The Medusa's Cascade

We pick back up in the tavern with the party and The Journeyman. Individual conversations are had between JM and Salix, Galahad, and Shanks on a varying array of topics. Salix was given an apology for JM’s actions. Galahad and JM discussed The Constable’s affinity for Zechs and the situation that led Zechs to the Feywild. Shanks got some advice and clarity on some situations with the help of JM. Later on, we get some bonding from Zechs, Galahad, and Hoshino in the training room downstairs. Hoshino informs the two of a bit of his backstory, and Galahad suggests to Zechs that a hunt might be in order if he indeed wants to connect with Solonar. Preparations are made, and the three of them head into the forest to hunt an elk. Hoshino and Galahad are informed to keep an eye on Zechs’ bloodlust lust and they manage to track their prey into a clearing.

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.

Making a stop in The Heartwood, the group does some shopping and gathers up some new gear for their journey ahead. They meet an Eladrin elf who is the proprietor of a shop named The Brass Jackalope. There, they come to a deal with the shop owner on several items, but in particular, the vial arrows that Attros had made for the group. Agreements for that and some other custom items are made, and as they step outside, they come upon a very familiar tavern to everyone except for Hoshino. There they are greeted by new staff, Ara the bartender & Nedy the cook. They notice the absence of Welby and Chico and are eventually greeted by the Journeyman. JM explains what’s been happening since they last saw the group, introductions are made between Hoshino and JM, and Salix is visibly upset by their lack of communication and care with the group. Things are explained, Welby has since retired after a traumatic event, Chico now runs the tavern in Balazar, and the group receives updates on JM’s OTHER party they are currently working with. The group also catches JM up on what has transpired over the time they have not seen each other. Hoshino is blown away by the information and is then rocked by the idea that he can return to his own time.

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.

Hey everyone, welcome to the third Divergent Paths cut scene. The title pretty much explains the subject matter of this particular scene, so we won't go into it here. However, this is a place that has really only been mentioned in Across the Planes during the Nakoroa episode. While the party hasn't yet been to Iwi, things are still happening there. The party doesn't know this information, but now you do.

Written and read 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.

Arguile and Shanks begin to tail the suspicious person and eventually close in on them. They find out that this person is a Palenguard named the Tinkerer and is in league with the Journeyman. They are tracking an alternate of one of their party members, whom they suspect is Salix. As information is exchanged, the two are suddenly bombarded with the sounds of something very familiar. For Arguile, it’s piloted machines, and for Shanks, it’s war, but they both immediately recognize the screaming and fear of the people throughout Nymora. In the distance, they look in shock and horror as they see the arrival of the war. Shanks splits off briefly to find a temple to Solonar, and Arguile heads back to Zechs’ parents. They are telling guards to evacuate everyone and to refrain from fighting these things. Rescuing the people is and should be the priority. They reconnect and, with a few things that Zechs’ parents could grab, arrive at a Mr Biggs establishment to transport them onto the ship and with the rest of the party. There is a sense that the two party members are acting in haste, and the Heartwood, in conjunction with the Arbitor, Amina, will protect them. They decide not to risk it anyway and are transported to the lower level of the ship. Zechs, Galahad, Arguile, and Shanks (disguised as Glad) meet to discuss what has happened, what they learned, and the possible plans for now. Zechs is clearly upset as he told the group about Malar only a few hours prior and doesn’t want to put his parents in any more danger, especially considering there is an alternate amongst them that they can’t trust. The parents are under the watchful eyes of Duo and the safety of an alarm spell in the meantime. The next day, Galahad meets with the Tinkerer’s associate, the Tailor, and they exchange notes on their current situation. Afterward, the group has a meeting (without Salix, who is currently under Zechs’ hunter’s mark spell) and discusses possible actions. Just as they start to wrap this conversation, Zechs feels his spell drop, and the group quickly goes over every inch of the ship, realizing that they’re gone. With a disturbing note left and the feeling that they have been played again, they continue their travel to the Heartwood and meet Amina.

There, the party is informed that only 2 may enter and speak with Amina, so Zechs and Shanks go. In their discussion, Amina tells Zechs many things about himself, his past, and his situation. She informs them that Nymora is safe for his parents to go back to and that Kyver is safe as well. In exchange for her help and a piece of the root of the Heartwood to complete upgrades to Galahad’s armor, she asks if they can do two things. One, stop the cult known as the Web of Fate in Invenas, and the second, find out what is happening in the Glasmeda Isles to Quon’s land and people. They agree and are sent off on their way that evening. Zechs is left with one last warning before his departure. Don’t trust the Church of Elrin. Later that evening, they arrive to be transported with Quon, and by way of transport via plants spell, come into Invenas.

There’s so much happening, and we pick up with arc 13, “Welcome to Invenas”. How will the rest of this story unfold? Find out next time on the Medusa’s Cascade: Collateral Damage!

Theme Music 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.

When we last were with our adventurers, they surveyed the area where the machine was and took stock of what they found. There were remnants of a fight that transpired, and based on the dome's disappearance, they surmised that the machine was temporarily out of commission. There was some back and forth on whether or not to leave a way to access the machine, but they concluded that leaving a transportation circle that Zechs' bow provided was the best solution. They made it back to Cordell and the Swift Hummingbird and discussed the next steps. Galahad and Zechs filled the captain in… on everything. Leaving her with a bottle of alcohol and lots of mindblowing information. They propose that they use the Swift Hummingbird to be the vessel for their quests while in Sloane, but Hoshino must include the captain and crew in whatever story he is writing about them. With newly agreed-upon terms, they remove the previous circle on the ship and set a path to the Heartwood. This is just the beginning of their time in Sloane and the next part of their journey. 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.

