Season 2 | Ep. 34 | Sunward

Summary

Dark Dice: Season 2, Episode 34 – "Sunward"

Release Date: April 1, 2026
Podcast by Fool & Scholar Productions

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Episode Overview

In this haunting, tension-filled episode of Dark Dice, the party finds themselves violently transported to the sun-drenched realm of Chromana—the Sunward Plains—after being betrayed by the Silent One. Stranded in a surreal landscape dominated by impossibly tall sunflowers and oppressive heat, Soren, Gloway (Gloi), and Sindri grapple with magical peril, environmental hazards, and the religious fervor of mysterious veiled women. The episode explores themes of faith, miracles, and the sinister line between devotion and fanaticism, culminating in a supernatural confrontation at a bonfire where faith is put to the ultimate test.

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Key Discussion Points & Narrative Developments

1. Displacement and the Dreamlike Sunward Plains

• The group’s journey begins chaotically after a betrayal. The party is literally pulled through space and sanity into the Sunward Plains (03:59).
  • “The soiled stone chamber dissipated from view as the trio was transported to a magical space with neither form nor goal. Lights and aromas...swum around them as they fell and floated to an unknown destination.” — Narrator (03:59)
• Soren narrowly escapes a monstrous tendril, suffering paralysis, stress, and poison, but is saved by the timely action of Gloway and Sindri (04:50–08:21).

2. Environmental Hazards & Giant Sunflowers

• The party contends with the Plains’ peril: overwhelming heat and danger from the enchanted flora.
  • Soren’s attempt to climb a sunflower leads to injury: poisoned by pollen, sunburned, and nearly succumbs to madness (15:43–19:36).
  • “There's something poisonous above the flowers, on the flowers. I don't know where they are. It's also very hot up there. I didn't see anything. I don't know where we are.” — Soren (19:19)
  • Sindri and Gloway heal and decontaminate Soren, restoring enough stability to continue (21:02, 22:28).

3. Discovery of the Veiled Women

• The group hears rhythmic thumping and investigates, encountering two women in black and white religious dress, harvesting sunflowers with sickles (24:27–25:06).
  • “Holy shit. And they're standing in the sunlight. Must be the claws...We just need to cut down some trees.” — Gloway (25:06)
• Advised to cover their faces against the pollen, the group fashions makeshift veils. Sindri identifies their speech and dress as reminiscent of ancient sun-worship rituals (32:27).

4. Entering the Sunward Cult

• Gloway initiates conversation and diplomacy with the women (29:29–31:49), careful to navigate their religious protocol.
• The party assists the women in harvesting and transporting sunflower stalks for a ritual bonfire (34:07).
  • “We burn the stalks so that the smoke may rise up to the sun as our offering to him.” — Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia (34:40)

5. Religious Parley and Ritual Tension

• The group learns these “Soulites” are nomadic sun worshippers who live without food or drink, subsisting only on faith and ritual (52:25–52:38).
• Gloway, Soren (“Solon”), and Sindri cautiously exchange religious ideas, gifts, and traditions, attempting to secure information about the Roaming Forest—their only route home (47:00–47:48).

6. The Miracle of the Alms Box

• Sindri offers his alms box as a symbolic gift. Dramatic tension builds as the box refuses to burn in the fire—an event hailed as a miracle by the Soulites (53:00–54:20).
  • “If the one who has brought it to us, the one who has given it up to him, were to refetch it from the fire. It is a transformed thing. It is new. It is wonderful.” — Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia (54:08)
• Sindri prays for protection, receives a divine response, and, in a show of faith, retrieves the unburnt alms box from the flames unharmed (60:08–64:26).
  • “Sindri felt no pain. His skin turned a little red. He could feel the sweat evaporating from his body. But he felt no pain as he walked forward...” — Narrator (62:38)
  • “A miracle, it seems.” — Sindri (64:57)

7. Devotion Turns to Horror: The Lantern and the Spirits

• Soren offers an unintended supernatural gift, opening his lantern to turn the bonfire’s light green and triggering a flood of screaming sun-worshipper spirits (67:12–68:37).
  • “Ghosts manifest...contorted in agony, and they rushed toward the sickly Bonifire, throwing themselves upon it.” — Narrator (68:37)
  • “Stop this blasphemy or I shall throw you upon the flames.” — Gloway/(Mother Helia) (70:04)
• The physical and spectral nuns react in fury and agony. The party scrambles to escape as the mood of the realm becomes hateful and hostile. Soren’s hand suffers lasting necrotic injury from the ritual backlash (71:17).

8. Escape and Aftermath

• The party flees toward the indicated “darkened ginkgo” tree—now privy to the path that will lead them onward but forever changed by the cult’s dark miracle (71:54–72:11).

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

Faith & Friendship in Peril:

• “Yeah, I have to go after him. He's my friend.” — Gloway (04:50)
• “He's got fully fucking paralyzed. Son of a ring.” — Sindri (06:59)
• “Just doing a loose spaghetti noodle arm trying desperately to scratch my nose.” — Soren (09:27)

Religious Culture Clash:

• “So what are your names?” — Gloway (39:21)
• “To not be rude, I am Sister Marisol.” — Soulite (39:22)
• “My name is Solon. Pleased to meet you.” — Soren (39:49, undercover)

Comic Relief Among Catastrophe:

• “Technically correct.” — Soren (10:28)
• “You are quite funny. Would you like to see? Oh, no, wait. Please stay in the shade. We can see your skin bubble.” — Sister Marisol/Solona/Mother Helia (66:02–66:14)
• “Never seen them. Don't like the ocean.” — Sindri (66:38)

Spiritual Crisis and Miracle:

• “Please, for the love of the light, can I change one spell by the light of Celagon, please. I very much need protection...” — Sindri (60:08)
• “Sindri heard a voice respond to him, a voice he had not heard for a long time. He knew the speaker, but the voice it used was his own.” — Narrator (61:45)
• “Worthy.” — Sindri, after retrieving the alms box from the fire (64:16)

Moment of Horror:

• “It turned green. The bright haze...sunk into a darkness, a deep emerald fog. Ghosts manifest, the spirits of women...appearing...contorted in agony.” — Narrator (68:37)
• “May whatever his holy miracle meant help you on your journey. And may his holy light find you and sear upon you the luck and bounty of your faith.” — Sister/Mother Helia, before the supernatural event (66:45)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment Description | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------| | 03:59 | Arrival in the Sunward Plains via magical calamity | | 08:21 | First discovery of the sunflower forest | | 13:00 | Stealth through the sunflowers, environmental hazards | | 24:27 | Encountering the veiled women, cultists harvesting stalks| | 34:07 | Party helps prepare for and participates in ritual fire | | 46:47 | Introduction to Mother Helia, leader of the Soulites | | 52:38 | Soulites explain their supernatural lifestyle | | 53:00 | The miracle of the unburning alms box | | 60:08 | Sindri’s desperate prayer, divine reply | | 62:38 | Sindri enters the fire, retrieves alms box unharmed | | 67:12 | Soren's lantern unleashes the ghostly horror | | 72:01 | Fleeing the wrath of the undead cultists |

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Episode Highlights

• Faith and Miracles: Sindri’s faith is tested and rewarded with a bona fide miracle, lending a powerful spiritual resonance to the episode’s conclusion.
• Environmental Menace: The dangers of Chromana are visceral—giant poisonous sunflowers, scalding sun, and hallucinatory magic make for a treacherous setting.
• Dark Rituals and Revelations: The cheerful cult is revealed as undead, bound to rituals that hide darker truths beneath devotion.
• Party Dynamics: The group’s banter, Gallows humor, and mutual concern provide moments of levity and depth amid the mounting tension.

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Overall Tone & Language

The episode oscillates between suspenseful horror, wry and sardonic humor, and moments of genuine emotional connection. The party’s dialogue is irreverent, quick-witted, and deeply in character—undercutting the peril with banter (“Never seen them. Don't like the ocean.”) while grappling earnestly with the gravity of faith, loss, and the unknown.

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Conclusion

"Sunward" is a standout episode: atmospheric, perilous, and steeped in occult intrigue. The party’s brush with miracle and horror in the sunflower fields pushes their faith, nerves, and relationships to the limit—all while deepening the mysteries of the world of Dark Dice. The path to the Roaming Forest and their next trial is clear, but the toll is deeply personal.

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[End of Summary]

Transcript

[Narrator]

Greetings adventurers from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for your patience on this one. It's been a six months and I'm glad to be able to make Dark Dice my career. This episode was is unreasonably difficult to assemble. You'll hear why, and I hope that it's one of your favorite in our series. It's certainly one of ours. If you enjoy what you hear, you can meet some of these terrible denizens in our book Unnatural Horrors, now available in hardcover, print and shipping to the US yet UK and Canada. Link in the show notes Europe will be up next. We've had nothing but positive reviews so far and we're excited to share all of the amazing artwork and energy that has gone into making this tome Unnatural Horrors, something you can include at your table. A huge thank you again to all of our artists, collaborators, editors and you, our dearest listeners and supporters. Now, before we overstay our welcome, let's get the story started

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[Narrator/Scene Description]

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[Sindri West Pike]

Do you seek Him?

