EP 11 - "Sanctuary"

[00:00:00] Welcome everyone to another installment of Rift Walkers! As we kick off this episode, we are going to once again roll for Obligation and for Destiny Points, as we do every few episodes instead of every single episode.

[00:00:15] To start off, I rolled a 48 for the Obligation, so no one's Obligation is active this time around, no penalties.

[00:00:22] And then for the Story or Destiny Points, I rolled a Dark Side Point that's added to the GM pool.

[00:00:29] I rolled a Light Side Point for the player pool.

[00:00:31] I rolled a Dark Side Point for the GM pool.

[00:00:33] I rolled one point for the GM pool.

[00:00:35] I rolled one Dark Side Point.

[00:00:37] I rolled one point for the GM pool.

[00:00:39] I rolled two Light Side Points.

[00:00:41] Brett sounded so smug, I rolled two Light Side Points!

[00:00:46] Where we last left the Wolves of Ironwood and their intrepid Expedition.

[00:00:51] They had shipwrecked on the shore of the Reach, a coast north of the Compact Territory on the alien continent of Viridian, after traveling for a month at sea.

[00:01:03] Now, here, after surviving a brutal attack that destroyed one of their ships and took their crew members on the one they were on down to a skeleton crew, they were able to find shelter in a forest for the night.

[00:01:16] Them, their handler Iris, the captain of the ship, and around a dozen crew members.

[00:01:22] Your mounts were also able to escape this ambush, and now, come morning, you're all greeted with aching backs, cramps in your legs and your necks.

[00:01:32] It's very cold, and you're hungry.

[00:01:34] Your mounts are hungry, and it's miles until you reach the Ironwood Fort.

[00:01:39] Just a quick question, did any of our provisions, besides what we had, like our own personal belongings, such as food, were we able to recover any of that from the boat?

[00:01:48] Only what you carried with you as you escaped is what was saved and salvaged.

[00:01:54] So basically, only what Harnor decided to grab before everybody was like, let's ditch this boat.

[00:01:59] That's true, and Finn was like, livestock for food?

[00:02:03] Nah-uh!

[00:02:06] I mean, those sheep might still be alive, just a little roasted.

[00:02:11] That somehow makes it worse.

[00:02:13] That's so bad.

[00:02:14] Well, waking up to this chilly morn, Finn cracks open a flask that he pulls out of his jacket, takes a swig, looks around at everybody.

[00:02:24] Ugh.

[00:02:25] We should get to moving.

[00:02:26] I like to think we're all just staring at you.

[00:02:30] And he will pack up what gear he has left on the ground, and he's gonna start taking a few paces up towards this.

[00:02:39] Like, it was a steady incline upwards, right?

[00:02:42] That went up kind of into the hills.

[00:02:43] Yes, yes.

[00:02:44] The surviving crew of the Tidebreaker and Captain Nereus likewise are getting to their feet, getting their bearings.

[00:02:51] It seems another crew member passed in the night, and so they quickly bury that one and the others that died the night before, if they hadn't been tended to.

[00:03:00] And they're all ready to set off, including Eris.

[00:03:03] Kel will help whoever looks the most injured up onto the backs of the cracks.

[00:03:07] I'll take two people with me on the back of mine.

[00:03:09] Your beast is a little ornery as you mount up and help these other two crew members atop it, as it hasn't had anything to eat in a while, actually.

[00:03:19] Can they eat trail rations?

[00:03:21] No, a Karak cannot.

[00:03:22] You would know that a Karak is strictly carnivorous.

[00:03:25] Okay.

[00:03:25] Are we going to find food on the way, then?

[00:03:27] Or are we just gonna go hungry all day?

[00:03:29] How far is it to the fort?

[00:03:32] Eris, in proximity, is able to kind of just shrug her shoulders and say,

[00:03:36] It is a few miles, at least.

[00:03:38] I cannot say for certain.

[00:03:39] Okay.

[00:03:40] I see.

[00:03:41] Although we are hungry now, we go to the fort first, and then from there, we can hunt, maybe find some...

[00:03:48] I don't know, wild animal or something and have that to eat or find some wild onions, anything.

[00:03:55] But we get to the fort first, have shelter.

[00:03:58] We put the injured people down and we go and find some food for everyone.

[00:04:05] You're operating under the assumption that we're going to get a warm welcome at the fort or no welcome at all.

[00:04:09] Captain Eris, who's standing nearby, kind of nods and shakes his finger in Brett's direction and says,

[00:04:14] Aye, the boy's got a pint.

[00:04:16] Those who attacked us yesterday are still lurking around.

[00:04:19] Chances are they've come near the fort and part or an all.

[00:04:22] I don't think we'll get a particularly warm welcome.

[00:04:25] And we're in no state to fight.

[00:04:26] At least me and me sailors aren't.

