Hi, this is Soulosdventure and you are listening to Tale the Manticor.

The following podcast is intended for a mature audience.

Listener discretion is advised.

Welcome back to Tale of the Manticor Season three.

Like the creature from which it takes its name, Tale of the Manticor is a mashup, a cross breeding between two different species of storytelling.

Here you will find the unpredictability of old school paper and dice games with the story craft of a dark fantasy novel.

No character is sacred, and none will be spared if the dice decide their fate is at hand.

According to lore, the Tale of a Manticre is barbed with cruel iron spikes.

There will be much pain in the days ahead.

Last time on Tale of the Matigor, Chapter forty three opens in a prison cell in the seclusium of odok Zygog.

The pieces are chained and weaponless, but they still have the rest of their belongings.

Some of them, court especially, are injured when the magic Mouth appears on the cell door and tells them to consider their folly.

While they wait, they realize there might be time to make a plan.

Several ideas are considered, but nothing really workable emerges.

In the end, they decide to rest and memorize new spells, hoping to perform some healing magic and to find a new opportunity in the morning.

Achilia knows that the animated suits of armor that captured them were not created by evil magic, and therefore that odok Zygog, who presumably made them, is not likely to be evil himself.

For this reason, among others, when the magic mouth reappears and tells them that the Master of the House has decided to speak with them, they decide not to resist.

The animated armor comes to collect them, walks them deeper into the complex, and brings them to their destination.

It is a room of white marble that contains little other than a huge floating ball of fire.

Terrifyingly, the face appears in the flames that identifies itself as odok Zygog and commends the companions to fall to their knees.

While I am impatient to proceed with the story, it would be imprudent to do so when there is a level up scheduled for this episode.

I think it makes good sense to do that now before we take the meeting with the Zygog fireball thing any further.

For reaching level five, ten Tire gets at D six of new hit points.

I feel like his last couple of level ups have been pretty underwhelming, so I am hoping for a nice, shiny six here.

Let's roll and find out what he will get.

A five, Hey, not bad, I'll take it.

Nineteen goes to twenty four.

Stat increase rolls are up next, and you know, with that good first role, I'm ready to accept whatever else happens.

Here we go for strength before nothing there intelligence.

We've got a five wisdom A six here sure would be nice.

A one okay, dexterity a five, constitution a six, Oh is that?

Yes?

It is?

Oh, this is important.

Ten twos.

Twelve goes to a thirteen, and that means he will get four extra retroactive hit points added to his total.

That is very very good.

Twenty four jumps to twenty eight.

Only fair Wind is hardier than the young Alf Now fantastic, and there's still one role left to make Charisma a three.

The final part of this level up is to take Tentyre's basic attack bonus from a plus two to a plus three.

I'll tell you I am more than happy with these improvements.

Will they be enough to impress a giant talking fireball?

I think we're about to find out.

Chapter forty four, Part one, day thirty seven, sometime around noon.

Mythic event meaning abuse magic party status Achillia eight out of fifteen hit points, Court ten out of twenty four, de Renni eleven out of nineteen ten Tier twenty eight out of twenty eight, fair Wind nineteen out of thirty three, Flicker sixteen of sixteen.

Supplies.

The companions have been without food for one day, and henceforth will not be able to heal naturally until they have eaten.

Spells available.

Achillea can cast, shrink, message, detect evil, glitter, dust, and dispel magic.

Cord can cast, entangle, locate plants and animals, create water, slow poison, hold animal, and speak with plants.

Fair Wind can cast old person Cord fear gripped Achilia almost automatically, she sucked to the floor, which she simultaneously felt the heat from the fire on her face and the cold of the marble floor against her bare knees, Perhaps compelled as she had been, or perhaps following her lead, the rest of the party members did likewise flicker barked wildly, but Achilia put a hand on her back, and the animal quieted.

Before them, the terrible fireball with the jack O'Lantern eyes and mouth glared down upon the moon.

Despite her terror, Achilia knew that all the reasons that they were here stemmed from her decisions.

It was up to her then to make it right, and besides, she still had a promise to keep.

It was this last thought that rekindled her courage.

She drew a deep breath, and then, my name is a The force and the power of the wizard voice was enough to blow her hair back and send a wave of blistering heat into her face.

Why had odog Zygog brought them before him only to refuse to let them talk.

When the magic mouth that appeared at their cell door that morning, it had said.

Intruders, a great and powerful wizard, odog Zygog has decided to speak with you.

Prepare to explain your presence in his home.

Attempt at trickery will be unsuccessful.

Attempts to resist will be dealt with severely.

A Chilie could hear the message replaying in her head.

Was the wizard mad?

It was utterly confusing.

