Anthony 0:00
Greetings adventurers, and welcome to the Adventure Incorporated podcast. I’m your Dungeon Master. This is episode- on my name. All right, I’m really sorry, you know, I’m still getting the hang of these intros. I’ve only done about 285 of them. And I’m just- I feel like I almost nailed that one. I almost nailed that one. But my name is Anthony Reed, I’m your Dungeon Master. This is Episode 25 of the second campaign, part of the Ancient Secret story arc and some spicy stuff is happening. So, I’m gonna, I’m gonna just thank our Patrons at patreon.com/adventureinc who make the show go, make the show go. And if you aren’t a Patron on patreon.com/adventureinc and you think you enjoy what you’re hearing here today, and you think you want to hear some more cool stuff, well, then go to our Patreon, become a patron, support the show like all of the great people there already. And yeah, maybe we can do even more cool things in the future. I’m looking forward to it. Are you? Be a patron? No, this is, this is really- look, I thought this was gonna be perfect, and it wasn’t. Sort of like a metaphor for life. Anyway, there’s a lot to get to so why don’t we just get started?
Nobles and farmers, knights and scoundrels gather round, gather round to hear a tale of excitement and mystery. Brave adventurers, facing grave dangers.
Belroth, the Ranger.
Belroth 1:52
She’s a grimalkin. That’s understood. No pets allowed, even though she’s not a pet. I will wait outside. Everyone, if anyone needs anything I am outside.
Anthony 2:02
Skarpin, the Cleric.
Belroth 2:04
Should I just try and snipe them from over here?
Skarpin 2:07
Yeah, okay. I did say they were as good as dead. I would hate to break my word on our first contract with Adventure Incorporated.
Anthony 2:15
Ellori, the Bard.
Ellori 2:18
We would want you to leave this warehouse.
Anthony 2:21
He points behind you. Church!
Ellori 2:24
Oh, sorry. We want you to leave this church.
Anthony 2:28
Deeran, the Wizard.
He say you no, worship Shattered Fang.
Deeran 2:33
Yeah, man, he’s like, super wrong. We love Broken Tooth- uh Shattered Fang, man.
Anthony 2:38
Prepare yourselves, for these are the tales of Adventure Incorporated!
The Archon leads the 4 of you plus the General and Freya up to the summit of the mountain. She raises her arms to the star filled sky above. She turns back. She says, you have sought a favor and earned acceptance from each of the Titans. They have made a choice today that will change everything. They have done this because they have as much faith in the people that they created as the people have in them. They will grant this gift to you, but it will come at a great cost. I have told you that there is one more who must pay a cost, one more whom you must seek approval from. It is a decision that will not be easy, but a decision that must be made to continue. Know this though, the Titans have made their choice. It is too late for them to change their mind. What they have done is already taking hold. Now, they have put their faith in you to convince the final that this is a worthy task and a price worth paying. To seal away the demons is no small feat, to stop them from coming again and again, for each time we return the demons to the pit they crawl their way back to our world. Today we created the seal, both physically the one that will sit in our world and in ways beyond layer by layer, isolating the pit that it cannot touch this place except through 1 point, 1 point beyond this doorway we have built. The Titans will have given of themselves for this to occur, truly given of themselves. The Titans are energy. They are power. They are an idea, and they cannot truly be killed. The slumber they enter, it is the same as death. They give themselves to this ritual of binding to give you a chance. The last piece, those who need to give of themselves to give this ritual the strength it needs…is everyone. Every man, every woman, every child, every human, every dwarf, every elf, every tiefling, that which makes people what they are. The spark that ignites them, the soul that creates society. They must give it away, and it is up to you, General, to accept that burden, to give away their will that this may hold. I will give you some time
The General turns to the 4 of you. She says, I worried about this. The images that I saw on the trial, images of death and destruction, of cities falling, of people like animals. It is doom and destruction that awaits us, and I, I can’t imagine this is worth it. That we would give everything of ourselves, what’s the point? Why fight this battle? ~A long, long silence.~ I guess I won’t.
Deeran 9:29
Honestly, why did you not say anything, Steph? That’s your job?
Ellori 9:33
No, I know. I’m trying to- because I’m trying to think through the-
Belroth 9:38
I am also trying to figure out- like is this an inevitability, this is a thing that already happened, or this is a thing that we are going to alter the future?
Skarpin 9:47
I’m thinking that this is before like, Lanier came to-
Belroth 9:54
That was what I was thinking. Like, everyone like, starts then becomes-
Ellori 9:59
That’s why Lanier doesn’t know-
Skarpin 10:03
Yeah-
Ellori 10:04
Okay.
Skarpin 10:04
-that’s what I was thinking.
Ellori 10:06
But we don’t know that. Like, Ellori doesn’t know that so Ellori is sitting here like, I don’t know why.
Belroth 10:16
Yeah, I just I don’t know how to respond like, at all.
Deeran 10:22
Deeran wouldn’t, so, uh, Deeran’s doing him.
Ellori 10:27
I think with the tiniest sliver of hope- with great power, comes great responsibility.
Belroth 10:41
I accept your gift of making us all Spider-man. That’s what it takes.
Ellori 10:48
I think with the tiniest sliver of hope, we’ve got to take that and run with it.
Anthony 10:58
I am finding it so hard to find any hope in this situation. The war with the demons has been hell. People have died every day by droves. The people who live, live. They have friends. They have families. They have lives. Can we strip that away?
