[00:00:40] Speaker A: It is Sean, your host and GM for the Cracked Die podcast. We know things have been really strange lately with every everything that's been going on, and we hope everyone is managing to get through it in the best possible way.
We've been recording a little bit more often because we have the luxury of being able to do that right now, and playing this game has really helped me kind of just unwind. So I hope that that comes through in our recordings, and I hope that you are enjoying this, and this is a pleasant distraction from everything that's going on. Today's Thursday, like always, and I just want to remind people that this year, Pizocon is all online for obvious reasons, but it's also completely free. So head over to piso.com to get all of the details. I believe it's running from May 26 to May 31 this year. If you're free, grab yourself a game. I know I'm going to try and find at least five games to play in those six days so we can just relax, have fun.
The pisocon gms are some of the best gms I've ever been lucky enough to play with. Last year was amazing, and I can't wait for next year when we can actually all get together and meet again. All right, let's get to the table and find out what mess our crew is in this week.
Welcome to the 37th episode of the Cracked Die podcast.
[00:02:20] Speaker B: All right, thanks, Sean.
[00:02:22] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:02:23] Speaker C: He said thanks.
[00:02:23] Speaker D: Oh, you're welcome.
[00:02:25] Speaker A: No problem. Let's not beat around the bush. Let's get straight into you guys traveling, okay.
[00:02:33] Speaker E: Previously on the Cracked Die podcast. All heroes repaired and traveled through the ayudara. Upon entering this new portal, they were attacked by an image of Dahawk. After quick work by twin Talon, our heroes managed to proceed through the portal to the other side. Once through, they were met by a group of ekuje elves. Our heroes now travel with these elves to their home. What mischief will they get up to? Find out now, on the Cracked Die.
[00:03:05] Speaker A: Podcast, I looked up travel speeds because I wanted to figure out how long it would take you guys to travel the 10 miles you need to go. Is everyone's speed here at least fifteen s?
[00:03:20] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:03:21] Speaker A: Is everyone's speed here at least 20?
[00:03:27] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:03:28] Speaker A: 25? Yes.
[00:03:30] Speaker D: I think Brienna is 20.
[00:03:32] Speaker A: Okay, so you guys can travel 2. That's with taking some breaks because again, this is the jungle. Pond Watcher is in furs, so things are a little oppressive heat wise. And this is a new climate that you guys are not used to. So in those 5 hours. Would anyone like to speak with anyone? Anwar, we'll start with you.
[00:04:06] Speaker F: So Temid would like to speak with. Oh, my God, I can't remember that guy's name. The lead.
[00:04:13] Speaker A: Jahassi.
[00:04:13] Speaker F: Jahassi. He would like to kind of find a moment where Jahassi isn't surrounded by people that like Temid's party and would like to just kind of talk to him for a minute.
[00:04:26] Speaker A: Sure. So after about 2 hours of traveling, you guys stop to take a break to get some water to relax, and you see that Jahassi has kind of stepped away towards a stream that you guys are stopped by.
[00:04:42] Speaker F: Is he taking a leaf or.
[00:04:44] Speaker A: No, no, he's getting some water, splashing some water on his face and he's fairly.
[00:04:48] Speaker F: Kemet seems to bond with people while we are using the.
[00:04:52] Speaker C: So taking a leaf out of silver's book, is that what's happening?
[00:04:58] Speaker F: Well, silver started it, but apparently it's canon now.
[00:05:02] Speaker A: It's catching.
[00:05:03] Speaker B: Oh, were you here for the elf piss circle?
[00:05:05] Speaker A: Oh, yeah, he was.
[00:05:06] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:05:08] Speaker F: So Temid just walks up to him and it looks like maybe Jahasi is, like you said, maybe filling up some water in the stream or something and know, bends over to do the same. And then he kind of nods at him and he says, may I ask you a question about the cult that you mentioned before? The cinderclaw?
[00:05:30] Speaker A: Yes, of course.
[00:05:31] Speaker F: What do you know about them and do you know where they may have came from?
[00:05:35] Speaker A: I do not. My daughter, she is the one who knows more about them than I do.
[00:05:41] Speaker F: Have you had many run ins with them before?
[00:05:44] Speaker A: They are a constant problem here that we've been trying to deal with.
We were able to drive them off from the temple where the gate was after some got through the gate. Those who remained, after we drove them off, we cut to pieces and fed them to the jungle.
[00:06:03] Speaker F: At that, Temit kind of like smirks a little bit. And he also asked, have they taken.
[00:06:10] Speaker A: Anyone from you other than people falling in battle? Nothing.
[00:06:14] Speaker F: So then you know that picture that Temit found, that drawing of the symbol of the Cinderclaw or what we believe might be the Cinder claw.
[00:06:23] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:06:24] Speaker F: Pulls it out. Right. And I'm not sure if we still believe that, but he just.
[00:06:29] Speaker D: I think that. We think it's the triad now. The Crimson triad.
[00:06:33] Speaker F: Okay, yeah, that's actually probably true, but he's going to pull it out and he's still going to show it to him and say, does this look familiar to you at all?
[00:06:43] Speaker A: It does not.
