So I was gonna ask if you were still being cursed from the uh end of magic sessions, but apparently you may now be over that. Um There's been a lot of stuff kind of popping through here. Let me let me kind of say describe a little bit about how the camp reacts and we'll we'll get to that role, I guess. Well first of all, everyone jumps out of their skin as Basset jumps down, except for the one guy right next to Vio who's like, Oh, you're coming down. Oh shoot, you're not the person you said you were. And he's like reaching for a sword, right? As you as your thing changes. And Everyone else is like, ah, and weapons start half drawn. And despite what uh Rowan says Uh it looks like there might be a fight for a moment as you're all popping out of nowhere. But uh the black man kind of holds up his hands like no one attacks on except when I tell them. And so they all are waiting, ready, if if anything goes wrong, um, for for combat to break out. despite like when when you start talking and he's like you need someone with more authority like uh Wickham's face just gets to s horrible scowl on it like he's totally not not like someone more authority da da da da da da and then but Something something about VO like trusting you and working with you, not like being subordinate, I guess, in some ways, but like you needing their help. Um Makes his eyes narrow and he kind of humps and turns to the prisoner, looks to you. I promised to let him go. you can take him back. And uh he doesn't untie he doesn't untie him. He just turns away like he's he's he's done with done with the prisoner. Uh and he starts barking orders to the Jagged Knife, uh to prepare to uproot their camp and move out. So they're Well then he turns back to you and says, Hmm, we still need to stop them. You can rouse the villagers. Or confront the lady, his voice dripping with disdain, about her crimes. And you have numbers that we do not in case the villagers need protecting. And she's kinda like She's working through in her mind as she's talking to this. Like, I think Bastet's experience of the jagged knife has always been very negative. They've been kind of Not necessarily they're not like the big bad, I don't think, in Best Ut's mind, but they're like they're they're sell swords and they're they're just after money and they have been associated with some of the big bads over the course of history is at least how Basset understands it. And so she's really having a hard time processing a group of jagged knife that are helping. So she's kind of like, yeah, you you could you could help should the situation turn against us is that something that you I must confess, I don't understand your position in this game that we've found ourselves in. That's the problem with you people. You consider it a game. People's lives are at stake. This this we will not let our name be used in this way We will stop. So is that the only reason why you want to stop them is because they're claiming it's coming from you? Or they're going to claim that? Or do you have some other stake? And he he looks to the he looks to VO and's like, I thought you understood. That's how they got our attention. The rumors. Oh. But I see. So Lady Jeanne started the rumors. But we were not involved until we were brought in. But now that we're here, I will complete our mission of toppling this woman if I can. I'll topple the woman if I can. Did you kill those people in the woods? What was that? So Kay will be very happy to topple the woman. Near Eris. Hey yo! Oh hey! Um by the way, while all this is happening Uh Bastette is going to spend a hope to shift her telepathy to Serkea and just kind of say in Serkea's mind Perhaps the body that you left by the latrine should be not discovered. For some time if you can make that happen. Oh do I? I'm gonna get dirty I can't be happy now. It was such a clean kill. It was a great kill, to be fair. Um, and I think Vio was asking Black Main, Did you kill all those people in the woods? The ones that got dumped in the ravine? Why did you kill them? They sold their loyalty for money and paid the price. To the wrong side. I was gonna say Bastet would kind of snort at that. Yeah, yeah. He looks at Bastet knowing knowing that that how you know we the the Jacket knife is all about money, right? But in his mind is to use that money to do these things, right? He's he's not necessarily in line with everybody in the jagged knife, but by golly, his jagged knife folks have have lofty aims. So the splinter group. Is he like the Robin Hood of the S Yeah, he he sees himself definitely as a Robin Hood figure, you know, robbing from the rich to give to himself, but you know, eventually You know, the rich will be gone and then, you know, it'll be better. I I'd say that's a pretty accurate description. And so yeah, he knows he knows how uh Bastet feels and he's got a bit of disdain for Bastet, but he's like that that's the wrong side And so they deserve to die because they were going to be a problem. Uh Bastat would step forward to the Black Main and say Uh I fear I have not introduced myself. My name is Bastet, and no, that should Your mission of protecting these people succeed. You will have the favor of Skyland. At least temporarily. Yeah. Uh I think you mean that reassuringly or like trying to, you know, negotiate or whatever. Um, but it does strike a nerve with with Black Main and his like cheek pouch neck pouches kind of bulge a little bit. As he's like processing that. Um, he looks at you really doubtfully. It's like, we will see. Alliances do not always last forever, but I can assure you that being on this side at this time is to