Ellori 11:38
If we don’t do anything, we’re basically doing the same. And we don’t know, we don’t know what it will look like, right? We don’t-
Skarpin 11:51
Ellori, I think we do. General, you might have noticed we’ve, we’ve been full of surprises, and there’s a reason for that: we’re not from here.
Anthony 12:11
You are from across the sea?
Skarpin 12:15
Further than that.
Deeran 12:15
Yeah, like, he means like, you know, we’re like, from like, like a far away not, not here, you know, like, uh-
Skarpin 12:24
Deeran-
Deeran 12:25
Yeah? His eyes are like, wild right now.
Skarpin 12:30
I think she needs to hear this. We’re from the future.
Ellori 12:33
Skarpin, I think you’re right.
Belroth 12:34
Yes.
Deeran 12:35
What?
Skarpin 12:37
General we’ve lived- we’re from very far in the future. I don’t know how far, but we’ve heard- we know the consequences of this. The world is forever changed if the Demon Stone is put in place, and the Titans give their gifts. But a being, a God comes along and gives it back, gives what you’re describing back to the people, and they rebuild. And things become glorious once again. Things will rebuild, but it seems like things need to be destroyed for that to happen. And it’s on you. I’m so sorry it’s on you, but we’ll be there to help.
Anthony 13:39
So, my people must give everything we have so that you and your people, our children and our children’s children, can survive.
Skarpin 14:11
Yes.
Anthony 14:18
It is a heavy burden to carry, to have to make this choice for everyone.
Skarpin 14:33
It is maybe some comfort to know that you already did, and it was the right choice.
Anthony 14:48
That, while disconcerting in its own way I suppose, is indeed somewhat comforting. I am going to take what you are saying on faith, maybe because it makes this decision easier, and I am deluding myself in some way. Or maybe because, maybe because I’m just looking for that hope. But if you are that hope, if you are the symbol of what is to come, then I can’t deny you existence for our, our greed, for our desires. If we must give these up for you to live just tell me if it. Tell me of the world you come from. Tell me of what will be.
Skarpin 16:29
Oh, it’s a beautiful place. It is. I mean, my lands were destroyed, but those- we’ve moved on from that. There are those bumps along the way, but our people rebuilt and we’ve united as one kingdom this entire land as one glorious kingdom. We all get along great, most of the time. There’s parties, many parties. It’s great. We have so many friends and loved ones.
Deeran 17:13
People are free to travel, and like, they’re not afraid, man.
Ellori 17:22
There’s music and stories and art.
Deeran 17:26
So many secrets to find. Even Belroth’s happy there.
Belroth 17:38
Hmm? I’m sorry, this is- it’s a lot to process for me as well. We are here because something terrible happened in our world, in our time. We want to learn what we can from now to help prevent it getting worse, and I’m just sitting here processing. I, I apologize.
Deeran 18:13
Yeah like, this is a huge deal for us. You know like, it’s really inspirational and incredible to get to see this happen.
Anthony 18:31
Well… Archon, the images that I saw, the destruction, the fading away of our way of life of our society, of our people, if that is the price I must pay that the world continues on free of this threat, then I will pay it.
The Archon nods. She says, then you must go the way you came, back down the mountain. Lead your people to the South. Take them to the Demon Isles and place this doorway. And when you do, the last bits of this ritual will fall into place. The demons will be sealed in the pit, and your lives will change. This is what we can offer. Go.
The General turns back to the 4 of you. She bows. She says, thank you and good luck in this journey you are taking yourselves.
Skarpin 20:22
Thank you, General. We will not forget you and your sacrifice.
Anthony 20:29
That is nice. I think for most of us we will forget, but that someone will remember that this happened, it is good to know.
Deeran 20:48
Hey, Archon?
Anthony 20:51
Yes?
Deeran 20:54
What makes this circle so special anyway? Like, is it just silver and gems? Like, is it just because it’s like, really expensive and heavy and hard to move?
Anthony 21:06
The stone from which that is carved comes from the Elemental plane of Earth. It is not from this world. It is pure, and its power granted by Chanerel. The runes etched upon it are secrets of Vorace and Talb brought that bind this place and allow it to accept the power of each of the Titans and of the people when they give it up. The gems are tied to the Arcane through Vorace. Their power will seal the doorway. The silver within binds the lock, keeps the power of the demons from doing what it is most inclined to do, which is destroy.
Deeran 22:24
Cool, um and like, he like, turns and looks to the rest of the group real quick and then like, then like, looks back at the Archon and is like, you can just tell like, the Titans to hang around, right? Just in case like, you know, we ever need to see them in our time. Thanks, man. And he like, sneaks a like, ‘thumbs up’ to the rest of the group.
Anthony 22:59
General, you may go, but I have more to say to the Time Walkers. The General nods.
Deeran 23:11
I knew this was a bad idea.
Belroth 23:14
Well, we didn’t really have a whole lot of choices.
Deeran 23:17
No, I guess it’s true. Like, at least we stopped, you know from being unmade.
Ellori 23:24
So far.
Skarpin 23:24
So far.
Anthony 23:30
The General makes her way down the mountain, and it is not long before she disappears from view. The Archon has its back to you, staring up at the stars
Skarpin 23:47
Hey, Archon?
Anthony 23:50
The Archon turns, and the face is different. It is one of a human male. His hair slicked like, slicked back, and the voice that comes from him is unearthly. It is not a voice that sounds like anything you’ve ever heard before.
