Favor, Episode 33: Feast for Worms

Hey, hey, cool cats. Welcome back to another episode of Venture Maidens. We're busy, busy behind the scenes. So I don't have much in the way of announcements for you, but let's go ahead and spread some gratitude. Hit that recap and we'll dive right in. Thank you so much to Emily Mayo for composing our favorite campaign theme song. Thank you to tabletop audio for providing additional ambient music. Thank you to all the wonderful folks who spread the word about the show and a deep and special.

Thank you to the bighearted humans who make this all possible by donating monthly on Patreon. We say it often. We say it loud and proud, but it's always worth repeating that you dear donors are the real heroes of this story. So that's it. Let's go ahead and do that recap last time on Venture Maidens at Tandy's behest. Our heroes headed to a herring gone village to investigate a gargantuan sinkhole that had swallowed a local hero named Monte.

After a Kirky investigation, our crew headed down into the hole and discovered the tunnel actually ended in the wilds inside the blossom. Sovereign Court Demesne, an excitable garlic headed guard led the party to see Duke Walla, the blossom Duke who had captured Monte and falsely accused him of creating the sinkhole in his realm. Some quick thinking from Aoife convinced the Duke to place Monte in the party's custody until they could discover the true culprit Monte.

And the maidens set off to speak with a local scholar named Professor Mole, but were way laid on the road by a dashing flower headed bandit named Dandy Lyon. A fiery display from Monte. Quickly convinced Dandy and his band that they would make better friends than enemies. And the bandits escorted the party along the final stretch to Professor Mole's house. But they arrived only to find the professor under attack and that's what happened. So now here's the show.

Gather round travelers to hear our tale deep under the blossom cord. The worms turn to bloody sport. If they keep up the frenzy song, our mortal friends won't last for long. Get your hands dirty as we head into favor. Episode 33 Feast for Worms live. Hello. Hello, everybody. Welcome back. It's another episode of Venture Maintenance. Oh, my gosh. I am so excited to be here with you all, including our lovely guest star Jorge. Say hello everybody or say hello, Jorge.

I know your voice and then we can say hello to you too. Yeah. Hello. Hello. Hi, Jorge. Hi. Hi, everybody. Uh, we are so excited to have Jorge back this time and his fabulous character Monte, helping to keep us alive. Bless you. Thank you for being here again. Unfortunately, this will be the last episode as well as the second episode. So, boy, I hope Monte survives. I guess we'll see. We'll see fingers, fingers cross.

Yeah, on that note, hey, hey, everybody, if you're new here, we are Venture Maidens. We are ad and D fifth edition Actual Play Podcast before we dive too much in. I want to say Venture Maidens is unofficial fan content permitted under the fan content policy, not approved or endorsed by wizards of the coast. Just wanted to say that before we dive in here. But yeah, uh this is a very adult themed stream so you can expect common themes of like normal fantasy gore violence.

We keep just like a general body hor content warning up. We also have some other content warnings for this episode including natural disasters, confined spaces and worms. So if any of those things are an issue for you, you may not want to watch or listen to this episode in particular, but with that, we've got a lot to do so. Let's go ahead and dive in. Hey, everybody. My name is Celeste Kavi. And tonight I will be your dungeon master.

Hello, I'm and I'm playing your half work fighter and now also little baby butting Druid Dr Tony Silver Tail. Hello, my name is and I, I'll be playing your Braved Aife Flannery it. Meru goblin and you can find me at TT R P. Wait, no, that's not it. And tonight I'll be playing Monte, the, um, fighter level six and I'm so excited to be here. Yes. Yes. You know, we got a little taste of how cool all your Eldrick Knight stuff is.

Last time I'm excited to see more of it because, oh boy, we're starting with the combat folks, but I'm getting ahead of myself. So at the very end of last time you had completed your journey. Now with dandy and his dandy men in tow, you had walked like into this little central clearing where you had seen uh kind of a ground like a dirt piled up hovel in the middle of this field and emerging from the door. You had seen this mole person.

So imagine a mole except human sized and walking around on like two ft. He's wearing like a little waistcoat and has very large bifocal glasses on his face and he's holding this like walking cane that he is a slap against the ground right now. And as you had approached and kind of taken this in, you had seen that sticking out of the ground at various points were these tentacle shaped things like this bruised purple colored.

Just Yeah, these things were erupting from the ground and he had yelled at you from across the way. Well, what are you waiting for? Get them as he had been like smacking down one of these things, uh that had been popping out of the ground in front of him and instantly dandy and all of the bandits who had been following him now kind of creeping along both sides of you. Not sure what to do.

Uh, in the fields spring out and sprung to action, drawing like rape and, you know, crossbows and are just attacking whatever these things are. So we're starting off right away. Bam in combat in initiative. So let's go around and get those initiative roles. Everybody. What did we get? I got a 14, 17 for Monty. Dirty 20. Wow. Way better so far than last time. Yeah, 100%. And a with the 19. Look at you guys learning. I think Monte was the only one above 10 last time.

So this already bodes well, good, good, good. Ok. Dandy actually, like they had been the first in initiative to react as well. You hear the on guard you as dandy like leaps in front of you, Tony and yes, taking us swashbuckler's stance and is like throwing his, his sword out like towards, you know, doing battle with one of these tentacle things which you see now just keep coming out of the ground. So they're very long and thin and like sort of pointed at the end.

But there's something like undulating about them, like their body is like expanding and contracting. So it's hard to tell if this is all part sort of one creature and you're just seeing the tentacles like come out out of the ground or if these are things like snakes or, or worms of some kind, he is doing battle with that. And you see his merry men are also like about to fight a bunch of these uh these things that just keep erupting out of the ground. There must be at least a dozen or so so Tony.

Now, then we come to you. What are you doing? I, I kind of want to try something weird looking at the ground. Is there like an obvious, an obvious pattern in any way that the tentacles are coming out of, or is it just kind of a random patch? Like, imagine you're in kind of a circular yard area that's all just stamped like dirt at plants or anything here. And it does just kind of seem like they're all over, like dotting out from all over this, this flat space here.

So there doesn't seem to be like a central source or if there is one, it must be much lower below the ground. What if I tried to? Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt them. I wanted to mold the earth and like, solidify it and try and cut off the tentacles. How would you feel about that? Is mould earth like a can trip or is it a first level spell? What, what level it's a can trip? I don't know. If that would be powerful enough to, like, harm them.

But I could see, like, you could totally try to, like, move away the earth to, like, see more of what one of these things are. I would totally buy that. But I don't think, yeah, actually, you know what I like that better. I can excavate it. So I'll excavate a cube of earth, like, and chuck it like, five ft away.

Nice. So you could basically you take a five by five ft square and just be like, like move the earth out given this is her first time using this ability and she doesn't even know what's happening again. She's like, well, what other cool things can I do? And she's trying to imagine what, what's the best angle to get at this thing. Trying to imagine the whole picture and something about the ground as she's thinking about it feels like tangible.

She has a sense like she can almost grip it with her, her own mind. And as she tries to hold on to that feeling, she, it gets stronger and stronger and she can feel like this magical lace form around a chunk of the earth and it starts to lift off the ground. So cool.

Yeah. So you hear like as you're thinking this and you know, you go to that far away place where it's like uh what you hear like a like almost a popping sound come up as just a hail of dirt, like, explodes outwards from like one of these like the center of the yard. And uh you hear like a come from like professor presumably who is just surprised by the sudden gout. And you can see, you know, one of dandy's men that was like going for like whoa and like tumbles backwards.

And you can see in this like five ft, you know, crater you've kind of made in the center of the yard. Now, one of these things in its entirety, it's probably about three ft long or so. And it's, it's a worm as it's flopping there.

You can see, you know, the, the middle of it is a little bit fatter with kind of that, that ring that earthworms have and it is mostly that breezy purple color and it, it's just like with suddenly nowhere to like, hold it up, you see it kind of writhing on the ground for a second before it becomes very like serpentine all of a sudden and like stands up of its own weight and seems to be swinging its head back and forth. So they're like big earthworms. So you can tell they are not all connected.

These all seem to be individual worms. That was very cool take. Do you have inspiration already? No. Take a point of inspiration for that. It was all very cool. Amazing. Thank you. That was an action. But I'm, I'm trying to remember if I can speak with animals or not because I have it written down and I don't, I'm not quite sure where it's from. If it's a, another can trip or that's a first level spell because you have to speak with plants through your item. Oh, ok.

Then I guess that must be a spell. Well, that would be another action then I guess that's the end of my turn. Do you want to move closer towards, like this creature in the center or any of the other ones? Like popping out of the ground? I just want to stay close to, is everyone doing? OK. Health wise. We haven't really done anything. Right. No, we haven't done anything. Yeah. No, we're all all full up just out of like random. Like, oh, he's got my back dandelion. All right, I'm coming.

I'm, I'm gonna go be up next to where he is. Yeah. Sure. Casually. Yeah, you go and you flank like with Dan, I'm just helping out like, don't, it's not a big deal. Yeah. And he's like, ha ha ha ha ha ha. And you met him and like in the middle of, you know, his sword play, like dealing with one of these like worm things and then uh and then we come to Yeah.

Sure. Let's do that because uh so now you and dandy are wearing off with another of these things and you see, as it approaches, it seems to like shoot up like another foot or so out of the earth here. And you see, see these things can get like long and very spindly as it's like doing the almost like a cobra headed thing and then it goes and lunges out of the earth towards you. Let's see. Let's see how it do.

Oh, boy, that's 20. Yep. It's a nice big success as it's like getting really close towards you. You see that its head opens up like into a, like a three flower, like kind of fold and you see like a little like flailing tongue and like a ring of circular teeth in this thing as it latches onto you and bites you. That is gonna be three piercing damage as this thing bites you And then it's gonna keep on going as it like takes a bite and then rears up and it's like slamming its body down into you.

All right. A 14 is not gonna hit you. Right. Yeah, I think it will. I don't think I have my shield out. So then that is gonna be, oh, so that is gonna be nine points of bludgeoning damage. So it bites you and then it rears back its head and it launches itself onto your body. So now you can feel it. It's crawling like up sitting on your armor. It's no longer in the ground as it's like crawling on you If we come to you.

