A Pirate’s Side Hustle — Dumbgeons & Dragons Transcripts

Transcript

Click any line to jump to that moment in the audio.

It is the middle of the night on this first night of your adventure that you're slowly,

quickly finding out is more of just an excursion for a rich person in this town.

Bizard is the end of your first one.

You hear the jingle of the bell that you had set up and then a scream from Ignatius

and you quickly turn and now everybody wakes up.

Something is something's here.

Everyone rise.

Something's happening.

Okay.

What is it?

Does anybody see it?

What kind of what kind of something?

I don't know.

Let's look around.

It might be a small animal.

It might be a ne'er-do-well as I said.

Hard to say.

You're all back to back to back to back looking out and around.

Ignatius is still sleeping occasionally screaming.

You hear just like a swift move through the tall grass and then another jingle of the bell off into your right,

which makes everybody turn and look.

Bench lets out a small scream as well.

Did anybody see it?

I didn't see it.

I mean something but...

We hear another jingle of the bell often often behind from where the sound is coming

and we cut ahead and Bench is holding a flaming stick and everybody's screaming as the bell continually is ringing around you.

You can't see anything yet.

You're all chaotically looking around trying to figure out what's happening.

Did anybody see it?

I don't know but it's coming from everywhere.

It's everywhere.

It's everywhere all at once.

It's all directions.

I think there's a lot of them.

We cut ahead again and you're completely surrounded by squirrels around this smoldering fire.

The burning stick has been tossed down and they are encircling your area.

I threw down some leftover key lime tart.

The leader of these squirrels slowly steps forward and dips like a little paw into it and takes a little nibble

and turns and looks at all of them and gives a quick nod

and we cut ahead and you're all seated around this smoldering fire.

All the squirrels are gone.

That was very, very close.

I think we could have died.

I mean, when there's a lot of something, no matter how small it is, it does become sort of frightening.

The dark gives the big shadows too.

Yeah.

I mean, I'm not really from around here.

Is like a roving squirrel gang just run of the mill?

Haven't spent a lot of time in the hill.

So but I don't think so.

And you all slowly look to the side where Bizard has cleaned up.

The dishes where there is a carcass of a rabbit and a squirrel.

Maybe, maybe they were upset that we ate one of them and that was an offering.

Maybe they thought that the pie was one of us.

Ooh, that's a very good possibility.

Oh, okay.

I mean, how many pies do we have left?

Oh, I brought one for each night.

We each had one tonight.

I didn't know how many nights we were going to be out.

So I assumed I've got like a crumb left.

Great.

Don't eat the crumb.

No problem.

Welcome to Dumbgeons and Dragons, a D&D 5th edition actual play podcast.

I'm your dungeon master Russ More.

He, him also with me is Carla Maxted as Bonwyn Everbane.

She, her.

That will make sense.

Like what as more context is is revealed.

Tom Laird as Kavlaran Goldweave.

He, him.

Uh, no, no, not, not, not.

I can feel it though.

And Kyle Claset as Bizard the Wizard.

He, him.

Okay.

Yeah.

Get the rope ready and I'll, I'll go down first.

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Your midday the next day, sun is shining bright overhead.

Everybody's feeling quite tired from the night previous where nobody

except for Ignatius got a restful night's sleep.

He's leading a few, uh, probably 10 or 15 steps ahead of everybody

as you're all dragging ass a little bit.

This is what's, uh, what's wrong with everybody?

Did you not sleep well on this night?

This first adventure is he's looking back at you walking backwards,

jauntily bouncing.

Oh, um, it just, uh, yeah, not a great sleep.

Not a, not a great sleep, but fortune favor.

Uh, the map in the middle of the night must have gotten a little wet

and has revealed an alternate path towards our treasure.

And he holds it up.

See, look, this line wasn't here when I looked at it right

before I went to bed.

I can only believe a secret line.

Yes.

Secret map.

A secret line.

Very exciting.

Must be the best way to get there.

The real way to get there.

Fortunately, it's going to the same place.

Perfect.

That means very, very convenient.

You are a master.

So we have one of two options.

We follow this secret line or we go on the original path as it was

intended to get the full experience for the adventure.

And he's nodding very deeply in this, looking for approval from

anybody in the group.

I just need one.

See, Ignatius, I think that you have become so masterful

at exploration that the answers were given to you.

And why should you say no to something that is handed to you

because you earned it?

That's a great question.

Good thought.

That is a good thought.

Well, perhaps another day then.

Perhaps another day we'll go out and we'll do the original

trek as was made by the pirates of old.

Yes.

Okay.

Great idea.

In an effort to get straight to the goods, let's take this

line and see where it leads us.

See what treasures behold.

See what hopes and dreams we are to fulfill from here on out.

Cav nudges, bench in the ribs.

He said it again.

That means that maybe we actually get hopes and dreams.

As Ignatius says that and turns and is with even more

expediency following along this green dotted line path

towards the treasure.

Everybody else is left back behind.

