Rou and Eight arrive in Honey Hills, where they meet a most experienced individual.
As Eight and Rou continue their journey south, they happen upon the town of Honey Hills. Honey Hills is known for its apiaries and bee related products, and both delight in the available items for purchase. While stocking up on their provisions, one of the patrons overhears their conversation and introduces himself.
Dawson is an adventurer on the verge of retirement, who is looking for people to help him with one last job. He tells the pair of an old temple to the east of town, where rumor has it treasure is buried deep within. If they would join him, he would gladly pay them for the assistance. Remembering Big Mood’s advice, Eight and Rou take Dawson up on his offer and ready themselves for their next adventure.
Follow Dax @GM_Dax, Kappa @TheKappaChris, Wren @ThornyDryad, and Graeme @graemecrackerz1
Transcript by Wren
Upbeat piano intro ends [00:28]
Quirky synth music starts [00:30]
Kappa (as Rou): Hello, this is Rou! From Roads Uncharted. Last time on Roads Uncharted we had come face to face with a "Granny Thistle". Initially, the interview was fruitless, but we sensed that there was something wrong. And we pestered her and pestered her until she grew so frustrated and revealed her final form. A fight broke out and we were able to reunite Hunter with Shepherd. It was a heartfelt moment that I felt we did not need to intrude upon. Despite some warning from Granny Thistle that we were stuck in this weird realm, we made it out of the portal, though Shepherd's human form was still left behind. Anyway, we continue on our adventure, having left our new friends to their own devices. The road out before us!
Music switches to a light string [1:22]
Dax: Eight and Rou, it's been a couple days since you left the cabin in the woods belonging to Hunter and Shepherd. You're still continuing your trek south through the woods. What have the two of you been up to these last couple of days?
Kappa: I think that I've been trying to figure out how to get along without Arthas. Arthas provides a lot of, you know, utility, just being so large. And so, adapting and working around that, I think, is harder than we had anticipated when we first parted ways. So, stuff that would be really easy would be like finding eggs, because Arthas would be able to just look at a tree and right in his eyeline would be some eggs. So, Rou would definitely be like,
Kappa (as Rou): Oh no, alright. Where are the eggs? This would be so much easier if I was eleven feet tall. How about this? Uh, Eight, do you think you could stand on my shoulders?
Wren: I will wring my hands at you asking this.
Wren (as Eight): Friend Rou, I would be delighted to stand on your shoulders, but I must admit that I have some trepidation that my weight would be too much for your shoulders to bear. Perhaps you should stand on my shoulders?
Kappa (as Rou): Oh please, how heavy can you be?
Wren (as Eight): I have never adequately weighed myself, but I imagine that my frame is fairly bulky. We can test this -
Kappa (as Rou): Okay.
Wren (as Eight): And see if you're willing to support my girth. But we'll see exactly how this works out.
Wren: And I will do my best to clamber up your – I don't know – climb over your shoulders.
Kappa: Hold on, I do some stretches, real quick.
Kappa (as Rou): [grunts as if stretching] Okay. Ooh, an adventurer is perfectly capable. I work out. Good, let's do this, Eight.
Dax: Rou, give me a Brawn check and give it to me at – Eight, what's your Brawn?
Wren: Three.
Dax: Hard difficulty.
[Dice rolls]
Kappa: [laughing] Oh no. It's four Failures and four Advantages!
Wren: I love it. I already have an idea if you don't have one for what those Advantages could be.
Kappa: I don't. I don't. I really don't. [Laughing]
Dax: Oh my god. Alright, have at it!
Wren: So, if you want to describe your failure I can absolutely make a narrative for those four Advantages.
Kappa: Sure, yeah, I'll describe the failure. It's awkward at first because we can't figure out how to get you onto my shoulders and it's one of those things where I say "stand on my shoulders" but, really, I mean "sit on my shoulders" and you literally stand. Right? And so you take that step and I'm like,
Kappa (as Rou): What? Eight, what are you doing? Your foot is on my shoulder. You're supposed to -
Wren (as Eight): You said stand on your shoulders!
