Season 2 | Ep. 35 | The Darkened Ginkgo

Summary

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Dark Dice – Season 2, Episode 35: “The Darkened Ginkgo”

Release Date: April 14, 2026
Podcast by Fool and Scholar Productions

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Episode Overview

This episode plunges the party—Sorin Arkwright, Father Sindri Westpike, and Glowy West Pike—deeper into the nightmarish, shifting landscapes of the Roaming Forest and the mysterious "Darkened Ginkgo." After the unsettling events of previous chapters, the group deals with the aftermath of Sorin’s risky decisions, faces new horrors, and navigates both external and internal threats. With themes of trust, regret, and looming danger, the party’s dynamic continues to evolve as they struggle to survive a reality shaped by capricious gods and eldritch magic.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Beats

Tension and Distrust After “The Lantern Incident”

(00:45–06:44)

• The three protagonists quickly depart from the chaos of the Soulites, tension tangible in their silence.
• Glowy and Sindri vent their anger toward Sorin for his recklessness in the previous scene involving a mysterious lantern.
• Sindri’s confrontation:
  • “Soren, what the. What is wrong with you?” (02:35, Father Sindri)
  • Sorin sheepishly admits, “I thought it would look cool.” (02:39)
• Glowy lambasts Sorin for endangering the group with magical items:
  • “Your lantern is the farthest thing from cool that we have ever fucking seen. That thing is terrifying.” (02:43)
• Sindri demands answers regarding Sorin’s connection to the Cult of the Silent One, questioning his loyalty and threatening violence before catching himself and apologizing (“I'm not gonna kill you. I'm sorry. That was…” 03:36)
• The group conducts a “magical trinket inventory,” turning over the lantern, a teacup, and a cursed pie to Sindri for inspection and blessing.
• Sindri's practical approach: “I'm not leaving a cursed item here. We should dispose of this thing in some flames when we get home.” (05:27)

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Examining Strange Magic and Faith

(06:44–11:18)

• With magical objects assembled, Sindri performs a ritual for their safety, noting: “The cup is probably just a cup, but let's not make any vicious near the goblin paw thing.” (07:51)
• Sindri discovers the altar box he rescued previously is filled with strange white ash. When Sindri touches it, his hand turns invisible.
• Glowy proposes: “Maybe it's like ash of invisibility or something. I think I've read about magical Shite like that before.” (09:09)
• Sindri expresses a blend of faith and paranoia:
  • “I love my God. And I believe in him… But I also believe there are forces out there that look to subvert us, to deceive us. … Believe, but verify.” (09:57)
• In a memorable moment, Glowy licks the invisible ash:
  • “I was so also thinking that I lick my hand. Why would you do that?” (10:24, Glowy/Sorin)
• Result: some magical properties granted, such as invisibility or light permeability (11:12).
• The group prepares to proceed, noting their daunting quest: “We have a long day ahead of us and a big tree to climb.” (11:18, Sindri)

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Into Battle: The Chromatic Tongue

(12:01–15:08)

• Navigating through endless sunflowers, the party encounters a monstrous, chromatic red-and-blue tongue emerging from a portal (12:01–12:56).
• The fight is frantic but coordinated:
  • Sorin: “Something's coming.” (12:56)
  • Sorin’s quick response: “Sorin raised his bow… for 18 damage as it got within 10 meters.” (13:12)
  • Glowy uses magical daggers: “There's gonna be a five foot cube of daggers that's gonna appear and start slicing this tongue dude, for like 44 slashing damage every round.” (13:37)
  • Sindri invokes sacred flame and deals with the sticky, repulsive nature of the creature.
• Memorable battle banter:
  • “Oh, fuck that.” (14:48, Sorin)
  • “And. Stay gone, you disgusting thing.” (15:08, Sindri)
  • Glowy jokes about practicing "vicious mockery" at Sorin's expense.