Beside her, Fairwind was having similar thoughts, but the cleric's perception cast a somewhat broader net on their situation.

Without the burden of responsibility for their being here, he was able to think more freely received the contradiction that troubled Achilia.

But he also noticed the lack of fuel, the lack of smoke, the cold marble against his knees that should have been warm.

He also thought he detected a familiar scent in the room, hiding just behind that of the blazing fire.

At first he could not place it, but then it came to him without a doubt.

It was the smell of books.

The exact same smell was in the library that the church of the Sacred Flame, and so moral thinking of that place made him once again recall Sister Amadan's lesson about optical illusions.

Ferwind willed himself to see something other than the enormous fireball in front of him, but it was impossible.

He might as well have held his hand in front of his face and tried to disbelieve that it existed.

Still, he knew things were not right.

He stole a glance over to Achilie and saw something in her features that told him she must be thinking the same thing he was.

He elbowed her in the side.

She turned toward him.

There's something.

That ended the cleric's attempt to communicate quickly, as Achillia snapped her mouth shut and looked away.

Flicker barked again, and Fairwind noticed that the dog was not barking at the gigantic flaming face above the dais, but off to one side.

Now that he thought about it, she had been barking slightly to the right of the fireball before.

Too.

This train of thought was interrupted by the sudden presence of Achillea's voice in his head.

Fail there's something not right about all this, the cleric wondered.

If he were to think a reply very loudly in his head, would Achillea hear it.

He tried his best, Achillie, I don't believe any of this is real.

I think our senses are lying to us.

Earlier, you said you might break the enchantment of our manacles with an anti magic spell.

Could you use it instead on that thing?

Ferwin didn't know if she had heard him or not.

All the same, while Neeli, the magic user's hands came up as she began to cast a spell commanded the fireball, but Achilia did not stop, neither did any of the animated suits of armor try to prevent her.

Her new incantation spilled out of her, and when the last of the arcane words passed her lips, something incredible happened.

I was half way through writing that last scene before I thought I remembered something.

A message spell can accept a reply from the recipient.

Was I just making that up?

I checked, and sure enough it can, I mentioning it here in case anyone listening was also wondering the same thing.

But the main reason I stop the action was to take a really close look at the spell entry and the rules for dispel Magic.

Here's what I learned.

Dispel magic ends spell effect within a twenty foot cube area.

It automatically dispels effects created by a lower level casters for those cast by a more powerful magic user.

It has a five percent chance to fail for each level of difference between the two wizards.

Finally, magic items are not affected by the spell.

It's interesting that it says spell effects, not effect.

It's plural, which is really going to be important in this situation, as you'll soon see since Achilia is casting at odok Zygog directly, it will not affect the animated suits of armor, but you might be surprised at what it will affect, or i should say, might effect.

The spells she's attempting to unravel have been cast by a wizard of higher level than herself, So I'll need to make a roll, actually several to see which, if any, are dispelled.

I'll do these roles now, but will keep the results hidden.

Okay, the dice has spoken.

There is the huge face.

Mid flow began to melt from existence, so did what looked like a superficial layer of reality.

The dais of white marble and the white marble wall behind it both faded away to reveal a second scene.

Where there was once a fire and white stone, now there stood a pair of wooden chairs with the side table between them, all arranged in front of an enormous shelf that filled the space between floor and ceiling.

Stacked upon the shelf were hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of books.

It was like looking through a large hole into another dimension.

For at the edges of this library scene, the declining vestiges of the original stark white marble chamber remained.

If this were not enough, as the one layer of perception gave way to reveal the other, a person shimmered into view.

This person was very small, only about two and a half feet tall.

As the illusions filling the space declined, they removed their doll like hands from their temples, and their eyes, which had been narrowed in concentration, slowly widened with the realization of what was happening.

Once that concentration was broken, what remained of the illusory scene began to break down quickly.

After just a few moments, the companions found themselves standing no longer in a white marble room dominated by an angry fireball, but a musty library lit by a soft lamp light.

The recently revealed person stared at the companions.

They wore black boots with toes that curled up at the ends, brown pants, and a black leather jerkin with a shirt of white beneath.

They had dark, curly hair that fell around pointed ears, and very large eyes set wide in a face that wore a look of growing apprehension.

They took a step back, moving their hands in a placating motion.

The person stammered helplessly.

Achilie and the others were still kneeling on the ground, and the three animated suits of armor still surrounded them.

Both sides simply stared at each other for the space of several pregnant moments, and then, barking loudly, Flicker tore away from their group.

She raced across the room, directly towards the diminutive stranger.

Hang on, hang on, what the heck is happening here?

Maybe I should pause and explain a few things.

Achillia has just dispelled an elaborate phantasmal force, the giant floating fireball, the dais, and the way marble where all illusions.

