Season 2 | Ep. 32 | Through the Woods

Summary

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Dark Dice — Season 2, Episode 32: “Through the Woods”

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of Dark Dice follows the party as they navigate the enigmatic and haunted Dead Pines, attempting to track down missing children while wrestling with layers of time travel, fatigue, and the burdens of sacrifice. Relationships deepen, secrets surface, and the party faces both supernatural and mundane obstacles on the darkest roads of their journey.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Exhaustion, Time Loops, and Uncertainty

• Recap & Setup ([04:21–05:25])
  The narrator frames the party’s quest: Sorin Arkwright, the monster hunter, leads Ildrych, Father Sindri, and Rowena (Glowy) through the Dead Pines, now complicated by timelines—future selves having left clues for past selves.
• Time Travel Paradox ([05:25])
  Sorin’s attempt at tracking is hindered by earlier, failed rolls—even his successes can't overcome lost time. He ponders the logic of leaving trails for himself, bristling at “all this time travel nonsense.”

  “But wait, that didn't make sense, because then who would have left the tracks?” — Narrator ([05:25])

• Fatigue and Setting Camp ([07:13–08:07])
  The party is physically and emotionally exhausted. They make camp near a lifeless tree, with Rowena (Glowy) taking watch and hesitating to sleep.

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2. Deepening Bonds: Glowy & Sindri’s Nighttime Conversation

• Tense Vulnerability ([08:07–11:57])
  Glowy initiates a heartfelt talk with Sindri about mortality, legacy, and belonging:
  • She confesses her own sense of doom and offers Sindri a letter, written years before, where she contemplates sacrificing herself to close the gate, and names Sindri the father she wishes she had.

    “Because I may as well admit to you now, the father I choose would be you. The cost to close the portal is a soul… because I’ve decided you’re going to live, I’ll pay the price.” — Glowy West Pike ([10:03])

  • Sindri, moved, accepts her as family:

    “It would be my honor, and the honor of all Westpikes before us, to call you one of our own. Take our name and hold it high and let it guide you.” — Sindri Westpike ([11:58])

• Reclamation of Identity ([11:33–13:14])
  Glowy chooses to embrace the Westpike name, seeking a sense of belonging, while Sindri reminisces about family names and lost times.

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3. Journeys, Memories, and Dwarven Graves

• Tracking Resumes ([13:30–14:07])
  The next day, tracking is easier. The party finds a centuries-old dwarven graveyard, where Sindri discovers headstones of fallen scouts and shares tales of their bravery.
• Solace in History ([14:07–15:05])
  Glowy and Sindri take comfort in recording the names and deeds of the dead, strengthening their shared heritage. The mention of “Khor”—a name used by a deceptive antagonist—sends a chill.

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4. Looping Fates and Precautions

• Deja Vu & the Doll ([15:21–17:43])
  Sorin realizes they're traversing familiar ground—where he had (will have?) found the Delphinium doll. The party must ensure their actions align with the timeline’s demands.

  “Actually, this patch of ground seems familiar. Yeah. I think this is where I first found the doll when we passed through. I suppose I meant to leave it here for myself.” — Sorin Arkwright ([16:07])

  • The party recreates the moment by weaving a small blanket from leaves for the doll, blending survival practicality with personal sentiment.

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5. Stealth, Danger, and a New Ally?

• Cultist Camp and Stealth ([17:43–19:58])
  They approach the cultist camp carefully, evading notice with Sorin and others’ high stealth rolls (except the clanky Sindri). Sorin notices the camp’s composition matches their first encounter, heightening the tension of repeating history.
• The Tiefling Healer: Duvar ([19:58–24:25])
  An anxious, green-skinned, one-horned tiefling called Duvar is intercepted while moving towards Sindri. Soren impersonates a cult leader to gain his trust.

  “Oh, you stand still, breathing before the carver of dreams, and you dare to ask. Well, you must be new.” — Sorin Arkwright ([21:21])

  • Duvar reveals they are rear-guard for the cultists, and the children have already passed by midday. He, a healer, offers to lead the party to the portal, nervously attempting to please the “Dreamcarver” (Sorin).
  • Quick-witted party banter maintains deception, with Glowy intimidating and Sindri performing insight checks.

