What in the nine hells was that!? One moment we’re steadily making ground against Eclipse and the next he’s back to full health with inhuman screaming coming from the stands! That damned fool put that accursed laurel on and now Eclipse is back at full strength, if not more as his aura steadily spreads further! Asmodeus take whatever’s left of that fool’s soul.
The newly reinvigorated Eclipse focuses on his rival and begins circling the ice storm, keeping it between him and Opera. I take advantage of that focus to break towards the stands, fighting the enervation of the aura and biting back more curses as my mind races to think of what corruption the laurel has undergone. Spesof hurls a meteor barrage past me as I hop over the railing.
Breathing heavily, I look further up to where the count’s necromancer was devoured and can see the laurel, glinting innocently from behind one of the benches. I take a moment to control my breath enough to chant for mage hand and reach out for the laurel, hesitating for a moment as possible disasters flow through my mind. Taking my chances that the mage hand will be at least as fine as the necromancer’s hands… had… been, I grasp it and pull it closer to me.
I start to tune out the battle around me, focusing on the laurel and it’s enchantment. Trying to. The screaming and magical distortion are playing havoc with my concentration and vision, making it damn near impossible to figure out what’s going on. I think I’m getting somewhere, when the sound of a multi-tonne impact shatters my focus. I glance back for just a moment to see Opera posing atop a squirming Eclipse before trying to refocus. I barely get a chance to look at it before Spesof calls out, asking if he should take it and pass it to Tittlin to fly it out of here. I wave him off and try again to focus through all the chaos?
It’s no good, with the aura enveloping the laurel, I can’t make out any of it’s own enchantments. I bring it closer to my face, so desperate to see something that I don’t even notice Opera standing directly beside me. With a laugh, she leans down and illuminates the laurel with her radiance, dispelling the aura enough for me to make out the problem.
The laurel itself is thick with the darkness of Eclipse’s necrotic energy, oozing out through a connection directly to the core of his being. Had the laurel been charged with radiant energy there would have been no flow and it would have been safe to wear. In fact, one step further and that’s our solution! If we can suffuse the laurel in radiant energy, then the conduit will flow the other direction, bypassing Eclipse’s defenses and purifying him from the inside out.
I shout out, asking if anyone has a source of radiant energy, hearing the loudest chuckle I’ve ever heard in reply. Opera calls for Spesof to bring her his sword and asks me for a bucket. With none at hand, I gesture at the ground and throw the laurel in the newly forming hole in the dirt.
As TM Opera O takes the sword from Spesof, we hear Eclipse screeching like a blinded violin. A blast of necrotic energy surges past and envelops Opera, surrounding her before shattering with a snap of her fingers. Before I realize what’s happening, she severs her claw with a single draw of the sword. The golden blood that comes forth does not spurt or dribble, but oozes slowly, covering the laurel in rippling layers like a viscous syrup.
I remember the laurel dissolving, but so distracting is the ichor that that’s the last clear memory I have until the end of the fight. The rest is a blur of streams of golden light and adrenaline, only starting to resolve with Spesof, Opera and I surrounding the fading wisps of what was Eclipse. Even this is difficult to remember, as Opera’s glow was literally blinding at this point.
As if to emphasize the lack of visibility, one last arrow from Tittlin embedded itself in the ground where Eclipse had stood. We called up to Tittlin, letting him know the fight was over.
TM Opera O, ever the show boater, lined us up and congratulated us, and themselves. Mostly themselves it seemed as they went on. She asked us our names and I struggled to get a proper introduction in through Tittlin’s sudden tall tale about me being the grandfather of the group. Opera was infinitely unflappable, accepting each of Tittlin’s revisions unquestioningly.
As Opera exulted in their accomplishments, I looked away so that I could see something other than the blinding light and began to realize just how much carnage had taken place in the stands. As Opera assured us the government had insured the race, my eyes came to rest on the Count’s head, now cleanly removed from both literal and metaphorical bodies of government.
That drove the situation home clearly. The count was dead and we would be presumed co-conspirators. The thought kept running through my mind, putting me on edge as Opera went on about plans to master knitting next and showed how she could find anyone who called her name with a magical map. After one last cheer using a glass of wine conjured from who knows where and held in a freshly regrown claw, Opera helped Donna up onto her back and disappeared with a tally-ho.
With Opera gone, Spesof and Tittlin went straight to looting. Including, much to my consternation, the Count himself. The only thing that I took was Opera’s abandoned hand, seemingly forgotten by everyone including Opera herself. I packed it away, thinking it was better than leaving it for who knows who to find. There wasn’t much else to find, and what else there was was rendered insignificant by the winnings we received after going over to the intact stands. Though the magnitude of the winnings did little to ease my worries, having some time to think on the way back to town did. The surviving crowd had probably been most terrified of Eclipse, and seeing us both work to fight Eclipse and prevent the necromancer’s self immolation would probably leave them seeing us more as protectors than assassins. And even then, they’d probably remember TM Opera O and her flashiness far more.
Back in town, it turns out I was right. Tittlin was insistent on checking the hunt board again and it was cleared just as we entered. In the place of everything else was a single hunt for TM Opera O, with a reward that made even our winnings look poor in comparison. We asked around about for gossip to see how the public was taking this, but it seemed like we were some of the first back from the derby. Spesof certainly seemed to give more gossip than he heard in return. The one thing we did learn was that most of the racers had returned with the exception of Secretariat, Sweep Tosho…
- Right after necromancer consumed (Eclipse creepy smile)
- Spesof takes aura damage
- Aura expanding
- Spesof shoots meteors
- Eclipse circles ice storm from TM Opera O
- Long claw misses Spesof
- Point → Dark energy mind attack on spesof
- Sweep drops ice
- Momen debates aura of purity
- Sweep Tosho Ice wall to keep Eclipse away from stands
- Guards panic an run and get hit by aura
- Tit shoots from stands
- Opera suggests dealing with the laurel
- Flies to eclipse, lift up and body slam, pose with hand on head
- Momen goes to look at it laurel
- Debate mage hand, terrible roles even with advantage
- Bring laurel closer, still no better (blame it on the situation)
- Spesof asks to take laurel off Momen’s hands
- No better plan
- Hot potato to Tit to fly away
- No
- Eclipse throws opera
- Triple somersault and smooth landing
- Finger’s another guard
- Aura from dead guards
- People cornered by aura and panicking
- Eclipse notices cornered people
- Opera exhorts spesof to fight
- Momen realizes he’s running out of time
- Opera right beside momen breathing on eclipse
- Bring laurel closer
- Can’t see through aura
- Opera notices
- Laugh
- Leans down and shines light on it, revealing it
- Becomes obvious
- A big conduit, needs to be charged before use
- Submerging it in radiance will hurt eclipse badly
- Call out for radiance,
- Opera laughs, poses, asks for a bucket
- Mold earth a hole in the ground & drop laurel
- Opera nods, asks for spesof’s sword
- Eclipse notices and panics
- Points at opera, dispelled with a snap
- Cuts off hand, magnificent golden blood drips and covers the laurel
- Both charmed
- Eclipse screeches in pain
- Laurel disintegrates
- Aura shrinks
- Opera says to arms
- Momen and spesof charge eclipse
- Swing glowing staff of power, miss
- Spesof attacking from other side
- Beams of light from his side with every cut
- Arrow from Tit
- Opera attacks, 2 claw 1 bite
- Swing with power strike, golden glow flows through
- Burst of light enveloping everying
- Eclipse disintigrates
- Can’t see Opera through the radience
- Opera posing & speaching
- Almost everyone dead, no one to heal
- One last arrow as Tit can’t see what’s happening
- High five - missing hand
- Switches hands
- High-fives tit
- Do you need something for that?
- Focus, magically regrows hand
- Asks for names
- Provide names, Tit begins spinning story
- Opera entirely unfazed by Tit’s BS
- Opera planning to retire from racing now that they’ve beaten the unbeatable
- Spesof asks about wink, had spoken to dragon’s companion Donna & knew bet money on her
- Asserts will be able to get winnings
- Racetrack is well funded government organization with insurance, no chance of no payout
- Look over at local head of government now removed from body of government
- What next for opera?
- Knitting
- Scout badge scales
- Call name three times
- Drum, confetti magical map above
- Opera brings up glass of wine from nowhere for a cheer before disappearing with Donna & Tally ho
- Pickup abandoned hand
- Dead people veryuwhere
- Spesof searches through bodies including count, momen recommends against. Not much to find other than some coins.
