Two new wolves emerging from the dark are not the only surprise for the party.
The battle continues as two more white wolves join the fray. They appear smaller, but they are just as vicious as the first. Unfortunately, the party is unable to protect Rou from a nearly devastating attack. The wound triggers a natural reaction, which transforms the Baukoran.
In an effort to keep his friends safe from himself, Rou runs off and leaves the others to finish the fight. The remaining creatures are taken down in short order with some unexpected help from a pair of allies who appear among the trees. Big Mood’s siblings emerge from the brush and share an awkward reunion with their estranged brother. In an effort to bury the hatchet, Mood's siblings declare that a celebration is in order for his first successful adventure.
While Arthas and the Minotaur trio gather the bodies of the crystal-backed wolves to turn in for a reward, Eight rushes off into the wilderness in pursuit of their friend Rou. Despite his efforts to remain elusive, Eight manages to stay on his trail, calling out for Rou in the darkness. Upon reverting back to his human form, Rou calls to Eight and the pair have a heart-to-heart talk.
Eight reminds Rou that he travels with a pair of misunderstood adventurers who many would consider dangerous. With some friendly reassurance, the Baukoran's immediate fears are assuaged and he agrees to return to town. Perhaps, given time, Rou will see that he is not the monster he believes himself to be.
Follow Dax @GM_Dax, Kappa @TheKappaChris, Wren @ThornyDryad, and Worrier @WorrierMN
Transcript by CJ Kallevig
Upbeat piano intro ends[00:27]
Jaunty music fades in [00:28]
Dax: Last time on Roads Uncharted, you chased down a massive creature which you learned was actually a large white wolf, with crystals or ice or something growing out of its back. It attacked and nearly took out your new companion, Big Mood. Arthas and Big Mood and the group, together, was able to damage and entangle this creature after it tried to run away. Where we last left off, Rou heard the sound of more footprints coming up upon the four of you in the snow.
Kappa (as Rou): Oh, no.
Music shifts to a tense, haunting tune [01:12]
Dax: Now, the initiative is much the same. The only difference is that it’s going to be two PC, NPC, two PC, NPC. The four of you won’t get to all act in one before the NPC takes a, takes a shot. So, we are at the top of the round. Who would like to go first?
Kappa: I’d like to go first. I want to meet our new friends, turn around and just count how many are coming down upon us.
Dax: You see two more large white wolves. These however, their crystals are kind of small and they’re certainly not as large as the beast that you have been fighting.
Kappa: Still poses a very big problem.
Kappa (as Rou): Eight, Big Mood, you might want to turn around. We’ve got more friends.
Wren (as Eight): More friends?!
Wren: And I will abruptly turn and look at you to see where you’re pointing.
Kappa (as Rou): Not, not friends. Not, sorry. Unfriendly.
Wren (as Eight): Oh…
Wren: And like that, that acknowledgement of the danger hits my voice.
Wren (as Eight): I see. More friends. What would you have us do, Best friend Rou?
Kappa (as Rou): Stay together, they’re going to try and find an opening. Don’t let that happen.
Kappa: Let’s see, is there anything I can do right now? I’ll take another Defensive Stance.
Dax: Okay. Next PC slot.
Neil: I would like to rush in.
Dax: Alright. So, are you rushing towards those two wolves and abandoning the one wolf that is currently encased in ice that’s sitting right next to you?
Neil: Ah, yes because I don’t think it poses a threat anymore.
Dax: Okay. So, yeah, I mean, you can spend your Maneuver to close the distance there. To get up to Rou is short distance, and they’re just beyond that range band. So that wouldn’t be a problem.
Neil: And I would like to Battle Rage. Making a melee skill check, I can add a Setback to add two to the damage of a successful attack.
Dax: Give me your attack. And are you going after the one on the left or the one on the right?
Neil: The one on the left. [dice rolls] Four Successes, and a Triumph.
Dax: And you added two Successes or is that with the two Successes?
Neil: Battle Rage is two damage to one of the successful attacks.
Dax: Two damage, thank you.
Neil: Yeah.
Dax: What does this attack look like as you’re racing up next to Rou?
Neil: Really just trying to make myself look like as much of a target as I can, in a full tilt, screaming, trying to get their attention and just an overhead smash.
Dax: You do so and you slam this sword club into this creature’s shoulder and you hear a crack as it touches. It is at this point that the wolf on the right makes a lunge for Rou.
Kappa (as Rou): Oh…no.
