Season 4 | Ep. 12 | Survivors

Summary

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Dark Dice – Season 4, Ep. 12: "Survivors" (June 23, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this gripping installment of Dark Dice, "Survivors," the party reels from the aftermath of shipwreck on the mysterious, frozen Silver Thrum shore. Emerging from loss, resurrection, and personal conflicts, the survivors grapple with grief, guilt, and suspicion as they attempt to gather resources and face an uncertain, possibly supernatural threat. The group's fragile unity hangs by a thread amidst secrets, unresolved tension, and the dangers of hypothermia.

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Key Discussion Points & Narrative Highlights

1. Life, Death, and Miraculous Recovery (03:32–08:58)

• The episode opens on the beach, with Yara presumed dead. Viviana and Vind attempt to revive him, and with a last-ditch spell, Yuhai successfully pulls seawater from Yara's lungs.
• Against all odds and to the (in-character) frustration of the DMs, a natural 20 on a death saving throw lets Yara return, painfully, to life.
  • Quote: Narrator (04:59): “There are certain points in the stream of life when terrible realizations come upon you. When life shows itself as fragile, fickle and painful, a roll was allowed and with the powers of a final natural 20 for a death saving throw which frustrated the DMs to no end, Yara came to…life is painful.”
• The group then faces a more permanent loss: despite efforts, Av cannot be revived. Their ritual is somber, marked by grief, exhaustion, and physical cold.
  • Quote: Finn (07:32): “Yeah, I think. I think they're dead. Sorry. Sorry. I'm gonna shut up now. But I'm glad you're alive, Yara. We…we thought you were dead.”

2. Mourning, Group Dynamics & Strained Unity (08:58–14:25)

• The survivors hold an impromptu wake for their fallen, stacking stones and sharing words and memories, with gestures of comfort and moments of levity amid immense grief.
  • Notable group hug moment:
    • Jar (09:54): “I feel at this point in the adventure, it’s time for a group hug.”
    • Ajay (10:17): “Yes…Not you specifically, but this one.”
• The mood quickly returns to practical desperation: they’re freezing, low on food, uncertain who else may have survived. The urgency to cooperate becomes evident.
  • Viviana (10:46): “Okay, buddy, but just know we're the only ones here. You're either by yourself or we're doing this together as a group.”

3. Small Comforts & Haunting Relics (14:25–19:28)

• Yuhai’s ukulele survives the wreck—a rare comfort—offering a tune to soothe the group for a moment.
• Ajay investigates mysterious silvery flakes in the beach sands: not silver, but unnervingly reflective. It's a detail with possible magical implications, underscoring the world's surreal dangers.
• Jarre finds Uda’s knife box, discovering knives safe and dry, a poignant reminder of the dead cook and her untold stories:
  • Quote: Yara/Narrator (16:07, 18:11): “It opened…relieved to see that the knives inside were somehow completely dry. As if by magic…Her heirloom knife had Dwarvish runes written on the blade, and Yara knew to read the name as Quit in Orcish.”

4. Bitter Confrontations & Fractured Trust (19:28–28:14)

• Ajay and Vind, both driven but deeply antagonistic, clash. Ajay is openly hostile; Vind tries to force cooperation for the sake of survival.
  • Ajay (20:04): “Let me promise you this. I need to get out of here for my people. And if I can, I will help the others. But there is nothing that I would ever do to help you.”
  • Viviana (21:11): “We are each exemplary leaders…We need every last bit of skill we have if we want to hope at not freezing or starving to death…We won’t make it unless we work together.”
• Jarre, racked by guilt and anger, interrupts their fight, blaming both for the crew’s deaths during their personal grudge match during the crisis.
  • Jarre (23:18): “You two just cut it out with this little tete a tete. The rest of us were trying to save lives…your little squabble…killed most of the rest of the crew…this either ends right now, or…I don’t know that we can trust you.”
• Ajay defends himself, reiterating his lack of interest in more conflict, wanting only to survive. Underneath, resentment, guilt, and suspicion continue to simmer.