- Manage to retrieve winnings
- Go back to town
- Tit still looks to monster board
- All quests replaced with hunt for Opera
- Spesof looks for priest, can’t get cured
- Heads to tavern instead to hear gossip
- Spesof seems to be more looking to spread than hear
- Stiff competition for next count
- Vision of TM Opera O competing to be a count
- Decide to leave town before the heat comes
- Head back to ?norholdt to retrieve copied book 17:00
- “Nidhogg” seems to recognize Opera’s scent, doesn’t say anything
- Head back to ?Trondcan
- 20:00
- Make sure hand isn’t leaking glow out of backpack
- Spesof suggests Rafnar
- Explain institiutional rivalry
- Send book back with Rafnar
- Ask about dropping large rocks with rafnars teleport
- Not good for combat, would take a full minute
- Time to leave
--- Raw Transcript ---
Momen Tomori: Of note, double check TM Operos health bar because this enemy is doing max health reduction. Tittlin: I can’t even see TM opera O, so oh, wait, no, I can’t if I deselect. Momen Tomori: I am currently at two thirds health and quote unquote unarmed. DM: Yes. Spesof Beegstick: Right. DM: No problem. Tittlin: Yeah, I sound so what you’re telling me is you’re at full health. Spesof Beegstick: Okay. Spesof Beegstick: Uh, it is my turn, yes. Spesof Beegstick: Uh what is the range on my diadem? DM: And since you are within the annihilating aura, please make a constitution saving throw. Momen Tomori: Oh no, that’s not prepared. Spesof Beegstick: Wait, yeah, sorry. Spesof Beegstick: What is what is happening here? DM: What is happening? Spesof Beegstick: I I I think I missed that. DM: Uh so the Yes. DM: You hid the laurel, but then uh uh Eclipse pointed it out to the necromancer and the necromancer, not thinking about why Eclipse was pointing it out to him, uh, put it on his head, and then was immediately consumed by the dark magic flowing through into the laurel from Eclipse. DM: Uh yeah, yeah. DM: I was actually probably it was going to be a constitution saving throw, so yeah, that that would have been a a non-recoverable error. Tittlin: Oh, I’m negative one in that, so yes, I would have died. Spesof Beegstick: Sad day. Tittlin: Uh, by comparison, because I didn’t put it on and I left it closest to him in range. Tittlin: So you’re welcome. DM: Yep. Spesof Beegstick: Right, right. Tittlin: I killed the necromancer. DM: Yes, so as he put it on the dark shadow aura burst out of the laurel, consumed him, you saw a light emanate from his body uh before being snuffed out, and now there is simply I’ll just say a dark smoky yeah. Spesof Beegstick: Bad juju around him. Spesof Beegstick: What do I need to do? DM: You need to make a constitution saving throw. DM: All right. DM: You take thirteen necrotic damage, and that reduces your max health as well. Spesof Beegstick: How do I do that? DM: If you open up your character sheet, you should see that you have a uh where is that? Spesof Beegstick: Temporary. Spesof Beegstick: Do I have to go into edit? Spesof Beegstick: Oh, I found the temporary maximum thing. Spesof Beegstick: Negative thirteen. DM: There you go. Spesof Beegstick: Uh, saving throw. Spesof Beegstick: Umra. Spesof Beegstick: Was that expanding the last time we were here? DM: Uh it increased in size, yes. Tittlin: Is it a cone? Tittlin: What are we looking at? DM: It is a sphere. Tittlin: Okay, so as long as I am higher than the radius, I should be fine to go above it. Tittlin: Tiddling in the carpet adventures continues today. Spesof Beegstick: Uh, I guess all shoots. Spesof Beegstick: That range is still good. Spesof Beegstick: Yes, yes. Spesof Beegstick: Fire off uh couple meteors. Spesof Beegstick: God, these do fuck all. DM: None of those hit, sorry. Spesof Beegstick: And uh that’s my bonus action. Spesof Beegstick: Um Delse we got here. DM: Oh, it takes half. DM: Okay. Spesof Beegstick: Twenty sixty, those are disadvantage. Spesof Beegstick: Okay, and then I’m just going to uh take cover behind the uh benches so that I can’t be seen. DM: Eclipse having seen the necromancer Don the Laurel. DM: Uh seems almost happy moment. DM: You think for a moment that you can see a smile creep across its face. DM: Creepy. DM: Uh, to say the least. DM: Eclipse takes a look at TM Opera O maintaining uh attempting to maintain an opposite position from him with the ice in the middle. DM: And then he what does he do? DM: Yeah, he attacks uh moment once with his claws but misses and then uh Spetov. Momen Tomori: Dang about nothing on that, or no, nothing. DM: He’s lanky boy. DM: Spezzov, give me a uh stealth check there. DM: And then points at Spessov. DM: Spezov, give us a wisdom saving throw. DM: He points at you, but you manage to you feel the dark energy clouding your mind, but managed to shake it off. DM: It leaves you confused and a very unpleasant feeling, but you are unharmed. DM: But it misses before continuing back to gain some distance. DM: Oh, I need to do the I need to do the aura. DM: Uh the aura. DM: But loses some health to the aura. DM: Which Eclipse regains. DM: Why is that not working? DM: Uh-huh, which Eclipse regains and sweeps max health goes down. Momen Tomori: Did that do anything? DM: I can see it, yes. Momen Tomori: Like it technically doesn’t say anything about the specific effect that the that the dude is using, but it feels like it would be thematic. DM: See what happens. DM: Sweep drops your ice. Momen Tomori: Let’s ask let’s ask Moman. Momen Tomori: Does Moman think that that would have any chance at working? DM: Give me a religion check. Tittlin: Can I help him? DM: Uh, from behind the VIP box out of sight, I don’t think so. Tittlin: But like, what if I always talk the moment about religion, it’s in our backstory. Momen Tomori: We’re aware that that Moman was pondering something. DM: I must have missed that part. DM: You guys went to seminary school together? DM: Uh unfortunately, Moman, you don’t know enough about the uh effects to know whether or not this would improve the situation. Momen Tomori: All right. Momen Tomori: Then does Mo does Moman know if he can do anything to negate the laurel or do something with it to harm a clip? DM: Uh maybe, but it’s not your turn. Momen Tomori: Okay. DM: Sweep Tosho sets up an ice wall to block Eclipse from getting further to closer to Moman or the stand. DM: Right. DM: The guards. DM: The guards are just now uh beginning to realize how much of a mistake that they’ve made. DM: This guard freaks out and screams and rushes out of the aura this guard takes gets hurt by the aura. DM: Did that do anything? DM: Yeah, okay. DM: And sprints out before Eclipse heals from it. DM: This guard likewise. DM: He passes and books it out. DM: This guard. DM: Wow, these guys are really constitutionally exceptional. DM: And this guy takes the damage. DM: Youch. DM: Healing Eclipse. DM: Before running up the stairs to get out of it. DM: Alright. DM: The dead necromancer, of course, does nothing because they are dead. DM: Tiddlin, take it away. Tittlin: Am I still shooting this thing? Tittlin: I’ll peer around the peel around the corner. Spesof Beegstick: Sure, I hope so. Tittlin: He’s not actually looking at me, which is good. Tittlin: And then although I I’m assuming wait, why is that not advantage? Tittlin: Uh I’ll actually go like over here. Tittlin: Oh, that’s the D I always put the title and character sheet on one part of my screen and I had the DM direct there instead, and it was confusing me. DM: Got the important things open. DM: DM Opera O turns to look at you all and asks. DM: Gentlemen, it seems we’re in a bit of a sticky situation. DM: I believe we’ve pissed him off. DM: He looks at the uh now dead necromancer. DM: I think it would be wise to do something about that laurel. DM: I had a s I had ignored it, assuming that it was simply nothing, but I believe it is continued presence is posing a threat. Momen Tomori: Where is the it’s still on the necromancer? DM: Yeah. Momen Tomori: I’ll see what I can do. DM: I’ll give it a golden ring. DM: Nope, can’t see it. DM: It’s just white. DM: Laurel. DM: For TM Opera O’s turn, they unfurl their wings, fly over. DM: We’re no longer walking, we’re flying, baby. DM: They fly over. DM: Grab eclipse. DM: Fly up into the air. DM: Flies up into the air. DM: And then body slams him into the ground. DM: There’s a huge dust cloud. DM: And TM Opera O poses as they land. DM: With one hand on their head. DM: This only seems to infuriate Eclipse further. Spesof Beegstick: Did it do a decent amount of damage? DM: Yep, it did a fair amount. DM: Moman, take it away. Momen Tomori: So then what is the range on this? Momen Tomori: Thirty feet? Momen Tomori: And I am currently fifty feet. Momen Tomori: Well let’s see, I think that is far enough. Momen Tomori: Not quite. Momen Tomori: There you go. Momen Tomori: What a coincidence? DM: Oh, wait. DM: Uh Moman, you started your turn in eclipses or give me a constitution saving throw. DM: Alright, you take nineteen necrotic damage. Momen Tomori: Nineteen halved is nine. Momen Tomori: And now I need to that sets it, it doesn’t add to it. Momen Tomori: Oh, before before I do that, uman is going well just a quick check. Momen Tomori: It does Momel uh does Moman think it’s safe to p to pick this thing up by Mage hand? DM: Give me an Arcana check. Momen Tomori: How right? DM: Once again, from war. DM: I like this rat cloud that title in and Momin are secretly childhood friends. DM: You do not know. DM: Sorry. DM: Actually give me give me advantage because this is this is your area of expertise. Spesof Beegstick: Very impressive. DM: Classic. DM: Take it away, Moman. Momen Tomori: Does Moman at least have some idea of if it was going to go bad and how it would be how it would be go bad so that he can try and avoid the worst of it? DM: Uh given. DM: Uh it’s best you can tell based on what happened to the uh necromancer that it would probably be best to keep it away from your actual body. Momen Tomori: So man is going to lift it up with the mage hand and Momen Tomori: Only as close as he needs to be to see to to it to understand the enchantment and no closer. DM: You bring the laurel over to your face. DM: You bring the laurel straight to your face and put it on. Momen Tomori: Oh, as you’re as you struggle to cancel the input. DM: It was a missing put. DM: You uh bring the laurel close to your face and observe it. DM: Give me a give me an arcana check with advantage because this is once again within the realm of your expertise. DM: What I was gonna say. Momen Tomori: These dice are loaded. DM: Wow, that’s uh okay. Momen Tomori: Three five ten. DM: That’s rough, buddy. DM: Uh unfortunately, in the middle of combat uh with it a little ways away from your face, you can’t you can’t get a clear understanding of what it’s doing. DM: If you brought it closer, you might be able to try it again. DM: Anything else you’d like to do, Moman. Momen Tomori: I have no more action. Momen Tomori: Um I could maybe I could jump. Tittlin: Don’t give him a tell him a joke. DM: Hell I’m a joke. Tittlin: True. Tittlin: You got those title in roles? DM: Take it away. Spesof Beegstick: Um I how tall is this ice wall? Spesof Beegstick: Can I actually see Eclipse at this point? DM: Uh you would be able to, if not for the fact that they were currently uh on the ground being body slammed by uh opera. Spesof Beegstick: All right. Spesof Beegstick: Uh Moman, do you do you want me to take that thing off your hands, or you got it? Momen Tomori: I don’t think you have any bet better plan for what to do with it. Spesof Beegstick: Uh the only thing was far far away. Spesof Beegstick: Uh that’s what I was thinking. Spesof Beegstick: Um do you not think it’s worth simply hot potatoing this thing and getting it to Tiddlin to fly it away? Momen Tomori: Does Titland have any way to uh carry it without touching it? Spesof Beegstick: He’s got gloves or something. Spesof Beegstick: Is that what you mean? Spesof Beegstick: Is that enough? Tittlin: No. Tittlin: What do you think I am? Tittlin: Some sort of hoarder? Tittlin: I don’t have anything like that. Spesof Beegstick: Yeah. Tittlin: I can’t even tell you this, so don’t even think about that. Tittlin: You can’t even talk to me either. Tittlin: Well, actually, is there too much noise? Tittlin: A lot of people around me are dead right now. Spesof Beegstick: I feel like there’s probably still like screaming and shit. DM: Yeah, there’s still a large crowd of people yelling over here. Tittlin: Well, ‘cause last time I last time I couldn’t hear you, I don’t know. Spesof Beegstick: Did we leave anything with Donna, or was it just Donna under there? DM: She’s just hiding out there. DM: Did you want to leave something with Donna? Spesof Beegstick: Um I don’t think so. DM: Give her a gun. Tittlin: Oh, yeah, let’s give her the gun, the antimatter. Spesof Beegstick: I’ll give her the anti-matic rifle. Spesof Beegstick: Stop chop, get to work. Spesof Beegstick: Uh I don’t know what to do. Spesof Beegstick: Uh I can’t see him, so that’s my first problem. Momen Tomori: Find a nice rock and throw it at an eclipse. Spesof Beegstick: All right, I’ll stand up. Spesof Beegstick: It consumes like half my movement. Spesof Beegstick: Uh no, zit no sitting down. DM: No. Spesof Beegstick: It would be it would be a full turn to stand up, sit down, and stand up, right? DM: That would be all of your movement. DM: You could still act and do other things, but that would be all of your movement. Tittlin: See, great, great actor. Tittlin: I can act. DM: Nailed it. Spesof Beegstick: Uh well, I’m gonna dash, I guess. Spesof Beegstick: I’ll go over. Spesof Beegstick: Uh what is going on here? Spesof Beegstick: Are these people difficult to rain? Spesof Beegstick: What is okay? DM: The dead bodies, yeah. Spesof Beegstick: I guess I mean, with a dash, I think gets me to Oh. Spesof Beegstick: Why didn’t that? Spesof Beegstick: Oh, are these guards technically enemies? Spesof Beegstick: I guess I can’t go through them, huh? DM: Yeah, I guess, yeah. DM: I don’t know why I said I need to guess that. Spesof Beegstick: Sure. DM: I’m the one running it. Spesof Beegstick: Um wow, I haven’t actually really seen the other side of this. DM: Those are the staff. DM: They weren’t allowed to leave. DM: They’d get written up. DM: But on while they’re working, no. Spesof Beegstick: I was going to check out the VIP room. Spesof Beegstick: That’s it. DM: Eclipse. DM: Uh is annoyed that uh TM Opero is on top of him, and so picks the M Opero up and throws him. DM: What ya Oprah O lands smoothly, does a triple somersault, plants the landing, and goes ha before Eclipse stands up. DM: Eclipse, then is it six? DM: Recharge six. DM: Then is behind the ice wall. DM: Sweep is behind the ice wall. DM: He points at one of the guards who falls down dead. Spesof Beegstick: That’s not good. DM: And heals the health back. Spesof Beegstick: Yeah, Matt, I think it’s a good time to use the gun. Spesof Beegstick: Uh one of the guards just dropped dead, and now Eclipse is barely injured. Spesof Beegstick: I I was talking to you. Spesof Beegstick: It’s a good time to use the gun, I think. Spesof Beegstick: Oh my God. Spesof Beegstick: I thought Tidlin couldn’t hear me. DM: And as the guard falls to the ground. DM: The horrific aura emanates from them as well. Momen Tomori: I don’t like that with your army of animals. DM: Sweep Tosho’s turn. DM: And sweep Tosho uses her turn to get out of the aura and into the stand. DM: This guard seeing his buddy hit die, it just books it the heck out of here. DM: The people in the that guy also books it yada yada yada. DM: He’s out. DM: Another guard, another gone. DM: Scared comes over here. DM: The people in the corner seeing the guard suddenly die. DM: They are uh starting to panic again, and they now realize that they don’t have a way out easily because there’s uh aura here, aura there, or everywhere. DM: And Eclipse seems to have noticed this as he is staring at the people in the corner. Spesof Beegstick: Oh boy. Tittlin: I say let them die. Tittlin: This is animal cruelty. Tittlin: They’re basically chaining up innocent animals and making them compete for their own entertainment. Tittlin: What a sick world we live in. Spesof Beegstick: True. Spesof Beegstick: Better catcher, better better, battery battery. Tittlin: Anyways. DM: That does not hit. DM: DM Opera O looks at Eclipse, looks at uh moment, Spe, and the people screaming in the corner and says, Gentlemen, we must rally to save these innocent lives. Spesof Beegstick: Question mark. Momen Tomori: I’m considering it. DM: TM Opera O turns around to look at Spessov. DM: What are you doing hiding back there, Warrior? DM: Come fight! DM: Join me on the front lines. Spesof Beegstick: Is the laurel the good thing we need to get rid of? DM: I think we ought to. DM: It seems to be contributing to his power. Momen Tomori: I know what I’m doing on my next turn, then. Momen Tomori: And if I if that fails, I I know then I guess we are doing doing the shot. Momen Tomori: I d ideally aiming it to that if the shot misses the laurel, it hits a clip. DM: TM Opera O for their part, walks forward beside Moman, and then spits out their breath weapon all over Eclipse. DM: Unfortunately, they succeeded the saving throw, and thus it doesn’t do particularly much. DM: Some of them uh the ones behind the bar begin to uh scream and run and charge. DM: Donna for her part slowly crawls away from the aura. DM: The rest of the people uh uh just sort of blindly run around, not quite sure what to do. DM: But it’s enough to knock over this guard. DM: Mulman. DM: What would you like to do? DM: You move the laurel. Momen Tomori: Any any any vulnerability in the magic, anyway to any way to invert the spell anyway. Momen Tomori: Well even at this point snapping it in half. Momen Tomori: Anything at this point. DM: Give me an Arcana check with advantage. DM: You bring it closer, but it’s a little bit hard to see due to the uh uh aura that uh eclipse is emanating. DM: TM Opera O seeing you looking down at the laurel, scrutinizing it, sees your face as you wince and peer at it and says, Ha ha ha ha! DM: You seem to be having a little bit of trouble there, companion. DM: She leans down, shining you with her radiance, and you finally get a good look at the laurel. DM: Looking at it, you can see several