[00:06:44] Speaker F: You said your daughter knew more about them. May I have a chance to speak with her privately?
[00:06:50] Speaker A: Oh, yes.
[00:06:50] Speaker F: When we get back.
[00:06:51] Speaker A: As long as no one causes any troubles in Acrevel, you're welcome to stay as long as you need.
[00:06:57] Speaker F: Thank you. And he says, maybe we'll have a drink when I get there. And then he says that part really loud, so that everyone just kind of thinks that he's just being normal. Timid, bullshitting with people, telling them to have a drink with him. And then he kind of pats him on the back and he starts walking away.
[00:07:13] Speaker A: All right. So, does anyone else want to speak with anyone, or do you want to get to Acrevell?
[00:07:20] Speaker B: Well, sire has probably just got some of the things she uses specifically for frost vials. Like handing them to pond Watcher. Here, put this on your neck.
[00:07:30] Speaker G: Why would anyone live here? This is the worst thing I've ever experienced in my whole life.
[00:07:35] Speaker B: Just think of it like a sauna.
[00:07:37] Speaker G: I don't know what that means.
[00:07:38] Speaker D: I know you're tempted to take off clothes, but I would be aware of insects burrowing into your skin if it's unprotected.
[00:07:45] Speaker E: What?
[00:07:45] Speaker A: That's possibility. Yeah.
[00:07:48] Speaker D: Chiggers are a thing, man.
[00:07:49] Speaker G: I'm going to quit this adventure right now.
[00:07:52] Speaker B: No, we need you.
[00:07:55] Speaker F: Who's going to take all the hits? Besides Brianna?
[00:08:00] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:08:01] Speaker A: That sack with gold in it. Did you take the whole sack or did you just take the gold?
[00:08:07] Speaker D: I took the whole sack.
[00:08:08] Speaker A: Okay, cool.
[00:08:09] Speaker D: Just figure I'll look through it when I have some more private time.
[00:08:14] Speaker A: Oh, my. Okay, so if no one else has anything to speak to, jahassi or any of the other people, we'll kind of time skip for three more hours and you arrive at Acroville, woven tree branches from the foundations and buildings of this large treetop Ikuje town. Bridges made of sturdy vines spread out through the rainforest canopy, allowing rapid travel through the jungle for miles around. Dozens, if not hundreds, of trunks of massive trees, each over 10ft wide, support a wide weaving of branches that in turn supports the city above, and each is decorated with twisted roots, shoots that have been painstakingly arranged to form images of elephants and leopards. Further up the trunks, amid beautiful meshes of branches that have grown together to form wide platforms. Overhead, a staggering array of grafted fruit trees and earth filled terrace gardens create a spectacular display. And a kuje half elf waits at the base of one of the trees, balancing lightly on a massive protruding root. In one hand, she holds a brass staff topped with a sculpture of a leopard grasping a sword in its jaws and pinning a prone human. Her other arm seems to be made of not flesh, but of twisted wooden branches and bone. I am Nikita of the leopard clan. She greets. My mother was of the stargazer clan. You are guests of the ikuje tonight. Welcome to our lands.
[00:09:53] Speaker D: Thanks.
[00:09:53] Speaker B: Thank you.
[00:09:55] Speaker A: Jahasi smiles at Nakith and says, daughter, it is good to behold.
[00:10:01] Speaker F: So nakith is Jahassi's daughter?
[00:10:04] Speaker A: Okay. Yes. She is the speaker or the linguist of the leopard?
[00:10:07] Speaker F: The linguist of the leopard coin.
[00:10:08] Speaker A: I'm sorry. As you hear that, you are declared guests of the akujay tonight. You hear more of that whistling from the folks that came with you that sounds like bird calls. And you hear whooping and a celebratory yelling from above in the trees. As you start to see more elves appear and start to prepare what appears to be a large feast, I get.
[00:10:35] Speaker D: The feeling that whistling is like, eulating.
[00:10:37] Speaker C: Or what's it, mountain?
Yeah.
[00:10:42] Speaker B: Some kind of communication, obviously, like clapping.
[00:10:45] Speaker D: Kind of clapping. Like mouth clapping.
[00:10:48] Speaker B: Thank you for such a warm welcome.
[00:10:51] Speaker A: You're welcome.
[00:10:52] Speaker F: Kind of looks around and as they're preparing dinner, does he see any of that liquor that they were talking that he got from the people that were.
[00:10:59] Speaker A: Making fun of him? Well, they literally just started preparing. Like, it's going to take some time to get everything together, but I'm sure you will see a bar show up.
[00:11:09] Speaker F: As everybody knows, the first thing you prepare are the cocktails.
[00:11:13] Speaker A: Well, also remember, this is all happening in the trees above you. You are on the ground. Okay, I withdraw my question.
So how do we get up there? Oh, it's quite simple. And with that, Jehassi and Nakieth rapidly vanish to the treetop. Jahassi nimbly runs and climbs up the branches while Nakiath's wooden arm unravels and extends, allows her to hoist herself into the canopy.
[00:11:40] Speaker D: Does she just like Spider man up into the tree?
[00:11:42] Speaker A: Pretty much.
