October 21, 2025 • 28 mins
A Fool's Refrain: Tale of the Manticore is a hybrid solo-actualplay D&D game and full production audiodrama. I use Dungeons & Dragons B/X (OSR). This is a dark fantasy tale made for a mature audience.
Want to listen without the ads while helping the show? Join the Supporters' Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tale-of-the-manticore-a-dark-fantasy-dungeons-dragons-audiodrama--6276878/support
Want to listen without the ads while helping the show? Join the Supporters' Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tale-of-the-manticore-a-dark-fantasy-dungeons-dragons-audiodrama--6276878/support
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
My name is phalin Ola, better known as cat Spain,
and you're listening to Tale of the Manticle.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
The following podcast is intended for a mature audience. Listener
discretion is advised. Welcome back to Tale of the Manticor
(00:38):
Season three. Like the creature from which it takes its name,
Tale of the Manticor is a mashup, a cross breeding
between two different species of storytelling. Here you will find
the unpredictability of old school paper and dice games with
the story craft of a dark fantasy novel. No character
is sacred and none will be spared if the dice decide.
(01:00):
Fate is at hand. According to lore, the Tale of
a Manticor is barbed with cruel iron spikes. There will
be much pain in the days ahead. Last time on
(01:21):
Tale of the Manticor, in chapter thirty seven, the companions
draw closer to their destination. They seem to have crossed
some kind of threshold, for the land they are now
in seems more highly infused with magic. The companions encounter
strange creatures and have vivid dreams. Dernni in particular has
a troubling one. His dream is really more of an
(01:42):
unwonted memory. In it, he relives the experience of being
commanded to abandon his former mentor, the Old Crow, to
a group of pursuing works. Der Renni is still haunted
by this event and wonders if he should have disobeyed
orders and fought alongside the elder Elf. The story proceeds
with the s in which the companions go off foraging
and encounter a leuthal monster that looks like a six
(02:05):
legged panther with barbed tentacles growing from its back. When
it fights, this creature, called a displacer beast, seems to
shift around in space, making it hard to hit. It
might never have become hostile but for the presence of Flicker.
It turns out that blink dogs are the natural enemy
of displacer beasts. The battle itself is furious but short.
(02:26):
In it, the pieces take some injuries but ultimately slay
the beast. I managed to carve out the nature of
that last encounter from my mythic event meaning adjourn advice,
the idea being that Achillia and Fairwind's insistence on speaking
when they should have been traveling in silence caught the
creature's attention and led to their being ambushed. So this
(02:49):
episode's first job is to roll up a new one
using percentile dice fourteen and ninety nine. That's abandoned anger.
Huh interesting. I don't have an immediate application, but it
does seem promising. One more thing before I begin the narrative.
Fair Wind will cast cure light wounds on I think
(03:11):
it'll be Flicker. Actually a D six plus one of
new hit points is on the way. Okay, Flicker is
healed for four points. Chapter thirty eight, Part one day
thirty four, one day from the destination afternoon mythic event
(03:34):
meaning abandoned anchor party status. Achillea thirteen of thirteen hit points,
Court eighteen of twenty four, Denni sixteen of sixteen, ten
Tier nineteen of nineteen, fair Wind seventeen of twenty six,
(03:56):
Flicker fifteen of sixteen supplies. The companions have eight portions
of food remaining spells available. Achilia can cast and large
message glitter dust and detect evil. Cord can cast and
tangle slow poison, hold animal, and speak with plants. Fairwin
(04:20):
can cast protection from evil. Fairwin took his hand away
from Flicker's side Amazingly, the blink dog's wound was gone,
replaced by a patch of new pink skin.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Do stop that, stop that.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Laughed the cleric. This flicker practically jumped on him, licking
his hands and wagging her tail. You're welcome, You're welcome.
Der Annie was glad to see that the animal was well,
but he did not share the cleric's good humor. He
turned back to his examination of the dead creature. It
was as long as he was tall, and packed with muscle,
covered in sleek black fur. Its six legs and a
(04:59):
pair ofphole tentacles were extremely discomfiting.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
What on marif is this thing?
Speaker 2 (05:05):
He asked to nobody in particular.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
I've heard stories about mountain cats that can.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Grow to about this size, offered Tentier. This is no
mountain cat, muttered dur Rennie.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
It must be a creature of magic. Well, pin Achilia
fair one to mention before that.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
He thinks we've crossed some kind of boundary and entered
a new land where magic is stronger.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
I bet you can feel it.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I can whatever it is, said dere Annie, not looking
up from the corpse.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
I hope it's kind are rare and solitary.
Speaker 5 (05:35):
I have no wish to meet another one.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
You saw how it went right for figure Achilia nodded gravely.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
They went to each other as if they were old enemies.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
She agreed, But perhaps we should get moving in case
there are any more of them.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Luckily there are no more of them, at least not
around here. In fact, there will be no further events
on day thirty four, and that means it's time to
make the hex's crawl rolls for day thirty five. D
thirty five is special, by the way, because this is
the day the pieces are scheduled to arrive at odok
Zagog's home if they can find it. That is well.
I'll get to that part in a minute. Let's cover
(06:12):
the basics first. For weather, huh, A one looks like
we're about to experience some truly bad weather, a storm
and a big one, but real opening up of the heavens.
Next is the role. For stumble upon an eight means
no result there. For foraging a four is a failure.
I guess we can blame the weather for that. How
(06:33):
about a wandering encounter on a D six another four
that means there is not and once again I'm sure
it's on account of the storm, it'll be severe enough
to drive every living thing to ground. Chapter thirty eight,
Part two, Day thirty five, still one day from their destination.
