The Medusa's Cascade

On the southern island of Ecra, where the Noku Peaks split into the Collapsing Slopes and the Silvered Highlands, sits the mountain of Ghelgo and the ancient city built upon and deep within it. In the thirteenth episode of Across the Planes, Tom, Frim, and Jaime discuss and come up with the lore surrounding the mountain city of Ghelgo. Throughout the conversation, they discuss the culture, religio...

The Serpent's Strait Ch. 8 We find the party all getting up and gathering their things after their long rest, filling each other in on what they've been seeing or hearing all night. It's decided that they should head to the mines and determine what happened to the people. As they head over towards the mines, Bob decides to take a quick detour on his own to do a little shopping. It takes a second f...

The Blooming Court Ch. 1 The aftermath of the fight sees Zechs, Turk, and Shanks being brought back up. Turk's magic seems to have left him, as a plume of black smoke leaves him, and Zechs has a white handprint that has appeared on his own hand where Tumra touched him. Turk appears visibly angry with his former patron, and Galahad tries to assess the group. Shanks is brought back from the bri...

Family Matters Ch. 18 Locking eyes with Shanks, the necromancer speaks a single word and casts Power Word Kill. Shanks falls dead, and the battlefield goes silent. But only for a moment, and as the battle rages on to its imminent conclusion, Shanks finds himself in the Veil. He is met there by his ancestral God, The Hunter. The two converse on his journey through life and his progress toward balan...

The party splits briefly before reuniting to meet Yurik Strauss, where Arguile, revealed as Sylas Nicks, seeks information about his missing mother, Dorna. Yurik offers aid in exchange for the group helping find his son Enich, and after an intense sparring match with Galahad that ends in a double knockout, the party accepts him as capable enough to travel through the Underdark. They spend time in...

The Serpent's Strait Ch. 7 As we kick off the fight, Bob hurls a psychic lance at the sister and gets the party started. The fight commences, and Sister Flinthorn isn't pulling any punches against the crew. After Valen zooms at her, throwing several kicks and punches, a confused look passes over him as she has used the shield to beef herself up for this encounter. She turns to the rest of the grou...

Family Matters Ch. 17 The fight opens in chaos: Shanks fires a concussive shot at the cleric as Galahad and Arguile are stunned, and the barbarian hounds Zechs with smite-infused strikes. The monk shadow-steps to Shanks, stunning him, while Salix restrains the necromancer, only for him to immediately hurl a fireball into the group. Galahad answers with Channel Divinity, dropping the cleric, and Gl...

Family Matters Ch. 16 The party arrives at the cemetery and meets Shepard Miles, Yurik's Crew, and Dorna, with tension so thick it threatens to erupt at any moment. That fuse is struck when Arioch appears as a golden-skinned elf and reveals the truth behind the tragedy binding them all together: Yurik is Arguile’s biological father. Long ago, a bargain to save Arguile’s life replaced Arguile’s hea...

Family Matters Ch. 15 Still in Ors Themar, the party finishes a short rest and prepares to escape, quickly realizing that leaving the city may be as dangerous as entering it. They navigate tight passages, dispel glyphs, and move with hushed precision, managing to avoid further combat and finally put distance between themselves and the city before making camp for the night. During watches, they pro...

In the Northeast of the upper continental mass of Sloane sits a conundrum of a city: Stargrave. Nestled between the Barrier Mountain Range to the west and the Unending Seas to the east in the transitional forests of the Gathering Storm, a city of opposing but interconnected sides quietly exerts influence on the rest of the world. In the twelfth episode of Across the Planes, Tom, Law, and Tone disc...

The Serpent's Strait Ch. 6 We pick up where we left off the morning after the party's stakeout of sorts. It seems as if Ursus was not the only person visited last night, as we learn Bob also came in contact with an unfamiliar figure, presumably an Ashen Child. The party splits for the morning, with the Slash Bros at the temple, where they find Sister Flinthorn, who discusses Ursus' evening encount...

Family Matters Ch. 14 Amid a chaotic tactical retreat, the party is scattered and under heavy pressure. Arguile is locked in combat with a draegloth, Shanks is on the brink of death, Yurik is struggling to reconnect with the group, and Galahad, glowing and highly visible, draws relentless enemy fire while attempting evasive maneuvers. Zechs deploys an axe beak from his Tan Bag of Tricks to disrupt...