5. Changing the Subject – Gossip, Romance, and a Faint Hope (27:14–32:56)

• The women (Viviana and Finn) briefly step away from the toxic conflict, offering lighter, even humorous commentary (“men…”), and speculating about romantic dynamics within the group.
• They spot a distant, mysterious light down the beach—possibly a campfire, a glimmer of hope, or another threat.
• As the group regathers, focus shifts toward this potential salvation or danger.
  • Finn (29:17): “Guys, guys, guys. This has Been a great show. 10 out of 10. The conflict is there. I am enjoying this immensely. But check out the light in the distance. Let's say we kind of shelve this for now and head over there, huh?”
• Amid reluctant cooperation, subtle romantic undertones are explored between Viviana and Finn, as they lean on each other for support:
  • Viviana (32:29): “I will gladly let you kill me if I betray you.”
  • Finn (32:32): “Oh, okay. Romantic. I like this.”

6. Mechanics, Worldbuilding, & Closing Notes (33:15–35:22)

• Party-wide cold exposure is noted, with most suffering level 6 hypothermia (out of 10, lethal)—raising their risk and adding a survivalist edge.
• Ajay’s magic offered some protection, but tension remains high as they walk toward the light, haunted by loss and mistrust yet driven by hope and necessity.

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Memorable Quotes

• Narrator (04:59): “...with the powers of a final natural 20 for a death saving throw which frustrated the DMs to no end, Yara came to realize...life is painful.”
• Ajay (20:04): “But there is nothing that I would ever do to help you.”
• Viviana (21:11): “What I'm saying here is that we won't. None of the other people here, the survivors, will make it without our collective efforts.”
• Jarre (23:18): “Your little squabble… killed most of the rest of the crew.”
• Ajay (26:56): “Do not mention his name. If you say it one more time, I swear that is it.”
• Viviana & Finn (32:29–32:32):
  • Viviana: “I will gladly let you kill me if I betray you.”
  • Finn: “Oh, okay. Romantic. I like this.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:04] – Recap & setting the scene (shipwreck survivors)
• [04:04–07:32] – Yara’s resurrection; AV's death and mourning
• [09:54–10:46] – Group hug and freezing tension; calls for unity
• [13:21–14:25] – Ajay discovers silver-like sand; Yuhai’s song
• [16:07–18:57] – Jarre discovers Uda’s knives; remembrance and mementos
• [19:41–25:31] – Ajay, Vind, Jarre confrontation; fractured trust, blame for deaths
• [27:14–29:02] – Viviana & Finn sidebar; lighter banter, refocusing
• [29:17–32:18] – The distant light; party agreement to investigate despite lingering grudges
• [33:15–35:22] – Closing notes, party status, hypothermia mechanics

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Tone & Style

The episode balances visceral horror, grim humor, and biting inter-character drama. The language alternates from heartfelt and poetic (“Life ... fragile, fickle and painful”) to sarcastic, raw, and even flirty in moments of relief. The existential threat is as much internal (blame, guilt, mistrust) as external (cold, hunger, supernatural dangers).

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Takeaway for Listeners

"Survivors" sets the party on an icy edge—grieving their dead and still blaming each other, yet forced to band together as fate leads them toward a mysterious light. The episode is a masterclass in horror storytelling, driven by powerful character work and atmospheric tension, leaving listeners anxious to discover both the next threat and whether the survivors can hold together.

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Transcript

[Narrator]

Greetings adventurers. It's great to be back. We hope you're enjoying shores of the Zuroth realm so far because the story is only just beginning and the horrors we have in store are getting ever closer. This season might seem like it's been all fun and games with a drinking episode and a beach episode and hi seas hijinks, but stats and I just wanted to assure you all that the team has finally reached the threshold of our proverbial haunted house. But before we find out how they are just Jasper William Cartwright, the voice of Ajay, is running a backerkit campaign to create a game called Force of Extinction where you're the appetizer, not the hero. Roll, die and resurrect in this fast paced bee movie in a box roleplaying game in a ruined, inhospitable world, your group of survivors will need somewhere to hide and stay safe. It's a game of resource management as you grow your settlement in the face of danger. So check out Force of Extinction. A link is in the show notes and while you're checking out their page, let's get back to our heroes.