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Do you seek Him?

[Narrator]

Do you seek Him?

[Sindri West Pike]

Do you seek the nameless God?

[Narrator]

You have found yourself among those who roll the dark dice. What you are about to hear happened long ago, a story brought back from the edge of oblivion, dutifully transcribed and enhanced orally to better captivate your attention. Previously, the Silent One, disguised as Ildrix, interrupted a ritual of traveling, sending the party toward an unknown vermilion hellscape. Dark the long road chapter 34 sunward. Having their sense of trust once again shattered by the Silent One, Gloe and Sindri failed their sanity, saving throws, gaining 11 stress, while Soren, 21 I've seen so much worse simply laughed as life once again took control of the unfortunate situation he was now within.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

The soiled stone chamber dissipated from view as the trio was transported to a magical space with neither form nor goal. Lights and aromas, feelings and memories tangled within the arcane swum around them as they fell and floated to an unknown destination. Unexpectedly, a soft grip tensed around Sorin's knee as his body fell through the sky of swirling magic cowpers incenses. The others could see it too, see one another within the swirling miasma. And they could see Soren ripped away a path cut through the swirl of dream colors as his body shrunk into the distance, pulled by a hungry force which seemed personified by a strange whipping tendril wrapped around his leg. In this dreamlike space of magic and waking creation, Gloe and Sindri could still move. But do you seek to follow him?

[Gloway]

Yeah, I have to go after him. He's my friend.

[Sindri West Pike]

Cynthia is gonna reach out and grab Chloe's hand to make sure that she doesn't get yanked in a different direction as they're gonna push forward towards Soren.

[Narrator]

A coiled mass of muscle tightened around Soren's leg, pulling him through the ether at dizzying speed. It was difficult to tell up from down or have any sense of location, only motion. The singular thing he could be sure of was that something was in fact wrapped around his leg, digging in, pulling him somewhere, undoubtedly worse. So Sorin reached for his dagger, swiping but rolling poorly, missing, then dropping it into frantic chaos. Sorin used his bonus action to pull his other dagger and swipe at the rope like appendage, slashing it for six damage, licking part of the muscle of the thing.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

But he wasn't sure how effective this was as the whipping and winding tendrils swung him back and forth, disorienting Sorin with each movement. He felt as though his brain was pushing against the inside of his skull and required a constitution, saving throw a

[Narrator]

seven, and a prickling tingle began to move down Sori, his leg dulling his body. As colors and sensations flashed by, he found increasing difficulty in opening and closing his free hand. He was becoming paralyzed, dragging along yet another one of life's strange twists and turns, though by now Sorin's very thoughts became numb as his mind slowed.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Meanwhile, Gloe and Sindri worked to close their distance from Sorin, who they now recognized was being pulled toward a ring of bright blue blue light. In a moment of desperation, Gloe extended her hand and clicked her fingers to form magics as words she could not comprehend spilled from her mouth like a rush of weightless bile and riddling herons. But her spell was accomplished and a 3 meter radius sphere appeared before Soren, exploding outward in an echo of chittering teeth and shattering glass, flaying the twitching appendage for 8 damage, not enough to fully force its grip open as it whipped, retched and yanked Soren ever toward the blue light. Sindri used the last of his stamina flying through the miasma to reach Sorin, and clamped his hands around the hunter's shoulder and cloak with a roll of a 17.

[Soren Arkwright]

Oh, hey, Sindri, welcome aboard.

[Sindri West Pike]

He's got fully fucking paralyzed. Son of a ring.

[Gloway]

Sorry.

[Narrator]

Sindri's words were literal beams of light and the things Sindri and Soren were being pulled toward. The circle through which the tendril was retreating through was more clear with each passing moment. A portal beyond which a hazy glow of gold was visible. Sorin and Sindri were pulled through, and not a moment after the portal closed behind Gloe, who had just sped through with a final burst of speed, the

[Narrator/Scene Description]

pain of the team's attacks finally registered and the coiling thing loosened its slimy grip on Sorin's knee. Glowe and Cindre each held one of Soren's shoulders, and as his skin tingled and his head spun from the swirling magics, or perhaps the toxins pumping through his body, he was only now able to see what it was that had stolen him away. The great whipping rope of muscle, slickened in slime and writhing, retreated through yet another portal, a terrible darkness visible beyond. Sindri rose to stand between Sorin and the creature, hammer raised while a disoriented Gloway simply dropped, soreness falling on top of him as her wobbly legs gave out.

[Narrator]

As Zorin succeeded a constitution saving throw, the feeling gradually returned to his limbs and he recovered over the following minute while the whipping appendage retreated through the portal, which promptly closed in a blinding flash, leaving the party in a strange and alien world.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

As Their eyes recovered from the light, the trio began to examine their surroundings, discovering an area filled with tall flowers, but not the kind any of them expected. The tall plants, in hues of gold and brown, grew all around them, their golden canopy blotting out the sky and casting only yellow tinted light. Small wiry grasses and orange tinted shadows covered the ground, but nothing else appeared to grow in the golden shade. The heat, even underneath the protective foliage, made them regret exhaling their last cold breath from the previous plane. Their minds itched, trying to remember if they'd seen this place in a dream. But then a feeling of nostalgia crept upon them. A strange deja vu. They had been to Chromana, the realm of dreams before. And anywhere that felt like this, felt like a dream, felt like Chromana. The roaming forest must be closer now. But how close exactly remained to be determined.

[Gloway]

I'm gonna help Soren off the floor. I'm just gonna prop him up against me. Just lean on me. It's vain.

[Soren Arkwright]

Just doing a loose spaghetti noodle arm trying desperately to scratch my nose.

[Gloway]

I hold your arm up so you can scratch it yourself. Just by the elbow. Just

[Narrator/Scene Description]

welcome.

[Sindri West Pike]

It retreated through the portal.

[Gloway]

So I guess we're back in the realm of dreams. Not sure exactly which realm, but I think we probably made it.

[Soren Arkwright]

Do you think that tendril was rescuing us from this island one or perhaps putting us on its path?

[Gloway]

Maybe that's just how that creepy ass spell works. Also, you vouch for Ildryx? He was another one of them. Fucking damn it.

[Soren Arkwright]

Eldritch is a stand up guy in person. I hope you get to meet him one day.

[Sindri West Pike]

I have. Both of the times I've met this man, he has betrayed me. First it was fight, and now he's.

[Gloway]

Yeah, well, he didn't betray you the first time. He genuinely thought we were the bad guys.

[Sindri West Pike]

Oh, fair on a technicality. Congratulations.

[Gloway]

It's all right.

[Soren Arkwright]

Technically correct.

[Gloway]

Everything's gonna be what it'll be. You know, it's fine. We should probably try and find the Roaming forest, right? I mean, that's the only way I remember how to get to the place that they're gonna sacrifice the kids. And that's the only way I know how to get there.

[Sindri West Pike]

Yes. This does not look like the Roaming forest to me.

[Narrator]

So no.

[Gloway]

Soren, do you have any memories of this place? Like your interaction with this is super weird.

[Soren Arkwright]

Hmm. I don't recognize where we are. Though you're right that it feels dreamlike. Yeah, we're definitely in the realm of dreams. There is no Discernible path through the forest of tall flowers. Only a golden haze matching the beautiful gold of the canopy above. And there seems to be something in the distance though. A rhythmic thumping sound. Sounds like a heavy thudding. Should we investigate?

[Gloway]

Like a heartbeat?

[Soren Arkwright]

A very large one perhaps, but I sure hope not.

[Sindri West Pike]

Let's move on slowly. Scout it out

[Soren Arkwright]

and if it is stealthily, perhaps.

[Sindri West Pike]

Yes, perhaps. Very good idea.

[Gloway]

We might have to go quite slow. You're armor can sometimes be a bit loud.

[Soren Arkwright]

It's very festive though.

[Sindri West Pike]

Are you asking me to take my armor off?

[Gloway]

No, just that we should be careful.

[Sindri West Pike]

Okay.

[Gloway]

Look, you've. You've learned from Lyrul and from Elias. You helped them. And now let their actions help you. And I will give you a bardic inspiration for this roar.

[Sindri West Pike]

For my stealth.

[Gloway]

Yup.

[Sindri West Pike]

That's very nice of you.

[Narrator]

That's very nice of you.

[Gloway]

I just. I fucking can't.

[Sindri West Pike]

Alright, we're gonna stealth our asses towards the thumping.

[Soren Arkwright]

Proceed stealthily.

