007 - Protectors - Beneath the Surface
007 - Protectors - Beneath the Surface
Content Warnings
Gunshots
Sounds of bones cracking
Meaty gore sounds
Arrow shots/hits
Character death/dying
[Show intro plays]
ROVER
Hello everyone and welcome back to Remains To Be Seen. The DnD show where one group's past can determine the other group's future. I am your host and DM Rover Elliott, pronouns he/they, and today I am here with...
ALYSSA
Hi, I'm Alyssa, she/her pronouns, and I am scared.
RIK
Rik, he/him. Well, I mean, I guess I'm scared too. Given that my character is literally in the middle of a fucking plaza!
ZOE
I'm Zoe, she/they, and I'm kinda also scared, but more for everyone else, so...
MIKE
I'm Mike, he/him pronouns, and I am not gonna die.
ROVER
And who are you guys playing?
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Yitri, she/her, and... hey, uhm, what's happening? Cause, uhm... I'm also scared.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Pierre, he/him, I'm gonna move the hell out of that center of the plaza and bolting straight for that door.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
Aleks, he/him. I am just having the worst day today.
MIKE [as KOL]
Kol, he/him, and I'm getting these people the fuck outta here.
ROVER
So, time for a little bit of a recap. Let's see. Zoe, can you give us a recap of the precious episodes?
ZOE
I will do my best. So, we started in London where Yitri, Aleks, and Pierre got recruited into the Protectors. We did some fun stuff there. We're looking for a guy named Jonny, looked in his workshop, got a few clues. Then we went on our way to Manchester on a train. We figured out Pierre cannot draw for the life of him, that was fun. We arrived in Manchester where we met Kol. Which was also interesting, because I don't think I've ever seen someone with less social skills than Kol, but it was really funny.
[Alyssa laughs]
MIKE
Hey, now!
[Laughter]
ZOE
It's not wrong. We went to a café. We also had the time of our lives there. We drank some coffee, we had some very healthy conversations among companions. Then I got nearly kidnapped, which was also really fun. Pierre then basically did therapy with the guy. We nearly got into Initiative, but then we didn't. The rest of the party interrogated them. He got thrown out a window and left, and then we left as well. Before anyone could make a smart decision, like for example; going to bed, Kol just scooped up Aleks and flew to the roof of the University.
MIKE
I'm catching some strays here, man.
[Laughter]
ZOE
Not our brightest moment, but it was really funny. Then we all stood on the roof, broke into the University into a classroom. Then Kol and Aleks got attacked by a bone spider. Or, everyone got attacked, but we were the only ones who actually got hit. Which then made me use my first spell slot of the day, which was healing Kol. Then a security guard came and she was like, "What is going on here?" I lied to her and she was like, "No worries, you guys are totally fine. Let me help you." So we went downstairs to a medical room, where then I got a healing potion. And then something happened with the security guard. She's not so fine right now. Then Pierre heard something and Kol and Pierre checked it out. Everything went to shit. We are now, once again, in combat. I had to use two more spell slots. Both on Kol, because of course.
[Laughter]
And now we're still in combat, and hopefully we won’t die.
[Alyssa loses it]
MIKE
I feel like... I'm sensing some hostility to say, Zoe.
ZOE
Do you?
MIKE
What have I done?
ROVER
So, that is indeed exactly where we are picking up. Combat, that's fun.
[Sounds of nighttime begin in the background as crickets start chirping]
ZOE
Yeah!
ROVER
To have a recap of our Initiative order, we are starting it off with Pierre, then the assassin on the roof. Then Kol, then we have Aleks, and then we have Alyssa. Alyssa? Uh, Yitri. Why do I have –?
ALYSSA
I'm in the fight now. They threw me in the fight.
[Laughter]
ZOE
That won't help us.
ROVER
Then we have Yitri. The last thing that happened, Yitri put on her glasses and couldn't see anyone anymore. That's the last thing that happened.
ALYSSA
Not even the party?
[Low ominous music starts playing in the background]
ROVER
Definitely the party, however you were looking up at the sky, so currently, if you're looking around, you can still see the party members. However, you cannot see the person on the roof.
ALYSSA
Ok, cool. Cool, cool.
ROVER
Anything else you still wanna do with, probably, the bonus action that had left.
ALYSSA
I'm Dashing and getting out of there. I'm getting out, I'm going back inside.
ROVER
Dashing is a full action, so if you just wanna run at your full movement speed.
ALYSSA
Uh, my movement speed's –
ROVER
You're 20 feet... if your full movement speed is, like, 30, then you’re inside.
ALYSSA
It's 30. It's 30, yeah.
ROVER
Mmhmm. Then you can run inside if that's what you want.
ALYSSA
I book it. Yitri books it inside.
ROVER
Amazing. So the new Initiative turn starts. And from the... They have two bodyguards running outside from the Bard College. Which for everyone would be on the right side of the University building. Pierre, your turn.
RIK
You said that they're running out from the Bard College.
ROVER
Yes.
RIK
Which one is the building we are going into?
ROVER
University. The main hall.
RIK
Oh, ok, ok. I see, I see, ok. I think Pierre's just gonna book it. He's gonna Dash and use all of his movement to get inside. Bash the door open if needed, but I think it's already opened by Yitri, so uh... he's just gonna book it.
ROVER
Absolutely. Yeah, so everything you wanna do with your turn? You guys can talk, by the way in combat.
RIK
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Inside, everyone! Come one! Come on, inside!
ROVER
Cool. Then our good old friend, the assassin is maybe still there. Let's see, because we have learned from the last episode that this creature has three attacks. So, currently outside we still have Kol, ten feet, we have Yitri is now inside, and we have two bodyguards. It's gonna go one attack to each of them. We'll start off with Kol.
[Dice thumps]
MIKE
Ok.
ROVER
What is your AC?
MIKE
15.
ZOE
Don't fucking crit again, Ro, please.
RIK
What... what is this smirk? What is...?
MIKE
No, don't look at me like that! The listeners can't see your looks. But I'm telling you listeners, that was the fucking sliest look I've ever seen.
ROVER
No, I didn't. I didn't. I didn't. I didn't. I know, I didn't. I didn't. That is.. you get shot in the back with 15 damage.
[Arrow flies past and lands]
MIKE
Fifteen damage?!
RIK
He's joking, right?
ROVER
That was fifteen damage.
MIKE
What?! That's over half my life.
ROVER
Then we have...
[Dice thumps]
And the bodyguard... Bodyguard gets a miss.
[Arrow zooms past]
And the other bodyguard also gets a miss.
[Another arrow zooms past]
It keeps being Kol that gets hit.
ALYSSA
Kol!
ZOE
Kol's just an arrow magnet.
ALYSSA
Oh my god.
MIKE
Literally. Running away and it's just like, argh!
ROVER
Yeah, for real!
[Laughter]
And that was everything they were gonna do with their turn. Cool.
MIKE
Dun, dun!
[Laughter]
Ha, ha, ha! Ho, ho, ho! Uhm, so I am ten feet from the door, right?
ROVER
You're ten feet from the door.
MIKE
Ok. Last episode, I –
RIK
Get the fuck in.
ROVER
Mmhmm.
MIKE
Hold on, hold on. Last episode, I –
RIK
I'm holding on.
MIKE
Hold on... (laughs) Wait, hear me out. So, if Kol's gonna get shot in the back, my god, like... So, I think the thing that Kol would do in this situation is; can I still see the thing... the person I was shooting at before?
ROVER
Yes. That is the main attacker, yeah.
MIKE
Perfect. Right, I'm going to fire up at that position again with my revolver.
[Revolver cocks]
ROVER
Ok. Go for it. Roll me the attack roll.
MIKE
Yeah, let's go! Fucking eat this, you...
ROVER
Don't miss this time.
ALYSSA
Don't say that.
ZOE
Don't jinx him.
[Rover giggles]
MIKE
Why would you say that? Because now I've missed! It's a 5.
[Laughter]
It's a 5 plus 5, which makes 10.
ALYSSA
Wow! You literally cursed his dice!
ROVER
That is indeed a miss.