Time Walkers, I have much to tell you a little time to do it in.
Deeran 24:25
Oh, good. I was really worried that’s all we were gonna get, man. Hey, thank you so much for taking the time to meet with us and stuff and like, you know, share all your infinite wisdom. This is so cool. I can’t believe we’re actually getting to do all this stuff like, oh my gosh-
Ellori 24:41
Deeran, he said he doesn’t have much time.
Belroth 24:43
Limited time.
Deeran 24:43
Sorry. Uh, and Deeran pulls a whole sandwich out of his pocket and starts eating it.
Anthony 24:53
From the chaos we carved reality. The Elemental planes created the foundation of the world upon which you stand. Then the material planes came to be and each of the people here, for you are all made of the elements. The fire, the water, the earth, the air, it makes up everything that is here. We are at our nature, creatures of creation. We drew from nothing and me something. That is all that we can do, is create.
Belroth 25:57
And how do demons operate? Because, from what I’ve been described by my more potently magical friends, their magic and their power feels like the Void. How do they derive power from what feels like even more nothing?
Anthony 26:26
After the material plane was created, we tried to create other things we could use as tools. It was a way to get beyond our limitations. We could only create, and so the celestials were created, that they may embolden, empower, find pieces of a thing and make it greater, beyond our ability. We would have to have created something new. They could take something that already existed and make it stronger. Then the Fae were made, that they could change a thing, that we no longer had to create something new, we could take something that was and through the Fae, transform it. Then Talb made the Shadow. He made it to overwrite. He made it so that we could take a thing and copy it, reiterate it, that knowledge and legacy could be a thing. We took the powers of all of these, and through that an amalgamation was made. And then, and then the Child of the Titans looked upon this. She watched what we had done, and she wished to create for herself. She reached into the Void, to the nothing, to make her own creation, a power that could do something none of us could do, something anathema to what we were, a true powerful tool. She is a child. She does not understand the ramifications of her hubris. She created the demons to do what we cannot: destroy. They are creatures of destruction. It is all they know, all they understand. For a time, there was a need for such a thing. We had created so much as we tried to learn how the Arcane magics and the Elemental magics fused together to make your world. We had created so much trying to understand the Deep Magic and how you could overlay it into beings. And when Destruction came, that addition was only another potent tool for us to incorporate. But the demons reached beyond. They needed a more effective tool of destruction because all around them all they saw were things that needed breaking, and they touched the Void. They reached into the infinite chaos from which we drew reality, and they wield it like an ever burning blade. They must be stopped because if they are not stopped, they will destroy forever. But we have done you a disservice because this Deep magic Exists, and you carry part of that deep magic in you. People are capable of great things. They are capable of acts of creation. They are capable of acts of transformation. They are capable of legacy and knowledge. They are capable of emboldening and strengthening, and they are capable of untold destruction. You have these pieces within you because of the magics we created. You must deny this magic purchase in your world, or you will die. But know that it is part of you, and ever will it be part of you.
Belroth 31:35
Belroth takes out a fragment of the Demon Stone, which he still has. I know you are giving the world a boon, but we, in the future, need help too. Because the boon you give doesn’t last forever. This is what’s left.
Anthony 32:07
We cannot see beyond our choices. We have made a choice to leave this place, to fall to slumber, to bide a chance. And it is only because of you that we believe this to be possible. That we can see the Time Walkers come from beyond our sight gives us hope. If you are to do this, you will need power that we are not capable of. We cannot stop the demons because all we do is create. We have created a prison, but no prison holds forever. It will be up to you to seek an answer. Find a way to do what is uniquely you. These pieces we have left you. We will leave marks upon the land, marks of Earth and Fire and Water and Air, marks of magic of the Celestial and the Fae and the Shadow. And these marks will bring this power to bear. For so long we have used the strength of these Deep Magics, but we will not be here to do so many more. It will be on you to harness what it means to be an amalgam of these things, to find the tools. What I can give you for advice: the first thing we created when we created this plane was silver. There is nothing more pure creation than silver. It is a tool you may use, but its power is limited. It will stop the physical form, but when a creature returns a pet it is a temporary respite. We have not been able to tell if the demons that come are the same demons over again or simply a manifestation of that destruction reborn, but they will come again. What you need to find is some way to bring them in line or destroy them or to seal them or cast them out. There is an answer buried within you and the people that you come from. We have created you to do this thing, and we slumber now to give you that opportunity. And truly we have created you to do all things. And we are sure there is nothing beyond you.
Deeran 36:13
Did you just give us an ‘All things are possible through Tessa?’, Anthony.
Anthony 36:20
I don’t think they meant specifically TESSA.
Deeran 36:23
Just the 4 of us.
Ellori 36:25
Oh yeah, I took it as that as well. We created ‘you’.
Anthony 36:29
No.
Skarpin 36:30
I liked it.
Belroth 36:31
It made me feel good inside.
Deeran 36:32
Yeah, it made me feel special.
Anthony 36:34
That’s fine. Feel special. You’re welcome to feel special.
Skarpin 36:37
Skarpin’s pumped.
Anthony 36:37
That’s fine. You’re allowed.
Belroth 36:40
Archon, how- what if we can’t destroy or banish? What if we were to- what if this is a fundamental part of the universe? What if things- for things to be in balance, there needs to be some sort of a system to get rid of the excess. How do we bring that into balance without something that also creates? If you are to go away, then are you gone forever and this is everything we have- because if that’s true, then we absolutely cannot find a balance with them.
