Welcome to Cast Party’s actual play podcast. In PodCast Party: Descent Into Avernus, Dungeon Master Matt Gordon leads players Tal Aviezer, Andy Cannistra, Carolyn Fox, and Rachel Tamarin from the shadows of Baldur’s Gate to the front lines of the planes-spanning Blood War. In Episode 4, the adventurers explore a secret temple hidden in the sewers below Baldur’s Gate.

Level Up: Darkvision. In this episode, Corbin calls upon the power of his god, Ilmater, to help the adventurers see in the dark. He does this using a special ability granted to clerics of the Twilight Domain, introduced in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything:

Welcome to Cast Party’s actual play podcast. In PodCast Party: Descent Into Avernus, Dungeon Master Matt Gordon leads players Tal Aviezer, Andy Cannistra, Carolyn Fox, and Rachel Tamarin from the shadows of Baldur’s Gate to the front lines of the planes-spanning Blood War. In episode 3, the adventurers continue their investigation into the cult of the Dead Three. But first they must survive a deadly fight with pirates at the Elfsong Tavern.

Level Up: Why does Renascence have cantrips? Listeners may have noticed that Renascence uses the Guidance cantrip in this episode. In previous episodes, he has made liberal use of the Thaumaturgy cantrip, which he can use as a result of his fiendish tiefling heritage. But longtime D&D players may be wondering where his additional cantrips come from. Since the 5th Edition of Dungeons & Dragons was released in 2014, paladins have not had access to cantrips. But that changed in late 2020 with the release of Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, which included new Fighting Style Options for paladins. One of these options is “Blessed Warrior”, which allows the paladin to select two cleric cantrips:

…so Renascence has had the Thaumaturgy cantrip since level 1 because he’s a tiefling. At level 2, he chose the Blessed Warrior style and learned the Guidance cantrip…as well as one additional cantrip that will be revealed in Episode 4!

Welcome to Cast Party’s actual play podcast. In PodCast Party: Descent Into Avernus, Dungeon Master Matt Gordon leads players Tal Aviezer, Andy Cannistra, Carolyn Fox, and Rachel Tamarin from the shadows of Baldur’s Gate to the front lines of the planes-spanning Blood War. In episode 2, the adventurers arrive at Elfsong Tavern to question a spy named Tarina about the cult of the Dead Three. But surprises both supernatural and extremely physical await.

“The Song of Elturel” heard in this episode was performed by Arianna Ferrara Gennari (used by permission). Thanks Arianna!

Lyrics (by M.T. Black):

O sing a song of Elturel

Of water, woods, and hill

The sun dawns on her ruddy cliffs

And fields green and still.

This land of long-abiding joy

Home of the strong and brave

Renowned by all, across the realms,

And never once a slave.

O sing a song of Elturel

When foes are at her door

Her fields torn by cloven feet

From some infernal shore.

Arise the mighty Hellriders

Take up your swift, keen swords

Then charge into the hellish fray

And scatter devil hordes.

O sing a song of Elturel

And when the night does fall

Sleep safe beneath Companion’s light

Until the dawn does call.

We’re bound by mortal covenant

That only ends with death

And so we’ll sing of Elturel

Until our final breath.

Welcome to Cast Party’s first actual play podcast. In PodCast Party: Descent Into Avernus, Dungeon Master Matt Gordon leads players Tal Aviezer, Andy Cannistra, Carolyn Fox, and Rachel Tamarin from the shadows of Baldur’s Gate to the front lines of the planes-spanning Blood War. Do the adventurers have what it takes to turn infernal war machines and nefarious contracts against the archdevil Zariel and her diabolical hordes? And can they ever hope to find their way home safely when pitted against the infinite evils of the Nine Hells?