| Empire of Lies (Campaign 2 - Episode 101) |
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| Information | |
| Release Date: | June 3, 2024 |
| Recording Date: | May 28, 2024 |
| Episode Length: | 1:05:16 |
| Cast & Characters | |
| Michael DiMauro: | Dungeon Master |
| Tim Lanning: | T'Chuck |
| Jennifer Cheek: | Selene von Esper |
| Nika Howard: | R'Oarc |
| Mike Bachmann: | Screech Echo |
| Guide | |
| Previous Episode: | Next Episode: |
| Train Car of Revalations | Hole |
Man I don’t even know anymore. Couldn’t we just get some rest and relaxation for like a day on the road? No, now we have to unravel some sort of super complex and dangerous political plot. Never should have started talking to clowns.
Story[]
Long Story[]
Alright, guys. This is a fine how-do-you. The party finds themselves in the presence of Emperor Beauregard, also known as Big Bo, also also known as Bobo the clown. Something fishy has happened with his memory, so he hasn't remembered that he's the emperor until T'Chuck restored him last episode. Most of this episode is just spent learning what's been going on with Bo, so I'm going to kind of just summarize what we know.
Bo used to be a part of a legendary adventuring party, along with Ratma Ritmo, and Anvon Whispermouse. Also in that party was Durian Brexleyshire. During their adventures, they began to rise in fame and notoriety. This was, in part, thanks to a special ability that Durian had; he could see the future. It was Durian who suggested that Bo, as the most charismatic member of the group, become the face of the party. Bo agreed, despite his low intelligence making him feel uncomfortable being in charge. Durian didn't take Bo's concerns into account, though. He continued to push Bo further and further into the spotlight, eventually pressing him to become the Emperor. Bo resisted, and so Durian suggested helping out Bo. Durian would cast a spell, one that would allow Durian to see and hear everything Bo saw and heard. Durian would also be able to communicate directly to Bo through this spell, so, in reality, it would be Durian calling all the shots, making all the decisions. All Bo would have to do is say what Durian told him to say. Bo agreed. That's when it all went wrong...
After Durian cast the spell, Bo's memories become a black cloud. He remembers nothing of the time Durian was in control, except for one oddity. One day, Anvon sent Luban Dola to Bo, with a potion. It was this potion that pulled Bo back into sentience. He remembers this day like a bad dream. Luban took Bo down into "The Slab", the headquarters of The OT, in Farhold. Deep down in the depths of the facility, Luban showed Bo a horrific sight. A tank, like some kind of science experiment, with a figure inside. A figure that looked exactly like Bo himself...
After that, things get hazy again. Some time later, Anvon interfered again. He told Bo about a plot to kill Bo, and sent him off to find safety. He also gave Bo an amulet, one that would hide him from Durian's magical gaze. He's to keep it with him at all times. He has it now, and shows it to the others. It's definitely magical, and appears to be made out of Theonite.
We also learn a little more about Durian's plan. He seems to want to control everything. He's the one who had magic outlawed throughout the land. According to him, Theonite can do everything that magic can do, but unlike magic, Theonite can be controlled. That's why the Empire wanted control over the mines. Control the mines, control the Theonite, control magic. Durian also told Bo that they needed to kill all of the dragons, to make sure there was no magic left in the world. Dragons and magic go hand in hand, after all. Bo was skeptical at first, but now sees that the world is a lot safer without any magic users running around. This may be some residual brain washing, it's hard to say.
Alright, well that's a lot to take in. T'Chuck steps outside, and casts Detect Magic as a ritual. When he returns, he detects that the amulet is magic, and so is the armor he was wearing (and the pick he was using on the rocks before), but Bo himself has no magic coming off of him. They all tell him about what they've been up to: about how they had to flee Rimeford due to the OT showing up. They also tell him that they know Ratma Ritmo. He's surprised by this, and wants to speak with her. So, T'Chuck casts Message to communicate with her.