Gothar and Darryl are trying to keep up as best they can

because it's their job to keep them keep them safe.

So hopes and dreams are a good thing.

It would be bad to leave him out here.

Right.

Oh, well, we can't leave him out.

That wouldn't be wouldn't be great.

I don't know.

I was just confirming that fact and maybe if nobody else

had agreed one of my best customers.

Fair, fair, you know, and not a bad guy.

Just just a little misguided.

That's all he's got some problems.

Yeah, I at least need him to make it back to town

because there are certain expectations of me coming out

here other than me just having a good time.

But but yeah, no, we need to make sure that he makes

it back to town.

Yeah, no.

Yeah, of course, I was not.

Yeah, I was not inferring that we should leave him to

die out here.

That would be that would be ridiculous.

That would be so silly.

Yeah, yeah, we need just adventures on the way and bench

picks up his pace a little bit to separate himself

from all of you.

Expectations like the treasure or what do you mean?

Bazaar.

Yeah, they're a little bit of that, you know,

because I was told this was a pirate treasure and the

assumptions that I had made and as to why I was not

able to attend some of the advisor meetings for the

mayor that there would be some returned funds,

whichever was procured.

So that being said, if there were to be procured

funds, we would find considerably less than what we

actually found.

So which I hesitate to say in front of an auditor if

I'm not mistaken, you just mean like a finder's

fee.

Yes, that's exactly what it is.

I think you're entitled to a certain percentage.

Yeah, because you know, there has to be some

return to the coffers from which they were stolen from

according to the understanding, you know, so if anybody

shows back up with any sum, there's an expectation of

a percentage of that sum.

Now, whatever that sum may be is to be determined.

At a later date.

If it's 41.

Yes, actually, yes, that actually goes really well

for nothing like having a capital auditor on the party

this.

Your services may be very handy.

So just to be frank with y'all, you know, I, you

know, I was going to mention it once we found the

treasure, but once I learned like, oh, that may

not be the case.

It's like, well, I may have a problem, but I don't

want you to think that you have a problem.

Okay, sure.

Yeah.

Bye.

Kind of shoot Bonwyn to look like I don't know what

the hell he's talking about.

I'm really sure I understand, but I mean, Bonwyn

just assumes it will make sense as more context

is is revealed in the moment.

I'm sure it'll click for me.

And you all catch up to Ignatius.

You've made your way into the mountains at this

point is kind of midday.

Now you're all sweating buckets because you've

been going quite quickly along this green line to

make sure that you're making good time.

So you could be back if not by the end of the day,

then first thing the next day you're following

behind him leading up this winding mountain path.

You're starting to get the idea that maybe you're

you're not falling.

You're not seeing any cave entrances.

You're not seeing any sign of like a real foot

path obviously because you drew the line, but

also like maybe Ignatius isn't following this

and as you're about to go confront him, you

see that he makes it up to this plateau and he's

standing there.

And as you round the bend to just kind of say,

hey, maybe we should turn back.

There's like a big Eureka.

Like we found it.

We found the X or at least where I believe

the X is look everybody.

There's an entrance to a cave.

Okay, great work.

Great job Ignatius.

Wow.

This is the thrill of the adventure, isn't it?

This is this is what they this is what they tell

you about in the in the stories.

All those all those seafarers, all those river

pirates, all those people going out and fighting

monsters.

That's what this is all about, isn't it?

Sure.

We've only seen squirrels and rabbits and maybe

a few birds, but but like from here on out

who knows what's in front of us.

I mean the squirrels were pretty terrifying the

squirrel.

Oh, he missed that you were you were sawing

logs.

We had it doesn't matter.

Was there something scary about the squirrels?

I just saw them up in the trees.

I'm sure they were clustered into groups,

which is kind of unusual from my understanding

of squirrels, but then staring at us longingly

from a distance.

They're saying there's something nefarious

about that.

You know what?

Don't even worry about it.

Totally fine.

Not a big deal.

Onward into the cave and he followed by

Daryl and Gothar struck into this cave.

You follow obviously.

What do we see it?

It is like an obvious cave entrance.

It is an obvious cave entrance.

As you approach you're all looking around

trying to figure out like what might be here

if there is anything here.

So make an investigation role as you're

walking in.

So say any signs of wildlife or anything

like that would be good to note.

Oh man, these dice are so bad.

I got an eight.

It's a it's a one, but it wasn't a

crit fail.

So wait, you have a minus to your

investigation and you're an auditor.

Oh, I'm not a good one.

No one ever said cab was a good auditor.

That's why he keeps getting sent to

these far-flung places.

Yeah, I feel like you said that out

loud at some point, but I forgot it

or didn't know cabs like good socially

bad at his job.

Terrible job.

Perfect.

Yeah, I do remember you saying that

now.

He's just sort of like failed upward.

Yeah, glorious.

Okay.

So with an with a one you're happy

to be along for the journey with

an eight.

