The Medusa's Cascade

We return to Arguile and Shank's pursuit of their elusive thieves. There is a pincer move into the abode, and they are left with a ring and no man. Upon examining the item and its surroundings, they take the ring to a magic shop to confirm Shanks’ suspicion that it is a ring of storage, a sort of extraplanar space that allows someone to go within and be hidden from the world temporarily. Meanwhile, Glad and Salix are catching up and are uncharacteristically enjoying a stiff drink versus tea. Salix asks if she wants to go out and blow off some steam, shop, walk around, and look around the city, and have a surprise for her. Glad agrees, and the two bamf across the city thanks to the Daughter of the Void’s blessing bestowed upon Salix. After some shopping, the two continue talking about what’s been going on recently with Glad and her encounter with her alternate, and Salix sets up some training dummies via the spell mold earth. Glad and Salix display incredible gifts of athleticism and magic, and draw themselves into quite a crowd.

Back to the rogues, we find them at a magic shop, and their suspicions are confirmed. They plead with the old man and eventually find him and his familiar exiting the ring. There is a tense exchange that does see their items returned to them, but there’s also a request that Arguile come to see him again that evening. While Shanks invites himself, there’s a correction: because of Arguile’s Guardian’s Rapier and its soul, there is only a need for him. We start to finish this story with Galahad and Xoco, and Galahad being frank and asking Xoco to come clean with what he needs to help her with for her trial. Eventually, the group returns to their lodgings, catching each other up on their doings for the day and discussing the next steps for their time in Drose. 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!

Theme Music is written and performed by The Floating Lighthouse

Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III

Title Card by Pierce Graphics

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We cut to Arguile and Shanks gathering materials for alchemy when they stumble upon a blue cat. As they continue to walk, they find a concerned-looking gentleman searching for the cat, and the two help the older gentleman reunite with his companion. Only a few moments later, they realize that Shanks’ bag of supplies and Arguile’s haversack are missing. The old man and his cat pickpocketed them. The two split up alongside Scyra, Arguile’s familiar, to track down the man and their stolen goods. Elsewhere, Zechs meets Isolde in the Scholar’s Ward, who is expecting him. She greets him and Duo and asks him to discuss with her what’s been happening to him, sparing no detail as she is in no rush, and the more information she has, the easier it is for her to aid him, if possible. Zechs indulges her and goes on, over some tea and snacks, everything, including Malar. She clarifies what he knows about Malar and the Pantheran Patheon, as well as about his origin and part in all this. The Pantheon are not his siblings but his creation. Zechs is grateful for all the information and thanks her for her time and generosity. Before leaving, she hands him a pendant, tells him to seek out the group that carries the symbol upon it, and gives him a tarot card reading that is appreciated but leaves him much more to ponder. We pick back up to Shanks and Arguile, tracking down the abode of the thief and his cat. Arguile uses Scyra to look at the abode above, and the gentleman suddenly appears in view.

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!

Theme Music is written and performed by The Floating Lighthouse

Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III

Title Card by Pierce Graphics

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We start with introductions being made between Xoco and the party. There is a recognition of Arguile’s Guardian’s Rapier blade, and Xoco expresses that the more she learns of the party, the more odd and incredible they seem. Arguile takes his blade and uses burning hands on it; upon finishing the spell, he feels a resonance with the blade, like a tuning fork. Galahad clarifies his role with Xoco in helping her find her oath. Zechs has another dream with what he now recognizes as the Pantheran pantheon of Nymora and gains insight into their connection with Malar. The next morning, the group informs Xoco about some of their group’s shared history, realizing that each time they tell a story, it needs context, and that context is another long story. Arguile has a conversation with Arioch that leaves Arguile feeling like he’s not getting the full scope of what Arioch has in store for him. Arioch informs him that, eventually, the time will come when he will have to decide to leave the party and get to his mother before the creatures that are inevitably inbound to take over Nakoroa do so. Shanks confirms with Xoco about the orc ranger he will meet for his training as a ranger. Zechs is directed to a Tielfing woman named Isolde, who is in the Scholar’s Enclave and could help him answer his questions about Malar and the pantheon and what to do next.

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!

Theme Music is written and performed by The Floating Lighthouse

Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III

Title Card by Pierce Graphics

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many characters appear in this campaign, and quite a few have joined Collateral Damage for varying lengths. Listen to the Journeyman’s audio logs about these characters to better understand their origins. We continue the series with the polarizing Kyver.

Written, read, and recorded by Thomas Lapierre III

Title Card by Pierce Graphics

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many characters appear in this campaign, and quite a few have joined Collateral Damage for varying lengths. Listen to the Journeyman’s audio logs about these characters to better understand their origins. We continue the series with the precocious We'ahqa.

