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Narrator/Host
Well greetings there traveler. Grab a seat and stay a while because I've got a yarn to spin you Back in the year 20 out 15, this here podcast feed emerged from the ether when we struck gold deep down there in the podcast minds. And back then it was a regular hat wearing contest between scripting setup, filming schedules, logos, you name it. You get down there in the podcast minds all day in and day out. You come home covered in the dust of MP3, freeze in waveforms and it can be super overwhelming. Every day seemed to introduce a new decision that needed an answer. Whether you're starting off your day with something new, it feels like your to do list keeps on growing every single day and that list can overrun your life. Finding the right tools like a trusty pickaxe, it not only helps you out, but simplifies everything. It can be such a game changer and for millions of businesses that tool is is Shopify.
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Shywin (Ranger)
Kids. They grow up so fast. One day they're taking their first steps and the next they don't fit into the tiny sneakers they took them in. You blink your eyes and their princess dress is two sizes too small and their dinosaur backpack isn't cool anymore. But don't cry because they're growing up. Smile because you can profit off of it for real. There are a bunch of parents on depop Looking for the stuff your kid just grew out of. Download depop to start selling.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
Last time on starter kit, Grontok made.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Me into what I am.
Igneous (Druid)
Who's Grontok?
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Siren's friend. He helps us. Do you know where the sewers empty into the river.
Shywin (Ranger)
We're gonna go do some recon.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
Official Inquisitor business.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
You guys move forward stealthily into the sewers.
Welcome back to your starter kit. I'm David Nett, your dungeon master for this D and D adventure. The most important thing to remember when playing D and D, or any roleplaying game for that matter, is that it is a game. It's at its best when everyone is having fun, especially when the story stakes are high. Sometimes you triumph, sometimes you fall on the battlefield. But so long as we all have fun telling the story together, we all win.
We're in the sewers below the free city of Greyhawk, moving along quietly, surrounded by a shroud of mist and darkness. Thanks to Shywin's spell, you do have light. It's held a lot. It's a little bit less bright than it would be under normal circumstances. Now, you know that while this is a magical hiding, this magical stealth check, the light isn't helping you. If you want to go completely incognito, you'll need to extinguish it. But that will leave a few of you in the dark of the sewers, so you're going to need to make that call when the time comes. You move through the sewers with a little bit of light, moving quietly, slowly, to make sure that you stay in the shadows. Rats scurry. You don't hear any other sounds except for the dripping and running of water and the little scurrying of tiny feet everywhere you move through, twisting around corners. Liam has given you a pretty good idea of where the turns are, but you can tell from the map that he's drawn for you that his mind isn't working to scale. It's actually a good deal farther than you expected as you move through the sewers, twisting and turning, taking a good deal of time. And in fact, you feel the minutes ticking away. It's a good, solid, almost full hour before you find yourself nearing the river's lair.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Lamb.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So you feel your spell starting to fade. You guys press yourselves against a wall, and you believe that the fissure that enters into the river's lair will be around the next corner just as the spell fades away. So what are you guys going to do?
Igneous (Druid)
I would like to change into a bat. All right, what I have not done this.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Yes.
Igneous (Druid)
I haven't had the years and not been the opportunity.
Leona (Fighter)
How many years have I worked beside.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
You and not known, you know, about.
Igneous (Druid)
The whole bat thing?
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
I didn't bring that up.
Igneous (Druid)
It just doesn't come up in normal conversation.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So the way that while she's going to be interviewing, you can take the shape of creatures that you've seen before. Right. But technically, at level five, you can't yet fly, so it's just basically regular beasts, and you can't assume the shape of anything that flies.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
Got it.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
However, because this is fun and because this is our final session, let's do it. Yes. What that'll mean is all of your physical statistics, your hit points, your armor class, all of that, become the bat's hit points and armor class. Right now, you're not in combat now, so you're not really worried about being attacked. But should you be attacked in this form, you mark down the hit points you have right now as you leave and then make. There's a little space, I think, for additional hit points or temporary points there. So I would put the knight, or whatever the bat has. It's not. It's a very few 1, 2, 1 hit points, 1 hit point, and that temporary hit points. If you are damaged and revert to zero hit points as a bat, you will change back into your other form, but you'll go back to whatever hit points you had. Right. If something does massive damage to you and it carries on past that one, you'll take that damage to. We'll deal with it if we get there.
Igneous (Druid)
Got it.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay, so. So how long can you stay in the wild shape? I think it's a little while.
Igneous (Druid)
That's my druid level rounded down.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay. So in that number of hours. So you're by level five. So you can stay in your wild shape for two hours. For two hours, you don't have to stay there. You can transform back. Right.
Shywin (Ranger)
Can he go in and out of it?
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
No. Once he transforms, he can transform twice per rest.
Igneous (Druid)
Twice per rest.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So you got two of those. So you transform. You can see him. His whole form shrinks up. Now you can choose to leave your clothes behind or transform them into the creature with you. Obviously more convenient for them to move in the creature.
Narrator/Host
Yeah.
Igneous (Druid)
I'll take it with me because I need my armor.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
All right, sure. So you see him suck up into the form of this little fluttering bat right in front of you? Yes.
Leona (Fighter)
Can you go do some recon?
Igneous (Druid)
That is exactly what I'd like to Do. So I'm going to recon into the fissure as I corner.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Now I need you to roll your stealth. Now you look at the bat statistics for me.
Igneous (Druid)
Bat statistics.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So that's a dexterity roll. I don't know if there's any bonuses for stealth on there, but I'm going to give you some pretty significant ones.
Igneous (Druid)
If there aren't advantage on wisdom now.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So I'm actually gonna give you a plus five. So you've got your dexterity bonus which is plus two. Plus two. I'm gonna give you another plus five to your stealth. You're tiny, you're dark, people expect you to be down here.
Igneous (Druid)
So total plus seven to my stealth. So I'm rolling my Stealth roll to D20.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Plus seven.
Igneous (Druid)
Two.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
All right, so it's a nine. So you hear him flapping as he kind of flaps around the corner. However, he is just a bat, so it's not like he's a dude flapping in the air. He's just a bat flapping around the corner. You can hear flapping as you go around the corner. So you do round the corner and you can see about 100 meters down there is on the left hand side a crack in the wall of these sewers. And there is one person standing outside of that crack. You can see some light coming from the crack. There's one person standing right there, just sort of lazily leaning on a spear just kind of hanging out there.