[Narrator]

Soren's injury and lack of focus seem to slow his movements somehow. Both he and Sindri, even aided by his daughter's inspiration, rolled 11s Glowe rolled a 25. Her will to see herself in Sindri safely to the resting place of the nameless God guiding her focus.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

And so the trio moved through the golden haze beneath a grand canopy of petals. Sorin, distracted by the scenery around him, noticed that the things above were massive sunflowers. The stalks next to him looked just like a sunflower's stalk, but so much larger that he could not encompass them with his arms. Though he did not attempt this, they continued closer toward the source of the thudding sounds. Sweating from the heat, it was uncomfortably warm. The air was so hot even within the shade, that each in turn glanced toward the canopy, wondering with worry just how much hotter it might be above. And thus the party remained beneath the shade. And before too much longer, they could see movement in the distant canopy, obscured by the large stalks.

[Soren Arkwright]

So I'm just thinking out loud here, but are we like in an enchanted large sunflower forest or are we just now really small? These are normal sized sunflowers.

[Gloway]

Are we far away or is it

[Sindri West Pike]

really the grass under our feet? Is normal sized grass, brown and dry as it is. So I think these are just really tall sunflower trees. Some are a story and a half perhaps, but others appear three story tall. Okay, I'm not suggesting myself, but should somebody try to climb one of the taller trees things and try to see what the thumping is about? So the thumping in the distance once again, I am not.

[Soren Arkwright]

I mean, I've been dying to hug one of them ever since I saw how fuzzy it was.

[Sindri West Pike]

They are very fuzzy.

[Gloway]

Well, if you want to climb up, I'll. I'll give you a boost.

[Soren Arkwright]

Would that be acrobatics or athletics?

[Gloway]

Climbing's athletics, usually.

[Sindri West Pike]

Do you have a climbers kit? Because if you do, it makes it really easy to climb, and you can just climb it unless there's a threat.

[Soren Arkwright]

I've got three wooden stakes, one less dagger, and a crowbar. I don't think I have a climbing kit specifically, sadly.

[Sindri West Pike]

Shit, you're a hunter. I thought maybe I was just gonna,

[Soren Arkwright]

like, use the fuzz of the sunflower itself to just grapple like a velcro.

[Gloway]

Oh, that's bold.

[Sindri West Pike]

Just like climbing the woolly side of a sheep.

[Soren Arkwright]

Yes, I'm climbing the sheep. That's my plan. And I rolled it in.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Soren approached the stalk and awkwardly grappled it. His fingers still tingled from earlier, but they were able to keep enough of a grip for him to slowly make progress. He slowly, gently wiggled up the stalk, and within a few minutes, he reached the base of the thick orange yellow petals above.

[Soren Arkwright]

I'm getting too old for this.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Well, more accurately, the undermost leaves before the petals, the underside of its great crown.

[Soren Arkwright]

I've reached the underside of the petals, but they're. They're somewhat blocking my ascent. Should I try some Tom Cruise maneuvers to get by them? At this point, I can't really. I can't really see many options from this position. What do you suggest, Tom?

[Gloway]

Who?

[Sindri West Pike]

Never mind. Just cut away the petals.

[Gloway]

I believe in you. Just keep your legs wrapped around the stalk, then stab up and haul into one of the petals to get you through. You'll be fine. I am not, however, going to be giving you Bardock inspiration. I. I just think this is gonna fail.

[Soren Arkwright]

Soren was actively holding on with just his upper body. Oh, legs. Good idea. I will try to stay stabilize. And then dagger, slice two of the petals to create a passage. And I roll. A critical failure.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Sorin attempted to slice upward, trying to keep the grip of his legs around the stalk of the sunflower. But he threw the weight of his body far too strongly with the swing, as though he were actually attacking an opponent. And in doing so, greatly swaying this sunflower knocked it into nearby flowers. But Sorin held on. Soren did not fall. Soren remained in place and prepared his second attack with his dagger.

[Soren Arkwright]

Well, at least I didn't fall. And the number of witnesses Is manageable.

[Gloway]

Gently, gently.

[Soren Arkwright]

Sorry, sorry. I forgot that it wasn't actually sentient and is perfectly still. Okay, I'm gonna try it again.

[Gloway]

Famous last words.

[Soren Arkwright]

So that's 11 to hit and a natural one on the damage.

[Sindri West Pike]

Whoa.

[Gloway]

Okay.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Yo, my man.

[Gloway]

What's up today?

[Sindri West Pike]

Oh, God. Let me save these rolls for the sunflowers and not the creepy monster we were fighting earlier.

[Gloway]

Yeah, yeah, that's true. That's good.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Despite his awkward footing, Soren was able to hit it. And it was a petal, so even at this scale, it didn't have like

[Gloway]

a lot of hp.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

He deftly sliced away one petal larger around than his head and much longer than his body.

[Soren Arkwright]

Die.

[Sindri West Pike]

There's nothing good up there. I'm sorry. This was a terrible plan.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

And so it gently fell to the ground where the others were waiting, exposing Soren to the light of the sun above. A searing pain burned him for one fire damage due to equally poor rolling power. And as his movements disturbed a thick layer of pollen on the petals, he now required a constitution saving throw 6, poisoning him and taking 11 poison damage. As he inhaled the disturbed pollen, the haze of it all filling Soren's lungs, replacing the air with something wriggling, something that moved. He felt like he couldn't even breathe and gained four stress.

[Gloway]

Poison.

[Soren Arkwright]

I am just gonna first shimmy to the side under a protective petal and then begin to climb away from the poisonous fog as quickly as I can.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

The burning stopped as soon as he reached the shade, but the pollen haze began to fall through the opening he created like a trick gentle snow.

[Sindri West Pike]

I'm gonna step away the moment we hear Sorin. Like coughing and sputtering.

[Soren Arkwright]

There's something poisonous above the flowers, on the flowers. I don't know where they are. It's also very hot up there. I didn't see anything. I don't know where we are.

[Narrator]

Soren required a sanity saving throw as he neared the bottom. As the second sensation that something was within his throat, his lungs threatened to overwhelm all reason as the urge to scratch and rip and tear.

[Sindri West Pike]

19.

[Soren Arkwright]

Finally, sanity is the one thing I've still got subsided.

[Narrator]

Soren did not die in that moment. His throat was very itchy. Everywhere was so very itchy. But perhaps the coughing was enough. Perhaps he didn't need to claw the skin from his neck in a frenzy, and he had just imagined the wriggling.

[Sindri West Pike]

Get down here. I'll help you.

[Narrator]

Soren reached the bottom, coughing and wheezing, though taking care to avoid the pollen floating through the singular hole he'd created.

[Soren Arkwright]

I'm just gonna point up to it. That stuff stings. That's.

[Sindri West Pike]

That's not good.

[Soren Arkwright]

I don't know if, like, it's being kept above us by the petals and I've now compromised that, or if I just shook it all loose with my antics.

[Sindri West Pike]

Well, whatever it is, let's move away. I'm very sorry that I suggested this. And he's gonna, like, kinda pull you further away from the pollen so it doesn't just errantly spread to where we are. And then I'm gonna cast a. I'm so excited.

[Soren Arkwright]

The view to true.

[Sindri West Pike]

I'm gonna cast out level one, cure wounds on him.

[Soren Arkwright]

Oh, thank you.

[Gloway]

As he's doing that, I'll cast prestigitation to take all the pollen off of your skin.

[Soren Arkwright]

Thanks. That's gonna feel so good.

[Narrator]

Soren recovered 15 health as Sindri's silent prayer alleviated his irritation and the burnt skin on his face peeled instantly. Like a simple skin sunburn.

[Gloway]

Damn, dude.

[Soren Arkwright]

Back to full. Starting to feel like myself again, except for the nausea. And there's that sound again.

[Sindri West Pike]

I think I can actually hear it this time.

[Soren Arkwright]

So we should probably continue to seek out the origin of the thumping, whatever it is.

[Sindri West Pike]

If it's. If we're lucky. It's some kind of a culture, people, something, someone who can guide us out of here.

[Soren Arkwright]

I would be lucky.

[Gloway]

We don't want to be out here too long. If we are in Kromana, the longer we hear, the more fucked our memories are gonna get. We want to be going towards the roaming forest, so. Sure. Let's find out where here is and ask for directions before we go.

[Sindri West Pike]

Before we go. Soren, you still look a little bit more sickly than normal. Kinda like you've been poisoned.

[Soren Arkwright]

Thank you for remembering.

[Sindri West Pike]

Well, we're gonna have to fix that. It's bad. And if we get into a battle, let's say we're trying to sneak past somebody and you just start puking.

[Soren Arkwright]

Just a quick roll for projective vomit.

[Sindri West Pike]

As Sidri can see that Soren is like, coughing still and, like, looks weak. He's gonna reach out and I'm casting lesser restoration on him, which should cure a PO Poison status.

[Soren Arkwright]

You know, I no longer feel itchy on the inside or the outside.

[Sindri West Pike]

Think Salakon.