Kappa (as Rou): I know, stand, but not literally stand!
Wren (as Eight): Then why didn't you say "sit" on your shoulders, if you actually meant to sit on them?
Kappa (as Rou): Look, look, look. Ew, there's a worm on your foot! Eight, there's a worm on your foot!
Kappa: Then, as I'm flailing around and the worm is getting towards my face, you're like "what?" and you kick me in the nose which causes me to fall over.
Wren: As I go tumbling to the ground, landing on my automated butt, I sit on the ground next to you
Wren (as Eight): Friend Rou, is your face okay? I did not mean to strike you with my foot. It was an accident. Oh, look! This is actually quite fortuitous. It seems we landed face first next to a quail's nest. And look, there's a handful of eggs here!
Wren: And I will take my hands and gently scoop them up.
Wren (as Eight): Friend Rou, you have quite the nose for eggs!
Kappa: I'm rubbing my nose.
Kappa (as Rou): Yes, whatever little nose that I have left. Oh, it's not your fault, Eight. Oh, you're right. I did not anticipate how [sniffing] heavy you were. You said quail's eggs?
Wren (as Eight): I assumed that they were quail's eggs. Quails nest on the ground. Although I'm sure many other birds nest on the ground, as well.
[Kappa gasps]
Kappa (as Rou): I did not know that.
Wren (as Eight): Though they are speckled like a quail's eggs. Though other eggs are also speckled, besides quail's eggs.
Kappa (as Rou): This is wonderful. We found eggs!
Wren: I look at your face. How messed up - how jacked up is your nose?
Kappa: I don't think very? [Laughing] It's just, you know it's a sensitive part of the face, ya know? So, it's more pain than actual damage.
Wren: Okay. So I didn't break your nose or anything.
Kappa: I don't know. GM looks like she's thinking. [Laughs]
Dax: You're fine. I'll leave it between the two of you, how bad the nose is.
Kappa: Okay.
Wren: I think it makes sense that I just bashed it a little bit. And it -
Kappa: Yeah.
Wren: It's maybe a little bruised, but not broken or anything.
Kappa: I definitely have, like, the dark spots underneath the eyes on the bridge of the nose for a bit, but nothing that won't heal with time.
Wren: I hold the eggs and I just say to you,
Wren (as Eight): Rou, we can head back to camp and I can begin cooking these conventionally. After all, without my spoon, I am afraid I am quite magically limited.
Kappa (as Rou): And that's okay! Once we get you some sort of conduit, we'll be back in form in no time.
Wren (as Eight): And then we can go back to eating grey paste!
Kappa (as Rou): Yes. [pauses] We can do that.
Wren: I will trundle off with eggs in hand. Cradling them lovingly so as to not smush the crap out of them.
Music shifts to a solemn string [07:40]
Dax: As you do. Meanwhile, in the not-too-distant town of Honey Hills, Dawson, what're you up to?
Graeme: Now, I'm probably posted at the corner of a tavern. There's some fledgling adventurers around me. They’re celebrating their first foray into adventure. Which, you know, I've seen a lot of real exciting adventures. But theirs was rescuing Miss Matilda's cat that was missing and they're getting a little too excited about the 40 copper pieces that they got paid. But, you know, it buys enough rounds for the group and I guess I shouldn't be too disappointed that they're all alive. So, I'm sitting at the tavern with a pipe, smoking my tobacco and just, you know, watching their youthful enthusiasm.
Dax: I know you said that you just helped out this group of fledgling adventurers, but how long have you been in this town? How long have you been staking out – I shouldn't say staking out – what exactly did you come into this town for? Was it to help people find a cat?
Graeme: Absolutely not. This town happens to be the last town on the way to a specific personal endeavor of mine and, you know, I posted up a flyer earlier, looking for adventurers, which is how I met this lovely bunch. But it's about a day's travel from where I'm looking to go. After today, I don't think they're going to fit the bill.
Dax: Sounds more's the pity. More searching for you, then.
Graeme: Yep. So, I've been here maybe about a week.