This room is actually a large library and study.

The Achillia spell also disrupted a second spell.

Standing to one side under the cloak of magical invisibility.

Was the person responsible for the trickery?

Let's talk about illusions a bit.

I no longer have my AD and D second edition DMG.

That precious tone was abandoned when I went away to university several decades ago, to be tossed out by my parents.

I can't blame them at the time.

I never expected to want or need that stuff ever.

Again.

Ah, how foolish I was in my youth.

Anyway, if memory serves, that book had a section in it about adjudicating illusions.

Even in a regular game of D and D, handling illusions is tricky business.

Playing solo, it's even more complicated.

Here's some advice from that edition of the DMG that I found online.

I think it's useful.

It says, all illusions are cases of DM adjudication.

Illusions usually cease to affect a character if they are actively disbelieved.

Disbelief must be stated by the player based on clues provided by the DM.

Players.

Stating disbelief must give a reason for disbelief based on sensory information available to the character.

So, using this advice, I decided to make fair Wind suspect that the scene in front of him was not real.

However, simply allowing him to disbelieve the illusion felt a bit like I considered having him make a wisdom check, but in the end went with the saving throw versus spells.

I rolled that off Mike and got an eleven against a target of fifteen, so he failed to disbelieve the illusion, but he still felt that something was wrong when he tried to communicate this to achillea.

He was silenced by the illusory' zygogue, but Achille used her message spell to achieve a brief secret exchange between the two.

Anyway, I figured this was enough to allow her her own saving throw, and when I threw the dice, she passed for the sake of the other companions.

Achille then used her new dispel magic incantation to reveal the truth.

I needed to make two roles here, because both the phantasmal force and the invisibility enchantments were cast by a magic user of higher level than Achillia.

These roles were both successful, so Achillia managed to dispel everything, and that's where we are now.

When they shrieked and tried to run, Flicker suddenly blinked away.

She reappeared only a dozen feet from the small figure Flicker No.

Achille cried out after the animal, but this time her command was not heated.

The dog's target managed only a few steps before they were tackled and borne to the ground, where the two rolled around in a bundle of clothing and fur.

There was a cry of panic.

Flicker.

Achille tried again let go.

This time the blink dog obeyed, releasing the person's sleeve from their jaws and backing up just a little, but ready to spring again.

A low growl escaped her throat, causing her prey to freeze when they tried to scoot back and away from the pale, blue eyes and bare teeth that threatened them.

Please please, please, don't let it.

I was always trying to fight.

So you what it?

Back?

You are, owed oak Zygog, asked.

Achilia, looking upon the pathetic and frightened creature.

It did not seem possible.

Despite her incredulity, she continued, so be it.

Call off your guards or I'll have my dog rip your throat out.

No, I mean yes, of course, right away, honor glory your weapons and step back.

The suits of armor instantly obeyed, backing away with a clank.

They lifted their halberts so the butts of their weapons were planted on the floor, with the tips pointed at the ceiling.

Cautiously, the other companions rose to their feet, but Achilia was not finished.

Let's a start, now, release us from these.

She held up her hands to show her manacled wrists.

The other hesitated, but another growl from Flicker was all it took all right.

I will, but you must promise not to let me come to harm.

See lear At the arcane word, the companion's manacles all opened of their own accord and fell to the floor with a chorus of Achilia had no intention of making any kind of deal with this person and completely ignored their request for a promise.

I believe, she said, stepping forward with.

Menace, that you have some explaining to do, although.

She did not see it.

Behind her, the other party members were trying to adjust to their new reality, with mouths acape and eyes blinking, as though emerging from dreams.

Just go, just leave me me.

Take whatever you can to steal and leave.

I won't stop you.

Just please go off your animal.

The diminutive person had now scooted themselves back as far as they could go, and their heaving shoulders were pressed against the row of thick books that spanned the length of the bottom shelf.

Pale, sweating profusely and shaking visibly, they looked like they might turn to ash in the heat of Achilia's wrath.

But Achilia did not relent steal.

We did not come here to steal anything.

When we arrived, we.

Announced our presence and asked for a audience.

Well, that was true.

The next thing she said was not entirely accurate.

She said it anyway, and.

It was you who attacked us and took our belongings and threw us.

In us out.

Da Hafelf's blood was pumping now.

She felt her face go hot.

Worst of all, you pretended friendship to my master, only you betray him.

Here, Achilia pulled the sketchbook from her bag and opened it to the final page.

She then held forth the inscription and recited the words for memory.

I hope these poor sketches will remind you that you will always have a home in the North.

Achilia was raging.

What do you have to say for yourself?

Oh doak zygod, does my voppie still have a home in the north with you?

