Tales from the Stinky Dragon

C03 - Ep. 31: "From On Hyra – Prove One’s Metal"

Release Date: November 26, 2025
Host: Gustavo “Gus” Sorola
Players: Barbara Dunkelman, Chris Demaris, John Risinger, Blaine Gibson, Micah Risinger, Eddie Rivas

Episode Overview

This lively episode of Tales from the Stinky Dragon launches the party on a dual mission: to retrieve a stolen relic from the "Font of the Fire Eater" in the industrial outpost of Boiling Bluffs and to investigate mysterious, metallic creatures threatening the area. Along the way, they encounter eccentric NPCs, navigate cultish rituals, and split the party for a descent into drainage tunnels—all while balancing player-driven character growth and a characteristically zany group dynamic.

Key Discussion Points & Episode Notes

1. Astrology Stereotypes Character Question

(03:04–09:41)
Gus kicks things off with a whimsical “Arrow Question”: What would your character’s zodiac sign be?

• Doug (Barbara): Cancer. Compassionate and sensitive; prefers summer (04:21).
  • “Maybe Doug’s just only soft outside and in. But, you know, it’s just very compassionate.” — Barbara (04:21)
• Natty (John): Capricorn. Chosen for familial themes and the goat symbol, which reminds Natty of her “little baby” (05:13).
• Gunther (Chris): Taurus. Not for horns, but for stubbornness and being “bullheaded” (06:25).
• Tolv (Blaine): Attempts to claim “Big Dipper”; group suggests Pisces; Tolv relates more to following stars than traditional astrology (07:29–09:13).
  • “I find myself a bit of a Big Dipper. ... I'm keeping my options open. I have many spoons to give to my team.” — Blaine as Tolv (07:29)
• Group Chemistry: A warm, teasing exchange; players riff off each other’s choices with good-natured jokes.

2. Character Moments & Roleplaying

(09:55–13:16)
Players reflect on invention, personal inspiration, and sibling relationships.

• Doug expresses inventing hesitance and regret. Tolv reassures Doug (10:00–10:19).
  • “The past is just that. It’s time to move forward and learn and grow.” — Blaine as Tolv (10:07)
• Gunther receives his first “inspiration die” for roleplaying a monologue about sibling rivalry (12:02).

3. Rest Transition & Barracks Humor

(13:20–17:00)
The crew prepares for rest, with Tolv volunteering to "gargoyle" atop Doug's nightstand and serve as a thunderstorm-sound machine.

• “If you want, I can just kind of crouch on it. Like a goblin. Like a gargoyle. Would this make you feel comfortable?” — Blaine as Tolv (14:33)
• Red-eyed, nightlight gag that becomes the episode’s “thumbnail” joke (15:26–15:41).

4. Briefing, Marching Order, and Mission Goals

(16:03–23:13)

• Sgt. Steel Eye enters, scolding the party back onto duty (16:03).
• Mission: Investigate metallic creatures attacking oil miners and stealing relics from the Fire Eater temple.
• Marching order decided: Tolv, Gunther, Natty, Doug—plus Captain Grumbles, Natty’s animated companion (23:13–23:42).

5. Strange Encounter: Zephyr Blake the Magician

(25:09–40:00)

• Party spots a magician with tentacles, a top hat, and a giant eye chasing a rabbit.
• Reality shifts; most characters are “cursed” to abhor violence or fear the dark for the session.
• Gunther uses his tongue to catch the rabbit, which is revealed to be rabid.
• The magician (revealed as Zephyr Blake) thanks them and vanishes.
  • “Tell everyone you’ve met the great Zephyr Blake!” — Zephyr (39:50)

6. Arrival in Boiling Bluffs & Meeting Flack

(41:08–46:44)

• The city is busy with oil processing, featuring burning lamps and industrial chaos.
• Flack, a panicked gnome Fire Master, explains that the Fire Opal (of Fireballs) has been stolen by mysterious blue-gray metallic creatures.
  • “Yeah, it was the Fire Opal of Fireballs. You've probably heard of it.” — Flack (47:55)
• Flack offers a tour of the temple, listing features: burning oil font, beds, steam room, kitchen slab, and reliquary for relics.