So you see one of these things crawling around on Tony and then there is a big exposed one in the middle of the yard here and then obviously there are about 10 more that still haven't emerged from the earth yet. Oh, delightful. Well, she is going to move up to next to Tony and Sir Dandelion and being inspired by seeing his fancy footwork and with his rape ear, he feels like I, that looks so cool. I've never seen anyone do anything like that.

Like, all right, and she like watches his movement and then she tries to mimic it. So she's gonna pull out her rape ear and try to try to stab at this thing. Cool. Um And you're stabbing at the one that is currently on Tony. Yes. OK. And that will be an unnatural 20 to hit. Hell. Yeah. Well, she's a Yeah, you just needed a rug like a sword wielding rape your rug to inspire you. She's like, oh, I get it now. And that's 10 damage. Very respectable. Oh, that is respectable.

It doesn't have any, it doesn't seem to have that magic resistance that they do. So that's all pure damage baby. And I tell you and then she will use her bonus action to give Lou a part of inspiration die. Are you proud of me? Lou? I'm always proud of you, baby. Look, look, mom, I'm doing it. Amazing. Anything else for you Aoife? That is her turn. Yeah. All right. So right now we have professor mole smacking some stuff.

And then we have Jorge and Lou are kind of in, er, sorry, Monte and Lou are sort of in the back at this point. So that means that if, and Aoife is probably a nice looking target. So the one that is like flopping around in the center now, after it, like, kind of finds its footing, it seems to just move with like a very intense speed, crawls like up out of the chasm and then like launches towards you if, oh, I'm gonna do this. You, we all said we were ok with gross. So let's do this.

I need you to make a dexterity saving throw for me. Oh, that is a 10. But we're gonna use our inspiration to reroll that because wise choice. That's, uh, I don't like where this is going. Oh, much better. That is a 21. OK. So you are like, Wow, as this thing seems to leap out of the air and like it did to Tony right where it seems to be just like coming like right for almost aiming right for the center of your chest.

It goes like really flat and you see it, its mouth open up as it's approaching and you just out the last minute managed to like side step and this thing like goes past you and kind of lands in that, that space, but it's definitely clocking you Monte. We now come to you. So there are currently two of these worm things that are like in the tangle of your companions in front of you. Ok. I'm just gonna go after the one that's closest to me. The, the worm that's closest to me.

Probably, that's probably the one neck on Tony right now. Ok. Ok. That's perfect. So I just snap my fingers and I summon my great sword and I just get run towards it and then I jump or try to jump over it and like try to come down with like the smash sword doing that. Cool. I, I don't think you have any trouble jumping over this thing. You got those hair and gone. Look at you. You're great. Go ahead and make that a look at those games like me. No, that's your favorite. It's only rabbit.

People say that. Oh, that's an extra 20. Holy shit. What is this? The trend continue? Nice. Nice. All right. So uh I like to do max damage and then you roll for the second damage. So that's 25 um, flashing damage. Ok. All right. So damn. So I think actually probably then you would want to target maybe the one that's on the ground by a, you, you like bisect this thing into two pieces for sure. And you see the two halves of it like wriggling on the ground.

You don't like it when you cut an earthworm. Does anybody here have anything that would block? Like mind stuff? Well, uh as an action I can counter trying but I have to do that, but I do have advantage against spells and other magical effects. Yeah. Advantage on being charmed and sleep. So, Monte, I think you would hear this first, this whale like this, this alien shrill sounds like, starts ringing in your ears and starts very quietly but then gets louder.

This just sound of like pain and like anger and it takes you a moment to realize that it's not ha it's not a sound outside your ears. It's coming from inside your head and the rest of you I think would that would trickle out too as you begin to hear this, like keening wail of anguish, like the corners of your mind. Oh shit, Monte. Just Monte. Yes. Tries to oh man. Uh maybe I did something wrong but I don't know if I want to attack the other one and he still has his heart on the ground.

So he takes it out and he points to the other to the other worm. So yeah, I'll just move closer to it and just, just prepare myself to whatever comes I will say as you know, you are like taking that in and looking towards the other one. You see that worm that you cut in half the two pieces start to like creep back towards each other and start to fuse. You can see the tissues start to like reconnect as these things seem to have some regenerative regenerative capabilities.

Oh OK. Uh We learned a lot this turn. Good turn. So you all are taking in that and all of this is happening and you're hearing that psychic like noise in your ear that came from this thing and as the worm starts to piece itself together, like that sound kind of dies down in your minds. But you know, lou, you don't have a ton of time to take this in because bursting from right behind you, you hear the like the crumbling of dirt and then something is launching itself at you from behind here.

So uh wow, this one's gonna try and go for a bite on the back of your neck. Yeah. Oh, a nice 23. If will use her reaction to cast silvery barbs, please. No. So reroll that D 20. No, so damn. Ok. Yeah, we'll give Monte advance on the next attack roll. You make awesome. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, that becomes damn. That becomes an eight. So like, yeah, your silvery light wraps around this thing and it's aimed at, it just stops in its tracks and goes flat.

It has to like splat down onto the ground. Oh Nuts. My favorite spell. All right. And then lou, you get a chance to retaliate. Yay. And I will you dick as this thing is uh falling to the, the ground she's going to like with its like maw still open, like take her hand and like, twist it so that the teeth don't touch her hand and then take out her filet knife and just try to slice it down the center.

Um I'm actually, since I'm by myself, I'm going to actually use, activate my sonic blade from my sleeve. We, and that weird little keening sound sounds an awful like that sound that worms are making psychically in your head. Bt dubs. All right. That is a 16 plus seven. That will certainly hit a worm. Yes. 21 thunder damage. God damn road. Shit. My God. All right. Devastating.

OK. Yeah, you're like, and it like spooge out, you know, some of that yellow fluid because like, worms don't really have blood that and they're like, kind of writhing on the ground. Then those pieces start to roll back together and like a zipper. This thing starts to like, repair itself. There's no way I could, like, do a spooky move to like, throw half of it as I cut down to kick it.

Yeah, I'll say, I'll say if you want to go ahead and, you know, do a little kicky action or try to get the other half away, I think you've learned enough and you're, you did some good damage. So why don't you go ahead and make me like, uh let's do an athletics check to kick it. Ok. Kick it far away, kick it, I'll, I'll accept acrobatics. I'll be kind. Thank you because that just went from an eight to a 17. Yeah. All right. So you, uh, what do you have to describe how fancy your acrobatics kick?

Is that like, it gets this thing? I don't care. Why is it acrobatics instead of strength at athletics? Tell me. Yeah. So you see her slice it down like, it's, she's just like, professionally boning a giant salmon and she just takes it and with her arm just like a flick and then does a cool spin around and just kind of like roundhouse kicks half of it off to the side.

It's anime style, you know, it goes soaring into the air and you see like a little blink in the distance in the sky as it's gone, blasting off again. Jessie James, that's the names of these two worms. But now you do James. Goodbye, Jesse James. Where's me out? Well, there are three, there are three worms now. So that was me out. Great. Anything else for you? I, I will move in closer to the rest of my team.

Ok. Cool. Yeah. So you all are now officially in this cluster with these two worms and all of you. Uh You see at this point, you know, the professor is like uh not doing a great job like smashing these worms down uh in the center. He, he moves slowly. He's clearly an elderly uh gentle mole. And so he, he cries out like quickly quickly the tunnels in the back of the house. We've got to get out of here and then, uh, we move to Dandy who continues to, uh, like fence with this worm in front.

Uh, and, well, he'll say, ha, it looks like you've got this one off. I go and then he like rolls and does a weird tumble and because his body is like made of vines, he just sort of like bunches up like a ball, kind of around his like dandelion head for a second and then rolls away and like starts to engage another of these worms that is popping out of the ground. And you're hearing lots of what? Toes and ha ha and a vast on guard come from his band.

That is all, you know, they all seem to have the catchphrases. It's part of the training, it's part of the training. Yes. Dandy's men are required by law the contract they signed to, to say these. So Tony. Now we come to you. So there is a worm on your body and then there is one that has repaired itself since Monte's attack. Where are these tunnels that Professor Mole said out back behind his house?

So you are currently basically facing like in the front of the yard area here and there is like that little dome shaped hovel in the very center. So he must be referring to something behind that and dandelion rolled off in that direction, correct. He kind of rolled off in a, in a clearing direction. He's just like fighting whatever is popping up out of the ground around the yard area here. Hm. Ok. Well, I guess first things, first is get rid of the one on top of me.

So we're just gonna straight up attack. Yeah. Yeah. 21 to hit. Yes. That would certainly hit hell. Yeah. With, oh, beautiful 15 slashing damage, please. Uh, and this was the one that was on you. Oh, sorry, you missed that when I was muted. I just did it all for you again. You're welcome podcast listeners. You got it twice. 15 damage. Yep. So this thing is looking not, not good, not good after all this. Anything else for you?

Yeah, we're going to take our extra attack and drive that sword further down its fucking throat. Hm. Good. Yeah. Get in there. Oh, and that's the, no. Excuse me. 19 to hit. Uh Yes. Yes. These things are soft and squishy And that's another 12 damage. Mm. Somehow this thing is like taking these hits and hits and hits and like it, you can tell you're definitely damaging it.

It is like getting, you know, smaller and smaller but the regeneration process, like as long as the pieces seem to be next to each other, they still seem to be like coming back together and like bloodily still up. So you're getting, this thing is getting close, but like they pack a lot more of a punch than a normal worm. Anything else for you as this thing like is now on the ground and you see, like it's chopped off pieces, crawling back together.

Yeah, I want to do a final action surge and get another hit. Just really stomp my boots into its remains and kick it out there into the dirt. Tony should have a signature move called fuck off. You know, that's the last, the last final stomp. The final stomp. I like that. We call it. Oh That was a dirty 20 to hit. Yes. With another 14 damage. Oh you guys are such killers at this level. One more attack. That's another 22 to hit. That was quite the progression. I got 1920 21 22.