Igneous (Druid)
So that's the guard.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
It's like it's a guard on the outside.
Igneous (Druid)
Yeah, got it.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Yeah.
Igneous (Druid)
So I'm going to try to go past the guard and just get a little more recon.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
You flap down the hallway, he hears you and he looks around and he sees you. And as you swoop in, he takes a half hearted swing with his spear just to see if he can smack you and he can't. You're pretty fast so you fly inside.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
What a dick.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Yeah, right. Some people are just dicks.
Igneous (Druid)
I mean, come on, I wasn't doing nothing.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So you flap in little bat wings flapping into the space and you open into a large 20 by 20 sort of space. It looks like maybe an entryway. This is a natural cave. Whereas the sewers are very constructed and nicely tightly fit stone. This is a natural cave. It looks like there was a crack in the wall and somebody's made it their home. There is a passageway straight ahead, one to the left and one to the right. You can hear some voices coming from straight ahead and some voices coming from the right.
Igneous (Druid)
Hmm. I'm gonna go to the right.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay. So you kind of flap down this hallway, just a bat flapping. You actually, another bat flies the other way as you're flapping in here. Yeah. Wave a wing. He doesn't acknowledge you in any way. Little squeaks to hurt your ears for a second, and then he's gone. So you fly down the passageway to the right, and what you encounter as you're flying, you actually a couple of people coming toward you. There are five of them. They're dressed in full armor, carrying weapons, and they're moving at a pretty significant pace. And as they come toward you from another side passageway, three more people join them. And one of them is talking pretty loudly. And this is the voice that you heard. She's a sort of a middle height, mid-30s, sort of a nondescript looking woman, brown hair pulled back in a tight bun, but she's wearing, like a chainmail shirt. She's carrying a sword and a mace at her waist. She looks fit for battle. And she's talking to the others. She says, we gotta go take some more of what's ours. Those Harpies they killed. How many of our men have they killed? And one of the other ones says, they've killed five now. And she says, five in one day. We will not stand for that. We're gonna go take back what is ours. And he says, well, Shiron, are we supposed to fight them face on? And she says, no, we're not going to fight them head on. We do what we do best. We slink in the shadows. We take them one at a time. We hurt them until they leave us alone, until they give us what belongs to us. And the other guy says, well, there aren't many shifters left, ma'. Am. And she says, don't worry about that. Gron Talk is already in his lab. The sun will be down in moments, and he'll begin his ceremony. There will be more of us to join you, but for now, we go to the surface. We take what is ours. She claps that person on the back, and then she stops. And he continues walking. This time, she's kind of reached that main first room that you saw. Again, he's kind of flying around by them. They leave, go out the door past the guard, a couple of them clapping the guard in the back. And they head the other direction in the sewers, not the way you came, but another direction. They're heading deeper into the city, it seems like.
Igneous (Druid)
So a group of seven just left.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Yeah. And so she stands in the doorway For a moment, she nods, and then she heads down the middle passageway, one of the ones that you didn't take. Go down that way.
Igneous (Druid)
Feel like I want to follow her, but I also want to get back up. Okay, before we go any further, I'm going to follow her a little bit. Before I go, I want to make sure that she's going to grand talk.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So she actually goes down this passageway. The passageway is pretty short and opens into a room. The door is kind of hanging open, and inside there, there's a big burly guy in armor. And she comes in and she says, will, will you go and check on Gron Talk, make sure the ceremony is started. The sun must be down by now. And we want to make sure that the ceremony has started. And Will sort of grunts at her. She comes over by her bed, and she kind of takes off a couple pieces of her armor, puts them on the bed. This is clearly her chamber. Got it. But Will goes out the door and back down the door. Oh, Will. Flapping around the ceiling. Just a bat. No big deal. Just a bat.
Igneous (Druid)
Hey, nobody missing out.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Will kind of hurries. He hurries back down to the main room and then back down that passageway to the right that you first went down. And he follows it for a long time. And it curves way around, probably a quarter of a mile away from where you started. And as the tunnel starts to get narrower and much more natural, less footsteps on the ground. And he gets. The passageway curves around, and there is a door set back into the passageway. And he knocks on the door. Two raps. Someone inside says, you hear a voice say, come in. He opens the door and steps in, begins to close the door behind him.
Igneous (Druid)
I'm slipping. Oh, no. Because if he closes the door, I am shit out of luck.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So what are you doing? The door's coming closed.
Igneous (Druid)
I turn around and go back.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
The door close.
Igneous (Druid)
I let the door close.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
You fly back out to your companions.
Igneous (Druid)
Fly all the way back out to them and say, okay, so in bat.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Form, they can't understand you. Of course. You'll have to.
Igneous (Druid)
I return to human form.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay, so by the time he flies back, you guys are getting kind of.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Where is Igneous?
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
He's been gone, like, 25 minutes, 30 minutes. So you're getting nervous when you hear the. As the bat comes flying around the.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Corner, swipe at him. I'm just kidding.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
I'm just kidding. The bat hovers in the air for a moment, and igneous spills out of where the bat was onto the ground.
Igneous (Druid)
All right. You guys. So here's the deal. There's one guard there. When you go through that door, there's a big room. Last I saw, Shiren is in that room and she's taking off her armor.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So she's in her bedroom beyond that.
Igneous (Druid)
She's in her bedroom on the other side of that chamber. Seven armored guys just left to go after the Harpies. We don't care about those guys. There's a long tunnel to the right, and all the way at the end of that is where Grontok is. And he's probably starting the ceremony pretty soon, so.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Yeah, let's go.
Shywin (Ranger)
I should cast pass without a trace again.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Do you want to try to do that?
Narrator/Host
I would love to do that.
Igneous (Druid)
Oh, that's great. Yeah.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Because you got to take out that first guard.
Igneous (Druid)
We take out the first guard, we have longbow.
Shywin (Ranger)
Well, can I do that right now?
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
I mean, you can peek around the corner and see that guy if you.
Leona (Fighter)
Want to take him out from behind.
Igneous (Druid)
Can we kill him while we're in past without a trace? Can we?
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Like, it doesn't change anything. You're stealth. I mean, he's gonna. If you shoot an arrow at him and don't kill him, for instance, he'll know where the arrow came from and probably see you.
Shywin (Ranger)
Sure.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
But it's not invisibility. It's just cloaking you in shadows.
Igneous (Druid)
Maybe we just creep up to him while cloaked in shadow and then just stab the fucker.