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The Climb to the Ginkgo: Bonding and Banter

(15:33–22:38)

• The group locates the “darkened ginkgo”—a massive ancient tree, its shade an oasis from the oppressive sun.
• Teamwork in climbing:
  • Glowy helps boost the others: “I'm gonna help boost them up to the first branch.” (16:33)
  • Sindri admits weakness: “I'm not exactly the best climber… I would appreciate any kind of support or guidance.” (16:56)
  • Glowy wryly remarks about cursed items: “Both of you have my coolest stuff now. Funny how that worked out.” (17:50, Sorin)
• The party fumbles the first attempts but eventually ascends via shared effort, humor, and mutual guidance.
• When they reach a resting spot, Glowy spots that “the branches looming furthest at the top seemed a lot darker… a slow, gentle, refreshing fog…” (21:12)
• The party speculates about the cause (“Why is it wet?” asks Sorin, 21:46) and tests the tree’s nature.

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Dream Sequences, Shadows of the Past

(22:40–26:36)

• The team unknowingly falls asleep in the ginkgo’s upper branches, slipping into a dreamlike state (22:40).
• Glowy dreams she’s back in a ruined elven village, coldly and efficiently eliminating familiar mutated foes—a haunting, mechanical sequence:
  • “[Her] movements felt familiar and practiced, mechanical like buttoning a shirt…” (24:14)
• Sorin and Sindri, within the same dream, mistake Glowy for a threat, initiating a fear-driven retreat.
• Confusion reigns as Glowy returns to “camp,” waiting for her friends to awaken—both restful and unsettling, demonstrating how trauma and past violence haunt the party even in sleep.
• The group wakes refreshed, though only Glowy recalls the grisly dream.

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Ascent and Realization: The Roaming Forest Below

(26:36–30:21)

• Climbing higher, the party observes a surreal shift: the sunflowers below have transformed into the twisted Roaming Forest, signaling they have traversed planes or time (“So beneath us, where we just came from now appears to be the Roaming Forest.” 27:13, Sorin)
• Glowy’s sharp perception reveals their proximity to their goal and a version of themselves running toward the Bastion (“Looks like we're actually quite close to the bastion… I think we're not getting anywhere near the path. And I'm pretty sure I see the party already. Us, I mean, we're running through one of the gates a bit away.” 27:48)
• A race against time to reunite with their destinies; the group rapidly descends the Ginkgo to reach the Bastion.
• Light-hearted frustration and party chatter continue during descent and as they try to recall allies in the forest.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Father Sindri Westpike: “I've met rocks with more brains than you.” (03:02)
• Glowy West Pike: “It's only us three. It's us three versus a fucking God, okay? We have to be better than this.” (04:21)
• Father Sindri Westpike: “Believe, but verify.” (09:57)
• Glowy West Pike: “I was so also thinking that I lick my hand. Why would you do that?” (10:24)
• Sorin Arkwright: “Both of you have my coolest stuff now. Funny how that worked out.” (17:50)
• Sorin’s deadpan: “Oh, yeah, I struck tree.” (22:24)
• Glowy West Pike: “Literally. About to teleport to the bastion.” (28:10)

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Timeline of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Event | |-------------|--------------------------------------------------| | 00:45-06:44 | Tense group confrontation over magical lantern & trust issues | | 06:44-11:18 | Rituals, mysterious invisible ash, and Sindri’s faith/wariness | | 12:01-15:08 | Combat with chromatic tongue; teamwork in real-time danger | | 15:33-22:38 | Locating and climbing the Ginkgo tree; party banter and mutual support | | 22:40-26:36 | Dream-world sequence; existential horror and surreal violence | | 26:36-30:21 | Realities merge; urgent need to descend and catch up to destiny |

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Episode Tone & Style

The episode is both grim and laced with dark humor. Banter masks trauma, trust fractures are explored with biting sarcasm, and ever-present supernatural dread keeps both characters and audience on edge. The roleplay is natural, sharply in-character, and balances bleakness with levity.

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Conclusion

“The Darkened Ginkgo” sees the Dark Dice party battered, soul-weary, and often at odds, but ultimately pressing onward through shifting perils—physical, magical, and psychological. Their journey through the enchanted, deadly landscape, punctuated by monster fights, dream logic, inner doubts, and snark, drives their story toward the next mysterious confrontation at the Bastion of the Nameless God.

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Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Glowy West Pike]

Seylus de Peis Salis do you seek him?

[Narrator]

Do you seek Him?

[Sorin Arkwright]

Do you seek him?

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Do you seek him?