I'm just getting angry. I'm so upset, so disgusted by these fucking things touching me, get off my ass. I hate this. Take a barbarian next time. That's seven more damage. OK? All right. So with that final strike, how do you like absolutely destroy this worm to the point? It cannot regenerate anymore. I like sword it in like the top half that's left and then in the bottom half my boots stomping right on top of it and then pulling it apart, spreading it apart.

Yeah, you just flatter it and the pieces. They're all like just right across the floor. There's a plump as like that yellow spray goes along and you hear that, that screaming in your mind as it goes and just like that, the furious noise is suddenly just cut off uh, with that final stump and it ends very abruptly. Can I pick up the, like, mangled flesh and like, wave it in front of the other worms and be all like, do you want this? And then yes, you sure you can. This is D D I in them.

I want to scare the shit out of them. Make me an intimidation check. Thank you. Hell yeah, I'm just here to say yes. Oh That's a dirty 20. Damn. Yeah. So you are waving this around and as you do, so you can see like a lot of the worms they turn, you know, whether they're in mid fight or whatever and their heads that split apart into these multi things like do so and they're almost like hissing at you like snakes.

And that's when you begin to hear this, this manic chorus, all of these different like tonalities. They don't seem to have any like words that they're reaching out with. But these like this chorus of hisses and shrieking noises that it just, it's, it's overwhelming as they're all coming at you. And honestly, if you had to say any emotion that you're getting from this, it's almost like a, like a mad chorus.

Like there's something so disjointed and jarring about these sounds, it, it, they don't respond in any way that makes sense to you as you all hear this, like keening whale. Wow. I was not expecting that. I don't think anyone was expecting that. So now this one that had landed and tried to attack you Aoife earlier, they seem enraged by whatever Tony has done. And this like screaming chorus continues as this thing, like waves its head back and forth. Like it can't quite focus on you.

There's something wrong with these things now that you're hearing that and looking at their behavior, they're just not quite right. Almost like, like when you have like a drug that's home from the vet, like the weird kind of stuff they do, That's like the Vibe you're getting as the thing tries to like, throw itself again at you make me another dexterity saving throw. Oh, that one was not great. That is only a 13. Have you got any, uh, spice you wanna throw on that or? I unfortunately do not.

Ok. So let's see. The worm latches onto a creature and burrows into its body type type. I love it. Nice. So, all right. Do you know what like a Lamprey is? Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So that circle your learn mouth. It comes and yeah, attaches on to you, but it doesn't let go. And you start to feel like a, almost like a like pain.

It's hard to describe what it is as your whole chest starts going numb and you start to see this thing disappearing into your chest as it is like starting to eat its way inside you. So yeah, that's the 10 piercing damage. Obviously, if you don't pull it out, that's gonna get worse. But it is eating into your chest right now. I love it. I love it. You guys said gross. Um I would like to say, uh this is not fine but Aoife, luckily you get a chance to react as this is happening to you.

So hearing the psychic shrills and screams coming from these things and the sort of weird energy that they're giving off and having one plunge its way into her chest, she immediately turns to her friends here and is like, get it out. What happened? Get it off me. No, I think this is a very appropriate reaction to this moment. I thought you were about to do something so epic and serious as she turns and she is horrified.

You see she is just her ex expression, just kind of goes blank and all around us. Everything like the air becomes very like rarified and you begin to see like the sort of resonant strands of magic that suffuse like the air and the wilds. And then we take on this almost sort of lace like pattern that like shroud over all of us as she uses her action to counter charm.

So until the end of her next turn, uh we all get advantage on do, do do on saving throws against being charmed or frightened because she feels like this is horrified. So. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Oh I love that. I love that description. Do you have an inspiration point? I did because I spent it get one that was cool. It was cool as shit. Love that. And the first time using counter term cool.

Yeah. And then as her bonus action, she is going to cast a healing word on Tony because Tony some damage and you'll heal back 10 10 damage. So I could return the favor guys. Uh As this worm is eating your Bard. Um Speaking of which I have faith, Monte, we come to you. Ok. Uh So I see that all of that. So I just jump in action and try to um run to towards and attack the worm. I will say there is an option if you would like to use athletics to pull it out.

That is an option or you can directly attack it. Those are both options. You have advantage on the next attack you make because of Silvery Barbs. So. Oh, OK. OK. So I'll do, I'll try to just pull it out. Pull it out. All right, cool. Uh give me an athletics like as you're trying to just because this thing, it's still half of its body is flapping in the air like out of a but it is clearly like going for it. So yeah, you can grab the end here. All right. So that's an 18 good. Yes. Wonderful.

So. Oh OK. So you successfully pull this thing out. And I think the worst part of this is like, as you go and like the resistance you encounter of this thing and then a for that feeling of like something that was like burrowing into your flesh being pulled out. It's just like, it's almost worse, right? If you get shot with an arrow and then like taking the arrow out. right? Oh Yeah, because like the teeth, they tend to go the opposite way.

So they sink in like barbs and she just Shrek and you know, and of course its head splayed open in different directions. So it was like a thing. So like, so there's like another gout of like blood and viscera as like you pull this thing out of a but you do it, Monte like its head, you know, it like like as as you're pulling it back out of its body and of course, like the chitter that you all begin to hear in your minds is just so extra and weird like as this is happening.

So if you're actually going to take an additional three damage, but this was very good because if it had stayed in you for a full run, things would have been very bad. So I just want to say that good job. So Monte, that was like your action to do that. But if you have a bonus action or you want to move. This thing is in your hand. Now, can I use my rabbit hop to just get on it to just jump just like rub it on top of it? Like stomp it. Yeah, I love this. I love this jump on it.

And so you're using it to like attack and kind of throw your weight on it. So go ahead and give me an attack. I like this though. I like this, Katie. This feels like important information. Jump on. It was the number one song the year you were born. It was jump, jump and jump on one of those two different songs. No, no, because jump, jump, jump, wait, wait. Is it the same? Let me find out. Hold on. This is important. Anyway, what are you doing? How was your attack? Uh that's uh only a 12.

OK. That is just not enough to hit this thing. So like as you like leap up and you're like, oh maybe it just the whole thing. It was just too gross. Like as you threw it down on the ground and like you see it, once it hits the ground, you're coming down, it burrows back into the ground very quickly and seems to disappear. So by the time you like land down on it, it's already gotten into the earth. OK. Yeah. Damn it. All right. So that, yeah, that's, that's my turn.

The verdict is those were different songs. Everybody staying abreast of the jump conversation. Yeah, it's uh, I don't even know if it was the number one song anymore. I'm still doing research, but I remember reading that at three point. I'm sorry. Everybody having lied in all of this and of course we won't, we always forget to. So um enjoy. OK. So who? All right. So Monte, you did a good getting that, getting that out.

But at this point, lou, you see that worm that you split in half, it seems to be rebuilding itself even without the aid of its other half. So basically what's happening? I'm delaying at a turn because of what you did, but like it's still not dead. Just want everyone to know that. And then lou we come to you. I am going to give a good stab to it. Regenerating right now. Yeah, I hate that.

22. The ac is 13, 12 was just not enough, but 13 is the number we're looking for 12 points of piercing damage. OK? And then as a bonus action, I'm going to turn around and I'm going to use my rogue capabilities to use an object as a bonus action and feed aife a potion of healing. Yay. Thank you. Do I pour it in your mouth or in the gaping hole? I don't know but just all over like Gatorade splash. Oh my God. You just need all of this. Just fucking, just get it on there.

I don't care how eight points of healing and then I'm going to be like, ok, I don't wanna be here anymore. Let's go to these caves. Yeah, professor mole like squeaks from away then right behind the house, we've got to go, there will be more fuck. And I'm going to take my 30 ft of movement and start running towards the back of the house. All right. All right. Yes, Professor Mole seems to be also it is officially his turn. So he's like running around the edge of his house back to the hovel.

Uh and then we come up on dandy and his turn and he's like my darling, I shall hold them, me and my dandy men. We shall cover your retreat come hell or high water. We shall allow you to escape and then it pains me to say our favor is settled, but I shall dream of you night after night, day after day, until you return to me. I hope we see each other again. Thank you so much for your guidance and I will never forget you what, how fiend he says?

And there's a sword is moving through the air and I grab a and try and yank her with me into the tunnels. Will you all go into the tunnel? Strategic retreat. Yeah, a tactical retreat. Yeah. And even as you are like running around, you know, moving back, you hear like the sound of more of these things like sprouting out from the earth. So things may look grim for dandy and his dandy men.

But the good news seems that the worms are probably not as interested in burrowing into plant flesh as they're into humanoid flesh. So perhaps our dandy man will live another day and I hope I have no doubts. And yeah, you are ushered behind like the back of the house uh by Professor Mole. And you can see like there's a very large set of doors built on the ground like storm cellar type doors.

Uh And he runs over and like with his squat little like talent hand uh staring at you through his like big, you know, big eyes, like magnifying in his glasses and he throws open the doors and he's like, hurry, hurry and you see a tunnel that leads down into the earth. Yeah. So we go there. Yes, away. Good. Wonderful.

So as you all uh like scuttle down into this tunnel in the earth, it is completely dark inside this, this tunnel so very quickly as you all run down there and Professor Mole closes the the storm doors, you are completely immersed in darkness. So I know Lou you have dark vision, Tony as an ac you have dark vision. Uh None for her and gone and none for Sa Right. Nope. No. Oh, cast light. What are you casting light on? She'll do it on a rare since it's out.

Yep. Yep. So as you do and you see uh Professor Mole like, was just leading you forward confidently so clearly, he's been in front of all these tunnels and the minute like light comes up, he like, you see like a, a shutter and he like turns back at you and looks at you through like squinty eyes through his glasses and says, oh, you need that to see. Yes. I, unfortunately, I'm not as, we're not as adept to the darkness as you are. I shouldn't be surprised. Well, hurry on.

Her will walk and talk, walk and talk as he like scuttles. And you can see too. These, these tunnels are rounded and they're very squat. So, uh both Monte and Tony are definitely going to have to like crouch a little bit. They seem like exactly perfect for someone of his girth and height to walk.