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6. Travel, Small Talk, and Cultic Revelations

• Unsettling Curiosity ([24:25–25:27])
  Duvar attempts small talk about anatomy; Glowy threatens, Sindri appeases, and the group keeps up their façade.

  “Do you know how dwarves like me learn about the physical makeup of beings like you?” — Glowy West Pike ([25:00])

• Portal Explanations & Timeline Questions ([25:49–28:31])
  Duvar describes the portal as a magic circle to the “dream realm” (temple), set up by the Dreamcarver (Sorin), used for moving the children and cultists.

  “This portal is a magic circle that teleports you to the dream realm... there are other places there too, I'm sure—I think I've heard someone mention a desert and marsh. But I'd be willing to bet the carver of dreams could tell you more.” — Duvar ([26:20])

  • Sindri, anxious about portals, asks probing questions, learning that the dream realm is intertwined with Grimana.

• Duvar’s Status & Party’s Suspicion ([28:48–30:20])
  The party suspects Duvar’s intentions, but Sindri (with a high insight roll) determines Duvar is nervous but not malicious, and not fully committed to the cult’s faith.

  “Sindri knew the face of the agnostic when he saw one, and this face of the corpses he'd surveyed after his combat with the cultists all those years ago. He did not remember a green skinned one horned tiefling among their number.” — Narrator ([29:44–30:20])

• Approaching the Portal ([30:23–End])
  Duvar leads in silence; the party steels itself for what lies ahead.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Bakcloop Paranoia:

  “But wait, that didn’t make sense, because then who would have left the tracks?” — Narrator ([05:25])

• Acceptance and Chosen Family:

  “It would be my honor, and the honor of all Westpikes before us, to call you one of our own.” — Sindri Westpike ([11:58])

• Meta-Timeline Banter:

  “Maintain the integrity of the timeline as I believe Rowena explained it to me. You know, right after we left the Hope.” — Sorin Arkwright ([18:34])

• Dry Humor Amid Horror:

  “You're gonna get to level six soon.” — Sorin Arkwright (teasing Duvar about cult rank advancement) ([28:54])

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Important Timestamps

• [04:21]: Party’s recap and narrative setup
• [08:07–11:57]: Glowy and Sindri’s emotional conversation and letter reading
• [13:30]: Dwarven graveyard discovery
• [15:54]: Sorin’s deja vu at the Delphinium doll location
• [17:43]: Stealth near the cultist camp
• [19:58–24:25]: Encounter with Duvar, the tiefling healer
• [25:49–28:31]: Duvar’s explanations about the portal and dream realm
• [29:44]: Sindri’s insight about Duvar’s motives
• [30:23–End]: The party heads toward the next major confrontation

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Tone & Style

• The episode balances horror-laden tension with found family warmth and occasional dark humor. Characters weave between existential dread, logistical planning, and moments of hope or tenderness—captured by voices both weary and unflinchingly human.

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Episode Takeaway

“Through the Woods” is a moody, introspective journey—equal parts shadowed horror and touching found-family drama. Themes of belonging and sacrifice are underscored by the ever-present dangers of the Dead Pines, the weight of timelines, and trust placed in unlikely allies. The group’s fate, and that of the missing children, hangs on the choices they make as they approach the cult’s portal—and the thin boundary between this world and nightmares.

Transcript

[KA Statz]

Greetings adventurers. It feels good to be back in the dead pines with our beloved party. What traumas await them? What manner of timey wimey will they whimsy? Not even your CO DMs? No. Yes CO DMs. As of the latest episode onward, it's both myself and KA stats. Hope you appreciate the lovely spike in writing quality there. Speaking of which, we wanted to quickly let you know that we've just released the pre alpha for our next adventure book, Shores of the Silver thrum. With over 200 pages of intense life altering horrors stories, special rules for skill challenges and freezing to death, and over a half hour of found footage style full cast audio drama stories in MP3 form that tie into the adventure. How good are they?