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[Jarre]

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[Vind]

sheylus

[Ajay]

de pace Salis do you seek him?

[Yara]

Do you seek him?

[Narrator]

Do you seek him?

[Ajay]

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 shipwrecked and marooned, four survivors from an ill fated ship awoke in the black sands of an unknown silver shore. Freezing and hungry, they searched the beach for others, finding crewmates and corpses. Dark shores of the Silver Thrum Chapter 12 survivors.

[Yara]

Yara wasn't breathing. His skin was cold and when Viviana lifted his eyelids, there was no reaction. Sealey hopped and cawed from atop Yara's chest as Vind concluded nothing could be done for the once lively shipwright.

[Vind]

You know what? I move in to assist. I didn't know him really well, but that's silly and the owl is distressed. Stand back. I'll cast a spell to try and pull the water from his lungs.

[Narrator]

Yuehai, able to sense the seawater within Yara's lungs, extended a hand towards Yara's chest and with the workings of her druid craft, manipulated the water, pulling it up and out of his lungs and through his throat as water poured from his unmoving mouth.

[Vind]

Cool.

[Finn]

Did it work? Was he dead?

[Narrator]

There are certain points in the stream of life when terrible realizations come upon you. When life shows itself as fragile, fickle and painful, a roll was allowed and with the powers of a final natural 20 for a death saving throw which frustrated the DMs to no end, Yara came to realize the latter that life is painful. With searing burns within his chest, Yara was slammed back into the realm of the L. Back to breathing, each stinging breath pulling in the coldest air he'd ever felt. After seeing the strange floating lights, after having searched for decades, after finding friends and attempting to save ov. After everything and more, he'd now come back to where he shouldn't be.

[Vind]

Did I do it?

[Yara]

Did it work? Yara coughed and shook, looking from face to face as Seale chirped and cooed. Yara tried to Push himself up onto his elbows in the sinking sand as the clearly happy owl jumped onto his

[Ajay]

shoulder, Ajo will tap the spectral hand wrapped around his shoulder and send the ancestral spirit over to Yara to transfer the warmth of the prestigitation over to the poor guy.

[Vind]

Finally, you help.

[Yara]

As Ajay cast his magics, he felt a chill race itself way up his spine, settling back deep into his bones.

[Viviana]

Oh, now you'd like to help Ajay.

[Vind]

Okay, so with him sitting up, it's probably taller than me. And I just look over to him and I say, just so you know, you owe me.

[Viviana]

You did.

[Finn]

That's.

[Jarre]

That's okay. I thank you.

[Yara]

You're welcome. Is that what they had become? On edge, frayed and breaking, incurring life debts like heartless thugs?

[Jarre]

And at this point, Yara sees AVH lying next to him, and he's going to ignore whatever else is happening and he's going to try and help her, because he's just come to Av.

[Viviana]

Av.

[Narrator]

Yara pushed on her sternum, forced breath into her lungs, oblivious to the hissing air seeping through the wounds in her back. As the others watched on in saddened silence, a sinking feeling began to settle in, and after a time, ever so slowly, Yara's efforts slackened and eventually ceased, and he began to quietly sob, still oblivious to all but the small form before him.

[Yara]

But OV never moved.

[Finn]

Yeah, I think. I think they're dead. Sorry. Sorry. I'm gonna shut up now. But I'm glad you're alive. Yara. We. We thought you were. We thought you were dead.

[Vind]

You know, I didn't. Well, I didn't know her too well, like I said, but she and I, we're halflings. We're seafarers.

[Ajay]

You both have a fire within you, a fight.

[Vind]

I'm tired, but I grab Alps shoulders and I pull her or I try to pull her over to where we put Lon.

[Finn]

I help. And it shouldn't be too difficult because she's really small.

[Ajay]

Ajay picks up stones, large, flat ones, things he thinks he could stack up, and he starts building another pile of stones near the rocks they've piled up for Lung.

[Jarre]

Jaar's just gotten well. He's alive again and freezing. So after a few minutes of just sitting there in shock, gaining some stress, for sure he'll try to keep up, try to help. And he's looking around, looking for any others like Convo or Galusk, dead or alive.