Anthony 37:24
We are not beings like you. We are not creatures. We are a fundamental order. We are power. When we slumber it is our awareness we are giving away. If you need our strength, you will have to find it. It is still somewhere. If it has not been destroyed, then it is somewhere. And in you, it carries through. You are creations that carry in you the ability to create.
Skarpin 38:48
Archon, if we did find some way to get rid of this, the Destruction Magic, the Void, would that have catastrophic consequences? As Belroth said, this is a part of the universe. It’s part of us.
Anthony 39:11
That is a decision you will have to make. The demons will not stop. The demons are created of Destruction Magic. They are incarnate Destruction Magic. There is- we are magic of creation. We already incarnate Creation Magic. When we are gone, it is clear that people will still be able to create. Perhaps that would be true for demons as well, or perhaps not. Maybe Destruction is something you are able to excise completely from your world. Will that have ramifications? Undoubtedly.
Skarpin 40:09
No, probably not- oh.
Anthony 40:15
But that is not something I can answer for you, for my vision is slipping, and it will not be long before I can see…nothing at all.
Ellori 40:33
Can we talk to the Child?
Anthony 40:36
The Child is not really, but what I can give you a way to get the Child’s attention. But I cannot promise that the Child will answer the call.
Ellori 41:04
We’l gladly take that anyway, thank you.
Anthony 41:06
If I do that, it will take the rest of what I have to give. So, I’m happy to do that when our conversation is concluded. It will take all of my strength to give you this and to send you home, assuming that is your goal.
Ellori 41:39
Oh, I think we would like that very much, thank you. Yes. I don’t think we’ve actually gotten that far to think of how we were going to get back.
Anthony 41:48
I am not as strong with the pathways of Divination as Vorace is, but I can touch them, and I can use them to send you back from where you came. But if there are- I have moments left, scant few, but some if you would have other things I would speak to.
Skarpin 42:23
I had a question. I worship a god called Oliander. And there’s many other gods where we come from. Did you create them as well?
Anthony 42:40
We created all things. These names mean nothing to me, but if they exist here, they are of us.
Deeran 42:55
Deeran elbows Skarpin. His mouth is too full to say anything, but he waggles his eyes.
Skarpin 43:07
That’s nothing, Deeran, nothing.
Deeran 43:22
Oh, hey, uh, I just had like, I don’t even know, man. I thought I had a question, but like, oh, are the turtles alive here?
Belroth 43:48
What?
Anthony 43:49
There are many turtles alive.
Deeran 43:52
No, uh, sorry. Um, the ones that hold the Demon Isles up like, are those ones-
Belroth 43:57
Those are not turtles. You know what, this is a perfect- we’re talking with an Archon of ancient forces.
Deeran 44:03
Yeah, they’ll know. Like, are they already dead now? Like, are they that old?
Belroth 44:07
The Demon Isles are not on the backs of turtles. I don’t know why they’re so emphasized- they emphasize it so much.
Anthony 44:14
The Demon Isles are not on the backs of turtles.
Belroth 44:20
Thank you!
Deeran 44:26
Come on, man. Like, and Deeran leans in. He’s like, just tell me. Just you and me.
Anthony 44:32
When Chanerel splintered the Demon Isles from this world, they were splintered to protect the rest of the land, but it was too late, and the demons too resourceful. But they are stone.
Deeran 44:56
So, so it’s just dirt all the way down?
Anthony 45:01
Just dirt, all the way down.
Belroth 45:07
And the fact that there are 7 of them is because there’s 7 demons? That, that feels very much like, on purpose.
Anthony 45:16
I do not know if there are 7 islands because there were 7 demons or if there are 7 demons because there were 7 islands.
Belroth 45:27
I never really thought about it that way.
Anthony 45:33
Chanerel touched the magic of the demons to splinter the Isles. She used Destruction to try and free our world from this problem. It did not work.
Deeran 45:59
I’ll take 50%, you know? Wrong about the turtles, right about connections, man. That one was way bigger anyway. Hey, this was really great.
Anthony 46:23
You are prepared to leave then?
Belroth 46:28
I’m- I think I’ve asked everything I need, but I don’t know of the others.
Skarpin 46:34
I got more. I got more, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. You’ve been great for us, I thank you. What about the Dreamscape? That’s how I access- but it’s through Oliander, but it exists independent- others access Dreamscape. Do you have that here?
Anthony 46:53
I don’t know what that is.
Skarpin 46:55
Ah, come on. All right. It’s where you go when you dream, and, you know, I can’t dream. That’s a thing, but I want to ask you about that. ~sigh~
Anthony 47:13
You all are touched by Deep Magics in a way that I have never seen before. Each in your own way.
Deeran 47:24
Deeran puts a hand on Skarpin’s like, the back of his shell like, kind of near his shoulder just to let him know like, I’m there for you, pal.
Anthony 47:35
It is often true of the people here that they find an affinity toward one of the Deep Magics that grows within them and is stronger than the others. But that is paltry compared to the way the Deep Magics have touched you. You are seeped in Celestial and Shadow in a way that none of the Tortles I have ever met are. This one- he points at Belroth. -you are steeped in Demon Magic, Destruction, and in the Celestial as well. There are pieces of the Celestial that have touched deep within you. And for you- he looks at Ellori. -the Fae and the demons. What you are, your affliction that comes from Destruction, and it has made you like them. Though not like any I’ve ever seen here.
