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] Michael Darty: We create our podcast all over and stand on the land of many indigenous tribes, including the Southern Peiute, the Lenape tribe, the Menominee tribe, and the tribes of the Council of the Three Fires.

[0:13] Michael Darty: The Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi nations.

[0:16] Michael Darty: We want to acknowledge those relationships and their history.

[0:18] Michael Darty: Mythic Thunderlute is brought to you with support from 11th Hour Theater Company, Philadelphia's only all musical theater company.

[0:25] Michael Darty: Visit 11th Hour Theater Company.org for more information.

[0:28] Michael Darty: If you'd like to support Mythic Thunderlute, join our Patreon by going to Patreon.com backslash Mythic Thunderlute.

[0:34] Michael Darty: With that, here's episode nine.

[0:55] Michael Darty: Welcome to Mythic Thunderlute, a D&D podcast musical, the mid-season finale.

[1:03] Michael Darty: Here we go, here we go.

[1:04] Michael Darty: I'm Michael Darty.

[1:05] Jake Blauck: I'm Jake Black.

[1:06] Lillian Castillo: I'm Lillian Castillo.

[1:08] Steve Goodalunas: I'm Steve Goodalunas.

[1:09] Leigha Cado: And I'm Leigha Cado.

[1:10] Michael Darty: How does that feel, y'all?

[1:12] Steve Goodalunas: That feels fucking crazy.

[1:14] Jake Blauck: Do you know what is actually key to us succeeding in this?

[1:17] Lillian Castillo: What's that?

[1:18] Steve Goodalunas: Herman.

[1:19] Michael Darty: Because we tape so far apart that Herman keeps track of everything.

[1:22] Steve Goodalunas: I love Herman.

[1:23] Lillian Castillo: Oh, yeah.

[1:23] Steve Goodalunas: Oh my god, we'd be screwed.

[1:25] Lillian Castillo: Thank goodness for Herman.

[1:26] Michael Darty: That's Steve saying that, not Roscoe.

[1:29] Steve Goodalunas: That's Steve.

[1:30] Lillian Castillo: Yeah.

[1:31] Michael Darty: So to bring our listeners up to speed, uh, Lillian is just about to have a baby.

[1:35] Jake Blauck: Yay, Lillian.

[1:36] Lillian Castillo: Yes, I am.

[1:37] Lillian Castillo: Fucking incredible.

[1:38] Michael Darty: How does that feel?

[1:39] Lillian Castillo: Um, it feels daunting and exciting.

[1:43] Michael Darty: That's that sounds totally fair.

[1:45] Lillian Castillo: Yes.

[1:46] Michael Darty: Steve is set to be a new daddy in January.

[1:48] Steve Goodalunas: Yes.

[1:49] Steve Goodalunas: Well, no, I I I can concur.

[1:52] Steve Goodalunas: Equal parts terrifying and exciting at the same time.

[1:55] Michael Darty: Well, I can't wait for the world to meet who I assume will be aptly named Tutoroso Goodalunis.

[2:00] Steve Goodalunas: Absolutely.

[2:01] Steve Goodalunas: You better believe it.

[2:02] Lillian Castillo: It's already on the birth certificate.

[2:04] Lillian Castillo: Y'all, I gotta tell you, my husband, so his last name is Strong, the baby's last name will be Strong.

[2:09] Lillian Castillo: And he has been trying his hardest to convince me that the child's middle name should be the support.

[2:18] Lillian Castillo: Whatever the first name is.

[2:19] Lillian Castillo: I am William the Strong.

[2:22] Lillian Castillo: Son of Lillian.

[2:23] Michael Darty: I just couldn't do it.

[2:24] Michael Darty: Well, and also for our listeners, it takes roughly nine years to make a single episode of this.

[2:29] Michael Darty: So we're gonna take a little break and focus on post-production for the first half of season one.

[2:35] Michael Darty: And we're gonna take some fucking me time.

[2:37] Lillian Castillo: But stay tuned, we'll let you know as soon as we plan to start releasing the second half of our first season.

[2:42] Michael Darty: Y'all want to know our special guest for today?

[2:45] Michael Darty: Today on the pod, we have special guest Richard R. Henry.

[2:47] Michael Darty: Richard was in the first national tour companies of Urinetown, 2008's Man of La Mancha, and 2005's Sweet Charity.

[2:55] Michael Darty: He was recently seen off Broadway opposite Joe Pantaliano in New World Stages Drift, and can be heard on the cast recording for the stage adaptation of Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

[3:04] Michael Darty: On television, he has appeared on Search Party, Younger, and Girls5eva, and we couldn't be more stoked to have him here.

[3:11] Michael Darty: Richard, welcome to the pod.

[3:13] Richard R. Henry: Thank you.

[3:13] Richard R. Henry: It's happy to be here.

[3:14] Michael Darty: Girls5eva forever.

[3:18] Michael Darty: I'm seriously so stoked to have you here, man.

[3:20] Michael Darty: Richie, you've had such a cool career that's literally taken you all over the world.

[3:26] Richard R. Henry: Yeah.

[3:26] Richard R. Henry: Tell me what is one of the like wildest theater stories that you've gotten from life on the road.

[3:32] Richard R. Henry: Well, you know, I one time on the Urinetown tour that you mentioned, uh huh, and credit to the presenters in Birmingham, Alabama, but after the opening number, you know, it's a big full chorus crescendo, and everybody's singing all their big money notes, and we had uh tap shoes, the officers had tap shoes put into their shoes.

[3:32] Richard R. Henry: Uh-huh.

[3:50] Richard R. Henry: Not because we were tapping, but so it looked sounded cool when we were walking on the metal grates kind of thing.

[3:55] Richard R. Henry: We hit our big money note, and nobody applauded.

[3:59] Richard R. Henry: They absolutely hated it.

[4:00] Richard R. Henry: It was it was dead silence.

[4:03] Richard R. Henry: And all you could hear was our little taps moving across the stage.

[4:07] Richard R. Henry: You know, just it was the the loneliest, the loneliest sound of taps moving across the stage in silence.

[4:14] Michael Darty: So, something uh really fascinating about your career has also been working alongside celebrity.

[4:19] Michael Darty: It's like kind of a weird thing about show business in general.

[4:22] Michael Darty: On the Sweet Charity tour, you worked with Molly Ringwald, you did a Shakespeare in the park with Rosario Dawson, right?

[4:28] Richard R. Henry: And Oscar Isaac, I played his dad in that production.

[4:30] Michael Darty: Oh, okay, amazing.

[4:32] Michael Darty: And then right before the pandemic, you're working with Joey Pants.

[4:34] Richard R. Henry: Yeah.

[4:35] Richard R. Henry: So what is that like?

[4:36] Richard R. Henry: Does that does that affect the work at all in a negative or positive way?

[4:40] Richard R. Henry: Uh well, there's no there's no doubt, we're all just human beings.

[4:43] Richard R. Henry: So there's no way you can't be starstruck.

[4:45] Richard R. Henry: You know, like I I love Joey Pants, because I'm I'm from the generation who was like a teenager when Goonies came out.

[4:52] Richard R. Henry: Oh my god, he was in the Goonies, you know, like he's the Matrix, like he's been in so many movies that I love Memento, you know.

[4:58] Richard R. Henry: Oh my god, obsessed with the first rehearsal, I was like, oh my god, Joey Pants sitting right next to me, you know, we're doing scenes together.

[5:05] Richard R. Henry: Like this is exciting.

[5:07] Richard R. Henry: Um he bought one of those uh industrial massagers that looks like a drill gun, you know.

[5:13] Richard R. Henry: Yeah, so he was like, You gotta try this out, and he's doing it in my back, and he's like drilling me, and I started videoing it, and it's like Joey Pants is killing me with a chainsaw, you know.

[5:24] Richard R. Henry: It was the highlight of the whole experience.

[5:26] Richard R. Henry: I still have that video.

[5:28] Michael Darty: Yeah.

[5:29] Michael Darty: Well, our listeners can follow you on TikTok or Instagram using the handle at Richard Henry NYC.

[5:36] Michael Darty: Folks in the New York area can catch you in Irish Reps production of the streets of New York running now through the end of January.

[5:44] Michael Darty: Uh, Richie, such a pleasure to have you on the show, pal.

[5:47] Richard R. Henry: Oh, joy, thanks so much.

[5:48] Richard R. Henry: I appreciate it.

[5:49] Michael Darty: Excellent.

[5:49] Michael Darty: With that, I'm gonna explain how this works.

[5:52] Michael Darty: Here's the deal.

