This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Jake Blauck: Hello, I'm Jake Blauck, and you're about to listen to Mythic Thunderlute.

[0:03] Jake Blauck: We create our podcast all over and stand on the land of many indigenous tribes, including the Southern Paiute, the Lenape Tribe, the Menominee tribe, and the tribes of the Council of the Three Fires.

[0:13] Jake Blauck: The Ojibwe, Odawa, and Pottawatomi Nations.

[0:16] Jake Blauck: We want to acknowledge those relationships and their history.

[0:19] Jake Blauck: Mythic Thunderlute is brought to you with support from 11th Hour Theater Company, Philadelphia's only all musical theater company.

[0:25] Jake Blauck: Visit 11thhourtheatercompany.org for more information.

[0:29] Jake Blauck: If you want to support Mythic Thunderlute, join our Patreon by going to patreon.com/mythicthunderloot.

[0:35] Jake Blauck: With that, here's episode eight.

[0:40] Jake Blauck: Mythic Thunder.

[0:56] Lillian Castillo: Welcome to Mythic Thunderlute, a D&D podcast musical.

[1:00] Leigha: I'm Leigha.

[1:01] Jake Blauck: I'm Jake Blauck.

[1:02] Lillian Castillo: I'm Lillian Castillo.

[1:03] Michael Doherty: I'm Michael Doherty.

[1:04] Steve Goodalunus: I'm Steve Goodalunus.

[1:06] All: And this is Mythic Thunderlute.

[1:08] Jake Blauck: How are we feeling, gang?

[1:10] All: Good!

[1:10] All: We're good.

[1:11] All: We're good.

[1:16] Steve Goodalunus: Oh god, Minerva's Herb.

[1:18] Lillian Castillo: Oh, yeah.

[1:18] Jake Blauck: Maybe who knows?

[1:19] Lillian Castillo: That's what that strange flute you were playing that didn't make any music was.

[1:22] Jake Blauck: And took all the wind from my lungs.

[1:25] Lillian Castillo: Thank God.

[1:26] Jake Blauck: I'm so jealous.

[1:27] Jake Blauck: Alright, well, with that being said, I'd like to introduce our game maker, Mr. Michael Doherty.

[1:32] Michael Doherty: Whoop woo!

[1:35] Michael Doherty: Thank you, thank you.

[1:36] Jake Blauck: Today on the pod we have special guests, Jen Cody and Hunter Foster.

[1:41] Jake Blauck: Jen was in the original Broadway casts of Seussical, Taboo, Urinetown, and Shrek the Musical.

[1:48] Jake Blauck: Her voice can be heard on the cast recording for Lippa's The Wild Party, and in the Disney animated feature, The Princess and the Frog, for which she won an Annie Award.

[1:57] Jake Blauck: Hunter was in the original Broadway companies of Urinetown, Million Dollar Quartet, The Bridges of Madison County, and the 2003 Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors, for which he received a Tony nomination.

[2:09] Jake Blauck: As a writer, he penned the libretto for the off-Broadway musical Summer of '42, and can now be found directing all over the nation.

[2:16] Jake Blauck: Jen and Hunter, welcome to the pod.

[2:19] Jen Cody: Hey!

[2:20] Hunter Foster: Glad to be here.

[2:21] Jen Cody: Thank you so much for being here.

[2:22] Jake Blauck: I'm so thrilled to have you here.

[2:24] Jake Blauck: Uh let's get right to it.

[2:26] Jake Blauck: So uh Jen, I know you guys actually met doing theater.

[2:30] Jen Cody: We did.

[2:31] Jen Cody: We love a love story.

[2:32] Jake Blauck: So could you tell us a little bit about that?

[2:34] Jen Cody: Um we met doing Cats, which is...

[2:34] Jen Cody: That's amazing.

[2:40] Jen Cody: Also, it's just a funny laugh line.

[2:42] Jen Cody: I just stopped when I once I say that.

[2:42] Jen Cody: Since then, that's my dog in the bark crowd.

[2:48] Jen Cody: Uh we have performed a lot together.

[2:50] Jen Cody: Um on Broadway, we did Grease for a long time together where we got married.

[2:55] Jake Blauck: Oh amazing.

[2:55] Jen Cody: And then we did Urinetown together.

[2:57] Jake Blauck: So uh we perform a lot together.

[2:59] Jake Blauck: Was that sort of fate or luck, or was that kind of like an intentional effort on your parts too?

[3:05] Jen Cody: Kind of just fate, I guess.

[3:07] Jen Cody: I mean, um, we had done Cats, he left to do Grease, and then they had auditions, and I auditioned, and uh that kind of worked out.

[3:15] Jen Cody: And then when uh he was doing Urinetown, I auditioned and uh they didn't know that I was his wife.

[3:21] Hunter Foster: Oh really?

[3:22] Jen Cody: And uh after the director chose me for the part, the casting people were like, oh that's good, because they're married.

[3:28] Jen Cody: So uh yeah, just kind of all worked out.

[3:30] Jake Blauck: That's amazing.

[3:31] Jake Blauck: I love that.

[3:32] Jake Blauck: Um, something that's that's really cool about both of your careers is that you've you've like really evolved as artists.

[3:39] Jake Blauck: For instance, Hunter, uh, another cool aspect of your career has been the writing you've gotten to do.

[3:45] Hunter Foster: The last thing I sort of helped develop was the Clue play, which is one of the writers in the and uh also uh really helped develop the the piece, and it was the most um produced high school play last year.

[3:58] Jake Blauck: So no kidding.

[3:59] Hunter Foster: And I'm gonna direct it again in Utah.

[4:01] Jake Blauck: So what was the development of a piece like that like?

[4:04] Hunter Foster: You know, it was a flawed film with some great performances.

[4:08] Hunter Foster: I mean, it was a bomb when it opened.

[4:10] Jake Blauck: Right, right.

[4:10] Hunter Foster: So it became more of a cult classic, like Rocky Horror, you know.

[4:14] Jake Blauck: Uh-huh.

[4:14] Hunter Foster: So then it was trying to find out like what was really funny and what wasn't really funny.

[4:18] Hunter Foster: You know, farces are hard.

[4:20] Hunter Foster: And so we developed it for a few years, and then uh my schedule just uh I was doing uh The Other Josh Cohen off-Broadway, so uh my schedule was was not gonna allow me to continue.

[4:31] Jake Blauck: Gotcha.

[4:32] Jake Blauck: Well, how cool to be able to step back into that world uh when you directed at Utah.

[4:36] Hunter Foster: Yeah.

[4:36] Jake Blauck: Now, Jen, uh cool aspect of your career has been all the voiceover work that you've gotten.

[4:41] Jake Blauck: Uh so what was it like finding work in in that realm?

[4:45] Jen Cody: And what was it like specifically, you know, working for the mouse?

[4:49] Jen Cody: Um I'm gonna say something, people are gonna be mad.

[4:52] Jen Cody: Princess and the Frog actually started my voiceover career.

[4:56] Jake Blauck: Um, did it really?

[4:57] Jen Cody: Yeah, because I had never done voiceovers before that.

[5:00] Jen Cody: I mean, I'd done a couple commercials, um, but not but not anything big.

[5:06] Jen Cody: And um the casting director uh for the Disney film had seen me in a show, and when she saw pictures of like what the character was or or what the what they thought the character would end up being.

[5:18] Jen Cody: She was like, hmm, I wonder if I should call that that woman in.

[5:21] Jen Cody: And that's kind of how it happened.

[5:23] Jen Cody: I went into a call, and it was like a regular show.

[5:27] Jen Cody: I had to go and sing in front of everybody, and I had to read the sides with a reader just like you would normally.

[5:32] Jen Cody: Um then the audition took like a year.

[5:35] Jake Blauck: What is it like building a character through the through a process like that?

[5:38] Jen Cody: Well, I mean, building a character for a Disney movie is completely different than anything else you'll ever do.

[5:45] Jake Blauck: I bet.

[5:46] Jen Cody: Um, because that that was fun because they they videotaped me before they drew her.

[5:53] Jen Cody: So um I didn't have any constraints of like, oh, the character has to sound this way or look this way or react this way.

[6:01] Jen Cody: But then I saw the animation after I had finished the whole film.

[6:05] Jen Cody: So that was so exciting to go in and see something that you you watch it and you go, oh, that's something I do.

[6:12] Jen Cody: That's a mannerism that I do that now will always be in Disney history.

[6:17] Jake Blauck: Absolutely incredible.

[6:19] Jake Blauck: Well, friends, there's plenty more interview where that came from.

[6:22] Jake Blauck: If you want to hear more of my chat with Hunter and Jen, you can hop on our Patreon, check out Shoot the Loot episode 8.

[6:29] Jake Blauck: Folks in the Connecticut area can catch Jen in Theatre Works Hartford's production of Christmas on the Rocks.

[6:35] Jake Blauck: It's sure to be hilarious.