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Do you seek the nameless God?

[Narrator/Scene Description]

You have found yourself among those who roll the Dark D 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, Father Sindri Westpike's faith was restored, and Sorin Arkwright interrupted the ritual with a heresy all his own. Dark dice the long road Chapter 35 the darkened ginkgo.

[Narrator]

Gloe and Sindri pulled Sorin further into the golden forest of sunflowers, toward the shadow of the darkened ginkgo, distancing themselves further from the blades and wails of the once joyous soulites. A heavy, seething silence hung between the party just beneath their footfalls. No words came from Glow or Sindri Westpike, and it was obvious to all that stern words would soon befall them once they were clear of the wailing women and the gnashing of teeth. A few minutes passed, and finally Gloe released Sorin's elbow and shoved him, causing him to stumble. The sweating silhouettes of the two dwarves now ominously loomed over Soren like two towers hewn from granite.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Soren, what the. What is wrong with you?

[Sorin Arkwright]

Sorry, I thought it would look cool.

[Glowy West Pike]

Your lantern is the farthest thing from cool that we have ever fucking seen. That thing is terrifying. Did you think, oh, it's only going to change it Green how fucking dense are you?

[Sorin Arkwright]

I mean, fairly?

[Father Sindri Westpike]

That's the understatement of the fucking century. Perhaps three I've met rocks with more brains than you.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Silver,

[Father Sindri Westpike]

but light of everything that is holy. Soren, you have vouched for the man that cast us into this place. You yourself seem to have been somehow a follower or a leader, or somehow connected to the Cult of the Silent One. And now? Now I have you actively sabotaging our journey back to try to stop the world from ending Give me one good reason not to strike you dead right now.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

After a while, Sorin broke eye contact and stared at his feet.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Sentry accepts the silence as an answer and seems relieved. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm not gonna kill you. I'm sorry. That was. And I'm gonna take two steps back.

[Sorin Arkwright]

No, I understand. Yeah. That did not go the way that I had hoped. I was curious to see what they were hiding. And I let that get ahead of our physical safety, for which I apologize.

[Glowy West Pike]

We have to be so careful. We can't rest here. We can't sleep without suffering. We don't even know how far ahead we are. We may not even be that far ahead. We may be even shoved back in time. Who knows what the fuck Silent One Ildryx did to us? We can't just be giving away our names. And I look over at Sindri. We can't just be doing things out of curiosity. We have to be so careful. It's only us three. It's us three versus a fucking God, okay? We have to be better than this.

[Sorin Arkwright]

You're right. I'm. I'm sorry. Both of you.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Prove it. Hand it over.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Sorin will slowly stand up, still a bit wobbly from everything that's happened. Dusts himself off. And I'm gonna sweep my cloak up, unclasp the lantern and hold it off the side very dramatically, looking over at it one final time before extending it towards Sindri.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Sindri reaches out and he grabs the lantern. And he's about to just chuck it as hard as he can, as far as he can. And then he pauses. I'm not leaving a cursed item here. We should dispose of this thing in some flames when we get home. And he just lowers it to the ground and stares at it for a while.

[Glowy West Pike]

Do you have anything else from the Silent One?

[Sorin Arkwright]

I don't think that the lantern was from the Silent One. It's been with me for a long time. But I can see the conclusion you've drawn. The only other magical item that I had was my dagger, which, seeing as it's in your hands at this very moment, you are already aware of, that's

[Glowy West Pike]

a relief, I guess. Look, do you have anything else that can be magical trinkets or anything else that's kind of dubious?

[Sorin Arkwright]

A porcelain teacup. It's a nice teacup. But from what Gayle and I could tell, there's seemingly nothing magical about is a nice teacup. Oh, and I have a lobbling pie. Not sure why I said it like that. The one I explained was the reason we were sent back in time. Happy to hand it over as well.

[Glowy West Pike]

All right, put it away for now. Just don't you shite unless you know what the outcome is going to be.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Sure. Also, I'm assuming don't jump down any spiraling voids on the way this time.

[Glowy West Pike]

Yes, Right.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

That would be preferable.