You see some rough tracks leading

to and from the cave with a 16

bond when you're able to see that

these tracks, although they are

old, they are bear tracks that

look like they have come to and

from you can't tell what's the

most recent is there's some some

time that has that has passed.

You know, being that you're out

there's no snow like it's not

hibernation season.

So if it were like you might

worry about like a sleeping

bear in there, but you pretty

sure that there's probably no

bear at least in the in the

phase of this cave.

Okay.

You all catch up to Ignatius

and Gothar and Darryl and you

find yourselves in this cave

entrance.

There isn't any animals in here

that you see looking around.

There's some piled up bones off

in the corner, which looks like

they're just small game.

There's some sticks and branches

that look like they've been

dragged up by something and at

the back of this cave is what

looks like a shaft that goes

deeper into the mountain and

it looks like it's been like

carved.

Something has created this

shaft.

Ignatius doesn't notice that

he's too busy like examining

the the hardened scat that

may that he's finding in the

corners on the floor probably

spawn when you would be the

first one to see this.

Well, luckily no bears

everyone.

I think we can agree that's

that's great.

Absolutely.

Was that a concern?

Well, I mean you you're

noticing the sign.

I saw it some tracks.

You know a bear probably

comes and goes from here,

but that's part of the

adventure, right?

Just maybe next part of the

adventure.

I will slow down before going

in and get somebody to check

for bears next time writing

a note.

It's a great plan.

It's a learning experience,

right?

Absolutely out on your first

adventure.

I think that if I notice

this, I'm not sure I want

to point it out to him.

Okay, just why I'm just

like making chit chat.

Okay, got it.

Like I'm thinking I want to

get home.

I don't really think there's

treasure here.

What are we getting into?

So I'm still contemplating

like do I point this out to

him and you like go down the

thing and see there's nothing

there or like he's continuing

to look around.

He hasn't noticed go Thor

and Daryl are just following

behind him.

They're not actually looking

around.

They're just like also in

the same boat given some

time you bizarre would be

able to come across it.

So like we'll say that you're

kind of still at the the face

of trying to figure out like

if in fact the bear tracks

as as Bonwyn saying like

clearly no bears here.

So you haven't made it that

deep in but if you were

to venture in you too would

be able to find it and I

feel like cav.

You're kind of playing

watch right now at the at

the face of the at the

face of the cave benches

there too.

He's having a time he

threatened to you know he

brought up the fact that he

might kill this rich person.

So, you know, he's just

playing a little cool right

now just like squirrels

really really freaked him

out.

He's a real city boy really

freaked him out.

I feel like I would maybe

make eye contact like if

if bizarre seems to be like

noticing it I'll be like

should we yeah like mowing

should we tell him like

bizarre would do the same

thing like look over and be

like pointing at it like

hey everybody I found

something interesting over

here and he's often in a

different corner you go

over and sees like it looks

like some sort of oil can

why would there be an oil

can up here he hands it

to you and it is in fact

and it does sound like

it has some oil in there

but it's like a rusted

they you know picture like

Wizard of Oz like that

kind of like sure yeah

with the long straw kind

of end huh well that is

strange tis tis why would

a bear need an oil can

stiff joints.

Oh touche.

Yep.

I didn't think of that

perhaps the bear has

osteoporosis of some

sort and this is just

something to lube up them

joints.

Maybe while these guys are

having this great meeting

I settle up next to

Bizarre like should we

should we tell him or

should we just go or I

mean the worst thing that

could happen is he goes

down there himself and

then if he doesn't make

it back then that's not

really our fault but I

mean you're right there

could be there could

actually be treasure and

I know you kind of need

that yeah I mean it

would help I've been

giving a lot of rash

reasoning for things to

the mayor recently and I

feel like I kind of need

like something tangible

this time but again I

don't want that to be

anybody else's problem

then if I need to make

something happen I will

I mean we're already

here right.

Yeah.

You know we yeah yeah

we've already I mean the

shop's not opening

today.

Yeah.

Okay.

Oh my goodness I just

noticed something for the

very first time over here.

What is it?

What did you find?

Come come take a look.

Yes.

Oh my goodness.

Look at this.

Look at this everybody

would you get your eyes

on this one.

This is a cave that

goes even deeper into

the mountain.

Oh I'm so excited.

Are we going down there

who's going first?

I can't see the bottom

it seems like it's very

far down there.

Oh I'm just as giddy

as a schoolboy.

Can I see anything

into it?

I do have dark vision

also you know

dwarf I'm good at

caves.

Yeah I mean you're

inspiration when it comes

to caves.

I know what caves do.

Yeah you look down

and as your eyes are

adjusting you don't

really see anything

but then they become

clearer.

About 15 feet down

you see what looks like

a metal cage

that comes into view.

There is look like

some crude handholds

on the wall on the

opposite side.

You could somebody

could reach it

but yeah there's a

there's a there's a cage.

I do have cave

but it's actually called

stone cunning.

So if I made

an intelligence check

about the origin of

stonework I'm proficient

in history.