[5:54] Michael Darty: Our four players will improvise their way through a fantasy-style role-playing game of my making.

[5:59] Michael Darty: After we record, we add sound effects.

[6:02] Michael Darty: Underscoring.

[6:10] Michael Darty: Full-fledged musical numbers.

[6:14] Michael Darty: And special guest voices.

[6:16] Richard R. Henry: Oh my goodness, hello.

[6:17] Richard R. Henry: It's so good to be.

[6:18] Richard R. Henry: Thank you so much for having me.

[6:21] Michael Darty: Thank you, Michael.

[6:21] Michael Darty: I so appreciate it.

[6:22] Richard R. Henry: Thank you.

[6:23] Richard R. Henry: Thank you, Attack DA Girls by Bella Faretta.

[6:26] Michael Darty: And boom, there you have an episode.

[6:27] Michael Darty: Sound good?

[6:28] Richard R. Henry: Sounds great.

[6:29] Michael Darty: Always does.

[6:30] Richard R. Henry: Hell yeah.

[6:30] Michael Darty: I'm starting to be convinced.

[6:32] Michael Darty: Great.

[6:32] Michael Darty: Then let's play Mythic Thunderlute.

[6:41] Michael Darty: Previously on Mythic Thunderlute.

[6:44] Michael Darty: After seeing a column of smoke coming from South Talia, Shire rock band Mythic Thunderlute and their companions race toward Roscoe and Pugface's homes, but not before making a plan with Mayor Whimsley to push the attacking northerners toward the meadows.

[6:57] Michael Darty: One self, the band finds the city in an all-out battle.

[7:00] Michael Darty: The party detains some of the fighters while Pugface uses her newly acquired fire-resistant armor to save Roscoe's parents from their burning home.

[7:08] Michael Darty: Jocasta, Edgar, and Sir Aiden save Schneider, Pugface's boss, while Herman, Roscoe, and Pugface come upon a mob of people attacking Rikio, Pugface's dad.

[7:17] Michael Darty: The party fights valiantly, but after three waves of attacks and many healing spells from Jocasta, Rikio is impaled by a broad sword.

[7:25] Michael Darty: He says goodbye to Pugface before passing, and Autumn makes arrangements with their local lord to see that he's buried in Borstead Square.

[7:32] Michael Darty: Autumn gives Jocasta the ability to speak any tongue, and Herman helps the group realize that a relative of Jocasta's may be the key in the final battle.

[7:40] Michael Darty: Suddenly, Giovanni Chubb appears at the door and asks his brother Roscoe for a favor.

[7:45] Michael Darty: We begin.

[7:46] Michael Darty: Standing in Pugface's living room is Giovanni Chubb, proprietor of Chubb's Olive Oil Emporium, who basically looks like a slightly larger, slightly older version of Roscoe.

[8:02] Giovanni Chubb: Hey, Pugface.

[8:04] Giovanni Chubb: It's been a while.

[8:05] Giovanni Chubb: How are you doing, kid?

[8:06] Pugface: This is disgusting.

[8:07] Giovanni Chubb: Hey, Gio, what's up?

[8:08] Giovanni Chubb: How are you?

[8:09] Giovanni Chubb: I'm a little down.

[8:11] Giovanni Chubb: My uh my dad died today.

[8:14] Pugface: Oh my god.

[8:14] Pugface: Yeah, so maybe you should like leave her alone.

[8:16] Giovanni Chubb: No, no, no, no.

[8:17] Giovanni Chubb: He's you can stay.

[8:18] Giovanni Chubb: You can stay.

[8:19] Pugface: I'm so sorry, kiddo.

[8:21] Pugface: That's horrible.

[8:21] Giovanni Chubb: It's been rough.

[8:22] Giovanni Chubb: I'm happy to see you, though.

[8:24] Giovanni Chubb: You look you look great.

[8:25] Pugface: No, he doesn't.

[8:26] Pugface: He looks terrible.

[8:27] Pugface: Look at him.

[8:27] Giovanni Chubb: Uh oh.

[8:28] Giovanni Chubb: You look great too.

[8:29] Giovanni Chubb: He's got a bald spot now.

[8:30] Pugface: I'm so I'm sorry.

[8:31] Pugface: I don't mean to interrupt.

[8:32] Pugface: Are you are you Giovanni?

[8:34] Giovanni Chubb: I am indeed.

[8:35] Giovanni Chubb: Yeah.

[8:36] Giovanni Chubb: It's just I just wanted to say Edgar Hogan.

[8:39] Edgar: Oh, wow.

[8:39] Edgar: Why are you introducing yourself to him?

[8:41] Edgar: I've just heard about him and I've enjoyed his olive oil.

[8:43] Giovanni Chubb: So nice to meet him.

[8:46] Giovanni Chubb: Oh, thanks a lot.

[8:47] Giovanni Chubb: I appreciate that.

[8:48] Pugface: No, this is not nice to meet him.

[8:50] Pugface: All right, look.

[8:51] Pugface: So Roscoe takes a bottle of wine that's still on the table.

[8:54] Roscoe: I gotta step outside real quick, everybody.

[8:55] Roscoe: I'm just gonna go ahead and I'm gonna.

[8:56] Giovanni Chubb: Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

[8:57] Giovanni Chubb: Roscoe, buddy.

[8:59] Giovanni Chubb: I'm here to see you.

[9:00] Giovanni Chubb: Look, I don't know if you know, Roscoe, but uh mom and dad's house got burned down by Stevie the fucking deuce.

[9:08] Roscoe: What do you mean, dude?

[9:09] Roscoe: I know you were there.

[9:10] Giovanni Chubb: Well, I I mean I I jumped in there and I I grabbed home.

[9:13] Pugface: Oh my god, no shit.

[9:15] Pugface: Wow.

[9:17] Giovanni Chubb: You've been working out, kid.

[9:18] Roscoe: Yeah, no.

[9:20] Roscoe: No, I'm not lit to anyways right now.

[9:22] Roscoe: But yeah, she's like fire resistant.

[9:24] Giovanni Chubb: Oh, damn.

[9:25] Giovanni Chubb: Have you heard?

[9:26] Giovanni Chubb: Now you do.

[9:27] Roscoe: I wish you were Giovanni resistant right now, to be completely honest with you.

[9:30] Roscoe: So let's get this over with, Giovanni.

[9:32] Giovanni Chubb: What do you want?

[9:32] Giovanni Chubb: I told mom and dad that I'd help them find new accommodations.

[9:36] Giovanni Chubb: Even if just for a little while, but uh Yeah, where they staying.

[9:40] Giovanni Chubb: Well, they're staying at my place for tonight, but I gotta get them the fuck out of there.

[9:44] Roscoe: Where would you like them to stay, Giovanni?

[9:46] Giovanni Chubb: I don't know.

[9:46] Giovanni Chubb: Oh, you don't gotta find the place.

[9:49] Giovanni Chubb: Can you help me out, Roski?

[9:51] Roscoe: Yeah, mom and dad can stay at my place, okay?

[9:53] Roscoe: How's that sound?

[9:54] Giovanni Chubb: Oh, what?

[9:54] Giovanni Chubb: They're just gonna live at your place forever?

[9:56] Roscoe: No, not forever, but they can live there for now and on time to go look for an apartment for them.

[10:00] Giovanni Chubb: We're saving the world, Giovanni.

[10:02] Giovanni Chubb: Jeez, just Why don't you help him out?

[10:04] Roscoe: I am helping them out.

[10:05] Roscoe: I just need you to help me tomorrow morning.

[10:08] Giovanni Chubb: Help him find a place.

[10:09] Giovanni Chubb: Please.

[10:10] Giovanni Chubb: Please, look, look.

[10:11] Giovanni Chubb: I'll do something nice for you in return, I promise.

[10:14] Giovanni Chubb: And I can handle all the financials.

[10:16] Giovanni Chubb: I just don't want to deal with the shit on my own.

[10:18] Roscoe: Why do I have to find them a place?

[10:20] Roscoe: They're adults.

[10:20] Roscoe: They know what the hell they're doing.

[10:21] Giovanni Chubb: They can't they find a place?

[10:22] Giovanni Chubb: They're scared right now, Roski.

[10:24] Giovanni Chubb: They just survived the fire.

[10:25] Roscoe: All right, Giovanni, listen.

[10:26] Roscoe: I'll go ahead and I'll help mom and dad look for a place.

[10:29] Roscoe: And if I run out of time, they can stay with us.

[10:31] Roscoe: I'm gonna go get my stuff.

[10:32] Giovanni Chubb: Don't worry about your stuff.

[10:33] Edgar: You're staying right there.