Dax: A week. Okay. As you are sitting in the tavern, your fledgling adventurer...I'll call them groupies for now, drinking and making merry around you. Trying to get you to cheer up and get you into a celebratory mood. Eight and Rou, you have arrived in the town of Honey Hills. It is a small town just beyond the forest. They are known for their beekeeping, hence the name. As you are walking into town, you see a sign for the general store, you see a sign for the inn and you see a sign for the tavern. They are the first three buildings that are right there at the entryway to the town. Dawson, what is the name of this tavern?
Music shifts to a pensive piano tune [10:08]
Graeme: The Honey Drop.
Dax: The inn is the Beehive and the general store is The Bee's Knees.
Wren: Did you say the Bee's Needs?
Dax: Yup. As you two are entering Honey Hills, what's the first thing that you do?
Wren: So, this town is known for its beekeeping; its practice of apiary! Are there just fields of beehives that are just kind of hanging out? Or what's the look?
Dax: When you exited the forest, you saw this town in the distance. It was very clear that off in the hills, off to the side of the town, there are, like, fields and fields of all of these little boxes. And once you got close to the town, you realized that it was all apiary fields. You can see people out there in their suits, their veils, their heavy clothing, tending and harvesting the honey and honeycomb.
Wren: I think, as we break the edge of the forest and we see the village, I will turn to Rou and say,
Wren (as Eight): Friend Rou, look! A village. I was not aware that we were closing in on one!
Kappa (as Rou): Neither was I. Though, they seem quite, quite odd. Don't you think? They're wearing strange outfits.
Wren (as Eight): Perhaps they are sensitive to sunlight and they are attempting to protect themselves?
Kappa (as Rou): Yes, I suppose so. But, might we just ask when we arrive at a tavern or supply store? Speaking of which, are we low on anything?
Wren (as Eight): Bessie?
Wren: And I'll turn and look at the donkey.
Wren (as Eight): Can you tell me what we're missing or what we're low on?
Wren: And I will raise my eyebrows expectantly.
Dax: As ever, you get just a blank stare. Every once and a while you see just an ear twitch in a slow, mechanical motion.
Wren (as Eight): I don't believe that Bessie has been doing a good job as quartermaster.
Kappa (as Rou): Okay, okay. Well...
Kappa: Is there a sign or anything that says that this place is called Honey Hills?
Dax: Mhmm. At the entrance to the town.
Kappa: Okay, cool.
Dax: And it's very cute, little yellow words with a blue sky and clouds and everything it says "Welcome to sunny, Honey Hills."
Kappa: Okay, as we approach and enter the town proper and notice the honey on it.
Kappa (as Rou): Oh, look at this. So they might have honey, you know? We could stock up on that. Some sweeteners for the tea that we frequently enjoy.
Wren (as Eight): That's good. That's good. Honey can not only be used for tea, but also for healing tinctures.
Kappa (as Rou): Oh, I suppose you're right! I never thought of it that way.
Wren (as Eight): So, yes. I suppose we can stock up on honey while we are here in Sunny, Honey Hills. That's a very fun name to say: "Sunny, Honey Hills".
Kappa (as Rou): Sunny, Honey Hills. Why don't they just add the sunny in the beginning?
Wren (as Eight): They do. The sign says welcome to Sunny, Honey Hills.
Kappa (as Rou): Yes, but do you see that the sunny is smaller than just Honey Hills?
Wren (as Eight): Perhaps the person making the script on the sign was not sure which sunny they needed to write.
Kappa (as Rou): Mm. Mhmm.
Wren (as Eight): They figured that writing it smaller would detract from the possibility that they made an error.
Dax: Are you two having this conversation standing in front of the sign?
Kappa: No. We're walking. We're walking. Walking and talking.
Wren: We walk and talk.
Kappa: Yeah!
Dax: Okay. Okay, you're walking and talking. Dawson, while you're sitting in the tavern, you happen to notice a construct and a human. Walking with them is a donkey and cart coming into town. These are people you haven't seen the entire week that you've been here.
Graeme: Right. What sort of gear do they kind of carry on them? Like, are they armed? Are they, you know, just traveling merchant gear.