ruins, and you get a good sense of how exactly all this uh it’s essentially one large conduit of magical energy. DM: Uh you can tell that uh it’s a very powerful one, and you can tell that the uh the count was clearly using it to suppress uh to suppress Eclipse. DM: The necromancer obviously uh did not charge up the conduit with the correct type of energy when he put it back on, presumably because Eclipse had already charged it going the other way. DM: Thus, if you were to essentially submerge the laurel in radiant energy, it should deal a significant amount of damage, if not outright kill Eclipse. DM: Opera is using cold damage. Spesof Beegstick: It’s not like a ton of radiant damage, but it’s something. DM: You must speak a loud. DM: Johnny. DM: In character. DM: Speak aloud. DM: Share your information with the party. Momen Tomori: In order to um in order to help him. Momen Tomori: Anyone got anything? Momen Tomori: Anything that’ll work for that. Spesof Beegstick: I can try to bust it with the crystal great sword. Spesof Beegstick: Uh antimatter rifle does force, I think. DM: Opera merely laughs. DM: Ha ha ha! DM: If you are looking for something radiant, look no further. DM: Behold, as she poses again. Tittlin: Is that like a slight two appearance? DM: She then turns to look at you. DM: Submerge it, you say. DM: Do you have a bucket? DM: Give me an insight check. Momen Tomori: I have a I have a kid. DM: You asked if she’s serious. DM: You can’t tell. Momen Tomori: Don’t quite got a bucket, but I I can make make something can uh make a hole. Tittlin: Hell yeah, let’s get a hole. DM: She thinks for a moment. DM: I suppose in a pinch that will have to do. Momen Tomori: No uses remaining. Momen Tomori: What do you mean I need uses for mold earth? DM: No uses of bucket remaining. Momen Tomori: My mold Earth has zero out of zero uses. DM: Yeah, this weird, yo. DM: Uh right. DM: TM Opera O looks and nods. DM: Haha, excellent. DM: And does not elaborate further. DM: Is that your turn? DM: TM Opera O looks at Spessov and says, Warrior, come here. DM: I require a blade. Tittlin: I’ll be back in one second. Tittlin: I’m just gonna pee really quickly. DM: It’s not his turn, so Opera’s not going to do anything at the moment. DM: They take the greatsword from you, though. DM: Eclipse, upon seeing Opera begin to do this, uh, starts to freak out. DM: You’re not entirely sure what Opera is doing, but you can tell that uh Eclipse does not like it. DM: Eclipse turns and points at Opera. DM: Overwhelming them with uh overwhelming them with powerful negative energy, but Opera simply snaps their fingers and uses up one of their legendary resistances to say, no, thank you. DM: I’m busy. DM: Sweep upon seeing Opera with the blade, their eyes go wide, and they book it. DM: All right, the guard, that guard’s no longer here, he’s gone. DM: That guard is dead, that guard is trampled. DM: He stands up and books it out. DM: Necromancer is dead. Tittlin: And I fly up. Tittlin: I don’t know. Tittlin: I take a shot at a clip through I’m rolling this without my uh added ten damage, so just remove the ten damage. Tittlin: I do extra damage if I hit them, and there’s an app there’s an ally beside them. Tittlin: I’m assuming we were counting the uh the dragon as a as a temporary ally, right? DM: Yes, TM Opera O is an ally. Tittlin: Cool, yeah. Tittlin: Anyways, that was my turn. Tittlin: Good luck, guys. DM: TM Opera O on their turn says, Thank you for the sword, warrior, holds up their arm above the pit with the laurel in it, and uses the sword to cut their hand right off. DM: As they do, you watch in horror and amazement as their blood begins to drip into the hole, their blood being a glowing incandescent eye core. DM: You’ve never seen a silver dragon bleed, and now that you have, you are shocked. DM: Spesov and Momin give me a charisma saving throw. DM: You have both been charmed by TM Opera O. DM: Their blood is magnificent. DM: It draws you closer. DM: You cannot resist the temptation. DM: You practically feel your mouth salivating as you see this golden blood dripping down. DM: You are both charmed by TM Opera O and have been awarded the overlord’s radiance. DM: With that, the blood begins to pool in the hole that moment set up, and you watch as Eclipse screeches in pain. DM: And the laurel disintegrates. DM: Coming back down to thirty feet. DM: And it disappears entirely from the dead necromancer and guard. DM: And with that, TM Opera O turns to you both, points at Eclipse and says, Go! DM: Take arms, gentlemen! DM: Commanding you to fight Eclipse. Spesof Beegstick: The charm. Momen Tomori: Yeah. DM: That’s correct. Spesof Beegstick: Is he uh is he giving me back the crystal great sword? Spesof Beegstick: Or uh, you know, I’m not sure if you’re not going to be able to now you’re thinking like that. DM: Yes, he hands you back the sword. DM: The civilians, upon seeing that the uh aura is no longer there, they immediately just book it. DM: Meaning that the only civilian left is Donna. DM: Alright, Moman, take it away. Momen Tomori: Let’s see. Momen Tomori: Wow. Momen Tomori: All my spells are zero to zero. DM: Yeah, it when we upgraded for some reason it gave charges to things, but they didn’t have charges before, and so instead of setting it to zero ma instead of setting it to null max uses, it set it to zero max uses. Momen Tomori: Like, what does zero axes even mean? DM: You feel compelled by TM Opera O to take out a weapon and attack Eclipse. Momen Tomori: Then I won’t do what I thought I was going to do. Momen Tomori: And instead of doing where we’re shall. Tittlin: You can’t act like don’t be rolling today, that’s for sure. DM: As you pull out your staff of power, it glows bright gold, imbued with the power of TM Opera O’s blood. DM: Unfortunately, you miss. DM: Alright, Spesov, take it away. DM: You too feel compelled to go attack Eclipse with whatever weapon you have. Spesof Beegstick: Straight at eclipse. Spesof Beegstick: Uh I think for my bonus action. Spesof Beegstick: Oh, wait, actually. Spesof Beegstick: Yeah, okay. Spesof Beegstick: Um I am going to rage and frenzy, which technically suspends the charm, but it isn’t going to change what I’m doing anyway. Spesof Beegstick: So, did we get this working? Spesof Beegstick: I don’t think we did. DM: No, sorry. Spesof Beegstick: I’ll take my swings first. Spesof Beegstick: So two swings with the crystal great sword. Spesof Beegstick: Uh where’s my table. Spesof Beegstick: Sixteen. DM: They both hit. Spesof Beegstick: And is the one D eight radiant included in this? DM: You’re good. DM: Don’t worry about it. Spesof Beegstick: Uh, how much is the radiant damage that’s being dealt? Spesof Beegstick: I just want to know if I should heal. Spesof Beegstick: I guess it doesn’t matter all that much. Spesof Beegstick: Yeah, okay, whatever. DM: One. Spesof Beegstick: That’s that’s it. Spesof Beegstick: Uh yeah. DM: Eclipse, for his part, screeches out in pain. DM: You can see everywhere that the uh golden weapons hit, it leaves massive gashes in Eclipse that are beaming light out of them. DM: And as it does, the aura gets weaker and weaker. DM: And by comparison, TM Opera O’s light gets stronger and stronger. Tittlin: Does he know what we bet on? DM: Or at least you haven’t told him. Tittlin: That’s good. DM: Eclipse points at Spessov. DM: Give us a wisdom saving throw. DM: That will be 39 necrotic damage. DM: And that goes out of your max health as well. DM: And Eclipse heals from it. DM: You are also frightened and paralyzed. DM: Cannot be frightened. DM: Well, given that in this. DM: Where is the paralyzed? DM: I’m losing my mind. DM: It’s not that important. DM: Close enough. DM: Guards. Tittlin: Did I hear the charge as well, or am I still muffled out by walls and bodies and screaming? DM: Uh you definitely heard Spasov yell. Tittlin: I will do the exact same thing again then. DM: You fly up and see just a bright light beaming from TM Opera O and Spesov and Mulbin smacking Eclipse. DM: Uh, it’s like you see like a black shadow, and in between the black shadow and you it’s just this blinding light. DM: Alright, that hits. DM: TM Opera O comes over. DM: And says, rejoice, gentlemen, for we are vanquishing evil. DM: Before striking with his claws twice. DM: Once. DM: Twice. DM: And then a bite. DM: Yuch. DM: And you can see Eclipse is very clearly near death. DM: Looking very much worse for wear. DM: Moment take it away. Momen Tomori: I am going to move to a flanking position. Momen Tomori: And try this again. Momen Tomori: Oh, I need to switch to the other thing so I can see my thing. Momen Tomori: Stuff of power. DM: The one. Spesof Beegstick: Oh my goodness. Momen Tomori: The dice have not been kind to me. Momen Tomori: Is that it? Tittlin: I mean, I also rolled a one’s all be Canadian geese blocking south for the winter. DM: That hits. Momen Tomori: How do I power strike? Momen Tomori: Do I need to power strike? DM: You will. DM: He is very close to dying. Momen Tomori: Uh I can expend one charge deal one extra force damage. Momen Tomori: Oh. Momen Tomori: The staff of striking could expend up to three. Momen Tomori: Let’s see if this