Baldur's Gate 3 - Part 52 - I Am Not Morally Accountable For That Murder

0:00 Good afternoon, ladies gentlemen, I'm John, this is many a true nerd,

0:03 and welcome back to Baldur's Gate 3.

0:06 Well, last time we recruited Halsin,

0:09 discovered that getting rid of the shadow curse is

0:10 going to be a bit more complicated than I thought.

0:14 Specifically, for the land to heal, we've got to kill Ketheric Thorm,

0:18 the local absolute boss of bosses,

0:20 currently squatting us somewhere inside of Moonrise Towers.

0:24 So, okay, I suspect we've still got quite a long way to go to get there.

0:30 Still, before we head out,

0:31 poor Arabella has at this point used up most of her good spells, not.

0:34 So, yeah, let's rest at camp for the time being.

0:38 And also, do not forget, John, we do have a visitor at the minute.

0:42 Poor Arabella, whose parents did uh recently pass away,

0:46 so the game said give her a bit of time to chill out.

0:50 So, we've left camp and come back.

0:52 It might mean it's now, or it might mean it's yeah,

0:55 this evening or in a few days, I don't know.

0:57 Leave me alone.

1:00 Right, not yet.

1:02 Got it.

1:03 So, okay, we'll come back this evening and see if yes,

1:06 maybe you feel a bit better then.

1:08 So, here we go into the evening shift.

1:12 Lovely.

1:13 And I'll tell you what, Halsin, given this is like, you know,

1:15 your first day as a proper full companion,

1:18 have you got anything interesting to contribute right now?

1:20 And here we go.

1:22 We've got ourselves a loads of new topics that weren't available previously.

1:26 Like Isobel back at the Last Light Inn.

1:29 Do you know of her?

1:30 My friends.

1:31 Only by reputation.

1:33 She was present when we marched against Ketheric Thorm,

1:37 but on the far end of the battle lines from where I fought.

1:40 And in the chaos that ensued, well, our forces were scattered.

1:46 I led some to safety, but never learned of her fate.

1:51 I'm glad to hear she survived.

1:54 Though in truth, I should not be surprised.

1:57 She was always said to be formidable and cunning.

2:02 I could have learned much from her, no doubt.

2:05 Yes, this is something I do need to keep in mind,

2:07 which is that even though some of these events of the distant past were like,

2:11 you know, 500 years ago,

2:12 that doesn't mean there aren't still eyewitnesses floating around.

2:16 Like, quite a few races in this game

2:18 do live centuries and centuries and centuries.

2:20 So, yeah, just because it feels like 500 years would be a long time for me,

2:25 that isn't necessarily true for many of the characters in this game.

2:28 And speaking of which, yeah,

2:30 that's precisely what we could get out of Halsin now.

2:34 He was here the first time the shadow curse was unleashed.

2:37 That might give us some clues as to how to deal with it.

2:41 Druids and Harpers joined together to put a stop to Ketheric Thorm.

2:45 We marched on Moonrise, and after much fighting, we prevailed.

2:50 Even in defeat, though, Ketheric turned to Shar.

2:56 Not long after we sealed him away in his tomb, the shadow curse took hold.

3:03 No one had seen the likes of it before.

3:05 No one knew how to react.

3:07 Then it started to claim all those within its reach.

3:11 Those who had survived the battles now fell to the shadows,

3:16 became part of the shadows.

3:20 And worst of all, I lost contact with Thaniel.

3:29 I wanted to try and find him, but we couldn't stay.

3:33 We would have all succumbed.

3:36 When the Archdruid of the Grove, my predecessor,

3:40 was seized by the curse, I had to lead the survivors to safety.

3:47 That was my first day as Archdruid.

3:51 An inauspicious beginning.

3:53 You see, right there I did not realize that.

3:56 I had a no idea that during the assault on Reithwin,

4:00 the Harpers and the druids were actually successful.

4:02 I assumed they lost.

4:04 But no, apparently they won, killed Ketheric Thorm,

4:08 locked his body up in a tomb,

4:10 but somehow he came back, and so did the shadow curse.

4:15 So, the shadow curse significantly predates the whole absolute business.

4:19 That was a Shar thing.

4:22 Seriously, Shadowheart,

4:22 would you actually come and join this conversation because,

4:25 once again, we have got to discuss certain aspects of your religion.

4:28 So, okay, we'll come and get you with Halsin a little bit uh more later.

4:32 But as for the time being, yeah,

4:34 turn our attention back to Arabella, who might be feeling not better,

4:40 given her parents did, like, you know, get kind of found just dead today.

4:43 But maybe she's not yelling leave me alone anymore.

4:46 Leave me alone.

4:49 Never mind, we'll try again tomorrow.

4:51 Halsin's proved himself a fine ally already.

4:55 He'll be useful in battle, if those tree trunk arms are an indication.

4:59 Okay, and everyone's got something to say about Halsin's arrival.

5:03 By the sounds of it, yes,

5:04 possibly uh Lae'zel might be a tiny bit into Halsin there.

5:07 Marvelous.

5:09 Ah, Halsin is such a delight.

5:13 Woe to the cultist who tangles with that thick hunk of an elf.

5:17 And okay, possibly Wyll's a bit into him as well.

5:20 How fascinating.

5:21 Right, as far as the inn town,

5:22 no one else has got anything urgent to say, so off to bed we go.

5:26 See if yes, anything incredibly dramatic happens.

5:32 And there we go, a happy sunny following morning and no trouble whatsoever.

5:37 Though, I do enjoy how the start of every day, my lantern uh doesn't yell at me

5:42 because of that poor fairy that's trapped inside.

5:44 Right, as it's now a bright new day, Arabella.

5:48 I don't believe it.

5:50 They can't be.

5:51 Breathe, child.

5:53 Resist not the winds of change.

5:56 Let them carry thee.

5:59 No.

6:01 No!

6:05 Listen.

6:07 Dost thou not hear it?

6:08 Where creation meets ruin, where morning meets midnight,

6:14 the root of all being, balance.

6:22 They're dead.

6:23 I can't.

6:29 Balance.

6:32 Your very soul is tangled in shadow.

6:35 Arabella's magic, wild as cursed briar.

6:39 Her talent is now yours, too.

6:43 The girl must learn the ways of the arcane.

6:48 But she shan't remain here.