Kappa: I look like I have some adventuring under my belt. I wear extremely oversized armor and I do carry a sword. I don't think I have a cape. I don't think that Rou is a cape kind of person. But that's the only indication you got that – oh, and Rou's face looks kind of beat up at the moment, indicating that violence or an altercation might have happened recently. But that's Rou.
Dax: Almost like you are on the tail end of what could have been a bar fight?
Kappa: Yeah, yeah. Exactly.
Wren: And the construct looks – definitely does not look like an adventurer. Polished white armor, though towards the lower extremities you can tell that there has been a lot of traveling because there's just a lot of dust and mud caked on a lot of the boot and lower sections of the legs. And they wear a simple blue cloth wrap that hangs like a half cape down their back. From where you stand, I would say that you probably just see some leather goods in the back of the wagon. So, maybe, like a tent and some sleeping rolls. But, nothing that necessarily makes us look like merchants.
Kappa: Or bounty hunters or anything like that. There's no giant boar or anything back there.
Wren: We're just two weird people walking.
Graeme: I think I'm just going to watch them from where I sit. I really want to get a grasp of what they're doing in town. I'll like, I'll probably watch them through the windows, whether they're heading towards the job board, or the shop.
Kappa (as Rou): I think it would be a good idea to post Bessie up in some sort of stable first and then see what the town has to offer!
Wren (as Eight): That sounds reasonable. Though I feel like it would be easier to stock up our provisions if Bessie was with us when we went to the general store.
Kappa (as Rou): I suppose so. Okay, so, general store first and then finding a tavern with a stable where Bessie can shelter in.
Wren (as Eight): And also food for you!
Kappa (as Rou): Food for me, yes. But those quail eggs were quite filling this morning. So, I'm not hungry now.
Softly ringing bell music fades [17:42]
Dax: Alright, so I won't make y'all roleplay this. Is there anything specifically out of the general store that you would have picked up?
Kappa and Wren together: Honey!
Dax: Okay. That was easy. I mean, there's all sorts of honey, there's jalapeño. Well, it's not really jalapeño, but it's spicy honey -
Wren: Juh-lepeno honey?
Kappa: Oh, that sounds awesome.
Dax: There's like honey and strawberry jam type preserves…
Kappa: So, yeah, I think something would be just like, I mean, all of this is going to be honey. [Chuckling] But, specifically, honey that you eat, perhaps candy, burn balm or salve of some kind.
Wren: A bee balm.
Kappa: Yeah, bee balm. Wax, or lantern fuel.
Dax: Mhmm.
Kappa: Would there be a hat? Like a beekeeper's hat?
Dax: Yeah.
Kappa: Okay, I'll look at it and be like,
Kappa (as Rou): This would be very useful, but I don't understand the cage around the face.
Wren (as Eight): I believe it filters the bad air.
Kappa (as Rou): So, like, if we went back to the Devil's Butthole, it'd filter out all of the air?
Wren (as Eight): In theory, I suppose that makes sense.
Kappa (as Rou): Sure, this seems like very good utility. I was just going to get it to keep the sun out of my eyes. But if it does prevent bad smells...
Wren (as Eight): I suppose it could double as a sort of disguise for anonymity?
Kappa (as Rou): Sure!
Wren (as Eight): When you wear it, I can't see your face that well. You're obscured!
Kappa (as Rou): Hmm..in case we ever need to go undercover.
Wren (as Eight): Yes. Exactly! See, all of our investigation training really paid off!
Dax: Y'all are the worst.
Kappa (as Rou): Yes, deep cover to root out illicit crime ring syndicates. I don't know, I just…
Wren: I blink absent-mindedly.
Kappa (as Rou): I read about it once. It was quite scary. But if we do come across one of those, I think we'll be prepared with a face-obscuring hat.
Dax: So, all of that, Rou, will run you about ten gold.
Kappa: Ten gold? Alright. Yeah.
Dax: So, go ahead and add your miscellaneous items to your inventory. Eight, anything from you?
Wren: Uhhh...