[10:35] Giovanni Chubb: Well, look, like I said, they're crashing in my place tonight, so I figured I'd make them a nice bowl of ace or something, you know?

[10:42] Pugface: Your bowl and ace sucks.

[10:43] Pugface: Don't kill them.

[10:43] Giovanni Chubb: Hey, yeah, yeah.

[10:45] Giovanni Chubb: Lay off the bowl and ace.

[10:47] Giovanni Chubb: So, uh, I'll come and get you in the morning.

[10:49] Roscoe: Is that okay?

[10:50] Giovanni Chubb: Yeah, that's fine.

[10:51] Giovanni Chubb: All right, good.

[10:52] Giovanni Chubb: And I swear I'll do something nice for you in return.

[10:55] Pugface: Good to see you, huh?

[10:58] Giovanni Chubb: Good to see you too.

[10:59] Giovanni Chubb: You can do something nice for me, too.

[11:01] Pugface: Well, this makes me sick to my stomach.

[11:03] Pugface: You know, maybe uh maybe when you're feeling up to it, you can come by the olive oil store and I can show you how we uh stock the shelves, you know.

[11:12] Giovanni Chubb: You wanted to come stock shelf?

[11:14] Pugface: Yeah.

[11:14] Pugface: I would I would love that.

[11:16] Pugface: He winks at Pugface and is then gone.

[11:19] Roscoe: He's very impressive.

[11:20] Pugface: He really is.

[11:21] Pugface: He's so nice.

[11:22] Roscoe: He's it's the nicest.

[11:24] Pugface: I have to say, I'm a bit charmed by him.

[11:27] Michael Darty: Okay.

[11:27] Michael Darty: Uh I uh so Roscoe just takes his bag, a bottle of wine, goes outside, rolls himself a joint.

[11:34] Michael Darty: Roscoe, you find yourself right next to Sir Aiden, who you placed in charge of watching the house.

[11:39] Sir Aiden: Oh, hello, my friend.

[11:40] Roscoe: Hey Aiden, how's it going?

[11:42] Sir Aiden: Can I have a drag of that?

[11:43] Roscoe: Uh, yeah, sure.

[11:44] Roscoe: So I hand it to him.

[11:45] Roscoe: Just don't just be puff puff past.

[11:47] Roscoe: Don't you know I'm gonna be too generous with it.

[11:48] Michael Darty: Meanwhile, inside, Autumn turns to the group and says, Pugface, could I just talk to you very quickly?

[11:54] Pugface: Yeah, yeah.

[11:54] Autumn: Okay, and Autumn steps back into the kitchen for a little privacy.

[11:58] Michael Darty: Jocasta heads to where she thinks maybe their rooms are.

[12:02] Michael Darty: Great.

[12:03] Michael Darty: Jocasta rests for the night.

[12:05] Edgar: Oh, I go pack my stuff up at Roscoe's and just like sleep on the couch.

[12:09] Michael Darty: As you cross the street, you see the red fog is still there, so it's a little hard to navigate.

[12:13] Michael Darty: And you see Roscoe and Sir Aiden, sipping wine and smoking a J at the side of Pugface's house.

[12:19] Edgar: Might have a half drag of that.

[12:20] Roscoe: Yeah, sure.

[12:20] Roscoe: Everybody can smoke my weed tonight.

[12:22] Roscoe: Why not?

[12:23] Roscoe: Look, I'm sorry.

[12:24] Roscoe: I just Giovanni is he could get stuck in my crawl.

[12:27] Edgar: You're far more interesting than Giovanni.

[12:30] Roscoe: Apparently not.

[12:30] Roscoe: Everybody loved him tonight.

[12:32] Edgar: Look at how great he is.

[12:33] Edgar: He's so nice.

[12:34] Roscoe: Went on in a band with Giovanni, are we?

[12:36] Roscoe: And he didn't help save Adenia from the Elven Pantheon like you did, my friend.

[12:41] Edgar: He didn't.

[12:41] Edgar: I'm gonna go pack my stuff.

[12:42] Edgar: I appreciate the uh hospitality over these uh Yeah.

[12:45] Edgar: Good night, old friend.

[12:46] Roscoe: Good night.

[12:47] Michael Darty: Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Autumn says, Do you plan on staying here for a bit, or are you going to keep adventuring with your friends?

[12:55] Jocasta: Oh, we gotta keep adventuring.

[12:57] Autumn: I understand, sweetheart.

[12:58] Autumn: It's what your father would want.

[13:00] Autumn: I know it.

[13:00] Jocasta: I think so too.

[13:01] Autumn: I love you, sweetheart.

[13:02] Jocasta: I love you too.

[13:03] Jocasta: I I know it's it's not been.

[13:05] Jocasta: I know.

[13:06] Autumn: She kisses you on the top of the head and she retires to her room.

[13:10] Jocasta: I'm thinking when I grab a glass of wine and then just go to bed.

[13:14] Michael Darty: Great.

[13:15] Michael Darty: Meanwhile, outside, Sir Aiden turns to Roscoe and says, Well, shall we retire, my friend?

[13:20] Roscoe: Uh, yeah, yeah.

[13:21] Roscoe: You go ahead.

[13:22] Roscoe: I'll I'll be right behind you.

[13:23] Sir Aiden: All right.

[13:24] Michael Darty: And Sir Aiden goes into Pugface's house.

[13:27] Roscoe: Oh, I'd like to take that box out of my bag.

[13:29] Roscoe: So I finish up, uh I finish the bottle of wine, and I go inside and uh I just see Hey, uh, hey, Armin.

[13:35] Armin: Yes.

[13:36] Roscoe: Uh, could you read what the front of this box here says?

[13:39] Armin: Of course.

[13:39] Armin: Oh, yes, the the box from the cave of the forgotten.

[13:42] Armin: I know where it's from.

[13:43] Roscoe: Just please read it.

[13:44] Armin: It was doing that for the listener's benefit.

[13:46] Armin: It says gaze upon the letters below and rearrange to ones you know.

[13:51] Richard R. Henry: Speak the words in any tongue, and then the prize is finally won.

[13:55] Richard R. Henry: And then carved below it says the words herb money swig.

[14:00] Richard R. Henry: Does that make any sense to you?

[14:02] Richard R. Henry: Do you think you could figure any of that out?

[14:04] Richard R. Henry: Or we don't have any other clues or really anything else to go on.

[14:07] Roscoe: I mean, look, bud, I can't read. Off the top of my head, nothing's coming to me.

[14:13] Richard R. Henry: I'm so sorry, my friend.

[14:14] Roscoe: That's okay. You did good, Herman.

[14:17] Richard R. Henry: Maybe we'll have some clarity in the morning.

[14:19] Richard R. Henry: Herman retires for the night.

[14:21] Michael Darty: Roscoe, do you end up going to bed, or are you just gonna stay up tonight?

[14:24] Roscoe: Yeah, I mean, I'll go to bed, but I'm pretty drunk.

[14:26] Richard R. Henry: You pass out in the chair, and for the fourth night in a row, you dream you are surrounded by herb smoke.

[14:32] Richard R. Henry: The same elderly halfling emerges once more and stares at you.

[14:38] Richard R. Henry: Oh, come on.

[14:40] Richard R. Henry: Do I need to spell it out for you?

[14:42] Roscoe: Uh, yeah.

[14:44] Richard R. Henry: Where is my only one word left to go?

[14:47] Richard R. Henry: Where is my...

[14:48] Roscoe: Okay, what's the last word?

[14:50] Richard R. Henry: To open the box, you must open your mind.

[14:54] Richard R. Henry: And he places his finger upon your forehead, and you jolt awake in a cold sweat.

[14:59] Roscoe: It is morning.

[15:00] Roscoe: Oh god, I gotta stop drinking that much before I go to bed.

[15:05] Richard R. Henry: Is anybody else up?

[15:06] Michael Darty: Uh, yeah, everyone is now awake and filing into the kitchen.

[15:09] Lillian Castillo: Hey, good morning.

[15:11] Michael Darty: Good morning.

[15:11] Lillian Castillo: That's where you were.

[15:12] Michael Darty: Good morning, Roscoe.

[15:13] Richard R. Henry: Roscoe, do you fall asleep on top of this box?

[15:16] Roscoe: Yeah, actually, Jocasta, could you do me a big favor?

[15:18] Jocasta: What's that?

[15:19] Roscoe: Could you see if you could figure out the front of that box?

[15:21] Jocasta: It says...

[15:23] Jocasta: No, no, no, no, I know what it says. It's just like, do you do you maybe know...