(06:56):
Afternoon mythic event meaning a band anger party status. Achillea
thirteen of thirteen hit points, Cord nineteen out of twenty
four after receiving one point of natural healing, Derni sixteen
of sixteen, ten Tier nineteen of nineteen, Fairwind eighteen of
(07:20):
twenty six after receiving one point of natural healing, Flicker
sixteen of sixteen after receiving one point of natural healing. Supplies.
The companions have three portions of food remaining spells available.
Achillia can cast enlarge message, glitter dust and detect evil.
(07:42):
Cord can cast entangle, slow poison, hold animal, and speak
with plants. Fair Wind can cast purely wounds and protection
from evil. The companions awoke that morning to a sky
that was thick with brooding iron collared clouds. Moods were sober,
(08:04):
and conversation was practically non existent as they began what
should have been the final triumphant day in their quest
to find the historian odok Zsygock. If the silence pleased
der Anny, he did not show it. In fact, the
eleven Hunter was in a particularly sullen mood. He had
relived the memory of his abandonment of the Old Crow
a third time in his dreams the night before, and
(08:26):
had woken feeling totally unrested and unhappy. Every so often,
the elf realized he was scowling and had to make
an effort to relax the muscles in his face. Still,
the negative thoughts returned like phantoms. Flicker was responsible for
the attack by the catlike monster on the previous day,
and she was an extra mouth to feed. Achillia was
(08:48):
headstrong and selfish. The quest to save her family member
had put his brother's life in jeopardy more than once
and caused him to become cursed. Fairwind couldn't keep his
mouth shut. It was scaring all the game away at
a time when their supply of food was almost gone.
Derannie told himself that these bad thoughts were mere visitors.
(09:09):
They would stay awhile in his mind and then leave.
After all, he didn't really harbor such poor opinions of
his companions. But to day, some of the visiting thoughts
were poor guests that overstayed their welcome and refused to depart. Wisely,
the elf kept to himself and tried to concentrate on
putting one foot in front of the other. Like on
(09:30):
the day before, Robin came and went. Upon each return,
the little stuffed bird would perch on Cord's shoulder and
twitter into his painted ear. To anyone watching, it would
look as though the bird was scouting ahead and making reports.
This is exactly what was taking place. The connection between
the construct and the taxidermy Burt was richer now than
(09:51):
it had ever been before. Kord learned that there was
no food in the woods to the north, that the
way east was free of danger, and that in general
there was no sign of any man made structures anywhere.
Robin also fretted about the coming rain. As for that
everyone consensus storm was on his way. The temperature had dropped,
and there was a certain smell in the air that
(10:12):
presaged rain. The weather came on slowly, beginning in the afternoon,
with soft, scattered drops that tapped gently while the tree
tops and moss covered rocks. Then came a breeze that
stiffened into a cool wind. It tugged at branches and
bent the tall grass. The rain came heavier, now falling
(10:34):
in relentless sheets on top of the companion's heads. The
ground became impregnated with water, and soon the rain was
sluicing down slope and valley in muddy streams. Above, the
sky had darkened to purple. Distant thunder rumbled and then
cracked overhead. Forks of lightning flashed between the trees, turning
(10:55):
wet trunks into momentary columns of silver. The unhappy compared
onions dashed ahead, looking for shelter, and their boots sculched
in the sodden earth. Over there, cried ten Tyre, pointing
at something through the slanting rainfall. His eyes had always
been the sharpest. That the younger brother had spotted the
hollowed out bowl of an oak that was tall, but
(11:16):
not so tall as to be a potential target for lightning. There,
barely covered in the crabbed woody hollow, the companions huddled
and shivered, soaked to the skin around them, the tempest raged,
battering trees and earth alike. Both of my previous seasons
(11:40):
ran for exactly seventy six episodes, so one might suppose
it follows that this episode is the halfway mark for
season three. That might be true or not if I
remember right, I was kind of aiming for numbers seventy
five to be the finale in season one, you know,
hoping for a nice round number, but was unable to
make that happen without rushing the story. In season two,
(12:03):
ending on number seventy six was pure coincidence. I definitely
remember that. For this season, the plan is to just
keep the story going until it naturally inclines towards a resolution,
and to trust my gut to recognize when that stressed
to happen, so it could run longer or shorter, or
be the same. Again. One advantage of a longer campaign
(12:23):
is that I get to experience and explore higher level play,
so I might make an effort to make that happen,
but not at the expense of story or pacing. With
all that in mind, I think the time is right
to broaden this story, and it's only recently that I
realized how to do it. But let me ease into
that by way of a between the lines segment. It's
been a while since I've done one of those between
(12:50):
the lines. The high Lands and the Golden Path Fairwood
and Achillia both believe that they have crossed a boundary
and entered a region where magic is stronger. It's hard
to deny that this is the case. Consider Reason encounters,
a giant forest troll, a dryad, and a displacer beast,
(13:10):
all confronted in the lands between de Roth and the mountains. Furthermore,
the pieces have been having much more vivid and meaningful
dreams since crossing into these parts. So what's so special
about this place? A lot turns out. You might have
noticed that a kind of convergence is happening here in
the highlands. Coming together in this area, we had the
(13:32):
ill fated Dorothi and the historian odok Zygogue. Which of
these arrived first is as yet unknown. In case you're wondering,
of course, the PCEs have also been drawn here. And finally,
this Fimgrin atresh in his iron tower that disappears and
reappears in new locations, but is definitely moving in this direction.
For all parties except for the Pieces, the reason for
(13:55):
coming here is the same. Everyone is looking for something
called the golden path. What is this golden path and
why is it so sought after? The highlands are sacred
to the goddess Ahea, who in my campaign is the
goddess of magic. Here magic is stronger, more chaotic, and
more elemental. This explains all the strange dreams and strange creatures.