[Vind]

Once AVH is next to Lon, I cross her arms over her chest make sure her eyes are closed.

[Finn]

I didn't know you well, av, but if you like to drink, you've got a good drinking buddy where you're headed.

[Jarre]

Drinking? We just lost the ship. We lost. We don't even know who we lost. I was dead, wasn't I? I was dead.

[Finn]

Well, maybe, but now you're. You're not dead now, so let's not dwell on that, right? I mean, people die all the time.

[Viviana]

Finn recognizes that Viviana might not be the best with words and situations like this. So he. He goes and warms Jahre with a nice big hug and says, we're just. We're happy you're here. This is. This is tragic, but you're here and you're with us. So you must be okay in knowing that.

[Finn]

As soon as Vin hugs Yaret, Viviana shivers and goes, ooh, I'm so cold too.

[Viviana]

Viviana, come here.

[Finn]

Okay.

[Viviana]

With his other available arm, Vintage swoops Viviana in. And we have a nice trio of warmth happening.

[Jarre]

I feel at this point in the adventure, it's time for group hug.

[Viviana]

As A has his arms crossed in the corner and just sulking.

[Ajay]

I'm walking away. I'm like, what is this? Not. Trust me, trust me. I would sooner walk into the ocean than get inside this.

[Finn]

Would you rather freeze to death than hug us?

[Ajay]

Yes.

[Vind]

Wow.

[Ajay]

Not you specifically, but this one.

[Jarre]

There's a freezing owl bear out there. Just bring it in.

[Viviana]

Guys, look around, look around. Wherever we are, we are isolated right now. There's no one here to help us. We need to stick together. And Vind winks at A with a smirk before he continues A. Do not walk away.

[Ajay]

Without you, AJ is walking away to stack more rocks. There's no way he's standing there listening to you.

[Viviana]

Okay, buddy, but just know we're the only ones here. You're either by yourself or we're doing this together as a group. And I know I'd rather not be alone as we face whatever this land places in our path.

[Jarre]

Whoa, wait. We're the only ones here? Is there? Where are the others? Where's the crew? Where's Convo? Where's uda? Where's everyone else?

[Finn]

Probably dead. Sorry. But the willows wake sank and I'm seriously surprised that even ah, Jay and Vin survived. Heck, technically you didn't survive either. So maybe just take the win and move on.

[Vind]

Yare, I'm sorry that you lost your friends. I. I think I know what that feels like.

[Yara]

Yuhai finished tuning her ukulele. It was a Miracle of some foul humored God. Perhaps that the instrument had survived when so many people had not. But Yuehai had it with her during her transformation. And so it endured. She knocked the sand out and tuned the last string, then began to pluck a loose tune as most sat huddling for warmth in the rocky, rolling silence. During the song, Aze busied himself elsewhere, continuing to stack stones and examine his surroundings. With the warmth of his spell restoring his senses, he briefly thought his mind was playing tricks. Within the mix of pebbles and sand. There was a flash of light here, a peak of brilliance there. Something silver. Light and shining, reflecting in the darkness. But reflecting what? With a roll of a nine. To investigate this phenomenon, and with no experience in mining or stonemasonry, Aje was unsure if these flakes of silver were valuable. But being an orc of the Sangoma, the spiritual leader of a subterranean people, he could tell that no, technically, this was not silver.

[Finn]

Hmm.

[Ajay]

Interesting.

[Yara]

Yes. It was different somehow, though. The luster, the way it reflected light, certainly reminded him of it. Yuhai's voice trailed to its end and the song reached its conclusion. The rolling of waves overtook the soundscape once again.

[Finn]

That was awesome, Yuhai. I feel. I feel inspired, maybe. Is that what it is?

[Yara]

As the music stopped and Ajay passed his hand between the substance and the night sky, its shimmering immediately ceased and it took on the properties of simple gray rock. These silver reflections dotted the entire shoreline. And with a handful of pebbles, sand and glinting flecks in his hand, Ajay cast prestidigitation and a silent experiment.

[Ajay]

Sorry.

[Jarre]

Sorry.

[Ajay]

I'll restore the heating spell.