[15:25] Roscoe: I've got some ideas already.

[15:27] Richard R. Henry: Let's see.

[15:28] Richard R. Henry: Uh, wham.

[15:29] Richard R. Henry: If only there were some clues you've been getting.

[15:32] Richard R. Henry: Herb money swig could rearrange to a lot of different words.

[15:35] Roscoe: Uh, I honestly I haven't told any of you about this because I really wanted to figure it out for myself.

[15:40] Roscoe: But uh, the last few nights I've had this dream, this old halfling.

[15:43] Roscoe: Oh, and he was talking to me.

[15:45] Roscoe: And uh, I gotta be completely honest with you.

[15:47] Roscoe: He said, uh, where is mine?

[15:49] Richard R. Henry: You know the word bong is in here.

[15:50] Roscoe: Where is my bong?

[15:52] Richard R. Henry: As soon as you speak those words, the four sides of the small metal box fold open to reveal a tall, translucent green water pipe loaded with a mysterious purple herb.

[16:03] Richard R. Henry: As the box unfurls, it whispers the ball of God.

[16:11] Roscoe: I don't know about any of you, but uh I know exactly what to do with this.

[16:14] Richard R. Henry: Is there a lighter?

[16:15] Jocasta: There's a book of matches.

[16:16] Roscoe: I'm gonna go ahead and uh smoke it up.

[16:18] Richard R. Henry: You take a hit of the pipe and feel your senses come alive.

[16:23] Richard R. Henry: Gain plus three to your dexterity and gain advantage on attack rolls for the next hour.

[16:28] Roscoe: Oh yes.

[16:30] Richard R. Henry: The herb is magically restored.

[16:31] Roscoe: What happens if my dexterity is already technically maxed out?

[16:36] Richard R. Henry: Then you can add that to your strength.

[16:37] Roscoe: I gotta tell you, I just went to the gym three days in a row.

[16:41] Richard R. Henry: Oh wow.

[16:42] Roscoe: Can I give it a try?

[16:43] Richard R. Henry: Yeah, go ahead.

[16:44] Richard R. Henry: Herman takes a giant rip of the bong and immediately projectile vomits.

[16:51] Herman: Oh, I don't feel so good.

[16:53] Richard R. Henry: Oh, sorry, Herman.

[16:55] Michael Darty: Sir Aiden emerges from the bedroom and says, Well, my friends, I'm afraid I must be off.

[16:59] Michael Darty: I have a K Ren to send to our sovereign and must be in North Point in just two days' time.

[17:04] Roscoe: You're leaving us?

[17:05] Michael Darty: Yes.

[17:05] Michael Darty: I'm so sorry to rush, but I must give a keynote speech at the graduation ceremony for the Sir Aidan Brock private grammar school and military academy for children in just 53 hours.

[17:16] Roscoe: Wow, that sounds really big and important, Aiden.

[17:18] Michael Darty: So have a great time.

[17:19] Michael Darty: Thank you for all your help.

[17:20] Michael Darty: Yes, I shall find the nearest K Ren outpost, and I can inform King Cyrus that the dragon gods have indeed agreed to protect us from the Elven Pantheon.

[17:28] Richard R. Henry: Well done, T.

[17:30] Richard R. Henry: Yeah, well done to you.

[17:30] Michael Darty: Thank you.

[17:31] Michael Darty: Thank you so much for everything.

[17:33] Michael Darty: Have a great day.

[17:33] Michael Darty: Oh, and by the way, I suppose congratulations are in order.

[17:38] Michael Darty: Two...

[17:38] Michael Darty: To you all.

[17:39] Michael Darty: Well, you've just completed King Cyrus's quest, which means that your recording contract with Ballstead gemstones is now guaranteed.

[17:47] Michael Darty: And you shall be the closing performance at the Founders Day Bicentennial in just eight days.

[17:54] Edgar: Edgar hugs the closest person to him.

[17:56] Edgar: It's Herman.

[17:56] Edgar: It's Herman Harbin.

[17:58] Roscoe: Oh, I forgot.

[18:00] Roscoe: We did it.

[18:01] Richard R. Henry: We did.

[18:01] Richard R. Henry: We certainly did, Herman.

[18:02] Richard R. Henry: Well deserved mythic thunder loot.

[18:05] Richard R. Henry: Fame and fortune awaits.

[18:07] Michael Darty: Sir Aiden smiles, bows, and leaves.

[18:10] Roscoe: You know, I gotta be honest.

[18:11] Roscoe: Why does everything... everything's so little time?

[18:13] Roscoe: Like we have four days to do this, two days to do this, we eight days until this concert.

[18:17] Roscoe: How are we gonna get ready for that?

[18:19] Richard R. Henry: It's how our world works.

[18:20] Richard R. Henry: That's how it all works.

[18:21] Richard R. Henry: We just have to keep moving forward, right?

[18:24] Roscoe: You know, we gotta get your parents moved into your place.

[18:26] Roscoe: We gotta go see my mama, because she's the key to saving the world.

[18:29] Giovanni Chubb: Wait, did I agree to do that?

[18:30] Richard R. Henry: At this moment, there is a knock at the door.

[18:33] Pugface: So I'll go and answer that.

[18:34] Richard R. Henry: Pugface goes to the door and answered her.

[18:36] Richard R. Henry: You answer the door and you reveal Giovanni Chubb once more.

[18:40] Giovanni Chubb: Pugface.

[18:43] Giovanni Chubb: I was not expecting you.

[18:44] Pugface: Come on in.

[18:45] Giovanni Chubb: All right, we gotta go get mom and dad, right, Giovanni?

[18:48] Giovanni Chubb: We gotta go.

[18:48] Roscoe: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[18:49] Giovanni Chubb: Well, what's the plan, Roski?

[18:51] Roscoe: You ready to go house hunting?

[18:52] Giovanni Chubb: Yep.

[18:53] Giovanni Chubb: Well, I believe we're all set to go to Stormwood, yes?

[18:56] Roscoe: Yeah.

[18:57] Giovanni Chubb: No, I'll meet you.

[18:58] Giovanni Chubb: I'll meet you there, don't worry.

[18:59] Roscoe: All right.

[18:59] Roscoe: Let just let me know when you think you're close.

[19:02] Giovanni Chubb: Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[19:03] Giovanni Chubb: Okay, I got it.

[19:04] Giovanni Chubb: Yeah, because the thing is, my mom has her field protected.

[19:06] Giovanni Chubb: You know what I mean?

[19:07] Giovanni Chubb: And if you walk past it, you m... something bad might happen to you.

[19:11] Roscoe: Oh, that's fine.

[19:11] Roscoe: It can't be any worse than spending the day with my brother.

[19:14] Richard R. Henry: With that, Giovanni and Roscoe leave.

[19:17] Richard R. Henry: Shall we to Stormwood then?

[19:19] Roscoe: I think so.

[19:20] Roscoe: We've got an album to write.

[19:22] Richard R. Henry: Definitely.

[19:22] Richard R. Henry: You all gather your things and leave Pugface's abode.

[19:26] Richard R. Henry: Meanwhile, Giovanni and Roscoe walk onto the streets of South Talia Shire.

[19:31] Richard R. Henry: The fog has now cleared, and you can see locals cleaning up detritus.

[19:35] Richard R. Henry: Some homes have been ransacked, some villagers cart corpses toward the city square, all while others look around in a daze, still reeling from the battle.

[19:44] Roscoe: Oh, look at this shit.

[19:46] Roscoe: This ain't gonna be easy.

[19:47] Giovanni Chubb: No, I would say so.

[19:49] Giovanni Chubb: By the way, I gotta ask, where'd you get the necklace?

[19:52] Roscoe: What?

[19:53] Roscoe: Giovanni, you realize that you've been wearing the necklace of Octoccun since performing in Vitrania.

[19:58] Roscoe: Oh, yeah.

[19:58] Roscoe: This is an old piece of Edgar's that we kind of won back, and I just decided I would keep it for him.

[20:03] Giovanni Chubb: Oh, yeah.

[20:03] Giovanni Chubb: No, no, no.

[20:04] Giovanni Chubb: I like it.

[20:05] Giovanni Chubb: I saw it and I was actually kind of like, damn, I didn't think my brother was that cool, you know?

[20:10] Roscoe: Yeah, I know.

[20:11] Richard R. Henry: Suddenly, a cellar door flies loudly open down the street.

[20:15] Richard R. Henry: Roscoe, you and your brother see the head of a dwarf whom you recognize as Naharon Schneider, Master Taylor and Pugface's boss.

[20:22] Roscoe: Yeah, hey Naharon, what's up?