Shywin (Ranger)
We could do that. Yeah, we need.
Leona (Fighter)
I'm a good stabber.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
I mean, these two guys are your main offensive tools. And Shywin is pretty good with that bow. Again, Leona, obviously up close is gonna.
So either of them are a good option. What do you guys want to try to do?
Shywin (Ranger)
Yeah, it's up to you guys. I'll do it. I will follow you.
Leona (Fighter)
I say take the shot.
Shywin (Ranger)
Okay, cool. So I cast pass without a trace, right?
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay. So you cast pass without a trace again. You're all drenched in shadow. So you'll be plus 10 to your stealth check when the time comes. And you're going to just kind of lean out in the hallway. I'm not going to make you roll for this because you're around the corner. You're just going to lean out just enough to get eyes on this guy. You're cloaked in this shadowy mist and you can see him just kind of lounging there by the door. He's not really doing much of anything. He's not even really paying attention very well. Going to put A couple of arrows in him.
Shywin (Ranger)
Is he young, too?
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
It's hard to tell from here. He could be anywhere from late teens to mid 20s.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
He will tried to kill a bat.
Igneous (Druid)
He tried to kill me.
Shywin (Ranger)
That's true. All right.
Narrator/Host
For no good reason.
Shywin (Ranger)
All right.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay, so you're gonna roll to hit him. You've got two shots right away before anything else would happen. So if you can take him down with two shots, that would take him down before he can react. Okay, so you've got surprise on him.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Wait, Markin.
Leona (Fighter)
Yes.
Shywin (Ranger)
Thank you.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Phew. Just so we know, the reason we're not rolling Initiative right now is you're attacking from surprise. So he has nothing to react to yet.
Shywin (Ranger)
Okay.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
If you leave him alive, things will change.
Shywin (Ranger)
Right?
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Don't leave him alive.
Shywin (Ranger)
So I should cast Hunter's Mark now.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
How many spells are you at now? You've used Cloak of Shadows. Twice now. Pass with a Trace. Sorry, twice now.
Shywin (Ranger)
But Hunter's Mark is a level one spell.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay. And how many of those do you have?
Shywin (Ranger)
I have four.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay, so you've used. This is. You're out of level two spells, but you have four of these level one spells. If you want to mark him, you.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Can leave it all on the floor.
Shywin (Ranger)
Hunter's Mark.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So you take a moment and mark him. You know exactly where he is. You're gonna take the shot at him.
Shywin (Ranger)
Okay.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
That's a long 8.
Shywin (Ranger)
Natural 20.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Oh. Oh.
Shywin (Ranger)
Plus 8.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Explain to me what happens with this single arrow, how you kill him.
Shywin (Ranger)
He's leaning off to the side, and I take aim, and I just get him right through the heart. He doesn't even know what hit him.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
And you guys just hear a thump off the bow. A thump as the arrow hits, and then a sl. You can hear, like, a little bit of a scrape as he just slides to the ground.
Leona (Fighter)
Very merciful. Painless, I'm sure.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Terrifying. Still very terrifying.
Leona (Fighter)
A painless arrow to the heart.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Yeah. He's gone before he can even blink. So you guys come around the corner then?
Igneous (Druid)
Yep.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Yes. Yes.
Igneous (Druid)
I've thought of many other things that I have not used.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Yes.
Igneous (Druid)
Because I also have the keep of the mountebank.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
You do?
Igneous (Druid)
Which allows me to teleport instantly to places.
Leona (Fighter)
Can you take other people with you?
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
You can go to places that you've seen, unfortunately, because your cape lets you go, you can't take anybody with you.
Igneous (Druid)
I can't take anyone with me.
Leona (Fighter)
We could get an inside man, but.
Igneous (Druid)
I can go in while they're coming through the door. I can go into what's her name? Into Shiren's room.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So if you want to go into Shiren's room, you could. You could do this. You haven't seen inside of Grontok's room.
Igneous (Druid)
Unfortunately. Unfortunately, I have not seen inside of Grandok's room.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
But if you wanted to take Shiren, I don't know where you guys are going.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
Would our plan B Shirin Grontok?
Igneous (Druid)
She's between us. She's between us and him.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So actually the way it works, there's the main room here. Straight ahead is her room. Off to the side over here is Grand Talk. So just to be technicality, you don't have to go to her before you go to Groundhog. That's up to you.
Narrator/Host
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Leona (Fighter)
The priority is ground talk.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Yeah.
Leona (Fighter)
Yeah.
Shywin (Ranger)
So he doesn't get the right.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
If we can. If we can pass her and leave.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Her while we go to ground like the mother shot.
Leona (Fighter)
You're not our strongest. I don't want you trapped in a room alone with her.
Narrator/Host
All right?
Leona (Fighter)
I mean, I want to be able to protect you.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
It is really cool.
Igneous (Druid)
That's really cool.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
You won't be able to use it. There's plenty of time.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
Use it after we take care of ground talk first.
Igneous (Druid)
Let's go for a ground talk.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So you guys move forward, moving as stealthily as you can. I need a stealth check from everyone. So you're going to get plus 10 to your roll. Now you're wearing full chainmail armor. That's going to give you a disadvantage to stealth checks. You still have a plus 10, though, so you're going to roll twice and take the lower roll for everyone else. Just a straight stealth check. Plus 10.
Leona (Fighter)
I rolled 15 both times.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Oh, great. So 15 total both times.
Igneous (Druid)
11. So 20. 21.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Natural 20. So 32.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
The natural 20. You couldn't be quieter anyway, even if you wanted to be. But the 32 is appreciated. Nice.
Shywin (Ranger)
So I rolled a 17 plus 10.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
And then so plus whatever your bonuses for stealth are.
Shywin (Ranger)
Plus 8. 35 there.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Perfect.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
14.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
14. All right. So you move around the corner and out into the passageway. You see the body slumped by the wall? Do you do anything with that body?
Narlak (Spellcaster)
We could hide it.
Shywin (Ranger)
Can we put him in. The water is there.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
You can push him into the little canal in the center of the food for your frame. So as you kind of push him over there. He does not have the scar on his head.
Leona (Fighter)
We should put him in the water as a snack to our crocodile for this one.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So you put him in the little stream. He doesn't float very far. He's kind of big for this. He kind of gets wedged in there and the water moves around him. But he's out of sight, certainly.