Ellori 49:26
But does that mean that if we find a way to stop all the demons in our time that I’ll disappear.
Anthony 49:40
You and your people are like a glass that we have filled with the Deep Magics. You are vessels. When you cut that source, the vessel does not empty. You will always carry this with you. If you went beyond, into the Void itself, you would carry this with you. It is intrinsic to who you are. And you- she looks at Deeran -you are not connected to any of the Deep Magics, and I have not seen that in any being. My time has come short.
Belroth 50:44
Belroth looks over at Deeran and kind of gives like the ‘yikes face’. I don’t know how Deeran’s gonna respond to this, but I don’t think well.
Anthony 50:56
My time is up and so too is your time here. I sincerely hope that you can carry what you learned forward and do what you must to save the people and make our sacrifice matter. Good luck. In a flash of light you are ripped from this place, and you can feel that pull upon you like you are being yanked from your center through time and space in a breakneck speed as you hurtle through whatever blue flashing lights are around you. And then you slam in a feeling of sudden stoppage that is so disorienting. As you begin to come to, you are in a dark room.
Skarpin 52:14
Hey, is everyone here?
Belroth 52:16
Yeah.
Ellori 52:18
I’m here. Deeran?
Deeran 52:21
Yeah.
Skarpin 52:21
Deeran?
Deeran 52:22
Yeah.
Skarpin 52:27
Holy. Holy. Holy.
Anthony 52:35
For you, Belroth and for Skarpin, you can now suddenly feel a connection to magic like, flood into you that you were desperately missing as like, suddenly it becomes available. And for you Ellori and Deeran, there is a very sudden cut off. It’s like, it’s like a river became a trickle as you reawaken here.
Skarpin 53:14
Oh, wow.
Ellori 53:15
Wow.
Skarpin 53:15
Oh, wow. I feel good.
Belroth 53:17
I feel amazing.
Ellori 53:21
I feel a little ill.
Deeran 53:26
Cool. Yeah. Hey- Deeran casts light.
Anthony 53:33
You blow out everyone’s darkvision. You cast light. You can’t see anything. The room is dark for all of you.
Deeran 53:46
Got it. Deeran extinguishes it and starts to feel around the room to try to find a door.
Anthony 53:55
Yeah, you find your way to the outside of the room and move along the wall searching for a door and push out into a hallway. You are still in the Tower of Vorai.
Deeran 54:09
Cool. Deeran’s gonna call out to the group: hey, I found the door to the Tower. It’s over here.
Belroth 54:17
Where’s over here? I think- I’m still in darkness.
Deeran 54:20
Yeah, I’m just gonna keep on talking here until- and you can follow my voice.
Belroth 54:25
Oh, ow that’s a-
Deeran 54:27
It’s like. Yep, yep, this way.
Belroth 54:29
Sorry. Sorry, Ellori-
Deeran 54:29
Over here. It’s Deeran in the hallway.
Ellori 54:34
Belroth, Skarpin.
Belroth 54:36
What?
Skarpin 54:36
Yes?
Ellori 54:37
You both can see in the dark like I can. Don’t make fun of poor Deeran because he can’t.
Anthony 54:41
No, no, it’s a magical darkness. None of you can see.
Ellori 54:44
Oh.
Deeran 54:47
Ellori, open your eyes.
Belroth 54:48
Ellori, open your eyes.
Ellori 54:52
I thought you meant when he turned on a light, it still was just a dark room.
Belroth 54:58
Ellori, I’m very much, I’m not.
Skarpin 55:04
Oh, Deeran, okay.
Deeran 55:06
Oh, hey.
Skarpin 55:07
Where’s Archimedes? And Skarpin peeks around in the hallway.
Deeran 55:17
Yeah, it’s like the twisty hallway, right, like, spiraling up and down?
Anthony 55:24
Yes.
Skarpin 55:28
Should we head back up?
Deeran 55:33
Or is it down?
Belroth 55:35
Yes, we should- well, I think it was up. I faintly remember taking- I faintly remember going down.
Deeran 55:45
Well, yeah but like, we arrived and then went down, right? We arrived in that dark room- in a dark room, maybe not that one.
Belroth 55:54
Hello. Hello.
Anthony 55:58
Your call echoes up the hallway.
Deeran 56:05
Like, what is your like, what do your guts tell you guys?
Skarpin 56:15
Oh, let me try this. And he reaches out the window. I imagine there’s ocean there?
Anthony 56:22
Yeah, so you go to press against the window and it is like, hard. The force of the magic is like, rock hard as you try to press on it. And glancing out, you can see the floor of the ocean. Like, you are just about one storey above the floor of the ocean out this tower window.
Belroth 56:45
Oh, where’s Freya? Is Freya here? Freya!
Anthony 56:50
Freya comes out of the room.
Belroth 56:52
Oh, thank goodness. I give her pots on the head and then tries to give her some Freya snacks, but there aren’t any because Deeran ate them all.
Deeran 57:03
Please, we shared them.
Belroth 57:04
Okay. Deeran, I need a sandwich? Freya needs a sandwich.
Deeran 57:11
Oh, I just ate the last one I had because you didn’t want me to talk during the Archon.
Belroth 57:14
I didn’t say that.
Deeran 57:16
Yeah, you did. You and Ellori both.