[Soren Arkwright]

Thank the feathery God owl indeed. Better yet. Thank you, Sindri. Yes? Well, I'm sorry to interrupt this moment between us, but I can spot something in the distance, Something black and white moving between the stalks. It's the. The source of the thumb pain. I think maybe something large moving not too far from us now. I can't quite tell what it is from here, though.

[Narrator]

Spirits.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

As Soren pointed this out, the others were now able to see what he mentioned. Glimpses of a black flash here, a white flash there, Moving throughout in one particular direction.

[Gloway]

It looks small, more like multiple things than it does one big thing.

[Sindri West Pike]

Let's approach very slowly. And, oh, I so want to recommend Soren takes scouts ahead, but if it's something bad, it could end very poorly.

[Soren Arkwright]

So, you know, I could try climbing one of these sunflowers and then we could.

[Gloway]

I think you should stay here. How about everybody stay on the ground and we just stick to the stems of these things as much as we can and just try and carefully make our way forward. You guys back up a little bit. I'll see if I can get a better look at him. I will stealthily and quietly stealth ahead, see if I can get a better look at what this is.

[Narrator]

Chloe rolled a stealth check followed by a perception check with advantage as she intended to get quite close to her target.

[Gloway]

20. Oh, my perception is low, so this may be bad.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

17 Gloa crept closer and closer until she could spy. Clearly chopping at the heavy stalks of the giant sunflowers were two women dressed in the dark and modest garb most associated with devoutly religious followers. Their long black linen dresses covered them from their fingertips to their toes, and their heavy white veils obscured even their eyes from view. All around them, particles floated and soared through the air. In the wake of their work, they toiled diligently with sickles to cut down the large fibrous trunks. Two of the large sunflowers already resting on the ground behind them.

[Gloway]

Holy shit. And they're standing in the sunlight. Must be the claws. And I'm gonna return back to the others to report all of the this. We can just jump to the middle of our conversation.

[Sindri West Pike]

How big are they?

[Gloway]

I don't know. About the size of Saurin.

[Sindri West Pike]

Okay. Okay. All right.

[Gloway]

They seem to be cutting down the stems, and there's a couple of them that had already fallen, but they are covered head to toe in garb. Something protective. Maybe we ought to do the same, Just give them their space.

[Sindri West Pike]

If they are natives, they might be able to point us towards the roaming forest. Wherever they are, we have to try to communicate. Otherwise, we're just wandering the eternal. Fuck.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Field of flowers. Field.

[Sindri West Pike]

I was looking for the name for the plane.

[Gloway]

Chromana.

[Soren Arkwright]

Yeah, I'm making A map of it here, I've penned it down. As the eternal flock,

[Gloway]

I have the weird map. We can just cross it out. Like we don't even have to look at the moving, roaming forest. It's eternal. Fuck,

[Soren Arkwright]

yes.

[Gloway]

I mean, maybe, yeah. We approach carefully. I think I only saw two of them. And we try and have a conversation.

[Sindri West Pike]

And if not, I think it's best if only one of us approaches. If they're hostile, it's better that we could be able to retreat quickly and easily away from the poison and the fire of the sun.

[Soren Arkwright]

There didn't seem to be enough of them that there's like no retreating, you know, they only cut down a few of the sunflower trees, not like the entire forest. So there should be plenty of places to hide.

[Sindri West Pike]

No, I am more worried that due to your weak human constitution that the poison of the air around you would feeble you very quickly. So I am worried about you.

[Soren Arkwright]

That's fair. Thank you for your concern.

[Sindri West Pike]

Sorry. We dwarves are adept against poisons because of our long history and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

[Gloway]

Yep, yep. That feeble human constitution starts to be me. I shake my head and start walking towards the nuns. As I walk away, I turn and look back at them. As I'm walking, I'm like, can you just try and hide nearby in case there is a problem? I don't want to get caught out.

[Sindri West Pike]

I suggest I'd go first because I'm loud. Obvious. You two can't be sneaky.

[Gloway]

Cause with all the love in my heart, you are terrible at talking to people.

[Sindri West Pike]

I feel like there was some love missing there.

[Soren Arkwright]

But okay, it's like 75% love in your heart.

[Sindri West Pike]

Yes, yes. Fine, I'll stand there. Sidri's just gonna move behind a sunflower stalk. Do his best to. He thinks thin thoughts, as was a phrase I heard recently. As he tries to hide, I'll try

[Soren Arkwright]

to steer him toward an advantageous position as well. Stealthily.

[Sindri West Pike]

Can I argue that I don't have disadvantage since I'm not moving?

[Soren Arkwright]

Moving.

[Sindri West Pike]

I'm gonna try to give her a lot of space.

[Soren Arkwright]

Do we really want to be that far away? We could maybe get away with being 50ft away if you're comfortable with that.

[Sindri West Pike]

50ft away. I'm super happy with that. Yes. That's 14.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Total or on dice?

[Sindri West Pike]

Total.

[Soren Arkwright]

And on dice a 13.

[Sindri West Pike]

You fucked us.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Gloe walked forward, plainly approaching the two women as they continued to hack at the stalks of the sunflowers with their sickles. They had not cleared a large area. There were only two stalks behind them, but they seemed vigorous and diligent in their task. Gloe looked beyond them and to both sides, noting that there were only more sunflowers in every direction. Observing them further and rolling of 15 on survival, Gloa noted that they appeared to have chosen sunflowers at random to be cut down. She also could tell from which direction they'd walked from her right. And their tracks would be easy to follow compared to their previous days within the gloom of the dead pines.

[Gloway]

Excellent. Okay, I just in the back of my head for later. I approach with my hands, like, slightly up to show I have no weapons in my hands, even though I obviously am carrying weapons. I kind of look around for my companions and hope that they are hidden. I don't look too hard because I might give them away, and I say hi. Hello. Sorry.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

They stopped and turned to look at Gloway, who could not see their faces or their mouths moving. But they lowered their sickles as one of them spoke.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Hail the pollen falls. Wear a veil or don a mask if you need.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Breathe.

[Gloway]

Appreciate the warning. We are looking for the roaming forest. Could you give us some guidance?

[Narrator/Scene Description]

The women looked at each other, seemingly unperturbed by Gloa's indication that they were not alone.

[Sindri West Pike]

Not I.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Not I. But perhaps our mother can.

[Narrator]

Gloi stepped ever closer.

[Gloway]

That would be amazing. Could you point me to where she is or guide me?

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Let us fell these two more and help us bring them to the holy fire. Then our mother can speak with you.

[Gloway]

Yes, Sounds great. I look back at my companions. I cut my hands to my office. Like, it seems to be all right. We just need to cut down some trees. Oh, yeah. I go back, obviously, to where I now see my companions, and I'm like, we're gonna need to put veils and hats. We basically need to cover our heads. And Soren, you might need to be on the shady side of cutting stuff down.

[Soren Arkwright]

All right?

[Gloway]

But, yeah, they said they'd take us to their mother, who might have a better knowledge of where the roaming forest is.

[Sindri West Pike]

Give me a minute. And Sintra's gonna pop his chainmail off and he's like, dressing down a little bit. It's stuffy, it's hot, it's disgusting around here. And he's just getting, like, some of the undershirt, some of the clothes off, and he's shoving them in his backpack and he picks one random shirt and he's gonna fashion himself a very shitty mask thing to try to protect himself.

[Gloway]

I will. I will put on the only hat I have in my inventory, which is Sindri's sleeping hat.

[Soren Arkwright]

Good idea.

[Gloway]

And I will grab, like, a shirt and just, like, pull that up to cover the rest of my face.

[Soren Arkwright]

I will fashion a much less adorable mask myself and cover my head with a hood.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

The trio created makeshift masks, which already seemed to make the stale air more bearable.

[Narrator]

Heading over to the women as a group, they seemed surprised but not concerned to see more among Gloa's party.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Hail.

[Gloway]

Hail.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Hail.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Hail.

[Sindri West Pike]

Hail. Is Sintri familiar with this type of speaking? It seems very formal. And Sintri being a pious man that has walked many temples, I imagine he's heard talk like this.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Father Westpike could roll a religion check.

[Sindri West Pike]

Come on.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

It's been so long since you've used this.

[Sindri West Pike]

That's a 19.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

This is a manner of speech Sindri would believe. Rather outdated even in a modern temple or church. But the way that they were dressed was very similar to something he'd seen in an old religious text regarding worship of the sun.

[Sindri West Pike]

Is just gonna keep this to himself. He does not know what this bizarre world is exactly, but it's like, okay, hopefully we're on the same page. I'm gonna be quiet for a little bit, but I, of course, greet them. Hail.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

As the team did not distract them, the women worked continuously, diligently chopping at the stalks until two more of the mighty sunflowers were felled. They came crashing down, but landed rather lightly as the petals hit first. Then, without ceremony, the women began tying ropes around the four stalks of the felled sunflowers with the intent of pulling them.

[Soren Arkwright]

I'll try to help with the ropes. Please allow me to assist you.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Thank you.

