Stories with Dice
Stories with Dice is an actual-play podcast where a fellowship of everyday gamers explores fantastical worlds, distant futures, and parallel realities through tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) from Free League Publishing, Chaosium, Modiphius Entertainment, and more.
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Stories with Dice
The Sword Campaign S1 E8: A Pendragon Actual Play Podcast
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While traveling through the Forest of the Silver Deer, our Salisbury knights encounter a wolf that transforms into a man, who warns them of the Spriggan’s Curse haunting Sir Caradoc. He also questions the alliance between King Arthur and Merlin. The knights then arrive at the Castle of the Doves in Duffield, where they must navigate uneasy hospitality.
Pendragon Theme by AleXZavesa via Pixabay
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Welcome to Stories with Dice. This is the Sword Campaign, a Pen Dragon Actual Play podcast using the sixth edition starter set from Chaosium.
Introduction to the Quest
SPEAKER_01If you're enjoying our actual plays, please subscribe to Stories with Dice so you'll never miss an episode. Don't forget to rate and review us, it really helps others discover the podcast. Follow us on social media to stay updated, share your thoughts, and join the conversation. You'll find the relevant links in the description of each episode. Last time on the Sword Campaign, our valiant Salisbury Knights overcame a sudden ambush by Picks and continued their journey to Cameliard. At Carrow House they met Sir Hyphyd, the Castellan, who informed them that King Leo de Grants' arrival was imminent. While awaiting the king the knights hunted with Sir Hyfid. When Leo de Grans arrived they delivered King Arthur's message and learned troubling news. King Lot's army was even larger than the force he led the previous year. Nevertheless, Leo de Grantz agreed to join Arthur's forces in Lambor to face Lot. With time running short, the knights pressed northward to treat with Count Sanim of Bedigrade,
Encountering the Wolf Man
SPEAKER_01but in the mysterious forest of the silver deer, a man suddenly blocked their path, transforming before their eyes into a massive, fearsome wolf. We open on a massive wolf, its hulking frame pacing back and forth across the old Roman road, the uneven cobblestones clicking faintly under its claws. Its eyes gleam with an eerie, calculating intelligence. A low growl escapes its throat, your horses grow nervous, their hooves shifting uneasily on the road. In the woods on either side of you are wolves gathering, eyes gleaming from the underbrush, their forms blending seamlessly with the shadows. They're waiting, they're watching. Then that giant wolf on the road ahead of you suddenly shifts. Its massive form ripples and contorts, muscles and fur transforming with unnatural speed. In moments, the animal is gone, replaced by a man. He strides briskly down the road toward you, his gaze sharp and unyielding, studying each of you intently as he draws closer. What do you do?
SPEAKER_03I start crossing myself. I'm looking to Sir Histalwin because this is his bag because of his his his his religion, not mine. I won't I won't lie, I'm happy to face a a battle. I'm not happy to face something I can't explain.
SPEAKER_00But is this Sir Histalwyn? But is this witchery? I don't understand.
SPEAKER_03This is an old forest and it's old magic. It hasn't attacked yet. Shall we see what it wants? And I'll cause the horse is uneasy, I'll get down from the horse. Okay. Uh now which one of you has the highest honest?
The Druid's Warning
SPEAKER_03I've got thirteen.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. It's gonna be safe as the wind stepping on me up eight. Okay, so the the man who's the wolf man we'll call him, as he's stri he strides forward, Sir Historine, you get down off your horse and he eyeballs you and he says The eyes of the druid track you and then he points overhead, and up over overhead you can see a raven is circling. Why?
SPEAKER_03We travel to uh take a message to a king from a king. We uh we travel through the forest here.
SPEAKER_01I don't know exactly why He he puts his hand up to sort of like signal you to to stop speaking, and he turns his head, tilting it as if listening to the to a breeze that's whispering through the trees. And then he nods after a moment. It's almost as if he's speaking to the trees, and he says, Ah, yes, yes, of course, thank you. And then he turns back to you and he says, Did you know the druid protects you from this one? And he points at Sir Karadoch. The Spriggan's curse will catch up with him soon. I warn you don't be around when it does. I look at Sir Karadoch.
SPEAKER_00That might be true. But who is this druid that you're talking about?
SPEAKER_01You know of whom I speak. You call him Merlin.
SPEAKER_00I see. Indeed, we are in the service of our King Arthur, Marlin Sarskim.