[20:24] Richard R. Henry: As you walk down the street towards Schneider, you notice multiple signs on doors that read, Gone Down the Shore.

[20:31] Richard R. Henry: And once you arrive at the cellar entrance, Schneider speaks cautiously.

[20:35] Naharon Schneider: Oh, have they? God.

[20:37] Naharon Schneider: Is the battle over?

[20:39] Roscoe: Yeah, it is.

[20:39] Naharon Schneider: What do you want?

[20:41] Naharon Schneider: Oh, good.

[20:41] Naharon Schneider: Actually, could you just um come down here for a moment?

[20:44] Richard R. Henry: And Schneider rushes back down the stairs to his cellar, clearly traumatized from the fighting.

[20:49] Giovanni Chubb: Giovanni, you coming?

[20:51] Giovanni Chubb: Yeah, sure, sure.

[20:52] Richard R. Henry: Come on.

[20:52] Richard R. Henry: You guys descend the stairs and down in Schneider's dank cellar, which smells like herb smoke, you see towering shelves of beautiful fabrics, jars and jars of pickled eggs and vegetables, and a small table set up for him to sew.

[21:06] Naharon Schneider: Take a seat.

[21:07] Naharon Schneider: I've lived down here on Cobbler Street for many a year.

[21:12] Naharon Schneider: I had a lot of late nights filled with laughter and beer, but the thing I didn't realize I needed to fear were my neighbors up north.

[21:22] Naharon Schneider: Now shot on my cheer.

[21:24] Naharon Schneider: And so I started to move all the things I hold dear.

[21:28] Naharon Schneider: Deep down in the cellar once the coast was all clear.

[21:32] Naharon Schneider: But then, like a godsend, you two appear.

[21:36] Naharon Schneider: So would you mind barricading me forever down here?

[21:41] Roscoe: Sounds like a terrible idea.

[21:42] Roscoe: Why would you want to do that?

[21:43] Giovanni Chubb: What the fuck?

[21:44] Giovanni Chubb: What the fuck is wrong with you?

[21:45] Naharon Schneider: Well, I can't be vulnerable if the Northerners come back.

[21:50] Naharon Schneider: I clearly have no way of protecting myself.

[21:54] Roscoe: You're gonna be okay, they've gone another way.

[21:58] Roscoe: The northerners got other places to stay.

[22:02] Naharon Schneider: So go back up the stairs.

[22:04] Naharon Schneider: You've got a world up there, and sell alive and what you asked for in your prayers.

[22:10] Naharon Schneider: You can't believe the horror.

[22:12] Naharon Schneider: I just survived the war.

[22:14] Naharon Schneider: So maybe take a breather down the shore.

[22:19] Naharon Schneider: Take in an ocean view.

[22:24] Naharon Schneider: Down the shore.

[22:27] Naharon Schneider: They got a boardwalk to move.

[22:33] Naharon Schneider: And once more it ain't our douche bags, they are mostly just like me and you down the shore.

[22:50] Giovanni Chubb: Well, what sounds... that sounds lovely, but how am I going to afford that?

[22:54] Naharon Schneider: I don't know.

[22:55] Naharon Schneider: That's not my job to figure out.

[22:57] Naharon Schneider: I could give you like 10 gold pieces or something.

[23:00] Giovanni Chubb: Would that make you feel better?

[23:01] Naharon Schneider: I don't want your charity.

[23:01] Naharon Schneider: I'm just, you know, I'm thinking, brother, since our folks need a space.

[23:06] Giovanni Chubb: Uh-huh.

[23:06] Giovanni Chubb: That we look down the shore for easy to ace.

[23:10] Roscoe: What?

[23:10] Giovanni Chubb: It's too bougie, Giovanni.

[23:12] Giovanni Chubb: They need a simpler place.

[23:14] Roscoe: Well, kinda like this one.

[23:16] Giovanni Chubb: Oh, what's it...

[23:17] Giovanni Chubb: Shut up at your face.

[23:19] Giovanni Chubb: What if Schneider moves down the shore and we uh move him into his house?

[23:22] Roscoe: Oh.

[23:23] Roscoe: Yeah, I guess.

[23:25] Giovanni Chubb: Schneider, would that be okay with you?

[23:27] Naharon Schneider: How many times I gotta say that I can't afford it?

[23:31] Naharon Schneider: So head on out my cellar door and then kindly board it.

[23:36] Giovanni Chubb: Hey, you can buy a place down there if you had the dough.

[23:40] Giovanni Chubb: I'll give you double for this dump so that you can go.

[23:44] Giovanni Chubb: Has about uh 1500 gelber for this place.

[23:48] Naharon Schneider: Fifty butt, Mr.

[23:50] Giovanni Chubb: Chubbon.

[23:51] Naharon Schneider: I don't know what to say.

[23:53] Giovanni Chubb: I'll tell you what to say, say sir, you made my day.

[23:57] Giovanni Chubb: Then get you some movers and go on your way.

[24:01] Giovanni Chubb: And while you're at it, Schneider, please let me be your guide until you live where you do not need to live hide.

[24:09] Giovanni Chubb: I'm liking what's in store and know where I'm headed for.

[24:13] Giovanni Chubb: I think he's headed down the shore.

[24:18] Giovanni Chubb: I'll be so far from danger.

[24:23] Giovanni Chubb: Down the shore.

[24:28] Giovanni Chubb: She's traitors.

[24:35] Giovanni Chubb: Turn down the chaps.

[24:37] Giovanni Chubb: Can make your dreams come true forevermore down the shore.

[24:37] Richard R. Henry: Down the shore.

[24:59] Richard R. Henry: And Schneider dashes up the cellar stairs and leaves.

[25:16] Richard R. Henry: Remember this.

[25:17] Richard R. Henry: Remember this day.

[25:18] Richard R. Henry: Well, uh, I'll go let Mom and Dad know.

[25:21] Giovanni Chubb: Oh, jeez. I promised I'd do something for you.

[25:26] Roscoe: What were you thinking?

[25:27] Giovanni Chubb: Well, uh, here's some free advice. Your bag fucking stinks. Clean it out, would you?

[25:32] Roscoe: That's what you're gonna give me? You gonna give me some free advice?

[25:35] Giovanni Chubb: I'm just saying, it's been bugging me since I saw you.

[25:38] Roscoe: I don't care if it's been bugging you. You think your fucking bandmates are gonna like it that your bag stinks?

[25:44] Giovanni Chubb: Okay, this has been great. I'll see you later. Have fun. Say hi to mom and dad for me.

[25:48] Roscoe: Alright. Don't say I never did nothing for you, you miserable fucker.

[25:52] Giovanni Chubb: I love you, brother.

[25:53] Roscoe: Yeah, I love you too, Grimm.

[25:54] Giovanni leaves up the cellar stairs. Roscoe, you do notice a bit of a stench coming from your bag now that Gio has mentioned it.

[25:56] Roscoe: Well, uh, I'll go let Mom and Dad know.

[26:01] Roscoe: Yeah, I'll look in the bag.

[26:02] Upon further inspection, you find the moldy week-old Italian bogies that you made in the first episode.

[26:08] Roscoe: Oh god. How did I forget about these? I'm gonna dump them out.

[26:14] Roscoe: Asking people for food. No idea and sandwiches. Well, you know, that reminds me. I should probably hit the deli before I get... and that's what I'm gonna do.

[26:22] Roscoe: Like stop great. I make fresh sandwiches. And you head to Stormwood.

[26:26] Meanwhile, the rest of you exit Pugface's home and find out the red fog of Maras has lifted.

[26:32] Autumn: Shall we away?

[26:33] Edgar: I suppose so.

[26:35] Lillian Castillo: Let's go.

[26:36] You mount your respective steeds, Herman climbs on the back of Smelly as usual, and you head south toward the storm bridge.

[26:43] After a couple of miles, you come upon the dig site of the Talia Shire mines.

[26:48] Jocasta: Last time you passed through this way, on your way to deliver herb to South Talia Shire a week ago, the dig had not yet begun. But now, a massive hole, thirty feet wide and thirty feet deep, lays in the middle of a large field.

[27:02] Jocasta: At the bottom of the hole is a layer of stone which has clearly been shipped away. Currently, the dig site is completely abandoned.

[27:09] Autumn: Oh wow. They really made a dent in this, didn't they?

[27:13] Edgar: Yes, with no one around. The end of the dig or the eye of the storm.

[27:19] Jocasta: I hope they stop. I mean, if they stopped, that would help us a lot with this whole saving the world situation.