[Sindri West Pike]

Cinder gets himself ready to pull one of them.

[Soren Arkwright]

Yeah.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

They accepted any help that the team offered. And while the ropes were being tied, one glanced towards Sindri before speaking.

[Gloway]

Are you a fellow, Starlight?

[Sindri West Pike]

I do worship the God of the sun, yes. But I may know him by a different name than you. But to us all, He. He brings heat and light. So companions we will be, by the

[Gloway]

lights we are blessed.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

His searing rays will always be the answer to our suffering. Please, we are this way.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

They picked up the ropes and aided by Sindri and Sorin, began to pull the large stalks behind them.

[Gloway]

I'll grab one. Like, fuck it. Let's just go. Yay. 17 strengths.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

The party made good time, heading in the direction that Gloway believed the women had initially come from. The women intentionally led the team in such a manner that they never walked into any areas where the sun's rays shown through the gaps in the sunflowers overhead. And they were willing to speak if anyone spoke with them.

[Gloway]

You mentioned that you were cutting these down for a great bonfire. Was that right?

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Yes, we burn the stalks so that the smoke may rise up to the sun as our offering to him.

[Gloway]

So is it like a thing you do every day or like every couple of months? Like, what's involved in this. In this ritual?

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Oh, we have many duties. This is one of those things that we do periodically. I cannot say it is every week or every day.

[Soren Arkwright]

Why these sunflowers?

[Gloway]

It is the only thing here. What else would we burn?

[Soren Arkwright]

I just mean like these specifically. You know, are there closer ones you could have chosen?

[Gloway]

Yes, yes, fair enough.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

All of the sunflowers are the same. At least to us,

[Sindri West Pike]

I assume. They take the spot far away where it wouldn't bring down the canopy around where they stay.

[Soren Arkwright]

Fair point.

[Sindri West Pike]

Same as you. Don't chop trees right next to your house. You want the forest close if you're hunting. That's a thing, right?

[Soren Arkwright]

Unless you're trying to build a sauna.

[Gloway]

What if you're trying to have sight lines from your house so you don't get approached without being seen?

[Sindri West Pike]

Yes, but I was coming up with theory where you wouldn't. You come up with theory where you want it.

[Gloway]

Right, right. Sorry. I guess I'm just a little defensive right now.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

How did you come to find yourself within the sunward plains?

[Sindri West Pike]

Oh, big mistake. I tell you that. We were cast here by a creature we were fighting.

[Gloway]

A big tentacle. Mmm.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

A big tentacle. This might sound out of place to say, but that is a descriptor for quite a many things and none of them pleasant.

[Sindri West Pike]

It came through a blue potter.

[Gloway]

If you had seen the size of. Of this tentacle, you would say the only way to describe it would be giant tentacle.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Ah, you speak of the tongue of the great house. It might come back. Stay on guard.

[Sindri West Pike]

All right. Do you.

[Gloway]

I have so much to unpack from that.

[Sindri West Pike]

Before we unpack. If it does come back, do you know of a good way to defend yourself against it?

[Gloway]

We have our sickles and we cut.

[Sindri West Pike]

Fair enough. Cutting and bashing.

[Soren Arkwright]

Do you have a place where I can wash my knee, by any chance?

[Narrator]

The women glanced at one another in confusion.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Rain is very rare here. You will find very few ways in which to cleanse oneself, save the searing might of the sun.

[Gloway]

I'm getting really weird cold vapes. I'm just gonna reach over and be like Just give me a second, Soren, and I'm gonna put my hand on your knee and cast. Prestigitation. So whatever the fuck you think is wrong with you is gonna get fixed before it gets worse.

[Soren Arkwright]

I didn't know I was being tongued. The whole time I thought I was being grasped, I was being tongued.

[Gloway]

Oh, so the cleaning is more spiritual then than it is physical.

[Soren Arkwright]

Just mental, yeah.

[Gloway]

I'm sorry.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

We can offer spiritual cleaning, cleansing. The holy fire can take such a burden from you. It takes it from us all.

[Soren Arkwright]

You. You want to light my knee on fire?

[Gloway]

I have a feeling that might be what you were suggesting.

[Soren Arkwright]

Yeah, that's how this is all going to end for us.

[Gloway]

My cost message to these guys. They're going to burn us alive. They're absolutely going to burn us alive. This is what they're talking about. It's a call. And they're going to kill us.

[Sindri West Pike]

Not necessary. Just keep it cool and don't offer to be burnt. That's all you need to do.

[Soren Arkwright]

That's all right. That's how I've been living my life thus far.

[Narrator]

One of the women interrupted the telepathic conversation.

[Gloway]

Does the brother have a name?

[Sindri West Pike]

Oh, my name is Sintra Westpike. I'm a wandering acolyte and a studier of religions and holy places.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Brother.

[Gloway]

Brother West Pike.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Brother West Pike.

[Sindri West Pike]

So.

[Gloway]

So what are your names?

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

To not be rude, I am Sister Marisol.

[Gloway]

Solana. Sister Solana. And you are Sister Glowy.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Glowy.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Glowing like the sun.

[Sindri West Pike]

Yes.

[Gloway]

Radiant.

[Narrator]

During a brief, awkward silence, the sisters both stared at soreness.

[Soren Arkwright]

My name is Solon. Pleased to meet you.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Such a wonderful name, Brother. Well, met, Solon.

[Gloway]

I definitely try not to give you a look.

[Sindri West Pike]

So tell me more about your religious practices. Your bonfire is there to send a message to the Lord of Light. Do you only burn sunflowers or praises or something else?

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Not a message. To send our praises and our love up to Him. We know that he has far too many things to do, and it is just our way of sending some gift and recognition of our admiration.

[Sindri West Pike]

Yes. Sorry, I. Where we are from. We send our messages or our gifts and admiration to his radiance through thoughts and prayers.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Thoughts and prayers?

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Yes, these two.

[Gloway]

And song.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

All of these are also applicable.

[Gloway]

We love singing his praises.

[Sindri West Pike]

Yes, yes, exactly. Exactly. And a big fire is always a wonderful thing to do to praise our Lord fair.

[Gloway]

Do you ever burn other things on a great fire as a. As a gift to your.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Yes, of course. Many choose any offerings that they wish.

[Gloway]

Cool. What did you say, Brother Solon?

[Soren Arkwright]

Oh, nothing.

[Sindri West Pike]

I swear by the light, man, don't offer it. It's tough talk coming from somebody with a constitution like yours. Nothing.

[Soren Arkwright]

Never mind.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

I suspect you have further questions. And. And while we are always happy to answer, our Holy Mother knows more, so is very happy to share her knowledge.

[Sindri West Pike]

Of course. Of course.

[Gloway]

We're just stalked to meet her won't

[Sindri West Pike]

be the Holy Mother title. What would be? We don't have much about us, but what would be a favorable gift? A show of appreciation?

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

The Mother does not require gifts. It is our great beaming Lord, the Sun, who is honored by them. We. We do not accept physical things. We have no need for them.

[Sindri West Pike]

Well, then I am very glad that I am carrying the one gift of the God that is required. And he, like, hacks the rope a little bit when he says that.

[Narrator]

The team continued their walk in silence as they began to smell smoke.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

A thick smoke wafted up into the open sky above, where a ring of sunflowers had been cleared. The team had reached the edge of the clearing where more black and white clad figures wove through the sunflower stalks. The oppressive light obscured the open section of the plains. Under the wiggling distortion of heavy heat centered in the clearing, a ring of veiled women threw chopped logs of sunflower stalks into a blazing fire. Laughing gayly, the hardy grass of the clearing was burned down, and the crackling fire spat flames and embers into the orange sky above. Between the tossing of fuel, the women spun and danced around the flame, their arms outspread, their veiled faces turned up to the sky.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

We have returned.

[Gloway]

Hail, sisters.

[Narrator]

More gleeful cackles greeted them.

[Sindri West Pike]

I'm sorry, I was looking up spells and it's super hard to see. Is it an open clearing with the sunlight blaring down?

[Gloway]

Yes.

[Sindri West Pike]

Shit.

[Gloway]

You can remain in the shade if you want.

[Sindri West Pike]

Yes. Thank you.

[Soren Arkwright]

So there's an open space in the middle where most of the veiled women are dancing around this bonfire. And they're tossing in the large stone. Huh. There aren't any buildings, though. Curious. I wonder where the holy women are staying, if not here.

[Sindri West Pike]

Are you nomads? Do you travel from place to place?

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

We wind our way through the great fields.

[Sindri West Pike]

Ah, the sacred pilgrimage.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Pilgrimages have destinations from one place to another, touching at holy sites. We have no such destination.

[Sindri West Pike]

I swear to fucking celadon, I can't say anything at all.

[Gloway]

I give you the look of like, huh? Yeah.

[Sindri West Pike]

We drop off our sunflowers at the edge of the clearing, staying well away from the poison and the fires of the sun.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Thank you so much, Brother West Pike. Solon Gloway.

