Moat House Gold

We find our three adventures in a seathy traven taking instructions of an ill tempered dwarf Gundren Rockerseeker and his quiet bodyguard Sildar Hallwinter. Splendorous, Sandowish and Azorio are to take Gundren’s cart of mining provisions and meet him in the town of Phandalin for a little bit of gold and a wager.

On their way to Phandalin the three found Gundren and Sildars horses killed on the road. The culprits, a group of clumsy goblins, spilled onto the road from their hiding place while fighting among themselves. They were easily disposed of and the three adventures followed their foot trail back to a cave guard by a pair of sleeping goblins in a briar patch. Sandowhish climbed to the top of the cave mouth and killed both goblins in their sleep with one arrow each. 

Our adventures now stand at the entrance of the cave not knowing what awaits them in the dark.

Do to Covid-19 Moat House Gold has not been able to record in person. After waiting too long for Covid to blow over we decide to do the most cliche thing in a D&D podcast and play the starter set Mine of Phandelver with the pre-made character sheets. We are recording over video chat to stay safe from each other.

Hey, everyone. This is Anson, Edward on the podcast. Moat House Gold wants to thank all of our fans for listening to this very long first season. The reason we are starting a new season is so new listeners can jump right into Moat House Gold but most importantly we need you, our fans, to encourage others to start listening once the second season starts.

Moat House Gold also wants to engage with our listener more that is why at end of the last episode during the banter we issued two channeleges. We want to see your plague rat. What’s its name? What does it look like? What’s its personality? Or make a drawing or photo of Demarus the Pumpkin Queen in an Overwatch outfit or any outfit. We hope to have a collection of Demarus Jack O'Lanterns for Halloween. Please email us your pictures and we’ll throw them up on Instagram. There is also a lot of recording that isn’t used on the podcast. Fans have expressed interest in a banter episode. If that is something you would want to listen to let us know. We also want to hear what you like or didn’t like from the first season. Your feedback helps us make a better podcast.

Thank you to Colin / Wulf, Braden / Stebe, and Yosie / Eramus for starting this project with me. They all have families, work and school so the time they dedicated to recording is alway a privilege. Big thanks to our biggest fan Will and Emily. Shout out to California who has a surprisingly large listenership. 

To recap the second season is so new listeners have a great place to start listening to Moat House Gold. The first episode of the second season will hopefully be released before the end of April. Thank you to everyone involved with the podcast. We couldn’t do it without this community.

Moat House Gold stood before a pyramid of bones when a single skull tumbled from its perch on high, landing at Edward's feet. Edward picked up the skull and hurdled it back at the pyramid, but instead of the monolith toppling over the mass of bones suddenly came to life, lunging at us! Edward was able to fend off the construct’s initial attack by emitting flames from the palms of his hands, but the construct struck back, slamming Edward against the dungeon walls. Eramus then blocked the construct’s path with his spiraling spiritual weapon, allowing for us to escape further down the hallway towards the sound of flowing water. We soon discovered a stream in the middle of a large chamber, but there was little safety to be found at the water’s edge as more hostile constructs quickly began to emerge from the shadows. In desperation, we plunged into the shallow river of stinking water and struggled upstream to safety. When we finally emerged from the underground reservoir we were surprised to find ourselves on the side of a craggy mountain!

The rocks tore at our feet as I, Wulf, Son of Wulf, Son of the Wilderness led us further up the mountain, and just as we began to make camp on a plateau we heard what sounded to be the snarling of a vicious dog. After hurriedly climbing the trees for safety, we watched as a giant elk emerged from an extradimensional portal atop a rocky spur. It approached our direction, and when it drew near it turned into a man! I immediately recognized that we were finally in the presence of the one known as "the Mad Mage", although this was clearly not his true form.  The sorcerer then demanded that we present ourselves at once. Curiously, he seemed to know Edward, although he called him "the Black Scale Knight", and he also seemed to know of Stebe’s bardic family, speaking of a dark curse which haunted their bloodline. Now feeling comfortable with Moat House Gold, he led us back to the rocky outcropping, peeled back reality, and escorted us through the portal... whereupon we immediately found ourselves under the same night sky of Rococo Manor, a place of great terror where my companions had just previously escaped!

