Tales from the Stinky Dragon

Episode C03 – Ep. 35: "From On Hyra – Plunges, Plans, and Passing Gas"
Release Date: January 21, 2026
Dungeon Master: Gustavo Sorola
Players/Cast: Blaine Gibson, Barbara Dunkelman, Chris Demarais, John Risinger

Episode Overview

This episode sees the Stinky Dragon crew embarking on a daring and frosty heist at Sky Blue Falls Prison, an icy fortress built on a frozen lake. With a blend of slapstick humor, clever approaches, and heartfelt moments, the team faces dangerous creatures beneath the ice, hatches an elaborate break-in plan, and unleashes signature gassy chaos. The narrative blends actual D&D gameplay with comical character banter and strong teamwork, setting up a classic "heist" scenario in a fantasy setting.

Key Discussion Points & Story Highlights

1. Opening Banter and World-Ending Hypotheticals

[04:10–13:41]

• The episode opens with a character Q&A: "If the world was ending tomorrow, what would your character do today?" Each cast member gives playful and revealing responses aligning with their character’s personality.
  • Tolv (Blaine): Would speedrun family reunions and parade around as a fully-revealed thaumatech ("naked in my robot Thaumatech body, saying, do not fear me. Everything is okay. The world is ending." [05:28])
  • Doug (Barbara): Attempts to make amends with family, find peace, reread favorite books, and jam out to Madonna. ("I think Doug would try his best to find and make amends with his family... just really enjoy his last day." [08:03])
  • Gunther (Chris): Would pray to the Wilderflower, write letters home (by bird, reluctantly), and have “one last game of leapfrog.” [09:58]
  • Natty Wonder (John): Wouldn’t change much—aims to live each day with kindness, perhaps spend extra time with Gigi. ("I honestly... I think I wouldn't live my life any differently than I do every single day... I try to be kind and caring..." [11:09])

2. Arrival at Sky Blue Falls Prison

[14:01–15:50]

• The party arrives at Sky Blue Falls Prison, a monolithic, stacked-tower prison built into the center of a frozen, monster-infested lake.
  • The watchtower encircles the lake on rails, providing dynamic security and a dramatic visual.
  • Blaine: "The imagery of that is really dope. Sorry." [14:28]

3. Witnessing Can-Do Cody’s Demise

[15:10–16:45]

• The party observes a halfling escapee, Can-Do Cody, crossing the lake on floating ice, only to be abruptly dragged underwater by a monstrous blue crocodilian.
  • Barbara: "Was that a prisoner trying to escape or someone else?" [16:29]
  • DM Gus: "That is a convict outfit...the lake is filled with vicious creatures that can strike at any time with no warning..." [16:45]

4. Heist Planning and Hazard Navigation

[19:13–24:20]

• Exposure & Exhaustion: Exploring the frigid lake environment causes exhaustion for Gunther and Natty; Doug lights a torch to fight the cold.
• Attempted Rescue: Natty and Tolv jump into the freezing water to save Cody; the attempt is thwarted by hazardous cold and the monster’s retreat.
  • Tolv and Natty communicate underwater, resolving to retreat:
    • Blaine (Tolv): "Do you want to proceed or would you like me to take you back?" [26:20]
    • Natty (John): "Natty would...for speed, be like, I ain't gonna make this. Let's go." [28:24]
  • Hilarity ensues as Tolv carries Natty out using his shield like a sad surfboard.
    • Barbara (Doug): "That's what I'm doing with my vest." [30:08]

5. Discovering the Watchtower's Defenses

[36:11–39:01]

• The team endures an ambush as a volley of arrows from the watchtower rains down, dealing significant damage.
  • Gus: "A huge volley of arrows lands all around you...14 points of piercing damage..." [36:33]
  • Chris (Gunther): "They see us. The guards." [36:56]
• Realizing they’re in plain sight, the group employs Doug’s blanket and some snow for camouflage, retreating out of range and waiting for the tower’s patrol to pass.

6. Blanket Plans, Short Rest, and the Heist Pitch

[43:10–51:36]

• The party hunkers under Doug’s blankie for warmth, snacking and healing during a short rest, discussing strategy.
  • Blaine (Tolv): Shares an elaborate, “Sunny Side Up” heist plan involving approaching from the sun-blinded side, sneaking with snow-blanket camouflage, and using Gambot as a diversion ([50:00]):
    • "Every time the train passes, we drop down, we let it pass, and they can't really see us because they're looking into the sun...Meanwhile, I will take off my Bjorn skin, we'll put it on Gambot...he will be our diversion..."
  • Doug and Natty note the need to disguise Gunther, as he’s wanted.
  • Doug readies a potion of gaseous form; Tolv will carry others up the tower wall using his spider silk stockings.