MIKE
Unbelievable. And then I'm gonna carry on... I'm gonna use the rest of my movement to carry on running back through the door to take cover around. And what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna dive through the door and I'm gonna take cover round behind, you know where the side of the door is.
ROVER
Yeah, yeah.
MIKE
So I can still peek around if needs be and keep an eye on what's going on. But not so that I can be in direct eye-line. And in doing so, I'm going to scrape my back along the wall to snap the arrow that's currently embedded in my back.
[Arrow snaps]
ROVER
Smart, smart. Alright, so technically, we still have Aleks and Yitri left in the Initiative order, so let's start with Aleks. And then we'll, at the end, finish it up.
ZOE
Before I start my order, like my turn...
ROVER
Yeah.
ZOE
Mike, do we need to take Kol to target practice?
[Laughter]
MIKE
I like to see you land a shot.
RIK
Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!
ZOE
Fine! (Laughing) When I get the range to do that!
MIKE
Go on then! Show me how it's done, oh sharpshooter mine.
ZOE
(Laughs) No, thank you, I'd rather put my concentration into healing you once again, I guess.
ALYSSA
Wow!
MIKE
That's what I thought.
[Rik laughs]
ZOE
But first I'm going completely inside, cause I don't have the range to actually do something.
ROVER
Mmhmm.
ZOE
Neither with my spells, nor with the lovely shortbow that I have.
ROVER
Mmhmm.
ZOE
Uhm, so I'm inside. Everyone's inside right now, right?
ROVER
Everyone's inside, yeah.
ZOE
Apart from the bodyguards who came out of a different building?
ROVER
Is the door open or not? I need to know.
ALYSSA
I think Yitri opened... Yitri would've opened the door.
ROVER
Ok.
ZOE
Yeah, and I'm like, I'm thinking... If we close the door now, which would probably be kinda smart, but also... does that kill the other security guards who just came out running?
ALYSSA
They're not our prob– No, nevermind, I can't say that.
MIKE
(Laughs) Woooow!
ZOE
(Laughing) What were you gonna say?
ALYSSA
I said it's not our problem, but I realised it is. I have an idea!
MIKE
Woow!
ALYSSA
I have an idea! (Laughs) Nevermind, I forgot that I'm the Protector!
MIKE
Yitri's out here like, "NPC's are collateral!" (Laughs)
ALYSSA
No, no, no!
ROVER
Do it, Yitri. Leave them to die.
RIK
The Devil on Yitri's shoulder. (Laughs)
ALYSSA
It's ok, it's ok. I take it back. I take it back. I take it back. Uhm, I have an idea.
MIKE
Alyssa, I didn't say I wasn't on board!
ZOE
(Chuckles) Alright!
MIKE
I'm just saying! I didn't say I didn't agree!
[Laughter]
ZOE
Right, so, uhm. Mike, how many hitpoints do you have right now?
MIKE
11.
ZOE
Ok. (Laughs) Ok, I am not gonna close the door. I am going to step to the side, to Kol's side. I do want to leave the security guards an opportunity to come run inside if they can. There are still people before me, like between me and the assassin, so if that's a stupid idea, anyone else can close the door. I am going to Kol and I'm going to cast Cure Wounds again with my last spell slot.
RIK
Oh my god.
[Mike gasps]
ROVER
Ok. You cast Cure Wounds
MIKE
Are you actually?
ZOE
Yeah, let me.
MIKE
Aw, man.
ZOE
Ok.
[Dice clacks]
That's 9. You get 9 hitpoints back.
ROVER
Nice. That's good.
ZOE
No, it wasn't. I rolled really badly. (Laughs)
MIKE
Honestly, it's pretty amazing. I think when you do that, Kol is gonna, like, almost watch you out of his peripheral vision, like, come around behind him and do the laying on off hands. And just, without turning because he's laser focused on what's going on out the door, he's just gonna grab your hand and be like,
MIKE [as KOL]
This really means something to me. Thank you.
MIKE
As the arrow is slowly forced out of his back.
ROVER
Ouch!
[Sounds of an arrow being pulled out of flesh]
MIKE
Just like, (pained groan). And then he lets go of your hand.
ROVER
Alright, and then we still have... Is there anything you wanna do with your bonus action?
ZOE
o. No, not this time.
ROVER
Ok. Then to finish it up; Yitri, it's your last turn in Initiative.
ALYSSA
Ok, so the security guards. How far away are they from where we are now?
ROVER
About 70 feet.
ALYSSA
Fuck, ok.
ROVER
70, 80.
ALYSSA
Hmm, ok. What I'm gonna do is not gonna work, then. Cause I have one Fey Step per short or long rest. We haven't rested, so I can't use it again.
ROVER
Mmhmm.
ALYSSA
I wanted to run and try to grab one of them and take them back. I don't know if I have the movement speed to do it.
ROVER
It's whatever you wanna do. What would Yitri do in this very moment?
ZOE
Well, apparently let them die.
ALYSSA
(Laughing) That wasn't... Alyssa would let them die. Yitri's... I'm kidding, I'm kidding, I'm kidding! I'm kidding, I'm kidding, I'm kidding!
RIK
Heartless. Literally, heartless.
ZOE
We're the good guys, right?
MIKE
We're really finding things out about each other this session, aren't we? Good lord. (Laughs)
ALYSSA
(Laughs) So, Yitri's gonna kind of look to where she is, look out to the security guards, take a deep breath, and she's gonna try to run towards one of them and grab them. And try to run back.
ROVER
What is your movement speed?
ALYSSA
30.
ROVER
So you want to use your full action to Dash to them?
ALYSSA
Yes.
ROVER
Cause it will... you will still not be with them.
MIKE
How far away are they?
ROVER
They are about 70/80. And a full Dashing is 60.
MIKE
Oh. Ooh.
ALYSSA
'm trying to think of what I can do, cause I wanna help them. Uh, I used my Fey Step to get Pierre on the roof.
RIK
Aren't they at the entrance of the Bard College building?
ROVER
They are about 20 feet outside.
RIK
Yeah, what if you Fey Stepped towards them.
ALYSSA
I can't Fey Step.
ZOE
Yeah, she can't Fey Step herself.
RIK
Oh!
ROVER
She used that to get onto the building.
ALYSSA
Yeah, we used that to get on the roof.
RIK
Oh! That's true. Ok.
ZOE
What if you gestured to them that they should just go back inside?
ALYSSA
Ok. That's what I'm gonna do. She's gonna...
MIKE
Frantically wave and point at the door. (Laughs) "Go! Go!"
ALYSSA
She's gonna walk out a little bit and just be like,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
You, over there! Hey! You! You? Right? Ok, get inside, now! No, not this way, go into the door behind you. That's quicker! There... Go inside! Please!
ROVER
Give me a Persuasion with advantage.
ALYSSA
Yaay!
MIKE
Ooh! Alright!
RIK
Yitri is such a treat, oh my goodness.
ALYSSA
Yaay!
ROVER
Because they, at this point, also saw someone get his by an arrow.
[Dice shaking in Alyssa's hands and clack on the table]
ALYSSA
(Gasps) Thank god it was advantage, I got a nat 20! Let's go!
ZOE
(Claps) Nice! Nice!
MIKE
(Clapping) Let's go! Let's go!
RIK
Oh! Yes!
ROVER
Nice!
ALYSSA
I rolled a 13 and a 20 and with my Persuasion, I have... Wait, where's my Persuasion? I have a plus 3, so that's a 23, baby! (Laughing) Let's go!
ZOE
Nice!
RIK
Oh, shit!
MIKE
Dang!
ROVER
So, yeah. Both of them see you, and indeed like you said, first wanted to go over to you. Then you yell at them to turn back. And they do. I'm gonna do one more dice roll to see if one of them gets hit, because I pre-rolled for them and, technically, they both hit. However, with the Persuasion check of 20 and them getting back quickly, I'm willing to roll it again.
ZOE
How kind.
ROVER
If this one hits, one of them is down.
[Dice thunks]
MIKE
Oh my god.
ROVER
And it does.
[Grunts from everyone]
So...
ALYSSA
Fuck!
ROVER
You can see as both of them –
RIK
Samuel, no!