(14:17):
Legends are full of magical places and boundaries, ley lines,
magic nodes, and geomant formations. The Golden Path, whether it
is a metaphorical or a real path, leads to the
most potent of any of these concentrations of magical energies,
because it leads to the first Temple of Aheia and
ultimately to the manifestation of the Goddess herself. Knowing that
(14:41):
is it any wonder why so many people are looking
for it and why they do so in secret. For
a wizard or a cleric of Aheya, the search for
the Golden Path is the ultimate quest. Odog Zygog is
a historian who has spent his entire life in research
looking for clues to its location. The Derothian he had
the first Scroll of Galandal, which provided enough information to
(15:03):
get them close, but that group ultimately failed in their task.
The PCs now carry the first Scroll. I wonder whatever
happened to the second Chapter thirty eight, Part three, Day
(15:30):
thirty five afternoon, on a hillside less than two dozen
miles from where the party was taking shelter from the
raging storm, the Traveling Tower of Iron sat on a
hill battered by the storm. From the outside, inside it
was warm and quiet, very quiet. Fimgrim Atrash shifted uncomfortably
(15:59):
in his chair and set down his cup of bitter tea,
looking across the table at Bellario. The little gnome was
chewing his lip and frowning at his plate of food,
while pushing bits of meat around on his plate without eating.
Fim Grinn's natural impulse would be to make a joke
or offer some kind of comfort, but at this moment
he found his natural mirth impotent in the face of
(16:21):
the other's mood. Before the meal, Fim had heard Blario
all the way from the bottom floor of their tower,
bellowing curses great in both volume and vulgarity. Presently, Blario
looked up. His eyes were red rimmed.
Speaker 5 (16:37):
We must return to the pail.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
He said. His voice sounded tired and heavy today. Surely
not so soon, Fim had said. Putting down his fork
with a bit of cheese still speared on its tip,
he tried to argue, and then when that didn't work,
he tried bargaining, but there was nothing he could say
to change the GNOME's mind. Very well, he said at last,
(16:59):
with a sigh. There was a price to pay every
time they entered and every time they left the pail
Ethereal travel did not come without a cost. Belario didn't
seem to care whether or not Fim approved of the decision.
He pushed away his untasted food.
Speaker 5 (17:15):
After you clean up, I want you to practice what
I taught you yesterday. By the time I return, you
will have recreated this meal for me sight, smell, and
taste using a spectral force incantation.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Yes, Master Fibbid replied, as you wish.
Speaker 5 (17:35):
Until then, do not disturb me. I have work to do.
There are yet more secrets to be copsed from that
damn scroll.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Belario squeezed his tiny heads into fists, and the knuckles
turned white. On one of his fingers, a silver ring
that with a black and gold gem caught the light
and twinkled.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
But I will have them.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Chapter thirty eight, Part four, Day thirty five, within one
day of their destination night mythic event meaning abandoned anger
party status. The party status is unchanged. The rain continued
(18:31):
to hammer down all around the companions as they huddled
inside the hollow bowl of the yak. They were pressed
so tightly together it was hard to tell where one
person began and the other ended. Despite this, the shelter
was not sufficient to keep them dry, and before long
those who wore such things could feel water in their
clothes and in their boots. It had gotten into their
(18:52):
packs too. The massa bell's ruins, said Doretti miserably. We're
out of food. Derny wasn't really that upset ative the
massible that had so little remaining that food was about
to become a big problem regardless. Now Dernni's troubles were
more of a spiritual variety. He was certain he'd be
forced to relive the experience of losing the Old Crow
(19:14):
again in his dreams that night. Recently, he couldn't stop
wondering might he have been able to save his former
mentor if only he'd made a different choice. Thinking back,
he was fairly sure he'd heard no more than three
workish voices during the pursuit, but he would never know
the Old Crow was dead. He was alive. What might
(19:36):
have been was a fool's refrain. Some time after midnight,
the storm passed and the clouds overhead parted to reveal
a blurry yellow half moon suspended in the firmament. Exhausted,
most of the companions simply curled up on the ground
and tried to find sleep, not even bothering to unpack
their bed rolls. Before Faerwin turned in, he put his
(19:57):
hands on court and said a prayer of thank you,
my friend, for always keeping watch over us, he said.
When the prayer was done, Cord had creaked and bowed
in gratitude and acknowledgement, and then walked off always to
sit his nightly vigil with Robin on his shoulder. Since
(20:29):
the PCs were delayed by the storm, I need to
make one more set of hex crawl rules for day
thirty six before they can reach their destination, or at
least the general vicinity of it. For weather, I've got
a nineteen looks like after the storm breaks, the weather
becomes gorgeous for stumble upon. The sixteen means no result
there foraging with Cord's help, A one is a success,
(20:53):
and not a day too soon either is. The PCs
currently have no food remaining, so far so good. But
here's the rule that really matters. The real cost of
that storm was not that the PCs lost the last
of their food. The real cost was that it delayed them,
and so they'll need to endure an extra wandering encounter.
Check a five or six on a D six will
(21:14):
indicate there is one on nuts. I knew it. That's
a five. There's one more role to make, and that's
fair winds cure light wounds spell of the night before.
As a result of the prayer, Cord will regain four
hit points Chapter thirty eight, Part five, Day thirty six
(21:40):
within one day of their destination morning mythic event meaning
abandoned anger party status Achille thirteen of thirteen hit points,
Cord twenty four of twenty four, de Renni sixteen of sixteen,
(22:00):
ten Tier nineteen of nineteen, fair Wind nineteen of twenty six.