is the thing. Momen Tomori: No. Momen Tomori: Can’t just roll a staff. DM: Yeah, where? DM: Hmm. DM: Okay, yeah, I see. DM: Yeah, this did not get migrated over properly. Momen Tomori: An extra two force damage. Tittlin: Although they I guess they don’t really do that anymore, so is that evolution? Tittlin: Did we just watch geese evolve? Tittlin: I swear like twenty years ago, they weren’t around in the winter. Momen Tomori: Yeah, geese are normally migratory, but it’s not it’s not evolution, it’s changing behaviors. Momen Tomori: Behaviors change a lot quicker than genetics. Tittlin: I don’t know, genetically they’re more fucked to stay in the winter, so I’m willing to call that an evolution just like mankind evolving earlobes or something. DM: Uh moment. DM: You also apply a uh power strike. DM: And as you do the golden light of TM Opera O flows through your staff of power, and upon striking eclipse. DM: A massive bright light envelops him. DM: And you watch as he completely disintegrates into nothing in a bright light that just envelops the entire area. Momen Tomori: Do I do I have control over my senses again? DM: TM Opera O, by contrast is now so blindingly radiant. Tittlin: I think I call you O Dog. DM: You are you can’t even look at them. DM: You simply hear them laugh. DM: Take that evildoer, vanquished by the righteous light of TM Opera Of. DM: You do. Momen Tomori: I I turn around, I turn around to look at the crowd. Momen Tomori: Is there a is there anyone here who needs medical attention, or are they all or are all the people who got hurt actually just frickin’ dead? DM: Ah, pretty much everyone who’s still here is dead. DM: Let me see if there’s actually anyone. DM: Oh wait, uh Donna not wise pokes her head out from underneath the uh concession stand, but she’s perfectly fine. DM: Wasn’t even hurt. Momen Tomori: Because I’m specifically thinking that uh the missing hand should be dealt with. DM: Oh you see one noble and a minstrel sneak out of the VIP room. DM: It seems they didn’t flee when everyone else did. DM: And quite frankly, it seems that that was actually a wise play on their part. Spesof Beegstick: Does does everybody call you by your full name the whole time? DM: Ha ha no. Spesof Beegstick: What do you prefer to be called? DM: Well, of course I prefer to be called by my full name, but generally people will simply call me Opera. Tittlin: Wait, am I do I know that the battle’s over yet? Tittlin: Okay. Tittlin: So let me know when six seconds is up, and then I’ll go and I don’t know. Tittlin: Is the guy still there? Tittlin: Like, do I shoot at him? Tittlin: I guess it’s so bright that I can’t really see. Tittlin: So I I will I will take my next shot at the guy. DM: You can’t even see. Momen Tomori: Where clip was Oh, that’s blinding. DM: They sort of turn to look at you briefly. DM: Not that guy, he’s dead. Spesof Beegstick: We’re good. Tittlin: I actually fly directly over them because I don’t know what’s going. Tittlin: I can’t see. DM: Ah, that sun is no other than the centurion overlord. DM: As they begin flexing again. DM: Opera nods. DM: Yes, he was an evil doer that needed to be vanquished. DM: Absolutely. DM: I am a paragon of virtue. DM: Of what? DM: What about the count? DM: He was a villain. DM: Opera thinks for a moment and then says, hmm. DM: Well, I’m not entirely sure, but I’m sure whoever replaces him can’t be as evil as he was. DM: You suspect there are more than one noble who’s willingly enslaving a night walker to run in races and occasionally kill people. Momen Tomori: As I can’t imagine I can’t I have a have a hard time figuring out how that was done. Momen Tomori: I can’t imagine anyone else. Momen Tomori: I can’t imagine it’s an easy thing to uh get your hands on. DM: DM Opera O nods. DM: Yes, you have to be particularly villainous to be able to afford a a priest to be able to send someone to the negative plane. DM: A necromancer to enslave the night walker. DM: C the artificer to create the laurel to control it. DM: It was all in all a rather truly despicable organization that that count was heading up. DM: That of course, and the food is high cost as well. DM: Do you know what a night walker eats? DM: He nods. DM: Souls. DM: How many souls do you think that night walker absorbed? Momen Tomori: Hey, shark absorb it managed to get at least twenty today. DM: TM Opera O looks at Tidalin and says, Maybe per day. DM: That thing is ravenous. DM: Or at least it was before we vanquished it. DM: He says, raising his hand that no longer exists. DM: Oh five, he says, raising his other hand. Momen Tomori: Do you need something for that? DM: From what? Tittlin: But the high five, like how hard does he hit? DM: Oh. DM: He high-fives you. DM: It’s not uh it’s not particularly hard. DM: You can tell that Opera is used to interacting with people. DM: They clearly know how to actually control their strength. DM: Although it doesn’t seem that they know how to control their brightness, as that is actually blinding. Momen Tomori: Wait. Momen Tomori: A healing potion isn’t gonna do anything for for a missing limb, is it, is it? Momen Tomori: Do we need to find a heel on for the for your injury there? DM: Opera thinks for a second. DM: My injury. DM: Oh, this, he says, holding up his hand. DM: Ah, no, I’ll be fine. DM: I’ll just walk it off. Spesof Beegstick: Is that do you do you grow those things back? Spesof Beegstick: Is that just something that you do, or God damn. DM: Ah, yes. DM: Uh give me a second. DM: You can see him focus on his arm for a second, and the golden eye core of his blood begins bubbling out of the wound before forming a hand again. DM: Ah, much better. Spesof Beegstick: I wish I could do that. DM: Now then, gentlemen, please tell me your names. Spesof Beegstick: So uh we’re we’re not actually blood related, but we treat each other as family is uh is what Tittle is trying to say. DM: I wish to know the names of the heroes who fought alongside me to vanquish evil. Tittlin: And this is our grandpa moment. Momen Tomori: Professor Moment Mori. DM: Ah, I see. Momen Tomori: Please, I’m gonna be able to do that. DM: A gentleman and his grandchildren fighting evil together. DM: It brings tears to my eyes. DM: Opera O simply nods along. DM: Haha! DM: Yes, human lives can be somewhat complicated. DM: TM Opera O remains completely unfazed by this line of reasoning and simply nods. Momen Tomori: Moment is going crawfy trying to follow what Pitlin is saying. Spesof Beegstick: So now that you uh won the race and vanquished uh the Night Walker, what what’s next for you? Spesof Beegstick: I mean, you’re you’re brighter than ever. Spesof Beegstick: Where where where are you usually, by the way? DM: Well, I’ve spent the last century honing my craft. DM: He smacks his legs. DM: They don’t call me the centurial overlord for nothing. DM: But now that I have defeated the undefeatable, I figure that it’s about time to retire from racing. DM: After all, I am likely to be disqualified, he says, looking out at the crowd of complete carnage. Spesof Beegstick: Yeah, that’s fair. DM: Of course, I made sure to only be given my revenge after the race had completed. DM: Visitors who recognized my radiance and bet on me against evil. Spesof Beegstick: Yeah, we did that. DM: TM Opera O laughs. DM: Then you have good taste in racing as well as a pure heart, gentlemen. Spesof Beegstick: Well, glad to hear it. Spesof Beegstick: I don’t think so. Spesof Beegstick: Um why was it that you winked at me in the stands earlier, by the way? DM: TM Opero looks at you kind of funny. DM: Oh, well, you had already spoken to Donna, hadn’t you? DM: I wouldn’t necessarily say so. DM: I’m not used to thinking of those sorts of things in human human conceptions, but I’ve been with her as a companion for nearly seventy years now. DM: So I knew that you’d bet money on me. Spesof Beegstick: Hello. Spesof Beegstick: That makes sense. DM: About what? DM: Ah, well, while this uh these sets of stands may be particularly destroyed, the other ones are, of course, still functional. DM: They’ll have the uh bet encounters there as well. DM: And of course, this is a Liraxu Derby. DM: This racetrack is a well-funded government organization. DM: All the tickets are insured, all that sort of thing. DM: Believe me, you will get your money. DM: There is no situation in which bets on the Raksu Derby would not be paid out. DM: Look, right there, he says, pointing to the board with the uh uh odds on it. DM: You can see now that it clearly lists the winners. Spesof Beegstick: Somebody still managed to write it down. DM: That’s right. Momen Tomori: Moment looks a little bit closer in that direction and at the uh local head of government. Momen Tomori: Which is now removed from the body of government. Momen Tomori: And uh looking at that and uh rubbing their own neck appreciatively. Momen Tomori: Not sure how how much the government is going to be willing to back this. DM: Opera shakes his head. DM: Worry not, gentlemen, you will be well compensated for your bets and your efforts here. DM: I guarantee it. Spesof Beegstick: So uh what is retirement look like for someone like yourself? DM: Well, I’ve already been clearly I’ve already mastered racing. DM: I suppose I’ll need to pursue some new endeavor. DM: Hmm, I’ve been thinking about knitting. Momen Tomori: Multon wonders as to what what sort of insane garment uh TM Opera O is going to uh knit in order to demonstrate their mastery of such a craft. Spesof Beegstick: Once again wants to check if he’s uh if she’s serious about this Yeah, that’s what I was thinking, like scouts badges. DM: You can’t tell for sure, but it seems to be that way. DM: As you now get a closer look at TM Opera O, you can see that on their scales, they have several different uh depictions on the large ones. DM: On one, you can see what appears to be a sword and shield. DM: You can see what appears to be some sort of uh a spatula. DM: You can see various various activities essentially uh immortalized on her scales or less, yes. Momen Tomori: Scouts honored. DM: Of course, they’re quite hard to see with the blinding light emitting from her. Spesof Beegstick: Given how uh strong, powerful and and radiant you are, uh, if there came a time in which we uh came under dire need of your assistance in battle, uh, how how might we call upon you? DM: She laughs. DM: Simply speak my name aloud three times. DM: I shall hear it. Spesof Beegstick: From anywhere I mean DM: Try it now. Spesof Beegstick: We’re standing right next to you, doesn’t that seem a little uh okay turns around and says TM upper O TM Upper O T M Upper O What the Fu All right, this is not what I expected of the Raxer Derby. DM: Just try it. DM: As soon as you say the last TM Opera O, you hear the sound of drums and confetti, and a large map appears in the sky above TM Opera O with a ping on it. DM: She points up to it. DM: Well, it is always a boisterous event. Spesof Beegstick: Holy shit, okay. DM: Although generally it doesn’t have so many casualties. DM: She says, looking out at all the blood. Momen Tomori: On the on the bright side, I’m pretty sure that most of that blood wasn’t actually blood. Momen Tomori: After all, it just appeared on the track without anything dying. DM: That’s just how it is. Spesof Beegstick: An honor uh to have made your uh acquaintance and ally ship. Spesof Beegstick: Uh yeah, wow. DM: Yes, it was excellent to fight alongside such radiant valiant gentlemen as yourselves. DM: Here’s two vanquishing evil, she says, holding up a cup of wine. DM: You look around and have nowhere, no idea where she got it from. Spesof Beegstick: Special holds up his great sword. DM: She clinks her glass against your great sword and then chugs the glass. DM: Now then, gentlemen, if there’s nothing else, I shall be off. Spesof Beegstick: Uh okay, well we we we know where to find you. Spesof Beegstick: Or you you know where to find us. DM: Telly ho, gentlemen. DM: And with that, Donna jumps on Opera O’s back, and the two disappear. Momen Tomori: So long. DM: And you can finally see again. Momen Tomori: The stands themselves are probably remarkably undamaged, aren’t they? Momen Tomori: What it this is this is definitely going in the papers. Spesof Beegstick: I mean like do you think anybody’s gonna try to hunt TM Opera O like this you know, killing a noble is no uh small business to deal with? Spesof Beegstick: Yeah, I suppose so. Spesof Beegstick: Uh right. Spesof Beegstick: Well, I mean technically it’s not any of our business. Spesof Beegstick: I think, you know, uh it seems like there’s not a whole lot for us to do here. Spesof Beegstick: I think we just get our money back, see if we can get any profits from the bedding counters and get the hell out of here. Spesof Beegstick: Check in with Wormwood’s contact. Momen Tomori: Going over to uh the abandoned hand. DM: You go and see TM Opera O’s abandoned hand, even removed from her body, it still glows faintly. Momen Tomori: I feel we shouldn’t leave this here. Spesof Beegstick: I mean, if anyone’s gonna take it, I think it’s best in your hands. DM: You can all give yourself five thousand experience. DM: And Momin, you can add TM Opera O’s hand to your loot. DM: It weighs five pounds. Tittlin: Shall we eat it? Spesof Beegstick: Dragon jerky. Tittlin: What else will we do with it? Momen Tomori: No, he will not. DM: The plus button on the right hand side of the sheet. Spesof Beegstick: That was completely dissolved, right? Spesof Beegstick: So that’s like a non-issue. DM: Correct. Spesof Beegstick: Um, I guess while we’re fishing around in the stands, uh I’ll walk over to the necromancer wizards bodies. Spesof Beegstick: Is there anything here that looks worth claiming, even though that investigation is probably better done by moment? DM: Looking over the body, there is it has been turned to ash, essentially. DM: There’s there’s nothing here. Spesof Beegstick: Got it. DM: All of the all of the people that were killed by uh Eclipse seem to have essentially disappeared from existence. Spesof Beegstick: Uh what about on the count? DM: The count, of course, uh he’s got a few things on him. DM: He’s got a great sword, a short bow. Momen Tomori: I’m not sure we should be I’m not sure we should be uh looting the uh the count. Momen Tomori: I don’t think that’s good. Momen Tomori: I I have I don’t think that’s that’s a good look. Spesof Beegstick: Special looks around. Spesof Beegstick: Is there is there literally anybody else here at this point? DM: There is not. Spesof Beegstick: Special shrugs and keeps fishing around opening the camp. DM: Let me just see here. DM: Should act as an item pile. DM: Uh try opening the count now. Spesof Beegstick: Uh oh, that’s not bad. Momen Tomori: I still can’t figure out how to add items. Spesof Beegstick: That splits. DM: An item pile’s contents were split a month. Spesof Beegstick: Good. Spesof Beegstick: Who who who can anybody use full plate armor? Spesof Beegstick: Yeah, plate armor is expensive. DM: Moman. Spesof Beegstick: We’ll take it. DM: If you toggle the edit button in the top left corner of your sheet, when you go to your inventory, you will see on the bottom right of a particular category a button that says add. Momen Tomori: Yep, there you go. DM: Have people added their five thousand EXP. Tittlin: Experience, right? Spesof Beegstick: Wait, what? DM: Uh no. Spesof Beegstick: Uh two ten four oh one is my current number. Spesof Beegstick: Yeah, two ten four oh one is currently. Momen Tomori: I’m a I’m at two hundred and se and seven thousand. Tittlin: That’s fine. DM: Yep, somebody missed a fight. DM: So put yourself up to the same that uh spesov and matter at Special and Bent, Matt and Wow. DM: I said I said Matt. DM: My problem was that I did oh, whatever. DM: Spassov and diddle it. Momen Tomori: I typed the caller in the number, and it did not like that. DM: Oh, Momen Tomori: Must be an integer. Momen Tomori: Then everyone has a left. Momen Tomori: I think return to town and see and see what the new and uh see how the news starts to uh shape up. Spesof Beegstick: Yeah, are we able to go to one of the other uh bet encounters to uh get at least our uh bets back, if not winnings? Tittlin: Sure. Spesof Beegstick: Do we win anything? DM: You all you all placed a bet of a hundred platinum on TM Opera O to win. DM: That is the only one that paid out. Tittlin: How much do we get in return? Tittlin: Two hundred platinum each? Tittlin: Or two hours, four hundred platinum? Tittlin: Because we we bet two hundred, right? Tittlin: Collectively. DM: Special bet a hundred, Tiddlin bet a hundred, Moment bet a hundred. DM: You all bet a hundred. Tittlin: What do we get back? Spesof Beegstick: Yep. DM: The odds were twelve, so you get back thirteen thirteen hundred. Tittlin: Holy fuck. Momen Tomori: The count had kind of gr oh sorry. Spesof Beegstick: Wait, really? DM: It’s it’s that’s how big it is. Momen Tomori: As I’m looking closer at the count, his face was kind of greenish. Tittlin: We each get thirteen hundred, right? Momen Tomori: Anyway. Momen Tomori: Sorry, I was zoning out for the coinage. Momen Tomori: How much coinage am I adding? Tittlin: Oh, don’t worry, I’m giving it to you right now. Tittlin: Never mind, this is an empty pile. Tittlin: It would be thirty it would be thirteen hundred times three, right? Spesof Beegstick: Does anybody I I suppose I’m the only one that might know this? Spesof Beegstick: I’m gonna ask anyways does anybody know if I reduced the platinum from my inventory when I bet it is that something weird. DM: I’m going to assume that you did. Tittlin: Well, I guess we’re all rich now. Tittlin: Although I already had like seven or eight thousand platinum, so it’s not that much, I guess. Tittlin: Wait, that platinum I s I split it three ways, and it did not go into my inventory. DM: Really? Tittlin: Yeah. DM: Oh, what the you guys are both on one shot. Tittlin: How long has that been broken? Tittlin: How much money have we been missing? Tittlin: Although realistically, we haven’t been picking up money at all recently, so it probably hasn’t affected anything. Spesof Beegstick: Did the did the previous split work? DM: You guys are both still on one shot. Spesof Beegstick: Oh, I’ve had the I’ve had my normal character sheet open. DM: Yeah, yeah. Tittlin: Can I just