T'Chuck's message is: "It's T'Chuck. Turns out Bo is a clown. Um, Durian cast spell. I cured. He seems quite confused. What should we do. I love you." (25 words)
Ratma replies: "T'Chuck. Are you fuckin' kiddin' me? Are you still with the circus? I can probably meet you on the way." (19 words)
T'Chuck sends another message: "Still with circus. King of Juggalos. Shit is so so so weird. Ooops, fuck. We are almost to Brookewillow for the Battle of the Circus." (25 words)
Ratma replies again: "Okay. I might not make it to Brookewillow in time. But, keep an eye on J'Michael. Don't get pinched." (19 words)
So, they'll be arriving in Brookwillow soon. What next? It sounds like Durian is a super evil dude, and needs to be stopped. He totally did a coup against the Empire. Bo doesn't like thinking this way about his friend, but if everyone is telling him Durian's a bad guy, it must be true. Bo says that even he doesn't want to be the Emperor anymore. What if nobody was?
Just then, there's a knock at the door. It's Barnabas Rumbletoes, who tells them that, yeah, not to worry, super normal procedure type stuff. It's just that... there's an OT checkpoint up ahead, and they're going to be going around to all the wagons, checking up on everything, making sure there's no magic or secret Emperors hanging around...
Uh oh.
Short[]
The party learns about what's been going on with Emperor Beauregard. He's been cursed by Durian Brexleyshire, who seems to be super evil, and has been running the Empire from the beginning. There's also maybe, like, clones of Beauregard running around? He definitely needs to be stopped. The episode ends with Barnabas warning them all that they are stopping at an OT checkpoint.
Trivia[]
- Big Bo doesn't care about everyone being "reverent" around him. He's more of a man-of-action kind of guy.
- R'Oarc still has some of Ratma's toenails, because "they are the most formidable response to any danger that we have".
- She also reveals to the others that she killed "Billy Bonebraids" (actually Wally Bonebraids) with those toenails.
In This Episode...[]
Cast and Player Characters[]
- Michael DiMauro - Dungeon Master
- Tim Lanning - T'Chuck
- Jennifer Cheek - Selene von Esper
- Nika Howard - R'Oarc
- Mike Bachmann - Screech Echo
Non-Player Characters[]
- Big Bo
- Ratma Ritmo, via Message
- Barnabas Rumbletoes
Locations[]
Inventory[]
| T'Chuck | Selene von Esper | R'Oarc | Screech Echo | General Inventory | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Quest Board[]
- [Active] - Save Selene's family!
- [Active] - Go to Brunnell
- [Active] - Go to Brookwillow
- [Active] - Keep Big Bo hidden from the OT
- [On-Hold] - Recruit the help of Hortentia Calamore
- [On-Hold] - Travel to Vhur'endal
- [On-Hold] - Recruit the help of House Bartell
- [On-Hold] - Travel to Anchordowns
- [Active] - Go to Brunnell
- [On-Hold] - Find a cure for Thaldin Emberbrew
- [On-Hold] - Go to the nearby Drow city, probably Vhur'endal
- [On-hold] - Investigate "Bill, the Necromancer", in the far off city by the coast
- [On-hold] - Take the disembodied lips to the oceanfront, for a burial at sea
Quotes[]
- "Did he have, perchance... You said we did not see his hog, but, what was he wearing underneath the outfit that he was wearing? Was he wearing something similar, or akin to longjons, or grey sweatpants, Michael? Was he wearing grey sweatpants?!?" ~ Nika Howard, asking the important questions
- "Like, a Fireball that you cast at a bunch of Wargs coming to eat your family; that seems good. But, what if those Wargs were shooting Fireballs at babies? That's bad. Makes you think, doesn't it?" ~ T'Chuck
- "I love hating guns." ~ Michael DiMauro
- "Yeah, I'm not really into politics." ~ Emperor Beauregard
Rolls[]
- Selene rolls Arcana to see if she can check out this amulet - 10
- It seems to be some kind of magical amulet.