Sidekicks & Sidequests

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! For our second Parleys at the Platter special, I invited Dr. Holly Ordway, Alexi Sargeant, and Katherine S. to discuss something that I'm not sure is talked about all that often: the critical role (pun win) that Tolkien and his Catholicism had in helping to shape Dungeons & Dragons, modern fantasy, and nerd culture at large. So join this fellowship of faith,...

We join the table of April Hill to create a Night Hag named Kyth. She runs a beautiful shop with many tantalizing treasures and wonderous riches. However, she demands things of great personal worth for payment. When a local cult has crossed her and plans to kidnap a bard in town, Kyth asks the party to undertake a contract...are you willing to make a deal? And note: I've included the raw transcrip...

We return to the table of Jacob Prince and import a BG3 character (plus roll the dice) to create Orjid Dragrax. He is an elder black-and-red dragonborn sorcerer who is on the hunt for all manner of fey creatures. You can always find him in your local area, trying to keep these types of creatures at bay. Help him in his endeavors and you will be rewarded! And note: I've included the raw transcript...

We join the table of Kiki Hayden to create a druid (an archfey?) that's named [insert gargle noises]! She is a kenku that has made a Vow of Veganism of vital importance to her and her family. However, she has two feuding daughters stockpiling weapons, and she needs your help to resolve the dispute nonviolently...lest your magic items all become buckets and farming tools! And note: I've included th...

We join the table of Scxrlet64 to create a teenage silver dragon named Daisy! As a "Trust Fund Baby", she's going to wizard boarding school, being a social influencer for charity, and building up her own horde of gold, magic, and religious artifacts. When she learns the truth about her headmaster, she needs the help of adventurers to go and retrieve the only weapon that can kill him: The Crescent'...

We join the table of the Five Sided Fates: Astrid, KC, Jeri, Alyssa, and Ola! The Five Sided Fates decided to introduce us to NPCs and a sidequest based around their personas as Aspects of Fate. Is your party ready to have your Fate tested? And note: I've included the raw transcript from Zencastr for this episode as well (will work to go back and retrieve and upload others as I'm able). Please not...

We join the table of Adam Bradford to create a modified construct commoner named Sandrine that is a fishmonger! Aboard the vessel, The Sunset, Sandrine lives a simple life being the best fisherman in this area. He's heard rumor of a legendary catch, and he needs the players to help get him there and tackle the challenges! And note: I've included the raw transcript from Zencastr for this episode as...

We return to the table of Leigha Murray and roll the dice to create Levity Butterleaf. She is a human woman turned dhampir, a half-vampire hunter of supernatural creatures that operates as a Common Tongue Teacher during the day. But when word reaches her that her sire, Magnus, is in the area, see needs the help of some heroes to capture him...ALIVE. And note: I've included the raw transcript from...

We return to the table of Nolan Paige and roll the dice to create an archfey named Proserpina. A powerful fey creature utilizing a disguise of an elven teen version of herself to be a market barker/coupon book promoter for this city undergoing a Steampunk/Industrial Revolution. She wants to steer these people in the right direction, and she needs your help to clean up a contaminated fountain at th...

Another bonus episode!?! That's right, we have two of our dedicated Patreon Patrons in the Levitating Platter: Katie "Goblinkatie" Downey & Anson Jablinski! Our longest conversation TO DATE on this podcast, but it's worth it! Join us for this Q&A, discussion, reflection, and check-in on how "Sidekicks & Sidequests" is doing! And note: I've included the raw transcript from Zencastr for...

The first of its kind, Parleys at the Platter is a special program which seeks to bring previous guests together who share a similar field of expertise or passion. For our inaugural episode, I invited Travis Frederick, Johnny Stanton IV, and Joshua Simons together to talk about the intersection between the sports world and the arts world. And note: I've included the raw transcript from Zencastr fo...

We return to the table of Tony Vasinda and roll the dice to create a Giff gravedigger named Sunnie Pondborn. A kid that's got a story like Clark Kent, Mallow, and Po, his adoptive parents look after him as he apprentices for Pa, using his exceptional physical prowess to help out. But when Pa gets sick, a naïve boy who has never left the graveyard needs an escort across town to retrieve the medicin...

We join the table of my niece, Lexi! She's never been a stranger to playing pretend, fairy stories, or using her imagination. So she rolled some dice and made an Astral Elf that is friends with a dragon! I don't think she's old enough to understand the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or the Radiohead reference, but she's pretty "Lucky" that her "Subterranean Homesick Alien" wasn't some kind of "P...

