| Small, Evil Frogs (Campaign 2 - Episode 112) |
|
 |
|
| Information | |
| Release Date: | September 23, 2024 |
| Recording Date: | September 17, 2024 |
| Episode Length: | 1:19:13 |
| 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: |
| Hydra Haulers | Frog Factions |
After our shopping trip we decided that we had to at least make an appearance at the circus. Especially since folks seemed so happy that we killed that hydra and everyone wanted to congratulate us. Unfortunately, we quickly realized that there were a few folks missing from the festivities...
Story[]
Long Story[]
T'Chuck stands facing the strange Lucius Vale, who seems to be just snapping out of a strange trance. He had just finished warning T'Chuck that R'Oarc was in grave danger, as long as she remained in possession of her weird new sausage roll warmer. However, when T'Chuck presses him on it, Vale seems to have no memory of having said anything. Odd. Strange. Unusual. Well, there's nothing to be done about it now, so T'Chuck and Screech leave Vale's shop. They run into R'Oarc and Selene, and together, the party returns to their circus home.
Hey, remember the Hydra that the party killed two episodes ago? Well, turns out, people are really appreciative of that kind of thing. So much so that the circus has decided to put on a super special show, in honor of their heroics. It's all going down at The Big Top, the main circus tent/show stage area thing. As soon as the party enters, they are hit by a spotlight. Like, it shines on them, not like it falls on their heads and bonks their noggins, or anything like that. Also, there's a large man with a megaphone announcing them as "The New Heroes of Brookwillow!" That ain't too shabby! What's even less shabby are the accommodations they receive. Paid for by the town, the party is granted front row seats, as well as peanuts, popcorn, cotton candy, and, of course, lots of ale. And some meat and fruit pies, though that's pretty much only for Screech.
While they enjoy the feast, they also enjoy the show. Ringleader Barnabas Rumbletoes is standing in the center, doing "various circus-y things". It's your classic circus-ass circus; There are clowns uni-cycling all around, jugglers doing their thing, a whole crazy trapeze show (where only 1 person falls to their death). They even bring out the animals. There's the un-named old bear with one eye, and also Jumbo. There's no J'Michael, though. Last time we saw him, the party had told him to not cause a scene, and keep his head down while they were in the city. So, who knows what he could be up to.
We do know what Screech is up to, though, and that's eating way too many damn pies. He's only able to make it about 2/3rds of the way through a single pie, before his little belly gets too dang full. But what does our boy do? He keeps on eatin' anyway. Damn near inspirational if you ask me. That is, until he starts vomiting up everywhere. That's about as good a time as any to call it a night, don't you think? The party packs up and heads back to their train car.
However, as the gang approaches their train car, they hear something. Voices, two of them, gruff and guttural. They seem to be having some kind of argument. Something about "cutting"? That doesn't sound good, especially since the party left Big Bo in there. With the disguised Emperor Beauregard in presumed danger, T'Chuck bursts through the door. And he's shocked at what he sees.
Bo is, indeed, there, right where he was left. Although, when we last saw Bo, he wasn't laying on the ground, blood pooling out of his un-moving body. So that's different. Standing over him, holding knives, are two frog-like creatures. They're each about the size of a Halfling, and have brightly colored skin. One is red, the other is blue. And, yeah, they appear to have just killed Emperor Beauregard. With that, the party launches in to attack.
Screech runs into the room, and immediately begins using the bear claws to wreck shop. Now, he totally shouldn't have these bear claws. He had given them to Captain Aldin in the Ironwood Armory, to make them into a different type of claw. They were supposed to take 3 days, but I guess Aldin gave them back for the night? They aren't finished, but Screech needs to fight with something, so... whatareyougonnado? As a punishment for his malfeasance, Screech is almost poisoned. But he resists.
T'Chuck pushes his way between the two frog-ish creatures, while R'Oarc stands back in the doorway, sending Eldritch Blasts their way. This use of Necromantic magic ("Necromagic"?) is a surprise to T'Chuck, and when he asks her about it, she admits to making a pact with a demon! But there's no time for that now! Selene also runs into the room, and blasts one of the frogs with a Lightning Bolt. Hey, you know what happens to a weird frog creature when it gets struck by lightning? Yeah, me neither...
