We begin out journey on the briny sea with our three heroes: Ukhaz, Anep, and Bale. The crew enjoy each other's company before they encounter some folk looking to get back something that was taken from them... did the crew take it? You'll have to keep listening to find out! Also, there is a delightful party to cap everything off!
Brendis, Viatrix, and Orello start their day with a surprise before heading off into the desert to find a book. And they fight a god in there, somewhere.
The dream team is back, baby!! This is the set-up episode for Series VI, which I'm calling The Sons of Arahallin. For a change of pace, I (Nathan, that is) will be putting Ryan, JD, and Zach through the ringer in a series of boss battles as they rip through the lineage of the cyclopean king Arahallin.
Maybe-temporary music: “Walking in the Shadows” by “GO” Saito & Masae Saikade for the Lagoon OST
Finally meeting Ypsilanti face-to-face, our party hopes to finally achieve what they set out to do. But it's not as easy as they'd hoped.
After passing successfully through the mirror passage, Omid, Row, and Gashana have reached the innermost sanctum of Ypsilanti. But to explore it they first must survive a fight with its guardian when they're already weak.
We use Jason Cordova's Labyrinth Move (of Gauntlet fame; link incoming) to construct a session where our heroes explore the magical portal they figured out in the last chapter. They travel across great distances, but push through to get closer to the heart of the Dimansion... and to Ypsilanti's most private space.
Confronted with an unknown contraption, but with sure-footed confidence in their direction, our party shakes off the fear of what came before. Together, they tackle a tower of violet light as friends that have been through hell but still hope to emerge on the other side.
Gashana starts a firefight, Omid watches too much pro wrestling, and Row tries to keep things together. When the way forward seems obscured by illusion, what else is there to do but play your own games of light and shadow?
Faced with the crumbling facade of the Dimansion, our heroes decide to push forward one way or another. Though no path in this place meanders without intrigue and obstacle.
The crew meet Ypsilanti's apprentice and obtain the first real insight into how to progress toward their goal. Unfortunately for them, the facade of the Dimansion begins to unravel and the portents get very grim indeed.
Gashana, Omid, and Row sit down to dinner where the conversation gets a little personal. Then they get some much needed rest before deciding on their next course of action.
Row, Gashana, and Omid make their first steps in the halls of Ypsilanti's home, marked by a hospitable greeting and a hostile meeting.
Gashana, Row, and Omid play shadow puppet theater as they puzzle over how they can enter the Dimansion itself.
Omid, Gashana, and Row continue to explore Ypsilanti's domain as well as their trust in each other.
Our heroes undertake a perilous journey from the rocky coasts of their heist to the riverlands where they seek Ypsilanti's Dimansion. The locals are not pleased at their arrival.
Apologies for the audio in this episode. We had a problem with our setup during this recording that we did not realize until much later. I'm labeling this Chapter 0 because, while it establishes details that will return later, it can be skipped with regards to the main adventure if the audio problems are an issue. I will provide a summary in the comments of the episode (and eventually plan to have a full transcript). I hope the issues aren't too distracting, though, because while it might stand alone as a subsection of this adventure I honestly believe this episode is very strong in content and character development. Please give it a shot.
Our heroes need to steal a book in order to enter the Dimansion. Naturally, all other books are just getting in the way.
There is no two ways about this: blood is spilt, much is sacrificed, and our heroes are pushed beyond their limits. Some folks might call this episode a final battle. Let's see who makes it out alive and un-bwaped.
The gang begin trying to assemble the Tusk to try and exit through the lower depths of the tower. Amar is forced to show his leadership, Kile works in perfect tandem with her companions, and Sanagar gets a splitting headache...
Amar has to enter diplomatic negotiations with the leader of the tusk of sorrow while the others lay in wait. There is blood drawn, moves met, and a custom move that determines the fate of the gang.
The gang makes their way out of the deep depths of Avtale's tribute room and into tower proper. Amar blazes the path forward as Kile and Sanagar are forced to use sneakier techniques. We learn more about the tusk, its people, and the hopeful role Amar will play in changing their fate.