[Laughter]
ROVER
– run inside, the last one that wants to run inside gets hit.
[Arrow flies past and lands]
Same thing, straight in the back. Goes down.
[Body thumps on the floor]
Onto the floor.
MIKE
Oh my god.
ALYSSA
Shit.
ROVER
And you guys are now outside out of Initiative order.
MIKE
Oh!
ROVER
I will say, as long as you guys are not in the battle map... theater of the mind battle map, you guys are out of Initiative. It's currently because there is no one there that can... the attacker is not able to even see you, be near you, because they are above you.
ZOE
Are the buildings connected on the inside?
ROVER
They are not connected. It's like... the pathway’s like this cross that goes between buildings. So you have the main University, the Bard College, the library and the green house and stuff.
ALYSSA
If I try to grab the one that got shot, will I go back into Initiative?
ROVER
You will immediately go back into Initiative. So I will say, because you were also the last one, you can do that, but we will immediately go back.
ALYSSA
Fuck it, I'm gonna do it.
ROVER
You're gonna run?
ALYSSA
Yup! I'm gonna run!
ZOE
Wait, before you run…
RIK
Oh my god.
MIKE
Oh god.
ZOE
Do you just start sprinting or will we as the party have the tiniest bit of reaction time?
ALYSSA
I think a tiny bit of reaction time. Cause she's thinking and you can kind of... As she sees the other security guard go down, you kind of see her look between where she is, where the other person was. Like, you can kind of see the gears turning, and see that she's trying to see what she can do to help. And then she kind of... You see her move a little bit and then stop. And then, as she's thinking about "do I run out?". So you have time to convince her not to do this.
ROVER
Yeah, I will say, because the only thing you did was yell, use your Persuasion check. I don't... I will not count it as an action. You could use your action to Dash so you can still do the 60 feet. However, they are now still 80 feet away, because they're at another building.
ZOE
I'm gonna cast Bardic Inspiration on Yitri.
RIK
Ooh!
ALYSSA
Ok. Let's go! Ok, so what does that entail?
ROVER
Yeah, so remind us how Bardic Inspiration works and how you cast it.
ZOE
Ok, so. I mean, normally it's a bonus action. Currently...
ROVER
I will call it a reaction.
ZOE
I just do it?
ROVER
All good.
ZOE
Uhm, so I basically inspire another creature within 60 feet. In this case Yitri. And that gives her, like, an extra die.
ROVER
Mmhmm.
ZOE
Basically when Yitri rolls a D20, and it fails, she can roll the Bardic die, which I think is a D6? Right?
ROVER
Mmm, for level 3, that is indeed a D6.
ZOE
Ok. And then she can add the number from the D6 to that D20 and then potentially succeed.
ROVER
Yeah, so this can be with attack rolls, ability scores. Not with damage.
ZOE
Yeah. So. Ok, Ro, hear me out. Do you think it would count as, like, dancing if he does like the most dramatic end pose bow you can ever imagine?
ROVER
Yes! Absolutely! Do a bow! That works.
ZOE
Yeah, like a little, kinda respect thing towards Yitri, because he's not trying to stop her. It's just like, "I'm supporting you however I can." So, go.
ALYSSA
That's so cute!
ROVER
So Aleks bow and you now have Bardic Inspiration.
[Twinkling sound of Bardic Inspiration]
I will use the, if that's alright with everyone, I will use Initiative that we had, just with Yitri starting.
MIKE
I have questions. (Laughs)
ROVER
You have questions.
MIKE
Uhm, listener, whenever I go quiet for a period like that, it's because I'm scheming.
ROVER
Good to know.
MIKE
That's not for you, Ro, that's for the listeners. That was a soliloquy. The GM can't hear that, nor can the DM.
ALYSSA
(Laughing) "That was a soliloquy."
MIKE
These are my soliloquies. Uhm, so, I, uhm. Right, I have three questions. Right, question number one: how high is this building? That I am in, because I'm inside at the moment, tucked behind the door.
ROVER
I think we said something like 80 feet as well?
MIKE
Didn't we... I can't remember what we said last time.
ROVER
Yeah, 80 or 100 feet, something like that.
MIKE
Pick whichever one you prefer.
ROVER
90.
MIKE
Ok. Split the difference, ok. It's about 90 feet up. Ok.
ROVER
Yeah.
MIKE
Question number two: the arrows that were coming across, were they coming from the building that I'm in, or the building across the courtyard?
ROVER
The building that you guys are in.
RIK
Wait, but didn't an arrow land in Koltrast's back?
ROVER
(Whispering) I know, I fucked up. Don't mention it. (Laughs)
[Laughter]
MIKE
No, not, it's okay. They were flying down. I tripped a little bit and stumbled and then they were like *pew*, and I was like, "You fuck!" Yeah, you know. It's okay.
ROVER
(Whispering) It's fine, they're firing down. It's okay, it's okay. I messed up. Like six seconds after that, I was like, "That's a problem. I don't care."
MIKE
No, no, that's okay, it's alright.You can do a bit of audio to cover that up. It's fine.
ROVER
(Whispering) That's fine. Shh, it's okay.
MIKE
And then I can do the audio about the rubbing at the back thing. We'll cover it up. We'll cover it up. It's okay.
ROVER
(Whispering) Yeah, perfect. It's all good. Yeah.
MIKE
Question number three: if we are going back into Initiative, and Yitri's at the top. Yitri, I have a question for you.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Uhuh!
MIKE
Mike to Yitri, coming in.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Mmhmm. Yeah, hi Mike!
MIKE
Are you receiving?
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
I am receiving, Mike. Hi, nice to meet you, Mike! It's so cool. I'm a big fan! Big fan!
MIKE
Hi! Hi, it's so good to meet you! Big fan!
[Laughter]
So if I were to switch my Initiative with you, would that be okay, Yitri?
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Hmm.
MIKE
Now, have a good old think-thunk about this one.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Hmm.
MIKE
Because, if you want to go first, I'm more than happy. But if you wanna swap, I also have an idea. But if you have an idea and you wanna do it and you wanna go first, you do it. You go, girl. Like, I'm not gonna stop you. Seriously. Slay. I am ready for it.
ALYSSA
(Laughs) Slay!
ROVER
Let me give you a bit of insight to how that would happen. Then Kol would go first, and you would go fourth.
ALYSSA
I'm gonna say no.
MIKE
Ok.
ALYSSA
Solely because I think you'd be better as backup. Kol would be a better backup than Yitri in this situation.
MIKE
Ok. Alright. I respect that.
ALYSSA
Because if, like... Kol could probably get there faster. Cause he can fly. Yitri can't. Cause she made Pierre fly on the roof like an hour ago, so.
ZOE
But, it's fixed that Kol is going into Initiative, back. Like, right outside.
ROVER
The moment Yitri steps outside, everyone's back in the same Initiative, except for Yitri first.
MIKE
Yeah, we just moved Yitri to the top of the order.
ROVER
Yeah.
ZOE
Ok.
ALYSSA
Yay! (Chuckles) Sorry, guys. I'm trying to be a Protector.
ROVER
Yeah, no, perfect. So, you wanna Dash to them as your action?
ALYSSA
Yes.
ROVER
Ok, go for it. Sixty feet. You are now about 20 feet away from the person that's down with the arrow in their back.
ALYSSA
Ok, cool.
ROVER
Everyone, give me a Perception check that isn't Yitri.
ALYSSA
Aargh, I fucked up!
RIK
Oh dear goodness.
MIKE
(Hums) Oh no!
ALYSSA
Ooh! I was trying to be good!
[Dice clacks]
And stupid. This was fully a dumb decision, but...
ZOE
A 16.
MIKE
21.
ROVER
16, 21. Pierre?
RIK
11.
ROVER
11. 16 and 21. So Aleks and Pierre…
RIK
Uh, Koltrast.
ROVER
Uh, Pierre? Kol. Kol gets extra description. Sorry, yes,
RIK
Yeah. (Chuckles)
ROVER
So, remember that first arrow that flew through the door that came from, probably, the dormitory? There is no one with an arrow. However, from the dormitory, the person that you guys first saw, the person that you were going after, the tall, Orcish man, with the blindfold… And the large, large, Greatsword.