[00:04:28] Okay, if that is the case, what if those who are uninjured go scope out the fort?

[00:04:37] And if all is good, we come back.

[00:04:39] It's only a few miles.

[00:04:40] A few miles there, a few miles back.

[00:04:42] We see what we see.

[00:04:43] If it's okay, we go there.

[00:04:45] If not, we go somewhere else and we hunt for food before we leave.

[00:04:49] You know, Kai has not been present for this conversation because she's late to rise with all of her injuries.

[00:04:55] So she's going to awake from her slumber and we'll remove the cloth that was put on her eyes by bread.

[00:05:03] And we'll put that in her breast pocket and we'll arise.

[00:05:07] We'll look around, see what everybody's doing.

[00:05:10] Notice that obviously her vision has been completely...

[00:05:13] Actually, let me ask.

[00:05:14] Has it been completely restored?

[00:05:15] Yes, yes.

[00:05:16] There's still like darkness around the edges and light is an adjutant.

[00:05:20] But for right now, it's getting better.

[00:05:22] Kai is going to gently get back to her feet, kind of taking in her surroundings.

[00:05:26] And we'll go to Tama, who has a saddleback on him and is situated.

[00:05:31] And we'll reach in, noticing that he hasn't eaten and that she hasn't.

[00:05:35] And we'll pull out some of her rations that include some jerky.

[00:05:38] And we'll feed her Karak and herself.

[00:05:41] Who's willing to go with me on a scouting trip?

[00:05:43] I'll go with you.

[00:05:45] I can go as well.

[00:05:46] All right.

[00:05:47] Finn, Bread, Kai, are you going to be okay?

[00:05:50] I don't know where I'll be most needed.

[00:05:52] Iris interjecting a bit, kind of just raising a hand is going to say,

[00:05:55] I don't believe that you six should be separate from each other.

[00:06:00] You are assigned to be the wolves.

[00:06:02] Be the wolves.

[00:06:02] Hunt for us.

[00:06:03] Scout for us.

[00:06:04] Find shelter for us.

[00:06:06] We will put our trust in you and make our way slowly behind.

[00:06:09] Finn gives a resolute nod and already a few paces along the trail.

[00:06:14] We'll look at the others, give them a nod as well.

[00:06:16] And motion to just start trudging along.

[00:06:18] Bread will give Iris like a head to toe, like once over glance.

[00:06:22] Very obviously displeased with her.

[00:06:25] Ryan's shaking his head at me.

[00:06:29] And we'll grab Daisy and mount up.

[00:06:31] Captain Arreus will help his crew members that were saddled up with hell off of her Karak and back onto the ground.

[00:06:38] Okay, everybody ready?

[00:06:40] Now the wolves, the six of us.

[00:06:42] Hexagon pattern.

[00:06:44] Yes.

[00:06:44] We now go out.

[00:06:46] We find food first.

[00:06:48] Everybody say they're very hungry.

[00:06:50] We go.

[00:06:50] I know one or two things about hunting.

[00:06:54] But not many.

[00:06:55] Not many things.

[00:06:56] So if someone else knows how to find rabbit or wild boar for big boar leg dinner, you may take the lead.

[00:07:07] If not, I will go first into the forest.

[00:07:09] Me and mine can scrounge up berries and whatnot on the way to the fort.

[00:07:15] It's more important that you get eyes on that stronghold, lad.

[00:07:18] The boar was for me, for the wolves.

[00:07:22] Wolves eat boar.

[00:07:23] But it's a good idea.

[00:07:24] Yeah, I take that into consideration.

[00:07:26] So everybody, we go to the fort first.

[00:07:29] Yes?

[00:07:30] Okay.

[00:07:30] Very good.

[00:07:31] Let's go.

[00:07:32] And Sorako will kick Nasser, his horse, a little bit, get him to go forward and start leading the way.

[00:07:39] Sorako realizes as he does that, he turns and he sees that Arnor is already going forward.

[00:07:46] And so is Finn.

[00:07:48] Yep, and Kel was right behind Finn.

[00:07:50] So Sorako's at the back of the pack.

[00:07:53] Like, bread will shrug and follow Sorako.

[00:07:56] Yeah, Kai will be at the back of the group.

[00:07:59] Yeah, Ryan, can I say that while we're traveling forward, Kel is looking out for anything that might be meat,

[00:08:05] so any sort of birds or animals that I could potentially feed to my probably grumpy and irritated mouth.

[00:08:11] There's really nothing around without a dedicated spat of time for hunting.

[00:08:15] So the forest is silent as you all ride through it.

[00:08:19] As Finn is riding his horse, he's talking out loud to Zelenia, and he's just chatting as they're strolling through the forest,

[00:08:27] and he's just telling me, Zelenia, does this feel different?

[00:08:31] I told to you.

[00:08:32] The air, the trees.