your favor And I think with that, she would probably just walk up to the prisoner and try to pull him up to his feet and start walking him back to the the town, honestly, unless somebody's gonna stop her. Um ps since since uh Blackbame basically said you this prisoner's your problem. No one no one gets in the way. And you can take your time to untie or you know help him up or uh l literally pick up his chair and go. Um if you however you want to deal with that. I think she would make it so he could stand, but he she wanted his arms still tied and stuff like that. Like basically she's gonna kind of just like Hold on to him by the restraints and just walk it or maybe maybe even just the back of his shirt and just walk him back. True. That was what I was picturing. Unless the party has other ideas. I'm fine with that too. So Black Main in the camp, they're essentially packing up, but are they planning to go into town at all to help with the rest of the mission or they're just like washing. Basically what you gather the the the the woman. The the people at top. What what you gather was they don't think the the danger is over. Right? So while you're going back to try to convince either the towns leaders or townspeople or confront the the lady, whatever you're planning on doing, whatever she's set in motion, they're still trying to stop. So they're getting ready to go back out now that they know what the target was, which is the seeds of these people, the sharecroppers in particular, um, their job, they see their job as to going to defend them. So you could attempt to join them on that defense, um, or you can take the prisoner and uh and uh go back to town. I guess I don't see why the prisoner can't just walk himself. Like, I I want to help the people that need help. And this guy seems like he's on the wrong side of fate. Let him just walk back to his house or whatever. Well, everybody is in town currently. If we want to let the sharecroppers know what is planned Don't you think we need to take the prisoner back to town to show them? I guess I was thinking we would go to the sharecroppers' houses to protect them, but I guess if we have to warn them first, then you're right I just hope there's enough time to warn them and then to still get back and protect them. I can go on my own if you think that's you need to go elsewhere. I just think that it the people deserve to know and Yeah, I agree. I have an idea on how to show them with him, and she kinda like roughly jostles the prisoner as uh Like just kind of pushes him like almost over and then just barely grabs him so he like doesn't fall to the ground. I'm in then. If you have a plan, I trust you For a second, I thought she guys were gonna split the party. No. We still could we gotta find out from from Rowan and Serkea Um, Serkea's gonna be just emerging from the bush line. Nowhere near the latrines, right, Serke? No one in the real strings, no no. That'd be silly. I'm gonna have circled another little bit round. Just just singing to myself. Hav having stuck having stashed my dagger back or it in its proper place. Um well I I have a I have a quick question to this uh this prisoner if you don't mind. I I wonder if he has any information. I could um do I I still need the information there Our dear lady has um my payment, if it were. And I'm wondering if if this this fell this fine gentleman could um I don't know take over payment so tell me dear insurrectionist Have you heard of the Ashbourne Acad Martin? Thank you, Bio. Uh Have you heard of the Ashbourne Academy? And have you seen any wizards? Passing through. See, I'm in search of one who's very dear to me, and if you could tell me, your life would be all the better for it. Um however short it may be from this moment As as the people are packing up, there is a large fungeral who walks kind of into the clearing, hears that voice, pale. I mean even for a mushroom pails and zips out the other way. Knowing that tone of voice. And you you hear him mutter, um, any anyone anyone seen Mark? Uh I gotta find him. And he like zips out the other way. Marked for death. And um That's hilarious. I love that you guys pick up on those little ones, even though I don't have to like nail them a little. Like you're just used to it now. I can just like let them slide. And uh and they're there. Um can we say that we're having this discussion with the prisoner as we walk back to town since we're kind of in a rush? Yeah. Okay. Okay. Yeah, no, I definitely thought Sarkeia like, you know, hooked her arm around. And started leading about the the sky as yeah. Okay. My arm? Hello? My my armor and my arm. Your arm and I also I produced my slightly smaller dagger. That's what you did to the other one. I'm just pressing it to Gently into his back. So um the the Jagged Knife folks are busy busy packing up and getting ready to go. They don't look like they're actually moving the camp. They're just trying to get their stud gear together to give make a a quick quick move away, so to speak. And uh the fungal's going off to look for Mark. But um Wickham looks at you all realizes instantly that you're threatening this guy's life And honestly doesn't care because he let him go. So it's and he kind of shrugs and and just lets you guys walk away in a different direction as he goes and prepares his stuff. Um, in case you were concerned, he was gonna worry, you know, try to step in. Why would he? And um, well, you know, he gave his word and his word was fulfilled. He let him go. Let him go right into Serkea's loving arms. Not his problem anymore. So does um Like, um, I'm trying to remember. You you were looking