[00:11:43] Speaker G: Okay, I like this one.
[00:11:45] Speaker A: Anyone who would like to try and get up there? Acrobatics or athletics checks? Oh, I'm so.
[00:11:51] Speaker B: Well, last those?
[00:11:52] Speaker A: Sure. Brianna, twin talon. Anyone else want to try?
[00:11:57] Speaker G: I also rolled.
[00:11:59] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:11:59] Speaker D: Pond watcher rolled a 21.
[00:12:00] Speaker A: 21?
[00:12:01] Speaker D: Rolled a 23. I rolled a 22.
[00:12:03] Speaker A: 22.
[00:12:04] Speaker D: Temid rolled a 14.
[00:12:06] Speaker A: Yes. You only got five.
[00:12:08] Speaker B: I rolled a fucking two.
[00:12:10] Speaker F: It was nice knowing you, Surreya.
[00:12:12] Speaker A: So everyone but temid. Oh, actually, hang on. There's one more person who has to roll silver. Everyone is able to scamper up the trees except for temid and sureamed. You start to climb up and then you stumble back down.
[00:12:32] Speaker F: I see, like basically jump off the vine or whatever.
[00:12:36] Speaker B: No, Soraya just looks up and uh uh.
[00:12:39] Speaker C: So I'll ask again, how much do they weigh? I'm not sure if it came across last time because I feel like if she saw her friends struggle, Brianna would not just scamper up, she would pause and be like, do you both need some help?
[00:12:55] Speaker B: Perhaps?
[00:12:56] Speaker F: Should be fine.
[00:12:58] Speaker C: Okay, well, demo that. You don't want the athlete with a 19th strength.
[00:13:04] Speaker A: Yes, you can try again. And with a 19th strength, what was that? Haya?
[00:13:08] Speaker C: If I'd be able to at least try and carry Surya up Tarzan style on my back.
[00:13:16] Speaker A: Yeah, you can carry the lighth elf on your back up the tree.
[00:13:22] Speaker C: My hero.
[00:13:24] Speaker A: And then temid, this time you find the proper footing and you're able to climb up with a 23. The elves laugh and cheer as you've all made your way up and then.
[00:13:36] Speaker B: Reveal they had a ladder.
[00:13:38] Speaker A: They did. They did. They had a ladder to lower down to. You couldn't make it up, but they clap you on the back as you all make it up in the same way that they would ascend to their village.
[00:13:50] Speaker C: Brianna takes a moment and waits till the rest are a bit out of earshot to bend over and just huff a bit since she's wearing full plate. It is hot.
[00:14:01] Speaker A: Oh yeah.
You see that the city is in busy with preparations for the feast and kind of cautiously looking at all of you as you are outsiders. Nikchieth gestures and leads you to a group of empty buildings that have been kind of hastily set up. These are leaf topped houses, wooden walls. They're very small, but they look very comfortable and homey. There is a bed and a dresser and you notice that in each of these little houses that have been made and erected for you all that there is some hot weather gear, so some lighter clothing that you can wear if you don't want to wear your armor and your full plate and stuff like that, they do provide you with very nice, cool clothes.
[00:15:10] Speaker G: Praise Callistria. I was going to die any moment.
[00:15:15] Speaker C: Brienna will also likely excuse herself behind some partition. Don't look at me like that, Matthew.
[00:15:22] Speaker D: I'm just looking at you as you're speaking.
[00:15:26] Speaker C: And shed her clothes off and shimmy into cooler ones as well. Yeah, I think Raya does the same thing.
[00:15:34] Speaker B: She's got a lot of fabric.
[00:15:37] Speaker A: They've noticed that if you have like full plate or armor, you see one of them kind of bring in a wooden armor dummy so you don't have to leave it in a pile on the ground. Like, you can hang it up and it will air out and dry because you were obviously sweating in it. So they're going above and beyond to make you all feel very comfortable in this city.
[00:16:04] Speaker C: That's so sweet.
[00:16:06] Speaker G: I would say that pondwatcher is, like, super jazzed about all this because it reminds him of growing up in a elven, tribal society. So he's loving it.
[00:16:16] Speaker A: So let's talk out of characters real quick about mechanically, what's going to happen. Okay, mechanically, this uses one of the newer systems that Paizo has just introduced for second edition with influence points. There are things presented here that you can do to gain influence points, but you can also lose influence. The more influence points you gather, the better results are. The more you lose, or the worse things happen, the worse things come for you. So there are some events that are going to take place. Obviously, only one or two people have to do it. This is essentially downtime. Okay, so you guys can do whatever you want. This is considered a level five settlement for the purposes of downtime. So if you want to earn an income, absolutely can. But there are other things you can do. You can chat with whoever you want. So this is downtime over the course of one evening before the festival is set up. Does that make sense?
[00:17:29] Speaker C: I think so.
[00:17:31] Speaker D: And do we have private quarters, like, places we can go by ourselves?
[00:17:35] Speaker A: Yes. Each one of you has. I'm going to mark them on the map here. This little cropping of houses over here. Each one of you has one. It's basically, essentially the size of one hotel room, one hotel suite thing that you would get in a tavern.