SPEAKER_01Yes, you are on an errand from the south for this boy king who now rules there. Tell me, and he points again at Sir Histolin. Tell me about this new king of yours.
SPEAKER_03He brings a new order, throws out the corruption that has brought the kingdom down in the past. He seeks to unite the world of men and bring peace to the land. However, there are those that oppose him that need to be defeated first, and this is a part of our mission. World of men, listen to yourself.
SPEAKER_01It is exclusionary. Now tell me, is it true then that Merlin supports this boy?
SPEAKER_03He bade us to actually uh look after the new king to nurture him, to fulfil what was prophesied, for whatever reason he believes in the king.
SPEAKER_01Why does Merlin make an alliance with the one god who seeks to supplant the many? Does he think this desert god alone can mend the wounds of our broken isle? There are other ways, ways older than the standing stones that can make whole what you men have broken. And then he turns toward the bushes on either side of the road and he makes a wolfish sound, and the packs of wolves that had been gathering disperse, and he turns back to you and he says, You have done me a favour. I see the truth in you. Take this and he reaches for a pouch that's hanging around his neck, and he pulls out a hand carved wooden whistle, and he gives it to you, Sir Histolin, and he says, If you are ever nearby and in great need, blow on it. It will only work once.
SPEAKER_03Thank you, sir. To what name shall I give you and your generosity?
SPEAKER_01I am Bledwin, the son of Gwidian and Gilvathi, when they were wolves. But it is time for me to go now. The hunt awaits, and before your eyes he changes shape again into that enormous wolf, and he snaps his teeth and he runs off into the forest.
SPEAKER_03Wha what what what what was that? I I've heard tales of such creatures. He's a man and and a bear and a wolf. Both. Such things have been said to happen in in the old ways. Very but this whistle. He he said he'd he would come to our assistance if needed. I will keep this safe and maybe talk to Merlin if we find him again. Keep that uh double re away from myself, please. Yeah, maybe we should make haste to uh make our way through the the woods here. And and stay to the path as we've been told. Having seen that, I think staying to the path is probably best.
SPEAKER_01Okay, so near the end of the day,
Arrival at Castle of the Doves
SPEAKER_01you arrive at the castle of the doves in Duffield. It's a Moton Bailey stronghold. But the name feels ill suited. There's little of peace or warmth here. The cobblestone road beneath your horse's hooves shifts to rough packed earth as you cross into the Bailey, where an unsettling quiet hangs in the air. The castle seems deserted. Only a handful of people are moving about, servants performing some duties. A single guard paces the wall, and ahead of you a man stands. He has a weathered face. I am the steward, he says. Who are you?
SPEAKER_03Sir, we we bring message for your king from the young king, Arthur. King? You mean Count Sanham? There's no king here. Apologise, sir, yes. For the Count. Well, out with it, out with it. I haven't got all day. Our message is is for for the Count, however, we would be grateful if you could point us in the direction.
SPEAKER_01Well my lord, Count Sanham, sends his regards, and regrets that he cannot be here in person to receive your embassy. I act in his stead. I assure you that whatever you say to me, you say directly to the Count. Whatever gifts you have brought, you may leave them with me.
SPEAKER_03So you seem to have some foreknowledge of our mission.
SPEAKER_01No. You told me you were could only give the message to the count, and I am telling you that he is not here, and you can give it to me. I am not a soothseer.
SPEAKER_03Well, as as for gifts, unfortunately we we bear none at this moment. You bear none? I my lord. This is an insult. My lord, none is intended. None is intended, and yet you do it none the less. You'll you'll find that another lord has taken your uh your gift.
SPEAKER_01He raises an eyebrow. Taken a gift meant for my count.
SPEAKER_03Indeed. We didn't have much choice. There were the three of us and a castle full of gods. You want to give me a courtesy roll, Sir Ian? Yes, I will be. So I need an eleven I've rolled a nine, so I succeeded.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so you can tell that this is probably gonna hurt your cause. But there's little there's little to do now about it. And so the steward says, Well, well, well, join us for an evening meal, I suppose, such as it is. Come come with me. And you go into the castle, and it's dimly lit corridors, feel hollow. Hall is sparsely decorated, the food is not particularly good, and there's not enough of it, the ale is flat. You notice that as as he took you into the castle and brought you to the great hall, that the garrison here is sparse, and its presence is so minimal that it raises doubts about the castle's ability to defend itself. And the there's no flourish or ceremony to the meal, there's no music, there's no laughter, and when you're done, the plates are cleared in silence, no one is really talking to anyone else, and then the steward just turns and says to you, Are you giving the message or not?