[27:25] Edgar: It sure would, but remember too, before he shot Pasco, Officer Good said that he suspected the dig foreman had been killed by a northerner.

[27:33] Autumn: Uh jeez. It seems Rikyo replaced him pretty quickly.

[27:36] Edgar: Yes, he did say that, but like we need to go talk to my mama because she's the key to saving everybody.

[27:41] Michael Darty: We press forward to Stormwood, yes.

[27:43] Steve Goodalunas: And let's go.

[27:44] Michael Darty: You continue south along the Rocky River, and before long, come to the Storm Bridge.

[27:49] Michael Darty: You head across and immediately enter the vibrant forest known as Stormwood.

[27:54] Michael Darty: Filled with ferns, brush, and gnarly trees.

[27:57] Michael Darty: This ecosystem is positively brimming with life.

[28:00] Michael Darty: Your steeds gallop through, and you soon arrive at the premises of the cozy little house nestled between two trees, which Jocasta calls home.

[28:10] Jocasta: This is where you live.

[28:11] Richard R. Henry: This is beautiful.

[28:12] Jocasta: Thank you. Um, you might want to like hold my hand.

[28:15] Jocasta: Here, here's the thing. We're always trying to keep people from stealing my mom's crop.

[28:20] Jocasta: So, like, I've got this little necklace, um, and it's got like a charm on it, so that I can cross the threshold here.

[28:26] Richard R. Henry: Oh, sure.

[28:27] Jocasta: Without getting electrocuted.

[28:28] Richard R. Henry: Oh, okay.

[28:29] Jocasta: Yeah, yeah. Okay, here we go.

[28:31] Michael Darty: You cross the threshold, and before you, you see the home.

[28:34] Michael Darty: There is a small path leading to the front door, which is flanked by two fenced in areas.

[28:39] Michael Darty: Jocasta, last time you were here, they were filled with your mother's herb plants, but now you find the fields totally bare.

[28:47] Richard R. Henry: Does it look like she harvested everything, or does it look like it was all lost because of the fog?

[28:52] Jocasta: It's actually a little hard to decipher right now.

[28:55] Richard R. Henry: Oh boy.

[28:55] Jocasta: Either my mama's gonna be like, Whew, right in time, or she's gonna be like, shit.

[29:00] Richard R. Henry: I'm excited no matter what. I that this woman sounds like an absolute legend. I can't wait to meet your mother.

[29:06] Richard R. Henry: Are there any like flowers around on the ground at all?

[29:08] Michael Darty: Edgar, you can maybe find some like flowers growing like not near the premises of the fenced in area.

[29:13] Richard R. Henry: So I picked a few wildflowers off the ground and make like a makeshift crappy little bouquet.

[29:17] Jocasta: Love it.

[29:18] Richard R. Henry: Sort of licks his hand and like flattens his hair out a little bit.

[29:22] Steve Goodalunas: Never seen you like this. This is what a treat.

[29:25] Richard R. Henry: I have mixed feelings about witnessing this.

[29:28] Jocasta: goes to the door, opens the door, and calls out, Mama!

[29:33] Michael Darty: Within, you see Minerva run down the stairs with a J in her hand.

[29:38] Michael Darty: She is a human with no bear like qualities, and behind her sits mounds and mounds of freshly harvested herb.

[29:46] Michael Darty: As soon as she sees you, Jocasta, she runs towards you.

[29:49] Minerva: Chojo!

[29:51] Jocasta: Oh, Mama, I'm so glad. I was so worried that you wouldn't get worried about the crops and stuff, so that's great.

[29:56] Minerva: Jocasta, your mama wraps you in her arms and squeezes you tight.

[29:59] Minerva: I'm just so glad you're okay, baby.

[30:01] Jocasta: Oh, Mama, I you would not believe the things that I have seen and done. And there is so much, there isn't even like time. So let me just start by introducing you to some people.

[30:11] Richard R. Henry: Introduce us, introduce us.

[30:13] Jocasta: Yes, this is my friend Pugface.

[30:14] Minerva: Hi, Pugface.

[30:16] Minerva: I have been waiting to meet you. You uh you just you're fantastic. I'm I'm a big fan. You're positively glowing. I can tell you got something special in you, sweetheart. Maybe everyone doesn't see it all the time, but just know that I see it right now, and I think you're remarkable.

[30:31] Richard R. Henry: Oh.

[30:32] Steve Goodalunas: Now I'm crying.

[30:33] Richard R. Henry: Now I'm crying. That was nice.

[30:35] Jocasta: Uh, this is Herman. He's um he's uh like a monk, but also he's sort of our roadie.

[30:41] Minerva: Oh, how fun is that? Hi there. An absolute pleasure.

[30:45] Michael Darty: And Herman weirdly genuflex in front of her.

[30:48] Minerva: Oh, well, that's unnecessary. Very nice to meet you.

[30:51] Jocasta: And then, um, I don't I'm well, I Edgar fucking hawk.

[30:55] Minerva: Hello here, Minerva, my daughter.

[30:57] Minerva: You're still alive?

[30:59] Richard R. Henry: Yes, well, here I am.

[31:00] Minerva: Oh my gosh. Did I ever tell you how I know this man's sweetheart?

[31:04] Richard R. Henry: Uh no, no, you never did mention, but tell us.

[31:08] Minerva: Well, you know, about 30 years ago, when I was just a young slip of things, my parents promised me to the wealthiest man in all of North Point, Aiden Brock.

[31:17] Richard R. Henry: Yeah, I know. I met him too. That was uh special.

[31:21] Minerva: You met Aiden.

[31:22] Minerva: Oh, yes. He was a fine man.

[31:24] Richard R. Henry: Yeah, he's decent. But um, before we got hitched, uh Vagabond named Eddie the Bard came through town.

[31:31] Minerva: Remember it? Like it was yesterday. He was busking for change in the North Point City Square, but I was like, um, excuse me, uh, weren't you like the lead singer of Elf Mother? I recognized him right away.

[31:43] Jocasta: She did.

[31:43] Minerva: So yeah, I left Aiden at the altar to become a groupie. I got other people to join me, and I I launched Eddie's solo career.

[31:52] Richard R. Henry: Oh.

[31:53] Minerva: Oh it all to her.

[31:55] Minerva: Well, honey, Eddie, there's something I never told you. The reason I left wasn't because I gave up on your career.

[32:02] Richard R. Henry: Oh.

[32:03] Minerva: I was it. Do you remember Elias, the nice, handsome, strong young man who always did your mic checks?

[32:10] Richard R. Henry: Yes, I remember Elias.

[32:11] Minerva: Well, that's Joe Costa's father.

[32:14] Richard R. Henry: Oh the mic guy.

[32:16] Minerva: Oh. We fell in love through the love of your music, Eddie.

[32:20] Minerva: And lovely. She chose the mic guy. And one day, the very day we were gonna start the battlefront tour in Piedmont, uh, a grizzly bear tried to attack little JoJo.

[32:32] Richard R. Henry: Oh I know. And I fought it off. I killed it with my knife.

[32:38] Minerva: And that's when it shifted. Suddenly it wasn't a bear anymore, but my lover, Elias.

[32:45] Richard R. Henry: Why was he a bear?

[32:46] Minerva: He was a shifter from the highlands, the area north of Edenia.

[32:51] Richard R. Henry: Yeah, that's why I'm part bear. I was so ashamed by what I'd done. I I moved here to the forest so Joe and I could live in isolation. And it's haunted me to this very day.

[33:01] Minerva: And she takes a long drag of her J and burns through the rest of it.

[33:06] Richard R. Henry: Well, I picked you these flowers.

[33:08] Minerva: Oh, thank you so much. Here, let me get some water for them. And actually, are y'all hungry?

[33:13] Michael Darty: And as soon as she says the word hungry, you hear a knock at a tree.

[33:16] Richard R. Henry: Oh. Just down at the end of your fence that you recognize Jojo.

[33:20] Jocasta: That's um probably Roscoe. I'll go get him.

[33:22] Michael Darty: Joe Costa, you go outside. You see Roscoe and Tutoroso.

[33:27] Richard R. Henry: And she just like runs after him and is like, okay, you're gonna lead the horse in with one hand, but you gotta hold my hand with the other.

[33:35] Richard R. Henry: Okay. You reach across and grab Jojo, who guides you through the forest field.

[33:39] Jocasta: Come on in.

[33:40] Michael Darty: You go back inside. Minerva lights up and says, Oh, hello, Mr. Roscoe.

[33:44] Roscoe: Hey, Minerva, how are you?

[33:46] Minerva: I was just saying, I'm sure y'all are starving, and I've just made a stew.