Screech and the red-colored frog are locked in battle with each other, and R'Oarc tries to distract it with Silvery Barbs. It works, but Screech still gets an owie. And it's made worse when the blue-colored frog does a nasty fart, unleashing a cloud of noxious gas across the battlefield. Screech is poisoned! But not for long. T'Chuck casts Aura of Purity to clear the air. Not, like in a "tell all your dirty secrets" kind of way, but in a "stop there from being stinky frog fart cloud from killing your friends" kind of way. I actually think it's a metaphor for something. But I'm not sure what.
Anyway, with the fart (or with the Aura of Purity, I'm not sure which), a secret, third frog leaps from off the ceiling, and tries to run away out the window. Selene chases after it, first casting Darkness on it, then sicking her Hound of Ill Omen after it. Rough stuff. That wasn't a dog pun, by the way.
Finally, Screech is able to kill the red-colored frog. Seeing their true might, the blue-colored frog lays his sword down on the ground, and bows in surrender. He tells them that his name is "Zits".
The battle is won. But that doesn't mean it's all good news. Emperor Beauregard, aka Big Bo, aka Bobo the clown, appears to be dead...
Short[]
The party leaves Lucius Vale's shop, and returns to the circus. There, they are granted front row seats to a grand performance, in honor of them slaying the Hydra. Afterwards, they return back to their train car for the night. However, they are shocked to find three frog-like creatures have attacked, and seemingly killed, Emperor Beauregard. The party kills one of the frog creatures, and the other two surrender.
Trivia[]
- So, the new 2024 Player's Handbook seems to have been released. I don't know anything about it, but Tim seems to have gone through and cherry picked some of the spells from the new versions, and is using those rules. Seems a little game-breaking to me, but, as I say, I don't know anything about it. Apparently, his Cleric type isn't available in the new version, so he's not changing the whole character over.
- They clarify that the shield they bought from Lucius Vale in the last episode was a +1 shield. It's also made out of troll skin, and has a horrific troll face stretched across it. Cool!
- They also clarify that they no longer have the Hydra's head, having given it away in the last episode. However, R'Oarc took one of its fangs, and there's a bunch of its meat in the Portable Hole. Also, they were given some vials from Lucius Vale last episode, and now, they claim to have siphoned away some of the Hydra's blood into those vials. Which they definitely hadn't done yet, but sure. Okay. They have a few vials of acidic Hydra blood now.
- Michael says that it's "late summer/early fall".
- Screech's meat pies were delivered to him by a small Halfling, who then ran off. At this point, none of the other party members know about the bakery. Don't bring it up!
- R'Oarc is bisexual.
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[]
- Lucius Vale
- Barnabas Rumbletoes
- The Old Bear
- Jumbo
- Big Bo's lifeless corpse
Locations[]
- Drunkeros
- Brookwillow
- The Golden Grain Tavern
- The Big Top Traveling Circus and Magnificent Menagerie
- Brookwillow
Inventory[]
| T'Chuck | Selene von Esper | R'Oarc | Screech Echo | General Inventory | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
Quest Board[]
- [On-Hold] - Save Selene's family!
- [Abandoned?] - Go to Brunnell
- [On-Hold] - Wait for Ratma Ritmo to arrive in Brookwillow
- [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
- [Abandoned?] - 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[]
- "We're walking like bad-asses... To the circus..." ~ Jennifer Cheek
- "Michael, when I eat one pie, did two more appear? Is this a pie-dra?" ~ Mike Bachmann, unfortunately
- "You keep saying 'Bring people back to life', and then you turn them into zombies. I need to know that you know that's different." ~ Tim Lanning
- "Listen, do you think Stephanie is in Super Hell? She's going to festivals every fucking weekend." ~ Nika Howard
Rolls[]
- Screech and T'Chuck roll Insight to see what the fuck is up with Lucius Vale
- T'Chuck - 23
- He feels like something unusual had come over Vale.