After receiving one point of natural healing Flicker sixteen of
sixteen supplies, the companions have no food, remaining spells available.
Achille can cast enlarge message, glitter dust and detect evil.
(22:27):
Cord can cast entangle slow poison, hold animal, and speak
with plants. Fair Wind can cast cure light wounds and
protection from evil. In the morning, the companions awoke to
find that the rain had stopped and de Rennie was gone.
(22:49):
At first, there was some mild alarm, but Cord, who
never slept, had seen the eleven hunter get up before
the others and walk away, gesturing in such a fashion
as to make it clear he'd know. I don't want to
be followed. Court hadn't thought much of it. For those
who were not made of wood, the need for occasional
access to privacy was normal. The fact that Derni had
been gone for over an hour had only just started
(23:11):
to concern him when the others had woken up and
noticed the absence. Do you think we ought to go
looking for him, asked Sherwood. I hope he's all right,
said Achilia.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
Perhaps we should let me.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
Go alone, Tinder offered, easily guessing the meaning of your exchange.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
My brother sometimes does this. I think I know what's
bothering him.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
You don't suppose he's still angry with me, do you, asked.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Akilia, scratching Flicker behind the ears and looking down at
the blink dog meaningfully. Dornni had not made his disdain
for the animal the secret No no.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
If I'm right, this doesn't have anything to do with
you or with any of us. Sometimes do Reni just
needs time alone, that's all to think, and threw a
few things from his past.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Ten Tier walked off in the direction cord Hat pointed,
leaving the others behind. Once he was gone, Achillia put
her hands behind her head and, in one fluid motion,
peeled off her wet shirt. Fair Wind was facing the
other way and didn't notice until he turned around while asking.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
And what did Tintia say about deham I?
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Oh, The sight of Achillie naked from the waist up
made him quickly turn away. I I I'm sorry, sorry
for what, asked Kilia, not understanding.
Speaker 4 (24:34):
Tintu thinks to Renni needs some time alone to think.
That's all, to be honest, he has looked very tired
and lately he's been very irritable, which is not really
like him anyway, It gives us time to dry her clothes.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
She flung her shirt over a low branch and then
stripped off her pants and undergarments. These she hung beside
her shirt. As she worked, Flicker gambled around her, making
a nuisance of herself. Fair Wind deeply uncomfortable, found various
places to dry their bedrolls and packs. Before he too,
hung up his damp, ragged robe his small clothes, he
(25:07):
decided would stay on for the sake of propriety. Intentionally
averting his gaze from Achille's naked form, the cleric pretended
to be lost in thought while scanning the distance, where
sloping hillsides folded into gullies and valleys all around them.
The forest was fresh and bright, and bird song filled
the air. Behind him. He could hear achillea telling cord
(25:29):
that he seemed to have changed once again, and she
counted off four tiny sprouts that hadn't been on his
body before. Perhaps I should go and speak to him
with your help. Of course, Ferwind suddenly said, standing by
while others needed counsel and support, not to mention Achille's
nakedness was making him feel uncomfortable.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Let's just give them some time, was Achillie's reply.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
Her tone was light but nonetheless did not invite argument.
I ah ah, yes, yes, of course. Everyind returned his
attention to the beauty of the landscape. Miles off he
could just make out the telltale sparkle of water the lake.
Perhaps with some luck, he mused, today, they would reach
their destination and finally meet the famous historian odok Zygog.
(26:22):
Happy Halloween everyone. Hey, I admit this was not the
spookiest episode of Manticore ever, but hey, Bellori of the
Gnome was pretty greedy, right. And you know what else
is scary The amount of support I get from my
awesome listeners for recommending the show online and friends for
a liking and reposting episode announcement on social media. For
(26:43):
those who picked up a Tale of the Mandicore t
shirt at Barard's Dot store or one of my offerings
I'll drive through RPG. I'm very grateful. Those ratings and
reviews are always helpful to my Thanks once again today,
I'd like to read a review from Apple Podcasts left
by Lord kimg. Lord Kimji writes, So, I was traveling
solo and needed something to listen to, and because I
(27:03):
recently got back into D and D after decades off,
I searched and found this. I was instantly hooked. That
was two weeks ago, and now I am on season two,
episode forty. I have left and cried and shatted at
the narrator. I recommend this to anyone interested in great
storytelling and solo gameplay. Thanks very much, Lord Kimchi solo
(27:24):
Traveling got back into D and D after decades off.
That sounds familiar. I'm so happy that you found the show. Actually,
I'm also excited to hear that if someone searches for
a good D and D podcast that they will come
across my own, so that is really good to hear. Anyway,
I truly appreciate the review and I hope you enjoy
the rest of season two and I give this season
to try as well. Tale of the mantagre my Pa
(27:46):
which is brew of ingredients, but it's not so secret.
Special ingredient is his cast of voice actors. Today's episode
features the core cast of Ky Ellen, Kevin Barringer, and
David Cooper playing to Ready ten Tier in Fairwood. As usual,
all of them nailed their part, joining us once again
in the role of fimogram atrush is Ian Woodworth of
the Undercommon Taste podcast and returning to the show and
(28:08):
bringing us the voice of Bellario. The nome is the
fantastic p dag RPG. Thanks to all five actors in
this episode. For those curious to learn more about Tale
of the Manticore. I keep a blog where I post
all kinds of show and RPG related stuff like sketches, maps, tables, crafts,
and show notes. You can find it at tale Ofthemanticore
dot com. To get in touch with me, I'm at
(28:28):
Solo Roleplayers Network dot com, Tale of Themanticor dot Blue
Sky dot Social, Tale of the Manticore podcast on Instagram,
or Tale of Themanticre at gmail dot com. I always
love to hear from you, so if you have a
question or you have something to say, shoot me a note.