6:52 Okay.

6:54 So, maybe I wasn't, like, you know,

6:56 100% right when I said Arabella was an abomination pretending to be Arabella.

7:02 But there's still something weird going on here because up to this point,

7:07 Withers has been very detached.

7:09 He just stands off to one side and answers questions as briefly as possible.

7:14 But suddenly Arabella's here,

7:16 and he's like taking an interest and offering her guidance,

7:21 which he hasn't done to any of us.

7:25 Which implies to me that, yeah, if that is Arabella,

7:28 she's just become someone a very, very[ __] important because Withers,

7:34 who I strongly suspect is the resurrected god of death itself,

7:38 is showing an interest in her.

7:39 So, okay, I'm guessing you're coming back in Act 3,

7:44 and you're going to be a bloody big deal when you do.

7:47 And yeah, who precisely is going to teach a girl

7:50 a way that's magical wilder than a literal wild magic user?

7:54 She will tame it in time.

7:58 The weave would not see one like her abandoned.

8:02 Arabella holds a power beyond reckoning,

8:07 that of the decaying forest and the seedling that bore it.

8:12 But it is unbalanced.

8:15 Her yoke is already heavy.

8:18 If she walks thy path, it will surely break.

8:23 Arabella will depart once thou dost leave these accursed lands.

8:29 She will find her way safely.

8:32 Thus, [snorts] it is fated.

8:36 Bow man, you're making me leave.

8:39 Fear not, girl.

8:41 The weave knows thy purpose.

8:44 It will guide thee if thou dost listen.

8:49 I am increasingly suspicious that Arabella may

8:52 be the most important person in our camp.

8:54 Like, whatever the future's got in store for you,

8:58 it might be much more important than any of the rest

9:00 of us because uh the way Withers is talking about you, that is downright unique.

9:07 He has not been doing that to the rest of us.

9:10 So, okay, you can trust Withers.

9:12 If he says you're going to be safe, I get the feeling you are.

9:16 I You feel great fate as if it were your own.

9:26 There is a lightness in her now, veiling the power within, soothing it.

9:33 Is that my future?

9:36 Is that why they died?

9:38 It is.

9:40 It's wonderful.

9:42 Thank you, bow man, for being nice.

9:47 If there are people like you around, perhaps everything will be all right.

9:51 Oh, yeah, you're going to be a very, very big deal in the future, aren't you?

9:58 On top of that, hang about, we just got to warn a piece of a her magic.

10:04 So, yeah, level one conjuration.

10:07 I can tangle up her shadows and undead.

10:10 Okay, nice little bonus to have, I suppose.

10:13 You can just move over here.

10:15 That is fine.

10:17 On top of that, a ring, the shadow blade ring.

10:21 So, oh, that is bloody huge, actually.

10:28 Cuz yeah, shadow blade is a one-handed weapon that does two to 16 damage.

10:33 It's two D8.

10:35 Which makes it like possibly the most powerful

10:37 weapon I've seen so far in the entire game.

10:40 Cuz yeah, even gigantic great swords are only two D6.

10:44 So, Okay, that might be a really big deal, actually.

10:48 Yeah, potentially that could be a very good weapon for Astarion,

10:53 given though he would lose the first strike bonus of the sword of first blood.

10:59 It would give him more power when he's

11:02 doing his constant sneak attacks over and over again.

11:05 So, Oh, yeah, that could be really useful for you.

11:09 So, okay, if we're going back into the ruins of Reithwin,

11:13 there's basically three destinations left.

11:16 Most objectives are now pointing towards Moonrise Towers themselves, absolutely.

11:21 There is also a path but just down the road that from where

11:25 I've already explored related to he who was wanting me to track down,

11:30 yes, an old ledger or something.

11:33 And then there's the night song,

11:35 that Sharran temple that we saw in the distance from the Underdark.

11:38 We couldn't get there through the Underdark.

11:40 We had to head to overground and then back down again,

11:44 which is the same temple that yeah, Shadowheart wants to check out.

11:49 So, yeah, it looks like the entrance

11:50 is probably somewhere near the house of healing

11:53 because she noted a large number of dark justiciars in that of the world.

11:58 So, okay, let's kick off with the simple one.

12:01 Punish the wicked and the Waning Moon.

12:03 So, I'm pretty sure that's on the way to Moonrise Towers,

12:05 which I would like to make some progress towards.

12:08 In which case, Shadowheart,

12:10 welcome back to the party if we're going back into Sharran territory.

12:14 And you know what, well, we've been traveling with you a lot recently.

12:17 Let's give yeah, Lae'zel a go.

12:20 It's been a while since Lae'zel's had some fresh air.

12:23 And we'll hold on to Halsin for the moment because yeah,

12:25 I'm still getting used to how he works.

12:29 Speaking of yes, my team, Lae'zel, you need to level up as well.

12:34 So, yeah, you'll be going up to level eight, I assume.

12:37 Marvelous.

12:39 So, okay, you're a fighter, presumably.

12:41 No, not cleric.

12:43 We definitely don't want cleric to go up to level two.

12:45 Level seven a fighter, please.

12:47 That'll be perfect.

12:48 So, yeah, loads of health and also oh,

12:54 my superiority to die just got flippy better.

12:58 That's pretty good, actually.

13:01 And I get to choose two more maneuvers as well.

13:03 Oh, these are amazing.

13:04 So, Okay, I can't like, you know, unselect ones I took previously.

13:10 The trip attack is great.

13:12 The counter is amazing.

13:14 And fainting attack is pretty solid as well.

13:18 So, okay, I get two more.

13:20 Loads of these are so so good, by the way.

13:23 So, distracting strike to yeah,

13:25 give allies advantage against target on the next attack roll.

13:30 But only on a one attack roll.

13:31 It doesn't give yeah, advantage against that target like for the whole turn.

13:35 That's not as good, I don't think.

13:38 Disarming strike is nice.

13:40 One D8 bonus damage and also the enemy might drop their weapon.

13:44 Presumably there's a saving throw there.

13:46 Goading attack to force disadvantage on yeah,

13:50 any attack on anybody who's not you.

13:53 Oh, that's pretty good, actually.

13:54 Cuz yeah, that's a good way of protecting the rest of the team,

13:57 especially given Lae'zel is just a swimming in armor, health, etc., etc.