Family Matters Ch. 13 As the battle continues, resources dwindle, and there seems to be no end to the enemy in sight, it becomes clear that the party needs to regroup. Shanks is still making his way down and back to the group when Zechs hears Shanks go down through their coms. His target exacted revenge on him, but it's not the first time Shanks has knocked on Death's door. Time begins to slow dow...

Hey everyone, and welcome to the eighteenth Divergent Paths cut scene. This particular character has only appeared once in the podcast thus far, in Episode 62, The Herald of Tiamat. For those of you who have been with us since the beginning, you finally get a peek inside the mind of Galahad's mentor, Antonius. The party doesn't know this information, but you do. Written and read by Thomas Lapierre...

The Serpent's Strait Ch. 5 With their guide, Ernie, providing the information he could about the goings-on at the mine, the information was troubling, and it was clear that the mine was not for the faint of heart. Chantico appears visibly uncomfortable as she has been actively suppressing her magic. Upon further taking a look at Chan, Valen realizes it's not her suppressing her magic so much as it...

Family Matters Ch. 12 Shanks brings the house down, and in a way, sets the stage for this next fight to take place. As he scales down while avoiding debris, he also takes note that he didn't kill his intended target, but at the very least, he's immobilized from what he can tell. Keeping communication going with Zechs, trying his best to maintain a line of sight, and scaling down the rugged terrain...

Family Matters Ch. 11 As the party continues their short rest, taking stock, and figuring out next steps, Shanks is in pursuit of their sniper assailant. When the group is ready to go, thanks to the help of Yurik's sentient blade, they begin heading deeper into the city. The once-bustling streets and seemingly thriving city look nothing like what was described before the invasion took place. A mar...

Family Matters Ch. 10 We pick back up in the midst of the group’s current skirmish and ambush against an unending number of foes. It’s a stressful and taxing fight on every level. As time passes and resources are exhausted, the group begins to make some headway, but their brief moment of reprieve is met with even more opposition. It’s a numbers game, and the enemy has them in spades. Knowing this,...

Following the intense battles with Malar and Enich, Zechs collapses in exhaustion and is taken to his parents’ home to recover. At the same time, Galahad marks the ritual site to prevent further sacrifices. That evening, the party celebrates their hard-won victory at the Faint Mandolin and Jaded Kitty Kat, sharing drinks, reflections, and heartfelt moments—Turk earns his title “THE Turk,” and Grey...

The Serpent's Strait Ch. 4 Upon arriving at Midmount, the party begins investigating a series of strange events. Thorak, disguised as “Snorak” using his hat of disguise, gathers information from the locals under the pretense of being a new foreman. Rumors of a mine explosion and memory issues surface, and as they journey further into town, Thorak continues his ruse to gain access to the city cente...

Family Matters Ch. 9 Within the city walls, the group makes their way through the once thriving city, now unrecognizable as its streets are barren. The group cautiously makes its way through the city, careful not to draw any attention. A formation is called out, and they proceed, ready for whatever dangers lie ahead of them. Unfortunately, their caution was met with curiosity, and when Arguile inv...

Family Matters Ch. 8 As the group continues heading towards the city of Ors Themar, they pass more denizens of the Underdark: an umberhulk and a hook horror, to be precise. As Galahad asks Yurik if he knows the way to continue, Shanks, who had scouted ahead, tells Zechs in his Spies Murmur that he hears voices ahead. After Zechs tells him to get closer but be careful, Shanks, unfamiliar with the l...

Hey everyone, and welcome to the seventeenth Divergent Paths cut scene. This particular character has only appeared twice in the podcast thus far, in Episode 65, Entrapment, and Episodes 85/86 Cavern Brawl Part 1 & 2 . We will keep the details sparse, but let's just say that they play an important role in the overall story moving forward. The party doesn't know this information, but you do. Wr...

The Serpent's Strait Ch. 3 The group starts their day preparing for the voyage to Midmount, with mixed feelings about crossing the ocean. Chan is visibly anxious, running between her room and downstairs, mainly worried about being a fire hazard on a wooden boat. Valen offers his magical flask to ease her nerves. Bob sings a sea shanty from his mentor, Rosco, while Dona expresses her apprehension a...

Family Matters Ch. 7 We resume with the group in the midst of a fight against giant spiders. They have to fight in tight quarters and carefully, but manage to come out victorious. As the group continues to venture forward, it continues to question Yurik’s peculiar behavior. After some gentle prodding, Yurik comes halfway clean about his current situation. His sword is not only sentient but also dr...