[33:49] Roscoe: Ugh. You have no idea.

[33:50] Minerva: Well, actually, maybe you do.

[33:51] Roscoe: Yeah, I'm pretty hungry. I could go for some stew. I ate the three sandwiches that I packed on the way here.

[33:58] Minerva: I'm sure you did. You all settle down at the kitchen table as Minerva ladles out, keeping bowls of freshly made stew.

[34:05] Minerva: She continues, I gotta say, y'all, this been one heck of a week. Four days ago, I get a K-Rin from King Cyrus telling me to harvest all my herb and that my daughter's on a quest to save humanity.

[34:18] Minerva: Uh boy, I tell you, I had my farmhands harvesting those crops faster than shit off a shiny shovel.

[34:23] Roscoe: Jesus.

[34:23] Minerva: I don't know if you've ever seen that, but it's quick. It's almost instantaneous.

[34:27] Richard R. Henry: Speaking of saving the world, um, so we were told a prophecy where one of us would was related to somebody who is key to this whole saving the world situation.

[34:38] Minerva: Oh my. You wouldn't happen to have any living siblings or parents or children that you had no idea that you had, or maybe you knew you had, but you didn't tell me because you were embarrassed or something.

[34:51] Minerva: Oh, well, honey, aside from you, uh all my family's dead, and uh, and and you know, Elias is dead too, obviously.

[35:01] Richard R. Henry: Okay, well, what did Daddy ever tell you about anybody he's related to? Did Elias ever mention?

[35:06] Richard R. Henry: Oh, wait! Of course, Bo!

[35:09] Minerva: Well, Bo, Bo, who, Bo, who's Bo.

[35:12] Minerva: His brother Bo.

[35:14] Minerva: Oh, he used to tell me a story about go ahead, Mama. Take the stage.

[35:19] Minerva: Well, quite a tale it was. Elias and Bo were brothers, you know, and where your daddy went, Bo would go inseparable as a pair of boars could be.

[35:32] Minerva: But then one day when they were outside, Lil Bo fell in his dream and cried when he was transformed into a babbling beast.

[35:42] Minerva: It seems Bo got so mad he mutated it, got so bad he sprouted these horns and howled like a skin was on fire.

[35:52] Minerva: And there he is speaking in gibberish. Can't remember who his brother is, and that's when your daddy knew the situation was dire.

[36:01] Minerva: So he said your grand and dampy down. And said I gotta head on into town. Cause I love him like no other. I'ma save my brother.

[36:28] Minerva: So Elias brought an a mystic whose approach was wholly holistic, and she said, kid, you're right, your brother ain't well.

[36:37] Minerva: She said Somewhere inside is his soul finding to get back in control, and we might find a way, but I can't foretell.

[36:47] Minerva: Elias learned that the mystic thought Bo got so upset that he forgot who he really was. He even forgot his name.

[36:56] Minerva: The mystic said Elias must remind Bo who he was so that it finally shifts back to himself from the battle beast he became in the sorry eye as dead as he bag and he said his brother's name alongsurras no falls in so damper.

[37:19] Richard R. Henry: I just can't remember.

[37:21] Minerva: Buffo said, Oh you run on the trench of all the bags.

[37:27] Richard R. Henry: Whoa, whoa. What the fuck just happened?

[37:33] Minerva: Sure enough, Bo, the beast of the wild became not only suddenly mild, but a human again.

[37:40] Minerva: And the brothers did embrace. Alas said, Don't do that again, Bo. Bo said, if I can, I won't still again. It sadly would take place.

[37:55] Minerva: So whenever Bo got perturbed, or if he got upset or disturbed, then he chipped back into a scary, violent beast.

[38:04] Minerva: But Alas now knew how to turn Bo back to the brother that he knew from way way back until Elias left to find a way to see the curse was released.

[38:14] Minerva: So now if Bo got mad again, who would be there to speak his full name there?

[38:23] Richard R. Henry: Wait, I feel it coming on his name is Bo.

[38:29] Richard R. Henry: Crap, I thought I remembered, but I guess I didn't. Sorry, y'all.

[38:33] Minerva: But that's what you must do, Jojo. Find your anguished uncle Bo. If a beast that you must tame. Speak out loud his truthful name, and once restored to his human frame, tell him who you are and why you came.

[38:53] Richard R. Henry: Do you know Daddy's last name by any chance?

[38:56] Minerva: He never told me. I I don't even know if they have last names in the Highlands, to be honest with you.

[39:02] Richard R. Henry: Well, I guess we'll just go ask for Bo.

[39:04] Jocasta: Go find Bo.

[39:05] Richard R. Henry: Oh. What's up, honey?

[39:07] Jocasta: I almost forgot, Mama. I left my bag in a cave full of dragons. I need a new bag. I need new stuff.

[39:11] Minerva: Oh, yeah, of course, of course. And she quickly runs up to a room and comes back down.

[39:15] Minerva: She has a brand new oversized bag for you. Load it up with whatever you need, honey.

[39:20] Jocasta: Thank you. It kills me that she is completely unshifted by cave full of dragons.

[39:25] Richard R. Henry: Um Joe Costa just starts filling the bag with like all sorts of random shit.

[39:32] Steve Goodalunas: May I ask a question?

[39:34] Richard R. Henry: Do you have to?

[39:35] Steve Goodalunas: I would like to.

[39:35] Steve Goodalunas: I just I thought that the rampart was built for the sole purpose of keeping Idenians from traveling north.

[39:42] Richard R. Henry: Do you have a better idea?

[39:44] Steve Goodalunas: Well, I mean, it was really built to keep us safe from them, but I know that the Baron of Battlefront does grant permission for people to pass through sometimes.

[39:54] Richard R. Henry: Apparently he's a pretty nice guy. I mean, we are on a mission to save the world, and King Cyrus wants us to save the world, so we could probably drop some names and get through.

[40:04] Minerva: Well, the Baron's Tower and the gateway through the rampart into the Highlands both lie in my old hometown of North Point. Let me look up the map, actually, on Mythic Thunderlute's Instagram, which you can follow at Mythic Thunderlute on Instagram.

[40:20] Michael Darty: Oh, look, North Point is up there.

[40:22] Richard R. Henry: Yeah, we're uh Oh, we should get going. We get let's get the hell out of here.

[40:25] Richard R. Henry: Y'all, travel safe.

[40:27] Jocasta: Thank you, Mama. Thank you for your hospitality.

[40:30] Minerva: So medical to see you again. Thanks for the stew.

[40:32] Michael Darty: You leave Jocasta and Minerva's place and remount your steeds.

[40:36] Michael Darty: Herman says, no, the most direct route, I think, is going to be straight through the meadows rather than looping all the way back through Tallyashire again, yes?

[40:45] Richard R. Henry: Please uh do not want to go back to Talia Shire.

[40:48] Michael Darty: Okay, just everybody hold hands as best you can, and we'll just uh walk through the forest field here.

[40:53] Michael Darty: All right, you pass through the force field and set off toward the meadows.

[40:57] Michael Darty: Jocasta, as you gallop through Stormwood, you take in the beauty of the forest with a newfound appreciation after a full week away from its comforts.

[41:06] Michael Darty: Before long, you emerge from the forest and enter the meadows.

[41:10] Richard R. Henry: North to North Point.

[41:11] Michael Darty: Yes, Herbin.

[41:12] Michael Darty: You race full tilt toward the province of Battlefront, but soon come upon a gathering of hundreds congregated in the middle of the meadows.

[41:22] Michael Darty: You recognize some of the North Talia Shirans you had sent in this direction during the battle, along with the one-hit wonder bands you freed from the cave of the forgotten.

[41:31] Michael Darty: They quiet as Mayor Whimsley mounts a boulder before them to speak.

[41:35] Roscoe: You realize this is the rendezvous that you helped orchestrate.

[41:39] Giovanni Chubb: Oh, yeah.

[41:40] Roscoe: I'd like to get closer just in case he needs help or something.

[41:43] Minerva: Maybe we duck behind the crowds so we are unnoticed.

[41:47] Giovanni Chubb: Yeah, good idea, Herman.

[41:48] Michael Darty: So you guys sort of sneak up on the back of this crowd as Mayor Whimsley begins to speak.

[41:54] Mayor Whimsley: Friends! Identians! Obscure rock and roll ephemera that happened to make one thing that just really clicked with the general public. Lend me your ears! I come to bring our people together and not divide us further. North Talia Shirens, you have targeted the wrong enemy. The South is not your foe. They were only doing what they felt they needed to survive. Who put them in that position to begin with? Who sanctioned? Nay, demanded the digging of the Talia Shire mines. The aristocracy! King Cyrus himself!