for looking for uh a wizard person. Looking for Sake's sister. Um that's That's the information I was wanting from the lady uh late Lady John. Right. Um in like as an alternative for money as my payment for the job. And and Jean l certainly implies she had information about this. that uh she would be willing to share. That's correct. I remember that now. Um unfortunately at least like Martin seems to have no clue about what you're talking about. Um, and he's he's like, uh, wizards, I No, I mm Oh, you would've kno y you you would have known her. She would have blown here blown through here like a thunderstorm following a hurricane. I have been tasked with g gathering the cell swords. Um I have been out of the town for a few months. I have no idea if what you're what you are speaking of. I I think I would remember, uh, you know, someone like you. And he's he like, you know, he's a nobleman. He's used to, you know, flirting and he's hoping to get his uh maybe get out of this by, you know The little wink wink nudge nudge. Uh but he doesn't seem to be lying to he doesn't he's he he's not he's too tired to be trying to lie. He's just telling you how how it is. He has no No no uh will left to disseminate. Pity. Dissemble. What a pity. Also Bastet has not let go of him even when Serkea like informs with him. Bastad is still fine. So you're on one side, Serkea's on the other, and he's got nowhere to go. I was picturing kind of best at kind of behind, like grabbing it by the back of the shirt, pushing him forward. Okay. Yeah. All right. Mm-hmm. So you're you're seeing all of this uh slightly ahead of you by a step or two. All right, fair enough. I'm going to sink my dagger into his side. Like trying to kill him? At least grievously grievously wound him, yes. And I'm I'm going to inflict him with with a little poison, a gorgon. Oh no. A little gravespore, which makes a marker stress. Oh, whoa. Okay. So you're using your toxic connections. Yes. Concoctions. Is that what I'm seeing? Yeah. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Oh concoctions. Did I say connections? Connections. Yeah. Oh boy, my words. Fascinating. So okay, so you're yeah. Um so you actually did a little damage to him there, right? I did it indeed. He's being he's being held, he's restrained. You I think that's by default gonna be a a a a successful attack. Yep. And it is So you you're doing you're doing how much damage? With my small dagger it's two D eight plus four 2D8 plus 4. Okay, I gotta go find. Oh! Oh! Where's his where's his uh Uh that's funny. Did you just kill somebody else? Well it's two fives. Um no er. So that's but that's like I say you're trying to kill. So that's that's ten plus four fourteen. Fourteen damage. Okay. Um so the damage is The damage was what exactly? 14. It was 14. I think it was 14 damage. 14. Okay. 14 damage. That's total? Like with the total. And he has to mark. And he has to mark us too. Yes. Okay. Um how many HP do these folks have? Oh Nor. Oh Nor. And surely he's already taken some since he was beat up and interrogated. Uh-huh. Uh uh-huh. Yeah. Um you you just hit his severe damage threshold? Oh no Um yeah. Uh I just wanna as as Bastet sees uh Serkea sink the knife in She's going to say if he dies, how do we convince the people of this plan? But it's too late. He's already been stabbed. So I just um Yeah, uh he he falls to the ground, actually. Um at least unconscious. Like he st he stumbles, he stumbles and and falls to the ground With with that with that um that combination of of doodads there. Prue, Chaos, Gremlin. Basta just goes Go ahead. Going to turn to Bastard and be like, villagers we're never going to understand. It's best we take it into our own hands. They were never going to under They were never going to understand that a rich person was oppressing them If we showed them a rich person who could say that they were he was our evidence. How many of the sharecroppers would know who this person was. GM, how many other sharecroppers would have known the neighbors of the town? They would have recognized him if not have known his name for sure. Like the the he's not He he's what he was wearing the colors of the of the nobles. Yeah, and and he's he's known he would be known amongst the village, the sharecroppers might not know uh might not have interacted with him directly. Um, but certainly the village the village leaders would have. The the the the the council, the the priestess, those folks would have would have known who that was. And and to be clear, again, he's not dead yet, but he is on the ground bleeding out. He was my plan, so I'm gonna I don't have any abilities for this necessarily, but as a person who is trained for martial arts, combat, and spy craft. I imagine I have some training on how to uh bandage a wound to keep it from bleeding, that kind of thing. So, um Could I try to make some sort of medicine check to stop his bleeding, to staunch it? This wound is kinda it's it Um Sure. It's kinda got the it's it's got like a veiny effect on it, like dark black veins from the poison. Right. Sorry. Yeah. Yeah, so it's a it's a very clear spot to find to be able to, you know, apply pressure, try to wrap something up, I guess. Now they got him they got him kind of in the side. Um he might have just lost his spleen, let's say. Um gosh. Um you don't need that, it's okay. And uh Yeah, you can try to stabilize them, I guess. I I would think that would be some kind of I'm squinting at you, by the way. I bet you are. Yeah, a reant. I i i I'm sound I I believe that would be a finesse roll if you wanted to try to to do some kind of a roll to stop the