But they've given you each your own private quarters. There is a wash basin, a bed. Everything is made out of wood and leaves and tree. Anything that you would find in the area, naturally. Clay pots full of water. You can't see it, but just off to the right of the map here, there is a small river that is running by here, so there is fresh water. It's a very beautiful city. It's above most of the trees, so you can see everything.
The village is much bigger than what you see on the map that I've provided. It branches off into other areas, as you can see from the bridges and whatnot. But this is the main town center, essentially, of acrevel.
[00:18:46] Speaker D: Big.
[00:18:47] Speaker A: Oh, it's huge. Yeah. It's a level five settlement, which means.
[00:18:52] Speaker B: That, does it give us, like, population estimates?
[00:18:56] Speaker A: So a level five is essentially a city.
[00:19:00] Speaker D: Does it give us any kind of estimation as to how many people between 2005?
[00:19:04] Speaker A: Thousand people. Okay.
[00:19:08] Speaker B: That's a good size city.
[00:19:09] Speaker D: Yeah, it's pretty big, especially considering big parts of it are just like, open holes in the floor.
[00:19:18] Speaker A: Yeah, it's really big. So whatever you want to do, pretty much is what you can do. I will keep track of your influence points off to the side here so you can't see them, but I will let you know you're starting at zero. So I'm just going to go from the top to the bottom of the discord chat that we're using right now and just kind of find out what you want to do. So, Anwar, we'll start with you.
[00:19:48] Speaker F: Temad would like to find the daughter of.
What's his name? Jahassi. So Temad would like to find the daughter of Jahassi Nikia and see if he can find out anything about what he was asking about before.
[00:20:08] Speaker A: Okay, sounds good. Christine, what does Sergey want?
[00:20:13] Speaker B: She actually also wanted to talk to Nikia. So, Anwar, as long as it's okay with you.
[00:20:16] Speaker F: Yeah, absolutely. I think it would be very natural for that to happen. And we can play that however it comes up.
[00:20:23] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:20:24] Speaker A: Haya, what does Brianna want to do?
[00:20:26] Speaker C: I think she will. Please forgive me. I'm terrible with names. She would return to the leader and thank him for his people's hospitality and continue with if there is anything that we, as a party, can do to help.
I know we're outsiders, but we can perhaps help with preparations or gathering of things.
[00:20:50] Speaker A: So you're going to go talk to Jahasi. Twin Talon, what would you like to do?
[00:20:55] Speaker D: Okay, so two things. One, when I'm alone in my solo cabin, I'd like to go through that bag more thoroughly to see what all is in there. And then after that, I would like to find some people in the village. Twin Talon is 19 years old, so he's going to look for people approximately his age.
It's my impression that elves, up to a certain point, mature the same as humans, and then they kind of just plateau.
They don't appear any older even though, or they age very slowly after a certain point. But he's looking for young adults, that kind of people, and see if there's any sports that they play.
[00:21:41] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:21:42] Speaker D: Like their version of lacrosse or soccer or know, just to kind of hang out with the locals and do local stuff.
[00:21:50] Speaker A: And, rich, what is pond watcher doing?
[00:21:53] Speaker G: After bathing a little bit and putting on his new duds, pond watcher is going to head out into town and just kind of like, disappear into the city and see if he can find, like, a party or a tavern or something.
[00:22:07] Speaker A: Excellent. All right, so we'll start with Anwar and Christine. So, temid and Soraya, you find Nikia.
[00:22:17] Speaker F: So if Christine is okay with this, I imagine temid gets there first, but not by a wide margin, but just slightly before Soraya. And he begins his conversation as she kind of walks up behind him. Is that all right?
[00:22:36] Speaker B: Yeah, sure.
[00:22:36] Speaker F: So Tamid just walks up to her and says, is it Nikiah? Nikia.
[00:22:43] Speaker A: Nketiah. Again, I'm going to put this out there that I am probably butchering these names. And I apologize again, I apologize immensely for butchering these very beautiful names.
I'm just really bad at names in general. And also, these are very difficult for me to pronounce, so, encadia. All right, Nketia.
[00:23:13] Speaker F: So you approach, says, so you're nkedia?
[00:23:19] Speaker A: Yes, I am.
[00:23:20] Speaker F: Nice to meet you. My name is timid. I'm among the people who just showed up in your village, as I'm sure you're aware.
[00:23:29] Speaker A: Yes. How are you? How was your trip here?
[00:23:32] Speaker F: It was eventful, and I'll tell you about it over some drinks later. But I have some questions for.
[00:23:39] Speaker A: Yes, please.
[00:23:41] Speaker F: Your father said that you have had a lot of dealings, or you are the most knowledgeable in your village about the cult. And I figure at any point, Christine, you can jump in.
[00:23:54] Speaker B: I was actually going to say, I think as he's asking that question, she's stepping up and just kind of like, yeah, looks for the answer. This is what you want to ask about?
[00:24:02] Speaker A: Yes, the cinder claws. We will discuss this during dinner. I feel that we want to share this story with everyone, and I feel that.
Well, let me ask this.