Go through as you are seeing him, like, move forward in his like little waistcoat and he turns like kind of over his shoulder, like as he's hurrying forward, winding you through like lefts and rights and downs and ups, like through these tunnels that just seem to keep going on. He'll look over his shoulder occasionally and say things like, so what are all you mortals doing here in this place where you hear about the sinkhole? I'm presuming. Yep, that was, that was how I, I got here.

Um, and then we got a sort of wrapped up in an adventure and now we're looking for a Princess. Mm mm. The princess princess burgundy. She has something to do with this and I turned to everywhere. Princes, Princess Bar was that name. But yeah, she is missing. Hm. So you were sent by Duke Walla then? Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Yes. Oh, sending adventurers to me for help. He seems to be laughing to himself. I see you're taking great pleasure in this.

But while you're having a good time, would you mind telling us what the fuck those were? Uh Yes. Uh Great. Yes, business first. Um Well, clearly something is wrong with the creatures of this land. Uh I do not know the cause of the sinkhole. I have been stopped by creatures like that whenever I came down here to investigate, but I suspect that something is very wrong with the mother or worm. Obviously, her Children are losing it. I've, I've never heard the worm song sound like this before.

The worm sound. Yes. You know when you go underground and you hear the worms sing. Oh, that's new for me. But what I got out of that was that there's a really, really big one of those scary things worms don't sing in your realm. Quietest things I've ever seen. Uh Again, we are not as adept and as truly marvelous as you are and living underground.

He seems to like kind of pause for a moment as you say that, like bows his like rounded head graciously like in acknowledgment like that was the correct answer. Like in a, in a way a teacher would do uh I know a lot about being under ground guys, kick her up. Well, as you have succinctly summarized, yes, there is a very large worm that dwells beneath this land. And in fact, it is usually quite a positive force turning the soil. And one of the reasons the blossom court has thrived in its domes.

She has always been a critical part of the ecosystem along with her Children who have never until this point seemed interested in eating uh flesh. So something has clearly gone wrong and of course they are, they are her Children. They're all linked their minds together. So if something is wrong with the mother, then something will be wrong with the Children. Do you follow me? Yeah. But like like I said, I have not been able to go down into the tunnel so far.

These creatures keep popping up these, these enraged Children. So if you can guard me on the way, then we may reach her and perhaps ascertain what has upset her so greatly and see if it has as I suspect anything to do with the appearance of this sinkhole. So this is not a common thing then. So they attack, they haven't attacked anything until now. No, no, they have behaved very much like um uh what would you call them in your world? The um um earth worms. Yeah. That's correct.

Yes, this is very unusual. Rarely. They are seen above the ground. And as I said, their song has become horrific, corrupted. It is, it's horrible to listen to before. It was quite pleasant as I mined. Obviously, my Dominion, it was usually a pleasant accompany, but not these days. Something has gone terribly wrong and you manage all this Dominion by yourself. Indeed, I do. That is amazing to see. Yes, I am a solitary mole but someone must do it and you're doing such a fantastic job.

I mean, kudos to you. Thank you. Perhaps when you return to Lord Walla, you can point that out to his royal stinkiest. Uh Yeah. Yeah, I guess. Yeah, we will certainly put in a good word. Are you sure we have to rescue his daughter? The two of them are quite obnoxious. I think you would value having his good favor after helping us find his daughter. Don't you think his like long nose kind of twitches at the, the idea of it? Hm. We shall see. Nothing seems to get through that thick peel of his.

Yep. And it's very stinky and I just have flashback to that stinking. I can't even get near the man. Oh, I don't think my smell is coming back any time soon, but it will in a few days, my friend, it will. Ok. Glad to know that. So, yeah, we'll follow you. Right. And I turn to everybody. Yes. Uh it should be further down here. So um around here is the point when well, when they start to appear, so stay alert. Gotcha. I just take out my grades or, and just try to be ready.

And all of you are walking through again, these very compact tunnels which like twisting, turning you've gone through so many intersections at this point like you absolutely could not navigate your way back through the complexities of these mold tunnels. He seems to be leading you through and his voice drops like a measure in volume as he says. Now, I am uncertain of the exact location of mother worm's den.

It is considered a sort of a faux paw for underground creatures to intrude on one another's dominions. But I suspect it was very near the location of that sinkhole. So I am winding our way there and I suspect when we find it, we shall find the layer and maybe the cause of whatever this is. Do you have any working theories as to what caused the sinkhole's appearance? I could just appear over my my village and the village in the mortal room.

Yeah. So it appeared here and in the mortal room has created some kind of portal which a portal most unusual. Well, that is not good news. A portal cannot be created in a a sovereign domes without um extreme interference. I uh perhaps the influence of another court even or an arch, those would be my two guesses and Lord Walla didn't know anything about it, you're sure. Er, yeah, I was captured for a while then they were interrogating me.

So, yeah, I'm pretty sure they don't have a, an idea for this. So, you think that somebody is behind the sinkhole? Oh, certainly this is not a natural phenomenon of any kind. And portals are not something that can simply be opened in a sovereign domes. It would have to be the sovereign Phay that chose to open it in most of these cases. Uh, or, and hence, it must be an attack or some kind of message from another Phay of equivalent or greater power.

That's unfortunately what my knowledge about all this ends because I don't know much about the courts. Hm. Mm hm. Well, let's just say there was a reason I chose to go live in the blossom court as opposed to the others. They're quite nasty. You're better off not knowing about them. You're a herring gun, right? If you are here, your people got out of here. Probably a wise decision. Yeah, I'm a third generation hair gone.

So. Yeah. Hm. Hm. Yes, I was mortal once and I, it doesn't mean much to me anymore, but I understand where you're coming from. The herring gos were noble people. Uh, uh, I have, uh, I vaguely recall good, good positive relations. Uh, you stay above ground. I stay below ground and that's that sort of thing. Oh, Yeah. So, yeah, we, we just try to keep, keep it to ourselves. Hm. Hm. Well, apparently not anymore. If some sovereign Pha is running around opening portals between here and there.

Yeah. Well, that is concerning. Well, then are you capable of fighting a, if that is what comes down to it? Yes. Are we ever, we fought an arch Aoife looks like stands up a little bit straighter. And you, and you lived and this is all what you looked like. You weren't cursed. You weren't changed into this as a result or anything strange. Yeah, we look like this. Sony responds very aggressively. You know, the standards of beauty. Very different, different worlds. I, I, no, I mean men, no offend.

I, I hear that our ears are quite alarming. So. Mhm. Ears are strange. They seem quite unnecessary. He waves at his own like mold face, which has no ears. Obviously. Why would you need that in such large garish eyes you have? Aren't things getting in them all the time. Yep. Sometimes I've actually been told my eyes are some of my greatest qualities. So beauty is all in the eye of the beholder record. Oh God. Oh, don't worry. There are none of those here. They don't like fairy magic.

Good to know. Good to know. Wait. So you said you were mortal? How did you become a fay? Well, I uh performed some favors, let's say for our, our blossom, sovereign. Wonderful, wonderful. Individual, by the way, nothing like Lord Walla sort of inherited the position. You know how things are also. He's an incompetent boob, obviously, but clearly it blossom sovereign. She's lovely, simply lovely. Now that, that is a creature that is a true perfection.

In, in, in my humble opinion, makes like a little head. Sound cute. You got a tiny crush. Oh, if you should ever meet her, consider yourself lucky. And I think while we're walking and we do have the opportunity to pick someone's brain about court structure without Yeah, who seems to know?

Oh, by all means here is this window if you would like to ask any questions and without Rook being like, don't trust anyone or I feel like, you know, would ask like what you know, of the blossom court, like what's the hierarchy like, you know, what are, you know, what do you, what do you all do? What do you do? Yeah. Yeah. And he, he will break down for you like kind of confirming some of what you learned like on the way here. So the blossom court more than any other is I guess.

How would I describe it? Not, it's not like communism is close to sort of how it functions but not really. It's more like all individual bands of fay that choose to live together to promote and like grow various parts of the Demesne is sort of how it's, it's organized in general. So creatures like of a, like mind might all band together to like, have an area of coniferous forest that they tend and maintain and basically they live and work together on, they call them plots.

It like the whole realm is divided into plots that's based on, you know, the more you have as part of that one plot, like the bigger it kind of becomes and they're pretty much self governing in their own way. So each plot takes care of and tends the land and preserves it in the way that they think is best and most ideal and in case of trouble, they do have these dukes that are like scattered throughout the lands that kind of oversee these larger areas of plots.

Uh And at the very, very center of the, the Demesne, there is the the blossom sovereign and apparently she rules over this like beautiful rose garden at the center that, that anyone can go to and approach and the blossom court more than any other. And Professor Mole is happy to explain, this is probably the least involved in politics with the other sovereign faith. They're one of the older courts and it's, but they're, they're not hasty to action sort of in the way plants are right.

It's, it's their opinion most of the time that doing nothing often solves a lot of problems. Um like while, while all the other sovereign courts, you know, fight and scheme and like whatever, sometimes just playing neutral like wins.

So a lot of the other courts consider them like buffoonish or like slow or, you know, not a real threat, but they're totally ok with that and they're totally ok to let the other courts destroy each other and then just be there to inherit the earth when, when they're all done fighting. So blue will as they're walking and he's talking about like this radiant blossom, Sovereign Lake. So that's your guys's sovereign for this court.

Could I ask you if you've ever heard of someone maybe referred to as the King Unseen or maybe the witches queen? Does that ring any bells? Oh, the witches queen. The witch is queen. Oh, that's what I thought, horrible, horrible individual. Um, I mean, I haven't personally met her, obviously, I'm still alive but no, with heavenly court, all that. Uh, I don't know. I don't know.

I, I'm not sure if she's the sovereign these days or not or they're all very, I recommend staying away from them is all I have to say about the heavenly court. Hm. Yeah, that's probably really good advice and anything about a king unseen. Uh, I suppose that could be, um, the Withered court. Uh, we don't see much of them at all or perhaps the sleeping court. I, you know, the Great Dragon and all that. Hm. Ok. Well, thank you. I just, I read some pretty intense poetry and it, it, it referenced it.