MIKE
Oh, no. Oh, no.
ROVER
Like, I'm not talking normal Greatsword. I'm talking... If I... I found the perfect description for this. For the people that have played the game Expedition 33, Simon.
[Mike laughs]
Think large sword! On his back. Stands there, blindfold still on. Does not walk towards anyone. Is just standing there. Has seen, now, Koltrast, Aleks, and definitely Yitri. They are about...
MIKE
Ugh!
ROVER
Yeah, same thing, 80 feet away from Yitri. But they are not back in view.
ALYSSA
Sorry! (Chuckles)
ROVER
Pierre! It's your turn.
MIKE
Oh god.
RIK
Aargh! What the fuck?
MIKE
Oh god. You gotta describe this to the listeners, dude. (Laughs)
ROVER
So, everyone, currently is; one of them has tried to make a heart. The other one is manically thinking, if we look at Zoe.
ZOE
Nah, I'm just disappointed.
ROVER
Then we have Mike who's praying.
[Rik laughs]
And Pierre... Pierre? Rik who's trying also not to combust.
RIK
Oh my god.
MIKE
Who knew it'd be a podcast that'd help me find religion?
ROVER
I wanna make this very clear for the listeners: I did not tell them to continue doing this.
ZOE
No, we actually agreed to fucking leave.
ROVER
This is not me. This is them.
MIKE
This is... Yeah, this is our own volition.
ALYSSA
You guys can leave! You can leave Yitri, if you want.
ROVER
Pierre? It's your turn.
RIK
Mr DM. How far away is...
[Mike laughs]
(Laughs) Mr DM.
ROVER
Mmhmm?
RIK
How far away is that med-room?
ROVER
The med-room? I'd say... oh god... 50 feet back?
RIK
Which is into the building, yes.
ROVER
Maybe not even. 40? 40, 50.
RIK
What I want to do, is I wanna, mayhaps, run to that med-bay and see if I can find any healing potions. Cause we might need them. Soon TM.
ROVER
Smart. You can do that.
ALYSSA
(Laughs) Might? Might?
ZOE
Might?
MIKE
(Laughing) Might? Might?
RIK
I think we're gonna need them. Soon TM. Ok, uhm...
ROVER
So, you wanna go find healing potion in the infirmary?
RIK
Yes.
ROVER
You can do that. Do you wanna use your Dash to get immediately to the actual room?
RIK
Yeah, I'm gonna need to do that, yeah.
ROVER
I will still allow you to do an Investigation check for healing potions as a bonus action.
RIK
Yeah, ok. Yeah, Pierre's gonna Dash towards the med-bay. And is the door closed?
ROVER
I don't think you guys closed the door, no. The Halfling woman is, by the way, still inside. Still laying on the infirmary bed. She is still staring up at the ceiling.
RIK
Shit, uh... (Chuckles)
ROVER
Give me an Investigation check on finding healing potions.
[Dice clacks]
RIK
Uh, let's see. That's a 4 plus my 3 on Investigation. That's higher than I thought. That's not much, but it's honest work.
[Laughter]
ROVER
You can find… You can find one. You can find one on the desk. One normal healing potion.
MIKE
Ro is being so kind. Thank you, thank you, DM. (Laughing) Thank you.
RIK
So gracious, yes.
ROVER
Alright. Pierre, your entire movement is gone, your action's gone, you used your bonus action to do the investigation. I think that's it.
RIK
Yep, that would be it.
ROVER
Then... (Sighs) The assassin on the roof. Hey Yitri, are you ready for three attacks, because you're the only person outside?
[Alyssa sobs]
Hold on. Here we go.
[Ominous dice thumps]
ALYSSA
Yeah.
ROVER
I dropped my dice.
ALYSSA
That means they all miss.
RIK
Dear listener, I'm gonna amend my statement. We need these healing potions.
ROVER
I rolled one miss.
[More ominous dice thumps]
[Arrow flies past]
I rolled one hit.
[Arrow flies past and lands]
[One last ominous dice thump]
MIKE
Oh. Ok.
ROVER
And I rolled another miss.
[Arrow flies past]
MIKE
(Breathes a sigh of relief) Thank –
ALYSSA
Let's fucking go! Ok.
ZOE
Hey, at least it's not death in one turn.
[Dice clacks]
ROVER
You take 10 piercing damage.
ALYSSA
Ok. Also, question; does the emotional damage from last session count as actual damage?
[Rik laughs]
Like, when you said, "You take 1 emotional damage", does that count?
ROVER
If I said actual, "Take one emotional damage," then yes, it counts.
ALYSSA
Fucking shit, ok.
[Zoe laughs]
ROVER
You take 10 piercing damage from another arrow.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
(Grunts) Oh, fuck!
ROVER
Now actually in your back, because it's actually from behind.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Ah, shit!
ROVER
Kol, it's your turn. You can see the person with the Grandsword, as I like to call 'em. And you can see Yitri getting shot. Two arrows hit on the ground. On the sides of her.
MIKE
Ok. I see two paths. Path number one is I can do something relatively cool, to get some healing to you
[Alyssa chuckles]
ROVER
Mmhmm.
MIKE
Path number two is covering fire. And how far... right. Mr. DM, how far away are these people?
ROVER
You have to determine which people.
MIKE
Ok, so how far away is Yitri from me right now?
ROVER
Yitri is 60 feet away from you.
MIKE
Ok. And how far is the Grandsword-wielding boss? I mean, guy.
ROVER
Grandsword is 100 feet away from you and the person on the roof is 90 feet up.
MIKE
But I can see them?
ROVER
The person... up, you can't, because you're inside. But you can see Yitri and Grandsword.
MIKE
Oh, yes, cause they're on the same building as me.
ROVER
Yeah.
MIKE
Yes, of course. Yes, not being able to see through buildings; the ultimate failing of the Aarakocra.
[Laughter]
ZOE
Yeah. It's disappointing.
MIKE
Who shot Yitri? It was the person on the roof?
ROVER
The person on the roof.
MIKE
(Grunts) God damn... Ok, alright, ok.
ALYSSA
I would say; get me heals. I would say that's the best... If it's a cool way to get me heals, I think that's the best way to do it.
ROVER
Quick question. Quick… Quick DM question.
MIKE
Oh, ok.
ROVER
Yitri, with your subclass, because your subclass is World Tree, can't you also do healing. Remind me.
ALYSSA
Hmm, yeah? Wait, ok, hold on, I'm looking.
ROVER
Subclass mention?
ALYSSA
Subclass mention! Only if I'm in Rage.
ROVER
Only if you're in range. Not for yourself?
ALYSSA
Only if I’m Raging.
ROVER
Oh, in Rage! I thought you heard 'range'.
ALYSSA
Once I Rage, maybe. Oh, sorry, sorry, Rage, like "Rargh!". Not like –
ROVER
Yeah. Got it, got it, got it, got it. Ok. Koltrast.
MIKE
Oh, yeah, sure. Ok. Alright. I think I've got it. Right. I am, with my free action, if I may, Mr. DM.
ROVER
Mmhmm.
MIKE
I am going to, from the inside of one of my pockets… I am going to produce my healing potion and I am going to slap that into the hand of Zoe who is behind me.
ROVER
Aleks, yes.
ZOE
Where did I come from?
[Alyssa laughs]
MIKE
Sorry, I'm gonna slap that into the hand of Aleks, who's behind me.
ROVER
Yeah.
MIKE
With a,
MIKE [as KOL]
Throw this to them.
MIKE
Do you take it?
ZOE
Yeah, yeah, I'm taking it.
MIKE
Perfect.
ROVER
That will count as a reaction, yeah, sure.
MIKE
I appreciate you.
ROVER
I'm being very nice, currently, by the way.
MIKE
You are being... I agree.
ALYSSA
Thank you.
MIKE
I agree, you're being incredibly nice. The next thing I'm going to do is, with the healing, I assume my wings are fixed.
ROVER
Your wings are fixed.
MIKE
It's time to go, baby. I am going to Dash 60 feet up the side of the building.
ROVER
Ok.