Belroth 57:23
I didn’t say that. I definitely didn’t-
Deeran 57:24
Yeah, you did. You jumped in and we’re like, hey, we got like, we don’t have a lot of time.
Belroth 57:30
Oh, that’s true. No, you’re right. Now I remember this.
Deeran 57:33
Me too.
Ellori 57:34
I think I’m going to go up.
Skarpin 57:37
So, I think, I think we’re down, so let’s go up.
Belroth 57:43
Sorry for cutting you off, Deeran.
Ellori 57:47
Ellori goes up.
Deeran 57:48
Deeran follows.
Anthony 57:51
All right. So, the 5 of you make your way up the stairs, and you pass by a number of these rooms that lead into the center chamber of the tower that seem to be largely empty down here. A couple of them are dark, but you know, you walk by 2 of them that look like similar, magical laboratories we’ll say. Exploration places that are similar to the one that you touched the stone in. And after a few flights up you see the 1 room that you were in before with the big, circular, stone orb. It is pushed off to the side of the room, and it looks like large piles of spell dust like, stone that has been crumbled and used lay all over the floor. And you can see Archimedes resting in this room.
Ellori 58:58
Excuse me, Archimedes? As I knock on the wall a little bit.
Anthony 59:03
Give me a Dex Saving Throw.
Ellori 59:04
Oh.
Belroth 59:06
Oh, my god.
Ellori 59:08
Oh, that’s bad. It’s a 6 plus 4. 10.
Belroth 59:21
Archimedes, this whole time has been like, a very powerful wizard but like, his Saving Throws, real bad.
Ellori 59:28
Stop picking up dice. Stop it.
Belroth 59:31
Anthony.
Deeran 59:34
That was a lot of dice.
Anthony 59:36
I just like the “Anthony. Like, Anthony, come on.”
Belroth 59:39
Come on, man. She asked you politely.
Anthony 59:44
He snaps up as you speak toward him, and in like, a single action stands and fires a lightning bolt at you. And it crackles through and slams you in the chest for 25 lightning damage.
Skarpin 1:00:01
Hey, hey, hey! It’s us! What are you doing?! He goes over and casts Cure Wounds on Ellori.
Anthony 1:00:08
Nope. You don’t. Go ahead and give me a Wisdom Saving Throw.
Skarpin 1:00:18
8.
Anthony 1:00:20
Okay. Skarpin, as you reach out to magic to try and summon a spell in this place, what you get back is like being bathed in liquid fire. You are just drenched in this feeling that flows into your veins of heat and pressure and pain.
Skarpin 1:00:45
You get hit with a volcano.
Deeran 1:00:49
You get yeeted into a volcano.
Anthony 1:00:54
Good rolls on the other one for you. Let’s see. 31 damage as the spell like, tears you apart from the inside.
Skarpin 1:01:05
Skarpin like, stumbles down to a knee near Ellori and just like, grabs his head and just shudders.
Anthony 1:01:12
No, no, please do not do that. Oh, I’m so, so sorry. He comes in withdraws- give me a Death Saving throw, Ellori.
Belroth 1:01:22
He withdraws the small dagger and starts plunging into her heart.
Anthony 1:01:26
All right. He pulls out a healing potion, and he pulls the cork, and he just like, pops it into your mouth and pours the potion down your throat, healing you for 24 damage.
Belroth 1:01:51
You take 24 more damage.
Anthony 1:01:53
No, he heals you for 24 points of damage.
Belroth 1:01:55
I mixed it up again!
Anthony 1:01:59
And he turns to you, Skarpin, are you okay?
Skarpin 1:02:02
Oh, no. That, that hurt.
Belroth 1:02:05
Diam’s ashes, Archimedes, what the heck was that?
Anthony 1:02:08
I am not accustomed to being woken in this place. And I have many enemies.
Skarpin 1:02:13
Not us.
Belroth 1:02:13
We’re not accustomed to getting hit by lightning bolts.
Ellori 1:02:18
I’m sorry. No, you’re right. We should have, I don’t know, done something different.
Belroth 1:02:24
I don’t think we should have. I think we’re not wrong here.
Anthony 1:02:28
I am surprised to see you…alive.
Ellori 1:02:36
Oh, yeah.
Skarpin 1:02:37
Barely. I mean, jeez
Belroth 1:02:39
You’re welcome. Like, what is this?
Ellori 1:02:41
Does it help that you saw me dead for a moment?
Anthony 1:02:46
I mean, I saw you dead for many moments. Very dead.
Belroth 1:02:51
What?
Ellori 1:02:53
I’m sorry. Oh, because of the vampyr thing. No, I meant like-
Anthony 1:02:58
No, the ritual failed. We attempted the ritual with the stone. I poured as much as I could into it, and you fell to the ground as corpses. I checked for your life. You were dead.
Belroth 1:03:13
Did you happen to store us at the very bottom of the tower?
Anthony 1:03:18
Yes.
Belroth 1:03:19
That’s where we were awoken.
Ellori 1:03:21
Oh my god. We were in a body room?
Anthony 1:03:25
Well we tried-
Ellori 1:03:26
Were there other bodies in there?!
Deeran 1:03:27
That’s so gross, man.
Belroth 1:03:29
Does the Tower of Vorai have a body farm?
Ellori 1:03:31
How many bodies were down there that we just stepped over?!
Anthony 1:03:34
It’s not important. Well, I mean, we- corpses happen, and you have to have a place to keep them. And sometimes you need to practice on them.