So I was just hoping to get poetry some more clarity. Not in my field of expertise. I'm more of an academic, you understand? But I hear plenty of flowery poetry living in the Blossom Court. I can imagine. He's like, why are you laughing? It's quite literal. Um, he was like, no reason anyway. Uh, yeah, even just, like, shakes her, her head and she's like, it's a normal thing. Mhm. Mhm. Oh. Oh, well, then shall we uh any other questions you would like to ask before? Uh shit. That's real.

Yeah, I will say if you keep Professor Mole alive, he will certainly be a valuable individual to send letters to or ask questions of. Well, we go and try, girl, we're gonna try ready for shit to get real. All right. So you have been like winding your way down and down and you can tell, I mean, it's very jarring being underground like and having no idea where the sun is and you've been like kind of feeling yourself go steadily downwards at decline.

So you must be going deeper into the earth at this point. But it's again, very hard to tell and everything is so quiet as you are surrounded by packed dirt from all sides as we're walking down really quick. I would like to actually have lou take out her glasses as we get in the area and turn on x-ray vision to try to look through the walls of dirt around her um, and just like turning it off and on. Uh, as she goes.

So, yeah, you're looking through and as you see it, oh, boy, it is so strange here because you grew up underground. So you realize most of like when you get into the deep earth and you know, the caverns that, like your drought cities were situated in, it's mostly stone. So there's like the, the working layer of earth typically. And then you get down to like the really intense like stone layers in the ground.

That doesn't seem to be the case and whatever this demesne is, you are surrounded by soil like loose soil and these, these tunnels are packed of it and you must be at least a half mile below the earth at this point. But it's still just like pure workable soil. So you're not sure if that's like a symptom of being in a plant realm or whatever it is. But that makes it really easy to see through at all these various points.

And you see like incredible things like bugs, you know, the size of your fist like moving through, working through the earth and yeah, you're like hate that, hate that but like like pebbles and stones and like geodes like beautiful, like crystals like in the earth just waiting to be unmined as if like it never gets any packed or deeper. It's just deep rich soil that seems to go on and on forever.

It's the perfect growing ground for anything is, is what would catch your eye and yet you see a big ass like potato bug. You're like nope. And you turn off your glasses and then you come to a point where you see this like hole that just leads like straight down and it's like packed spiral staircase that's about to lead you like really deep down into the earth and Professor Moll kind of all right, be as quiet as you can. I think we're getting very close and, and we're all on the same page, right?

We're, we're not trying to kill this mother worm. We're trying to find out what the issue is. I would extremely advise against killing her if at all possible. I um I don't know if I can uh if I've related how large this work? Well, you said too she's normally neutral to benevolent. So very good. If there's any way we can restore. Uh You got to not give me some stealth checks y'all. Let's do a group stealth check. See how quietly we can move. Uh Let's do it.

So there are five of us with Professor Moles. So we need three people to succeed. 18, I got a 24 23. Wow. Wait, what did you get? 15? OK. Wow, you guys are so fucking quiet.

Nice. So you are like heading down and all of a sudden like you really get serious and for the first time, Professor mo just stops talking uh as you were like creeping down this spiraling staircase into the dark and the oppressive silence of being surrounded by compacted dirt really starts to weigh on your consciousness as every single step, every little creek just seems to like fill your ears.

You make your way towards the down like the ground and about halfway through, you all start to feel the ground shake as if something very, very large is like turning in its sleep. You all kind of pause for a second, but you're still so quiet and it stops and you continue to move down to the bottom of the staircase here and again, about a minute later it happens.

It's like everything is rumbling around you and the ground starts to shake beneath your feet and you start to stagger having trouble staying upright. Everybody makes some dexterity saving gross for me. Ok? That's a 26. Oh shit. God damn, Bro. I got half of that for 13. I got it 19. I'm gonna use my inspiration and reroll all that. All right. All right. All right. Oh thank goodness 15. OK. Yeah, you, you guys are doing great. This is so good. You're stopping worms from jumping out. This is great.

And you see like Professor Mole in these moments, he goes like full four legs and is like totally cool. Like as this happens, it's a little weird to see like this rotund mole person like in a, you know, a waistcoat, like acting like a big ass mole.

But like, as he does, like, you know, soft, the little pink hands like hit the ground and like, he just seems to jiggle with the earth and like, it's all good and he, he looks back at you all like the minute the earth stops trembling and I kind of raises a thumbs up and then like, has a little creep forward hand.

So you continue to creep forward and at this point, the tunnels stop being that really nice, like packed earth around you, you start to see more like jagged like tendrils of like roots hanging down and stuff. It's a lot less structured as you come upon this cavern and it's a lot to take in in a moment. And those of you who have a light source can't see the full gravity of what this is because you can only see about 60 ft or so out.

But Lou and Tony, as you are looking out at this gigantic cavern in front of you, uh you can't help but be kind of overwhelmed by it. It's like a well in the earth. So this gigantic cylinder that's maybe like uh 405 100 ft across from side to side here and seems to like carry up and up and up like way beyond the range of either of your visions and down far below. And you can see ringing the sides of the cylinder.

There are all of these like little tunnels and caverns that seem to have these like writhing purplish bodies in them of these worms that are much bigger than the ones that you had encountered previously. And as you are looking down towards like where the bottom of this cavern would be, you see something great and purple twisted around the bottom of this thing and you realize it's like just a single coil of what must be a gargantuan worm at the center here.

And all of you, even, even those of you with limited dark vision can see this worm at the very bottom because hovering just above maybe like 60 ft above where this coil is, is this rift almost like that's the only way to describe it. It's like this moat of floating, like electricity that seems to hover and like grow bigger and smaller, like sporadically jumping in size that seems to block the way down towards this thing and where this like coil is, you can see it.

There's this horrible gash in it that's like blackened and charred flesh. Uh that looks like it's been just devastated by some kind of electric strike. If you had to guess, Monty just takes out his canteen and he has water in it and he uses shape water to like put like a text over us and just says, I think we're here and the professor mole goes hm and knows that you're like waving his like long nose up and down.

Is somebody who like tinkers a lot with things and all that like is this like moat that we're looking at? Does it look like it's like attached? Like is it like a device that somebody has created or is it just like magical electricity? Why don't you go ahead and make me a nana check looking at it? No. Ok. What would you, what's your like tinkerer skill? Do you have tinkers tools? Is that you don't have those? No, I don't have tinkerers tools. Investigation. Maybe.

Yeah, maybe investigation because you're puzzling together what's going on. I'll accept that. Yeah. OK. So that is an 11 plus eight. So 19. OK. So as you're watching this thing and you're kind of watching its patterns. It's, it's really interesting. It, it's definitely not connected to a device it seems to be, but it does seem to be rooted in place by something.

So like some kind of gravitational law or force or something is keeping it in place and the way it like jumps out and forward at its highest point, it does expand to be like this very large circular sphere that's almost like a like a true net that goes over the course of the thing. But it also at times comes back together. So it seems really unstable whatever it is and it doesn't seem to be generated by a device.

So some kind of arcane power, whatever is feeding, it isn't visible and like knowing before the idea of portals and like what you've heard, like this does seem to be some kind of portal that seems to be fixed in place here. It's clearly unstable the way it is jumping up and forward and around. But like the dislike shape of it too as you're looking at it and like that big like slice that has been taken out of the, the coil that you can see.

It's probably not hard to assume that maybe this thing might have injured the worm that you're seeing down below. I will relay this information to everyone and, and look to uh everyone else because everyone else can do magic except for me. And I'll be like ma is portal unstable clearly. How do these things normally work? Are we looking for? What are they called? Is, is it a roon? Do we find a room? That's the only term I know that's a magical word, right?

It's like, um if I'm talking about math, I'm like, yes, uh hypotenuse. So that's a word. The limit does not exist limit. Yes. Yes. But is, is it something that I can actually analyze to see if there's a source behind it or if there's something I can, we can do here to just close that thing? I mean, you're an Eldrick Knight, you know, you, you cast magic, you've seen it directly influenced.

I would totally let you have a check on uh like what you know about portals and maybe this is something also your people had to, you know, use a portal to navigate between worlds. So you like in your, your history, your folklore, I think you might know quite a bit about portal. So go ahead and roll with advantage and give me maybe an AANA or a history check would apply, I think. OK, that's, that's good because I rolled a natural one and a 19. Oh, hell yeah. Oh, hell yeah, a natural 20. Ok.

So here's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna open up the Venture Maidens campaign guide and you are gonna get the information about portals that is contained within. I don't know if you guys have heard about the Venture Maiden campaign guide, but it's pretty cool. You can buy the PDF on, on our website Venture Maidens dot com. You get, you get inspiration for marketing. Thank you.

Hashtag at the two realms in the planes may share a border physically stepping from one to the other is impossible without a crossing point. These crossing point called gates can manifest in various ways and take different forms, but all are hazardous to ill prepared travelers who try to use them.

So the types of gates and this is information that you would know from your people like this is, this is important information for Fay who have tried to cross cross over and like why it's so hard for fade generally to move from the fairy realm to the marble realm. So there are three types of gates, there's physical, the gates, psychic gates and portals. So clearly, portal is what you are dealing with here.

Of the different types of gates crossing points created by magical spells or spell like effects that remain open only for a short time. They are generally of the three the safest and most predictable way to travel between the realms, but they still obviously have their huge problems. Few creatures in the world ever attain the ability to cast such potent spells. So this had to be the result of a spell. It had to be a result of a very potent caster to do it. So this is an issue.

So when you're dealing with the portal, you got to do activations. So there's usually some way that can activate it. Stability is an issue. Um destination, you've already ascertained that this is a portal that goes between here and there. So basically, you're looking at the effect of a big ass like a caster with major power cause this thing to open and probably the only way to close it is to get someone of equivalent power to shut this shit down.

This is probably not something you all have the capacity to do so, but perhaps a duke of the realm might be able to do something about it. Certainly a sovereign of the realm could do something about it or like you're talking like an arch age, someone of probably level 12 or higher could probably do something about this. Yeah, we'll just level up right here. Level 66 levels here, Tony. Tony, unlock your new age, potential initiate training. Montage.