[Duvar]

You can't take it or cut it. I didn't know.

[KA Statz]

Did you hear a cat?

[Glowy West Pike]

I only hear chewing. That's.

[Sindri Westpike]

No, don't.

[KA Statz]

Yeah, they're pretty good. And the majority of them won't be featured on our podcast because of the open ended nature of the story. So if you want to be the first to check out Shores of the Silver Thrum and help shape the content that we add to the book, check it all out on our Patreon. A link is in the show notes. Oh, and real quick, it is the last two days. If you're interested in getting a guardian statue from the White Vault, that's right, a physical hand carved artifact to take home with you. You can still sign up till February 4, so so please sign up before then. Rules are also on our Patreon. Thank you. And now we return to our intrepid party.

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[Duvar]

Shaylis de Peis Salis DMA do you seek Him?

[Narrator]

Do you seek Him?

[Sorin Arkwright]

Do you seek Him?

[KA Statz]

Do you seek Him?

[Sindri Westpike]

Do you seek the nameless God?

[KA Statz]

You have found yourself among those who roll the Dark Dice. What you are about to fear happened long ago, a story brought back from the edge of oblivion, dutifully transcribed and enhanced orally to better captivate your attention. Previously, six adventurers entered the Dead Pines, unaware that just a few hours before, their future selves had carefully laid their path. Dark Dice the long road Chapter 32 through the Woods. Sorin Arkwright, the renowned human monster hunter, led Ildrychsmiston, the Scaleskin Monk, Father west pike and Rowena Granite Pike, a dwarven cleric and bard respectively, through an ill stricken section of the Bright Vale known as the Dead Pines.

[Narrator]

Even for a ranger as skilled as Sorin, tracking the missing children through the woods east of the Hope had proven arduous, despite knowing where to look for signs of his quarry's passage. Unfortunately, his first two survival roles were not entirely negated by the 220s he'd rolled after, and much time was lost. In the early stages of their expedition. His quarry had been systematic, thorough, and Sorin feared he'd lost the trail entirely. A shame he'd not shared with the others, but which Ildrix seemed to pick up on. Sorin had left intentional tracks for his past self to follow and silently cursed that his current mistakes would cost the rescue party valuable time. If he had only been better, perhaps they could have caught up with the kidnappers to the first time. But wait, that didn't make sense, because then who would have left the tracks? Soren's mind bristled at the thought of all this time travel nonsense, but some part of him wondered if he had done something similar before. Perhaps before becoming a monster hunter. Brief flashes of people, smiles, and faces of former friends. Sleep sparked in his mind's eye, tantalizingly demanding his focus for further introspection, but also distracting him from the task at hand. Later. Yes, later, he would have to think about this. As the sun dipped below the trees behind them, a suffocating mist pooled around the party with supernatural speed. The somber appearance of a ragged skeleton suspended from a tree and the sudden flight of startled bushfowl had the party on edge, as if at any moment they might encounter their prey. To be more careful, Sorin slowed their pace, and though he wouldn't say it aloud, he thankfully found evidence of recent passage. A single child's footprint. Sorin breathed easier, knowing he'd not lost the trail. And though his discovery motivated him, the long day had taken its toll on the party, who could only move as fast as Sindri's shuffling gait would accommodate. Winded from their full day of travel without regard for meals or rest, and emotionally exhausted from their brush with death, Sorin suggested they make camp near the hollow of a great lifeless tree. Rowena organized the watch, ensuring a buddy system with overlap between shifts. As she woke Sindri, she contemplated sleep for a long moment, but hesitated and took a seat next to Sindri.

[Sindri Westpike]

Your shift is over, Rowena.

[Glowy West Pike]

Aye, but I've got something to ask and I don't know how best to do it.

[Sindri Westpike]

All right. Well, I think now is probably the best time to ask for favors. It's not a lot I would say no to.

[Glowy West Pike]

You said just when we started out that my nihilism was upsetting to you.