We join the table of Mike Christensen a.k.a. SuperGeek Mike from YouTube! We roll the dice to create Khira the Death Knight. In the employ of wicked masters, she utilizes disguises to learn all about her targets before she brings them to ruin. Currently appearing as an unassuming chimneysweep, she has a lead on a fabled ring in the hands of a gambler that she needs back. And note: I've included th...

We join the table of Kevin Ngo, a long-time listener, first-time podcast guest! Inspired by his children, he wanted to make a trio of bobble-headed goblin siblings who run a neutral, safe zone in the dungeon with access to clean water and fresh turkey legs (if you have the coin!) Sisters Rosewald Daybrace (The Money), Arili (The Muscle), and their brother Finn Wheatly (The Cook) need your help to...

We join the table of Alex a.k.a. LegalKimchi from YouTube! With some inspiration, we roll the dice to create Bo Jang, who is a metal/armor mimic. From a subset of symbiotic mimics who prefer to eat minerals and organics in order to increase their density, this old gal is as tough as beskar and light as mithril! She and her bearer, the illustrious Paul the Avenger, need the party's help to stave of...

We join the table of Steven Trinkl, my fraternity brother and brother-in-arms as we joined the TTRPG hobby! We roll the dice to create a tabaxi named Mirquo, a proficient falconer with a companion falcon named Graybill. He hunts for food and skins, but also serves a benevolent faction akin to the Harpers. Mirquo could use your help returning a library book...that's stuck on a pirate ship...in a to...

We join the table of Sam Rusk, who brings an infamous NPC from her own home game to the table, simply known as "The Pumpkin Lady". We roll the dice to reveal a true name, but she's an otherwise mysterious archfey who is morally gray and highly questionable. Rumors abound of her lavish rewards with those who are loyal. And note: I've included the raw transcript from Zencastr for this episode as wel...

We return to the table of Mark Wilson and roll the dice to create a LEEROY JENKINS, except, not THAT Leeroy. No, this one charged into a dungeon, got killed, respawned as a vampire, and now just wants to be a reclusive painter in a remote desert town. But when his prized portrait is stolen and the thief flees into the sun-scorched sands, he will need the help of heroes to retrieve the work and per...

It's the 100th episode of the podcast. I'm joined by my friend and Patreon supporter, Anson Jablinski. It becomes a podcasting reunion of sorts as we discuss Sidekicks & Sidequests, future goals, and future offerings. And note: I've included the raw transcript from Zencastr for this episode as well (will work to go back and retrieve and upload others as I'm able). Please note the transcripts a...

We return to the table of Max Cicchino and roll the dice to create a mother and son pair: Scheherazade & Sprocket. Each are competitors in their public-facing lace-making and their underground black markets. The son needs you to acquire a particular piece, and the mother wants you to destroy the item. Each path comes with its own rewards and consequences... Podcast art by Chauncy Riley , Graph...

We return to the table of Elyse Basile and roll the dice to create Spruce. A bureaucrat trapped in a Feywild gilded cage, this maedar (male medusa) is stuck with superfluous paperwork. He has a clue to the location of the Tome of Avarice. The question is, are you able to find someone to swindle or switch places with him for the location to the legendary book? Podcast art by Chauncy Riley , Graphic...

We join the table of Katie DeMatteis & Ben MartinMooney to roll the dice to create an unlikely pair: a teenage yeti on a summer internship for deep sea archaeology and a child running an apothecary for her parents. With mathematics and astronomy, they discover the Dragonstar. However, it's in a set of underwater ruins that Nox needs cleared of a dragon, and Alanora (Nori) wants you to bring ba...

We join the table of Dane Fox-McGraw & Benjamin Huffman to roll the dice to create a pair of hexblood siblings! Perhaps the MOST META episode of the entire podcast. These two endeavor to create "stonecasts" as they create new fantasy games. If only someone would journey to the Elemental Plane of Earth for a producer credit... Podcast art by Chauncy Riley , Graphics by Chauncy. Visit our websit...

We join the table of Nicholas Cardarelli and roll the dice to create Cirrus. Another rakshasa joins the roster of podcast NPCs; he is full of teenage arrogance and attitude in tabaxi guise. Cirrus entertains with his dexterous feats with a deck of cards, some might even say a magical performance! But when a "winner" tries to leave before signing the contract, Cirrus needs you help to stop that shi...