Dax: God, Rou is like those people that go to Canada just for the maple candy. Like, they go just over the border to get the maple syrup and the candy.
Wren: I'll get some bandage wraps.
Dax: Mmkay.
Wren: To go with all of that honey.
Dax: Mhmm.
Wren: And I will look for a new cooking spoon?
Dax: Yeah, you can find a new wooden spoon or cast iron. It's your choice!
Wren: I specifically am popping open my gauntlet and testing to see how each type of spoon fits inside of it.
Dax: Mhmm.
[Kappa laughs]
Kappa: That's awesome.
Wren: So, I'll put it in and close it and then I'll practice popping it out and be like,
Wren (as Eight): No, that one catches slightly.
Wren: And then I'll put it back and then I will try another one. Close it and pop it.
Wren (as Eight): That one is a little loose when I shake my wrist.
Wren: And I think I will wind up settling on just a – you said metal but I don't think I would get a metal one. I think I would just get a simple oak wooden spoon.
Kappa: Do I..do I notice, like, you picking up various spoons of wood, metal...there's no plastic. Or other material?
Wren: I would say so.
Kappa: Okay, so I just approach and say,
Kappa (as Rou): So, it doesn't have to be wood. Does it have to be a spoon?
Wren (as Eight): For cooking?
Kappa (as Rou): Oh, I thought you were looking for another conduit.
Wren (as Eight): Oh, no. My spoon was broken. Without the spoon, I cannot cook. I need a spoon to cook! How else would I stir things?
Kappa (as Rou): With a fork?
Wren (as Eight): Well, I suppose so. But it does not have the same effect as a spoon. And if I were to get a metal one it would scrape the bottom of the pan. And I am told that metal filings in food is not particularly cared for by people who consume food.
Kappa (as Rou): I don't think I've ever noticed.
Wren (as Eight): That's because I take care with my wooden spoon not to cause that!
Kappa (as Rou): And I appreciate that. Sorry, I just thought you were looking for another arcane conduit. So, I was going to suggest maybe a knife, you know? A little bit of utility there.
Wren (as Eight): My goodness!
Kappa (as Rou): A magical conduit that you could also stab someone with!
Wren (as Eight): Why would I stab someone?
Kappa (as Rou): We're adventurers, Eight!
Wren (as Eight): I do not want to stab anyone!
Kappa (as Rou): I also don't want to stab anyone, but, again, we're adventurers. We've been set upon by people who wish to do us harm and I'd rather be a little bit more defensive, especially now, with Arthas gone!
Dax: One quick second, Dawson, could you roll me a Vigilance check for me, at Medium difficulty, so that'll be two purple?
Graeme: Sure.
[Dice rolls]
Graeme: My result is one Threat.
[Kappa and Graeme laugh]
Dax: So, the Bee's Needs, the Honey Drop, and the Beehive are all the first three signs you see in the town because they're all connected. Picture, like, a Cracker Barrel where you have the tavern, the inn is actually upstairs that you can go into the tavern to get to and the general store is connected to the tavern with a big, open archway.
Dawson, from where you're sitting, you're on the other side of where – near, close, kind of where the door is. And through the noise of the tavern and your companions celebrating, you just hear the word "adventurers". You don't know who said it, you don't hear the rest of the conversation, you just hear one word: "adventurers".
Music shifts back to a dark, moody tune [22:26]
Graeme: So, I will sit up from where I assume I have – what time is it? Morning, afternoon, night?
Dax: You tell me is it lunch time or dinner time?
Graeme: Uh, I'm going to say lunch time.
Dax: Okay, then it is lunch time.
Graeme: So, I probably move my empty plate and my empty mug back over towards the bartender, or, whoever is working and I'll kind of step up and grab my hammer because I'm not going to leave that thing behind for this rabble and I'm going to start walking. It's probably a little imposing because Dawson is carrying a hammer and walking through these doors with this giant maul and I'm just going to try and find whoever said "adventurers".
Dax: Rou and Eight, as you were.
Music shifts back to the pleasant bell chiming tune [24:42]
Kappa: At this point, I guess the conversation would have moved on. And I would be just looking at various, different spoons and holding them out to Eight.