The team is led by their animal guide to the beginning of the dome. Initially, they come across a deserted town and plants shaped like Grippli. They begin to investigate and try to assess what happened here. They are uncertain of how much time they have before any strange occurrences happen to them, but realize that the dome has dropped. The barrier that was distorting the land and magic has miraculously vanished. They decide to hurry towards the machine and scout around it. Coming upon it, they see recent scorch marks and try to assess what may have caused it, and try to find the people responsible. They realize that this machine is down and will remain down for at least a little while, buying them the necessary time to coordinate an attack to take them all out at once. 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.

In the northern reaches of the majestic island, Skoaque lies the city of Nakoroa, a shining metropolis nicknamed "The Beacon of the North." Nakoroa is a marvel of architecture, combining breathtaking, magical constructs and efficient engineering, all infused with the spirit of the Weave.

In the seventh episode of Across the Planes, Tom, Joe (Arguile), and Hutch (Shanks) discuss and come up with the lore surrounding the city-state of Nakoroa. Over the course of the conversation, they discuss the culture, religion, industry, and overall vibe of the northern city.

VO: Joseph Ramirez, Eric Hutchison

Edited and 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 the last recap with the party collectively searching for answers to how the Constable got the drop on them. Were they tracked by magical means? Shanks and Arguile spoke with Elrin about this and the name Arioch. Meanwhile, a figure approached the group, a Kalashtar woman named Voyas, who told the group she was led to them by the Daughter of the Flame. The party cautiously accepts her and heads into what they discover is the grand temple to the Daughters. They speak with an Unillum named Izel, who informs them that they must pass 3 trials, two of which they pass: one of wit and one of grit, and another one that they must have a boon to complete. After a brief deliberation amongst the group, they decide to go to Nymora to allow Zechs to reunite with his family, and get answers on what happened to Zechs, Kyver, and so many of the children of Nymora as well. A bittersweet reunion unfolded with Zechs and his parents, Seti and Rinde. They caught up, and the group decided to stay over the next few days in Nymora to rest, gather intel, and allow the family to make up for time lost. The group did some shopping, and Zechs split off from the group to go to the library, where he received a wellspring of knowledge of the history of Sloane, the Arbitors, and past cults throughout Sloane and abroad. This became the center of his focus because while on his way there, he heard something that chilled him to his core, but he decided to suppress and focus on the task at hand. The rest of the group, minus Zechs, decide to visit the temple of the Light of Elrin and learn that Shanks and Arguile are amongst his first “chosen”.

On the other side of the city, Zechs meets with a family whose daughter had a very similar story to Kyver’s. Later, back at Zechs’ family home, they reconvene and discuss their day’s findings. Arguile, Galahad, and Voyas piece together a story from olden times and its connection to Arguile’s rapier. After dinner, Zechs uses Speak with Plants to commune through his home in the trees of Nymora, connected to the Heartwood, and thus hears from Amina, the current Arbitor, that she was expecting them. The party decided to shift their plans to make their way towards Amina and the Heartwood in a few days once an airship was available to take them. Arguile and Shanks were tasked with staying behind to watch for their possible tail and ensure the safety of Zechs’ parents. Galahad was tasked with bringing back a piece of the root of the Heartwood in exchange for enchanting his armor. Shanks has another conversation with Elrin and agreed via contract to help unlock elements of his bow, Mind’s Eye, in exchange for removing certain targets from a list that Elrin would provide. The rest of the party arranges for travel on a luxury airship, where Zechs reveals the disturbing occurrence he had on the way to the library, just days before. He makes the connection between a childhood memory, the cults, and the sacrifices. Galahad uses his divine sense and discovers an aspect of the god Malar within Zechs. While on a stakeout, Shanks and Arguile have an in-depth history lesson on Shanks' time with Rig and the S8. Afterwards, they find an individual of interest and decide to look into and tail.

There’s so much happening, and we pick up with arc 12, “Not What They Seem”. How will the rest of this story unfold? Find out next time on the Medusa’s Cascade: Collateral Damage!

Theme Music 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.

Let’s take a trip. No, but seriously, let’s take a trip. Galahad, Arguile, Zechs, Salix, and eventually Shanks all take a drug-induced trip for varying reasons. Some seek clarity, while others seek resolution and confirmation. For some, they got what they were looking for, comfort in the gods or their decisions. For some, however, they got more questions than they did answers. All while being led deeper into the forest by a primate with extra limbs that grew to lengths they should not have grown to. There was group bonding and shenanigans, but what else is new with the Collateral crew?

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.

As the group ventures closer to the machine, they decide to make camp for the night. During this time, they split their watch with Shanks and Arguile taking the first watch. Their conversation deals with mistakes and how they deal with them, learn from them, and how they respond to those who continue to make the same mistakes over and over again. They talk briefly about their mutual patron, Elrin, and the gifts he’s bestowed on them both. They also discuss how different the group’s moral compasses are and how that’s changed and will continue to change as they go further toward their shared goals. On the next watch, Salix takes their time with Duo and does some training, which proves fun and useful for them. The last watch is with Galahad and Zechs, who discuss faith and the difference between knowing your god and believing in your god. Galahad helps Zechs better understand how to connect with Solonar.

The next morning, the group decides to best use their time and the surrounding area. Duo is tasked with getting a smaller creature of this land to be their guide, without causing it harm. Salix and Shanks gather various fauna and materials for their creations. Galahad tasks Shanks (and Zechs) to get an elk for them to make a meal of. They are successful, though they struggle to bring such a large beast back to camp. Duo is also successful and brings back a very frightened monkey that Zechs tries to calm down.

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.