[Sindri West Pike]

Thank you, Sister Marcel. Sister Solana, may you walk in the light.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

The sisters looked to one another.

[Gloway]

Would you be kind enough to point us in the direction of your Holy Mother?

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Does his holy light still sear your skin?

[Sindri West Pike]

Yes. Yes, he does.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

We will tell the Mother you are here.

[Sindri West Pike]

Thank you.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Please wait in the shade.

[Gloway]

Thank you.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

They gleefully trudged away, dragging the ropes of the large stocks behind me.

[Narrator]

They enjoyed their work, it seemed.

[Sindri West Pike]

See, all you have to do is just not offer it. Like, it's usually relatively simple to deal with people with very high religious belief with some intensity to it. If you.

[Gloway]

You just have to be fanatics.

[Sindri West Pike]

Do not use that word.

[Gloway]

They are just incredibly pious and developed.

[Sindri West Pike]

Aggressively pious and developed.

[Gloway]

Yes, exactly. That's the fanatic part. Yeah. Maybe we just check in with this Holy Mother thing and then we get out of here before anyone offers hospitality or offerings or any of that shape.

[Sindri West Pike]

Yes. Yes. Again, I'm sorry for trying to offer things. I always do my best to try to understand their practices, but, yes, they are clearly nomads and we wish not to burden them with our stuff.

[Gloway]

Great.

[Soren Arkwright]

Nothing to apologize for.

[Gloway]

Sad. We should not be here for very long.

[Sindri West Pike]

Yes.

[Gloway]

Ah, and Solon, you are. And they keep throwing more on the big bonfire.

[Soren Arkwright]

Oosh. I think it's a dramatic entrance.

[Gloway]

My ears perk up. Ooh, I want to learn a new tsum song.

[Sindri West Pike]

Yeah, but be sure not to interrupt them.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

As they sang, a very tall woman, though still human sized, approached the trio. Standing in shade, she was garbed in black linen from head to toe, with a white veil covering her face. A golden star painted on the front of the veil in the yellow pollen of the sunflowers. She stood proudly at the edge of the shade, remaining in the full heat and light of the sun, A contrasting line that seemed to form a physical barrier between them during their conversation. Hail, I am Mother Helya. How may I help you?

[Sindri West Pike]

Hail, Mother Helia. I am Sidri Vestpike, and these are my traveling companions. We found ourselves in the eternal field of the. The kind Sister called it something earlier, I think.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Sister Marisol, we are within the Sunward Plains.

[Sindri West Pike]

Sunward Plains, we have found ourselves.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Although they do feel eternal,

[Sindri West Pike]

we have found ourselves in the Sunward Plains through no intention of ours. You see, we are looking for the Roaming Forest.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Ah, yes. Sister Marisol did say that you were beset by the tongue of the Great House. The Roaming Forest. The Roaming Forest.

[Sindri West Pike]

It is a dark place we wish not to visit, but our travels and for unfortunately take us there.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

It is a place devoid of the light of our beaming Lord.

[Sindri West Pike]

It is.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

I'm sure you travel there out of great obligation.

[Sindri West Pike]

We do.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

I believe I know the way. I have not myself tested it, as I do not wish to go there, but I can freely give you anything that I know.

[Sindri West Pike]

I pray that you never find a reason to go there, but any information would be highly appreciated by us.

[Narrator]

Recognized as a brother and fellow Soulite, Sindri could roll a persuasion check. Thanks to his honesty, he could have advantage on the role.

[Sindri West Pike]

22.

[Narrator]

Sindri could not see Mother Helia's face as it was hidden beneath a veil upon which was painted what looked like a sun made from the pollen floating in the air. But all the same, Mother Helia stared down at the old dwarf, and slowly he recognized that her gaze fell not upon his face, but upon his shoulder, for he wore a brooch to Celagon, the Mourning Lord. Sindri was not sure if this revelation should bring comfort or fear as he waited her response.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

There are many faces for the many powers he holds, and I hope his radiance protects you. I also hope you find it in your heart and in your faith to offer something on our fire, as it is a great way to begin such a journey to a terrible place. I do not in any way require you to do such a thing. The answer you seek, Brother Westpike, your passage out of the sunward plains is to find the darkened ginkgo. It is the one great tree that grows here, and we can point you toward it.

[Sindri West Pike]

Thank you, Mother Helia. I just need a moment to look in my back to see what. What I have. Well, I have somebody's letter here. Oh.

[Soren Arkwright]

After the emotional peak that we just reached in the series.

[Gloway]

I mean, to be fair, that bitch is dead. So you can burn that. That's fine.

[Sindri West Pike]

Uh, I. I have a sunflower seed. I think that was a gift from the.

[Soren Arkwright]

Oh, wreath. He did give you a sunflower seed when you were in town at one point, right? See, I listened to the podcast, unlike

[Sindri West Pike]

C, I shockingly wrote that down.

[Soren Arkwright]

You actually made friends with that little murder lemur? That Matthew Mercer murder lemur

[Sindri West Pike]

shook your

[Soren Arkwright]

hand and he gave you a thing because he actually spent the time to make a friend proud of you.

[Gloway]

I mean, that is an important gift.

[Sindri West Pike]

This is on 4th dimensional DM planning.

[Gloway]

This sounds like, what do you call it? Spaghetti against the wall. And when someone brings something up like this, I'm like, yep, plan that. That's mine. Yep, that's perfectly planned.

[Soren Arkwright]

I still have those torches. Glum never let me use.

[Sindri West Pike]

Actually, I think I have the perfect item. Xinter's gonna go into his backpack and he's gonna bring out something called an alms box. It's a box for collecting charity donations or other things. He brings it out and he's gonna say, where I am from, our religious practice is we like to build monuments and stay in one place.

[Soren Arkwright]

Place.

[Sindri West Pike]

But your pious nature is. It's motivating. And as such, I would like to offer this symbol of stability and stationarity to the great flame and take with me some of your mobility and your want for movement and freedom.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Mother Helia stepped to the side, slightly bowing as she extended her arm out toward the fire.

[Sindri West Pike]

Oh, shit. I'm gonna lift up my shield. Shield up above my head, and I'm guessing I'm just gonna march towards the fire.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

The women who were dancing around the fire stopped to clear a spot for Sindri. They all clasped their hands, waiting for him to toss the alms box into the flames with curious anticipation.

[Sindri West Pike]

I do. It's not like a hefty throw. It is a gentle toss as he tries to place it into the fire. Without much disturbance, the box rolled slowly,

[Narrator/Scene Description]

making its way into the center. It was not a very large fire. Perhaps a bonfire, two meters or six feet in diameter.

[Sindri West Pike]

And he looks to the ladies and says, may the light guide you. And he returns to the shade.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Cheers for the brother. Cheers for the brother.

[Gloway]

Cheers for the brother.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

They all clapped and called out in excitement, raising their hands again. They turned their veiled faces towards the sky and spun, dancing again around the fire, tossing in pieces. The mother stared at Sindri as he returned to the shade, and he shivered unconsciously at the thought that he could almost swear she would be smiling if he could see her face. Cheers, brother. West pike, is there anything else we can help you with before you depart?

[Sindri West Pike]

I believe we have rations to keep ourselves sated, but the heat here is quite intense, much hotter than where I'm used to. How do you go about collecting resources such as water, brother?

[Narrator/Scene Description]

We do not drink, we do not eat. If you require food, you may take the great seeds of these flowers. We understand that others eat them with great joy, but we do not require them. We burn them.

[Sindri West Pike]

An amazing feat of belief. Yes. Thank you so much. Yeah, I think Sintri's not gonna engage much further. He's happy that things have gone as well as they Have. And he's just not gonna push his luck.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

One of the Soulites, unfamiliar to the team, ran over from the bonfire to the Great Mother, who bent down to hear what her sister had to share.

[Soren Arkwright]

Great Mother.

[Gloway]

Great Mother.

[Narrator]

The alms box.

[Soren Arkwright]

The alms box has not burned.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Then to you again, Brother Westpike, if you and your others would like to perhaps showcase their faith further. I've heard from my sister that your almsbox has not burned.

[Sindri West Pike]

Has not burned.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Has not burned yet.

[Sindri West Pike]

It is just simple wood from my village. It should burn fine. I am very sorry.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

I did not believe otherwise. It is a miracle.

[Gloway]

It's a miracle. It is a miracle.

[Sindri West Pike]

Oh, this is a good thing. I'm sorry. I assumed this was an omen, not a boon.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

No, it is good. If it does not burn, it means it has been transformed by the holy fire.

[Soren Arkwright]

Oh, Soren's just gonna grab Sindri's arm and raise it over his head like he won a boxing match.

[Sindri West Pike]

I am old, and my arm doesn't bend that way anymore.

[Gloway]

Praise be to brother West Pike.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Shit.

[Gloway]

You nailed it.