Moat House Gold is trapped in an ancient dungeon! The entrance guarded by an emaciated demon whose fiery breath laps against the cut stone walls. Leaning against an ornate sarcophagus we found Wulf injured from his fall.  However, there was also an adjacent room which hosted another sarcophagus, now exposed to the frigid sky. Edward slowly crept toward the tomb to examine the content inside, only to find the skeleton of a paladin of the Morninglord clutching a mace.  Unfortunately, in his excitement Edward had thrown off the tomb’s lid with a crash, which alerted the flying demon encamped at the dungeon entrance and preventing their escape. As the flapping of massive wings approached, Edward with mace in tow, dashed back to the party and tossed the weapon into my hands.  I, Erasmus, could feel the holy power of the sun surging through the mace as soon as my fingers curled around the handle. We must be on the correct path since Lathander as given me this great symbol of his righteousness, though Stebe’s rat-headed pendent gives me pause, as it compels plague-infested rats to do his bidding.  However, it's undeniable that this strange power did end up having some value, as the rat was able to search rooms in advance of us. As we moved deeper into the dungeon, I discovered that we were in a subterranean tomb of the mysterious sun god Pelor, but as we continued exploring we encountered a bizarre pyramid of skulls and bones.  What evil force has perverted this sacred tomb? I'm certain that I will soon discover the mighty power that is imbued within this heavy mace in the heat of this impending battle.

Wulf lead Moat House Gold from Rictovio’s cave into the snow filled forest where behind every tree lurked the undead. The forest gave away to a snowy valley. The only way to the otherside was to cross an aging rope bridge that flapped in the wind. Stebe overconfident from his last battle demanded that he be the first across the bridge. Stebe is more graceful with his words than his feet because while Stebe dangled high above the valley floor the first gust of wind knocked him from his perch. As he laid hurt at the bottom of the valley Eramus notices a spick growing in the distant sky. The valley floor began to rumble. Before Stebe had time to react a skeleton like construct burst up from the ground. Wulf sprung into action nibbling moving down the valley walls. Eramus on the other hand tumble down into the valley only to be hypnotized by the swaying of the constructs. I Edward slung arrows from atop the valley walls. Stebe was able to break the construct spells with an illusion of maddened Berovian farmers. Wulf noticed that the spick in the sky had grown into a flying demon. Wulf made his way to a stone shelter to draw the demon further down the valley but as the flying demon was about to reach Wulf, he disappeared into the ground leaving Moat House Gold to fend for ourselves. Eramus tried to turn undead several time but releasing that his sacred spell had no effect on the construct Eramus along with Stebe made haste to the stone structure leaving me to fight off the two remaining constructs. I was able to lose them inside the forest. While I stumble down the valley toward the stone structure the flying demon caught sight of me. When I entered the stone shelter all I found was a pair of closed door. I throw the door open doors and delved into the dark shutting the doors behind me as the demon fiery breath lapped at the entrance. There in the subterranean I found Stebe and Eramus cowering around a dim light afraid to move forward. If the undead and demons are what we have encountered in broad daylight image what Moat House Gold will find in the dungeon below.

What miserable creatures we are as we huddle in Rictovio’s damp cave to escape the frigid snow outside. We are badly beaten and bruised from our battle with Strahd’s undead warriors. Edward did a fine job holding back the lumbering beast with his flaming sword but I had to come to his and Erasmus’s rescue with the green eyed ghoul who had stripped them both of their magic. All it took was one swipe of my sword for the spook to evaporate and barley had it dissipated when healing words left my lips to spur Edward on to set the lumbering beast ablaze. Quite honestly I don’t know if they would have survived without me. That’s when Wulf lead us to Rictovio’s cave. What a strange half-elf. He is a bard like me Stebe Stembal but there is something off about it him. I cannot put my finger upon it. He even seemed to know Edward and Erasmus. Strangest of all is Rictovio had an unquenchable throat for Vistoni blood. He seemed to think that eradicating the Vistoni will stop Strahd. Moat House Gold does not wish to be apart of his murderous ways. Instead we are blindly following Wulf to meet the Mad Mage who Wulf says he can somehow trick into sending us back to the Sword Coast. For now we rest around the fire with our bodies wrapped in furs and our bellies filled with rabbit stew.

I, Wulf, Son of Wulf, Son of the Wilderness have finally convinced Moat House Gold to leave with me to retrieve riches I have hidden among the ruins of an ancient moat house, but not before the three entangled themselves in Boriva’s meager problems. After Moat House Gold left my tavern they were led by Father Donivan to what was left of the town’s Church of Luthandar. Moat House Gold expected to find the corpse of Father Donivan’s son Duro but instead they heard the child’s voice calling up for the church’s cellar for his nightly meal. Erasmus pressed Father Donivan about the matter until he confessed that his son had become vampiric and the only way to save his damned soul was to kill the boy then resurrect him in hopes he would return to his former self. 