[Yara]

But the stones were not covered in dirt. They could not be cleaned with magic. They were simply reflective.

[Ajay]

Very interesting indeed.

[Jarre]

That makes it feel much better. Thank you. Thank you guys for the hug. For the song. I think. I think I'm ready to say goodbye.

[Yara]

Jahre broke from the group and walked to the stacks of stones. He knelt over the bodies of Lan and Av, offering tears and words so quiet that none could be sure if they were a prayer or kind memories. Before he was finally ready to say

[Narrator]

goodbye, Aje left the group to investigate the cliffs, splitting the party. Yuhai, Yara and Vivian didn't seem to notice. But Vind, ever the sharp eyed hunter, kept the shaman in the corner of his eye.

[Jarre]

Wait. So there's no one else around? But have you. He's patting himself down.

[Viviana]

Have you.

[Jarre]

Are there. Are there any of our things left? Have you seen any? Are there any provisions? Is there. Can we start a fire somehow? We what's this? What? Ah, well, at least some of my provisions made it. And now I'll add my meager trail rations to an otherwise empty character sheet. And with another perception check in the dark, as a human without night vision, Jar is going to just sort of feel around until his hand can catches the edge of a thin wooden box, an object he knows more by sight than by touch, but one that he can remember as belonging to uda.

[Finn]

No.

[Jarre]

Is this.

[Yara]

Yara knew the box. He'd taken many of Udo's knives out of the ship's hull over the past several weeks and replaced them in the exact box he now held. As moonlight peeked out from beyond the heavy clouds, his eyes confirmed what his hearth already knew. It opened with a small puff and he was relieved to see that the knives inside were somehow completely dry. As if by magic. UDA rarely shared these blades with other people. She kept them in her kitchen, used them to express her frustrations and to showcase her well earned talents as a cook. Yara could recall Udal explaining that the knives themselves were family heirloom heirlooms she intended to pass on to her niece when she came of age. But her life, her passion as a chef, Yarre knew those were over now. Yarre quietly cursed himself, reasoning he could have made it to the kitchens. He could have helped, had he not chosen to help those above deck instead. A decision he would have to live with for the rest of his life. Even then, those he had tried to help had not survived.

[Jarre]

And as though Jarre's mood could get any worse, it's still sinking another seven levels. First of all, he's going to do two things. He's going to carefully feel around a set of knives for one, to see if there's something else in there. She's kept these things hidden from everyone else. Maybe there's some personal item, kind of a reminder of who she was, aside from the knives. Maybe something that should he ever find family, he could return it to them. Stuff like that small thing. And then the second thing he's going to reach for is that one special skinning knife she had that she always kept very, very, very sharp.

[Yara]

Yara knew of two knives he had never pulled out of the walls. UDA never mistreated them and had been particularly fond of them. The first was an iron knife. The blade gleamed black and the handle was adorned in beautiful geometric patterns. It looked well crafted and the tip of the blade was common, of Orcish design, perhaps from her hometown. Though no one had asked the other one was a silver knife commissioned by her grandmother to celebrate the birth of Uda's mother. It had been blessed at the seat in Embergrad, a story UDA shared over drinks and steamed buns one day. Her heirloom knife had Dwarvish runes written on the blade, and Yara knew to read the name as Quit in Orcish.

[Jarre]

Okay, knowing this, another two or three tears rolling down his face, he's of course, going to take both of them with him. And having remembered this and having just sheathed them somewhere, he has places for knives to go that are not his body. And remembering all of this, having just taken all of this up, he's going to stand up and. And he's going to stomp over towards where Ajay and Vind are standing.

[Narrator]

But were they indeed together again? Seemingly so. Ajay, who had separated from the group to examine his surroundings, was contemplating the cliff face when a voice emerged from the shadows.

[Viviana]

Ajay. Hey.

[Ajay]

Where did you come from?

[Viviana]

I. I. Listen.

[Ajay]

What? I do not have anything to say to you.

[Viviana]

I. I don't blame you for anything. I just want to know, have you. Have you had any premonitions or have you seen anything that might be able to help us get out of here?