So like

I would be good at

recognizing if this

was something

something dwarven

or that

that isn't just a

weird creepy one

off cage buried

in the mountains.

Much like Ken's job

is just beach.

Yeah my job is just

cave.

We're finding out so much

about our characters.

Okay is there a role

to that or is it just

a known thing?

It's a history check.

All right well give me

a history check.

Sure okay.

You look down

you you can immediately

sense that this has been

carved not just weather

worn this this

shaft that goes down

into the tunnel

but as soon as you see

the cage itself

like you get a

distinct sense that

this is carved by

human or dwarf

or some some sort

for what looks to be

like a mining cage.

So there could be a

pulley system inside

you don't like

it goes up a ways

to you don't really see

any fixed mechanisms

but there could be something

inside that allows movement

for it.

But yeah that's the sense

you get.

So there is a purpose

not just a weird cage

in a mountain.

Perfect I feel better

already.

I think this

was some kind of mining

operation which would

explain the oil

and so I don't know

if that cage

moves.

I'm not sure how related

this would be to the river

pirates and a treasure.

Perhaps the river pirates

moonlighted as as

miners.

You have to diversify

your income portfolio.

I mean a tough side hustle

mining is a tough side

hustle. But when the river

runs a little lower hard

to get those ships out

maybe they retreat to the

mountains to dig deep

mining season.

Yes.

Yes mining season.

Aha.

Yes.

Pirate in the summer

miner in the winter.

Well because like where do

they go?

Here apparently

not for some time

because of the bears

obviously.

Right. Right.

I'm going to go see if we

brought rope.

I'll be right back.

I mean I definitely have

rope.

Absolutely I have rope.

I don't have rope.

I have a bag of sand.

I don't know why I brought

that.

But you can fashion into

a magical rope.

No I can throw it in

somebody's eyes and run

away.

Oh smart.

Yeah that's really good.

Also it's also really

helpful.

Flying magical

pockets in.

And I said

hey

I said hey

this is the middle.

Welcome to the middle

everybody.

How you doing?

Oh man.

Dang good.

Amy how are you enjoying

Charis's adventure during

this adventure?

Don't speak in specifics

but just vagaries.

What's Charis's mindset?

You know

determined.

Oh I like that.

And adventurous.

OK good.

That's where she's at right

now.

This aligns with the

potential idea I have

in my head of where

Charis slash Alydin is.

So that's perfect.

Love it.

Joke's on you.

I already know.

Excellent.

I can't wait to find out

then.

But we're having a great

time and

we would love for you

to hang out with us

more.

Tom tell them about

Patreon.

Well I pull up a page.

OK.

Easy peasy.

Patreon.com slash

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Get all sorts of cool

stuff when you're there

like a dedication

to a random patron for

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which we'll come back to.

We'll circle back to that

with the face that Russ

made. We're going to circle

right back to it.

You also get the

adventures of which is a

game I run every

you get an episode every

month with Russ

playing a tabaxi

bard named Opal Light

Brightcliffs who is

clinically insane.

Oh yeah sure that too.

And Amy and Carla are

there too all the time

playing different characters

as well.

Night Hunter for Amy

and Elia for Carla

and it's just rule

of cool flies for

that one.

So if it's fun we're going

for it.

So there's a bunch of

episodes of that.

I think we just

tell me more about the

the shout out.

We're going back to the

dedication.

Let's run back.

All right.

So when you're a

Patreon supporter you

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Thanks Tiffany.

Thanks so much Tiffany.

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also a seven day free

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Ross seven day free

trial and when you

continuous month

not three continuous

month three three

months for three

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Yeah consecutive

they don't even need

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You just sign up

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You could dip out

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You get some we

send you some

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That's the word

I'm looking for swag.

I'm so excited that

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The merch is actually

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So what we didn't

tell our patrons on

the gook hang we

had last night

as this is released

is that the merch

is starting to ship.

We've been trying

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working.

We're getting there.

Yes.

Another thing you

get if you're a patron

gook hang which

just means like

you want you to

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Yeah.

Once a month we

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there's a lot of

questions a lot of

people.

There's separate

channels in the

discord.

There's all

sorts of bonus stuff.

So out of all

of those hundreds

of things we just

listed find the

one that you really

like and come for

that.

Yeah.

Because you don't

have to do

everything.

You don't have to

do anything.

No.

We do.

But you don't.

You should do

all the things

but you don't

have to.

Or like pace

yourself because

they're going to

be there.

That's true.

Let's get back

to this adventure

now as we

have filled

enough time.

We did it.

That's right.

And didn't it all

talk about

cyberpunk red.

Oh my God.

Cyberpunk reds

coming around

the bend this

entire time.

I'm sitting

here going I

thought when

are they going

to bring up

cyberpunk?

When did they get

to the fireworks

factory?

It's like a

booster gang or

tearing around

the corner

slinging lead.

You never saw

it come and

here's cyberpunk

red another

new show

coming for you.

It's going to

be great.

Kyle's running

it and then we

can't we can't

wait for you to

hear session

zero be

coming out

this month.