[6:36] Jake Blauck: And Hunter's production of Clue runs June 25th to October 8th, 2022 at the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

[6:43] Jake Blauck: Check that out as well.

[6:43] Jake Blauck: Thank you both so much for being here.

[6:45] Jen Cody: Absolutely, thank you.

[6:46] Jake Blauck: With that, I'm gonna explain how this works.

[6:50] Jake Blauck: Here's the deal.

[6:51] Jake Blauck: Our four players will improvise their way through a fantasy style role playing game of my making.

[6:56] Jake Blauck: After we record, we add sound effects.

[6:59] Jake Blauck: Underscoring.

[7:03] Jake Blauck: Full-fledged musical numbers.

[7:06] Jake Blauck: And special guest voices.

[7:08] All: You bee!

[7:09] Jake Blauck: And boom, there you have an episode.

[7:11] Steve Goodalunus: Sound good?

[7:12] All: Sounds great.

[7:12] Steve Goodalunus: Always does.

[7:13] Lillian Castillo: Like I'm still suspect of it, but I'm in.

[7:15] Jake Blauck: Thank you, Steve.

[7:16] Jake Blauck: Then let's play Mythic Thunderlute!

[7:25] Jake Blauck: Previously, on Mythic Thunderlute.

[7:27] Jake Blauck: After witnessing the murder of North Talia Shire resident Pasco Slim at the hand of an officer from South Talia Shire, rock band Mythic Thunderlute and their traveling companions continue their quest into the Dragon Nation of Vitrania.

[7:39] Jake Blauck: They soon realize they've not filled up on water and begin to hallucinate in the vast desert landscape.

[7:44] Jake Blauck: They all have a reckoning with their inner shortcomings, but are able to find the entrance to the underground city of Kurali regardless.

[7:50] Jake Blauck: Pugface meets a baby dragon, which she names Lulu and takes along with her.

[7:54] Jake Blauck: They enter the cathedral they've been searching for and summon the dragon god Vitrani.

[7:58] Jake Blauck: The group asks for protection from the Elven gods, and the dragon gods grant it in exchange for their worship.

[8:03] Jake Blauck: The dragons begin to come out of hibernation, forcing the group to flee.

[8:06] Jake Blauck: Above ground, they encounter Lulu's mother, and Pugface relinquishes the baby dragon to its mother and gets a magical fire-resistant breastplate in return.

[8:14] Jake Blauck: They rest in North Talia Shire for the night, and the next morning find that the first plague of the Elven gods is upon them.

[8:20] Jake Blauck: They see Mayor Whimsley sitting amidst the dense red fog, who explains that Pasco's death has sparked an upset in his people.

[8:27] Jake Blauck: In the distance, Herman notices black smoke coming from South Talia Shire.

[8:32] Jake Blauck: Heavens.

[8:36] Jake Blauck: We begin.

[8:38] Michael Doherty: Staring at the column of smoke coming from Roscoe and Pugface's hometown, Sir Aiden Brock says, King Cyrus' cairn can wait.

[8:46] Michael Doherty: We must go and protect your people.

[8:48] Michael Doherty: Let's go.

[8:48] Michael Doherty: Forward, Nick folks.

[8:50] Michael Doherty: As you start to leave, Mayor Whimsley calls out.

[8:52] Michael Doherty: Should you succeed in pushing my people out of your fest city?

[8:56] Michael Doherty: Send them toward the meadows.

[8:58] Michael Doherty: I can rendezvous with them there and get the heads right.

[9:01] Michael Doherty: I'm so sorry, my friends.

[9:03] Michael Doherty: Okay.

[9:03] Michael Doherty: A walk in the meadows always does a body right.

[9:06] Michael Doherty: He dashes east towards the meadows and disappears into the fog.

[9:09] Jake Blauck: Alright, well, we gotta go, y'all.

[9:10] Jake Blauck: You ride south.

[9:12] Jake Blauck: Your horses now rested and hydrated.

[9:14] Jake Blauck: Ride more briskly than ever before.

[9:16] Jake Blauck: Halfway down the province, you see towering above the red fog, the colossal ornate structure known as the Sakular Idenia, the only higher learning institution of your nation from which Pugface recently graduated.

[9:28] Lillian Castillo: Congratulations, Pugface.

[9:29] Pugface: Thank you so much.

[9:30] Michael Doherty: Pugface roll perception.

[9:32] Pugface: Yeah.

[9:32] Pugface: Dirty.

[9:34] Michael Doherty: You see through the fog your favorite professor Byron Crane, staring in horror at the smoke in the distance.

[9:34] Pugface: Professor Byron!

[9:41] Pugface: Professor Crane!

[9:42] Pugface: Wait, is it Professor Byron or is I I call him Professor.

[9:45] Hunter Foster: Shut up.

[9:46] Michael Doherty: Hey.

[9:48] Michael Doherty: The horses all get their reins pulled.

[9:50] Michael Doherty: They come to a stop.

[9:52] Michael Doherty: Pugface, your professor sees you and approaches and says, Miss Doodalap, I'm so glad you're all right.

[9:57] Michael Doherty: When I saw the smoke, I feared the worst.

[10:01] Pugface: Oh, you have to listen to that for four years.

[10:02] Pugface: We haven't even been here.

[10:03] Pugface: We're okay.

[10:03] Pugface: We're just getting to this now.

[10:05] Pugface: But what have did you see what happened?

[10:06] Michael Doherty: What's what's going on?

[10:07] Michael Doherty: Well, I saw protesters carrying signs come from the north earlier, and I didn't think much of it, but it seems things escalated rather quickly.

[10:16] Pugface: The bringing signs from North Talia Shire?

[10:18] Michael Doherty: Yes.

[10:19] Michael Doherty: Stop the dig.

[10:20] Michael Doherty: Justice for Pasco and things of that nature.

[10:23] Pugface: No.

[10:23] Pugface: No.

[10:24] Pugface: Well, we gotta go.

[10:25] Pugface: Listen, we can't delay.

[10:26] Pugface: Last time we delayed it, cost somebody their life that caught this whole situation our fault.

[10:31] Pugface: Ornwood, we haven't time to waste.

[10:32] Jake Blauck: Yeah, we gotta get out of here.

[10:33] Michael Doherty: You take off once more, heading south.

[10:36] Michael Doherty: As you race through the dense red fog, the large column of smoke gets closer, and you soon realize there are multiple fires causing it.

[10:44] Michael Doherty: When you reach the northernmost point of South Talia Shire, you see multiple melees have broken out between citizens and city watch officers alike.

[10:52] Michael Doherty: Because both cities are so populated and the fog is so dense, it's quite hard to distinguish the northerners from the southerners.

[10:59] Michael Doherty: But standing just before you is the broad-shouldered dwarf with the coarse and tawny beard, which Roscoe and Pugface instantly recognize as Thane Ogdor, Lord of all of Talia Shire.

[11:11] Pugface: Thane?

[11:15] Pugface: Oh.

[11:18] Thane Ogdor: Greeting, citizens.

[11:20] Thane Ogdor: Behold, a province divided.

[11:23] Thane Ogdor: Dwarves, gnomes, and halflings turned against one another.

[11:26] Pugface: Yeah, clearly.

[11:26] Pugface: Um, what what are you doing about it?

[11:29] Thane Ogdor: Bud, we're we're here to help.

[11:30] Thane Ogdor: I've sent my men in to de-escalate the tensions as much as possible.

[11:34] Thane Ogdor: But anything you could do to see as little blood spilled as possible will be most appreciated and much rewarded.

[11:42] Pugface: Okay.

[11:42] Pugface: I guess we could start talking to folks, trying to calm the situation down.

[11:46] Pugface: Wait a second.

[11:47] Pugface: Where's my dad right now?

[11:48] Michael Doherty: Pugface, you hear someone call in the distance, Pugface, and through the fog comes Autumn, your stepmom.

[11:56] Autumn: Sweetheart, I can't find your father.

[11:59] Autumn: I was woken up by people chanting, stop the dig, and he'd already gone to work, but when I went down to the mines, there was fighting and chaos, but no sign of your father anywhere.

[12:10] Pugface: What?

[12:10] Pugface: Please help me look.

[12:12] Autumn: And she begins to hurry back toward the south.

[12:14] Pugface: Fuck, guys, my dad.

[12:15] Pugface: I think we gotta split up.

[12:16] Pugface: I think Pugface and I should go after her dad, and I think that Jocasta and Edgar should help here with the thing.

[12:22] Jake Blauck: Okay, okay.

[12:23] Jake Blauck: Just remember, we gotta try and get these people to stop fighting, you know, like and and get the people from the north to go to the meadow.

[12:29] Jocasta: Jim Costa, you and I shall use my natural diplomatic affinity.

[12:33] Jocasta: And uh Pugface and Roscoe will uh we'll use ours.

[12:36] Edgar: Alright.

[12:37] Edgar: I'll stay here and help with Edgar and Jocasta.

[12:40] Hunter Foster: And I suppose I'll go along with Roscoe and Pugface.

[12:44] Pugface: Yes.