[Sindri West Pike]

I believe they follow other teachings, and as such, I would not expect such of them. But if you guys want to.

[Gloway]

So what does this mean for you guys? That something has a band.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

If the one who has brought it to us, the one who has given it up to him, were to refetch it from the fire. It is a transformed thing. It is new. It is wonderful.

[Gloway]

Inciting these creepy cultist motherfuckers. I'm not chill with this. I'd like to incite them. Are they intending to push him in the fire and burn him alive?

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Roll insight. Yes, but hurry. I can only smile for so long. Those muscles don't get a lot of work.

[Gloway]

19.

[Narrator]

The black smocked maidens did not have any sinister threats or intentions, but were pleased. Filled with genuine religious fervor and praise for this miracle. And to be sure, this was a miracle for them.

[Gloway]

I look at Sindri. I don't know. Maybe you should go get her.

[Sindri West Pike]

What? I mean, fine.

[Soren Arkwright]

Gods.

[Sindri West Pike]

So for me to reach this thing, the ounce box, would it require my full power to enter the fire? Or do you think I can just reach with my hands from the az.

[Soren Arkwright]

Perhaps. Let's put it this way. They are all expecting you to walk into a flame.

[Sindri West Pike]

No, no, no, no, no, no. Not happening. Not happening.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

The light of our Lord will protect you.

[Sindri West Pike]

I am sure that your Lord would protect those who have prayed to him for many years.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Our Lord? Your Lord. This is the Land of dreams and faith.

[Sindri West Pike]

I understand. But I have been exposed to fire many times in my life and I am far from defended against it. My path is a different one than yours, and I am greatly imprisoned by your pious. But to walk into a flame would be suicide. And I have many people that rely on me and many journeys I must take.

[Gloway]

At least we can sort of see the arms box. I mean, I think I sort of see it. So if one were to see nature and. I don't have mage hand. I'm not that kind of bard. Not a good bard.

[Sindri West Pike]

Okay.

[Gloway]

I mean, how excited do these nuns look?

[Soren Arkwright]

Well, let me take a look. You know, they may be fully covered from head to toe, but they look very animated. Dancing and spinning around the fire. Oh, they're so. So polite and dancing with one another.

[Narrator]

With a 14 on religion, GLOI recognized that the song they'd begun was similar to ones she'd heard and even sung of Celagon. But the lyrics and melody were strange, different. Most of it felt familiar. Almost like she could sing along, though she couldn't with practice. Perhaps these faiths shared a common root.

[Sindri West Pike]

So, what were you thinking?

[Soren Arkwright]

Oh, now they're tossing more of the cut stalks into the fire. It's very impressive.

[Gloway]

No, that's just making the fire worse.

[Sindri West Pike]

Ah.

[Soren Arkwright]

Yeah, that's what I meant.

[Narrator]

Sindri was visibly scared as he stared at the growing bonfire.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Take your time. We have nothing but time and sunflowers and thief here.

[Gloway]

Can it only be Brother Westpake that retrieves us?

[Narrator/Scene Description]

No, I already said. Said it could be any of those who came with him. The offering came from your home, did it not?

[Sindri West Pike]

It did that.

[Gloway]

It did. I'm gonna start pulling my armor off.

[Sindri West Pike]

What are you doing?

[Gloway]

You know exactly what I'm doing. There's a shiny object in a dangerous place.

[Soren Arkwright]

Okay, but it's tantalizing af.

[Sindri West Pike]

Just give me a second. I have a plan. I have a plan. Because I actually did remember a spell. This gives me resistance to fire.

[Gloway]

Oh, my God.

[Sindri West Pike]

It is okay.

[Gloway]

Calm yourselves, sisters.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Calm yourselves. Dance and be joyous, but do not bother our guests.

[Sindri West Pike]

So I can chase my chosen spell at any long rest. I do, however, not have protection from energy right now. Which is the name of the spell that would have given us resistance to fire.

[Gloway]

Right? Yeah.

[Narrator]

Gloi had removed her mask and armor.

[Gloway]

If he's like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, I may.

[Sindri West Pike]

Yeah. I not.

[Gloway]

I'll stop taking everything off.

[Sindri West Pike]

But like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, now. Okay, where in the day, night, cycle

[Narrator/Scene Description]

are it's the Sunward Plains.

[Gloway]

Yeah. There's no, like night.

[Sindri West Pike]

Yeah, no, no, our day night cycle.

[Soren Arkwright]

Well, we traveled five hours after meeting the cultists around sunset, but it was stormy, so maybe like near midnight.

[Gloway]

You know what? Walking's really hard, so I'll take a long rest.

[Soren Arkwright]

And then we got into a fight with the tongue thing.

[Gloway]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, good times.

[Soren Arkwright]

And then we walked a bunch and I got sunburned and I choked a little on the sunflower dust a little bit.

[Sindri West Pike]

Yep.

[Soren Arkwright]

And then we found nuns. You know what? It's been a day.

[Gloway]

It's been a day.

[Sindri West Pike]

Does it seem like we would be able to take an eight hour rest, restore our blah, blah, blah, and I can get access to the spell.

[Gloway]

Yeah.

[Soren Arkwright]

So the last time we took a long rest in Chromana, Sindri, you lost some of your memories. Not all of them. It's normally a little bit at a time, but it hit you particularly hard. I mean, being stalked by the Silent One didn't help, but by the end of it, you were. You were basically in a fugue state. Plus, the very nice nuns said that the tongue of the Great House could come back at any time.

[Narrator]

They did gloy finished taking off her armor. For real this time.

[Soren Arkwright]

Oh, my God.

[Gloway]

I'm just. I'm man this shit. I'm just going to take everything off. I don't want any of my to burn. I have books on me, I have clothes I care about.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Please, Sister, be careful. The pollen could have hurt you.

[Gloway]

Yes, I'm a dwarf. I'll be fine. Any skin it touches could be terribly afflicted.

[Sindri West Pike]

It's still poison.

[Gloway]

Fine. I'll leave my underwear on. Happy? Look, Cindy, if something happens and you go in there and get that. I can't heal you, but I trust that you will.

[Sindri West Pike]

Just. Just give me one minute. Let me. Let me just try one thing, please. Okay, Cynthia's gonna get down on one knee. He's gonna put his hammer in front of him, hat down, hat on the. Like the head of the hammer down his head on the pommel, which is his like weird little praying stance when he doesn't have a temple or a comfortable place. And he's just gonna pray. He's just gonna pray to Celacon. Please, for the love of the light, can I change one spell by the light of Celagon, please. I very much need protection from where I am. I'm not asking for a free spell slot. I am not asking for a handout. I am only asking to be allowed to prepare A spell I do not have. Lord, please.

[Narrator]

Sindri could roll a religion check as his faith was once again tested. As he prayed, Sindri thought he could hear a holy choir.

[Soren Arkwright]

Women are literally singing, so.

[Gloway]

Oh, hell. Hell, yeah. I'll join in that.

[Soren Arkwright]

Yeah, Soren's. Soren's in.

[Sindri West Pike]

So when I roll a 20, what happens again?

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Is that a nat 20?

[Sindri West Pike]

It's genuinely a nat 20. Yeah, boy, it's a 24 on my thing. Wow.

[Narrator]

Sindri heard a voice respond to him, a voice he had not heard for a long time. He knew the speaker, but the voice it used was his own.

[Sindri West Pike]

Walk without fear of Italian. Cedric will remove his mask.

[Gloway]

Not to ruin the mood, but your daughter is also in front of you in her underwear, singing with the cultist ants. Yeah.

[Sindri West Pike]

Oh, yeah. I open my eyes and I go, oh, I know you're not religious by nature, Chloe, but trust me on this one. And I'm going to step forward into the sunlight with my. Now without my shield above my head, if I start burning just from the sunlight, I'm not actually the fucking fire.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Sindri felt no pain. His skin turned a little red. He could feel the sweat evaporating from his body. But he felt no pain as he walked forward. The women danced, many stopping as they reached Sindri's approaching path toward the fire. And they bowed as he reached the edge of the great flames. They spun around him and they continued their dance. Sindri's faith would be tested one final time.

[Sindri West Pike]

I drop my hammer, I drop my shield, and I enter the fire to retrieve the Almas box.

[Narrator]

Today's heavenly king flies on golden, glorious wings in a dark magical mask, beaming radiant light.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Fire licked all around Sindri. Reaching up into the sky, he walked deeper. And there upon burning ashes, was the alms box, unbirthed and unmarred, just as

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

he had been told.

[Sindri West Pike]

I reach down and pick it up.

[Narrator]

Happy flaming kisses fall on valleys and hills, and all nations will awaken to his eternal morning. Majesty.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Sindri was unharmed by the flames, picking up the alms box, which was neither cool nor warm. It simply sat comfortably in his hand, lid closed. Within the burning offerings, Father Westpike glimpsed the red glitter, glimmering flickers of the sun itself, and the golden shadows of the spinning, laughing women. It was within that tiny inferno temple his faith had been found.