14:02 So, Oh, and on top of that, if they do go for Lae'zel,

14:06 that might trigger the counterattack.

14:08 So, oh, that's pretty good.

14:09 That's going to be hard to beat, actually.

14:11 You know what?

14:12 I'm going to go for that.

14:14 And on top of that, I'm going to go for yeah, precision attack.

14:18 So, at points I can add a D8 onto my attack roll

14:21 to make it absolute double major sure that I get a hit.

14:25 If it's a really important turn where someone absolutely 100% has to die.

14:32 Oh, and also hilariously, I can use goading attack to yeah,

14:36 basically force them to attack me.

14:39 And then you stage fright after that point in order

14:42 to give them disadvantage on their attack rolls against me.

14:45 So, when they miss, they'll take two D6

14:48 psychic damage and also I get to start counterattacking.

14:51 A counterattack that does yes,

14:54 two D6 plus four plus two plus one D4 and also on top

14:58 of that, an additional one D4 psychic if I've got Sonic overload on.

15:02 So, Oh, Lae'zel, you are a beast, aren't you?

15:07 Oh, and before we go, right, something I missed away the house

17:53 and his special cantrip making his weapons much stronger,

17:57 it only works on yes, staffs or clubs.

18:01 So, you know what, sir?

18:02 You can have the very appropriate nature's snare.

18:05 So, as a Absolute.

18:08 Its power is strong here.

18:11 Right, so that's Moonrise Towers over in this direction.

18:15 And bare minimum, the front door does not appear to be guarded.

18:19 So, okay, I've kind of stumbled into that by mistake.

18:22 Sorry, got turned around now.

18:23 That's not where I was meaning to go.

18:25 What we actually want to do is yeah, this building over here.

18:32 There's tables and what not outside.

18:34 I think this is actually what we're after.

18:38 So, yeah, there's a journal.

18:40 There we go, the Waning Moon.

18:41 There's a journal somewhere in here which supposedly is going

18:46 to give us details about the victims of a murderer.

18:50 So, right, we need to find a ledger.

18:54 However, that doesn't mean that's going to be the only thing in here.

19:00 There seem to be, you know,

19:02 old horrific warped monstrosities in all the buildings.

19:07 Like you.

19:08 You look like a terrible warped monstrosity of some description,

19:11 my friend, especially given this building

19:13 looks really really cooking big, actually.

19:17 So, okay, there's something more complicated going on here than just,

19:24 you know, nipping, grab a journal, leave again.

19:28 Keep an eye on the map.

19:29 That sign above.

19:32 This must be a brewery or distillery.

19:34 So, yeah, brewery or distillery, that's fine.

19:38 In we go.

19:40 We thought perhaps we might toast our victory here.

19:44 But alas, it was not to be.

19:48 So, okay, I see you over here, my friend.

19:52 A blighted troubadour.

19:55 So, you're a level four zombie.

19:57 Quite large amount of health for a level four zombie, but yeah,

19:59 not very good at fighting if it does come to that.

20:05 However, when we say zombie,

20:11 these guys don't feel like they're about to attack, mate.

20:17 Am I hearing voices down below?

20:22 Let's just make sure the fans and also jump.

20:26 I think we're now out of Yeah,

20:28 the dangerous zone given we've crossed that threshold.

20:31 So, okay, I could put the bloody moon lantern away.

20:34 There we go.

20:35 I'm not immediately dying.

20:37 Better and better.

20:39 And also, yes, thanks to the sword, I've got a plus one bonus to my performance.

20:43 Which given this place seems to be filled with troubadours.

20:46 I think I just saw an actor down here.

20:49 Okay, performance might actually be very important.

20:53 Oh, and even better, now when I cannot in the deep shadow,

20:58 we can turn on the lights.

21:00 Okay, we can make this place a way more nice and warm and chill.

21:03 So, hello there, blighted troubadour.

21:06 The very day golden pouches clinking.

21:09 Say hey for the pub.

21:12 A single thought is what I'm thinking.

21:15 Say hey for the pub.

21:18 Okay, it's possible that though he's speaking, he's not really with it.

21:25 He's just sort of repeating the same thing over and over again.

21:30 So, right.

21:31 Let's have you know, a quick look around.

21:33 See if we can figure out what's going on here.

21:35 This is just drinking games excellence.

21:38 Bare minimum though, we now know it's safe for us to, you know,

21:42 have a mosey around and an explore without being immediately attacked.

21:45 So, that's positive.

21:49 So, yeah, we've got the actor down there.

21:50 Maybe you'll be a bit more on the chattier side, buddy.

21:55 Oh, I think I've spotted the um problem, by the way.

22:01 Right, every building in this damn town has got a form

22:06 who's been somehow horribly warped and mutated in some capacity.

22:12 So, this is a Fizzbang form.

22:15 He's level six, but once again, like 400 odd hit points.

22:20 So, there was the doctor over at the medical center,

22:22 the tollkeeper over at the front door, and now you are here at the door.

22:29 So, potentially, if we don't play our cards right,

22:31 then we're going to be fighting you.

22:33 And you're sufficiently drunk that yes, various things just don't work on you.

22:39 In fact, he's immune to conventional damage.

22:41 Amazing.

22:42 And he can also belch me to death.

22:45 Better and better.

22:46 And yeah, if it does come to a fight,

22:48 everyone else in the pub is going to be on his side.

22:51 So, okay.

22:54 Based on our experience with Yeah, the tollkeeper and the doctor,

22:59 there should be a way to, like,

23:01 you know, somehow trick him, manipulate him, make friends with him, etc., etc.

23:06 Still, before we go down there, hello there, blighted patron.

23:10 I don't know you.

23:13 Perhaps I forgot you.

23:15 And right, once again, he can't really properly speak.

23:19 He's just that one line, and he's dumb.

23:23 So, it feels like Yeah, potentially there's something weird with these guys.

23:28 Like, they're still here and they could speak,

23:31 but they're not, you know, entirely 100% present upstairs.

23:36 Well, I can't see much else going on upstairs.

23:39 So, right.

23:40 Let's slip downstairs and see if that immediately pulls us into a conversation.

23:46 And yes, it does.

24:00 Clink.

24:02 GO BACK DOWN WHERE YOUR WHISTLE.

24:07 TELL your story.