We're just

building characters

and getting

to know the

world and

then we're

jumping into

it and it's

going to be

a blast.

It better be

Kyle.

Definitely.

Oh,

it's going to

be.

I'm so

pumped like

y'all

y'all don't

know.

Okay,

good.

So good.

Okay,

that's the

end of the

middle.

Thanks for

real this

time for

wheels now.

Bye.

Love you.

Bye.

Okay,

I guess

we're going to

go down

there or

who's got

good upper

body strength

that looks

like there

might be a

bit of a rock

climb down.

I don't have

somebody said

upper body

strength.

Yeah,

I've got

this.

I've got

these giant

guns here

and I've

I've made

it less

weird for

myself from

our previous

conversation

so I can

join the

group again

and I've

calmed down

now that

there's a

purpose for

being here.

Yes,

I could

go climb

down into

the cage

if everybody

is wanting

to go

down into

the cage.

I'm curious

what's in

there.

There might

be a

mechanism

or something

that would

lower it

down

deeper or

Okay,

let's

go.

Bench is

going to

roll

athletics.

he's

tall.

He's a

big guy.

He can

reach

across

and grab

the the

handholds

is like

maybe

oh,

hold on

as he

does that

maybe we

just tie

me off.

That's a

great idea.

I was

going to

suggest

I was

just going

to go

for it

because I

did so

well on

that rope

ladder

back at

the audition.

But

maybe

yeah,

I'd

feel more

comfortable

just like

a plummet.

Perfect.

All right.

Okay.

I am

pretty heavy.

So like

maybe

three

or four

of you

holding

the other

side

and then

it would

be good.

Okay,

reaches

out.

She's

tied off.

You're

all bracing

and holding

and he

begins

to move

down

and you

hear his

feet

after he

disappears

out of

you

It's a little

tight

fit.

I don't

okay.

I'm

inside.

I see

here's

what I see.

I see

cage

on the

side.

There's a

big

lever

and there's

a looks

like a

chain

in the

middle

here.

Where does

the chain

go?

Chain

goes

down.

Chain

goes

down.

Oh,

chain

goes

and to

the side.

It looks

this is

the top.

so I

could

I don't

want to pull the

lever yet because I'm

tied to the

rope.

Yeah,

good

good plan.

Is it

rusty?

How's it

seem?

Oh,

well,

yeah,

it's a little

rust like

I haven't

been

she

got it

here.

Yeah,

yeah,

it's

I don't

know what's

going to

happen

if we

pull this

lever,

but like it's

a little

rusty,

but like

I've seen

worse.

Well,

hold on one

second and I

I'm going to

go grab the

oil can and

be like

catch.

Yeah.

Oh,

thanks.

Yeah.

Well,

that that

greased it up.

Does anybody

want to come

down with

me before

I pull this

lever?

Am I just

going to

go by myself?

Well,

is the

room?

It seemed

like you

are pretty

tight in

there bench.

Well,

I'm a

big guy.

Like it's

probably room

for like

four normal

sized

people probably

two other

people with

me.

Okay.

I mean I'm

a lot shorter

than you

and like

you were

skinny too

Bizards.

So like

maybe we

can squeeze

all four

of us in

here.

If you

can make

sure to

catch me

if I

fall,

I'm

fairly

tired and

already,

you know,

not made

for the

the climbing

part.

I'm

likely

to fall

if I

try to

climb

down there.

we'll see

what happens.

Adventure.

I mean,

we'll keep

the rope.

I think

we'll keep

the rope and

then you

can kind of

work down

the rope.

I mean,

you're

I think you're

light.

And your

hand can

catch you.

No.

Why not?

don't

weigh

just

five pounds.

There is

a limitation

to magic.

You

understand

that it's

not

just

the ad.

No,

okay,

of course

not.

No,

I'm

not going

to use

very

simple

spell

to try

to catch

body.

No,

that's

not how

it works.

Okay.

Yeah,

get the

rope ready

and I'll

I'll

go down

first.

Yeah,

we'll

Okay.

There's

there's

enough time

here that

we can

each take

time to

kind of

go down

here without

any

additional

support

or worry

that you're

all going

to fall.

Bench is

ready to

catch you

if you

slip.

We've

got you

tied off

to ropes.

there's

enough

good things

here.

I don't

think we

need a

roll.

assume

we're

talking

four

of us,

obviously

it's going

to be

the four

of us

here

and

Ignatius

can

he had

kind of,

you know,

gone

back and

the bodyguards

were with

him.

I mean he

was going

to send us

anyway,

right?

Yeah,

absolutely.

You

all find

yourselves

tightly

packed

inside of

this

cage

this

mineshaft.

Bench

is like,

okay,

so I

can't

quite

reach

the

lever

anymore.

If you

want to

Luckily you guys have been skipping leg day.

There's kind of

spacious down here.

Yeah,

right.

Yeah.

No,

I've got to

work on that.

I don't

want to

don't want to fall

too far

behind.