[42:35] Michael Darty: You hear some grunts of recognition and approbation from the crowd.

[42:40] Mayor Whimsley: The time has come, my loyal friends, for the aristocracy to obey. That truly can be found on Bounders Day. We'll have a way. Until we rise, we shall not sleep in eight days' time. Those walls will climb. The keeps a rock when it hears our drums. Whatever comes. But one small male contact alone. If you strive to serve your fellow man and do your part to save the earth, then there's only one way to shadow a joy that will throw a couple I stand with you. We've been silent for too long. That show Kingsidos that he's wrong. Join with me, pop win with me the town of the road spy the spitey sum.

[43:50] Michael Darty: Whatever calls another peal of cheers and the crowd begins chanting, "We sleep, we sleep, we slammy."

[43:50] Roscoe: You know we have to kill it.

[43:50] Giovanni Chubb: No, we're not killing it. I get the feeling that we just keep going forward and screwing everything up. I really like this message, but this—there goes our concert.

[43:50] Roscoe: That's selfish.

[43:50] Giovanni Chubb: But yeah, no, that was double. If there was a way to convince them maybe to siege Arians keep the day after Founders Day.

[43:50] Michael Darty: Oh, hello there, and you realize that the people who you are standing behind have noticed you, and now hundreds of onlookers have all turned back to notice you, and Mayor Whimsley says, "Ah friends, thank goodness you're here! Have you all heard what I just said?"

[43:50] Roscoe: No, yeah, we understand.

[43:50] Mayor Whimsley: Then you know the plans for Founder's Day. Can we count on you to join the fray?

[43:50] Giovanni Chubb: Do you think maybe we could do it the day after?

[43:50] Mayor Whimsley: You're going for that? See what happens. Well, bringing the people gathered so that they can join the fight.

[45:33] Roscoe: So you don't know on which side they are going to fight, right?

[45:42] Mayor Whimsley: Right, yes, but wants to see the stand for them and could survive the stall, then the people will join in by the swarm. Only when we take our stand, you say, grab your neighbor by the hand. I'm here to see that peace will be restored to the land. And just before you leave the clock, say first my friends and go high and make it found alert, not further from you'd as your optimism is seeing well, how King Cyrus is that would take a massive mother.

[46:34] Roscoe: Can I jump in? I hear you, Mayor. You think we haven't got a prayer, but we've given hope when it wasn't even bad. We've remembered the forgotten. Not to mention that we're not in the business of reaching kids that we've already been caught in.

[47:02] Giovanni Chubb: But remember these are great strike. Once they see the strength in numbers laying at our sides, the royal family will have no choice but to run and hide. Why swords? What the same? And we shall increase our chance when the chance is out of bats. You must sign up. Your rock shall wipe out the royal scum.

[47:21] Roscoe: Whatever comes.

[47:22] Giovanni Chubb: Sure, sure, and I know that that sounds relatively reasonable, but maybe we do it. I've got something that day.

[47:21] Mayor Whimsley: Then how about this, my guileful friends? Till we can all achieve our end when you play your set on down Thursday, you play a new rock and the two inside the railway. How about it, my brethren? We'll have our cake and eat it too and pick some fun new groupies on these guys.

[47:21] Mayor Whimsley: Let's go the night! We shall rock it with the plum. Whatever comes.

[47:21] Mayor Whimsley: Very good, my friends! We shall meet in Ballstead in eight days. Come ready to sing and ready to fight. In the meantime, do what you feel you must.

[47:21] Roscoe: Okay, thank you, leaders of our revolution.

[47:21] Mayor Whimsley: Oh hail what is your bad name? Mythic Thunderlute!

[47:21] Crowd: Oh hail Mythic Thunderlute!

[47:21] Michael Darty: And the crowd cheers once more and begins chanting, "Thunderloot, Thunderloot, Thunderloot!"

[49:10] Giovanni Chubb: Yeah, that's pretty cool.

[49:11] Roscoe: That's uh, I'll take that.

[49:12] Michael Darty: You continue north to Battlefront, leaving the large gathering in the distance. The chants of Thunderloot slowly fade into the background.

[49:27] Roscoe: Can you believe we get to play our game?

[49:33] Giovanni Chubb: I'd never conceive save the woods and fine. We make a move. We'll make the pay.

[49:39] Roscoe: And not haloot.

[49:41] Giovanni Chubb: Do you know why we're on this route?

[49:51] Roscoe: You guys are now all heroes.

[49:57] Giovanni Chubb: We shall inspire the world we saw as a fight for singer. We'll write a tune.

[50:06] Roscoe: We should do that soon.

[50:08] Giovanni Chubb: Yeah.

[50:10] Roscoe: We'll walk the world with the strong whatever comes.

[50:16] Michael Darty: The sun is now setting as you near the border between the meadows and the province of Battlefront. Waiting for you at the border, inexplicably, is none other than Cindar the Righteous and the band Necromantica. They've got all new instruments.

[50:33] Roscoe: Cinder!

[50:38] Michael Darty: Cinder just kind of smirks at you, and they begin to play the opening of Enter Morthol once more.

[50:44] Roscoe: Oh, this is so cool. What is this, another battle of the bands?

[50:49] Giovanni Chubb: Harmon, do not be disrespectful.

[50:51] Roscoe: Sorry.

[50:52] Michael Darty: There is a bright flash of yellow light, and Domino, elf god of music, appears behind them.

[50:57] Roscoe: Uh, these fucking snitches.

[51:02] Domino: Hey everybody!

[51:04] Michael Darty: And Domino's face falls slack as his eyes fix on Roscoe's neck.

[51:09] Michael Darty: You all slowly realize that he has taken notice of the very thing he forbade, the necklace of Octoon. His eyes fill with fury.

[51:19] Domino: Well, well, well, what have we here? Has Eddie played out my greatest fear?

[51:29] Roscoe: Domino, look, I can explain.

[51:31] Domino: Your accusation is well insane. I promised I'd never use a comic magic of game.

[51:33] Michael Darty: A squints at you, Edgar, and you feel Domino enter your mind.

[51:45] Michael Darty: You relive the moment in the sanctuary of Vertrani where you perform the song and Roscoe auto tunes his voice using the necklace.

[51:55] Edgar: I forgot he could do that.

[51:57] Domino: It seems Eddie's forsaking me. You shall not rock with my magic strong whatever goal.

[52:24] Roscoe: But it's so badass, come on.

[52:30] Domino: This is the end. This was my butt and games. You're by the first of your claim. And it gone cast the blame. It's just so not like the game.

[53:01] Michael Darty: And a beam of yellow light shoots from his hand.

[53:10] Michael Darty: As the magic is sucked out of the mythic thunderloot!

[53:14] Michael Darty: And that's where we will end our mid-season finale! Tune in on Monday, January 17th for our mid-season after show, where I'll sit down with the cast and crew and chat about all things Thunderloot.

[53:32] Michael Darty: If you'd like to support us in the meantime, leave us an Apple review, post about us on social media, and join our Patreon. Mythic Thunderlute was conceived by Jake Blauck, Michael Darty, and Steve Goodalunas. Jake Blauck serves as our guitarist and the voice of Edgar Hawk. Lillian Castillo is the voice of Jocasta Stormwood. I'm Michael Darty, the editor and head writer, aka the Game Maker. Steve Goodalunas is our resident drummer and the voice of Roscoe Chubb. Leah Cotto is the voice of Pug Face Doodle Op. Din Kazimi does our underscoring, arranging, synth, keyboard mixing, and mastering. Alex Kuper is our co-producer and chief story editor. She did the sound effects for this episode. Down the Shore and Whatever Comes were written by Michael Darty and Dan Kazimi.

And the Ballad of Beau was written by Jake Blauck, Michael Darty, and Dan Kazimi. The drums for this episode were recorded and tracked at Repercussions South. Our production manager is Molly Foy, social media assistance from Sarah Royds, marketing consultation from Judd Mellinger Blauch, imaging by Lee Cortapassi and Daniel Kantz, and web design by Campbell O'Hare. And thanks to the entire team at the Broadway Podcast Network. Dory Bernstein, Alan Seals, Beatriz Westby, Katie Rosen, Iana Prescott, Kimberly Garris, and Matthew Mucha. A shout out to some of our Patreon supporters, David Bass, Mackenzie Peterson, Bill and Cindy D'Arty, Alexis Lorenz, and Mike McKeon. Join us on Patreon to get an early glimpse of our midseason after show. We'll catch you next time on Mythic Thunderlute.