[Glowy West Pike]

It took a lot to save you from that last time. I don't want to repeat. For fuck's sake.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Sorin, give me the cup and the hand thing. I'll need 10 minutes. And Cinder's gonna put them next to the lantern on the ground and draw a circle around them in the grass. It does a short little ritual where he prays quietly for understanding and examines them. This is just for a peace of mind, but he wants to also place a blessing over these unholy things so that they cannot reach out to whatever they came from for the durations of the travel. Oh, and he'll take the Dag from Gloway's hand and he's gonna put it in a circle there for good luck,

[Glowy West Pike]

you know, Good thinking.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Alright, I'm rolling a religion check and it's a 15.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Hmm.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

The cup is probably just a cup, but let's not make any vicious near the goblin paw thing. The lantern seems to have acquired a few cracks since the first time I saw it. Soren, I have no idea what you've been through, but if this is any indication, I'm sure it could not have been an easy road. I feel confident that my ritual worked. Here is your hand and teacup.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Oh, thank you.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Going to keep the lantern in my backpack.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Oh, hey, Sindri. You've been staring at your backpack there for a while now. Everything okay in there?

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Yeah. It appears that I still have the alt box.

[Glowy West Pike]

The one you literally went into a bonfire to retrieve?

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

The latch was still shut and the wooden box looked exactly the same as it had before it had been placed within the great fire, the same as it had for the many years it had traveled with Sindri.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

I just kinda. I think I'm gonna open it.

[Narrator]

Sindri found that the box was filled to the brim with white ash.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

What? And he'll run his hand through it.

[Glowy West Pike]

The fuck has happened to your hand?

[Father Sindri Westpike]

I pulled it out of the ash, but I can't see it.

[Glowy West Pike]

Okay, okay, I can grab your hand. So maybe it's just in. Maybe it's like ash of invisibility or something. I think I've read about magical Shite like that before.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

I am going to take a little bit of time and I'm going to see if I can decipher what this is and what it means.

[Glowy West Pike]

I have detect magic and I'm gonna

[Father Sindri Westpike]

use it as a ritual.

[Narrator]

Okay.

[Glowy West Pike]

Again, I think it's just ash of invisibility. And also you stuck your hand in it and now it's invisible, so.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Yeah, but it might be cursed, so I'm going to check anyway.

[Glowy West Pike]

Not that I believe it is. Do you not believe in your God? Do you not believe that Celagon spoke to you and said, hey, walk up there, you'll be totally fine. And then gives you cursed ash? I'm not a religious person, as you said. But you have more faith.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

I. I love my God. And I believe in him. But I also believe there are forces out there that look to subvert us, to deceive us. And they have done so in the past. And as such, I will not take gifts lightly. Believe, but verify.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Sindri glared at Travis and Caitlyn through the fourth wall.

[Sorin Arkwright]

This might not be the time, but, um. What is it? What does it taste like?

[Glowy West Pike]

I was so also thinking that I lick my hand. Why would you do that?

[Game Master]

I don't know what type of ash this is. Just a little. This could be dead women.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Sindri was far from a connoisseur of ash and thus unable to tell its composition by taste.

[Glowy West Pike]

I should hope you don't.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Could be dead maidens, animals, or simply burnt wood.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Lucky for me, I ain't gotta take familiar.

[Narrator]

It tasted smoky and grainy, but also light and fluffy, like confectionaries he had enjoyed as a child. But he felt confident nonetheless that these ashes would allow light to pass through whatever they covered.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Uh, Sindri, you have a. Just a little.

[Glowy West Pike]

Your tongue is invisible. Just a little bit. But it looks super weird.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Fantastic. I believe my lord has gifted us with a potentially great tool to use. All right then, let us journey on. We have a long day ahead of us and a big tree to climb. We should just go this way, right? I still don't see the tree.

[Glowy West Pike]

We trust the creepy undead nuns. We're gonna go in that direction. That's where they were pointing. Soren, if you wouldn't mind leading us. But maybe don't go too fast, somewhere we can see you.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Yeah, sure thing. Let's get moving. Rolling three survival checks to navigate us through the sunflowers. 1310 and 24.

[Glowy West Pike]

Nice, dude.