MIKE
Staying as close as I can to the wall so that hopefully, the person above me can't see me.
RIK
I love this bird.
ROVER
Give me a Stealth check with that.
MIKE
Oh. Oh god, ok, alright. (Laughs) Please, please, please, I need this to work. Ok, hold on, hold on, I need..
ROVER
I'm gonna roll their Perception.
MIKE
Yeah, yeah, yeah, ok, alright, ok, alright.
[Dice thumps]
17.
ROVER
Yeah, you can do that, cause I rolled a 5.
MIKE
YES!
ALYSSA
Let's go! Let's go!
MIKE
Yeah, let's go! Let's go!
ROVER
How far do you fly up, then, with your... do you use your Dash action?
MIKE
Yeah, I'm gonna use my Dash action to fly as high as I can. So, it'll be 60 feet upwards. So straight out the door and up.
ROVER
Yeah. Then you are now 30 feet away from the person on the roof.
MIKE
Yes.
ROVER
I will warn you with this; if you, in the next time, get shot out of the air, there is no saving it. If it goes through the wings.
MIKE
Ok.
ROVER
You're down, there's no Feather Fall that can save you. Just letting you know that.
MIKE
I know. I accept this. But we're in... I'll tell you what, we're in a weird situation.
ROVER
Yeah.
MIKE
And desperate times call for desperate measures.
[Laughter]
And my character is hellbent on getting these people out of this situation that he caused, so... So, this is where we are.
ROVER
Ok. You use your action. Anything you still wanna do with your bonus action?
MIKE
I don't think there's very much I can do with my bonus action, rn.
ROVER
Yeah, no, I don't think so.
MIKE
So, I'm gonna stay stealthed against the wall.
ROVER
Ok, Aleks, it's your turn.
ZOE
Mmhmm.
ROVER
You're inside. You can't see Kol anymore. Except for if you look up, but...
ZOE
Yeah, no.
ROVER
You have seen the person at the dormitory. Pierre still hasn't, but you have seen the person at the dormitory with the Grandsword. You have seen Yitri get shot and Kol's up. Pierre is also gone, by the way. Pierre is in the infirmary.
ZOE
Yeah, yeah, yeah. How does throwing work?
ROVER
Throwing is if I'm correct, I'm gonna double check it, is Strength.
ZOE
What is, like, the range on that, for example?
ROVER
I will indeed say... You know what? Yeah, let it be a ranged spell attack, which means... it is a... Dex. It's Dexterity. It's a D20 plus your Dexterity.
ZOE
Ok. What is the... what is the range on that? How do I know how far I can throw?
ROVER
If you walk outside with your normal movement and then throw, then it's a normal one. If not, I'm gonna have you throw with disadvantage.
ZOE
Ok.
ROVER
By the way, if you miss; potion's broken.
ZOE
Yeah. So, theoretically... Wait, so you say, if I –
ROVER
With a hit, by the way, I will allow Yitri to also catch it.
ZOE
So if I stay where I am and try to throw it, then it's with disadvantage?
ROVER
Disadvantage.
ZOE
And, so... I could be risky. No, wait, no, I can't be risky.
ROVER
Everyone is being risky, so...
ZOE
Yeah, no, obviously.
[Mike laughs]
ZOE
I was hoping that I could use Bardic Inspiration for myself as, like, a kinda fail-safe on the disadvantage thing. But I don't think I can. I think it's just other people, right?
ROVER
I think so, yeah.
ZOE
Ok. And the throwing is then the action, right?
ROVER
Yeah.
ZOE
And Dashing is also an action?
ROVER
Dashing is also an action, yes.
MIKE
Whether through the snow, or otherwise.
ZOE
Aargh! Yeah. (Sighs) Ok. I'm gonna run out my 30 feet and I'm gonna throw the potion towards Yitri.
ROVER
Ok.
MIKE
Oh boy.
ZOE
Because, what else can I do?
ROVER
Ok. Roll me a D20 plus your Dexterity.
[Mike grunts]
ZOE
Plus my… Ok.
ROVER
If this... I will say, if you roll higher than a 10, Yitri can catch it.
ZOE
Ok, so higher than 10 with the Dexterity, right? So, I need to get a 7 or...
ROVER
With the Dexterity, yes, so DC 10.
ZOE
Alright, alright. Gods, please.
[Dice clacks]
That is a 21!
MIKE
Woah!! (Laughs)
RIK
Let's go!
ZOE
Aargh!
ALYSSA
Let's fucking go! Let's fucking go! I catch that shit with my mouth. I'm kidding.
MIKE
Let's go!
ROVER
Yitri, you now have a healing potion. Good job. Aleks, you are now in range. That was your action with your movement. You still have a bonus action if you want to.
ZOE
Uhm, what bonus actions, like, what things count as bonus actions?
ALYSSA
Can you run back with your bonus action?
ROVER
No, because he's moved all his movement speed.
ZOE
Uhm…
ROVER
You can drink a potion.
ZOE
I don't have a potion.
ROVER
You can...
ALYSSA
The potions? I have it.
[Laughter]
ROVER
You can yell at someone if you want.
ZOE
(Laughs) No, we're doing that later.
[Alyssa laughs]
MIKE
(Chuckles) Oh, you're in trouble.
ROVER
Cast cantrips that are bonus actions.
ZOE
Yeah. Iis anyone who is, like, 'evil' in range right now?
ROVER
Currently in range? What is your range?
ZOE
With 60 feet. When you say I can cast cantrips as bonus actions, is there someone I can just cast Vicious Mockery on?
ROVER
No, not in range.
ZOE
No! Ok.
ROVER
Sorry.
ZOE
No, that's fine. That's fine. Yeah, no, I'll just end my turn and hope I don't die until I can run back inside.
ROVER
Alright. Yitri. It's your turn again. You now have a healing potion.
ALYSSA
Bonus action; downing that fucking healing potion. That's what I'm doing first.
ROVER
Ok. That is 2D4 plus 2.
ALYSSA
You said 2D4 plus 2?
ROVER
Yeah.
ALYSSA
So that is 7 extra points.
ROVER
Ok.
ALYSSA
I got 7 points of damage back. Uhm, hold on, I'm... My brain.
ROVER
So that's your bonus action, because we used… Normally a healing potion is an action. However, I'm saying "fuck that shit" and we're using healing potions, or any kind of potion, as a bonus action.
ALYSSA
Yeah, hold on a second. And so now, you said, "20 feet away from me, the other person," right?
ROVER
Yeah. Yeah.
ALYSSA
So, what I'm gonna do; I'm gonna run to the other person. I'm going to ask...
ROVER
You wanna check if he's alive or not?
ALYSSA
Yes!
ROVER
Then you can do me a Medicine check as an action, or you can not do that and drag them inside. It's whatever you want.
ALYSSA
I'm gonna... You know what? Yeah. There's someone shooting at me, so what Yitri's gonna do, she's gonna see the person on the ground, hoist them over her shoulder, and try to go back.
ROVER
Wait, ok, hold up. They are in front of the door…
[Mike laughs]
ALYSSA
Oh, wait, actually, no, no! She's gonna go towards the door.
ROVER
Hold up, they are in front of the door of the Bard College.
ALYSSA
She's going to Bard College.
ROVER
You're gonna go into the Bard College?
ALYSSA
She's going to Bard College! She's going to Bard College!
ROVER
You're into Bard College now.
ALYSSA
But, yeah, she's gonna hoist them up and run to Bard College. Do I have to roll for that?
ROVER
You're into Bard College now.
ALYSSA
Nevermind.
ROVER
No, I will allow you to do that. Because it's technically...
ALYSSA
Yay!
ROVER
It halves your speed and you had 10 feet left, so that becomes 5, you can still go inside.
ALYSSA
Ok, cool. So, she runs inside.
ROVER
Pierre.
RIK
(Sighs) After hastily looking around the room, Pierre is gonna hurry the fuck back. Use his Dash.
ROVER
You wanna use your Dash action again?
RIK
I wanna use my Dash action.
ROVER
Ok, cool.
RIK
And while he's running, he's gonna be like,
RIK [as PIERRE]
Merde. These people... I-I... (grunts). Please don't die Yitri, please don't die!