Belroth 1:03:45
It’s very rude to say in front of Skarpin.
Ellori 1:03:47
Did you practice on us?
Anthony 1:03:49
Well, not yet.
Ellori 1:03:51
Well, not ever!
Belroth 1:03:52
So, if we just woke up without an arm. You would have been like, ‘oopsie doopsie.’
Anthony 1:03:59
Y…yes. You were dead? I don’t know. You were dead.
Ellori 1:04:05
Um, so this might come as a surprise to you clearly, but we aren’t dead. We did the thing.
Anthony 1:04:12
So, the stone worked? It worked?
Ellori 1:04:15
It worked. We were in the past, and we maybe stepped on some butterflies, but I think overall we learned a lot of lessons.
Belroth 1:04:21
Your name is still Archimedes, right? We didn’t change the past that much, did we?
Deeran 1:04:26
I keep telling them, man. Like, if we were there, it had to be like, we had always gotten there. You know what I mean, but like, they just wouldn’t listen.
Ellori 1:04:37
It’s true. I would not. I was very adamant about the butterfly thing.
Skarpin 1:04:41
I kind of embrace it, Deeran.
Anthony 1:04:44
I destroyed the stone.
Deeran 1:04:46
What?
Anthony 1:04:49
I destroyed the stone because it didn’t work. And I didn’t want others-
Deeran 1:04:52
No, it did.
Anthony 1:04:53
No, I know that…now.
Ellori 1:04:57
Well you can rebuild it, right, in case anyone else needs to go to the past?
Anthony 1:05:04
It’s probably best that we find you guys back to your homes.
Ellori 1:05:08
Are you okay Archimedes?
Anthony 1:05:09
I’ll be fine.
Ellori 1:05:11
It doesn’t sound like it.
Anthony 1:05:13
There have been some changes in the world while you were out.
Ellori 1:05:20
How long were we gone?
Anthony 1:05:22
A few days. There has been movement from the demons. They have struck the Southwestern shores of Mughamar. They are sieging now, and perhaps it would be valuable for you to provide some assistance.
Belroth 1:05:50
We have lots of information to give you. Number 1, the very first thing. The demons, very weak to silver, believe it or not, because it’s incredibly close to Creation, which is the opposite of their power.
Anthony 1:06:03
What is that?
Belroth 1:06:05
What is what?
Anthony 1:06:07
Not on your hand?
Belroth 1:06:10
He looks at his hand. What is on his hand?
Anthony 1:06:12
On the back of your hand is a purple eye-
Belroth 1:06:17
Ah!
Anthony 1:06:17
-etched into your skin. Like, the outline of an eye, not an actual like, eye.
Belroth 1:06:22
For a second I thought there was a real eye in my skin.
Anthony 1:06:25
No, no. It is an outline of an eye.
Belroth 1:06:27
I wouldn’t put it past you, Anthony is what I’m saying. All right?
Anthony 1:06:29
No, you’re right. No, you’re right. But it is an outline of an eye etched into your skin.
Belroth 1:06:34
Belroth checks if the bard is still stuck into his neck slash clavicle.
Anthony 1:06:43
It is.
Belroth 1:06:43
Oh, damn it.
Anthony 1:06:45
And this etching, I mean like, etching like, it is like, you could run a finger over it. It’s grooved.
Belroth 1:06:52
It’s like, not henna. It’s like, it’s like, it’s like, emboldened.
Anthony 1:06:56
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Deeran 1:06:57
You got a sweet scarification, bro.
Ellori 1:07:01
Ellori looks at her own hand.
Anthony 1:07:04
It is also there.
Ellori 1:07:06
Oh wow.
Deeran 1:07:07
Deeran doesn’t bother.
Anthony 1:07:09
Yeah, that tracks.
Skarpin 1:07:12
Skarpni looks
Anthony 1:07:13
Yep, you’ve got one too.
Belroth 1:07:15
Belroth looks at Deeran’s hand.
Anthony 1:07:17
It’s in his pockets. You can’t see them.
Deeran 1:07:18
Yeah, his sleeves are so long on his robe that like, when he puts his arms down his hands are covered by them. Like, he’s got to constantly slide his sleeves up for you to be able to see his hands anyway.
Belroth 1:07:34
This I don’t know. I have no idea. It’s definitely new
Deeran 1:07:40
Oh, it looks really similar to some of the stuff I’ve seen in the books for the Deep Magics. It looks to me like it might be related to Colliesto.
Ellori 1:07:58
Maybe it’s the way that we can contact and try to reach out
Belroth 1:08:02
It also looks similar to the symbol we saw of the hedge witches- er, no the court mages? I can’t remember.
Skarpin 1:08:11
We did see court mages with a symbol, but yeah, I agree. I think this is more Colliesto-related.
Deeran 1:08:19
Yeah, they got it because they’re connected to Deep Magic.
Belroth 1:08:21
Got it
Ellori 1:08:23
Oh, no, Deeran, I bet you have one too.
Deeran 1:08:28
That’s all right.
Ellori 1:08:29
Like, do you want me to check for you, and I don’t have to tell you. I can just look at your hands and then you don’t have to-
Deeran 1:08:34
No, we’re good. We can do it later.
Ellori 1:08:35
Okay.
Deeran 1:08:38
Um, but yeah, my friends like, they’re really powerful and like, have like, a lot of connection to this, and I think they’re going to be super valuable for you as we go forward.