[12:45] Pugface: No, Herman, I think you could stay with this group.

[12:47] Pugface: I I think that's great.

[12:49] Michael Doherty: Okay, Herman is gonna hop off of Smelly and hop on the back of Tutoroso and says, You cool if I bunk up with you for now?

[12:59] Michael Doherty: Pugface and Roscoe, you guys follow Autumn through the fog.

[13:03] Michael Doherty: You pass the several skirmishes along the way.

[13:06] Michael Doherty: Meanwhile, Jocasta, Edgar, and Sir Aiden, you're looking at several skirmishes before you.

[13:12] Michael Doherty: You see five couplings of middle-aged halflings duking it out, a group of about 12 gnomes totally brawling, and three city watch dwarves trying to pacify a group of unarmed halflings and gnomes with their clubs.

[13:26] Michael Doherty: What do you do?

[13:27] Jocasta: Everybody stop!

[13:28] Michael Doherty: If that's the diplomacy you've got.

[13:30] Matt: My god, Matt.

[13:31] Jocasta: Do you have any ideas, Jim Costa?

[13:32] Jim Costa: I do have some ideas.

[13:33] Jim Costa: I have two.

[13:34] Jim Costa: You ready?

[13:35] Jocasta: I yes.

[13:36] Jim Costa: Number one is I think I'm gonna cast entangle all over the place, and maybe I can just like grab everybody.

[13:41] Jocasta: Okay, cool.

[13:42] Jim Costa: And then once we've got them all entangled, maybe we can like sing a song, you know, like they say that music soothes the savage beast.

[13:49] Jocasta: Surely, if it can tame the savage beast, it can tame the hearts of all these dwarves and halflings and other.

[13:55] Jim Costa: Exactly.

[13:56] Jim Costa: Okay, so I just cast it and they have to roll they all have to roll a strength.

[14:01] Jake Blauck: Okay, great. I'm gonna roll for each of these groups of people.

[14:04] Michael Doherty: So for the middle-aged halflings, they are totally bound by your vines.

[14:10] Jake Blauck: For the group of gnomes going at it, they're just so wriggly, they easily break free of the vines.

[14:16] Michael Doherty: The three city watch officers and the group of unarmed halflings and gnomes, they're kind of enwrapped in your vines.

[14:23] Jake Blauck: So you've captured everyone but the group of 12 gnomes that are brawling.

[14:26] Lillian Castillo: Can I try again with them?

[14:29] Jake Blauck: Great, yeah, do it, do it.

[14:30] Michael Doherty: Well, you gotta do the thing.

[14:31] Lillian Castillo: Alright, yeah, I roll, yeah.

[14:33] Michael Doherty: The vines spring forth once more and you capture the 12 gnomes in your vines.

[14:38] Lillian Castillo: Sweet. Now that they're all captured, I think that she would be like, listen to me.

[14:43] Lillian Castillo: Violence is not the answer. You must stop this right now.

[14:45] Michael Doherty: Give me a charisma roll for that.

[14:49] Lillian Castillo: Not as charismatic as I would like.

[14:51] Michael Doherty: She sure seems it.

[14:53] Lillian Castillo: Right, yeah, but um, this role says otherwise it's a three.

[14:59] Michael Doherty: They kind of stare at you after you make this plea, and then some of them are like, ah, screw you!

[15:03] Michael Doherty: And then they just start arguing while still tangled in the vines.

[15:07] Lillian Castillo: I'd like to try to enthrall this crowd.

[15:09] Michael Doherty: What do you exactly do, Edgar?

[15:11] Jake Blauck: He just sort of like takes the Thunder Loot and just like, you know, strums a chord on it.

[15:15] Michael Doherty: Great.

[15:16] Jake Blauck: Oh, that's an unnatural 22.

[15:18] Michael Doherty: As soon as you do, all of the people trapped in these vines are completely enthralled and captivated by you.

[15:26] Lillian Castillo: Edgar. They can't resist the guitar here in Tanna Shire.

[15:29] Jake Blauck: Well, what now, my friends? Now we've got a bunch of captivated people trapped in vines.

[15:34] Michael Doherty: Well?

[15:34] Lillian Castillo: They're not fighting anymore.

[15:36] Jake Blauck: I suppose you're right. Shall we move on then?

[15:37] Lillian Castillo: No, we're gonna convince them to knock it off.

[15:40] Lillian Castillo: If you don't stop fighting, I'll turn it up to tea.

[15:44] Michael Doherty: No, you won't.

[15:46] Jake Blauck: So Edgar, would you say that the intention of this song is to intimidate them?

[15:51] Jake Blauck: Yeah, I think maybe uh. I think if that was his purpose, Jocasta would keep interjecting with like stuff to like de-escalate the things he's saying.

[16:01] Michael Doherty: Great. Now listen up, sorry a lot.

[16:05] Jake Blauck: It seems this simple blue time brunt has actually got the magic power I kill.

[16:14] Jake Blauck: And though it is a weightful thing, the other instrument we bring is love.

[16:20] Jake Blauck: And to let your exercise your will.

[16:42] Jake Blauck: But you know what? If you play nice, then we don't need to sacrifice a single one of y'all.

[16:49] Jake Blauck: So please be head. The rage I feel is rising to a point I can't control.

[17:00] Jake Blauck: But if we know that you're compliant, we'll spare your soul.

[17:05] Jake Blauck: If you don't leave, you folks will grieve the fact you ever came my way.

[17:11] Jake Blauck: And when you do, but I got all of you twelve metals. Have a nice day.

[17:17] Jake Blauck: I hate to leave you scared, but mayor Winsley is waiting there.

[17:23] Jake Blauck: And down the world that you should all the way.

[17:26] Michael Doherty: Edgar, roll intimidation and Jocasta roll charisma again.

[17:31] Lillian Castillo: Oh shit.

[17:32] Michael Doherty: 18.

[17:33] Lillian Castillo: Oh, I got a 15.

[17:35] Jake Blauck: To go away and don't come back.

[17:37] Jake Blauck: I know you'll send, and I can track each wanna be down, and I could enjoy.

[17:46] Jake Blauck: Seeing us, we trust you all now. As long as you can make a vow to do no harm.

[17:53] Lillian Castillo: Then go and grow with my dear.

[17:59] Jake Blauck: I think you give them too much benefit of the doubt.

[18:04] Lillian Castillo: Only so much as they deserve no need to shine.

[18:09] Jake Blauck: Until you leave, your folks will bring the facts when you do.

[18:16] Lillian Castillo: Can I send y'all the water mellow Halloween last day?

[18:21] Jake Blauck: I think we made our point. Now let's relax and roll again.

[18:28] Michael Doherty: Oh, I'm the one.

[18:30] Lillian Castillo: No, I'm the one.

[18:31] Michael Doherty: You're the one.

[18:32] Lillian Castillo: I am the one.

[18:34] Jake Blauck: Okay, we're done.

[18:35] Michael Doherty: I found the one that you should all meet.

[18:40] Lillian Castillo: By the end of the song, they're they're all like, all right, fine, fine. We're we're not gonna fight anymore.

[18:45] Jake Blauck: Jesus, just let us out of these vines.

[18:48] Michael Doherty: We worked a good cop, bad cop thing. I think you've totally bewildered them. Well done.

[18:52] Jake Blauck: Now, all of you from North Cal Shire, when I release you from these vines, you're gonna want to head to the meadows. That is where your mayor is waiting for you.

[19:00] Michael Doherty: They're like, yeah, fine, whatever. Just please let us go.

[19:02] Lillian Castillo: And I'll release them from my vines.

[19:04] Michael Doherty: One of that gnome says, Everyone, fall east!

[19:08] Michael Doherty: And a bunch of the people who were apparently the northerners among them head toward the meadows bridge and into the meadows.

[19:15] Michael Doherty: They disappear into the dense red fog.

[19:17] Jake Blauck: You know what, Edgar? I think that deserves a half eye.

[19:20] Edgar: I believe it does.

[19:21] Jake Blauck: Mm-hmm. There you are. Alright, let's go find some more people and help the community.

[19:26] Jake Blauck: We sally south. Meanwhile, Pugface and Roscoe are following Autumn.

[19:31] Michael Doherty: You can just barely make her out as she races through the fog, but on your steeds, you have no problem keeping up.

[19:37] Michael Doherty: After about a mile or so, you come upon the home of Frank and Mary Chubb, Roscoe's parents, which is currently engulfed in flame.

[19:46] Roscoe: Jesus. What do you do?

[19:47] Pugface: Uh I try I like run to the house. Is there any water?

[19:50] Michael Doherty: The Rocky River is about a mile from where you currently are.

[19:55] Pugface: Fuck, that's way too far.

[19:56] Michael Doherty: It's too far.

[19:57] Pugface: Do I hear screams?

[19:58] Michael Doherty: You don't hear any screams.

[19:59] Pugface: Yeah, I'm gonna try to kick through the front door.

[20:01] Michael Doherty: Give me a strength check for that.