All right,

pull the

lever,

Baldwin.

I'm assuming

it's like,

yeah,

like in the middle

of the floor,

like a

yeah,

yeah.

Okay,

cool.

Well,

I'm

gonna

try to

move the

lever

a little

bit.

All right.

Make a

strength

check

for me,

please.

Am I

strong?

I do

work with

heavy

tools all

day.

You do.

You don't have to

be strong to

be strong.

Nat 20.

Damn.

Strong as

shit.

All right.

So yeah,

you go to

move it.

This plays exactly

into my

blacksmithing

muscles.

I really

like a

Rosie the

Riveter

type situation

going on here.

So you

begin to

move the

lever

and so

it's stuck.

It's

a little

greased

and bench is

like,

just

and he

puts a

little more

oil on

it and then

easily.

moves for

you,

which

you hear the

chain

begin to

go like

and you

begin to

descend.

You

pull it

back to

stop

so you

don't

just like

fast

plummet

or anything,

but then

you do

have

control

over it

as you

go.

Okay,

here

we go.

And

you,

Bonwyn

moving

the

lever

begin to

move

down

through

this shaft.

The

chain

going

up behind

you and

is going

into

the side

of this

this mountain,

but this

whole

machine

is going

down.

You

move

down

some

way,

somebody

roll a

survival

who

you think

would be

paying attention

to how

deep

you're

going

if anybody

is actually

paying

attention.

I feel

like if

I'm in

the middle

controlling

the thing,

I can't

even see

anything.

Yeah,

because I'm

surrounded.

So,

not me.

I would be

looking down

just out of

concern of

being in an

old,

rusty

cage.

Yeah, this was a

bad choice

we've made.

We went,

we found an

old,

abandoned mine

cart and

just got in it.

Let's do that.

With that being said,

even just

looking down

and trying to

be like,

am I going to

live or

die in this

thing?

I got a 16

on survival.

Okay,

okay.

And,

Cav,

you're just

along for the

ride right now?

Cav's kind of

looking like

back the

way they came.

Okay.

So,

you're

paying attention to

how deep

you're going.

Bizard

and Cav,

you look

back

up.

You see

Ignatius

pop their

head over

just quickly

and you

scream down,

hey,

you,

you left

without me.

We'll send

the next one

up for you.

Oh,

oh,

okay,

great.

Well,

we'll just

wait here

patiently then.

Hope nothing

exciting happens.

Don't want to

miss out.

His voice is

getting quieter

the further

down you're

going.

Bizard,

you notice

that you've

gone down

or can

roughly

judge that

you've

gone down

about

a hundred

feet

when

the

the shaft

opens up.

It still

continues

go down

into the

mountain,

but opens

up and there

are two

pathways

either side.

Bonwyn,

you see

this as

well,

even though

there's

lots of

legs around

you.

You are

able to

stop it

there if

you want to

take a

look down

either way

or see

if you

can see

anything

down either

way.

Yeah,

definitely,

definitely

going to

stop

here.

Anybody see

anything?

A little too

dark for

me.

Need a

torch.

I have

dark vision.

Russ,

can I

see any?

Yes,

if you have dark vision.

I also have

dark vision.

Okay,

so the two

dark visions

roll

an investigation.

They'll

say left

and right.

Who's

looking left?

Who's

looking right?

Cap's

strong point.

That's a

nine.

Nineteen.

I'll be

looking left.

I'll be

looking right then.

This is my

new favorite die,

and now I've

just jinxed

it by saying

that,

but it's

been rolling

real good.

Okay,

Cav,

you look

down,

and you

can see

just about

to the

end where

there's

like,

it's

dark,

but you

can see

like the

the way

you're

looking

ends

without

much.

You see

like a

loose

tool,

like a

pickaxe

and a

hammer,

but otherwise

nothing

down the

way you're

looking.

Carla,

nothing

for the

first little

ways,

but then

there's

what you

can see

is a

you make

out as

somewhat of a

clearing,

and inside

this clearing

it looks

like there

are

large

wooden

structures.

Well,

there's

definitely

something

down that

way.

It's not a

sign that

says

pirate

treasure,

but it's

something.

I mean,

we should

go look,

right?

Yeah,

that makes

sense.

Okay.

I believe

you.

Did we

bring any

torches?

Bench is

looking through

his bag.

I've got a

candle.

Yeah,

candle,

candle will

work.

Candle's

great.

Yeah,

I can,

I can make a

candle work.

Great.

Here's a,

here's a

candle for

you.

So there's a,

there's a

door on

either side of

this cage.

You get

out and

you're

walking down

and you

make your

way to

this clearing.

Carla,

roll me

2D6,

please.

Uh,

one and

a three.

Okay.

You

enter

this,

this

cavern that

opens up.

There is

another,

on the other

side,

you can see

that there is

what looks like

another shaft,

but in

between all

of that,

there are

wooden and

metal

structures.

They

look like

there may

be,

actually,

roll history

for me

as well.

Oh boy.

Well,

that's

poor.