add thirteen hundred to my bag of holding, and then you can just delete the one shot? DM: Uh yes, but I’m gonna configure, I’m gonna bring you guys back to regular spots of and regular tiddlin. Tittlin: Yeah, that makes sense. Tittlin: I have added the money. DM: Well, you shit. DM: Besov you can also add that money. Spesof Beegstick: Eighteen hundred, and so I should also put the plus five flat seventy-five gold. DM: So you guys came out pretty well off, thanks to the race. Momen Tomori: It would have been it would have been a lot more brutal. DM: Yeah, that would have been painful. DM: It would have been very painful if Tiddlin had put it on. Tittlin: The one time I did I I didn’t put it on because thematically I didn’t have room on my head. DM: Too many hats on already. Tittlin: But the tri the tri-corn goes up, right? Momen Tomori: The laurel all around the house. Tittlin: So it wouldn’t fit. Tittlin: It wouldn’t fit with the tricorn on my head, so I had buried it instead. Spesof Beegstick: Saved by the hats. DM: That’s funny. DM: That’s too funny. Spesof Beegstick: Um I’m good to do uh what Moman suggested, head back into town. Spesof Beegstick: Uh I guess, yeah, see if there’s anything else we can do here as a result of that, or if we should just head back and uh, that’s not a hunt I want to take. Tittlin: Monster hunt? Tittlin: What’s the monster hunt board? Tittlin: What’s the quest board look like? DM: Oh gosh. Tittlin: We got time for a quest, right? Tittlin: Thirty minutes. DM: You head into the uh uh adventurers guild, and it is a flurry of activity. DM: You can see on the board, every single uh quest has been removed, and there is now just uh one of the guild staff standing on a table holding out handing out pamphlets detailing TM Opera O and a massive reward. DM: You don’t want to fight Opera after that. Spesof Beegstick: Immediately walks out of the adventure hall, uh, goes to the Temple of Loki and says, uh, hey, I’m feeling a little drained from earlier. Spesof Beegstick: Is there something you can do to fix that? DM: The uh priest takes a look at you and says, Oh my goodness, what happened to you? Spesof Beegstick: Ah, a night walker. DM: Oh good a night walker. DM: Well, I never well uh the priest thinks for a moment and says, Unfortunately, uh there isn’t much I can do about that. Spesof Beegstick: Yeah, me me neither, if I had a choice. Tittlin: That’s kind of rude. Spesof Beegstick: Stupid, sorry. DM: Night walkers are of course infamous for uh draining the soul. DM: And unfortunately, I can’t I can’t do much to uh restore the damage that’s been done. DM: You’ll simply have to sleep it off. Spesof Beegstick: Huh? Spesof Beegstick: Wait, so there’s nothing that I can do to get my full self back? DM: Nothing. Spesof Beegstick: Oh. Spesof Beegstick: Wow, all right. DM: Like the priest said, you have to sleep it off. Spesof Beegstick: Oaky Dokes. Tittlin: Tiddling though, is on unfazed. Momen Tomori: Unharmed even. DM: These the uh the feature the night walkers feature specifies that it can’t be healed by anything. Tittlin: Clearly. Tittlin: Clearly’s a good person because the only good good dragons that we’ve met so far haven’t hurt Tidlin at all. Tittlin: I remain undefeated in the injured by good dragons column, unlike you Schmucks. DM: Sorry, folks. DM: It is a horrific monster that is very, very difficult to defeat. DM: Hence hence why you got the assistance of a dragon. Spesof Beegstick: So like are are you saying this is a permanent max HP decrease? DM: Uh you will sleep it off, but you can’t do anything in a fight to recover it. Spesof Beegstick: Oh, okay. Momen Tomori: The only thing that will get rid of it is a long rest. Momen Tomori: Which means that if you Oh are there any small enemies that do small amounts of uh max health damage? DM: Uh there are wraiths, yeah. DM: Shadows. Momen Tomori: I’m just imagin I’m just imagining doing a dungeon filled with with a few of them every so every few rooms. DM: There’s some brutal. Momen Tomori: That would be after a cutoff time. DM: You’re in town. DM: It is a f there are people all over the place. DM: People running about chatting, like it is busy, busy. DM: What? Momen Tomori: It is after the cutoff time. DM: It’s nine thirty. Momen Tomori: It’s nine thirty. Momen Tomori: AM. Momen Tomori: I’m all Singapore time. Spesof Beegstick: This guy this guy’s still in Singapore. DM: Is it even the right day on your clock? Momen Tomori: It’s the eighteenth. Momen Tomori: What day is today? Spesof Beegstick: And it’s tomorrow. DM: The seventeen. Spesof Beegstick: Johnny, you’re late. DM: That’s so funny. DM: Off by an hour and a day. Momen Tomori: All right, nine five. Momen Tomori: I’m good now. Momen Tomori: Why can I turn on sometimes? Momen Tomori: Oh, because bloody act my other clocks are correctly adjusted. Tittlin: Surprised you showed up to the session. Tittlin: The eighteenth is a Wednesday. Momen Tomori: Slowly, I’m not sure. Spesof Beegstick: Um I’m gonna uh I’m gonna go back to the uh tavern where the in like the slightly more seedy part of town um where I got some of the info on Eclipse and the other racers uh are any of those folks that I got the information from uh hanging out there I’m gonna uh grab um I gonna grab a round of drinks uh for myself and all of them and uh bring them to the table and uh sit down sure and I’ll uh I’ll kinda carry carry the mugs in both my hands, set them down with a grin and say uh guess who got lucky at the race are you here I was asking if you’re actually here in the scene Oh my god Yes sir Yeah call and call it uh beginner’s luck but uh I mean I also got a tip from uh one of the folks who uh one of the old timers who was sitting there in the stands she told me that um you know eclipse and uh TM opera o had never gone up against each other and uh opera simply wasn’t affected by Eclipse Oh yeah total bloodbath it’s uh it’s pretty good that you missed it actually um sweep sweep and opera ended up going toe to toe with eclipse after the race had ended um well actually uh opera first of all killed the count uh so he’s out of the picture yeah yeah yeah I mean at least to me it seems like uh everyone’s better off I mean the fact that the count was controlling uh uh something as horrifying as eclipse is uh uh pretty concerning uh oh yeah I mean eclipse was like uh uh eclipse just straight up pointed at a bunch of people they drop dead uh killed a whole bunch of people in the stands guards the spectators you name it um but uh between opera and uh actually me and my colleagues we uh managed to take down Eclipse so yeah that seems unsurprising so uh do you guys have any idea what what what you expect to happen given that the count has died does that typically call for another election around these parts is there somebody that’s gonna step into power in the interim I see all right and uh so I mean yeah yeah like you folks said you you didn’t have a good opinion of the count uh or uh the the count wasn’t particularly well liked around here do you think there’s any adventurers here uh stupid enough to uh take up uh the the quest of trying to hunt down opera yeah okay didn’t think so all right well uh is there anything else that you’ve heard around uh heard going around or uh is uh what what I’ve told you the most information you’ve heard so far yeah we saw her flee the scene um I’m sure she’ll turn up at some point she was definitely yeah how long has she been racing by the way I guess the bad blood theory does does seem to track then well thanks for your information and uh nice meeting you all I uh I buy them another round of drinks and then uh part ways cheers you too all right uh head out at the tavern uh didlin I uh follow to him I assume he’s sitting on a carpet somewhere Didalin wait you you got any business left in town I think we should uh get back to uh DM: They are. DM: They are excitedly talking to each other. DM: That’s one gold piece. DM: The uh well. Tittlin: I don’t what kind of lucky? Momen Tomori: Question. Momen Tomori: With all the uh with all the towns was talking around. Momen Tomori: What what what is the story that is uh that is uh brewing? DM: The men that you uh bring the beer to uh look at you kind of funny and say, I actually bet on opera. DM: One of them speaks up. DM: I can’t even believe it. DM: I mean, that’s insane. DM: Eclipse didn’t even finish. DM: What happened? DM: Huh. DM: Well, I guess there’s a first time for everything. DM: So uh what what exactly happened? DM: Uh heard there was a fight or something. DM: Ah, goodness. DM: Is that why everyone’s looking for opera? Momen Tomori: You may you may want to emphasize how much damage a clips did before the before they were brought down. Momen Tomori: Moment is unsure if he wants to be so close to this rumor. Momen Tomori: Or the story, rather. DM: The uh gentlemen at the bar not. DM: Wow. DM: Yeah, I can’t say there’s can’t say I thought too highly of the count. DM: There was all always talk about him rigging the races, given how closely involved he was, both with running them and having a racer in them. DM: Not until no, there’s not gonna be no election. DM: Now typically what’s