RIK
Do I still see that Yitri is going inside at the tail end of my action?
ROVER
I will say you can see that Yitri is gone inside. You can see that Aleks is now outside.
RIK
So, I still have, like... I mean, with my Dash, right? I can do 80 feet in total, right?
ROVER
Yes. So, you technically have 40-ish... 40 feet left?
RIK
It was 50 feet towards the med-bay, so.
ROVER
Yeah, that's why...
RIK
30 feet about left, right?
ROVER
30 feet, you have 30 feet left. You could reach Aleks, if you want.
RIK
Hmm. What if I… What if I… What if I…
ROVER
Everyone's shaking their head. (Laughs)
RIK
Oh. Oh, dear. We're not... we're not gonna be... Stay inside. Oh. Stay inside. Oh? No? You don't know, ok. Oh inside, ok, yeah. Ok. Hmm. Hmm.
[Alyssa laughs]
ROVER
Six seconds.
RIK
Ok, uh. Pierre's gonna go towards Aleks and try to push them inside.
ROVER
You can't push him inside. You're gonna reach Aleks. You guys are now both 30 feet outside. You both are in view.
ALYSSA
(Laughs) You ran out of... You ran... 'Ro-nice' points. We ran out of 'Ro-nice' points. We used them all up and you did this.
ROVER
I'm done.
MIKE
Aargh, the bank's empty. It's over.
ROVER
Alright. We're gonna first...
[Dice thump]
Alright, that's perfect. Yep.
RIK
We're in this together, guys! Right? Right?
ALYSSA
Well, Yitri's in Bard College so she's fine.
ZOE
Yeah. Yeah.
ROVER
Hey. Hey, Pierre.
RIK
Yes? Yes?
ROVER
I think you did a really big oopsie.
ALYSSA
Oh no!
ROVER
Because I genuinely was not gonna do this if you guys just stayed right there.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Nah, man, we're gonna spread out that damage.
MIKE
No! Oh god!
ROVER
Grandsword rolled an 18 on their Initiative so they are now also in game.
ALYSSA
Aargh!
[Mike groans]
Rik!
ROVER
You can see... This is, by the way, the first time that you see them. The blindfolded Orc with the large sword, at the dormitory.
RIK
Technically the second time, cause I saw him initially as well.
ROVER
No, you didn't, because you rolled an 11 and you didn't see them.
RIK
No, no, no, no, not in the last episode.
ROVER
You saw him the first time. Yeah, ok.
RIK
Yeah. (Laughs)
ROVER
They... One hand's going to the back of the sword and they run towards you guys.
[The music becomes even more ominous than it already was]
MIKE
Oh. God.
ALYSSA
(Whispering) Fucking shit.
ROVER
And it is, like, heavy, heavy footsteps. In the meantime, because they now have the same Initiative, they're sharing the Initiative, we have three dice rolls first for the one with the arrows. I'm gonna do this all at the same time, because if one thing happens, I already know what I'm gonna do. Aleks and Pierre...
ZOE
Mmhmm.
MIKE
Oh god.
ROVER
We're gonna do two for Aleks, one for Pierre.
ALYSSA
Why two for Aleks?
MIKE
Oh, good lord.
ROVER
First one for Aleks.
[Thought we were done with the ominous dice rolls? Think again!]
Is a natural 20.
MIKE
No!
ALYSSA
No! No!
RIK
You're fucking kidding me? Aleks, no!
ROVER
I'm not kidding.
ALYSSA
Aleks!
[More ominous dice rolls]
ROVER
Second one for Pierre is a 2, so Pierre doesn't get it.
[ALYSSA laughs]
And Aleks gets...
[Another ominous dice roll]
... another crit.
[Mike gasps]
ALYSSA
Are you fucking kidding?
RIK
Aleks is fucking gone. Aleks is fucking gone.
ROVER
I'm not kidding. I'm not kidding. I rolled a 20 and a 19.
MIKE
No! What? Really?
ROVER
I'm not kidding.
ALYSSA
Zoe!
ROVER
Alright.
ZOE
Yeah, come on, how do I die?
ROVER
I'm gonna roll damage and then we're gonna see what happens.
ZOE
What do you mean, "what happens"? I'm dying.
ALYSSA
That's what's happening, yeah! That's our fucking healer, dog! I don't know.
ROVER
So. So.
RIK
(Laughing) We're losing the healer in episode 7.
[Even more ominous dice rolls]
ROVER
How many hitpoints do you have, Aleks?
ZOE
Currently 22.
ROVER
Just as Pierre is about to reach them,
[A bow is tightened and arrows fly past and land]
…two arrows hit Aleks in the body for 30 damage.
RIK
Brother in fucking Christ.
MIKE
Holy balls.
ROVER
And for a split second, before the person with the Grandsword just reaches you, Pierre...
[Low music stops playing]
Can you give me a Perception check?
MIKE
Oh no.
RIK
I certainly can.
[Dice clacks]
15 plus 1, 16.
ROVER
16. It is like, as Aleks gets hit by these arrows, it is like the sound of a violin starts playing in the background.
[Violin music starts playing]
And it is this eerie violin sound. And your blood runs cold, and not in a metaphor, it actually feels like for a moment everything is becoming cold.
MIKE
Oh god.
ROVER
And as the Grandsword person was about to run into you, before they get to you, vanishes. Give me another Perception check.
[Dice ASMR]
This is all not happening in six seconds, I just need to say that, but this is happening because someone is going down.
RIK
That's a 10 for me.
ROVER
Ok.
RIK
Pierre's just standing open-mouthed. Just shocked with what's happening.
ROVER
You're looking around. Koltrast isn't to be seen, Yitri isn't to be seen. Aleks is only, very slowly as in slow-motion, goes down to their knees. And you can see, as Aleks hits the ground, where the Grandsword person was standing at the dormitory, is this… kinda older looking man in grey, grey hair. And in this almost business-like suit, long black coat. And the eerie violins get louder and louder and louder.
[Violin music gets louder]
And for a split second you can see with Aleks, before his body fully hits the floor, it looks as if from his back...
[Sounds of bones cracking]
… two bone-like legs come out. They plant into the ground. It raises up Aleks, stands them back, and then the cold air, the violin, stops.
[Violin music abruptly stops]
The man is gone. Aleks you are back with 2 hitpoints.
[The sound of crickets chirping comes back]
ALYSSA
What the fuck just happened?!
MIKE
What?
ALYSSA
What was that?!
MIKE
What? What?!
ROVER
And the assassin, the Grandsword is gone, the man is gone. Everything is gone. Yitri, you didn't see this. (Laughs)
ALYSSA
Clearly! What the fuck?! What hap–?
ROVER
Kol, you didn't see the legs. Only Pierre could see the legs.
MIKE
What?!
RIK
Are the legs still... The legs are still there?
ROVER
The legs are, for you, still there for a moment. Kol, you can see as if those arrows kind of, instead of pulling Aleks down, for a moment they go down and then Aleks just stands back up.
MIKE
The fuck?
ALYSSA
(Laughs) What?
ROVER
And then the legs, for Pierre, almost quickly in this eerily, horrifying moment, retract back into his body.
[Sounds of bones cracking]
RIK
Aleks!
ROVER
You guys are out of Initiative.
ALYSSA
What the fuck?!
[Mike lets out a long groan]
ROVER
Do not hit fail-saves.
RIK
Pierre's gonna run towards Aleks.
ZOE
So, uh, quick question for me.
ROVER
Yeah. For a moment, Aleks, I like saying "for a moment", apparently.
ZOE
Yeah.
ROVER
It is; you're hit, you're hit again. And as your eyes are closing, you can see him. You can see him standing there. You hear the violin. You know what that sounds like.
ZOE
Thank you.
ROVER
And it is as if that cold feeling that Pierre also had, as if your blood runs cold literally, you can feel that... it's almost like that violin sound is bottling up in your body as you raise back up. And it's just, you blink a couple times and you're back up two hitpoints.
ALYSSA
That's so fucking cool. Holy shit.
ZOE
Is it, Alyssa?