[00:08:34] And he is going to try to sense if there is anything different about the world as Void interacts with it.

[00:08:42] Just like if he can get any sort of intuitive sense from just where they are.

[00:08:46] Why don't you roll an average Arcana?

[00:08:48] That's too difficult.

[00:08:49] Sweet.

[00:08:51] I'm going to give you one setback because this is altogether unfamiliar.

[00:08:55] Well, guess what?

[00:08:57] I get to remove two setback die from Arcana checks.

[00:09:03] So on Finn's Arcana check to see if anything is amiss or just to get in tune with the world,

[00:09:10] he got four successes and two advantage.

[00:09:12] You know pretty clearly that this place does interact differently with the magics of the world,

[00:09:20] these latent energies.

[00:09:22] You can feel it coursing from each hoofbeat of Zelenia beneath you.

[00:09:27] And with that advantage, I'll say that next time you use your heroic ability,

[00:09:33] it will only cost you one story point.

[00:09:37] Ooh, nice.

[00:09:39] And as he's talking and feeling these things,

[00:09:43] when he stops talking after posing the question,

[00:09:46] he's just quiet for a bit.

[00:09:47] And then he starts nodding his head, his eyes moving around,

[00:09:51] tilting, looking back and forth between the trees.

[00:09:54] And then he starts nodding.

[00:09:55] Yes, I thought so too.

[00:09:57] At the back of the pack,

[00:09:59] Sorako will sidle up next to Kayako and say,

[00:10:03] Lady Kai, how are you feeling?

[00:10:05] Are you recovering from your injuries?

[00:10:08] Please, you don't think a little shot to the arm would keep me down?

[00:10:12] Good as new, and she'll wink at you.

[00:10:14] Glad to hear it.

[00:10:15] I was very worried for your well-being last night when I saw you take a fall.

[00:10:21] Bad.

[00:10:22] But luckily, Brad is very good,

[00:10:25] and he save you with, you know, his skills.

[00:10:30] Special skills, you know?

[00:10:31] Oh, I know.

[00:10:33] But I'm very happy that you are well and good,

[00:10:36] and your arm is still move good.

[00:10:39] You still use a sword and crossbow good.

[00:10:43] And with that, Kai actually wants to try this a little bit.

[00:10:46] Not really giving away to Sorako if she's having big impairments,

[00:10:51] but we'll kind of test by pulling her crossbow from her back to kind of ready it.

[00:10:56] I mean, if you're not interacting with it in a way where you're like loading it or drawing it,

[00:11:01] then I'll say it sits a little uncomfortably in your grip.

[00:11:04] But other than that, you don't feel like that it's any detriment to your ability.

[00:11:08] Okay, cool.

[00:11:10] Yeah, it appears that just as suspected that my recovery has been very quick.

[00:11:15] You know, I owe my life to Brad.

[00:11:18] I'm so grateful.

[00:11:19] And she's going to say this kind of loud so that Brad who's right around them will hear this.

[00:11:30] Does Brad want to get involved?

[00:11:32] Probably not.

[00:11:34] It's very good.

[00:11:35] I'm very happy to hear you say that.

[00:11:38] In that case, because you are so well, then after we get to Fort,

[00:11:42] you can help me go hunt for boar because you have crossbow and I do not.

[00:11:48] So, sound good?

[00:11:49] Sound like a plan?

[00:11:50] And he'll reach over and give you a little pat on your injured arm

[00:11:53] and smile at you and then just go a little bit further ahead.

[00:11:56] She'll give you a toothy smile as she grits her teeth.

[00:12:01] Not a problem at all.

[00:12:09] Sarako puts a little space between him and Kai,

[00:12:12] not exactly leaving her in the dust or anything,

[00:12:15] but enough to signify that his little conversation is concluded.

[00:12:18] With that, Kai is going to pick up where she was hoping to start a conversation with Brad.

[00:12:24] He's getting dragged in whether he wants to or not.

[00:12:28] And so, I assume if Brad is behind Kai,

[00:12:33] that she'll slow down so that she's right next to Brad as much as she can be.

[00:12:37] And she'll reach into her breast pocket

[00:12:40] and will pull out that handkerchief that was around her eyes

[00:12:43] and will say to Brad,

[00:12:45] yours, I believe?

[00:12:46] And we'll hand him the handkerchief.

[00:12:48] Brad will take it, nodding.

[00:12:50] You know, it did come from his supplies.

[00:12:52] I'm glad you're doing better.

[00:12:53] I suppose I should thank you.

[00:12:56] You don't have to.

[00:12:56] No, I want to.

[00:12:59] Really, I could have died last night.

[00:13:01] You're effectively my savior.

[00:13:03] Thank you so much.

[00:13:04] Two questions.

[00:13:05] Is this sincere?

[00:13:09] I don't know.