Igneous (Druid)
That's good.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Out of sight. You move into the main room. There's nobody there as there wasn't before. It's pretty empty and quiet. You can hear a little bit of rustling from straight ahead where you indicated that Shiren's room was. That's where Sharon's room was. A little bit of talking, some mumbling conversation. You move down the passageway toward Grontok's chambers.
Igneous (Druid)
Oh, I forgot you guys. He's got a huge guy named Will in there.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Or he did when you left.
Igneous (Druid)
When I left. There's a huge guy named William.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay.
Leona (Fighter)
Appreciate the headphones.
Shywin (Ranger)
Thank you.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So you curve around the outside, following this path.
Leona (Fighter)
We're under the spell.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
We're all close together, massed in the shadows. You're moving close to the wall as quietly as you can. You're all actually doing.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
I want to keep an eye on behind us too.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay, you're going to walk behind you. Let's actually make a marching order for this as you move through the hallway. So who's in front?
Leona (Fighter)
Probably I'm still the strongest fighter.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay.
Igneous (Druid)
Still the strongest fighter.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
You're in front there.
Igneous (Druid)
I should probably be second because I've been this way.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay, so you're right behind her, telling her where to go.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
You should be in the middle so you can cover all of us.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay. Should I win? Right in the middle.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
I'll take bank.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
Bank?
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
I don't know what bank means.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
I don't either.
Igneous (Druid)
I'll take up for you.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
I'm taller than everyone. I can cast spells over tall.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
All right, so you guys move down.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Sync is clearly. It means fourth, second to last.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
That's obviously fourth or second to last. Depends upon how you're going to create.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
A new term today.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
All right, so you're moving down this hallway stealthily, quietly. You curve all the way around and find yourself in front of the door that Igneous had described. The door that Wyll went in that you believe leads to Grontak's chambers.
Igneous (Druid)
Yes.
Shywin (Ranger)
Question. Yes, I have sense magic or something, don't I?
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So it's called primeval awareness. And you can sense certain things. Undead, you can sense dragons, fey fiends, devils and stuff like that.
Shywin (Ranger)
I kind of want to know if Gron talk is sort of one of those things.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
I think that's a fair thing to wonder. So you focus yourself, kind of reach out your primeval awareness feeling in your area. You can reach about a mile. These things again, undead fiends, Fae dragons. You don't find any of those within a mile.
Igneous (Druid)
Okay.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
You seem clear of at least those things that you.
Shywin (Ranger)
Maybe he's just a dude.
Narrator/Host
Maybe.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So what are you guys. You are outside the door. What are you guys doing? Wait.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
I would like to cast.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
I know. I want to see if I can.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
Do less upon three of the three companions in the front.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay. So what does Bless do?
Narlak (Spellcaster)
What Bless does is you bless up to three creatures of your choice within range. Whenever a target makes an attack on attack roll or a saving throw before the spell ends, the target can roll a D4 and add that number, roll to the attack or saving throw.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So for Leona and Igneous and Shywin, will you take a D4 and just put it on your dietray? So we remember that because it's easy to forget these kind of things. How long does the spell last?
Narlak (Spellcaster)
It only lasts for a minute.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay. So for the next minute, you've got that D4. If you go into combat rounds, that's actually 10 rounds. If we don't go into combat, that might dissipate before you got it. It's a good thing to do, regardless. Anybody else?
Araviel (Spellcaster)
I'm definitely getting my flail ready.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So you call your flail right now. So you don't have to take an action to do it.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Right.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Your flail appears in your hand.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Perfect.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
They'll stand outside the door there. Who's gonna. Is anybody gonna open the door? Who's gonna open the door?
Leona (Fighter)
I'm gonna throw the door open.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay.
Leona (Fighter)
Very quickly.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
And suddenly you step aside and Just fling the door open. The door crashes open and you find yourself staring at a little anteroom. It's about 20ft deep and about 40ft wide. It's lit by two braziers burning in the room. And nobody's in here. There's a door, however, right on the far side.
Leona (Fighter)
And I think since we just made some noise, we quickly crashed through that.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So you move through this room. What you see as you move through this room is on one side of the room. So on the left side of the room there is a table, like a nice wooden table with a bunch of weird looking instruments laid on it. On the right side of the room there are six more tables laid down with little pillows on them. There's also a barrel of water near that table on the left hand side. And then these two braziers burning brightly. You move across the other door, right across the room. Do you kick that one open as well?
Leona (Fighter)
Yeah.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
All right, Leona, you rush across the room and you kick open that door. And I'm going to pull open one more map here.
So we'll put this right in the center of the room.
Igneous (Druid)
Oh boy.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
There we go. And I'm gonna come around and grab these guys and come around. All right, so Leona, you have just kicked open this door. You are standing right here. Behind you, in order right away was igneous. And Shywin, behind them you have in, what did you call it?
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Bank at Bank.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Bank at Bank. Behind them you've got Eraviel. And bringing up the rear you have Narlak. You kick open the door to this room and what you see is this expansive cave in the middle of the room. There are a couple of stalagmites and stalactites that have grown together. That are these two right there. To the left side of the room you can see a bunch of metal cages filled with weird animals chirping and squawking and making noise. There's also some crates. The brown ones there are just crates. Can't really see what they're filled with. Some barrels you can't see around the corner. But off to the right there you see six tables laid out. And on each of those tables is lying a figure.
Shywin (Ranger)
Animal cruelty too.
Igneous (Druid)
This guy's the worst.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
These figures are just sprawled out on the tables. They have blankets covering them and they are unmoving, poor babies.
Igneous (Druid)
Oh, man.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
If you'll put the other three on there for me. And then at the far end you can see there's a barrel at the far end. You're not Exactly. Sure what that is? There's a small table in front of. There's a figure hunched over the body in the far upper right hand corner. You throw open the door. You hear a voice say, I've just begun the ritual. Why have you disturbed me? And you realize two things. The first one is that that voice echoes. You hear that sound, and then you realize you didn't hear that it was in your head. Oh, boy.
Igneous (Druid)
Oh, boy.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
And the second thing, you realize, and you realize this, Narlak, that the voice you heard didn't speak common. It was translated in your brain to something that you understand, but rather it was speaking an astral language that you've heard your entire life. As what turns around is this figure with this large octopoid head and four tentacles leaning down from its mouth. Its hands are bloody. It's got an operating instrument in one hand. The other hand is just sort of covered in blood. And these octopus tentacles, these four tentacles open to reveal a beak inside. And these beady, beady eyes turn to stare at you. And you can see in the moment of recognition, Leona, you see that it recognizes you are not one of the rivers. And from the back, Narlac, a chill goes down your body as you see a Mind flayer standing on the far side of the river.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
My racial enemy.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Your whole life, your people have been enslaved by the mind flayers. When you escape, that's why you fled to limbo. Being face to face with one chills you to the bone, and it's initiative.
