The Medusa's Cascade

With the help of Galahad, Hoshino, and Arguile, Shanks realizes that connecting with Zechs requires speaking to him rather than at him. They have a heartfelt conversation that brings them closer than ever. Arguile dreams from the perspective of a man named Urich, interacting with his mother, Dorna, in the strange land of Narkorua. Galahad receives a vision guiding him to a Uniluum warrior in Drose. The group then encounters a floating stone face, offering three questions. Through these, they gain prophecies about the future, including insights into Zechs's situation with Malar.

As the group navigates these revelations, Shanks dreams of an orcish figure, and Glad encounters her alternate self in a vivid interaction about her faith and the death of her husband. Various group members have visions and dreams tied to their past and future, including Hoshino seeing a mysterious woman and Salix communicating with a Void Dragon. Once they arrive in Drose, they meet Chantico, the protector of the Eternal Flame, and are split up to complete their tasks. Galahad is tasked with mentoring Xoco, a Guardian of Drose, and the rest of the group meets Tozi, who provides them with crucial historical insights.

As they explore the city, Arguile and Shanks are robbed by an old man and his cat but successfully retrieve their stolen goods after a tense exchange. Zechs meets Isolde, a tiefling scholar, who gives him essential knowledge about Malar and his role within the Pantheran Pantheon. The group reconnects later, sharing updates on their tasks and planning their next steps. Galahad takes on his role as Xoco’s mentor, and the group prepares to face new challenges in Drose.

There’s so much happening, and we pick up with arc 22, “ The Second Coming”. How will the rest of this story unfold? Find out next time on the Medusa’s Cascade: Collateral Damage!

Theme music is written and performed by The Floating Lighthouse

Read & Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

It’s been three weeks since last we heard from our party. Things went off the rails when some dragons showed up at the Monastery of Perpetuity. Valen dipped out with the Unillum child Soris, Thorak & Ursus went after them, and Dona & Bob jumped the following night. They ended up in vastly different parts of the plane. Luckily Dona and Bob found themselves a tavern (The Second Turtle Inn) and a Bard in Tradeshore, named Roscoe, who could send out a message to their friends. The message boiled down to “Get your asses down to Tradeshore so we can regroup and figure out what to do from here.” Over the next three weeks Thorak, Ursus, and Valen found their way down to the southern coastal city of Tradeshore. Bob, Dona, and Valen reconnect first, and while they’re exploring the city they happen in a tavern called the Witty Glaive. And that is where we pick up…

Theme Music "Sunk Cost Fallacy" is written and performed by The Floating Lighthouse

We return to the group as Hoshino begins a Spirit Session. A spattering of different spirits arrives and helps guide him to the knowledge he seeks. With the acquired Legend Lore spell, he begins to gather the group again to perform the ritual. He seeks information on Iolan and gains somewhat cryptic information regarding her after the spell. The group gathers that there is a throughline of connection to Antithesis, Iolan, and Hoshino. After more thought and talk surrounding the Legend Lore, the group hears a voice saying, “That was impressive.” An unfamiliar voice to Hoshino in particular, but the group as well… until they turn to see Kyver in their presence… except… changed somehow? His accent is gone, he looks presentable, and he informs the group that he goes by the name Greyleaf. Rapidly, questions, disbelief, relief, and jokes form.

Finding and investigating the former quarters of Iolan, the party comes across a library with many books that, while not magical, are rich with information on all the various schools of magic. Also, in this library, they come across a map of Sloane that is not the Sloane that they now know but one that is likely from ages gone by. After, with Jrehg's guidance, they wander around the burial site of a large-scale battle. They don’t find much of note other than the appearance of a grave where someone once laid, which shows the handmarks of someone climbing out of their grave. They give Chantico, Tozi, and Xoco their findings and head back to the inn to find Hoshino in a better state than they left him. 

After catching up with the party, Hoshino reveals that he was the cause of the calamity during that age of Sloane. With this, he tells them that Eldertwine is the plague that took hold of the plane of Sloane. He goes on to explain that in his pursuit to thwart death towards the later years of his life, he found what is called Antithesis—one of the entities that oppose the Daughters and with whom he struck a deal. However, he tells them of this fateful encounter and his trials to get his gift of extended life at a high cost. 

