Tales from the Stinky Dragon – Campaign 3, Ep. 40: “Under Oondar Fire – Caught Off Vanguard”

Release Date: April 1, 2026
Main Theme:
This episode follows the C-team adventurers (Tolv, Gunther, Doug Boon, and Natty Wonder) as they endure a tense siege at Fort Meado by the approaching Undarian vanguard. As the fort falls, the party debates fight or flight, uncovers mysterious temple secrets, encounters a deranged god in a blood-soaked canyon, and ultimately escapes via a bizarre catapult—literally launching themselves toward the “Veiled Veil” in pursuit of new answers and greater dangers.

Party Level-Up: Character Growth & New Abilities

Starts ~[03:00], main segment ends at [21:35]

Character Upgrades Breakdown

Tolv (voiced by Blaine)

• Advantage on initiative and cannot be surprised if not incapacitated.
• Savage Attacker feat: Can reroll damage dice for more effective strikes.
• Trains like “Conan the Barbarian” for regained combat prowess.
• Mechanically, internal “tiny servos” help optimize attacks.
• Notable exchange:

  “I’ve matured so, so much. ... Kind of been doing Conan the Barbarian training montages.” – Blaine as Tolv [05:03]

Gunther (voiced by Chris Damaris)

• Superiority Die “Trip Attack” maneuver: Can trip enemies when engaging attacks.
• Shield Master feat: Proficient at hitting with shield for bonus actions.
• Strength stat is now positive for the first time.
• Practices his skills by ambushing Tolv, reminiscent of Inspector Clouseau and Cato.
• Memorable moment:

  “I studied how to study, and that’s how I can survey people.” – Chris as Gunther [09:46]

Doug Boon (voiced by Barbara Dunkelman)

• Skill Expert feat: Gains proficiency and expertise in Insight and History, boosts Intelligence.
• Flash of Genius: Can add +4 to an ability check or saving throw (4x per long rest) for self or others within 30ft.
• Dream vision from the Veiled Eye inspires these skills.
• Notable quote:

  “Doug, isn’t your intelligence at the maximum it could possibly be? For that I say, thank you, but no. Always more to learn.” – Barbara as Doug [11:42]

Natty Wonder (voiced by John Reisinger)

• Ghostly Gaze: Can see through solid objects within 30ft via darkvision once per short rest.
• Moment to Think: Cantrip to momentarily stop time (for certain non-offensive actions) [17:28].
• Ancestral Communion: Grants recurring heroic inspiration during concentration.
• Augury: Ritual divination (by rolling bones) for guidance on next actions.
• Notable moment:

  “Now, this is something every mama wants—I just need a moment to think. Right? I literally have an ability called ‘Moment to Think.’” – John as Natty [17:10]

Siege at Fort Meado: Bloodbather’s Intervention & The Decision to Retreat

The Vanguard Arrives

[21:27–27:00]

• Undarian vanguard (front line of attacking army) approaches the fort.

• Sky cracks open; rain of blood, humans are “raptured” into the sky.

• Bloodbather, a massive sentient marble statue, emerges. Proclaims:

  “Bloodbather Children is humans. Pure sweet. I rescue children from mortalion now. Safe with Bloodbather in Hyra. They stay with Bloodbather till dum dum war over.” – Bloodbather [24:26]

• All humans vanish, leaving the party and other non-humans.

The Party Assesses Danger

[29:01–32:00]

• Natty casts Augury with her bones; result is “whoa”—a clear omen not to attempt a stand at the fort.
• Party consensus: Retreat is best.

Temple Investigation: Secrets of the Bloodbather’s Basilica

[38:04–55:08]

• The group explores the Basilica of the Bloodbather (infirmary, statue, weapons, and a mysterious shield).
• Doug uncovers a veiled eye emblem hidden under the statue—suggesting this temple may predate current worship, possibly tied to the Veiled Eye.
  • Inspiration moment:

    “Maybe this was the Veiled Eye's temple, but it got misappropriated to the Bloodbather.” – John as Natty [45:59]

• They acquire the Bronze Blood Shield—imbued with protective blood magic.
  • Shield grants effect of “shield” spell (adds +5 AC, blocks magic missile) when traced with user’s own blood at cost of 5hp.

Escape Plan: Tactical Withdrawal & Distracting the Foe

[59:00–61:20]

• Party organizes a tactical retreat for the remaining Mortalian soldiers, directing them to Fort Endridge.
• They set basic traps, create fake “Danger—Minefield” markers, and attempt to sow confusion for the approaching Undarians while sneaking away under disguise (including Gigi hidden in Doug’s hood, and Gunther riding “hunchback” style on Tolv) [62:05–67:12].