gonna happen is uh well, his descendant or whoever is his successor was supposed to be, they’re gonna have to defend their position from whoever challenges it. DM: And uh, given how people didn’t particularly like the count, I can expect there’s going to be some stiff competition. Momen Tomori: Moment suddenly has a has a vision uh of uh TM Opera O could competing in this competition. Momen Tomori: Of course I could do of course I could achieve this. DM: The entire group laughs. DM: Stupid enough, absolutely. DM: Strong enough, no. DM: I mean, you were actually there. DM: Most of the people who were there were died or oh, uh El Condor Pasa Trampled a bunch of people, and the guards eventually subdued them. DM: They’re still alive. DM: Secretariat’s gone missing. DM: Ogre cap, the Nishino Flower, they’re back safe and sound. DM: No one’s seen Sweep Toe Show. DM: No idea what happened to her. DM: Sweep Toe Show. DM: She started shortly after Eclipse debuted. DM: Probably uh three years, I believe. DM: Cheers. DM: Good luck to you. Tittlin: Hello. Spesof Beegstick: Fuck’s my map. Spesof Beegstick: Norholt? Spesof Beegstick: Is that where we’re going? Spesof Beegstick: Trondcam. Spesof Beegstick: Yeah, Trond. DM: Tron can so what would we like to do now, folks? Spesof Beegstick: Moman, anything for you left here? Momen Tomori: Don’t I just check checked on trick to the town and saw Leather Boy? Spesof Beegstick: Wouldn’t you like to know the leather boy? Momen Tomori: I think I’m good. Momen Tomori: I’m in fact I I think I prefer to be not around here when the authorities f figure out uh how to w where we were when froze his brow. Spesof Beegstick: Agreed. Tittlin: Yes. Spesof Beegstick: What time is it in game? DM: Is this not playing? DM: For some reason it’s not synced up to the game clock by default, which is a pain in the ass. DM: It’s about noon. Spesof Beegstick: Um Yeah, I think we’ll just head out to Troncan to meet up with see if Wormwood’s contact has gotten anything good for us. Spesof Beegstick: It was just to check out the Racksu Derby. Spesof Beegstick: We weren’t expecting it to be this eventful and then to go meet up with the contact. Spesof Beegstick: I don’t think there was anything else. DM: You’re gonna go get the book, the replay the book for your grandfather. DM: They were getting it copied while you were uh at the derby. Spesof Beegstick: Oh, right. Spesof Beegstick: Oh, is that is that done now? Spesof Beegstick: And oh yeah, I guess now that I can see the map. Spesof Beegstick: Where is the map? Spesof Beegstick: How do we get to the full Tilnola map? Spesof Beegstick: Oh, thank you. Spesof Beegstick: Oh, Til Nolatanola. Spesof Beegstick: Yeah, I guess we’ll make our way down to Norholt first, then stop in at uh quote unquote Nid Hog uh and then head to Tron Camp like that. Spesof Beegstick: Yeah, with that attitude. DM: Okay, so we’re heading off to Nidhog. Spesof Beegstick: Yes. DM: One, two, three, four, five, six hours later. DM: It’s close to five o’clock, and you find yourself back at the cave. DM: The Nid Hug Gave. DM: Cave maps. DM: Is there anything you’d like to do here, or just get the book and be on your way? Spesof Beegstick: Uh before we enter the cave, I ask Moman. Spesof Beegstick: Uh do you think it’s a good, bad or any sort of idea to mention or not mention our interactions with TM Opera O two quote unquote Nidhog Okay. Momen Tomori: I don’t think there’s any real uh relation here. Momen Tomori: Far as I know, unless the only uh as far as I’m aware, the only dragon that will have beef with a with the it was a pl with a plan is uh the original themselves. Spesof Beegstick: Let’s just uh let’s get the copy of the book and just head out. Spesof Beegstick: Yeah, I think I think we’re just gonna do that. DM: You head in and speak to uh Priest Jacob about the book. DM: He hands you the original, and you can see that he’s got the copy. DM: And as you’re walking, you see Nidhogg sniff the air a few times and squint his eyes at you. Spesof Beegstick: Does he make any comments? DM: He does not. Spesof Beegstick: Good enough for me. DM: And with that, you leave. DM: And head to Tron Can. DM: You head to Tron Can. DM: By the time you get there, it’s now almost eight o’clock. Spesof Beegstick: A perfect time for meeting with secret contacts. Momen Tomori: After dark question, does TM Opera O’s hand glow in my backpack? Spesof Beegstick: Indeed. DM: It does. Momen Tomori: I’m gonna make sure that that glow isn’t leaking out while we’re doing our skull duttery. DM: You wrap it up nice and tight to hide the glow. Spesof Beegstick: Moman, we’ve got a couple valuables at this point. Spesof Beegstick: Do you think it warrants uh teleport trip uh or uh a couple trips rather, at least one to get that thing back to your workshop and one to deliver this book back to my grandfather? Spesof Beegstick: I I know you’re not too crazy about using Rafnar’s services, but you gotta admit it is pretty useful. Momen Tomori: It’s more insert it’s more institutional rivalry than anything else. Momen Tomori: But certainly, uh certainly using it to send the uh to send the book back would be important. Momen Tomori: Do I think I need it for do I think I need to get any of the other stuff back to my place to my uh to my lab quickly, or is it fine to take them the long way? DM: You think you can take them the long way? Momen Tomori: Then I’ll take them the long way. Spesof Beegstick: Yeah, given the shit that we get into, I think Spessoff is gonna feel inclined to get the uh book back to uh the spire as quickly as possible. Spesof Beegstick: So um he’ll focus on uh Rafnar’s card. DM: You pull out Rafnar’s card. DM: And he shows up. DM: Ah, afternoon. DM: Evening, gentlemen. Spesof Beegstick: Hey, so uh I I don’t know if you heard, but uh a book got stolen uh from the spire. Spesof Beegstick: Did uh did Hadrian tell you about that. DM: Yes, it’s been quite the uh quite the issue. DM: Yeah, more than that, apparently. DM: Apparently, a dragon’s been impersonating one of the students who has since been uh kicked out of the spire. Spesof Beegstick: Um so we got the book the book back. Spesof Beegstick: Um I I hand it to him. Spesof Beegstick: Um I’m assuming this trip that my grandfather will probably uh that that Hadrian will probably uh compensate you for it, given that we’re returning the book. Momen Tomori: How long was the dragon personating the student for? Momen Tomori: I thought it was more than a hundred years or something. DM: It was several years, yes. Momen Tomori: Okay, several years, not several hundred. DM: Anywhere else you need to go? DM: He says, putting the book underneath his arm. Spesof Beegstick: Uh me, no, we’ve uh we we’ve still got business here. Spesof Beegstick: Uh I was curious though. Spesof Beegstick: I was I was just thinking we yeah, you know, as monster bashers, we deal with these big big Spesof Beegstick: Bastards every once in a while. Spesof Beegstick: What are you capable of teleporting and like what kind of precision? Spesof Beegstick: Here, let me give you a specific example. Spesof Beegstick: If I asked you to teleport a very large boulder, like let’s say a hundred feet in the air above a specific location. Spesof Beegstick: Could you do that? DM: Rafnar looks at you kind of funny and then says, I could, but I should advise you this magic is not suitable for combat. DM: It requires far more concentration than typical teleportation spells. Spesof Beegstick: As in it would like take a little while. Spesof Beegstick: I see. Spesof Beegstick: If we found something sleeping and we wanted to drop something very heavy on it, though, it could be doable. Spesof Beegstick: And uh just in the in the ballpark of of timing for concentration. Spesof Beegstick: Whoa, what are we talking about here? DM: A minute. Spesof Beegstick: Not bad. Spesof Beegstick: Interesting. Spesof Beegstick: Just wanted to know. Spesof Beegstick: Yep, that’s everything. Spesof Beegstick: Thank you kindly. DM: With that, he teleports off with the book, and you receive your one hundred platinum for returning it. Spesof Beegstick: So we’re going to Yep. Tittlin: What is that? Tittlin: Uh thirty three platinum each? Tittlin: I should look up I should look at how much I actually have in the bank. Tittlin: Ah, I can’t open up the bank slot. Tittlin: Ah, because this token doesn’t uh token reference an actor which no longer exists in the world. DM: Why not? Tittlin: I need the new one. Spesof Beegstick: Um. Spesof Beegstick: Yeah, so do uh Wormwood’s contact uh are we able to find him? Spesof Beegstick: Does he have anything for us? DM: He does not have anything for you yet. DM: It’s only been a two days since the banquet. DM: He will send word when he finds something. DM: Then with that, I believe you have finished all that there is to do in Tilnola for now. Spesof Beegstick: Success Twenty fifth, the Wednesday. DM: And with that, I believe we shall end the session there. DM: Haha. DM: Buzzer beater. DM: Yes, we said Wednesday. DM: Johnny, you good on Wednesday? DM: Sure. Spesof Beegstick: Cool. DM: There we go. DM: Then with that, I shall see you all next Wednesday.