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Runtime Break start 4h 39m 1h 44m
Episode 109: A Test of Fate
After heading back into the Fey Realm to thwart a meeting between Ludinus Da’leth, the Sorrowlord Zathuda, and the Unseelie Court (which had been strangely absent in the goings on of the Ruby Vanguard), you managed to (one-by-one) take out their guard, assault the entire Unseelie crew, and brought down the entire abandoned temple of the Arch Heart.
Afterwards you were beckoned to a meeting with the Arch Heart (brought into their realm) where they expressed an interest in your path and a unique perspective on the current events happening in Exandria. After sharing this with you, they also implored you to speak to what you seem to imagine as the Matron of Ravens of a similar swapping of thoughts.
You then took your captives, or tried to, as they rapidly attempted to escape. Dragged them back, mostly alive, other than the Sorrowlord (who was slain in his attempt to get out of your grasp) and rode back with the aid of Gloamglut (which was mourning the loss of its master), Nanna Morri in her transformed state, and your (Dorian) summoned mount. There, the Sorrowlord Zathuda (Fearne’s biological father, and with her permission) whose corpse was taken to The Loom underneath Ligament Manor, where it was turned into furniture. Furniture that keeps his essence within it (which allowed you to have an extended conversation with his stretched fleshy face against a hexagonal frame, gaining maybe some dark closure or at the very least gathering some more information about some of the ‘behind the scenes’ of the Vanguard, and a hint to move more quickly than the window of time previously alotted.
You went to rest for the evening. Fearne and Ashton clambered to the rooftop garden of the Manor released Gloamglut from his bindings, and convinced the dragon to allow you to curl up with it for the evening. The three of you fell asleep and a night of rest after a very long and arduous day. With that the morning eventually greets all of you. The absence of Fearne and Ashton within the guest chambers marks your attention, but expecting an evening with the dragon was discussed. Meanwhile, Fearne, you and Ashton both awaken to the sound of the deep breathy slumber of Gloamglut. A chest expanding beneath you, like a massive scaled Totoro.
Previous Episode: “Looming”
♪Episode Song References♪
ᕕ( ᐛ)ᕗ
- 00:50:33 Wham! - Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
- 02:40:38 ♪got it goin’ on♪ Fountains of Wayne - Stacy’s Mom
- 02:41:22 ♪dex, aaah♪ Queen - Flash Gordon
- 02:46:31 “You know where you are?” Guns N’ Roses - Welcome to the Jungle
- 02:49:39 The Ramones - Spider-man
- 02:56:22 Julius Fucik - Entry of the Gladiators
- 03:07:49 ♪Too many smites♪ Adult Swim - Too Many Cooks
- 03:10:19 “45” Cornershop - Brimful of Asha
- 03:18:56 ♪beepeep oo-beep♪ Cream - Sunshine of Your Love
- 03:21:13 “oh shit” Fergie - London Bridge
- 03:30:08 Lady Gaga - Edge of Glory
- 03:34:56 Lady Gaga - Edge of Glory again
- 03:56:24 …and again
- 04:02:03 Tony Orlando - Knock Three Times
- 04:04:17 [DMX - Party Up (Up in Here)]*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwrrMudgGR4)
- 04:39:03 Adult Swim - Too Many Cooks again
Highlights
- 00:16:36 Fearne’s attempt at a Gloamglut bark.
- 00:18:07 Taliesin:“We are not “Henderson”-ing this dragon.”
Matt:“We are going to “Mac and Me” this dragon.”
Fearne:“Go. Spread your legs.” - 00:21:43 DJ Nanna Morri on the orbs
- 00:22:59 Matt:“For the first time, you see the second mouth smile.”
Travis:“Is it wearing lipstick.”
Matt:“No. Not anymore.” - 00:23:40 Imogen:“Those rooms could’ve been soundpoof it you wanted them to, Nanna.”
Braius:“We were in multiple rooms simultaneously.”
NM:“It’s amazing what you can do with magical doorways.”
Robbie:“Quantum coitus.”
Laura:“Oh! I’m stuck!”
Matt:“It’s like the Portal Room 34.” - 00:25:58 Can’t split the check on Nanna Morri
- 00:27:27 Pesky Little Time Dilation
- 00:27:48 “about the…matronofravens?”
- 00:31:00 Beep
- 00:31:44 NM:“The leylines were here before the gods ever arrived, as were aspects of the fey…”
- 00:33:45 Ollie:“…those Marquesian pastries with the little dried berries in there.”
- 00:35:48 Ollie:“Y’all keep her safe, or Morri’s gonna turn ya inside-out.”
NM:“It’s true! I will.” - 00:37:17 A little beer-bongage with Zaddy’s Sword and the Funnel Vest
Matt:“Quintessence Array, out!” - 00:37:53 Marisha:“San-Fey-nando valley.”
- 00:39:16 "The blade is called Dusk Hunger, the Blade of the Black Flame.