[Sindri West Pike]

Worthy I exit the fire and exit the. Enter the shade with the guys.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

As he exited the fire, appearing normal and unharmed, the sisters cheer. They were so happy to see him. Emerge. Was this man a saint? Did their God not bestow his blessings upon him? Their joyful dancing persisted even as he slowly walked to rejoin Soren and Gloway in the shade of the sunflowers. The flames grew behind him as more cut stalks were thrown into the fire.

[Sindri West Pike]

A miracle, it seems.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

A miracle indeed. We had never expected such a thing to happen today. This is truly a glorious blessing from His Radiant Majesty.

[Sindri West Pike]

I believe he has his eyes on me today.

[Narrator]

Father west pike gained inspiration. A reroll he could use at any point once.

[Sindri West Pike]

Hell yeah. Yeah. Let's say Sintri picked up his shield and weapon on the way back.

[Gloway]

Yeah. And let's say that Gloe is now dressed as well.

[Sindri West Pike]

Oh, fantastic.

[Gloway]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I give him a hug first and then I'll get dressed. Because she's standing there in utter disbelief that this dumbass is walking into the fire. I'm like, oh, well, it was good while it lasted.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Seeds, my sister. Seeds. A few of the Soul Eyed nuns approached, bearing large sunflower seeds, handing them to Soren Sindri and glowing. We do not eat. We do not drink. Please partake.

[Sindri West Pike]

Oh, sure.

[Soren Arkwright]

I actually ordered the meaty. You know what? This is fine. This is fine.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

They come in a variety of sizes. You are quite funny. Would you like to see? Oh, no, wait. Please stay in the shade. We can see your skin bubble.

[Soren Arkwright]

Oh, I'm sorry you have to see that.

[Sindri West Pike]

Yeah, Cynthia's gonna bite into the seed.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

It tasted like an enormous sunflower seed.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Mmm.

[Soren Arkwright]

Yummy. You know what? It's very fatty, which is very filling.

[Sindri West Pike]

These are actually incredible.

[Soren Arkwright]

You know what this reminds me of? Lamprey.

[Gloway]

Less slimy.

[Sindri West Pike]

Never seen them. Don't like the ocean.

[Soren Arkwright]

Must be nice. Must be f ing nice.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

May whatever his holy miracle meant help you on your journey. And may his holy light find you and sear upon you the luck and bounty of your faith.

[Soren Arkwright]

I have an offering that I'd like to make to the fire, but I'm not sure if A, it's like, physically possible, and B, if it's culturally very offensive.

[Gloway]

What would that be, Brother Sola?

[Soren Arkwright]

I'd like to subtly lean down and open my lantern and turn their bonfire green.

[Narrator]

A conversation was taking place in the side. The Reverend Mother Helia spoke with Brother Westpike.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Yes, Brother, Glorious brother. You want to reach the Roaming Forest in its encapsulating darkness, you will find the darken Ginkgo this way.

[Narrator]

With no frame of reference to north or any other direction. Mother Helia's simple gesture was all the aid they needed to find their way.

[Gloway]

Yeah, yeah.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

You cannot see it over the caps of the sunflowers, but if you continue in that direction, there can be found the mighty trunk of a terrible tree. Climb it. Climb the tree. And when reaching the upper boughs, you will be transported. For all of Chromana is but a series of interconnected doors, which only a few understand.

[Sindri West Pike]

I was gonna just say you have the. The most gracious host. Thank you so much for having us. All that good stuff.

[Narrator]

Sindri's faith had been renewed by these strange women. And just as he turned to thank her, a phrase was whispered near the bonfire, one that activated a magical lantern. And all at once, the light shifted.

[Soren Arkwright]

I imagine I'm kneeling by the side of the fire, like open a little door on the front of the lantern to let my green flame spill out. And like a. Almost as you would imagine, like dandelion fluff in the summertime, catching fire, like the light of the normal flame, slowly becomes green around the edges, consuming the middle.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

It turned green. The bright haze, the golden sheen of the area sunk into a darkness, a deep emerald fog. Ghosts manifest, the spirits of women dressed from head to toe in black and white, appearing from the great forest of stalks around the team, bodies contorted in agony, and they rushed toward the sickly Bonifire, throwing themselves upon it. The Soulites, the physical ones around Sindri, Gloway and Soren, screamed and screeched as they ripped off their veils, revealing that their faces had no sight. They had told the team that they did not eat, did not drink, did not sleep, for they were, in fact, undead followers of the sun. And they could see their fellow spirits, the ancestors of their shared faith, throwing themselves upon the fire, seeking release from the location that had trapped their faithful souls here for so long. The corpses and spirits alike screamed and writhed in agony, and all present required sanity, saving throws as they witnessed this horror.

[Sindri West Pike]

10:23.

[Narrator]

Gloi and Soren gained 16 stress, while Sindri only gained 4. As the screams of Mother Helia and her sisters were etched into their memories forever. Mother Helia grasped Soren's arms, shaking him as the sockets of her skull loomed inches from his nose.

[Gloway]

Stop this blasphemy or I shall throw you upon the flames.

[Soren Arkwright]

I can shut the lantern off, but is that. Will that take the entire bonfire with it?

[Sindri West Pike]

Now, how the hells would I know?

[Soren Arkwright]

Oh, God, this is going to be strange. I will speak the words that I remember perfectly.

[Narrator]

Soren required a luck check, a simple D20 roll to see how the events landed in his favor. Or not.

[Soren Arkwright]

Sweet A6.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Sorin spoke aloud the words to end the ritual, turning off the connection to whatever it was that lie within his terrible land.

[Soren Arkwright]

I release you.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

The ghosts disappeared, scattering and evaporating into the haze as everything returned to its unnatural golden hue. But it no longer felt as it was before. It was no longer joyous, this no longer loving. It was pained, saddened, and hateful. Those physical corpses who remained drew their sickles and painfully shuffled toward the team.

[Gloway]

Let's take you.

[Sindri West Pike]

I am very sorry for my friend's actions and yeah, I've got to start backing off.

[Narrator]

It was only now that the team could realize the full extent of what happened as the flames receded back into the lantern. The blowback was immense. This fire was more than Soren could contain, and he'd been scorched for 15 necrotic damage, the skin on the hand that held his lantern all too quickly becoming grayed and slightly skeletal. He was unsure if such a necrotized injury could ever heal properly as he looked from his lantern to the women and their sickles.

[Sindri West Pike]

Yes, I grabbed the guys and I start ushering them in the direction the Great Mother pointed us.

[Gloway]

Yeah, we just kind of frog march him away. Just one either side. Just dragging him away from this place.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Gloe and Syndre pulled Soren further into the golden forest, leaving behind the wails of the once joyous women.

[Narrator]

Dark Dice Chapter 34 Sunwave featuring Peter Joseph Lewis as Soren Arkwright, Hem Brewster as Glowy West Pike, Ethor Vitersson as Father Sindri west pike and featuring the voices of Aaron Ink Magnastottir, Iona Campbell, Sam Yao, Hatla Tryggvadottottir, Sandra Lindfordottir Tryndis, Eva Elringstotter, and Sinnalif Solvaldottir, with KA Statz and Travis Fengroff as co game Masters. This episode was produced and edited with sound design by Travis Fengroff, Transcripts, more editing and sound design. But you Espr and Goldlagar Mixing and mastering by Fernand Nielsen and features executive producers Dennis Greenhill, Michael Villegas, AJ Punkin, and Carol Van Grof. This episode featured music by Andrey Vidonograv, Yuza Koshiro, Travis Fengroff, Eirung Inga Magnusdottir, Christian Adle Hemerson, and Stephen Millin. To help support the show, please check out darkdice.com yes, we have merch and now we have Unnatural Horrors in hardcover. Also check out the early edition of Shores of the Silver Thrum, now available on Patreon. Dark Dice is a fool in Scholar production. Thank you for listening.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Your next chapter in healthcare starts at Carrington College's School of Nursing in Portland. Join us for our open house on Tuesday, January 13th from 4 to 7pm you'll tour our campus, see live demos, meet instructors, and learn about our Associate Degree in Nursing program that prepares you to become a registered nurse. Take the first step toward your nursing career. Save your spot now at Carrington. Edu Events. For information on program outcomes, visit Carrington.

[Sister Marisol/Sister Solana/Mother Helia]

Edu Sci.

[Soren Arkwright]

It's tax season, and at LifeLock. We know you're tired of numbers, but here's a big one you need to hear. Billions. That's the amount of money in refunds the IRS has flagged for possible identity fraud.

[Sindri West Pike]

Now here's another big number.

[Soren Arkwright]

100 million. That's how many data points LifeLock monitors every second. If your identity is stolen, we'll fix it.

[Sindri West Pike]

Guaranteed. One last big number.

[Soren Arkwright]

Save up to 40% your first year. Visit lifelock.com podcast for the threats you can't control. Terms apply.