Dax: Rou is much smaller and has not made any move to attack. Now if I remember right, Defensive Stance gives you, you said a plus one to your Melee defense?
Kappa: Mhmm.
Dax: Okay. I just realized one thing though. Is that, I forgot to address the Triumph that Arthas rolled.
Neil: Oh shoot.
Dax: I did the damage. What else do you want to do with that Triumph?
Neil: I guess I’ll just clear some Strain.
Dax: I mean, if you want, you can upgrade the difficulty of that wolf’s check?
Neil: That’s probably a way better idea.
Dax: Okay. Rou, very similarly to what you saw happen to Big Mood, this creature lunges at you and it topples into you. It braces its massive paws onto your shoulders and it reaches for the section between your neck and your shoulder. You feel its teeth sink into you.
Kappa: Sure.
Dax: It did roll some Threat, which is good. Rou, this creature topples into you and bites into your neck. It hurts a hell of a lot, you are going to take eight wounds.
Kappa: Ooohhhh, ooooooh! Okay!
Kappa (as Rou): [coughs] Oww. Okay. Okay.
Dax: Now, out of curiosity, do you scream out? Do you try to put on a brave face? What happens when you get attacked like this?
Kappa: Yes, absolutely I scream out. And almost like,
Kappa (as Rou): Aughhhhh!! [coughs, grunts]
Kappa: From a scream, it turns into almost a snarl back at this wolf.
Kappa (as Rou): [deep, gravelly, heavy breaths]
Kappa: And I’d like to use an out-of-turn Incidental, if that’s okay?
Dax: Yes you may.
Kappa: I’d like to channel the human spirit to unleash the beast within.
Dax: You may do so. Give me that, I believe it’s a Hard Discipline check, yes?
Kappa: It is a Hard Discipline check, but I’ve got so much Discipline. So much Willpower. Alright, here we go. [dice rolls] Okay! That’s not good, for, for the [laughs]. That’s not good for the purple dice. But here we go. [gasps] Oh! Okay, that cancels out that, that cancels out those two. Okay, okay. [rolls dice] I love these dice so much. Two Success and three Advantage.
Dax: Alright. Describe what that means to the audience, if you will.
Kappa: Rou has this wolf biting down on his neck, and that scream that has turned into a snarl grows more and more feral, if you will. And he grabs the muzzle of the wolf and starts to pry it off of his shoulder, but along with that first, you hear something. This almost shifting and cracking of bone. If you’re paying attention, Rou is getting taller. His legs are starting to reform and my heels grow out of my shoes. The laces, you hear, *snap, snap* as the laces give and snap, splitting open to reveal…paws. Very padded and powerful. The fastenings on my clothing, they release. I wear very particular clothing with lots of zippers and fastenings, they now pop open as my muscles begin to expand and fill the, the extra fabric in. The skin starts to tear and heal rapidly and then sharp claws then emerge from my hands and my feet.
A heavy looking tail juts out from the gap at the top of my pants and the same unkempt hair on my head turns into shaggy fur. It creeps over to cover my face and bare skin. I’ve grown into this, into the once oversized armor, now it fits perfectly and contours this new form. My skull has elongated to a muzzle and fangs poke out from the top of my jaw. My ears grow to points and move up to the top of my head. Bright, golden eyes, voracious, have replaced the sleep deprived and tired eyes. This is now the wolf form of Rou. And so, ripping the wolf from my shoulder, tossing it aside, I’m now, not as tall as Arthas. Arthas is gigantic. But now, I’ve grown a good seven, eight inches taller.
Kappa (as Rou): [noticeably deeper voice] Eight, Mood, go to Arthas. Get away from me. [huffs]
Wren (as Eight): Rou, you look different.
Kappa (as Rou): Go now!
Wren (as Eight): I know we are in the midst of a fight, but there is no reason for you to be terse and rude.
Kappa: I need to heal all my Strain really quick.
Dax: Yeah, you’re good. I love how Eight takes the moment to say, “Manners matter, even in battle”. [laughs]
Kappa: I will take it! [laughs] So at this point, the wolf that, that had bitten me, I’d ripped it off and tossed it aside. I’m going to step forward and pick it up and throw it into the other one.
Dax: Sure. Alright, so if you’re going to, you’re going to toss this creature.
Kappa: Yes, it is getting absolutely thrown. I was, I was hoping to use a Brawl.
Dax: I mean, I was going to say Athletics, but I’ll leave that up to the player if you, if you think making an attack with an improvised weapon would be better for you.