[20:03] Pugface: 17.

[20:04] Michael Doherty: You easily kick the door down. You do get scorched by the flame. Take three points of fire damage.

[20:10] Pugface: Okay, so now that I'm in the house, I just wanna can I see anything at all?

[20:13] Michael Doherty: You see the walls are ablaze, but the fire hasn't spread to all of the furniture yet. However, Frank and Mary are nowhere in sight, but it's rather difficult to breathe.

[20:23] Michael Doherty: Roll constitution.

[20:24] Pugface: Six.

[20:25] Michael Doherty: You have eighteen seconds before you pass out. You can go left into the kitchen, right into the study, or forward up the stairs, or leave. What do you do?

[20:29] Pugface: Left into the kitchen.

[20:36] Michael Doherty: What are you doing?

[20:37] Pugface: Alright, you run into the kitchen and you look about you. They are nowhere to be found. Five seconds have passed. What do you do?

[20:43] Pugface: Run upstairs.

[20:44] Michael Doherty: Alright, you charge out of the kitchen and up the stairs. All you see are their beds. The flames carry over to them. Another ten seconds have passed. What do you do?

[20:53] Pugface: Jesus. Uh, what's the other room?

[20:56] Michael Doherty: You can go down and into the study. You could try to jump out the window, or you could try to run back downstairs.

[21:01] Pugface: I'll jump out the window.

[21:02] Michael Doherty: You do have enough time to jump out the window without losing oxygen. You crash through. You're on the second story, so give me an acrobatics check to see how you fall out the window.

[21:11] Pugface: Oh, absolutely. Yes.

[21:13] Michael Doherty: Uh, it's a critical failure.

[21:16] Pugface: Oh my gosh.

[21:17] Michael Doherty: You crash to the ground face first with a thud, take another five points of damage.

[21:23] Pugface: Okay, that's fine. No big deal, no big deal.

[21:25] Michael Doherty: So now I wanna run around to the other room and see if I can see anything.

[21:28] Michael Doherty: You look into that window where the study is, and you do see your parents unconscious laying on the floor of that room.

[21:34] Herman: Pugface, isn't your armor fire resistant?

[21:40] Pugface: Ugh. Yes.

[21:41] Herman: Jesus Christ, Herman, where were you?

[21:44] Herman: I'm sorry, I was.

[21:45] Pugface: You gotta help me now.

[21:46] Herman: I'm getting it. I'm gonna punch right through the window and I'm gonna throw Pugface in there.

[21:50] Pugface: Throw me in.

[21:51] Michael Doherty: Great. Give me a little strength check for that one.

[21:53] Herman: It's a non-natural 20 this time.

[21:55] Michael Doherty: You easily break open the window and hurl Pugface inside. Pugface, as you fling through the window, you charge through the fire, and you can feel the magic of the dragon god Perrin flow from your ruby armor and encompass your body. You are not burned at all. And once inside, you can miraculously breathe despite the smoke. You see Frank and Mary lying right in front of you. What do you do?

[22:17] Pugface: I'm gonna try to pick them up. I'll pick up mom first.

[22:19] Michael Doherty: Give me a strength check to pick up Mary.

[22:22] Pugface: The two.

[22:22] Michael Doherty: Oh my parents are gonna die. You lift with all your might and you're just kind of like and you are unable to lift Mary from the ground.

[22:29] Pugface: Try again.

[22:31] Pugface: I try again.

[22:32] Michael Doherty: Jesus, it's an eight.

[22:33] Pugface: Okay.

[22:34] Michael Doherty: You attempt again and you still are not able to lift Mary off the ground.

[22:38] Herman: Try for the other one. Maybe he's lighter or something. Try anyway.

[22:42] Pugface: Stop trying.

[22:45] Pugface: Natural 20.

[22:46] Michael Doherty: Yes! Pugface in a moment of superhuman strength. You hoist Frank directly above your head. You're now fully carrying his full body weight above your body.

[22:56] Pugface: So put him out the window.

[22:57] Herman: I'll grab him.

[22:58] Michael Doherty: You throw him easily out the window. Roscoe, you are able to grab him. Give me a strength check to see how you catch him.

[23:05] Roscoe: Uh 12.

[23:06] Michael Doherty: He kind of knocks you on your ass a little bit, but as soon as he lands on you, he begins to gasp and breathe again. Frank Chubb is okay.

[23:14] Pugface: Okay. Uh I gotta try one more time for Mary.

[23:16] Michael Doherty: Try one more time.

[23:18] Pugface: Uh 17.

[23:19] Michael Doherty: You are able to lift Mary off the ground. You kind of have her in a fireman's carry right now. What do you do?

[23:25] Pugface: I'm walking her out.

[23:26] Michael Doherty: You rush out the front door as soon as you do. Mary gasps alive. The minute you cross the threshold, Frank and Mary's home crumbles behind you. You've made it in the nick of time.

[23:39] Michael Doherty: Big cup to consciousness. Roscoe, as soon as they see you, they immediately get up and embrace you.

[23:46] Frank: Oh my god, kid, we were dying in bed.

[23:51] Mary: Rosco! Where you been, honey?

[23:54] Roscoe: I've been knocking on your door every day. Haven't seen you all week!

[23:59] Mary: You know it's crazy. I was really upset until you both opened your mouths.

[24:02] Frank: Mary, got the kid a break. There's a literal battle erupting in our streets right now.

[24:08] Roscoe: Mom, Dad, where the fuck is Giovanni at?

[24:10] Mary: Oh my god. Is he inside?

[24:11] Roscoe: No, not that I care for his safety, but why was he not here helping me?

[24:14] Frank: Oh, he moved to the other side of town last week.

[24:19] Roscoe: So I guess he might be over there.

[24:22] Mary: He moved.

[24:24] Roscoe: Oh, it's okay, Mom, Mom, Mom. Move, huh? Mom, you're gonna be.

[24:27] Frank: North of the city limits to stay out of the fray.

[24:31] Ignicious: Mary. Wait, what happened here anyway?

[24:34] Herman: Oh, that's a great question, Frank says. Oh my god. Well, you know, we friggin' Steve next door. We saw him at the window lighting all these friggin' torches.

[24:44] Frank: He sets his goddamn house on fire, and the next thing we know, we're engulfed in flames.

[24:51] Roscoe: Steve did it, huh? Fucking Steve.

[24:52] Mary: Who's Steve?

[24:54] Roscoe: I'll tell you who he is. He's an asshole. That's who he is.

[24:58] Michael Doherty: At this moment, you are rejoined by Jocasta, Edgar, and Sir Aiden.

[25:03] Jocasta: Oh my goodness, y'all. We stopped some people from fighting, and we've been doing it all the way.

[25:07] Edgar: Yeah, I went in a building that was burning with my armor, and I saved two people.

[25:11] Jocasta: That's so cool.

[25:12] Michael Doherty: Well done, Pugface.

[25:14] Jocasta: Wait a minute. Where's your stepmother? Were you not following her?

[25:16] Pugface: Fuck. We gotta find Autumn.

[25:19] Roscoe: Yeah. We gotta we gotta go help my dad.

[25:21] Edgar: I'm with Pugface. Do what you gotta do, okay, kid. We're gonna head up north. We'll catch up with you later.

[25:26] Jocasta: Sure, you okay?

[25:29] Edgar: Yeah, we'll be safe out of the fray. Seems like things are calming down up there.

[25:33] Michael Doherty: That was me. Quickly, my friends, let us save Pugface's family.

[25:37] Jocasta: I love you, love you.

[25:40] Jake Blauck: Oh, Roscoe, your mama's voice is very distinctive.

[25:43] Roscoe: You think you gotta tell me, huh?

[25:45] Michael Doherty: You continue south. You soon come upon a group of gnomes and halflings, literally kicking a dwarf while he's down.

[25:52] Jocasta: You recognize him as Schneider, the dwarf with chronic back pain who talked your ear off six days ago.

[25:58] Pugface: You know him as Naheron Schneider, the famed Master Taylor and your current boss.

[26:04] Jocasta: (screams) at the top of her lungs and runs towards the group.

[26:11] Lillian Castillo: And I'm gonna immediately cast entangle again, cause I still have it.

[26:15] Michael Doherty: Okay. Alright, the group is entangled once more, including the Heron Schneider. He's like in the middle of this fray and he's all bound up in vines.

[26:24] Jocasta: I'm gonna turn to the group and be like, y'all, don't walk through these vines, because you'll get tangled, but I'm gonna go in there and get him out.

[26:31] Pugface: Can I walk with you?

[26:32] Jocasta: No, you'll get tangled. You'll get you stay.

[26:35] Pugface: Oh, great. Then I'm staying back.

[26:36] Michael Doherty: So she walks in and she like gets him untangled from all of that.

[26:44] Lillian Castillo: Great. Give me a little strength check for that.

[26:46] Jocasta: Okay. 14.

[26:48] Michael Doherty: That'll do it. As you hoist him over your shoulder, he says, Oh, Joe, I've never been more glad to see you in my life.