Igneous (Druid)
Oh, God.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
I'll go around the table and ask you. So don't call it out, just roll it. So you roll it, and you add your initiative bonus at the top. Leona, what'd you get?
Leona (Fighter)
Four.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So you just. You see this thing turn and you hear this voice in your brain, and you're just stunned for a moment.
Leona (Fighter)
I'm only a human.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So what about you, Igneous?
Igneous (Druid)
I got an eight with my bonus. It's a nine.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay, 15. Okay, Raviel's 15.
Shywin (Ranger)
Shywin, two plus seven. So I got a nine.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Nine and Narlak five. Five total. You're stunned. Like every bit of your body is on high alert. All the adrenaline rushes into your body. The thing turns and sees you and says, who are you? What is this? And again, you hear it echoing in your brain. It's not an actual voice. He points a finger at you and says, get out. Get out now. And he raises with one hand. He raises this hand. And the bodies that are on these beds here start to rise up from the bed, kind of stumble off, and you can see they've all been operated. They're in middle of operation. They've been cut open. Their entrails are sort of falling out, and they all stumble off of their beds. Kind of form a protective cord in here around him. Ah, he fell over.
Leona (Fighter)
He's mid surgery.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
And so you can see intestines falling out, blood just pouring off of their bodies. And that is his initial move. Now, Eraviel, you are up first.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Okay. I think I want to Eldritch, blast him.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
And. Oh, no, all those babies are awake now, too.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Yeah, they are all up as well.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Well, I'm gonna get on him.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Where you are in the order here, the doorway's pretty much filled by Leona. If you wanna blast him, you're gonna have to move past Leona now. You can move through your companions. They'll get out of the way for you then.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Yes, I will. And I can still stay back pretty much pretty far, because it's 120ft.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Tell me where you want to be. So we'll move you through. You'll step through the door past Leona. And then where do you want to be?
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Can we count? 120ft from him. I want to be as far as.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Oh, you got plenty. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50. You've got plenty.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
You can be anywhere then. Yeah, there's good.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay. See, I was, like, right there. Right. So you step in, and you're going to Eldritch, blast him. Yes.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
So this little guy I actually get to repel. I get to repel him and push him 10ft as well.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
If you hit him.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Certainly if I hit him. So I get two beams.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
And they both have to make their ranged attack.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Yeah. So you have to roll to hit with your ranged spell attack. You're using your spell bonus there.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
It's going to be a plus five.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
All right, you tell me.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
So does an eight hit?
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
An eight does not hit. So the first blast just goes wide. You're just terrified. You push through and you just blast.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Yes. Here comes number two. Oh, dang it. 11.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
11 also does not hit. So you just blast. In fact, he waves his hand a little bit when the second one. And it's almost like the beam veers as he pushes it aside. It never gets even close to him. He sort of pushes it aside.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Well, not this time, but I'm going to gather my wits together, and next time it'll be better.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay. And then we've got. So, Shywin and Igneous, you have the same role, but Shywin's got a much higher dexterity, so she's going to go next.
Igneous (Druid)
Got it.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So, Shywin, you are up.
Shywin (Ranger)
So I'm going to cast Hunter's mark on him.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay. So again, the doorway is crowded. You're going to have to move into the room to really see anything that's going on.
Shywin (Ranger)
I will have to move in front of.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
I definitely get out of the way.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So you move through everybody here. Where do you want to be ultimately?
Shywin (Ranger)
What gives me the best vantage point?
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
I mean, right here, you've got a clear shot at him. You're also standing right in front of everybody else. When the time comes for you, I.
Shywin (Ranger)
Do want to go actually off to the side.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Yeah.
Shywin (Ranger)
So this way or this way to the right.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
You can kind of come around here to get a little bit of.
Shywin (Ranger)
Okay, yeah, that's fine.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So you step up. You can get to here. Here. We give you a shot still.
Shywin (Ranger)
Sure. That's great.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So you step right there, and you're gonna do your hunter's mark as you're moving. So as you're moving, you clock him and cast your hunter's mark. So mark off that spell I did. Okay. And you can take a shot at him. All right.
Shywin (Ranger)
Okay. So it's 15 plus 8. 23.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So that hits him. An arrow thunks, and you hear the sound of scraping metal as it thunks through his breastplate. He's wearing a metal breastplate, so that's gonna hit. So you're gonna roll your damage.
Shywin (Ranger)
Yes.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Right. And then you're gonna roll a D6 as well, because the hunter's mark. And then you'll add your bonus that's next to it.
Shywin (Ranger)
Two plus seven. So that's nine then.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Plus the extra hunter's mark damage.
Shywin (Ranger)
Eleven.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Eleven total. All right, so the arrow thunks into his chest, and you have another attack. Because you're a fifth level ranger, right?
Shywin (Ranger)
10 plus 8. 18.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
All right, so we didn't use it last time, but we didn't need to because you hit. But you can roll that D4 because you're blessed and add that to your roll as well.
Shywin (Ranger)
18 plus 4. 22.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So 22 is your total roll again. Another arrow flies through the air, thunking into his chest. You hear it scrape through the metal. Roll your damage.
Shywin (Ranger)
All right, I get the D6 again.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Yep. Because he's marked. So every time until the hunter's mark goes away, you get that extra D.
Shywin (Ranger)
Six, eight, seven, so, okay, six plus seven. Got 13 plus four. 17.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
My goodness. All right, those arrows thunk into him and he screams. Kind of a psychic scream. You can see his tentacles crack. And like, this vibration in your brains is just like your brains are like shaking in your heads from the scream of this thing. And then it is igneous. You are up.
Igneous (Druid)
All right, with my cap of the mountebank, I can use that.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Yes.
Igneous (Druid)
And does that count as my move.
Narrator/Host
Or is that count?
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
It would be an action. That would be an action. So you're taking an action to do that.
Igneous (Druid)
Okay, so I'm not going to do that now. I'm going to move.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay, so remember, you have six squares of movement.
Igneous (Druid)
Six squares of movement. 1, 2, 3, 4. I think that's close enough. Okay, I'll move one closer just to be sure.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay.