You are tracking down the Cultists who invaded your lands. Yes? Yes.
[00:24:29] Speaker F: Let's say that that's what we're doing.
[00:24:31] Speaker A: Okay. I think I can give you a place to start. They've tormented us as well. If you can find them and defeat them, we will all prosper.
I think I can give you a place to start. But again, let's bring that together for the feast tonight. I enjoy telling stories, and we can talk about that after as well.
[00:24:55] Speaker F: So Temad looks a little bit and I think, sorry, I can see this. He looks a little bit aggravated, and he's not like his jovial self, because just to give a little bit of.
A little bit of a peek behind the curtain, he feels like she has some information and he's not sure if this is even information that the information that he's looking for and if he's even on the right track, and that the quicker she gives it to him, the quicker he can be determined whether or not he's on the right track. So there's a momentary kind of flash of frustration, and then he just continues on with his normal demeanor, and he says something like, I just want to know just a few things about your encounters with them. Have they taken anyone from you off of instead of. And that's besides on the battlefield? I mean, have they captured any of your people and what are their habits like? Do you know of any rituals they may have? Torture. Do they torture people?
[00:26:04] Speaker A: We know almost nothing of what they do to people or anything like that. If we had known about them sooner, we would have dealt with them, but before they became a problem. But other than knowing that, they call themselves Cinderclaws, and they seem to be made up mostly of boggards and chiracards, some of them seem to have taken some draconic features into their flesh.
But through what means, I cannot say. There have always been cults worshipping the darkness in our lands, but those cults are usually small and disorganized and easy to dispatch. I have never seen one spring up out of nowhere like this, and certainly never one so large and organized. They have far more magical power than I would have expected. One thing that seems certain is that their base of operations lies somewhere to the southeast. Maybe I can sketch out the area that we believe they've claimed for. This region roughly corresponds to the positions of the jungle where my people cannot enter.
[00:27:07] Speaker B: There are places you can't enter?
[00:27:09] Speaker A: Yes. Again, let me explain all of that during the feast.
[00:27:14] Speaker B: All right, timid, is there anything else you wanted to ask?
[00:27:18] Speaker F: No, I think that's some good information. And he just seems to be distracted in his can. Does anything about people with draconic features or boggards and churika with draconic features ring a bell with him for him as far as what he experienced?
[00:27:43] Speaker A: Okay. No, they do not. Right.
[00:27:45] Speaker F: Yeah. So I think he's finished with this conversation.
[00:27:51] Speaker A: Okay. Does Sareia have anything else you would like to speak to Nketia about now?
[00:27:59] Speaker B: I'm sure you're very busy with preparations, and again, we want to thank you for such a warm welcome, and we appreciate all of this that you're through, but if you ever have the time, your father says you are quite the accomplished linguist and anthropologist. I would love to speak to you more about what life is like here for you in the Mwengi expanse. And perhaps even learn.
I know not all of your soldiers speak.
Is it Taldren that's common?
You can say calm. Yeah, they do speak, Elvin. They also speak a different language. A third one I would love to learn.
[00:28:37] Speaker A: Yes.
So my role in the city is I am the linguist, a master of knowledge and custom and of the spoken word.
If the rulers speak to someone who does not know our language, I translate. If the rulers do not know of a foreign custom, I enlighten them. If the rulers must make a decision, I advise them. And if the rulers make a bad decision, it is my fault. Nikia snort, then laughed hysterically at her own joke, regaining her composure a moment later. They say there are no bad rulers, only bad linguists.
[00:29:13] Speaker B: That seems like quite the heavy burden there for you.
[00:29:18] Speaker A: It unfortunately is. But it is also a position of honor.
[00:29:23] Speaker B: I understand.
It must be a great honor. And if you do have the time, I understand. Of course, you don't seem, as you do, have quite some responsibility. But if you have the time, or if there's someone point me to, I would love to learn about your culture and learn your language and how I might better advise my friends to not offend anyone.
[00:29:41] Speaker A: She laughs. Can you give me a diplomacy role, please? I can, Anwar. Can you also give me a diplomacy assist role? Okay, so you have a DC 20.
[00:29:52] Speaker B: Yes. It might not be entirely accurate to say that I am the linguist for my group. More of an unofficial thing, but especially. I may be most apt for that. Especially here. I may be apt for that.
[00:30:05] Speaker F: I was able to succeed.
[00:30:07] Speaker B: I got a 13, but I get a plus two.
[00:30:09] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:30:10] Speaker B: So 15.
[00:30:11] Speaker A: She looks at you and smiles.
You seem to be helpful with. You seem to really want to help us. And I can't say that it comes at a better time. These cultists have been bothering and assaulting us and our areas. I have reached out to other ekuje clans, but I fear they will fall prey to the same magic that plagues us.
No one has really been able to help us, and I fear that the mag Ambia academy in Nantambu is quite a distance away. And many of us are reluctant to call upon outsiders for internal affairs such as this, for fear that the mages might use it as an invitation to take our sovereignty from.
But here, please take this.
It was a gift given to me years ago by a friend when I went on a dangerous mission. She gives you.
I forgot to say this. Nketia is a she. Her. Just so you know.