So yeah, so Monty looks at everybody and he's like signing and under him, it's like captions under him and he's just saying that whatever made the portal or whoever made the portal is a really magical powerful mate and we need someone of equal power to close it. And so this is a portal while you are like signing and trying to quietly explain this.

Please give me a uh like a stealth check while you're doing this while you all are having these like kind of conversations here just like how all of us. Yeah. Uh probably all of you. I got a 16, 18, dirty 20. I forgot that most of us know how to sign in this. Yeah, because this is, it's a normal thing in the empire. Common Stein is a, is a language that everybody pretty much knows. Oh, that is so cool. That's so cool.

Yeah, it's like, yeah, because it's the language of it's adapted from spell casting. So they use it as their universal language. Uh What would, what did you get, Tony? I don't think I heard from you for stealth eight. So Tony, I don't think you're being that loud like physically, but there's at some point. Maybe you're thinking about something a little much or something. Something weird happens.

Like all of a sudden in a corner of your mind, you feel something there that wasn't, that wasn't before. And there's like a, a, a low humming that comes to your mind. Almost like a, like a groan that seems to just stretch on and on. Do you do anything about it? I think she's already kind of on hyper alert because she really decimated one of these Children of this gigantic mother. So in her own mind, she'll probably say like is someone there?

Yeah. And as you reach out, you feel someone listening, something listening to you and the sound dolls before you hear, are you alone? No, there's like a sad like pain sigh. Are you here to hurt us? And as softly as she possibly can? No. Mhm. There's another like long pained sigh that comes to your mind. I will send them, please. We don't want to harm any of you. We've come to see how we can help.

You seem to be in a lot of distress, you and your family and we think we know what the cause is, but we need to find out a way to fix it and the, the breathing continues in your mind and from somewhere far below Lou and Tony, you would be able to see this first. You see like out of one of these side, like tunnels from somewhere very way down, like very close to the coils of a great worm.

Two figures emerge and you see like one of them is very, it's a very, very small person like from this side, you, you can't really see anything about them. Other than like, there's kind of flashes like white and green is like the only like impressions you get from this distance and then like a, a brownish tall individual coming from behind.

And as these two like sort of step out of this like little cavern space, you hear like this popping of earth is like some of these like writhing worms from up above, kind of like fall down almost like raining down onto these two popping out and like coiling around them. And the small figure seems to be like holding a hand outwards and they part as, as the figure like walks and the worms do not bother these people as they move up and start spiraling up closer, seeming to walk up towards you all.

Are you doing anything? You have certainly much time to react before these two individuals and this train of worms they're attracting, seem to get to you. Who's the head in my head? Can I ask? Are you sending these two below to speak with us? Yeah. There's like a and like this horrible, like this like feeling of sudden like anger like reaches out towards you as they're like consumed maybe by pain or something.

And like, there's just this like flash of like red that goes across your mind and the tongue will start to shake around you. And you see the two figures, like, hold out like towards the ledge to like, hold on as what's going on. And you just hear like the keening sound of like thousands of worm voices like what you heard up before, like start screaming in your head once again. Oh God. Well, then at that point, I'm just gonna tell everyone.

I think the mother worm was speaking to me telepathically. She sounds very upset and distressed but almost not by choice. It's like she can't help but feel angry. Professor Moll is like, ok. Ok. But I think we should leave. That does not sound good. That is not the worm song and he's saying it out loud now he doesn't even give a fuck like clearly something is happening. Right? Ok. Right. Do we think stay and talk, do we think? Get out, what are we, what are we feeling?

I think get out makes sense. We already know that we are not strong enough to deal with what's in there. And if those things really want to come talk to us, they can follow us. I guess you said there was, there was two people, there were two humanoids there. So could that be the princess and uh patches? I think it was, it was Princess Tony yells out as you're like looking like squinting at the edge of your vision. And these two, like, keep coming up closer and closer.

You kind of like, ring that out. So you're just like yelling that down into the hole. Yeah. Yeah. And uh, yeah, as your voice like travels you see and like, you're squinting and like a little the, the small figure who seems to be like holding out a hand and somehow repelling these worms, sort of like waves a hand around up to you and you hear like a squeaking Tony, like from far, far away. Princess, we're here to find you. Please hurry.

The figure like from this point starts like waving towards towards herself, like come close. Well, ok, Tony will pull out her sword and her shield and well, I guess you can't do that. She'll pull out her sword and will stay close to Professor Mole and tell him, sorry. We have, we have another job, we got to go and you're not standing here alone. Are you go? You're gonna go. You, are you sure we need your key mind and insight in order to determine what is plaguing the dear great worm.

Only your magnificence and immeasurable knowledge could help us in this trying time to save the realm. Make me a persuasion check with advantage because you're playing to his. Yeah. Oh yeah, that is 17 plus 7 24. Nice, I suppose in the name of science, I should. Yes, I, I shall accompany you think of how grateful the sovereign of this realm would be knowing you saved one of her most treasured creations and residents. And think about how embarrassed the you would be that he can't do it himself.

You are right. Of course, of course you are right. Lead on warriors. He says, and kind of like puts up his like pudgy little mole hands. Oh my. Amazing. As we start heading that way and heading towards the figure though, like a is going to take the moment to cast Intellectual Fortress on Tony since apparently she is getting some w w w Yeah. Yeah. So you get uh resistance to psychic damage and you get advantage on all intelligence, wisdom and charisma saving throws. Oh, that's so neat.

Yeah, that's, that's real neat for the next hour. All right. So, uh, so you continue forward everyone. Yeah, we're hustling. What is the pace quickly? Yes. Yes. This little figure who you assume to be, maybe perhaps the princess, she starts waving her hands. You can see the two figures start running towards you and you also start like running now to beat them as Professor Mole, you know, as fast as he can run essentially, which isn't super fast, but he's doing his best.

It's so inspired as you step like out into this chasm, immediately you start to see these worms like pour from the walls burrowing out of the sides and from these like caverns and as they're going, they're like tumbling down and again, whatever it is, this like anger, this anguish that seems to be consuming them.

They're, they're flopping and twisting and just don't seem to have a lot of control of their bodies as the whole entire earth is shaking and they're moving as the great worm writhes below and this like anguish of pain make me dexterity. Saving throws 160 Sorry. 18 for a six for Tony. I'm gonna spend my inspiration. So you get a reroll. Thank you so much.

Hell yeah, because Tony, you were who, who, who and there are thin little rails because boy, Tony was about to fall just over the edge into a pit of worms. I mean, that didn't really help a whole lot, but we're at a uh 11 now. Meat. So Tony with the sudden shaking. Oh Monte. Here you tell me though. Are we losing two? Just one minus 12? But says here that I got lucky foot work when you fail a deck sa and throw, you can use your reaction to roll the D four and add it to the save.

So 16. Nice roll do it. That's 16 is great. You all like and the earth shakes so much more violently than it has at like at any point in this journey as you all are consumed and like a bunch of these worms simply fall on you. Tony. It's like they're like pouring out the walls almost like burst pipes right in water. They just like start to launch themselves at you and you were swept off your feet and begin to feel yourself falling down off of this ledge just like down into this.

Well, I'm going to go ahead and give you another dexter to save to see if you can catch yourself on this fall. Uh 15, ok? You fall probably 20 ft or so and you feel yourself free falling and like these worms are around you and they are also like clearly as a tribute to this like man, mania that's consumed them. They are also falling in freefall and it's not going to end well, but you reach out and like you catch like one of these roots that is sticking out of the wall.

And so about 20 ft below you all to Tony is hanging on a spindly little route above this thing. And this portal, by the way that burnt the hell out of this great mother worm is about 60 ft below you as you are hanging for dear life on the edge here. What's up party? How are we handling this?

Lou is going to seeing her fall immediately reach into a bag of holding and take out her rope and she's going to throw one end back towards the party to grab onto and throw the other end down to Tony to grab onto. Nice. All right. So Tony, that, that, that rope kind of clatters around you all. I'm grabbing on and I'm going to make my life easier by um using my mold earth can trip again and like building little steps into the, into the face. Such a good use.

See what I appreciate deeply about you is I feel like you're going to use shit that too. Well. So take another point of inspiration, Ken, I think you. That's cool. Yeah. So you are like climbing up and as you're going, it becomes very clear to the rest of the party, like you're hoisting Tony up and, but you are running out of time as these worms are like coming for you.

And I think all of you now at this point are sort of having to block them or kick them or attack them just to leave you all alone. As you see. Now these two figures winding up like running at full speed. Now, at this distance, you can make out this, the little small figure, a little garlic headed girl, she's probably about almost like three ft tall, right? But her face is like a garlic clove.

And you can see these spirals of green, like 10 year olds like when a garlic like starts to sprout like her hair around her head and she's just holding out her little like white hand. Uh and they seem to be avoiding her right behind is a herring gun who's crouching looking terrible in like blue overalls, like looking around just like whole clutching a pitch fork, like for dear life following this little garlic girl. So they're coming, they're coming.

But it's, it's, they're still not quite there. So, what's the play as you're playing up, Tony? What are you all doing? Just like narratively to like, hold off these worms, Tony. Can you go towards the, where all the worms are falling from the wall with their shield to kind of like, protect a little bit from the oncoming. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Once I make my way up there shield time and I'm like, trying to push against this wave of worms.

Yeah. So as they're like hitting, you're kind of deflecting them off. So they go, like spinning into the chasm just trying to buy yourself all little time. What are the rest of you all doing? I think lou is gonna take a, a note from Tony and she always has all of her, like, cooks utensils and stuff with her and she will take out from the bag. She pulls out cast iron and like a big thick wooden cutting board. Yes. Yes. Hold up. Oh, yeah.

The good, the good ones, the huge ones with like the ingredient rivets. Amazing. Yeah. So you're holding them up and, yeah, these worms don't seem to have a lot of like, forethought or anything going on. So you're, you're holding it up and like bashing them off. A what are you doing to, like, help the situation? I think, I think, uh with the, the sort of like psychic energy that sort of naturally sort of bouncing off of this thing from, you know, from this rift and from this disturbance.