[Ajay]

Ajay has to steel himself. I think if Ajay had any more strength at all, I don't even think he'd be entertaining this. But he looks deep into Finn's eyes and just says, let me promise you this. I need to get out of here for my people. And if I can, I will help the others. But there is nothing that I would ever do to help you. Now, please, stay as far away from me as possible.

[Viviana]

Ajay, you. You know I'm not here for myself.

[Ajay]

I'm so sorry. Am I speaking a different language? Is it. Is there a miscommunication problem? Because I just said to you, stay as far away from me as possible, and then you are carrying on talking to me.

[Viviana]

Well, we're the only people here, Ajay.

[Ajay]

Okay? I'm gonna make you. Oh, I'm going to make you. One, maybe two options, okay? It's either walk away from me, or I try to attack you and we both end up dying here. How about that? Do you want to die here? Is that what you want?

[Narrator]

Vindh placed a hand on his spear as a heavy moment of silence passed between both men.

[Viviana]

We both know that I could kill you here and now. Or perhaps you'd get lucky and we'd both die. But we also know that if we die, then our homes, our Families will continue to suffer greatly. The way I see it, we're somehow either in the frozen wilds of the North Realm or on an island in the middle. Middle of nowhere. No help is coming for us and we need to find a way to reach Winter Port and eventually return home. We are each exemplary leaders with survival skills. A cut above the rest of our clans who are in turn a cut above those from the human realms. And we're in foreign territory. We will need every last bit of skill we have if we want to hope at not freezing or starving to death or being eaten by whatever's lurking out there in the darkness. What I'm saying here is that we won't. None of the other people here, the survivors, will make it without our collective efforts. We won't make it unless we work together. Helping them ultimately means helping our people and helping ourselves. So let us put everything we've been through aside, at least for the time being. I will not judge you. You will not judge me. Lets just do what's right for us, for our villages and for our bloodlines. Without us, there's nothing. Without you or me, Yuhai Yare and beautiful Viviana will not get home alive. Please understand this and please, let's just. Hey Ajay. Ajay, can you hear me?

[Narrator]

Ajay's back was turned to Vind early in the speech, which Vind assumed to be dramatics until he noticed the shimmering outline of one of Aje's ancestors, a tall, broad shouldered orc, holding their hands on either side of Ajay's head while he continued to examine the cliff face.

[Viviana]

Are you hearing me? Are you hearing anything I'm saying? Ajay?

[Narrator]

Recognizing that his rival, the last person who knew his sinister secret, had his back turned to him. Vin's grip shifted on his spear as he took a few quiet paces close closer before a voice called out behind them.

[Jarre]

You two just cut it out with this little tete a tete. I, I can say I've had enough of this. The two of you. I, I don't even know why I'm Ange. I feel like you're doing him a great service at this point. The last thing I heard come out of your mouth was you leaving Nell Deitch to decide over his fate and, and, and here he stands. And I really don't know if it was Nell Dietsch that was tired having, having too many playthings tonight or, or if it was some other God that intervened and saved his life. Maybe it, maybe it was the jester God himself. Or maybe, maybe Celacon wanted to shed some light on this situation, to know who the real killer is. But you. Where the hell were you when the willow went down? There were people on deck, people dying, trying to help others, and you, you just went ahead with your petty little fight. At this point, I don't even care which one of you the real killer is, because as far as I can tell, in having your little squabble there, you killed most of the rest of the crew. Because the rest of us were trying to save lives. We were trying to. We were trying to put out fires. We were trying to get people to safety, and you just. You had to poke at each other with your knives and your magics, and this is. This either ends right now, or if we can make it back to civilization, I. I don't. I don't know that we'll take you. Either one of you. I. I don't know that we can trust you. And with that, you see that? The power's drained from him. He has nothing else to say.

[Ajay]

I want to apologize if I have caused defense on the ship. I was trying to help everyone. When Vind ran onto the deck and started attacking me. I had no interest in continuing our. What did you call it? Tete a tete. But. But this. I had no choice. I had to defend myself. I was trying to save the crew and the ship as much as I could. It was him that decided to, I don't know, wait it out and then just come and attack me because you know what a great opportunity that was to off me, you know? But I have no interest in fighting or squabbling with Finn. I have made it very, very clear. I just want him to stay the hell away from me. Very simple. And look, I parent he's going to start talking right now in my vicinity and start trying to beseech me like, oh, we need to help him. No, I don't want to hear it. I just want to find a way out of here. That is it.