[00:13:11] You say, you say.

[00:13:12] What do you think?

[00:13:13] What do you think is Brad?

[00:13:15] Yeah, there's no dice rolls between players.

[00:13:17] Oh no!

[00:13:18] Okay.

[00:13:19] I think she sounds very sincere to Brad,

[00:13:21] but he's a little,

[00:13:22] he's aware that Kai is playing the game.

[00:13:26] But I think also,

[00:13:27] in exchange of that,

[00:13:28] it would be very evident to Kai

[00:13:30] that being called a savior

[00:13:32] does not sit well on Brad.

[00:13:34] Like, that compliment

[00:13:35] really does not,

[00:13:37] he sort of prickles at it.

[00:13:39] Like, it's like,

[00:13:39] no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

[00:13:40] That's not true.

[00:13:41] Like, he refuses to accept that

[00:13:43] that could be reality.

[00:13:44] It makes him very uncomfortable.

[00:13:45] But he'll just smile back very awkwardly.

[00:13:48] With this reaction,

[00:13:50] Kai is going to lean into it a little more.

[00:13:52] I mean, you're so,

[00:13:54] you're so humble with your abilities.

[00:13:57] I, from the bottom of my heart,

[00:13:59] I, I'm sorry.

[00:14:01] I want to thank you.

[00:14:03] All right, the waterworks

[00:14:04] aren't going to convince anyone.

[00:14:06] I'm sorry, beg your pardon?

[00:14:08] Oh, there we go.

[00:14:08] Right back to normal.

[00:14:10] As she wipes away her tears.

[00:14:13] I'm just kidding.

[00:14:15] Let me just say this.

[00:14:16] I'm glad you're alive.

[00:14:18] I'm glad I could help you.

[00:14:19] I have a skill that's useful.

[00:14:21] I'm glad that it's being used.

[00:14:22] We'll say that.

[00:14:23] I also think that you might get

[00:14:24] a lot farther

[00:14:25] in this group of people

[00:14:26] being straightforward,

[00:14:28] not trying to run so many circles

[00:14:29] around us all.

[00:14:32] Finn was right.

[00:14:34] You are heartless.

[00:14:35] And she'll actually start galloping

[00:14:37] a little faster

[00:14:38] in front of you.

[00:14:44] I think Bread will, like,

[00:14:46] wince at this,

[00:14:47] but also he feels

[00:14:48] a little vindicated

[00:14:49] that he was correct

[00:14:50] about this angle of Kais.

[00:14:52] Well, was he?

[00:14:53] Was he?

[00:14:54] He's pretty sure that he was.

[00:14:55] Dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun.

[00:15:01] With a swift walk

[00:15:03] for a little under an hour,

[00:15:05] your group is able to make it

[00:15:06] out of this forest

[00:15:07] and into more of a highlands

[00:15:10] as you approach

[00:15:11] what you believe to be

[00:15:13] the area that the fort

[00:15:15] should be situated at.

[00:15:16] You go up a small array

[00:15:18] of switchback trails

[00:15:20] going up some

[00:15:21] not-so-steep hills

[00:15:22] that lead up to more of a table land that's mostly shrub and rock.

[00:15:27] And it's here that in the near distance,

[00:15:29] you have a clear vantage point of the Ironwood Company's fort in the Reach.

[00:15:35] It seems to be a simple keep surrounded by some dilapidated walls.

[00:15:39] There's four towers, one for each kind of corner of this square fort.

[00:15:44] The sides of the walls are in a state of awful disrepair.

[00:15:49] The stone is crumbling.

[00:15:50] There's this sort of amber lichen creeping up the side,

[00:15:55] mossy protrusions from where nature has had its way with this building

[00:16:00] over however long it's been abandoned for.

[00:16:02] And just at a cursory glance from this distance,

[00:16:05] it doesn't look like anyone's home.

[00:16:07] Well, this seems to be a good sign.

[00:16:09] Doesn't seem like anyone's home.

[00:16:11] Seems being the operative word.

[00:16:13] Yes, I assumed whoever attacked us knew who we were,

[00:16:18] or at least for who we weren't.

[00:16:19] They could probably presume this fort was our target.

[00:16:23] I would not necessarily be gallivanting around picking daisies outside

[00:16:28] if I knew someone were still going to try to visit.

[00:16:31] That's why I used the word seams.

[00:16:33] We will continue to be careful.

[00:16:35] Does it appear that aside from the obvious way to enter,

[00:16:39] there is a potential alternative path or paths to get close?

[00:16:45] The little fort itself is situated on this just rocky little mesa.

[00:16:51] Not very big, but there is this kind of stairway that goes along one end

[00:16:56] and then works its way to the front where there's a proper gate.

[00:16:59] But then beneath that stairway at the ground level,

[00:17:01] there is what seems to be like a postern gate

[00:17:03] where the remnants of some kind of long forgotten camp also sit.