24:11 Okay.

24:13 Telling my story is precisely what I'm good at.

24:17 And don't be rude, Arya.

24:19 You're sitting in this guy's pub right now.

24:21 So, what's the drink, good sir?

24:24 Only [groaning] the best.

24:27 Ambrosian and beyond.

24:33 Go on.

24:35 [groaning] Cheers.

24:37 Bottoms up.

24:39 Count [groaning] match.

24:43 Hells.

24:44 The curse has twisted this man beyond measure.

24:48 So, okay.

24:50 I suspect I need to outdrink this guy in some capacity.

24:56 So, give it a go.

24:57 Let's see Yeah, what the checks are.

24:59 Leaning in, you can see how the creature's skin barely holds it together.

25:04 The bulge of its belly is on the cusp of bursting wide open.

25:11 He looks set to burst.

25:13 And we'll probably be left hip deep in his juices.

25:17 Go on.

25:19 Drink.

25:21 Make it drink.

25:22 [groaning] Be strong.

25:27 You [groaning] and I both.

25:30 To our good health.

25:33 Okay, there's the flipping track.

25:37 If I can keep him drinking long enough, he'll literally explode.

25:43 So, okay.

25:44 The problem is what saving throw?

25:47 Oh, constitution.

25:51 I'm not good at constitution.

25:53 I'm better at pretending to drink.

25:57 Cuz yeah, that's dexterity.

25:59 I've got slight of hand proficiency, and I get advantage from cat's grace.

26:05 So, yeah, all we need to do is Oh.

26:09 It's a bit of a tricky one, actually.

26:12 So, yeah, 18.

26:14 I've got plus, like, eight or so.

26:17 So, yeah, a 10 on either dice.

26:22 That it don't.

26:23 I've got a bit of Okay, that 19 is fine.

26:26 Good.

26:26 Good.

26:26 Good.

26:26 Good.

26:27 So, okay.

26:29 Round one is fine.

26:31 But that's going to get trickier.

26:33 Like, that was just the first one.

26:36 I'm a bit worried about this, actually.

26:41 Ah.

26:41 [groaning] But such a small sip you take.

26:51 [clears throat] Fear [groaning] not.

26:56 You will soon quaff as I do.

27:02 So, okay.

27:03 He's reloading the glasses.

27:05 Yeah, there we go.

27:07 Filling up his.

27:08 Mine doesn't need refilling though, cuz I didn't actually drink.

27:10 Though, somehow he refilled it anyway,

27:13 despite the fact it should have already been full, but whatever.

27:16 Now, tell me the story.

27:20 A fable.

27:22 A saga.

27:24 Entertain [groaning] me.

27:28 Okay, now that I could do.

27:32 In fact, I've got so many talking options right now.

27:36 So, right.

27:38 I've got Yes, lost fortresses in the Underdark,

27:41 a tower with a powerful magic, silver tongue to devils and fiends and whatnot.

27:47 So, okay.

27:49 What's the most impressive adventure I've been on?

27:54 I'm going to say perhaps the most just exciting and dramatic

27:57 was the tower with a mysterious and magic all through it.

28:01 Like, that's a good tale to tell.

28:03 So, start with that one and go from there.

28:07 So, okay, that is 16.

28:09 But I've got Yeah, plus five, plus three,

28:12 plus a D4, and plus one from the sword.

28:14 I'm glad to remember to set the sword back.

28:17 So, right.

28:18 That should be fine.

28:20 Yeah, that eight is a very easy pass, actually.

28:23 So, even with some bad rolls, we're okay for now.

28:27 That was closer than I was expecting, actually.

28:30 The word of wizards.

28:34 I cry [groaning] all.

28:37 That's my Oh, I [groaning] wish it still stirred within me.

28:48 You [groaning] ask.

28:49 You drink.

28:51 Then you amaze.

28:53 And fuse [groaning] that stir me.

28:57 Again.

29:00 So, okay.

29:02 I now get to ask a question.

29:05 Though, oh.

29:07 Am I supposed to be asking a question?

29:10 Yeah, what happened to you?

29:11 That might give me useful information for outdrinking you in future.

29:15 Father [groaning] can reach laughter.

29:20 Not joy.

29:22 Not ever.

29:23 [groaning] Never.

29:26 Only laughter.

29:27 [groaning] Now drink deep.

29:33 Okay.

29:35 Laughter.

29:38 That doesn't sound like most of forms of magic.

29:41 Is it possible Catherynne's a bard or something?

29:44 Like, you're his son.

29:47 It's hard to say.

29:47 being a bit vague there.

29:49 So, uh yeah.

29:51 Once again, I feel that the best option is to drink, or rather pretend to drink.

29:56 I'm much better at that than anything else.

30:00 Now, this is going to be a bit of a tricky one, actually.

30:03 So, again, I need like a 10.

30:05 Okay.

30:06 We're fine on this occasion.

30:07 That's a okay.

30:09 More stories.

30:17 Tell me of Thorm [groaning] Fair.

30:21 Village vanquished.

30:25 Beast [groaning] bastard.

30:28 Okay.

30:29 On this occasion, you want to hear a story of a defeated enemy.

30:34 What is uh yeah, the single best enemy I've taken on?

30:39 And also, I've not taken on an albemuth.

30:42 I like you know, politely excused myself, but went away on didn't kill it,

30:45 but I guess we would just be lying there.

30:47 Bards are allowed to just lie.

30:50 So, you know what?

30:53 The bulette.

30:54 That was one a hell of a fight, actually.

30:57 That's a perfectly reasonable.

30:59 So, yeah, I don't know if that makes a difference to the difficulty of the roll,

31:03 but 16 should be doable.

31:06 Yeah, another unfortunate one there, but the 17 carried me.

31:09 That's a okay.

31:11 More wine.

31:13 I do not know what that is.

31:18 But, [groaning] as I imagine it, impressive.

31:23 Ask question.

31:26 Make your query.

31:27 [groaning] And drink once more.

31:33 I enjoyed the industry drinking contest.

31:35 I've not actually drunk anything yet.

31:38 So, here we go.

31:39 Now I hear him mention Ketheric, I can ask after him.

31:43 This might be how we start figuring out Ketheric's weaknesses.

31:47 Eternal.

31:48 [groaning] Invincible.

31:52 Forever.

31:55 Except not.