Igneous (Druid)
And I'm gonna call the lightning.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Bring in that cloud.
Igneous (Druid)
Bring in the cloud of lightning on, dude, right there.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So the lightning crackles in this cloud, and he gets to roll a save versus it. Yeah, that's right.
Igneous (Druid)
He gets to roll a dexterity saving throw.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay.
The lightning comes crashing down. And you see, as the lightning comes, he again waves his hand a little bit, and the lightning curves around him and crashes into the ground. So he does still take half damage, I think. Right?
Igneous (Druid)
He's still.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Yep. So still roll your damage. Divide it in half.
Igneous (Druid)
Take 3d10 on a failed save and half that much on a successful.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay, so 3D10.
Igneous (Druid)
So that's a 7 and a 5.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So, okay, and a 412 plus 4 is 16. And it's halved because he made his save by pushing it out of the way, but he still takes eight points of damage. All right, and you moved and you've attacked now, so it moves on to Narlak. You are up. You're shaking. Like the adrenaline's coursing into your blood. You see this illithid across the room staring into your soul. What are you going to do?
Narlak (Spellcaster)
Narlac is first going to run at full speed.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Then I'm going to to Misty step. Okay, which uses a bonus action.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Great, so you use a bonus action to misty step. How far can you.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
30 more feet.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
30 more feet. So put him where you want to put.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
What are you doing right in front of the thing.
Igneous (Druid)
Yes.
Leona (Fighter)
Surrounded.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
This is what Narlak would do.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Seeing a mind. You guys don't know much about the history of the Geth, but this is the enemy of his people.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
They enslaved us for literally, literally thousands of years.
Igneous (Druid)
All right, go get it.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So what are you doing? You land there, you run. You misty step, you appear right in front of the thing.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
I'm going to use the most powerful spell I have, which is burning hands.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
And blast. It's a 15 foot cone, so I think it might hit.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Yeah, well, I don't think you can get both of them, but you can get one of them and him there.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
I'll pick that one.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay, so the two just blasting the with fire, burning hands. Now he gets to make a dexterity save against that as well. Yes, he does. Okay, so first the guy who got off the table, he will roll the save. And he does not. So he's gonna take the full brunt of this. Gron Tok also rolls, and he rolls a 19. So once again, he moves his hands and the fire kind of just around. He'll take some of that damage. Right. But not all of it.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
Right. And that will be four of these. All right, Three, four, five, six, seven.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Seven points.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
So half of seven.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Three and a half. Yeah. So the guy on the right, the guy who had the surgery, who was crawled off the table, he's burning. He's sort of. His body's wet, so it doesn't stay on fire, but it burns him. But the illithid, you can see his robe's taking some of the fire, but he doesn't take much of it. All right, so you've moved right up close. You're right there. And Leona, you're the last one there.
Leona (Fighter)
My head is pounding. This has hurt my human brain. But I finally shake it off, and I move up.
By shy wind so that I still have some cover. And I, from this distance, take a shot with my crossbow.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
All right, so your sword's still in its sheath, and you're going to fire with your crossbow.
Leona (Fighter)
Am I still blessed? And I don't understand what happens.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
You are still blessed. It lasted for a minute. So you've got that D4 sitting out there. When you rolled a hit, you'll add that decor to it.
Narrator/Host
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Leona (Fighter)
15 +5 and then + the D4.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So 2121. So you hit with that crossbow bolt. So roll your damage to D8 poor light crossbow.
7 and then you add the plus 2 plus 2. All right, so 9. All right, so you've hurt him badly. He's taken arrows and crossbow bolts. He's staggering backwards.
Igneous (Druid)
That's good.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
And then we are back to the top of the initiative and it is his turn. So he draws himself up to his full height, facing you, looking you dead in the eye. And you hear in your brain the language he doesn't even try to translate. It's the language of the Illithid. And you don't speak it or understand it or anything. It's generations before you. But you can hear the disdain in his voice. And he does use Githazerai as part of it. There's some kind of a curse. And his tentacles fly wide, and it's almost. You can almost see the ripples in the air as a blast of psychic energy comes out of his head and it blasts all the way to the doorway in a cone. And you all conveniently have stayed close together in line here. So you're gonna take the full force of this blast. Now you can all make intelligence saving throw, so you can roll an intelligence saving throw against a DC of 15 to try to avoid this damage.
Igneous (Druid)
And we also get to roll the bless.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
And you can add the bless to your roll. Yes. Three of you are born.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
David, don't you think I'm a little far to be affected?
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
You are not a little far to be affected.
Igneous (Druid)
Oh.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
I got a one.
Igneous (Druid)
Oh, no, I got a nine.
Leona (Fighter)
I got a 20.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
20.
Shywin (Ranger)
Okay, I got 11 plus one. 12, 16.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
Okay, 13 for me.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Those of you who did not save, take 22 points of damage as this thing just rings in your brain. Like, you rock back against this blow, and you're just stunned. Like, your head is reeling. Things are stuck spinning around in your head. You have a hard time even concentrating. And so stunned is an official condition. In the stunned condition, you are incapacitated. You can't move. You can barely speak. You automatically fail. Strength and dexterity saving throws and attack rolls against you have advantage. So you're stunned. You'll get a chance to try to save at the end of your turns to get out of this. But you're reeling now and you can't move. No, you're just staggering there, stunned. Which of you did not save Araviel? What was the igneous? Sorry, it was a 15.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
Oh, I didn't save.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay, so the three of you are just stunned and reeling there.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
I'm still taking action.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So let's look at a turn. So the first one up is actually Araviel. Now you're stunned. You can't do anything here. You can stagger a couple of feet, but really your action is just your head is ringing. At the end of your turn, you can try to save again to shake Free of that.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
I'm not gonna be much help this fight.
Shywin (Ranger)
Wait, I got 16, am I okay?
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
You are okay. You beat it. Yes. So, Raviel, you are up. So you stagger, you trying to find your head and you can take. You can save again to try to shake this off, but I can't.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Move forward.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Or I'll let you take a five foot step forward if you want to, but. Yeah. Okay, just a nice dagger forward there.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Okay, so let's save again. So this is intelligence.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Yep.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
And I am.
Unblussed. And that is an 11. So no.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So you're still staggering there, stunned. And your turn passes you by. Next up is Shywin. You were not stunned. So you can take whatever action you want to.