bleeding. I have a plus zero to that, so we will see. Oh it's a seven, not a one. Oh. Okay. Uh 15 and I don't have anything to add. So fifteen. Fifteen. So you basically slammed like like you you bunch up his his uh his shirt and like push it against there and like try to hold it. Um hold hold just uh all you can do is really apply pressure and hope for the best, right? Um and he's He still breathing? You're not moving? He's still breathing. And he's unconscious. Um the the you're g you the little you know, um, that that particular poison, which you might know a little bit about as a spy. Um is is not designed to kill, but to cause, you know, stress for somebody to kind of like help take them out. Um And uh if you can, you know, hold off the bleeding, he might last until you could get to some sort of help, but now you've got to get him there if you wanted to Somehow. Okay. Or you could or you could leave him here and hope to come get him later. I'm going to can I fashion how that would take. too long. I mean he he was tight. How big is he? He he's he's hu he's a human and so he's like, you know, he's actually not terribly tall. He's like five eight about. I'm gonna put him Ask or I guess I'm gonna ask Bastette to put him back in the chair and see if we can drag him on the chair into town. We left the chair all the way back at the camp. We have to go to the chair now? Oh I guess We're super far away. He did still have some ropes on him, but I have rope too. Just aside. So Kia has just kept walking. So maybe we can She does not care for this man. That one. Um Bestette, would you like some help? Or Bestette, would you like some help to try to get this guy into the village? I'm pretty strong. I know I'm small, but I'm pretty strong. What makes you think I was going to continue to carry a body? Well he's not dead yet. He's not a body, he's a person. He was a tool, an object for us to convince the people to rise up. Why would he tell anyone anything that was truthful after this? Well. If you would like to carry him, I will. Watch, but he was Vio will try to carry him because Vio I don't think Vio's ever killed anyone before. And Although they've trained for being a a killer, they actually have a very like big heart. And so they don't want to leave somebody behind. even if they're a terrible person. So Vio's gonna ch attempt to like put him over their shoulder and like he's so large that his whole like front half is like his head is dragging the ground. His feet are dragging the ground. He's just like on his shoulder. So dragging in both directions. But I will try. I'll do strength throw. We'll see. Perfect. Um that's an eight and a two, so that's um ten plus twelve or plus two is twelve. 12 with hope. And can I use my don't worry I've trained for this to get a plus two Um, because I I'm actually very strong. I've trained with weight bags to like carry people. Um I d I don't know if that if that counts. It would put me out of the. I mean, I I like I like that you're trying for it and you're gonna just keep going. So uh you know, you get them up over your shoulder and you're like bouncing around around, you know, going trying to trying to get down the pathway. Um following the way you guys came, basically, through the through the through the brush, I I assume. Um, since you kind of know that way. Um Serkeya is walking and probably unless they slow up walking way faster than you, burdened as you are. Um and similarly Bastet I think is is not necessarily keen on staying with the dead body or the mostly dead body. Um am I wrong? Um, I don't think she'd be trying to get away. She just doesn't that like she doesn't really have any use for at this point. Um uh that was gonna be our next question. Rowan has was behind all this, I think. They were the last one to leave the area and may have seen the whole thing go down. Yeah. Just following along behind everybody, watch watching bodies fall in their wake. Notably not offering to help VO carry the body. I get it. Um look and um evaluating the size of the not quite dead body and the size of Vio. I've I've been a not very big person my whole life, VO. I don't think this is gonna work out well for you. But I'm strong. You're very strong. I gotta at least try. Do we? I know I'd want that. If s if I fell in the forest, I wouldn't want to die here alone. At least this way if he dies, he dies with people around him. Vio. Everyone dies alone. Dark. Basset just keeps walking. That is dark. Single tier. Almost as dark as the ravine with all his friends. I have a great place so we can storm. Oh gosh. As very later. As you guys are walking back walking back the same way you came, you're almost to that clearing um that uh the first first clearing that you encountered with the uh empty empty camp. When when Vio hears kind of a raspy breath in and no breath out as he expires on her shoulder. Vio's gonna set um Martin next to a tree. Um And put she's gonna find a big leaf from one of the trees and place it on his head. And then she's going uh like a for shade. Um, because she knows she doesn't like the sun on her skin and she assumes that no one else does either. Um, and then she's gonna keep walking. And you'll see just like a few small tears coming down her face because I don't think she's really that used to death at this point in her life. Or in this point in their life. Y'all then broke the spy. Yay. No. You broke him. Veo puts down the the thing and and puts the hat on the on on the niced gentleman. Um and you all walk away leaving the dead, bruised, battered corpse. Um That's roll ended. Oh. Hey, that go how you plan it. Oh hell no.