The Blood-Soaked Canyon: The “Stump” Encounter & Catapult Escape

The Canyon's Horrors

[69:18–91:43]

• The canyon is pitch black, filled with corpses, blood, and viscera (random viscera table used for colorful details).
• Stump, a halfling with amputation tools, is encountered muttering “Bow before your God.” Claims to be a “God of Medicine,” expelled from the “Bloodshed Bishops.”
  • “No, you’ve met a God.” – Stump [75:39]
• Stump’s Secret: For the price of Doug’s heavy-duty drill, reveals a secret escape: a hidden catapult that will launch them through the canyon to the “Veiled Veil.”
  • “There’s a secret passage that takes you straight to Veiled Veil… It’s a catapult.” – Stump [84:35]

Launch to the Veiled Veil

[91:43–96:01]

• Testing with Gigi (the goat) proves the catapult’s safety.
• Party launches themselves through pitch-black space, landing in a new valley, taking 15 damage each from the landing.
• Comic moment:

  “I think we team rocketed this kid.” – Blaine as Tolv [93:49]

Arrival at the Veiled Veil: Mysteries & Threats

[96:06–end]

• New region: a valley in darkness with three strange locations—a glacial fortress, a suspended spherical building, and a labyrinth wreathed in golden mist.
• Doug suddenly receives a mystical question in his mind, “Where is the Veiled Eye?” He attempts to commune, prompting a cryptic response:

  “I’m not where I should be, but I am where you should be.” – The Veiled Eye [99:03]

• As Doug’s body goes rigid, the party is ambushed by three golden, antlered feline beasts spewing golden mist.
• Cliffhanger:

  “Is it the same golden mist around the labyrinth?” – [100:13] “We’ll have to find out in the next episode...” – DM Gus Sorola [100:17]

Notable Moments and Running Jokes

• Meta humor on D&D rules, player character quirks, and repeated “trip attack” feats.
• Numerous references to past campaigns (“Jim Glurb”), “team rocket” launches, Home Alone-style traps, and pop culture (e.g., “Space Mountain,” “Conan the Barbarian”).
• “Stay” lesson for Gigi the goat, advancing his stat block, with banter over raising their future nemesis [64:07f].
• Ongoing bit about inspiration dice—and players lobbying the DM for more, even dragging listeners' family members into the joke [103:09f].

Key Timestamps

• [03:00] – Character level-up discussions begin.
• [21:43] – Bloodbather’s strange “rescue” and vanguard siege.
• [29:01] – Natty’s “augury” omen against fighting.
• [38:04] – Basilica of the Bloodbather exploration.
• [45:23] – Discovery of hidden Veiled Eye emblem.
• [55:25] – Assignment of Bronze Blood Shield.
• [59:00] – Retreat plan for Mortalian troops.
• [69:18] – Party enters the blood-soaked canyon.
• [74:01] – Dancing Lights reveal grisly surroundings.
• [75:03] – Introduction of Stump.
• [84:35] – Secret passage—catapult.
• [93:49] – Launching Gigi in a test run.
• [96:06] – Landing at the Veiled Veil, new region.
• [99:03] – Doug’s communion with the Veiled Eye.
• [100:11] – Arrival of golden mist felines (cliffhanger).

Standout Quotes

“Now, this is something every mama wants—I just need a moment to think. Right? I literally have an ability called ‘Moment to Think.’”
— Natty (John Reisinger) [17:10]

“Bloodbather Children is humans. Pure sweet. I rescue children from mortalion now. Safe with Bloodbather in Hyra. They stay with Bloodbather till dum dum war over.”
— Bloodbather [24:26]

“There’s a secret passage that takes you straight to Veiled Veil… It’s a catapult.”
— Stump [84:35]

“I think we team rocketed this kid.”
— Tolv (Blaine) [93:49]

“I’m not where I should be, but I am where you should be.”
— The Veiled Eye [99:01]

Summary

This episode blends slapstick, horror, and D&D dramedy as the C-team barely escapes a hopeless battle, uncovers deepening world lore, and encounters both the grotesque and the absurd. Major upgrades to the party’s skills bring new combat and investigative tools just as the campaign veers into stranger, darker territory. The group’s antics and interplay keep the tone irreverent even as the dangers mount, and a new cliffhanger looms at the “Veiled Veil” as eldritch mist and golden feline beasts close in on our heroes.