[Narrator]

Sorin, Gloe and Sindri continued onward. It was hot and the sun was ever present in the sky above. But as they began to tire in the far distance, they could see one stalk that was much, much wider than the others, with brown bark in place of golden fur. Perhaps it was not a stalk at all. A few more minutes passed by, and unexpectedly, a flash of chromatic red and blues alerted the team to the wriggling of muscle, which darted free from a newly formed portal. Stretching and unfurling, it reached around and between the large sunflower stalks. From glands and folds, the mighty mussel seeped, the enveloping heat, quickly evaporating its slimy skin secretions into a dense, moist fog that reeked of rotten meat. But Sorin was not surprised. No. He found himself all too ready to act.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Something's coming.

[Game Master]

Sorin raised his bow, letting loose two arrows by instinct and hitting the great tongue for 18 damage as it got within 10 meters. Sindri reached for his warhammer as it sped past Sorin, wrapping itself around him once again, cutting through his armor with its abrasive protrusions and forcing him to make a constitution saving throw.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Oh, yay. Thank you for the gift. Uh, 16.

[Game Master]

This time, Sorin felt like the poison was not as potent, or perhaps Sindri's magic was still pumping through his blood,

[Narrator/Scene Description]

and he remained able to act.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Warhammer 18 to hit. 11 bloodsheding damage.

[Game Master]

Sindri crushed the whipping thing with a mighty swing, but his weapon stuck to slime, and he was forced to let go to avoid the tongues attempt to seize him in response.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Ah, no. I'm such a dumbass.

[Glowy West Pike]

Goris drums on her harp and she's gonna mute it very quickly. And in front of where Soren is standing, there's gonna be a five foot cube of daggers that's gonna appear and start slicing this tongue, dude, for like 44 slashing damage every round. I'm also gonna throw out inspiration to you, my Kaz, because I think he's been fairly inspirational recently, and he should have. It returned and all of your faith became a little undone. But you are Cergon's chosen one.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

I am the chosen one.

[Game Master]

Sorin swung again with his dagger, the first swipe frantically missing as he did not wish to accidentally stab himself. Soren then turned his blade to saw

[Narrator/Scene Description]

where the tongue had gripped his leg for nine damage.

[Narrator]

Sindri, dismayed as his hammer remained lodged in a grapple within the writhing knot of flesh, stepped back, reaching his hand up to make the symbol of his God, calling forth a sacred flame, which burned the tongue for an additional 12 damage. As the bloody rain of magical daggers further cut it for another 44 damage. It lashed out in pain, dropping Sorin and tossing Sindri's hammer through distant sunflowers as it wound and whipped, trying and failing to catch the old dwarf in a frantic final effort before pulling back away from the hail of daggers, recessing itself back through the golden haze and moving quickly.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Oh, fuck that.

[Game Master]

Soren raised his daggers and chased after it as Glowy ran to retrieve Sindri's hammer, tossing it to him in a motion that felt too precise to have not been practiced.

[Glowy West Pike]

Here.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Thank you.

[Game Master]

Sorin was fast, but the wounded thing was faster, receding beyond view and vanishing in a flash of blue light.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Combat had concluded.

[Glowy West Pike]

And.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Stay gone, you disgusting thing.

[Glowy West Pike]

There's no way to talk to Sauron. I

[Father Sindri Westpike]

glow a no.

[Glowy West Pike]

Look, I'm practicing my vicious mockery. I'm trying. Let's just get moving before it comes back and get to the ginkgo.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Alright?

[Glowy West Pike]

Come on, Soreness.

[Narrator]

The trio regrouped as if nothing had happened, but took more care to examine their surroundings as they continued onward once again. After some time, just as hunger began to set in, they could make out the thick, gnarled trunk of a tree ahead of them in the stalks of looming sunflowers. Its bark was a rough contrast to the golden furry stands of the grand flowers. Wider around than a covered cart, the tree appeared ancient and well rooted, yet nothing grew in the wide circle of its shade. Stepping beneath it, the temperature dropped immediately and it was clear that its darkness offered protection of a different kind. Yet the ginkgo's golden leaves high above appeared dense and almost matte, as if they absorbed the aggressive light of the loathsome sun with a natural ease, or its light simply avoided this strange space.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

I was not expecting to make a climb.