7. Breaking into the Watchtower

[57:59–73:20]

• Group Stealth: The team executes their approach, skill-checking their way to the rail and timing their climb with the watchtower’s patrol.
  • DM Gus: "You all did well enough. The group stealth succeeded..." [58:55]
• The party scrambles onto the moving watchtower, confronts a mislabeled “push” door (actually a pull), and enters a sparse stone interior equipped with a pulley elevator.

8. Ascending the Tower & Encounter Setup

[73:20–79:41]

• Doug drinks his potion of Gaseous Form, floating up to scout ahead.
• Inside Watchtower Mechanics:
  • Doug discovers six human archers at the top, overlooking the lake with spotlights and a hidden retractable bridge intended for prison access.
  • After miscommunication (and jokes about Doug being a ghost), the rest of the party climbs up using Tolv's sticky spider silk gear.

9. Surprise Attack and... Skiders!?

[86:28–91:27]

• The team gears up for a surprise assault on the guards, prepping the classic “stinky fart” attack using Doug’s magical tinkering.
  • Barbara (Doug): "Deploy it right in the center of all the guards." [89:43]
  • Guard: “Bosco, I told you to stop eating beans on your shift.” [89:46]
• As the party assembles for the attack, they notice dark specks in the snow: a swarm of "skiders"—flying, oozing, hairy spiders—descends on the watchtower, ending the episode on a cliffhanger.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Blaine (Tolv) on Open-Thermodynamics:
  “Naked in my robot Thaumatech body, saying, do not fear me. Everything is okay. The world is ending.” [05:28]

• Chris (Gunther) on Bad User Design:
  “Why would they put a push bar on it if it’s a pull door?” [70:01]

• Barbara (Doug) proposing the classic D&D distraction:
  “Maybe the plan is I take this potion, I turn to gas, I go up, you guys climb, and we just avoid this little pulley system altogether.” [77:08]

• On Doug’s transformation into gas:
  “Doug farts, but then keeps farting until he farts himself out.” [94:22; Closing bit]

• On the surprise skider swarm:
  “You realize it’s a swarm of skiders. Flying spiders... with eight tiny talons and oozing beaks and hairy wings.” [91:30]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• World Ending Q&A: 04:10–13:41
• Arrival at Sky Blue Falls Prison: 14:01–15:50
• Can-Do Cody’s Snatching: 15:10–16:45
• Heist Planning: 43:10–51:36
• Blanket Camouflage to Watchtower: 57:59–73:20
• Ascending the Watchtower: 73:20–79:41
• Surprise Guard Assault: 86:28–91:27
• Cliffhanger and Outro: 91:27–end
• Bonus: Doug’s Fart Cloud Visual: 94:22

Episode Tone and Signature Moments

• The episode is rich in classic Stinky Dragon humor: running gags about inventory, torch sentimentality, and elaborate plans going awry.
• The group’s chemistry shines, blending fourth-wall-breaking D&D mechanics chatter with in-character emotional (and deeply silly) responses.
• Use of sound design and physicality is frequently referenced for comedic effect.
• Memorable, ridiculous visuals—Doug's "farting himself out," Tolv carrying Natty on a shield-surfboard—add vivid fun.

Summary for New Listeners

In this episode, the Stinky Dragon crew escalates their usual hijinks to new heist heights as they attempt to infiltrate the icy, heavily guarded Sky Blue Falls Prison. Facing exhausting cold, aggressive guards, a failed aquatic rescue, slapstick stealth attempts, and an arsenal of inventive D&D tactics (including a well-timed fart cloud), the party finally reaches the top of the watchtower—only to be swarmed by bizarre skider spiders. True to the show's all-ages, accessible spirit, the episode is loaded with creative role-play, character-driven banter, and set up for a raucous combat next episode.

Operation Vorm Blankie: The Heist Plan (Quick Reference)

• 1. Approach from the sun side with backs to the sun (foiling guard vision)
• 2. Gambot decoy with Bjorn skin
• 3. Party sneaks under Doug’s blankie, camouflaged with snow
• 4. Tolv scales the watchtower using spider silk stockings, carrying party members
• 5. Doug becomes a gas cloud for stealth reconnaissance
• 6. Reconvene atop the tower, launch a surprise attack, and take out the guards for entry

End of summary.