Kappa: Turn to combat, okay cool. Something that’s really cool about my character is that I can use Cunning instead of Brawn for any Brawl or Ranged checks. Okay, what difficulty?
Dax: Go ahead and make it Medium.
Kappa: Oh this thing is so fucked, I’m just saying. [dice rolls] Total is eight Successes, two Threat.
Dax: Okay, two Threat. Yeah! Alright, yeah. Two Threat is, you or an ally take a Setback or the creature gets a Boost.
Kappa: I’ll give the creature a Boost.
Dax: Alright.
Kappa: So, so describing this, as I, as Eight gives me that, you know, that, you know, that quick reprimand, I’m going to look over, look back at the wolf. Take a step forward, grab it by its scruff, just easily lifting it. Almost like lifting a sausage. I don’t know why I made that comparison. And then, chuck it overhead, not even like a, not even like an underhand, just overhead into its, into its friend.
Dax: Yeah. You do so, and when you do, you watch as because it’s bouncing into its friend, it kind of almost bounces over its back. So bonk, and keeps going. As it keeps going, it actually lands against a boulder and you hear a sickening crack. It falls to the ground and lays still.
Kappa: Do I still have an Incidental? Or a Maneuver?
Dax: Yes.
Kappa: I’m going to use one of those or both of those if that will take, to roar at the other one.
Dax: That’ll be an Incidental, yeah. On that note, PC slot. [chuckles]
Wren: Seeing that, I look at Big Mood and my eyes, Big Mood, are just, normally they’re like a bright violet color, like when you have swimming goggles on your face. They’re just extended lenses, but for a moment, they just kind of flash really bright after seeing Rou just pick up that other wolf and fucking chuck it to death. And I just go,
Wren (as Eight): I do believe that best friend Rou is entitled to be rude right now. We should do as he says.
Worrier (as Big Mood): I, okay…
Dax: So, there is a PC slot. Who’s taking that?
Wren: If you don’t mind, Big Mood, I would go first. Just because I’ve patched you up and I would kind of stand abruptly. Kind of give you another pat on the shoulder and say,
Wren (as Eight): You should be alright to get moving when you feel comfortable.
Wren: And I will regard the other wolf, and I will turn back to the one that Arthas left behind. Despite the fact that best friend Rou told us to assist Arthas, I will look at the other wolf and I will frown. I level the spoon, it’s still stuck in the ice, and I will take a Maneuver to aim and I will kind of mutter,
Wren (as Eight): All this pain, all this death, it is your doing. It will be your undoing, and I will make sure that we take you down.
Wren: As I’m saying that, I would like to do my usual Scathing Tirade bullshit. So I’m just going to roll that real quick. [dice rolls] Fudge. Okay, no, I have a wash but with the effects of a Triumph. So, I would like for when Rou roared, I would like for it to have shaken the snow that is on the boughs of the trees around the creature, and I would like for it to fall around it and ensnare it for one turn more.
Dax: Okay.
Wren: As now it’s encased in ice and also a clump of snow that just falls all over it, as the trees just kind of shake from that thunderous scream that my friend has done.
Dax: Yeah, I like that idea.
Wren: And then I will cast my spell. I would like to use a Story Point to upgrade my check, so that I’m rolling three yellow dice instead of two. Short range, but I’m upgrading it once because of the creature and I’m upgrading it again because I’m making this deadly. And deadly makes it so that it’s crit rating two, and then I aim, so I get a Boost. So I have three yellow, a red, a purple, and a blue. [dice rolls] I have a Triumph and three Advantages.
I would like the Triumph to cast it at a Critical. And, I’ll use the three Advantages to recover Strain. So I’m going to gain three, lose two because I cast a spell, so that puts me at seven. I will roll for the crit. I believe it already has two. The Deadly spell also gives me Vicious, in a rating equal to my ranks in Knowledge, which would be two. So it’s Vicious two, which means I’m adding forty to whatever I roll. [dice rolls] Which isn’t great, it’s a sixty-three after all is said and done. And that’s going to wind up being three plus three, so eight damage before Soak.
Dax: Okay. And it is Disoriented. So it cannot take Maneuvers until the injury is healed, if I remember right.