After this, the party takes a second to process what they heard but extend to Hoshino nothing but empathy as they know it is not a choice that came lightly. Going through the books and map the group took from the library, the group realizes that Iolan must have also sought Antihesis. According to the journals, the last entries appear to line up before the end of that age. The group begins to separate and do what they can to train, gain information, rest, or make sense of the recent events. Arguile reaches out to the soul in his sword, figures out the dynamic between Ÿbo and Iolan, and what other information she can provide that would help in any way.

There's so much happening, and that's where we pick up…

In the northern reaches of Granzia sits a region that is often left to its own devices. Rugged mountains, tundra, and a slumbering ancient white dragon are all features of the Coldbring region.

In the ninth episode of Across the Planes, Tom, Tone (Galahad), and Floki (Redacted) discuss and come up with the lore surrounding the region of Coldbring. Over the course of the conversation, they discuss the culture, religion, industry, and overall vibe of the northern reaches of Granzia.

VO: Antonio Perez, Floki the DM

Welcome to Part 3 of the Prologue of our new monthly campaign: Blood & Booze! Over the summer we will set up the events leading into the first adventure: The Scorching Sun. Each prologue will provide context to the adventure as well as 2 character profiles and player profiles from the party. This episode features the profiles of Ursus and Dona, and their players Tone and Cheyenne. Thanks for joining us and we hope to see you next month!

Narration written & recorded by Thomas Lapierre III

Ursus by Antonio Perez

Dona by Cheyenne Clardy

Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

With the siege of Drose reaching its conclusion. Most of the party helps the citizens as best as possible and regroups outside the temple. As the adrenaline leaves Hoshino, he’s shocked and heads to the Inn with Glad. The party, minus Zechs, catches each other up on what they’ve experienced and uses their shared knowledge to inform their next steps. Together, they recount the story Bound to the Void, the conversation that Gerviss had with Salix, Arguile had with Ÿbo, and any other information they’ve gathered so far. It’s decided that Arguile would likely need to speak with Fel once more and Ÿbo again after that. Salix speaks to Gerviss and he informs them that Iolan and Ÿbo are lovers. Outside of that, he didn’t have much more information to offer as he was unaware of their story.

On the other hand, Zechs decides to head back to the Scholar’s Enclave to seek information regarding the creatures that attempted to overtake the city and figure out any info regarding Eldertwine. Regrouping with the rest of the team, Zechs catches up and divulges the information he gleaned to the team. A critical few details arise… Iolan mentioned Hoshino Matsuo by his full name and said she was there to give her regards. She spoke with Arguile directly briefly and insulated that Ÿbo was not trustworthy. Together, they head over to Tozi and explain what happened based on what they saw. They also give her information about Iolan being the culprit. Tozi is grateful for their help in protecting the city and its people. She asks that the group remain in Drose for a few more days to ensure the citizens' safety in the event of another attack. The party agrees, and they again begin to disperse throughout the city. There's so much happening, and that's where we pick up…

Find out what happens next in this episode of the Medusa’s Cascade: Collateral Damage!

We return to the battle with Xoco, Galahad, and the intruders of Drose. Upon the enemy’s defeat, Xoco makes the call to abandon her trial and realizes that Drose is under siege and needs the champion’s protection. We then pan over to Hoshino and Zechs I'm the Scholar’s Ward and enjoy themselves until a mysterious figure disrupts the history lesson, leaving Hoshino in a state of shock and Zechs uncertain of what to do. We finish with Salix and Gerviss discussing Salix’s disdain and history with Dragonkin. It is an exchange of understanding, empathy, and guidance of their newfound abilities. However, Drose is under siege and the conversation is cut short. There's so much happening, and that's where we pick up…

In the northwest corner of The Heartwood, nestled between the Shattered Range and the Tempest’s Gauntlet sits the segmented Elven city of Invenas. Settled in the early days of recorded history, this city started as a religious site settled by six clans of Elves. In the eighth episode of Across the Planes, Tom embarks on a solo mission to finish fleshing out the infamous city of Invenas. Over the course of the episode, he discusses the culture, religion, industry, and overall vibe of the Elven city before and after the Web of Fate.