And I think she is, like, keying into that with the vicious mockery and she'll, as one gets close and she's just like, is sniping, like little psychic jabs at them to keep them away, like, get back in there. Yeah, I like I dare you like Yeah. Yeah. Pointing, you know, yeah, psychic dissidence. And what are you doing, Monte narratively to help this, this situation?

Yeah. So I'm running and, and trying to do the same thing as, as, as a, as a Tony but I'm doing sending Sonic blast all over to every, every, every worm that is, that is doing that with total dead and just running to just be back up in case Tony needs it. So you're like, you're sending them flying off like trying to like get this sound to drown out the door, you know, screams that are happening here.

So all of you are like kicking ass holding position like barely on this when finally, finally like you see this tiny little garlic princess like finally makes her way to you and as she does, she's like get in. Yes, she like yells and like draws you all.

So you're all within like a foot of her and she holds out both of her hands and like almost in reaction to like, you don't know what it is but the worms they fall and they go and like, skitter away and you have, it seems about like a 10 ft radius where the worms will refuse to fall on her. And she says, did my father send you? Yeah. Good, good. Don't hurt it. It's not its fault.

She says holding out her little arms as hard as she can and she looks exhausted and so tired, we know we don't want to hurt it. Ok. Do you have a way to close the portal? Because this is a mess. We don't. But do you think your dad might, dad? Yeah, I guess, I mean, I don't know, these things haven't let us out of here the whole time. Well, we, we've been staying and it's been bleeding. It's been terrible. Are there any other dukes in the area who we could get to first?

No. No, I, I suppose he could help. Well, if you know what, what caused it and I explain as fast as I can about what, what happened and how we can close it or somebody can close it. Ok. Ok. Well, that's good news. If it was another, then yes, then my father can probably do something about it, but we got to get out of here. Let's go. Yeah, maybe we should get out. Ok, for some reason they don't seem to be able to come close to me. So I will hold them off.

I think it was the power of the royal stench she said and, like, like closes her eyes as she says it. Like, it's some holy thing, like a pallet and aura. Just imagine her going out in the fumes from her pits. Just yes. Yeah. Well, that's totally exactly what's happening because she's raising up her powerful, powerful dynasty. Stay close to me and we shall make it through at this point to the, the gun that's been following it like and like kind of taps you on the shoulder. How is it going?

It's going terribly. It's going very bad. Well, I know, I know maybe we should just get out of here and get the princess and everybody out told her that. Did you come to rescue me, buddy? I did. Wow, you really are the hero. Everybody says you are. Oh, stop it, stop it. Patches told her told her that you're a good kid, Monte and like raises a hand up to, to you know, the side of your face. You're a good kid. Your parents would be proud and that tear single tier. Thank you. Patches.

Thank you told it. Yeah. And you're like bam and like a worm goes fucking. He's like, thanks brother. Uh And then so all of you look like is there a back story of behind me? But if it was in front of you, it'd be a front story. Yeah, front story. Amazing So all of you in extreme discomfort, like staying very close to the princess can make your way like out of the tunnels and the worms do not seem to bother you as you go along and you can certainly make your way back to Duke Walla.

Who as you approach is like, Princess Princess, you, you're, you're back. You, you've, you've actually done it. You've, you, you've done it and princess is like, hello, these people have something very important to say and we have no time. We have no time for greetings. Tell them what you need. And she looks at you and puts her little garlic hands on her little garlic hips and stares up at you expectantly. Yeah. Aoife strides forward and she's now we've done this.

You've asked, we've rescued the princess, we brought her back. We found the source of disturbance, but only the power of your duke lines of your precipitous stench could truly fix this problem for once and for all. Otherwise, it might continue to plague your plot again. And we certainly cannot have that wait. You are saying that some fay created a portal in my realm without my notice. I'm just saying, is that correct? Is that what you are telling me? Because that seems quite impossible. It does.

And uh someone must be truly remarkable in their belief of them, in their arrogance to think that they could challenge someone as mighty as you. But I know that we could help you put a stop to this. Do you know who it is? It would help me if I have the workings to be able to subvert this, this horrendous magic closing a portal is no small feat. You understand. And if this, this individual who I doubt has more power than DUA, but in case they did, it would help to know.

Unfortunately, we don't have that information. We just know that someone real powerful created that and someone is with your powerful stinkiest can close it. We might solve this whole situation if you will. Hm. No idea. No idea. None of you. No, none of you have any idea. Hm. All right. Well, I shall see what I can do a portal, portal, portal and he like slaps his hands together and kind of like throws a hand outwards and you see like growing out of the ground.

There are these like large vines that kind of move into place here that form almost like a circle in between. And you see these swirls of water come up and move like between the edges to form like a flat, almost reflective surface. And suddenly you see, you see it the whole, the, well, these worms pouring from all sides, the great mother worm writhing down below and this like flickering light in the center as you were like looking upon the scene here.

And Duke Walla sort of stands up to his full like five ft height, like shoves his like girth around a bit and steps forward towards the portal. So you're asking me to close this portal for you. Is that correct? And he looks at you if right in the eyes for the good of your own plot. Yes. And he kind of waves the finger. This will settle a little matter between you and I, if I do this, this is not particularly something I think I need to do. So I will consider this the settlement of our big favor.

Well, if you, if you want to risk your daughter going missing again in such a strange and terrible place, I mean, I suppose that seems reasonable to me. Do you think that's reasonable? Princess burgundy? She looks over to her like your father's allowing your life to be risked again. She like turns like red like her, her little garlic face turns red and she goes, but I cannot believe that you are making such a big deal out of this.

This is something clearly affected your mom and you are sitting here going back and forth with famous. This is ridiculous. No wonder everybody considers you like large stinky buffoon. And, and then the Lord is like, oh, he looks like shocked, he looks shocked by this and he's like put, I can't have mortals running around owing favor and she's like, well, you have to give them something in way of reward. This is just ridiculous. And uh and he said, oh oh, ok.

Ok. Oh uh I, this, this, this will settle our big favor but I will give you something extra for your help. No favor, exchange required. My daughter is and she's like still bright red. You, you ok. Perhaps I, I can give you the, the name of the, the, the fay who created this. I, I now looking at it, I, I, I, I see their work. Would that be adequate payment? I turn to everybody. I think that'll do. Yeah, not the uh the, the name you understand. But uh what they go by, of course. Yes, of course.

Uh And he looks at his daughter and she's like starting to get more pink and he's like, OK, um the true ruler, you suddenly understand why perhaps Duke has got his position and he, he like waves his like little vine fingers at the image here and he says close and as it does you see like shooting out of the walls from between like this like bunch of vines just start coming out towards and they launch themselves and the first ones are like zapped by this portal.

But as they continue to come for more and more, more and more, they seem to drown out this like light and strangle it on to the point where you can no longer see it as it just becomes this like ball of withered vines. And there's this like audible popping sound.

That kind of rings out all around and then the light is gone and you see all the worms and everything starts like where they've landed on the ground, kind of calm and like slither back up into their holes and like the great coiled thing below turns gently in a circle and the flesh starts to heal on its body. The duke says it is done and I am uh I regret to say this was the work of a, a one, you know of her. You're familiar.

Unfortunately, she has never had this kind of power before, but the ability to puncture holes within other realms from mortal to she must have gained some kind of new power to do this. This is um um grave indeed. I shall report this to the sovereign. But that is um none of your concerned, our, our big favor is settled. But, but why would they do that though? I don't know, why would she want to come into your mortal village? Yes, it did.

Uh I mean, I suppose there are advantages between, well, many of the courts think that if perhaps more fay can come into the mortal realm, then there is some possibility for that to happen. Many fay are interested in settling your poor pathetic mortal realm where the soil is terrible and unit. But that is for reasons beyond. You will have to go somewhere else to find out that information. But why would she do it here in your realm versus her own. I don't know.

And he looks like it suddenly startled, like he hasn't even considered the possibility of why that would be an issue. It's like I have no idea, Duke Walla. Do you think it as an exchange for our small favor since you are a duke of this realm that you may be able to make a formal introduction of us once we've returned Monte back to the mortal realm to the blossom court sovereign, as we would like to bring news of this.

Because I would fear that if she can make, if Haka can work her way through one realm, she can work her way through more. And I should like to notify the sovereign on this issue. Hm. I wish to meet the loss of. So that is no small thing. I for a small favor. But if you did go and tell her, then I wouldn't have to go and tell her and, and if she was mad about it, then it wouldn't be my problem. She'd actually learn of your heroism in helping us close this portal. Indeed.

Perhaps an increase in your station. Hm. Hm. Oh, yeah. Well, like there were um, I think little mortals. That's very clever. That's very clever. Indeed. Yes. As the small favor, I will send an invitation, letting the blossoms of her know to expect you. Oh, I can't say, I can't say I can promise results, but the message will be sent and perhaps an invitation will be extended to you though. I shall say her magnificence is quite busy, of course.

But your extension of good word of us would certainly go, go far, I imagine. And she gives a very deep courtesy. He laughs. Well, I suppose, yes. Oh, in the matter of you and he kind of waves a hand at Monte. I suppose. I should also say yes, you are clear of whatever charges may have been leveled against you. You um I, I, I suppose you are not responsible in any way and I just fall to my knees and said, thank you. Thank you, your stinking. Thank you.

And I suppose this was technically a problem that happened in because of my realm and the tech. So I suppose if your PV little village needed, I don't know, reparations of some kind, I might be amenable. We would greatly appreciate that. And I just put like a, a pack of carrots on the ground. This are from my village and we can do more if you could help us. So we appreciate all your support.

Hm, I will not accept your gift, tricky little mortal, but what I will do here, the blessings of the blossom court upon you and he like waves his hand like over, over your carrot, take them back. Any carrot you will plant from that seed will never, we'll never die despite soil conditions, watering. No matter. They will grow forever and all the blessings, the blossom, blessing blessing. Yes. Are you ready to leave? I grow tired of your lack of stench. Of course, you smell like nothing.