Wren: This time with the spoon that’s swirling this mystical red energy that’s… almost looks like a bladed “O”. Like a little saw blade, as I cast the spell, it kind of whizzes through and you hear the sound as the spell energy tears across the creature's flesh. It’s, like, a saw blade just dragging across this white wolf’s snow laden fur and it leaves a red trail as it passes through. Because of, not the magical energy, but blood… oh wait! No, it has green blood. So it’s a little bit of both, green and red. It’s very festive, if you like Christmas.
Dax: Eight, how do you want to do this?
Wren: Yeah, so the magical saw blade basically passes across the chest and goes at an angle that it kind of slices upwards across the creature’s jugular and just, [blows raspberry], the ichor goes everywhere and kind of slumps forward. Then as the ice breaks apart, it just kind of collapses into the snow, where it stands.
Dax: It drops. This last wolf now stands alone at Arthas’s feet. It’s… two of its potential packmates are now dead. It is going to try and bolt, so it is going to spend its Maneuver, plus it’s going to forgo its Action, to try and get at Medium range away from Arthas. Next PC slot, so it’s either Mood or Arthas. Who would like to go?
Neil: Go for it, Mood.
Worrier: I’m still new here, so I’m, I’m not gonna disobey my new best friend who turned into a wolf. So, I’m going to go over toward Arthas, and seeing the wolf run away, not having any personal issues with the wolf, I’ll just sort of stand there and watch it run. Look up toward Arthas, and just say,
Worrier (as Big Mood): Nice knifework.
Worrier: And just, just make sure that the wolf keeps running. Just, say,
Worrier (as Big Mood): You keep running! Wolf. Or else.
Neil (as Arthas): Hmm..
Dax: Arthas?
Neil: I bet you can guess.
Wren: You’re going to tickle it?
Neil: Good guess, but a little off the mark. I’m going to run after the wolf.
Dax: Alright. So spend a Maneuver to get up to short range with it. And now do you want to forgo your Action to get up in Engaged or do you want to spend two Strain?
Neil: I will forgo my Action to get within range.
Dax: So Arthas, you spend your turn chasing and getting close to this beastie. Just as you are drawing within range of this creature, all of you hear *thunk thunk*. And arrows come flying from the trees, smack into this creature, knocking it down as it, its body tumbles down the hillside. PC slot.
Wren: Is it a new turn?
Dax: Mhmm.
Wren: Uh..
Dax: Oh wait, NPC slot. Sorry. That’s right, the new initiative. NPC slot. Sorry. So this creature is going to use a Maneuver to stand and forgo its Action to keep running. Now it’s a PC slot.
Kappa: Would I have heard those, those arrows loosing?
Dax: That’s fair. That is very fair.
Kappa: I am going to run in the opposite direction.
Dax: Are you just using one Maneuver? Are you going to use…?
Kappa: I’m using all of, as much as I can to get as far away from -
Dax: Okay.
Kappa: One, the party, and two, this new, new potential threat.
Dax: Who would like to go next, because there’s another PC slot.
Worrier: I’ll, I'll go. I’m going to take the hint, like,
Worrier (as Big Mood): Okay! That was, a, messed up a little bit there but hey, I’m new to this. Be kind to yourself, Mood.
Worrier: How far away is this wolf now? Ish.
Dax: To you, it is now long range.
Worrier: Alright. I want to help but I don’t think I can catch up. So, I’m gonna adjust, use a Maneuver to adjust the grip on the, the wagon wheel handle. I’m going to Captain America throw the wagon wheel at the wolf.
Dax: Okay! I mean, sure. Why not? It’s not Engaged with anything, so that should be fine. Improvised weapon and, it’s two red.
[dice rolls]
Worrier: Two Successes.
Dax: How do you want to do this?
Worrier: Um, [chuckles], alright. I would like to throw the wagon wheel, but this isn’t a practiced maneuver. It’s a little awkward, he throws it way off base but it, like, bounces off a tree and just kind of bonks the wolf upside the head. I’m running after the shield, and I see the wolf fall. I’m like,
Worrier (as Big Mood): I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Sorry. Sorry.
Music shifts to a mysterious melody [20:38]
Dax: We are out of initiative. There are three dead wolves scattered about this valley floor. Rou is distancing himself from the rest of the group. Arthas, out of the treeline, you see two figures emerge. And Big Mood, why don’t you describe what Arthas sees?
Worrier: Arthas sees two black-furred Minotaurs. They’re less thick and a little shorter than Mood. They’re wearing adventuring appropriate gear, which is a new wrinkle for Mood’s family as you know of it. One has a white patch over the left eye, one has a white patch over the right eye. One with the patch on the left eye is carrying a bow, and the other is carrying a sword. They’re probably smirking at Big Mood.