31:58 Another.

31:59 [groaning] Drink.

32:02 There we go.

32:03 Invincible and forever.

32:06 Except not.

32:09 Okay.

32:10 Do one more drink, and then ask a one more question.

32:13 He insists I drink, so we're going to drink, or rather like pretend to.

32:19 Up to 21 at this point.

32:22 This is getting nasty.

32:24 I'm going to like yeah, a 14 or something.

32:28 So, okay.

32:29 20, critical success.

32:31 Spot on.

32:32 I've not drunk one single sip yet.

32:35 This is great.

32:38 I know you.

32:42 I know I know I [groaning] am knowing.

32:51 [snorts] You want Father's personal mysterious secret.

33:06 Secret?

33:09 No.

33:09 [groaning] No, never.

33:13 Father said ordered, commanded.

33:18 [groaning] Don't say Don't say it.

33:25 [groaning] Hercage.

33:26 Hercage.

33:30 Thorm.

33:32 Perish.

33:32 [groaning] Die.

33:36 Buried.

33:39 Buried [groaning] in Thorm's tomb.

33:42 Father told me.

33:47 I [groaning] can't perish.

33:53 No.

33:55 [groaning] Neither.

33:56 Neither.

33:58 Too strong.

34:01 Too [groaning] [screaming] Okay.

34:10 So, um he's exploded.

34:15 But, more importantly,

34:17 we did indeed just learn something very cocking important.

34:23 Hercage, located in the Thorm mausoleum.

34:29 Right.

34:30 We just picked up a very, very important piece of information there.

34:35 And potentially equally importantly, right.

34:38 On your corpse, nothing is hugely of note,

34:41 just a giant pile of yeah, conventional stuff there.

34:45 Send that all to camp, but all of money.

34:47 The rest of that is just yeah, basic little components that for crafting.

34:52 Lovely.

34:54 And one a key as well.

34:56 Probably I don't need it, but best to have it than not.

35:00 So, right.

35:02 With the you gone, sir, let's see what else we've got floating around here.

35:07 There we go.

35:08 That key gets me a back outside.

35:11 Actually, it doesn't.

35:13 It gets me into a backstage area.

35:15 There's like a cage back here.

35:17 So, right.

35:18 Start cracking open all the chests and whatnot.

35:20 Let's see what else we can learn, because there might be more we can

35:24 uh figure out here related to Ketheric's weakness,

35:28 the way we ultimately take him down.

35:31 So, basic resources have been on top of that.

35:35 I wonder where it deals acid damage.

35:38 They also inflict a noxious.

35:41 I was about to say that's a good uh for yeah, Lae'zel,

35:45 but the only way she's doing acid damage is No, that's a ring, actually.

35:51 So, hang on.

35:52 Noxious fumes.

35:54 Hostile creatures take another 1D4 of acids.

35:59 Lae'zel, what have you got on your wrist right now?

36:03 Dexterity up to 18, and also attack plus one.

36:08 That's a pretty good.

36:10 Cuz I could give her that.

36:12 Then every attack it would be doing a 1D4 to surrounding enemies.

36:18 Which is nice, but I feel like yeah,

36:20 dexterity 18 uh for the initiative combined with attack plus one,

36:25 that's just a lot better.

36:27 And here's something interesting.

36:29 In the back room of this pub, poisons and elixirs of poison resistance.

36:37 That strikes me as yes, a plot.

36:40 Poison a bunch of drinks,

36:42 give yourself the poison resistance so you could drink a long,

36:45 and everyone else dies.

36:48 Yeah, that was some dodgy stuff going on here.

36:52 And here we go.

36:53 Father Ketheric.

36:54 Okay, more interesting bits of information.

36:57 So, this is where things went wrong uh for the Mason.

37:00 He was pretending to be a Sharren until he got

37:03 drunk and admitted he was still a worshiper of Selune.

37:07 That's how things uh yeah, went to hell uh for the Mason's Guild.

37:11 And someone came in and discovered all the dodgy stuff that was occurring here.

37:17 However, before they could go to Baldur's Gate and bring the authorities,

37:22 yeah, she wants the bribe, but didn't have the money.

37:26 Such is my good fortune.

37:27 I possess all manner of barrels.

37:32 We might want to crack open all the barrels around here.

37:34 Got you.

37:36 Oh, and speaking of which, yes,

37:39 somebody poisoned the Father Ketheric himself, but he's fine.

37:44 That was probably Jaheira.

37:46 She told us that the first time we met her.

37:49 She like shot him, but he just shrugged it off.

37:52 So, right.

37:53 It was probably a poisoned arrow.

37:55 But, by that stage, he was already unkillable due to this secret in Hercage.

38:02 Right.

38:03 One more fun thing here, which is a special weapon.

38:07 Where if you're drunk during a fight, you've got advantage on all attack rolls,

38:12 and also do additional like mini thunderwave damage with every attack.

38:17 Which is hilarious, but yes, my characters generally don't get drunk.

38:21 We'll send that to camp and maybe find a use for it later.

38:25 And yeah, beyond that, we've got a one trapped door here.

38:29 Let's try that open, because I suspect there might just be yes,

38:33 a corpse [snorts] in one of those barrels at the back.

38:37 There we go.

38:38 A skeleton in the barrels.

38:40 There's actually nothing we can loot off them.

38:42 And finally, we've got some sort of special book here.

38:45 Research notes.

38:47 They describe a powerful venom extracted from a rare purple worm.

38:52 Thavold Thorm sought to create a fatal poison using the worm's gullet.

38:58 He procured several parts of a worm gullet, but rinsed [music] one in error.

39:02 The poison he brewed was noxious, but not fatal.

39:06 Thavold devoted months to formulating a deadly

39:09 poison with the remaining ingredients, without success.

39:14 After exhaustive experimentation,

39:17 he was able to make a near deadly extract from the glands.

39:21 But, to complete his poison, Thavold required one last ingredient,

39:26 the petals of a corpse rose.

39:29 The book's index reveals corpse roses may grow near tombs,

39:33 mausoleums, and particularly redolent cadavers.

39:38 Thavold enlisted a courier from Baldur's Gate to obtain corpse rose

39:42 petals and other ingredients and deliver them to a covert location.

39:48 Unfortunately, a deep purple stain darkens

39:52 the final page obscuring the parcel's destination.