And she gives you a dragon's eye charm.
[00:31:33] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:31:33] Speaker A: This charm, a dragon shaped pendant worn like a necklace or set into armor or clothing as a decoration, is warm and smooth to the touch. It must be held in one hand to use. Pressing the palm of one's hand to the charm also works, provided that your hand is otherwise empty. It has four distinct powers. One of them, the dragon's eye charm, manifests fire for you to wield against your foe. You cast a fifth level, produce flame spell with a spell attack roll of plus 13. The second action. Each one of these is frequency, once per day. The second thing is the charm's pupil becomes plainly visible. You can look through the charm to gain dark vision for as long as you sustain the activation up to a maximum of 10 minutes. Okay.
The third thing that the dragon's eye charm can do is shroud you in a faintly glowing layer of golden energy. You gain fire resistance, five for 10 minutes. And the last thing is, you can speak and understand draconic. As long as you sustain the activation for a maximum of 10 minutes. So it is a very cool charm that Anketia gives you.
[00:32:49] Speaker F: That was given to Sareia, that was.
[00:32:51] Speaker A: Given to Sarah, but she can hand it off as necessary.
The look of it is, it is in the shape of a dragon that looks like it is made out of stained glass. So it radiates multiple colors.
[00:33:07] Speaker F: Okay, so maybe we want to keep that away from pond watcher. Unless he snap it in two or.
[00:33:13] Speaker D: That might be very useful for pond watcher. It gives him fire resistance. It gives him the ability to see in the dark.
[00:33:18] Speaker F: Yes, I think it would.
Yeah, it would work very well for him. I just don't know if he would want to wear it because it's got dragon symbology on it.
[00:33:27] Speaker D: We could ask him. I'm not there.
[00:33:28] Speaker B: Yeah. And then before Surya does leave, she's going to turn to timid and say, oh, did you want to speak to her? Maybe about the mages? It seems they might have some issues with them coming in and trying to take over their lands. If I'm not mistaken. That might ring a little familiar for you.
[00:33:44] Speaker F: Yeah.
Wait. Okay, yeah, I'm sorry. It's the mages.
[00:33:49] Speaker B: There's an academy of some sort that they're a little nervous to approach for fear that they might try to take their sovereignty away.
[00:33:56] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:33:57] Speaker F: Yeah.
[00:33:57] Speaker A: Temit, I'm going to jump to Haya, but then we'll cut back to you with more discussion. Sounds good. So, haya, you decided to kind of find jahassi, correct?
[00:34:11] Speaker C: Right.
[00:34:11] Speaker A: All right, so, Jahasi is sitting, standing against, leaning against one of the buildings in the town and he is just looking at everyone running around preparing for the feast as he is kind of also checking his neck and whatnot.
[00:34:31] Speaker C: There's nothing else that can be gained about that neck, correct?
[00:34:36] Speaker F: Unsolved.
[00:34:37] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean, he kind of told you that it happened during a fight with the cinder claws, so he's not going.
[00:34:45] Speaker C: To turn into a aware cinder claw. Aware cinder crawl, sure.
[00:34:49] Speaker A: Do you prefer. Yes.
[00:34:52] Speaker C: It's hard.
[00:34:52] Speaker A: Not that, you know.
[00:34:54] Speaker C: Cool.
Well, originally I wanted to go forward and offer my assistance, but I'm guessing the conversation is going to be very similar to what had just occurred between Sareia and temid and his daughter.
[00:35:11] Speaker A: But, I mean, you can still speak to him.
[00:35:13] Speaker C: Brianna will know. Thank you so very much for your hospitality, for yourself and your people. While we're here, I would very much like to be able to help in any way, whether it's in preparations or if there's something that needs to be handled. I know things can be somewhat busy and I don't want to step on toes or create any problems. I just want to be of use while we are guests.
[00:35:44] Speaker A: I'm sure we will need help getting food for the feast in a couple of hours. If you wanted to go help them do that, that would be very helpful. Unless, of course, your group doesn't eat meat, which would be.
We have other options.
[00:36:04] Speaker C: That's very kind of you. Can I recall something to see if anybody does not eat meat?
[00:36:10] Speaker A: Give me a society. Recall knowledge society. You can make it untrained.
[00:36:17] Speaker C: Everybody eats meat with a six.
[00:36:20] Speaker A: Yeah. So you don't recall that if anyone eats meat or not or is allergic to meat or anything like that.
[00:36:30] Speaker C: Okay.
I don't think there is anybody in my party that does not eat meat. So thank you very much. I will happily join the hunting party if they need somebody else to do so.
[00:36:46] Speaker A: What do you do with your group? What is your job? Essentially?
[00:36:52] Speaker C: I guess Brianna will look blankly at him. I don't know.
[00:36:58] Speaker A: I protect the party, I suppose. I am wearing this jewelry because I am the khalidi. It is a gift or an honor given to me by the clan.
[00:37:12] Speaker C: Brienna will shuffle her feet and scratch the nape of an egg. Well, I would say in the group there are a few of us that are more susceptible or easier to stand in front during a fight. I suppose I'm one of those.