Dax: Yeah, the one with the bow walks over and grabs the arrows out of the one corpse. They both nod at Arthas and they look over at you, Big Mood, almost simultaneously.
Worrier (as Big Mood): Hi, uh, see Samson? I…I told you I could do this.
Worrier: He’s sort of woozy, you know, from the loss of blood and the adrenaline wearing off.
Worrier (as Big Mood): It’s, it’s good to see you again. I, I thought you might, I thought you might be gone.
Dax (as Samson): We heard that there was a creature troubling Westbridge, and that there would be a reward for catching it. But it appears you got to them before us.
Worrier (as Big Mood): Yeah. Yeah, I wasn’t, I wasn’t the creature. I couldn’t tell from the drawing, you know,
Worrier: Holds up the drawing.
Worrier (as Big Mood): Couldn’t tell what this was. But it wasn’t me. It was, it was the wolf here. Adventuring is gross, you guys. I still don’t know how you do it. But I beat you! So…
Dax (as Samson): Yes, yes you beat us. Did you by chance get Mother’s message?
Worrier (as Big Mood): No? I, I haven’t heard from any of you for a couple years now. But, I, what, oh...
Dax: Samson looks over at the other Minotaur, and looks back at you.
Dax (as Samson): Well, that explains a lot. Come on, let’s go back to the village. We can have some dinner, some drinks, and celebrate your success. And then we can head home.
Worrier (as Big Mood): Okay. I like that. You, but before we do that, you gotta come meet my, my new best friends.
Dax: Samson smiles.
Dax (as Samson): Yeah, yeah sure.
Wren: Question for you, Rou. You said you’re keeping your distance from the party. What does that mean for you?
Kappa: I’ve run off.
Wren: Okay.
Kappa: Yeah.
Music shifts to melancholy piano [24:19]
Wren: While Big Mood is greeting his siblings? I have taken off after best friend Rou. As slowly as I can, additionally, DM, since combat is over, I would like to make a Discipline check to recover Strain.
Dax: Anybody that wants to may do so, I believe it’s simple.
[dice rolls]
Wren: So I just rolled two, so I get two Strain.
Dax: So I will, before we get to the Rou and Eight meetup, Arthas. You see all this going on. What are you doing?
Neil: I’m kind of looking for Rou, I don’t think I saw all that, uh, turning into a Werewolf bit.
Dax: Sure.
Neil: And I mean, the dangerous part’s over. So probably just chilling and trying to figure out where the hell Rou went.
Dax: Alright. I’ll say that you don’t see him anywhere in the vicinity. But you do see Eight taking off in the distance. Are you doing anything with these wolves? Or are you just kind of like letting them be?
Neil: I did hear the word reward, so I’m going to pick those up.
Dax: Are you picking up one of the smaller ones? Are you going to try and pick up the big one?
Neil: It’s going to be like when you try and get all your groceries in in one trip.
Dax: Okay, you know -
Neil: I’m going to just try and struggle through it.
Dax: You know what? [laughs] Give me an Athletics check. Give it to me at Hard difficulty, so three purple please.
[dice rolls]
Neil: Two Threats.
Dax: Alright. You don’t exactly fail, you don’t exactly succeed. So I’ll say it takes you a couple of tries to get the bodies stacked just so. And they’re a little heavier than you anticipated, so you do have to move a little slower on your trek back to Westbridge.
Neil: It’s the world’s grossest game of Jenga.
Dax: Yep, pretty much. Yeah, you’re getting covered in gross adventuring stuff. Alright, Eight. So you are chasing after Rou.
Wren: I sure am. I am going to try to follow footsteps and noise and whatever else I can try and track him down, because no friend should go running off into the woods by themselves. Even one who can just casually overhand an enormous wolf monster and yell rudely and forcefully at their friends without a second thought about it. But, I believe with Big Mood’s brother and sister having arrived, and Arthas still being there, I feel like they’re pretty well in hand with that situation. So, I am just giving chase.
Dax: Rou, are you knocking into trees? Are you being very stealthy? I mean, is it, you tell me. How hard is it for Eight to follow you?
Kappa: I would imagine it would be very hard for Eight to keep up. At some point, Rou would have gone to all fours to create more distance, and try and, try and weave through the trees. Because in my head, I’m thinking, there are hunters of some sort that would not understand. And so I’d rather not be in the vicinity. So I would make it, try to make it difficult to track as much as possible. Maybe, making a leap every now and again in random directions.