Written, read, and recorded by Thomas Lapierre III

Title Card by Pierce Graphics

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We begin with Salix finally speaking to Gerrvis, the Void Dragon from “Bound to the Void,” in which Gerrvis extends his aid to give them full control over their promised gifts. After which, the party realizes that they are on a descent. The had finally made it to the lost city of Drose, and their arrival was expected by those who received them. A Unillum with a salamander fire spirit tells the ship to begin their descent. Once on the ground, they are met with Chantico, The Sentinel/Protector of the Eternal Flame. They are greeted and told to go with Hagen, her aide, while Zechs and Galahad follow her. Galahad and Zechs go on to meet Xoco, the woman Galahad was told to meet, and they find that she was told to meet him as well. Galahad is tasked with aiding her in finding her paladin oath. Zechs and Galahad also run down what has been happening with the party and ask if Drose can offer anything to help Zechs with his Malar situation. The others meet with the Heart of the Eternal Flame, Tozi, and get a brief history lesson about Drose and the Guardian’s Rapier that is with Arguile. Xoco is told to watch Zechs as they trust their party, but not what he harbors. Galahad finds out about the trial and that he is to help Xoco become the Guardian of the Drose. They’ve finally arrived in the lost city of Drose. Just what mysteries will they uncover?

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

Theme Music is written and performed by The Floating Lighthouse

Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III

Title Card by Pierce Graphics

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We open with several party members asking their three questions to this giant stone face floating in the sky. They are given some prophecies of what will come with the sky giants, insight on how to separate Zechs from Malar, and some other cryptic information that they will take some time to piece together. That night, Shanks receives a vision from Solonor of an orcish figure. The Elven God seems to insist on having Shanks seek him out. Glad, on the other hand, has an encounter with her alternate. A powerful Circle of Dreams Druid, and their conversation gets intense rather quickly. Glad brings this up to Shanks, Salix, and Hoshino the following day, over an out-of-character stiff drink. Hoshino has his series of visions and begins to write down what he saw to remember all the details, particularly that of a woman closely connected to his past that he doesn’t recognize. 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!

Theme Music is written and performed by The Floating Lighthouse

Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III

Title Card by Pierce Graphics

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many characters appear in this campaign, and quite a few have joined Collateral Damage for varying lengths. Listen in on the Journeyman’s audio logs about these characters to better understand where they came from. We continue the series with the valiant Cereius.

Written, read, and recorded by Thomas Lapierre III

Title Card by Pierce Graphics

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shanks and Galahad seek out Fat Arguile to discuss a possible business venture. He gives the two an address and informs them to meet with the “Financier.” The group continues to enjoy the festivities, allowing the heavier news to follow the next day. There is a discussion about morality amongst the party, and that evening, Galahad is met with an alternate version of Thiadikus in a dream. Zechs speaks to the group about what he saw in The Vineyard and gives a report back to Amina. The group sees itself as the majority stakeholder in the Chubby T’s franchise, with logistics to be ironed out later. For now, the group departs towards Salix’s hermitage.

Days later, the group arrives, and before even getting the chance to settle in, the group realizes they’re under attack, which is an ambush. We see The Constable’s lieutenants in the forms of an Alternate Galahad, Shankise, Salix, and the Executioner. They are not alone; they’re accompanied by members of Shanks’ old crew, The Wolf Pack. A tense battle resulted in the group seeking a retreat in Salix’s hermitage, trapped by a force cage. It’s there that the group finds The Constable, Shankise, and Alma, the woman who kidnapped so many children in Nymora, the reason for so much of Zechs’ and Kyver’s pain, standing alongside him. Upon meeting The Constable for the first time, Hoshino uses Dimension Door to flee the hermitage and narrowly escapes the pursuit of Shankise in a game of cat and mouse.

Meanwhile, inside the hermitage, the conversation with The Constable, the party, and some uninvited guests creates tension that puts the entire group on edge. A lot is revealed, leaving a few party members at their breaking point. Eventually, the group is left there, and Hoshino returns, clearly shaken, and the group plans again.

The group assesses the damage to the Swift Hummingbird and realizes it will require some assistance and a new crystal. Making their way back to Invenas, they first stop by Iggy, whom they catch up with and give Arguile the gold from their bet. Back at the hermitage, we find Hoshino deep in a trance, reflecting upon a memory; it’s a shocking revelation that brings to light how we find our bard removed from time. The Invenas group finally makes its way toward Aeron Stormrider and requests his help in the ship’s repair.

We end with a conversation between Shanks and Hoshino, where Arioch pushes Shanks to his limits and further plants the seeds of chaos in Shanks.

There’s so much happening, and we pick up with arc 20, “A Path Less Traveled ”. 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

Title Card by Pierce Graphics

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We pick back up with Shanks trying to figure out how to connect with Zechs and struggling in the process. With the aid of Galahad, Hoshino, and Arguile, they conclude that speaking to him and not at him would be best. Zechs is family, so Shanks should try to empathize with him. Later that evening, Arguile has a strange dream that has him in the point of view of a man named Yurrik, who, at this point, is interacting with Arguile’s mother. Shanks eventually finds himself with Zechs, and they have a heart-to-heart that leaves Zechs feeling like he knows more and connects more with Shanks in these past few weeks than he has in his entire time, knowing the sharpshooting elf. A few days pass, and the group sees something unbelievable in the distance. Upon closer inspection, and with some caution, they find that this is a giant stone face floating in the sky. The ship keeps a wide berth, and after a pass from Duo, they decide it is safe enough to bring the ship in closer. They begin to confer with themselves about what to do when the face says, “Ask your questions three.” They confer once more and realize that they each can ask three questions. After carefully considering and choosing, they begin to ask and learn answers that have been on the group’s mind for what feels like eons now. With all the answers to questions left unspoken, will they like what they hear or regret ever asking?

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

Theme Music is written and performed by The Floating Lighthouse

Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III

Title Card by Pierce Graphics

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.