Kappa (as Rou): How about this one? Try this one.
Wren: And for each one, I have some reason why it doesn't work.
Wren (as Eight): Oh, no. The haft on this one is far too imbalanced.
Kappa (as Rou): Sure, sure. Yeah, no. Imbalanced. Right, um…
Wren (as Eight): The reservoir on this one is far too shallow. I would not be able to hold any liquid with this one
Kappa (as Rou): Obviously, obviously!
Kappa: I'll throw it behind me.
Wren (as Eight): This one is a fork.
Kappa (as Rou): I didn't think you would notice that one.
Wren (as Eight): You are testing my culinary knowledge!
Kappa (as Rou): I wanted to keep you on your toes, Eight.
Wren: Eventually, I will settle on one of the ones that you hand me.
Wren (as Eight): This one! This one is perfect. It's made of the right material. It feels good in my hand and it has the appropriate size to maximize cooking utility.
Dax: And, Dawson, these are the only two in the shop other than a little old lady that is stocking shelves.
Graeme: How formidable does she look?
Dax: So, funny that you ask. This shop is very much like, as I said, a Cracker Barrel gift shop where there are tall shelves, there's like knick-a-brack everywhere. Alright? So, while you hear this conversation going on, you don't exactly see anybody. The first person that you do see is this old lady stocking shelves. She does have a hook for a hand. She's a little… [laughs] Wren. She is a little hunched over. She has an eyepatch on her right eye. She sees you and immediately spits into a spittoon and says,
Dax (as the old lady): [in a gravelly voice] Whaddaya want?
Graeme (as Dawson): [in a slightly southern, older masc tone] Well, I'm just browsing, ma'am. So, so, so sorry to bother you.
[Graeme laughs]
Dax: She nods and goes back to very carefully folding the linen shirts that have the Honey Hills emblem.
Wren: At that moment, I turn around, and Dawson, you would see this automaton with flashing, brilliant purple eyes holding a little something in their hand and just go,
Wren (as Eight): Look, friend Rou! This is a bee soap! And it is shaped like a bee! It is adorable!
Kappa (as Rou): [laughing] I thought that was candy! I bought two thinking we were going to eat them!
Wren (as Eight): Well, it does not hurt to have soap on hand, correct?
Kappa: I'm going to change my character sheet to say "soap" instead of candy. [laughs]
Wren (as Eight): I can almost imagine this one dancing right now. Buzz buzz buzz.
Wren: And I just kind of float it over towards your face and boop your nose with it. Boop.
Wren (as Eight): Ah. This is nice.
Kappa (as Rou): This is very nice. And everything is so conveniently nearby. Look, there's a tavern over there where we can get lunch and then I think there were rooms upstairs.
Wren (as Eight): And look! That man has a giant hammer.
Dax: Dawson, if you want to describe yourself, [laughs] my god.
Music shifts back to a dark, moody tune [27:57]
Graeme: Yeah, sure. So, probably in stark contrast to the two of you, Dawson is a human. Probably, early sixties. They have kind of a crew cut that, at one point, was brown but is now streaked with grey. They are heavily muscled, wearing a chain shirt with leather thrown over it. They stand at 6'6'' and are probably close to 220 pounds. They have scars covering their arms. They have one gash across their face in a straight line and these piercing, green eyes. They have a sword on their hip, a shield on their back and they are carrying this two-handed maul that is made of, like, basalt, with a brown leather wrapping around it and it almost seems to be emanating, like, a heat from this hammer. As he gets closer...
Graeme (as Dawson): Um, didn't mean to interrupt your shopping or anything, but do the two of you happen to be adventurers?
Kappa (as Rou): Hah, yes! What gave it away?
Graeme (as Dawson): Well, your penchant for trinkets, I suppose.
Kappa (as Rou): Mhmm, mhmm. I suppose that tracks. I assume you are also an adventurer? Hello. Hail and well met, adventurer.
Graeme (as Dawson): Well met. Um, Dawson. Dawson Sawyer.