That's

a four,

because it's

not

cave

history.

I am,

I'm

pretty,

pretty

cave-focused,

knowledge.

Yeah.

Everybody

can go

investigate

these.

I'll do so.

I can

either

roll investigation

history.

We'll

give you

everybody

another

chance there.

You

don't

know what

they are

at first

glance,

but

you

history.

That's

much nicer

for

Cav.

Yeah.

What,

minus

two isn't

good for

you?

It's

not

great.

That's

a 17.

History,

that is

25.

Damn.

We got

that

candle lit.

That's

right.

Now we can

read

these

books,

y'all.

Now he

knows what's

up.

Well,

that's

what you

learn at

Bernhard

Swans.

So you're

going up

to these,

and maybe

it's

just the

the air

down here,

Bonwyn.

It takes

you a

minute,

but as

soon as

you're

able to

also

investigate

these,

like you,

you all

begin to

get it,

but

Blizzard,

you get it

first,

is that

these

large

mining

tools,

like the

closer,

you're

able to

determine

that one

of them

is a

large

auger.

Also

has

rusting

to it.

The

wood

broken

in some

places.

Looks

like they

could be

repaired

repurposed,

but

that's

what you

determine

these

are,

and as

you

work your

way

through,

there

another

shaft.

This

one

has a

ladder

attached

to it.

The

ladder

goes

down

further

into the

mountain,

and the

shaft

continues

and

out.

You can

see

daylight

coming

from

somewhere

higher

in the

mountain,

leading

you to

believe

for

Bonwyn

that this

probably

air vent

of some

sort

that was

created

for

the

mine.

Okay,

well,

the

treasure

could

some

vintage

mining

tools

choose

feel

that

way

about

them,

could

keep

looking.

Is there

anything that you see,

Bonwyn,

that's kind of an

indication as to

what materials

were being

mined

here?

Oh,

great

question.

I should

know that,

or like,

what do you

want me to

roll?

But I am

the,

the

oars

expert.

I would

think if anyone

would know

when the

group

pick up

fragments

iron

and

roll me

a D20,

please.

12.

And there's

like a

glittering,

a glittering

jewel,

like a dust

from a glittering

jewel of

some sort.

You can't

exactly

place it,

because it's

just very

small

fragments,

but looks like

maybe there's

something of

value that

they were also

finding,

along with

just

natural

ore and

iron.

Well,

definitely,

definitely iron,

but I don't

know if you,

if you bring

the candle

over,

you can kind

of see,

it's like,

there's like almost

like mica

or something.

It's slightly

reflective,

which would

lead me to

believe it would

some kind

of jewel

or a

crystal

or something

like that.

I can see

what you're

talking about

there.

Yes.

Yeah,

yeah,

so that's

just micro

particles of,

of that.

So,

I mean,

the mine is

abandoned.

So,

I don't think

we're going to

find,

like,

a truckload

of it,

but

maybe.

Right.

But who

would abandon

their mind

without

taking their

equipment

with them?

Seems like

kind of a

ill-advised

business

decision to

not take

the equipment

you paid

for.

Maybe,

maybe they

left in a

hurry?

Well,

that's

a very

good point

and

makes one

wonder why

they would

leave in a

hurry.

Yeah.

Yeah,

I don't

love that.

You

hear

in,

like,

the,

the ceiling

of this

cavern,

you hear,

like,

a fluttering

noise.

I snuffed

the

candle.

Plunged

into darkness.

Everybody

can see,

except you.

Actually,

Bench can't see.

He's

human too.

I just

don't know

why he

didn't

light a

candle.

He was

just going

with it,

saying,

oh,

everybody

can see,

I can

see too.

Makes

sense.

Typical

Bench.

Yeah.

Everybody

hear that?

They think

there's maybe

the squirrels

following us?

I hope

not.

I don't

think so.

Maybe

wings?

It does

sound like

wings.

Why did

we turn

out the

light?

In case

it draws

the attention

of whatever

is making

that sound.

Okay.

So do we

want to

back

to the

cage,

down

this

he's

pointing the

wrong

direction.

No,

he doesn't

know

where he's

pointing.

Back to

the cage,

down the

ladder,

home.

I'm

willing to

press

forth.

Me too.

Okay.

Me too.

Like,

lazy me

says,

let's

take the

elevator.

Okay.

I'm

gonna

hold on

to your

pack.

For no

particular

reason,

except

to know

where I'm

going.

Okay.

Bazaard,

have you

got,

you got

him?

Okay.

We're

all together.

Okay.

Trying not to

disturb

whatever made

the sound.

Let's do

group's

stealth

roll.

Got to

get at

least two

successes.

Dirty

20.

16.

14.

Okay,

that's three

successes.

Bench

got a

three.

Classic bench.

I just needed

two though.

So you

make your way

back,

hearing a little

bit more of

that

fluttering

sound.

Make your

way back

to the

cage.

Close it

back up.

All right.

Let's

let's go

down.

Let's

see what

we see

down here.