[Viviana]

Listen, A. You have every. Every right.

[Ajay]

Let him go. I see. I told you. I told you it was going to happen.

[Viviana]

Every right to speak this way, but the sarcasm is not going to help anyone at this point. And Yaretzi, I apologize if I made you feel this way. I'm also very sorry for those. The people that we lost. I mean, you have. You have to remember on that ship, I had just recently experienced Nimble's. Nimble's unfortunate murder at the Hand.

[Ajay]

Do not mention his name. If you say it one more time, I swear that is it. Do not say his name. If it was not for you, he'd

[Yara]

still be alive a few meters away. During the the argument, Yuhai and Viviana held a conversation of their own closer to the rolling waves and newly stacked graves.

[Vind]

Were they lovers in the past? It looks like they're having a lover's quarrel again and again. It's quite irritating. And now the other man joins in and they're all having this quarrel there and I see men.

[Finn]

Men.

[Vind]

Viviana, should we just go and just stop whatever square squabble they're having and let's just get a move on? It's not safe for our health and we don't know what kind of creatures might be out there in this open space. Perhaps yetis or trolls or harpies.

[Finn]

I don't know.

[Vind]

Let's just move just somewhere.

[Finn]

Dude, I don't know, man. Like, look at like RJ is all up in Vin's face and Yara's just trying to be like a peacemaker right now. I'm pretty sure they're gonna start like fighting soon, but I'm not sure who's gonna throw the first punch. Do you want to bet on anything?

[Vind]

By the gods, I think Yare would lose, right? I mean, he's human and the smallest among them.

[Finn]

Yare's definitely gonna lose. He just came back from the dead. His constitution's not that great, Ajay. I don't think people can take down Ajay and Vin, he's handsome, but he doesn't look that sturdy.

[Vind]

Ah, my Nell D. What's with you and Vin? He's so obsessed with rj. Why is he not spending more time with you? You know, if he's interested in you, that's.

[Finn]

Thank you. That's what I mean. What if they like, he likes him. Exactly right?

[Yara]

God, but Yare's kind of cute, so.

[Finn]

Well, shit, I didn't think about that. Nah, too human. Viviana's not having too many deep thoughts with her new head wound. So yeah, we're just gossiping.

[Yara]

That's what girls usually do.

[Finn]

I feel Viviana stretches, checks that her horns are undamaged and starts looking up the far side of the beach, kind of kicking rocks and. Well, actually that would. That would hurt. So maybe just one rock. The one time.

[Yara]

While the women stood by the laughing waves and watched the drama unfold, Viviana caught glimpses of a light in the distance. A yellow glimmer far down along the distant beach. A warm glow like the flickering of a hearth fire.

[Finn]

Guys, guys, guys. This has Been a great show. 10 out of 10. The conflict is there. I am enjoying this immensely. But check out the light in the distance. Let's say we kind of shelve this for now and head over there, huh?

[Ajay]

I think that is a great idea. That is a really great idea.

[Viviana]

She's amazing.

[Ajay]

We can. How about this? We don't have to talk at all, any of us. We can just keep walking.

[Finn]

You know what, Ajay, that is actually. No, I like, I like talking. How about if you want to talk to Vin, we can use like a middleman, right? You guys don't have to communicate. Like you can tell me what you do.

[Ajay]

Viviana, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I have nothing to say to him. I've made that very clear. I just want a peaceful life.

[Finn]

That is totally understandable. I get your pov. But like Vin, have you considered what if Vin really likes you? Do you think he likes you?

[Ajay]

What?

[Finn]

He's been putting a lot.

[Ajay]

Ajay starts walking.

[Viviana]

Vin starts walking as well, but towards Viviana and gently grabs her hand and brings it up to his and says, Viviana, was I not clear as to what happened before we made it back to the ship?