[Alyssa laughs]
ROVER
Aleks. I need you to roll me a very, very high Constitution save.
ZOE
Yeah, but no pressure, right? Sure.
ALYSSA
No pressure. None at all.
ZOE
Let me... Let me see that Constitution.
MIKE
No, why would there be pressure? You only got fucking legs coming out of your back.
ZOE
(Sighs deeply) Nah, this is going great.
ROVER
What is it?
ZOE
It's a 4.
ROVER
Amazing. Perfect. Ok. I'm not gonna tell you what happens.
MIKE
Oh...
ZOE
Of course you're not.
MIKE
What do you mean? What do you mean you're not gonna tell us what happens? You're not gonna tell the... You're not gonna do a soliloquy, Ro?
ROVER
I'm not gonna tell anyone what happens. You will see that.
MIKE
That's unbelievable.
ALYSSA
What do you mean 'anyone'?
ZOE
Oh, fuck.
ROVER
I'm not gonna say anything.
MIKE
What do you mean, you're not gonna say anything? You can't just leave us on a... You can't just do that. You can't... that's illegal. I'm calling my bird-lawyers and I'm gonna get your ass for this, Ro. You just wait. You just wait. I'm calling them now.
RIK
Unfortunately, I think you have no legal standing, Michael.
ROVER
Aleks?
ZOE
Yeah?
ROVER
I'll see you in the middle of the night.
RIK
Fuck.
ZOE
Yeah, great. No. Great. (Laughing) Lovely.
ALYSSA
We need a rest, now!
MIKE
What does that mean?! What does that mean?
ZOE
That means I'm in for a rough night, Mike!
MIKE
Soliloquy!
ROVER
You guys are out of Initiative.
ALYSSA
Ok, so, is Yitri still in Bard College? She didn't see anything that happened, cause she's trying to –
ROVER
Yeah.
ALYSSA
Is the Bard even alive? I forgot to ask that.
ROVER
Give me a Medicine check. Give me a Medicine check.
ALYSSA
I never did that, ok. Medicine, what's my Medicine bonus? Negative 1.
RIK
Uh oh, no.
[Dice clacks]
ALYSSA
I got an 11. I got an 11.
MIKE
Hey! Woah!
ALYSSA
This session's going beautifully.
ROVER
There is no pulse. They are dead.
ALYSSA
Fuck! I did all that for a dead person?! Are you fucking kidding me?!
ROVER
They are dead.
ALYSSA
All this and the person’s fucking dead?!
ROVER
Do you want a description? It's a Bard College. (Laughs)
RIK
No fucking way.
ALYSSA
Aleks fucking became a bone spider!
RIK
Aleks fucking...! What the fuck?
[Zoe laughs]
ALYSSA
Aleks became a fucking bone spider. And all because I was like, "Oh, let me help this fucking dead guy." I should've just fucking left him. What the fuck?
ROVER
I have, and I will say this on record, I have written here: "Other guards in the Uni: if one of them dies... or, if one of them gets hit, they die."
ALYSSA
I'm gonna fucking kill you, Ro. (Laughs)
ROVER
I know.
[Mike laughs]
ALYSSA
I'm gonna fucking get you. Ro! This could've been avoided if I knew... I figured out they're dead. I would've gone... (exhales). You know, it's fine. It's fine. That was...
ROVER
That's why I asked you for the Medicine check or not. You didn't...
ALYSSA
I forgot to do the Medicine check!
ROVER
You want a description of the Bard College? (Laughs)
ALYSSA
Yeah, sure. Fuck it, why not? Why not?
ROVER
There are stairs up, and there goes a stair down. Up, you're looking more at their signs that say "The Art Collective". And there is downstairs, if you go downstairs, there's a sign that says "Dance Collective". You're looking at a… quite a square. More modern-ish looking building. And from that type, you can see that upstairs there's a cafeteria. It's like very short steps. And the reception and then once you go downstairs, you see that the walls are kinda becoming this dull grey and seems to lead to a more underground dance area. That's now where you are.
ALYSSA
Ok, cool. She's gonna see that the guy is dead and be like,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Are you fucking kidding me? (Stammering) All of that... If I can... You know what? Never-fucking-mind.
ALYSSA
And she's gonna try to open the door from where she left and kinda look both ways. Cause she's... Can I roll Perception to see if she sees what's going on? What's happening?
ROVER
Absolutely. Give me a Perception check. You're gonna open the door, you're gonna see what happened.
[Dice clacks]
ALYSSA
Uhm, Perception. I got a 14.
ROVER
Ok. Once you look back outside, you can see that Pierre and Aleks are standing outside. Kol is at...
ZOE
I'm not standing.
RIK
Standing because of the bone legs.
ROVER
Trembling on his legs. Technically you're standing on legs. Kol has flown up and Kol, as well, the moment you fully fly up to see this person, they are gone. The attacker’s also gone.
MIKE
Yeah, Kol flies up to the top and like, quick-draws his shotgun, and there's just no one there?
ROVER
Yeah.
MIKE
He's just looking around, like,
MIKE [as KOL]
What the...?
MIKE
And spins around to see what's going on on the floor.
ALYSSA
Yitri kinda steps out. She's like,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
What the fuck?! What the fuck was that? Also this guy is fucking dead, by the way.
MIKE
Kol's just looking...
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Sorry about that.
ROVER
Yitri, by the way, you didn't... You did not see that Aleks went down.
ALYSSA
Oh, yeah, no, but she's saying "what the fuck happened" about the guy being dead and everything. She's not saying about that. She's like,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
This guy's fucking dead! And, like, I got shot. You guys... I mean, the door was closed, I didn't see what really happened, but like, you... Aleks, you look like shit. No offence. Uhm, are you okay?
RIK
You scream this across the... the thing? You scream this across the plaza?
ALYSSA
Yes!
RIK
Also, what about the other guard?
ROVER
The other guard is still inside, indeed. And they rush towards Yitri from inside of the building. Cause I totally, absolutely remembered him.
[Laughter]
MIKE
I was gonna say, props to the guard who just fucking left their colleague to die in the middle of combat.
ZOE
(Laughs) He booked it! He's home!
MIKE
They were just like, "See ya, Stuart, I'm done!" (Laughs)
ALYSSA
Sayonara, bitch!
ROVER
And they...
MIKE
They've tendered their resignation. (Laughs)
ROVER
He walks closer, it's this human male, and he's just like,
ROVER [as MALE SECURITY GUARD]
Oh, this is gonna be a problem. Oh, this is gonna be a problem. Oh, this is gonna be a problem. We're gonna have to call someone. (Stammers) Help me. Help me get him to an infirmary. Is he…?
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Y-yes, sure. Ok, yeah. The infirmary is on the other side, though, right? Or is there one in here?
ROVER [as MALE SECURITY GUARD]
There's one in here.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Ok, cool, cause I'm not going back out there.
ROVER [as MALE SECURITY GUARD]
What do you mean, "There's an inf–"
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
I don't know, I've never been here before, ok? I don't... I've never been to Bard College, or college in general. I have a GED.
[Laughter]
ROVER [as MALE SECURITY GUARD]
Ok, help me... help me.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Yes! Yes, yes, yes.
ROVER
And he's just throwing him up onto his shoulders.
ALYSSA
Yeah. Yeah, she also helps pick... she takes the other shoulder.
ROVER
And you guys go to the infirmary. I'm gonna quickly pan over to the others –
ALYSSA
I'm so sorry, guys.
ROVER
– outside, who now see Yitri going with the bodyguard inside with the now dead... the other dead bodyguard into the Bard College.
MIKE
Kol in step with Yitri was looking at them, like,
MIKE [as KOL]
What the fuck is going on here? The fuck was that?
MIKE
And is gonna fly, sees Yitri going in with the bodyguard who's white as a sheet.
ROVER
Mmhmm.
MIKE
Or the security guard, sorry, who's like white as a sheet.
ROVER
Yeah, security guard.
MIKE
And is like... He's just going to sail on after them.
ROVER
Ok, you're gonna fly towards them. Alright.
MIKE
Yeah, yeah.
ROVER
Aleks and Pierre.