[Sindri Westpike]

Yes, I. It wasn't helpful. But I understand what you're doing. You're being pragmatic or whatever. Whatever they say so. I understand. But not a fan of it.

[Glowy West Pike]

Thing is, before we even left the roaming forest, before we even had this fight that we're trying to deal with. I already thought I wouldn't make it out with us.

[Sindri Westpike]

Why are you so sure of your death?

[Glowy West Pike]

Do you remember the night that we spoke about your family? How you'd left them behind?

[Sindri Westpike]

Yes.

[Glowy West Pike]

And I promised you that I would get you back to her.

[Sindri Westpike]

And you did.

[Glowy West Pike]

I did. But I also realized that night that a death would probably be needed to seal the gate.

[Sindri Westpike]

Right? Yes.

[Glowy West Pike]

Aror, you are naught. And she's gonna pull out her. Her book and pull out an envelope that she has that she wrote to Sindri. I guess at this point. Eight years ago. A couple of. Couple of days ago.

[Sindri Westpike]

Alright.

[Glowy West Pike]

Dear Sindri. If things go the way I think they will, I'll have stopped you. And me you might despise, but for closing the portal with my life. I'll explain, but I will not apologise. You scolded, consoled and encouraged me who I am. You've shown real concern and interest. We've laughed and cried and fought Undead. This last month is both hell and the best. So I've decided you're going to live. You will find your daughter and your wife. The person your girl should look up to isn't me. It's you. For the compass of a good life. You told me I'm not my father's daughter. And I can only wish that that were true. Because I may as well admit to you now, the father I choose would be you. The cost to close the portal is a soul. And writing this, I know someone has to die. And because I've decided you're going to live, I'll pay the price. And with my love, goodbye. The weird thing is. You are my father. And I did die.

[Sindri Westpike]

What a upsettingly prophetic note. Cinder's gonna take it out of your hand and like fold it up. I don't have a note.

[Glowy West Pike]

I died with a Thorin's name. I don't think we'll make it out of this. But if we do, I. I don't want to die with someone else's name.

[Sindri Westpike]

Then please.

[Glowy West Pike]

Please.

[Sindri Westpike]

It would be my honor and the honor of all Vespikes before us to call you one of our own. Take our name and hold it high and let it guide you. We are not a defeated sponge. We've seen the darkness of the crag. We've seen the never ending twilight of the vestments. Hold we do not give up.

[Glowy West Pike]

What would Pierre have caught me.

[Sindri Westpike]

Now? I can't say I was there for the days leading up, but I know we had Rainer and Solver, and that's the boy and girl name that we had discussed. But when we named Solber there was a second name banded about a lot, and if I know my wife right, she probably used that as a little bit of a comeback to us. So you were probably called Gloway for the first months of your life.

[KA Statz]

Rowena.

[Sindri Westpike]

Hmm.

[KA Statz]

Gloa slowly nodded and rested her head against Sindri's shoulder. The two of them quietly gazed outward, recovering seven stress and without incident. Morning came and the party collectively finished a long rest.

[Narrator]

It was easier for Soren to track the kidnappers on the second day, though they still seemed to maintain a combination of ranger tricks and strange magic, special to obscure practically all indications of their passage.

[KA Statz]

By the late afternoon, the party had passed a curious stone wall some 20ft long that encircled an overgrown graveyard. Once Sorin confirmed it was safe and no ambush awaited, Glowie and Ildryx decided it would be in Sindri's best interest if they rested here for an hour and perhaps shared a late afternoon meal. Sorin foraged and returned with mushrooms and berries while Sindri invested investigated the graves with eager curiosity, praying over them before sitting down to eat. He explained after reading the Dwarvish runes that had not been weathered and lost time, that the site had been left behind centuries ago by a Dwarven expedition. The deceased were brave Dwarven scouts who had been ambushed by giants, and the survivors were forced to stay in the area while they recovered from the battle. Each grave had a long list of great deeds, deeds and some personal memories written by the surviving scouts, and Sindri found himself smiling and finding solace in his people's victories. Glowie, sharing her father's interest in the discovery, was eager to copy the names and deeds of each dwarf, shuddering when she came across the name Khor, a name that the Silent One had used to trick them. Time had briefly eluded the dwarves, who smiled while working together, and Xorn felt apologetic as he urged them to continue before nightfall. Surely a graveyard in the dead pines was no place to linger after dark.