[Glowy West Pike]

I'm gonna put my back to the tree and I'm gonna motion to these lunatics that I'm gonna help boost them up to the first branch.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

How tall do you think this tree is? Three stories? Maybe five.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Significantly more, I'm afraid.

[Glowy West Pike]

One step at a time, right? We can do this, right?

[Father Sindri Westpike]

I'm not exactly the best climber and usually when I climb it's more of a rocky face surface than a tree. So this is gonna be new. I would appreciate any kind of support or guidance when it comes to this, Please.

[Glowy West Pike]

Yeah, I got you. Also, one of us does have her up, right?

[Father Sindri Westpike]

I believe so, yes.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Yes. I have got rope and I have wooden stakes, if that would be helpful. I do not seem to have a Set of pitons anymore. Or spiked shoes. Bliat. Maybe in another life.

[Glowy West Pike]

Yeah, we can use those to start like, piece by piece. We can start making our way up. I mean, I have a dagger that I can just keep throwing and resetting. So, like, we can use that as a pattern as well.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Handy, isn't it?

[Glowy West Pike]

I don't know that this is such a gift that you have given me. But it is. I look at Sindri and look back at you. Quite helpful.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Both of you have my coolest stuff now. Funny how that worked out.

[Glowy West Pike]

Yeah, but I didn't choose to take your dagger, all right.

[Sorin Arkwright]

True.

[Glowy West Pike]

Just kind of started following me.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

I already tried to take the dagger away from her. She won't let me.

[Glowy West Pike]

It won't let you. But then again, I wouldn't let you even if I could. You shouldn't bear the curse for summon you.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Hey, it wasn't your fault.

[Glowy West Pike]

Thanks, Sorin.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Alright, alright, alright, alright. Enough talking about the cursed items. They will surely bring destruction and devastation upon all who wield them. Let's just focus on climbing this tree.

[Glowy West Pike]

Yeah, that's a good idea. I mean, Soren, you're probably most experienced.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Yeah. I'll confidently secure a path of pitons and make a path for everyone. Rolling seven, boosted by glow.

[Game Master]

A Soren made it only about two

[Narrator/Scene Description]

or three meters before missing a step and falling.

[Glowy West Pike]

Oh, God.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Sorry about that. I got tricked by a branch there and I figured if I was going to fall, it should be early on so that no one falls. Falls to their death. I'll do better this time, surely.

[Narrator]

The team looked at Sorin with less confidence, watching him ascend and set up the rest of the initial path. It was arduous work to say the least. But after a while, he called down to them.

[Sorin Arkwright]

All right, I kind of got a path. Really tired now, but go. Get up here. Pace yourselves, huh?

[Glowy West Pike]

Okay, I'm gonna start climbing.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

I'm going to cast guidance on Chloe and then I'm gonna climb behind her.

[Narrator]

The trio climbed, rolling athletics checks.

[Sorin Arkwright]

21 on athletics. It's about time.

[Glowy West Pike]

5. And thanks to guidance, that's a 9. It's better with a snort.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Good. I got a 22.

[Narrator]

The Soren and Sindri were quick climbers, aiding Gloa with a system of ropes and stuck daggers dug into the thick skin of the ginkgo tree. They climbed and climbed for what felt like hours, exhausted, until they reached one of the higher branches. So long as they remained near the trunk of the ginkgo, they remained within

[Father Sindri Westpike]

its cool shade that was. That was. That was dangerous.

[Glowy West Pike]

Sorry, I. I didn't mean to pull on either of you. Actually, in retrospect, I don't think I've ever climbed a tree. I mean, at least not like this.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

No, it's. It's fine. It's fine. What would you assume this is a third of the way to the Roaming Forest?

[Sorin Arkwright]

Something like that. I suppose that a realm of dreams probably has many methods to travel from one plane or place to the next. But before we go any higher, I'd really appreciate if we could take a moment to just catch our breath.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Alright, let's take a breather then. Like. Like a short rest.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

The team sat down, opened their water skins and began to drink and relax. High above, Chloe noticed that the branches looming furthest at the top seemed a lot darker, as though the bark were wet. A creeping moisture that crept down past them like a slow, gentle, refreshing fog, obscuring the far view of their wide branch from the blazing light. Light of the hateful sun.