With that said, have a spectacular Halloween everyone, and I'll
see you on the next episode of Tale of the Manticor.
(28:49):
It's the story for Chaos Rolls.
My name is phalin Ola, better known as cat Spain,
and you're listening to Tale of the Manticle.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
The following podcast is intended for a mature audience. Listener
discretion is advised. Welcome back to Tale of the Manticor
(00:38):
Season three. Like the creature from which it takes its name,
Tale of the Manticor is a mashup, a cross breeding
between two different species of storytelling. Here you will find
the unpredictability of old school paper and dice games with
the story craft of a dark fantasy novel. No character
is sacred and none will be spared if the dice decide.
(01:00):
Fate is at hand. According to lore, the Tale of
a Manticor is barbed with cruel iron spikes. There will
be much pain in the days ahead. Last time on
(01:21):
Tale of the Manticor, in chapter thirty seven, the companions
draw closer to their destination. They seem to have crossed
some kind of threshold, for the land they are now
in seems more highly infused with magic. The companions encounter
strange creatures and have vivid dreams. Dernni in particular has
a troubling one. His dream is really more of an
(01:42):
unwonted memory. In it, he relives the experience of being
commanded to abandon his former mentor, the Old Crow, to
a group of pursuing works. Der Renni is still haunted
by this event and wonders if he should have disobeyed
orders and fought alongside the elder Elf. The story proceeds
with the s in which the companions go off foraging
and encounter a leuthal monster that looks like a six
(02:05):
legged panther with barbed tentacles growing from its back. When
it fights, this creature, called a displacer beast, seems to
shift around in space, making it hard to hit. It
might never have become hostile but for the presence of Flicker.
It turns out that blink dogs are the natural enemy
of displacer beasts. The battle itself is furious but short.
(02:26):
In it, the pieces take some injuries but ultimately slay
the beast. I managed to carve out the nature of
that last encounter from my mythic event meaning adjourn advice,
the idea being that Achillia and Fairwind's insistence on speaking
when they should have been traveling in silence caught the
creature's attention and led to their being ambushed. So this
(02:49):
episode's first job is to roll up a new one
using percentile dice fourteen and ninety nine. That's abandoned anger.
Huh interesting. I don't have an immediate application, but it
does seem promising. One more thing before I begin the narrative.
Fair Wind will cast cure light wounds on I think
(03:11):
it'll be Flicker. Actually a D six plus one of
new hit points is on the way. Okay, Flicker is
healed for four points. Chapter thirty eight, Part one day
thirty four, one day from the destination afternoon mythic event
(03:34):
meaning abandoned anchor party status. Achillea thirteen of thirteen hit points,
Court eighteen of twenty four, Denni sixteen of sixteen, ten
Tier nineteen of nineteen, fair Wind seventeen of twenty six,
(03:56):
Flicker fifteen of sixteen supplies. The companions have eight portions
of food remaining spells available. Achilia can cast and large
message glitter dust and detect evil. Cord can cast and
tangle slow poison, hold animal, and speak with plants. Fairwin
(04:20):
can cast protection from evil. Fairwin took his hand away
from Flicker's side Amazingly, the blink dog's wound was gone,
replaced by a patch of new pink skin.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Do stop that, stop that.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Laughed the cleric. This flicker practically jumped on him, licking
his hands and wagging her tail. You're welcome, You're welcome.
Der Annie was glad to see that the animal was well,
but he did not share the cleric's good humor. He
turned back to his examination of the dead creature. It
was as long as he was tall, and packed with muscle,
covered in sleek black fur. Its six legs and a
(04:59):
pair ofphole tentacles were extremely discomfiting.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
What on marif is this thing?
Speaker 2 (05:05):
He asked to nobody in particular.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
I've heard stories about mountain cats that can.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Grow to about this size, offered Tentier. This is no
mountain cat, muttered dur Rennie.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
It must be a creature of magic. Well, pin Achilia
fair one to mention before that.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
He thinks we've crossed some kind of boundary and entered
a new land where magic is stronger.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
I bet you can feel it.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I can whatever it is, said dere Annie, not looking
up from the corpse.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
I hope it's kind are rare and solitary.
Speaker 5 (05:35):
I have no wish to meet another one.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
You saw how it went right for figure Achilia nodded gravely.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
They went to each other as if they were old enemies.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
She agreed, But perhaps we should get moving in case
there are any more of them.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Luckily there are no more of them, at least not
around here. In fact, there will be no further events
on day thirty four, and that means it's time to
make the hex's crawl rolls for day thirty five. D
thirty five is special, by the way, because this is
the day the pieces are scheduled to arrive at odok
Zagog's home if they can find it. That is well.
I'll get to that part in a minute. Let's cover
(06:12):
the basics first. For weather, huh, A one looks like
we're about to experience some truly bad weather, a storm
and a big one, but real opening up of the heavens.
Next is the role. For stumble upon an eight means
no result there. For foraging a four is a failure.
I guess we can blame the weather for that. How
(06:33):
about a wandering encounter on a D six another four
that means there is not and once again I'm sure
it's on account of the storm, it'll be severe enough
to drive every living thing to ground. Chapter thirty eight,
Part two, Day thirty five, still one day from their destination.
(06:56):
Afternoon mythic event meaning a band anger party status. Achillea
thirteen of thirteen hit points, Cord nineteen out of twenty
four after receiving one point of natural healing, Derni sixteen
of sixteen, ten Tier nineteen of nineteen, Fairwind eighteen of
(07:20):
twenty six after receiving one point of natural healing, Flicker
sixteen of sixteen after receiving one point of natural healing. Supplies.