39:56 I think I picked up a corpse rose in the graveyard just over the road actually.

40:01 But okay, I'm good at investigation.

40:04 We should be able to figure this out without it being a too flippy difficult.

40:08 So, yeah, give that a go.

40:12 Natural 20.

40:13 Lovely.

40:14 Your mind separates the black from the blue revealing the stash's location.

40:20 You mark your map as a reminder.

40:23 With the corpse rose petals the package

40:24 contains you might create physical's purple worm poison.

40:29 So, okay.

40:31 I'm guessing that yeah, that poison would be like the ultimate poison.

40:37 Maybe a poison which if we could get rid of his immortality,

40:41 could it even kill Ketheric?

40:44 So, here we go.

40:44 Just extract all ingredients.

40:46 We haven't done this for a while.

40:47 There's a whole bunch of bits and pieces.

40:50 So, hang on.

40:51 Hang on.

40:53 Where do we have that's new beautiful purple worm toxin?

41:02 I can actually flipping craft that immediately.

41:06 So, yeah, purple worm slime.

41:09 Except hang on, is that actually good enough?

41:10 No, that's a basic one.

41:12 Hang on.

41:14 We need the salts of the corpse rose.

41:17 Oh, yeah, I've got one corpse rose.

41:20 But you need multiple to create salts.

41:24 And yeah, there's the stash just beyond the house of healing.

41:27 So, no need to rush to that.

41:31 We've also got the Thorn Mausoleum.

41:34 John, obviously it's beyond the cookie graveyard.

41:37 This is where the graves are located.

41:39 Okay.

41:41 Got a lot of things that we could like, you know, go and investigate right now.

41:45 But eyes on the prize, John, because yes, you're here for one particular reason.

41:50 That ledger.

41:51 And speak of the devil, yeah,

41:53 according to the map it should be somewhere around here.

41:57 But I know this location has, you know, multiple floors.

42:00 So, there's the rat bat by the way.

42:05 Hang on.

42:06 What's a rat bat?

42:08 That's just a baseball bat with nails in it.

42:10 I love it.

42:11 Though, by the looks of it, yeah,

42:13 it doesn't really do much aside from having advantage against beasts.

42:18 Oh, and hang on, while I was just grabbing that something onto the floorboards.

42:24 There we go.

42:25 That's the ledger.

42:26 Which for some reason was hidden away.

42:30 So, yeah, this was from the period when dark justiciars

42:34 and Selune followers and Shar followers were basically all betraying each other.

42:38 Things were not going well for anybody actually.

42:41 So, yeah, by the looks of it this is one

42:43 person who just hung out in the pub eavesdropping on conversations.

42:47 Anyone who said anything against Ketheric

42:50 got immediately turned into the dark justiciars.

42:52 So, yes, that's a bit of an unpleasant thing to do.

42:56 And yeah, maybe of interest here there's an empty second page.

43:02 Which makes me think there's something is here.

43:04 I'm just missing in some capacity.

43:07 Like, you know, something written in invisible ink or something like that.

43:12 Still, we've got the ledger.

43:14 So, yeah, I'm just going to check around

43:15 to see if there's anything else worth looting in here.

43:18 But once we've done that, we're heading back to what's-his-face,

43:22 he who was out in the wilderness.

43:24 What, up on the top floor we've just gone to yeah,

43:27 a whole bunch of booze I've sent straight back to camp because,

43:30 you know, it's supplies and whatnots.

43:32 Right, so one more thing to note on the way past,

43:35 which is from the pub you can get down to the low ground

43:40 by the water and literally go underneath

43:43 the bridge that leads to Moonrise Towers.

43:48 It looks to me like, yeah,

43:50 potentially there might be more ways I can go around here.

43:56 It's risky to enter Moonrise with an unwelcome companion.

44:01 You can pass as a true soul, but they cannot.

44:04 Be sure to keep them close so you can speak

44:06 on their behalf if the cultists ask too many questions.

44:10 Okay.

44:11 Also, Halsin, you're not actually infected with a tadpole,

44:16 so you can't actually come.

44:18 Sorry about that.

44:19 You might need to go and wait in camp, my friends.

44:21 Valuable lesson learned, don't go any deeper.

44:25 But yeah, looks like we could definitely go

44:27 to the Moonrise docks over to the side as opposed to walking in the front door

44:32 if that turns out to be the better option.

44:34 There are multiple ways to approach this location.

44:37 But yeah, don't worry about that for now.

44:39 Instead, just head back into the wilderness.

44:41 We've taken out the local enemies already.

44:43 And then I thought we had, but I swear I just heard some noise from over here.

44:50 Don't worry about them.

44:52 So, oh, never mind, it was probably just the fairy yelling at me.

44:55 Right.

44:57 Keep on keeping on because there we go.

44:59 Just past the campsite, there's this chappie right here.

45:03 So, hello there, he who was.

45:05 Let's talk about, yes,

45:07 this person who stitched on a lot of her friends to the dark justiciars.

45:11 The air stirs in trepidation.

45:15 You have the ledger.

45:17 And I do indeed.

45:19 So, yeah, I'd like to know precisely what your plan is, my friends.

45:24 To punish a murderer.

45:27 If that is not enough, leave.

45:29 I have no time for those lacking commitment.

45:32 So, yes, once again, she's already kind of dead, but you know what?

45:38 Given the ledger, let's see how this plays out.

45:41 We have it.

45:43 Her lies, her guilt.

45:45 Madeline reported her friends to a dark

45:48 justiciar and fled when they were butchered.

45:51 Well, she flees no more.

45:55 I will be the conduit for Madeline's spirit.

45:58 I will force her to face trial and you will be the judge.

46:03 Make her beg.

46:05 Make her suffer.

46:07 That's not typically what judges do in a trial, but okay.

46:13 As a bard, let's hear her story first.

46:16 I would like to get both sides of this tale before I decide what to do.

46:20 Careful.

46:21 For a serpent in life is a serpent in death.

46:35 Witness.

46:39 [sighs] [groaning] [screaming] [crying] You.

46:59 You said I was going to be punished.

47:01 That you'd be the judge.

47:02 But I didn't mean to hurt anyone.

47:05 Right.

47:05 So, this is not the typical form of speak with dead.