[Narrator]

The team continued their journey late into the dark hours before they set up camp, reluctant to lose any more time but weary from their second day of travel. The night was thankfully unevent. Travis just struck the computer with his mic, mighty fist.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Such an act of violence.

[Narrator]

The night was thankfully uneventful, save for an unexplained thump in the early morning hours. Their progress the next day similarly mirrored the days prior, until again the sun sunk beyond view, the night's chill bit at their noses and ears, and the growl of distant thunder bounded off nearby mountains, promising worse days ahead. Not yet stopped for the evening, Sorin trooped in a most familiar manner, and he recognized the ground where he fell.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Fell? I did.

[Narrator]

In a bout of deja vu. He knew this was where he had originally found the Delphinium doll.

[KA Statz]

Hmm.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Actually, this patch of ground seems familiar. Yeah. I think this is where I first found the doll when we passed through. I suppose I meant to leave it here for myself.

[Glowy West Pike]

That would make sense. We need to make sure that we find everything the way that we're meant to.

[Sindri Westpike]

Did you already drop it?

[Sorin Arkwright]

No, and I don't remember finding it this way. But it just feels right to knit a small blanket of leaves for the doll so that it doesn't get cold on the ground. It gets very cold out here on the ground. I know because we've been sleeping there.

[Glowy West Pike]

I'm sure that the specific details will probably be okay if you wanted to.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Right? It's probably not a priority right now. I just thought that it would be, you know, cute.

[Sindri Westpike]

Take a minute. It's okay.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Very courteous of you. I think we take the moment.

[Glowy West Pike]

Yeah, we can. We can grab some leaves. It's not a problem. Look, look. Here's some really long stem ones. They're gonna make, like, a perfect little, like, line so you can weave the leaves through. Here you go.

[Sorin Arkwright]

This is gonna be nice. Here's some.

[Glowy West Pike]

Just randomly pull them up.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Ferns if we need some extra support.

[Sindri Westpike]

So, not to ruin the mood here, but I think we should get moving. We're going to be in for some rude awakening soon between the two torrential rains and the. If memory serves right, Sorin found the doll not too far from the campsite of the accursed cultists.

[Glowy West Pike]

I think you're right. I think we need to get away from this place. I mean, we can't fight them before, you know, we fight them.

[Sindri Westpike]

Does anyone rem. I don't remember how many of them were there. Do any of you think they looked beaten up? Perhaps they had a run in with us earlier.

[Sorin Arkwright]

I seem to remember. I remember there being, like, six or seven of them. I particularly remember there being a spellcaster in the trees.

[Glowy West Pike]

Right.

[Sindri Westpike]

I have very vague memories of this. A lot has happened. Let's march, but keep our ears and eyes very, very open. Maybe move a little bit slowly. Take our time. For a little bit.

[Glowy West Pike]

As long as we're doing it quietly in an attempt to avoid, let's put it like this, if there's more than six, we'll think about taking some of them out, but otherwise we need to keep moving.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Sure. Maintain the integrity of the timeline as I believe Rowena explained it to me. You know, right after we left the Hope.

[Glowy West Pike]

Correct. I could do it again, but I feel like you either get it or you don't.

[Sorin Arkwright]

One of these days I'll get us a bit closer to camp so we can scout things out properly.

[KA Statz]

The party rolled stealth checks to ensure that their travels would be unobserved. Led by Sorin, who was nautable and virtually invisible in the mists, the rest of the party rolled over 15, keeping them silent and unseen except for Sindri who wore chainmail and rolled with disadvantage.

[Sindri Westpike]

So a 13th.