[00:17:07] And that gate seems to have been smashed open.

[00:17:10] To maintain some discretion,

[00:17:13] we could try that secondary gate there at the base.

[00:17:17] Okay, then Finn, Kel, if you would like to lead the way,

[00:17:22] please, by all means.

[00:17:24] Arnor, you want to come with us?

[00:17:25] I'm planning on it.

[00:17:27] All right.

[00:17:27] Finn will motion for Kel and Arnor to go ahead of him.

[00:17:32] If there are any others who would like to go ahead of him,

[00:17:35] he will happily let others go first,

[00:17:37] but he will still turn and follow them

[00:17:39] if no one else asserts themselves in front of him.

[00:17:41] Do we want to be on our mounts?

[00:17:44] They are a bit more noticeable than a person,

[00:17:46] but they also provide a faster getaway if need be.

[00:17:50] That's what I was thinking too.

[00:17:51] Is there any way to approach to not be seen?

[00:17:53] It's pretty open, so probably not.

[00:17:56] Kai, as they're talking amongst each other,

[00:17:58] should they go in on their mounts, should they not?

[00:18:00] Has already dismounted and has given some silent whistle commands

[00:18:05] to Tama to stay where he's at

[00:18:07] and will approach with her crossbow.

[00:18:10] I think Kel will get off too,

[00:18:11] because my crack's pretty big,

[00:18:13] so I'll get off as well and go on foot also.

[00:18:16] Finn leaves his horse there as well,

[00:18:18] just assuming by foot will be a potential way

[00:18:21] to avoid too much visibility if no one's looking

[00:18:23] and leave Zelenya next to the cracks.

[00:18:27] Well, if we're all leaving our horses,

[00:18:28] we'll follow suit.

[00:18:30] It looks like on foot it is.

[00:18:32] And then Arnor will start making his way towards the fort.

[00:18:35] As you all stalk toward the keep,

[00:18:38] it's a little ways, a couple minutes walk as you approach,

[00:18:41] and coming upon the fields right below the keep itself,

[00:18:44] where this discarded camp is,

[00:18:47] you see that these tents and wooden mechanisms

[00:18:51] are rotted away.

[00:18:54] They are decades old at least,

[00:18:57] and it doesn't look like anyone set foot here in a long while.

[00:19:00] There are prints around the base of the keep

[00:19:04] and going through this camp,

[00:19:05] but they seem to be too small for humans.

[00:19:08] They seem to be animal prints.

[00:19:10] Some of them hooved, some of them paws.

[00:19:12] Kai is going to be on her guard,

[00:19:13] even though she's probably one of the last people to enter.

[00:19:16] Does she notice any traps or anything rigged or anything like that?

[00:19:22] Nothing springs and kills the people in front of you.

[00:19:25] Oh, good.

[00:19:26] Yeah.

[00:19:27] That's how Kai checks for traps.

[00:19:29] Send other people in front.

[00:19:31] Oh, what a shame.

[00:19:35] So you all are making your way through the posturing gate and inside then?

[00:19:38] Yes.

[00:19:39] I think once they get through the gate,

[00:19:40] Kel's going to pull her greatsword out just to hold it in her hand,

[00:19:44] just in case something happens.

[00:19:45] With your weapon drawn moving forward,

[00:19:48] this passage is cramped,

[00:19:50] and it's dark and it's moist.

[00:19:52] You can hear water dripping.

[00:19:54] And moving inside from the scant sunlight that is able to reach this far,

[00:19:58] you can make out the trappings of some kind of cellar or storage area.

[00:20:05] There are large wooden lattice shelves that would normally hold barrels or such,

[00:20:10] but they are bare.

[00:20:11] Most of them collapsed or, again, rotting away.

[00:20:14] Not drawing his weapon, but instead opting for a lantern.

[00:20:18] Finn will take that out, light it, just to provide a little bit more visibility.

[00:20:22] You mark that there are a few different scattered piles of rubbish and rubble and what have you.

[00:20:27] There are some other passages leading out from this central cellar area into what looks like

[00:20:33] secondary storage, maybe even some kind of dungeon.

[00:20:37] But the doors leading to those areas have been broken down.

[00:20:41] And even peeking into this, what might be a holding cellar, a dungeon area,

[00:20:45] the bars are rusted and bent.

[00:20:49] You could probably break them with a hand.

[00:20:52] There is a stone staircase leading up into the keep proper.

[00:20:55] And still no, like, sounds of anything.

[00:20:58] Nope, just dripping water and some distant bird calls.

[00:21:02] Perhaps we are alone.

[00:21:03] Then what was shooting at us?

[00:21:05] People who are not here.

[00:21:08] I think Brett just sort of like,

[00:21:10] alright, we have infallible logic.