[Finn]

Listen, Vindh, I honestly, I was really distracted by your eyes but I think I got the gist of it. Like, I think Ajay killed the little guy Nimble and he thinks you killed Nimble. That's the gist of it, right?

[Viviana]

I don't know what he thinks. I just know what happened and what was.

[Jarre]

But listen, listen, we'll freeze to death if we don't move. Help yourself to the rest of the knives back there if you think it'll help. And Jage just tilts his head down, pats Evie and tries to catch up with Aja.

[Finn]

I think, I honestly think you guys could be like really good friends in another life, you know what I mean?

[Viviana]

It's hard to say, but I do know, I do know Ajay meant a lot to somebody who was very close to me and they once were friends. And so for that reason I can agree with you and I know there's a heart there. We just. Viviana, has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?

[Finn]

Oh, I stop. I mean like, no one's really told me that before. I mean like, but keep telling me, yeah, I mean like, you don't have to if you don't want.

[Viviana]

I just know there's so many uncertainties on this beach right now. We could be anywhere in the frozen north. So we need to stick together. We must get back home. And if we can, if we can have each other's backs, that's one less thing we have to worry about as we face whatever's ahead of us. I think I heard someone mention trolls or something. But no matter what happens between the others, I promise that I'll have your back if you'll have mine.

[Finn]

I, I, I take his hand and I nod very affectionately. I'm like, yeah, yeah, but if you betray me, I will kill you.

[Viviana]

I will. I will gladly let you kill me if I betray you.

[Finn]

Oh, okay. Romantic. I like this. I totally agree with you. Unity above all. If we stick together, there's nothing we can. You can't defeat. Divyan has never had a boyfriend before. She has had zero romantic relationships in her entire life. She has no idea what she's doing. But this is kind of like what she reads in, like romance novels. Oh, this is just like my, the book I read.

[Yara]

Okay.

[Finn]

Anyway, well, you wanna, you wanna go catch catch up or something? I don't know if you want to like, keep holding hands or anything? Is that weird for the other group? That's weird for the other group, right? We should stop holding hands. Right? You're right. We should stop holding hands. Let's go. His hand immediately and starts walking. Let's go.

[Viviana]

Okay, I'm following you. But just remember, I've got you.

[Narrator]

Viviana sped up, her trained light footsteps still pushing the black pebbles deeper into the sands. Vind thought for a moment on his opportunity at the cliff. It was fine. Better really, that Yara had stopped him. Ending Ajay then and there would have created a difficult situation. And who knows? Perhaps the shaman really would be useful. As Vin glanced at the icy ocean and felt the cold in his bones, he knew he would need help to survive this place. Or with that glimmer up the beach, perhaps not. After a moment of quiet, accompanied only by the sounds of wind and crashing waves, Vint followed the others toward the mysterious light in the distance. Dark shores of the Silver Throne Chapter 12 Survivors created by Travis Fengroff and Ka Stats starring Sam Yao, Jasper William Cartwright, Erik Nelson, Florian Zeitler, Lily Pichu and Travis Vengrof and KA Statz as co Dungeon Masters this episode was co edited with co sound design by Travis Vengrof and Finner Nielsen Mixed and mastered by Finner Nielsen Transcriptions by K. KA Statz and Travis Vengroff and executive producers Dennis Greenhill, AJ Punkin, Michael Villegas and Carol Vengrof. This episode features music by David Wise, Stephen Malin Sam Yau, Austin Wintry, and Alice Crane. Episodes will be releasing every two weeks, so stick around, stay subscribed and consider joining the Patreon to get episodes ad free and early. This is a Fool and Scholar production. Thank you for listening and now seems like the perfect time to mention it, but Aja gained 5 stress from earlier, as did most of the party. And while we're talking about mechanics, most of the party increases from five levels to six levels of hypothermia, reducing all D20 rolls by the level of hypothermia they have. And just for the audience to keep score, a character freezes to death at 10. Aje's magic had reduced the effects of the cold since arriving on the beach, but prevented this number from being even higher as they now all walked toward the distant light.

[Finn]

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[Yara]

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[Finn]

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[Yara]

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[Finn]

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[Yara]

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[Jarre]

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