SPEAKER_03You've been fed And we are grateful for uh you giving us what you have. You have fulfilled all your obligations to uh chivalry. We once again apologize for the lack of of gifts which were intended for you, and as it was our shortcoming, may I uh offer my service to some small extent to make up for this to your your count and your estate.
SPEAKER_01I I I don't want your service.
Tensions with the Steward
SPEAKER_01You've come with a message, you've lost the gifts out with it. To be frank to be frank, oh here we go, this'll be good.
SPEAKER_03We have been tasked with asking your lord if he would join the young king in defence against the marching armies of King Lot of the North. I should think not. But would that not be a choice of your lord?
SPEAKER_01It would. And I speak for him. Your answer is no. Where is he? My lord, yes, my lord is off on business. Lord's business, sir. Know your place.
SPEAKER_03So Marco, in the in the grand scheme of things, he is the sort of the master of the household, I suppose, right? Yeah. So I take it he's classed as a a higher rank than us. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, knights are at the bottom of the the list of the of the list. Okay. I I I won't say anything, I will just stare at him. Okay. If you wish it, you may stay the night, you will find chambers prepared for you. But fi but if it is your will to leave, you have my permission to do so.
SPEAKER_00Key my lord, I think we'll leave on the morrow. We thank you for your hospitality. If there's anything else that we can do for you.
SPEAKER_01No, I should think not. Good night to you, sirs. Good night. And a servant comes and he bids the servant to take you to your to your chambers. He wasn't wrong. The chambers are prepared, but they're pretty awful. The beds are uncomfortable, the bedding maybe hasn't been washed. There's a bit of a foul s foul smell in the room.
SPEAKER_03Do you think we could like promise them some money? They could uh maybe spruce up the place a little bit. They are certainly lacking in in uh service. Um Also I don't trust him. I also got that feeling as to his motives, I'm not sure. Do you think he's on the side of King Lot? I didn't get any direct feel for that, but he's certainly uh obfuscating over something. I wonder if we can um have a wander round this thing. I mean, take the night air, that kind of thing. Yeah. Get maybe a quick quick wander round. Maybe maybe even a quick conversation with one of the servants might reveal more. I would say we can send our squires to do this job. Certainly the carrot less conspicuous on us say, yes.
SPEAKER_00So I will ask Owen on uh perhaps you wanna send your squires to you know, go to the kitchen, go to the stables. Typical places, each one can perhaps find a place in the house and see what news they bring. Perhaps they gr bring us some insight on a way to sway this this
Planning the Night's Investigation
SPEAKER_00lord. Perhaps Felix each of you give me a squire roll, please. Damn Phoenix.
SPEAKER_03Okay, success for Owen. Success for Felix as well. Minus the minus four hundred because he's a lazy son of a young Nib, go to the kitchens, talk to the kitchen mates.
SPEAKER_00Very nice.
SPEAKER_03Very nice indeed. So I figure if they go do that, we can have a look around, see what we can see. I I I I I'm just concerned there's no one here, and it's just a skeleton crew, and and there's I don't know, just something not quite right about the whole place.
SPEAKER_01So Owen goes to the kitchens. Where are you sending Felix? I'll send Felix to the servants' quarters.
SPEAKER_03Okay. And uh where are you sending Neb? Um I'll I'll send him to uh tend to the horses and talk to the uh stable lads and squires there. Okay, so he's going to the stables.
SPEAKER_01All right, and then so are the three of you sticking together or are you su are you also going to different doing different things?
SPEAKER_03Maybe if we stick together it makes more sense if we're all sort of like taking the night air together and having a walk around and discussing things. That would look less suspicious.
SPEAKER_04Okay. So let me know where you guys are going.
SPEAKER_00I will go to but I would say praying would be good after seeing these wolf men. Must be a chapel. And perhaps the priest.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, that's a good point. Yeah, well while you're at the chapel, I'll probably go and stand at the the front gate of the uh place. Maybe uh talk to the guards. And Sir Ian? Yeah, I'll go with uh Sir Caraduc to the uh to the chapel. My plan being is that if the chapel is richly appointed, then we know it's doing well. If it's not, even
Discovering the Chapel's Secrets
SPEAKER_03more suspicious.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, okay, so the two of you find the chapel, the altar is bare, there are no, you know, no treasures of the church, you know, there's no cross, there's a layer of dust on the floor, no footprints. So Carodaugh, this is very strange.