The companions have three portions of food remaining spells available.
Achillia can cast enlarge message, glitter dust and detect evil.
(07:42):
Cord can cast entangle, slow poison, hold animal, and speak
with plants. Fair Wind can cast purely wounds and protection
from evil. The companions awoke that morning to a sky
that was thick with brooding iron collared clouds. Moods were sober,
(08:04):
and conversation was practically non existent as they began what
should have been the final triumphant day in their quest
to find the historian odok Zsygock. If the silence pleased
der Anny, he did not show it. In fact, the
eleven Hunter was in a particularly sullen mood. He had
relived the memory of his abandonment of the Old Crow
a third time in his dreams the night before, and
(08:26):
had woken feeling totally unrested and unhappy. Every so often,
the elf realized he was scowling and had to make
an effort to relax the muscles in his face. Still,
the negative thoughts returned like phantoms. Flicker was responsible for
the attack by the catlike monster on the previous day,
and she was an extra mouth to feed. Achillia was
(08:48):
headstrong and selfish. The quest to save her family member
had put his brother's life in jeopardy more than once
and caused him to become cursed. Fairwind couldn't keep his
mouth shut. It was scaring all the game away at
a time when their supply of food was almost gone.
Derannie told himself that these bad thoughts were mere visitors.
(09:09):
They would stay awhile in his mind and then leave.
After all, he didn't really harbor such poor opinions of
his companions. But to day, some of the visiting thoughts
were poor guests that overstayed their welcome and refused to depart. Wisely,
the elf kept to himself and tried to concentrate on
putting one foot in front of the other. Like on
(09:30):
the day before, Robin came and went. Upon each return,
the little stuffed bird would perch on Cord's shoulder and
twitter into his painted ear. To anyone watching, it would
look as though the bird was scouting ahead and making reports.
This is exactly what was taking place. The connection between
the construct and the taxidermy Burt was richer now than
(09:51):
it had ever been before. Kord learned that there was
no food in the woods to the north, that the
way east was free of danger, and that in general
there was no sign of any man made structures anywhere.
Robin also fretted about the coming rain. As for that
everyone consensus storm was on his way. The temperature had dropped,
and there was a certain smell in the air that
(10:12):
presaged rain. The weather came on slowly, beginning in the afternoon,
with soft, scattered drops that tapped gently while the tree
tops and moss covered rocks. Then came a breeze that
stiffened into a cool wind. It tugged at branches and
bent the tall grass. The rain came heavier, now falling
(10:34):
in relentless sheets on top of the companion's heads. The
ground became impregnated with water, and soon the rain was
sluicing down slope and valley in muddy streams. Above, the
sky had darkened to purple. Distant thunder rumbled and then
cracked overhead. Forks of lightning flashed between the trees, turning
(10:55):
wet trunks into momentary columns of silver. The unhappy compared
onions dashed ahead, looking for shelter, and their boots sculched
in the sodden earth. Over there, cried ten Tyre, pointing
at something through the slanting rainfall. His eyes had always
been the sharpest. That the younger brother had spotted the
hollowed out bowl of an oak that was tall, but
(11:16):
not so tall as to be a potential target for lightning. There,
barely covered in the crabbed woody hollow, the companions huddled
and shivered, soaked to the skin around them, the tempest raged,
battering trees and earth alike. Both of my previous seasons
(11:40):
ran for exactly seventy six episodes, so one might suppose
it follows that this episode is the halfway mark for
season three. That might be true or not if I
remember right, I was kind of aiming for numbers seventy
five to be the finale in season one, you know,
hoping for a nice round number, but was unable to
make that happen without rushing the story. In season two,
(12:03):
ending on number seventy six was pure coincidence. I definitely
remember that. For this season, the plan is to just
keep the story going until it naturally inclines towards a resolution,
and to trust my gut to recognize when that stressed
to happen, so it could run longer or shorter, or
be the same. Again. One advantage of a longer campaign
(12:23):
is that I get to experience and explore higher level play,
so I might make an effort to make that happen,
but not at the expense of story or pacing. With
all that in mind, I think the time is right
to broaden this story, and it's only recently that I
realized how to do it. But let me ease into
that by way of a between the lines segment. It's
been a while since I've done one of those between
(12:50):
the lines. The high Lands and the Golden Path Fairwood
and Achillia both believe that they have crossed a boundary
and entered a region where magic is stronger. It's hard
to deny that this is the case. Consider Reason encounters,
a giant forest troll, a dryad, and a displacer beast,
(13:10):
all confronted in the lands between de Roth and the mountains. Furthermore,
the pieces have been having much more vivid and meaningful
dreams since crossing into these parts. So what's so special
about this place? A lot turns out. You might have
noticed that a kind of convergence is happening here in
the highlands. Coming together in this area, we had the
(13:32):
ill fated Dorothi and the historian odok Zygogue. Which of
these arrived first is as yet unknown. In case you're wondering,
of course, the PCEs have also been drawn here. And finally,
this Fimgrin atresh in his iron tower that disappears and
reappears in new locations, but is definitely moving in this direction.
For all parties except for the Pieces, the reason for
(13:55):
coming here is the same. Everyone is looking for something
called the golden path. What is this golden path and
why is it so sought after? The highlands are sacred
to the goddess Ahea, who in my campaign is the
goddess of magic. Here magic is stronger, more chaotic, and
more elemental. This explains all the strange dreams and strange creatures.