[Glowy West Pike]

Looks like it gets a little bit slippery up top. And maybe some of that mild weather is coming down to meet us. I mean, it would make climbing a lot easier if we don't have to keep avoiding the sun.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Hmm. Okay. This is the one and only time I'm ever going to ask either of you this question. Why is it wet?

[Father Sindri Westpike]

I don't know.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Just the defeated answer.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

I don't know. I just had a thought. Can you fire an arrow at that branch up there for me, please?

[Sorin Arkwright]

Oh, sure.

[Narrator]

15 Soren hit the branch.

[Glowy West Pike]

Good job.

[Narrator]

There was now an arrow lodged in the tree.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Oh, yeah, I struck tree.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

I actually feel better. I'm just. I had this wild thought and you've put my mind at rest. And on that topic, let's take a quick rest and then we can continue our ascents.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Sounds like a plan.

[Narrator]

Comfortable upon the great branch, under the refreshing mist and shade of the darkened ginkgo, the team had no reason to suspect an ambush and so did not take heed as one by one, their eyes closed and they drifted into slow slumber. The mist grew thicker and thicker, pooling just below their branch like a floor. Gloe, who was the last to fall asleep, awoke and thinking herself within a dream, walked across its incorporeal surface. Yet her footfalls found hold, and all too easily she walked away from her party through the ruins of an ancient village. Village nestled within the shade of the darkened ginkgo. Though surely within a dream, Gloe placed each footstep with caution, moving silently as she rounded the corner of a large structure, likely Elven in make, or perhaps Elven inspired in origin. For surely nothing could precede that long lived species asleep before her. Within the ruins, Gloe spied the forms of grey skinned creatures. A ring of malformed and self mutilated humanoids who were surely kin to those who had ambushed her party within the roaming forest. They slept, or perhaps merely waited within the ruins, facing a specific direction. Gloa succeeded in reaching their ring unnoticed. And for the first time in her life, she was pleased to find the murderous blade within her hands. Gloe made short work of the fiends, ending each life with a brief and deliberate interaction. Her movements felt familiar and practiced, mechanical like buttoning a shirt. And before she knew it, the last of their number was dead. Their mangled forms appropriately stained with their own blood. They could no longer hurt some Sindri. And this thought was a welcomed relief. As she stood over her kills, voices were audible in the distance, getting closer.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Father West Pike. Where are we?

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Yeah, you don't know this place or.

[Sorin Arkwright]

I don't believe so. It looks kind of like the whatever that was village we passed before we made it to this forest.

[Narrator]

Slowly, cautiously, two figures emerged, standing aloft the incorporeal surface of the mist. The forms of Sorin Arkwright and Sindri Westpike materialized with weapons drawn. They regarded Gloe as a stranger.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Hello?

[Narrator]

And their caution was quickly replaced with fear.

[Glowy West Pike]

Oh.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Sir. Sir, please, we have to leave this place. I. I just. I want to get the house out of here. Please, we need to get out of here. Get me out of here.

[Narrator]

Hammer in hand, shield raised Sindri's old shield. The duo began a retreat, turning their backs to Gloe, who, confused and following dream logic, simply accepted this and departed for her camp, where she knew the real Sorin and Sindri would still be sleeping. She found them easily and cleaned the blood off herself while still waiting for for them to wake up. And as the fog thinned, the others rose none the wiser, having completed a short rest, refreshed and ready to continue their ascent. Athletics checks were required.

[Sorin Arkwright]

A natural 20. Seems I'm at my best when I'm not climbing flowers.

[Narrator]

Sorin's successful ascent ahead of the west pikes allowed them both to roll with advantage.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

I'll still cast my guidance on Gloway.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Oh, apparently athletics is the only thing I'm good at. And I'm just now finding it out this deep in the campaign.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

And thank God for that. Advantage. I got a one and a nine. So 12, 14.

[Narrator]

The team continued their climb, reaching higher and higher. The branches became darker and the air became more chill and moist. Looking down, which they had avoided until now, they no longer saw the faces of thousands of shining sunflowers gazing up, but spied instead a sickly forest of twisted murk. The sun was nowhere to be seen, instead replaced by a twilight of glowing stars and fireflies. They knew this place. They had traveled here before.