[26:54] Schneider: What is wrong with this country? You know, the people just get it in their head to hate each other, and they just can't even help themselves, you know.

[27:03] Schneider: These people are madder than a rattlesnake being stepped on. I just don't understand.

[27:07] Michael Doherty: At this point, you've made it to the other side of the vines.

[27:10] Schneider: I'd also say the capitalism sort of creates a pressure cooker in which all people of different rungs of society have to exist in that eventually pushes people to uh.

[27:19] Schneider: Thank you for helping me out. Um I humbly offer this in return. He reaches into his handbag and produces five small pellets.

[27:29] Schneider: It's called quick fire. It's a combustible. Simply throw it at something and watch it explode.

[27:35] Jocasta: What a great gift. Not that we need more fires around here, but it might come in handy. Thank you.

[27:39] Schneider: Thank you. I'm gonna keep these in my pocket for later.

[27:43] Jocasta: She's gonna turn around to the group that was beating up on him and just be like, you should be ashamed of yourself. Now listen here, I'm not gonna let y'all go until you agree to leave here in peace and go meet your mayor in the meadows.

[27:59] Jim Costa: Give me a shame roll for that.

[28:02] Jim Costa: That'll be another charisma check.

[28:06] Jim Costa: They're like, screw you!

[28:07] Pugface: Pugface goes over to Jocasta and says, "Let we let we we have bigger things."

[28:12] Pugface: We have to go. We are responsible for these people.

[28:14] Pugface: You and Roscoe, you go try and find your daddy. We'll catch up with you in a minute.

[28:17] Roscoe: Rossi, you ready to go?

[28:19] Pugface: Let's go.

[28:19] Roscoe: I'll go with you then.

[28:20] Roscoe: I'm already on Tudoroso's battle.

[28:22] Herman: It's fine, whatever, Herman.

[28:24] Jim Costa: Pugface, Roscoe, and Herman ride further south. Jocasta and Edgar, what do you do?

[28:30] Jocasta: What, Joe Costa?

[28:31] Jocasta: It seems as if we found ourselves in a very similar situation that we were in about an hour ago. We have some entangled, disgruntled people that we need to pacify.

[28:40] Edgar: I agree. And maybe we should try the same thing we did before.

[28:43] Edgar: Or I could try yelling at them. I could be quite intimidating, you know.

[28:46] Edgar: I've we haven't heard Aiden Yoli yet. He's very tall, very muscular, handsome fella with a strong joint.

[28:52] Jocasta: Uh, you know, I'm torn. I'm torn between feeling like yelling is going to escalate instead of de-escalate, and really wanting to hear what he has to say.

[29:02] Edgar: You've also heard him try to uh get a horse going, right?

[29:05] Roscoe: Roscoe, you're not here.

[29:06] Edgar: Definitely not here.

[29:08] Jocasta: I totally forgot. Did you hear Roscoe's voice upon the wind?

[29:12] Edgar: It's almost like I can still hear him in my mind's ear.

[29:16] Jim Costa: No, that's just him. You can just hear him from all the way over there.

[29:19] Jim Costa: Sorry about that. All right, well, if you think you can convince the maiden, go ahead and you give it a try.

[29:24] Edgar: All right, get a load of this.

[29:27] Edgar: Go on, shoot! Scatter! Go to the meadows with you! Ha ha!

[29:32] Jim Costa: And he's going to roll intimidate.

[29:34] Jim Costa: And he fittingly crit fails.

[29:38] Jim Costa: They all just stare blankly at him.

[29:42] Edgar: Well, that didn't work. What have you got?

[29:44] Jocasta: Wow. Uh, Edgar?

[29:45] Jocasta: I almost wish Herman was here so he could rap back.

[29:52] Edgar: I mean, listen, Edgar, if you're feeling inspired, we could always rap advanced.

[29:57] Jocasta: No, I'm not. No, no, no, darling. No one needs to. No one needs to hear. No one needs to write that now. Think of the listener experience. Think of it.

[30:06] Edgar: Uh, I'm going to try to improve.

[30:08] Jocasta: Okay, what are you gonna say?

[30:09] Edgar: If you don't leave, and you ever come back here, we shall burn all of you in the square.

[30:15] Jim Costa: Joe Costa just stares at him.

[30:17] Jim Costa: And the and we also need to go to the meadows.

[30:19] Jocasta: Is that gonna be intimidation?

[30:20] Jim Costa: Yeah.

[30:21] Edgar: Natural 20!

[30:22] Jim Costa: Ah!

[30:23] Jim Costa: They are incredibly intimidated, and then they're like, "Okay, okay, we'll go to the meadows, we'll go to the meadows."

[30:28] Edgar: That's what I thought. Uh, could you let us out of these vines, maybe?

[30:32] Jim Costa: Yes, fine. The gnomes and halflings are freed from the vines and they scamper east toward the meadows.

[30:39] Jocasta: Egg, while that was terribly, terribly effective, and thank you. You can stop right there. I need you to take in the de-escalation essence that we're trying to work with here.

[30:50] Edgar: I know.

[30:51] Edgar: I just continue south.

[30:53] Jim Costa: Meanwhile, Pugface and Roscoe, you reach your houses. Outside a rather large mob of dwarves, gnomes, and halflings is causing quite a commotion. In the midst of the mob, you can make out Rikio being attacked, attempting to defend himself off with a staff.

[31:12] Pugface: You see Autumn has come to his defense and currently slices the heads off of one of the 20 assailants with a long sword.

[31:19] Roscoe: What does she do with?

[31:20] Pugface: She did that.

[31:21] Roscoe: Yeah, yeah, let's go kick some ass.

[31:24] Autumn: You got my back.

[31:25] Roscoe: And you've got mine too! Don't doubt that, but you know that I do.

[31:29] Roscoe: I am ready to go.

[31:30] Autumn: I thought you'd never ask. Come on. Let's go kick some ass.

[31:37] Jim Costa: Herman relax. Roll initiative.

[31:40] Pugface: 12.

[31:40] Roscoe: I'm 18.

[31:41] Jim Costa: So uh the first person goes for a swipe with his short sword and misses Rikio. The second person goes in for a stab and sinks Rikio in the back.

[31:52] Jim Costa: Rikio drops to his knees. Another of the assailants fails and stabs himself in the stomach and falls down dead. The fourth assailant gets another stab at Rikio, who falls over on the ground.

[32:07] Jim Costa: Next assailant takes a swipe at Autumn and misses. Another assailant takes a swipe at Autumn and misses. Another assailant takes a swipe at Autumn and misses.

[32:14] Jim Costa: All right. The fourth assailant just scrapes her arm barely. It's amazing what you can achieve when you're sober.

[32:25] Jim Costa: Meanwhile, all of the rest of the assailants just turn and notice you, and they all draw their bows. Pugface, it is now your turn.

[32:32] Pugface: Great, so I'm gonna take my short bow and I'm gonna hide behind Herman, and I'm gonna try to do a sneak attack. Can I have the closest person to me?

[32:39] Jim Costa: Great.

[32:40] Pugface: 18.

[32:40] Jim Costa: Hit one of the archers falls down dead.

[32:45] Pugface: And fire another one. Great, that's 15.

[32:47] Jim Costa: Another one falls down dead.

[32:49] Pugface: Whoa!

[32:49] Jim Costa: Okay, it is Roscoe's turn. What do you do, baby?

[32:52] Roscoe: Yeah, I'm gonna run towards the first two near me. And uh punch him in the face. 21 to hit.

[32:57] Jim Costa: You knock him in the nose, it breaks open and he collapses on the ground.

[33:01] Roscoe: Excellent. I'm gonna want to do the one that's next to me. I'm gonna go ahead and kick in the face. I'm gonna do like a roundhouse kick after that. Uh that's gonna be a non-natural 20.

[33:08] Jim Costa: His neck snaps and he falls to the ground.

[33:11] Roscoe: And I shall use my one key point to do two arm strikes as a bonus action. So I will hit one more for another 21 to hit.

[33:20] Jim Costa: You hit him in the stomach, he spurts out blood and falls down dead.

[33:24] Roscoe: And I have one more attack, 21.

[33:26] Jim Costa: Yeah, you hit this other guy, and his eyes pop out of his head, and he collapses on the ground.

[33:31] Roscoe: Oh, really? Who wants more? Yeah, please then have me having that. Because there's more to come if you don't give in.

[33:37] Roscoe: If you don't succumb, if this details well, I think we passed.

[33:43] Jim Costa: You goddamn right. We sure can't cancel that!

[33:47] Jim Costa: It is Rikio's turn, but he seems to be kind of slowly bleeding out. It is Autumn's turn.

[33:53] Autumn: She still has this short sword. She's a little distracted because she just saw him fall. She misses her first attack and her second attack.

[34:02] Jim Costa: Jesus. Herman says, Well my main is monkey got the power of Mars.

[34:14] Jim Costa: Oh yeah! This monk can't kick some ass by the power of Morris.