47:10 We're not like bringing back a corpse to ask it some basic questions.

47:14 She seems a way more chatty and coherent than a typical corpse.

47:17 We've straight up brought her spirit

47:19 back and currently it's inhabiting his body.

47:23 So, I'm going to be honest, Madeline.

47:27 That is not a good start.

47:29 Like, you knew that the Sharans were dodgy and vicious.

47:33 Like, everybody knows the Sharans are monsters.

47:36 Apart from Shadowheart who seems mysteriously blind to the fact.

47:39 But you know, the vast majority of people,

47:42 they hear Sharans, they know it's a problem.

47:44 In fact, the first time we really spoke to Shadowheart about this, she sort

47:48 of admitted she was a Sharan knowing that I might well have a problem with it.

47:53 They are widely known as a bunch of bastards.

47:56 You knew that something very bad was going to happen to your friends.

48:00 And I suspect given what we've seen, it was very nasty indeed.

48:04 And if you didn't know the details, that's because you didn't want to know.

48:08 So, yeah, I'm not liking that initial response from you, Madeline.

48:12 I said it didn't mean nothing.

48:14 That Ben and Matt were just drunk and whining.

48:18 The dark justiciar promised she was going to chat with them.

48:22 She promised.

48:24 So, okay.

48:25 If it was just drunk complaining, why did you report them at all?

48:30 The dark justiciar said to report everything.

48:33 Big or small.

48:35 She ain't the type you say no to.

48:37 She gave my dagger each and told them to press it against their stomachs

48:43 on the count of three to start stabbing and not stop till she said so.

48:49 She never said stop.

48:53 I'd do anything to take it back.

48:56 Anything.

48:58 No, I'm not impressed with you right now, Madeline.

49:01 Because, yeah, basically the choice you had was either leave something

49:05 out of your report and even if you had left that out,

49:08 you would have put two other people in the report

49:10 who would have been condemned to death anyway.

49:12 But you're just sad because it happened to your friends.

49:16 And you would rather condemn two of your friends to something

49:19 very unpleasant even if you didn't know what it was going

49:21 to be as opposed to not filing a full report because you

49:26 were scared what would happen if you didn't file a full report.

49:29 And if you were that scared of what was

49:31 going to happen if you didn't file the full report,

49:33 you knew something much worse was going to happen

49:35 to the people who were speaking ill about Cathartic.

49:38 So, yeah, this is not acceptable.

49:41 So, right.

49:43 What are we going to do with here?

49:46 Tavistock where you are character in a tale

49:48 of mine and kill you off immediately.

49:51 When I tell this tale, you would be a villain.

49:53 The dog justicier is to blame.

49:55 That's true.

49:56 The dog justicier is ultimately to blame.

49:59 But you helped.

50:01 So, you know what?

50:02 I think it's fair that you have to do to yourself

50:04 first so you see what ends up happening to your friends.

50:08 So, all right.

50:08 That is only 14.

50:10 That is really not so bad at all.

50:12 So, yeah.

50:14 Just roll the dice.

50:15 That should be a nice easy pass.

50:17 So, yeah.

50:18 Even with stakes that is very very easily passed right there.

50:22 So, uh that strikes to me as a fair resolution for you, Mateline.

50:26 You have to suffer what your friends suffered on account of your cowardice.

50:34 Like this?

50:37 [panting] And okay.

50:39 We're going to repeat precisely what was said to her friends.

50:42 Start stabbing and don't stop until I say so.

50:49 I'm sorry.

50:52 I'm so sorry.

50:57 [gasps] And okay.

50:58 I didn't say stop because no one said stop to your friends, did they?

51:02 They had to keep going until they were dead.

51:05 And also appreciate that Shadowheart is just in the background saying,

51:07 "Yeah, I approve of this.

51:09 I like people being forced to stab

51:10 themselves in the stomach over and over again.

51:12 Glory to Shar.

51:13 I have no problem with my religion whatsoever." So, right.

51:17 Just keep on keeping on.

51:19 Nice easy 17.

51:21 So, yeah.

51:21 She just keep on stabbing, Mateline.

51:24 I'm [screaming] sorry.

51:37 [panting] You vile sadist.

51:44 [laughter] What have you done to me?

51:46 Oh, right.

51:47 That was his body that we just did that to.

51:50 So, you said to punish her.

51:53 Okay.

51:54 I'm really sorry.

51:55 There's been a bit of a miscommunication going on here.

51:58 Not to the POINT OF KILLING THIS BODY.

52:01 YOU WILL JOIN ME IN THE DARKNESS OF OBLIVION.

52:05 YOU TREACHEROUS INSECT.

52:08 NO, I literally did the thing you asked me to do.

52:10 So, uh oh.

52:14 judged and found wanting.

52:14 Okay.

52:15 So, um it turns out I went a bit too far for the yes sinister vengeance ghost.

52:24 That suggests I really went too far

52:26 if the sinister vengeance ghost decided that yes,

52:29 I actually went way over the line.

52:32 Okay.

52:33 Let's just put that down to a miscommunication.

52:35 I am really sorry about this.

52:37 I kind of thought that's what you wanted me to do.

52:40 But yes, what we can do immediately is

52:42 a counter spell to stop him doing fear on me.

52:45 That's good.

52:46 So, he's just wasted his primary action which is a brilliant.

52:50 And then yeah, he's healing with his bonus action.

52:54 And okay.

52:54 We've now got a fight on our hands because I got a bit too you know,

52:59 bloody vengeance stab happy.

53:01 And right.

53:01 The situation with him is everyone's got disadvantage

53:05 on saving throws within a 3 m of this creature.

53:09 But not attack rolls, only saving throws.

53:11 And yeah, elves get to be immune.

53:15 Do I have any?

53:16 Well, I've got Shadowheart.

53:17 She's half elf.

53:18 I'm not sure whether she's affected or not.

53:20 No, she still seems to have the effect on her.

53:22 So, only like full elves get to count in terms of immunity to that.

53:27 So, okay.

53:28 Um you've got to go down as does what may

53:31 or may not be the flipping Raven Queen goddess or whatnot.

53:35 I'm still suspicious you're a goddess in disguise.

53:38 And yeah, we've got AC 15, wisdom of 14, dexterity 18.

53:42 So, yeah.

53:43 Wisdom and stance attack rolls.