My power, my honor, comes from the lady Serenre, the dawnflower.
[00:37:37] Speaker A: You are a holy woman of sorts.
[00:37:40] Speaker C: Yes, I'm her champion. Or I hope to be. How so? Is there anything I can help answer with that of the dawnflower, as Haya frantically goes and searches for her wiki page. Don't worry about.
[00:37:55] Speaker A: I just.
Even though my daughter is the one who more knowledgeable in outsiders than I am, I'm always interested.
Would you say that dawn flower is good?
[00:38:09] Speaker C: She certainly can be.
Yes, I would say she's good. She follows the tent of good and light and redemption and healing.
She certainly favors those who have perhaps committed wrong in their past and wished to, like I said previously, redeem themselves and such. So she does tend to try and speak to, for example, the lesser good deities to try and change their ways.
[00:38:48] Speaker A: Interesting. All right, give me a check of diplomacy 29. You see that? He smiles when you say that.
And he goes, you were carrying a large. Were you carrying a shield on the way here?
[00:39:08] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:39:09] Speaker A: You were carrying that shield one moment, and he disappears inside the building he was leaning against.
He comes back out with a red, white, and black shield.
[00:39:21] Speaker D: Oh, I thought it was almost the Captain America shield for a second.
[00:39:26] Speaker A: It's actually a spellguard shield.
He explains that he received this in a distant land when he accompanied his daughter on a journey, and he received it as an honor for killing an evil necromancer. However, shields aren't really his style of fighting, and since you are someone who keeps people safe, he thinks that you could use that.
[00:39:59] Speaker C: That is so cool.
This is too great of an honor.
Leader, I don't know if I can accept this.
[00:40:09] Speaker A: No, I insist. It is doing nothing but gathering dust here. And if it is something that can keep you safe and keep your friends safe, especially if you are going to help us with the troubles that have been going on, I insist that you take it.
[00:40:26] Speaker C: Then, by my honor, I will do what I can to keep your people safe. And use this well. She'll bow and humbly, probably very awkwardly accept it, because, let's be honest, Brianna's all sorts of awkward.
[00:40:42] Speaker A: Oh, also, the gentleman who will be leading the hunting party is named Akosa. He is a little standoffish, but he means well.
[00:40:57] Speaker C: I'm sure we will work well together and gather much meat for the feast.
[00:41:05] Speaker A: Yes. All right. Matt.
[00:41:07] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:41:08] Speaker A: You alone in your room, open up the bag. And you just see that there is, like I said, a small gold bar in there.
[00:41:22] Speaker D: Okay. Is that it?
[00:41:25] Speaker A: Yes. As you look at it, what do you do? Do you take it out? Do you look at it? What's going on?
[00:41:30] Speaker D: Sure, he'll reach in. He'll take it out. Look at each side if there's anything stamped on it.
[00:41:34] Speaker A: Okay, so first off, give me a perception check.
[00:41:39] Speaker D: So it was a natural two. So I got a twelve.
[00:41:42] Speaker A: All right, so as you look at it, you notice with that twelve that there is a small stamp in it. And that stamp looks like it is of a pyramid. Okay. You can also tell that this is worth ten gold pieces.
[00:42:03] Speaker D: Wow.
[00:42:04] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:42:04] Speaker D: Maybe it's like from a sirion or something. Okay. He'll wrap it in the cloth, the sack, and then tuck it into his backpack. Then he will head out in the lighter forest garb to see if there's any sports ball to be played.
[00:42:22] Speaker A: Awesome. So as you head out, you don't find a sports ball game, but you do see a pair of tall ekujay girls looking curious at you as you wander out and they start banging some sticks on the ground and motioning to you to come over.
[00:42:46] Speaker D: Okay? Twin Talon will walk over.
[00:42:50] Speaker A: You see that? The girl starts speaking to you in. Elvin. Do you speak Elvin?
[00:42:54] Speaker D: I do not.
[00:42:55] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:42:56] Speaker D: However, I do have an undedicated language slot.
[00:43:00] Speaker A: Okay, I will let you spend that right now for Elvin if you'd like.
[00:43:04] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:43:05] Speaker A: Because it is a common language.
[00:43:07] Speaker D: Okay, then I will.
[00:43:09] Speaker A: All right, great. So you hear them start speaking to you and they challenge. One of the girls named Maruko challenges you to a dancing game.
[00:43:26] Speaker D: Let's do it.
[00:43:27] Speaker A: Known as the dicata. Okay, so the game involves each player, so her and you wearing a pair of copper anklets. Okay, the anklets. She is explaining the game to you. Obviously, the anklets are designed to make chimes that are distinct from the other pairs. When struck, the goal of the game is to dance along with the beat of a song, while at the same time using fancy footwork to strike the opposing player's anklets and make them chime.
[00:43:59] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:44:00] Speaker A: The player that makes their opponent's anklets chime the most is the winner. But stumbling and missing the beat results in losing points or even outright losing the game.
[00:44:10] Speaker D: Okay, twin Talon will step up.
[00:44:12] Speaker B: All right, step up to the streets.