[34:21] Jim Costa: And sure enough, five red blades of light go flying out of his palm and sink into five of the assailants who all fall down dead.

[34:32] Jocasta: Herman!

[34:33] Jocasta: Herman, why didn't you say you could do that before?

[34:36] Herman: I'm sorry, I'm more a pacifist, but desperate times, you know.

[34:40] Jim Costa: Wow. And with that, it is back to the assailants' turn. There are eight of them remaining.

[34:47] Jim Costa: And they're like, hey man, take it easy. We were we were only after the dig foreman, okay?

[34:52] Roscoe: Well get out of here. He's no longer yours.

[34:55] Jim Costa: Hey, everyone, fall north!

[34:57] Jim Costa: And they start to head through the fog toward the north.

[35:00] Roscoe: Yo, go east. You gotta go east, not north. Where are you going?

[35:03] Jim Costa: Roll intimidation both of you as you call them to change their course.

[35:06] Roscoe: 15.

[35:07] Jim Costa: Roscoe, you're able to do it, and you see them peel toward the east and into the meadows.

[35:12] Jim Costa: At this moment, Joe Costa, Edgar, and Sir Aiden rejoined the group.

[35:18] Joe Costa: What's happened here?

[35:19] Jim Costa: We were in a fight.

[35:20] Joe Costa: That much is clear, aren't y'all alright?

[35:23] Jim Costa: I knew you were up to the task.

[35:25] Joe Costa: Ha! Well done, my friends. This group can kick some arms!

[35:30] Jim Costa: In the middle of this fray, Autumn is now inspecting Rikio's body, who is currently bleeding out on the ground in front of you.

[35:37] Autumn: I would immediately cast healing word.

[35:39] Jim Costa: Great. And I I'm running towards him. So he regains six hit points.

[35:44] Edgar: Hey, it's me, Edgar Hulk from Elf Mother.

[35:47] Joe Costa: Wait, Edgar Hook!

[35:48] Jim Costa: Oh yeah! Whoa! What a pleasure to meet one of my at this very moment, you see another league of northerners approach you. Bows drawn.

[35:56] Northerner: Release the southerner to us. The dig foreman is ours.

[36:00] Joe Costa: I think Joe Costa would be like, y'all need to cool off.

[36:05] Jim Costa: And she has been saving this one. She would cast sleep storm.

[36:10] Jim Costa: I have to do a dexterity saving throw.

[36:12] Joe Costa: Okay, great. The moment you do that, Joe Costa, five of them are firing their arrows at Rikio.

[36:18] Jim Costa: Two of the arrows make their way into Rikio, who falls pale once more. A bunch of them fall to the ground, and two of them remain standing.

[36:30] Northerner: They say you hit it with that thunder loot. Do it, do it, do it, do it.

[36:33] Jim Costa: All right, well, sorry Patent had to come to this, but you've all gone and made us pissed. Turn it up to T.

[36:38] Jim Costa: There's need to tell me. But there's just one question I need to ask.

[36:49] Edgar: Do you boys like rock and roll?

[36:56] Jim Costa: What? What do you do today, motherfucker?

[37:01] Jim Costa: Sure enough, another wave of yellow energy comes from the Thunderloot, and the assailants crumble into burk skeletons on the ground.

[37:10] Roscoe: I guess you don't mess with mythic thunder loot.

[37:14] Autumn: Oh yeah! Shall you kick this autumn calls out, he's going!

[37:23] Autumn: I got two more cure wounds in my pocket.

[37:26] Jim Costa: Okay. I got six from the first one, fourteen from the second one. Color begins to go back into his face.

[37:34] Jim Costa: Suddenly, Thane Ogdor appears behind you and says, My friends, most of the northerners are and he drops to his knees as a northerner stands just behind him, saying, This ends here, give us the dig foreman, and give us the thing, and we'll leave you be.

[37:50] Roscoe: You know what? No. I'm gonna tell you something. You wanna know who's responsible for the death of your friend? It was me. I'm responsible for the death of your friend. I knew he was gonna get killed, and I didn't stop it in time.

[38:02] Northerner: What are we doing?

[38:02] Roscoe: What do you mean what am I doing? I'm telling the truth. All of this is our fault!

[38:06] Northerner: Very well. Fire, gentlemen.

[38:08] Jim Costa: Who gentlemen? At this very moment, a sea of arrows rains down upon you.

[38:15] Jim Costa: One arrow misses Joe Costa. One gets Joe Costa, one misses Joe Costa, another misses. A fifth misses Joe Costa.

[38:25] Jim Costa: Jocasta takes five hit points of damage.

[38:28] Edgar: No!

[38:29] Jim Costa: I'm too young! The first one is going to be a hit. Take five hit points of damage. Second one misses. Third one misses. Fourth one hits. Take another five hit points of damage. And the fifth one hits as well. Take another five hit points of damage.

[38:44] Edgar: Anchor you key.

[38:46] Edgar: I'm okay. How are you?

[38:48] Pugface: First one crit fails and the bow breaks. Second one misses you. Third one misses you. Fourth one misses you. Fifth one misses you.

[38:57] Jim Costa: You dodgy little no. Roscoe. First one misses. Second one misses. Come on, Roscoe. Third one misses. Fourth one misses. Fifth one misses.

[39:06] Jim Costa: Okay. Herman takes a hit and that's it. Kerman stays standing and is like howling at the Sorry, did you miss a winner? Send a shoot magic. If you weren't on such dicks, it would almost be tragic.

[39:18] Jim Costa: When I hit you with my life. Guys, you still gotta fight. But I can only thunder loot once per day.

[39:24] Edgar: It's okay. I'll have to battle to what you must. I'll leave the charge. You knew you could choose!

[39:30] Jim Costa: Sir Aiden also remains unharmed. One of the arrows tings off of his armor.

[39:35] Jim Costa: Focus aid, and now it's all in the past. Rikio takes a hit. I'm gonna heal and fast you what y'all gotta do. I'll come back for you and last. Let's go kick some.

[39:50] Jim Costa: And three more arrows sink into Rikio. Autumn takes an arrow as well. She drops to one knee.

[39:58] Roscoe: You're up first. Again, I'm gonna run at the first one in front of me. 20 to hit, not natural 20.

[40:03] Jim Costa: Next snaps drops dead. Second one is going to be 19.

[40:08] Jim Costa: All the teeth fly out of his head and he falls to the ground.

[40:11] Roscoe: Oh yeah. Spending another key point to just keep kicking these bastards in the face. That's gonna be a 16.

[40:17] Jim Costa: That'll do it. Yep. Another one poof. Takes it hard, falls unconscious. And the fourth one, a 19 to hit.

[40:24] Jim Costa: Another one drops down dead. There are 10 men remaining standing.

[40:29] Pugface: I'm gonna get my short bow again. That's a 22.

[40:32] Jim Costa: Falls down dead. 21. Another one falls down dead. Eight remain.

[40:38] Autumn: Autumn is gonna take a couple swings with her short sword and takes another one out.

[40:43] Jim Costa: Seven remains. Sir Aiden takes his long sword and kills another one.

[40:48] Jim Costa: Six remain. Herman is going to cast his magic. And another one drops down dead.

[40:56] Jim Costa: Jocasta, it is your turn.

[40:58] Jocasta: Jocasta is going to cast cure wounds at third level for Rikio.

[41:02] Jim Costa: Okay.

[41:03] Jocasta: 15 hit points.

[41:04] Jim Costa: Okay, great. And she's just gonna put her body over his.

[41:08] Edgar: Edgar is going to just take the Thunder Loot, which he's got slung, you know, in the playing position. And is going to sort of hold it like it's an axe now.

[41:15] Jim Costa: And you see the end of it just lights on fire.

[41:19] Edgar: Ah ah! And I'm gonna try to swing it at one of these dudes.

[41:22] Jim Costa: Yeah. And 19 to hit.

[41:24] Jim Costa: You take out another one.

[41:27] Jim Costa: It is now the assailant's turn. They are going to rush at Rikio. One of them is going to attempt to grapple Joe Costa.

[41:40] Jim Costa: This guy is unable to move you. Another one moves in. 18. This guy is able to pry you off of Rikio's body.

[41:48] Jim Costa: And a third takes a stab with his short sword, which sinks into Rikio. Another assailant takes a swipe at Autumn and misses. It is Roscoe's turn.

[41:57] Jake Blauck: Coming in with a flurry of unarmed strikes here.

[41:59] Michael Doherty: Well, the first one is a 23 to hit.

[42:01] Jim Costa: Bash him in the temple.

[42:03] Michael Doherty: He drops down.

[42:04] Jim Costa: 19.

[42:05] Michael Doherty: Falls down dead.

[42:08] Jim Costa: So I get two more strikes.

[42:09] Michael Doherty: Yeah.

[42:09] Jim Costa: When that is a non-natural 20.

[42:11] Michael Doherty: Okay, out cold.

[42:13] Jim Costa: And a 24.