[Narrator]

The team moved as quietly as they could for the next few minutes until the eventually they spotted the glow of a campfire rising ahead. As it began to rain they could hear mumbled conversations and hissed curses. The distant figures were difficult to discern in the darkness and ever foul weather, but there seemed to be half a dozen strangers preparing a campsite. It all felt so familiar.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Well, it seems to be about the same number we fought originally, so in that case, best we not interfere.

[Sindri Westpike]

I think so. Whatever the situation, avoiding a fight is the best choice. Let's keep moving quietly try to scot around them.

[KA Statz]

The team moved around the campfire area as quietly as they could, keeping their distance and remaining unobserved by the figures that they could see. One such figure suddenly appeared in Soren's path, moving directly towards toward him. A figure who Sora noted hadn't seen him but was creeping towards Sindri, clearly able to hear the old dwarf's footfalls. The interloper was a tired yellow eyed Tiefling who paused to wipe the rain from his leather armor. The man's green skin was out of place among the grays and blacks of the dead pines, and his left horn was broken near the skull, ending in a rough section reminiscent of unprocessed coal in his in his hand he held a leather medical bag, trying his best to keep it from making noise, and after a moment he continued towards Sindri with interest.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Can I take action to just like clamp a hand over their mouth and hold them gently?

[KA Statz]

Soran rolled a successful attack roll and with the confidence of an assassin placed a hand on the man's shoulder, the other holding a dagger indicated to the wide eyed Tiefling that. That he needed to be quiet if he valued his life.

[Sindri Westpike]

Ah.

[Duvar]

Sorry. Sorry.

[KA Statz]

Hello.

[Duvar]

Yes. Do you. Do you seek him?

[Sindri Westpike]

Speak not your ill words, Falk. I mean, stay quiet and you'll survive the night.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Oh, you stand still, breathing before the carver of dreams, and you dare to ask. Well, you must be new.

[Duvar]

Shit. Yes. Sorry. Sorry, my lord. I'm sorry, Lord Soren. I'm. I'm a bit new at Last minute edition, as it were. Wow. They say that the shadows precede you, but they really do. I. I didn't think you were supposed to be this far back. What are you doing here? Actually, I didn't mean to question you, Dreamcarver. Forget I asked. I meant to ask. How can I be of better use to you, My Lord?

[Sorin Arkwright]

Let's start with the basics. You know my name. What is yours?

[Duvar]

Duvar, sir.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Duvore.

[Sindri Westpike]

Yes. Oh.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Privilege to make your acquaintance. What are you lot doing here? Setting up camp.

[Duvar]

We are the rearguard. We're staying behind and stop any villagers that might come this way. Well, most of us. If you need to catch up with the others for the ritual, I can take you to the portal. I'm more than capable. Between Cole's team and you guys, I'm really just a redundant measure out here.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Oh, you seem very capable, Devore. So the children have already passed this way. How long ago?

[Duvar]

If you recall, it was earlier. Earlier today, we. I think it was some hours ago. Midday, perhaps. We had already started setting up camp, but we hadn't yet set up the traps or enchantments.

[Narrator]

Sindri visibly winced at the word traps, and his eyes unconsciously fell towards his leg.

[Duvar]

And I can see you're disappointed. Well, like I was saying, we're a bit behind them, but I can take you to the portal. I'm faster than I look and I know the way.

[Sorin Arkwright]

So he's gonna give a quick cautionary glance to the rest of the team.

[Sindri Westpike]

Like kind of a.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Hey, go with me on this. Before continuing, Devor, please lead my group to the magic portal.

[Duvar]

Of course.

[Glowy West Pike]

Glory's gonna step up from the shadows. She's going to be scowling, knife in hand, and she just nods dramatically.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Eldrix is just in front of a tree, like, pretending that he is the tree.

[Duvar]

I'll be right back. Let me just call any others that. I will be escorting you.

[Sorin Arkwright]

With my hand still firmly on his shoulder, I'll tug him to face me again. Ah, we haven't the time for that. Let's get moving.

[Duvar]

Okay, Lord. Follow me.