- 00:42:05 Braius:“We should make a ‘Suck List’.”
Ashton:“We could just ‘powder’ it and throw it in you.” - 00:44:20 Ashton:“I have my pipe, but I’m not giving that up.”
- 00:45:32 Orym:“And I can grow back a severed arm, finger, or peepee.”
- 00:49:39 Dorian absorbs the Harp through the Bong, giving advantage on performace checks and gets +5HP permanently, plus a bonus until next long rest giving advantage on attacks, saves, and checks.
- 00:50:18 Liam:“Let’s find all of Matt’s best NPCs and eat them.”
Travis:“We started out so idealistic.”
Robbie:“Sorry, gotta kill the gods.” - 00:51:48 Chetney:“Gotta get the resin.”
- 00:54:25 Braius:“Apparently I neigh, now.” (giving Marisha a hard time for confusing animal noises)
- 00:57:55 Back in Vasselheim
- 00:59:16 You also notice some of the ossuaries and crypt entrances that lead into these subterranean tunnels of the dead that still remain heavily sealed and guarded.
- 01:01:18 “Raven’s Crest has been busy with ‘second funeral’ rites.”
- 01:04:39 Fan Art Moment Raven’s Crest: What you see now in the diffused midday light in Vasselheim is an elevated cathedral-like structure of obsidian and gold. The ominous steeples that rise up and the dark archways that seem to climb and stretch to outfit the exterior of this beautiful (if also harrowing and ominous) structure. Even as bright as the day as, it still seems to hold onto the shadows around it and feel like any other structure would in the darkest of night.
- 01:06:27 Dorian:“Seems a little on-the-nose.”
Imogen:“How does she always time it? You know what I mean? How does she know we’re lookin’ in that spot right when she sends them all flying?”
Chetney:“Second A.D. (Assistant Director).” - 01:08:44 Three spooky ladies
- 01:11:33 Dorian:“We don’t know anything that’s going to happen. It could be a nice dinner. You could get turned into a plant.”
Imogen:“We could all swim in some blood.”
Dorian:“What?”
Imogen:“Let’s go!” - 01:13:43 The beautiful, intricate designs of the walls seem to have dream-like qualities. A castle parapet embedded in the stonework, spiraling upward, seeming to have a bony HR Giger texture at points as it clambers up to reach the top of the archway that vanishes into impossible shadow above.
- 01:15:26 Sam:“Nice knockers.”
- 01:17:00 Laudna attempts a strength check with her -3 stat modifier (in Matt’s words) “because it’s funny”
- 01:18:39 Three spooky figures
- 01:19:32 “We are the Coven of the Veil, the high priestesses of the Matron and the highest of the Trust of Winter. I am Lieve’tel.”
Lieve’tel’s name was the final word of Bertrand Bell before he died from an assassin in Jrusar. - 01:20:57 Fan Art Moment Chetney’s monocle revealing “so many enchantments” around the chamber in the Raven’s Crest.
- 01:23:42 Imogen:“I was being sarcastic, are we really going to swim in blood?!”
- 01:29:35 As a person who is also tethered to hemocraft, you have this slight concern about how your blasphemous spellcraft would interact with ancient celestial blood.
- 01:31:13 Laudna does the T2 in the blood pool.
- 01:32:44 Marisha:“You just tainted the celestial blood with your basic ass shit.”
- 01:34:18 Sam’s mug reveal during Braius’ blood splash
- 01:37:34 How do you want to drown this?
Liam:(creepy voice)“Drink the blood, Robbie.” - 01:38:06 Marisha:“This is exactly what the ‘Satanic Panic’ was afraid of.”
- 01:43:00 Laura shows off her Raven Queen swag
INTERMISSION
“Thrice you have sought me. Why?”
- 02:03:56 Laudna:“It would be nice to corroborate some of what the Arch Heart said.”
RQ:“What did he say?”
Laudna:“That the gods are scared, yet unaligned on how you all choose to resolve this little Predathos issue.” - 02:06:22 “We watched you hold an imp in your titties!”
- 02:06:50 Ashton:“Thankfully you didn’t make us good, did you?” (referencing the Solar’s words from Downfall)
- 02:11:56 Braius:“It’s hard to read your body language.” (RQ is just a mask)
Sam and Ashley do versions of the John Cena ‘you can’t see me’. - 02:12:53 Science Bish Moment Heat Death of the Universe
- 02:13:16 Home? Where’s that?
- 02:17:34 Orym:“Only you have one foot on each side.”
- 02:19:29 The avatars of Liliana Temult and Opal materialize in this realm, followed by a large Vespin Chloras
- 02:22:13 Imogen gives qualifications for group members
- 02:27:56 Roll Inish Bish
- 02:30:12 Laura:“What the fuck is that?” (mocking Ashley’s illegible dice)
Liam:“?” - 02:30:21 Travis:"It was a three-way rollies, you fuckin’ shmucks. I toasted both of you.