[00:21:12] Like, honestly, I have nothing to say to that.

[00:21:14] It's the case that Brett makes.

[00:21:18] You know what, Finn?

[00:21:19] You're not wrong.

[00:21:22] Kai isn't going to trust this assessment and will actually walk backwards with their crossbow ready

[00:21:28] just to make sure nobody's behind them, following them.

[00:21:32] So then with this party moving up into the keep,

[00:21:35] the light from open windows and arrow slits,

[00:21:39] I wouldn't say makes the lantern redundant.

[00:21:41] You should definitely still have the lantern on,

[00:21:43] but you can see a lot more than you could in the underground area.

[00:21:46] This main hall that you come up in after worming through a few passages,

[00:21:51] avoiding a collapsed corridor here and there,

[00:21:54] seems to have been where some sort of honor hall or a mess.

[00:21:58] There is, again, just piles of rubbish and rubble,

[00:22:03] wooden and stone scattered about.

[00:22:05] A thick layer of dust that seems to be mostly undisturbed,

[00:22:10] save for, again, some small hoof or paw prints.

[00:22:13] How many exits do we see out of this area?

[00:22:16] In this main hall, there's a large set of doors that you presume would lead into a central courtyard,

[00:22:21] and then there are a few other passageways, the majority of them blocked off.

[00:22:26] Though in one corner, judging from what you saw on the outside,

[00:22:29] there is a passage that leads to a tower that might go to a second or third floor,

[00:22:34] a winding staircase just behind.

[00:22:36] And we're not seeing any bodies or anything.

[00:22:37] Like, it just looks like this place has been, like, ransacked and abandoned, right?

[00:22:41] Yeah, like 50 to 100 years ago.

[00:22:43] All right.

[00:22:43] To be quite frank, if I were those bandits who attacked us,

[00:22:48] I probably would not choose this as a stronghold either.

[00:22:51] It is possible that the bandits who attack us do not even know this place exists.

[00:22:58] The captain say it was abandoned many, many years ago.

[00:23:03] So, if I am bandit and I start banditry maybe one year ago,

[00:23:10] I do not know about abandoned fort in the middle of the woods.

[00:23:13] You understand?

[00:23:14] So, based on this, the only people who know this is here is us,

[00:23:19] and, pointing down to some of the paw prints,

[00:23:22] perhaps even our dinner.

[00:23:25] But, aside from that, I think it's okay.

[00:23:28] The thing about it that seems strange to me is that it would be far more profitable

[00:23:31] for anybody coming to Viridian to be anywhere but here.

[00:23:35] So, why are there people here at all?

[00:23:37] Assuming they're people.

[00:23:38] You look at me like I have some answer.

[00:23:40] I have no idea who these people are.

[00:23:44] I don't even know we're supposed to get attacked on the beach.

[00:23:49] So, well, we're not supposed to get attacked on the beach.

[00:23:52] So, if you had known and you hadn't told us,

[00:23:54] that would be another matter, wouldn't it?

[00:23:55] I do not know why you take this tone with me.

[00:24:00] I'm just saying I do not have answer,

[00:24:03] and you say, oh, sarako, if you traitor,

[00:24:07] that's very bad.

[00:24:09] It's very bad and we have problem.

[00:24:11] Okay?

[00:24:12] But I'm not traitor.

[00:24:13] I just say I have no idea we're supposed to get attacked.

[00:24:17] I think Brett genuinely laughs at this.

[00:24:20] I think this is the breaking point for Brett.

[00:24:23] It's like the last few days have been so, like, horse shit,

[00:24:27] and this is actually funny.

[00:24:29] He just starts laughing.

[00:24:34] Obviously, we do not have all the answers,

[00:24:36] but as Korvac had mentioned,

[00:24:40] there are stuff he said we were not ready for.

[00:24:42] So, perhaps there are other reasons unbeknownst to us

[00:24:45] for people to be here.

[00:24:47] It's true.

[00:24:49] This is an entirely foreign continent,

[00:24:52] surely rife with culture and...

[00:24:56] beasts of many kind.

[00:24:58] Although, we should finish exploring,

[00:25:01] and I think Sarako had a point.

[00:25:03] This could prove useful to catch some food for us and the injured when they arrive.

[00:25:09] I guess the real question is, do we break off into teams,

[00:25:12] or do we explore as one big unit?

[00:25:14] It did not seem so large a fortress from the outside that we could not stay together and clear it in an hour or so.

[00:25:23] To my eye, at least.

[00:25:25] Perhaps best for now, while it is still unknown.

[00:25:28] Well, maybe we should clear these other rooms then,

[00:25:31] just to be sure there's no one else lurking in here.

[00:25:33] And then maybe get this place ready for when the injured show up,

[00:25:36] because they're going to need a place to rest for the night.