RIK
Pierre goes towards Aleks and kind of supports them standing, and he says,
RIK [as PIERRE]
Let's go with the others. Are you... are you alright?
RIK
And he grabs, from his belt, the healing potion he grabbed from the infirmary.
ROVER
Aleks looks terrible, by the way. Like pale, cold, almost a zombie. I'm not even over-exaggerating.
RIK
Phew.
ROVER
This man looks like he...
ZOE
Died?
ROVER
Is a dead man walking. Because he did.
ZOE
Yeah.
ROVER
You saw that. You saw it. You were right behind them as the arrows got hit. And you saw his body fall. You saw the legs.
RIK [as PIERRE]
(Scared) What are you? What happened? What did I see?
ROVER
Aleks, your body still feels very cold.
ZOE
When Pierre goes to support him, he kinda flinches away from your touch and he's just staring to the ground. Not really there. He also does not react when you try to offer the healing potion. And you just, like, hear him mumble just a,
ZOE [as ALEKS]
(Panicking) He knows. He knows. He knows.
RIK [as PIERRE]
He knows what?
ZOE
Over and over, but you get nothing else out of him and he's shivering and, like, stumbling when you try to move.
RIK
(Laughing) I want to try to pick up Aleks.
ALYSSA
The shortest and the tallest party members. This is gonna go great.
RIK
I know, right? I know, right?
[Zoe sighs]
MIKE
Mmhmm. Yeah.
ROVER
Is Aleks willing to have that happen?
ZOE
Not from Pierre, no.
RIK
Ok.
ALYSSA
From anyone? I feel like, honestly, Aleks is mad at everyone right now. Justifiably so.
MIKE
Cause Kol didn't see the legs, right?
ROVER
Kol didn't see the legs. No one did, except Pierre.
MIKE
No. Yeah, yeah. Oh, that's fucking.. I fucking... Jesus. Ok. Fine. Sure. Fine. D'you what? Fine.
RIK
Is it fine? Is it fine, Mike?
MIKE
This is normal. This situation, this is what normality looks like!
ALYSSA
Mmhmm. Mmhmm.
ZOE
Yep.
RIK
I'm 100% sure it is. Shaking head. No.
ZOE
I mean, Aleks will probably let himself be moved. But he would protest against being picked up. So, we can probably very slowly make our way towards the others.
RIK
Alright. We'll slowly make our way over.
ROVER
Ok. Inside, Kol once you're also in the building, you see the same thing. They are carrying the security guard to the infirmary there. It looks the same kinda place as the one that is in the University. And the security guard is just like,
ROVER [as MALE SECURITY GUARD]
(Panicking) Oh, he's dead. Ok, oh no. Oh, ok. Yep, ok. Uh... Oh, this is gonna be a problem. We're gonna have to... we're gonna have to inform people.
ROVER
Stops. He just stops talking. He is... the biggest brain-error you've ever seen on a man's currently happening to him.
[Small chuckles]
ALYSSA
Yitri's gonna go over to him and put her hand on his shoulder and be like,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
I-I'm sorry.
ROVER
Probably. How tall are you, Yitri? (Laughs) How tall is Yitri?
ALYSSA
Yitri's, like, almost 5 feet tall on a good day.
[Laughter]
RIK
On a good day?
ROVER
You're probably gonna be able to... I think it's gonna be a bicep touch, rather than a shoulder one.
[Laughter]
ALYSSA
Ok. So she's gonna touch his bicep and...
RIK
There's a lot of bicep-touching, guys.
ALYSSA
Yeah. She's gonna be like,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
I'm really sorry for your loss. I... I really tried to get to him before it all happened.
ROVER [as MALE SECURITY GUARD]
That's all good. We're just gonna, uhm... we need to inform people, this is gonna...
ROVER
Yeah, he's just stuttering.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Hey, hey, hey.
ROVER
And unable to say anything.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Hey, hey, hey. Take a seat. Take a breather, because you definitely need one.
ROVER [as MALE SECURITY GUARD]
Ok. (Takes a deep breath)
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
And we will... we will let people know. Ok, it's really late right now, and no one's probably awake. And if they are...
ROVER [as MALE SECURITY GUARD]
There... there should still be guards in the University building.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Ok, so we can go to the University building.
ROVER [as MALE SECURITY GUARD]
Library as well. Greta's still... Greta's still there.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Yeah, yeah! Do you want me to... do you want me to go with you? I can go with you and we can let people know what happened.
ROVER [as MALE SECURITY GUARD]
We're gonna have to clear up the place and then... then... get the others in.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Of course, yeah.
ROVER [as MALE SECURITY GUARD]
Oh, well there goes the school's reputation, alright, haha.
ROVER
And he, like, instead of...
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
You're worried about the reputation?
ROVER [as MALE SECURITY GUARD]
Listen, man, I don't know what I'm worried about. I-I just... we... we need to...
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Fair. You know what? Fair enough. I can't even... I'm not gonna... I can't even. I don't even know what I'm worried about, either, because a lot happened.
MIKE
Kol's just watching and listening, and injects the empty cartridges from his revolver and his shotgun and then just is quietly reloading them while he's watching this scene unfold.
ROVER
Aleks and Pierre, you guys also now reunite with the rest.
ALYSSA
Are there any healing potions inside that I can find and give to everyone?
ROVER
Give me an Investigation check.
ALYSSA
Ok, let's see.
[Dice clacks]
ROVER
And roll better than a 7.
ALYSSA
I got a natural 20.
ZOE
Nice!
[Mike laughs]
ROVER
You find four.
ALYSSA
Alright, so. Yitri just kinda starts... she takes her hand off of the bodyguard, lets him have his panic, and goes, like... It's like, you know, that awkward moment when that one friend goes through someone else's fridge for the first time and you're watching in pure horror.
[Laughter]
That's what's happening. I don't know, it's a thing for me.
MIKE
Wow.
ALYSSA
It's a thing for me. If I see, let's say, someone... Like, I will not go into someone's fridge unless they explicitly let me. But, so, she's just going through everything. And she is trying to find shit, and she's like,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
One!
ALYSSA
And then she passes it up to whoever... she goes to Aleks first and she's like,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
One!
ALYSSA
Then she goes down, finds another one.
ZOE
He doesn't take it.
ALYSSA
She just, kind of, leaves it next to him. (Chuckles) And then she's like,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Two!
ALYSSA
Hands it to Pierre. And then,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Three!
ALYSSA
Hands it to Kol. And then she goes to the security guard, is like,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Hey, are you hurt at all? Like, physically.
ROVER [as MALE SECURITY GUARD]
(Stammers) I-I don't... I don't think so.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Ok, four!
ALYSSA
(Laughing) And she downs the rest of the last potion.
[Laughter]
ROVER
And while everyone has their moment of finally being out of Initiative, finally being out of the situation that they were just in, we are rounding down this episode on a rather terrifying and somber note.
MIKE
I'll call it what it is, Ro; fucky. This is fucked.
ALYSSA
This is fucky, yeah!
ROVER
Just fucky. It's fucked.
MIKE
This is completely fucked. This is really fucky.
ROVER
So. I will see you guys again on Sunday for the Bounty Hunter episode and what remains to be seen... Or what happens with the Protectors next week remains to be seen! Buh-bye everyone.
ALYSSA
Bye, bye!
ZOE
Bye!
MIKE
Bye!
RIK
Buh-bye!
ALYSSA
I'm sorry.
[Show outro plays]
Remains To Be Seen is an original podcast created by Dyaflame Studios and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share-alike 4.0 International License.
Today’s episode was produced by Jo Mendacium and edited by Mees Verkade and Jo Mendacium. It starred:
Rik den Breejen as Pierre Ardoise
Mike LeBeau as Koltrast
Alyssa Roldan as Yitri Meadowtwirls
Zoe Emily as Aleksander Aintsworth
And Rover Elliott as the Dungeon Master
The intro and outro were composed by We Talk of Dreams, and the transcript was written by Kim van Teeffelen.
To get in touch with us and keep up to date with our antics, follow us on Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok @ DyaflameStudios or view our website at www.dyaflame.com
Check our show notes for additional credits, links and transcripts.