[00:44:14] Speaker A: Yeah. This is the step up to the streets portion of our game. The game ends when someone has five points. So the other girl, named Senyo, starts to make a beat with their stick.
So the game goes into two phases. The first phase, you make an unarmed attack against your opponent with a minus four circumstance penalty because you are aiming.
[00:44:41] Speaker D: Okay?
[00:44:43] Speaker A: If you succeed, you get one point. If you critically succeed, you get two points. All right? So go ahead and make me an unarmed attack roll with a minus four circumstance penalty.
[00:44:57] Speaker D: Okay, that's not on mine.
[00:45:00] Speaker A: Yeah, sorry.
[00:45:01] Speaker D: There we go. So fist would be 13. Minus four is plus 927.
[00:45:08] Speaker A: That is a critical success.
[00:45:11] Speaker D: I got the beat.
[00:45:13] Speaker A: And then she is going to try and hit you.
And she misses. So you get two points. Now you must succeed at an acrobatics or performance check to keep up with the beat of the music.
[00:45:28] Speaker D: I will choose acrobatics because my bonus is twelve higher. Okay, 24.
[00:45:35] Speaker A: Again, you critically succeed. So you get a plus two to your ac for next round.
[00:45:40] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:45:41] Speaker A: All right, so do it again.
[00:45:43] Speaker D: The attack.
[00:45:44] Speaker A: The attack. 21 that will hit. So you'll get another point. And she gets an 18 to your ac. Now remember, you're not wearing armor, right.
[00:45:58] Speaker B: But he has the bonus, right?
[00:45:59] Speaker A: Yes, he does have the bonus.
[00:46:01] Speaker D: So I think that's the same as my armor.
[00:46:04] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:46:05] Speaker D: Armor only gives me a plus two.
[00:46:06] Speaker A: Okay, so 18 misses.
[00:46:10] Speaker D: Misses, yeah.
[00:46:10] Speaker A: Okay, so you have three points. Now let's see about our acrobatics. 28 again. You get another two. Plus two to your ac. She manages to stay on beat, just barely, but she stays on beat. Okay, the attack roll again.
[00:46:30] Speaker D: So three to nothing at this point.
[00:46:32] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:46:33] Speaker D: 25.
[00:46:34] Speaker A: So you hit again with a critical.
But she also manages to strike you with a critical as well. But you get five points and she has two. As long as you make your acrobatics check, which I think you will.
[00:46:50] Speaker D: But 27 acrobatics.
[00:46:52] Speaker A: Yes, you do. With that, you win.
You beat her very excited and she is all smiles even though she lost.
As you were dancing, you noticed that some elves started to join around you and watch the show and they laugh and cheer for you and you hear them joking around with the young girls who were out dance. You succeeded there and you managed to earn some good. So far, everyone's managed to earn some good influence on these elves.
[00:47:33] Speaker D: It was nice work, twin Talon. Thank you. Twin Talon will do his best to be a gracious winner. Be like, oh, it's beginner's luck. I'm sure if we do this again, you would totally wipe the floor with me. As he says in his very poor elven.
[00:47:48] Speaker A: I'm going to say that pond Watcher has teachen you Elvin. So you have a accent on your elvin, okay.
[00:47:55] Speaker G: Yes.
[00:48:00] Speaker F: He didn't have an accent when he was talking in Elvin.
[00:48:02] Speaker D: I noticed that too.
[00:48:03] Speaker C: That was awesome.
[00:48:05] Speaker F: I like that a lot.
[00:48:06] Speaker A: Yes. All right, rich, speaking of pond Watcher, after you change, you head out and you find some. You find, I wouldn't say it's a bar, but you definitely find, like, an area where people are hanging out and you see three younger. I'd say they're younger for elves. They're probably like teenagers. And they look at you and they say, in Elven, you're from the north, aren't you?
[00:48:39] Speaker G: What gave it away?
[00:48:40] Speaker A: Well, my friend here claims that northerners can't handle anything with spice.
[00:48:49] Speaker G: Well, our food is a little bland because nothing really grows where I come from. Not like here.
[00:48:56] Speaker A: Are you up for a challenge?
[00:48:58] Speaker G: Always.
[00:49:00] Speaker C: Oh, boy.
[00:49:01] Speaker A: Excellent. And a large smile appears across the faces of the young men, and they produce three of the brightest colored peppers you have ever seen. Oh, no.
[00:49:18] Speaker G: Oh, jeez.
[00:49:19] Speaker A: Now, if you agree to this, let's have I challenge you to a pepper eating contest.
[00:49:27] Speaker G: Oh, no.
Outwardly, he just says, yep, let's do it. Yep, I love it.
[00:49:34] Speaker A: All right, so you pop the first pepper in your mouth, just like Silver's jumbalaya, as does the first elf. And I'm going to need you to make a fortitude check next week.
[00:49:54] Speaker G: Come on, let me eat my spicy peppers.
[00:50:00] Speaker E: What's next for all heroes? Will Pond Watcher be able to eat these peppers? Will anyone ever learn about twin Talon's dancing ability? What is silver doing in his hut alone? Find out the answers to these questions and more on the next episode of the Cracked Die podcast. And now a word from our sponsors.
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