[00:25:38] As the lot of you start trekking it through this little fort here,

[00:25:44] you are able to clear the first floor of this keep,

[00:25:48] at least maybe 60-70% of it.

[00:25:51] There are some rooms that are blocked off by heavy debris

[00:25:55] that would take much longer and much more manpower to move

[00:25:58] than you have currently available.

[00:26:00] Upstairs, as you head up these spiral staircases in one of the towers,

[00:26:04] and then head on to the second floor,

[00:26:06] you find that there are some different rooms set aside

[00:26:10] that seem to be general purpose.

[00:26:12] But there do seem to be some planning rooms,

[00:26:15] maybe an archive or a library of sorts.

[00:26:18] There's definitely a room that has an abundance of paper scrap and wooden rubbish.

[00:26:23] And then moving up to the top floor,

[00:26:26] there are just two simple wings here.

[00:26:28] One side and then the other,

[00:26:30] each containing this one hallway,

[00:26:32] and then split off little seven individual areas.

[00:26:36] As you head up to that third floor

[00:26:38] and make this discovery of these hallways and rooms,

[00:26:40] heading off on the left side,

[00:26:42] most of those rooms are exposed.

[00:26:45] The roof is collapsed and it's just open air.

[00:26:49] You find some empty bird nests and not much of use.

[00:26:53] However, on the other side,

[00:26:54] those rooms seem to be intact,

[00:26:56] at least the six that line the hallway.

[00:26:59] And the seventh at the terminal end has an anomaly.

[00:27:03] And that there is a door in slightly better condition

[00:27:07] than the other doors you've seen around here.

[00:27:10] And it is firmly locked.

[00:27:12] Do we know it's locked because we tried opening it and it...

[00:27:15] Yes, yes.

[00:27:17] As opposed to having one of those large cartoon keyholes on the center of it.

[00:27:22] As I was hoping.

[00:27:23] And then when you click on it,

[00:27:25] it makes just like a...

[00:27:28] I see.

[00:27:30] That was an uncanny representation.

[00:27:32] That was perfect.

[00:27:35] You have future in fully, Ryan.

[00:27:37] Does the keyhole look like it's big enough for me to get

[00:27:39] like the tip of my sword into?

[00:27:41] Like if I have to try and break the lock?

[00:27:42] Or is it too small?

[00:27:44] It might be possible,

[00:27:45] but you've got a big sword.

[00:27:47] You'd find that dexterous kind of task difficult with what you have.

[00:27:51] As we're all standing there,

[00:27:52] kind of plinkering around with this locked door,

[00:27:54] Finn will look back out down the hallway.

[00:27:57] Is there any window or I guess broken part of the wall

[00:28:01] that he can see outside is kind of like what part of day it is?

[00:28:03] You trekked well through the morning

[00:28:05] and you arrived probably around noontime

[00:28:08] and you've been exploring for the past little over an hour.

[00:28:10] Just from that bearing too,

[00:28:11] you know that the rest of the injured,

[00:28:14] Captain Arreus and Iris and the crew,

[00:28:17] should arrive in maybe a half hour to an hour.

[00:28:20] Looking at the rest of the party in the room,

[00:28:22] Finn will say,

[00:28:23] I am as curious as the next person here

[00:28:27] what is beyond that door,

[00:28:28] but I do think we should do some preparations.

[00:28:32] The injured, the others will be here soon.

[00:28:35] We should likely have some food and rooms prepared.

[00:28:40] Yeah, I was going to ask Ryan,

[00:28:41] any of these rooms that we passed on the way up to this top floor,

[00:28:44] did any of them look like they could be used

[00:28:47] as like a pseudo medwing or a bedroom?

[00:28:49] Like was there enough space for us to clear tables or chairs

[00:28:52] or something out of the way to put like bedrolls down?

[00:28:54] You can clear the junk, yeah.

[00:28:56] Is it safe to leave this room locked like this?

[00:28:58] It's not hurting us right now.

[00:29:00] Right now?

[00:29:01] I say if we leave this room locked,

[00:29:04] it is like you leave a snake alone in your bedrooms.

[00:29:09] You say it not hurt us now,

[00:29:12] but when snake is hungry and come and bite your toe,

[00:29:18] then you sing different bird song.

[00:29:21] So I think we open door first,

[00:29:25] see what is inside.

[00:29:27] Perhaps it's nothing.

[00:29:28] Perhaps it's hot bath.

[00:29:30] That would be wonderful.

[00:29:32] I think bread breaks down laughing again.

[00:29:36] It's too funny.

[00:29:39] Okay.

[00:29:40] Sirocco, to appease your curiosity,

[00:29:43] I will just say it.

[00:29:46] I think I am most well equipped to open this lock here.