The cellar door was thrown open. Father Donivan called down for Duro to show himself but when Duro did not come a scuffle between the priest and Edward broke out forcing Father Donivan to cry out for Duro’s help. The demon child came flying out from the dark drawing blood from Edward’s cheek. Stebe’s used soothing words to claim the undead boy and Erasmus said a prayer to relieve Duro of his sight. As Duro laid in a serene state Erasmus used the opportunity to plunge a stake into Duro’s heart. The child thrashed on the ground screaming for the dark lord’s help. Edward threw Father Donivan aside, raised his foot, and stomped the stake deeper into Duro’s chest. The church fell silent. 

The two priest wasted no time summing Luthandar to revive Duro. A great light came and went but the boy remained lifeless. There was nothing to do as the town’s people pounded at the church door. Stebe plied magic makeup to look like Duro while Edward kicked the child’s corpse back into the cellar.

When the church door was opened the town’s people believed they had just witnessed a miracle. They raised Erasmus and Stebe still in disguise into the air as the clouds parted and a single ray of light shone onto the mob inspiring them to storm the castle. In this moment of calm I told Moat House Gold of all the dangers that awaited them in Castle Ravenloft. Our adventurers were more interested in the promise of gold and safety rather than certain death by Count Strahd’s hands that awaited them. Now we are off to collect my hidden treasure.

The best laid plans often go awry, but as Moat House Gold squabbles among themselves in the Wulf’s Lair tavern, no clear path is evident. Our debate was soon interrupted by a powerful warrior, Apollonia, whom Stebe quickly took a shining too. Apollonia demanded that we join her for the carriage ride to confront Count Strahd directly, but the ranger Wulf seemed to have other ideas. He had been hauled back to Barovia many times by the same insidious fog that had brought us to this cursed land. Wulf explained that he had learned how to escape Barovia and now wished for us to join him on a lucrative heist of a moat house as reimbursement for our safe passage out of Barovia, though doing so would not still the ever-encroaching fog of Barovia from following us. For that we would have to curry favor with the leader of the Vistani. However, before much headway could be made Father Donovan, the towns priest of Lathander, came crashing into the tavern in search of Erasmus. Upon seeing Erasmus’ palm emblazoned with the symbol of Lathander, Father Donovan begged for Erasmus to raise his son from the dead. What happened next was quite touching. The two priests pressed their palms together reproducing the symbol of Lathander onto Father Donovan’s hand. There was no discussion after that for the two priests were out the door before another word could be uttered. Stebe and Apollonia, hand in hand, chased after the holymen. I Edward, the Black Lich Knight, will let Tempus through my fate to the winds. As I trail behind the rest, Father Dovonan lead the way to his son’s corpse. Unfortunately for the priest he will receive his deepest desire, but it will only be a twisted likeness of its former self. He will do his child no favor by ripping his soul back from the grave.

From my tavern window I saw the entire scene. Moat House Gold marching into the center of town only to find the burnt corpse of their companion Onthar Frune still smoldering. Edward beat his chest threatening revenge against Rahadean unaware of the evil his tiny frame holds. The tell tale look on Erasmus’s face told me he could hear the chorus of torchered souls. I don’t know how or when Luthandar’s light shone upon Erasmus. It is a powerful but dangerous alliance to have in Barovia. When Erasmus’ prayer went out to stop Rahadean’s perverted chore I was surprised Erasmus was not killed on the spot. Nobley Erasmus’ faith never faltered even with the edge of a blade to his throat.

Whatever Edward haphazardly said in that moment caused Rahadean to show the true nature of the undead choir. Moat House Gold fell to their knees. I could hear Stebe’s muffled screams through the thin pains of glass in Wulf’s Lair as he writhed in pain on the ground. Edward my be brash but he proved himself to not be stupid when he ask for forgiveness from Rahadean. When I saw Moat House Gold’s tensed muscles relax and Rahadean donned his top hat I assume he offered his customary carriage ride to Strahd’s castle at dusk.

After Rahadean exited the gruesome scene Moat House Gold, being the true pragmatists that they are, went straight to the blacksmith to outfit themselves with weaponry. Blargous and Pimperwinkle need to invest in curtains because Edward’s flaming sword was quite the site. Hopefully having a tangible symbol of Tempus will start Edward on a path of redemption.

As the three limped toward my tavern licking their wounds there will be much to discuss but all I, Wulf, Son of Wulf, Son of the Wilderness want to tell them is to run. Run while you can.