- Screech - 5
- T'Chuck - 23
- Screech makes a Constitution Saving Throw to resist getting a stomach ache while eating 3 whole pies (with R'Oarc's Bardic Inspiration) - 14
- He gets through 2/3rds of 1 pie.
- They all roll Perception while walking back to their train car
- T'Chuck - 22
- Selene - 17
- Screech - 20
- R'Oarc - 15
- T'Chuck hears voices coming from inside their train car
Combat Begins vs 2 Frog-like Creatures
- Initiative
- Screech - 25
- Red Frog
- Blue Frog
- T'Chuck - 12
- R'Oarc - 7
- Selene - 3
Surprise Round
- Screech
- Ensnaring Strike Melee Attack vs Red Frog {x3} - 17, Nat 1, 22
- Hit, Miss, Hit - 20 damage, and it must make a Strength Saving Throw - 19
- Success - Not Ensnared
- Also, Screech must make a Constitution Saving Throw upon attacking - 16
- Success - Not poisoned
- Also, Screech must make a Constitution Saving Throw upon attacking - 16
- Success - Not Ensnared
- Hit, Miss, Hit - 20 damage, and it must make a Strength Saving Throw - 19
- Ensnaring Strike Melee Attack vs Red Frog {x3} - 17, Nat 1, 22
- T'Chuck
- Casts Word of Radiance, requiring them both to make Constitution Saving Throws
- Red Frog - 12
- Fail - 16 Radiant damage
- Blue Frog - <12
- Fail - 16 Radiant damage
- Red Frog - 12
- Casts Word of Radiance, requiring them both to make Constitution Saving Throws
- R'Oarc
- Casts Eldritch Blast on the Red Frog - Nat 1, 22
- Miss, Hit - 9 damage
- Casts Eldritch Blast on the Red Frog - Nat 1, 22
- Selene
- Casts Lightning Bolt on the Blue Frog, requiring it to make a Dexterity Saving Throw - 6
- Fail - 27 Lightning damage
- Casts Lightning Bolt on the Blue Frog, requiring it to make a Dexterity Saving Throw - 6
Round One
- Screech
- Marks the Red Frog as his Quarry, using Hunter's Mark
- Melee Attack vs Red Frog {x3} - 18, 18, 27
- Hit, Hit, Hit - 33 + 12 damage
- Red Frog
- Melee Attack vs T'Chuck - Nat 20
- R'Oarc casts Silvery Barbs to distract it, forcing it to re-roll
- Re-rolled Melee Attack vs T'Chuck - 25
- Hit - 10 + 14 Piercing damage
- Melee Attack vs T'Chuck - Nat 20
- Blue Frog
- Farts, requiring T'Chuck and Screech to make Constitution Saving Throws
- T'Chuck - 17
- Success - Not poisoned, but still takes 9 Poison damage
- Screech - 14
- Fail - He is poisoned, and takes 18 Poison damage
- T'Chuck - 17
- Farts, requiring T'Chuck and Screech to make Constitution Saving Throws
- T'Chuck
- Casts Aura of Purity
- Casts Healing Word on himself, healing himself for - 7 HP
- Green Frog
- Runs off into the night
- R'Oarc
- Casts Eldritch Blast on the Red Frog {x2} - 12, Nat 1
- Miss, Miss
- Casts Eldritch Blast on the Red Frog {x2} - 12, Nat 1
- Selene
- Casts Darkness on the Green Frog
- Casts Hound of Ill Omen to create a dire wolf which is now named (I think) Tomohiro Ishii
- Tomohiro Ishii Melee Attack (Bite) vs Green Frog - Nat 20
- Hit - 17 Piercing damage, and it is knocked prone
Round Two
- Screech
- Melee Attack vs Red Frog {x2} (with Disadvantage on the second attack) - 20, 24
- Hit, Hit - 29 damage - Kills It
- Melee Attack vs Red Frog {x2} (with Disadvantage on the second attack) - 20, 24
- Blue Frog
- Surrenders
- T'Chuck
- Accepts his surrender
Combat Ends