7. Investigating the Temple (Font of the Fire Eater)

(47:55–65:43)

• The party gets the rundown on the stolen opal—magical, powerful, and symbolic (49:02).
• Tolv’s shield glows faintly in proximity to Thaumatech, hinting at more metallic beings nearby (44:09–44:35).
• Gunther uses a magical item to track the opal—ink leads toward the steam room (52:17–53:36).

8. Cult Initiation: The Kindlekin Ritual

(55:50–79:30)

• Natty joins the meditating “Kindlekin” priests, must prove herself via three trials:
  1. Walking on Hot Coals: Fill shoes with coals for a day (61:35).
  2. Burning Belongings: Randomly burn three personal items, including Natty’s treasured autoharp (69:10–71:51).
  3. Tongs of Tongues: Split her tongue with ritual tongs for a three-pronged fork; must now speak with a lisp (72:23–73:56).
• Rewards: “Boon of Tamed Flame,” welfare at the font, and solidarity ("hot stuff" and "fiery friends") (76:07).

9. Tunnel Investigation: The Split Party

(79:30–88:05)

• Using bugbear traits and magical lights, Doug and Gunther (disguised as "Munther") descend into a narrow drain after finding blue-gray metal evidence (81:22–81:40).
• Natty and Tolv remain behind; Gigi (animated creature) may join as the group’s “drain avatar.”
• The tunnel forks; Doug detects the trail by smell, while a mysterious voice sounds from the other direction (87:23–88:05).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You do not seek the power. The power seeks you. You are perfect for it.” — Blaine as Tolv to Gunther (18:50)
• “That was a typo. That was a holdover from an earlier draft.” — Gus, breaking the fourth wall (07:05)
• “If you hurt that rabbit, I'll fight you. I'll fight you.” — Blaine as Tolv, channeling antiviolence (25:23)
• “Tongue of tongues, and a blade of your choosing. Do the deed, you will certainly bleed.” — Kindlekin Priest (72:23)
• *“Mama, look up,” Natty instructs Gigi, her demonic child, to witness the ritual (74:02)

Important Timestamps

• Astrology Question: 03:04–09:41
• Gunther’s Sibling Monologue: 12:02–12:33
• Barracks Gags (Tolv as Gargoyle): 14:33–15:41
• Mission Recap & Orders: 16:03–23:13
• Zephyr Blake Encounter: 25:09–40:00
• First Appearance in Boiling Bluffs: 41:08
• Font Introduction by Flack: 46:19–47:55
• Tracking the Fire Opal: 52:12–53:36
• Steam Room / Kindlekin Rituals: 55:50–79:30
• Splitting the Party (Drain Descent): 79:30–88:05

Flow & Tone

The group’s trademark blend of irreverent banter, characterization, meta-humor, and adventure gameplay shines throughout. GM Gus adeptly balances D&D storytelling with improv, frequently encouraging the players’ comedic instincts (and suffering the consequences with tongue-twisting NPC roles and fourth-wall breaks).

For New Listeners

This episode encapsulates what Tales from the Stinky Dragon does best: blending deep character moments and inventive roleplay with humorous, high-fantasy adventure; no prior campaign knowledge required. You’ll find magical mysteries, peculiar NPCs, cultist shenanigans, laugh-out-loud jokes, and a climactic cliffhanger poised to launch the next episode.

Cliffhanger: Doug and Gunther, deep in the drains beneath the temple, face a split tunnel—one side reeks with metallic scent; the other, a mysterious voice calls out. Stay tuned!

Next episode: Who’s in the drain? Will Natty’s new tongue heal? Is Zephyr Blake friend or foe? And will the party retrieve the burning opal—or combust from within?