Shywin (Ranger)
Yeah, I'm gonna hit him again.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay, you fire at him. Roll the first attack.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
Fire away.
Shywin (Ranger)
Okay. 18 plus.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
That's definitely gonna hit him.
Shywin (Ranger)
Yeah. And then.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
And then you would get your bless roll as well. But again you're gonna hit him, so it doesn't matter.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
So.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So the D8 and the D6.
Shywin (Ranger)
So 8.
I guess it counts.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Roll it on the thing. There we go.
Shywin (Ranger)
Plus one. Nine.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So nine plus.
Shywin (Ranger)
Oh, yeah. Nine plus seven.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So 16 more points of damage to him. He's staggering. He's badly hurt now. Good. Another arrow in his chest. And you can take another shot.
Shywin (Ranger)
Another one? Yeah, like that.
Leona (Fighter)
Get another one.
Shywin (Ranger)
Okay. Six damage. Sixteen plus eight.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay, you hit.
Shywin (Ranger)
All right.
Seven plus two. Nine plus seven. Sixteen again.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
All right, so he staggers and drops to one knee and kind of pulls himself up in a roar, like tentacles flying. A roar echoing in your brain, and it is igneous. Next. What are you doing?
Igneous (Druid)
Okay, so I can't move.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So you're stunned.
Igneous (Druid)
You can't move. But can I change to a bear?
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
You can't take an action that requires you to concentrate, trade, or do anything. You are stunned.
Igneous (Druid)
I am stunned.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
But you can try to save to get out of this stuff.
Igneous (Druid)
I'm gonna try to. Yeah. I mean, if I can't really do anything, I'll try to save.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So it's an intelligent save versus a 15.
Igneous (Druid)
I'm gonna save versus a 15. And I'm blessed. So I get to add that.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
You get to add the bless roll as well.
Igneous (Druid)
6. Damn. I mean, I'll roll the blessed thing, but it's not gonna get me any eight. So plus three, it's still not enough.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So you're still holding your head. You're. Your brain is ringing in your head. You and me, bud, and we move on to Narlak, you are up. Are you stunned as well?
Narlak (Spellcaster)
I am stunned.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
All right, so you're gonna have to try to shake this off. Standing right in front of him, kind of down on your knee. Come on, Narlak. Oh, it's overwhelming for you. Too much and you fall to your knees. So you rolled a one. That's a failure. You fall to your knees, screaming. You can hear in your head the curse that he left you, as well as the psychic blast. And it turns around to Leona. It is up to you.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
It is up to you, Leona.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
You can do it, Leona.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Dps.
Leona (Fighter)
Man, am I still blessed.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
You are still blessed.
Leona (Fighter)
Thirteen plus. Wait, what? Plus what?
Shywin (Ranger)
For this.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Crossbow.
Leona (Fighter)
Oh, what am I doing? I'm doing crossbow.
Narrator/Host
What are you shooting?
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Rolling.
Leona (Fighter)
Plus five. So 18.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
That does hit him.
Leona (Fighter)
Yes.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So roll the damage for that to D8.
Leona (Fighter)
2 plus 2. 4.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Just 4 points of damage. Thunks into him again. He staggers. He's screaming his psychic scream now. You've still got to move. You can move if you want to.
Leona (Fighter)
Ah.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
You can leave your friends behind.
Leona (Fighter)
I'm going to put myself next to Gnarlik because he's defenseless.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So move in closer there. Reach over and although just stepping right up next to him. All right, and we're at the top of the round. It is the Mind Flayer again. So let's see if he's still got his psychic blast.
Leona (Fighter)
Glad I moved in there.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
He does not.
Leona (Fighter)
Woohoo.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
But he steps forward. So first he sends his minions here forward and they all move toward Leona. They're going to try to take you on because Gnarlak's screaming on the ground. They move in toward you.
Igneous (Druid)
Oh, God.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
And they're just kind of stumbling, dragging their entrails behind. This guy has been burnt. He steps in and moves toward this table. This guy can't get quite to you. He has to move through this difficult terrain here. He's able to just thereby Narlak. And actually, this guy, he tries to step around. He isn't able to quite get to you either. And so a couple of them take swings. Yes.
Leona (Fighter)
It says, those who fight beside me are worth dying for. I just want you to know that's.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
One of your names.
Leona (Fighter)
That's why I did that.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
So those four guys who are on you are gonna take swings at you.
Leona (Fighter)
Great.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
What's your armor class right now?
Leona (Fighter)
18.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay, so you have great armor on, and they're just kind of grasping at you with torn fingernails and bloody hands, and they're leaving bloody prints all over your armor, but none of them are able to hit you or hurt you in any way. Gron talk, however, steps forward. He strides up and stands over you, and you can all hear echoing in your brains, although he's clearly talking to you, Narlak. And he says, your people escaped us a century ago. How fitting that you should bring yourself to me now. And he leans down and his tentacles go wide and they slap around the sides of your head.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Oh, my gosh.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
He rolls a 19. What's your armor class?
Narlak (Spellcaster)
15.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
And he has advantage against you because you are stunned. So he just wraps his tentacles around you, and he's holding you there in this grip. And you can feel against your face, although you can't do anything about it. You can feel his beak open. It scrapes against your nose as his beak opens what wide as he's holding onto your face. You take, oh, my gosh, 12 points of damage. Right.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
As he does that, I say, zertimon, I shall return to you. And I go unconscious.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay. You see Narlak slump in his tentacles, and he's just being held there by these tentacles. What do you do, Araviel?
Araviel (Spellcaster)
I try to save from the psychic blast. Is it still.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
It's still ringing in your ears? Roll. A save.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Is that a concentration thing?
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
No. It's unfortunate.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
He just gets to freaking do it. Come on, baby. Give it to me an eight.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay, so you're still stunned. You're just trying to hold on to everything.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Give me five feet.
Narrator/Host
Come on.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
You can stumble five feet forward if you want to. And shy when you are up, I'm.
Shywin (Ranger)
Gonna move so that I can shoot him right in his tentacle face.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
All right, so you're just gonna step forward. Boom, boom. You step right up. You stay a little bit away so you're not by the zombies. And you're just gonna plug one in his head.
Shywin (Ranger)
Roll to hit him right in the tentacle area.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Yeah. All right. Roll to hit him.
Igneous (Druid)
Oh, get him. Come on. Shy win.
Shywin (Ranger)
Come on. 16 plus 8. 25.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay, and that hits him.