Belroth 1:08:52
I mean, if we’re being honest Deeran was quite literally one of the more valuable cannons we had in that entire endeavor. Like, we would not have- we would have been actual dead. We would have been permanently dead in that pit that you threw us in if it wasn’t for Deeran and the things you can do.
Deeran 1:09:13
Yeah, I feel like we really missed an opportunity. Like, you know how people say that they were like, born in the wrong time or whatever? Like, I think that that was true for me, you know?
Anthony 1:09:24
So, I’ll get some silver then? You’re saying silver is an answer here. What other answers can you give me?
Ellori 1:09:31
Stone from the Elemental plane?
Belroth 1:09:34
Yes, there are places of power.
Ellori 1:09:39
So, we need to build a giant wheel.
Skarpin 1:09:44
We saw the creation of the Demon Stone. The Titans helped create it.
Deeran 1:09:50
Yeah, that’s a thing. So, I don’t know if you know this, Archimedes. You probably do like, you guys are busy. But like, the gods aren’t it, man. Like, there’s a, there’s a level beyond them. Like, they’re called Titans and like, they created everything.
Anthony 1:10:10
You are speaking of some of the oldest mythology.
Deeran 1:10:16
I don’t know if it’s like, mythology or whatever. It’s just true.
Belroth 1:10:20
I mean, we met with an Archon, a speaker for them who basically is the reason we’re back.
Anthony 1:10:33
This will take me some time to- there are things in motion now that I have to deal with. It’s probably best that you head to Mughamar to deal with the issues happening in Old Morevia.
Belroth 1:10:51
Um, oh, yes, before I do that, and he pulls out the little bag of demon ashes. This is from the past. Actually, he opens up the bag. Is there demon ashes in there?
Anthony 1:11:03
Yeah.
Belroth 1:11:04
These are demons that dissolved in the past. I don’t know if this is helpful at all in any sort of ritual, but you seem to be a researcher. I feel like you would research this better than I.
Anthony 1:11:16
He takes it and he says, I have-
Deeran 1:11:22
How far are they from Federation Bay?!
Anthony 1:11:27
Not far now, I imagine.
Deeran 1:11:31
We gotta go.
Anthony 1:11:31
He leads you up the stairs toward the little room that like, teleported you up a bunch of floors. He teleports you guys up and leads you to the dark chamber with the Standing Stone in it. He pulls out his stone and imbues it. And he says, we don’t have time for the rope. Hold on to the person in front of you, and don’t let go even if you feel like they are gone. And he reaches out and grabs Skarpin’s shell.
Ellori 1:11:39
Ellori grabs whoever is closest to her with both hands.
Deeran 1:12:16
Who is it?
Ellori 1:12:18
Belroth and Deeran on either side.
Belroth 1:12:22
Belroth grabs back and then kind of grabs whatever logically makes sense.
Deeran 1:12:32
Deeran uses both hands to hold on to Ellori.
Anthony 1:12:36
And then poor Freya gets left behind.
Belroth 1:12:37
Oh, my god and he grabs Freya! And he grabs Freya!
Anthony 1:12:41
Nobody grabbed Freya, baby.
Belroth 1:12:42
He grabbed Freya! I said whatever logically made sense. That was Freya.
Deeran 1:12:50
Freya bites Deeran on the way out. Like, let’s get real.
Anthony 1:12:56
He takes you guys into the darkness and suddenly you can’t feel, hear, or see anything until you are moved through the portal and appear back on the Western part of Mughamar. And the sounds of fighting can be heard in the not too distant…distance? They’re not too far away.
Deeran 1:13:23
Nailed it.
Anthony 1:13:23
Not too far away.
Deeran 1:13:25
You nailed that, Anthony.
Anthony 1:13:27
You know what, thank you.
Hey, everyone. DM Anthony here, just reminding you that if you’re enjoying the show, tell your friends, tell your family. Let people know word of mouth. And you can support the show at patreon.com/adventureinc. Or you can check out the shop at adventureincpod.com/shop. Make sure you check the show notes and the website for all our social media, including our Discord where you can come and hang out with some great people. We’ll see you there, and until next week, I wish you nothing but critical success.
The General makes her way- ~Hello~
Skarpin 1:14:30
Creepy. Creepy as fuck. Didn’t like it.
Anthony 1:14:32
My watch apparently called Siri, and when I laughed it picked up hahahahaha. And then she said ~lol.~
Skarpin 1:14:43
I hated it.
Belroth 1:14:47
Well, at least we know the technology is listening to us at all times including our podcast that can be found on any podcatching platform.
Deeran 1:14:56
The least Siri can do is leave us a 5 star review.
Belroth 1:14:58
Yeah, I know.
Ellori 1:14:58
Right?
Deeran 1:15:00
Tell their friends.
Anthony 1:15:01
I’m certain those California listens or people from Apple anyway. It’s fine. I think we hooked someone early.
Deeran 1:15:07
If Siri can tell Alexa and Bixby to listen to us that’d be great.
Belroth 1:15:13
And Cortana.
Anthony 1:15:14
I have to cut this just so we don’t kick off everybody’s smart assistants.
Deeran 1:15:19
Okay, Google.
Belroth 1:15:21
Okay, Google restart episode.
Deeran 1:15:23
Play Adventure Incorporated.
Anthony 1:15:26
So rude.
Adventure Incorporated 1:15:36
Serious business.
We’re super serious!
Transcribed by https://otter.ai