- 02:31:18 Liam:“What’s the stone called?”
Laura:“She’s a stone cold raven biiitch.” - 02:33:55 Liam:(Connery voice)“Let’s fucking go. Shining smite.”
Robbie:(Connery)“Can you feel it?”
Liam:(Cv)“Roll you handsome cow-man.” - 02:35:11 Dorian:“I will not allow another god to make a mockery of you.”
- 02:37:39 Dorian:“And him’s just a little guy.” (lute stilletto)
- 02:41:28 A regal Riegel belch
- 02:44:52 Chetwolf:“I got pokey things, too.”
- 02:46:58 Robbie lets Sam copy some important notes
- 02:56:49 Travis:“What? You said ‘interesting’.” (poking fun at Taliesin’s catchphrase)
- 02:59:05 Exalted Imogen takes a lightning form.
- 03:03:48 Marisha:“Gonna be a no from me, dawg.” (rejecting her own American Idol audition)
- 03:10:53 Dorian:(to Imogen)“Do you think this is real?”
Imogen:“No!” - 03:12:18 Sam:“It’ll come back around…in Campaign 4.”
- 03:13:03 Sam:“Everything you do is tacky.”
- 03:16:50
Fireball
on Vespin Chloras - 03:19:10 Marisha:“She’s a Sky Dancer.”
- 03:20:30 Fan Art Moment Dorian
Incapacitated
hanging upside-down by his flying boots. - 03:26:49 Laura:“He slapped the highlights out of her hair!”
- 03:27:16 Laura:(game announcer voice)“K.O.”
Ashley:(grunts) - 03:31:28 Matt:“Very cenobite-like.”
- 03:33:08 Matt quick with the “stop it” catchphrase
- 03:33:55 It was super-effective!
- 03:34:10 Matt:“So your monkey’s going to throw flaming poop at the man responsible for the Calamity.”
Sam:“Yeah, while he’s being bitten by a dog.”
Matt:“I love this so much.” - 03:37:43 Travis inspects the other side of the table
- 03:40:27 Taliesin:“Oookay.”
- 03:44:16 Laura:“Fails, motherfucker!”
- 03:47:47 Jazz hands and all
- 03:49:10 Sam:“It’s called The Moonwalk.”
- 03:49:26 Dorian can only move, and decides to fly into a thread of fate nearby.
Taliesin:“Who’s your other character?” - 03:50:11 The memories of the thread of Opal
- 03:53:10 “Feels like it’s time for weird shit.” Laudna takes a Raven Queen aesthetic for her
Form of Dread
, then manifests aSpirit of Death
that resembles Emhira (the mortal form the RQ took in the Downfall series) - 03:59:41 HDYWTDT#1
Chetney:“Vespin Chloras. Feels like I’ve killed you before.” (a reference to another character Travis played, Cerrit Agrupnin) - 04:03:23 HDYWTDT#2 Orym takes out the manifestation of Liliana Temult
- 04:05:27 RQ:“I’m sorry, I had to see if you were capable of what needs to be done.”
- 04:07:35 Raven Queen unmasked!
“I grow tired.” - 04:11:25 RQ:“I dissent, not because I wish to die or flee. I wish to let you, the peoples of Exandria, the greatest creations, decide what you wish, what you need.”
- 04:12:21 “I’m a clever girl.”
- 04:14:54 RQ:“Some part of me just wanted to see if I could.”
- 04:15:26 Lore Drop Raven Queen meets the previous God of Death “in his frozen enclave”.
- 04:21:43 RQ:“But if I’m to become the villain, so be it. I still believe in this. I still believe in you.”
- 04:23:25 RQ:(to Chetney)“I’ll be seeing you soon enough.”
Chetney:“No, see, that’s…you didn’t…that’s not cool. I know you’ve been tryin’. I’m sure I must be high on the ‘Wanted List’.” - 04:24:21 Predathos Lore Drop By its nature, it undoes and unravels the power that they’ve relied on since they came here.
- 04:25:37 Braius accepts the RQ’s gift.
- 04:27:00 The Rite of Ascension used by the Raven Queen cannot be replicated.
- 04:27:50 The RQ’s last time being surprised
- 04:31:09 Vax’ildan can be released if the Malleus Key he is tied to is destroyed, but the Luxon beacon must be removed beforehand.
- 04:35:25 RQ doesn’t consider Laudna’s condition to be an abomination (and won’t destroy her)
- 04:37:16 Vision over. Closing time.
- 04:38:00 Laura:“Did you fight that whole fight naked?”
Marisha:“I did.”
Matt:“And that’s where we’re gonna finish the night’s episode!”
- 02:03:56 Laudna:“It would be nice to corroborate some of what the Arch Heart said.”
An image of the Braius stat artwork with the word HOZIER written above it
Inside the flap reads:
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