[Sorin Arkwright]

So beneath us, where we just came from now appears to be the Roaming Forest. It looks like we just need to climb back down to reach it.

[Glowy West Pike]

You could just drop.

[Sorin Arkwright]

You'd like that, wouldn't you?

[Glowy West Pike]

I'm not gonna lie, Sol. I'm having a pretty shit day. So. Yeah, but yeah, you're right. I mean, maybe we should. Should claim down. But while we're up here and we've got a decent vantage point. Just hold on a sec.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Glowy required a perception check.

[Glowy West Pike]

Nut 20. Roll one, baby. Yo, 24. All right, good news first, lads. Looks like we're actually quite close to the bastion. The Name Squad already bad news. I think we're not getting anywhere near the path. And I'm pretty sure I see the party already. Us, I mean, we're running through one of the gates a bit away. Literally. About to teleport to the bastion.

[Narrator]

Ah, yeah.

[Glowy West Pike]

Ah, we need to climb down like right now.

[Advertisement Voice 2 / Promo]

Yeah.

[Glowy West Pike]

So I'm pointing at the bastion. Don't forget the direction that I'm pointing. Soren Cindere. That's the direction of the bastion. Okay, guys, let's get going.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

What about. What was the name of the Guardians of the Forest?

[Glowy West Pike]

Yeah, those guys.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Perhaps we could reach out to them. I don't.

[Glowy West Pike]

Okay. Do you have any idea how

[Father Sindri Westpike]

loudly. I guess.

[Glowy West Pike]

Oh, okay. Help us. Oh. Guardians of the Roaming Forest.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

No, no, not like that. Let's. Let's get out of this tree first.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Gloa's voice echoed over the forest as the group climbed down, finding their descent much easier than the way up.

[Glowy West Pike]

Yep.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

Once we are on like the last branches before we enter the canopy of the Roaming Forest, I'm imagining this tree we're in is taller than the rest of the Roaming Forest.

[Glowy West Pike]

Not all of it, but yeah, it is like pretty tall.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

As we get out of the tree, I ask, do we remember the name of the Guardians? I remember that they had names, but I can't recall them at the moment.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Kelperis was certainly one of them.

[Glowy West Pike]

Loriac was another. It's the ghost we promised to free on our way out. Yeah, she wasn't the most helpful, for sure. I. I think the only one we actually met who was alive was the one who turned up on a goddamn unicorn or some Shade Eredon.

[Sorin Arkwright]

What'd you say the unicorn's name was? Eredan. He saved our lives and healed our wounds. But that still technically is. It hasn't happened yet. Since we're in the past, right?

[Glowy West Pike]

No, No, I think that was about when you'd lost your memories.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

All right, I'll drop it. It's not necessary. I was just thinking, because he could ride through the forest, he could maybe help us get faster there, but.

[Glowy West Pike]

Well, I think so long as we don't go through the gates, we'll be okay.

[Father Sindri Westpike]

The gates speed us up.

[Sorin Arkwright]

Right.

[Glowy West Pike]

I forgot just how much of your memory. Well, let's just get going.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

And so the team began their trek through the roaming forest once again toward the bastion of the nameless God.

[Game Master]

Dark Dice Chapter 35 the darkened ginkgo Featuring Peter Joseph Lewis as Soren Arkwright, Hem Brewster as Glowy West Pike Ethor Vivarson as Father Sindri Westpike With Ka Statzen, Travis Vengrof as co Game Masters this episode was produced and edited with sound design by Travis Vengrof. Transcripts, more editing and sound design by Espion Goldlager, mixing and mastering by Fenner Nielsen and features executive producers Dennis Greenhill, Michael Villegas, AJ Punkin and Carol Van Graaf. This episode featured music by Andrey Vidonograv, Yuza Koshiro, Travis Fengroff and Stephen Malin. 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.

[Narrator/Scene Description]

Thank you for listening.

[I]

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 shadow Dark. The Darkness always wins. This is old school adventuring at its most cruel. Your torch ticks 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 game 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.

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[Father Sindri Westpike]

Well, if that's all, I can just dispose of you.

[Game Master]

Wait, what

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[Father Sindri Westpike]

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