[00:29:49] If you would like to stay with me

[00:29:51] to provide some level of protection from the snake

[00:29:54] that will erupt out of the hole

[00:29:57] as soon as the door is open,

[00:29:59] I would appreciate your protection.

[00:30:01] But I still think we need to have some people

[00:30:04] getting things ready.

[00:30:06] Okay, okay.

[00:30:07] I can go get things ready.

[00:30:08] I don't mind doing that.

[00:30:09] I just don't want to leave one room left alone.

[00:30:12] I was going to say,

[00:30:13] is it possible to do like an arcana check on this door

[00:30:16] to see if there's anything magical about it?

[00:30:18] No.

[00:30:19] Okay, well, fuck me then, I guess.

[00:30:21] Never mind.

[00:30:24] When this door blows up, it blows up,

[00:30:26] just like episode one.

[00:30:27] That's fine.

[00:30:28] Let me clarify.

[00:30:29] Let me clarify for so we don't just leave Allie's thing.

[00:30:34] Arcana here isn't in the same way of like D&D

[00:30:38] where it's like,

[00:30:39] oh, what kind of school of magic is this?

[00:30:41] And what is this?

[00:30:41] This, yes, does encompass like a sensing of a magical effect,

[00:30:44] but it's a little more esoteric than that

[00:30:46] just because magic as it is currently known

[00:30:49] is a little more esoteric than that.

[00:30:52] So arcana in this sense, in and of itself,

[00:30:54] you'd have to actually be observing something

[00:30:57] to use that skill, I'd say.

[00:30:59] Yeah, no worries.

[00:31:00] Or at least having a feeling

[00:31:02] or being in the midst of something.

[00:31:05] Like if you saw some kind of void contraption

[00:31:07] or you saw some kind of void spell going on,

[00:31:11] then you could say,

[00:31:12] oh, I want to figure out what's going on.

[00:31:14] Arcana would be the thing to go.

[00:31:15] But it's not just like a detect magic skill.

[00:31:18] Gotcha.

[00:31:19] Okay.

[00:31:20] So it's settled.

[00:31:22] I stay with Finn.

[00:31:24] Finn, you open door.

[00:31:26] I have sword ready for Snake

[00:31:28] and everybody else go make table ready

[00:31:31] for the wounded and bleeding.

[00:31:34] Finn, how long do you think this will even take?

[00:31:37] I feel like this is a pretty mundane task.

[00:31:39] You seem very confident.

[00:31:41] As Arnor is talking.

[00:31:43] Oh no.

[00:31:45] Finn has been rummaging through his handy dandy satchel,

[00:31:49] picking out a few pieces of, you know,

[00:31:52] rusty bits of nail and whatnot

[00:31:53] and throwing them together.

[00:31:55] But he does have several just amongst his own tools,

[00:31:58] good bits of steel that he's working together.

[00:32:00] He's trying to invent a suitable replacement for the key.

[00:32:04] All right, then you need to do a daunting mechanics.

[00:32:11] Great.

[00:32:12] Bum, bum, bum.

[00:32:14] He's going to activate his special ability

[00:32:17] using that one story point.

[00:32:20] I'm going to saddle you though with a setback

[00:32:23] because there is no like outwardly discernible mechanism for this.

[00:32:28] I do get one boost die, however,

[00:32:30] from my inventor talent, which says add one boost die

[00:32:33] when constructing or modifying items.

[00:32:35] You can attempt to reconstruct items never seen,

[00:32:37] but I've heard described.

[00:32:39] He knows what a key is.

[00:32:42] Indebatable.

[00:32:43] Special power.

[00:32:45] All right.

[00:32:47] Cool, cool, cool, cool.

[00:32:48] So activating his heroic ability,

[00:32:52] Hands of the Ancients,

[00:32:53] he is going to attempt to do this here, Tingy.

[00:32:58] Oh, on Finn's mechanics check,

[00:33:01] I rolled one success and two threat.

[00:33:04] However, negating one of the purple die with the two threat,

[00:33:08] he will just have rolled a single success.

[00:33:10] Awesome.

[00:33:11] Then in that case,

[00:33:12] as you construct this kind of jury rigged key,

[00:33:17] insert it, it twists, clicks,

[00:33:19] and the door opens,

[00:33:21] you hear this hiss.

[00:33:23] Snake.

[00:33:24] No way.

[00:33:25] Are you kidding me?

[00:33:26] No freaking way.

[00:33:28] And it's a snake.

[00:33:31] King Cobra.

[00:33:33] No.

[00:33:34] It is, to Finn's ears,

[00:33:36] definitely mechanical in nature.

[00:33:37] And as the door opens,

[00:33:38] you see just enough,

[00:33:40] this kind of brass contraption

[00:33:42] on the terminal side of the room

[00:33:44] as cranks begin turning

[00:33:46] and this little ampoule of purple fluid

[00:33:50] starts draining.

[00:33:51] Okay.