It's repulsive. Yes, I think we best be off. Farewell. You shall have your missive to the queen. And um, yes, farewell. Oh, I suppose you need a way out go. Uh, and he like waves his hand again at the little like doorway portal free of charge. Please just leave. Thank you. And uh I'm sure that your stench will linger in our noses and our hearts for many eons to come. Uh Princess burgundy farewell to you. Good luck. And she says, wait, thank you.

Thank you all of you for saving me and, and for talking sense to my father. I know he can be so dim witted at times, but I do appreciate all you have done and please do take care of patches. He is a wonderful individual, if not a little cosom will do and oh, oh, I promised as well AAA small gift and of of course you've you've saved my life. So uh in payment, um I have something here that I've been working on um a a solution. So perhaps your people do not need to eat fay garlic.

They can have this instead. Uh and she'll like hand out a little, a little box uh instinctively to you lou by some destiny ridden um thing. And she like holds her hands out just like you have no idea. This is my favorite gift I've ever received. You are just a blessing to this round. Thank you. And she like grabs it and like brings it straight to her nose and just takes a big whiff.

Oh my God. If you have ever like the, the most interesting and beautiful garlic you have ever smelled in your whole life. It's like floral, but at the same time has all that, like the punch and the sour and it like you've never experienced anything like it. And she says, if you replant that it, it will grow as much as you like it to. In fact, uh uh keep it walled. Oh or it'll just take over everything, especially in the mortal realm. Actually, maybe don't plant it in the mortal Tony.

I might need your help. Oh Tony is like so excited about this and a little jealous that everyone else is getting like these magical fucking plants and seeds to work with. But like you have the love of a dandelion. What do you want? Yeah, we'll have a nice raised plant bed. It'll be separated and contained. We've got this. Um But before we go, you should also both know that Professor Mole and our new friend Dandelion. If you ever come across that the band.

Yes. He happened to be a very instrumental member of our little of our rep Kellion, the criminal. Fine bud. A fine but indeed, who helped us find your daughter? Indeed. He sacrificed himself and his bandits in order to ensure that we could make it down into the hole where Princess Burgundy was kept along patches. Well, I suppose if he lives from all of this, I can revisit my harsh restrictions on banditry in the realm. Hm. Well, you all are very strange and have given me lots to think about.

He was backing, backing away towards the portal. Like I do not want to be here a moment longer till his temper turns farewell. Farewell. Princess Burgundy says as you step through the portal and appear once again in Briar Glenn and you all have survived. You've done it. See now as you're looking back at Briar Glenn, the hole has been mysteriously like paved over.

I mean, the land is a mess like, but now you've got these magic carrots that will like grow and, and replenish your village and bunun is so happy. And I mean, Monte, you are hailed as a hero of your people. Like everybody said you were a hero because you were the only one with like literally any capability before. But like now you have, you have done it. Can you please give us like a little, a little story, a little montage? Like what happens to Monte after this heroic event, please?

I imagine that we arrived back at the village and everybody's doing like, hey hero, hero and I'm like, oh, please, please. I didn't do this long. Then I introduced to the other heroes that were here and I guess we do like this whole ceremony. We have like um a lot of carrot cake for everybody. The most delicious carrot cake, carrot cake, even like that. Like digestible gold. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

Yeah. And as I, I give the carrots, the blessed carrots to the leaders of the village and I keep like a couple of them and I hand those to um Tony to ya. They like so before we part ways and everything, it seems like you all have a bigger destiny around here. But if you ever need help or anything, just let me know and I will be there for you all to help you. Keep an eye out for our letters will do.

Lou will go over to him and give him a big hug and be like, first of all, you were right about the cake so good. I'm going to name a cake after you Limon when I open up my restaurant and she hands up like a little business card. I love it so much. And uh I will look forward to the day that we meet again. Thank you everybody and a will give uh she'll reach out and extend a little felt plushy of a black cauldron filled to the brim with gold as she imparts upon a bar of inspiration to you.

And she says whenever you need just a little bit of something extra to get to, to get you there. Think of us. What a lucky no. And I Monty just grabs it and I will always have it close to my heart. Thank you a amazing. So you all, you know, you all have a wonderful time. Much carrot cake has had Monte has a glorious future of heroism before him. And you all say your farewells and, and head off. It's, it's been a wonderful, perfect adventure. You all think you did it.

You survived, you fixed the sink. It is all wonderful. Oh, I love them. I could, I could live in the flower that I could. Oh, yeah, the blossom car. It's all good. It's all good here. I just never want to ever meet one of those worms ever again. They can stay below the ground. Uh I'm good, thanks. I'm good. Thank you. Good bye. And because though it uh we we cannot leave without doing a dream, a memory or a letter before you know, you all like complete a mission.

I imagine you all go back to the huts and you know, Monte is still enjoying his very, his parties and, and such. But all of you are pretty tired as you make your way back. And Tony, you have a dream. You're walking through a dappled glade, just, just beautiful forest all around you. And for some reason now it feels so much different than it did before. It's like you always knew the trees were there and could appreciate and feel them.

But something about them like that golden light, the way they shimmer and shine it, it just, it feels like they're talking to you speaking to you. And as you move, like in this dream, like state going from tree to tree, you, you happen upon a glade and somewhere like, you know, there's a babbling brook around you and it's just the most beautiful thing you've ever seen. And across this, this little pond, this figure like in in golden light steps gently across towards you.

And the the figure you see there, this woman, her, she's got green skin and her hair is leaves that sprouted from, from her skin and she smiles at you and like kind of holds her arms open and welcome. And then she looks at you and then she suddenly looks towards the side and smiles and holds out another hand to a figure of beautiful horse that comes towards you, a green skinned horse that you have met before.

As your friend, arrow walks into the dappled light and comes towards this woman like bowing his head and she places you know, a hand on his and then looks towards you and you both, they both look towards you smiling and seem to beckon you into that light. She is drawn like a magnet. Her feet are just taking her there without any thought and just as you reach them, you know, that memory, that light kind of fades everything out and you're in that pleasant dream feeling, a sense of contentment.

Like something about this, something about your new power. It feels so right, like exactly where you were meant to be. And that's where we're going to end the episode for today. The blossom cord we survived. We helped mother worm. I'm so proud of you all love it. Yeah. Amazing. Thank you. Thank you all so much for being here. Thank you so much, Jorge. It was so great having you here. We love Monte. I already miss him dearly. Uh Thank you so much to everybody. This was amazing. Thank you.

Thank you. I love him. I will miss him. Oh Love sad. But you, he will live on in our stomachs with his carrots, with his words. Yes. So thank you everybody so much for joining us. Um Yeah, before we go, obviously, we have some, we have some announcements. We always like to take some time to thank our Patreon donor is here.

So uh let's go around um Jorge again, remind people where they can find you, where they can support you, what you do in the TT R P G space and then also any exciting news you have coming up. All right. Uh It Me Rob Color. You can find me at TT R P gps on Twitter, Twitch and hive. And honestly, I just tell you saying this to everybody. This was a dream again. Thank you so much for inviting me. I it's such a pleasure and honestly dream come true and thank you so much.

We're so happy to have you like we, you are our number one pick from the beginning for our first guest that we wanted on, you know, in favor. And we thank you so much for everything you gave to the show, to the story. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Um And then yeah, in terms of other news, you also had something you wanted to bring up as well.

Yeah, as we know, as we always want to talk about while it's still happening, the Woman Life Freedom Revolution taking place in Iran right now, still happening, still going strong. And there's definitely campaigns online trying to draw attention away from that and trying to make people think that it's slowed down. It definitely hasn't. In fact, a new act has been passed in Congress by a huge majority.

The Masa Act I believe is what it's called uh to increase sanctions as well as encourage Biden administration to do everything in its power, to restore internet access for the people of Iran. Um So that's what they're working on right now and it's heading to the Senate at the moment. But ways that you can encourage that it doesn't that the people in office continue to amplify Iranian voices as you know, N F uh dot org, the link we are sending out right now.

There is an advocacy campaign on their website for you to find your representatives. There is a ready to go drafted email for you to uh send to your representative. They'll help you find your representative, uh, send it to them, call it, read it out to them, whatever it takes, just make sure people don't forget. Yes, you can find that link right now in chat as well as our podcast show notes.

And um as we close out our show, we always like to take some time to say a huge thank you to the people who support the show by whether you're here listening uh or leaving a rating and review. Um People who hit that subscribe button. People who like people who share people who talk about the show, people who donate on Patreon, you all are our big goddamn heroes. We know times are tough right now and the fact that you all keep showing up to support like just means the world to us. So thank you.

Thank you so much. We could not be here without you. Uh And so with that, we always like to take some time to thank our uh top donor tier or Patreon donors. Uh These are the folks who donate monthly or like you can donate annually at patreon dot com slash venture maidens uh to help support the show because we don't make any money doing this. Uh You get all our stuff for free. So like you all are our lifeline.

You keep the lights on and thank you, you beautiful, wonderful people starting with Debbie. Thank you so much. Thank you, Curry. Thank you muffin at the one on and lane on Twitter. Thank you so much, Nissa mckinnon and for Ferris drinking mate. Thank you so much Chris. Thank you, Marli. Thank you, fable. What's up, Tony? Thank you. Uh Thank you so much, Sheepish Dome and thank you Ben A K A flower crown gaming. You all are wonderful. You all are fantastic.

Uh I cannot wait to continue this story. All the interesting little threads we've gotten. Uh Thank you again, Jorge for being here. This has been just absolutely incredible. I'm not gonna forget. Let's do our show. Thank you so much. Everybody. I have been your dungeon master, Celeste Kano witch and I am Katie and I've been playing the very Seth, your drow rogue garlic chef, garlic chef, garlic master. And I'm Nasim Tama. I was your half for fighter and baby Druid Fitton, a silver tail.

Heck yes. And I am sage and I have been your wheeling and dealing Bard flannery and I am Jorge and I was Monte the Eldridge Knight Fighter. Yes. Well, thank you everybody so much for listening and until next time, thank you, let him off for it. You're so good at that. Ok. You some good