[Narrator]

Gloe, quickly. Appraised Devore as the fidgety tiefling led the team deeper into the dead pines and away from the campfire. He carried a leather bag and various medical equipment, but he did not strike Gloe as a combatant.

[Glowy West Pike]

I will reserve looting him for later.

[KA Statz]

During the hours of travel, Devore was decidedly chatty, perhaps unnerved by the dead pines, and attempted in multiple instances to initiate small talk, which for devore included the topics of anatomy, the inner workings of Scaleskin and dwarves, as he had not been this close to living specimens that would indulge his curiosities before.

[Duvar]

Ah, so your Dracarya's fundamentum is quite different from the other types of Scaleskin. And on the topic of organs. Dwarves. What about a spirit? Spleen? Do you have spleens? Surely you must, since you're so resistant to sicknesses.

[Glowy West Pike]

Do you know how dwarves like me learn about the physical makeup of beings like you? And I'm gonna do the thing where I twist the cursed dagger in between my fingers.

[Duvar]

You misunderstand. I. These aren't threats.

[Glowy West Pike]

It's best not to ask questions.

[Duvar]

I just want to learn a bit more about anatomy. I don't get many chances. And what I could learn gets save the life of a dwarf one day. Maybe your life.

[Glowy West Pike]

And you might not get the chance to save anyone if you keep asking me questions.

[Sindri Westpike]

Gloway. There's no need.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Our friends are very guarded.

[Sindri Westpike]

Chloe, there's no need for hostility. None is simply interested. So, tit for tat. Yes, I have a spleen. It's about looks to Roy. Looks to Chloe here.

[Glowy West Pike]

Chloe just shakes her head, just absolutely exasperated.

[Sindri Westpike]

But this. This magic portal. I'm going on faith with the clan, with Soren. So could you tell me. He's told me nothing about it. Can you explain it a bit better? I get nervous around portals.

[Duvar]

Everyone in the cult goes on faith. That's sort of the thing with gods and religions. But yeah, from what I can I tell him, Lord?

[Sorin Arkwright]

Sure, he's worthy. You can tell him.

[Duvar]

Alright. So, yeah, so this portal is a magic circle that teleports you to the. To the dream realm. You know, to the temple. The Dream Carver has made a space that can carve mortals like us through into the world of dreams. And like I said, it's a circle. Lots of runes on a stone floor, so that. That shouldn't worry you. I'll make sure you get there safely. After all, it's kind of one of my jobs, him getting there. It's important to make all of this Stuff happen? I think so.

[Glowy West Pike]

Yeah.

[Duvar]

That's what's happening. We're gonna go there and you'll stand in a circle. Gentus will say a few words. The air will feel a bit charged with magic. Then off you go to continue doing whatever it is you're going to do. Because that's what you're gonna do. And then I guess I go back to meet up with the rearguard until Sariel arrives.

[KA Statz]

Ah.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Yeah.

[Sindri Westpike]

Sariel's in the cult. Motherfucker. Sorry. Does going into the dream realm. Does that get us to the roaming forest? I'm. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

[Duvar]

I think so. I believe Celiel said that the force of dreams enclosed his prison somewhere within. Grimana. Grimana again. Be in the realm of dreams.

[Sindri Westpike]

It's.

[Duvar]

It's. It's all one thing, you know. Dreams, Nightmares. It's got. There are other places there too, I'm sure. I think I've heard someone mention of a desert and marsh. But I'd be willing to bet that the carver of dreams could tell you more about all that. If it's your interest, any deeps you're worthy. I've personally never been there. So if I. I don't know much more than I've shared with you. Just that he slumbers in dreamless sleep within the bastion. And he hungers terribly.

[Sindri Westpike]

All right. All right. That makes sense.

[Duvar]

If the portal is safe enough for the children, it's going to be safe enough for you. Sir, what is. What's your name? Sir? If I can ask.

[Sindri Westpike]

Just that stare.

[Duvar]

Okay. Be like that. I'll just have to make up a name then. Either way, if the magical portal is safe enough for children. I think a grown dwarf like yourself shouldn't be afraid of it. He set it up. So don't.