Okay.

Let's

go.

Let's

down.

See

what we

see.

You

continue

down

and

paying

attention to

the

distance

that you've

been

moving.

You can

relight

the

candle now

as you

kind of

leave

this

area.

You

are

about

another

hundred

feet

when the

same

thing

opens

back up

left

and

right.

Looking

to the

right,

you're

able to

make

out that

there's

cave-in.

You

can't

get

much

farther

down

that

way.

Looking

the

left,

you're

able

see that

this

pathway

extends

down

quite

some

ways,

but it

also

looks

like maybe

there's

another

shaft

that

goes

down

further

on that

way.

Looking

down,

it appears

that there's

a mineshaft

cave-in

itself

further

down.

So, if you are

to continue

in this

shaft,

you need to

get out

and go

to the

left.

Okay.

Cave-in

in one

direction.

I can

see down

a ways,

and it doesn't

look like

it's clear

either,

so we

can either

go back

up, or we

can get out

and go

in this

direction,

where I think

there might

be another

shaft down.

What do you

keep going?

I guess

we've gone

this far.

How far

down do we

think we've

gone?

Was it 200

plus feet?

I mean,

pretty far,

I think.

Yeah.

Pretty far.

Okay.

Let's

do it.

You got the

candle,

lizard,

I'll

stick close

to you.

Yep.

I've got it

ready.

Cage door

opens.

Uh,

Kyle,

roll me

2D6,

please.

Okay.

That is a total

of three,

a one

and a two,

of course.

Cause it

couldn't

be anything

else.

Uh,

you're

slowly making

your way

down this

path.

And as

you,

uh,

get to

these,

this next

shaft,

there is a

ladder

sticking up

out of it.

It's a

wooden

ladder.

Looks like

there's a couple

rungs that

have cracked

or broken

from what

you can

see,

but more or

less,

um,

a quick

investigation

of it

is able

to tell

you that

it's

reasonably

sturdy

enough

for you

descend.

Is this,

so we're

gonna go

down

this ladder

that looks like

it goes down

the ways

and I can tell

because I can see

perfectly clear.

And there's

nothing else

in this

room,

right?

You don't see

anything.

Okay.

I feel like

this is,

this is the last one.

We'll go down

here.

It's gotta be.

If there's nothing.

Like,

we gotta

go play act

doing something

for Ignatius

anyway,

right?

So like,

but one last try.

Okay.

You all

one by one,

I'm assuming

the people who can see,

sandwiching the people

who can't see.

That would be the

nice way to do it.

Great.

Not that I wanted to

lead you there,

but that's what we're doing.

Just hold that candle

in your mouth,

you're fine.

You climb

for,

you know,

long,

it taking you longer

to get down to this

next opening.

But as you,

Bonwyn,

get down to this

first side shaft

that opens up,

the ladder does keep

going down

in considerable ways,

farther than you can

really make out.

There is a shaft

that opens up

with what looks like

another shaft down

the other side as well.

And as you

get down

and kind of step out

just to survey the scene,

you turn

and you look

and you see something

skitter across

your vision

towards the shaft

on the other side

of this tunnel

that you've just entered.

Okay.

Skittering thing.

Big, small,

role investigation.

I can tell you.

Maybe.

That was bad.

That was a bad roll.

Ten.

Ten's not bad.

It, you would say,

size of a large dog.

Cool.

But yeah, you can't

really make out

what it is.

Okay.

Not huge,

but not small.

I mean,

if it's a quadruped

and it stood up

on its hind legs,

it's bigger than me.

Oh, okay.

I don't

think that's

treasure.

Agreed.

So I had said

this is our last one.

What do we think?

Yeah, I mean,

I can barely see,

so I'm good

going back up

at this point,

but I'm not going to

leave you behind

if you continue

to go down,

either.

And I mean,

with a big,

strong,

guy like Bench,

I'm sure there's

no fear behind those eyes,

so.

No, yeah,

you can see my eyes

clearly as day.

I feel like I want to save

some energy to make sure

we can get back up.

So I'm happy

if you are all happy

to just

make our way back

to that

cage car.

Absolutely.

Okay, great.

Let's do that.

You all begin

moving back up the ladder.

Bonwyn, as you're

the last one back up,

you hear that skittering

sound off and to the side

once more

as you are

moving back up the ladder.

Cav, you're first up.

You help Bench

followed by a

Bizard.

Bonwyn, as you're about

ready to get up,

you feel a shake

in the ladder

that feels like

something's

either

hit it

or is also

climbing up

it now.

Are you guys

shaking the ladder?

That's really not

really actually

that funny

right now.

Nope, not, not,

not.

I can feel it though.

Okay.

Not one bit.

Okay, here I come.

Double quick time now.

You now hear

scratching on the walls

coming up from

the shaft below.

I assume you're

booking it at this point.

I am going

as fast as I can.

How sturdy

and how connected

is this ladder?

Like, is it something

that if Bonwyn gets up,

I could like

push over

or is it like