Kappa (as Rou): Dawson Sawyer, good to meet you! My name is Rou and this is my friend – best friend – Eight.
Graeme (as Dawson): It's a pleasure to meet you Rou. Eight. Um, I am an adventurer trainer. Um, close to retirement, anyways. Looking to kind of find a group to delve into some dangerous ruins for one last job before I retire.
Kappa (as Rou): Dangerous ruins? There are dangerous ruins nearby, Eight.
Wren (as Eight): You are ready to retire?
Graeme (as Dawson): Yeah. I've been around for a while and I think that after this job, I'm ready- I'm ready to, you know, buy a nice house and maybe start a garden.
Kappa (as Rou): As I was under the impression that adventuring, retirement looks like death.
Graeme (as Dawson): Yeah, well, for most it is.
Kappa (as Rou): But that's not you. You want to actually continue living your life beyond adventuring?
Graeme (as Dawson): But, yeah. Preferrably, I'd like to be alive.
Kappa (as Rou): Yes, okay!
Wren (as Eight): Rou.
Wren: And I will look at you, Rou.
Wren (as Eight): Don't you remember Rodag? Rodag was retired.
Kappa (as Rou): Rodag was retired! Yes!
Wren (as Eight): I believe that Rodag insinuated that death was "second retirement".
Kappa (as Rou): Mmm, yes. So, these ruins, what – what sort of – so, you're planning to go and scout it out? Map it out for commission? And then that should give you enough funds for your house and garden?
Graeme (as Dawson): Well, uh, I've already been there before.
Kappa (as Rou): Oh.
Graeme (as Dawson): And didn't get all of the way through.
Kappa (as Rou): Hmm. Well, you know, the second time is the charm.
Graeme (as Dawson): Yeah, something like that.
Kappa (as Rou): Something like that.
Graeme (as Dawson): It's, well, I ain't a scholar, but this place used to be a temple or dungeon dedicated to Brinde.
Kappa (as Rou): Who's Brenda?
Graeme (as Dawson): Um, some god.
Kappa (as Rou): Oh.
Graeme (as Dawson): I am not the religious type.
Kappa (as Rou): Mhmm. Mhmm.
Graeme (as Dawson): There's just too many.
Kappa (as Rou): I'm still learning.
Wren: Can I make a Lore check to know if I know anything about Brenda?
Kappa: We've destroyed the GM.
Dax: [Laughing] I – I can't. Um, yes. Yes you may make a Lore check. I'm going to give this one to you at Easy difficulty.
[Dice rolls]
Wren: Two Advantages and a Success leftover.
Dax: Okay. What do you want to use your Advantages for? Or do you want to wait until I give you your response?
Wren: I don't really need anything right now.
Dax: Okay!
Wren: As far as I'm concerned. Perhaps, I might notice that there is some sort of common trinket or wall hanging signifying that someone here practices or at least believes in Brenda?
Dax: Brinde, from your studies back in your tower, um, Brinde is one of the elemental spirits. Long, long, long, long, long ago, people used to worship the elements as gods within themselves. You know, so they would have submitted offerings to them they, potentially, would have built up structures dedicated to them. And there's not really a clear path as to what happened, why people started to worship the new pantheon that is in existence now with all of its major and minor deities.
While there are people that still recognize the importance of these elementals, there is not a dedicated religion to any of them that you're aware of. But Brinde was the earth elemental. So, as far as a trinket? You see that there is almost like a snowglobe, a miniature snowglobe with a glass ball the size of a baseball. And within it is a formation of rocks almost in the shape of a human. So, like a humanoid-shaped rock creature. And it's like a glittery substance. It's not necessarily snow in the snowglobe.
Wren: Would I be correct to assume that, perhaps, this was a "rumored form" of Brinde?
Dax: Correct.
Wren: Okay.
Wren (as Eight): Ah, yes. Brinde. An old elemental spirit of the earth, actually. I suppose it would not be entirely out of the question for a village that makes it's living off of apiary to have close ties to the elemental spirit of earth. Rou, I am learning so much today and having so much fun!