Dax: Alright, so then in that case, Eight, give me a Survival check at Medium difficulty with one Setback. Between the random leaps and the snow that is still falling.
Wren: Oh boy, Survival. One yellow. And because of Lohr’s Blessing, I have a blue. Because I’ve been blessed by the God of Nature. [dice rolls] Came up blank, all of my dice came up blank. I rolled, all of my good dice came up blank I should say. The purple ones were great, they rolled three fails. So, I’m just stumbling around in the woods for way too long. Basically like, oh! The trail picks up here, and I just kind of waddle forward, following after it. And then like, oh wait no, this looks like a rabbit’s tracks. Then I like find another patch of snow, and I just follow after that. ‘Oh they went this way!’ Eventually I just kind of stop, feeling like I’m actually actively tracking Rou, and I just start yelling.
Wren (as Eight): Friend Rou! Where did you go? Where are you?
Wren: How bad is the snow right now?
Dax: The snow is actually lightening up, the clouds are starting to dissipate. The snowflakes are getting smaller. It is the tail end of this snow storm.
Wren (as Eight): I simply cannot leave Rou out here, in the wilderness, by themselves. After all, we did promise that we would help take them to Kidohlva with us. And regrettably, Arcterus seems fairly enamored with him, so, it would be quite a shame if I were to return back to town without him. So, I will endeavor to find him. As long as it takes. I do not need to sleep.
Music shifts to a sad, tense tune [29:25]
Kappa: After about, let’s say ten minutes, Rou is going to find some sort of gathering of trees that that he can hide behind or rest up upon and try to turn back. [dice rolls] Okay, that’s not too bad. That is two Success and two Advantage. In the same way that I turned into the wolf, turning back into the wolf, looks equally, if not more painful. As bones seem to crack, they crack and shift. The hair falls off, the extra hair, and the wound that Rou suffered on his shoulder. It’s stopped bleeding, but you can tell that it’s very fresh of a wound. Also, Rou is very sweaty and just breathing very hard.
Kappa (as Rou): [deep, heavy breaths]
Kappa: And he will begin fastening the undone zippers and buttons and other clothes, and once again the armor looks like it just, just slightly too big for him. Just ever so slightly. Oh yeah, and his shoes are broken, so he’s going to have to find some more shoes. But he’s, he’s very barefoot right now. Yeah, and so he’s laying down on his back, and just like, like going like,
Kappa (as Rou): [normal voice] Uhhh, this is the worst part.
Kappa: Trying to remember all of the zippers and buttons.
Dax: Rou, you hear Eight calling for you.
Kappa: And hears Eight calling off in the distance and he’s going to bring himself up to his two feet. [grunts as if pulling himself up] And call out,
Kappa (as Rou): I’m over here, Eight. Ugh.
Wren: I will look in that direction, and just kind of push my way through the throng of trees that are interposed between me and good friend Rou. I’ll basically like, slowly peek out around from behind a tree and see you laying there, or sitting up.
Music shifts to a gentle piano [31:36]
Kappa: Yeah, I brought myself to my feet and kind of leaning against the tree. The shoulder that was bit, it doesn’t look broken or anything. It’s just kind of like letting it rest against this, like trying to keep it tight against his chest as he’s leaning up against the tree. Very tired.
Kappa (as Rou): [deep breaths] I’m here.
Wren (as Eight): I found you.
Wren: And I’ll start walking forward, reaching into my bag. And I’ll pull out the medical kit that I had used just a moment prior with Big Mood. I’ve just kind of got it cradled in my giant hands and palms.
Wren (as Eight): Rou, you are injured. And, forgive me if I am mistaken, you appear to be in distress.
Kappa (as Rou): Yeah, yeah. The injury will heal. The distress is yet to be validated or not, depending on, you saw the, did you see what happened afterwards? Are there hunters after me?
Wren (as Eight): Just a moment.
Wren: And I’ll put the bag down, and I’ll kind of squat and I’ll start fiddling through it. I’ll do basically the same, same dealie, I’ll pull out the, I’ll pull out bandages and salves. I’ll start applying them and I’ll, I’ll forgo the herbs and spices. Because I am acutely aware that Rou seems to have an aversion to green things. As I’m, you know, I stand back up and I hold out the materials to you and I just say,
Wren (as Eight): May I dress your wound?
Kappa (as Rou): Yes, I suppose.