Shywin (Ranger)
Yes.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Arrow strikes him in the head. Roll your damage.
Shywin (Ranger)
All right.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Okay.
Shywin (Ranger)
Six.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
And roll a D. Six.
We'll call that one. What is it? One. Okay, so seven.
Shywin (Ranger)
Seven plus 14.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
14. The arrow thunks into his head, and you can. You can see the tentacles tense for a second, and then they let go. And Narlak slides out of his grip. Grantok staggers for a moment. All of the bodies that are standing around all collapse to the ground. Grahtok staggers. Boom, boom boom. And he falls. Yay.
You guys lean against the wall. As he falls, those of you who are stunned, you feel his grip release. You lean against the pillar. You lean up against the wall. Narlak is slumped on the ground next to the body of Gron. Talk. Does anyone go help him?
Igneous (Druid)
I rush right in to help him and use my healing word.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Okay, we won't worry about rolling that you kind of slide in on your knees and grab his body, holding it to you, whisper in his ear. Narlak. Your eyes flutter open as you're suddenly brought to life. You can smell still the breath of the illithid on your face when you can see him lying beside you on the ground. You hear his words echo in your brain as you all stand there slumped. You hear footsteps in the outer room, footsteps running toward the door. And as you turn and look, three crimson cloaks rush in through the door. They stop when they see you, horrified at the bloody bodies lying all over on the ground, you guys clutching each other, covered in blood, some of you still there, your heads are ringing, your faces contorted, and they move out of the way and into the room. Steps, smiles. She strides in, her glasses down on her nose. Behind her are two more crimson cloaks, and they're bringing Shiren with them in handcuffs. She steps into the room and surveys the room, appraises what she sees, and she looks over at you, Leona, and she says, well done. Well done. We were able to catch this one back in her chambers. I assume this is someone that you're looking for as well. She calls herself Shiren.
Igneous (Druid)
Yes.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
By the way, we had a bit of a time. Sorry that we were late. We would have helped you sooner, but we had some problems with some crocodiles. Do you guys know anything about that? Nope. It took some time to fight the nasty beasts away.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Yes, we took time doing that as well. We obviously had a bit better luck, Captain.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Yeah, well, we didn't lose anyone, thankfully. But it did take some time to beat them away. And as she turns around with Sheeran and marks his shot and out of the room, turns back to you and gives you a little wink and the crimson cloaks kind of run around gathering stuff up and you sit back into yourselves and you think about this moment and you look around the room at these bodies and you think of all the stories that you have told each other over your tankards in the various taverns around town. Never have you told or heard a story like this. This is something that you'll be able to tell your children. This is something that you could go back and tell the people of your of your home plane. This is something that you can pass down through generations. It certainly is going to elevate your legend and your position inside.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Now, my version of the story is that Narlak died, but I would love to hear his version.
Narlak (Spellcaster)
Give me five minutes.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
And with that, that is the end of our adventure. Thank you guys for doing this with me. This was so much fun.
Shywin (Ranger)
I guess all that's left is to figure out how to help Liam.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
There's much more for you to do. There's much crime in the city, a little bit of recovery, a little bit of rest, and then there's still much for you to do as inquisitors with the city. Watch. So thank you guys for playing and thank you for watching. We hope you enjoyed the story that we told and that you learned a little something about how fun it is to play these mid level, these fifth level characters and that maybe you learned something here that you can bring to your home game that would make me very happy. So I am David Nettle and this has been your starter kit.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Join Vanguard for a moment of meditation.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Take a deep breath. Picture yourself reaching your financial goals.
Araviel (Spellcaster)
Feel that freedom.
David Nett (Dungeon Master)
Visit vanguard.com investinginyou to learn more. All investing is subject to risk.
If you love those, wait. What moments you'll love. Something you should know. I'm Mike Carruthers, and on my podcast we explore the fascinating ideas hiding in plain sight, like how elevators change the entire world, how gravity affects your health more than you think, or how to instantly become a better conversationalist. Each episode is fast, fun and full of insight you'll want to share, so give it a try. Search for something you should know wherever you get your podcasts.
Shywin (Ranger)
Oh, the Regency era. You might know it as the time when Bridgerton takes place, or the time when Jane Austen wrote her books. But the Regency era was also an explosive time of social change, sex scandals, and maybe the worst king in British history. And on the Vulgar History podcast, we're going to be looking at the balls, the gowns and all the sky scandal of the Regency era. Vulgar History is a women's history podcast, and our Regency era series will be focusing on the most rebellious women of this time. That includes Jane Austen herself, who is maybe more radical than you might have thought. We'll also be talking about queer icons like Anne Lister, scientists like Mary Anning and Ada Lovelace, as well as other scandalous actresses, royal mistresses, rebellious princesses, and other lesser known figures yet made history happen in England in the Regency era. Listen to Vulgar History wherever you get podcasts.
Podcast: Critical Role & Sagas of Sundry – Geek & Sundry
Date: December 8, 2025
Episode Theme:
A high-stakes Dungeons & Dragons adventure concludes as the party infiltrates the sewers beneath Greyhawk, confronts deadly foes, and faces a horrific mind flayer named Grontok conducting a sinister ritual. This episode demonstrates classic D&D gameplay, party tactics, and epic storytelling with both tension and camaraderie, overseen by Dungeon Master David Nett.
[48:29] Shywin steps up for the final blow, arrow to Grontok’s tentacled head. All zombies collapse as the mind flayer perishes.
Narlak is revived by Igneous’s healing:
[50:38] The cavalry arrives: Crimson Cloaks (city authorities) enter with Shiren in custody, learning of the party’s hard-won victory.
Bittersweet victory – lingering trauma and camaraderie among the party:
DM closes with reflection: “...you look around the room at these bodies and you think of all the stories that you have told each other over your tankards… never have you told or heard a story like this. This is something that you can pass down through generations.” [51:12]
The tone throughout is energetic, suspenseful, and punctuated with camaraderie and the quick wit of classic D&D banter. The Dungeon Master maintains a balance between tension, tactical detail, and narrative flair, allowing dramatic story moments and humor to shine.
This thrilling episode showcases the classic D&D experience—combining improvisation, party teamwork, pulpy fantasy adventure, and intense, emotional moments. The final battle against Grontok brings out each character's strengths and vulnerabilities, ultimately delivering a hard-fought victory. The adventure wraps with a sense of accomplishment and hints at more quests to come, celebrating both the game’s mechanics and the deeper bonds forged in collaborative storytelling.