[Shopify Ad Narrator]

Like saw.

[Glowy West Pike]

You thought that the Lord Soren had already gone through. Did I understand that right?

[Duvar]

I. I thought. I don't know. Look, I'm not high ranking. Especially among this group. I'm just a healer. I'm. My faith is still not tried and tested enough to know all that much more beyond my immediate tasks.

[Sorin Arkwright]

No. But it's rapidly rising.

[Sindri Westpike]

Yeah, we're kind of in the same.

[Sorin Arkwright]

You're gonna get to level six soon.

[Duvar]

Yeah.

[KA Statz]

I.

[Duvar]

Thank you. Thank you. But I do. I seek him. I do believe in the mission. And I know that we can do this. I have my job and that's good enough for me. I know. Unless if I'm lost, I'm of all the more value to you. So let's not overshare. Let's keep our names to ourselves, I guess, and let's just keep to ourselves. We're very close to pulling this off and we're almost to the portal. Maybe another hour or so.

[Sindri Westpike]

Insight, I want to know if this man has ill intentions for us. Pre conversation I think he bought Sorin as his leader, blah blah blah. I now think post conversation we may have thrown some doubt on that.

[Narrator]

Sindri could not only roll an insight, but also just a general intelligence to remember something from his past 21 and 18. And Sindri could tell that Devor was not suspicious of the team, but rather nervous when confronted about his own lack of faith. Sindri knew the face of the an agnostic when he saw one, and this face of the corpses he'd surveyed after his combat with the cultists all those years ago. He did not remember a green skinned one horned tiefling among their number.

[Sindri Westpike]

All right, let's continue on in silence then.

[KA Statz]

And so the team continued in silence. Their next destination? The basement of a particular inn. Dark Dice Chapter 32 through the Woods Featuring Peter Joseph Lewis as Soren Arkwright, Russ D. Moore as Ildryx Hem Brewster as Glowy West Pike, Ethor Vitersson as Father Sindri Westpike, Melchior Riemanns as Tavor and KA Statz and Travis Fengroff as co game Masters. This episode was produced and edited with sound design by Travis Vengrof, mixing and mastering by Fenner Nielsen, and features executive producers Dennis Greenhill, Mike Ovillegas, AJ Punkin, and Carol Vengrof. This episode featured music by Andrej vidonagrov, Travis Vengrof, and Stephen Malin. To help support the show, Please check out darkdice.com yes, we have merch. Yes, we have digital books. Also check out the early edition of Shores of the Silver Thrum, now available on Patreon. Dark Dice is a Foolen Scholar production. Thank you for listening.

[Roz Hernandez]

From the darkest corners of our imagination comes a game show that's more ridiculous than terrifying. Welcome to Tickled to Death, the horror comedy game show where nothing is sacred, everything's a little unhinged, and the only thing more cursed than the questions are the jokes. I'm Roz Hernandez, your fearless host, and each week I'll be leading a brave group of guests through twisted horror, horror trivia, improv games, and enough sarcastic banter to make you question all your life's choices. So come for the screams, stay for the snark. Listen to Tickled to death wherever you get your podcasts and hit follow unless you want the show to follow you. In the meantime, don't get tickled to death.

[Joey Taranto]

The war is over and both sides lost. Kingdoms were reduced to cinders and armies scattered like bones in the dust. Now the survivors claw to what's left of a broken world, praying the Darkness chooses someone else tonight. But in the shadowdark, the Darkness always wins. This is old school adventuring at its most cruel. Your torch ticks and down in real time and when that flame dies, something else rises to finish the job. This is a brutal rules light nightmare with a story that emerges organically based on the decisions that the characters make. This is what it felt like to play RPGs in the 80s and man, it is so good to be back. Join the Glass Cannon podcast as we plunge into the Shadow Dark every Thursday night at 8pm Eastern on YouTube.com theglasscannon with the podcast version dropping the next day. See what everybody's talking about and join us in the dark.