Wren (as Eight): Excellent. I assure you, this will be infinitely less painful than what caused the injury.
Wren: Like, I slap the salve down, and it’s just stinging with the medicinal nature of the material. It just burns a little bit. I start wrapping it with the bandage and I don’t look at you while I’m doing this. But you can see my eyes are fairly soft and illuminating your clothes and your skin with a pretty faint, purple light.
Wren (as Eight): Friend Rou, there are no hunters after you.
Kappa (as Rou): Okay.
Wren (as Eight): And I must say I was not quite expecting to see that kind of side of you.
Kappa (as Rou): I was not ever expecting you to see it either.
Wren (as Eight): Tell me,
Wren: And I’m still like, wrapping.
Wren (as Eight): Is this common for people from the Western Continent? To experience this sort of transformation while under extreme instances of stress?
Kappa (as Rou): Absolutely not, no.
Wren: I kind of shake my head.
Wren (as Eight): I see. Then you are a cultural rarity?
Kappa (as Rou): Cultural rarity is the nicest way I’ve ever heard it put. Cursed, abomination, beast is much closer. That’s what I’ve heard. You’re not… Eight, I understand that you are very fond of me and I am grateful for that. But you are not the least bit scared?
Wren: I’m quiet for a moment for a moment as I continue to wrap the wound for a little bit, and you’d note the color of my lenses change from that bright, vivid violet to more of like a lighter, lilac, almost pseudo-pink, as I’m lost in thought. And once I’m done, I secure the bandage and I step back, just a half-step, and stand there. My arms down at my side, and I look you square in the eyes and I say,
Wren (as Eight): If I had any reason to fear for my life, I would not have followed you. The reason, I would say, I am not worried is that the instant you changed, first thing you did was you directed your friends on how you would like to see them behave. And then, you had also warned us to quote “stay away from you”. If at any point, I was worried you would have hurt us, you would have turned on us without having warned us. Which leads me to believe, that shred of humanity, compassion, and feeling for your fellow creatures exists within your body despite whatever physical changes you might endure.
Kappa (as Rou): I really said that?
Wren (as Eight): As sure it is night-time, you did say that.
Kappa (as Rou): Okay. It’s always a toss up how much of your, how much of your presence stays. If you don’t act quick, you’re very, very immediately taken over by instinct. And the instinct of a predator, the instinct of a monster, is to feed. I’m surprised I had the wherewithal to warn you.
Wren (as Eight): How many times have you experienced this?
Kappa (as Rou): More times than I’m able to remember.
Wren (as Eight): And, of these times in excess of remembrance, how many people have you actually caused harm to? People who,
Wren: And my eyes go back to that purple color for a moment.
Wren (as Eight): For lack of a more elegant term, people who did not deserve it?
Kappa (as Rou): Me personally, I don’t think there are any. But you have to understand, my pack, my family, the numbers of innocent lives lost to this form. The beast, fairy tales, children’s cautionary tales, stories. All this stuff. We are the reason why, at least in my hometown, children are warned not to go out at night.
Wren (as Eight): I have heard stories before, but there are stories for many different things. And Mother’s library was always full of books both historical, educational, and fiction. And besides,
Wren: And I kind of turn and face back in the direction we came from.
Wren (as Eight): You are currently traveling with two people that the world would consider to be very dangerous. Are you aware of the old stories of Giant-Kin?
Kappa (as Rou): Mhmm. I mean, until I met Arthas, they were just large people, again in children’s stories.
Wren (as Eight): Exactly. In the time I have been traveling with Arthas, he has been greeted with many suspicious inquiries. Both vocal and physical, and even mental scrutiny. He has alluded to old stories and old wives tales involving giants stealing children, even killing people and grinding them into a fine dust to turn into bread. While beings of my stature are regarded as nothing but simple tools of war, to be used for whatever purposes suit those though would claim ownership over us. For your part, it must be diving providence of some sort that you have come into the company of the two of us. For we are all of a kind. Misunderstood.
Kappa (as Rou): I suppose you’re right. I’m just, we should, we should head back.
Wren (as Eight): You are right. We should. I would like to leave this instance with one very simple thing for you to remember. We are your friends, both Arthas and myself, and we will do all we can to make you feel comfortable in our presence and wherever we go. Now,
Wren: And I kind of look down.
Wren (as Eight): I couldn’t help but notice your shoes have been destroyed.
Kappa (as Rou): Oh.
Wren (as Eight): Perhaps I could assist until we get back to the inn.