(14:17):
Legends are full of magical places and boundaries, ley lines,
magic nodes, and geomant formations. The Golden Path, whether it
is a metaphorical or a real path, leads to the
most potent of any of these concentrations of magical energies,
because it leads to the first Temple of Aheia and
ultimately to the manifestation of the Goddess herself. Knowing that
(14:41):
is it any wonder why so many people are looking
for it and why they do so in secret. For
a wizard or a cleric of Aheya, the search for
the Golden Path is the ultimate quest. Odog Zygog is
a historian who has spent his entire life in research
looking for clues to its location. The Derothian he had
the first Scroll of Galandal, which provided enough information to
(15:03):
get them close, but that group ultimately failed in their task.
The PCs now carry the first Scroll. I wonder whatever
happened to the second Chapter thirty eight, Part three, Day
(15:30):
thirty five afternoon, on a hillside less than two dozen
miles from where the party was taking shelter from the
raging storm, the Traveling Tower of Iron sat on a
hill battered by the storm. From the outside, inside it
was warm and quiet, very quiet. Fimgrim Atrash shifted uncomfortably
(15:59):
in his chair and set down his cup of bitter tea,
looking across the table at Bellario. The little gnome was
chewing his lip and frowning at his plate of food,
while pushing bits of meat around on his plate without eating.
Fim Grinn's natural impulse would be to make a joke
or offer some kind of comfort, but at this moment
he found his natural mirth impotent in the face of
(16:21):
the other's mood. Before the meal, Fim had heard Blario
all the way from the bottom floor of their tower,
bellowing curses great in both volume and vulgarity. Presently, Blario
looked up. His eyes were red rimmed.
Speaker 5 (16:37):
We must return to the pail.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
He said. His voice sounded tired and heavy today. Surely
not so soon, Fim had said. Putting down his fork
with a bit of cheese still speared on its tip,
he tried to argue, and then when that didn't work,
he tried bargaining, but there was nothing he could say
to change the GNOME's mind. Very well, he said at last,
(16:59):
with a sigh. There was a price to pay every
time they entered and every time they left the pail
Ethereal travel did not come without a cost. Belario didn't
seem to care whether or not Fim approved of the decision.
He pushed away his untasted food.
Speaker 5 (17:15):
After you clean up, I want you to practice what
I taught you yesterday. By the time I return, you
will have recreated this meal for me sight, smell, and
taste using a spectral force incantation.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Yes, Master Fibbid replied, as you wish.
Speaker 5 (17:35):
Until then, do not disturb me. I have work to do.
There are yet more secrets to be copsed from that
damn scroll.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Belario squeezed his tiny heads into fists, and the knuckles
turned white. On one of his fingers, a silver ring
that with a black and gold gem caught the light
and twinkled.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
But I will have them.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Chapter thirty eight, Part four, Day thirty five, within one
day of their destination night mythic event meaning abandoned anger
party status. The party status is unchanged. The rain continued
(18:31):
to hammer down all around the companions as they huddled
inside the hollow bowl of the yak. They were pressed
so tightly together it was hard to tell where one
person began and the other ended. Despite this, the shelter
was not sufficient to keep them dry, and before long
those who wore such things could feel water in their
clothes and in their boots. It had gotten into their
(18:52):
packs too. The massa bell's ruins, said Doretti miserably. We're
out of food. Derny wasn't really that upset ative the
massible that had so little remaining that food was about
to become a big problem regardless. Now Dernni's troubles were
more of a spiritual variety. He was certain he'd be
forced to relive the experience of losing the Old Crow
(19:14):
again in his dreams that night. Recently, he couldn't stop
wondering might he have been able to save his former
mentor if only he'd made a different choice. Thinking back,
he was fairly sure he'd heard no more than three
workish voices during the pursuit, but he would never know
the Old Crow was dead. He was alive. What might
(19:36):
have been was a fool's refrain. Some time after midnight,
the storm passed and the clouds overhead parted to reveal
a blurry yellow half moon suspended in the firmament. Exhausted,
most of the companions simply curled up on the ground
and tried to find sleep, not even bothering to unpack
their bed rolls. Before Faerwin turned in, he put his
(19:57):
hands on court and said a prayer of thank you,
my friend, for always keeping watch over us, he said.
When the prayer was done, Cord had creaked and bowed
in gratitude and acknowledgement, and then walked off always to
sit his nightly vigil with Robin on his shoulder. Since
(20:29):
the PCs were delayed by the storm, I need to
make one more set of hex crawl rules for day
thirty six before they can reach their destination, or at
least the general vicinity of it. For weather, I've got
a nineteen looks like after the storm breaks, the weather
becomes gorgeous for stumble upon. The sixteen means no result
there foraging with Cord's help, A one is a success,
(20:53):
and not a day too soon either is. The PCs
currently have no food remaining, so far so good. But
here's the rule that really matters. The real cost of
that storm was not that the PCs lost the last
of their food. The real cost was that it delayed them,
and so they'll need to endure an extra wandering encounter.
Check a five or six on a D six will
(21:14):
indicate there is one on nuts. I knew it. That's
a five. There's one more role to make, and that's
fair winds cure light wounds spell of the night before.
As a result of the prayer, Cord will regain four
hit points Chapter thirty eight, Part five, Day thirty six
(21:40):
within one day of their destination morning mythic event meaning
abandoned anger party status Achille thirteen of thirteen hit points,
Cord twenty four of twenty four, de Renni sixteen of sixteen,
(22:00):
ten Tier nineteen of nineteen, fair Wind nineteen of twenty six.
After receiving one point of natural healing Flicker sixteen of
sixteen supplies, the companions have no food, remaining spells available.
Achille can cast enlarge message, glitter dust and detect evil.