SPEAKER_03It's it's almost as if the people or or everyone that's here have avoided the chapel. I don't know if I'm speaking out of term, but I it's as if this isn't their castle. I feel like no, there's there's only a few people. I I I I'm I'm I'm concerned that the people here are not who they say they are. Look at the look at the way they've been defending the the keep. There isn't enough of them. I don't really know about the well we'll find out once this what once once our squires speak to the servants.
SPEAKER_00But if you say this if you say this, then where are the people? Do you think they're punchons? Dungeons from the castle?
SPEAKER_03I mean, I don't know how we'll be able to get into that, but I guess if there's if there's not many people around, then Walker, how when we've been walking around, have we actually seen many people, so like, or is it still just as bare and it's just as bare as when you entered, yeah.
SPEAKER_01You may have like you may have walked by a servant or something, but you know, hardly any hardly any guards. It certainly doesn't have the population level that one would expect.
SPEAKER_00I would say let's go check the dungeons.
SPEAKER_01Sir Histowin, you go out to the gate, and that same single guard that was pacing back and forth on the wall as when you entered is still there. You notice that his armor is a bit shabby and loose fitting in some places. You can't tell if maybe he's wearing someone else's armor or if maybe he's just losing weights because he hasn't been eating as much lately. You'd you know it's it's a little impossible to tell. But you do you want to approach him, or what are you doing as you're walking toward the toward the Palisades? Yeah, I'll I'll walk up to him. Okay, so you walk up the the stairs up to the top of the wall, and he's is taken aback by you being up there. As he's pacing back and forth, he like turns around to walk back the way he came, and he just sort of sees you right there. Like if you were an intruder, you would have gotten to jump on him. And uh and he clutches his spear even tighter, white his you know, white knuckling his the spear in his hand, and he's like, Oh, excuse me, excuse me, sorry. I didn't know you were there. Are you lost?
SPEAKER_03No, but you're supposed to be on guard duty. How did I creep up on you so easily? Do you even know how to use that those weapons?
SPEAKER_01And he sort of now he sort of angles it down at you a little bit and he's like I am a guest of your lord.
SPEAKER_03That you are, and you just threatened me. I not threaten you. I am just concerned that me and my companions are to be guarded by you overnight, and I was not sure if you were adequately uh up to the job.
SPEAKER_01Besmirch my honour, sir, but never you mind. I am well trained and well versed in all manner of weapons.
SPEAKER_03That's good to hear it. Maybe you uh could spend more time keeping those weapons in good condition. You're a strange guest, insulting your hosts.
SPEAKER_01Uh don't see how I'd be insulting my hosts. This is a losing conversation. I should get back to Garden the Gate. What was it you came up here for anyway, except to piss me off.
SPEAKER_03As I said, me and my friends are to stay here the night, and I I wish to uh make sure that the guards were up to the job. Well now you've made sure. I certainly found out something. What would that be? You seem to have no problem in talking roughly to your superiors. My superiors? You say you're questioning the uh the position of a knight? Are you a knight?
SPEAKER_01I Who knighted you? Well my lord, Count Robert. Never heard of him. Where's he from? Serum. Never heard of it. Where's that? In the south. In the south. In the far south? Well south of here. Is that is that Logris? Yes, down that way, yeah. There are no lords in Logris. I think this count of yours pulled the wool over your eyes. You call yourself a knight.
SPEAKER_03So then uh what of the reputation of your lord then? What of it? What great deeds is he renowned for?
SPEAKER_01Count Sandem? Oh, he's won many battles. Kept us safe from the Saxons he has. Good to hear. And you've fought by his side? I've defended this castle. Have you needed to in recent times? Ah, the Saxons give us trouble sometimes. Give me an intrigue roll. No. Yeah, you've heard of Saxons raiding these parts often enough that it seems like he's he's he's telling you the truth.
SPEAKER_03Well be sure to raise the alarm well if any trouble arises.
SPEAKER_01Don't you worry. You and your friends will sleep tight tonight. Won't be any Saxons harrying us this evening. I'll wander back down and see if I can find my companions. Okay. So Sir Karadok and Sir Ian, you are both heading down to see if you can find some dungeons. So you go down the stairs. You're wandering around another level of the castle. You find some more stairs, you go down another another level, you're looking around, and you turn a corner of a corridor and there's a an old man and he's mopping up the floor. The corridor's lined with a bunch of doors, and there are torches for lights on either side, and he turns to you and don't recognize you.