Wren: I would like to use a spell to summon boots.
Dax: Sure. Yeah, you can do that.
Wren: They’re not going to be -
Kappa: [chuckles] They’re not going to be like the chicken, right?
Dax: They’ll last an hour if the spell goes off right.
Wren: This time I’ll concentrate on it though. So that they won’t go away.
Dax: Okay.
[dice rolls]
Wren: Oh yeah those are some fine boots. You’ve got yourself some nice already warm foot coverings on your feet. As basically, I stand there and look at your feet and I say,
Wren (as Eight): Well, we’ll need to get something on your feet.
Wren: And I pop the spoon out and I just kind of hold it and you see that energy generating at the tip. And I say,
Wren (as Eight): Please do not worry. This will not hurt.
Wren: The energy kind of swirls around your feet and instead of like, dust, it’s the snow and the dirt and everything that’s on the substrate of the forest floor. It kind of coalesces and makes boot shapes. And for a moment, you probably think I’m just making you shoes made out of snow, and in an instant, they just kind of *snaps* turn into leather with, you know, soles and nice laces and everything. It’s just like ‘Oh yeah, these are really great boots! Fantastic!’ Very cushy.
Dax: So, with the summoning of the boots, is there anything else the group would like to accomplish before we call this session ended?
Kappa: I mean, back to the inn, is like the only thing I can think of. But if there’s anything in between that and now that we want to do, I’m okay.
Music shifts back to the mysterious tune [42:31]
Worrier: Yeah, I’m, I’m good with back to the inn. Mood is going to deflect the actual retrieval of the bloody wolf parts. He’s going to subtly sort of delegate that out to other folks who aren’t as squeamish and you know, he wants to head back to the inn with everybody else.
Dax: Alright. So the group of you make it back to the inn. The villagers are ecstatic, terrified at first, finding out that there was more than one of those creatures when Arthas shows up with all three of them piled on his person. They cheer, the alcohol, the food is flowing nonstop. They are celebrating. You learn that the wolf with the crystals is a creature that has been plaguing them for quite some time. It’s usually stuck to livestock, Jerry was the first human death. However, because Mood, you had grabbed the bulletin and Arthas, you carried back the bodies, they share that they felt the original reward of 400 gold was not going to be sufficient. So on top of the 400 gold that you can split amongst yourselves, they offer free lodging for as many nights as you are in Westbridge.
Kappa (as Rou): Can you throw boots into that as well? Mine seem to have disappeared.
Dax: The local tailor/cobbler is more than happy to provide a pair of nice leather boots for you.
Kappa (as Rou): Much appreciated.
Worrier: Mood wants to just say his goodbyes before he heads off with, I head off with my family. Sort of sits there quietly for a moment, twiddling his thumbs kind of awkwardly and nervously. Looks up at Arthas and Rou and Eight, and says,
Worrier (as Big Mood): It’s, you helped me find my family and I don’t know how to thank you for that. You’re the first, first folks who made me feel welcome there in a real long time. And I don’t know how to thank you for that either, but, you’re amazing. All of you. And I’m glad we’re friends. You know I gotta go set things straight at home, I hope we meet again someday. If, if you ever need some flart, you can stop by my shop in Davenport. I’ll miss all of you.
Kappa (as Rou): We’ll miss you too, Big Mood.
Neil (as Arthas): Best of luck.
Wren (as Eight): It was an absolute pleasure to assist you in your first adventure. Now, I must warn you. Be sure to wash your wound and dress it daily, otherwise it might become infected and potentially be gangrenous.
Worrier (as Big Mood): I’ll, I don’t want it to get gross. Thanks. Thanks for the advice. And good luck on your adventures. I hope you all find what you’re looking for.
Dax: I think that’s actually a perfect line to end it. Good job, everyone.
Music fades out [46:16]
Dax: Thanks for listening! We hope you’ll join us next time but in the interim, follow us on Twitter @RoadsUncharted.
The “Roads Uncharted” podcast is GMed and produced by Dax who you can find on Twitter @GM_Dax. We use the Genesys RPG System published by Fantasy Flight Games and music licensed by Epidemic Sound.
Arthas, Champion of Offam is played by Neil.
Eight is played by Wren, who also composed the music for our opening theme. Follow them on Twitter @ThornyDryad.
Rou is played by Kappa, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheKappaChris.
Big Mood is played by our guest, Worrier. You can follow him on Twitter @WorrierMN.