[42:14] Michael Doherty: The guy who stabbed Rikyo is knocked from his sword.

[42:17] Michael Doherty: Rikyo lays there kind of bleeding with the sword still in him.

[42:21] Jim Costa: Right, y's dead.

[42:21] Michael Doherty: I can do my very last spell.

[42:24] Jim Costa: I was trying not to use all of them to try and keep your dad alive, but I can do cure wounds at second level.

[42:29] Michael Doherty: It's all I got left.

[42:30] Jim Costa: Okay.

[42:31] Michael Doherty: Eight and eight is 16 plus two is 18.

[42:33] Michael Doherty: Rikyo is now miraculously able to speak despite being currently impaled.

[42:38] Jim Costa: Fuck Dad, I'm all out of healing stuff, y'all.

[42:41] Michael Doherty: I can't dad.

[42:42] Jim Costa: Oh no, listen, Joe Costa was it.

[42:44] Michael Doherty: Yeah.

[42:45] Jim Costa: You know, I think you may have just gifted me with a uh final little moment with my daughter.

[42:50] Michael Doherty: Oh my healing spell or something?

[42:53] Jim Costa: Is it one of you magical?

[42:54] Jim Costa: Before we try anything else, friends, could I could I just have a moment with my daughter?

[42:59] Michael Doherty: Uh yeah, yeah.

[43:00] Jim Costa: That's what we'll walk over, yeah.

[43:02] Jim Costa: Face, here here's um here's like a little rag.

[43:05] Jim Costa: Just like hold the pressure on the wound.

[43:08] Jim Costa: Jojo, thanks.

[43:10] Jim Costa: Hey, Dad.

[43:11] Jim Costa: Hey, uh, we may not have a lot of time.

[43:13] Jim Costa: Um, so just uh do me a favor, sweetheart.

[43:17] Jim Costa: Um, if I don't make it, uh, see that I'm buried in Borstead Square.

[43:22] Jim Costa: Okay, I I just I'd like to rest where they recorded all our favorite gemstones.

[43:27] Michael Doherty: Yeah, dad.

[43:27] Jim Costa: No, Dad, and uh anything for you, but you're you're gonna keep fighting though, right?

[43:31] Jim Costa: You're not gonna just No, of course, of course.

[43:33] Jim Costa: I worst worst case scenario here, sweetheart.

[43:36] Jim Costa: Worst case scenario.

[43:37] Jim Costa: Okay.

[43:37] Jim Costa: And um, don't hate my attackers.

[43:40] Jim Costa: It seems they just really, really cared about the environment.

[43:45] Michael Doherty: And he winces in pain once more, and you see that he has begun to bleed again.

[43:50] Jim Costa: Uh okay, so let's put some pressure on here.

[43:54] Jim Costa: Pugface.

[43:56] Jim Costa: I love you so much.

[43:58] Jim Costa: Don't you see, sweetheart?

[44:01] Jim Costa: He takes your face in his hands as he begins to sing.

[44:10] ♪ Musical number: "Born to Bleed" — performed by Jim Costa ♪

[45:01] Michael Doherty: Okay, well, Roscoe's gonna immediately run over to Rikio and try to do like CPR on him or something.

[45:06] Jake Blauck: Roscoe, your CPR efforts feel completely futile.

[45:10] Michael Doherty: The sun starts to set as Autumn joins Pugface next to Rikyo and begins to gently weep over his body.

[45:17] Michael Doherty: Thane Ogdor, who'd been previously stabbed in the back, rises to his feet and pale faced says, Oh dear.

[45:25] Jim Costa: Is there anything I can do for you, citizens in your hour of need?

[45:29] Jake Blauck: Do you know anybody that can revive him?

[45:31] Jim Costa: It looks like he's a little past hope.

[45:33] Jake Blauck: You don't know any uh anybody magical, any wizards, anything like that, any healers or anything like that.

[45:37] Michael Doherty: Not here in self-tellershire, my friend.

[45:40] Jake Blauck: We know a couple of gods.

[45:41] Jake Blauck: Roscoe kind of goes off to the side and says a prayer to whatever one of the gods.

[45:46] Jim Costa: Do you want to go Elven god of death or Draconic God of Death?

[45:49] Jake Blauck: Let's roll with the Elven for right now.

[45:51] Michael Doherty: Okay, so you're going to pray to Morthol, God of Death.

[45:54] Jake Blauck: What are you gonna say, Roscoe?

[45:55] Jake Blauck: Look, Morthal, I don't normally do this.

[45:57] Jake Blauck: I really don't know what the hell I'm doing right now, but Rikio is like a second father to me, and we can't we can't lose him right now.

[46:04] Jake Blauck: So if you could bring him back or know somebody, or just give them one more shot.

[46:09] Michael Doherty: Give me a roll for that, Roscoe.

[46:11] Michael Doherty: You can add your constitution to that.

[46:13] Jake Blauck: That's a 21.

[46:14] Michael Doherty: You do this prayer, Roscoe.

[46:16] Michael Doherty: Everything around you turns black for a moment, and then you once again see the face of the gray god Morthol, god of death, and he speaks to you.

[46:25] Morthol: Ah. Yes, my child. You wish to prolong life.

[46:32] Jake Blauck: Yeah.

[46:34] Morthol: Sometimes what comes to pass cannot be undone.

[46:40] Jake Blauck: Okay, that well, that was absolutely no help.

[46:42] Jake Blauck: But completely terrifying.

[46:43] Jake Blauck: I absolutely just horrified now.

[46:46] Jake Blauck: Very disturbed.

[46:47] Jim Costa: Can I try the draconic one just in case?

[46:51] Jake Blauck: Sure, absolutely.

[46:52] Jake Blauck: Roscoe says the same thing.

[46:53] Jake Blauck: Okay, look, I again cycles the same thing.

[46:58] Jake Blauck: It's like, look, I really don't, I don't.

[47:01] Jake Blauck: I really don't know what I'm doing here.

[47:03] Jake Blauck: Please, can we bring Rikio?

[47:04] Jake Blauck: Could someone fucking help me, please?

[47:07] Michael Doherty: Give me another constitution roll for that.

[47:09] Jake Blauck: Oh, that's not 17.

[47:10] Michael Doherty: For a moment, everything turns gray.

[47:13] Michael Doherty: And then you see the granite god Velma, the draconic god of death, appear before you, and she says, uh, yes, my child.

[47:23] Velma: You wish to prolong life.

[47:25] Jake Blauck: Yeah, I do.

[47:27] Jake Blauck: I yep.

[47:28] Jake Blauck: Sometimes what comes to pass cannot be undone.

[47:35] Jake Blauck: Great.

[47:37] Jake Blauck: I think that message is loud and clear.

[47:39] Jake Blauck: Yeah, so are there some dwarf and gods we could try, maybe?

[47:43] Michael Doherty: We're done.

[47:43] Jim Costa: Class walks away.

[47:45] Jake Blauck: Oh, I always knew religion was bullshit.

[47:46] Michael Doherty: No, you did.

[47:47] Jim Costa: Thank you for doing that.

[47:48] Jim Costa: That was.

[47:49] Michael Doherty: I know you don't really believe in the religious stuff, so that was nice.

[47:53] Michael Doherty: Autumn is going to lean next to Pugface and say, um Borstead Square, did he say?

[48:01] Jim Costa: Yeah, that was that was the place.

[48:03] Michael Doherty: Autumn is gonna stand and say to Thane Ogdor, well, you heard him.

[48:07] Michael Doherty: His last request was to be buried at Borstead Square.

[48:10] Michael Doherty: So at the very least, you can help with that.

[48:13] Thane Ogdor: Oh, consider it gun.

[48:16] Michael Doherty: And several of the King's Guard of Talia Shire rush.

[48:20] Michael Doherty: The sword is removed from Rikio, and his body is picked up and carried toward the South Talia Shire City Square.

[48:40] Jake Blauck: I gotta be honest with you, um uh I'm feeling pretty hungry after all that.

[48:45] Jake Blauck: Everyone pile inside and um I'll I'll fix us some food.

[48:49] Michael Doherty: And Autumn enters Pug Face's house.

[48:51] Jim Costa: Thank you all so much.

[48:54] Jim Costa: He doesn't want me to hold a grudge, and we're just gonna keep going forward.

[48:58] Jim Costa: Well, I could tell you what he wanted me to do.

[49:00] Jim Costa: He would want me to go into that house and drink with your stepmother until I can't feel feelings anymore.

[49:04] Jim Costa: So that's what I'm gonna plan on doing.

[49:06] Jim Costa: He'd want that for all of us.

[49:07] Jim Costa: Let us imbibe and put this tragic horror booze behind us.

[49:11] Jake Blauck: Oh, I forgot about you, Aiden.

[49:12] Jake Blauck: Why don't you sit out here and guard the house for us?

[49:14] Michael Doherty: I thought I might actually help Pug Face's stepmother with her food preparation.

[49:19] Jake Blauck: No, you don't have to do that.