She spoke the last words in a poisoned sneer, with spittle flying from her lips.

Achilia hurled the sketchbook at the cowering figure and then drew her wand holding in front of her as though it were a knife.

Oh would you prefer his stays frozen forever in cold stone while you pilver what you will from his book of spells like a murderous thiefe.

There were tears streaming down Achillia's cheeks.

Now she was so full of emotion that she felt she might burst.

She also had no idea what she was going to do with the wand in her hand, only that it felt right that her Voppy's attacker should squirm and beg for their life.

Well, she roared, what have you to say for yourself?

What do they have to say?

It's a good question, and I am split.

Part of me wants to just keep on writing this scene as it occurs to me, but another part wants to stop and add a pinch of chaos.

Since I did stop, I guess you can guess which part one out.

I am going to make some kind of role here before I continue the narrative.

I have a few options.

A reaction role would do the job.

Another idea would be to make amoral check.

That makes even better sense.

But I think I'm going to use a third kind of check, a charisma check for Achilia's ability to intimidate her target into real submission.

This will be a role under stat kind of check.

Since Achilia has a charisma score of nine, not a great score, and represented in the previous scene by her barely holding on to restraint.

She needs to roll that number or less on a D twenty to succeed.

But I'm going to award her a minus three to the role to account for the situation and sudden imbalance of power, So that makes a sixty percent chance to get what she wants.

Here comes the D twenty roll an eight.

Okay, it's clear what needs to happen next.

The little figure's eyes flicked past Achillia as they became aware of the two very grim looking elves, now fitting arrows to bows behind her, with shoulders slumped in defeat and with tears springing from their eyes.

They sniffed miserably and blubbered.

I don't know what you want me to say.

I am not the person you think I am.

Not a thief, not a murderer, snapped the half helf looming hugely over them.

Flicker punctuated the question with a bark.

Eh no, I am none of those things.

Do you undo what you have done to my Bobby.

I don't care if I have to march you all the.

Way back home at the point of my dagger, but you will undo that spell and restore him, but I can't.

Oh you can and buy a Haya you will.

You don't understand?

What don't I understand?

I've been trying to tell you.

Their cheeks now glistened with tears, tell.

Me what I am not?

Oh doak Psygog.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone, and of course thank you for listening.

If you'd like to help to support the show, you can recommend or liken repost episode announcements on social media.

You can purchase a Tale of the mantagor T shirt at bear Archstarts store or what are my Offerings on drive through RPG, and of course you can rate and review the show on your favorite broadcaster.

If you happen to listen to the show on speaker, you can join the Supporters Club for two dollars a month and get all episodes add free.

I mentioned a few episodes ago that I had always thought this was the case, and it was not, but it is now.

By extreme gratitude to those who were patient while I dealt with the issue, and a massive double thank you to those who joined the remain members of the Supporters Club even when they were not getting ad free content.

My listeners truly are the best.

And speaking of that, here's a listener review I would love to share.

This one was left on Apple Podcasts by ghost Entry.

Ghost Entry rights absolutely brilliant.

Tale of the Mantigar is the podcast I had been searching for, and since I have your attention, here's why.

First, the hybrid storytelling is incredibly immersive.

Watching these characters face the real possibility of their her own death creates attention and connection that simply cannot exist in a format where the listener knows they're ultimately safe.

It bonds you to them in a way that nothing else really does.

John's fidelity to the dice make every combat, every risk the characters take into a meaningful thrill that makes it hard to stop listening.

The older I get, the harder I find it to really connect to new characters in fiction.

Most stories don't even really try to make care about them till the manticor achieves this connection and care in a way I find genuinely unbelievable.

Hey, ghost Entry, this season, the characters have been dodging bullets left and right.

That shrope.

They can keep it up because, like you, I genuinely care about them.

Thanks so very much for the review, and I have more thanks to give.

Let's talk about this episode's cast of voice actors.

We've got Dave Cooper here playing fair Wind as always and in both the voice of the Magic Mouth and the mystery character who's revealed at the episode's conclusion.

It's Amanda Tea.

Check out her art at Wicked Underscore, Loving Underscore Lies on Instagram.

Thanks so much Dave and Amanda for breathing life into this tale.

For those curious to learn more about Tale of the Manticor, I keep a blog where I post all kinds of show and RPG related stuff like sketches, maps, tables, crafts, and showows.

You can find it at tale of Themanticore dot com.

To get in touch with me, I'm at Solo Roleplayers Network dot com, Tale of the Manticor dot blues Guide dot Social, Tale of the Manticore podcast on Instagram, or Tale of Themanticre at gmail dot com.

The adventual will continue on the next episode or Tale of the Manticor.

It's the story where chaos rolls.

Oh