53:44 She is a pretty vulnerable to all sorts of bits and pieces.

53:48 The question is yeah, what's the right approach to deal with the you?

53:51 Cuz we do have a 70% chance to hit this guy with laser hour.

53:55 Which is a fine, but I would love to be able to do better.

53:59 So, I'm going to yeah,

54:00 back off a bit and see if a maybe I can drop fairy fire on both of you.

54:07 If I could land it on you, that would be ideal.

54:09 So, uh I just landed that on a lot of things.

54:14 But okay.

54:15 We did get you.

54:16 So, yes.

54:17 You're now vulnerable to every attack thanks to advantage.

54:20 That is a much better.

54:22 And while I do have a yeah, these newer psychic abilities and whatnot,

54:26 they take an action to activate which is a bit of a problem.

54:30 So, yeah.

54:33 Best thing we could do as a starting point is probably force him to yeah,

54:38 attack me or deal with disadvantage.

54:41 So, we'll do a goading attack.

54:42 That new attack immediately.

54:44 Excellent.

54:45 Go in.

54:46 So, I slap you with a lot of flipping damage.

54:49 You're now stuck.

54:50 Hang on.

54:52 Are you sticking attacking me like straight away?

54:54 Like did that work?

54:56 So, not seeing anything on your character that says that worked.

55:00 Possibly you just saved against that.

55:02 Hang on.

55:03 Yes, he succeeds on a saving throw.

55:05 So, that didn't work.

55:07 So, okay.

55:08 Let's with my extra attack try something

55:10 else on this occasion, knocking you over.

55:14 And that worked much of flipping better.

55:17 So, Wait.

55:20 Hang on.

55:20 Yes.

55:21 Now I've got more attacks thanks to war priest.

55:25 So, yeah.

55:25 This is my war priest attack right now.

55:28 You're now down on the ground.

55:29 So, that might make you more vulnerable to the goading attack.

55:33 So, attack number three.

55:35 Let's go.

55:36 Beautiful.

55:37 So, he's almost dead.

55:39 When I say almost dead, Okay.

55:41 Quick action surge.

55:43 So, now I've got yes, another action ready to go.

55:46 So, just go in with a regular attack.

55:50 Down to one.

55:51 And luckily, we can now do an extra attack off the action surge attack.

55:56 And that finishes you off.

55:58 So, right.

55:59 That's him dead.

56:00 He made a bad decision getting angry at me when

56:03 I basically just did to what you told me to do.

56:06 But yeah, there's now nothing more I can do to you.

56:09 And bear in mind I could in theory have used precision attack.

56:11 That doesn't take like a bonus action or anything.

56:15 And then yeah.

56:16 We could in theory like you know, I just start doing a body conspiracy.

56:21 But I feel like we're under control.

56:22 So, I'm just going to like you know, I do a nice No, not that.

56:25 We're just going to like sing a nice song here.

56:28 How about the power?

56:29 We've not performed that one for a while.

56:30 So, we just get on with that.

56:32 Lovely.

56:33 Ends my turn.

56:35 And yeah.

56:36 You try and take out my vision and then

56:38 immediately get absolutely annihilated by the counter strike.

56:42 A lovely counter strike.

56:43 That's great.

56:44 So, yeah.

56:45 As for Halsin here, we can use my bonus action to shillelagh up here.

56:51 Marvelous.

56:53 And then just go in for an attack.

56:55 And now that attack is using Hang on.

56:58 We should definitely be able to like get over to this guy, right?

57:02 Then yeah, 96%.

57:05 Because Hang on.

57:06 What's the benefit of doing that again?

57:08 Yes, I'm using my wisdom for attack rolls.

57:11 Which combined with a flipping advantage off

57:13 of fairy fire means a 96% chance to hit.

57:18 So, down you go.

57:19 Job done.

57:21 I should probably reflect on this a little bit because yes,

57:24 I was literally you know,

57:26 sent on a mission by a mysterious time displaced spirit of vengeance.

57:30 And I did so much vengeance, he eventually stood up and said, "Whoa.

57:34 Okay.

57:35 You know what?

57:35 You went a bit farther.

57:36 I've got to stop you." It's possible I'm not a good person.

57:41 And okay.

57:41 Nothing too special on a him to be honest.

57:44 A basic spear, basic armor.

57:46 So, they're back to camp.

57:48 We've got yeah, one of those arrows that explodes and pushes people back.

57:52 And that can be of use.

57:54 Now, potentially who my friend are you?

57:58 He who was What ails thy mind?

58:01 The queen was player.

58:02 A foretaste to the Shadowfell with a old you haste.

58:06 Oh, this is definitely related to the Raven Queen.

58:09 And I just killed her messenger.

58:10 And also yes, possibly like her avatar or something

58:14 given that it was a big white raven.

58:18 I'm concerned this is going to have consequences down the line.

58:21 Okay.

58:22 But it's possible he just gone a bit bananas given it sounds like yes,

58:28 if these people come into our plane from the Shadowfell, yeah.

58:33 The curse kind of gets them a bit over time.

58:35 So, okay.

58:36 I was completely in the right.

58:38 He was the one who went bananas due to curse exposure.

58:41 So, I am morally in the clear.

58:44 Still, I would say having been told to chill out by the spirit of vengeance,

58:47 how about we call it a punt there.

58:50 But next time Right.

58:52 I think it's a finally flipping time.

58:56 We're going in to Moonrise Towers.

58:58 And by the sounds of it, yeah.

59:01 If I take a team that is entirely unaffected with the parasites,

59:05 I should be able to just walk in the front door.

59:08 So, yes.

59:09 Indeed.

59:09 We're entering a hugely important new area next episode.

59:12 So, hopefully you join me for that.

59:15 But in the meantime, I've been John.

59:17 This has been Many A True Nerd.

59:19 And this has been the wonderful Baldur's Gate 3.

59:22 Thank you very much.

59:23 And goodbye.

59:26 So, okay.

59:27 Um I've been outwitted by a butterfly and beaten up by a fish.

59:32 Stop right there, criminal scum.

59:34 But you didn't steal anything.

59:36 I'm sorry I TOUCHED THE SHOES WHILE I WAS SHOE SHOPPING.

59:39 OKAY, I feel like I may have just um walked in on something.

59:43 What about this person?

59:44 Can we talk to this person?