[49:20] Jake Blauck: I'll take care of that.

[49:21] Jake Blauck: You you you sit outside and you you guard the house.

[49:24] Jake Blauck: How's that sound?

[49:24] Aiden: Whatever you all want.

[49:25] Jake Blauck: Thank you very much.

[49:26] Aiden: Um, can I still come within here?

[49:28] Jake Blauck: Yes, Herman, you can come in.

[49:32] Michael Doherty: You enter into Pugface's house.

[49:34] Michael Doherty: As soon as you do, Autumn sees you.

[49:36] Autumn: Oh, great.

[49:37] Michael Doherty: I'll go in and make some food, and she hurries into the kitchen.

[49:41] Jim Costa: Uh, I'll follow her.

[49:42] Jake Blauck: Roscoe follows Pugface.

[49:44] Jim Costa: Yeah.

[49:45] Jim Costa: Um still got those old gemstones, right?

[49:48] Jake Blauck: Yeah.

[49:49] Jim Costa: Thought we might spin one or two for the old man's memory.

[49:52] Jake Blauck: No, that's a great idea.

[49:53] Jim Costa: So I go over to my gemstones, which I keep by uh right by the fireplace there.

[49:58] Jim Costa: What do we think of for my dad?

[49:59] Autumn: What should we listen to?

[50:01] Jim Costa: Elf Mother One.

[50:02] Jim Costa: And Pugface begins to play Elf Mother One.

[50:13] Michael Doherty: Come on, bud.

[50:15] Michael Doherty: Meanwhile, inside the kitchen, Autumn is mashing up chickpeas, and she's got some a little fire going where she's baking some bread, and she turns to Roscoe and says, Roscoe, sweetheart, would you do me a favor?

[50:28] Jake Blauck: Yeah, sure.

[50:29] Autumn: What do you need?

[50:29] Autumn: Could you actually bring Jocasta in here for a minute?

[50:32] Jake Blauck: Uh, yeah.

[50:33] Jake Blauck: Can I bring some wine or something out?

[50:34] Autumn: Oh, of course, of course, of course.

[50:36] Michael Doherty: And she opens this cabinet, and because it's autumn, you see bottles and bottles of wine.

[50:42] Jake Blauck: Yeah, there it is.

[50:43] Jake Blauck: I knew you had it.

[50:44] Jake Blauck: I bring out like three or four bottles of wine and just put it out on the table.

[50:47] Michael Doherty: Uh, so what what's going on out here?

[50:49] Autumn: Oh, Jacosta, uh, Autumn would like to see in the kitchen real quick.

[50:52] Michael Doherty: Uh oh, okay.

[50:53] Michael Doherty: So she heads on into the kitchen.

[50:55] Michael Doherty: You see Autumn feverishly grinding something with her mortar and pestle as tears stream down her face.

[51:01] Autumn: Ah, Jocasta, dear.

[51:03] Autumn: Um, before I do anything else, I just want to make sure that you know that your efforts in healing my sweet Rikio were not in vain.

[51:12] Jocasta: Thank you.

[51:13] Michael Doherty: She approaches you, and in the mortar you see crushed herbs of an array of bright colors you've never seen before.

[51:19] Autumn: Um, you strike me as not just the healer of the group, but as the chief communicator as well.

[51:26] Jocasta: Would you say so?

[51:27] Jocasta: Uh I don't know that I'm the chief communicator.

[51:30] Jocasta: I'm certainly the one who's always talking.

[51:34] Autumn: I think you're being a bit modest, and secretly I'm a bit of a medicine woman myself.

[51:39] Autumn: Um, would you mind if I helped you in your communication a bit?

[51:43] Jocasta: Sure.

[51:44] Autumn: I've got a little mixture here that could do just that.

[51:46] Autumn: I like experimental herbs.

[51:48] Michael Doherty: And she smiles at you, and with eyes full of tears, she grabs a handful of the crushed herbs.

[51:54] Autumn: She opens her palm and gently blows the herb dust toward your face.

[51:58] Michael Doherty: A strong aroma fills your nostrils, and you feel your brain become totally invigorated.

[52:03] Michael Doherty: Gain plus three to your charisma, and you can now speak any tongue.

[52:13] Jocasta: I'm really honored, thank you.

[52:15] Autumn: Thank you, dear one.

[52:16] Autumn: You are just incredible.

[52:18] Jocasta: Thank you.

[52:19] Michael Doherty: Jocasta, as you and Autumn re-enter the living room with food, Herman gasps and says, Two of you have family in grave danger.

[52:29] Jocasta: What?

[52:29] Herman: Sorry, I I I was just thinking of Vritrani's riddle.

[52:33] Herman: One of you has family they must never see again.

[52:37] Jocasta: We we've already decided that that's Edgar, yes?

[52:40] Michael Doherty: Yeah, right.

[52:41] Herman: Two of you have family in grave danger.

[52:45] Michael Doherty: Well, my dad's dead now, so I guess, yeah, he And Rosco's parents were trapped in the fire, yes?

[52:51] Jocasta: But they got him out.

[52:52] Herman: But they were in grave danger.

[52:54] Herman: So one of you has family you do not yet know about.

[52:58] Herman: They are the key in the final battle.

[53:01] Jocasta: Oh, my good bloody god.

[53:04] Edgar: Do you know what this means, Joe Costa?

[53:10] Jocasta: Well, I believe we owe your mother, Minerva, a visit.

[53:15] Jake Blauck: Okay, okay.

[53:17] Edgar: Did you just shit yourself?

[53:18] Edgar: Are you okay over this?

[53:20] Edgar: I need you to calm yourself down, Edgar.

[53:22] Michael Doherty: Suddenly, there is a knock at the door.

[53:25] Jake Blauck: Yeah, I'll get it.

[53:25] Jake Blauck: Roscoe, you get up and open the door, and on the other side you see your brother, Giovanni Chubb.

[53:31] Jake Blauck: I'd slam the door.

[53:32] Giovanni Chubb: Uh no, it was nobody.

[53:34] Giovanni Chubb: He catches his foot in the door and swings it open and says, Hey, little brother.

[53:39] Jake Blauck: How's it going?

[53:40] Giovanni Chubb: This is the worst.

[53:42] Giovanni Chubb: Listen, Roscoe buddy, you.

[53:46] Giovanni Chubb: I kinda need you to do me a little favor, huh?

[53:50] Jake Blauck: And that's where we will end our episode!

[53:56] Michael Doherty: Fuck Giovanni.

[53:58] Jake Blauck: I'm not doing shit for him.

[54:00] Michael Doherty: Tune in on Monday, December 27th for our mid-season finale, The Plan.

[54:05] Michael Doherty: And make sure to leave us a review and subscribe.

[54:08] Michael Doherty: Mythic Thunderlute was conceived by Jake Blauck, Michael Dharty, and Steve Gudalunus.

[54:13] Michael Doherty: Jake Blauch serves as our guitarist and the voice of Edgar Hawk.

[54:17] Michael Doherty: Lillian Castillo is the voice of Jocasta Stormwood.

[54:20] Michael Doherty: I'm Michael Dharty, the editor and head writer, aka the game maker.

[54:25] Michael Doherty: Steve Gudalunus is our resident drummer and the voice of Rosco Chubb, Leah Cado is the voice of Pugface Doodalop.

[54:32] Michael Doherty: Dan Kazimi does our underscoring, arranging, synth keyboard mixing and mastering.

[54:37] Michael Doherty: Alex Kuyper is our co-producer and chief story editor.

[54:41] Michael Doherty: She did the sound effects for this episode.

[54:43] Michael Doherty: And as Giovanni Chubb was our next episode's guest star, Richard R. Henry.

[54:47] Michael Doherty: I'm the One was written by Michael Darty and Dan Kazimi.

[54:52] Michael Doherty: Kick some ass and Born to Bleed Reprise were written by Jake Blauck, Michael Dharty, and Dan Kazimi.

[54:58] Michael Doherty: Talia Shire Morning Reprise was written by Dan Cazimi and performed by Michael Dharty, Dan Cazimi, and Alex Kuyper.

[55:05] Michael Doherty: And if it was you was written by Jake Blauck and Steve Goodalunas.

[55:10] Michael Doherty: The drums for this episode were recorded and tracked at Repercussions South.

[55:14] Michael Doherty: Our production manager is Molly Foy, social media assistance from Sarah Royds, marketing consultation from Judd Mellinger Blau, imaging by Lee Cortapasse and Daniel Kantz, and web design by Campbell O'Hare.

[55:26] Michael Doherty: Shout out to some of our Patreon supporters, Joshua Bentley, Selena Knight, Sebastian Farcion, and our newest supporters, Emily Smith, Matt W, and Christian and Melissa Dorfling.

[55:38] Michael Doherty: Join us on Patreon to get an early glimpse of our next episode.

[55:42] Michael Doherty: Or find us on Bend Camp.

[55:44] Michael Doherty: We'll catch you next time on Mythic Thunder.