Kappa (as Rou): This is, yes, this is quite interesting and quite fun. So, Dawson. This temple, this ruin, do you, perhaps, require assistance?
Graeme (as Dawson): Well, um, if you're offering, I won't turn down – I won't turn down help, honestly. I'll even offer to pay!
Wren (as Eight): But, if you pay us, how will you retire?
Graeme (as Dawson): Well, I have enough savings saved up, so to speak. I could retire now, if I wanted. But this place is personal.
Kappa (as Rou): Oh, so this is more like a for the thrill of it. You love adventuring so much that you're willing to give it one last goodbye?
Graeme (as Dawson): Yeah, sure.
Kappa (as Rou): Well, I mean, Eight, we have been traveling for quite a while. We could stop for a couple of days and help out new friend Dawson, here. What do you say?
Wren: I will nod.
Wren (as Eight): It would be nice for us to help Friend Dawson retire. After all...
Wren: And I'll look at Dawson again, so he's about half as tall as Arthas. Has a giant hammer.
Wren (as Eight): He reminds me of half of Arthas. So, in a way, it's almost like helping Arthas.
Kappa (as Rou): Arthas is a friend of ours.
Graeme (as Dawson): Did they travel with you? Are you expecting them? Did they leave? Did they… die?
Kappa (as Rou): Oh, no! No. No. Not anything like death or what not. Arthas just had other responsibilities and needed to go take care of them, urgently.
Wren (as Eight): A quest!
Kappa (as Rou): A knight's quest!
Graeme (as Dawson): Well, if the two of you are in, I'll secure some rations and we can – I am staying at the tavern, the Honey Drop. But, let's say we leave tomorrow morning. I'll be in the tavern if you want to ask more questions.
Graeme: I look at the old lady.
Graeme (as Dawson): Just a lot of prying ears here…
[Kappa and Graeme laugh]
Graeme: [laughing] In this otherwise empty room! [pauses] How common are automatons?
Dax: Since you're an adventurer and you've been adventuring for a long time, I'd say you've maybe seen a couple. But they're usually accompanying, like, some of the wealthier residents of the continent down south. They're not usually a standard thing.
Music shifts to a quirky tune [37:42]
Graeme: Have I ever seen one of them adventuring? Or is this the first one?
Dax: No, this is the first one.
Wren: I'll just put a finger up in the air as I say to you, Dawson,
Wren (as Eight): If you are procuring rations, you do not need to worry about feeding me, as I do not need to eat food to live.
Graeme (as Dawson): Alright, well, that's good to know. Do you need oil or anything like that?
Kappa (as Rou): I don't think so. I have just bought lantern wax.
Graeme (as Dawson): How… diligent.
Kappa (as Rou): Well, yes. When you see a general store you do stock up.
Wren (as Eight): We do travel through a lot of villages and towns and hamlets on our adventures.
Kappa (as Rou): And not all of them have a general store!
Wren (as Eight): Not all of them have inns and taverns, either.
Kappa (as Rou): This is quite, quite the nice stop. I mean, you look like you've been around and you've been adventuring. You've probably been to many of the places around here!
Graeme (as Dawson): Yeah, I mean, I've been an adventurer for forty plus years traveling.
Kappa (as Rou): Forty plus years! Wow! The dedication! You must have some wonderful stories!
Graeme (as Dawson): Yeah, I've also got my share of, uh, cautionary tales, I suppose.
Kappa (as Rou): Eight, this could be – this could be a wonderful opportunity for us to learn more of the adventurer's code!
Wren (as Eight): Oh, yes! Just like our friend Big Mood had said. Oh!
Wren: And I will, like, grip the edge of a nearby shelf.
Wren (as Eight): We are in a tavern and we have met a new person! This is now our friend. This is the start of a new adventure!
Kappa (as Rou): Look at that! Effortless!
[Graeme laughs]
Dax: And with that, we're going to call the session ended.
Music fades out [39:41]
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.
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.
Arthas, Champion of Offam is played by Neil.
And Dawson is played by our guest, Graeme. You can follow him on Twitter @graemecrackerz1 and Twitch at twitch.tv/graemecrackerz.