SPEAKER_02Just gonna walk straight up towards him and go look at one of the doors. Are they essentially like cell doors with like a little bit of a window?
SPEAKER_01Just normal normal doors. Yeah. And when you get closer to him, he goes, Oh, that's better. And he's looking at your at your colours. Strangers.
SPEAKER_03Indeed, old man. What happened to you? I look at the the mess on the floor. Cleaning up some cat piss. I see. Are you lost? Yes, we were kind of like looking to find our way towards a kitchen. We were a little bit hungry still. We kind of got turned around, I suppose, and we kind of kind of this way. What's that way? And I point as I walk past him.
SPEAKER_01Ain't no kitchens down here. Well, what's this way then? It's back that way, and he's pointing back the way you came. Back this way is the armory. Oh, okay. Which strikes you as strange because there's no one guarding the armory. Yeah. Yeah, it's just odd. Okay. Have you worked here long? Have you lived here long? My whole life. Well where's your lord? I asked. My lord? How Sanim, you mean? Yeah. Oh, he's sliding with a grit. And he like almost catches himself and he slaps his face a little bit and he's like, sorry, not supposed to tell strangers that one. Would you like to repeat it? Tell cut me tongue out. I won't say anything on it.
SPEAKER_03Why do you want to know? Well, what do you think of the uh the gentleman in charge of the castle while your lord is away? The steward, I I imagine he's not the friendliest of sorts, but he comes across as he walks around like he's got a a pole up his bunghole. I laugh.
SPEAKER_02I basically I I I put my my hand on his arm and kind of offer some sort of like contact and just kind of like laugh and stuff.
SPEAKER_03And you can do a lot of work. Can I get you a can I get you a drink? Mighty kind of you.
SPEAKER_00Sir Caradak, what are you doing while they're having this chat? Just moving around and looking, perhaps even go and walk in, continue walking around while this while Sir Iam is distracting this, you know, this servant.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, you walk pr you walk to the end of the corridor to a door and it's got a little window with bars, and you peek through and you can see it uh it's an armory and it's mostly empty, and there are no one there's no one guarding the door.
SPEAKER_00What is everyone? I go back to this old man and I say, why is this castle so empty? Oh. There's a war coming. Indeed, there is a war coming, but where is everyone? Off doing what you do when a war is coming.
SPEAKER_03Riding with with with uh with King Locke, right? Naturally. Oh did it again. You won't tell, will you? Of course not. Why would we tell? I'll go get you that drink. Thank you. And I'll wander off leaving Sarod to chat to the eye.
SPEAKER_00No, no, no.
SPEAKER_02Okay.
SPEAKER_04He's like you're coming back, aren't you? Do you know don't don't tell the the the last time someone told you'll never and then like his voice is trailing off as you're walking away.
SPEAKER_01I will go get a drink and bring it back to him. And then see if I can get some more information now. Okay, so while you're going while you're doing that, Sir Win. Where are you headed?
SPEAKER_03I'll probably head back to the rooms and wait for the uh the other knights to turn up or any of the squires to turn up with further news.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so you go back to the you go back to the your lodgings and Neb is there waiting for you, and he's he's pacing back and forth. He looks really nervous. Neb, you found anything out? I sir. The stable boys Count Sanem's pledged himself to
Revelation of Count Sanham's Loyalty
SPEAKER_01Lot. I don't think we're safe here.
SPEAKER_03That would explain the lack of staff here. If most of the men at arms have gone to join the army heading south.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, the the the Count the Count's army's marching with lots, and that's that's not that's not even the half of it, sir. Ah what else? The come look and he takes you down this corridor to a window and he and he points out the window and you can see sort of against the light of the moon on a on a hill, there is a crucifix, and it looks like there might be someone on it. And he says used to be their priest. And then we cut back to Sir Eaton and Sir Karadoc. So you've you've got him a drink, you've come back to the old man who's finishing up cleaning the cat piss off the floor, and he turns around and he goes, What are you lost? I found this drink for you. It's you again.
SPEAKER_03And he takes the drink and I can't remember what we were talking about. Oh, you were telling me how uh how much you'd um you'd needed a drink because you were doing a lot of hard work here. Oh yes. Thank you, my boy.
SPEAKER_02I realize he doesn't remember what we were talking about, so I kind of realised that probably I won't bother to to bother him anymore and kind of I'll I'll I'll wander off and say uh I'll s I'll we'll speak to you soon, I'm sure.