(22:27):
Cord can cast entangle slow poison, hold animal, and speak
with plants. Fair Wind can cast cure light wounds and
protection from evil. In the morning, the companions awoke to
find that the rain had stopped and de Rennie was gone.
(22:49):
At first, there was some mild alarm, but Cord, who
never slept, had seen the eleven hunter get up before
the others and walk away, gesturing in such a fashion
as to make it clear he'd know. I don't want to
be followed. Court hadn't thought much of it. For those
who were not made of wood, the need for occasional
access to privacy was normal. The fact that Derni had
been gone for over an hour had only just started
(23:11):
to concern him when the others had woken up and
noticed the absence. Do you think we ought to go
looking for him, asked Sherwood. I hope he's all right,
said Achilia.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
Perhaps we should let me.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
Go alone, Tinder offered, easily guessing the meaning of your exchange.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
My brother sometimes does this. I think I know what's
bothering him.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
You don't suppose he's still angry with me, do you, asked.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Akilia, scratching Flicker behind the ears and looking down at
the blink dog meaningfully. Dornni had not made his disdain
for the animal the secret No no.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
If I'm right, this doesn't have anything to do with
you or with any of us. Sometimes do Reni just
needs time alone, that's all to think, and threw a
few things from his past.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Ten Tier walked off in the direction cord Hat pointed,
leaving the others behind. Once he was gone, Achillia put
her hands behind her head and, in one fluid motion,
peeled off her wet shirt. Fair Wind was facing the
other way and didn't notice until he turned around while asking.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
And what did Tintia say about deham I?
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Oh, The sight of Achillie naked from the waist up
made him quickly turn away. I I I'm sorry, sorry
for what, asked Kilia, not understanding.
Speaker 4 (24:34):
Tintu thinks to Renni needs some time alone to think.
That's all, to be honest, he has looked very tired
and lately he's been very irritable, which is not really
like him anyway, It gives us time to dry her clothes.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
She flung her shirt over a low branch and then
stripped off her pants and undergarments. These she hung beside
her shirt. As she worked, Flicker gambled around her, making
a nuisance of herself. Fair Wind deeply uncomfortable, found various
places to dry their bedrolls and packs. Before he too,
hung up his damp, ragged robe his small clothes, he
(25:07):
decided would stay on for the sake of propriety. Intentionally
averting his gaze from Achille's naked form, the cleric pretended
to be lost in thought while scanning the distance, where
sloping hillsides folded into gullies and valleys all around them.
The forest was fresh and bright, and bird song filled
the air. Behind him. He could hear achillea telling cord
(25:29):
that he seemed to have changed once again, and she
counted off four tiny sprouts that hadn't been on his
body before. Perhaps I should go and speak to him
with your help. Of course, Ferwind suddenly said, standing by
while others needed counsel and support, not to mention Achille's
nakedness was making him feel uncomfortable.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Let's just give them some time, was Achillie's reply.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
Her tone was light but nonetheless did not invite argument.
I ah ah, yes, yes, of course. Everyind returned his
attention to the beauty of the landscape. Miles off he
could just make out the telltale sparkle of water the lake.
Perhaps with some luck, he mused, today, they would reach
their destination and finally meet the famous historian odok Zygog.
(26:22):
Happy Halloween everyone. Hey, I admit this was not the
spookiest episode of Manticore ever, but hey, Bellori of the
Gnome was pretty greedy, right. And you know what else
is scary The amount of support I get from my
awesome listeners for recommending the show online and friends for
a liking and reposting episode announcement on social media. For
(26:43):
those who picked up a Tale of the Mandicore t
shirt at Barard's Dot store or one of my offerings
I'll drive through RPG. I'm very grateful. Those ratings and
reviews are always helpful to my Thanks once again today,
I'd like to read a review from Apple Podcasts left
by Lord kimg. Lord Kimji writes, So, I was traveling
solo and needed something to listen to, and because I
(27:03):
recently got back into D and D after decades off,
I searched and found this. I was instantly hooked. That
was two weeks ago, and now I am on season two,
episode forty. I have left and cried and shatted at
the narrator. I recommend this to anyone interested in great
storytelling and solo gameplay. Thanks very much, Lord Kimchi solo
(27:24):
Traveling got back into D and D after decades off.
That sounds familiar. I'm so happy that you found the show. Actually,
I'm also excited to hear that if someone searches for
a good D and D podcast that they will come
across my own, so that is really good to hear. Anyway,
I truly appreciate the review and I hope you enjoy
the rest of season two and I give this season
to try as well. Tale of the mantagre my Pa
(27:46):
which is brew of ingredients, but it's not so secret.
Special ingredient is his cast of voice actors. Today's episode
features the core cast of Ky Ellen, Kevin Barringer, and
David Cooper playing to Ready ten Tier in Fairwood. As usual,
all of them nailed their part, joining us once again
in the role of fimogram atrush is Ian Woodworth of
the Undercommon Taste podcast and returning to the show and
(28:08):
bringing us the voice of Bellario. The nome is the
fantastic p dag RPG. Thanks to all five actors in
this episode. For those curious to learn more about Tale
of the Manticore. I keep a blog where I post
all kinds of show and RPG related stuff like sketches, maps, tables, crafts,
and show notes. You can find it at tale Ofthemanticore
dot com. To get in touch with me, I'm at
(28:28):
Solo Roleplayers Network dot com, Tale of Themanticor dot Blue
Sky dot Social, Tale of the Manticore podcast on Instagram,
or Tale of Themanticre at gmail dot com. I always
love to hear from you, so if you have a
question or you have something to say, shoot me a note.
With that said, have a spectacular Halloween everyone, and I'll
see you on the next episode of Tale of the Manticor.
(28:49):
It's the story for Chaos Rolls.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.