SPEAKER_03Nice to meeting you. You too. He's a feeble old man. Thankfully he's not gonna understand that we've had a conversation, Sir Caradock.
SPEAKER_00There was a miserable to ask him if he's loyal to Lot. Well, he's a crazy old man.
SPEAKER_03I mean I don't think he's gonna know any more than that. You never know. Perhaps Sir Historwin has probably had more luck than us, but I I definitely feel that whatever's going on here is is not it's not good.
SPEAKER_00What is clear is that we need to tell King Arthur about one of the lords joining
Decision to Report to Arthur
SPEAKER_00the King Lot. I mean, he might be facing uh a bigger enemy than expected. I think first thing in the morning at first light we leave.
SPEAKER_01Okay, so you're returning back to your lodgings?
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Okay, so you get back to your room, and there you see Sir Histelwin speaking to his squire Neb, and just behind you as you enter, come in Felix and Owen as well. What do they report? So Felix tells you that he went to the servants' quarters and got reprobanded for wandering around by this mean old lady. But while he was coming back, he overheard two or two guards whispering that the steward is nervous that you're here. And Sir Carod Sir Karadoc Owen returns from the kitchen to tell you that when Count Sanim pledged his fealty to King Lot, Lot's men came and murdered their priest. Anyone who would not renounce their Christian faith was dragged out and never to be seen again.
SPEAKER_00This is a great opportunity for Arthur, perhaps.
SPEAKER_03But the steward has shown us the hospital hospitality that he should.
SPEAKER_00I know. No, we will not do anything. We'll just report back to Arthur and leave in the morrow.
SPEAKER_03Yes, that is what we'll do. F leave first thing tomorrow and tell
A Mysterious Woman Appears
SPEAKER_03Arthur. So how many days have you been tracking it? How many days have gone by? So we are currently on day thirteen going into day fourteen. Suggests we should set a watch for the night. Yes, I think so.
SPEAKER_01The night goes by uneventfully, though Neb is really terrified. And I imagine, Sir Histowin, even though you're not of the faith, that the fact that they crucified the priest of this castle probably it horrifies you as well that they would be so barbaric. Or not. I don't know. I don't want to speak for you. Yeah, I mean it's it's not a very nightly thing to do. Exactly. And so the night goes by quietly, no one accosts you in your sleep. And so how do you want to return? Do you want to return the way you came or do you want to take the main road? I guess probably the fastest route.
SPEAKER_03So I think when we leave, we'll probably leave early saying that thank you very much for the time, I guess. Don't leave it on bad terms with with with uh with with the uh with the steward, uh, because we don't want to kind of like plock on that we know there's something in that just okay, well thank you very much. We've made it we plead our case, we'll go back to Arthur and say that you're waiting we're waiting for a response, and we'll just leave it at that.
SPEAKER_01Okay. So in that case, with your errands complete and time of the essence, you take the old Roman road back to Carleon. But part of the way there it becomes clear to you that you're not gonna make it in time. And then from the shadowed woods, a woman steps onto the cobblestone in front of you. Her robe is a deep shadowy black, so intricately woven that it appears almost feather like, fluttering as if alive with its own rhythms. In her hand she clutches a wriggling white rabbit. I am a friend and student of Merlin, she says. You'll never make it in time. You must follow me. With a swift motion she slits the rabbit's throat and utters a word in a language foreign to your ears, ancient and lyrical. What foul surgery is this witch? And she looks up at you and says for everything there is a price. It is the way of the world. And then around her the air starts to stir, and behind her the bows of these two old trees bend and twist, their limbs groaning with some strange unnatural force. The branches arch inward, forming a doorway, as the air between them shimmers like the surface of a pond, rippling from a cast stone. We must hurry, the woman says, the ley lines can be unpredictable. And then she steps through the shimmering doorway, her form, wavering as though viewed through water. On the other side, she turns and extends her hand, beckoning you to follow. What are we seeing, that woman? I cannot keep this gate open we'll just go through and reckless. You lean down from your horse, grasp her outstretched hand, and feel her steady pull as she draws you and your steed through the shimmering doorway.
SPEAKER_02I I follow. I'm reckless as well, so I'm just like, Yep, okay. If one's going, I'm going.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I'll I'll look back at the uh the squires, nod to them, and then look back to the uh thing and just kick the horse and off we go. Head straight for it.